Golf enthusiasts looking for an unforgettable vacation might want to consider planning a trip at one of these top golf resorts. Located at various places across the globe, you’ll be able to tee off surrounded by beautiful scenery and perhaps follow in the footsteps of some of the greats. After a round or two, enjoy all sorts of other activities or just relax and soak up the luxuries.
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs - Matauri Bay, New Zealand
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is an ultra-luxe vacation destination, providing 180-degree views of the Pacific from its vantage point on the North Island of New Zealand, making it the perfect place to stay for taking advantage of the Kauri Cliffs Golf Club. Blending in with the natural features, six holes are played alongside cliffs that dramatically plunge to the sea, with an impressive 15 holes providing jaw-dropping ocean views. Guests can also join immersive local heritage tours, fish and indulge in treatments at the spa sanctuary tucked in the forest.
Every suite overlooks the Pacific and the golf course, but you might want to go all out by booking one the new Residences. You’ll get all the comforts of home and then some, including a full kitchen, butler’s pantry for exclusive chef service, stocked mini-bar and a large veranda with a private 25-foot-long saltwater swimming pool.
Old Course Hotel - St. Andrews, Scotland
The Old Course Hotel is a no-brainer for those planning to check off the ultimate golfing bucket list experience. St. Andrews is the birthplace of golf and fans have been playing here since the early 1400s. The Old Course itself has hosted the Open Championship a record 29 times and has attracted royalty, presidents, celebrities and professionals alike. When not golfing, take advantage of the hotel’s spa, which offers a variety of treatments and massage, including the Golfer’s Massage, as well as a swimming pool with a waterfall, a rooftop hot tub, sauna, Japanese steam room and plunge pool.
Inn at Spanish Bay - Pebble Beach, California
The Inn at Spanish Bay is part of Pebble Beach Resorts, catering primarily to avid golfers and luxury travelers. It’s fronted by a Scottish-style links golf course lining one of the world’s most magnificent coastlines for some of the best views in all of Pebble Beach. There are multiple dining options throughout the Pebble Beach complex, while many of the spacious rooms face the Pacific. Some also include fireplaces, Italian marble baths and balconies.
Adare Manor - Adare, Ireland
Located on the outskirts of one of Ireland’s prettiest villages, Adare Manor Resort is just as captivating. The Neo-Gothic manor boasts 365 stained windows and lavish guest rooms with original 19th-century fireplaces and beds with beautifully-carved headboards. The highlight for golfers is its park-like course, created in harmony with the stunning natural surroundings, including mature trees, lush softly rolling terrain and the banks of the River Maigue. The resort offers a host of other activities too, like horse riding, hot air balloon rides, fishing and falconry along with award-winning dining.
Sea Pines Resort - Hilton Head, South Carolina
Known as Golf Island, Hilton Head is a true golfer’s paradise. Sea Pines Resort is home to the 18-hole Harbour Town Golf Links, the crowning achievement of Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, and a perennial favorite among PGA Tour players. It’s the course that put Hilton Head on the map, and some five decades later it’s still considered one of the top courses in the world. Guests will not only enjoy easy access to outstanding golf but also beautiful beaches and biking trails. A wide range of accommodation is available, including luxury villa rentals for as many as a dozen guests.
Lodge at Torrey Pines - San Diego, California
San Diego is famous for golf with many alluring golf resorts to choose from but Torrey Pines is considered among the best, set atop the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. Guests of The Lodge at Torrey Pines enjoy being right next to the course and can also take advantage of priority tee times, playing where the pros do against a backdrop of magnificent coastline. The property also includes a full-service spa, a heated pool with underwater music and poolside cabanas, whirlpool, lawn croquet and two restaurants. Rooms are luxurious and some come with ocean views.
The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona
The Phoenician is spread across 250 acres and includes a USGA 27-hole golf course that was carved out of the scenic Sonoran Desert. Players enjoy pristine desert views and lush greens, including the state’s only sand-island green. There are many other activities too, like tennis and swimming at the huge complex with multiple pools. There’s also a fabulous spa for a variety of relaxing treatments, an array of restaurants for dining and tranquil pathways that meander alongside koi ponds, waterfalls and palms.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve - Dorado, Puerto Rico
Enjoy an unforgettable Caribbean golf escape in the north coast town of Dorado in Puerto Rico. This remote palm-fringed oasis is surrounded by scenic natural beauty and provides guests with access to three golf courses: the East Course, Pineapple Course and Sugarcane Course. The on-site restaurant Mi Casa serves tasty modern American-Spanish-Caribbean cuisine complemented by sweeping ocean views and there are several pools, a department for water sports and a five-acre spa with treehouse treatment platforms.
One&Only Palmilla - San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico
One of the most luxurious hotels in Cabo San Lucas, this breathing Los Cabos resort is a premier golfing destination with three 9-hole courses that were the first in Latin America to be designed by Jack Nicklaus. They include features like lakes, staggered tees and various elevations, providing views throughout. The resort overlooks the Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez, enjoying easy access to beautiful sandy beaches, including swimmable Pelican Beach along with awe-inspiring sunrises every morning.
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay - Great Abaco Island, Bahamas
The Abaco Club on Winding Bay is renowned for its more than 650 square miles of beaches, coves, cays and bays, as well as its top-notch golf. An extraordinary Scottish-style links course sits on a peninsula at the edge of brilliant turquoise waters and a large powdery soft sand beach. All 18 holes blend into the natural setting, with the 18th a standout, situated 60 feet above the surf. Accommodation is available in luxury vacation rental homes.
