Summer is here, which means golf season is in full swing!
We put together a few extravagant trips around the world that will give you and your playing partners the time of your life. Whether you are a competitive player or a weekend warrior, our list encapsulates all one can ask for in a trip, from great courses to mouth-watering food. So if you are planning a golf trip, check out these fantastic destinations below.
Northern California
What better place to go for the ultimate golf trip than where Heaven and Earth meet: Monterey, CA. This will be a trip you will never forget, as some of the best golf courses in the world sit on this strip of land. Before getting on 17-mile drive, start the trip with Bayonet Golf Course, site of two tracks that will be sure to challenge your game. The Bayonet and the Black Course are two long, tight venues that are the hardest on the entire peninsula – a great test of golf for players of all levels. Your adventure continues on the coast with Spanish Bay, a Scottish-looking links course with magnificent views of the ocean. A track that is highly under-rated is Poppy Hills, a traditional course that meanders through the pines of the local area. Round out your trip with Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach, two beautiful golf courses with heart-pounding views. Spyglass dives more into the forest of the peninsula while Pebble has a stretch of holes on the coast and is regarded as the most beautiful course on Earth. Make sure to enjoy Monterey as well, a cute town with remarkable lodging, and great wine and seafood.
Oregon
Looking for a traditional links-style golf trip, but hoping to stay in the United States? Bandon Dunes is regarded as one of the best golf resorts in the world and America’s premiere links destination. Located on the western coast of Oregon, Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes are two enticing seaside courses with a Scottish feel. Walking up and down the shoreline with sideways rain and a caddy by your side will make you feel like you’re walking down the 18th fairway of the Open Championship. Make sure to check out Old MacDonald and Bandon Trials, two other courses apart of the Bandon Dunes Resort that travel into the hills of the terrain but still offer the panoramic ocean views. Also make sure to check out Pronghorn Golf Course and the Crosswater at Sun River. Pronghorn will keep you scratching your head with its ancient lava rocks and postcard views of the Cascade Mountains. Crosswater will finally make you feel like you’re in Oregon, but do not be fooled. Its scenic views and natural terrains will cause for a difficult round – especially if conditions become harsh.
The Carolinas
Some of the country’s best golf lies in North and South Carolina, and the best way to experience all of its beauty is to rent a car and drive from Pinehurst, NC to Charleston, SC. While in North Carolina, the Pinehurst Resort will give you a wonderful and historical getaway – the #2 course is rich in golfing legacy, including its most recent 2014 Men’s and Women’s U.S. Open, and the #8 course offers similar difficulty and beauty. Across the road from the resort is Pine Needles, a traditional Donald Ross course with greens that will cause troubles with putting. An underrated course all the locals recommend is Tobacco Road, a side-winding test with many undulation changes. From there, make the drive down to Myrtle Beach, SC – arguably the golfing capital of the world. With more courses than any other region, Myrtle offers many different options for your getaway. Some of the must-plays include Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Barefoot Resort, Dunes Golf & Beach Club, and True Blue Golf Plantation – all great tests of golf and worth the drive down to South Carolina. Before you go, save up your appetite forKiawah Island Ocean Course, site of the 2012 PGA Championship. A tough track with blowing winds from the east, this course sits on the shoreline of the Atlantic and will give golfers across the world a wonderful and difficult test. The Carolinas offer rich golfing history and many different styles of topography, which adds up to a trip you must scratch off from the bucket list soon.
Scotland
For those of you who enjoy the traditional style of golf, the way it was played when the game was first created, a trip you must make one day is to Scotland, the home of golf. Some of the gems in this region include St. Andrews, what some call the best course in the world, Carnoustie, a windy track with enough difficulty to cause Sergio Garcia and Jean Van de Velde to single-handedly lose the Open Championship on the 72nd hole, and Turnberry, a meandering course around the rocky shoreline on World War II soil. Two more must-play courses are Muirfield, site of 15 British Opens, and Royal Troon, a tricky track that plays through broken sand hills. While there, head to the many local pubs and order fish n’ chips and a beer. The Scotland rotation tops the bucket list of golf trips around the world and can be one of the most memorable experiences for avid golfers.
Whichever destination you choose, a golf getaway with family, friends, or business partners is a great way to enjoy the summer months. The areas above will all keep you in awe with their natural magnificence and beauty, as well as challenging golf!