It’s always fun to hit a local golf course with friends but occasionally, you should try something new and different. The best golf vacations are ones that provide a change of scenery and the chance to golf where the pros go! Fortunately for those of us on the East Coast, there are plenty of options! Here’s a list of the most renowned courses on the Eastern Seaboard where you can master your swing.
The Top Golf Resorts on the East Coast
Pinehurst (No. 2 Course), North Carolina
If you’ve ever wondered where American golf began, look no further than the eight fantastic courses at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. In fact, the No. 2 course has hosted three US Opens, two PGA Tour Championships, and the 2014 US Women’s Open. Add to that the fact its Golf Academy is considered one of the best of all the golf resorts on the East Coast. The courses feature glorious pine trees and rolling sandhills, making the course as stunning as it is challenging. The pros describe it as a “thinker’s” course that requires strategic play.
TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium Course), Florida
If you’re up for one of the more challenging golf getaways, head south to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida—home of the Players Championship. This tough course designed by Pete Dye delivers the ultimate golfing adrenaline rush. Try your hand at the famous par-3 17th, where the green is surrounded nearly 360 degrees by water. In fact, many players rank this hole as one of the most difficult anywhere in the world.
If you’d like to improve your skills while you’re there, sign up for lessons with the pros at the TOUR Academy.
Bethpage Black, Long Island, New York
Follow in Tiger Woods’ footsteps on the course he played to win the 2002 US Open. This beauty is one of five public courses located in Bethpage State Park on Long Island. The signature 18th hole is world-renowned, but you’ll also enjoy playing the par-3 third and long par-5 fourth.
Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
The best golf vacations involve an incredible view. At Ocean Course, you get that and more with nearly every hole offering a view of the Atlantic Ocean. This difficult course is home to the 1991 Ryder Cup, where Seve Ballesteros was victorious despite multiple double bogeys. In fact, the par-3 17th hole saw more bogeys than pars that year!
Sea Island (Seaside Course), St. Simons Island, Georgia
Originally designed in 1929 by famed architects Harry Colt and Charles Allison, the Seaside course was renovated by Tom Fazio in 1999. Another stunningly beautiful course with several holes running next to the Atlantic Ocean, Seaside is home to the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic. It may not be very long, but it is extremely challenging. Do yourself a favor and visit to the Resort’s Golf Learning Center before you tee off.
Happy Golfing!
There are plenty of golf resorts on the East Coast, but if you’re looking for a thrill, these are the ones to hit up. Grab your clubs and head out for the time of your life!