If you travel just North of Bandon Dunes you will reach the mystical land of the Sheep Ranch. Matt Ginella takes you on an exclusive look with Phil Friedmann, co-owner of Sheep Ranch.
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.
How do you move beyond the chatter and noise inside your head during a round of golf? Cameron McCormick gives you three keys to get out of your own way in Hole 8 of Breaking Par.
Rory McIlroy and his coach Michael Bannon teach the setup and swing keys for hitting shots of various lies and distances out of the greenside bunker. Martin Hall hosts.
Rory McIlroy and his coach Michael Bannon teach the transition and downswing keys that lead to making solid contact on a variety of shots. Martin Hall hosts.
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.
Feherty travels to Houston, Texas, to meet 2-time major champion Jackie Burke, Jr. At 94-years-old, Mr. Burke gives Feherty the lay of the land and even a lesson at Champions Golf Club.
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?
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…
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…
The discovery of a natural hot spring in the 1960s inspired the birth of The Dotham National Golf Club & Hotel. Its hotel and golf course were built shortly afterward. The healing waters of the spring are heated and pumped into an indoor spa pool available only for guests. All the rooms and suites have been updated. Packages can include a…
At 29,800 acres, the Fall Creek Falls State Park ambles across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau as one of the state's largest state parks. Its terrain is blessed with gorges, waterfalls, streams and forests. The Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Others include Piney Falls,…
Champion Lakes Golf Resort is a country club that offers resort quality stay-and-play packages with unique sports-themed rooms in the Lynch House, as well as two multi-bedroom houses lining the course. Although both have their own kitchens, groups can opt into a bed-and-breakfast offerings that include some meals. Designed and constructed by…
Sunny Hill Resort and Golf Course is an all-inclusive resort in the Catskill Mountains. Home to more than a dozen lodging options, Sunny Hill caters to a guest's individual needs. Three family-style meals are prepared every day to feed visitors when they aren't out playing in the resort's 600 acres of golf, playgrounds, wooded trails, 5.5-mile…
Not your traditional golf resort, the Cabins at Pinehaven feature 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom cabins, treehouses and a four-bedroom lodge and conference facility. Each treehouse is equipped with its own private hot tub, front and back deck and grill. Perhaps the biggest draw for golfers is the two-bedroom, golf-themed cabin called "The 19th Green". It…
The Alder Creek Golf Course & Country Inn is a unique property with a colonial manor where individual private bedrooms with private bathrooms can be rented. The estate welcomes hikers, bikers, fishermen, boaters, golfers and more. Its nine-hole golf course plays 3,178 yards. An extra par 3 and par 4 are available for instruction purposes.
The historic 216-room Omni Bedford Sprints Resort is a wonderful escape located in the scenic Cumberland Valley surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains. There's so much character to the resort, from its Springs Eternal Spa, indoor and outdoor pools to its past connections to U.S. presidents and dignitaries. The golf course with ties to Spencer…
The Shadowbrook Resort features 70 hotel-style rooms tucked into the Endless Mountains. Its amenities include a 6,033-yard course designed by Geoffrey Cornish, an outdoor pool, mini-golf, fitness center and the Six West Restaurant. The surrounding Wyoming County is home to more than 25,000 acres of state game lands for hunting, fishing, birding…
The Joe Wheeler State Park features a 70-room lodge, as well as lakeside cottages and cabins and 116 campsites. Visitors can enjoy a sandy beach, basketball and tennis courts, disc golf, marina, restaurant at the waterfront lodge and an 18-hole golf course. The park is divided by the Tennessee River, which forms the 69,700-acre Wheeler Lake, where…
Grandover Resort & Spa is a AAA Four-Diamond property located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 1,500-acre property features two 18-hole championship courses, the East and West and a driving range with instruction. The hotel has 244 guest rooms and suites, plus a full-service spa, fitness center, year-round indoor pool within the spa and a large,…
The 6,000-acre Lake Guntersville Resort State Park sits along the Tennessee River in northeast Alabama. Its natural beauty has attracted a nesting bald eagle population that's increasing. There's a beach complex, outdoor nature center, fishing in the state's largest lake (Guntersville Lake), 36 miles of hiking and biking trails and the Screaming…
The Paris Landing State Park was named after an old steamboat and freight landing on the Tennessee River. Damming the river created the Kentucky Lake, leading to excellent fishing and boating opportunities. The other recreational choices are hiking, golf on a 6,685-yard lakeside course and swimming, either at a beach on Kentucky Lake or the public…
Toyko, one of Asia's most prominent cities home to over 20 million residents, boasts a unique golf culture. It is also one of the few cities in the world to host an Olympic golf competition as the host of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The host club for the Olympics is Kasumigaseki Country Club, which is home to 36 holes. Tiger Woods earned his 82nd victory in Japan in the nearby city of Chiba in the 2019 ZoZo Championship at Narashino Country Club. Golfers who live and work in the sprawling metropolis likely have access to the game one of two ways - either at a private club or one of the dozens of ranges and simulators dispersed throughout an urban landscape. GolfPass has explored two of Japan's most famous clubs - the Kawana Hotel's 36 holes of resort golf - the "Pebble Beach of Asia" - and Hirono Golf Club, the "Pine Valley of Japan." Our Managing Editor Brandon Tucker interviewed Brad Klein about his experience visiting these gems in this podcast.
