10 Great Places to Eat and Drink Golf in the U.S.

Gigantic onion rings, roasted garlic French fries and a Chicago Dog are just a few of the sumptuous foods offered at my favorite 19th holes and golf themed restaurants. 

Let's face it, after a long day on the course accentuated by a shank or two, there's nothing like enjoying some comfort food with your friends in a golf-friendly pub or restaurant, right?

Here are 10 places where everybody talks golf, the beer is cold and the menus are designed for hungry golfers:  

1. NONA BLUE(Orlando, FL)--Part owner Graeme McDowell’s pub/restaurant, with items like Gmac’s Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese, Mama’s Double Stacked Meatloaf and Traditional English Fish and Chips, is the ultimate post round hangout. Located just outside the gates of Lake Nona Golf Club, where McDowell has a home, Nona Blue is teeming with rich, dark wood appointments and furniture. With just a few golf photos and memorabilia, it feels more like a high-end tavern/restaurant than a 19th hole bar. 

2. McKEE'S PUB at Bandon Dunes Resort (Bandon Dunes, Oregon--After a day of oceanside, links style golf at one of the resort's magnificent courses, McKee's Pub is a great place to enhance the Scottish theme to your day. Smartly appointed with dark wood furniture, fireplaces and golf art, this pub is warm and friendly with a menu dotted with delicacies like Braised Lamb Stew, Roast Chicken Pie and its signature dish, Grandma's Meatloaf, which is served with pan gravy, smashed potatoes and green beans.

3. MURRAY BROS. CADDYSHACK (St. Augustine, FL)--Set in World Golf Village, this whimsical restaurant was created by actor comedian Bill Murray and his five brothers. Designed to look and feel like a country club gone bonkers, Murray Bros. Caddyshack features the Bunker Bar with two, 150-inch quad television screens plus additional TVs and lots of memorabilia from the popular movie as well as wacky golf related décor. When it’s time to order, you can choose from a menu that includes the Seasoned Italian Beef sandwich with giardiniera peppers, sport peppers and au jus for dipping, the Double Bogey Cheeseburger, a 2/3 pound ground chuck burger topped with your choice of cheese and the Chicago Dog, a Windy City classic with a beef hot dog on a poppy seed roll with sweet green relish, red onion, tomato, yellow mustard, sport peppers, pickle spears and a sprinkle of celery salt.

4. DONALD ROSS GRILL at Pinehurst Resort (Pinehurst, NC)--Overlooking the world’s largest putting green and Putterboy statue, it’s ideally situated in the clubhouse complex.  Following my favorite lunch at the Donald Ross Grill, a Maniac Hill Club Sandwich with hickory smoked bacon and Beefsteak tomatoes and a large, unsweetened ice tea (the locals love the sweetened, but it’s way too sugary) followed by a piece of Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie, I exit through the front door, take a right to walk through a hallway dotted with historic photos and proceed to gaze at the Payne Stewart statue just outside the side door by the pro shop. We're talking golf nirvana, my friends.

5. GREG NORMAN'S AUSTRALIAN GRILLE (Myrtle Beach, SC)--The Great White Shark’s upscale restaurant features wood grilled steaks and an exceptional wine list. Billing itself as "the upper crust of down under dining", Greg Norman's Australian Grille is not the place you'll be going if you lost wagering on the golf course. Entrees range in price from $24 to $39 at this high-end, waterfront restaurant. Superbly prepared meat, poultry and fish selections make this one of Mrytle Beach's best restaurants. How about a pan-seared New York Striploin topped with hearty portabella whiskey cream sauce with au gratin potatoes? If you have a few extra bucks or just want to spurge in Myrtle Beach, this is the place to do it.

6. BRITISH OPEN PUB (Hilton Head Island, SC--If you don't have the money or inclination to make the trip across the pond, you can soak up some serious British ambiance at the British Open Pub on Hilton Head (there's also a location in nearby Bluffton). From Scotch Eggs and Shepherd's pine to Bangers and Mash and Steak and Mushroom Pie, the menu is a great one. You can top it off with Homemade Chocolate Bread Pudding and Old English Deep Dish Apple Pie. The comfortable dining room has over-size booths, golf memorabilia and flat screen televisions.

