Travel

The Scottsdale Experience

Published

6 years ago

Dec 13, 2019

The greater Phoenix area has some phenomenal golf. And a lot of it, too. They say that there are over 200 golf courses in and around Phoenix and Scottsdale. Of course, not all golf is created equal. But still, you visit this part of the country, and you can find somewhere to play without much problem. And the weather will probably be good. It’s why so many snow-bird golfers decide to retire to Arizona.

My wife, kiddo, and I spent the weekend in Scottsdale. I’ve been blessed to travel to a lot of different places for golf but I am not sure there is a finer overall golf venue to visit with your family. We stayed at the Fairmont Princess, and I was able to play three first-class courses: TPC Scottsdale, Grayhawk Raptor, and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro. Each course provided a different style of desert golf…something I didn’t know was even possible before this trip.

It also happened to be Christmas season, and the Fairmont Princess goes all out for the holidays. It might be hard to imagine a winter wonderland in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, but they pull it off. Absolute Christmas heaven for an 18-month-old boy and his parents.

Here’s how our weekend went…

Day 1: TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course

We all know TPC Scottdale as the host of the Waste Management Phoenix Open every year on the PGA Tour. Yep, it’s the party tournament with the stadium grandstands around the famous 16th par-three hole. It’s one of the most popular stops on tour for fans and golfers alike, and I was stoked to see if the course itself provides similar excitement.

TPC Scottsdale Stadium Clubhouse

The clubhouse is grand and nearby to the Fairmont hotel, where most of the players stay during tournament week. In fact, the great little par-three fourth hole runs parallel to some of the Fairmont villas. The fifth teebox backs up to the Fairmont grounds and borders a cool walking path along the course. The hotel makes for a neat backdrop for many holes on the front nine.

The pro shop here is solid. It’s large and has all the major brands. I think that is a common theme in Scottsdale, though. The retail world is a big deal here and that extends beyond the pro shops. I was joined by a single for my round at TPC Scottsdale, a doctor from El Paso. He and his wife were in town just for the weekend as well. He told me they drive to Scottsdale once a year. “I play golf and my wife shops. We have to drive so she can fill the car with everything she buys,” he said. I found out later the shopping really was world-class. But I played a bit quicker after that, not knowing where my wife was and how much money she was spending.

TPC Stadium #1 Tee

The Stadium Course was in perfect shape. The track is a Tom Wieskopf and Jay Morrish-designed, 7,266-yard par 71 that was built in 1987 as a site for the then Phoenix Open. It was easily the best conditioned of the three courses I played in Scottsdale. Winter is high traffic season for Arizona, as most travelers fly in from the north to escape the cold weather back home. Temperatures each morning were in the 40s, but it warmed up to a comfortable high in the 60s after lunch each day, usually with clear skies. My round at TPC was cloudy, but we avoided rain from earlier in the week. The course was lush and the greens were as good as any I’ve ever played anywhere. The ball was rolling so pure on them. I’m willing to bet they keep them that perfect year-round.

TPC Scottsdale also has a second course, The Champions Course, that was built in 2007 and it offers a more inexpensive alternative with similarly stellar conditions. Both sites offer dynamic pricing, with green fees fluctuating throughout the month, week and even time of day. But in December, tee times for the Stadium Course can run you anywhere from $94.00 to $250.00 depending on when you want to go out. Prices for the Champions Course seem to hover around the $100.00 mark all day long.

TPC Scottsdale was a subtle introduction to desert golf for me. While the fairways were definitely surrounded by desert plants and sandy, hardpan surfaces, the course still didn’t quite feel like a true desert course. There was certainly cactus everywhere but the course is also surrounded by residential adobe houses and, of course, the ever-present Fairmont Princess resort. It was classy desert golf. Nothing wrong with that at all, but you aren’t out in the middle of the Sonoran. There is still a constant presence of civilization and the plants that lined the fairway were spaced out enough to still play your next shot. Not a ton of lost balls on this course.

It takes over two months to assemble the stadium grandstands around the par-three 16th, and construction was well along the way in December. In fact, the bones of the stadium were large enough to see the structure from many points on the course. That gives a looming feeling of excitement throughout the entire round. I can only imagine how it must feel for the pros to know that a stadium of 20,000 screaming fans await you at the end of your round, spending all day in the same seat just to see you hit a 150-yard shot.

Fans form an early morning line at the entrance of the Waste Management Open and then run almost a full mile to the stadium to stake their claim on a seat. And if you get up during the day without someone holding your spot, you might lose it. It’s a rowdy crowd, too, as fans are encouraged to make some noise during the golf. There really isn’t another place like it on tour. Even in December, standing on the tee inside the empty structure, you could feel the pressure. It’s a really fun experience and worth the price of admission.

TPC 16 Green to Tee

Like any good Weiskopf/Morrish design, the Stadium Course offers a drive-able par 4. The fact that it is the 17th hole here only adds to the end-of-round drama for the PGA Tour event. In 2001, Andrew Magee made a miraculous hole in one on this hole, the first-ever ace on a par 4 in PGA Tour history.

