Golf Zoo's Blog

Canada's Priced Gems: Whistler and Banff

2012-02-08T13:36:00.000-05:00

Canada has many scenic sights and natural charm, which makes this unsurprisingly one of the most famous vacation destinations in the world.

Ranking among the top favorites in Maple Country is the majestic Canadian Rockies. Tow of the most famous destinations in the Canadian Rockies are Whistler and Banff. These tourist towns are well know for being Canada's top golf vacation destinations!!

Whistler
Whistler is known as a resort town north of Vancouver and the fun never ceases throughout the year. When golfing in Whistler you will enjoy an endless panorama view of snowcapped mountains, glistening natural lakes, the best greens the world has ever seen, the biggest names in golf, and the most unforgettable golf vacation ever!! Some of the most famous golf courses in Whistler carry the names of top golf course designers such as:

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club - Robert Trent Jones Jr
Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club - Les Furber
Nicklaus North Golf Club - Jack Nicklaus
Whistler Golf Club – Palmer Course - Arnold Palmer
Furry Creek Golf Club - Robert Muir Graves-

Banff

The town of Banff is large, tall, and extremely beautiful. This resort town is listed as having the second highest elevation in Canada an is the largest town in Alberta, Canada. Banff is surrounded by majestic scenery. The golf courses here are beautiful and awe striking. Banff's courses have earned no less than 4.5 star ratings from Golf Digest and are perpetual entries into the "best" list of countless golf magazines. These courses are:

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To Golf Courses in Whistler or Banff Today!!

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Scenic Golf In Oregon

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a premier Oregon golf destination, look no further than Sunriver Golf Resort!!

Featuring Oregon's finest golf, Sunriver Golf Resort is a golfer's paradise and an ideal choice for a Northwest Golf vacation. Each of Sunriver Resort's three golf courses were designed by an acclaimed architect. These courses are graced with carefully preserved wetlands, forested meadows, and sparking waters, Sunriver Resort offers 63 holes of the best golf in the West!

With their aesthetic grace, holes bordering the meandering Sunriver, and gramatc use of directional and for bunkers, the golf courses at Sunriver Resort serve up great challenges for golfers of all skill levels. The three courses at Sunriver Resort are The Crosswater Course, The Meadows Course and The Woodlands Course.

Crosswater Course

Designed by Bob Cupp, Sunriver Resort – Crosswater Course got its name from the fact that it crosses over the Little Deschutes and Deschutes rivers as often as seven times in each round. Opened in 1995, this 18-hole, par-72 course features 7,600 yards of golf that has five different tee placements for each hole, bent grass fairways, and greens. It is a recipient of several National Golf Awards. In 1999, it was designated as a certified Audubon Sanctuary.

Meadows Course
Paying tribute to the classic American courses of the 1920s and 1930s, the layout of Sunriver Resort – Meadows Course features the dramatic use of directional bunkers that serve up challenges for players of all skill levels. Each hole is lined with tall pine trees and harbors water. Most of the time, the water serves as amusing scenery more than a nuisance feature, but it can come into play particularly on the front nine and par 5 eighteenth. The white sand traps are the source of trouble because they are positioned along every hole and green. This 18-hole course has played host to a number of events like the USGA, NCAA, AJGA, and PGA. Playing on this course is a good way to test the players’ course management skills.

Woodlands Course

Debuted in 1981, Sunriver Resort – Woodlands Course is regarded as Oregon’s finest championship golf course because of its outstanding conditioning and lovely setting. It is a local favorite because it gives a challenging game to every player. This par-72 course features 6,913 yards of golf. It consists of tree-lined corridors and very tough greens. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the Woodlands Course offers many picturesque views of Mount Bachelor that adds to the visitors’ fantastic golf experience.

Contact Our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and Book A Vacation To A Golf Course In Sunriver, Oregon Today!! Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

The Pelican Hill Resort

2012-01-31T09:30:00.000-05:00

The Resort at Pelican Hill In Newport Coast, California Offers A One Of A Kind Golf Experience!!

The fundamentals of golf may not vary, but the way you experience the game certainly can. Tom Fazio designed these 54 holes of golf, including Pelican Hill's 36 championship holes on the Ocean North and Ocean South courses and the 18 holes at nearby Oak Creek Golf Club®, to be unlike any that you've ever played before.

Ocean North

The North Course is 6,900 yards of pure golfing goodness – with views of the ocean from pretty much every one of its 18 holes and natural bushlands and wooded areas that combine to make you love antagonism. The par-71 creation has wider fairways and is basically more forgiving than its sibling, the South Course.

Ocean South
Heavily wooded in some parts, all rainbow-colored flower gardens on another, pristine greens still on another, and a panorama of the Pacific ocean on Newport coast – this is the cornucopia of sights and textures of the Ocean South Course. And they don't go as easy as they are beautiful. But yes, this course is extremely beautiful. It measures 6,500 yards from the longest tees and plays for a par of 71.

Oak Creek
The first of the Tom Fazio courses that are part of the Pelican Hill, the Oak Creek is not necessarily within resort premises but a little outside of it. But it definitely is within the standards of excellence set on Pelican Hill courses. Well, it set the bar for it. It was named after the creek that winds throughout the property and is surrounded by stunning lakes, fast greens, and narrow fairways that are a rollercoaster ride of easy and nerve-wracking shots. These features are further complimented by its array of bull-nosed bunkers and yes, the views of the Newport Beach. It measures 6,834 yards, par 71.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to Golf Courses in Newport Coast, California Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Doral Golf Resort

2012-01-30T11:24:00.006-05:00

Why Should Golf Enthusiast Book A Golf Vacation to Miami, Florida??

--- For The Love Of the Game Of Course!!

Doral Golf Resort & Spa is the perfect place for golf lovers!! It holds five championship 18-hole golf courses: the legendary TPC Blue Monster, the Greg Norman-designed Great White, and the distinctive the Red, Gold and the new Jim Mc Lean Signature Course.

TPC Blue Monster
45 years and counting. That's how long the Blue Monster has been hosting some of the most prestigious PGA Tour events. It is also the home of the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship. And the biggest names that the golf-loving public has seen must have set foot and braved the many challenges of this massive 18-hole golf course. It measures 7,536 yards from the longest tees. Thankfully enough, there are three other tee options to counter the “monstrosity” of this golf course. But this has got to be the prettiest monster in the world with its long fairways, deep bermuda rough and assorted water hazards. The signature hole, the 18th with the fountain, is hailed by GOLF Magazine as on of the world's top 100 holes. Repeat: world's.

Doral Great White Course

Greg Norman knew how to make his signature seen, felt and remembered in this Miami creation. The Great White Course is the only golf course in the entire Southeastern USA that uses coquina for bunkers. Countless palm trees and shaped Scottish-esque bunkers line the fairways and pair with water hazards that make an appearance on 14-of-18 holes making the 7,171 yard, par 72 course as beautiful as it is challenging.

