This Week at TravelGolf.com: Nov. 14, 2007

Georgia resort recharges batteries of a seasoned golf writer who's seen it all

Ladies and gentlemen golfers, I have been to quite a few golf resorts, golf communities and all-golf emporiums in my famously global travels, but I don't believe I have ever been to a better one than the Reynolds Plantation, in terms of the quantity and quality of golf courses.

The Reynolds Plantation is just outside of Greensboro, Ga., about halfway between Atlanta and Augusta, and smack dab in the middle of terrain ideally suited for golf, or at least non-oceanside golf. Remember, Augusta National is just down the road. None of Reynolds Plantation's five golf courses are in the same league with that revered spread, but any single one of them would be stars at many other golf communities.

My favorite, the Creek, unfortunately is only available to members but the other four are all excellent plays and worthy of your time (see if you can entice a member to get in a poker game and win a day at the Creek).

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Great Waters is the prettiest lake-side course I've played, other than perhaps Arrowhead Pointe at Lake Russell, a Georgia state park golf course outside of Elberton. The back nine at Great Waters is – what's the word? – resplendent. Yes, that's it, it's downright resplendent.

The National doesn't get the recognition of Great Waters, but may be the best of the lot; even the pros at other Reynolds courses will tell you it's their favorite. The Oconee course is a great Rees Jones, risk/reward layout, if you like that sort of thing, which I do, and the Plantation is one of those playable courses where you never seem to get a bad lie.

They all have good elevation change, not ridiculous elevation change, and all are immaculately maintained. They are all of a piece - meandering through that great, rolling countryside with banked and tree-lined fairways and interesting green complexes with superb bentgrass - but different enough so that you get a different experience at each course.

I hear there's quite a bit of non-golf stuff to do at Reynolds, like bass fishing, boating, swimming and hiking. I wouldn't know. I was too busy playing golf.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Kiawah, Myrtle Beach, Daufuskie, Hilton Head and more: South Carolina's top island courses

The islands of South Carolina positively reek with history and ambiance, and you don't have to search far here for world-class golf courses. They're everywhere you turn, and we here at TravelGolf.com have played most of them. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach's Caledonia Golf and Fish Club are just a few of the excellent layouts making our list of the best island golf courses in South Carolina.

Blog: Kiawah's Ocean Course the toughest in the land

GolfCourseRealty.com: Donald Trump on the pluses of a down market, his Scotland resort, and more

Donald Trump has made a fortune in realty, but golf course real estate might just be his true passion in life. In 2002 Trump delivered Ocean Trails Golf Club from bankruptcy to make it one of the finest public golf courses in Los Angeles, Trump National L.A., and he is working on a mammoth, controversial resort in Scotland. So is The Donald nervous about the so-called real estate market crisis? Nope, he sees it as an opportunity.

Also: Michael Ross of Rarity Communities

Combine quality golf with fall "leaf-peeping" on your next family vacation

Finally, the blast furnace of summer has turned down a few notches and a nice, dry chill has hit your weekends like fine champagne. Your family wants to venture out and breathe in the excitement a new season brings: Your wife wants to take a fall drive and see all the leaves exploding into dazzling color. You just want to play golf. Here are some road trips we recommend to see nature's fall glory while getting in some quality rounds.

Also: Head to the Great Smoky Mountains for excellent golf