Has someone you love succumbed to the lure of golf travel this year? Golf trips are among the most popular holiday travel, especially those that take you to warmer, sunnier climes. If your favorite golfer has booked a golf vacation this holiday season, why not add to the festivities by giving him or her a golf-themed holiday gift? If you’re not sure what to get that will be appreciated, here are a few suggestions that will help add to the fun on golf trips and golf vacations.

Golf Passes

Most golfers plan their golf trips around the courses they want to play, but they’ll usually have plenty more time to get in even more rounds on other courses. Once you know their destination, check around for other golf courses and clubs in the area, then check into the availability of a golf pass. In Arizona, golf courses sometimes band together, for example, to offer a golf pass that will grant entry onto the greens of any one of several major courses. Golf passes are relatively inexpensive, and many also offer discounts for playing as well as on items in the pro shop.

Golf Lessons

Help your golfer hone his game before he sets off on his golf vacation with lessons from a local golf pro. Phone up his favorite course to find out the availability of lessons, or check online for other nearby courses where you can schedule classes that concentrate on specific problem areas. What better gift can you give a golfer than shaving a few points off his handicap or helping him overcome that nasty slice?

Golf Equipment

He’s got his favorite clubs, but every golfer has a few pieces of golf equipment on his or her holiday list. If you’re not sure, you can ask directly, or you can call up the pro shop and ask for recommendations for a special golf gift. One possibility – a gift certificate to the pro shop that includes a swing analysis to help them fit him with the very best equipment for his own personal style.

Golf Balls and Other Stocking Stuffers

If the golf travel is taking your golfer overseas, one of the best gifts you can give him is a supply of golf balls. People who often take golf trips to Ireland, Scotland and other popular golf travel destinations always recommend bringing along extra balls – they’re expensive if you have to buy them while you’re there.

Of course, if you’re looking for a really spectacular gift for your favorite golfer, you could go all out and book him or her a golf vacation to his favorite dream destination. If he’s already beat you to it and booked his own golf travel, however, you can get in on the fun with one of these great holiday golf gifts.

Golf vacations are becoming more and more popular as more and more people learn about the pure enjoyment of addressing a ball and sending it sailing off across the green. If you’re planning golf travel this winter, these tips can help make your golf trip easier and more fun.

Let a Pro do the Planning For You

If you’ve never planned a golf vacation before, it makes sense to take advantage of the expertise of a professional travel agent. There are many travel agents that specialize in putting together golf vacation packages that include everything from lodging to tee time bookings. You can book a golf travel package with a theme, choose golf packages by cost or sit down with a travel agent and have them put together a custom golf package that hits the course that you want to play.

Do Some Research Before You Go

Whether you plan your own golf trip or book a pre-designed golf package, spend some time reading up on the courses you plan to play. Read reviews on the various courses and clubs and learn about the tricks and tips for playing each. It’s also important to know if there are particular rules or restrictions. For example, in Ireland, golf clubs often restrict play to those who have a handicap certificate.

Leave Your Clubs at Home or Ship Them Ahead

If you’re flying to your destination, traveling with your golf clubs can be a hassle. Each of the airlines has specific rules and regulations you’ll have to follow if you want to take your clubs along – and they will take the place of one of your allowed checked bags. You can save the hassle and expense – and the risk that your clubs will end up in Alaska while you’re on the Grand Strand – by renting clubs at your destination, or by shipping your clubs to your hotel ahead of you.

Book Your Tee Times Well in Advance

If you have particular courses that you want to play, call ahead to reserve a tee time. This is especially important if you’re planning to play a well-known club that’s very popular with tourists. Just how far ahead varies – if you want to play the Old Course at St. Andrews next summer, for example, you’re already out of luck – as of October 2011, tee times for March through October 2012 is already fully booked.

Whether you’re traveling on your own or booked a golf travel package with a group through a travel agency, a little research and advance planning will go a long way toward making your trip more enjoyable.

Advice for Ireland Golf Vacations

Next to Scotland, there are few places on Earth more sacred to avid golfers than Ireland. Some of the most revered golf courses in the world are located on the Emerald Isle, making it a favorite spot for golf vacations. If you’re planning an Ireland golf vacation, these facts and tips may come in handy.

The Best Time for Ireland Golf Courses

While most Irish golf courses, particularly links courses, are open year round, the weather is best from April to October, as are the conditions of the golf courses. Most golf enthusiasts recommend that you plan golf trips to Ireland during those months. The weather is comfortable all year long, but the summer daylight hours can give you a couple of extra rounds of golf in the evening before the sun sets.

Handicap Certificates

Many golf clubs require that non-members present a handicap certificate in order to play on the course. Avoid disappointment by making sure to obtain and pack one before you leave home.

Caddies

Caddies are not employed directly by golf clubs in Ireland, and there’s no guarantee that there will be a caddy available at tee times. Most golf travel guides recommend requesting a caddy in advance so that the golf club can make arrangements if necessary.

Golf Carts

Golf carts, or golf buggies, are rarer on Ireland golf courses than they are in the U.S. Many clubs don’t allow them at all, or limit their use to specific courses. If you want a gold cart, you should ask in advance and request a reservation at the time you book your tee time. Generally, preference is given for golfers that require a golf cart for medical reasons.

