Golf courses in Louisiana

Naturally, a US state will be home to a number of golf courses. The State of Louisiana is no exception. To narrow down the field, I will only look at some of the best the State has to offer.

A new golf course in Louisian is that of Santa Maria Golf Club which opened in 2006. It's an 18 hole, 6,969 yarder, with a par of 72. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, the course has been praised for its value. It includes a number of water hazards, and has silky smooth greens.

If seeking more of a challenge, the Carter Plantation might be of interest. At 7, 049 yards the course is longer and has a rating of 74. It has hard greens, and difficult bunkers to escape from. It has won a few awards, most notably GolfWeek Magazine's 2005 Best Public-Access Course in Louisiana award.

For a Links style course, you may wish to try Links on the Bayou golf course - par 72, with a 6,879 yardage. Although perhaps not the most scenic course in Louisiana the course is very well maintained, and provides excellent value. Be warned of the wind, for the course does not provide so much shelter!

Koasati Pines at Coushatta golf course is an 18-hole course with a lot of distance. As a par 72 with 7,617 yards, you can be sure of a good walk! The course has excellent maintenance, and features a number of risk-reward type holes.

The Audubon Park Golf Course can offer a test. The course has a rating of 64, and boasts some very challenging par 3s. It also has small greens that are well guarded by bunkers.

The Gemstone Plantation Golf Course, is a 6, 657 yard course which is great value. At less than $30 dollars you can get a full round here. A very well maintained course, with immaculate greens and great scenery to boot it is well worth a trip.

English Turn Golf Course has been described as a must play course in the New Orleans area. With approx 7,000 yards, it offers a fun challenge. At English Turn each hole is different, with undulating greens, and the 18th hole has been rated as one of the hardest on the PGA Tour. So, you might want to give the Nicklaus designed course a go.

The Squire Creek Golf Course is also worthy of note. A par 72, with 7,100 yards, which rates highly in all areas. In 2006, it was awarded Golf Magazine's Top Rated Golf Course in Louisiana.

Of course, there are many more golf courses in the state of Louisiana. But these courses, are some of the more highly rated golf courses within the location. Well maintained, with good facilities, these Louisiana courses should provide a good enough round for golfers in the area.

Golf Vacation Destinations: The Costa Del Sol

The Costa Del Sol is a region in the south of Spain that is a great golf vacation destination. The Costa Del Sol has approximately 70 golf courses along its Mediterranean coastline, and some great golf vacation resorts. Malaga and Marbella are two of the cities in the Costa Del Sol with sandy beaches and excting golf courses. Among the most famous golf courses in the Costa Del Sol is that of the Vaderrama golf course which has hosted some great golf championships such as the Ryder Cup.

Whilst Vaderrama is a private golf course, there are plenty of exciting public golf courses at the Costa Del Sol. Among them is the Marbella Golf and Country Club, which is located in Marbella! This resort's course is an 18 hole par 72 that is a relatively short 5867 yards from the white tee box. The course was designed by  R Trent Jones, and has a variety of lakes set alongside its rolling green hills and olive trees. The course rates can vary from 65 euros to 49.

Check out the Marbella Golf and Country Club website for further details. Or alternatively, the Costa Del Sol website is also worth noting.

Golf Travel Websites

There are a variety of great golf resorts in the United States and Europe. Golf resorts such as Pebble Beach Resort and Pinehurst have top class golf courses which have hosted Major championships. As such, there are also a number of great online resources. Read Golf Travel Websites.

Golf Desktop Icons

After you've added a golf theme, such as this one, you can further customize your desktop with golf desktop icons. Look no further than the golf desktop icon pack, which you can find further details on here. Then, the following golf desktop icons can be added to your desktop.   

Alternatively, you can also find some further golf desktop icons here. To change any desktop icon, right-click it and then select properties. Then select change desktop icon, open the folder which includes your golf desktop icons and select a golf desktop icon.

The History of the Masters Golf Tournament

While the Masters may not have quite the history of the British Open, in respect of length at least, the tournament still holds a special place in golfers' hearts. Since it began in 1934 it has become renowned for its quality, and has established itself as one of the world's best golf tournaments, if not the best. Read The history of the Masters Golf Tournament.

The 200 ft Golf Putt

"For example, you may be surprised how far you can putt a golf ball. In very dry conditions you can certainly putt over 25 yards and potentially up to the 50 yard mark." That's what I said in this previous Amateur Golfer blog post. In actual fact, you can putt a golf ball even further than 50 yards as this fantastic golf putt highlights. 

What a putt! This 200 ft putt covers approximately 66.66 yards on the green. So, who needs to chip from off the green? 

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Robert Trent Jones is a famous golf course designer. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama is one of the largest golf construction projects attempted. The 11 golf clubs stretch from the Lakewood Golf Club in the south, to the Shoals in the north. In total, the trail extends 384 miles.

Lakewood Golf Club

Starting in the south, Lakewood Golf Club is a private club with two courses comprising 36 holes. This course has undergone extensive renovations and can be considered the most recent addition to the trail. It has considerable water features, and is lined with 200-year old oak trees.

Magnolia Grove

Just beyond Lakewood, you can find Magnolia Grove. This boasts three courses, the Crossings, Falls and an 18-hole par 3 known as the Short Course. The Short Course is regarded as one of the best par 3s in America while the longer ones are championship courses.

Highland Oaks

Highland Oaks is special for its 9-hole courses. It has four golf courses in total, with three championship courses and a short par-3 course which is most notable for its putting greens and bunkers.

Cambrian Ridge

The Cambrian Ridge also focuses on 9-hole courses. Take a look at The Sherling Trail, which may well be the best nine on the trail. The ninth hole features an uphill hole with a deep ravine, and shares a double green with Canyon's nine.

Capital Hill

Capital Hill, as the name suggests, does have a certain theme. With three courses appropriately named: The Senator, The Legislator and The Judge. These are three 18-hole championship courses, with The Senator having a Scottish style links layout.

