Tag Archives: golf vacation destination

Montego Bay Golf

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , • Leave a comment

Montego Bay is Jamaica’s 2nd largest city that is nestled between the Salem Hills and Bogue, Kempshot, 90 miles off south of Cuba. Best dubbed as the “Land of Wood and Water”, this tropical gem boasts of its dazzling beaches, miles of coral reefs, and the famous “Hip Strip” where local and foreign guests gather for a vibrant nightlife. Also known as “MoBay”, this popular tourist golf vacation destination serves as the refuge of the wealthy Jamaicans and the Americans. Up to date, Montego Bay is going through the series of explosive modernizations in order to become one of Caribbean’s top destinations. Being home to the array of tourist resorts, shopping establishments, fine restaurants, and the vast outdoors that provide gamut of possibilities for an exciting adventure-packed vacation, the city one place that you should not miss. The city also boasts of its world-class championship greens including the Cinnamon Hill Golf Club, the Half Moon Golf Club, and the White Witch Golf Course.

Cinnamon Hill Golf Club

Nestled between the stunning Caribbean Sea and the verdant Jamaica Golfmountains of Jamaica; the Cinnamon Hills Golf Club spans across the area’s vast 400 lush acres. This 18-hole championship facility was designed by the famed Robert Von Hagge. To complete the layout, the open wind-swept front nines were created giving way to the tight trap-filled back nines that are bordered by dense foliage. This 6,637-yard par-71 layout also features the picturesque oceans, stunning mountain vistas, a golf shop, caddie service, and the cart and equipment rental. Before heading to the greens, golfers can also practice at the layout’s putting green and driving range. With the 900-foot elevation, the course was cited by Golf Digest Magazine as among the “Top Courses in Jamaica”.

Half Moon Golf Club

Jamaica GolfThe Half Moon Golf Club is an award-winning championship par 72 course designed by the famous golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. This newly-renovated layout features the great undulating greens, challenging drives, demanding holes, and the breathtaking vistas that greet every golfer while on play. As part of the major changes made by the famed Roger Rulewich, the new course now features the greenside bunkers, the multiple tee complexes, and the repositioned fairway. Considered as one of Nicklaus’ “Great Golf Resorts of the World”, the layout was also cited as “The Best Caribbean Golf Resort” by the Caribbean World Magazine.

White Witch Golf Course

Winding through the rolling countryside of what was once a sugar Jamaica Golfplantation, the White Witch Golf Course is among the Rick Baril and Robert von Hagge masterpieces that has been attracting golfers from all parts of the world. This 18-hole, 6,859-yard par-71 layout is also characterized by cool trade winds, lush greenery, mountainous terrain, colorful foliage and the most spectacular ocean sceneries from almost all of the course’s holes. The Men’s USGA slope rating is 139 with a course rating of 139 while the Women’s USGA slope rating is 126 with a slope rating of 73.2. The historic Rose Hall Plantation has now turned into one of Caribbean’s finest golf vacation destinations.

Homestead Resort Golf

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

Year-round fun and adventure in a tranquil setting suits the best description for Homestead Resort. This premier luxury resort was founded ten years prior to the American Revolution and is considered as national historic landmark that has been attracting both the local and foreign visitors from all parts of the globe. The area is said to be home for the state’s largest hot springs, the oldest alpine ski resort, and three championship golf courses designed by famous golf icons like Donald Ross, William S. Flynn, Rees Jones, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. Along with its rich history that extends nearly 2 ½ centuries as well as the majestic sceneries, Homestead is by all means, Virginia’s pride for relaxation and luxury in abundance. The Cascades Course, the Old Course, and the Lower Cascades Course are three of the world’s finest greens that The Homestead offers to its guests.

The Homestead – Cascades Course

The Cascades Course of Homestead has been cited as “The Best Public Course in Virginia for 2010” by GolfWeek Magazine, and among Golf Digest’s  “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses”. Designed by the legendary golf course architect William S. Flynn, the Cascades is set through the varied terrains of the breathtaking Allegheny Mountains that offers the par 72, 6,679 yards of play from the layout’s longest tees. This fabled mountain golf course is also where Sam Snead had his humble beginnings. For those who have just started to develop their golfing skills, the layout may penalize them for unfair hazard placements or forced carries. The course was given a slope rating of 137 and a course rating of 73.0.

The Homestead – Old Course

Home to the nation’s oldest first tee that is continuously operating, the Old Course of The Homestead is an 18-hole facility that boasts of its evolving as well as challenging golf rounds. The layout features the par 72, 6,211 yards of play from the longest tees as well as the challenging rough that would require positioning on the greens. It has the slope rating of 120 and a course rating of 69.7. With the constant updates of Rees Jones and William S. Flynn, golfers will have the challenging tee times on the layout’s abundant fairways that give the mot shots a downhill lie, side hill, or uphill to smallish greens.

