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 Historic U.S. Golf Resorts

As an honors student in the unofficial School of Advanced Golf History Studies, I love staying and playing at America's great historic golf resorts and hotels.

Make no mistake, though, I'm not into musty and dusty properties. I don't care if Ben Hogan or Ben Franklin slept there, if it's a glorified dump with little but a recognizeable name, well, I don't want to stay there.

I prefer fully refurbished and rejuvenated hotels with all the modern day techno amenity candy like high-speed Internet service, Ipod docking stations and flat panel televisions. I also enjoy spas, fitness centers and luxury linens.

Bravo to the historical properties that have dutifully maintained their historic architecture, integrity and ambiance. 

Here are 10 of my favorites: 
 

Pinehurst Resort

1. Pinehurst Resort (Pinehurst, North Carolina)--The Golf Travel Guru loves Pinehurst Resort. I've been there five times and I'd like to make it six. Built in the 1890s, it drenches visitors in history.  Stroll down one of the hallways in the The Carolina  and you're surrounded by vintage photos of every major golfer who ever teed it up, from Snead and Hogan to Nicklaus and Palmer to Woods and Mickelson. At The Carolina, you immerse in a simpler time with rocking chairs on wide verandahs, afternoon tea and delicious apples in a bowl at the front desk. Embellishing the historical ambiance is Pinehurst Village, a National Historic Landmark District, behind the main hotel. For golfers, there are eight championship golf courses, including No. 2, a Donald Ross masterpiece that will host the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in June 2014. My favorite hangout is the Donald Ross Grill at the clubhouse, which oozes with history and class.

The American Club

2. The American Club (Kohler, Wisconsin)--Posh accommodations, a spectacular spa, award-winning restaurants and four championship golf courses dominate the luxury "Pure Americana" experience at this Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel. Founded in 1918 by former Kohler Co. President Walter J. Kohler, Sr., the American Club's hallways are brimming with display antiques from the town's amazing history. For golfers, four world-class Pete Dye designed courses are available for play highlighted by Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. Enhancing the experience is the magnificent Kohler Waters Spa and a 500-acre private nature preserve.

The Greenbrier

3. The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia)--The quintessential American historic golf resort, The Greenbrier has been a luxury resort option since it opened in 1778. Surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, the massive white hotel is a timeless treasure overflowing with tradition, class and elegance. Every imaginable recreation is possible at The Greenbrier, including a bowling alley and casino. For golfers, the Old White TPC, home to The Greenbrier PGA Tour event, a C.B. Macdonald design, is a wonderland of tree-framed fairways and spectacular mountain views. Golf is huge part of The Greenbrier's personality as evidenced by Tom Watson serving as the resort's Golf Professional Emeritus.

The Broadmoor

4. The Broadmoor (Colorado Springs, Colorado)--Built by European artisans in 1917, this resort takes full advantage of its setting near Pikes Peak. Along with great service, cuisine and amenities like 25 boutique shops and a fitness facility, guests can also enjoy an art collection that features work from American masters like Remington, Miller and Moran. The luxuriously appointed guestrooms feature either mountain or lake views. Golf on The Broadmoor's 54 holes is a moveable feast of stunning mountain panoramas, lush, verdant, tree-lined fairways and adroitly planned holes by Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Nicklaus Design.

Sea Island Resort

5. Sea Island Resort (Sea Island, Georgia)--Located in the Golden Isles string of islands (St. Simons and Jekyll are nearby), Sea Island Resort is a bastion of Southern gentility that's been around since 1928 when it opened The Cloister, it's signature hotel. Since then it has added other luxury accommodations choices such as ocean villas, beach club rooms and the ultra-posh The Lodge. Remindful of an English country manor, the 40-room Lodge, which has an impressive entryway framed by large antebellum oaks, is the ultimate luxury retreat after a day on the links. Golf at Sea Island Resort features three 18-hole championship layouts incorporating marsh, forest and ocean views.

6. Gasparilla Inn & Club (Boca Grande, Florida)--I discovered this gem several years ago while on a fishing trip not a golf excursion to southwest Florida.  It's located near one of the best Tarpon fishing holes in the world so keep that in mind if you like sport fishing. The Gasparilla Inn & Club welcomed its first guests in 1913. Simple, yet elegant the wooden frame inn with a white-pillared entrance and Victorian-style gable roofs evokes a genuine Old Florida feel. Guests at the inn can play a Pete Dye designed 18-hole golf course and have access to a private beach and beach club.

West Baden Spring Hotel

7. West Baden Springs Hotel (French Lick, Indiana)-- When it opened in 1902, the West Baden Springs Hotel, with the world’s largest dome, was dubbed “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”  Since then, the innovative structure at the French Lick Resort has operated as a luxury hotel, seminary college, performing arts college and resort hotel. Situated in the French Lick Resort in southern Indiana, the hotel has returned to its roots as a luxury property. In May 2007, West Baden Springs Hotel completed a massive makeover and redevelopment of the hotel placing special emphasis on high-tech amenities that would enhance the experience for guests. When it's time to tee up, the impressive menu encompasses 54 holes of golf: The Pete Dye Course, Donald Ross Course and the Valley Links by Tom Bendelow.

Williamsburg Inn

8. Williamsburg Inn (Williamsburg, Virginia)--Dripping with luxurious appointments at every turn, the 62-room Williamsburg Inn in Colonial Williamsburg has hosted royalty, heads of state, celebrities and golfers who relish the elegant atmosphere and easy access to the historic area and golf at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club. The spacious guestrooms at the inn average 500 square feet with English-style furnishings and marble bathrooms. The Golden Horseshoe Club has 45 holes of golf designed by Rees Jones and Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Rennaissance Vinoy Resort

9. Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club (St. Petersburg, Florida)--Set in downtown St. Petersburg overlooking Tampa Bay, this salmon-colored hotel built in 1925 is the personification of Old School elegance. A sweeping front verandah ushers guests into the luxurious lobby, evoking the ambiance of an elegant Mediterranean resort with its original glazed, quarry-tile floor and stenciled cypress beams, Italian front desk and reproductions of 1920s chandeliers. The Vinoy Resort's Ron Garl-designed course weaves through a small residential area on nearby Snell Isle.


