Golf is a game that is variously considered a pastime,
recreation, sport, profession, religion or an obsession. The apparent
object is to knock a small hard ball into a designated hole, using only
a minimum number of blows of a stick or club, while avoiding the
hazards of the terrain such as vegetation, water, soft ground and loose
sand. While this may appear frustrating to some, the pleasure that so
many people do derive from working out their frustrations in the course
of this game means that golf and visiting the golf courses where the game is played is a significant reason for travel.
Golf originated at Saint Andrews, in Scotland. Because of this, Scotland, and in particular the Old Course at St. Andrews, is considered the traditional home of Golf, and the standard to which all other Golf Courses are compared.
Golf spread throughout the British Isles, and by 1829, beyond them with the establishment of the "Royal Calcutta Golf Club" in India. By the end of the 19th Centuary, Clubs in Ireland, The United States of America, and Wales had come together to organise the sport at their respective national levels. Scotland and England
followed after the First World War. Golf has two global Governing
Bodies, the "R&A" at St Andrew's, Scotland and the "United States
Golf Association" which work closely in partnership, for example in
agreeing to changes to the "Rules of Golf". This joint approach helps
to ensure that golf has not suffered the fate of other sports and split
between a "British" sport, (e.g. Soccer and Cricket) and an "American"
analogue (e.g. American Football and Baseball). Golf is golf wherever
you play in the world, with the same standard rules, which is
particularly useful if you want to play the sport outside your own
country.
Today, perhaps one of the first two things that developers
consider when wanting to attract more tourism to a destination is where
to put the (next) golf course to go with the hotel they are wanting to
develop.
Golf resorts are resorts that cater specifically to the sport of golf, and include access to one or more golf course and or clubhouse. Golf resorts typically provide golf packages that provide visitors with all greens and cart fees, range balls, luxury accommodations and meals.
Accommodation in the resorts may take the form of hotel-like rooms or private spacious villas. Golf resorts are typically located in areas with great natural scenery and they may also offer other nature-based activities such as backpacking, fishing as well as health spas and beauty clinics etc.
It is possible for golfers to purchase vacation packages for some of the finest golf resorts and golf courses all over the world. Destinations include golf resorts in states like Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, and California, cities like Las Vegas, Pinehurst, and Myrtle Beach, and renowned international golf travel destinations like Ireland and Scotland, where the game was born. Most countries in the world now host golf resorts of one type or another.
Destinations
Golf as we understand it originated in Scotland,
although it is probable that ancestor games to modern golf originated
on the Continent. However both the insular and continental European
golfers do not let such matters divide them too much, when it comes to
the Ryder Cup. That biennial trophy succeeds every two years to unify
the Europeans in a way that has so far eluded the European Union.
The British Isles remain the main focus of golf in Europe.
Throughout the British Isles you will find many good quality courses.
The Celtic countries, Scotland, Ireland and Wales,
in particular hit above their weight in terms of the courses they
offer. This is due to the fact that their extensive coastlines offer
ample opportunities to build links courses. Their larger neighbour England also has many fine courses. The most famous course undoubtedly would be the Old Course at St Andrews.
Iberia offers also offers the second most important focus for European Golf. Golf courses have developed in both Spain and Portugal,
particularly in coastal areas. Valderama is probably the most famous of
the continental courses the venue of the only European Ryder Cup held
on Mainland Europe.
Other destinations have also developed golf courses. The Czech Republic
for example has seen new courses open since the fall of communism, and
the Scandanavian countries offer the opportunity of around the clock
golf during the summer months.
The legendary home of golf and home to the one of the game's two
co-governing bodies, the R&A. Scotland and St. Andrews in
particular is a must for any golfing enthusiast and is estimated to
have around 400 course - not all are open to the public and so the real
figure is unknown.
Courses in Scotland include:
- St Andrews - where else but...
- Carnoustie- venue for the 2007 Open Championship
- Gleneagles
- Royal Troon - Open Championship course on the beautiful Ayrshire Coast
- Royal Dornoch - One the trickiest course available
- Turnberry - A newer (1903) Open Championship course attached to a world class hotel
- Muirfield - A highly rated championship course
- The South Fife coast - Not an individual course but more of
an experience. An area near St. Andrews where every town and village
has its own course (no-matter how small). While they may vary in
standard it is interesting to play in an area where the game is
universally popular.
See Golf in England for further details.
England has a long golfing history.
Courses include:
- Royal Birkdale
- Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Wirral
- Royal Lytham and St Anne's
- Royal St George's, Sandwich, Kent
- The Belfry- Venue for a number of Ryder Cups
- Wentworth- Venue for the World Matchplay Championship
Scotland may be the home of golf, but Ireland was in fact the first
country to organise golf on a national level. It has been one of the
more popular golf destinations in recent years. It's popularity has
pushed prices up, and playing golf in Ireland is relatively expensive
compared with other destinations.
