From Winter Holidays to Golf Holidays with Arizona Magic

If you are a golfer, your favorite color is probably green.  So now is the time to plan some golf travel to places where the grass is always emerald, the sky always sunny.  As winter golfers know, there’s no place better than where the sun shines over 300 days per year—in Arizona.  Here are the three top Arizona golf travel destinations, each with its own distinctive attractions.

                                                

Scottsdale:  Where They Live to Golf

The Scottsdale area has been named “America’s Best Place to Live for Golf” by golf expert Robb Report.  The area boasts nearly 200 courses with layouts that range from traditional green fairways to the regional specialty, the cactus course.  Serious golfers know that Arizona courses offer the challenge and quality they expect on golf trips here.    Venues range from the Dinosaur Mountain course—the top-rated public facility in the whole country--to the show-stopping design of Superstition Springs. 

 Scottsdale, set in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, offers indigo skies that will get you out on the course or exploring the pristine desert trails, rivers, and mountains.  Enjoy local spas that have incorporated traditional Native American healing rituals for the body and soul.

 Sedona:  Red Rock Splendor and New Age Mystique

 The magic of Sedona, in the above photo, has lured many who find its red mountains and history fascinating.  It also has great golf opportunities to match the spas, restaurants, and art galleries for which serve the New Age crowd who come for the healing and creative mystique that make Sedona famous.

For a memorable golf trip head for Sedona's premier golf course, the Oakcreek Country Club.  This 18-hole championship golf course, nestled in the majestic Sedona red rocks, was designed by none other than the father-son team of Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior.  Also top-rated is the Hilton Sedona Resort, with an unbeatable combination of jaw-dropping splendor and golfing challenge.

Tucson:  Snowbirds and Saguaros

As the second largest city in the state, Tucson is a hub of business and education as well as a resort for snowbirds who join the locals to enjoy the sunshine—which falls more than 340 days per year.  From museums to missions, bird watching to horseback riding, there is something for every taste.

The mild climate and outstanding courses make Tucson a favorite for golf vacations.  From traditional link courses to the unusual desert courses, you can play the same courses that the PGA pros do.  Not to be missed is the Conquistador Course in a park-like setting that surrounds you with natural mesquite and palo verde trees punctuated by desert flora.  Also among the many choices is Heritage Highlands, voted one of Golf Digest's Places to Play, with lush greens, varied playing environments, and a topography to challenge every level.

Wherever your golf trips may take you this winter, may you enjoy the greens and many blue skies!

10 Top Gifts for Golfers This Year

It’s never too early to start shopping for the best gifts for the golfers in your life!  Whether it is a friend, a regular member of your foursome, your boss, or your spouse, she or he will always appreciate your thoughtfulness.  From golf magnets to golf vacations, there is something for every budget and every taste.

 You might need to get very clever about getting preferences for such gifts as golf bags or club memberships, so use your best Sherlock Holmes skills.  Of course gift certificates for golf catalogues and golf shops are sure to please as well.  From least expensive to most memorable, here's the list for this year:

10.  Golf Magnets.  Choose from various scenes, $3, for the refrigerator or filing cabinet.  Great little stocking stuffers. 

9.  Funky or Pretty Head covers.  Golf club head cover (choose from rose, teddy bear, etc), starting at $15.  Consider the personal tastes here! 

8.    Monogrammed Golf Balls.  Starting at $20 a dozen.  Good idea to see what brand he or she already prefers. 

7.  Golf Coffee Table Book.  For example, World Atlas of Golf: the Greatest Courses and How They Are Played by Mark Rowlinson (Editor) Hardcover, $40.  Fabulous coffee table book to inspire golf travel fantasies! 

6. Designer Golf Bag.  Check out the lightweight designer bags for her, e.g., the Glove It Geo model, $170.  For the gal with good taste. 

5.  Golf GPS.  These devices provide key distances on course and helps lower score.  Prices start around $225, so check out the reviews.   For the golfer who already has everything. 

