With each passing year, it gets a little more difficult to get the crew together. In the occasion that everyone gets a pass from the wife or girlfriend, has the scratch or has time off from work—it’s go time. In college, every day was another opportunity to roam and conquer. Not so much in the corporate universe, so let’s make the most of it.     

Here’s the plan: go somewhere for three nights, wake up and have a beer, play golf all day, feast like a king at dinner and party all night. Repeat.

The trinity: quality golf, good restaurants and nightlife are harder to find than one would imagine. A lot of good golf destinations boast about being “tucked away,” or being “far from the hustle and bustle.” That’s a problem because that’s what we’re looking for. We want chaos.  

Pro Tip: there is strength in numbers, from a cost standpoint, a group of eight is better than four and twelve is better than eight. Counter offer, ask for a better deal and see what the resort or hotel will include. Sometimes they will throw in golf shirts, golf balls or group lessons.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort; Kiawah Island, South Carolina
For around $1,000 per person, groups of 12 or more can host their own Ryder Cup at Kiawah. The package includes three nights, three rounds (one round on The Ocean Course), a beer and wine reception, breakfast each morning, a red or blue team logo golf shirt for each competitor, the big leaderboard and official scoring courtesy of the Kiawah staff. The Ocean Course has hosted the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship—it’s a legendary destination.

Nightlife: Charleston is about 25 miles away, but worth the drive. There is a surplus of southern belles in the area. There are also plenty of places to get cocktails, which could lead to dancing, which could lead to southern belles. Good luck. 

TPC Las Vegas; Las Vegas, Nevada
Of course Vegas was going to make the list, but there are so many options; what to do? Stay at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and play at the TPC Las Vegas for less than $250 per person, per night. TPC Las Vegas is about a mile from the hotel and the strip is about 10 miles, but this stay and play package rate is incredible. TPC Las Vegas was a PGA Tour stop—it’s quality layout designed by Bobby Weed and World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd.

Nightlife: There’s Carrot Top at the Luxor, Penn & Teller at the Rio and 101 different versions of Cirque du Soleil. And of course, there’s Crazy Horse III and Drai's Beachclub and Nightclub; to each his own.

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa; Austin, Texas
This resort sits in the Texas Hill Country, which is a gift for golf course designers. Two of its courses were designed by Tom Fazio, one by Coore and Crenshaw and another by the late great, Arnold Palmer. Its elevation changes offer nice perches for views of Austin, which will be appreciated by that sentimental friend of yours. That same friend will most likely end up fishing his ball out of the limestone bed creek that meanders throughout the resort. While he’s fishing for golf balls, push him in and make sure someone captures it on video.

Nightlife: Remember a few years ago when it seemed everyone in the world discovered Austin at the exact same time? It’s no secret now. Fill a cooler with Shiner Bock and make the trip to Salt Lick BBQ; everything else that happens on the trip is gravy. Sixth Street is loaded with bars, nightclubs and plenty of college chicks that will shoot you down…just like the old days.  

The Grand Palms Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort; Pembroke Pines, Florida
If money is no object, then Turnberry Isle Miami is the easy choice. However, this hidden gem is without a doubt the most affordable golf resort in South Florida, perhaps all of Florida. It’s literally off the beaten path—South Beach is a 45-minute Uber—but the stay and play deals at Grand Palms are incredible. Rooms go for less than $80 and stay and play packages are available for around $150 per person, per night. And the golf is good, not great—from a value standpoint it’s amazing. There are 27 holes of golf, a restaurant and a bar; what the hell else do you need?  

Nightlife: This is the only reason a sane group of guys would choose Miami for a golf trip—the golf is okay, the bars, nightclubs and gentlemen’s clubs are arguably the best in America. Nightclubs are key in Miami: LIV, STORY, ORA, Bardot or Electric Pickle; check ahead to find a lineup you will enjoy. Gentlemen’s clubs are super-key: Tootsie's Cabaret are Dean’s Gold near the resort. E11even is further, but worth the effort. Plus, consider the savings by staying at Grand Palm. Miami is your oyster.  

TPC Louisiana; Avondale, Louisiana
It’s always fun to play a PGA Tour golf course; TPC Louisiana has hosted the Zurich Classic since 2005. Even better is to play the course before or after the PGA event—for the ultimate reality check, play from pro tees and realize you’re not as good as you thought. Their “Before & After” rate is $229 (rental clubs included), but it’s something every player should experience once. By the way, it plays 7,500+ from the tips and the ball doesn’t travel too well in heavy humid air. Enjoy!

Nightlife: Unlike our other destinations, the golf course and our hotel, Harrah’s New Orleans, are 15 miles apart. The French Quarter in New Orleans is one of the great eating and drinking destinations in the world. Oysters on the half shell at Acme, beignets at Cafe Du Monde, a Famous Ferdi Special at Mother’s and big ass beers on Bourbon Street are a must. The rest of The Big Easy should happen organically. Enter the bars with the best and loudest zydeco music and if nothing happens in five minutes, relocate. When all else fails, there’s always a Mango Mango bar nearby—go there.