Handicap HQ
The rota, elevated

Bucket List Golf Trips

Destinations with the most elite courses in America. 104 destinations.

These are the trips you plan once and talk about forever. Every destination below features at least one bucket-list tier course — Top 100 public layouts, PGA Tour venues, or once-in-a-lifetime designs that serious golfers travel specifically to play. We ranked by concentration of elite courses, so destinations with multiple bucket-list options appear first.

Beyond the marquee courses, each destination includes premium lodging options, the best local dining, and activities worth the trip even on rest days. Click any destination for full course details including ratings, green fees, and walkability — then use the planner to build a complete bucket-list itinerary.

The list

Destinations with Bucket List Courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
5 bucket list

Bandon, OR

Bucket-list links golf on the Oregon coast

6 courses5 bucket-listOTH · 25min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course with a lake in the background
5 bucket list

Ballybunion, Ireland

Southwest Ireland's links cathedral — Ballybunion, Lahinch, Tralee, Waterville

6 courses5 bucket-listSNN · 105min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course with mountains in the background
4 bucket list

Scottsdale, AZ

Desert golf royalty meets Old Town nightlife

5 courses4 bucket-listPHX · 20min

Bucket-list courses

A green golf course with a hole in the middle
4 bucket list

Jackson, WY

Elite mountain golf in the shadow of the Tetons

5 courses4 bucket-listJAC · 10min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on green grass field
3 bucket list

Kohler, WI

Ryder Cup country meets heartland hospitality

7 courses3 bucket-listGRB · 60min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course from the top of a hill
3 bucket list

Monterey, CA

The bucket-list capital of American golf

6 courses3 bucket-listMRY · 10min

Bucket-list courses

golf field
3 bucket list

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Storybook village, world-class golf, and Carmel Valley wine

5 courses3 bucket-listMRY · 15min

Bucket-list courses

six golf balls near hole and one golf club
3 bucket list

St Andrews, Scotland

The Home of Golf — bucket-list pilgrimage on the Fife coast

7 courses3 bucket-listEDI · 75min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course near a body of water
3 bucket list

Troon, Scotland

Ayrshire's Open links — Royal Troon, Turnberry, and Prestwick

5 courses3 bucket-listGLA · 40min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course near a body of water
3 bucket list

Gullane, Scotland

Scotland's Golf Coast — Muirfield, North Berwick, and the Renaissance Club

6 courses3 bucket-listEDI · 40min

Bucket-list courses

A view of a golf course from a distance
3 bucket list

Portmarnock, Ireland

Dublin's links coast — Portmarnock, The Island, and County Louth

6 courses3 bucket-listDUB · 15min

Bucket-list courses

golf field under clear blue sky
3 bucket list

Costa del Sol, Spain

Marbella & Sotogrande — Valderrama, Finca Cortesin, sun and beach clubs

5 courses3 bucket-listAGP · 45min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on tee stand
3 bucket list

Streamsong, FL

Three top-100 courses rising out of a Florida sand quarry

4 courses3 bucket-listTPA · 75min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course from a distance
3 bucket list

Sand Valley, WI

Wisconsin's answer to Bandon — sand-dune golf in the middle of nowhere

5 courses3 bucket-listCWA · 45min

Bucket-list courses

an aerial view of a golf course surrounded by trees
3 bucket list

Roscommon, MI

Tom Doak's reversible course in the middle of the Michigan woods

4 courses3 bucket-listMBS · 75min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a pond and palm trees
2 bucket list

Las Vegas, NV

The ultimate boys-trip city with world-class desert golf

5 courses2 bucket-listLAS · 10min

Bucket-list courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
2 bucket list

