The Golfing Traveler

Escape Minnesota for some Winter Golf!

2012-01-07T12:02:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, Minnesota Golfers!

Just thought I would rattle off a few odd notes as we Minnesotans (hopefully) have spring in our distant sights...

First off, to all you morons in Minnesota who were willing to play golf on Christmas Day just to be able to tell your great grandkids 20 years from now that you did it: Get a life... and get on a plane for some real winter golf. You know, green turf, warm sunshine, one layer of outer wear, and cold beer on an outdoor patio after your round! Here are some ideas for you.

Speaking of winter golf, we leave in a few weeks for Cabo San Lucas with a corporate meeting group. As it is one of the world's remarkable golf destinations, I'm hoping to "sneak away" for couple afternoons. If you've never had the pleasure, the fabulous courses of Cabo give you Mountain and Ocean panoramas all in one view... you will be navigating over a mountain crevasse on one shot and trying to keep your ball out of the ocean on the very next shot! Golf aside, Cabo is my agency's #1 sun destination this year - replacing Riviera Maya for that distinction. It is a great spot for guaranteed hot sun and scenery, whale watching and deep sea fishing.

The current "non-winter" here in Minnesota has impacted our winter golf bookings - but not as much as I would have expected. The first Arctic Blast is predicted later this week... we know our phones will ring off the hook and our in-boxes will be very active. (Trying to understand why people don't know it's coming!!!!!) Grab your sticks and go!!!!

Anyway, Happy New Year! I hope it's a helluva lot better than last year for you!

Cheers,

Dick

A New Winter Idea for Minnesota Golfers!

2011-12-03T12:11:00.001-06:00

When Minnesota golfers want to escape the ice and snow for a winter golf outing, where do they go? Florida? Arizona? Southern California? Of course the answer is yes.

But how about going out of the U.S. where you are guaranteed nice hot, sunny weather. Los Cabos is a perfect choice, but it is quite pricy. Caribbean golf sucks - except for one very overlooked destination.

Ask me where that is.

Cheers,

Dick

'tis the Season for the Leaf Rule!

2011-10-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

Several years ago, comic actor Leslie Nielson did a golf video focused on two principals:

If you suck at golf, you're in good company since over 95 percent of recreational golfers shoot in the high 90's or triple digits.
You need to make the Rules of Golf work FOR you. In other words, Cheat!

An example of the latter takes the Leaf Rule one step further... anytime you have a "lost" ball, declare it a "stolen" ball and take no penalty. Here's how it works... Eventually, your lost ball will be found by someone who will make no attempt to find it's rightful owner... making it a STOLEN ball. Thus, No Penalty!

As the "Minnesota Leaf Season" comes to an end, it's time to start thinking about winter golf escapes! My golf travel company - Gateway Golf Vacations - has a great November Special at the famed Doral in Miami.

Also, we are already getting requests for winter golf at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort near Phoenix... many from returning clients we've sent there numerous times before. It's a terrific value! Here are the details .

Don't condemn your sticks to the basement quite yet!

Dick

Minnesota Wild & Golf

2011-08-12T10:01:00.003-05:00

I'm going to be hosting a "Golf & Hockey" trip to Phoenix in March when the Minnesota Wild plays the Phoenix Coyotes. We'll stay in a first class golf resort, play 4 rounds of upscale golf and attend the Wild-Coyotes game.

Details are still being worked out... if you wish to receive details, let me know... dick@gatewayexpress.com

... or visit www.golf-vacation.com later his month.

Dick

Winter Golf Trips from Minnesota

2011-07-15T09:19:00.004-05:00

It's hard to accept that summer in Minnesota flies by and ends way too soon. But, it would be a good idea to get your guys together now to start talking about winter golf trips.

Here are two of the best "deals" you'll ever find:

Doral's November Special - You can Stay & Play for a fraction of the normal rates... depending on how you look at it, you can pay for your room and play for free - or vice versa! And, this is good for Thanksgiving week too! See my earlier post on this super-special.

For winter, Gold Canyon, Arizona is our best product at Gateway Golf Vacations - by far. The accommodations at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort (pictured above) are charmingly rustic and their two championship courses are as good as Phoenix Area golf gets! Here's a previous post on Gold Canyon. And here are details of our package. (Same prices for 2012!)

Get started with kicking these ideas around with your buddies!

Cheers,

Dick

Winter golf in Spain

2011-05-17T09:55:00.003-05:00

Well, the Minnesota courses are FINALLY lush and green - and dry! Egad, it's been a long few weeks since we THOUGHT our golf season was to begin.

I played my first round and can report that I picked up right where I left off - deposited my first drive of the season smack into the drink.

Hope your start was better!!!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Take another look at the previous post regarding golf in Spain's Costa del Sol.

Golf in Spain's Costa del Sol

2011-04-19T09:50:00.004-05:00

Make this stop! It's April 19th, the ground is brown and by tomorrow morning will be white again... snow is in tonight's forecast... good grief!

I'm going to be hosting a winter golf trip to southern Spain next March. The weather at the home of Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia and Jose-Maria Olazabal is in the upper 60's that time of year - perfect golfing weather!

The details are still in the planning stage, but here is a "provisional" overview. If you want to be on the notification list when details are finalized, email me... (copy & paste) dick@golf-vacation.com

Cheers,

Dick

Minnesota Golf ???

2011-03-31T14:49:00.005-05:00

It's April in Minnesota and snow still adorns the landscape. Damn! Last year I had 4 rounds in the bag by April Fools Day. Finally, it's melting fast but there is promise of more to come.

Brown ground is only about 1 week away, but green ground is at least 3 weeks off...

