Golf Travel Guide

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5 Destinations You Must Visit Tips Guaranteed to Improve Your Next Trip Golf Games You Have to Play

Welcome to the flog Golf Travel Guide

The type of golf trip you take is limited only by imagination and, of course, your budget. But whether you are taking a $250 trip or an international junket that runs more than 10 times that amount, the goal never changes: good times, memories and hopefully great golf. Here at FLOG, a new golf community that we hope you make a part of your daily life, we are committed not to worshipping at the alter of the games elite there are no shortage of people who do that but instead to celebrate what makes the game special for all us. Hopefully that will come through in our first Golf Travel E-Book, where we rank our top 5 golf destinations. If you are expecting to find the list topped by Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes, you are going to be disappointed. They are great destinations, but lets be real. No matter how many times Golf Digest attempts to tell you otherwise, they are once in a lifetime trips (if you are lucky) for the 99 percent. If you travel with a group of say 12 golfers, the chances of everyone being able to pull a trip like that are practically nil. We rank what we perceive to be Americas five best golf destinations based on quality of golf, accommodations, location and attainability. Some of the picks may surprise you, others certainly wont In addition to ranking each destination we offer an independent look at each, something we hope you will find useful. A golf trip is a once or (hopefully) twice a year treat. Everyone looks forward to the build up, the banter and ultimately, the results. Hopefully this book will, in some small way, contribute to your enjoyment of your next trip.

Your trip is booked and everyone has paid. Now what?

There are several services that can make your trip more efficient and/or fun, here are three of our favorites. 1. Golf Trip Genius The brainchild of a couple guys on the ground floor at Oracle, Golf Trip Genius lives up to its name. Its a trip planning and accounting tool, a bulletin board for trash talk, and a centralized database for everyone to access trip information. But thats only a start. The best part of GTT is its live scoring software. Groups can create as many different events as they want, update their scores in during the round, and GTT will provide live scoring for everything. You can check multiple leaderboards at one time. It automatically totals points, standing, birdies anything you can imagine. GTT also has a perfect pairing program that will automatically generate pairings for the group (yes, you can set rules to keep people apart as well). If thats not enough, you can create a trip book that includes pictures, a statisitical recap of what happened and more. Golf Trip Genius is well worth the small fee associated with the service. Its the best product of its kind on the market. 2. Ship Sticks If you are flying, dont put your clubs on the plane. Thats doubly true if have something other than a nonstop flight. Given the increasing cost of flying with clubs and the uncertainty that comes with it, go to Shipsticks.com and have them take care of your sticks. They will pick the clubs at your house or home course and deliver them to your destination. Figure about $50 each way, a small price to pay to avoid the hassle of lugging clubs through an airport and wondering if they will arrive at your final destination. 3. Golf Clubs Away If you are a taking a quick business trip or want to get away for a round on a family vacation, dont bother taking the clubs. Golf Clubs Away will deliver a set to your end destination, provided you are traveling to South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, California or Las Vegas. If you are traveling to one of golfs hotspots, it might be easier to have Golf Clubs Away do the heavy lifting when it comes to your clubs.

Top 5 Trip Tips

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Whether you are contemplating a golf trip or are a long time group leader, there is always something to learn. With that mind, here is a list of five golf trip tips that will help improve your trip and always have your group looking forward to next year.

Communication is key. Stay in close contact with your group before and, just as importantly, after the trip. Ask your guys what worked and what didnt as its important to know what everyone is thinking. Whether its a trophy, a green jacket or plaque, make sure your group is playing for something. The winner doesnt have to be the best golfer but competition keeps things fun and give people reason to want to come back.

Know whether your group will want to replay and plan accordingly. You dont want to stumble to the counter in the pro shop, ask for the price and go back to try and poll 12 guys about who wants to play and who doesnt. Knowledge is key. Gather the info in advance, schedule early tee times on days you think you might want to play 36 and be prepared to act. If someone drops out, it could put everyone in the group in the position of having to pay more to pick up the cost of the room. To help avoid such circumstances, set an artificially early date for payment. Many packages companies wont require payment until as late as two weeks before the trip starts. We have heard of groups requiring payment 45 days in advance (most of the people in your group will never the know the difference). Anyone that doesnt meet the deadline will need to provide a good reason or your group will have time to hopefully find a replacement.

