I have a few nominees from our recent trips: Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan, Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and Streamsong in Florida. All three are beautiful and very playable for average golfers. What are your favorite resorts.
I don’t have much experience but my trip to Cabot Links was epic. Here was my writeup:
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Thanks for posting that. I have a trip planned to Nova Scotia next September. I will try to check it out.
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I don’t think it gets much acclaim nationally, but I really like French Lick, Indiana… I haven’t played the courses, but they have a sterling reputation.
The resort itself is nice and has a casino… they also claim to have invented tomato juice! Which is weird.
It’s about 90 minutes away from Louisville. There is also an amazing German restaurant near by in jasper, in.
I’ve stayed in both the Hotels at various work events. They are nice.
It’s got a Donald Ross course and a Pete dye course.
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St. George UT and Mesquite NV. Both within about 30 minutes of each other and some of the best courses you’ll ever lay eyes on (my opinion) Wolf Creek, Sand Hollow, The Ledges, Coral Canyon, Conestoga. Absolutely amazing places to play.
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I’d recommend the Pinehurst, NC area but not specifically for the resort. Obviously that is great to play if you want to pay a premium, but there are plenty of other great courses nearby: Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Tobacco Road, and a variety of others. You can stay at condos at Pinehurst and be walking distance from the village, but don’t think you need to play the courses at the resort.
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Myself and 3 buddies made it to Sand Valley earlier this spring and I was blown away. It was my first ever “golf trip” so I dont have a lot to compare. Both courses were incredible, Mammoth was my favorite and may be the most fun course I have played. If you go, do not skip out on the Sandbox. I’m not sure I have ever had as much fun playing golf as we did on the sandbox.
Besides the golf the hospitality was incredible. I have already been looking into returning next year and hoping to make it an annual trip.
I really want to make it to Sand Valley, heard great things. Too many places to go. I haven’t even been to Bandon!
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I saw today on Instagram that Doak posted about the Lido replica course he is hoping to make. Sounds like within the next few years they will have 1-2 new courses at Sand Valley.
Although I am not 100% sure the lido course will be at Sand Valley, and it may only have a handful of public tee times available each day.
Doak was working on Sedge Valley earlier this year to be the 3rd course there but it was put on hold shortly after my trip. At the time, the starter thought they would have 9 holes available for preview play this year, but unfortunately nothing yet.
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For those who have been to both Sand Valley and Koehler, how would you compare them in terms of golf, lodging, food, etc?
Nobody said Bandon yet? Maybe because of the 3 day length. It is well worth it even if you only go for a day.
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My foursome has had great experiences at the Boyne Resort 2 of the last 3 summers. (Covid caused us to cancel this year.) 10 different courses are part of the property. Each of them is special in its own way, but my favorite is the Bay Harbor (in Petoskey, MI) combo of the Links and Quarry. The Links 9 is a poor man’s Pebble Beach. The Quarry was drug out of its namesake and have a number of spectacular holes.
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For the money-conscious Albuquerque offers incredible value for a 3-day trip. UNM Championship and Twin Warriors are both amazing championship courses that you can play for ~50 USD. Pakko Ridge is pricier but as pretty a desert golf course as you’ll find anywhere. Weather is perfect in October, too.
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Not often thought of as a golf destination, here in Nebraska we have some unbelievable golf in Mullen, Gothenburg, and Valentine. Headlined by Sand Hills in Mullen. Tough to get on, but not impossible. Quite possibly the best course in the Midwest. Follow it up with Dismal River, also in Mullen. Finish your trip off at either the Prairie Club Dunes course in Valentine or Wild Horse in Gothenburg.
You’ll never regret it.
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Besides what had been said, Palm Springs/Palm Desert can be great. You can stay and play for really cheap if you’re willing to do it during the summer 
Checking in to nominate the Sandhills of NC. Not sure how it could get much better from a variety and budget standpoint. There is enough to fit any golfers needs!
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I’m in the process of booking a late May trip to Whistling Straits and the prices are great. Looked at Sand Valley, but it was quite a bit more expensive. My trip will consist of both the courses at Whistling Straits, and the 2 Blackwolf Run courses, and an extra day where we’ll drive over to play Erin Hills as well. Five days and about $1700 all included.
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Played both courses at Arcadia last year, beautiful there, one of the best golf trips I’ve ever taken.We’re going to Garland in Lewiston, MI this weekend. Not as nice as Arcadia, but they have 4 courses and they’re pretty good tracks.
If you are starting from Sydney, I highly recommend heading north. Magenta Shores is a great links course, Newcastle is a classic, Pacific Dunes is a great new course and Horizons is also a lot of fun.
A trip to Whistling is going to cost you less than Sand Valley?! That really surprises me. I was at SV in may of this year. We stayed 2 nights on property, and played 2 rounds at all 3 courses. We did not get caddies, and excluding food & beverage (which is very delicious and reasonably priced) it was roughly $650 a person if I remember correctly.
Shoulder season weather in Wisconsin can be very hit or miss, but we were well prepared and still enjoyed every second of it. Even in the 37 degree weather with light snow flurries!
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