Best Winter Golf Courses
For golfers in the North, winter evokes a considerable feeling of absence and dread where blue skies and minty green fairways fade abruptly into an endless sea of lifeless greys. After a long embrace, one tucks her clubs into a small designated bed in the basement for an extended hibernation. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Say aloha to Hawaii, hola to Cabo and bon bini to Aruba— winter blues don’t stand a chance in these epic, bucket list golf destinations.
Our journey to Winter Escapes begins in Maui with a perennial PGA TOUR stop in The Plantation Course at Kapalua, a Crenshaw and Coore creation that is tough enough for the pros but still plenty of fun for us average joes. Stunning views, dramatic elevation changes and beautiful native fauna are the foundational aspects of this course that golfers travel the globe to experience. And what an experience it is!
A quick puddle jumper and golfers are whisked away from Maui to the Island of Hawaii and a plethora of amazing golf courses like Kona Country Club, a Keauhou Bay gem that has been saying Aloha to golf lovers since 1966. Designed by William Bell to incorporate the natural beauty of the area and ever-present blues of the Pacific Ocean, Kona Country Club is a never-ending feast for the eyeballs and the kind of golf course one could truly play every day.
Just down the road from Kona, Hapuna Golf Course is a rugged desert track that’s pitched perfectly above the majestic backdrop of the whitecapped waves of the Pacific Ocean. Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, Hapuna features one of the more memorable par fours you’ll ever play, four hours of views and immaculate course conditions. Yes, please.
It’s always tough to leave Hawaii, but you can’t have a golfer’s guide to Winter Escapes without a visit to Cabo San Lucas, Palmilla Golf Club and Cabo del Sol. As one Californian recently put it: “Palmilla is unlike any Nicklaus course you’ll ever play. It’s pretty gnarly from the back tees, but no worries, the tasty sea views ease the pain of all your bogeys” … and so do 5 sets of tees! Just up the road, The Desert Course at Cabo Del Sol is a perfect place to enjoy extended views of the Sea of Cortez and the exaggerated contrast between emerald green fairways and burnt, rugged desert browns. Toss in arroyo cacti that are as old as time and this Tom Weiskopf track earns a spot on your bucket list in an instant.
Less traveled, but certainly no less magnificent, Tierra del Sol in Noord, Aruba, is a Robert Trent Jones, II, masterpiece that’s perfectly rugged and endlessly beautiful. Scottsdale meets Scotland on the Caribbean Sea— yes, that happens at Tierra del Sol, and it’s truly remarkable. Wherever this note finds you, think warm thoughts and find fairways and greens—even if it’s only in your dreams.
Our journey to Winter Escapes begins in Maui with a perennial PGA TOUR stop in The Plantation Course at Kapalua, a Crenshaw and Coore creation that is tough enough for the pros but still plenty of fun for us average joes. Stunning views, dramatic elevation changes and beautiful native fauna are the foundational aspects of this course that golfers travel the globe to experience. And what an experience it is!
A quick puddle jumper and golfers are whisked away from Maui to the Island of Hawaii and a plethora of amazing golf courses like Kona Country Club, a Keauhou Bay gem that has been saying Aloha to golf lovers since 1966. Designed by William Bell to incorporate the natural beauty of the area and ever-present blues of the Pacific Ocean, Kona Country Club is a never-ending feast for the eyeballs and the kind of golf course one could truly play every day.
Just down the road from Kona, Hapuna Golf Course is a rugged desert track that’s pitched perfectly above the majestic backdrop of the whitecapped waves of the Pacific Ocean. Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, Hapuna features one of the more memorable par fours you’ll ever play, four hours of views and immaculate course conditions. Yes, please.
It’s always tough to leave Hawaii, but you can’t have a golfer’s guide to Winter Escapes without a visit to Cabo San Lucas, Palmilla Golf Club and Cabo del Sol. As one Californian recently put it: “Palmilla is unlike any Nicklaus course you’ll ever play. It’s pretty gnarly from the back tees, but no worries, the tasty sea views ease the pain of all your bogeys” … and so do 5 sets of tees! Just up the road, The Desert Course at Cabo Del Sol is a perfect place to enjoy extended views of the Sea of Cortez and the exaggerated contrast between emerald green fairways and burnt, rugged desert browns. Toss in arroyo cacti that are as old as time and this Tom Weiskopf track earns a spot on your bucket list in an instant.
Less traveled, but certainly no less magnificent, Tierra del Sol in Noord, Aruba, is a Robert Trent Jones, II, masterpiece that’s perfectly rugged and endlessly beautiful. Scottsdale meets Scotland on the Caribbean Sea— yes, that happens at Tierra del Sol, and it’s truly remarkable. Wherever this note finds you, think warm thoughts and find fairways and greens—even if it’s only in your dreams.