End of Dec, beginning of Jan golf trip...Looking for good location

[mhays26]

My wife and I are going on a golf trip for around 7 days the end of December through the first weekend of Jan. I am having a difficult time convincing myself on a place where it will be warmer than the Arkansas climate that time of year. Have thought about Myrtle Beach, the price is definitely right for that time of year. Just afraid it might be cold. Went to TPC Sawgrass last year, and want to try something different. Anybody got any good suggestions? Pretty much ruled out Mexico because of the price, looking to spend no more than $1500 or so not including airfare or rental car. Will be our 1st anniversary trip so no matter how much I hate to say it, trip cant be completely about golf. Open to suggestions.

Matt

[iacas]

I don't know about Myrtle, but anywhere from late October through late March can be really cold around the Pinehurst area. Frost delays are common and sometimes the temperatures won't reach the mid-50s.

You can probably add 5-10 degrees being in Myrtle... but good luck!

[BritBoy]

I took a trip down to Palm Springs this year and played at PGA West. The area is very nice with lots of non golf things to do, but more importantly than that the area has a ton of quality courses to play. If you go you have to play the Stadium Course . Check dates though because q school finals are around that time I think.

[nevets88]

I usually take a couple of winter trips and the most important thing to me, is guaranteed good weather. I've frozen my butt off during fall/winter in Pinehurst, Arizona and Georgia. South Florida sounds cliched, but you'll get the warmest climes compared to almost anywhere else in the US during the winter.

Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Naples would do. Maybe the Biltmore (biltmorehotel.com) in Coral Gables has some specials.

[ChiChiIsMe]

I'd vote for the gulf coast of FL. Personally prefer the Venice area, but anything from Sarasota to Naples on the coast is great and there are TON's of courses.

We always stay at The Beachcomber it's right on the beach so the wife loves it and there are 12 courses within 15 miles.

[doublesuited77]

whats the weather in Scottsdale this time of year?

[mhays26]

I have never been to Myrtle, but from the research I have done already, the weather is hit and miss there. Advertised high/lows are 59/39 for that time of the year. Ive also heard people from there say they have played in shorts the first 2 weeks of the year for the last 2 years. One thing about that is it is CHEAP. I can go there, stay 7 nights and both my wife and I play 5 rounds for about $450 a person. That is staying in a beachfront hotel, (Springmaid resort) is what they quoted me. Im having a real hard time beating that for the $$

[fusioncal]

My wife and I are going on a golf trip for around 7 days the end of December through the first weekend of Jan. I am having a difficult time convincing myself on a place where it will be warmer than the Arkansas climate that time of year. Have thought about Myrtle Beach, the price is definitely right for that time of year. Just afraid it might be cold. Went to TPC Sawgrass last year, and want to try something different. Anybody got any good suggestions? Pretty much ruled out Mexico because of the price, looking to spend no more than $1500 or so not including airfare or rental car. Will be our 1st anniversary trip so no matter how much I hate to say it, trip cant be completely about golf. Open to suggestions.

Is $1,500 for a person or for both you and your wife? If it is for a person, I'd suggest you to contact your travel agent for destination out of the United States, perhaps Bali? (Really open to suggestion, you say?

) I heard Bali has a couple of amazing golf courses, especially Nirwana Bali GC (their site here ) and I'm sure your and your wife would be happy in Bali as it is well known for major tourist spot. You mentioned that this is your first anniversary, right? Bali would be perfect.

[Clubchucker]

I'd vote for the gulf coast of FL. Personally prefer the Venice area, but anything from Sarasota to Naples on the coast is great and there are TON's of courses.

I was in Naples/Bonita Springs last Christmas, and I can attest that it's beautiful that time of year. Played golf the day after Xmas and it was 65 degrees; shorts and a golf shirt for this northern boy, and the people there apologized because it was "miserable" and they weren't used to it being that "cold". Yeah if you're miserable at 65 in December...this is the place for me! Most of the time we were there it was about 80. Anyway, as for golf itself, the prices skyrocket after Jan 1st (or that was the date last year anyway) so the last week of Dec. can save a lot compared to after Jan 1st. Car rentals and airfare that time of year is ridiculously high. Cheaper to rent a car from a neighborhood location instead of at the airport. Hope this helps.....

