Fun and exciting golf vacation packages from all over the world are available just about year round. No matter where you want to vacation, you can usually find a golf package nearby to satisfy your inner golfer. But golf travel also has its own set of challenges too, so here are some tips on how to make your golf vacation a fun and successful one.

Almost everyone prefers to take their own golf clubs with them as they travel. And most likely, your travel arrangements will involve a flight to your destination. Unfortunately though, airlines will not allow you to bring your golf clubs on board with you as carry-on luggage. So that means that you will have to check your clubs in with regular baggage instead. And here is where a little advance preparation can come in handy.

If you’ve ever watched baggage handlers as they load and unload an airplane, you know that they are not especially gentle with the baggage. So if your expensive golf clubs are in with all the suitcases, you can count on your clubs being tossed and thrown around throughout the journey. Some golfers have even found that their clubs were pretty well destroyed at the end of the flight because of the rough handling that they received.

In order to avoid that, there are golf travel cases that are available to help protect your clubs as they go through baggage handling. Generally, these golf cases fall into two categories, either hard or soft. The hard cases are the most expensive, perhaps costing even several hundred dollars, but they do a very impressive job in protecting your clubs. In fact, the case itself is almost indestructible. So if you happen to travel a lot and take your golf clubs with you, a good hard golf travel case can be an excellent investment.

If you can’t afford the extra money for the hard golf travel case, there are also soft ones that are available that can do a very good job too. Of course, the protection is not quite up to the standards of the hard case, but the soft golf travel cases usually handle most baggage situations that they will encounter very well.

You also have to be prepared for the possibility that your golf clubs could be lost in transit, as this sometimes happens. So before you leave on your trip, check to see if your homeowners or property insurance will ensure your clubs in transit. If not, carry with you the receipts for your golf equipment so that you can easily and quickly prove ownership and value of your clubs if they happen to be lost.

In order to have the most fun while on a golf vacation package, you’ll need to be prepared for whatever weather you may encounter at your destination. So before leaving, it’s a good practice to check online to see what the upcoming forecast for your vacation destination is going to be. Then make sure that you pack accordingly. There is nothing more uncomfortable for a golfer than playing a round of golf in very cool weather with not enough warm clothes on, or playing in very hot weather with clothes that are too heavy and insulated.

Finally, it’s a good idea to choose a destination that has activities that can be enjoyed other than just playing golf. Sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate with your plans and you may not be able to play at all on some days. So having other points of interest in the area can save the day in such situations.

Hopefully these ideas and suggestions can help you better prepare for your next golf vacation, and help you have a great time on your getaway.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including golf. You can find the best golf travel cases and myrtle beach golf specials by visiting our Golf Tips website.

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Experience the luxury of tour-class caddies. Play the private golf courses that celebrities and touring pros play. Get tee times on a course that once required a $100,000 gambling credit line at local casinos.

What’s the secret? It’s coming. But first, here’s a quick look at four golf courses that even us high handicappers and regular Joe’s can play.

Cascata Golf Club - The course is so exclusive they don’t even provide an address. This Rees Jones designed course once required a $100,000 credit line at local casino properties just for the privilege of a tee time. Now it will only cost you $350 to $500.

Shadow Creek Golf Course - Called one of the finest courses in the world, Shadow Creek Golf Course is another exclusive must-play course. Golfers receive a private limousine to and from the course and a private caddie for your round.

Rio Secco Golf Course - Rio Secco is listed as a “Top 10 Golf Resort in the World” by USA Today. This 18-hole championship course sits among the rolling foothills of the Black Mountain Range in Las Vegas. Rio Secco is also home of the world-famous Butch Harmon School of Golf.

Wynn Las Vegas Golf Course - This Tom Fazio design just opened in late April of 2005. As with everything else Steve Wynn does, golfers should expect a first-class experience from the clubhouse to the 18th green. Speaking of the 18th hole, when you play this course you’ll get a nice view of the newly-created 37-foot-tall waterfall. This course is restricted to Wynn Las Vegas resort guests.

Okay, did you catch that last sentence? There is your not-so-secret secret for playing these exclusive Las Vegas golf courses. Booking a Las Vegas hotel and golf package can provide you with a VIP pass to these amazing golf courses and the amenities that come with them.