Golf Clubs – to Bring Or Not?

If you’re planning to take your own golf clubs, be sure to check with the airline in advance about their baggage policies concerning golf equipment. Many golfers choose to leave their clubs at home and rent them at the golf clubs where they play. Others choose to ship their golf clubs ahead by freight rather than trusting them to baggage handlers. Price out each of your options and decide which works best for you.

What Else to Pack

Whether you choose to take your clubs or leave them at home, there are some other things you’ll definitely want to pack. First – golf balls. Pack a few dozen. You’re likely to lose a few in the roughs, and they tend to be prohibitively expensive overseas. Aside from that, you’ll want rain gear, including waterproof shoes and a few pairs of all weather gloves. In addition, pack a warm jacket or sweater, even in the summer, for cool mornings and evenings.

Golf Travel Accommodations

There are many accommodation options for golf vacations in Ireland, ranging from holiday cottages or condos to luxury 5-star hotels and manor homes. You’ll often get the best deals on Ireland golf vacations when you book an entire tour, including accommodations and tee times at several famous golf courses, through a travel agent that specializes in golf travel.

Tips for Planning the Best Golf Travel Vacations

If you’re an avid golfer, sooner or later you’ll want to combine your vacation with a few rounds of golf on some of the world’s best golf courses. Golf vacations are quickly taking their place among the top vacation destinations and types for vacationers. When planning your dream golf travel vacation, there are many aspects to consider – how long you’ll stay, which courses to include, how much golf you’ll fit in and what other members of your group will do while you’re out on the golf course among them. Careful planning can ensure that everyone in your family – and especially you – enjoy your golf vacations thoroughly. These tips and suggestions can help you plan your golf travel to ensure that you enjoy every moment you spend on your holiday

Where to Go?

 

Is there one particular course you’re dying to play? On a trip to Scotland, golf enthusiasts often are determined to play a round at the most historic courses in the world, for example. If you plan your golf vacations around playing a particular course, check tee times and availability before booking the rest of your vacation.

For some golfers, the point of a golf holiday is to hit as many excellent golf courses as possible. In that case, choose a destination that puts you in the center of a major golfing region. In Myrtle Beach, golf is a major tourist attraction and you’ll find more than 100 top golf courses within easy driving distance. A trip to Myrtle Beach is a great way to maximize the number of courses you can play.

Golf Tour or On Your Own?

One of the best ways to enjoy golf vacations is to opt for a pre-packaged golf tour put together by a travel agent who specializes in arranging golf vacations. A golf travel agent often knows the best courses, times and places to play, and can help set you up with everything you need to best enjoy your holiday.

On the other hand, arranging your own golf vacations may allow you to play lesser-known but stellar golf courses that aren’t yet on the radar. If you enjoy the fun of discovering unexpected treasures, you may prefer to contact golf courses on your own and make your own arrangements.

Travel Arrangements

If your golf holiday will include airline travel, be sure to check with your airline about transporting your golf clubs and other golf equipment. Every airline has its own rules and regulations about how they count golf bags and equipment as luggage. Checking first will ensure that your clubs travel safely with you.

On the other hand, many golf travel experts advice either shipping your clubs ahead or renting a set at your destination to avoid the hassles and expense of bringing your own along with you. Weigh the advantages and drawbacks of each method and decide whether you’ll take your own clubs or rent when you get there.

Golf travel vacations give you a chance to play iconic courses and enjoy some of the best golf architecture in the world. A little advance planning can ensure that your golf holiday will be a memory to treasure.

Packing Tips for Golf Trips

If you’re heading out for a golfing vacation for the first time, you may be a little uncertain about the best ways to travel for golf trips. These packing tips can help you figure out what to do with your golfing equipment and what you should pack with you if you’re heading out on your first excursion in golf travel.

Should you take your own golf clubs with you? The answer to the question depends on a number of factors. If you’re traveling by automobile, there’s no reason why not. Simply pack them for travel just as you would to head out to your favorite golf course. If you’re flying, however, there are a number of things to consider. Nearly every airline considers your golf bag as one of your pieces of allowed luggage. Most require that your clubs and bag be packed inside a hard-sided golf case, and won’t guarantee them against damage unless they are packed inside a hard case. You can also include one pair of golf shoes and two sleeves of golf balls in your case to be counted as one piece of checked luggage.

Based on the expense and the possibility of damage to your clubs, many avid golf travel buffs recommend that you leave your own clubs at home and rent what you need when you arrive at your destination. The same doesn’t hold true of golf balls, however. Golf balls can be quite expensive overseas, so if you’re planning golf travel to Europe or Asia, pack a few dozen golf balls for the trip. If you do decide to pack your golf clubs with you, hunt around for a good quality, lightweight golf bag that can double as a field bag.

If your golf trips will take you to the UK, you’ll also want to pack along your handicap certificate. While there are plenty of golf clubs that will let you book a tee time without one, if you want to play the Old Course at Royal Troon, Scotland, golf at St. Andrews or play on many of the other world class golf courses in the UK, you’ll need to present your handicap certificate to prove that you’re worthy of treading the same greens.

