Jul
27
UK reader planning U.S. golf vacation. How 'bout some help, folks!
Commenting on Kiel Christianson’s blog comparing Scotland and Ireland, Rob writes in:
I along with two good friends are planning our 40th birthday golfing trips for next year and would like some advice from people states side. We have played in South Carolina and Florida and are now divided over where to go. The contenders are Phoenix, the Rockies or a trip centered around Pebble Beach. Any good advice welcome and for the record we are all single figure golfers.
I gotta say, after reading Andrew Resnik’s recent stories about affordable golf on the Monterey Peninsula and David Berner’s story about getting on as a single at Pebble Beach, I’d lead towards that area of California.
The Reb and Tim McDonald seem high on Phoenix.
And if you’d consider Canada, I know Chris Baldwin has yet to shut up about this trip to Whistler, B.C.
But chime in, folks. Let’s help this guy out.
–Mark
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10 comments
Comment from: Arnie [Visitor]
Boy this is an easy one. Start in Carmel and play Pebble Beach, Spyglass and Poppy Hills. Then head up the coast to Bandon Dunes in Oregan and play Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and the new Bandon Trails courses. You can't get a better golf trip than that in the U.S. unless you have connections to some pretty exclusive private clubs. The only downside is that a trip like this will run you north of $1,500 for the greens fees alone.
Alternatively, stay in California after Monterey and play any number of fantastic public courses in the area like Bayonet, San Juan Oaks, Poppy Ridge or drive north to San Francisco and play Harding Park.
Alternatively, stay in California after Monterey and play any number of fantastic public courses in the area like Bayonet, San Juan Oaks, Poppy Ridge or drive north to San Francisco and play Harding Park.
07/27/05 @ 10:57
Comment from: Kiel Christianson [Visitor]
For overall access, cost, and quality of golf, Northern Michigan is very hard to beat, if you're going in the summer, that is. Gaylord and Traverse City are both sure bets. Michigan has more public courses than any state in the U.S. See MichiganGolf.com.
07/29/05 @ 10:05
Comment from: Rob [Visitor]
Thanks for that . If we go for the Pebble Beach option what are the current green fees Pebble and Poppy Hills .(Is Pebble Beach really $425 ! )
Also any info on places to go / restaurants / bars/accomo etc would be helpful . Hope to go around the Spring of next year
Rob
Also any info on places to go / restaurants / bars/accomo etc would be helpful . Hope to go around the Spring of next year
Rob
07/30/05 @ 10:13
Comment from: Arnie [Visitor]
Yes, Pebble really is $425. Plus, figure another $100 for a caddie, or a small cart fee if you're not staying there. But you have to stay there to reserve a tee time prior to the day of play, so you'll want to book a room there.
Poppy Hills is in the low $100 range ($125ish) to the public, but if you can find an NCGA member to take you at the guest rate, it's about half that.
Spanish Bay is around $230 (overpriced for what you get) and Spyglass is $275.
Poppy Hills is in the low $100 range ($125ish) to the public, but if you can find an NCGA member to take you at the guest rate, it's about half that.
Spanish Bay is around $230 (overpriced for what you get) and Spyglass is $275.
08/02/05 @ 14:07
Comment from: stewart5 [Visitor]
Being familiar with all 3 alternatives, my answer would be driven by time-of-year: Rockies OK obviously only in mid-summer; Arizona (Tuscon is better* than Phoenix) best in winter; Pebble Beach year-round but very best in shoulder season.
Zagats have a new listing of public course with user reviews, costs and url's.
Although Pebble Beach would be my single choice (add Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz), it's the biggest hit to wallet. being Brits, you might really enjoy the change of scene of hitting an 8-iron 190 yards at 10,000 feet in Vail (where some courses stretch out to 7,700 yards) -- or desert golf.
Good luck, enjoy -- hope it's helpful and a small tribute to you who always make my trips to UK and Ireland so great.
Zagats have a new listing of public course with user reviews, costs and url's.
Although Pebble Beach would be my single choice (add Pasatiempo in Santa Cruz), it's the biggest hit to wallet. being Brits, you might really enjoy the change of scene of hitting an 8-iron 190 yards at 10,000 feet in Vail (where some courses stretch out to 7,700 yards) -- or desert golf.
Good luck, enjoy -- hope it's helpful and a small tribute to you who always make my trips to UK and Ireland so great.
08/02/05 @ 17:12
Comment from: curt carter [Visitor]
You will think you're in golfer's heaven if you play the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama. I live in flat florida so when I travel for golf I've used the trail about 5 times. Many of the nine spectacular locations are very hilly and those are clearly my favorites. All open to public, moderate costs with seasonal high about $75 or so including cart. The entire tour from city to city plus motels, course tee times and entire itinerary can be prearranged. Web site is RobertTrentJonesTrail.com
Enjoy, one and all.
Enjoy, one and all.
08/07/05 @ 16:10
Comment from: Mike [Visitor]
You might consider Mesquite NV. They have excellent golf courses including Wolf Creek with a slope of 155. $5 minutes away in St. George is a very nice Johnny Miller design called Entrada. Two distinct nines with the back nine winding through a lava field. Coral Canyon is another good track nearby.
08/08/05 @ 10:51
Comment from: Lance Kulman [Visitor]
Might I suggest the Pacific NW. To help you decide I would take a look at my web site which offers 81 courses from the NW and shows you a digital picture of every hole. If you are single digit handicappers then I would recommend either Idaho (Circling Raven, Hidden Lakes,The Highlands, Twin Lakes Village and of course Couer d Alene Resort) or Central Oregon which has at least 8 world class courses within 45 minutes of each other, Aspen Lakes, Black Butte Ranch, Lost Tracks, Widgi Creek, Eagle Crest Resort and Sunriver Resort as well as a few other fine courses in the area.
If you would like to check out the Seattle area please look to the Gold Mountain Complex, Willows Run, Druids Glenn, Washington National, Trophy Lake and the Hawks Prairie courses. High ends are at Newcastle Golf Club. Hope this gives you some ideas.
If you would like to check out the Seattle area please look to the Gold Mountain Complex, Willows Run, Druids Glenn, Washington National, Trophy Lake and the Hawks Prairie courses. High ends are at Newcastle Golf Club. Hope this gives you some ideas.
08/25/05 @ 16:36
Comment from: Rob [Visitor]
Well gents we have finally decided where to go for our 40th . My own choice would have been phoenix as i have heard so many good reports and would have been a different experience to any other i have before . However one of my mates has sold Bermuda to us after a recent visit he had with business . I really appreciate all the advice and Phoenix and Pebble beach will be done one day . Meantime we will make the most of Bermuda playing - Mid ocean , Port Royal and Tuckers Point which going by their website look spetacular . Any one played them ?
08/29/05 @ 15:02
Comment from: dave [Visitor]
Hey Rob,
Why not consider central Canada. The greater Toronto area has many fine
golf courses and the Muskoka area north of the City has become a golf mecca. Taboo, Bigwin Island, Deerhurst, are just some of the few courses you would enjoy. Green fees range from $90.00 to $200.00 Canadian (better value for your pound).
Happy Birthday....
Why not consider central Canada. The greater Toronto area has many fine
golf courses and the Muskoka area north of the City has become a golf mecca. Taboo, Bigwin Island, Deerhurst, are just some of the few courses you would enjoy. Green fees range from $90.00 to $200.00 Canadian (better value for your pound).
Happy Birthday....
08/30/05 @ 14:03
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