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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.
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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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November 29, 2012
When major championship-winning golfers are struck by a course's setting -- as is the case each fall during the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Port Royal Golf Course -- it's quite a statement. With its updated, championship-caliber design and conditions highlighted by smooth, fast TifEagle greens worthy for major champions, Port Royal is Bermuda's supreme test of golf. Like everywhere in Bermuda, it's a scenic walk at every turn, even on the more-inland front nine.
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November 26, 2012
Redesigned by Roger Rulewich in 2002, the Tucker's Point Club golf course plays 6,491 yards from the championship tees and 4,840 yards from the front. The maximum distance may be shorter than Port Royal and the Mid Ocean Club, but it's still challenging enough to be one of Bermuda's signature golf courses, Brandon Tucker writes.
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October 31, 2012
SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — I hadn't been in Bermuda longer than a day before realizing I'd packed for my golf trip entirely wrong.
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September 27, 2012
As the only golf course within the Boulder city limits, Flatirons is an overachieving muni with a country club-style layout but a welcoming atmosphere for casual and serious golfers. Walking or riding 18 holes here -- or just taking advantage of the practice facilities -- is a great way to enjoy a day outdoors in Boulder if you're not up for a higher rpm activity like cycling or hiking.
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September 24, 2012
The one-of-a-kind scenery is spectacular enough you might think you're in some remote, national park. But don't adjust your GPS, Arrowhead Golf Club is in Denver's backyard and makes for one of Colorado's most dramatic plays. Set in the Rockies foothills of Roxborough State Park just south of Denver, the course continues to attract a worldwide audience of tourists visiting Colorado's great outdoors.
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September 20, 2012
Its zip code is prestigious, but there is no little-brother syndrome at The Ridge at Castle Pines North, one of Colorado's top-ranked public golf facilities.
The Ridge has a safe seat at the table of the Denver-area's best public golf courses, Brandon Tucker writes.
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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September 10, 2012
The Denver area is known for its prestigious private clubs, but golfers without a membership can still find a great experience. The metro area's public golf scene offers tremendous diversity, from scenic plays to tournament-worthy layouts. Brandon Tucker offers up some of the best, including The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Plum Creek Golf Club and Red Hawk Ridge.
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September 5, 2012
Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks delivers a quick, high-altitude escape for Denver residents or vacationers staying in either Denver, on the western slope around Silverthorne, or about 30 minutes away in Vail. The Raven was designed by Dick Phelps in 1986 and redesigned and upgraded in 2000 by Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and player consultant Tom Lehman. Today, the course still delivers a pure mountain-golf experience full of wildlife, scenery and elevated tee shots.
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July 23, 2012
INVERNESS, Nova Scotia – Between the winding, coastal roads and ferry rides across lochs, the abundant seafood and even the accents of the islanders, a visit to Cape Breton evokes a charm with the familiarity of the British Isles.
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July 23, 2012
Big changes are coming to the Indian Bend Course at Camelback Golf Club in Paradise Valley, Ariz. In conjunction with the property's 75th anniversary in 2012, Marriott is completely redesigning Indian Bend, one of two 18-hole courses at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Scottsdale Resort & Spa. "When it reopens, the course will be unrecognizable," said Rob Bartley, the director of golf at Camelback.
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July 10, 2012
Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush and Royal County Down Golf Club are often rated among the top 10 courses in the world and are two reasons why any golf enthusiast would put Ulster on his or her wish list. But there are many other courses beyond the famous one-two punch that can make a Northern Ireland golf trip fulfilling.
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June 5, 2012
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines and Wolfdancer Golf Club -- in Lost Pines, Texas -- hangs its 10-gallon hat on displaying the best of what makes the state unique, from numerous dining venues that celebrate Texas cuisine to offering outdoor fun of all sorts. Activities are especially family-friendly, with petting zoos, horseback riding and a large pool area and a water park large enough to accommodate 495 occupied guest rooms on a summer day.
Renewed Golf Gets Rave Reviews! Come Play at Saddlebrook's two Arnold Palmer signature 18-hole golf courses and enjoy deluxe accommodations, award-winning dining, and much more!
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June 4, 2012
Looking for a diverse mix of the best golf in the Tampa area? Well, Brandon Tucker played 36 holes a day for four days in the Tampa area. What did he find out? Whether you play a world-class venue or a tiny municipal, you can find a great bargain in Tampa compared to other destinations.
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May 24, 2012
Brandon Tucker recently spent two days at Turnberry Resort and moments from the 2009 Open kept racing through his mind, from Tom Watson's demise on the 72nd hole, to Tiger Woods' meltdown and missed cut. Tucker shares more on his first visit to Turnberry Resort since 2006 -- three years before the Open and the resort's extensive renovations.
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May 9, 2012
The long and winding road from Loch Lomond to Machrihanish is world famous, yet sparsely trafficked. That is changing now, thanks to several popular golf courses. Golfers have sought out Machrihanish G.C., founded in 1876, for more than a century. And in 2008, a new neighbor finally came to the block, Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club. The two courses offer a contrast between old school and new world.
