When was the last time you took a golf trip with your significant other—just the two of you? Whether it’s to celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, an anniversary, or just to get away from the daily routine, a couple’s trip is always a special occasion—a chance to share an appreciation for the game and remind yourselves why you’re together.
Here are 10 top U.S. resort destination choices for couples, selected not only for the quality of their golf offerings but also for the unique off-course activities they and their regions offer. Whether you’re looking for active adventuring or just want to unwind and pamper yourselves, your twosome can’t go wrong at any of these exceptional resorts.
Omni Barton Creek Resort—Austin, Texas
Austin is a swinging town. Its barbecue is world-famous; its music spots (like Threadgill’s) are legendary; and in the rolling hills of Austin, the Omni Barton Creek Resort is the perfect place for a couple to unwind. The resort offers four excellent golf courses, including the Tom Fazio Foothills and Canyons Courses, as well as a shorter but equally enjoyable track from Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. After golf, the luxe Mokara Spa and its private rooftop pool will get you feeling relaxed in no time. And with a choice of six dining venues, you certainly won’t go hungry. The bone-in ribeye at Bob’s Steak & Chop House is Texas cuisine at its finest.
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Spruce Peak at Stowe—Stowe, Vt.
In winter, Stowe is crawling with skiers who flock to the area to bomb down Mount Mansfield. But the resort is just as exciting in the summer, when the welcoming lodge fills with visitors from around the globe who come to enjoy the warm days and cool nights of Vermont. The Bob Cupp-designed Mountain Course here is private, but available to guests of the Club at Spruce Peak with a qualifying stay. It’s spectacular—as are the resort’s spa and dining facilities. The onsite Performing Arts Center offers world-renowned entertainment, comedy shows, film premieres, and other performances. Try to book your visit when something fun is happening there.
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Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee—Greensboro, Ga.
There are lots of ways to enjoy Reynolds Lake Oconee, but none more indulgent than spending a few days at its Ritz-Carlton resort. The resort is undergoing a major transformation in 2021, but you needn’t wait for that to be completed. Go now and enjoy the following: six fantastic golf courses, tennis, swimming, fishing, kayaking, shooting sports, fitness and wellness activities, 21 miles of hiking trails, the spectacular Ritz-Carlton spa, your choice of up to 10 restaurants, plus a full calendar of arts and cultural activities. Many couples who visit end up buying vacation homes there, simply because they can’t bear the thought of not coming back.
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Big Cedar Lodge—Branson, Mo.
Big Cedar Lodge was the brainchild of Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. But you can do a whole lot more there than wet a line. Situated in the rugged landscape of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge offers rustic elegance, along with five golf courses—including Payne’s Valley, Tiger Woods’s first U.S. public-access course with its spectacular par-three 19th hole. You can go horseback riding, hiking, get a massage at the Cedar Creek Spa, and enjoy water sports galore or go boating (and fishing) on Table Rock Lake. Be sure to book your fine dining experience at Osage Restaurant before sunset so you can enjoy the sweeping views of the Ozarks.
Mauna Lani—Waimea, Hawaii
There’s so much to do at Mauna Lani you could easily forget to play golf. You can snorkel or paddle board, go scuba diving or whale watching, learn how to surf or make leis or play ukulele, take an outrigger canoe excursion, go mountain biking, and much more. But don’t miss the two stellar golf courses and Wikiwiki short course, which wind their way through lava fields and hills and offer views of the Pacific that will etch themselves into your memory banks forever. Splurge and book a private barefoot dinner under the stars at CanoeHouse, just steps from the beach.
Evening hours at Mauna Lani offer their own special memories. Join us for a candle-lit, beachside dinner as the sun falls behind the horizon to display the perfect Hawaiʻi Island sunset. #AlwaysAuberge #MaunaLaniMoments #MaunaLani pic.twitter.com/M7NGQoQDQN
— Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (@MaunaLaniHI) April 27, 2021
The Inn at Spanish Bay—Pebble Beach, Calif.
Seaside golf escapes don’t get much better than Pebble Beach—and The Inn at Spanish Bay ups the ante by providing a degree of privacy and tranquility that’s just perfect for a romantic getaway. Guests can play Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and the Links at Spanish Bay—a wonderful links layout from Robert Trent Jones Jr. Make sure to save time to play The Hay, the new Tiger Woods-designed short course. The Inn’s beachfront boardwalk is a great place for a stroll, and its back patio is an equally wonderful spot to watch the sun set over the Pacific to the sounds of the resort’s bagpiper.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort—Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
If you and your soulmate are the outdoor types, the Coeur d’Alene Resort on the north shore of Idaho’s scenic Lake Coeur d’Alene is a fantastic choice. The lake is a water sports playground unto itself, and it plays into every round at the golf course, too. The famous par-three 14th hole features a floating, movable green—so every player gets a free boat ride out to the green. There’s an expansive spa, too. And be sure to schedule at least one dinner at Beverly’s, the resort’s fine-dining restaurant with a focus on fresh, creative northwestern cuisine. Of course, wine aficionados should definitely plan a cellar tour; the restaurant’s collection features more than 14,000 bottles.
The American Club Resort Hotel—Kohler, Wis.
Destination Kohler will host the Ryder Cup in 2021 on its Whistling Straits course. Along with the Irish Course, the two other courses at Blackwolf Run, and the soon-to-open 10-hole short course, The Baths—you’re spoiled for choice as far as golf’s concerned. You’ll also be spoiled in every other way. The American Club is luxury personified, and its Kohler Waters Spa is one of the world’s great spas. Guests can also access the resort’s River Wildlife private recreational and dining club—a country club in the woods with more than 18 miles of woodland trails and just about every form of outdoor sporting pursuit you can name.
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The Boulders Resort & Spa—Carefree, Ariz.
Nestled in the magical Sonora Desert near Scottsdale, The Boulders takes its name from the stunning, prehistoric rock formations that are the backdrop to every experience there. Book a casita with a view, play the two outstanding Jay Morrish-designed courses, lounge by one of the four pools, restore mind and body at The Boulders Spa, and enjoy spectacular southwestern cuisine served in striking settings.
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots-but you have to play the ball where it lies.” -Bobby Jones #bestofboulders #hilton #golf #golfresort #travel #absolutelyscottsdale #visitphoenix pic.twitter.com/zqmtvz7d04
— Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Curio Collection (@BouldersResort) June 30, 2020
Pinehurst Resort—Pinehurst, N.C.
Pinehurst and its majestic Carolina Hotel have been a preferred golf getaway destination for more than a century. With nine courses now, plus the Thistle Dhu putting course and The Cradle short course, it’s even more of a golf mecca today. Add in the resort’s fine spa, and all there is to see and do in the quaint Village of Pinehurst, and you just can’t put a foot wrong. Make sure to leave room for a slice of the Mile-High Key Lime Pie at the Ryder Cup Lounge.
What is one word that describes your mood when you make this drive? pic.twitter.com/xIWmcqGUVN
— Pinehurst Resort (@PinehurstResort) April 27, 2021
What is your favorite couples golf destination?