Bend, OR

High desert golf with a brewery on every corner

7 courses2 bucket-listRDM · 20min

Bucket-list courses

A golf course is surrounded by trees.
2 bucket list

Coeur d'Alene, ID

Lake town golf with a floating green

4 courses2 bucket-listGEG · 40min

Bucket-list courses

Golfers playing on a course with a distant city skyline.
2 bucket list

Traverse City, MI

Wine country golf on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay

7 courses2 bucket-listTVC · 10min

Bucket-list courses

Lush green golf course with tall trees and blue sky.
2 bucket list

Williamsburg, VA

Historic Virginia golf with colonial charm and championship courses

6 courses2 bucket-listPHF · 20min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
2 bucket list

Horseshoe Bay, TX

Four championship courses on Lake LBJ in the Texas Hill Country

4 courses2 bucket-listAUS · 90min

Bucket-list courses

the sun is shining on a golf course
2 bucket list

Branson, MO

Ozarks golf with lake life, live shows, and surprisingly great courses

6 courses2 bucket-listSGF · 45min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a red flag on the green
2 bucket list

Newcastle, Northern Ireland

Royal County Down & Royal Portrush — two of the world's best

4 courses2 bucket-listBFS · 75min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with sand traps and lush green trees
2 bucket list

Los Cabos, Mexico

Desert-meets-Pacific golf at the tip of Baja

6 courses2 bucket-listSJD · 35min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of a golf course by the sea.
2 bucket list

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Caribbean ocean-holes and all-inclusive nights

5 courses2 bucket-listPUJ · 20min

Bucket-list courses

a bird's eye view of a golf course and houses
2 bucket list

Algarve, Portugal

Europe's sunbelt golf — Monte Rei, Quinta do Lago, San Lorenzo

5 courses2 bucket-listFAO · 25min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on tee stand
2 bucket list

Tampa, FL

Innisbrook's Copperhead plus a downtown that actually parties

5 courses2 bucket-listTPA · 25min

Bucket-list courses

Green golf course with rolling hills and blue sky
2 bucket list

Auburn-Opelika, AL

Grand National — the crown jewel of the RTJ Golf Trail

4 courses2 bucket-listATL · 105min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course from a window
2 bucket list

Erin Hills, WI

Walk the 2017 U.S. Open links 35 minutes from Milwaukee

4 courses2 bucket-listMKE · 50min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
2 bucket list

Frisco, TX

The new home of the PGA of America — two championship courses

4 courses2 bucket-listDFW · 35min

Bucket-list courses

Green golf course with ocean and distant hills
2 bucket list

Brewster, WA

The top-ranked links destination hiding in Washington's high desert

3 courses2 bucket-listGEG · 150min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on green grass field during daytime
2 bucket list

Worley, ID

Idaho's No. 1 public course with a casino attached

3 courses2 bucket-listGEG · 50min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course with mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Sedona, AZ

Red rock golf in one of the most stunning landscapes on earth

3 courses1 bucket-listPHX · 120min

Bucket-list courses

A green golf course with a hole in the middle
1 bucket list

St. George, UT

TDF-tested red rock golf at the Utah-Arizona border

5 courses1 bucket-listSGU · 10min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a pond and palm trees
1 bucket list

Mesquite, NV

Budget desert golf with casino-town swagger

4 courses1 bucket-listLAS · 80min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a pond and palm trees
1 bucket list

Reno, NV

Mountain golf, casinos, and craft beer in the Biggest Little City

4 courses1 bucket-listRNO · 10min

Bucket-list courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
1 bucket list

Sunriver, OR

Resort golf in the Cascades with a laid-back compound vibe

5 courses1 bucket-listRDM · 35min

Bucket-list courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
1 bucket list

Portland, OR

Craft beer capital meets surprisingly great urban golf

4 courses1 bucket-listPDX · 15min

Bucket-list courses

a person is playing golf in a green field
1 bucket list

Seattle, WA

Emerald City golf with world-class food and drink

5 courses1 bucket-listSEA · 20min

Bucket-list courses

a person swinging a golf club
1 bucket list

Spokane, WA

Affordable Inland NW golf with a punchy downtown bar scene

4 courses1 bucket-listGEG · 15min

Bucket-list courses

a person swinging a golf club
1 bucket list

Gig Harbor, WA

Puget Sound harbor town with Chambers Bay next door

4 courses1 bucket-listSEA · 45min

Bucket-list courses

A golf course is surrounded by trees.
1 bucket list

Big Sky, MT

Resort mountain golf under the biggest sky you've ever seen

3 courses1 bucket-listBZN · 50min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with scenic rock formations and cloudy sky.
1 bucket list

