10 Best Golf Resorts on the East Coast for Your Next Tee Time
- Rey Eleuterio
- 1 day ago
- 14 min read
If you've ever stood on a tee box with the Atlantic crashing somewhere behind you, you already know why golfers keep coming back to this coast. The stretch from Maine to Florida is packed with courses that look like postcards and play like a dream.
Some of these places host the pros every spring. Others are quiet favorites where you can grab a tee time, a great dinner, and a comfy bed all within a short walk. The best golf resorts on the East Coast hand you all of that in one stop.
The tricky part isn't finding a good one. It's deciding which one to book first. A few of these names you already know by heart. A couple might be the round you brag about for years.
Key Takeaways
The best golf resorts on the East Coast run from the rocky shore of Maine all the way down to warm, sunny South Florida. Big names like Pinehurst, Kiawah Island, and Sea Island lead the pack, but there's a strong pick in almost every state in between. Most of them let you stay and play in one place, with the hotel, the first tee, and a good meal all steps apart. Here's a quick snapshot before the details.
Resort | Where | Signature Course | Best For |
Samoset Resort | Rockport, Maine | Samoset Golf Course | Ocean views up north |
The Omni Homestead Resort | Hot Springs, Virginia | The Cascades | History and mountain air |
Pinehurst Resort | Pinehurst, North Carolina | Pinehurst No. 2 | Bucket-list golf |
Kiawah Island Golf Resort | Kiawah Island, South Carolina | The Ocean Course | A true championship test |
The Sea Pines Resort | Hilton Head Island, South Carolina | Harbour Town Golf Links | Iconic finishing holes |
Sea Island Resort | Sea Island, Georgia | Seaside Course | Five-star luxury |
Omni Amelia Island Resort | Amelia Island, Florida | Oak Marsh | Marsh and beach combo |
Sawgrass Marriott | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | TPC Sawgrass Stadium | Playing where the pros play |
Streamsong Resort | Bowling Green, Florida | Red, Blue & Black | Modern course design |
PGA National Resort | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | The Champion | South Florida tour golf |
Quick Picker
Best for serious bucket-list rounds: Pinehurst, Kiawah Island, Sawgrass Marriott
Best for families: Sawgrass Marriott, Sea Island, Omni Amelia Island
Best for luxury and spa days: Sea Island, Kiawah Island
Best for something a little different: Streamsong, Samoset, The Omni Homestead
Best for warm winter golf: PGA National, Streamsong, Sawgrass Marriott
Wayback Tours helps you keep all your favorite stops in one place, so your dream golf trip is ready when you are.
What Makes East Coast Golf So Good
The East Coast gives you more golf styles than almost any other region. You can chase ocean breezes one week and play tucked into the mountains the next.
Up north, the season is short but the views are huge, with waves and lighthouses framing your round. Down south, the weather stays warm enough to play through winter, which is why so many tour pros train in Florida and the Carolinas. In the middle sits the Lowcountry, a marshy coastal belt running through South Carolina and Georgia that may be the sweetest spot for golf in the country.
Most of these spots are full resorts, not just courses. You get lodging, dining, a spa, and a first tee all in one place. If you like the idea of a getaway built fully around the game, these are some of the best East Coast resorts for it. Many also sit beside beaches, so non-golfers in your group stay happy too.
Takeaway: Pick your region by season. Maine and Virginia shine in summer and fall, while Florida and the Carolinas are gold in winter and spring.
How to Plan Your East Coast Golf Getaway
A little planning turns a good golf trip into a great one. The biggest choices are when to go, how to get around, and how much course time you really want.
When to Go
Spring and fall are the sweet spots for most of the coast, with warm days and fewer crowds. Florida is your winter friend, while Maine and Virginia are at their best from late spring through early fall. Coastal courses can get breezy in the morning, so pack a light layer.
What It Costs
Green fees swing a lot here, from very reasonable up north to premium at the famous championship courses. Marquee rounds like the Ocean Course at Kiawah or Pinehurst No. 2 cost a good bit more than a quiet resort round in Maine. If you want a feel for the bigger picture, this guide on what a trip like this costs is a helpful starting point. Stay-and-play packages usually save you money over booking golf and lodging separately.
Stay-and-Play or Day Trips
Most of these resorts offer stay-and-play packages that bundle your room with rounds and perks like early tee-time access. Staying on-site often unlocks courses you can't book otherwise. If you're folding golf into a bigger East Coast road trip, a day-trip round here and there works too. For ideas beyond the fairway, these East Coast vacation spots pair nicely with a few rounds.
