If watching a few minutes of this week’s PGA Tour action from Hilton Head inspires you to plan a golf trip, then go right where the pros play. The Inn at Harbour Town is offering a golf package through 2013. The package starts at $303 per weekday night, per person, and includes accommodations for three nights, one round per day at Sea Pines resort’s Harbour Town Golf Links (the annual PGA Tour venue that is ranked second on Golf Magazine’s Best Public Golf Courses in South Carolina), Heron Point by Pete Dye (ranked 11th on Golf Magazine’s Best Public Golf Courses in the state) or the Ocean Course. The boutique, upscale Inn is adjacent to Harbour Town’s first tee. The package is also offered for weekends with a two-night minimum stay. For more information go to Seapines.com.

Photo: 18th hole at Harbour Town (Rob Tipton/Boomkin Productions)

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

The $175,000 Golf Trip

Before we get to this week's questions, I've got to tell you about this $175,000 golf package. If you've got six-figures to burn on a one-of-a-kind golf experience, then do I have the "deal" for you.

Mayakoba, a 128-room, all-suite luxury hotel on Mexico's Riviera Maya near Cancun, is introducing The Ultimate Golf Package, for the 401(K)-wrecking price of $175,000.

Available from Nov. 12-19, 2013, the package runs in conjunction with the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba, which moved this year from its customary February date.

Designed for you and two guests, the package includes a private lesson with Hall of Fame teacher Jim McLean, a round of golf with Hall of Fame golfer Greg Norman at nearby Playa Mujeres (complete with a chopper ride to and from), plus three spots in the Mayakoba Pro-Am.

But wait ... there's more! You'll stay seven nights in the 6,272-square-foot Presidential Lagoon Suite, sit at the VIP table at the pairings party, enjoy inside-the-ropes honorary observer positions during the tournament and a meet-and-greet with the tournament winner -- and plenty of other perks.

Call me old-fashioned -- or spoiled from my years at Golf Magazine -- but does that price tag sound, well, high? Hey, don't get me wrong. I'd love the chance to tee it up with the Shark. Certainly, the pro-am sounds like fun, though the typical going rate to play a PGA Tour event pro-am is around $10,000.

The Rosewood Mayakoba? Awesome hotel. I can reserve a Lagoon Studio Suite with a King bed the week before the tournament for $575 per night. Over seven nights, that's $4,025, rack rate. It's not the Presidential Suite, but it's pretty nice.

Oh, on the final day, they throw you and your pals a private BBQ and tequila tasting on the beach. But 175K? For that sum, I'd need to go home with a solid gold golf bag and a fistful of diamond ball markers.

Dear Joe,
What's your take on Redstone, this week's PGA Tour stop at the Shell Houston Open? Any other Houston courses you recommend?
Howard Irwin -- Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

I haven't yet played Redstone's Tournament course ($125-$175; 281-459-7800, redstonegolfclub.com), the Shell Houston Open venue since 2006, but it's a head-scratcher to me.

David Toms consulted on this Rees Jones design, and while Toms is hardly a bomber, Redstone, at 7,422 yards, is mostly a wide-open, mashers' paradise, albeit one with water all over.

On the one hand, the list of recent champions is impressive: Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim. On the other hand, while Jones's design is eminently fair, it doesn't speak well of the layout itself when the strongest attraction for the pros is that organizers mimic the firm, fast, shaved-down conditions players will face at Augusta National in two weeks.

I won't reserve final judgment until I play it, but from what I see on TV, it's a tough, honest test, but short on memorability.

The precursor to Redstone is Memorial Park Golf Course ($39-$49; 713-559-2000, memorialparkgolf.com), a muni that dates to the 1920s. Situated near downtown Houston, the 7,305-yard layout has long claimed status as one of the longest municipal courses in the U.S., and is a healthy stroll at sea level, even as the terrain is mostly flat.

