Best Golf Courses You Can Play

THE PUBLIC GOLFER NEVER HAS HAD ACCESS TO SUCH A STUNNING ARRAY OF COURSES.

The areas of the US that I handle for Golf Zoo are Alabama (RTJ Golf Trail), Florida and Mississippi (Gulf Coast/Biloxi). I will include all the courses that I sell in these particular areas, along with any personal comments or suggestions. The courses will be in order of how they are rank in the state.

Alabama:

* Farmlinks at Pursell Farms

• Golfweek - Best courses you can play (No. 1 in Alabama)
• Golf Digest - Best places to play 2008-09, 4 1/2 stars
• Lodging on site - 4 bedroom cottages that will sleep 8 guys
• Located 45 minutes SE of Birmingham

*Ross Bridge - Birmingham

*Grand National (Lake) - Auburn

*The Shoals (Fighting Joe) - Muscle Shoals

*Timberline - Birmingham

*Grand National (Link) - Auburn

*Cambrian Ridge (Sherling/Canyon) - Greenville

Florida:

*TPC Sawgrass (Players Stadium) - Ponte Vedra Beach

• Home of the Players Championship
• Number 18 on the list of top courses in the US
• One of my favorites that I have the opportunity to sell
• Stay and Play property - 4 other courses to choose from staying at facility

*World Woods (Pine Barrons) - Brooksville

• Number 43 on the list of top courses in the US
• Located 1 hour from either Tampa or Orlando

*PGA National Resort and Spa (Champion) - Palm Beach Gardens

• Home of the PGA Tour Honda Classic
• Stay and Play property, 4 other courses on site

*Bay Hill Club - Orlando (stay and play property)

- Home of PGA Tour Bayhill Invitational

*Sugarloaf Mountain Golf and Town Club - Minneola

*Juliette Falls GC - Dunnellon

*World Woods (Rolling Oaks) - Brooksville

*Ocean Course at Hammock Beach - Palm Coast (stay and play property)

*Doral Golf Resort & Spa (TPC Blue Monster) - Miami

• Home of the PGA Tour World Golf Championship
• U.S. Top Ten Golf Resorts (#7) - Travel + Leisure Golf
• Top 75 Golf Resorts in North America (#72) - Golf Digest
• 4 other courses on site

*Walt Disney World Resort (Magnolia) - Lake Buena Vista

*Southern Dunes GC - Haines City

*Fairmont Turnberry Isle (Soffer) - Aventura (stay and play property)

*Victoria Hills - Deland

*Fairmont Turnberry Isle (Miller) - Aventura (stay and play property)

*Lake Jovita (North) - Dade City

*Villa's of Grand Cypress (New Course) - Orlando

• Top 50 Resort Course 2010 - Golf World
• Nine-time Golf Magazine Gold Medal Award Winner
• 45 holes on site designed by Jack Nicklaus

*Reunion Resort (Independence) - Orlando (stay and play property)

• Fantastic 54 hole facility
• Numerous lodging options onsite from 2 bedroom villa up to 8 bedroom private home

*Innisbrook (Copperhead) - Palm Harbor (stay and play property)

• Top 100 you can play - Golf Magazine
• Home of PGA Tour Transitions Championship
• Three other courses on site

*Waldorf Astoria GC - Orlando

*TPC Sawgrass (Valley) - Ponte Vedra Beach

*Tiburon (Black) - Naples

MISSISSIPPI - GULF COAST/BILOXI:

*The Preserve GC - Vancleave

• Best New Courses 2008 (#6) - Golfweek
• America's Best New Courses 2007 (#6) - Golf Digest

*Shell Landing - Gautier

*The Bridges GC at Hollywood Casino - Bay St. Louis

*The Oaks - Pass Christian

Majority of the courses on this list I have played and I agree with all the rankings. Golf Zoo has access to all these courses mentioned above. Rates for these course vary. One rule of Thumb when looking at putting a golf package together:

Rates for most of these courses will be affected by the time of year and weather. When the weather is not good in the northern part of the US (winter), you can count on the prices being higher, in the golf areas where the weather is nicer. Summer in these areas is by far the least expensive time to play, especially in Florida. The shoulder season which is usually October thru December, is less expensive than the peak season - January thru April.

