This Week at TravelGolf.com: Dec. 21, 2004

For many business travelers, news that the Federal Communications Commission may allow cell-phone use on airplanes was an early Christmas present. For others, the mere thought of having your seatmate talking on the phone for an entire flight is enough to produce a giant headache. Count me in with that crowd.

At first, the idea sounds great. More opportunities to stay connected means higher productivity. But think about being surrounded by cell phone users on a three-hour flight where all you want to do is sleep. For me, the best part of flying is turning the cell phone off. It's about the only time I can find some peace and quiet. Fortunately, it'll likely be a few years before a final decision is made, but my vote is in. Nothing is so important that it can't wait until the plane lands. In the air, I prefer to enjoy the silence.

Looking for more opinions? Check out our TravelGolf.com Blog Central, where national golf editor Tim McDonald looks to keep Tiger Woods' success during the Silly Season in perspective. "Just because he's won a couple of unofficial "silly season" tournaments doesn't mean he has regained his superpower form," he writes. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic, including your thoughts on cell phones in the air. Happy holidays!

Golf is near, but Houstonian's
health club real draw for meetings

There may be no golf on the premises, but that doesn't keep meeting planners away from the famed Houstonian Hotel, where the rich and famous work out and pump up. And the hotel's affiliation with Redstone Golf Club means golf is not far away. Redstone is truly a free-swinging golfer's dream with no gimmicks like misplaced waterfalls, bizarre bunker complexes, greens that fall off into oblivion or the like.

Full story | Texas golf course guide

Grand Cypress villas: Meet
and play Nicklaus-inspired golf

Forget Disney World at the villas of Grand Cypress in Orlando. Think golf. When it comes to mixing meetings and golf, the Grand Cypress villas offer a 14,000 square-foot meeting facility and 48 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus. "For groups wanting to reward clients and staff with golf, they couldn't do much better than Grand Cypress," writes Tim McDonald.

Full story | Florida golf course guide

The curses and charms of
the golf destination business fad

In today's out-of-control, everywhere's-a-golf-destination world, the golf traveler's job is tougher than ever. Now everyone wants a piece of the golfer's wallet - including the North Pole Convention and Visitors Bureau?? Some of these destinations are legit; others turn out to have as much claim to golf as Erik Estrada holds on an Oscar.

Full story | Golf and the BCS rankings