Grand National Club

If looking for a longer par 3 course, the Grand National Club will be worth a look. It has an 18-hole par 3 course, in addition to two 18-hole championship courses. The links course is the cornerstone course, and has perhaps the hardest finishing hole on the trail. Spanning across a lake on the left, the tee shot requires a shot across the left side to make the fairway.

Ross Bridge

Ross Bridge has just the one 18-hole links course, the fewest number of holes for any club on the trail. It is designed for tournament play and has considerable elevation changes, combined with water and natural hazards, to provide a test.

Oxmoor Valley

For scenic forests, and numerous creeks, you might consider trying Oxmoor Valley. It boasts 56 holes, across three 18-hole courses. The short course provides elevation changes, and many downhill holes.

Silver Lakes

Silver Lakes provides four 9-hole golf courses. With some especially scenic golf, the Heart-breaker nine is considered to be the most challenging nine on the trail from the pro tees.

Hampton Cove

Hampton Cove has three golf courses on offer. The most unique of these is the River Course, the only Robert Trent course without a single bunker!

The Shoals

This brings us to the furthest northern course on the trail - The Shoals. It has two 18-hole courses, and Fighting Joe is an especially long one. As the first on the trail to break 8,000 yards, it is long trek.

These 11 golf clubs provide a number of fantastic championship and short courses for the average golfer to try their hand. Be careful on the harder ones, they are not ideal for the beginner, but the shorter courses can be suitable. One thing is certain; you will not be lost for choice, for the trail has a total of 26 golf courses on its 11 sites! Check out the Trent Jones Trail website for further details. 

The Best Golf Courses beyond the United States

I have included a few of Golf Digest's fascinating golf course rankings on this blog, and here is another. These are the top 10 golf courses beyond the United States:

1. Royal County Down G.C. Newcastle, N. Ireland
2. St. Andrews Links (Old) St. Andrews, Scotland
3. Muirfield Gullane, Scotland
4. Royal Portrush G.C. (Dunluce): Portrush, N. Ireland
5. Turnberry Resort (Ailsa) Turnberry, Scotland
6. Royal Dornoch G.C. (Championship) Dornoch, Scotland
7. Ballybunion G.C. (Old) Ballybunion, Ireland
8. Carnoustie G. Links (Championship) Carnoustie, Scotland
9. New South Wales G.C. Sydney, Australia
10. Sunningdale G.C. (Old) Sunningdale, England

As such, Royal County Down G.C. in Newcastle N.Ireland is ranked the best course beyond the United States. This is one of the older golf courses set in the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains that dates back to the 19th century, is just over 7,000 yards in length and has some great holes.

There are also plenty more UK courses which dominate the list, and most are links golf courses with plenty of sand. Of these, Scotland has the most in the top 100 with 17 courses in total. Only one from beyond the British Isles is included in the top 10, and that is New South Wales golf course in Australia.

The 1,410 feet Tee-Shot

Yup, that's right, this par-3 hole includes a tee at the top of a mountain with a 1,410 feet elevated tee-shot. Check out the video below for further details. 

Or you can visit the Legend Golf & Safari Resort where the hole is located. Here you can gain a glimpse of the mountain which dominates the course's skyline.

Golf Vacation Destinations: Pinehurst Resort

Pinehurst Resort, in North Carolina, is a golf resort which boasts up to eight golf courses. Prominent golf course architects such as Rees Jones, Ross, and Fazio have all played a hand in the design of the Pinehurst golf courses. As such, the resort certainly does not lack variety. The no 2 is the championship golf course that has staged a few Majors. Other courses, such as the first which dates back to 1898, are also more historic and have classic designs.

You can take your pick from the variety of golf courses. However, Pinehurst is not just about golf, with tennis courts, lawn sports, wine festivals, and the Pinehurst Beach Club which is a 200 acre private freshwater lake. Spa and fitness suite are also available, along with dining options such as the 1895 Grille. As such, Pinehurst has a variety of packages including golf, spa, and other recreational options linked with its accommodation options.

The Pinehurst No.2 sign. The first line, "I sincerely believe this course to be the fairest test of championship golf I have ever designed."

T-Rex at St Andrew's Old Course

Yes, strange though it may sound, a T-Rex has been spotted at St Andrew's Old Course! Golfers fled in panic as the T-Rex stormed up to the famous Swilcan Bridge, and then the R&A club house. However, one golfer that survived to tell the tale did manage to take a fantastic photograph of the T-Rex at St Andrews. And here it is:

The T-Rex at St Andrews!

This dinosaur photograph can be added to your desktop as desktop wallpaper. Check out this website for further details.

Bridgewater Golf Course, Lakeland, Florida

The Bridgewater golf course is an exciting new Florida course, in Lakeland, that was opened in 2007. Designed by Steve Symers, it is a links style golf course with 18 superb holes.

When Symers designed this course, he wanted to create a long golf course, which would provide a test for longer hitting players. Certainly, the course comes with some formidable par 5s. The longest hole is 583 yards off the black tee, while hole 3 has a lengthy maximum of 267-yards. Overall, the course measures 7,200 yards. The green complexes are also large, at approximately 10,000 square feet.

The course has a risk-reward approach, particularly around some of the greens. Heart-break ridge has become an example of this, and is considered the signature hole. It has an elevated green, which is surrounded by water on the left, and a deep bunker on the right. Likewise, it is almost a 500-yard par 4.

It offers a strategic challenge also. The risk-reward nature of the course creates various shot-options and routes to the hole. In many respects, this was as Symers intended.

The course has a good location, and as Symers put it, will actually turn into a nature conservancy as well. The course does indeed have a fair amount of wildlife to mix in with the golf.

It has 5 tees for players of all levels. These range from the shortest white tees, to the longest black championship tees. Players can pick the tee they feel best suits them, and play from there.

Rates at the course vary. The regular maximum rate is $60 dollars, before 2 pm. Off peak, after 2 p.m. the rate drops to $30. However, for a Florida resident it is only $25 dollars of peak. Better still, a Bridgewater player's card gives further reductions down to $15 dollars for an off peak round. A 10 round pass is also available.

