One sport that has always been popular but is gaining popularity with each year with people of all ages is golf. Many folks are planning a golf vacation to enjoy and practice getting better with this sport. This sport is great for many reasons and here are some of those reasons:

1) It can be played with other people or you can tee off on your own and meet people as you go. You can also remain on your own and practice your swing at a driving range.

2) It is competitive but in a very fun way!

3) Golf is great exercise and because it is usually played outdoors, you will also get plenty of fresh air!

4) At one time, golf used to be a very expensive game to play but nowadays, you can get the gear required at lower prices and some golf courses offer 9-hole or 18-hole play for a discount to members.

If you want to start playing golf, the best way to start is by getting a friend who knows the game to tag along with you to a local driving range to show you the basics. When you have these basics down, you can start purchasing your own clubs and gear or you can rent out gear at the course for an extra fee.

You can purchase all the gear you will need including your golf irons at any sports store and even some department stores. When you are ready, ask to go along with some friends to a 9-hole- or 18-hole course so you can watch them play and learn some more rules of the game and maybe even join in yourself if you feel ready. It is probably best to start out on a 9-hold course the first few times you play.

A round of golf is a great way to unwind after a hard day at the office or to enjoy a warm summer day on the weekend. Make sure you bring along sunscreen, water, snacks and layered clothing to ensure that are comfortable all day long on the course. Golf may look like a laid-back sport when you watch it on the television but once you start playing this fun and very active game, you will realize it is quite the opposite!

Please join me at my golf blog where I cover everything from your next golf vacation to choosing your golf irons for improved performance.

However, if your personal brand of relaxation also includes playing a round or two of golf, then you could not find a better location.

The Scottish Borders boasts more than 20 courses, allowing you to take your pick from championship greens and famous fairways located in picturesque scenery.

If you want to play golf in Scotland, there are a couple of courses in the area that you should not miss.

The Roxburghe is one of these, with its par 72 course challenging some of the biggest names in the game.

You can tell its pedigree when you see that the course record is currently held by Sergio Garcia, who completed the 18 holes with a par 66.

It is also rated as one of the five best inland golfing locations in Scotland, making this one place that you should certainly add to your itinerary.

Cardrona is another green that should not be missed by avid golfers. Although it is one of the newest courses in the region – it was designed in 2001 by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas – that does not take anything away from its prominence in the sport.

Three European golfing events have been held at Cardrona since it opened and it has been described as “the Gleneagles of the south”, which should tell you all you need to know about this particular green.

You could always stay in a Scottish golf hotel if your sole reason for visiting the Scottish Borders is to spend as much time on the fairways as possible.

But if you are concerned that staying in a golf resort could limit your choice of courses to play on then you should look into the Freedom of the Fairways pass that is available.

This passport will give you access to most of the top greens in the area over a three or five-day period.

So, whether you want to warm up on some of the nine-hole courses before moving on to tackle the more challenging 18-hole greens, or just head for the nearest fairway, there will be options available to you.

If you’re looking for golf in Scotland visit Luxury Scotland to book your Scottish golf hotel.

Visit Luxury Scotland for luxury hotels, golf resorts, luxury spa hotels, country house hotels and other destinations that we believe reflect Luxury Scotland and experience the very best of Scotland.

The Nullabor Links is in the Australian Outback and stretches 1365km (850 miles) from Ceduna in South Australia, along the Eyre Highway to Kalgoorlie- Boulder in Western Australia’s Goldfields. Project Manager Alf Caputo was one of many enthusiastic golfers to tackle the course on the opening day.

“It’s been a fabulous journey,” he said. “It’s been a hell of a lot of fun coming across. We started five years ago with a dream and the dream has become a reality. The idea was to attract tourists and golfers who wanted to experience “the real Australia”. There’s some absolutely amazing scenery and before Nullabor Links there was no magnet to bring people out there to have a look at these beautiful things.”

