Tee off at these GQ-approved golf resorts
Even the freshest novice knows a brilliant round of golf is about more than mere score-chasing. You want to find those moments of putting bliss that outshine any anguish over a double bogey. And while you can't summon the golf gods’ graces at will, you can carefully select the courses and bucket-list resorts where you play. Imagine solid tee shots flying across a Greg Norman-designed green fringed by jungle at Mexico’s Banyan Tree Mayakoba, pictured above. Or, consider the UNESCO World Heritage backdrop of FLC Halong Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort in Vietnam. The seven GQ-approved golf resorts featured here all make for a great golfing pilgrimage, where incredible hospitality and stunning scenery long outlast any missteps on the scorecard.
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Banyan Tree Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
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From golf's so-called "Great White Shark" Greg Norman (a former pro golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame) comes El Camaleón Golf Course, his audacious Latin American debut that slices through dense mangroves, saltwater canals and lush jungles. This epic layout commands awe-inspiring views, and challenges golfers with constantly shifting terrain and long, forced carries over hazards. After the round, check in to one of the 34 new pool villas that open onto powdery beaches. Refuel at Sands Beach Club before a moonlit Ixchel boat tour aboard a traditional trajinera that navigates Mayakoba's canals.
VOGO Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Find your proving grounds among the windswept holes, searing temperatures and saltwater hazards of the National Course. After sundown, floodlights bathe the fairways for guests with an appetite for a midnight rematch. Whenever you conquer the links, your room might only be steps from the 18th; expect rooms with private balconies and plush beds. When you're ready to head back out, hit the driving range or arrange a lesson with a PGA professional at the Falcon Performance Institute—after all, this oasis demands an encore.
FLC Halong Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort (Ha Long, Vietnam)
It's hard to compete with the scenery at this cliffside resort overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay, and its emerald seascape. But for golf enthusiasts, a close second might be the ingenious course crafted by master planners Schmidt-Curley Design, which slaloms through lush pine forests. It's a challenging par-71 course, and many holes have direct views of the bay. Fortunately, the village-inspired resort offers a tranquil refuge. Wake to panoramic views before brunch at breezy Huong Bien while watching yachts cruise through the limestone karst formations.
The Palace of the Lost City (Sun City, South Africa)
You'll find this resort and golf destination atop an extinct volcano in the Pilanesberg mountains. Lost City's serpentine greens and rocky desert channels were designed by South African golf phenom Gary Player, and include a 13th-hole green shaped like the African continent, plus resident crocodiles that patrol the water hazards. After conquering this course, find refuge at The Palace, which honors a mythical lost kingdom through zebra sculptures and lush man-made jungle springs. Let loose at the Valley of Waves waterpark, which has dueling slides, or book a pre-dawn hot air balloon safari.
The K Club (Straffan, Ireland)
Consider this your chance to take on one of golf's most legendary playgrounds. The 19th-century Irish estate has two Arnold Palmer-designed parkland masterpieces. Tee off at the storied Palmer North, dodging sandy hazards around the signature 4th hole dubbed "Arnold's Pick." Or, tackle the dramatic Palmer South loop, which channels classic Scottish links with dunes, rocky outcroppings and dramatic elevation changes. You can even use cutting-edge simulation technology to hone your swing between rounds at the K Golf World center. After tackling all 36 holes, toast your successes over pints of Irish stout at the lively Blue Martini bar.
The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort (Mallorca, Spain)
At this Mallorcan hideaway, the most alluring sirens may be the trio of acclaimed Son Vida, Son Quint and Son Muntaner golf courses. Here, rippling fairways carved through towering pines are framed by ocean views that are distracting in the best way. As a hotel guest, you'll get access to premium tee times, but you can also lean on your St. Regis butler to arrange a luxury transfer to the courses or a post-game massage at the Arabella Spa. Back at your room, expect impressive seascapes from a private terrace. Later, toast your epics at the breezy Mar Sea Club with a glass of chilled Mallorcan white wine.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón (Naples, Florida)
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, is a stunning Mediterranean-style resort on Florida's Gulf Coast—and a golfer's dream. With two Greg Norman-designed championship courses, both Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, and a prestigious golf academy catering to all skill levels, it's the perfect place to tee off. Before hitting the links, fuel up at the resort's coffee shop, and after a day on the greens, families can reconvene at The Reservoir, the resort's expansive waterpark featuring thrilling slides, a lazy river and private cabanas. In the evening, order a round of cocktails at the Bella Vista lobby lounge, which overlooks the 18th hole.
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