Fall Golf Bucket List: 10 Courses You Must Play
Cooler temperatures, warmer colors – these 10 fall golf courses are worth a visit before winter sets in.
Author: Kyle Moss
when people say “The smell of autumn is in the air” I could probably think of a lot of different things. When golfers say this, it’s usually a statement filled with optimism and joy. That’s because there’s a magic to fall golf that no other season can match. This is an ideal time before the weather turns into winter, giving you plenty of time for another round or two.
Sure, the temperatures are dropping, life is getting busy, the October holidays are starting to get in the way, and many golf courses are under regulation, but don’t make the mistake of putting away your clubs too soon. As the heat of summer gives way to crisp breezes and low humidity, tens of thousands of golf courses across the United States undergo a spectacular transformation that’s as much about aesthetics as it is about golf. The fairways are surrounded by fiery hues of gold, crimson and tawny, transforming every step from tee to green into a visual feast. This time of year, when the air is crisp and the humidity is gone, it’s definitely an ideal time to play golf.
But a truly great fall golf destination has to offer more than just beautiful foliage and scenery. To consider the value of your trip, it needs to combine world-class scenery with course design that is both attractive and rewarding for all golfers. We look for courses that just happen to have interesting and challenging layouts, ensuring that seasoned veterans and casual weekenders alike will find their games tested and their spirits lifted when they choose to plan a fun fall trip away from home.
From the dramatic elevation changes of the Payne Valley course, which showcases fall panoramas, to the strategically placed bunkers and water features worthy of your attention in Myrtle Beach, this list represents the best courses in or near you, a perfect blend of flawless beauty and remarkable golf architecture. Each of these fall golf trip destinations offer great golf packages for groups, but there are also options if you want to stay as a soloist, proving that fall may be golf’s most underrated season. When the pace slows down, the scenery is dazzling and each hole feels like a postcard.
1. Treetop Resort – Masterpiece Course
- 3962 Wilkinson Rd, Gaylord, MI, 49735
- Green fees: from $102
- Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this hotel overlooks the Pigeon River Valley, a site of lush forests and rolling hills, as well as a variety of great holes.
Book your tee time now >
2. jack frost national golf club
- 1 Jack Frost Mountain Rd., Blakeslee, PA, 18610
- Green fees: from $45
- Unique to Northeastern Pennsylvania, it features beautiful scenery and views from the top of Jack Frost Mountain. At 2,000 feet above sea level, natural oak forest accentuates the dynamic nature of each golf hole.
Book your tee time now >
3. Golden Horseshoe Golden Stadium
- 401 S England St, Williamsburg, VA, 23185
- Green fees: from $78
- Designed by father-and-son duo Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Rees Jones, the golf course features 45 walkable holes completely unencumbered by surrounding real estate.
Book your tee time now >
4. Killington Golf Course
- 4763 Killington Rd, Killington, Vermont, 05751
- Green fees: N/A
- Take advantage of unique mountain terrain, including ground-level snowmelt streams, 2,000-foot elevation gains and iconic views.
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5. sunday river golf club
- 18 Champion Dr., Newry, ME, 04261
- Green fees: N/A
- Robert Trent Jones, Jr.’s design winds through the woods of Maine and overlooks the Sunday River Valley, with the Mahoosuc Mountains towering above.
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6. Thistle Golf Club
- 1815 Olde Thistle Club Road, Sunset Beach, North Carolina, 28468
- Green fees: from $120
- The design of this 27-hole Scottish links course includes wide fairways, large Bermuda greens, five sets of tee boxes and 12-minute tee times.
Book your tee time now >
7. Pronghorn Club – Nicklaus Signature Course
- 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr., Bend, Oregon, 97701
- Green fees: from $125
- Picturesque views and immaculate conditions define this park-style course, with the Cascade Mountains as its backdrop and rocky features scattered throughout.
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8. Payne Valley Golf Course
- 1250 Golf Club Drive, Hollister, MO, 65672
- Green fees: from $150
- This is the world’s first course that is completely open to the public. It is located at Big Cedar Lodge, next to the Ozarks National. It was completed by TGR Design, the design company of Tiger Woods. It is definitely worth a visit.
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9. La Cantera Golf Club
- 16641 La Cantera Pkwy, San Antonio, Texas, 78256
- Green fees: from $99
- This dramatic hilly country layout meanders over dramatic rolling terrain. Majestic live oaks line the house-less fairways, and the course winds among rushing streams and limestone outcrops.
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10. Equinox Golf Club
- 108 Union St, Manchester Village, Vermont, 05254
- Green fees: from $76
- A dramatic blend of past and present in one of the most beautiful mountain settings in the country, with challenging play on every fairway, bunker and green.
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