SAVE $260
Boyne Resorts/Bay Harbor
Boyne Falls, Michigan

The Gr8 Escape Package at Boyne offers unlimited golf on seven courses, lodging at Boyne Mountain or Boyne Highlands, breakfast and dinner, cocktail parties, and more. Rates start at $555 for three nights or $855 for five.
800-GO-BOYNE, boyne.com

SAVE $180
Kingsmill Resort & Spa
Williamsburg, Virginia

The Summer Signature Golf Package includes lodging, a round of golf, breakfast, and more. Rates from $189 per person, per night, double occupancy.
800-832-5665, kingsmill.com

SAVE $240
Fairmont Southampton
Southampton, Bermuda

The 400th Anniversary Ultimate Tee Time Package features lodging, golf, and a resort credit. Rates at The Fairmont Southampton start at $439 per person per night or at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess for $449.
800-441-1414, fairmont.com

SAVE $220
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Ojai, California

Ojai's Family Golf Package includes two-for-one rooms, a family golf lesson, unlimited golf and more. Rates start at $605.
888-697-8754, ojairesort.com

(Photo: The Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda)

A few days ago, I played Maidstone, which for decades had been on my “must play before I die” list. The experience was mind-jarringly surreal, kind of like seeing Monet’s Water Lillies or Michaelangelo’s David, and infinitely exceeded all of my expectations.

Maidstone is a 118-year-old club on the east end of Long Island in East Hampton, N.Y. Wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and Gardiner’s Bay, Maidstone is an ultra exclusive oasis of leisure with it’s renowned 18-hole course (84^th on Golf Magazine’s Top 100 courses in the U.S.), a nine-hole executive course, 19-grass tennis courts, a beach club and a gigantic tudor clubhouse perched atop a hill between the main course and the ocean.

I was the guest of Maidstone’s longtime pro, Eden Foster (a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and New Mexico native), and I knew I was in for a good day when Farrell Evans, also a Sports Illustrated golf writer, and I drove into the parking lot and was mesmerized by its stunning views of the Atlantic.

The course is short (6,423 yards from the back tees) but its links-like layout is a stout challenge. Indeed, one of our caddies, Gonzo, said that the two-over 74 shot by my friend, Clarkson Hine, was the lowest round he’d caddied for in three summers of looping at Maidstone. Every shot is a challenge, because there is almost always a good landing area (fairway, green, etc.) or a deadly landing area (thick gorse, ice plant, water, cavernous bunker, etc.)

What makes the course so darn good is its naturalness and fairness, and the ubiquitous, strong and salty ocean wind. Nothing feels or looks contrived, and there are clear sightlines on every shot. The ninth hole, which afficionados often include in their compilations of the greatest holes in the world, is a prime example.

Nine is a 402-yard par four running parallel to the ocean and starting on an elevated tee overlooking the gleaming white sand and sparkling water. You drive down to a sliver of fairway surrounded by two tall and long dunes that are covered with thick vegetation, while the approach is to a very elevated green protected in front by a steep slope and gaping bunker. The par I made, with a ripped drive and flushed seven-iron, was one of the most satisfying of my life.

The elevated 15^th tee, also overlooking the Atlantic, is home to some of the club’s best lore. The tee on thje 493-yard par five aims over a deep, narrow valley to a seemingly tiny sliver of fairway. About 50 yards ahead of the tee and a mere 25 yards to the right of it is a monstrous grey house (one of the multitude of stately mansions around the course) that is well within the firing line of a good slice. (“That’s why they have special windows,” a Maidstone member told us after our round.) Apparently, Seinfeld tried to buy the house some years ago, but his offer, in the neighborhood of $20 million, was rejected.

The same member asked us if we’d seen anybody on the beach. We hadn’t. He chuckled, and then told us the swath of beach behind the 15^th tee is a nude beach that was a hotspot for naked sunbathers all summer during the 1970s. Now, however, he said the nudists tend to visit only in August.

