Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa

The hotel sits in a beautiful location, but it felt overpriced. We paid $561 for one night, checking in just before midnight. I understand it’s a golf resort, but that still seemed ridiculous. Check-in on Saturday night was quick and easy. I thought parking was free, but we were charged $22 even though we parked outside in our car, apparently for using the lot. There was hair in the sink when we arrived, and the water took ages to drain.

The grounds are gorgeous, with lovely tropical landscaping and walkways over little bridges. Even in the off season, everything was maintained well, the pool was flawless, and the staff treated us wonderfully. With fewer people around, the attention felt even more personal and friendly. We stayed several nights in a villa outside the main hotel area. The room was cleaned and refreshed each day, the bed was comfortable, and the climate control worked well. Some furniture, bathroom tiles, and other finishes looked worn or dented, so the room felt well-used, though I can’t say if that’s typical of the whole complex. The breakfast buffet was good each morning, and the experienced waiters and waitresses made an effort to get to know and recognize us. The on-site restaurant was nice, especially its outdoor patio. We particularly enjoyed the large main patio overlooking the lake and golf course. Sitting by the gas fire pits in the evening with a glass of wine was delightful. We took off a star for the older room, but we’d still recommend the resort and stay again.

It’s a really nice property on the TPC Sawgrass golf course, with a pretty setting and a good location fairly close to Jacksonville. Just keep in mind it isn’t on the ocean. The rooms felt a little dated to me, and I wished there were another restaurant on site since there aren’t many choices.

The views were great, and being close to the golf course meant we didn’t have to go far. The attached restaurants had decent food. The real highlight was Mark, the bartender at the first-floor bar. He was the best bartender I’ve ever had, great at small talk, really informative, and passionate about his job. Wonderful guy. Shout out to Mark!