The course is also next to a good club-house, which is well stocked. It includes a pro shop, plus a snack area and lounge and an impressive expansive patio. Equally, the practise facilities are upscale with target greens, short game with sand bunker and putting green.

Since opening, the course has been widely acclaimed. Golf Week Magazine has given it its seal of approval, rating it as one of the top 100 golf courses you can play.

Certainly this course should not be missed. It offers a good location, with moderate rates and a lengthy course with interesting design features.

Two, Three and Four-Piece Golf Balls

There are three types of golf balls which you can use on the golf course. These are the two, three and four piece golf balls. These golf balls have different aerodynamic properties due to their different designs.

To begin with, there is the two-piece golf ball which most will be familiar with. This is the most standard golf ball as they are the cheapest. These balls provide greater backspin, and therefore will travel further than the alternatives.

However, on the PGA Tour three-piece golf balls are favored. These golf balls are softer than two-piece golf balls, and have a core surrounded by a mantle. As such, even though they may not go so far they provide greater maneuverability than your average two-piece balls. So, they can be more accurate than two-piece golf balls. 

Four-piece golf balls are an enhancement on three-piece balls. They have more advanced designs with liquid cores, and so are usually the most highly valued golf balls. These balls are more likely to drop and stop on the green than a two-piece golf ball which could stop somewhat further from the hole.

So, it’s worth noting whether a golf ball is a two, three or four-piece golf ball. Check the golf ball details on their boxes which should highlight whether it is two, three or four-piece ball. Although, the majority are two piece golf balls with an emphasis on greater ball spin and distance that could ensure an extra few yards are covered on the course. 

The Gunpowder Golf Shot

Check out this gunpowder golf shot video!

What is the difference between Pitching and Chipping?

There are in fact a number of differences between pitching and chipping. These relate to set up, loft, club selection and distance of shot.

The overall set ups are not the same. The chip shot requires the feet to be closer together, and the ball placed towards the heel of the right foot. Likewise, the pitch shot actually has the ball placed more centrally and a wider stance. The club is also gripped lighter with the pitch.

Also required with a pitch, is a more open stance. Usually this should be at an angle, while the chip shot stance has to remain square to the target line.

After this, the chip requires a smaller swing than the pitch shot. With a pitch shot, the swing also involves using your wrists and a lighter grip. With a chip, this is not so much the case.

Club selection for the chip shots can be more flexible. You can use irons to chip with, as well as the wedges. With pitching, the loft required for the shot only makes the wedge clubs suitable for the shot.

Because of this, the actual shots are not that similar. The chip will have far less loft, and will roll along the ground a good distance before stopping. In contrast, a pitch is entirely air-born, with far greater loft and very little roll on the ground. As such, the chip shot is shorter in distance than the pitch shot, which can be used beyond 50 yards.

The greater roll of the chip makes it ideal for a short shot onto the green from within 25 yards. Usually, when it touches the green, the ball will roll on the green towards the flag like a putt. Likewise, its more limited loft means it escapes the wind more easily than with a pitch shot.

Without a great deal of loft, however, it is no good if an obstacle is in the way like a bunker. Here, the loft of the pitch shot will clear it, and touch down on the green behind. This makes the pitch more useful for getting over other close obstacles also, like bushes.

The pitch is also good for escaping long grass. The steep swing and loft of the wedges will cut through the grass and scoop the ball back onto the fairway. Here, you can open up the club face also, which will increase the loft of the shot a little.

Overall, the pitch shot is more difficult to do accurately. With the wind blowing, getting the ball close the green can best be done with a chip shot. Even without, pitch shots can be less accurate. For this reason, it's always better to chip when possible.

The Top Golf Courses in Southern California

California is home to sun, surfers and golf courses! It has its fair share, and the best golf courses in southern California are undoubtedly something special. While it is tricky to pick a best from such a diverse group of courses, there are a few that stand out.

While the famous Pebble Beach may be northern California's gem, Pelican Hills is often said to be the southern equivalent. Located in Newport Beach, Pelican Hill is a public resort course on the sea. It has wonderful views, and is a links style course.

A classic old-style course, Indian Wells country club gives you course with some spectacular twists. Located near the rocky mountains, it has some interesting features such as plunging hills on fairways. While it may not be the longest course, at 6, 478 yards it will certainly provide an entertaining round.

The Oak Quarry golf club has a unique golf course. A course built into a rock quarry, which is visually stunning with rock framing holes. For an inland course, it's a remarkable feet of golf design. The 14th golf hole is particularly impressive, with a 400ft-limestone wall towering over the hole. It is regarded as one of the best holes in California.

For a top value course, you might not find any better than in southern California than Barona Creek. For $50 dollars, you can get a round at a course that stretches out over rolling terrain, and has some of the fastest greens you might well come across.

The Torry Pines Municipal golf Course, is one of the most highly regarded in the southern California state. It is a public course, and has excellent coastline views along its 7,607 yards. It has featured in a number of golf magazines' top golf course rankings, making the top 10 on a few occasions.

Torry Pines Golf Course

If you must push for a number one golf course in southern California, then perhaps Mountain Course at La Quinta. Located next to the Santa Rose peaks, it is a resort course that can make for a good vacation point. The mountain vistas link to the fairways, making accuracy very important. For what it is worth, the course has been said by some to be the best golf course in California not just the south. Strong acclaims, when competing with courses like Pebble beach.

So, southern California may well have some of the best courses you will find not only in California, but also anywhere. The courses described here are amongst the most notable in the region, and the Mountain Course is perhaps the best on offer.

Fantasy Golf

There are a number of fantasy golf games that you can register with online. These fantasy golf games are pretty similar in that you select a group of golfers with a fixed budget, and then when the golf season begins the golfers accumulate points in relation to their PGA Tour championship finishes. Each fantasy golf game then ranks the fantasy golf teams, and those with the highest point totals will be in the prize positions.

A good example of a fantasy golf game is that of the original golf fantasy league. At their website you can register and add a team for the 2012 golf season. Or alternatively, check out the PGA Tour fantasy golf game.

