Undeniably, the U.S. boasts some of the world’s best golf resorts. From California’s Pebble Beach to Kohler in Wisconsin, many of our country’s more prestigious resorts share the same championship-worthy elements: epic links built by legendary architects, award-winning accommodation options, and a landscape that will take your breath away.
Are you looking to plan your next golf getaway? We’ve compiled the best golf and spa resorts across the country, pulled straight from the rankings of Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, among others. Hit the fairways that America’s golf legends love and take your first swing at these world-class resorts.
The nine best golf resorts in the U.S.
There is a reason why the same courses keep popping up in your favorite golf magazine. The best resorts in the U.S. focus on getting the fundamentals right: exquisite service, elevated accommodations, and, we cannot forget, great golf.
Whether you’re heading to the fairway for business or pleasure, you’ll want to book your next tee time at one of these illustrious award-winning resorts.
1. Pebble Beach Resorts, California.
Location: Pebble Beach, California
Airports
Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), San Jose’s International Airport (SJC)
Highlights
With its courses and accommodations sprawling over 5,300 oceanside acres, this hundred-year-old golfing destination carries more than a few accolades. Pebble Beach has hosted six U.S. Opens and the first U.S. Women’s Open in 2023.
Golf Digest voted Pebble Beach the greatest public golf course in America. Golf Magazine recognized it as one of the Top 100 Courses in the U.S. Golf Advisor goes one step further, naming Pebble Beach as one of the Top 50 Courses in the U.S.
The courses
When you stay at Pebble Beach, you’ll be spoiled for choice, with five separate courses within your reach: Pebble Beach Golf Links (18-hole), Spyglass Hill Golf Course (18-hole), the Links at Spanish Bay(18-hole), the Del Monte Golf Course(18-hole), and the Hay (9-hole short course).
The accommodations
In the words of Pebble Beach Resorts, this is “A Spectacular Seaside Escape” located along the picturesque 17-mile Drive on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Whether you stay at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Inn at Spanish Bay, or Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach, you can expect world-class service and superior in-room comforts.
This weekend, head to Pebble Beach in style with Volato private charters to Monterey Peninsula Airport.
2. Pinehurst Resort.
Location: Pinehurst, North Carolina
Airports
Moore County Airport (SOP), Raleigh-Durham International (RDU)
Highlights
Called “The Cradle of American Golf,” Pinehurst Resort boasts nine 18-hole courses, the Thistle Dhu putting course, and a short course. Year after year, Pinehurst is a regularly awarded resort.
Pinehurst has also won Golf Magazine’s Platinum Medal Resort, while Golfweek, Forbes Travel Guide, and the like have consistently ranked it as one of the best golf courses in the U.S.
The courses
With 12 courses at Pinehurst, you’ll need to schedule a few trips here to play through them all. Courses #2 and #4 are consistently ranked fan favorites, with Pine Needles and Mid Pines getting honorable mentions.
Course #2 is “Donald Ross’s masterpiece.” This 18-hole course is home to more single golf championships than any other course in the country. Course #4, designed by legend Gil Hanse, showcases classic Carolinas Sandhill golf style, with native wiregrass, a rolling landscape, and large areas of sand.
The accommodations
If you’re heading to Pinehurst for the weekend — or better yet, the week — you’ll find top-tier accommodations, rated AAA Four Diamond across the four historic hotels. From the Manor to the Carolina Hotel to the Magnolia Inn, each offers spacious high-end accommodation for you and your fellow golfers, many of which are located course-side.
3. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina.
Location: Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Airports
Charleston Executive Airport (JZI), Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Highlights
Kiawah Island Golf Resort merges your golf getaway into a beach vacation. Located near Charleston, South Carolina, this resort has award-winning golf, accommodation, restaurants, top-tier tennis facilities, and never-ending beaches.
Kiawah Resort’s oceanside courses are nothing short of breathtaking. Over the last few years, it’s nabbed several major rankings, including Golf’s Top 100 Courses in the World, Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, and the Best Golf Destination by Global Traveler.
The courses
Across Kiawah Island Golf Resort, you’ll find five distinct courses: the Ocean Course, Osprey Point, Oak Point, Turtle Point, and Cougar Point. All courses get points for their natural beauty, whether it’s the ocean vistas or the maritime forests next to the Kiawah River. However, it’s the Ocean Course that often gets the most attention for its views and challenging environment.