Wide and wooded, it was designed by legendary Texas architect John Bredemus, who also shaped Colonial in Fort Worth. Its tournament history includes 14 Houston Opens between 1947 and '63, when winners included Hall of Famers Arnold Palmer, Jackie Burke Jr., Cary Middlecoff and Bobby Locke. You'll hardly be wowed by the design itself, but its woody setting, proximity to the city, and affordability are compelling draws.

You also won't find much innovative design at Augusta Pines Golf Club ($62.50-$79.25; 281-290-1910, tour18.com), but you won't mind a bit. This replica-style course with many Augusta National overtures and back-to-back island greens to close the round is great fun, and it clearly appealed to Bernhard Langer, who ripped the course for rounds of 62-65-64 to win a Champions Tour event by eight in 2007. I guarantee you won't score that well, but you'll enjoy it just as much.

Hi Joe,
My husband and I will be in New Orleans for a wine-tasting event this spring. We'll have a free half-day before the event starts and would like to play golf. Do you have a favorite course for $100 or less?
Jo Ortega -- Highland Heights, Ohio

Since you're not only on a budget, but also appear to be somewhat pressed for time, Audubon Park ($35-$45; 504-212-5290, auduboninstitute.org) is the place to play. Condensed in 2001 from a regulation course to a 4,200-yard, par-62 layout by architect Denis Griffiths, this lagoon-filled, oak-dotted, well-bunkered track offers nice variety -- and you can finish in three hours. Edging a popular city park, with holes that abut Tulane and Loyola universities, Audubon Park might be my favorite executive course in the country.

RELATED: The 10 Most Expensive Tee Times

(Photo: Courtesy of Redstone Golf Club)

Service
"Y'all have a good time now," the starter says, sparing us the usual first-tee soliloquy about 90-degree cart rules and the like. It's a light, Southern send-off, and it perfectly sets the tone at a friendly place where the only thing they lay on thick is the Alabama drawl, y'all.

Pace of Play
This is not a wide-open course that easily forgives errant tee shots. The aptly named Judge can be penal. It's longer than War and Peace, features more than a few slender fairways, and peril awaits on 14 holes that adjoin water. Expect your round to last at least four and a half hours.

Quality
With big greens, sprawling fairway bunkers, and long, forced carries off many tees, this course is great for risk-reward-loving players who can live with punished mis-hits. And the Alabama River's beautiful backwaters give this heart-of-Dixie course a winning sense of place.

Value
The tough but playable holes and gorgeous views make this perhaps the best deal on the RTJ Trail. Twilight rates let you play for less than $50, about what you'd shell out for a cart and a bucket of balls at many top resorts. Here, it gets you on one of the highest-rated public tracks in Alabama.

Verdict
If the course was judged by a jury of its peers, some might deem it too penal for the average player. Our ruling? Play it from the right tees—hey, there's no shame in using the 5,910-yard whites—and you'll have a blast on an entertaining layout that delivers one of the best bargains in the game.

Capitol Hill (The Judge)
Prattville, Ala.
7,813 yards, par 72
Green fees: $71-$92
334-285-1114, rtjgolf.com/capitolhill

(Photo: Michael Clemmer)

Home to the raucous Waste Management Phoenix Open, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a soothing oasis the rest of the year, with flexibility its strongest suit. Large enough to accommodate conventioneers, it has all the amenities a family could want, with North Scottsdale's fine shopping nearby.

Of course, legendary golf offerings are what elevate this property to Silver Medal status, making it great for buddy trips, too. The Fairmont is so close to the action on the par-3 4th and par-4 5th at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium course that the holes could practically get splashed by the resort's swimming complex.

The biggest splash of all, though, is reserved for the Stadium's closing stretch, which includes the rowdiest hole in golf. The par-3 16th is sandwiched between two of the PGA Tour's top risk/reward holes—the island green par-5 15th and the drivable par-4 17th.

Toss in the resort's solid second track (the Champions), the fabled Willow Stream spa, and a slew of outstanding restaurants — notably Arizona's top-rated Mexican fare at La Hacienda — and you can have a Phoenix Open–size celebration (well, almost) during your stay.

