Courtesy: Wyboo G.C., South Carolina

There are a little less than three weeks left of autumn but if you're a Canadian this morning, you'd swear it was mid-January.

We got whacked by an early visit from Old Man Winter - from coast to coast, for that matter - so Sunday was spent firing up the snowblower and clearing driveways, sidewalks and pathways.

Coincidentally with that, an evening over dinner with friends Saturday night elicited some interesting golf travel news.

And given the weather at the moment, now seems like a good time to do some winter golf dreamin'!

A friend of ours who lives and works in Orlando, Florida, had spent the American thanksgiving in Santee, South Carolina, just over the border with Georgia.

He and a few buddies picked up a four day package that included decent accommodations in a nearby Quality Inn, buffet breakfast each morning and four rounds at different courses in the area, all for $200 U.S.

I'm sorry but you just can't beat that. However, I had to ask about the quality of the golf. My friend replied that it ranged from good to great. "One particular course, called Wyboo, we could have played four times alone", he said.

In fact, Wyboo is just one of 14 layouts in the Santee area. I can't attest to their quality or challenge, of course - at least, not yet - but I have a high level of faith in U.S. golf destinations; they tend to be excellent.

One caveat, here; that $200 fee is a shoulder season price. However, scanning the Golf Santee website doesn't turn up prices much higher. So Santee could be a bargain golf destination worth twice what you pay.

If you or anyone you know has played down in Santee, S.C., then let us know in the "comments" section and tell us how it was.

I know one thing for sure: it's tough to beat four rounds, four breakfasts and accommodation for 200 bucks, shoulder season or not.

By the way, my friend said the weather was great. Damn.