4.  Pro Lessons.  A certificate for 6 one-hour lessons with a pro.  Price at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, home of the 2008 US Open, $665.00.   Add lessons to any special golf trip for a real treat. 

3.  A Personal Caddy.  Give caddy services for one year.  Varies widely, but gets your golfer out of the cart.  Game will improve, and so will waistline. About $50 per round at Brandon Downs.   

2.  Golf Membership.  Imagine the thrill of getting to play all the time at a country or golf club.  Price and availability vary widely.  Check locally, or for more impact, choose a more exotic local and include travel expenses to enjoy it regularly.  If not a membership, how about certificates for rounds of play?

1.  Golf Trip to the U.S. Masters, President’s or Ryder Cup.  Tickets are scarce, so good luck!  Work out the details with an expert in planning golf packages to make it the most memorable golf experience ever.

 

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 41^st 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!   

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!

San Diego: Unbeatable for Year-Round Golf and Fun

As the second largest city in California and fifth wealthiest in the U.S., nestled on the Pacific coast just north of Mexico, San Diego well deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful, livable cities in the world. The agreeable year-round temperate weather allows residents and visitors to live outdoors as much as they like. What could be more perfect for great golf vacations any time of year?

With a golf course directory of over 90 courses from which to choose, including the eastern desert courses and the coastal tree-lined and links courses, golfers can return again and again to San Diego for dramatic venues. 

 

For decades, the popular La Costa Golf Resort and Spa (photo at left) has drawn such celebrities and golf legend, including bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lanny Wadkins, and Tiger Woods. It boats not just one but two stunning PGA championship 18-hole golf courses that will test your shot-making ability. You’ll traverse 400 acres of lush landscapes embroidered with beautiful streams and lakes, all with breath-taking panoramas.  Golf Digest and Golf Magazine have listed it among the best places to play. Putting and chipping greens, a state-of the art driving range, and award-winning caddies top make this a must-visit golf resort.

 

Finally, do you want to extend your golfing years? Then visit the La Costa’s Chopra Center for Well-Being, designed by world-renowned holistic physicians Deepak Chopra and David Simon. Guests discover how to heal their bodies, minds, and spirits while indulging in a soothing, luxurious atmosphere. While there are certainly other fabulous golf courses in the area, such as Torrey Pines in spectacular seaside La Jolla, there is no place quite like La Costa!

 

And there is no place quite like San Diego for golf trips with friends and family. The recreational and tourist activities are hard to beat, including the world famous Balboa Park. There you’ll find San Diego Zoo, which although almost a century old, is known for its progressive practices. Among the 4,000 animals you’ll find the rare giant panda. Meanwhile, its sister park, the San Diego Wild Animal Park (aka Safari Park) features a journey to Africa tram that passes free-range enclosures with cheetahs, antelopes, lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras, okapis, and more.

 

Not far from La Costa Resort you’ll find Legoland California, for now the only such theme park outside Europe, based on those familiar primary colored toy bricks, complete with its newly opened water park. Of course for more water adventures, SeaWorld boasts whales and sharks—including a close-up-and-personal thrill ride through the latter.

 

When you can tear yourself away from the golfing fun and amusement opportunities, check out some of the historic sites, including Mission San Diego and the Serra Museum in Presidio Park for a look into early California history. With well planned golf packages, you might even squeeze in a day trip to Mexico!

 

When you want your golf vacations to include sea and sun, golf and fun, San Diego should be at the top of your list!

Golfing in the National Parks

Most people recognize America’s national parks as some of our most valuable national treasures. What might not be so well known is that some of them also offer exciting golf vacations  as well. Four national parks boast golf courses, each one a venue with a unique panorama and additional recreational opportunities. 

 

My own recommendation would be to combine a golf trip to these national park courses either with a family vacation centering on getting to know the park, or to plan a golf vacation in which you explore neighboring golf courses as well. Experienced golf vacations planners serve as a great resource in maximizing the golf experience as well other activities. They can also help you find lodging and transportation tailored to your particular needs.

