Best Golf Trip Values - Top 100 Publics Included

[Gdane]

I recently came back from Southern Pines, NC where my group booked a 3 day/2 night golf package through Pine Needles which included unlimited golf/2 nights of lodging/breakfast for under $400.  Granted we booked our trip to start the first day the shoulder season started, it was an incredible value to play a couple top 100 publics in Mid Pines and Pine Needles as part of a stay and play package for less than $400 all-in. 

The trip had me wondering what other deals people have stumbled upon?

 

In the past the other trips that come to mind is the Perfect Foursome in the U.P. of Michigan which includes a few great publics + the top 100 Greywalls/lodging/meals for <$400, and a trip I booked a few years ago through Tobacco Road where we grouped that course with Dormie Club (sadly no longer public) and a couple others with lodging for about the same price during the summer.

[sabram]

I also  did the Mid-Pines/ Pine Needles package at the beginning of shoulder season a couple years ago. It's hard to beat. 

 

You should be able to get a good deal during shoulder season  at Forrest Dunes to stay one or two nights and play Forest Dunes, Loop Red and Loop Black, all three of which are top 100 public.

 

If you are willing to play in extreme heat, you can play the two courses at WeKo Pa and the two at Troon North in the summer at good rates and stay at We ko pa. Those have all been top 100 public's, but not sure if they still are. 

 

In Myrtle Beach you can play the Dunes club, Caledonia, True Blue and the Barefoot Love and Fazio courses in the winter pretty cheap. Those have been top 100 at one time or another. Again, not sure which, if any, still are.

 

Those are probably the least expensive options to play multiple top 100s in close proximity to one another. 

 

Brandon and Streamsong have some decent off season deals, but.they are still pretty expensive.

[DanMN]

I believe both courses at Giants Ridge (Quarry and Legend) in Northern MN have been Top 100 public at some point.  I'm not sure whether they've upped the price at all, but they have had a package for 36 Holes + Lunch for $160.  Lodging is quite reasonable, and the Wilderness at Fortune Bay is another very solid public that's in the $100 or so range at peak rates - believe it's about 45 min away.  Lodging is quite reasonable as well and Giants Ridge has nice lakeside cabins for groups.

[trilinkrealty]

Wild Horse Golf Course in Nebraska has condos to stay at on site and there are other interesting courses that are drivable.  I have only played the course once but it does seem like a course I'd be happy to play 10 times over a few days so I don't think I would be leaving much. 

 

Morro Bay Golf Course and other San Luis Obispo County courses is a great destination and trip in California much more reasonably priced than Los Angeles or Monterey/ San Francisco.  

[Argonne69]

I think the RTJ Trail courses are an excellent value. Most of the locations either have a hotel on site, or nearby. Rates in the shoulder seasons are very affordable. I hit three of the northern locations for six rounds a few years back and the golf was $360. Hotels were fairly cheap. If one walks the rates are even lower. With most of the courses located a few hours apart one can string together a short trip with multiple rounds.

 

[Manbearpig13]

Sadly it has been a few years since this package was offered, but the Golf & Gourmet Package at Kiawah Island Resort is the best value I've come across considering you are playing a Top 5 public track in the country.

 

I went down with my dad in 2019 and for $450 per person, we got 3 rounds on the Ocean Course and 3 rounds in a 2 bedroom villa. Considering one round alone today would cost you $550, this package that they used to offer is a crazy bargain.

[eboettne]

On 11/30/2022 at 4:01 AM, DanMN said:

I believe both courses at Giants Ridge (Quarry and Legend) in Northern MN have been Top 100 public at some point.  I'm not sure whether they've upped the price at all, but they have had a package for 36 Holes + Lunch for $160.  Lodging is quite reasonable, and the Wilderness at Fortune Bay is another very solid public that's in the $100 or so range at peak rates - believe it's about 45 min away.  Lodging is quite reasonable as well and Giants Ridge has nice lakeside cabins for groups.

 

I live about a 4 hour drive away from these courses and have made this trip many times, well worth it.  Giants Ridge is a very apt name as all of the golf up there is massive, rock outcroppings, fairways, greens, bunkers are all huge. We generally drive up Thursday night stay in Eveleth where the hockey hall of fame is, Friday do 18 at each Giants Ridge course + lunch, drive up to Fortune Bay Casino which is a pitching wedge away from The Wildereness' Clubhouse. Play 36 at The Wilderness on Saturday, play 18 more Sunday morning and drive home.  If we want to mix it up instead of the replay round Saturday we'll hop over to Wolfridge Golf Course in Angora, MN to play their reversible 9.  It's a very affordable trip even in peak season.