480-585-4848, fairmont.com/scottsdale, April rates from $360.

(Photo: Evan Schiller)

Some golfers crave a U.S. Open–type beat-down. Me? I prefer a relaxing, playable course that offers a glorious setting, a dose of history and, if possible, an easy drive from a major city.

In other words, Ojai (pronounced "OH-high").

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a rustic charmer 75 miles northwest of L.A. Even without its delightful layout, the resort would be worth a visit, with its Mission-style architecture, sybaritic spa, and superior service.

Merely 6,292 yards from the tips, this welcoming 90-year-old course is drenched in character, thanks to a graceful routing among the oaks and slopes, courtesy of architects George Thomas Jr. and Billy Bell, the men responsible for Riviera and Bel-Air. (Later renovations feature the work of Jay Morrish.) The Topa Topa Mountains add to the magic, at least for Chi Chi Rodriguez and Al Geiberger, who were among the winners in the years the Champions Tour stopped by.

The Ultimate Golf Vacation Package for Two includes lodging, unlimited golf and cart, lunch at Jimmy's and a logo hat. April rates start at $579 per night, double occupancy. 855-697-8780, ojairesort.com

(Photo: Courtesy of Ojai Valley Inn)

Dear Joe:
In April, my buddies and I are heading to Phoenix for our annual golf trip. We've played the Scottsdale trophy courses, so this year we want to add an undiscovered gem that's also a good value, and we'll drive up to an hour. Any ideas?
—Roger McManus, Surrey, B.C.

The Valley of the Sun is full of terrific second-tier tracks that deliver top-tier value. Southern Dunes ($49-$199; 480-367-8949, golfsoutherndunes.com), a Schmidt-Curley creation (with Fred Couples consulting) in Maricopa, 30 minutes south of the Phoenix airport, is a muscular 2002 design with sprawling bunkers, fescue-framed fairways and nary a weak hole. Once private, it's now a public-access amenity of the nearby Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino.

A 45-minute westward haul is Quintero ($75-$225; 928-501-1500, quinterogolf.com), a potent Rees Jones design that stimulates the senses with dramatic climbs and drops and a pristine desert environment (Pictured).

I also enjoy Gold Canyon's Dinosaur Mountain ($49-$199; 480-982-9090, gcgr.com), a Ken Kavanaugh product 50 minutes east of Phoenix in the heart of the Superstition Mountains.

Hi Joe:
My husband and I are looking for a golf resort and spa in the San Francisco area. Do you have a favorite?
—Lois Bauer, Shaker Heights, Ohio

From resorts to crackers, I love anything with "Ritz" in the name. Along with superb service, the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay (650-712-7000, ritzcarlton.com/halfmoonbay), 45 minutes south of downtown, has the Ocean Course ($160-$205, 650-726-1800, halfmoonbaygolf.com), a Pebble-like layout along the Pacific.

For a warmer, inland splurge just 90 minutes from San Francisco, try CordeValle, a Rosewood Resort (408-695-4500, cordevalle.com). The hilly, vineyard setting is a sublime backdrop for the property's Robert Trent Jones Jr. design ($195-$225, plus caddie fee), which hosts the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open.

Hey Joe:
What are the "can't-miss" courses in the greater Tampa area? We're eight guys, and we prefer tough courses. Bring it on!
—Ed Schultz, Reading, Pa.

While many quality layouts await on the Gulf side of central Florida, "can't miss" implies something more memorable. Start with Innisbrook's Copperhead ($140-$245; 727-942-2000, innisbrookgolfresort.com). It has unusual (for Florida) elevation changes, towering Carolina-style pines and propped-up greens fortified by sand and water. It's stern but fair. Its watery sibling, the Island, was a strong enough test to host the 1990 NCAA Championship, won by Phil Mickelson. Add two more respectable 18s and a resort that's perfect for buddy trips and you've got an ideal spot.

