10 Great Places to Eat and Drink Golf in the U.S.

Gigantic onion rings, roasted garlic French fries and a Chicago Dog are just a few of the sumptuous foods offered at my favorite 19th holes and golf themed restaurants. 

Let's face it, after a long day on the course accentuated by a shank or two, there's nothing like enjoying some comfort food with your friends in a golf-friendly pub or restaurant, right?

Here are 10 places where everybody talks golf, the beer is cold and the menus are designed for hungry golfers:  

1. NONA BLUE(Orlando, FL)--Part owner Graeme McDowell’s pub/restaurant, with items like Gmac’s Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese, Mama’s Double Stacked Meatloaf and Traditional English Fish and Chips, is the ultimate post round hangout. Located just outside the gates of Lake Nona Golf Club, where McDowell has a home, Nona Blue is teeming with rich, dark wood appointments and furniture. With just a few golf photos and memorabilia, it feels more like a high-end tavern/restaurant than a 19th hole bar. 

2. McKEE'S PUB at Bandon Dunes Resort (Bandon Dunes, Oregon--After a day of oceanside, links style golf at one of the resort's magnificent courses, McKee's Pub is a great place to enhance the Scottish theme to your day. Smartly appointed with dark wood furniture, fireplaces and golf art, this pub is warm and friendly with a menu dotted with delicacies like Braised Lamb Stew, Roast Chicken Pie and its signature dish, Grandma's Meatloaf, which is served with pan gravy, smashed potatoes and green beans.

3. MURRAY BROS. CADDYSHACK (St. Augustine, FL)--Set in World Golf Village, this whimsical restaurant was created by actor comedian Bill Murray and his five brothers. Designed to look and feel like a country club gone bonkers, Murray Bros. Caddyshack features the Bunker Bar with two, 150-inch quad television screens plus additional TVs and lots of memorabilia from the popular movie as well as wacky golf related décor. When it’s time to order, you can choose from a menu that includes the Seasoned Italian Beef sandwich with giardiniera peppers, sport peppers and au jus for dipping, the Double Bogey Cheeseburger, a 2/3 pound ground chuck burger topped with your choice of cheese and the Chicago Dog, a Windy City classic with a beef hot dog on a poppy seed roll with sweet green relish, red onion, tomato, yellow mustard, sport peppers, pickle spears and a sprinkle of celery salt.

4. DONALD ROSS GRILL at Pinehurst Resort (Pinehurst, NC)--Overlooking the world’s largest putting green and Putterboy statue, it’s ideally situated in the clubhouse complex.  Following my favorite lunch at the Donald Ross Grill, a Maniac Hill Club Sandwich with hickory smoked bacon and Beefsteak tomatoes and a large, unsweetened ice tea (the locals love the sweetened, but it’s way too sugary) followed by a piece of Southern Bourbon Pecan Pie, I exit through the front door, take a right to walk through a hallway dotted with historic photos and proceed to gaze at the Payne Stewart statue just outside the side door by the pro shop. We're talking golf nirvana, my friends.

5. GREG NORMAN'S AUSTRALIAN GRILLE (Myrtle Beach, SC)--The Great White Shark’s upscale restaurant features wood grilled steaks and an exceptional wine list. Billing itself as "the upper crust of down under dining", Greg Norman's Australian Grille is not the place you'll be going if you lost wagering on the golf course. Entrees range in price from $24 to $39 at this high-end, waterfront restaurant. Superbly prepared meat, poultry and fish selections make this one of Mrytle Beach's best restaurants. How about a pan-seared New York Striploin topped with hearty portabella whiskey cream sauce with au gratin potatoes? If you have a few extra bucks or just want to spurge in Myrtle Beach, this is the place to do it.

6. BRITISH OPEN PUB (Hilton Head Island, SC--If you don't have the money or inclination to make the trip across the pond, you can soak up some serious British ambiance at the British Open Pub on Hilton Head (there's also a location in nearby Bluffton). From Scotch Eggs and Shepherd's pine to Bangers and Mash and Steak and Mushroom Pie, the menu is a great one. You can top it off with Homemade Chocolate Bread Pudding and Old English Deep Dish Apple Pie. The comfortable dining room has over-size booths, golf memorabilia and flat screen televisions.

