Fantasy 2-Week Golf Trip in a Motor-Home

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By Doug E

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  • 24 Replies
  1. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    14 days of golf bliss. You're the boss. You decide. But the budget is limited.

    Let's assume your significant other is not along for the ride. Just a golf buddy or buddies. You have only about 1500 bucks budgeted for greens fees per person. Gas, camp grounds, food is all paid out of a different budget. Obviously, where you live (your starting point) will affect where you can comfortably get to over the course of two weeks, what would your itinerary look like? Play less places, go a further distance? Or, stay in one region and play more courses? What time of year do you go? Play top 100 courses only, or play more places on the budget by limiting the bucket list tracks?

    I want to plan this trip for me. I live on the east coast. Mid-Atlantic region.

    I'll reserve my own thoughts until after reading some of yours. Maybe I'll get some good ideas from all of you.

  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    $1500 minimizes the option to play Pinehurst if going for as much golf as possible. There are other fine options there. RTJ Trail has like 16 courses to choose from. One day down and you drive to the next site in the evening. You could take all 2 weeks doing that. Or you could play 1 at each location (recommend 2 in Montgomery and 2 in Birmingham - Oxmoor Valley and Ross Bridge). Then Forest Hills in Augusta (assuming Bill Gates isn’t waiting for you at Augusta National) on your way to either Southern Pines or Hilton Head/Myrtle Beach on the way home.
    Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, and Opelika would be my 6 primary sires for RTJ. If you did Tobacco Road to end Southern Pines and running short of time, I’d add the UNC course. Prior to COVID got a great midday midweek price on something like Golf Now.
  3. Jon C

    Jon C
    Lehigh Valley, PA

    He's not wrong, RTJ is a golfers road trip dream (did most of it with my mom several years back) if you're semi quick there's a few you can even do morning/afternoon round in the summer long days. Most are beautiful courses and none insanely prices (vs bucket list courses).
  4. Jon C

    Jon C
    Lehigh Valley, PA

    He's not wrong, RTJ is a golfers road trip dream (did most of it with my mom several years back) if you're semi quick there's a few you can even do morning/afternoon round in the summer long days. Most are beautiful courses and none insanely prices (vs bucket list courses). Personally if I'm living in your spot I'm not doing the OCMD loop since its backyard, love the RTJ loop. The southwest loop would be incredible as Vegas/AZ courses are slick. Enjoy!
  5. Abdon M

    Abdon M
    Northern California (because it's a big state)

    Pinehurst is a nice area...plenty of courses to visit and play without making a big dent on travel time. With the price of fuel heading in the wrong direction, staying in one place is a good idea. Sounds like a great trip.
  6. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Not a fan of RVs, but with only one person, would give it a try.....in towns where KOA available.....good deals for members of CGA in N and S Carolina....pick area thru them.....we have Lake Santee, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach and some awesome courses in NC......could make it work....
  7. Guy W

    Guy W
    Statesville, NC

    Dang you took my idea. Drive down the coast of North and South Carolina into Georgia and maybe Florida if the money's still there. Definitely would get your fill.
  8. Steve S

    Steve S
    Tuckerton, NJ

    I'd probably start in February Doug. And head for Fla. I would try to play a bucket list from all while heading north to Jersey.
    Play Well,
    Steve S.
  9. Teedz

    Teedz
    Fresno, CA

    I currently live in the central valley of CA. So for me, I'd start with playing at Silverado in Napa. Then play at another course or two in the Bay Area (Rancho Solano/Eagle Vines) before driving down to Pebble Beach in Monterey, as well as Poppy Hills. Then I'd play around my local courses I grew up by, Morro Bay, Paso Robles and probably finish up with the courses of Avila Beach Golf Resort and Cypress Ridge Golf Course. If I have any money left over I'd probably finish up at Eagle Springs in Friant (Madera), CA.
  10. Jonathan Smith

    Jonathan Smith
    Charlotte, NC

    I would cut the trip short and play Pebble once.
  11. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    JSmith said:

    I would cut the trip short and play Pebble once.