Golf Vacation Destinations: Pebble Beach

The 6th Green at Pebble Beach

The golf course of Pebble Beach was first opened in 1919, and today is one of the finest golf courses in the United States. As such, it has hosted a number of top golf championships including the US Open five times, with great players such as Nicklaus, Watson, Kite, and Woods all winning at Pebble Beach.

Overall, the golf course of Pebble Beach has a pretty unique setting. Located in southern California Pebble Beach plays alongside the Pacific Ocean. The course layout brings a good number of the holes out towards the rocky coastline, with holes such as the third, fourth, and fifth running along the coast. As such, coastal wind can always be a factor in a round at Pebble Beach.

The course includes a number of tricky holes. As such, naming a signature hole is not especially obvious at Pebble Beach. However, the 8th hole is considered to be one of the hardest on the course. Although the hole has a generously wide fairway, the ocean can become something of an unwelcome companion along the entire right side of the hole with the potential for balls to fall in the sea. The hole also includes a landing area elevated on a cliff above the green, which gives a good view of the small landing target.

Other notable holes of the golf course include the short, but much loved no 7. This hole plays out from an elevated tee where players strike towards the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the green and hole generally. Distance can be deceptive on this hole, for missing the green can come at some cost.

The Pebble Beach course also had some minor changes to further enhance it for the 2010 U.S. Open. Essentially, changes have been made to the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 10th, and 12th holes by adding new bunkers to each fairway. Along with this, a couple of hundred yards were also added which has extended the course length to 7, 014 yards in total. Overall, the course modifications should make a great golf course all the better!

2011 Golf Season Round-Up

This will be the final post of the year on Amateur Golfer. As such, here is a round-up of who won the Majors in 2011, as well as the amateur golf championships the Walker Cup and U.S. Amateur Championship.

• Augusta Masters  - Schwartzel
• UK Open – Clarke
• US Open – McIlroy
• PGA Championship – Bradley
• The Walker Cup – Great Britain and Ireland
• US Amateur Championships – Hills

As such, South Africa, NI and the United States have all celebrated Major golf championship victories in 2011. NI had two Major victories which was fantastic. In the amateur game Great Britain and Ireland were victorious in the Walker Cup with a 14 to 12 victory that was another highlight. Great Britain’s team therefore regained the Walker Cup after three American victories in the last three Walker Cups. 

55 posts have also been added to Amateur Golfer in 2011. As such, also consider browsing the archives of this blog. Or alternatively, check out the author’s Helium articles via the links included on this blog.

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas this week, so why not decorate your Christmas tree with golf Christmas ornaments?  For example, you can decorate your tree with golf ball Christmas ornaments, and there are various other golf baubles that you could add to your Christmas tree. Check out the Golf Décor website which has a range of golf Christmas ornaments, or input the Google keyword, golf Christmas tree decorations. And finally, merry Christmas!

Great Coastal Golf Courses

The Monterey Coastline of Pebble Beach

Golf courses beside the coast are usually among the more exciting. They can have some great ocean holes along their respective coastlines. As such, there are some great coastal golf courses.

Pebble Beach

The famed Pebble Beach course is one of the great coastal golf courses on the Monterey coastline of California. This golf course has some fantastic ocean holes such as the 7^th par 3, and the 18^th hole which plays alongside the ocean that is rated as one golf's best finishing holes. Pebble Beach is a venue of the PGA Tour and has hosted numerous U.S. Opens as well as other golf championships. It’s also a resort course so should be great for a golf vacation!

Cypress Point

Another of the great golf courses on the Monterey coastline is that of Cypress Point, a great alternative to the Pebble Beach course that is ranked second in Golf Magazine’s course rankings. This is a 6,525 yard golf course that has some classic holes that play alongside the Pacific. Among them is the great 16^th hole, a 222 yard par three on headlands sixty feet above the sea that requires a tee shot over the sea to reach the green.

The Ocean Course

The Ocean Course is the highlight of the Kiawah Island golf resort on the eastern coastline. This championship golf course has formerly hosted the Ryder Cup. For further details on this course this previous Amateur Golfer post is worth noting.

The Mid Ocean Course

The Mid Ocean Course is scenic coastal golf course which is the best in Bermuda. The famed golf course is one of the older American courses that dates back to 1921, and has remained a great destination for golf. The course includes some great holes such as the 18^th which borders the sea. The 5^th long par 4 hole is another of the course’s highlights.

These are four great coastal golf courses and resorts at Kiawah Island, Pebble Beach and Bermuda. These courses have plenty of highlights and great coastal settings.

Golf Holidays in the Iberian Peninsula

When it comes to golf vacations the Iberian Peninsula is one of the hottest destinations. Spain and Portugal have a number of great golf vacation resorts on the coast and further inland that have a variety of golf holiday packages. Both for golf and more general vacations Spain and Portugal have plenty of highlights.

Among the notable golf resort in Spain is that of the Marbella Club Golf & Spa Resort on the Costa del Sol. This golf resort includes an 18-hole par 73 course that is located on the Mediterranean coast. It also includes a shorter 9-hole course. Further inland there is also the PGA Catalunya, a 7,200 yard course near Barcelona which has 36 holes of championship golf, and has also been ranked among the top 10 golf courses in Europe.

In Portugal there are also some great destinations for golfing vacations. The golf coast of Lisbon has numerous golf courses and some noteworthy resorts such as the Cascais golf resort.  Lisbon was also one of the IAGTO golf destinations of the year in 2007.

Among the best golf resorts of the Algarve region include Parque Da Floresta Golf & Leisure Resort in the Western Algarve. This includes the Parque Da Floresta course, a 6,295 yard par 71, which is set in rolling hills and is well placed to nearby beaches along the Algarve’s coastline. It also has various golf holiday packages.

So, you can be sure to find some great resorts in Spain and Portugal. The Marbella, Cascais, PGA Catalunya and Parque Da Floresta golf courses and resorts are just three of the noteworthy golfing destinations there. When the summer comes these resorts are meccas for golf vacations. 

End of the Golf Poll

The matchplay & strokeplay golf poll has now closed. While there were not a great number of votes in this poll, 66% voted for strokeplay as the best golf scoring format. As such, strokeplay wins the poll with two thirds of the vote!