7. MR. B's LOUNGE at Pinecrest Inn Resort (Pinehurst, NC-- Set just off the lobby at the venerable Pine Crest Inn, Mr. B's Lounge, once owned by golf architect Donald Ross, is one of America's great 19th holes. Brimming with vintage golf photos, paintings, pin flags and other memorabilia, this place puts you in celebratory mood regardless if you played well or crashed and burned on one of the area's more than 40 golf courses. Don't miss the infamous chipping hole in front of the fireplace during cocktail hour. It's a great place to redeem yourself with a gallery watching. The pub fare offered is reliable with burgers, wings and grouper bites on the menu.

8. PHIL's GRILL at Grayhawk Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ--If you're a "Philly Mick" fan, you'll love Phil's Grill. Dotted with memorabilia from Mickelson's junior golf days to his major championships, it has an elegant ambiance with a hardwood bar and leather couches. Menu highlights include the Navajo  Corn Chowder, Crispy Coconut Shrimp and Soft Shell Tortilla Tacos.

9. TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY--Ya gotta love this concept. Servers in this Celtic themed pub are voluptuous, attractive young ladies clad in mini-kilts and plaid bras. Tilted Kilt's boast is "A cold beer never looked so good." The menu includes items like Irish Nachos, Roasted Garlic Fries, Classic Fish & Chips and Olde Dubin Irish Stew. If you can take your eyes off the beautiful ladies (a very difficult task, I might add) there are thirty-five 50 inch flat screen televisions to watch golf tournaments and other sports events. There are 70 locations in 22 states with more pubs in the development stage.

10. SAM SNEAD'S TAVERN--Specializing in oak grilled meats, fish and poultry and brimming with Sam Snead’s golf memorabilia and photos, this concept restaurant has 11 locations around the country. My favorite lunch items include the Oak Grilled Steak and Blue Cheese appetizer and Fresh Grouper Sandwich.  I'm a huge Slammin' Sammy fan so I never get tired of studying the various Snead photos and artifacts on display at Sam Snead's Tavern.

Other favorites include: MacAllisters Grill & Tavern in Sarasota, Florida, High Velocity Sports Bar at TPC San Antonio at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa and Sun Valley Clubhouse bar and veranda at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho.

Top 10 Golf Travel Trends For 2014

Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria

1. MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRIPS
It used to be father and son trips were all the rage. Now, grandpa and grandma want to get in on the fun. The Baby Boomer demographic is what drove golf to its unparalleled popularity and growth in the 1990s. As a group, Boomers love to play golf and as more of them retire with no job to occupy their time and attention, the prospect of playing golf in an exotic destination with family members is just too great to pass up. In 2013, 40% of families went on a multi-generational vacation. Grandparents travel about 25% more than the average leisure traveler.

2. SMART PHONES RULE
More travelers will use smart phones to check-in to hotels and book reservations at restaurants. Mobile apps are essentially replacing the hotel concierge as the first place travelers go to for information and directions. In addition, a selection of great travel apps have hit the market making planning and coordinating trips easier. Some of my favorite trav apps include Four Square, Flight Track Pro, Packing Pro and Onanda Currency Converter. An increasing number of travelers, especially those under 45 years old use mobile devices for online research.

3. SURPRISING EMERGING DESTINATIONS
France--Host site of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Versailles near Paris, France is aggressively courting golf tourists with 550 courses, including four rated in Continental Europe's Top 10.

Turkey--The Turkish Riviera on the southern coast takes the world stage with the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final at the Maxx Royal Course in the Belek region. A legitimate golf destination, the Belek area has 14 golf courses with designer tags like Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie and more than 30 four-star and five-star hotels.

Sweden--With 300 golf courses and native golfers like Annika Sorenstam, Henrik Stenson and Anna Nordqvist singing its praises, Sweden has arrived as a golf travel destination. It was recently selected the "Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year 2014" by the International Association of Golf Travel Operators (IAGTO).

Malaysia--It has more than 200 golf courses with several spectacular multi-amenity resorts in mountain, seashore and rain forest settings. Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed courses in Malaysia near its largest cities Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.