I'm heeding my own advice and heading for Arizona next week. Take a look at my remarks in the last post regarding a great deal at Gold Canyon. I'm headed there!!!!!!!!

(c'mon along!)

Cheers,

Dick

Minnesota Golf? Not Yet, Pal.

2011-03-12T12:32:00.004-06:00

Do any of you snowbirds recall what green grass smells like?

This has been a helluva winter for sure! It's a tormenting time of year - feels like spring for a few days, then -oops- another snowfall. And it's back out to the driveway with the snow shovel. Even for those of us that had a chance to go south for some mid-February golf, that trip seems to be many months ago! Despite having daylight until 7:00 now, we are still about 4 weeks from playing at home. And the turf sucks for the first two weeks that the courses are open!

How about a spring trip to Arizona? In April, the prices go down and the weather is fabulous. You have sat through my rantings about how great a bargain the Gold Canyon Golf Resort is. (See my earlier post.) And, it is! But the bargain gets even better in April. Already a "deal" at about $650 for 3 nights/four rounds, you can get the same package for around $580 in April and May. Check out the details.

Cheers,

Dick

To comment, please click the "comments" link below, type in your comments then, under “Choose an Identity”, select “Nickname" if you want to leave a name (your name or a ‘blog handle’) or just leave it blank. OR, you can select ‘Anonymous’. I would love to hear from you!

The Devil's Triangle at Mahogany Run

2011-02-23T19:57:00.002-06:00

St. Thomas USVI boasts just one golf course. But, with a track like Mahogany Run, you don't need more. Those of you who know me are aware that my golf prowess, on a scale of 10, is somewhere around 2. And that's being kind!!!!

So imagine me entering the Devil's Triangle, a three hole "gotcha"! If you're unfamiliar, anyone getting through holes 15, 16 and 17 without losing a ball receives a certificate in the clubhouse. Well, I took the pressure off myself right away when I pulled my drive on 15 into the beautiful Caribbean Sea! That was totally expected but what ensued was definitely not envisioned... I completed the 3-hole maze without losing another ball - in fact, without even taking a penalty the rest of the way. Maybe that's because the pressure was off!

I'm generally not a fan of Caribbean golf, but Mahogany Run is a greatly improved course over that of 5 or 6 years ago. Overpriced for sure, but that's just the way it is everywhere in the sub-tropics.

I'm happy to give you free advice if you're headed south for a spring golf escape!

Cheers,

Dick

Golf in Hawaii (part 2)

2011-01-09T12:22:00.003-06:00

As we dive into 2011 (on a Minnesota day where the current temp is -3) I need to stay on the Hawaii topic one more time...

Sitting here watching the season's first PGA Tour event from Kapalua, Maui reminds me, once again, that grass is green and the ocean is a glorious blue!

In the past, I have wondered why they play on the North Coast of Maui - where the weather elements are oftentimes a bit harsh - rather than the relatively calm, dry Wailea area on the Southwest coast.

It finally hit me... the pro's play the harsher areas exactly because they ARE harder. It again points out that the game you and I play is not at all the same game as the tour players play.

Stay warm - and contact me if you just need to get out of the cold and snow for a few days!

Cheers,

Dick

Golf in Hawaii: Well Worth the Long Flight!

2010-12-18T12:23:00.004-06:00

The phone calls and emails to my golf vacation company have been hot and heavy since the 19" snow storm we just dealt with in Minneapolis! (Like these wonderful people didn't know winter was coming!!!!)

What sounds better... Shoveling snow in Minnesota? Or, raking bunkers in Hawaii?

90% of our business is "power golf trips by guy groups" - and, in 15 years of doing this, we've never booked a stag group to Hawaii. BUT, of the 10% that is made up of couples and couples groups, almost half is "Destination Hawaii". A good share of these clients are from "Mixed Marriages" - an avid golfer with a non-golfing spouse. Believe me guys... she won't mind your 5 hour absence when she is enjoying the pool and a Spa Treatment!

(The picture here and the one on my previous post are both from the Wailea Golf Club on Maui.)

As I said in the last post, I have to be the crappiest golfer in the world to play as many world class courses as I have. And Wailea ranks as my absolute favorite golf experience. Check our Hawaii page and ask me for my insights and advice - whether or not you ever book a trip with us.

Cheers,

Dick

Winter Golf in Arizona, California and Nevada

2010-11-26T12:20:00.006-06:00

Well, now that our November Special at The Doral is over it's time to think about your winter golf getaway.

Prices for this winter are very reasonable given the soft economy, so if you're going this year now is the time to contact your travel agency... or hopefully, my golf travel agency.

Some of the "best buys" this year are in and around Las Vegas (including Mesquite, NV) and the San Diego area. And, although Phoenix area golf is still a bit pricy, we do have some "sleepers" - great tracks that are a little lesser known thus better bargains.

And for the umteenth year, our Gold Canyon, Arizona package is a fabulous bargain... especially if you want to sneak away right after the Holidays.

My blog readers get Free Advice! I, with my 24 handicap, have screwed up rounds of golf on dozens of these great courses. Whether you ever book a trip with my agency, I'm okay with sharing my knowledge of what courses and resorts are overpriced and what ones are true bargains. Just send your questions to dick@golf-vacation.com. (just copy & paste)

Cheers,

Dick

Winter Golf?

2010-11-17T10:33:00.003-06:00

Well gang, another Minnesota Golf season is complete. For me to report that I had only 6 rounds in triple digits this year is misleading because I only managed to play 11 rounds this year. This damned economy has kept me in the shop way too much since we have cut our staff by 40%. This is getting irritating!!!!!

