Any golfers here?

[Svenson]

Help! I have less than a year to plan a surprise for my husband's 40th birthday. He absolutely loves golfing, though he never has enough time to do it much in "everyday life." So I'd like to send him (and probably a friend) on the golf vacation of a lifetime. My first thought was Scotland, every golfer's dream, the Old Course. However, I've read that you need a letter from your club pro stating your handicap. He's not a member at a club, as he golfs just wherever and whenever he gets a chance. So I guess St. Andrews is out. So where do I go next? What's the next best thing? Maybe the Caribbean? Do you know any reputable travel sites that book golf vacations? We usually book our Disney travel through Hotel Kingdom or Skyauction, so you know I'm a bargain-hunter. But I wouldn't mind splurging a little more for this special event (though a bargain would be appreciated too!). Thanks for ANY little tidbit of help you can give!

 

[Steve H.]

I wouldn't necessarily exclude Scotland from your list -- he may not be able to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, but there's other courses there he could play.

Here's a site I found that do (fairly reasonably priced) trips to Europe including the golf:

http://www.valuegolfvacations.com/?source=overture

 

[shep]

Here's one I've always wanted to play...http://www.sghgolf.com/usa/pebble_beach/?source=overture.

 

[lizzie64]

Hey there svenson,

We are a definite golf family and we vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC every year. There are about 150 golf courses to choose from. There are hotels ranging from mom and pop motels to 5 star resorts. The beaches are spectacular too.


You might want to check out

Myrtle Beach INfo

Golf Desk

 

[Tink33]

My first thought was Pebble Beach. www.pebblebeach.com

But then I had another idea. What month is DH's birthday? How about tickets to a PGA tournament like the Masters, US Open, British Open... (there are at least 2 PGA events per month) Many courses offer the public a round of golf the Monday after the tournament. You get to play the course under tournament conditions. So he could watch his favorite golfers during the weekend and play the course right after.

Check out www.pga.com for a schedule. If you need recommendations on specific courses send me a pm. My DH works in the golf industry and plays all over the country.

 

[damo]

Pebble Beach was my first thought as well. Hilton Head Island has some beautiful courses including the course at Harbortown where they play the Heritage Tournament, we've got a timeshare in Hilton Head and have played Harbourtown. It's a great course and there are some really nice accomodations. Or you could send him to the Players Course where they hold the Players Tournament every year (the one with the island green) in Jacksonville. We've vacationed there and it's lovely. Palm Springs is a great golf vacation spot as is Scottsdale Arizona. Kingsmill in Williamsburg is also gorgeous.

Friends of ours went to Scotland on a golfing vacation and really the weather did not cooperate and they did not enjoy it as much as they had expected.

As you can see there are multitudes of great golf vacations. Basically, you need to set a budget and a time of year and go from there!

 

[BounceyOne]

I was also going to suggest myrtle beach or hilton head, both have awesome courses. Many many myrtle beach golf packages available. Pick up a golf magazine and thumb through it.

 

[figmentvi]

Another idea is the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama. It's the Mecca of American Golf. http://www.rtjgolf.com Very beautiful and lots of golf history.

One of these days, DH and I are going to make our pilgrimage there.

 

[nancyj_pa]

Definitely Pebble Beach for a once-in-a-lifetime, spectacular experience! It's very expensive, but it's something he'll never forget. We went a few years ago and stayed two nights (DH and me, and my sister and brother-in-law). The guys golfed two days.

You have to stay at one of their resorts to guarantee a start time. Combine this with a drive through Carmel and along the coast and a visit to San Francisco.

For something less expensive, Myrtle Beach is great. But for that "special" gift, definitely consider Pebble Beach.

 

[jfulcer]

And while they are not championship courses, there are a few nice ones in WDW that he could play. You could visit the MK while he golfed all day long.