I hope this information has been helpful for our Blog readers. I would be happy to set up a package for any of these courses on the list and the areas where they are located. Please call me at 888.333.6103 or email me at glen@golfzoo.com to set up a golf package.

Golf in Bermuda

Great golf in Bermuda!

Sunshine, golf, beaches, blue skies… this is the way of the Bermuda Islands…and Golf Zoo’s Carribean sales manager, Shelley Quinn was lucky enough to spend time in June playing all of the courses and visiting a variety of Hotels.

With a perfect climate for golf from April through November, Bermuda is a hidden jewel high in the Caribbean.

Bermuda offers a distinct British feel (get ready to drive on the left & look both ways before crossing the street!!), and some old, established courses; golf in Bermuda is an experience that you don’t get elsewhere.

There are 9 great courses to choose from in this small grouping of Islands…the highest concentration of golfing opportunities per square mile anywhere in the world!

Let's start with the oldest private club in the Island, Riddle’s Bay. Now open to the public, this course still retains the ‘old British’ feel, and boasts stunning views over the ocean, and has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Located towards the mid to western end of the Island, this course meanders along a narrow peninsula, surrounded by the azure blue ocean.

Close by is Belmont Hills, another understated but highly enjoyable & challenging course, with exceptional views along the back 9, bunkered with fast, multi-tiered greens. Open for golf since 1907, the course has undergone many changes, with a major overhaul and redesign in 2002.

Port Royal Golf Club is one of Bermudas finest public courses, and host for the 3^rd consecutive year to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in October. This Trent Jones course has also undergone extensive renovations, with new tees, bunkers and greens just a part of the redesign. With stunning views over the Ocean on several holes, this was my favorite course in Bermuda.

When you’re ready for a shorter golf-day (maybe some afternoon beach time), the Fairmont Southampton boasts one of the finest par 3 courses in the world, featured by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play golf in 2002. This is a tough course, and those who think that it will be a bore will be very surprised by the challenging layout and superb views.

Two of the oldest and most renouned courses lie side by side in the Tuckers Town. The Mid Ocean Club was built in 1921 by architect Charles Blair Macdonald and renovated in the 1950’s has been on the PGA tour and obtained a ranking in the top 50 courses in the world outside of the US.

The nearby Tuckers Point course is one of the most scenic courses you will ever play, with all 18 holes offering spectacular views, and has been selected ini the tow 3 ‘Best golf resorts and best restaurants in the Caribbean’ by readers of Travel and Leisure golf. Following your round, make sure to visit the luxurious clubhouse, where you can relax on the terrace overlooking the 18^th hole, or have a cold beverage in the bar.

So many fantastic course, beaches, bars, restaurants and the scenic historic cites of Hamilton and St Georges (settled in 1612!!), Bermuda has something to offer all golfers, beach lovers and culture seekers.

Call Shelley at Golf Zoo to set up your Bermuda get-away.

Golf Myths Busted

Folks are very fond of myths. It's quite puzzling how we, though knowing they're not entirely true, still follow them. It could be because that's what we're used to doing, or we're afraid of some odd consequences if we don't follow them.

Even in things where there are a given set of rules, some myths exist. Just like golf.

Golf is a very technical game. Golfers play according to the rulebook, but unknown to some, they practice things they thought are part of the rules but in actuality are not.

Here are some of the most common golf myths:

1. Using a rangefinder is permitted by the Rules during play - You must be using this distance measuring device. However, Rule 14-3 bars strictly prohibit their use unless the Committee has acted even though in typical games, the Committee allows the use of such devices but with restrictions.

2. Before starting a new hole with a different ball, you must first inform your opponent in match play or your fellow competitor in stroke play – Players do this to show kindness but technically speaking, there are no rules that say you have to do this. It’s a bad idea to inform them in case they question you if the given ball is yours or not.

3. If anyone else replaces the ball, the player is penalized. Other than the player, if a person marks and lifts a player’s ball on the putting green, he must replace it – This is completely untrue. Under the Rule 20-3, the player, his partner, or the person who marked and lifted the ball - must replace it. If any person aside from the three replaces the ball, the player should correct the mistake or else, he will be penalized.

