If you live in Connecticut and dream of playing elite public golf courses without spending a fortune, you’re not alone. With smart planning, it’s possible to access several of the top-ranked courses in the country for less than a weekend at a resort closer to home. Based on the Golf Digest Top 100 Public Courses list, I’ve put together four destination trips that offer outstanding architecture, direct flights from the New York area, and bundled stay-and-play value. Whether you’re drawn to sand-based strategy, desert minimalism, or wooded parkland, these trips deliver Top 100 golf experiences that respect both your time and your wallet.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
If you’re looking for maximum architectural quality per dollar, Myrtle Beach is hard to beat. You’ll find three distinct courses that each bring a unique style, from Strantz’s creative visuals to Jones’s tournament-tested challenges—all within a few miles of each other. This trip is ideal for golfers who want to mix strategic shot-making with classic Southeast scenery, and do it all without breaking the bank.
- Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (#85): Strantz’s signature lowcountry routing delivers drama from the opening tee shot under moss-draped oaks. Tight fairways, raised green pads, and marsh-side holes test both precision and imagination. The short par-4 9th and water-guarded 18th stand out as unforgettable.
- True Blue Golf Club (#93): A broader, bolder counterpart to Caledonia, with massive fairways and sprawling sandy waste areas. The bold shaping demands aggressive lines off the tee and thoughtful approaches into heavily contoured greens. It’s as fun as it is challenging.
- The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (#47): A Robert Trent Jones Sr. classic, famous for elevated green complexes, ocean breezes, and the thrilling 13th hole, “Waterloo,” which wraps around Lake Singleton. It’s a strategic challenge with a touch of Golden Age character.
Affordable round-trip flights from New York to Myrtle Beach and package deals like the Brunswick Plantation special make this a standout trip for anyone chasing Top 100 experiences on a budget.
Orlando / Central Florida
Central Florida might be best known for amusement parks, but just 90 minutes south of Orlando lies one of the country’s most compelling golf destinations: Streamsong. The trio of modern courses here—each designed by a different world-class architect—offer bold, minimalist design on firm, fescue-covered terrain. Closer to Orlando, several solid public tracks can round out your trip. This is the best option for players seeking contemporary strategy and variety in a unique reclaimed landscape.
- Streamsong Red (#4): Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Red emphasizes contour, flow, and strategic decision-making. Routed over heaving landforms, it features wide corridors, massive bunkers, and tightly defended green complexes. The par-3 16th over a sandy abyss is unforgettable.
- Streamsong Blue (#12): Tom Doak’s version is slightly more elegant in its transitions, with clever green sites and artistic shaping. Holes like the par-4 7th, with its semi-blind approach and wild interior contours, challenge players to think creatively.
- Streamsong Black (#34): Gil Hanse’s contribution is the boldest of the three, with enormous putting surfaces, exaggerated movement, and a modern feel. It’s both physically demanding and creatively freeing, especially on the dramatic back nine.
With round-trip flights from New York to Orlando hovering around $87 and regular stay-and-play packages, you can complete this full Streamsong experience for about $549 per person.
Scottsdale / Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona delivers desert golf at its finest, with dramatic mountain views, firm playing conditions, and bold shaping. Scottsdale offers multiple Top 100 public courses within 45 minutes of each other, perfect for golfers who appreciate visual intimidation and strategic width. This region also shines for year-round playability and top-tier course maintenance, especially during the shoulder seasons when rates drop.
- Troon North Pinnacle (#25): This Tom Weiskopf design weaves through boulders and arroyos, demanding smart play over brute strength. Greens are subtly defended, and elevation changes heighten both shot value and visual appeal.
- We-Ko-Pa Saguaro (#14): Built by Coore & Crenshaw, this is pure desert golf with no homes in sight. It emphasizes width and angles, allowing players to choose their line off every tee. The routing flows effortlessly through the desert floor.
- Quintero Golf Club (#46): A Rees Jones design set in the high desert hills, Quintero delivers long-range views, pristine conditions, and elevated tee shots that reward shot-shaping and distance control. It’s more traditional but undeniably fun.
With round-trip airfare from New York around $185 and shoulder-season stay-and-play packages available at We-Ko-Pa or Talking Stick, you can complete this desert loop for approximately $881 per person.—not cheap, but fair for three of the best desert courses in the country.
Louisville, Kentucky
Though lesser-known as a golf destination, Louisville and its surroundings offer a quietly strong trio of courses, including one major championship venue. This trip suits golfers who appreciate traditional parkland golf with bold greens, tree-lined corridors, and a dose of history. You’ll find thoughtful routing and strong green sites across all three venues, with a mix of tournament pedigree and local charm.
- Valhalla Golf Club (#92): Designed by Jack Nicklaus, this major-tested course features elevated tee shots, heavily bunkered greens, and sweeping doglegs. The 13th and 18th are classic risk-reward holes. While private, limited public access is sometimes available through special events and travel packages.
- Heritage Hill Golf Club (#95): Often labeled one of Kentucky’s best public courses, it offers wide landing zones, strong vertical movement, and slick bentgrass greens. It’s a walkable course that quietly rewards smart play.
- Covered Bridge Golf Club (unranked): A Fuzzy Zoeller design with generous fairways and tree-lined holes, it’s the most accessible and relaxed round of the trip, but still delivers strong par-3s and a few memorable doglegs.
Round-trip airfare from New York to Louisville runs about $120, and with package lodging and tee time deals, you can pull off this underrated itinerary for around $891 per person.
Final Cost Comparison
| Location | Sample Itinerary (Courses Played) |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | Start at Caledonia (#85) for Strantz’s signature lowcountry visuals and tight green complexes. Then head to True Blue (#93) for wide corridors and explosive bunkering, and finish at Dunes Club (#47) with its elevated greens and iconic par-5 Waterloo. |
| Orlando, FL | Begin with Streamsong Red (#4) to experience Coore & Crenshaw’s bold shaping on firm fescue. Follow with Doak’s Streamsong Blue (#12) for scenic routing, then wrap up with Streamsong Black (#34) for extreme contours and a modernist aesthetic. |
| Scottsdale, AZ | Kick off the trip at Troon North Pinnacle (#25), set among dramatic desert rock. Then play We-Ko-Pa Saguaro (#14), where strategic angles shine, and close out at Quintero (#46) to see pristine conditions on a secluded mountainside layout. |
| Louisville, KY | Open with Heritage Hill (#95), a value-rich blend of width and bentgrass. Tee it up at Valhalla (#92) to walk major championship ground, then visit Covered Bridge (unranked) for Fuzzy Zoeller’s tree-lined charm. |
Final Word
For me, the most cost-efficient way to experience elite American golf architecture starts in Myrtle Beach. You get a Mike Strantz masterpiece, a Robert Trent Jones classic, and the kind of bundled pricing that lets you focus on your game instead of your credit card bill. For those willing to travel a bit farther, Streamsong and We-Ko-Pa are destinations that deliver on width, strategy, and world-class green complexes. And if you manage to snag a tee time at Valhalla, you’ll come home with a major championship story of your own.
Wherever you go, you’re not just playing golf—you’re learning what makes the best courses truly great.
David is an avid golfer who loves walking Connecticut’s courses and playing alongside his family. He’s passionate about golf course architecture and one day hopes to play at Pebble Beach.
