- Best Golf Destinations In Us
- Best Golf And Gambling Destinations In America
- Best Golf And Gambling Destinations 2017
- Best Golf And Gambling Destinations In The World
- Best Golf Destinations In October
BEST WEATHER. The classic buddies trip is a true getaway—a vacation that immerses you in a world of camaraderie, golf and sunshine. The places with the best combination of those last two are. Five More of the Best Golf Destinations in the World. And there are a great many more opportunities for great golf all over the world. Favorite locations include Scotland, Florida, the American Southwest, Bermuda, the Bahamas, all over the Caribbean and Mexico and many more.
#29 Best Value of 47 Caribbean Golf Resorts “ The Hodelpa Garden Suites is a wonderful resort nestled amongst an upscale neighborhood and golf course in Juan Dolio, DR. “ The hotel is located in Juan Dolio, inside an area called Metro Country Club, surrounded by a beautiful golf course, and Holliday/private villas.
When the mercury level drops, golfers trapped in the northern hemisphere need places to snowbird. These 10 locales offer great golf courses that can be be played under the comfort of nice, warm sunshine any time of year. Grab your foursome and book your trip today. Photo courtesy of Kristin Smith/iStock
1) Phoenix, Arizona
Here, you'll find more than 300 public and private courses to hack up, with peak play times between January and April. Holes weave between red rocks, canyons, cacti and other John Wayne-type settings.
2) Monterey, California
California weather paired with the expansive Pacific Ocean makes golf courses on the the Monterey Peninsula must-play layouts. Expensive Pebble Beach is worth the price of admission. Pacific Grove Golf Links is more affordable for those on a tighter budget.Pebble Beach Golf Links — Photo courtesy of isogood/iStock
3) West Palm Beach, Floria
The Breakers and the Professional Golfers' Association of America National Golf Club highlight course offerings here. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods may be close by if you need help with your chipping game.
4) Hilton Head, South Carolina
Though not piping hot like others on the list, mid-day golf temperatures of around 70 degrees make Hilton Head a prime winter golf location. Crowds and prices are typically lower than the summer season.
Best Golf Destinations In Us
5) Naples, Florida
Naples offers near-perfect golf winter during the winter. It requires a bit more planning, though, as the majority of courses are private, meaning semi-private and public courses fill up fast.Golf course in Naples, Florida — Photo courtesy of Toni Scott/iStock
6) Hawaii
Volcanoes, ocean views and spectacular wildlife highlight the course layouts in Hawaii. Find top-notch golf courses Maui and Kauai. Hit the links early before the sun gets hot, then hit the surf in the afternoon. Photo courtesy of centrill/iStock
7) Puerto Rico
This Caribbean destination is incredibly easy to get to (no passport required). Luxury golf resorts populate the ever-present coastline. Donald Trump has been heavily investing in the area's golf infrastructure.
8) Las Vegas
Vegas is the perfect destination for mixing golf with entertainment during the winter months. Stay-and-play packages offer great discounts when booked in advance. More than 50 courses are in the metro area, with highlights including Shadow Creek and Cascata. Photo courtesy of Jupiterimages
9) Tampa, Florida
Internationally renowned Streamsong Resort is a quick drive from Tampa and should be on every golfer's bucket list. The number of public courses in the Tampa area ensure you will have no trouble getting your foursome out for a few rounds.
10) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
This is another location that won't leave you dripping in buckets of sweat during play, but is warm enough to remind you that you left snow behind. Find discounted golf vacations all over the internet during the winter season.
Best Golf And Gambling Destinations In America
If the Masters Tournament has you daydreaming of groomed greens and toasts at the 19th hole, maybe it's time to plan your own guys' golf getaway. Matt Ginella of the Golf Channel network says for a successful trip, consider the budget, skill level and interests of the group. Some friends will want to do nothing but hit the greens, while others might want to mix in other activities, he says. 'The most important thing is that the place is conducive to the time they want to have.' He shares some top golf resorts for group trips with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Bandon Dunes, Ore.
