Get the Most from Scotland Golf Travel

International golf travel is one of the hottest vacation ideas in the upcoming seasons. If you’re planning on traveling overseas to play golf, can you imagine a better place to visit than the birthplace of the royal game? Scotland golf courses are among the most beautiful and undoubtedly the most historic in the entire world. if you’re planning golf travel in the coming year, these tips can help you get the most out of a Scotland golf vacation.

Do Your Research

Scotland proves the old saying that good things come in small packages. The tiny country manages to fit more golf greens, courses and links into its borders than any other country, at least if you count by size. There are several different ways to create an itinerary for golf travel to Scotland. You could create a list of historic and famous courses you want to play and build your travel plans around them. Conversely, you choose an area of the country and research links and greens within that region. Whatever you do, be sure to check the booking requirements to book a tee time. Some of the better courses are booked months in advance while others are open to members only.

Insider Tip: A travel agent experienced in putting together Scotland golf vacations can be invaluable in helping you build the best itinerary for your personal style.

Speaking of Golf Travel Agents

While there are certainly modern golf courses in Scotland, many of the most challenging, most beautiful or most enjoyable courses were established 200 or more years ago. No one then considered the logistics of access and parking for golf fans, so a lot of them are local secrets known only to those who happen to stumble upon them – or know where to look. A lot of these gems are high on the recommendation list for golf travel agents and tour operators who maintain their own lists of the “best courses” to play in Scotland.

Insider Tip: Book tee time at Western Gailles if you can do it. It’s one of the top 100 courses in Scotland, but the play is only part of the appeal. Western Gailles has a reputation for giving golfers the royal treatment that’s hard to beat.

Learn Local Etiquette – And Observe It

Bottom line – you’ll get better service and enjoy your golf trips to Scotland far more. Some things to keep in mind when golfing in Scotland:

Never wear your hat indoors. Dress appropriately for the course, and bring a jacket and tie for the club. Always call ahead to book your tee time. Walking in unannounced is considered bad form and will get you branded as a boor.

Finally, if this is your first golf trip to Scotland and you suspect your opportunities for golf travel will be limited, splurge and pay for guaranteed tee time at the Old Course at St. Andrews. If it’s too late to book a tee time, try at least for a tour of the course. It’s an experience not be missed.

2012 Is the Year for Ireland Golf Vacations

If you’ve been holding out for lower prices before heading over to tee off in the Emerald Isle, it may be time to make your reservations. There hasn’t been a better time for Ireland golf vacations in years. After several years of unfavorable rates, the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar has tipped on its side.

With the current exchange rate down 15 percent since 2008 – and predicted to slide even more over the next few months – you’ll get to pack more fun and more golf into your golf travel than at any time in the past four years. In fact, one prominent golf writer estimates that you’ll get up to 40 percent more for your money if you take a golf trip to Ireland this year.

For the record, this nifty little discount only applies to Ireland proper. Northern Ireland or Scotland aren’t on the Euro and aren’t seeing the same steep cuts in the value of their money, at least not this year. So skip the plans to tee off at the Old Course at St. Andrews – which you’d be lucky to do this summer anyway, since the tee times have been booked since September – and set your sights on some southwestern Ireland golf courses.

The southwestern region of Ireland is dotted with some of the most outstanding golf courses in the world. Heading south from Shannon Airport, you’ll run into such famous caourse as Ballybunion, Waterville, Old Head, Lahinch and Tralee, and such undiscovered gems as Castlegregory and Beaufort Golf Club.

Because of the number of courses and their popularity, the golf courses of the southwest can be a little more crowded and “tourist-y” than some of the lesser known regions, but the last few years of depressed travel have dulled the travel bug in many. If you book your golf vacations in the spring and early fall, you’ll get fabulous golf weather without the crowds.

These Ireland golf courses are historic gems, but far from outdated. They offer challenging holes set against some of the most memorable and impressive scenery in the world. The seaside courses often require tricky maneuvering and a steady, sure shot, whether you’re shooting with a driver or your camera.

Many of Ireland’s 300 golf courses are located in the island’s southwest region with fairways overlooking the ocean and links meandering along the shores of lakes. The discerning golfer can plan weeks worth of golf vacations that take in historic courses, modern golf courses, luxury resort golf clubs and the public club that opens its greens to the stray tourist looking for the best and most congenial golfing in all the world.

Top Arizona Golf Vacation Ideas

Arizona is fast becoming one of the most popular golf vacation destinations in the United States. With more than 300 sunny days a year and beautifully dry weather, the Phoenix area is home to dozens of golf courses. They range from public golf courses open to anyone to top-quality championship caliber golf courses located at exclusive luxury resorts. The huge variety of golf courses are part of what makes Arizona golf such an attractive place for golf trips. You’ll find both links and parks courses, as well as golf courses that provide exactly the level of challenge that suits your golf game the best.

One of the easiest ways to plan Arizona golf vacations is to leave the planning to a pro. Many professional travel agents specialize in booking golf trips and golf outings for individuals, families and groups. Because they deal with the golf courses, resorts and clubs every day, they have that little extra “in” that can score you special deals and perks that you couldn’t get if you were doing the booking yourself. Knowing a little about the top courses in Arizona can help you decide among the many golf travel packages offered.

