The good news continues for golf. Last year, more than 82 million rounds were posted domestically by 3.68 million golfers with a Handicap Index, according to the USGA’s 2025 Golf Scorecard.
On a broader scale, the National Golf Foundation reports that 48.1 million Americans aged 6 and up participated in golf in 2025, with the fastest-growing groups being youths, females and people of color. Here are nine destinations that have everything needed to suit your golf event to a tee.
Akron, Ohio
Akron boasts a strong golf legacy along with the ability to accommodate a wide range of event sizes, from pro tournaments to high school, youth and junior competitions.
The area’s many golf facilities include Firestone Country Club (home of the Kaulig Senior Golf Championships and the OHSAA Boys and Girls Golf Championships), Fairlawn Country Club, Portage Country Club, Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links, the Country Club of Hudson and Fox Den Golf Course (host of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tournament), as well as municipal courses.
Previous key golf events include the Hudson Junior Invitational, which drew approximately 225 golfers and 450 attendees and had an economic impact of $225,000.
The Wireman Golf event drew approximately 100 golfers and 800 attendees for an estimated economic impact of $700,000. The Kaulig Companies Championship included 78 golfers and approximately 5,000 attendees with an estimated economic impact of $840,000. The Hurricane Junior Golf Tournament hosted about 30 golfers and 200 attendees and had an estimated economic impact of $150,000.
“What sets our destination apart is the mix of championship-level private clubs and accessible public courses, all located in close proximity to one another and nearby hotels,” says Jestiny Hughes, destination sales manager, Sales Alliance of Greater Akron. “Key initiatives include expanding youth and junior golf opportunities, attracting more regional and national tournaments, and strengthening collegiate partnerships. We are always looking to add new golf events and expand the existing ones.”
DuPage, Illinois
This September, DuPage County will welcome golf fans from around the world for the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club. Spectacular match play and an equally animated crowd will create a truly dramatic and unforgettable event.
Presidents Cup represents the latest chapter in DuPage County’s long and distinguished golf legacy, one built on an exceptional concentration of courses and a history of hosting the sport’s most prestigious competitions, including BMW Championship, PGA TOUR Western Open, LPGA Solheim Cup, U.S. Senior Open and Walker Cup.
Among the county’s more than 50 golf courses are Chicago Golf Club and Butler National Golf Club, recognized alongside Medinah Country Club as elite destinations for the game.
DuPage County is also a premier destination for elite amateur and junior competitions, hosting a steady calendar of nationally recognized tournaments in recent years.
That tradition continues in 2026 with two premier tournaments: the Women’s Western Amateur, scheduled for July at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst, and the American Junior Golf Association’s Junior Presidents Cup, to be contested in September at Medinah Country Club’s Course #2.
“These events further reinforce DuPage County’s reputation as a proving ground for the next generation of golf’s top talent,” said Igor Bakovic, director of sports for the DuPage Sports Commission.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie County offers a variety of golf facilities including The Kahkwa Club, Lawrence Park Golf Club, Lake View Country Club, Lake Shore Country Club, the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort and Whispering Woods Golf Club.
All are regarded as premier playing options in the region, offering unique layouts and a range of challenges that highlight Erie’s natural beauty.
Erie has a strong history of hosting major golf events including three USGA championships; the 2016 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship; the LECOM Health Challenge, a stop on the Korn Ferry Tour that was held on the Upper Course of Peek’n Peak Resort from 2016 to 2019; the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship Regional; the 2025 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Atlantic/East Regional Tournament; and the 2025 Southeastern Deaf Golfers Association.
This summer, the Lawrence Park Junior will be held at the Lawrence Park Golf Club, hosted by the Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour.
“The Erie Sports Commission is excited to partner with the Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour this summer and continues to look for opportunities that support the overall growth of golf in our region,” says Sydney Dietz, events & marketing manager, Erie Sports Commission. “We’re focused on strengthening existing relationships, exploring expansions that fit our community and ensuring Erie remains a welcoming, reliable destination for future golf programming.”
Fort Wayne, Indiana
“Golf here isn’t just a sport. It’s part of local recreation and community,” remarks Emily Hill, marketing manager, Visit Fort Wayne. “Public courses host leagues and family programs, and the mix of private clubs enriches year-round golf culture.”
Fort Wayne/Allen County is a strong destination for amateur and youth golf, serving as an important pipeline into collegiate and professional competition. The community also supports women’s golf at multiple levels, led by an active LPGA Fort Wayne Chapter.
The area’s role as a host destination for collegiate competition continues to expand, and the destination is also home to a US Adaptive Open national title winner, Kim Moore, further underscoring the community’s commitment to inclusivity in sport.
Key events include the Hotel Fitness Championship-Web.com Tour Finals, USGA Girls Junior Championship, AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship (2026) and NCAA DI Women’s Golf Regionals (2027).
The Hotel Fitness professional field draws 150 to 200 golfers and 20,000 spectators, with an economic impact estimated to reach up to $5 million per year.
The AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship will feature 72 golfers representing more than 20 states and five countries, 300-plus spectators and predicts a total economic impact of up to $150,000.
