As a travel editor, I love to leave. That's a significant slice of the romantic pie that is this sweet gig. Yes, there's stress of making flights and dealing with security lines; but I'm still fascinated by the fact that I can sit in a heavy metal container for some short amount of time and be transported to my great unknown. Wake up in New York, eat lunch in Los Angeles, fall asleep in Hawaii--two long legs, one model itinerary.

Window or aisle? I say window because I'm a face-pinner. I push my big nose against the piece of thick plastic on takeoffs, landings and when I stare down at the domestic flat-lands and wonder, Who cut up the country into massive puzzle pieces?  The perimeters of property lines are so distinct and clean. It never gets old.

I was at a fundraiser the other night--Stand Up For Heroes, a comedy show benefiting the Bob Woodruff Foundation. Springsteen performed three songs and auctioned off his guitar for $50,000. Comedian Louis C.K. also performed and he did a funny bit about travel. To paraphrase: C.K. pokes fun of a guy he sat next to on a cross-country flight who was frustrated about a delay. C.K. reminded the crowd that it wasn't too long ago a cross-country commute took 30 years and it involved wagons and wild Indians. "People died," said C.K. Here's a link to C.K. on Conan O'Brien talking about taking things for granted.

And that's my point to this post--taking things for granted. Because as much as I love to leave, there's nothing better than coming home. And how about the freedom to do both? That's cool too.

This morning I clicked on my friend Jeff Pearlman's blog and watched this video. This is a short clip about coming home and a reminder not to take things for granted.

This fourth grade girl thinks she is about to give a school report on where her Dad is stationed in Iraq and is surprised when he shows up.



Did you cry? So did I.

--Matty G.

The most common inquiry: Where's the best buddies trip destination?

If your group includes once-a-year golfers but you like to wear khakis, collars and a sweater, I say Pinehurst. You have multiple golf and food options and you don't need a rental car. Hunker down and have fun. Cheaper, and less formal alternatives, would be: Austin, Tex., RTJ Trail in Ala., Myrtle Beach or Tree Tops in Mich. (not necessarily in that order).

If your group is full of a few couples and you're loaded, I say Sea Island, La Quinta near Palm Springs, Kapalua on Maui or Pebble Beach. Central Oregon would be a cheaper alternative.

If your group is full of accomplished golfers (handicaps of 20 or lower) and everyone is in decent shape (no carts unless you get a medical waiver)--nothing beats Bandon Dunes.

In the summer Golf Digest ran a contest to reveal some of golf's best buddies-trip planners. We pampered the six winners to a free trip to Pinehurst. They received clothes, balls, hats, food, three rounds of golf (rounds on No. 8, 4 and 2--which included caddies) and they got spa treatments. What we got out of the deal was their expertise about what they've learned over the years of planning buddies trips. Here's a link to that story--it's full of practical information (be sure to click on "related links" for a list of the tips, a round-table Q&A and shoulder-season specials).

Here's a tip from Bob Sandt, one of the six winners: You can have people pay for their own hotel, but when you go out for dinner and drinks, it's nice to just pay for it with a community pot. You don't have to deal with, "What do I owe?"

Is there anything worse than the guy, at a table of 12, who wants to only pay for what he ordered? That's a deal breaker for me. That cheap jabroni is not on my trip.

Speaking of cheap, here's a deal I received today from Pinehurst (and the second time I had an excuse to run this picture on my blog):

For $222, you get a room, breakfast and either a 50-minute massage or a round of golf. Here's a link to their website. And here's the phone number: 800.487.4653.

Rate is per person, per night based on double occupancy. Valid 11/8 -- 12/31/09. Subject to tax and resort service fee. Some restrictions apply.

Tell me your favorite buddies destination and why. Use the comments box below or send me a note via e-mail.

--Matty G.

I got a call today from Dave Harner, Director of Golf at French Lick Springs Resort in Indiana. I met Harner when I was in French Lick to write an Away Game about playing the new Pete Dye Course (pictured above) and staying at the renovated West Baden Springs Hotel. Here's the link to that story, which appeared in the July issue of Golf Digest.

