The 45 Best Warm Weather U.S. Golf Courses Chosen By Everyday Players
Almost half of all the world’s golf courses are in the United States. With approximately 16,000 courses across the country, players don’t have to wait for spring to get back on the greens.
“Every golfer dreams of teeing it up during the winter months, and these are the best courses to do it,” said Jason Scott Deegan, Managing Editor of GolfPass. “Even golfers who don’t live in these states will want to take stock because chances are, they’re going to be looking to visit to play someday.”
How This List Was Made
While other ‘Best Of’ lists are created by industry insiders with extraordinary access, The GolfPass Golfers’ Choice lists are created by recreational golfers’ 300,000 course reviews on GolfNow reflecting experiences across ages, handicaps, and budgets.
Alabama
With an average of 215 sunny days a year, you can enjoy golf practically year-round in Alabama. From the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail of dazzling public golf courses to oceanfront greens along the Gulf of Mexico, the state’s courses are peaceful yet exciting.
GolfPass players voted these five courses the highest across Alabama:
1. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove – Fall Course (Mobile)
2. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove – Crossings Course (Mobile)
3. FarmLinks Golf Club (Sylacuaga)
4. The Craft Farms Resort – Cypress Bend (Gulf Shores)
5. The Craft Farms Resort – Cotton Creek (Gulf Shores)
Arizona
Their tourism board states that beauty is par for the course when golfing in Arizona. And that’s putting it lightly. From desert landscapes to towering red rock vistas and greens dotted with cacti, golfing across this state is otherworldly.
GolfPass players’ favorite five Arizona courses:
1. The Highlands at Dove Mountain (Marana)
2. Laughlin Ranch Golf Club (Bullhead City)
3. Elephant Rocks Golf Course (Williams)
4. Emerald Canyon Golf Course (Parker)
5. Granite Falls Golf Club – South Course (Surprise)
California
While California is home to one of America’s most expensive rounds of golf (Pebble Beach Golf Links), it also offers 900 greens across the state. So whether you prefer the desert landscape, Pacific Ocean, lake, or city views, you can find it in California, including the golf course at the lowest elevation in the world.
Illustrating that top courses don’t necessarily mean top dollar, top marks went to:
1. Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course (Groveland)
2. Journey at Pechanga (Temecula)
3. Classic Club (Palm Desert)
4. Maderas Golf Club (Poway)
5. Indian Wells Golf Resort – Celebrity Course (Indian Wells)
Florida
The Sunshine State has more golf courses per capita than any other American destination, with more than 1,400-plus public golf courses—no wonder some say it’s the happiest place on earth for golfers, too. No matter what course you pick, the beauty of the landscape will be on display—from ocean to Everglades, and even the moss-draped trees reminiscent of the old Florida charm.
A round of golf is possible every day of the year. So fly south and challenge yourself at one of these top-rated courses:
1. ChampionsGate Golf Club – International (Orlando)
2. Heron’s Glen Golf & Country Club (North Fort Myers)
3. Waldorf Astoria Golf Club (Orlando)
4. Deer Island Country Club (Tavares)
5. Streamsong Resort – Blue Course (Fort Meade)
Georgia
With more than 150 golf courses across the state, there’s so much more than just Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters. From greens with Atlanta skyscraper views to the 10 options in Lake Country and even those in the Appalachian foothills, there are world-class options across price points.
GolfPass players’ top five picks in Georgia are:
1. Currahee Golf Club (Toccoa)
2. Richard B. Russell at Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course (Elberton)
3. Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course (Buford)
4. Bartram Trail Golf Club (Evans)
5. Meadow Links at George T. Bagby (Fort Gaines)
Hawaii
As one of the most alluring island chains in the world, Hawaii is known for its spectacular natural beauty. With volcanic black rock, perfect beaches, crystal blue oceans, and the warm, welcoming Aloha spirit, it’s easy to see why Hawaii is such a popular vacation spot. And that goes for golfers, too.
With 3/4 of its 70 golf courses open to visitors, it won’t be hard to find one during your next trip. GolfPass players recommend these five the most:
1. Mauna Lani Resort – South Course (Island of Hawaii)
2. Mauna Lani Resort – North Course (Island of Hawaii)
3. Kona Country Club (Island of Hawaii)
4. Waikoloa Village Golf Club (Maui)
5. Princeville Makai Golf Club (Kauai)
North Carolina
Yes, North Carolina has the iconic Pinehurst, but there are hundreds of more courses across the state. Take your pick from greens with soaring mountain views, ocean breezes, and even one that will whisk you away to the home of golf: Scotland.
The highest-rated courses played in 2024 in North Carolina are:
1. Occano (Merry Hill)
2. Thistle Golf Club (Sunset Beach)
3. Old Beau Resort & Golf Club (Roaring Gap)
4. Southern Pines Golf Club (Southern Pines)
5. Rock Barn Golf and Spa – Jackson Course (Conover)
South Carolina
With more than 300 courses, there are enough greens to play almost one new course every day for a year! From the Blue Ridge Mountains to The Atlantic Ocean and even “The Golf Capital of the World,” Myrtle Beach, a golf trip to The Palmetto State rightfully deserves a place on players’ bucket lists.
Bucking the term”you get what you pay for,” South Carolina’s top-rated picks aren’t necessarily top dollar. They are:
1. The Walker Golf Course at Clemson University (Clemson)
2. True Blue Golf Club (Pawleys Island)
3. The Traces Golf Club (Florence)
4. Pawleys Plantation (Pawleys Island)
5. Cheraw State Park Golf Course (Cheraw)
Texas
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, including the big, long list of greens across the state’s diverse landscape. Texas is one big playground for golfers, with over 800 courses in desert mountains, Hill Country, and even seaside options. With resort courses, championship greens, and stellar municipal greens, no wonder it’s also the home of the PGA.
These five Texas courses were beloved by GolfPass players:
1. Waterchase Golf Club (Fort Worth)
2. Links at Land’s End (Yantis)
3. The Golf Club Star Ranch (Hutto)
4. Borger Country Club (Borger)
5. San Saba Municipal Golf Course (San Saba)
NEXT: I’ve Golfed for 50 Years. Here’s 10 U.S. Golf Resorts Worth the Trip
Golf is played in some of the most beautiful places. If you want to combine your passion for golf with your next vacation, here are ten relaxing properties where the greens are just as impressive as the resort.
I’ve Golfed for 50 Years. Here’s 10 U.S. Golf Resorts Worth the Trip
Called America’s Best Golf Value: A Guide to The 22 Courses in Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Trail
When it comes to public golf courses, only a handful stand out from the rest. Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black are some stellar ones worthy of pros, but it’s hard to find more than a couple in the same place. Yet, with how hard it is to find great public golf courses, legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones somehow managed to create 26 of them in 11 locations in Alabama, called the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Debuted in 1992 to increase tourism to Alabama, The Trail has slowly but steadily gained recognition, with Golf Digest recently naming it as the best value in the USA for golf and recognizing two of its courses as some of the best in the country.
Called America’s Best Golf Value: A Guide to The 22 Courses in Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Trail
The 8 Best Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Picked by A Top Player
Myrtle Beach has long been a go-to vacation spot for generations of Americans. More than half of the country can drive to its 60 miles of beaches and other world-renowned attractions.
Considered one of America’s golfing meccas, Myrtle Beach has more than 90 golf courses, so you can play a round no matter your age and skill level.
