Category Archives: Top Golf Destinations

The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley (Birmingham)

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Set amidst the rolling hills, thick forests and creeks of what used to be the mining land of US Steel stands a premiere golf vacation destination designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones: The Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham, AL. The Oxmoor Valley is a championship golfing facility that is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It has three 18-hole championship courses that offer diverse levels of challenge and vistas to suit every visiting golfer’s taste. One of the most picturesque courses in the facility is The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley.

The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley is characterized by tree-lined rolling fairways and large undulating greens. Golfers find the extra challenge on their golf trip when they play at the Ridge course because of the numerous uphill and downhill shots to be taken, not to mention a lot of blind tee shots over the hills that are cleverly disguised by the subtle breaks. Golfers need to arm themselves with a lot of shot-making skills, strategies, and gut to make that risky shot. The signature hole of The Ridge Course is the beautiful 176-yard par 3 with its artful combination of a challenging 90-foot drop and panoramic view of the whole course.

Apart from giving a treat to the eyes, the Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley also aims to cater to golfers of all handicaps and give them truly memorable golf trips at the course. It has four sets of teeboxes to accommodate every playing level. The developers of this golf course has truly made something out of this mining land, something that makes every round of golf here precious.

Wild Dunes – Harbor Course

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If there is one word that best describes the Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, it would be all about CHALLENGE. This amazing golf escape has all sorts of surprises in its every corner that provides the fairest test in golfing skills even to the world’s highly skilled golfers. The 18-hole course that make up half of the 36-hole course of Wild Dunes Resort (the other being the Wild Dunes – Links Course) was designed by Tom Fazio early in his career and still is one of his favorite designs. The natural components of this course that has proved a great challenge to Fazio during construction are still the same factors that make this golf vacation destination in South Carolina one of the most challenging courses ever.

As its name implies, the Wild Dunes – Harbor Course is bounded by water on almost all sides. The layout of this golf trip destination was carved out of lagoons and salt marshes and what is now known in the East Coast as the “longest water hazard in the world”: the South Carolina Intracoastal Waterway. It challenged the designer, and it continues to challenge the shot-making skills and the strategies of the golfers.

The Wild Dunes – Harbor Course is a 6,359 yards of par-70 golf course goodness to complete the perfect South Carolina golf vacation package. Its location treats the players to views of golden dunes, marshes and crashing waves. The scenery and the impending challenge in every hole of the Harbor Course is perhaps what Golf Magazine has seen in the course when it named Harbor Course as one of the Best in the State. Arrange with golf vacation experts now and make your dream golf vacation a lifetime experience that is worth remembering.

Old South Golf Links

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Old South Golf Links is a multi-awarded golf vacation spot that is almost always teeming with a mixture of professional and amateur golfers. This 18 hole, public golf course spanning 6,700 yards is a certified championship course and winner of several awards from various stakeholders in the golfing industry. It won the Golf Digest 4-star “Places to Play” and was recently named by the Lowcountry Monthly Magazine as the “Course of the Year for 2009”. In addition, it is also included in the list of “Hilton Head’s Favorite Golf Courses” in the Golfer’s Guide online survey.

A masterpiece of a professional golf course designer named Clyde Johnston, Old South Golf Links offers nothing but a superb golfing experience peculiar to Southern Carolina. It features seven marsh front holes, three island greens, towering live oaks, rolling terrain and gorgeous Lowcountry style clubhouse.

The first hole at the magnificent Old South Golf Links is bounded on the left by a creek that drifts toward the fairway on the tee side. A bunker is settled in between, and a row of trees and grass pot bunkers comes next. Several mounds and a couple of sand bunkers are also positioned. Meanwhile, the second hole at this popular golf vacation destination features a fairway that resembles a tennis court, with its 150-yard posts that stands on top on a ridge.

Holes No. 6 and 8 are considered by many as a bit awkward considering the minuscule distance between these areas. Good thing that golf holes around these parts of the Old South Golf Links stretch into the marsh. The holes at the 12th through 15th wanders through the trees; hence players have to be more careful when positioning their tee shots. The most interesting part of this Hilton Hills golf is probably the 16th hole. It features a nearly 90-degree dogleg through the marsh that spans 355 yards.

Robber’s Row Golf Club

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Robber’s Row Golf Club is a diverse, golf course in Hilton Hill Island. Originally built by George Cobb in 1967 and eventually redesigned by Pete Dye in 1994, this top-notch golf vacation destination is known among sport enthusiasts for its impressive architecture, brush with the Civil War history, and its world-class service. No wonder, hundreds of golfers take time off to visit this South Carolina course.

A resort golf course that spans 6,657 yards from the tips, Robber’s Row Golf Club winds through the north part of the island amid canopies of moss draped oaks and countless magnolias. This 18-hole golf course comes with a series of tempting doglegs and fairways lined with tall, Carolina pines and oaks. Also visible are well-trimmed native grasses and some marshes with crystal clear waters.

