If the thought of enduring an entire winter without playing a round of golf fills you with dread, you might want to consider making an escape to one of these amazing warm winter golf destinations. Not only can you enjoy some of the world’s best golf resorts and their luxe amenities, but you’ll find picture-perfect beaches for soaking up the sunshine.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Nevis
One of the best luxury Caribbean resorts, Four Seasons Resort on Nevis offers the chance to play golf on one of the world’s most scenic courses. The Robert Trent Jones II-designed course has a number of oceanside holes, but it’s just as spectacular up Nevis Peak, where you’ll take in everything from the historic sugar mills to the frequent appearance of Green Vervet monkeys. The resort also offers special perks for golfing enthusiasts, including clubs and a power cart, practice range privileges, private lessons and golf clinics. You’ll also have access to a spa, world-class restaurants, numerous activities and even the chance to dine and dive where you’ll slip into a wetsuit and join a chef and divemaster for a two-tank dive, catching the elusive spiny lobster before sipping cocktails on the beach while the chef prepares your lobster feast.
Apes Hill Club, Barbados
There are stunning courses throughout the Caribbean, but few offer the incredible scenic beauty and all-around excellence of Apes Hill Club in Barbados. Winter temperatures are in the mid-70s, and as you golf in this idyllic climate, you’ll hear the sounds of green monkeys in the adjacent jungle while taking in views that are almost surreal. While the course itself is members-only, by booking one of the club’s gorgeous villas, you can reserve your tee time. Be sure to bring your camera along, you’ll want to snap a photo at Hole 3 with its breathtaking view of the sea.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla
The CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa boasts an outstanding Caribbean golf experience with the sand, wind and water blending seamlessly with the island’s natural environment. This Greg Norman-designed course has awe-inspiring vistas, including the 1st hole, where views of the sea and St. Maarten await, and the visual appeal continues throughout the 18-hole course. Afterward, relax at the award-winning Spa by CuisinArt featuring a Healing Waters Pool with hydrotherapy. Feed those hunger pangs with a gourmet menu featuring local flavors and the freshest ingredients from the resort’s own hydroponic farm. When it’s time for bed, you can lie your head down in one of the luxurious suites, most of which offer spectacular views and are just steps from the sea.
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand
When most of us are digging out of the snow, New Zealand’s summer is in full swing, which makes it ideal for escaping the chill of winter and enjoying a game of golf. The Bay of Islands, renowned as one of the country’s most picturesque areas, is home to Kauri Cliffs, one of the most magnificent golf courses designed over the last 20 years. Set across 4,000 acres of rolling farmland along the coast near Matauri Bay, this luxury New Zealand lodge was made to harmonize and blend in with the land’s natural features. Six holes are played alongside cliffs that plunge dramatically down into sea, though an astounding 15 holes offer breathtaking views of the Pacific, spanning from the Cavalli Islands to Cape Brett. If you’re all about golf, you might as well stay here too, as The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is a premier luxury vacation destination affording 180-degree views of the Pacific. Every suite overlooks the ocean and the golf course and also features a private porch, a bedroom with a sitting area and an open fireplace.
Barnbougle Dunes - Tasmania, Australia
Australia is another great Southern Hemisphere destination for golfing, particularly in Tasmania. While that may be the last place you’ve thought about traveling to for a golf vacation, there’s a very good chance that once you visit, you’ll be wondering why you’ve never been before. Not only is Tasmania spectacularly beautiful, but this is also the home of Barnbougle Dunes, renowned as one of Australia’s finest courses. It runs along the shore, in between a wide complex of dunes that extend behind it – holes are routed through the dunes, some as high as 100 feet. You can stay here too, in modern cottages that open up to patios overlooking the course and the sea. A spa, restaurant and sports bar can also be found right on site.
