Military golf at Hurlburt Field and Eglin AFB: who can play and how to book
Gator Lakes Golf Course at Hurlburt Field is open to active-duty troops, their families, military retirees and Defense Department employees, and to civilians who get a six-month golf pass from the base visitor center, according to the Hurlburt Field Force Support Squadron. Civilians with the pass enter through Hurlburt Field’s East Gate.
Eglin Air Force Base’s golf course is in transition. The Air Force chose American Dunes Foundation to lease and redevelop the course and up to 603 acres around it, according to Eglin Air Force Base. As of Oct. 30, 2026, that announcement gave no reopening date or public access rules.
Who can play Gator Lakes Golf Course at Hurlburt Field?
Gator Lakes is an 18-hole Air Force course at 403 Walkup Way, Building 91300, on Hurlburt Field. The base’s force support squadron lists these players:
- Active-duty military and their dependents
- Military retirees
- Defense Department civilian employees and contractors, and family members
- Civilians who hold a visitor center golf pass
Under the course’s rules of play, active-duty members assigned to Hurlburt Field and their families get first priority, and authorized players may sponsor civilian guests.
How does a civilian get a golf pass for Hurlburt Field?
- Download the Golf Affidavit from the Gator Lakes page of the Hurlburt Field Force Support Squadron.
- Submit it at the Hurlburt Field visitor center for a six-month pass.
- Once approved, enter through the East Gate.
Questions go to the pro shop at 850-881-2251, the squadron says.
How do I book a tee time at Gator Lakes?
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Set up an account | Visit the pro shop or call 850-881-2251 to have an email address and temporary password added to the booking system |
| Book | Online at gatorlakes.cps.golf, up to 10 days before the day of play |
| Check in | At least 10 minutes before the tee time, per the rules of play |
| Pay | At the pro shop before playing |
The course is open from dawn to dusk every day. The pro shop opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 6:30 p.m. from March through October and at 4:30 p.m. from November through February, and it may close in bad weather. Junior golfers ages 6 to 18 who are Youth on Course members pay $3 for nine holes or $5 for 18 holes walking, the squadron says. It does not post adult green fees online.
What is the dress code at Gator Lakes?
The rules of play require shirts with sleeves designed as outerwear; tank tops are not allowed, though sleeveless tops are allowed for women. Bathing suits, gym or jogging shorts, halters and athletic jerseys are not allowed.
What is happening with the Eglin Air Force Base golf course?
Eglin’s golf facilities have shrunk over two years, according to base announcements:
| When | What Eglin announced |
|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2025 | The nine-hole Falcon course closed permanently; the Eagle course stayed open |
| Aug. 22, 2025 | The 96th Test Wing said it was seeking a public or private partner to lease the course under the Air Force’s enhanced use lease program |
| Late summer 2025 | The course cut operations to Thursday through Sunday, with a projected closing in December, citing lower use and staffing limits |
| 2026 | The Air Force selected American Dunes Foundation and began lease negotiations |
Sources: Eglin Air Force Base news releases on the Falcon course closure, the schedule change and the lease partner.
The lease covers financing, permits, construction, maintenance and operation. Under the enhanced use lease program, the Air Force offers land it does not need for current missions for compatible commercial development, in exchange for lease payments at or above fair market value, according to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
Who do I contact?
- Gator Lakes Golf Course pro shop, Hurlburt Field: 850-881-2251
- Eglin Air Force Base public affairs: 850-882-3931
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Questions and answers
- Can civilians play golf at Hurlburt Field?
- Yes, with a six-month golf pass from the Hurlburt Field visitor center, obtained by submitting the Golf Affidavit. Pass holders enter through the East Gate.
- How do you book a tee time at Gator Lakes Golf Course?
- Call or visit the pro shop at 850-881-2251 to set up an account, then book online at gatorlakes.cps.golf up to 10 days ahead and pay at the pro shop.
- Is the Eglin AFB golf course open?
- Eglin said in 2025 that the course would cut to Thursday-Sunday play with a projected December closing. The Air Force then selected American Dunes Foundation to lease it; as of Oct. 30, 2026, no reopening date had been announced.
- What happened to the Falcon course at Eglin?
- The nine-hole Falcon course closed permanently on Jan. 13, 2025, citing maintenance costs and declining use, according to Eglin Air Force Base.
Sources
- Hurlburt Field Force Support Squadron, Gator Lakes Golf Course
- Hurlburt Field FSS, Gator Lakes rules of play
- Eglin Air Force Base, Air Force selects golf course partner
- Eglin Air Force Base, Golf course adjusts schedule, continues transition
- Eglin Air Force Base, Eglin's nine-hole golf course closes
- Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, AF seeks proposals for Eglin golf course redevelopment