Cold Golf Balls

When playing in the winter do not expect the ball to travel so far as in the summer. Not only will it rain more during the winter, therefore reducing ball roll, but colder weather will also reduce the distance of the ball further. As a former PGA technical director has stated in his book Dear Frank, “at 40 degrees, the ball will travel about 10 to 12 1/2 yards less than at 90 degrees," Thomas wrote.

As such, you can expect a 10 – 20 yard drop in distance.  Factor in damp courses and less ball roll and that can reduce yardages by an extra few yards as well. So, you may want to use slightly longer clubs during the winter than you might for the same tee shots in the summer.

There are also some cold weather golf balls that you might want to note such as the ColdFusion Cold Weather Golf Ball. This golf ball is a winter golf ball that is supposed to travel further during the winter season. For further details on the ColdFusion golf ball check out their website.

The Matchplay & Strokeplay Poll

At the moment Amateur Golfer's poll remains level at one one. There have not been many votes as of yet, so it would be good to have some more to ensure a winner at least. Please vote in the golf poll.

Golf Vacation Destinations: Kiawah Island

Kiawah Island is one of the hottest golf vacation destinations in North America. This resort is located off the coast of South Carolina, close to Charleston. This barrier island has five award winning championship golf courses to play at: The Ocean Course, Osprey Point, Cougar Point and Turtle Point. This will also be the venue for the 2012 PGA Tour golf championship.

Of its golf courses, the Ocean Course is probably the most famous. This is the golf course that has already hosted the ’91 Ryder Cup, and it will also be the venue for the 2012 PGA Tour championship. This is a golf course that is located on the coastline, and has lots of seaside holes along the coast. With its miles of sand dunes the course is reminiscent of seaside link golf courses in the United Kingdom. The course is some 7,356 yards long from the championship golf tees, and has one of the highest course ratings. So, it’s probably not an ideal course if you just started playing, but nonetheless there are still four other golf courses at Kiawah Island which are alternatives. 

2012 IAGTO Awards

When considering a potential golf vacation destination, take note of the IAGTO Awards. These are the official awards of the golf travel industry, and highlight some fantastic golfing destinations. The most recent destinations selected for the 2012 awards are as follows:

Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year

BULGARIA

Golf Destination of the Year - Africa, Indian Ocean & Gulf States

ABU DHABI

Golf Destination of the Year - Asia & Australasia

PATTAYA, THAILAND

Golf Destination of the Year - Europe

FIFE, SCOTLAND

Golf Destination of the Year - Latin America & The Caribbean

LOS CABOS, MEXICO

Golf Destination of the Year - North America

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Golf Resort of the Year - Europe

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Golf Resort of the Year - North America

TURNBERRY ISLE MIAMI, FLORIDA

Golf Resort of the Year - Rest of World

MISSION HILLS • HAINAN, CHINA

As such, Palm Springs and FIFE are the best destinations in North America and Europe for a golf vacation in 2012. In addition to this, the golf resorts of Turnberry and St Andrews are also well worth noting. For further details on previous winners of the IAGTO Awards, check out their website which includes full listings of previous winners. Plus, take note of Amateur Golfer’s previous poll which voted the United Kingdom as Europe’s best golf destination!

Golf Digest's Best Public Courses

Among the other Golf Digest course rankings are the best public golf course listings. These are the best golf courses that are open to the public and so do not require any membership to play at. As such, they are ideal golf vacation courses.

And Golf Digest’s best public golf course is…drum roll please… Pebble Beach! Pebble Beach in California is ranked as one of the finest golf courses in America, one of the most exciting venues on the PGA Tour that remains a resort course. Pebble Beach has hosted five great U.S. Opens, and has a great coastal setting along the Monterey coastline. It includes famous holes such as the short 7^th and the 18^th hole which plays along the ocean and is rated as one of golf’s best finishing holes. For further details on their golf vacation packages check out the Pebble Beach website.

Another notable resort courses included in the top 10 is that of the Ocean Course. The Ocean Course is one of the famed resort courses on Kiawah Island on the eastern coast. Like Pebble Beach this has also hosted PGA Tour championships as well as the Ryder Cup in 1991. This golf course has more coastal holes than any other in the northern hemisphere. 10 holes run alongside its Atlantic coastline. Along with the other courses at Kiawah Island it is another great golf vacation destination.

Another notable championship golf course in the top 10 is that of Bethpage State Park which is ranked 7^th. Bethpage has hosted two U.S. Opens golf championships, and is also great value. The course includes a variety of tees to tee-off from so its overall yardage ranges from a 7, 297 yards – 6223 from the red tees.

These are three of the great public courses included in Golf Digest’s top 10. For the full rankings, check out this page.

Strokeplay V Matchplay

As most golf fans will be aware, the two main scoring formats in golf are strokeplay and matchplay. Strokeplay is the format used in all of the Major golf championships, while matchplay is used in the Ryder Cup and other team based golf championships such as the Walker Cup. Which is the best scoring format?

Well, that’s for you to vote on in the latest Amateur Golfer poll. Do you prefer a strokeplay match with overall scoring total, or a matchplay contest in which the player who wins the most holes wins the round? For further details on the golf scoring formats check out this previous post on Amateur Golfer. 

Overall, I feel that matchplay is a touch underrated and could be included for more golfing cups. There have been some great Ryder Cups with the matchplay format, and it could be extended further for non-team golf championships. As such, matchplay gets my vote. 

White selected for French Rugby Team

Gregory White has quickly emerged as a key player for the Toulouse Olympique squad, the only French team to play in the Rugby League Championship 2011. Never before had White played a senior rugby league game in Australia before being spotted by French rugby scouts.

Now it’s an altogether different story as not only is White playing for Toulouse Olympique, but has also been selected for the French Rugby League squad for upcoming internationals with England, Wales and Ireland after some impressive try scoring form. As such, now White could be playing for France in the 2013 World Cup, possibly against the Kangaroos. For further details, check out some of the links included in this blog post.

