Labor Day Solo Trip Suggestions

[Miker20890]

Looking to do a solo golf trip for labor day weekend. Coming from DC area and would like to fly somewhere and keep it under 4 hour flight time and stay in the US. Price really isn't a concern. Would like to play some top notch courses whether that be staying at a resort or just doing an area. Just trying to get some recommendations so I don't leave any destinations out when doing my research. So far i have the following areas on my list. Have done Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach. Thank you in advance!

• Streamsong
• PGA National
• RTJ Trail
• Barton Creek
• PGA Frisco
• Innisbrook
• Sand Valley

Edited January 25 by Miker20890

[ND2005]

The south is still very hot around Labor Day. Streamsong, Barton Creek, etc will all be blazing hot and humid 
 
Sand Valley would be great but you won’t be able to get on site lodging. Tee times would be fine. 

[jvincent]

Agreed, with the above.

 

In addition to Sand Valley, you can also tack on Lawsonia and Erin Hills if you venture out that way.

[hammergolf]

On 1/24/2025 at 4:25 PM, Miker20890 said:

Looking to do a solo golf trip for labor day weekend. Coming from DC area and would like to fly somewhere and keep it under 4 hour flight time and stay in the US. Price really isn't a concern. Would like to play some top notch courses whether that be staying at a resort or just doing an area. Just trying to get some recommendations so I don't leave any destinations out when doing my research. So far i have the following areas on my list. Have done Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach. Thank you in advance!

• Streamsong
• PGA National
• RTJ Trail
• Barton Creek
• PGA Frisco
• Innisbrook
• Sand Valley

Have you been to Northern Michigan? Tons of great courses and the weather should be perfect!

[Miker20890]

13 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Have you been to Northern Michigan? Tons of great courses and the weather should be perfect!

Have not. What airport would you fly into for that?

[Dancin]

Ideally Traverse City but those flights tend to be a lot more expensive and less options so many end up flying into Grand Rapids and making the drive up.

[hammergolf]

42 minutes ago, Miker20890 said:

Have not. What airport would you fly into for that?

As @Dancin said, Traverse City would be the best option. 

[Miker20890]

37 minutes ago, Dancin said:

Ideally Traverse City but those flights tend to be a lot more expensive and less options so many end up flying into Grand Rapids and making the drive up.

 

10 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

As @Dancin said, Traverse City would be the best option. 

flights aren’t the greatest getting to either airport. Connections to both. But I’ll definitely add it to the list to research more. 

[postfold]

How about Kohler?  

 

I'd be interested in hearing how it goes booking whatever you decide -- tee sheets in Northern MI at places like Arcadia Bluffs fill up early, dunno about elsewhere.

[BG5]

Sand Valley would be my choice

 

Northern Michigan would be a close second with Arcadia Bluffs, Forest Dunes, Belvedere,  Bay Harbor, Black Lake, and Treetops.....add in Privates like High Pointe, Crystal Downs, and Kingsley its hard to beat.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

We did Streamsong and Bay Hill in September before. Hot for sure, but the tee times were like over 50% off the peak season rate so it was nice

 

lots of the northern options are also great, Kohler, Arcadia / Forest Dunes. Arcadia was already booked up for all of August when I checked a few weeks ago, but as a solo I bet you have better odds. Kohler may also be booked up already

 

erin hills was superb. Lawsonia was pretty cool too. Lots of great courses in Wisconsin, and great cheese curds. Could add a Packers/UW game too to the trip

[Miker20890]

Sand valley was booked up for lodging. 
 

37 minutes ago, FuzzyKnuckles said:

We did Streamsong and Bay Hill in September before. Hot for sure, but the tee times were like over 50% off the peak season rate so it was nice

 

lots of the northern options are also great, Kohler, Arcadia / Forest Dunes. Arcadia was already booked up for all of August when I checked a few weeks ago, but as a solo I bet you have better odds. Kohler may also be booked up already

 

erin hills was superb. Lawsonia was pretty cool too. Lots of great courses in Wisconsin, and great cheese curds. Could add a Packers/UW game too to the trip

 

how bad was Florida in September? Actually leaning towards Florida since flights are the easiest and summer rates are cheap. 

