Arnie's Crowning Jewel

Like any course in the United States, even the greatest courses go through renovations to improve their playability. Bay Hill is no expection to that rule. In the last year, Bay Hill totally renovated the entire course - changing yardages, tee set up and green layout. In years past, Bay Hill has had shots that were no brainers - just hit the ball. Now you have to think on every shot. With the summer season rapidly approaching and now with summer discounts, it is a great opportunity to visit this once in a lifetime resort. Call Tom at 888 867 6957.

Find the "Suite Spot" in Mid April and May.

It's cold. You're sick of it. I get it.

Originally from Cleveland, and after having resided many years in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, I understand that mid March can be depressing. It's supposed to be spring, yet it's still grey and cold. You wanna get to Scottsdale, but you're not too keen on $200 tee time fees and $200 per night hotels that typically accompany Arizona in March. I have the answer, my climate challenged friends...

Wait a couple more weeks, and come to Scottsdale in mid April or May. The weather is still absolutely perfect (mid 80's, no humidity, and no rain), and the prices are much more reasonable.

We have put together a stay and play package for Scottsdale that is First Class all the way, but won't have you dreading your next Amex statement.

Our "Suite Spot" Stay and Play starts with sharing a One Bedroom Resort Suite at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa. The suites are very large, very well equipped, and it's nice having a suite with all the amenities of a full service resort for less than $100 per person per day all in. (Even the daily $30 resort fee is included)

Then play 4 of Scottsdale's best and highest rated layouts:

• Arizona Grand Golf Club - On site at the resort, and perfect setup for day of arrival play.
• SunRidge Canyon Gold Club - Rated #42 on Golf Digest "Top 100 You Can Play"
• The Golf Club at Eagle Mtn - Top 50 Courses in America by Golf World 2009
• Gold Canyon - Dinosaur Mtn - #1 rated public course in Arizona 2009 and 2010

More info on each course can be found here.

This stay and play package is valid from April 11th through May 31st, and at $199 per person per day which includes the suite, resort fees, green fees, and all taxes, it's a spectacular value!

(Rates are even lower after June 1st, but the weather is getting hot that time of year)

Feel free to contact Chris Parcell or Lori Greene in our Scottsdale offices for more details.

Hang in there.

Things To Do While In Orlando On A Golf Vacation

During this time of year, a lot of individuals are in the Orlando, Florida area on golf vacations. Everyone thinks of Disney, Universal and so on when talking about Orlando. Due to these theme parks, the area is a very service oriented city. One of the best things, is the quantity and quality of places to eat in the area. Guys in town on golf vacations are always looking for good places to eat. Here are a few areas that I would concentrate on when looking for things to do and great places to eat.

First and foremost is the Sand Lake Road/ Dr. Phillips area. This area has everything from great cigar bars (Corona's) to high end restaurants (Ruth's Chris). The Sand Lake road area, has probably 20 plus restaurants and bars, all with a mile or so of each other.

The next very popular area is the International Drive area. This area does see a lot of tourists, but also has plenty of things to do from miniature golf, comedy shows, to even mystery dinner shows. My favorite part of International drive is called Pointe Orlando. This area has a couple of clubs along with some great restaurants - Capital Grille and Tommy Bahamas.

Downtown Orlando also has an area called Church Street Station. This is a couple of blocks of bars and nightclubs, but at least 20+ minutes from the SW Orlando area, where most golfers stay. A little closer is the Millenia Mall area, which has some very good chain restaurants, but the popular place is the Blue Martini - great place for the guys to go and enjoy the sites.

Orlando is not known for having numerous Gentleman Clubs, like Tampa does, but Rachel's is a nice place and has a very good steakhouse on site.

I've obviously only touched on a few certain areas, but you need to talk to your golf vacation specialist. We live in the area we sell and have traveled most of the state we live in.

Orlando- 2010 Top North American Golf Destination

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando has been voted “North American Golf Destination of the Year 2010” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), it was announced in Malaga, Spain at the annual international awards ceremony for the golf tourism industry. The event was widely covered by print, online and broadcast media including CNN International, ESPN Star Sports Asia and the Golf Channel.

IAGTO Chief Executive Officer Peter Walton said, “This is outstanding recognition for an aspect of the Orlando experience that is outside of its world-renowned theme parks. This award acknowledges not only the quality of the golf offerings in Orlando but the service provided to golfers and tour operators worldwide. With this award, our members recognize that Orlando has achieved a winning combination for golfers worldwide.”

