GOLF Magazine

GOLF SOUTH

From Virginia down to Florida, our selection of resorts and destinations provides the best of southern golf this winter or anytime of year. Whether you’re looking for a warm winter getaway or are planning some superb spring golf, the south beckons for both.

Many fine southern golf vacation possibilities are featured below. For further information about some of the best golf in the south, call the numbers listed or visit their websites. For even easier service and material from a variety of resources, just complete our handy Reader Service Page.

FLORIDA

The Sunshine State is so much more than good old sun, sand, and sand traps. There’s always something new in Florida on and off the links somewhere in this special state. That’s no exception in 2001, with new golf courses, new attractions, and lots of unique reasons to visit Florida.

All of these new things should be important to golfers, in that other family members are often involved in the destination decision and they may not be as excited about that new Jack Nicklaus layout you want to play. However, that new resort pool may be just the ticket.

Florida golf vacation options are endless. To start your search for great golf (and much more) in the eight varied regions of the state, call Visit Florida at 888/7FLA USA or visit their website at www.gm.flausa.com. In addition, golfers can also call 877/PLAY FLA to receive a free ‘Florida Golf Vacation Planning Guide.’

For golfers and their families heading to Florida by car, one of the Official Florida Welcome Centers is an ideal resource. Here, duffers and non-golfers alike can get detailed information and toast their arrival with complimentary fresh Florida orange or grapefruit juice. Welcome Centers are located on I-10 near Pensacola, US 231 near Campbellton, I-75 near Jennings, and I-95 near Yulee.

However you launch your journey, here is a sample of the many new things awaiting you and your golf clubs (as well as those more interested in sand on the beach than on the golf course).

Always Something New

The tourism folks in Florida are always looking forward, realizing that the many repeat visitors to the state enjoy finding something new every time they come. For first-time visitors, it’s the ideal blend on and off the links of legendary attractions known worldwide and new ones just getting deserved attention.

In the northwest, 2000 tourism events included: the expansion of Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City; the new Hampton Inn right on the beach in Fort Walton Beach; a new gulffront pool deck for the Radisson Beach Resort in Fort Walton Beach; and exciting opening of Sam’s Fun City, the first major amusement park on the Gulf Coast (the first phase includes a big city theme, miniature golf, and lots of rides). Nearby, the north central area of the state saw several exciting openings, including a complete renovation of the Holiday Inn West in Gainesville (200 new rooms) and new guest rooms, fitness center, and a restaurant at the Sheraton Gainesville Hotel.

In the northeast, there’s new golf and much more. On the attraction front, 3D World spared no expense in creating yet another technological marvel for the First Coast, introducing Fantastic Fountains at St. Augustine, with its 17 various state-of-the-art water features. Also in St. Augustine, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm has a new attraction featuring three white alligators (only 30 known to exist) and a new eco-venture, Sunlit Waters, started offering guided kayak tours. Finally, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum opened its fascinating new Visitor Center in October, with displays explaining the history and operation of the lighthouse and its predecessor, built by the Spanish 400 years ago.

On the golf front, the northeast has three exciting new offerings. It’s a perfect (tee) time to visit this part of the state.

Long known as one of the south’s top year-round golf destinations, Amelia Island now features another great golf course, Royal Amelia, that features huge tees, fairways, and greens. Designed by Tom Jackson, Royal Amelia is an upscale public course.

Located just south of the island’s airport, Royal Amelia is a big layout in every way, with back tees playing around 6,850 yards (because of the size of the greens, it can vary by more than 50 yards day-to-day).

The tees and greens are among the largest in the region and the fairways are as wide as any you’ll see anywhere. Most fairways are well separated from adjacent holes and the greens are simply huge (the 17th runs 49 paces from side to side). Some top holes include the mid-iron peninsula green on No. 17, the par five 18th, and the palm tree sitting in the middle of the 2nd hole.

A clubhouse with a wrap-around porch and views of the Amelia River is currently under construction and should open by the first of the year. Due to the lack of land, officials say this is either the last or next-to-last golf course to be built on Amelia Island (there are now six courses, totaling 117 holes). Accommodations options on golf-heavy Amelia Island are numerous and widely varied, with many upscale hotels, condominiums, house rentals, B&Bs, and more.

If you haven’t been to World Golf Village yet, there’s never been a better time. World Golf Village boasts a new Palmer/Nicklaus layout (and much more).

There’s never been a golf course like this one. For the first time in history, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have paired to design a course. Their creation, The King & The Bear, opened in mid-November at the World Golf Village near St. Augustine. “Jack and I are excited about working together on this project because of the beautiful venue and its affiliation with a great project like the World Golf Village,” said Palmer.

Working together, these two golfing legends collaborated for the first time to create a remarkable course of unparalleled design, beauty, and challenge. The layout features loblolly pines and open meadows on the front nine, while the natural beauty of 200-year-old live oaks with huge shady canopies complement the back nine.

“Arnold and I have been good friends for many years,” said Nicklaus during a visit to World Golf Village in October. “We’ve also been competitors both on the golf course and in business. So I see The King & The Bear as a wonderful opportunity to bring our friendship and businesses together.”

Run by the upscale course operator, Scratch Golf Company, the course will feature three sets of tees to challenge all skill levels, measuring 7,247 yards from the championship tees and 5,295 from the forward tees.

The course will be the second layout for the World Golf Village, joining The Slammer & The Squire (named for Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen). World Golf Village is becoming recognized as the international home for the game of golf, with the World Golf Hall of Fame its centerpiece.

Highlights of the World Golf Hall of Fame include a replica of St. Andrews’ Swilcan Burn Bridge, the Magic Moments mini-theater, the IMAX Theater, the par-three Challenge Hole, a real grass 18-hole putting course, the Walk of Champions Hall of Fame, and lots more. Convenient accommodations are just across the street. It’s a ‘must-visit’ for any golfer, but World Golf Village officials are finding that it’s a great base for the entire family.

In addition to the exciting events on Amelia Island and out at World Golf Village, Florida’s first true oceanfront golf course in more than 70 years will made its highly anticipated debut in December (see full coverage below). Located along Florida’s northeast coastline between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Ocean Hammock Golf Club, with six holes edging the Atlantic, promises to be something special.

The central east area welcomed the new Hampton Inn Daytona Beach Shores, the Hilton Garden Inn-Daytona Beach Airport, and the Jameson Inn (Ormond Beach). The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also completed a $120 million property expansion and renovation that includes new visitor facilities and a new tour that highlights 50 years of space exploration.

In the center of the state, Comfort Suites Maingate East opened this summer to rave reviews, with 185 one-room suites (13 two-room suites) and lots of other features (including complimentary transportation to most theme parks). In addition, the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa unveiled a $30 million renovation.

On the golf front, there’s also the new ChampionsGate facility (see full coverage below). With two Greg Norman courses and the new headquarters of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, this is sure to become another Florida golf mecca.

In the central west part of Florida, the big news is at Ybor City, where the new $45 million Central Ybor is now open. The new attraction for this historic Tampa Latin Quarter is a retail and entertainment complex that includes restaurants, retail outlets, a 20-screen movie theater, the Improv Comedy Club, and the Steven Spielber brainchild, Sega Game Works, a high-tech interactive video game room and entertainment center.

