The Open champions take center stage on this edition of Best Lessons Ever. Learn from the biggest names in The Open history including Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, and Tom Watson.
The Open champions take center stage on this edition of Best Lessons Ever. Learn from the biggest names in The Open history including Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Gary Player, and Tom Watson.
When you get a bad lie, you need to change your setup. Martin shows you how to approach hitting your ball when it's in a divot, which requires you to make the divot even bigger!
Where you tee the ball matters. Every golfer has tendencies when they strike the ball, so depending on whether you usually fade or draw, Martin offers tips on where you should place it in the tee box.
Martin Hall demonstrates the effects of the ball being above your feet with a lofted club. What changes do you need to make to hit it close from a lie where the ball is above your feet?
Nathalie Sheehan uses an alignment stick to help you improve your chipping motion. Swing on an arc to have consistent, crisp chipping contact that will lead to great distance control around the green.
Martin discusses the keys to playing a splash shot from a good lie. He explains bounce and the role it plays in the bunker. He demonstrates two creative drills using a toothbrush and a mirror that can help you become a master of the sand.
Don Saladino demonstrates a stretch that will improve mobility in your hips and your overall balance. Build a strong foundation to help you play better golf.
Chris Como walks you through a greenside bunker shot setup that has become popular among pro golfers. It may go against a lot of what you were taught years ago, but it could really help you if you’re struggling.
Aimee Cho demonstrates the proper setup for uphill bunker lies. Focus on your shoulder angle and weight distribution to hit great shots from this tricky position.
We have all been told to keep our head down during our swing. Martin examines this myth and with the use of Gears 3D technology, looks at some of the top players’ swings to study their head and body movements.
Scottie Scheffler and his longtime coach Randy Smith demonstrate a drill that Scottie does using a training aid that anyone could recreate at home. Make it yourself to get the club in perfect position at the top of your backswing every time.
Nestled on a secluded peninsula within a 3,000-acre nature reserve, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo offers a serene escape where luxury meets untouched natural beauty. Many of the amenities offered at this resort are rooted in nature, including boat tours, whale watching, scuba diving, fishing and water sports like paddleboarding. Guests can also…
Nestled amidst the rainforest along a one mile stretch of pristine beach beside the Sierra del Vallejo mountain range, Mandarina Riviera Nayarit is a resort destination where luxury, adventure and nature come together in perfect harmony. Guests can choose between the elegant suites and villas at Rosewood Mandarina or the private hillside…
Centered around a beautifully preserved 17th-century hacienda, Hacienda Cocoyoc blends rich history with modern comfort in a lush, tropical setting. The resort features 286 rooms decorated in the traditional Mexican colonial style, creating a warm and authentic atmosphere for every guest. Throughout the property, guests can enjoy a wide range of…
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, Iberostar Playa Mita is an all-inclusive 5-star resort. Every room offers a scenic view, whether of the ocean, sunset, pool or golf course. Included amenities feature buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, unlimited specialty dinners prepared with local ingredients, a 24-hour café and daily sports…
Named one of the "Top Hotels in Mexico" and "Top Hotels in the World" by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit–Vallarta offers the ultimate resort vacation along the lush Riviera Nayarit coastline. With five stunning resort hotels to choose from - The Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, The Bliss and Mayan Palace…
Built between the cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, Solmar Hotels & Resorts is a premier Cabo destination made up of six award-winning properties along the coastline. Guests can enjoy ocean-view accommodations and indulge in a wide array of resort amenities like multiple outdoor pools, lazy rivers, waterslides, jacuzzies and beach clubs that make it…
Located on the more rugged and secluded "East Cape" of beautiful Baja California Peninsula, Costa Palmas features two resorts, the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos and Aman (currently under construction), plus over two miles of swimmable beach and an exclusive marina for guests to explore. Guests can relax in sparkling pools or enjoy a wide variety…
Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa is a five-star getaway located on one of the most beautiful beaches in Bahía de Banderas. Set on a private peninsula, the resort offers stunning ocean views from every private balcony, creating the perfect backdrop for a relaxing and luxurious escape. Guests can unwind at the world-class spa, lounge by the pool…
Located on beautiful Banderas Bay, Casa Velas and Velas Vallarta are two well-known all-inclusive resorts that offer a wide variety of amenities for every type of traveler. Because they’re sister properties under the same ownership, guests can enjoy luxury suites with garden, golf course, or ocean views at either location, along with…
