As I sit here wondering where to take my next golf vacation to, I notice the Food Network in on the TV in the next room and my wife is watching an old Iron Chef replay and one of her favorite Iron Chef’s is cooking some kind of French-fusion cuisine.

Hmmm….maybe France would be a nice place to play golf, do a wee bit of fine dining and travel by train. Sounds pretty durn fine now, don’t it?

And if you’re gonna play golf someplace you’ve never been, why not play the best of the best?

So I did a little investigating and I found the 5 best golf courses in France and found out a little more about them.

Here’s what I found:

1) Morfontaine – This course dates back to about 1913, when the Duke of Guiche obtained permission from his father to transform an old polo pitch in the park of Vallière into a 9-hole golf course for the pleasure of the Duke and his friends.

The opening ceremonies included professional golfer James Braid, who played against French champions Jean Gassiat and Arnaud Massy.

Pretty snazzy beginnings and even today it’s mentioned in the same breath with Royal Lytham & St Annes and Ballybunion, so I’m sure it would be a great golf experience.

2) Les Bordes – Private since about March of ’08, so you can only get so much info, but I did find that Les Bordes was the brainchild of Baron Marcel Bich.

It was designed by Texan, Robert von Hagge, and it’s been said that when he designed this beast he was at his most wickedly creative.

Les Bordes opened for play in 1986 and it’s a supreme challenge. The unforgettable Jean Van de Velde holds the current course record of 71 (one under par) so don’t show up with your fake 6 handicap and try to tell them you’re gonna set the fairways on fire.

Les Bordes has a slightly American feel to it, both in terms of the design and impeccable conditioning but it leaves no doubt that you are in France. There is more style here on this tournament condition layout than just about any other course in France.

3) Golf de Chantilly – One of the most beautiful courses in all of Europe and set amongst the forest of the Ile de France, about 30 miles north of Paris.

It was originally built 1909 and has played host to numerous French Opens, including the 1913 French Open.

The very best have golfed their ball here at Chantilly, including the great Bobby Jones from long ago and The Golf Channel’s Nick Faldo from recent memory. Faldo even won the French Open.

The whole Chantilly experience is very traditional and it’s said that it has a very distinct British feel. With 36 holes (Le Vineuil and Les Longères) and a clubhouse that is very reminiscent of that at Sunningdale, you may doubt that you are indeed in France?

So there you have a great start to planning a European vacation and getting ready to play golf in France.

There’s no way I can cover it all in one blog post, but I hope it’s got you thinking about the possibility of some very fine French cuisine, some very stylish golf attire, some very friendly people and some darn good golf.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

The Top 3 Golf Courses in France

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Okay, so I’m not really crushin’ or droolin’ or anything, but while I was cruising the web, looking for places to take relaxing, yet exciting, fall golf vacations, I seem to remember that Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has some of the finest places on the face of the planet to play golf, eat oysters and take naps!

My three favorite distractions while on vacations near a beach all in one place!

One of the best places in and around Myrtle Beach is obviously Grand Dunes. You can stay in luxurious surroundings, play exquisitely manicured golf courses and meet beautiful Southerners…what else do you need?!

The Resort Club Course has 7 of it’s 18 holes along the Intercoastal Waterway, has 6 (six) sets of tees so everybody can play it and was previously rated one of The Top Ten New Courses by Golf Magazine.

The Members Club Course at Grand Dunes has been called one of the Top 45 Courses in the World! That’s mighty fine ranking, if I say so myself.

You can also find the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame there as well.

There’s a golf academy, as you’d expect and there are planned events galore, so drop by and tell ‘em Mike sent you to Grand Dunes for a fall golf vacation!

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Who’s Ready For A Fall Golf Vacation?

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If you’re thinking about taking a golf vacation to beautiful, tropical spots such as the Caribbean resorts, Panama hotels or even embarking on a much needed business trip, you need to make sure that your golf equipment is protected and secure for the journey.

Whether a domestic or international flight, you need a practical solution to protect your precious golf clubs from the harshness of air travel and baggage handlers to ensure that they arrive at your destination exactly the same way you packed them.

A travelling golf case is the only option to protect your equipment on an airplane.

These cases come in two different styles: a hard, plastic shell, or a soft padded case. They both provide a good amount of protection, however, the hard case is the superior choice due to the hard plastic material. The hard case is the more expensive option, but it will save you money in the long run if your clubs are damaged.

Furthermore, most airlines will not insure soft cases. If anything happens to your equipment, you are responsible.

If you must use a soft case, make sure to take as much pressure off of the clubs as you can. This can be done by wrapping a towel or a soft object around the club heads and shafts, especially those which stick out of the end of the golf bag.

Shake the case and make sure you do not hear any rattling or movement. The clubs should be secure and in place, not hitting one another upon impact. This can be time consuming, yet it’s an essential step.

The last thing you need is to arrive at one of those beautiful Panama hotels without your golf equipment intact. This will definitely spoil a great vacation.

A hard shell case, though more expensive, definitely lends itself to the highest amount of protection, but before purchasing, write down a list of the features you are looking for.

