Coolest Spots for a Post-Round Drink in the U.S.

It goes without saying that not all golf courses or resorts are created equal. The very idea of bucket-list destinations exists for that reason. What’s more, even at those celebrated courses and resorts, there are some bars and restaurants that are just inherently cooler than all the others surrounding them. With that in mind, I’ve highlighted eight of the coolest spots to grab a celebratory post-round drink—whether you’re commemorating a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the links or raising a glass in cheers to quality time spent with your buddies out on the course.

Oconee Cove at Reynolds Lake Oconee—Greensboro, Ga.

If you should be so fortunate as to finagle your way onto the new Richland golf course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, the residential community’s newest members-only layout, you’d be remiss to not celebrate the experience at the nearby National Tavern, which is famous for its rare whiskey program. To commemorate all other rounds played at Reynolds—and certainly a round at Richland, too, if I’m being honest—you’ll want to make a reservation at Oconee Cove.

The speakeasy-style cocktail den, discreetly tucked behind a hallway bookcase in the Ritz-Carlton hotel, requires a tee time of sorts. You’ll only get in with a reservation, but that advanced booking gets you a 90-minute cocktail experience led by the bar’s manager, who will not only regale you with tales and lore of the Prohibition Era and the cocktails born from that period, they’ll also create a bespoke drinking journey for you based on your preferences and willingness to try new things.

The North & South Bar at Pinehurst Resort—Pinehurst, N.C.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t stop in at The Deuce following a round on the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort. But the bar can get noisy inside, and grabbing a seat out on the veranda to watch other groups finishing their rounds can sometimes be more difficult than carding a birdie on that finishing hole. So if the ambient noise is up and the outdoor seats are occupied, head over to The Manor Inn, where whiskey takes center stage at the North & South Bar.

In particular, bourbon is the belle of the ball at the North & South, with 90 different bottles on the menu. So, if you like your brown liquor uncompromised, we recommend a neat pour of Bobby Jones’s Clover Club 10-Year, Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Fusion Series, Widow Jane 10-Year, or Wild Turkey Rare Breed. If cocktails are more to your liking, you can’t go wrong with one of the bar’s pre-prohibition classics or a smoked old fashioned. And if you’re more inclined to order a clear spirit, by all means ask for a Kettle One on the rocks with a twist. After all, that was Arnold Palmer’s drink of choice; and whenever he visited Pinehurst, he only stayed at The Manor Inn. Trust us, The King would approve.

The Wine Grotto at Saint John’s Resort—Plymouth, Mich.

In advance of a visit to Saint John’s Resort, it’s advantageous to know that the property was once a seminary, as there’s a slew of architectural details throughout the sprawling hotel that reflect that previous existence—and they might otherwise be difficult to spot. It doesn’t require much in the way of advance notice to see the significance of The Wine Grotto, a subterranean bar that occupies a space that was clearly used to store barrels (presumably filled with wine). It’s easy to think similar cellar spaces can be found in monasteries all across Western Europe.

The resort’s golf course is a stunning example of modern-day parkland golf—with inspiration drawn from the Golden Age designs of Donald Ross and Tom Bendelow, not to mention a strong tip of the cap to the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club. It’s both a marvel to look at and a joy to play, which is why those who get the chance should celebrate the experience in appropriate fashion. In our opinion, there’s no better place to do that than at The Wine Grotto. (Insider tip: If you appreciate a variety of flavors, order a “Surprise Me.” The drink is just as it sounds—a bartender’s choice—and, at the very least, it’s likely to spark a fun conversation about cocktails.)

Rooftop 360 at Streamsong Resort—Bowling Green, Fla.

Following a round on the Red, Blue, or Black courses at Streamsong, the immediacy of a cold beer at either Pub 59 or Boneyard Tavern is tantalizing—and their lineups of local craft brews only heighten the temptation. If you’ve got a morning tee time, they’re the ideal locales for a celebratory pour. Following an afternoon round, however, you’ll be rewarded if you immediately head back to the lodge, where Rooftop 360 on the hotel’s 6th floor awaits (it’s only open during evening hours).

Sporting a fresh, brightened aesthetic (thanks to new carpets, tilework, and a white marble bar top), Rooftop 360 is a can’t-miss spot for cocktails, especially now that it offers panoramic views of The Chain to the east, which match the striking sunsets to the west. The bar’s signature old fashioned, which showcases the resort’s private barrel selection of Maker’s Mark bourbon, is smoked in the glass and offers great depth of flavor. However, if you happen to visit when the bar has a bottle of George T. Stagg, EH Taylor Single Barrel bourbon, or EH Taylor Straight Rye, skip the cocktail and opt for a straight pour—all three are remarkably priced.