The Homestead – Lower Cascades Course

The Lower Cascades Course of The Homestead is all about competitive golfing and a relaxing golf vacation destination. Designed by the older Robert Trent Jones, the layout features the wide-open fairways, runway tee boxes, exaggerated breaks on severe green contouring, and the strategically placed bunkers, all placed on the 6,579 yards of golf. This 18-hole par 72 course was given a slope rating of 127 and a course rating of 72.2. Majority of the holes at Lower Cascades are set in a beautiful valley with a few that winds up onto the ridges. When playing from the back tees, golfers would be required to take the long and straight approach shots all the way through the course’s undulating greens.

Kiawah Island Golf

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

A barrier island set 15 miles off south of Charleston is Kiawah Island, a popular beach and golf resort that is already considered as a major tourist destination in the United States. The island boasts of its spacious villas, highly acclaimed greens, famous beaches, and many other exciting attractions. Being hailed as one of East Coast’s premier golf destinations, the island has 5 award-winning golf layouts designed by Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio. With the courses that go through the dense woods all the way to the island’s breezy oceanfront, Kiawah is often flocked by golfers of all ability levels who want to experience not just quality  but also a quiet golf vacation destination and refuge. The Oak Point, the Cougar Point, the Osprey Point, the Turtle Point, and the Ocean Course are among the finest golf courses that the island boasts about.

Oak Point

The Oak Point is Clyde Johnston’s masterpiece that is set on the grounds of what was Kiawah Islan Golfknown as an old cotton and indigo plantation. Frequently dubbed as course with the Scottish-American style, this par-72 layout offers the fair test to both the experienced professionals and novice golfers. This stay and play facility also features a new clubhouse that is near the 18th green with the best views of the Haulover Creek.

 

Cougar Point

Stretching at a yardage of 6,861 from the back tees, the Cougar Point is nestled on the former site of Marsh Point Golf Course. The new design that was made by Gary Palmer is about 600 yards longer as compared to the old course. The layout also features the 3-hole stretch midway that runs through the front nine, the acres of spartina grass, and the dramatic par-4 18th hole. Aside from the majestic views of the Kiawah River, golfers can also see the countless wading birds while on play.

Osprey Point

The Osprey Point is a Tom Fazio classic layout that is characterized by variety and playability. The Kiawah Island Golflayout features the fingers of saltwater marsh, 4 large natural lakes, and the dense maritime forests comprised of the century-old live oaks, palmetto palms, pines, and magnolias. Tee times would include the par-4 453-yard ninth as well as the pair of threes that are longer than 200 yards. The layout also features the modernized cart paths as well as an immaculate driving range.

Turtle Point

The Turtle Point is a Jack Nicklaus gem where premier events like the 1990 PGA Cup Matches were held. The layout is considered as low-profile design wherein the green settings and fairways are blended with the area’s existing landscape with the absence of artificial mounding and other radical features. It also features the 412-yard 15th which is known as the hardest hole that the course takes along.

The Ocean Course

Designed by the famous Pete Dye, the Ocean Course has already hosted several major golf Kiawah Island Golfcompetitions including the “War by the Shore” of the Ryder Cup. In 2002 and 2003, Dye made some significant changes like moving the 40 yards 18th green toward the ocean as well as relaying all the tees and greens. A clubhouse was also added in order to provide guests with an ultimate golf vacation experience.

Crystal Springs Golf

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

The Crystal Springs Resort has been considered as the most expansive resort in the Northeast that serves as a four-season vacation destination. Nestled in the lush greens of Vernon Valley and the beautiful range of Kittatinny Mountain, the resort is ringed by rolling farmlands and pristine lakes. With the majestic landscape, golf course designers and architects made the resort a haven of beautiful masterpieces creatively designed for the golfers at heart. Included in the resort’s seven amazing golf courses are the Ballyowen Golf Club, the Black Bear, the Cascades, Crystal Springs, Great Gorge, the Minerals Golf Center, and the Wild Turkey.

Ballyowen Golf Club

Among the 21,000 golf layouts that were evaluated by Conde Nast’s GolfWorld Magazine, Ballyowen Golf Club was picked as one of the United States’ “Top 50 Public Courses”. The course was masterfully and skillfully sculpted on sprawling acres above the plateau overlooking the Wallkill River and surrounded by craggy knolls and rolling farmland. Inspired by the Celtic style, architect Roger Rulewich created a virtually treeless golf course that features the plush green fairways, pristine white bunkering, and the towering mounds.

Black Bear

Rated  “very good to excellent” by Zagat, the Black Bear course serves as every recreational golfer’s paradise. The entire golf course was designed by David Glenz, the PGA “Teacher of the Year”, and Jack Kurlander, a famed developer. This 6,673 yard layout features the teeing area covered with natural grass that is about 100,000 square feet, bunkers, the synthetic multi-tiered launching stations, and the wide array of target greens. Black Bear is also home to the David Glenz Golf Academy.

