
Photo By: Courtesy of the Kohler Co.
Photo By: Photo by Dom Furore
CENTRAL OREGON
Shoulder season: OctoberAverage high and low temps: 62/33Sample green fees:Brasada Canyons:$89 vs. $139 in peak, a 36-percent savings. ½River's Edge:$47 vs. $59 in peak, a 20-percent savings (shoulder season begins Sept. 10).Tetherow (pictured):$99 vs. $175 in peak, a 43-percent savings.Sample lodging deal:Ultimate Stay and Play at Brasada Ranch (two-bedroom cabin, one round per person): $439 a night double-occupancy vs. $787 for all those elements priced individually in peak, a 44-percent savings.Shoulder-season tip:With this area's varied topography comes multiple microclimates. Some courses in the high desert shut down in late October. Others stay open nearly year-round.
SCOTTSDALE
Shoulder season: Mid-September—mid-OctoberAverage high and low temps: 100/68 in September, 89/56 in OctoberSample green fees:Both ½ Talking Stick courses (pictured):$110 vs. $175 in peak, a 37-percent savings.Sample lodging deal:Talking Stick Resort's Par Fore the Course (one room for two people, two rounds): $254 vs. $409 in 2013's peak season, a 38-percent savings.Shoulder-season tip:After a course has been overseeded (as most here do in the fall), its greens might run a bit slower than usual, and the course might allow carts on paths only.Time your trip accordingly.
KOHLER, WISCONSIN
Shoulder season: Mid-October—mid-November__Average high and low temps:__60/42 in October, 46/31 in NovemberSample green fees:Whistling Straits (Irish)and Blackwolf Run (Meadow Valleys):$70 in November vs. $185 in peak, a 62-percent savings.__ Sample lodging deal:__"Dye-abolical" (three nights at the Inn on Woodlake, four rounds, caddie and cart fees, 30-minute golf lesson): $1,909 a person double-occupancy in the second half of October vs. $2,545 in peak, a 25-percent savings.Shoulder-season tip:Want to play the Straits course at Whistling Straits or the River course at Blackwolf Run? They close for the offseason on Oct. 28.
Photo By: Courtesy of the Kohler Co.
ORLANDO
Shoulder season: Oct. 1—Dec. 31Average high and low temps: 85/66 in October, 79/59 in November, 73/52 in DecemberSample green fees:Both ½ Grand Cypress courses:$120 vs. $150 in peak, a 20-percent savings.__ Sample lodging deal:__Grand Cypress Tee To Green Package (room for two, unlimited golf, all food and beverage, taxes and resort fee): $285 a person vs. $625 in peak, a 54-percent savings.Shoulder-season tip:December is doubly nice because hurricane season is generally over, and courses are in lush shape after their overseeding in the early fall.
ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND
Shoulder season: October Average high and low temps: 55/42Sample green fees:The Old Course:£105 vs. £155 in peak, a 32-percent savings. The Castle Course: £84 vs. £120, a 30-percent savings. The New and Jubilee courses: £50 vs. £70, a 29-percent savings.__ Sample lodging deal:__One night's stay for two at the Fairmont St. Andrews in October: £179 vs. £219 in peak, a savings of 18 percent.Shoulder-season tip:Green fees drop even further in the low season starting Nov. 1. However, you'll have to hit off special mats from tee to green. Also: The Castle Course closes for the season on Nov. 5.
Photo By: Photo by Dom Furore