Bulgaria--Seemingly out of nowhere, Bulgaria has arrived as a golf destination. The Cape Kaliakra area on the Black Sea Coast is home to three dynamic courses--Lighthouse (Ian Woosnam), BlackSeaRama (Gary Player) and Thracian Cliffs (Gary Player). The inland Sofia destination offers play on Pravets Golf (Peter Harradine), Pirin Golf (Ian Woosnam) and St. Sofia (Paul McGinley)

China--Mission Hills resorts in Shenzhen and Hainan, which encompasses numerous golf courses by big name designers like Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye and Nick Faldo, dominate the golf tourism scene. China has gone golf crazy and there are are plethora of golf projects in the development stages.

Vietnam--There are 25 golf courses and more than 60 projects at different stages of development in Vietnam. The Danang and Hoi An area has spectacular beaches, a good selection of first class hotels and courses like the Montgomerie Golf Links Vietnam designed by Colin Montgomerie and Danang Golf Club, a Greg Norman design. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) both offer a good selection of courses.

4. SEE YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Increasingly, golf travel companies, resorts and coop marketing organizations are announcing package deals on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and other social media. Golf Travel companies, in particular, will put a greater emphasis on interacting with their clients to keep them up-to-date on special packages, trips and events.

6. RYDER CUP 2014
The globally popular event will put the spotlight on Gleneagles Resort in Scotland, the host site. Golf travelers will attend the matches (September 26-28) and play lots of golf in Scotland. Gleneagles is situated 50 miles from Edinburgh and Glasgow and about 70 miles from St. Andrews so world-renowned courses like the Old Course, Carnoustie and Gullane will get lots of play.

6. MIKE KEISER GOLF
This innovative developer has created amazing golf courses that golfers will travel long distances to play. Bandon Dunes on the southern Oregon coast has five courses oozing with "wow" factor. In Canada, Keiser's Cabot Links in Nova Scotia is one of the country's most talked about layouts. Scheduled to open nearby in 2015 is Cabot Cliffs, a Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design set high on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with a stunning par three similar to No. 16 at Cypress Point. At Bandon Dunes, an 18-hole putting course at Pacific Dunes called "Punchbowl Putting Course"is slated to open May 2014.

7. GOLF DESTINATIONS FOR NON-GOLFER SPOUSES
Savvy golf travelers are increasingly selecting destinations that include gaming, beach, mountains or theme parks. Gaming destinations with big name entertainment shows such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno/Lake Tahoe and Mississippi's Gulf Coast feature an extensive menu of golf courses and casinos. Popular U.S. seaside destinations include the Monterey Peninsula in California, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Bandon Dunes, Oregon and San Diego, California. Mountain destinations drawing golfers include the White Mountains region in New Hampshire, western North Carolina, Sun Valley, Idaho and ski towns with golf course in Colorado such as Breckenridge, Aspen and Vail. Popular theme park destinations include Orlando, Florida, San Antonio, Texas, Williamsburg, Virginia, Tampa, Florida and Branson, Missouri.

8. FEES, FEES AND MORE FEES
When will they stop? Apparently, not anytime soon as hotels and airlines have fallen in love with this "additional revenue" producer. Get ready for more annoying service, parking and Internet fees from hotels and luggage and boarding pass fees from airlines.

9. IRELAND
Ireland is on a roll. The warm and friendly Irish people, a slew of great courses and other enticements continue to make Ireland appealing, especially to golfers who've already played in Scotland. The most popular courses include Royal County Down, Ballybunion, Royal Portrush, Old Head, Tralee, Lahinch, Portmarnock, Doonbeg and Waterville. Tourist sites like the stunning Cliffs of Moher and special events such as the Penn State vs. UCF football game (August 30, 2014) enhance the appeal.

10. CRAMPED AIR TRAVEL As airlines "right size" their aircraft, planes will be fuller with fewer empty seats. When was the last time you stretched out on some empty seats on an international flight? Like, uh, never. Most products improve over time, but airlines seem to be going backward. Some of my pet peeves (which are only getting worse) include: Cramped seating, crowded aisles with clueless passengers trying to stuff oversize carry-on bags into bins and overpriced snacks.

