GolfVacationInsider.com

Beware of "Americanized" Golf Resorts on Your UK and Ireland Golf Vacations

GolfVacationInsider.com — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:56:00 GMT

The tip you are about to read dispels one of the commonly held misconceptions about UK and Ireland golf vacations.

You see, in addition to the historic qualities and purity of UK and Ireland golf courses, we Americans are often lured across the pond by the romantic notion that overcrowded courses and slow play are never an issue over there.

While that's true, for the most part, at the UK and Ireland's "private" golf courses (where you get a member-for-a-day experience, much like our "semi-private" clubs), we often find that the experience at UK and Ireland golf resorts is often disappointingly similar to that of certain, popular public courses here in the States.

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The Most Family-Friendly Course to Play on a Cancun, Mexico Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:46:00 GMT

Clearly, the most important news to come out of Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Dean was that there were no reported deaths as a result of yesterday’s storm.

And though it hardly compares in importance, those considering a Mexico golf vacation to the Mayan Riviera will be glad to know that the major golf resorts in the area were spared any significant damage.

That includes the Mayan Palace Riviera Maya and its Golf Riviera Maya layout, the most family-friendly golf course to play on a Mexico golf vacation to the Mayan Riviera region of the Yucatan Peninsula.

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Save Time for Savannah on Your Hilton Head Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:47:00 GMT

I like Savannah. And, I'll admit, it’s partly because I really like saying the name, which instantly evokes the city’s Southern charm and easygoing vibe. Must be the “ahhs.”

Well, there’s a lot more to like than just the sound of it, especially if you budget some time to play golf as part of your Hilton Head golf vacation.

There was a time when golfers were justified in flying into Savannah, then immediately embarking on the 40-minute drive to Hilton Head. But, thanks to the Club at Savannah Harbor at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort & Spa, that is not necessarily the best option anymore.

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One-Day Access to Private Golf Courses Across the Country

GolfVacationInsider.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:51:00 GMT

Our last tip about getting on private golf courses explained the concept of joining a private club network, whereby you pay a small membership fee to gain access to what can be hundreds of private golf courses.

Today, we're going to tell you how you can play dozens of private golf courses without joining anything. Actually, we're going to re-tell you, as this tip was first published around this time last year.

No, we're not getting lazy. But as long as ClubCorp, the premier owner/operator of private golf courses, business, and sports clubs, continues to open its gates to the public each year for what it calls, "the largest one-day charity golf and dining event in the world," we're going to continue to tell you about it.

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Florida Golf Vacation at TPC Sawgrass with Jim Furyk Up for Grabs

GolfVacationInsider.com — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:10:00 GMT

We don't often alert readers to contests and sweepstakes, but when the prize is a Florida golf vacation to play TPC Sawgrass with one of the best players on the PGA Tour, we feel it's worth passing along.

One Key is the Mansfield, Mass.-based vacation club running the contest, the grand prize winner of which will be flown (with a companion) to Jacksonville, Fla., put up for two nights in a hotel, and treated to a round of golf with Jim Furyk on TPC Sawgrass, site of the world's most famous island green and the Tour's annual Players Championship. The approximate retail value of the trip is six thousand dollars.

Furyk, who was ranked as the 2nd and 3rd best player in the world in 2006 and 2007, respectively, tied for 27th at TPC Sawgrass this year, so you can bet he's going to welcome another bite at that apple. And next week he'll compete in his sixth Ryder Cup, where he has previously won all but one of his singles matches. Oh yeah, and he won the 2003 U.S. Open. Just a few topics to discuss with him if your name is chosen.

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St. Andrews Golf Courses Not the Only Game in Town on Scotland Golf Vacations

GolfVacationInsider.com — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:06:00 GMT

With the recent opening of the formidable Castle Course, taking a Scotland golf vacation to play St. Andrews golf courses might be in your sights now more than ever.

If so, don't feel like you have to stick to the collection of courses that compose the St. Andrews Links Trust (The Old Course, Castle Course, The New Course, Jubilee Course, Eden Course, Balgove Course, and Strathtyrum).

Particularly if you're interested in sea-side golf, there are three other worthy courses that are, like the Castle Course, routed over former pastures and croplands along the same stretch of coast on St. Andrews Bay.

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Another Way to Access Private Golf Courses at Home or on Golf Vacations

GolfVacationInsider.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:50:00 GMT

Our regular readers know that we often provide insider tips on how to access private golf courses while taking golf vacations. Today, we'd like to let you in on another great one.

It's called TOUR GCX, and if you're someone who enjoys the private golf club experience at home or during your golf vacations — but you're not quite ready to join a country club — it may be a perfect solution for you.

TOUR GCX is a network of more than 250 private golf clubs across North America and, as a member, you get access to all of them as a true, "member for the day" when you visit. Unfortunately, we can't divulge the list of private golf courses in the network with you — sorry, we gave our word.

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Golf Course Reviews Not Always Reliable for Planning Golf Vacations

GolfVacationInsider.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:55:00 GMT

What you are about to read underscores why it's so important to "consider the source" when researching your golf vacations.

