There are many golf vacation destinations that can combine an exciting trip with the chance to play 18 holes every day, so if you’re looking for a way to perfect your golf swing, take a vacation that will allow you to focus on improving your game. Some people might be surprised to learn that a few of the best places to play golf are actually abroad, which provide the chance to combine culture and golf in the same trip. Whether you are a beginner looking for a few lessons or an experienced golfer searching for the next challenge, there is always a new course to play if you have the time and room in your budget to pay for the green fees.

Travelers who are focused on a budget and a cheap golf vacation package should set their sights closer to home. There are courses in the States that allow golfing all year long. A few places are growing in popularity each year, including the courses in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. If you want to beat the winter blues, plan a trip to Hilton Head and take a golf lesson or two. Arizona, New Mexico, and California also offer golfing as winter vacation options. Look into packages that combine accommodation and green fees for the best value. These golf vacation destinations might be less exclusive, but will allow you to travel within a budget.

Some of the best places to play golf are located abroad. Ireland is renowned for its golf courses, and offers experienced golfers some of the most top-rated courses on the globe. While the Emerald Isle may not offer a cheap golf vacation package, it does promise quality. Plan a trip to Dublin and spend your days exploring the coastline and countryside through its golf courses. Championship courses at Powerscourt and Portmarnock will humble just about any golfer. If you want to further explore the country, there are golf courses in just about every county. Links courses offer the greatest challenge as golfers are forced to deal with winds and changing conditions from the sea. From County Clare to County Limerick, golf courses remain one of the most significant attractions in Ireland.

Other travelers will prefer more tropical or exotic golf vacation destinations. If you will be traveling with non-golfers, one great choice is Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. While the rest of the guests on your family vacation are sunbathing and enjoying water sports, you can enjoy the quality courses and spectacular views that Cabo courses offer. While golf is considered somewhat new to this area of the world, many golfers are surprised at the quality of the courses. Many travelers like Cabo because it offers not only a golf vacation. It is possible to combine a morning of golf with a day at the beach in this location. Courses are also developing across Mexico that will soon rival the options in Cabo.

Golf enthusiasts don’t have to travel far for a great day on the course. Some of the best places to play golf can be located close to home. During the warmer months, the northeast section of the country has some excellent courses. From famous courses such as Bethpage to smaller county courses, the northeast is home to challenging options. If you want a cheap golf vacation package, set your sights close to home and you might be surprised at what you find. Golfers who are planning a vacation entirely devoted to the sport should definitely splurge on a lesson or two; it might make all the difference in your game!

Luxury Golf Vacations

Luxury golf vacations are among the best ways to relax in style during your vacation, and with so many destinations boasting both championship courses and high-end resorts, there options for this type of golf vacation all over the world. In Europe, Scotland is often the first choice when people look for the best luxury golf destinations. St Andrews is home to a 600-year-old course that’s known as one of the world’s most challenging, while the Gleneagles Golf Resort It provides plush accommodations, fine dining, and luxury amenities as well as access to the Jack Nicklaus-designed Centenary Course, and the King's and Queen's courses designed by James Braid. This 5 Star luxury resort has its own 850-acre estate on the spectacular Perthshire countryside. The resort is also best known for its superb destination spa that offers body treatments and crystal steam rooms, tropical showers and comfortable, spacious rooms.

The Caribbean is also gaining popularity among travelers booking luxury golf vacations. The islands have some of the best luxury golf destinations for year-round play, and whether you’re interested in visiting Barbados, Jamaica, or the Riviera Maya in Mexico, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. For instance, in Barbados, the Green Monkey course is one of the best; this 7,343-yard course was designed by Tom Fazio, and the resort’s beautiful clubhouse features lounge areas, restaurants, a pro shop and other luxurious facilities.

