This Week at TravelGolf.com: Dec. 14, 2004

Believe it or not, there are less than 12 shopping days until Christmas. No need to panic, however. Equipment editor Kiel Christianson's annual gift guide features something for everyone on your list, from SofTrak Putting Greens to Sun Mountain's Stormtight collection. Our friends at PinemeadowGolf.com are also making things easier with their rundown of the best gift options, plus tips on the best way to buy someone a new set of clubs.

Also this week, be sure to check out columnist Chris Baldwin's look at the golf destination business fad. "There are so many new 'golf destinations' to choose from if you want to break away from the usual roll call of Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Scottsdale and St. Andrews," he writes. "Some turn out to have as much claim to golf as Erik Estrada holds on an Oscar."

Lastly, we received an overwhelming number of applications for our new reader blogger program, an extension of our popular TravelGolf.com Blog. We'll be sifting through the applications through the holidays, so if you haven't already applied, be sure to complete our online form soon. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic, including your thoughts on the most overrated golf destination. Have a great week.

DarkHorse: Sierra Foothills
gem is golden for golfers

Located about 50 miles from Sacramento near the historic Gold Country route of Highway 49, DarkHorse Golf Club has been voted as one of the Best of the Best by just about every major golf magazine. According to senior writer David R. Holland, the Keith Foster layout lives up to the hype: "Since opening in October 2002, DarkHorse is California's best golf courses built this century."

Full story | California golf course guide

What the World Golf Rankings
could learn from the BCS

There's one simple difference between the BCS and World Golf Rankings computer, and it isn't that one has a built-in DVD burner. One relies on opinion and statistics, while the other relies on nothing but numbers and formulas. If staff writer Brandon Tucker had his way, golf would implement a more controversial system.

Full story | In focus: Single-rider golf carts

Confessions of a cart girl

Nicole Kallis, a beverage cart girl at Mt. Woodson Golf Club in San Diego, is now a published author. A lighthearted assortment of Kallis' experiences, opinions and working knowledge of the game of golf, Secrets of a Tee Time Girl, this might be the first golf book written from a beverage cart girl's perspective.

Full story | SMT Golf: Swing hard, you might hit something