Top 10 Places to Play Links Style Golf in the U.S.

This list will, no doubt, upset links golf purists who insist there are no true links courses in the U.S.

If you'll read the title closely, though, you'll notice the courses I highlight are "links style".  The ten mentioned aren't links courses in the strict definition and some of them are actually hundreds of miles away from the nearest ocean.

That said, you'll find lots of links golf features on these exceptional layouts like rolling dunes, subtle movement in the terrain, few water hazards, few if any trees, knee-high grasses and deep pot bunkers.

Not sure the purists are still reading, but for the rest of you who want to play some fascinating and superbly designed links golf inspired courses, here's my list:

1. Bandon Dunes (Oregon)

"Hey, did I just parachute into Scotland with my golf clubs?" might be your thought as you step to the first tee on one of Bandon Dunes' five courses. No, you're actually on the stunning southern Oregon coast. Here, the courses take advantage of terrain with massive sand dunes, giant shore pine trees and Pacific Ocean views. You'll love the tight lies, tall grasses, undulating fairways and other engaging elements of these phenomenally designed courses. The Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes courses are ranked in the top 10 of Golf Digest's 2013-2014 "Amerca's 100 Greatest Public Courses."



2. Whistling Straits (Kohler, Wisconsin)

Framed by two miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Pete Dye designed Straits course at The American Club Resort is a masterpiece with imported fescue grasses, rolling dunes topped with tall grasses and amazing links-style bunkering. If you want even more authenticity, there are even sheep roaming on the course. The Straits is ranked #2 in Golf Digest's ranking of America's Greatest Public Golf Courses for 2013-2014.  Dye also designed the resort's Irish course, a tribute to the great links courses in southwestern Ireland. The PGA Championship will return for the third time to Whistling Straits in 2015.




3. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island (South Carolina)

Site of the 2012 PGA Championship and the legendary "War on the Shore" Ryder Cup Match in 1991, this Pete Dye virtuoso design at the Kiawah Island Resort has everything you'd want in a links style golf experience. There are sometimes fierce Scottish-like winds and ten holes that play along the Atlantic Ocean. Dye throws everything but the kitchen sink on the Ocean Course with mounded fairways, steep-walled waste bunkers, deep pot bunkers, undulating plateau greens and high grasses.





4. Chambers Bay (University Place, Washington)

A walking only, links-style golf experience with a Puget Sound backdrop, this Robert Trent Jones II gem capitalizes on its stunning coastal setting, windswept dunes and native fescue grasses.  Chambers Bay will host the 2015 U.S. Open and 2010 U.S. AmateurChampionships. 








5. Arcadia Bluffs (Arcadia, Michigan)

Designed by Rick Smith and Warren Henderson, the course rests on the bluffs above the shore of Lake Michigan. A daily-fee layout open from mid-April to mid-November, Arcadia Bluffs looks as if it has been air-dropped in from Ireland. Enhancing the Irish links ambiance are high native grasses, wide, rolling fairways, 50 sod-walled bunkers, huge greens averaging 8,000 square feet and 3,100 feet of shoreline.

6. Ballyowen (Hamburg, New Jersey)

A wonderland of rolling fairways, wheat-yellow native grasses, craggy knolls and huge mounds, this 1998 Roger Rulewich design at Crystal Springs Resort is annually ranked one of New Jersey's best courses by a variety of regional and national publications and websites. The expansive 360 degree panoramic views of the New Jersey countryside give golfers an added shot of adrenaline as they approach the tee boxes at Ballyowen.






7.  The Prairie Club (Valentine, Nebraska)

Situated on the rim of the Snake River Canyon, this Tom Lehman/Chris Brand design has dramatic elevation changes, high grasses and innovative rugged bunkering. When the wind blows, as it often does in this part of the Cornhusker state, you can close your eyes and swear you're in Scotland. The Prairie Club is a fantastic golf vacation destination with accommodations at a rustic-looking, amenity laden 31-room lodge, four separate cabins and two other golf courses.