Takeaway: Book the big-name round first, then build the rest of your trip around that tee time.
The Best Golf Resorts on the East Coast, From Maine to Miami
Here are ten resorts worth building a whole trip around, listed in order from north to south. Each one earns its spot for the golf, the setting, or both.
1. Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine
Way up on the Maine coast, Samoset gives you ocean golf without the West Coast price tag. Lobster boats drift past while you play.
Why it stands out: The course hugs Penobscot Bay, with sweeping Atlantic views on most of its holes and several that run right along the water. Golf Digest has called it the "Pebble Beach of the East," and the par-5 4th, which doglegs along a stone seawall, is the kind of hole you remember. It plays fair for all skill levels, so high-handicappers can enjoy the views without losing a sleeve of balls. After your round, the towns of Rockport and Camden are a short drive for a harborside meal.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Rockport, Maine, about 90 minutes from Portland
Signature course: 18-hole Samoset Golf Course with ocean views on most holes
Green fees: more wallet-friendly than the big southern resorts, especially on twilight and fall tee times
Good to know: the season runs roughly spring through late fall, so plan for warmer months
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for anyone who wants ocean golf in New England, and a great kickoff if you're pairing golf with national parks like Acadia nearby.
Save this seaside round to your bucket list before the Maine season slips away
⭐ What is a Bucket List? Save places you want to visit and come back to later. Your Wayback Tours bucket list keeps track of stops you don't want to forget, perfect for planning future trips.
2. The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, Virginia
Tucked into the Allegheny Mountains, The Omni Homestead trades ocean breezes for mountain air and a whole lot of history. This grand old resort has welcomed guests for well over two centuries.
Why this one's worth it: The Cascades Course, designed by William Flynn in the 1920s, is widely considered one of the finest mountain courses in the country, full of elevation changes and creek-lined holes. Golf legend Sam Snead got his start here, and the resort's Old Course is said to have the oldest first tee still in continuous use in the United States. Beyond golf, you get natural hot springs, a big spa, and family activities like a water park. It's a true four-season retreat in the hills.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Hot Springs, Virginia, about 90 minutes from Roanoke
Signature course: The Cascades, a classic mountain layout
Green fees: mid-range, with twilight and junior discounts available
Good to know: this is the same property home to one of the oldest ski areas around, so it's a year-round pick
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for golfers who love history, scenery, and a resort that does far more than golf.
Pin this mountain classic to your list for a cooler-weather golf escape
3. Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, North Carolina
Often called the "Home of American Golf," Pinehurst is the kind of place serious players plan trips around for years. The village itself feels like a golf museum you can walk through.
The quick pitch: Pinehurst No. 2 is Donald Ross's celebrated design, famous for its crowned, turtleback greens that send so-so shots rolling away. It has hosted a long list of major championships, including multiple U.S. Opens, and the USGA named it one of its anchor sites for future Opens. The resort runs several courses in all, plus a fun nine-hole short course known as The Cradle. Anyone can play No. 2 as a resort guest, walking the same fairways as the legends.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Pinehurst, North Carolina, about 75 minutes from Raleigh-Durham
Signature course: Pinehurst No. 2, with several other courses on-site
Green fees: premium for No. 2, with more moderate options on the other courses
Good to know: book early, since the famous courses fill up fast
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, full stop. If you only do one true bucket-list golf resort, this is a strong choice.
Fun Fact:
Pinehurst No. 2 is widely known as Donald Ross's masterpiece, and the resort is said to have hosted more single golf championships than just about any course in America.
This is the round purists dream about, so add it to your list now
Building a golf trip is easier when every can't-miss course lives on one bucket list you can sort, save, and plan around.
4. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
About 30 miles from Charleston, Kiawah pairs Lowcountry charm with one of the toughest, most beautiful courses in the world. This is oceanfront golf at its most dramatic.
What makes this stop different: The Ocean Course, designed by Pete and Alice Dye, is widely known for having more seaside holes than just about any course in the Northern Hemisphere, with ten holes hugging the Atlantic. It hosted the famous 1991 Ryder Cup, known as the "War by the Shore," along with two PGA Championships. The wind here is no joke and can change your club choice by several numbers. Beyond the Ocean Course, the resort runs four more courses plus the Forbes Five-Star Sanctuary hotel.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Kiawah Island, South Carolina, about 45 minutes from Charleston
Signature course: The Ocean Course, plus four more on the island
Green fees: the Ocean Course is a premium round, so expect to pay top dollar
Good to know: the Ocean Course is walking-only, and a caddie helps a lot
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for the challenge and the views, though high-handicappers should play the forward tees and pack patience. Pair it with a day on the wide-open East Coast beaches right outside the door.
