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.
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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
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