Golfing is a joy to be savored for sure and what better way to do this than on a golf vacation? There are no phone calls to worry about, no business meetings, just you and the golf green and your fantastic new golf clubs. Life just doesn’t et much better than that. A golf vacation is the way to go if you love to spend your time golfing. A golf vacation is wonderful because it can be taken along, with a significant other or even with friends. If you are in need of a vacation sometime soon then you need to look into a golf vacation.

Finding the right golf vacation does not have to be hard. There are so many golfing destinations to choose from that finding a good one is anything but a struggle. All over the world there are hundreds of different places that you could go for a fabulous golf vacation. You will be able to find a golf vacation that will offer you sun and beach as well as golf or you could go with a golf vacation in a more temperate or moderate climate, the choice is yours. The only trouble you are going to have with your golf vacation is the choosing of it. How to pick the destination when there are just so many great ones out there?

Golf magazines are a great way to track down a really nice golf vacation. The golfing magazines are full of ideas on where to go on your golf vacation. Many golf magazines even rate these destinations so look for articles like that because they can make choosing the right golf vacation much easier. You will be able to shop for a destination according to what you like in a golf vacation.

It never hurts to talk to a travel agent about your golf vacation either. Travel agents are experts, they know it all and since golf vacations are getting so popular you should even be able to find an agent who specializes in them. You see, finding a nice place to go on your golf vacation is not hard, you just need to know where to look.

There are many a golf vacation package out there so look into these as well as they can save you hundreds of dollars on the cost of your golf vacation. Golfing plus vacation equals magic, so go for it and have a ball.

Jason Powers, a devoted golf fan, offers more golf tips
on his personal website ===>http://www.golfsites.info

Share This

While golf is not played everywhere (yet), there are many wonderful golf courses around the world to visit - many offering truly unique golfing experiences for the adventurous golfer as well as some breathtaking views for travelers. From America to Japan, there are thousands of great courses to please golf enthusiasts, but where better to start than the birthplace of golf - Scotland.

Seated in the Birthplace of Golf - Scotland Courses

Let us start with the what many would argue is the best golf course in the world - the game was invented and evolved at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. To get an idea of how amazing it is, listen to the experts - Jack Nicklaus said about St. Andrews, “I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There’s just no other golf course that is even remotely close.” And Tiger Woods lauded, “Without a doubt I like it the best of all the Open venues. It’s my favorite course in the world.” With opinions like these from two of the top golfers in history, you can see why this one is not to be missed.

It is no surprise that Scotland hosts some of the finest golf courses in the world. One of the finest of the finest is Cruden Bay. Some say that golf was played on Cruden Bay as early as 1791. Today the course offers many unique challenges to golfers and is set against a gorgeous panoramic view, it was even voted as number 52 in the world by “Golf Magazine.” The course is actually set over the North Sea pipeline - so while you play over their contoured greens, muck of the U.K.’s crude oil supply is running beneath you!

Another great course, especially for tourists, is the Stromness Golf Club located in Orkney. It is not as challenging as many other top golf courses, and it is not even as attractive as most, but is it located just minutes away from the 5,000 year old burial mound Maes Howe. You could make a day of historical sightseeing and a golfing all in the same area.

Longest (and Highest) Links

Golf courses seem to be popping up all the time these days, so the site that holds the honor of longest course is disputed and ever changing. But there are some very notable ones around the globe

One such contender for the longest course is the International Golf Club in Bolton Massachusetts. While the regular tees already have an impressive length of 6,547 yards, the “tiger” tees boast a full 8,325 yards.

A course in Chine that sits near the Himalayas claims to have a longer course that runs the length of 8,548 yards, but it is hard to measure a course that is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in mountainous terrain. So it is still hard.to determine to which course really is the longest.

By the way, of you thought 10,000 feet was a high enough elevation for golfing, take a deep breath and try out the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, Peru. This course sits 14,335 feet about sea level - and that is at its lowest point!

The Satsuki Golf Club in Japan is said to have the longest single, stretching the length of 909 yards.

Gorgeous Greens

If you’re looking for a course with some great scenery, you don’t have to look outside of the U.S. Located in Idaho, Hidden Lakes Golf Resort has some of the loveliest scenery you could ask for in a course. Not only does it have bent grass greens and carefully manicured bluegrass fairways, but you can often spot some local wildlife on the course. It is not uncommon to spot a deer or moose grazing just yards away from the links. Hidden Lakes has a log cabin lodge for you to enjoy, and has a new clubhouse, lounge, restaurant, and golf shop. If you want to get away and experience the beauty of nature while enjoying some golf, this highly rated resort is the place for you.

Historical Holes

If you want a golf vacation that’s rich in history, you have a few great options. How about golfing with a view of the Great Wall of China? That’s just what you’ll get when you play at the Beijing Golf Club, located just 30 minutes away from the Beijing International Airport. While Scotland has the oldest courses, India has the second oldest. The Bombay Presidency Club was built in 1827, and the Bangalore Golf Club was founded in 1876.

