10 Great Golf Travel Packing Tips

 

Turnberry Resort in Scotland

You're finally embarking on your golf dream trip and you know you'll need to take your “A” game, right?

Be aware, golf travelers, if you don’t pack carefully you might end up with so many annoyances and hassles that playing your best is almost impossible.

Here are 10 invaluable tips I can share that’ll help your trip be full of great memories. Some of these I learned the hard way by forgetting them or foolishly disregarding advice from fellow golf travelers and writers.

1. Invest in a top quality travel cover—Absolutely, positively don’t try to save money by purchasing a cheap travel cover. You can protect your golf club investment by getting a cover from a respected company like Club Glove, Ogio or Sun Mountain.

More Tips:

·      Don’t select an all-black cover so you can avoid looking like everybody else. You’ll save time finding your bag on the carousel if it has a recognizable color treatment.

·      Use your travel cover as an additional piece of luggage by packing shoes and extra shirts on departure and dirty laundry on your return.

·      Make sure your nametag or business card is placed on the outside of the bag and the inside as well, just in case the outside card is displaced.

2. A lightweight carry Bag for the British Isles—If you’ve every played golf in this part of the world, you’ll notice that the most experienced caddies gravitate to the lightest bag in the group. Show up with one of those huge staff bags and you’ll be treated like someone with a contagious disease.

3. Microfiber clothing—These amazing fabrics were made for golf travelers. They’re lightweight, wrinkle resistant and dry quickly.

4. Quality golf outerwear —If you want to be miserable, I mean truly miserable, take a golf vacation to Scotland, Ireland or the Monterrey Peninsula in California with some ragtag, makeshift rainwear. Standing in a fairway with a thirty-mile an hour cross wind and a heavy downpour without adequate protection is not a memory you’ll treasure. Top companies, include Sun Mountain, Sunice and Zero Restriction.

5. Take some stain remover for mud--If you don’t, you might bring home a mud-splotched pair of golf slacks or khakis as a souvenir of your trip.

6. Waterproof golf shoes (with shoe trees)—You must have a dry pair available in case you get caught in a downpour. Ideally, you need to take at least two pair of waterproof golf shoes, especially on trips four days or longer.

7. Quality golf umbrella—Don’t depend on the cheap logo umbrella you received as a gift at your last corporate golf tourney. Invest in a top quality umbrella that can withstand strong winds and, more importantly, keep you dry between shots.

8. Sizeable golf ball inventory—In my experience, buying golf balls outside of the U.S. always involves serious sticker shock and a suddenly exploding travel budget.  Obviously, if you’re a high handicapper you’ll need more golf balls.  Honestly evaluate your game to calculate how many golf balls will be enough.

9. Extra items—If you’re traveling in the British Isles or just about anywhere away from the continental U.S., make sure you take extra tees, pencils and divot repair tools which aren’t as readily available at golf courses outside the U.S.

10. Healthy snacks—You’ll be glad you packed a couple of boxes of granola bars and packages of peanut butter crackers, especially if you’re playing in the British Isles. While the beef barley soup and fish and chips are treasured favorites after a around, you’ll need some healthy fortification during play.

Top 10 Seaside Courses You Should Play

 Brilliantly colored water. Crashing waves. Rugged cliffs...

Arguably, the most inspiring settings to play golf are alongside the ocean.

Here's my list of ten seaside layouts you absolutely must play. (I base my selections on the total golf experience, not rankings and reputation.)

Now, let's head to the beach: 

Pebble Beach Golf Links photo by Joan Dost

1. Pebble Beach Golf Links--There are many contenders and some pretenders, but Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterey Peninsula in California is the world's premier oceanside golf masterpiece. Dont' take my word for it, though. Here's what Jack Nicklaus once said: "If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play at Pebble Beach. I've loved this course from the first time I saw it." Designed by Jack Neville, the course utilizes a peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean providing a perfect setting for exciting and picturesque golf holes.

2. Kingsbarns--Set just outside St. Andrews, Scotland this innovative but classic design is truly one of the world's most outstanding seaside golf experiences. A testament to modern design techniques, American designer Kyle Phillips created the dunes and rolling land movement at Kingsbarns with earth scrapers and bulldozers in 2000.

3 . Teeth of the Dog--While many of the world's great seaside courses are situated on clifftops, the Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic, designed by Pete Dye, is so close to the ocean you can feel the mist from crashing waves on some holes as you putt on the green. It's catchy name comes from the par three, No. 16 hole, which is bordered by sharp coral formations that resemble the teeth of an angry dog.

Teeth of the Dog

4 . Doonbeg--Greg Norman took the "least disturbance" approach to this phenomenal piece of land he was given to design this course in Ireland. There are amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean from 16 holes on this layout. Step on the first tee and you can see across a horseshoe-shaped bay to the ninth green. Built in 2002, the Doonbeg looks like it has been there hundreds of years. The massive 100-foot high sand dunes and native grasses embellish this fantastic setting.