The Tampa Bay area even offers a new place to start playing better golf. British, U.S. Open, and Ryder Cup winner Tony Jacklin recently opened the Tony Jacklin Academy of Golf and state-of-the-art Golf Center. It’s definitely getting rave reviews from early students.

Fundamentals and common sense are the backbone of Tony Jacklin’s approach. The Jacklin Academy of Golf teaches students how to improve their total game, rather than just one aspect of it.

Programs are available Monday through Friday and can be booked by the day or by the week. With a 3-to-1 student-teacher ratio (all instructors are trained and certified by Jacklin), lessons are taught with the aid of video and computer analysis. Dramatic improvements in the overall level of play are often made by focusing on the grip, ball position, posture, stance, and alignment (typically, with the swing you may already have).

The Golf Center’s comprehensive practice facilities allow golfers (and their instructors) to improve all aspects of their game, with more than 60 hitting stations on the driving range and another 6.5 acres dedicated solely to short game practice. There’s also an 18-hole putting course and indoor golf simulators that emulate some of the most popular layouts in the world.

Club fitting is also an essential part of the program. Professional club makers are on hand at the full-service pro shop to make sure students have the right equipment for their game and that it is fitted to suit their individual needs for grip size, shaft flex, swing weight, and lie angle.

Located at Riviera Dunes Resort (accommodations for students available here, as well as many other area possibilities), Jacklin has also started a comprehensive junior program. Thus, for kids and kids at heart, this is a new school that’s bound to bear fruit for the fore set.

To the southwest, Around the Bend Nature Tours in Bradenton now offers eco-heritage tours and The Shell Factory now features a new exhibit, the Octagon Animal Showcase. On the golf front, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club has added a luxurious new clubhouse and a new restaurant on its ground level.

In the always-bustling southeast section, there are a ton of exciting changes. New accommodations possibilities include Casa Morada on Islamorada, the Grand Key Resort in Key West, the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, the Renaissance Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the Shore Club in Miami Beach, and many more. Renovation projects at resorts throughout the region mean southeast Florida continues to successfully combine the old, the new, and great golf.

On the area golf front, PGA National Resort & Spa is better than ever (see full coverage below), on and off the links. One of very few stand-alone golf destinations offering 90 holes of owned and operated championship golf, PGA National just completed a multi-million dollar renovation of virtually all parts of the resort. The project included newly refurbished guestrooms, a complete redo of the lobby, the refurbishment of the vast conference center and public areas, and the addition of the Bear Trap Bar & Grille.

Thus, virtually everywhere in Florida, there’s great news for visiting golfers and their non-golfing traveling companions. Call Visit Florida at 888/7FLA USA or visit their website at www.gm.flausa.com. In addition, golfers should call 877/PLAY FLA to receive a free ‘Florida Golf Vacation Planning Guide.’

AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION

Noted for its environmentally conscious development, sprawling Amelia Island Plantation is a complete self-contained golf getaway. This 1,350-acre privately-owned resort and residential community features miles of wide, shell-strewn beaches; world-renowned golf and tennis facilities; fine dining; family recreation; entertainment; shopping; and a complimentary on-property transportation system.

Featuring 54 holes of championship golf, Amelia Island Plantation is a golfer's paradise. Placed between the Spanish moss-covered, towering oaks, the greens and fairways of three golf courses--36-hole Amelia Links (designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed) and the 18-hole Long Point Course (by Tom Fazio)--border the ocean, marshes, and wooded interior of the Plantation. Amelia Island Plantation currently boasts seven holes playing along the Atlantic Ocean.

The 36 holes of Amelia Links, include Oak Marsh and Ocean Links. Each course is notable for its varying characteristics and individuality that allow players of differing skill levels to create their own golf experience. This challenging, but entertaining, golf features Dye's signature fairways and postage-stamp greens among tidal creeks, mammoth sand dunes, and greenside bunkers.

Long Point was carefully crafted amidst the marshland and natural dune ridges of the Intracoastal Waterway, known as Nassau Sound. The signature 540-yard hole number two is pure Fazio, with its pronounced curving style and numerous deep, narrow bunkers.

One of the beauties of an Amelia Island stay is the variety of accommodations. Lodging opportunities range from deluxe hotel rooms to three-bedroom villas and penthouses, offering either beach or resort views.

With the Amelia Inn & Beach Club, 249 ocean view hotel rooms are available, bringing Amelia Island Plantation's total to more than 660 guest accommodations. Amelia Inn & Beach Club features oceanview hotel rooms and suites with all amenities. Villa offerings include spacious one-, two-, and three-bedroom floorplans, ranging in size, view and decor. The units include a full kitchen, dining/living area, and balconies or patios overlooking the ocean, golf courses, or surrounding resort.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.aipfl.com, or call (800) 874-6878.

THE BREAKERS

Situated on its own oceanfront 140 acres in the heart of Palm Beach, The Breakers is an extraordinary destination of timeless elegance. Founded in 1896 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 569-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel has been completely revitalized and expanded with an aura of casual sophistication.

It features two 18-hole golf courses, a 20,000-square-foot luxury spa, a Mediterranean-style beach club overlooking one-half mile of private beach, an oceanview fitness center, 10 tennis courts, and an extensive program of family and children's activities. The Breakers also has an outstanding selection of restaurants and an array of on-site signature boutiques.

Golf at The Breakers is comprised of two golf courses, which provide golfers with a total of 36 holes in exquisite settings. Directly at The Breakers is the Ocean Course, Florida's oldest 18-hole golf course, which was originally designed by Alexander Findley. Its 6,017 yards of links wind their way through 140 acres adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The vintage course enjoyed a complete renovation in 2000, including the addition of an upscale golf and tennis clubhouse.

Just 10 miles from the main hotel, Breakers West Course is a championship course featuring lush foliage and numerous water hazards against the backdrop of an immaculately landscaped residential development. Its 7,000 yards of play offer a more challenging alternative to golfers with a preference for hitting hard and high.

There are 569 elegant guest rooms, including 45 suites (of which two are imperial suites and two are presidential suites). All rooms have been renovated and feature either an ocean, golf course, or garden view. All accommodations offer an array of amenities, including robes and The Breakers private label toiletries. The dining scene features a wide range of options from elegant French cuisine to the home of Palm Beach's famous Sunday Brunch and much more

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.thebreakers.com, or call (888) 273-2537.

CHAMPIONSGATE

Orlando’s most recent (and anticipated) golf resort combines 36 championship holes designed by Greg Norman with the new headquarters of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. It’s a world-class golf experience suited to players of all abilities.

The National is an impressive American-style course, with memorable par 3s, awesome bunkering, and daunting tee shots. The International features a style familiar to those who have played the great courses of Scotland and Ireland. It offers hard and fast fairways and bunkers that could have been shaped by the winds of the North Sea. Of the courses, Norman says, “ChampionsGate offered me a rare opportunity as a course designer. We were able to create two excellent, and very different, golf courses on a single site.”

The Golf Academy is Leadbetter’s ‘dream’ school, with varied facilities and programs for every golfer. He says, “Our newest David Leadbetter Golf Academy realizes my dream for a state-of-the-art learning facility offering programs for all ages and skill levels.”

At ChampionsGate, unmatched golf holes and outstanding instruction are only the beginning. A luxurious clubhouse offers all of the amenities of a private country club, including fine dining, ample banquet facilities, and complete support for golf tournaments and special events.

