In coming weeks—and in some cases already —golf in Canada will be put to bed by cold weather and snow. But that doesn’t mean those starved for the opportunity to chase a little white ball around plush green fairways have to put their clubs away for the entire winter. The U.S. is known for their popular golf destinations, like Myrtle Beach, but here are a few lesser-known alternatives for winter golf:
1. Bandon Dunes (North Bend, Oregon)
While there’s no secret that Bandon Dunes, with its four full courses and terrific short course, is one of the most famous resorts in the world, what isn’t as widely known is the facility is open year-round. In fact, with peak rates rising to US$275 during the summer, there are good deals to be had in months like December and February. Sure, the temperature isn’t warm—but then again, it rarely gets above 20 degrees in the summer. The one catch is daylight—those wanting to play 36 holes in a day have to get out on the course first thing or risk running out of sunlight in their second round. If you can’t sneak in a second 18, consider Bandon Preserve, the resort’s short course, which features the same staggering ocean views and is a joy to play.
2. Streamsong (Lakeland, Florida)
The uniqueness of the elevations of our courses make them unlike anything seen in Florida. Experience them for yourself.
Thank you for this beautiful aerial shot, @thedapperdrive. pic.twitter.com/JQlNYTlbe8
— Streamsong Resort (@streamsong) October 17, 2018
Only a little more than an hour from Orlando, Streamsong, with courses by the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Gil Hanse, and Tom Doak, raises the bar for golf in the sunshine state.
It’s one of the most ambitious and intriguing golf projects to open in recent years. In an area known for table-flat courses, manmade ponds and condo-filled vistas, a completely different kind of course has been realized in Streamsong, a new 54-hole facility that has received extremely high marks both for its unique design and for the fact it’s situated on an old phosphate mine, part of a growing movement to make golf more “green.”
3. Pinehurst (other than the Pinehurst courses) (Pinehurst, NC)
Yes, everyone knows about Pinehurst, and its famed No. 2 course, which has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and comes with a significantly hefty green fee. But there’s lots of other courses in the Pinehurst area that are worth seeking out in the cool Canadian months that won’t break your bank book. One of the most interesting options is Tobacco Road (in Sanford, NC), a wild course created by the late Mike Strantz. An elaborate design filled with blind shots, massive constructed dunes, and devilish greens, Tobacco Road can be polarizing to many golfers, but is something you’ll never forget.
On the other hand, if you want to seek out a classic, try Donald Ross’ Southern Pines. Often overlooked amongst the more famous courses in the area, Southern Pines has all of Ross’ most noted design concepts—shifting elevation throughout the routing, which is walkable, and challenging greens, at a fraction of the cost you’ll find at nearby gems like Mid Pines or Pine Needles.
4. World Woods (Brooksville, Florida)
This Tom Fazio design was initially conceived as a place that would lure Japanese golfers. While that didn’t pan out, its two courses (Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks)—located about 90-minutes north-west of Orlando—are among the best public courses in Florida. Driving into the sprawling property gives you a sense that this isn’t typical Florida golf. The land plunges and rolls, with fairways cut between outcroppings of pine trees and massive blowout bunkers seeking to capture errant shots. Not quite a secret—Canadians have been traveling to World Woods for two decades to play these two gems—the out-of-the-way location and quality of the golf makes it worthy of a second or third visit.
5. Mississippi
In recent decades, casinos (always located on water for legal reasons) and golf have sprung up all over this southern U.S. state, many along the Gulf of Mexico. While we’re not commenting on the quality of the gambling, the golf is enough of a lure on its own. Several courses stand out, including the Davis Love III-designed Shell Landing (in Biloxi). Inexpensive (at around $75), Shell Landing plays through a diverse landscape of wetlands, Shell Landing is noted for its clever greens.
About three hours away from the coast is Dancing Rabbit, with two courses set next to a casino. With two courses designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate, the resort offers great golf set on a rolling piece of property punctuated by streams. Many think Dancing Rabbit is among the best two-course facilities in the U.S.—and that’s saying a lot.
Great list of winter getaways! I got three trips planned between late November and February. Headed to Kauai, going to play your top choice Brandon Dunes, and then ended my winter trips in Mesquite, Nevada and St. George. Love winter golf getaways!
Sorry to see that you did not include the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. 11 sites throughout the state, each site with at least 27 holes of top notch, Robert Trent Jones designed courses. In 6 days we played 4 different sites, 6 different courses (Opelika/Auburn, Prattville, Greenville, and Dothan). Averaging about $90 per day (unlimited golf per day), RTJ Golf Trail is one of the best golf values in North America.