Golf Packages

Just got back from a smooth and lucky 67 on my home course. 6 birdies and 12 pars. I consider par there to be 70 from the tees I played, but I’m still tickled to shoot under 70.

I’m close to my first golf vacation of the year and I’ve been checking out a lot of sites, so I thought I’d share a few with you.

First off, one of my favorite places to visit, the sand hills of North Carolina and all places golfy can be found at Sand Hills Golf.

For central Florida, try Golf Orlando.

Thinking of the Reno - Lake Tahoe area, maybe Sparks, Carson Valley or Graeagle ?

Then try Golf The High Sierra.

What about Mesquite, Nevada ? Head over there, by clicking here.

That should keep you busy for a few hours..or days, so I’ll quit for now and give you a few more tomorrow.

A friend of mine, Todd Hart, just got back from South Carolina. He says the golf down there is as hot as the temperature.

I found a website dedicated to South Carolina golf, so I’ll let them tell the story.

Megan has sent us a photo and an update from her European LPGA trip. She’s in Switzerland and today’s post is a great read, so grab a cup-o-joe and settle in for the ride.

Yesterday was a long day of playing and practicing. It felt good to get a practice session in since I took a few days off to get over my jet lag, and to try to get rid of my stomach flu. Unfortunately, in the afternoon it came back. It is discouraging because I don’t have much of an appetite and there are so many great ristorantes and pizzerias in Losone that I would love to try.

Yesterday after waking up at 5am, I came by my site, replied to a few comments made on my previous post, and still had plenty of time before the range was going to open. So I slipped into my workout gear, slid a fresh set of double-padded insoles into my Puma catchers to protect my joints and heels, and took off on what turned out to be an awesome hike. I was feeling better. I discovered the trail the day before when I was driving around, scoping out the town.

There was about a 1 1/2 mile main trail that was gravel, but several trails that veered off into the mountains. I just randomly picked a trail that had a sign that said Mount Verita. About an hour later, I found myself at the top of the hill. I could look down and see all of Lake Maggiore (click for pictures) and several towns that surrounded it in this beautiful valley. I had a 360 degree view and was surrounded by the largest and greenest mountains that I have ever seen. It was spectacular ! I thought Oregon was green but this is something else !

So far Switzerland has been great. It is relaxing to be away from the commotion of Los Angeles. The people here are very nice and even though there is a language barrier, everyone tries their best to help each other out. By the way, it is very hard being a “driving” tourist around here with all the locals buzzing around these narrow streets and fast little cars.

Everyone here at the LET (Ladies European Tour, or European LPGA) is very helpful and professional. The golf course here at Golf Gerre Losone is beautiful and in great shape. Even though you need to be fairly straight off the tee box, I feel that there are several holes that I can take advantage of because of my length. And I know I will because Cleveland Golf delivered me a killer fairway wood that feels so silky smooth when you attack those par-5 greens.

I am excited and ready to start playing Thursday and to get off to a great start here at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open. I found that during my practice rounds I was starting to get very mechanical and that’s just not my game; so my goal this week is to just go out there, play golf, not worry about anything, or try to think too much, and just be target oriented.

Fairways and Greens, in peace.

Megan Heckeroth

You can visit Megan’s Official Site and her blog, by clicking those links.

I recently added a new golf blog to my Blog Roll. It’s called Thailand Golf Blog. Mark Siegel, of Bangkok, writes it and I asked him to introduce himself to us.

I started writing this blog to be able to share all of my experiences and information about playing golf and traveling in Thailand. Many golfers may not think of Thailand as their first golf holiday destination. However, after reading up on this great country, I hope that more people will choose to play in Thailand and have a great time in the process. This blog will cover my personal, and other contributor’s, experiences about playing golf in Thailand. Special tips and advice, cultural and golf course information, and holiday and vacation planning along with first hand expert knowledge will be shared. I welcome all questions and comments and am glad to share any information so everyone can enjoy playing golf and other activities in Thailand.

Have a nice day and remember birdie is better than par !

Mark Siegel, Bangkok Thailand

http://golfasian.typepad.com

Looking for a stay and play golf package ? Like casinos and golf ? Like riverboats and pirates ? Well, alright, there ain’t no pirates. But there is a really large riverboat ! And there’s a Par 72 golf course with bent grass greens, fairways and tees, a full-time PGA professional on staff, a Pro Shop, a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse with locker room and facilities and lastly a deli and lounge.

Did I mention that I’ll be playing there on Friday ? I’ll give you a full run down soon after.

” Caesars Indiana’s spectacular equestrian-themed golf course adds 18 holes and over 7,000 yards of exciting golf to Southern Indiana. It features bent grass greens, fairways and tees, and sparkling lakes. Both the serious player and the novice will appreciate Chariot Run’s stirring beauty and unique challenges. And of course, you’ll find the luxurious amenities and superb service you expect from Caesars. Come revel in the thrill of the game at Chariot Run ! “

Click thru and see if maybe Chariot Run and Caesars Indiana is a trip you’ve been waiting to make !

Just in case you’re gonna be anywhere near Myrtle Beach, S.C. on April 7th & 8th, 2006, I’ve dug up the info on an event you absolutely not miss.