"Hey Matt, you told me to call if I had any updates from French Lick," said Harner. "We just doubled the number of traffic lights down here."

It sounds like an impressive amount of growth. They used to have one stoplight in town--now they have two.

While I had Harner on the phone, I asked about the progress beyond the increase in traffic:

How did the year go at the Pete Dye Course?
Good. We opened on April 24 and we didn't hear a single negative comment. We just closed on Nov. 1. We didn't have as many rounds as we would've hoped for, but the people who played it, they liked it.

How many rounds did you get?
About 2,200.

When will you open in the spring?
On March 15.

How many rounds did you get on the Donald Ross Course?
16,000, but the Ross Course is still open.

Are you guys still at the $350 green fee at the Dye Course?
Yes, but we did the all-day deal.

And that's $350 to play unlimited golf at the Dye Course?
Yes--and you have to stay at the West Baden Springs Hotel.

When you reopen next year, do you think you'll still be at a $350 green fee?
Yes. And we hope to get 4,000 rounds. We'll cap the number of annual rounds at 6,000.

Is that a business model similar to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas? It's the gamblers course--a place for the high rollers to come and play fast on an open course so you can get them back to the gaming tables.
No. That's never been our business model. We don't have a lot of gamblers who play golf. It's really for the golfer who knows the difference.

Is the course done, or are you guys still making changes?
Pete Dye is still working on the course. He never stops. I'd say we're at step 3 of a 10-step deal.


A quick calculation had the Dye course getting about 14 paid rounds per day. That leaves plenty of room for growth, and if they get to 4,000 rounds next year, they may have to add another traffic light.

I played the Dye twice. When I played it from the correct tees, I was able to enjoy the course. I really loved the recently renovated Ross course. And for $115 on weekends, I consider it better value.

I told Harner at the time of my visit, I think Pebble Beach ($500), the so-called best course in the country, should be no higher than $300 (a 40 percent decrease). That would force all the other courses in the country down to their appropriate green fees. If Pebble's at $300, that puts the Pete Dye Course at $210, which is probably closer to where it belongs. But I'm just sayin'. And I'll keep sayin' it until golf gets more affordable. (I suppose the laws of demand and supply should get golf where it needs to go, regardless of my mission statement.)

Here's a link to a blog I wrote after I got back from French Lick. It includes a link to the video tour I got of the Springs Valley High School gym--the house that Larry Bird built. My tour guide was Bird's high school coach, Gary Holland, who just happened to be mowing fairways at the Pete Dye Course to keep himself busy, post-retirement.

If you love golf and basketball, you'd love a trip to French Lick.

--Matty G.
 

After my trip to Ambush the Kosberg Open in Austin, Texas last week (see post below for more details), Corey Schiff, the tournament historian, sent me an e-mail. Schiff's a sentimental soul, not nearly as crabby as he looks in this portrait. Here's the e-mail:

Matt, I felt it was important for me to share a few things with you before you finalize your article on our crazy group. I know that most buddies trips that have been together this long have similar stories, but different faces. This group is truly unique.

We all consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have each as buddies and are all here to enjoy in each others successes and failures. If any member of our group of buddies ever needed anything, not one member would think twice or ask questions as to how we could help the other. This is a group of guys that have known each other most of our lives. Some since kindergarten, some since junior high and some from college. At 53 and 54 years old, we all know everything there is to know about each other, including our golf scores (both real and with the help of an eraser). We have been to each others birthday parties, bar mitzvahs and stood up for each other at our weddings. In some of our cases even two weddings! We have celebrated our successes and failures, births of our children and unfortunately the passing of some of our parents. We work hard and are devoted to our families. But twice a year we all get together to play golf and to let loose for a few days. We are accountants, business executives, doctors, restaurateurs, car dealers and carpet salesmen. It's amazing to me to see a group of guys hang together for 50+ years and actually still enjoy each others company.