Night Golf

Well it’s November, and that means shorter daylight hours. However, who says you cannot play night golf? In actual fact there are numerous floodlit golf courses which are lit up when daylight visibility diminishes, and even non floodlit golf courses may not change their summer course opening hours during the winter. Golf courses such as the Al Hamra Golf Club are good examples of floodlit courses for evening golf. Just input the keyword night golf into Google for a range of floodlit golf course images.

Al Hamra Golf Course

Even if you cannot find a floodlit course, you can still invest in glow in the dark light up golf balls which will illuminate at night. In addition to this, bring a torch out onto the course with you. For further details on evening golf check out this website which highlights how holes can be illuminated without floodlights.

2011 Blog Posts

There have been 42 2011 blog posts on Amateur Golfer. A record number have been added in 2011 covering golf travel, golf championships, tips and golf courses and holes. Of course, you can find these in Amateur Golfer’s archives, but here are a few links to some of the more notable 2011 blog posts on Amateur Golfer.

The Fifth Major – the US Amateur Championship

This blog post covers the US Amateur Championship. It’s one of the biggest golf championships, and was once considered to be one of the Majors.

The Texas Wedge Putt

Putting off the green can be more effective than chipping. Here the Texas Wedge putt is covered in more detail.

Great American Golf Holes

This covers some of the great American golf holes in more detail. More specifically, the 18^th at Pebble Beach, 12^th at Augusta and 17^th at the Stadium Course are all covered in this blog post with details for each hole.

Putting Tips

Looking for some putting tips? Take note of this blog post which includes some.

America's Top 10 Golf Courses in 2011

Which are the best golf courses in America? This golf blog covers America’s top 10 golf courses in 2011. As such, it includes Golf Digest’s 2011 top 10 listing.

Longest Golf Hole in the United States

The longest golf hole in the United States is… Check out this blog post which provides further details on the longest golf hole in America.

Golf Desktop Wallpaper

Golf desktop wallpaper can be a great way to enhance the desktop. This blog post includes links to websites that have a good variety of golf desktop wallpaper.

These are a few noteworthy 2011 Amateur Golfer blog posts. And there are a good few more. For some further links to some of the best blog posts on this blog both before and during 2011 you should also check out this post.

Windows 7 Golf Theme

Windows 7 has a variety of customization options, among which include themes. So, why not add your own golf theme? I have already found a suitable golf theme that you can add to your desktop themes. Check out this golf theme.

In addition to this, you can also add a golfing screen saver to further enhance the theme. Visit this site which includes a range of golf screen savers which you can add to Windows 7. Or alternatively, you can add some further golf desktop wallpaper or photos which can then be included as part of the Windows Live Essentials screen saver. Just set up a folder for this, select Windows Live Essential screen saver settings and then the folder.

Free Drops

In some cases during a round, you may have a free drop if your ball lands in a specific lie as outlined by the R&A. With a free drop you can lift and drop the ball a little further back onto a playable lie. So, when can you free drop?

If your ball lands on something artificial you can have a free drop. However, as has been noted in the previous post, this is only the case if the artificial object cannot be moved. If you can move the artificial object away from the ball, then you should mark the position of the ball with tee marker and do so.

If your ball lands in casual water this is also another time that you can pick up your ball and drop it behind and out of the casual water. Note that casual water is any heavy and temporary accumulation of water on the course such as deep puddles or ice. As such, a lake is not casual water even if the water levels can rise and fall. If you land in casual water within a bunker, then you should still drop your ball back so that it lands in a dryer spot of the bunker if that is possible.

Some parts of a golf course may be ground under repair. Ground under repair are areas of course maintenance, and the golf course should highlight this with a ground under the repair sign. When your ball lands in a ground under repair area of the course, you can also pick your ball up and free drop it just behind the ground under repair area.

A number of golf courses may have carted paths. If your ball lands on a cart path, then you can also have a free drop.

So, you can free drop your ball if it lands on artificial object, casual water, ground under repair or a cart path. However, if that is not the case then you will usually have to add a stroke to your scorecard. Note than a dropped ball, either free or otherwise, should not be closer to the hole than it was before you dropped it.

What if your Ball Lands Beside a Bunker Rake?

At least one bunker rake is included on a hole, usually in or near to a green side bunker. As such, your ball can end up landing on and rolling beside a bunker rake. Take my word for it, as this is exactly what happened during one of my rounds with my ball parked up beside a rake which ensured that with the rake there it was unplayable.

It is stated that you are entitled to a free drop if your ball lands on, or by, anything artificial which a bunker rake is. However, it is also stated that if it is a movable then you should move it away from the ball. So, mark the position of the ball with a tee marker, and then move the bunker rake away and place the ball back in its original position. As such:

There is no requirement for a free drop if you can move the artificial object away from the ball.

Golf Magazine’s 500 Greatest Golf Holes

Golf Magazine has provided regular listings as to the top golf courses in the sport, and their book also lists 500 of the best golf holes in the game. In fact, it does more than merely list them, but also includes some great photography and illustrations as well as a variety of lists such as the best golf holes by number. The Washington Times has stated that this is a golf book, “on par with no other” and the Journal Sentinal, “the definitive guide.”

So, which are among the highly rated golf holes included? Among those included in the best 18:

• The 4th at Banff Springs, 192 yard, par 3
• The 15th at Cypress Point, 139 yard, par 3
• The 17th at TPC Sawgrass, 132 yard, par 3
• The 18 at Pebble Beach, 548 yards, par 5
• The 13th at Augusta National, 510 yards, par 5
• The 17th at St Andrews (Old), 461 yard, par 4
• The 13th at Pine Valley Golf Club, 448 yard, par 4
• The 12th at Southern Hills Country Club, 445 yards, par 4
• The 5th at Bethpage, 451 yards, par 4
• The 5th at the Mid Ocean Club, 433 yards, par 4

Those are 10 among the top 18 of Golf Magazine's best golf holes which are not ranked in a specific order. The 18th at Pebble Beach is rated as the best finishing hole in golf, which plays alongside the Monterey coastline. The famed 17th the TPC Sawgrass is also included which is a hole surrounded by water. Then there is the 17th Road Hole at St Andrews which has been one of the highlights of numerous Open Championships held there. Previous posts on Amateur Golfer provide further details on some of these holes, such as Great American Golf Holes and Famous Golf Holes.