What’s is the experience like? If you hit the ball like Tiger Woods you’ll be in your element. It is a golf course that requires a driver on every hole.

The holes are so far apart you will have to drive or be transported from one to the next and are likely to encounter some native Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, bush turkeys, emus, snakes and flies on your way. One of the holes is in the middle of a sheep station, complete with shearing shed. The course also passes through wheat farming areas in South Australia.

“You can imagine international tourists, particularly from England, Japan and China, who have never seen anything like it in their lives.” Mr Caputo said.

How long does it take?

You will need to allow 3 or 4 days to complete the par-72 course and you will be awarded a certificate at the end. Driving time between the holes varies from 45 minutes to two and a half hours. You can stop at one roadhouse, play a hole, then drive on to the next tee, 50 miles or 80km down the road. Some distances are even greater.

The holes themselves are in some rather strange locations.Some are alongside long featureless stretches of the Eyre Highway and some are positioned near petrol stations. And they’re not natural grass greens. Like many rural golf courses in Australia, due to the lack of water, a few greens are sand, stabilised with oil. Once you get used to them, they are easy to play on. Other greens are artificial turf.

As Alf Caputo proudly says: “It’s not just a game of golf, it’s a true Australian experience.”

Graeme Lanham is a travel writer with a passion for Australia. His readers love his personal anecdotes and descriptions on the best places to see and experiences to enjoy. Secret places mainstream travellers never know. Visit his website at http://www.traveltipsaustralia.com

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His blog at http://traveltipsaustralia.com/travelblog/ gives his readers FREE valuable information, tips, best deals and interesting articles highlighting the best of Australia.

Golf Holidays- Plan Well

There are many ways to approach the planning aspect of a golf vacation. Begin by first deciding how many people will accompany you on the trip. The trip will depend a great deal on whether it is family accompanying you, or friends with interests other than golf, or just a set of golfers looking to play on new greens. Next, communicate with the resort or club you are planning to go to; the manager can help secure your tee times to your convenience and also take care of the lodging details. For an enjoyable trip, combine your own planning with that of a travel agent or a professional dealing with golf tours.

If your golfing destination requires air travel, you would need to confirm with the airlines about the transportation of the golf equipment. It is quite possible you would have to pay extra for the shipping charges when checking in the clubs.

Choosing a Destination

There are more than 31,000 golf courses in the world; those best for golf holidays are in England, USA and Scotland. Some of the most fun golf resorts can be found in Spain, Portugal, Canada and Australia. For a relaxed vacation with no worries related to creating an itinerary, try booking a golf package- a comprehensive vacation plan in which all you need to do is pick a location and pack your bags to reach there. There are golf tour packages available for any destination in the world; you can be teeing off in the golden sunlight and blue skies of Algarve, or playing in the historical land of Scotland. These packages can be picked depending on the number of days you can spare for this great game. Choose one which suits your budget and time schedule.

These tours are available in attractive prices too. The package generally takes care of the accommodation and the basic golf course facilities. The prices and offers also vary with season, the golf course and the type of accommodation. Thus, whether a short drive away or a flight to a distant land, your golfing spree could be the most refreshing holiday you had in a while. Go, Tee off in style!

For any help on Golf holidays, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Sunshine coast golf!

Robina Woods: This golf course is a six thousand and seventy eight hundred meter long course. It was designed by the famous designers Graham Marsh and Ross Watson. It was opened for playing in the year 1989. It also features among top 30 Australian courses. This golf course has been carved out of the sixty five acres of native woodlands. The golf course looks absolutely exquisite with gum trees towering all along the fairways. The layout of this golf course is absolutely unique and different from any other golf course anywhere. It is absolutely water proof and is open for playing all the year round.

The Glades: Take a golf trip to this golf course. It is a six thousand four hundred and twenty meter long course built on sixty five acres of land. It was designed by the Golf Champion Greg Norman. It boasts of a superb agronomy that is difficult to get anywhere else. The grass of this course has a tropical bent which has been specially developed by the designer himself. The grass has a superior putting surface all the year round.

