2011 August | The Golf Blogster

Seven Questions You Need To Ask When Planning a Vacation Package

Vacation packages usually offer significant savings, but only if you go about booking them the right way. Vacation packages require some pretty specific planning, and planning is a whole lot easier when you know the right questions to ask. The details, if you can figure them out before you book, can make the difference between a memorable vacation and a disaster. Check out these seven questions you’ll need to ask when planning to book a vacation package.

The Golf Card – Save Money On The Cost Of Your Golf

The Golf Card

If you don’t have a Golf Card, you should. This little number can save you big money on the cost of playing golf. For more than 30 years, the Golf Card has been saving hundreds of thousands of golfers money on green fees. With nearly 3,000 golf courses that honor Golf Card for savings on golf, you will find plenty of courses to play, not only close to home, but wherever you may travel to play golf. It’s a no-lose product: if you’re not satisfied with the Golf Card, you’ll get a refund your entire purchase price anytime during your first year of membership if. I have a Golf card and can speak from experience. It does save me money. There are 28 courses listed in the Golf Course Directory for my own home state, and more or less in every one of the lower 48 states. I used it 31 times last year saving an average of $19 per round. That’s $589. I have five courses within 25 miles (two of them within 15 miles) and one in my home town where I can use the card. Ready to Join Now? Click Here!

Here’s what you get with The Golf Card:

Money Saving Golf Discounts:
• Savings at nearly 3,000 golf courses in the U.S. and Canada, including free green fees at over 600 courses and 2 for 1 at many courses.
• Savings on Pro Shop purchases at select courses
Golf Course Network:
• Largest golf course savings network in North America with courses in all 50 states and all Canadian provinces
• Year round savings, no seasonal restrictions
• Discounted weekend play at most courses
• Savings on golf packages at under 150 Stay & Play resorts
• Find courses near you in our Directory, click here
Additional Savings & Club Benefits:
• Free Annual Directory with maps and detailed information on all Golf Card courses
• Chances to test golf products, and keep what you test!
• Golf Traveler member publication with features on affiliated courses
• Rental car discounts with National Car Rental and Alamo
• Member web site with Trip Planning, Course Search and More!
• Meet and play golf with fellow members through our local network of 70 clubs, including member-guest golf tournaments
• Savings on long distance services, auto insurance, VISA® credit card & more…
• Personalized Membership Card
• Annual Directory and Member Publication
• Full details on money-saving golf and travel discounts
• All this and a 100% money-back guarantee
So, what does it cost? for just $49 you get a Golf Card membership (that’s $16 off the regular price of $65), savings at nearly 3,000 golf courses across the country, plus a bunch of other discount opportunities and club benefits. So, what are you waiting for? Join now.

Insta Golf Shoes

Insta Golf Shoes™, a new and innovative golf footwear product will be introduced to the golfing world at the 2011 PGA Expo in Las Vegas in a few weeks. However, word of this simple new golf product is already spreading quickly. The Insta Golf Shoes™ website and Facebook pages established a few short weeks ago have already received thousands of hits and amassed hundred of followers excited about this simple idea that makes sense to golfers throughout the world.

Insta Golf Shoes™ are an American made, high quality product, which allow golfers to wear their favorite tennis shoes, casual or even dress shoes, and still have the stability and traction required on the golf course.

Carved from the concept used for many years by the developers of Arctic and winter ice cleats, Insta Golf Shoes™ provide full foot slip protection and are constructed of Dual-Density TPE Elastomer for durability and long wear. Engineered to be lightweight with Tension-Fit Binding™, Insta Golf Shoes™ hold securely to footwear and have been tested on golf courses in the United States and Northwest Ireland.

Insta Golf Shoes

Developed by business entrepreneur Rick Hetzel, RLH Golf Ventures, LLC, and a partner in Irish Golf Vacations (www.irishgolfvacations.net), Insta Golf Shoes™ is considered one of those simple, but practical concepts with across the board appeal to many golfing segments.

It was during the writing of his latest eBook, The Traveling Golfer that Hetzel developed the idea of an affordable, multi-purpose golf shoe, which could be used by traveling golfers and the general golfing community. “Due to its design, the Insta Golf Shoes™ are great for golfers who enjoy the comfort of their favorite tennis shoes; junior golfers, who grow out golf shoes quickly; and golfers with special footwear issues, like orthotics.”

Insta Golf Shoes™ are available in several sizes for men and women, and the initial production will be in the colors of black and white, although custom colors are available upon request. The cost: $44.95. Purchase online at the Insta Golf Shoes website, or call 888-534-1202.

