Best Golf Trips Under $1,000

Not everyone can swing a Pebble Beach trip or a week at Bandon Dunes. And honestly? Some of the best golf trips I’ve taken were the budget ones — four buddies in a rental house, playing 36 a day, splitting everything four ways, and coming home with stories that last way longer than the sunburn.

Here are the best golf trips you can pull off for under $1,000 per person, including travel, lodging, and golf.

1. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Budget: ~$600-$900 per person (3 nights, 4 rounds)

Myrtle Beach is the granddaddy of buddy golf trips for a reason. Over 80 courses in the area, most of them affordable, and the sheer volume of golf infrastructure means packages are everywhere. You can play four excellent courses, stay in a decent condo or rental, eat well, and still come in under budget.

Courses to play:

• Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (~$150) — The crown jewel. Live oaks draped in Spanish moss, immaculate conditioning, and a layout that’s beautiful and challenging.
• True Blue Golf Club (~$100) — Right next to Caledonia, designed by Mike Strantz. Dramatic, unique, and unforgettable.
• Barefoot Resort (Dye Course) (~$80-$120) — Pete Dye’s signature sadistic genius at a reasonable price.
• TPC Myrtle Beach (~$100-$140) — The best-conditioned course on the strand.

Where to stay: Rent a condo in North Myrtle Beach. Split four ways, you’re looking at $50-$75/night per person.

Pro tip: Go in shoulder season (March/April or October/November) for the best combination of weather and pricing.

2. Brainerd Lakes, Minnesota

Budget: ~$500-$750 per person (2 nights, 3-4 rounds)

This is the Midwest golf trip. If you’re anywhere in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, or the Dakotas, Brainerd should be an annual tradition. Rent a cabin on a lake, play 36 the first day, recover with some fishing, then play another 18 before heading home.

Courses to play:

• Deacon’s Lodge (~$90-$130) — Arnold Palmer design, the best layout in the area.
• The Classic at Madden’s (~$75-$105) — Beautiful course on the shores of Gull Lake.
• Cragun’s Dutch Legacy (~$65-$95) — Fun layout, great conditions, good value.
• The Pines at Grand View Lodge (~$70-$100) — The Preserve nine is the highlight.

Where to stay: Cabin rental on Gull Lake or Mille Lacs. Bring groceries and grill out — saves a fortune and is half the fun.

Pro tip: Mid-week trips are significantly cheaper and the courses are empty. Take a Thursday-Friday off work and thank me later.

3. Mesquite, Nevada

Budget: ~$700-$950 per person (3 nights, 3-4 rounds)

An hour north of Las Vegas, Mesquite is desert golf without the Vegas price tag. The courses are built in red rock canyons and high desert terrain, and the views are absolutely insane. Plus, being close to Vegas means cheap flights from almost anywhere.

Courses to play:

• Wolf Creek Golf Club (~$150-$250) — One of the most photographed courses in the world. Worth every penny. The par-3 holes through red rock canyons are jaw-dropping.
• CasaBlanca Golf Club (~$60-$90) — Solid resort course, great value.
• Falcon Ridge (~$50-$80) — Excellent desert layout at a budget-friendly price.
• Conestoga Golf Club (~$80-$120) — Underrated and beautiful.

Where to stay: CasaBlanca Resort has golf packages that are hard to beat. Or grab an Airbnb — Mesquite is affordable across the board.

Pro tip: Play Wolf Creek first. Everything else will seem boring otherwise. Actually, no — save it for the last round so you end on a high note.

4. Pinehurst Area, North Carolina

Budget: ~$800-$1,000 per person (3 nights, 3 rounds)

You can play Pinehurst without playing No. 2 and still have an incredible trip. The Sandhills region has dozens of excellent courses, many significantly cheaper than the flagship resort.

Courses to play:

• Tobacco Road (~$80-$130) — Mike Strantz’s wildest creation. Blind shots, massive elevation changes, and greens you won’t believe. Love it or hate it, you’ll never forget it.
• Pine Needles (~$120-$180) — A classic Donald Ross design. Elegant, fair, and beautifully maintained.
• Mid Pines (~$100-$160) — Ross again. Quieter than Pine Needles but equally good.
• Pinehurst No. 4 (~$200-$280) — Gil Hanse redesigned it for the 2019 US Amateur, and it’s fantastic.

Where to stay: Rent a house in Southern Pines or Aberdeen. Way cheaper than the Pinehurst resort.

5. Southwest Michigan

Budget: ~$500-$800 per person (2 nights, 3 rounds)

Michigan’s southwest coast along Lake Michigan has quietly become one of the best golf destinations in the Midwest. It’s accessible from Chicago, Indianapolis, and Detroit, and the quality-to-price ratio is outstanding.

Courses to play:

• Arcadia Bluffs (~$200-$300) — The headliner. Bluff-top links golf overlooking Lake Michigan. Absolutely stunning.
• Forest Dunes (The Loop) (~$125-$200) — A reversible course designed by Tom Doak. You literally play it clockwise one day and counter-clockwise the next. Genius.
• Tullymore Golf Resort (~$100-$150) — Quietly one of the best courses in the state.

Where to stay: Airbnb or VRBO in the Traverse City or Ludington area.

6. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama

Budget: ~$600-$850 per person (3 nights, 4 rounds)

Alabama’s RTJ Trail is one of the greatest values in American golf. Eleven sites, 26 courses, all designed by Robert Trent Jones and all priced like you’re stealing. The courses are championship-caliber, the conditioning is excellent, and the green fees are laughably low by national standards.

Courses to play:

• Ross Bridge (~$70-$130) — The showpiece. A massive, beautiful course in Hoover.
• Oxmoor Valley (Ridge Course) (~$50-$70) — Maybe the best value on the entire trail.
• Capitol Hill (Judge Course) (~$55-$75) — In Prattville. Dramatic, long, and gorgeous.
• Grand National (Links Course) (~$50-$70) — Opelika. Water views, great design, absurd value.

Where to stay: Most trail sites have on-site lodging with packages. Hampton Inns near each site are solid budget options.

The Formula for a Great Budget Golf Trip

No matter where you go, the formula is the same:

1. Get four people — split everything four ways
2. Cook in — rent a place with a kitchen, grill steaks, buy beer at the grocery store
3. Shoulder season — prices drop 30-50% outside peak summer
4. Mid-week — cheaper tee times, less crowded courses, better pace of play
5. Book packages — most golf destinations offer stay-and-play bundles that save real money
6. Drive if you can — gas split four ways beats four plane tickets every time

The best golf trip isn’t the most expensive one. It’s the one where you play great courses, laugh with your friends, and come home already planning the next one.

Start planning. Your wallet (and your game) will thank you.