Worth the Dirt Road Detour: 3 Golf Resorts You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of

Most golf trips begin with a familiar airport-to-resort rhythm. This is not that kind of trip. The destinations that follow aren’t just off the beaten path—they’re shaped by the wild, remote landscapes around them. We're talking miles of Michigan forest thick enough to swallow the road whole. Or a course amid the Nebraska Sandhills that endlessly rolls toward the horizon. Even a tee box perched atop a Georgia mountaintop, where the world falls away beneath your feet.

These resorts don’t beg for attention, they reward the golfers willing to chase something different. If you’re up for a journey that’s part wilderness, part wonder, and entirely worth the extra effort, here are three golf escapes that prove the best experiences live far beyond the main road—and some tips on how to get your foursome and your clubs there a little easier.

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Forest Dunes Golf Club - Roscommon, Michigan

*Image Credit: Evan Schiller

Inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews, as it was laid out in 1552, The Loop, one of two tracks at Forest Dunes, is completely reversible in that it utilizes the same 18 greens and 18 tee boxes for both directions. It’s quite the marvel.

But Forest Dunes doesn’t hang its hat on just one trick. The original Tom Weiskopf course is the anchor here, and it sparks endless debate: is it beauty, beast, or both? The front nine drifts gently through corridors of red and jack pines in the Huron National Forest, lush and inviting. Then the scenery pivots sharply on the back nine, where rugged terrain, native grasses, and scruffy underbrush evoke echoes of Pine Valley (not too bad company).

As with any great golf destination, there’s a 10-hole short course on the property, too. It’s the perfect spot to settle bets or squeeze in a few more swings under the fading glow of twilight.

Dining and Lodging

Forest Dunes practically offers the golf equivalent of ski-in/ski-out access. Cottages, villas, and lodge rooms sit just steps from the action, accommodating groups of all sizes - some sleeping up to ten - so spouses, kids, and that one friend that doesn’t golf can tag along, too.

On the food front, you’re spoiled for choice here. Head to the second-floor terrace of the main dining room for a private dining experience and customized menu at the Chef’s Table. Or, catch a game at Keeper’s Pub, clink cold ones at the Bootlegger Bar, or relax with a cocktail and cigar on the patio as evening settles over the pines. Craving a late-night slice? Enjoy handmade pizza delivered straight to your door.

*Image Credit: Evan Schiller

Tips for Visiting

For the kids: Children 15 and under play for free on the short course when accompanied by an adult, with free replays available - great for letting the little ones burn off some energy.

Hit the Hilltop: Don’t miss the 2-acre, 18-hole Hilltop Putting Course. No cost to you, no tee times required.

Follow directions: For the sake of your sanity (and your vehicle suspension), follow the driving directions listed on the resort’s site, as some GPS resources have difficulty differentiating logging trails from roads.

The Prairie Club - Valentine, Nebraska

The drive to The Prairie Club is a prelude to the golf itself. Once you leave Pierre or North Platte, the landscape begins to dissolve into the endless folds of the Nebraska Sandhills. The traffic is nearly nonexistent, and the miles blur together in a way that feels both hypnotic and otherworldly. Gas stations disappear. Cell service fades. You begin to measure progress not by towns, but by the length of the shadows.

The golf here is big, wide, and elemental, and there are three ways to enjoy it. On The Pines Course, holes thread along ridges of ponderosa and peer into the Snake River Canyon. The Dunes Course is golf in its most raw form: windy, wild, and wandering. And then there’s the Horse Course - part short course, part schoolyard game, and probably the only place in Nebraska where calling your shot doesn’t involve wild game.

It’s one of those rare places that feels like it waited centuries for golf to be played across it.

Dining and Lodging

While you may not have spent the day herding cattle across the prairie, you can still eat like someone who did. Breakfast comes as a hearty buffet, complimentary with all packages, and it’s exactly the kind of fuel you’ll want before heading out into the Sandhills. At midday, grab lunch to go from the mercantile or settle in for something more leisurely before your afternoon round.

When evening rolls around, enjoy Nebraska-inspired offerings rooted in the idea that you’re in “God’s Own Cow Country,” served alongside the Prairie Club’s very own private-labeled whiskey.

As for where to lay your head, options range from cozy lodge rooms to private suites, but the canyon-side cabins are the premier option, especially for groups. Each comes with four bedrooms, a central gathering space, and a private deck that makes sunrises and sunsets as much a part of the itinerary as the golf.

Tips for Visiting

What to pack: Conditions change fast out here. Bring layers, sunscreen, and a windbreaker so you’re ready for anything. With so much to pack, consider shipping your luggage, along with your golf clubs, with ShipSticks. (Click here to claim 25% off your order)

Fly private (or don’t): There’s a nearby airstrip (just 17 miles from the resort) if you’re interested in flying private. For the rest of us mere mortals, a commercial flight plus the drive through the prairie is part of the adventure.

Plan ahead: Dinner reservations are required at the resort’s restaurants.

McLemore Club - Rising Fawn, Georgia

*Image Credit: Evan Schiller

Perched 2,300 feet above sea level in the mountains of Northwest Georgia, McLemore feels suspended between earth and sky. It’s gloriously off-grid, yet only a two-hour drive from major airports.

The Highlands Course, the first to take shape here, is golf told in chapters, with some unforgettable bookends. Holes 1, 17, and 18 cling to the cliff’s edge and ultimately crescendo toward one of the most jaw-dropping finishing holes you’ll ever play.

The middle 15 are no less compelling - panoramic views on the eastern side of Lookout Mountain, deciduous rainforest, ancient boulders, and so much more.

And it just keeps getting better. The resort’s second course, The Keep, now open for preview play, plunges even deeper into the wilderness. The land itself forms a natural amphitheater, so from certain vantage points you can take in nearly the entire course (and 60 miles beyond) in a single sweep. But the real showstoppers are the five mountain streams that converge here, spilling into waterfalls that appear throughout the round, most memorably beside the 11th tee.

*Image Credit: Evan Schiller

Dining and Lodging

Sleep in style at Cloudland Hotel, with cliffside views, a spa, and rooms so elegant you might just revel in your robe a moment more. For something cozier, the resort’s private homes and cottages offer the ultimate blend of comfort and privacy, ideal for trips with families and friends.

You’ll find French Country and Scottish-inspired dining at the resort, reflected in both its decor and menus. Highlights include Auld Alliance, a fine-dining experience perched on the cliffs overlooking McLemore’s Cove, and The Creag, where craft cocktails, world-class spirits, and curated wines accompany a delicious seasonal menu.

Tips for Visiting

Stay & play packages: Packages that mix luxurious lodging, golf, and dining make it easy to relax and let the resort do the heavy lifting.

Hit the trails: With miles of hiking and biking trails winding through Lookout Mountain and surrounding forests, there’s much to enjoy off the golf course.

Reservations encouraged: The Creag and other resort restaurants are popular for a reason - reserve ahead to avoid missing out on those cliffside views with your meal.

Family-friendly adventures: McLemore isn’t just for adults - there’s plenty to keep the kids (and teens) entertained. Check out nearby favorites like the Tennessee Aquarium or Rock City Gardens, or tee off on The Cairn, the resort’s playful 6-hole short course for a little friendly family competition.

So pack up your clubs, send ‘em ahead, book the flights, and don’t be afraid of a few gravel roads or detours. Great golf, after all, is worth the journey - and these destinations prove it better than anywhere else.

Every editorial inclusion across Skratch.Golf is independently selected by editors. We comprehensively stand behind every travel destination we feature editorially, but want to disclose that this content was made in partnership with our friends at ShipSticks.

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