Overall, TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course is a solid but not overly spectacular layout. What makes the course special is the first-class conditioning on the fairways and greens, the history of the tour event and the obvious thrill of playing the Stadium Course. The finishing four holes make the course worth the trip, with 16 and 17 being the absolute highlights of the round. Even hole 18 provides a beautiful finish back towards the clubhouse. If you can play this course anytime between December and February, you’ll get the added treat of weaving through the grandstands and seeing how the course will look for the professionals. That is an underrated experience.

Me and my buddy Jeff

View of TPC Stadium #4 Green from our hotel room

I ended the round with a meal on site at Toro, the clubhouse restaurant and rum bar. They are known for their sushi but also offer a solid burger and a stunning view overlooking the 18th green. I noticed that the nearly full restaurant was patronized by mostly non-golfers, so this must be a real deal lunch option for the community of Scottsdale. I thought it was a great spot and the atmosphere was good fun with golf course vibes.

Toro Restaurant

Back at the Fairmont, the family had our first night at Christmas at the Princess. I know this is a golf article, but I’m telling you guys….this is just another reason to bring the family to Scottsdale in November/December. The Fairmont is a HUGE property with 750 guest rooms and several restaurants on-site—but there isn’t a tree or building that isn’t completely covered in Christmas lights. They managed to over-decorate in a classy manner but I’m pretty sure the scene would still make Clark Griswold proud. I’m a big fan of overdoing it at Christmas, so this was right up my alley.

Fairmont Princess Main Lobby

Mr. Christmas

Christmas at the Princess felt like a holiday-themed Disneyland. There were hot chocolate stands—you can order it “naughty” with alcohol or “nice” for the kids, Christmas characters walking around in costume for pictures, a ferris wheel and carousel in ‘Smoresland,’ a Christmas train ride around the property, an ice skating rink with fireside lounge chairs, and of course pictures with Santa. My son will be 18 months this Christmas, and he was in heaven with all the lights and characters. And quite honestly, my wife and I were in constant awe of this place as well. Everything is just so impressive. The Fairmont in Scottsdale is perfect for families but even more so this time of year. We saw families with kids of all ages, but there were also couples there for a holiday-themed date night. If you go in the winter, that doesn’t mean forget your swimsuit—the Fairmont has heated pools including an adults-only pool if that’s your style.

We had dinner at La Hacienda, there at the Fairmont, and it was excellent. You can’t go to Arizona and not partake in the margarita selection, right? Well…we did. Also, the Carnitas Hacienda is apparently the signature dish and it was legit. So much flavor. Our first night’s restaurant couldn’t have been better. It was exactly what I had in mind when I thought about a hardy meal after a long day of chilly Arizona golf. I highly recommend.

El Hacienda Restaurant

Lobster Taco Appetizers…sooooo good

Desert Ice Skating…only at the Princess

Will’s favorite tree

Day 2: Grayhawk Raptor Course

My second round was Grayhawk, host site for the upcoming 2020-2022 NCAA Championships. Grayhawk Golf Club is also famous for being Phil Mickelson’s home away from home. Mickelson was one of the club’s original ambassadors, and he has sported the club’s logo on his bag for a while now. The restaurant on site is actually named Phil’s Grill after Lefty, and it is where I enjoyed my post-round meal. Solid spot for a beer overlooking the Raptor course and practice facility.

Phil’s Grill Restaurant at Grayhawk

Grayhawk is home to two separate but truly equal golf courses: the Raptor and the Talon. I only had the opportunity to play the Raptor, but I did take a cart ride around the Talon and can attest that both courses house some truly unique golf holes. Grayhawk was established in 1994 but the club already has a ‘special’ kind of atmosphere for such a young place. The locker room is full of nameplates belonging to the best in the game and the amount of memorabilia, most of which belonging to Mickelson, make the club feel more established than it should in only 25 years of existence. The place feels historical. But the courses definitely back up the clubhouse swagger.

Grayhawk Talon Course

Grayhawk Talon Course

This is true desert golf. An errant tee shot here and you’re in the real junk…cactus and other natural plants that can impede your swing, swallow your ball and probably pierce your skin. I love it. The Raptor is a Tom Fazio design that stretches out to 7,090 yards and a par of 72. A bit further out of town than TPC Scottsdale but still in the city, the topography changes a bit to more rolling hills and wilder terrain. The desert tee shots can play tricks on your eyes, though. I’m not sure if it’s the McDowell Mountains in the distance or the natural swale of the landscape, but many of the tee shots looked like the landing areas were smaller than they actually were. When I would get to my second shot, I often realized that the fairway was much bigger than it appeared from the tee.

A weekend round at either the Raptor or the Talon could cost you north of $200, but what can you expect for Mickelson’s place. They do offer several different rates throughout the day and week, and a special 36-hole rate if you want to knock out both courses in one day. And it’s obviously cheaper on a weekday. For the money though, you are certain to get a quality round of golf. This course is just plain fun to play and is real deal desert golf. This is what I expected when I started planning an Arizona golf vacation.

The par three 8th hole at Raptor is the best hole I played all weekend. It’s one of those rare holes that makes you say ‘oh wow’ when you step up to the tee. The green is guarded by a team of elevated bunkers, protecting most of the putting surface and only exposing its top right tier to the tee box. The flag is just tall enough to peak above the top of those bunkers, giving the brave something to shoot for.