[J_Bone]

whats the weather in Scottsdale this time of year?

Weather in Scottsdale. I work for the City and it's been great.

[907golfer12]

Next month my family and I are going to Reno, Nevada. The temperature is pretty nice there, and there are awesome golf courses. Also Mesquite and Las Vegas are great.

[SirMilton]

Greetings from up the road in Newport. I have a good friend on the Sherwood City Council (Shelia).

I lived in Tucson and Phoenix in the 1990's. The best winter golf for the price I have ever found is in a couple of retirement communities between Tucson and Mexico called Tubac and Green Valley. There are several georgous courses with 18 hole green fees of abut $75 in Green Valley (about a third or less of what you might have to pay in Tucson). I recall one called Rio Rico as I still have a hat from the pro shop there. These are priced for retired folks on fixed incomes.

Tubac has a huge resort complex.

The internet should tell you everything about golf in this area.

As I recall, the courses in Green Valley are more traditional courses (fairways from tee to green) than the typical "target" golf courses in most desert areas where there is a small green spot for landing a drive and then a small green spot around a green. The Green Valley courses always looked like they were ready for a PGA event.

You might even save enough in Green Valley to try out Star Pass TPC in Tucson or say one of the Ventana Canyon courses (take the mountain course if possible).

If you want real cheap, Tucson has numerous municipal courses and some fairways even have a a little grass.

What else is there? Lot of of Indian Casinos where you actually have a fair chance at winning, or at least not losing much. Lot's of visitors love to go to Tombstone and play cowboy for a day. And there's a city of about 4 million an hour North of Tucson called Phoenix. Don't go if you don't care for Mexican food, not much else to choose from outside of fast food joints.

[mhays26]

Greetings from up the road in Newport. I have a good friend on the Sherwood City Council (Shelia).

Newport, Arkansas?? WOW! I actually grew up in Pleasant Plains, along with my wife. If you have been around for a while you may my wife's Dad, he is Principal or Asst Principal at the new Cedar Ridge school, formerly Newark. Danny Davis is his name. I have been giving the Arizona more thought now. Since it has turned cooler here, 45-50 and I see that is the average high in Myrtle Beach for December/January, that kind of scares me. Only thing about Arizona, or Nevada is the damn plane tickets are so high with that time being holiday travel time, I guess planes are more expensive. I still dont really know what to do.

[mhays26]

We are headed to Scottsdale, AZ. Going to play SunRidge Canyon, Las Sendas, Club West, Foothills, and one other that will be decided when we get there.

[gortyl]

if i had a location in the contiguous 48 for january golf, i'd go to southwest florida, scottsdale or las vegas. but if you're saying the airfare is too high to these places, you should check out austin, texas.

hell, you might even be able to drive down if you don't mind a long trip.

if you haven't been to austin, you absolutely have to make it down at least once, so why not now? i got married in austin and have been there 20+ times - what an awesome town!

golf - the great courses at the barton creek resort (which would also make a nice 1st anniversary hotel), falconhead, teravista, the university of texas home course, avery ranch. all good tracks. but if you stayed at barton, those four courses would be enough to keep you busy.

hotel - barton creek resort & spa (upscale, gorgeous location in hillcountry), the historic driskill in downtown, the miller crockett house (century-old b&b; just south of downtown) or a couple boutique hotels i could give you more information on.

food/entertainment - tons of great restaurants, 6th street entertainment district, the warehouse district. great outlet malls for the wife.

i could go on and on, but i'll spare you....

[nurseduffer]

I am taking a trip to palm springs the second week of december, any tips on a good "stay and play" package? Someone told me La Quinta. I have never been there so I was wondering if anyone had some good advice. Thanks

[nurseduffer]

I live in reno and the weather is not super at all! But I guess compared to alaska its pretty good for you! : )

[907golfer12]

Yeah, I would love to be in Reno right now, I just love that city!!! On a seperate note, have you ever played at D'Andrea Golf Course?