    Including you stay on the property and caddie fee and cart that will put you way over the $1500 dollars, just to play Pebble Beach. Now if you want to take your chances of playing it without staying on the property, should run you a little over $600. What are you going to do with the other 13 days? Lots of places to eat, as you can see. What a grand place to visit. Lots of courses in that area you could play. Spyglass Hill is an awesome course. When I went out there specifically to play golf, all the pros here recommended it. What a blast. Do I regret not playing PB, not really. I also played Carmel Valley Golf & Country Club and Pacific Gove Municipal Golf Course. Loved the back nine at the muni, simply stunning. The lighthouse, the funny little critters popping their heads out of the ground along the edge of the fairways along the bay and the roaming deer. Played all three for less than PB. San Francisco is one of our favorite places to visit with a side trip down to Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel.....a happy place.....
  12. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    Here in California, the $1500 would be used up the first time I gassed up. $5/gal. If retired and single, I have often thought that one of the very small converted vans would be a good way to take a 3 month road trip to play all across the USA.
  13. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    $1500 bucks??? By the time I plan it, that's gonna be my gas budget for a winter trip from Reno to Phoenix!!!
  14. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military
    I'm not a bucket list kind of guy, I just enjoy playing the game, whether it's on a muni or something higher up on the food chain. So given that I live in the Heartland, I would start with Big Cedar Lodge. There are enough courses there to fill four days. Next I would head to metro Dallas area. I have more than a few friends there, plus there are a ton of courses that I always enjoy playing. I could almost fill two weeks of golf in the metro Dallas area alone.
  15. Tyler_S

    Tyler_S
    Cypress, TX

    This is an interesting thought provoking question. Nice ask Doug.

    Being from Southern California, I could go the easy route and say head to Torrey, Grand Del Mar, Aviara…. I could also say I’d head to Palm Springs and play all the ones out there. Early summer would be my time frame as the rates will be a little less to maximize the golf I can play.

    RTJ Golf Trail is a great option but I’ve done that already and I would lose 4 days total in driving. PS

    I think I’m going to head to Vegas, play all that I haven’t there. Then drive to Phoenix/Scottsdale area and do the same. From Arizona, I’d head to Texas and play Pronghorn Resort, then to Barton Creek in Austin, perhaps work my way to a time at Austin CC, then down to San Antonio to play some down there.

    Not the flashiest of trips but I get to play places I have not that I would not necessarily make a trip to go. Food would be good along the way with many options available and can throw in some Triple D spots to boot.

    California has many great options but you would burn through the $1,500 quick.
  16. Tyler_S

    Tyler_S
    Cypress, TX

    Whoops, it’s Horseshoe Bay that is in Texas. Pronghorn is in Oregon.
  17. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    Just to reiterate, the $1500 budget is just for greens fees. All other stuff, like gas, food, camper parking/lodging, etc., is from a separate budget. I'm interested to see how you all blow the 1500. On big name courses or very nice yet somewhat more affordable tracks with good reputations, or a mix.

    Obviously, in 14 days, you CAN easily play 14 different courses each in the $100 range. Yet to do so, you have to play days and drive every night unless they are all in the same area. I'm curious as to the strategies you all might come up with. Personally, I have no desire to try to squeeze in a round every single day. I like the idea of driving a distance from my home to a big golf area and playing a few rounds over a couple/few days, then moving on to another big golf area, which may take two or three days to reach, where I can play a selection of courses in that area over a few days. I'd be quite satisfied to play 8-9 courses in 14 days, provided they are nice courses, not necessarily very expensive courses. You can certainly play some nice courses all over the States for around $100. If I play five or six, that still leaves me quite a bit for a bucket list course or two.

    But, I want to hear YOUR ideas.
  18. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    Doug E said:

    Just to reiterate, the $1500 budget is just for greens fees. All other stuff, like gas, food, camper parking/lodging, etc., is from a separate budget. I'm interested to see how you all blow the 1500. On big name courses or very nice yet somewhat more affordable tracks with good reputations, or a mix.