When you envision a luxurious all-inclusive escape in Cancun, Paradisus Cancun is the perfect destination. Nestled between the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté Lagoon, this AAA Four Diamond resort blends sophisticated elegance with natural beauty, offering a serene yet indulgent retreat. With its stunning Mayan-inspired…
Located in a popular tourist corridor in Mexico and nestled along one of the area’s only swimmable beaches, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort offers a variety of activities and experiences that live up to the area’s nickname as “The Coast of Inspiration.” When guests step out of their rooms or suites, each with a private balcony overlooking…
Located just minutes from the Spokane International Airport and downtown Spokane, Northern Quest Resort and Casino offers Vegas-style gaming and a variety of accommodations. Stay in rooms, suites, golf cottages or the RV park while you enjoy 14 different restaurants and lounges, a luxury spa and nightly entertainment. Guests also have access to…
Orlando is full of lodging options for golfers, but few can match The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes for luxury. Recently renovated, the resort overlooks the Greg Norman-designed Ritz Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes, which hosts the annual PNC Father-Son golf tournament. Families enjoy the resort for its proximity both to Walt Disney World (10…
The Florida Panhandle is known for its world-class beaches, and since 1973, Sandestin has offered a Gulfside retreat and an increasing menu of golf options. Situated on 2,400 acres, the resort boasts more than 1,000 total rooms, suites and villas for couples, families and buddy groups. Its four golf courses include The Links, Baytowne, The Raven…
Part of the Salamander family of resorts, The Henderson is one of the newest upscale properties in Florida, having opened in 2016. With spacious rooms and suites and a beautiful location on the Gulf of Mexico in the beach community of Destin, it appeals to couples, families and golfers, as guests here have the opportunity to book rounds at Regatta…
Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is an all-inclusive golfer's paradise that's entirely budget friendly. Across from the white-sand Druif Beach, Divi Village offers stay options to meet your needs, fabulous pools, a nine-hole course, family-friendly weekly activities, a luxurious spa and various eateries and bars. The resort's stunning suites and…
Part of the Noble House collection of resorts and hotels, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort offers upscale accommodations on Naples' Vanderbilt Beach. Its 189 rooms and suites were renovated in 2019, offering scenic views and upscale amenities. Guests have the opportunity to arrange rounds at the otherwise private LaPlaya Golf Club, designed by Bob…
The Tryall Club offers fully-staffed, private villas on 2,200 acres of natural beauty in Montego Bay, surrounded by gardens and ocean views. Enjoy casual dining at the beach restaurant and grill or private fine dining from a selection of spots on property. The Tryall Club, equipped with a golf academy and coastal tee shots, used to host the PGA…
Recognized as one of the "Top 5 Hotels in Eastern Mexico" by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards, Vidanta Riviera Maya offers a vacation experience unlike any other. This expansive destination is home to multiple luxury resorts, including The Estates, Grand Luxxe, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan, The Bliss, and the Mayan Palace. Guests…
Named the "World’s Leading Family Resort" by the World Travel Awards, Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto by Danzante Bay sits on beautiful Loreto Bay and offers something for every kind of traveler. This optional all-inclusive resort features five pools, four on-site restaurants, a Kids’ Club and the relaxing Sabila Breeze Spa. Guests…
Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.
Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands. It's famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.
Cardiff is a port city on the south coast of Wales, where the River Taff meets the Severn Estuary. It was proclaimed the nation’s capital in 1955. The revitalized waterfront at Cardiff Bay includes the Wales Millennium Centre, home of the national opera, orchestra, theater and dance companies, plus shops at Mermaid Quay. Architect Richard Rogers’ strikingly modern Senedd building houses the Welsh National Assembly.
Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland, is on Ireland’s east coast at the mouth of the River Liffey. Its historic buildings include Dublin Castle, dating to the 13th century, and imposing St Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191. City parks include landscaped St Stephen’s Green and huge Phoenix Park, containing Dublin Zoo. The National Museum of Ireland explores Irish heritage and culture.
Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital. It was the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, which famously struck an iceberg and sunk in 1912. This legacy is recalled in the renovated dockyards' Titanic Quarter, which includes the Titanic Belfast, an aluminium-clad museum reminiscent of a ship’s hull, as well as shipbuilder Harland & Wolff’s Drawing Offices and the Titanic Slipways, which now host open-air concerts.
Gulf Shores is a city on Alabama's Gulf Coast. Its Gulf State Park has beaches, trails and a pier, plus a golf course and a zip line over the dunes. To the west, sea turtles and migratory birds thrive among the coastal habitats of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Farther west, 19th-century Fort Morgan guards Mobile Bay. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo offers hands-on encounters with lemurs, kangaroos and sloths.
Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island. With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities. The city's British colonial past shows in its Victorian architecture, including stately Craigdarroch Castle mansion. Butchart Gardens, with 55 acres of vivid floral displays, plus statuary, water features and a carousel, is one of many formal gardens in the city.
Manchester is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage. The Castlefield conservation area’s 18th-century canal system recalls the city’s days as a textile powerhouse, and visitors can trace this history at the interactive Museum of Science & Industry. The revitalised Salford Quays dockyards now house the Daniel Libeskind-designed Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry cultural centre.
Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Its former city-centre port is now a cultural hub, the Harbourside, where the M Shed museum explores local social and industrial heritage. The harbour's 19th-century warehouses now contain restaurants, shops and cultural institutions such as contemporary art gallery The Arnolfini.
Toledo, Ohio is located minutes south of the Michigan-Ohio border at the western tip of Lake Erie and located about an hour's drive south of Detroit, Michigan. The city has a storied history in golf. It is home to the Inverness Club, whose Donald Ross-designed course is over a century old and has hosted four U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships and the women's 2021 Solheim Cup. It also has one of the oldest municipal courses in the country, Ottawa Park, which was founded in 1899. The nearby city of Sylvania also has some prestige as a longtime host of an LPGA event at Highland Meadows, which dates back to the 1920s. Sylvania Country Club is also noteworthy as a venue where Byron Nelson and Arnold Palmer have won championships. Off the course, Toledo is home to the Toledo Museum of Art, with its vast collection of modern and Renaissance work. Reflecting the city’s legacy of glass production, the museum's Glass Pavilion showcases thousands of glass works. By the Maumee River, the Imagination Station is a children's science museum with hands-on exhibits. The Toledo Zoo has polar bears, rides and an aquarium. The Toledo Mud Hens are also a AAA baseball team and affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province but carries a larger-than-life reputation among golf travelers. This tiny island in Canada's Maritimes is legendary for its friendly and charming residents. It is also connected to the neighboring province of New Brunswick by the Confederation Bridge, though PEI also accepts international flights. The top course is generally considered to be the Links at Crowbush Cove, but others, such as Dundarave and Brudenell River are also standouts. There is also the Green Gables Golf Club within the National Park, originally designed by Stanley Thompson and plays alongside the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables. Lobster suppers are a staple of a trip to PEI and local mussels are so abundant here that some golf courses and restaurants even offer free mussel buffets at happy hour. The capital city of Charlottetown features a collection of restaurants, pubs and historical attractions (as well as a race track). Venture beyond the small city and countrysides sprinkled with fishing villages and golf courses.
Mexico's Riviera Maya is one of the world's most coveted winter destinations for beaches, golf and all-inclusive resorts. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, this stretch of Caribbean Sea coastline features warm and often calm waters and is conveniently located to the south of Cancun International Airport and features a wide variety of accommodations.
The newest university course to open, the latest on two new projects in California, the status of golf in Cabo and a new member-for-a-day auction offering private clubs access.
Are you always on the hunt for the next great under-$50 round? Golf Advisor's Brandon Tucker offers 10 of the best courses in the U.S. at that price point.
For the second consecutive week, Tranquilo Golf Club in Lake Buena Vista, Florida finished atop Golf Advisor's overall Power Rankings. It also topped the value category.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s right-hand man at Chambers Bay discusses the controversial U.S. Open host as well as which players may fare well. "This golf course is different, and it was different from day 1," Jay Blasi says.
California's Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon placed the top course in Power Rankings over Memorial Day weekend. View more top-rated courses in overall and conditions categories.
Tom Doak, the cerebral savant of sand and dirt, continues to build an eclectic portfolio. His latest effort is a reversible course at Forest Dunes in Michigan slated to open in 2017.
On my latest visit to southern California I sampled 108 holes on golf courses I had never heard of before booking. The locals love them, and any tourist who isn't locked into staying on the coast will, too.
A bucket-list destination for many, South Africa provides a well-rounded and spectacular experience for golfers who are looking to do more than just tee it up.
In 2019, the 148th Open Championship will finally return to the Dunluce links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on the Northern Ireland coast. And if the wind howls, few players will be happy about that, because Royal Portrush will be a monster.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico is a premium product to be sure -- especially when you add in golf at the TPC Dorado Beach. Expectations were high on my visit. It didn't disappoint.
