“Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.” – Anonymous

And while this may be true, if you ask any person who plays golf where they’d like to be, they’ll tell you, “On the course.” Although, for those that live in areas with snow and cold, playing golf in the winter makes it impossible just to head out and play 18 holes.

Luckily, there are lots of destinations across the United States where golf can be played year-round. If you think you may need to plan a little golf getaway, here are some places where you’ll be able to play – even when it’s cold at home.

• Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona: With average daily temperatures in the mid to high 60’s during the day, golfing in Arizona is ideal during the winter months. And there are lots of courses you can check out while in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Cholla and Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Pinnacle Course at Troon North Golf Club, Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, and Raptor Course and Talon Course at Grayhawk Golf Club.
  • Most of these courses are designed with wide fairways, so they’re very friendly if you’re feeling a bit rusty. The area also has plenty of dining and shopping options, and you can catch some professional sports (NBA and NHL) while you’re there. 
• Naples, Florida: Florida has tons of great golf courses, but if you’re looking for a city to visit that has several fantastic courses close by, then head to Naples. You can golf at Arrowhead Golf Course, Bonita Fairways, Eagle Lakes Golf Club, Evergreen Golf & Country Club, and Hibiscus Golf Club – which are all public golf courses. If you’re willing to drive about 45 minutes, Fort Myers also has many beautiful public courses to choose from. And, if you have friends in the area, they may have memberships at some of the other premier courses in the area which are only open to members.
  • Take some time to enjoy the warmer temperatures while here. Mid to high 70’s are not uncommon during the winter months in Naples. You can head to the beach or grab a drink in any of the many oceanside restaurants. 
• Orlando, Florida: If you’re looking for a family-friendly destination where you can play golf and, perhaps, the rest of the family can head to an amusement park, then it has to be Orlando. Book a tee time at Walt Disney World Golf, Shingle Creek Golf Club, Falcon’s Fire Golf Club, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, Hawk’s Landing Golf Club, or Streamsong Golf Resort.
  • And, there’s no shortage of things to do when you’re not playing golf. Lots of dining choices, shopping, and tons of attractions make this a good choice for just about everyone.
• Hilton Head, South Carolina: Hilton Head has long been a destination for golfers looking to escape the cold. While not as warm as Florida or Arizona during the winter months, temperatures in the low 60’s are plenty warm to play 18 holes. You can book rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links, Heron Point, Atlantic Dunes, Robert Trent Jones Course, George Fazio Course, Arthur Hills Course, Golden Bear Golf Club, and Oyster Reef Golf Club – which are all public courses.
  • Hilton Head also has excellent dining and plenty of shopping for your evenings. Or, you can take a boat cruise to check out the area from the water.

Do you think you need to dust off the golf clubs this winter? Then maybe it’s time to plan a trip to one of these destinations – where you can play golf and enjoy good weather.