Don't let this Ryder Cup legend get away, drop it on your list
5. The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
On the southern tip of Hilton Head, Sea Pines is home to one of the most recognizable finishing holes in golf. The candy-striped lighthouse behind the 18th green is pure Lowcountry golf magic.
Why it stands out: Harbour Town Golf Links, a Pete Dye design with help from Jack Nicklaus, has hosted the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage every year since 1969. It rewards finesse over raw power, with tight fairways framed by live oaks and a closing stretch along Calibogue Sound that's tough to beat. The resort also runs two more courses, plus miles of beach, bike trails, and easy island dining. Hilton Head is one of those rare spots that keeps both golfers and beachgoers grinning.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, about an hour from Savannah
Signature course: Harbour Town Golf Links, plus Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes
Green fees: premium at Harbour Town, with package deals across the three courses
Good to know: a forecaddie is required at Harbour Town and genuinely helps
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for the iconic finish alone, and a top pick among favorite East Coast beach towns for mixing golf with sand time.
Fun Fact:
The red-and-white Harbour Town Lighthouse behind the 18th green is one of golf's most photographed scenes, and is said to draw nearly as many camera-toting visitors as players.
Save this lighthouse finish so it makes your next itinerary
6. Sea Island Resort, Sea Island, Georgia
Sitting halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Sea Island is pure coastal elegance. It's the kind of place where five-star service meets genuine Southern warmth.
The quick pitch: The Seaside Course, a Tom Fazio update of a classic Colt and Alison links design, hosts the PGA Tour's RSM Classic each fall and frames its holes with tidal creeks, dunes, and salt marsh. The resort runs three courses in all, plus a top-tier golf practice center where many tour pros train. Off the course, you get a Forbes Five-Star spa, private beach, and dining that earns its reputation. It's a generational favorite, the sort of place families return to for years.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Sea Island and St. Simons Island, Georgia, about an hour from Jacksonville
Signature course: Seaside, plus the Plantation and Retreat courses
Green fees: premium, in line with its luxury reputation
Good to know: the Seaside Course is set for a restoration that closes it for part of 2026, so check before booking
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for golfers who want luxury with their links. Build in a relaxing spa day between rounds, or add an inland detour to Georgia's lake country for even more golf.
Tuck this five-star favorite onto your list for a splurge-worthy trip
7. Omni Amelia Island Resort, Amelia Island, Florida
Just south of the Georgia line, Amelia Island blends marsh, moss-draped oaks, and three and a half miles of quiet beach. It's a relaxed, scenic spot to start your Florida golf run.
Why this one's worth it: The Oak Marsh Course is a classic Pete Dye design from 1972, freshly renovated in 2025, winding through salt marsh creeks and heritage oaks. It favors smart shot placement over brute strength, so it's a thinking golfer's course that still plays fun for most skill levels. The resort sits right on the Atlantic with oceanfront rooms, several dining spots, and short courses for a quick, low-pressure round. It's a calmer, more laid-back vibe than the big tournament resorts.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Amelia Island, Florida, about 45 minutes from Jacksonville
Signature course: Oak Marsh, plus short-course options on-site
Green fees: moderate by resort standards, with package rates available
Good to know: Oak Marsh tee times are mainly for resort guests and members
Worth it or skip it? Worth it if you want golf, beach, and a slower pace in one stop, with some of the prettiest northern Florida beaches right there.
Add this easygoing marsh-and-beach combo to your list
8. Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Right next door to one of the most famous courses on the planet, Sawgrass Marriott gives you a front-row seat to tour golf. You'll feel the buzz the moment you arrive.
What makes this stop different: Guests get access to TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS Championship and that nerve-rattling island green on the par-3 17th. The Pete Dye Stadium Course was built to test the world's best, with water in play on every hole and a finish that has decided many tournaments. There's also Dye's Valley Course for a second round. Back at the resort, you get pools, a big spa, beach club access, and plenty of dining, which makes it an easy choice for groups and families.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, about 30 minutes from Jacksonville
Signature course: TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, plus Dye's Valley
Green fees: premium at the Stadium Course, with stay-and-play packages
Good to know: resort guests can book TPC tee times well in advance
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for the chance to play where the pros play, and a strong pick for families thanks to the pools and beach club.
Fun Fact:
The island green 17th at TPC Sawgrass is said to swallow well over 100,000 golf balls a year, courtesy of pros and visitors alike.