The shot is a mid iron and a miss right will still hit the large green complex. What you can’t see from the tee box is that a miss left will usually use the contours of the hill to kick your ball right, also on to the green. Its deceptively easy. My kind of shot.

8th tee box at Grayhawk Raptor

8th Green at Raptor looking back at tee

The course finishes strong with a get-able par 5 back towards the clubhouse. This hole will hopefully provide a ton of drama for college golf over the next three years at the NCAA Championships.

Ultimately, I walked away from Grayhawk thinking that if I lived in Scottsdale, this would probably be my hang. The clubhouse is legit with great food options…even an extra bar/restaurant down near the Talon driving range keeps you satisfied no matter where your game takes you. They pipe music on speakers at the range while you warm up, too. Like I said…it’s a cool place to hang out. And the courses are what I was looking for in a desert track. Not perfectly manicured. Rugged. Lush green fairways contrasted with true desert sand and foliage. It’s going to be a beautiful course to watch on television for the NCAA tournament.

Add all of that to the Phil Mickelson aura that surrounds the place, and you’ve got yourself a pretty damn cool spot.

After the round, I met back up with the family for more time lounging around the Fairmont Princess. We ended up taking the Holiday Train ride around the property so the kiddo could look at all the Christmas lights. Then we settled in for an early dinner at Bourbon Steak, the premier dining option at the Princess.

No joke, this was the best steak I’ve ever eaten in my life. It was a simple 8 ounce filet with the restaurants three signature sauces on the side…but I didn’t need any of them. The meat was so tender I could honestly cut it with the side of my fork. And we had a cauliflower soup to start that was so good even my 18 month old son couldn’t get enough of it. I was tired from all the golf and my wife was tired from all the shopping. Yikes.

Cauliflower Soup…a hit with babies

Day 3: We-Ko-Pa Saguaro Course

My final day began with a visit to the Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Princess for some assisted golf stretching. This was a new experience for me but I gotta say…I kind of dig it. It was a mix between a yoga session and a massage, with a focus on golf swing flexibility. By the time I got to the course, I didn’t feel like I needed to warm up at all. Strange, but I think it might be a valuable thing to do before a round if you have the time. If nothing else, I learned a few stretches that I will absolutely utilize pre-round from now on.

My last round of the weekend was early morning at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. I was playing the Saguaro course, a Coore/Crenshaw-designed track and one of two 18 hole courses on property. And I may have saved the best for last.

We-Ko-Pa Saguaro is just my kind of golf. If you’ve read any of my previous experience articles, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Coore/Crenshaw layouts. I think they’ve just got it figured out and this course is no different. If you take away the desert landscape, which here is much more untamed than at Grayhawk and TPC, the course just feels like a CC design. Fairway elevation changes, deceptive breaks and green contours, and seamless transitions from green to tee box routing.

Add that to the fact that the golf club is about 30 minutes outside of town, up in the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. So the landscape is open and the mountains just feel closer. The course doesn’t have any houses on it at all, which is unusual for Arizona golf. So this is a truly more natural experience. The Sonoran Desert is certainly vibrant here. The trouble right and left of these fairways is real-deal desert. Not a lot of relief to be found.

The Coore/Crenshaw strategic characteristics are still present in the design. Much like Bandon Trails, Sand Valley and Streamsong Red, there is nothing hidden from the golfer. The choices are all right in front of you. Fairway bunkers sit conveniently in middle fairway landing zones. Greens have visible false fronts and tabletop sides. You can see the options and it’s up to you to execute the shot. So simple and yet so many designs today feature blind shots and punitive hidden hazards. You won’t be frustrated by that here at Saguaro. This golf is meant to be thought about and enjoyed.

The greens are fair and run smooth. There aren’t many flat putts out here, but that feels like it’s because the course is at the foothills of the nearby mountain range. Saguaro feels natural…like the course has been there for ages and has always just been a part of the desert landscape. And the course is incredibly walkable, if that is your thing. I decided to hoof it for this round and I feel like I really got a taste of the desert landscape that way. Saguaro plays to 6,966 yards from the tips and is a par 71.

Green fees can reach $200 in the high season here. But summer and shoulder rates are much lower, which is true of all Scottsdale golf. But please do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on We-Ko-Pa. It’s a bit outside of town, but it was my favorite round of the trip. It probably helps that the weather was perfect, but I feel like that happens more often than not in Arizona.

We-Ko-Pa is a part of a resort and casino, so they offer several different stay-and0play options. It’s not a bad option if you’re looking to gamble and stay a bit outside of town.

18 Tee at We-Ko-Pa Saguaro

To end the round, I was surprised by my wife and baby boy on the 18th fairway. The young man already has some golfing skills and loves nothing more than a golf cart ride. It was such a blast to see him out on We-Ko-Pa, looking at the giant cactus and desert mountains. We might be looking at a future Arizona State golf team member here.

