If Lebron were a serious golfer, his choice might have been different

        We take Lebron James at his word, that he chose to play in Miami because it offered him the best chance at an eventual championship.  But if he were a serious golfer, his choice might have been different.

        According to a chart in the Wall Street Journal today, the Miami area ranks first in the sheer number of golf courses among all the

cities competing for the power forward, including New York, Chicago and Cleveland.  But it sure doesn’t rank first in quality.  Only the Blue Monster course at Doral rates a score of 27 or higher –- 30 is perfect -– in Zagat’s latest edition of “America’s Top Golf Courses.”  The Journal used Zagat, which only rates publicly accessible courses, to assess the cities Lebron considered.

        Not that this week’s most famous athlete, at least until the winning gola is scored Sunday at the World Cup, will ever have to play “trunk” golf at the local public facility.  But even then, Miami was not the best choice.  New York can boast Shinnecock Hills, The National Golf Club, Winged Foot and dozens of other famous courses within a short-limo drive of Madison Square Garden.  In Miami, Lebron would need to ride all the way up to North Palm Beach and the Seminole Golf Club to find a club whose course ranked near the top.

        Just in case the star wanted to rub elbows with the common people every once in a while, Bethpage Black, a public course and just 40 minutes from the Big Apple, is the only Zagat-rated club anywhere to attain a perfect 30 rating from those who have played it.

         Lebron has made his choice and can count on one thing golf related that Miami courses have that even Shinnecock Hills does not:  They are open for play every day of the year.