What Are the Best Championship Golf Resort Escapes?
The best championship golf resorts let you play the same fairways as the world’s greatest golfers, then retreat to a five-star suite, a destination spa and a restaurant worth dressing up for. At these resorts, Ryder Cups, US Opens and major championships have been won and lost, yet guests are still welcome to tee it up.
Having reviewed luxury hotels and resorts across more than 37 countries for LuxuryColumnist, I believe the finest golf escapes offer far more than 18 holes. These eleven resorts pair tournament pedigree with the kind of hospitality that non-golfing partners will love just as much.
1. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad, California
Omni La Costa is the ultimate championship golf resort for travellers who want serious golf and serious wellness in one place. It is set across 400 acres of grounds just north of San Diego. The Spanish Mission-style resort hosted the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions from 1969 to 1998, and the World Golf Championships Match Play, won by Tiger Woods in 2003 and 2004.
Its 36 holes are split between the North Course, reimagined by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner and reopened in 2024, and the tree-lined, parkland-style South Course. The North Course is hosting the NCAA Division I Golf Championships through 2028.
Off the course, The Spa at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa was refreshed in 2024 around a sunny garden courtyard, with Shankara skincare and a signature scent inspired by the resort’s botanicals. A property-wide renovation completed in spring 2024 refreshed more than 600 rooms, suites and villas. The 3,000 square foot Peter Millar Suite opened in April 2026 and features floor-to-ceiling windows, a wet bar and pool table.
Eight pools, tennis and pickleball, and restaurants including Bob’s Steak & Chop House round out a resort that suits golfers, couples and families equally well.
2. The Lodge at Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach Golf Links is one of the most photographed courses on earth, with holes perched along the cliffs of California’s Monterey Peninsula. It has hosted the US Open six times and will welcome the championship again in 2027.
Staying at The Lodge at Pebble Beach puts you steps from the first tee and the iconic 18th green. Guests also gain access to prime tee times, a luxurious spa and the scenic 17-Mile Drive, making it a bucket-list escape for any serious player.
3. The American Club, Kohler, Wisconsin
The American Club is among the Midwest’s grandest golf resorts. This Tudor-style former home for Kohler Company workers became a luxury hotel in 1981. Its crown jewel is the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, a Pete Dye links-style course carved along two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.
The Straits hosted the PGA Championship in 2004, 2010 and 2015, plus the 2021 Ryder Cup. The resort’s Blackwolf Run courses have hosted two US Women’s Opens. The Straits is walking only, so pack comfortable golf shoes.
The resort is Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond rated. Its Kohler Waters Spa is famed for signature bathing rituals, a hydrotherapy circuit and an ice cave, the perfect antidote to Lake Michigan’s famous winds.
4. Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
Pinehurst is often called the cradle of American golf. Its legendary No. 2 course, designed by Donald Ross, has hosted several US Opens, most recently in 2024. The USGA has named Pinehurst an anchor site, so the US Open will return repeatedly in the coming decades.
With eleven 18-hole courses, the Thistle Dhu putting course and The Cradle short course, there is enough golf for a week without repeating a layout. Guests can choose from a range of accommodations, including The Carolina hotel, whose white verandas and old-world charm feel like a genuine piece of golfing history.
5. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course, designed by Pete and Alice Dye, is one of the most dramatic and demanding tests in golf. It hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup, famously dubbed the War by the Shore, and the 2021 PGA Championship, where Phil Mickelson became the oldest major champion in history.
Guests stay at The Sanctuary, an oceanfront five-star hotel with its own spa and miles of pristine beach on the doorstep. The island’s natural beauty and wildlife make it a wonderful escape even for those who never pick up a club.
6. The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland
Gleneagles is Scotland’s grande dame of golf resorts, welcoming guests to the Perthshire glens since 1924. It offers three championship courses: the King’s, the Queen’s and the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course, which hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup and the 2019 Solheim Cup.
Beyond golf, guests can try falconry, gundog handling, shooting and horse riding, making this a true country estate escape. I’ve stayed there twice and each time I’ve tried my hand at something different – archery and croquet!
Elegant dining, a sumptuous spa and glamorous bars ensure non-golfers never feel like an afterthought.
7. The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, Scotland
For golf lovers, there is no more hallowed ground than St Andrews. I’ve been fortunate to visit St Andrews on a foodie tour of Scotland, and it’s a charming seaside town.
The Old Course Hotel St Andrews sits right beside the famous Road Hole, the 17th of the Old Course. The Old Course has hosted The Open more times than any other venue, including the 150th Championship in 2022.
The hotel also owns the Duke’s course, a heathland layout just outside town, and its Kohler Waters Spa is the perfect remedy after a windswept round.