18 Green Handshake

Finally, we headed into downtown Scottsdale. The Kierland shopping center was fancy and well decorated, with more Christmas lights on every palm tree. And of course, a shopping mall Santa for photos. It also had every store you’ve ever heard of; it was definitely the hub for Scottsdale shopping. It felt fancy and upscale, but there wasn’t anything too high browed that would turn you away if you showed up in sweaty golf clothes with your Christmas shopping, margarita filled wife. Ask me how I know. We had our last dinner of the trip at The Mission—a trendy two-story Latin themed spot. We had a really good meal here and that may start to sound like a broken record at this point. But Scottsdale appears to have the food and beverage game figured out. I can only imagine the amazing dining options we missed, but I feel like we enjoyed some great dinner spots. I would recommend them all.

So, to summarize…

Like a great golf course, Scottsdale gives you options. It would take a full calendar year to play all the great golf in the area, and the food options are even more plentiful. Everyone I met that lived here seemed genuinely happy and proud of their community. It seems like a great place to call home and now I can attest that it is a phenomenal place to visit with your family. Especially around the holidays. Merry Christmas, readers!

If you want help planning your next golf experience or just have any questions about some of mine, reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram and shoot me a message. And feel free to check out my other golf experience articles. I look forward to hearing from you!

Courses

Fairways & Getaways: Discovering a tropical golf gem in Indonesia

Published

9 months ago

Aug 22, 2025

James Chang

If you’re a golf equipment enthusiast, you may already know that the US, followed by Japan and Korea, are the three biggest golf markets in the world. But if you delve a little bit deeper, you’d be amazed to find out how popular golf is in Asia in general.

Golf’s popularity in Asia has never been stronger. From Japan’s long history with the game to Korea’s high-tech indoor simulators, the sport has carved out a distinct identity across the region, especially with golf tourism. For decades, Thailand and the Philippines have been popular golf travel destinations for us in the Eastern hemisphere. More recently, the golf scene in Indonesia has also seen a rapid rise. With a growing community of homegrown golf influencers and its own major golf retail chains stocked with the latest gear from around the world, the game of golf is no longer just imported — it’s thriving on its own terms.

With state-of-the-art golf stores and facilities like Asia Golf and influencers abound (@evansetiawan90lf), Indonesia golf scene is booming.

Located a stone’s throw across the strait from Singapore, Batam in Indonesia is a popular golf destination for golfers in Singapore, Malaysia, and of course, Korea.

Batam is located just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Singapore, but it also has a direct flight to and from Korea, which made the travel plans all that much easier for me. So when the chance came to experience Indonesian golf firsthand, I jumped at the opportunity to join my friends for some quality golf and sightseeing.

Below is my account of discovering Batam’s very own Palm Springs Golf & Country Club (real name!)—an under-the-radar resort that proves Asia’s growth in golf is as much about quality as it is about enthusiasm.

Not to be confused with the more famous US counterpart, Palm Springs G&CC in Batam is a great golfing experience.

The Layout

Palm Springs is a 27-hole championship course with three distinct nines—Palm, Island, and Resort—each with its own flavor. The Palm Course is the sternest test, winding between rainforest and sea with steep greens and strategic hazards. The Island Course plays through mangroves an doglegs, demanding accuracy with every swing, while the Resort Course is the most forgiving, with generous fairways, rolling elevation, and gentle greens that let you breathe a little easier.

I played all three during my trip, and what struck me most was how different each course played, yet how seamlessly they flowed together. One round I’d be battling mangrove-lined fairways, and the next I’d be standing on a tee box looking straight out at the South China Sea, across the sea towards Singapore.

One of the many “signature holes” to be enjoyed at Palm Springs. Singapore can be seen just to the left corner.

Diverse golf experience from seaside views to tropical jungle and mangrove forests can be seen.

Each golfer is paired with a caddie and power cart to roam the course and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

The Experience

The greens here surprised me. Official stimp numbers of 2.8–3.0 meters (9.2~9.8 feet) felt faster in reality, thanks to subtle undulations and deceptive slopes. Staying below the hole became essential to help with my struggling putting stats, and the mere thought of rolling into the greenside bunkers triggered an involuntary sweat response.

Don’t be fooled by “resort golf” moniker as the Palm course offers more than enough challenge for the better golfers.

Rough was no joke as the ball tended to nestle down all too snug for my taste and skills!

I couldn’t quite place the type of grass on the greens, but suffice to say it kicked my butt all three rounds.

The type of grass found here are not what I was used to in Korea and the US. I found myself thinning way more shots for fear that the club head would not be able to escape the turf. The rough was also clingier than a debtor who hasn’t been paid in months and clawed at my irons and wedges with a vengeance.

The number of bunkers also made me wary on most holes. On my first loop around the Palm Course, I think I found one on almost every hole, whether it be a huge fairway bunker or a high-lipped trap towards a pin sloping away from me. The upside was that I was getting fairly good with my sand wedge towards the end of my trip, though if it could talk I’m sure it’d ghost me.

Then there were the monkeys. Yes, monkeys. On one par-4, I stood over my ball and looked up to see a troop of them, young and old, perched in the trees, watching intently. I swear one cocked its head in disappointment as I yanked my drive into the mangroves. They make for tough critics.

Bunkers were found aplenty on all three courses.

Whether guarding the green or impeding my ball from the fairway, the bunkers added to the overall scenery of the course.

I didn’t expect monkeys to be on hand to judge my swings, but they were a fun distractions. Be careful not to leave phones and wallets unattended though.

