Best Place to Live for Year-Round Golf

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, mchepp said:

Many many people come from California thinking exactly what is stated in this post. For the most part this is very true. Especially during a el nino year like we're having this winter, warm and I think So Cal has gotten almost as much rain as we have. However, I would not rate these areas tops for year round golf, ironically not because of winter. Dec, Jan, and Feb are cold and rainy but no snow (well, maybe a little but its gone within a day or so). The problem is Sept, Oct, Nov, Mar, April, May. Those six months when you are expecting it to gradually start to move into winter or be improving can be punishing. November is the most rainy month. Golf in November is a crap shoot. And it will rain right through your weekend in May. People from most other parts of the country don't understand west coast rain. It is cold. Not worth golfing in.

I see many California's head back. They miss sunshine in October or May.

The coast has some nice cities, but they are super small and lack much in the way of golf. Someone on here will pipe up and say Bandon, but that isn't a real golf option it is too expensive in the summer to play with any regularity. 

Personally, I think year round golf requires a nice 401k (or pension) and a 2 home strategy. Very few places have it all and are affordable. 

I loved staying in Portland and Seattle...lots of rain/clouds as compared to Berkeley, CA though.

So. Cal. gets a little too hot in the summers to play. Possibly 10 to 15 days a year where it's really unplayable, at least to me. I'd rather play in the rain up in Portland than at temperatures up to 116F in the shade.

I wouldn't mind playing in Nor. Cal. either, but it's far more expensive to play there. It's kind of too exclusive for my taste.

[ZANDER1994]

I'm curious where a guy could possibly move that has good year round golf, without super high green fees or housing costs in comparison to Minnesota. 

About me: 

- Currently living in Minneapolis

- 25 years old

- Working in international business (annual income in the $45k range before tax) 

- Spending roughly $850/month total on housing

- Spending roughly $2k/yr on golf (playing 3-4 times a week 7 months out of the year)

There seem to be a lot of top 10 lists out there, but from what I've seen, the metrics are moreso aimed at retirees or people without the realistic budget/concerns of a young person. Any suggestions are appreciated 🙂

[jimnm]

I have only ever lived in So Cal. So I can only speak to what your money will get you here.

It definitely has the weather you are after and great golf. But it comes with a cost. It would probably require you to get a roommate or two to live in a relatively safe neighborhood. And your golf budget of roughly $38/week could get you on a decent course once a week depending the day you play and tee times.

For example.... if you were living in San Diego, you can get a resident card ($25/year) and play Torrey Pines North for $42 (weekday) of $32 (weekend twilight). Most other courses that are worth playing in San Diego are going to be more expensive than this.

Torrey Pines Golf Course Fees | Parks & Recreation | City of San Diego Official Website

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Torrey Pines Golf Course Home Tee Time Reservations and Fees Course Information Tournaments and Special Events About Torrey Pines

But.... you would be playing all year round. Just not as often as 3-4 times a week.

By the way, if you find a place with year round golf, where you can play multiple rounds for ~$38/week, please let me know! It'll be something to keep in mind once I get closer to retirement.

 

 

 

[criley4way]

I would look along the Robert Trent Jones golf trail. They are in southern states, have good fees and housing is not expensive

[ZANDER1994]

1 hour ago, jimnm said:

By the way, if you find a place with year round golf, where you can play multiple rounds for ~$38/week, please let me know! It'll be something to keep in mind once I get closer to retirement.

Thanks for the info on So Cal! I've spent a few hours searching while this thread has been up and I've found this in Austin, Texas:

Looks to be $65/month for unlimited range balls, and golf at 5 courses for $10-17 with a cart included. Austin Texas seems to check all the boxes too. Only very slightly more expensive more than Minneapolis, good jobs, very comparable housing prices.

 

Edited February 1, 2019 by ZANDER1994

[jimnm]

That looks very reasonable. And from what I hear, Austin is a cool city to live in. Good luck!