Wigwam Golf and Country Club

One of the top-rated golf resorts in the Phoenix area, Wigwam Golf and Country Club is an Arizona landmark that has been in operation since the 1930s. You can golf on any one of 5 courses that provide the avid golfer with 54 championship holes and enjoy your time on 400 beautifully landscaped and manicured acres. If your party includes non-golfers, they can relax at the Elizabeth Arden Spa, swim in one of the four pools, participate in children’s programs and take advantage of the other amenities, including a 25-foot high water slide.

SunRidge Canyon

Located just outside Scottsdale, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club is exactly that – a golf club. Those who play Arizona golf regularly count it among the most overlooked excellent courses in the state, despite the fact that it’s rated among the top 100 public courses in the country. The course is as much a treat for the eyes as it is a feast for the golfer who enjoys a truly challenging course that is still playable for the average player. The landscaping makes incredible use of desert plants and rocks to create a stunning vista that enhances play. The course is famous for the Wicked Six – the challenging and devilish last six holes on the 18-hole course. Make nice with the pros and regulars at the clubhouse and they’ll happily share tips and tricks to hit those holes just right.

You’ll find dozens of other exceptional courses in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area – and if you want to head further afield, Tucson golf courses add even more variety to your golf vacation planning. Talk to a golf travel planner and get yourself hooked up with the best in golf vacations for this coming season.

Important Considerations for Planning Golf Travel

If you love golfing and travel, chances are that you’ve considered putting them together at some point. The popularity of golf travel suggests that you’re not the only one – golf trips are among the fastest growing categories of vacation packages booked through travel agencies. If you’re considering booking your golf travel through an agency that specializes in golf vacation packages, there are some important questions to ask. The right questions can help you work out the important details that will ensure a memorable and memorable golf travel experience.

Do You Specialize in Golf Travel?

Don’t just choose any travel agency that happens to offer a golf package. Many agencies have people specialized golf vacation planners who know the industry inside out. They’ve built relationships with hotels, golf resorts and golf clubs throughout the country, which gives them an inside track on information and some negotiating mojo to get you the best deals at the courses you want to play. There’s also a good chance that golf travel pros can give you tips based on personal experience because they’re just like you – if you could bop around the country and golf at great courses as part of your job.

What’s the Cancellation Policy?

Don’t just check the cancellation policy for your hotel and travel. If you’re heading for, say, Scotland, golf tee times may have been booked as much as a year in advance and secured with a hefty deposit. It’s important to know the cancellation policy for the courses where you (or your travel agent) have booked tee times so that you know how it will affect you financially.

Can You Add to the Itinerary on a Package?

Many golf travel agents offer a number of golf packages with itineraries that include a specific number of nights, rounds of golf, specific courses and meals. Most agents are more than willing to customize your golf travel package if you want to add an extra night or pick up another round of golf at a particular course. Whenever possible, work those details out with the travel agent in advance, and he can probably get you substantial savings over anything you can arrange for yourself once you arrive at your destination.

Can You Reserve Rental Clubs for Me?

Many golfers prefer to leave their clubs at home and save the $50+ each way that airlines can charge to transport them. Instead, they rent clubs at their destination. If that’s your choice, you may want to reserve your clubs in advance to ensure that they’re available when you’re ready to play. Most golf travel agents will know which courses accept reservations for clubs and any of them can find out for you if you ask.

Those are some of the most common questions that people don’t think of asking when they’re arranging golf trips. You may have other questions. The most important thing to remember is to ask those questions. Your golf travel pro will definitely have heard the question before and probably has the answer on the tip of his tongue.

Essential Tips for Planning Group Golf Vacations

Are you taking point on planning golf trips for your group this year? Group golf vacations are fast becoming as popular as the quintessential hunting trip with the guys – but the planning for golf vacations is a lot more involved and tricky than heading out into the woods for a weekend with the guys. These tips from golf travel pros can help you plan killer golf trips that everyone in your party will enjoy.

Research is Your Friend

The Internet age has made it easier than ever to get your hands on information about golf courses and clubs outside your local area. Put in the time to read up on the various golf destinations you’re interested in visiting. There are multiple sources from which you can learn, from the club or resort’s own website to the many guides to golf courses available online. And that’s not even counting what you can learn if you pick up the phone and ask questions. The more you know, the easier it will be to plan golf trips that everyone can enjoy.

Get the Timing of Your Golf Trips Right

Scheduling golf trips for yourself is complicated. Scheduling one that includes a foursome is can be a nightmare. The easiest way to coordinate travel, accommodations and tee times is to work with a golf package planner. Before you call the planner, though, you need to communicate with your travel companions to decide what kind of play you’re looking for, whether you want to stay at a resort with on-premises golf or prefer a hotel-and-golf package that lets you play out at many different area courses, and what your general budget is. Your budget can help determine the timing, too. If you schedule your golf vacations in the off-season, for example, you may get discounts that let you play higher caliber courses that would be unaffordable during the season.

