Road Trip! What are your favorite off-the-beaten-path golf courses?
No matter how far off the grid, some golf courses are worth every mile it takes to find them. My favorite remote golf experiences are those that are located in a piece of the world that are so unbelievably quiet, desolate or rugged they could never be located near a large population base.
Sometimes, my most memorable and remote courses are set within or near a national park. This photo essay begins near Big Bend National Park, one of the most under-visited national parks in the U.S. and located on the far southwest part of the Texas border. Black Jack's Crossing is simply one of the most remarkable pieces of property I've ever played the game on. For the pleasure, it's about 6-8 hours from the Texas Triangle by car but cheated by taking a private charter flight out of Dallas to get there (something the Lajitas Resort offers to groups).
Another great reason why you should seek out remote courses is that, oftentimes, they present a tremendous value. Consider the majority of the most expensive courses in the U.S. are near large metropolises with lots of cash (Miami; Pebble Beach, Calif.; and Las Vegas, to name a few). Meanwhile, remote hotbeds such as Northern Michigan and Minnesota's Iron Range, Nebraska and Cape Breton Island all offer spectacular golf for less than $100 prime time.
Other resorts in prime settings, however, are so good they still command a pretty penny. Bandon Dunes and Streamsong, for example, are two of the poster children for bucket list destination golf and can charge more than $200 to play. The same goes for Fairmont Jasper Park, which, despite the effort it takes to find, offers a luxurious experience and charges accordingly for it. None of these courses are easy to find, but they deliver with all-encompassing resort experiences that mean visitors can play golf all day and never leave the property.
Internationally, there are lots of choices for remote golf that's worth the effort, especially when you consider getting around Europe often requires long, winding roads. I went with a selection from Scotland, Ireland and even Greece. In all three cases, the drive there was a harrowing journey, making the round of golf itself feel that much more earned.
In these photos, I've spotlighted some of my favorite remote golf experiences. But despite a decade in the business, I still haven't been everywhere. I'm always anxious to visit the next one no matter the distance. So I'm curious, what are your favorite golf courses well worth the trip?