Golf Digest's Top 10 Nine-hole Golf Courses

Nine-hole golf courses are always a good alternative to 18-hole courses, as there are some great nine-hole golf courses. Golf Digest has also ranked some of the finest nine-hole golf courses in America. These are the top 10 nine-hole courses:

1.) The Dunes Club
2.) Whitinsville
3.) Northwood GC
4.) Aetna Springs GC
5.) Sunnylands
6.) Birchwood
7.) Signal Point Club
8.) Links at Fisher Island
9.) Starr Hollow GC
10.) Pocantino Hills GC

As such, it is the highly rated Dunes Club in New Buffalo, Michigan that is ranked the best nine-hole course in America. This course is approximately 3,478 yards long, and is also a private course. It includes some great holes such as the 513 yard par 8 which has an elevated tee and small green.

A number of publications rate the Dunes Club as one of the best American golf courses regardless of hole numbers. For example, in 2001 it ranked 76 in Golf Magazine’s top 100 golf courses. While there does not seem to be a website for this course, this Dunes Club slideshow is worth noting.

Putting Tips

The golf putt, and golf putting, is an important part of golf scoring. Any golf hole will most likely need at least two putts, amounting to at least 36 putts for 18 holes. More effective golf putting, will certainly enhance golf scores. There are a few tips worth considering for improving at putting.

It is worth noting, that on the green there are really two types of golf putt: lag putting and short putts. A lag putt will be a longer putt, perhaps longer than 10 or 12 feet, aimed to be as close to the hole as possible for a short putt to finish. Then there are shorter distance putts, which can be putted into the hole.

Lag Putting:

Overall, more precise lag putts that finish up to 3 or 4 feet of the hole will likely reduce the number of putts required on the green. PGA tour player Ernie Els has said:

"Effective lag putting can turn a good round into a great one."

For Els recommends that careful attention be paid to the contours around the green and hole when lag putting. As such, it is most important to adjust the speed of a longer putt in relation to uphill and downhill slopes closer to the hole. A downhill slope will require a slightly lighter putt, while uphill putts will require a slightly firmer faster putt.

Overall, to get a good feel for lag putts, you should consider putting a number of longer putts from variable longer and shorter distances on an artificial putting green. Adjust the distance and position of the lag putts, and try to hit them within just a few feet of the hole.

Short Putting:

Shorter putts, can still be missed even up to 3 feet from the hole. They need to be more accurate that lag putts. Generally, a firm grip of the putter should avoid using the wrists when putting. While putting grips can be variable, a reverse-overlap grip has been favoured by golf pros as it keeps the wrists locked in. Another alternative is a cross-handed grip where the left hand is tucked under the right, and also keeps the wrists firm. Both grips are worth considering for golf putting.

With any putting grip, it should also be light, soft and not overly tight. Avoid a tight putting grip, which can reduce putting accuracy on the greens.

Putting clubs can be of variable design. The club heads can include markings to assist with aiming. In addition, they can be centre shafted or toe and heel putters. Overall, the hinged putter is recommended, which can assist with alignment and straight putting. If you are often putting three times on a green, then consider changing your putter. If is possible, trial any potential new putter at a club store.

So, there are a few ways that golf putting can be enhanced on the green. Reading the slope and contours with lag putts, can give a better chance of reducing putts. In addition, short putting will be more consistent with a soft but firm putting grip. Overall, two putts on the green is a good total to aim for.

Amateur Golf Website

For more details on all the latest amateur golf championships why not check out this Amateur Golf website? This website lists, and provides updates on, a variety of amateur championships if you register with them. Further to this, the website includes lots of course reviews and player rankings. The website also has featured videos. For further details, follow this Amateur Golf website link.

Golf Spreadsheets

To record your golf scores spreadsheet software applications are ideal. With spreadsheet applications such as Excel you can record your golf scores, and even add some graphs as well. If you do not already have any spreadsheet software then consider the OpenOffice freeware software suite with its spreadsheet software Calc that is comparable to Excel.

For a basic spreadsheet layout you will need 20 columns. The first column will be for the golf course names, and the remaining 18 columns will be for the golf course holes. You can resize these columns and reduce the width appropriately. A final column will then be required for the golf score totals. Include a Sum function in the first cell of the column, and this can then be dragged and copied into further cells below. Of course, you can add plenty more to this spreadsheet with cell formatting and graphs.

Or alternatively, there are a few golf spreadsheet templates worth noting. This Excel template blog has one, and this website also has a golf spreadsheet template.

The Top 10 Golf Courses in the World

In addition to Golf Digest, Golf Magazine also rank the top 100 golf courses in the world. Here is the 2011 rankings of Golf Magazine's world top 10 golf courses:


1 Pine Valley
George Crump, H.S. Colt, 1918 Pine Valley, N.J. US 95.99

2 Cypress Point
Alister MacKenzie, 1928 Pebble Beach, Calif. US 91.06

3 Augusta National
Alister MacKenzie, Bobby Jones, 1933 Augusta, Ga. US 87.95

4 St. Andrews (Old Course)
Nature, 1400 St. Andrews Scotland 86.27

5 Royal County Down
Old Tom Morris, 1889 Newcastle N. Ireland 82.92

6 Shinnecock Hills
William Flynn, 1931 Southampton, N.Y. US 82.63

7 Pebble Beach
Jack Neville, Douglas Grant, 1919 Pebble Beach, Calif. US 80.49

8 Oakmont
Henry Fownes, 1903 Oakmont, Pa. US 77.36

9 Muirfield
Old Tom Morris, 1891
H.S. Colt, 1925 Gullane Scotland 76.22

10 Merion (East)
Hugh Wilson, 1912 Ardmore, Pa. US 75.22

This top 10 is in fact similar to Golf Digest's top 10 as it is dominated by US golf courses. Approximately half of the overall rankings are US golf courses. However, Augusta is not rated the top golf course, and instead Pine Valley takes top spot. St Andrews, Muirfield and Royal County Down are the three best non-American golf courses included in the top 10.

