Talking Stick – North Course

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw said that the Talking Stick – North Course is the low-profile part among the two golf vacation destinations in the area. As the South Course displays a more challenging elevated greens that are guarded by edges of the plan, this North course shows a links style layout that transports any traditional player into the nostalgic history of golf. Home of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the course has wide and sharp-cornered holes that reinforce an amusing play catering to different skill levels.

While the makers of Talking Stick – North Course may declare it as low-profile, the golf trip course is actually far from diffident when it comes to awards. In fact, it has maintained as Golfweek Magazine’ Top 100 Modern Courses from 1999 to 2002, and Top100 Best Courses You Can Play from 2002 to 2003. Making a step forward, the course also garnered the top rank as Golfweek’s Best Public Course in the State consistently from 2002 and 2005. During those years, it was rated with 4 stars from Golf Digest Surveys. The fame has made this course open to host prominent events like the The Gateway Tours from 2002 to 2007.

Despite the well-celebrated reputation, Talking Stick – North Course has maintained to provide a relaxing atmosphere to its customers. Sure players can dive into the challenge at its premier golf layout, but more than that, guests can choose to cuddle up in one of the rooms or dine at the Wildhorse Grille while relishing the spectacular panorama of mountain vistas. Truly, a golf vacation at the North is worth every bit of energy.

Talking Stick – South Course

Teaming up to design a magical golf vacation destination is what Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw did when they created the Talking Stick – South Course. Owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, this location is one of two main golf courses in the area, together with the Talking Stick – North Course. Compared to the tie-in style of the North Course, the South Course displays traditional atmosphere with tree-lined fairways. Here is where players can find sides of the course defending the elevated greens that provide for a more direct playing approach.

The sophisticated golf vacation that Talking Stick – South Course provides is the primary reason why it has landed as Golfweek Magazine’ Top 100 Modern Courses from 1999 to 2002. The location’s fame ascended to another level as it became Golf Magazine’ Top 100 Best Courses You Can Play and Best Public Course in the State according to South Golfweek in 2002 and 2003. Finally, Golf Digest Surveys rated the course with 4 1/2 stars consistently in 2004 and 2005.

Also award winning is Talking Stick – South Course‘ 26,000 square foot clubhouse that offers a golf shop with complete golf equipment, locker rooms for players, dining rooms for general guests and private dining rooms for vacationers who desire an intimate feel. Golfers can also avail of the practice facility or enroll for a golf workshop at the Tim Mahoney Golf Academy. Aside from that, there are more amenities served at the Wildhorse Grille where golf trips enthusiasts can also view the never-ending desert panorama that exhibits a display of mountainous landscape making guests reflect on the relaxing feeling of rural seclusion. Grabbing a quick bite will never feel the same when made at this area.

Mississippi National Golf Club

As a top public golf vacation destination in the region, Mississippi National Golf Club showcases a magnificent terrain in Biloxi, Mississippi that is designed by the renowned golf architect, Earl Stone. Coddled on eminent oak, graceful magnolias and beaming dogwoods, the course has become a site for locals and tourists to visit since 1965. The attractive 18-hole Championship course supplies golfers with a play that would meet any skill caliber.

Combining traditional atmosphere with the demands of contemporary competitive golf brings Mississippi National Golf Club into life. On the 10 holes, water hazards test golfer’s skills as they are laid with a display of strategically stringent shot placements. This aspect of the destination has permitted it to reach the rate 73.1 and slope 128 which makes it appealing for high profile events like the recent Nike Tour . It has also hosted other Nationwide tours and some State Amateur tournaments and golf vacation events.

After an intense game, the 6,983 yard playing for par 72 golf trip layout also carries players back into comfort with a jaw dropping scenic view from the National Sports Grill overlooking the Singing River. Aside from tasting the brilliance of the scene, guests can also avail of the amenities at the clubhouse. While the clubhouse at Mississippi National Golf Club may be spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people, it also allows for a more intimate and homy feel. But if that is not sufficient, couples, friends and families can also catch a relaxing moment with the fresh breeze at the outdoor patio. 

Gulf Hills Golf Club

Carrying a dramatic history for over 72 years, the Gulf Hills Golf Club has been an important part for the Mississippi Golf Coast community. For one, during its earlier days, this golf vacation destination has hosted several movie stars, gangsters and members of the “upper crust”, like Elvis Presley, at its former clubhouse “The Pinky Pony”. In the 50’s and 60’s, the course has made it as a first rate location. At the time, its fame rose to an unparalleled level that tee times there were even auctioned off to a highest bidder. It was only in 1998 when the Gulf Coast residents fought for the destination, restoring it back to its original brilliance.

