America’s Heartland is known for its natural beauty, rugged lakefront coastlines and championship golf courses, making it an excellent destination for groups that want to incorporate the sport into their conferences or events. Here are five world-class golf destinations with a plethora of lodging and meeting venues for groups of any size.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells is known for its rugged, glacier-carved sandstone river gorge. It is also a family-friendly resort destination, with water parks and championship golf courses. Meeting planners wanting to incorporate golf into their events have two attractive options: Trappers Turn Golf Club, which is part of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, and Wild Rock Golf Club, the course at Wilderness Resort.
Trappers Turn features 27 holes of championship golf. The 12North Short Course, which debuted in 2021, is a par-three course with 12 unique holes that range from 50 to 120 yards. The course is ideal for groups interested in a shorter round of golf. The clubhouse has five meeting rooms and over 10,000 square feet of space. The main dining room is the largest space at 5,000 square feet and can seat 225 for a banquet.
Wild Rock Golf Club at Wilderness Resort features an 18-hole championship golf course built from a former quarry. The Woods Short Course at Wild Rock is a nine-hole course and is perfect for groups that are less experienced but still want to try their hand at the game. The resort’s Glacier Canyon Lodge has 56,000 square feet of meeting space for large groups, including banquet space for up to 1,200 guests, while Wild Rock Clubhouse is perfect for smaller gatherings, with a 4,392-square-foot room with a capacity of 120 guests.
The area has four other golf facilities, including Spring Brook Golf Course, Cold Water Canyon Golf Course at Chula Vista Resort, Fairfield Hills Golf Course and Driving Range, and Christmas Mountain Village Golf Course.
Branson and the Ozarks, Missouri
Set in the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri, is a world-renowned entertainment destination that has also made a name for itself in the world of golf. The area features 10 golf courses and more than 24 hotels with a significant amount of meeting space, making it easy for groups to include golf outings as part of their conferences.
There are two Hilton hotels in very close proximity — one adjacent to the Branson Convention Center and the other at Branson Landing. Between the two, there are over 500 guest rooms and 220,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotels partner with Branson Hills Golf Club when planning group outings. The course is carved into the Ozark Mountains, with natural rock outcroppings, waterfalls and creeks, and offers unique challenges for all skills levels. The clubhouse has a large lounge area with TVs, card tables and a bar that is perfect for private gatherings, and the Magnolia Grille is a sports bar and restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
Thousand Hills Golf Resort has several lodging options and more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space. The 18-hole public golf course takes players through beautiful hardwood forests, past unique rock formations and over Ozark streams. Big Cedar Lodge has 362 private accommodations, five golf courses (with one more in the works) and over 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
Holiday Hills Resort and Golf Club is managed by Holiday Inn, which also has onsite meeting space. Pointe Royale Condominium Resort and Golf Course has 3,000 square feet of meeting space.
Little Traverse Bay, Michigan
Little Traverse Bay is on Lake Michigan in the northwestern corner of Michigan’s lower peninsula. Petoskey, the area’s largest town, is not only a sought-after golf destination, but also offers a wide selection of meeting and event venues, from resorts and historic inns to hotels and unique off-site locations.
The area features 120,000 square feet of meeting space and 17 championship golf courses. Village Suites Bay Harbor and the Inn at Bay Harbor are less than three miles from some of Michigan’s best golf courses, and both have event spaces.
Village Suites Bay Harbor sits along five miles of Lake Michigan shoreline between Petoskey and Charlevoix. Elevation, the property’s largest event space, is on the second floor of the lodge building and can host up to 200 guests. The Marina Lawn can accommodate up to 300 with panoramic views of Bay Harbor Lake and Lake Marina. There is also an executive boardroom for 12.
Inn at Bay Harbor features rooms, suites and cottages. It can host groups of up to 180 and is minutes from Bay Harbor Golf Club on Little Traverse Bay. The club features 27 holes of golf. Groups that want to host events there can plan golf, putting or chipping contests. The clubhouse’s main room, Arthur’s 27, can accommodate up to 70 guests. The Preserve Room can host 32 guests and includes a fireplace and access to an outdoor terrace. Both rooms can be combined for larger group events.
West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana, is not only home to Purdue University, but is also a prime golf destination with several courses to choose from. Meeting planners can book events of up to 6,000 people on campus. The majority of the university’s conference spaces are connected to the Union Club Hotel at Purdue University by hallways or an underground tunnel. The hotel has 182 guest rooms and 20,104 square feet of meeting space across seven event rooms. The North and South ballrooms can be combined to host nearly 800 guests.
Attendees can take advantage of the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex on campus, which features two 18-hole championship courses and a golf training center and can host golf events for groups of up to 400. The complex includes a cozy clubhouse and a world-class practice facility as well as the weather-protected Samuel Voinoff Golf Pavilion, with a fireplace and a stage, with catering provided by Levy/Boilermaker Hospitality Catering.
Coyote Crossing Golf Club is a semi-private, 18-hole golf course close to campus that offers five tees on every hole to challenge players of all levels. The banquet facility there can seat 175 comfortably, and an additional 70 to 100 guests can be added if the bar and grill area and 1,200-square-foot veranda are included. Groups as large as 144 can organize golf outings on the course.
Stillwater, Minnesota
Forty miles east of Minneapolis, the city of Stillwater, Minnesota, is the epitome of small-town charm, with 192 hotel rooms in its quaint downtown district and 475 rooms total. The area has five golf courses: Oak Glen Golf Course, Applewood Hills Golf Course, Loggers Trail, StoneRidge Golf Club and Royal Golf Club.
Oak Glen is a par-72 championship course that is easily walkable and accessible to golfers of all levels. The Exec course is par-29 and a great option for those who want to enjoy a shorter game. The facility can host events and leagues on both courses. The Royal Oak room can host events for up to 400 guests and features a full bar and a permanent dance floor.
Applewood Hills has a great party space that can host up to 175 guests, with outdoor patio seating for 50 and spectacular views of the golf course. Event packages can include nine or 18 holes of golf.
There are four full-service hotels downtown and several off-site venues within walking distance, including the JX Event Venue, Loft 214, the St. Croix Event Center and Stillwater Event Center.
Several wineries and breweries offer tastings and tours, and historic trolley tours familiarize groups to the area. Riverboat cruises offer a unique perspective on the city, and there are several team-building experiences available, such as guided kayaking, hiking, birding, fishing and e-biking excursions, as well as paint-and-sip or candle-pouring classes. The Lowell Inn offers fondue parties and a high tea experience.
