If you’re an avid golfer looking to take a trip to one of the world’s most iconic courses or resorts, but want to make sure there is plenty for your family to do and enjoy whilst you’re there - look no further.
To coincide with their Ultimate Golf Course Bucket List report, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk have now compiled a list of the six most family-friendly golf courses to visit, and the impressive range of activities on offer for non-golfers looking to enjoy a relaxing break.
1. Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland
Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland may be one of the cheaper destinations to enjoy an 18 hole game (£192.12), but for those not quite ready or unwilling to take on the course, the stunning destination also has plenty on offer to entertain others.
If there are adult members in your family - either new to golf, or simply looking to brush up on their skills - Carnoustie offers golf tuition for adults of all abilities. There is also junior coaching available for younger members of the family, and opportunities to participate in competitions to build up confidence.
If you’re visiting in the colder months or the weather is less than desirable for a day on the green, Carnoustie also boasts a state of the art performance centre, with golf simulators that have a selection of fun interactive games that will appeal to all the family.
After a day of working up an appetite, you can visit The Rookery restaurant, where you can choose from a selection of dishes from land and sea whilst enjoying scenic views across the course and out to sea. Using the best produce Scotland has to offer, the delicious menu has something for everyone, including a decadent afternoon tea with a selection of sweet and savory treats.
2. St Andrews Links, St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland that offers an 18 hole round of golf on the old course for £195.00. The picturesque Scottish hot spot includes a range of fun golf-related activities, and has a selection of restaurants serving up different cuisines to choose from.
Start the day by enjoying an expert-led guided walk around the world-famous course that takes you past the 1st, 17th and 18th holes, where visitors can experience walking in the footsteps of famous icons, even if they aren’t quite up to playing.
St Andrews Links Golf Academy offers training from professionals for golfers of all ages and abilities. You can make use of the latest cutting edge technology and choose from 60 flood-lit bays, 22 indoor bays and a short game area.
Choose from a selection of restaurants to enjoy a family dinner. Visit the Tom Morris Bar & Grill that serves up Scottish produce enriched with history, or Rock & Spindle serves gastropub classics from burgers to fish and chips with panoramic views of the Fife coastline and The Castle Course. There’s also the option of more casual family dining at Cafe Spike that proudly serves up simple Scottish dishes, from traditional soups to hearty sandwiches.
3. Bandon Dunes (Bandon Trails), Oregan, USA
Bandon Dunes is the ultimate location for a golfing holiday with your family, with 18 holes costing approximately £215.37, and a golf academy available to help anyone needing to improve their game get ready for the course. For those looking to spend their trip off the green, there is plenty to explore at Bandon Dunes.
Begin the day on one of the hiking/walking trails that offer breathtaking views of the golf courses, the ocean and the spectacular wildlife that inhabits the area along the way. The property lakes surrounding the location are also open during your stay, for a relaxing day of fishing.
There are plenty of restaurants to satisfy your taste buds when staying or visiting Bandon Dunes. The Forge Steakhouse gives you a quality modern steakhouse experience, whilst the Tufted Puffin serves up American classics alongside incredible panoramic views of the original golf course. There are also more casual eateries to explore like Mckee's Pub, which serves up traditional pub food in a Scottish-styled setting, or Sheep Ranch Clubhouse for quick-serve Irish dishes.
The Lodge offers a relaxing oasis where you can find a sauna, hot tub spa and a fitness center equipped with free weights, weight machines and cardio machines. There is also a massage center where certified masseuses offer a range Swedish, deep tissue, or sports massages, costing $120 (£87.94) for 50 minutes or $170 (£124.58) for 80 minutes.
4. Pinehurst (No.2), North Carolina, USA
Pinehurst in North Carolina is an ideal destination for a golfing holiday with the family, where d non-golfers in the family will have plenty of exciting activities to keep them entertained whilst their loved ones hit the course.
The Pinehurst Golf Academy allows people of all abilities to learn and master the skill of golf with the helping hand of an instructor. You’ll still get to enjoy a round of golf each day with an instructor and put to work the skills you’ve been working on at the practice range.
At Lake Pinehurst, visitors to the area can take a boat ride on a kayak or pontoon, or enjoy fishing and a spot of swimming or sunbathing by the 200-acre lake.
The BMW Guest Drive Program - exclusively for Pinehurst guests - allows you to reserve a BMW and tour the local village and its surrounding areas. Or if a less speedy mode of transport suits you better, book one of the carriage rides that lets you explore the charming and historic streets in a more traditional manner.
There’s also a range of lawn sports the family can take part in, with the option of traditional games like croquet and lawn bowling, to more competitive options like tennis.
Pinehurst is also home to a fitness center for those looking to partake in exercise whilst away, as well as a spa for those looking for a more relaxing afternoon. The spa boasts a saline lap pool, sauna, eucalyptus steam room, whirlpools, tranquillity areas, with visitors able to take advantage of a range of treatments from massages, facials, skin treatments and even cryotherapy.
5. Kiawah Island Resort, Charleston, USA Kiawah Island Resort is a great vacation destination if you’re looking to combine your love of golf with a fun family holiday that everyone can enjoy.
Relax at the Kiawah Island Resort spa that includes a mineral whirlpool, a sauna and a steam room, and has a variety of treatments and massage options available.
There’s also a range of activities for the whole family to participate in. Nature tours, sea life encounters, beach and water sports, arts and crafts, yoga, basketball or even tennis packages (including training from professionals) are all available.
The resort is home to a vast range of restaurants and cuisines, including The Atlantic Room - a seafood restaurant known for its fresh regional catches - and The Ocean Room, a steakhouse that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and has been awarded four-star from Forbes and AAA four-diamond ratings.
6. Pebble Beach, Monterey, USA Pebble Beach, with its incredible golf course, scenic views, and an extensive list of activities is the ideal destination for a golfing holiday with the family.
If members of your family are new to golfing, there’s no better place to learn than Pebble Beach Golf Academy, which incorporates state of the art golfing technology and internationally renowned golf instructors.
If you’re wanting to explore the stunning coastal cliffs, beaches, forests and iconic golf courses on four wheels, then you have to experience the 17-Mile Drive along Pebble Beach. The beautiful scenery can also be experienced via trail rides at the Pebble Beach equestrian center.
If you’re looking for a quieter, more relaxed afternoon, then a visit to The Spa at Pebble Beach should be on the cards. One of only 90 spas worldwide to be awarded the Forbes Five-Star Award, it boasts 15 massage rooms, 5 facial rooms, a flotation wrap suite, an outdoor pool, and a sanctuary with a fire pit to relax by.
Pebble Beach is renowned for its variety of restaurants, cuisines, high standards of service and exceptional local produce from the Monterey Peninsula and the surrounding areas. Enjoy a visit to The Stillwater Bar & Grill that serves a ‘California Coastal’ menu, The Bench serving up ‘Wood-Fired & Artisanal Specialties’ or The Tap Room, an ‘All-American Steakhouse’.
Source: money.co.uk Ultimate Golf Course Bucket List Report here: https://www.money.co.uk/credit-cards/ultimate-golf-courses
