Open after extensive renovations, Mallard Cove Golf Course in Lake Charles is a fair test of golf with few gimmicks, and represents a real value in Louisiana golf

There are more than 100 Myrtle Beach golf courses. But on a Myrtle Beach vacation, you might want to stay put. Here is a look at Sea Trail Plantation, an excellent, multi-course resort with golf courses by William Byrd, Dan Maples and Rees Jones.

The Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor used to get all the attention. But with the resort under new ownership, the older Island course, is getting a lot of well-deserved love, Tim McDonald writes

This is the first part in golf instructor Karen Palacios-Jansen's "Swing Essentials" series on building a fundamental golf swing. Here, Palacios-Jansen focuses on finding the right golf grip for your game.

Golf, eat, sleep: The perfect three-day Atlanta golf weekend
Atlanta golf is known to be exclusive, with private golf courses everywhere. But if you're willing to travel a bit outside the city, there are plenty excellent Georgia golf that you can play. National Editor Tim McDonald tells you where to eat, sleep and play.
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It's never too early to plan your next Ireland golf vacation. From the northwest and Ballyliffin to Northern Ireland's Royal County Down, Staff Writer Brandon Tucker gives you some tips on hitting the best Ireland golf courses.

Readers have been working off their turkey dinners on the golf course, according to our WorldGolf.com exit polls.

Between the golf course and the bar, you've gotta eat. Myrtle Beach has plenty of dining options — from backyard rib joints — to upscale spots on the water. Staff writers Tim McDonald, Chris Baldwin and Brandon Tucker have all spent some time in the Grand Strand, and offer their favorite spots to fill up.

On a three-day golf trip to Charleston, S.C., play courses like the Ocean at Kiawah Island resort, Wild Dunes and Patriots Point, and eat at great restaurants like Jestine's Kitchen and Magnolia's

Do you live in a locale where the golf season dies with the leaves? Equipment Editor Kiel Christianson recommends cold-weather gear such as Ecco's Casual Cool GTX golf shoes to allow you to squeeze a few more rounds out of the season before the snow flies.

On a Dallas golf trip, the Hyatt Regency might be your best bet for easy access to the best this Texas city has to offer

PGA Tour star John Daly's newest signature golf course, Sevillano Links at Rolling Hills Casino, is the newest addition to California golf

Ogio's Mammoth travel bag, Linda Hipp golf apparel, Nike Golf's KARMA golf balls and Vulcan Golf's Speedlite V14 driver are just a few of the goodies making Equipment Editor Kiel Christianson's list of excellent Christmas golf gifts for 2007.

Naples is awash in money, which makes for a rich golf scene at golf courses like Naples Grande and Tiburon, helping Naples compete with Florida golf destinations like Orlando and Tampa

Asheville, North Carolina isn't the first destination you think of when you think about Carolina golf, but courses like the Grove Park Golf Course and Mount Mitchell Golf Club, not to mention the awe-inspring Biltmore Estate, makes this beautiful city one to seek out.

Tom Fazio's Ocean South Course at Pelican Hill Golf Club became a SoCal must play as soon as it reopened its gates. The ocean views seem like they're never going to stop. Still, this is one tough course. You have to clear canyons, navigate other elevation changes that can almost sneak up on you.

Hackers used to have good reason to fear Myrtle Beach's True Blue, but the golf course is much more player-friendly these days, reader says.

Golf course homes seem to hold their value more than other real estate, even in the same zip code, according to a recent market study by the Longitudes Group.

Windswept Dunes is an excellent golf course, better than many in nearby Destin and more fun than most in the areas. Making it even more fun are the relatively cheap green fees, never higher than $65. The problem is that the course is fairly out of the way, away from the traditional tourist avenues. Don't let that deter you, though. It's definitely worth the drive.

Colin Montgomerie led Scotland to a playoff victory Sunday in the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China. The European PGA Tour star, playing with countryman Marc Warren, defeated the American team of Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley on the third playoff hole at the Olazabal course at Mission Hills, giving Scotland its first ever win in the event's 54-year history.

Prestwick Country Club in Surfside Beach, S.C. is a Pete and P.B. Dye-designed golf course that employs berms, mounding and other links elements that recall its Scottish namesake, the host of the first British Open Championship. This is one of the standouts in Myrtle beach golf.

Gulf Coast golf resorts like Kiva Dunes in Alabama, L'Auberge du Lac Hotel in Louisiana, Beau Rivage in Mississippi and Sandestin in Florida's panhandle showcase the best of golf courses on the Gulf of Mexico.

