The 5 Best Cities for Golf Lovers
Families, retirees, active adults over 55—if you’re looking to settle down in one of the country’s top golf destinations, here are a few suggestions for the best U.S. cities for year-round golf.
Whether you’re an avid golfer or simply have a taste for the country club lifestyle, let’s take a look at some golf communities as varied and unique as a 20-handicapper’s scorecard. May the fairways be wide and forgiving, and the greens forever break in your favor…
Hilton Head Island, SC
You won’t find many “best of” golf destination lists that don’t include Hilton Head. There are 24 golf courses on the island itself, some designed by names that golf enthusiasts will surely recognize: Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. The renowned golf and beach resort communities of Hilton Head are consistently heralded as some of the world’s best places to retire.
Hot Springs Village, AR
Aptly-named Hot Springs Village is quite the “hot” spot for over-55 active retirees. Sure, it’s the nation’s largest gated community, but above all else, Hot Springs is a golfer’s delight. With nine signature golf courses all deemed “senior-friendly,” retirees looking for ideal golf communities have the luxury of setting up a tee time on a different course for each day of the week!
Lakewood Ranch, FL
Located in the fast-growing Tampa Bay region near the southwest coast of Florida, Lakewood Ranch is the 2nd best-selling master-planned community in the U.S. Three unique championship courses feature 54 holes of world class golf that were specifically-designed with all skill levels in mind.
Naples, FL
When it comes to the best golf cities, Naples is second to none. The self-proclaimed “Golf Capital of the World,” it’s certainly the apex of golf communities in the state—and considering legends like Nicklaus and Woods lived in Florida, that’s saying something. Home to the nation’s 2nd most golf holes per capita, master-planned golf communities in Naples, Florida feature country club living at its finest.
Scottsdale, AZ
With nearly 200 golf courses and country clubs in the greater Scottsdale area, you’re looking at 3.6 courses per 100,000 residents. Couple that with weather that’s nothing short of perfect October through April, and you’ve got a golfer’s paradise. Topping the list for best places to retire for golf is Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain, an 8,000 acre private gated community that features a unique collection of six Jack Nicklaus Signature courses set against the stunning backdrop of the High Sonoran Desert.
