A Quick Nine: Best Family Golf Resorts

The question was simple: What is the best golf resort for a family vacation?

The answers were abundant and varied, but our PGA.com Facebook fans have answered the call once again to make this week's, "A Quick Nine," feature possible. With loads and loads of responses to sift through, here are the top nine. It should be noted that this week's No. 1 came in head and shoulders above the rest. 9. Madden's on Gull Lake, Brainerd, Minn.
According to its Web site, www.maddens.com, Madden's on Gull Lake is now in its, "81st year of providing gracious hospitality to families, vacationers, golfers, retreats and reunions of all types." Sprawling across 1,000 acres and miles of Gull Lake shoreline, Madden's features 63 holes of golf. From the historic Pine Beach East and West courses, to The Classic at Madden's, the award-winning crown jewel of Midwest golf courses, to its Social 9, there's something for everyone's skill level. Facebook fan quote: Madden's resort in Minnesota. My kids love the course. It is beautiful to look out over the lake while golfing and the staff is great. We go every year to the closing/fall break weekend and, yes, they have the bagpiper closing the course, it is very cool. -- Jeri Anderson Rosenberg 8. Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach, Calif.
When it comes to pure, natural beauty, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more breathtaking place than Pebble Beach. There are three resorts located at Pebble Beach: The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Casa Palmero and The Inn at Spanish Bay. (Dunn/Getty Images) All three are noted for their unparalleled golf and facilities, which include pampered relaxation and luxary to go along with exemplary service and amenities. What did you think? Facebook fan quotes: Pebble Beach is dream course. Any golf lover would like to play there and spend a quality time there with the family. -- Munindra Sharma I would LOVE to play golf at the awesome Pebble Beach!!! -- Antonio Huang 7. Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.
Located near the beautiful city of Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf resort opened in 1974. It is the home to five golf courses, most notably the Ocean Course. The Ocean Course has played host to the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cup of Golf, the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and, in 2012, the PGA Championship. Aside from the Ocean Course, you can also indulge in Kiawah Island's four other gems -- Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point and Cougar Point. Facebook fan quotes: Kiawah Island Resort has quite a setup for the entire family. Golf, tennis and activities for kids of all ages. -- Andrew Picard Kiawah, plenty of history in and around Charleston for the kids and wicked good golf for Mom and Dad. -- Paul Kulick 6. Sea Island Golf Resort, Sea Island, Ga.
The Sea Island Golf Resort is home to two legendary Georgia courses -- The Seaside Course and the Plantation Course. The Seaside Course is situated on the southern tip of St. Simons, a true ocean-side links course that places a premium on careful shot selection, recovery and putting. Offering Sea Island's most demanding layout, Seaside has hosted multiple USGA events, challenging golf's best amateur players. The Plantation Course boasts expansive fairways that give definition to its parklands-type course, winding through the marsh and forest. It showcases beautiful views of the ocean, oaks, and blooming flowers. Aside from the golf, there's plenty to do for families at Sea Island, including sea kayaking, cycling, horseback riding, tennis, clay target shooting and haywagon rides, just to name a few. Facebook fan quote: Sea Island, Georgia, one of the most beautiful courses in the world. Stay at the world-class Cloister Hotel or The Lodge. Plenty for the family to do -- wonderful beaches, great seafood, fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, biking, horse back riding and so forth. No place like it for old world southern charm and hospitality, plus Sea Island has four of Golf Digest's Top 50 golf instructors. -- Jack Hassinger 5. PGA Village, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Owned and operated by The PGA of America, and ranked among the "75 Best Golf Resorts" by Golf Digest, PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., serves as your Ultimate Golf Destination. PGA Village features the PGA Golf Club, with 54 holes of Championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye, PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance golf instruction, practice, technology and fitness park and the PGA Historical Center museum, home to the Ryder Cup Trophy. In terms of a golf-specific family trip, you'd be hard-pressed to find a place more perfect than PGA Village. Facebook fan quote: Hands down... PGA Village in Port Saint Lucie!!!!!! -- Lloyd Giardino III 4. Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Just 20 miles north of Savannah, Ga., lies Hilton Head Island with its 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean. In Hilton Head, there's fun to be had for families, whether it's on the beach, shopping, dining, or playing golf in one of the nation's foremost golf destinations. The island is loaded with spectacular ocean-side courses, challenging river-side courses, courses that weave through old maritime forests, courses beside vast tidal marshes or with Low country flare, sparkling lakes and lagoons and courses designed by PGA Tour's most noted players. One of Hilton Head's most famous courses is Harbour Town Golf Links, which annually hosts a family-focused PGA Tour event the week after the Masters. Facebook fan quotes: Harbor Town is our family favorite... -- Kevin J. Walsh 3. Pinehurst Resort, Pinehurst, N.C.
