Five Reasons Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Are the Best

Myrtle Beach is widely regarded as one of the top destinations for golf trips in the United States – and there are many excellent reasons why that’s so. If you’re still deciding on a destination for your upcoming golf vacations, check out these five reasons that Myrtle Beach should be at the top of your list.

Golf Courses

Myrtle Beach is home to more than 100 golf courses, and more than 50 of them feature 4-star layouts. The Grand Strand is a golfer’s dream not just for the sheer number of courses you can play but for their quality. Seven of Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” are all located along the Grand Strand. How can a golfer go wrong?

Great Value

When Myrtle Beach first became popular for golf trips, it was known as the bargain basement of golf vacations. Back then, the courses fit the bargain basement description but in the intervening years, some of golf’s top course architects have stepped up to build and redesign the most popular courses. Value is still a primary feature in Myrtle Beach golf trips, though. The courses, clubs and resorts along the Grand Strand offer special packages and golf vacations tours that offer great value at very affordable prices.

Superb Weather

Myrtle Beach offers year-round spectacular golfing weather, with average temperatures in the 70s and more sunny days than most other parts of the country. There’s very seldom a bad day for golf – if there is such a thing – along Myrtle Beach.

Wonderful Food

No matter how much you’d like to spend all your time on the green, a golfer’s gotta eat, and Myrtle Beach offers some of the country’s best restaurants. Whether you want to grab a quick burger on the go (Ron Jon’s Beer and Burgers is your go-to place) or sit down to a gourmet meal in a world-class setting like New York Prime, Myrtle Beach has got you covered.

Location

It’s hard to find a more beautiful place than Myrtle Beach. From the stunning coastline and sandy beaches to the moss-draped trees of the inland swamps, Myrtle Beach golf trips surround you with mother nature’s beauty. If you’re among those who think the scenery is a great reason for a golf game, Myrtle Beach is the place you want to be.

If you’re in charge of planning golf trips for your group or are planning a golf vacation for yourself, check out the many golf vacations to Myrtle Beach offered by travel agents that specialize in golf travel. You won’t be sorry.

Travel Tips for Enjoyable UK Golf Vacations

Destinations for golf vacations in the United States include the Arizona golf region and Myrtle Beach. For those who prefer their golf vacations to be international, though, nothing beats a trip to take in the old world golf courses in Ireland and Scotland. Golf trips to the UK involve a lot of planning, and many travelers leave the big details to golf travel agents. There are, however, a number of things you should keep in mind to make your overseas golf trips more enjoyable.

Travel Insurance

Anyone planning an overseas vacation should invest in travel insurance and it’s especially important when you’ve had to prepay for advance bookings at hotels and major golf clubs and courses. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance will cover you for the amount of non-refundable prepaid expenses if something happens and you have to cancel all or part of your trip.

Clothing

The UK enjoys moderate temperatures year-round, but you should be prepared for cool weather and for rain no matter what time of year you travel. Be aware that many traditional golf clubs require a jacket and tie to enter the Club House and some may enforce appropriate dress on the golf course.

Documents

In addition to your passport, you should also carry your valid drivers’ license if you are planning to rent a vehicle. Additionally, customs agents may request proof that you intend to return to the U.S. Your return ticket should suffice.

Electricity

If you’re traveling with your cell phone, laptop, electric shaver or other electrical or electronics devices, invest in a voltage transformer and plug adaptor. Otherwise, you won’t be able to recharge your devices.

Golf Bookings

Many of the most popular golf courses, such as the Old Course, St. Andrews in Scotland, have tee times booked as much as a year in advance. If you want to play particular courses, be sure to have your golf travel agent check into the booking policy so that you can make the necessary arrangements and avoid disappointment.

Golf Carts

Inland golf courses may have motorized golf carts available, but they are a rarity and their availability is limited. If you require a golf cart, it’s advisable to call ahead and reserve one. Most of the links courses in Scotland and Ireland don’t generally permit the use of motorized golf carts, though some may make exceptions in special circumstances. Most courses have pull carts available for hire.

Golf Caddies

Caddies are generally independent contractors and few UK golf courses will guarantee the availability of a caddy. If you want a caddy, it’s always advisable to call ahead and put in a request. Be prepared to pay your caddy directly. The caddy master will tell you the cost when you call.

Handicaps

Many UK golf courses require that visiting players hold official handicaps. This is especially true at the best and most popular golf courses. Carry a handicap certificate with you to ensure access to the golf course.

Golf vacations to the UK provide lifelong memories. Being prepared for all eventualities will ensure that all of your memories are pleasant ones.