In the words of Kiawah Resorts, “It’s unlikely any other golf course in the world—outside the United Kingdom and Ireland—is affected as much by wind. From one round to the next, a player can experience up to an 8-club difference on holes depending upon the wind’s direction and strength.”
The accommodations
The Kiawah Golf Resort accommodations are unparalleled for golfers who combine their passion with family time. First, there is the Sanctuary Hotel, a majestic oceanfront option. But many find themselves drawn to the privacy and space afforded by the Cottages at the Ocean Course or the Resort Villas.
Send the kids off to one of the two pool complexes (think water slides), and then lock in your preferred tee time, thanks to exclusive guest benefits.
4. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
Location: Bandon, Oregon
Airports
Bandon State Airport (BDY) or Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH)
Highlights
Five out of seven Bandon Dunes courses sit on Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public Golf Courses list, most of which are in the top ten. Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have named the Dunes as the number one and number two best golf resorts in North America. The Bandon Dunes course, designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, in particular, got top marks from the landscape but also as a “thinker’s course.”
The courses
Bandon Dunes created seven separate courses, all inspired by the Pacific coastal environment that borders the fairways. Courses include Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch, Bandon Preserve, and Shorty’s (opening 2024).
As Bandon Dunes Resort says, their courses are each designed in harmony with their natural environment, inspired by Oregon’s rugged coast and the stunning dunes that unfurl into the sea.
The accommodations
From Chrome Lake to the Grove Cottages to Lily Pond, the accommodation options at Bandon Dunes are designed for comfort and seclusion. Hidden among pockets of Pacific Forest, with sunbeams peeking through onto patios, the on-site facilities for guests ensure you and your party have enough room to get comfortable for an extended stay.
5. The Greenbrier.
Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Airports
Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB), Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
Highlights
Built on 11,000 acres of rolling West Virginia mountains and one of the largest golf resorts in the USA, this is your weekend golf escape from the big city noise. With legends like Dwight Eisenhower, Lou Gehrig, Bob Hope, Billy Graham, Bing Crosby, and even Shaquille O’Neal all known to have played a few rounds here, you’ll be playing the same greens as some of the great golfing legends.
The courses
Greenbrier has made a name for itself as a major golf destination based on its four distinct courses: The Old White, The Meadows, the Ashford Short Course, and its namesake, The Greenbrier. The latter, one of the most challenging golf courses in the U.S., was designed by the renowned Jack Nicklaus and has hosted both the Ryder and the Solheim Cups.
The accommodations
Like no other golf resort in the country, the opulent and over-the-top interior design across Greenbrier Resort facilities stands out. Across the Cottages, Estate Homes, and Signature resort rooms, you find bespoke colorful designs, memorable nods to West Virginia history, and a dash of local charm.
6. Streamsong Resort.
Location: Bowling Green, Florida
Airports
Wauchula Municipal Airport (CHN), Tampa International Airport (TPA), Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Highlights
As one of the newest golf resorts in the U.S., Streamsong has already made an impact on the national golf scene. In Golfweek, Golf Digest, Golf Advisor, and Links Magazine, it consistently ranks among the top 100 courses in the country and is always within the top 10 of Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play in Florida list.
The courses
You’ll find four courses at Streamsong: Blue, Red, Black, and the Chain (13 holes, short), designed by legends like Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, and Jim Wagner.
Streamsong applies a walking golf philosophy to its facilities. Each of its 18-hole links has been designed to be walked rather than carted around. In some instances, walking is required depending on timing and season. In their words, “The only way to truly experience the game of golf at Streamsong is by walking.”
The accommodations
On the Streamsong property, there are two separate accommodation options: Streamsong Lodge and the Streamsong Red and Blue Clubhouse. Here, you can expect modern rooms with a view of the epic landscape. One of the resort’s most memorable features is the infinity pool perched over Lodge Lake.