Famous courses include:
- The K Club, in the Republic, venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup
- Royal Portrush, in Northern Ireland, the venue for the only Open Championship not held in Great Britain.
- Golf Tours Ireland Glyyns Coaches provide specialist Golf Trips around Ireland.
Courses in Spain include:
Wales like the other British Isles countries has a long golf history. It has approximately 150 golf clubs.
Wales has often been one of the earlier adopters of innovations
in the game. Wales was the third country to start organising golf on a
National Level, and indeed in 2007 both Men's and Ladies' golf came
under the same organisational umbrella. The Stableford Scoring Systerm,
used by most amateur club golfers also originated in Wales.
Wales has produced two Ryder Cup winning captains, Dai Rees
and Ian Woosnam. Wales will host the competion in 2010, at the Celtic
Manor Resort, Newport.
Despite the prestigious golfing heritage, Wales' courses remain
relatively undiscovered by international visitors. This however has its
advantages, since it offers the visitor high quality courses, at prices
generally lower than elsewhere in Western Europe, and crowding on Welsh
fairways is thankfully rare. Wales is growing in popularity as a
golfing destination, and the 2010 Ryder Cup is expected to generate
further international interest.
The Welsh Assmebly Government's official golf tourism website gives details of all courses in Wales.
The more prestigious Courses in Wales include.
- Conwy (Caernarvonshire), Conwy- A Venue for 2006 Final Qualifying for the Open.
- Nefyn & District, Morfa Nefyn, Gwynedd- offers arguably the some of the most spectatular holes in world golf.
- Machynys Penninsula, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire- Wales's only Nicklaus Designed Course.
- Royal Porthcawl, Porthcawl- Venue for the 1995 Walker Cup, the defeated USA team included Tiger Woods
- Royal St David's, Harlech- Links course overlooked by the famouse Harlech Castle
- The Wales National, Vale Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort , Hensol, Pontyclun- (2 Courses)
- Wentwood Hills, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport- Venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup
- Gary Player Country Club, Sun City
- Sun City Golf Course, Sun City
- Glendower Golf Course, 20 Marias Rd,Dowerglen ext 2, Johannesburg, +27 (0)11 453-1013
- Steenberg Golf Course, Tokai Road, Tokai, Cape Town, +27 (0)21 715-0227 (mailto:reservations@steenberghotel.com)
- Durban Beachwood Course, Durban
- Humewood Golf Course, Marine Drive, Port Elizabeth, +27 (0)41 583-2137, [4]
See Golf in China
See Golf in Thailand
See Golf in Australia and Golf in Queensland
See Golf in New Zealand
Mountains, oceans and Arctic tundra form the backdrop to challenging
fairways and immaculate greens. Celebrated names like Nicklaus,
Thompson, Robinson, Furber and Whitman loom large on world-class
courses. Play all night under the warm glow of the midnight sun in the
Far North. Or putt your way around beautiful Prince Edward Island in
full view of the sparkling Atlantic. In Canada, spectacular golfing is
just par for the course.
The United States is a major golf destination, it has more golf
courses than any other country, (approximately 10,000 Golf Courses).
The United States also has a surprisingly long golfing
tradition. The formation of the United States Golf Association in 1894
was predated only that of by Ireland's
Golf Union. Indeed the United States Golf Association, as well as
acting as National Golf Association for the United States is one of the
worldwide game's co-governing bodies.
The United States has for many years produced many of the
world's best golfers, and remains a Golfing superpower, despite recent
Ryder Cup defeats to the Europeans. The USA will host the 2008 Ryder
Cup in Kentucky.
Three of the four Major golf tournaments are played in the
United States, and some of the most famous, and best, courses can be
found there.
Florida is an important national and international golf destination.
At the other extreme Alaska offers the possibility of late night golf during the summer.
See Golf in Fort Lauderdale and Golf in Fort Lon the Mississippi Gulf Coast
BuyAt larger and more popular courses, the on-course Pro Shop will normally be able to supply all the necessary accessories.
EatMany golf courses have a Clubhouse that serves meals. Some provide a full service restaurant.
DrinkMost Clubhouses have a bar; such establishments are colloquially known as the 19th hole.
Stay safeGolf is the sort of game that can be played in all sorts of weather
conditions, especially if one wants a challenging game. However,
lightning and severe storms are contraindications for safe play.
Consider golf insurance. This will pay out in the event of a hole-in-one, or if you injure other golfers.
Tipping
If you use a caddies (and in many places you have no choice), you
may be expected to tip them. In other places tipping is not permitted.
You should ask when you book your round what the expected tip is.
Get out
Once you have finished playing be sure to clean your equipment. If
you are crossing borders with your gear be sure to declare it,
particularly where countries have biosecurity controls to limit the
importation of equipment that has been in contact with farmland and the
like. Otherwise you might find you are delayed while the equipment is
cleaned, or worse, confiscated.
|
|