Some of the greens at Robber’s Row Golf Club are bordered by marshes, while others have narrow fairways and dangerous bunkers, making it quite a challenging golf haven. Its 7th hole features a very small landing area surrounded by a scenic marsh on its left and a shallow green over a bunker on its right. The picturesque 18th hole is a medium-length par 5 features a dogleg apparently guarded by towering trees on the right and the looming water on the left. Its elevated green makes way to the bunker on the left.

Aside from its well designed golf architecture, Robber’s Row Golf Course also provides some sort of immersion into the American culture. Why not, the entire course itself is set on a former Civil War grounds. In addition, tee boxes at this golf club features historical markers that contain events relevant to the areas.

In all sense, Robber’s Row Golf Club is a perfect getaway course that guarantees fun and exciting golf trip adventure.

Country Club of Hilton Head

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Are you looking for a golf vacation destination that features a relaxed, lazy, country club atmosphere? Should that be the case, Country Club of Hilton Head is a perfect golf course you should be heading down to. This 18-hole semi-private course located on the north end of the island in the Hilton Head Plantation was designed by an American golf course architect named Rees Jones.

The first nine greens at Country Club of Hilton Head features country-side layout. Visitors to these locations can almost always hear birds twittering in the trees and see leisurely people enjoying themselves with fun activities. But then again, be prepared because the back of the ninth green literally comes with a surprise. Golfers would soon find out that the 9th hole is actually a blend of fine and dangerous, parkland course.

The 12th hole at Country Club of Hilton Head is considered the most scenic part of the golf vacation destination. This 575-yards, par 5 course ends with a picturesque vista of the Intracoastal Waterway and Skull Creek. This portion is also referred to as the most photographed part of the massive golf course.

The rest of this relaxing golf estate reflects Rees’ signature accents like salt-water marshes and freshwater lagoons. There are also shady little creeks and little wooden bridges over ponds that feature deep blue waters. Old moss-draped oaks also abound throughout the golf estate.

Country Club of Hilton Head not only provides a picturesque setting. This way, it is definitely not just for leisurely golf trips. As a matter of fact, this popular golf vacation destination was a qualifying site for both the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open where only two pros and top amateurs scored below 70 in the last qualifying round.

The Country Club of Hilton Head features 6,919 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. It was created in 1985 and was eventually opened for play in 1986. As of press time, ClubCorp runs the facility under the aegis of its competent General Manager in the person of Richard Beetle.

Crescent Pointe Golf Club

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Golf enthusiasts looking for both fun and challenge in the sport can never go wrong at Crescent Pointe Golf Club. This public golf club that was designed by Arnold Palmer in 2000 reportedly requires power, precision, and patience. As most golfers put it, playing in this massive par-71 golf club in Bluffton demands careful thinking.

Crescent Pointe Golf Club is an 18-hole course located just 3 miles away from the Hilton Head Island bridge in South Carolina. This club is believed to be an ideal destination for golfers who can’t always get on tracks as well as for those who would want to put their golfing skills to the test.

Like other Palmer creations, Crescent Pointe Golf Club features the designer’s signature sugar-white beach bunkers despite not being exactly near the beach. The landscape in this premier golf vacation destination evidently lurks near the water’s edge, thereby doubling the player’s danger and threatening the stance.

The course at Crescent Pointe Golf Club winds through a kind of rolling terrain that is peculiar in the low country. The club features various layouts and tees and greens are slightly elevated. Each hole has its own distinctive characteristics, hinting that each of the layouts throughout the course is guaranteed well-thought of. The greens at this popular golf vacation destination also comes with classic contours and undulations, making the game a bit challenging.

Generally speaking, this top-notch golf trip destination is fairly typical of your low country courses, except for its unusual elevation changes that ensures an exciting golf experience. Crescent Pointe Golf Club is also noted for its marsh views speckled with spartina grass around the marshes and magnolias on elevated grounds. On top of these, green fees can suit even the tightest budget thus making it an ideal hangout for golfers.

Beacon Ridge Golf and Country Club

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Few minutes away from the lovely village of Pinehurst North Carolina lies the remarkable Beacon Ridge Golf and Country Club. The club is a par 72, 6,494-yard championship golf course that was designed by famed course architect Gene Hamm. It was also recently awarded with a coveted Four-Star rating by Golf Digest. This lovely golf vacation destination features one of the most attractive and well-manicured courses in the Sandhills region, and attracts thousands of players and visitors each year.

The Beacon Ridge Golf and Country Club offers 4 sets of tee boxes for the pleasure of golfers of all skill levels. The main club house is a Mount-Vernon-style manor which overlooks the Beacon Ridge layout, and provides a comfortable and relaxed ambiance. The clubhouse also has leisure facilities like a full-stocked pro shop, lounge and grill. Additional amenities include a swimming pool and 3 soft-surfaced tennis courts. This golf vacation destination’s classic layout winds through rolling mounds and towering pine trees, and Bermuda along with Penncross Bentgrass greens cover the fairways. The facility has a course rating of 71.2, while the slope rating is 135.

