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Snowbirds can thaw out on Orlando’s most player friendly golf courses

The Orlando area can satisfy the desires of all golfers, especially snowbirds or vacationers escaping their winters or hectic schedules. Leigh MacKay offers up some golf courses that are extremely playable, perfect for vacationers coming off a long winter break. What’s more, these courses offer superior layouts, conditioning, service and amenities.

Swing with Air: Join MJ and friends at the 12th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational in Las Vegas

Michael Jordan’s coming to Las Vegas to play a little golf and he’s bringing a few friends. We’re talking about the 12th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational. Over the yeas the field has included Wayne Gretzky, Sugar Ray Leonard, Greg Maddux, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jessica Alba and many others. It’s a chance to see the NBA legend and other stars, but once you watch MJ and company hit a few shots, you’re going to want to hit a few of your own. Here’s where to play.

Fantastic greens highlight a round of golf at River Crossing Club north of San Antonio

River Crossing Club, a semi-private golf course located just north of San Antonio, takes on a scenic and serene Hill Country atmosphere. It offers those who make the drive a private-worthy experience at a price point comparable to many of the middle-tier courses closer to the Alamo. Fantastic greens at River Crossing Club highlight what makes for a pleasant round of golf in the scenic Texas hills.

Food for thought: Where to dine along South Carolina’s Grand Strand

There are plenty of golf course options along the Grand Strand in South Carolina. The same could be said for dining option. But which ones should top your list to keep the good vibes going after a round of golf in Myrtle Beach? Ian Guerin offers up some suggestions.

Five things you should know about golf in the Destin-Panama City area

If you’re looking for a little different Florida golf experience, you might want to consider the Panama City/Destin area on the northwest coast. Known as the Emerald Coast, this region of Florida differs from the rest of the state in several important ways. The golf scene has come a long way in the last 30 years as well. Here are five things you should know about the golf in the Destin/Panama City area before you go.

Playable Palm Springs: Four great golf courses for the Snowbird with a rusty swing

When returning to the game in the winter -- whether for a week’s vacation or a seasonal getaway -- the key to building renewed confidence is easing back into the golf swing. Travelers bound for the desert take note: Here are four of the most playable golf course in the Palm Springs region.

Mixing religion and the golf gods works well for Ko’olau Golf Club on Oahu

The First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu overcame improbable odds in 2006 to become the only church in the world to own a golf course on site: Ko’olau Golf Club. Built for $82 million, Ko’olau sits on heavenly land roughly 45 minutes from downtown Honolulu. The course was carved from a tropical rain forest designated as a nature conservancy in the shadow of the Ko’olau Mountains.

California reality: A local’s guide to public golf around Los Angeles

Yes, there is plenty of public golf beyond the exclusive private clubs in Tinseltown. And fortunately, in an area where mild weather and copious sunshine are the norm, decent conditions rule, and business is steady for the canniest of the local operators. Los Angeles resident golf writer David Weiss shares where he plays around his hometown when he’s not playing on the road.

Seven days, seven great plays: A week’s worth of the best golf in Myrtle Beach

Players can often be overwhelmed by the sheer number of courses in Myrtle Beach, S.C. So many to play, so little time. No worries, we’re here to point you in the right direction. If you’ve got one week, these are great options to make sure you feel you’ve played seven fantastic courses. But why stop there? For every course, we’ve got a post-round option for dinner and drinks. Make the most of the trip.

Raptor Bay Golf Club near Naples: Enjoy nature while taking on devilish greens

While playing Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs, take time to soak up the melodies of bird calls, the waving grasses and the rippling waters of this Audubon International Gold Certified Sanctuary course. It’s a beauty. Designed by Raymond Floyd, Raptor Bay is a joy to play and one you will want to come back to more than once. And with seven sets of tees, it’s playable for all levels.

The secret is out about Ewa Beach Golf Club

Despite sitting in one of the driest sports on Oahu, the Ewa Beach Golf Club is wall-to-wall green like it’s located in Ireland instead of Hawaii. The course is always in terrific condition, with impeccable greens, and has been one of Oahu’s best-kept secrets. Not anymore.

