Great Places To Play Golf In November

Knowhow-Now Article

Great Places To Play Golf In November

Many golfers in northern climates may think the season is over. Or at least until that next business trip or Thanksgiving vacation. Living in Colorado, I've played in all types of conditions to quench my thirst for the links. Since I can't guarantee when that one sunny November day in the Twin Cities or Boston will be I've limited my suggestions to warmer climates.

There are three reasons why golf in November is ideal.

Tip: So, your ball has landed in the sand; therefore, you should be courteous to the golfers who are behind you! Once finished with your shot, take a few seconds to carefully rake the trap. The footprints and spots that you leave are disastrous for those playing after you.

First, rates are cheaper. In Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun, it's early season and greens fees are still good. You can play while visiting retired parents. If there are a couple of famed courses on your must play-before-I-die list, November is the time to look for more affordable rates.

Tip: Be sure your club is about square to your ball when you hit it. Doing so boosts the odds the ball will go in a straight path.

Second, golf courses are not as busy. Peak tourist season has not hit Panama City or Orlando. So you won't have to spend half your time sitting in a golf cart.

Tip: Taking practice swings at the driving range can help you with any weight-shifting issues you are having with your swing. Using a baseball swing type of motion can prove beneficial.

Third, the weather is better. In Miami it's after hurricane season. Courses haven't been hacked up and the winter grass has come in. Hotel rates are very reasonable, too. When playing golf in New Orleans you won't have to wring out your clothes after you get off the course. Humidity is down, course conditions are perfect.

Tip: To keep your motivation for practicing and playing golf, don't forget to have fun. Practicing and finding advice and help from experienced players can help you get better quickly.

And don't forget San Francisco and its famously bizarre weather patterns. Tee off in early November and you may think its June anywhere else. Courses may be a little dry, but the fog has cleared. Houston, like New Orleans and Atlanta, boasts low humidity and perfect course conditions.

Tip: If you're playing on a new course, set aside some time to study the ins and outs of the course before taking your first drive. Seeking out different sources to gain more knowledge about the course ahead of time such as maps, or players experienced on that particular course, will aid you in avoiding getting caught in sand traps or hidden bunkers.

A course that has been very popular lately in the Houston area is Longwood Golf Club in Cypress, Texas. They just completed redeveloping the Post Oak 9 and you've got to get out and play it. Designed by former touring pro Keith Fergus and Harry Yewens, this Houston area 27-holer is rated among the top five daily fee courses in the Houston area.

Tip: Concentrate on your swing speed if you have to contend with a long putt. Try to aim for a middle target instead of going straight for the hole.

San Antonio is good in November for all three reasons. Average November high temperature is 71 degrees and San Antonio city leaders are aggressively courting golf vacationers to visit their courses. To compete with golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Phoenix and Scottsdale, San Antonio combines classy courses with skimpy green's fees.

Tip: If it's possible for you to do, play with better players than yourself and be mindful of their techniques. There are many tidbits of information you can gather from watching an advanced golfer play.

Check out La Cantera Palmer Course, outside of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country. Designed by Arnold Palmer, this course has two signature holes. The first is hole #7, The Rattler, featuring a rattlesnake-shape bunker on the left side and a cliff side tee shot eighty-feet above the fairway. The second is hole #12, where the green is guarded by a natural waterfall and creek.

Tip: A powerful golf swing requires you to use your abdominal, back and leg muscles but the finesse of the swing comes from the movement of your wrist. Whip your upper body around as you swing, using the power of your legs pressing downward, to further energize your stroke.

November also is Thanksgiving month. The four-day weekend provides a great opportunity to get away with the family or your buddies for 36 holes. And you'll be back in time to shovel snow on Sunday.

Tip: Line your feet up properly. This will help you improve your swing.

Orlando has challenging courses in the shadow of the Disney kingdom. This is an ideal locale to combine family time and golf time. Celebration (near Disney and Kissimee) is an upscale daily-fee resort course that exudes an atmosphere of beautiful tranquil, fun and challenging golf in Orlando. Conveniently located in Kissimmee near I-4 and just off Hwy. 192, you'll never know you're in the heart of Orlando's tourist district and only minutes away from Disney World.

Tip: When you are putting, you should address the ball with your left hand ahead of the ball. Maintain this position while you complete your swing.

And if you're in Afghanistan this November it is easy to find a course as there is only one. The Kabul Golf Club course has no grass and is billed as a desert-style course. The greens are called "browns", a tightly packed combination of oil and sand. The owner refuses to close the nine-hole course despite the fact they have only seven golf balls and it's in the middle of a country with one of the lowest GDP's in the world. "People need to play golf," he said. And how!

People do need to play golf. This November, get out there and hit few and have fun.

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