This Week at TravelGolf.com: June 27, 2007

First poker, now bingo attacks golf in hotspots like Las Vegas, Palm Springs

The shout pierces the room with as much force as John Daly attacking a plate of chicken wings. "Bingo! Yeah, baby," the college-aged kid screams, coming out his chair for chest bumps with two of his buddies.

A few blue-haired ladies and several guys with liver spots shake their heads. These young punks today, they have no respect for the game.

Don't look now, but bingo is trying to go hip. And it's happening in great golf destinations like Las Vegas and Palm Springs.

You're getting scenes like this one at Vegas' Red Rock Casino playing out in the snazzy new bingo halls of plush resorts (it's only a matter of time until they're dubbed bingo stadiums).

"No one ever thought they'd see Ultimate Fighting on the cover of Sports Illustrated either," a reputed Ivy League student told me as he waited on his numbers. "In 10 years, you're going to see bingo on the cover of SI and I'm going to have been ahead of the curve."

He was surely joking. Okay, turns out he wasn't joking. But he was certainly drunk.

Which is one of bingo's draws. New devotees will tell you this is one game where you can gamble completely trashed with little fear (try this in Texas Hold 'Em sometime). Bingo is essentially gambling for babies. Or adults in baby diapers.

What does this have to do with your golf vacations, you ask ...

Well with bingo moving into state-of-the-art digs in Vegas, Palm Springs and surely soon, Atlantic City, the easiest game in the world is now riding shotgun with the hardest sport on earth. You thought it was bad when all those poker geeks started siphoning players away from the course where actual skill determines birdie fates? Wait until the bingo bozos gets organized.

Right now, all bingo players are under 24 or over 75. Despite the flashing lights of the casino's new halls, it's only hip to the college crowd in much the same way The Price Is Right is only watchable if you're still dodging 8 o'clocks.

Tiger Woods needs to beat down a bingo star today, though. To strike first.

Otherwise, Sam Alexis ends up a cocktail waitress at a bingo stadium one day and your vacation can never be the same.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Las Vegas Paiute's Sun Mountain replaces Dye doom with shining desert golf scenes

Pete Dye typically treats golfers with all the gentleness and forgiveness of a drill sergeant. Usually. The Sun Mountain course at Las Vegas Paiute Resort is an exception, defying the unconventional conventions of America's most controversial celebrity golf architect. Among the trio of Pete Dye designs at Las Vegas Paiute, Sun Mountain is the largely forgotten course. But don't overlook it if you want stunningly scenic desert golf without the usual Dye scorecard..

Also: Red Rock Casino Resort makes bingo, bowling hip

Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route: There's more to see than just Royal County Down and Royal Portrush

The scenic A2 Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland is home to 30 golf courses, not to mention scenic glens, natural wonders, ruins of castles and charming villages. Mixed with fantastic courses from Royal County Down to Royal Portrush, this is a blend of golf and off-course sights that cannot be missed. The best way to take it all in is to start in Newcastle and then drive along the coastline at a leisurely pace to Portrush.

Also: Relax (or not) at the Radisson Roe in Northern Ireland

GolfCourseRealty.com: Top designers' names to look for when buying golf course property

Legendary course architects such as Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus earn millions designing the world's most sought after golf courses. But did you know they also drive real estate values? That's right, according to a recent study, real estate appreciation rates in developments of so-called "brand-name" designers were 28 percent higher than the local surrounding area. So if you're out hunting for golf course real estate, pay attention to the course designer to get the most bang for your buck.

Also: Free golf real estate listings at GolfCourseRealty.com