Durango, CO

Southwest Colorado mountain golf with a Wild West soul

3 courses1 bucket-listDRO · 15min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of city buildings and a golf course
1 bucket list

Park City, UT

Mountain resort golf with SLC nightlife 30 minutes away

4 courses1 bucket-listSLC · 35min

Bucket-list courses

the sun is setting over a golf course
1 bucket list

Colorado Springs, CO

Military-town muscle with championship courses at altitude

5 courses1 bucket-listCOS · 15min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with scenic rock formations and cloudy sky.
1 bucket list

Vail, CO

Alpine luxury with championship mountain golf

5 courses1 bucket-listEGE · 35min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with scenic rock formations and cloudy sky.
1 bucket list

Telluride, CO

Bucket-list beauty in Colorado's most jaw-dropping box canyon

3 courses1 bucket-listTEX · 10min

Bucket-list courses

man in black shirt and white shorts playing golf during daytime
1 bucket list

French Lick, IN

Historic resort golf, casino, and bourbon country

3 courses1 bucket-listSDF · 90min

Bucket-list courses

a golf green with a red flag on it
1 bucket list

Pinehurst, NC

The Cradle of American Golf

6 courses1 bucket-listRDU · 75min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course through two trees
1 bucket list

Kiawah Island, SC

Where the Ocean Course meets the Atlantic

5 courses1 bucket-listCHS · 45min

Bucket-list courses

Autumn golf course with colorful trees and a bridge.
1 bucket list

Hilton Head, SC

Island golf with a side of beach bars

6 courses1 bucket-listHHH · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Charleston, SC

Lowcountry links, world-class food, and a legendary bar scene

5 courses1 bucket-listCHS · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A golf course with a sand trap and green grass.
1 bucket list

Myrtle Beach, SC

80+ courses and budget-friendly golf heaven

5 courses1 bucket-listMYR · 10min

Bucket-list courses

aerial view of golf course
1 bucket list

Chattanooga, TN

Mountain golf with Lookout Mountain as your backdrop

4 courses1 bucket-listCHA · 15min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on tee stand
1 bucket list

St. Augustine, FL

America's oldest city with World Golf Village next door

4 courses1 bucket-listJAX · 55min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a pond
1 bucket list

Sarasota, FL

Gulf Coast golf with world-class beaches

4 courses1 bucket-listSRQ · 10min

Bucket-list courses

a golf ball sitting on the green of a golf course
1 bucket list

Biloxi, MS

Casino nightlife meets championship Gulf Coast golf

3 courses1 bucket-listGPT · 10min

Bucket-list courses

Autumn golf course with colorful trees and a bridge.
1 bucket list

Pawleys Island, SC

Lowcountry golf perfection without the Myrtle crowds

4 courses1 bucket-listMYR · 35min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Sea Island / St. Simons, GA

Three courses of elite resort golf on the Georgia coast

4 courses1 bucket-listBQK · 20min

Bucket-list courses

white golf club on green grass field
1 bucket list

Reynolds Lake Oconee, GA

Six championship courses on a stunning Georgia lake

5 courses1 bucket-listATL · 90min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course surrounded by trees and a house
1 bucket list

Cape Cod, MA

Coastal New England golf with lobster and ocean breezes

6 courses1 bucket-listHYA · 10min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
1 bucket list

Fredericksburg, TX

Hill Country wine, German heritage, and hidden gem golf

3 courses1 bucket-listSAT · 90min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
1 bucket list