[Abh159]

The Mossy Oak / Old Waverly stay and play combo in Mississippi is a great deal. Both are annually in the Top 100 public options for the various publications (Golfweek, Golf Digest, and etc.).

 

Of course pricing will vary a bit based on the time of year, but I've been the past two summers and each time it was under $1,000 per person. 

 

That included 5 rounds of golf and 3 nights of lodging with an individual bed for every person. 

[jjr]

On 11/30/2022 at 6:17 AM, Argonne69 said:

I think the RTJ Trail courses are an excellent value. Most of the locations either have a hotel on site, or nearby. Rates in the shoulder seasons are very affordable. I hit three of the northern locations for six rounds a few years back and the golf was $360. Hotels were fairly cheap. If one walks the rates are even lower. With most of the courses located a few hours apart one can string together a short trip with multiple rounds.

 

I'll agree with the master of golf travel here, though it's been 25 years since 3 buddies and I traveled to the RTJ trail for 6 rounds, it was a blast, the short course at Grand National is a thing of beauty and we did travel 1-2 hours between tracks each night.

 

[puttnforthe8]

New Mexico can be a very good golf trip at value.  A combo of Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque can get you 5-7 really good courses with different styles at a good rate.  There is some driving involved, but it actually is worth driving to the places because they are nice places to visit as well.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[cubuffs]

21 hours ago, Manbearpig13 said:

Sadly it has been a few years since this package was offered, but the Golf & Gourmet Package at Kiawah Island Resort is the best value I've come across considering you are playing a Top 5 public track in the country.

 

I went down with my dad in 2019 and for $450 per person, we got 3 rounds on the Ocean Course and 3 rounds in a 2 bedroom villa. Considering one round alone today would cost you $550, this package that they used to offer is a crazy bargain.

 

Beat me to it - but BY FAR the best bargain I have experienced.  I went in 2019 with a friend and we played Ocean 2 times along with Cougar, and Osprey.  Went back in 2020 with my Son and same friend and played Ocean 3 times along with some of other courses.  In 2019 it was $199 per night for a Villa and 2 rounds of golf...   

[tjblue]

3 hours ago, Abh159 said:

The Mossy Oak / Old Waverly stay and play combo in Mississippi is a great deal. Both are annually in the Top 100 public options for the various publications (Golfweek, Golf Digest, and etc.).

 

Of course pricing will vary a bit based on the time of year, but I've been the past two summers and each time it was under $1,000 per person. 

 

That included 5 rounds of golf and 3 nights of lodging with an individual bed for every person. 

Was this package through the course or outside vendor?

[Abh159]

Just now, tjblue said:

Was this package through the course or outside vendor?

 

Via the course(s). There is a "book your stay" section on their website and you just fill out the info and someone gives you a call within a day or two to help set it up. 

 

Super easy and they list all of their prices throughout the year for golf and lodging on their website so you can budget. I want to say the replay rate for each day was 50% of a regular green fee. 

 

Mossy is a Gil Hanse design, and Old Waverly hosted the Women's US Open in 1999 (and Women's US Am in 2019). Having those two courses literally right across the street from each other is pretty absurd for what is essentially the middle of nowhere in Mississippi.

[icegator337]

3 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

A combo of Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque can get you 5-7 really good courses with different styles at a good rate.  There is some driving involved, but it actually is worth driving to the places because they are nice places to visit as well.

Which courses do you recommend?

 

I know about Paako Ridge, but I wouldn't really consider that a "value" course.

[Argonne69]

17 minutes ago, icegator337 said:

Which courses do you recommend?

 

I know about Paako Ridge, but I wouldn't really consider that a "value" course.

 

Black Mesa is a must play. 

 

[puttnforthe8]

59 minutes ago, icegator337 said:

Which courses do you recommend?

 

I know about Paako Ridge, but I wouldn't really consider that a "value" course.

Taos CC, Black Mesa, Cochiti, Marty Sanchez, Las Campanas, Twin Warriors, UNM