7. MR. B's LOUNGE at Pinecrest Inn Resort (Pinehurst, NC-- Set just off the lobby at the venerable Pine Crest Inn, Mr. B's Lounge, once owned by golf architect Donald Ross, is one of America's great 19th holes. Brimming with vintage golf photos, paintings, pin flags and other memorabilia, this place puts you in celebratory mood regardless if you played well or crashed and burned on one of the area's more than 40 golf courses. Don't miss the infamous chipping hole in front of the fireplace during cocktail hour. It's a great place to redeem yourself with a gallery watching. The pub fare offered is reliable with burgers, wings and grouper bites on the menu.

8. PHIL's GRILL at Grayhawk Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ--If you're a "Philly Mick" fan, you'll love Phil's Grill. Dotted with memorabilia from Mickelson's junior golf days to his major championships, it has an elegant ambiance with a hardwood bar and leather couches. Menu highlights include the Navajo  Corn Chowder, Crispy Coconut Shrimp and Soft Shell Tortilla Tacos.

9. TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY--Ya gotta love this concept. Servers in this Celtic themed pub are voluptuous, attractive young ladies clad in mini-kilts and plaid bras. Tilted Kilt's boast is "A cold beer never looked so good." The menu includes items like Irish Nachos, Roasted Garlic Fries, Classic Fish & Chips and Olde Dubin Irish Stew. If you can take your eyes off the beautiful ladies (a very difficult task, I might add) there are thirty-five 50 inch flat screen televisions to watch golf tournaments and other sports events. There are 70 locations in 22 states with more pubs in the development stage.

10. SAM SNEAD'S TAVERN--Specializing in oak grilled meats, fish and poultry and brimming with Sam Snead’s golf memorabilia and photos, this concept restaurant has 11 locations around the country. My favorite lunch items include the Oak Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese appetizer and Fresh Grouper Sandwich.  I'm a huge Slammin' Sammy fan so I never get tired of studying the various Snead photos and artifacts on display at Sam Snead's Tavern.

Other favorites include: MacAllisters Grill & Tavern in Sarasota, Florida, High Velocity Sports Bar at TPC San Antonio at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa and Sun Valley Clubhouse bar and veranda at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.

Top 10 Golf Party Cities and Towns

After an amazing round of golf, is there anything better than (beer) tapping out at the 19th hole?

Yes, especially when you continue the party away from the course.

Later, when you want to take the celebration to another level, there are certain cities and towns on the planet that have extended menus of places to party. Whether you want an ale, lager, stout, single malt or any other celebratory libation, you can find them at my Top 10 favorite places to party after golf.

Bartender, may I have drum roll please:

1. DUBLIN, IRELAND--Great golf courses like Portnarnock Golf Club, The K Club Palmer Course and Druids Glen will draw you to Dublin and its dizzying line-up of pubs will take your celebration game to unparalleled heights. Whether you want a place to drown your sorrows or dance the night away to traditional Irish music, you don't have to look far. If you're not particular about where to drink, just head to the Temple Bar District and you'll find an ample menu of possibilities to display your "A" game. Here are some suggestions to get you started: The Quays Bar in the Temple Bar District, which has traditional Irish music and dancing: The Porterhouse (pictured), a four-story, fun and and drink palace with balconies and giant copper vats situated at the edge of Temple Bar District and Brazen Head, near the Guinness factory, the oldest pub in Ireland, dating back to 1198.

2. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND--The most populous city in Scotland, Edinburgh accommodates its citizens with lots of places to play golf and drink. I love the courses in East Lothian like Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullane, Dunbar and Musselburgh. If you don't have a GPS or don't want to mess with chasing down addresses, just head to Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where you'll find lots of places to eat and drink. Some don't miss pubs in Edinburgh are Deacon Brodie's Tavern (pictured), Cafe Royal Circle Bar, The Last Drop, Peartree House and The Brauhaus.

3. ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND--With the Old Course, The Castle Course and other St. Andrews Links Trust courses, Kingsbarns, The Duke's Course and several other great places to tee up, this wonderful village is golf nirvana. Following the obligatory photo-op on the Swilcan Bridge and perhaps a selfie with the ocean crashing in the background at Kingsbarns, it's time to hit the pubs. These are a few of my favorite places to soak up and enjoy St. Andrews' wonderful golf lifestyle: Dunvegan Hotel Lounge Bar, a magnet for Americans who've just played the Old Course; Ma Bell's, a high-energy pub set in the basement of the St. Andrews Golf Hotel; Jigger Inn (pictured), a gathering place for international tourists, locals and caddies adjacent to the Old Course Hotel; Golf Place, a less than a minute walk from the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse and the One Under Gastro Pub at Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the 18th hole of the Old Course.

