Pinehurst, North Carolina
Golf history runs deep here. Pinehurst's roots go back to 1895, and Pinehurst No. 2, designed by Donald Ross, has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and remains a genuine bucket-list round. The recently restored No. 4 and the fun, walkable short course The Cradle make it realistic to build a multi-day trip that works for both serious players and social groups.
Best time to go: Spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the Sandhills turf is at its best.
Bandon Dunes, Oregon
Bandon Dunes offers something few American destinations can: real, walking-only links golf on a dramatic stretch of Pacific coastline, consistently ranked among the best courses on earth. It's a genuinely different golf experience from anywhere else on this list: wind-blown, caddie-carried, and built entirely around the natural dunes.
Best time to go: Late spring through early fall, though the resort is playable (and less crowded) much of the year for golfers prepared for coastal weather.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
With more than 90 courses in the area, Myrtle Beach is the straightforward choice for a golf trip with a group. You genuinely won't run out of tee times or courses across a long weekend. It's less about any single standout course and more about volume, variety, and value.
Best time to go: Spring and fall, both for weather and to avoid peak-season pricing and crowds.
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale offers sun-drenched, desert-framed golf with more than 200 courses in the area, letting you mix and match a genuinely different look and layout every day of a trip. The desert target-golf style is a real change of pace from parkland or links courses elsewhere on this list.
Best time to go: January through April. Outside that window, summer desert heat becomes a real factor.
Kohler, Wisconsin
Home to Whistling Straits, host of multiple PGA Championships and a 2021 Ryder Cup, Kohler pairs a genuinely major-championship-caliber course with three other real Pete Dye designs at the same resort, a legitimate multi-round destination built around one of the most demanding courses in the country.
Best time to go: Summer into early fall, given Wisconsin's shorter golf season.
Planning a Golf Trip: What Actually Matters
- Book tee times early: Marquee courses at these destinations sell out months ahead during peak season.
- Check stay-and-play packages: Most of these resorts offer real value bundling lodging with green fees over a la carte booking.
- Match the destination to your group: Myrtle Beach suits a large, casual group; Bandon Dunes suits golfers who want a genuinely serious, walking-focused trip.
Conclusion
Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes, Myrtle Beach, Scottsdale, and Kohler each offer a real, distinct golf trip rather than just another course. The right pick depends on whether you want history, true links golf, sheer volume, desert scenery, or championship-caliber challenge.