Alabama has the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. But if you are looking for a golf vacation that goes beyond the trail, head to Gulf Shores and check out Kiva Dunes and the Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club, two gems of Alabama golf.

There's a big secret emerging on the Emerald Isle: a handful of golf courses in its undiscovered northwest are welcoming golfers with open tee sheets and links as fine as anywhere else - but at a fraction of the cost. Among northwest Ireland's budding golf scene, lies one links jostling for the area's top spot: Enniscrone Golf Club

Pete Dye's course at Barefoot Resort & Golf looks likely to keep its place among the upper echelon of Myrtle Beach golf. The layout and length challenges, but the course turns out to be accessible to the higher handicaps, thanks to several tees from which to choose.

Greg Blake: "El Chaparral Golf Club near Malaga, Spain is one of the best golf courses i've played on, the service from breakfast thru to the 19th hole is second to none, scenery is amazing, tees to fairways to the greens are in fine condition too, would recommend here to everyone."

In Florida golf, Sarasota golf courses takes a back seat to those in Orlando and Miami.But Stoneybrook and Waterlefe Golf and River Club are just two golf courses that make Sarasota worth your time on a Florida golf vacation

Just in time for Thanksgiving, three of the Waccamaw Golf Trail's golf courses - Litchfield Country Club, the River Club and Willbrook Plantation - are offering special holiday rates from $45 to $62 per round through Nov. 25. A two-round special begins at just $100.

Badlands Golf Club is the epitome of what a desert golf course should be, Kevin Iole writes. You frequently have to carry the ball over the rugged desert terrain and, to score well, have to place the ball in the proper side of the fairway. Good shots are rewarded, but errant shots are frequently penal, sometimes exceptionally so.

Food, music and good times have always dominated Louisiana. But there's also the Audobon Golf Trail, 12 highly-sought golf courses like the TPC Louisiana and Olde Oaks that are perfect for a Louisiana golf vacation. Our correspondent details several.

West Palm Beach Golf Course might be a little rough around the edges, but this is an old school golf course in the grand tradition, and offers a good value in Florida golf.

TPC Scottsdale's Desert course has just received a yearlong, $12 million facelift that both the city and the course's architect feel will only elevate the golf course's reputation as an outstanding Arizona golf play.

Nary an episode of HBO's "Entourage" goes by without Vince and the gang swinging away on a high-end golf simulator. The compact, affordable Dancin' Dogg is an excellent budget option for us mortals who can't afford the $20,000 models of the stars, however.

This is for all you loyal readers out there who say it's not really the holiday season until you've read my annual Thanksgiving column. So here it is: giving "thanks" and "no-thanks" to all who deserve it in the world of golf.

Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain won the European PGA Tour's UBS Hong Kong Open Sunday, shooting a final round 67 to finish 15-under-par for the tournament.

Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford, Tenn. is just a tad outside of oh-wow viewing range of the Great Smoky Mountains. Bubba Watson might be able to hit the Smokies off the tee here, but since they're not really in reach for mortals, you don't have those jaw-dropping, mountain vistas you might get elsewhere in east Tennessee, a wee closer to the southern Appalachian range. Still, the course has its own charms.

Eight miles west of the coastal city of Swansea in Wales is Pennard Golf Club, a timeless links sure to garner strong opinions from any visiting golfer. Experiencing the one-of-a-kind links of Pennard toes the line between driving you mad and blowing you away.

Would you pay $350 for a fine piece of sculpture? How about sculpture you can putt with? Bruce Sizemore, Jr.'s putters may be on the spendy side, but they are certainly appealing to both traditional and modern tastes. WorldGolf.com reviews the Sizemore XB-1.

On a Florida golf vacation, in Destin, you might want to skip the golf course for a day and fish the Gulf of Mexico, where the highly-sought red snapper awaits.

Although the course never became the premier Texas golf resort it was originally planned to be, Canyon Springs in San Antonio still offers 18 holes of skill-challenging golf shots. It is a spectacular Texas public golf course, Brad Flechtner writes

Reynolds Plantation's Oconee course in Georgia is a classic Rees Jones-designed golf course that has plenty of risk-reward options and uphill approach shots that make the shorter par-4s more challenging.

Robert Cupp designed the Plantation course at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia and, with its flatter and more accessible greens, not to mention its few fairways bunkers, made the golf course more playable for women

The P3 putting aid is funny-looking, and a bit pricey. But, if you're a golfer suffering from a "wristy" stroke, it might just help you break the wrist-breaking habit on the golf course.

Donald Trump has made a fortune in realty, but golf course real estate might just be his true passion in life. In 2002 Trump delivered Ocean Trails Golf Club from bankruptcy to one of the finest public golf courses in Los Angeles, Trump National L.A., and is working on a mammoth golf resort in Scotland. He took time to discuss that and more with Senior Writer Chris Baldwin.