4. LOS CABOS, MEXICO--There's nothing quite like playing  golf, engaging in some world-class deep sea fishing where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortes and celebrating your fabulous luck with an ice cold Tecate, Pacifico and a shot of Tequila. Popular haunts include The Giggling Marlin, Cabo Wabo (pictured), Happy Ending Cantina, Nowhere Bar and Baja Brewing Company. Among the courses to play in the area are Cabo Real Golf Club, Cabo del Sol and Palmilla Golf Resort.

5. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA--When you combine abundant sunshine, more than 90 golf courses and a phenomenal beer culture, you've got one of the world's best places to tee up and clink beer glasses after the last putt has fallen. For golf, Torrey Pines, Grand Del Mar Resort and Spa, La Costa Resort & Spa and Rancho Bernardo Inn are great resort choices. You can also venture to Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego, to take tours of the numerous golf manufacturers, like Titleist and Callaway, who have equipment plants there. When it's time for some hops and barley, you should know San Diego has 35 breweries. While Portland, Denver and Chicago are craft beer capitals, San Diego can hold its own against any of them.Heading the list of must drink places, include Hamilton's Tavern, Toronado and O'Briens American Pub.

6. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN--After playing Whistling Straits and the Irish Course in Kohler (about an hour drive from Milwaukee) and area layouts like Ironwood and Brown Deer, rest assured, this brew-happy city has lots of celebration options such as great bars, german restaurants with exceptional beer and brewery tours where you can immerse yourself in everything beer. When it's time to start partying, head to popular places like Wolski's Tavern (pictured), Foundation Bar and Palm Tavern.

7. ORLANDO, FLORIDA--In southwest Orlando near courses like Bay Hill, Grand Cypress Resort, MetroWest, Walt Disney World and Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, there some excellent places to imbibe after a day on the links. Some of my favorite watering holes are the World of Beer on Dr. Phillips Boulevard, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant (pictured) at Downtown Disney and Bar Louie on Sand Lake Road. If you love beer and enjoy a frosty one or two after golf, the World of Beer has more than 500 selections.

8. MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA--With more than 100 golf courses and a slew of sports and beach bars, you're never very far from a place to tee up or a bar stool to sit and enjoy a frosty cool one. For those who want a beach view with their drink, try Ocean Annie's Beach Bar (pictured), Oceanfront Bar & Grill and Mango's on the Beach. If you want to catch a game on a big screen, head to Overtime Sports Cafe, Five O'Clock Somewhere and Broadway Louie's. Here's the complete menu of Myrtle Beach golf courses.

9. BANFF, CANADA--After you play the 27 holes of Stanley Thompson designed golf at the Fairmont Banff Springs Resort in Alberta, Canada, I highly suggest taking the five-minute walk into the village of Banff, a popular ski resort town.  Let's face it, skiers have perfected the art of partying away sore muscles and Banff has more than a few places to celebrate your great fortune of being in a stunning mountain setting. Places to party, include St. James Gate Olde Irish Pub, (pictured),  Tommy's Neighbourhood Pub and the Aurora nightclub. Some other don't miss courses to play in the area are Canmore Golf & Curling Club and Silvertip.

10. GULF SHORES, ALABAMA--This Gulf of Mexico beach destination makes the list for two reasons: It has nine golf courses, including prime time layouts like Kiva Dunes, Craft Farms and Lost Key and it has the Flora-Bama Lounge, (pictured) the quintessential party roadhouse.  Located on the Florida-Alabama border it's a combination oyster bar, juke joint and seafood shack. If you really want to party, plan your golf trip in late April when the rollicking Mullet Toss Festival is staged at the Flora-Bama Lounge. During the day at this ultimate beach bar, you can shed the golf duds, slip into your bathing suit, order a frosty longneck and you'll forget all about those shanks, three putts, errant drives into pool screens and exploding bunker shots that fly the green.