Golfing in the National Parks

Most people recognize America’s national parks as some of our most valuable national treasures. What might not be so well known is that some of them also offer exciting golf vacations  as well. Four national parks boast golf courses, each one a venue with a unique panorama and additional recreational opportunities. 

 

My own recommendation would be to combine a golf trip to these national park courses either with a family vacation centering on getting to know the park, or to plan a golf vacation in which you explore neighboring golf courses as well. Experienced golf vacations planners serve as a great resource in maximizing the golf experience as well other activities. They can also help you find lodging and transportation tailored to your particular needs.

 

Here are some of the options for combining golf with a national park experience:

 

Yosemite National Park, California

As a long time visitor to Yosemite, I have often admired the lush greens of the

Yosemite Golf Course

that flanks the meadows as you enter from the South. Across from the historic Wawona Hotel, an impressive former stagecoach stop in early park days, this golf course is actually one of the few organic golf courses in the country. No pesticides are used and only gray water is used for keeping this 9-hole course as green as it was back in 1918 when it opened. 

 

Golfers of all levels will find some challenges in this tranquil setting as well as easy access to the wonders of the nearby sequoia grove and the magnificent Yosemite Valley. Lodging at the rambling Wawona Hotel or the more luxurious

Ahwahnee Hotel

will definitely add to the aura.

 

 

Anacostia National Park, District of Columbia

The

Langston Golf Course

, located just five minutes from the Capitol, is an 18-hole course that includes a driving range. Langston bills itself as an inexpensive, accessible option for beginners and experts. After a pleasant round, you will still have plenty of time for the Smithsonian and other historic attractions of the U.S. nation’s capital.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The Glacier Park Lodge Golf, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927, features the oldest grass greens in the Big Sky state. As it is located entirely within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, all 9 holes have been named after former tribal chiefs. With panoramic views, undulating greens, wide fairways, this course is only open from late May-September (weather permitting). The historic Glacier Park lodge offers all the modern amenities all year long.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Your drives will travel farther in the thin air of the three courses located in this national park. Golf while the deer and the elk roam through mountain landscapes over a mile high. At Estes Park, for example, you can choose from a 9-hole executive course or the 18-hole course designed by Dick Phelps (alt. 8420) surrounded by towering jagged peaks. 

Don’t worry if your car is stuffed with camping equipment instead of golf clubs. Just rent a set. A professional golf trip planner can help you with those details as well as any lodging or golf travel needs so that you just focus on enjoying our natural heritage and your golf game!