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Trails Mix: Take your game on the road

Favorite golf destinations -- and our writers' advice on how to play them

SAN DIEGO

By John Strege

The Mediterranean climate that seems to bathe the region in perpetual warmth is reason enough to play golf in San Diego County, and perhaps the best reason. Public courses in San Diego don't often turn up in course ranking lists -- even the South Course at Torrey Pines, site of the 2008 U.S. Open, failed to crack Golf Digest's most recent list of America's 100 Greatest -- but they do not go unappreciated, notably by professional tours. The PGA Tour's Buick Invitational is played on the North and the South courses at Torrey Pines. A combination of the two courses at La Costa Resort & Spa have hosted the Mercedes Championships and the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. And Barona Creek Golf Club, a remote gem, will host the 2007 Nationwide Tour Championship. Here's a sampling of the best golf San Diego has to offer.

For more information from our Best Places to Play Guide, including directions, green fees and reader comments click on the course names below.

1. 4 ½ stars: Four Seasons Resort Aviara G.C. / Carlsbad
2. 4 ½ stars: (North), 4 stars (South), La Costa Resort & Spa / Carlsbad
3. 4 ½ stars: The Grand Del Mar (The Grand G.C.*) San Diego
4. 4 ½ stars: (South), 4 stars (North), Torrey Pines G. Cse. / La Jolla
5. 4 ½ stars: Barona Creek G.C. / Lakeside
6. 4 ½ stars: Riverwalk G.C. / San Diego
* Course available to resort guests only. Resort scheduled to open in November 2007.

TWIN CITIES

By Ron Whitten

I'd never discourage a golfer from playing the fine resort courses in Minnesota's Northwoods -- but because you fly into the Twin Cities to do so, why not sample the local courses instead?

South of the airport is The Wilds in Prior Lake, a Jay Morrish/Tom Weiskopf design, No. 4 among Golf Digest's Best New Upscale Public Courses in 1996. Less than two miles away is The Meadows at Mystic Lake, a Garrett Gill-Paul Miller design that finished 10th in the same category in 2006. The pair also did Legends Club in the same community, a 10th-place Upscale finisher in 2002. Revamped Highland National features a fairway bunker shaped like Snoopy, a tribute to cartoonist Charles Schulz, who caddied on the course as a kid. Out west is Rush Creek in Maple Grove, host of the 2004 USGA Public Links, and to the east is the granddaddy of St. Paul public golf, Keller Golf Course, site of the PGA Championship in 1932 and 1954. It's classic, but not legendary, because its winners were Dutra and Harbert instead of Hagen and Hogan.

For more information from our Best Places to Play Guide, including directions, green fees and reader comments click on the course names below.

1. 4 ½ stars: The Wilds G.C. / Prior Lake
2. The Meadows at Mystic Lake not yet rated / Prior Lake
3. 4 ½ stars: Legends C. / Prior Lake
4. 4 ½ stars: Rush Creek G.C. / Maple Grove
5. Highland National G. Cse. / not yet rated / St. Paul
6. 4 ½ stars: Keller G. Cse. / St. Paul

Tucson

By Ron Whitten

The primary destination for vacation golf in Arizona remains Scottsdale, but Tucson is surely worth a look. It has a higher elevation than Scottsdale, cooler temperatures and cleaner air. It's not quite as pricey, the courses are just as compelling, and they're probably a bit more varied.

Tucson sits on the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and you can play your way along them for a full week. Start at the 27 holes at La Paloma Country Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus early in his career. Along this path you'll also find 36 holes at Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club, Tom Fazio layouts of the same mid-1980s vintage, and Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s Arizona National Golf Club, formerly Raven at Sabino Springs. For a less-demanding alternative, there are 36 holes at Randolph Park: the 82-year-old, tree-lined Randolph North, toughened by Pete Dye, and the sleeper -- the old South Course, now called Dell Urich, a 1960s Billy Bell design remodeled by Ken Kavanaugh.

For more information from our Best Places to Play Guide, including directions, green fees and reader comments click on the course names below.

1. 4 stars La Paloma C.C. / Tucson
2. 4 ½ stars: (Canyon) 4 ½ stars: (Mountain), Ventana Canyon G. & Racquet Club / Tucson
3. 4 ½ stars: Arizona National G.C. / Tucson
4. 4 stars (North) 3 ½ stars (Dell Urich), Randolph Park G. Cses. / Tucson