San Antonio, TX

PGA Tour golf, River Walk nightlife, and Tex-Mex everything

5 courses1 bucket-listSAT · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
1 bucket list

Austin, TX

Live music capital meets Hill Country golf and craft beer culture

5 courses1 bucket-listAUS · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
1 bucket list

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Big-city golf, world-class steaks, and Deep Ellum nightlife

5 courses1 bucket-listDFW · 20min

Bucket-list courses

A swan is swimming in a lake near a golf course
1 bucket list

Houston, TX

PGA Tour golf, world-class dining, and Space City swagger

5 courses1 bucket-listIAH · 25min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of a sprawling suburban neighborhood with golf courses.
1 bucket list

New Orleans, LA

Bourbon Street, bayou golf, and the best food city in America

4 courses1 bucket-listMSY · 20min

Bucket-list courses

Golfer swings on a green course under a cloudy sky.
1 bucket list

Louisville, KY

Bourbon Trail golf with Valhalla prestige and Derby City nightlife

5 courses1 bucket-listSDF · 15min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a lake and mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Tulsa, OK

Southern Hills prestige meets Blue Dome nightlife at budget prices

5 courses1 bucket-listTUL · 15min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of a beautiful golf course.
1 bucket list

Oklahoma City, OK

Bricktown nightlife, prairie golf, and OKC Thunder energy

5 courses1 bucket-listOKC · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Little Rock, AR

River Market nightlife, affordable Ozark-edge golf, and genuine Southern charm

4 courses1 bucket-listLIT · 10min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a lake and mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Palm Desert, CA

PGA West, Stadium glory, and the valley's best public courses

5 courses1 bucket-listPSP · 20min

Bucket-list courses

a group of golf balls and irons hanging from a rack
1 bucket list

San Diego, CA

Torrey Pines, perfect weather, and Gaslamp nightlife

5 courses1 bucket-listSAN · 15min

Bucket-list courses

golf ball and golf club
1 bucket list

Nassau, Bahamas

Nicklaus & Weiskopf links a short hop from the US

2 courses1 bucket-listNAS · 20min

Bucket-list courses

white golf ball on tee stand
1 bucket list

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Tee it up where the pros do at TPC Sawgrass' island green

5 courses1 bucket-listJAX · 35min

Bucket-list courses

white golf club on green grass field
1 bucket list

Bluffton, SC

Lowcountry golf and oak-shaded charm next door to Hilton Head

5 courses1 bucket-listSAV · 30min

Bucket-list courses

Autumn golf course with colorful trees and a bridge.
1 bucket list

Birmingham, AL

RTJ Trail golf and a surprise-hit food-and-bar city

4 courses1 bucket-listBHM · 20min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with sand trap and flag
1 bucket list

Florence, AL

8,000-yard RTJ golf above the river in Muscle Shoals music country

4 courses1 bucket-listBHM · 120min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a grassy golf course
1 bucket list

Augusta, GA

Play in the shadow of the Masters on real public Augusta golf

4 courses1 bucket-listAGS · 15min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of a beautiful golf course.
1 bucket list

Knoxville, TN

Smoky Mountain views, lake golf, and a college-town Old City

5 courses1 bucket-listTYS · 20min

Bucket-list courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
1 bucket list

