Recommendations - Solo golf trip

[3mulligans]

Howdy folks.

 

A friend and I were planning a trip to California for the fall, but they changed their mind and decided they didn't want to go. So I'm thinking a golf trip. Not worried about flight costs or hotel costs (points should cover the vast majority if not all).. so I just want some ideas about where to go. Obviously Vegas or Phoenix/Scottsdale seem to be logical choices.

 

I live in the Philly area now. Was wanting to get out west.

 

Thoughts?

[TML]

go to bandon dunes. You won't regret it.

[JMO TO]

[quote name='TML' timestamp='1424271230' post='10977547']
go to bandon dunes. You won't regret it.
[/quote] Las Vegas in my mind should be saved for a buddies trip. I would agree with Bandon. Amazing golf in the fall. Try to get a room in the Lodge if possible.

[Northside Matt]

You could do the RTJ golf trail and catch some SEC football along the way.

[3mulligans]

[quote name='Northside Matt' timestamp='1424277600' post='10978235']
You could do the RTJ golf trail and catch some SEC football along the way.
[/quote]

I'm actually from Mobile originally and went to Auburn.. so I have played the courses at Magnolia Grove and Grand National many times growing up. Plus I go back every year for Christmas.

Knew someone would recommend it.. and for most folks it's a great recommendation. But want to go some place I haven't been before.

[GoStars]

Bandon will be a pain to get to, but it's awesome.

[bmoores]

Bandon or Scottsdale.

[spud3]

Bandon is great solo...

[mringwelski]

well here's another Bandon rant from yours truly

Bandon offers a great experience for someone who is traveling solo because lets face it....its Man Land. Guys that want to come out, play some golf that kicks their a$$, drink a Oregon craft brew and chill at Mckee's pub with the people you just walked off the links with. Everyone that i carried for that came out solo had a great time.

[fore_life]

I think bandon would be awesome, just wake up and play golf all day, play as much as YOU want to play, on whatever schedule/rotation you'd like. Now I want to do a solo trip there haha.

I personally don't think Scottsdale would be a good place for solo golf, you'd have to do a decent amount of window time getting around the city and to and from the courses. I think I'd want to just get dropped off at bandon and never worry about leaving the grounds.

[3mulligans]

So it's pretty much unanimous... Bandon.. Which, as stated earlier, is a pain in the butt to get to. It's definitely something I want to check out eventually.

But being that I wanted to pay for flight and the majority of the hotel stay with reward points, that would make Bandon by far the most expensive option.

So any options other than Bandon? I get it.. it's an awesome place and I hope to go one day. But for this trip it's not feasible.

[fore_life]

How about Bend, Oregon? Less of a pain to get to, some fantastic variety of world class courses, and if you like craft beer, it's a hell of a place.

My 3 "off the beaten path" trips would be Bend, Alberuerque, and oddly enough the Johnson City,tn area

[cbbaron]

Ive been to Scottsdale many times over the years solo actually going to Bandon for first time but with wife but I could defiantly see going to Bandon solo

[tgard27]

I love Bandon, great place, beautiful scenery and true links style golf. However, I would recommend Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan to someone before they consider Bandon. That course is just cool, so unique and $100 less per round than Bandon(btw, if you are going to Bandon, I would play Pacific Dunes anyday over Bandon Dunes).

Arcadia is a tougher course, in my opinion, than Bandon. It's also easier to get to as it is only a few hours drive from Chicago. Manistee National is only 45 minutes from Arcadia and it too has a fine golf course(but cheaper lodging). The fun thing about Arcadia is that it has wind andit is set up for the wind. The flag sticks are about 5 feet tall and the greens are huge. Another thing that differs the two is memorability. I remember a couple of holes on Bandon, but I remember quite a few holes on Arcadia. To me, #11 on Arcadia is every bit a cool as #18 on Pebble as far as Par 5's go and #13 is unbelievable. The pictures don't do either justice, but it's one of those things you have to see to understand.

Good luck either way as you can't go wrong.

[Demo1]

+1 on Bend. Great courses...great beer!

[spud3]

St. George/Mesquite?

[puttnforthe8]

I have done Pebble/Monterrey solo and had no regrets whatsoever! I did not even stay at the resort and it was still easy to get everywhere.

Also did Bandon and I agree with that as top of the list.

[mwmgolfx]

Personally I love Bandon and go there frequently. But to be honest, its a lot cheaper with 2-4 golfers than for a single golfer there. And I've stayed on and off property and played there. I've also done single trips to Whistling straits, Pebble , Vegas, Pinehurst amongst others.

