Travel

North Vs. South

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Things aren’t always the way they seem. Remember M. Night Shyamalan’s movie, The Sixth Sense, with its edge-of-your-seat surprise ending? (If you haven’t seen it, Bruce Willis reveals in the last minute that he wears a toupee.) Just kidding._Ê

Of course, great movies aren’t the only things that utilize the old bait and switch. Consider Myrtle Beach, golf’s East Coast Mecca. For one thing, the one hundred-plus courses that you always hear about aren’t piled on top of each other; they stretch out over a 60-mile “Grand Strand,” making Myrtle a tale of two cities: the North and South. Then there’s the courses themselves. Some on the northern end, such as Lion’s Paw, sound ferocious, when in reality, they’re about as terrifying as a greeting-card kitten. An hour south, in Georgetown County (at the southern tip of the Strand), courses like Heritage and Tradition–two standouts on the Waccamaw Golf Trail–may sound gentlemanly enough, but let your guard down for a second, and you could get a serious whoopin’.

Southern Charm Six standouts on the Waccamaw Golf Trail	_Ê
Heritage Club (800) 882-5121 www.legendsgolf.com Designer: Larry Young Built over 600 acres on two former South Carolina plantations along the Waccamaw River, the Heritage Club has long been a favorite of Grand Strand golfers.	Litchfield Country Club (800) 882-3198 www.mbngolf.com Designer: Willard Byrd Built in the early 1960s by Willard Byrd, this traditionally styled layout is the flagship of Georgetown County’s great plantation courses. The mature tree-lined fairways wind their way past giant oaks and shimmering lakes of a former Carolina rice plantation, creating an extraordinarily challenging “country club” experience.

River Club (800) 882-3198 www.mbngolf.com Designer: Tom Jackson The semi-private River Club at Litchfield is one of the highest-rated courses on the Grand Strand and features the only bent-grass greens in the Pawleys Island area. Despite having generous landing areas, this course is a stern test with water coming into play on almost every hole, along with more than 100 bunkers awaiting the stray shot.	Tradition Club (877) 599-0888 www.traditiongolfclub.com Designer: Ron Garl Located adjacent to the Willbrook community in Litchfield Beach, Tradition Golf Club is a championship course that boasts the proud traditions of other great layouts that have stood the test of time.

True Blue (888) 483-6801 www.truebluegolf.com Designer: Mike Strantz Ranked among the top public courses in America, True Blue provides one of the most visually dramatic layouts you’ll ever encounter, with vast fairways, large, undulating greens and some surprising elevation changes. The rolling terrain and native vegetation of this once thriving indigo and rice plantation makes for one of the most spectacular settings in golf.	Founders Club at Pawleys Island (800) 833-6337 www.classicgolfgroup.com Designer: Gene Hamm The golf course formerly known as Sea Gull Golf Club is undergoing a $7 million makeover (not to mention a name change). Thomas Walker, former lead designer for Gary Player Design, heads the design of the new “Founders Club,” scheduled to open in September 2007.

Alma Matters
Glory Days Alumni Golf Classic. Miss your college buddies? Miss beating up on your archrivals? 2007 marks the inaugural year of the Glory Days Alumni Golf Classic, a four-man 54-hole Ryder Cup-esque event in which alma maters duke it out. More than just a chance to relive your glory days, there are some serious bragging rights to be won, plus you can tailgate, down a couple cold ones and win some cool prizes. (No word yet on if there’ll be a keg stand competition.) Not to mention, it’s an affordable way to enjoy four of Myrtle Beach’s premier South Strand courses: Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Pawleys Plantation and TPC of Myrtle Beach. May 16-20, 2007. www.glorydaysgolf.com

Northern De-Lights Six tracks that will keep you coming back	_Ê
Grande Dunes Resort Course (888) 886-8877 www.grandedunes.com Designer: Roger G. Rulewich Robert Trent Jones’ prot”©g”© Roger Rulewich wasn’t afraid to incorporate water into his Grande Dunes design. The wet stuff comes into play on nearly every hole, but makes its biggest splash on the go-for-broke (or chicken out and lay up) 13th, a risk/reward par-5 in which water bisects the fairway 150 yards from the green. In addition to the Resort Course, a private Members Course codesigned by Nick Price and Craig Schreiner opened in June 2005.	Tidewater Golf Club (800) 446-5363 www.tide-water.com Designer: Ken Tomlinson Will Tidewater’s real architect please stand up? Rumors abound that it was Rees Jones who did the heavy lifting on this course and not the fledgling architect (but seasoned attorney) Ken Tomlinson. Regardless of who gets final credit, Tidewater holds its own. Just see its name sprinkled among the numerous “Best Of” lists for evidence. Case closed.

Glen Dornoch Golf Club (866) 259-0558 www.glendornoch.com Designer: Clyde Johnston Royal Dornoch in Scotland may be one of the greatest courses on the planet, but Glen Dornoch (Royal’s long lost foster brother’s stepson’s half sister) is, well, a chip off the old block. The course, just a few miles south of the North Carolina border, opened in 1996 and isn’t a pushover (its slope rating peaks at 141). As part of the four Scottish-themed courses in the Glens Group, Dornoch’s proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway will have your kilt blowing in the wind.	Possum Trot Golf Club (866) 259-0558 www.possumtrot.com Designer: Russell Breeden Opened in 1968, Possum remains one of the best values in Myrtle Beach. Another course in the Glens Group, it’s known for being short and forgiving, making it a favorite among the ladies. Men will walk away with an ego boost too, as the white tees max out at a dainty 6,400 yards. But the best thing remains the price: For as little as $30, you can say you played a “Scottish Course” without ever having crossed the ocean.