If I’m lucky enough to return to Maidstone, I sure hope it’s in August.

If you want to ask Travelin' Joe a question, e-mail him at askjoe@golf.com.

Dear Joe,
I am taking a trip to the Southern Missouri/Northwest Arkansas Ozarks and would like to play a few rounds of golf. I am open to all types of courses and price ranges, but usually like to get the best bang for the buck. I will be traveling with my wife, 9-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, so resorts with amenities other than golf would be great, too. Recommendations?
Loyce Smith
Junction City, Kan.

To compensate for those guilt pangs of being without the family for 6 hours, I'm sending you straight to the best course in the area, the Tom Fazio-designed Branson Creek Golf Club ($90-$99; 417-339-4653, bransoncreekgolf.com), a rolling track with lakes, hills and mountain vistas. Fortunately, Branson's myriad attractions will allow your family to forget all about you-for 6 hours, anyway.

For lodging, check out the Westgate Branson Woods Resort and Cabins (888-808-7410, wgbransonwoods.com), an affiliated partner of Branson Creek, which offers indoor and outdoor pools, a lighted playground, bike rentals and plenty more.

If you'd prefer the prices and tranquility of Arkansas, don't miss Stonebridge Meadows ($30-$54; 479-571-3673, stonebridgemeadows.com) in Fayetteville, a testing Randy Heckenkemper creation near the University of Arkansas that might be the region's top value.

Dear Travelin' Joe,
My husband and I are traveling to Los Angeles County. Can you please recommend two top-rated courses and two mediocre ones for us to play?
Pei Pei Cheng-de Castro
New York, N.Y.

For top-tier tracks, I'd start with Trump National Los Angeles ($160-$375; 310-303-3240, trumpgolf.com), a spectacular -- and spectacularly priced -- layout 25 minutes south of LAX designed by your fellow New Yorker, Donald J. Trump. While it's claustrophobically cramped in spots, its bluff-top location overlooking the Pacific Ocean is unforgettable.

Twenty-five miles east of L.A. is Industry Hills at Pacific Palms Resort (626-810-4653, ihgolfclub.com), which serves up two memorable courses. The Ike ($100-$135, $75 twilight) is the stronger of the two, but the narrower, shorter Babe (Zaharias) course is equally hilly and 15 bucks cheaper.

Mediocrity is relative, of course, but two low-priced alternatives with huge plusses and minuses are Los Verdes Golf Course ($25-$45.50, 310-377-7888, losverdes.americangolf.com) and Rancho Park ($31-$51; 310-839-9812, rpgc.org). The former boasts stunning ocean vistas and the latter offers serious PGA Tour history. If you can get past the glacial pace of play, you'll enjoy.

Dear Joe,
I may be relocated through my job to Montreal. I would be there in the warm weather months-what are the must-play courses? Any parts of town that would put me closest to a variety of quality courses?
David McNeill
Wichita, Kan.

Bone up on your French, and you'll do just fine in Canada's second largest city. Quality golf is scattered throughout, but your best bet is a half-hour or so north of downtown, where the top public golf facility, Montreal Island Golf Club ($40-$70; 514-448-6000, cgimgolf.com) is situated. Irishman Pat Ruddy crafted two 18s, the North, a 6,600-yard parklander and the South, a 7,180-yard links-like spread. Both are compelling, but the South is the brawnier affair-and is $10 more to play.

Nearby is Le Versant Golf Center ($25-$65; 450-964-2251, golfleversant.com/en/), with four courses -- the best being the 7,103-yard Des Seigneurs layout.

Myrtle Beach, long a destination for weekend buddy trips and weeklong vacations, is making its pitch as a place for golf school. 

Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, which represents 76 golf courses, is launching three golf schools Monday, June 8, aimed at helping families bring down their handicaps together. The schools -- the Hugh Royer Champions Golf Academy, Classic Golf Swing School, and Grande Dunes Golf Academy -- offer various programs and packages.