8.  Sand Hills (Mullen, Nebraska)

Aptly named, this Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design weaves around and over countless sand hills in north central Nebraska. The experience encompasses 50 to 90 foot wide fairways, native tan and brown prairie grasses, sand blow-out areas and massive green complexes that encourage bump and run and pitch shots. Be aware, this course is in the middle of nowhere. Situated in a fairly desolate part of the state about a 5 hour drive west of Omaha, Sand Hills is a private club with about 160 members and it's only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is no cell phone or internet service there and you need to be a guest of a member or have some sort of connection to tee it up. If you can secure an invitation, it's one you shouldn't pass up. Sand Hills has been rated by many publications in the top 20 of best courses in the world. For more information, I suggest clicking  Sand Hills, where you can retrieve basic information and a phone number to call.

9. Ballyneal(Holyoke, Colorado)

A private club that allows limited outside play and some stay and play packages, Ballyneal is a high-end, few frills type of golf experience. To create a natural, less contrived links-style experience, there are no tee markers, no yardage markers, and, of course, no golf carts. You'll find rolling fairways, fescue grasses and links-style bunkers on this minimalist design by Tom Doak.

10. Nags Head Golf Links (Outer Banks)

While it may only measure 6,126 yards, the constant winds at Nags Head make it play much longer. Some holes are routed along the Roanoke Sound and rolling dunes and wild sea grasses add to its links-style personality.

Top 10 Golf Travel Trends for 2013

Gleneagles Resort Front Entrance

1. Gleneagles Resort, Site of the 2014 Ryder Cup--This legendary Scottish resort will attract its share of golf tourists in the next couple of years. The Ryder Cup's popularity has soared and golfers want to test their skills at the venue. This isn't links golf, though. Gleneagles is home to quintessential parkland golf so at least you won't lose any balls in the ocean.

2. New World U.S. Golf Destinations--Golfers seeking exceptional designs and golf in its purest form are flocking to innovative destinations that aren't located near major urban centers. Among the more popular are Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast, The Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska and the newly opened Streamsong Resort, which is situated in rural Polk County, Florida between Orlando and Tampa.

3. Golf Travel Specialists--Tired of sitting in front of a computer screen trying to piece together a golf trip? It's tedious and frustrating and many golfers are realizing the experts can do it quicker, more efficiently and probably save you a few bucks and lots of headaches in the process. Remember, these guys drink a few pints and single malts with the honchos at the best resorts and courses and are well connected to negotiate great deals and develop itineraries you can only dream about as you point and click your way on the Internet.

4. Dominican Republic-- Selected as the Golf Destination of the Year 2013 for Latin America/Caribbean by the International Association of Golf Travel Operators (IAGTO), the D.R. is on a roll. Expansive, luxury resort complexes like Casa de Campo, Puntacana and Cap Cana feature courses by the biggest names in design, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus. Besides the adroitly designed layouts, stunning picturesque golf course views and fantastic weather, an added bonus is you can enjoy a fine Dominican cigar during or after a round.

5. Nova Scotia, Canada--It's the biggest thing to originate from Canada since Wayne Gretsky, Michael J. Fox and LaBatts Blue beer. Cabot Links is Canada's answer to Pebble Beach. This phenomenal links layout on the western side of Cape Breton Island in the town of Inverness in Nova Scotia is a wonderland of stunning ocean views, deep pot bunkers and swales. Opened in June, Cabot Links was developed by Mike Keiser, who created Bandon Dunes in Oregon. A second course, Cabot Cliffs, designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, is scheduled to open in mid-2014.

6. South America--The announcement of the 2016 Olympic Games to be staged in Rio de Janiero with golf to be included as a sport has put the focus on Brazil as well as other countries appealing to golfers like Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. Golf course architect Gil Hanse was chosen over design teams headed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and others to fashion the Olympic golf course. As the course begins to take shape, the excitement will increase and more golfers will consider South America a viable golf vacation destination.

