Poppy Hill Golf Course Reopens

Among the most anticipated golf course reopenings of the year is scheduled for 4 April. Then the newly renovated Poppy Hill golf course, at Pebble Beach, will reopen. Trent Jones returned to the golf course to give it something of a revamp.  

The golf course's drainage has been notably enhanced. The architects added native waste areas to reduce about 25 acres of irrigated turf. In addition, a more modern irrigation system has also added greater efficiency.  

Whilst the golf course's par has dropped by a stroke, they have expanded its overall yardage from 6,863 to 7,002 yards. This is largely due to the addition of the new Jones Trail back set of tees. There are now five sets of golf tees on each of Poppy Hill's holes.   

The golf course now includes a new par-3 11^th hole. That is a hole which includes a large bunker behind its green. Overall, it is the shortest hole on the golf course.

The 12th hole now plays downhill to open up 
previously unseen views of Monterey Bay.  

The architects also revamped Poppy Hill's bunkers. They moved and enlarged many of the bunkers on the golf course. Natural sandy waste areas have also been added to Poppy Hill.

Renovations aren't just limited to the golf course either. The Poppy Hill clubhouse has been renovated to include a new dining menu and expanded TVs. Its deck overlooking the ninth and 18^th holes has also had some modifications.   

"It’s a renaissance more than a renovation. It’s really a brand new golf course. The new conceptions have reinvigorated the golf course. They will bring the course back to all its glory." - T Jones

For further details on the Poppy Hills golf course, check out this website. That includes photos and video flyovers of the holes. 

Royal Dornoch Golf Course Video

The Royal Dornoch Championship golf course, in Scotland, is mesmerising. This is a coastal golf course, beside a pure white, sandy beach, that is ranked among the top U.K golf courses. Its 18 holes cover some 6,697 yards, and include raised domed greens. Check out this Royal Dornoch golf course video. 

The RZN Golf Balls

The RZN is Nike's latest golf ball which is boasting a revolutionary design. The ball's Speedlock core, which harnesses more energy, is said to give it a notable advantage when it comes to ball spin and distance. One of Nike's directors said of the ball:

“We knew we hadn’t pulled 100 percent of the energy that we could out of the initial RZN core, which we brought out in 2011 with the 20XI ball.” Ishii stated: “Working in partnership with DuPont, we were able to develop a softer, faster RZN material and create that interlocking-core design. It works like gears locking in place with each other."

The new ball series includes the RZN Platinum, Red, White and Black models. The RZN Platinum and Black balls are four-piece models, and the Red and White are three-piece alternatives that have Surlyn covers. Check out this video for further details on the revolutionary golf balls. Well, actually the video says very little about the golf ball!

 

Highest Ranked Golf Courses in Continental Europe

Whilst the U.K. golf courses dominate the top golf courses in Europe rankings, there are still some notable European golfing destinations in other parts the continent. In 2011, Golf World Magazine compiled a ranking of the top 100 golf courses in continental Europe. In those rankings these are the courses that were included within the top five.

Five: Le Golf National

The Albatross golf course, in Paris, is the fifth in the rankings. This golf course is one that extends some 6,377 yards, and is a regular venue for the French Open championship. This hole includes a number of expansive lakes across it which come into play on a number of its holes. For example, the 18th, 16th and 15th is holes that play alongside a lake. The course has also been selected as a venue for the Ryder Cup.

Four: Royal Zoute Golf Club

This golf club is one that is located in Belgium. Of its courses, it's the Championship Course that is among the more highly rated in Europe. The Championship Course is a 6,172 yard golf course which has some undulating, but not exactly hilly, land and gnarly vegetation along its holes. Whilst its landscape, which is landlocked and a couple of km's from the English Channel, is perhaps not the most dramatic the course's land is ideally suited for golf.

Three: Royal Hague Golf & CC

The Royal Hague Golf Club, in Holland, has a course with substantial dunes along its holes. The dunes ensure a less than flat golf course with variable elevations. The course stretches approximately 5,709 yards, and has some notable rises and plunges over its holes. Overall, it has been effectively preserved, and the recent renovations to its 18 greens have further enhanced the course.

