by JD Latorre

Dallas is a city known for many things: the Cowboys, great barbecue, J.R. Ewing. But “The Big D” isn’t all belt buckles and brisket. The city has garnered the reputation as one of the truly great venues for American golf. An airport featuring direct service from most major cities, temperate climate and some of the most sought after playing experiences in the country have golfers traveling deep into the heart of Texas to tee it up. Here’s our list of must-plays in a place the locals call “The Metroplex.”

Whenever a freezing cold wind blows and rain or snow falls, do you immediately think of vacationing in some sunny climate where golf is a year round sport?  Even though I live in Southern California where our winters are mild, there are times when I have these thoughts and immediately Arizona sunshine and golf come to mind.

CrossWoods Indoor Golf and Tavern has been touted for getting many back into the “swing” of golf.  But for one Gilbert young man, learning to play golf indoors truly brought forth a hidden talent as well as ignited a new passion.

It took them a couple of centuries to figure it out, but once the idea of casino resorts on Indian reservations kicked in, native American tribes have cashed in on the phenomenon. In New Mexico, the Mescalero Apaches have taken the idea to new heights – literally and figuratively. Their reservation covers about 72 square miles of land at elevations that range from 5,500 feet in the valleys of the Sacramento Mountain range to the 12,000-foot peak of the Sierra Blanca Mountain.

Tubac, AZ. (August 16, 2010)  The Tubac Golf Resort & Spa announced the dates for their annual golf school getaway, November 1-3, 2010. This popular three day event includes intensive instruction on all aspects of the game, from driving to fairway shots to scoring clubs as well as playing time each day after the instruction. Video analysis of your swing is included, as is a final day nine-hole tournament to display your new skills. Whether your handicap is 6 or 36, or you have no handicap at all, the friendly and effective instruction from Dennis Palmer and his staff of PGA professionals will provide you with a solid foundation to improve your game.

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- Things Texans learn early in life:

• Never kick a cow chip on a hot day, especially with brand-new white golf shoes.

• You are allowed to play golf with your boots and a Stetson on.

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – The award winning Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico unveiled a new “Tee Off In July” stay and play package that combines spectacular golf at the award winning Sandia Golf Club with luxurious accommodations at Sandia Resort all for one low price. These special package offerings include accommodations at the Sandia Resort, daily golf, cart at the award winning Sandia Golf Club, use of the Resort Fitness center and Spa & Sauna facilities at The Green Reed Spa and airport transportation. Starting at just $109 (per person per night double occupancy staying Sunday – Thursday) this Special July Stay and Play package includes:

By Carl Mickelson 

A 90-minute drive northwest of San Antonio to the rolling Hill Country and the chilly banks of the Frio River reveals a place as “uniquely Texas” as any golf property you might ever find. The final design collaboration of recently-split Austin-based architects Roy Bechtol and Randy Russell, ConCan Country Club winds through a lush valley completely surrounded by towering green Hill Country that you might as well call “Texas mini-mountains” (it’s as close to the Smoky Mountains as our Hill Country offers). 

Geoff Ogilvy didn’t stare long, but he scanned the stark Sonoran Desert landscape of Marana, just north of Tucson. He saw a forest of giant saguaros and the rocky, rugged, dry Tortolita Mountains rising on a perfect, sunny 80-degree Arizona day.

We've all seen the lovable, but troubled talents of PGA Tour Jekyll-Hyde John Daly mesmerize and confound us with his roller-coaster life.  And we've seen him sporting an Arkansas Razorback hat or golf shirt.

San Antonio already has a good reputation across the country as a great place to get away for vacations with theme parks, the Alamo, the River Walk, good golf courses and great weather, but the addition of the TPC San Antonio at the JW Marriott Resort in San Antonio will give visitors even more reasons to make the trip.

Downtown Scottsdale, Arizona is known for its spas and luxury hotels and restaurants, but north of the city around Cave Creek, you'll encounter cowboy dive bars and wide open spaces, but still plenty of great golf courses like Boulders Golf Club and Troon North.

With 314 days of sun a year, and over 60 golf courses, it is no wonder that Scottsdale, Arizona has become such a mecca for golf enthusiasts and sun worshippers. Since my first trip there some 40 years ago, Scottsdale has grown by leaps and bounds to become one of the West’s most highly sophisticated business and vacation playgrounds.