In today’s meeting landscape, planners are constantly chasing fresh trends and unexpected experiences. Yet some classics continue to hold their ground, and few activities prove their staying power quite like golf. Even as many corporate meetings and conferences seek out the latest innovative agenda add-ons, the fairway remains attendees’ trusted favorite. Whether attendees are seasoned players ready for endless rounds or a mixed-interest group seeking fun, approachable ways to engage with the game, golf offers a versatile, universally appealing option to effortlessly elevate any agenda.
“On a whole, golf has experienced a surge in popularity since the pandemic,” says Tommy Parkinson, director of business development for TPC San Antonio (Texas) at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. “We feel it’s our personal responsibility to take that popularity and not only help sustain it but also grow it. That’s why we’re so passionate about continuing the tradition of golf here and providing new and unique ways to experience the game.”
World-class rounds
For most groups coming to TPC San Antonio, playing actual rounds is the main draw—and with two highly sought-after courses located right on property at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, it couldn’t be easier. “A lot of resorts have golf courses affiliated with the resort, but it often requires a transfer to get there,” Parkinson says. “Here, everything is located on site, just steps from the meeting room or guest room.”
The Oaks Course, host of the PGA TOUR’s Valero Texas Open, is the marquee choice, with the majority of groups selecting it to give attendees the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of their favorite professional golfers. “They love being able to say they birdied the same hole they watched on TV,” Parkinson adds. The Canyons Course offers picturesque Hill Country scenery and dynamic play, and thanks to the benefit of having a total of 36 holes, Parkinson can guide planners toward whichever course is in peak condition at the time. “The result is a walkable, planner-friendly golf experience tailored to the group, whether they’re chasing championship-level bragging rights or simply a stunning setting for a memorable round,” Parkinson says.
Meeting attendees are also naturally drawn to Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort’s legendary Ocean Course—one of the most celebrated layouts in the world. “It’s definitely on a worldwide stage,” says Bryan Hunter, director of public relations, noting its storied history as host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships, and its confirmed return in 2031. Consistently ranked among the top 100 courses globally by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine, the Ocean Course boasts more oceanside holes than any course in North America, giving players sweeping Atlantic views from nearly every fairway. For avid golfers, attending a meeting on property is a rare chance to play where their favorite pros have battled. Despite its championship pedigree, the course remains approachable for all skill levels. “With seasoned caddies and Pete Dye’s thoughtful tee-box design, it challenges the world’s best while staying enjoyable and manageable for the average recreational player—one more reason attendees love teeing it up at Kiawah,” Hunter says.
Lighthearted tee time
For groups with mixed skill levels or guests who have never picked up a club, planners can easily incorporate low-pressure, high-fun activities that keep everyone engaged. From friendly putting competitions to relaxed mini-golf challenges, many resort courses have golf options that encourage camaraderie without the intimidation factor of a full round.
TPC San Antonio has created the Drive, Chip & Putt competition, modeled after the national initiative launched by the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, and USGA. What began as a junior-golf phenomenon is now a fun, fast-paced way to get clubs into everyone’s hands—no experience required. “It’s a nontraditional activation but really approachable, really player-friendly,” Parkinson says. PGA professionals set up digital scoreboards and three skill stations where attendees rotate through long-drive shots measured with onsite technology, accuracy-based chipping, and a final putting challenge. “Scores accumulate along the way, keeping the energy high without the pressure of an 18-hole outing,” Parkinson says. “Best of all, the entire experience can be completed in approximately 90 minutes, making it an easy, memorable addition to any meeting agenda.”
Kiawah Island Golf Resort brings its own flair to fun, accessible golf competitions, offering numerous ways for groups to get creative on the greens. Many groups host a cocktail reception on the picturesque Ryder Cup Lawn, followed by a mini putting competition on the expansive practice green—fully designed and led by the resort’s golf professionals. “Even attendees who’ve only held a putter a time or two can jump in with ease, making it a lighthearted, inclusive activity,” Hunter says. “Overlooking the Atlantic and the dramatic 18th finishing hole, the setting is as memorable as the competition itself, and groups frequently bring in photographers to capture the moment against one of the resort’s most iconic backdrops.”
Short-game socializing
Pinehurst (N.C.) makes it easy for groups of all skill levels—especially those intimidated by a traditional 18-hole round—to jump into the game through fun, low-pressure experiences. In addition to its extensive collection of courses—technically, 10.5—Pinehurst is beloved by meeting groups for its accessible offerings. According to Karen DiCarlo, vice president of sales, Pinehurst features 10 championship layouts, plus The Cradle nine-hole short course; an 11th course, also named The Cradle, is scheduled to open in 2027. The Cradle short course is a music-filled, par-3 course, located conveniently near the clubhouse. “It’s wonderful because it’s only nine holes and is not intimidating,” DiCarlo says. Groups can enjoy firepits, Adirondack chairs, and the Cradle Crossing snack bar, making it just as fun for spectators as players. For an even more relaxed option, the nearby Thistle Dhu Putting Course can coordinate mini-golf-style contests before dinner or at sunset. “Most people have experience at mini-golf, so they’re often more comfortable joining in,” DiCarlo says.
Glow on the greens
Glow golf has quickly become one of the most buzzworthy after-hours add-ons for meeting groups, offering a fun, low-pressure way to get attendees on the green once the sun goes down. It blends socializing with friendly competition, transforming the course into an illuminated playground—and because it happens at night, planners can maximize daylight hours for meetings while still delivering a memorable, high-energy golf experience. “The balls light up, so you can actually watch them streak through the night air,” DiCarlo says. “With the greens illuminated and everything glowing, it creates this really fun, energetic atmosphere that groups absolutely love.”