My magnificent rounds in the mid-ninties (pretty good, eh?) have deteriorated to high-ninties - on the "good" days!

Oh well. I still love the game and am looking forward to a golf trip to Fort Myers in December, St. Thomas in January and Las Vegas and Mesquite in March. (Two of the three are "business" trips in association with my golf travel company.) Wanna Come along?

Cheers,

Dick

'tis the Season for the Leaf Rule!

2010-09-01T09:46:00.005-05:00

Several years ago, comic actor Leslie Nielson did a golf video focused on two principals:

If you suck at golf, you're in good company since over 95 percent of recreational golfers shoot in the high 90's or triple digits.
You need to make the Rules of Golf work FOR you. In other words, Cheat!

Well, it's still hot in sunny Minnesota but the leaves are soon to fall so get the balls from your shag bag - the ones you won't care to waste time looking for!

And, start thinking about winter golf escapes! My golf travel company - Gateway Golf Vacations - has a great November Special at the famed Doral in Miami. Also, we are already getting orders for winter golf at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort near Phoenix... many from returning clients we've sent there numerous times before. It's a terrific value! Here are the details .

Happy Ball Hunting!

Dick

Golf in Minnesota... Hot & Sticky?

2010-06-27T12:37:00.004-05:00

Well, so much for cool Minnesota Golf! Played Troy Burne (a great Tom Lehman track for those of you "foreigners") yesterday. It was so hot and sticky that I gave up taking my glove off to putt. Getting it off and on was harder than opening that annoying hermetically sealed plastic packaging! The ironic thing is that last time I played this course it was so damned cold that you wouldn't want to take the glove off. You know... when you wish you had a glove for the other hand as well!

Well, it won't last much longer! Before you know it, you'll be losing balls in the leaves and getting into a funk as you can see winter coming. Our Golf Vacation Company has a great cure for November Blahs... effectively, we provide free golf at The Doral. Click the link above for details.

Cheers,

Dick

Economizing on Your Golf Vacations

2010-05-01T10:06:00.002-05:00

Well, it's a sign of the times! We are all trying to cut our expenses while retaining as much "quality of life" as possible.

For us golfers, quality of life comes down to, "How can I cut costs while preserving my #1 right - my golf getaway with the guys (or gals)"? My golf travel agency has two small groups who have gone to a very nice golf resort with two 41/2 Star courses on site for their past 3 outings. The 3 night/4 round package with all the 'extras' ran around $950. This past winter, we talked them into a similar resort just 20 miles down the road. The accommodations are not quite as "fancy" but still rated 4 Star... and it also has two 41/2 Star courses on site. Price: $620!

Another group of 8 (4 couples) went to Banff Springs in the Canadian Rockies last July and wanted to repeat. Because the Canadian dollar is now stronger than the yankee dollar, the value wasn't nearly as good. We have a spectacular deal in Vail this summer... so that's what they will do. Equal quality; savings of about $300 per person!

There are some nice "finds" out there... Happy hunting!

Cheers,

Dick

(I mentioned Vail... our parent company, Gateway Express Travel, specializes in Vail ski Vacations and has done Vail Resorts promotions with the Minnesota Wild.)

Florida without my Clubs. Ouch!

2010-04-10T11:54:00.003-05:00

So, I'm such a proponent of golf travel, eh?

Domestic pressure caused me to spend 6 days in Naples, Florida without my golf clubs last week. Talk about painful! To make matters worse, we were at my non-golfing in-laws' place which is on a very, very upscale course at Bonita Bay. Sitting by the pool watching golfers go from the 11th green to the 12th tee was akin to a cat sitting by the patio door watching birds at the feeder!

Whining rapidly became my pastime for those days!

If you are looking for something "really cool" this summer, my golf travel company is seeing increased interest in the Canadian Rockies. Banff and Lake Louise have some terrific tracks. Email me at dick@golf-vacation.com if you want some links to this!

Cheers,

Dick

Super Golf Bargains in Spring!

2010-03-20T11:10:00.004-05:00

For Northern States Golfers, this is a tormenting time of year.... snow's gone, spring SEEMS to be here (feels like spring one day; feels like winter the next!) we can hear the clubs screaming at us from the basement!

But, here in Minnesota, the courses won't open for a few more weeks - and when they do, the conditions are ugly... brown grass with winter residue clearly present; barren trees; goose poop everywhere; raw, windy days when 60 degrees feels more like 40. Sounds enticing, doesn't it?

After Easter, pricing for many of our golf vacations is greatly reduced. For example, our Gold Canyon package, a spectacular bargain at the regular winter price of $598.50 (3 nights first class casita, 4 rounds of 4-Star and 41/2-Star golf and many extras), goes down to an incredible $472 from April 5 until May 5.

Florida prices also go way down... Stay & Play Doral for nearly half the winter rate. Same thing at PGA National Resort, World Golf Village and others. See more on Spring Discounts!

Time for a Spring Tune-Up?

Cheers,

Dick

Golf Bargains & Rip-Offs.

2010-02-27T11:13:00.002-06:00

Well, maybe "rip-offs" is a little harsh but the more I Travel With Clubs the more convinced I am that WHERE you go makes a huge difference.

I just returned from San Juan where I played at Dorado Beach. The West Course is the better of the two but I found it to be just "nice"... and at $190, I'm looking for better than "just nice". Those of you who follow this blog know that I'm not too fond of Caribbean golf. (On second thought, this was a rip-off! The course is carved up because they are redesigning it as they build a new clubhouse - but there was no mention of this when I booked. Nor, was there a price reduction because of it.)

You can play World Class courses at Cabo San Lucas for about the same fee; you can play fabulous tracks in Hawaii for LESS!