If you're up for a day trip, drive 90 minutes north to World Woods ($69-$79 for April; $39 twilight); 352-796-5500, worldwoods.com) or 90 minutes east to Streamsong ($115-$225; 863-354-6980, streamsongresort.com), two of the greatest 36-hole public complexes in the country.

Dear Joe:
I'm planning a long weekend getaway with the family. Priorities? Great golf for me and fun distractions for the kids. I'd prefer a half-day drive or less. What say you?
—John Tucker, Greensboro, N.C.

John, I say this: Take thy brood to Williamsburg, Va., roughly a four-hour drive from Greensboro. The Gold course at Colonial Williamsburg's Golden Horseshoe Golf Club ($65-$169; 757-220-7696, colonialwilliamsburg.com), which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013, serves up four simply fantastic par 3s from Robert Trent Jones Sr., while Jones's Spotswood at Golden Horseshoe, a nine-hole, par-31 delight, is a terrific value at $39.

Next door, your kids can experience the unparalleled history experience that is Colonial Williamsburg, amid cobblestone streets, 18th-century taverns, and artisans and character interpreters clothed in period dress.

Minutes away is Kingsmill Resort, which was home to the PGA Tour for more than 20 years. Three excellent courses await, including the Pete Dye–designed River course ($70-$190; 800-832-5665, kingsmill.com). You're also next to Busch Gardens, a 383-acre amusement park with more than 100 rides and attractions.

(Photo: Courtesy of Quintero)

How close is the new Max A. Mandel Golf Course to the Mexican border? "If you slice one bad enough," says its designer Robert Trent Jones II, "you'll need a passport to retrieve it."

The "Max" straddles Texas and Mexico, with the mighty Rio Grande serving as a handsome dividing line. It was named for local businessman Max Mandel, who donated 390 acres and $1 million toward startup costs.

Unfolding atop sandy bluffs above the famed river, the Max winds through groves of towering mesquites and is slashed by two massive arroyos, lending the design beauty and grandeur.

Four memorable holes skirt the Rio Grande: Nos. 8, 9, 15 and 16. The 462-yard, par-4 8th may be the strongest design of the four, but the blessedly short (138 yards) par-3 15th will be the crowd-pleaser, with a splendid river view.

The Jones design team thoughtfully provided junior tees and multiple routing options, so the course can be played in three-, six-, nine-or 18-hole loops. Laredo is a long way from anywhere (150 miles to San Antonio) but if you seek tranquility and value, make the trek to the Max.

Max A. Mandel Municipal
Laredo, Tex.
7,069 yards, par 72
Green fees: $33.50-$56
956-726-2000, themaxlaredo.com

(Photo: John and Jeannine Henebry)

Golf Magazine's Travelin' Joe Passov will be online Friday at 12 p.m. ET to answer your travel questions. Click on the blog below to leave him a question.

Golf Magazine's Travelin' Joe Passov will be online Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET to answer your travel questions. Click on the blog below to leave him a question.

As iconic golf landmarks go, few compare with the candy cane-striped lighthouse that backdrops the 18th green at Harbour Town. With Calibogue Sound looming on the left and OB lurking right, Harbour Town's home hole is one of the game's greatest.

The chance to follow in the formidable footsteps of past winners Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Davis Love III makes this a must-play, and Sea Pines' RBC Heritage Experience Package can make it happen.

Included is two nights at the Inn at Harbour Town, a round at Harbour Town accompanied by a caddie, a practice area with your own nameplate, a one-hour lesson, a first-tee introduction, and pro shop and restaurant discounts.

Added perks include a sleeve of balls, sunscreen, visor or hat, a logoed golf shirt and towel, ball marker with divot tool, locker room plaque and desktop mount, caddie bib, yardage book and commemorative Pete Dye coffee-table book.

All that's missing from this experience is your own PGA Tour card. March rates start from $1,080 per golfer. 800-SEAPINES, seapines.com

(Photo: Larry Lambrecht)