This Week at TravelGolf.com: June 18, 2009

During the "People's Open 2.0" at Bethpage, salute your local muni

Not every single municipal golf course in America is an A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece like Bethpage Black on Long Island, site of this week's U.S. Open.

Sometimes, in fact, they're little more than a nine-hole, poorly kept dog track.

But they're always an affordable, accessible round of golf - even if the bunkers aren't all raked and the fairways are patchy.

Just around the corner from my house in Austin, Texas is Lions Municipal Golf Course, which dates back to the 1920s. Lions is threatening to close in order to take advantage of the 21st century real estate market in this prime location. Local golfers are fighting its demise tooth-and-nail.

And a few years back, the golf course I grew up playing in Ann Arbor, Huron Hills, faced a similar threat before local opposition shot it down - for now, at least.

Huron Hills Golf Course was no Bethpage. It was a par-67, 5,000-yard clunker originally built in the 1920s. But ask many Ann Arbor golfers, and they'd fight to the guillotine for it.

Here's why muni's matter and should be preserved at all cost: Myself and countless other kids spent their childhood on Huron Hills. For $6 you could play golf all day. On this course, that meant 36-hole days several times a week, followed by crawling through the woods to the pool where we'd try to even out our tans a little.

It kept me away from trouble and my legs strong. There are few better places to park your kid for the day than at a local golf course.

So while we watch Tiger, Phil, Sergio and the gang at Bethpage this week, be sure to support your own muni sometime this summer, even if you're a posh, country club regular.

They may be the worst-rated golf courses in the area but they're important to your city and they're instrumental to the future of our game.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Tiger's new-found accuracy, previewing the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black

In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Chuck Evans of Medicus Golf - one of Golf Magazine’s 100 best golf teachers of 2009 - about Tiger Woods' exceptional accuracy. And, GOLF Magazine's David Dusek talks about what the U.S. Open field must contend with at the Black Course at Bethpage.

Also: Improve your driving at GolfInstruction.com

Treat Dad to golf toys this Father's Day

It's been a tough year, and ol' Dad might be a bit down, along with his 401(k). So what better way to cheer him up this Father's Day than the tried-and-true method of buying him some new toys? Here are a few golf toys that are sure to bring a smile back to the old man's wizened mug.

Blog: Some last-minute Father's Day gifts

Reader: Bethpage Black "simply fantastic"

Elliot DeBear writes: The Black Course at Bethpage State Park is simply fantastic. Besides being in great shape, the course is probably the most interesting layout I have ever played. It is magnificent to look at from almost every vantage point.

Also: Readers review Bethpage Black

Ladies Locker Room: Growing old with grace, humor and spirit is the goal

In Mitch Albom's international bestseller "Tuesdays with Morrie," Morrie asks himself, "Do I wither up and disappear, or do I make the best of my time left?" Playing golf with Harriet made me think about a bigger picture. If we get lucky, if we are able to continue to enjoy our life and play golf, isn't that a wonderful goal?

Also: Breaking the glass ceiling with golf

Dunbar Golf Club: Historic links course still one of Scotland's prettiest

For the visitor, Dunbar Golf Club is just about everything you can ask for. Its seaside scenery is unparalleled, the course is challenging but very fair to first-time players here and the history oozes around every corner. Even if you're not a history buff and just here for the golf course as it stands today, you'll still be plenty invigorated.

Also: Plan a golf trip to Scotland