3 4 5

Set pairings in advance of the trip. Pairing players can be arduous task (unless you use Golf Trip Genius which can do it for you), and you dont want to be doing it onsite while trying to accommodate requests.

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Americas No. 1 Golf Destination

Let the holier-than-thou set sneer at the Wal-Mart of golf. When all things are taken into account, Myrtle Beach is the games premier destination. The area isnt defined by a single course like its regional neighbors Hilton Head (Harbor Town), Pinehurst (No. 2) and Kiawah (Ocean Course) but is instead distinguished by the depth and value of its offerings. If you havent already done so, disabuse yourself of the notion that there isnt an abundance of great golf. The Dunes Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Tidewater Golf Club, the Love, Dye and Fazio Courses at Barefoot and the Grande Dunes Resort Course are all top 100-caliber layouts. But what makes the Grand Strand special is its everyman appeal. The golf package was

Myrtle Beach

The best part of a Myrtle Beach golf trip? Due to the number of outstnading courses, groups can take a different trip each year.
invented in Myrtle Beach, and the area offers an attractive itinerary for any budget. If you want to spend $250 for three nights and three rounds or $750, Myrtle Beach delivers, and therein lies its strength. No matter the level of trip a group is seeking, Myrtle Beach always delivers a little more value than the competition.

There is plenty of fun to be found in Myrtle Beach. From the mayhem of Broadway at the Beach to live music and the relaxing vibe of Murrells Inlets Marshwalk to the, ahem, local dance theatre, Myrtle Beach delivers. Bottom Line: If you cant find good golf and a good time in Myrtle Beach, you arent trying hard enough. Great golf, value, entertainment, its all there. Mabye the best of all - you can take a different Myrtle Beach trip each year. www.FLOG.ws Travel Guide 2013

If You Are Going:

Where to book: www.mbn.com. Areas best and most comprehensive online booking engine. Where to Research: www. golfholiday.com. Non-profit marketing cooperation is a one-stop portal to all the areas courses and accomodations. When to Go: Spring and fall are the peak seasons.

5 Best Myrtle Beach Courses

1. Dunes Club A classic RTJ design with generous fairways, yawning bunkers, undulating greens. Former home of U.S. Womens Open, finals of PGA Tour Q-School and six Senior Tour Championships. 2. Caledonia A consensus Top 100 public course, Caledonia is carved from less than 100 acres of stunning lowcountry land. The 18th hole might be the best finisher along the Grand Strand. 3. Tidewater Golf Club - Arugably the areas prettiest course. Nine holes play along the Intracostal Waterway or Cherry Grove Inlet and the breaking waves of the Atlantic Ocean are visible in the distance 4. Grande Dunes Resort Course - The downhill, par 3 14th hole that plays into a green along the Intracoastal Waterway might be the areas most dramatic one-shotter. Long course but players have a chance to score. 5. Love Course - Davis Love III upstaged Dye, Fazio and Norman with his namesake design at Barefoot. Among the areas most player-friendly layouts. Home to Myrtle Beach shortest par 4.

Did You Know?

-- The area commonly referred to as Myrtle Beach is actually a 60-mile stretch of coast that can be divided into three distinct sections - the North, South and Central Strands. If its your first trip, start in the Central Strand (Myrtle Beach proper) and decide what area you like best. -- Make sure you know where your accommodations are in relation to your golf course lineup. There are to many golf courses to drive extended distances. -- Use a golf packager. Unlike most destinations, which count on national golf package companies to sell their product, the vast majority of Myrtle Beach golf is booked by local providers. Take advantage of their expertise -- The most underrated nightspot on the Grand Strand is Murrells Inlets Marshwalk. There are few better places to enjoy good entertainment and the beverage of your choice than Hot Fish Club and Dead Dog Saloon. -- New York Prime is the areas best steakhouse. If you and the boys want a great, albeit expensive meal, this is where you want to go.