    Obviously, in 14 days, you CAN easily play 14 different courses each in the $100 range. Yet to do so, you have to play days and drive every night unless they are all in the same area. I'm curious as to the strategies you all might come up with. Personally, I have no desire to try to squeeze in a round every single day. I like the idea of driving a distance from my home to a big golf area and playing a few rounds over a couple/few days, then moving on to another big golf area, which may take two or three days to reach, where I can play a selection of courses in that area over a few days. I'd be quite satisfied to play 8-9 courses in 14 days, provided they are nice courses, not necessarily very expensive courses. You can certainly play some nice courses all over the States for around $100. If I play five or six, that still leaves me quite a bit for a bucket list course or two.

    But, I want to hear YOUR ideas.

    Thanks for clarifying Doug. Now that I know the budget is just for green fees, I kinda agree that I would go somewhere with a large selection of quality courses at a decent price, and play 2 days of golf with a day in between for rest or travel, and maybe a massage. Being a Nevadan, that would be maybe San Diego, Palm Springs, Phoenix, or maybe Bend, OR.
    Question is, what is my food & travel budget? Because according to my wife and her emergency resolution (not that I agree) my golf budget can be used for items outside of the specific category when needed, like fixing the dryer, car repairs, home maintenance, etc. I asked if that included a boat and she said no. We're still working that out, but I'm convinced that it's best not to cross-budget in most cases.
    Also, she wants to know if that is $1500 total, or for each player, because if I'm traveling more than 50 miles for multiple rounds of golf, she wants to go.
    I should re-phrase that - "She will go!!!"
  19. Anthony P

    Anthony P

    Good equipment
  20. Chris92009

    Chris92009
    Ohio

    Wow! Sounds like a fun trip!! There are plenty of great options wherever you go!!

    Cheers, Chris
  21. Carl Spackler

    Carl Spackler

    My strategy would have to be courses with no single drive time longer than 3 hours. At my age and decrepit joints, playing more than 2 days consecutively would be prohibitive. Oh, and I'd play in the Fall. Definitely in the Fall.

    At least for starters, I'd stay here in Indiana and finish the Pete Dye Golf Trail that we started last year: The Ackerman course at Purdue, Brickyard Crossing and Maple Creek Country Club in Indy, and the Pete Dye course in French Lick. That would still leave me about $900. Might as well hit Bloomington and play the Pfau course at I, and then the Warren Course at Notre Dame. Then I'd head up to the Chiraq suburbs and finally play Cog Hill #4 (Dubsdread)--I've played the other 3 Cog Hill courses, but never got around to Dubs.
  22. Adam G

    Adam G

    Personally, I'm a fan of the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama. 32 courses between 11 locations.
    They are always running specials/deals. You can even build your own package with a discount on the website.

  23. Bradley S

    Bradley S
    McHenry, IL

    at $1500 for 14 days is about $107 a round.... I'd focus on the RTJ trail or along the coast from Myrtle Beach to near Augusta and focus playing some local "Hidden Gem" courses along the way while still having enough scratch left over for some souvenirs! LOL
  24. GMaynard

    GMaynard

    Military
    I would do a Midwest swing of Ohio ,Michigan and Indiana

    Semper Fi
  25. Aloha Bruce

    Aloha Bruce
    Sunnyvale, CA

    Doug E said:

    14 days of golf bliss. You're the boss. You decide. But the budget is limited.

    Let's assume your significant other is not along for the ride. Just a golf buddy or buddies. You have only about 1500 bucks budgeted for greens fees per person. Gas, camp grounds, food is all paid out of a different budget. Obviously, where you live (your starting point) will affect where you can comfortably get to over the course of two weeks, what would your itinerary look like? Play less places, go a further distance? Or, stay in one region and play more courses? What time of year do you go? Play top 100 courses only, or play more places on the budget by limiting the bucket list tracks?

    I want to plan this trip for me. I live on the east coast. Mid-Atlantic region.

    I'll reserve my own thoughts until after reading some of yours. Maybe I'll get some good ideas from all of you.

    There's a member on another golf forum that I'm on and he bought a new RV and he started in Chicago and he's been traveling since November and he's been to 15 states so far to golf. He gives a detailed report on each course that he's played which is really interesting.

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