10 Golf Trips to think about taking this spring |
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In the South, or at least in my mind, St. Patrick's Day serves as the unofficial start of spring. So let's break out some seersucker and a new sleeve of golf balls and hit the road. Here are 10 destinations you should consider if you're planning on taking a trip in the new few months.
Phoenix – The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has experienced explosive growth during this decade and is making a strong case to be considered as America’s premier golf destination. With ideal weather and over 200 courses to choose from you can’t go wrong with a Phoenix golf vacation this spring. Hotwire, a leading discount travel site, recently announced the results of its third annual Hotwire Travel Value Index study, and Phoenix was named as the top 2008 destination for value minded travelers. Readers of Golf Magazine also voted Phoenix as the No. 1 Golf City in America in a poll released this month. Myrtle Beach – Year after year tourist destinations compare themselves to the Grand Strand and they seldom succeed. It just doesn’t get much better than a Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation. Encompassing more than 60 miles of essentially uninterrupted shoreline from Calabash, N.C. to Georgetown, S.C., the Grand Strand continues to be paradise personified for golfers. The area is home to more quality golf courses per capita than any other spot in the country and continues to be an ideal place to celebrate the start of spring. Washington, D.C. – While the weather may not be up to par with some of the other warm weather destinations, it was impossible to leave the nation’s capital off the list during an election year. Every year the city hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate spring, featuring more than 90 events, exhibits and nearly 200 cultural performances. Throw in a slew of scenic and affordable public-access layouts like Stonewall Golf Club, Musket Ridge Golf Club, East Potomac Park Golf Course and Whiskey Creek Golf Club and you’ve got the makings of a great golf vacation.
San Diego – Ahhh, Spring Break in San Diego. No classes and a city sharing a border with Mexico sounds like a recipe for controlled chaos. Tijuana here we come! Oh, right this is about golf. Well, San Diego is making major waves in the game this year, playing host to the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course. The city is also home to Phil Mickelson’s childhood stomping grounds, Carlton Oaks. Travelers need not worry about the weather, chances are skies will be sunny and temperatures will be in the 70s. Austin – Voted by a panel of Golf Magazine experts as the No. 1 Golf City in America, Austin has a broad appeal for travelers looking go beyond the links and enjoy life. Austin is home to a vibrant cultural scene, large selection of live music venues and one of the largest universities in the nation. Here you’ll find challenging and affordable golf complemented by a great climate. North Carolina – The Tar Heel state is as diverse geographically as any other and so is the golf found here. It doesn’t get better than the Sandhills region which features dozens of championship courses including Pinehurst No. 2 which has hosted multiple U.S. Open golf championships and will host this summer’s U.S. men’s amateur championship. Don’t forget about historic Asheville, the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill), cosmopolitan Charlotte or coastal Wilmington. Atlanta – If you can’t make it to Augusta National this spring, head west on I-20 and stop in Georgia’s largest city where you can find an abundance of quality golf courses and the largest exhibit celebrating the great Bobby Jones in existence. Jones surely put his mark on Atlanta with the trifecta of East Lake, Peachtree and Atlanta Athletic Club. This historic and lively southern city is the perfect place to spend an afternoon playing golf and enjoying the many attractions in the area.
Las Vegas – Putting Vegas on any list of top travel destinations is as cliché as making a mountain out of a mole hill or wearing your heart on your sleeve but the recent rise of Sin City on the world golf scene makes it a necessity. The luxurious hotels lining the strip have combined with some world-class golf facilities to create a golf experience second to none. And even if you’re golf game doesn’t match the quality of the courses, well you know the saying. Mississippi – Alright, show of hands for those among you who guessed Mississippi would appear on this list? The state is increasingly being recognized as a top golf-and-gaming destination. The state has a number of top-notch courses at affordable prices to complement a smattering of casinos. Five Mississippi courses, Fallen Oak, Grand Bear, both courses at Pearl River Resort’s Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Oaks and Azaleas) and Shall Landing, were voted “2008 GolfWeek America’s Best Courses You Can Play” in the March 8th edition. Hilton Head Island – Hilton Head and the surrounding areas boast over 20 premier golf courses designed by such renowned architects as Robert Trent Jones, Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Clyde Johnston. This Lowcountry getaway is the perfect way for a golfer to escape the everyday grind. Scenic HHI is only 12 miles long and 5 miles wide but features an abundance of restaurants, bars and activities. There is no doubt why it has earned the moniker “The Golf Island.” The island also offers exciting day trips to places like Savannah, Ga. and nearby Daufuskie Island, which is only accessible by ferry. |
