As proof, here are some sweet golf deals available in some of America’s hottest pigskin outposts:
SOUTHEAST
Once college-football season rolls around, Alabamans focus on the state’s two Southeast Conference behemoths – the University of Alabama and Auburn University.
While SEC football is clearly king in this neck of the woods, FarmLinks Golf Club at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga is offering folks a chance to mix golf and gridiron with its Pork & Pigskins “tailgating” event on Saturday, Nov. 5—Alabama vs. LSU game day – beginning at 12 noon.
For $99, participants (call 205.403.4653) will enjoy a barbecue seminar with Scott Jones (barbecue enthusiast and former Southern Living executive food editor), a bottle of signature rub to keep, snacks and beverages during the Alabama-LSU game and a delicious barbecue supper.
Guests can even inquire about adding lodging, golf on the state’s No. 1-ranked public course (according to Golfweek), fishing and 5-stand clay shooting to their FarmLinks visit.
Prime fall golf conditions, affordable stay-and-play rates starting at $73 per person per night with golf and award-winning courses continue to draw fans each year through early December.
Golf Gulf Shores www.golf.gulfshores.com – which offers nine golf courses (including Kiva Dunes, rated Alabama’s second-best public layout by Golfweek), countless lodging options, and a wealth of fishing and outdoor activities on the 32-mile-long destination’s waterfront – is also entering each group booking a golf getaway in a drawing to have their golf package’s value rebated, up to $4,000. Stays must be before Nov. 7 to be eligible.
See
www.golf.gulfshores.com/plan/quotes/ for the “Win Your Golf Trip for Free” promotion entry/details.
Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, Philadelphia, Miss.
www.dancingrabbitgolf.comDancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia, Miss. – where SEC allegiances are divided between the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State – is offering a “SEC Tee Time Special” $50 green fee for football fans the three days prior to, the day of and the day after the LSU-Tennessee (Oct. 15), LSU-Alabama (Nov. 5), Alabama-Mississippi State (No. 12) and LSU-Ole Miss (Nov. 19) games.
The $50 green fee includes 18 holes of golf on the Azaleas (the state’s No. 2 public course as ranked by GOLF and Golfweek) or Oaks (GOLF’s fourth-best public layout in Mississippi) course, shared cart and pre-round range balls. Accommodations are available for all fans at Pearl River Resort www.pearlriverresort.com (Silver Star Casino & Hotel and Golden Moon Casino & Hotel), Dancing Rabbit Clubhouse, Dancing Rabbit Fairway House and Hilton Garden Inn/Choctaw, located in the Dancing Rabbit parking lot.
The only way to book the “SEC Tee Time Special” is by contacting Mark Powell in advance (tee times are subject to availability) at 601.663.0011 or
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. MIDWESTBranson, Missouriwww.golfbranson.comUniversity of Missouri and University of Arkansas (which is actually 90 minutes closer to Branson, Mo., than is Mizzou) football fans can expect blue skies, low humidity, temperatures in the 60s and 70s, and great golf specials this fall in the Ozark Mountains oasis that is Branson.
For example, golfers putting two foursomes together for Thousand Hills Golf Resort’s new, unique “League Partner Package” stay-and-play special will save nearly 50%.
This customized, progressive discount package – good through April 20, 2012 (excluding Thanksgiving weekend) – is based on a minimum of eight people for one night (more players are welcome) in their choice of 2-bedroom condos or Queen Suites. The package price for a group of eight staying three nights and playing three rounds can drop as low as $50 per golfer per night (and one round per day).
The resort will even book other Branson courses in conjunction with this package and staying/playing at Thousand Hills. Contact Thousand Hills Golf Resort at 800.487.0769 or 417.334.4553.
There are eight exceptional courses to play in the region, including Branson Creek (Missouri’s No. 1 public course, according to GOLF Magazine and Golfweek), Murder Rock, Payne Stewart Golf Club (Golfweek’s third-ranked public layout in the state) and Ledgestone.