4. A ball is not back in play when it is replaced on the putting green until the ball marker is removed – False. Actually, as soon as the ball is replaced, it is back in play. The marker is useless when the ball has been replaced. Professional golfers leave the marker in place then swindle with the orientation of the ball – but this is an acceptable procedure. However, after having been replaced, if the ball is blown away from the marker, it should be played from its new position.


5. The type/brand of ball you use to start your round must also the same type/brand of ball for the whole round – This is true only when the “one ball rule” is applied. But this is almost never in effect for any game except only during PGA Tour and other events for skilled players.

Watching golf on TV or observing how others do it could be helpful in improving one's play. The danger in it lies only in the possibility of copying the wrong practices. Though they're not necessarily harmful, they are unnecessary and a waste of time. But don't fret. Even experienced golfers follow these myths. That's why it is important to not only have SKILLS in the sport, but KNOWLEDGE as well.

The Golf Trip Essentials You Keep Overlooking

To an avid, die-hard golfer, a golf trip is what a honeymoon is to newlyweds. And why not? It's another few days of amorous encounters with golf without an iota of care in the world. You can think of no one and nothing else but golf, golf, and more golf. Even the thought of it is pleasant and exciting!

You want it to be perfect, special, memorable, and of course, HASSLE-FREE.

Apart from the obvious essentials of golf gloves (bring extras!), golf wear, golf shoes, socks (bring extras!), clubs and extra balls, and other personal essentials (sunglasses, toiletries, underwear, cellphones, passport, tickets, cash, cards, medications), there are three things that each golfer setting out on a golf trip must never leave home without. These three things are surprisingly tiny, but forgetting them could just outright ruin your dream golf vacation. You don't even have to worry about paying for extra luggage just because you're adding these items to your list!

So go ahead and check that luggage again and see that these three things are in there:

Sunscreen. A 36-hole love affair on the greens may be just as ecstatic as it is ugly when you forget to bring sunscreen. You'll be playing most of the entire day under the scorching heat of the sun. A sunburn doesn't only look bad. It is also very painful. Protect yourself from the rays of the sun at all times. Just make sure the sunscreen is packed securely and doesn't get squished by all your other things. Last thing you need is an entire vacation's worth of clothes soaked in slippery lotion!

Lip Balm that contains Sunscreen. Your lips need as much protection from the sun as much as your skin does. And since, obviously, you can't put your sunscreen lotion on your lips, lip balms with sunscreen were invented. Put some on every now and then, or your lips will chap. Chapped lips are just annoying, so put that balm on before the sun gets to your lips!

Band Aids/ Athletic Tapes. An endless round of golf is a delight to any golfer's heart, but not for the feet! Those golf shoes can be nasty after some time, and will threaten to ruin your Master's-worthy game with an ugly blister or two. So arm yourself with lots of Band Aids so you can tape it up before it becomes uglier.

It is best to put them in a single bag along with your other toiletries so they don't get lost in a sea of stuffs, and you could easily locate it. You can easily pack them in your luggage and in your golf bags. These three things don't seem to be as important as all your other golf trip essentials, but it is best to have them around. Sometimes, even the slightest discomforts could ruin such an epic vacation. Better be ready and pack these up so you'll leave home excited, and you're going home happy.

Golf and All Its Well-Rounded Health Benefits

Contrary to what most people believe, golf has actually more benefits to human health. It may not be as action-packed as most other sports, and it may be mellow and slow in comparison, but that does not mean it is in any way less healthier. Playing golf regularly boosts the physical, mental, and social health of an individual.

Physical

A game of golf, given that all 18 holes are played, could burn at least 300 hundred calories when you walk and carry the clubs. (Riding a cart could only burn 230 calories, lower in comparison than when walking and carrying the clubs). Golf is an excellent cardiovascular workout that helps lower bad cholesterol levels in the body and speed up metabolism. This helps you regulate and manage your weight easier. A trip to the driving range could also burn 200 calories.
To add to that, regular exercise helps promote excellent and healthy sleeping patterns. With good sleep, the body is given time to rest and repair itself from all the strains of daily life.

