This Week at TravelGolf.com: Feb. 3, 2004

Midway through last Sunday's 18-hour Super Bowl pregame show, I finally decided to flip over to the FBR (Phoenix) Open. Next to taking Carolina and the points, it was the best decision I made all day.

If I were running the PGA Tour, every tournament would steal a page from the Phoenix playbook. Start with huge crowds, enthusiastic fans, and a solid charitable base. More than 500,000 fans turned out this year, and they all know how to have a good time. If you ever go, be sure to stop by the par-3 16th hole, where nearly 10,000 people gather to let the pros know exactly how they feel. Every tournament should have this kind of electricity.

With the PGA Tour's West Coast Swing picking up steam, we're keeping pace with our usual full roster of reviews and travel features, including a look at America's best quarry courses. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic, including the FBR Open. Have a great week.

Enjoy these
Florida golf experiences

Florida has so many courses, sometimes picking one or two to play can be a daunting task. To help you find that once-in-a-lifetime golf experience in the Sunshine State, senior writer Jason Scott has compiled a list of eight courses unlike any other in Florida. For one reason or another, they break the mold of traditional "Florida golf" and should be put at the top of your to-do list.

Full story | Florida golf courses

It's a five-star year for Texas

Whether you're looking for the Best Golf-Fish Road Trip Destination (Lake Fork) or the Most Difficult Course (The Cliffs at Possum Kingdom), you'll find it in Jason Stone's look back at the year in Texas golf. Instead of creating a traditional "best of" list, Stone created his own unique categories in order to properly review the expansive golf scene, which covers eight massive, geographically diverse regions.

Full story | Texas course reviews

Best foot forward: Women's shoes

Times have changed, and that's good news for women's golf shoes. Upgrades in comfort technology and the introduction of cutting-edge fashion elements have ushered in an era during which companies like adidas and Nike are catering to women. Now women can avoid blisters on the course and look stylish at the same time.

Full story | Product reviews