Dave Dusel: "When going to the Smoky Mountains for golf, bring additional couples and rent one of the many chalets. There are many golf courses in the area and many outlet malls, the wives won't mind if you play 36 holes each day. Almost all chalets have hot tubs, pool tables, gas grills, separate bedrooms with baths and a peaceful setting. With full kitchens, the only meals out could be at one of the many great restaurants in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville."

The Great Waters golf course is the most picturesque golf course at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro - but it is more than aesthetics that make it a must-play in Georgia golf.

Great Waters may be more picturesque and the Creek may be wilder, but those who play it often say the National is the best golf course at Reynolds Plantation.

With five excellent golf courses, all superbly maintained, and all sorts of fun things to do for the family, the sprawling Reynolds Plantation is one of the best golf communities in Georgia and possibly, the U.S.

The key to consistent short-game play is versatility. You need the right wedge or wedges for the myriad lies that you encounter around the golf course. Nicklaus Dual Slot wedges encompass a versatile combination of lofts and bounce angles, offering great versatility at a sound value.

Taking its name from the legendary Royal Dornoch in the Highlands of Scotland, Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links is arguably the finest of all the Myrtle Beach golf courses along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Finally, the blast furnace of summer has turned down a few notches and a nice, dry chill has hit your weekends like fine champagne. Your family wants to venture out and breathe in the excitement a new season brings: Your wife wants to take a fall drive and see all the leaves exploding into dazzling color. You just want to play golf. Here are some road trips we recommend to see nature's fall glory while getting in some quality rounds.

Phil Mickelson survived a roller-coaster final round at the Sheshan International Golf Club in China Sunday to win the HSBC Champions, the inaugural event of the European PGA Tour's 2008 season.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Course at Pacific Palms Conference Resort's Industry Hills Golf Club in City of Industry re-opened in the spring after an extensive renovation. The Ike has got to be one of the best-kept secrets in all of Los Angeles golf. It has challenges, views, elevation changes, and service comparable to the best high-end or private courses in the city.

Much of coastal South Carolina is referred to as the "lowcountry," and you don't get much lower than the state's islands. South Carolina islands positively reek with history and ambiance; you can stand under a canopy of moss-draped oaks and imagine any number of Civil War battles. You don't have to imagine world-class golf courses, though. They're there, and we've played most of them. Here are some of our favorites ...

The members-only golf course at Reynolds Plantation's Creek in Greensboro, Georgia, is a Jim Engh design that remains a highlight in a Georgia golf vacation.

A great short game requires mastering several specific shots for a variety of situations: The wedge approach, the bump-and-run, the release or spin, the bunker shot and the simple chip. That last one is vexing WorldGolf.com reader Patsy Fournier, who wrote to me recently.

Legacy Golf Links, near Pinehurst, N.C., is one of those golf courses that mixes playability, conditioning and aesthetics into a nearly perfect cocktail. It beckons to the average golfer, whispers in your ear, tells you it's okay if you're a little erratic today. Don't worry about it. Come on in. It's warm inside. "This is one of the most popular courses around here because it's the friendliest," said member Peter Munster

Long Bay Club: Nicklaus sets out to challenge Myrtle Beach golfers - and succeeds
Long Bay Club is one of the best, most challenging rounds of golf you can hope to have during a Myrtle Beach golf vacation. That's a good thing. The care put in here in the course's conditioning and layout sets it apart from the pack, and thus it should easily find a place in even the most conservative itinerary.

For many, the idea of residing in a Tennessee golf community would never occur to them. But thanks to Michael Ross and Rarity Communities, that's changing.

The Blue Tip is a private course designed by Greg Norman available only to guests of the Ritz-Carlton here on sunny Grand Cayman. Since it's private, the Blue Tip remains untrammeled by the tourist hordes that pour out of the cruise ships that call on the island. You can scarcely find a ball mark on the pristine greens, and the course has the superb conditioning and excellent, little flourishes for which the Ritz-Carlton is known

New ownership has transformed FireSky Resort, formerly Caleo Resort, into a worthy Scottsdale accommodation option close to excellent area golf courses such as Boulders South and McCormick Ranch.

Crandon Park is one of the best deals in South Florida, when you combine price and the quality of the experience. The course can be a handful, especially if you play it from the back tees, with the near-constant wind that comes sweeping over the unprotected layout.