As you'll see from my comments on another blog site, I didn't choose to go to Puerto Rico. At my golf vacation company, we focus on Florida, the Southwest, Cabo and Hawaii. We actively discourage the Caribbean as a golf destination (with the exception of Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic).

Cheers,

Dick

The Mountain Courses of the Phoenix area are Pricy...

2010-02-04T09:14:00.006-06:00

... but there are some gems that are bargains! In an earlier post, I talked about "Tricks of the Trade" - knowing where the bargains are. I know of many good values in pricy places like Las Vegas, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas just to name a few. And, there are some good ones in The Valley of the Sun! Most notably, the two courses at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort - Dinosaur Mountain and The Sidewinder - are fabulous. At about $100 less than Grayhawk, Dinosaur Mountain was named Arizona's #1 public access course for 2 or 3 years in a row. How good is Gold Canyon? My company,Gateway Golf Vacations has several groups that have gone back for their 4th and 5th visits. I would say that that's the best testimonial one can cite.

Our prime winter price for 3 nights, 4 rounds and some extras is a true bargain... and the price gets even better after Easter. If a winter or spring golf trip is in your plans, PLEASE check this out! (And bring your Camera!)

To repeat a comment from the last post, whether you ever book your golf trip with my golf travel agency, I'm happy to share my knowledge and give you my 2-cents worth. Send your questions to dick@golf-vacation.com.

Cheers,

Dick

Golf in Mesquite, Nevada

2010-01-02T12:51:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year, Everyone!

As I said in the last post, there are a lot of cost-savings opportunities this year.

And here is a helluva deal: Our Mesquite, Nevada package (including St. George, Utah) is one of our most popular trips. We just received a price reduction and have booked a couple groups at $519 per person for 3 nights and 1 round each on 3 of the best courses in the area! (Price will vary by travel dates and course selection.)

Whether you ever book your golf trip with my golf travel agency, Gateway Golf Vacations, I'm happy to share my knowledge and give you my 2-cents worth (which might just be worth exactly that!). Send your questions to dick@golf-vacation.com.

Cheers,

Dick

Winter Golf Trips to Arizona and Nevada

2009-11-24T10:07:00.004-06:00

Well, now that our November Special at The Doral is over (we do still have several clients headed there for Thanksgiving Weekend) it's time to think about your winter golf getaway.

Prices for this winter are very reasonable given the soft economy, so if you're going this year this is the time to contact your travel agency... or hopefully, my golf travel agency.

Some of the "best buys" this year are in and around Las Vegas (including Mesquite, NV) and the San Diego area. And for the umteenth year, our Gold Canyon, Arizona package is a fabulous bargain... scroll down a few posts for more on that.

My blog readers get Free Advice! Whether you ever book a trip with my agency, I'm okay with sharing our knowledge. Just send your questions to dick@golf-vacation.com.

One final - totally unrelated - note: I know many of you share my "love" (HaHa) for United Airlines. You need to watch this from You Tube!

A musician named Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. United apparently damaged his treasured Taylor guitar ($3500) during a flight. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for youtube exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded : "Good luck with that one, pal". So he posted a retaliatory video on youtube. The video has since received over 5.5 million hits. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Naturally his response was: "Good luck with that one, pal".

Taylor Guitars sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has lead to a sharp increase in orders. Here's the video.

Cheers,

Dick

Last Call for our November Special at The Doral

2009-11-07T10:06:00.003-06:00

After a miserable October, it is a gorgeous 62 degree day here in Minne-snow-polis. But don't be fooled... Midwest golf is about over.

Don't condemn your clubs to the basement quite yet... we still have availability for our Doral Special - including Thanksgiving weekend. See my previous post for more on this "deal"!

Dick

This is it, snowbirds.. time for The Doral

2009-10-19T09:44:00.005-05:00

I just played my last round of the season at our lake place in Northern Minnesota... hard to swing a club with seven layers of clothes on!!! Then, I got home and watched the end of the Patriots-Titans game in a fierce New England snow storm... you know, that 59-0 nail-biter!

Even though there's some chance of nice October golf in the Twin Cities, it's definitely time to get the Club Glove out!

As I mentioned in the last post, the November Special at The Doral is the absolute best value anywhere. You can "stay & play" for about the price of the golf alone! We have some golf clients who book this every year!

I have many more ideas for anyone that wishes to email me at dick@golf-vacation.com (copy & paste)

Cheers,

Dick

Great Golf Deals Abound in Florida and Nevada

2009-09-26T08:40:00.005-05:00

Okay Snowbirds... the end is near! That means it's about time to send the clubs to the basement - or NOT!

With the prices for travel - including golf travel - at the lowest point in many years, why not plan a November Golf Trip? Those of you that know me understand that my taste exceeds my budget! EG: "Champagne taste; Beer budget"! Well, not exactly a beer budget, but I do qualify as an expert on getting the most bang for my buck!

So, here are a few thoughts on Autumn Bargains:

Las Vegas - Hotels & Courses have lowered their rates making this typically pricy destination cost-efficient. There are additional ways to hold your costs down a little if you know the ropes. For example, one of my favorite area tracks is the TPC Canyons where the weekday fee is currently $225. But, just a quarter of a mile away is The Badlands Golf Club which costs 'just' $150. So, how nice is The Badlands? It's a Troon Golf facility. Need I say any more? Another overpriced course, in my humble opinion, is Bear's Best. It is one of the finest tracks around but you are paying a lot for the novelty. I can refer you to a half dozen area courses that are its equal at greens fees that are $50 to $75 lower.

