Carefreetrip.com Travel Blog

1. Pinehurst Resort

With eight pristine courses and a tradition that stretches back to 1895, Pinehurst has become known as the unofficial home of golf in America. Tee off among gently rolling sand hills, on holes framed by tall longleaf pines. The dramatic No. 2 course is Donald Ross’s masterpiece–plan on playing it at least twice.

2. Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Along with miles of private beach and forested paths, this 3,000-plus-acre coastal retreat has five spectacular courses. The main attraction, though, is the Pete Dye-designed Ocean course. To fully appreciate the scenery, ditch the cart–and play it on foot.

3. Pebble Beach Resorts

The Monterey Peninsula’s power trio of courses forms truly hallowed ground. Spyglass Hill’s course winds through a pine forest; Spanish Bay’s undulating fairways are parted by man-made dunes; and Pebble Beach’s breathtaking cliff-top holes culminate in one of the game’s greatest finishes.

4. Kapalua Resort

Overlooking the Pacific, this former Maui pineapple plantation encompasses both a classic Ritz-Carlton hotel and the world-class Plantation course (site of the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championships). Be sure to crush a drive at the tumbling 18th hole.

5. Princeville Resort

On the north shore of Kauai, two Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed courses comprise this sprawling resort. The Prince course, one of the toughest in Hawaii, pitches and careens some 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

6. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

This resort’s three courses snake along Oregon’s blustery southern coast; the oldest, Bandon Dunes, is still a don’t-miss. Scottish designer David McLay Kidd carved his links along cliffsides and rolling grassy hills–and the result feels equal parts Scotland and Pacific Northwest.