7. Off-the-Beaten Path U.S. Value Destinations--If you've already played Myrtle Beach and the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, you're probably looking for some new budget-happy golf frontiers. The value menu, please.  Among the destinations promising affordable golf and well-designed courses are Crossville, Tennessee, Brainerd, Minnesota, Branson, Missouri, Gulf Shores, Alabama, Mesquite, Nevada, St. George, Utah, Brooksville, Florida, Flathead Valley in Montana, Santee, South Carolina and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

8. Ireland--The number one player in the world, Rory McIlroy, hails from Northern Ireland and golfers are increasingly considering Ireland as a golf vacation destination. Ya gotta think, everytime McIlroy hoists a trophy (and that's a lot these days) Northern Ireland gets a public relations boost. Top courses in that part of the country include Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. Other Irish gems favored by visitors include Ballybunion, Lahinch, Portmarnock, Waterville and Doonbeg.

9. Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland--I've read reviews and heard reports about this course that are all over the map. The environmentalists keep railing against it for a variety of reasons and some critics claim the fairways are too tight and the frequent high winds will make it extremely penal for the average bogey players. Moreover, the course has more than 100 different tee boxes, which makes for some long walks and long rounds. That said, the setting is stunning and Donald Trump has spent millions on making it a course golfers will travel long distances to play. Check out this video of Trump International Golf Links and I guarantee, whether you're a Trump fan or not, you'll want to play this course.

10. Experiential Golf Travel on Social Media--More golf travel companies are using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to post information and images of trips around the world. If you don't have the time or money to travel to say, Scotland, New Zealand or South Africa, you can experience vicariously the exploits of others enjoying an adventurous golf excursion in different parts of the world.

Florida's Next Great Golf Resort

 It's Florida's answer to Oregon's Bandon Dunes Resort, Nebraska's Sand Hills Golf Club and Nova Scotia's Cabot Links.

(Click Here to check out an amazing video of Streamsong.)

The new Streamsong Resort in Central Florida will feature two world-class 18-hole championship golf courses at a, shall we say, off-the-beaten path location between Orlando and Tampa in Polk County. It's a 60 minute drive from Tampa International Airport and 90 minutes from Orlando International Airport.

Streamsong is not exactly in the middle of nowhere, but very close. Upon completion, it'll definitely be worth the drive.

The courses, designed in a unique collaboration agreement by Coore & Crenshaw (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw) and Renaissance Golf Design (Tom Doak) are scheduled to debut in mid December (2012).

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw

Among Coore and Crenshaw's more notable designs are Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, Sand Hills in Mullen, Nebraska, Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona and Bandon Trails and Bandon Preserve at Bandon Dunes Resort in Bandon, Oregon. 

Topping Doak's impressive portfolio are Cape Kidnappers Golf Resort in New Zealand, Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald Golf Links at Bandon Dunes Resort and Ballyneal Golf Club in Holyoke, Colorado.

The courses are built on spectacular terrain that legend has Hernando Desoto and his army camped on in 1539. Massive sand dunes, dramatic, undulating landforms and lakes dominate the golf experience. Interestingly, the land was formerly mined for phosphate, which is a key ingredient in fertilizer.

Doak's "Blue Course" will measure 7,200 yards from the back tees, while the shorter Coore/Crenshaw "Red Course" will play about 7,000 yards from the tips. 

While both courses take full advantage of the impressive terrain, the most noticeable differences between the courses will be the contours of the greens and bunker design styles. 


The clubhouse, which will also open in mid December, will have 12 guest rooms, a restaurant with a steakhouse theme and 4,000 square feet of conference space.

 

Things to know

Location: Approximately 5 miles west of the town of Ft. Meade, near the Polk-Hardee County line on the south.

Hotel: Overlooking a large lake, the 216-room hotel, slated to open in the fall of 2013, will be comparable in ambiance, class and style to resorts like Keswick Hall in Virginia and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

Hotel architecture: Highlighted by stone, wood and glass, the hotel will seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape with lakes on its sunrise and sunset sides. Without city lights to hinder the starlight views, guests can use the rooftop veranda for a superb scenic observation area.

Hotel Amenities: Three-meal/steak restaurant, lounge/bar, rooftop veranda, 18,500 square-feet of meeting space, full-service spa with private treatment rooms, fitness center, indoor spa pool, shooting range, fishing facilities and personal enrichment classes and programs.

Top 10 Finest Golf Vacation Destinations

Alisa Course at Turnberry Resort, a Guru favorite

Golf top 10 lists are a lot like broken tees. You can choose to use them or casually toss them in the nearest trash bin.