Mental

More than a physical game, golf is a mental game. It is a game of strategies and skills combined, with the brain dictating the tempo of the game most of the time. A golfer needs to psyche himself up pretty well to make it out of a golf game with an excellent scorecard. Playing regular rounds of golf boosts mental activity, something that would be very beneficial to those who are aging. Research shows that regular mental exercise helps sharpen the mind and protect against premature dementia or forgetfulness.

Social

The game of golf may be played alone, but it doesn't mean it's a sport for the anti-social! Playing regular rounds of golf with friends, or belonging to the same golf club promotes a healthy social life. It allows for healthy competition, as well as breed good personal relationships.

And speaking of personal relationships, playing golf together as a family may also strengthen family bonds – especially with the kids. Kids are never too young to swing a club! Golf is perhaps one of those few sports that parents can enjoy with their kids without having to worry about being outrun by younger and stronger legs. Plus, it opens up doors for parents to communicate with their kids, teach them virtues through the sport, all the while getting to know them. It also serves as room for a healthy competition among family members without going physical on each other.

Golf's benefits are as calm as the game itself. They don't necessarily present themselves outright as benefits, like in most other sports. But when it comes to total, well-rounded health, golf has a lot to say!

BC - Big Sky Golf & CC opening day April 21

Shelley, Golf Zoo’s “Canada Guru” was lucky enough to play on opening day at Big Sky Golf & Country Club.  (see photo for evidence!)

Big Sky opened for the summer on April 21 with their annual Charity Day.  100% of green-fee revenues went to the BC Lupus Society and Arthritis Research Center of Canada.   The day was beautiful and the tee-sheet was packed!  And check out the views of Mount Currie in the background – jaw dropping!!!

The golf season in Whistler gets into full swing in early May, but Big Sky, located about 25 minutes north of Whistler, is in a warmer climate zone, and traditionally opens about 1 month prior to the other courses in Whistler.  Once all of our courses are open, you won’t find better mountain golf anywhere!  Choose from the Arnold Palmer design of the Whistler Golf Club, to Jack Nicklaus' Nicklaus North, Robert Trent Jones Jr's Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course and Bob Cupp's Big Sky.

Come and play some of Canada’s top courses in a setting that will stay in your mind’s eye for a long time after you’ve gone home…

For great golf & accommodation packages, contact Shelley - I'm happy to answer any questions that you have, and make sure that you have an awesome time in Whistler!

Golf in Palm Springs

A desert city that lies within the Coachella Valley of California, Palm Springs is home to the vast land areas that provide endless outdoor adventure opportunities. With the perfect blend of modern architecture and nature’s finest beauty, both the local and foreign guests flock this golf vacation destination for a casual relaxation. Aside from its breathtaking sceneries of canyons and mountains, Palm Springs is also home to amazing golf courses that were designed by famous golf course architects and designers. Some of the pristine greens that have been attracting all sorts of golfers include the North Course of Indian Canyons Golf Resort, the Golf Club at La Quinta, the Cathedral Canyon Golf Club, the Palm Course of Desert Springs, and the Valley Course of Desert Springs.

Indian Canyons Golf Resort – North Course

The North Course of the Indians Canyons Golf Resort is a 36-hole layout designed by the renowned golf course architect William P. Bell. This classical 6,943-yard par-72 layout also features the 6 challenging water hazards, the historic Walt Disney fountain, thousands of native trees, and the majestic mountain views that greets every golfer while on play.

Golf Club at La Quinta

In the beautiful natural California desert landscape lies the Golf Club at La Quinta, an 18-hole championship golf course. Being home to various PGA Tours including the LG SKINS GAME in 2006, this well-designed layout has been tested by golf champions over time. The sand perils and dramatic water features that complement the layout’s fairways all the way to the rolling greens are among the noticeable features that makes this course different from the rest.

Cathedral Canyon Golf Club

Designed by the California golf course specialist David Rainville together with the renowned golfer Billy Casper in the early 1970’s, the Cathedral Canyon Golf Club offers the challenging courses for golfers of all handicaps. The golf course also features the rolling hills with strategically placed bunkers and the tree-lined fairways that meander through the array of lakes. While taking the exciting tee times, guests will also have their fair share of the San Jacinto Mountains’ breathtaking views.