ChampionsGate is ideally located--literally--at Exit 24 on I-4. The westbound expressway ramp takes golfers right to the main gate, making it easy to reach from International Drive, hotels, area attractions, and the airport.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.championsgategolf.com, or call (888) 558-9301.

DISCOVERY COVE

Golfers visiting Orlando-area links and looking for a fun diversion for their non-golfing family members need look no further than Discovery Cove. This new Orlando attraction promises a lifelong vacation memory for kids and kids at heart (even golfers).

“There’s no place in the world like Discovery Cove,” says Frank Murru, the park’s general manager. “We have brought together the most exhilarating experiences, the most amazing animals, and the most beautiful tropical environments from around the world and created an oasis in Orlando.”

The Discovery Cove experience starts with an extraordinary opportunity to swim and play with bottlenose dolphins. In addition, guests may snorkel through the colorful reef with exotic fish, feed hundreds of tropical birds, float down a river through waterfalls and lush landscaping, relax on a white sand beaches, and swim in refreshing pools.

Along with swimming with dolphins, other things that make Discovery Cove special include: limiting daily attendance to 1,000 guests (reservations required), meaning no crowds and lines; exceptional guest service (one staff member for every five guests); and all-inclusive pricing (one price covers everything a guest needs for a full day of adventure, including parking, a freshly prepared meal, and all activities. There are only two tickets and prices (with or without the dolphin experience). They even include a pass for seven consecutive days at sister attraction SeaWorld Orlando!

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.discoverycove.com, or call (888) 273-2537.

DORAL GOLF RESORT AND SPA

Fall and winter golf vacationers in search of South Florida's great climate, world-class golf facilities, and pampering spa services will find the Doral Golf Resort and Spa to be the ideal golf vacation destination. One of the nation's premier self-contained resorts, Doral is known as the Kingdom of Golf(tm) for its unparalleled golf offerings. The resort is one of the few in the world to provide 90 holes of golf on five championship courses. The Doral is also the only resort to hold three professional tournaments--the Franklin Templeton Shootout, The Office Depot, an LPGA event, and the Doral Ryder Open, now known as the Genuity Championship.

The famed Blue Monster course, home to the Genuity Championship, has seen the game's greatest players attempt to navigate its daunting bunkers and challenging greens. From Palmer to Nicklaus to Woods, the Blue Monster is a place where legends come alive. Other championship courses include Jerry Pate's Silver Course, the Red Course, and the Gold Course. The new Greg Norman 'Great White' course opened to rave reviews earlier this year and is the only desert-style course in the Southeastern United States, and the new site for the Franklin Templeton Shootout. The resort also features the highly regarded Jim McLean Golf School and a new "Synergy Golf Conditioning" class to improve physical fitness on and off the course. Additional recreational facilities include the renowned Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, which features 11 tennis courts, both hard and clay, as well as state-of-the-art technology used for group and individual instruction.

Doral has also established itself as a family destination, with the opening of the Blue Lagoon water recreation area. This aquatic playground features four pools, a 125-foot waterslide, and poolside spa services. The Great White Falls, origin of the Blue Lagoon's water flow, pumps more than one million gallons of water daily through the lagoon. Camp Doral, conveniently located within the area, offers completely supervised interactive recreational programming for Doral's younger guests. Special family vacation packages are very popular.

For those who would prefer to just sit back and be pampered, the award-winning Spa at Doral offers trademark regimens of beauty, fitness, and integrated wellness in a setting of European luxury. The 148,000-square-foot facility features 48 luxury suites, an elegant fine-dining restaurant, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. A wide variety of spa packages are available, as well as a new recipe book for guests to enjoy a balanced diet once they return home.

Along with the Spa's luxury suites, other accommodation options include 693 newly renovated guestrooms in three- and four-story lodges close to the main clubhouse and the Club Lodge at Doral's Executive Level Club Lodge services and amenities. A wide variety of restaurants make each meal almost as memorable as the golf. The resort is also long known for providing award-winning services and planning assistance to groups, including new interactive theme parties and over 100,000 sq. feet of meeting space.

Located just seven miles west of Miami International Airport, Doral Golf Resort and Spa is owned and operated by KSL Recreation Corporation, one of America's leading owner-operators of resorts and recreational facilities. Quite simply, the 693-room Doral is one of the most prestigious golf, spa, and meeting destinations in the nation.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.doralresort.com, or call (800) 71-DORAL.

GRAND CYPRESS RESORT

Part of Grand Cypress Resort, the 146-room Villas of Grand Cypress are spacious and luxurious, providing guests with a variety of accommodations options, from Club Suites to one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom Villas. Guests are pampered with amenities like 24-hour room service, in-room spa services, morning paper delivery, and twice-daily housekeeping. All rooms have a scenic view of either the waterways or fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed North Course.

Golf at the resort is also world-class. With 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-signature design golf, Grand Cypress Resort offers golfers of all skill levels one of the finest and most diverse menus of golf to be found anywhere. Honored by a Gold Medal from GOLF Magazine as one of the finest resorts in the country, Grand Cypress boasts two distinct courses set against some of the most scenic background in Florida.

The Grand Cypress Course, comprising the North, South, and East nines, offers a variety of physical and mental stimuli, providing a test of accuracy, rather than strength and distance. The North and South nines, the original Grand Cypress layout built in 1984, feature terraced fairways, generous landing areas, mounds, and platform greens with yawning bunkers. The East nine, added in 1986, is more generous, with less bunkering, particularly in front of the greens, which allows more run-up shots.

The New Course at Grand Cypress, which opened in 1988, adds another dimension of play, with steeper and more challenging bunkers and slopes. Set in the midst of an open meadow, the New Course was inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews. Visions of the St. Andrews course appear throughout the New Course, including pot bunkers as deep as 12 feet, seven large double greens, a snaking burn (creek) running through three holes, stone walls along the 15th and 17th holes, and even a stone bridge. Very little water comes into play and few trees are located within the interior of the course, allowing ample room to drive the ball.

“The Grand Cypress Course is two to three shots more difficult than the New Course,” says Bill Rowden, director of golf. “Over the 45 holes, you virtually hit every shot in the bag and play in all kinds of conditions.” In addition to the great courses, the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf offers a wide array of instruction options (including a unique Mail-In Video Lesson for past students).

The Clubhouse features an award-winning pro shop, as well as two dining options, both with magnificent views of the North and South Courses. It’s a great way to end a day at Grand Cypress Golf Club. Of course, ending the day with a night (or more) at 1,500-acre Grand Cypress Resort is even better.

The Villas of Grand Cypress offer golf vacation accommodations at their finest. These luxurious units offer secluded convenience, world-class amenities, and a variety of accommodations options, all within walking distance of 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-designed golf and unparalleled recreation.

The Mediterranean-style complex offers a choice of luxury accommodations, including club suites and one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas. The club suites, which average 650 square feet, are popular with vacationers and meeting groups alike. They include a spacious bedroom, a separate sitting area, a large luxury bath, and a patio or verandah overlooking the fairways or waterways of the golf course.

If even more space is desired, guests may choose one- and two-bedroom villas, featuring up to 1,700 square feet and including an oversized living room and dining room, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen. Three- and four-bedroom configurations provide up to 3,100 square feet of space and a variety of floor plans is offered.

