Dear Golfer on the Go:
Let’s take a moment to talk about rentals. Not rental clubs. Rental accommodations. Specifically, let’s discuss sweet, short-term lodging within easy striking distance of A-list courses. Here are 11 spots that fit the bill, available on Airbnb.
1. An East-meets-West Retreat
The Japanese no longer own Pebble Beach Golf Links, but their influence lives on at the nearby Kyoto House, a tranquil three-bedroom home with a large, modern kitchen and a manicured Zen garden where you can sip your morning coffee and gather your thoughts in mental preparation for the epic round ahead. $799 per night.
2. A Killa Villa in Orlando
Oodles of Tour pros live in Orlando, and many would be happy to own this lavish spread, a 9-bedroom retreat at Reunion Resort that boasts a private pool, a spa and a home theater with a 106-inch screen and stadium seating. As for outdoor entertainment, it’s all around. Reunion itself has three 18-holers, and Bay Hill, among others, is just down the road. $836 per night.
3. Traverse City Special
If you enjoy stogies, you might also enjoy knowing that that this downtown loft used to house the Traverse City Cigar Box Company. The industrial-chic space has been fully renovated, and now includes access to a private gym. But you’re not here to workout. Your here to relax at any number of top-notch courses, including Tom Wieskopf’s Cedar River Golf Club at Shanty Creek and the Bear, by Jack Nicklaus, at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. And don’t forget Arcadia Bluffs, and its two must-play layouts along Lake Michigan. $425 per night.
4. Myrtle Beach Manse
This 7-bedroom home is called “Atlantis,” but it’s not under water – it’s ALONG the water, awash in ocean views and equipped with a huge pool and a hot tub. Where to play? True Blue and Caledonia rank among the best of the 100-plus area courses.
5. Pinehurst Crashpad
Pinehurst is the cradle of American golf, and this cool crib is only minutes from it. It’s plenty golf-y in its own right. Each of its three-bedrooms is named after a legend of the game (Player, Palmer and Nicklaus, if you’re keeping score), and then there’s the Andrew “Beef” Johnson Kitchen, replete with granite countertops, stainless steel cookware and everything else you need to stay well fed. $246 per night.
6. Windy City Spread
The south side of Chicago might be the baddest part of town, but it’s home to some of the best public golf you’ll find, including the four tracks at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club. And since golf on the north side ain’t too shabby either, you might as well stay smack dab in the middle, in a sprawling Old Town penthouse loft with 20-foot ceilings, a rooftop patio for post-round partying, and multiple hot tubs for winding down. $899 per night.
7. A Nest Near the Crow’s Nest
It’s that time of year again in Augusta, Georgia. With the tournament in town, you’ve turned up, too, with Masters passes in your hand and a temporary residence in the books. Your home for the week is this charming, freshly renovated 3-bedroom house, in the upscale Hammond’s Ferry district, within walking distance of the Savannah River. Let’s be honest, though. You’ll be spending more time watching the action along Rae’s Creek. $875 per night.
8. Awesome Digs in Austin
The capital of Texas is the fastest growing big city in the country, but there’s still a lot of room for you and 16 friends. All of you can bed down comfortably in this expansive villa, which has a pool, a hot tub and not one but two kitchens. But rather than eat in, we recommend you head out for barbecued ribs, and then bang the ball around at Omni Barton Creek Resort or Lions Municipal Golf Course, the beloved city track that locals know as Muny. $1,900 per night
9. Respite Amid the Red Rocks
Contrary to popular perception, St. George, Utah, is not a dry city, and at this property you’re bound to get wet. Alongside this spacious, seven-bedroom home spreads a giant pool, with two waterslides, two rock waterfalls and three spots atop a cliff from which to practice cannonballs. Practicing your golf swing is also an option at any of the 10 terrific courses on St. George’s Red Rock Golf Trail. $1,199 per night.
10. Kohler Accommodations
With five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, this is a home of Midwestern comfort. And it’s close to a cluster of Midwestern classics at Destination Kohler, including Whistling Straits and Black Wolf Run. $495 per night.
11. A High-End Hacienda
Located in the heart of Albuquerque, this light, bright three-bedroom home gives you easy access to several sleeper layouts in one of this country’s great unsung golf cities, tops among them the Championship Course at the University of New Mexico. If you’re up for a short drive, head out to Paa-Ko Ridge, a marquee track on the eastern slopes of the Sandia mountains. It will take you 25 minutes to get back to the city, but much longer to come down from the high.