Jamaica also boasts some of the most spectacular luxury golf resorts. The scenery and the ambience blend perfectly with the finest courses and resorts. Besides golf, travelers come here to enjoy their vacations at some of splendid beaches. The Wyndham Rose Hall Golf Resort is one of the best luxury golf destinations in the Caribbean, boasting 54 holes of splendid championship courses. Along with the Half Moon and White Witch courses located in the northern coast of Jamaica, the resort allows access to its own superb 18-hole Cinnamon Hill course. The resort also provides plush accommodation options, a luxurious spa and plenty of other activities, including water sports

Spending your luxury golf vacations in Mexico can be one of the best ways to enjoy the game's splendor. The best resorts in Mexico boast challenging courses designed by legendary course architects like Jack Nicklaus and others, such as the St. Regis Punta Mita, which is located in Riviera Nayarit, a part of the western coast that's close to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The resort has 120 guest rooms with amenities like flat-screen televisions and high-speed internet, and they overall layout resembles a luxurious small village with gorgeous beaches. Its 19-hole Pacifico Course has a beautiful ocean-side design that makes the most of its scenic location. It may not be as tough as other courses, but surely is one of the most enjoyable.

California has its own share of destinations for travelers interested in luxury golf vacations, with Napa Valley being one of the best among them. Although Pebble Beach and the Palm Springs area are perhaps better known for their luxury golf resorts, Napa has the distinction of amazing wineries in the area, as well as some of the world’s best restaurants. If you want to split your time on the golf course with time spent trying local vintages or exploring the rolling hills around Calistoga and St Helena, book a Napa Valley vacation.

Cheap Golf Vacations

Cheap golf vacations are more plentiful than you might think, so if you’re dreaming of a golf vacation but on a tight budget this year, don’t worry—the growing availability of discount golf vacations means that it’s not just a rich man’s game anymore. While you might not be planning to play on the most illustrious courses in Scotland or Hawaii, you can still get in some great golf and enjoy your trip as well, as golf resorts around the country are trying to lure budget travelers with great low-cost trips.

If you’re planning a cheap golf vacation in the US, one of the destinations worth considering is Myrtle Beach. This coastal city in South Carolina has dozens of courses on the Grand Strand, a stretch of coastline extending from the North Carolina border to the city of Charleston. There are great beaches and water parks in the area, and best of all, there are more than 100 public golf courses, some that offer rounds for less than $20. The Black Bear course designed by Tom Jackson is well worth visiting, and you can also look into the many luxury golf resorts in the region.

Elsewhere in the US, it pays to look at off-season travel to help you create the best discount golf vacations. If you dream of playing in Hawaii, head to the islands in the shoulder season or the summertime, which puts you outside the peak travel time and into the times of year that will have lower rates for everything from airfare to accommodations and even greens fees. The same logic works for Florida and golf courses in the Caribbean and Mexico; if you can travel in the off-season, try to do so, as you’ll find that rates are invariably cheaper.

Canada is also one of the best travel destinations to enjoy cheap golf vacations. British Columbia and Vancouver Island boast some of the most affordable golf courses and resorts in Canada. You can avail the benefits of golf vacation packages to enjoy golfing in these regions. One of the best places to find an affordable package in British Columbia is Mountain Spirit Resort, which is located in Kimberley. You can easily afford to buy a golf condo as the resort offers attractive packages that suit both budget and luxury traveler.

One of the options for planning the best discount golf vacations is to seek out areas with lesser-known courses. There are areas that may not host the PGA Tour events but still have terrific opportunities to go golfing—consider planning a trip to Oregon, Maine, or Austin Texas, for instance, if you’re looking for places that can help you stick to your vacation budget and still get a few rounds in.

Golf Resort Vacations

Golf resort vacations are the way to go if you plan to spend most of your time away from home either on the golf course or relaxing in your room. Although there are great resorts around the world, there are few areas in particular that are worth investigating if you want luxury accommodations and excellent courses; some of the best golf resorts in the US and around the world even offer the comfort of a plush beachfront resort in addition to great golf courses.

If you are looking for some of the best golf resorts in the US, then Florida is one of the best places to be. The Ritz Carlton golf resort in Naples Florida is one of the best options and features designer Greg Norman's 36-hole Tiburon Golf Course. The resort offers plenty of facilities including spa and fitness center. Walt Disney World also has four golf courses of its own, so if you’re interested in sending the kids to the amusement park for the day (or riding a few roller coasters yourself) this is worth considering; if you’re interested in combing a golf vacation with a family trip, Disney World is hard to beat.

