The Ten Best Golf Cities for a Business Meeting

Okay, so here it is. Golf Magazine and the National Golf Foundation (NGF) recently calculated the best golf cities (at least one million people) in the U.S. by analyzing the 50 largest metropolitan areas.

They graded them on:

• weather
• affordability (green fees vs. median household income)
• quality of courses
• accessibility
• number of courses designed by esteemed architects
• availability (public facilities)
• crowdedness (number of rounds available)

So if you have a boss that loves to play golf and will be traveling on business to one of these ten cities, he just might be in for a wonderful surprise. You'll know where it ranks on the 2008 list!

#10: Rochester, NY

Number of public courses: 64

Median green fee: $30

Believe it or not, in addition to being a great place to play golf, Men's Health magazine noted that Rochester is one of "America's healthiest cities for men." However, for golf, you best wait until Memorial Day because the weather can be a bit chilly.

#9: Portland, OR

Number of public courses: 48.5

Median green fee: $44

It's not just the golf courses that are great; it's the beautiful surroundings and year-round golf weather that make Portland a wonderful city. Plus Portland also has the distinction of being named North America's "Best Big City" by Money magazine.

#8: Atlanta, GA

Number of public courses: 92.5

Median green fee: $46

Atlanta practically invented golf! This city boasts so many golf courses as well as hosting two PGA tours it's no surprise it's on the list. In addition, there's a lot of other enjoyments in Atlanta, like blues clubs and Southern charm.

#7: San Jose, CA

Number of public courses: 22.5

Median green fee: $59

Yes, this is an expensive place to live. However, public golf fees can be as low as $36 during the week. In addition, you have the wonderful year-round climate that makes being outdoors enjoyable.

#6: Seattle, WA

Number of public courses: 62

Median green fee: $45

Home to Starbucks, Bill Gates, and the 605-foot-high Space Needle, Seattle has a lot to enjoy - if you can get past the often cloudy skyline. Funny thing is, Seattle actually averages four inches less rain per year than New York. So playing outdoors between the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound can be breathtaking.

#5: Orlando, Fl

Number of public courses: 86

Median green fee: $49

Where do old golfers go? Orlando. Actually the young ones are here, too. In fact, about half the PGA Tour calls Orlando home. In addition, if you get tired of playing golf, you can always trek over to Disney World, SeaWorld, or another one of the city's famous attractions.

#4: Dallas, TX

Number of public courses: 107

Median green fee: $38

Dallas has golf history. There's the Ben Hogan trophy room at the Colonial Country Club (in Fort Worth) or Lord Byron's memorabilia at the Four Seasons. In addition, there's plenty of Texas barbecue to keep you satisfied.

#3: Las Vegas, NV

Number of public courses: 53

Median green fee: $140

This is the number one city in accessibility to quality public golf courses. It can get pricey, but they say it's worth it. Of course, if you decide to come in off the course, there are plenty of other things to do in this city. Any ideas?

#2: Columbus, OH

Number of public courses: 66

Median green fee: $34

Home of Jack Nicklaus (yes, he was born and raised here), Columbus ranks so high on the list because of the number of top-notch designer courses including one co-designed by the Golden Bear himself, Muirfield Village. Affordable housing in a college town and you have a winning combination.

#1: Austin, TX

Number of public courses: 32

Median green fee: $40

The capital of Texas also showed up on another top-ten list recently: Forbes' Top Ten Cities for Jobs in 2008. Between the great weather, affordability and accessibility, and course designs, Austin is number one for golf. So now along with being the "Live Music Capital of the World," it's the best place to find a job and play golf. And there you have it. Next time you have to make travel plans for a golf-playing boss, you'll know if his city ranks in the top ten.