Four Warm-Weather Destinations to Visit Now

From Arizona to Australia, where to escape the snow.

Chris Duthie

Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil foreshadowed an early spring, we snowbound Coloradans are itching for warmer temperatures and a return to the golf course—NOW.

For a no-snow, clubs-inclusive vacation, these four unassailable suggestions all offer the added value of enjoying some star-studded, PGA or LPGA tour entertainment while there:

1. Next week is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 11-14). For those attending Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco this Sunday (go Broncos!), make your trip doubly delicious by driving south to Monterey and experiencing some of the region’s must-play public courses, including Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hills, Links at Spanish Bay, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley Ranch (above) and Del Monte Golf Course. 

2. If you like it hot and sunny, stock up on SPF-30 and head for amazing Adelaide, South Australia. Satiate your golf jones with available tee times at The Grange Golf Club, site of Greg Norman’s first professional win and host of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open (Feb. 18-21); the Alister MacKenzie-routed Royal Adelaide Golf Club (above); and the distinguished, H.C. Rymil-designed Kooyonga Golf Club.

3. Closer to home in Los Angeles is the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open, annually contested at the extraordinary, George Thomas-designed Riviera Country Club (Feb. 18-21). While Riviera is members-only, there are many area public-play courses from which to choose including Rustic Canyon, Trump National, par-3 Terranea Golf Links, highly popular Los Verdes Golf Course, and sumptuous Monarch Beach (above) in nearby Dana Point.

4. Southern Arizona is an absolute delight in winter, and so is attending the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, a new Champions Tour event that returns to the 36-hole Omni Tucson National Resort (March 18-20). Stay and play 27-hole Dove Mountain, 36-hole Ventana Canyon, 27-hole Westin La Paloma, 45-hole El Conquistador, 27-hole Starr Pass, Arizona National, Sewailo and more.

RELATED LINKS

Monterey is Magical

Monarch Beach Reigns Supreme

Arizona’s Top 10 Hidden Golf Treasures

5 Reasons to Visit Old Pueblo

It’s Summer in Melbourne

Chris Duthie is a Durango-based contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.