[ad_1]
There’s no better time than now to start planning a fall golf getaway. Especially for golfers who will see their courses go into hibernation for another winter. Many golf destinations, whether in the south, out west in the Scottsdale or Las Vegas desert, or the Caribbean, offer great temps and colorful foliage to enhance a fantastic end-of-season golf trip. In partnership with the pros at Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR, Golf Tips highlights the following itineraries to get into the fall swing!
SCOTTSDALE
Imagine playing in front of 20,000 rollicking fans on a par-3? As the site of the PGA Tour’s WMPO, the grandstands surrounding the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course are left year-round for golfers to get a full dose of that experience – minus the 20,000 fans! That aside, golfers will be faced with challenging greens throughout the course and a memorable risk-reward finish.
A pair of Tom Weiskopf-designed courses at Troon North are top-10 members of Golf Digest’s best public courses in Arizona. The Monument Course, known for having the best back nine in Scottsdale, features breathtaking elevation changes with dramatic rock formations guarding the rolling fairways. The Pinnacle Course is highlighted with wide fairways and small greens. Balls hit off the fairway will find the cactus and other desert foliage.
Another top-tier 36-hole facility resides at Grayhawk Golf Club. Both the David Graham/Gary Panks-designed Talon and Tom Fazio-designed Raptor courses provide generous fairways, sweeping undulations, deep bunkers, and generous views of the McDowell Mountain and the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club presents 36 holes east of Scottsdale with sweeping mountain views and not a home in sight. The Cholla Course is a true desert golf experience with fairways meandering through ridges and arroyos. The Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed Saguaro Course provides wider fairways making this an enjoyable player-friendly walking course.
SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, designed by Keith Foster, unfolds around the rugged ridges and shady canyons unique to the desert mountains that divide Fountain Hills from Scottsdale. It is best known for a challenging closing six-hole stretch known as the “Wicked Six.”
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
ORLANDO
There’s no shortage of history at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge, with its ties to Palmer’s and Tiger Woods’ eight wins at the annual PGA Tour stop—which make it the perfect place to kick off an Orlando golf trip. As it does for the pros, Bay Hill will offer a stern test, with strategically placed bunkers, deep rough, and imposing lakes all lurking.
Orange County National has served as a longtime Q-school host. The Panther Lake course, with elevation changes of up to 60 feet and no housing developments, winds through rolling meadows, native pines, and wetlands, immersing golfers in the natural landscape. Crooked Cat offers more of a links-style experience, with native heather framing the wide fairways.
A trip to Orlando wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Disney area, where you’ll find the Magnolia Course, which hosted a PGA Tour event for decades and features wide fairways guarded by water, which lurks on 11 of the 18 holes.
Just outside Orlando is Mission Hills Resort with two courses having hosted numerous amateur and professional events, including PGA Tour Latinoamerica Q-school last fall. The El Campeon course is situated on steep hills with elevation changes of over 85 feet, and water comes into play on most holes. The Las Colinas course has less water but the large, undulating greens provide an intriguing test. Trees closely guard many fairways on the back nine, placing a premium on accuracy off the tee.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
MYRTLE BEACH
Do you want a respite from the frenzy of city life? Sun-drenched Myrtle Beach is home to more than 70 courses to suit your handicap level and a wide variety of accommodations fit your budget.
Bordering the natural white sands of the Carolina Bays, Barefoot Resort boasts four courses designed by notable architects. The Dye Course, the longest at 7,343 yards, presents large waste areas and intimidating bunkering. The routing of the Fazio Course constantly changes direction and with an ever-present wind, challenging players to hit a variety of shots. The Love course is a bomber’s paradise, with large landing areas and subtle doglegs and the Norman course is highlighted by seven holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is a recent entrant into the World Top 100 lists and a challenging Mark Strantz design, with water snaking throughout the natural low-country scenery.
A Myrtle Beach favorite, TPC Myrtle Beach is a Fazio design with challenging features like tight fairways and sloping greens and highlighted by the par-3 17th hole, with a peninsula green surrounded by water and bunkers.
The Kings North Course at Myrtle Beach is one of three Arnold Palmer designs onsite and considered one of the top courses in the area, including the par-3 12th hole as, perhaps, the signature hole for all of Myrtle Beach, playing 140 yards off the tips onto an iconic island green that has two bunkers shaped in an ‘S’ and a ‘C’, symbolizing the state of South Carolina.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
ROBERT TRENT JONES TRAIL, ALABAMA
Alabama may elicit images of amazing gulf coast beaches, college football, and southern hospitality. However, for golf travelers, The Robert Trent Jones Trail, with 26 courses across 11 sites was referred to by the Wall Street Journal as, perhaps, “the biggest bargain in the country.”
