TravelGolf.com: A Thanksgiving Feast from the Fairway
By Douglas Carey,
Contributor
With the launch of GolfInstruction.com set for early 2002, we thought we'd whet your appetite with a series
of stories on the topic of golf schools. In contributing writer Shane Sharp's overview, he says many
golf schools can make
18 holes on a mountain course look like a walk in the park. "Most schools have schedules that have sessions running right up against
one another with little or no breaks in between," he writes. In part two, Sharp reveals the most
common misconceptions
people have about golf schools, not the least of which is that the experience is often viewed as a golf vacation.
And before you head out, be sure to review our list of the
top 10 questions you must ask before deciding on a golf school.
GolfCarolina.com: Spotlight on Wilmington
Sharp also checks in this week with a three-part series on
Wilmington, North Carolina,
one of the Carolinas best-kept secrets. "Anchored by its 200-block historic district, this bustling river city of over
100,000 residents has one of the most vibrant downtowns in
the state, and one of the strongest tourist industries in the southeast," Sharp writes. And be sure to catch his dining
review of the
Front Street Brewery, an integral part of the Wilmington streetscape since the late 1800s.
For more on the Wilmington
restaurant scene, visit our dining guide, complete with capsule reviews of the area's best bets in everything
from pizza to seafood.
GolfTexas.com: This Way to Austin
Senior writer Kyle Dalton traveled to the Texas Hill Country recently for a much anticipated
visit to
The Clubs of Lakeway, located 18 miles west of Austin. Featuring two scenic 18-hole
courses - Yaupon and Live Oak – the golf club is also known for its 16 outdoor tennis
courts. Dalton gives high marks to both courses, which were designed by noted architect
Leon Howard. Also this week, be sure to check out Dalton’s review
of the
Quicksand at Woodcreek Golf Resort, which can be summed up in two words - trees and doglegs.
Located south of Austin, the course recently changed ownership, and Dalton says the improvements
are already noticeable.
ScotlandGolf.com: Ancient Links A Must-Play
Senior writer David R. Holland continues his tour of Scotland with a visit
to
The Old Course in St. Andrews, where he received a valuable history lesson from his
playing partner, Paul Kirkcaldy, the Golf Services Assistant for the St. Andrews
Links Trust. "Just think about this on the first tee," Holland writes. "Golf
historians believe the game was being played here 100 years before
Columbus reached America and more than 200 years before Shakespeare was hard at work in
England." For
much more on The Old Course, including information about obtaining a tee time,
check out Holland's notebook, which features historical notes about the course and
news about the new green fees for next year.
More from Scotland: Holland Wraps Up His Tour
If you've missed any reports from David R. Holland's whirlwind tour of Scotland, don't despair.
Start by checking out his review of the
Gleneagles complex, which has won more than 30 major awards in the travel, leisure and
catering industries since 1982. "Some have played the golf
courses of Gleneagles and agreed it is the finest moorland golf setting in the world," said Holland.
After reading about Gleneagles, be sure to read his review of the beautiful
Westin Turnberry Resort and another installment
of his popular On the Road series,
which features everything from lodging to golf.
From the 19th Hole: Quick Shots from Florida and More
At GolfFlorida.com, Joe Bruno heads to Bradenton for a review of
the
River Run Golf Links, where the price is right and the course is more than a
little pleasant....At MyrtleBeachGolf.com, Shane Sharp reports on the current
state of
air travel in the Grand Strand...
Sharp also checks in from GolfArizona.com with a company profile of
Stand-by Golf, which is helping many golfers grab last-minute tee times at
reasonable rates...Finally, be sure to visit GolfCalifornia.com for Jeffrey Weidel's
review of Sacramento's
Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course, where accuracy is the key.
From the Rough: Spotlight on California
In case you missed last week's report, be sure to check out senior writer Jeffrey A. Rendall headed to California recently for a family vacation, he made sure to bring his clubs.
Fortunately for us, he made plenty of time for golf, starting with a quick 36-hole tour of the Lost Canyons Golf Club
Simi Valley just outside of Los Angeles. Rendall says the Sky Course and its sister, the
Shadow Course, are two PGA tournament caliber golf courses. "They’re severe tests
from the back tees, and would make for spectacular television coverage if given the opportunity," he writes.
Even though you're deep in the middle of Southern California, you'll be amazed at the tranquility of Lost Canyons.
"If the temperature was about 40 degrees cooler and there were some pine trees, you’d be in Montana," Rendall says.
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 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...Happy Thanksgiving.
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