Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Three "Top 100 Courses" in the Pinehurst area

When you think of top golf courses in North Carolina, The Pinehurst Resort is always the first to come to mind....but there many other great courses in the area.  

Don't get me wrong, the Pinehurst Resort is one of the best golf resorts anywhere in the world, but with that comes a hefty price tag.  If your group is looking to play 3 fantastic courses on your next golf trip, but need to do it without breaking the bank, you should really consider:  

The Dormie Club (#30 by Golf Digest) Designed by: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw


Pine Needles (#47 by Golf Digest) Designed by: Donald Ross


Tobacco Road (#87 by Golf Digest)  Designed by: Mike Strantz 


If you are interested in hearing more about the other great courses in the Pinehurst Area give Craig Gordon or Mike Alfano with Golf Zoo a call at 800.929.7300.

Friday, May 08, 2015

Golf Terminology: Understanding Overseeding


In a previous or recent golf trip you might encounter courses that are closed or offer green fees because of the disruption caused by overseeding. This might have you wondering, what exactly is overseeding?

Overseeding refers to the maintenance on golf courses, wherein grass seeds are spread on top of the existing grass to promote new growth or to swap out seasonal turfs, replacing one type of grass with another.

Usually this is commonly done on courses that are made up of Bermuda grass, which goes dormant during winter months. In the fall, Bermuda grass is overseeded with ryegrass seed. In spring, the process is reversed. Ryegrass is overseeded with Bermuda grass, thus switching the course's turf back.

This process is considered one of the manifestations of modern golf course care, and most customers really prefer to have their golf vacation on green courses. This is one of the reasons why overseeding is performed in order to prevent the browning of Bermuda grass, and maintaining the greenness of the course throughout the year. This process is evidently used by courses in the Southwest to cater to the need of golf enthusiasts from the north.

However, there have been issues raised along the way, such as its impact on play, costs, water usage and chemical removal of the ryegrass because of its tendency to hang on too long in the Southwest.

For those who choose not to overseed, they are faced with variety challenges. Without overseeding, turf conditions are not improved during the winter. Courses face compaction due to the player and golf cart traffic.

However, they have their reasons for not overseeding. First, they can conserve water since dormant Bermuda grass uses far less water than overseeded ryegrass. Second, plays in the fall are uninterrupted since they do not have to overseed. Third, it is easier to control weed on dormant bermudagrass. Fourth, they sustain a stronger strand of warm season grasses. Lastly, the cost of maintaining it is lower compared to courses that undergone overseeding.

Nonetheless, golfers complain for the lack of green color of dormant Bermuda grass; worn areas, especially high traffic zones; and slow recovery from divot damage.

So which golf course do you think will give you the best golf trip experience:  Overseeded courses, or those that rely on older methods? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Golf Zoo seeks experienced Golf Travel Salespeople!

Golf Zoo, one of the largest Golf Tour Providers in America is seeking experienced Golf Travel Salespeople in the following destinations:
  • Palm Springs, California
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Mesquite, Nevada
  • Scottsdale, Arizona
These individuals will be responsible for daily sales and service of customized golf vacations, as well as maintaining relationships with vendors in the applicable region. This is NOT an entry level position - Only those with golf, travel, or previous sales experience need apply. We are seeking enthusiastic and hard working individuals with a strong interest in the golf travel industry. Exceptional communication skills are a must.
Benefits include:
  • Competitive compensation plan with bonuses
  • Medical and dental plans
  • 3 weeks paid time off annually
  • Telecommuting
  • Discounted travel and golf
  • and more...
If you are interested in joining the Golf Zoo team, please send cover letter with resume to Chris Parcell at chris@golfzoo.com