Mesquite: Just up I-15 about 75 miles from Las Vegas, the greens fees for top-ranked courses are half that of Las Vegas. If you're looking for world-class nightlife, stay with Vegas. But if you want World-Class golf with nice accommodations and decent dining & nightlife, check this out!

The Doral: The absolute best value anywhere is the November Special where you can "stay & play" for about the price of the golf alone! No Tricks; No kidding!

I have many more ideas for anyone that wishes to email me at dick@golf-vacation.com (Copy & Paste)

Cheers,

Dick

Gold Canyon, Arizona: The Value Gets Better & Better!

2009-08-25T08:56:00.003-05:00

Those of you know that follow this blog regularly know that I "heart" the Gold Canyon Golf Resort which is in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains just east of Phoenix. It is perhaps the absolute best dollar value of any package we sell at Gateway Golf Vacations!

Despite the fact that I totally imploded last time I was there, it is still my favorite golf venue if you leave out Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas! Of course the difference is $$$$$$! If cost is no object, I'm at one of those two destinations in heartbeat! But, of course price IS crucial - especially these days. So, here's my take... If given the chance to play Troon North or Gold Canyon's Dinosaur Mountain course in The Valley of the Sun on someone else's dime, I might go with Troon. I say "might" because, having played both, I would put them on an absolute par.

But, since I'm a little short on friends that will "pop" for my greens fees my choice is to pay $260 at Troon North or $140 at Gold Canyon (prime season rates)... okay, let me think about it!

It's all about location! Gold Canyon is such a value because it's in the boonies where land is cheap. But, for the savings, I'll take the 35 to 40 minute drive from the airport! My only hesitation, when advising our golf clients, is that beyond the restaurant and the sports bar at the resort, you need to go a long way back toward the city for any dining and nightlife.

So, about my Gold Canyon Meltdown... playing a big money game (like a buck a hole!) an opposing player - such a friend - got into my head with penalties on quite obscure rules violations. I let it get to me and the grip tightened a little more with each shot.... not only that day but the rest of the trip. Anyone out there who knows the feeling?

Cheers,

Dick

Minnesota Golf - 2009 PGA Championship is Underway!

2009-08-10T20:21:00.004-05:00

Summer 2009 in Minnesota has been disappointing for the sun-lovers... lots of cloudy, cool days. But it's been great for golf... didn't break 90 all of July. Now the flat bellies are here for the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Tiger is renting a home at Bearpath Country Club - about a mile from my home but I haven't been invited over for a beer yet. I wonder if I can engineer a visit from Obama this week... I hear he hosts beer parties frequently.

A friend of mine is course superintendent at Hazeltine and says this has been the easiest year ever for preparing the course for a major - the 4th one here. Lots of rain in the last two weeks after near drought-like conditions all summer.

Well, this is going to be fun! What a field!

More good news from Minnesota: For those who like to come to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for cool Minnesota golf, the greens fees at many of the premier courses are about 20% lower this year because of the economy. Some of the resort courses "up North" have great Stay & Play packages.

Come on Up!

Dick

Here Comes the PGA Championship

2009-06-20T11:13:00.002-05:00

For all you folks that joke about Minnesota weather, I'm on my way to the course on a drop dead gorgeous day while the U.S. Open is amidst the third day a rain delays!

What retribution - this place is fabulous in the summer. (We won't discuss Minnesota winters!) We're looking forward to yet another PGA Championship here at Hazeltine National Golf Club later this summer and will guarantee great weather!

For you guys that follow me from the southern States, you really should consider coming up here for some "Cool Summer Golf" in the Brainerd Lakes region or along the shores of Lake Superior! There are some great airfare bargains right now. If you're interested, contact me from my Gateway Golf Vacations web site. I can give you some FREE local knowledge.

Cheers,

Dick

Pebble Beach Golf is waiting for you!

2009-05-09T12:10:00.002-05:00

There are many "price advantages" to this economy for those who can still "get out there"! One of them is NOT the price of golf at Pebble Beach. BUT, there are define "bargains" out there for Lodging & Golf packages!

Take a look at one. You can play all three of the famed courses and stay at one of the Pebble Beach lodges for around $2,600 per person.

I'll add some "tips" for travelers to this Mecca of Golf later.

Cheers,

Dick

It's Spring! Let the lessons begin

2009-04-13T10:14:00.005-05:00

OK, so I'm ready to continue my quest for "a game". Just got word that the teaching pro I've worked with the last two summers isn't returning to Bearpath Country Club. I wonder if I am part of the reason!!!!

Thanks to the Blogger who sent me a hilarious clip on Club-Throwing after reading of my escapade last summer. (The link is at the bottom of this post.) For those who missed it...

Last weekend in the North Woods, I played The Pines on Saturday and was so-so (to be kind). So Sunday, I spent 31/2 hours at the range and really got it going. I was hitting the target green from every distance from 50 yards to 220 yards. Wow, was I pumped!

So Monday, I returned to The Pines and started off alright but by the 16th fairway I was ready for a shrink. After a great drive, I cold-topped three fairway shots in a row (I was playing by myself and taking extra shots), I went to throw my 4-Iron up the fairway and couldn't even do that right... in 90 degree high humidity, the club stuck to my glove momentarily causing the throw to go 90 degrees to the right - directly into the tops of a stand of river birch in a marsh. A scramble had just ended so I was the only one on that nine except for a foursome that, by now, was at least 4 holes behind me. So into the marsh I waded. With muck up to my shoe tops, I searched the tree tops and scoured the ground without any success. Feeling absolutely stupid, after about 12 minutes I started thinking that it is about time I consider a new set of Mizunos! I was starting my way back to the fairway when I found it laying in knee-high prairie grass.
Returning to my car, my luck changed - I had not lost my car keys!

