Golf Trip for a Christmas Gift

[Cheesehead42]

So my wife was asking what I wanted for Christmas. After giving it some thought and not really coming up with anything, I came up with the idea of a golf trip. She and I both play together a lot so I said, "Let's do a 5 day, 3 round golf trip together" in January or February. We live in WI so I am eager as hell to get away from snow during that time.

 

I wanted some feedback. I am assuming flying out Wednesday night to where ever, play Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and fly back Sunday.

 

I had looked as San Diego, playing Torrey North, Torrey South, and Aviara. Had looked at Pebble but just cannot justify the cost.

 

Anybody have any thoughts or other recommendations?

[oldschoolrocker]

I would suggest Kiawah. Great golf and a wonderful city in Charleston to keep yourselves entertained when not playing.

[WJLIII]

Bay Hill is a fun trip, 27 holes, outstanding practice facilities, food and spa. Can always take a side trip to Universal or Disney if so inclined. Weather will be fairly predictable. Orlando is an easy airport with many direct flights. Can even spend some time with the King, he is often there during the winter. Good Luck wherever you end up.

[jpthreesticks]

Check out Sea Island...fly into Jacksonville, probably can get a round in somewhere there at all sorts of different price points, then drive up to Sea Island and check out Seaside & Plantation or for a real treat you can check out Brunswick CC who just renovated their greens and is a fun course to play.

[puttnforthe8]

Why don't you come out to Arizona for the NFC championship game and watch your Packers go down 38-34 to the Cardinals?

Then you could go play some golf?

[Fbgstaff]

Cabo!

[zonacats23]

1st Id check into Kiawah. Last year their deal ran thru February where you get 2 rounds on the ocean course and a 1 night stay in a villa for under $400. Also in January i know Pinehurst #2 has an incredible deal. Plenty of other courses in the area to round out your trip. Obviously the above places can be quite chilly in those months. If it were me Id go to tampa and play Streamsong.

[Fbgstaff]

[quote name='zonacats23' timestamp='1444947653' post='12461976']
1st Id check into Kiawah. Last year their deal ran thru February where you get 2 rounds on the ocean course and a 1 night stay in a villa for under $400. Also in January i know Pinehurst #2 has an incredible deal. Plenty of other courses in the area to round out your trip. Obviously the above places can be quite chilly in those months. If it were me Id go to tampa and play Streamsong.
[/quote]

Pinehurst does have a good deal. I would really look into Streamsong or a really good deal would be World Woods. They should have the best deal.

[crazy8golfer]

Personally, I would head a little further south that North Carolina or South Carolina.

[Chomper]

Pinehurst has a few really good winter deals with spa, golf and food.
Arizona, of course, is fantastic, just pricey. As is Palm Desert, but it would be fun. Weather is good.
Florida, as others have mentioned.

[prsgtrman]

arizona all the way. weather in nc and sc can be very spotty in the winter. i wont guarantee good weather in az but i guarantee the chances for good weather are far better than nc and sc. the other option is south florida(id go way south too and orlando, tampa and jacksonville can still have cool days).

[jpthreesticks]

Agree with those saying NC and SC could be dicey with weather. After living in the Carolinas for 12 years, it can be either be absolutely beautiful in the mid 60's and pushing 70 or it can be around freezing. And of course you can get that on back to back days. Granted that's why you can find good deals at Pinehurst then, which is great if you are making a drive of it and can make plans just a week or two out, but if booking flights and having to plan a trip further out, I'd like more of a guarantee of good weather rather than a gamble.

[sharkiesj]

Don't come to California. We are supposed to have the mother of all El Niño storms this winter.

[Chilidog]

Supposed to be a really cold winter for the Carolinas. If it's a present to each other, would hate for you to get here and find snow on the ground. Go further south.

[Argonne69]

I'd go for Streamsong or Innisbrook. The Carolinas are nice, but weather can be spotty up there. Heck, I was in the Orlando area last February, and we had two days of frost delays.

Doral isn't bad, either, but I preferred the parkland style courses of Innisbrook, and you also play a round at World Woods.

Palm Springs would be my next choice.

[GoStars]

Streamsong is a good idea for the golf, but there is not much else to do there except play (yes you can fish). For weather, Palm Springs/Desert would probably have the best weather. Even in an El Nino, it's not going to rain in the valley because of geography (i wouldn't think).

[Argonne69]

[quote name='GoStars' timestamp='1445028667' post='12466264']
Streamsong is a good idea for the golf, but there is not much else to do there except play (yes you can fish). For weather, Palm Springs/Desert would probably have the best weather. Even in an El Nino, it's not going to rain in the valley because of geography (i wouldn't think).
[/quote]

Yes, it's basically in the middle of no man's land, but it's close to Tampa and Orlando. On a 5 day trip, one can bookend one of the cities for additional golf, or other. I started my February SS trip in Tampa, and finished in Orlando. The one way rental was actually cheaper than renting and returning in either city.

[prsgtrman]

i was gonna throw streamsong out there too but there is just nothing else to do.

[robrey85]

Might be a bit out of your price range but consider going to Dominican Republic man, the best golf I have ever played in my life.

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It just doesn't get anymore gorgeous than that.

[ryu123]

as a former cheesehead (grew up in Madison), I get your need for warm sunny temps in January & February.

Monterey is more than just Pebble Beach. Bayonet & Blackhorse ($135 rack rate; $60 on a discount website) are just up the road in Seaside. Pacific Grove is a bargain at under $70. The area has great scenery and restaurants, and a mostly mild climate.

San Diego is usually pleasant and dry, but I think the Torrey courses are overpriced (for anyone but city residents). Coronado is a fun course worth $40. (Haven't played Aviara.) There's a lot to do in the city.

If you want stable weather and a lot of decent public golf, Palm Springs and Phoenix are good options. I've been to both places several times, and prefer Palm Springs mostly because I wasn't driving as much.

[az2au]

Australian Sandbelt. Great golf and our winter is summer there.

ETA: probably want to make it 2 weeks instead of 5 days if you do that.

[Hateto3Putt]

Two words: Las Vegas.

[jumanji]

I second Cabo. Perfect weather and world-class golf. My fiance and I go every December and the courses are so nice she'll even ride around with me!

[Argonne69]

[quote name='Hateto3Putt' timestamp='1445214062' post='12474520']
Two words: Las Vegas.
[/quote]

In February? Too cold. Morning temperatures average 38 degrees, and daytime highs average mid 50's. Me, I'd still play in those conditions, but it sure wouldn't be my first choice. I'd take the 70 degree temperatures of south Florida or Palm Springs.

[thejuice]

I would recommend Miami, San Diego or Phoenix ONLY. I've traveled quite a bit during the winter and found that these three places are by far the best chance you have at fun golf weather. I went to Miami last January and it was 75 to 80 degrees each day. I went to San Diego in February of 2012 and it was 70-77 degrees each day, and I just did Phoenix this past February and it was 80-85 each day. On the other hand, I've been to Myrtle, Savannah, Tampa, and New Orleans in Jan and Feb and I thought that only New Orleans was consistently "pleasant". The others are just hit or miss.