Desert Springs – Palm Course

The Palm Course of the Desert Springs is an 18-hole layout that was designed by the famous golf course architect Ted Robinson. This modernized golf facility features the state-of-the-art computing systems that even from the cart; golfers can already monitor the pace-of-play or compute the exact yardage all the way to the pin. The Wedge and the Sand Trap will serve as the means to end the great round of swings.

Desert Springs – Valley Course

The Valley Course of the Desert Springs is another exceptional Ted Robinson masterpiece. Like the Palm Course, this 18-hole championship layout features the modernized navigational and computing systems. While on board the carts, golfers can use the onboard computer to solicit golf tips from a course professional while playing a particular hole, or view the graphic layouts of the course’s holes. To end the round, golfers are also allowed to order lunch or snacks as they tee off from the final 18th hole.

Golf in Mesquite

A city adjacent to the state line of Arizona and 80 miles off northeast of Las Vegas, Mesquite is a city that is home to the growing population of retirees, several casino resorts, as well as renowned golf courses. In the recent years, Mesquite has become the latest boomtown in Southern Nevada that has been luring foreign guests and the local settlers. This small city of dry grounds has now turned into an amazing vacation destination with 24-hour gaming, celebrity entertainment, fine dining, and spectacular views of the multi-colored canyons from the city’s finest golf courses. Some of Mesquite’s well visited golf layouts include the Wolf Creek Golf Club, the Chase at Coyote Springs, the CasaBlanca Golf Club, the Conestoga Golf Club, and the Canyons Course of the Oasis Golf Club.

Wolf Creek Golf Club

The Wolf Creek Golf Club is a breathtaking course set above the desert floor where guests can catch the best views of the red-rock canyon walls, lush green fairways and the glistening waterfalls. Just an hour off northeast Las Vegas, golfers from across the nation often flock the city to experience spectacular 4,169 to 7,018 yards of golf. Aside from the picturesque views and impeccably conditioned course, golfers of all abilities can also get first-class amenities.

The Chase at Coyote Springs

Designed by the famous Jack Nicklaus, the Chase at Coyote Springs is a 7,471-yard layout considered as the first among the series of his signature golf courses. The course features the rye-grass fairways and the deep white-sand bunkers with the picturesque mountain vistas which made the course one of the finest desert masterpieces ever conceived. The club also offers the Caddie program that gives every golfer an invaluable service.

CasaBlanca Golf Club

The CasaBlanca Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course designed by Cal Olson. The entire course winds through the natural desert wetlands of the region ringed by the majestic views of the Virgin River Mountains. The course also features the challenging 5 sets of tees as well as the practice range with multiple targets and year-round grass tees. The CasaBlanca range can also cater to full shots ultimate practices.

Conestoga Golf Club

Undulating through Nevada’s finest canyons, the Conestoga Golf Club is all about challenging scenic golfing. The layout which was creatively designed by Gary Panks features the tranquil water elements and rugged rock outcroppings through its rising and falling elevations. Golfers of all ability levels can have the best tee times on the course’s 18 holes all crafted to Mesquite’s spectacular landforms.

Canyons Course of the Oasis Golf Club

The Canyons Course of the Oasis Golf Club was created to compliment the scenic Palmer Course. This meticulously designed 18-hole course features the Bermuda greens and the large fairways paving the way for a player-friendly layout. Although the course has the rugged setting, golfers from all parts of the globe often test their swinging skills on the layout’s natural and serene atmosphere. While on vacation, guests can have a day on the greens and experience one of the finest tee times that no other courses in the state can offer.

Golf in Kiawah Island

A barrier island set 15 miles off south of Charleston is Kiawah Island, a popular beach and golf resort that is already considered as a major tourist destination in the United States. The island boasts of its spacious villas, highly acclaimed greens, famous beaches, and many other exciting attractions. Being hailed as one of East Coast’s premier golf destinations, the island boasts of its 5 award-winning golf layouts designed by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio. With the courses that go through the dense woods all the way to the island’s breezy oceanfront, Kiawah is often flocked by golfers of all ability levels who want to experience not just quality tee times but also a quiet golf vacation destination and refuge. The Oak Point, the Cougar Point, the Osprey Point, the Turtle Point, and the Ocean Course are among the finest golf courses that the island boasts about.