The Hardy Room at Nemacolin Resort—Farmington, Pa.

With its recently reimagined hotels (The Grand Lodge and The Chateau) and a pair of golf courses built within the last 30 years, Nemacolin Resort is firmly rooted in the present. And yet, in an interesting twist, there is a venue within The Chateau that feels distinctly of the past. With its mahogany wood paneling, ornate fireplace, and leather armchairs, The Hardy Room at Nemacolin delivers an ambiance straight out of the 1950s. More notably, the lounge is better known for being a cigar bar—one of the few that still exists at a golf resort—which means if you want to fire up a stogie to pair with that top-shelf whiskey in your hand, this is where you’ll do it. The bar’s cigar selection is more than 50 smokes strong, and its whiskey list is just as impressive. Try a Romeo y Julieta Clemenceau alongside the resort’s exclusive single-barrel selection of Blanton’s bourbon. It’s a go-to pairing that the staff recommends, largely because the residual sweetness of the cigar’s Sumatran wrapper plays off of the lighter, fruitier notes of the bourbon.

Presidential Lounge at the Omni Homestead Resort—Hot Springs, Va.

Whether you play a round on the Old Course, which trundles over and across the rolling hillsides out behind the Omni Homestead Resort’s palatial hotel, or you venture down the road to the Cascades course—where, for decades, Sam Snead kept his competitive game in shape—you’ll want to cap off those experiences with a round at the Presidential Lounge. Tucked just behind the hotel’s Great Hall, the lounge features portraits of every U.S. President who visited the property, including William McKinley (the first sitting president to play golf) and George W. Bush, who played both of the aforementioned courses during his visit in 2015.

As for your visit to the Presidential Lounge, you can’t go wrong with any of the property’s private barrel selections—it’s a collection that includes unique bourbon offerings from Angel’s Envy, Blanton’s, Knob Creek, and Maker’s Mark, not to mention a decadent single barrel of George Dickel 15-Year.

Quarterdeck at Sea Pines Resort—Hilton Head Island, S.C.

If you’re fortunate enough to tee it up at Harbour Town Golf Links, the experience is one that warrants two post-round celebrations. As way of explanation, your tee time on the classic Pete Dye/Jack Nicklaus layout not only grants you the opportunity to play one of the most testing tracks on the PGA Tour, but it also offers you access to the 4,000-square-foot professionals’ locker room located on the second floor of the stately clubhouse. There, you can partake in a bite and a beverage, you can relax in the steam room, and—while you’re enjoying all of those things—you can have your shoes cleaned. “You’re a PGA Tour player for the day,” says John Farrell, the resort’s director of sports. “And that doesn’t happen everywhere.”

Following your PGA Tour experience, head over to Quarterdeck, which serves as the cornerstone of Harbour Town. Adjacent to the barrier island’s iconic lighthouse, the restaurant features a bar and dining area on the first floor, but it’s on the second floor—specifically out on the patio—that you want to grab a seat. There, as you enjoy a cocktail, beer, or perhaps a bottle of wine from the venue’s “rare and allocated” list (think Opus One Cabernet, esteemed Super Tuscans, and a sophisticated Chateauneuf-du-Pape), you can also drink in 270-degree views of Calibogue Sound and the golf course’s prolific finishing hole.

The Wright Bar at Arizona Biltmore—Scottsdale, Ariz.

I’m taking nothing away from the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club’s new Adobe Bar & Grille—it’s truly a stunning space that looks out over the Estates Course and features a sprawling patio and piano bar—but for my taste, following a round on either of the club’s two layouts, I’m heading back to the hotel lobby and saddling up at The Wright Bar. This den of craft cocktails sports an elegant Art Deco aesthetic, and the rolodex of notable celebrities who frequented the spot is equally eye-catching. It’s not every day you get the opportunity to hang out where the Rat Pack did (Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin reportedly staged impromptu, late-night performances here on the regular).

Beyond its past clientele, The Wright Bar is famous for being the spot where resident bartender Gene Sulit created the Tequila Sunrise almost a century ago. I’ll understand if you have to try that original, but for my money, I’m ordering the Negroni Blanco or the Breakfast of Champions, the latter of which is a smoky, rich, and boozy nightcap that features sherry, bourbon, peaty Scotch, mezcal, and coffee liqueur.