The United States is a great golf destination. It has countless options to choose from. Well, not "countless": it has about 16,000 options. That is the number of courses in the United States. More courses than in the entire United Kingdom combined, which has just over 3,100 courses.

As you may have read or heard me say before, the first thing when organizing a golf trip is to define the date. Once the date is defined, only then should you choose the destination. Because in the United States, there are places to go in summer and winter, and likewise, places to avoid in summer and winter.

You also have to keep in mind that distances between destinations in the U.S. are huge. It is difficult to combine the East Coast with the West Coast, or the South with the North. You also need to know which airports to fly into to avoid driving many hours to reach your destinations.

Another reason for choosing a destination is thinking about the priority of the trip. For example, it could be the combination of tourism with golf, or shopping with golf, whether you seek to play courses by a certain designer, or try to play the most iconic courses in the country, etc.

Miami, St. Augustine, Myrtle Beach, and Orlando are great destinations to combine golf & shopping.

Another important factor is who you are traveling with. You can travel with friends, family, partners, or a combination. There are good options for any of these groups.

There are no right or wrong answers. It depends on what each person wants. There are excellent alternatives for everyone. So let's break down this destination with some tips and suggestions for possible combinations.

Dates for Each Destination

If you had to choose based on dates, I would say that for the months of June, July, and August, you should try to avoid Florida, Arizona, or South Carolina due to the heat and high humidity. To play in Miami, Orlando, Naples, Tampa, Jacksonville, Phoenix, or Myrtle Beach, the best time is during the shoulder seasons: fall/spring, to play with temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Ideal temperature for golf!

For destinations in Florida, we suggest Miami or Orlando airports. From there, you can easily reach all these spots. For Myrtle Beach, the best option might be Orlando or even landing in Atlanta. In both cases, you have to drive a few hours, but it is well worth it. A destination with many course options and lodging types. Phoenix has its own airport, which is the best option.

That said, the months of June, July, and August are ideal for the West Coast. Destinations like Pebble Beach, San Diego, or Bandon Dunes are best enjoyed at this time of year, as they can be very cold in winter. The same applies to destinations further north, like Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, New York, etc.

Pebble Beach, on the West Coast, is one of the best golf destinations in the country. In a very small area, you can find 8 or 9 of the best courses in the world like Pasatiempo, Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula, Poppy Hills, Spyglass Hill, among others.

The Pebble Beach resort is on the outskirts of San Francisco, which has a major airport. An alternative is arriving via Los Angeles, one of the busiest airports in the U.S. This airport is also the best option for playing in San Diego. To reach Whistling Straits and Sand Valley, we suggest Chicago airport. New York has three airports in its surroundings, all recommended.

In contrast, the Bandon Dunes resort is far from everything. The nearest major airport is in Portland, about 4 hours by car from the resort. Even so, it has been the #1 resort in the United States for 20 years!

Bandon Dunes, with its 6 courses, is famous for its resemblance to Scotland and is a favorite among locals.

If the idea is to combine golf with tourism, California is a state to explore from end to end. From beaches in San Diego, electric cities like Los Angeles, redwood forests outside San Francisco, to vineyards in Napa Valley. Here we can combine golf with rounds at Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo, and Harding Park. All spectacular courses!

And there is no city more touristic in the U.S. than New York, for good reason. A vibrant, spectacular city to explore fully. And in the surroundings, there are several courses you can play. The most famous: Bethpage – Black Course, host of the U.S. Open and the next Ryder Cup.

You can also combine a golf trip with shopping. In this case, the clear recommendation is Orlando, where you can find courses like Bay Hill (host of the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational), Orange County National, Grand Cypress Golf Club, Shingle Creek Golf Club, ChampionsGate, etc. Another good alternative is Miami. Both Orlando and Miami have major airports, so getting there is easy from anywhere.

Regarding Orlando specifically, this destination also has Disney and Universal theme parks. Many combine both activities, alternating golf with parks. And not just kids—some adults too!

Now let's look at destinations based on who you travel with. Family: Orlando, Miami, Naples. Couples: the same, plus New York. Friends: Pebble Beach, Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, Phoenix, Whistling Straits, Sand Valley, and Bandon Dunes.

Most Iconic Courses in the U.S.: Pebble Beach (PGA Tour AT&T Pro-Am and U.S. Open venue), Pinehurst #2 (U.S. Open venue), Torrey Pines (PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open and U.S. Open venue), TPC Scottsdale Champions Course (PGA TOUR Waste Management venue), Blue Monster at Trump Doral (LIV Miami venue).

The more studious golfers might want to play courses by specific designers. This is the case for those going to the Pinehurst area in North Carolina to play courses by the famous architect Donald Ross: Pinehurst #1, #2, and #3, Pine Needles, Mid Pines, and Southern Pines. Others wish to play the best courses by Pete Dye, such as PGA West - Stadium Course, Harbour Town Golf Links, TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course, and Kiawah Island Golf Resort - The Ocean Course.

As you can see, there are several excellent options. For any time of year, whoever you travel with, and whatever your reason for traveling. So now it's just a matter of setting a date and picking a destination!