Editor's Note: In an effort to bring a diverse array of opinions and perspectives to Newsmax's A Golfer's Life, we are actively seeking contributions from industry leaders and newsmakers from the world of golf. The following column has been submitted by Bill Hogan, International Director for Premier Golf, a longtime PGA of America partner and one of the largest golf travel companies in America. Hogan has played golf in 56 countries and is a global golf travel expert with more than 25 years of experience.
More Americans are traveling as the U.S. economy rebounds, and many are packing golf clubs for the ride. Here are three destination-type trips to consider for 2015 and beyond.
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Exotic Destinations: While North Americans struggle through one of the coldest and snowiest winters on record, golfers dream of warm-weather destinations.
The Southern Hemisphere is ideal when seeking a temperate climate with spectacular golf courses and amenities. New Zealand is the current ‘hot’ destination with luxury lodges and top-100 golf courses Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs. Kinloch, The Hills and Jacks Point are also “must-plays.” Après golf, with unrivaled wineries, activity sports and first-rate fishing, makes New Zealand one of the most complete vacation destinations in the world.
Nearby Australia has the finest combination of weather, food, wine and golf on the planet, featuring superb Sandbelt Courses near Melbourne, such as Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne and The Metropolitan. Tasmania's Lost Farm and Barnbougle Dunes are among the best in the world, as is New South Wales GC near Sydney. To top it off, Aussies are engaging and over-the-top welcoming to overseas visitors.
Bucket List Destinations: Domestically, the collection of courses at Bandon Dunes is legendary. Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes. Old Macdonald and Bandon Trails are top notch, and the 13-hole Bandon Preserve is acclaimed as the best par-3 course ever built. There are no carts, so Bandon Dunes is for purists who like to walk and play true links golf.
Pebble Beach will always be a "must-play-in-your-life" venue. Situated on California's Monterey Peninsula, undoubtedly the most beautiful real estate in the U.S., the courses include the venerable Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay. Other local courses, such as Poppy Hills and a collection of some exclusive private clubs, make Pebble Beach the land of golf royalty in America.
Streamsong Resort, a newcomer in central Florida, already has two world top-100 golf courses: Streamsong Red by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, and Tom Doak’s Streamsong Blue. These links courses feature massive sand dunes and natural grasses that conjure images of Ireland or Scotland. A new course, Streamsong Black, is under development and will be Gil Hanse's contribution to the prodigious Streamsong lineup.
Big Event Destinations: This year’s Open Championship will be played at the famous St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland, allowing golfers to scratch two items off their bucket list on one trip: Teeing it up in the birthplace of golf and attending a major championship. Premier Golf has an office in Scotland and offers clients a chance to experience the British Open as a spectator, as well as “ala carte” packages that include tee times at The Old Course.
The PGA Championship returns to Wisconsin's Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler at The American Club Resort, August 10-16. Visitors often combine a Kohler trip with tee times at four remarkable golf courses and a two-night stay at Erin Hills Golf Course, site of the 2017 US Open. Trust us, summer golf in Wisconsin is hard to beat, just ask the professionals.
Looking ahead to 2016, the Ryder Cup returns to American soil as Davis Love III captains the U.S. against Darren Clark and the Europeans at Hazeltine National Golf Club near Minneapolis. Premier Golf has been the exclusive provider of North American Ryder Cup packages since 1991, sending more than 25,000 fans to golf’s greatest event and will once again be offering all-inclusive spectator experiences featuring on-site concierge service, tee times, welcome receptions and more.
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Premier Golf LLC is a division of Travel Incorporated, headquartered in Duluth, Georgia. The company has been licensed by the PGA of America since 1988 and manages several of the PGA’s travel requirements. Premier Golf provides golf-travel services to classic destinations all over the world. For more information:
www.premiergolf.com, (866) 260-4409.
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