Myrtle Beach Dream 18

Local Sports writers and golf professionals composed a list in their opinion the best 18 holes on the Grand Strand. Arranged in ascending order, they call it the Dream 18.

#18  DeBordieu Colony Club No. 17-441 yards | Par 4
#17  The Dunes Golf and Beach Club No. 11-430 yards | Par 4
#16  Rivers Edge Golf Club No. 9-570 yards | Par 5
#15  Prestwick Country Club No. 9-537 yards | Par 5
#14  Farmstead Golf Links No. 18-767 yards | Par 6
#12  Tidewater Golf Club No. 4-414 yards | Par 4
#11  Pawleys Plantation No. 13-145 yards | Par 3
#10  TPC of Myrtle Beach No. 17-193 yards | Par 3
#9   Wachesaw Plantation No. 18-565 yards | Par 5
#8   Oyster Bay Golf Links No. 13-330 yards | Par 4
#7   Tidewater Golf Club No. 12-198 yards | Par 3
#6   Surf Golf and Beach Club No. 18-217 yards | Par 3
#5   Myrtle Beach National King's North No. 6-568 yards | Par 5
#4   Caledonia Golf & Fish Club No. 18-383 yards I Par 4
#3   Grande Dunes Resort Golf Course No. 14-216 yards | Par 3
#2   Tidewater Golf Club No. 3-157 yards | Par 3
#1   The Dunes Golf and Beach Club No. 13-590 yards | Par 5

The complete write-up is located here. All of these courses are challenging and scenic.

OK fellow golfers, what would be your Dream 18? Personally, out of all 18 - Caledonia would be my pick, but that's just me since it is my favorite Home Town Track.  Please let me know what your favorites are and we can compose our own Dream 18.  Hey - why not?

Golf Package - Money Saving Tips

Times are tough, no doubt. I want to offer some tips on putting together a very good golf package, at a reasonable price. A couple things you can count on - if you head to Florida during the winter, it's peak season. Golf course greens fees can range from $70 up to $170. Lodging for your package can be all over the board. One thing that can get costly for groups, is individual hotel rooms - try and double up when choosing hotel rooms (two double beds in room). The main areas for golf packages in Florida are: Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, W. Palm Beach and South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale and Miami). I consider Orlando to be the best deal in the state. South Florida may be a little warmer if it gets cold, but the golf quality is apples to oranges - plus it's more expensive. The lodging choices in Orlando are plenty. The best deal is either villa's or homes. This type of lodging gives guys more options and everyone can end up with their own bedroom.

When it comes to courses, there are so many choices. There are a lot of nice public courses that may not have the name as some to the well know ones, but they give you a big bang for your buck. Courses that are located a little off the beaten path (45 - 60 minutes) from your lodging, usually have lower rates than the ones in close. These courses can be very good and definitely worth the travel time. Usually try and schedule these courses on weekends, to have less traffic. Also, a lot of courses have weekday and weekend (higher) rates - if you can come during the week, this may also save some money. Some courses also have lower rates after 11 am and later. Be careful when you're quoted a twilight rate - these times usually make it difficult to finish your round, due to lack of daylight in the winter.

When planning a golf package, it's a good idea to have a budget in mind for lodging and golf. Knowing this information can be very good for your golf package planner. We are very knowledgeable about the courses in the area and their rates. Always remember there is a great package to meet every ones needs and budget. Don't rely on the first quote you get. Please contact the representative on your quote and explain what your group needs. If the website ask for your phone number and email address - put it in there. This gives your golf vacation specialist the opportunity to offer you advice to suit your needs.

I guess in a nutshell - be flexible when trying to put a golf package together and don't be afraid to contact your golf vacation specialist and ask for advice. We know our areas very well and can make you package special, no matter what you want to spend. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at 888.333.6103, or email me at glen@golfzoo.com.

Remember; stay positive in these tough economic times, and a nice golf package can go a long way in reducing your everyday stress.

The Greatest Show on Grass

Believe it or not, it's that time of year for Scottsdale's most premiere golf event. Here's the 2009 schedule of events which may be subject to change.