Doral Gold Course
Traditional Florida golfing – greens, sand, water, palms, and fairly challenging play, this is the best and most accurate description of the Doral Gold Resort. The 6,659 yard, par 72, course features three sets of tees for the enjoyment of golfers of varied skill sets.

Doral Red Course
Corporate tournament organizers prefer the Red Course amongst the Doral courses for their events. This is largely due to the fact that this is the course that offers the fairest brand of challenge that will be suitable for golfers of all skill levels. The medium length course measures 6,101 yards from the longest tees, par 70 and is known for its two island greens on the 6th and the 14th.

Doral Jim McLean Signature Course
Home of the PGA Q-Tour Finals, the Jim McLean Signature Course or the Silver Course is a challenge not only for golfers of varied skill levels, but a challenge to the traditional Florida layout. It features elevated tees and narrow fairways that give an interesting twist to the usual golfing experience in the Sunshine State. The McLean Course measures 7,105 yards from the longest tees, par 72.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to Golf Courses in Miami, Florida Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

The Wonderful World of Disney Golf

2012-01-23T13:20:00.002-05:00

Disney World is not purely about glitters and fireworks. Well, for the most part it is. This is where everybody's favorite Disney characters come to life – or rather, larger-than-life. This complete and ideal vacation destination was made with the whole family in mind so that no one would be left out. Yes, no one, including golf loving dads.

Golfers, in general, would not at all feel left out here. Disneyworld has, as a matter of fact, a set of five championship golf courses all made to thrill, excite, and bring out every golfer's fantasy to reality. Four of these courses are Joe Lee designs, one is a Tom Fazio, and all of them are magnificent.

Disney's Lake Buena Vista
Exciting, fun and challenging, with a four-star rating from Golf Digest's Places to Play, the Lake Buena Vista Course is one unforgettable course. There is so much beauty in the natural pine and palmetto forests lining the edges of the course, as much as there is a storybook quality to the pastel-colored villas and little boats on sparkly ponds. It measures 6,819 yards from the longest tees, par 72.

Disney's Magnolia Golf Course
Dotted with more than a thousand magnolia trees, the Mag as it is lovingly called, is not only literally fragrant but enchanting as well. It features elevated tees and greens, rolling terrain and more than 90 bunkers. But the most memorable highlight of this course is not a “signature hole” but a “signature bunker” - a Mickey Mouse-shaped bunker guarding the 6th hole. It is close to 7,500 yards in length, par 72.

Disney's Osprey Ridge

The only course on the Disney facility that was not designed by Joe Lee, the Osprey Ridge course could not and should never be accounted as anything less. This course was made by an equally legendary architect, Tom Fazio. Not only is this challenging, with water on nine holes and forests of pines, palmettos and bay trees on the edges, it is also a certified Audubon International Sanctuary for its well-preserved wetlands. It measures 7,101 yards, par 72, and holds a four and a half star rating from Golf Digest.

Disney's Palm Golf Club

This has quite a reputation among the PGA Tour courses. For one, it is beautiful. Notably beautiful, that is, with tree-lined fairways, sparkling lakes, lots of Florida sand, and water playing on nine of its eighteen holes. That's the reason why this course is named among America's Top 75. That, and it's 18th hole, known to be one of the longest closing holes in the PGA Tour.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

Golf Courses in Orlando, Florida Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Book A Golf Vacation In Palm Springs, California TODAY!

2012-01-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

Without a doubt, Palm Springs, California is one of the most popular golf vacation destinations in the country. The almost year-round sunny weather – having only an average of 15 to 20 days of rain every year – makes it ideal for the sport thus has long been serving as the home of some of the best golf courses in the United States.

Apart from the idyllic weather, it is surrounded by some of the most stunning mountain views that make for the perfect backdrop. The dramatic desert setting also makes for some of the most interesting course terrains that mesh perfectly with golf layouts making the courses in Palm Springs both beautiful and challenging. Its being situated a mere 120 miles east of urban Los Angeles also makes it accessible for golfers who would want to stay close to Hollywood Country. Needless to say, Palm Springs is the go to place for epic golf vacations, with a whole array of signature courses to make the golfing experience extremely special.

A good number of the courses here bear the names of the industry's biggest and most renowned names as designers. Palm Springs is also the home of the famed PGA West courses: Stadium Course, Greg Norman Course, and the Jack Nicklaus Course.

PGA West – TPC Stadium Course
This course might just as well be called Home of the Tournaments, having served as the regular host of such momentous and most awaited golf competitions as The Skins game, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Its design is too unique, too interesting, and too intriguing that even champions find it challenging. Shouldn't be surprising, the course was designed by Pete Dye, with his signature bunkering that at times border on being outrageous. 9 holes of the course play directly over water hazards, all the more making it extra challenging. And rightfully so, the course has been hailed as among the Top 100 Greatest Courses in the US by Golf Magazine.

PGA West – Greg Norman Course
Lying 40 feet below sea level and surrounded by huge terra cotta mountains, the PGA West Greg Norman Course could only be best described as majestic. The multi-colored wildflowers and the grasses of different shades of green all stand in perfect contrast with the reddish-gold glow of the surrounding desert. The course is a palette of colors – it is a treat to the senses to golfers who need to tackle one challenging hole after another.

PGA West – Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course
Golfers playing this Jack Nicklaus signature should arm themselves with versatility as it is more important here than any shotmaking skills they have. Each hole requires a unique strategy that the existing mindset on the first hole would prove obsolete right at the second hole and soon thereafter. It is one course that has a lot of drama, beauty, and challenge combined, and it is not for the faint of heart. Nicklaus closes the rounds at the double green 9th and 18th holes with a water crossing shot that could make or break a golfer's heart; good or bad scorecard regardless, it is sure to make any visit to Palm Springs unforgettable.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

Golf Courses in Palm Springs, California Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

A Weekend Trip to Gaylord's Golf Destinations

2012-01-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Gaylord, Michigan boasts of countless recreational opportunities; be it skiing, hiking, fly fishing, canoeing, snowmobiling, or golfing. Located in the heart of Northern Lower Peninsula Off Interstate-75, Gaylord offers its guests beautiful golf courses of rustic woods and lakes paradise where long, warm summer days continue into early evening that allows extended play.e. It has a whole range of top caliber golf courses for you to choose from – Masterpiece Golf Course, Signature Golf Course, and Traditional Golf course all at Treetops Resort.

Masterpiece Golf Course at Treetops Resort
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was the architect of Masterpiece Golf Course at Treetops Resort which was opened in 1987. Jones , in his own words, claimed it as his crowning glory. The area is well known for skiing and golf. Rolling terrain and beautiful scenery are everywhere. Diagrams of every hole with helpful hints on how to play the hole are on the scoreboard. The course is located at the headwaters of the Pigeon River and takes great advantage of natural valleys, ravines, and broad plains. The signature 6th hole features a 120 vertical drop and a panoramic view of the Pigeon River Valley. It has 7,060 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 75.5 and it has a slope rating of 144 on Bent grass.