The Villas of Grand Cypress golf packages are simply some of the best duffers deals in Florida golf vacations.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.grandcypress.com, or call (800) 835-7377.

THE NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB

The 54-year-old family-owned Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club is better than ever, thanks to more than $30 million in renovations that included southwest Florida’s only full-service spa and a new golf clubhouse.

Long a favorite with golfers, families, and small groups, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s new look is drawing rave reviews from first-timer visitors and its many repeat guests.

“We are committed to providing our guests with the best possible resort experience,” says general manager Jim Gunderson. “These new improvements confirm our dedication to meet and exceed that goal.”

Along with the opening of the beautiful new Clubhouse & Spa last April, the hotel has made significant improvements in many areas of the property, including: the addition of new cart paths; updating the look of the lobby; new landscaping around the resort; pool enhancements; and new televisions, refrigerators, and carpeting for the varied guestrooms.

The spa offers men’s and women’s locker rooms, steam rooms, whirlpools, saunas, a beauty salon, an aerobics room, and a fitness center with the most modern equipment. Nine individual treatment rooms offer a full range of services, from massage to skin and body treatments. Some popular options include a detoxification wrap in marine mud, a soak in a hydrotherapy tub filled with aromatic sea salt, or a rejuvenating facial.

After the spa or a round of golf, guests will be able to enjoy the relaxation room, check out the latest golf apparel and equipment in the pro shop, or enjoy a bite to eat at Broadwell’s, the resort’s new restaurant.

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, with 1,000 feet of powdery sand beachfront, features 318 varied (and recently renovated) rooms with casual beach decor, an award-winning Tennis Center, five restaurants (including the only beachfront restaurant in Naples), lots of activities, and the championship golf course.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.naplesbeachhotel.com, or call (800) 237-7600.

OCEAN HAMMOCK GOLF CLUB

Florida’s first true oceanfront golf course in more than 70 years made its highly anticipated debut in December, with the designer, Jack Nicklaus hitting the inaugural drive off the first tee.

Located along Florida’s northeast coastline between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Ocean Hammock Golf Club, with six holes edging the Atlantic, promises to be something special.

The designer of some 200 courses worldwide--including the highly acclaimed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio--Nicklaus made sure his stamp was all over the par-72, 7,201-yard layout at Ocean Hammock. Strategy and scenery intersect at nearly every turn of the course, with great care taken by the designer to ensure Ocean Hammock’s terrain works in harmony with its surroundings.

“The relationship between a golf course and its environment is one that goes hand in hand,” says Nicklaus, who has been honored by environmental groups for his work on courses nationwide. “Ocean Hammock is very much a part of its coastal setting and the surrounding environment helps determine the overall character of the course.”

Fittingly, Ocean Hammock’s closing holes serve as the lasting impression. Nicklaus has dubbed the courses final four holes as ‘The Bear Claw,’ and the golf legend says they should rank among some of the games more memorable finishing foursomes.

From the 450-yard, par-4 15th (probably the toughest hole on the course) to the breathtaking 466-yard, par-4, final hole (which runs parallel to the beach and surf), ‘The Bear Claw will make players fortunate to get through without a significant scrape or two (although the views will always be enjoyable).

The classic Nicklaus design trademarks are all in place to make Ocean Hammock a strategic delight: multiple options off the tee; beautiful, but challenging, par 4s to close each nine; a beguiling mix of reachable and virtually unreachable par 5s; and a variety of holes that dogleg left and right, flow uphill and downhill, and play to greens large and small.

Chuck Kandt, the head golf pro, predicts that Ocean Hammock will ascend to the heights of some of the country’s most highly regarded courses. “Ocean Hammock will provide a golfing experience like no other on the east coast,” says Kandt. “We have a goal to draw big-name tournaments here and I’m confident it will happen.” The USGA wasted little time in acknowledging Ocean Hammock, naming the course to host regional qualifying rounds in May for the 2001 U.S. Open.

Greens fees for the new course are in the $175 range, with rates varying seasonally.

For more information visit their website at www.oceanhammockgolf.com or www.palmcoastresort.com, complete the Reader Service Page, or call (904) 447-4653.

PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA

Everyone can play and stay like a champion at PGA National Resort & Spa, a GOLF Magazine Silver Medal resort and one of the nation’s premier sports, wellness, and leisure destinations. Home of the PGA of America and site of the PGA Seniors' Championship, this Palm Beach County resort definitely champions the cause of visiting winter golfers.

Located within the 2,340-acre PGA National community in Palm Beach Gardens' the award-winning PGA National Resort & Spa boasts 339 oversized newly renovated guest rooms and 60 Club Cottages; five 18-hole tournament golf courses; the innovative Academy of Golf; a world-class spa; 19 tennis courts; a health and racquet club, with a personal training facility; a croquet complex; outdoor swimming pools; a 26-acre lake with private beach; eight restaurants and lounges, including Shula's Steak House, ranked as one of the Top Ten Steak Houses in America; and a 33,900-square-foot conference center.

As the headquarters for the PGA, the resort hosts the annual PGA Seniors Championship, as well as other major international and national tournaments. The Champion Course, which has hosted the PGA Seniors Championship, opened in 1981 and was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990. The 15th, 16th, and 17th holes are called "The Bear Trap" and comprise one of the toughest finishes of any golf course in the world. The General Course, which opened in 1984, was designed by Arnold Palmer. The Estate Course, designed by Karl Litten, is the primary site for the Club Professional Winter Tournament program. The Squire Course, named for Gene Sarazen, is known as the resort's 'thinking golfer course,' providing a test of accuracy. The Haig Course, designed by Tom and George Fazio, was the first of PGA National Resort & Spa’s courses and features rosebushes at the 150 yard markers as a tribute to the course's namesake, Walter Hagen, who often advised people to stop and smell the roses.

The Academy of Golf at PGA National Resort & Spa features some of the country’s top instructors, teaching a unified approach based on the latest findings in scientific research on the golf swing and learning. It has one of the lowest student-to-instructor ratios around, guaranteeing plenty of individual help. The latest in computer and video technology analyzes every component of the student’s game, from driving to putting. Finally, the multi-million-dollar Spa at PGA National Resort offers a full range of health and beauty services, as well as a full-service salon.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.pga-resorts.com, or call (800) 633-9150.

SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT

Located in Northwest Florida on the Panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City (just eight miles from Destin), Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 2,400-acre full service resort with three distinct communities, 730 rental accommodations, four golf courses (the fourth, Raven Gold Club, opened in last March), 15 tennis courts, four swimming pools, a 98-slip marina, two waterfront restaurants, a pub, more than 30 specialty shops, 33,000 square feet of flexible function space, and much more.

Golfers will be spoiled at this premier resort, with 73 holes of highly rated golf and the new Golf Learning and Performance Center. Burnt Pine Golf Club was designed by Rees Jones and offers panoramic views of Choctawhatchee Bay. Baytowne Golf Club is a Tom Jackson design, with three holes playing into Beachside by way of Babe’s Tunnel underneath U.S. Highway 98 and offering elevated views of the Gulf of Mexico. Links Golf Course, also designed by Tom Jackson, plays along bass-filled lagoons, with large greens contoured to present protected pin placements.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the Raven Golf Club promises to be one of the finest golf courses of the next century. Weaving its way through wetlands, marshes, and thick stands of pine trees, it will feature, according to Jones, “a run of some of the best par threes, fours, and fives in the Southeast.” Raven Golf Club makes Sandestin the only resort in the world to have courses designed by both of the Jones brothers.

