The truth might surprise you. Professional golfers don't disappear into hibernation. They're still grinding, refining their games, and playing competitive rounds at some of the world's most exclusive courses. From sunny Florida resorts to international destinations, the off-season is a critical period for skill development, recovery, and strategic preparation.
In this guide, we'll explore where golf pros play during the off-season, why they maintain rigorous practice schedules, and how amateur golfers can apply similar strategies using tools like the Hole19 Golf App to improve year-round.
Where do PGA Tour pros play golf in the off-season?
PGA Tour professionals typically play at warm-weather destinations like Florida, California, Arizona, and international locations including Dubai, Australia, and the Caribbean. Many practice at exclusive private clubs, high-tech training facilities, and resort courses that offer ideal conditions year-round for skill development and competitive preparation.
Top Warm-Weather Destinations Where Golf Pros Play
When temperatures drop in North America and Europe, professional golfers head to warm-weather locations where they can practice in optimal conditions.
Florida: The Winter Golf Capital
Florida is undoubtedly the number one destination for professional golfers during the off-season. With hundreds of world-class courses and year-round sunshine, the Sunshine State becomes home base for many tour players from November through February.
Jupiter, Florida, has emerged as the epicenter of professional golf. The area is home to dozens of tour players including Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, and Daniel Berger. The Medalist Golf Club - designed by Greg Norman - is a favorite practice facility where members include Tiger Woods and other elite players.
Palm Beach Gardens features PGA National Resort, while Naples on Florida's Gulf Coast attracts players seeking a quieter atmosphere. Courses like Old Collier Golf Club and Quail West Golf & Country Club see regular visits from tour professionals working on their games.
California: Year-Round Golf Paradise
California offers diverse golf environments perfect for off-season practice. La Quinta and the Coachella Valley region host numerous pros during winter months. The area's collection of resort and private courses - including Madison Club, The Vintage Club, and PGA West - provide ideal practice conditions.
San Diego's climate allows year-round play with minimal rain. Courses like Torrey Pines, The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, and Fairbanks Ranch Country Club attract professionals looking to work on coastal wind conditions and firm playing surfaces.
Arizona: Desert Golf Training
Scottsdale has become a hub for professional golf, with players attracted to the area's resort courses, private clubs, and high-tech training facilities. Whisper Rock Golf Club is co-owned by Phil Mickelson and counts numerous tour players among its members.
Grayhawk Golf Club, Desert Mountain, and Troon North provide resort experiences with tournament-quality conditions. These courses allow players to work on distance control in firm conditions and develop creativity around tightly-bunkered greens.
Texas: Hidden Gem for Winter Golf
Texas might not get as much attention, but it's a favorite off-season destination for many professionals. The state's mild winters (particularly in southern regions), lack of state income tax, and numerous high-quality courses make it attractive.
Dallas-Fort Worth has a significant professional golf population. Players like Jordan Spieth practice at courses like Dallas National Golf Club and Royal Oaks Country Club. Houston and Austin also feature clubs that see tour professionals during winter months.
Join 4.8M+ golfers worldwide today. Download now!
Hole19 is the leading golf app for tracking scores, navigating courses with GPS precision, and unlocking performance insights.
Exclusive Golf Courses Pro Golfers Favor During Downtime
Beyond geographic location, certain exclusive private clubs have become magnets for professional golfers during the off-season.
Perhaps no club is more closely associated with professional golf than Medalist in Hobe Sound, Florida. Greg Norman's design features undulating greens, strategic bunkering, and firm conditions that mimic major championship setups. Tiger Woods is a member, and the club's roster reads like a who's-who of professional golf.
The practice facilities at Medalist are legendary. During winter months, you'll regularly find multiple tour winners working alongside each other, creating an atmosphere of competitive excellence.
Seminole in Juno Beach is one of America's most revered golf courses. The Donald Ross design plays firm and fast along the Atlantic Ocean, with strategic challenges that reward creativity and shot-making.
Tour professionals love Seminole because it rewards precision over power. The course's strategic design forces players to think their way around—valuable practice for major championships where course management becomes paramount.
This ultra-private club in Stuart is home to several tour professionals including Dustin Johnson. The Tom Fazio-designed course features immaculate Bermuda grass playing surfaces. The club's exclusivity ensures players can practice without distraction.
Located in La Quinta, Madison Club is an ultra-exclusive facility that attracts numerous tour professionals. The Tom Fazio design features multiple tee options, allowing players to customize their practice rounds. The club's location in the desert provides ideal winter practice weather.
