The FairwayPal Blog
The 6 Best Bachelor Party Golf Destinations (Ranked Honestly)
By the FairwayPal Team — built by golfers who've organised too many trips across too many WhatsApp threads.
Updated
The groom wants golf. The group wants a weekend they'll still be talking about in 10 years. Here's where to go — ranked by what actually matters: course quality, experience, partner options, and honest pricing.
The cheat sheet
- Default pick:
- Scottsdale: 200+ courses, consistent weather, strong nightlife and resorts that handle big groups.
- Pick by priority:
- Bandon Dunes if serious golf is the whole point, Myrtle Beach if budget matters, Scotland or Ireland for the trip people talk about for years.
- Budget:
- $900 to $2,500 per person for a 3-night US trip. Myrtle Beach about $900 to $1,500, Scottsdale $1,400 to $2,200, Bandon Dunes $1,500 to $2,500.
- Rounds:
- 2 to 3 for a 3-night trip, one round per golf morning.
- Partners coming?:
- Build the non-golf itinerary before you book, not after.
Not sponsored by any of them. These are the rankings we'd give if we were planning our own trip.
How we ranked these
Four criteria, weighted in this order: course quality (most important), overall experience for a bachelor group, non-golfer viability, and value for money. A destination that scores 9/10 on courses but 2/10 on everything else doesn't make the top three. These are trips for groups of people, not solo golf pilgrimages.
Price basis: per-person ranges cover flights, shared accommodation, green fees and food for the trip length shown. They are typical ranges from public green-fee and lodging rates, not quotes, and peak-season weekends land at the top of each range.
The six at a glance
| Destination | Rank | Trip length | Per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale, AZ | #1 | 3 nights | $1,400–2,200 | Most groups — especially first-time organisers |
| Ireland | #2 | 5–6 nights | $2,500–4,000 | Groups where the groom has bucket-list links courses |
| Scotland | #3 | 5–6 nights | $2,500–4,000 | Golf-first groups; bucket-list St Andrews rounds |
| Bandon Dunes, OR | #4 | 3 nights | $1,500–2,500 | Pure golf groups — no non-golfers, no nightlife needs |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | #5 | 3 nights | $900–1,500 | Budget-conscious groups; high-volume golf |
| Pinehurst, NC | #6 | 3 nights | $1,200–1,800 | Golf history fans; quieter, more traditional vibe |
The default. Still the best all-rounder.
200+ courses, reliable weather, a resort infrastructure that handles large groups without drama. The 19th hole options are strong. The spa scene means partners aren't an afterthought. It's the default because it works.
Best for
Most groups — especially first-time organisers
Courses
TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa
Partner options
World-class spas, Old Town, wine trail, hiking
Price range
$1,400–2,200/person (3 nights)
For the trip people talk about for 20 years.
The Old Head of Kinsale on a clear morning is one of the most dramatic golf experiences in the world. Pair it with Lahinch and Ballybunion and you have a golf trip that genuinely cannot be replicated anywhere else. Ireland as a country is spectacular — partners often come back happier than the golfers.
Best for
Groups where the groom has bucket-list links courses
Courses
Old Head of Kinsale, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Royal Portrush
Partner options
Galway, Cliffs of Moher, coastal villages, pubs
Price range
$2,500–4,000/person (5–6 nights)
The birthplace of golf. Still earns the reverence.
Playing the Old Course at St Andrews is a rite of passage for any serious golfer. The St Andrews/Carnoustie/Kingsbarns loop is extraordinary. Scotland's culture — whisky, history, landscape — makes it a real trip, not just a golf junket. The cost is justified by the experience.
Best for
Golf-first groups; bucket-list St Andrews rounds
Courses
St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart
Partner options
Edinburgh, castles, whisky distilleries, coastal walks
Price range
$2,500–4,000/person (5–6 nights)
For the group that takes golf seriously.
Bandon Dunes is a golf resort with five world-class courses on dramatic Pacific coastline. It exists for golf. The communal dining and no-distraction remote setting makes it ideal for a group that wants to play golf, eat together, and talk about golf. Nothing else competes — because nothing else is there.
Best for
Pure golf groups — no non-golfers, no nightlife needs
Courses
Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Sheep Ranch, Old Macdonald
Partner options
Coastal walks, Coos Bay — limited options
Price range
$1,500–2,500/person (3 nights)
Best value for money. Highest fun-per-dollar.
100+ courses, cheap green fees, beach access, and a party atmosphere that doesn't require effort. Caledonia is legitimately world-class. Myrtle Beach is the right call when the budget is real and volume of golf matters more than prestige of course names.
Best for
Budget-conscious groups; high-volume golf
Courses
Caledonia, TPC Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Plantation
Partner options
Atlantic beach, watersports, Broadway at the Beach
Price range
$900–1,500/person (3 nights)
Classic American golf history.
Pinehurst No. 2 is one of the most important courses in American golf history. If the groom cares about that, it belongs in the conversation. The village is genuinely charming. But activity density is lower than Scottsdale or Myrtle Beach — best suited to groups that want quiet evenings rather than a party scene.
Best for
Golf history fans; quieter, more traditional vibe
Courses
Pinehurst No. 2, No. 4, No. 8, The Cradle
Partner options
Pinehurst Village, spa, Lake Tillery
Price range
$1,200–1,800/person (3 nights)
How to decide in three questions
Does the groom have a bucket-list course?
If yes, the decision is mostly made. Old Head of Kinsale → Ireland. St Andrews → Scotland. TPC Scottsdale Stadium → Scottsdale. Pinehurst No. 2 → Pinehurst. Build the trip around the one course that matters most.
What's the real budget?
Get an honest number before anyone has opinions about destinations. Then: under $1,000/person → Myrtle Beach. $1,200–2,000 → Scottsdale or Pinehurst. $2,000+ → Scotland, Ireland, or Bandon Dunes.
Are there non-golfers coming?
If yes, rule out Bandon Dunes unless all non-golfers are experienced outdoors people. The remaining five all work — Scottsdale and Ireland have the strongest partner activity options.
Destination picked. Now plan it.
5 questions. Golf and partner itinerary. One shareable link for the whole group.
Common Questions
Bachelor golf trip FAQ
What's the best US destination for a bachelor golf trip?+
How much does a bachelor golf weekend cost?+
Should we go domestic or international for a golf bachelor party?+
How many rounds of golf should you plan for a bachelor golf weekend?+
What if some guys in the group don't golf?+
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