The Capitol Hill Golf Club features three courses (Judge, Senator, and Legislator), plus a high-tech driving range. At an impressive 7,813 yards, the Judge Course is a stiff challenge with water hazards lurking on nearly every hole. The signature first hole, with its breathtaking views make it the most famous hole across the entire RTJ Trail.
Near Auburn lies the Grand National Golf Club, a former PGA TOUR site with two championship courses: The Lake Course, known for its par-3 collection, and the Links Course with what might be the toughest finishing hole on the Trail, a par-4 requiring two separate carries over water.
The newest addition to the RTJ Trail, and also the longest at 8,200 yards, is Ross Bridge Golf Club carved into the rolling terrain of Shannon Valley outside Birmingham. Symbolic of an old parkland-style course, 10 holes play along the banks of two significant lakes connected by a spectacular waterfall dropping 80 feet between the 9th and 18th greens.
Oxmoor Valley Golf Club (outside Birmingham) is home to two 18-hole courses plus a 18-hole short course. The Valley Course, renovated in 2021, features rolling fairways and several lakes as you play through the slender valley. The Ridge Course encounters more elevation change and dense woodlands, with beautiful scenery throughout making it one of the most photographed courses on the RTJ Trail.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
LAS VEGAS
The entertainment capital of the world sets the stage for a number of courses in the desert with lush green fairways, spectacular mountain views, and easily accessed from the Strip for year-round play.
TPC Las Vegas, with the stunning Red Rock Canyon as a backdrop, was designed by Bobby Weed and Raymond Floyd and has played host to many PGA TOUR events over the years. The 7,000-yard course combines traditional holes with plenty of desert wasteland coming into play.
Just outside Las Vegas in Boulder City, Cascata Golf Club is a stunning design by Rees Jones which quickly became one of Vegas’ premier destinations when opened in 2000. With no real estate around the course, this tranquil setting with lots of elevation change presents tight, sloping fairways and firm, fast greens that require players to think about each shot.
Legendary architect Pete Dye is on full display with three championship courses situated at Paiute Golf Resort, 25 minutes north of the Strip. Each offering a slightly different test of golf, Snow Mountain, Sun Mountain, and the Wolf Course are all carved beautifully into the desert landscape and provide a sense of isolation.
Rio Secco Golf Club, an 18-hole Rees Jones course, has been praised for both its playability and difficulty in years past. Located in a picturesque environment just south of Las Vegas (downtown is visible) features a 37,000 sq. ft. clubhouse and 6,992 layout incorporating tight rolling fairways surrounded by the desert landscape and deep canyons, emphasizing accuracy from the tee.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
JAMAICA
A golfer’s paradise, Jamaica offers stunning scenery with courses overlooking the Caribbean Sea or nestled in the foothills, all with a friendly atmosphere, and a rich cultural experience off the course. It’s no surprise that golf vacations in Jamaica are so popular.
Situated in the rolling countryside of Jamaica’s historic Rose Hall Plantation, White Witch Golf Course earned its name from wicked 19th century plantation mistress, Annee Palmer. Designed by Robert Von Hagge and Rick Baril features five tee boxes on every hole and magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea on 16 of the holes.
Adjacent to White Witch and redesigned by Robert Von Hagge and Rick Baril in 2001, Cinnamon Golf Course is parkland course with two holes along the ocean and scatterings of historic ruins to contrast with the modern design. The 17th hole tee shot sits 350 feet above the Caribbean Sea
In the foothills just outside Montego Bay, the Half Moon Golf Course, described as Jamaica’s Augusta due to its immaculate fairways and tranquil setting, has hosted numerous international golf tournaments. With a reputation as one of the best walking courses in the Caribbean, the course winds its way through lush tropical landscape, lined with royal palm trees, where golfers can enjoy the test of well-placed bunkers and large undulating greens.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
BERMUDA
With year-round sunny weather, breathtaking coastlines, and pristine beaches, the remote island of Bermuda in North Atlantic Ocean is renowned for its world-class golf courses, each uniquely designed by notable course architects. Combined with luxurious amenities and a wide range of activities, Bermuda is the ideal golf destination.