International Destinations
Professional golfers also escape to international locations during winter. Dubai has emerged as a premier destination with world-class courses and ideal weather. Australia's summer season (December-February) coincides with Northern Hemisphere winter, making it perfect for players seeking warm weather and competitive golf.
The Caribbean offers warm weather and resort golf perfect for off-season recovery, while Spain and Portugal's Algarve region provide excellent winter conditions without traveling across continents.
Join 4.8M+ golfers worldwide today. Download now!
Hole19 is the leading golf app for tracking scores, navigating courses with GPS precision, and unlocking performance insights.
What Amateur Golfers Can Learn From Pro Off-Season Routines
Professional golf provides a roadmap for improvement at every skill level. While amateur golfers can't replicate the time commitment of tour players, the fundamental principles apply universally.
Structured Practice Over Random Range Sessions
Tour professionals never hit balls aimlessly. Every practice session has specific goals. Amateur golfers should adopt this same approach. Before heading to the range, identify exactly what you're working on - path correction, trajectory control, or transition tempo.
The Hole19 Golf App and CORE Golf App help structure practice by providing clear statistical feedback. If stats show weak driving accuracy, dedicate off-season sessions specifically to driver work.
Prioritize Short Game Development
Tour professionals know that scoring ability comes from 100 yards and in. Research shows short game accounts for roughly 60% of total strokes for amateur golfers - even more for higher handicappers.
Dedicate at least half your off-season practice time to short game. Use the Hole19 Golf App to track scrambling percentage and focus practice on improving this specific statistic.
Physical Fitness and Flexibility
Modern tour professionals understand that physical capability directly impacts golf performance. Amateur golfers don't need tour-level fitness programs, but basic flexibility work and core strengthening provide significant benefits.
Off-season is ideal for establishing fitness routines that continue through the competitive season. Even 15-20 minutes of daily stretching can improve your golf swing and reduce injury risk.
Course Management Strategy
Tour professionals play the percentages. They understand their tendencies and plan accordingly. The Hole19 Golf App's shot tracking reveals exactly where you miss. If you consistently miss approach shots right, factor that into your aim point.
Off-season is perfect for developing course management skills. Review statistics from the previous season, identify challenging holes, and develop smarter strategies using the GPS flyover feature.
Mental Game Development
Professional golf is as much mental as physical. Tour players work with sports psychologists to develop pre-shot routines and manage competitive anxiety. Off-season provides time to establish consistent pre-shot routines and practice visualization techniques.
Equipment Optimization
Tour professionals test equipment constantly. Use the off-season to get properly fitted for clubs. A quality fitting session can identify specifications optimized for your swing, often producing improvement exceeding what's possible through swing changes alone.
Consistent Documentation and Analysis
Tour professionals analyze performance through detailed statistics. The Hole19 Golf App provides similar capabilities. comprehensive stat tracking, trending analysis, and handicap management.
Make a commitment to track every round during the off-season. Review statistics monthly. Are you progressing toward goals? Objective data prevents wasted practice time and ensures efforts focus on areas that will actually lower scores.
Long-Term Perspective
Tour professionals understand that improvement happens gradually through consistent effort. Adopt a long-term perspective. Commit to off-season improvement processes without demanding immediate results.
The Hole19 Golf App's trending charts visualize long-term progress. Rather than fixating on individual rounds, view statistical trends over months and seasons. This long view maintains motivation during inevitable plateaus.
Your Off-Season Game Plan
Professional golfers stay sharp during the off-season through structured practice at elite facilities in warm-weather destinations. But the fundamental principles - purposeful practice, statistical feedback, equipment optimization, and long-term perspective - apply equally to amateur golfers at every skill level.
This off-season, commit to approaching your golf improvement like a professional. Use the Hole19 Golf App to track statistics, identify weaknesses, and measure progress objectively. Structure practice sessions with specific goals rather than hitting balls randomly. Work on short game skills that translate directly to lower scores.
Whether you're practicing at your local course or escaping to a warm-weather destination, the tools for improvement are available. Download the Hole19 Golf App today and start tracking your progress. Set specific goals for the upcoming season - lower your handicap, improve a specific statistical weakness, or simply play more consistent golf.
The professionals understand that off-season work determines in-season success. Apply that same commitment to your golf game. With structured practice, objective feedback, and consistent effort, next season can be your best yet.
You don't need access to Medalist Golf Club or private jets to exotic destinations. You just need commitment to purposeful improvement and the right tools to track progress. The Hole19 Golf App provides those tools. Your dedication provides the rest.
Start your off-season improvement journey today. When the competitive season arrives, you'll be ready to play your best golf ever—just like the pros who spent their winters preparing for success.
Max Harvey