Two: Golf de Morfontaine

The second in Golf World Magazine's ranking is that of the France's Golf De Morfontaine. This one has an approximate yardage of 6,545 yards over its 18 holes. The course has plenty of hundred foot-high sylvestre pine trees along its holes. Whilst fairway bunkers are scarce, greenside bunkers are prevalent. Among its most notable holes is that of the 428 yard seventh hole which plays uphill, and then turns to the left with a downhill gradient to the green.

One: Les Bordes Golf Club

The number one ranked course is that of Les Bordes Golf Club, which is usually ranked among the top golf resort destinations in Europe. This exhilarating golf course layout stretches some 7,072 yards. It is set in a country estate, within the Sologne forest, and thus its holes are surrounded by oak and silver birch woods. As the course also includes a variety of lakes it has a number of water holes such as the fourth par-3 which has an island green.

These golf courses are World Golf Magazine's top five in mainland Europe. They are probably not among the most famous in the sport, but still have some great landscapes and layouts. For further details, check out this page which includes the full golf course rankings.

Golf on the Box

In the springtime there are some much more exciting golf championships. The build up to the Masters begins with 'warm-up' championships. These are a few that are on the box.

Valspar Championship

Thursday, March 13: Golf Channel
Friday, March 14: Golf Channel
Saturday, March 15: Golf Channel NBC
Sunday, March 16: Golf Channel NBC

Toshiba Classic

Friday, March 14: Golf Channel
Saturday, March 15: Golf Channel
Sunday, March 16: Golf Channel

Trophée Hassan II

Thursday, March 13: Golf Channel 9
Friday, March 14: Golf Channel 9
Saturday, March 15: Golf Channel 2
Sunday, March 16: Golf Channel 1

Arnold Palmer Invitational  

Thu 20th March Day 1, Sky Sports 4, Sky Sports 4 HD
Fri 21st March Day 2, Sky Sports 4, Sky Sports 4 HD

Seminole Golf Course Video

Seminole Golf Course is one that is usually ranked among the best in the USA by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. This is a 6,940 yard golf course that includes plenty of water and an abundance of wildlife. Check out this Seminole Golf Course video.

The Trump National Doral Blue Monster Golf Course Reopens

The Blue Monster golf course at the Trump National has now reopened! The course has had a rebuild, or redesign, and now this great golf course is back in business.

The redesign has increased the golf course's overall yardage. Now the golf course is 7,450 yards instead of the previous 7,125 yards.The expansion added an extra 100 yards to the first par-5 hole on the golf course.

However, the redesign hasn't just expanded the yardages. Hole eight and nine have been considerably revamped. For example, the par-3 ninth has been converted so that it plays entirely over water. The 16th hole now includes a peninsula green, and the architects have added water along the left side of the 15th hole's fairway.

So the Blue Monster isn't exactly the same golf course any more. The Red and Gold golf courses at the resort are to be reopened in the fall. Check out this page for some further details.

Famous Golf Trophies

The game of golf has a variety of championships which are a part of the PGA Tour. Each has a glistening trophy to be handed to the championship winner. The most famous golf trophies are those of the major championships, and other notable golfing events such as the Ryder Cup. These are a few of the more famous in the sport.

Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup is, as you may have guessed, the trophy of the Ryder Cup championship. That championship, and trophy, was largely inspired by the seed merchant Samuel Ryder. For a regular international golf championship to take place between the USA and Great Britain golf teams, Ryder presented the trophy to the PGA of Great Britain. Today that has changed to USA V E.U., but the Ryder Cup remains the official trophy of the championship.

The Ryder Cup is a gold trophy that weighs a somewhat lightweight four pounds. It is topped with a sculptured golfer, who is supposed to be Abe Mitchell. That’s not a famous golfer, but one of Ryder’s colleagues.

The Player Championship Trophy

Even though it’s not a major, the Players Championship is one of the most exciting golf championships of the PGA Tour. The winner of this championship is presented with the Player Championship trophy. Unlike many other famous trophies, this trophy is not a cup as such. Instead it’s a small crystal slab on which a golfer is carved.

The Claret Jug

The Claret Jug is a golf trophy that dates back to the 19th century. The silver jug is presented to the winners of the U.K. Open golf championship. That is one of the majors of golf, and undoubtedly the most famous golf championship beyond the USA. However, as it replaced the Claret Belt it is not the original trophy of the U.K. Open.