 

Here are some of the options for combining golf with a national park experience:

 

Yosemite National Park, California

As a long time visitor to Yosemite, I have often admired the lush greens of the

Yosemite Golf Course

that flanks the meadows as you enter from the South. Across from the historic Wawona Hotel, an impressive former stagecoach stop in early park days, this golf course is actually one of the few organic golf courses in the country. No pesticides are used and only gray water is used for keeping this 9-hole course as green as it was back in 1918 when it opened. 

 

Golfers of all levels will find some challenges in this tranquil setting as well as easy access to the wonders of the nearby sequoia grove and the magnificent Yosemite Valley. Lodging at the rambling Wawona Hotel or the more luxurious

Ahwahnee Hotel

will definitely add to the aura.

 

 

Anacostia National Park, District of Columbia

The

Langston Golf Course

, located just five minutes from the Capitol, is an 18-hole course that includes a driving range. Langston bills itself as an inexpensive, accessible option for beginners and experts. After a pleasant round, you will still have plenty of time for the Smithsonian and other historic attractions of the U.S. nation’s capital.

Glacier National Park, Montana

The Glacier Park Lodge Golf, built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927, features the oldest grass greens in the Big Sky state. As it is located entirely within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, all 9 holes have been named after former tribal chiefs. With panoramic views, undulating greens, wide fairways, this course is only open from late May-September (weather permitting). The historic Glacier Park lodge offers all the modern amenities all year long.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Your drives will travel farther in the thin air of the three courses located in this national park. Golf while the deer and the elk roam through mountain landscapes over a mile high. At Estes Park, for example, you can choose from a 9-hole executive course or the 18-hole course designed by Dick Phelps (alt. 8420) surrounded by towering jagged peaks. 

Don’t worry if your car is stuffed with camping equipment instead of golf clubs. Just rent a set. A professional golf trip planner can help you with those details as well as any lodging or golf travel needs so that you just focus on enjoying our natural heritage and your golf game!

Enjoy the Golf Trip of a Lifetime: The 2011 Masters

 What’s the next best thing to playing great golf? Watching great golf being played!

 

Where is the best place to do this? The first April in Augusta, Georgia, when we find out whom Phil Mickelson will be putting that treasured green jacket on.

 

Of course I am talking about the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, which is scheduled for April 4 through 10 in 2011. If you want to witness the best golfing, this absolutely THE place.

 

And if you want to have the time of your life doing it, go for first class. The Masters Event Executive Package includes an amazing list of opportunities, experiences, and amenities for the golf fanatic. If you want to give the golfer in your life the golf travel experience of a lifetime, it makes a fantastic gift for birthdays or special occasions.

 

Here’s the short list of what you will enjoy with the Executive Package:

 

·         Eight days and seven nights of luxurious accommodations at the downtown Marriott Augusta Hotel on the Savannah River

·         Each day a unique collectable Masters gift will be delivered to your room

·         Executive round-trip travel to and from the golf course for the competition

·         Daily admission for the entire Masters competition, from Monday through Sunday

·         The official daily program for the Masters event

·         Daytime Southern hospitality at the elegant Magnolia Manner, including breakfast and luncheon, just 750 yards from the Augusta course.

·         Ballroom galas every evening form April 7 through 11at the Marriot

·         PGA Guest Speaker each evening Thursday through Sunday for autographs, pictures, questions.

 

Naturally you can count on being well taken care of by a dedicated travel staff that will be there to assist guests throughout their stay. Executive guests also enjoy access to open bars, cigar lounge, and game center available throughout the whole event. If you absolutely must work too, it comes with full business and secretarial services.

 

This most luscious of golf vacations also comes with a corresponding price tag of nearly $12,000 per person.  If you can swing it, go for it. Even though the event is several months away, it is not too early to get your reservation in for this limited opportunity.

 

Whether you go first class or just plain classy, be sure to check with your friendly golf travel planners who can arrange for you to be there and enjoy the excitement of the best golf has to offer.