TravelGolf.com:
Dreaming of Pinehurst for Christmas
By Douglas Carey,
Contributor
Just when I thought my Christmas wish list was complete, I had to start over after
reading senior writer Shane Sharp's
overview of Pinehurst this week. Now all I want for Christmas
is a few days at this American institution in the heart of North Carolina. "Pinehurst is golf first, everything else second," Sharp
writes. "Unlike Myrtle Beach, which offers up myriad of other entertainment opportunities,
Pinehurst and the Sandhills exist for the sole purpose of promoting and sustaining the
game of golf." Sharp's overview includes a rundown of all the top courses in the area, starting
with Pinehurst No. 2 at the beautiful Pinehurst Resort. "Just driving into and around
Pinehurst is a surreal undertaking in itself -- one
that every serious golfer must experience at least once in their life," Sharp writes.
TravelGolf.com: A Rock Solid Foundation
Sharp also checks in this week with another installment of his series on America's top 100 golf
instructors. In his visit with
Charlotte's Dana Rader, we learn about her teaching philosophy
and her favorite courses. Located at the Ballantyne Resort, her Dana Rader Golf School
include a video room and hitting bays for inclement weather.
In her upcoming book, "A Rock Solid Foundation," Rader begins by
shedding some light on the common misconceptions surrounding the golf
swing, and then sets forth a foundation for building a golf game for a lifetime.
OldDominionGolf.com: Not All Dirt Is Created Equal
Senior writer Jeffrey A. Rendall heads to Maryland this week for a look at the
challenging
Atlantic Golf at South River layout. Rendall says the course features plenty of
beauty and character, along with excellent playing conditions. "It’s an extremely challenging
layout with numerous forced carries, more wetlands than many a swamp, and some significant elevation
changes thrown in, just to make it interesting." Carefully working around many
environmental regulations, course architect Brian Ault has made South River
one of the toughest courses in the Middle Atlantic.
GolfFlorida.com: Clyde Johnston Does it Again
All of a sudden, the 25-mile stretch of I-95 between Jacksonville and St. Augustine has become
a golfer's paradise. There are seven public courses along the corridor, including
the new
St. Johns Golf and Country Club, designed by famed architect
Clyde Johnston. Duncan says the course clearly stands out in the golf-rich area: "Johnston
has imbued St. Johns with just enough of his own touches that it makes a noteworthy
statement."
LasVegasGolf.com: The Affordable Alternative
Black Mountain Golf and Country Club is an old golf course - the third oldest in Las Vegas
- but you’d never know it. As Shane Sharp explains, the course conditions approach
those of the higher end courses, and the service is accommodating without being overwhelming.
"Older, venerable golf courses like
Black Mountain that sport interesting
layouts, excellent conditions and friendly service have a way of defying time
and the marketplace," Sharp writes. What's more, the course offers some of the most
affordable green fees in the area, including fantastic twilight rates.
From the 19th Hole: Quick Shots from Arizona and More
At GolfArizona.com, Ray Bangs visits the spectacularly scenic
Dove Valley Ranch Golf Club (at right), located just north of Phoenix...
Senior writer Joe Bruno checks in from Florida with
a review of the attractive
Apollo Beach Golf Club near Tampa Bay...
And if you're planning an upcoming golf vacation, here's why choosing to use a
Independent Golf Packager is the best way to book your trip...
Finally, be sure to check out Shane Sharp's ranking of the
Top Ten Desert Courses, including the Pinnacle Course at the Troon North Golf Club
in Arizona.
From the Rough: Spotlight on Texas
In case you missed last week's report, be sure to check out David R. Holland's review of the
the world’s first NFL-themed golf course. Located just below Grapevine Dam,
Cowboys Golf Club opened in June 2001 to rave reviews. As part of his visit, Holland also sat down
with course architect
Jeff Brauer, whose Golf Scapes firm has designed 40 golf courses and remodeled
80 throughout the country.
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. 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 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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