Transportation and Directions

One of the most important parts of golf trips is getting there – and getting there in time to make your tee time, or your flight, or your dinner reservations. Getting lost may be an adventure when you’re on your own, but unless you’re with a group that enjoys serendipity as much as you do, you’re likely to end up with a disgruntled and out of sorts foursome who just missed the tee time they’ve been looking forward to for months. Your golf travel agent can arrange your flights and rental cars and all, but it’s up to you to make sure you know how to get where you have to be once you get off the plane. Don’t count on the Google for directions – far too often, you’ll run into a one-way street going the wrong way or an unexpected detour. Call your destination and get directions from the airport or the hotel to make sure you get where you’re going in time to enjoy yourself fully.

Golf vacations for groups can be memorable and a lot of fun. A little bit of planning can ensure that those memories will all be good ones.

Suggestions to Make Your Golf Travel More Fun

If you’re a golfer, golf travel is intrinsically fun. After all, what could be more fun for the typical golfer than the chance to play golf courses outside your ordinary experience? Thus the very idea of doing something to make your golf holiday more fun may seem a bit unimportant, but these tips to make your packing and travel easier and to help you find your way around some of the most popular golf trip venues in the world can reduce inconveniences and make your golf trip more fun.

Book Your Tee Times at the Same Time You Make Your Reservations – or Earlier

Whether you’re traveling for Scotland golf or heading to Arizona golf courses, the major courses will have tee times booked weeks and even months in advance. It’s nearly as hard to book a tee time at the Old Course at St. Andrews as it is to schedule a personal audience with the Queen. In fact, if you’re hoping to tee off at any world-famous championship course you’re better off booking your flight and hotel reservations after you’ve got your tee times scheduled.

Check With the Airlines About Carrying Your Clubs With You

Every airline has its own rules about golf clubs and equipment as baggage. Some require a hard-shell case. Others will accept a soft-shell golf case but it must have a specific type of tag. The last thing you want is to have your golf clubs left behind at the gate, so check with the airline well before flight time and make sure you comply with their requirements to the letter.

Pack Extra Golf Balls if You’re Heading Overseas

In places like Scotland and Ireland, golf balls can be a bit pricey, so if you have room to pack one extra thing, make it a sleeve of golf balls.

Let a Professional Travel Agent Set Up Your Golf Vacation

Unless you know the area you’re going to visit well, let a travel agent who specializes in golf travel set up your tee times and choose golf courses for you to play. In areas that are well-known for golf, such as Myrtle Beach, there may be dozens of golf courses where you can conceivably tee off. Many golfers never get beyond some of the bigger names because they have the advertising budgets to court the golf critics. That also means that there are dozens of undiscovered gems that might offer exactly the kind of golf experience you enjoy.

If there’s golf travel in your future, take the time to plan ahead and call in help from a pro to help you pick out the best places to show off your best golf profile. You’ll have more fun, honest!

Three Must-Play Courses for Arizona Golf vacations

Arizona has come into its own as a destination for golf vacations. Its ratio of sunny days and comfortable temperatures make it a natural for outdoor sports, and the growing number of world-class golf courses attract some of the best and most famous golfers in the world. You don’t have to be famous to enjoy golf vacations in Arizona, though. You can plan out an ideal swing through Arizona golf country on your own, or with the help of a travel agent who specializes in golf travel. Either way, make sure that your golf itinerary includes at least a couple of these must-play golf courses in Tucson and Phoenix.

Southern Dunes Golf Club, Maricopa

Located about 25 miles outside of Phoenix, the Southern Dunes Golf Club started life as a private mens’ club, but opened to public play in 2009. Since then, it has made the Golf.com list of best public courses to play in Arizona, and had the singular honor of having its 16th hole nominated and inducted to the Golf Hole Hall of Fame in 2011. Designed by Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt with an assist from golf great Fred Couples, Southern Dunes features an absolutely magnificent landscape and challenging play for golfers of all levels.

ASU Karsten Golf Course

One of the things that makes Arizona golf so special is its youth orientation. Nowhere is that more evident than on the campus of ASU-Karsten, home to one of the strongest collegiate golf programs in the world. In September 2011, Golfweek magazine listed ASU Karsten’s Pete Dye course among the top 30 collegiate golf courses in the U.S. The course is open to the public, and offers special rates for seniors and for Arizona residents, as well as fabulous specials available to anyone who books a tee time at the right time.

Quintero Golf and Country Club

Located just about 25 miles outside of downtown Phoenix, Quintero is one of Arizona’s best-kept secrets. The private members club is now open to all golfers, though you’ll have to call ahead and check availability. Members of the Arizona Golf Association can enjoy the Rees Jones course at a guest rate. For those indulging in golf vacations, the club also accepts guest play when it has tee times available. You can become a “Member for a Day” with a little advance notice, but ifArizona golf vacations are a regular thing for you, you may end up deciding to join the club through one of its innovative membership options.

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations – Everything You Want

If you’re looking for the ultimate in golf vacations, you can’t do better than a trip to Myrtle Beach. With more than 100 courses within an easy drive of anywhere on the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach golf vacations offer just about anything an avid golfer could want in his holiday plans.