Finland golf might not immediately come to mind when you think of heading for a Europeam golf vacation, but this Scandinavian nation of 5.2 million has some of the most unique golf courses you'll find anywhere, and, in the right months, nearly endless sunlight to enjoy them.

It's no Fallen Oak or Preserve, but marsh scenery and big greens make Shell Landing golf course near Biloxi a memorable play in Mississippi golf.

The hit HBO show Entourage has put journeyman actor Kevin Dillon back on the Hollywood map. BadGolfer.com recently caught up with the avid golfer to discuss his golf game, his show, Winged Foot and Phil Mickelson.

With fall upon us, and winter less than two months away, WorldGolf.com readers used October to head towards warmer, greener pastures, namely some of the top courses in the U.S., from Hawaii and Las Vegas to Myrtle Beach. There's even a Ryder Cup venue thrown in there

Old Corkscrew Golf Club is an elegant Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course in an old Florida golf setting, a stand-alone gem that should win more than its share of awards

The Celtic Manor Resort's three golf courses, including its newest, the 2010 Ryder Cup host Twenty Ten Course, are stages for the world's top pros every year. But the recreational, vacationing golfer will likely enjoy the new Montgomerie Course more than the Twenty Ten, which was designed with the Ryder Cup Matches in mind more than the mid-handicapper.

England's Justin Rose prevailed Sunday in a three-way playoff to win the 2007 Volvo Masters at Valderrama, in Spain, and in doing so captured the European PGA Tour's Order of Merit for the first time since turning pro nearly 10 years ago.

The Copperhead Golf Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club near Tampa, Fla., is one of the finest golf resort courses in the country, with no homes to mar the views and a natural routing that unfolds gracefully through terrain that might make you think of Carolina golf.

The Dunes Club remains the pinnacle of golf in Myrtle Beach, thanks to an innovative Robert Trent Jones design on 24 acres. The design has been described as one of Jones' most influential courses among his 500-plus designs.

Restored for its 2005 grand re-opening, the La Residence Hotel and Spa offers a taste of history inside and out (the Vietnam War's Battle of Hue was fought nearby). There are modern amenities, including conference facilities, a business center with high-speed Internet and wireless, and a terrific restaurant, Le Parfum. National Geographic Traveler calls this one of the top three hotels in Vietnam.

The Venetian Golf and River Club in Venice, Florida, is a private golf course designed by Chip Powell. It has wide, forgiving fairways and tough greens that will demand the best in your short game.

Rio Secco Golf Club, one of Las Vegas' most prestigious high-end golf courses, is taking your typical caddie experience to the next level. Golfers can now hire a sexy Rio Secco "T-Mate" to accompany them on their round of golf.

Stephen Ames saved par from a bunker on the 18th hole to close out the 2007 PGA Tour season with a one-shot victory Sunday in the Children's Miracle Network Classic. Ames fired a 4-under-par 68 on Disney's Magnolia Course to finish at 17-under-par 271 and win by one stroke over Tim Clark in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai or Oahu? - all the choices can make planning a trip to Hawaii maddening. But golf courses such as Jack Nicklaus' Experience at Koele and Greg Norman's The Challenge at Manele Bay, both on Lanai, make a Hawaii golf vacation worth the trouble.

While many of the top golfers on the PGA Tour have been enjoying some down time during the Fall Series schedule, Ted Purdy is the poster child for a group of players who have spent the last several weeks grinding like there's no tomorrow.

For women and probably for the majority of high-handicappers, the long clubs are the most difficult clubs to hit. A lot of people lack confidence with the driver and fairway clubs. Here's some tips on how to hit them.

Searching for his first victory since 2002 and aiming to keep his tour card by staying in the top 125 on the money list, J.P. Hayes shot a 7-under-par 65 on Disney's Magnolia Course in the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. has upgraded its three golf courses - the Dye, Ryder and Wanamaker - and expanded its pro shop. The facility's Pete Dye design got the biggest makeover, now boasting a cleaner look

Mississippi was the home of riverboat gamblers in the Old West, floating casinos in the modern era and, in post-Hurricane Katrina, land-based casinos. As the state has developed, so have its golf courses and golf resorts. It's one of the few states where you can mix golf and gambling, though all the resorts mentioned here don't have casinos. Here is our list of the best golf resorts in Mississippi.

With such a deep roster to choose from, ranking the 10 most influential golfers of the past 50 years is a tall order - but that ain't stopping WorldGolf.com's William K. Wolfrum. Powerhouses such as Woods, Nicklaus and Palmer all make the cut, but Wolfrum throws in a few surprises

At Tenby Golf Club in Wales, a little restraint goes a long way. Keep your tee shot in the fairway, and the course is much more enjoyable. Otherwise, you'll spend the day looking for lost balls. That said, Tenby boasts great links terrain filled with excellent views of the coast and plenty of quirks. It's reminiscent of an unrefined Prestwick in a lot of ways: a historic, 19th century pedigree and an imaginative routing with lots of thick rough and blind shots.

