Golfing is a favorite activity for many while enjoying their vacation, and golf enthusiasts may be wondering, what are the best golf courses at Marriott Vacation Club Resorts? If golf is something you love playing while on vacation, then you will love these Marriott Resorts.
Marriott’s Grande Vista
Marriott’s Grande Vista Golf Club is a beautifully constructed 35-acre facility. This golf course was designed by the revered Ron Garl himself. It is a 9-hole, par 32 golf course, which is perfect for those who are looking for a game that won’t last too long so that they can enjoy other aspects of this Marriott property as well. This course is attached to Marriott’s Grande Vista and is nestled on the Florida Everglades with large trees that surround the entire area, giving you a peaceful place to enjoy the game.
Grande Vista also offers the Marriott Golf Academy. Those who are just starting to learn the sport of golf will be provided with instruction, as well as club fitting services. This location provides new golfing fans with everything they’ll need to play.
Desert Springs Villas I & Desert Springs Villas II
Desert Springs Villas I & II has its own golf course on property. The Villas share the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa golf courses, The Palm and The Valley. Both courses are 18-hole, par 72 courses that were designed by Ted Robinson. They feature waterfalls and lakes, as well as bunkers and sand traps for an added challenge. The golf club also offers instruction by PGA professionals, equipment rental, and practice facilities.
Shadow Ridge
Those staying at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge will be able to take advantage of the Shadow Ridge Golf Club attached to the property. With remarkable views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, as well as the rest of Palm Desert, golfers will wish to stay on this course all day long. Nick Faldo was the designer of this course, and created a generously wide fairway for golfers to enjoy. The Shadow Ridge Golf Club also offers lessons to those looking at improving their game.
Hilton Head Resorts
The Hilton Head Resorts provide guests with the ability to experience three different golf clubs. Each of the listed golf clubs is off property but are easy to get to. However, each of these golf clubs have unique and challenging courses that avid golfers will truly enjoy and find worthwhile.
Shipyard Golf Club
Shipyard Golf Course offers 3 different courses. Each one is a 9-hole course and offers four tee positions so that players with any experience level can enjoy. The courses themselves vary in difficulty. It is also possible to combine 2 of the 3 courses to create an 18 hole course for longer play and extra challenge.
Galleon Course
This was the original course built in 1970, and is lined with large trees. Playing on this course will require precise approach shots to get through it.
Brigantine Course
This course includes water hazards as well as small sand traps throughout that will require players to have a good short game. Those playing on this course may also have an occasional alligator sighting as they sun themselves near the water.
Clipper Course
For those looking for a challenge, they will certainly find it on the Clipper Course. It has both water and sand hazards and is best suited for those with a good long game.
Oyster Reef Golf Club
This breathtaking 18-hole course has been notably recognized as one of the Top 20 Courses in the Carolinas. The course itself is one of the most spectacular due to their views and the use of the original landscape in the course design. In addition, their ability to provide an exciting game with exceptional service is noteworthy.
Port Royal Golf Club
This golf club is located on the northwestern point of Hilton Head Island on the Port Royal Plantation. It was voted one of the top 75 U.S. Golf Resorts by Golf Digest Magazine and it is easy to see why. This location boasts three 18-hole courses that all require an accurate eye and a steady hand. These courses are Planter’s Row, Barony, and Robber’s Row.
Marriott’s Heritage Club
Although Marriott’s Heritage Club is a Hilton Head Resort, it is unique in its golf experience and needed its own recognition. Possibly one of the best Hilton Head Resorts for golfers, it not only has its own attached 18-hole golf course that was a part of the PGA tour in 2021, but guests can also take advantage of the other three golf clubs:
- Oyster Reef Golf Club
- Port Royal Golf Club
- Shipyard Golf Club
The use of the above three golf courses is also complementary for those staying at Marriott’s Heritage Club which is a huge bonus for those who love to play.
Lakeshore Reserve
Lakeshore Reserve utilizes The Ritz Carlton Golf Club golf courses located off property. This Golf Club provides golfers with a family friendly environment, where children under the age of 17 years old may golf for free when an adult purchases a round of golf.
The 18-hole course designed by Greg Norman is a fair assessment of a golfer’s abilities, providing wide fairways, closely mowed turf, and large landing areas. The challenges on this course will come in the form of strategically placed hazards. Another challenge of this course comes from preservation of Florida’s natural ecosystem, which includes ponds and wetlands, as well as various trees which act as natural hazards during play. This design not only adds to the challenge, but to the beauty of the course as well.