Check the dress code on the courses you intend to play and be sure to pack appropriately. Consider choosing wrinkle-free clothing that travels well – you do want to look natty on the golf course, after all. And wherever your golf trips take you, always, always, always pack a good quality, lightweight raincoat because chances are you’ll need it at some point in your trip.

Fabulous Scotland Golf Trips

Every golfer dreams of someday making the pilgrimage to Scotland, golf’s original home, and playing a round on one of the oldest and most revered golf courses in the world. The Old Course at St. Andrews features large in the fantasies of those who enjoy golf vacations and golf trips, but there are many other Scotland golf destinations that an avid golfer should visit and enjoy. These represent some of the top golf courses in Scotland. Any golf vacation should include a round or two on at least a few of these courses.

St Andrews

The Old Course is venerated above all other courses in the world, and as would be expected, it’s booked well in advance. If you want to take your turn teeing off at the course where golf was born, be sure to book your tee time well before you go. In fact, you may even want to hold off on setting the particulars for your golf vacation so that you can plan it around your booking at the Old Course.

Gleneagles Golf Resort

Host of the Ryder Cup matches in 2014, Gleneagles Golf Resort features three championship courses that offer challenging play and stunning scenery. You can choose to play The Kings, The Queens or the Wee Course, which is a nine hole course. Whichever you choose, the experience will be unforgettable.

Turnberry Resort

Located on the southwestern coast of Scotland, the course at the Turnberry Resort offers stunning views of the Sleeping Warrior – better known as the Isle of Arran. The Turnberry Course is links golf at its most challenging and the area offers a number of other courses you can play while you’re in the area. It’s a very popular spot for luxury golf vacations, and you can expect to find luxurious lodgings, world class dining and some of the best golf to be had anywhere in the world.

Solway Links Golf Course

If your golfing trip includes your entire family, or you want a break from the intensity of playing the high challenge of courses like Turnberry, stop in at Solway Links, located between Dumfries and Galloway in the southwest Lakes District. The pay for play course is informal, inexpensive and designed to be fun for the entire family.

Royal Troon

Founded in 1878, Royal Troon is one of the oldest and best-known courses in all of Scotland, and its reputation has made it a choice destination for golf trips and golf vacations. The majestic course is located just four miles from Prestwick Airport, making it easy to reach, but it’s not so easy to play. You’ll need to book your tee time well in advance, and present a certificate of handicap in order to play on either of their challenging courses.

If you’re hoping to golf the Old Courses at Royal Troon or St. Andrews, now is the time to start planning your 2012 golf vacations. Make your plans early and you’ll be sure to enjoy the best of Scotland golf.

Golf Travel Tips for Family and Friends of Golfers

Are you tired of being a golf widow or widower? Does your spouse or partner go off on golf trips and leave you behind? You’re not alone by a long shot. Golf travel is one of the fastest growing specialty segments of the travel and vacation industry. You don’t have to stay behind when your guy or gal heads off on golf vacations, though. Today’s hottest golf travel destinations feature lots of other activities to keep you and your family happy even if you never set foot on the golf course. These tips can help you enjoy golf vacations as much as your golfing companion.

Choose golf vacations in areas that offer a lot of other activities on and off the golf course. In Myrtle Beach, golf may be the main draw but there are many other activities to choose from. You can spend the days on the beach, visit water parks or head out for a day of shopping, then join up with your golfing buddy for dinners in world class restaurants and nights at comedy clubs or on the dance floor.

Two words – golf resort. Nearly every major golf destination in the country and overseas features full-scale resorts built around a golf course – or more than one. You’ll get luxury accommodations, access to the spa facilities and lots of other resort activities. Your golfer will get to hit the links on some of the best golf courses in the country.

Explore the city and surrounding countryside. Golf courses are located in some of the most beautiful lands in the country. If you’re artistic, take along a sketchbook and pencil and try your hand at sketching. You’ll find yourself growing a true appreciation for the old saying that golf is a beautiful walk through God’s beautiful country.

Extract a promise of one golf-free day to do something together – and plan it out. Take the time to investigate other things to do and make reservations or set up your plans in advance. You’ll find activities that range from scuba diving to para-sailing or shopping to museum tours, all within easy range of the golf courses that are the centerpiece of your trip.

Learn to golf. Nearly every golf travel destination will have golf pros at courses who specialize in beginner lessons to groom new users and introduce them to the game. Who knows? Maybe future golf trips will feature the two of you playing together.

Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Offer Fun for Everyone

As the cold gloom of a northern winter closes in, the golfer’s imagination can’t help but turn to golf trips in warmer, sunnier climes. While there are many sunny places you can go to golf, none of them offer quite the same appeal and array of benefits that you’ll find at Myrtle Beach. Golf is more than a pleasant recreation in Myrtle Beach – it’s a way of life and the life’s blood of the entire region.

