12 Luxury Golf Resorts - Stay Well To Play Well

Spring is fast approaching and for most warmer weather is a return to the golf course after winter hibernation. Now is a great time to start planning for that weekend getaway or time before meetings during that anticipated business trip. So here's our list of the top hotel golf courses where retreating to a luxury hotel post-round feels pretty good. And while many resorts claim to be “a quick drive away,” these hotels sit right atop the fairway. Each of the properties has also been verified for having the best rate guarantee when you book directly with them.

Designed by legends, their courses are what golf lovers’ dreams are made of. From the rolling hills of Georgia to the cool California coastline, here’s where you should stay to play. 

The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee – Greensboro, GA | View Resort Photos
The Ritz-Carlton brand is no stranger to this sophisticated sport, which is evident at the five-course resort nestled in the oaks of Northern Georgia. Its 99 holes of golf are designed by the game’s best-known architects – Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Bob Cupp. To top it off, they’re complemented by custom club fittings with TaylorMade and private instruction by Charlie King, one of Golf Magazine's top 100.

Arizona Biltmore – A Waldorf Astoria Resort – Phoenix, AZ | View Resort Photos
Home to two championship courses and an 18-hole championship putting course designed by Graham-Panks International, Arizona Biltmore is a favorite among pros and amateurs alike. Built in 1928, the Adobe is a challenging course with wide fairways and classic cross-bunkers. The Links demands accuracy and bold strokes, as it features rolling fairways, desert ravines and five lakes.

The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician – Scottsdale, AZ | View Resort Photos
Over the course of 10 months, architect Phil Smith brought new life to the old-school Phoenician Golf Course. Previously a 27-hole, the new facility is presented as a cohesive 18-hole golf course with a natural rhythm and flow. Showcasing the unique beauty of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, the course plays to a par 71 and offers four sets of player-friendly tees, ranging from 4,594 yards from the forward tees to 6,518 yards from the championship tees. 

Conrad Cartagena – Cartagena, Colombia | View Resort Photos
TPC Cartagena at Karibana is the only Tournament Players’ Club course in South America. Created by Nicklaus Design, this course pairs challenging play with panoramic ocean scenery. The front nine is surrounded by lush forest and full of exotic birds, while the back nine is marked by wide-open Caribbean vistas.

Four Seasons Hotel Dallas – Irving, Texas | View Resort Photos
This luxury Texas property boasts two notable courses, TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas and Cottonwood Valley Golf Course. TPC is an award-winning, 18-hole, par-70 championship course. Cottonwood Valley is the exclusive course for members of Four Seasons Golf and Sports club and features Bermuda grass fairways, bentgrass greens and tee boxes and strategically placed bunkers. 

Trump National Doral Miami – Miami, FL | View Resort Photos
This dreamy destination was founded on golf. Trump National Doral Miami is home to four uniquely designed courses, including one of golf's most iconic – the Blue Monster Course. With the most recent course transformations of The Red Tiger, The Golden Palm and The Silver Fox, the property stands out by offering distinct and exciting Doral golf experiences all at one property. Rounding out the resort's golf offerings is the state-of-the-art LED practice facility, the True Spec Golf fitting lab and the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center.

The Ballantyne – Charlotte, NC | View Resort Photos
Ballantyne’s public PGA golf course features a practice area, Golf Pro Shop and golf outing pavilion and the. Though the 18-hole Championship, Par 71 is stunning and challenging, the resort is praised for educating the masses at its renowned Ballantyne Golf Academy. 

Resort at Squaw Creek – Lake Tahoe, CA | View Resort Photos
The par 71 championship Links at Squaw Creek golf course sits at 6,200 feet and measures 6,931 yards from the gold tees. With four sets of tees, along with family tees placed just 150 yards from the green, it is suitable for players of all abilities. 

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch – Scottsdale, AZ | View Resort Photos
As one of the top-rated courses in the southwest, Gainey Ranch Golf Club is exclusively available to private club members and resort guests. Designed by Benz and Poellot, each of the three nine-hole offers a different challenge. What all courses share in common, however, is their tranquil desert surroundings. 

Reunion Resort, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort – Kissimmee, FL| View Resort Photos
Reunion Resort belongs on every golfer’s bucket list. It’s the only place where players find Signature Design courses by three of the game’s greatest: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer. The Jack Nicklaus Course features a Parkland-style layout that is smooth and flowing, yet deceptive. In contrast, the Arnold Palmer Course is innovatively routed on hilly, roller coaster-like terrain. With elevation shifts of up to 50 feet in places, it serves up a variety of risk/reward shots. Last but not least, the Watson Course is highlighted by fast, firm and wide rolling fairways, a variety of strategically placed bunkers and large greens. 

Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort – Amelia Island, FL | View Resort Photos
Two pristine courses outline Omni Amelia Island. A classic, Pete Dye-designed course, Oak Marsh is noted for its tight fairways and small greens, meandering along serpentine salt marsh creeks and through the moss draped heritage oaks for which Amelia Island is famous. The course played host to the 1991 PGA Section Championship and 1992 Society of Seniors Championship, as well as several resort tournaments over time. Long Point is the primary golf course for Amelia Island Club members. Completed in 1987, Tom Fazio's award-winning design challenges golfers with natural hazards, tight fairways and elevated greens.

JW Marriott Camelback Inn Scottsdale Resort & Spa– Paradise Valley, AZ | View Resort Photos
Surrounded by mountain vistas, native trees and wildflowers, this property features two 18-hole courses. Ambiente was designed by notable golf architect Jason Straka on behalf of Hurdzan Fry Environmental Golf Design. The 7,225-yard, par 72 course challenges players with several striking features: eye-catching elevation changes and rolling fairways with significant drops. Crafted by world-renowned golf course architect Arthur Hills, Padre Course features towering trees, subtle landforms and impressive bunkering. The 6,903-yard, par 72 design is known for its strategic layout and multiple lakes. In fact, the 18th hole of this course was voted the best water hole in the state by Arizona Golf Magazine.

**All photos courtesy of participating hotels.