Tampa
Tampa has a lot to offer golfers of all levels, from challenges like the sand bunkers and water hazards at Rocky Point Golf Course to the simple but scenic Mangrove Bay. If you’re really into water hazards, stop by Pebble Creek Country Club and you’ll find water at every hole. Tampa also offers small pubic courses like Persimmon Hill, where the narrow greens let you test the accuracy of your tee shots.

Orlando
With over 20 challenging golf courses, Orlando’s more than just a place to play mini-golf with Mickey. For serious golf, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better choice than Champion’s Gate, where you can take your pick of two premier 18-hole championship courses. If you don’t might splashing out for a stay at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, you can get guest access to the huge Bay Hill Golf Course, too. In the market for budget Florida golf vacations? Then try some of the less pricy public courses like those at the Cypress Creek Country Club or the Eastwood Golf Club.

Miami
Popular for its vibrant nightlife and warm beaches, Miami is also home to the CA Championship, part of the World Golf Championship. If you’re looking for a high-class course on the beach, try the Palmetto Golf Course. Coming with a partner who’s not much for chasing that little white ball around? Then base your stay at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, where the non-golfer can get a massage or go for a workout while you take on the resort’s famous Blue Monster Course. Miami also offers a few hidden gems among the public courses like the Fontainebleau Park Golf Course and the California Golf Club.

Florida golf vacations present a hard-to-beat opportunity to pair a luxury vacation on a tropical beach with a few rounds on some the South’s greatest golf courses. Just remember, though, some courses may be members-only or require reservations during the high season, so make sure you plan ahead.

Recommended reading from Amazon:
World Atlas of Golf: The Greatest Courses and How They are Played

Have a clear idea of what you want
Every course and every resort is unique, so make sure you decide exactly what you want to get out of the trip before you start looking for a tour company. If your expectations are vague, you could end up with a perfectly nice package, but still be disappointed because it wasn’t really what you were hoping for. Do you want a challenging course or a little light fun? Are you looking forward to a variety of activities during the tour or do you just want to golf? Do you want luxury accommodations or will you be satisfied with simple digs?

Read the reviews
Don’t rely solely on those glowing testimonials in the tour company’s brochure. Take a few minutes to do an online search for the company and that particular tour package and browse any reviews that turn up. Pay particular attention to what reviewers say about the conditions (both the accommodations and the courses), how well they were treated by the staff, and any unusual experiences (good or bad) they had on the tour.

Read that fine print
Once you’ve short-listed a few promising golf vacation packages, make sure you look over the terms of the package before you book. Are there penalties for cancellations and changes? Does the package price include meals, guides, golf gear, green fees and everything else you think it should? Are those classy rooms pictured on the company’s web site the ones you’ll get or do those only come with an upgrade?

Golf vacation packages are a great way to escape for a bit of golf while someone else handles the hotel reservations and schedules tee times. While you’re hunting around for the perfect package tour, give some thought to what your ideal golf vacation should include, and remember to do your due diligence on the company and things should go smoothly.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
South Carolina’s gentle subtropical climate, numerous lakes, and expansive pine forests, makes the state a great winter get-away spot. Add to that the three 18-hole courses at the world-famous Myrtle Beach National Golf Course and you’ve got one of America’s hottest spots for golfers. Myrtle Beach isn’t just for pros, though. Beginners can start out on the easier South Creek course. While you’re in the area, you might also want to take a trip up to North Carolina’s Pinehurst Golf Resort.

Orlando, Florida
The sun-warmed beaches, turquoise waters, and swaying palms of this vibrant city draw snowbirds from around the country. Here you can hit popular courses like the Eaglewood Golf Club, Orange Tree Golf Club, and Hawk’s Landing. Trying to perfect your game? Then head over to the Faldo Golf Institute where you can take part in courses, clinics, and weekend schools aimed at working out the kinks in your golf game.

Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale’s 30 golf courses make this unassuming dessert city a perfect destination for a winter golf vacation. Test your skill on the Continental Golf Course’s unusual hills or opt for a more relaxing game at the Silverado Golf club, set against the backdrop of the Camelback Mountains. If you’re taking an extended vacation, head on over to Phoenix, where you’ll find another 20-plus courses. The arid climate of both these cities also means less chance of rain than in the Carolinas or Florida.

