CRANBERRY TWP - Butler County as a golf getaway vacation spot?

Jack Cohen, executive director of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, believes it already has that distinction.

"We had a booth at a golf show in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and had 1,500 visitors who have already played golf in Butler County, either through relatives in Western Pennsylvania or by just driving through this area and stopping," Cohen said.

It was that golf show that enticed Cohen to invite 50 golf writers from the United States and Canada to visit Butler County, play a few courses and determine its attractiveness as a golf vacation area.

The venture resulted in 11 writers coming to town May 19-22. They played Cranberry Highlands, Oakview, Lake Arthur Country Club and Conley's during their stay.

"We have more than 20 public golf courses in this county," Cohen said. "Why not promote that?"

Among the visiting writers were Nick Ciattei of The Golf Guide in Stephens City, Va., Jean Couser of The Golfer's Guide in Tampa,. Fla., Rick Holmes of Tee to Green Magazine in London, Ontario and Steve Turcotte of Inside Golf Newspaper in Seattle, Wash.

Writers also came in from Massachusetts and Ohio.

Couser said that golfers in Florida look to come north during the summer months.

"It gets really hot in Florida, for one thing," Couser said as to why golfers from her area would want to come to Pennsylvania. "And people like to visit other areas.

"Your county is so close to a lot of places - Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Washington D.C., etc. - that it's intriguing to a lot of people."

Couser's publication also covers Bradenton, Fla., the spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"There is a lot of interest down there in Pittsburgh for that reason," Couser said. "It's one of the reasons I made this trip."

Holmes said it's nothing for Canadians "to drive six or seven hours for a weekend golf trip.

"And I know some people who have played down here," he said of Butler County. "I met Jack at that Toronto show and had to check out the golf in Butler, based on what he showed me."

Holmes liked the close proximity of the golf courses in Butler County.

"I did a similar tour in New Hampshire and the courses were nice, but it was a far drive to each spot," he said. "That limits how much a person can play in a day.

"With courses so close together here, visitors could play two courses in one day very easily. People like that."

Ciattei goes on four golf tours a year. Other golf vacation spots he's frequented recently include South Carolina, Fayetteville, N.C., Virginia Beach and Lehigh Valley, Pa.

He pointed out that his readers can get to the Pittsburgh area quicker than they can get to Myrtle Beach.

"When I tour, I'm looking for diversity in the courses and how moderate the prices are," Ciattei said. "This is only a four-hour drive from Virginia. It takes us eight hours to get to Myrtle Beach.

"I'm looking at the culture in the area, the accommodations, restaurants, that all looks good here. Golfers can get a three-day, two-night golf package here for $200 and that's very attractive."

Turcotte has been on golf tours to Hawaii and Arizona and other western regions, but has rarely ventured out east.

"But I like this area," he said of Butler County. "Myrtle Beach has 115 golf courses within a 90-mile radius, but you pay a lot to play there.

"While you can put together an entire golf weekend here for $200, you can't get on a golf course in Las Vegas for less than $100.

"They're (Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau) on the right track here. With the lodging, restaurants and the wide range of golf courses you have here, this place should be promoted," Turcotte added.

Cohen said that the Butler County Tourism and Convention Center has 12 courses on board as members of a co-op.

"We're proud of our home and we want to promote it," he said.

"People like to travel to different areas to golf," Turcotte said. "Will people from Seattle fly across the country to play here and experience Western Pennsylvania? I guess we'll find out when I write about it.

"Based on what I've seen, I think they will."