Fresno, California
Located north of Fresno in the state’s treasured San Joaquin Valley is the Copper River Country Club, a masterpiece created by William R. Tatham Sr. The course was completed in 1995, and the 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and related facilities opened in 1996.
Among the key events held at the club are the American Jr. Gold Association-Visit Fresno County AJGA Championship.
“We are hosting two tournaments in 2026 but would love to add more,” says Andrew Smith, Visit Fresno County’s director of sales. “Copper River Country Club hosts several local and regional tournaments throughout the year.”
He notes that in 2025, the AJGA tournament drew 80 youth golfers plus parents. VFC conservatively estimates $350,000 in economic impact from the event.
“Fresno is a great spot for golf for any and all levels. We love working with youth golfers and seeing the up-and-coming talent play in Fresno,” says Smith. “Copper River Country Club is a great course and we’d love to book a large-scale collegiate tournament and an LPGA tournament in the future.”
Hardin County, Tennessee
The key venue here is Pickwick Landing State Park golf course, part of the Tennessee Golf Trail that encompasses nine courses.
Located in the Southwest portion of Tennessee, Pickwick is a favorite among locals and destination golfers alike. Featuring Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways, this course is almost always in championship condition and playable year-round.
Hardin County typically hosts six to 10 golf events annually, including regional and area tournaments plus high school competitions.
“Typically, we attract the leisure travel groups; Pickwick is a great halfway stop to catch a round of golf for groups traveling from the upper Midwest on their way to the coast for golf trips. The State Park offers stay and plays, and tourism is happy to help with groups planning a trip,” says Beth Pippin, executive director, Hardin County Tourism.
“We have attended golf trade shows in Michigan and Wisconsin in the past and hope to get those shows back on our rotation in the next year,” notes Pippin. “We enjoy connecting with the golf enthusiasts and sharing about our area. It is challenging to budget marketing monies, but we hope to partner with our regional and state tourism organizations.”
Mesa, Arizona
More than 30 diverse golf facilities are on offer in Mesa and a few of the many options include Las Sendas Golf Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.; and Longbow Golf Club, with a 7,050-yard championship course and one of Mesa’s best practice facilities.
Augusta Ranch Golf Club, owned by the 44th President of the PGA, Don Rea Jr., hosts everything from Glow Golf nights and PGA Family Cup to the annual PGA Hope event.
Mesa hosts numerous events throughout the year, including weekly leagues, monthly tournaments, seasonal championships and major competitions, including LPGA, AJGA and collegiate championships.
“With Arizona as such a golf hub in the United States, there is always an an opportunity to add more golf events year-round so that adults and youths around the world can experience these amazing courses,” says Lance Fite, vice president, Sports at Visit Mesa. “For many years Mesa had been known for hosting massive youth adult, and collegiate events. However, post-COVID course directives and seasonality play a much larger part in average costs of tee times and access overall. Mesa will continue to attract golf events that best match our course needs and guarantee event success with world-class athlete experiences as a top priority.”
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The Myrtle Beach area boasts more than 90 award-winning golf courses, and more than half of the member courses have earned four-star or higher ratings in Golf Digest’s prestigious “Best Places to Play” guide. The destination hosts about 10 events annually but has added others such as the NCAA Men’s DI Golf Regional (which will return to the TPC of Myrtle Beach in 2027), as well as other collegiate competitions.
A highlight on the schedule is the annual ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, a PGA TOUR FedExCup tournament sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach. The event, which made its debut in 2024, will be held at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club through 2027.
In fact, 2027 will be a banner year as Myrtle Beach plans to celebrate 100 years of golf, marking a century since the opening of Pine Lakes Country Club in 1927.
“As we approach our centennial year of golf in Myrtle Beach, it’s a chance to celebrate both our rich history and the incredible momentum we have today,” said Jonathan Paris, executive director of sports tourism with Visit Myrtle Beach. “From iconic events like the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and the World Amateur Handicap Championship to the exciting opportunities ahead, we’re proud of the role golf continues to play in our community and look forward to welcoming players and fans for the next 100 years.”
Southern Illinois
Williamson County has four courses, two of which, Kokopelli Golf Club and Crab Orchard Golf Club, are tournament courses that also offer a wide variety of amenities. Both have hosted IHSA, JPGA and other local tournaments and each also hosts the John A. Logan College and Southern Illinois University teams for practice.
“There are plans to expand golf attractions in the area and we welcome new events each year,” says Ashlee Spiller, executive director, Visit Southern Illinois. “We are looking back into AJGA as well as a few other tournaments to come back to Kokopelli and Crab Orchard.”
Spiller also points out that Williamson County is continuing to partner with courses in the whole of Southern Illinois, including Rend Lake, Apple Creek Golf Course, and Jackson County Country Club.
“Our destination is looking to attract a wide range of visitors. Adults will love the ease of travel between the courses with hotels just minutes away in Marion,” she says. “Families will be enthralled with the newest attraction, Mammoth Fieldhouse, opening later in 2026, which will have an elevated driving range and Pure Putt, as well as pickleball, event space and more.” SDM
Related Organizations
About the Author
