Fairways bordered by Hawaiian black lava. Greens overlooking sunsets on the Spanish Bay. Links placed perfectly into a pristine desert with the majestic Camelback Mountain as a backdrop.
These are some of the top golf destinations and golf resorts in North America and they’re a golfer’s dream. Places where nothing matters but being in the most spectacular setting in the most idyllic moment.
American sportswriter Bob Ryan said of golf, it’s…
“A passion, an obsession, a romance, a nice acquaintanceship with trees, sand, and water.”
Golf to the golf enthusiast is more than a sport. It’s a lifestyle. An escape. A strengthening of friendships. Communion with nature on a luxury level.
To experience the legacy of golf as the epitome of passionate, escapist and luxurious living, head to these 10 Top Golf Destinations.
- Monterey, California
Pebble Beach. Need we say more? Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods challenged themselves on this 18-hole course located just north of Carmel, on the Monterey Peninsula. The world’s best golfers have aspired to play at Pebble Beach Links, which includes a few smaller and just as stunning courses like The Links at Spanish Bay.
- Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona
Arizona’s beautiful topography and enjoyable weather makes it a superb place for golf. Phoenix and Scottsdale, in particular, are desirable settings for a round or 2. More than 200 courses dot the landscape in this area and offer views of Camelback, a superlative sight on par with the most beautiful peaks in the world. In Phoenix-Scottsdale, you’ll find worthy greens in many areas of lush parkland, at the always popular TPC Scottsdale and on 2 Championship Golf Courses at Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.
- Hilton Head, South Carolina
Tee off on Hilton Head Island and enjoy a game of golf as exceptional as in Myrtle Beach, without what some would call the kitschy vibe. Palmetto Dunes is an award-winning golf destination on Hilton Head Island and it’s one of the top golf resorts in the country. Palmetto Dunes features 3 courses offering panoramas of the Atlantic coast.
- Hawaii (The Big Island)
“The Big Island” of Hawaii, or the Island of Hawaii, has more golf courses than any other island in the state. With an abundance of links situated on the coastline, golfers take in splendid scenery between swings, including sights of the ocean, beaches and, yes, black lava bordering the fairways. In 1964, Robert Trent Jones Sr. created Mauna Kea Golf Course on what was once an unbearing lava field. Today, his course is a luxurious green for championship golf set brilliantly on a seaside cliff.
- Southwest Florida
Naples is a laid-back beach town known for its calm waters, excellent shopping and golfer-designed courses. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer devised greens in Naples, and Greg Norman’s artful Tiburon Golf Club is a masterpiece there. In upscale West Palm Beach, PGA National Resort dazzles with 90 championship holes and The Breakers Ocean Golf Course (Florida’s oldest 18-hole course) periodically receives modern tinkerings to remain the envy of the golf world.
- Lake Oconee/Eatonton, Georgia
Golf living and golf vacations in Lake Oconee/Eatonton include scenic tee time highlighted by water vistas and glimpses of gigantic Georgia pines. At Cuscowilla, a praised private golf retreat sculpted into 750 acres of Lake Oconee forest land, local residents and a limited number of non-residents experience one of the most highly regarded golf settings in Georgia. Great Waters, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, presents a dynamic link layout weaving through evergreens and lakes, an arresting ambiance for playing 18 holes.
- Central/South Texas
Any list of top golf destinations should include locales within Central and South Texas like JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Omni Barton Club. San Antonio has long been a popular tourist location, but it’s surprisingly and delightedly become a best golf spot. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and TPC San Antonio have played host for the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Just a bit west of Austin, Texas’ capital city that boasts a rich golf history, Harvey Penick’s Austin Country Club provides a prestigious private golf haven. Omni Barton Creek offers luxury on the green in Austin, Texas on 2 Tom Fazio-designed courses.
- Bahamas
Home to One&Only Ocean Club Golf Course, which hosted the Michael Jordan Invitational for 10 years and the Pure Silk LPGA Bahamas Classic, the Bahamas delights with coast-hugging fairways that wind in and out of sensational scenery. One&Only features salt-tolerant greens and inland forest views. Just as impressive in the Bahamas, Baha Mar offers an elegant Jack Nicklaus Signature course with par-72 design cutting through 2 distinctive natural habitats
- Southampton, New York
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York is widely considered to be the oldest golf course in the nation. It was extensively remodeled in the early 20th century and completely replaced (less 3 holes) in the 1930s. The club’s architecture has stayed static for the past 50 years or so, but a major renovation in 2012 turned several dumpy areas (literally, as the remodel replaced a huge waste area) into what will be the home of the 2018 U.S. Open and 2026 U.S. Open. National Golf Links in Southampton is also an architectural gem.
- Central Florida
Courses running from Tampa to Orlando call to golfers seeking luxuriously restored greens and timeless classics. A favorite among amateurs and pros, El Campeon at Mission Inn Resort has 100 years of hosting under its visor and is considered one of the top golf resorts in America. Lakewood National, a newly opened course east of Tampa and Arnold Palmer designed, has already received acclaim from avid golfers.
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