If you are a golfer, retirement means only one thing: Work can no longer get in the way of your golf game! You are now free to roam around the country to experience the destinations on your golf getaway list. As you continue striving to lower your handicap, any one of these great choices is guaranteed to raise your spirits!
Scottsdale, Arizona
If you happen to live in an active adult community in the Scottsdale area, your travel time to great golf will be minimal. With 200-ish courses in the near vicinity, golf bliss in Scottsdale is literally a chip and a putt away. If you can’t find your favorite PGA tour pro in Florida, look around Scottsdale, a golfer’s paradise with exquisite weather between October and April and plenty of activities and great restaurants to keep you busy after golf.
Naples, Florida
Golfers of all ages flock to sunny Florida for a few days of golf and fun in the sun. Though Florida’s east coast is certainly a southern golf capital, it's Naples on the west coast that wins bragging rights with the highest number of courses in the state. With miles of spectacular beaches and a sophisticated restaurant scene, Naples offers awesome golf as well as an excellent fun quotient.
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Attracting golfers since the late 19th century, Pinehurst remains a gem of a golf getaway destination. With more than 50 golf courses and less than 20,000 people to play them, Pinehurst offers a less hectic, but consistently stellar golf experience. The city itself was created by famed architect Frederick Olmstead, the designer of Central Park. Weather is temperate, and generally only reaches 79 degrees in mid-summer. One round on the Donald Ross-designed Pinehurst #2, and you’ll be hooked. If you lived at one of Overture’s North Carolina communities, you’d never be more than a day-trip away from this fine golfing location.
Bend, Oregon
What Bend lacks in hot weather, it makes up for in scenic splendor and great golf. Choose from its 2 dozen golf courses, including Pronghorn Golf Club, which is famous for its water features and stunning views of the Cascade Mountains. Your Bend golf getaway can be a multisport adventure with cycling, hiking, rafting or rock climbing. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle, combining the charm of a rustic small town, with great golf and easy access to the great outdoors.
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Although located in South Carolina, Kiawah Island has a tropical resort ambiance. Approximately 20 miles south of Charleston, the island is 10 miles long and 1.5 miles at its widest point. With 10 miles of beach and 30 miles of scenic trails, to complement its 9 incredible golf courses, Kiawah is a golf getaway extraordinaire. Featuring courses designed by Watson, Player, Nicklaus, Dye, Fazio, and Johnston, Kiawah is internationally recognized as a major tournament destination.
Golf in Kiawah offers a quiet, laid-back ambiance, great golf, and the bonus of easy access to Charleston, a world-class city filled with culture, entertainment.
Whether you’re a true fanatic who only plays golf on days that end in “Y,” or a newly initiated enthusiast, any one of these great golf getaway options are exactly what the golf pro ordered. Pack up the clubs and enjoy!