Previously open only to members and their guests, you can now play Superstition Mountain GC's courses on Arizona golf vacations: Prospector (above) and Lost Gold.
If there’s a Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona golf vacation in your future, you’ll wan to read this tip before you choose the lineup of courses you’re going to play.
The private Superstition Mountain Golf Club, located about 35 miles east of Phoenix, has decided to allow daily-fee play on both of its Nicklaus Design golf courses, called “Prospector” and “Lost Gold,” on a rotational basis. Read more →
New Orleans golf vacations must include a round at TPC Louisiana, a Pete Dye design.
With so many other big draws — music, food, architecture…your industry’s trade show/convention — I’ll concede that you’re probably not going to take a New Orleans golf vacation so much as you might play a round or two while you’re on vacation (or a business trip) in New Orleans.
So, the obvious question is, if you’re only going to play once or twice, which are the best New Orleans golf courses to play?
Well, included in your options are a golf course that currently hosts the PGA Tour’s annual stop in The Big Easy and a private layout that previously hosted it. Here’s the one that the experts at Golf Odyssey recommend. Read more →
There's a new, private resort planned for Scotland golf vacations, but only billionaires need apply.
The money required to become a member of a planned, two-course Scotland golf resort will be too much even for Tiger Woods, says Malcom James, its developer.
According to a recent article in Scotland’s Press & Journal newspaper, “[James] boasted that while Tiger Woods will be welcome to play at the championship courses as a guest, the world’s wealthiest sporting superstar won’t be rich enough to secure membership.” Read more →
Private golf courses, such as Sankaty Head, above, can be played by non-members on fall golf vacations.
One thing Golf Odyssey’s editors love to do is tip readers off about opportunities to play top private golf courses while on golf vacations…and how to do it without invitations from members. The latest installment of this regular feature, appearing in the recently published September 2009 issue, focuses on Cape Cod, Mass.
This region, including the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, is one of America’s favorite summertime retreats (just ask the Obamas, who recently vacationed there). It’s also an excellent destination for golf vacations, especially in autumn. The weather is generally delightful, summertime crowds and traffic are long gone, and prices are much more reasonable.
Perhaps more importantly, many of the region’s top private courses open up to non-member play. Read more →
How’s this for a good day: I had breakfast at Baltusrol and lunch at Oakmont. Dinner tonight is at Merion, and, if I don’t explode, I’ll have dessert at East Lake.
No, I’m not a member of any of these exclusive private golf courses. Nor do I know any members. I don’t have access to a private jet, either. Let me explain.
As you may know, some of the top private golf clubs in America serve signature dishes that are nearly as famous as their golf courses.
Baltusrol has its amazing blueberry pancakes. Oakmont’s Big Mouth Sandwich is a Pittsburg Primanti that some say outshines the original. Merion’s Shepherd’s Pie is, in a word, legendary.
Eating these culinary delights is as much a part of experiencing these clubs as playing their golf courses. You don’t visit without ordering them. It’s just not done.
The problem, of course, is getting invited to visit in the first place. Well, that WAS the problem.
Hot off the press is a new book that reveals the signature dishes at 50 of the top private golf courses and resorts in America. And here’s the best part: recipes are included, so you can enjoy them whenever you want. Read more →
Today, I’m writing about the area of New Jersey where I spent nearly every summer since I was born: Atlantic City.
Formerly private, the William Flynn-designed (and Tom Doak restored) Atlantic City CC is one of the best two courses to play on Atlantic City golf vacations.
As you probably know, some very hip, upscale restaurants, hotels, and casinos have opened (or have been renovated) in A.C. in recent years, contributing to the town’s gradual makeover. Rail service from New York City has also recently been re-established.
Atlantic City golf as always been strong, and in a minute, you’ll see why now might be the best time to take an Atlantic City golf vacation if you’ve been considering one. Read more →
Like other state golf associations, the Northern California Golf Association provides access (and discounts) to top public and private golf courses.
There’s a good article in the current (August 2009) issue of Golf Digest explaining how joining a state golf association can get you access to certain private golf courses and high-end daily-fee layouts.
Of course, that’s not news to regular readers of this blog, but the article does a nice job of providing additional concrete examples of what various state golf associations offer in the way of access to high-end public and private golf courses.
Read more →
Golf Odyssey subscribers have one chance to play the private Renaissance Club on their Scotland golf vacations.
You won’t find many strict, members-only courses on a Scotland golf vacation, but a new one located outside Edinburgh, next to the well-known course at Muirfield, is one of them. Here’s how you can play it on your Scotland golf vacation and why you should jump at the opportunity.
First, some perspective. This course (sorry, I can’t divulge it’s name here) is Tom Doak’s first design in the “home of golf.”
Doak, who caddied at St. Andrews in college and took a seven-month sabbatical to study all the great courses in the UK and Ireland, designed Oregon’s Pacific Dunes, New Zealand’s Cape Kidnappers, Tasmania’s Barnbougle Dunes, and other greats. Enough said. Read more →