[inthehole]

On 1/16/2012 at 4:28 PM, kgasp129 said:

If Myrtle Beach stayed about 70, I'd be in heaven. the golf courses are truly amazing and the people treat you like gold there/

Problem with MB is that every time I've taken vacations to play there in the winter, you are forced to pay top dollar - there are NO tee time deals to be had.   NONE.   EVER.   There are so many courses in MB, and I swear there must be an agreement between them that they vow to not break the code of a discounted winter tee time.    I get it that winter is their peak, money making season ... but wouldn't you think just one of the over 100 decent courses (not even the dog tracks offer much of a discount) would offer some kind of discounted tee times - heck, I'd even take a twilight discount ... nope.    Anyways, rant over ... MB doesn't fare well for this golf bottomfeeder.    When I retire in a few years, I'm hunting for someplace with good bass fishing and cheap golf year round ... and it won't be MB   

Edited February 1, 2019 by inthehole

[Patch]

Don't know what your housing money situation is, but the desert southwest in Southern Nevada offers very good year around golf, with very reasonable green fees. 

The only thing that would stop you playing golf during the year, would be thunderstorms, and flooding. Maybe a cold north wind. All in all, I'd feel safe in saying the southern Nevada would offer 345 days of decent golf weather. More if you wanted to drive 15-40 miles to get out of the bad, golf weather.  

Example; I played 18 holes today in short sleeve/shorts for under $30 with a cart. If I would have walked, it would have been at the locals' fee of $18. This, at one of the best maintained courses in southern Nevada. 

90 miles south, still in Nevada,  at the Mojave Golf Course it was 70*f. This is near Laughlin,  NV, on the Colorado River. ($40 for locals)

What ever trips your "golf" trigger can be found in the area. 

[SteveH]

Well I have to play in a sweater lots, and sometimes rain gear but, I'm golfing year round and that's what I wanted. There is a threat of some snow right away but hopefully it doesn't last too long

[boogielicious]

8 hours ago, Patch said:

Don't know what your housing money situation is, but the desert southwest in Southern Nevada offers very good year around golf, with very reasonable green fees. 

The only thing that would stop you playing golf during the year, would be thunderstorms, and flooding. Maybe a cold north wind. All in all, I'd feel safe in saying the southern Nevada would offer 345 days of decent golf weather. More if you wanted to drive 15-40 miles to get out of the bad, golf weather.  

Example; I played 18 holes today in short sleeve/shorts for under $30 with a cart. If I would have walked, it would have been at the locals' fee of $18. This, at one of the best maintained courses in southern Nevada. 

90 miles south, still in Nevada,  at the Mojave Golf Course it was 70*f. This is near Laughlin,  NV, on the Colorado River. ($40 for locals)

What ever trips your "golf" trigger can be found in the area. 

What about the summer though? I think the OP is kind of asking about all year. Sure the NE US stinks in the winter, but summers are fine. The South is great in the winter, but very hot and humid summers make it hard for mid-day golf. 

I think the ideal place would be somewhere where temps don't vary much like Hawaii. But there, you are kind of limited in that it is expensive and you are limited in the courses you can play depending on the island you are on.

On the mainland US, there are places that don't get too hot or cold too. 

Quote

1. California
You can't beat the south and central California coast for pleasant temperatures year round. Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria all have average daily highs no lower than the mid-60s for any month of the year. Nor does it get really hot. Temperatures in summer generally stay below 85 degrees. Plus there's little rain, typically fewer than 20 inches a year. Skies are mostly clear, with Los Angeles reporting sunshine for 73 percent of the time.

Top 10 US States With Best Weather Year Round - Current Results

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List of top 10 US states with the best year-round weather, plus information on places in each state having a good climate for vacation or retirement.

 

[Effington]

Climate wise, I can't think of a better area than Southern California; it stays nice all year round.  That being said, real estate is so expensive out there I can't imagine they have as many courses as some other popular golfing areas, such as Florida or South Carolina.

With that being said, I'd pick Cali since you probably can still have enough variety to keep things fresh, and I don't think a new course each week would be a priority for me.  As others have said, though, living there is quite expensive so you need to make some cash or marry rich first.

[JxQx]

Year round golf is very much dependent on what you can handle for temperatures and what you are acclimated to. If you only want to play when its 60-90 mid day then you are going to be pretty restricted, and with that climate usually comes higher cost of living. If you draw a line from the northern boarder of North Carolina directly west all the way through California, pretty much anything south of that is playable all year. Probably can move that line north a bit depending on how well you handle the cold. Personally, anything above 45 with no wind or rain I can manage.