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Brandon Tucker
Former Sr. Managing Editor
Brandon Tucker was the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass from 2019-2021 and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, which he ran until 2020 when Golf Advisor's editorial staff and community golf course reviews became part of GolfPass. Tucker helped drive community engagement to the site in the form of course reviews by everyday golfers and was the creator of Golf Advisor's annual Best-Of lists, later called Golfers' Choice. Prior to Golf Advisor, he was the travel editor for Golf Channel Travel and oversaw the WorldGolf network of golf travel websites. From the time he was part of WorldGolf.com in 2006 until departing GolfPass in 2021, he played golf in over two dozen countries and at over 600 courses around the world. As a youth, Tucker spent his summer on the municipal courses of Ann Arbor Michigan and was a co-captain of the state finalist high school golf team. He may have played everywhere from Pebble Beach to St. Andrews, but Tucker's favorite way to play the game will always be on a fun and welcoming public course in under three hours, and ideally somewhere in his home state of Michigan. Brandon can be found on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at btuck34.
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Popular articles
The experience at the newest golf course in Michigan is unlike anything you'll play in the Jack Nicklaus portfolio.
It doesn't matter if you've been playing for a lifetime or you're brand new: every golfer needs more golf buddies.
Strokes Gained insights have never been more accessible to golfers of any ability. Here's what you need to know about the revolutionary statistic and how it can help you lose shots.
It's 2020 and data-driven golf apps are here to assist with every shot you take in a round of golf. The relationship can get weird.
Brandon Tucker shares his ten best value golf destinations, where you can find great golf on a budget, from Myrtle Beach to San Diego.
From GPS and shot tracking to strokes gained data, app makers are stepping up their game for the world's most popular wearable.
Articles by Brandon Tucker
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May 16, 2014
Black Jack's Crossing opened in 2011 and is quickly becoming one of Texas' most intriguing destination plays for bucket-listers. It's not the easiest course to get to, but what awaits in this remote desert at about 2,200 feet of elevation is simply unlike anything I've encountered in my travels.
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May 6, 2014
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.
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May 5, 2014
Few destinations couple American history with world-class golf quite like St. Augustine, Florida. Just south of Ponte Vedra Beach, golfers can walk in the footsteps of legends Ponce de Leon, not to mention Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
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May 2, 2014
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.
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April 29, 2014
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.
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April 28, 2014
You have a few days in Austin, Texas, but not a lot of cash? That's OK. Austin is a great city for golf, and it's pretty easy to fill up your weekend with golf at some very good courses -- and do it all for less than $200. Brandon Tucker has done the legwork for you.
Nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, Red Sky Golf Club’s Tom Fazio and Greg Norman courses are consistently ranked at the top of their class. Both courses feature dramatic mountain views from greens surrounded by aspen forests, wildflower meadows and sage covered hills. Guests at Beaver Creek and Vail Resort’s lodging properties enjoy coveted access to the courses of Red Sky Golf Club.
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April 14, 2014
Myrtle Beach is one of the world's great golf destinations and most convenient trips in the U.S., but it can also be overwhelming. About 3.4 million rounds of golf per year are played here, and the options are limitless. Brandon Tucker has a primer to get you started.
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April 8, 2014
It's the holy grail of golf, and several Golf Channel team members have had the opportunity to play Augusta National over the years. See what they had to say about their respective rounds.
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April 4, 2014
Matt Ginella and Mike Bailey report on the new-look Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, which re-opened April 4 after more than a year under the knife at the hands of original course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr.
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April 1, 2014
In celebration of his 40th birthday, let's look at the public courses Tiger Woods dominated that you can play.
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March 25, 2014
The Texas Hill Country -- home to rolling hills, ranch lands, wineries, a smattering of charming small towns and an assortment of golf courses for every budget -- is the most unique little sliver of the Lone Star State, located west of Austin and north of San Antonio. Here are some affordable, yet all-too-charming ways to tee it up in the Hill Country.
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March 24, 2014
In Texas' capital city of Austin, where hipsters, techies, hippies and rockers all live harmoniously, the golf scene is similarly diverse. Affordable, well located municipal courses serve those living in central Austin, while lavish country clubs fight for University of Texas boosters, and top PGA Tour pros such as Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite can be found on the town's perimeter. Those visiting Austin in search of a destination-worthy golf experience with luxury hotel amenities will do just fine, too. Here's where to stay-and-play on an Austin golf trip.
Whether you're in the spectator gallery or lining up your ball on the tee, your round of golf, golf vacation or outing at a TPC will be unforgettable...
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March 24, 2014
While my golf travels often take me to some of the most coveted golf courses around the world, when I'm at home in Austin, I'm walking the munis like everyone else, usually with my dog in tow and maybe a beverage or two stuffed in my golf bag. As a central Austin local since 2008, I've played the courses near my home a good deal; if you're not sure where to begin, here's the skinny on Austin's municipals and courses closest to downtown.
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March 19, 2014
Bay Hill Golf Club & Lodge holds a unique place in Orlando as a private club that also doubles as 70-room lodge open to visitors. It's combination of intimacy and luxury is tough to find in Orlando, where courses are either ultra-exclusive or huge golf resorts.
