The kids may be off at Spring Break in locations such as Daytona Beach, South Padre Island and Las Vegas, but for golfers across the United States, it’s time to consider a few more rounds in areas that highlight a “shoulder season.”
If you are new to the game, this is the term used in golf to describe what many would consider the off-season, where the weather is unpredictable, the course conditions are not necessarily optimal, but the price is right with players often paying up to half off regular greens fees.
The final few weeks of March and early April fit this bill in areas the Golf Travel Wire will highlight below. First, a few things to remember before teeing it up during golf’s shoulder season:
Be flexible: An occasional frost delay may occur during this time of year, so have a coffee or hot chocolate game plan prepared while you wait. Make sure to check the weather online for your golf round before heading to bed, and have the pro shop number handy.
Be realistic: If you shoot your handicap, feel blessed. Courses are not groomed like an 85-degree June day, so roll with bad breaks you may encounter with shagging greens or spotty fairways.
Layer: Temperatures can fluctuate by as much as 20 degrees from morning to afternoon, and at times the weather can be quite unpredictable. Don’t be caught on the course wearing a short sleeved shirt when it’s 50 and the wind is blowing 15 mph. Remember, you can always take clothing off as needed. A change of socks is also recommended.
Tee times: If you’re a “morning tee time person,” you may want to consider sleeping in and pushing your start time to early afternoon when the temperatures can warm up. Golfers with a 2 p.m. tee time last week would have been hard-pressed to finish before dark, but now there is more light so take advantage of it. Courses are less crowded in March so there should be more variety on the tee sheet to choose from.
Here are our picks for the best shoulder season golf in the United States:
BRANSON, MISSOURI
For starters, Branson is less than one day’s drive for one-third of America’s residents. The average high in March is 56 degrees with an average low of 34. All 10 of the courses in the destination are located near one another as well as hundreds of restaurants, scores of lodging options, and after-golf things to see and do. Branson is the No. 3-rated tourism destination in America according to Trip Advisor.
Best Bet: Payne’s Valley resort guests pay $200 for a round in March and early April. That price rockets to $400 in season.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Nestled among 2,200 scenic acres within the picturesque Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania, Nemacolin is home to two of the Northeast’s most scenic golf courses: Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock, both designed by legendary architect Pete Dye. Average March highs are 50 degrees with lows averaging 29. Less than a hour and a half away on the Pennsylvania Turnpike with similar weather is Bedford Springs, an historic Donald Ross gem that was recently ranked as the No. 2 public access course in the nation by GolfPass.
Best Bet: Old Course at Bedford Springs offers a round for just $99 prior to April 1. In season rate is $219 for resort guests, and $259 for walk ups.
COLORADO
Yes, it did snow in Denver on June 2, 1951, but the average high here in March is 56 degrees. Try steering clear of courses at higher elevations, which are prone to snow and colder temperatures during this time of year.
Best Bet: Raindance National is about an hour north of Denver’s airport. You can play the longest course in the United States at 8,475 yards for just $140 until May 1, a savings of $40 off of peak season prices.
INDIANA
Believe it or not, this state has more than 400 golf courses but maybe none better than 45 holes of golf at French Lick Resort, a $600 million historic restoration and casino development. March highs in French Lick average 58 degrees. Golfers can double their fun here with some NCAA Tournament college basketball wagering at the resort’s 51,000-square-foot casino.
Best Bet: Save $50 off green fees prior to April 1 at the 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick.
ORLANDO
Many may not know that discounted golf rates here often extend into late March, and with the kids still in school, the crazy traffic of Orlando’s Interstate 4 is a little less crazy. Savings of $50 or more per round are not uncommon. Temperatures can at times get into the low 80s and overnight lows are certainly tolerable. Course conditions are close to peak conditions, too.
Best Bet: 36 holes of golf at Omni ChampionsGate in nearby Davenport, Florida.