Cascades

The Cascades is the newest golf course in Crystal Springs Resort and the third masterpiece of golf course architect Roger Rulewich in the resort. The course that stretches to 3,627 yards features the junior tees in order to provide enjoyable tee times for those who are new to golfing. Golfers can now take the challenging rounds of swinging at the resort’s highly acclaimed 117 holes set in an amazing golf vacation destination.

Crystal Springs

Considered as New Jersey’s most challenging layout, Crystal Springs was also recognized among the finest greens in the northeastern portion of the United States. Almost every year, Crystal Springs is listed on the “Top 10 Public Golf Courses in New Jersey” of Golf Digest. This highly acclaimed 6,800 yards golf course features the fairways and greens framed by sculpted mounds as distinct in a Robert von Hagge design.

Great Gorge

The Great Gorge, designed by the famous George Fazio, is a 27-hole complex that is comprised of 3 separate 9-hole layouts namely the Quarryside Course, the Lakeside Course, and the Railside Course. Rated four stars by Golf Digest, Great Gorge provides golfers of all ability levels the experience that no other places in this world can offer.

Minerals Golf Center

The Minerals Golf Center was designed by Robert Trent Jones to provide the best 9-hole family-friendly layout in New Jersey. Cited as one of the “Top 12 Short Courses in America” by Golf Range Magazine, this majestic layout features the well manicured bentgrass fairways, 2 sets of cups in every hole, and the array of family-oriented amenities. This scenic golf is located at Hamburg Mountain’s base.

Wild Turkey

The Wild Turkey is considered as the 2nd Roger Rulewich design in Crystal Springs Resort. Classified by guests as a combination of the two other Rulewich masterpieces in the resort, Wild Turkey still stood on its own merit being cited by NJGCOA as one of “New Jersey’s Top New Public Courses”. Golfers can now experience Ballyowen’s sheer expansiveness and Crystal Springs’ multi-elevated nature in a uniquely designed layout.

Fort Lauderdale Golf

Posted on by • Posted in Top Golf Destinations • Tagged , , • Leave a comment

Known as the “Venice of America”, Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city that features the intricate and expansive canal system that has been attracting both the local and foreign guests from across the globe. As a major yachting center, the city is also home to famous beaches and boats with thousands of resident yachts as well as a hundred marinas and boatyards. Aside from the city’s top notch beaches, Fort Lauderdale also boasts of its Las Olas Boulevard shopping, gondola rides, historic riverfronts, and the majestic golf course masterpieces of renowned golf icons. Some of Fort Lauderdale’s challenging greens that makes a perfect golf vacation destination include the Heron Bay Golf Club, the Club at Emerald Hills, the Plantation Preserve, the Hillcrest Golf & Country Club, and the Palm Aire Country Club – Palms Course.

Heron Bay Golf Club

The Heron Bay Golf Club is an 18-hole championship layout designed by Mark McCumber, a PGA TOUR professional. Cited by Golf Magazine as one of the city’s “Top Ten Places to Play”; the layout features over a hundred bunkers and an array of tees that will provide golfers with a variety of golf playing option. The course also boasts of its multi-tiered practice facility that comes with realistic target greens, complete short game area, and high quality practice balls.

Club at Emerald Hills

Cited by ESPN as one of “America’s Top Golf Courses”, the Club at Emerald Hills is a challenging layout that features the well protected undulating greens, the lush rolling fairways and water that comes into play on the layout’s 12 holes. After undergoing extensive renovations in 1989, the course has already served as a host to golf competitions including the 2003 U.S. Amateur Qualifier and the 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier. This amazing layout was also cited as Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play for the Last Ten Years”.

Plantation Preserve

Set in a 211-acre parcel of land, the Plantation Preserve is a highly recognized championship golf Florida Golfcourse that offers a par-72 7,000 yards of play. Aside from the well-designed greens, guests can also explore the linear park trail that features the 2 trailheads that wind through the acres of wetland preserve and the golf course. The course was also cited as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the golf courses program of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Hillcrest Golf & Country Club

The Hillcrest Golf & Country Club is a championship layout that was redesigned by the famed architect Joe “Gentleman” Lee in 2000. He added the new sand traps, mounding, improved tee boxes, and new lakes to the course while maintaining its classic features. This par-72 layout also offers the Tif-Eagle greens, pristine lakes, and the lush landscaping that will surely attract discerning golfers.

Palm Aire Country Club – Palms Course

Originally designed in 1959 by William Mitchell, the Palm Aire Country Club – Palms Florida GolfCourse underwent renovations in 1996 that was handled by Lori Viola and Karl Kitten. The course now features the modernized system that will keep the rough areas and fairways in top-notch condition as well as the new car paths. Among the golf competitions that were held in the Palms include the Florida Open and the Nike South Florida Classic.