Golf Vacation Destinations

By Larry Denton

Does your ideal vacation include spending hours hitting a little white ball into a hole hundreds of yards away? For many people golf is the ultimate in relaxation and even a dream vacation. Many individuals and, indeed, entire families are taking golf
vacations which include visiting some of the premier golf courses around the U.S. or even signing up for a week of professional lessons given by former or current golf pros.

Granted, golf is not for everyone and dragging your entire family on a vacation that only you enjoy might not be the best idea. However, a number of golf courses and golf clubs now offer family packages that allow you to enjoy the course while your family explores other local culture, history, sporting, and entertainment options. Many such packages will even offer the ability to plan parallel vacations so that your family can join up with another local tour group while you enjoy the greens.


So where do people go when wanting to get in some serious golfing? Major cities such as Dallas and Chicago host a number of PGA golf courses that offer an exciting, challenging experience that will challenge your skills and teach you a few new tricks. There are ever getaways in the Caribbean and Hawaii for those who want to enjoy a bit of the exotic while they play the back nine.

Some daring adventurers may find that the best golf (and a good vacation for the rest of the family) takes them overseas to England, Scotland, Germany and Ireland which are home to a number of world-renowned golf courses on which to play. While these options can be considerably more expensive than domestic vacations, they can be worth it when it comes to the experience and the culture you enjoy by visiting a foreign land.

Many golf courses are resorts in themselves offering lodging and other entertainment options. Some, such as Disney properties, include both golfing and other vacation opportunities combined into one property so that the whole family has something to do right on site.

So what does it take to get your golf vacation planned? For the most part all it takes is a destination to get the ball rolling. The PGA provides a number of recommended sites and facilities that you can visit on their website. Or you can just simply find your own course and make your own vacation. Sometimes the best vacations are those that aren't planned out by a travel agency, but one you put together yourself.

So pack up the golf clubs (yes you can take them on the plane) and get out your best golf hat. A golfing vacation is going to be a challenge that you will enjoy!

additional links
Playa Azul, Cozumel
Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort Spa and Golf
Gaylor Texan Resort and Convention Center, Dallas
Four Seasons Resort and Club, Dallas
CityWest Hotel and Golf Resort, Dublin, Ireland
Hyatt Hacienda Del Mar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, Orlando
La Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali, Indonesia
Ocean Blue Golf and Beach Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Adventure Vacation: White Water Rafting in Scotland

White water rafting is fun, exciting, dangerous and now Scotland has placed itself firmly on the map as the place to do it. Since the early 1970s white water rafting has become a sport that has grown rapidly year on year. Places such as River Tummel in Scotland are now home to thousands of tourists and experienced rafters alike who take to the water each year.

With white water rafting comes more than just adventure, there is the risk of injury as well. That is why anyone who is new to the sport must understand the risks that are involved every time you enter a raft. The fast-paced nature of the sport means literally anything can happen, and not just falling overboard. Steering in and out of obstacles also means that you run the risk of collisions, so it is imperative that you understand the importance of wearing a life jacket and as well as a safety helmet. It is usually the case that rapids are given a rating between 1-5 for how complicated they are, so remember and start low before working your way up. 1 is the lowest and would be suitable for young children and beginners, whilst a more experienced rafter may be able to take the challenge of a rapid classed as 5.

With the growth of rafting as a recreational activity and a sport, many improvements in the options that are open to people have become available. This means that lazy rafters looking for cheap frills without wasting energy can now look towards motorised rafts, rather than the traditional human-powered raft. This is also a great way for people to settle into the experience of riding a rapid, without the added worry of steering and powering the raft at the same time. It is also worthy of note that many say the motorised element can remove much of the fun associated with the sport.

Scotland and white water rafting now go hand in hand for a number of reasons, not least the great facilities. Scotland is home to highly skilled and qualified instructors in the area of white water rafting, but that is just the start. Places such as Grandtully, Dunkeld and Averfeldy have world class facilities for experienced rafters and beginners alike. Not only that, but Scotland is also home to dam induced rapids that mean rafters do not have to count on conditions to be sure they can have a great days sporting activity.

As Scotland continues to grow as the place to live the white water rafting experience, it is also becoming home to many sporting events in the international arena. This is not only raising the profile of white water rafting within Scotland, but also has a positive impact on the country as a whole. The areas in Scotland where rafting is most prominent are also tranquil and unspoiled, and therefore are suitable for holiday makers who want to enjoy the great sporting opportunities and the quiet country side at the same time.

Accomodations:
Hilton Dunkeld
Kinnaird Relais & Chateau Hotel
Hilton Dundee


by Peter Syme, of Splash White Water Rafting in Scotland