Golf is played on every continent – yes, even Antarctica on makeshift courses – and everyone who plays dreams of, and plans, a golf vacation at some point. But before they undertake that vacation, they play many courses close to home. There are several categories of courses: private, semi-private, public, and municipal – each with their own characteristics and atmosphere.
Types of golf courses
At the top of the list are the private courses, some of which you have to be invited to be a member of and initiation fees can run you $200,000. These are the ones you likely see on television at the major championships and other important events such as Augusta National, Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills, Cypress Point, and others. From course conditioning to locker rooms to the clubhouse and restaurants, everything is the best it can be.
Then there are the semi-private courses. These courses sell memberships while also allowing non-members to book tee times and play. A semi-private course combines elements of a country club with elements of a public golf course. Facilities are excellent but a step below the country club.
A public golf course is one that is open to everyone who plays golf. Within the public category, there are two main subtypes – the municipal course and the daily fee course. Municipal courses are those owned by the city or region and run for the benefit of anyone who wants to play golf – whether they are from the area or not. Daily fee courses are also open to everyone, but are privately owned and generally more upscale – and, therefore, more expensive – than municipal courses. The facilities can range from very good to fair and amenities are more limited, although that doesn’t mean the course won’t be in good shape. After all, over 20 courses used by the PGA Tour are public or municipal courses – though they are set up for tournament conditions when the Tour comes to town.
Where Can I Play
Okay, but what is a decent course that I can play? Google is your friend here and most countries run a Top-10 or Top-100 list of courses. These include Golf Digest’s Bi-ennial Top 100 list for the United States, Top 100 Courses in America you can play, Golf Magazine’s Best Public Golf Courses You Can Play (Canada and USA), Canada exclusively, and others. You can also look up “Golf Courses Near Me.”
Where Can I Take a Great Golf Vacation
As noted, taking a golf vacation is a dream every golfer has. There are literally hundreds of places you can visit but some of the top golf destinations are listed below where you can play a dozen different courses within a short driving distance. Europe and North America are the top golf destinations. In North America, the most popular spots include Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and it’s stunning and world-famous Cabot Cliffs, and Prince Edward Island. And each location within a geographic area will have its own characteristics. For example, golf courses in Northern California tend to be tighter with more trees than those in Southern California. And a Texas golf vacation can include Texas Hill Country, the Greater Houston area, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin – each offering a different flavor.
Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales are the top destinations in Europe. Scotland’s St. Andrews Links is the home of golf with the Old Course on top of every golfer’s bucket list – and yes, you can play it without a membership. However, don’t miss out on the other courses that are part of St. Andrews, nor do you want to ignore others in the United Kingdom and Ireland for that matter. If you do, you’ll miss out on dozens of famous courses including Prestwick – home of the first Open Championship, the Old Course at Royal Troon, Muirfield, Royal Dornoch, and Royal County Down, plus numerous hidden gems sprinkled throughout the islands.
Before you book your golf vacation, there are several things to consider and do. We’ll leave it to the experts at GolfPass.com to provide the information.
If you missed the first article in this two-part golf series, read it here.
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