When fairways freeze and handicaps hibernate, the game’s most civilized retreats keep spirits warm with premium tobacco and heated refuge
The cruel reality of American golf geography is that magnificent courses routinely vanish beneath snow, sleet, and the general inhospitality of winter. For the dedicated golfer who refuses to surrender their autumn rounds without a fight—or at least a proper sendoff—a select group of luxury resorts have developed a sophisticated coping mechanism: world-class cigar lounges and heated outdoor sanctuaries.
These establishments understand that when the thermometer drops and the fairways firm into something resembling concrete, a fine cigar and comfortable refuge can transform disappointment into distinction. As another winter descends upon the northern golf belt, here are the premier destinations that pair premium tobacco with exceptional golf—even when the weather refuses to cooperate.
The Northern Frontier: Where Cigars Combat the Cold
Craig’s Porch at Sand Valley, Wisconsin
Wisconsin presents perhaps the most dramatic case study in seasonal golf extremes. This is a state that boasts tournament-worthy courses like Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, and Sentry World—then buries them under snowdrifts deep enough to lose a golf cart. The championship-caliber golf complex at Sand Valley, built across thousands of acres of dramatic sand dunes in Nekoosa, confronted this reality head-on by creating Craig’s Porch.
After unveiling its sixth golf experience this past summer—the walkable 12-hole Commons course joining Sand Valley, Mammoth Dunes, Sedge Valley, The Lido, and The Sandbox—management wisely prepared for the inevitable Wisconsin winter. The rustic cabin features a spacious heated deck where golfers can reflect on summer rounds past while others brave hiking, ice skating, or cross-country skiing across the dormant golf landscape.
The winter 2025-2026 cigar menu includes carefully selected offerings: Oliva Serie G Churchill, Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Toro, Montecristo White Toro, Ashton Classic Churchill, and Rocky Patel Disciple Half Corona. The selection strikes a balance between accessible classics and premium indulgences—perfect for both the occasional celebratory smoke and the dedicated aficionado.
Destination Kohler, Wisconsin
Further east in Kohler, another Wisconsin golf empire has mastered the art of off-season hospitality. The American Club resort, home to four championship courses including Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, maintains several cigar-friendly spaces throughout its properties. The Horse & Plow tavern and various outdoor terraces provide sheltered smoking areas with heaters and blankets, allowing guests to enjoy premium cigars while overlooking the Sheboygan River Valley—even when the courses themselves are wrapped in winter’s grip.
The Temperate Middle Ground: Shoulder Season Sophistication
Oconee Cove at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee, Georgia
The Georgia countryside around Lake Oconee never approaches the Arctic conditions of the upper Midwest, but autumn and early winter do bring rain, wind, and temperatures that test even determined golfers. Reynolds’ collection of eight golf courses—including designs from Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Jim Engh—plus the impressive TaylorMade Kingdom of Golf training facility, keeps players occupied during fair weather. But when conditions deteriorate, the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds offers a remarkably civilized alternative.
Hidden behind a bookcase entrance lies Oconee Cove, a speakeasy-style lounge that represents the evolution of luxury hospitality toward experiential spaces. “While we still offer traditional, comfortable gathering spots, the speakeasy delivers a coveted sense of F&B exploration,” explains Edson Canua, Director of Food and Beverage. “Oconee Cove’s hidden nature offers a sense of exclusive discovery, elevating the enjoyment of a fine cigar and great cocktail into a personal, refined moment away from the day’s activities.”
Georgia’s indoor smoking restrictions necessitate a heated patio just steps from the bookshelf entrance, but this hardly diminishes the experience. The extensive cigar menu is thoughtfully organized by strength profile—Mild, Medium, and Full-Bodied—featuring distinguished selections including Fuente Fuente OpusX, Ashton Cabinet and VSG, Rocky Patel, Cohiba Blue, and Montecristo Platinum.
Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina
The sandhills of North Carolina provide surprisingly comfortable winter golf—temperatures hover in the 40s and 50s through December and January—but Pinehurst Resort’s cigar culture transcends seasonal necessity. This legendary property, home to nine courses including the U.S. Open host Pinehurst No. 2, has long understood that golf and cigars form a natural partnership.
The Deuce, Pinehurst’s upscale bar and lounge, maintains an impressive walk-in humidor stocked with over 100 varieties. The covered rocking chair porch outside provides the quintessential Southern setting for a post-round smoke, with heaters extending the season well into the cooler months. The property also features multiple fire pits scattered throughout the grounds, creating intimate gathering spots where small groups can enjoy cigars while debating the finer points of Donald Ross’s genius.
