Best Places for a Golf Trip
A great golf-buddies trip needs three things: courses worth the flight, a home base with room for the crew, and enough off-course to fill the evenings. Here are the destinations that deliver — from warm-weather resort golf to bucket-list links.
Scottsdale, Arizona — the group-golf default
Dozens of championship courses, near-guaranteed sun, private-pool rental homes, and Old Town nightlife a short drive away — Scottsdale is the easy pick for a first big golf trip. The top-rated plays: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), home of the WM Phoenix Open; We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), ranked Arizona's #1 public course; Troon North (Monument); and Grayhawk (Raptor), with value rounds at Talking Stick and Papago. Book a house near North Scottsdale for courses and a pool. Best October–May (summer is brutal). Full details in the Arizona golf buddy trips guide.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — the value king
Over 80 courses, cheap tee times and lodging, and everything set up for buddies trips — Myrtle Beach packs the most golf per dollar. The must-plays: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach, and the four courses at Barefoot Resort (Dye, Love, Fazio, Norman). Spring and fall are ideal. The move: a big beach house or golf-resort villa and a stacked 36-holes-a-day itinerary.
Pinehurst, North Carolina — the American cathedral
Ten courses in one village, anchored by the famous No. 2 (a U.S. Open host) — Pinehurst is a stay-and-play pilgrimage. Add the newer No. 10, plus No. 4 and No. 8. Base at or near the resort, play a marquee course plus a couple of the others, and keep it about the golf. A splurge, but a bucket-lister.
Bandon Dunes, Oregon — links golf in the US
Five world-top links courses on the Pacific — Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch — walking-only with caddies. Remote and weather-dependent, but the closest thing to Scotland stateside. This is a serious-golfer's trip — stay on-site and play sunup to sundown.
Scotland & Ireland — the bucket-list trip
The home of golf: St Andrews (Old Course), Carnoustie, and Royal Troon on the Ayrshire coast, plus the Irish links — Ballybunion, Lahinch, and Royal County Down. It's a bigger investment of time and money, so plan well ahead — book the marquee tee times (the St Andrews Old Course runs a ballot) months out, rent a van, and build in rest days.
Other strong picks
- Palm Springs, CA — resort-desert golf and pool houses, easy from the West Coast; play PGA West (Stadium) and Desert Willow (Firecliff).
- Pebble Beach / Monterey, CA — iconic ocean golf; splurge on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill.
- Kiawah Island, SC — the Pete Dye Ocean Course (2021 PGA Championship) plus a low-country beach base.
- Northern Michigan — summer resort golf at Boyne and Forest Dunes (The Loop) for Midwest crews.
Plan the golf trip
Pick warm-weather resort golf (Scottsdale, Myrtle Beach, Palm Springs) for an easy first trip and save the bucket-listers (Bandon, Scotland) for when the group's committed. Book one big rental so the crew stays together (large-group rentals), lock tee times early, and split the cost with the cost splitter. Don't forget the golf trip packing list.
FAQ
Where is the best place for a golf trip?
For most groups, Scottsdale (courses + sun + nightlife) or Myrtle Beach (most golf for the money) are the best first trips. Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes are the bucket-list stay-and-plays; Scotland and Ireland are the trip of a lifetime.
What is the cheapest golf trip destination?
Myrtle Beach — with 80+ courses competing on price, tee times and lodging are cheap, especially in spring and fall. Book a golf-package villa and play 36 a day to stretch it further.
How do you plan a group golf trip?
Pick a destination that fits the group's budget and skill, book one big rental to keep everyone together, lock marquee tee times early (months ahead for Pinehurst, Bandon, or Scotland), plan a round or two a day with off-course evenings, and split the cost evenly with a cost splitter.
Plan the golf trip with the crew
Squadcation turns a group chat into one shared plan — everyone adds ideas, votes on dates and stays, and the itinerary builds itself. Free to start, no app to install.
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