WHERE ARE WE PLAYING NEXT?
Four destinations compared on courses, logistics, and all-in costs.
A grounded decision aid comparing four destination alternatives for our upcoming trip. All pricing is estimated in USD per person for double occupancy, 3 nights, and 2–3 championship rounds, grounded in verified August 2026 resort and course rate tables. Flights and ground transportation are excluded.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
"Golf as it was meant to be" — pure, unvarnished walking links set into wild Oregon coastal dunes.
The Character & Golf Culture
Bandon Dunes is the spiritual home of modern American links golf. There are no golf carts, no cart paths, no swimming pools, and no luxury pretension. You come here solely to walk on firm fescue, play the ground game into relentless Pacific winds, and share pints with your group after walking 8 to 12 miles in a single day.
The five full 18-hole courses—Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Sheep Ranch, Old Macdonald, and Bandon Trails—are all consensus top-15 public courses in America. Everything is connected by internal property shuttles, allowing the group to park the rental car on arrival and never touch keys again until departure.
Getting There & Bay Area Logistics
From the SF Bay Area, the fastest route is the seasonal non-stop United flight from SFO directly to Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH / North Bend), followed by a 35-minute resort shuttle. Alternatively, take a direct flight from SFO/OAK/SJC to Eugene (EUG, 2.5 hours drive), or organize a group road trip (~8.5 hours drive up I-5 / Highway 101).
Club Shipping: Because flights into North Bend or Eugene often use regional aircraft with restricted baggage holds, sending bags ahead via Ship Sticks directly to the Bandon Dunes clubhouse eliminates luggage delays on arrival day.
Recommended 4-Day / 3-Night Slate (3 Full Rounds)
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Day 1 · Arrival & Short Course
Fly into North Bend/Eugene · Check-in · Sunset at The PunchbowlArrive midday, settle into Chrome Lake, and play an optional warm-up loop on Bandon Preserve (13-hole par-3) or roll putts on the 100,000 sq ft Punchbowl putting course before dinner at McKee's Pub.
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Day 2 · Round 1 (Morning Marquee)
Pacific Dunes · 8:40 AM Walking Round with CaddiesTom Doak's routing runs beside bluffs that rise roughly 100 feet above the Pacific. Afternoon recovery in the hot tub or a casual pint at the Tufted Puffin overlooking the 18th green.
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Day 3 · Round 2 (Morning Coastline)
Sheep Ranch · 9:00 AM Oceanfront RoundOne continuous mile of coastline with 9 green sites right on the cliff edge and zero sand bunkers. Group dinner and whiskey flights at Gallery Restaurant.
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Day 4 · Round 3 & Departure
Original Bandon Dunes · 8:00 AM Closing RoundDavid McLay Kidd's classic 1999 original routing. Finish hole 18 by 12:30 PM, shower at the lodge, grab lunch, and head to EUG/OTH for evening flights home.
Course Slate Breakdown
The 3-round slate is Pacific Dunes for rumpled fairways and exposed par 3s, Sheep Ranch for cliffside views and wide landing areas, and the original Bandon Dunes for the resort's clearest links test.
Walking Policy & Replay Discount: Walking only. Caddies are $100–$120 + tip ($150–$180 total per bag per round); push carts (Rickshas) are complimentary. Same-day second rounds on any 18-hole course are 50% off ($187.50), making summer 36-hole days exceptional value for groups with the stamina.
Surrounding Area & Off-Course Culture
The resort is a self-contained ecosystem. On property, evenings revolve around McKee's Pub for Grandma's Meatloaf, single malt scotches, and hearty clam chowder, or the bunker bar.
Off-property, a 10-minute cab ride into the historic fishing town of Bandon brings you to Tony's Crab Shack on the marina boardwalk for fresh Dungeness crab sandwiches and local coastal IPAs.
Pebble Beach & Monterey Peninsula
Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill pair famous tournament holes with three nights on the Monterey Peninsula.
The Character & Golf Culture
Pebble Beach is golf royalty. Walking down the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 18th holes along the Monterey Peninsula delivers an emotional rush that no other venue in North America matches. Six U.S. Opens, the annual AT&T Pro-Am, and Jack Nicklaus’s and Tiger Woods’s historical moments are woven into every blade of poa annua grass.
The experience here combines high-drama coastal links golf with California luxury: bagpipers at sunset at Spanish Bay, oceanfront fire pits, and top-tier dining in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Getting There & Bay Area Logistics
The Bay Area Advantage: Zero flights, zero baggage claims, zero TSA lines, and zero club shipping fees. Pebble Beach is an effortless ~2-hour scenic drive down Highway 1 / 101 from San Francisco and the Peninsula (or just 75 minutes from the South Bay / San Jose).
