This Week at TravelGolf.com: Sept. 25, 2008

Real caddies smack down the forecaddie pox at new-buzz golf destinations

If you like forecaddies, you're probably the type of person who believes chain restaurants produce the best food.

These guys don't carry your bag. They just perch on the back of your golf cart like the often clueless hangers on they are. Oh, a forecaddie may hop off and point one of those laser rangefinders at your target and solemnly announce the number, as if a GPS system couldn't have done the same job. And make a big deal of holding your putter.

The golf pro who came up with the modern concept for the forecaddie must have decided that training and paying regular caddies - who actually know how to read a putt - had become too troublesome.

Thankfully, the full caddie - the guy who lugs around your freakishly overstuffed bag for four hours and lets you stroll the fairways like a Master of the Universe, soaking up the fresh air - is making a comeback at some of the best new golf courses in America.

Chambers Bay - the rolling, open wonder on Puget Sound that's been awarded the 2015 U.S. Open - encourages using old-school-worthy loopers, even building them a little caddie shack. Erin Hills - buzz-heavy course 35 minutes outside of Milwaukee that's receiving plenty of banter as the possible 2017 U.S. Open site - also pushes its walking caddies.

When PGA National Resort's Champion Course reopened two years ago after a Jack Nicklaus renovation, it brought back real caddies too. And Bandon Dunes has done more for loopers than Sarah Palin's hubby has for snowmobile racers.

One way to mark your destination as special is to bring out real caddies. Not those half caddie, forecaddie imposters.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Getting to know Michigan's spread offense - and Ann Arbor's best golf

Instead of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Michigan alums who will grumble for three hours about the ugly new "spread offense," watch the blowout via Blackberry updates on an area golf course. Ann Arbor is home to some of the state's best, native son Brandon Tucker reports.

Also: Great deals on golf in Michigan

Podcast: Fred Couples' Texas debut, "Waggle" author Joe Redden Tigan, and keep your game sharp in winter

Host Dave Berner speaks with Skip Davis of The Bridges at Preston Crossing near Gunter, Texas, about Texas' first Fred Couples's first Texas course. Joe Redden Tigan talks about his recent addition to the canon of golf fiction, "Waggle." And, a few tips for keeping your game sharp during the winter.

Also: Spotlight on The Bridges at Preston Crossing

BadGolfer.com's Golfer Supremacy Rankings salute U.S. Ryder Cup Team

Here at the Golfer Supremacy Rankings we are beside ourselves with joy over the U.S. Ryder Cup Team's spectacular victory. Literally beside ourselves. We look to the left and to the right, and there we are, jumping up and down and wearing red, white and blue wigs.

Blog: Euro press wrong to chastise Nick Faldo