Tips for Planning Golf Trips

It will happen sooner or later. If you’ve been bitten by the golf bug, you’ll get to the point where it’s just not enough to play the local courses. You start dreaming about the golf trips you could take. You imagine golf vacations, and plan your travel around the golf courses you might play. It may strike you suddenly – a desire to play an amazing hole you’ve seen in a televised tournament, perhaps – or develop over time. It may just be a general notion that if you’re going to travel, you might as well check out golf courses and clubs in the area. Or you may specifically plan golf travel – a trip taken completely for the purpose of playing golf at many different courses. No matter what you decide, though, there are some things to remember when planning golf trips, whether for yourself or for a group.

Budget

Budget is always a vital component of any trip, and it’s especially important when you’re figuring golf into your travel plans. Teeing off at some of the most popular courses in the world can be a pricey proposition, but golf trips don’t have to be expensive. If there are golf clubs or courses you must play, check their availability and the greens fees before you book the rest of your vacation. That will allow you to budget for expensive clubs if necessary, or choose different courses to play.

Season

Some areas of the country are great golfing in any season – Arizona golf, for example, is perfect in any month, and Myrtle Beach golf courses are always playable. Do call ahead, though, to find out when courses will be undergoing grooming and reseeding. Playability will be affected – but on many of the best courses, you’ll still get a dynamite game – often at bargain prices.

Golf Travel Agents

Consider planning your vacation through a travel agency that specializes in arranging golf trips, especially if you’re heading to an area you don’t know well. Golf travel agents have connections, which is one of the best reasons for using a travel agent for any type of trip. When it comes to golf trips, though, those connections often translate to knowing about obscure but amazing golf courses that are off the beaten path, or special little perks that won’t be available to a player who books a tee time on his own.

Transporting Your Clubs

Your golf clubs will count as part of your travel baggage if you’re traveling by air. If you’re planning to bring your own golf clubs, always check with the airline to find out about any special rules and regulations you’ll have to follow.

You can, of course, avoid the hassle of traveling with your golf clubs by either shipping them ahead of you and meeting up with them at your destination, or by making arrangements to rent a set of golf clubs when you arrive.

Golf trips are practically guaranteed to be enjoyable for an avid golfer, but some careful planning can ensure that your golf travel goes off without a hitch.

Golf vacations are becoming more and more popular as tours and trips for families, couples, individuals and groups. Golf is a uniquely democratic sport. While it may be the sport of kings, anyone who can swing a club and afford the greens fee can play the same courses where the pros play. A baseball fan may never have the opportunity to step up to home plate at Fenway and face the Green Monster, but any golfer can step up to the tee at the Amen Corner and feel like a pro. If you’re considering a golf trip or trying to choose among destinations for the best golf vacations, consider these venues the next time you’re bitten by the golf travel bug.

Myrtle Beach Golf

On the east coast, the most popular golf vacations destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Once known as the bargain basement of the golf circuit, Myrtle Beach golf has come into its own as a quality destination for the very best that golf has to offer. Overall, Myrtle Beach is known for its meticulously maintained golf courses, its golf-friendly climate and the sheer number and variety of golf courses and golf clubs where you can play. The 100-mile strip known as the Grand Strand boasts more than 110 golf courses, and every one of them offers its own unique challenges and charms.

If you’re planning a golf trip to Myrtle Beach, consider The Legends Resort, which is comprised of six award-winning golf courses. You can play the TPC, which is the only 5-star course in the area, or tee off at the Arnold Palmer designed Kings North course.

Ireland Golf Vacations

If your golf travel will take you abroad, consider a visit to Ireland to enjoy teeing off on some of the most historic golf courses in the world. Irish golf courses tend to be links courses along the coast, but you’ll also find some beautiful parklands courses if you head for the interior of the Emerald Isle. A golf travel agent can help arrange tee times at historic golf courses as well as accommodations at your choice of resort hotels or homey bed and breakfasts. The right agent who is familiar with arranging golf trips can also point you toward golf clubs that will treat you like a king and pubs where you can enjoy Irish hospitality at its finest.

Arizona Golf Trips

Arizona is another up and coming golf destination in the U.S. The two main areas for golf in Arizona are Phoenix/Scottsdale and Tucson. For family-friendly golf trips, Tucson can’t be beat. For the last several years, the U.S. youth golf champs have all come from the Tucson area, where kids are treated as real golfers rather than tagalongs to be tolerated or excluded. Phoenix is famous for its luxurious resort courses, and is the ideal destination for a top-notch luxury golf vacation.

Planning golf vacations can be a DIY exercise, but professionals can add those extra touches that make your trip especially memorable. If you’re planning some golf travel this year, consider consulting a travel agency that specializes in booking golf trips.