Aim your travel plans at that island green and save it now
Ready to lock in your dream golf trip? Start a bucket list of every stop you want to play and keep it all in one easy place.
9. Streamsong Resort, Bowling Green, Florida
Out in central Florida, Streamsong looks like nothing else in the state. Towering sand dunes and firm, rolling fairways rose out of a former phosphate mine.
Why it stands out: This is the rare resort with courses from three of the biggest names in modern design, Coore and Crenshaw's Red, Tom Doak's Blue, and Gil Hanse's Black. The walkable, links-style layouts feel more like Scotland than Florida, and golfers love arguing over which one is best. There's also a fun short course called The Chain, plus a sleek lodge, a spa, and bass fishing on the property's lakes. It's a design lover's dream and a great group trip.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Bowling Green, Florida, about an hour from Tampa
Signature courses: Red, Blue, and Black, plus The Chain short course
Green fees: mid-to-premium, often a strong value for the quality
Good to know: the courses are built for walking, and walking is the move here
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for golfers who care about course design and want something fresh. It also doubles as a peaceful lakeside getaway once you trade your clubs for a fishing rod.
Save this one-of-a-kind dune golf to your list before booking
10. PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Down in South Florida, PGA National is built for golfers who want tour-level drama and sunshine year-round. With several courses on-site, you can settle in for days.
Don't skip this if you love a challenge: The Champion Course, redesigned by Jack Nicklaus, hosts the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic each spring and is home to the famous "Bear Trap," a water-soaked three-hole stretch that's among the toughest finishes on tour. Five sets of tees keep it playable for the rest of us, so you can pick your own level of pain. The resort runs multiple courses, a large spa, and a big racquet club, making it an easy home base. Warm winter weather is the cherry on top.
What you need to know before you go:
Where: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, about 30 minutes from West Palm Beach
Signature course: The Champion, plus several more courses on-site
Green fees: premium at the Champion, with resort packages available
Good to know: you generally need to stay on property to play the Champion
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for warm-weather golfers who want to test their nerve on a real tour course, then unwind near the sunny boardwalks of South Florida.
Drop this Bear Trap challenge onto your list for a winter trip
How to Pick the Right Resort for Your Group
The "right" resort really depends on who you're traveling with. A golf-obsessed buddies' trip and a family vacation call for different picks.
If your group lives for championship golf courses and tough tests, point yourselves toward Pinehurst, Kiawah, or Sawgrass. If you've got non-golfers along, lean on spots with strong beaches and extras, like Sea Island, Hilton Head, or Amelia Island. Want warm weather in the dead of winter? Florida is your answer, with PGA National and Streamsong leading the way. For a quieter, scenery-first trip, Samoset and The Omni Homestead deliver.
It also helps to think about budget and pace. Some of these are once-in-a-while splurges, while others let you play several rounds without emptying your wallet. If you're chasing top-shelf comfort, compare them with other luxury resorts before you commit.
Takeaway: Match the resort to your group first, then the season, then the budget, and you'll come home happy.
Final Thoughts
From lobster-boat views in Maine to the Bear Trap in South Florida, the best golf resorts on the East Coast give you a lifetime of memorable rounds in one long, sunny stretch of coast. The hardest part is choosing where to start, and the good news is you really can't go wrong.
These are the kinds of bucket-list golf courses you'll want to remember and return to. Pick one for your next East Coast golf trip, then start dreaming up the next.
Save these stops, build your own road trip bucket list, and keep track of every course you want to play, all in one place with Wayback Tours.
FAQs
What is the most famous golf resort on the East Coast?
Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina is among the most famous, often called the "Home of American Golf" and home to the celebrated Pinehurst No. 2 course. Kiawah Island and Sea Island are close behind in name recognition.
When is the best time of year for an East Coast golf trip?
Spring and fall are ideal across most of the coast, with warm days and smaller crowds. Florida is best in winter, while Maine and Virginia shine from late spring through early fall.
Do you have to be a great golfer to play these courses?
Not at all. Most of these resorts offer multiple tee boxes and easier sister courses, so beginners and high-handicappers can play comfortably while stronger players take on the championship layouts.
Are East Coast golf resorts good for non-golfers too?
Yes. Many sit right on the beach and offer spas, pools, dining, and activities like fishing, tennis, and biking, so non-golfing travel partners have plenty to enjoy.
How far in advance should I book a tee time at these resorts?
For famous courses like Pinehurst No. 2 or Kiawah's Ocean Course, book as early as you can, often a few months out, especially in peak spring and fall seasons. Staying on-site usually gives you earlier booking access.