Lion’s Paw (800) 233-1801 www.big-cats.com Designer: William Bird According to numerous sources, Lion’s Paw is considered to be William Byrd’s best work, but at times, this cat seems to be all meow and no bite. The relatively flat design is toughened up with numerous water hazards (the most intimidating being number 5 when it comes into play on your tee and approach shots) and a wind that regularly blows in off the nearby Atlantic.	Long Bay (800) 882-3420 www.mbn.com Designer: Jack Nicklaus Despite being designed by the Golden Bear, Long Bay doesn’t have the same claws as some of Nicklaus’s other designs. The 13th, a par-3 with an island green, greets you as you drive in, but at a maximum 156 yards, it manages to remain the number 18 handicap hole. The 10th (pictured above) brings to mind the bunker-lovin’ Pete Dye.

Focus On: Golfpac Travel

One-stop shopping has become a staple of life these days. As the demands on people’s time increase, the need to take care of as much as possible in a timely, convenient manner is paramount, whether one is shopping for groceries, shoes, cars or even golf vacations.

Let’s concentrate on the latter. As one of the industry’s leading providers of golf vacations since 1975, Golfpac has sent more than 550,000 golfers to destinations, from Arizona’s desert to Spain’s Costa del Sol and dozens of destinations in between, including the Sandhills of North Carolina, the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, and the burgeoning market in the Dominican Republic. All of these destinations and more are previewed in Golfpac Travel’s newly revamped Website, www.golfpactravel.com, which features new tools to help make getting started on a trip easier than ever.

For example, the Golfpac site contains the company’s Vacation Finder, a sign-up box for an online newsletter as well as an offer for its free 2006-2007 Golf Travel Guide brochure.

Want information on Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club in Orlando or Donald Ross’s masterpiece Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina? Golfpac’s site has the 411. How about the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., or Robert Trent Jones’ legendary Gold Course at Colonial Williamsburg? Golfpac has all one needs to know about those courses and where to stay, as well as a variety of stay-and-play packages that can fit almost any budget and golf handicap.

“We consider ourselves the gold standard of the golf travel industry as far as the service we provide and the technologies we provide our customers,” says Golfpac Travel President, Jeff Hamilton. Hamilton and a group of partners acquired Golfpac Travel, based in Orlando, in 1986 and over the past 20-plus years, have turned the business from $2 million in annual sales to more than $20 million in annual sales.

“We’re always being forced to step up to the plate and have innovative tools on the Website that others don’t have in order to make the job of the Group Leader easier,” says Hamilton. “We try to be as minimally invasive to the customer as we possibly can until he wants to provide us with information or wants us to provide a service. From that point, we build on the relationship and follow up.”

A Group Leader, in Golfpac vernacular, is the main man (or woman) in a group of golfers (say four or eight persons) who’s primarily responsible for coordinating a golf trip with a Golfpac travel professional. Golfpac employs 26 travel professionals, each of whom are experts in helping prepare a one-night golf getaway or a six-night “trip of a lifetime” experience.

“Most of the guys [who work with us] play golf and have been with us for years, so we have a wealth of knowledge,” says Hamilton. “We have people visiting golf courses and hotels a couple times per year. They travel before and after the season, negotiate rates and check out the quality of the product.”

And in case you meet a Golfpac travel professional, check for a Rolex watch. Hamilton gives a Rolex to each employee who has been with the company for at least 10 years. So far, he’s given out 10, with more in the wings.

“It’s a tribute to how we do things here,” Hamilton said.

The Golfpac travel professional is the first link in the chain that binds together the Group Leader and the traveling golf group.

“We have a great responsibility to provide the Group Leader with expectations so that he’s not going to have [group members] beating him up for having a bad time,” Hamilton says.

That’s where the “My Trip” tool on Golfpac Travel’s Website comes into play. My Trip is a password-protected subsite the company has devised in order for each member of a specific travel group to stay in touch with each other. The My Trip site gives the Group Leader and each member of the golf group the opportunity to review information and confirmations for golf, hotels, rental cars; view balances and payments; make payments and enter rooming lists.

Golfpac’s Vacation Finder, meanwhile, is just what the name suggests. A potential traveler can use the Vacation Finder tool on the site to select from one of more than a dozen domestic and international golf destinations, select the date of arrival and the number of nights and golf rounds desired, and_Ê select a price range. For example, target Orlando for five nights and four rounds in May 2007 (for $1,001 to $1,250), and you’ll get a price quote and online booking information at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort and the Reunion Resort and Club.

“We let a customer build his own itinerary,” Hamilton says. “The Internet is there as a tool to use to gather information. A lot of product on the Internet basically isn’t regulated, so it’s nothing but a tool for gathering information and then making some evaluation as to the people behind the pages.

“One of the things we try to convey to people is that you can always find something cheaper out there, but where is it going to be after you buy it? Or when there’s a problem? We’re trying to educate people that it’s important not only to have a good product in front of you, but to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company that stands behind its product and has been in business for some time.

“We have the ability to sort courses by price, so if you go in and do an alphabetical search, you can select a course by the price point,” Hamilton says. “We’re trying to give customers as many ways as possible to look at a product and give them a better understanding of where a course is and what it costs. We also have a hotel locator to let customers know when they’re nearby courses for first-day and last-day type of play. We’ve been pretty innovative in all those approaches in being able to put those programs in place.”

Golfpac also has an impressive record on the international travel scene. After all, not all golf travel companies can guarantee tee times on the Old Course at St. Andrews, but Golfpac, through its relationship with the Links Golf St. Andrews, can do just that.

Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in the Auld Grey Toon or be a member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the most common way to get a tee time on the Old Course is through the daily lottery. But even that’s a crapshoot these days, making Golfpac’s deal with the Links Golf St. Andrews all the more valuable. Through a subsite, www.golfpacinternational.com, Golfpac can provide a list of departure dates where a package of six or more nights guarantees a round on the Old Course.

But whether it’s the Old Course, Carnoustie across the bay or Donald Ross’s home course of Royal Dornoch, there’s no shortage of golf in Scotland. And although the country is small, a first-time visitor can be a bit overwhelmed by it all. In other words, it helps to have some local knowledge, such as: You’re not guaranteed a tee time at the Old Course by staying at the Old Course Hotel; take a USGA handicap card with you, although you probably won’t need it; use balsamic vinegar, not catsup, on your French fries (or “chips”); and it’s usually best to wash down haggis with a good, single-malt scotch.

“We got into the international market 12 to 14 years ago,” Hamilton says. “What we realized early on is that we need to have good ground representatives. With about any [travel company] you can get a tee time, a car and a room, but an awful lot can go wrong.

“It’s important to have somebody there who has been there and done that–especially for people who are making it the trip of a lifetime. They should be putting their trust in a company that can meet their expectations and make the trip as hassle free as possible, from a meet-and-greet at the airport to making sure the car is there to getting a welcome arrival at the hotel. Everything like that our ground handlers are responsible for. They’re experts in golf and on the hospitality side, too.”

When a Golfpac customer returns home from an international or domestic trip, he or she can let the company know about their experience, Hamilton says, so the company can better serve its future customers.

“We provide them with a form to rate hotels and courses, and we’ll post it on the Web,” Hamilton says. “It lets our customers view the ratings and experience Golfpac. It keeps everybody honest.”

And in the end, Hamilton says, honesty is all that counts.

“We’re really getting customers to understand that price alone isn’t going to be the determining factor of what they’re buying,” Hamilton says. “Somebody is always going to do it cheaper, but they usually leave out a few parts. You just don’t know what parts they leave out.

“If I’m a golfer, I don’t want to be in a position to find out if and when it happens. So if there is an emergency, they can pick up the phone, even after hours, and talk to me.”_Ê GT

For more information, visit www.golfpactravel.com

Scottsdale, Arizona

The FBR Open. Want a real party? The PGA Tour comes to the TPC of Scottsdale January 29 through February 4 for the FBR Open–the most attended tour stop in the country. Along with the best players in the world come huge galleries, nightly parties, music and opportunities to meet, greet or watch people as they pass on by. The FBR Open is one of the few tournaments where cheering is encouraged, as evidenced by the rowdy par-3 16th hole. It really is the “Greatest Show on Grass.” For more info, visit www.phoenixopen.com.

My Kind Of Birdie. Grayhawk Golf Club is another one of those places that golfers visit in order to get away from the daily grind. Featuring two highly acclaimed golf courses, the experience at Grayhawk is a popular one: rock and roll on the driving range, cheeky cart girls and a golf shop and restaurant that cater to what the locals call “casual elegance.” As for the golf, both courses are regularly considered among the favorites of all of the area’s 200 golf courses. It’s also a great place to watch for celebrities. For the lowdown, visit www.grayhawkgolf.com.

Winter Weather. Yep, this is why people live here. The winters here are spectacular, with daytime temps hovering in the upper 60s and low 70s. It’s also the dry season, making the winter months the prime season to take refuge from the cold snow back home. Prices are at their peak this time of year, but so are the course conditions.

A Suite Deal. Scottsdale has a ton of beautiful resorts, most of which flank a golf course or chic shopping center. For golfers, though, the best “hangout” can be found at the conveniently located Resort Suites of Scottsdale. Here golfers can choose between condo-like floor plans and opt to have the entire vacation planned out by the resort’s own Professional Golf Vacation Planners. They’ll take care of every detail and hook up golfers with the best rates and tee times at the area’s premier courses._Ê Each vacation package is wholly customizable, making a stay at the Resort Suites a piece of cake. For more info, visit www.resortsuites.com._Ê
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We-Ko-Pa. One of the most popular courses in Scottsdale actually isn’t in Scottsdale. Located on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation (about 10 minutes east of Scottsdale) is We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, a course that leads the popular vote among the most photogenic and beautiful courses in the Southwest. First, the course has no man-made buildings to get in the way, and second, the surrounding views of local mountain ranges (including Four Peaks Mountain, which is pronounced __ðwee-koh-pah’ in Yavapai) leaves little to be added to the course’s billing as an authentic and natural golf experience. Finally, and most excitingly, We-Ko-Pa is unveiling its new Coore/Crenshaw-designed Saguaro Course (to complement the newly named Cholla Course), set to open this winter. No doubt the Saguaro Course is blessed with remarkable, unhindered scenery, and judging by the recent successes of Coore/Crenshaw, the new course is sure to be a huge hit. For more info, visit www.wekopa.com.

Beyond Scottsdale._Ê The entire Phoenix metro area is chockful of awesome places to play. Looking westward, the new Raven at Verrado Golf Course is a remarkable design. In Tempe, the ASU Karsten Golf Course is the perfect place to get a golf lesson. Central to Phoenix, golfers can take refuge in the desert Shangri-la at the Arizona Biltmore, The Phoenician, The Raven at South Mountain and The Legacy Golf Resort. Finally, east of Eden you’ll find Mesa, home to some of the most underrated golf in Arizona. For a roundup on all the places to stay and play outside of Scottsdale, check out www.visitphoenix.com. For Mesa, don’t miss www.visitmesa.com.