Clubhouse & Facilities

The clubhouse feels more like a resort hotel than a golf facility—two pro shops, dual restaurants (including a dedicated Korean buffet and an Indonesian dining hall), a ballroom, VIP lockers, sauna, gym, and more.

Classic Southeast Asian architecture from the entrance and throughout the clubhouse. All walkways are covered in case of the occasional squalls that blow through unexpectedly.

The club is said to have over 200 caddies to host large scale tournaments and events, including weddings and galas.

Practice facilities are top-tier, too. The driving range points out over the water, with floating targets, and the putting green near the first tee rolls true. I warmed up with a few putts, thinking I had the pace dialed in—only to have my very first birdie attempt scream by the hole a good 10 feet. The greens here demand respect… lesson learned.

Practice facilities were quite good, and also had a practice hole for serious golfers to hit everything from drivers, irons, wedges and putts.

The practice shots can be aimed at specific targets, including floating ones.

Accommodations

I based at Batam View Beach Resort, just 10 minutes from the course and 25 minutes from the airport. A four-star property, it delivered all the essentials—ocean-view rooms, pool, fitness center, and post-round massages (though pricier than in town).

The Batam View Beach Hotel was close by to the course and accessible by a shuttle on call. Quiet and peaceful with good food, service, and a live band in the evenings made for more than a golf trip.

One detail I really appreciated was the late checkout option on weekdays. For about $30–40, I could shower, change, and relax until 10 pm before heading to the airport. On weekends, when that wasn’t possible, our operator booked us into a nearby condo suite overlooking the 9th hole. Sitting on the balcony with a cold drink, watching other groups finish their round, wasn’t a bad way to end the trip.

You can also stay at the golf condo nestled right on the course, overlooking the island course.

Private and cozy with a small kitchen, shower, and Netflix.

Golf is just a wedge away from the golf condo and apartments.

Local Flavor

Aside from championship golf, Batam’s seafood scene is worth the trip alone. At a popular restaurant recommended by our guide, we walked a good mile out onto the open sea to a restaurant perched on stilts above the water. The local delicacy of chili crabs and black pepper shrimps were amazing in taste and freshness, and the perfect complement to the local beer. Another popular delicacy I tried was gong-gong, a small sea snail delicacy that locals ate like we snack on peanuts. I wasn’t sure at first, but by the third bite I was hooked on the dipping sauce.

After dinner, we wandered through the local night markets to the sights and scents of sizzling skewers, tropical fruit stands, and chatter of locals enjoying the balmy yet slightly cool tropical evening. The scene was completely different from the greens and fairways earlier that day, but the experience on the whole was just amazing.

The walk out to a floating restaurant was as great as the food served.

The atmosphere was casual and inviting, with some actually fishing over the side of the restaurant.

The local cuisine was spot on to my taste with a diverse menu for the even the most adventurous gourmet.

Final Thoughts

Palm Springs in Batam may not yet have the global name recognition of other Asian resorts, but it checks all the boxes of strategic golf, first-class facilities, comfortable lodging, and a taste of local culture.

For me, it turned out that the trip wasn’t just about golf. While sweating over a six-foot downhill putt with monkeys judging from nearby is unforgettable, so was the delight in or cracking open a chili crab on a wooden deck in the middle of the ocean, lounging by the pool with a local beer, and the kindness shared by the locals every step of the trip.

If you’re ever headed to Singapore and want more than city lights and shopping, be sure to bring your clubs and look into a short ferry ride across the strait. Batam’s Palm Springs G&CC is a tropical golf gem that deserves a spot on your Asia travel list.

Travel

3 money-saving tips for your golf trip

Published

2 years ago

Jun 3, 2024

Josh Post, Golfbreaks

When it comes to saving money on your golf trip, there are no shortage of suggestions. We’re leveraging our expertise to present you with a trio.

Travel during the off-season
Choose the right destination
Book a rental home/villa

Travel during the off-season

Every golfer enjoys playing in ideal weather and course conditions: sunny and warm with manicured fairways and rolling greens. However, playing in such conditions can come at a premium price which is why you should consider booking your golf trip during the off-season. Off-season golf trips give golfers the opportunity to play amazing courses without the high price tag of peak season and courses are usually quieter so you will be able to enjoy your round without feeling rushed!

Here’s a quick breakdown of the off-season by destination:

Florida, Scottsdale, Vegas, and Palm Springs. If you can take the heat, you will get the lowest prices of the year when you travel during the summer months (June – September). Make sure to book your tee times early so you can enjoy your round before the heat of the day and enjoy an afternoon to chill by the pool or explore the local attractions!

North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. The Southeast states usually have mild weather during the winter months (mid-November to mid-March) with temperatures in the 50s/low 60s, but you can still play great golf at a fraction of the cost.

Choose the right destination

Every golfer in the world dreams of playing bucket list golf courses like TPC Sawgrass or Pebble Beach, but it can be a sticker shock when it comes to the cost. If you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, there are plenty of other golf destinations to choose from. Two of the best value destinations for a golf trip are Orlando, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC. Both destinations offer a wide variety of courses, hotels, and resorts so that you can play more rounds of golf and stay on budget!