This has helped me... and I think it will help you! NEW CLUB-THROWING TECHNIQUE

Cheers,

Dick

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Hi from the Gold Canyon Golf Resort!

2009-03-14T10:04:00.004-05:00

The Arizona sun is shining brightly and I just wanted to rub it in! I've been sitting in the Minnesota tundra while various friends have called or emailed from sunny places all winter. My Turn!

The courses here are in fabulous condition. The Dinosaur Mountain Course (pictured here) is one of the most exciting tracks anywhere with spectacular elevation changes and dramatic scenery. And the Sidewinder Course is surprisingly terrific... from the clubhouse, it appears to be a mild, parkland-style course but in reality, it is very deserving of it's 4-Star rating. (I would even add that it compares favorably to many 41/2 Star courses I've played.)

With the economy struggling, the place isn't jam packed. Probably about 80% occupancy but the tee sheets seem to be pretty full - but not crazy-wild. The value here is unbeatable!!! Gateway Golf Vacations has a three night/four round package that is a lower price than you can even get directly from the resort itself... about $650 per person including breakfast daily, club storage, practice facility use, etc. Check this package out! It is the best golf deal in Arizona.

It's tee time... gotta go!

Tiger's Back... and I'm Ready for a Hybrid - Finally!

2009-02-25T20:17:00.004-06:00

Do you think the Television Network "suits" are thrilled to have Tiger back? Take a look at the PGA ratings lately for the answer. I've watched a little golf in the last month... more than anything, just to see some green grass!!! Geez, this has been a long winter! And my week in Grand Cayman didn't help all that much. It's like a massage... feels sooooo good while it's happening but the glow wears off in a couple hours.

I digress. How many times have you looked at a leader board during Tiger's layoff and wonder if they put the Nationwide Tour stats up by mistake? Good Lord, I've seen leader boards with ONE name that I recognize. Yeah, they're all great golfers, but ya gotta be a purist to appreciate them. I'm really looking forward to the match play with Tiger and the top Europeans in the field this weekend!

And, speaking of purists, I'm one - albeit a high handicap one. I've resisted going the hybrid route until now. But, I've finally seen the light. (Translation: I've finally come to grips with the fact that, to paraphrase a CaddyShack line, I'm not good!) OK, so I CAN'T hit a 3 Iron. I'm going to break out just one hybrid to replace the 3 & 4 this spring. That damned 190 to 200 yard shot has been killing me.

There's a certain friend who will laugh hysterically upon reading this. He's been chiding me for 3 years now and would get so irritated at my stubborn resistance.

Cheers,

Dick

Hello from Grand Cayman

2009-02-04T19:56:00.004-06:00

As I was lamenting in my last post, I was only mildly looking forward to my week on Grand Cayman. Sure it was nice to get out of the Minnesota deep-freeze but having just one chance to play a little winter golf, this was not the destination I would have chosen. But our corporate client seems to think they don't need to ask my golf preferences when deciding on the site for their National Sales Meeting.

When their last two Sales Incentive Trips happened to be at Wailea, Maui and Cabo San Lucas (perhaps the two most exciting golf destinations in the world), I might have thought they cared! Oh Well!

As I said in the last post while anticipating this outing, North Sound Club, the only 18-hole regulation course on the island is rather flat and boring - and ridiculously over-priced. Actually, I have been pleasantly surprised (another lesson on the value of keeping expectations low) with the course. It is very well groomed. The fairway turf and the greens are in excellent condition. It clearly shows that someone is making an effort to do the most they can with what little they have.

Water everywhere! Navigating around the wet stuff wasn't too tricky - until the second day when the wind was howling off the ocean. It's a little disconcerting to line up your tee shot directly AT the water hazzard in order to allow the gale to bring it back anywhere dry. The scores were decidedly higher the second day. Round three should be easier!

Well, enough of this since it is unlikely that any of you will ever go to the Cayman Islands for golf. Most of my golf clients are heading off to better pastures throughout this month and next. Still, Grand Cayman is a lovely place for a sun break!

Cheers,

Dick

Good Bye Snow; Hello Surf... if only for a few days!

2009-01-10T13:37:00.004-06:00

Now that we have gotten past the holidays it's time to dust off the sticks!

Each year in January, a corporate client holds their Sales Incentive trip giving me a chance to grab the clubs (escorting these groups is not ALL work!) and escape the frozen Minnesota tundra. In a way, it's a cruelty because the 5 or 6 days in the tropical sun goes all-too-quickly then it's back to the frozen swamp. UGH! (One of the more dejecting feelings is to look down to the ground as the plane makes it's final approach into MSP. Nothing but white!)

In the last two Januarys I've told you about the fabulous golf at this company's prior sites - Maui and Las Cabos... indeed, these are two of the most exciting golf destinations in the world!!! Not this year!

Our client chose Grand Cayman for 2009... not exactly an enticing golf mecca. In fact, it sucks! One course on the whole island; and it's flat and boring - and, surprise, overpriced. I know, many of you would love to go anywhere warm and think I should quit bitching. So I'm spoiled!

You can be sure this is not a destination that we recommend to our golf clients at Gateway Express Travel! ... but, I can't stand not taking my clubs anyway. Anything is better than nothing, I guess!

Cheers,

Dick

Is Winter Nearly Over?

2008-12-27T12:05:00.005-06:00

Here it is still December and I'm so sick of shoveling the driveway that I could... well, you get the idea!

To make matters worse, as a "seller of golf travel", I have to watch our golf clients pack up and leave for places like Cabo San Lucas, Maui, Phoenix, San Diego, Palm Desert and more! Whatta dastardly trick that is being played on me. As I'm writing this, another client has just emailed an acceptance of our proposal for a Pebble Beach golf trip in late February. I have offered to "escort" these two couples, but...... (well, nice try!)