Brooke Water: This golf course is built amidst the lush green Australian bushland. It is built in the classic Norman style. The natural surroundings have not been disturbed much. Instead the designing has been done in such a way that the entire natural flora and the waterway have become a part of the golf course in a spectacular way. The landscaping and the varied terrain of the golf course make it stand out among all the Australian Golf courses.

Hop Islands: This golf course has been designed by the famous designer Peter Thompson. It has been ranked number one golf course in Australia by two leading Golf magazines of Australia. The golf course has beautiful fairways which seem to be rising and falling. The bunkers look so natural as if they have been created by the wind and the rain.

Gold coast golf packages: There are several websites which provide great golf packages. You can search these websites and find out if they provide packages for Golf coast Golf tours. There are several advantages of going for golf packages. Some of them are listed below.

1. They will reserve a tee time around the same time as requested by you.
2. They will book holes of golf, motorized car, green fees as well as daily transport.
3. They will provide you with secure storage for all your clubs during the whole duration of your trip.

Accommodation: These packages will include booking of accommodation. The service providers ensure that you get an accommodation near to the place where all the action is.

These packages include personalized service. They will modify the package as per your requirements. So, what are you waiting for? Avail these packages for a superb golfing experience on world’s best golf courses.

For any help on Robina woods, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Golf trip!

Take time to get to the course early and hit the driving range to loosen up before you play, because you are then need your game when you play these two challenging 18 hole golf courses. Make sure you putt on the practice greens, since these are some of the fastest greens in all of Florida, and you will easily drop a few shots if you are not aware of the speed of the greens.

When you arrive at the golf courses, you will be greeted with the world class Walt Disney World type hospitality, the norm is that they will take your clubs and clean them before they put them on the golf carts. The cards have a very nice GPS system on them that makes matching up the distance to the pin very convenient. The time you can expect to play is about 4 1/2 to 5 hours for an 18 hole course. This is about normal or slightly longer than normal which is not hard to believe since the courses are usually very busy, and if you have not played them before they are very attractive but at the same time difficult for the high handicap golfer.

Lake Buena Vista is considered the most forgiving and easier to play of the four 18 hole courses that Disney offers. This is the original golf course that was built in 1971 when the Walt Disney World complex first open to the public and was host to the PGA tour before the Disney tournament was moved over to the Palm and Magnolia

Osprey Ridge is another beautiful 18 hole course that Disney that is for the long hitters and should not be taken lightly because of the hazards and the quick greens. If you are flying the front tees at Osprey Ridge it is possible to have a low score since the greens seem to hold onto the ball when you approach. This is the newest 18 hole course and for some reason seems to get the least play all the courses.

The Oak Trail is a nine hole walking course that is a very forgiving course and is more fun to play for the beginner golfer or someone who wants more wide open course that allows them to enjoy the game of golf and to get a nice help you walk at the same time. This is the least expensive of the courses and is a favorite among many players who only have a chance to get in a quick nine every other day while they are going to the theme park on the other days.

All the courses offer somewhere to eat and drink and they offer an after 2 PM discount rate. For Disney vacation club members there is a 50% off card that you can purchase and use each year if you plan on playing a lot of golf this can save you some money and should be considered if you are a DVC member.

Tom loves to golf, visit and travel in Florida. If you want you can check out his website about Plaid Golf Pants and Plaid Golf Shorts at PlaidGolfPants.net

Beyond that, family and business-friendly resorts and miles of lush professional golf courses are sure to thrill any sporting enthusiast, while nature lovers can appreciate the grandeur of the natural surroundings. Come to watch the sun sink below the red rock valleys each night, and marvel at the colossal cliffs of exposed earth from the terrace of one of Arizona’s numerous luxury golf hotels.

