We traveled to a resort in Texas.
And at the resorts in California.
And in a town in central Wisconsin.
Want a variety of golf resort recommendations? Here’s some variety in golf resort recommendations. This year, the GOLF staff visited a number of golf-themed spots, and below are six of our favorites.
Our 6 favorite golf resorts we visited in 2025
Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): I can’t comment on the accommodations and other amenities at Gold Canyon Resort in Scottsdale (I’ve never stayed there!), but I can provide an excellent overview of one of the two golf courses: Dinosaur Mountainwhich I played for the third time in February. My roommates and I take an annual golf trip to Scottsdale and Dino Mountain has become one of our must-plays. It’s like something from the Golden Tee, in the best possible way: many of the tee boxes are set into the cliffs of the mountain itself, and many of the holes are set against the backdrop of the volcanic range known as the Superstition Mountains. It’s stunning, fun and playable – and, yes, we’re coming back this February.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): Horseshoe Bay Resortabout an hour west of Austin, Texas. I snuck out of Minnesota for a warm weather getaway during our spring break and Horseshoe Bay turned out to be a great option. Quiet but good golf. Multiple pools for children. Barbecue for days. Spectacular mini golf too. And we never had to leave the property.
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): The Southern California desert is one of my favorite getaways, especially during the October season when the weather is absolutely perfect and the crowds are thin. This year, the family visited Omni Rancho Las Palmas for a reunion with one of my high school friends and her family. The resort is spacious, and the accommodations were wonderful. We had a great balcony view of the golf course, Sadly I didn’t play but I love all the desert golf in California so I’m sure the course is great. However, what I can give a great review for is the family friendly pool area which was absolutely fantastic. Two water slides, a lazy river and a sandy “beach” kept the kids busy for two days straight. There are plenty of options for dining out at the resort’s restaurants, as well as a fun menu of crafts and activities for kids too. We’ve been to many resorts in SoCal over the years, but this one became a quick favorite.
Nick Piastowski, Senior Editor (@nickpia): Unfortunately I didn’t visit a resort this year – but I think I can make a contribution here. For the past four years, a group of friends and I have driven out to the Green Lake, Wis., area and turned it into our golf resort. We rent an Airbnb. We stock supplies at Hy-Vee in Ripon. We play golf at two gems in the Lawsonia property (Links and Woodlands) in Green Lake – and we also play at Tuscumbia in Green Lake and The mascot in Berlin. The trip is free. We do things according to our plan. Golf is great. Yes, we are already planning our visit in 2026!
Josh Sens, senior writer (@JoshSens): I finally got back to Gamble Sands this year, more than a decade after it opened. On my first trip, the place was so new it only had the course and a pro shop. Nothing in the way of amenities. Over time, they’ve added a gorgeous par-3 course and, most recently, an 18-year-old sibling, the Scarecrow, along with a great restaurant, a fun bar and lounge, and sweet accommodations that back up to a really fun course. In other words, the property has evolved from a curiosity to a full-fledged destination, in a setting overlooking a river valley unlike anything I’ve seen in American golf.
Sean Zak, senior writer (@Sean_Zak): I had the pleasure of visiting Omni La Costa recently and was quite enamored with the country. The only thing I wish I had was a tennis partner, because the non-golf offerings are pretty good. Glowing tennis courts, all kinds of pickleball areas, a massive, full gym — the campus is massive, but there’s a lot there … not to mention the course that hosts the NCAA D1 Golf Championships.
“>
