This Week at TravelGolf.com: June 4, 2009

May flowers bring June weddings and golf-themed bachelor parties

Judging by all the recent credit card application junk mail addressed to me in feminine, italic lettering, it must be wedding season again.

And where there's a wedding, there's some poor sap who's soaking it up with his buddies one last time before his ball-and-chain goes Tim Geithner on him - seizing all known assets and freezing his cash flow.

"One of the newest trends in bachelor parties is going on golf excursions," writes Ryan Halpern on AskMen.com' s list of top 10 bachelor party destinations, which include golf hot spots like Cabo San Lucas, Phoenix and of course, Las Vegas at the top.

Having hosted my own little golf outing at a recent bachelor party, it's easy to see why golf is such a natural fit.

For starters, golf is a great hangover sport, more so than, say, mountain climbing. Sunshine helps your headache and I don't know about you, but when I'm hungover I actually swing slower and more controlled, since not all my usual muscles can function anyways.

Golf also allows us to rip on our best friends unmercifully, since everyone in the group is practically guaranteed to miss a gimmie putt or hit a rainbow slice O.B.

A few other destinations worth considering for the bachelor party with a golf element are Myrtle Beach, S.C., where there are dozens of choices for every budget, plus scores of strip clubs and beach bars.

And up in Canada, a combination of Whistler's cool, summer mountain golf, coupled with Vancouver's lively nightlife about an hour south, will keep your group plenty busy.

And if the lucky groom is on the verge of having his income split two ways, take him to play golf in Biloxi, Miss., with hotel and golf value so good it's easy to get the high roller treatment.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Pinnacle Course at Troon North: The pinnacle of Arizona desert golf

Troon North set the bar for modern desert golf in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area nearly 20 years ago with the Monument Course. Five years later, Troon North's Pinnacle Course set the bar even higher. For us average golfers, the Pinnacle remains an outrageously fun ride that will mesmerize you with both the picturesque scenery and the amazing golf.

Also: Arizona's top courses

John Feinstein on Tiger, Rocco and "Are You Kidding Me?", Wiren on enjoying golf to the fullest, The Tribute in Texas

Hear author John Feinstein on "Are You Kidding Me?: The Story of Rocco Mediate’s Extraordinary Battle with Tiger Woods at the US Open." Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren says to focus on the aspects of the game you enjoy most. Plus, Mike Bailey on The Tribute course in Texas.

Also: Subscribe to the podcast via RSS

Mystic Dunes Golf Club near Orlando: Mostly bark with a little bite

Located two miles south of Walt Disney World, Mystic Dunes gives you a blend of classic Carolinas and the great British Isles. The course is a real pleasure to play; it provides a good balance between challenging and fun, Dave Lair writes.

Also: Get help planning your Orlando golf trip

Renovated Dubsdread at Cog Hill is ready for the BMW - maybe U.S. Open

I will make a prediction: "Open Doctor" Rees Jones' facelift, with an eye toward both daily-fee golfers and a U.S. Open, has easily vaulted Dubsdread at Cog Hill into the top 10 of Golf Digest's ranking of America's top public courses. Golfers in the Chicago-land area are truly blessed to have Dubsdread at their back door.

Podcast: Kiel Christianson on the Dubsdread course at Cog Hill

GolfInstruction.com: Struggling with your putting? Try a Symple solution

Simple Golf has introduced the Symple Putting method to address your putting woes. Symple Putting does not utilize the principles of the Symple Swing. In fact, it's pretty much the opposite. The Symple Swing primarily employs the body's core muscles; Symple Putting is a wristy stroke that involves very little arm motion.

Video: Do you know the proper way to break a golf club?