Sure it's grand, but where's the golf?

By Chris Baldwin

West Coast Bureau Chief, Golf Publisher Syndications

updated 7:06 p.m. ET March 31, 2006

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Garin Fassbinder sat perched on a ledge over the biggest hole in the world, his legs dangling in air. A whole lot of air. He leaned further forward on the rock, looked back, threw his arms straight up, causing at least several spectators to do double takes.

No, Fassbinder wasn't considering taking the plunge into the Grand Canyon. He was posing for an action photo shot taken by his daughters.

Though when the German tourist started talking about how much he missed golf during this vacation, you got the idea he might have debated leaping from the rim after all.

"You are a golf writer," Fassbinder said, extending his hand in near maniacal enthusiasm. "Truly. Where is there a fine course I can play around here?"

Yes, Fassbinder stood looking over the Seventh Wonder of the World and he couldn't stop thinking about golf. And let's face it, you can relate.

You're a golfer. You plan, manipulate and scheme your priceless vacations around the maddening game. If your kids have their hearts set on Disney World, you'll give in, but find a great course nearby and hope your wife doesn't notice you're not standing in line for Space Mountain along with the rest of the tribe.

Recognizing this truth can you really blame Fassbinder?

Sure, the Grand Canyon can cause some awe, but after you've looked at it for a while, it's just a big hole in the ground with rocks all around. And those seven-day passes that the National Park Service forces everyone to buy — it's a $20 entrance fee for every car whether you stay three hours or a whole week — really encourage an extended stay of the family trekking down those windy, rocky trails.

Who wouldn't be golf jonesing after a good chunk of time here? They expect you to traverse those up and downs without a golf cart?

There is hope though. The Grand Canyon isn't as easy a place to locate a golf getaway from as Disney World. It's isolated (something about that nature thing). How isolated? Just try finding a decent hotel room or meal not under Park Service control.

But that doesn't mean you need to resign yourself to no golf. There are several courses that can be worked into any Grand Canyon journey. (Hey you need to have some excuse to go see the thing.) If your family hikes down one of the Canyon trails, you could even be back from your round, resting in the room before they are.

"Do you need a playing partner tomorrow?" Fassbinder asked. "My family would not notice I was gone."

Here are the best golf getaways on a Grand Canyon trip. Though we'd advise informing your loved ones where you're headed (unless they're really anti golf or you just want to do things Dick Cheney style). Just make sure you get to a course before you start seriously thinking about launching a few blasts with your beloved Big Bertha from the Grand Canyon's rim. You know, just to see how far it would fly.

That's a little frowned upon.

Nonetheless, standing on top, looking down, down, down over the edge, as the sun sets an almost orange purple hue in the sky, you're struck by one thought.

A Tom Fazio or a Pete Dye could make some serious risk-reward holes out of this setup.

"You're sick," California tourist Abby Wilcox said when asked if the Grand Canyon brought out any thoughts of golf. She didn't let her husband answer.

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