The best golf vacations require both a perfect atmosphere and a great course, and luckily, there are several great spots for golf vacations that include both of these. If you're planning to spend all of your vacation on the course, then it's best to pick based on what kind of course you want to enjoy, but if you're interested in adding a few other activities as well, then it's worth considering what else you'd like to do. The best golf vacation spots in Ireland have easy access to the scenery for which the country is so famous, while many of the best golf courses in the US also are close to the beaches, such as the courses in Hawaii or at Pebble Beach in California.
The best golf courses in the US are among the best in the world. There are world famous courses designed by such architects as Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Arnold Palmer, and Peter Dye, and many are also close to other great attractions. For instance, Florida has more than 1,000 golf courses, and those in the Orlando area are also close to Walt Disney World. Disney World itself has four amazing golf courses, and if you and your family are staying in any one of the Walt Disney World Resorts, you will get complimentary transportation to any of the four golf courses of your choice.
The Palm Coast area in Florida, north of Daytona Beach, is also well known for having some of the best golf courses in the US. The Grand Club Pine Course is considered as one of the most challenging courses in Florida. The 18-hole Pine Course's wide open layout offers excellent landing areas and fairways as well as white sand bunkers that are placed strategically to provide an excellent golfing experience. If you are planning for a family vacation and are looking for the best resorts close to the Grand Club Pine Coast, it's worth considering options like the Holiday Inn St. Augustine Beach, which are located near the course and have family-friendly activities nearby as well.
Golf courses in California are also popular among travelers looking for a challenge. The Pebble Beach course, located on 17 Mile Drive near Monterey, is one of the world's most famous—and challenging—golf courses. The area around Palm Springs is also popular, with more than 100 courses, including the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, which is located in the foothills of the spectacular San Jacinto Mountains; the Palms at Desert Springs, the Westin Mission Resort and Spa and Firecliff at Desert Willow. The Palms at Desert Springs is particularly well known and is widely considered to be among the best golf courses in the US.
Travelers can also plan trips to Europe to go golfing if they're looking for something new. The course at St Andrews, in Scotland, is more than 600 years old and is widely regarded as the birthplace of golf. It's a great place to test your game, and the beautiful medieval city is well worth exploring. It's also a short trip down to Edinburgh and to Glasgow, if you want to spend time exploring two of Europe's great cities.
Ireland is growing as a golfer's destination as well. The best golf vacation spots in Ireland are located around the country, with great courses found in Sligo, Donegal, Kilkenny, and Kerry, among many other destinations. Ireland has more than 4oo courses, with a couple of the most popular and scenic being the Ballybunion Golf Club in southwestern Ireland and the Adare Manor Golf Resort in County Limerick, which hosted the 2007 Irish open and has a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, as well as very high-quality accommodations.