Visit Eastern Canada for Cool Golf Vacations

When summer temperatures soar across much of the United States and Europe, even the most avid golfer loses some enthusiasm for hitting the links. That’s the time to head north for your golf vacations to some of the best golfing on the planet.

From spring through early fall, Canada is the perfect spot for golf trips, with great courses and spectacular scenery in addition to very delightful climates. From the Maritimes to the mountains, individuals, groups, and families will find plenty of activities in addition to great golfing.

PEI: Golfing in the Maritimes

Starting on the East Coast, you have Prince Edward Island, with more than a century of golf history. In fact, readers of Score magazine rated PEI as “Canada’s Best Golf Destination” two years in a row. It has 10 of the top 100 courses in the country, as rated by Globe and Mail, and some of the top courses in North America according to Golf Digest.

Since “the Emerald Isle” is only 120 miles long and 20 miles across, all of these are within a short drive of each other, and include links, river and woodland courses. Highly recommended courses include Brudenell River, by far the most popular, Dundarave, The Links at Crowbush Cove, and Mill River.

PEI is also a very affordable vacation destination, and you’ll find many special golf packages to this maritime setting. You’re never more than 15 minutes from the shore, so plan on some fishing. The island also has great cycling routes and is home to “Anne of Green Gables.”

Quebec: Golfing in the Mountains

If you are up for a challenge, head for Tremblant. Just 90 minutes north of Montreal and about six hours north of Boston, you’ll find one of the most popular golf resorts in Northeastern America. Mt. Tremblant itself is the crown jewel of the Laurentian Mountains. Like Whistler in the west, it has been transformed from a ski resort to an all-year vacation hub given its proximity to Parc du Mont-Tremblant, a huge provincial nature park.

This resort village offers everything, including Quebec’s best golfing, with stunning views of lakes, forest, and mountains, and accommodations and dining from modest to luxurious. Off the course, you can choose from cycling, hiking, and some of the world’s best canoe waters. Let your booking agent help you plan the golf packages that meet your entire vacation needs.

In fact, there is so much to see and do in both of these eastern Canada resorts that you’ll want to return to them again and again for your golf vacations!

Family and Golf Vacations all In One

With the onset of summer come vacations and family plans as well as the perfect time to hit a few golf balls whether for business or pleasure. Now, you can book the ideal golf vacation and have your personal itinerary planned out for you all before you leave you home. Online you will find over forty perfect golf destinations, more than one hundred hotels and golf resorts as well as over four hundred beautiful and challenging golf courses. Throughout the United States or overseas you can book your ideal golf vacation for business or pleasure with the comfort that only the top golf courses, hotels, golf resorts and other golf destinations are yours to choose from. All the golf destinations have been handpicked after personal experiences by individuals with high standards so you can rest assured that you will receive only the best for your money and your vacation time.

Bring your family to Orlando and while you golf with Mickey Mouse they can run the day away through the streets of Disney or the many other theme parks in the area. After a day on the beautiful golf course in Orlando you can spend the evenings watching the fireworks or enjoying the warm Florida evenings on your private balcony only to begin the day again mapped out in your personal itinerary. Maybe your style leans more toward the cooler climate with less humidity? There are numerous golf packages for you as well. You can hit golf balls in the beautiful deserts of Nevada or along the coastline in South Carolina while still enjoying the challenge of a good golf course. You can venture even further south and enjoy the golf courses of New Mexico or jump on a plane and enjoy the rolling plains of Ireland and the scenery of Scotland. You will even find wonderful golf courses in Arizona and Oregon with five star resorts or hotels to add comfort to your vacation.

A golf vacation is great fun for your entire family when you book your travels through a company that knows firsthand the resorts and golf destinations to offer you. Now you can enjoy a golf game with your family or incorporate work with you family vacation when you take advantage of the wide variety of golf destinations. Put the days of planning your vacation on a beautiful golf resort and let the people at Golf Holidays book your golf get away today with the assistance of an affordable golf package.

Golf Vacations at Their Best

Welcome summertime! That means it's perfect golfing weather in any location. If you prefer the warmer climates now is your perfect time, however, if you prefer a cooler golf game this is the perfect time for a golf game in the northern part of the map. What better time to schedule a golf vacation with friends or family than now. With the assistance of a knowledgeable customer service rep and only the top of the line golf destinations, you can be sure you will have the golf trip of your life. Not only can you enjoy golfing with co-workers or friends but you will even find golf courses that are located close to family attractions for your vacation with your family. Choose your destination today and take pride in the fact that not only are you headed to an exclusive top of the line golf course but saving money on the trip before you even leave your home.

