Short Golf Trips

I do a fair bit of golf travel.  I would still like to do more, but until they start paying me to do so I will take what I can get!  I did want to fill you in on some good trips I have taken in the past.  Some of these trips could be done in a day depending on your starting location.  I am going to give you the details of how my trip went from an itinerary standpoint and let you go from there.  Some trips were long weekends and some were other vacations where I worked golf into the schedule.  Alright, let’s get to it!

FYI – to see any available course tours, check out this link.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (Alabama): I played six courses over a Memorial Day weekend a few years ago.  The trip was 36 holes a day, which could be a little taxing in Alabama in May.  We played two courses a day as follows Day 1 – Oxmoor Valley (Valley/Ridge), Day 2 – Capitol Hill (Judge/Senator), and Day 3 – Grand National (Short/Lake).  We had to do a little driving in between some of the courses, but it’s an easy long weekend trip.  Overall, this was a good value and a good buddies trip.

Marco Island (Florida): On the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State I played three courses on my honeymoon.  They were The Rookery at Marco Island, Eagle Lakes Golf Club, and Valencia Golf & Country Club.  The Rookery was the only notable course.  I think you can do better in this area with a little research.

Jacksonville Area (Florida): I was near the headquarters of the PGA Tour for an extended vacation.  Over the week that I was there, I played The King & Bear at World Golf Village, Sawgrass Country Club, and TPC Sawgrass (Stadium).  This was a fun trip!  All of the courses were well worth playing, with the crown jewel being the home of the Players.  I also really enjoyed Sawgrass Country Club which was the tournament’s original host.  There are plenty of things to do in the area and St. Augustine is right down the road.  This is a wonderful spot for a buddies or family trip.

Hartwell/Toccoa (Georgia): This could definitely be a 36 hole day.  I played Cateechee Golf Club and Currahee Club separately.  They are public and private, respectively.  Both courses feature tremendous elevation changes.  Currahee has some of the most spectacular views I have ever seen.  There is not much to do in the area, but come down in the fall and go see the Clemson Tigers play on a Saturday between rounds!

Macon (Georgia): I gathered up courses in this area in my first two years of college.  I wouldn’t call this a destination spot by any means.  However, depending on where you are coming from and how much you like to play different courses it might be worth checking out.  I have played Barrington Hall Golf Club, Healy Point Country Club, Houston Lake Country Club, and Oakview Golf Course.  I would stay away from the last two, but definitely give Barrington and Healy a try if you can get on.

Eatonton (Georgia): Not a place you may think of by the town name, but this area is home to Reynolds Plantation with its awesome resort (so I’m told).  The courses here have hosted the Big Break Invitational.  The three courses I have played are Reynolds Plantation (Great Waters), Reynolds Plantation (Oconee), and The Golf Club at Cuscowilla.  Cuscowilla is a Coore-Crenshaw that is very fun.  The other courses are great as well.  This would be a great weekend trip.

Chicago: I did this trip in basically two and a half days when you include driving.  I played Cog Hill Golf & Country Club (Dubsdread) and Olympia Fields Country Club (North Course).  Just a phenomenal two days of golf.  Go if you can.

Indianapolis (Indiana): The wife and I were up in Indy visiting a college friend of hers for a long weekend.  I worked Coffin Golf Course, Prairie View Golf Club, and Purgatory Golf Club into the schedule.  Great names for courses!  Purgatory was hellish if you missed the fairway, but still fun.  Coffin and Prairie View are more straightforward but still enjoyable.  This was solid public golf in a large city with plenty to do.

York (Maine): I have played two courses in the area.  The Ledges Golf Club and the Links at Outlook.  These are both fun courses worthy of playing if you are in the area.

Seacoast (New Hampshire): I have spent plenty of summers in this part of the country and have played a lot of golf all over the state.  I’ve played public tracks Bramber Valley Golf Club, Breakfast Hill Golf Club, and Portsmouth Country Club.  Among the private tracks, I have teed it up at Abenaqui Country Club, Cocheco Country Club, and Wentworth by the Sea Country Club.  The private courses are awesome, play them if you have a connection.  Wentworth is an old-school beauty on the water that legend has it played host to Gene Sarazen back in the day.  Portsmouth Country Club is well worth your time as well.  New Hampshire has such great golf.

New York City: My experience here is limited but awesome.  I played Pound Ridge Golf Club and Bethpage State Park (Black).  Playing a Pete Dye and US Open host back to back was pretty sweet.  And, as you may know, there is plenty to see in the City That Never Sleeps.

Pinehurst (North Carolina): Where to start with this area?  I worked here for two summers in college and have taken plenty of golf trips here.  Here’s the list of places I’ve played: Anderson Creek Golf Club, Dormie Club, Forest Creek Country Club (North), Foxfire Resort and Golf Club (East), Legacy Golf Links, Little River Golf & Resort, Mid South Club, Pine Needles Golf Club, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (#1-9), Southern Pines Golf Club, and Tobacco Road Golf Club.  You can’t go wrong with any of these.  Go with the boys or girls, go with the family, just go!

Charlotte (North Carolina): I lived in this great city for a little bit after college and played when I could.  I racked up Charles T Myers Golf Course, Charlotte Golf Links, Northstone Country Club, Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation, Pine Island Country Club, Rocky River Golf Club, Skybrook Golf Club, The Tradition, and Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club.  To me, Olde Sycamore takes the cake.  Charles T Myers was in terrible shape when I played it.

Ohio/West Virginia: This was an awesome weekend trip that I couldn’t believe came together.  I played Pete Dye Golf Club and Scioto Country Club on successive days!  Playing two Top 100 courses back to back is something I highly recommend 🙂  On another trip to the area I played Longaberger Golf Club, another enjoyable track with Top 100 Public credentials.

Northern Virginia: It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but I played the public Bull Run Golf Club and the private Fauqueir Springs Country Club.  These were two solid rounds if you find yourself in the area.

That’s what I have so far!  I hope this can help you if you are ever planning short golf trips.  If you have some fun weekend trips, let me know about them in the comments section!  Have fun and tee it up.