Golf and summer go hand in hand, as experts and amateurs alike flock to courses near and far to hone their skills on the links. During National Golf Month, golfers are encouraged to share their experiences and bring new golfers to the greens. August is the time when courses offer discounts and when the driving ranges become a flurry of activity.
Below, we've rounded up some of the leading luxury resorts and residential properties that boast championship-caliber courses, world-class golf programs, and exclusive packages and promotions that are sure to wow any avid golfer.
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection | Meadows of Dan, Virginia (Image above courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection)
Located on 12,000 bucolic acres in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection, is a majestic year-round mountain retreat that provides a truly one-of-a-kind experience. As a leading resort in Virginia and the entire Southeast, Primland offers luxurious accommodations and endless resort activities + programming to provide guests with a memorable stay. However, one of the most popular attractions for travelers from near and far is Primland’s award-winning Highland Golf Course, opened in 2006 by renowned golf course architect, Donald Steel. The course weaves through rolling hills and valleys, boasting breathtaking views of the Pinnacles of Dan and North Carolina’s Piedmont at every turn. Providing a fresh perspective and new challenge at each of the course’s 18 holes, golfers can revel in the unspoiled beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains while delighting in the joys of the game. Guests and members of the golf course are welcome to hone their game with the help of on-site instructors who lead golf schools for groups, as well as personalized one-on-one lessons throughout the season. The course is open annually from April – November. Now through November 2022, travelers booking the new Par 3 Golf Package will receive two rounds of golf for each night booked, valid for a party of two.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra, Florida
Located on Florida’s Atlantic coast, Ponte Vedra has become one of the golf capitals on the East Coast. The destination’s crown jewel Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers two spectacular courses for guests and locals a like – the Ocean Course and Lagoon Course, each featuring a district seaside links atmosphere with meandering lagoons, elevated Bermuda greens and pristine bunkers. The par-71 Ocean Course is home to the iconic Island Green on the 9th hole, and recently completed a renovation with a reconfigured design and new strategic bunkers, while the masterpiece Lagoon Course is par-70 and great for short play. A round of 18 holes is $230 per player and includes the green fee and cart, however after 4pm players can enjoy a twilight round for $125 per person.
Ojai Valley Inn | Ojai, California
The world-class Ojai Country Club was one of the first great golf courses in Southern California. Designed and first built in 1923 under the direction of George C. Thomas, Jr. and Billy Bell, the course was hailed as "a marvel of golfing architecture." Thomas, who also designed courses at the Riviera, Bel-Air and Los Angeles country clubs, had two initial considerations for the Ojai course: "...that the average golfer could enjoy his round without too great a penalty, and that a test must be afforded requiring the low-handicap man to play fine golf in order to secure pars." The 18-hole golf course and the greens were considerably toughened in 1988 by famous course designer Jay Morrish. In 1999, this luxury golf resort reintroduced the "Lost Holes." Two original golf holes designed by George C. Thomas, Jr. in 1923 were lost when the course was redesigned following WWII. These two holes have been restored and brought back within their original layout. The award-winning course boasts panoramic views of the Ojai Valley and the surrounding Topa Topa Mountains and perfectly balances challenging yet approachable play.
La Quinta Resort & Club | La Quinta, California
The iconic desert golf resort boasts five unique, award-winning public courses for guests to enjoy during their stay. With La Quinta Resort & Club’s “Stay & Play” package, resort guests receive a complimentary tee time per night booked (golf cart included). The world-class championship courses include The Stadium Course at PGA West, a Par-72 course designed by golf legend Pete Dye; the Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort & Club, a Pete Dye-designed course known for its stunning mountain setting and playability; and the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, one of the most highly regarded courses in the Palm Springs area. For those looking for a day off or activity between tee times, the resort is renowned for its world-class tennis program, too.
Andalusia Country Club | La Quinta, California
Designed by master golf architect Rees Jones, Andalusia Country Club’s private 18-hole championship course offers a challenging and rewarding game within a striking desert landscape. The 7,521-yard, par 72 course is also regarded as one of the longest and most playable courses in Palm Desert, offering stimulating play for seasoned golfers and novices alike. Known for its wide open, meticulously groomed fairways and bent grass greens enhanced by nine gleaming lakes, three waterfalls and more than 80,000 plants, flowers, olive and palm trees, The Andalusia Golf Course is one of the most stunning locales for golf in the Coachella Valley. The course is also set against the spectacular backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains, complementing every round with unforgettable, panoramic views. Players at Andalusia benefit from the remarkable option of six tees, in addition to the forward tees that play from 5,489 yards. 88 bunkers have been strategically placed to affect play from all angles. Boasting one of the widest fairways in the desert, Andalusia’s expansive design ensures that private homes don’t interfere with play. Each hole maintains a unique character all its own, contributing to rounds that become more interesting, more spirited and more fun as play progresses.
Quail Lodge & Golf Club | Carmel Valley, California
Set in stunning Carmel Valley adjacent to the serene Carmel River, Quail Lodge & Golf Club is one of most celebrated and beloved courses on the Monterey Peninsula and has been awarded “Best Playing Conditions” annually for all of Central California. Known for its playability, pristine conditions and beautifully manicured greens, the 6,500 yard, par 71 golf course was originally designed by Robert Muir Graves in 1964 and refined in 2015 by Principle Designer Todd Eckenrode – Origins Golf Design. With strategically placed lakes, flowing typography, and sunny meadows, golfers will find a wide range within this course offering the ideal amount of challenge. Quail Lodge also offers a dynamic Golf Academy led by Katherine Marren, PGA Director of Instruction, that provides a variety of learning experiences for golfers of all ages and abilities. A Stay and Play Package is available, providing discounted golf rates exclusively for overnight hotel guests.