Resort Central at Sandestin is the reception and check-in area for Sandestin’s 565 one- to four-bedroom villas, townhomes, and condominiums, as well as 175 bay- and resort-view Inn at Sandestin hotel rooms and suites (16). The three communities--Beachside, Dockside, and Linkside--each have their own ambiance and special activities. The Bayside Inn has its own check-in in the newly renovated lobby.

Guests receive a Park Pass at check-in that also entitles them to unlimited use of Sandestin’s health club, children’s on-property fishing license, bicycles, tram, boogie boards, canoes, kayaks, and a host of resort programs and activities at no extra charge. In addition guests can enjoy a as a complimentary hour of tennis court time daily on any of 15 natural grass, hydrogrid clay, or hard surfaces. Sandestin’s signature restaurant, Elephant Walk, derives its name from the 1954 Elizabeth Taylor film of the same name.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.sandestin.com, or call (800) 277-0800.

TURNBERRY ISLE RESORT & CLUB

Long a popular South Florida getaway for golf and much more, Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is situated within the lush surroundings of Aventura, an exclusive enclave in North Miami.

Hidden on 300 tropical acres, Turnberry is a stunning Mediterranean-style hotel, with a total of 395 spacious guest rooms and suites, two Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed championship golf courses, two tennis clubs, 117-slip marina for deep-sea fishing and charter yachts, five restaurants, and a private Ocean Club on the Atlantic with a beautiful beach, pool, cabanas, and watersports.

Turnberry’s two Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed championship golf courses have both been completely renovated to the exacting standards of the legendary Jones. The North Course measures 6,403 yards and is a par 70. The South Course measures 7,003 yards, a par 72 and ends with a splashy finish on Turnberry’s famous 18th hole ‘Island Green.’

Just a short shuttle ride away, guests can enjoy Turnberry’s private Ocean Club on the Atlantic, with a beautiful beach, pool, and cabanas. Watersports, such as windsurfing and Hobie-cat sailing, are all available.

The new 25,000-square-foot European Spa and Fitness Center is a state-of-art facility, created by famous spa designer Tag Galyean. The Spa’s three floors are connected through a grand spiral staircase which showcase a dramatic cascading waterfall and fountain, all accented by a glass dome skylight.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.turnberryisle.com, or call (800) 327-7028.

THE WESTIN INNISBROOK RESORT

The Westin Innisbrook Resort is located in the rolling hills of Pinellas County, Florida, just south of the Greek sponge-diving and fishing community of Tarpon Springs and minutes from the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Situated on over 1,000 acres of rolling hills, the sprawling resort features 72 holes of championship golf, 700 guest suites, six on-site restaurants, The Innisbrook Troon Golf School, 11 tennis courts, fitness center, six swimming pools, a nature preserve, and a challenge course.

Innisbrook's four championship courses are laid out on more 600 acres of natural lakes, woodlands, and a hilly terrain, which is unusual for Florida. The resort has hosted a multitude of competitions, including the Tampa Bay Classic, US Open Qualifying Rounds, the NCAA Division 1 Men's Championship, and the Florida Open.

Though the Copperhead and Island layouts are consistently ranked nationally, each of the courses has its own distinct characteristics, varying terrain, and different playing strategies to score well. Well-known Highlands South (formerly Eagle’s Watch) and Highlands North (previously Hawk’s Run) provide more variety of golf experiences, while Lost Oaks of Innisbrook, formerly known as Tarpon Woods, was acquired by Innisbrook in 1997 and completely renovated.

Exciting changes at the resort include the renovation of the Innisbrook Troon Golf Institute (expansion of the practice facility and new golf-related amenities), the opening of the new Highlands Clubhouse (including a new Caribbean restaurant and the renaming and lengthening of the two courses mentioned above), and a unique partnership with the Ironman Institute in Palm Harbor that offers comprehensive preventive health screening packages. Of course, Innisbrook continues to offer many great golf packages.

Guest accommodations are in 28 low-rise lodges, which are named for famous golf courses around the world. These lodges are nestled around the resort’s golf courses, clubhouses, and pools. The beauty of these accommodations is that they fully-stocked kitchens and a private patio or balcony overlooking the lush landscape or one of the golf courses.

When not dining in your suite, the options include Northern Italian cuisine in Toscana, casual American fare in Turnberry Pub, and DY’s Steak House, modeled after the popular Shula’s Steak House brand and serving succulent beef overlooking the Copperhead course.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.westin-innisbrook, or call (800) 456-2000.

GEORGIA

BRUNSWICK & THE GOLDEN ISLES

For those who love the game of golf, few places anywhere can quicken the pulse quite like Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia: St. Simons, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island. From the mainland to the islands, along river, marsh, and sea, lie some of Georgia’s and the nation’s most spectacular courses.

Nestled along the coastline and barrier islands of southeast Georgia, Brunswick & The Golden Isles welcome golf vacationers to a truly exhilarating expanse of sun, sea, fun...and great golf. When you combine a charming port city with four islands and 216 holes of golf, you have a peach of a Georgia golf destination.

The quaint port city of Brunswick features streets with charming Victorian homes, a bustling waterfront, and the vast Marshes of Glynn. Along with famed Brunswick stew, the city is also proclaimed as a “Shrimp Capital of the World.” Out on the barrier islands, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island all feature unique history, beaches, resorts, and much more.

The entire region also features some great golf. The Brunswick area offers 18 holes at Brunswick Country Club and Oak Grove Island Golf Club, as well as nine holes at Glynco Golf Course and the Golden Isles Golf Center, a complete practice facility and par three course.

Out on St. Simons Island, 18-hole options include The Hampton Club and Sea Island Golf Club (available to guests of The Cloister and The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club). Sea Palms Golf & Tennis Resort features 27 holes of St. Simons Island golf. Down on Jekyll Island, the Jekyll Island Golf Club has three 18-hole courses and a nine-hole layout, for a total of 63 holes.

The invitingly mild weather that graces Brunswick & The Golden Isles year-round is due in large part to the gentle ocean breezes that help winters stay warm and summers cool. The average annual rainfall is just 50 inches and the average temperature is a pleasant 68 degrees. Where I-95 bends toward the sea, there are 216 great reasons to golf and countless reasons to visit again and again.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.bgivb.com, or call (800) 933-COAST (2627).

