Best US golf trips

From coastal settings both east and west to desert landscapes in Palm Springs and Scottsdale, not to mention the lush green fairways of Florida, the US has an unbelievable variety when it comes to choosing your next golf holiday.

Below we have picked out 10 of our favourite destinations which make up the best US golf trips, including some of the courses and accommodations that our clients return to time and time again.

If you are looking to play some great golf in a unique setting, then Scottsdale is for you. The desert landscape and mountain ranges make every day on the course like no other and the choice of accommodations is vast. Stay in the Old Town to be right in the middle of the shops, restaurants and nightlife, or choose one of the many high-end luxury golf resorts such as The Westin Kierland Resort, Boulders Resort & Spa or the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale.

When it comes to golf, there’s plenty to consider. The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is probably the most famous in the area (home to the WM Phoenix Open) and its sibling, the Champion Course, also receives much praise. Spend a day at Troon North and tackle the equally impressive Monument and Pinnacle courses or head to We-Ko-Pa, another popular 36-hole facility with a casino and hotel on-site.

The list of courses is endless, Grayhawk Golf Club is another big name and then there’s Sundridge Canyon, Raven Golf Club, AK-Chin Southern Dunes and Ocotillo as less expensive options. There’s so much to enjoy, which is the reason customers head back to Scottsdale year after year.

Set on the Monterey Peninsula, the views out to the Pacific Ocean are breathtaking, the accommodations are five-star+, and the golf is exceptional. A stay-&-play experience at Pebble Beach is the ultimate in bucket-list golf experiences. Choose from The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ or Casa Palmero™ as your base and then start building your golf schedule.

The Del Monte™ Golf Course is rich in history as the birthplace of the California State Amateur Championship and is a great first-day experience to get you warmed up. The Links at Spanish Bay™ and Spyglass Hill® are next to consider, before tackling one of the most famous and stunning courses in the world - Pebble Beach Golf Links™.

Home to the PGA TOUR’s annual AT&T Pro-Am and multiple U.S. Opens, Pebble Beach Golf Links is a must-play (at least once) for every discerning golfer. From the famous par-3 7th hole to the spectacular par-5 18th, a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links lives long in the memory.

Drive an hour south of Charleston and you find Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which simply put is a golfer’s paradise. With numerous villas, larger rental homes and the five-star Sanctuary Hotel, it has something for every group. Add countless recreation activities, miles of white sand beach and five golf courses, and it’s easy to see why it is the ideal choice for a golf holiday.

Designers such as Nicklaus, Palmer and Fazio have all put their mark down at Kiawah Island in the creation of Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Cougar Point and Oak Point – all of which are excellent tests of golf. However, it is Pete Dye’s Ocean Course that steals the show. Built for the 1991 Ryder Cup and more recently the scene of Phil Mickelson’s PGA Championship victory in 2021, this Pete Dye masterpiece is a stunning golf course in an equally impressive setting, that must be enjoyed by all avid golfers.

Just south of Jacksonville is the impressive TPC Sawgrass, the home of THE PLAYERS Championship. As a guest at the Sawgrass Marriott (just minutes from the golf club) you have access to play both THE PLAYERS Stadium Course and Dye’s Valley (both Pete Dye designs). As golf trips go, this is as good as it gets. Enjoy luxury at the Marriott hotel and then enjoy the finest of service at TPC Sawgrass. It is safe to say you’ll feel like one of the professionals (even if you don’t play like one).

The experience in the clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass is second-to-none, full of memorabilia and history of the tournament, and it is definitely worth taking the official tour before stepping onto the first tee. Playing The Stadium Course is an unbelievable treat, the course conditions are impeccable, and the finish is very special with holes 16, 17 and 18 full of danger – especially the world-famous par-3 17th.

A little further south is the World Golf Village where you’ll find the World Golf Hall of Fame, more accommodations and 36 holes of golf at the impressive Slammer & Squire and King & Bear courses. Combining the two areas over an extended stay or taking a day out from your time at Sawgrass to visit the World Golf Village is a great way to experience some of the best golf in this part of north Florida.

Known around the world for its casinos, entertainment and nightlife, Las Vegas also has an abundance of excellent golf that’s cut through the desert landscape. Take your pick hotels on the strip from the MGM Grand to the Bellagio, or base yourself in a more tranquil environment at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa which is 17 miles to the east.

There is plenty of golf to consider, from Bali Hai which is just off the Las Vegas Strip to the Paiute Resort, 30 minutes to the north-west, which is home to three Pete Dye courses created in an unbelievable desert environment. TPC Las Vegas is just 20 minutes to the west of the strip and is certainly well-placed on any Las Vegas golf tour (as part of the TPC collection you can expect the best of course conditions and service).