The group can load clubs directly into personal cars or split a private luxury Sprinter, drive down Friday morning, check into The Inn at Spanish Bay, and be teeing off on The Hay by 1:30 PM.
Recommended 4-Day / 3-Night Slate (3 Full Rounds)
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Day 1 · Arrival & The Hay
Arrive Monterey · Check-in at Inn at Spanish Bay · Sunset BagpiperArrive early afternoon, drop bags, and play Tiger Woods’s redesigned short course, The Hay (9 holes, with an exact replica of Pebble's 7th hole). Watch the Spanish Bay bagpiper from the terrace fire pits.
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Day 2 · Round 1 (The Forest & Ocean)
Spyglass Hill Golf Course · 8:30 AM Tee TimeRobert Trent Jones Sr. design opening with 5 spectacular dunes holes before diving into the towering Del Monte Forest. Prime rib dinner at The Tap Room in The Lodge.
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Day 3 · Round 2 (The Main Event)
Pebble Beach Golf Links · 9:10 AM Marquee RoundTake walking caddies down the cliffs of Stillwater Cove. The defining round of the trip. Evening celebratory dinner at Peppoli or Roy's at Spanish Bay.
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Day 4 · Round 3 & Drive Home
The Links at Spanish Bay · 8:00 AM Closing RoundScottish-style links routing through coastal dunes and pines. Finish by 12:45 PM, grab lunch, load up cars or Sprinter, and take the easy 2-hour drive back up Highway 1 / 101 to the Bay Area—home in time for Sunday dinner.
Course Slate Breakdown
The 3-round slate is Pebble Beach Golf Links ($695), Spyglass Hill ($550), and The Links at Spanish Bay ($360–$395). That mix covers exposed coastline, inland pines, and a windier links-style finish.
Caddie & Cart Policy: Caddies are highly recommended at Pebble Beach ($155–$160 per bag + $50–$75 tip). Carts are allowed on all courses on 90-degree rules unless weather restricts them to paths.
Surrounding Area & Off-Course Culture
The Monterey and Carmel area offers the best dining and scenery of any golf destination. The Tap Room inside The Lodge features rare golf memorabilia, dry-aged steaks, and an extensive California cabernet list.
In Carmel-by-the-Sea (10 minutes away), the group can walk the village streets, stop at local wine-tasting rooms, or eat along Ocean Avenue.
Pinehurst Resort
Three distinct resort courses, sandy native areas, and a historic village that works well without a car.
The Character & Golf Culture
Pinehurst is the "Cradle of American Golf." Unlike the remote ocean bluffs of Bandon or the rugged Pacific coastline of Pebble, Pinehurst is an idyllic, walkable village framed by majestic Carolina longleaf pines, red brick sidewalks, and white rocker porches.
With 10 championship courses, the new World Golf Hall of Fame, and the rollicking energy around The Cradle par-3 course, Pinehurst feels like an entire town created solely for people who love the game.
Getting There & Bay Area Logistics
From the Bay Area, non-stop flights from SFO directly to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU via United or Delta) provide the cleanest coast-to-coast routing. From RDU, Pinehurst is an easy 70-mile (1 hour 15 minutes) highway drive south via US-1 (no need for connecting flights into regional hubs like Myrtle Beach or Fayetteville). Charlotte Douglas (CLT) is another non-stop option from SFO/OAK with a 2-hour drive.
Once on property, Pinehurst's on-demand shuttle fleet connects The Manor, the main clubhouse, No. 10 at Sandmines, and the historic village around the clock.
Recommended 4-Day / 3-Night Slate (3 Full Rounds)
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Day 1 · Arrival & The Cradle
RDU Transfer · Check-in at The Manor · The Cradle LoopArrive early afternoon, settle into The Manor, grab a Pinehurst Brewing Co. ale at the clubhouse bar, and play a relaxed barefoot round on The Cradle (par-3 course with sound system and outdoor bar). Dinner in the village.
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Day 2 · Round 1 (The Test of No. 2)
Pinehurst No. 2 · 8:30 AM Walking Round with CaddiesTake on Donald Ross’s crowned turtleback greens. Afternoon putting contests on Thistle Dhu (75,000 sq ft putting green) followed by dinner at The 1895 Grille.
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Day 3 · Round 2 (The Hanse Gem)
Pinehurst No. 4 · 9:00 AM Championship RoundGil Hanse's undulating Sandhills routing featuring natural sandy washes and wiregrass. Group craft beer and smoked brisket dinner at Pinehurst Brewing Company.