Golf is a major part of the tourist industry on the Grand Strand in the Carolinas – but don’t mistake that to mean the area is a tourist trap for golfers. Some of the most highly regarded golf courses in the world are located in the Myrtle Beach area – the quality of the golf fuels the tourism, not the other way around. By the same token, you’ll find golf clubs and golf courses of all types and calibers when you decide to spend your next golf holiday on the Grand Strand. Whether you’re a world-class golfer or one who never comes in under par, you’ll find courses where you’re welcome to play – and welcomed with enthusiasm.

Myrtle Beach Golf Package Deals

You have a number of choices when it comes to booking your travel and activities for a Myrtle Beach vacation. One of the easiest ways is to hook up with a travel agency that specializes in golf travel and offers a number of pre-planned golf package deals. The advantages to booking this type of package deal are many – all of your arrangements will be made at once. You won’t have to worry about making hotel reservations or booking your tee times. The travel agent will take care of it all.

On the other hand, you may find yourself locked into playing courses you wouldn’t have otherwise chosen. If you prefer a bit of independence, you can check out any one of the many Myrtle Beach golf websites that offer reviews of local golf courses and allow you to make your own reservations and book your own tee times. And if you’re the spontaneous type, you can always just get into your car and head down the Strand, checking out the golf courses and clubs you find along the way.

If you’re traveling with others who aren’t as enamored of golf as you are, Myrtle Beach offers so many other activities to keep them amused and out of your hair while you’re on the green. Just book your lodgings at a golf resort, arrange your tee times, and leave them free to check out the nearby water and amusement parks, shopping malls and world-class restaurants. When all is said and done, a trip to Myrtle Beach nearly always turns into one of those golf vacations you’ll remember forever.

 

5 Tips for Planning Golf Trips

Planning a vacation is never as much fun as when it is a vacation to do something you love to do, but it’s easy to overlook important things if you’re not careful. Planning golf trips is as much about making sure that you have fun as it is making sure that your travel connections work out. Whether you’re planning golf travel on your own or putting together golf vacations for yourself and your buds, these tips will guarantee a great time for all.

Book Your Tee Times When You Book Your Rooms

Golf vacations revolve around golf, so why would you leave course availability to chance? Don’t just assume that you’ll be able to walk in and get right on the course, especially if your golf trip includes playing on one of the top golf courses in the country. Plan ahead. As soon as you have your rooms booked, schedule your tee times at any must-play courses in the area.

Check the Overseeding Schedule for the Courses You Want to Play

Myrtle Beach golf courses and Arizona golf courses typically overseed their courses in the fall, and many have a cart-path policy defining where you can drive or play during the overseeding season. Call ahead to find out if or when your golf game might be affected by course maintenance. It’s no fun having your game ruined by inability to play on the course in optimal condition.

Book Golf Vacations and Packages

Look for package deals when you’re booking golf trips. Choosing a travel agent or a resort that offers packages can save you a lot of money, and make your planning much easier. You can always build on the base package by adding tee times at other golf courses and clubs in the area.

Pick the Right Courses for the Crowd

A golf vacation with your best buds and a golf trip with your family call for very different itineraries. If you’re golf travel includes kids and family, go for venues that offer many other options for entertainment and novice-friendly golf options. Tucson, Arizona golf courses tend to be especially family friendly. If you’re traveling with golf buddies, aim for the high-end courses you’re dying to play.

Be Flexible About Lodging

Resorts and hotels are only one option for lodgings when you book golf vacations. If you’re traveling with a group of four or eight people, you can open up your options – and have a far more comfortable and luxurious stay – by renting a condo or a golf villa. When you split the cost of a four-bedroom condo among four people, you’ll often find that it’s far more affordable than individual hotel rooms.

Golf trips are among the hottest boutique travel trips for today’s vacationer. If you’re planning a golf vacation, plan ahead to make sure that you have the best time possible.

Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Golf Vacations MoreEnjoy

Golf vacations are becoming ever more popular. Golf lovers, who hate to give up the chance to swing a club and associate leisure with time spent communing with nature and the whimsical gods of golf, often plan their holidays around the chance to visit a foreign golf course. There are a number of travel agencies that have sprung up to help golf-loving vacationers arrange golf trips that revolve around the chance to play a particular course, or to fit in a round or two of golf at as many great golf courses as possible. If your upcoming vacation includes golf as a central feature, these tips can help you – and your family – enjoy your golf vacations more.

Check with the Airline About Your Clubs

Obviously, you’ll want to travel with your own clubs – your golf game just won’t be the same without them. If you’re traveling by car, that won’t be an issue, but if you’re heading to a different region or overseas to say, Scotland or Ireland, golf clubs will be part of your baggage.