Signature Golf Course at Treetops Resort
Rick Smith, a renowned architect and golf instructor, set the bar high with Signature Golf Course at Treetops Resort - his first 18-hole design. The course blossoms into a high upland area and features smoothing greens and broad fairways. It features 6,653 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70 with a course rating of 72.8 and a slope rating of 140 on Bent grass. Natural areas are spectacular on holes four and eleven.

Tradition Golf Course at Treetops Resort
Opened in1997, this Rick Smith-designed Tradition Golf Course at Treetops Resort measures 6467 yards from the longest tees and has a slope of rating of 122 and a 70.3 USGA rating. Tradition is Smith's walking course which pays reference to golf's origin. The 9-hole course features traditional wooden pins and pennant flags. The layout takes advantage of high ridges and hilltops, providing some sloping while still being walkable.

Gaylord, Michigan is home to 81 holes of championship golf. Gaylord's different courses by renowned architect designers Tom Fazio, Rick Smith, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr., offer some of the best collections of golf in the country. Dramatic views, contours, and rolling terrain provide a beautiful

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

Gaylord, Michigan Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

The Fresh Golf Courses of Los Cabos, Mexico

2012-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Los Cabos, Mexico-- A Destination Golfers Dream Of!!!!

The golf courses of Los Cabos were designed by famous architects the likes of Dye, Nicklaus, and Jones, making them very interesting. Spending a golf getaway in this tropical paradise is a good way to relax yourself with its exceptional golf courses that include Campestre San Jose Golf Club, Cabo Del Sol – Ocean Course, and Palmilla Golf Club.

Campestre San Jose Golf Club
Campestre San Jose Golf Club offers the visitors with a wonderful golf experience. This club is surrounded by eighteen championship-styled golf holes that are designed by the famous Nicklaus. It is the fifth masterpiece of Jack Nicklaus in Los Cabos. The views of Sea of Cortez, canyons, and mountains can be witnessed that beauty to the place. Opened in June 2007, the course’s dramatic elevation changes, incredibly panoramic views, and the championship greens are the reasons why this is a must visit place.

Cabo Del Sol – Ocean Course
Hailed as the “The best piece of golf property in the world” by the course designer Jack Nicklaus, Cabo Del Sol – Ocean Course is considered by some golfers to be the most challenging in Los Cabos. The 16th, 17th, and 18th holes are showstoppers while the front-nine holes that run along or up to the ocean – five, six, and seven – are not too shabby either. Some, who are not convinced that the course is difficult to play, say that the place has a spectacular design and thrilling playing field. Golf Magazine recognized this course as “One of the Top 100 Courses In The World”. Pacific Golf Magazine also called it as “One of Nicklaus’ finest creations” and the “Mexican version of Pebble Beach”.

Palmilla Golf Club
Located in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Palmilla Golf Club features another signature Jack Nicklaus golf course. This course is divided into the Ocean Nine, Arroyo Nine, and Mountain Nine. The deep arroyos, towering cacti, and the extraordinary views of the Sea of Cortez offer epic beauty and challenge on the place. It has been rated as “One of the Top 100 courses in the World” by Great Golf Resorts of the World. An exciting game can be experienced here due to the five sets of tee boxes, four lakes, stunning fairways, and deep elevations.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico TODAY!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Vist Warm Fort Lauderdale, FL For Some Amazing Golf

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Jacaranda Golf Club
The 36-holes of this magnanimous golf facility are complemented by the even more incredible practice facilities in the club. Its multiple sets of tees along with the golf instruction facility both make it perfect for everyone regardless of the skill – yes, including the newbies and aspirants. Both the East and West courses of the Jacaranda hold 4-stars apiece from Golf Digest, and each have hosted some of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the state. Both courses have been redesigned by Booby Weed. The variation of both courses on attitude and challenge are very apparent it feels as though they do not belong in the same place together, but both are undoubtedly and equally beautiful.

Palm Aire Country Club
Palm Aire Country Club is beyond huge. In a single golf club, four championship 18-hole courses can be found, complemented with only the best amenities any golfer could ever look for in a golf vacation package. And if that is not enough yet, two of the four courses are George & Tom Fazio creations. The other two aren't any less better. All four courses are just minutes from Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton areas and are known to be among the best golf vacation destination in the area.

Bonaventure Golf Club
Last but definitely not the least on this list is the Bonaventure. It is a 36-hole golf trip favorite that features the best of Southern Florida's topography and natural scenery. Nothing is easy in either courses – the East and the West – except to fall in love with it. Scoring low is a whole other story.East course measures 7,158 yards from the longest tees with a par of 72; the West course is shorter but definitely not less fun at 6,128 yards at a par of 70.

Contact a Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

Fort Lauderdale, Florida TODAY!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Angel Park Golf Club- Las Vegas, Nevada

2012-01-06T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Angel Park Golf Club has been dubbed the “world's most complete Las Vegas golf experience.”

The Angel Park Golf Club features two championship caliber courses bearing Arnold Palmer's signature as its designer. On top of that, it also has a short course and a practice greens that are nothing short of the quality that the other two big courses have.

Angel Park Golf Club – Mountain Course
The larger and longer Mountain Course measures 6,772 yards from the longest tees, for a par of 71. It takes golfers to a myriad of adventures in an 18-hole layout, as they play on natural desert terrain. This is complemented by an array of bunkers and water hazards that are authentic Palmer signatures.

Angel Park Golf Club – Palm Course
The Palm Course is shorter by a good 200 yards than the Mountain Course at more than 6,500 yards. But this is not tantamount to it being any less better. Or fun. Or challenging. The Palm Course has all the good features of the Mountain Course, but with a more interesting set of par threes. The par-3 holes of this course are tad longer than the Mountain Course, measuring 200 yards at most. It plays for a par of 70, with a good distance between tees.

Cloud 9
A most interesting addition to the superb courses in the Angel Park, the Cloud 9 is a collection of 12 par-three holes. This lighted short course's holes are a replica of the best par three holes in the world. Amongst its top replica holes are those of The Postage Stamp” from Scotland’s Royal Troon Golf Club, “Valley of Sin” from Georgia’s St. Andrews Country Club and the most famous “Island Green” from TPC Sawgrass in Florida. Golf Range Magazine has recently awarded this course as among the Top Short Courses in America.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to

The Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Golf in Pebble Beach

2011-12-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

Pebble Beach, Florida , to countless golfers, is the home of some of the finest golf courses America has ever known. With its beautiful coastline, year-round good weather, and interesting terrain, Pebble Beach stands as a perfect location for a sport that requires a great fusion of scenery and layout. The golf courses here are considered some of America's best, designed by the top golf course designers then and now.

