gmhTODAY 14 gmhToday May June 2017 | Page 92

it’s your SWING with Don DeLorenzo WESTERN GOLF GETAWAYS W ith the arrival of great golf weather and the long days of summer, it’s time to plan that golf getaway with friends, family, or your golfing spouse. We are very lucky to live close enough to some of the greatest golf destinations without spending all day on a plane or breaking the bank just getting there. SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX BANDON DUNES You may not think of Oregon as a “golf destination” but in Bandon Dunes they have just that. Situated on the coast about 45 minutes from Bend is a pure golf experience rivaled only by Scotland thousands of miles away. With four championship courses plus a 13-hole par three course, Bandon Dunes has everything that a golfer would want in planning a multi-day golf outing. If the courses aren’t enough, they have a 100,000-square foot putting course just to settle the score after the round on the course or the round in the bar. The lodging choices are equally as impressive, with single rooms available at the “Inn” to four bedroom cottages for larger groups. HAWAII No discussion of western golf destinations would be complete without mentioning Hawaii. The only problem with Hawaii is choosing which island. Every island has a virtual list of great places to play and you can’t go wrong with any one of them. My personal favorites are Kapalua on Maui and Princeville on Kauai. Both are 36-hole complexes and offer great ocean views. There are many behind-the-scenes gems on each island. There is a public county course on Kauai, just five minutes from the airport, that is very reasonable and on the ocean as well. The town of Volcano has a public 9-hole course that has to be on your list—just to say that you played it. 92 GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN This isn’t just a destination for spring training base- ball. The desert has plenty of great golf. Now I will warn you that playing there during the spring and summer is only for the brave. However, you will find fantastic deals if you are willing to play in 100° plus temperatures. Troon North and TPC Scottsdale are the top two desert destinations. Their resorts offer anything you want for golf, and the Scottsdale scene shouldn’t be missed. The Boulders and Kierland are also can’t miss places to fine tune your game. All of these resorts have great practice facilities and some even offer golf schools to improve your game. So, if you don’t want to play in the heat, plan a “spring training/golf” trip. Just plan to pay a little extra to travel there in the peak season (February and March). SAN DIEGO Who doesn’t want to spend a little summer golf time in San Diego? It has perfect weather, a sunny coast with miles of beach, and great golf too. We could start and end the list with Torrey Pines. Golfers don’t always get an opportunity to play a PGA tour course because of access, but Torrey is public. So let’s make sure that it is #1 on your San Diego list. But don’t end there. Aviara and Steele Canyon should also be on your itinerary. Both are top-rated Southern California MAY/JUNE 2017 gmhtoday.com