Every airline has its own requirements about carrying golf clubs as baggage, though most of them are similar. In general, most airlines consider your golf bag – in a soft or hard-sided case – with a set of clubs, golf shoes and a box of golf balls – to be the equivalent of one checked bag. No matter how much you love your golf clubs, you’re not likely to find an airline that will let you take them on the plane with you as carry-on luggage, even if you pay for an extra seat for them. In most cases, the airline will only assume responsibility for keeping your clubs safe if they’re in a hard-sided case tagged with a regular luggage tag, so if you’re planning to take your clubs along on vacation, be sure to make the proper arrangements to get them there. Some ardent golfers, in fact, recommend shipping your golf clubs ahead of you to your hotel to ensure that they arrive at your destination on time and unscathed.

Let Your Travel Agent Book Your Tee Times for You

If your golf travel is taking you to an unfamiliar area, chances are that your plans include playing at a few of the big names in that region. There’s nothing wrong with playing top-rated courses – in fact, it’s one of the biggest reasons people take golf trips – but if you do only that you may miss out on some hidden gems  that are only known locally. Travel agents who specialize in booking golf vacations often have connections and insight into the local golf market and may hook you up with a golf experience that will be one of the highlights of your vacation.

Finally, when you’re planning golf vacations, don’t forget that there are other things to do besides golf, especially if you’re taking the family or a spouse along. Take the time to research non-golfing activities to enjoy when there’s no golf to be had.

International Golf Travel TipsTips

International golf trips have become more and more popular over the past several years. For many travelers to Scotland and Ireland, golf is a big draw. The two countries feature some of the most famous golf courses in the world, making them a natural destination for those who enjoy golf travel. Carting your clubs with you overseas, however, can present some logistical problems. If you’re considering doing some international golf travel, it helps to know how the biggest and most popular airlines will treat your golf clubs and other golfing equipment. These tips and golf travel info for major airlines can help you avoid some of the biggest problems you might encounter.

Clean your golf clubs before you travel. Fertilizer residue on your golf clubs has been known to set off bomb detectors, which is a heck of a way to start off your golf vacation.

Invest in a good quality golf travel bag to ensure that your golf clubs are well-protected during travel.

Avoid baggage fees and other hassles that accompany traveling with your golf clubs by shipping your golf clubs ahead to your destination. It’s not much more expensive to do so, and will ensure that your clubs arrive at your destination instead of being lost in transit.

American Airlines counts one golf bag with up to 14 clubs, 12 golf balls and a pair of golf shoes as the equivalent of one checked bag. If it’s a second checked bag, you’ll incur a $35 second bag fee. The maximum free weight on golf clubs is 70 lbs., and the size is limited to the size of a hard-sided golf case.

Continental Airlines will accept one item of golf equipment per passenger, with the item consisting of one golf bag containing one set of clubs, golf balls and one pair of golf shoes. All the items must be in a suitable container, and the golf bag must be covered or encased in a rigid carrying case. The airline is not liable for any damage to golf equipment that is not in a hard-sided case, and you can’t purchase excess valuation for golf equipment that isn’t in a hard-sided case. In addition, if you check a golf bag, you’ll probably have to wait longer for your luggage at the baggage claim.

Delta Air allows you to check one golf bag that weighs up to 50 lbs. and measures no more than 80 inches. If the bag is larger than that, you’ll have to pay an overweight baggage fee. If your golf bag is not inside a hard-sided case, you’ll have to have it packaged in a soft-sided golf travel bag and sign a limited damage release form before you can check it.

Jet Blue will accept golf equipment on all flights at no additional charge as long as your bag is within the size and weight limits. Your golf bag will count as one checked bag. Jet Blue defines one golf item the same as American Airlines.

If you’re taking advantage of golf travel packages to enjoy some Ireland or Scotland golf , these tips should help you prepare your golf equipment for the trip so your golf clubs end up arriving when and where you do, ready to hit the most historic golf greens and links in the world.

Fabulous Underappreciated Courses to Play on Myrtle Beach and Arizona Golf Vacations

Travel agents who book golf vacations often push their highest value golf trips or advertise golf travel to the best known golf courses and golf clubs. While those clubs and courses deserve their accolades, golfers who are unfamiliar with an area may overlook some of the less-publicized courses that offer stellar playability and other amenities for golfers and their families. If you’re booking some golf travel time this summer, make the time to visit these fabulous but underappreciated courses at some of the most popular venues for golf vacations.

Myrtle Beach Golf: Possum Trot

Myrtle Beach is the East Coast destination for golf vacations for a good reason – there are over 100 courses within a short driving distance of your hotel, no matter where your hotel is. With that many courses to play, it’s understandable that some get more attention than others. Possum Trot, located a bit off the beaten track in North Myrtle Beach, is one of those that tend to fly under the radar. The private golf course offers a well-designed and manicured course that’s hard enough to be challenging and easy enough to be fun for nearly everyone. 

What really sets Possum Trot apart, though, is the friendliness of the staff. Golfers – even those who aren’t regular club members – will be pampered and treated like kings. This isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for the patented Myrtle Beach Golf upscale experience, though. The club has been around since the 1960s, and its mission is to make golf accessible to everyone, not just the upper crust elite. If you want a friendly game of golf without all the pretensions, Possum Trot awaits your business.

