February's Best Golf Window
President's Day weekend is the most underused long weekend in American golf. The holiday falls in mid-February, it produces a three-day window that most group schedules can accommodate, and it lands between the holiday chaos of December-January and the spring booking frenzy that starts in March. The problem with President's Day is that most golfers default to Florida and find that half of the East Coast has had the same idea.
The correct answer is to not go to Florida.
Scottsdale, Arizona. February is Scottsdale's prime season. Temperatures run 65-72 degrees, the courses are in peak condition, and the resort infrastructure is operating at full capacity. TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, Troon North: all available, all excellent. The weekday rates after the holiday weekend are lower than March rates for the same product. The flight from most major metros is direct and under four hours.
Southern Utah. St. George and the surrounding Washington County courses are playable in February with average temperatures of 58-62 degrees. Coral Canyon, Entrada, and the full roster of local courses are available at winter pricing, which runs 30-40 percent below spring rates. The landscape in February is different from October: the light is lower, the red rock formations cast longer shadows, and the golf has a quality of place that midsummer doesn't offer.
Las Vegas. Las Vegas in February runs 58-65 degrees. Wolf Creek is 90 minutes outside the city and available at below-peak rates. The non-golf infrastructure in Las Vegas is a genuine asset for a mixed-interest group. February is the slowest month for the casino resorts, which means room rates that are substantially below October.
The Case Against Florida in February
Kiawah Island in February is 58 degrees and windy. Streamsong in February is fine, but the courses are at their least interesting state: too late for fall conditions, too early for spring. The Southeast in February is not bad. It is a lesser version of October in the Southeast, available at the same price.
The February trip belongs in the West. The sun is at the right angle, the desert courses are at their peak, and the crowds haven't arrived yet. Book it before March does.