Here are some customer-favorite golf itineraries from Orlando and Myrtle Beach:

Barefoot Resort – Four courses and villa accommodations all onsite

Orlando Golf Tour – Hotel stay in the middle of the action and play the area’s popular courses

Myrtle Beach Golf Tour – Oceanfront villa accommodation and your choice of over 100 courses to play

Omni Orlando at Championsgate – Beautiful resort with two courses onsite and a range of accommodation options

Book a rental home or villa

One of the lesser-known secrets to getting good value on your golf trip is to book a rental home or villa. While hotel rooms might seem more convenient, a rental home gives you more space to stretch out, the option of cooking your own meals (save money on the pricey restaurant bills), and a comfortable “home away from home.” Many of the golf resorts across the country have rental homes or villas onsite so you don’t have to leave the property to play golf. If you’re looking to go to one of the bigger golf destinations (Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Orlando, and Myrtle Beach), there is an abundance of rentals to choose from.

Here are some of the top picks for rental homes and villas:

Villas at Kiawah Island Golf Resort – From comfortable villas to luxurious homes, this fantastic resort is ideal for groups of all sizes

Encore Resort at Reunion – Centrally located to many of the courses in Orlando, you’ll have a choice of 4-13 bedroom homes — perfect for large groups

Myrtlewood Villas – With two golf courses onsite and many more a short drive away, you will have plenty of golf to choose from

Scottsdale Homes and Condos – Choose from hundreds of rentals from across the city with great golf just a short distance away

Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission.

19th Hole

The biggest golf resort you never knew (but should)

Published

2 years ago

Feb 9, 2024

James Chang

As a Korean-Canadian and an avid golfer for over 35 years, I am fortunate to have played on many beautiful golf courses in the West and the Far East. I still have a boatload of courses like Pebble Beach and St. Andrews on my bucket list, but I came to learn that Asia had plenty of such places to visit as well.

I have recently had the good fortune of playing the iconic Blackstone Golf Club at Mission Hills Resort in China, which is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in Asia. Blackstone is particularly famous for hosting the Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy exhibition ‘The Match at Mission Hills’ in 2013. The event brought international attention to the sprawling luxury resort and boosted the level of interest in the game in the region.

Before delving into my amazing experience at Blackstone Golf Club, here is a little bit of information about the best golf resort you may never heard of.

Tiger and Rory faced off at the very course I was at in 2013. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it by telling you who won.

The Best Golf Resort in The World?

Mission Hills Golf and Resort is located in the southern part of China on Hainan Island, which is about the size of Maine. Often referred to as the Hawaii of China, its tropical location gives the island year-round sunshine with temperatures between 75~90°F in the winter and 60~75°F in the summer. Along with dozens of other notable golf resorts and courses on the Island, the resort is a popular destination for golfers from Asia, Europe, and as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Mission Hills first opened its doors in early 2010 with the aim of becoming the best resort in the world. I’m not sure if they achieved their goal, but before you smirk at their ambitiousness, Mission Hills is currently listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s largest golf resort with a total of 10 world-class golf courses. That is an astounding 180 championship-class golf holes in one resort! The courses are designed by the talented Schmidt-Curley Design team who are behind some of the best courses in Asia and around the world.

The Blackstone Golf Club is considered the “crown jewel” course at Mission Hills Resort and gets its name from the plethora of black lava rock that is found all over the course as part of its beautiful charm. But don’t be fooled by its rugged beauty, as the monster-long Blackstone has hosted several World Cup of Golf championships (guess who teamed up for the US to win in 2011?) and the annual World Ladies Championships. It also hosts the annual World Celebrity Pro-Am attended by an amazing A-list of screen stars, pro golfers, and elite athletes from around the world.

So yeah, the course is quite good.

On top of that, the resort holds another world’s best distinction, with a total of 168 different hot springs and pools within the resort. Unfortunately, I was too immersed in playing golf to take advantage of a good hot soak, but it will be on the top of my list to do with my whole family next time.

Now, let’s take a close look at what the Blackstone course was all about, and keep in mind that the course descriptions and opinions are all my own from experience and perspective.

The early morning view outside the hotel room overlooking the course and resort is breathtaking

Greens

The green condition was quite superb, albeit a bit slow from Western standards. According to the caddie, the green speed was measured at about 2.9 meters, which translates to about 9.5 on the stimp meter. A speed of 7 is considered to be slow, and the average PGA Tour event is said to be about 12, so for us average folk the greens were rolling well.

The green size is quite large with nearly 5700 square feet average in size with less-than-subtle undulations and big rolling plateaus. The pins were placed slightly towards the front left of the green this day, and the approach shots were challenging for us amateurs to stuff close. The ball rolled straight and true to where it was aimed, and I only had myself to blame for missed short putts.

I don’t know if its an Asian thing, but we seem to have many courses with big greens and sometimes ridiculously big undulations and plateaus on them. We even have bunkers in the middle of the green, sometimes!

Fairways

Unlike many of the Korean courses I’m used to, the fairways are lush and readily yielded nice dollar-sized divots from well-struck iron shots into the greens. The course itself is huge and it was reflected in the long wide fairways stretching from tee to green.

