This Week at TravelGolf.com: May 14, 2009

With the PGA Tour in town, the future looks bright for golf in San Antonio

An evening boat tour through the canals of the River Walk is the best way to see centuries of San Antonio's illustrious past flowing throughout the city. Far more than just the Alamo, San Antonio's eclectic vibe is thanks to settlers who came from Mexico, the U.K. and continental Europe.

Already considered to be one of America's top golf cities with its varied mix of resorts and daily-fee golf courses, San Antonio only stands to improve on this reputation this year and next.

For starters, the Valero Texas Open, held this week at the Westin La Cantera's Resort Course, was moved from the PGA Tour's Fall Series to a more prime date, beginning today. The event's new spot on the schedule is just a week after THE PLAYERS Championship, so a lot of big names aren't competing. That said, the purse size is high and next year, when the new TPC resort opens and is hosted on the Greg Norman/Sergio Garcia design, it's a safe bet more big names will appear.

And on Monday, historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course, San Antonio's famous, municipal course from 1919, fully opened for play after a year under the knife. The restored A.W. Tillinghast layout, with its raised, square greens and directional bunkering, will have any lover of golf architecture's "Golden Age" on cloud nine.

Brackenridge will also soon host the new Texas Golf Hall of Fame onsite. It's amazing the hall has been defunct for so long, given Texas' monumental imprint on the game, from Ben Hogan to Ben Crenshaw. Perhaps more than any other state, Texas knows its golf, as is evident in each of the courses I saw during my recent trip. Conditions were phenomenal, from fast and smooth greens at The Republic, to the Quarry Golf Club's dramatic setting in a defunct old stone quarry just outside the city center.

They know their golf in Texas, and San Antonio is as good of a destination as you'll find in the Lone Star State to soak in both Texas' new and the historic all in one trip.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Thinking of taking a Texas golf trip? Remember the Alamo City

A colossal golf resort is rising out of the rocks on the northwest side of San Antonio. In the center of the Alamo City, a classic golf course is reborn. And near the city's major theme parks, are two resorts where the golf, food and pampering are all top-notch.

Also: Your guide to Lone Star State golf

Castles, history and sights: Stay busy off the golf course in East Lothian, Scotland

East Lothian, Scotland, just east of Edinburgh, is small but it packs quite a punch with not only golf but plenty of off-course activities as well. Here are a few ideas for a rainy day on your next trip to Scotland, including checking out Bass Rock, touring the Belhaven Brewery, and chatting with local legend Archie Baird at the Heritage of Golf Museum.

Review: The Duke's Course in St. Andrews

GolfInstruction.com: Harnessing the power core for a better golf swing

A powerful and controlled golf swing comes from a powerful core. The body's core consists of the lower chest through the lower abdomen and back. During the swing, this part of your body must turn away from the ball on the backswing, then back through the ball on the follow through. It is important that the "core" works with the hands and arms throughout the swing.

Podcast: Jim McLean on "The Eight Step Swing"

Ladies Locker Room: The insanity of searching for lost golf balls

Golfers have broken bones, sprained wrists and ankles, muddied up their shoes and clothes and lost their dignity, all for a lost ball. Perhaps there should be a "Lost Ball's Anonymous" to help poor souls who simply cannot let go. I confess, "My name is ... and I'm a lost ball addict."

Also: Golf should be fun, right!?