The Kiawah Island resort in South Carolina is also a terrific option for golf resort vacations, as it features five championship golf courses designed by top designers, including Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus. Located in the Charleston area, the Kiawah resort is one of the world's top golf resorts, and it offers unforgettable courses combined with deluxe accommodations. Myrtle Beach might be a more popular golf destination for the average player, but if you’re on the Atlantic Coast and looking for the most challenging golf you can find, then consider going to Kiawah.

A golf vacation in California guarantees unmatched golfing fun and comforts of a luxury resort. The Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad and the Pebble Beach Resort are two of the best golf resorts in the US. Both offer exquisite 18-hole gems and luxurious accommodations. The Pebble Beach Resort boasts four golf courses and three lodges for vacationers. The room rates are quite pricey, but the services are top-notch, and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. This course on 17 Mile Drive near Monterey is world-famous.

Outside the US, there are several superb resorts that offer an unforgettable golf retreat. In Cyprus, the Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort has a Mediterranean-style 18-hole golf course designed the Cabell B. Robinson. The course's challenging fairways provide an exceptional golfing experience on a natural setting. The resort provides splendid facilities, including the sophisticated Clubhouse Restaurant that offers delicious Cypriot specialties.

Other holiday retreats such as Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, have splendid golf courses and resorts, including the One&Only Palmilla, which is considered as one of the world's top golf resorts. The luxurious property features a par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The golf course is, in fact, the first course in Mexico designed by the famous golf architect. The lush fairways of the coast offer challenging golf and excellent ocean views. The fairways stretch to the desert and are quite impressive.

The Caribbean also has beautiful courses that offer easy access to beaches and luxurious resorts, as well as the chance to explore several different islands. For instance, the Casa de Campo resort in La Romana, Dominican Republic offers lavish lodgings and private concierge services as well as the splendid Pete Dye-designed Teeth of the Dog course. It also offers plenty of things to do, including a variety of activities like deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, and tennis. There are also terrific golf courses in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and even Dominica.

Golf Vacation Packages

Golf vacation packages can help make the golf vacation of your dreams an affordable and unforgettable trip. Although packages vary by resort, they typically include a certain number of rounds of golf, accommodations, equipment rentals, and transportation to the course, and many others even include meals and access to other local attractions, such as Disney World, if you’re playing at one of the Disney resorts four courses. Some packages can even include unlimited rounds of golf, which is easily the best golf vacation deal if you plan on spending the bulk of your time out on the course.

Unsurprisingly, Orlando Florida is one of the top destinations for golf vacation packages in the US. With four terrific courses and nice enough weather to play all year, it’s a great destination for family vacations as well. Anyone not interested in golfing can spend the day at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, or one of the other theme parks, and discounted admission to the parks can sometimes be included with the package fees as well.

The Caribbean is also a good spot if you’re looking for a golf vacation tour package, as the islands in this part of the world are top-notch when it comes to vacation packages in general. Most resorts in the Caribbean offer great package deals, and many are now offering deals that cater specifically to golfers. Golf courses in the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, and on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico are among the world’s best and its most scenic, so if you’re looking to leave the planning to someone else, then consider spending your vacation here. You’re likely to get one of the best golf vacation deal options for your money, plus a completely stress-free trip and plenty of time on the beach.

Hawaii and Las Vegas are both becoming popular destinations for golf vacation packages. Hawaii has dozens of courses, and each of the major tourist islands has plenty of places to play, as well as its own scenic draws. Like Florida, this is a great option for anyone planning a family vacation, as your kids can enjoy time on Waikiki or Kaanapali Beach while you’re out on the links. Lanai also has a few terrific and challenging golf courses connected with its two Four Seasons resorts, so if you’re looking to experience a Hawaii golf vacation without the crowds, this could be the perfect place for you.

In Las Vegas, the courses are all outside the city, but there are plenty of options for transportation either out to the course or in to the Vegas Strip, depending on where you are staying. Las Vegas vacations are known for being all about fun, and adding in a few rounds of golf at the Bali Hai or Desert Pines Golf Club, among others, is a nice way to take some time out from the casinos and shopping in the city center.

If your heart is set on going to another continent, then check into golf vacation packages in Europe (particularly Ireland and Scotland), Australia, and even South Africa. All of these areas have good quality courses and often offer golf vacation tour package deals to make sure you get the most for your money on your trip and don’t have to deal with too many logistics.