Where to play golf in winter: choosing by weather, cost, and trip style

We looked at NOAA's December-through-February climate normals and current official course pricing and booking policies. That's useful for planning, but remember: an average temperature is not a forecast, and a course's advertised rate isn't necessarily the one you'll get.

Scottsdale: incredible golf, ridiculous winter prices

Let's get this out of the way: Scottsdale is a fantastic winter golf destination.

There is a deep public-course menu across the Phoenix metro, with desert layouts and generally dry winter weather while much of the country is putting its clubs in storage.

The problem is that everybody knows it.

A course that seems reasonably priced in August can become a very different proposition in January. Experience Scottsdale's value guide lists The Boulders as low as $159 in late summer and early fall, compared with $329 in winter and spring.

That's one course, not the market average. But you get the idea.

And if you're traveling with four friends and playing four rounds, those high-priced tee times add up quickly.

Courses worth checking: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Saguaro), Troon North Golf Club (Monument), and Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor), plus Papago Golf Club. If you're going to spend big on Scottsdale golf, Troon North and We-Ko-Pa are good places to start. Grayhawk is another established public option, while Papago gives you a city-course comparison against the resorts. Do not assume that automatically means cheap in January.

BirdieYard's take: Scottsdale is worth it if golf is the main event and you're willing to spend for the courses you really want. If you're trying to put together an affordable four-round trip, compare other destinations before committing.

If you're going, book early. We-Ko-Pa opens general reservations 90 days out, has a 48-hour cancellation and player-reduction policy, and warns about occasional winter frost delays. Yes, frost. In Arizona.

Also, don't overlook Tucson. If the Phoenix prices are making you reconsider your relationship with golf, Tucson is absolutely worth comparing before booking.

Palm Springs: maybe the best pure golf trip

If someone asked me where to take four or six friends for a winter golf trip, Palm Springs and La Quinta would be near the top of my list.

The weather is generally dry, the courses are excellent, and the Coachella Valley has the right setup for a golf-focused weekend: rent a house, play a few rounds, have dinner, repeat.

You've got courses like PGA West, Desert Willow, SilverRock, and plenty of other public options in the valley.

It's a great place to make golf the main event without needing to stay at one resort.

Courses worth checking: PGA WEST Pete Dye Stadium Course, Desert Willow Firecliff, SilverRock Resort, and Indian Wells Celebrity Course. The variety is a major part of the valley's appeal. You can play the famous Stadium Course one day and choose from several other highly regarded desert layouts the next; the trip does not have to revolve around one trophy course.

The catch is that Palm Springs is not some undiscovered winter bargain. January through March is prime time, and the pricing reflects it.

Desert Willow currently lets nonresidents book 60 days ahead, uses dynamic pricing, and can charge for unsold spots when changes are made inside 48 hours.

The other mistake people make is treating the entire valley like one compact destination. It isn't. A house in Palm Springs and a couple of early tee times in La Quinta can mean more driving than you planned.

BirdieYard's take: For a dedicated golf trip with friends, Palm Springs may have the edge over Scottsdale. Rent near the courses the group wants to play, build a three- or four-round itinerary, and skip the pressure to chase every marquee course in Arizona.

Just don't confuse "desert golf" with "cheap golf."

Orlando: probably the most practical choice

Orlando doesn't always get the same excitement as Scottsdale or Palm Springs.

Maybe that's because the golf shares the spotlight with theme parks, family vacations, and approximately ten thousand resort swimming pools.

But that flexibility is actually a pretty good reason to go.

Central Florida has a huge collection of public and resort courses, generally milder winter nights, and plenty to do when you're not playing.

If you're traveling with a spouse, family, or a group where not everybody wants to play 36 holes a day, Orlando makes a lot of sense.

Courses worth checking: Orange County National (Panther Lake), Shingle Creek, Southern Dunes, and Omni ChampionsGate (International). Orange County National is a strong starting point for a golf-focused group, while Shingle Creek and ChampionsGate fit naturally with a resort stay. Southern Dunes is in Haines City, so account for the drive.

And depending on where you play, you can still find reasonable value.

That's not to say every tee time is cheap. Walt Disney World Golf identifies January 8 through March 21, 2027, as peak season. Its winter Sunset 9 rates are $65–$75, and afternoons generally cost less than mornings.

Disney allows public bookings up to 90 days ahead and asks for at least 24 hours' notice for changes or cancellations.

It's one example, not a price guide for all of Orlando. A high-priced resort course and a decent everyday public course can be two very different budgets.

BirdieYard's take: Orlando is probably the most underrated option for a trip that needs to work for more than just the golfers.

You can get good golf, warmer weather, and a vacation that doesn't completely fall apart if one day gets rained out.

Just be realistic about driving distances. The courses are spread around a big metro area, and the traffic isn't imaginary.

Las Vegas: great for a golf weekend, less great for escaping winter

Vegas sounds like an obvious winter golf destination.

Desert. Sunshine. Golf. Casinos. Restaurants. What could go wrong?

Well, for starters, it can be pretty cold.

Las Vegas gets chilly in winter, particularly in the mornings. If you're picturing four rounds in shorts and a polo, you might be disappointed.

But if you're planning a two- or three-night trip with a round or two of golf and plenty of other entertainment, Vegas works.

The afternoon tee-time pricing can also help.

Courses worth checking: Las Vegas Paiute (Wolf), Reflection Bay, TPC Las Vegas, and Bali Hai. Paiute is the choice for a full desert-golf outing, Reflection Bay adds a lakeside setting, and Bali Hai is convenient when staying near the Strip. Choose according to whether this is a golf trip with some Las Vegas or a Las Vegas trip with some golf.

