Whether buddy trips, couples’ weekends, short getaways, or destination golf experiences, more than 12 million Americans have traveled to play golf each year since 2022, up from an estimated 8.2 million in 2018. This appetite not only highlights golf’s popularity, but mirrors a broader societal trend toward experiential pursuits. And it’s being driven especially by the allure of aspirational courses and bucket-list destinations.

Over the past five years, more than 40% of new golf course openings have had resort ties or can be considered “destination” locations where golf is the prime focus. The former category includes recent debuts at high profile resorts like Bandon Dunes in Oregon (Shorty’s), Streamsong in Florida (The Chain), Sand Valley in Wisconsin (Sedge Valley), and Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina (No. 10), while the latter encompasses private or public getaway destinations such as Broomsedge, Old Barnwell and The Tree Farm in South Carolina, or GreyBull and Landmand in Nebraska.