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 30^th 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!