SOUTH CAROLINA

THE CLASSICS OF MYRTLE BEACH

Quite simply, planning the perfect Myrtle Beach area golf vacation has never been easier, thanks to The Classics of Myrtle Beach. This exclusive collection of the best resort hotels and the most highly ranked courses in the Myrtle Beach area make it easy to plan that perfect Grand Strand golf vacation. Working together the resorts and courses have put together some of the most inviting golf packages ever. Classics of Myrtle Beach clients are assured of experiencing the ultimate in premium golf, accommodations, and service. With 17 championship courses and 10 luxury resorts, there's something to suit every taste on and off the links. The Classics of Myrtle Beach is dedicated to exceptional quality at a premium value. The golf possibilities include old and new classics: The Dunes Golf & Beach Club; Pine Lakes International; Caledonia; Gary Player's Blackmoor; True Blue; Willbrook Plantation; Jack Nicklaus's Long Bay Club; Arnold Palmer's Kings North at Myrtle Beach National; Raymond Floyd's Arrowhead; and the four courses at Barefoot Resort (designed by Davis Love III; Greg Norman; Pete Dye; and Tom Fazio; who also designed The TPC of Myrtle Beach; another 'Classics' golf choice). Still more options include World Tour; with replicas of 27 of the world's greatest holes; the Scottish flair of the Thistle; and the challenging River Club at Litchfield. On the accommodations front, the varied possibilities include: Beach Cove; The Breakers; The Caravelle; The Caribbean; Compass Cove; The Landmark; Litchfield Resort; Long Bay Resort; Ocean Creek Resort; and Sea Watch. Each of these varied resorts have exceptional amenities, outstanding staff, and great service, with the variety meaning a Classics of Myrtle Beach client can make the perfect choice. For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.myrtlebeachclassics.com, or call (877) 515-8575.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND--THE GOLF ISLAND

The Hilton Head area’s reputation for great golf is legendary. Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry have one of the best ratios of golf holes per person than any other community in the country.

But it is quality, not quantity, for which the region can truly brag. Four of the area’s courses have been simultaneously ranked among the top 100 courses in the U.S. Several others have been consistently recognized among the country’s top resort and public access courses. The PGA Tour has stopped at Hilton Head every spring for more than 30 years. One of the country’s top collegiate tournaments comes to town each November. The island has hosted the Senior PGA and LPGA tours as well as several regional and national amateur events.

Like the area’s diverse residential and resort communities, the golf courses of Hilton Head Island have distinct personalities Some are beach oriented, overlooking gorgeous stretches of the Atlantic Ocean. Some are wooded, winding through thick stands of pines, magnolias and 100-year-old live oaks draped with Spanish moss. Others boast magnificent views of the pristine saltwater marshes or the serene coastal rivers and sounds. Then there are some that are nestled in areas rich in Native American and Civil War history. Perhaps best of all, nearly all of Hilton Head Island’s great courses are within a 30-minute drive from virtually any accommodations option.

Any treatise on Hilton Head Island golf must begin at the Harbour Town Golf Links, which reopened this winter after an extensive nine-month renovation. Pete Dye’s monument to southern coastal golf courses, Harbour Town is unquestionably one of the great lowland courses in the U.S., with 6,900 yards of tight, twisting fairways flanked by grand oaks and towering pines.

One of the island’s rising stars is the Arthur Hills Course in Palmetto Hall, part of a 36-hole complex in the semi-private residential community located mid-island. Named for its designer, the course opened in 1991 and was heralded by GOLF Magazine as one of the country’s best new courses that year. Still, the course has been somewhat of a sleeper along locals and visitors.

Another Hills course that has received much more notoriety is located in Palmetto Dunes, a lush 2,000-acre oceanfront resort. Part of a trio of courses on the property (Robert Trent Jones and George Fazio being the others), the Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes was built across an old secondary dune line, thus offering dramatic elevation changes and relatively few flat lies.

Opened in 1987, The Country Club of Hilton Head exemplifies Rees Jones’ outstanding talents as a designer. The rolling course snakes through wide-open expanses and pine and oak forests, around freshwater ponds and natural marshes and wetlands.

Hilton Head Island’s first course was the George Cobb-designed Ocean Course in Sea Pines. The course received a major facelift from Mark McCumber in 1995 and the PGA Tour veteran incorporated plenty of traditional and classic elements into his redesign. The tight fairways and strategically placed hazards wind through Sea Pines’ deep coastal forests, and culminates at one of the island’s most photographed holes: the par-three 15th, which plays to a green nestled against the resort’s scenic beachfront.

At the mid-island community of Indigo Run is the Golden Bear Golf Club. Golden Bear was designed by the late Bruce Borland, a Nicklaus Design associate that was tragically killed in last year’s plane crash that also took the life of Payne Stewart and three others. Golden Bear is perhaps the most parkland-type layout of any Hilton Head-area course and has thus become one of the island’s most popular among visitors and residents alike.

Those venturing off the island won’t have to go far to find the outstanding Old South Golf Links, designed by noted designer Clyde Johnston. A local resident, Johnston took advantage of some outstanding topography on the mainland site and fashioned one of the best pure daily fee facilities in this part of the country. The golf course rolls effortlessly from open pasture to dense forests to marsh and wetland expanse. The course is located just across the bridge from Hilton Head Island.

Those seeking a memorable day trip should try the Melrose Course at the Daufuskie Island Resort and Club. Located one mile from Hilton Head Island across Calibogue Sound and accessible only by ferry, Melrose is representative of some of Jack Nicklaus’s 1980s work, with some boldly undulating greens and extensive bunkering that demand a precise short game. But the hallmark of the course is its three finishing holes that play directly alongside Calibogue Sound.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.golfisland.com, or call (888) GOLF ISL.

SANDS RESORTS

With six beachfront locations (the sixth, Bay Watch, opens this spring) along Myrtle Beach, Sands Resorts offers something for everyone--for the golfer, families, honeymooners, or anyone else looking for sun, fun, great golf, and relaxation.

Sands Resorts offers a number of special packages and seasonal discounts specially tailored to meet specific needs. With a range of accommodations, including beachfront rooms, efficiencies, villas, and executive suites, Sands enables golfers to enjoy the thrills of the Grand Strand in both comfort and style on and off the links.

As a guest of Sands, visitors will also be the beneficiary of a wide range of amenities and special privileges. This includes championship golf at more than 100 area courses (great packages, seasonal discounts, and tournaments), access to more than 60 miles of white surf-smoothed beaches, the Sands Health Club, the Sands Kids Club for visiting families, exciting live music, high-profile entertainment, lavish theatrical productions, a delicious array of restaurants (including Sands Deals on Meals special rates), fantastic shopping, and much more.

This spring, Sands Resorts is opening their newest resort, Bay Watch, in North Myrtle Beach. This oceanfront resort will feature luxurious one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, all with ocean views. In addition the Sand Dunes Resort is adding an 18-story wing that will offer three-bedroom executive suites, all with ocean views, this summer. The new wing will also include a full water park.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.sandsgolf.com, or call (800) 501-4653.

SANTEE

Nestled in South Carolina, just an hour or so away from Charleston or Myrtle Beach, Santee is a golf vacationers delight. The mild climate means golf year-round. Many golfers are finding the golf in Santee so exciting and pleasurable that they are booking their golf getaway and staying in Santee for their entire trip. With choice courses like Sumter National Golf Club, Foxboro Golf Club, Wyboo Golf Club, Clarendon Golf and Country Club, The Players Course, Royal Oaks, The Wellman Club, and The Links at Lakewood, Santee has course play for every golfer. Whether you are a scratch or novice golfer we give you interesting course play all at a great price year round.

With both national chain hotels, as well as local villas, you can rest your feet when not on the course, as the area offers accommodations to fit any wallet.

With one call, it’s easy to book tee times, car rentals, air travel, and accommodations. When you are looking to take your next golf getaway look no further than Santee.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.santeelake.com.com, or call (866) SC-LAKE.