Hamilton Island Golf Club, located in Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, has spectacular views at practically every turn. The back nine is especially jaw-dropping, including a closing stretch of holes that play along the sea. To reach the golf club, you must take an "Island Links" ferry from the Hamilton Island ports across to Dent Island. It's worth the trip.
Located in Wailuku up into the foothills of the West Maui mountains is King Kamehameha Golf Club, one of Hawaii's most exclusive golf experiences. The club has an interesting history. Brandon Tucker has more on King Kamehameha in this photo gallery.
The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course is located just outside Maui's main port city of Kahului. The club opened in 1999 and was designed by Hawaii-based architect Robin Nelson, who has a collection of credits throughout the islands. Brandon Tucker gives us a closer look at The Dunes at Maui Lani with this photo gallery.
Palmer Coolum Golf Club is located in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast, just north of Brisbane. The golf course, which was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., plays host to the Australian PGA Championship. Brandon Tucker gives us a closer look at Coolum Golf Club in pictures.
It's been designed and redesigned several times over the past century, but Southerndown Golf Club remains relevant today. The golf course poses problems with its approach shots that encounter deep bunkers. Set on common ground, it serves as home to sheep that roam free and graze on rough, adding to the unique experience off the southern coast of Wales.
One of Thailand's newest championship courses, Black Mountain Golf Club is named for the black rocks that reside on the mountains surrounding the course, which opened in 2007 and is always kept in pristine condition. Brandon Tucker gives us a closer look at Black Mountain Golf Club in this photo gallery.
A part of The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, N.Y., The Sagamore Golf Course sits in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, about a 45-minute drive north of Saratoga Springs. The course begins with it's signature hole, the par-4 first that plays straight towards Lake George in the distance, but the remaining 17 are no pushovers, either.
Coyote Moon Golf Course sits on 250 heavily wooded and rolling acres in Truckee, California. The golf course, which was designed by former PGA Tour player Brad Bell and opened in 2000, features plenty of elevated greens and is among the many new spectacular mountain golf courses of the past decade.
Located about eight miles from Swansea in south Wales, Pennard Golf Club is one of the more unique golf links in Britain. Set about 200 feet above the sea on the Gower Peninsula, the golf course is nicknamed "The Links in the Sky" -- and with good reason. Brandon Tucker shows us why with this photo gallery.
Leatherstocking Golf Course is located just a home run or two away from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It plays like an old-time golf course at just 6,400 yards from the tips, but it protects itself with hilly fairways, steep bunkers and lightning-fast greens. It's one to play on the New York Golf Trail.
Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s 1980 overhaul of the Trail Creek course at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho transformed the 18-hole layout. He added a new nine, more severe and challenging, to enhance the impact of the creek for which the golf course is named. Check out the beauty of the Jones' handiwork.
Arcadia Bluffs Golf Club, sitting on bluffs high above Lake Michigan, is one of Michigan's most coveted plays. The golf course sits on 245 acres, and man-made fescue dunes were crafted around the entire site, giving the course a links-style feel. Here's a closer look at Arcadia Bluffs.
Saratoga National Golf Club is a tournament-ready, upscale public golf course just minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The course opened in 2001 and was designed by Roger Rulewich, a former apprentice of Robert Trent Jones Sr. Here's a look at Saratoga National Golf Club in pictures.
The New York Golf Trail is a collection of 16 public-access golf courses in upstate New York in places such as Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs and Rochester. Here are some pictures of New York's finest from the trail, including Saratoga National Golf Club, Leatherstocking Golf Course and The Sagamore.
Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, N.Y. winds through traditional parkland terrain just below the Colgate University campus and features many creeks and streams running along and through fairways. Rated among Golf Magazine's top 20 public courses in New York, Seven Oaks Golf Club is most notable for its well conditioned, fast and firm greens.
The Lakes Course at Red Hawk Golf and Resort, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., plays 7,140 yards from the championship tees and features bentgrass greens and more than 100 bunkers. There are many dogleg rights here, far more than holes played left, so slicers may find the golf course friendly -- but hazards tend to lurk on the right side of many fairways as well.
With the new Ridge course opening in 2010, the original course at Predator Ridge Golf Resort is now the Predator. The Les Furber design opened in 1991 and soon became known as the most difficult test in the Okanagan Valley, a half hour north of Kelowna, the main airport of the region. It is host to many of the area's professional events.
D'Andrea Golf Club is a semi-private golf club in Sparks, Nev., just minutes from downtown Reno. The 18-hole course opened in 2000 and was designed by Keith Foster, who built a course that winds up and down desert hillsides. The course has a great deal of topographical variance, and holes play uphill and downhill, in some cases severely.