Thursday, October 21, 2010

Give the Gift of Golfing “Down Under” This Winter

Golf vacations rate among the best gifts you can give the golfer in your life.  As the long winter months and gift-giving holidays approach, now is the time to look over the options and make reservations while all the options are still open. 
Why not make this a chance to know another country, another continent “Down Under”?  In addition to enjoying the golf venues, golf travel a great way to explore geography and culture.  Below are suggestions for more memorable golf vacations in Australia and New Zealand (photo left)  that you’ll be talking about long after the snow has melted. 

Australia:  The Great Outdoors Beckons
Imagine yourself on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s most spectacular natural gifts, swinging your clubs on Hamilton Island, famous for its perfect weather, pristine beaches, and turquoise waters that will inspire you to partake of the multitude of water and land sports for which Australia is famous.
Not far from Melbourne lies the premier resort of Moonah Links, which bills itself as “the home of Australian golf.”  Expertly adapted to the location, it boasts a champion level course and an all-levels course that meanders through the wildly beautiful Moonah woodlands.  Off course, you can ride horseback on open beaches, swim with dolphins, and explore the winegrowing.
New Zealand:  Cinematic Panoramas and Cultural Heritage
For breathtaking golf travel, there is no place like New Zealand.  For example, the course at the award-winning Cape Kidnappers resort is regarded as a “modern marvel,” earning 41st place in Golf Magazine’s ranking of the world’s top 100 courses.  The surrounding Hawke’s Bay region is an outdoors person’s delight, with crystal trout-filled rivers coursing through rugged mountains and hills, ending in the sea.
In addition to challenging golf, New Zealand offers unparalleled opportunities for trekking, trout fishing, hot air ballooning, etc.  No wonder so many filmmakers choose it when they need spectacular panoramas, as in Lord of the Rings!  For cultural exploration, Maori heritage tours can be arranged.
TIP:  Whatever your favorite golfer’s tastes may be, a professional golf trip advisor can help you arrange golf travel it for maximum impact.  If this is for a spouse, add in opportunities for you to enjoy these exotic venues as well as some good shared experiences as a couple and watch your relationship blossom anew as you explore new horizons.  Instead of being a golf widow(er), you’ll become a golf trip enthusiast!   

Monday, October 11, 2010

Enjoy Golf Vacations with the Majors

 If you are looking for truly memorable golf vacations, head for one of the top tournaments and enjoy being a spectator.  Even if you are just a “weekend duffer,” you can appreciate the best golf has to offer by watching the top-level players duke it out.
Which Are the Top Tournaments?
As fans know, the most prestigious of all events in men’s golf are known as the “Major” tournaments.  These include the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open--also referred to as “the” Open Championship--and the PGA Championship.  (We’ll look at women’s and senior events in upcoming blog posts.)

These are the tournaments that attract the most publicity.  In fact, the most important statistic for top golfers is the number of Majors that he has won.  Jack Nicklaus, with 18, is on top, and so far only Tiger Woods shows any promise of breaking it, as he garnered ten Majors titles before his 30th birthday.  Bobby Jones, by the way, is the only golfer to have won the “grand slam,” i.e., winning all four Majors in the same calendar year.

When and Where Are They Held?
The first Major of the year is The Masters, held in April every year at the Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia.  This is the only one to be held at the same course year in and year out.  The others rotate the courses used, which allows you to visit a variety of courses on your golf trips.  The U.S. Open is played in June, the British Open in July, and the PGA closes the Masters year in August.  Here are the dates and venues for the 2011 Majors:
The Masters 2011:  April 7 – 10, Augusta National Golf Club,
The US Open 2011:  June 16 -19, Congressional Country Club, Blue Course, Bethesda, Maryland

The Open Championship:   July 14 – 17, Royal St George's, Sandwich, Kent, England


PGA Championship:  August 11-14, Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia


More Recommendations for Great Golf Trips
Even if you do not attend these prestigious events, most golfers enjoy the chance to play on some of the same courses that the champions have used.  When you plan your next golf trip, look into some of the great courses that have hosted Masters tournaments over the year. 
Whether you go before during or after a tourney, professional golf vacation planners can offer deals on golf packages that will make you want to pack your clubs and get going!