Every year, golf fans visit famous courses they've seen in professional events to try their skills on the big-name layouts. At some point, many decide that rather than renting golf clubs or lugging theirs along on trips, they want a place of their own where they can enjoy a vacation or even live for part of each year.
Golfers may fall in love with a resort they've visited, spotting homes along the fairway and imagining owning one. Many like the idea of arriving, hopping onto their own golf cart, and heading to the course. They may appreciate the amenities at most golf communities, like restaurants, tournaments, social events, and attractions for the non-golfers in the family.
With about 16,000 golf courses in the United States, there are plenty of vacation communities to choose from. Here, we've listed several states along with examples of great courses and neighborhoods that offer vacation homes so you can pick your ideal destination.
Florida
Not only does Florida have year-round golf weather, but with well over a thousand courses throughout the state, it's one of the country's most popular destinations for golfers.
There are nearly a hundred golf courses within about an hour of Tampa, including public, semi-private, and private links. Vacation homes and condos with country club amenities are plentiful, and at Innisbrook, four quality courses include Copperhead, home of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship. Streamsong's three acclaimed courses and TPC Tampa Bay are also in the area.
With more golf courses than theme parks, Orlando is a golfer's paradise as well as a family destination. At Reunion Resort, for example, vacation home owners can play three signature courses, designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson. Properties include condos and upscale homes ranging from three to six bedrooms with amenities like pools, a spa, fitness center, tennis, and restaurants.
Northeast Florida includes Jacksonville, Amelia Island, Ponte Vedra, and St. Augustine, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame and its two courses. A variety of golf communities in Ponte Vedra include The Plantation and Atlantic Beach Country Club, as well as TPC Sawgrass with two courses, including the Stadium Course where The Players Championship is held each year.
South Carolina
Dozens of public and private golf courses in South Carolina's Lowcountry feature oceanfront and parkland designs. The Hilton Head area offers a number of charming vacation communities including Palmetto Dunes Golf Course & Resort, Palmetto Bluff, and Indigo Run. Sea Pines is known for the annual RBC Heritage Tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Near Charleston, The Waterfront on Daniel Island features a variety of residences just minutes from The Daniel Island Club, and beautiful Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers five golf courses and oceanfront vacation homes.
Myrtle Beach is often called "The Golf Capital of the World," and its nearly 100 courses include the famed Dunes Golf & Beach Club, where vacation homes offer high-end amenities like tennis, an oceanfront pool, restaurants, and a luxurious clubhouse. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club on nearby Pawleys Island features a highly rated course and homes with views of the golf holes, lush landscaping, and abundant live oak trees.
Hawai'i
The Big Island is home to more than a dozen golf courses, including private, semi-private, and public options. At the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, there's a Jack Nicklaus-designed course, a practice facility, and a Top Golf Swing Suite, and homes, villas, and home sites are available. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel's golf course is stunning, and golfers can also find excellent courses nearby at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Mauna Lani, Hilton Waikoloa Village, and the Kona Country Club.
Maui offers nearly ten resort courses, including the famed Plantation Course at Kapalua where the PGA TOUR's Sentry Tournament of Champions is played each January, along with courses at Wailea and Kā'anapali Golf Resort. At Mākena Golf Club, residences include condos, villas, private homes, and homesites. With more than 40 public and private golf courses and direct flights to Honolulu from many major cities, Oahu is another popular choice for a vacation home.
On the north side of Kauai, the Princeville Makai Golf Club wows with six oceanfront holes. At Timbers Kauai, vacation home owners enjoy upscale amenities and the Jack Nicklaus course, featuring the longest continuous stretch of oceanfront golf in Hawaii. Also on the island's south shore area, Kukui'ula offers a Tom Weiskopf-designed course with dramatic ocean views, residences, a spa, restaurants, and expansive clubhouse.
Arizona
More than 200 golf courses, plenty of luxury resorts and vacation homes, and year-round sunny weather make the Scottsdale area a popular destination. Here, homebuyers can choose from communities like Troon Country Club, Gainey Ranch, and more. At Grayhawk Golf Club, two distinctive courses are offered, and McDowell Mountain Ranch includes a public golf course and a range of properties for purchase including apartments, townhomes, condos, residences, and custom home sites. Also in the Grand Canyon State, Phoenix and Tucson are worth considering, with ample courses to choose from.
California
From Lake Tahoe in the north to San Diego in the south and Santa Barbara on the central coast, California boasts nearly 1,000 golf courses. One of the best known is Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula, loved for its incredible coastal views. Coachella Valley cities are home to nearly 150 public, private, and resort courses as well as a range of vacation homes. Many communities include resort-like amenities like pools, restaurants, tennis courts, and social events.
Golfers that want to purchase a California vacation home might want to consider a road trip through the state, a fun way to combine a golf holiday with a vacation home search.
Georgia
Reynolds Lake Oconee features six golf courses designed by golf legends like Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio, and Rees Jones, providing players with distinctive experiences. Golfers can fine tune their skills at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee, an exclusive facility for instruction, club fitting, and practice. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee is a luxurious spot to stay while you tour local homes to find the perfect fit.
