Trying to plan a golf trip for a group of likely 4 guys. Anywhere in the US is fair game, and would even consider elsewhere international within reasonable flight time 2-4hrs tops? I'm thinking elsewhere aside from Scottsdale/Vegas but open to rec's. Probably in the summer time frame mid/late august. Most likely a Thursday - Sunday and probably 2 rounds of golf. Great scenery, food, and bars ideal. Michigan crossed my mind but don't know any specific courses or locations. Any particular location/courses please list them out! Thanks in advance!

Kiawah Island with a stay in Charleston has my vote. You've got 5 courses to choose from including The Ocean Course. Did that last year and will be returning in August and probably every year going forward.

To play only two rounds, it likely isn't worth traveling too far unless you are playing very special courses. Living near an airline hub expands your options. Where do you live?

We did Kiawah a few years ago or that would absolutely be it. All live close to DFW.

If you're interested in Michigan, NLU filmed their last tourist sauce season there and covered a lot of the courses.

As someone who does Charleston every year, do not do Kiawah in August. The humidity makes Houston feel like Denver.

San Diego or Denver would be my choices for that time of year.

Beaumont is lovely this time of year.

We did a trip from DFW to Coeur D'Alene a few summers ago. Beautiful area and weather should be great that time of year.

We played the Coeur D'Alene Resort Course with the floating green, which is a unique experience. Also played Circling Raven which I thought was a great course about 30 minutes outside of town.

Flight from DFW to Spokane was 3.5 hours, then maybe another 45-60 minute drive to Coeur D'Alene.

Bend, Oregon.

It's high desert. Dry warm days with cooler evening. Great scenery, good food, drinks and amazing golf.

Fly into Portland then drive a few hours. It's a great drive past Mt Hood.

just drive to hot springs and play the courses around there, Or Tahoe......

That's good time of year for Wisconsin

Wisconsin

- Fly to Milwaukee
- Play Erin Hills
- Play Lawsonia Links
- Eat brats and cheese curds
- ???
- Profit

Santa Barbara, CA.

Sandpiper & Glen Annie. Wonderful weather and very cool town.

Another vote for Bend Oregon. So many great courses in that area, and things to do outside of golf if the guys like the outdoors. Have family who owns a home at Sun River and there's 3-4 great courses right there. I'm sure you look into renting a place near by..

Branson . Paynes Valley, Top of the rock and more. Great golf not a bad drive from Athens!
The Robert Trent Jones golf trail has some great courses too

AV8ORAG84 said:

---

Branson . Paynes Valley, Top of the rock and more. Great golf not a bad drive from Athens!
The Robert Trent Jones golf trail has some great courses too

---

Just got back from a trip to the RTJ Trail last week. They do a good job setting up your all-inclusive package with golf and hotel. All the golf staff was great. Only downside for us was staying in a hotel vs a house. We like to stay in a house together. I guess you could do it that way there, but I set up the trip and really didn't investigate that. That's a minor quibble though. We would go there again.

Grand National outside of Auburn, has 2 really good courses, a resort pool, hiking trails, and some fishing ponds

I was going to mention RTJ trail but I think mid August would be a deal killer for golfing in Alabama. Head up north and get out of the heat.

I'm going to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho in July, pretty excited for it

Gamble Sands in Brewster, WA would be my choice. Fly in to Seattle with a morning arrival and play Chambers Bay on the way out of town. Drive to Brewster and play GS the next day, maybe twice, at least the main course and short course once. Drive back to Seattle and play the Home Course (home of UW golf team) on the way.

For a short trip travel to MS and stay and play at Mossy Oak and Old Waverly. http://www.mossyoakgolf.com/Lodging.html

I'm saving this for future travel.

Third for Bend. That's a long ways to go for 2 rounds, but it fits all of your criteria of scenery, bars, food.

Summit County in Colorado.

Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail all have good, fun courses. These aren't bucket list courses or anything but the golf is solid and there's certainly some novelty to playing in the mountains. Courses are always in fantastic shape (especially compared to Texas) and of course the scenery is terrific.

Relatively easy to get to -- if you leave in the morning you can be there by early afternoon. Lunchtime if you hustle. You could easily play on arrival day if you wanted.

Lots of places to stay. Great rental availability.

Great food across the spectrum. Everything from burgers and beer to fine dining. There are bars but not a ton of nightlife, really. If you're looking to chase girls and rage until 2 it's not that kind of a place. If that's a critical factor you could spend a night in Denver on your way in or out of town to scratch that itch.

Weather in the summer will probably be better than anywhere else you're considering.

Good variety of options for non-golf activities. All the mountain stuff you might want to do -- rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, fishing. If you worked a night in Denver into the trip that opens up a lot of other options -- Rockies games are fun, concert at Red Rocks, breweries, the aforementioned nightlife.


You could also skip making the trip into the mountains and just stay in Denver (lots of good golf options), but the weather in the mountains in August is all but guaranteed to be a lot better. Summer mornings and evenings in Denver are reliably pleasant but it gets hot during the day. I know it's all relative, but an afternoon on a golf course in Denver when it's 90+ and the sun is blazing can still be a beating.

Summertime..... no where south of the Mason Dixon line

I shy away from Denver for anything.

Altitude not only Jacks with my distance, it takes a few days to get adjusted to altitude in addition to extremely dry air that requires a barrel of petroleum to keep your skin hydrated. And who can afford that right now.

Pinche Guero said:

---

I'm going to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho in July, pretty excited for it

---

You'll love it, fun course and great town.

I plan on a return trip there in the near future.

