You have saved for the past year to take your dream golf vacation, and finally the time has arrived. No more meetings with management, a week free to experience the links, but where do you go to make this the best trip of your life. The answer is not to go the standard route, checking on line, reading golf publications, etc. You need to be creative.

First, determine what part of the country you want to visit just because you want to see that part of the country. As I have been in the golf business for over 40 years I have played all the 100 "best courses in the world". I mean Augusta National, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach, you name the course I've played it. But the most enjoyable golf trip I have ever had was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. If I named the courses I played hardly no one would have heard of them but my experience was the best I ever had. The place was magic and I think the most expensive green fee I paid was $35.00. The golf courses were in great condition, the scenery was beautiful and the people were great. What more could you ask for?

So here is how you get started. Pick an area of the country you want to visit. Call golf courses in the area you want to visit and get all the information you can. Go on line see the area but most importantly try to get in contact with golfers in the area. Whenever I go on a golf trip I call the golf professionals in the area and chat with them. After a while they usually give my number to a few of their golfers so they can call me and help me find places to play. Golfers love to talk about golf. Many times I play golf with these people when I arrive and have made many, many friends over the years. They also tell me where the best places to stay are and where the best restaurants are. There is nothing better than talking to the people who actually live there to get the best information. On my trip to the UP I had the best Italian meal of my life for under $15.00. A little ma and pa place that I never would have found without the help of my local golfing partners.

And finally, That trip was over 15 years ago and I still am in contact with the friends I met there. As I live in California now we get together at Chicago Bear games a few times a year as one of their sons has season tickets.

If you put in the time it's amazing what you will find on your next golf vacation.

Learn more about this author, Les Miller.
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