Destination: The Metroplex

Marvelous mixture of popular, unknown makes Metroplex attractive.

The Metroplex area has never had a problem with attractiveness. The Oil Boom brought great wealth here and Yankees by the multitudes continue to move to Texas to escape the cold winters of the north. The Metroplex area is now an amalgamation of classic Texas scenery and attitude with lavish consumerism. Fans of the "New Texas" and all the golf it has to offer don't seem to mind the stifling, 100-degree summer weather complete with 90-percent humidity. Snowbirds and native Texans alike have year-around golf temperatures and countless handsome courses to select from, too. In the summer just play as early in the morning as you can or as late in the afternoon to avoid the heat.

The Oil Boom was replaced in the 1990s by the Golf Boom, which lead into the 2000s with more than 30 new daily-fee, resort or upscale municipals opening to the public. The hundreds of golf courses in the Metroplex area range from ultra-exclusive to downright economical. A member of the former group, the Preston Trail Golf Club, former host to the Byron Nelson Classic, is so popular that a member has to die for a spot to open. But this isn't even the priciest in Dallas. It has been moved aside as the most expensive private club by the brand-new Dallas National Golf Club, where Roger Staubach plays, and any open membership in the future might go for upwards of $175,000.

Other hot spots include the Cowboys Golf Club, the world's first NFL-themed golf course, and the Tribute at The Colony. On the eastern banks of Lake Lewisville in The Colony is The Tribute, a Scottish replica course that, unlike Scotland, has lush conditions. Born in Scotland, built in Texas, as they like to say.

A large portion of the Metroplex golf scene is made up by Fort Worth. This is where, as the locals claim, "the West begins," and a short drive from Dallas yields Glen Garden Country Club. Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan caddied here as teenagers and competed against each other in a caddie tournament. Colonial Country Club's prestigious Colonial National Invitational became know as the "Masters of the South" when it began in 1946.

Outside of the Metroplex area, visitors can find plenty of beautiful and lesser-known courses. Suburbs offer popular vacationing spots and beautiful courses. Waco may not be the most popular vacation spot in Texas, but the President seems to enjoy it. This Central Texas city on the historical Brazos River is where George W. Bush parked his airplane when he come to visit his ranch, The Western White House, in nearby Crawford.

In the rolling hills of Denton County, 35 miles from downtown Dallas and 30 miles from downtown Fort Worth, Tour 18 offers fine versions of some of the nation's best courses. It recreates Augusta's Amen Corner, the island green at Sawgrass and the famous 12th at Tulsa's Southern Hills. More than 59,000 golfers a year play the course and play is so heavy in April, May and June that shotgun starts are used.

This marvelous mixture of the popular and unknown makes the Metroplex area one of the most popular ones for American golfers.

Metroplex Transportation

If you're headed to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, setting up travel arrangements should be easy. The Metroplex area is serviced by one of the national largest airports. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has daily arrivals from most major U.S. and foreign cities.

DFW International has more than just the usual limousine and car rental counters. It even offers live music, entertainment and Dickey's BBQ restaurants in several terminals. The airport is located between Dallas and Fort Worth in Irving. Its about a 30-45 minute drive to each city from DFW International.

If you're driving to the Metroplex area, you have several options. If you are coming from the North, you can take I-35, which runs through Oklahoma City, until it splits into I-35W and I-35E. East will take you into Dallas and West goes through Fort Worth. The two routes join again and continue running south to Austin. Interstate 30 runs East and West through the heart of Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth.

Metroplex FAQs

What is the "Metroplex"?
The Metroplex is the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Dallas is 35 miles east of Fort Worth. There are over five and a half million people who live in the Metroplex.

What is the weather like in the Metroplex?
Summers in the Metroplex are hot, many times exceeding 100 degrees during the day then dropping below 80 degrees at night. Late July to early August is the hottest with an average high of 96 degrees. Golf season is usually about eight months long, from March to about November before it regularly begins dropping under 32 degrees at night.

Do people go to Texas for vacation?
Only California is ahead of Texas in the number of people who vacation in their state. Like the saying goes, "Everything is bigger in Texas" and there is plenty to do whether you're in the Metroplex or in west Texas. Texas receives $7.4 billion from visitors annually. Dallas is the number one destination in Texas for visitors. Texas is big in fact, so where is the Metroplex in relation to everything else. Dallas is 250 miles from the gulf of Mexico to the south. It's also unique in that it's only four hours by air away from large cities in Canada, Mexico and most U.S. cities.

Is it tough finding a place to stay in Dallas?
Dallas has more hotels than New York City, making it very easy to find accommodations, even last minute trips. There are over 65,000 hotel rooms.

How's the grub?
Hot! Dallas consumes more picante sauce than any other city in America. Chili was also originated in Dallas. With over 7,000 restaurants, which is more per capita than New York City, Dallas takes eating seriously. Also, be sure to check out Grapefest, in Grapevine, a suburb of Dallas. It's one of the biggest wine festivals in the southwest, and occurs in September annually.

What about golf?
There are around 40 private and 35 municipal courses in metro Dallas, and that doesn't even count Fort Worth's offerings.