Back in the bad old days, Myrtle Beach was known as the bargain basement of golf trips. The 60-mile long Grand Strand that runs from North Carolina to South Carolina is home to over 100 golf courses, many of them in operation for decades. The pleasant, year-round weather and the stunning scenery has made the Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach one of the most popular destinations for golf travel, which has given rise to many other tourist attractions to keep your entire family entertained.

Golf Travel and Hotels

Some of the most popular golf destinations around Myrtle Beach are full-scale golf resorts built around one or more world-class golf courses. Legends Golf & Resort, for instance, offers access to five beautiful golf courses, all of them designed by a world-renowned architect of golf courses, while Barefoot Resort and Golf features four award-winning golf courses designed by, respectively, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. At either golf resort, you can book a golf package vacation that includes playing one, two or more of the courses.

Of course, you don’t have to stay at a golf resort to enjoy a round of golf on a Myrtle Beach golf course. There are many golf courses and golf clubs that aren’t affiliated with the big resorts – and you can nearly always book a tee time on the resort courses even if you’re not staying at the hotel.

Beyond Golf – Activities for Your Family

For those golfers who are traveling with families who have other interests, Myrtle Beach offers a little something for everyone. You’ll find shopping malls and retail outlets, discount outlets for many major manufacturers and boutiques for everything from clothing to glassware. Take a day off from the links to head out to the beach or a water park with the kids, or take them to one of the many mini-golf and amusement park choices that dot the entire coast.

Don’t let the winter doldrums get your down. Myrtle Beach is always open, with sunshine and lots of golfing activities to keep your golf trips on track to fun.

Golf Travel Trends

Golf travel has always been one of the quiet mainstays of the travel and tourism industries – it’s one of the reasons that so many 4-star resorts feature stunning golf courses, or are built close to the most famous golf courses in the country. Golfers are in a league of their own when it comes to vacations among sports lovers. Baseball lovers may travel to see the Baseball Hall of Fame, but most fans know they don’t have a prayer of playing a sandlot game at Fenway or Wrigley Stadium. Golf travel, on the other hand, underscores the equalizing force that is the game of golf. In most cases, if you can afford the greens fee, you can play the same courses that the golf pros play. Most baseball fans will never face the Green Monster, but any golfer knows that someday he absolutely can play the Amen Corner at Augusta National or take his chances against the elements and the architecture of the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Playing famous golf courses is just one of the best known trends in golf travel. Every golfer has his own personal bucket list of holes he wants to play or courses he wants to tee off on, and every golf magazine and website in the country is built around stoking the fantasy of playing the great courses. Each year, the most famous golf publications publish their list of the best 100 golf courses in the country and in the world. Basing golf vacations around playing those famous courses is one way to plan your summer.

Other golfers prefer to put their golf travel time toward discovering little known hidden gems, those golf courses that are best known to local players and seldom make it into the national golfing magazines. Some of them might be famous for a particularly treacherous hole, or for the amazing hospitality of the staff, or the beauty of the surroundings. For those golfers, golf trips might involve parking the family at a hotel in an area surrounded by golf courses and clubs, and heading out to find out where the locals go to play.

While many traveling golfers head out to the Grand Strand or to Arizona to enjoy two of the best and most populous golfing venues in the U.S., others look for a more historic vacation. Golf vacations to Ireland, golf trips to Scotland, and golf travel that encompasses both countries that contributed so much to the history of the glorious game.

Whether you want to play the most famed courses in this country, the most historic courses in the Old Country or the quiet, hidden gems that have yet to be discovered, golf travel is one of the hottest trends in travel today. Pick your courses, pack your clubs and head on out to enjoy a round of golf on the courses you’ve always dreamed of playing.

Tips for Great Irish Golf Trips

Ireland is second only to Scotland as the home to great and historic golf courses, and it’s become more and more popular as an international destination for golf trips and golf travel. If you’ve been thinking about taking a golf vacation with stops at the most historic Ireland golf courses, there’s never been a better time. These tips from veterans of golf travel can help you plan an Irish golf vacation you’ll thoroughly enjoy.

Double Check Rate’s at Ireland Golf Venues and Courses

The economic crisis has hit everyone hard, and that includes some of the best golf clubs and courses in Ireland. If you’ve been dreaming about playing the great Irish golf courses but thought the prices were out of range, now is the time to look again. You’ll find that the golf and the accommodations have come tumbling down from their prices just a few years ago, and you may just be able to afford a few rounds of golf at courses you’d considered far out of reach.

Take Advantage of Golf Packages and Spas Near the Airports

There are a number of luxury golf resorts and spas within easy driving distance from the airports, and it’s worth the investment to take full advantage of one of them. Book a stay for a night or two, and check in directly from your flight. You can clean up, relax and sink into the luxury, then head out for an early morning or late afternoon round of golf to get yourself in the mood for the rest of your trip. If you book in mid-week, you can usually take advantage of weekday discounts, making a luxury stay a real bargain.

Book a Driver Along with Your Car Hire

If you’re traveling from the States – especially if it’s your first golf trip to Ireland – driving will be a challenge. While you can save money by hiring a car and doing your own driving, booking a coach and driver can be worth the extra you’ll pay for it. If you’re traveling with a group, it could be even more cost effective. Booking a driver eliminates the uncertainty of driving on the “wrong” side of the road, especially in areas where the roads are already twisting, windy and dangerous. It also means that you can set aside any concerns about driving and enjoy an extra pint or two at the pub to celebrate your game.

