10 golf resorts you should visit this spring
By: Josh Berhow February 2, 2023
Streamsong Resort in Florida.
Courtesy picture
Ready for a spring golf trip? Of course you are, and our spring travel package has you covered. Over the next week, our experts will name their top destinations, hotspots, favorite resorts and more for spring getaways, all with the goal of educating and motivating you for your next trip. So read on, gather your family, tell your friends, and book your next unforgettable golf trip now.
MORE: 8 Budget-Friendly Spring Destinations | 9 places you should be golfing this spring
What’s your pick for a hotel to stay and play in this spring?
Josh Sens, Senior GOLF Writer, Course Panelist: Coming back to the Palm Springs area, I would look closely at La Quinta. Spanish-style palm trees and red-tiled roofs and an upscale yet laid-back California vibe. It doesn’t take a ton of imagination to pretend you’re living the Rat Pack life, all the cocktails and the sun and lots of golf, with access to five courses, including the Stadium Course at PGA West.
The seaside course at Sea Island. Evan Schiller
Will Davenport, Course Panelist: My favorite golf experience would have to be Sea Island, Ga. Sea Island has a spectacular practice facility and learning facility with world-class instructors, as well as three magnificent course, including the PGA Place to visit Sea and Plantation course. There are two stylish hotel options, The Cloisters and the Lodge, as well as the more affordable Inn. A personal favourite, the 40-room Lodge adjoins the practice green and overlooks both the course and St. Simon’s Sound, with a view from a rocking chair of the bagpiper playing as the sun sets on the back porch. While the resort caters to all your golfing and other needs, a trip down the street to Southern Soul Barbeque is a must for every traveler.
Jessica Marksbury, GOLF Editor: I’m from Southern California and grew up golfing in the desert. I love it! Josh is right – Palm Springs and La Quinta are awesome destinations with golf options galore. But my recommendation for a spring getaway to a single resort is to a nearby town: Indian Wells. I just spent a long weekend at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in the fall with my two children and it was absolutely amazing. Two golf courses, a spa, a giant water park and fabulous accommodations. Everybody is happy ! Another resort I plan to visit this spring is Terranea in Palos Verdes, California. The on-site course is a short 9-hole course, which should be perfect for all the family.
The outdoor playground at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa. Courtesy of Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa
Josh Berhow, editor of GOLF: Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Florida, is a place I went to years ago and still recommend to families. It has a billion pools (and an indoor one for cold days), beach access, and great on-site restaurants. There are also two golf courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus and the other designed by Tom Watson. Another option, this one with buddies in mind, would be Sand Valley. It will start to fill up faster and faster each year, but there are already two great courses (plus a short course) and more are on the way.
James Colgan, associate editor of GOLF: Forest Dunes – way up there in northern Michigan – can be a little chilly in the spring, yes. But getting the reversible loop course in its brownest, bouncy state is worth more than the extra set of clothes. And if you feel like waiting out the summer months, there’s good news: the sun is ALWAYS staying.
The loop at Forest Dunes. Courtesy picture
Steve Lapper, Course Panelist: Streamsong, a vacation and leisure destination, is a great place to get rid of winter rust. Easily accessible from Tampa or Orlando, it is home to three major courses, to which will soon be added a world-class short course (The Chain). Accommodation here is a modern hotel, with all the usual amenities. A tip for a large group of mates is to stay in the rooms above the red/blue clubhouse. For those looking to go international and perhaps even further up the price scale, a visit to the Dominican Republic or Cabo San Lucas is the pinnacle of a spring golf trip. Be sure to play Punta Espada, Teeth of the Dog, and Dye Fore, the former in Punta Cana and the latter in La Romana. Cabo has a wonderful push south of the border as well as an array of public desert golf courses (with ocean views).
Ryan Barath, GOLF Gear Editor: When it comes to spring weather, I’m sticking with Florida. Reunion Resort offers a variety of courses and again, because you’re in Florida, it’s hard to swing a 7 iron and not hit a golf course if you’re looking to get away from the resort for an extra round of golf. or two.
Josh Berhow Golf.com Editor-in-Chief
Josh Berhow is the editor of GOLF.com. The Minnesota native earned a journalism degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato. You can reach him at [email protected]