“Orlando is well-known for its theme park thrills off the course – it’s very exciting to see that we are now becoming known for our thrills on the course,” said Gary C. Sain, president and CEO of the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. “With 177 golf courses providing every type and level of golf experience, we like to say that Orlando is golf’s ultimate theme park. We are honored to have this prestigious award from IAGTO and the acknowledgment from its members for the efforts we have put in to developing our vast golf offerings from our award-winning golf courses, to our top golf instructors and the acclaimed professional events we host every year. ”

The selection for winning destinations is made through votes cast by over 300 golf tour operators from 50 countries who consider customer satisfaction; quality of golf courses and accommodation; value for money; support from suppliers, tourist boards and airlines; professional conduct of suppliers; and accessibility to tee times. North American finalist destinations nominated for the award included Hawaii, Miami, Fla. and Palm Beach Fla.

You can contact me at 888.333.6103 or email me at glen@golfzoo.com to discuss golf packages in Orlando, or anywhere else in Florida.

Craig’s “Top Ten” Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach

Interested in a golf trip to Myrtle Beach but overwhelmed with the number of courses to choose from? Here is my list of the top ten must plays in Myrtle. This does not take into account price point or best values, just my favorite tracks considering layout, scenery, conditioning and service. 

1. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club- My absolute favorite course in town. This is one of the originals in Myrtle designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1948. Great views of the ocean, marshlands, inlet, and the best course conditions around. Just a super facility. 

2. Caledonia- Beautiful! It is a fair test of golf and at the same time one of the most scenic plantation style courses in the country. I just love the huge live oak trees lining the fairways with the Spanish moss draping down. Course conditions are always top notch and could be my favorite in town except for hole #9 is a bit of a disappointment when compared to the other 17 holes. 

3. King’s North- In a word FUN. I love risk reward holes and Arnold Palmer gives you plenty of chances on this course. Par five with an island fairway (always go for it because if it does not stay on the island your still hitting 3 into the green) island green par 3, drivable par 4, oh and number 18 has 100 plus bunkers on that hole alone! 

4. Tigers Eye- “Top 100 Public Courses” by Golf Digest and for good reason. Not your typical beach course, as there are some nice elevation changes and Tim Cate did a great job of carving the course out of the pines. I love the large boulders lining all of the ponds. 

5. Rivers Edge- Best value around if your willing to drive. You have a 45 minute hike even if your staying in North Myrtle but you won’t want to miss this track. Arnold Palmer was lucky to have a gorgeous piece of property to work with, that offers spectacular views overlooking the inlet and bluffs in Shallotte. Numbers 9 and 18 are two of my all time favorite holes. 

6. TPC of Myrtle Beach- One of my good friends best described this course as “the enchanted forest.” The land to start with did not have the wow factor that some of the other area courses offer but this is one of the best layouts around. 18 super holes of golf designed by Mr. Fazio which until recently had zero homes on the course but even with the new construction you still see very few home sites as you travel around. 

7. Tidewater- A North Myrtle Beach gem. Great mix of holes that run between the towering pines and then before you know it, your looking out over the marsh with the ocean in the background. There are so many holes that would be “the signature hole” on almost any other golf course.

8. Barefoot Love- I had a hard time choosing just one course at Barefoot as they are all great. Given my choice though I always go with the Love. The staff keeps the course in fantastic shape, and I just love the old ruins which gives the course great character. Well designed course and a great clubhouse to come back to have a beer and hang out with the guys….or gals. 

9. Grande Dunes- Come test that new driver! Just a mere 7,600 yards from the tips….strongly suggest avoiding playing it all the way back on windy days. Driver then three-wood gets old after a while…… I will say they have several tee boxes to choose from which make this a far less demanding golf course. Grande Dunes has the most upscale feel of all the area courses from the second you pull up to the bag drop and its in a great location.

10. Pawleys Plantation- I love what Jack Nicholas did with this golf course…well all except for the little 100 yard par three out over the marsh….that hole gets me every time. He too had a great piece of property to work with offering fantastic inlet views….my wife and I loved it so much we even had our wedding there. No doubt it is a challenging golf course but what a great place to spend a day. 

If you have questions on these or any other courses in town give me a call at 888.333.6079. 