In picturesque Tucker’s Town, the crown jewel at Mid Ocean Club (a private members club) is the renowned Charles Blair McDonald-designed (1921) golf course. Natural contours create an enjoyable course with plenty of breathtaking greenery, numerous tees, and the Atlantic Ocean backdrop.
Port Royal Golf Course, host of the annual PGA TOUR’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, is one of Bermuda’s top public golf courses with sweeping views of the azure blue waters from nearly every hole. Spread over 6,842 perfectly manicured yards, Port Royal Golf Course allows every golf enthusiast to play like a pro. Be ready for the signature 16th hole, which is beautifully situated above jagged cliffs with a glorious view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Located on the northeast part of Bermuda adjacent to Mid Ocean Club sits Tucker’s Point Golf Club dating back to the 1930s and redesigned in 2002, by Roger Rulewich. Resting atop some of the highest points on the island, Tucker’s Point offers sweeping views of Castle Harbour on one side and Harrington Sound on the other. Its fairways are narrow, greens are tricky, and the natural hazards will test even the most accurate golfers.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
As the superstar of golf destinations in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic showcases stunning white sand beaches, lush evergreen forests, and world-class courses designed by golf’s most notable architects. With iconic resorts like Casa de Campo, The Westin Punta Cana Resort & Club, and Barceló Bávaro Palace it’s no wonder golf packages in the Dominican Republic have become increasingly popular.
The Lakes Barceló Golf Course at the “Adults Only” Barceló Bávaro Palace is an inland course highlighted with fairways lined with mangroves, meaning accuracy is absolutely vital to score well. Pete Dye designed this course to make use and show off the beautiful inland features of the island with no less than 25 lakes protecting aspects of this course.
The Teeth of the Dog, one of three Pete Dye-designed courses at Casa de Campo, is the main attraction as the highest-ranked course in the Caribbean with some of the Dominican Republic’s best views and most iconic holes. Pete Dye even said “I created 11 holes and God created seven.” The Dye Fore Course is a spectacular layout with seven cliff-top holes lying 300-feet above the Chavón River and The Links is a beautiful inland course.
The golf offering at Puntacana Resort & Club is very strong with two golf courses available to resort guests. The Tom Fazio-designed Corales Golf Club is a dramatic 18-hole course with six oceanside holes. Built along the cliffs, bays, ocean coves and the inland lakes and Coralina quarries, holes 16 to 18 make a stunning finish at a stretch known as the ‘Devil’s Elbow’. P.B Dye’s La Cana Golf Club has 27 holes to offer, with the latest 9 completed in 2012.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
CANCUN
As one of the Caribbean’s leading tourist destinations on the Mexican coast, Cancún is renowned for phenomenal weather, beautiful landscapes, and a wealth of exciting leisure facilities, including world-class golf.
Winding through the coastal jungle landscape of Playa del Carmen, the Nick Price-designed Gran Coyote Golf Course presents relatively wide fairways, however, the wind can play a factor both off the tee and with your approach into the greens as it is known to whip in off the nearby ocean. The par-3 5th hole measuring 148-yards may appear easy, however, the undulated green is protected both left and right by bunkers and a large water hazard.
Playa Paraiso Golf Club is situated between Cancun to the north and Playa del Carmen to the south. Part of the Iberostar Resort complex, it makes a great option if staying at one of the Iberostar properties or if travelling from the Playa del Carmen area, particularly as the golf club includes round-trip transportation with the green fee. It is one of P.B. Dye’s more challenging layouts with brutal rough at times as well as numerous water hazards and well-defended greens
The stunning Robert Trent Jones Jr-designed PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club was carved out dense Mayan jungle and limestone quarry and enhanced by freshwater caves, cenotes (sink holes) and lakes. The front-nine is tight and the back-nine is where you find most of the water hazards, so straight hitting is required. With five teeing options, all visitors can choose a course length suitable to their game. The 9-hole par 3 executive course provides a great opportunity to warm up before tackling the championship course.
The El Camaleon Golf Course made history in 2007, when it hosted the inaugural Mayakoba Golf Classic, the first PGA TOUR event to be played outside of the US and Canada. Designed by Greg Norman within the Mayakoba Resort, the 7,024-yard layout meanders through three distinct ecosystems: the tropical Mayan jungle, mangrove wetlands and the Mexican Caribbean Sea coastline.
Ready to book? Click here for your customized golf trip with Golfbreaks by PGA TOUR or call (843) 779-7143
The post IDEAL FALL GOLF DESTINATIONS first appeared on Golf Tips Magazine.
[ad_2]