Eat, Drink, Play. North Scottsdale (the newer half of town) has exploded in popularity, thanks in part to the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort and Spa. Anchored by three fun-to-play nine-hole layouts, Kierland Golf Club is the kind of course to begin or end your golf vacation. The resort itself has everything you might expect: luxurious accommodations, exquisite dining options, rejuvenating spas, pools and more. Also, the nearby Kierland Commons shopping center has everything the nongolfer needs to stay busy for days. For more info, visit www.kierlandresort.com.
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A Taste Of The Southwest. Whether it’s authentic Mexican, Italian, Asian or virtually any other kind of cuisine, you’ll find it amid Scottsdale’s huge assortment of restaurants (there’s some 600 in the area). But, we recommend you at least try some Southwestern dishes that combine Mexican, Native American and European flavors all in one. One of the best times to experience such food with golf is during the Bon Appetit Celebrity Chef Golf & Spa Invitational in the month of October. It’s not uncommon to find a few of your favorite celebrity chefs hitting the links during this event, and there are dozens of off-course activities to partake in. For the whole scoop, visit www.bonappetitgolf.com.

Spring Training. In the minds of many, spring training is still the best chance to get up and personal with the stars of MLB. Spring training in Arizona continues to draw fans of America’s pastime from all over the country, hoping to get an indication of how their favorite team is likely to fare during the upcoming season. Among the Cactus League participants are 12 teams, with venues spread across the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. For a full schedule and list of participating teams, visit www.cactus-league.com.
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The Nightlife. Scottsdale may have 330 days of sunshine per year, but it’s the nightlife that really heats things up. Look no further than Scottsdale Road as it crosses in and out of Old Town Scottsdale. Here you’ll find the assortment of scantily clad college students, middle-aged business people, retirees and so on–all convened in and around a mass of about 50 indoor/outdoor bars, restaurants, dance clubs and lounges. Come the late hours and it’s common to see that a relaxing restaurant by day has transformed into an electric dance club by night.

Contact Information
For one-stop information on all things Scottsdale, check out the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau online at www.scottsdalecvb.com.

5 Places To See And Be Seen

1. Troon North Golf Club
Play here and tell everyone you know that you’ve played it. It’s just that kind of place. And wear your nicest shirt, it’s that kind of place too.

2. TPC Of Scottsdale
If you have the right clothes, a tour bag and a decent swing, you might fool some people into thinking you’re a pro._Ê

3. The Phoenician
It’s resort-style golf, but it’s so well maintained and so centrally located that it has become a hotspot to eat, drink, play and, of course, be seen._Ê

4. Hot Stix
It’s not even a golf course, but this is the place serious golfers are found. Get your clubs tweaked and buy a new driver shaft. You’ll see instant improvements.

5. The Boulders
This ultra-hidden resort is where you have to look to find some of the coolest spots to hang in the Valley of the Sun.

5 Very Challenging Courses

1. SunRidge Canyon Golf Club
The front nine of this beautiful course is all downhill and the back nine is all uphill. No really, we mean it’s really uphill. Bring your A-game for the three closing holes.

2. Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor)
Some say it’s tough, others say it’s not. We agree that the course is fair off the tee, but you have to hit your irons well to score._Ê_Ê

3. WildFire Golf Club_Ê
The 7,170-yard Palmer Signature Course is no slouch, as it challenges expert and novice golfers alike. Choose among six sets of tees according to varying skill levels._Ê_Ê

4. Talking Stick Golf Club
Both courses at Talking Stick are seemingly benign, but in reality, are much more difficult tests of golf than they look. If you can’t play both, play the links-style North Course._Ê

5. Trilogy At Vistancia
It may not be in Scottsdale proper, but this course is too good and just too challenging to leave out._Ê

How To Be In The Know

1. Pack Warm Clothes And Shorts
Who knows? You may tee it up wearing pants and a sweater, and by noon you’ll be in shorts and a short-sleeve shirt.

2. Book Early Tee Times
The only caveat to winter golf is the short days. Book your tee time early to avoid closing holes in the dark.

3. Eat A Light Lunch
There are far too many great restaurants in Scottsdale to miss a hearty dinner. Don’t miss the local Southwestern cuisine.

4. Play In Sedona
Play Sedona Golf Resort and Oak Creek. The unbelievable views of red rocks make up for the two-hour drive. Temps are usually much cooler up here too.

5. Get Bird’s Nest Tix At The FBR Open
Don’t miss the party of the year at the FBR Open. Better yet, there’s a different headlining act every night of the tourney. Oh yeah, there’s golf to watch as well.

6. Buy A Tommy Bahama Shirt
You want to fit in, don’t you? The latest styles feature less of the floral prints and more of the good stuff that’s appropriate anywhere you go.

7. Spread The Love
The outside service people live off gratuity. Tip well, and your clubs will glisten and be ready for you when you leave.

