Ideas For Golf Trip With a Partially Golfing Wife

[Wedgefromhere]

I'm looking for ideas on a 3 or 4 night golf vacation with my wife. She would play no more than 2 times, so I'm looking for a bucket list type course to play when she's not. The parameters are below in no particular order. I realize the options are limited when meeting all of these, but the more the better.

Time frame: July or AugustBudget = $3000ishLess than 3 hour flight from Ft. LauderdaleGood to nicely maintained course, less than $100 round per person when wife plays, cost not a concern when I play aloneLess than 30 minute drive to the farthest courses from hotelCourse not crowded. Wife is a little insecure about her game, so we'd prefer not to get paired up and are willing to play in the afternoon.Good practice facilityDecent pool with a good poolside bar and entertainmentWife is not a spa person, so would need Starbucks's, shopping, etc. for her to do when I'm playing golf without herOther than golf attractions nearbyGoing to Ryder Cup in September, so WI is outThanks in advance!

[jvincent]

I'm not sure about the flight time, I'm going to suggest Monterey. Pebble has package deals (not sure if they offer them in the summer) that fall in your budget.

Lots to do there when not golfing, and when your wife is playing you can go somewhere more quiet in the area. If you get an NCGA membership Poppy Hills, Bayonet and Black Horse all have discounts.

[J_carp]

Hilton Head is always a good option. Lot of course options and pretty low key for beginners. You could sneak out and play Harbour Town if she’s not up for the challenge.

[Fuscinator]

Banff. I played golf, she went whitewater rafting. Lots of hiking, great places to eat, beautiful place.

 

Edit: Might be a little longer flight than 3hrs. from Florida.

[BirdieRoll]

Given a July or August timeframe, I'm thinking somewhere between Minnesota and Maine. Get out of the heat and humidity.

You could play a lot of good golf in the Minneapolis area with the Mall of America for shopping but I don't think anything would qualify as a bucket list course. (Sand Valley is 3.5 hours away from MSP and it sounds like you want to avoid WI). Maybe something in northern Michigan? Might be tough to get up there on a nonstop flight though.

[Roody]

My wife and I are planning on our second trip to Pebble later this year. She absolutely loved it the first time we went, which was back in 2013. She played one round with me at Pebble when we went last time, but since then she's gotten the golf bug. She's planning on playing two of the rounds with me this time, and we're even planning on shipping her clubs out there this time.

That said, I can't say enough about Pebble except that it's probably outside of your $3000 budget. There are so many other things to do while there.

We also really enjoyed Kiawah, but July or August may be a little too warm.

[marks21]

Pinehurst would fit the bill but similar to Kiawah, July and August could mean potentially hit and humid weather. Northern Michigan has solid courses and great weather but the shopping aspect could be hit or miss depending on the courses you choose.

[Wedgefromhere]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Since I want to make this a quick trip and not spend two days traveling, I'll consider Pebble, Banff and Michigan for another time.

Hilton Head and Pinehurst are strong candidates though. I can tolerate the heat and humidity, but can't stand the daily thunderstorms we get in South Florida. I assume that's not an issue for Pinehurst, but what about Hilton Head? Is there enough to keep my wife busy for 5 or 6 hours on her own at Pinehurst?

[Tanner25]

There's not much going on for things to do in Pinehurst. I guess if she likes spas and high end shoppes, maybe. Evening storms, too. But, not that bad. How about Charleston? Good golf and a nice city and ocean too.

[ArtMBgolf]

You can do all that in Myrtle Beach. Stay on the beach. Pick from lots of courses.

There is shopping, shows, the beach, etc.

[Roadking2003]

I would get out of the heat, so nowhere in FL, SC, GA, etc. Fly to Denver, then drive to the Beaver Creek area to play several wonderful courses including the Red Sky courses and others.

[Hawkeye77]

Partially? If she's not going all the way . . . . . . . . .

Up that budget by $1000 just because (but flights from where you are come cheap), add a couple of days, save and go next year - take her to Scotland! Or take her to London! Plenty of options would fit your specifications nicely - but the plane ride would be a tad more than 3 hours.

