| Many golfers in northern climates may think the | | | | San Antonio is good in November for all three |
| season is over. Or at least until that next business | | | | reasons. Average November high temperature is 71 |
| trip or Thanksgiving vacation. Living in Colorado, I've | | | | degrees and San Antonio city leaders are |
| played in all types of conditions to quench my thirst | | | | aggressively courting golf vacationers to visit their |
| for the links. Since I can't guarantee when that one | | | | courses. To compete with golf destinations like Myrtle |
| sunny November day in the Twin Cities or Boston will | | | | Beach, Phoenix and Scottsdale, San Antonio combines |
| be I've limited my suggestions to warmer climates. | | | | classy courses with skimpy green's fees. |
| There are three reasons why golf in November is | | | | Check out La Cantera Palmer Course, outside of San |
| ideal. | | | | Antonio in the Texas Hill Country. Designed by Arnold |
| First, rates are cheaper. In Phoenix and the Valley of | | | | Palmer, this course has two signature holes. The first |
| the Sun, it's early season and greens fees are still | | | | is hole #7, The Rattler, featuring a rattlesnake-shape |
| good. You can play while visiting retired parents. If | | | | bunker on the left side and a cliff side tee shot |
| there are a couple of famed courses on your must | | | | eighty-feet above the fairway. The second is hole |
| play-before-I-die list, November is the time to look | | | | #12, where the green is guarded by a natural |
| for more affordable rates. | | | | waterfall and creek. |
| Second, golf courses are not as busy. Peak tourist | | | | November also is Thanksgiving month. The four-day |
| season has not hit Panama City or Orlando. So you | | | | weekend provides a great opportunity to get away |
| won't have to spend half your time sitting in a golf | | | | with the family or your buddies for 36 holes. And |
| cart. | | | | you'll be back in time to shovel snow on Sunday. |
| Third, the weather is better. In Miami it's after | | | | Orlando has challenging courses in the shadow of the |
| hurricane season. Courses haven't been hacked up | | | | Disney kingdom. This is an ideal locale to combine |
| and the winter grass has come in. Hotel rates are | | | | family time and golf time. Celebration (near Disney |
| very reasonable, too. When playing golf in New | | | | and Kissimee) is an upscale daily-fee resort course |
| Orleans you won't have to wring out your clothes | | | | that exudes an atmosphere of beautiful tranquil, fun |
| after you get off the course. Humidity is down, | | | | and challenging golf in Orlando. Conveniently located in |
| course conditions are perfect. | | | | Kissimmee near I-4 and just off Hwy. 192, you'll |
| And don't forget San Francisco and its famously | | | | never know you're in the heart of Orlando's tourist |
| bizarre weather patterns. Tee off in early November | | | | district and only minutes away from Disney World. |
| and you may think its June anywhere else. Courses | | | | And if you're in Afghanistan this November it is easy |
| may be a little dry, but the fog has cleared. Houston, | | | | to find a course as there is only one. The Kabul Golf |
| like New Orleans and Atlanta, boasts low humidity | | | | Club course has no grass and is billed as a |
| and perfect course conditions. | | | | desert-style course. The greens are called "browns", |
| A course that has been very popular lately in the | | | | a tightly packed combination of oil and sand. The |
| Houston area is Longwood Golf Club in Cypress, | | | | owner refuses to close the nine-hole course despite |
| Texas. They just completed redeveloping the Post | | | | the fact they have only seven golf balls and it's in |
| Oak 9 and you've got to get out and play it. | | | | the middle of a country with one of the lowest |
| Designed by former touring pro Keith Fergus and | | | | GDP's in the world. "People need to play golf," he said. |
| Harry Yewens, this Houston area 27-holer is rated | | | | And how! |
| among the top five daily fee courses in the Houston | | | | People do need to play golf. This November, get out |
| area. | | | | there and hit few and have fun. |