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Top 10 Places To Play	_Ê	_Ê
We-Ko-Pa Golf Club It’s beautiful. It’s unspoiled. It’s challenging. It’s only gonna get better with another course. www.wekopa.com	Grayhawk Golf Club Play here and you’ll wish you lived here. www.grayhawkgolf.com	Kierland Golf Club There are 27 holes to enjoy, and afterwards all of Scottsdale is at your doorstep. www.kierlandgolf.com

Troon North Golf Club Yes, this is the place you’ve seen in every golf magazine. www.troonnorthgolf.com	Gainey Ranch Golf Club Here you’ll find 27 holes of fun, easygoing golf._Ê www.gaineyranchcc.com	Legend Trail Golf Club Looks tough, plays easy. That’s how every great golf course should be. www.legendtrailgc.com

Eagle Mountain GC Thank heavens this rollicking course has cart paths. Play it and you’ll see what we mean. www.eaglemtn.com	TPC Of Scottsdale Hey, the pros play here. Why shouldn’t you? Play the Desert Course too–it’s a fun track. www.tpc.com	The Boulders This place may be expensive, but you’ll remember it for a lifetime. www.theboulders.com

The Phoenician A refuge away from it all, even though it’s in the middle of the city. www.thephoenician.com	_Ê	_Ê

Suitcase

Surprises are usually the last thing you’re looking for on a golf trip. No matter where in the world you’re lugging your clubs, and regardless of the time of year, you can never be too prepared for the likes of ugly weather, snarled traffic, allergy attacks, lost luggage, stolen clubs and more. That’s why what you pack for your golf trip should consist of more than just clubs, balls and golf clothes. Other staple items may make your vacation a lot more enjoyable and easy.

Digital Camera
Face it: Your cell phone camera takes fuzzy snapshots, as do disposable cameras. However, a powerful, compact digital camera, such as Sony’s new Cyber-shot DSC-N2, takes vivid 10.1-megapixel shots and high-quality video and can be tucked away in your golf bag or shirt pocket. With it, you can capture that ocean view crisply from the clubhouse terrace or amass footage of your wife’s swing. ($449, www.sonystyle.com)

PDA
When it comes to golf travel, smart vacationers print out and staple together details of their plane, tee time, rental car and hotel reservations, directions to every course they’re playing and maps. But who wants to lug a stack of papers around, risking them getting ruffled or, worse yet, flying out of the car window? Instead, pack a PDA with all of that information stored on it. Preferably, you can get one with built-in WiFi access, such as Palm’s TX handheld. Add GPS software and a course-mapping program, and you’ll always know where you’re headed. ($299, www.palmone.com)

Rainwear
Because weather can get ominous quickly, pack versatile rainwear—something that can easily convert between a jacket, vest or half-sleeves. Fully waterproof, Zero Restriction’s Featherweight Traveler’s Jacket is just that, featuring a high storm collar, zippered, waterproof hand pockets, two-way zipper to release zipper pucker, elasticized waistband, dual-motion cuffs and expansion back pleats. ($300, www.zerorestriction.com)

Insect Repellant
Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your golf vacation. For excellent nonspray protection, take along Bug Band plastic wrist bands, which give off vapors that form a 15-foot protective shield around you for 120 hours, allowing you to swing in peace. ($4, www.bugband.com)

Video iPod Loaded With Instructional DVDs
While it isn’t practical to bring along your entire collection of instructional DVDs, you can easily download them onto a portable video player. The latest iPod comes in an 80-gigabyte model, allowing you to play 6.5 hours of video—or 20 hours of music—on one battery charge. It will also take up little room in your carry-on. ($349, www.apple.com)

Extra Gloves
Always bring two or three extra golf gloves, especially if you’re going to a hot or humid climate. There’s nothing worse than putting on the same glove you wore yesterday, only to find out it’s still drenched in sweat. Try PING’s new M-Flex glove which is made of tightly woven, flexible microfibers. An advanced polymer coating surrounds the microfibers, providing a firm grip in all weather conditions. ($15, www.pinggolf.com)

Cold-Weather Clothes
Weather can turn cold quickly. So it’s always a good idea to bring a golf-specific thermal jacket that’s lightweight and moves with your body during the swing. Sun Mountain’s Cascade half-zip pullover is ideal. Its generous cut gives you full swing range, while the lightweight fleece eliminates bulk. It also has a spill-resistant coating, drawstring waist and two zippered hand pockets. ($60, www.sunmountain.com)

Extra Shoes
Always bring two pairs of golf shoes, especially if you’re heading to the likes of Ireland, Scotland or even Pebble Beach. That way, if it rains, you can give your shoes time to dry out, keeping your feet dry and comfortable. Try a pair of black Etonic G>SOK GT shoes. Why black? Their traditional look, combined with the fact that they’re comfortable, spikeless golf shoes with incredible traction, means they can double as nice casual shoes at dinnertime, so you can pack less. And they feature the GORE-TEX waterproof system. ($125, www.etonic.com)

Hat
Tilley Hats have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50+, are packable, washable, durable and insured against theft or loss. The brim protects your neck, too. ($74, www.tilley.com)

Sun Protection
Nothing ruins a golf vacation like sunburn. Proderma Products’ SPF 30 Face Stick is perfect for golfers. Like a larger tube of ChapStick, its bottom dial controls the stick of sunscreen. Just rub on your skin and go. It’s easily stored in your golf bag. It’s also nongreasy and quick-drying. ($6, www.prodermaproducts.com)

Travel Case
Many of the latest golf travel bags double as cart bags. But if you already own a golf bag, you have to transfer all of your clubs, balls, tees, gloves, windshirt, etc., from your regular bag to your travel bag, just to take the trip. Enter Cargo Golf’s X2 DLX Hybrid, an adjustable travel case with a hard top and bottom. It holds any golf bag that measures up to 9.5 inches in diameter, as well as a 48-inch driver. It also adjusts in one-inch increments to hold smaller bags securely so that clubs don’t bang around during transport. Best of all, it collapses to 24 inches for easy storage in any rental car trunk or hotel room closet. ($249, www.cargogolf.com)

