Best Golf Destinations for December

Pebble Beach, California · Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,828 yards

Arguably the most famous golf course in America, Pebble Beach has hosted six U.S. Opens along the cliffs of the Monterey Peninsula. The iconic oceanfront holes from 4 through 10 and the dramatic finishing stretch at 17 and 18 deliver golf at its most spectacular and storied.

Las Vegas, Nevada · Tom Fazio (1989) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,560 yards

The most exclusive and expensive resort course in Las Vegas, Shadow Creek is a Tom Fazio creation built in the desert for Steve Wynn at a rumored cost of $60 million. The lush, parkland-style layout — complete with transplanted trees, creeks, and waterfalls — feels impossibly out of place in the Mojave Desert and is universally ranked as the best course in Nevada.

Orlando, Florida · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2012) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,148 yards

While technically south of Orlando in Polk County, Streamsong Red is the must-play course for any Florida golf trip. Built on a former phosphate mine, this Coore & Crenshaw links-inspired layout features towering sand ridges, rolling fairways, and a sense of isolation unique in the Sunshine State.

Tampa, Florida · Gil Hanse (2017) · 18 holes · Par 73 · 7,311 yards

The newest course at Streamsong Resort, Gil Hanse's Black routing is the most dramatic and photographed of the three courses. Built on the highest point of the property, it features vertigo-inducing elevation changes and bold, strategic design.

Bowling Green, Florida · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2012) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,050 yards

Built on a former phosphate mine south of Tampa, Streamsong Red is a Coore & Crenshaw masterpiece that transformed industrial wasteland into one of America's most acclaimed golf courses. The rolling sand dunes, native grasses, and treeless landscape create a uniquely links-like experience in the heart of Florida.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida · Pete Dye (1980) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,245 yards

Home of THE PLAYERS Championship — the PGA Tour's marquee event — TPC Sawgrass Stadium is Pete Dye's most famous creation. The iconic island-green 17th hole is the most recognizable par 3 in golf, and the demanding championship layout through Northeast Florida wetlands tests every facet of the game.

Lahaina, Hawaii · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1991) · 18 holes · Par 73 · 7,596 yards

Host of the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions, Kapalua Plantation is a Coore & Crenshaw design cascading down the slopes of the West Maui Mountains toward the Pacific Ocean. The dramatic elevation drops, sweeping ocean views, and wide fairways create one of the most exhilarating rounds in golf.

Scottsdale, Arizona · Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish (1986) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,261 yards

Home of the WM Phoenix Open — the most attended event in golf — TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course is a desert classic. The iconic 16th hole's natural amphitheater is legendary, and the course delivers championship golf against a stunning Sonoran Desert backdrop.

Scottsdale, Arizona · Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2006) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,225 yards

Built on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation land, We-Ko-Pa's Saguaro Course is a Coore & Crenshaw gem set against the Four Peaks and Red Mountain. The minimalist design celebrates the raw beauty of the Sonoran Desert with wide playing corridors and creative green complexes.

Phoenix, Arizona · Rees Jones (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,232 yards

Set in a remote canyon northwest of Phoenix, Quintero is one of Arizona's hidden gems. The Rees Jones design navigates through rugged desert canyons with several jaw-dropping holes that emerge from the landscape.

Orlando, Florida · Dick Wilson (1961) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,381 yards

Arnold Palmer's legendary home course and host of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill is one of the most storied venues in American golf. The lakeside layout demands precision and course management, with the finishing stretch among the toughest on Tour.

Bowling Green, Florida · Tom Doak (2012) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,077 yards

Tom Doak's companion course to Streamsong Red, the Blue features equally stunning sand-dune terrain with Doak's signature minimalist approach. The wide fairways and creative green complexes reward strategic thinking and ground-game creativity in a setting that rivals the great links of the British Isles.

San Diego, California · William F. Bell / Rees Jones (1957) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,698 yards

Perched on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, Torrey Pines South is one of America's most famous municipal courses and host of the Farmers Insurance Open. Tiger Woods' legendary 2008 U.S. Open victory here cemented its place in golf history.

San Francisco, California · Alister MacKenzie (1929) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,476 yards

Alister MacKenzie's personal favorite among his designs (he built a home on the 6th fairway), Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz is a bucket-list course for architecture aficionados. The rolling layout features MacKenzie's trademark contoured greens, strategic bunkering, and a dramatic barranca crossing.

Palm Springs, California · Pete Dye (1986) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,300 yards

One of Pete Dye's most famous and fearsome designs, PGA West Stadium was built as the ultimate spectator-friendly desert course. The infamous island-green 17th, deep pot bunkers, and relentless challenge made it a PGA Tour venue and one of the toughest resort courses in the world.

Pebble Beach, California · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1966) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,960 yards

Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s Spyglass Hill begins with five stunning oceanfront holes through the sand dunes before ascending into the Del Monte Forest pines. Often considered the toughest test on the Monterey Peninsula, it combines coastal and forest golf in a single round.

San Martin, California · Robert Trent Jones Jr. (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,360 yards

Host of the 2016 U.S. Women's Open at the Rosewood CordeValle resort, this RTJ Jr. design occupies a stunning valley floor in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose. The championship layout features dramatic elevation changes, native oak corridors, and impeccable conditioning that earned it top resort accolades.

Santa Cruz, California · Alister MacKenzie (1929) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,472 yards

Alister MacKenzie's personal favorite among his American designs, Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz is a Golden Age masterpiece set on dramatic coastal terrain overlooking Monterey Bay. MacKenzie lived adjacent to the 6th hole, and the strategic par-70 features his trademark bold bunkering, creative green complexes, and a natural routing through barrancas and ridgelines.

Kohala Coast, Hawaii · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1964) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,370 yards

The course that started the Hawaii golf resort era, Mauna Kea was Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s masterpiece on the Big Island's Kohala Coast. The iconic par-3 3rd hole over a Pacific Ocean cove is among the most photographed holes in the world, and the lava-framed layout remains a must-play.

Las Vegas, Nevada · Tom Fazio / Bobby Weed (2018) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,722 yards

Located on the Las Vegas Strip behind the Wynn resort, this is the only golf course on the Strip. Originally designed by Tom Fazio and reimagined by Bobby Weed in 2018, the compact par-70 layout offers a luxurious, ultra-private golf experience steps from the casino floor.