Again, it is interesting to note that all the golf courses included in the top 10 are older golf courses that predate 1950. They have remained the best golf courses in the game for decades, regardless of the more recent course designs from architects such as Dye and Trent Jones.

America's Top 10 Golf Courses in 2011

Golf Digest has revealed America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses listings for 2011. Their biennial listings were first established back in 1966, and so it is one of the oldest golf course rankings. These are the top 10 golf courses in Digest's 2011 rankings:

1. (1) AUGUSTA NATIONAL G.C.
Augusta, Ga. / Alister Mackenzie & Bobby Jones (1933)

2. (2) PINE VALLEY G.C.
Pine Valley, N.J. / George Crump & H.S. Colt (1918)

3. (3) SHINNECOCK HILLS G.C.
Southampton, N.Y. / William Flynn (1931)

4. (5) OAKMONT C.C.
Oakmont, Pa. / Henry Fownes (1903)

5. (4) CYPRESS POINT CLUB
Pebble Beach / Alister Mackenzie & Robert Hunter (1928)

6. (6) PEBBLE BEACH G. LINKS
Pebble Beach / Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919)

7. (7) MERION G.C. (East)
Ardmore, Pa. / Hugh Wilson (1912)

8. (8) WINGED FOOT G.C. (West)
Mamaroneck, N.Y. / A.W. Tillinghast (1923)

9. (13) SAND HILLS G.C.
Mullen, Neb. / Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (1994)

10. (15) NATIONAL G. LINKS OF AMERICA

As such, once again the Augusta National golf course is ranked as the best golf course in America. As the annual venue of the Masters it is undoubtedly the most famous championship golf course on the PGA Tour. At approximately 7,400 yards it is also one of the longer golf courses on the rankings.

The top 10 has not changed that much from the last 2009 rankings. Sand Hills and the National G. Links of America are two new entries into the top 10. However, aside from that the top five includes exactly the same golf courses.

The interesting thing about this top 10 is that it is dominated by older golf courses. With the exception of Sand Hills all the golf courses in the top 10 were constructed before 1950. As such, modern golf course design and architecture has not been able to eclipse these golf courses which have remained as the best in America for decades.

Another interesting point worth noting is that the list is also dominated by private golf courses. The only public golf course that makes the top 10 is that of Pebble Beach which ranks 6th. As such, Pebble Beach tops Golf Digest's America's Top 100 Public Golf Courses list. Along with St Andrews Old Course this is one of the few great PGA Tour venues that is a public course.



For further details on these rankings visit the Golf Digest website. This blog post on Amateur Golfer also covers some of the great America golf courses.

End of Golf Poll

The first golf poll on Amateur Golfer has now closed. Although there were not a huge number of votes in the poll, the United Kingdom emerged as a clear winner with 75% of the votes. As such, it is Amateur Golfer's best European golf destination.

Can this be considered a surprise? After all, it does have some great and famous golf courses and is the home of golf. Although the golf season does well and truly end in northern parts of the United Kingdom when the winter sets in. This is not so much the case in Spain, which I voted for.

Great American Golf Holes

Most of the most famous holes in golf are to be found on American golf courses. Three of golf’s four Majors are played in the United States, and so you can be sure to find some great golf holes on American courses. America’s most famous championship golf courses include the likes of the Augusta National, Pebble Beach and the Stadium Course in Florida. Golf courses such as these have famous golf holes, and there are plenty of other great golf holes on US golf courses that have not played host to one of the Majors or other PGA Tour championships. These are a few of the great American golf holes.

18th Hole at Pebble Beach:

The 18th hole at Pebble Beach is widely considered to be the best finishing hole in golf. That’s in golf, and not just the United States. This hole is a par 5 hole that extends some 543 yards from tee to the flag. Pebble Beach is a golf course located on the Monterey Coast and has a Pacific coastline which runs alongside the 18th hole. As such, the Pacific Ocean dominates the right side of the fairway from the tee up to the green. The green itself is also surrounded by bunkers for any balls that do not land on the green. As the finishing hole of the Pebble Beach course it has also been a great championship hole for the numerous US Opens that have been played on the course. This hole is therefore included in the book 500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes as the best 18th hole, and also as one of the great ocean holes.

12th Hole at Augusta:

The 12th hole at Augusta is another of America’s famous championship golf holes. The Masters is the annual golf championship that is played at the Augusta golf course, and one of the course’s highlights is that of the 12th Golden Bell hole. This hole is a 155 yard par 3 that is dominated by the water of Rae’s Creek. As such, this creek has to be cleared first before the players can cross the famous Ben Hogan Bridge that links the tee to the green across the water. The green itself is close to the water-side, and so any ball that lands on grass around it can potentially end up back in the water if the ball rolls the wrong way upon landing. As such, the Golden Bell is one of the key holes in the Masters where golfers can potentially add numbers to their scorecards if their ball lands in the water. It is perhaps the most famous championship golf hole.



17th Hole at the Stadium Course:

The Players’ Championship is one of the flagship events of the PGA Tour. It is not counted as one of the four Majors, but many consider the Players’ Championship to be a fifth Major that has always been among the highlights of the PGA Tour calendar. This golf championship is played at the Stadium Course, and the signature hole of this course is the 17th hole. The 17th hole is a short 132 yard par 3 that, to a greater extent than the Golden Bell at Augusta, is dominated by water. In fact, with the exception of the green the hole pretty much is water as it is located in a lake and the hole is called the Island Green. This ensures that the hole is one of the most exciting on the PGA Tour, and you can be sure that there are a lot of golf balls at the bottom of the surrounding lake!

These are three great American golf holes. The 18th at Pebble Beach, the 12th at Augusta and 16th at the TPC Scottsdale are all renowned golf holes at courses such as Pebble Beach, Augusta and Stadium Course.

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Golf Poll Update

There is just now six days left to vote in the Amateur Golfer poll: Which is the best European Golf Destination? At the moment the United Kingdom has the most votes, but this can change with a few more votes for another country. So, please add your vote to the golf poll.