By, Brian Beaky, CG Editor
Now, don’t get me wrong – I love the Northwest, and even the rain, which keeps everything green and fresh, year-round. There’s no experience like coming back from a trip to the Midwest or the East Coast, breaking through the clouds and seeing the mountains, the trees, the hills, the lakes and the Sound … it’s breathtaking, and reminds you how lucky we are to live here.
I also love to play golf, though, and while you’d be a fool not to take advantage of the bargains that are available in our area at this time of year — $85 rounds for $50, $50 rounds for $25 – the truth of the matter is that, with the exception of those courses that hold up especially well in the wet stuff, playing the majority of our public-access tracks from December through March is an experience only the true die-hards can love.
So it was that, last winter, we focused all of our value-hunting efforts to warmer climes. Sure, you’re going to want to get out and knock it around on a few of your local favorites this winter, but to really find the best golf values at this time of year – that is, the highest quality-for-dollar ratios – you have to head South.
Our resulting feature, “Golf’s Winter Wonderland” (CG, Dec. 2008) received a huge response from our readers, many of whom wound up booking the very stay-and-play packages we recommended. We also talked to many of you throughout the year, at our fall tournaments and at September’s Golf Fest Northwest, and heard that many – if not most – of you have considered taking a desert golf vacation, but are limited by your finances.
Oh, boy – when we see an opportunity to deliver value, we pounce. So, we’re back in 2009 with an all-inclusive rundown of the best values to be found south of the Siskiyous. From our favorite resorts, casinos and clubhouse bars, to the best value courses and frequent-player programs (and even a few secret spots we’d rather keep to ourselves), we’ve canvassed the desert – from L.A. in the West to St. George, Utah, in the east, to help you spend your golf vacation dollar wisely this winter.
The rain will ebb this spring, and we’ll be back teeing it up amongst the pines from April through October … but as golfers, we go where the birdies go, and everybody knows the birdies fly south for the winter.
READ MORE IN DECEMBER’S CASCADE GOLFER – AT PUETZ GOLF STORES NOW!