An interesting array of golf course options awaits golfers on their golf vacation at Pebble Beach. It is a good combination of seven very different but equally beautiful courses - timeless classics, traditional layouts, heart-wrenching challenges, all meshed perfectly into the very beautiful Pebble Beach.

The seven courses of Pebble Beach are: Pebble Beach Golf Links; Del Monte Golf Club; Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Club; Bayonet Black Horse Golf Club; Pacific Grove Golf Links; The Links at Spanish Bay Golf Club; and Spyglass Hill Golf Club.

Pebble Beach Golf Links
The 92 year old Pebble Beach Golf Links has seen the best of the legends of past and present – and it has broken their hearts one too many times too. This is the course that bears the glory of Pebble Beach golfing, featuring the best of its attributes – ocean holes, overlooking views of the Pacific Ocean, and the cliff side shots that make for some of the most challenging layouts. This quality of its layout has been accorded its proper merits, including being named the Best Public Golf Course in America and the honor of hosting the PGA Tour Championships five times. It is also slated to host the Championships again in 2019 when the course celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Del Monte Golf Club
The Del Monte Golf Club is the oldest active golf course in the West Coast, having debuted in 1897. The years did not do so much to tarnish the centuries-old reputation of the course for delivering epic rounds of golf everytime. This is the original home of the California State Amateurs. Through the years, the course characterized by its tree lined fairways has not been tamed by any golfer, and there are no indications it is going to happen anytime soon.

Carmel Valley Golf Club
The foothills of Sta. Lucia Mountains have long been the site of countless rounds of epic golf and have stood witness to the most memorable golf vacations. The Pete Dye-designed Carmel Valley Golf Club is a par-70 layout that highlights the best of the sunny side of the Monterey Peninsula. It has long been a fascinating golf course, only made better by the recent multi-million dollar renovation which included total overhaul of the clubhouse. All the effort paid off though; readers of the Travel and Leisure Magazine voted it the 'Best US Golf Resort' in the World's Best Category.

Bayonet Black Horse Golf
The Bayonet Black Horse is composed of two very distinct golf courses but are at par with each other in beauty in scenery and layout. The 7,104 yard- Bayonet course was designed by the left handed Gen. Robert McClure in 1954. The General's being left handed is apparent on the course layout, especially on the 11th through 15th holes – and that is something that would both fascinate and challenge any golfer. The Black Horse course on the other hand is a recently renovated and expanded course, but the original design was created by General Edwin Carnes in 1964. The original and the renovated Black Horse course both feature what many golfers and critics consider the most breathtaking views of the nearby Monterey Bay. The course stretches to 7,024 yards and has four sets of tees to accommodate players of all skill levels.

Pacific Grove Golf Club
The Pacific Grove Golf Club debuted in 1932 and features Scottish links style of golf. What The best and most loved attributes of the Pacific Grove are the unmatched, teasing glimpses of the stunning Monterey Bay from its fairways. It is even made even more beautiful with a draping of majestic cypress and other trees that line the fairways. Its most recent development saw the birth of its award winning Golf Shop and Clubhouse.

The Links at Spanish Bay
This is old world Scotland in Spanish Bay, right in Pebble Bay. Robert Trent Jones Sr, Tom Watson, and Sandy Tatum conspired to create a golf course that brings the glory and origin of the sport, and the result is the Links at Spanish Bay. It is a Links style course to the core, making use of the wide beach and rugged coastline. And keeping it true to its Scottish roots, at sundown everyday, a bagpiper closes the course the way they do it the old Scots way.

Spyglass Hills Golf Club
This is a Pebble Beach golf course that is truly storybook quality. Legend has it that novelist Robert Louis Stevenson used to roam the area where the Spyglass currently stands for inspiration for his novel Treasure Island. So when Robert Trent Jones Sr took the area for course construction, he returned the favor to the renowned author by taking the name given to it in the book, and that's how the Spyglass Hills Golf Club came to be. First opened in 1966, the course features a sandy seaside opening five holes, and the remaining thirteen are nestled amidst pines, elevated greens, and tricky bunkers.

The past century proved to be the glorious age of Pebble Beach golfing. Its courses has provided the best golfing experience to guests.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to Pebble Beach, Florida Today!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Course Review: River Club in Pawleys Island, SC

2011-12-28T10:26:00.002-05:00

I played this Tom Jackson designed track recently and had a great time. A few months ago they put in all new Champion Ultradwarf greens, which are smooth, firm, and fast. With water coming into play on 15 holes, it makes for a fun and challenging round.

The course offers 3 sets of tees and measures 6,677 yards from the tips (6,240 yards from the whites). Most of the fairways are wide open, which was fun. The par-3 14^th features an island green and plays 186 yards. One of my other favorites (and their other signature hole) was the par-5 18^th, which can be played safe as a dog-leg left or you can take your chances going over water on your first 2 shots to go for Eagle.

River Club also has a nice Clubhouse and a good spot to grab a cold beverage or two after your round. Unfortunately, they do not have a full driving range, but atleast offer an area where you can hit into nets. The practice green was in great shape and gave you a taste of what you would find throughout your round.

River Club pairs well with Pawleys Plantation, Willbrook, Litchfield, and Wachesaw East for a pay for 4 get the 5^th round free south end package.

If you are interested in this course or package give me,

Mike Alfano, a call at 888.276.9589

Emerald Coast Golf Trail

2011-12-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

Panhandle, Florida

In West Florida, the long stretch of coastline running along the Gulf of Mexico has been known as a family drive hotspot. The last 50 years has seen the Emerald Coast as a prime spot for recreation away from the hustles and bustles of urban Florida. As a matter of fact, this area used to be nicknamed the “Playground Area of the Gulf Coast”. And the reasons are obvious. This place is most ideal for those long and quiet walks on the beach, dining on fresh seafood and exploring nature's bounty. Its picturesque greenish sparkling seas – where it got its name – are highlighted by the powdered-sugar sand, making it a most picturesque presentation.

The Emerald Coast Golf Trail is composed of four championship golf courses: Scenic Hills (Pensacola), Tiger Point (Gulf Breeze), Hidden Creek (Navarre), and Shalimar Pointe (Shalimar).

The Emerald Coast spans a hundred miles, going through four counties (Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay). This includes the areas famous for golfing: Pensacola Bay, Fort Walton, Panama Beach City, and Destin. Thus, also, the birth of the Emerald Coast Golf Trail.

Scenic Hills Golf Club

Pensacola's Scenic Hills could stand out one way or another, but it best stands out for its very rich history. It is proudly the only golf course in the entire Florida to have hosted the US Open (1969 US Women's Open). Out of Florida's many, many courses that have come and gone over the years, none of them has beaten this record by the Scenic Hills. Apart from that, it holds some very dramatic elevation changes unheard of in most other courses in the area, and a most stunning combination of man's creativity with nature's beauty. It measures 6,689 yards from the longest tees, par 71.

