As we head into the beginning of winter, southern golf courses are heating up with strong ratings. That was the case in November on Golf Advisor, as our ten best courses span all the usual southern hotspots: Naples, Phoenix-Scottsdale, Tampa and Palm Springs.
November isn't always the best time to play golf in the desert due to extensive overseeding maintenance procedures that transition fairways from bermuda to cool-weather rye grass, but that didn't stop a handful of courses from scoring exceptionally well among raters. November and December is the best time to score tee time deals before January's peak season snowbirds descent on the southwest. The catch is that many fairways may be a little wetter (and possibly wet enough to require cart path-only).
The month's number one course is a well-known gem on Golf Advisor. It was our top-rated course of 2016, and doesn't seem to have fallen off a step despite the lofty expectations in 2017. Rams Hill, a Tom Fazio design between San Diego and Coachella Valley, continues to reward golfers who make the trek.
We determine Power Rankings based on your reviews of the month in hopes to provide a snapshot of which courses are peaking near you, or where you may be headed for your next trip. You can view the full top ten below:
Top 10 courses for the month of November
Bonita Springs, Fla.
Winter Garden, Fla.
Peoria, Ariz.
Palm Desert, Calif.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Naples, Fla.
Bluffton, S.C.
Brooksville, Fla.
Burnet, Texas
Borrego Springs, Calif.
