Fly into Tucson or Phoenix, and stay and play at a wide variety of courses in the region.
In Tucson, try the Tucson National Resort and Spa (8800-528-4856), Loew's Ventana Canyon Resort (602-299-2020), or any number of world class spots. Up in Phoenix, you can sample old-style Arizona golf at The Wigwam (800-327-0396), or The Biltmore. At The Boulders (800-223-7636), you'll have a spectacular cactus-dodging target golf experience. Other courses in the north Scottsdale area are equally interesting.
You could stay in Arizona and play golf for months. Many do. But ultimately it's a hedonistic lifestyle that will shrivel your brain cells. You need the road! So rent a highway cruiser and a Tony Hillerman tape, get a good dose of Navajo Country and head up to Durango, Colorado and the magnificent Tamarron resort. Call 1-800-525-5420 for reservations.
After roughing it in The Rockies you may need some old-fashioned pampering, so drive east through the mountains to The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Call 1-800-634-7711 for reservations.
If you're feeling adventurous, head back south into New Mexico and The Inn Of The Mountain Gods on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Call 1-800-545-9011 for reservations.
After sampling the Apache homebrew tequila you may be ready to retreat to Tucson at this point. NO WAY. If you want to really see the country, you'll head east across the Texas - a long, lonely brutal truck but excellent for clearing the mind and visualizing that perfect Jim McLean 2-pivot point golf swing. If you avoid Pecos Bill, Blue Duck and other villians of the range, you'll end up in Dallas, where you can relax and play the Bear Creek Course at the DFW Hyatt Regency. Call 1-800-228-9000 for reservations.
OK. Now you're in Texas - so get your hiney down to Austin for some real Texas hospitality. You can cruise 6th street 'til 6AM, rockin' out with some of the most talented musicians in the world. If you're lucky, you'll catch Doug Sahm or Joe Ely at The Continental Club on South Congress. You might run into Ben Crenshaw - if so, buy him a couple whiskies and talk him into letting you play a round at Barton Springs CC.
South of Austin you'll find a number of Texas lake country resorts: Horseshoe Bay (1-800-252-9363), Waterwood National (409-891-5211), and Walden Lake Conroe (409-582-6441) are all within spitting distance of each other (that's Texas spit, mind you).
When you're absolutely stuffed full of chimichangas and margaritas, head down to Houston. Before you fly out, stay and play at The Woodlands Inn and Country Club. Call 1-800-433-2624 for reservations. Don't forget to bring home boots and cowboy hats for the kids.