My Top 10 Finest Golf Vacation Destination list is different.

No, I don’t have an army of number crunchers sitting in cubicles studiously placing rankings on access, playability and other factors or decidedly uninformed and clueless magazine readers to determine my list.

I have a novel concept. I actually visited the destinations I ranked. 

Yes my list is subjective. It’s meant to be.

If I see you at the first tee of any of the following, you know life is fine:

1. St.Andrews, Scotland-While the experience is dominated by the Old Course, there is so much more to this historic village on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. Beyond the seven courses of the St. Andrews Links, there are phenomenal layouts like Kingsbarns, one of my favorite seaside courses in the world, the two championship layouts at Fairmont St. Andrews Resort and the Old Course Hotel's Duke's Course. Away from the courses, don't miss landmarks include the Tom Morris Golf Shop, Rusacks Hotel, Dunvegan Pub, Quarto Bookshop and the University of St. Andrews.

2. Pinehurst,North Carolina-America's answer to St. Andrews is Pinehurst Village, a wonderful place peppered with golf courses, quiet country lanes framed by large shade trees and manicured lawns. Beyond the classic Pinehurst Resort, home to Pinehurst No. 2 and seven other courses, the area has more than 40 courses to play. Here, golf doesn't play second fiddle to casinos, theme parks or shopping malls. In Pinehurst, everybody loves the game and talks "golf". Tommy Armour put it best when he said: "The man who doesn't feel emotionally stirred when he golfs at Pinehurst beneath those clear blue skies with the pine fragrance in his nostrils is one who should be ruled out of golf for life."

3. Ayrshire,Scotland-Home to my favorite golf resort, Turnberry, this part of Scotland also boasts Royal Troon, Old Prestwick and Western Gailes. One of my finest golf experiences ever was playing the Alisa Course at Turnberry, one of the game's great historical and picturesque courses. If you're looking for golf vacation nirvana, you'll find it at Turnberry.

4. Monterey Peninsula, California-Pebble Beach Golf Links (PBGL) obviously dominates the golf scene here, but there is so much more to a golf getaway in this postcard beautiful slice of northern California. There are 25 golf courses in Monterey County (17 public) and while they might not have the dramatic settings of PBGL, they're still top notch plays. Some of my favorite value plays are Pacific Grove Golf Links and the Bayonet and Black Horse courses on Monterey Bay.

5. PuntaCana, Dominican Republic-If I could only play one Caribbean course the rest of my life, it would be Corales, a seaside gem designed by Tom Fazio at Punta Cana. Six of the 18 holes are oceanfront. It's a wonderland of stunning panoramas, ocean cliff-side holes, rolling inland terrain, a rock quarry and saltwater lakefront green sites. There are also a couple of playable P.B. Dye courses at the massive resort complex, which has its own international airport allowing easy in-and-out access.

6. Canadian Rockies-Jaw dropping mountain panoramas, abundant wildlife and refreshing air without a trace of humidity enhance the experience. The phenomenal course list includes Kananaskis, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Fairmont Banff Springs, Stewart Creek, Silvertip and Canmore.

7. BandonDunes, Oregon-Can't make it to Scotland. Bandon Dunes is the next best thing in the U.S. Stretching along Oregon coastline with rolling sand dunes and shaggy beach grasses, this collection of seaside links golf experiences should be on every golfer's (especially those who like to walk and play) bucket list. The offerings include four stunning 18-hole courses and the new, innovative 13-hole short course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

8. Orlando,Florida-There are more than 125 golf courses within a 45-minute radius of downtown Orlando with designer tags like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones and Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Sr. O-town has a great selection of resort and daily fee courses as well as economically priced Old School public layouts. Let's face it, you can play one of Orlando's top courses for less than you'd pay for a one-day ticket at a theme park.

9. LosCabos, Mexico-Set at the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, this resort area at the southernmost tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula incorporates courses with designer tags by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and others as well as one of the world's great deep sea fishing areas, especially for those after marlin and swordfish.

