Gulf Breeze & Pensacola
Sports & Recreation Near Gulf Breeze, FL
The Pelican House sits a short walk from Shoreline Park, a 155-acre sports complex with lighted tennis and pickleball courts, multi-purpose athletic fields, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Gulf Breeze and nearby Pensacola also host year-round professional and collegiate sports, from Double-A baseball to NCAA Division II football, a championship-caliber golf course, and one of the busiest running race calendars on the Gulf Coast.
Play: Courts, Fields & Trails at Shoreline Park
Shoreline Park North, on the same street as The Pelican House, is the area’s main sports hub.
🎾 Tennis & Pickleball
10 lighted outdoor tennis courts and 4 outdoor pickleball courts, plus indoor courts at the Community Center for year-round play.
⚽ Athletic Fields
10 multi-purpose lighted fields supporting baseball, football, soccer, and lacrosse — home turf for the Gulf Breeze Sports Association’s leagues and tournaments.
🥏 Disc Golf
A full 18-hole course open dawn to dusk, with a shorter, beginner-friendly back nine and a few island targets only reachable by bridge.
🏐 Sand Volleyball & Basketball
4 sand volleyball courts and 2 outdoor basketball courts, with pickup basketball games running most weekday mornings.
🏃 Exercise Trail & Skatepark
A 1.2-mile paved trail for running or biking, plus a skatepark and an indoor multi-sport practice facility for rainy days.
Golf: Tiger Point Golf Club
An 18-hole, par-72 course in Gulf Breeze designed by PGA Tour player and Pensacola native Jerry Pate, with Bermuda fairways and Tif Eagle greens. Semi-private, but open to public tee times.
🍸 The Tiki Republic (at the turn)
Our favorite stop on the course — the open-air tiki bar near the 7th hole. Get the famous hot dog and a Transfusion, a golf-course classic that fellow golfers know and love — and might just bring you some luck on the back nine. Cornhole and yard games while you wait.
🍽️ The Pointe
The clubhouse restaurant and bar, fully renovated with multiple bars, TVs for watching sports, and a full menu — open to the public, not just golfers.
🍕 The Pointe Pizza
A Roman-style pizza kitchen next to the Tiki Republic — order a pie to go with your round or your drinks at the bar.
Watch: Local Teams & Signature Events
⚾ Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, playing April through September at a waterfront downtown stadium, 10 minutes from the house.
🏈 UWF Argonauts
The University of West Florida’s NCAA Division II football team won the national championship in 2019. Football runs September through November; the Argos also field nationally competitive soccer, softball, tennis, and golf programs.
🏒 Pensacola Ice Flyers
Minor league hockey at the Pensacola Civic Center, November through March — a good pick for guests missing the cold without leaving the warmth.
🏎️ Snowball Derby
One of the country’s most prestigious short-track races, held every year in early December at Five Flags Speedway.
Running Races All Year Long
The Pensacola area runs a race calendar that rivals cities twice its size, most of it organized by Run Pensacola and the local running store Running Wild — both worth a follow if you want the full up-to-date lineup.
🏃♂️ Double Bridge Run
February. A genuine local staple — a premier 15K (with a 5K option) crossing two bridges over Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, finishing right at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Not into the whole 13.1 or 3.1 mile thing? No judgment — plenty of people just show up for the finish-line party and turn it into an afternoon of beach bar hopping along the Boardwalk.
🍀 McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day 5K
Early March. The largest prediction run in America — no watches, you guess your own finish time — starting and ending at McGuire’s Irish Pub with a legendary post-race party. More party than race, and everyone means it as a compliment.
🏖️ Pensacola Beach Run Half Marathon
January. A flat, fast out-and-back along the Gulf, put on by the Pensacola Runners Association. Finish line has a live band and a real after-party — southern charm included.
🏖️ Flora-Bama Beach Run
March. A half marathon and 5K run entirely on the sand behind the Flora-Bama — the half runs into Florida, the 5K into Alabama, benefiting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
🎨 Graffiti Bridge 5K
May. A run/walk with a twist — bring your own paint and add your mark to Pensacola’s famous Graffiti Bridge before the race starts.
🏆 Gulf Coast Half Marathon
April. A flat, certified half (plus a 5K option) right along Pensacola Beach, starting at the Gulfside Pavilion. A local favorite and a bucket-list destination race for visitors.
🏆 Flora-Bama Mullet Man Triathlon
April, timed with the Interstate Mullet Toss. A swim in Ole River, a bike ride along Perdido Key, and a run finishing right in front of the Flora-Bama — followed, naturally, by a party.
🎆 Firecracker 5K
Around the 4th of July. Starts and ends at Seville Quarter, benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities, and comes with a patriotic costume contest — wear the stars and stripes.
🏅 Pensacola Half & Full Marathon
October. Starts and finishes at Veteran’s Memorial Park on the bayfront, looping through downtown’s historic neighborhoods for the half and full distance.
🦃 Pensacola Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving morning. Consistently voted one of the best 5K courses in town, right through downtown Pensacola — earn your seat at the table.
Made for Tournament Teams & Traveling Athletes
4 bedrooms and 3 queen beds plus a futon sleep up to 7, which means a team of parents and kids can stay together instead of splitting across two hotel rooms. Boat parking is available on-site for families bringing one along, and Shoreline Park — where a lot of local tournaments and league games actually happen — is close enough to walk to. It’s also a practical option for coaches and staff in town for a weekend tournament who want a real kitchen and living room instead of another hotel room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports facilities are near The Pelican House in Gulf Breeze?
Shoreline Park, on the same street as the house, has 10 lighted tennis courts, 4 pickleball courts, 10 multi-purpose athletic fields, an 18-hole disc golf course, sand volleyball, basketball courts, and a 1.2-mile exercise trail.
Is there a golf course near Gulf Breeze, FL?
Yes. Tiger Point Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Jerry Pate, with an on-course tiki bar, a full-service clubhouse restaurant called The Pointe, and a pizza kitchen, all open to the public.
Are there half marathons on Pensacola Beach?
Yes, two of the area’s most popular: the Pensacola Beach Run Half Marathon in January and the Gulf Coast Half Marathon in April, both flat, beachfront courses with lively after-parties.
Your Team’s Home Base
Steps from Shoreline Park, minutes from downtown’s stadiums, the speedway, and the back nine.