By Mike May
‘Great things happen in bunches of threes.’
That old adage definitely applies to beach lovers, who also enjoy golf and motor sports. For golfers, who are planning to visit Daytona to watch a race or two, they should also be prepared for long walks on the beach, and birdie putts, as well as, bumper-to-bumper racing at the Daytona International Speedway.
“If you ain’t rubbin’, you ain’t racin’.”………Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) in Days of Thunder 
Miles of hard-packed sand await all beach walkers to the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach.’ The three big car races on Daytona’s calendar every year are the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, Daytona 500 in February, and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August.
There is plenty of golf too. Three Florida Historic Golf Trail courses, the South Course at the Daytona Beach Golf Course, Riviera Country Club, and the New Smyrna Beach Golf Course provide ‘thrills and chills’ for every skill level.
The par-71 South Course at Daytona Beach Golf Course features three sets of tees that range from 5,200 yards to just over 6,200 yards. The course follows the original routing of renowned golf course architect, Donald Ross, from the 1920s.
A passing train is a common sight on the South course. Six holes, three on the front nine, plus three on the back side, border the railroad tracks that split the course.
For golf history aficionados, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Jimmy Demaret played a challenge match here in 1946. Demaret shot 64 to secure the win with the other three legends carding, 67, 67 and 69.
The Riviera Country Club in Ormond Beach was originally a nine-hole course in the 1930s, but was expanded to 18 holes in 1954. The Riviera Country Club has a “relaxed, comfortable atmosphere” which “welcomes golfers from around the world to enjoy.”
All 18 greens were replaced in 2014 and are in perfect condition, providing true, consistent and quick rolls off the blade.
Tee times are not required, plus walking is allowed. Simply show up, pay and play.
The New Smyrna Beach Golf Club measures 4,700 yards from the front tees to 6,500 yards maximum. In 2016, every green was reseeded with platinum paspalum grass and the bunkers were softened. 
Every par five offers a birdie opportunity as two of them measure under 500 yards. As with most Florida courses, water is a factor on eight holes, with the signature hole, the 2nd, a medium-length par four, featuring a lake to the left, plus out-of-bounds to the right.
Greenside bunkers are in play on 17 of the 18 holes, only the 13th is bunker free.
With Daytona Beach Golf Course, Riviera Country Club and New Smyrna Beach Golf Club, Daytona Beach confirms that the old adage,
‘Great things happen in bunches of threes.’