Mauna Kea Resort | Kohala Coast, Hawaii
The stunning beachfront luxury resort offers guests the chance to hit the links on its legendary 18-hole Mauna Kea Golf Course—the first course built on the island of Hawaii and one of Golfweek’s Top Resort Golf Course in the U.S. Set atop seaside cliffs, the elevated course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. offers sweeping ocean views and an epic over-the-ocean Hole #3. Guests at Mauna Kea Resort can also tee off the equally idyllic and challenging The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort’s Hapuna Golf Course, an 18-hole, Par 72 course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The challenging and environmentally conscious course’s stunning 12th hole provides spectacular panoramic views of the Island of Hawaii and Maui across the channel.
Prince Waikiki | Waikiki, Hawaii
The contemporary oceanfront hotel in Waikiki recently debuted a new driving range, tennis courts, and youth development programs at the Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay-designed Hawaii Prince Golf Club. With 27 dramatic holes and three interchangeable nines, Hawaii Prince is the only course of its kind in Hawaii and is built to accommodate all skill levels. Situated on 270 acres with stunning views of the rain-carved Waianae Mountains, the Hawaii Prince Golf Club is a short 30-minute drive from Prince Waikiki.
Kohanaiki | Kona Hawaii
Home to the only Rees Jones golf course with the most oceanfront holes in Hawaii, Kohanaiki’s 18-hole course is both beautiful and, at times, wonderfully distracting. The 7,329-yard, par-72 course winds across more than 100 acres with six ocean-front holes set along 1½ miles of shoreline. Crafted around 14 historic Ahu (ancient rock shrines), the emerald-green SeaDwarf paspalum turf intertwines with flows of black volcanic rock, historic structures and 200 protected anchialine ponds, home to native and migratory birds and wildlife. A virtual hole-by-hole walk through of the breathtaking course can be viewed here.
Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection | Riviera Maya, Mexico
Auberge Resorts Collection’s newest Riviera Maya retreat, Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection offers a luxury golf experience that melds the best golf in the region with superior dining, spa, and accommodations. Three courses await guests, allowing them to take their pick from El Camaleón Mayakoba, the first PGA Tour golf course in Latin America, El Tinto Golf Club at Cancun Country Club, one of the few Tournament Players Club facilities outside the United States, or Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club, a championship course integrated with nature and designed by P.B. Dye, one of golf’s most revered course architects. The Golfer's Paradise Package allows guests to experience a quintessential Riviera Maya experience, featuring one round of golf per day at Riviera Maya's famed El Camaleón, one 60-minute massage per guest at SANA, with use of spa facilities, along with private airport and golf transportation.
Cabot Cape Breton | Inverness, Nova Scotia
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this season, Cabot Cape Breton is known as a bucket list destination thanks to its dramatic setting atop majestic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and dynamic golf courses that consistently rank among the world’s best. For a truly unique top Nova Scotia getaway, the resort includes a charming 72-room lodge with ocean views from every room, three exquisite restaurants featuring the freshest seafood in the world and endless opportunities for adventure including hiking, biking, kayaking and heli fly-fishing. Cabot Cliffs, exquisitely carved out of the Cape Breton landscape with postcard-worthy panoramas and rich rolling fairways, was recently ranked the #1 course in Canada by Golf Digest. Cabot Links is set in a rugged, oceanfront landscape and The Nest is a new par-3, 10-hole short course perched atop the highest point of Cabot Cliffs. Room rates start at $382 per night.
Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Greg Norman Signature Course at Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas spans three different ecosystems and features ocean views at every hole along with a signature island green. The links-style course is a multi-themed layout with five holes on the beach and a signature island green. The golf course is part of the new Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas, just 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas and set in rolling desert foothills that lead to 1.2 miles of pristine beachfront on the Pacific Ocean. The resort boasts ocean views from every suite and standout amenities include multiple restaurants, a luxury seaside spa with private beachfront cabanas, infinity pools, a saltwater lagoon that winds through the property and new pickleball courts. Book the Golf Getaway package for an unforgettable trip. Rates start at $398 per night.
Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto | Loreto, Mexico
Loreto, Mexico is Baja’s rising destination for relaxation, culture and eco-tourism. This largely undiscovered, peaceful retreat is located on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and is best known for its secluded, unspoiled setting on the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, A UNESCO World Heritage. The resort is home to the award-winning Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto; four restaurants; five pools; 39,000 square foot Sabila Spa; and the exceptional TPC Danzante Bay, boasting some of the most striking holes in golf. The only TPC course in Mexico, the 18-hole course is a truly unique golf experience unlike any other. Book the Unlimited Golf or Spa package for the chance to experience the very best that Loreto has to offer. All-inclusive rates start from $354 per night. If you aren’t convinced yet, check out these photos!
Bonus…if you are looking for a lifetime of exclusivity and world-class golf, memberships are available at the stunning Montecito Club in Montecito, California. Located just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, Montecito Club is California’s most exclusive private club with a history dating back to 1918. The members-only golf and social club recently unveiled a stunning $119.5M renovation that redefines the standard of today’s private club experience with a world-class Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, unparalleled amenities, incredible dining and a jaw-dropping setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands.
