The Benefits of North Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations

If you're planning on taking a Myrtle Beach golf vacation this year, don't slight the northern reaches of America's most popular golf mecca. This area of the Grand Strand (just over the border in North Carolina) offers a variety of excellent Myrtle Beach golf courses.
Most Myrtle Beach regulars might play one or two courses in the north before moving on to the more publicized links in the center and south, but we think there is enough good golf here and enough good reasons to warrant multi-day North Myrtle Beach golf vacations.
First, golfers coming from cold weather climates can shorten their drive time considerably by taking North Myrtle Beach golf vacations — it's not uncommon for traffic on Route 17 (the main north/south artery along the coast) to slow to a crawl after crossing the border into South Carolina. continued...
By: Craig Better of GolfVacationInsider.com

GHIN Great for Calculating Golf Handicaps

One of the greatest things about golf is that, thanks to the handicap system, players of widely differing skill levels can engage in competitive matches with one another. By allowing less accomplished players to subtract a certain amount of strokes from their score (thus eliminating the better player's advantage) a 26 handicap, for instance, can play against a five-handicap and have an equal chance of winning.
At your home course, it's pretty easy to determine how many strokes you are either giving to, or receiving from, your playing partners if everyone actively tracks their golf handicap. All you need to do is check the golf handicap printouts in the clubhouse or use the standard golf handicap formula (a quick-reference conversion chart usually hanging somewhere in the locker room makes this easier).
Everything changes, however, when you're on a golf vacation, because a person's golf handicap is based on the slope rating, or difficulty, of the course being played. So, more accurately, what's important is everyone's "course handicap," and the opportunity to pick up a stroke here or there isn't lost on anyone, especially during competitive buddy trips. In fact, the haggling over who gets how many strokes becomes a full contact sport that often starts at dinner the night before the group steps onto the opening tee. continued...
By: David Baum of GolfVacationInsider.com

The Crossings at Carlsbad

The Crossings At Carlsbad has just been named 'One of the top 10 courses you can play in the USA' by Golf Magazine and Golf.com. With the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean to the west and the Southern California Peninsular Mountain Ranges in the distance to the east, this state-of-the-art, 18-hole championship municipal golf course and event facility offers visitors magnificent views and a relaxing natural environment. Developed and owned by the City of Carlsbad, this public course is nestled among more than 1,000 acres of Carlsbad's coastal terrain and natural habitat. It's home to wetlands, sage brush and other plant, animal and bird life. On your next visit to beautiful San Diego, be sure to include it in your itinerary.

Florida Golf Limo Bus

If you have a group of 8 - 16 guys coming into Orlando for a golf package, have I got a great value added service. Florida Golf Limo Bus is a state of the art vehicle for any group. This Limo will pick up your group at the airport and drop you off at you destination. It will also pick you up each day and take you to your chosen course and bring you back home after the round.
They will also set you up with beverages of your choice - you can even use them for a night out on the town. The company will also keep all the records - games played, scores, handicaps and courses you have played. You will have this put onto a disc for you to take home along with the pictures you have taken along the way with the cameras they provide.

The Limo Bus is equipped to handle up to 16 golfers, their golf bags and luggage. The Limo Bus is equipped with two flat screen TV's with Direct TV, XM Radio, Wireless Internet and Wet Bar. Monday - Thursday, they have a 3 hour minimum requirement. Friday - Sunday, they have a 4 hour minimum requirement.So, if you want to take you golf trip to Orlando up a notch - you owe it to yourself to check out Florida Golf Limo Bus. Please mention Golf Zoo when you call them. You can also contact Glen, at 888.333.6103 to set something up.

How to Deal with Cart-Path-Only Policies

Many people think the worst three words in golf are, "You're still away." This past weekend, on my Scottsdale golf vacation, I was reminded of three words that are even worse, "Cart Path Only."
In town to evaluate recent changes to some of Scottsdale's best golf courses, I had to weather cart-path-only restrictions at Grayhawk Golf Club and during one of two rounds at Troon North Golf Club.
While cart-path-only golf is better than no golf at all, it's kinda like driving on the shoulder of the autobahn. Takes a lot of the fun out of it, ya know? Anyway, here are some tips for dealing with the situation if you're confronted with it:
If possible, ditch the cart altogether and walk. The cart path may be the only place you're allowed to drive the cart, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're forced to use one in the first place. Ideally, a golf course will also have pull carts or caddies available. If not, lighten up your golf bag and put it on your back. Unfortunately, walking isn't an option at many courses, particularly the sprawling ones designed to sell real estate. But I don't know which is worse, courses where walking isn't an option, or ones where it is, but they have the audacity to charge you the cart fee anyway. continued...by David Baum of GolfVacationInsider.com

Introducing My Golf Zoo!

