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.

Must-Play Courses for Arizona Golf Trips

Arizona is one of the country’s best areas for golfing, thanks to 320+ days of sunshine a year. The state features two main areas that are ideal for golf trips—the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, with a variety of classic courses, and the Tucson area, which has a younger, less stodgy feel. Tucson is famed for its youthful golf enthusiasts; Phoenix for its championship courses. If your Arizona vacation includes plan to hit the links for some exercise, there are a few courses that you can’t afford to pass up.

Troon North Golf Club

The semi-private Troon North Club is located in Scottsdale, close to the world-famous Four Seasons Resort. It’s a classic desert golf course design, with plenty of play on the two 18-hole courses. The Monument course, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, takes its name from the large boulder that stands in the middle of the par-5 third hole. The course offers tricky approaches and stretches of dry desert wash to keep things interesting. The second course, the Pinnacle, features elevation changes and obstacles with spectacular views of Pinnacle Peak and the surrounding desert. Troon makes Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses to Play in America list every year, so be sure you put it on your list of must-play Arizona golf courses.

Ventana Canyon Golf Club

In the Tucson area, the two golf courses at the Ventana Canyon Golf Club make Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in Arizona list at number eight. The two resort courses are desert courses requiring you to play target golf style. The bent grass greens make putting a challenge, thanks to their undulations. The Mountain Course features elevation changes and elevated tees. The Canyon course demands tight play and strong focus. Designed by Tom Fazio and Andy Banfield, the Canyon opened in 1988.

Wee-Ko-Pa Cholla Course

Wee-Ko-Pa, on tribal land owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, features two courses – the Cholla and the Sqguaro. The Cholla Course is the older course, opened in 2001 and ranked high on the must-play list almost from the start. The wide-open space features large greens and fairways with little in the way of “civilization” to interrupt the scenery or your golf game. In 2006, We-Ko-Pa added the Saguaro Course, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. The Saguaro is designed to be walkable, a rare distinction for desert courses.

If you’re planning golf vacations in the areas of Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, be sure to line up your tee times early so that you don’t miss out on some of the best golfing in the country.

Tips to Help You Plan the Best Golfing Trips

Golfing vacations are among the most popular sporting holidays, ranking right up there with skiing holidays and scuba trips. Many travel agencies and websites have sprung up to take advantage of golf and the travelers who love it. If you’re considering hitting the links on your next vacation, these tips can help you make sure that you pack the most golfing fun into your vacation trip.

Check the Weather to Make Sure That it Will Support a Golfing Holiday

Unless you’re an all-weather golfer, check the typical weather in the area you want to visit during the time you’ll be there for your golf vacation. Of course, there are some regions where you don’t even have to think about it. In Arizona, golf is a year-round pursuit, thanks to gorgeous sunny weather more than 300 days out of the year. Likewise, Myrtle Beach golf clubs and courses offer beautiful golfing weather year-round. Even Scotland and Ireland, golf destinations for generations, can’t provide the same weather conditions that you’ll find in either of those two domestic golf destinations.

Shop Online to Find the Best Golf Vacations

The popularity of golf tips has birthed an entire mini-industry segment in the travel industry. You’ll find the best prices for golf travel at online sites that feature package deals that include tee times at some of the best golf courses and fairways in the country. Compare prices and features of golfing trips side-by-side to see which offer you the best deals for your vacation.

Read the Reviews

Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash to book a vacation, do some in-depth investigation. Check out golfing discussion forums to find out anything positive or negative about the service or facilities at lodgings included with package tours, and look for information about the tour packager. The last thing you want is for it to arrive at your destination only to find that everything about it has been exaggerated or misrepresented. But doing your research ahead of time will help you head off disappointment and ensure that you’ll enjoy every part of your golfing holiday.

Finally, once you find a tour provider you like and can trust, make a note so that you can return when you’re ready to book moregolf trips—perhaps for a golfing tour to play on the classic courses of Ireland and Scotland.

How to Choose a Golf Vacations Trip

Golf vacations are growing in popularity as tour operators put together golf tours and golf trips to appeal to consumers. While golf enthusiasts have always planned their travel around famous courses they’d like to play, golf travel has never been as popular as it has in the past few years. With all the golf vacations and golf trips available, how do you choose the best one for you?  Here are a few tips.

1. Choose an area known for its golf courses and greens.  Some parts of the country and the world are famous for the quality of their golf greens and clubs. A visit to those areas is nearly guaranteed to give you plenty of opportunities to tee off on some of the best courses in the world. Ireland golf trips and Scotland golf trips include the opportunity to play at literally hundreds of courses, depending on the area of the country and the ability of the tour operator to book you at the best courses.