Best Value on the Beach

These courses havent received the media acclaim of the Dunes Club or Caledonia, but are part of an outstanding group of courses that fly under the radar. 1. Heritage A beautiful lowcountry setting and greens that are among the most challenging in Myrtle Beach make this a must play. Its a Bubba Watson drive from Caledonia and can be played at a fraction of the price. 2. Prestwick P.B. Dye design is underrated. One of the areas top 20 courses, that closes with a memorable and challenging back nine. 3. Rivers Edge Playing along the Shallotte River, Rivers Edge is arguably the Grand Strands most scenic course. 4. The Witch Dan Maples design plays amidst a cypress swamp and is home to uncommon, natural elevation changes. 5. Willbrook Set in the heart of the South Strand, Willbrook is often overlooked. Dont make that mistake. Sprawling live oak tree and surplus of alligators create a great environment.

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RTJ Golf Trail

Mention Alabama and most people conjure up images of the Crimson Tide steam rolling opponents on a college football field. But golfers know the greatest reason to visit the Heart of Dixie has nothing to do with the gridiron. Its difficult to call a trail that stretches the length of the state a destination, but there is ample reason to make an exception for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. With 11 locations and 468 holes, RTJ is a serious golfers dream. The layouts are tremendous the Trail hosts LPGA and Champions Tour events and the accommodations offerings now match their on-course counterparts. RTJ doesnt offer the benefits of 10 courses within a Tiger Woods drive of each other but any incon-

Americas No. 2 Golf Destination

to The Shoals, a 36-hole facility in the northwest corner of the state, the RTJ Trail stretches the length of the Yellowhammer state. A well planned trip will minimize With five 54-hole fathe drive time between Trail locations, though its worth noting that cilities, many spots on with five 54-hole facilities, many the Trail are more than spots are more than capable of capable of hosting a long hosting a long weekend trip in a single location. weeknd trip. Trail accommodation typically come in the form of hotels . While veniences caused by travel are a we have a preference for condos, small price to pay for the quality allowing groups to gather after and value the Trail offers. each round, the hotel accommoThe Links and Lake courses at dations, which typically come with Grand National in Auburn/Opelika a spa, are, to put it mildy, very were ranked among the top 10 on nice. Golf Digests list of Americas Top The RTJ Trail is one of the games 50 affordable courses. treasures. Great golf in bucolic From Magnolia Grove in Mobile southern settings is hard to beat. www.FLOG.ws Travel Guide 2013

The only drawback for the Trail is getting there. Alabama isnt as accessible to some in the northeast and the drive is a long one. That being said, if you have a group of avid golfers, the Trail is a must-visit destination.

If You Are Going:

Where to research and book: RTJGolf.com is the official site of the Trail. You can book golf through the site, view course profiles and more. Also, dont forget to downloand the Trail Guide When to Go: Spring and fall are the peak seasons.

Top 5 Golf Courses on the Robert Trent Jones Trail

No. 1 Grand National Links Course The bedrock layout at Grand National, a 54-hole facility, the Links Course was ranked in the top 10 of Golf Digests list of Americas Top 50 Affordable Courses. The 18th hole is the strongest finisher on the Trail. No. 2 Silver Lakes in Glencoe Featuring unforgettable views of the Appalachian foothills, Silver Lakes has three nine hole layouts (not including the 1,906-yard short course). You cant go wrong with any of the three, but here is a vote for the Heartbreaker and Backbreaker nines. No. 3 Ross Bridge Ross Bridge is the fourth longest course in the world and the host of a Champions Tour event. Ten holes play along two lakes that are connected by an 80-foot waterfall between the eighth and 19th holes. Its a must-play. No. 4 The Senator at Capitol Hill A Scottish links style course, the Senator has more than 160 pot-hole bunkers and features mounds that are up to 40 feet tall. Its a different experience but one certainly worth having. No. 5 Grand National Lake Course With 12 holes playing along the banks of a lake, its the equal of the Links Course in terms of scenery and the difference in architectural quality is negligible. www.FLOG.ws Travel Guide 2013