The list goes on and on, from the high-end Cascata Golf Club to SouthShore Country Club near to The Westin Hotel, and some less expensive options such as Desert Pines, Chimera and Revere Golf Club.

A Las Vegas golf trip can be designed to meet all budgets and is a great alternative to Scottsdale and Palm Springs when looking for a desert golf experience.

One of the country’s most popular holiday destinations, Hilton Head Island is also a big favourite for travelling golfers. Despite being a small island (just 41 sq miles of land), there are over 20 courses to enjoy including the regular PGA TOUR venue, Harbour Town Golf Links, famously known for the red and white lighthouse that forms the backdrop to the 18th green.

For accommodations, there are 5-star hotels such as The Westin Hilton Head Resort & Spa which is right next door to the 36-hole Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club. Alternatively, opt for the Omni Hotel that is located within the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, or choose from hundreds of rental villas and homes that can accommodate all group sizes. On-site at Palmetto Dunes you’re never far from the first tee as there are three courses on property designed by Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio and Arthur Hills.

With great weather, especially in the spring and fall for golf, beautiful white sand beaches, waterfront restaurants & bars, Hilton Head Island is hard to beat for a golf holiday.

Packed with golf from north to south, Myrtle Beach is often referred to as the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ as it is home to over 80 award-winning courses. It also offers some of the best value when it comes to a golf holiday and one of our customer favourites is Legends Golf & Resort. Situated just 9 miles inland from Myrtle Beach’s famous Broadway at the Beach, Legends offers the ideal retreat for golfing groups with two and three-bedroom villas, three courses on-site, a 30-acre practice facility and a Scottish golf theme running through the property. The Ailsa Pub has been voted one of the best 19th holes by Golf Digest and the general atmosphere throughout the whole resort is ideal for golfers looking for a relaxed golf holiday.

Barefoot Resort is another great option with villas and four courses on-site, and if you prefer a more upscale hotel then we recommend the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, situated on the Intracoastal Waterway it is surrounded by golf courses. In Myrtle Beach, there are literally endless options, and it is the reason so many golfers choose to go year after year.

For the combination of sunshine and great golf, Palm Springs confidently ticks those boxes. The climate means summers get very hot, but Palm Springs is the ideal getaway from late fall through to spring, with an array of desert courses to experience and the San Jacinto mountains making for an unbelievable backdrop.

The five-star La Quinta Resort is a popular choice as it is next door to PGA WEST, home to five courses available for public play, including the Pete Dye Stadium Course that hosts the PGA TOUR each year. The Westin Mission Hills Resort is another favourite with 18-holes on the property and well located to play the likes of Mission Hills North, Classic Club, Indian Canyons and Indian Wells.

In addition to the golf and ideal weather, you can enjoy biking, hiking and horse-back trails all through the Coachella Valley, or visit the nearby Joshua Tree National Park. With all this to explore, it is easy to see why Palm Springs is so attractive for a golf holiday.

Best known for its beaches, nightlife, shopping and cuisine, Miami also has some excellent golf to offer. With over 50-years of PGA TOUR history, the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral Miami is one to experience and a stay at the resort gives access to three other courses all on the property (Red Tiger, Golden Palm and Silver Fox).

For an alternative five-star experience with golf on-site, the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa is a great choice. The Soffer and Miller courses provide everything you will need out on the fairways and then either choose relaxation at The âme Spa & Wellness Collective or head to Tidal Cove Waterpark for some adventure on the latest slides and rides.

If you’re looking to explore some of the local courses, then Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes is a great base, plus it has 18 holes on the property which are ideal as a warmup course. Miami Shores, Normandy Shores and International Links Melreese Country Club are all great additions that welcome visiting golfers. Fall to spring is the best time to head to Miami for a golf trip, it guarantees the sun on your back, and there is a whole host of courses and accommodations to enjoy.

For golfholiday, Orlando and the surrounding area has got everything you need. From rental homes and villas to luxury golf resorts, numerous courses to enjoy (without driving miles), plus a PGA TOUR venue to tick off the bucket-list at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

Bay Hill is certainly an excellent place to base yourself, The Lodge has an intimate feel and the memorabilia and stories of Mr Palmer flow through the property. The Championship Course is a great test, and the 9-hole Challenger Course is the perfect complement. Add a couple of rounds in the local area and you will have a golf trip to remember.

Reunion Resort to the south-west has three courses on property uniquely designed by Watson, Palmer and Nicklaus and is popular with golfers as their villa accommodations work well with all group sizes. The Omni Championsgate hotel is also found in the south-west corridor and has 36-holes on-site both designed by Greg Norman, alternatively choose from a variety of independent rental homes and villas and build your own golf tour. Orange County National, Celebration, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, Shingle Creek, Disney Magnolia are just some of the courses that we regularly offer to clients.