Enjoy the Smaller Lodging Places

Luxury is lovely, but don’t overlook some of the smaller guest houses and B&B’s that dot the Irish countryside. The hospitality is second to none, and your host may have his own golf tips to share with you about the local courses.

If you’re planning a golf vacation to Ireland anytime soon, take the time to get quotes on golf travel and golf trips to Ireland from a number of travel agencies. The prices are competitive, and you’ll be sure to get booked into courses you never would have found on your own.

How to Choose the Best Golf Travel Deals

Golf travel has become one of the most popular types of destination vacations. Many travel agents specialize in putting together and booking trips to areas of the country or other countries that are famous for their golf courses. Like any activity that becomes very popular, there are always a few scammers who take advantage of golfers willing to put up big dollars for golf trips that allow them to play golf courses they’ve seen on television or read about in a golfing magazine. Here are things to be watchful for when you book your next golf travel vacation.

Always ask for an itemized list of charges when you book your golf vacations, especially if you’re booking a package deal. Ask your travel agent if the price you’re paying includes greens fees and court surcharges, and if there will be other charges.

Be aware that some golf courses may require you to rent a cart. Many of the best courses don’t allow non-members to walk the green and require them to rent a cart instead.

Don’t book golf travel trips blind – that is, without knowing what’s going on in the area at the time you’ll be visiting. Check the local calendar to see what other events might be happening in the town or cities you’ll be staying in. Among other things, knowing what’s going on in town will help you schedule other activities around your golf games.

If your package deal includes golf and not just lodging in an area that gives you access to the golf courses you want to play, be sure to check the ratings and reviews on the courses where you’re booked to play. After all, what fun is golf travel if you end up playing on poorly ranked courses?

Choose a golf travel deal at an all-inclusive resort with a great reputation for golf. Many of the areas most famous for golf feature resorts built around golf courses, courses where anyone who is registered at the resort can play. Whether you book at a Myrtle Beach golf resort or an Arizona golf resort, you’re sure to get your rounds in if the golf course is part of the resort.

Whether your golf travel takes you to the East Coast or the West Coast, or even across the Atlantic to visit famous Scotland golf landmarks, always check the details of your arrangements to be sure that you’re getting what you think you’re getting. After all, your golf trip should provide you with nothing but happy memories.

Tips for Planning Golf Trips with Your Family

Destination vacations have been a major part of the travel industry for as long as there have been family vacations, but activity vacations are a growing trend within the genre. Golf trips are among the most popular types of vacations focused specifically on enjoying a particular activity. Among the most popular destinations for golf trips and golf vacations are Myrtle Beach, golf capital of the East Coast, and Arizona, which features some of the best desert golf courses in the world. If you’re planning to make golfing a major part of your family vacation, it’s important to choose a destination that offers other activities your entire family will enjoy. These golf trips tips can help you ensure that your whole family has fun – which translates to more happy time on the golf course for you.

Choose From Countless All-Inclusive Golf Vacations

Many Arizona golf destinations feature all inclusive resorts with access to onsite and offsite golf courses. Your trip will usually include the cost of greens fees for at least one round of golf at the resort golf course, and may include even more great golfing. While you’re off on the greens, your family can take advantage of water parks and pools, spa activities, activities geared for kids, and entertainment arranged by the resort.

Plan Afternoon Activities for the Kids

Contact the local Chamber of Commerce or check online for nearby fun activities for your kids, and plan a full slate of enjoyable things for their afternoons. Enjoy a morning of golf on your own while your kids take advantage of the hotel pool or game room, then join them for day trips to local attractions in the afternoons. Many Myrtle Beach golf destinations are within easy driving distance of marine museums, water parks and amusement parks where your kids can cut loose and have fun.

Add a Round of Mini Golf to Your Plans

Get your kids in on the fun of golf. If you hit up Tucson, Arizona golf courses, you’ll find that many of them are extremely kid-friendly. In fact, Tucson is one of the centers of the youth golf movement, with some of the best young golfers in the country. If your little ones are too little, or not interested in a game of real golf, most will still love getting in a round of mini golf with dad and mom. You’ll find mini golf centers and entertainment centers all up and down the coast, especially clustered around Myrtle Beach golf courses.

Don’t forget to take the rest of the family into consideration when planning golf trips. The more fun they have while you’re on the golf course, the more likely they are to look forward to future golf vacations.

Choosing the Best Golf Trips

Golf trips are becoming increasingly popular for holiday travel. Many travel agencies now offer grand tours of golfing areas, vacations at golf resorts and other golf-related vacations to their clients. If you’re sifting through golf vacations and trying to find the best deals, you’ll find there’s an embarrassment of riches. You don’t have to resort to happenstance in making a choice among the many golf trips available through your travel agent or online. These tips for choosing the best golf vacations can help.