Gulf Shores, Alabama – Build Your Own Stay and Play Package

Gulf Shores Alabama is, perhaps, one of the best-kept secrets in the Southeastern U.S., at least as far as golf destinations go. If, however, you looking for a winter destination with a difference, a destination where the golf courses are always green and lush, the weather warm and balmy, and the costs well within your budget, then Gulf Shores is the spot for you. In fact, Golf Gulf Shores website is offering a bevy of value-laden deals for the winter months to that would be tough to beat.

Photos of Kiva Dunes Golf Club, Gulf Shores

This photo of Kiva Dunes Golf Club is courtesy of TripAdvisor.
Gulf Shores has always been a popular seaside destination: pristine beaches, the cool clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and the finest of southern hospitality. Lately, however, Gulf Shores has become a popular golf destination that will tempt and delight even the most discerning golfer:

Nine fine golf courses (you’ll find them listed below), countless lodging options and a wealth of non-golf outdoor activities are attracting golfers from across the U.S. Even more attractive: you can now build your own custom golf, stay and play package in Gulf Shores for as little as $61 per night, including room and round of golf. Beachcombers, buddies looking for fishing and golf, and families who love Southern fall and winter weather, local seafood and live music will find a variety of options to enjoy the Gulf through the end of the year.

All can be created and booked at the Golf Gulf Shores website, a user-friendly facility that includes sample packages to help you choose your best rate among hotels, luxury condos and golf by location along the 32-mile stretch of shoreline, for stays through February. Listed below you’ll find a small sample of package prices; there are many others. The rates include all taxes and fees and are based on a group of four golfers staying four nights and playing three rounds of golf at three different pre-determined courses:

About Golf Gulf Shores

Golf Gulf Shores – the Gulf Shores Golf Association – is a partnership that promotes the destination and its custom golf packages built by its partners, for golf groups, families, and corporate outings. The destination offers nine golf courses, countless lodging options and a wealth of outdoor activity on its 32-mile waterfront destination. Course highlights:

Cotton Creek at Craft Farms – Arnold Palmer Signature Design with generous fairways lined by Southern Hardwoods, undulating greens and a championship test from 7,028 yards, and owned and operated by Honours Golf.

Cypress Bend at Craft Farms – The sister Honours Golf property to Cotton Creek, the Arnold Palmer Signature Design meanders through cord-grass accented lakes which come into play on nearly every hole.

Glenlakes Golf Club – Scottish-style links course designed by Von Hagge and known for its extensive bunkering and postage-stamp greens.

Kiva Dunes – A “Top 100 Course in America” by Golf Digest, the Jerry Pate design is the only beachfront resort course in Gulf Shores.

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club – Owned and operated by Honours Golf, the 27-hole facility offers chilled apples on the tee. The 830-acre park includes 30 lakes and fairways surrounded by Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve.

Rock Creek Golf Club – Also owned by Honours Golf and boasting rolling terrain and fairways lined by pines, the Earl Stone design overlooks freshwater wetlands and the Rock Creek basin.

TimberCreek Golf Club – This 27-hole design was crafted by Earl Stone and feels like an inland Carolina course with fairways lined by loblolly pines, dogwoods and magnolias.

The Golf Club of the Wharf – Formerly known as the Gulf Shores Golf Club, this was the Gulf Shores’ first course. Opened it 1960, it was redesigned by Jay and Carter Morrish in 2005.

For more information visit Golf Gulf Shores website, 888-815-1902.

Gold Canyon Golf Resort , Gold Canyon, AZ

Golf Canyon Golf Course, AZ

The Gold Canyon Golf Resort is set among Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, a name that generates an air of mystery and imagination. The great Apache war chief, Cochise, is reputedly buried somewhere among these mountains, and ancient tales of lost gold mines, including “The Lost Dutchman,” are considered by many to be fact rather than legend. And nowhere is the mystique more apparent than at the legendary Gold Canyon Golf Resort in Arizona.

Golf Canyon is a world-class facility that features, not only luxurious casita-style accommodations, but two terrific, on-site golf courses, both designed by Ken Kavanaugh – the Dinosaur Mountain Course and the Sidewinder; these two amazing layouts meander deep into the High Sonoran desert, into a strangely quiet world with an atmosphere that imparts an overall feeling of spirituality; a feeling that only comes when we are at one with nature.

The Dinosaur Mountain Course offers a round of golf as exhilarating as you could wish for. The course is one spectacular vista of the Superstition Mountains after another. The views from the course’s two signature holes – four and five – are beyond description; golf in the Arizona desert does not come any better than this. Dinosaur Mountain has always been considered a players course, but in truth the placement of the tee boxes offers golfers of all levels of skill an enjoyable and challenging round. No matter your abilities, you’ll have a choice of four tee box locations.

