While there are some golf courses, like Augusta National and Shinnecock Hills, that you can only dream about playing, there are plenty of private clubs that become accessible when you book a room at certain hotels. Consider it a great way to experience championship-caliber play minus the membership and overcrowded fairways.
At the following resorts, you’ll find entry to members-only clubhouses and access to some of the finest practice facilities and world-class instructors without having to pass initiation.
Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Club
A charming and idyllic escape on Florida’s stunning Emerald Coast, Four-Star Camp Creek Inn overlooks the Tom Fazio-designed Camp Creek Golf Course, one of three courses that make up the Watersound Club.
The courses, including Shark’s Tooth and the recently opened Third Golf Course, are typically for members only, but hotel guests can play at all three.
Another bonus of staying at the inviting 75-room hotel is that guests can also go to the gorgeous Watersound Beach Club, an oceanfront escape with multiple pools, lounges on the sand and the Beach Break Grill, where you’ll find one of the best lobster rolls you’ll ever have.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and Hualalai Golf Course
On Hawaii’s Big Island, Hualalai Golf Course winds through black lava rock and sandy beaches, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The property features two 18-hole layouts: the Jack Nicklaus-designed Hualalai Golf Course, which is open to Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Resort Hualalai guests, and the Tom Weiskopf-designed Ke’olu Golf Course, which is exclusive to club members.
Overnight visitors can also take advantage of the 3,000-square-foot Hualalai Golf Hale practice facility, which offers snacks, TrackMan launch monitors, PXG club rentals, chipping, pitching and sand play clinics, pro lessons and more.
The Four Seasons sits steps from the greens, providing amenities beyond golf, including multiple pools, a Four-Star spa, numerous dining options, and cultural and water activities.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa and Prestonwood Country Club
Five-Star The Umstead Hotel and Spa is a chic North Carolina retreat. Guests have access to Prestonwood Country Club, a family gathering place that’s served the local community just outside of Raleigh for more than 35 years. Prestonwood has three courses, and those staying at The Umsted get priority tee times. The club also boasts an expansive fitness and aquatics center, pickleball and tennis courts, a kids’ club and a robust schedule of activities for resort guests.
The Umstead’s other offerings — both a Five-Star spa and restaurant — also make it a must-visit. Chef Steven Green’s tasting menu at Herons is exquisite and just the thing to savor after an exciting day on the golf course.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas and Costa Palmas Golf Club
Escape the bustle of Cabo San Lucas by heading north to Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas. Here you can swim in the ocean after playing a round of golf at the exclusive Costa Palmas Golf Club.
The Robert Trent Jones II course offers desert, mountain and sea views, as well as secret tequila stations that mimic the natural flora of the Mexican countryside and an open-air eatery called Lucha Libre that serves street tacos, chorizo sandwiches and wood-fired pizza. The course opened in 2019, so it’s relatively new and still feels undiscovered.
The Lodge at Sea Island and The Cloister at Sea Island and the Seaside and Plantation Courses
Georgia’s Sea Island is a premier destination for golf enthusiasts. Booking a stay at Five-Star Lodge at Sea Island or Cloister at Sea Island grants access to the private Seaside and Plantation courses.
In addition to finding greens hugged by majestic pines and oaks, guests are also welcome to enjoy the Mark Love- and Davis Love III-conceived 18-hole putting course, the 17,000-square-foot Golf Performance Center and instruction from award-winning coaches. It is a welcoming environment to advance your game.
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee and Reynolds Golf Club
Reynolds Golf Club is a 12,000-acre community shaped by the waters of Georgia’s Lake Oconee. There are seven distinct courses with an eighth, Fenmoor Golf Club, designed by Steve Smyers, set to debut in the fall. Traditionally, it’s an exclusive experience, but book at Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, and it will feel like you’re a member for the duration of your stay.
The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee is the resort’s golf center, featuring customized TaylorMade club fittings, elite performance-tracking technology and friendly professionals ready to help improve everything from your swing to your grip. But with fishing, clay shooting, archery and everything else on the Reynolds’ itinerary, the place is more like an adult summer camp for golf lovers.
