Best golf destinations in North America
Best golf destinations in North America
Famous tournament layout courses and public woodland fairways in North America
The United States hosts more major championship venues than any other country, from dramatic coastal courses to meticulously maintained inland fairways. Neighbouring countries add their own respected courses, often at a fraction of the cost of the most famous American clubs.
The destinations on this list range from iconic coastal courses built around dramatic ocean views to desert resort courses engineered specifically around guaranteed dry conditions. Some are open to the public. Others require a member connection.
Booking well ahead for public access courses matters considerably, since tee times at the continent's most famous venues sell out months in advance. Many of the continent's best courses also offer twilight rates. Booking tee times for early morning slots also tends to mean cooler conditions and noticeably fewer groups on the course.
Lists by region
Island in United States
Hilton Head Island
Beaches, Bikes and Southern Charm
Relaxed and green, this barrier island in South Carolina has live oak trees, bike paths and long beaches. Harbour Town Golf Links, designed by Pete Dye with Jack Nicklaus, hosts the RBC Heritage each spring. Its red and white lighthouse is a well known landmark. Many resort courses are open to visitors.
Island in United States
Kiawah Island
Wildlife, Beaches and Luxe Retreats
Five golf courses share this small barrier island near Charleston. The Ocean Course, designed by Pete Dye, lies along the Atlantic and hosted the Ryder Cup in 1991. It also hosted the PGA Championship in 2012 and 2021. Strong winds are common, which adds to the challenge.
City in United States
Palm Springs
Desert Modernism and Mountain Views
In the Coachella Valley of southern California, this desert city lies below the San Jacinto Mountains. More than 100 golf courses are found in the valley. PGA West and La Quinta have well known Pete Dye designs. Winter days are sunny and warm, while summer is very hot.
City in United States
Myrtle Beach
Sun-soaked shores and endless entertainment
March to May and September to November are the busiest golf months, with mild temperatures and full tee sheets. Winter has lower rates. Many days are still pleasant for play. The Grand Strand, a long stretch of coast in South Carolina, has dozens of courses and many packages.
Region in Mexico
Punta Mita
Luxury paradise with perfect waves
Two Jack Nicklaus designed courses share this Pacific peninsula north of Puerto Vallarta. The Pacifico course has several holes on ocean cliffs. Its par 3 called Tail of the Whale is a natural island green reached by a short boat ride. Humpback whales are often seen offshore in winter.
State/Prefecture in United States
Wisconsin
Four seasons of Midwestern charm
A Friday fish fry at a local supper club is a Wisconsin tradition that suits a golf weekend. Whistling Straits, a Pete Dye course beside Lake Michigan, hosted the Ryder Cup in 2021. Erin Hills hosted the US Open in 2017. Blackwolf Run is also in the Kohler area.
City in United States
Phoenix
Desert sun, art and adventure
Winter visitors helped golf grow in this Arizona desert city during the 20th century. The Phoenix Open has been played since 1932 and is known for a lively stadium hole. The Phoenix area now has more than 200 courses set among cacti and mountains. Winter days are mild, which suits long rounds.
State/Prefecture in United States
Florida
Sunshine State, Endless Adventure
Golf arrived in Florida in the late 1800s, when winter resort hotels began to attract visitors from the north. Today the state has well over 1,000 courses. TPC Sawgrass near Jacksonville has the famous island green at the 17th hole. Winters are mild, so play is possible all year.
City in United States
Scottsdale (Arizona)
Desert luxury meets Western charm
October to May is the main golf season, with sunny days and mild temperatures. Summer is very hot, so rounds start early and rates are lower. Resort courses such as Troon North and TPC Scottsdale are set among saguaro cacti and rocky desert hills. Many resorts also have spas and pools.
City in Mexico
Cabo San Lucas
Arches, Beaches, Nightlife and Adventure
At the southern tip of Baja California, this resort area has desert hills that drop to the Pacific Ocean. Courses by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Tiger Woods have fairways beside the water. Winter and spring days are warm and dry. Humpback whales can often be seen from the course between December and April.
