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.
Las Colinas Country Club -- host of this week's HP Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour -- sprawls across the rolling hills that lie between Dallas and Fort Worth. The scenic course is covered with oak, pecan, and mesquite trees and dotted with sparkling lakes. The scenery is further enhanced by the views that stretch to the Dallas skyline. Joe Finger designed the golf course in 1963, incorporating expansive greens and wide fairways that are seemingly benign but an even lie will be hard to find. With plenty of bunkers coming into play, it is certainly not an easy course but it is player-friendly enough for beginners to manage comfortably. The course finishes with its signature hole. This beastly par 5 tees off over a creek to a narrow landing area flanked by bunkers and then there is still a difficult approach to an island green.
The Sports Club at Four Seasons Resort - TPC Four Seasons in Irving
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.
... full article »
The home of the Bengals and Reds just might be Ohio's best golf destination. Serious elevation changes throughout the Ohio Valley make for dynamic golf. The area surrounding Cincinnati is essentially a giant bowl with downtown as the bottom. Fun public golf courses line the hilly perimeter on all sides.
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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 »