Bottom Line
The value of the RTJ Trail has been well documented, making the Unlimited Golf special running this fall borderline ridiculous. Starting at $99 per day, golfers can play all the golf daylight and their weary backs can take, cart and range balls included. Getting to the Trail may not be the easiest things in golf, but any travel related hassles will be quickly forgotten upon arrival. Its all golf, all the time on the Trail and the Unlimited play special is tough to beat.

Scottsdale
Scottsdale is to golfers in the West what Myrtle Beach is to its Eastern counterparts. Located in the heart of Sonoran Desert, the Scottsdale-Phoenix area claims more than 200 golf courses, offering something to every type of traveler. The area is home to stunning facilities such as We-Ko-Pa, Troon North and TPC Scottsdale, home of golfs largest party each year at the PGA Tours Waste Management Open. If you are looking for affirmation as to what golf means to the Scottdale area, look no further than the 200,000+ people that fill the TPC Scottsdale daily for the Tour event. Scottsdale is a golf town., offering abundant options, great value and a good time on and off the course. The New York Times went so far as to call Scottsdale, a desert version of Miamis South Beach. With more than 80 nightclubs, bars and lounges many within easy walking distance of each other in the downtown area alone, there is little wonder why the Times sang the areas praises. But golf is the most important component of your trip and Scottsdale comes up aces on that account. The desert landscape offers a spectacular backdrop, one that most of us get to see once a year at most.

Americas No. 3 Golf Destination

While golf course construction has nearly ground to a halt in recent years, Scottsdale just added a new layout, the Camelback Golf Clubs Ambiente. Built over the old Indian Bend Course at a cost of more than $10 million, the course has been very well received. The golf in Scottsdale is as good as it is anywhere in America. The resort accommodations are superb. Whether you are looking for a more secluded desert refuge or something in the heart of the city, Scottsdale delivers with panache. For the record, we prefer the Four Seasons Resort at Troon North, which is tucked into the

foothills of the McDowell Mountains. The sunset is spectacular. If you are looking for a great meal, dont skip Michael Dominicks Lincoln Avenue Prime Steakhouse. Its worthy of being located in Midtown Manhattan.

If You Are Going:

Where to research and book: Visit www.ilovescottsdalegolf. com, the official site of Scottsdale golf. Download their free travel guide, which provides a comprehensive overview of everything the area has to offer.

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Top 5 Golf Courses in Scottsdale

No. 1 Cholla Course at We-KoPa Owned by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Cholla Course is a desert golf masterpiece. The course plays through the Sonoran Desert and offers stunning panoramas of the areas immense natural beauty. There are no homes or condos. Its just you and Scottsdales best layout. No. 2 Monument Course at Troon North: Troon North is one of the most recognized names in golf travel and the Monument course is one of the primary reasons. The Tom Weiskopf design offers plenty of challenge and comes highly recommended. No 3 TPC Scottsdale Home of the PGA Tours annual Waste Management open and the famed par 3 16th hole, home of the biggest party in golf. Need we say more? No. 4 Gold Canyon Dinosaur Course With dramatic, panoramic views awaiting on each tee box and a layout that plays up and over Dinosaur Mountain, Gold Canyon is one of Scottsdalesfinest. Holes 3 through 5 make up one of the best three-hole stretches in the desert. No. 5 Legends Trail Golf Club Breathtaking vistas, includingsome of the areas well-known landmarks such as Pinnacle Peak, help make Legends Trail one of Scottsdales best. Has been ranked among Golf Magazines Top 100 You Can Play and earned 4 stars in Golf Digest. You cant go wrong.