If you remember, you gave me an incredible gift for telling you about our group--the Callaway rangefinder. Without hesitation, I wanted to present it to Marty Magida, who started this outing with me 25 years ago. I had to pass the planning to Marty because I couldn’t handle all of the headaches. He has unselfishly done such a great job of running the summer trip for us and he has never asked for a thing in return.

You asked about our wives and what they think about this outing. In our quest to be funny we make a lot of jokes about our wives. The truth is: We have a group of wives who realize how important we all are to each other, and they encourage us to make our (now two) annual golf trips.

On behalf of all of us that participate in the Kosberg Open, thanks again. You can now consider yourself one of us--the few, the proud, the Kosberg Open.

Sincerely,
Corey
 
PS--Don’t forget to mention that we brought along our own Red Eye Texas Bloody Mary mix to Austin. Everyone enjoyed that!

On Friday afternoon, at Barton Creek in Austin, Texas, I ambushed the Kosberg Open. For 25 years these friends, dating back to grade school in Chicago, have been getting together for annual buddies trips. The original Kosberg Open takes place in the summer--usually at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.  But a few years ago Diane Anstadt was preparing a 50th birthday gift for her husband, Brad. She sent Brad and three of his best friends to the World Golf Village in Florida for three days of golf school in the fall. That trip to Florida developed into an annual October golf outing and 11 guys made it to Austin this year. You'll read about their story in the January issue, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to speak to the beautiful female mind that was so supportive of her husband and his friends that she paid for four guys to get away together. As far as I'm concerned, speaking with Diane was a peek behind the curtain; a chance to speak to what we're all looking for--unconditional love for what we love--Diane has unconditional and selfless love for buddies trips. This was my phone conversation with Diane Anstadt:

Do the other wives resent you for giving your husband such an elaborate gift like an all-expenses paid golf trip with three of his best friends?
No. They don’t say it out loud at least.

Are you comfortable getting the credit for starting a second annual golf trip for these guys?
I guess that trip I sent them on started it. I hope the other wives aren’t mad about that, but I don’t think they are.

How did you come up with the idea for this present?
I figured--They can never have enough golf and lessons and that he wouldn’t want to go by himself. So I asked Eddie (Newmark) first, because he’s one of the planners of the group.

And how did the other guys react when you told them you were paying for them to take a golf trip with your husband?
They were very grateful. It was impossible for them to say no. I just felt bad I couldn’t extend it to all of their friends.

But I hear your husband hasn’t improved since that trip.
The more he learns, the more he forgets. And he takes so many lessons from so many teachers who have so many different perspectives.

Are all the wives cool with so many annual golf trips?
We accept it because it has been so many years of friendship for these guys. And we’re all friends. We do a lot of things as couples. When golf was involved on previous trips, we’d never see the guys. They’d go play and we’d lie by the pool or go shopping. It’s just better to send them off by themselves.

Tell me more about this group of guys.
They are very unique. A lot of people around town refer to them as, “That group.” Most of them have been friends since elementary school, some from high school and some from college.

And the ladies, do you guys connect when the men are gone?
We’re planning a trip to Aruba and they can’t give us a hard time about it.

And what do you think of these guys and their camaraderie?
I’m jealous but supportive of it.

Well, this story about your husband and friends will appear on my blog and in the January issue of Golf Digest.
That’s neat. It’s too bad my Dad isn’t alive to see it. He was an avid golfer and subscribed to Golf Digest. He would’ve loved to witness this.

Here are some more photos from the Ambush:

This is Corey Schiff (above), who sent in the group's itinerary. When I showed up to announce to the group that they were being Ambushed, Schiff was up in the golf shop. I called him on his cell phone to let him know I was at the 18th green giving out gifts. "I had a feeling you were going to be here," said Schiff.

Edward Newmark (above, left) plans the fall Kosberg event. Marty Magida (right) plans the summer event. The beverage cart girl is a key component to buddies trip success. We love them too.

Ron Schaffel (above, left) told me he missed a flight to a Kosberg Open a few years ago because he broke off from the pack to get an airport hot dog. He also told me Gary Rosenberg (right) is his best friend. "Gary stood as my best man . . . in both of my weddings."

