Ace your vacation with a top-tier Southeastern golf course

The layout puts a premium on solitude. With so many twists and turns, you're bound to feel like you have the whole course to yourself. Tall, stately oaks with lush foliage line the courses winding, shapely fairways.

From the gold tees, Gunther's Landing is 6864 yards and is a par 72. Feature holes include two par threes on the front nine. Water comes into play on both the 193-yard 3rd and the 168-yard 5th. On the back nine, the 352-yard 17th hole is more challenging than the scorecard might suggest as it doglegs markedly towards the green.

Not only is the track phenomenal, but it's incredibly affordable too. For $55, you can play a round of 18 holes at one of the most thoughtfully crafted courses in the state. After 2 pm, the price you pay may be as little as $35. Guntersville is located just 3 hours west of Atlanta, Georgia via I-20 W and US-431, 5 hours west of Greenville, SC via I-85 S, and 5 hours north of Pensacola, Florida.

Florida's Streamsong Resort & Pine Barrens at World Woods

Florida has one of the most versatile landscapes for golf in the US. Depending on the region, you could see hills and elevated tees, tree-lined courses without a palm tree in sight, or links-like layouts on firm and fast turf. Because of Florida's unique ability to play golf year-round, with the temperatures averaging 75 degrees, many of the game's top architects have done some of their best work there.

1. Streamsong Resort

The resort uniquely used an old phosphate mine to create human-made sand dunes with steep elevation changes, some being over 75 feet high. You will be sure to feel this difference as these courses are often compared to those found in Ireland because of the changing elevations, dunes, and natural landscaping.

Streamsong Red is sure to challenge you with wide fairways and bouncy greens that use water and sand bunkers as hazards. Bill Coore said he encountered "some of the most unusual, interesting and dramatic landforms" when designing the Streamsong Red course.

Streamsong Blue features spectacular terrain, with multiple elevation changes that navigate wild grasses and deep-water ponds and huge bunkers that roll off towering dunes, providing some of the most stimulating holes in golf.

Streamsong Black offers breathtaking views with flowing elevation, rolls, tumbles, and sand ridges that are often compared to the Sand Belt Region of Melbourne, Australia.

Players generally walk while playing; however, carts are available. Rates range from $105 to $239, depending on the season and whether you are a resort or public guest. Even though it's tucked away in the sparsely-populated southwest corner of Polk County, it's still easily accessible, only 60 minutes east of Tampa and 90 minutes from Orlando.

2. Pine Barrens at the World Woods Golf Club

A unique golf experience. Visually stunning expansive pine forest. Surprising and dramatic changes in elevation.

The course's style has been compared to the No. 1 course in the world, Pine Valley in New Jersey. You will find it intimidating yet enjoyable as the course tests both the physical and mental aspects of the game. The large fairways and natural sand waste bunkers that make up about half the course make it more aggressive and fun.

Pine Barrens is one of the best stay-all-day golf facilities with a short course, practice course, circular driving range, irons-only range, enormous putting, and chipping green. You can play a full round for as little as $69.

Fazio also designed the Rolling Oaks Course right next door, the second world-class layout at World Woods, which is almost reminiscent of Augusta National. It's directly adjacent to Pine Barrens but couldn't be more different with giant Oak trees draped with Spanish moss and sharply defined bunkers filled with bleached white sand. You can play a full round for as little as $35.

At World Woods, you can have two completely different world-class experiences in one weekend.

Georgia's Highland Walk Golf Course at Victoria Bryant State Park

Conveniently located near I-85, just a few minutes north of Athens, the course is situated inside Victoria Bryant State Park in Royston, Georgia. That's 3 hours west of Columbia, SC, via I-26W and I-85S and 3 hours south of Charlotte, NC via I-85S.

In addition to enjoying a day full of golfing, or at least until your heart's content, you can also utilize the state park. Enjoy hiking at one of the nature trails, public fishing at one of the two ponds, swimming in the pool during summer, or camping at the small, comfortable campground if you prefer. Georgia State Parks also offer golf packages that can turn your golf day into a complete weekend getaway.