Sunday, January 25

10 am Xerox Ladies Invitational at OrangeTree Golf Resort

Monday, January 26
Practice Rounds for PGA TOUR pros only
10 am MidFirst Bank Pro-Am, TPC Stadium Course
10:30 am R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day activities
Junior Golf Clinic Presented By PING on TPC Practice Range

Tuesday, January 27
Practice Rounds for PGA TOUR pros only
10 am Scottsdale Celebrity-Am, Grayhawk Golf Club (Talon)
11 am CBS Outdoor Special Olympics Open
Located at the TPC Scottsdale Putting Green, the Special Olympics Open features 12 Special Olympian athletes, 12 celebrities or sports stars and 12 business leaders from our community. The event is open to all ticket holders and media and lasts about an hour.
6 pm FBR Opening Dinner (by invitation only)

Wednesday, January 28
8:30 am FBR/Xerox Silver Pro-Am, TPC Stadium Course
11 am Honeywell Pro-Am, Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor)
4 pm Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens

Thursday, January 29

7:40 am FBR Open 1st round 4 pm Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens Friday, January 30 7:40 am FBR Open 2nd round 4 pm Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens Saturday, January 31 Tee Times TBA: FBR Open 3rd round 4 pm Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens Buick Hole-in-One contest, 16th hole, first ace on Saturday or Sunday wins a new Buick Sunday, February 1 Tee Times TBA: FBR Open 4th round Buick Hole-in-One contest, 16th hole, first ace on Saturday or Sunday wins a new Buick

I've also listed a link for ticket packages, so check it out and we'll see you here in January.
http://www.phoenixopen.com/TicketPackages.asp

Course Review: Founders Club on Pawleys Island

Last weekend I was able to slip out and play one of the newest courses in Myrtle Beach- The Founders Club on Pawleys Island. Architect Thomas Walker was hired to renovate the former Sea Gull course, and I must say he did a great job.

The course was perfectly manicured and in fantastic shape for a new track. Many of the holes have a True Blue flair with high faced waste bunkers lining the fairways. This is a perfect complement to the great golf that already exists in Pawleys Island. If you are looking for a great 36 hole day Pawleys Plantation, True Blue, Caledonia, and Heritage Plantation are all with in a few minutes drive.

The clubhouse is very nicely done and the rear veranda makes for a nice spot to enjoy a beverage with your playing partners. I was a little disappointed to find no driving range but the putting green and short game area were more then adequate.

There are five sets of tee boxes, ranging from 4,800-7,007 yards which makes the course very playable for any level golfer. Water comes into play on many of the holes, but aside from the carry on the 12th, can be avoided by most.

If you are interested in playing The Founders Club or any other course along the Grand Strand give myself or any one of our other golf vacation specialists a call at 800.929.7300.

CP's "Top Ten" Golf Courses in Scottsdale

Planning a trip to Scottsdale this winter? Here is my opinion on the best 10 choices when it comes to golf here in the Valley of the Sun. I chose my Top Ten based on these (what I consider to be the most important) factors:

• Layout
• Playability
• Scenery
• Service

Remember when reading this that I'm pretty much a hack. I'm about a 14 handicapper, so I'm not what you would call a golf "purist" when it comes to course design, etc. You'll never see me on the practice range hitting 3 irons. (Do I own a three iron?)
I tee it up to have fun, take in the scenery, and hopefully take some of my buddies' pocket change. If you're of the same persuasion, this Top Ten list is for you.
Here we go:

1. Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mountain - still my all-time favorite. It's about a 40-minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale, but well worth it. The dramatic elevation changes, fantastic scenery, and interesting layout make this the best spot in Arizona.
2. The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain - Probably the best staff and friendliest environment in all of Scottsdale - I'm also a Scott Miller fan - lots of elevation changes, and bowl-shaped fairways where a hack like me will get a few forgiving bounces now and then.
3. SunRidge Canyon Golf Club - Somewhat brutal at times, but one of the more interesting hole-by-hole tracks. Also has the best 3 finishing holes in Arizona - three-shot par 5, then a ridiculous par 3 over the canyon shot of 220 that you're supposed to STOP on a dime. Yeah right. #18 is a wicked dog leg left par 4 up the hill to finish out one of the tougher back nines in Arizona. "We made it! I need a cocktail stat!"
4. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - Cholla Course - Another Scott Miller gem. You definitely have to think your way around this course, and Cholla (and Saguro) are very unique in that they're built on an Indian reservation, so there are ZERO HOMES anywhere on the golf course. Makes for scenery that's tough to beat. Only drawback is that it is typically cart path only, so be prepared to do some walking. It's worth it.
5. Grayhawk Golf Club - Talon Course - The Raptor course is where they host the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open, but I have always preferred the tamer sister course, Talon. It's a little more forgiving off the tee, and #17 is an island par 3 - kind of a "Mini 17th at Sawgrass" - great hole for gambling. (It's only a 9 iron, or a big wedge...) Also, Phil's Grill is one of my all time favorite places to enjoy a couple dozen cocktails after Grayhawk whips me into submission.
6. TPC Stadium Course - Home to the PGA Tour's FBR Open. Yeah sure, I agree that by itself the golf course is a little overrated, but what can I say - it's fun to play where the pros play, and after watching the tournament on TV, you'll want to get it in. The last 4 holes are the reason you pay what you do, ($250+ in peak season) and they are as fun to play as they are to watch. Service in all aspects is exceptional, and the restaurant is one of the best in Arizona to have a nice breakfast.
7. Troon North - Pinnacle Course - The atmosphere in the clubhouse is a little stuffy, but I play this one at least once a year for one reason - the greens are the best in Arizona. Both Troon courses (Pinnacle and Monument) are extremely difficult for me, but the putting surfaces are simply perfect in the winter - fast and brutal. Lots of fun, and a few 3 or 4 puts along the way...
8. Rancho Manana Golf Club - This one is more my speed. I can play Rancho from the tips, and rarely have anything more than a 7 iron in on the par 4s. But don't be fooled by the relatively short length. This one is tricky. Rancho is just north of Scottsdale, in Cave Creek, where it's very mountainous, and I'm simply an elevation change junkie. One of the more scenic courses, and the Tonto grill would be in my all time Top 5 restaurants. Great staff - very laid back.
9. The Raven at South Mountain - The Raven is unique. It's one of the more traditional layouts and has Georgia Pine lined fairways, which you NEVER see here. Has some water, a lot of beautiful lancscaping, and a great bar. Go for lunch and get the chicken wrap - the best in Arizona.
10. The Arizona Grand Golf Club - Formerly known as "Phantom Horse," Arizona Grand gives you a little of everything. Some traditional holes, and some great target golf as well. It's been under renovation all summer and promises to be one of the valley's newest "up and comers." Have dinner and drinks at Rustler's Rooste just up the hill after your round. The finishing hole is a par 3 which you don't see often, and what a par 3 it is. 180 yards from the middle tees, but only requires an 8 iron for me because of the dramatic elevation drop. This is also good for day in / day out golf, as it's a quick 10 minutes from the airport.

O.K. gang - there it is - "CP's Top Ten" - If you're planning a trip to Arizona this year, you can't go wrong with any of these great venues. Stay tuned for my "Top Ten VALUE Courses" next.
Hit em straight!

(New) and Improved Troon North Golf Club

Troon North Golf Club, one of the 36-hole facilities that has become a staple of Scottsdale golf vacations, has been touting its "two new golf courses" lately. Intrigued as to why the golf club would monkey with its acclaimed Monument Course, a Jay Moorish/Tom Weiskopf creation, and its Pinnacle Course (1996), a solo Weiskopf effort, we made one of our usual anonymous site inspections to find out.
Specifically, the Troon North Golf Club website declares that Tom Weiskopf recently returned to create, "two new layouts" and a "completely new playing experience." The truth is, while Weiskopf modified some bunkers, re-worked a few holes, and added a superior strain of bentgrass to the putting surfaces, his main change was transferring nines between the courses to create more cohesive routings. Continued...


By: Craig Better of golfvacationinsider.com

Are You Ready for Some Football in Arizona?

Here's the 2008 schedule for our Arizona Cardinals, Sun Devils and Wild Cats. Come on out and support your college or professional teams and get in a few rounds of golf while you're here!