Where to Stay in Arizona

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: In true Arizona style, this luxury golf hotel in the heart of Scottsdale is an oasis of decadence on a truly grand scale. Leave everything up to the Fairmont’s top-notch staff, which includes a team of golf concierges to offer suggestions and arrange tee times. Then, unwind after a day on the course in the Willow Stream Spa, which has been ranked among the top hotel spas in North America. This family-friendly establishment also offers a host of amenities for all ages to enjoy, including five swimming pools, a fitness centre, miniature golf and a children’s lagoon.

Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort: Located 45 minutes outside of downtown Phoenix, one of the country’s renowned golf hotels offers all of the charm and beauty of Arizona without the noise and bustle of the city. Stay in the John Wayne or Pat Boone suites, both named after former patrons of this historic establishment, or any of their other guest rooms with balconies overlooking the expansive champion golf course. Indulge in one of the hotel’s array of massage treatments including the Golfer’s Massage, specially designed to treat golf-specific strains and improve your swing.

What to Do in Arizona

The Grand Canyon: No trip to Arizona is complete without visiting the Grand Canyon. The 277-mile chasm of rock is an awe-inspiring national treasure revealing millennia of geological history. While the site is worth simply looking at, there are plenty of recreational activities to take part in and around the Grand Canyon, including white water rafting, hiking, running and helicopter tours among others. Within the Grand Canyon National Park, one of the oldest parks in North America, this natural phenomenon draws thousands of visitors each year.

Shopping: Take a break from the dessert heat and splurge a little with some shopping at one of Arizona’s 20 high end malls featuring everything from Banana Republic to Cartier. Or stray a little from the designer path, by stopping by one of the traditional Western trading posts selling authentic Native American crafts.

Tom Ingrams is a travel writer who specialises in the higher end of the market. On a recent trip to Arizona he stayed in some of the finest golf hotels the area had to offer.

I like Lanzarote (the eastern most of the island chain) the best because of their commitment to the environment. Those extinct seals are just one of the many examples of the way that man has adversely impacted the island ecosystem. Lanzarote cares about the native flora and fauna and they put their money where their mouth is.

The golf courses are actually a great example of the eco-commitment. Both golf courses are designed with native plants, which keeps the water usage low. The whole of Lanzarote has been subjected to volcanic activity (most recently in the 1700s, so don’t worry) and the areas of volcanic landscape have been preserved and celebrated within the golf course designs. On more than one hole, you are practically playing on the volcano itself. An awesome experience.

The first Lanzarote golf course was the Costa Teguise, which opened in 1978. It’s an 18 hole course, par 72, designed by John Harris. It sits at the foot of a volcano. On this course players will need to bring all their clubs into play. The greens a re varied and there are some fun doglegs. Costa Teguise is both challenging to skilled players and enjoyable for someone of my (lower) skill level. It’s just a beautiful place. There are accommodations close to the course, such as the Occidental Oasis, the Gran Melia Salinas, and the Coronas Playa.

Recently the Lanzarote Golf Resort opened just outside Puerto del Carmen. It’s an 18 hole, 72 par course. American golf course designer Ron Kirby created the course. The location is amazing. The course is nestled in the hills overlooking Puerto del Carmen. The Atlantic ocean is the backdrop for the wonderful landscaping.

Let’s talk about the weather. Because Lanzarote is so close to Africa, the climate is temperate. The days are very mild, all year round. 70 degrees every day might be a bit of an exaggeration, but when you’re leaving ice-bound Buffalo for a winter vacation, are you going to quibble about a couple of degrees or a few clouds?

Golf is a great sport. Young or old, duffer or better, it’s a great way to get some exercise and some sunshine! Plan a little holiday that combines some much needed sunshine with some time on the greens. From Europe flights are laughably cheap. From the states, you’ll pay a couple hundred, round trip, or for the West Coast, closer to a thousand. Fun and sun are yours for the asking in Lanzarote.

A Lanzarote golf holiday could be yours! Work on that mid-winter tan!