PGN FEATURE: Are Golf Resorts Worth It? A Look at Value vs. Experience

Planning a golf trip is not something most golfers want to be pinned with. After all, who wants to be the one who books the wrong hotel or gets the tee time wrong in the group chat?

To avoid these challenges, many golfers are choosing to skip the hassle and book a stay at a golf resort. This is especially relevant when heading to a golf mecca such as Scottsdale, where properties such as The Phoenician, Four Seasons Resort at Troon North, and Talking Stick Resort offer guests all-inclusive golf packages that allow them to enjoy the warm weather and stunning desert views in a totally-relaxed environment.

If you are planning a golf getaway of your own, keep reading as we explore whether or not the experience of staying at a golf resort aligns with your party’s needs!

Pros of Booking a Stay at a Golf Resort

There are numerous reasons why staying at a golf resort makes a ton of sense for travel parties. 

Convenience

Sleeping yards away from a premier golf course is one of the top reasons to stay at a golf resort. For avid golfers who want to play from sun-up to sun down, it doesn’t get any better. 

Many resorts even offer all-inclusive packages. This could include accommodations, green fees, meals, spa treatments, and more. If you have ever tried to plan a golf trip piece by piece, you know that these logistics are no small task. Transportation needs are also limited when choosing one of these all-inclusive golf paradises.

Amenities

Golf resorts offer a world of opportunities when you are not on the greens. Dining. Pools. Spa sessions. Casinos. Depending on the resort you book, the perks can be endless. During peak season, some resorts even offer golf-specific amenities such as golf clinics, equipment rentals, and exclusive tee times.

Early Booking Windows

Courses are open to both overnight guests and day visitors. So tee times are still required when staying at a golf resort. However, overnight guests are typically afforded early access to booking tee times, ensuring they get preferred slots over the general public. This is a major perk in Scottsdale and other high-traffic golf destinations.

Mingle with Other Golfers

When staying at a golf resort, you are sure to be surrounded by hundreds of other like-minded people who share your favorite pastime. It provides the perfect venue for lively conversation over drinks, an unexpected challenge match, or the introduction to a friendship that leads to many more golf-cations in years to come. 

Possible Cost Synergies

Although booking an all-inclusive stay at a golf resort is not likely to be the lowest-cost option, there are definitely ways to achieve amazing bang for your buck. If you want to play a ton of golf at preferred times. If your ground transportation at the destination is limited. If the amenities included in your all-inclusive package were things you were going to do anyway.

Most importantly, if you want to use your golf getaway as a chance to relax and recharge and not have to hustle and grind through every logistical detail, then golf resorts are well worth the premium. 

Considerations When Booking a Stay at a Golf Resort

Like anything in life, there is an opposite side of the coin to consider before declaring a golf resort a “hole in one.”

Premium Prices

As mentioned, you will likely pay a bit of a premium when staying at a golf resort. If you broke down every line item in your all-inclusive package and took the time to build something piece by piece, you could probably get the bottom line a little lower by doing the legwork yourself. Just make sure nothing falls through the cracks–and you collect payment from everyone in your party–when choosing this method. 

May Not Use All Amenities

Part of the premium of staying at a resort is the endless amenities. If you are on the greens all day long, you may not have a chance to take advantage of the off-course perks. 

May Feel “Trapped” at One Course

If you stay at a golf resort, you may feel compelled to play all of your holes at the connected course. This could create a cost vs. value issue for golfers who want to check out multiple courses in the area.

Alternatives to Stay at a Golf Resort

If you decide a golf resort is not for you, or simply want to do a little extra research, there are several other ways to meet your accommodation needs for a golf getaway.

Hotels

There will be no shortage of standard hotels in golf destinations. They can be a decent option for parties that don’t prioritize off-the-course amenities and just need a comfortable place to sleep at the end of a long day of golf. However, as one veteran of many golf vacations notes: “Don’t cheap out on hotels. Gross hotels are no fun and not worth it–EVER!”

Friends and Family

Maybe you are lucky enough to have a member of your travel party who has friends or family in a premier golf destination. This could obviously be a huge cost savings. They could also serve as your local guide. The points to remember with this type of arrangement are A) will you feel on pins and needles in a stranger’s home? and B) are the accommodations they are able to provide (and lack of luxury amenities) truly enough to make your getaway refreshing and rejuvenating?

(Photo Courtesy of HÓZHÓ Luxe Estate on Sunnyside)

Luxury Vacation Rental

Luxury estate rentals are a trending option if a resort is not your preference. These exclusive properties offer vast dimensions and many of the same amenities as golf resorts. You also have the benefit of sharing space with your party and your party only. In addition to close proximity to many golf courses, the best luxury vacation rental Scottsdale has to offer will have concierge partners (private chefs, chauffeured transportation, spa service, etc.) that make your golf-cation as all-exclusive as it is all-inclusive. 

The Final Verdict: Are Golf Resorts Really Worth It?

Yes. 

When it is all said and done, the benefits offered by a golf resort are well-worth the investment. Beyond golf, the intrinsic boost of being at-ease, doing what you love with those you love, cannot be quantified. According to Vanessa Cabrera of Phoenix Mobile IV Therapy: “When clients come back from golf resorts, it’s rarely about the score—they rave about the atmosphere, the service, and how recharged they feel. That’s the value they remember.”

So there you have it: make your next golf getaway more about golf, less about event planning and book a stay at a golf resort today. For more of the latest trends regarding all golf-related matters, explore the content at PGH Golf Now for the leading insights in the industry!

Author Bio:
I’m Greg Harris, a retired writer now living the good life in Jacksonville, Florida. I launched my career and raised my family in Arizona, a place that still holds a special place in my heart. Over the years, I wrote about lifestyle, travel, and the everyday details that give life its texture and meaning. These days, I split my time between fishing, golfing, and soaking up the slower rhythm of retirement. While I’m no longer writing full-time, I still enjoy sharing stories and reflections whenever the mood strikes.