Where The Deals Are

By Peter Finch and Jeff Patterson

Finding values in the fall shoulder season, tucked between peak and off-peak

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.

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 Dom Furore