Sunglasses
There’s a good chance that because you’re taking a golf trip, you’re heading to someplace sunny. Bring sunglasses. Callaway’s C401-OGN sunglasses will save your eyes while you’re driving on or off the course. They sport oval-shaped lenses and are so amazingly lightweight, you’ll forget they’re on. ($160, www.callawayeyewear.com)

Umbrella
Lightweight and compact, the GustBuster Classic umbrella withstands 55+ mph winds without flapping backward or breaking. The 48-inch canopy has a pinchless opener and collapses so well, it will fit in your golf ball compartment. ($35, www.gustbuster.com)

Rangefinders
Playing unfamiliar courses is tough enough, as yardages are a collective mystery the first time around. Get a battery-operated handheld rangefinder, such as Bushnell’s PinSeeker 1500 with Slope +/-. It doesn’t need pin reflectors to find yardage. Best of all, you can carry it right to your ball–even on cart path-only days. Knowing exactly how far it is to the pin or trap, or factoring in land slope, is just one button away. ($399, www.bushnell.com)

Putting Aid
If you’re like most golfers, your putting is the first part of your game to go–and the easiest to fix. To get you back on the right track, bring along the Ernie Els Rockroller putting trainer which reinforces a perfect putting stroke. It weighs next to nothing and will barely be noticed in your bag. ($59, www.therockroller.com )

How To Walk On At Saint Andrews

You know you’ve always dreamed of it–navigating your way around the hallowed humps and hillocks of the Old Course at Saint Andrews. The history doesn’t just accent the Old Course experience. It defines it. Seek out the Elysian Fields. Avoid the dreaded Hell Bunker, where Jack Nicklaus took five shots to escape in 1995. Take the bold line over the hotel at the Road Hole and face the dreaded approach, which has struck fear into the hearts of the likes of challengers from Old Tom Morris to David Duval.

Finally, traverse the Valley of Sin on the home hole. Once you’ve played it, you’re a part of a select and proud golf fraternity that will cherish that experience forever.

But how do you get on? If you’re a forward-thinking planner, you can try to book a time in advance on the St. Andrews Links Trust Website (www.standrews.org.uk). Bookings begin in September for the following year’s tee times. If you’re willing to work with package deals, a number of tour operators offer guaranteed times at the Old Course, but be aware that they don’t come cheap.

The purest way to experience playing the Old Course, however, requires a leap of faith–the Daily Ballot. The Daily Ballot is one of the great traditions in golf, and about half of all available starting times are awarded via the ballot. To put your group’s name in (the ballot requires a minimum of two), either register in person or over the phone by 2 p.m. for the following day’s play. The results are posted at 4 p.m.

Even more exciting is the early-riser walk-on approach. Depending upon the time of year, weather and luck, singles who report to the starter at first light get the chance to fill vacancies in groups. Yes, it happens. Get yourself out of bed, bundle up against the North Sea chill and test your luck with the starter. With any luck, you’ll find yourself part of a memorable match with a mix of locals and tourists. Be aware, however, that the waiting list at the Old Course is exactly that, and patience is definitely required.

If you’re looking to add the Old Course to your personal championship rota, remember that you’ll need a current handicap index card (they will check it). Men require a handicap of 24 or lower, while ladies need a handicap of 36 or lower to try their hand on the hallowed links. As it has always been, the Old Course is closed on Sundays.

Choosing A Golf School

Some people remember school days as the best days of their lives. If you’re one of them–and you love golf–you might want to consider a destination golf school for your next getaway.

Know The Faculty. Golf schools are big business, and top golf instructors have become well-known brands. Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, Rick Smith, Dave Pelz, Jim McLean. You know what they did for your favorite professionals, and you know they could help you. Well, maybe they could, but do your homework before you expect to queue up behind Tiger or Phil for a lesson with the world’s top teachers. Most schools are led by teaching assistants, usually highly qualified PGA professionals in their own right, who follow a method developed and prescribed by the name on the letterhead. You’ll pony up more than a few extra bucks for quality time with the teachers of the stars.

Select A Campus. A campus needs to meet your educational and extracurricular standards. The on-campus facilities are important–does the school relegate students to a runway tee at the back of the range, or has it gone the extra mile and built a quality learning area that tests and develops shotmaking and short game skills? Is the learning method high-tech, high-touch or a little of both? What are the extracurricular activities? If you want to enjoy nightlife as part of your educational experience, look to Las Vegas or Miami. If it’s seclusion you seek, consider a mountain or desert hideaway. There’s something for every type of student.

Know Your Needs. What’s your major, and what do you plan to do when you graduate? Education today is all about specialization. Speak with a representative of the school, and be as specific as you can about what you expect to gain from the experience and how much time you intend to put into independent study once you return to the real world. Some schools offer special short-game programs. Others focus on driving or iron play. You can get a liberal arts-like full-game overview at some schools. When you know what you want, you have a much better chance of getting it.

Outside The Classroom. All golf schools must eventually face the fact that students play golf on the course, not at the learning center. What courses does the school offer access to? Are daily rounds included in the price, or will they hit you for hundreds more dollars? Do instructors accompany students on the course, or is the golf on your own? All work and no play make school a chore.

Time Savers

If you want to maximize fun and minimize panic on your next golf vacation, then prepare up front. That is, think about where you’re heading and what’s unique about that place. Then imagine everything you might encounter on your journey, and address your concerns before you walk out your front door. Work the trip chronologically through your mind, and use the Internet as much as possible. As the time of your trip approaches, start a running checklist of everything you need to pack, keeping it on your nightstand so it’s conveniently located.