This trophy is effectively a silver jug, which is more like a claret wine jug. Inscribed on the trophy is, “The Golf Champion Trophy” which is another title for it, although today it is more widely considered the Claret Jug trophy. Winners of the U.K. Open are also engraved on the trophy. The original jug is today displayed in the R&A Golf Club of St Andrews.

Masters Trophy

The Masters is a golf championship that is played at the Augusta golf course. It is the one major that is played a regular annual venue. The winners of the championship have lifted the Masters Trophy since it was first introduced in 1961.

As the Masters is always played at Augusta the trophy is more original than others. It is essentially a silver sculpture of the Augusta clubhouse, which rests on a pedestal. The trophy consists of 900 silver pieces, and weighs approximately 35 pounds. Bands of silver provide the space for the winner and runner-up engravings on the replica Masters Trophy which are given to the winners. The original trophy, in which the champions are also added, remains at the clubhouse.

Wanamaker Trophy

The Wanamaker Trophy is the one presented to the winners of the PGA Championship, another of the major golf championships. The trophy that is today presented is not the original, as that was actually lost by one of the former champions, Hagen, during the 1920s. When Hagen revealed that he had lost the trophy a duplicate replacement Wanamaker Trophy was introduced for the championship. Whilst the original was later found in a dusty crate within a Detroit warehouse during the ’30s, it was not brought back for the PGA Championship. Today it is on display at a PGA museum.

The replica Wanamaker Trophy is a fairly large one. It’s a silver golf cup that weighs approximately 27 pounds. On the front of the trophy is engraved, “Annual Championship of the Professional Golfers Association of America.” Alongside that the names of the PGA Championship champions are also still added to the original. For the champions, they take home a smaller replica of the trophy.

U.S. Open Championship Trophy

Another of the Grand Slams is that of the U.S. Open. Consequently, its trophy is one of the famous golf trophies. This golf trophy is one of the few American championship trophies that dates back to the 19th century. However, as the original has since been lost a replica model is now presented to the winners. The silver jug is topped with a majestic female figure with open wings.

These golf trophies are undoubtedly the most famous in the sport. Each season they are presented to their championship winners. They are grand and historic trophies that have been lifted by the great golfers of the game.

Formby Golf Course Video

The Formby Golf Course is ranked as one as of England's finest golf courses. It is a top-notch links golf course located near St Annes. It is a golf course that expands some 7,028 yards. The golf course is bordered on three sides by pine trees. Check out this Fromby golf course video:

KISS Guide to Golf

The KISS Guide to Golf is another of the golfing guide books for the sport. It’s a part of the KISS series of books, and provides a general golf guide. The book includes up to 400 pages, and with a foreword from PGA Tour star Montgomery it can be assumed that he provided some input for the author Duno.

The book is primarily a golfing guidebook for the game. As such, it provides details for all parts of it, from the long game to the short game, bunker play etc. Pitching, chipping, putting, tee shots and iron play are all covered within its pages.

The guidelines are illustrated with a variety of photographs of the various shots in motion, alongside the text. Photographs included in book vary in scale, with a variety of smaller ones as well as some larger full-page photos. There’s plenty of illustrations added alongside the photographs. The golfing puppy cartoon sketches are included throughout the book as a comical addition. Additional illustrations highlighting ball distances, hole layouts etc have also been included.

The book also provides a general golfing equipment guide. Primarily this covers the clubs for the golf course, with a club yardage guide. However, it also provides details on the other accessories such as ball markers, golf tees, gloves, balls and hats within its equipment chapter.

Also included within its pages is a golf vacation section. If you’re interested in taking a golf vacation, this provides some details for booking and selecting suitable destinations. There it includes some suggestions for what to pack, as well as details for resort packages. The book has a listing of 20 of the world’s famous golf courses, as well as 20 of the more famous courses that you can play on.

At the back of the book there is a website directory listing. Here a number of noteworthy golfing websites have been added, with their pertinent URL. Further appendices are also added for golf magazines and alternative golf books.

Among its final pages is that of a scoring table. This is a table where you can record some of your golfing scores, as well as total number of putts during the round. Whilst it’s a little short, the table can be photocopied for additional copies.

Whilst it’s not a golf history book, it does provide some historical details as well. Brief historical background is included within its opening pages. The KISS Guide to Golf also has a variety of trivia boxes which include some additional historical snippets.

