This Week at TravelGolf.com: May 28, 2009

Memorial Day's gone: It's time for the state of Michigan to shine as a golf mecca

Michigan may be on your mind a little more than usual this year as a potential vacation destination.

That's not an accident. Michigan is in the midst of a year-long marketing blitz, reportedly spending $30 million - about six times their normal annual budget - on showing off the state's mostly nature and sports tourism.

That means anyone with cable has listened to the swooning voiceover of Michigan native Tim Allen, luring us to Michigan's golf courses, beaches and lakes. While over on CNBC, Jeff Daniels is rattling off reasons why your business should move here for the "upper hand."

As winter golf destinations in the south start getting a little too toasty for comfortable golf, the passing of Memorial Day means it's northern Michigan's time in the sun.

It should be noted that while the gloomy auto industry headlines dominate the news, not all of Michigan is some dreary wasteland of past promise. The west side of the state, around Grand Rapids, is experiencing a pretty significant boom thanks to medical research investment - and northern Michigan's golf courses and resorts, while not necessarily seeing their best balance sheets ever, aren't all going away quite yet.

In fact, the state on a whole is reporting more rounds played so far in 2009, due in part to better springtime weather, than the last. But metro Detroit's economic weakness means that nearby northern Michigan, despite being one of the most value-laden destinations anywhere even in boom times, is on sale even further, with many courses offering added specials or dropping their rates. Packages in the height of summer at some of the best resorts, from Boyne Highlands to Treetops to Shanty Creek Resorts and others, offer stay-and-play deals on four-star golf courses from $80-$130 a night, while throwing in spa, dining and casino credits to boot.

When you come to Michigan, however, just buy a one-way plane ticket so you can buy a car and drive it home. Please.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club: This Upper Peninsula gem is rock solid

Michigan native Mike Devries, a former intern under Tom Doak, takes natural, minimalist golf course design to the next level at Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club. The result is a course with tumbling, rugged fairways with few flat lies, some awkward-looking shots and rugged rough and bunkering.

Also: Top-rated Michigan tee time deals

Column: The not-so-cloudy reasons Scots play golf faster than Americans

The game is done right in Scotland for a lot of reasons. The ability to get around the course in an enjoyable and timely fashion may be their greatest lesson to us - but we're not paying attention. This is a big deal, because the No. 1 threat to golf's prosperity is length of play. We're all in one bloody hurry these days, and playing less golf as a result.

Also: Travel to Scotland for less

At the TPC Louisiana near New Orleans, you'll earn your money from the sand

At the TPC Louisiana, Pete Dye put bunkers everywhere. They're in the landing areas and around the greens. Some are huge, like football fields, and 62 are pot bunkers. Other than that, there's not much to contend with - except for the mounds, water, small greens and towering pines and cypress trees. In other words, there's trouble everywhere.

Also: Golf and fishing on the Gulf

Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio, Texas: Old 'Brack' is back

San Antonio is often associated with the battle cry "Remember the Alamo." But this year the call to arms for local golfers will be "Old Brack is back." San Antonio's historic Brackenridge Park, a Tillinghast design from 1915, has reopened after an extensive renovation that closed this muni for more than a year.

Also: Texas-sized golf specials