Year-Round Golfing Hot Spots in the USA
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| Golfing amidst Palm Trees and Sunshine in California1 |
Such are these hot spots that every year—all year long—thousands of Americans, Canadians and overseas golfers flock to their area of choice for endless rounds of chipping, putting, pars and backswings.
And choice there is. The following golf destinations all enjoy exceptional year-round playability with an impressive number of courses, plentiful days of sunshine and consistently balmy temperatures.
YEAR-ROUND GOLF HOT SPOTS IN THE USA
Florida
Florida is widely acknowledged as the “Golf Capital of the USA” and arguably tops this list of year-round golfing hot spots. In addition to over 700 public-access courses, the state is home to more professional golfers than any other and there are courses aplenty for all levels of players and pocketbooks. The Orlando area alone boasts approximately 150 courses and several world-class golf schools. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers each run a close second, while the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) has its headquarters in Jacksonville.
Add to this choice of fairways warm daily temperatures and hundreds of miles of coastline, and Florida makes it easy for golfers to trade sand traps and water hazards for sandy beaches and friendly waves.
Notable courses:
High-end: TPC Sawgrass Stadium, Grand Cypress Golf Club
Mid-range: Diamondback Golf Club, Magnolia Plantation Golf Club
Budget: Walt Disney World Golf Courses, El Diablo Golf and Country Club
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| A Wooded Course in South Carolina2 |
Giving Florida a run for its money as the sweet spot of golf are the Carolinas, most notably the “Grand Strand” of South Carolina. The 60-mile (97-km) stretch of coastline offers so many courses that it has been called the “golf Mecca of the world” by Tiger Woods. Myrtle Beach is the undisputed hotbed of the Strand and hosts over a million golfers annually, making for a mind-boggling number of bogies, birdies and eagles. The first course opened in 1927 and since then the Strand has grown to include over 100 courses—most of them public and many top-rated. If golfers want to play where the pros play, Hilton Head Island also offers more than 30 premier courses and has hosted PGA tournaments for over three decades. Adding further choice to the mix, Charleston is home to America’s first golf course—established in 1786—and in recent years it has hosted Ryder Cup matches and PGA championships, making the city a cradle of world-class resorts surrounded by historic charm.
Not to be left out, North Carolina has its own slice of golf heaven. Pinehurst is the state’s most well known destination. Originally a winter resort of New Englanders, the Pinehurst/Sandhills area now features over 40 top-ranking courses and regularly hosts the US Open. Golfers opting for the northern cousin’s quaint and quiet landscapes can also find a plethora of courses in Charlotte and Sunset Beach.
Notable courses:
High-end: Harbour Town Golf Links, Pinehurst Resort
Mid-range: Oyster Bay Golf Links at Legends Resort, Myrtle Beach National Golf Club
Budget: Bonnie Brae Golf Club, Tanglewood Park Championship
Southern California
California has so much to offer outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds that golf kind of gets lost in the mix. But it shouldn’t. Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley have long been a golfing hot spot for celebrities and snowbirds and for good reason. The area is a desert oasis of lush greens framed by palm trees and rugged mountains, making the courses here as exhilarating as the area’s amenities are rejuvenating. And with warm winter days and hot summer ones—all of them sunny—golfers can play year round at over 100 courses.
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| One of Coachella Valley's Desert Golf Courses3 |
Up the coast, the Monterey Peninsula is home to one of the world’s most famous courses—Pebble Beach—and a whole host of other postcard-perfect links and trendy amenities. When golfers are staring down a shot surrounded by ocean spray and a cliff-top setting, no reminder is necessary that this is indeed one of golf’s special places.
Notable courses:
High-end: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course
Mid-range: Oak Quarry Golf Club, East Valley Golf Club
Budget: Navy Golf Course, El Dorado Park Golf Course
Arizona
Possessing equal amounts of courses and sunny days—over 300 of both— Arizona is unarguably a golfer’s paradise and a unique one at that. Getting caught in the rough takes on new meaning in this southwestern state where the rough is often the Sonora Desert and the striking contrasts of immaculate fairways set against wild, gargantuan cacti is part of the appeal. The Scottsdale/Phoenix area is the most popular place to tee off with over 70 courses to choose from, but there are also plenty of front and back nines in Tuscon and Yuma. Arizona’s high summer temperatures make the state’s links more popular in winter months but early morning and evening tee times make playing year round both possible and pleasant.
Notable courses:
High-end: Troon North Golf Club, Grayhawk Golf Club
Mid-range: Wigwam Golf and Country Club, ASU Karsten Golf Course
Budget: The Legend at Arrowhead, Aguila Golf Course
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| The 12th Green at August National in Georgia4 |
No list of golf destinations would be complete without a mention of Georgia. For over 100 years golfers have been heading to the Peach State for its desirable year-round weather and top-ranked public courses. Augusta is home to the illustrious Masters tournament while Atlanta, Savannah and Jekyll Island are other hot spots. Overall, the state has more than 500 courses to choose from, many of them spectacularly scenic and oozing with Southern charm.
Notable courses:
High-end: Augusta National, Sea Island Golf Courses
Mid-range: St. Marlo Country Club, Royal Lakes Golf and Country Club
Budget: Innsbruck Resort and Golf Club, Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course
Texas
Texas, notorious for Stetson’s, oil and a big persona, is also fast-becoming one of the country’s hottest golf destinations. The state boasts over 1,000 courses and, in true-Texas style, many of them offer extensive yardage, wide-open fairways and enough attitude to challenge even the most advanced players.
The Dallas/Fort Worth area boasts over 200 choices on its own, while in Houston players can choose from over 75 coastal and woodland courses. Austin, consistently ranked as one of the top US cities in which to live or visit, is tempting both for the city itself and its golf—including a 4,000-acre (1,600-ha) giant course—while in San Antonio—home of the Alamo—players can revel in a PGA resort, authentic Texan heritage and hilly terrain. With 365 days of play and world-class courses, Texas golf is big, beautiful and diverse.
Notable courses:
High-end: Tour 18 Golf Course, Barton Creek Resort and Country Club
Mid-range: Augusta Pines Golf Club, Pecan Valley Golf Club
Budget: Memorial Park Golf Course, Briggs Ranch Golf Club
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| Golfing along the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii5 |
The Hawaiian Islands are a year-round destination for any activity and golf is no exception. All the islands have notable courses, but Maui is especially popular. Golfing in Hawaii—surrounded by volcanoes, lush foliage and the Pacific Ocean—however, comes at a price—for the airfare to go and the spendy green fees once there.
Back on the mainland, southern Nevada and Utah are both becoming hotbeds for year-round golf, if for different reasons. Las Vegas combines over 20 reputable courses with as many high-rolling, people-filled casinos, while in St. George—in the southwest corner of Utah—the draws are top-notch, affordable courses set amidst deep canyons, dazzling red rock and brilliant blue skies.
If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these other great WorldWeb.com articles:
• Golfing in the Okanagan
• A Guide to Quebec's Pristine Golf Courses
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Golfing amidst Palm Trees and Sunshine in California; Palm Springs, CA, USA
- A Wooded Course in South Carolina; Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
- One of Coachella Valley's Desert Golf Courses; Palm Springs, CA, USA
- The 12th Green at Augusta National in Georgia; Augusta, GA, USA
- Golfing along the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii; Big Island, HI USA