Kaua'i Marriott Resort - Kauai, Hawaii
Located on the Garden Isle at the Kauai Marriott Resort, Kauai Lagoons is considered by many to be the most beautiful course in Hawai. One of the best golf resorts in the United States, it features lush courses lined with palm trees and magnificent Pacific Ocean views. Of course the island itself is one of Hawaii’s most tranquil, renowned for its scenic beauty with more waterfalls than any other island in the state as well as being home to many idyllic beaches and brilliant gardens. Golfers can enjoy the warm weather while playing this spectacular course surrounded by emerald-hued mountains and the waves crashing against the green. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Kiele course is uniquely styled, with fairways weaving along the imposing sea cliffs, across promontories high above the water and roughly 40 acres of freshwater lagoons winding throughout the resort. Guests at the Marriott not only have great access to this world-class course, but have a choice of elegantly-appointed guest rooms, many of which offer balconies and gorgeous views, as well as a full-service spa.
Constance Lemuria Resort - Praslin Island, Seychelles
The Constant Lemuria Resort on Praslin Island is home to the three 18-hole golf courses. The 15th hole of Lemuria Golf Course is considered the most extraordinary with jaw-dropping views from its vantage point high atop a rocky ridge, looking out across the dazzling waters and other islands. From there, you’ll head down the fairway that’s been carved through the rainforest, and ultimately to a green fronted by a lake. Green fees are included for golfers who stay at the resort, which features luxurious suites and villas with views of the Indian Ocean. In addition to golf, you’ll find all sorts of other activities to take part in too, including diving and island exploration excursions. The resort is also home to a number of restaurants serving gourmet cuisine and outstanding wines.
Casa de Campo Resort, Dominican Republic
Casa de Camp is home to the Teeth of the Dog, a course that’s been rated as the number one in the Caribbean by Golf Magazine. It draws some of the very best pro and amateur golfers in the world as a true “bucket list” track designed by leading golf architect Pete Dye. Seven holes play along or over the dazzling waters of the Caribbean, four on the front and three on the backside. While golf is the main draw at this resort, you’ll also have access to one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. Minitas Beach is an immaculate stretch of soft sand with a man-made reef several hundred feet out – while it’s a 10-minute drive via golf cart, depending on your room location, it’s definitely worth spending a bit of time on. A pool, spa, as well as a number of bars and restaurants can be reached within a short stroll.
Cape Kidnappers - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Cape Kidnappers is set atop 6,000 rolling acres of beautiful pasture-land in Hawes Bay, affording breathtaking 180-degree views of the ocean in spacious suites. No matter which you choose, you’ll have your own private balcony that offers fantastic views of the property, golf course and the Pacific. The main lodge boasts open fireplaces, a wine cellar and tasting room as well as a fully-equipped gym, but the biggest draw here is the Tom Doak-designed golf course, which has been hailed as one of the great modern marvels in golf and ranked as one of the best in the world. You’ll play along the precipitous cliffs of the bay, enjoying some of the most remarkable views on earth. The 7,119-yard course offers challenges for all skill levels too.
Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain - Marana, Arizona
Of course, you don’t have to head overseas to enjoy a warm winter golf escape with Arizona one of America’s most famous golfing destinations. Stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, tucked within the rolling hills of Marana about 20 miles northwest of Tucson, and you’ll have access to a Jack Nicklaus signature design luxury golf course at The Golf Club at Dove Mountain. Nicklaus created 27 holes with unique challenges and distinct character that blends naturally among noble saguaros and the surrounding Tortolita Mountain Range. The posh Ritz-Carlton resort also boasts 20 miles of hiking and biking trails as well as a magnificent spa and a restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, serving southwestern cuisine focused on local ingredients along with magnificent desert views.