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April 11, 2012
While 19th-century links clubs are the main draw in Scotland, the country's modern golf product is one of the best in the world. Many of these modern courses are set on equally -- if not superior -- coastal settings, and no Scotland golf tour is complete without playing at least one of these modern-day wonders, Brandon Tucker writes.
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April 10, 2012
While Crail Golfing Society is the seventh-oldest golf club in the world, it's been one of Scotland's most proactive. In addition to the Balcomie Links, which dates back to 1895, the club called upon Gil Hanse to deliver a second 18 holes in 1998, Craighead Links. While overshadowed by its elder sibling, Craighead deserves much more attention than it's received. But golfers should relish that it's a real bargain of a golf course.
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April 9, 2012
Puerto Rico's Bahia Beach Golf Club and St. Regis Resort, set on 483 acres, let nature do the talking. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf course is a Certified Gold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary, the only such course in Puerto Rico to receive the designation -- and it shows. Difficult without being penal, Jones Jr. found a way to plot a design that would be accommodating to all types of players.
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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February 16, 2012
World Woods Golf Club's location is remote, and its entrance is humble. But the golf, as the name implies, is nothing short of world class. Tom Fazio brought his artful eye to this large, untouched piece of wooded and sandy property and delivered two very different courses that are among the most accessible and affordable course in his entire portfolio, not to mention among his best works in the U.S.
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February 15, 2012
Some of the most pleasant golf course experiences in the Tampa area come thanks to mature, mossy oaks shading the fairways. Pebble Creek Golf Club offers not only a preserve-like setting for golf but also a low-key, friendly environment that makes any golfer feel like they're at their home club.
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January 9, 2012
Located right in the heart of South Carolina off the main Interstate 95 artery, Santee's golf courses receive a lot of traffic, even if they don't get as much publicity as nearby hotspots Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and Kiawah Island. You won't find the names of celebrity architects or eye-popping slope ratings splattered on scorecards, but you will see plenty of happy golfers on the area's rolling, sandy-soiled fairways.
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November 30, 2011
The Grand Strand's 100-plus golf courses are open for business 12 months a year and offer value plays and nationally acclaimed designs, but those aren't the only reasons to plan your next vacation in Myrtle Beach. What else? GolfCarolina.com offers 10 reasons why your group should consider Myrtle Beach for its next trip.
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November 28, 2011
Santee, S.C., is a small village of just about 900 residents, but thanks to Lake Marion -- one of America's 50 largest lakes -- Santee is easy to find. And with affordable courses such as Lake Marion Golf Course and Santee National Golf Club, the village is a must-find. Santee's courses, all within a few minutes of each other, are good but won't make any Top 100 rankings, and that's just how its clientele likes it.
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November 16, 2011
Visiting Hawaii and in the mood for a more laid-back, basic golf experience?
There is a little place on Kauai for that: historic Kukuio'lono Golf Course in Kalaheo. It's a bare-bones, local Hawaiian golf experience that's easy on the wallet and great for beginners who aren't ready for a full 18 holes at a more expensive course. Check your resort golf expectations at the stone gate, and you'll love Kukuio'lono.
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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November 7, 2011
The story of St. Andrews is well told. If you venture beyond, however, the destinations may not be as well known as the Old Course, but they are hardly inferior. Brandon Tucker offers up some reasons why you should consider exploring outside St. Andrews for your Scotland golf vacation.
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October 25, 2011
The island of Kauai has a handful of the best resort golf courses in Hawaii, but for the more frugal traveler, that doesn't mean you're priced out of a round while on the Garden Isle. Kauai may have one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked courses in Hawaii, but it also offers some great bargains on top plays.
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October 19, 2011
Puakea Golf Course on the Hawaiian island of Kauai lacks the coastal wow-factor of its neighbors that sit close by the ocean. Instead, design aficionados will notice more subtle nuances by architect Robin Nelson. More than any other course on Kauai, Nelson was maestro of the tradewinds here. Not a single hole plays in the exact same direction. And in many cases, subtle doglegs make each shot play just a little differently.
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September 21, 2011
While the kids are back in school, maybe it's time to give your golf game an education at boarding school -- the TOUR Academy at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. The TOUR Academy at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most complete teaching academies on earth, Brandon Tucker writes.
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August 16, 2011
Mountain West golf destinations usually have short summers, while desert spots have hot summer months. Both issues are solved in the high desert town of Bend in central Oregon and at the Pronghorn Club and Resort. Featuring a stellar Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, guests of Pronghorn won't feel like they're in a larger, brand resort but rather a smaller, club getaway.
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August 1, 2011
There is little disputing the finest all-around golf facility on Prince Edward Island, the provincially owned Brudenell River Resort. Within footsteps of each other are two 18-hole courses: Brudenell River and Dundarave. Brudenell River curries favor from those seeking a gentler, more traditional style of golf, while Dundarave can make the argument as the island's top tournament-level course.