If you’re searching for a guide to golf then this could be suitable. It pretty much has the whole game covered, and not just the more basic things, as well as additional extras for golf travel etc. Check out its Amazon page, where it has five star rating, for further details.

Highest Ranked U.K. Golf Courses

The United Kingdom has a variety of great courses in Scotland, England, N Ireland and Wales. Golf Digest have fairly regular rankings, among which are the top 100 golf courses beyond the United States. The top 10 of their rankings is dominated by the U.K. golf courses. These are the five highest ranked Golf Digest U.K. golf courses.

Five: Turnberry Resort (Ailsa), Scotland

Fifth in the rankings is that of Turnberry’s Ailsa championship golf course. This is a par-70 golf course that extends some 7,211 yards. It is renowned for its coastal scenery and holes that are flanked with rocks and sandy hillocks. Having hosted four U.K. Open Championships there’s no doubting that this is a championship course comparable with St Andrews.

Four: Royal Portrush G.C. Dunluce course, N. Ireland

One of N. Ireland’s most exciting courses is that of the Dunluce course. It is a links course approximately 7,143 yards. Among its notable holes is the fourth; a long 480 yard par-4 which has several bunkers alongside its fairway, and a green nestled between a couple of sand hills. The 14th hole, a long par-3 which plays over a large ravine, is also another of the course’s highlights.

Three: Murifield, Scotland

Muirfield, in Scotland, is one of the more regular venues for the U.K. Open. As it has played host to 15 Open Championships many great golfers of the PGA Tour have visited the course. In 1973 the Ryder Cup also came to town in Muirfield. Overall, the course has a great collection of holes such as 504 yard par five, and the uphill par-3 at the 13th.

Two: St. Andrews Links (Old), Scotland

St Andrew’s Old Course is probably the most famous, and is usually ranked among the top U.K. golf courses. Golf Digest place this second in their rankings, and as a home of golf the Old Course is something of a golfing shrine. 28 times the U.K. Open has been played at this acclaimed golf course, which is more than any other. It was here that Nicklaus played his large Major, and in 2010 the Open returned to St. Andrews.

Given its history the Old Course has some famed holes. The Road Hole, a 495 yard par-4, is probably the most famous. This includes the large Road Hole bunker. In addition to this, at the tee-box there are replica sheds that stretch out from the Road Hole Hotel. The 18th hole at St Andrews includes the Swilican Bridge. A number of the course’s holes have double greens which are combined for two holes. The holes have an overall yardage of 7,305 from the championship tees.

One: Royal County Down G.C., N. Ireland

Nestling at the feet of the majestic Mountains of Mourne is that of the Royal County Down championship links golf course. This is the U.K. course that Golf Digest rank higher than the Old Course. Its unique landscape combines both the Dundrum Bay coastline and the Mourne Mountains. Whilst it doesn’t quite have the same championship pedigree as St Andrews, few will doubt that the golf course’s landscape is unmatched by most.

Probably the most famous hole here is the ninth. That’s a 486 yard par-4 hole which has some great scenery. Here you tee off from an elevated tee, across a mound, to the fairway. The longest hole at the course is the 18th, a 548 yard par-5 which has 24 bunkers scattered along its fairway. Those are just a couple of the 18 holes which collectively have a total yardage of approximately 7,186 yards from the championship tees.

Those are five of the top ranked courses in the United Kingdom. These are great link golf courses, and you won’t find too many comparable anywhere else. Check out the Golf Digest website for the full rankings.

Golf on TV

Where I am it's pouring with rain, but the golf season is still underway. The February Tour championships are as follows: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Joburg Open and the Allianz Championship. They will be on the following channels:

AT&T

Thursday, February 6: Golf Channel Sky Four
Friday, February 7: Golf Channel; Sky Four
Saturday, February 8: Golf Channel; CBS; Sky Four
Sunday, February 9: Golf Channel; CBS; Sky Four

Joburg Open

Thursday, February 6: Golf Channel; Sky Four
Friday, February 7: Golf Channel; Sky Four
Saturday, February 8: Golf Channel; Sky Four
Sunday, February 9: Golf Channel; Sky Four

Allianz Championship

Friday, February 7: Golf Channel
Saturday, February 8: Golf Channel
Sunday, February 9: Golf Channel

Unless you have the Golf Channel, Sky Four or CBS there isn't really much on. Best wait until April when the golf really hots up!