[FuzzyKnuckles]

19 minutes ago, Miker20890 said:

Sand valley was booked up for lodging. 
 

 

how bad was Florida in September? Actually leaning towards Florida since flights are the easiest and summer rates are cheap. 

I didn’t think it was too bad, but have lived in the southeast my whole life. And was young. If your appetite towards heat isn’t great, then it may not be the most fun. But if you don’t mind the heat, it’s just 90s with  humidity which is doable

[hammergolf]

15 hours ago, Miker20890 said:

Sand valley was booked up for lodging. 
 

 

how bad was Florida in September? Actually leaning towards Florida since flights are the easiest and summer rates are cheap. 

It will be in 90’s. It doesn’t cool down there until mid October normally. 

[srs06d]

16 hours ago, Miker20890 said:

Sand valley was booked up for lodging. 
 

 

how bad was Florida in September? Actually leaning towards Florida since flights are the easiest and summer rates are cheap. 

The heat and humidity are miserable but manageable. Bigger issues are the afternoon thunderstorms (with unprecedented lightning) and the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm disrupting the trip. Don't forget the mosquitos, alligators and snakes as well.

[jvincent]

14 minutes ago, srs06d said:

The heat and humidity are miserable but manageable. Bigger issues are the afternoon thunderstorms (with unprecedented lightning) and the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm disrupting the trip. Don't forget the mosquitos, alligators and snakes as well.

 

Sounds awesome!

[Miker20890]

Any other suggestions where to go?

 

sv is lodging is booked. 
Northern Michigan flights are all connections and I’d rather not deal with that for a sun-thurs trip. 

[bcjim]

11 hours ago, Miker20890 said:

Any other suggestions where to go?

 

sv is lodging is booked. 
Northern Michigan flights are all connections and I’d rather not deal with that for a sun-thurs trip. 

Flying to Birmingham from DC is pretty easy usually.  You could stay at Ross Bridge and play that and the 2 Oxmoor courses. 

 

Or drive 1.5h to Prattville and play the 3 courses there.  The on-site Marriott there is plenty nice.

[Chanceman]

I guess you could always fly to Chicago and play Cog Hill, Glen Club, Cantigny, Mistwood etc.

[BirdieRoll]

I think I'd fly nonstop to Grand Rapids via American and then drive the 2:20 to the Traverse City area. GRR is a nice little airport.

 

American flies nonstop to Milwaukee but it's then 2:40 to SV from there and then you have the lodging issue but I bet someone cancels since it's a holiday weekend.

[StudentGolfer4]

On 2/2/2025 at 10:37 AM, Miker20890 said:

Any other suggestions where to go?

 

sv is lodging is booked. 
Northern Michigan flights are all connections and I’d rather not deal with that for a sun-thurs trip. 

You don’t need to stay on site at SV. Nothing great around but you will be able to find lodging.  Check your dates and see if any tee times are available. The last 2 years it’s been fine for me. I could book 36 if I didn’t care what order to play the courses. This year that’s not the case. Tee sheet is much more full. 

[Abh159]

RTJ would probably be one of the easier trips logistically coming from DC. It should also be pretty easy on the wallet too. I wouldn't call any of them "top notch courses", but they are usually in good shape and decent enough designs - classic RTJ.

 

Birmingham (54 holes b/w Ross Bridge and Oxmoor) would be a good place to start. From there you have a number of sites all within a relatively easy drive - Grand National (Opelika/Auburn), The Shoals (Muscle Shoals), and Prattville (Capitol Hill) are all 2 hours or less from Birmingham. All have at least 36 holes and onsite lodging.

 

The only inconvenient part would be the return flight. You'd either have to drive back to Birmingham to fly out of there, or maybe try flying out of Montgomery (Capitol Hill) or driving to Atlanta from Grand National (Opelika/Auburn).

[ShortGolfer]

Labor day marks the end of the season on Cape Cod, if there are New England courses you would like to visit.  Though they may punch the greens before the busy fall tourist season.  Tourists come to see the colorful  leaves on trees.