Cape Breton Island is a small but spectacular island in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia with an international reputation for golf. Learn more about this Maritime island and view golf course ratings, reviews and information.
The Dominican Republic makes a very strong case for the best golf country in the Caribbean. When Pete Dye was commissioned to build the Teeth of the Dog at Casa De Campo in 1971, it created one of the most sought-after warm-weather destination courses in the world. The impact this course had on both the resort and country's tourism was profound. Today, the Dominican Republic, which makes up the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola (shared with Haiti) has exceptional seaside golf courses. Not long after Casa De Campo emerged with four golf courses, the Punta Cana resort development emerged with scores of beachfront resorts (all-inclusive and a la carte) and an excellent golf offering of its own. The headlining course is Corales, designed by Tom Fazio and host of the PGA Tour. Just north, Punta Espada, a Jack Nicklaus design, is one of his finest works as well.
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.
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.
With nearly two dozen golf courses, many on the Caribbean Sea, combined with terrific resorts, culture, nightlife and warm weather year-round, Puerto Rico can be an ideal golf vacation, especially for Americans and Canadians in the eastern half of North America.
Even if you’ve never heard of Idaho Falls, the last thing you would expect to hear is to go there and check out eroded lava flow. One of the coolest places to explore is Hell’s Half Acre, where nearly 5,000 years ago, lava flowed through 320+ acres of land. It’s a cool site to look at the unique rock formations and different caves, so grab your camera!
Is there a better place for thrill-seekers than Vail? With skiing and snowboarding on North America's third longest slope, mountain biking, snowmobiling, ziplining, bobsledding, climbing, rafting, tubing, and kayaking, there's so much to do and so little time. While playing golf is decidedly less adrenaline fueled, there are courses in the Vail area that can provide the rush. The two best are at Red Sky Ranch and Golf Club.
Lake Tahoe straddles the border between California and Nevada, surrounded by mountains on every side. The lake has long been one of the most popular vacation destinations in the U.S., offering an abundance of activities to please outdoor enthusiasts of any sort. As the largest alpine lake in North America, it draws skiers from all over the country but the area also offers some of the most scenic golf you'll find in the US. Whether you choose to drive around the lake and try out several courses or just stick to a few on the North or South shores, you'll be treated with stunning lakefront views.
Hikes are fine, but a better way to exercise and enjoy the mountain scenery of Colorado Springs is to play golf. In a city dubbed the "Newport of the Rockies" there are scenic golf courses at all prices. While rates at Broadmoor Golf Club, the top public course in Colorado, top out north of $200, at nearby Cheyenne Shadows, on the grounds of Fort Carson, a prime-time round can be had for a small fraction of that.
Anaheim, California has a pretty obvious theme parks, that is. Theme parks. And Anaheim has some of the best in the world: from Knott's Berry Farm, to LEGOLAND California, to nearby Universal Studios Hollywood to Disneyland. Yes, when you are home to the "Happiest Place on Earth," and you can still offer visitors some tough choices, you are doing something right. That's not to mention the options for sports fans, such as Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball and loads of great golf.