Tiger Point
The Tiger Point Golf Club in Gulf Breeze used to be a 36-hole facility that had been battered by a pair of hurricanes (Ivan and Dennis), destroying much of one of the courses' back nine. Now a 27-hole facility, the Tiger Point does not pose to be any less better. It features a Scottish links style East Course (18 holes) and a scenic West Course (9 holes). The nines here can be played in separate combinations creating a variety of games.

Hidden Creek Golf Club
A Ron Garl creation, the Hidden Creek Golf Club was ranked in Golf Digest's Top 201 Places to Play. This, even despite being flanked by two gigantic golf vacation hotspots (Pensacola and Ft Walton Beach). Slightly elevated, fast and true greens, this course features a fairly open layout with a lot of room for tees. It measures 6,805 yards from the longest tees, par 72.

Shalimar Pointe Country Club
The course is the result of the collaboration between renowned designers Joe Finger and Pete Dye. The Shalimar Pointe Country Club has been a frequented host of several US Open Qualifiers and a 3 ½ star rating from Golf Digest's Places to Play. The layout is relatively fair from all tees, just as much as it is challenging. Measures 6,765 yards from the longest tees, par 72. Golfers of all abilities will surely find something to love about this course – whether it's the well-placed bunkers, perfectly manicured greens, the excellent practice facilities, or the unmatched views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Whatever it is, the Shalimar Pointe Country Club is a must-play; it is difficult enough not to!

Beautiful, clean, and teeming with fun things to do, the Emerald Coast is in fact and indeed a most suited “Playground”. And with the addition of the Emerald Coast Golf Trail, this is a golfer's playground, or more aptly, A HAVEN.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist and book a vacation to The Emerald Coast Golf Trail TODAY !! Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Florida's Nature Coast Golf Trail

2011-12-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

Florida is a prime vacation destination for golfer enthusiast all through out the year. There are multiple different golf courses throughout Florida. However, The Nature Coast Golf Trail is by far one of the most enjoyable courses in Florida. The Nature Coast Golf Trail is made up of three courses, the World Woods Golf Club; Plantation Inn and Golf Resort; and the Hernando Oaks Golf Club.

World Woods Golf Club

The World Woods Golf Club has a pair of championship courses, the Pine Barrens and the Rolling Oaks bearing the name of Tom Fazio as its designer. The Pine Barrens Course measuring a whooping 7,250 yards from the longest tees, par-71, and is ranked among the world's Top 100 Courses. It also holds a 5-star rating from Golf Digest's Places to Play, and is often compared to New Jersey's Pine Valley – a frequent topnotcher in the US Top 100 List. Its sibling course, the Rolling Oaks, on the hand, is reminiscent of the Augusta National with its Oaks, obviously, azalea bushes and rolling greens. It measures 7,275 yards from the longest tees.

Plantation Inn and Golf Resort
This golf course has been standing for the last half a century and it becomes like fine wine – it gets better as it gets older. The Mark Mahanah design is a superb 27-hole design that bears a traditional Florida golf design – it has its own brand of challenges, risks, and rewards that make it interesting. Water is a big factor, being present on 21 holes.

Hernando Oaks Golf Club
This is a painting of Olde Florida come to life. This Scott Pate design measurs a good 6,905 yards from the longest tees, par 72. It is a spectacle of huge oaks draped in Spanish moss and tree-lined fairways, and all the best visual treats expected of Olde Florida.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to one of the three courses at The Nature Coast Golf Trail!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Gift Ideas For Golfers

2011-12-19T13:49:00.001-05:00

As the old saying goes, It is better to give than to receive...
But to be on the giver's end means having to think up of the most appropriate gifts – the ones that would definitely leave a huge smile on the receiver's face. Not to mention, earn you an even bigger thank you. It is hard enough to find a gift for anyone, let alone golfers!

If you are looking to buy gifts for an entire family of golfers, here's a short list of gift ideas to make any golfer's Christmas extra, extra merry:

For Your Father:

Give Dad some hot new swag to take with him the next day he gets on the greens! And what better way to show off than get him a new GOLF BAG?! And the best part is, you can have it customized. It is easier to have some custom work done on all-leather golf bag than engrave dad's initials on his iron golf clubs. See if that does not make him feel all Tiger with his very own golf bag that bears his own emblem.

For Your Mother:

If Dad gets his golf bag, Mom should get her new set of skin care products that could keep her beautiful skin covered on the greens. Moisturizers, sun block, lip balm with sunblock, exfoliants – you name it. Or better yet, get her a gift certificate to the local aesthetics center for a more personalized service. Mom needs to look fab on the greens all the time, that's imperative!

For Your Sister:

Young ladies must always look their absolute best – and the best thing to give your sister is a pair of new golfer clothes--socks, polo's, etc. Dress her up a la Annika Sorenstam or Michelle Wie, or play with her favorite colors. It does not matter. Just make sure it fits her and it makes her feel good looking.

For Your Brother:

What's a better gift for a starting golfer but a starting kit itself? Get him his own mini golf bag (fashioned after Dad's!) and set of golf clubs! That's definitely a great way to get him going in the sport.

For The Entire Family:

A COMPLETE GOLF VACATION PACKAGE! Get that gift certificate signed, sealed and delivered, and slip it into the family stocking. See if that won't get everyone scrambling off to pack their bags soon after the holidays. Not only does the family get to spend some much needed R n' R and quality time together, they also get to show off all their new stuff from Christmas.

Palmetto Greens Golf

2011-12-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

Palmetto Greens Golf and Country Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a great place to spend a golf vacation. Architect Rick Robbins designed this stunning golf course with the intention to amaze the guest that visit this course. The 18 holes were uniquely designed to make them challenging enough for any skill level. To add up the charm, a 15 feet man made waterfall was made to highlight the 6,345 yards layout along with several other exciting features. And to provide golfers with a comfortable feel while at play, fairways were built on Norman Bermuda grasses and the greens on L93 Bent grass.

What was once known as the Colonial Charters Golf Club that was opened way back in 1988 is now Myrtle Beach’s newest course. After Rick Robbins remodeled the course, it was reopened in 2008 and was named as Palmetto Greens Golf and Country Club. And now it has been attracting golfing and non-golfing guests from almost all parts of the globe.

Here’s a quick look on some of the course’s challenging holes.

The #1 hole, a 500-yard Par 5, features the large lake runs that are parallel to the fairway’s left side progressing all the way to the layout’s greens which makes the hole very intimidating.

The #3 hole offers the Par-5 play that will challenge you after an easy hole #2.

The #7 hole that offers a Par-4, 278-yard play is a risk-reward situation. Golfers must be able to decide on whether to opt for an over the water play or play safe and take the left.

The #11 hole features the tree on the middle of the fairway. Land the golf ball behind the tree and you’ll be blocked on the second shot.

The #18 hole is a Par-4 that features a dogleg right fairway that would require an uphill tee shot. Downhill approach shots will lead you all the way to an elevated green protected by the deep sand bunkers placed on the front and right side while off the left is a waste area. This final hole has been considered as toughest of them all.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!!

Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Golf Vacation Tips for the Non Golfing Wives

2011-12-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

What Should Wives Do While Their Husband Is Golfing?!

Golf enthusiast are always looking forward to the time they are able to go on golf vacations. Endless hours on the greens, one challenging hole after another, and meeting new people who share the same passion-- this is heaven for golf lovers!! But that does not extend to the wife who is obligated to spend her anniversary on a golf trip just o make her hubby extra happy. That why Golf Zoo Vacation Packages are should couples how to both love the sport of golf!!

So how does a non-golfing wife enjoy this kind of holiday? How and where would you be when he's on the putting greens? And how do you make this, still, truly a time to bond even when you do not enjoy the sport nor could you tell one golf club from the other?

The first secret is WHERE the golf vacation destination is located. If choose a destination that suits you both, then your well on your way to having fun!! Choose a place that has a lot of fun activities off the greens, not so much for your husband, but for you!! Your destination of choice must have fun activities for you to do while he does his thing on the greens! What are your options?!

Hit the beach while he hits the tees.
Florida, has lots of these. Some of the best beachside courses are here. And because the choices are varied and literally numerous, there would easily be one that fits your budget and taste.

Shop and splurge!
Hubby will most likely be forgiving if you use the credit card one too many times on the trip. Choose courses that are close to shopping districts. (Hello Las Vegas!)

Explore cultures.
The Valley areas have lots of heritage museums, shoppes, and historic centers where you can get to explore the glorious past America. A lot of old-age structures and even buildings are found in the Old South area (Georgia and South Carolina are calling your name!!) too.

Indulge
Most golf courses and hotels near the courses offer great spa treatments. White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia, is known for their outstanding spa services. Or find a course that has a Gym facility and exercise just like your man, but in a different way! Courses in Canada, have a great array of options for you.

Another key to achieving a memorable time on a golf vacation for you both is SCHEDULING. You both have to compromise – when he's off the greens, he should be with you. You both should be doing something nice together. Dinner, strolling, swimming, exploring the rest of the area. That is also another reason why the destinations are of utmost importance. You must find something fun to do TOGETHER. After all, the trip is about you two. If these tips are followed, there's no reason why you, dear wifey, should be sulking in the room waiting for your man to remember you. And no reason, too, for this epic trip, to be forgotten.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a Golf Vacation Today!! Please Call: 800-929-7300!!

Golf Zoo Offers Gift Certificates For Any Occasion

2011-12-14T18:00:00.000-05:00

'Tis The Season! Once again you are searching for the perfect gift for that special golfer on your list

Golf Zoo designs Gift Certificates for any amount to any destination that we offer, complete with pictures, for any occasion- Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary!

Give Golf Zoo a call @ 800-929-7300, and let us design a great golf travel gift for you!

Happy Holidays!

Ocean View Golf

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Ocean View Golf Club is a stunning golf vacation destination in Bermuda. This meticulously manicured golf layout offers the true blue Atlantic waters as well as the scenic views that guests will surely enjoy while teeing. The executive length 9-hole course features 18 different tee positions that were set for a challenging par 70 allowing guests to take another round. Aside from the challenging golf holes, this amazing golf course also offers guests a perfect retreat away from the hustles of the busy by providing a tranquil atmosphere with the gentle ocean breezes that highlights a relaxing escape.

Considered as Bermuda’s premier golf destination, the Ocean View Golf Club was given a four-star rating by Golf Digest. This shot-maker’s layout features numerous elevation changes and the uniquely designed holes that will surely test every golfer’s handicap levels. The 18-hole play at 5,880 yards has the slope rating of 130 and a course rating of 68. And despite the hills that divide the greens and tee boxes, the distance from one hole to another are still manageable. Just having the great views along the way, you are already set for an ultimate golf adventure of a lifetime.

When you’re heading to Ocean View Golf Club, it’s not just about the challenging holes and the undulating greens that will give you an experience of a lifetime. The resort also provides guests with sumptuous cuisines, something that will replenish their fervor while relaxing at the club’s cozy bar or restaurant. While taking a break, you will also be surprised with the local course veterans that will share their fascinating stories about Ocean View’s rich history that dates way back the World War II.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to

Ocean View Golf Club in Bermuda Today!!

CALL 800-929-7300!!

Dragon Ridge Country Club

2011-12-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

The Dragon Ridge Country Club is a golf masterpiece designed by the famed Jay Morrish and Dave Druzisky. This semi-private golf facility is perfectly nestled at the McCullogh Mountains foothills located south of the popular “Las Vegas Strip”. And in the span of five years since the golf course had its debut, Dragon Ridge has served as the proud host of several golf competitions including the Wendy’s Three Tour Challenge and the Tiger Jam III and IV. The golf course has also been cited by reputable golf publications as one of the country’s top golf vacation destinations with the course rating of 72.9 and a slope rating of 143.

Dragon Ridge Country Club offers challenging 7,000-yards of play to golfers of all ability levels. The entire layout features the generous fairways, multiple desert washes, water features, bunkers, and the sets of tee boxes. The #2 hole has been considered as the most prominent hole in the entire layout offering a 229-yard par-3 play from the tips with the tee box situated on top of the mountain. Holes #10 and #8 are also among the tricky holes that every golfer must look out for while on play. In dealing with these two intimidating holes, you must have the smart shot selection in order to go through the split fairways. Aside from the fair test of golf, the course also provides the golfing guests with the most breathtaking vistas of the Las Vegas Valley.

Dragon Ridge Country Club also boasts of its full driving range facility. Guests can take advantage of the well-maintained chipping and putting greens. And after an exciting golf round, the clubhouse is a perfect place for relaxation along with a perfect view of the entire city. Appropriate golf dress code is strictly implemented during play.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada!!!

Call 800-929-7300!!!

Golf in Whistler, BC, Canada

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Whistler in Canada is more than just its picturesque snow-capped mountains and stunning cerulean blue lakes. It offers more activities than just great outdoors and world-class skiing. Whistler, as a resort town, brings a complete lineup of recreational facilities that everyone can enjoy. The latest addition to its prominent resort features is GOLF.

As a golf destination, Whistler has already been ranked one of the "Top 20 Greatest Golf Destinations" in the World" by Golf Digest and is the "Number One Golf Resort in Canada" according to Canada's Golf Course Ranking Magazine. Whistler also has several world-class accommodations to complement the vacation package.

Some of Whistler's best – also ranking among the world's best – are designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Here's what's on the top list: Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club; Meadows at Pemberton Golf Course; Big Sky Golf and Country Club; Nicklaus North Golf Club; Whistler Golf Club – Palmer Course; and Furry Creek Golf Club.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
True to Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s design principle, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club follows the naturally rugged terrain of this side of the Coast Mountain ranges. The designer did very little intervention to the contours of the land, thereby giving it character – of dramatic elevation changes and natural hazards of creeks, ponds, ancient Douglas firs and granite rocks. This 18-hole par-72 golfing paradise is as challenging as it is picture-perfect you'd think it's made straight out of a Hallmark card.