Whether you are heading to Jacksonville, Florida, or overseas to Ireland, you can be sure you will be impressed with the golf course you choose as well as the surroundings and place you will spend your nights. You can find affordable golf packages that will accommodate your golfing needs as well as your entertainment needs and the best restaurants in the particular areas. Maybe you are planning a employee golf vacation for your whole office but want something out of the ordinary and away from the hustle and bustle of your normal everyday life? Online you will find the perfect quiet office get away but the top notch golf course for the destination you choose. With the advantage of the variety of golf vacation packages you have to choose from your dreams will become a reality and your pocketbook will still love you.

Start booking your golf vacation today rather you are golfing with family, co workers or friends. Customize your golf trip to fit the needs you have for this particular trip rather stateside or overseas. The sky’s the limit when you put your golf booking needs in the hands of professionals who know firsthand the location you will be visiting and the golf course you love. Make your next golf vacations a trip to remember and know that your golf desires are going to be met!

The Ten Top Golf Resorts for 2010

One of the best things about being a golfer is the opportunity to combine golf with travel.

The problem however is obvious: So many courses, too little time!

So how are you going to choose your next golf vacation experience? Some of my golf buddies first choose the overall vacation destination, be it California or South Carolina, Scotland or Mexico. But if you are as serious about golf as I am, you pickk the golf course first and fit the rest around it!!

To help you locate some really great golf resorts for your next trip, here are the top 10 golf resort courses in the continental United States, according to Golf Week. They range from modern to classic, from East Coast to West Coast and in-between.

1. Pacific Dunes. Located in Bandon, Oregon, the course was designed by Tom Doak in 2001

2. Pebble Beach Golf Links, in Pebble Beach, California, designed by Douglas Grant & Jack Neville, 1919.

3. Whistling Straits, inKohler, Wisconsin, designed by Pete Dye, 1997.

4. Pinehurst No. 2, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, designed by Donald Ross, 1903-1946.

5. Bandon Dunes. In Bandon, Oregon, designed by David McLay Kidd, 1999.

6. Shadow Creek Golf Club. In North Las Vegas, Nevada, designed by Tom Fazio, 1990.

7. Spyglass Hill Golf Club. Pebble Beach, California (note that this makes two in the same locale!), designedby Robert Trent Jones, Sr., in 1966.

8. Kiawah Island Golf Resort (Ocean). In Kiawah Island, South Carolina, designed by Pete Dye (the second one for Dye in this list), in 1991.

9. TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) . In Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, designed Pete Dye (the third for him in the list!), 1981.

10. Bandon Trails. In Bandon, Oregon, designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw , 2005.

A few things stand out in this list. The first to grab my attention is that Pete Dye has been designing great courses, as there are three of his represented here. Dye, from a family famous for course design, also happens to be married to fellow designer and former amateur champion Alice Dye.

The second is that great courses seem to spawn more great courses, as can be seen in Bandon, Oregon, and the timeless classic, Pebble Beach. What this tells me is that I need to plan longer vacations so I can enjoy multiple courses in one area! Golf is like wine, better if it is not rushed!

I’ve also learned that the best way to plan is to go for a golf package from an experienced golf travel planner, because then someone else takes care of the details, leaving me more time to concentrate on my game and enjoying wherever golf takes me!

Five Must-Ask Questions for Golf Vacation Packages

As with other vacation packages, golf vacation packages can save you a bundle while offering a fabulous trip. And as with other vacations, there are some questions you should be asking you and the agent before you sign on the dotted line so your trip is a dream, not a disaster!

1. Should you use an agent or do it yourself?

The advantage of going with an established booking agent is that they have developed good business relationships with hotels and golf courses, giving them negotiating power. For golf travel that means that they can offer you the best values and discounts that are not open to the individual buyer. The experienced agent can ask you about your preferences and budget and locate several options for you to choose from, including some you’d never find on your own that may turn out to be the memory of a golfer’s lifetime. They can also advise and help you with upgrades and cancellations.

2. What if you (gasp!) have to cancel?

Life has a way of throwing curve balls, and you might have to cancel the trip or the date. So ask in advance what are the financial implications. How much time is needed to cancel without penalty? For a full package, a couple weeks notice might be needed, whereas for simple golfing reservations, 48 hours is often sufficient for cancelling tee times. Read the small print for your

golf packages.

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3. When will your credit card be charged?

Whenever you make a large purchase in advance, it is wise to ask about timing of the charge for the deposit and balance. Some may require just the immediate deposit, others the entire package. For some, the hotel may also require a deposit. For vacation packages, the full fee is usually paid 30 days before departure. Remember to ask if there are any cancellation charges!