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Day 4 · Round 3 & Departure
Pinehurst No. 10 (Sandmines) · 8:00 AM Closing RoundTom Doak's 2024 routing uses 75 feet of elevation change across former mining sand dunes. Depart for RDU for late afternoon flights.
Course Slate Breakdown
The 3-round slate uses No. 2 for Donald Ross greens and native sand, No. 4 for Gil Hanse's broader Sandhills shaping, and No. 10 for Tom Doak's newer Sandmines routing.
Walking, Caddies & Package Replays: Walking with caddies on No. 2 is traditional and strongly recommended ($90–$100 per bag fee + $50–$75 tip); push carts are permitted on all courses. The Premier Package includes complimentary same-day afternoon replays on courses No. 1, 3, 5, and 8 booked day-of-play, plus unlimited rounds on The Cradle.
Surrounding Area & Off-Course Culture
The Village of Pinehurst is laid out like a compact New England village. The historic Pine Crest Inn bar is known for after-hours attempts to chip golf balls into the lobby fireplace.
The resort's Pinehurst Brewing Company (housed inside the historic 1895 steam plant) serves exceptional in-house IPAs, slow-smoked North Carolina pulled pork, and brisket.
Big Cedar Lodge
Long cart rounds across Ozark ridges, with Payne's Valley as the headline course.
The Character & Golf Culture
Founded by Bass Pro Shops creator Johnny Morris, Big Cedar spreads its courses across Ozark ridges above Table Rock Lake. Expect limestone cuts, water features, long transfers, and polished resort conditions.
Here, golf is high-entertainment "cart ball" with GPS-equipped carts, heated seats, on-course comfort stations serving complimentary hot dogs and bison sliders, and Tiger Woods’s first public golf course design in the United States.
Getting There & Bay Area Logistics
From the Bay Area (SFO/OAK/SJC), convenient 1-stop flights connect via Denver (DEN), Dallas (DFW), or Chicago (ORD) into Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), located 50 miles (55 minutes drive) north of the property.
Renting a pair of full-size SUVs or a 12-passenger group van at SGF is recommended for the 10–15 minute drives between Big Cedar Lodge, Top of the Rock, and the Mountain Top golf campus (Payne's Valley / Ozarks National / Buffalo Ridge).
Recommended 4-Day / 3-Night Slate (3 Full Rounds)
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Day 1 · Arrival & Top of the Rock
SGF Airport Transfer · Check-in · Top of the Rock & Sunset CannonArrive midday, check into wilderness cabins or lodge rooms, and play Jack Nicklaus’s Top of the Rock 9-hole par-3 course. Watch the sunset bagpipe ceremony and civil war cannon firing at the Osage Restaurant terrace.
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Day 2 · Round 1 (Tiger Woods Design)
Payne's Valley · 8:40 AM Marquee RoundTiger Woods' expansive layout with wide fairways, climaxing at the bonus 19th "Betting Hole" island green against 200-foot limestone cliffs and waterfalls. Evening steak dinner at Devil's Pool Restaurant.
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Day 3 · Round 2 (The Coore & Crenshaw Test)
Ozarks National · 9:00 AM Championship RoundBill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design routed along ridge tops with native grasses, blind tee shots, and canyon carries. Group barbecue dinner at Mountain Top Grill.
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Day 4 · Round 3 & Departure
Buffalo Ridge Springs · 8:00 AM Closing RoundTom Fazio redesign weaving through roaming American bison herds, natural caves, and creeks. Wrap by 12:45 PM and drive to SGF for evening flights home.
Course Slate Breakdown
Our 3-round slate covers Big Cedar's championship trilogy: Payne's Valley (Tiger Woods design honoring Ozarks legend Payne Stewart, $425 green fee), Ozarks National (Coore & Crenshaw classic links-in-the-mountains, $275), and Buffalo Ridge (Tom Fazio layout with views of live bison, $275).
Cart Policy & Campus Shuttle: Because of the extreme mountain elevation changes and long distances between greens and tees, golf carts with interactive GPS screens are required and included in all green fees. While complimentary resort shuttles run between properties, renting group SUVs gives maximum schedule flexibility between the lake lodge and the Mountain Top campus.
Surrounding Area & Off-Course Culture
Big Cedar's non-golf options include the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail electric cart tour through underground waterfalls and a drive-through cave bar.
On Table Rock Lake, the resort offers private pontoon boat rentals, bass fishing charters, shooting ranges at the Bass Pro Outdoor Academy, and cigar lounges overlooking the water.