State/Prefecture in United States
North Carolina
Mountains, cities and coastal magic
Stay and play packages, which combine rooms and several rounds of golf, are common in this southern state. Courses range from coastal layouts near Wilmington to mountain courses in the Blue Ridge. The Sandhills region has many more around Pinehurst. Spring and autumn are especially pleasant for golf.
City in United States
Palm Beach (Florida)
Sun‑kissed shores and vibrant nightlife
Compared with other golf areas in Florida, this upscale coast pairs luxury resorts with championship courses. PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens is known for the Bear Trap, three tough holes beside water. The Breakers resort has an Ocean Course dating back to the 1890s.
Resort in United States
Pinehurst
Coastal charm meets world‑class golf paradise
Golf is the centre of daily life in this historic village in the North Carolina Sandhills. Pinehurst No. 2, designed by Donald Ross, has hosted several US Opens, most recently in 2024. The resort has several more courses and a classic clubhouse. Walking the pine lined fairways is part of the experience.
Resort in United States
Pebble Beach
Coastal luxury with world‑class golf vistas
Unlike many famous courses, this one on California's Monterey Peninsula is open to the public, though green fees are high. Its holes run along cliffs above Carmel Bay. The US Open has been held here six times. Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay are nearby courses.
Resort in United States
Bandon Dunes
Coastal dunes meet luxury seaside escape
On the southern coast of Oregon, this resort has several links style courses set among dunes above the Pacific Ocean. Walking is the norm. Caddies are available. Courses include Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald and Bandon Trails. The nearest airport is in North Bend, about 25 miles away.
Other lists you may like
Discover
Best golf destinations in Africa
South Africa anchors Africa's golf tourism, with courses set against genuine wilderness backdrops combining championship design with dramatic scenery. North African countries have…
Read more
Discover
Best golf destinations in Asia
Several Southeast Asian countries have emerged as fast-growing golf destinations over the past two decades, building championship courses specifically for international visitors,…
Read more
Discover
Best golf destinations in Europe
The British Isles gave the world golf, surrounded by links courses shaped by coastal wind rather than designed from scratch. Southern Europe offers a completely different, more…
Read more
Discover
Best golf destinations in Oceania
Sandbelt-style courses in southern Australia are considered among the finest in the world by golf architects, prized for their sand-based fairways and firm, fast conditions…
Read more
Discover
Best golf destinations in South America
Golf has deep roots in parts of South America, with Argentina in particular producing some of the sport's most recognized names and courses. Argentina's golf tradition dates…
Read more
Discover
Top golf destinations and championship courses
Championship golf exists almost anywhere there's the right landscape, but a small number of destinations have built an entire travel identity around it. These are places where…
Read more
What other users say about travelfilters
“travelfilters made it easy for me to find ski areas and compare what else they offer, so that I could find the best place for my personal travel style.”
Chris
Snowboarding & Onsen trip to Japan
“I love how transparent the data feels. There is no pushy upsell, just honest information and settings I can tune to my own travel style.”
Maria
After booking her 2027 winter escape
“The level of detail for each destination and how well those are displayed, make planning feel confident instead of overwhelming.”
Mina
Planned a week in New York City
“We used travelfilters for our planning from start to end. The trip turned out even better than expected, thanks to all their tools and customisation options.”
Allan & Etienne
Trip to Japan to see autumn foliage
“Thanks to travelfilters, I found some hidden gems to see. Being able to filter for exactly your interests is a game changer for my travel planning.”
Michael
Tour through the old cities of Northern Italy
“The customizable filters helped me find a quiet beach town with good wifi and low season crowds in under five minutes.”
Diego
Weekend Escape to Llanes, Spain
“The airport connection map saved me hours by showing good flight options from my home airport to lesser-known cities.”
Nguyen
Planning a 2027 trip to France
“The website is clean, fast and focused on the search itself, which makes travelfilters feel more like a professional tool than an ad-heavy booking site.”
Hassan
Christmas Market trip, Germany
