High Point NC Golf Weekend

Fat Guy Research:  While golf isn't the primary reason for a trip to furniture mecca High Point NC, it doesn't mean you can't sneak in a round in between the endless perusing of oak and pine. 7-8 hours from Philly on late night weekend driving per my buddy Scott.

Where To Play: Golf Magazine's Travellin' Joe likes Tanglewood's Championship Course ('09 fees $28-$48) in Clemmons.  A tough 1956 RTJ, Sr. design which made Golf Digest's Top 100 You Can Play list during the late 90's.  The Championship course hosted the 1974 PGA when Trevino edged Nicklaus to win, as well as a Senior Tour event. Then play the sister Reynolds course, which is shorter, tigher and cheaper.

Nearby Oak Hollow is early Pete Dye circa 1971, scenic with small greens, and very reasonable.

The Champions course at Bryan Park was runner-up in Golf Digests' 1990 "Best New Course" category, and named by Golf World as "one of the few publics worthy of holding a U.S. Open" in 1992. Ranked #17 in the state by Golf Digest in '98. The Players course at Bryan Park was redone by Rees Jones and ranked 12th Best in NC by Golf Digest back in '96.

Greensboro's Grandover resort features the East course circa 1996 with tiered greens and plenty of mounding, as well as the West course opened a year later, with tree-lined fairways over rolling terrain and water on 8 holes.

Locals flock to 1932-vintage Blair Park.

Lexington NC's recently renovated Lexington GC is a good value, old school round.

Winston-Salem's Olde Homeplace is a 1992 design with an open front and a hilly, tree-lined back.

Where To Shop: My buddy Scott recommends Furniture Land South (www.furniturelandsouth.com), also endorsed by CBS' Jim Nantz. 1 million square feet of furniture, including ultra-modern contemporary stuff that's hard to find.

Where To Grub: Locals pointed Scott to Carter Bros Barbeque for real off-the-beaten-path Carolina-style barbeque (3 locations at 2305 N Main 336-869-9948, 3802 Samet 336-841-2241, and 1026 Hutton 336-887-0122). Go for the chopped beef sandwich with sides of creamed corn and macaroni & cheese. Hit High Point's best wings at East Coast Wings & Grill, good enough to compete in the Buffalo NY Annual Wing Festival.

If you get over to play Olde Homestead in Winston-Salem, be sure to hit the country's best doughnut shop in the town of its birth. Krispy Kreme's flagship store puts the doughnut-making process on display under glass, and nothing beats one of their original glazed treats still warm off the line.