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Mesquite
You expected another city in Nevada? Las Vegas is one of our favorite destinations, but it is not, by our estimation, a true golf trip. You go to Vegas and you play golf, but its almost impossible for it to be your sole focus. Which leads us to Mesquite. Its less than 90 miles from Sin City and has its fair share of nite life and casinos, And its a town of 15,000 with eight outstanding golf courses. Mesquite is a golf destination with the option to gamble. Nestled in the Virgin (theres a word you dont hear used much in Nevada) River Valley, Mesquite is a destination on the rise. The areas ascedence began in earnest with the opening of Wolf Creek, one of the nations most unique courses.

Americas No. 4 Golf Destination

The areas ascendence begain in earnest with the opening of Wolf Creek, one of the nations most unique courses.

With doglegs that bend around cavernous desert terrain, not everyone is crazy about it, but we are. Wolf Creek put Mesquite on the map, making it popular and critical hit. The layout is No. 28 on Golf Digests list of Americas 100 Greatest Courses, but more than course rankings, it made Mesquite a destination. Wolf Creek is far from alone. Coyote Springs, a Jack Nicklaus design,

Troon managed Conestoga, and Falcon Ridge, among others, are all outstanding tracks. Despite its lack of size, the fun doesnt end in Mesquite when the final putt drops. CasaBlanca and the Eureka Casino resorts are a suitable substitute for Vegas if the craps table or a hand of blackjack beckons. Mesquite is a destination on the rise. Its part Las Vegas, part Myrtle Beach, and thats a winning hand. In terms of price, Mesquite doesnt offer quite the value Myrtle Beach does, but it beats Vegas and the intimacy is a huge selling point for serious golf groups.

Where to book: VisitMesquite. com You can book a package, research the area or do a little daydreaming here. An outstanding site thats easy to navigate and quickly provides a feel for all the area has to offer. The most difficult part of a trip to Mesquite is the flight into Vegas, which requires a drive out of Sin City without succumbing to its siren song. Once youve left the neon, dreams of hitting it big, and guaranteed debauchery, an outstanding golf trip awaits. In the case of Mesquite, Wolf Creek leads the way. Pay the money to play it and enjoy the nations most underrated golf destination.

If You Are Going:

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5 Best Mesquite Courses

No. 1 Wolf Creek This course is nothing if not bold. Ranked No. 28 on Golf Digests list of Americas 100 Greatest Public Courses, Wolf Creek plays through rugged desert terrain and offers dramatic elevation change. For some its a little contrived. We say thats bunk. This is a must play course. No. 2 Coyote Springs Jack Nicklaus design has been ranked among Americas 100 Greatest Public Courses with good reason. Its a desert golf course with 11 lakes that resisdes in a valley surrounded by mountains and peaks on all four sides. No. 3 Conestoga Golf Club Troon managed golf course has implemented a plan to help ensure golfers play in no more than 4 hours, 35 minutes, which makes it an automatic winner in our book. Playing through canyons with mild elevation changes and rugged rock outcroppings, Conestoga is a winner. No. 4 Falcon Ridge - Spectacular elevation changes, numerous water features and high mesa views make Falcon Ridge one of the areas best layouts. The 525-yard, par 5 12th hole, which plays from a tee box that sits 120 feet above the fairway is worth the price of admission. No. 5 Palmer Course at Oasis Golf Club - Rugged canyon fairways and heavily contoured greens define this Arnold Palmer design. Golf Digest ranked it among the Top 10 You Can Play, and its certainly a worth addition to any golf trip.

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Americas No. 5 Golf Destination

When desireable golf destinations are ranked, Williamsburg, Va., is often criminally overlooked. The area is best known as a hotbed of American history, and Colonial Williamsburg offers a memorable glimpse at a bygone era Instead of overshadowing the golf offerings, the areas historic flavor contributes immensely to the experience. Williamsburg offers the benefits of a relatively small town (with an abundance of charm) and the attractions of a thriving tourist destination. Williamsburg isnt Myrtle Beach off the course, but it sure as hell isnt Pinehurst either. If you havent guessed, we believe its a nice combination of the two. But the quality of a golf destination is mostly determined by what awaits on the course, and Williamsburg excels on that front. Kingsmill Resort & Spa is one of the nations premier multi-course facilities and one the most prominent stops on the LPGA Tour.