From their website :

” On Friday, April 7th, Myrtle Beach, SC, the “golf capital of the world,” kicks off the spring golf season with the 3rd Annual Golfapalooza, a weekend celebration of golf. We’ll be joined by our friends from Golf Digest, Golf World and Golf for Women, along with many of the leading golf equipment companies. “

From their website :

” Right on the heels of Golfapalooza, comes one of America’s premier Celebrity-Pro-Am golf events. On Monday April 10th, come on out and follow your favorite pro’s and celebrities at Monday After the Masters, one of America’s premier Celebrity-Pro-Am golf events, hosted by the Grammy Award-winning rock group, Hootie and the Blowfish. “

In years past, you would have seen Tiger Woods, John Daly, Samuel L. Jackson, Dan Marino, Michael Waltrip, Peter Jacobson, and others. Word on the street is that The King, Arnold Palmer, is planning on being there this year, so don’t miss it !

On Monday evening, Hootie and friends will gather at House of Blues for a concert that will rock the house! For more details visit www.hootiegolf.com.

If you see my buddy Gary McCord, tell him Mike said ” Hey ! ”

Here’s a site I just found. Ocean City Golf Getaways. Maryland’s a beautiful state. I spent a lot of time there while in the US Army.

Go by and visit and plan a nice golf vacation to Maryland.

Here’s another great bit of news for golfers in the state of Kentucky.

Over around Louisa, is Yatesville Lake State Park and a fine golf course, called Eagle Ridge Golf Course.

” Located at Yatesville Lake State Park in Eastern Kentucky, this course is built on mountainous terrain and features dramatic views. Some holes play downhill with 100 to 200 foot changes in elevation. The par 5, No. 4 hole plays from an elevated tee and is flanked by a creek along the fairway. Hole No. 13, a par 4, plays from a 200-foot elevation to the green surrounded by a rock outcropping and a creek. ”

For those of you who aren’t very familiar with them, the parks that make up the State Park system for Kentucky are among the finest in the nation and always have been.

Here’s the best parts of a press release from the State of Kentucky :

” Golf Digest magazine has named Eagle Ridge Golf Course at Yatesville Lake State Park in Louisa, Ky., as one of the nation’s “Best New Affordable Public Golf Courses” in 2005.

The 6,630-yard, par 71-course, which is carved out of the Eastern Kentucky mountains, ranked third on the magazine’s annual list. A nationwide panel of more than 800 golfers selected the winners based on shot values, design variety, resistance to scoring, memorability and aesthetics.

“ It’s terrific to receive this kind of recognition and we’re hopeful golfers from all over the state — as well as surrounding states — will want to see why this course is so highly regarded,” said Deputy Parks Director John Kington. “ We offer a package called ‘ Tee’s and Zzz’s ’ that makes it easy for anyone who wants to play Eagle Ridge to couple it with an overnight stay at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. ”

Eagle Ridge is the fourth golf course operated by the Kentucky State Parks to receive accolades from Golf Digest.

Hidden Cove at Grayson Lake State Park and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park course were both ranked among the nation’s best new affordable public courses in 2004, at fourth and six respectively. Wasioto Winds at Pine Mountain State Resort Park was ranked fourth in the same category in 2002.

“ To receive this recognition from such a well known and respected golf publication really validates our courses,” said Dan Strohmeier, the park system’s PGA director of golf. “ With this recent announcement, four of the six courses on our ‘Signature Series’ can now boast of having received Golf Digest awards.”

I’ll be doing a post about all the other golf courses in the State Park system over the next week or two.

I’ve played most of them and always enjoy an overnite stay in one of the Resorts that have cabins or cottages.

The parks have great lodges and the rooms are clean and well done, but a family of 5 does better with more room.

Just in time holiday golfing, gifting and relaxation comes news of a luxury golf package, a fabulous spa and a winemaker/golf packager.

This has to be the best combination of elements to come together in the name of golf since Jones and Augusta.

I can hardly find a way to tie together all the elements, but if you’ve got the time and inclination, they have a fabulous package waiting for you on a golf course that hosted the 2005 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Heard a golf course say this lately :

” Playing just over 7,100 yards from the championship tees, this classic layout offers strategic choices and challenges that excite golfers swinging graphite and titanium just as it did when they were carrying hickory and persimmon. “

And for those of you who don’t know who Kris Moe is :

” One unique aspect of the Kris Moe Golf Schools is Kris Moe himself. He is qualified for this “Luxury Golf Experience” by the fact that he is at once a seasoned golfer, a winemaker, and a cook. Moe goes beyond the usual PGA certification status of other golf pros. He brings to his teaching the added value of actual PGA tour experience garnered on the U.S. PGA Tour and European PGA Tour. His professional career highlights include a 25th place finish in the 1985 British Open, a 3rd place finish in the Australian PGA, and winner of the 2003 Northern California PGA Stroke and Match-Play championships, and the Hawaii State Open. He has played three times in the ATT Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. Some notable students who have enhanced their game with Kris Moe include actor Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Smothers, numerous corporate CEOs and current Japanese PGA Tour star Shingo Katayama. “

Now, we all can’t afford this getaway, but we would if we could, so the next best thing is to click thru to all the links I gave you and enjoy reading about what you’d do IF you had that much $$$ to spend on a golf getaway.

Thanks to the wonders of email I just found out about the fairly new service offered at Marriot Golf.

It appears that golfers can select a participating golf resort and book their tee times and hotel rooms instantly, thru the wonders of the web.

From The Wire :

” The new service marks the first time a collection of leading golf resort properties, based throughout the world, have come together to offer a one-stop booking solution that includes both tee times and lodging. Marriott Golf, the golf management organization of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR), is offering this service in collaboration with GolfHero, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based global technology leader in the golf travel industry, and EZLinks, operator of the world’s largest network for golf reservations. “

I went to their site and it’s visually appealing and if the process that they have you go thru is as easy to navigate as their site is, then they will have a winner.

Go by and check it out and offer up some comments and feedback for all of us.

If you happen to book a vacation to someplace warm, send ol’ Mike a little sunshine.