If you’re a golf enthusiast, you’d probably want to enjoy this amazing game as often as possible. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, as many golf players are on a budget for various reasons. However, if you’re in this situation, you shouldn’t despair, as we have the perfect solution for you – four cheap but exquisite golf courses you can play across the country. So, whether you want to save some money or don’t earn enough at the moment to play more expensive courses, we’ve got you covered.
1. Wigwam Golf Club: The Gold Course (Phoenix, Arizona)
Website: wigwamgolf.com
Green fees: start from $60
The Gold Course at Wigwam Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. as the standout among the courses at the club. Since 1965, his golf courses have been recognized as some of Arizona’s most popular and esteemed courses. The Gold Course ranked in the top 25 public courses in the state. It was renovated in 2015 and plays long at 7,345 yards, with narrow fairways and strategically placed bunkers along with small greens, making it a stout tournament host.
For 70 years, exceptional golf has been a hallmark of the Wigwam experience. Earning some of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, including Golf Magazine’s Silver Medal Award and Golf Digest’s Top Resort Course in Arizona, it’s no wonder The Wigwam Golf Club is considered one of the nation’s premier golf resorts. If you’re wondering how much it costs to play a round at the Gold Course, you should breathe a sigh of relief, as you’ll have to pay only $60 to enjoy your favorite game.
If you’d like to play at the Wigwam Golf Club with your friends or family, you can now experience even more Arizona golf by virtue of the Golf Your Brains Out vacation package. For only $113 per night, you can play the Gold Course, as well as the O’odham Course at the Talking Stick Golf Club, and many more during your golf vacation.
Stay and play packages in Phoenix
Stay and play packages in Arizona
2. Kingsmill Resort: The Plantation Course (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Website: kingsmill.com
Green fees: start from $75
The Plantation Course at Kingsmill Resort is a design by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay that challenges players of all skill levels. The 6,432-yard, par-72 course favors precise iron play and good putting. Fairway landing areas are wide, but water comes into play on eight holes, and you’ll encounter deep woods or ravines. Greens are large and offer inviting targets for approach shots. On the putting surface, undulations and swales make getting down in two a rewarding accomplishment. With landmarks from Richard Kingsmill’s 1736 plantation woven into the landscape, a round on the Plantation Course is truly historic.
Built in 1985, the golf course plays through a housing development and is relatively short, tipping out at under 6,500 yards. You’ll be challenged by water, plenty of trees, and some picturesque rolling terrain. Palmer and Seay have teamed up for some exquisite courses through the years, and the Plantation Course is no exception. They’ll force you to think your way around the course and position your tee shots for the path of least resistance to each green. To relish a round of golf at the Plantation Course, you’ll have to pay between $75 and $140, depending on the season. Furthermore, if you want to play only 9 holes, the cost will be $50 to $90.
Are you ready to explore more golf courses in the Williamsburg area? If so, we wholeheartedly recommend checking out the A Trio of Greats vacation package for this awesome destination. For $183 per night, you can also enjoy a round of golf at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.
Stay and play packages in Virginia
3. La Cantera Golf Club: The Resort Course (San Antonio, Texas)
Website: lacanteragolfclub.com
Green fees: start from $59
La Cantera Golf Club boasts a gorgeous 18-hole championship golf course in San Antonio. The playing field, known as the Resort Course, is a design by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf from 1995 that is the chief amenity of the golf club. La Cantera Golf Club was a 36-hole facility, but the Palmer Course permanently closed in 2021. The golf club has been a fixture on Golf Advisor’s list of the Top Courses in Texas, and it’s frequently rated San Antonio’s top course.
This dramatic layout rambles over dramatic up-and-down terrain near the Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park. Scenic live oaks line the housing-free fairways as the playing field winds among rushing streams and limestone rock outcroppings. Over 70 sand bunkers define the holes of the Resort Course and help defend par. When you play here, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of many PGA Tour greats. If you’re wondering how much it costs to play a round at this majestic golf course, you should know that the price starts at $59 during the week and at $79 during the weekend.
Are you interested in having a broader San Antonio golfing experience? If so, check out JW Marriott San Antonio, a golf package vacation for which you’ll have to pay $198 per night to experience the luxurious golf courses and breathtaking amenities at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Gather your golf buddies and have an unforgettable golfing experience in Texas!
Stay and play packages in Texas
4. Reunion Resort & Golf Club: The Palmer Course (Orlando, Florida)
Website: reunionresortgolf.com
Green fees: start from $120
Sprawling out over hilly, rolling terrain, Arnold Palmer’s golf course offers 6,916 yards of enticing play with elevation changes up to 50 feet. The Palmer Course at Reunion Resort & Golf Club is a premier, upscale course at one of Orlando’s true golf havens. Located just south of Disney World, the resort is a vast, 2,300-acre gated community boasting three different championship signature golf courses designed by the renowned Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson. The Palmer Course, originally known as the Legacy Course, has appeared on Golf Advisor’s list of the Top Courses in Florida.
Palmer’s layout, winding amidst housing on intriguing terrain that dips and rises, features wide fairways, big greens, and natural and man-made water hazards. It’s as close to a resort-style course as Reunion offers, but it is quite challenging. Five sets of tee ensure that golfers of diverse skill levels can find a workable distance between 4,795 yards and 6,916 yards. Although the main hazards are sandy waste areas, wetlands, and greenside bunkers, the most memorable holes the Palmer Course feature forced carries over water. It’s a strong driving course inviting long hitters to swing with abandon on a few heroic tee shots, including a signature drivable par-4 that plays over a lake. To play a round at the Palmer Course, you’ll have to pay $120 during low season and $180 during peak season.
To play all three golf courses at Reunion Resort and Golf Club, check out the Reunion Resort Classic vacation package, for which you’ll have to pay $142 per night to enjoy these superb golf courses and everything they have to offer. Golf aficionados will truly appreciate the uniqueness of these distinct golf courses designed by some of the most acclaimed golf architects in the world.
In conclusion, even if you’re on a budget, if you love golf, there are still ways to enjoy it if you choose the courses you want to play carefully and call ahead to know how much a round costs. We hope that we’ve helped you with some ideas for your next golf vacation and that you’re going to have a memorable golfing experience.
Stay and play golf packages in Florida
This article is a guest post by Sean Petersen
Sean Petersen, the founder of Golf Trip Junkie, is not only an enthusiastic golfer but also an adventurous traveler and a passionate storyteller, eager to share his wealth of golfing knowledge with the world.
