Take it From Joe: A Holiday Gift to Yourself

The holidays don't have to be all about the kids and the in-laws -- throw a golf break into the mix and you could find that most sublime of combinations: 18 holes followed by eggnog! With Christmas one month away, here are four of my favorite resorts that combine distinctive golf with a cheerful holiday aura.

Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Phoenix, Ariz.

Local legend has it that Irving Berlin penned "White Christmas" while sitting poolside at this desert retreat that opened in 1928. Architecture buffs will love the only major hotel that was directly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, but golf architecture fans will warm to Forrest Richardson's restoration of the Adobe course, where Clark Gable once lost his wedding ring (it was found and returned by a Biltmore employee). The newer, hillier Links course is a fun holiday treat as well.
Rates at Christmas start at $319 per night. 602-955-6600, arizonabiltmore.com

The Broadmoor
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Some years it snows on Christmas at The Broadmoor, while other years it's 70 degrees and sunny. A huge plus to playable days is that you can tee it up for $100 at the resort's original 1918 Donald Ross design. Snow or shine, you'll enjoy the resort's Holiday Musical Show, which in 2008 features Academy Award-winner Maureen McGovern.
Package prices start at $170 per person, based on double occupancy. 719-634-7711, broadmoor.com

The Hotel del Coronado
Coronado, Calif.

Here's a bit of trivia: America's first electronically lighted outdoor Christmas tree was unveiled at this San Diego institution in 1904. The Holiday season hasn't slowed down since. Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners are celebrated in the hotel's historic Crown Room and among the other attractions are an oceanfront ice skating rink. Golf on the Coronado Muni course less than a mile away features glorious Bay views and a green fee of $25 -- that's so cheap, you can give away tee times as Christmas gifts.
Rates start at $270 per room, per night. 619-435-6611, hoteldel.com

Boca Raton Resort & Club
Boca Raton, Fla.

Architect Addison Mizner's pink-hued playground will put anybody in the holiday spirit. All the club's Resort course is missing is poinsettias -- it's a showcase for virtually every other type of flower, tree and shrub. A marina, a half-mile of private beach, Spa Palazzo and superb dining options round out the holiday offerings. Who needs snow?
Rates start at $259 per night. 888-491-2622, bocaresort.com

Ask Travelin' Joe: Prescott, Ariz., San Diego and Colorado Springs

If you want to ask Travelin' Joe a question, e-mail him at askjoe@golf.com.

Dear Joe,
On my way home to Huntington Beach, Calif., from Santa Fe, N.M., in October, I plan on stopping in Prescott, Ariz., and would like to play golf the following morning. I have found a listing for Prescott Lakes GC that is private but sounds like a neat course. Is it possible to be able to play a private course without having a reciprocal membership? Or is there another course you would recommend in the Prescott area?
Mike Allen, Via email

Some private clubs area easier to access than others, especially in this economy. If you're going to play mid-week, a polite, sincere inquiry via letter, phone call or email is worth a try. I'm not saying it will work at Prescott Lakes, but give it a go. The Hale Irwin design is a tough, scenic, high-desert test, with firm, fast greens.

If that doesn't work, your next best option is StoneRidge (928-772-6500, stoneridgegolf.com; $33-$69), a Randy Heckenkemper creation that dishes out heaving fairways, elevated greens and a memorable set of par-3s.

Hi Joe,
My son and I are traveling to San Diego next month. We need a cheap round of golf, but one with some scenery. We can't afford Torrey Pines this trip. Help, please!
Doc Grayson, Billings, Mont.

Coronado Golf Course (619-435-3121, golfcoronado.com; $25-$54) on Coronado Island is your best bet. Opened in 1957, when Hall-of-Famers Billy Casper and Gene Littler were in the opening foursome, this municipal track features flattish, tree-lined fairways that make for an easy walk. Pace of play is never quick, but you don't mind lingering here and there, because half the holes sport handsome views of San Diego Bay. Among the sights to see are Navy ships, sailboats, the Hotel del Coronado and the corkscrew-shaped San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge.

Hi Joe,
My daughter has recently moved to Colorado Springs and I will be visiting. Can you suggest some courses that I should play? My handicap is 12.
Joe Lane, Ireland

Towering above everything in the area are the three courses at The Broadmoor (719-577-5790, broadmoor.com; $150-$185 in October, $100 in November). The historic Donald Ross/Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed East just hosted the U.S. Senior Open in August, while the recently renovated Mountain course is among the most scenic in the Rockies. Unfortunately, you've got to stay at the resort or else be a guest of someone who's staying there to get aboard.

For a taste of distinctive architecture, I would drive a half-hour south to Pueblo and play Walking Stick (719-584-3400, golfinpueblo.com; $28-$41), a wide-open Keith Foster design that played host to the U.S. Public Links Championship a few years back. Strategic bunkering and a smattering of well-placed bunkers -- plus the miniscule green fee -- makes it worth the trek.