Williamsburg

Williamsburg isnt Myrtle Beach off the course, but it sure as hell isnt Pinehurst either. If you havent guessed, we believe its a nice combination of the two.
Kingsmill is home to the Woods, River and Plantation courses. Despite the prominence of Kingsmill and the River Course, host of the LPGA Tour event, there is an argument to be made that the resorts golf offerings arent the areas best. Royal New Kent and Stonehouse, both Mike Strantz creations, have been ranked among Americas top

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100 public courses. The designs are stunning, and Royal New Kent is universally regarded as one of the countrys most difficult tracks. Royal New Kent is target golf at its finest and is as visually intimidating a course as you will ever play. If you like a good challenge RNK is a must play. In addition to the golf offered in the immediate area, Williamsburg is part of the Hampton Roads metro area, offering easy access to a multitude of other courses, including TPC of Virginia Beach. Williamsburg is one of Virginias crown jewels and its proximity to Richmond, Northern Virginia, D.C, and Baltimore make it a destination your group should consider.

If You Are Going:

Where to book: www.TraditionalGolfPackages.com is the areas unquestinoed king of the golf package. Located in Williamsburg, Traditional Golf Packages has its fingers on the pulse of the market and places an emphasis on customer service. There will be no surprises booking through these guys. When to Go: April-May, SeptOct are primetime.

5 Best Williamsburg Courses

No. 1. For decades Kingsmills River Course, a Pete Dye design, has tested the best the LPGA has to offer. Playing along the beautiful James River, the layout is one of the best in the nation. Only one problem, its going private in 2014, so schedule your tee time now. No. 2. The Gold Course sets the standard at Golden Horseshoe. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. course is a classically designed layout and must play. No. 3. If a stern test is what you like, Royal New Kent might top your list. This Mike Strantz beast is all about target golf and dramatic views. The visuals are stunning and the challenge is among the biggest America. No. 4. RNKs slightly softer sister, Stonehouse has been ranked among the nations top 100 public courses and deservedly so. It runs through steep forested hills, wide plateaus, and abrupt ravines. No. 5. Dont overlook Colonial Heritage, an Arthur Hills designed gem. Its perfectly maintained and a lot of fun to play. www.FLOG.ws Travel Guide 2013

No golf trip is complete without a few friendly wagers. What format should you employ to take a little cash from your traveling companinions? Even if youre not the best player among your group, there are ways to make some dollars. The Nassau Probably the most recognized betting game in golf, this gem is easy as one, two, three. You and your boys -- and girls for that matter, tee it up and play golf. Ok, that was easy. There is a front nine bet, a back nine bet, and an overall score bet. So you stunk it up on the front? Dont fret, just get even on the back. You can throw a wrench in the bet and have four bets in one. The fourth being the sweep of all bets. Youre on your game, eh? Win the front, back, and overall for the sweep of your buddy and make some extra cash just for being cool that day. You can play medal or match play with the nassau bets. Wolf Just like a wolf, this game can be a little scary. Not to scare you, but choose your partner wisely in this game. Your score will depend on how they play the hole. On

Golfs Best Betting Games

par fours and fives you will choose your partner after they tee off. The order of play is determined simply by flipping a tee to see who it points to. You can use handicaps in this game if you dont have equal talent in your foursome. The strategy to wolf is to actually be the wolf more than not. If you win the hole, you get all the points. So you better bring your A game if youre going at it alone. Choose wisely, my friends. Bingo Bango Bongo As silly as the name is, this game is quite easy. It also helps you stay on top of your game throughout the round. Weve all had that round where we start off with a bang and then the bogey train shows up right on time. Or I should say, the wrong time. This game rewards points throughout the round. First to hit the green, being closest to the pin (after all balls are on green), and the first to hole out. This game helps with your ball striking and putting. Hit those greens and make those putts. These are just three games of many you can use to spice up your round of golf.

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