This is the second straight December I’ve been on a long holiday season golf trip. Now my only question is: Why don’t more people do it?

Whether it’s Palm Springs or Myrtle Beach, the pluses of the holiday golf trip are fairly universal.

Tee times are wide open - even on the courses that are always packed. I had Myrtle Beach National King’s North almost all too myself. On a 60-degree December day.

The prices are also way down from the usual high seasons great weather time. Even though the weather’s still great. In Myrtle Beach, they may let you on for three tomatoes from your garden and a nice key chain. Maybe a pack of smokes. Near seriously. I witnessed one counter attendant ask a walk-in who was about to walk out at a $30 price, “Well, what do you want to play the course for?”

Palm Springs and Scottsdale aren’t nearly that overeager, but you’re still talking huge discounts from just a few weeks before or after this season of giving (and taking great golf).

Plus, there is just something about driving the ball while everyone else in America’s stuck circling the local mall parking lot. It almost feels like you’re getting away with something. Would you rather be thinking about gift wrap or whether you should go for it on that island green par 4?

And I’m sure my family will love the Mermaid chess set and ocean waves snow globes from the Gay Dolphin (it’s not what you think and saying that probably upsets Rosie O’Donnell) once they’re neatly wrapped under the tree. Hey, that’s not just a Hooters T-shirt, honey.

That’s a Hooters, Myrtle Beach, SC T-shirt. Collector’s item.

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