Oak Point

The Oak Point is Clyde Johnston’s masterpiece that is set on the grounds of what was known as an old cotton and indigo plantation. Frequently dubbed as course with the Scottish-American style, this par-72 layout offers the fair test to both the experienced professionals and novice golfers. This stay and play facility also features a new clubhouse that is near the 18th green with the best views of the Haulover Creek.

Cougar Point

Stretching at a yardage of 6,861 from the back tees, the Cougar Point is nestled on the former site of Marsh Point Golf Course. The new design that was made by Gary Palmer is about 600 yards longer as compared to the old course. The layout also features the 3-hole stretch midway that runs through the front nine, the acres of spartina grass, and the dramatic par-4 18th hole. Aside from the majestic views of the Kiawah River, golfers can also see the countless wading birds while on play.

Osprey Point

The Osprey Point is a Tom Fazio classic layout that is characterized by variety and playability. The layout features the fingers of saltwater marsh, 4 large natural lakes, and the dense maritime forests comprised of the century-old live oaks, palmetto palms, pines, and magnolias. Tee times would include the par-4 453-yard ninth as well as the pair of threes that are longer than 200 yards. The layout also features the modernized cart paths as well as an immaculate driving range.

Turtle Point

The Turtle Point is a Jack Nicklaus gem where premier events like the 1990 PGA Cup Matches were held. The layout is considered as low-profile design wherein the green settings and fairways are blended with the area’s existing landscape with the absence of artificial mounding and other radical features. It also features the 412-yard 15th which is known as the hardest hole that the course takes along.

The Ocean Course

Designed by the famous Pete Dye, the Ocean Course has already hosted several major golf competitions including the “War by the Shore” of the Ryder Cup. In 2002 and 2003, Dye made some significant changes like moving the 40 yards 18th green toward the ocean as well as relaying all the tees and greens. A clubhouse was also added in order to provide guests with an ultimate golf vacation experience.

Jekyll Island Golf

What was once known as an exclusive winter vacation destination for the rich and famous in the 1800s has now turned into an ultimate getaway for the adventure seekers. This 5,700 acres barrier island is home to the sand packed flat beaches where guests can have fun under the sun exploring the island’s great outdoors and vast wilderness. Aside from the array of beaches and hiking trails that features the swaying pines and the moss-draped live oaks; Jekyll Island also serves as the haven for some of the world’s pristine golf courses. Among the island’s well-visited greens include the Jekyll Island Golf – Indian Mound Course, the Jekyll Island Golf – Oleander Course, the Jekyll Island Golf – Pine Lakes Course, the Laurel Island Links, the Osprey Cove Golf Club, the Sapelo Hammock Golf Course, and the Jekyll Island Golf – Great Dunes – 9 Hole Course.

Jekyll Island Golf – Indian Mound Course

Designed by the famous Joe Lee in 1975, the Indian Mound Course of Jekyll Island offers the perfect solitude retreat away from the busy world. This 18-hole golf facility features some of the island’s marshes and most pristine lakes where the strategically placed fairway bunkers run through. Large oyster shell middens believed to be deposited by the aboriginal tribes hundreds of years ago were also located in the area.

Jekyll Island Golf – Oleander Course

The Oleander Course of the Jekyll Island Golf is one of the finest masterpieces of Dick Wilson, a famous golf architect. The layout lies on the ground of what was once the oldest registered course in the United States. Being the local’s favorite, the layout features the numerous doglegs that will surely challenge every golfers even the professionals. The trade winds from the ocean are among the factors that will add up to the challenge.

Jekyll Island Golf – Pine Lakes Course

Set in the undisturbed hammocks and ocean forests, the Pine Lakes Course of the Jekyll Island Golf was an original Dick Wilson masterpiece that was completely renovated by Clyde Johnson, a renowned golf course architect. Johnson added the “Family Friendly” tee boxes to the layout making it as America’s only course that allows even competitions for all ages of golfers.

Osprey Cove Golf Club

Incorporating the traditional elements of balance, strategy, variety, and surprise, is what the Osprey Cove Golf Club is all about. From the first tee, all the way to the final hole, golfers can’t help but marvel about the layout’s aesthetic beauty as well as St. Marys River basin’s dramatic landscape. This Mark McCumber masterpiece was also cited among the “Top 100 Modern Courses” by GolfWeek’s Golf & Travel.