The good news for those of you not as hand-cuffed to your desks as I seem to be, the prices for golf trips (as with all travel) are very good! Because of the shaky economy, hotels, golf resorts and golf courses in the south have reduced prices and deposit requirements to stimulate bookings. Our #1 trip over the years, the Gold Canyon Golf Resort, (pictured here) is offering our clients 2008 prices for the 2009 season.

A lot of our golf clients who normally "lock in" during the fall have been holding off but are now going ahead. It's a combination of the winter blahs and the realization that they are not as worried about their job status or portfolio status as they were a month or two ago.

As one of them put it (so elegantly), "The hell with it. Life is too short to worry about it. We're going!" If you feel the same, check out my site for some good ideas!

OK, so I gave you the sob story at the top of this... I will be going to Grand Cayman in late January. Not my favorite golf venue... but, I won't be shoveling snow off the greens before putting!!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Well, Midwest Golfers... It's About Over!

2008-11-01T11:43:00.004-05:00

It's been a fun summer of golf but now it's time to think about heading south for a winter escape! So many of our clients are planning to do so. With the economy woes, many are putting off their planning for now. But as Newton once said, "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction". With bookings being soft hotels, golf resorts, car rental companies and airlines are trying to stimulate sales with some great incentives:

- A World-Class Resort in South Florida is offering a November (including Thanksgiving weekend) "Stay & Play" for about the room cost alone!

- Our #1 resort package (Phoenix) is selling Winter 2009 at last year's price for those that book by December 31.

- Several hotels on our "Golf-Around" packages are offering a 4th night free, room upgrades and other amenities.

- Our principal car rental company is quoting SUV's and mini-vans (required equipment for golf groups) at prices well-below the last few years.

We in the Minneapolis area were treated to the US Women's Open at Interlachen Country Club... some of our local clients will be "seeing the gals" again at the LPGA Safeway International in Arizona - right across the road from where they will be playing when not watching the tournament.

After being thrilled by the match between Tiger & Rocco at the U.S. Open, several of our clients will take their turn at Torrey Pines! One of our most popular golf vacation packages at Gateway Golf Vacations consists of 3 rounds at Torrey Pines and 3 nights lodging at the Sonoran Suites at Torry Ridge.

Check out all of our golf vacations at www.golf-vacation.com and get those travel bags ready!

Cheers,

Dick

Will Tiger Woods win at Torrey Pines?

2008-06-14T10:18:00.008-05:00

It's good to see Tiger back... and, after a rusty round on Thursday at the U.S. Open, he's back in the hunt for Sunday. That's pretty amazing after knee surgery and a 6-week layoff! As an avid NHL Hockey fan, I was amused by Tiger's comment a couple weeks ago that nobody watches hockey on TV anymore. While Detroit during the Stanley Cup finals, he was asked if he is pulling for the Detroit Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Setting political correctness aside, the NHL fired back pointing out that national ratings for the finals on NBC set a new record this year while the ratings for PGA Golf are in the toilet - unless Tiger is playing. Ratings during his layoff after surgery were abysmal. Showing his political prowess, Tiger explained that he loves to attend NHL games - he just doesn't like watching on TV. (Right!)

After the U.S. Open is over could it be your turn to play Torrey Pines? One of our most popular golf vacation packages at Gateway Golf Vacations consists of 3 rounds at Torrey Pines and 3 nights lodging at the Sonoran Suites at Torry Ridge. Check out all of our golf vacations at www.golf-vacation.com.

Before I get back to work, I want to reiterate the "tip" I had in the last post: Costco stores are now selling discount certificates for greens fees at 1,200 courses around the country. You get two $50 certificates for $75. Look at the course listings at teetime.com

Cheers,

Dick

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Golfing in the Desert... and there's Water Everywhere!

2008-05-13T09:43:00.002-05:00

Hello y'all from sunny Las Vegas! After being beat to hell by the Dinosaur Mountain course at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort a few weeks ago, I strongly considered leaving my clubs home when I flew off to Las Vegas for a week-long conference. Having the first day at leisure and half of another day, I decided to go ahead. I spent my 'free' day at the practice area of The Badlands Golf Club (a Troon facility) - one of my favorite courses in Las Vegas. [Note: My Golf Travel Agency (www.golf-vacation.com) routinely recommends this course to our clients because of the value. In the Las Vegas world of expensive golf, The Badlands is quite reasonable for a top-rate track!] After the first 45 minutes of continued frustration with my irons, I got things worked out and started 'puring' shot after shot.

So, with renewed confidence, I ventured out to Lake Las Vegas for a round at the Reflection Bay Golf Course - a magnificent layout albeit pricey! I soon learned that there was no need to have brought my old 'desert club', a six iron that had cost me $3 from a demo barrel last winter. I practically wore it out in Arizona with numerous (too many to count) lies in the desert waste areas. At the Reflection Bay Golf Course, a ball retriever would have been a meaningful replacement for the desert club!

More on this terrific course next time.

Cheers,

Dick

Greetings from Gold Canyon, Arizona!

2008-04-10T11:18:00.004-05:00

The sun is shining brightly and I just heard of more April snow coming to Minnesota. Hate to rub it in, but I've been sitting in the tundra while various friends have called or emailed from sunny places all winter. My Turn!

The courses here are in fabulous condition and, as I have said in recent posts, this is a great time for a golf trip. The prices are down a little and the place isn't jam packed. Probably about 80% occupancy but the tee sheets seem to be pretty full - but not crazy-wild. Dinosaur Mountain (pictured here) continues to be one of the top-rated public-access courses in Arizona.