5 . Corales--Often referred to as "the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean", this spectacular Tom Fazio design at Puntacana Resort in the Dominican Repbublic has six oceanfront holes highlighted by rugged cliffs and coral reefs and framed by turquoise and blue waters. Fazio masterfully designed Corales so both nines would conclude with fantastic waterfront holes. The finale, the 18th hole, is a scenic and challenging beauty with a fairway that skirts around the Bay of Corales.

Corales

6 . Royal Porthcawl--Opened in 1895, this layout in the village of Porthcawl in Wales has 19th century character at every turn. You can see the sea from every hole and there are inspiring views south to Somerset and Exmoor, and northwest across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula. The holes are designed facing every direction and you’ll never know when the wind will blow directly in your face. Though it’s a private club, the members at Royal Porthcawl are very friendly to visitors and you don’t feel like an intruder. Make sure you take time for a beer or single malt at the clubhouse bar, which sits 40 feet above the sea offering spectacular views.
 
7. Pacific Dunes at Bandon Dunes--Stretching along the stunningly beautiful stretch of Oregon coast, Pacific Dunes is a wonderland of rugged dunescape, grassy waste areas, ridges of gorse and ocean views. Holes four and five play along 100-foot-high-cliffs and No. 16, a par four has a green set on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Designed by Tom Doak, Pacific Dunes is the closest thing to a Scottish golf experience in the United States.

8 . Vale Do Lobo--One of the best ways for a golfer to experience the wonders of the Algarve in Portugal is to play the Royal Course at Vale Do Lobo. The stunning cliff-top carryover on the the par three, 215-yard (from the back tees) number 16 hole is a phenomenal experience. It's sister course, the Ocean Course, is an oceanside beauty as well. Its rolling fairways are framed by pine trees on the front nine and you slowly play your way down to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The back nine has some postcard beautiful ocean panoramas.

Royal Course at Vale do Lobo

9. Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort--Site of the 2012 PGA Championship, this Pete Dye designed masterpiece in South Carolina has more seaside holes than any other course in the Northern Hemisphere--10 along the Atlantic Ocean and 8 others parallel to those. A target course that will expose golfer's liabilities, the Ocean Course is beautiful and oh so challenging.

Ocean Course

10. Emerald Reef--While this Greg Norman designed golf course in the Bahamas lacks the pedigree, rankings and accolades of the other courses mentioned, I assure you, this is a spectacular oceanside golf experience. Drop dead gorgeous, Emerald Reef has six holes on a peninsula that are rimmed by some of the most beautiful turquoise green, deep blue and clear waters in the world.

Emerald Reef

Top 10 Value-Priced Golf Travel Destinations

Tennessee Golf Trail

With the never ending recession, high gas prices and a sorry U.S. dollar exchange rate, it's more difficult than ever to travel and play golf these days.

Hey, even the wealthiest among us get serious sticker shock when they see some of the greens fees. The Pebble Beach Golf Links wants $495 to play their historic, lush and picturesque course on the Pacific Ocean and you'll pay $360 on the weekend to roam the fairways at Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Resort in South Carolina.

Bay Harbor in Northern Michigan

Like a lot of travelers, I don't want to tap my home equity line of credit just to play a round of golf.

For package deal seekers and those looking to spend judiciously till the good economic times start to roll, I offer you my top 10 favorite value-priced golf travel destinations:


Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (Alabama) --The granddaddy of all golf trails, this collection of 468 holes at 11 locations offers golfers excellent golf at great prices. Greens fees start at $46 and the Trail offers some spectacular off-season deals (November 14 to March 11). The Trail also has affordably priced resorts Such as the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort  & Spa and Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National. 

Northwest Ireland --Somewhat remote and often overlooked by Americans as they scurry to Ballybunion and Doonbeg, this area has spectacular scenery and modest greens fees. With its narrow country roads and sleepy farming and fishing villages, you can immerse in an engaging way of Irish life. While the courses aren't as publicized as other Irish tracks, make no mistake, they are excellent plays. A few to get you started include Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone and Rosses Point.

New Mexico --Uncrowded and affordable public access courses in mountain and high desert settings and off-the-course activities like casino gambling on Indian reservations and art gallery shopping for Indian and western art make New Mexico a great value golf getaway destination. For exceptional golf packages, the marketing alliance called “Golf on the Santa Fe Trail” features eight golf courses situated along a 100-mile swatch of the Rio Grande River Valley with green fees starting at $52 on weekdays and $65 on weekends. All of the courses are situated within a two-hour drive of each other.

Algarve, Portugal --Stretching along Portugal’s southern coast, the Algarve has some of the most photogenic beaches in the world, a series of quiet, sandy coves framed turquoise water and broken up by the reddish cliffs and sandstone rocks. Inland, the coastal plains are peppered with fig, eucalyptus, and olive trees. Not surprisingly, when you drop in 20 golf courses amidst this awesome backdrop, you’ve got one of the most desirable places in the world to tee up. I wouldn't say golf is cheap to play here (no place in Europe has inexpensive greens fees), however, when you factor in the scenery, quality of course designs and the relaxing lifestyle with inexpensive dining options, it's a bargain.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina --It has lots of contenders and pretenders, but Myrtle Beach is still the capital of the value-priced golf vacation. With more than 100 golf courses and every kind of accommodations available (from motels and economically priced hotel chains to condos), it offers phenomenal course selection plus a wealth of off-the-course entertainment options like shopping complexes, miniature golf courses and amusement parks. The competition for golfers is fierce in Myrtle Beach so there's always a great deal to be found.

