This Week at TravelGolf.com: Dec. 18, 2008

Ross, Palmer and Nicklaus anchor a glorious stretch of Carolina highway

It looks like most any exit off Highway 1 heading south from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Pine trees, subtle rolling hills, a rural setting that except for the paved roads might look similar to what Pinehurst founder James Walker Tufts saw in 1895.

The bottom of Midland Road (or Highway 2) quickly turns into four lanes divided by a neatly trimmed grass median. A canopy of sorts filters sunlight across what already looks and feels like a special golf destination, although not a course is yet in sight.

Collectively, this seven-mile stretch of six courses ranks among the top places where you can stay and play while barely moving the car's odometer or running up the credit card.

A roster of great architects put down some of their finest work along Midland Road, including layouts by Donald Ross, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus that are located within a mile or so of each other.

The highlight has to be this holy trinity of American course design: Ross' Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club; Palmer's Mid South Club (part of the Talamore Resort); and Nicklaus' National Golf Club.

Between them, you'll experience nearly every aspect of golf course architecture. Each gives you a sample of their unique styles.

Ross effortlessly floats you around the Carolina Sandhills terrain, pitting you against memorable holes and, of course, his wickedly crowned Pine Needles greens.

Palmer doesn't hide his punches as he muscles you around Mid South, challenging you with a bunch of dogleg left holes and his swashbuckling flair for the dramatic shots.

Nicklaus, ever the stern taskmaster, extends tough love with his National layout, beating you up on some holes and giving you a warm hug on others.

Play all three in any order, but make sure to play them consecutively for full affect.

Greg Austin has lived in the Pinehurst area his entire life, and although he might be somewhat biased, it's difficult to debate his opinion on golf along Midland Road.

"It's the best seven-mile stretch of golf in the world," says Austin, who as president of Pinehurst-based AME Golf (www.goamegolf.com) books many stay-and-play packages with those six courses. "It's everything the true golf experience can provide. You've got traditional and modern designs built by the best architects for golfers of all levels."

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Facelift brings back glory of old Papago G.C. in Phoenix - but with a modern flair

There was a time when golfers used to spend the night in their cars for a weekend tee time at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix. Those days have been gone for quite some time, however. The years had not been kind to this 1963 William Bell classic. This month, after a six-month operation and recovery, a more youthful Papago has been unveiled, Mike Bailey writes.

Also: Top Arizona golf package deals

Podcast: Hot deals in Palm Springs and San Diego, a gem near Dallas, and a defense of cheaper golf balls

Podcast host Dave Berner and Tim Hurja of PalmSpringsGolfCentral.com on great deals on winter golf in Palm Springs, San Diego. Kiel Christianson talks up Buffalo Creek G.C. in Rockwall, Texas. And Mike Bailey offers an appreciation of today's mid-priced golf balls.

Also: Great deals on California golf

Brandon Tucker on food in Malaysia: The Good, the bad and the still alive

Over the last couple months, I'd heard both horrible experiences and triumphant praise of the cuisine in Malaysia - and in Asia in general. I returned from my golf trip pleasantly surprised. There was some bad, some good and some seriously delicious stuff that a still makes my mouth water thinking about it.

Also: Packing tips for a long golf trip