The Highest Ranked Spanish Golf Courses

Spain has a variety of golf courses along its coastline and further inland. There some notable golf championships have been played, including the Ryder Cup. It boasts some of Europe’s top golf courses; many of which are included within Golf World Magazine’s 2011 top 100 courses in Europe. These are Golf World’s top five golf courses in Spain.

El Prat, Rosa, Norman

At 29th in the rankings, Rosa is the fifth Spanish course included. This is a championship golf course, located within rolling countryside on the outskirts of Barcelona, which expands some 7,103 yards. The Rosa course has a variety of terrain with the front nine holes playing through pine forest. Its back nine moves out to more open landscapes, and includes some inspired holes.

Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Jose Maria Olazabal

The fourth ranked Spanish golf course in Golf World’s rankings is the Real Club de Golf in Seville. This is a par – 72 golf course that has a yardage of approximately 6,674 yards. It has some large fairways with Bermuda grass, and approximately 90 bunkers scattered along its holes. Covering 61 hectares the course boasts over 10,000 trees. Having previously hosted the World Golf Championship it’s a championship pedigree golf course.

El Saler Golf Club , Javier Arana Ybarra

The third highest ranked Spanish course, which is 11th in the overall rankings, is El Saler. El Saler extends some 7,095 yards. The majority of this course’s holes play over pine-laden slopes, and are surrounded by woodland. This course has a mix of forested and coastal holes adjacent to its Mediterranean coastline. Among the more notable is the short par-4 eight hole, located by the coast, which has an expansive sandy waste area.

PGA Golf de Catalunya, Neil Coles & Angel Gallardo

The second Spanish golf course is that of PGA Golf de Catalunya, which makes the overall top 10. This course is located on the Costa Brava, along the foothills of the Pyrenees, and extends some 7,205 yards. The Stadium Course at PGA Golf de Catalunya has some lush vegetation and a variety of green fir trees along its holes. The course is also notable for its large number of lakes which come into play on a number of holes such as the 13th. At the end of that hole one lake separates the fairway from green, and a second is also positioned directly behind it.

Valderrama Golf Club, Robert Trent Jones Sr

At number of one is perhaps the most famous golf course in Spain, that of Valderrama. For many this is the Augusta National of Europe, and it is ranked sixth in Golf World’s rankings. It has hosted some famous golf championships such as the Ryder Cup and World Golf Championships. The 6,951 yard course winds through oak and olive trees.

Among the most famous holes at this course is that of the fourth La Cascada hole. That is a 460 yard par-5 hole with an expansive fairway, surrounded by trees, that runs up to the green. On the right side of the green there is a large pond in which balls can fall, and on the left a greenside bunker. Water also comes into play on the 10th par-4 hole with a large lake along the right of the fairway. That fairway plays up to a green surrounded by five bunkers.

Those are Golf World’s top five in Spain. They are also ranked among the best in Europe by a variety of others such as Golf Digest etc. Check out the full Golf World rankings here.

Great Winter Golf Destinations

In some parts it rains and snows during the winter. As such, the golf season very much ‘drizzles’ out, or if snow falls golf courses are snowed out. But there are still some locations which have a suitable golfing climate during the winter months.

Barbados & Caribbean 

The subtropical Caribbean would seem an ideal destination for some winter golf. Be it Jamaica, Barbados or the Bahamas there’s some great golf resorts there with PGA Tour venues included. For example, among some of the top ranked golf resorts in North America is that of Sandy Lane in Barbados.

That resort includes some famed courses such as the first Old Nine, a nine-hole golf course with small tree-lined fairways and greens. Alongside that there are 18 – hole courses such as the Green Monkey, a 7, 343 yard course with some holes that eclipse the 600 hundred mark. Located beside the Caribbean Sea is that of the Country Club, a championship calibre course which has a variety of lakes. With a winter more similar to spring in parts of the USA there probably won’t be too much rain and snow at the Barbados’ Sandy Lane resort in January.

Alabama

If you’re searching for a golfing destination in the USA Alabama is one to consider. With mild winters, take a trip to the Trent Jones Golf Trail which has some hot golf courses. This trail consists of eleven golf clubs, and that amounts to approximately 26 golf courses. Check out club’s such as Oxmoor Valley, which has three 18-hole golf courses that play alongside scenic forests and a variety of creeks. Others, such as Magnolia Grove, include a combination of par-3 courses and larger golf courses. The Silver Lakes club has a variety of scenic 9-hole courses to play at.

