The holiday season inevitably brings three things to bear — college football games with bowl implications, an overabundance of calories and family get-togethers. In the spirit of the season, we give you our "All in the Family" list: The Top 10 "Sister" courses you can play. Stick with these oft-overlooked siblings and you'll have happy holidays indeed.
Whistling Straits (Irish Course), Sheboygan, Wisc.
800-344-2838, destinationkohler.com; $150-$207
Pete Dye, 2000
The Irish Course is nearly as stern as its older brother, the Straits Course, the formidable host of the 2004 PGA Championship and the 2007 U.S. Senior Open. It mimics classic Emerald Isle links layouts with its towering sand hills and a rolling landscape peppered with nasty bunkers.
TPC Sawgrass (Valley Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
904-273-3230, tpc.com/sawgrass; $130-$195
Pete Dye/Bobby Weed, 1987
If the island green and Tour cache are "must-haves" in your trophy collection, head next door to the Stadium course. Otherwise, the Valley Course is a scintillating sibling with all the golf you could want. There is water, water everywhere, but seldom a forced carry. More often it's of the bite-off-as-much-as-you-can-chew variety, so tack your way around wisely and you'll have a blast.
TPC Scottsdale (Champions Course), Scottsdale, Ariz.
480-585-4334, tpc.com/scottsdale; $41-$128.50
Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish, 1986; Randy Heckenkemper, 2007
Gone are the days when this layout (formerly known as the Desert Course) was a non-descript, if value-oriented, next-door neighbor to the Stadium, which is home to the largest, wildest galleries in golf every January at the FBR Open. Architect Heckenkemper added 700 yards and strategy galore, while keeping the desert ravines, mountain vistas and affordable pricing.
World Woods Golf Club (Rolling Oaks Course), Brooksville, Fla.
352-796-5500, worldwoods.com; $40-$145
Tom Fazio, 1993
Pine Barrens' homage to Pine Valley generally grabs the glory here, but its oak-, magnolia- and dogwood-laced sibling, which tips its hat to the spaciousness and ambience of Augusta National, is a more than worthy alternative. Noteworthy is the creek-lined par-3 8th, which plays from an elevated tee to a two-tiered green.
Princeville Resort (Makai Course), Kauai, Hawaii
808-826-9644, Princeville.com; $95-$175
Robert Trent Jones Jr., 1971
Though nowhere near as fearsome as its jungle-strewn brother, the Prince Course, the three nines at Makai (Ocean, Lakes and Woods) satisfy fully with a marvelous blend of risk/reward options and local scenery. Panoramic Pacific vistas greet golfers on Ocean's par-3 3rd, while the 7th at Woods serves up a black-lava-rock "Zen" bunker.
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