Winter Golf Packages in Florida II - Orlando

Here is the follow up to my first post on Winter Golf Packages in Florida. I will mention more details on resorts and courses in the different areas

Orlando, Florida:

This is the best and biggest bang for your buck, when planning winter golf packages. As I mentioned earlier, the lodging (Villa's, Condo's and Homes) are inexpensive. Here are a couple of my recommendations for lodging choices - Magical Memories, followed by Grand Beach Resort, Sheraton Vistana Villages, and Sheraton Vistana Resort. Finally the high end resorts with Villa's and lodging on site - Reunion Resort (villa's and homes), Grand Cypress (villa's), Champions Gate (hotel rooms and villa's) and Orange County National (hotel rooms). Reunion Resort is the only one of these resorts that require you to stay on property in order to play there.

Here are my thoughts and recommendations of the courses:

Multiple course facilities:

Disney - 72 holes. Palm/Magnolia (PGA Tour event), out of same club house. Lake Buena Vista and Osprey Ridge have their own clubhouse.
Reunion Resort - 54 holes, upscale (Palmer, Watson and Nicklaus design)
Grand Cypress - 45 holes, upscale (Nicklaus design)
Champions Gate - 36 holes, upscale (Greg Norman design)
Orange County National - 36 holes, upscale (PGA Tour final stage of qualifying school)
Orange Lake Resort - 36 holes, less expensive (Legends course designed by Arnold Palmer).
Mission Inn - 36 holes, less expensive (30 minutes north of Orlando, lodging on site)
Stonegate at Solivita - 36 holes, less expensive

Other top end courses:

Bella Collina, 50 million $ clubhouse, Nick Faldo design
Shingle Creek - Close to airport
Harmony Golf Preserve - Great bang for buck, little bit of a drive
Celebration
Falcons Fire
Southern Dunes - Rated high in state of Florida
Metrowest
Eagle Creek - Close to airport
Sugarloaf Mtn. - Not typical Florida course, elevation changes
Victoria Hills - Great bang for buck, 1 hour drive
Providence GC - Well priced

Next level courses:

Legends Golf and CC
Diamondback
North Shore
Forest Lake
Hunters Creek
Royal St. Cloud
Ridgewood Lakes


To keep from having too long of a post, I will limit each one to a specific area in Florida. In the meantime, please feel free to email me - glen@golfzoo.com or call me with any questions or help - 888.333.6103.

Winter Golf Packages in Florida

It's the time of year to start thinking about getting out of the Snow and Cold, and playing golf in Florida - SUNSHINE AND WARMTH. I will try and break down our destinations individually, and give suggestions on where to go.

By far, Orlando is one of Golf Zoo's top destination in the Winter. A couple of the reasons for this are lodging and quality golf. The most reasonable lodging choices area Villa's, Condo's and Homes. These are all very inexpensive, and you can have it so each guy has his own room. Most all these properties are located in the SW Orlando, within 30 minutes of all the top courses. As far as the golf - there are at least 30 courses in the area that are all rated 4 - 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest and all ranked high in the state. Most guys that come in on golf packages from the North; love to get as much golf in as possible, during their stay. Orlando definitely can handle the multiple day rounds for the guys. There are 8 multiple course facilities in the area and all very good. Winter packages for Orlando as the rest of Florida are considered peak season. Golf can range from $75 a round to $175, and some of the lower priced courses are as good as the higher priced ones - discuss this with you Golf Vacation Specialist.

I will break down the other popular areas of Florida and offer advice and insight.

Tampa, Florida:

This area is 70 miles SW of Orlando and located on the Gulf of Mexico. This area has numerous courses, that include 5 multiple course facilities. One of the things about Tampa, is that driving to courses may take some time - due to the fact that they are spread out. Some of the best facilities in the area are anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes from Tampa. There are some lodging choices that offer villa's, but most of the choices will be hotel rooms. A lot of guys going on these golf trips, like to have some nightlife options, especially adult entertainment. Tampa has some of the best adult entertainment in the state.

Jacksonville, Florida:

This area is located in the NE part of the state. During the winter months, Jacksonville can be a little cooler than the rest of the state - but still a lot warmer than the NE United States. Jacksonville has 4 major resort type properties, all offering multiple courses and multiple lodging choices. These all are very good, but can be a little pricey. There are probably another 10 - 12 good public courses in the area. Jacksonville's other lodging, not resorts will be hotel rooms. The area is also located on the ocean. The pace in Jacksonville is a little slower than the other areas and a little more laid back.

