Snow, slush, temperatures that make you shake, and short days hardly foster a desire to golf. Or perhaps they do. Here are a few questions to consider. How far do you have to travel? How affordable is such a trip? And aren’t golf getaways reserved for the restless rich and retired snowbirds?
Maybe not. Depending on where you live, public resorts aplenty in the southeast and southwest have accessible deals and surprising quality. They count on travelers from frigid states to flock to their fairways from Halloween until Valentine’s Day and beyond. Here are five winter golf vacations worth a look.
Scottsdale, Arizona, is blessed with over 300 days of annual sunshine and some 100 golf courses, and the suburb of Phoenix enjoys winter temperatures in the mid-60s. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, also has 100 courses, along with a sub-tropical climate and ocean views. Near Palm Springs, California, the adjacent desert towns in the Coachella Valley offer another 125 destination courses.
You can also find plenty to swing at in the Sunshine State, including popular courses in Boca Raton. In and around the Austin and San Antonio area, the Texas Hill Country golf courses also feature warm temps, scenic countryside views, and a variety of styles.
So when you’re ready to shed your bulky layers for T-shirts and flip-flops, pack the clubs and find the best fit for you. Travel sites such as CheapTickets.com, CuringColdFeet.com, TripAdvisor.com, Travelocity.com, and Orbitz.com can quicken your search. But be sure to check individual course websites for travel packages and deals that will make you forget about that snow shovel — at least for one weekend.