Whether you’re dreaming of escaping to somewhere warm this winter or you just can’t wait for spring to get your hands on those clubs again, setting out for a little winter golf in milder climate can make the darker months of the year a lot brighter.

For the adventurous there are plenty of golf destinations outside the US. Everyone has heard about wonderful golf courses in France, Ireland, and Scotland. Some of the newer, more exotic golf destinations to visit include Costa del Sol, South Africa, Dubai and New Zealand, just to name a few.

Popular European Golf Destinations

Spain: Costa del Sol has more than twenty golf courses and the temperate climate is superb for golfing year round. Each year there are 300 sunny days and the average temperature is 18 c or 64 f.

Another location in Spain that golfers love is Andalucia. There are 30 golf course in the region but the most famous is the Valderrama. This resort hosted the Ryder Cup in 1997 and is considered by many to be the finest winter golf resort in Europe.

France: There are probably more golf courses in France that any other European country. No matter which region you visit you are sure to find ample opportunities to play golf. France is a marvelous destination for couples because it offers fascinating sites, great shopping, famous vineyards, and lots of places to golf. Of course, everyone already knows that French food is considered the finest cuisine in the world. Eat, drink, and play golf!

Ireland: The temperature weather and the friendly people draw many visitors to Ireland. There’s probably no place on earth with as much lovely green fields and unspoiled scenery. Golfers of any stripe are sure to find ample places to tee off in Ireland.

Scotland: Golf originated in Scotland, in Musselburgh, a town on the coast of the Firth of Forth, about six miles east of Edinburgh. In addition to the ancient course at Musselburgh (first played in 1672); there are hundreds of other wonderful courses to play all over the Scotland.

More Exotic Golf Destinations

Dubai: You won’t be rained out in Dubai, but you will find many American-style golf courses. One peculiarity of the location is that you may find yourself playing until midnight to avoid the blistering heat in summer months. Dubai Golf is a government organization that manages its top-ranked courses and promotes golf worldwide. Dubai is the hub of commerce and wealth in the Gulf and naturally
attracts top-ranked players like Tiger Woods to play in its tournaments.

South Africa: This country offers golfers abundant sunshine and pleasant weather as well as plenty of other sports and leisure activities required for a great vacation. South Africa is the home of a number of world class golfers and its golf courses are well worth visiting.

New Zealand: With spectacular views and varied climates, New Zealand offers much to golf vacationers. After your visit to the rain forest where movies like The Lord of the Rings have been filmed, you can find a lakeside or coastal golf course for a wonderful round of golf.

There are many wonderful golf destinations around the world. Don’t be surprised to find great golf courses in places like Bermuda, Portugal, Mauritius, and even China. Golf is relatively new in China which added its first courses in the 1990s, but you might want to add it to your list of places to tee off before you die.

Many golfers will arrange a vacation for the sole purpose of playing golf. If you are planning a golf vacation you don’t want to leave anything behind or be left without a room to stay in so make sure you plan ahead. Here are a few tips to ensure the perfect golfing holiday.

1. Plan ahead: Some people love being spontaneous but being too spontaneous can result in a vacation disaster. Planning your vacation ahead will help your trip to run smoothly and will also prevent you from forgetting to pack the important things for your trip – like your golf clubs.
2. Research your destination: If getting a game of golf or two in during your vacation then it is wise to research your destination and find out about the local courses. It would be incredibly disappointing to arrive at your destination to find that the local course is closed during that time of the year. You may also want to research the cost of playing a round of golf and whether the course allows non members to play there and whether you need to book in to play a round.
3. Book your accommodation and tee times in advance: When you know your destination and have chosen a hotel then make sure you book early so that you don’t miss out. Don’t turn up and just hope that there are rooms available. It will probably pay to book in your golf games also as you don’t know just how busy the golf course is going to be. By booking ahead your trip will run smoothly and you won’t get disappointed by missing out on that holiday golf game.

Everyone loves going on vacation and visiting new and exciting destinations. It’s exciting to play a new golf course for the very first time. It’s doubly so if the course is famous or especially challenging. So be sure to plan your golf vacation ahead of time to ensure that everything runs smoothly and you enjoy that perfect golf vacation.

Remember, vacations are meant to be fun, so go ahead, hit the greens and enjoy your game.