I can't say enough about Barton Creek in Austin as a potential buddies trip venue--especially in late October. These guys paid $540 for three nights of quality lodging (two to a very nice room), a complete breakfast buffet and unlimited golf on four courses (two Fazios, a Crenshaw and a Palmer) for three days. The week before they had seven inches of rain in Austin, but the day I arrived these guys got nothing but blue skies and a healthy dose of the big yellow ball. This is a shot of the property from my hotel window:

Do you take a buddies trip? Do you know of a buddies trip that you'd be willing to share with our readers? Let me know about it by clicking here and filling out a short entry form. You and your friends might be next.

--Matty G.

I was flying high over New York City, and we were all about to die.

Obviously that's a version of the line used in one of my favorite movies, "Almost Famous," in reference to one of my favorite movie moments--the band's small charter plane is crashing somewhere near Tupelo, Mississippi when the passengers start revealing intimate secrets. In one of the more realistic turbulent plane scenes, one guy says he has been sleeping with another guy's wife; one guy confesses to a hit and run; another guy says, with a stutter: "I'm, I'm . . . I'm gay!"

Just as they're outing themselves and purging pockets of guilt, the plane straightens out and they all live. 

Last Saturday, after a few days in Santa Barbara, and then 24 hours in Las Vegas (where I caught a Black Eyed Peas and a U2 concert--Fergie's voice was impressive and she looked hot from a distance), I was ready to go home. I skipped an afternoon round of golf with friends and colleagues and I caught an afternoon flight back to JFK.

This trip, more than most, had presented a variety of travel troubles. My temporary tooth was falling out, I was running out of clean underwear and although my computer hard drive was shot, it sure seemed like I was the one taking the bullets.

To have no use of a computer felt like trying to do complex math with an Abacus. I was restricted to reading newspapers, magazines and watching TV. Can you imagine?

Regardless of how good my life is, something like a rude TSA agent, a beverage cart to the knee cap when you're sitting in an aisle seat (not even an I'm sorry?), a canceled flight, or a dead hard drive--that kind of stuff still gets under my skin. And it's not all travel related. I don't care how great the golf course is, I could be at Turnberry on a windless sunny day, but if I'm 15 strokes higher than my handicap, I'll go into a self-centered funk . . . bad golf always blows, even on windless days. It's times like those that I admit to losing a little perspective. Last week the dead hard drive had me feeling shut down.

It's a fickle thing, however. Perspective. It's funny how a pilot over an intercom at 30,000 feet, with the wings of the plane flapping like they belong on the body of a bird, can pull you from the depths of self-loathing like you just sat on a hot branding iron. It's funny how, when Mr. Calm Voice at the controls, can't hide his or her concern. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain from the flight deck. Well, it looks like we're going to have to pull out of our landing pattern and circle for a little while. There's some weather out there, but we'll get you down just as soon as we can. The good news is, we anticipated the weather and loaded up with more fuel before we left from Vegas. Flight attendants, please take your seats."

That's it. That's the kiss of death. When the pilot tells the flight attendants to take their seats, that's usually when I start kissing my own seat goodbye. On Saturday night, in the middle of high winds, an electric storm and surrounded by a plane full of panic, my lips were attached to my cheeks. I really did think I might die.

The couple sitting next to me was the kind of couple who held hands when we took off. Which was sweet. Upon hearing the news we'd be circling for over an hour, and looking out the window and seeing nothing but Mother Nature's rage, these two were interlocking digits and limbs. I've never seen such pale faces, and those were on the row of African Americans across the aisle from me. Barf bags were flying out of seat pockets. The plane started smelling like stomach lining. The poor woman next to me filled up her bag, her husband's bag, my bag and the plastic bag that was holding my new newspapers and magazines. People were trying to make it to the bathroom, and I could hear them come up short.

