There’s something special about fall golf. The air is crisp, the tee sheet opens up, and the leaves turn every fairway into a backdrop you don’t see any other time of year. It’s golf without the summer chaos and without the sweat. Whether you’re after world-class resorts, hidden gems, or just scenery that makes you pause mid-round, here are some of the best golf trips for fall
Michigan: Fall Golf Done Right
Northern Michigan is hard to beat in the fall. Boyne Highlands, Arcadia Bluffs, and Forest Dunes give you very different golf without having to leave the state, and the changing leaves make already-good golf courses look even better.
You can usually find better rates than you would during peak summer, and there’s still plenty of good golf weather through the first half of October.
Why Go in Fall: Fall color, lower rates, fewer crowds.
The Carolinas: Golf Season Keeps Going
Fall is when golf in the Carolinas gets a lot more comfortable. The worst of the summer heat and humidity is gone, but there’s still plenty of season left.
Pinehurst and Kiawah Island give you the big-name destination experience, while Myrtle Beach gives you a ridiculous number of courses to build a trip around. There’s enough variety between North and South Carolina that you can make this as high-end or as affordable as you want.
Why Go in Fall: Comfortable weather, tons of golf, plenty of trip options.
Colorado: Get There Before the Snow
The window is shorter in Colorado, but that’s part of the appeal. You’re squeezing golf into that stretch between summer crowds and ski season, with cooler temperatures and the Rockies in the background.
Vail, Aspen and Telluride all have golf worth building a trip around, and lodging can become more reasonable once the summer rush is over. Just remember that mountain weather does whatever it wants. Pack layers and don’t assume a 40-degree morning means a 40-degree afternoon.
Why Go in Fall: Mountain golf, smaller crowds, shoulder-season lodging.
New England: This Is What Fall Golf Is Supposed to Look Like
If the goal is to actually feel like you’re on a fall golf trip, New England is tough to beat.
Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Cape Cod are full of old, tree-lined courses that completely change when the leaves turn. You won’t find the same concentration of golf resorts as Michigan or the Carolinas, but that’s not really the point. This is a trip built around local courses, small towns, cool mornings and driving from one good spot to another.
And yes, there will probably be cider involved somewhere.
My Home State Pick: Connecticut
I grew up in Connecticut, so this one comes with some bias.
TPC River Highlands is the name everyone knows because of the Travelers Championship, but Connecticut golf goes well beyond that. Richter Park in Danbury has long been one of the better public courses in the region, and Shennecossett in Groton gives you an old-school course with plenty of history and views toward Long Island Sound.
But what I really remember is the fall golf itself. Cold enough for a quarter-zip on the first tee, leaves everywhere, and warm enough by the back nine that the quarter-zip is stuffed into the bag.
Why Go in Fall: Peak foliage, old-school courses and actual sweater weather.
Arizona and Nevada: When Desert Golf Wakes Back Up
Fall means something completely different in the desert.
As temperatures finally start coming down, Scottsdale, Las Vegas and Mesquite get back into prime golf season. Troon North, Wolf Creek and the seemingly endless supply of courses around Scottsdale give you plenty to work with.
You’re not going for changing leaves here. You’re going because you can play golf in shorts while half the country is starting to wonder where they left the leaf blower.
Why Go in Fall: Reliable golf weather, great desert courses and plenty to do after the round.
One More Golf Trip Before Winter
Fall doesn’t need much of a sales pitch. The weather gets better, courses are still in great shape, and depending on where you go, you can find smaller crowds and better prices than you would during peak season.
The bigger question is what kind of fall trip you want. Chase the leaves in Michigan or New England, stretch the season in the Carolinas, sneak into the mountains before winter, or head for the desert as it starts cooling off.
If you’ve got room for one more golf trip this year, Fairways & Dreams can help you figure out where to go and put the trip together.
Fairways & Dreams helps groups plan custom golf trips built around how they actually travel, play, and spend time together. From destination recommendations and lodging selection to tee times and trip coordination, we handle the details so your group can focus on the golf.
Golf is hard. Golf trips should be easy.