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