TravelGolf.com:
In Search of the Lost California Fairway
By Douglas Carey,
Contributor
If you've never heard the tale of the lost fairway, be sure to catch senior writer
David R. Holland's look at the first
and only ocean-front golf course in Los Angeles County, Ocean Trails in
beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes. Ocean Trails was preparing for its grand-opening festivities
when a landslide on June 2, 1999, sent its 18th fairway sliding into the Pacific Ocean.
To learn what's happened since, you'll have to read Holland's review, which includes
a look at the nearby Hilton Port of Los Angeles-San Pedro, nestled in the foothills
of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
• California Course Guide
OldDominionGolf.com: Journey to Northern Virginia
For this week's spotlight review, senior writer Jeffrey A. Rendall traveled to Northern Virginia
for a review of
Virginia Oaks, another grand design by PB Dye. Located about 35 minutes
from downtown Washington, D.C., the track offers plenty
of elevation changes, forced carries over water, elevated putting surfaces,
steep bunkers, and multi-tiered greens to keep you busy for four hours.
All in all," Rendall writes, "Dye has done an outstanding job
carving the course out of what appears to be a very difficult piece of ground."
• Virginia Course Guide
GolfFlorida.com: Bobby Weed on Strategic Golf
In our architect profile this week, senior writer Derek Duncan visits with Florida-based
Bobby Weed about his current hot-streak, his insight into contemporary architecture, and his
thoughts on the importance of strategic golf. Though his career began in the 1970's
working under Pete Dye, it's the work that Weed has done since 1995, when he opened
Weed Golf Course Design, that is earning the greatest acclaim. "Weed is as personally
involved on-site as nearly any living architect and his
courses reflect his attention, especially in their intense and creative green
complexes," writes Duncan.
• Florida Course Guide
GolfArizona.com:
Where the Grass is Really Greener
It has been about eight years since the opening of
Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, and the two courses there - the Talon and the
Raptor are still considered gems of the desert. As staff writer Rebecca Larsen explains, the
two layouts feature innovative design and spectacular maintenance, making them well
worth the green fee that can (depending on the season) be in the $200 range.
Choosing between the two courses may be your most difficult decision. "We'd choose the
Raptor if we could only play one course," Larsen said. "Hopefully, you can play both and
decide for yourself."
• Arizona Course Guide
GolfArizona.com:
Historically Fascinating
Senior writer David R. Holland has traveled across the globe in search of the world's best courses,
but sometimes the best surprises are barely on the map. Such is the case with Arizona's
Rio Rico Resort and Country Club, located 45 minutes south of Tucson and 15 miles from Nogales, Mexico.
Situated in one of the most picturesque and historically fascinating areas of Arizona,
Rio Rico's traditional layout features a variety of hilly to flat terrain, fairways that are tree-lined
and water that comes into play on six holes.
• Arizona Course Guide
From the 19th Hole:
Quick Shots from Texas and More
At GolfTexas.com, check out Kyle Dalton's review of the
Sammons Park Golf Course, an 18-hole journey through the city of Temple's history...
At TravelGolf.com, Shane Sharp reports from the
PGA Merchandise Expo in Orlando, where several new products caught his eye...
Finally, be sure to check out the newest book review by Kiel T. Christianson, a look
at Phillip Young's soon-to-be released book,
Golf for the People: Bethpage and the Black, which comes highly recommended for all golfers
who love the game as much for its history as for its challenge.
From the Rough:
Spotlight on South Carolina
In case you missed last week's issue, be sure to catch contributing writer Shane Sharp's review
of the Santee-Cooper
Resort, located just off I-95 in South Carolina. As Sharp explains, the town of Santee is merely a collection of
roadside motels, mom-and-pop restaurants, and strip malls.
But surprisingly enough, a large chunk of golfers are making the Santee-Cooper area
their final destination. "Santee may not be able to compete with Myrtle Beach on quantity
and quality," Sharp writes, "but when it comes to price, the Santee region is pulling golfers in
hand over fist from all parts of the Midwest and Northeast."
• South Carolina Course Guide
Chip Shots: Interactive TravelGolf.com
As always, if you disagree with our reviewers on a certain course, be
sure to visit the GolfBoards.com
website, a series of message boards where visitors can write about
everything from the Myrtle Beach golf scene to new equipment.
If your game isn't up to par, be sure to check out the Bad Golfers Forum,
where you can tell everyone why you should be our "Bad Golfer of the Month." While you're at it, you may want
to visit BadGolfMonthly.com and see why Sports Illustrated calls it "a website that makes good sport of bad golf."
Lastly, if you haven't checked it out already, head on over to the TravelGolf.com
Pro Shop, a joint venture with The Golf Warehouse.
With all of this at the award-winning
TravelGolf.com, there's no need to go anywhere else on the Web.
Until next week...God bless America.
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