List Your Must-Play Courses

If you dream of teeing off at Augusta, home of the Masters, you’re not going to manage it with an Arizona golf vacation. Start by listing the golf courses you’d love to play and work from there. A web search will help you find travel agencies that book golf trips in the surrounding area and may even be able to set you up with a tee time to your favorite courses as part of your package.

Draw a Circle on the Map

Start with your must-play courses as a center and draw a circle on the map to narrow down your choices of other local clubs. You could confine your golf vacation to one course, but why would you if you can play at a different club every day of your vacation? Of course, you’ll find far more in some areas of the country than in others. For example, South Carolina’s Grand Strand is home to well over 100 private and public golf courses. You can take in several when you plan a Myrtle Beach golf vacation.

Set Your Budget

Decide how much you can spend for your golf trip to help set your sights on a realistic goal. Of course, for some folks money is no option, but if you’re not one of them, you’ll find lots of great bargains on golf trips by shopping online. You can reduce the price somewhat by arranging your own travel, or by choosing golf vacations that are closer to home. If you’ve got a broader budget, consider Ireland golf trips and Scotland golf vacations for a never-to-be-forgotten trip for any golf lover.

Comparison Shop for Golf Trips

Once you’ve decided which courses you want to play, you get to the fun part – comparison shopping. You’ll find many sites online that specialize in golf trips. Make the rounds and look for golf travel sites that offer the combination of courses you want to play at the price you can afford.

Arizona Golf Vacations to Enjoy

Beautiful Arizona offers an incredible bounty to the golfer. With over 300 sunny days a year and average winter temperatures of about 70 degrees, the state is home to over 300 public and private golf courses that run the gamut from public greens open to anyone to golf resorts built around stunning courses designed by some of the best golf architects in the world. There are three basic Arizona golf destinations. If golf vacations interest you and you’re planning golf travel this coming year, Arizona golf courses are waiting for you.

Tucson, Arizona, Golf Experience

Tucson covers nearly 500 square miles of varied, diverse land, making it a perfect spot for casual golf crowd. The city, located at the north end of the Sonoran Desert, boasts about 350 sunny days a year. The warm temperatures and varied landscapes provide a mind-boggling variety of golf experiences for those on golf vacations. The casual atmosphere of the small Southwestern city spills over onto its golfing community. Tucson is the most welcoming city in the country for youth golfers, family golf and novice golfers. If it’s your first golf trip, Tucson is definitely worth the visit. It will be the first of many golf vacations to come.

Scottsdale, Arizona, Golf Clubs

The Phoenix – Scottsdale area of Arizona is one of the truly elite golf destinations in the world. Home to some of the wealthiest and most discerning people in the world, Phoenix has attracted the crème de la crème in course designer. Scottsdale,Arizona golf resorts offer incredible golfing, stunning scenery and the kind of luxury that you’d expect to find at high-end luxury resorts. Of course, there’s more to Scottsdale than golf courses. If you can tear yourself away from the rolling greens and sand traps, you’ll find world class restaurants featuring international cuisine, stunning scenery, water-skiing and hang gliding, shopping destinations and luxury spas. It’s the ideal spot for golf vacations for the serious golfer and family.

Sedona, Arizona, Golf Courses

Scottsdale may offer luxury golf courses and Tucson may cater to the more casual golfer, but Sedona provides the most dramatic and elite golf courses in a state famed for its golf courses. When the temperature in Scottsdale and Phoenix is hitting the triple digits, Sedona’s golf courses offer respite from the typical Arizona heat thanks to the mountain breezes. Sedona is home to more resort golf clubs than any other area in the state. Each of the stunning courses was designed by A-list course architects, and most are connected to resorts that were built for the purpose of serving the golfers attracted by the beauty and playability of the courses. While most of the resort courses are private, many of them offer public access to their links to give you plenty of opportunity to fill your golf card for the weekend or a few weeks.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in golf vacations, enlist the help of a travel agent experienced in booking golf travel and golf tours.

Planning Golf Trips for Your Family

Vanity and specialty vacations have always been popular, but none are quite as popular in recent years as golf trips – vacations that center around hitting some of the best links in the country. If you enjoy golfing and are considering a vacation where you intend to enjoy a round or five of excellent golf, these tips for planning golf trips can help you put together a vacation that you and your entire family will enjoy.

Enjoy Myrtle Beach Golf

In Myrtle Beach, golf is second nature. With nearly 120 golf courses along the Grand Strand, you’ll have a huge choice of excellent greens on which you can tee off. You can easily golf a different course each day, and take advantage of champion courses designed by some of the best golf course architects in the country. While you’re out enjoying the golf links, your wife and kids – assuming they’re not golfers themselves – won’t be stuck sitting around the hotel room. Myrtle Beach offers so many other attractions that you’ll be hard pressed to fit them all into one short, or very long, vacation. There’s shopping, water parks, amusement parks and, of course, some of the most stunning and scenic beaches of the Atlantic Coast.