Meadows at Pemberton Golf Course
The Meadows at Pemberton Golf Course is a pair of contrasting nines, but surprisingly compliment each other. The front nine is an open meadow with a signature 8th hole island green, and the back nine is forested and makes for a challenging close to the game. This characteristic of the course gives golfers a hard time deciding whether it was an easy or difficult game. They would, however, agree that it was one of the best, most heart-wrenching courses they've played ever.

Big Sky Golf and Country Club
Set at the base of Mt Currie, Big Sky Golf and Country Club may be the best golf course British Columbia has to offer. The Robert Cupp design features excellence in playability as well as scenic quality that is unique to Big Sky, with high grade bent grass from tee to greens and Ravensdale sand bunkers to make for the perfect golf conditions.

Nicklaus North Golf Club
The Jack Nicklaus par-71, 18-hole design carries his signature bunkers and his name – the only one amongst his “Signature Courses” to bear his name. It is accented with the most beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and Whistler's Green Lake, making it one of the most picturesque Nicklaus courses and perhaps in all of North America. As is expected in a Jack Nicklaus design, the conditioning is beyond superb, the playability, excellent, and the game is always memorable.

Whistler Golf Club – Palmer Course
Another course with a superstar status, thanks to its designer, is the Whistler Golf Club – Palmer Course. This is the first of Arnold Palmer's designs in Canada, and it offers an unparalleled view of Whistler's best Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains at every turn. Golfers would have to battle being awe-struck at the natural hazards of lakes, ancient cedars and the surrounding forest.

Furry Creek Golf Club
This is that one golf course in the entire town of Whistler that takes you closest to nature, and captures the best of nature's views. It offers a panoramic vista of the surrounding ocean and the great wildlife of British Columbia. The 6.001-yard Robert Muir Graves-design was a former private course but was opened to the public in April of 1994.

There's a reason why Whistler, Canada is called a resort town. And there's a reason, too, why tourists from all over the globe flock to Whistler's offering of the best tourist facilities, whether it's for the great outdoors, skiing, or golfing.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to Whistler Golf Resort, in Canada!!!

Call 800-929-7300

Spending the Holiday at the Eight Golf Courses of Pinehurst

2011-12-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

People who enjoy golfing prefer being in high 70 degree weather during the winter months. That's why Pinehurst, North Carolina is a perfect place for avid golfers during the holidays. Pinehurst resort has received a rating of 4 stars and 4 diamond stars for the incomparable service it offers. Pinehurst's golf vacation packages offer visitors to stay at the Carolina Hotel, newly restored Holly Inn, the quaint Manor Inn or condominiums.

Pinehurst No. 1
With a slope from 114 to 116, Pinehurst No. 1 is a good golf vacation destination. This 9-hole, par 70, and 6,182-yard course began in 1898 and reopened in March 2008 after a series of renovations that escalated its status from being a favorite to an even bigger favorite.

Pinehurst No. 2
The Pinehurst No. 2 is rated among the top ten in the US. The gold tees have a slope of 137, but from the other tees, the slopes range from 122 to 133 so most players can enjoy every game without being a scratch golfer. Since its beginning in 1907, there have been more championship rounds played on this course than any other course in the country. This golf course will be home to the US Open in 2014.

Pinehurst No. 3
Donald Ross designed this golf course in 1910. A slope of 115-116 with new Bent Grass greens. This short course ranges from 5,232 from the Red Tees to just 5,682 yards from the White Tees. A character-filled place, Pinehurst No. 3 makes for a good warm-up stay.

Pinehurst No. 4
Still retaining much of its original Donald Ross design after being renovated by Tom Fazio in 2000, Pinehurst No. 4 is a very challenging yet fun course to play. It can slip players up with 140 pot bunkers. It has two of the most scenic holes at the resort , including 13 and 14, both waterholes.

Pinehurst No. 5
Pinehurst No. 5 features many water hazards. Up and down hills follow the natural lay of this Ellis Maples design, which opened 1961. It is a classic course that golfers shouldn't miss on their trip to Pinehurst.

Pinehurst No. 6
Another Tom Fazio renovation in 2005 from the original designer George Fazio in 1979, Pinehurst No. 6 features new putting greens and new bunkers, which joins the other championship courses at Pinehurst. The back nine is not for the faint of heart – this is considered the toughest back nine. This is another favorite course at the Resort with a slope of 139 from the Gold Tees.

Pinehurst No. 7
Experience the high mountains that surround this course. Rees Jones designed Pinehurst No. 7 in 1986 and renovated it in 2003.Wetlands stretch along the 4th and 7th holes. This course stimulates the mind as well as the body with its 123-149 slope.

Pinehurst No. 8
This is the last but not the least Tom Fazio design which opened in 1996. Pinehurst No. 8 is a great design that offers fun and challenge. The site of the Club Pro Championship in 1997 and 1998 - it is a proven championship course that dashes and amuses the players.

Pinehurst, North Carolina is a premier golf destination in the US more than a century ago. Founded by millionaire James Walker Tufts, Pinehurst resort was one of the first prominent courses in the state. It was rated the Best US Golf Resort in 2008. It hosted several championship events like the 1951 Ryder Cup, 1936 PGA Championship, and the 1999 and 2005 US Open. Pinehursts is one of the largest golf resorts in the world that offers visitors with eight different first class golf courses.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to

Pinehurst Golf Resort, in North Carolina!!!

Call 800-929-7300

The Top Golf Courses of Montego Bay, Jamaica

2011-12-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Montego Bay, Jamaica is home to the top golf courses in the region.
If visitors are looking for fun and challenge, Cinnamon Hill Golf Club, Half Moon Golf Club, and White Witch Golf Course will offer them a tough and rewarding golf trip. These golf destinations have demanding holes, well-positioned sand traps, and lots of water hazards.

Cinnamon Hill Golf Club
Avid golfers will never enjoy a good game until they play on one of the greatest courses in the Caribbean, Cinnamon Hill Golf Club. It winds gently through the historic Cinnamon Hill sugar plantation. Its layout features a vivid front nine and a tight back nine that is filled with strategically placed bunkers that inspire most competitive player’s best game. Designed by Robert Von Hagge, Cinnamon Hill’s various elevations lets the players experience the links and inland golf.

Half Moon Golf Club

With the talented and famous Robert Trent Jones Sr. as its designer, it’s not anymore a question why Half Moon Golf Club is a must visit place in Montego Bay. The tough holes, undulating greens, challenging drive, and spectacular vistas are the reasons why this club is award-winning. It was named “2009 Golf Resort of the Year” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and “The Best Caribbean Golf Resort” by Caribbean World Magazine. In 2005, it was renovated by renowned golf architect Roger Rulewich to suit the taste of both the avid and casual golfers. The course now features newly-aligned tee complexes, new bunkers, and repositioned fairways. The combined styles of Jones and Rulewich made this place one of the finest golf courses in Jamaica.

