Life in the Trap Golf Comic of the Week

Here is the new Life in the Trap golf comic strip this week!:

(click comic for a larger version)

Top 10 er... 15 Golf Vacation Planning Tips!

Getting pumped for that Golf Vacation that you have been thinking about all Winter? We have asked our Golf Vacation Specialists here at Golf Zoo what are their Top 10 Golf Vacation Planning Tips. Without further ado...

1. Plan ahead! If you want the "prime tee-times" you need to book months in advance. Many times package providers can book a tee-time six months before an individual can.
2. Work with an individual that knows the area well and plays golf - not a call center with no personal touch.
3. Make sure you know your dates of travel before you book or start quoting prices to your golf buddies. Golf travel prices are dictated by the time of year and one day can double the price. Ask when the rates change, and you can keep more of your change in your pocket.
4. Have a pretty clear cut idea on what each individual of your Golf Group wants to pay for the trip.
5. Be flexible with your tee times - everyone wants 8-9 AM, but remember that some courses offer reduced rates for late morning and early PM tee times.
6. If you can plan your golf trip to happen during the week - rates can be lower than weekends and less crowded on the course.
7. In some cases - Villas, Condos and Homes can be less expensive than hotels, and a lot more fun for the group.
8. If a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. So do your homework and find out what kind of "deal" it really is.
9. Find out if you can pre-book replays and don't always plan on a tee time being available when you are done your first 18 holes.
10. Don't spend hours making phone calls, changing tee-times, and leaving credit card numbers when all you have to do is call Golf Zoo.

5 BONUS Tips!

1. Bring your balls...
2. And extra gloves as well
3. Bring your umbrella, even though it won't get wet in the garage
4. Get your golf shoes re-spiked, even if they haven't needed it since 1985

and finally:

5. Leave the pencil with the eraser at home - it's a dead giveaway...

Do you have your own tips that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Post your comments below!

CP's Top Three Scottsdale 36 hole combos!

Coming to Scottsdale, and want to get as much golf in as you can??? Here (in my humble opinion) are the best 36 hole days in the valley.

#1 - Gold Canyon - Sidewinder and Dinosaur Mountain

This is still my favorite 36 hole day. You've got both courses at the same facility, and it's good to warm up on the Sidewinder course in the morning, get your swing in shape, and grab a cold beer (and a prayer) at the turn to take on the formidable Dinosaur Mountain in the afternoon. It's a good 30-40 minute drive east from Scottsdale, but well worth it!

#2 - Golf Club at Eagle Mountain and SunRidge Canyon

Play two of the best tracks in the valley with Eagle and SunRidge - definitely play Eagle in the morning, as it's the more forgiving of the two - most of the fairways here are bowl shaped, so if you spray it a little off the tee, you're still O.K. Views are awesome, and Eagle has the best staff in the valley. Feeling confident? Super. Now we'll bury you on the back nine at SunRidge Canyon. SunRidge is a similar course as far as topography to Eagle, but MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. I think SunRidge has the best "3 finishing holes" in the state. #16, a true 3 shot par 5, then make sure to play from the tips at #17 - a ridiculous par 3 that's all carry over the valley, ending with a dog leg left long par 4 to finish. (No worries - you just gotta hit a 275 yard draw over fairway bunkers that are in play in order to have any prayer at par) You'll need a cold one after the back nine at SunRidge, but you'll HAVE to return...

#3 - TPC Stadium and Grayhawk Talon

For this one, you have to have 2 things... SOME GAME AND LOTSA CASH. Definitely one of the more expensive 36 hole combos, but worth the money if you wanna play where the pros do... Start at TPC Stadium, as the front nine is relatively gentle, and ends with a fantastic last 4 holes, then take the 10 minute drive north to Grayhawk Golf Club, where the clubhouse is spectacular, the service second to none, and the beer seems a little colder at Phil's Grill. Talon, a tougher test than TPC but not unfair for the typical hack if they play from the Terra Cotta tees. (5867 yards is all you'll want with this course if you're a 15 or more) I like Talon more than Raptor as it seems like the fairways are a little wider, and it has an island green on #17, "Devil's Drink" which is a great hole to take a little of your buddies pocket cash on a "closest to the pin" bet. Make sure to either have lunch before, or dinner after your round at Phil's Grill - great food and service, and some cool memorabilia.

Scottsdale has alot of great 36 hole days, but in my opinion, (and I've done 'em all), these are Scottsdale's "Top 3".