San Diego

San Diego is another America’s sunshine hot spots. Average precipitation in this U.S. state is somewhat less than others. So, why not check out some of its winter golf courses? Barona Creek Golf Club and La Costa Resort & Spa are two golfing resorts that have extensive courses that eclipse the 7,000 yard mark. But it’s the Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) that is the largest at some 7,607 yards. This is a championship golf course that hosted the 2008 U.S. Open.

Sonoran Desert Golf Trail and Other Desert Courses 

A desert is the driest of landscapes you will find. That is not suggesting that you book your golfing vacation in Sahara; there aren’t many courses there! However, some desert locations do have some notable golf courses/resorts. Consider the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Here you can play the Sonoran Desert Golf Trail which include six desert golf courses alongside the McDowell Mountains and Tonto National Forest.

The Mountain Course is another with saguaros and paloverdes set alongside the deserts of Arizona. In Las Vegas there is Prim Valley’s Desert Course. This 7,100 yard course includes notable desert landscaping with colorful cactus and desert wildflowers. It also includes some water on a few of its holes.

These are just a few notable destinations for golf during the winter. The Caribbean, Alabama, San Diego, Arizona and Las Vegas have some great courses and suitable winter climates for golf. There the golfing season continues with winter golf championships such as the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Great Championship Golf Courses in Europe

Europe has some great championship golf courses that have hosted a number of great championships. Countries such as Scotland, Spain, England and Wales have some fine championship golf courses. These are a few of the great championship golf courses in Europe.

St Andrews Old Course

Undoubtedly, St Andrews Old Course is the most famous championship golf course in Europe. The Old Course is one of the oldest courses, and has staged a number of UK Open championships. In fact, it has hosted no fewer than 28 UK Opens in its history dating back to the 19th century. As such, many great golfers have played at hallowed course of St Andrews Old Course. The course itself is approximately 6,387 yards in length, and is a par 72. It is famous for its unique double greens, with many holes sharing the same greens. In addition, St Andrews also has some very deep bunkers such as the Road Hole bunker at the 17th Road Hole. As a result, the Old Course is considered one of the sport’s finest courses.

The Belfry 

The Belfry’s championship course is one of England’s finest championship golf courses. The Belfry has hosted four Ryder Cups dating back to 1985, and numerous other European Tour events such as the Benson & Hedges International Open. The finest European and American golfers have played at the Belfry’s championship course. The Belfry is a 7,000 yard golf course which has large bunkers and lakes scattered around its 18 holes.

Valderrama

Valderrama is perhaps the most famous golf course and resort in Spain, and one of Europe’s great championship golf courses. This Trent Jones course is considered to be one of the best courses in Europe. Valderrama was the first golf course to host a Ryder Cup in continental Europe, and has also hosted other European Tour golf championships such as the Volvo Masters and the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The course itself is approximately 6,300 yards long, and has some famous holes such as the par 4, which has a small green located above a small waterfall.

The Twenty Ten Golf Course – Celtic Manor Resort

The Twenty Ten course at the Celtic Manor Resort staged the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales; the first course in Wales to host the event. The course is especially notable for its watery pit-fulls, which are included on half the course’s holes. At 7,400 yards from the blue tees the course also has a good amount of distance, and some long holes such as its great finishing hole which is 575 yards long.

These are a few of the great championship golf courses in Europe. They include the famous St Andrews Old Course, the Belfry championship course, Valderrama and the new Twenty Ten course at the Celtic Manor Resort. These golf courses have hosted a number of Ryder Cups, UK Open championships and other European Tour events and are among Europe’s top courses.

Turnberry Ailsa Course

The Turnberry Ailsa Course in Scotland is one of the more famous championship golf courses which has been ranked eighth in Golf Digest's Best Golf Courses Outside the U.S. rankings. The 7,211 yard golf course has hosted the U.K. Open Championship four times. Turnberry Ailsa is a coastal golf course which has a lighthouse that overlooks the sea. This video includes some great footage of the Turnberry Ailsa Course.

Barbados Polo Vacation

For many people, life was not started in Barbados, but it was perfected there. You can experience fine living and choose the island as a vacation destination that will rival any festival, sports event, performing arts, or culinary shows as they are all offered in Barbados. Unforgettable experiences and exciting opportunities will make your vacation one of the best that you have ever taken.