Arizona Golf: Tucson’s Rio Rico Resort and Country Club

Scottsdale and Phoenix are better known as golf destinations than Tucson, but that just makes this hidden Tucson gem even more spectacular. The Rio Rico Resort and Country Club is located just about 45 minutes south of Tucson, but it might as well be in a different world. In its past, the Rio Rico has hosted qualifiers for the U.S. Open PGA and Seniors tours, as well as the U.S. Amateur qualifying rounds in the 1990s. Today, the most striking feature about the traditional desert layout is its beauty and peace. It’s an ideal getaway for a round of golf on a midwinter afternoon, where temperatures in the 70s provide the perfect weather for golf. Trent Jones considered it one of his classics, and it still provides a challenging golf experience, even for accomplished golfers.

The most memorable golf vacations aren’t always those you’ll spend waiting to tee off on crowded but highly rated courses. Be sure to ask your golf travel agent about underappreciated golf courses to check out on your trip.

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations

If you’re a lover of great golf, you already know that Myrtle Beach is a prime spot for golf vacations. With over 100 public and private golf courses on the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach has just about anything and everything a vacationing golfer could ever want. If you’re trying to decide among several different venues that offer golf vacations, take a look at all that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

Myrtle Beach Golf

Golf, golf and more golf – that’s what you’ll find when you book a Myrtle Beach golf trip. Once considered the bargain basement of the golf world, Myrtle Beach has come up in the world. These days, the fabulous golf options on Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand include world class golf courses and luxury resort golf clubs. If you’re looking for variety, you’ll find it on Myrtle Beach. From the fabulous Barefoot Resort Dye Club with its classic styling and pristine greens to the uniquely designed Witch Club, which includes a 1^st and 9^th hole built on islands, you’ll find an incredible variety of public and private golf courses to play.

Dining Out

Man or woman cannot live by golf alone, though it may be tempting to try. Eventually, you have to take a break and fortify yourself with food, if only so you’ll have the energy for the next round. And if you have to eat anyway, you may as well enjoy the fine cuisine of restaurants you’ll find scattered among the Myrtle Beach golf clubs and courses. For a treat in North Myrtle Beach, check out Martini’s, with a delightful piano bar and a filet mignon with shrimp dish that is to die for. If you play the Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club, hit Barefoot Landing and enjoy the experience at Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, where you can partake of the extensive wine list and fine food that has earned the restaurant Wine Spectator’s Excellence in Dining Award year after year.

Other Recreation

While most golfers may not be able to imagine wanting any other form of recreation than Myrtle Beach golf, the Grand Strand does offer many other forms of recreation. Make the kids happy with a trip to a water park. Try Splash! water park, which features a Caribbean Water Playground with slides and sprays, as well as two large swimming pools, two kiddie pools, lazy river and three Jacuzzis. Of course, there’s always the beach and shopping, tennis and sports clubs and many activities available at luxury resorts and clubs.

Myrtle Beach golf vacations offer the best golf and more. If you’re still undecided about your summer and fall golf trips, take a long, hard look at what Myrtle Beach golf has to offer.

Destinations for Golf Travel

For the true golf lover, the only reason for a vacation is to have time to enjoy all the golf you miss while you’re working, and the only reason to travel is to tee off on golf courses you’ve not had a chance to play before. While there are thousands of golf courses in the world, there are a few regions that are particularly revered for their greens and fairways. If you’re planning golf travel this summer, booking a tour or package deal in one of these famous golf destinations will afford you ample opportunity to play some of the best golf courses in the world.

Myrtle Beach

Located along about 50 miles of the South Carolina Atlantic coast, Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand boasts well over 100 public and private golf courses. The temperate, sunny weather offers great golfing year round, with the sea breeze keeping the fairways and links cool on even the hottest summer days. The courses run the gamut from public courses open to all to private courses located on the grounds of luxury resorts. Highlights include the Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course, designed by famed golf architect, Peter Dye.

Scotland

Golf lovers everywhere pay homage to Scotland as the land where golf was born. The tiny country boasts the oldest courses in the world, including many still in use. Golf travel to Scotland offers a chance for golfers to tee off on the course where the ancient kings of Scotland held their own games and, quite possibly, debated over the rules. If you do make it to Scotland, it’s almost a requirement to at least visit the Old Course at St. Andrews. If you book enough time in advance, you can play a round on the site where the British Open is held every fifth year.

Ireland Golf Travel

Second only to Scotland – and many an Irishman would debate you on that point – the Emerald Isle features some of the most beautiful and historic golf courses in the world. While you’d have to live for years in Ireland to play them all, the country is small enough that you can easily enjoy a round at The Links, on the East coast one day and one at Old Head on the Southwest coast the next. If you’re looking for the ultimate in golf travel, book a golf trip that includes both Scotland golf courses and Ireland golf destinations.

Arizona Golf Trips

Hit the Southwest for some of the most amazing golf to be found on the North American continent. Arizona features three separate and very distinct golf travel destinations for your golfing pleasure.  Tucson is laid back, but takes its golf seriously. The Phoenix-Scottsdale area is more traditional and features many golf resorts from which to choose. Sedona, Arizona is the latest of the up-and-coming golf travel destinations in the state. Every Sedona course was designed by a well-known golf architect, and the golf resorts offer the ultimate in luxury.

