Looking for a new golfing expedition this season? Here are the top seven (in no particular order) destinations to travel not only for golf, but also for the exploration of a new place.

Scotland

Photo © usa.golfbreaks.com

Scotland is a beautiful country with legendary golf courses. It is home to the old course at St. Andrews, which is the home of golf. St. Andrews was the first place where the game was ever played and that is something magnificent, especially if you are a golf aficionado. It has held one of the four major golf championships, the Open Championship, 29 times and continues to be the ultimate place to golf. St. Andrews isn’t the only great golf course here, Scotland also contains a multitude of beautiful and challenging courses including the Championship Course at Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Muirfield, Kingsbarns Golf Links, the Championship Course at Carnoustie, and plenty more.

Not only is Scotland the home of golf, it is the home of some beautiful sights. The legendary tale of the Loch Ness Monster resides in the Scottish Highlands at the freshwater Loch, Loch Ness. The famous castle in Edinburgh along with all the cool activities you can do there is something to keep an eye out for.

California, United States

Photo © Joann Dost

The great state of California contains some of the best golf courses in the world along with many beautiful places to see. Cypress Point Golf Club and Pebble Beach Golf Links are both sights for sore eyes. Cypress point is a tough course to play with its organic terrain, but it is a golf experience unlike any other. Pebble Beach Golf Links course is a public course with some great moments in history. Some of the holes are right on the water front giving you some fantastic sights. California has plenty more beautiful courses including Spyglass Hill Golf Course, Torrey Pines Golf Course, and Pelican Hill Golf Course.

Taking a small break from golf? California is home to some beautiful National Parks including Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. A top attraction in California is of course the beaches along the coast, especially Venice Beach.

The Carolinas, United States

Photo © pinehurst.com

North and South Carolina are both great states for golf and exploring. Theses sates are home to some nationally recognized golf courses including Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina and the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. Pinehurst Golf Course is set up with a lot of character including beautiful terrain and pine trees all along the fairways of each hole. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Golf Resort has the most seaside holes than any course in the United States giving it a huge advantage on sights. Some golf legends have walked both of these courses in major PGA championships and PGA tournaments.

The Carolinas are filled with an array of activities to do besides golf such as visiting the famous town of Chapel Hill where the University of North Carolina is or visiting some beautiful national parks including the Smokey mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ireland


Photo © ispygolf.com

Ireland is a great place to visit, especially for golfing. Not only are the courses here of historical value but also continue to create memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re looking for a challenging course with seaside holes then Royal Portrush Golf Course is the course to play. It is a semi-private course only open at certain times during the day for visitors. This course held the first ever professional tournament in Ireland and hosted the only Open Championship that has been in this country. Ireland is also home to a top tier golfer, Rory McIlroy. He grew up in Northern Ireland playing a beautiful course called Holywood Golf Course.

Make sure while in Ireland to visit the great city of Dublin and phenomenal coastal sights such as the Cliffs of Moher. Many castles reside in Ireland with each and every one containing a rich history. There is even something known as the magic road where an optical illusion looks as though the road is going up hill when actually it is a downhill slope.

Hawaii

Photo © www.golfatkapalua.com

With over 70 courses throughout all the islands of Hawaii and its championship course designs, Hawaii is a top place to golf. The scenery around each course is beautiful, especially with all the seaside signature holes. The number one rated public course in Hawaii is the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf. Many great golfers have played this course while on the PGA tour. The course may have the feel of tournament play with its length but its wide fairways and forgiving greens let the average golfer take it on.

There are six main islands in Hawaii with each containing a wide range of things to do, especially with their vast and beautiful landscapes. Each Island has its own cultural backgrounds and character. You can go sightseeing at volcanoes, waterfalls, and beaches. Some great activities are to hike the mountains on the islands and snorkel in the waters around them. One of the greatest parts of being in Hawaii is interacting with its people and experiencing its cultural history.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Photo © golfpuntacana.com

With many courses designed by legendary golf architects Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and many more, all golfers can enjoy a challenge with beautiful sights. One of the best courses in Punta Cana is the Punta Espada Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus. The par-72 course has ocean front holes with forgiving fairways and greens. It has been the host to many worldwide golf champions on the PGA tour. If you’re looking for a place to relax and hit the course, Punta Cana is a great spot for that.

Punta Cana is a huge attraction for hitting the beaches. Take a day tour to Del Este National Park where you can take boat rides, swim with starfish, and relax on the beach. Some fun activities to embark upon are zip-lining through the Punta Cana terrain and riding the dune buggies to caves and beaches.

Lincoln, NE, United States

Lincoln, Nebraska is a big Midwest attraction in the United States full of fun and golf. Being the capital of Nebraska brings lots of opportunities. The five public Lincoln City Golf Courses are the courses to be playing with exceptional conditions and top quality service from the staff. Whether you’re looking for a historic design with nature near by, a breezy links style course, or a family friendly nine hole course that also has footgolf, Lincoln City Golf has a course for you. Not only is Lincoln a great place to golf, other cities have fantastic golf courses as well including The Player’s Club, Happy Hollow Country Club, and Pacific Springs Golf Course in Omaha, Nebraska.

When visiting Lincoln, Nebraska, there is plenty to do including walking around downtown and in the Haymarket hitting all the great local food stops such as Honest Abe’s, Leadbelly, and Ivanna Cone. Take a tour of the famous University of Nebraska – Lincoln college campus and Memorial Stadium. Feel the pride of the students when game day is here for the Huskers with great tailgates and sold out seating at Memorial Stadium.