Travel: Golf on the fly

You've adjusted your seat back, and the tray table is in the upright and locked position. Now there's only one thing left to do as you prepare to land: stare out the window, looking for golf courses.

There's something irresistible about that spy-plane view of fairways and greens. But have you ever done anything about it? Have you ever actually made a little time on either side of a trip to sample the courses near the airport?

We think it's high time you did.

We have identified nine of the busiest airports in the country and—with help from our course-rating panelists, Golf Digest's Best Places to Play guide and local club pros in each market—picked the best public-access courses within 20 miles of each. Whether you're facing a long layover because of "equipment problems" (translation: the pilot overslept) or you're trying to get in a quick round before your flight, here are the courses for you. (Airports are ranked in order of the quality of golf nearby.)

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

REALLY CLOSE BY: ASU Karsten G. Cse. (1125 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe; 480-921-8070; 10-minute drive, five miles from the airport; $75-$89) can be seen from Sky Harbor. Designed by Pete and Perry Dye, the course is a great option on getaway day because there also are several gas stations and restaurants in the area for fueling your car and belly before a flight. The 18th hole, with a lake guarding the left side of a dogleg-left par 4, might look familiar if you've ever played Dye courses such as TPC Sawgrass, PGA West and Blackwolf Run.

BEST VALUE: Papago G. Cse. (5595 E. Moreland St.; 602-275-8428; 10 minutes, five miles; $17-$34) is a favorite among locals. The muny twists and turns through red-rocked foothills.

ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING: The Raven at South Mountain (3636 E. Baseline Road; 602-243-3636; 13 minutes, seven miles; $159). The Legacy G. Resort (6808 S. 32nd St.; 602-305-5550; 11 minutes, six miles; $89-$99). Vistal G.C. (701 E. Thunderbird Trail; 602-305-7755; 19 minutes, nine miles; $24-$109).

AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Sky Harbor once had rental cars on-site, but now everyone is bused to a huge center on the outskirts of the airport. In addition, the security lines here seem to move slower than at other major airports. So give yourself an extra 30 minutes.

Las Vegas McCarron International Airport

REALLY CLOSE BY: Bali Hai G.C. (5160 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 888-427-6678; seven minutes, four miles; $245-$295; not yet rated) is so close to the runway, you feel as if you need to hit knockdowns to avoid the planes. Caddies are available at Bali Hai, which features 2,500 planted palm trees and brilliant white-sand bunkers. On the downside, it's one of the most expensive courses in the country and too cramped for a driving range.

WORTH CONSIDERING: Vegas National G.C. (1911 E. Desert Inn Road, Henderson; 702-734-1796; 11 minutes, five miles; $125-$150) is cheap compared to Bali Hai, and some say better. But it falls short in terms of conditioning. It gets a lot of play, so call ahead to make sure you can get a time.

IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME: Rio Secco G.C. (2851 Grand Hills Drive, Henderson; 702-777-2400; 16 minutes, 10 miles; $225-$275) is headquarters for Butch Harmon, ranked No. 1 on Golf Digest's list of America's 50 Greatest Teachers. Although expensive, the course is terrific, winding through rocky canyons and desert scrub.

LOOKING FOR A GOOD RANGE? Callaway Golf Center (6730 Las Vegas Blvd S.; 702-896-4100; six minutes, four miles) is a lighted practice facility very close to the airport with a par-3 course, putting greens and driving range.

AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: No matter what time of day, it always seems like there are huge lines here. Money talks in Vegas, so drop $10 or $20 on a skycap for quicker service when time gets tight. He'll get you checked in within seconds, yelling "special passenger!"

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

REALLY CLOSE BY: Bear Creek G.C. (3500 Bear Creek Court; 972-456-3200; nine minutes, six miles; $50-$65) has 36 holes practically on the runway. If you can handle the noise of jet engines, it's definitely worth your time.

EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT: Cowboys G.C. (1600 Fairway Drive, Grapevine; 817-481-7277; 10 minutes, five miles; $140) claims to be the world's first National Football League-themed golf course, but even if you don't care for Jerry Jones, Roger Staubach or Emmitt Smith, you'll love the well-manicured fairways and greens. The layout is visually interesting with tree-lined holes and sizable elevation changes.

BEST VALUE: Grapevine G. Cse. (3800 Fairway Drive, Grapevine; 817-410-3377; 19 minutes, 13 miles; $23-$27) is a low-cost alternative to Cowboys that's right up the street. Another good value is Riverchase G.C. (700 Riverchase Drive, Coppell; 972-462-8281; 19 minutes, 10 miles; $39-$49). This course might not be as well-conditioned as Cowboys, but its wide fairways will help keep your drives in play and put a smile on your face for the flight home.

AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Find out which terminal you're departing from. There are several, and they are a long way apart. Don't worry about finding a gas station to refill before you return to the airport; there are big ones on-site, three minutes from the rental-car return spots. There are PGA Tour golf shops in terminals A and E.

George Bush Intercontinental (Houston) Airport

REALLY CLOSE BY: Cypresswood G.C. (21602 Cypresswood Drive, Spring; 281-821-6300; 12 minutes, six miles; $36-$50) is a terrific 54-hole facility. There are virtually no homes on-site, and with three 18s, it's easy to get a quick tee time. The Tradition is the best of the bunch.

BEST VALUE: Tour 18 Houston (3102 FM 1960 Road E., Humble; 281-540-1818; 16 minutes, eight miles; $35-$89) might look vaguely familiar to you. That's because its holes are replicas of famous designs across the country, including Augusta National (all of Amen Corner), Oakmont, Harbour Town and Pinehurst.

NEW ADDITION: The Rees Jones Cse. at Redstone G.C. (5860 Wilson Road, Humble; 281-459-7820; 10 minutes, three miles; $130-$145; not yet rated) is scheduled to open this summer and will be the site of the 2006 Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour. Until that course is open for business, the club is allowing public play on its private Jacobsen Hardy Cse. Redstone's great practice facility includes a three-hole course.

AIRPORT CONFIDENTIAL: Nine car-rental companies are on-site, making it easy to get out÷and back in. If you don't have enough time to leave the airport, be sure to visit In Celebration of Golf, an accessories and gift store in Terminal.

Denver International Airport

CLOSE BY: Green Valley Ranch G.C. (4900 Himalaya Road; 303-371-3131; 17 minutes, 12 miles; $29-$55) is a well-groomed valley course routed through wetlands just south of the airport. The four-year-old course has a good practice facility featuring Golf Digest Teaching Professional Mike McGetrick. Its location is ideal for avoiding traffic.

BEST VALUE: Buffalo Run (15700 E. 112th Ave., Commerce City; 303-289-1500; 17 minutes, 12 miles; $25-$40) is a lengthy (7,411 yards) links-style course that is a favorite of big hitters.The flat land is guarded by tall heather, but wind gives the course its best defense.

WORTH CHECKING OUT: Fitzsimons G. Cse. (2323 Scranton St., Aurora; 303-364-8125; 25 minutes, 17 miles; $33-$35) is a 6,335-yard parkland golf course once owned by the Army and frequented by President Eisenhower. The course was hit hard by the drought of 2002, but conditions have improved. Also: Murphy Creek G. Cse. (1700 S. Old Tom Morris Road, Aurora; 303-361-7300; 21 minutes, 17 miles; $30-$38; not yet rated) sits atop a plateau in the high prairie east of the city. To the west of every hole is a great view of sprawling Denver and the front range of the Rocky Mountains.