The Pinehurst Web site says it all, "The majestic pines towering over historic Pinehurst rustle and softly whisper the legends of golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Payne Stewart and those who have gone before and experienced one of America's greatest golf courses and premier resorts. (Miralle/Getty Images) "Nestled among the Sandhills of North Carolina, Pinehurst resort invites you to become part of its history and to experience southern hospitality, elegant accommodations, luxury spa facilities, family recreational activities, and of course, any one of their eight pristine world-class golf courses. In addition to offering one of the finest golf experiences in the country, Pinehurst also provides world-class spa and tennis vacations, as well as fun-filled family vacation packages. "The stories of champions and the traditions of championship golf have been created at Pinehurst since 1898. As the site of more championships than any other golf course in the country. Pinehurst welcomes the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open Championships in 2014." Facebook fan quotes: Really enjoyed ourselves at Pinehurst. Beautiful!!! -- Tina Liles Penny Pinehurst! Kids 12 and under play golf and stay free with a parent. And kids can play in the spa, too. -- Janeen Driscoll 2. Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
If you're looking for great golf at affordable prices to go along with a host of other family activities at the beach, then Myrtle Beach is no doubt the place for you. It also doesn't hurt that Myrtle Beach is known as the Golf Capital of the USA. That should tell you something. What did our Facebook fans tell us? Facebook fan quotes: For combination of family, golf, and affordability, Myrtle Beach is the place. -- Bob McCaw While it's not a "resort," Myrtle Beach offers many courses, and lots for the family to do as well... -- Jimi Thompson Myrtle Beach of course -- huge variety of lodging, beach/ocean, attractions for kids, 50+ mini golf courses, water parks, family oriented restaurants. -- Golfmaster Drew I willl go along with Myrtle Beach. Took my grandsons to several and had a great time. -- Virginia Brooks Euwer 1. Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
It isn't just about the kids anymore at Disney, folks. It's also a world-class golf destination -- and the place an overwhelming number of our PGA.com Facebook fans gave as the No. 1 golf resort for a family vacation. Disney World truly has it all. With four theme parks, two water parks, 24 themed hotels and loads of shopping, dining, entertainment and recreation options, Disney World is easily the largest and most visited resort in the world. Disney's property includes five golf courses -- the four 18-hole courses are the Magnolia and the Palm, which host the PGA Tour's Children's Miracle Network Classic; Lake Buena Vista; and Osprey Ridge. Oak Trail, designed for younger golfers, is a nine-hole walking course. As far as golfing fun for the entire families with children of any age, Disney also boasts two themed miniature golf complexes, each with two courses, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. Facebook fan quotes: I would have to say Disney... I mean you have the golf, you have beautiful weather basically all year round, you have the Disney World Theme Park... This just screams family vacation and is probably one of the best places to take a family with kids and adults of all ages. And it doesn't just end with the golf and Disney World. There is an abundance of other attractions for everyone in the family to partake in. -- Brian Russell Disney in the winter is awesome. Getting a chance to play golf in February is a treat for all of us cold winter climate guys, and having all of the theme parks close is great, too. -- Bob King Definitely Disney World!!!! Love it there... Been on every course. -- Sharon Rhodes There is nothing better than waking to 78 degrees and sun every morning. Playing an early 18 holes and then spending the rest of the day by the pool while the teenagers ride Space Mountain over and over. Disney it must be. -- Eric Bush Disney, because dad will be happy to golf anywhere, but the kids won't be happier anywhere else. -- Jason Deegan