Most of the fairways seemed to be free of readily noticeable trouble areas, meaning that what you see was what you got. However, upon close inspection, there were many subtle undulations which caused the stance to be slightly uneven at address. It wasn’t like St. Andrews level of fairway undulations, but it was there.

Also, the big prominent fairways bunkers often came into play and caused me to consciously aim away from them, which left longer approach shots into the green. We were somehow feeling confident this day and were playing from the blue tees. And for a guy who averages 240-yard drives on my best days, those small detours inevitably added 1-2 clubs more to the next shot.

Fairways were rolling nicely but were still a bit damp due to the sporadic short rain bursts.

Most fairways were quite wide, though it didn’t keep our balls from escaping into the jungle.

Rough

Truth to tell, the rough wasn’t all that intimidating, as it was only modestly long, and the wide fairways pushed the rough back considerably. As it wasn’t tournament season and the course was set up to mostly cater to vacationers, it made sense not to make the rough too punishing.

Beyond the rough was mostly deep jungle-like vegetation, which made it next to impossible to hit the ball out of, let alone find it in the first place. Thanks to our amateur ball-striking abilities, however, we easily overpowered the hapless wide fairways to appease the jungle gods with our many golf balls.

The rough is almost non-existent from tee to green, except for a little bit around the bunkers and extreme sides of the fairways. The course is very long, so I guess they want golfers to relax and not get high blood pressure?

Fairway and 1st-cut rough

Bunkers

Blackstone had no shortage of fairway and greenside bunkers to daunt the average golfer. The many fairway bunkers were often quite large, and despite the mostly wide fairways, some were placed just at the right (?) places to catch drives that strayed left or right off the tee. Standing on the tees, the presence of so many bunkers was aesthetically pleasing yet intimidating at the same time.

The bunkers were meticulously raked and pristine, with the sand looking visually heavy but being very soft. Maintaining the bunkers to this level of readiness cannot be easy, as there are 10 courses at this resort! Even if there were just two bunkers per hole, that’s still 360 sand traps to rake and prep each day! Add to this the fairways and greens, not to mention the decorative foliage, the level of course maintenance at this level is quite mind-boggling.

I also don’t recall seeing any flat bunkers, as most seemed to have a healthy amount of incline at the front to make it harder to move the ball forward a long way. The greenside bunkers were also deeper and usually presented an upslope lie, and the shots had to have some climb to escape from them. If you have trouble hitting the ball straight, be sure to sharpen your bunker play when you visit Blackstone.

With the frightening number of bunkers at Blackstone, I only managed to get into two of them. I even managed to get up and down on one of them.

Bunkers and blackstones aplenty.

Despite being only the second time in a bunker, this one on the 18th cost me a devastating double bogey.

Tee To Green

Blackstone’s monstrous 7808 yards should satisfy most golfers’ urge to go all out on their shots. From the blues, it was still a challenging 6722 yards, and I don’t mind saying it felt longer than that all day.

Most of the pins can be seen from the tee box, and despite some slightly rolling fairways, Blackstone is a mostly-level parkland course without any significant drop or rise in elevation. Sprawling over a huge area of land, the holes do not double back in parallel but stretch forward through dense foliage, making for a scenic ride in the golf cart. One thing I also appreciated was the leisurely pace of play. The group ahead and behind were not visible for nearly the entire round, despite our less-than-quick pace of play.

From tee to green in its entirety, the course was in amazing shape and condition. The unexpected tropical golf experience was nothing short of amazing, and if I had to make a comparison to some of the other memorable tracks I’ve visited, the Hoakalei Country Club and Turtle Bay Resort (Palmer design) in Hawaii come to mind, along with Korea’s own Haesley Nine Bridge Club, which consistently ranks as one of the best courses in Asia.

The pictures below don’t do justice to the course, but I’m sure you’ll get the idea.

The sky was particularly blue and the course beautiful; so much so that my foursome didn’t seem to mind carding doubles and triples over and over again. What a joy.

For us short-hitters, we had to aim for the middle of the many bunkers and hope for the best.

If I had a dollar for every time one of us wished we owned a penthouse in one of the many condos dotting the resort…

Many holes are carved right through a lush jungle with a huge modern condo looming in the background.

Cluster bunkers are to be avoided at all costs.

The view from the 1st hole tee at Blackstone.

Looking like a pro in front of the picture board at the 18th tee… then promptly topping a drive 100 yards out. At least I looked good on camera.

Caddies & Carts

Unlike most courses in the West, golf clubs in Asia require each golfer to play with a mandatory caddie and golf cart. Also, if you each decide to have an additional caddie to help hold the umbrella, it can make for a sizeable group of 12 (greens keepers would be tossing in their beds in the west)! So how do the caddies move if you’re driving a power cart, you ask? They simply hop onboard the back of the buggy.

On this day, we ‘only’ had four caddies to attend our play, and they were fantastic. Despite my initial concerns, the language barrier was not an issue as they were conversant in all the needed terminology in English and Korean. This was a pleasant surprise, as I was able to ask more about the course to help my play, and there was always Google Translate.

The caddie fee was 500 yuan each, which is about $70 US. They were highly professional and quick on their feet, and I could tell that the resort had gone to good lengths in training the caddies (said to be 2000 in number!) to make the golfing experience enjoyable for their international guests.