The Dinosaur, the number 1 rated public golf course in Arizona, also ranks high among the most scenic courses in the Great Southwest. To play Dinosaur is a truly unique golfing experience. Every tee box presents a panoramic vista along with a unique and exhilarating challenge to your game. The course will take you up, over and around Dinosaur Mountain with dramatic tee-to-green elevation changes and long, meandering fairways. The views of the nearby Superstition Mountains are spectacular.

Gold Canyon’s second course, The Sidewinder, is noted for its creative design and the way it incorporates the undulating desert landscape. Its panoramic vistas are no less spectacular than those of the Dinosaur Mountain course. This is a course you’ll want to play more than once.

The Sidewinder is desert snake that takes its name from the way it travels – sideways, twisting and turning as it goes. The course itself meanders, like the snake, around the base of Dinosaur Mountain, through natural arroyos and along dry creek beds. Native cholla, prickly pear cacti, mesquite and palo verde trees line the fairways that twist and turn around the course and are guaranteed to make you think your way from tee to green. The Sidewinder is a shot-maker’s course, and you’ll need to be on top of your game if you are to score well.

Where to Stay

Gold Canyon Golf Resort is a mountainside retreat with extensive facilities and amenities, including 101 unique casitas, in-room or outdoor spas, fireplaces, and even private patios with splendid views of the golf course or the majestic Superstition Mountains. Located just 35 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the “mountainside resort is close to the Valley of the Sun, yet far enough away to let you experience the peace and unmatched beauty of the high Sonoran Desert.”

Gold Canyon Golf Resort, 6100 South Kings Ranch Road / Gold Canyon, AZ 85219. Telephone: 480-982-9090; 800-827-5281. Fax: 480-983-9554

Directions

How To Get There

The resort is served by Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

golf course reviews, golf resort reviews, hotel reviewsFalcon’s Fire Golf Club, Kissimmee, FL

Photo Courtesy Falcon's Fire Golf Club, Kissimme, FL

Falcon’s Fire Golf Club in Kissimmee, FL is, arguably, one of the finest golf courses in the Orlando area; it’s certainly one of the most enjoyable. A Rees Jones Signature Designed championship golf course, it’s also one of Orlando’s most women-friendly golf courses. Falcon’s Fire makes a perfect Florida golf vacation destination conveniently located just steps from the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando’s International Airport and the Orlando Convention Center.

Falcon Fire’s 18-hole golf course plays 6,900 yards from the longest tees for a par of 72, a course rating is 72.5 and a slope rating of 125 on Bermuda grass. Designed by the inimitable Rees Jones, this signature layout features “classic architecture,” and is an exquisitely maintained course where you can play the year round. Four sets of tees make f or a challenging yet player-friendly course for golfers of all levels of skill.

The greens are large, quite flat and though they may not always be easy to read, they do run true. The approaches to the greens are, for the most-part, open and inviting. The fairways are wide, the landing areas more than generous. Many of the fairways are bounded by links-style dunes that, even though they will often keep a wayward ball in play, can make for some difficult lies. The toughest hole on the course is the 5^th, a long par-4 with a nasty forced carry over a marsh that’s both intimidating and visually appealing.

Complimentary valet parking, club cleaning and golf carts equipped with GPS navigation are just some of the little extras that make THE difference.

Falcon’s Fire Golf Club has received a Four Star Award from Golf Digest, and is listed as one of “Florida’s 50 Finest Golf Courses” by Golf & Travel. It’s also listed as one of “America’s Top 15 Women Friendly Courses” by Golf for Women.

Greens Fees range from $75 to $150 depending on the time, day and season.

Falcon’s Fire Golf Club, 3200 Seralago Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34746-4400; (407) 239-5445; Fax: (407) 397-9047

Florida’s Cocoa Beach – Great for Golf, Great for a Family Vacation

Cocoa Beach Florida

Florida’s Cocoa Beach, and the Space Coast, both are within easy driving distance of Orlando and its many tourist attractions, visitors will find plenty to see and do without having leave the area. Besides great golf, the Cocoa Beach hotel amenities range from sparse to extensive. The beaches are gorgeous, the Kennedy Space Center is unique, and the local golf courses compare favorably with any in Florida. Beyond all that Cocoa Beach offers some of the best deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, sailing, boating, and snorkeling anywhere in Florida, and for the kids, well

With more than 20 golf courses in the Greater Cocoa Beach area, golfers have a unique variety of golf courses to choose from in one of Florida’s most popular resort areas. They range from semi-private golf clubs to city-owned municipal public access facilities. Here are some I can personally recommend:

Baytree National Golf Links
Cocoa Beach Golf & Country Club
Duran Golf Club
Spessard Holland Golf Course
Viera East Golf Club
Walkabout Golf and Country Club

How to get There:

The closest regional airport is Orlando International Airport. The airport is served by all major US airlines, including United, Delta, Continental, US Air, AirTran, American, and Northwest, and by Air Canada and major airlines from Europe and the United Kingdom.

