Golf in Hot Springs, Arkansas: A Spa-Town Golf Guide

No Arkansas town does the golf weekend like Hot Springs. It has been a resort destination since the bathhouse era, when it drew everyone from baseball's spring-training teams to Al Capone, and today the draw for golfers is simple: play 18 in the morning, soak in a historic bathhouse or bet the ponies at Oaklawn in the afternoon. For River Valley golfers it's the natural home-state getaway — about two hours south, with more good courses in one place than anywhere else in Arkansas.

Hot Springs Village

The Village is the largest gated community in the United States and the golf heart of the area — seven distinct courses inside one sprawling, wooded development north of town, plus lakes, trails and rental homes. Most are member-and-guest, but stay-and-play packages and public-access days open several of them up, so it's worth calling ahead. These are the three to prioritise.

• Diamante Country Club — the best course in the Village and a genuine championship layout — the one to angle for if you can only play one.
• Granada Golf Course — a scenic, playable member favourite with generous width and pretty water.
• Balboa Golf Course — one of the original Village courses; mature, tree-lined and characterful.
• Cortez & Isabella Golf Courses — two more of the seven, both solid resort tracks that round out a multi-day stay.

Beyond the Village

You don't have to go inside the gates to play great golf in Hot Springs. The courses closer to downtown put you within walking distance of Bathhouse Row and Central Avenue.

• Hot Springs Country Club — two historic courses close to downtown and the bathhouses; the pick if you want to base yourself in the heart of town.
• Glenwood Country Club — an affordable resort track about 45 minutes south — one of the best-value rounds in the state.
• Belvedere Country Club — a classic tree-lined 18 north of town with a loyal local following.

Where to stay

Two approaches work. Base downtown — the historic Arlington Hotel or one of the boutique spots on Central Avenue — for walkable access to the bathhouses, restaurants and Oaklawn, and drive out to golf. Or stay inside Hot Springs Village in a rental home for a golf-first trip with all seven courses on your doorstep. Downtown suits couples and mixed-interest groups; the Village suits a pure golf buddies' trip.

The rest of the seven Village courses

Diamante is the crown, but the other six courses inside Hot Springs Village are what make it a multi-day destination rather than a single round. Each has its own character across the wooded, hilly terrain, and a stay-and-play package lets you sample several. These are the names to know when you build an itinerary.

• Ponce de Leon — one of the Village's most scenic and demanding layouts, with water in play and dramatic elevation.
• Coronado — a member-friendly course that balances challenge and playability — a good early-in-the-trip round.
• Magellan — a rolling, wooded 18 that rewards position off the tee.
• DeSoto — one of the original courses, mature and tree-lined with a loyal following.

Green fees and stay-and-play

Hot Springs is resort golf, so expect to pay a little more than for a city muni — most of the Village and downtown courses run in the $45–75 range with a cart, with the marquee Diamante at the top of that band. The value move is a stay-and-play package: rent a home inside the Village or book a golf-hotel deal and you'll get bundled tee times across multiple courses at a better rate than paying à la carte. Book the golf shop directly, lock Diamante in first, and ask about multi-round and replay rates. Twilight play is the cheapest way onto the resort courses if you're on a budget.

Beyond the golf

What sets Hot Springs apart from any other Arkansas golf base is everything within walking distance of the first tee. Soak in a historic bathhouse on Bathhouse Row, bet the thoroughbreds at Oaklawn, hike the trails of Hot Springs National Park right in town, or work through the breweries and restaurants along Central Avenue. It's the rare golf trip that keeps a non-golfing partner just as happy — which is exactly why it's the most popular in-state getaway for River Valley couples and mixed groups.

Best time to play

Spring and fall are ideal, and Hot Springs has a bonus season: the Oaklawn thoroughbred meet runs winter into spring, so a January or February trip can pair mild-day golf with the races. Summers are hot and humid — tee off early — while the Ouachita forest keeps the courses shaded and scenic. October, with the leaves turning in the mountains, is the prettiest month.

Getting there and getting around

From Fort Smith, Hot Springs is about two hours away, most scenically via AR-7 through the Ouachita Mountains — slower than the interstate but one of the prettiest drives in the state and a nice warm-up to a golf weekend. From Little Rock it's an easy hour southwest on I-30 and US-70. Once you're there, note that Hot Springs Village sits about 20 minutes north of the downtown bathhouse district, so decide up front whether you're basing in the Village (golf-first) or downtown (walkable to everything else) — the drive between them adds up over a multi-day trip. A car is essential; the courses are spread out and there's no practical transit between them.

How to actually get on the courses

The Village courses are semi-private, which confuses a lot of first-time visitors. The reliable route for a non-member is a stay-and-play package or a Village guest arrangement — book through the community's golf operation or a golf-hotel deal and you'll get tee times across several courses without knowing a member. The downtown Hot Springs Country Club courses are the easiest to book on a one-off basis if you just want a single round without the packaging. Call ahead in peak spring, fall and Oaklawn-meet weekends, when demand is highest; midweek you can usually get on with short notice. Confirm cart policy when you book, as several of the hillier courses are cart-friendly rather than easy walks.

Which course suits which golfer

With seven Village courses plus the downtown options, there's a fit for every group. Serious players should angle for Diamante or Ponce de Leon, the toughest and most rewarding tests. Mixed-ability groups do well on the gentler, more forgiving layouts like Coronado or Granada, where a higher handicapper won't feel punished. Couples and casual golfers basing downtown will love the walkable, historic Hot Springs Country Club courses close to the bathhouses. Spread a multi-day trip across a hard course and an easy one and everyone in the group goes home happy.

Making a spa-and-golf weekend of it

The move is a two- or three-day trip: golf in the mornings, then Bathhouse Row, Oaklawn or a hike up Hot Springs Mountain in the afternoons. It's the centrepiece of our Arkansas golf trips guide, and Hot Springs Village features in our overall ranking of the best courses in Arkansas. Coming from Fort Smith, take the scenic AR-7 down through the Ouachitas — it's slower than the interstate but one of the prettiest drives in the state. It also pairs neatly with a stop in Little Rock an hour to the east.