Tennessee Golf Trail --All together now, let's sing "Rocky Top". You’ll certainly celebrate when you discover the Tennessee Golf Trail, part of the Tennessee State Parks system, which features a collection of nine courses, including three designed by Jack Nicklaus. Green fees are in the $40 to $65 range. Consider this, you can play the Nicklaus designed Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain in Crossville for $36 in the off-season (November 15 to March 31) and $47 the rest of the year.

Northern Michigan --This region is one of my favorites for a budget happy summer golf getaway. The cooler summer days seldom eclipse 80 degrees and the long days allow for 36, even 54 holes of golf a day. There are more than 200 courses in the region and accommodations in all price categories, including multi-amenity resorts, condos, chalets, cottages, hotels and inns and value-priced hotel chains such as Best Western, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Among the high-profile resorts in the region are Treetops, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain, Inn at Bay Harbor and Shanty Creek.

Gulf Shores, Alabama --A family-oriented beach destination on the Gulf of Mexico, it has an excellent marketing alliance, Golf Gulf Shores, that features 9 golf courses and customized stay and play packages. Some of the top plays include Cotton Creek at Craft Farm and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, a pair of exceptionally maintained and lush Arnold Palmer designed layouts; Kiva Dunes, a “Top 100 Course in America” by Golf Digest that was designed by former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate and the Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, a 27-hole complex surrounded by the Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve. Throw in 32 miles of blindingly white sand beaches, great seafood restaurants and the don't miss Flora-Bama Lounge (home of the mullet toss) and you've got a fantastic value-priced golf/beach getaway destination.

Mesquite, Nevada --Leave Vegas to the high-rollers. This folksy, unpretentious community 77 miles north of Sin City has nine championship courses, 24-hour casino gaming and celebrity entertainment. A marketing alliance called "Golf Mesquite Nevada" has excellent golf packages featuring area resorts and hotels. Among the courses offered are Coyote Springs, Palmer Golf Club at Oasis, Canyons Golf Club at Oasis and Conestoga Golf Club.

Seattle, Washington --No way, you say. Reconsider, my golfing friends, there's more to Seattle than just a great cup of coffee, the Seahawks and Mariners and a nice steady rain. Seattle has a good inventory of golf courses with affordable greens fees and you don't have to fight the tourist hordes or locals for tee times. For the most part, Seattle's courses are uncrowded. Municipal layouts like Jefferson Park and Jackson Park are great deals. Daily fee options include the Golf Club at New Castle Coal Creek Course, Druids Glen, Chambers Bay and Washington National.

5 Best U.S. Opens in the Modern Era

1. 1973--I've never seen a more mesmerizing round of golf than Johnny Miller's 63 on the final day. I remember watching the then 26-year old Miller pin-seeking on just about every hole at Oakmont resulting in a phenomenal birdie barrage that left players like Nicklaus and Trevino behind. The U.S.G.A. was so miffed that Miller essentially embarrassed them by soundly defeating its tough set-up that they came back the following year with near shin-high rough at Winged Foot where winner Hale Irwin shot a 7-over par for the victory.


2. 1999--Staged on Pinehurst No.2, this one had spectacular drama. Payne Stewart, with his wind shirt with cut off sleeves, sunk a treacherous 15-foot par putt on the final hole to beat Phil Mickelson. It was the pinnacle of Stewart's career. Sadly, he never got to defend his title. Stewart died tragically in a plane crash four months after he hoisted the U.S. Open trophy.


3. 2008--Tiger Woods won on a bum leg at Torrey Pines. Limping around the course like he'd been floored by a linebacker, Woods amazingly played at a championship level. Woods bested Rocco Mediate on the first hole of a sudden death playoff following an 18-hole playoff. Then came the fire hydrant at Isleworth, a slew of personal and knee problems and Woods hasn't won a major since.


4. 2011--This was the Rory McIlroy coming out party following his flame out at the Masters two months earlier. The 22-year old Irish lad broke the U.S. Open record by 4 shots with his 268 total at Congressional Country Club. He shot an astonishing 16 under par to win by 8 strokes. He also set the record for the 54-hole record at 199, the 36-hole record at 131 and the most under par at any point at 17 under. Here's what's truly amazing: He finished 8 shots ahead of Australian Jason Day, whose score of 8 under 276 would have been good enough to win 26 of the previous 30 U.S. Opens.


5. 2000--Up until Rory in 2011, this was the gold standard in U.S. Open play. Tiger Woods destroyed the best golfers in the world by shooting 12 under 272 and winning by a whopping 15 strokes over Ernie Els at Pebble Beach Golf Links.