Port St. Lucie, Florida:

This area is located 45 minutes north of W. Palm and about 90 minutes SE of Orlando. There are not a lot of courses in the area, about a half dozen. One facility they have is PGA Village - lodging and 54 holes on site. This is a very nice facility. This is more a golf only type trip, not a lot of nightlife in the area - but very good golf. Closest airport is 45 minutes away, in W. Palm Beach.

Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Florida:

I put these two areas together, because they are basically 30 - 45 minutes apart. The lodging in these areas will mainly be hotels. Of the two areas, Ft. Lauderdale has more golf courses to choose from. There are 4 multiple course facilities Ft. Lauderdale area and 2 in the Miami area. One of the most famous multiple course facilities in Miami, is Doral Resort and Spa. The resort has 5 golf courses on site. The stay and play packages are not cheap, but it's a nice resort. There are only another 4- 6 courses in the Miami area. Getting around in South Florida can be tough, a lot of traffic. I don't consider South Florida on of the top destinations in the state, for a couple of reasons - not a lot of course choices, especially quality and more expensive than what you pay for. The weather in South Florida can be warmer than the rest of the state. There is great night life in both Ft. Lauderdale and Miami (South Beach). If you want to be able to play good golf, enjoy the nightlife and spend more money - then South Florida is a good choice.

W. Palm Beach, Florida:

Palm Beach area is very nice and upscale. There are only a few top public courses in the area. The main draw is PGA Resort and Spa. This is a very nice resort and you have to stay there in order to play there. There are 5 courses on site - 2 of the courses are very good, the other 3 are average. If you want to be able to go somewhere and enjoy a resort and have all the golf - this is a good choice. Keep in mind, it is again not cheap.

Naples/Ft. Myers, Florida:

This area is located about 2 hours south of Tampa. This is located on the West Coast and has very nice weather. Majority of lodging choices are resorts and hotels, not very many condos or villas. The golf in this area, especially Naples - is very good and quite expensive. The Naples area is also know as Gods waiting room. You will enjoy going here for nice lodging a very good golf - again, you will pay top $$$ for these packages.


I hope this brief synopsis offers some insight on putting together a golf package in Florida, during the winter months. Your best bet is to discuss this with your golf vacation specialist (www.golfzoo.com). We just don't live here in Florida, we have been to the resorts or played most all the courses we sell. The best thing about using a golf package company to plan your trip is ease of planning. We do everything for you - your group just comes down and enjoy. Check out our website - www.golfzoo.com, and all the hot deals we have for the winter months. Feel free to call me anytime - 888.333.6103 to discuss your needs.

I will follow up with another post with some more details on the areas - mainly the courses and resorts. Until then...

Cowboy Steak Rub

More all star sizzlers from Lori's kitchen.
Here's a great Tex-Mex inspired rub, excellent on Ribeye Steaks:

Ingredients:

1/4 C Ancho chili powder or chili powder
2 T Paprika
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 t salt
1 t coarsely ground black pepper
2 T olive oil
4 10-12 oz. beef ribeye steaks, cut 1" thick
Snipped fresh parsley

Preparation:
For spice rub, combine in a small bowl chili powder, paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir in olive oil to make a paste which will cling to meat.( I added a bit more oil to get the right consistency)
Trim fat from meat and coat both sides of steak with spice rub.
Wrap steaks tightly with spice rub and refrigerate for at least 1 hour

Grill to your hearts desire and sprinkle with parsley

YEEHAW

Scientific Way to Determine the Best Golf Ball

Nearly a year ago, we told you about GolfBallSelector.com, which will, in less than 15 minutes and for less than you’ll pay for a sleeve of premium golf balls, identify the best golf ball for your game.

You may recall how this works: the researchers at GolfBallSelector.com test and measure the performance characteristics of virtually every ball on the market, then compare this data with information you supply about your game via a 15-question “fitting session.”

The result is a scientific (i.e. objective) list of the five best golf balls for you, those that will likely improve your distance, accuracy, feel…or all three.

Today’s tip is merely a follow up to let you know about two very cool developments.

First, the guys in the lab have gone out and tested about a dozen more golf balls; new ones from 2008 and 2009, bringing their database up to more than 60 models from all the major manufacturers. The list, which I saw over at mygolfspy.com, now includes:
continued...


by Craig Better of golfvacationinsider.com

GOLFERS ONLY- NO ONE ELSE WILL UNDERSTAND

Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.

Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.

If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there..

The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse.

The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all of your many other errors

Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.

A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponents' luck.

It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt....For a 10.

Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut.

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts

It's not a gimme if you're still away.

The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.

You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.

If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.

Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three.

When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.

Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.