Now you know the secret. Your next step is to book one of these Las Vegas hotel and golf packages. Then you can hit the links in style and enjoy a golfing experience like you have never experienced before.

You can find out which hotels are affiliated with each golf course by visiting our Las Vegas golf package page. After you treat yourself to one of these exclusive Las Vegas golf courses, drop us a line. We’d love to hear all about it.

Copyright 2005 Evans Putman - All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.

Article courtesy of http://www.perfectgolfvacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver “Truth in Golf Travel“. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.perfectgolfvacations.blogspot.com.

This article may be reprinted with no changes, omissions, or additions. All links must be left live and in tact.

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Messinia is located on the Peloponnese mainland in the southwest of Greece. This lesser know region is full of cultural history, important archaeological sites and is rich in colourful, traditional towns and villages. It has an abundance of outstanding natural beauty and some of the best beaches in the whole of Greece. Recently Messinia has become an important area for new golf developments. In fact it will have the largest golf resorts in the whole of the Balkans and Mediterranean. Particular attention is being focused in the areas of Finikounda, Methoni and Pylos.

Petros Doukas, Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance and Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of Tourism are keen to see more golf opportunities in Greece. Messinia is one of the largest regions to benefit from these plans. Interest in Messinia has increased largely because the Government is actively encouraging investment here with new laws aiming to stimulate local revenue. Government studies have shown that more than 200,000 visitors to Greece annually are potential golf tourists.

Private sector investors have also been buying large parcel of land in Messinia and have been building holiday rental units. It is estimated that over the next 3 year Finikounda alone will have accommodation for over 2000 tourists. Tourists will also benefit from a new Thalasso therapy centre (seawater treatments) that will soon be completed. So it’s easy to understand the current interest in developing this high-end attraction in one of the world’s most attractive climates.

The Tourism Enterprise of Messinia (TEMES) will be constructing a state of the art luxury resort at Navarino Bay. Troon Golf, the world’s leading high-end golf development, marketing and management company will be managing both the championship and standard courses. The golf courses themselves will be designed by Robert Trent-Jones II Inc the Californian based Golf Course Architects.

Currently it takes approximately 3.5 hours to drive to the new golf resorts from Athens, but this time will be reduce to under 3 hour when new road are in place. In accordance with the government’s guidelines for the ‘Good Road Plan’ a new motorway is under construction from Tropoli to Kalamata and is nearly completed. Another new major road is planned between Kalamata and Methoni further opening up the area.

Country Club Resort - Pylos

The resort is location at Gialova to the north of Pylos and 40km from Kalamata airport. The resort is set in 148 hectares of land with rolling hills, spectacular views of the historical Navarino bay and is adjacent to the new marina.

The architects have designed the resort ensuring that it is not obtrusive to the landscape and in keeping with the traditional styles of the area. The development will include 2 luxury hotels and individual holiday homes. There will be a championship golf course, several swimming pools and terraces, surrounded by landscaped gardens with numerous pathways leading to the sandy beach.

The total capacity of this resort will be 2,400 beds for tourist. The complex will have a conference centre which will accommodate 1,200 delegates. There will also be and environmental protection and development centre.

The Family Beach Resort - Romanos

The resort will be located 50km from Kalamata airport on the beautiful beach of Romanos and will have fabulous views of the Ionian sea. The plot covers 141 hectares of land on a gently sloping plateau. The resort will have a variety of family accommodation surrounding a village street with restaurants, tavernas and shops. This complex will offer an 18 hole championship golf course, numerous swimming pools, a tennis club and an exclusive thalasso therapy centre over looking the sea. For the children there will be a children’s club, a mini golf course and a gymnasium.

This project had been on going for the last twenty years. A total of approximately 1.2 million m2 of land has been acquired from 1,300 individual holders of deeds. Already two of the largest private reservoirs have been built in order two water the golf courses. Building permits and documents have been filed with the Town Planning Department. The approximate area of the buildings amounts to some 100,000 m2. Understandably the paperwork for this project has been a mammoth task in itself. Achilles Constantakopoulos, the Managing Director of TEMES has stated that by 2015, Navarino will be Greece’s premier golf destination. There will be seven courses within half-an-hours drive of each other.

The Pylos (Gialova) and Romanos resort will be completed in accordance with the plans by spring 2008. It will have the largest hotel complex in the Balkans and Mediterranean. The investment for phase one totals

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