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October is a sneaky-good month for a golf trip. Let me explain:
It's the last month before the clocks fall back, thus giving sleepy-heads more daylight for afternoon rounds.
Shoulder season rates are in play so you can find some pretty good deals.
The temperature drops all over, making courses more comfortable to walk, especially in the south.
It's also the last month before the holidays kick in and family travel commitments may hamper your bandwidth for a buddies escape.
Just heed caution in a few ways: it can be a bad month to play in desert destinations that overseed heavily, and if you book a trip too far north, you could be prone to early cold fronts or even snow spells.
By looking at our top-rated course in September we can get a glimpse of what destinations and courses are faring well right now. I looked at the ratings from the month, about 15,000, to look for little clusters of over-performing golf courses around the U.S. Whether you want a trip in the north or south, east or west, you should be able to find an affordable last-minute escape here. Some of these courses and destinations are partners with Golf Advisor and we have partner offers or golf packages to share on our site, and we've included the best we have below to help get your trip planning started.
We power these lists based on your reviews. So be sure to write your next one today right here.
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Western New York
Western New York boasts a mix of great resorts like Turning Stone as well as off-the-beaten-path daily-fee courses. This is another destination where the miles in the car fly by thanks to pleasant fall scenery.
Trending Western New York courses![Bristol Harbour GC: #14]()
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New Hampshire - Vermont
Fall foliage doesn't get much better than in New England. We found a quartet of New Hampshire courses rating very well right now, as well as another just across the border in Vermont. Charge those cameras.
Trending NH -VT courses![North Conway CC: #1]()
![Atkinson Resort & Country Club - Championship: #1]()
Atkinson, New HampshireResort![Brattleboro CC: #4]()
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North Georgia
Courses into the mountains of North Georgia boast some higher altitude to help cool off the fairways. Great value also abounds at such consistently high-rated picks like Arrowhead Pointe, a top state park course.
Trending North Georgia coursesGainesville, GeorgiaPublicElberton, GeorgiaMunicipal![Butternut Creek GC]()
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Northern Alabama
Fall is a legendary time for solid value golf trips and northern Alabama is proof positive. You can enjoy fantastic layouts for less whether on or off the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
Trending Alabama courses![Capitol Hill GC - Judge: #4]()
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Sacramento
It's seldom a bad time for golf in NoCal but you'll find great weather and conditions at relative bargain courses in the Sacramento area, anchored by the casino & resort course Yocha Dehe.
Trending Sacramento-area courses![Diablo Grande GCC]()
Brooks, CaliforniaPublic -
Richmond, Virginia
Rave reviews keep coming in for the reborn Royal New Kent course, a briefly shuttered Mike Strantz design. It's not alone among top central Virginia layouts right now.
Trending Richmond-area coursesWilliamsburg, VirginiaSemi-Private -
Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
Inland North Carolina shines in the fall months. While Pinehurst is undoubtedly the main draw, value awaits around the cities. Several courses are earning high marks around Raleigh, and bragging rights go to N.C. State's Lonnie Poole among public-access collegiate facilities.
Trending Raleigh-Durham coursesRaleigh, North CarolinaPublicClayton, North CarolinaSemi-Private -
Ocean City, Maryland
It's a great time of year for golf in Ocean City. This jampacked destination represents a convenient drive-to getaway for eastern seaboard golf seekers.
Trending Ocean City courses![Baywood Greens: #15]()
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Dallas-Forth Worth
Football is the star in Texas these days but as the temperatures finally begin to drop around the Metroplex, golf spoils are to be had as well. Book a tee time during a Cowboys game and you could enjoy wide open fairways.
Trending Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex coursesDenton, TexasPublic -
Chicago
Daily-fee and semi-private courses around Chicagoland of various price points continue to earn high marks as we head into the fall MIdwest season.
Trending Chicagoland courses![Arrowhead CC: #14]()
![Bowes Creek CC]()
![Prairie Landing - holes 9 and 18]()
