There are fewer than a dozen golf courses that you can play in Branson, Missouri, but it's still a great place to tee it up. Combine the golf with the wholesome entertainment, great service and feeling of innocence you get here, and it just makes for a feel-good golf vacation, Mike Bailey writes.
The 27 holes designed by Ted Robinson at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa near Palm Springs, Calif. continue to flourish in the shade. The grounds maintain their relevance with an unapologetic wealth of shot-making opportunities, resort-style conviviality and scoring aplomb. This is the essence of a confidence-builder and a reminder that golf is meant to be an enjoyable activity.
Most golfers who come to Arizona for a few rounds head up to north Scottsdale, where world-ranked courses are as plentiful as the saguaro cactus. But if they set their GPS for the East Valley -- Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction, etc. -- they won't be disappointed. There are dozens of quality golf courses in the area. Some green fees are pricey, but others won't put much of a dent in the wallet. Here are just a few to put on the itinerary.
Football will always be king in Columbus, Ohio but don't discount the area's love for golf (Jack Nicklaus is an Ohio State alum, after all). The region's private club scene rivals any major American city, and the public offerings are plentiful if not as dynamic. Jason Scott Deegan has more.
Finca Cortesin Golf Club -- host of this week's Volvo World Match Play Championship -- is ranked as one of the best courses in Spain. This challenging course stretches to more than 7,000 meters, making it one of the longest courses in Europe. The layout is routed through a dramatic valley that sits just a short distance from the Mediterranean Sea. Olive trees, cork trees and plenty of other native vegetation blanket the course. There are more than 100 bunkers strategically placed throughout and water comes into play on several holes. Finca Cortesin's 10th hole is memorable for its stunning view of the Estepona Mountains but the 13th hole is the most difficult. On this par 4 you begin with a forced carry over water before an approach shot to a bunkered green that is also fronted with water.
Finca Cortesin Golf Club in Malaga
Royal American Links calls itself "central Ohio's best-kept secret," and it lives up to its name. The path to Royal American is as rural as central Ohio gets and, while the links theme is a bit misleading (it's more of a target golf course thanks to plenty of water), the variety of the par 4s makes the day enjoyable, Jason Scott Deegan writes.
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There are fewer than a dozen golf courses that you can play in Branson, Missouri, but it's still a great place to tee it up. Combine the golf with the wholesome entertainment, great service and feeling of innocence you get here, and it just makes for a feel-good golf vacation, Mike Bailey writes.
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Set on more than 200 feet of elevation change, few shots are played to the same elevation twice at El Conquistador Golf Club in Puerto Rico. The Arthur Hills design, which opened in 1993, features rolling hills and a handful of water hazards that add to the challenge.
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The sun came out over Wales Monday, and Senior Writer Brandon Tucker ditched the final round of Ryder Cup play for 18 holes at nearby Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club. As the Americans rallied and ultimately fell short, Tucker offers his unique perspective on the European victory and the celebration that ensued.
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Cougar Point Golf Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort "is a real winner and one Gary Player made sure would be a crowd pleaser among the many courses in the Charleston area," writes WorldGolf.com reader Elliot DeBear. "Cougar Point is a perfect resort course, challenging when played from the correct tees with beautifully laid out holes."
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There are fewer than a dozen golf courses that you can play in Branson, Missouri, but it's still a great place to tee it up. Combine the golf with the wholesome entertainment, great service and feeling of innocence you get here, and it just makes for a feel-good golf vacation, Mike Bailey writes.
... full article »