The case should have wheels to make transportation easier. Also, make sure your golf bag fits inside it comfortably, not too tight or too loose. You may want to bring your bag to the store or measure it at home to ensure a perfect fit.

In addition, check for sturdy, strong handles as the handling of your case will be rough as it travels through baggage claim and air travel.

The same methods explained for the soft case apply to packing the hard case.

Fill in as much dead space as possible with other items such as golf towels, clothing, or soft shoes.

Attach the neoprene protective covers to your clubs as well.

Before you close the case, give it a shake and make sure you do not hear any rattling or movement.

Another detail you may want to consider is the weight of the hard case. Check with your airlines for specific weight restrictions and pricing.

When you’re checking in at the airport, have another bag handy in case you need to remove some items to lessen the weight.

Your trip to those exotic Panama hotels or that ocean side hut in Tahiti will be completely ruined if your equipment is damaged in transit.

Try to be as careful as possible when packing your clubs and allocate extra time if needed.

Whatever case you choose, take special care to secure the golf equipment tightly, and don’t cut corners.

It’s worth the extra time and care. Before you know it, you will be on the green, golf clubs in hand, enjoying every second of the journey.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

How To Protect Your Golf Equipment On Airplanes

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Golf Vacation Insider, the leading website for expert, unbiased and trusted golf travel advice, has published a revealing “special report” on Turning Stone Resort & Casino just one week prior to its hosting of an official PGA Tour event.

Turning Stone will undoubtedly put its best foot forward when the PGA
Tour plays the Turning Stone Resort Championship there next week
(September 20-23, 2007), but Golf Vacation Insider’s free “special
report” examines what the general public can expect when taking a golf vacation to the Verona, N.Y., resort and if it is, in fact, worthy of
their time and money.

In addition to detailed descriptions and full-color photos of the
resort’s amenities, this special report reveals such things as: why
the “championship” golf course is not the best one to play (and which
of the resort’s five courses truly provides a “member for a day”
experience); the pros and cons of the resort’s lodging and dining
options; the best time to visit; the best off-resort activities to
experience; and the resort’s unique rule with respect to alcoholic
beverages.

To get this special report, golfers need only visit GolfVacationInsider and select it from a list on the right-hand side of the page.

” Hosting a PGA Tour event and hosting people on a golf vacation are
two very different things, ” said David Baum, publisher and
editor-in-chief of Golf Vacation Insider. ” Luckily, after reading our
free report on Turning Stone, you’ll immediately know if it’s the type
of golf vacation experience you’re looking for. ”

Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey, it’s printed, sister
publication, are the only golf travel publications in the world that
conduct their on-site inspections anonymously and do not accept
advertising, travel discounts or “freebies” from the properties they
review.

For more information about Golf Vacation Insider’s free, special
report on Turning Stone Resort & Casino, or to arrange an interview
with golf vacation expert David Baum, call 800-550-2286 or visit
www.GolfVacationInsider.com.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Turning Stone Resort and Casino’s Secrets Revealed !

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Golf Vacation Insider, the preeminent website for expert, unbiased and trusted golf travel advice, has published a series of ” Top 10 Golf Travel Tips ” on some of the world’s most popular golf vacation destinations, including: Arizona; Florida; Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Scotland; Ireland; Mexico; the Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon; and the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Available individually as free Special Reports, Golf Vacation
Insider’s ” Top 10 Golf Travel Tips ” are destination-specific
collections of priceless, insider secrets and expert advice that can
truly make or break a golf vacation to one of these popular golf
vacation hotspots.

They reveal such things as: the best golf courses to play (and the overrated duds to skip) at large, multi-course resorts; the best times of year to visit and the bad-weather months to avoid; where to find the best restaurants on and off a resort’s property, how to stay in a hotel’s best rooms at regular prices; even how to gain access to certain private courses.

To get one or more of these free Special Reports, golfers need only
visit www.GolfVacationInsider.com and select their area(s) of interest from a list on the right-hand side of the page. All of the information contained in the reports is based on Golf Vacation Insider’s strict policy of editorial independence. Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey, it’s printed, sister publication, are the only golf travel publications in the world that conduct their on-site inspections anonymously and do not accept advertising, travel discounts or “freebies” from the properties they review.

” Cutting through the information overload and certain over-hyped
aspects of these popular golf vacation destinations is what our free
Special Reports are all about, ” said David Baum, publisher and
editor-in-chief of Golf Vacation Insider. ” Because we don’t accept
advertising or press junkets, we have the golf vacationer’s best
interests at heart and can give them the unbiased truth. ”

For more information about Golf Vacation Insider, or to arrange an
interview with golf vacation expert David Baum, call 800-550-2286 or
visit www.GolfVacationInsider.com.

They can even help you plan your dream golf vacation to Holland! And while you’re there, be sure to stay in two or three fine Amsterdam Hotels.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Top 10 Golf Travel Tips

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Back in January, after a trip to Greensboro, NC, I wrote about Maggie Valley, one of my favorite places in the midddle eastern United States.

