Key Royale Club

With a par of 64, Key Royale plays as an executive-length course — a layout built around shorter holes where iron play, course management, and putting matter far more than power. That format suits the island's compact geography and the membership it serves: residents and seasonal regulars who want a genuine round without a half-day commitment. Executive courses are sometimes dismissed, but a well-designed one sharpens the short game in ways a parade of par 5s never will.

Anna Maria Island's Gulf Coast setting means warm winters, sea breezes, and the kind of light that makes late-afternoon rounds genuinely memorable. The surrounding water — Tampa Bay to the east, the Gulf to the west — keeps temperatures mild and the scenery worth looking up from your ball.