In these challenging times, the old saw that there's more business done on the golf course than in the boardroom may need some revising. Then again, it's hard to refute. Whether you're looking to impress or relax, a great golf course offers the perfect refuge. If you're lacking private club access, or you're on a schmooze-fest out of town, you'll need exactly the right kind of course to seal the deal. Here are 20 quality tracks in 10 of the top U.S. business centers.
6. Business Hub: Miami
Upscale Course Guaranteed to Impress
Doral Golf Resort & Spa (TPC Blue Monster)
800-713-6725
doralresort.com
$210-$290
A fistful of top tracks right outside your door, including the fabled Blue Monster — a 47-year veteran of PGA Tour stops that was recently rebranded as a TPC facility — make Doral a must for the golf fanatic. Unparalleled airport access, one of America's original luxury spas and the attractions of nearby South Beach add to the value. Still, it's the singular thrill of trying to make par at the watery 18th that makes Doral great for business.
Value Course Guaranteed to Impress
Normandy Shores Golf Club
305-868-6502
normandyshoresgolfclub.com
$90-$160
This 68-year-old muni that boasts jaw-dropping vistas of adjacent Biscayne Bay enjoyed an extreme makeover by Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest & Associates in 2008. A superb location near Miami Beach, strategic, risk/reward holes and Old World playability add up to superb savings in the Sunshine State.
7. Business Hub: Phoenix
Upscale Course Guaranteed to Impress
Grayhawk Golf Club
480-502-1800
grayhawkgolf.com
$190
Classic rock is piped into faux-stone speakers on the practice range, the beverage cart girls are nearly world famous for their hospitality and efficiency, and there are pre- and post-round libations to be had in Phil's (as in Mickelson) Grill. Toss in two terrific desert spreads, Talon and Raptor, the latter a Tom Fazio design that hosts a PGA Tour event in October, and you've got the ingredients for an instant business relationship.
Value Course Guaranteed to Impress
TPC Scottsdale (Champions)
480-585-4334
tpc.com/scottsdale
$57-$130.50
The Stadium's little brother is all grown up, thanks to a 2007 makeover by architect Randy Heckenkemper that added 700 yards and gobs of character to a layout once known as the Desert course. Facilities are vastly improved as well. If you're looking for more, head right across the street for the maximum FBR Open vibe.
8. Business Hub: Chicago
Upscale Course Guaranteed to Impress
The Glen Club
847-724-7272
theglenclub.com
$84-$177
It's only 15 miles north of O'Hare; it serves up a handsome, tournament-tested Tom Fazio design; and it's got all the service bells and whistles you could ask for. In other words, this former Naval Air Station is a Chicago modern classic. The 48,000-square-foot clubhouse houses a treasure trove of Illinois golf memorabilia and a restaurant to match. After a cool, breezy day, sample the Hunter's Chili, which features wild boar and duck sausage in a tomato-lager stew. Two thumbs up!
Value Course Guaranteed to Impress
Orchard Valley Golf Club
630-907-0500
orchardvalleygolf.com
$21-$70
This park district course west of the city in suburban Aurora is a stirring Ken Kavanaugh design that bursts with variety. Open holes, tree-lined tests, massive beach bunkers, tiny pot bunkers and a bevy of memorable risk/reward water holes spice the play. The waterfall-laced par-3 12th is worth a replay on its own. An excellent restaurant completes the experience.
9. Business Hub: Dallas
Upscale Course Guaranteed to Impress
The Tribute
972-370-5465
thetributegolflinks.com
$99-$129
A half-hour north of downtown but a world away in ambience sits architect Tripp Davis' homage to some of the greatest holes in the British Isles, starting with a startlingly accurate depiction of the opening (and adjacent closing) hole at St. Andrews' Old Course. A superb clubhouse and lodging experience successfully manages to blend equal parts Texas and Scotland, right down to the Nairn Nachos appetizer dished out in the restaurant.
Value Course Guaranteed to Impress
Texas Star Golf Course
817-685-7888
texasstargolf.com
$46-$77
How they managed to find — and preserve — such a fetching plot of golfing ground just 10 minutes from DFW Airport is a happy mystery. The good news for golfers is that Texas Star, in suburban Euless, is a back-to-nature Keith Foster design that entertains throughout. Strategy, in zigzagging through oaks and creeks, is paramount. No matter how you fare, the post-round celebration at Raven's Grille is worth the wait.
10. Business Hub: Washington D.C.
Upscale Course Guaranteed to Impress
Lansdowne Resort
703-729-4071
lansdowneresort.com
$120-$150
You've got to stay at the resort to play, but it's well worth the tariff. First, Lansdowne is set into Virginia's Wine Country, but it's only 15 minutes from Washington's Dulles International Airport and 20 minutes from the Capital Beltway. Second, it could stake claim as the golf capital of the mid-Atlantic, thanks to its Robert Trent Jones II course, a Greg Norman layout and a 9-hole, par-32 track called Shark Bite. Both the Jones and Norman 18s are beautiful brutes that incorporate stone outcroppings and Potomac River views.
Value Course Guaranteed to Impress
Lake Presidential Golf Club
301-627-8577
lakepresidential.com
$79-$95
Situated 20 miles southeast of the Capitol in Upper Marlboro, Md., this walker-friendly layout eases through tumbling, forested, stream-slashed terrain before culminating both nines with spectacular challenges alongside the course's namesake 30-acre lake. A full-service restaurant overlooking the water is the perfect capper.
Golf clubs recommended:
