5 Spectacular Seaside Golf Courses You Can Play

Chances are, you may not have the ways or the means to play the two most celebrated seaside courses in the world, the Old Course in St. Andrews and Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula in California. To play the Old Course you first need to win a lottery ballot and Pebble Beach pretty much requires you to secure a home equity loan to pay the hefty greens fees, which are now over $495 (plus a $35 cart fee).

Don't despair, though, I've played some phenomenal seaside layouts that are beautiful, challenging, accessible to the public and a pure joy to play. While none of them have what I deem inexpensive greens fees, all are well worth the rate you pay and you'll receive indelible memories. Click links under pictures and enjoy!

Corales Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Royal Porthcawl, Wales

Kingsbarns, St. Andrews, Scotland

Teeth of the Dog, Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

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Top Five 19th Hole Experiences

Veranda view Sun Valley Resort

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My taste in 19^th holes is quite eclectic, ranging from sipping a single malt in Wales to chugging a frosty brew in Florida.

Here is my top five:

The bar at Royal Porthcawl

Royal Porthcawl (Porthcawl, Wales, England)—Adorned with black and white pictures of past club presidents, plaques listing club champions and appointed with rich wood tables and leather chairs and sofas, the bar is a phenomenal place to drown your sorrows or celebrate your victories after playing one of the world’s great links courses. A great collection of beers, ales and whiskies, makes this simple bar a spectacular experience.

Duel in the Sun Bar at Turnberry Resort (Ayrshire, Scotland)—More of a sports bar than a traditional Scottish pub, this comfortable room in the heart of the hotel has several big screen televisions, an antique snooker table and bar food like fish and chips with mushy peas, peppered pork hot pot with potatoes and carrots and a Scotch lamb and mint burger.

Flora-Bama Lounge (Perdido Key, Florida)—If you venture to the Gulf Shores, Alabama area to play courses like Kiva Dunes, Craft Farms and Lost Key, by all means conclude your day with a few rounds at the Flora-Bama Lounge. It gets its name from its location on the Florida-Alabama border.  Former Oakland Raiders quarterback and serious partier in his day, Kenny Stabler, once called it “the best watering hole in the country.” A combination oyster bar, juke joint and seafood shack, the Flora-Bama is an authentic American roadhouse. Don’t miss the Mullet Toss Festival staged the last full weekend in April (this year 27, 28 and 29).

Sun Valley Resort (Sun Valley, Idaho)—If you’re looking for pure bliss after a round of golf, this clubhouse has a wrap-around terrace with an outdoor fireplace, postcard beautiful mountain panoramas and an excellent menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads.  Doubling as a Nordic ski center in the winter, the clubhouse has perfected the idea of providing the “good life” for its patrons, whether they’re playing golf or swishing down the slopes.

Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club (Nairobi, Kenya)—High vaulted ceilings and a long hardwood bar create a comforting ambiance after a round on the 7,277 yard course that weaves its way through coffee farms and indigenous forests. Ice cold brew on tap and a good selection of whiskies and spirits make it a superb experience.

Play Royal Porthcawl for the Ultimate British Isles Golf Experience

One of my all-time favorite golf experiences was playing Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales. My son and I played this magnificent seaside layout on a brutal March day with 30 mph winds and rain blowing in our faces. 

Despite the torturous weather conditions, our round was an enjoyable one because the course and its setting are as good as it gets in the British Isles. Though it has hosted numerous important tournaments such as the 1995 Walker Cup, Royal Porthcawl is often overlooked for some reason.

You can see the sea from every hole and there are inspiring views south to Somerset and Exmoor, and northwest across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula. The holes are designed facing every direction and you’ll never know when the wind will blow directly in your face.

Though it’s a private club, the members are very welcoming to visitors and you don’t feel like an interloper. Royal Porthcawl opened in 1895 and you’ll experience its 19^th century character at every turn.

After a round, the quaint, cozy bar has a wide range of whiskies for a bit of a warmer as you try to defrost from a chilly day and an excellent selection of draft beers. The clubhouse is perched some 40 feet above the sea affording stunning views as you enjoy your drink. It’s a great place whether you’re celebrating a round or drowning your sorrows.

You can stay at the on-site Dormy Lodge, which offers six single and three twin rooms. Each room is furnished with an en-suite bathroom, remote control TV, DVD player, wireless Internet and tea and coffee making facilities.  Twin rooms/double occupancy cost about $80 a night.

We stayed about a mile away from the course at the Atlantic Hotel in the village of Porthcawl, a friendly bed and breakfast with 25 rooms. In addition to a fantastic full English breakfast each morning, the property has an excellent bar and restaurant, tastefully decorated rooms, complimentary parking, and views of the Bristol Channel to North Devon and Somerset. Room rates for a standard double room are in the $100 to $150 range, depending on the season and other factors.

If you’re looking for an undiscovered gem that’s welcoming to visitors, Royal Porthcawl is a must play on your next visit to England.