Several times I have seen TV ads which promote golfing as a reason to vacation in Maryland (and the ads are all about golfing). I'm from Minnesota and like most states there are golf clubs where ever you go. So why would someone want to spend money traveling to Maryland's expensive golfing?

jor, those ads are shown in different georgraphical areas of the country. For example, Florida Golf isn't promoted in Arizona and South Carolina golf isn't promoted in Florida.

Maryland has a more balmy climate that Minnesota and there are probably reasonable lost cost carriers that fly between the two areas.

Golf is big business and I know lots of people who travel specifically for golf. Destinations such as Southern Pines and Pinehurst in North Carolina are exclusively there for golf vacations.

As a side note, when we were in Pebble Beach, cart and green fees were I think around $325 per person.

Try the Golf Digest and Golf Magazine websites. They have course locators. Very helpful. Courses are also rated on a variety of factors.

By the way, Pebble is now up to 395.00 per round. I was just there and considered it, but just too expensive in my book.

I don't think I got my point across. I can buy a golf package to Arizona or Mexico for nearly half the cost of golfing in the Maryland area. I would only go on a golfing trip in the winter. Maryland isn't exactly a winter destination and I would not go there in the summer because I can golf right here. I think the ads are pointless.

As someone who grew up golfing in Minnesota and now lives in Maryland, I can say the golf is certainly far superior here, both in quality of the layouts and course conditions.

Is it enough to make it a destination? That depends.

If I were coming from Minny, I'd combine it with other events, D.C., Ocean City, Baltimore and maybe Civil War tours. Or I'd mix it with a trip down to some of the Williamsburg courses.

If it was strictly a golf package, I'd aim for Myrtle Beach or Phoenix.

Ocean City has some nice courses and there's also Rocky Gap, which has some packages up in the western mountains.

But there's a lot of good golf here. For example, within a couple of miles of miles of my house and practically right on top of each other are the TPC at Avenel, Congressional and Burning Tree.

Since they're private you have to know somebody to get on though. I'll likely be playing Congressional this spring. I haven't played BT. Avenel is a decent course with an annual PGA Tour stop (former Kemper Open not Booz Allen), but it doesn't fit my (lousy) game very well.