Each foursome of caddies had a ‘master caddie’ that led the other three and acted to translate longer dialogues as needed. They had a good knowledge of the course and general breaks on greens. But don’t expect them to be like the actual caddies like for the pros. They are mostly for offering simple advice on reading greens, cleaning and handing over your clubs, and helping you to find your balls.

Not gonna lie… having a personal caddie wait on your every shot was nerve-wracking at first.

Resort & Facilities

Mission Hills Haikou has a 500-room hotel with several fine-dining restaurants and high-end boutiques within the main wing and the adjoining annex. They also have a shopping mall within the hotel featuring global brands like Taylormade, Adidas, and Skechers, along with a slew of high-end golf brands to luxury watches and whiskies.

The view from my room on the 9th floor was something to write home about, along with the impeccable services. Truth to tell, I had previously heard several horror stories of less-than-friendly services which led me to refrain from visiting China prior. That must’ve been a different country, as Mission Hills pulled out all the stops to impress and awe its visitors, and it certainly worked on me. We were treated like kings on and off the course, and the hotel personnel was on hand to assist us everywhere we went.

The entire resort complex was like a huge labyrinth of spas, pools, shops, and golf courses. They nearly had everything, including an incredible hotel buffet and several ethnic cuisines, a nightclub and karaoke, and an entire museum-like wing dedicated to the many celebrities and pro golfers that have played here. I could have stayed for hours simply looking at their vast collection of golf memorabilia. My golf buddy called it a golf heaven on earth, and I couldn’t agree more.

Again, the pics won’t be able to fully capture the experience, but they’ll give you an idea of the enormous size and quality of the place.

Spic and span to receive guests after a long hiatus during COVID-19, I bet.

I stayed in a nice-sized suite on the 9th floor with a good view overlooking the resort and course.

The tub is actually quite big and probably could fit three of me in it comfy.

The hotel service had complimentary ramen and beers, along with the local fruit.

Early morning view out the window showed the course shrouded in ground fog.

I wasn’t planning to do any swimming when I initially packed for the trip. Next time.

The pool behind the main hotel had sandy beaches!

A huge maze of trails and covered walkways branching off to a vast number of pools, hot springs, and saunas.

The morning buffet was one of the best I had in a while, with a full line up of both Asian and Western foods.

A sign at the entrance of the buffet showed the daily condition of the 10 golf courses.

Hotel Shops & Amenities

The shops inside the lobby were all high-end as well as ones I didn’t think to expect like the NBA-themed shop, Hennessy whiskey and Tabasco hot sauce shops!

Then there were dozens more shops in a whole other building next to the hotel, lined with the palm prints of celebrities and stars. The sheer size and scale of Mission Hills was outrageous.

Trip Overview

Hainan is a tropical Island in the South China Sea and can get quite hot and humid during the summer monsoon season. By plane, it took 4.5 hours from Korea to Hainan.

Interestingly, Hainan Island is designated as a tourist zone by the Chinese government and does not require a visa prior to arrival. It is issued when you arrive at the airport and go through customs.

During the end of 2023 when the trip took place, COVID-19 restrictions were largely over and there were the simplest of checks (1-2 minutes) using a machine to detect any virus before entering and exiting the airport.

The resort itself was only about a 15-minute bus ride from the airport. For those who travel often to Asia, they’ll know that courses and resorts can be up to two hours from the airport.

A brief warm-up on the range and armed with complimentary golf balls, we were off to the first tee.

True to its name, the course had stone walls and fences made from the igneous black lava rock.

Except for the absence of the sound of waves, the ambiance reminded me of courses in Hawaii.

Loved the open skies and the awesome panoramic views!

Be sure to pack some strong sunscreen and sports drinks or salt candy. The tropical climate can get quite hot and humid at midday.

Blackstone plays to par 73 and 6722 yards from the blue. I was happy with the score especially when the caddies told me it was the best they’ve seen in a while, LOL!!!

It looked like they were planning to build even more courses and condos. These folks sure like to think big.

Wall-to-wall memorabilia on display from past majors, champions, and legends of the game. So this is where all those signed Masters flags were!

The three-day stay went by all too fast… (T^T)

As part of the package, we were also shown to the largest duty-free shop in Asia. These guys have a thing for being the biggest, grandest, and most opulent; and it was awesome.

It seemed as if every brand of luxury was represented here, and it would’ve taken hours to see it all. If your partner is into this kind of stuff, leave them at home in case they get in the way of your golf.

A final meal at a popular restaurant before heading to the airport. Can you guess the menu? Yup, Chinese, but like nothing you see in the West. It was all delicious to boot.

Met a new friend while waiting for the limousine bus to take us the rest of the way. Even these guys were BIG.

After a rather simple and quick immigration and boarding process, we were safely on our way home to Korea. I have to give credit to the authorities for making the immigration/airport customs process simple and quick. Sometimes everything can be great, only to be ruined by a last-minute glitch or hold-up at the airport, and there were none.

A short nap and back in Seoul. I can’t wait to go back again soon with the whole family to jump in the hot springs. Now if I can only find a way to go visit Pebble Beach and St. Andrews similarly, I’m set. Wish me luck.