Lake Charles, Louisiana
Just 20 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles provides the perfect setting for golf trips with year-round temperate weather, deluxe dining and nearby coastal attractions.
There are several top-of-the-line golf courses based in this scenic area. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Lake Charles, the Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort was named one of the “Best Places to Play in Louisiana” in 2010 and 2011 by GolfWeek. Adjacent to L’Auberge du Lac, the Golden Nugget Lake Charles casino resort features an 18-hole championship course designed by California-based architect Todd Eckenrode and Origins Golf Designs.
Just five miles away in West Lake, the National Golf Club of Louisiana is one of the region’s newest and most affordable golf courses with 14 lakes and 65 bunkers. Groups can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art practice facility on-site. The Gray Plantation Golf Club is another award-winning golf course in town that includes a full-service sports facility with eight tennis courts and two hard courts.
“The greatest advantage of these courses is that they’re no more than 30 minutes apart, so players can visit multiple courses in one day,” said William Precht, media relations manager at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
The city of Virginia Beach sits on the southeastern tip of Virginia where Chesapeake Bay joins the Atlantic Ocean, right next to historic sites such as First Landing State Park and the Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg. Groups will find no shortage of entertainment in the area, which contains a wealth of restaurants, craft breweries, museums and recreational water activities.
Out of the region’s 19 golf courses, the Signature at West Neck is one of the most prestigious, with a beautiful layout design by Arnold Palmer and a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse. In a serene setting between Lake Lawson and Lake Smith, the Cypress Point Country Club presents an 18-hole championship course from architect Thomas Clark. The Virginia Beach National Golf Club offers an engaging course designed to accommodate players of all skill levels.
“We have some for pro golfers that were designed by golf legends, but then we also have Topgolf for the golf enthusiasts who don’t want to stop by the courses,” said Charli Sharp, director of public relations at the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Topgolf is a premier entertainment complex that features high-tech virtual golf and other games, using microchip technology to track each player’s points.
After playing a few rounds of golf, groups can explore some of Virginia Beach’s countless attractions, among them the Military Aviation Museum and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Other travelers may enjoy winding down with a sunset dolphin kayak tour or a stroll to the Cape Henry Lighthouse, or by simply lounging on Virginia Beach.