The Best Golf Trips in the US: Where to Go and How to Plan
A golf trip worth making has two characteristics: the courses justify the travel cost, and the region has enough quality golf to fill multiple days without redundancy. That standard eliminates most of what gets marketed as "golf destinations" and identifies a handful of places where serious golfers consistently have the best experiences in America.
Bandon Dunes, Oregon: The Definitive American Golf Trip
For serious golfers, Bandon Dunes is not a question. Six courses, all walking-only, all on Pacific coastline terrain that doesn't exist anywhere else in American golf. Three to five days minimum. Fly into Medford or North Bend. Book caddies for at least your first two rounds. The weather will be unpredictable; bring waterproofs regardless of the forecast. This is the trip that most golfers who make it describe as the best golf experience they've had in the United States.
Start with Pacific Dunes. Add Old MacDonald. Return to Bandon Trails on day three — it's the most underrated course on the property. If you have a fourth day, Sheep Ranch has the most dramatic ocean exposure on the resort.
The Carolinas Coast: Kiawah, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach
The South Carolina golf corridor from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head to Kiawah Island is the most accessible golf destination on the East Coast. Fly into Charleston (for Kiawah and Hilton Head) or Myrtle Beach for the Grand Strand. Anchor the trip around the Ocean Course at Kiawah and Harbour Town at Hilton Head, then fill in with the better Myrtle Beach options (Caledonia, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach).
Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are the best seasons — mild temperatures, manageable humidity, and green fees that drop significantly from summer peaks.
Nebraska: Landmand and the Sand Hills
The least expected great American golf trip. Landmand Golf Club in Homer and Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen (private) — supplemented by Dismal River and Prairie Club — give serious golfers who've been to all the obvious destinations something genuinely new. The Sand Hills landscape is unlike anywhere else in American golf. Fly into Omaha for Landmand; the Sand Hills courses require a long drive through the Nebraska Sandhills that is itself part of the experience.
Monterey Peninsula, California: Pebble Beach and Beyond
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill, and Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links make a complete Monterey Peninsula golf trip. Add in the Lodge at Pebble Beach for accommodation. Stay through the fog — the fog is part of the experience. Budget for three rounds minimum, two nights. The cost is significant; the experience is unmatched in American coastal golf.
Northern Michigan: Arcadia Bluffs to Gaylord
The least-traveled great American golf corridor. Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes, and the Treetops courses in Gaylord represent some of the best golf in the Midwest, accessible from Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland within a half-day drive. Late summer (July-August) and early fall (September) are the best windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best golf destination in the US?
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon is the consensus best golf destination in the United States for serious golfers. The Monterey Peninsula (Pebble Beach) and the South Carolina Lowcountry (Kiawah Island, Hilton Head) are the next tier.
How many days do you need at Bandon Dunes?
Three days minimum, allowing three rounds across the main courses. Five days is the sweet spot — enough for the five main courses plus The Preserve short course and potential replays of favorites.