Hey! Want to start a golf destination? Sure, having a lot of great golf, lodging and entertainment, and splendid weather all nearby would help. Don’t have it? No problem.

Just string together 10 courses, mix it with some hotels and hire a great PR flack firm to tell the world how great you are and call it a “trail.” Then invite credible PR BS specialists, posing as journalists, from major newspapers and magazines like Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. Give these urinalists free golf, cozy digs and throw in a back rub and these people will write that your asphalt parking lot is “challenging to golfers of all levels.” And, if you wine and dine these writers just enough, maybe…just maybe…they will call your godforsaken joint a “hidden gem.”

When we think of great golf destinations, certain places come to mind: Scotland, Ireland, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Scottsdale, Las Vegas and Palm Springs, to name a few. All of these areas combine splendid courses, plentiful lodging as well as attractions beyond just golf that can entertain the non-golfer.

Many of these destinations will offer thrilling courses that have long-standing reputations. These destinations have built their standings on legitimate principals, mixed it with some creative marketing and they are laughing all the way to 19th hole as well as the bank.

Bravo.

Today, everyone wants to cash in the golf travel craze. Every little podunk town and area wants to create the illusion that their areas and golf destinations. Why? Because golfers are some of the biggest doofs to actually own a wallet. Generally, they are wealthy doofs at that. Golfers LOVE to try new destinations. The travel judgments of the average golfer are worse than horny teenagers on their first trip to a whorehouse. Convention bureaus and tourism authorities see dollars signs and figure the easiest way to increase revenue is to convince thousands of stupid idiots that their combined goat ranches are golf destinations.

And who do we have to thank for this phenomena? The fine folks at the Robert Trent Jones “Trail.” Their idea was to string 378 holes of golf together and have you drive all over the state of Alabama on a “convenient” interstate highway. VOILA! They became a golf destination. The Robert TrentJones Trail does have credible golf, plus good weather with good value. Today, indigent slobs driving old Fords and Gremlins who kiss their wives good night in their trailers flock to Alabama to golf and have some grits.

God bless them!

Now, bookmark The Rebel. Over the next week I am going to point out the genius behind the Robert Trent Jones Trail. I’m also going to point out these clueless wannabes who think a few nice courses strung together makes for a “trail” or…"golf destination.”
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