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