Best Golf Destinations for October

Pinehurst, North Carolina · Donald Ross (1907) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,588 yards

The crown jewel of American golf, Pinehurst No. 2 is Donald Ross's masterpiece and has hosted more single championships than any course in America — including U.S. Opens, PGA Championships, and Ryder Cups. The restored wiregrass-and-sand landscape and legendary turtle-back greens define the Pinehurst experience.

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.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina · Pete Dye (1991) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,356 yards

Host of the 1991 "War by the Shore" Ryder Cup and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, Kiawah's Ocean Course is Pete Dye's windswept masterpiece. Built with every hole offering views of the Atlantic Ocean, it is the most challenging and exposed seaside course in the United States.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Mike Strantz (1994) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,526 yards

Widely regarded as the crown jewel of Myrtle Beach golf, Caledonia is a Mike Strantz masterpiece routed through a former rice plantation along the Waccamaw River. The avenue of live oaks leading to the antebellum-style clubhouse sets the tone for one of America's most beautiful golf experiences.

Hilton Head, South Carolina · Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus (1969) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,099 yards

Home of the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour, Harbour Town is one of the most iconic courses in America. Pete Dye's tight, tree-lined layout demands precision over power, and the lighthouse finish at the 18th green on Calibogue Sound is one of golf's most recognizable images.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina · Pete Dye & Jack Nicklaus (1969) · 18 holes · Par 71 · 7,099 yards

Home of the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour, Harbour Town is a Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus collaboration at Sea Pines Resort. The tight, strategic layout along Calibogue Sound features Dye's signature railroad-tie bulkheads, small greens, and the iconic lighthouse behind the 18th green.

Pinehurst, North Carolina · Gil Hanse (2018) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,361 yards

Completely rebuilt by Gil Hanse in 2018, Pinehurst No. 4 has earned rave reviews as the best "other" course at the resort. The design features bold contours, sandy waste areas, and a strategic quality that some say rivals No. 2 for pure fun.

Pinehurst, North Carolina · Donald Ross (1928) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,015 yards

Host of three U.S. Women's Opens and the 2022 U.S. Open, Pine Needles is a Donald Ross masterwork that winds through longleaf pines. The walkable layout features Ross's signature crowned greens and strategic bunkering.

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.

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.

Pinehurst, North Carolina · Donald Ross (1921) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,515 yards

A lovingly restored Donald Ross gem across the street from Pine Needles, Mid Pines offers an intimate, classic Sandhills experience. The cozy inn and walkable course feel like stepping back to golf's golden age.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Mike Strantz (1998) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,126 yards

The bold, dramatic sibling of neighboring Caledonia, True Blue is another Mike Strantz creation that plays through marshland and maritime forest. Massive waste bunkers, forced carries, and wildly creative green complexes make every hole an adventure.

Los Angeles, California · Tom Fazio (1991) · 18 holes · Par 70 · 6,580 yards

Overlooking the Pacific from Newport Coast, Pelican Hill's Ocean South Course delivers one of the most spectacular resort golf experiences in California. Tom Fazio sculpted 18 holes with sweeping ocean panoramas and immaculate conditioning.