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Rapid City Golf Trip Planning Guide

Rapid City is the gateway to the Black Hills with a surprising number of quality golf courses, a revitalized downtown with great restaurants and bars, and Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse as rest-day destinations. The value here is absurd — championship golf for half the price of Colorado resort towns.

5 courses · 4 restaurants · 4 bars · 4 activities

Quick Facts

Best Time to Visit

Summer, Fall

Nearest Airport

RAP (10 min drive)

Green Fees

$35–$85

Lodging From

$350/night

Walkable Courses

3 of 5

Budget Est. (8 guys, 3 nights)

~$321/person

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Rapid City. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.

Day 1

Morning — Golf

Golf Club at Red Rock mountain, $55–$85 · 4.5★

Dramatic layout through red rock canyon terrain with elevation changes and stunning Black Hills views

Dinner

Delmonico Grillsteakhouse, $$$

Downtown steakhouse with prime cuts, seafood, and a swanky vibe; private dining available for groups

After Dark

Murphy's Pub & Grillsports bar · Open late

Downtown sports bar with a big patio, TVs everywhere, and a late-night crowd; the group spot

Day 2

Morning — Golf

Meadowbrook Golf Course parkland, $35–$52 · 4.4★

Rapid City's best muni; long, mature, and always well-conditioned with Rapid Creek running through

Afternoon — Activity

Mount Rushmore National Memorial2-3 hours, $0–$10/pp

The iconic American landmark 25 minutes from town; evening lighting ceremony is unforgettable

Dinner

Firehouse Brewing Co.brewpub, $$

South Dakota's oldest brewpub in a restored 1915 firehouse; great pub food and house beers

After Dark

Hay Camp Brewing Companybrewpub

Local craft brewery with solid IPAs and a chill taproom; food trucks on weekends

Day 3

Morning — Golf

The Golf Club at Devils Tower parkland, $40–$60 · 4.4★

Play golf with a view of Devils Tower in the distance; worth the drive for the novelty and solid course

Afternoon — Activity

Custer State Park Wildlife Loophalf day, $0–$20/pp

Drive through herds of bison, pronghorn, and wild burros; Needles Highway is a must-drive

Dinner

Tally's Silver Spooncasual, $$

Beloved local breakfast and lunch spot; massive portions and a diner vibe that's pure South Dakota

After Dark

Paddy O'Neill's Pubsports bar · Open late

Irish pub with live music, trivia nights, and a great whiskey selection; always a fun crowd

Course-by-Course Guide

Rapid City has 5 courses worth playing. 3 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.

Hart Ranch Golf Course

Solid

Beautiful Black Hills course winding through ponderosa pines and red rock canyons; the best public track in the area

$45–$72mountainPar 72 · 6,843 yds4.3 (280)

Meadowbrook Golf Course

Solid

Rapid City's best muni; long, mature, and always well-conditioned with Rapid Creek running through

$35–$52parklandPar 72 · 7,054 ydsWalkable4.4 (807)

Arrowhead Country Club

Solid

Mature 18-hole course right in Rapid City with tree-lined fairways, well-bunkered greens, and consistent conditioning

$40–$65parklandPar 72 · 6,605 ydsWalkable4.2 (260)

Golf Club at Red Rock

Premium

Dramatic layout through red rock canyon terrain with elevation changes and stunning Black Hills views

$55–$85mountainPar 72 · 6,700 yds4.5 (1,143)

The Golf Club at Devils Tower

Solid

Play golf with a view of Devils Tower in the distance; worth the drive for the novelty and solid course

$40–$60parklandPar 72 · 6,600 ydsWalkable4.4 (928)

Where to Stay

Rapid City has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $350/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.

house

$350–$900/night

Sleeps 1016 · West Rapid City / Chapel Lane area

hot tubfull kitchenmountain viewsfire pitgrillgame room
cabin

$400–$1100/night

Sleeps 1218 · Black Hills / Keystone / Hill City area

hot tubfull kitchenmountain viewsfire pitgrilldeckmultiple levels

Group Dining Guide

4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.

Delmonico Grill

$$$
steakhouse

Downtown steakhouse with prime cuts, seafood, and a swanky vibe; private dining available for groups

$30-60/personReservation needed

Firehouse Brewing Co.

$$
brewpub

South Dakota's oldest brewpub in a restored 1915 firehouse; great pub food and house beers

$15-30/person

Tally's Silver Spoon

$$
casual

Beloved local breakfast and lunch spot; massive portions and a diner vibe that's pure South Dakota

$15-30/person

Que Pasa Mexican Cafe

$$
mexican

Huge portions of New Mexican-style food with strong margaritas; great for groups

$15-30/person

Nightlife

4 bars curated for groups. 2 stay open past midnight.

Murphy's Pub & Grill

Late Night
sports bar

Downtown sports bar with a big patio, TVs everywhere, and a late-night crowd; the group spot

Hay Camp Brewing Company

brewpub

Local craft brewery with solid IPAs and a chill taproom; food trucks on weekends

Paddy O'Neill's Pub

Late Night
sports bar

Irish pub with live music, trivia nights, and a great whiskey selection; always a fun crowd

Independent Ale House

brewpub

40+ taps of craft beer in a downtown taproom; the beer nerd's paradise in Rapid City

Activities Beyond Golf

4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

hiking2-3 hours$0–$10/pp

The iconic American landmark 25 minutes from town; evening lighting ceremony is unforgettable

Custer State Park Wildlife Loop

hikinghalf day$0–$20/pp

Drive through herds of bison, pronghorn, and wild burros; Needles Highway is a must-drive

Crazy Horse Memorial

hiking2-3 hours$15–$30/pp

The world's largest sculpture-in-progress; mountain carving with museum and cultural center

Downtown Rapid City Art Walk

brewery2-3 hours$0–$20/pp

Bronze presidential statues on every corner plus galleries, shops, and brewery stops

Getting There

Fly into Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) — it's a 10-minute drive to Rapid City. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Black Hills Party Bus and Affordable Limo & Car Service). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.

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