This Week at TravelGolf.com: Dec. 19, 2006

Outside Traveler magazine applauds TravelGolf.com thanks to idiot YOU

Outside Traveler - the travel arm of the hugely popular and award-winning Outside magazine - lauds TravelGolf.com in its winter issue, writing: "For course and destination info, www.TravelGolf.com is hard to beat."

This is the kind of thing that makes everyone here as nervous as Mel Gibson running into a bus full of rabbis during Chanukah. TravelGolf.com brings a maverick touch to covering golf travel after all, a commitment to actually telling the truth about destinations and courses.

Critical travel stories, honest course reviews and photographs of what courses truly look like rather than those carefully controlled press-kit images that dot every other golf Web site? Are you crazy?

What we do can send head pros and PR reps running. And often does.

Only, it's hard to consider yourself too maverick if the folks at Outside, the guys who usually write about whitewater rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing, have noticed.

Especially after Rolling Stone, the Chicago Tribune and Rush Limbaugh all cited TravelGolf.com in recent months.

That's where YOU come in. That's right, YOU.

Don't worry, this isn't going to morph into what those bozo bloggers out of ideas have been doing in the wake of Time magazine picking YOU as Person Of The Year. I'm not going to tell you how we love YOU and would invite every one of YOU over for dinner if we could.

Frankly, a lot of times we think YOU are idiots. Or a little scary. Or both. Especially when you come up with a nonsensical argument on Michelle Wie being a champion.

Regardless, the point is surely many times you think some of US are morons with all the charm of Terrell Owens. That's why TravelGolf.com works.

It's golfers who love the game calling each other on their garbage. Reader reviews are a major part of the site. Reader letters are treated with reverence.

Basically, YOU have as much power as YOU want here. If YOU have an opinion on golf, there's no easier place to get it heard.

Even the crew from Outside might notice it.

Now, get writing. I'm waiting to make fun of YOU.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Don't try to be a PGA star at
Doral's spruced-up Blue Monster

The Blue Monster at Doral is one tough golf course. But what makes it even tougher is the temptation it inspires in all of us to try and play it like the pros. All those years of watching the PGA big boys play her on TV will get you thinking those big-boy thoughts. But beware, this will be your downfall. For any chance at tackling the Blue Monster, you'll have to play conservatively, Tim McDonald writes.

Also: Your guide to golf course real estate

The perfect South Myrtle
Beach golf vacation itinerary

The Grand Strand is 50 miles of golf along unbroken beach but with stays averaging five days, few golfers can do more than scratch the surface of Myrtle Beach's 100-plus playing possibilities. Smart golf travelers will stick to either the north, central or south Strand to make the most of their trip. There's a perfect itinerary for each portion. Here are a few tips for five days on the South Strand, where the name of the game is plantation golf.

Also: A perfect North Myrtle Beach itinerary

Golf in Portugal, Cleveland's
HiBORE Fairway woods and
PeakVision CEO Paul Moore

When you think of golf in Europe, it's a mistake to overlook Portugal, says Brandon Tucker, who recently golfed near Lisbon. Kiel Christianson talks to host Dave Berner about Cleveland's new HiBORE Fairway woods. And PeakVision Sports CEO Paul Moore talks golf-specific glasses. Plus, Christianson talks about learning to play golf from his grandfather in this week's "TravelGolf.com On Course" commentary.

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