Marriott Ford’s Colony Country Club
Marriott’s Ford’s Colony Country Club provides three championship courses, for a total of 54 holes, all of which were designed by Dan Maples.
Blackheath
Arguably the most beautiful of the three courses, Blackheath provides many challenges at each of its 18 holes. Every green contains bunkers, numerous waves and bends to the fairway, as well as 13 of 18 holes featuring water hazards.
Blue Heron
The Blue Heron features 18 holes with many of them being par 3 and par 5 holes. Being the longest of the three courses, it features large fairways that are carved out of wetlands. This also provides for a unique course that contains numerous species of wildlife that can be spotted during play.
Marsh Hawk
This 18 hole tree lined course provides golfers with many challenges. Players will note narrow fairways, changes in elevation, bunkers, and lakes along Marsh Hawk. In 1998 and 1999 this course was the host of the Virginia State Opens. It was also a Monday Qualifier for the Henrico County Open in 2005 – 2007 and a Monday Qualifier to the PGA Tour’s Michelob Championship for 12 years in a row.
Marriott Doral
The Marriott Doral features four golf courses to choose from in the Trump National Doral Miami that is located only a half mile from the property.
Blue Monster
The iconic Blue Monster has been a part of the PGA tour for 55 years. It includes one of the Top 100 Holes in the World, which is the 18th hole on this course. Newly updated hazards and features have reinvigorated this monster once again, proving to be quite the challenge.
Golden Palm
Surrounded by astounding water features and bunkers as well as rough Bermuda, this course provides a tough risk/reward decision for players.
Red Tiger
The updating of this course features 14 holes with water hazards and bunkering. It is the most popular of the courses for retreats and tournaments due to the fact that it is not too long, but still sufficiently challenging
Silver Fox
Challenging on the same level as the Blue Monster, Silver Fox provides golfers an opportunity to prove themselves. 16 of 18 holes have come into play, while a myriad of bunkers cover the course. Players may choose from five different teeing off points, so that they can determine how difficult they’d like it to be.
Honorable Mentions
WorldMark Reunion
History was made at WorldMark Reunion when it came to designing its three surrounding courses. This is the only location in the world where courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson are in the same place. This is a location where golf lovers from all over come to play golf on one or all of the courses.
Jack Nicklaus
This course makes use of elevation changes on each of its 18 holes at the tee box as well as the greens.
Arnold Palmer
Featuring just under 7,000 yards of rolling terrain, this course features elevation changes up to 50 feet.
Tom Watson
Rolling fairways and numerous sand bunkers, this course will require its players to have an excellent short game.
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a Disney property that radiates a love of golf. From the decor in the rooms to the ability to access four different Disney courses. These courses will feature classic Disney touches such as Mickey themed golf carts as well as Mickey shaped sand traps. This location is also perfect for those looking to get their children interested in the sport of golf, as they offer a Juniors golf program for kids.
Lake Buena Vista Course
The Lake Buena Vista Course is the only one of the four actually attached to Saratoga Springs. This course is unique in that it is one of only one a few courses that have hosted a PGA Tour event, an LPGA Tour event, and a USGA event. Accuracy is key throughout play on this course, especially on the 7th hole as it has an island green shot.
Magnolia Course
Located across the street from the Grand Floridian, the 18-hole Magnolia Course is the longest of the four courses. It features wide fairways, elevated tees and greens, 11 holes with water, as well as 97 bunkers that provide for a challenging round of golf. Players should be sure to look for a Mickey shaped sand trap on the 6th hole.
Disney Palm Course
Located next to the Magnolia Course across from the Grand Floridian, this course boasts natural beauty from the tree lined fairways to the deer that can be seen on the course during play. However, do not let its loveliness fool you. This course is played at the GA Tours Walt Disney World Golf Classic, and is regarded as the most challenging course by those who play it, due to the bunkers and water hazards.
Disney’s Oak Trail Course
This 9-hole course is located across from Disney’s Polynesian Resort. This is one of the shorter courses for those who would prefer a quick game and is very family friendly.
Conclusion
Marriott Vacation Club Resorts feature some of the best golf courses in the country. There are many different locations to choose from that will provide for unique golf locations, along with a spectacular vacation. Which of these would you prefer to be your home away from home?