It's hard to beat the scenery at this remote resort's multiple Oregon coast courses, which first opened in 1999. 'It's like Ireland and Scotland but you don't need a passport,' Ginella says. The links-style courses don't have trees, and can be enjoyed by all skill levels. 'It's golf for the avid amateur. Everyone who has gone there wants to go back.' 888-345-6008; bandondunesgolf.com
Pinehurst, N.C.
The 'cradle of American golf' has been hosting getaways since 1895, and will keep visitors busy for days. While Donald Ross' legendary No. 2 course is revered, the resort has nine separate courses sprawling across the pine and sandhill landscape. 'It's a very special town, a special place,' Ginella says. And non-golfers can keep busy too with a resort hotel, spa and tennis. 855-235-8507; pinehurst.com
Pebble Beach, Calif.
You'll need a big budget for a pilgrimage to the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula, where a round with cart starts at $495. 'It's considered the No. 1 public golf course in America,' Ginella says. 'But it's a very high-end golf experience, super expensive.' The resort also has several other courses to keep your group on the greens for days. 800-877-0597; pebblebeach.com
Sea Island, Ga.
If your goal is improving your game, bring your group to this gracious oceanfront resort. 'They have a dream team of golf instructors. A lot of PGA tour players live around here,' says Ginella. He particularly likes the Seaside course, updated by Tom Fazio in 1999. 'It's high-quality R and R.' 855-714-9201; seaisland.com
Greenbrier, W.Va.
This venerable Blue Ridge Mountain getaway began hosting guests in 1788, and added a golf course a century later. It even has a secret bunker where Congress planned to convene in case of nuclear war – a getaway of an entirely different nature. The resort was sold six years ago, and has been on a roll ever since. 'There's new money, new energy to it,' Ginella says. With multiple courses and other activities from falconry to laser tag, a group won't have trouble keeping busy. 855-453-4858; greenbrier.com
Best Golf And Gambling Destinations 2017
American Club at Destination Kohler
Kohler, Wisc.
With four golf courses and high-end trappings, this five-diamond Midwest resort will appeal to groups with a healthy budget. The standout Lake Michigan course, Whistling Straits, will host the 2015 PGA Championship. 'The lodging and the amenities and the food—everything—is at a super high level,' Ginella says. A package for groups of a dozen or more includes lessons, a tournament organizer and a plaque for winners. 800-344-2838; americanclubresort.com
Best Golf And Gambling Destinations In The World
Omni Barton Creek
Austin, Texas
Ginella loves this affordable resort not just for its golf, but the entire package. 'I send people there and they have a blast and memorable trips. They have four golf courses, a very nice hotel, good food and a non-pretentious attitude. They're very welcoming to buddies trips.' 512-329-4000; omnihotels.com
Streamsong, Fla.
Ginella says this resort in 'middle-of-nowhere Florida' is worth the trip, 50 miles southeast of Tampa. The two courses are geared for the walking golfer, with limited times for carts. They're designed by Tom Doak, and Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. 'This is a destination on the rise.' 863-428-1000; streamsongresort.com
Talking Stick
Scottsdale. Ariz.
Ginella suggests using this casino resort as a staging ground, playing its course and then heading out to famed Arizona greens like TPC and Troon North. 'It's got a good hotel with good quality golf.' It's also close to TopGolf, a growing national competitive golf-skills complex using balls embedded with microchips. 866-877-9897; talkingstickresort.com
Best Golf Destinations In October
Kiawah Island, S.C.
This deluxe golf resort will appeal to groups of couples and families, along with a gang of guys, Ginella says. 'It has one of the best golf hotels in America, the Sanctuary, with a fantastic setting on the water. The amenities are through the roof.' But golfers must be up to the challenge if they're tackling the Pete Dye Ocean Course. 'It's one of the hardest golf courses in America. When you're shooting 10 or 15 holes above your handicap, that's no longer fun.' 800-576-1570; kiawahresort.com