THE RESORT AT SEABROOK ISLAND

Located just 23 miles south of historic Charleston, The Resort at Seabrook Island is unlike any other Charleston area resort. Seabrook is a combination stay-and-play resort and private equity club. Seabrook’s courses are not open to the local public. Resort guests stay in member owned villas and enjoy full member privileges. This unique private club environment assures resort guests superb playing conditions, an uncrowded atmosphere, a refreshing pace of play, available replay rounds, and attentive service.

Seabrook Island offers 36 holes of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Willard Byrd championship golf. Lush fairways take golfers through timeless oak, magnolia, and loblolly pine forests, tidal creeks, and sun drenched Carolina dunes. After it’s $2.3 million renovation in 1999, Seabrook’s Crooked Oaks is the only course in the entire Charleston area that features bentgrass greens. The Ocean Winds course takes you to the Atlantic Ocean and, with its swirling ocean breezes, provides an ever changing and challenging test of golf.

Seabrook Island’s courses were the first in South Carolina to earn the designation of Fully Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary member. This commitment to environmental friendly practices and management adds to the overall high quality Seabrook experience.

A fully-equipped fitness center, racquet club, equestrian center, deep water marina, miles of spectacular beaches, restaurants and lounges, and all the charms of nearby Charleston offer pleasant diversions away from the links.

Seabrook’s Ultimate Golf Package benefits include: spacious villa or private homes accommodations, daily greens fee, cart for 18 holes each day, club storage, arrival day golf at half price, and full breakfast each morning. Ultimate Golf Package rates for four golfers in a two-bedroom villa start at $83 per person through February 10th, $90 through March 17th, $112-118 through April 21st, and back to $97 through June 23rd. Depending on the rate season, available replays are just a $15-25 cart fee per person for either of Seabrook’s outstanding courses.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.seabrookresort.com, or call (800) 845-2475.

WILD DUNES RESORT

For discerning golfers who seek the best links experience by day and a great choice of accommodations by night, Wild Dunes Resort fits the bill on both fronts.

Wild Dunes guests spend their days playing the Tom Fazio-designed Wild Dunes Links (boasting "the greatest finishing hole east of Pebble Beach") or the equally demanding Harbor Course, which Fazio has described as one of his favorite designs. In addition, Charleston, the site of where golf began in the U.S., offers another dozen or so excellent nearby courses, such as Charleston National and Dunes West. After playing in such extraordinary surroundings, lucky Wild Dunes visitors retire to a luxurious room or suite in the Boardwalk Inn or to a wide range of villas and homes offering every amenity and great views of golf, the ocean, and more.

Wild Dunes Resort's famed Wild Dunes Links celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and it’s better than ever. 'The ultimate in seaside golf in America', the Links was Fazio's first solo creation. Masterfully planned, the course takes the player on a nature tour of the South Carolina Lowcountry, from inland forests of hardwoods and palmetto dunes, along salt marshes, through ancient dunes dotted with sea oats and Spanish daggers, and then finally along windswept beaches and the last two holes along the Atlantic surf. Fazio said, "I saw right away it was an architect's dream. It had all the elements you could ask for--trees, water, dunes, ocean coast." Water, trees, and a tough dogleg left on the 17th characterize The Harbor Course, a challenging layout sporting water, marsh, or both on 17 of its 18 holes. "The Harbor Course has always been a favorite for me, as a designer," says Fazio. "I always felt the Harbor Course was every bit as good as the Links."

Wild Dunes reservations professionals can help choose the perfect accommodations. In fact, groups of eight or more get their own coordinator, who helps with everything from accommodations to tee times to dinner in downtown Charleston.

The sprawling resort offers more than 250 one- to four-bedroom villas and exclusive three- to six-bedroom homes to golf package guests. All Wild Dunes package guests also receive free access to the resort's championship tennis courts, its recreation center, in-resort transportation center, and more. In addition, advance tee times and in-depth information are offered by the assistant golf pros at the tee times office. Be sure to ask the pros about their popular instructional programs and schools as well.

At the 93-room Boardwalk Inn, guests find a peaceful lobby framed by comfortable sitting rooms, richly burnished wood, and more smiling people. Cozy linens, delicious room service meals, many breathtaking views, gorgeously textured and richly hued room designs, and an experienced staff enhance the ambiance. In addition, guests are just steps away from the casual elegance of The Grill, the perfect place for a 19th hole cocktail or a four-course meal. Edgar’s, at the Links Clubhouse overlooking four fairways, features Lowcountry cooking at its best.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.wilddunes.com, or call (888)845-8933.

NORTH CAROLINA

Nothing could be finer than to be in North Carolina playing golf. That's especially true in late winter, when crowds are low and world-famous courses and resorts are open and welcoming.

The Tarheel State is well-heeled when it comes to golf, offering a plethora of playing and staying delights that's essentially unparalleled across the nation. The state draws vacationing golfers in droves, in that there are as many reasons to come as there are courses. At last count, the state offered in excess of 350 daily-fee and public-access courses.

"It's almost like you can get a taste of the entire country in this one state," says famed architect Tom Fazio, who lives in Hendersonville. "You've got a little bit of everything, ranging from the mountains to the coast."

Golfers come for the terrain and variety--there are mountains in the west, the seashore to the east, and the historic Sandhills and bustling cities in between. They also come for the climate--golf is played in almost every corner of the state year-round. Visiting duffers come from the north to escape the cold of winter and from the south to flee the heat of summer. Only a handful of courses in the most mountainous extremes close during the winter.

They also come for the architecture of the courses, thanks to designers like Fazio, Dan Maples, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones, Rees Jones, Donald Ross, and many more. "We've got so much variety that you never get tired of one kind of terrain or one kind of weather," says Pinehurst resident Maples.

The state has a history of golf that stretches back to 1899, when Donald Ross settled in Pinehurst and began honing his craft as a golf course designer. Ross eventually created more than 40 masterpieces in the state. North Carolina has gone on to become the host of the longest-running amateur championship in the nation; the site of Ben Hogan's first professional win; and the presence of players like Arnold Palmer, Raymond Floyd, Billie Joe Patton, and Peggy Kirk Bell within its borders during their formative years and adult lives. In fact, the legendary Peggy Kirk Bell and her family will be welcoming the U.S. Women’s Open to Pine Needles this spring Many golfers come because of the accessibility--the state is within a day's drive of New York, Chicago, and Florida and it's airports offer convenient connections. There are international airports in Charlotte, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, and Raleigh/Durham, as well as popular smaller ones in Asheville, Wilmington, Southern Pines, and other locales.

Finally, golfers and their non-golfing companions come from around the globe for a dizzying array of off-the-course activities. Highlights include more than hundreds of hotels and resorts, 25,000 restaurants, mountains, beaches, large cities, small towns, and genuine down-home hospitality.

The North Carolina Division of Tourism offers a wide variety of publications to help golfers plan a North Carolina vacation, including the helpful annual golf guide, the Tourism Guide, and an extensive website.. For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.visitnc.com, or call (800) VISIT NC.

CAPE FEAR

If you want one of the best golf getaways around, check out Cape Fear, North Carolina.

Just a short drive away from Myrtle Beach, the area features some of the best golf on the east coast. The courses offer less crowded and less hurried play, all at prices that encourage multiple rounds per day, all year long.