At Pinehurst, planners can easily build glow golf into the evening agenda by pairing a clubhouse dinner with a fun, illuminated activity afterward. Groups can choose between Glow Cradle or glow putting. Larger groups often choose both glow options to allow everyone to play at once, DiCarlo says. “It’s an effortless way to extend the night with a memorable, light-filled experience that keeps attendees engaged long after the sessions wrap.”
Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers opportunities to mix fun, approachable golf with a little nighttime flair. At Ross Bridge in Hoover, planners can take advantage of a phenomenal putting and chipping green just outside the hotel (Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa), as well as the full practice facility, to host glow-ball night golf or putting contests. “It really takes the person who’s not a golfer and gets them out,” says Jonathan Romeo, vice president of marketing and advertising. Over at Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham, groups can enjoy night golf tournaments right on the course, playing nine holes at dusk and the final nine under the glow of neon pins, flags, and balls—a unique way to extend the day while keeping attendees engaged and having fun.
Glow golf has also become a favorite after-hours activity for corporate groups at TPC San Antonio, particularly over the last couple of years, Parkinson says. The experience starts with a nine-hole glow putting course on the Canyons putting green, enhanced with lights and music. Groups can also take on the Glow Tower Challenge, hitting wedges toward 12-foot strobing towers that react with sound and light when struck. With satellite bars or simple food and beverage activations nearby, the setup creates a fun, social environment that is approachable for everyone—like mini-golf on a grand, glowing scale. “Positioned directly next to the Riverbend Pavilion event lawn, the putting green becomes a seamless extension of the evening’s festivities, letting attendees mix, mingle, and play well into the night,” Parkinson says.
for groups to experience golf after evening cocktail receptions or dinners. DraftKings/Courtesy Pinehurst
Tee off creatively
At Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla., groups have creative freedom of the resort’s four distinct golf courses, allowing them to turn traditional rounds into memorable, engaging experiences tailored to their group’s interests and goals. “We’ve
seen groups incorporate fundraising with vendors set up at every hole, or at the beginning and end, allowing them to showcase what’s most important in their messaging,” says Linda Dragt, executive director of sales.
Beyond traditional play, options abound—from scramble formats pairing experienced golfers with non-golfers to interactive challenges like putt-putt, pitch, or themed “designer holes” created specifically for the group. Planners can also incorporate contests, like longest putt, trick-shot challenges into buckets, or cocktail-and-chipping evenings to engage all participants. Some groups design scavenger hunts throughout the course or even Bingo-style games, where each hole corresponds to a number, while others decorate their golf carts before heading out to play.
The Dunes Putting Course at Sandestin, which features 18 holes right on the beach, allows exclusive group rentals and has a dedicated staff to manage contests, serve barbecue lunches and snacks, and create branded activations. Other fun options include costume-themed play, blindfolded putts, one-handed swings, and spinning three times before hitting. “Sometimes, just riding in the golf cart becomes a highlight, proving that at Sandestin, the greens are as flexible and imaginative as planners want them to be,” Dragt adds.
Golf, reimagined
Golf can go far beyond the greens. At Sandestin, it can be incorporated into wellness, dining, networking, and creative teambuilding; some groups plan morning yoga on the fairway, so attendees can enjoy the course even if they’re not playing, Dragt says. Some planners have arranged cooking demonstrations and golf trivia stations on the course. Groups can also create a “19th hole” on the course, in a banquet space, or on the beach, providing networking opportunities and a branded finish to the day. “One group staged their 19th hole at Hotel Effie’s ARA rooftop bar, offering 360-degree views of the golf courses, bay, beach, and resort, complete with cocktails and socializing under the stars,” Dragt says.
Confidence on the course
If planners worry their attendees may not feel confident or experienced enough with golf, starting the program with a skills clinic is an easy way to make everyone feel more comfortable. Any of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail facilities can accommodate a group clinic, Romeo says, and PGA professionals are available at every property to work with players of all levels. A group can request a women-only clinic, he adds. “It can sometimes be a little intimidating when you have both genders in a clinic, so a women-only clinic is a little less intimidating for some.”
TPC San Antonio offers the same approachable structure, with multiple PGA professionals on site who can host clinics for up to 200 participants. The format typically includes three rotating stations—full swing, chipping and pitching, and putting—allowing attendees to explore every facet of the game at their own pace. “Attendees rotate through every 30 to 40 minutes; that way, everyone gets to touch and feel each facet of the game,” Parkinson says. “Some get really into it, even getting instructional tips from professionals, while others are just out there to have a club in their hands and experience something new and network with their colleagues.”
Off-course adventures
Planners can incorporate golf-themed fun and networking in other memorable—and weatherproof—ways. The new Tree House activity center at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, scheduled to open by spring, will feature two golf simulators, eight bowling lanes, an arcade, and a pub—all encompassed under one roof. According to Mary Reiger, director of sales, it is an ideal option for group buyouts and fostering off-course camaraderie.
At Pinehurst, planners can add a round of heritage by hosting receptions or programs inside the newly returned World Golf Hall of Fame, which features items from iconic professionals, such as the lockers of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, along with rotating exhibits. “It’s a great facility for [planners] wanting to incorporate more history into their program in a relaxed atmosphere, perhaps for a reception, or dinner,” DiCarlo explains. “It’s a unique space that groups—especially those with a golf background—love to visit. We can even arrange for someone from Pinehurst to speak to the group. After all, it’s the tradition and history of Pinehurst that compels people to come here. Pinehurst is truly a bucket-list destination for golfers; guests who have the opportunity to learn about our history as part of their meeting are in for a special experience.”
