Teeth of the Dog
Winter is coming. It’s the time of the year where the golf courses in the sunbelt of the United States as well as other tropical destinations are given their time to shine as they enter peak season and we’ve taken the liberty of helping you identify a few warm weather locales that could be perfect for your group’s next golf stay and play in the coming months.
Alabama
Alabama is a state that features a ton of great golf options for your next winter golf getaway, and it would be impossible to mention this state without referencing the incredible Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail which features 31 golf courses for you to choose from…31! The value of packages here during the winter months through March 31, 2024 are incredible and start as low as $85 per day for stays of two days or more. Other great options to consider are FarmLinks at Pursell Farms as well as Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores.
Kiva Dunes
Arizona
A longtime favorite of the traveling golfer, Arizona continues to deliver a wealth of options for the traveling golfer to enjoy. This market is riddled with top-notch golf at courses such as TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Talking Stick, Greyhawk, The Boulders, Troon North, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, and a list that could go on and on.  There are also a number of high-end resorts in the area for you to enjoy, as well as a plethora of home rental options that tend to be a favorite for vacationing golfers. If that’s an option you’re considering, a group such as GolfTroop.com can be a great option for you to handle all of your booking needs.
TPC Scottsdale
Central Florida
It’s an exciting time for golf in Central Florida right now as the market seems to be entering a renaissance of sorts as some long-time favorites are getting some major facelifts to enhance the golf experience. Streamsong Resort is one of the best golf resorts in the country, and as of December 2023 the new short course known as The Chain will open. Early 2024 will also bring on the opening of the long awaited Evermore Resort, a new massive resort that most golfers will recognize as Grand Cypress Golf Resort from the past. The massive changes here have reimagined the 45 holes here to 36 holes, with the Links Course (formerly known as The New Course) staying intact and the newer Cypress Course which is a combination of holes that previously existed from the original 27 holes of the North, South, and East Courses, the 3 holes from the old practice center, as well as a few new holes. This area is also seeing a few favorites go through some changes including Mission Resort + Club (formerly known as Mission Inn Resort and Club as they are in a rebranding transition) which has been under new ownership and is continually improving since that change as well as the reopening of all 18 holes of the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club.
Streamsong Blue
Coastal Georgia
It’s always a good idea to have Georgia on your mind, and the Southern Coast of Georgia in St. Simons Island is always a good place to be when the weather turns cooler. As you’ll see on television when the PGA Tour descends upon the area in late November at the RSM Classic, an area favorite is the iconic Sea Island Resort. This resort features 54 holes of incredible golf highlighted by the Seaside and Plantation courses, one of, if not the, best golf performance centers in the country, and incredible accommodations for any type of golf group. Another great golf option located nearby is The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort which features 18 holes that weave in and out of the marshlands that provide an incredible value for the traveling golfer.
Dominican Republic
The D.R., as it’s affectionately known as to those who have visited here, is the destination that put golf in the Caribbean on the map many moons ago when the one and only Pete Dye built The Teeth of the Dog Course at the famous Casa de Campo Resort. Over the years, this country has continued to make top-tier golf a staple of their culture including the addition of great courses in the Punta Cana region such as Corales, La Cana, and Punta Espada. The area also boasts a ton of great all-inclusive resorts, and please note it’s worth staying at a nicer one if you can afford it. If you’re looking for a home rental, look at Group Palmera as they can assist with both your lodging and golfing needs.
Teeth of the Dog
Greater Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is known for some extremely high-quality private golf courses, and just an hour outside of the city is Reynolds Lake Oconee. This beautiful property is both an incredible stay and play destination as well as a residential community. For the vacationing golfer, there are a multitude of options including the National Club Cottages which feature 4-bedrooms and are perfect for golf groups as well as 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom options with The Landing Cottages and condos at The Village at Lake Club Pointe. For those looking for an upscale resort experience, check out The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee for a lakeside oasis. With 99 holes of resort golf available to vacationing golfers, this is one of the top destinations in the country and is certainly worth a look during the winter months.
Reynolds Lake Oconee
Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island features 26 golf courses on the island, many of which are open to vacationing golfers, this South Carolina destination is known for great golf and is highlighted by Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort as this premier design by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus is at the epicenter of modern golf course architecture (see story here). The resort also features the stunning Davis and Mark Love redesign of the Plantation Course and Heron Pointe by Pete Dye. Two other properties to certainly consider here are Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort that features 3 great courses, as well as The Heritage Golf Collection which now features four golfing hubs at Port Royal Golf Club, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Shipyard Golf Club, and the newly added Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club.
Harbour Town
Las Vegas
Vivaaaaa Las Vegas! As if you ever needed a good excuse to hit up Sin City, but just in case you do, this incredible golf destination is known for a plethora of enjoyable options located not too far off The Strip. If you skew towards the high roller tables, then options such as Shadow Creek Golf Club or The Wynn Golf Club may be just what you’re looking for. Other great options in the area include Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort that has 54 holes of Pete Dye-designed golf, the always fun Bali Hai Golf Club that embraces the Vegas vibe like none other, and the duo of Cascata and Rio Secco that are two incredible layouts in the area. If you’re up for a little longer drive, check out Wolf Creek Golf Club as you’ll likely recognize from your early days of playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf video game back in the day.
Las Vegas Paiute
Northeast Florida
Great variety, incredible beaches, Jacksonville Jaguars football games, and so much more defines a trip to Northeast Florida along Florida’s First Coast. The most famous course in the area is TPC Sawgrass and the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, and rightfully so as the Home of THE PLAYERS Championship serves as the unofficial fifth major annually on the PGA Tour. In addition to TPC Sawgrass, we suggest you look at World Golf Village, the greater Amelia Island area, especially the Omni Amelia Island Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and Hammock Beach Resort as great options for your next golf outing.
TPC Sawgrass
Northwest Florida
Similar to those considering Northeast Florida, Northwest Florida is a great option in the winter time as you can truly do it all here including enjoying the pristine white sand beaches that run along the Gulf of Mexico here. The golf is fantastic, and our favorite in the area is Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort as this property continues to deliver incredible value for the vacationing golfer with 73 holes of golf for you to choose from. And yes, 73 is not a typo…you’ll have to visit to see how they got to that number!
Sandestin
San Diego
A state known for unbelievable golf, California is a haven for winter golf and one of the best destinations in the state to visit is San Diego. Without a doubt one of the most iconic venues here is Torrey Pines, and unbeknownst to most golfers, this muni that is known to be nearly impossible to get a tee time at does have some ways to access it through stay and play opportunities at SanDiegoGolf.com. Through a stay-and-play at one of the local resorts, you can book here as well as other great area options such as Omni La Costa, Aviara Golf Club, and Maderas Golf Club.
Torrey Pines
South Africa
For those looking for a bucket list, once in a lifetime golf trip, then take a look at South Africa. The team at AfricaGolfSafari.com can help you plan a trip that includes everything from wine tasting, safaris, luxurious accommodations, and of course, great golf. There are a ton of destinations to consider here, and their team of experts can help you create the perfect experience for you based on your budget and needs.
Fancourt