Hershey, Pennsylvania has been home to the famous Hershey's chocolates for over a century. It also draws raves as a golf destination though, routinely getting rated one of the best family golf vacation spots by leading golf magazines.

For all of us not ready for prime-time players Emeis Golf Course in Davenport, Iowa, is arguably the best non-tournament-venue value in the entire Quad Cities area, with greens fees at $14-$18 ($11 extra for a cart). And recent renovations all but guarantee the city-owned track top "hidden gem" status for a while to come

Charleston's historic city center is close enough to tempt golfers into making the voyage about 45 minutes south to Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island. But for a more convenient golf escape, follow the airplanes overhead to North Charleston and Coosaw Creek Country Club, just minutes from Charleston International Airport.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The International Network of Golf shouldn't hand out travel/golf writing awards. It's embarrassing. The ING is primarily a business network, a place for those in the industry to hobnob and do business. That's great. The organization recognizes good writing in other categories, but its "travel" awards section is a joke.

Sandpiper Bay is not a destination Myrtle Beach golf course, but you can combine any of its three nine-hole tracks for an enjoyable "off-day" in between your more anticipated Myrtle Beach rounds of golf.

Freedom Realty Exchange (FRE), an online real estate auction company, has just announced the launch of their "Desert Oasis" campaign to auction 19 new single-family homes at Laughlin Ranch and Talon Pointe in Bullhead City, Arizona. With this online auction being a final closeout of inventory, it is the last chance for buyers to purchase a home in these premier gated communities at an incredible price.

Cleveland's new CG Gold irons are definitely "game-improvement" golf clubs, but they are geared more toward mid-handicappers than high-handicap players. A narrower sole and topline will be a hit with golfers seeking a degree of forgiveness combined with workability.

The delayed finish of the inaugural Ginn sur Mer Classic was well worth the wait for Daniel Chopra. Starting the day in the final group with three holes to play, Chopra broke a three-way tie with Shigeki Maruyama and Fredrik Jacobson with a birdie at No. 16 and then made par on holes 17 and 18 to hold on for a one-shot victory at Tesoro Club's Arnold Palmer Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Widow's Walk Golf Course south of Boston is an intriguing combination of woodland and links golf styles. It's short but demanding, with narrow fairways but forgiving greens, and amounts to one of best rounds of Massachusetts public golf.

"The Taylormade Burner driver blows away the Nike driver in my opinion. The 50 gm shaft gives the average player 10 to 20 more yards off the tee and is far more consistent, again in my humble opinion. I've tried 'em all, including the new Mizuno MX 560 (yuk) - didn't like the sound off the clubface. The Taylormade Burner sound is like (thwack) - just sounds great. It is the driver of the year ..."

Twenty miles south of Tucson, Green Valley is a hidden Arizona golf paradise. Those in the know will bring their golf clubs to play excellent courses such as Canoa Ranch Golf Club, Canoa Hills Golf Course and Tubac Golf Course.

Our columnist has just been given two weeks of freedom for a buddy golf trip to Ireland and Scotland. OK, he might be dreaming, but he knows where he'll play.

"Three of us played at the Badlands course the first week in October. The staff was courteous, the food at the restaurant better than most AND the course was everything that it is purported to be ... kind to the better players who hit the ball down the middle, yet punishing for those who err a little on their delivery."

Darkness came too early Sunday, leaving business to be finished Monday in the Ginn sur Mer Classic. With six golfers yet to complete their final rounds, Fredrik Jacobson, Shigeki Maruyama and Daniel Chopra were all tied for the lead at 18-under par when darkness halted action at Tesoro Club's Arnold Palmer Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Tampa's newest boutique golf resort, Emerald Greens boasts 27 holes of Dan Maples-designed golf (and positively decadent air-conditioned golf carts!), plus luxury villas, a spa, restaurants, tennis and aquatic centers, and more.

Wescott Plantation is a solid golf course in North Charleston that will challenge low handicappers while remaining accessible to less experienced golfers

Cleveland Heights Golf Course is a little oasis in the middle of bustling, growing Lakeland, with lakes, ponds and the sort of critters you don't normally associate with a downtown. Peacocks, alligators, geese and hawks look at home amid the water and the moss-draped oaks. There is a noticeable lack of urban noise. "This is probably the nicest piece of property in Polk County," said course general manager Brock Witmyer.