HawaiiGolfGuide.com: Beauty Amongst the Lava Rocks

If your vacation plans include a trip to Hawaii's Kona-Kohala Coast, you can't go wrong. As staff writer George Fuller points out, the coast features many varied forces at work. "On the one hand, you have magnificent new resorts such as Hilton Waikoloa Village right at the waterfront, and on the other hand, you have reminders of the original Hawaiians," Fuller writes."Combined, such diversity makes for a memorable visit." One of the most memorable courses on the coast is the Waikoloa Golf Club, part of the Waikoloa Resort, which features two courses, a shopping village, private condominiums and several hotels. The golf courses are managed by Troon Golf and called the Beach Course and the Kings’ Course; not surprisingly, Fuller says both come highly recommended.

MyrtleBeachGolf.com:
New Greens of the South Strand

Related Links • Discuss this story at GolfBoards.com • This Week at TravelGolf.com (Aug. 27-Sept. 2) • Archives: This Week at TravelGolf.com

If you've noticed a change in the South Strand over the past year, you're not alone. As senior writer Shane Sharp reports this week, a number of courses in the region are saying good-bye to their bentgrass greens, and saying hello to the turf industry’s latest Bermuda grass concoction, Tif Eagle. In this feature story on the new greens in the South Strand, Sharp visits with several golf pros and superintendents to see why the change is being made. He also spotlights a few courses that recently made the switch, including Pawleys Plantation, where its Penncross bentgrass putting surfaces were replaced with the more durable, heat tolerant Tif Eagle in just four weeks. According to most everyone, the change has been a positive one.

GolfCalifornia.com: Quality Golf in Silicon Valley

For this week's featured GolfCalifornia.com review, staff writer Doug Saunders plunged into the hectic world of Silicon Valley, where the fast moving, highly innovative, and intellectually stimulating atmosphere also creates a fervent environment for stress. To release that stress, Saunders says many golfers are heading to the new Coyote Creek Golf Club, which occupies a site that was the home of Riverside Golf Course, a public fee facility that was built back in the fifties by the same owner. Jack Nicklaus has created two Signature Course designs here, and both have a distinctive feel. Incidentally, Coyote Creek hosts the PGA Senior Tour in March with the Siebel Classic.

LasVegasGolf.com: Blowing in the Wind

Forget the blackjack table. If you're looking for a real challenge in Las Vegas, head to the TPC at the Canyons, which sits in the shadow of the Stratosphere Casino. As staff writer Michael Hegarty writes, the course plays extremely difficult when you have to contend the winds. "For the professional or amateur, TPC at the Canyons has plenty to challenge everyone with its abundant canyons, the ever-changing wind, extensive warm-up and practice facilities, and top notch staff and ground crews," Hegarty says.

From the 19th Hole:
Quick Shots from California and More

In GolfCalifornia.com, Tom LaMarre heads to Oxnard for a look at the River Ridge Golf Club (right), a breath of fresh air featuring nearly eight acres of water...At GolfFlorida.com, Joe Bruno heads to Englewood for a look at the Lemon Bay Golf Club, which is actually located within a wildlife preserve... in GolfCarolina.com, Shane Sharp checks in with his September notebook featuring notes on National Golf Club and the Seabrook Island Resort.

From the Rough:
TravelGolf.com Spotlight

A recent check of the top golf destinations in the world mentioned surprising Portugal, so we decided to have staff writer Carla Harvey take a summertime golfing jaunt throughout the courses in central and northern Portugal. In this three-part series, Harvey begins with visits to six golf clubs and overnight stays at nearby manor houses. She continues her tour in Amarante, and she also offers a few key driving tips for the area. Finally, Harvey offers a brief look at three more courses, and she also offers a few more tips for travelers.

Coming this Month: September Features

Later this month, be sure to look for a feature story on the newest courses in Phoenix, as well as our regular Architect Spotlight. This month we'll visit with Dan Maples, who talks about the Carolinas' hottest golf destinations and his impact on the region. In our Business Corner, look for a story on the Links Golf Group, a course management company that's reorganized and eager to make a new start. All that and much more in September at TravelGolf.com.

BadGolfMonthly.com: Hall of Shame

The Hall of Shame honors bad golfers worldwide by presenting the worst scores attained by hackers from all over the globe. View the entries to see if there is actually a bigger hacker than you out there, or post your own worst score! Tell everyone a little about your game too-- no excuses, just provide a little context.

As always, if you disagree with our reviewers on a certain course or just want to sound off about the latest from the PGA Tour, 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. There's also a free classifieds section where golfers can advertise that old set of clubs they've been meaning to sell for years. And if you haven't checked it out already, be sure to visit the new TravelGolf.com Pro Shop, a joint venture with The Golf Warehouse. With all of this at TravelGolf.com, there's no need to go anywhere else on the Web.