Fall is golf’s sweet spot.
Courses are pristine, crowds thin and the weather hits that just-right balance of crisp mornings and golden afternoons. It’s the perfect time to sneak in a luxury golf getaway before holiday chaos takes over.
Here are seven can’t-miss resort destinations: when to go, what to expect, and the shots you’ll remember long after Thanksgiving dinner.
CordeValle (San Martin, California)
The Robert Trent Jones Jr. design winds through 1,700 acres of oak-dotted wine country, blending vineyard serenity with tournament pedigree. This course hosted both the PGA Tour’s Frys.com Open and the U.S. Women’s Open.
The Par-4 9th tempts players to challenge a ravine that guards the green, in turn rewarding nerve and precision. The back nine climbs into the Santa Cruz Mountains, offering panoramic valley views and tricky elevation changes.
Fast, firm greens demand touch while wide fairways give you options: bomb it or shape it. Post-round, unwind at the resort’s Michelin-star dining or retreat to a private villa with a glass of Santa Clara Pinot Noir.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Manele Golf Course, Hawaii)
Perched on lava cliffs 150 feet above the Pacific, Jack Nicklaus’ Manele Course offers some of the most dramatic seaside golf on earth.
The Par-3 12th steals the show. A full carry over crashing surf to a green carved into volcanic rock. Trade winds can add or subtract two clubs, forcing pure commitment. The closing holes tumble toward the ocean, their emerald fairways bordered by cobalt waves and red cliffs.
Bill Gates was famously married here, and pros flock to Manele to reset between busy schedules. The Four Seasons pairs five-star seclusion with breezy, barefoot luxury, perfect for decompressing before holiday madness.
Omni PGA Frisco Resort (Frisco, Texas)
America’s newest golf capital and home to the PGA of America sits just north of Dallas, featuring two championship layouts: Fields Ranch East by Gil Hanse and Fields Ranch West by Beau Welling. It’s where modern design meets cutting-edge technology.
On the East course, the Par-5 14th rewards those who hug a risk-reward creek to set up a short wedge into a massive infinity green. The West course plays more forgiving but surprises with undulating, linksy fairways that firm up in fall.
Practice under lights on The Swing, a 10-hole short course, or hit the putting paradise called The Dance Floor. After sunset, Topgolf Lounge and craft dining turn Frisco into a full golf-and-lifestyle hub.
Pelican Hill Resort (Newport Coast, California)
Tom Fazio’s Ocean North and South courses deliver West Coast drama at its finest. Each hole tumbles along bluffs above the Pacific with terraced greens and canyon carries adding to the theater.
Ocean South’s Par-3 12th requires a mid-iron over a canyon framed by bougainvillea and distant surf. The 18th on Ocean North sweeps downhill toward the resort’s iconic rotunda, a finish made for sunsets.
Golfers rave about immaculate conditioning and ocean breezes that keep things interesting. Off the course, private Italian-inspired villas and Forbes Five-Star spa treatments make Pelican Hill a luxury escape that still feels laid-back.
Sea Island Resort (St. Simons Island, Georgia)
For decades, Sea Island hosted the game’s elite, from Bobby Jones to modern PGA Tour stars. Its Seaside Course, home to the RSM Classic, channels Scottish links with salt marshes and shifting Atlantic winds.
Seaside’s Par-4 13th hugs tidal wetlands and plays longer than the card suggests when the sea breeze picks up. The Plantation course offers a more parkland-style test with towering live oaks and wide landing zones, while the Retreat course mixes forgiving fairways with strategic bunkering.
Luxury here extends beyond golf: a world-class spa, iconic Cloister hotel and Southern hospitality make Sea Island the definition of refined fall golf.
Sea Pines Resort (Hilton Head, South Carolina)
Pete Dye’s Harbour Town Golf Links remains a shot-maker’s paradise and host of the RBC Heritage. Forget bomb-and-gouge; here it’s about threading narrow fairways under moss-draped oaks and hitting precise approaches to tiny, elevated greens.
The Par-4 18th is pure drama: a long, wind-whipped closer framed by Calibogue Sound and the iconic red-and-white lighthouse. One swing can make or break your scorecard –and your Instagram feed.
Complement Harbour Town with Heron Point (also a Dye design) and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III for a complete Lowcountry experience. Bike trails and waterfront dining round out a family-friendly but golf-first getaway.
Streamsong Resort (Bowling Green, Florida)
If you crave minimalist, modern golf in perfect November weather, Streamsong delivers three bucket-list courses: Red (Coore and Crenshaw), Blue (Tom Doak) and Black (Gil Hanse).
On Red, the Par-4 7th dares the bold to carry a scrub-covered ridge for a short iron in while the safer route adds distance but peace of mind. Blue’s Par-5 5th twists around dunes to a punchbowl green you can feed from slopes. Black serves up wild contours, mammoth greens and the photogenic Par-3 3rd framed by towering dunes.
Created on reclaimed phosphate mines, the landscape feels like Scotland dropped into Central Florida: firm fairways, wild winds and endless creativity.
The Sweet Spot: Two Weeks Before and After Thanksgiving
Mid-to-late November is golf’s golden hour. Courses are in peak condition, weather is ideal coast-to-coast and travel crowds haven’t yet swelled. Whether you’re seeking warm Hawaiian breezes, Georgia’s golden marshlands or crisp California wine country, this is the moment to go.
Fly Private, Play More, Stress Less
Magellan Jets gets you closer to these fairways with tailored private travel solutions – no airport delays, no holiday rush. Speak with a Private Aviation Advisor to design your fall golf escape and optimize your time where it matters most: on the tee.
