Chicago
Chicago is widely regarded as one of the best cities in America to visit in the summer, and it's easy to see why. After a long winter, the city comes alive during the summer.
Golfers have their choice of hundreds of golf courses throughout the city and suburbs. Highlights in the city include Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, a nine-hole golf course along the shores of Lake Michigan, and Harborside International, home of two 18-hole courses built on the site of a former landfill. Golfers who are baseball fans can play Marovitz and catch a Chicago Cubs game at nearby Wrigley Field.
In fact, many attractions in Chicago happen to be nearby golf, something sure to please golfers and non-golfers. In addition to Wrigley Field, Marovitz also is near the Lincoln Park Zoo. In downtown Chicago, the Green at Grant Park, home to an 18-hole putting course, is close to the Art Institute of Chicago and many of Chicago's downtown attractions.
Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course
3600 N. Recreation Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60613
(312) 742-7930
www.cpdgolf.com
Harborside International Golf Center
11001 S. Doty Ave. East
Chicago, Illinois 60628
(312) 782-7837
www.harborsideinternational.com
The Green at Grant Park
352 E. Monroe St.
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) 540-9013
www.thegreenonline.com
Las Vegas
In the summer, temperatures in Las Vegas swell to the triple digits. Prices at golf courses and hotels, however, drop dramatically. For example, as of October 2009, rates at the two 18-hole courses at Angel Park Golf Course run $75 per person seven days a week in the summer. In the winter, those rates jump to $109 during the week and $119 on weekends. As for hotels, rooms at Bally's midweek in May 2010 averaged around $150 a night. By waiting until June, golfers could get those same rooms for $59 a night during the week. Golfers who can stand the heat can get great deals. And, despite the heat, the shows and headliner entertainers still go on, so golfers can still enjoy all of the excitement of the strip even during the summer.
Angel Park Golf Club
100 S. Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89145
(888) 446-5358
www.angelpark.com
Bally's
3645 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(800) 634-3434
www.ballyslasvegas.com
Mackinac Island
Located between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan, Mackinac Island is a national historic landmark. Since most visitors reach Mackinac Island by boat, the island is primarily a summer vacation destination, and many of the shops, restaurants and hotels are only open from May to October. So, golfers who want to visit Mackinac Island should visit in the summer.
Once there, golfers can play Wawashkamo, the longest continuously operated golf course in Michigan. Afterwards, since the island does not allow cars, they can stroll around town visiting quaint shops, bike the island's trails or enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn taxi. Visitors should not miss seeing the Grand Hotel, home of the 18-hole Jewel golf course, and should be sure to pick up some fudge while on the island.
Wawashkamo Golf Club
British Landing Road
Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757
(906) 847-3871
www.wawashkamo.com
Grand Hotel
1 Grand Ave.
P.O. Box 286
Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757
(800) 334-7263
www.grandhotel.com
About The Author
Marci Shear has been a sports reporter for the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Shear has also written for several magazines, including Vineline and the Chicago Sports Review. In her 14-year career, Shear has covered high school sports, college football, basketball and major league baseball. She has a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Chicago.
