Golf is a year-round sport; however, this doesn’t mean that every golf course can be played year-round. Courses located in northern states may become inaccessible in the winter when ice and snow blanket the area. While states that experience long periods of warmth, like Florida and California, tend to be favored by golfers, there are plenty of courses in colder climates that are just as worthy of a visit.
Read below to learn about some golf courses you should visit when the weather is right.
Vail Golf Club – Vail, CO
Located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Vail has become a world-renowned ski destination. What some might not know is that Vail is a golfing destination too. When the ski season ends, Vail’s golf season begins. One of the most beautiful golf courses in all the Rockies can be found here. Vail Golf Club boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains accompanied by welcoming warm weather during the summer. Open to the public and to members all year round, Vail Golf Club transitions from a golf course to a Nordic center when the snowfall begins.
Teton Pines Country Club & Resort – Wilson, WY
The next course is located a little further north in the Rocky Mountains in the Jackson, Wyoming area. Teton Pines Country Club & Resort is a full-service club that’s also open to the public. With amenities like dining, tennis, fishing, swimming, skiing and, of course, golfing, it’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Its northern location limits the amount of golfing that can take place in the winter, so if you plan to hit the links make sure to visit in the spring or summer.
Stowe Mountain Club – Stowe, VT
On the east coast in the mountains outside of Burlington, Vermont is an exclusive golf club accessible to members and resort guests only. The Stowe Mountain Club is New England’s premier mountain golfing destination. Rated the number one golf course in all of Vermont by Golf Advisor, the Stowe Mountain Club offers world-class facilities to golfers looking to escape the blistering summer heat in the south.
Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, CA
Pebble Beach, one of the top-rated golf courses in the world, is a four-season course. Even though it can be played all year long, it’s one you should plan to visit when it’s warm. If you don’t live in California, you might not realize that it can get pretty chilly in the winter. Located directly on the Pacific Ocean in central California, Pebble Beach Golf Links has an average high of only 58 degrees in December and January. For an optimal playing experience, visiting the area in spring or summer will result in better weather conditions.
Bethpage State Park – Farmingdale, NY
About 30 miles east of Manhattan is Bethpage State Park. This state park houses one of the best public golf courses in the country: the Bethpage Black Course. Long Island features a few other great courses, such as the famous Shinnecock Hills, however, this and most other nearby courses are not open to the public. Rightfully so, the summer is the most popular time for tourism on Long Island. In an area that faces a usually cold and snowy winter, the Bethpage State Park golf course is a great public course to visit from Memorial Day through Labor Day.