Golf Vacations for the Way You Like to Golf

For those who love golf travel, there are two prime U.S. golf destinations – regions that have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to tee times and courses. While there are many places you can golf, few areas boast as many golf clubs, golf resorts and golf courses in a concentrated area as Myrtle Beach and the Phoenix/Scottsdale area in Arizona. And while there are exceptions in both areas, there are large differences between Arizona golf courses and Myrtle Beach golf courses. Choosing a destination for your golf vacations can start with deciding which region offers the kind of golf you most enjoy playing.

Desert Golf in the Southwest

The Phoenix/Scottsdale region in Arizona is home to well over 100 golf courses. The region offers stunning scenery and perfect golf weather year-round. With an average of almost 300 sunny days annually, your golf game will almost never get rained out. Arizona golf is at its best when the rest of the country is in the deep freeze, with temperatures averaging between 60 and 80 F. from mid-September to May.

While it sometimes seems that there are as many exceptions as examples, desert golf courses abound in Arizona – which should come as no surprise, considering the climate. You’ll find lush swaths of fairways laid out through stunning stretches of desert scenery. Links style courses are the norm, and target golfers will be in their glory.

Parklands Golf Courses in the Southeast

The Grand Strand boasts over 110 golf courses in a short strip along the Southeastern coast of the U.S. Like Arizona, the Myrtle Beach area boasts a high average of sunny days annually. The temperature seldom drops below 60 or above 90 F. with the best golfing weather occurring between October and June.

Myrtle Beach golf courses make the most of the lush greenness characteristics of the Southeastern U.S. The typical golf greens in Myrtle Beach are exactly that – green. Parklands golf courses with lush fairways, mature trees and beautiful coastal scenery are the norm. You’ll also find many resort courses designed with wide fairways, short roughs and comfortable play that accommodates all levels of golfers.

There are, of course, exceptions. You’ll find links courses in Myrtle Beach and lush, rolling greens on resort golf courses in Arizona, but in general, you can plan your golf vacations around the kind of golf you most enjoy. A travel agent who specializes in arranging golf travel can help you pinpoint the best courses to play for your favored style in whichever area you choose.

Time to Plan Your 2012 Golf Travel

As the New Year begins, most people consider how to make next year a better one than last year. That is, after all, the purpose of New Year’s resolutions – to make things better. This year, make those weight loss and fitness resolutions a lot more fun – resolve to schedule more time for golf travel and take more golf trips to help you improve your game and enjoy your favorite sport. Not sure where to go or play? We’ve got some top suggestions for lesser-known Arizona golf courses that any golfer will enjoy.

Why Arizona? The Phoenix-Scottsdale area boasts more than 200 golf courses, many of them well-known, in demand courses at high-end resorts. Famous names like Troon North and Boulders attract golfers from all over the world, but the big name courses aren’t the only game in town. Smaller, lesser-known golf courses benefit from the same conditions that make golfing in Arizona such a pleasure – sunny, dry days and stunning scenery among them. These smaller courses make Arizona golf travel worth the trip even if you don’t stay at the high-end resorts and immerse yourself in luxury.

Saguaro Course at We-Ko-Pa

Scott Miller’s Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa steals all the attention, but We-Ko-Pa’s other course, the Saguaro, definitely deserves a mention as well. Built in 2005-2006, the course was designed by golf architect team Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, who were tasked with creating a course that was completely different from the older Cholla course. They came up with a traditional style golf green that’s a pleasure to walk and a challenge to play.

Trilogy at Vistancia

Golf Digest awarded a coveted 5-star rating to Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia, and Golf Arizona senior staff writer Mike Bailey calls it “sneaky good.” The budget-priced golf green rewards you with stunning views, tricky shots and holes that offer golfers a variety of options and decisions that keeps play exciting and fresh. Like the Saguaro, Trilogy isn’t the typical desert target golf course – but it’s not exactly a traditional green either. Its unique configuration and playability contribute to an overall flow that turns an afternoon of golf into a memorable and treasured golf experience.

Ocotillo Golf Resort

Located in Chandler, Arizona, Ocotillo is a 27-hole championship course with three separate 9-hole layouts that you can play in several different 18-hole configurations. Each of the combinations of the Blue, White and Gold courses presents unique challenges – the Blue 9, for example, involves water features at every hole. Rated among Golf World’s Top 50 resorts, Ocotillo carries a 4.5-star rating from Golf Digest.

Arizona golf is like golf nowhere else in the world, and these three lesser-known golf courses definitely rate a place among your list of 2012 golf travel destinations. If you haven’t started planning your golf trips for the year yet, keep in mind that many clubs offer a discount if you book your tee times early, so don’t miss out.

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.