TravelGolf.com: The Birthplace of Golf Beckons
By Douglas Carey,
Contributor
Are you ready for a world-class vacation in the birthplace of golf? With many travel specials
now available, this may be the perfect time to visit Scotland. Before planning your trip, be sure
to catch senior writer
David R. Holland's report from the historic country. His comprehensive feature story includes
everything from course reviews to lodging recommendations. Not surprisingly, Holland suggests you
begin your tour with a round at the Links at St. Andrews: "With the North Sea and the Firth
of Forth on your right, a steady breeze to your back, the history of golf floods you
when standing on the first tee of the Old Course."
Ever the world traveler, Holland also checks in this week from Alberta with a review of the impressive
SilverTip Resort,
situated on the sunny side of the mighty Bow River Valley corridor.
Golf Digest rated SilverTip the second best new Canadian course for 1999, and the layout
features incredible views of the stunning Canadian Rockies. No wonder many say the
hardest thing to do at SilverTip is focus.
TravelGolf.com: Two New Product Reviews
Our product review spotlight tees off this week with a look at the
FootJoy product line, courtesy of senior writer Jeffrey A. Rendall.
You've probably seen FootJoy’s logo nearly everywhere when you’re
watching a PGA Tour event or shopping at the golf shop. But as Rendall explains in his review,
FootJoy is more than just a logo. "Simply put," he writes, "you see a lot of FootJoy because
its products are the best." Also this week, David R. Holland reviews the
Sun Mountain Cocoon travel bag and the company's Pulse Point Jacket.
Sun Mountain is responsible for many industry firsts, and both of these products show the
company at the top of its game.
LasVegasGolf.com: Solid Conditioning and Value
Staff writer Guy Torrey continues his popular "Quik Peek" series this week with a look at
the
Silver Oak Golf Course in Carson City. Torrey says the course features "one of the best
marriages of conditioning and value in Northern Nevada," and it's hard to disagree.
Be sure to read Torrey's notes on the 16th hole, one of the most scenic in the region:
"The putting surface is protected by a rocky outcropping to the left and a hillside to the
right, which permits a gun barrel glimpse of the expansive Carson Valley beyond, a
panorama which can fully be enjoyed once you reach the green."
GolfArizona.com: Playoff Fever Hits Phoenix
By the time you read this, the Arizona Diamondbacks or Atlanta Braves will be one step closer
to their dream of a world title. But with the two teams dueling in Phoenix last week, senior writer
Shane Sharp took the opportunity to check out the
local golf scene. "Both teams feature a
dugout full of players that relish an afternoon spent on the golf
course, and with several games situated in one of the
country’s golfing hotbeds, don’t be surprised if more than one gamer made
his way out to the links," said Sharp, whose feature story includes capsule reviews
of several top courses, including Troon Golf North, Grayhawk, and
the TPC of Scottsdale.
GolfTexas.com: A Visit Back In Time
Sometimes you just want to play an everyman course. In this week's GolfTexas.com featured review,
David R. Holland suggests we all support our inner-city municipal course:
"Find the most historic, old-style muny in your city and try it." He does his part here
with a look at the charming
Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio. Designed by A.W. Tillinghast in 1916,
Brackenridge Park is the oldest public course in the State of Texas.
Holland says the course is short and flat, but "it has majestic old pecan trees and even
some palm trees lining the fairways where many of the greats of golf have
walked."
From the 19th Hole:
Quick Shots from Myrtle Beach and More
In MyrtleBeachGolf.com, Shane Sharp says the
Grand Strand needs to improve the overall golf experience for locals and
visitors...At MichiganGolf.com, Mark "Sparky" Honey from "Two Guys Who Golf" offers a
review of the
Northville Hills Golf Club in Western Wayne County...
...At ScotlandGolf.com, John Morison checks out the serene
Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club, which is surprisingly tough to score well on....
Finally, join Joe Bruno at GolfFlorida.com for a visit to the
River Club, one of Bradenton's finest courses.
From the Rough: Spotlight on Myrtle Beach
The tragic terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 have shaken the golf industry, but already many
golfers are finding their way back to their favorite destinations. And many courses
are coming up with new ways to bring golfers back. As contributing writer Shane Sharp
reports from Myrtle Beach, the golf industry is roaring into fall. "The Grand Strand is nothing
if not irrepressible," Sharp writes. "When the going gets tough, the tough
soften up a little bit and lower their fees. While the price of a round of golf hasn't exactly
plummeted this fall, a number of package providers and individual courses have stepped up
with some solid bargains." Sharp's fall notebook also includes news from Ocean
Ridge Plantation and the Barefoot Resort.
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.
Until next week....God bless America.
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