Courses like Streamsong can help ease your winter blues. — Photo courtesy of Streamsong Resort
With seasonal depression just starting to sink in for many people above the 30th parallel north, it's time to start thinking about how to combat it. Planning a warm-weather golf vacation could be just the cure.
Get your friends on the horn and plan a golf vacation at one of the following courses in Florida, Arizona, California and Texas:
1. Streamsong – Ft. Meade, Florida
Streamsong Golf Resort is a legitimate, top-notch golf destination, a bit off the beaten path, about an hour away from Tampa. Once arriving on campus, your jaw will drop at the awesome display of lagoons, dunes and lakes. Both of the courses available – Red and Blue – rank in the top 100 of U.S. courses.
2. TPC Sawgrass – Ponte Verde, Florida
The TPC Sawgrass features two par-72 courses, both of which are extremely challenging. It is home to The Players Championship and features a world-renowned 17th hole, Island Green, that consistently keeps the pros up at night. You don't have to have your tour card to play, as the resort offers great stay and play packages for even the regular Joes out there.
3. Trump National Doral – Miami, Florida
This world-class resort purchased by "The Donald" is an 800-acre behemoth in Miami. Trump poured more than $250 million into the resort, giving it the overhaul it desperately needed. He hired an renowned golf architect to re-sculpt the existing courses, plus add two more, to give the Doral 90 total holes.
4. Troon North – Scottsdale, Arizona
The backdrop at Troon North Golf Club is picturesque. Rolling red crags littered with sprawling cacti help make this a true desert course. There are two playable courses, an amazing clubhouse and helpful pros. The Troon is kid-friendly, so feel free to bring any junior golfers along with you. Beware: You will probably see snakes.
5. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Ft. McDowell, Arizona
We-Ko-Pa markets itself as the Arizona course(s) without homes lining the holes. It is truly just you, your ball and the desert at this fantastic piece of real estate. The 36-hole package is priced competitively relative to other courses on this list.
6. Grayhawk Golf Club – Scottsdale, Arizona
The Raptor and Talon courses are both creatively constructed, offering golfers terrific scenes of the Sonoran Desert and the McDowell Mountains. The Rock & Roll Range is a cool aspect of the course; included in your green fee are practice balls that can be hit at the range, one with classic rock music piped through the speakers.
7. Pebble Beach Golf Links – Pebble Beach, California
Pebble Beach has some of the world's best views, with the course opening out into Camel Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Green fees are some of the highest in existence, so save up before planning a trip here. The U.S. Open has been held at Pebble Beach five times, with the next scheduled for 2019.
8. Spyglass Hill – Pebble Beach, California
Spyglass Hill was recently ranked fifth among America's greatest public golf courses. All holes are named after characters or places from the famed book, "Treasure Island."
9. Barton Creek – Austin, Texas
It's not easy to get named the No. 1 golf resort in Texas, but Barton Creek has accomplished just that. Its four courses, two designed by golf course architect Tom Fazio, take you through limestone caves, waterfalls and around a majestic lake. It's common to see beautiful whitetail deer prancing about during a morning round.
10. Pine Dunes – Frankston, Texas
Pine Dunes is one of the top public golf courses in all of Texas. The lodging doesn't yet incorporate the spas and frills of some of the other courses on this list, but the quality of golf is up there with the best of them.