PGA and fund-raising tournaments are increasingly finding host clubs locally. Magnolia Greens in Brunswick County has hosted the PGA Qualifying Tour since 1998. The regions also has other top courses, like the St. James Gauntlet and Players Club, Olde Point, Porter’s Neck, Belvedere Country Club, River’s Edge, Rivers Landing, Castle Bay, The Cape, and the Beau Rivage.

Cape Fear features several world-class course designs bearing the signatures of Tom Fazio, P.B. Dye, Dan Maples, Hale Irwin, George Cobb and Willard Byrd. For your resting and sleeping pleasure away from the golf course, Cape Fear offers a wide variety of accommodations. The area has accommodations to fit any life style.

One call can take care of the tee-times, the accommodations, car rental, and airline reservations. Few other destinations offer as much for your golf vacation money.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.golfcapefear.com, or call (866) CAPE FEAR.

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, VILLAGE OF PINEHURST,

SOUTHERN PINES, ABERDEEN AREA

For more than 100 years, golfers have coveted the well-groomed courses of the Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area. Golf’s origin in this region dates back to 1897 and Donald Ross began his legacy as a course architect in the early-1900s.

This unique location offers a fascinating blend of history and culture with amazing natural beauty. It is a place where people come to celebrate the past, present, and future of golf (as well as festivals, fairs, and other enjoyable events).

Visitors can walk in the footsteps of golf greats like Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan (who had his first professional win there), Babe Zaharias, Peggy Kirk Bell, and many others. They can play legendary layouts by the likes of Donald Ross, Ellis Maples, Dan Maples, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Tom and George Fazio, and many others.

No other U.S. golf destination has hosted the range and scope of such major tournaments. Championship golf has long been a part of the Sandhills historic roots, but the 1990s ushered in a new era, as the area has become the host site for major championship golf. While history buffs look to the prestigious North and South Amateur as putting the area on the map, it has been the 1990s that returned it to the top--with the highly successful hosting of the 1991 and 1992 PGA Tour Championships, the 1994 U.S. Senior Open, the 1996 Women's U.S. Open, the 1999 U.S. Open Championship, and the 2000 U.S. Women’s Public Links Amateur. But there's much more in store, stretching into the 21st century and including the 2001 U.S. Women's Open Championship, and the return of the U.S. Open in 2005.

There are a variety of ways for visitors looking to arrange and enjoy these and other courses, a range of accommodations, dining, and many other activities and amenities in the area. The popular 2001 Destination & Golf Guide produced by the Convention & Visitors Bureau provides all information necessary to plan a golf vacation, including general golf package rates and destination listings for historic sites, events, attractions, access, and much more.

Of course the Convention & Visitors Bureau features many other services, including an extensive website featuring information on area accommodations, golf, and attractions. From publications to the internet to the phone, the area offers everything for golf vacation planning. The 2001 Destination & Golf Guide and other information is available from the helpful Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Village of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.homeofgolf.com, or call (800) 346-5362.

NORTH CAROLINA’S BRUNSWICK ISLANDS

Once you spend some time in North Carolina's Brunswick Islands, soaking up the year-round subtropical temperatures, teeing off for a round of golf in mid-January, or watching the sun rise and set over the water, you'll be drawn back again and again.

Many golfers find themselves drawn to North Carolina's most southeastern region, where, tucked in among endless stretches of beaches, miles of marshes, and acres of forests, the Brunswick Islands offer scores of challenging championship courses well away from the crowds of other golf-intensive areas (but within an easy drive of more than 100 layouts).

In fact, there are more than 35 championship courses in the immediate area and another 80-plus within a short drive--thus, the area's nickname, "North Carolina's Golf Coast." Designed by the likes of Couples, Palmer, Dye, Irwin, Byrd, Maples, and Jones, a number of the area's superb golf courses rank among the nation's best.

Golfers fortunate enough to play these links are treated to spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, a myriad of marshlands, and dozens of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Here, you'll tee off on holes carved into lush forests, crowning a ridge of rolling hills, and strategically placed throughout the beautiful Carolina countryside.

On diversions from the links, you can visit the numerous historical sites in the area, take in museums and gardens, or take off for a fabulous outdoor adventure of kayaking, canoeing, or sportfishing. Sailing, shelling, horseback riding, antique collecting, beach strolling, and nature watching are other favorite coastal pleasures.

All that activity is bound to make a visitor hungry and ready for a good night's sleep. Visitors to the area may choose from a host of excellent accommodations that overlook the ocean or fairways, as well as a choice of notable restaurants in all price categories. Many hotels and resorts also offer attractive golf packages.

Along with an extensive website, North Carolina's Brunswick Islands offers an excellent and free vacation guide to begin planning. For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.ncbrunswick.com, or call (800) 795-SAND.

VIRGINIA

As with past years, golf and golf vacations in the Old Dominion keep getting better. From new courses to new amenities, Virginia is a golf vacationer's perfect destination this spring or anytime of year. It’s the perfect time to begin planning a Virginia golf vacation and the Virginia Tourism Corporation can furnish all of the tools to make it a success on and off the links.

If Virginia native Thomas Jefferson were alive today, you can bet your bottom bogey that he would be a scratch golfer, enjoying all of the courses and resorts that have sprouted in his home state. Today's traveling golfer can follow in the footsteps of Jefferson, exploring this historic state on and off the greens.

From the state’s southern shores to the burgeoning golf mecca of Williamsburg, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and bustling Northern Virginia, the Old Dominion’s golf scene just keeps improving. The state always seems to have something new and newsworthy on the golf scene, as well as old standbys that, like good golfers, seem to improve with age.

Virginia is definitely a leader in the growth of golf travel, with new courses and resorts filling the quaint countryside throughout the state. Golf is just a short drive (and driver) away almost anywhere in Virginia. Whether you're getting away for a short weekend or a long golf vacation, it's always easy to arrange a quick nine or a leisurely eighteen at your resort of choice or at another nearby course.

Golf travel is one of the fastest-growing segments in Virginia tourism. Good weather, great golf, legendary resorts, and many other tourist attractions all make the state ideal for a golf vacation.

There are now more than 200 public, semi-private, and resort courses in the state. We’ve made it easy to choose the best, by providing overviews of many of the finest golf experiences in Virginia. Thomas Jefferson would be proud.

A brochure covering Virginia golf is a great way to begin research for a Virginia golf getaway. Interested golfers who call (800) 93 BACK 9 ((800) 932-2259)) will receive the "Virginia Golf" guide, a "Virginia Is for Lovers Travel Guide," and a state highway map.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.virginia.org, or call the Virginia Tourism Corporation at (804) 786-4484.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Virginia Beach is becoming a mecca for golf enthusiasts. With year-round sunshine, mild temperatures, and quality golf courses, Virginia Beach makes for an ideal getaway for golfers.

More than half the population of the U.S. is less than a day’s drive from Virginia Beach and some of the finest courses in the Mid-Atlantic, designed by the likes of Reese Jones, Pete Dye, Curtis Strange, Fred Couples, and Gene Bates. Here, you can stay in one of our many comfortable resort hotels and challenge yourself on one of our many championship golf courses, including Hell’s Point, as well as the Tournament Players Club and Heron Ridge. All of this at prices that are relatively below par.

When you plan your next golf trip, give Virginia Beach a shot. One call will take care of the tee-times, the accommodations, car rental, and airline reservations.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.vbgolf.com, or call (866) 4-VB-GOLF.