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4. Can you “individualize” a vacation package?

Usually, yes—if you do it in advance. While special packages usually contain specific itineraries (number of nights, rounds of golf, meals, etc.), but you may want to add to the package – an extra night or round of golf, perhaps. Just don’t show up at the resort and then surprise the staff with your requests! Let your agent do the talking in advance—and still provide you with a better price than you’ll get solo. If you are looking for a bargain rate for golf travel or for more play time, explain that to your agent as well.

5. 5. Are the clubs included? Probably not! Even so, with the airline surcharges for bags close to or exceeding the cost of daily rentals, you might want to leave yours home. To be on the safe side, you’ll want your agent to make an advanced reservation and negotiate a discount, of course. (Imagine getting to Pebble Beach and not having a club!)

It’s your vacation and your money—spend a little time up front and you’ll spend a lot less time and money. . . and have a lot more fun on your next golfing vacation!

Avoiding 5 Common Golf Injuries

The fact that many great golfers are still playing into their 60s and 70s often lulls people into a false sense of security about the game. Golf is not for the infirm, it isn’t a great game for the unfit … and it definitely has potential risks. If you want to make sure that you golf travel doesn’t have any unwanted and unexpected consequences, read these tips on avoiding 5 of the most common golfing injuries.

Avoiding … Back Pain

You don't want to be stuck in your hotel room on a golf vacation. You want to be out there on the putting green, the fairway and right next to the hole (hopefully not in the rough!). Back pain is a common golf injury, and you can avoid it by following a regime of increasing both the strength and flexibility of your back. Ask your local gym instructor which machines to use, and remember to stretch both morning and night.

Avoiding … tennis elbow

Yes, counter-intuitive as it might be, tennis elbow is more common among golfers than golfer's elbow is! Switch to a graphite shaft for your golf club and use low-compression balls to reduce elbow strain. Have a pro look at your grip and swing with you, also.

Avoiding … shoulder pain

You're in Myrtle Beach, with the beautiful sea air on a delicious golf green beckoning and the promise of a delicious dinner that night. But you're frozen on your hotel bed in shoulder agony! Try to keep your swing plane relatively flat, and slow down on your backswing in addition to doing your usual strength and flexibility training.

Avoiding … carpal tunnel

Use larger or softer grips, and reduce your grip pressure on the club handle to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. General strengthening is also very important.

Avoiding … knee pain

Knee pain could be a result of osteoarthritis or a torn meniscus, each of which require medical intervention. The best advice is to keep up your varied diet and regular exercise to reduce your chance of developing either of these.

4 Top-Reviewed Drivers

Get a good drive, and the entire hole feels different. Get a good hole in, and you get the confidence boost you need for an awesome game. Get a good game, and you have a GREAT golf vacation!

If you’re looking to really shine on the course on your next golf vacation, you might have thought about upgrading your driver. Today we look at some of the top-reviewed models of drivers currently available, their features and benefits.

Nike Conforming Sasquatch Sumo Squared Driver

The Nike Driver has a name that sounds like some sort of horror movie, and a sound upon hitting the ball that people most often equate with a tin can … but everyone who buys one, loves it. This is an ultra-long driver, and people have credited it with improving consistency in their results, greatly increasing their yardage, and generally being great value. Without the marketing jibberish, here are some of the base technological inclusions that make this a great driver for your next golf vacation:

• Square geometry
• Multi material construction
• Lower, further back center of gravity.

Cleveland Launcher Driver

This driver consistently gets 100%, five star reviews from its users. It features:

• An 'improved' center of gravity
• Horseshoe weight pad
• 'Improved' movement of inertia
• Ultra-big launch face

Bobby Jones Workshop Edition Driver

It's expensive, just like everything that has the Bobby Jones name on it. If you look around, though, you can find some generous discounts off RRP on this driver, and bag yourself a club that almost everyone feels is a 5 star experience. It has:

• Smaller profile, deeper face dimension
• Great weight distribution
• A design made for mid-high handicap golfers

Cleveland Hibore XLS Draw Driver

If you're not one for technical details, all you need to know about this driver is that people feel that it 'makes their shots go straight'! If you do want the lowdown, though:

• Increased movement of inertia over older Cleveland models
• Crown plaque and wings for easy setup of shots
• Cleveland's largest ever face
• Extended hot zone

If you’re going to go to the trouble of golf package, you might as well come back from it feeling like a winner … and if your game has been struggling, a new driver might just turn it round!