Now, the Gulf Hills Golf Club continues to appeal to all golf players around the world with its magnificent tumbling hills that rolls through the resplendent residential area. Here, the fastidiously sculpted velvet greens lay as perfect match with the resounding gentle breeze. With sunshine an average of 300 days, this golf trip location is only filled with lavish sight of fairways and manicured greens and none of those alarming hard winters. Couples statistically adore this destination for its carpet of roses that blooms all year round.

Give it to architect Jack Daray who designed this one-of-a-kind 18-hole course that is perfect for a golf vacation in the South. Because of the satisfaction any player gets when experiencing golf here, Golf Digest ranked the Gulf Hills Golf Club‘s 17th hole as the top 5 most beautiful and challenging golf course for the entire Southeastern Region.

Ocean City Golf Club – Newport Bay

Since its creation in 1959, the Ocean City Golf Club – Newport Bay has maintained to be the leading golf vacation destination in Ocean City, Maryland. Now with new renovations re-built on the Newport Bay Course, the place has improved even more with 18 holes and more water features like marshes and bay vistas. With the magnificent landscape, it is only a matter of time before Ocean City Golf Club becomes tagged as the most beautiful golf course in the Mid-Atlantic coast.

Ocean City Golf Club – Newport Bay provides an atmosphere that is appealing to guests who want a feel for both competitiveness and comfort. The position of the water hazards, fairways and bunkers and the tumbling greens inspire any player to make the most of tactics and strategies. A golf trip is never the same when it is taken to the Newport because not only does it gives a magnificent view, the community also offers other interesting recreational activities and amenities.

The clubhouse at Ocean City Golf Club – Newport Bay exhibits a versatile golf vacation package with wide range of facilities to meet any golf enthusiast’s needs. Business meetings, rotary clubs, conferences, social gatherings and theme parties can be held in one of the rooms for an affordable rate. The location also opens for wedding reception and rehearsal dinner as it can cater up to 250 guests. The dance floor at the center and the fireplace on the side tender for both social and intimate meetings. And this place has the most hospitable customer service staff there is which makes it more attractive to all guests.

The National

The National at the Reynolds Plantation, Georgia is known to be a Tom Fazio masterpiece with its 27-hole long and narrow plays emerging through a forest of eminent pines and colorful dogwoods that frames the actual golf course. Designed in 1997, this golf vacation destination shows magnificent elevations, exciting views and many holes that touch the skirting Lake of Oconee. In fact, “amazing” is an understatement to call this sight.

The impenetrable forest of hardwoods and pines gives a dramatic atmosphere to the topography. Hundreds of bunkers, several holes enclosed along the shores and large ruffling greens give players of The National less room to stumble upon errors. Using the natural splendor of the land mixed with expert golf architectural management skills, Fazio created this golf trip location to challenge all types of players. That is the reason why it landed at the 100 Must-Play Courses of Georgia as rated by GolfStyles Magazine in 2007. The course also made it as America’s Best Resort Courses at the GolfWeek Magazine in 2006.

With an impressive designer and hospitable Reynold Plantation community, it is no surprise why The National remained as a sought after place in Georgia. Reynold folks consistently continue to have the patience and earnestness to maintain the area. To maximize a golf vacation experience, Reynold even extends offers of forecaddies that attend to players in carts by providing hole descriptions and target lines, finding golf balls, giving yardage, preserving the course, taking care of the flagstick, and contenting green reads. 

The President Country Club – Eagle Course

Designed by the renowned golf architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr, the President Country Club – Eagle Course is known to have its maker’s signature with 36 holes of Championship Golf in Boca Raton, Florida. The Bermuda Greens on this golf vacation destination has six sets of tees that provide a mix of playability and competitiveness that is obviously unique only to a Trent Jones style. Back tees are where the challenge lies with coquina wastes lining up at the fairways and pampas greens showing an intricate accent that makes the landscape a spectacular scene to watch.

The opening hole doglegs on the right of the President Country Club – Eagle Course is where a lake is competently located attracting players to cut off as able as they can pull off. Every holes progresses along with more challenges that allow greater opportunities to test the mentality of a player. The par-4s are specifically interesting as they supply a larger space to make a run as if preparing a player for the tighter and more demanding holes to come. Obviously, the layout in this golf trip location shows the meticulous course management of a master designer.