For more information about golf travel to Ireland, Scotland, Arizona or Myrtle Beach, be sure to check with your travel agent for available tours and trips.

Tips for Planning the Best Golf Vacations

Golf vacations afford you the opportunity to play courses outside your usual range, from the classics of Scotland golf and the Old Course at St. Andrews to the best and brightest new Arizona golf courses. If you’re the one planning the golf travel, though, getting everything together and set up so that everyone enjoys the vacation can be tricky. There are many factors to consider when planning golf vacations, whether for yourself or for a group.

In fact, the first thing to consider is who is in your traveling party and their expectations of the holiday. If you’re going on your own, you don’t have to consider anyone’s desires and needs but your own. If you’re going with your family, you’ll need to make allowances to make sure that they enjoy their trip as much as you do yours. If, on the other hand, you’re traveling with your favorite foursome, you can pull out all the stops and plan the golf vacation to end all golf vacations.

Budget is a major factor, of course. There are golf trips to fit most budgets, though you may have to do some shopping around to find deep discounts that include golf courses that you want to play. If your budget allows for it, many of the best resorts have onsite golf courses – or, to put a finer point on it, many of the best resorts are built around some of the finest golf courses in the country. A full golf resort package can be pricey, but more than worth the expense.

Are there golf courses that are on your must-play list? If so, plan your vacation around them. Tee times at some of the best and most popular golf courses in the nation are at a premium, so book your tee times at those courses first, then plan your travel and accommodations around them. If your interest is more in playing a variety of courses, consider vacationing in an area where golf is king, such as Myrtle Beach, which features over 100 courses within driving distance of just about any hotel or motel you’re book.

If you’re traveling with others whose interest in golf isn’t quite as passionate as yours, choose a destination that offers plenty of other activities to keep them busy while you’re out on the green. Both Myrtle Beach and Arizona golf courses are surrounded by other activities – shopping, swimming, hiking and nights on the town – to ensure that you’ll have plenty of free time to golf instead of having to entertain your traveling companions.

No matter what type of golf vacations you plan, you’ll find it much easier to do with the assistance of a professional travel agency that specializes in planning golf travel. If you want the fun without the work, contact a golf travel specialist for info on the best golf packages and holidays available.

Tips for Planning Golf Vacations

It’s every golfer’s dream – a couple of weeks with nothing to do but tee off at a dozen different golf courses. It’s even better if you can hit the greens at some of the best golf clubs in the country. Golf vacations are becoming more and more popular as golf becomes a family sport. It’s not just dad on the golf course anymore – mom and the kids are often pretty darn good golfers in their own right. If you’ve been looking at golf packages and golf vacations as options for your summer travel this year, these tips from golf and travel pros can help you plan a trip that you’ll never forget.

Choose an Area Known for Golf Vacations

Every state and major city has a few well-known golf clubs and golf courses, but in most places, you’ll have to travel quite a bit to get from one to the next. There are a few areas, though, that are literally packed with outstanding golf courses. Folks who decide on Myrtle Beach golf trips, for example, have their choice of dozens of world class golf venues all within easy driving distance. The Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach is a 100-mile stretch that features no less than 115 golf courses, many of them major destinations on the golf circuit. If you’d rather head out west, skip the crowds in California and hit the Arizona golf courses. Arizona features two major venues for golf vacations – the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and the Tucson area. Each of them boats numerous world class golf courses and their own distinct flavor.

Don’t Count on Booking Tee Times at the Last Minute

The best golf courses in Myrtle Beach and Arizona often have tee times booked weeks in advance, especially for holidays and big weekends. If you have your heart set on golfing a particular course or dream of conquering a famous hole, book your tee time there as far in advance as the club allows. Otherwise, you may be destined for disappointment.

Enjoy Family-Friendly GolfPackages in Tucson

No town in the country has as good a reputation for family-friendly golf as Tucson. The Arizona golf destination has become a mini-mecca for some of the best youth golfers in the nation. Most of the golf courses in the Tucson area happily welcome families with children old enough to swing a club. The atmosphere is more laid-back and comfortable, making it an ideal destination for the family that golfs together.

Golf vacations can be enjoyable, but the planning can be a bear. If you’re considering taking the family on a trip that will feature golf this summer, consider letting a professional travel agency do the planning for you. You’ll reap the benefits without having to do the work.

Top Arizona Golf Trips Live Up to the Reputation

Even veterans with dozens of golf trips under the belt would be hard-pressed to come up with a better handful of courses to play than the six top Arizona golf courses that made Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” list. Each of the Scottsdale area greens and golf clubs has its own charms, and each would be worth a visit on its own. The thing that elevates the list to must-visit golf trips status is that these six Top 100 placeholders are within easy driving distance of each other. You can easily get in a game on each of these six courses in just one or two golf trips.

Two Troon North courses are regulars on Golf Magazine’s list, having made it up there for the last ten years. Troon’s Pinnacle course takes top billing for Arizona golf courses, with a number 21 showing in the top 100 list. Its sister course, Monument, also placed in the top 50, coming as #45.