North Carolina's Tobacco Road Golf Course & The Currituck Club

While everyone's response of where to play in NC may be Pinehurst, that course comes with a hefty price tag. ‌Instead, consider one of these impressive options:

1. Tobacco Road Golf Course ‌

Even with the sophisticated design, rates are reasonable, with an 18 hole game starting at $131 in the winter and $150 in the summer, with a golf cart or push cart included.

Tobacco Road Golf Course is also conveniently located 2 hours east of Charlotte, North Carolina via NC-24E/NC-27 W, 4 hours north of Charleston, SC via I-95N, and 4.5 hours south of DC via I-95S.

‌2. The Currituck Club

Another exquisite course is The Currituck Club, located at the southern end of Corolla.

A world-class semi-private golf course. Flawless bent grass greens. Spectacular rolling dunes. Coastal vegetation. Views of the Currituck Sound.

Designed for the whole family to enjoy, The Currituck Club offers junior and family clinics. Other features include a world-class practice facility, putting green, driving range, and bunker. Their reasonable rates start at just $69 for an 18 hole game.

A road trip to Corolla is sure to fill your senses with a multitude of outdoor adventures. Corolla, part of the Outer Banks, is most famous for its wild horses roaming the beaches and ability to drive on the beach. Not only can you golf the weekend away, but you can test your ability to drive on the beach.

The club is located 6 hours east of Charlotte, NC via US-64E, 3 hours south of Richmond, Virginia via I-64E, 6 hours north of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina via US-64W and US-17N.

South Carolina's Santee National Golf Club & True Blue Golf Club

South Carolina is famously known as a golfing destination, but its main markets – Hilton Head Island, Kiawah Island, and Myrtle Beach – are so high priced that they can start at $370 for one round.

Instead, we suggest 2 of the best-kept secrets for top-rated, reasonably priced golf course clubs in South Carolina.

1. Santee National Golf Club

Just 2.5 hours south of Charlotte, past the state line and through Columbia, you'll find the little town of Santee, marketed as "Golf's Little Big Town," with their logo as a golf tee for the t in Santee.

One of the best courses in Santee is Santee National Golf Club, with rates starting at $68 per round. It's conveniently located a few minutes off of I-95 and I-26.

Bermuda fairways. Champion Bermuda greens. A mix of rolling hills and mossy oak with four strategically situated lakes bring water into the course. The front nine lay open and well guarded. The back nine are a rolling, tree-lined test. You'll have the challenge of playing two different courses in one round of golf.

Each hole is unique. The 17th hole, a par three, is framed by a church and has been dubbed Santee's own "Amen Corner." The 18th hole begins at a beautiful lake and ends at the Lowcountry-style clubhouse. Four tees at each hole allow golfers to match their skill level and design their challenge.

There are also two other courses you can use within a few miles of Santee National Golf Club. These include Lake Marion Golf Course, starting at $45 per round, and Santee Cooper Country Club, starting at $59 per round.

Lake Marion Golf Course has wide fairways but challenging greens. There's also a 35,000-square-foot putting course called "Palmetto Traverse," located adjacent to the Lake Marion Villa & Townhouse Complex. The complex is family-friendly, great for an afternoon out with kids or grandkids, as you can stroll through all 18 holes in half an hour.

Santee Cooper Country Club is Lake Marion Golf Course's sister course. It features a lighted driving range, golf instruction by PGA Professionals, and the area's most prominent golf pro shop. The pro shop is the largest on-course FootJoy retailer in the Carolinas, stocking nearly 1,000 pairs of shoes for men, women, and juniors — including wide widths. You can stop in the shop whether you're traveling on I-95 or you are vacationing in the area to get all your golf gear needs.

‌2. True Blue Golf Club

Designed by Mike Strantz as his fourth signature golf course, the par-72 course can stretch to 7,126. It's playable for all ages and abilities with the option of 6 sets of tee boxes and an 18-acre practice facility.

Once you get a taste of True Blue, you want more. Luckily, Strantz also designed the award-winning Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, adjacent to True Blue Golf Club. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club has now become one of the most highly awarded, rated, and ranked in the Myrtle Beach Area. Rates start at $159 per round.

Golfing around the Southeast