By BRAD MYERS, The News JournalDebate the strengths and weaknesses of the football teams at the University of Delaware and Delaware State University all you want. Until they play, we'll never know who is better.
But we already know which football team's fans travel to the better golf areas. Nothing against Delaware, but the Blue Hens' conference schedule can take them to New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Maine -- often not the warmest places to be in late October or November.
Delaware State's conference schedule has the Hornets frequently traveling to North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Case closed.
The Hornets will always play where top-flight golf isn't far away, and this year is no exception.
Sept. 8 at Florida A&M
You wish the Hornets were playing here later, because early September in Tallahassee promises to be hot. But look at the bright side: Hot weather makes a golf ball go farther.
The best choices nearby are Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, owned by Florida State University, and the Golf Club at Summerbrooke.
Sept. 15 at Kent State
This Division I-A opponent will likely be a tough go for the Hornets, but it will be early in the season. That's good, because Kent, Ohio, is about 35 miles southeast of Cleveland, and a round of golf there in November would likely be chilly.
Not so in mid-September, however, and there are three good choices. Kent State has its own university golf course, Raccoon Hill Golf Club is just north of town, and Fox Den Golf Course is owned by the City of Stow, northwest of Kent.
Sept. 29 at Hampton
The Virginia Beach area is loaded with quality golf courses, and the best are before you even cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Bay Creek Golf Club is just off U.S. 13, about five miles before the start of the bridge, with 36 holes designed by a couple of guys you may be familiar with -- Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
The Nicklaus Course has three holes that play right along Chesapeake Bay and match any stretch on the East Coast for difficulty and beauty. The third hole on the Palmer Course does the same.
There are more quality courses across the bay, including Hell's Point, Heron Ridge, Honey Bee, Red Wing Lake and Signature at West Neck.
Oct. 13 at North Carolina A&T and Nov. 3 at Winston-Salem State
The Greensboro/Winston-Salem area has dozens of quality public courses, and the Hornets will visit this area twice this season.
The top recommendation is Bryan Park in Greensboro, which has 36 holes good enough to play host to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 2010.
Stoney Creek Golf Club is another highly rated course just east of Greensboro. Oak Valley Golf Club is in Advance, closer to Winston-Salem, and is where Bear's Eric Onesi qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this month.
Oct. 27 at South Carolina State
There isn't a lot of golf in Orangeburg, but Santee is just 25 miles away, right on Interstate 95, which makes for a convenient stop before or after the game.
There are three top-notch public courses in Santee -- Lake Marion, Santee Cooper Country Club and Santee National Golf Club. And late October should be a nice time to add an extra day or two and make it a golf/football vacation.
IF YOU GO
Tallahassee, Fla.
Don Veller Seminole Golf Course, (850) 644-2582
Golf Club at Summerbrooke, (850) 894-4653
Kent, Ohio
Kent State University Golf Club, (330) 672-2500
Raccoon Hill Golf Club, (330) 673-2111
Fox Den Golf Course, (330) 673-3443
Hampton, Va.
Bay Creek Golf Club, (757) 331-8620
Information on all other courses listed at Virginia Beach Golf.
Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bryan Park Golf Course, (336) 375-2200
Stoney Creek Golf Club, (336) 449-5688
Oak Valley Golf Club, (336) 940-2000
Santee, S.C.
Lake Marion Golf Course and Santee Cooper Country Club, (800) 344-6534
Santee National Golf Club, (803) 854-3531
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