10. Grove Park Inn (Ashville, North Carolina)--A magnificent structure sitting on the side of Sunset Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Grove Park Inn opened in 1891. The guestrooms are unique with original solid oak Arts and Crafts-style furnishings by Stickley and Roycroft as well as leather chairs and elegant bedding. The mountain view rooms, not surprisingly, are the most popular as they offer inspiring vistas. The Grove Park also has one of the world's great spas, an expansive $44 million, 40,000 square-foot palace of pampering featuring a wide variety of treatments and services. Built in 1899 by Donald Ross, the resort's on-site course served as a PGA Tour stop from 1933 through 1951. Throughout a round, golfers never lose sight of the stunning granite hotel overlooking the tree-lined fairways and winding streams. The course is dotted with sycamore, oak and willow trees and the well-maintained layout features Bermuda grass fairways and bent grass greens.

Grove Park Inn

To find more information on other historic hotels I suggest clicking to the website of Historic Hotels of America.

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.

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.

Top 10 Golf Travel Trends 2012

Albatross Golf Resort, Prague, Czech Republic

Travel agents are increasingly popular—The poor, lonely travel agent is coming back. Many golf travelers are overwhelmed by the choices and options available on the Internet and don’t have the time or inclination to travel on the information highway. Golf packaging companies and veteran travel agents can suggest destinations and develop itineraries that include fun and interesting activities beyond golf.

Rising airfare prices—There just aren’t that many major carriers anymore and less competition, soaring fuel prices and fewer flights mean higher ticket prices. Bargains are difficult to find, which means more golfers are opting to stay closer to home and travel by car. Nowadays, golfers will drive up to five hours away for a golf resort vacation if they can save a substantial sum versus airfare.

Earlier bookings—As the recession starts to subside, albeit slowly, golf travelers are showing increasing confidence and booking further in advance than waiting to the last minute, which has been the standard the since the economy hit the skids in 2008.

Couples-oriented trips—Empty nester Baby Boomers-- a demographic that plays lots of golf--are taking more couples golf vacations. Their itineraries include as many shopping excursions, spa sessions and candlelight dining nights as golf rounds.

Multi-generation excursions—Like other segments of the travel market, the multi-generation trend is increasingly popular with golf trips. Grandfathers want to introduce their sons and grandsons to some of the great destinations and courses they’ve played around the world. Multi-generation pilgrimages to golf meccas like St. Andrews and Pinehurst are among the more popular along with the Monterey Peninsula in California, Orlando, Florida, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, San Diego, California and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Sports themed trips—Americans, in particular, are huge sports fans. An increasingly popular trip is to schedule a golf resort visit to coincide with other sports events such as Major League baseball, NFL football or NBA basketball games.  Vacationing golfers play a round or two during the day, and then enjoy a sports event in the evening.

New Europe destinations—Italy and France have increased their golf course inventories in recent years. Golfers are attracted by the new courses and the plethora of off-the-course activities such as gourmet dining, winery tours, cooking schools and other pursuits that aren’t as prevalent in traditional destinations like Scotland and Ireland. Wales is another up and coming destination attracting more golfers following the exposure it received after the 2010 Ryder Cup matches at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. Eastern Europe destinations like Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Russia have debuted new courses recently and are increasingly popular to golf vacationers.

Italy is becoming a popular golf destination.

Emerging destinations—While Scotland and Ireland are at the top of most lists, well-traveled golfers, who’ve played those destinations numerous times, are seeking other, more adventurous spots.  In South America, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are entertaining more linksters.  Top destinations in Asia are China, Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia.   In the U.S., destinations with high-profile courses like Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon and Kohler, Wisconsin will continue their rise in popularity as will newcomers like Branson, Missouri, Mississippi Gulf Coast (Biloxi and Gulfport) and Gulf Shores, Alabama, which promote golf heavily. Value-priced destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Northern Michigan and San Antonio, Texas are strong because of their course inventories and exceptional golf packages.  Luxury golf destinations like Naples, Florida and Palm Springs, California remain strong. In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are golf-happy destinations with exciting golf courses fashioned by big-name designers. [Below, see the 2012 International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) Award Winners.]

Golf and wellness—Empty nester older golfers are increasingly opting for resorts with spas, fitness centers and nature trails. Many major golf resort spas now offer golf muscle specific massages and invigorating treatments designed to rejuvenate golfers and prepare them for their next round of golf.

The spa has become the new 19th hole.

Fewer new resorts, more renovations—The worldwide recession stunted the growth of new golf courses and resorts being built. Consequently, major resort companies are pumping millions into existing properties to enhance and renovate golf courses, add expansive practice and teaching facilities and amenities such as infinity pools and spas.

2012 IAGTO Golf Travel Awards

Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year-Bulgaria

Golf Destination of the Year-Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States—Abu Dhabi

Golf Destination of the Year-Asia and Australia—Pattaya, Thailand

Golf Destination of the Year-Europe—Fife, Scotland

Golf Destination of the Year-Latin America & The Caribbean-Los Cabos, Mexico

Golf Destination of the Year-North America—Palm Springs, California

Golf Resort of the Year-Europe—Fairmont St. Andrews, Scotland

Golf Resort of the Year-North America—Turnberry Isle, Miami, Florida

Golf Resort of the Year-Rest of the World—Mission Hills, Hainan, China