That's when I pulled out my noise-reduction headphones, turned on the Florida football game (gotta love JetBlue), closed my eyes and listened to it like it was a radio. I was able to achieve some sense of calm, and after I could no longer hear the gagging reflexes of my new best friends next to me, I was no longer feeling the need to ask for my bags back. I actually remember thinking: If this is it, then so be it. I was having an inner monologue that included some sense of OK with the concept of death. I started thinking about my family, closest friends, all the places I've been, courses I've played, people I've met, and I couldn't help but think of girls I've been with--both of them. I was beginning to convince myself I was cool with not having kids because I had such great relationships with my ten nieces and nephews. I had no regrets about not being married. I felt I had scored with career choices and if I had any deep dark secrets, they were so suppressed, not even near-death could bring them to the surface.

But you know what I didn't think about? My bad tooth, my dirty laundry and my dead hard drive.

Obviously we made it. The roar of the crowd the minute all wheels were down sounded like the crowd at the start of the Ole Miss/Alabama game I went to a few weeks ago. High fives all around. I've never seen so many passengers hug each other and then hug the pilots on their way off the plane. I went with a pair of knuckle bumps--those boys deserved it. As far as I'm concerned, they were our own Captain Sullys.

Were we really close to death? Probably not. But all is right again in my little world. My computer works (thanks to Mike Astolfi), my tooth is fixed (thanks to Dr. Neuschatz) my boxers are clean (thanks to the cleaners) and I have a brand new sack of perspective.

All that being said, one thing still doesn't make sense to me: What is Kate Hudson, star of "Almost Famous," doing with A-Rod? That's a thought, regardless of any fresh perspective, that will always make me nauseous.

--Matty G.

Have you been involved in a close call? Care to share?
Send it in, I'd love to hear about it.    

From Scott Ray of Highlands Ranch, Colo.: I'm heading to Scottsdale mid-October and I'm running into overseeding season. Within a week of overseeding, is the course going to be playable?  Will the greens be decent?

I asked our resident expert on all things related to golf courses, Ron Whitten, to answer this one. Here's Ron's response:

Matt, It will depend upon the manner of overseeding and the maintenance program. A few clubs broadcast seed, others punch tiny holes into the ground and deposit the seed while others use seeders that carve tiny rows down fairways. The latter, of course, is a bit more disruptive to the turf, but in any case, players could treat bad lies as ground under repair. The bigger problem is with watering schedules. You try to get your seed in the ground and germinating within 10 days. Usually the normal irrigation schedule can suffice, but some clubs may tend to lightly water several times a day to ensure that new seed will actually sprout. Which means wetter conditions, sometimes, or waiting for short irrigation cycles to shut off.

Overseeding shouldn't be a deterrent, but golfers should expect slight inconveniences in some cases. I wouldn't tell anyone to stay away a week after overseeding. A day after overseeding, maybe . . . but a week? No. Play on. Whitten

Scott, I'd be curious to hear about any problems you run into in Arizona, and whether or not any of the courses give you a break on the green fee for an overseeding inconvenience. It's one of my pet peeves--a golf course that gives you an inferior experience (overseeding, punched greens, damaged fairways of some sort) and doesn't give a break on how much they charge when conditions are perfect. That's like a middle seat on any plane, it should cost less than an aisle or a window.

Do you have a question or a dilemma relating to golf and/or travel? Send it to me.

--Matty G.

⿿ More

Last year, about this time, I went to Mississippi to play in the Viking Classic Pro-Am. I was paired with the Governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, two-time Grammy award winner Paul Overstreet, and our pro was Billy Andrade. We finished middle of the pack, but the company, conversation and camaraderie exceeded all lofty expectations. About Governor Barbour, I wrote: For a guy who's so far right, he sure hits it left a lot.

Last weekend I was back in Mississippi to tour Tunica’s nine casinos and three golf courses. I also got a ticket to an Ole Miss/Alabama game--my first experience of SEC football, and my first look at a place they call, “The Grove."

All of my scheduled golf was rained out, but I did hit balls at the 360-degree driving range at the Mark McCumber designed, Tunica National (pictured above: $50 during the week, $60 on weekends). McCumber should get credit for turning an old flat cotton field into a slightly undulating golf course. He dug out several small lakes to use the dirt for the countour. There's water on 14 of the 18 holes.