And this is just the beginning! There are many other winning courses in America, including “Golf Magazine’s” top ten rated courses of 2004: Pebble Beach in California, Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Bethpage in New York, Pinehurst in North Carolina, and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Scotland also houses many other historical and lush courses. And while I would definitely recommend making a trip to St. Andrews in Scotland, since it is one of the best courses around as well as the oldest, there are also many other fine courses worldwide just waiting for some traveling golf enthusiasts!

Katya Coen is a regular contributor to Golfing Eighteen, where you will find a wealth of information on golf, golf equipment, courses, and news. Find more on great courses along with beautiful photos on our site!

Share This

Call them the best of the best, the elite, or the Green Berets of U.S. golf cities.

The ten cities on this list all have one thing common. They occur on more top-ten golf destination lists than all other cities in the U.S. How do I know this? By way of research … lots of tedious, time-consuming but totally thorough research.

Building the Ultimate List

I began the process by gathering all the lists of popular U.S. golf destinations I could find. This journey led me from About.com to Golf Digest, from travel websites to sports websites and everything in between. I read lists by golfers, journalists, travelers and even historians.

The Envelope Please

When the dust settled, I had 15 lists of popular golf destinations in the country. Then I began cross-referencing to determine which cities occurred on the most lists. So here you have the best of the best … the elite … the ten most popular golf cities in the United States.

(I’ve listed these cities alphabetically, because anything else would have required way too much math.)

1. Hilton Head, South Carolina

The readers of Golf Digest put South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island at number 10 on a list of the world’s best resorts. Do I really need to say any more than that? Okay, here’s more. You can choose from more than 20 golf courses that wind around marshes, lakes and lagoons. For more information, visit www.GolfIsland.com.

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

Say “Las Vegas” to most people, and gambling usually comes to mind. But Las Vegas is also a premier golf destination with more than two-dozen courses. Popular choices include Reflection Bay, Royal Links and The Canyons. Just be mindful of the time of year — if you travel there in the summer, you can expect temperatures over 100. For more information, visit www.LasVegasGolf.com.

3. Maui, Hawaii

Aside from the lush beauty one normally associates with Maui, the Hawaiian island also offers the state’s only 54-hole courses, Wailea and Kapalua. According to VisitMaui.com, there’s plenty of availability to go around: “Although Maui hosts several well-known professional tournaments tee times are rarely hard to come by.” Learn more at www.VisitMaui.com.

4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

I went on family trips to Myrtle Beach each year for over a decade. I recall how eager my siblings and I would be to play a round of Jungle Golf, miniature golf with all the animal props you could shake a club at. But Myrtle Beach has plenty of golf for “big kids,” too. Popular courses include The Legends, Grand Dunes, Wild Wing and Tidewater. Learn at www.MyrtleBeachGolf.com.

5. Orlando, Florida

Orlando conjures images of Disney World, Universal Studios and similar attractions. But it also attracts plenty of golfers to its more than 20 courses. Popular stops include Orange County National, Bay Hill and Disney. Where else can you golf with Mickey Mouse? Learn more at www.GolfOrlando.com.

6. Palm Springs, California

If you like the idea of golfing on lush green courses with plenty of palm trees and a backdrop of rugged mountains, Palm Springs is the place for you. Within the Coachella Valley, there are more than 100 courses. According to GolfDigest.com, “PGA West, La Quinta and Mission Hills North are the three big resorts in town.” Learn more at www.PalmSprings.com/golf.

7. Phoenix / Scottsdale, Arizona

I’m aware that Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona are two different cities. But they’re so close to one another - and they appeared together on so many lists - that I felt they deserved to share a spot in my top ten. The desert landscape alone is worth a trip. Add to that the abundance of world-class golf courses, and you have a desert paradise for any avid golfer. Learn more at www.AZgolf.org.

8. Pinehurst, North Carolina

Yes, we’re back in the Carolinas again. I’m not biased or anything - the Carolinas just come up on a lot of lists. Pinehurst is both a resort and a village. The website PinehurstGolf.com explains: “Pinehurst, the resort, is a wonderful collection of historic hotels and eight world-class golf courses that is widely considered one of the top golf destinations in the world. Pinehurst, the Village, is a quaint New England style town” Learn more at www.PinehurstGolf.com.

9. San Diego, California

I lived in San Diego for three years, so I can vouch that the city is worth a visit. Whether you go for the golf, the sightseeing or a combination of the two, San Diego won’t disappoint. San Diego County has excellent weather year-round, allowing for plenty of golf days on any of the county’s 80+ golf courses. Torrey Pines and La Costa are popular stops. Learn more at www.SanDiegoGolf.com.

10. Williamsburg, Virginia

If you’re a history buff as well as a golfer, put Williamsburg, Virginia on this year’s trip roster. Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum that lets you step back in time to the days of the Revolutionary War. And when you’re ready to step onto the green, you’ll find more than a dozen top-rated courses to accommodate you. Stonehouse, Royal New Kent and Kingsmill are popular stops. Learn more at www.GolfWilliamsburg.com.

* You may republish this article online if you retain the active hyperlinks below.

About the Author

B.R. Cornett writes on behalf of ProQuip, a provider of golf rain apparel and the preferred supplier of the 2006 European Ryder Cup Team. Learn more about their golf weatherwear at http://www.proquipusa.net

Share This