Children age 16 and under can play free on 46 Grand Strand Courses when accompanied by a paying adult. Other courses offer substantial discounts for junior play.

"We want Moms and Dads to bring the entire family to Myrtle Beach where everyone can enjoy golf,’’ says Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday president Bill Golden. "This year we want to help families improve their games and their golf vacation to be filled with memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime.’’

For more information visit: www.golfholiday.com, www.golfsummerschool.com, www.flymyrtlebeach.com

We're all watching our wallets these days, so this might not be the year for that big golf vacation. But it doesn't mean you and your buddies have to chain yourselves to the local muni. Now might be a good time to check out some underrated destinations that may not have the curb appeal of Pebble Beach, but still provide a great trip for a great value.

While I am not a seasoned traveler like Travelin' Joe Passov, I can safely say Columbus, Ohio is a great place for a bargain getaway.

Where to Play

Full disclosure: I grew up in Columbus and visit family there at least once a year. But I'm not alone in praising Ohio's capital for its golf courses. GOLF Magazine ranked Columbus as the second-best Golf City in America -- I swear I had nothing to do with it!

The great mix of public and private golf courses, plus the tremendous value compared to other states is why Columbus was ranked so high.

Any trip to Columbus would not be complete without a round at Granville Golf Course (740-587-4653, granvillegolf.com). The Donald Ross gem is only $39 to walk on the weekends, and $54 with a cart.

Next, swing on over to Zanesville for a round at Eaglesticks ($30-$56; 800-782-4493, eaglesticks.com). At 6,508 yards from the tips, Eaglesticks won't overwhelm you off the tee, and this Michael Hurdzan design offers plenty of stunning views, elevation change and undulating greens.

If you're looking for a real test, head on over to Longaberger ($69-$99; 740-763-1100, longabergergolfclub.com). Ranked No. 57 on GOLF Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play, Longaberger offers beautiful amenities to match the course, so you'll feel like a country club regular without breaking the bank.

Other bargains to seek out are Royal American Links ($24-$49; 740-965-1215, royalamericanlinks.com), Cooks Creek ($30-$60; 800-430-4653, cookscreek.com), the Players Club at Foxfire ($32-$49; 740-983-2801, foxfiregolfclub.com), Darby Creek ($23-$48; 800-343-2729, darbycreekgolf.com) and Bent Tree ($25-$55; 740-965-5140, benttreegc.com). Also, if you know someone affiliated with The Ohio State University, see if they can get you a tee time at OSU's Scarlet Course ($30-$70; 614-459-4653, ohiostategolfclub.com). Alister MacKenzie, Perry Maxwell and former Buckeye Jack Nicklaus have all contributed to its design.

Where to Eat

It's not hard to find your usual menu of chain restaurants around Columbus, but fortunately there are still some great places to eat if you know where to look. If you love steak -- and who doesn't? -- loosen the belt buckle at J. Gilbert's (614-840-9090, jgilberts.com). Prime-aged, center-cut beef cooked to perfection. Need I say more?

If you're in the mood for Italian, it's worth the effort to find Basi (614-294-7383, basi-italia.com). Located in an alley in the Victorian Village, Basi has a cozy atmosphere, a unique menu and plenty of fine wines to choose from.

The Hickory House (614-428-7427, thehickoryhouse.com) in Gahanna is your best option for variety. Award-winning ribs, seafood, chicken and steaks are all on the menu. And when the bill comes, you won't have to whip out a calculator.

Columbus also has plenty of really good pizza places. Try Plank's (614-445-7221, plankscafe.com), Morone's (614-457-7444, moronesitalianvilla.com) and Rotolo's (614-488-7934, rotolospizza.com).

What to Do

With all of the bargain golf courses, you might not have much free time, but if you do, and it's football season, try to get tickets for a game at Ohio State. The Horseshoe is one of the great stadiums in all of sports, and the atmosphere before and after a game is electric. USC visits on Sept. 12 in what will be one of the games of the year in college football.

