{"id":11667,"date":"2018-08-06T10:00:04","date_gmt":"2018-08-06T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/?p=11667"},"modified":"2018-08-05T12:04:48","modified_gmt":"2018-08-05T16:04:48","slug":"7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Amazing Places for a Golf Vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re retired now (or almost!) and you\u2019ve found yourself with plenty of time on your hands. And with that time, you\u2019ve developed one heck of a golf game. Maybe you\u2019re somewhere between a 10 and a 14 handicap. If true, that\u2019s absolutely fantastic. You\u2019re far better than the average golfer in America!<\/p>\n

Since your skill level is apparently soaring through the roof, (but even if it\u2019s not quite there yet) we think it\u2019s about time to treat yourself to one of, if not all, of these top golf vacation resorts. Who knows, you may even sink your first hole-in-one.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palm Desert, California \u2013 Desert Willow Golf Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When it comes to golf trips, it\u2019s hard to beat any of the cities that lie within the Coachella Valley. From Palm Springs in the valley\u2019s west end to Coachella in the east and everything in between, this place is a golfer\u2019s paradise. Especially, the city of Palm Desert where there seems to be an award-winning set of links on every street. One of those courses that is a must-golf is Desert Willow Golf Resort. This place boasts two incredible 18-hole setups, Mountain View and Firecliff. Both are challenging, fun, and beautiful. After your round, enjoy a drink and a bite to eat on the Terrace Restaurant.<\/p>\n

Las Vegas, Nevada \u2013 TPC Las Vegas<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Sin City has casinos on casinos on casinos. You can practically see the bright lights of the Strip from the International Space Station. But this neon, gaming paradise in the middle of the Nevada desert has more to offer than table games and slot machines. The golf scene in Vegas is as happening as anywhere else in the country with a seemingly endless list of awesome courses\u2014and one stands above the rest. TPC Las Vegas is a 7,104-yard championship course that offers spectacular views of the surrounding desert and a tough, but unforgettable round of golf. After a long day of trying to keep your ball in the fairway, head to one of the mega-resorts and kick your feet up by the pool.<\/p>\n

Reston, Virginia \u2013 Reston National Golf Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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A stone\u2019s throw away from our nation\u2019s capital\u2014or maybe we should say a long tee shot\u2014sits this gem of a golf course. The 6,880 yards of long, green fairways are flanked by thick woodland of magnolia, basswood, and loblolly pines. It\u2019ll be hard to hit bad tee and approach shots with a gorgeous backdrop like that. Reston National also boasts a beautiful clubhouse and tasty restaurant on-site, so be sure to get yourself a post-round burger and some souvenirs. Another reason why Reston is great for a golf vacation is its proximity to Washington, D.C. Sightseeing in the nation\u2019s capital is a perfectway to celebrate the best round of your life.<\/p>\n

Farmingdale, New York \u2013 Bethpage Black Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York, is home to five incredible golf courses, but there\u2019s only one Bethpage Black Course. Consistently ranked as the hardest of the five and one of the best 18-hole courses in the world, Bethpage Black has hosted two U.S. Opens and two Barclays, some of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour. But just because the best golfers on earth play here doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t tee it up. Bethpage is a public course so, as long as you pay the green fee, you can whack them around all day long. And the best part? New York City is only 38 miles away.<\/p>\n

Pinehurst, North Carolina \u2013 Pinehurst Resort<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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If you had to make a list of the most historical golf courses in the country somewhere in your top three would have to be Pinehurst. Why? Because it\u2019s hosted a handful of world-renowned tournaments like multiple U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup, and is on deck to host a few more in the future. Your biggest problem when visiting will be trying to decide which of the nine courses you\u2019d like to have a go at. But if you end up only playing one, make sure it\u2019s Pinehurst No. 2. Donald Ross\u2019s Masterpiece, as it is affectionately known, is the cream of the crop.<\/p>\n

La Jolla, California \u2013 Torrey Pines Golf Course<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Perched high atop the cliffs of La Jolla overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Torrey Pines Golf Course might be the most scenic 18-hole setup on this list. Both courses, the North and the South, offer sweeping, unobstructed views of the coastline that are postcard-worthy. There\u2019s also a few holes on both sets of 18 that look like your tee shot is going to fly right off the edge of the cliff\u2014like the hang gliders at nearby Glider Port\u2014and end up halfway to Hawaii. No matter what course you choose to play, you won\u2019t be disappointed. And be sure to close out your day on the links with drinks and food at the Grill at Torrey Pines.<\/p>\n

Ponte Vedra, Florida \u2013 TPC at Sawgrass<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay-and-play golf packages in Florida are amazing, especially at this next place. A golf enthusiast like yourself will instantly recognize the 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The legendary par-3 Island Green has been swallowing up golf balls since the course was first constructed in 1980. In fact, during the opening round of the 2007 tournament, 50 golf balls ended up wet breaking the previous record of 45. But don\u2019t worry, the rest of the course isn\u2019t built around Alcatraz-style greens. The other on-site set of 18, Dye\u2019s Valley Course is just as eye-catching, but less daunting than the Stadium Course. Don\u2019t let this golf vacation stop at Sawgrass. A mere 26 miles south in St. Augustine is the World Golf Hall of Fame and if you\u2019ve got the time, we recommend a visit.<\/p>\n

Between these seven incredible golf trips, there are hundreds of fairways and greens to test your skills. Whether you decide to head south to Florida, enjoy the ocean views in California, or walk through golf history in the hills of North Carolina, your next golf vacation will be one to remember.<\/p>\n

\n
\nImage credits:<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nHeader and Tile Image: Shutterstock.com\/OtmarW<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nPalm Desert, California: Shutterstock.com\/Dallas Events Inc<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nLas Vegas, Nevada: Shutterstock.com\/Rene Kohut<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nReston, Virginia: Shutterstock.com\/Damian Moo Moo Barton<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
<\/div><\/div>\n
\nFarmingdale, New York: Shutterstock.com\/David W. Leindecker<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nPinehurst, North Carolina: Shutterstock.com\/Michelle Donahue Hillison<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nLa Jolla, California: Shutterstock.com\/Art Boardman<\/a><\/span><\/em>
\nPonte Verde, Florida: Shutterstock.com\/Debby Wong<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re retired now (or almost!) and you\u2019ve found yourself with plenty of time on your hands. And with that time, you\u2019ve developed one heck of a golf game. Maybe you\u2019re somewhere between a 10 and a 14 handicap. If true, that\u2019s absolutely fantastic. You\u2019re far better than the average golfer in America! Since your skill<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":11673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1534],"tags":[610,748,422],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n7 Amazing Places for a Golf Vacation - AARP Travel Center Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What\u2019s better than a golf vacation to celebrate your retirement?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Amazing Places for a Golf Vacation - AARP Travel Center Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What\u2019s better than a golf vacation to celebrate your retirement?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AARP Travel Center Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-06T14:00:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2018-08-05T16:04:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/header-best-places-to-golf-1-736x630.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"736\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jennifer Conners\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jennifer Conners\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.expedia-aarp.com\/blog\/7-amazing-places-for-a-golf-vacation\/\",\"name\":\"7 Amazing Places for a Golf Vacation - 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