This Week at TravelGolf.com: March 30, 2004

After watching my in-box gradually overspill with passionate letters in response to our editorial on the PGA of America, I'm convinced we're headed in the right direction.

Associate editor Dave Berner's comments sparked emotional debate, with many readers writing to cancel their newsletter subscription. While we never want to lose readers, we're glad so many people were engaged by the topic. In the coming weeks and months, look for more commentaries as we expand our scope. Course reviews and feature stories will always be a fixture at TravelGolf.com, but the new emphasis on commentaries should give our writers a chance to share their views in a new format. Whether you agree or disagree with their positions, we want to hear from you.

For this week's Travel Golf Guy column, contributing writer Shane Sharp visits America's southernmost golf course, the Key West Golf Club in Florida. Not much controversy there, but it makes for a fascinating read. As always, your comments are welcome on any topic in the world of golf. Thanks for reading, and have a great week.

Central Coast sprouting with wineries, affordable golf

The wine business on California's Central Coast dates back to 1797 when the first grapevines were planted at Mission San Miguel Archangel in San Luis Obispo. The golf business didn't arrive until the 20th century, but today this beautiful, rolling terrain, dotted with ancient oaks on the Pacific Ocean, is a popular getaway for wine tasting and golf.

Full story | California Golf Courses

Component clubs:
Some assembly required

To the naïve or brand-name obsessed golfer, component clubs are often associated with low-quality knock-offs or clones - blatant copies of well-known OEM (original equipment manufacturer) clubs. But that's not necessarily the case these days. Whether one settles on off-the-rack OEM clubs, custom-fitted OEMs, or custom-fitted component clubs, the goal is to find equipment that best suits your game.

Full story | Product reviews

Nicklaus still an inspiration

Ohioans can take great pride in knowing that their state had a lot to do with who Jack Nicklaus is today. The Golden Bear admits himself that a strong family upbringing in the Buckeye state, plus a quality education and athletic program at The Ohio State University, planted the buckeye, er, seed, for what was to come.

Full story | Personality profiles