On a recent trip to play several Maine golf courses, we were met with a few unpleasant surprises at the venerable Sugarloaf Resort and its Sugarloaf Golf Course, which some mainstream golf publications have placed on their top-100 lists. For one thing, we discovered that it's really only the back nine holes — not the entire 18 — that make this Maine golf course memorable.

More disturbing, however, was that its greens were in horrible condition, particularly on the front side. This, despite the fact that the "Course Report" on the Sugarloaf Golf Course website proudly proclaimed that, "the fairways are in the best shape of the year." It made no mention whatsoever of the damage to the greens caused by the harsh winter. While we understand that the greens normally aren't in such terrible condition, it strikes us as disingenuous,at best, to entice visitors this way.

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The Best Vermont Golf Courses to Play in and Around Burlington

GolfVacationInsider.com — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT

If you’re looking for big-name Vermont golf courses near Burlington, the first place to consider is Vermont National Country Club (vnccgolf.com), just five miles south of the center of town. This Jack Nicklaus/Jack Nicklaus II design combines a Scottish links-style front nine with a mountainous back nine that winds through rock outcroppings.

It’s a private course, yes, but you can gain access to it by staying at any one of a number of local area hotels such as the Inn at Essex, the Sheraton Burlington, the Hawthorne Suites, Courtyard Marriott Burlington, or the Smugglers Notch Resort. Hotel guests pay $120 for green fee and cart. If you’re a member of a club back home, Vermont National allows reciprocal play for $105.

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How to Get On Private Naples Golf Courses on a Florida Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:58:00 GMT

Want to play private Naples golf courses on your next Florida golf vacation? Staying at the right hotel or inn could be your "in."

Take, for example, the all-suite Marco Beach Ocean Resort, which offers one-bedroom suites starting at $209 per night. With a room key here and a pleasant rapport with the concierge, it's possible to get on at least three private Naples golf courses (although things might tighten up in high season).

One is the highly acclaimed Creek Course at the Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek. This Arthur Hills layout is usually reserved for members and their guests only, but the club gives special consideration to Marco Beach Ocean Resort guests. Hopefully, the arrangement will extend to Fiddler's second course, a Hurdzan/Fry design called Preserve currently under construction.

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A New Lodging Option for Your Bandon Dunes Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:13:00 GMT

If the greatest challenge about taking a Bandon Dunes golf vacation is getting to this remote, Oregon outpost, the second greatest has to be securing a room there, particularly during the May-through-October high season. Happily, we have good news to report on that front.

On August 1, The Inn at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort opened, adding 39 more rooms to what was an inventory of just 225 at this soon-to-be four-course property.

Situated just a stone's throw from the Main Lodge, the two-story Inn features 500 square-foot double rooms on the first floor, and 340 square-foot single rooms on the second floor. The upstairs rooms closely resemble the single rooms in the Main Lodge, but with the advantage of king-size beds rather than queens.

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Where a Personal Butler Comes with Your Room on a Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:48:00 GMT

It's no secret that One&Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas is one of the best places to stay on a Mexico golf vacation. But few people know that certain rooms at this posh paradise include the use of a personal butler for the duration of one's stay.

The original rooms at Palmilla were renovated not that long ago and still maintain their historic charm and Mexican furnishings. The new, pricier wing, however, is the place to stay on your Mexico golf vacation if you're going "all out." In addition to offering more modern and luxurious rooms, with huge bathrooms, balconies and flat-screen TVs everywhere, bookings in the new wing come with your own personal valet.

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Visiting Downtown Austin a Must on a Barton Creek Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:09:00 GMT

The Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas might not be on your short list of "golf vacations to take", but perhaps it should be. It has four worthy golf courses, golf-friendly and dependable weather, and it's nearby; Texas (by air) is about four hours or less from just about everywhere else in the United States. Another major draw is its proximity to downtown Austin.

Many folks from the metro area go to the four-course Barton Creek Resort to escape the city, but that’s not the mindset you should have on your Barton Creek golf vacation.

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TSA-Approved Laptop Bags Make “Wired” Golf Vacations Easier

GolfVacationInsider.com — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:26:00 GMT

If your laptop computer is standard equipment on golf vacations, a new rule by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may make it faster and easier to get through those frustratingly slow airport security lines.

The TSA recently announced that, as of August 16, 2008, it will allow laptop computers to be X-rayed while still in their cases, provided the bags meet the TSA’s newly formed requirements and that they are packed so that nothing obstructs the X-ray machine’s ability to capture a, “clear and distinct image of the laptop separate from the rest of the bag.”

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One of the Best Bargain Packages Available on a Cancun, Mexico Golf Vacation

GolfVacationInsider.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:48:00 GMT

Anyone who has ever taken a Mexico golf vacation has undoubtedly come down with a case of sticker shock over the often exorbitant green fees found at many of the resorts throughout the country. However, if you want to bag the best bargain on your next Mexico golf vacation, our advice is head to the island of Cozumel and the charming Playa Azul resort.

This boutique resort is a departure from the larger, all-inclusive hotels on the island. Playa Azul, which is not otherwise an all-inclusive property (a big buffet breakfast is included, however), stakes its claim as one of the best for discount golf vacations because it is the only hotel in Cozumel that offers unlimited free golf with every room. All you'll have to pay for at its affiliated and nearby Cozumel Country Club is your golf cart, which runs about $25.

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