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.