10 Small Towns Where Retired Golfers Can Live the Dream

Retirement is a time to pursue your favorite hobbies like golfing, but where should you live?

But if you don’t want to retire to a big city, there are some small towns across the country that are perfect spots for golfers to take to the links and enjoy a round of golf.

Check out these potential options for where to move with your golf clubs as you plan for retirement.

Pinehurst is nestled in central North Carolina, with the Pinehurst golf complex as a central spot for golfers. It features a whopping 10 18-hole golf course for you to try, so you’ll never get bored.

The area also features the USGA Experience and World Golf Hall of Fame to explore so you can learn more about the sport and see some of golf’s unique history.

Check out Hilton Head if you want to retire somewhere near the water and have access to plenty of courses.

The area includes 33 golf courses to try out, including some of the best courses designed by golf course legends like Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus, which you can play year-round.

Check out Fairfield Glade, which has 90 holes of golf spread out over five different courses to play when you retire.

The town also offers plenty of additional outdoor activities after a round of golf, including hiking and biking trails, water sports, tennis, and pickleball.

Branson is well known for its live entertainment and events to keep you busy when you retire there, but it also has some great golf courses too.

The Top of the Rock Golf Course is a great Jack Nicklaus-designed course to head to with your clubs. Branson is also home to the Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course and Branson Hills Golf Club for you to play a few rounds.

Try an ocean view for your retirement years if you move to St. Simons Island to enjoy golfing in Georgia.

The area includes eight public or semi-public courses so you don’t have to worry about joining a club to get access to plenty of holes of golf.

You might not think of Palm Springs as a small town, but the city population isn’t as large as you think, with fewer than 50,000 residents.

That means you might not have to compete with as many locals to get a tee time on some of the area’s best golf courses like the Indian Wells Golf Resort with 36 holes of golf, the Classic Club with 18 holes by Arnold Palmer Signature Design, or the PGA West with nine courses to try.

Hot Springs Village is a great option if you’re looking for golf and 55+ community options for your retirement years.

The town boasts several retirement communities, giving you a good home base to explore the area's golf courses. One course that may catch your eye is the Hot Springs Country Club, which has been around since 1898 and features multiple courses with historic charm.

Along the Atlantic Coast of Florida is Vero Beach, which has plenty of golf courses in the area that you can choose from for year-round play.

Check out the Sandridge Golf Club, for example. It offers two courses, the classic Dunes Course and the challenging Lakes Course.

Ocean City is within driving distance of major metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., but it still gives you a small-town feel for your retirement with your golf clubs.

The area includes The Links at Lighthouse Sound and Rum Pointe Golf Course, giving you water views before you head down to the Ocean City boardwalk for restaurants and bars after a long day hitting the links.

There are options if you want a town with four seasons and some great golf, even if you might not be able to play year-round.

Check out Treetops Resort, for example, which includes multiple golf courses to try including the only course in the state designed by golf course architect Tom Fazio. You can also try the Otsego Resort with two unique courses that you can play.

Retiring in a small golf town could be a great option if you want to play some holes while trying to avoid the high cost of living in a big city.

It’s also a good idea to prepare for retirement by creating an estimated budget now so you’ll know how much you’ll need to live and save for a stress-free retirement later.

Remember to factor in necessary costs like groceries and utilities as well as leisure costs like the tee time costs or club fees you might have to pay to enjoy golfing during your retirement years.