Hit the Links in Arizona

Arizona golf courses are definitely coming into their own. With several golf courses making the grade in Golf magazine’s 100 Best Courses to Play, the Phoenix/Scottsdale area features desert golf at its best. Sunshine, dry weather and stunning scenery all add up to golf trips that can’t be equaled anywhere else in the nation. But unlike Myrtle Beach, Scottsdale and Phoenix didn’t develop around golf, so there are even more attractions to amuse your family while you’re out enjoying your swinging lifestyle. If, on the other hand, your family also loves to golf, you should definitely include a swing through Tucson on your golf vacation. Though it’s a relative newcomer to the ranks of the top golfing trips in the country, Tucson has already made a name for itself as a family-friendly golf area. Look into all-inclusive resort vacations that include Arizona golf in the amenities.

Overseas Golf Trips

If your golf trips take you overseas, you can’t miss out on Ireland and Scotland, golf capitals of the Old World. The Emerald Isle and Scotland, the land where golf got its start, feature the oldest and most famous golf courses in the entire world. Even newcomers to the game of golf can’t escape the thrill of standing on the Old Course at St. Andrews, site of some of the most famous games ever played.

If you’re considering a golfing vacation this summer, your best bet may be to work through a travel agent or website that specializes in putting together golf trips, and taking advantage of their connections and expertise to get the best deals on golf trips and golf vacations.

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations Let You Enjoy the Scenery

Most golfers don’t golf for the scenery, but when you’re in Myrtle Beach, you can’t help but enjoy the view. Golf vacations in Myrtle Beach offer a few major advantages you won’t find anywhere else like the 110 plus golf courses to choose from, gorgeous weather and a culture built around golf add up to create a golfer’s paradise. It’s hard to find an unattractive course, but there are some jewels that are true standouts, even when you compare them to other Grand Strand courses. If your golf vacations are taking you to Myrtle Beach this year, be sure to check out these stunning courses where the scenery is almost as good as the golf.

Rivers Edge, an Arnold Palmer Signature course, is easily one of the most beautiful courses you’ll ever play. Six of the holes play out to the bluffs overlooking grassy marshlands and the Shalotte River. It’s not just a pretty face, either. Developed in 1999, Rivers Edge was named to Golf Magazine’s “Top New Courses You Can Play” in 2000 and in “The Best Courses Near You” in both 2008 and 2010.

Winyah Bay, touted as the course where nature meets golf vacations, is another of the most beautiful – and most underrated – golf courses on the Grand Strand. Located in Georgetown, South Carolina, the course opened in 1955, making it one of the oldest courses on the Grand Strand. In 1998, Winyah Bay got a major facelift and an additional nine holes, making it one of the newest 18-hole courses in the Myrtle Beach area. The course overlooks Winyah Bay, affording stunning views from most of the holes, and the topography makes the play interesting. After your game, relax on the antebellum verandah and enjoy the view with one of the club’s signature drinks.

Glen Dornoch, designed by Clyde Johnston, plays along the Intracoastal Waterway. The course meanders among centuries old oaks and over the marshes. Many of the holes feature spectacular views of the waterway, and the course features some surprise changes in elevation to keep the play interesting. It’s one of the four courses that make up The Glens Golf Group, and easily the prettiest of the group.

The Dunes Club, designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1948, takes anybody’s prize as the most spectacular golf course on the Grand Strand. It’s biggest claim to fame is that it’s the only Grand Strand course that’s built along the Atlantic Ocean. While the others flirt with the waterways and inland marshes, only the Dunes is actually right on the ocean, and the stunning views alone are worth the green fees.

If you’re planning one or more golf vacations this year, make sure you get one of these gorgeous courses on your list.

Things to Do on Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations Besides Play Golf

Myrtle Beach golf vacations have a lot more to offer than access to more than 100 of the best golf courses in the country. Let’s face it – as much as you might love it, you can’t spend 24 hours a day on the green. If you’re planning a golf trip to Myrtle Beach, you’re just going to have to suck it up and check out some of the other wonderful things you can do on golf trips to Myrtle Beach.

All the Sand Is Not In the Sand Traps

Yes, Myrtle Beach features gorgeous beaches, so plan a day to get acquainted with sand that isn’t there to make your golf game more challenging. Myrtle Beach is part of South Carolina’s Grand Strand, with 60 miles of white sand beaches and sparkling blue water. Plan in some family time with a visit to a water park – if you’ve got an adventure ride fan in your travel group, be sure to check out the Swamp Fox at Family Kingdom Amusement Park, one of the few remaining wooden roller coasters in the country.

Watch the Pelicans Hit Something Bigger Than a Golf Ball

Myrtle Beach is home to a High Class A team in baseball’s minor leagues. If you’re planning golf trips between April and September, check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ schedule to see if they’ve got a game on. Enjoy an evening game, complete with hot dogs and beer, and get in early enough to rest up for an early tee time in the morning. You’ll find that the ticket prices are very reasonable, especially if you compare them to major league ballparks.

Swing Something Besides A Golf Club

When Irving Mills wrote “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” he wasn’t talking about your 9 iron. Get into the swing of things with some of the country’s top recording and performing acts at one of Myrtle Beach’s top musical clubs. Check out House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach to see who’s swinging the place during your golf vacation, and book tickets for a show that will be almost as memorable as your morning at the Dye Club.