While you're on campus, pay homage to the Golden Bear at the Jack Nicklaus Museum (nicklausmuseum.com). The 24,000 sq. ft. facility offers a history lesson on the game and many artifacts from Nicklaus' amazing career.

If the kids are along for the ride, or even if they're not, visit the Columbus Zoo (columbuszoo.org). It's always ranked as one of the top zoos in the country, with stunning exhibits and plenty of exotic animals.

Next door to the zoo is Zoombezi Bay waterpark (zoombezibay.com). Formerly known as Wyandot Lake, the park was closed in 2007 and underwent extensive renovations. It reopened in 2008 with several new slides and attractions.

If the shopping bug hits, stop by Easton Town Center (eastontowncenter.com). In addition to indoor and outdoor shops, there are plenty of great restaurants, a movie theater and a comedy club.

Photo: No. 8 at Granville Golf Course
Credit: Granville Golf Course

If you want to ask Travelin' Joe a question, e-mail him at askjoe@golf.com.

Dear Joe,
I will be spending 3-4 weeks in Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois in late May and June. The past few years I have enjoyed playing Thunderhawk in Beach Park, IL. Are there any courses you would recommend at a similar price point in the region?
Nick J.
Gilbert, Arizona

The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Thunderhawk ($52-$85; 847-968-4295, lcfpd.org) is pretty strong, but if you're craving variety in an area roughly one hour north of Chicago, start with Stonewall Orchard Golf Club ($70-$95; 847-740-4890, stonewallorchard.com) in Grayslake. This 7,074-yard, par-72 Arthur Hills creation, situated almost due west of Waukegan, between Libertyville and McHenry, boasts a formidable 140 slope, owing to water, wetlands and a superb set of par-3s.

Next, check out Shepherd's Crook ($42-$55; 847-872-2080, shepherdscrook.org) in Zion, an open, prairie-style Keith Foster product that sports wild, wavy greens and a wildly low price tag.

If you've been to Jacksonville, St. Augustine or along the Emerald Coast share your experience with us here in the Trips Blog. Tell readers like you about the golf courses, hotels and nightlife in Northern Florida. Need help planning your trip? Visit Travelin Joe's Guide to Northern Florida.

If you want to ask Travelin' Joe a question, e-mail him at askjoe@golf.com.

Hi Joe,
My foursome will be in Myrtle Beach in mid-June and we'd like to play five days -- 36 holes per day. We're thinking the Legends Moorland and Heathland courses, Barefoot Resort's Love and Dye courses, and Tiger's Eye/Leopard's Chase. What others do you recommend?
Tom Karalis
Tulsa, Okla.

Dump Legends' Heathland for the Parkland layout, then get a double dose of Mike Strantz at Caledonia (843-237- 3675, fishclub.com) and True Blue (843-235-0900, fishclub.com). You can do both for $167 total.

Finally, try Barefoot's Fazio course ($105; 843-390-3200, barefootgolf.com) and Tidewater ($129; 843-249-3829, tidewatergolf.com), both among the best in town.

(Read Travelin Joe's Guide to Myrtle Beach for more information.)

Dear Joe,
I'm traveling to Louisville in early June. I'm a 9-ish handicapper looking for a well groomed, challenging, reasonably priced course. I have all day to play, so I don't mind extra travel time -- anything inside an hour.
Alex Nosevich
Framingham, Mass.

If you've been to Myrtle Beach share your experience with us here in the Trips Blog. Tell readers like you about the golf courses, hotels and nightlife in Myrtle Beach. Need help planning your trip? Visit our Myrtle Beach guide here.

If you've been to Orlando share your experience with us here in the Trips Blog. Tell readers like you about the golf courses, hotels and nightlife in Orlando. Need help planning your trip? Visit our Orlando guide here.