This Week at TravelGolf.com: August 24, 2004

National golf editor Tim McDonald wraps up his special report on the state of golf this week with a look at how the key industry players are finally working together to advance the game. In fact, nearly $10 million is being spent this year to attract new players.

As McDonald correctly points out, however, the golf industry also needs to focus on gaining repeat customers. Unfortunately, studies indicate consumers are as conflicted as course owners when it comes to prioritizing their needs. After reading parts one and two of McDonald's report, you'll find that money, degree of difficulty, and time are three important factors keeping players away. Now the challenge is to agree on positive solutions that benefit everyone.

While we monitor the developments with cautious optimism, be sure to check out our usual full roster of reviews and travel features, plus news from Florida's family-owned Lekarica Restaurant and County Inn, which will be auctioned to the highest bidder on Sept. 2. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic. Have a great week.

Karma behind Bandon
Dunes' newest course is strong

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in coastal Oregon was already considered one of the region's best. But now a design team that includes golfer Ben Crenshaw is putting the finishing touches Bandon Trails, another 18-hole course that is so anticipated, few outsiders have been permitted to see the construction process and pictures are a no-no, according to Associate Editor Dave Berner. The new course, which is scheduled to open in 2005, may have a Pebble Beach-like quality to it.

Full story | More from Bandon Dunes

How to get your child
to play the game of golf

If your son or daughter approaches you one day and expresses an interest in learning to play golf, don't discourage them. You may have to work some to cultivate that interest in them, but it will be worth the effort because the qualities that golf embodies are the very same ones you want your children to have: respect, courtesy, honesty, diligence, and abundant expendable income.

Full story | More feature stories

Owning up to excellence

Too often golfers who want to criticize or laud a golf course's layout will immediately assume it's the architect who should get all the blame or praise. But that's not the case, as Senior Writer Derek Duncan points out. Many of the decisions and restrictions that affect the final result are out of the architect's control. The truth is the architect can only be as good as the owner of the project allows him or her to be and often depends on whether the owner gave the architect the freedom to design and construct accordingly.

Full story | Rethinking strategy