Aiken Golf Trip Planning Guide
A genteel Thoroughbred town stacked with design pedigree: Donald Ross, Alister MacKenzie, and Arnold Palmer all left their mark here. Aiken is a savvy, affordable base for a Masters-week golf trip — close to Augusta National's gravity without Augusta's price tag.
Quick Facts
Spring, Fall
AGS (30 min drive)
$25–$95
$350/night
1 of 5
~$301/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Aiken. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
The Aiken Golf Club — parkland, $25–$55 · 4.7★
A 1912 Donald Ross routing through pines and elevation — one of the great bargains in American golf
The Willcox — upscale, $$$$ · 4.6★
Aiken's grand historic inn — the marquee fine-dining group dinner with a clubby bar
The Alley (downtown Aiken) — patio · Open late
Aiken's downtown bar alley — multiple spots clustered for an easy crawl
Day 2
Cedar Creek Golf Club — parkland, $44–$75 · 4.5★
Arthur Hills design with dramatic green complexes and natural streams — the area's premier daily-fee
Sporting Clays at Cedar Creek — 2-3 hours, $60–$130/pp
Wooded sporting-clays course — a competitive rest-day round in horse country
Whiskey Alley — southern, $$$ · 4.5★
Downtown gastropub with serious bourbon list and elevated Southern plates
Whiskey Alley Bar — whiskey bar · Open late
Deep bourbon and rye selection in a warm downtown setting
Day 3
Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club — parkland, $45–$85 · 4.5★
Tom Jackson design across rolling plantation land near North Augusta — three scenic nines
Hitchcock Woods Trail Ride — 2-3 hours, $60–$120/pp
Aiken is horse country — guided rides through one of the largest urban forests in the U.S.
Variety Restaurant — seafood, $$ · 4.4★
Local seafood-and-steaks staple that handles big groups easily
The Bar / Aiken Brewing Company — brewpub
South Carolina's oldest brewpub downtown — house pints and pub grub
Course-by-Course Guide
Aiken has 5 courses worth playing. 1 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Aiken has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $350/night for the whole house.
$350–$1500 /night
Historic downtown Aiken and the Horse District — charming homes walkable to bars and restaurants
$600–$2500 /night
Larger estate homes on the outskirts toward the courses — room for a big crew
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
The Willcox
$$$$Aiken's grand historic inn — the marquee fine-dining group dinner with a clubby bar
Whiskey Alley
$$$Downtown gastropub with serious bourbon list and elevated Southern plates
Variety Restaurant
$$Local seafood-and-steaks staple that handles big groups easily
Takosushi
$$Popular downtown sushi-and-taco mashup — a lighter night with margaritas
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.
The Alley (downtown Aiken)
Late nightAiken's downtown bar alley — multiple spots clustered for an easy crawl
Whiskey Alley Bar
Late nightDeep bourbon and rye selection in a warm downtown setting
The Bar / Aiken Brewing Company
South Carolina's oldest brewpub downtown — house pints and pub grub
The Willcox Bar
Old-money lounge with crackling fireplace and proper cocktails
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Sporting Clays at Cedar Creek
Wooded sporting-clays course — a competitive rest-day round in horse country
Hitchcock Woods Trail Ride
Aiken is horse country — guided rides through one of the largest urban forests in the U.S.
Lake Murray / Savannah River Fishing
Guided bass and catfish trips on nearby lakes and the Savannah River
Getting There
Fly into Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) — it's a 30-minute drive to Aiken. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Augusta Party Bus and CSRA Limousine). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.