(MAPQUEST) Top Easy-to-Play Golf Courses

Sometimes beginners, seniors and those golfers wishing for a serene game look for a golf course that is easy to play. The difficulty of a course is often judged by its official slope rating, which ranges from 55 to 155. An easy-to-play golf course has a lower slope rating, while the more difficult courses' slope ratings are closer to 150 or higher. To obtain a lower slope rating, the distance played is often reduced, making the course easier, or the amount of hazards are minimized. Finding a really good, easy golf course can be challenging. So, to make things easier, here is a terrific selection of first-rate courses sure to please those looking for an easier golf game on their vacation.

Best Park Setting Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Dogwood Hills Golf Club, Flat Rock, Alabama

Dogwood Hills is a mostly flat-terrain golf course in the hills of Alabama. It's made beautiful by the lovely seasonal trees and gardens that are scattered along the open fairways. The easy-to-play golf course still has plenty of challenges, with lots of lakes crossing the fairways. The slope for this 6,670-yard course is 106 from the white tees and 102 from the red tees. The golf course rates are $27-$40.

Best Southern Plantation Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort, Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Feel like a true Southern belle or gentleman when you play golf at the Willbrook Plantation. The slope for the 4.5 star Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is 125 from the white tees, but only 110 from the red tees. Imagine playing an easy golf round under hanging moss with colorful azaleas adding to the beauty. Course rates run $75-$150, and are higher during spring break than other times of the year.

Best Pine Forest Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Richmond Country Club, Hope Valley, Rhode Island

Richmond Country Club provides an easy-to-play round of golf within a pine forest cut fairly level and open on the fairways. This 6,821-yard golf course has a slope of 121 from the white tees and 113 from the red tees. The golf course rates are $18-$53.

Best Easy-to-Play Golf Course Near a National Park -- Sky Mountain Golf Course, Hurricane, Utah

This glorious but easy-to-play golf course is surrounded by the gorgeous formations that make up Zion National Park. With fairly level and wide-open greens, you should have little trouble unless you go out of bounds. The slope of 115 from the white tees and 107 from the red tees is friendly for this 6,383-yard course designed by Jeff Hardin. Sky Mountain Golf Course rates are $20-$79.

Best Easy-to-Play Beach-Style Golf Course -- Fairwinds Golf Course, Fort Pierce, Florida

Fairwinds' undulating, beach-style 4.5-star golf course designed by Jim Fazio is easy to play due to the level and wide-open golf course fairways. Challenges on the 6,784-yard course come from plentiful sand and lake water hazards. The Fairwinds Golf Course's rates of $42 are as agreeable as the slope of 117 from the white tees and 118 from the red tees.

Best Easy-to-Play Championship Golf Course -- Coeur D'Alene Resort Golf Course, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho

Designer Scott Miller's Coeur D'Alene Resort Golf Course will delight you with its floating green and many lakeside holes. At 6,803 yards, this golf course might not seem easy to play when you're on it, but it has a slope of 121 from the white tees and 118 from the red tees, which is about the easiest you can get in Idaho. This easy-to-play golf course's rates are based on per person, per night occupancy. Two rounds of golf start at $129 per night.

Best Desert Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Coyote Lakes Golf Club, Surprise, Arizona

Coyote Lakes Golf Club allows you to wear your cowboy hat, yet stay on the lush fairways that wind through sage and rock. Arthur Jack Snyder and Forrest Richardson designed a 6,213-yard course that plays with a slope of 121 for the men, and there are two sets of tees for the ladies, one with a slope of 103. Golf course rates at Coyote Lakes Golf Club run $26-$52.

Best Wild and Crazy Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Lawrence Welk Resort, Escondido, California

The gorgeous Fountains course designed by David Rainville showcases the fun of golf while avoiding the longer par-five holes, making this course a shorter 4,015 yards. It has a slope from the white tees of 102 and 90 from the red tees. Rates at Welk Resort run $24-$36 for the Fountains golf course and $10-15 for the Oaks golf course.

Best Level Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Elmridge Golf Course, Pawcatuck, Connecticut

Joseph and Charles Rustici designed Elmridge Golf Course, located on the site of a former dairy farm, to be level, with holes that are friendly to play. Fall color adds to the beauty of the 27 holes. The course slope runs at 115-121 from the white tees and 109-117 for the red tees. Golf course rates are $34-$58.

Best Family Easy-to-Play Golf Course -- Mill Run Golf Course, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

At only 6,078-yards, Mill Run is a lovely field and forest golf course with plenty of challenge from hazards and bunkers. Slope from the white tees is 116 and, from the red tees, 109. Golf course rates are $26-$54.

Sources:

http://www.dogwoodhillsgolfresortandgardens.com/index.htm

http://www.litchfieldbeach.com/

http://www.richmondcountryclub.net/club/scripts/section/section.asp?GRP=5725&NS=GOLF

http://www.skymountaingolf.com/index.html

http://www.verobeachgolfhomes.com/fairwinds/index.html

http://www.cdaresort.com/golf/

http://www.coyotelakesgolfclub.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=627&page=33907

http://www.welkgolf.com/

http://www.elmridgegolf.com/index.php

http://www.wildridgegolf.com/

http://www.verobeachgolfhomes.com/fairwinds/card_02.jpg