The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona
Another great Arizona option is The Phoenician, a 250-acre resort that’s been called the “Xanadu of the Resort World.” A top resort in Scottsdale, it features a USGA 27-hole golf course contoured out of the beauty of the scenic Sonoran Desert offering the chance to tee off and take in pristine desert views while playing on gorgeous greens as well as the state’s only sand-island green. After a round, come back and experience exceptional service and a host of other activities, including tennis, spa treatments and a pool complex with multiple pools. Just taking a stroll through the property’s lush grounds filled with koi ponds, waterfalls, palms and green landscaping set against the rugged backdrop can be a great way to reconnect with nature. Guests can also choose from a variety of different restaurants when those hunger pangs hit.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve - Dorado, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico offers another spectacular Caribbean golf escape, and in the north coast town of Dorado, you’ll not only enjoy a palm-fringed oasis in a remote location renowned for its scenic natural beauty, but the chance to play on three different golf courses: the East Course, Pineapple Course and Sugarcane Course. The East Course, a design of Robert Trent Jones, Sr, was recently restored by his son, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The resort’s restaurant Mi Casa, where Chef Andres oversees a menu of modern American-Spanish-Caribbean dishes, served with sweeping ocean vistas, is another big draw, as is its impressive setting along three miles of magnificent coastline. It also features a number of pools, a water activities department and a five-acre spa with treehouse treatment platforms.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines - San Diego, California
San Diego is renowned for its idyllic year-round climate, with the wintertime bringing daytime highs that range around the upper 60s. While there is practically an endless list of outstanding golf courses in the region, Torrey Pines is known as one of the very best, perched above the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. This iconic golf course was designed by Rees Jones and hosts the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open. Guests of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, adjacent to the course, can take advantage of priority tee times for the opportunity to play where the pros play while enjoying the stunning coastline as a backdrop. The lodge features a full-service spa and multiple restaurants as well as a heated pool with poolside cabanas, a whirlpool, lawn croquet and amazing views of the golf course and the ocean beyond.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua - Maui, Hawaii
The immaculate grounds of the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua could easily be confused with a golf course. Loved by golfers from all corners of the globe, not only does the resort itself provide a huge wow factor, but so does its two large golf courses that sit right next door. The Plantation Course, an 18-hole masterpiece with water views at holes 4 and 5, hosts the PGA Tour’s season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions each January, garnering it much of the attention, but its Bay Course is just as impressive, with rolling fairways and cliff-hugging approaches. One of Maui’s most notable resorts is also known for its extraordinary service, upscale accommodations, restaurant, pool and spa. The spa is an ideal place to head after a day out on the course, featuring private outdoor shower gardens, treatment rooms, a yoga studio and more – or, you can always soak in one of the hot tubs set among the lush resort grounds.
The Abacos Club on Winding Bay - Abacos, Bahamas
The Bahamas, located just a hop, skip and a jump from Miami, offers balmy breezes, constant sunshine and a multitude of top-notch golf courses that make the islands ideal for a golf getaway. There is no winter season here to limit your play time, and the average 70-degree temperatures mean the grass is always green. The Abaco Club, situated in The Abacos, is renowned for its more than 650 square miles of beaches, coves, cays and bays, making it an ideal place for those that plan to spend most of their time enjoying the sport. This private resort club is open to visitors with accommodation available in vacation rental homes, and, of course, it features an amazing golf course. This extraordinary Scottish-style links course is nestled on a peninsula at the edge of cerulean waters and an expansive, powdery soft sand beach. Each of its 18 holes blend into the natural setting of the sea, with its 18th-hole a particular standout, set along the shoreline 60 feet above the crashing surf.
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama - Tenerife, Canary Islands
The Ritz-Carlton, Abama offers the chance to escape the cold of winter as well as the chaos of daily life, stepping into a true oasis on Tenerife. This luxury destination not only offers world-class dining, 5-star services, an unspoiled beach and sumptuous spa, but it’s home to a Dave Thomas-designed golf course that’s becoming known as one of the finest in Europe for a golf vacation. While it challenges experts, it’s still enjoyable for beginners and everyone can enjoy its spectacular panoramic vistas. The course features a creek and a number of lakes that become obstacles as well as undulating and elevated greens.