Las Vegas National lists September 26, 2026–March 5, 2027 nonresident rates at $179 before noon and $139 from noon onward, excluding blackout dates.

That's a meaningful difference if you're flexible on when you play.

Just remember that the cheaper afternoon slot is only a deal if you have enough daylight to finish.

BirdieYard's take: Choose Las Vegas for a long weekend with friends where golf is part of the trip, not necessarily the entire reason for going.

And check the convention and event calendar before booking. Sometimes the hotel bill does considerably more damage than the golf.

Myrtle Beach: the value pick, if you're flexible on weather

If the conversation starts with "where can we play a lot of golf without spending a fortune?" Myrtle Beach deserves serious consideration.

There are more than 90 courses in the area, most offering public access, and the region has been catering to golf travelers for decades.

That's a lot of inventory to shop.

Courses worth checking: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Club, Tidewater Golf Club, and Barefoot Resort's Dye Course. All four appear in Golf Digest's 2025–26 South Carolina ranking. Myrtle Beach's strength is having recognized courses alongside a much larger menu of public golf and package options. The marquee courses are not necessarily cheap, even in winter.

More importantly, Myrtle Beach's peak golf seasons are generally spring and fall, not the middle of winter.

That creates opportunities for winter packages and lower prices when Scottsdale and Palm Springs are charging premiums.

But there's a catch, and it's not a small one.

Myrtle Beach is not Florida.

Winter can be cool, wet, and occasionally cold enough for frost delays. You might get a fantastic stretch of golf weather. You might also spend a morning waiting for the course to thaw.

That's the tradeoff.

If you're paying less for lodging and golf, you can probably live with packing a few extra layers. If you've got exactly two days off and absolutely need to get in 54 holes, maybe not.

Package cancellation policies matter here, too. One current package provider uses tiered cancellation penalties and warns that frost delays can move tee times.

BirdieYard's take: Myrtle Beach might be the best value in this group for a golf-first trip, especially if you're willing to be flexible on courses and tee times.

Leave a little room in the itinerary for weather to interfere.

Four aggressively scheduled rounds with a tight flight home is asking for trouble.

A few winter golf destinations worth a look

The five above are the obvious choices. They're not the only choices.

If you're actually trying to get good golf without paying Scottsdale prices, it's worth widening the search a little.

Tucson, Arizona: Worth comparing directly against Phoenix if you want Arizona golf but are frustrated by peak winter rates.

San Antonio, Texas: An interesting alternative for a late-February trip, particularly if food, accommodations, and other activities matter. Weather is less predictable than the desert.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Maybe the most interesting wildcard for a golf-and-food trip. There's golf in the area, but the bigger selling point might be having plenty to do after the round.

St. George, Utah / Mesquite, Nevada: Worth investigating for desert scenery and a different course mix. Don't assume the winter temperatures will feel like Scottsdale.

And yes, Mexico and the Caribbean belong in the conversation if you're open to international travel. Just make sure you're comparing the total trip price, not only the green fees.

None of these is guaranteed to be cheaper or warmer for your exact dates. They're alternatives worth pricing before you assume the usual five are your only options.

The booking mistakes that can ruin an otherwise great trip

Picking the destination is the fun part. Coordinating tee times, hotels, transportation, and cancellation policies is where the trip can get unnecessarily expensive.

Six planning choices reduce the risk:

1. Check tee-time availability before locking in the hotel. A great rate on a rental house isn't much help if the three courses you want to play have no good tee times that week.

2. Start looking about 90 days out. Some courses open their books 90 days ahead, others 60, and some use different windows for residents, guests, and the public. Know when your preferred courses become available.

3. Don't get too clever with twilight rates. A 1:30 p.m. tee time in January isn't the same as a 1:30 p.m. tee time in June. Disney only guarantees at least nine holes with its winter twilight offering. Paying less to play less isn't always a bargain.

4. Plan for frost delays. Particularly in Arizona, Nevada, and the Carolinas. Early tee times aren't automatically better when there's a chance the first group won't go off on schedule.

5. Read the cancellation policies. A 48-hour golf cancellation window and a seven-day lodging cancellation window can create an expensive mismatch. Add nonrefundable flights and suddenly that great golf deal isn't looking so great.

6. Actually map the courses. A destination with 90 or 100 courses doesn't mean the four you've picked are close to each other. Factor in the drive, the airport, and where you're sleeping.

One other thought: resist the urge to schedule every available minute.

It's tempting to squeeze in 36 holes, especially when everyone has flown across the country. But winter daylight is limited, and the best trip isn't necessarily the one with the most tee times.

So where should you go?

For a dedicated golf trip with friends where price is secondary, lean toward Palm Springs or Scottsdale. The weather, courses, and overall golf experience are tough to beat.

For reasonably warm weather with other things to do, put Orlando near the top.

For a quick weekend with golf, restaurants, and nightlife, Las Vegas makes sense.

To play three or four rounds without spending the entire trip budget on green fees, start with Myrtle Beach, keep an eye on the forecast, and bring a quarter-zip.

There isn't one best winter golf destination. There's the place that makes sense for your budget, your group, and how much weather uncertainty you're willing to deal with.

Pick that first. Then book the golf.

And if you're the person organizing the whole trip, BirdieYard's golf-trip captain's playbook can help with the tee times, deposits, headcount, and inevitable last-minute changes.

Someone may still back out after you've booked the house.

Golf Digest · Accessed October 30, 2026

Patrick McCarthy is the founder of BirdieYard, a mediocre golfer focused on improving how golfers find, evaluate, and connect with golf coaches.