5 Great Airport Courses for the Business Traveler

August 27, 2013

Airports and golf, otherwise known as making the most of business travel. For those travelers looking to sneak in a Sunday afternoon round prior to Monday morning meetings or those who want something to do when afternoon meetings end early, these six fantastic near-airport courses have strong appeal.

Philadelphia, PA – RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club

There is are no shortage of choices when it comes to golf in southeast Pennsylvania near the New Jersey border. RiverWinds Golf and Tennis Club features an expansive, links-style course between Woodbury Creek and the deep harbor marina on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River.

Located just 21-miles from the Philadelphia International Airport terminal, this course makes it easy for even the busiest traveler to squeeze in a great, 18-hole round (though travel times over the Walt Whitman Bridge may vary).

 

Atlanta, GA – Wolf Creek Golf Club

Wolf Creek Golf Club, located west of Atlanta and less than eight miles from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport – one of the nation’s largest and busiest airports – offers proximity that makes it extremely convenient to easily make post-round flights. This challenging but pleasurable Mike Young design stretches out to more than 7,000 yards and it carries a 140 slope. The 6,500-plus blue-tee fits the 5-to-15-handicapper just fine.

In the winter, Wolf Creek is the only public course in the south metro area that over-seeds all the fairways and tee boxes. Young blended low flatlands and wetlands contrast with some dramatic elevation changes, which leaves us with a strong desire to come back.

 

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX – The Tribute Golf Club

The Tribute Golf Club, another links-style layout, simulates some of the most famous and challenging holes of the Scottish links with wide-swept dunes, sea-washed grasses and challenging water hazards. Needless to say, in the upper Texas plains, it’s a unique experience, but one to consider since it’s only 23 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

 

Phoenix, AZ – Raven Golf Club

As they say in Arizona, given a chance everything grows. Raven Golf Club, designed by Gary Panks and former U.S. Open champion David Graham, proved that statement to be not only true but very inviting.

“The Raven,” located just seven miles from Sky Harbor International Airport, has a southwest North Carolina feel to it, thanks to all the small pines planted on the banks framing many of the fairways. The Raven even feels like Pinehurst in the desert on some holes. For quality and proximity, this course is a big winner.

 

Chicago, IL – Ruffled Feathers Golf Club

Located just 28 miles south of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and 17 miles west of Midway International Airport, Ruffled Feathers Golf Club stands out not only because of its central location for travelers, but also because it’s the only Pete Dye-designed course in greater Chicago.

Ruffled Feathers brings into play all the Dye tricks – huge mounding, elephants buried under the greens and mind games when you stand on the tee. A fun challenge for before catching your flight home.

 

Featured image courtesy of Design Boom.