California has a lot of options for a single besides Pebble. Torrey, Pasatiempo are two of the more famous that I can think of. I go to Vegas a lot with my wife and myself and play lots of courses there as a single. Shows at night or other attractions and play golf during the day (often 36 or more). Another option is as mentioned, is Mesquite.

Played in Phoenix a few times, but I don't consider it a good golf trip for a single.

Another off the wall is the Seattle area. Chambers is hosting the open this year and there are a number of other very good courses there as well.

If its just you by yourself (no wife or other family), then why not somewhere in California or Vegas. Lots of options there. A lot depends upon what you want to do besides play golf.

[NDSwim]

Last Labor Day I did an Erin Hills and Whistling Straits trip solo.

Erin Hills was a great experience. I stayed in the Lodge and my window overlooked the putting green. Awesome experience. As for Whistling Straits, I played the Straits course and Blackwolf Run River. Straits was a fun experience and a must play when there just because of the tournaments held there. The River course was not anything special, wish I had not played it. When in Kohler used points and stayed at a La Quinta Inn.

If I had to do it again I would play 36 holes at Erin Hills and stay at the lodge two evenings. Go to Kohler and play the Straits and Irish courses.

Have a great trip whatever you decide.

[johnnylongball]

Since you don't want to do Bandon, the Pebble suggestion isn't a bad idea. You could also likely get on as a single without staying at the resort and thereby avoiding the mandatory 2night stay. You should be able to use your points to stay somewhere in the area.

[fore_life]

[quote name='puttnforthe8' timestamp='1424368878' post='10985801']
I have done Pebble/Monterrey solo and had no regrets whatsoever! I did not even stay at the resort and it was still easy to get everywhere.

Also did Bandon and I agree with that as top of the list.
[/quote]

Joe, you've done some golf up in Bend and in ABQ, do you think any of those would be good for options outside of bandon and Monterrey?

Points would probably go a long way in ABQ for flights and lodging, though you'd need a car at both locations

[DavePelz4]

Palm Springs is a great golf destination.

[TML]

Palm Springs is good for golf, but you are surrounded by retirees moving at the pace of a turtle and there's not much there for someone on their own.

If you want to stay West.......
If you want to use rewards, I would suggest going up to the Seattle area. Salish Cliffs (the best seafood bar ever at the casino!) and Chambers Bay are fairly close together. Washington National is a great course, and other great courses.

The Bay Area doesn't have a great set of resort courses or public courses I would consider worth travelling for.

LA is just one big mess of a traffic jam.

Now Torrey Pines in La Jolla would be a good option.

[mringwelski]

Reward points would probably go pretty far in Palm Springs...

[UCBananaboy]

RTJ + SEC football sounds like the best bet if I were going solo. The RTJ courses are awesome and SEC football is an experience in itself.

[Chomper]

Palm Springs / La Quinta.
PGA West is right there, free shuttle, fair nightlife, but it is really about the golf.
They do have an airport, it is regional I think.
If you rent a car, you can go all around the area, and the price is less than Bandon all around.

[3mulligans]

[quote name='TML' timestamp='1424379160' post='10986879']
Palm Springs is good for golf, but you are surrounded by retirees moving at the pace of a turtle and there's not much there for someone on their own.

If you want to stay West.......
If you want to use rewards, I would suggest going up to the Seattle area. Salish Cliffs (the best seafood bar ever at the casino!) and Chambers Bay are fairly close together. Washington National is a great course, and other great courses.

The Bay Area doesn't have a great set of resort courses or public courses I would consider worth travelling for.

LA is just one big mess of a traffic jam.

Now Torrey Pines in La Jolla would be a good option.
[/quote]

Seattle is interesting. I've always wanted to visit, but it didn't really cross my mind for a golf trip. I also have a former coworker who lives there now and I actually played with him a few times. Maybe I'll reach out to him and see if he still plays.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

[mikedejong]

I would second (or third) Palm Springs. Stay at one of the resorts with a casino. Great golf within a short cab ride, and the casino gives you something to do in the evenings. I have done it with just a buddy, never as a solo. But its fun to just sit around the hotel, play some cards maybe, and have some drinks. You always meet someone at a place like that and have some fun.

[JLo_73]

Would have said Bandon as well but Palm Springs can be great and a number of Westin/Marriott/etc to cover plus several airports to fly into(LAX, SNA, ONT)

[mctrees02]

Pebble/Northern California is a great trip for a single. I'm out there by myself for work quite a bit and have always enjoyed my rounds as a single from SF to Half Moon Bay and all over the Monterey Peninsula.

Vegas on the other hand is not a trip I've enjoyed by myself. The golf is alright (but overpriced for the quality of courses w/ the exception of Paiute) but the part I really didn't enjoy is being by myself for dinner, gambling, etc. Vegas is just not as much fun by yourself.