Laugh at a Joke That’s Funnier Than Your Slice

After a brutal day of golf on some of the most challenging courses on the Grand Strand, get out for an evening of tension relief. The Comedy Cabana is only one of the many clubs in Myrtle Beach that feature stand-up comedy, but it may be one of the best. If you’re lucky, your golf trips will coincide with a visit by a national headliner, but even the locals will knock some of that tension out of your stance and loosen you up for a better set in the morning.

In addition, Myrtle Beach features incredible restaurants for your dining pleasure, two huge outlet malls to tickle your shopping bone and hot dance clubs where you can work out the kinks after a day on the course. If you need more ideas, talk to a travel agent who specializes in Myrtle Beach golf vacations and learn more about the wonderful non-golf things you can do on your golf trip.

5 Reasons for Golf Travel to Scotland

Ah, Scotland! The land of heather and hardship, the only land in the world where someone could be bored enough to invent a game where you hit a ball into a hole in the ground. One wonders if the Scottish kings, when they were busy devising the rules for such Scottish games as golf and caber toss, ever imagined that their humble sport would someday become one of the most popular and lucrative sports in the entire world, and that someday, tens of thousands of people annually would visit Scotland for golf vacations that are part pilgrimage and part pleasure. If you’re one of those who’d love to visit famous Scots courses but need to justify your choice of golf vacations to a spouse or traveling group, here are five reasons why you should make Scotland the site of your next golf trip.

Playing Golf in Scotland is Like Coming Home.

Yes, the game was invented here, and its governing body resides right here in Scotland. If for no other reason than that, you need to play a round or two of golf in the place where golf was born.

Scots Welcome Visitors With Open Arms

Nearly all Scottish golf courses welcome visitors, even the private clubs who generally accept members only. Hang about at the pub in town and there’s a good chance you’ll get an invite from a member. If that fails, ring up the club and ask. Most times you can get a tee time as a guest on even a private course.

If Variety is the Spice of Life, Scotland Is the Queen of Spicy Golf.

Scotland easily has enough golf courses for a dozen golf vacations, let alone one. Whether you prefer a quite nine-hole or a world class championship course, you’re bound to find all the variety you can imagine on a visit to a Scotland golf club.

St. Andrews, the Old Course, Gleneagle

The country is home to some of the oldest and most historic golf courses in the world. You’ve watched the golf pros play on the big money courses, and so can you, as long as you book your tee time in advance and pay your money for your booking.

Links Courses

There are few courses as stunningly beautiful or as wickedly challenging as the links style courses along the Scottish coasts. If you love links courses, you have to play Scotland. If you’ve never played a links course, you have to come to Scotland for a proper introduction.

There are dozens of other reasons to visit Scotland on golf trips, each of them played by hundreds if not thousands of other golfers. If you need still more reasons, contact a travel agency that specializes in golf holiday travels to book a very special golf tour for yourself.

Tips for Ireland Golf Vacations

Golf vacations allow you to combine your time off with a chance to play some of the best and most famous courses in the world. Next to Scotland, no country has a deeper history or connection to the game of golf than Ireland. Golf travel in Ireland combines magical landscapes, the best championship and local courses and a feeling that you’re golfing in one of the most historic regions of the world.

It’s been said that golf is a good excuse for a walk, and if that’s all you’re looking for on your vacation, Ireland provides it in full measure. The Irish links are situated on some of the most beautiful land in the world. From courses located on the rugged Northern Coast to links style greens that inhabit the misty inner reaches of the Emerald Isle, every Irish golf course provides stunning views and vistas. You may find yourself teeing off with your back to the prevailing sea winds one day and trying to concentrate on a putt surrounded by eerie mists and ancient trees the next.

If, on the other hand, the game of golf is all about the skills, Ireland golf won’t disappoint. The greens and links of the Emerald Isle are some of the trickiest in the world—they had to be to fit into the rights of way on which the original public golf courses were built. Many of the courses feature narrow, bent greens that require you bring your top skills to the game to play anywhere close to par on each hole.

If neither the skills nor the scenery are enough to bring you to Ireland for the golf, then the hospitality surely will. The golf clubs in the Emerald Isle are reputed to be among the most hospitable in the world. From the smallest village to the grand cities, Irish golfers are always ready to raise a pint with you while they regale you with tales of the country’s golfing past. If you think that fishermen’s tales of the one that got away were entertaining, it’s only because you’ve never heard an Irish golfer tell the tale of the hole-in-one that almost wasn’t.

If you’re convinced that you’ll find the luck of the Irish on an Irish golf course, these tips may help you enjoy your vacation all the more.

If you play the links courses, be prepared to walk. Most links courses do not allow buggies. Some may allow you to pull a golf cart, and the more luxurious will provide a caddy to carry your clubs.

Prepare yourself for the wind if you play seaside links. No matter which direction you’re playing in, the wind always seems to be in your face. It may not be a manly thing, but be sure to pack along moisturizer to diminish the chapping and windburn. No one can have fun when their face is smarting and burning.

If you’re considering Irish golf vacations, contact a tour operator who specializes in organizing tours of the Irish links. They’re in the know about the best deals and best courses to play on the greenest little island on earth.