If your fear of the dark or bats is non-existent, then exploring the Carlsbad Caverns is a must-see. After you’ve adventured through the caves, it’s worth your while to stick around for the Bat Flight program, where you can witness thousands of bats fly outside from their caverns to search for food.
While Fargo may be a small city, the food scene is rather large. BernBaum’s is a deli that brings together different cultures into a melting pot of warm, delicious foods. Indulge in a bagel with Lox: savory smoked salmon that will have you asking yourself why you’ve never tried it before. Sandy’s Donuts offers different types of homemade donuts and coffee that can make anybody’s morning fly by.
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.
The Houston area is set to be home to Tiger Woods Design's first U.S. golf course. Bluejack National, built on the site of the former Blaketree National, may open as early as 2015.
The Quad Cities -- Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa -- boast a fascinating history and surprising diversity of family friendly activities. And the area's golf courses are among the most accessible, affordable and enjoyable in the nation.
Orlando's Dubsdread Golf Course dates back to 1924 and has hosted legendary golfers like Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Today it serves as a welcoming, affordable muni just minutes from downtown. The Golf Channel's Matt Ginella and Charlie Rymer recently played Dubsdread and awarded the course an overall 4-out-of-5-star rating.
Located in California's Central Coast, Paso Robles has rolling vineyards, craft dining and a buzzing wine scene that gains national clout on a yearly basis. And the golf proves equally delectable.
The Four Seasons Resort Dallas at Las Colinas is not taking a lame-duck approach to hosting the HP Byron Nelson Championship, set for May 15-18. The course is in excellent shape, the resort has a new owner, and talk that they might get out of the contract with the PGA Tour and the Dallas Salesmanship Club early has died down for now.
So you're facing that familiar travel dilemma: You're on a strict budget, but you still want to play some of Tampa's best golf courses, right? Fact is, the area has a great line-up of courses with green fees less than $45, and several are cheaper than that even during the busy winter.
One of the game's most infamous venues, the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida is open to the public, meaning any amateur can take a swing at the island green. Our experts weigh in on whether you should.
Summertime in the Finger Lakes area of New York is usually gloriously warm and sunny, perfect for golf. Here are some of our favorite courses offering great values, with some off-course suggestions.
Kentucky knows hoops and horse racing, but don't forget the golf scene, particularly in the city of Louisville and the surrounding area. From Jack Nicklaus' Valhalla to Fuzzy Zoeller's Covered Bridge to Heritage Hill -- the Bluegrass state has plenty of great golf.
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.
Golfers who appreciate classic "Golden Age" architecture must seek out the Old Course at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, roughly two hours east of Pittsburgh.
Queensland is often called Australia's "Vacation State," where residents from other parts of the country come for holiday and visitors from around the world come to visit such sights as the Great Barrier Reef. There is a lot to discover both on and off the golf course in Queensland. Here are a handful of Brandon Tucker's favorite shots from a recent week spent there.
Fully recovered from a brief closure several years ago, the John Harbottle III/Johnny Miller-designed Ranch Course at Genoa Lakes G.C. splashes water in your face, then climbs to dizzying heights, all with 300 feet of elevation change in between.
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.
If you plopped Lick Creek Golf Course into a major metropolitan area, it could be a hoity-toity private club. But be grateful that it is not, because the muni atmosphere only adds to the fun of this course located in Pekin, just outside Peoria.
Even though there's no regulation-length golf course on property, the Fairmont Southampton resort in Bermuda is a perfect golfer's getaway. The spacious resort features comfortable rooms and all sorts of resort amenities to enjoy off the course. The pink hotel sits on a hillside overlooking the south shore of the island.
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.
With Clear Creek Tahoe, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw delivered an alpine golf course that can be walked. Majestic evergreens line the fairways of the subtly rolling land.
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.
Located just beyond the famous Las Vegas Strip, TPC Las Vegas is a secluded golf course that is not only scenic but also challenging. The layout, especially the back nine, is a true test of your shot-making abilities. Here's a closer look at TPC Las Vegas.
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.
Elevated tees, narrow ribbons of fairways and hardly a flat lie await golfers who take on the 8,000-yard beast that is the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in Indiana.
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.
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