Play these 6 courses on a simulator before you book the trip
What a simulator actually prepares you for on six bucket-list courses, plus verified 2026 green fees, booking windows and course-library availability.
Golf travel guides covering courses, seasons, and trip costs, compiled from operator information and published traveler reports.

What a simulator actually prepares you for on six bucket-list courses, plus verified 2026 green fees, booking windows and course-library availability.

Let’s be brutally honest: taking a non-golfing (or casually golfing) partner to Bandon Dunes is a terrible idea. Remote outposts built purely for 36-hole death marches offer zero distractions when you are off the course. If you want to plan a successful couples trip, the destination must balance Tour-level golf with high-end spas, incredible dining,…

Stop arguing about where to go. We’ve ranked the best US golf travel destinations for 2026 by tier — bucket list, value, resort lifestyle, and underrated gems. Real costs, honest expectations, and the right pick for every group.
Myrtle Beach is American golf’s volume capital. Over 100 courses within 60 miles, green fees from $30 to $350, and a market so competitive that every course is perpetually trying to undercut the one next to it. Nobody goes to Myrtle Beach for one round. Nobody goes for fewer than four. The quality ceiling is…
Scottsdale is American golf’s winter capital. From October through April, when the rest of the country is frozen or rain-soaked, the Sonoran Desert delivers 300 days of sunshine, firm fairways, and mountain backdrops that make every course photograph like a magazine shoot. This guide covers the courses that actually matter — ranked honestly, with green…
Augusta Georgia golf travel guide 2026 — Augusta National (10.0, member invitation only), Reynolds Lake Oconee Great Waters (9.4), Sea Island Seaside (9.3). Masters week access, green fees, best months March–April and October–November, simulator prep for Augusta-style greens.
Japan golf travel guide 2026 — Hirono (9.9), Kawana Fuji Course (9.6), Ibaraki Country Club (9.4), Naruo (9.1). Member access explained, green fees, best months April–May and October–November, simulator prep for Alison-designed courses.
Ireland golf travel guide 2026 — Royal County Down (9.9), Ballybunion Old (9.7), Royal Portrush Dunluce (9.6), Lahinch Old (9.3), Old Head of Kinsale (9.1). Wild Atlantic Way 7-day route, green fees and simulator prep.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi golf travel guide 2026 — Emirates Golf Club Majlis, Yas Links, Dubai Creek reviewed. Best months (Oct–Mar), green fees, combine with a wider UAE trip.
Pebble Beach golf travel guide 2026 — Golf Links ($625), Spyglass Hill ($425), Spanish Bay ($325). Booking strategy, best months, and simulator prep for the world’s most famous course.