San Diego- Torrey and Coronado

Texas Ag 15 said:

---

Another vote for Bend Oregon. So many great courses in that area, and things to do outside of golf if the guys like the outdoors. Have family who owns a home at Sun River and there's 3-4 great courses right there. I'm sure you look into renting a place near by..

---

Stayed in Sunriver 2 summers ago. Played 5 rounds there and loved the courses.

Went to crater lake national park one day and hit 6 breweries in 1 day in Bend.

That place was heaven on earth.

Pants/fleece for 800 tee times. Shorts and polo by the time you're on 12.

Heading to Sunriver in a few weeks for a golf trip. Got a great deal, hopefully the weather cooperates and we don't get too many frost delays. I'm good playing in the cold if equipped. The resort looks great!

wildmen09 said:

---

Heading to Sunriver in a few weeks for a golf trip. Got a great deal, hopefully the weather cooperates and we don't get too many frost delays. I'm good playing in the cold if equipped. The resort looks great!

---

we were there late June when we went and had a frost delay one morning. Was ready to jump in the pool by the time we were done.

That place is heaven on earth. A little "too family" probably for some guys golf groups but the convenience and courses were great.

Are you staying at one of their properties? We rented a 4BR house that had a nice kitchen/deck and hot tub and loved it. The free shuttle service to take you to courses was awesome.

The brewery right there in the village is fun. If you're looking for something kind of neat but not far, go do the lava tunnels just north of sunriver in between Bend.. and hike up and see the lava field.

We drove up to Mt. Bachelor one day and took the lift up - that was cool - you could see FORVER and had great view of The Sisters.

I would go back in a heartbeat and probably spend more time in Bend boozing at breweries. There are over 25 breweries there... highest amount per capita in the US.

Just got back from taking my Dad to Pinehurst with my cousins and uncles and it was pretty amazing if you are wanting a pure golf trip. We played 2,4,7,8, the cradle and the 8 of us had a little tourney at the 18 hole putting green "thistle duo".

All in package deal with lodging, breakfasts, dinners, golf, and daily shuttles. There's also a bunch of non-Pinehurst owned courses there including Tobacco Road (we loved #7, but I do wish we had played TR instead).

Would recommend this trip to anyone.

ChoppinDs40 said:

---

wildmen09 said:

---

Heading to Sunriver in a few weeks for a golf trip. Got a great deal, hopefully the weather cooperates and we don't get too many frost delays. I'm good playing in the cold if equipped. The resort looks great!

---

we were there late June when we went and had a frost delay one morning. Was ready to jump in the pool by the time we were done.

That place is heaven on earth. A little "too family" probably for some guys golf groups but the convenience and courses were great.

Are you staying at one of their properties? We rented a 4BR house that had a nice kitchen/deck and hot tub and loved it. The free shuttle service to take you to courses was awesome.

The brewery right there in the village is fun. If you're looking for something kind of neat but not far, go do the lava tunnels just north of sunriver in between Bend.. and hike up and see the lava field.

We drove up to Mt. Bachelor one day and took the lift up - that was cool - you could see FORVER and had great view of The Sisters.

I would go back in a heartbeat and probably spend more time in Bend boozing at breweries. There are over 25 breweries there... highest amount per capita in the US.

---

We plan on playing two rounds per day but I fear they will get frosted out in the morning. We got an amazing deal for a room on property with a kitchen. This is our first ever golf trip and we both have toddlers. Dipping our toes and trying to feel what we like.

I admittedly (rare for me) didnt do great research but need to find time to hit Bend for a brewery or four.

Crazy Ag 97 said:

---

Just got back from taking my Dad to Pinehurst with my cousins and uncles and it was pretty amazing if you are wanting a pure golf trip. We played 2,4,7,8, the cradle and the 8 of us had a little tourney at the 18 hole putting green "thistle duo".

All in package deal with lodging, breakfasts, dinners, golf, and daily shuttles. There's also a bunch of non-Pinehurst owned courses there including Tobacco Road (we loved #7, but I do wish we had played TR instead).

Would recommend this trip to anyone.

---

On my short list and I see they are remodeling the Carolina hotel rooms getting ready for the US Open.

bagger05 said:

---

Summit County in Colorado.

Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail all have good, fun courses. These aren't bucket list courses or anything but the golf is solid and there's certainly some novelty to playing in the mountains. Courses are always in fantastic shape (especially compared to Texas) and of course the scenery is terrific.

Relatively easy to get to -- if you leave in the morning you can be there by early afternoon. Lunchtime if you hustle. You could easily play on arrival day if you wanted.

Lots of places to stay. Great rental availability.

Great food across the spectrum. Everything from burgers and beer to fine dining. There are bars but not a ton of nightlife, really. If you're looking to chase girls and rage until 2 it's not that kind of a place. If that's a critical factor you could spend a night in Denver on your way in or out of town to scratch that itch.

Weather in the summer will probably be better than anywhere else you're considering.

Good variety of options for non-golf activities. All the mountain stuff you might want to do -- rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, fishing. If you worked a night in Denver into the trip that opens up a lot of other options -- Rockies games are fun, concert at Red Rocks, breweries, the aforementioned nightlife.


You could also skip making the trip into the mountains and just stay in Denver (lots of good golf options), but the weather in the mountains in August is all but guaranteed to be a lot better. Summer mornings and evenings in Denver are reliably pleasant but it gets hot during the day. I know it's all relative, but an afternoon on a golf course in Denver when it's 90+ and the sun is blazing can still be a beating.

---

Have you ever played Grand Elk or Pole Creek? I'll be up in Winter Park at the end of May and thought about bringing my clubs.