2. Domestic golf tours offer excellent value at lower prices.  Myrtle Beach was once the bargain basement of golf trips, but that’s changed in recent years. The prices are still excellent, but the general quality of the courses available to play and the numerous resorts that have grown up around them has made Myrtle Beach golf trips among the most desirable in the world. Arizona golf trips offer similar bargains with some of the best and most unusual golf courses and greens in the world. Arizona’s climate practically guarantees great golfing weather, and the luxury resorts give the non-golfers in the family plenty to do while the golfers are out doing what golfers do best.

3. Research the golf courses in your chosen area.  Do some research to get familiar with your golf options and which courses you’d like to play, and any tournaments you’d like to watch and what the courses are like. The more you know about your options, the better equipped you’ll be to choose the best golf vacations for your pleasure.

4. Talk to several tour operators to compare golf packages.  Once you have an idea of which courses you’d like to play, or at least are familiar with the clubs in the area, contact travel agents that offer golf vacations to find out what they can offer. Many include bookings for tee times as part of their golf packages, and special deals and offers for groups traveling together.

Courses to Hit on Southeast Golf Trips

Planning a golf trip this summer? The Myrtle Beach area has become one of the country’s most popular destinations for golf trips. With well over a hundred golf courses in easy driving distance of nearly any hotel or resort on the Myrtle Beach coast, choosing the courses to play presents the avid golfer with an embarrassment of riches. How do you choose the best links when there are so many available?  How about letting some of the world’s best golf experts help you with your choice?

The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach take top marks in Golf Digest’s Myrtle Super 60 list of top Myrtle Beach golf clubs. Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1948, the course has been a world class course almost since its inception. While the green has been modified a number of times—most recently in 2003—it remains true to its original spirit and challenge.

Golf Digest ranks the Heritage Club among its 50 Best Public Courses in America and ranks it at No. 13 in South Carolina. The plantation style golf course was built on the site of the True Blue and Midway rice plantations. It features spacious fairways, undulating greens and some of the most gorgeous landscaping in the country. The Myrtle Beach Golf Association ranks it among the Players’ Top 20 and notes that the course had fallen on hard times, but is definitely on the way back up.

The Witch Golf Club, part of the trinity that includes The Wizard and Man o’ War golf clubs, is one of the most unique courses in South Carolina. Created by golf architect Dan Maples, the course opened in 1989. It also ranks among the Players’ Top 20 course at the Myrtle Beach Golf Association, which notes that its dynamic elevation changes and tight fairways make it a challenging course to play. The 1^st and 9^th holes are actually on islands, completely surrounded by wetlands.

Golflink lists Wicked Stick Golf Club among the top five player-friendly golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. It features a John Daly signature course designed in conjunction with golf architect Clyde Johnstone. It’s not the most challenging course, but the staff is wonderful, and the layout provides enough challenge for experts to have fun without making it frustrating for those with less expertise. Myrtle Beach Golf calls it a great place to have a golf vacation with a group.

Tee Off With Golf Vacations

Indulging your passion for golf can lead you to some of the most memorable vacations of your life. Golf packages, both domestic and international, often combine your passion for golfing the best greens in the world with other interests and luxuries. A golf package is the ideal vacation for the golf enthusiast who wants to play a variety of courses in a location, or who has to share his vacation with a traveling companion who’d rather be shopping than teeing off. When you choose a golf package as your vacation, your travel agent will take care of all the details, including flights, hotel reservations, car rentals and, in many cases, booking your tee time for you at the best golf courses in the area.

International Golf Packages

Scotland and Ireland boast some of the oldest and best-known golf links in the world, so it’s no surprise that many travel agents and travel sites feature golf trips to regions of the Emerald Isle and the Scottish Highlands. Scotland golf trips may include lodging in a traditional Scottish castle, meals in some of the finest restaurants in the world and golfing on greens that are part of the history of the games, such as the Old Course at St. Andrews or Carnoustie, the oldest greens in the history of golf. Some of the hottest Ireland golf trips for 2011 include packages for the Solheim Cup, the biennial LPGA competition which takes place at Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland in September of 2011. If you’d rather play than watch, other golf destinations in Ireland feature rounds played at well-known golf clubs, such as the Royal Dublin and the Island Golf Club.

Myrtle Beach Golf Packages

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, once considered a bargain basement golfing destination, has come into its own as one of the best golf regions in the world. Located along the coast of South Carolina, Myrtle Beach boasts more than 100 golf courses—many of them championship courses. The best Myrtle Beach golf vacations include lodging and amenities at one of the many golf resorts located in the area. Indulge your passion for golf along one of the most beautiful seacoasts in the country while taking advantage of the pure luxury afforded by a resort vacation.

Arizona Golf Packages

Arizona features two distinctly different golf destinations – Tucson and the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. The Scottsdale area boasts nearly 200 golf courses, some with traditional layouts and others that feature the stunning Arizona desert landscapes. Tucson has a reputation for being more laid-back and relaxed, and offers courses designed by some of the best-known names in golf.

Whether your tastes run to the home-grown or you prefer a more international flavor, you’ll find golf packages that are designed to challenge and delight you.