White Witch Golf Course
This mountainous golf course is designed by the international architectural team that consists of Mike Smelek, Robert Von Hagge, and Rick Baril. White Witch Golf Course was carved out of 600 acres of lush greenery and rolling countryside that features panoramic Caribbean views. It is considered one of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean and was named after Anne Palmer, the notorious “White Witch”. Anne was known as a mistress of voodoo. The legend says that she practiced witchcraft and used it to kill her husband, John Palmer, who owned the sugar plantation on which the course stands. However, this story does not pull back visitors from playing in this course. The place’s epic surrounding will let them forget its dark legend.

When visitors would like to have a Caribbean golf vacation, Montego Bay, Jamaica is the best place to be!!

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to Montego Bay, Jamaica!!!

Call 800-929-7300

Sonoran Desert Golf Trail

2011-12-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Sonoran Desert is one of the hottest places in North America for golf enthusiast. The great desert that spans to parts of California, Arizona, and the American-Mexican border. It is the home to trails of championship caliber golf courses. These courses feature some of the most unique and most challenging settings for golf games – both in layout and in scenery.

These courses make use of the Sonoran Desert's natural rocky, dry desert terrain and the variety of rock formations of the desert to serve as natural hazards. Golfers who are used to Florida or California courses that abounds in water may find it refreshing that there is hardly any water hazard on any of these courses. But they are not to be taken lightly. The sun, the sand, and the unique desert vegetation will more or less keep the golfer busy and challenged.

There are six courses that are part of the Sonoran Desert Golf Trail: The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain; the Sun Ridge Canyon Golf Club; the Desert Canyon Golf Club; the Cholla Course of the Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club; the Saguaro Course of the Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club; and the Vista Verde Golf Club.

The Golf Club at Eagle Mountain

Golf World 2009 Reader's Poll ranked this course among America's Top 50. And not surprisingly so, this Scott Miller design makes good use of whatever nature has endowed the McDowell Mountains to its advantage. Surrounded by desert valleys, mountain peaks, rolling hills, and with elevation changes that can only be described as dramatic. This is where man's genius has worked in perfect collaboration with nature.

Sun Ridge Canyon Golf Club

Like the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain, Sun Ridge Canyon Golf Club brings out the best qualities of the desert where it belongs. It was carved out of its surrounding as if it were Mother Nature's hands itself that set it there. Water is abundant here, surprisingly, but so are desert arroyos. This course follow's nature's dictates, as are evident in the dramatic elevation changes.

Desert Canyon Golf Club

The Desert Canyon Golf Club was formerly known as the Fountain Hills Golf Club, and has a magnificent view of what makes its former namesake popular: the tallest fountain in the world. From almost every hole, the famous town centerpiece of Fountain Hills, AZ makes a splendid appearance. This could prove a refreshing delight in the hot desert, but could as well be a distraction. And the last thing anybody needs on a course like this is a distraction. The tight, hilly layout will make any player's game – pro or otherwise – extremely challenging.

Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Cholla Course

This is one highly decorated golf course. This Scott Miller design has been voted by Sports Illustrated as one of the Top Ten New Courses in America when it opened. Apart from that, the Cholla Course of the Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club has been named by the prestigious Zagat Survey as among America's Top Golf Courses, with accolades like Highest overall rating in Arizona, Highest value rating in Arizona, Top 50 courses nationally recognized for service.

Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Saguaro Course
With an overachiever for an older sibling course, the Saguaro Course of the Wee-Ko-Pa Golf Club carried the burden of living up to the prestige that is the Cholla Course. But it did not disappoint. On the contrary, it delivered more than it was expected. More, in fact, that it was ranked by GOLF Magazine as among the Top Ten New Courses in America when it opened in 2007. It has all the same desert qualities that people enjoyed and savored at the Cholla Course. This is a joint creation of designers Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.

Vista Verde Golf Club
Rio Verde, just outside of Scottsdale, in Arizona has a well-kept secret of a treasure. The discriminating golfers only know it too well. The Vista Verde Golf Club is the Ken Kavanaugh creation this side of the desert that has the sweetest of rolling terrains with lots of cacti for toppings. What makes this extremely special is the way the desert dominates the course – from elevation to hazards to the most sweeping views of the surrounding Four Peaks and Mazatzal Mountains. This is all the desert goodness served on the most complete golf vacation platter no golfer could ever resist. Amongst golfers, the truly enthused ones, this is not too much of a secret after all.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to Sonoran Desert Golf, in Arizona!!!

Call 800-929-7300

Golf in Jekyll Island

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Jekyll Island, Georgia is a famed and highly favored vacation destination. Tourists flock the island off the Atlantic coast to enjoy the ocean, the parks, and the many historic landmarks. The old infrastructure of the late 19th to the early 20th century, and the remnants of the Native American habitation takes tourists into a past time experience.

But because Jekyll Island's ideal weather and interesting marshland terrain, this place has become a perfect golf vacation destination. The variations of golf courses here range from links style all the way to more modern themed courses.

The Four most desirable golf course in Jekyll Island, Georgia are Jekyll Island's Indian Mound Course, Oleander Course, Pine Course, and the Osprey Cove Golf and Country Club.

Jekyll Island – Indian Mound Course
This Joe Lee design features fairway bunkers and a layout that takes golfers through Jekyll Island's pristine lakes and marshes that make the terrain rather interesting and extra challenging. Lee named the course after they found large oyster shell midden deposits by the aboriginal inhabitants of the area a hundred years ago. The course measures a good 6,469 yards for a par of 72. Golfers will enjoy a scenery that is undisturbed by any commercial or residential structures.

Jekyll Island – Oleander Course
The Oleander is a seaside course that enjoys a good 300 yard-distance from the ocean. It features all the goodness and difficulties poised by a course that close to the ocean – the sand and the incessant blowing of the wind from the Atlantic. The Dick Wilson design fancies the challenge-seeking golfer with its numerous doglegs and tight fairways. Opened in 1972, the course is considered the local favorite.

Jekyll Island – Pine Course
Originally build by Dick Wilson in the 1960s, the Pine Course went through a renovation in 2002 with Clyde Johnson as its model. Johnson retained its original splendor, but adding its most famous feature: Family Friendly Tee Boxes. The layout winds through ocean forests and natural, undisturbed habitats of migratory birds. It measures 6,700 yards and plays for a par of 72.

Osprey Cove Golf and Country Club
This Mark McCumber creation brings true links style golfing to Jekyll Island. Opened in the 1990, the course's layout winds around tidal inlets and salt marshes. The result is both beautiful and gripping, a most perfect combination for the most memorable golf vacations.

Contact our Golf Zoo Travel Specialist to book a vacation to Jekyll Island, Georgia!

@ 800-929-7300