You can secure a guaranteed tee time on the Old Course by booking the hotel’s exclusive Suite Golf Package. This luxury package requires a minimum of four golfers, includes a multi-night suite stay, and features rounds on the Old Course alongside other premier links, with pricing starting at £7,500 per person (double occupancy).
For regular room reservations, guests must secure a tee time through customary St Andrews Links Trust channels. This includes entering the 48-hour advance Old Course Ballot, entering the daily single-golfer queue, or booking in advance via private channels.
8. Adare Manor, County Limerick, Ireland
Adare Manor is a magnificent neo-Gothic estate set in the Irish countryside. Its championship course, redesigned by Tom Fazio, will host the 2027 Ryder Cup, placing it firmly on the world golfing stage.
Inside the manor, guests enjoy opulent interiors and a luxurious spa with 111SKIN products. There are several dining options including the Michelin starred Oak Room restaurant, The Carriage House, The Tack Room and Ōku. Don’t miss the Harry Lowes Chocolate Shop on the Adare Manor Estate.
Golfers who want to play a Ryder Cup venue before the world arrives should book soon.
9. Hotel Camiral, Girona, Spain
Camiral is Europe’s rising Ryder Cup star. Its Stadium Course will host the matches in 2031, only the second time Spain has staged the event. Formerly known as Hotel PGA Catalunya, the resort is now part of the Quinta do Lago family and sits about an hour from Barcelona and 35 minutes from the Costa Brava beaches.
The Stadium Course was conceived as a European answer to TPC Sawgrass, with elevated tees, dramatic doglegs and tree-lined fairways framed by pine and heather. It has hosted multiple European Tour events and the Tour’s Qualifying School finals, and the resort’s second 18, the Tour Course, is a gentler but rewarding round.
Guests can book the five-star Hotel Camiral – The Leading Hotels of the World, which has an elegant Mediterranean design, a wellness centre and an outdoor pool. Other accommodation options are Lavida boutique hotel or luxury rental villas and townhouses overlooking the golf course.
With Spain’s National PGA Academy on site, it is also an excellent base for golfers wanting to fine-tune their game.
10. Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa, Andalucia, Spain
Finca Cortesin Hotel Golf & Spa brings championship golf to the Costa del Sol, with an Andalusian-style hotel set between the mountains and the Mediterranean. Its course hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship and, in 2023, the Solheim Cup, one of the highest-profile events in women’s golf.
The resort’s spa, beach club and outstanding restaurants make it an ideal choice for couples seeking sunshine and style. For UK travellers, a short flight to Málaga makes it one of the most accessible championship golf escapes in Europe.
11. Park Hyatt Dubai, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, UAE
Dubai offers winter sunshine golf at its most glamorous. The Park Hyatt Dubai sits within the grounds of Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, whose sail-shaped clubhouse, inspired by a traditional dhow, has been a city landmark since 1993.
The par-71 Creek course hosted the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000, and today it stages the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational. Rory McIlroy holds the course record of 62. Palm-lined fairways, water features and skyline views make it one of the most photogenic rounds in the Middle East.
For a second championship test, the Els Club at Dubai Sports City is well worth the short drive. Designed by Ernie Els and opened in 2008, it stretches over 7,500 yards through sandy desert terrain and was named Dubai’s Best Golf Course at the 2024 World Golf Awards.
Which Championship Golf Resort Is Best for Non-Golfers?
Omni La Costa, The American Club, Gleneagles and Finca Cortesin are the strongest choices for mixed groups. Each offers a destination spa, excellent dining and plenty of activities beyond the course.
Omni La Costa stands out for wellness, with its reimagined spa, eight pools and year-round Southern California sunshine.
Which Championship Golf Resorts Will Host Upcoming Ryder Cups?
Adare Manor in Ireland will host the Ryder Cup in 2027, followed by Camiral in Spain in 2031. Staying at either resort now offers the chance to play a Ryder Cup course before it takes centre stage.
When Is the Best Time to Visit a Championship Golf Resort?
Spring and autumn are ideal for most resorts, with comfortable playing temperatures and lush conditions. Scotland, Ireland and Wisconsin are at their best from May to September, when daylight stretches well into the evening.
For winter golf, Southern California and Dubai are the best bets. Their warm, dry climates make them superb sunshine escapes for UK and European golfers.
How Far in Advance Should You Book a Golf Resort Escape?
Book at least three to six months ahead for the most famous courses, particularly Pebble Beach, St Andrews, Whistling Straits and Pinehurst No. 2. Spa treatments at busy resorts should be reserved several weeks in advance.
Resort guests often receive priority tee times, so staying on property is usually the best way to guarantee a round on a championship course.
Are Championship Golf Resorts Worth the Money?
For golfers, playing a prestigious course that has hosted a Ryder Cup or major championship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When it comes with five-star accommodation, fine dining and a destination spa, the value extends to everyone in your party.
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