There is the 5,500 yards with 127 slope and 5,063 with 123 slope that has been a magnet to women golfers. Coming into play on the 14 holes are the stimulating water hazards as well as the 47 peppered sand bunkers of different shapes and sizes that are placed strategically near the landing zones of the smoothly sculpted fairways. With a bit of everything, the President Country Club – Eagle Course has remained highly recommended among golf vacation adorers around the world.

Baytree National

Built in 1992 at Melbourne, Florida, this Gary Player designed golf vacation destination is a field playing for par-72 with a spread of enjoyable fairways and water features. The Baytree National made by the “Black Knight” of golf architecture is also surrounded with mounds on the side with an interesting pattern of moguls. Eighty-two white sand bunkers are sprinkled in the area with the red shale coquina wastes that is unique only to golf courses in Florida. The tumbling green shows various shapes and sizes which allow for strategic pin placements.

The Baytree National is composed of 7,200 yards with tees made to test the shot-making skills of any player may it be an amateur or a professional. Conquering the wetlands and lakes will make players ask for more. The layout has a competitive atmosphere that reflects the architect’s course management skills. The obvious manifestation of Player’s unique style explains why this golf vacation location is called a Gary Player Signature Course. Aside from the golf, Baytree also prides for its sightly clubhouse and deli-style restaurant that has one of the most efficient customer service.

Given the premiere layout clopped with a list of attractive recreational activities and partnered with complete amenities, it is no surprise why Baytree National has earned 4 stars in the Golf Digest rating. Zagat also threw high marks to this golf trip destination. Consistently, Baytree has also earned more awards like the title as Best of Brevard for the past two years. No wonder Washington Nationals has made Baytree its spring training home for many years.

Vasari Country Club

Experiencing a classical golf vacation experience is authentic when it’s in the Vasari Country Club. Inspired by the Renaissance Italian artist, Giorgio Vasari, the club recaptures the age of enlightenment with a magnificent plan of over 375 acres of natural preserves and 40-acre panoramic view of a lake. Maintaining the sophisticated architecture, the location was renovated by Billy Fuller adding more challenging pastures in all 18 holes of the championship golf course.

The Vasari Country Club provides an experience of delicately sculptured terrain along with an array of recreational activities. Aside from the competitive atmosphere, a golf trip enthusiast can experience the 6 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts and the fitness center with innovative amenities. For those who want to lay low from a mind blowing game, there are other facilities like the massage therapy room and swimming pool with spa to go to. The place truly lives with its vision to make Vasari “a magnificent blend of friendly neighborhoods within a unique and beautiful residential golf and country club community; where members enjoy resort-style amenities and take pride in living the good life.”

But what defines outstanding to this golf vacation destination is the two-story Vasari Country Club clubhouse that seems to float buoyantly on the shores of the 40-acre lake. Upon entry, the clubhouse already welcomes a Mediterranean atmosphere that extends to the entire main dining room, grill room, dance floor, board room, and private dining room. The area shows a spectacular lake view of the golf course and the bridges and fountains that adorn it. Resting on the Taverna with a book from the in-house library is also a good idea that Vasari guests have been known to do in this sought after location.

Brooksville Country Club

Located at the heart of the Golf Zoo Nature Coast Golf Trail, Brooksville Country Club is a golf course destination unrivaled by other golf courses in Florida. A weave of rolling fairways and a rhythm of oak trees spread on the field with a pattern of striking holes. In the middle of rock walls are ancient limestone mines that add a sense of tradition to the fusion of tumbling terrain and doglegs that never fail to challenge players from all levels. Each hole builds anticipation to the progressing thrill.

In fact, on the 12th hole is an exciting play of par 4 with upper and lower right fairways disjointed by a quarry wall. This is where players display their strategy on throwing a tee shot to the wide lower fairway in order to leave a second shot blind into the green. A birdie opportunity is also ready at the shorter and narrower upper fairway of the golf trip course. The fun-filled attitude that this hole captures is the reason why Golf Digest honored Brooksville Country Club as one of 18 “Most Fun Holes in America”.

Aside from the 12-hole’s honor, the par-4 of the 13th has also defined Brooksville Country Club into fame among players. This hole is where players can maximize their strategy as they have to confront the intimidating quarry hole high up a limestone point where natural vegetation frames the tee box. Since the ball can land distance away, players have to tackle a shot with utter risk. And the thrill is more than worth it especially for golf enthusiasts who want a taste of the essence of hard core golf trips.