Contact:

Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism
430 Brevard Avenue, Suite 150
Cocoa Village, FL 32922
Toll Free: (877) 572-3224

Forest Hills Golf Course, Augusta, Georgia

Forest Hills Golf Course, Augusta

The Forest Hills Golf Course in Augusta, Georgia, first opened for play in 1926 and has been an important part of Augusta’s golfing history ever since: this is where Bobby Jones began his 1930 Grand Slam of Golf run. Today, Forest Hills is home to the Augusta State University Men’s and Women’s Golf Team; the Men’s Team won the 2010 NCAA Division I National Title.

Originally designed by Donald Ross, Forest Hills plays a long 7,231 yards from the back tees for a par of 72. The course was redesigned in 2004 by the Arnold Palmer Company and is now rated 72.2 with a slope of 126. The landing areas off the tees are fairly generous; water is in play on only two of the 18 holes, one of which is the 3rd, a 575-yard par-5 which requires an approach shot over water to the green. Forest Hills in springtime is a riot of color, at least for a couple of weeks, when the dogwoods and azaleas are in bloom. Facilities include: a driving range and practice facility, a bar and grill, and a banquet facility.

Green Fees: 18 holes – Resort Guests $35 to $45, cart included, depending upon the time of day; great value for the money. Tee times can be booked in advance: call the number listed below.

Contact:

Forest Hills Golf Club, 1500 Comfort Road, Augusta, Georgia 30909; 706-733-0001.

Where to Stay:

I can personally recommend the Partridge Inn. I stayed there during Masters Week a couple of years ago and had a thoroughly good time.

How to get There:

You can fly into Augusta Regional Airport (AGS / KAGS). The airport is about 10 minutes from the city center.

Hyatt Grand Cypress Golf Resort, Orlando, FL

Golf Course at Hyatt Grand Cypress Orlando

Located in Lake Buena Vista just ouside of Orlando, Florida, the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort is a spectacular, 1,500 acre resort, the major attraction of which is, without doubt, its 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-designed golf, and first-rate golf academy. But golf is not all this grand resort has to offer. The centerpiece of the complex is the Hyatt Grand Cypress hotel. Dedicated to providing its guests with the complete vacation experience, this amazing hotel complex features not only the luxurious accommodations you’d expect to find at a high-end resort, but a wide range of amenities designed with whole family in mind: programs for the kids, golf, fine dining, and endless recreation.

Aside from its golf courses, the resort also features an Equestrian Center, racquet club, nine-hole pitch and putt course, elegant dining at several restaurants, abundant recreation including a spectacular 800,000-gallon lagoon swimming pool with 12 tumbling waterfalls, and a variety of children’s programs at Camp Hyatt. The resort also provides complimentary shuttle service to all Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, Universal Orlando Studios, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, and Discovery Cove. If you’re looking for a world-class golf resort, choose the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. And that’s just the beginning. Check out this list of on-site amenities:

Championship Golf – 45 Jack Nicklaus Signature Holes.
Golf Academy
Sailing on a private lake.
World-class Tennis Center
Full Service Spa – spa services.
Equestrian Center
Hiking Trails – the Audubon Walk
Business & Groups – Orlando business hotel
Camp Hyatt for the Kids
Six Lake Buena Vista Restaurants
Shuttle Service to all Orlando Theme Parks

Not bad, is it? As you can see, the at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress offers a unique variety of recreational facilities and programs. For the corporate client, they can create a program tailored to meet the needs of your group, including a super-sports program, tournaments, meetings and banquets. Getting married? They can handle that too.

How to get There:

The closest regional airport is, of course, Orlando International Airport. The airport is served by all domestic and international airlines.

And you can use these up-to-date search tools to compare prices on airfares and car rentals of all ratings:

Contact:

Hyatt regency Grand Cypress, One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836 Tel: +1 407 239 1234 Fax: +1 407 239 3800.

The Golf Blogster

Travel writer, Golfer, Photgrapher and….

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Seven Questions You Need To Ask When Planning a Vacation Package

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The Golf Card – Save Money On The Cost Of Your Golf

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Insta Golf Shoes

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Gulf Shores, Alabama – Build Your Own Stay and Play Package

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Gold Canyon Golf Resort , Gold Canyon, AZ

Directions

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golf course reviews, golf resort reviews, hotel reviewsFalcon’s Fire Golf Club, Kissimmee, FL

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Florida’s Cocoa Beach – Great for Golf, Great for a Family Vacation

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Forest Hills Golf Course, Augusta, Georgia

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Hyatt Grand Cypress Golf Resort, Orlando, FL

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