Ideas for Father/Son golf trip in april
 

My husband 15 year old son would like to take a 5-6 day golf trip leaving on 4/7. I know that's over Easter but its when he has spring break so what can you do? They would like to be 3-4 hrs max by air from Chicago, have several courses to choose from (public or private), nice warm weather so the non-golfing time can be at a pool. They've been to Arizona and Florida. Was wondering about the weather at Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach that time of year; would it be better to look at Puerto Rico or Bahamas instead?

You might be the coolest wife ever.

thanks for the compliment but the older son has his break a week earlier and that will be my escape!

Come to Gulf Shores, AL! You can fly into Pensacola or Mobile and we're less than an hour drive. We have ten excellent courses within 10 miles of Gulf Shores, plus we're close to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Weather is excellent in April and the seafood is terrific. I should work for the Chamber of commerce....

Myrtle Beach is the perfect choice. Weather will be perfect that time of year. Packages are VERY reasonably priced. Can get packages that include hotel, breakfast and greens fees at most hotels, and have more than 100 courses to choose from. I've been to Myrtle Beach many times--it's golf heaven. Hilton Head is a bit pricier, and not as many courses to choose from. Also more difficult to get to (fly into Savannah and about 1 hour drive from there).
Check out golfholiday.com the Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday web site. Lots of info, and can order a great magaznie (free) called Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, with all the hotels and golf course info.
By the way, I second the previous vote that you may be the coolest wife ever.

Just want to make sure that the weather will be upper 70's to low 80's that time of year....right?

Hard to guarantee, but that time of year should be PERFECT for golf. 70's, maybe not into the 80's yet, but I think 80's can sometimes be too warm for golf anyway.

If you decide on Myrtle Beach, you can send me an email at [email protected] and I'll give you my recommendations as to what I think are the best courses there.

If the other locations don't work out keep Williamsburg, Va in mind. The weather won't be as warm but Busch Gardens will be open and several hotels have indoor pools. There are several courses here and you can even get packages. Kingsmill's River Course is the site of an LPGA tournament and the Golden Horseshoe is on the top 100 public courses list. I'm sure they'll have fun wherever they go.

April should be in the mid eighties by day with little humidity in Myrtle Beach.

They have an absurd amount of golf courses, something like 120 so your husband and son will have a lot to choose from.

Spirit Air flies direct from Chicago to Myrtle Beach I believe.

Also, Kiawah (Ryder Cup) and the Charleston courses are an hour and a half away. Perfect day trip.

My husband and his buddies go to Myrtle Beach at around that time every year. They love it. The golf is inexpensive and there are literally 100's of courses to choose from.

Like another poster said, Hilton Head is more upscale and harder to get to. Not necessarily better golf.

I think for a father/son weekend, Myrtle Beach is the ticket.

What about San Diego? The Lodge at Torrey Pines is beautiful & right next to a great course! The Four Seasons in Carlsbad is also supposed to be great & Carlsbad has several courses. There's also a course on Coronado Island, just over the bridge from downtown San Diego. The Hotel Del Coronado is fantastic, right on the beach.

How about Las Vegas? There are some pretty nice courses north of the city connected to great resorts (the JW Marriott, for example)-- and the Strip is no more than 20 minutes away!

A list of golf courses in the area.

http://www.grandpacificpalisades.com...lf_courses.htm

Once "junior" is 18, consider New Orleans. I've played Audubon Park and English Turn. Audubon is a public park but well maintained. English Turn is a PGA stop and is quite nice. When the golf is done, you can explore the great city at your doorsteps.

Again, it's probably not as good for a 15 yr old. I like the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head suggestions for now.

My USA dream golf road trip:

Day 1 - Bandon Dunes
Day 2 - Pacific Dunes
Day 3 - drive to Monterrey
Day 4 - Pebble
Day 5 - Spyglass

Probably doesn't work for your husband and son, but thanks for the daydream.

That's a good daydream Beachbum, and in 2 weeks I'm actually living one of my dream golf trips and am playing Pebble. Can't wait!

I've been to South Carolina in mid to late April and experienced temperatures in the high 50's and 60's. It could be up in the 80's but I wouldn't count on it in early April.

Kathy, I live in SC and if the daytime high temps are in the 50s or 60s here, it will be -100 in Chicago.

I really can't think of the last time the weather was chilly in April.

almesq,
Hire a caddy; they're worth it. Six, seven, eight, and nine is the most memorable stretch of holes I've played anywhere. Especially the second shot on eight. Hope the weather cooperates for you.

o O (I think my second shot is usually from somewhere around the women's tee....)

Thanks beach. I've put in a request for caddy, but they said they can't guarantee they'll be available. Just have to wait and hope they are.

I can't believe no one's plugged the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. It's put Alabama on the map with golfers from around the world. There are nine, maybe ten outstanding courses. Cambrian Ridge in Greenville's the featured course on the new PGA video game, I think. You can start at one end of the state and play a different, award- winning course every day with only an hour or so drive between them. Check it out at www.rtjgolf.com

If going to SC, I'd pick Hilton Head over Myrtle Beach if you can handle the 25% higher budget. Less crowded, more of a pure golf experience. That's MHO, but I don't like Myrtle Beach proper as it's too darn overbearing, unless that's your thing. It might be fun for a 15-yr. old, though. I do a golf weekend every year in Hilton Head in April, and the weather is always fabulous...typically in the mid-70s to mid-80s. We go to Myrtle each summer for dirt cheap rates, but even then stay just north of the SC/NC line in Brunswick to avoid the mess that is Myrtle Beach.

almesq, I second the caddy for Pebble Beach. I couldn't get one myself because I requested one too late, but a couple I was paired with had one and he helped me just the same. I played there in 2000 just three weeks after the US Open was there. It is absolutely stunning...I hope you have good weather! I agree the stretch of holes from 6-11 (really can add 4 and 5) along the ocean are stunning, and then 17 will stir up the Tom Watson memories (I almost holed out from the same spot...saved my par, though!) and 18 is the best ending to the best golf day you'll have. Your score will be immaterial by the time you finish. Be prepared for at least 5.5 hours, but the scenery and surroundings will more than make the time fly by.

It is some extra flying time, but Cabo San Lucas is a fabulous place to golf and visit during that time of the year. Golf, beach, desert, and beautiful scenery. There are many golf courses along the corridor between San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. It is probably a 5 hour flight from Chicago....they will love Cabo, I go there twice a year myself.