For many active adults looking ahead to retirement, easy access to top-notch golf courses is a major factor in choosing a place to settle down. With ideal weather conditions year-round and world-class golf facilities, certain destinations allow retirees to enjoy regular tee times while soaking up the sun. Read on for some superb spots to hang up your clubs without giving up time on the links.
Sedona, Arizona
With nearly 300 days of sunshine every year, Sedona delivers ideal golf weather. Courses like Sedona Golf Resort wind through the area’s spectacular red rock formations, delivering postcard views along with challenging play. However, before moving here, it’s important to consider how the conditions will affect your equipment. The challenging terrain in this part of America will have an impact on your equipment. But don’t worry, suppliers like Golf Cart Tire Supply are on hand to ensure your cart and equipment remain in top condition.
Scottsdale, Arizona
If you can’t decide between mountain and desert scenery, Scottsdale offers both. Home to the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, the city has over 200 area courses. Local favorites include TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa, and Grayhawk. Off the course, take in Scottsdale’s high-end shopping, arts, and dining. With endless sunshine and moderate year-round temperatures, you can golf virtually any day you please.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Stretching along 60 miles of Atlantic coastline, Myrtle Beach brands itself as the “Golf Capital of the World.” Its over 100 courses include designs by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, and Greg Norman. Choices range from budget-friendly daily-fee layouts to exclusive private clubs. When not chasing birdies, enjoy Myrtle Beach’s sandy beaches, amusement parks, entertainment theaters, boardwalk, fresh seafood restaurants, and more.
Orlando, Florida
As well as being home to Arnold Palmer-designed layouts and PGA Tour-affiliated facilities, Orlando is now home to Tiger Woods’s stunning new design at Payne’s Valley which opened in 2022. When you are not hitting the links, Orlando’s theme parks, attractions, shopping, and dining should keep both kids and grandkids occupied. The sunny weather means prime conditions for golf year-round.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas may be better known for casinos and shows, but golfers flock here, too, thanks to dozens of acclaimed courses. Top-tier designers like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. have all left their mark with desert masterpieces rimmed by mountain backdrops. When you are finished tallying your score, enjoy Vegas’s world-class hotels, restaurants, gambling, and nightlife. Be sure to ask about group golf cart rates to ferry your foursome in style.
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Just south of golf mecca Myrtle Beach, South Carolina’s Kiawah Island entices golf lovers with its five pristine courses, including famed Ocean Course, which has hosted multiple major championships. The island’s unspoiled beaches and landscapes imbue rounds with a sense of escape, especially on courses lying beyond the main resort’s gates. For true golf bliss, snag real estate in golf cart friendly Freshfields Village, allowing easy access to the island’s world-class courses.
San Diego, California
Boasting a sunny Mediterranean climate and miles of gorgeous coastline, San Diego is a golfer’s paradise with over 70 golf courses in the county. Torrey Pines Golf Course, host of the 2021 U.S. Open, overlooks the Pacific and features two championship courses. Other top choices like Maderas, Encinitas Ranch, Coronado Municipal, and Salt Creek deliver oceanfront holes amped up by coastal views. When you are not on the links, enjoy San Diego’s stunning beaches, parks, trails, attractions, dining, and cultural offerings.
For avid golfers starting retirement, prioritizing year-round course access can pay big dividends in lifestyle and enjoyment. Destinations like Sedona, Scottsdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and Las Vegas all deliver superb golf infrastructure amid vibrant communities. Whether you seek desert vistas, ocean views, theme park fun, or neon-lit nights, maintaining an active golf schedule is easy across these golf-centric spots.