10. Algarve,Portugal-There's absolutely nothing better than enjoying a glass of chilled Portugese white wine on a clubhouse veranda overlooking the ocean after a day of golf on one of the Algarve's thirty golf courses. My favorite courses include San Lorenzo Golf club at Quinta do Lago, Royal Course at Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura's Old Course. One of the world's great par threes is the oceanside 16th on the Royal at Vale do Lobo, which demands a 225-yard shot over three spectacular cliffs.

5 Golf Resorts With Sizzle in 2012

New La Cana course at Punta Cana Resort

Got the golf travel doldrums?

Do you have those “been there, done that” blues?

Are you looking for an exciting place to play?

Number 15 hole at Machrihanish Dunes

Want something with a little sizzle?

Here are five suggestions by The Golf Travel Guru.

Clubhouse at Albatross Golf Resort

These five golf resorts have been grabbing lots of headlines lately:

(Listed alphabetically)

Albatross Golf Resort (Prague, Czech Republic)—This three-year old course was recently voted No. 1 in the Czech Republic by Golf Digest USA. About a 20-minute drive from downtown Prague, it’s a superb layout maintained to American-style standards set on slightly hilly terrain. If you’re in Prague for business or leisure, play the Albatross, it’ll definitely enhance your stay. Other amenities include a professional training center, David Carter Albatross Golf Academy, a sleek modern clubhouse brimming with amenities and an exceptional restaurant.

Bandon Dunes Resort (Coastal Oregon)—This nirvana of coastal courses is quickly becoming one of America’s must visit golf destinations along with Pinehurst and Pebble Beach.  Not content with four phenomenal layouts set on rugged and wild cliffs high above a stretch of the Pacific Ocean, developer Mike Keiser is debuting Bandon Preserve, a unique 13-hole, par 3 course, next month (May 1^st). Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Bandon Preserve offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean from every hole.

Machrihanish Dunes (Western Scotland)—One of Scotland’s great modern courses, Machrihanish Dunes, a David McLay Kidd design, is a must play for any Scotland visit. The course, set on the Atlantic Ocean, is an environmental wonder as only seven of its 259 acres were altered to create the layout. Enhancing the experience is the Village at Machrihanish Dunes, a seaside golf resort with hotel and cottage accommodations.

Mission Hills-Hainan Island (China)—Selected as “Golf Resort of the Year 2012-Rest of the World Category” by the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators (IAGTO), this sprawling resort has 10 golf courses, all designed by Brian Curley. Among the best are Lava Fields and Blackstone. Hainan Island, often described as China’s Hawaii, has lush foliage and a volcanic region where the resort is situated.

Punta Cana Resort and Club (Dominican Republic)—The latest addition to its superb golf course menu (45 holes) is La Cana, a P.B. Dye design with magnificent oceanfront panoramas. There are fourteen ocean-view holes with four playing right on the water’s edge. Two years ago, Punta Cana grabbed the spotlight with the opening of Corales, a Tom Fazio design the Golf Travel Guru refers to as “The Caribbean Answer to Pebble Beach.” Six oceanfront holes, rocky cliffs, coral reefs and picturesque canyons dominate the experience.

The Next Great Seaside Course

Golfers, let me introduce you to Canada’s answer to Pebble beach.

Scheduled to open for play June 29 in Nova Scotia is Cabot Links, a spectacular links layout on the western side of Cape Breton Island in the town of Inverness, a former mining village.

A wonderland of treeless terrain with undulating fairways, deep pot punkers and swales and stunning ocean views, Cabot Links is designed by Rod Whitman, a Canadian, who also fashioned the Sagebrush Golf Club in British Columbia.

A par 70, the course will measure 6,942 yards from the tips and play about 6,500 yards for the average amateur golfer.

It’s a walking only course with traditional caddying. Opening concurrent with Cabot Links is an on-site 48-unit lodge.

Cabot Links is being developed by Mike Keiser, the same gentlemen who brought us the wondrous Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

Getting there is no easy chore. You take a flight to Halifax and then it’s a about a 2 ½ hour drive to the course.

Once you arrive in Inverness, you can celebrate Cabot Links and the proximity of the Glenora single-malt whiskey distillery, which is located only seven minutes from the 18^th green.