Longaberger Golf Club, Nashport, Ohio
www.longabergergolfclub.comCentral Ohio’s ideal fall weather – sunny temperatures in the 60s – and brilliant foliage give Midwest golfers looking for great fall getaways and tee times around popular Ohio State football games the opportunity to play two rounds of golf at Longaberger Golf Club, Ohio’s No. 1-ranked public course by GOLF and Golfweek (and No. 56 in Golf Digest’s current “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” ranking) starting at $163 with an overnight stay in October.
The Columbus-area layout, managed by Billy Casper Golf, has two fall packages, both available Oct. 3-30. The “Longaberger Fall Stay-and-Play” features two rounds of golf at Longaberger and an overnight stay, starting at $163 midweek, and $190 on weekends – a savings of $30 over high-season rates.
The “Nine Stars of Golf Package” includes a round at Longaberger and a round at nearby EagleSticks, with overnight stay, starting at $137 midweek or $157 on weekends.
Sweetgrass Golf Club at Island Resort & Casino, Harris, Michiganwww.sweetgrassgolfclub.comSweetgrass Golf Club at Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Mich., surprisingly isn’t in University of Michigan or Michigan State University territory. It’s more than a six-hour drive to both schools from this Paul Albanese-designed course located on Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula, but only a two-hour drive south to Green Bay, Wis., home of the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. Not surprisingly, Wisconsinites flock to Sweetgrass – ranked Michigan’s 13th-best public layout by GOLF – in droves.
Despite cool temperatures, Sweetgrass remains open until late fall. In the meantime, daily fee rates start at $75 and stay-and-play package rates at $95 per person per night, highlighted by the popular Perfect 4-Some package’s value-driven $265 rate, which includes rounds at Sweetgrass, nearby Greywalls and TimberStone, and a two-night stay at the Island Resort & Casino.
To make a tee time at Sweetgrass Golf Club or to book the Perfect 4-Some package with stays at the Island Resort & Casino, visit their website or call 877-ISL-GREEN.
PACIFIC NORTHWESTSalish Cliffs Golf Club at Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washingtonwww.salish-cliffs.comThe Seattle area lays claim to the University of Washington, which means expect a lot of Huskies fans to tee it up at brand-new Salish Cliffs Golf Club at Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, Wash., about 75 minutes south of Seattle.
Golf superstar Fred Couples, a Seattle native, made an all-day appearance at Salish Cliffs’ Grand Opening Weekend, Sept. 16-18, and loved renowned architect Gene Bates’ design, which has a surefire top-100 ranking in its future.
Salish Cliffs will offer stay-and-play packages in 2012. For now, public rates through September are $89 for 18 holes and $50 for nine, including green fees and cart. MVP Player’s Card Holders pay $84. The newest-model Titleist rental clubs are available for $50 (18 holes) and $30 (nine holes).
Advanced tee-time booking up to 60 days in advance is available for those with confirmed Little Creek Casino Resort hotel reservations by calling the golf shop at 360.462.3673.
NORTHEASTPocono Mountains, Pennsylvania www.800poconos.comPennsylvania’s four-county Pocono Mountains region, within easy driving distance from New York City, is primarily Penn State/Big Ten territory, although it’s also close enough that there’s some allegiance to Temple, Rutgers and Syracuse.
Golfers have more than 35 courses of different price points and styles from which to choose in the Poconos, which offers brilliant foliage and crisp, cool fall days. Among the many value-laden deals at Pocono Mountains golf courses is the “Golf Package” offered by The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, which is celebrating its centennial this year. The package, valid through Nov. 20, includes overnight accommodations, breakfast, cart and green fees on the 18-hole championship island course that hosted the 1938 PGA Championship, seven days a week. Midweek rates start at $108 per person, per night, and include tax and service charge. Visit shawneeinn.com to book.
That means diehard football fans might want to pack their sticks when either following their teams around the country or just enjoying a golf vacation in football country. After all, fall not only means perfect weather in most parts of the nation where big-time football rules, it also means the climate is also superb for golf, the courses are less crowded than in peak season (especially on Saturday afternoons) and green fees are lower than during peak season.
