Golf News & Reviews

Today, when the PGA Tour follows up it first-ever south-of-the-border visit to Mexico and its Cancun/Riviera Maya region, players will have to contend with additional hazards that they don’t normally find on courses here in the States: giant sinkholes. Rare in other parts of the world, but common on some Cancun golf courses, these sinkholes, or cenotes (se-NO-tays), are limestone, cave-like structures similar to underground lava tubes. The exotic, Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon course that the Tour is playing is crisscrossed by them, and players will get a glimpse of one on the very first hole, where the Devil’s Mouth, sits smack dab in the middle of the fairway. (continued at www.GolfVacationInsider.com)

Read full story

The following is an excerpt from our free, special report on We-Ko-Pa Golf Club:When We-Ko-Pa, already one of our favorite golfing grounds in the desert Southwest, unveiled its second, 18-hole course in late 2006, the Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw designed Saguaro Course (pronounced “suh-WAHR-oh”), it not only doubled our pleasure, it catapulted to the head of our list of the best 36-hole complexes to play on a Scottsdale golf vacation. Located on Native American land in Fort McDowell just beyond Scottsdale’s borders, We-Ko-Pa offers an unbeatable combination of two layouts of utterly contrasting styles, a stunning clubhouse that draws on desert and Yavapi Nation traditions, a reasonable green fee, and a rare, pure golf setting that is utterly devoid of course-side housing. Add up all these factors and there is simply no more enjoyable place to play back-to-back rounds on a Scottsdale golf vacation. (continued at www.GolfVacationInsider.com)

Read full story

Many people think the worst three words in golf are, “You’re still away.” This past weekend, on my Scottsdale golf vacation, I was reminded of three words that are even worse, “Cart Path Only.” In town to evaluate recent changes to some of Scottsdale’s best golf courses, I had to weather cart-path-only restrictions at Grayhawk Golf Club and during one of two rounds at Troon North Golf Club. While cart-path-only golf is better than no golf at all, it’s kinda like driving on the shoulder of the autobahn. Takes a lot of the fun out of it, ya know? Anyway, here are some tips for dealing with the situation if you’re confronted with it: (continued at www.GolfVacationInsider.com)

Read full story

Any advice on getting a single tee time for the Old Course at St. Andrews? I know I can go to the starter first thing in the morning, but I don’t know when to get there. Would I have to buy two tee times to get into the daily ballot?You are correct in theory, Joe; a daily ballot entry to play the Old Course requires a minimum of two players, but we wouldn’t recommend trying to “game” the system as the starter probably wouldn’t take kindly to it. And if you’ve spent the time, money, and effort to fly to Scotland to play the most famous St. Andrews golf course, the starter is the last person you want to mess with. (continued at www.GolfVacationInsider.com)

Read full story

Last week, the dollar hit an all-time low against the Euro. It now costs Americans approximately $1.50 for one Euro — no wonder Jay-Z is flashing a stack of Euro’s in his latest music video. It really calls into question whether traveling overseas is worth the premium these days.To put this in perspective, consider that, five years ago, a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links cost $350, about 324. Today, it costs $525 or 350 — 50 percent more in U.S. dollars, but only 8 percent more in Euros. Comparing the same time period, the green fee for the Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club in Ireland is up more than 60 percent in Euros, but has skyrocketed 227 percent in U.S dollars, from $119 to $270! (continued at www.GolfVacationInsider.com)

Read full story

NORTH BERWICK’S Catriona Matthew opened the season with a solid joint-18th place after a closing 74 in the weather-interrupted final round at the HSB11 Vote(s)

Read full story

11 Vote(s)

Read full story