6 Holiday Destinations For Golf Fanatics
It's enjoyable enough to play on your local green, but when you get tired of the same old scenery and familiar holes, it might be time to seek out grander and more challenging courses. Spanning Scottsdale to Scotland, the destinations included here are perfect for players of all stripes, offering unique and exciting links to make for a memorable golfing holiday. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 Memorable Golfing Destinations
| Place | Location |
|---|---|
| Manistee County | Michigan |
| Machrihanish Dunes | Machrihanish, Argyll, Scotland |
| Cabot Links | Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Erin Hills | Erin, Wisconsin |
| Concord | California |
| We-Ko-Pa Golf Club | Fort McDowell, Arizona |
The Ride to Machrihanish Dunes
Items Every Golfer Needs
- Wedges
- Drivers
- Chippers
- Putters
- High End Golf Balls
- Tees
- GPS Watches
- Grip Kits
- Stand Bags
- Travel Bags
- Impact Bags
- Push Carts
Experience the Green at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club
In Depth
The game of golf, believed to have originated in Scotland, has been played for hundreds of years with many around the world still enjoying it today. If you are an avid player or someone beginning to develop their interest in the sport, this list, in no particular order, will provide you with destinations that offer beautiful golf courses to explore.
First up at #1 is Manistee County, Michigan. The bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan and the mature hardwoods of the Manistee National Forest provide the perfect setting for championship golfing in the region, making it one of the state's premier golf destinations. There are two resorts and nine courses to choose from.
One of the courses is Arcadia Bluffs, founded in 1999. It was built on 240 acres that was a mix of apple and cherry orchards, and densely wooded sections on the windswept cliffs overlooking 3100 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline. The original Bluffs Course resembles seaside links with rolling terrain, natural fescues, and panoramic views of the lake.
The original Bluffs Course resembles seaside links with rolling terrain, natural fescues, and panoramic views of the lake.
Next at #2 is Machrihanish Dunes, a luxury, seaside, Scottish resort. Stone cottages, historic hotels, five restaurants and pubs, a full-service spa, and a natural golf course make up the resort. More than 130 years ago, Old Tom Morris recognized the potential for great golf in this rugged corner of Scotland.
The ever-changing linksland at Machrihanish Dunes provides an opportunity to craft golf shots you might never have played before. The 7,082 yard, 18-hole course flows to, from, and along the sea, letting you step back in time to the days when Old Tom Morris laid out the neighboring links.
And at #3 is Cabot Links, located on over a mile of sandy beach along the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the town of Inverness. The resort, open from mid-May until the end of October, offers two golf courses, accommodations at the Cabot Links Lodge, Golf Villas, and dining at three on-site restaurants.
The resort, open from mid-May until the end of October, offers two golf courses, accommodations at the Cabot Links Lodge, Golf Villas, and dining at three on-site restaurants.
Inverness is one of the only places where you can play on two distinctive links both listed in Golf Digest's World's 100 Greatest Courses. The Cabot Links was designed by Canadian golf course architect, Rod Whitman, where every hole offers an ocean view and five holes play directly adjacent to the beach.
Coming in at #4 is Erin Hills. Before golf was played at Erin Hills, the 652 acres of land was host to icy fingers and streams from the last glacier to cover south central Wisconsin. Rivers carved features into the landscape, turning the Kettle Moraine into the diverse region that it is today.
Architects adopted a minimalist approach in designing Erin Hills, as nature had sculpted the land so that golf holes seemed to emerge from the property. The course is surrounded by wetlands and a river, with ground that consists of glacial till of varied composition. The architects used fine fescue for the fairways to emphasize the natural contours of the property.
The course is surrounded by wetlands and a river, with ground that consists of glacial till of varied composition.
And at #5 is Concord, California. For those who want to explore Northern California, Concord has a blend of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, music, and shopping. The city offers plenty to do including hikes to the summit of Mt. Diablo, excursions into nearby wine country, and for a round of golf there are two courses to choose from.
First is Diablo Creek, a public 18-hole golf course, with challenging long fairways and water hazards, well-maintained greens, and a well-stocked pro shop. Diablo Creek also features Legends Sports Bar and Grill where you can grab a cold beverage or a bite to eat. Second is Buchanan Fields Golf Club, a public nine-hole course for fans of a quicker game.
Lastly at #6 is We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, with two award-winning golf courses set in the Sonoran Desert of the Scottsdale area. Offering views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstitions, We-Ko-Pa lies on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land that will never be commercially developed.
Offering views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstitions, We-Ko-Pa lies on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land that will never be commercially developed.
We-Ko-Pa's two courses, Cholla and Saguaro, are both meticulously maintained, have received high praise, and offer a golf experience free of houses and roads. Cholla is recognized as a quintessential target-style desert course. Whereas, the Saguaro was designed as a more traditional style where greens are close to tees, walking is easy, and the course follows the natural movement of the land.