After a brief practice session, I jumped a bus bound for Oxford to see the big game--two ranked teams (Alabama, ranked No. 3 in the country, versus Ole Miss, ranked No. 20) would crack helmets in the trenches of the Southeastern Conference. Poor Jevan Snead (pictured below), the quarterback for Ole Miss, he looked like he was a year away from being ready for Pop Warner. And this is a guy who they say is a pro prospect. I didn’t see it. (Snead’s line for the game: 11-34, 140 yards, 0 TDs and 4 INTs.) The Tide's defense rolled over the Rebels, 22-3, in front of 62, 657 fans--the largest crowd to ever watch a football game in the state of Mississippi.

I sat in a catered box at the top of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium where I feasted on spicy chicken, ribs and sliders. I was pulling for Ole Miss, not only because they were the underdogs, but because I read the Michael Lewis book The Blind Side, which is a story about two things: The evolution and the importance of the left tackle, and Michael Oher (pictured below), an Ole Miss alum.

No summary I can give will do the book justice. It’s one of my favorites. If you haven’t done so already, go read it. Oher graduated from Ole Miss last year and is currently starting for the Baltimore Ravens. Last week, because of injuries to the offensive line, Oher played left tackle. By the end of the book you’ll also be an Oher fan and you’ll be looking forward to when the Ravens square off against the Colts on Nov. 22, week 11 of the NFL season--you’ll look forward to Oher trying to block Colts three-time all-pro pass rusher, Dwight Freeney.

But what’s so special about The Grove? I was also anxious to find out. The famous saying at Ole Miss: “We might lose the game, but we never lost the party.” Ole Miss lost the game last Saturday, but I can attest, they did not lose this party.

I took my little camera on this trip and cut a short video of my day in Oxford.
Now this is your tour of The Grove (click below to play the video):

In the past two years, I've also posted video tours of:

-Cypress Point's 16th hole.

-John Smoltz's backyard golf course.

-Ziplining at Kapalua Resort.

-Larry Bird's high school gym in French Lick, Ind.

and,

-Old Macdonald, the fourth course at Bandon Dunes.

Have a great weekend. Go Ole Miss.

--Matty G.

(Snead and Oher photographs by Getty Images.)

Another bad day in my paradise. I recently spoke to Eliza Dushku about golf, travel and acting. Dushku, 28, is the star of "Dollhouse," a hit TV series on Fox. She also dates Rick Fox, former NBA player. And, of course, she's a fox. Maxim ranked her sixth on their list of "Hot 100 Women of 2009."

I'm guessing Dushku isn't in the GHIN system, and based on her work and social schedule, I'm assuming she isn't getting in 100 rounds per year, but she did grow up near a golf course in Boston and remembers getting her first set of clubs when she was 7.

What’s your first memory of golf?
As far back as I can remember, because I grew up across the street from a beautiful golf course in Boston--the Oakley Country Club. We had golf balls coming through our windows and into our yard--beaning people in the head on our back porch. I have three older brothers and we would climb fences and trees and watch golfers; we’d run out and steal golf balls and then run up to the green and try to sell them back to them.

Dushku gave some thoughtful answers throughout the interview, and it was clear she is well-traveled.

Give me your best travel advice.
My advice is always to relax. If you’re thinking of going somewhere, just do it. We were raised to land in any country in the world and navigate around as if we were going to live there for a month. We never went to resorts or by way of super planning. My mother sent my brother and me to China for 40 days with $1,000 each and a Lonely Planet guide book. I was 14 and he was 18, and we found our way. We didn’t have hotels booked or our trains booked and we went up to inner Mongolia. It’s the exploration and the unknown.

Here's a video and a voice-clip of a portion of my conversation with Dushku (click on the picture below):

And here's a link to Dushku's Twitter page.

When I asked her about Twitter she said, "My Twitter followers are my homies." The last time I checked, Dushku has almost 200,000 homies.

I have a little over 200.

--Matty G.