OldDominionGolf.com:
Summons The Luck of The Irish

For those looking to challenge the toughest public access course in the state of Virginia, Royal New Kent's the place. In this week's featured OldDomininonGolf.com review, senior writer Jeffrey A. Rendall says you'll need the luck of the Irish to battle this Mike Strantz design. While the fairways are quite generous, Royal New Kent's slope from the gold tees is 144. The course bills itself as a tribute to several Irish layouts, so come prepared for many unique looking shot values. If you're up for the challenge, you'll enjoy the scenery and the intriguing layout. "Special kudos are given to the course conditions, especially the greens," Rendall writes. "You won't find better putting surfaces anywhere in terms of quality and true reads."

OntarioGolf.com: Gratifying Golf in Manitoba

Designed by Stanley Thompson and built by the hard working hands of men from all over the Manitoba area, the Falcon Lake Golf Course was no easy task to create. Opened in 1955, Falcon Lake presents a challenge that fits in perfectly in cottage-country. Staff writer Andrew Penner says it's a joy to walk, it's not too difficult (from the regular tees anyway), and offers a wonderful mix of holes. And while you’re sure to enjoy the scenery, it’s not always that rewarding missing the fairways at Falcon Lake. The brush is often thick and finding the ball can be a challenge. But after reading this review, you’ll understand why many consider Falcon Lake to be the best track in Manitoba. “Playing golf at Falcon Lake is gratifying and serene,” Penner says. “While the golf course doesn't feature a lot of elevation change, the land in the Whiteshell Provincial park moves.”

StAndrewsGolf.com:
2002 Reservations at the Old Course

Related Links • This Week at TravelGolf.com (June 11-17) • Archives: This Week at TravelGolf.com

While the year 2002 may seem a long way away, demand continues to grow each year for the top courses (e.g. Old Course in Scotland and Ballybunion in Ireland) and hotels in the UK and Ireland. Indeed the Links Trust, which administers the Old Course, is currently accepting advance applications for Old Course times for 2002 and 2003. EuropeGolfTravel.com can help you reserve these times by booking early (by June 30, 2001 or prior) to secure the best tee times and accommodations for your trip via the most economical method. As an added incentive to book your 2002 Scotland or Ireland golf tour early and in order to confirm your tour at minimal initial cost, EuropeGolfTravel.com offers the following bonuses to book your 2002 tour by June 30, 2001. For more details, call the EuropeGolfTravel.com at 888·345·5930 OR email info@europegolftravel.com.

TravelGolf.com: Wedgewood Gets Creative

When writing this week’s featured company profile of Wedgewood Golf, senior writer Kiel Christianson thought of the familiar statement, “Desperation is the mother of innovation.” For the founder of Wedgewood Golf, Michael Wanchena, the saying couldn’t be more true. As Christianson tells it, Wanchena was in the middle of a frustrating round of golf several years ago when he decided on his new company’s philosophy: Build a club with the loft and shaft length of an iron, but the head-shape of a wood, with plenty of weight to get the ball up in the air. If you’re looking for a little more consistency in your game, Wedgewood may be the answer. “What makes Wedgewood unique is that it has two lines of clubs, ranging in loft from 16-degrees to 44-degrees, designed specifically to replace the irons of players who simply cannot get consistent results from them,” says Christianson.

From the Rough

In case you missed last week's report, be sure to catch staff writer Art Stricklin's feature on Greenland, where he traveled to participate in the Drambuie World Ice Golf Championship, held in the tiny village of Uummannaq. "Players are regularly warned to watch each other for frostbite and to be careful of stepping in seal holes," Stricklin says. "But the scenery is truly spectacular, the golf is most unique and the journey to the golf course is one not likely to be repeated anywhere in the world."

Lastly, kudos to our own TravelGolf.com senior writer David R. Holland, who has been named "Writer of the Month" for June by INCA Golf, which has added a link to his author archives on its website. Dave's comprehensive course reviews have been an integral part of the TravelGolf.com operation for nearly three years now, and it's great to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.

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 TravelGolf.com forum, 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.