Memphis, TN

Justin Timberlake's course, Delta golf, and Beale Street

4 courses1 bucket-listMEM · 15min

Bucket-list courses

A lone tree on a grassy golf course with pond.
1 bucket list

Green Lake, WI

Wisconsin's deepest lake and a 1930 links time capsule

4 courses1 bucket-listMKE · 90min

Bucket-list courses

an aerial view of a golf course surrounded by trees
1 bucket list

Bay Harbor, MI

Cliffside Lake Michigan golf at the BOYNE flagship

5 courses1 bucket-listPLN · 25min

Bucket-list courses

the sun is shining on the green of a golf course
1 bucket list

Akron, OH

Play 'The Monster' where the World Golf Championship lived

4 courses1 bucket-listCAK · 20min

Bucket-list courses

golf course with green trees in the distance
1 bucket list

Hutchinson, KS

Make the pilgrimage to Prairie Dunes — Kansas's top-25 sandhills classic

4 courses1 bucket-listICT · 60min

Bucket-list courses

the sun is shining on the green of a golf course
1 bucket list

Bismarck, ND

Black-sand links golf above the Missouri River

4 courses1 bucket-listBIS · 15min

Bucket-list courses

Golf course with scenic rock formations and cloudy sky.
1 bucket list

Grand Junction, CO

Western Slope wine country with Colorado's #1-rated course

4 courses1 bucket-listGJT · 15min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course with mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Wickenburg, AZ

Dude-ranch country golf an hour from Phoenix

3 courses1 bucket-listPHX · 75min

Bucket-list courses

a view of a golf course with mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Marana, AZ

27 holes of Nicklaus tournament golf in the Tortolitas

4 courses1 bucket-listTUS · 45min

Bucket-list courses

Aerial view of a sprawling suburban neighborhood with golf courses.
1 bucket list

Cedar City, UT

Affordable red-cliff golf and the gateway to Zion country

3 courses1 bucket-listSGU · 60min

Bucket-list courses

a green golf course with a flag and trees
1 bucket list

Boulder City, NV

Lake Mead golf 30 minutes from the Strip, minus the chaos

4 courses1 bucket-listLAS · 30min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a red flag on the green
1 bucket list

White Sulphur Springs, WV

America's grandest resort — golf, casino, and bourbon in the Alleghenies

4 courses1 bucket-listLWB · 20min

Bucket-list courses

the sun is shining on a golf course
1 bucket list

Farmington, PA

Pete Dye in the Laurel Highlands — golf, casino, and a private wildlife park

3 courses1 bucket-listPIT · 80min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Long Island (Farmingdale), NY

Bethpage Black and a wall of world-class public golf

4 courses1 bucket-listJFK · 40min

Bucket-list courses

A golf course with a sand trap and trees.
1 bucket list

Verona, NY

Three championship courses and a full casino under one roof

4 courses1 bucket-listSYR · 35min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Mashantucket, CT

Rees Jones golf wired straight into Foxwoods Casino

4 courses1 bucket-listPVD · 50min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a green and trees
1 bucket list

Carrabassett Valley, ME

Maine's mountain golf — RTJ II in the Western Mountains

3 courses1 bucket-listPWM · 150min

Bucket-list courses

A golf course with a sand trap and trees.
1 bucket list

Roanoke, VA

Mountaintop golf at Primland in the Blue Ridge

4 courses1 bucket-listROA · 10min

Bucket-list courses

A sand trap on a lush green golf course.
1 bucket list

Bentonville, AR

Ozark golf and the country's best mountain biking, with a buzzing downtown

4 courses1 bucket-listXNA · 20min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with a red ball in the distance
1 bucket list

Bowling Green, KY

Corvettes, caves, bourbon, and a sneaky-good golf scene

4 courses1 bucket-listBNA · 70min

Bucket-list courses

Waves crash on a rocky coastline with a golf course.
1 bucket list

University Place, WA

Play the 2015 U.S. Open links on the shores of Puget Sound

4 courses1 bucket-listSEA · 40min

Bucket-list courses

a green golf course with a flag and trees
1 bucket list

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Lakeside championship golf with casinos a short walk away

3 courses1 bucket-listRNO · 70min

Bucket-list courses

a green golf course with trees in the background
1 bucket list

San Francisco, CA

Major-championship muni golf with a world-class city behind it

4 courses1 bucket-listSFO · 25min

Bucket-list courses

a golf course with mountains in the background
1 bucket list

Aptos, CA

MacKenzie's finest work and beach-town golf above Monterey Bay

3 courses1 bucket-listSJC · 45min

Bucket-list courses

Plan a Bucket List Trip →