Ranking Golf Trips

[Roody]

My rankings:

1: Pebble Beach (Inn at Spanish Bay) 

2: Hilton Head (Sea Pines Resort)

3: West Palm Beach (AirBnB)

4: Kiawah Island (The Sanctuary) 

5: Doral

 

Comments: My wife and I have done Pebble twice, and so far nothing else has compared. Stayed at the Inn at Spanish Bay both times. On one of the trips we took a day and drove down to play Pasatiempo, and it was amazing. Great restaurants, fire pits, walking trails all right at the resort. 

We did Sea Pines at Hilton Head in 2022, and had a blast. We both commented that it was "almost as good as Pebble, and about 1/2 to 2/3 of the price"

Doral we just did this November. We were part of a group of 6 couples, and one of the couples has some sort of timeshare-like arrangement where they are members at Doral for one week out of the year. And during that week they are allowed to bring up to 10 guests. We got to play Blue Monster twice, and the other three courses for "member prices". I'm not a huge fan of you-know-who, but I gotta give credit where credit is due and say that the service at Doral was excellent. 

 

In 2024 I'm doing Scotland, and then a Wisconsin trip that includes Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, and Erin Hills. I have a feeling those trips are going to vault right up my list. 

[sabram]

On 12/29/2023 at 11:47 AM, icegator337 said:

Which 3 courses do you consider to be the best [in Myrtle Beach area]?

Dunes golf &beach club, Caledonia, True Blue

Edited January 1 by sabram
to add MB ref

[BirdieRoll]

If you're thinking of doing this trip in the summer months and want to stay state-side, then MN, WI, and MI are the states I'd look at.

 

+1 on Giants Ridge Quarry & Legend and The Wilderness in northern MN. A great triple play and it's a trip you might be able to actually do given that so many other places are already basically full for 2024.

 

(Nearest airport is Duluth which is just an hour south of the Giants Ridge area. Delta via Minneapolis or United via Chicago O'Hare get you there. Duluth is also a big craft-beer town if you're in to that.)

 

And there's also Northland CC in Duluth itself - a Donald Ross classic overlooking Lake Superior if you have private connections.

[sabram]

On 12/29/2023 at 11:47 AM, icegator337 said:

Which 3 courses do you consider to be the best?

In MB: Caledonia, True Blue, The Dunes G&B Club

[ChrisATL]

Not including Bandon (thats #1 obv 🙂 ) , my list would be:

 

- Sand Valley

- Pinehurst & Pines Courses (+ Tobacco Road)

- Michigan (centered around GR / TC)

- Streamsong

- Kiawah

- MB (inc Pawleys)

- RTJ Trail

 

One HM that doesn't get a ton of love - Mossy Oak / Old Waverly in West Point, MS.  Super fun (& different layouts) and can be done on the cheap (if thats important).

[Dancin]

I really want to do Mossy Oak/Old Waverly sometime but getting to it is a PITA if you aren't flying private.

[tlknight]

2 hours ago, Dancin said:

I really want to do Mossy Oak/Old Waverly sometime but getting to it is a PITA if you aren't flying private.

Fly into Jackson, drive to Pearl River Resort (1.5 hours) and play both courses at Dancing Rabbit. They are fantastic. 
 

After a couple of days there drive to West Point (another 1.5 hours) and play Old Waverly/Mossy Oak. 
 

Makes for a great golf trip that won’t break the bank. 

[Atwsc7]

On 12/29/2023 at 11:47 AM, icegator337 said:

Which 3 courses do you consider to be the best?

Dunes Club

Heritage, Prestwick, Grande Dunes Resort, Caledonia

You probably can get on Wachesaw Plantation

Legends Moorland is a very unique design as well

[Schley]

Done all the ones listed, haven't done Big Cedar yet.  Rankings (with the top 4 being close), without Bandon.

1. Pebble Beach (pricey, but come on public access ocean courses)
2. Pinehurst
3. Whistling Straits
4. Kiawah
5. Sand Valley
6. Hawaii (options!) I love Maui
7. Northern Michigan

I'm not big on Biloxi, didn't enjoy MB nearly enough to rank it above my others and RTJ is hot in summer and spread out.

Some winter would be (Hawaii 1):

1. Palm Springs
2. Scottsdale
3. Streamsong

[CDM]

On 2/1/2024 at 12:40 PM, Dancin said:

I really want to do Mossy Oak/Old Waverly sometime but getting to it is a PITA if you aren't flying private.

 

2hr drive from Birmingham....suck it up butter cup  😁