Scottsdale’s We-Ko_Pa Golf Club is the other Arizona golf facility with two courses in the top 100. The Cholla course, designed by Scott Miller ranked #35, while the newer Saguaro course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, came in at #44. Both courses are on Native American land and have generated some serious buzz.

The final two Arizona golf courses in the Top 100 list are the Talon Course at the Grayhawk Golf club and The Boulder Club’s South Course. Coming in at numbers 87 and 90 respectively, both courses were built in the 1990s.

Scottsdale may be home to the best courses to visit on Arizona golf trips, but Tucson is fast catching up. If you’re a fan of more natural golf courses and a laid-back social scene, you might enjoy Tucson, Arizona golf vacations more. Among the top courses to play in the Tucson area are the two courses at Loew’s Ventana Canyon, designed by course architect Tom Fazio and favorites of such celebrity golfers as Chevy Chase, Clint Eastwood and former President George Bush.

Arizona is fast becoming one of the top golf vacations destinations in the country, with the Scottsdale area racking up more top golf courses than any other region in the nation. The Tucson area has a number of up and coming new courses that are, for the moment, best kept secrets. If you’re planning golf tips this summer, Arizona is an absolute must for your list.

Celebrity Match In June Is Best of Myrtle Beach Golf Trips

If you’re planning on taking a few golf trips this summer, start your June off right with a trip to Myrtle Beach for the first annual Myrtle Beach Celebrity Golf Classic to be held June 10-11 at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club. The golf classic is being hosted by Gus Williams, former NBA champion, for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. Williams’ sister died of cancer at age 40.

Williams has drawn some big celebrity names to participate in the match, including Julius Erving, Sam Jones of the Boston Celtics, pro football’s Lynn Swan and Richard Dent, and baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. Other celebrities who’ll be teeing off for the golf classic include Darryl Strawberry, Junior Bridgeman, Andre Reed and sportscaster Kathleen Sullivan.

If you’re looking for a unique slant to your golf vacation, this is your chance. For $500, you can enter the scramble tournament as a single player. If you want to enter an entire team, it will cost you $2,000. Each team will be joined by one of the celebrity golfers, but the day starts well before the tee-off time. For the participants, the event will start with a celebrity and sponsor party at Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, with lots of fun and festivities, including a silent auction. The tournament tees off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and it will be followed by an awards banquet and silent auction. After the banquet, all participants will attend a Saturday night concert at House of Blues.  The artists are unannounced as yet, but the organizers are going after a big act for the evening.

All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the American Cancer Society, so you can get in your golfing and a big dose of feeling good about yourself. And if the lure of golfing with the celebs while doing good isn’t quite enough for you, keep in mind that you’ll be teeing off at the Barefoot Resort’s Dye Club, one of the most challenging and renowned golf courses on the Grand Strand. Designed by architect Peter Dye, it features five different kinds of grass and some of the best golfing to be found in all of Myrtle Beach. Whether you’ve headed off on dozens of golf trips or this is your first golf vacation, the price tag on this one delivers full value. For more information, contact a travel agency that specializes in booking golf travel.

Tips For Getting the Most From Travel Vacations to Scotland

Is there a better place for golf vacations than Scotland, the birthplace of golf? Aside from the historic courses, Scotland offers some of the most beautiful scenery, championship golf and a cultural experience like none other. If you’ve determined that this year is the year you golf Scotland, these tips from insiders will help you make the most of your golf trips.

Research and Build an Itinerary

Scotland may be small, but it’s the epitome of good things that come in small packages. The tiny country manages to pack more golf goodies into its square mileage than any other country. Your best bet is to look at a map, choose an area and then hit the Web to check out reviews of golf courses in that area. Build your itinerary around the courses that have the best reviews or the ones that you find most intriguing.

Insider tip: Spend a few days in Ayrshire and play Royal Troon Golf Club, Turnberry Rest and Prestwick Golf Club.

Some of the Best Golf Courses Are Local Secrets

So many of the Scottish golf courses were established in the 1800s, when no one considered such things as where to park the 20,000 or so cars for the fans that show up to British Open and other championship matches. Many of them are gems that are at the top of the list for tour operators, who rank courses by how much their clients enjoy the course. Look for out of the way courses, or contact a travel agent who specializes in golf vacations to find the best places to tee off.

Insider tip: Play Western Gailles. Not only is it rated in the Top 100 Courses in Scotland, the Club is an experience in and of itself. You’ll be treated like a king from the moment you step through the door to the moment you pack up your clubs and drive off.  And after all, isn’t that how it should be when you’re engaging in the sport of kings?

Observe Local Etiquette

You’ll be considered a boorish outsider if you violate many of the rules of golf etiquette that are custom in Scotland golf. You’ll get better service and have far more fun if you take the time to get to know what’s expected of golfers in Scotland.

Insider tip: Never wear your hat indoors. Always call ahead to book a tee time and never walk in unannounced. Keep your practice swings to a minimum and if you’re holding up the group behind you, allow them to play through.

And the best insider golf vacations tip of all is that if you suspect that this will be your only chance to golf in Scotland in this lifetime, splurge and pay for a guaranteed tee time at the Old Course. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any golfer.