2008 Arizona Cardinal Home Game Schedule:

10/5 Buffalo Bills 1:15 PM
10/12 Dallas Cowboys 1:15 PM
11/10 San Francisco 6:30 PM
11/23 New York Giants 2:15 PM
12/7 St. Louis Rams 2:15 PM
12/14 Minnesota Vikings 2:05 PM
12/28 Seattle Seahawks 2:15 PM

2008 Arizona State Sun Devils Home Game Schedule:

10/25 Oregon
11/15 Washington State
11/28 UCLA

2008 University of Arizona Wildcats Home Game Schedule:

10/4 Washington
10/18 California
10/25 USC
11/22 Oregon State
12/6 Arizona State

Visiting Downtown Austin a Must on a Golf Vacation

The Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas might not be on your short list of "golf vacations to take", but perhaps it should be. It has four worthy golf courses, golf-friendly and dependable weather, and it's nearby; Texas (by air) is about four hours or less from just about everywhere else in the United States. Another major draw is its proximity to downtown Austin.
Many folks from the metro area go to the four-course Barton Creek Resort to escape the city, but that’s not the mindset you should have on your Barton Creek golf vacation.
Texas’ capital city of Austin, just 20 minutes east of Barton Creek Resort, is a veritable cornucopia of culture for out-of-state travelers. continued...By: Shawn Skipper of GolfVacationInsider.com

Rio Secco to Host Wendy's 3 Tour Challenge

Officials from the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge today announced a new two-year agreement with Harrah’s Entertainment to host the made-for-television event in 2008 and 2009. For 2008, Rio Secco Golf Club, located in Henderson, Nevada, will host the official pro-am on November 10 and the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge professional competition on November 11.

The Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge is the only professional golf tournament that pits three players from the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours against each other in competitive, head-to-head threesomes for Tour bragging rights. Each threesome consists of one player from each Tour competing in two separate, nine-hole stroke play matches. The one-of-a-kind contest is scheduled to air on ABC Television December 13 and 14, 2008.
“We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Harrah’s,” said Denny Lynch, Wendy’s Senior VP, Communications. “Harrah’s and the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge have the same commitment to providing the ultimate golf experience. I know our guests and the Tour professionals will enjoy playing Rio Secco and we look forward to working in partnership with their team to provide a world-class setting for our Event and to generate funding and awareness for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.”

“We look forward to serving as host for the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge,” said Eric Dutt, Vice President – Las Vegas Golf Operations at Harrah’s Entertainment. “The event will allow us to showcase Rio Secco Golf Club to a national audience. Equally important, we are pleased to align our company with the tremendous work being done by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.”

Home to the Butch Harmon School of Golf, Rio Secco Golf Club was designed by renowned architect Rees Jones. The golf course lies at the foothills of the Black Mountain Range, and features six holes through steep canyons, six holes on a plateau overlooking The Strip, and six holes in a broad desert plain.
About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 150,000 children in North America’s foster care systems waiting to be adopted. Created by Wendy’s® founder, Dave Thomas, who was adopted as a child, the Foundation leads programs such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, placing adoption recruiters throughout the U.S. and Canada to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system, and Adoption-Friendly Workplace, encouraging employers to offer adoption benefits to their employees. The Foundation also works with adoption advocates and officials to streamline the adoption process and make adoption more affordable for families. As the only foundation dedicated exclusively to foster care adoption, we are driven by Dave’s simple value: Do what’s best for the child. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit http://www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org/.

Avoid Fees When Traveling with Golf Travel Cases

In our last tip, we told you about a helpful website that lists nearly every airline's policies and fees with respect to transporting golf travel cases. Today, we're going to tell you how to avoid the extra fees that many people pay — unnecessarily — when taking golf travel cases overseas.
The problem can arise because different countries have different weight limits for what they'll accept as "free" checked luggage. U.S.-based airlines, for example, usually allow heavier bags than say, European airlines, before the "excess weight" fees kick in.
It's usually not an issue if, for example, you're flying from the USA to a single overseas golf vacation destination. But if you then need to take flights while you're there, it's common to be charged hefty, additional fees if your golf travel cases are heavier than the local limit. continued...
By: Craig Better of GolfVacationInsider.com