The first thing you’ll probably want to do is buy plane tickets, if needed, and then rent a hotel room. The rule of thumb on plane fares: The earlier you buy your tickets, the lower the price. If you’re a risk-taker, you might wait for last-minute specials. But the downside is that your route might not come down in price, forcing you to shell out top dollar to an airline. Sign up for price-saver e-mails from all of the airlines, as well as e-mails from discounters like travelzoo.com. Monitor them regularly for deals to your destination, or try an all-encompassing travel search engine, such as kayak.com or airfarewatchdog.com, which finds nearly every airline’s current fares, then sorts them into one list. Booking your plane flights online usually saves you money and time over buying them on the phone. Many airlines now charge roughly $15 per ticket to book tickets through their phone operators. You can also select your seat, print out the plane tickets and not have to worry if the phone operator got it right. One other tip to save you airport time: You can check in on your home computer within 24 hours of your flight and forego long airport lines. And on the way home, assuming you didn’t lug your laptop and a printer with you on vacation, use the airport check-in kiosks. The lines for those are usually shorter than other check-in lines, and in many cases, you still can change seats, check your luggage and speak face-to-face with an airline representative.

Your computer may also be your best travel agent for hotels, too. Consider using a professional tour operator for international golf trips (haversham.com and perrygolf.com are excellent). They not only have contacts and employees in popular golf destinations, but also the connections and know-how to make your trip a relaxing pleasure—and without being a lot more expensive than if you tried arranging everything yourself. If you already know where you want to stay, visit the hotel or resort Website and see if it’s offering golf stay-and-play specials. Even if it isn’t, the online room rates often undercut prices that the hotel quotes over the phone. Some golf resorts will book your tee times over the Web, especially if you signed up for a stay-and-play package.

In fact, check the Internet for golf courses wherever you’re headed in the United States. Assemble a list of all courses at your destination using golflink.com, which has organized links to nearly every U.S. course. Then visit the Website of any course you’re planning to play. Write down the address and phone number on a list that you’ll take with you on your trip. When calling courses to schedule times, asking how long rounds typically take that time of year and that day of the week is a great idea. You may discover that you’re scheduling your round on a league day. This is important because if you’re planning to play another course later that day, you’ll need the tee times spaced adequately apart to allow you driving time between courses. If you’re on a budget, arrange to play a less-expensive course in the morning during prime hours, then a pricier resort layout later for twilight rates. Also, ask if the greens are being aerated that day. Why waste your time playing a great course that has temporary greens?

You can also save time by foregoing phone calls to each individual course and instead calling a tee-time booking agent for that area, which may also have prereserved times or the clout to squeeze you in exactly when you want to play. Google an agent by searching your destination plus the words “tee-time booking agents.” Be aware that some work only with specific courses, and all charge nominal service fees.

Once you’ve booked your plane, hotel and golf, start preparing for all the other potential headaches you’re likely to encounter on your trip. Again, think chronologically. If you’re renting a car, which you should do online (and print out your reservation confirmation to take with you on your trip), find out whether there are toll roads leaving the airport. If so, remember to keep change in your pocket—”exact change” lanes can save you time on toll roads.

Wherever you’re heading, get an idea for how the weather will be when you’re there (use weather.com). Find out the daytime high forecasts for your golf rounds, and check the low temperatures at night. See what the usual weather for that time of year is, too. That way, you’ll know which clothes to pack, whether you can just layer your clothing (which saves suitcase space) and if you need to bring along rainwear, an umbrella, extra golf shoes or a few golf gloves. By ditching the extra golf gear, you may save weight in your golf bag so that it won’t surpass the airline’s free weight limit. Speaking of which, you can skip lugging altogether. If you’re only playing one or two rounds, call ahead to inquire about the course’s club rental charge. It may be worthwhile. Or, if you want your clubs, but don’t want to haul them yourself, call a golf bag delivery service (sportsexpress.com or luggageconcierge.com) that will ship your bag in advance, making sure its arrival coincides with yours. That will surely save you time and a lot of potential hassles at the airport.

If you’re staying at a resort, call and find out the dress code both around the resort and at its restaurants. This can save you from having to buy clothes once you’re there. Also, find out if the resort has Web access for guests and whether the access is provided in your room or elsewhere. Many hotels now feature free use of computers in the lobby or office, so that guests don’t need to lug laptops with them on their trips. Also, find out in advance about local restaurants, determining which are worthwhile and which to avoid. Make reservations, if necessary, and get directions up front.

If you’re heading out of the country, find out what currency you’ll need and what the exchange rate is. Credit cards are convenient, but not accepted at every small restaurant and shop. Many foreign establishments accept U.S. currency, but then overcharge you for the exchange rate. Visit x-rates.com where you can get up-to-the-minute exchange rates and see photos of what your destination’s currency looks like, so that you don’t get taken by shifty cabbies. Also, remember to see what power plugs are used in your hotel—they likely differ from the wall sockets in your house. Either purchase a universal power plug adapter (pcuniverse.com) before you go, or simply don’t take anything that needs to be plugged in. You can also check with your hotel to see if it loans free adapters. In addition, make sure that your passport is current; passport rules have recently changed. In fact, children now need passports to travel even to Canada, starting in 2007. Will you need a phone card on the road, to call back home? If so, remember to buy one, making sure that you know how it works before you leave for your trip. In fact, some need to be activated in the United States. If yours falls into this category, remember to activate it before heading to the airport. Your cell phone may or may not work overseas, depending on its technology. To be sure, call your cell phone carrier and ask. Verizon customers leaving the country can call customer service before going. Tell them your trip dates, and they’ll temporarily activate a special discount fare for you to use out of the country, at no additional cost. If you’re renting a car overseas, make sure your insurance policy covers that. Otherwise, know your transportation options. And if English is not the primary language there, write down the practical terms you’ll need to get around.