Emerald trails: Navigating Tom Fazio’s stellar Camp Creek Golf Club in Panama City Beach

Camp Creek Golf Club on the Emerald Coast of Florida is all golf, it doesn’t cater to real estate, and it really doesn’t cater to all types of golfers. To appreciate Tom Fazio’s work -- which includes 86 bunkers, a number of waste areas, numerous water hazards and large, difficult greens -- you have to have a little skill and some experience. There’s nothing ordinary about Camp Creek, especially the scenery, Mike Bailey writes from Panama City Beach.

Hawaii on the cheap: Maui golf courses that are easy on the wallet

Grab your clubs and get ready to see some of the best values on Maui golf, 18 holes at a time. These courses often have listed rates of less than $100. Add in tropical breezes, swaying palm trees and nicely designed golf layouts, and you’ve got a bargain on your hands.

If you love the water, you’ll love the Links Course at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, the Links Course at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort features water on 14 holes, plenty of bunkers throughout, palm and pine trees and a few risk-reward holes that reward you if you have a little patience. Mike Bailey has more from, Destin, Fla.

Get a lavish private club experience in Las Vegas at Spanish Trail Country Club

Spanish Trail Country Club -- a private club that allows some outside play -- boasts a 27-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf course, a massive elegant clubhouse, world-class dining, spa options and much more. On the course, players will find three distinct nines: Canyon, Lakes and Sunrise. By the numbers, Spanish Trail features 15 lakes along with 120 bunkers.

Orange Lake Resort prospers

The buildings overwhelm any first impressions at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee. In all, 2,478 villas comprise this massive timeshare vacation zone, all a part of the Holiday Inn Club Vacations network. Nature might not take center stage upon the drive to the accommodations, but don’t fret, it’s there. Tucked into the resort’s 1,450 acres are four golf courses, and an 80-acre lake with a beach and water sports.

Ritz-Carlton’s Grande Lakes Orlando has it all: Soaring golf, soaring food and a soaring zip-line course

Ritz-Carlton guests, at least as a general rule, are not adrenaline junkies, but between the zip lines, Greg Norman-designed golf course and eco-tours, the Grande Lakes property has created a reason to avoid the contrived magic of Disney and the sprawl of I-Drive. And as a golf destination, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes has been a vastly underrated option in the Orlando golf scene.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North: The proof is in the formula

The big attractions at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale are the nearby golf courses at Troon North, which can be reached in a couple of minutes with the on-resort shuttle. Staying at the Four Seasons, which pays attention to every detail, merely completes the experience, Mike Bailey writes.

Bluffton emerges from Hilton Head Island’s shadow in South Carolina’s Lowcountry

It wasn’t all that long ago when cars raced by this undeveloped stretch of the South Carolina Lowcountry headed for the hot, hip and happening Hilton Head Island. Those days are long gone, my friends, especially for golfers. Bluffton can legitimately stand on its own among the top golf destinations in the Southeast.

The Padre Course at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale is more than a walk in the park

Laid out in the shadow of Camelback Mountain, the Padre Course at Camelback Golf Club is unique among golf courses in the Scottsdale area. Wide fairways, water hazards and plenty of grass rule the day, making the Padre Course a solid play in an area full of great golf courses, Mike Bailey writes.

Survive the ‘Aman Corner’ at Windermere Country Club near Orlando

Windermere Country Club near Orlando boasts its own version of ‘Aman Corner.’ That’s not a typo. Holes 14-16 got their nickname to celebrate a former member. Like the famous three-hole stretch at Augusta, Aman Corner tends to be the defining moment in any round.

Live large in Las Vegas by hiring a caddie

This oasis of excess in the Nevada desert boasts some of the best -- and wildest -- caddie experiences. From gorgeous young babes to highly trained PGA Professionals, Las Vegas caddies will take any round of golf to the next level, Jason Scott Deegan writes.

Beyond the Grand Strand: A low-key lifestyle attracts golfers to the South Carolina Lowcountry

The Lowcountry around Hilton Head, S.C. might as well be called the ‘low key country,’ too. That natural feel is probably the major difference between this area and the Grand Strand to the north. In the Lowcountry, the golf courses and residential and commercial developments tend to be more thoughtful and less intrusive. If you want a relaxing vacation, come to the Lowcountry.

Providence Golf Club near Orlando: A natural choice

Providence Golf Club is a residential community course with a unique personality that’s playable to residents and visitors with lots of sizzle and creativity on every hole. While some holes at Providence are forgiving off the tee with large landing areas, you’ll need to put lots of thought into a strategy once you pull driver from your bag.

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