Big Fun In The Big D

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The name Dallas instantly conjures up visions of cowboy hats, southern drawls and horrific soap operas, but unless Byron Nelson enters a conversation very rarely are Dallas and golf ever associated with one another.

This is a real shame since the Dallas/Fort Worth area offers hundreds of quality courses including two of Golf Digest?s 100 greatest in the U.S. Factor in temperate year-round climes, great dining & nightlife, world-famous southern hospitality and a weak American dollar and you?re looking at the most underrated golf holiday destination around.

Classic courses

No discussion of great courses in Dallas can begin without mention of the renowned duo of Dallas National Golf Club and Colonial Country Club. Voted Texas? best course by Golf Digest, Dallas National is a Tom Fazio designed masterpiece located only a 20 minutes drive from the city centre.

Built into a series of plateaus at a total distance of over 7,300 yards, Dallas National is a course that will especially reward long-ball hitters with good accuracy both off the tee and on the fairway. Greens fees are roughly £70 on weekdays and £82 on weekends, including cart.

The Colonial & Tenison Park

Host of the longest running tournament on the PGA Tour, the Colonial is nicknamed ?Hogan?s Alley? in honour of the legendary Ben Hogan who won the annual event a record setting five times.

Colonial?s famed par-4, 472 yard fifth hole is perennially ranked as one of America?s toughest. With the Trinity River flowing along the fairway?s right side, a slice off the tee shot will likely doom players to at least a bogey for the hole. Greens fees for this Perry Maxwell designed classic change throughout the year, but are generally in the range of £100.

For one of the best golf bargains in the world spend an afternoon at Tenison Park, home to a pair of impeccably maintained public courses. Tenison Glenn is well known as the course where Lee Trevino honed his game as a youngster.

The newer Tenison Highland course was redesigned in 2001 and offers a challenging but fair round to all players. Both courses are incredibly affordable with Tenison Glenn offering weekend greens fees from just £11 and Tenison Highlands weekend fees from £21.

Quality entertainment

Since this is the Wild West, no trip to Dallas would be complete without a visit to a Texan steakhouse. One of the best on Earth is Bob?s Steak & Chop House located in the city?s Uptown district, where it?s not uncommon to see locals in suits next to visitors in replica cowboy boots.

Top the night off with a trip to Deep Ellum, one of America?s great live music districts featuring clubs offering acts ranging from country to hip-hop and everywhere in between.

After visiting Dallas we think you?ll agree that even though Texans make awful politicians, they sure do know how to have a good time.

Getting There

American Airlines and British Airways both fly direct from Gatwick to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Both airlines will switch their departing airport to Heathrow for service to Dallas starting March 29, 2008.

Links

Dallas CVB ? www.dallascvb.com

Dallas National Golf Club ? www.dallasnationalgolfclub.com

Colonial Country Club ? www.colonialfw.com

Tenison Park courses ? www.tenisonpark.com

Bob?s Steak & Chop House ? www.bobs-steakandchop.com/dallas.html