The Greenbrier, West Virginia
In the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier has been hosting golfers and statesmen since 1778. The property’s three championship courses—including the Jack Nicklaus-designed Snead Course—can play into late autumn, though mountain weather brings uncertainty. The Greenbrier’s solution combines old-world elegance with modern comfort.
The Casino Club, the resort’s gaming facility, maintains a dedicated cigar bar with temperature-controlled storage and comfortable seating. More notably, the outdoor Mountainside Terrace features fire pits, blankets, and seasonal heaters, creating an elegant setting for cigar enjoyment even when mountain temperatures drop. The combination of historic architecture, mountain views, and Southern hospitality makes weather delays almost welcome.
The Coastal Alternative: Where Wind Meets Warmth
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course famously hosts the windiest conditions in American championship golf, and winter amplifies the Atlantic breezes. But The Sanctuary resort has developed multiple cigar-friendly refuges for players seeking shelter from the elements.
The Ryder Cup Bar, named for the property’s 1991 matches, features a covered outdoor patio with heaters and a curated cigar selection that includes Davidoff, Padrón, and Arturo Fuente offerings. The bar’s proximity to the Ocean Course makes it the natural gathering point for players who’ve just battled the wind, creating an atmosphere of shared survival and storytelling. Private cabanas near the pool area can also be reserved for cigar enjoyment, offering intimate settings protected from coastal gusts.
Sea Island Resort, Georgia
Sea Island’s trio of courses—Seaside, Plantation, and Retreat—benefit from coastal Georgia’s mild winters, but the property’s cigar culture provides year-round appeal. The resort’s approach emphasizes outdoor comfort, with strategically placed fire pits, heated terraces, and covered gathering spaces throughout the property.
The River Bar, overlooking the Black Banks River, maintains an outdoor terrace with comfortable seating and heaters, while the Clubhouse at Seaside offers protected smoking areas with views across the water. The resort also provides customized cigar experiences, including private tastings and pairings organized through the concierge—perfect for groups traveling together during the slower winter season.
The Pacific Northwest Exception
Bandon Dunes, Oregon
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort represents perhaps the purest expression of golf-and-cigar culture meeting challenging weather. This remote Oregon coast property doesn’t hide from winter; it embraces the rain, wind, and drama as essential elements of the links golf experience. But after a soaking round on Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, or Old Macdonald, golfers need refuge.
The resort’s approach is refreshingly unpretentious: comfortable lodges with covered decks, outdoor fire pits, and well-stocked humidors at each location. The Gallery and Punch Bowl bars become natural gathering points where weather-beaten golfers trade stories while cigars burn and rain hammers the windows. There’s an almost Scottish sensibility to the experience—the worse the weather during the round, the better the cigar tastes afterward.
The Warm Weather Havens: Permanent Solutions
For those who prefer to avoid cold-weather challenges entirely, several winter destinations combine guaranteed sunshine with exceptional cigar culture:
The Phoenician, Arizona
Scottsdale’s premium winter golf destination maintains year-round cigar service, but winter represents peak season when northerners flee frost for fairways. The resort’s Thirsty Camel Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor seating with an extensive menu, while the golf course’s halfway house provides convenient mid-round options.
PGA National Resort, Florida
Home to the Honda Classic’s famous “Bear Trap,” PGA National understands that Florida winters attract serious golfers seeking both challenge and comfort. The 19th Hole bar maintains a well-curated cigar selection, while multiple outdoor terraces throughout the property provide comfortable smoking areas with the bonus of actual warm weather.
The Winter Golf Philosophy
These destinations share a common understanding: premium golf experiences extend beyond the course itself. When Mother Nature refuses to cooperate—or when players simply need respite between rounds—the availability of comfortable spaces, quality cigars, and refined hospitality transforms potential frustration into anticipated pleasure.
The best winter golf resorts recognize that a heated deck, a carefully selected cigar, and a well-crafted cocktail can create memories as lasting as any round played in perfect conditions. Perhaps more importantly, they acknowledge that the civilized enjoyment of the game includes knowing when to retreat indoors with good company and better tobacco.
As another winter approaches and daylight savings surrenders its ground, these havens stand ready to prove that golf season never truly ends—it simply moves from the fairways to the fire pits, from the greens to the gathering spaces, where stories improve and cigars burn while awaiting spring’s inevitable return.