Here are the considerations
1. Four guys, no wives coming along.
2. We only play 18 a day, and have entire days to do local sightseeing/hiking whatever.
3. Course can be generic if the destination is otherwise interesting.
So as an example, we went to Estes Park a couple of years ago. We hiked three days in RMNP, and golfed three days at local courses. We aren't the Myrtle Beach 36 holes-a-day types.
Whaddya got?
Sitting at a 19th hole bar, listening to a group of assholes talk about their round and key putts to win bets, plus stories of prior past golf trips, would ruin the trip.
Much wiser to pick a destination that offers varied activities for visitors, that happens to have golf courses in the mix.
If you're serious about mixing hiking with golf, you will be hard pressed to find a better area than Banff.
The ultimate combo would be Jasper/Banff. Jasper Park Lodge is the #2 course in Canada and Banff Springs is #9. Both courses have iconic hotels adjacent to the courses. Not only will you get some of the best golf and hiking, the drive from Jasper to Banff is along the Icefield Parkway, which is one of the world's most scenic drives.
Jasper is a bit out of the way for the less adventurous but if you are seriously thinking of Banff, then I'd recommend you do a Banff/Canmore trip. It's almost as good as Banff/Jasper with less travel and a more modest cost (stay in Canmore to save a few bucks). Canmore has a couple of excellent courses, but I'd recommend Stewart Creek (#28 in Canada).
We spend about 6 weeks a year in and around Banff and I'm pretty sure if there is a heaven it's a cheap imitation of Banff.
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courses are as nice a anywhere.
Michigan - Tree Tops Courses, Boyne Highlands courses , *Bay Harbor* courses, Black Bear, Black Forest, Grand Traverse Resort, *Arcadia Bluffs*, The Garland courses, The natural, Wilderness Valley, and many more.....many of these center around either gaylord or Petoskey, or Traverse City
Wisconsin - Kohler courses - Black Wolf run and ^Whistling Straights*.
* = spectacular tracks cut into the cliffs of georgeous northern Lake Michigan. These are must sees. (BTW Michelson is part owner of treetops).
Best couse in the state of Michigan (and highly ranked the world even) is inaccessible even to the editor of golf magazine - Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort Michigan - again layed out around beautiful crystal lake on one side and lake Michigan on the other. It was designed by Alister McKenzie just prior to him being hired by Robert tren Jones to design Augusta national, but the terrain around Crystal Downs is far superior though a shorter season. The member list is ultra exclusive with a mix of some generational local families with money and international celebrities/tycoons. I have a friend who majored in Golf Course Management at MSU, and for his internship, he was assigned to learn from the crew at Crystal Downs. To this day, he swears it is the nicest he has ever seen, and he has played many of the famous courses around the country. Wish it were open to be played, but you need an invite...and so do I. :(
A couple to the north you may want to check out sometime: SentryWorld in Stevens Point and St. Croix National Golf & Event Center near the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, not far from the Cities. That one is built on an old ski area, so there are big changes in elevation.
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One of the fairways and then the mogul slope when it was still a ski hill.
The way lehigh drinks he'd be rolling down that fairway after his follow through.
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It’s worth the drive from Vegas. Have to sign an insurance waiver to play and golf carts have four wheel brakes.
One of Tiger’s favorite courses
Also Ko Olao in Hawaii the worlds hsrdest course. Cuts right through a rain forest.
Link: http://www.golfwolfcreek.com/-photo-gallery
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Some of the guys want Vegas, but...
The golf is overpriced (because they want you in a casino), and it tends to be lots of hicks on vacation. Trying to avoid the stereotype of four middle-age Dads from the midwest in Vegas wearing sneakers and picking up cards with naked ladies off the street.
Tahoe is more nuanced, and has some outdoorsy shit.
One of the most beautiful courses I’ve ever played. Plenty of condos to rent. Mountain Biking (chair lift up, and ride down), zip line, hiking, etc.
You could also play the UNM championship course on the day when you fly in or out Albuquerque. (It’s a top 25 course which has hosted NCAA championships,)
Plenty of other nice courses in New Mexico such as Cochiti Lake, and the Santa Ana Casino Golf course if you want other options.
All of the above are reasonably priced.
This sounds awesome.
repeat. That's how golf vacations are designed.
Doing the same shit at a place that cost a flight and hotel seems meaningless.
Texas says to you, "No...no they do not." Nevada probably has something to say about this as well. (Just guessing, of course.)
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Michigan co-eds gotta eat.
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BVZ actually touched on a number of the courses I was thinking of. I would add a couple and some sights to see if there was any serious consideration.
And car rental. I actually looked at Grand Traverse. I had been there 20 years ago. I suspect some of Barons suggestions are better options.
What else can you do there?
...at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Also there's Wawashkamo...if you want to play a 19th century links course (though those take a ferry and horse-drawn carriage ride).
Things to do? Fishing/Boating on big lake or interior lakes (Torch, Charlevoix). Wineries and restaurants up Leelanau peninsula. Hiking at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore, Boyne, or up across the Straits of Mackinac on the UP at Hiawatha National Forest. Tahquamenon Falls is a little further and magnificent. Pictured Rocks Lakeshore on Superior is also great, but more of a commitment.
My mother lives up in that area. If you actually considered it, I could tell you everywhere you should hit for dining in that region.
The key is to have a home base (probably for five nights) from which to golf two or three, and do something else the other two. We aren't beholden to big name courses.
I'll start messing around with the suggestions you an Baron have come up with, and see what I can put together.
It is quite expensive in the summer but beautiful. There are plenty of other great courses if you opt not to play it.
Possibly Petoskey as home base, if you skewed to more northern sightseeing.
Link: Arcadia Bluffs
You can golf, hike, smoke, and drink. You're welcome.
Can also play Fort Ord courses, Bayonet and Black Horse. Don't let the names scare you. Look, Pebble is expensive, but it's one of those bucket list places, take your time, enjoy it, have a beer at the lodge. They even have a 3 par a few hundred yards away. Play Pacific Grove course, less than $100 some holes on back nine are almost of the dunes, take the 17 mile drive, hike in Big Sur. You might even see Clint.
You missed the part about me having three kids in college, with one at Notre Dame?
Actually, that's a great idea and I will tuck it away for another time (with probably a different group).
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I'm pretty sure I told y'all about it at the other site while you were even still there. It was truly awesome.
Scotland would be more of the same, I fear.
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