Ever wanted to join your very own golf community? Now you can! Golf Zoo has created a social network targeted towards you - Golfers! There are a number of things that you can do - from creating your own member page, have your own blog, upload your golf pictures and videos, participate in forums and create your very own group that you and your golf buddies can all be a part of. It can also be a place where you can post your pictures and videos of your golf trip once you get back - and feel free to comment on other members' pages!

So what are you waiting for? Go to My.GolfZoo.com now and create your very own member page - it's fast and it's FREE!

Golf Zoo Survey Winner for January!

As anyone who has traveled with us know, our clients receive a survey from us via email shortly after their trip with us asking how was the golf vacation, from booking the trip to the trip itself. The purpose of the survey is to help give us insight as to how we are doing as a company and to help improve upon future trips. For a few minutes of your time you get entered in our monthly drawing to win a $100 Travel Certificate that can be used on any golf vacation booked through Golf Zoo over the next 12 months to any of our many golf destinations. We will announce the winners at the beginning of each month here at our blog.

We would like to congratulate Keith S. for being chosen as the winner of our survey drawing for the month of January!

So be sure to fill out our survey when you receive it for a chance to win! Also, don't forget you can send us your pictures from your golf vacation and we will also put them up on our website as well! Even if you have traveled with us a long time ago, you can still send us your pictures for review!

Golf Bag Shipping Options for Your Next Golf Vacation

Of all the questions we get about golf vacations, the one that we're hearing most frequently concerns golf bag shipping. With airport security requiring that golf travel cases be unlocked (or locked only with TSA-approved locks) and airlines imposing stricter baggage allowances and weight limits, it's really no surprise.

Here's the lowdown on golf bag shipping: if you don't need someone to help pack your clubs and delivery speed is not a major concern, the least expensive method for shipping golf clubs is by using one of the large package delivery companies: FedEx, UPS or DHL. This is what the specialized luggage and golf bag shipping companies ultimately use, anyway.

No special box is necessary — just pack your clubs in your golf travel case the way you would if you were taking them on the airplane and affix the shipping label that the carrier will provide. If possible, plan ahead as expedited delivery is much more expensive.

The least expensive service level is ground service. Unlike FedEx, UPS and DHL offer ground service pickups from residential and business addresses without requiring you to open a special account that hits you with weekly charges. (You can, however, use FedEx Ground without incurring any additional charges by dropping your bag off at a FedEx-Kinkos location.)

We called all three carriers (online shipping is also available) to find out what it would cost to ship a standard golf bag one way from New Jersey to California via ground service. A "standard" bag is usually defined as approximately 50"x12"x11" and weighing no more than 35-40 pounds. Each carrier said it would take about four business days, but FedEx and DHL were the least expensive, at around $35. UPS was about $10 more. continued...

by Craig Better, GolfVacationInsider.com

Experience Torrey Pines Golf Course like the Pros

Want to play this week's PGA Tour venue exactly the way the world's best players will experience it on Sunday? If so, plan your next San Diego golf vacation so you're at Torrey Pines Golf Course on the Monday following its annual Buick Invitational.

Few people outside of San Diego know that, immediately after the conclusion of the tournament, Torrey Pines Golf Course holds a lottery for the next day's tee times. The lucky golfers selected not only get to play the South Course under championship conditions, they can play from the Championship tees and with Sunday pin placements. If there was ever a way to truly know the challenging set-ups that tour players contend with, this is it. continuedBy Craig Better of GolfVacationInsider.com

Golf Zoo's New Website Design!

We have officially launched our new website design on GolfZoo.com and have added site search! Please take it for a test drive and be sure to let us now what you think about it in the comments below.

We've given the site a fresh new look for 2008 while also adding site search, which will help you navigate the site that much easier - you can find the new search box at the top of every page at GolfZoo.com. We have also made it easier for you to join our email list to receive out Hot Deals directly to your inbox (we typically send our hot deals out once or twice a month so don't worry about getting bombarded with unwanted email - we also do NOT sell our lists - we respect your privacy!).

We certainly hope we have made your visit to Golf Zoo a more pleasant experience with our new menu and new pages, but as always, we welcome any feedback. Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stay!