7. The Lodge at Torrey Pines.
Location: La Jolla, California
Airports
Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (MYF), Oceanside Airport (OCN), San Diego Airport (SAN)
Highlights
The Lodge at Torrey Pines sits atop the rocky La Jolla cliffs and caters to guests flying in to hit the local award-winning Torrey Pines Golf Course. With an impressive redesign in 2001 by Rees Jones, this municipal golf course hit the big time after hosting the 2008 U.S. Open. But the Lodge isn’t just a place to crash between rounds. You’ll find luxury suites, gourmet dining options, and a spa all on-site.
The course
This is La Jolla’s municipal golf course. Renowned for its setting, it’s perched on coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It features two courses, North and South, both acclaimed for their challenging layouts, ocean exposure, and stunning views.
Torrey Pines has hosted the PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open more than once and is celebrated for its public access paired with championship conditions.
The accommodations
The Lodge gets West Coast comforts right. Think in-room fireplaces, sweeping vistas of the courses and the ocean, and large, spacious private suites. With many elevated features, like marble bathrooms and oversized bathtubs, everyone you travel with will feel pampered on your golf getaway.
8. Sea Island Resort.
Location: Sea Island, Georgia
Airports
McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK), Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
Highlights
Let’s start with the 80 Forbes Five Stars Sea Island accommodation has received since opening, the recent AAA Five Diamonds, and the many mentions across golf’s best-of lists. When you head to your tee-off time, you’ll quickly understand why its courses regularly hit the top rankings—from Golf Inc. to Golf Magazine to Golf Digest.
The courses
Sea Island is coming up on a century of golf on Georgia’s coastline, which started with the Plantation Course in 1928. Now, Sea Island has expanded to the Seaside Course, featuring tidal creeks and terrain hitting the Atlantic Ocean. There is also the Retreat Course buried deeper into the quiet pines and oaks. That makes three championship courses, a 17,000-square-foot Golf Performance Center, and an 18-hole Speedway Putting Center.
The accommodations
Few other golf courses in the world offer the level of accommodation and opulent styling you’ll discover at Sea Island. Whether you reserve a room at the Forbes Five-Star Cloister, known for its Mediterranean-style sophistication, or seek out more privacy with bucket-list ocean views at the English-manor-styled The Lodge at Sea Island, all come with access to championship golf courses, spas, and beach club facilities.
Ready for a golf infused family escape? Book a private charter with Volato to McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport today, just moments away from Sea Island Resort.
9. The American Club Resort (Kohler).
Location: Kohler, Wisconsin
Airports
Sheboygan County Memorial Airport (SBM), Manitowoc County Airport (MTW)
Highlights
Kohler is undeniably one of the greatest championship golf destinations in the U.S. It’s hosted two U.S. Women’s Opens, three PGA Championships, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Seniors Open. If you want to tee off at the same greens as our country’s most extraordinary golf legends, Kohler’s courses can make your dream a reality.
The courses
Golfing in Kohler spans several distinct terrain types. First, the Whistling Straits (the Straits and Irish Courses) sit beside Lake Michigan’s expansive shoreline. Whistling Straits is one of the longest courses in the U.S., spreading out at 7790 yards.
Then it’s Blackwolf Run (the River, the Meadow Valleys, and The Baths), with terrain flitting between forested glades and bright green meadows. Most Kohler’s courses were designed by Pete Dye, a World Hall of Fame golf course architect.
The accommodations
Beyond the championship links, the American Club Resort makes golfing in Wisconsin worth the flight. Founded over a hundred years ago, the resort has never lost its foundational dedication to charm and hospitality. The American Club Carriage House (adults-only accommodation) is especially lavish, featuring facility amenities like the Kohler Waters Spa, on-site yoga, cold-pressed juices, and more.
Book a private jet charter for your next golf getaway.
Getting to the tee time is crucial whether you play purely for passion or as a more casual pastime. The beauty of booking a private jet charter for your next golf getaway is that you’ll skip the lines, stress, and layovers so common with commercial travel.
What’s more, with private and executive airports often just a few miles away from resorts like Sea Island and Bandon Dunes, you are quite literally mere moments away from your first swing at a legendary green. Flying privately to a golf resort is simply more time-efficient and less stressful than even business class can offer.
If you have a golf trip coming up, let us help you get there in style. Fly Volato.
“Accommodations.” The Lodge At Torrey Pines. Accessed 9 May 2024.