Touring some golf news this past week, I see that Maggie Valley’s gonna get a lot more crowded pretty fast, because the Maggie Valley Club has hired Vickie Fletcher as outside sales rep.

Her main focus will be to sell golf packages, tournaments and corporate outings. She’s also assisting in membership sales for the club, which is in the midst of a multi-million dollar renovation to once again make it one of the premier facilities in Western North Carolina.

I love that area and the climate there. Western North carolina is in the Top 7 Places I’d retire to … hopefully soon !

Maggie Valley Club is a master-planned golf community & resort in the mountains of North Carolina. For information on real estate, resort options, memberships or golf, call (866) 659-4725 or visit their website.

Now, if only a place like the Maggie Valley club was wise enough to take advantage of a tool like an interactive website, built on blog architecture, using wordPress as it’s content management system to disseminate news very rapidly, allow comments on their posts or news items, use teleseminars as lead generators, allow user generated content and take full advantage of the few thousand searches each and every month for golf and vaction related searches in the search engines.

Hmm. Maybe I’ll offer the services of my staff and see if we can help them help themselves.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

More News From Maggie Valley

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From the St. Pete Times, we find out that Disney plans another world-class golf resort.

How much land is there left in Orlando and how can they possibly need another world-class golf resort ?

” Walt Disney World unveiled plans Thursday to develop 1,350 acres of its vast property, including a massive luxury resort in a partnership with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

Disney also plans to build up to 5,000 value-priced hotel rooms on 450 acres around the first formal western gateway to the park, built to serve new highway access there. “

I’m thinkin’ there’s more than enough golf courses and homes in Orlando to last for eons, but they’ve gotta do something with all those profits, don’t they ?

Click thru and read the whole story, or if you don’t want to then click the link below to go look at a way to get some tickets to The Masters.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Disney Plans Another Luxury Golf Resort

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Click on this photo for a small taste of we enjoy here in Kentucky when we play our State Park Golf Trail.

Thru a great blog that showcases photos taken in Kentucky, I found this news item alerting me to the great rates and what’s happening, golf-wise, in Kentucky.

I’ve done many, many reviews of the State Park courses and they have always exceeded my expectations.

From great rates, to fantastic scenery … from Paducah to Pikeville and lexington to London, there’s a great golf adventure nearby.

If you’ve never hiked, golfed, swam and ate catfish in the same day, well, come on down and we’ll get together for some golf that will make memories that will last a lifetime.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Kentucky State Park Golf Trail

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If you’re even slightly considering going west ( or east ) to San Francisco for a golf vacation at a world-class golf resort and spa, you really need to click thru and check out today’s offering from my friends over at Perfect escapes.

Today they’ve come up with a golf and hotel package to the Westin St. Francis that will rejuvenate your body and mind.

Via their website:

It’s a great time to visit San Francisco: The crowds are few, the theater season’s in full swing, and the boutiques sparkle with treasures. Make your San Francisco trip even more memorable when you stay at the landmark Westin St. Francis, right in the heart of Union Square.

And right now, when you book two consecutive nights at The Westin St. Francis, your third night is free! Simply arrive on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday for a 3-night stay and your last night is on the house.

Rates vary seasonally, but standard rooms start at just $149 per night over many winter and early-spring weekends. Better still, this special Third Night Free offer is available for other popular room categories — Traditional, Deluxe and Grandview — and is valid for stays through the end of 2007.

Why wait? Plan your San Francisco escape with The Westin St. Francis today.

You’d better hurry, as this deal is only available thru February 28th, 2007 !

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Thinking Of Heading To San Francisco For A Golf Vacation?

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My friends over at Perfect Escapes have gotten together with 4 and 5 Star hotels and created some of the finest golf vacations to some of the world’s best golf resorts and spas.

Today we’d like to focus on Florida.

Click thru and look at the special deals that await you in The Sunshine State, where my former home of Pensacola Beach is located.

Diplomat Country Club & Spa

Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa

From their website:

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offers luxurious accommodations, magnificent views, and an experience sure to inspire renewal. From our infinity pool with waterfalls to the marina, shops, tennis, golf and white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, endless options encourage complete tranquility and a sense of rejuvenation.

Westin Diplomat guests also enjoy access to all of the facilities and services of the Diplomat Country Club and Spa – including the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course and the full-service Spa at The Diplomat – plus complimentary shuttle service between the two properties.

And now, you can combine all of these world-class offerings into one luxurious escape. The South Florida Pamper & Putt package includes:

- Overnight accommodations in a spacious guestroom with magnificent views
- One round of golf at the Diplomat Country Club championship course
- One 50-minute Diplomat Massage at the Spa at The Diplomat

Better yet, these added amenities are available nightly — you’ll receive an additional round of golf and massage treatment for each night of your stay.

I’m thinking Florida’s the place to be … Hollywood, Florida to be specific !

Tomorrow I’ll have an exclusive offer for you from the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, so stay tuned and subscribe to my RSS feed.

Post from: Travelling Golfer

Would You Like To Plan A Perfect Escape To A Golf Resort?

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