Golf Trip for 12 Guys

[seaton0024]

I just wanted to check and get some opinions on golf trip ideas for a group of younger guys. Some of the things we are looking for include:

 

-Possible resort with course(s) on site or somewhere that has courses close by. We don't want to have to drive 30 min to a course.

-Preferably in the SE but open to other places.

-Would like to avoid beaches.

-Prefer to have an airport somewhat close by(within an hour)

-Reasonably priced.

-Some of the previous trips include Destin/PCB area, Chattanooga area, and RTJ The Shoals.

[david.c.w]

Pinehurst is on the limit of a lot of your requirements

 

2 hours from Charlotte

Not much driving once you are there

Trip can be done for a reasonable price if done correctly and you skip #2 and #4.  Can you spend a ton?  Yes.  But you can also do it on a budget.

 

Check out the Titleist fitting trip package they have on the website now.  Good deal.

 

 

 

[jholz]

It's a little off the beaten path, and about a 90 minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, but look into Callaway Gardens outside of Columbus, GA.

 

Two courses, one of which used to host a PGA Tour stop and is still used for early rounds of Q-School - as far as I am aware. I've never stayed at the resort itself, so can't speak to it directly, but I'd reckon its gotta be cheaper than some of the big name places. The golf has been great every time I've played there. 

 

It's also nowhere close to the beach, and if you get bored, the National Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning isn't too far away. Columbus, GA also has a great 36 hole muni if you want a change of pace.  

[Abh159]

If you're looking in the southeast specifically the two options that come to my mind are the ones below. 

 

Birmingham, AL area

Possible resort with course(s) on site or somewhere that has courses close by. We don't want to have to drive 30 min to a course.

• No specific resorts but there are a number of RTJ courses in the area (Oxmoor Valley, Ross Bridge, etc.) and also FarmLinks which is about 45 min - 1 hour away but totally worth it

Would like to avoid beaches

• Middle of AL so no beaches anywhere close

Prefer to have an airport somewhat close by(within an hour)

• Birmingham has a decent sized airport

Reasonably priced

• You've done an RTJ trip it sounds like so pricing should be similar. Birmingham overall is extremely affordable

 

Mississippi Coast (Biloxi / Gulfport) area

Possible resort with course(s) on site or somewhere that has courses close by. We don't want to have to drive 30 min to a course.

• No golf specific resorts but there are a number of pretty solid courses (Shell Landing, The Preserve, Fallen Oak, Grand Bear, etc.) and all are within about 30 minutes

Would like to avoid beaches

• Yes it's on the coast but it's not really a beach vibe. People go there more for the casino scene. Staying at one of the casinos is a good option

Prefer to have an airport somewhat close by(within an hour)

• There is an airport in the area but I doubt they have any direct flights. Would most likely have to connect.

Reasonably priced

• For the quality of courses this will probably be the most affordable option you'll find in the southeastern US

Edited December 15, 2020 by Abh159

[david.c.w]

1 hour ago, jholz said:

It's a little off the beaten path, and about a 90 minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, but look into Callaway Gardens outside of Columbus, GA.

 

Interesting call on Callaway.  I have been there but not played golf there.  The resort catered to corporate retreats, which is dead right now so if price is a big factor it may be a good fit with resort amenities for a bunch of guys.  FYI, zero nightlife outside the resort.

[golfgoob]

Look in the courses in Tellico Village in Loudon Tennessee. 3 courses. One of them is a little far away. Plus Rarity Bay and Windriver are close by. I'm not sure if they offer packages anymore. Maybe 30-45 minutes to airport.

[jholz]

4 hours ago, david.c.w said:

 

Interesting call on Callaway.  I have been there but not played golf there.  The resort catered to corporate retreats, which is dead right now so if price is a big factor it may be a good fit with resort amenities for a bunch of guys.  FYI, zero nightlife outside the resort.

 

Yeah, @david.c.wis absolutely correct.  It's in the middle of nowhere. Columbus is a short drive away however. Nice downtown, river walk, white water rafting, bars and restaurants. Not a bad place at all. 

[Abh159]

I'd also recommend the Nashville area as well as depending on what time of year your trip is. If it's in the early spring or winter you'd probably want to stick to coastal areas. TN gets pretty chilly in the winter/spring. You didn't mention this in your original post, but if you're looking to do anything besides play golf one plus Nashville would have is an endless amount of entertainment opportunities outside of golf.

 

Possible resort with course(s) on site or somewhere that has courses close by. We don't want to have to drive 30 min to a course.

• No golf specific resorts, but Nashville has a number of solid public / semi-private course options all within a 10 minutes of downtown. Hermitage Golf Course (36 holes) and Gaylord Springs come to mind right away although there are other options if you go further from the city. 

Would like to avoid beaches

• No beaches within a few hundred miles

Prefer to have an airport somewhat close by(within an hour)

• BNA is a 10 minute drive from downtown Nashville and offers a ton of direct flight options 

Reasonably priced

• Yes and no. The green fees are reasonable (under $100), but hotels, Air BnB's, and the nightlife have gotten pretty expensive

 

[me05501]

I have stayed and played at Callaway Gardens recently. Agree that the golf is AOK. Championship course is better, the other one is short, but they don't mind a casual approach/fivesomes/sixsomes hollering across fairways etc. It's laid back that way. Accommodations are spotty. The town is nothing. However they do offer Villa rentals where you can have 4-8 guys stay in one structure which is pretty cool if you're going to play poker or video games at night. Probably would be a safe choice in the era of COVID. 

 

I really like the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL area. Lots of courses, lots of places to stay. Pensacola airport is within an hour. Just ignore the beach. 🙂

 

Chateau Elan outside Atlanta is nice. Two courses on property, a few others relatively close by. 

 

Birmingham is a pretty good golf destination. Farm Links, Limestone Springs, RTJ sites, but your prohibition on driving 30 mins between courses is a deal killer. 

 

I've heard good things about Streamsong in Central FL. 

[Hilltopper413]

I’ve been on a couple trips to Athens, GA and it has been a perfect setup.  Less than an hour from Atlanta. One of the best college towns in America so there are ample places to stay, eat, and drink.  Great nightlife.

 

University of Georgia golf club is awesome. You can see how they produce so many successful tour players.  Great facility and difficult golf course.

 

The Georgia Club is another good track always in excellent condition.

 

We were able to get on a couple privates and I’m sure you could do the same with a call from your Pro.  Athens CC is very nice.  We also got on Jennings Mill CC.  Nice club but not in the same category as the other three courses from a purely design and layout standpoint.

 

There are several other public tracks within a short drive.  We really had a great time.

[seaton0024]

Appreciate all the good suggestions guys. I'm going to take these back to the group. Are there any, besides Pinehurst, in the Charlotte or Raleigh areas that you have been to?