After you’ve made your reservations and tee times, print directions to all of the courses you plan on playing. Use mapquest.com for driving directions from the hotel to a course, from one course to another and from a course back to the hotel. Then staple the directions together, in order of where you’re going, along with your plane e-tickets and hotel information. This will save you time and hassle, once you’ve hit the road.

One final word of caution: Odds are you’ll run into some kind of obstacle during your trip. Just take it in stride, relax and have fun!

Golf Photography 101

There are golf photos, and then there’s golf photography. Like models, some courses beg to be photographed. If you can’t snap a good shot on the 18th at Pebble Beach, you’re in the wrong game, my friend. The contrast of vivid green fairways, shimmering water and cloud-flecked blue skies can make an artist of just about anyone.

Unfortunately, not all courses are Pebble Beach. Or Kapalua Plantation. Or Pacific Trails. Or River Valley Ranch in the mountains of Colorado. A dramatic physical location may inspire you to reach for the camera, and the more dramatic it is, the more easily you can capture it on film (or, more accurately, on digital storage card). But no matter where you go, to make your golf course photos truly snap, you have to do a little work.

Find The “Magic” Light. This may be the golf course photographer’s most vital secret. Magic light occurs when the sun is low to the horizon. This light occurs during the first hour and last hour of daylight. Try both to get a sense of how the shadows fall across the property. The golden light adds to the clarity and definition of any landscape. Be aware of your own shadow, and keep it out of the shot.

Elevation Is Your Friend. No matter how good it looks to your eye at ground level, a golf hole will look better if you can get a little bit above the features you’re photographing. Prop yourself in the base of a tree. Scale a hump or hill off the fairway. Stand on the back of a golf cart. The pros take ladders, and you’ll quickly learn the reason.

Compose The Shot. Sometimes it’s depth you’re after. Other times, you may want to highlight a specific feature, such as a greenside bunker or the general movement of the land. Compose your shot to highlight your target. If it’s depth you’re after, make sure there’s something behind the prime subject–a tree, a mountain, a pond. Use a small aperture setting to capture it all. If you’re out for a ground shot—the early morning dew on the grass or fog rising from water–use the golf course in a supporting role.

Respect The Design Of The Course. There’s nothing more gratifying than finding the perfect angle to showcase a great golf hole. Odds are, you won’t find that looking over at a hole from an adjacent fairway or shooting through a stand of trees behind the green. Your angles should suggest the true orientation and strategy of the hole. Get creative, but capture the real golf hole, not just a golf landscape.

Keep People Out Of Your “Beauty” Shots. That’s not to say you don’t want to record your friends in the beautiful places you visit. But if you’re out to portray the magnificence of the course, there’s nothing a person can add.

Best City To See A PGA Tour Event

The PGA Tour is a showcase for many of the greatest cities and areas in the United States. Okay, the Tour may have abandoned D.C., and its decision to put Chicago on an every-other-year rotation is curious at best. Still, there are plenty of great places to catch an event. With all due respect to San Diego, Hilton Head, the Florida stops and New Orleans, however, no city on the PGA Tour tops Denver from a golf spectator’s unique perspective.

The INTERNATIONAL has it all. Start with a solid field that’s expected to get a lot stronger next year when the event moves into a new slot the first weekend in July. Throw in a golf course that’s among the most scenic of courses anywhere, with views–and a couple of climbs–that will take your breath away. In addition, the unique, modified Stableford scoring system ensures that your favorite players will be shooting for the pins just about every time.

The INTERNATIONAL has earned a reputation as the most hospitable stop on Tour for the golfers. The tournament staff have perfected the spectator experience as well. There are plenty of shady spots to relax, take in the view, watch the play and even sample one of Castle Pines’ famed ultrarich milkshakes.

If you want to squeeze in some family vacation time, set off to the spectacular 14,000-foot summits of Pikes Peak or Mount Evans. Take in a Rockies game at Coors Field in the hopping LoDo section of Denver. Book a rafting or fishing trip, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Bring your clubs, too. You can tee it up at the historic Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, where Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam each won their first major titles. Closer to the tournament venue, there are several quality layouts, including Red Hawk Ridge in Castle Rock, Bear Dance in Larkspur and Arrowhead in Littleton. Definitely consider booking your tee times in advance. www.golfintl.com

Best Off-Course Adventures

No one here would ever blame you for opting for that second 18, but if you’re looking to add a little adrenaline to your next golf trip, check out these exotic locales and the thrills they can serve up.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific, has become a links-lover’s paradise. Landlubbers will never tire of the dramatic ocean views on courses by Fazio, Nicklaus, Weiskopf and other top designers. But for those with a little Hemingway in their blood, Cabo is a true paradise. The warm waters off Cabo are often called “the marlin capital of the world.” Tuna and wahoo also abound.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The World Cup came to Vista Vallarta, a 36-hole facility in the Sierra Leone foothills above Puerto Vallarta, and the golf is indeed world-class. The adventure? A zip-line tour through more than two miles of rain forest canopy. Get in touch with your inner primate, and get a unique look at an endangered ecosystem.

St. George, Utah. The golf is great–Coral Canyon and Entrada at Snow Canyon lead the way. Gamblers can make an easy trip to nearby Mesquite in Nevada. And intrepid souls–with hearty soles–can venture into the mind-bending slot canyons of nearby Bryce Canyon National Park. The Narrows Trail is gentle at the start, but the river has carved a canyon some 2,000-feet deep in places.