Golf Vacations
USA Golf Destinations Overview
an excerpt from Leisure Group Travel magazine, May 2005
With the popularity of golf and the abundance of courses, most destinations offer an opportunity to accommodate visiting golfers. When planning golf trips you will find distinctive differences in golf destinations and there are considerations to be taken with regard to climate conditions, budget and players' desired experience. A key element found at most golf destinations is the availability of a selection of courses which compliment varied ability levels. Another factor is to differentiate between public, public-private and private courses that may or may not have reciprocal club privileges. Most all locations will offer professional services for lessons, have equipment for rent (when not traveling with one's own), offer special packages for groups and may or may not require carts.
The best known golf destinations have built reputations as golf meccas and include places like Palm Springs (115 courses), Monterey (22 courses), Phoenix-Scottsdale (200 courses) and Tucson (27 courses). You find these destinations are the principal sites for major tournaments tours (PGA, LPGA, Skins, and Senior) and while many courses are connected with country clubs and resorts, most all are available for play to area visitors. There are also many other popular destinations that offer outstanding golf options but are often better known for their other tourism attractions. These include places like Las Vegas (57 courses), San Diego (90 courses) and Hawaii (80 courses), and they also are frequently included on the professional tour circuit.