One of the best ways to spend your time in Barbados is to take a Barbados Polo vacation Polo is widely played on the island. They have four fields, Lion Castle, Holders, Clifton, and Waterhall. These are places matches are regularly kept. Polo matches attract many international teams from around the world, as many teams are eager to compete against the Barbadians on their home turf.

Whether or not you are a polo player should not be a deterrent for you to visit the island for a polo vacation. The residents of Barbados, (Bajans), are sports-oriented and this is not shocking as they experience a tropical climate the year round. There are different variations of polo that have been played for many years and the Bajans have continued to play since then.

The beginnings of polo matches in Barbados go way back to the Garrison Savannah and ended at the Holder’s Polo Club. They host an annual battle-of-the-sexes match, which attracts a lot of spectators and supporters each year. This has added to the popularity of the sport. Tourists, locals, and visitors alike, look forward to spending their time watching and cheering at these matches when they take their Barbados vacations.

The game is well suited to the Barbadian lifestyle as it includes a lot of sun and horses, which forms a part of their everyday lives. It was formerly restricted to wealthy plantation owners, but was later made available to people in the lower echelons of society.

Polo has evolved on the island since then as many people now try to be a part of it and enjoy watching the game. Several times per year, visitors and teams from different countries all over the world challenge the Barbadian team when it is polo season. The season begins in January and ends in May of each year. There are currently two types of polo, field polo and arena polo. Both are very popular on the island.

Sports tourism has taken off because of this sport. As a result, even Prince Charles has been on the list of visitors to the island for their Polo games. Professional bodies and families like to partake in the activities that surround the game of polo when they visit Barbados.

Large crowds are drawn to matches and children delight in the festivities and activities. Who would have thought that the skilled riders who ride the horses on the field, trying to get a ball into a goal with a mallet, would attract so many supporters? But it continues to do so, even today.

Barbados Villa Services can let you enjoy your Barbados polo vacation with their wide selection of villas to rent along with places where you can stay while you are in Barbados. Visit their site and choose the date of the polo match or matches and choose a villa that is in the same vicinity of them. Make your vacation one to remember.

About the author:

Shadow writes for http://www.barbadosvillaservices.com/.

Add a Golf Theme to the Firefox Browser

The Firefox browser has a variety of add-ons. Among them is a golf theme that you can to the browser. You'll need to have Firefox 3.6 or above to add it. The theme gives you some of the following:

• Access to Golf Directory
• A Golf Game
• Sign up for tee times

It also adds a golf course background to the browser as in the shot below. To add the theme to Firefox, check out this page.

New 2014 Golf Clubs to Watch out for

There are a few golf clubs that will take the game by storm in 2014. Both Nike and TaylorMade have some of the most exciting clubs which could give you an extra edge on the golf course. These are a few to note.

TaylorMade Ghost Putters - These are already on the PGA Tour, but 2014 should bring new styles. They are expected to have several of the following models: Daytona 12, Daytona 62, Fontana 72, Maranello 81, Monte Carlo 12, Sebring 62 and Corza 72. The putters have a  80/20 Pure Roll insert comprising 20 percent aluminium and 80 percent Surlyn.

Nike Method Putters - Nike's flagship putter will have a notable update in 2014.The putters include polymer-aluminium inserts and tour weighting. Models could include blade putters, steel-shafted putter heads and other classic designs.

Nike Covert 2.0 - This driver is becoming one of the clubs of choice on the PGA Tour. The club (in image below) is among the first high speed cavity back 1-woods with weight distributed to the club head's perimeter. The updated 2014 version should further promote higher distance numbers.

TaylorMade SpeedBlade Irons - These are distance oriented irons. The clubs include a handlebar-shaped Speed Pocket slot in the sole. A TaylorMade director stated, “The Speed Pocket helps you launch those low-impact shots on a consistently higher, longer-carrying and softer-landing flight.”

Those are a few of the 2014 golf clubs that could have some impact on the PGA Tour. They should be a great addition to any golf bag.

Pikewood National Golf Course Video

One of the most exciting new U.S. golf courses is the Pikewood National Golf Course. This is a 7,588 yard golf course set within a forest landscape. The golf course is now ranked at 45 in Golf Digest's top 100 rankings. Check out this video tour: