This Week at
TravelGolf.com (Jan. 8-14)
By Douglas
Carey, TravelGolf.com Editor
If it's early January,
it must be time for "best of" lists. From movies to music, everyone's
a critic. Joe Bruno is no different. Our GolfFlorida.com staff writer
was reflecting on the year in golf last week when he decided to name
his top five courses
in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. With more than 60 public golf
courses to consider, there were plenty of top contenders. How did
he arrive on his favorites? "Five criteria were used," Bruno said.
"Aesthetic beauty, upkeep of the course, challenging play, the friendliness
and helpfulness of the staff, and just as important -- the cost of
a round of golf." We don't want to give away too much here, but the
picture accompanying this week's newsletter offers a pretty good hint
about the top course. Bruno says the Foxfire Golf Club receives high
marks for its three glorious nine-hole courses and a top-notch pro
shop.
While you're dreaming
of Florida beaches and beautiful sunsets, be sure to check out Bruno's
review of the Capri
Isles Golf Club in Venice, a small city within Sarasota County.
While Capri Isles didn't make our reviewer's top five list, the course
is not without its charming attributes. With the water serving as
a hindrance on almost every hole, come prepared for a challenge. Bruno
says the fairways are wide and well kept at Capri Isles, and the greens
are sloped and quite fast. The signature hole at Capri Isles is the
par-4, 320-yard No. 18, and just reading about it may be enough to
scare you away. Suffice to say your score may take a beating before
heading toward the 19th hole.
TravelGolf.com:
The Pixl Golf 1.8 Series Putter
Staff writer Kyle Dalton begins his review of the Pixl
Golf 1.8 Series Putter with a routine description, calling the
club "precision milled from a single block of carbon steel…featuring
a clubface insert comprised of more than 100 pixels, or independent
circular components." But does it work? Answers Dalton, "In two
rounds of use, this golf writer, who does not proclaim to be anywhere
near Ben Crenshaw in his ability, hit - from distances of more than
20 feet - almost 20 putts in the two rounds combined within three
feet of the hole." Sounds like a winner.
The putter
is quickly gaining fame in Silicon Valley, where a number of celebrities
have used the club. Apparently, they haven't been disappointed.
As Dalton writes, "This is one club where the money-back guarantee
you see in their advertisements won't be necessary." For more TravelGolf.com
product reviews, be sure to check out our holiday gift guide,
which highlighted several of the top products from the past year.
GolfArizona.com:
Touchstone Energy Tucson Open
Boasting its strongest field in three years and an additional top-notch
course, this week's Touchstone
Energy Tucson Open should be one of the best in its history.
Running from January 8 through the 14th, the Tucson Open is the
first full-field event of the year. Fan favorite Fred Couples has
committed to play, and tournament officials have given Casey Martin
a sponsor's exemption, clearing the way for his return.
Besides Couples,
past major championship winners who have committed to play are Craig
Stadler, Jeff Sluman, Curtis Strange, Fuzzy Zoeller, Mark Calcavecchia,
John Daly, Steve Elkington, Lee Janzen, and Steve Jones. GolfArizona.com
senior writer Scott Behmer offers a complete tournament preview
here, including day-by-day highlights. He also includes valuable
insights on the two courses, Omni Tucson National (definitely the
easier and better spectator course) and the Gallery Golf Club.
TravelGolf.com:
Confederate Flag Still at Issue
Seven months
ago, South Carolina lawmakers agreed to remove the
confederate flag from the State House dome. But according to
TravelGolf.com senior writer Shane Sharp, the issue is not even
close to going away. In his second extensive article on the subject,
Sharp provides an update on the current developments, including
news about the NAACP's "Day of Dignity March" scheduled for January
15 (Martin Luther King Day).
Unlike several
months ago, when golfers in the Myrtle Beach area were quite concerned
about the issue, Sharp reports that the flag issues has nearly fallen
off the radar screen. In a recent sampling of area Grand Strand
courses, Sharp discovered that many golfers would like to keep the
controversy away from the golf world. "One director of golf, wishing
to remain anonymous, said he would be happy if the flag issue just
went away with the cold weather," wrote Sharp.
GolfCarolina.com:
Great Golf Awaits in North Carolina
Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountain region of North Carolina,
the Hound Ears Lodge and Resort simply exudes relaxation. GolfCarolina.com
staff writer Douglas Scarboro sounded so relaxed after his recent
visit, it's a wonder he was able to write at all.
In his two-part
report, Scarboro begins with a look at the Hound
Ears Lodge, located a short drive from the entrance gate overlooking
the ninth hole of the George Cobb-designed golf course. Scarboro
came away quite impressed: "The Hound Ears Lodge and Resort is a
peaceful mountain destination that should be included on your list
of weekend relaxation spots. It offers wonderful golf, beautiful
views, food that feeds the soul and a staff that seeks to make you
feel that your comfort is their only goal."
Our reviewer
also gave high marks to the Hound
Ears Golf Club, which sits in the valley of Grandfather Mountain
next to the Watauga River. "With accommodations and practice areas
set up to cater to foursomes, this is a destination that will be
appreciated by those who enjoy the game of golf," Scarboro writes.
From the Rough
In case you
missed last week's report, be sure to catch senior writer Shane
Sharp's preview of the four
new courses scheduled to open in Myrtle Beach this year. Sharp
will be tracking the development of these new additions to the Grand
Strand golf arsenal throughout the new year, and he's promised reviews
of these new courses throughout the year, published up to a month
before the official grand openings.
As always,
if you disagree with our reviewers on a certain course or just want
to sound off about Tiger's views on the PGA Tour, be sure to visit
GolfBoards.com,
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….happy golfing!
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