In Beacon Ridge Golf & Country Club, visitors will find Lake Altman, which is considered the largest lake in Moore County. The lake is three miles long and two miles wide, and a large earthen dam is located on the south side. The course’s exciting layout, plus the wonderful scenery in the vicinity, makes this golf club a noteworthy golf vacation package option. Beacon Ridge is a semi-private club that’s open for public play, and also hosts professional tournaments and outings. The club has stylish and fully-equipped villas to accommodate its guests, and golf membership packages are available year-round.

Arcadian Shores Golf Club

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The Arcadian Shores Golf Club is a perfect blend of nature’s finest elements with Rees Jones’ modern innovations. This stunning 18-hole golf vacation destination is quite unique when compared to the rest of the South Carolina’s golf courses. When at play, golfers are provided with the five sets of tees that come with their own unique challenges suitable for any skill levels. Not only that, the entire layout is also covered with the lush Tifton Bermuda greens accented with the strategically placed sand bunkers. And in and out of the fairways are the natural lakes that blend well with the perfect golfing atmosphere.

When the Arcadian Shores Golf Club opened way back in 1974, Jones was able to come up with demanding holes appropriate for both beginners and professionals. When golfing guests opt for the tee that suits their skill level, then it would be all about fun and exciting rounds at the greens. And to complete the fair test of golf, the deviously placed bunkers, distinctive contouring, and the tree-lined Bermuda fairways were added giving the layout a course rating of 73.2 and a slope rating of 137. The Arcadian Shores also features four Par 5s, ten Par 4s, and four Par 3s.

In a citation and ranking made by The Sun News, two of Arcadian Shores Golf Club’s most challenging holes were voted by golf experts. Holes #2 and #13 made it to the prestigious “Dream 18” which is a collection of the finest 18 holes along the beach. Other features of the golf course include the clubhouse that comes with a grill room, a fully-stocked pro shop, and the spacious practice facility. For those who would want to enhance their skills and work out with effective golf instructions, The Hilton Golf Academy is also featured.

 

 

 

 

Black Bear Golf Club

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Bold and beautiful is what the Black Bear Golf Club is all about. Set along Myrtle Beach’s vast lands secluded away from the busy world, this stunning golf escape designed by the renowned Tom Jackson has been drawing in crowds since inception. After the golf course’s opening in 1989, massive makeovers were made to make sure that the finest experience in golf is redefined season after season. In 2006, this 6,800-yard Par-72 layout had its greens reconstructed with Champion Bermuda greens. No structures line the fairways, when at play, it is all about you, the challenging holes, and nature’s finest.

What makes the Black Bear Golf Club a top notch choice among the golf enthusiasts is that all handicappers can take full advantage of the entire layout without having to spend so much. Although the highly skilled may not struggle that much with the challenges that the layout brings, still each round at Black Bear brings about a different feel, unique from the other. And since the area is engulfed by nature and has been ringed and segmented by 23 glistening lakes, non-golfing guests can also enjoy the serene ambiance that goes along with nature. A day wandering around an amazing golf escape surrounded by natural vegetation can already provide the needed relaxation even without hitting the greens.

The Black Bear Golf Club is also being highlighted by a Plantation-style clubhouse where guests can gather after a round of golf for a chat over snacks. The place also features the Pro Shop where guests can get some of the needed items and equipments before heading to the greens. And for those who are new to golfing, lessons with highly qualified instructors are also being offered. Practice facilities can also be located if in case warming ups are necessary. If planning to take a golf escape away from the busy world, golf vacation packages heading to some of Myrtle Beach’s finest golf resorts are available.

Pine Lakes Country Club

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What was once a natural dune less vast land in South Carolina has now turned into one of the best golf vacation destinations that Myrtle Beach takes pride on. The Pine Lakes Country Club was first introduced to the public way back in 1927 as a classic golf course that featured the rolling fairways and numerous freshwater lakes. This 9-hole resort was designed by the famed Robert White and was considered as “Myrtle Beach’s first Golf Resort”. In 1527, Sports Illustrated also featured the golf course when a group of Time-Life Inc. executives trained as well as planned for their weekly sports activities. And after how many years of living with the traditional golf, the golf course then underwent major restorations.

The Pine Lakes Country Club was reopened in 2009 after the renowned Architect Craig Schreiner headed the restoration project. After the multi-million dollar renovation, the golf course relived its glorious days. The design still retains most of the original nine that was created by White but now as the course’s back nine. The current design now features less blind water hazards; recontoured terrains, added length, several sandy waste areas, as well as the lake, all perfectly blend with the lush Seashore Paspalum grass. And the resort’s clubhouse now exudes clearly the graceful Southern architecture that symbolizes the area’s rich and deeply rooted tradition and history.

If you want to experience Myrtle Beach’s “Grand Daddy of Them All”, then head your way to the Pines Lake Country Club. There are already plenty of golf vacation packages that will fit your budget and preferences. Annually, this amazing golf course holds at about 36,000 golf rounds. Have your share of golf rounds now at this historic golf escape.