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March 19, 2014
A Golf Channel Morning Drive viewer asked Matt Ginella on Twitter if there was any good golf in Scotland under $100. Brandon Tucker chimes in with some advice for links golf bargain hunters.
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March 11, 2014
There's no place quite like the Copperhead at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. That's according to our expert raters at GolfAdvisor. Host of the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour, the Copperhead, has earned a place among the tour's most well received venues.
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March 4, 2014
The Blue Monster is back. Now owned and operated by Donald Trump, the star attraction at the entirely revamped Trump National Doral Miami reopened in February 2014. Many Golf Channel personalities had the chance to experience Trump's new addition to luxury golf course development, and they rated the Blue Monster on GolfAdvisor. Here's what they thought.
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February 18, 2014
Kauai is filled with golf experiences that are top-100 worthy, but one of the more unique things about golf here is that there are many more casual and affordable options. Even if you're not much of a golfer or want to take the kids or spouse out for a quick and easy round, Kauai has you covered. Brandon Tucker has more.
Carved by time between some of the oldest and newest mountain ranges in North America lies La Quinta Resort & PGA WEST, a world famous golf resort just minutes from Palm Springs and Palm Desert, California. Challenge your game on 90 holes of championship golf designed by three golf legends.
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February 18, 2014
The Open is over and now you want to play links golf overseas. But just how should you go about it?
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February 3, 2014
There is a nice chunk of new and revamped golf courses that have opened or are scheduled to open in 2014. From a trio of high-end designs in Mexico to plenty of U.S. newcomers from coast to coast, it appears as if the golf course design business in North America is alive and well. Here's a look at what to expect to open (or reopen) in 2014.
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August 30, 2013
Golfing roots in the Highlands of Scotland are just about as deep as anywhere. Towns, no matter how small, seem to have a local place to play, especially those along the sea. The allure of the Highlands is much different than the more urban golf pockets of Scotland like East Lothian or St. Andrews. Pleasant, rural drives between storybook villages, a national forest, scenic beaches and a most relaxing vibe lure groups to the Highlands. Brandon Tucker has more.
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August 6, 2013
Luxurious vacationing certainly isn't new to the Highlands of Scotland. But golf has never been as good as it is now in. In addition to Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch and others, the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle was entirely rebuilt as a links course by Donald Steel in 1998, making it a must-play for anyone visiting the area.
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July 30, 2013
Portland is a one-of-a-kind city to visit. It's golf scene is strong, too. Portlanders have great munis they can play every day. But what's most striking about the city is how varied the golf gets if you head an hour in any direction, such as the mountains to the southeast or the Columbia River Gorge to the east.
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July 1, 2013
Here's an idea for the next time you land in Las Vegas: Let Legacy Golf Club pick you up free in a courtesy golf shuttle, play 18 holes and then drive you to your hotel for check-in. With a championship-caliber design and private club-worthy facilities and management by O.B. Sports, Legacy is a solid pick among the Las Vegas golf scene's upper middle-class.
Spring will be here in no time—and our world-class courses, luxury accommodations and fine dining will be waiting! Will you be ready? Plan your golf outings now!
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June 6, 2013
The best part about the golf scene in Bend, Oregon, in addition to the climate, is the variety. High desert courses are minutes from pure mountain courses. Updated classics straddle modern standouts. With 30-plus courses, the Bend golf scene is loaded. Brandon Tucker gives you an idea of where to start.
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May 17, 2013
Now new ownership, Stallion Mountain Golf Club in Las Vegas is bucking again. While staff members at Stallion Mountain will tell you the course isn't quite where they want it to be, it's still one of the better courses in Las Vegas' upper-middle class golf scene, Brandon Tucker writes from Sin City.
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April 24, 2013
The last thing any North American should do upon a morning arrival in the U.K. is take a nap -- it could throw off your sleep schedule for days. The best way to stay busy and refreshed is to set up an afternoon tee time on a short, unsung golf course. Brandon Tucker offers up some suggestions, including Crail, the Kintyre Course at Turnberry, the Queen's Course at Gleneagles, and more.
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February 12, 2013
The PGA Tour really begins to ramp it up each spring when they roll into Florida for the annual four-week "Florida Swing" leading up to the Masters. It's the most publicly accessible stretch of schedule the tour plays all year long. Here's a look at following the path of the pros -- where you won't need a sponsor's exemption to create your own Florida Swing.
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January 29, 2013
Paradise is abundant in Hawaii, but it's a very personal thing, particularly on Maui. Do you want amenities or seclusion? Lavish amenities or a little nightlife? Maui is small but diverse enough that it's all here, you just need to know where to go. So which corner of Maui is right for your vacation? Here's a primer on what to expect, from Kapalua on the north shore to Makena in the south.
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January 21, 2013
Bermuda is just 21 square miles large, and a lot of its land mass is covered by golf courses. Not only is the game abundant, its roots are deep here, dating back to the age of steam ships that roared across the Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda's severe landscape, with few flat spots, mean that most golf courses are pretty tough. Courses such as Tucker's Point, Mid Ocean Club and Port Royal help golf on the island shine.
