"It is getting warmer by the minute." says Wynn with a sheepish grin on his face. "Can't wait to put my shorts on." adds Bruce from the back seat. This is pretty common conversation for a group of golfers heading down south from the more northern parts of the USA and Canada on an annual golf pilgrimage.

On this particular adventure we are have just passed through Virginia and entered into North Carolina where we are making our decent into Rock Hill, South Carolina, just minutes south of Charlotte.

Rock Hill, a pretty little town that looks like its been lost in time, is in a district known as Olde English and its colonial homes and buildings hearken back to a time when South Carolina was still in its infancy. It's grown now to become a suburb of fast expanding Charlotte and this area proves the North and South can live in harmony.

We were tipped off to the golfing joys of Olde English District by a South Carolinian named Rick Saucier, a man who makes a living organizing golf vacations for northerners like us through his company Golf Packages of South Carolina.

Rick is the one who points out that Olde English has some of the best courses in the state with packages starting in the $70 range. A couple of the courses that we played were Springfield and Regent Park - others that are highly recommended are Waterford, Fort Mill and Tega Cay. They're the courses that offer some great thrills, are well designed and maintained, and give a visitor a real sense of what makes this part of the state so different when it comes to golf."

Springfield, for instance, flanks Sugar Creek and it's a sweet treat to play, offering 44 bunkers and four different types of grass. Most of its holes border the creek and the fourth hole, a 176-yard, par-3 test that requires an accurate shot over the creek bed to an elevated green with a stone wall in front and a left-to-right slope. It's hard to call any of Springfield's a favorite because they're all excellent.

Golfers from all parts of the country rave about Regent Park, Ron Garl has created a masterpiece that meanders through three North and South Carolina counties. Regent Park's generous fairways are nestled between a hardwood forest and the rolling terrain allows for some impressive elevation changes. There's also water on nine holes, just to make the day here that much more interesting.

After a couple of days we ventured on to the Blythewood/Winnsboro area of The Olde English District, just an hour away and a northern suburb of Columbia. Here we played two of the finest courses that you would find anywhere, The Windermere Club and The Country Club of South Carolina at Crickentree.

The Windermere Club is one of the south's finest private golf facilities that Mr. Saucier can get you onto. (We only call him "Mr.", when we need to get a tee time here.) Everything is first class. Pete Dye and P.B. Dye created a classic beauty on some 200 acres of gently rolling fairways, some tree lined while others will tempt your fate with one of the half dozen lakes that you likely want to avoid. A good sand game is essential to scoring well here - there is plenty of it, and you will likely find it sooner or later. There are many great holes, but they truly saved the best for last. Lake Windermere provides the backdrop for our 2 favorite holes. Number 17 is a 158 yard ½ island par three, sand makes up the other side so there is no bailing out. If you have ever played #18 at Pebble Beech you will see a lot of similarity on Windermere's 18th. No matter what set of tee's you played on the rest of the course, do yourself a favor and move back to the tips for this tee shot. Just to say that you did.

You know what kind of a course the Country Club of South Carolina at Crickentree is when you here that it has been the site of US Open qualifying events. This is one tough course. You would never know that you are in South Carolina playing here. Mountainous characteristic are everywhere, rolling fairways, lakes and streams, side hill and downhill lies. The fairways are generous although hitting the right spots off the tee will go along way in keeping you out of the shade of the old oaks trees (and pines) that line most of them.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Stay and Play Packages in the Olde English District should contact Rick. He will make sure that you get on the right tracks. You can reach him at 1-866-341-3453 or visit online www.golfpackagesofsc.com/olde-english.asp

Marc Atchison is the former Travel and Golf Editor of Canada's largest daily newspaper
The Toronto Star. More of Marc's stories are also available on www.tnnworld.com