Top right, clockwise: Courtesy of (2), Brian Orr, Chip Henderson
It can be said that fall golf is the best golf game. Good prices. Comfortable weather. Those colorful leaves. Can’t you love him? Here, in our Fall Travel Package, our experts prepare you for everything golf falls into (for this year or next). We’ve revealed our favorite fall courses, resorts, value spots, must-have clothing, and more. the goal? To educate and motivate you on your next golf excursion. So read on, then grab your batons, bags, and maybe a jacket or two.
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8 Great Resorts (For Golfers or Families) to Visit in the Fall
Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – There is only one course in Coeur d’Alene Resort, but let’s talk about reality, Look at this place. If you’re going here, you’d better consider more than just golf. Nestled between the mountains and on the lake, there are hiking, cycling, boating and many other activities. The golf course, designed by Scott Miller, is one of the best public courses in the state. Prices drop in October (from about $250 to $165) and this course also boasts a bucket list experience any golf fan will love (and something you’ve probably seen advertised on the pages of glossy magazines over the years) – there’s a floating island green. [Book here]
Giants Ridge, Biwabik, Minnesota. – To find the best 1-2 public golf in Minnesota, you need to head north. And no, you won’t be sorry. Giants Ridge, about a three-hour drive from the Twin Cities (or 75 minutes from Duluth), has a 36-hole quarry and legend, with the quarry often in discussion—or the win Debate – about the best public golf course in the state. The Legend is no slouch either, and the more forgiving fairways and scenic hues are often favored by the highly skilled. Prices are good, too, and the private 37-hole resort (2 rounds with lunch) is a hot ticket, topping out at $200 on weekends. It’s great for non-golfers too, with an indoor pool and great mountain bike rides (which you can rent at the resort). Do you prefer to ski? Come winter, you can do that too. Giants Ridge is one of the most popular skiing and snowboarding destinations in the state. [Book here]
French Lick Resort, French Lick, Indiana – Ranked fourth on GOLF’s 2019 list of Best Resorts for Families, French Lick has four courses and more than a dozen (yes, twelve) restaurants on the property. There’s also a casino, if that’s your thing. The courses are designed by a pair of Donald Ross and Pete Dye designs, and there are a few golf packages to choose from. The Pete Dye Course grabs headlines and has a hefty price tag, but Donald Ross Course can be played for under $100 in the spring or fall, or for $65 in the twilight. There’s also an extensive list of kids’ activities, with things like scavenger hunts, pool parties with DJs, yard games, movies in the park, and more. [Book here]
Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, Pennsylvania. – When you’re not getting lost in the scenery of the Allegheny Mountains or the Cumberland Valley, you might be lost in the beauty of the 220-room Omni Bedford Springs Resort. Or perhaps the golf course architecture of his old course will suffice. It has been described as one of the first ever built in the United States – it was built in 1895 by Spencer Oldham – and over the years has also been worked on by AW Tillinghast and Donald Ross. Ron Forse has overseen its most recent restoration and is ranked No. 80 in GOLF’s latest Top 100 Courses You Can Play. For non-golfers, there are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, hiking, historical tours, a giant spa, and everything from fine dining to casual fare. Oh, and the chefs have created a special in-room menu for your traveling dog, too. Homemade dog biscuits and frozen bananas with peanut butter? Now that’s living the good life. [Book here]
Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Frisco, TX – Omni PGA Frisco Resort One of the golf world’s newest and most exciting properties, the 500-room Omni PGA Frisco Resort, which opened in May of this year and is located just outside of Dallas, serves as a great fall destination with comfortable temperatures in the middle Seventies to lower eighties. For those who are not familiar with this place, you will be close. The PGA of America has moved its headquarters here, and has two sparkling new 18-hole courses at Fields Ranch West (designed by Beau Welling) and Fields Ranch East (Gil Hanse). It’s about to get plenty of TV time, too, as it hosted the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in May and will host five more major championships (two PGAs, two women’s PGAs, and two women’s PGAs) over the next 12 years. Possibly a Ryder Cup in the future, too. PGA Frisco also offers the perfect family-friendly complement to the “big courses” with The Swing and The Dance Floor. The Swing is a 10-hole par 3 par course, and The Dance Floor is a two-acre rolelike course. Both are lit, so games can go on when the sun goes down. starving? There are 13 restaurants. He said enough. [Book here]
Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, NC – Pinehurst in the fall? Well, roll our arm. The entire area is blessed with comfortable temperatures come fall, perfect for golfers who want to play during the day and peek into a warm zip quarter for dinner (or for drinks on Deuce’s terrace). Anyway, back to why we’re here: Pinehurst is always cool, but us love In the fall. You know the drill here. Nine courses (and another on the way). Tidbit. Great little village with restaurants and shops. swimming pools. Great brewery. Yummy grill. Sweet short course in the cradle. Hold your bets with your buddies in the Thistle Dhu laying tournament. Although this is not the cheapest golf excursion on this list, it is a spot for golfers everywhere. The easiest way to find out is by hanging out at the Masters Golf Shop, where golfers twirl their arms around as if they were shopping at the Masters Golf Shop. Pinehurst #2 ranks second on the list of best public golf courses (and hosts the US Open next year), and Pinehurst #4 ranks #26. But the list of courses has something for everyone. Go see for yourself. [Book here]
The Retreat, Links & Spa at Silvies Valley Ranch, Seneca, Ore. – Well, hear us out: goat cans. Yes, it’s a thing that exists here, at Silvies Valley Ranch, which is located in eastern Oregon. While this resort may not get talked about as much as Bandon Dunes on your Oregon golf trip, give this destination a chance. It has an 18-hole reversible course (so we’ll count that as two courses), a 9-hole par-3 course, a 7-hole short course and an 18-hole reversible playing course. Um… yeah, this will keep your buddies busy. (And like we said, short courses have goat bags.) There is also fishing and shooting. Still not sold? Well, how about the SVR collection of over 110 different scotches and 50 whiskeys? And with hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and go-cart rides complete with the Clydesdales, this place is great for families, too—it was ranked third in GOLF’s 2019 ranking of Best Resorts for Families. [Book here]
Silverado Resort & Spa, Napa, California. – Wine country in the fall? Sold. But you should make time to drop the red trophy and check out two championship courses in Silverado and North and South. The former hosts the PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship. You can also play it when you’re not doing other things like lounging by the pool, playing tennis or pickleball, or going hiking. There are over 300 rooms and suites on the property, and there are plenty of packages to choose from. Basically it’s a luxurious life surrounded by good golf and hundreds of wineries. Need we say more? [Book here]