It's tee time... gotta go!

Cheers,

Dick

A few follow-up thoughts on Golf in Mexico...

2008-02-23T11:37:00.005-06:00

Having played the new Greg Norman designed El Camelion course two years ago (when it first opened), I'm enjoying watching the Mayacoba Classic being played on this great track this week on the Golf Channel. The broadcasts are singing the praises of the 15 golf venues in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. True - some of them are excellent... but most of them are "just OK". El Camelion at the Fairmont Mayacoba Resort is one of very few courses that are on the ocean. Add to that the fact that this area is very flat and that the course grooming on many of the courses is good but not great.

That brings me back to my trip to Los Cabos last month... beyond my comments on Los Cabos golf in the last two posts, I have just learned that construction of a new Nicklaus course will begin this spring on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas. On my "other" Blog Site devoted to travel in general, I described a "post-golf" stay at a fabulous adults-only Spa Resort on the Pacific side. It was fabulous to the point of not caring that I was over 30 minutes away the "golf zone"... I was very content to leave my clubs in storage and just relax. BUT... it was just that I didn't want to endure the hassle and expense of the whole thing. This new course will be immediately across the road from the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica resort and will add a new element to the absolute ONLY place to go in Mexico for a golf vacation.

Until this new Nicklaus course opens, if yo want some ideas of where you can stay on the Gulf side that allows great spa facilities for non-golfing wives while you play, just let me know!

Cheers,

Dick
To comment, please click the "comments" link below, type in your comments then, under “Choose an Identity”, select “Nickname" if you want to leave a name (your name or a ‘blog handle’) or just leave it blank. OR, you can select ‘Anonymous’. I would love to hear from you!

Cabo Golf is all that I remember - and more!

2008-02-02T12:10:00.000-06:00

Well, the week in Cabo San Lucas is over and I'm back in the tundra! (81 degrees at the time of boarding our flight home; -12 degrees upon deplaning 4 hours later!) This place has really "grown up" since my last trip 9 years ago. Oddly enough, the greens fees hadn't gone up very much in that space of time... but the service sure has!!! Back then, largely due to the prices, you could tell the golf concierge at your hotel at 8:00 am that you wanted to play a specific course around 9:30 and you were in. You got a tee time within 20 minutes of the requested time. And when you arrived at the course you would find that there were many open times on the tee sheet. It was great to have a couple open holes in front and behind you.

Now, the courses are very busy. Still, with 10 minute intervals, we never had to wait for the group in front of us and were never pushed from behind. Truly awesome!

There were two other areas of great change from 9 years ago... back then, there was no friendly, fuzzy service and it was hard to find anyone in the clubhouse (sometimes just a trailer) that spoke much English. And, what you got for your $200 was simply a round of golf on a beautifully manicured course.

Now, the clubhouses are the equal of any upscale course at home and the staffs speak English and are extremely friendly and accommodating. Starters & Rangers (non-existent and totally unneeded back then) were as welcoming as can be - and were largely "gringos". A starter at Cabo del Sol noticed my TPC Twin Cities shirt and introduced himself. He is an assistant pro at Hazeltine National just a few miles from my home.

And, unlike the past, it became clear that you were paying for an "experience". The fee included amenities such as complimentary Course Guide books, an attractive suede "goody bag" with logo tees, markers and repair tool (at Cabo Real), rangers that would stop and help you find your errant drive, cold towels upon the completion of the round, and more.

The only downside was that my Two Amigos took me to the cleaners! (Nothing new, here!) I'll describe the courses we played later in the week.

Cheers,

Dick

To comment, please click the "comments" link below, type in your comments then, under “Choose an Identity”, select “Nickname" if you want to leave a name (your name or a ‘blog handle’) or just leave it blank. OR, you can select ‘Anonymous’. I would love to hear from you!

Aloha Golf... There is Nothing Better!

2007-10-18T09:29:00.000-05:00

As my profile states, I am a 19 handicapper that has had the good fortune to play great tracks around the world. Over the years I have had the absolute pleasure of playing many gorgeous tracks on Maui, Kauai and "The Big Island". Two of the most memorable have been Poipu Bay Golf Club on Kauai and the Wailea Golf Club on Maui.

Adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa, Poipu Bay is the home of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. It is one of the most fun and picturesque courses I've ever played and the last few holes dramatically hang high above steep bluffs overlooking the ocean.

Earlier this year we reveled at the Wailea Golf Club on Maui's southwest coast. What an absolute treat. We played the Gold Course just 5 days after the Champions Tour Skins Game was held. (I'm pictured here on the Gold Course.) With ocean views on every hole, it was hard at times to concentrate on the shot-at-hand. and the greens (12 on the stimp meter after the pros played there) were a challenge to say the least. The varying grain of the Bermuda turf combined with speed made putting "interesting"! Aside from a lot of treacherous bunkers, the course is very player friendly - even for a 19 hdcp.
On the previous day, we played the Emerald Course which was equally stunning. The greens weren't quite as difficult but the views were possibly even better than those on the Gold - if that's possible!
For those "snowbirds" like me that haven't played for a couple months prior to arriving in the Land of Aloha, the Old Blue Course is a great warm-up. It is a bit shorter with gentler elevation changes and fewer hazards.

If you are thinking of winter golf in Hawaii, I have some important suggestions for you including a warning of what famous Hawaiian courses you may NOT want to include in your itinerary. Email me at dick@golf-vacation.com.

Kids, it doesn't get any better than this!!!! Take a closer look at Hawaiian Golf.

Cheers,
Dick