[ryder2015]

This for sure. Fly to Denver rent a car and drive to Vail or Beaver Creek. 1.5 hourish drive. You could both play on the way to Vail at Keystone Ranch/River course. Lots of shopping in Vail Village and the food is amazing. Everything except golf is walking distance. Stay at the Sonnenalp and you will feel like your in Bavaria. The sonnenalp has a nice course but its not worth playing twice on the same the trip (like all golf its 30min drive). Vail has a public course and its fine.

 

Beaver Creek also has a nice course and is worth looking into staying there. BC is closer to Red Sky. Red Sky is a little bit of drive as all courses are. Red Sky is worth it. Quite a few private courses but you might be able to find access on a few of them. Cordillera has 3 nice courses.

Don't rule out Breckenridge either. Keystone courses (30min) are not far away and Breckenridge has 27 great holes of public golf. Not as luxurious as Vail/BC but more of a small trendy town feel with lots of shopping and events on main street.

[davep043]

How about the Williamsburg, VA area, maybe Kingsmill? A nice resort with 2 courses, and a number of additional courses nearby (Fords Colony, Golden Horseshoe, Royal New Kent, and more), tons of "history" with the restored colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, outlet shopping, and amusement parks.

[Roadking2003]

The best courses in that area that I have played are;

 

Red Sky Norman

Red Sky Fazio

Cordillera Mountain

Cordillera Valley

Breckenridge

[Roadking2003]

Personally, Williamsburg would be too hot and humid for me in July or August.

[davep043]

I agree, but the OP is coming from south Florida, and says he's OK with some heat and humidity. I think it would fit his travel time, and it might fit his budget.

[Wedgefromhere]

Lots of good ideas. We've been to MB a couple of times and have enjoyed it, but are leaning towards doing something new. Since I want to do something quick and simple, Denver is a bit more traveling than I'd like to do this time, but definitely a look for a future trip.

Kingsmill is a possibility and I'm going to do a little research on it. I've never been to VA before and I didn't realize there are other options nearby.

[Old Fashioned Cowboy]

As a golfer, Pinehurst is awesome. There are lots of courses on the property that you could sneak out for an afternoon round with your wife and not get paired up. For example, my buddy and I played No. 2 early in the morning, grabbed lunch and replayed No. 5 in the afternoon and didn't really see another group for half the round and never waited. As far as lots to do outside of golf, that's a little tougher but all about what you wanna do. If your wife is ok with wandering around a quaint downtown for morning/early afternoon then sure, there's plenty. My wife is cool just reading a book, too (anything without our kids is now a treat where we don't hear our names repeated 1000 times an hour). Oh, play the Dormie Club if you go to Pinehurst. That course is a Coore and Crenshaw and its freakin great.

Hilton Head is nice because there is the beach, plenty of courses and I liked Harbour Town as checking off another Tour stop on my list. I went with my wife and my buddy's wife came with and it was an awesome trip. But Pinehurst has better golf, no question.

[newbsauce]

"Wife is not a spa person" ... my bank account wishes that I could say the same. It does make golf trips easier for us though. =)

[CanadaCal]

Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

2.5 hr flight, 3hr drive from Airport to Muskoka.

Cute Towns/shops to shop at, lakeside activities, great golf and resorts/accomodations. Lots of courses to choose from.

+30% currency advantage

 

[arobbins3]

Michigan!!! Go up north to Boyne or somewhere else and make the drive to Arcadia Bluffs.

[MCRice]

I second the Kingsmill recommendation. Wife and I went there a year or two ago as a long weekend getaway (live right outside of DC). Recommend staying at Kingsmill, courses are a lot of fun, food is good, and there's quite a bit to do locally. If you wanted to there's plenty of alternative golf options outside of the resort as well.

[lakecowboy]

Banff is incredible, should definitely plan a long trip out there. 7-10 days is a great amount of time and split your trip 70/30 between Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You wont regret it and make sure you take the drive up to Athabasca Glacier. One of the top scenic drives in the world from Lake Louise to the glacier. The course at Banff Springs is a blast, and beautiful.