Play the Pros in The British Open

For amateur golfers, having an “open” tournament is a great opportunity to break into the world of professional golf.  But the U.S. Open isn’t the only open tournament – there’s also the British Open for the golfers “across the pond”.  Open tournaments were designed to allow amateur golfers to perhaps break into the pro pool by winning one of these contests.

Many people think that the U.S. Open was the first open championship to be founded, but that just isn’t true.  The British Open was being played 35 years before the United States got in on the open tournament phenomenon.  Since the turn of the century, the British Open has included amateurs from all countries.  The U.S. Open is currently trying to make a move towards this trend, but for years, The British Open has been known as “The World Open”.

Originally designed as a way for unknown golfers to make a name for themselves, the “opens” have long been touted as the greatest chance an amateur has for worldwide fame and fortune as a professional golfer.  The British Open was the first tournament to bring forth this amazing idea, and golfers all over the world became excited at the prospect of becoming a pro.

The British Open is one of the four major golf tournaments of the year and winning it is a great honor.  Just as with the U.S. Open, it is one of the championships that tournament professionals strive to achieve and wear the honor with pride.  However, amateurs should beware.  Because the British Open is an open event, the pros can play too.

The last time an amateur won a British Open was back in 1930 when American legend Bobby Jones won with an overall score of 291.  Since that time, there have been many amateurs who have made good showings, but as far as winning the open, that hasn’t happened in quite some time.

To qualify for the British Open, you must strive for one of the 156 places that are available.  Most of the field of players has achieved entry into the open through exemptions by playing well throughout the year on the tour.  The rest of the field has won qualifying rounds in local events that lead them to the “big show” and perhaps the chance of the lifetime!

The British Open – just like the U.S. Open – is a wonderful way for excellent amateur golfers to break into the professional circuit by doing what they love – playing the game of golf.  The British Open has a long and storied history and while considered one of the major events in the PGA, still holds a bit of mystery and hope for those who dream of a life as a PGA professional.

Golfing In Las Vegas

Twenty-nine years ago, locals and visitors played at The Tropicana Golf Course, which has been replaced by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. The Dunes course, since replaced by Bellagio and Monte Carlo Hotels, Desert Inn Country Club, is still there, though it will be gone soon. The Municipal Golf Course, Las Vegas Country Club, Craig Road, Sahara Country Club, Winter Wood, two courses at Nellis and Paradise Country Club, are all still there, though the names may have changed. They were pretty much the only courses in the valley.

Today, there are 57 golf courses in and around Las Vegas. They’re not all up and running yet as that number includes under construction and on the planning board. Also, the number includes courses within a two hour drive of Las Vegas, Mesquite, Primm, Laughlin and Pahrump.

Even so, that’s a lot of golf courses for a city of less than one and a half million. Of course, thirty-six million plus tourists a year add to the profitability of opening one. Greens fees for Las Vegas golf can be quite steep for the common man and many locals have given up local golf for just that reason.

Las Vegas golf courses were designed by the pros who also played them in tournaments every year. Palmer, Nicklaus, Chi Chi Rodriques, Johnny Miller and Fuzzy Zoeller have all designed courses there. All of the major pro tours, PGA, LPGA and the SPGA have annual tourneys here. They started to play Las Vegas in 1953.

Golf is a year-round sport in Las Vegas. Even on those forty days a year that there’s some rain, you still might get 18 holes in. There are only about 5 days a year when you can’t play. In the spring there may be a few days of high winds that postpone your game. On cold days in the winter, you tee off at noon. On hot days from June to September, try to get a tee time from 6-9 am, to be off the course in the afternoon. Call very early for a tee time.

You will have a lot of options when you choose to golf in Las Vegas. But the best part about a Las Vegas golf trip? You can always try out the blackjack tables if your golf game stinks.

Palm Springs Golf

Discovered in the early 1920s by some of Hollywood’s elite, it is no longer the group of sleepy little villages it once was. While the area has changed over the years, the one thing that has not is the magnificent clear blue sky and the mild climate. It’s a great feeling to be soaking your body in a warm outdoor pool or playing a round of golf on a manicured course while the rest of the country is slipping and sliding behind a snow plow.

The Palm Springs region, with its world-class golf courses and destination golf resorts, while not as large, is rapidly becoming the West Coast version of the Myrtle Beach golf scene.

You have your choice of several different professional level courses when you travel to Palm Springs to golf. The great California weather makes it a premier, year-round vacation destination for golfers.

While we strive to remain unbiased in our review of Palm Springs golf destinations, we have found some of the more popular courses and feel compelled to pass these on to you.

* Desert Springs Golf Club – True to Ted Robinson’s signature style, there’s more water on our beautifully landscaped championship courses than you can shake a 9-iron at. Enjoy the camaraderie of individual golf or group tournaments set against the towering mountains, rolling greens and sprawling lakes.

* Indian Springs Golf and Country Club – The 18-hole “Indian Springs” course at the Indian Springs Golf & Country Club facility in Indio, California features 6,404 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.  The course rating is 69.8 and it has a slope rating of 112.  Designed by John Gurley, Sr., the Indian Springs golf course opened in 1962.

* Indian Wells Golf Resort – Featuring two courses, the Players and the Celebrity, you’ll find plenty of holes to make you happy. Both courses are a par of 72.  John Fought designed Players Course and Clive Clark designed the Celebrity Course.

* Desert Dunes Golf Club - Desert Dunes Golf Course was the first desert course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Voted as one of the best public courses in Southern California. Laid out among large dunes and mature desert trees, Desert Dunes has a unique Scottish links flavor.

There’s no doubt that golf in Palm Springs is a golfer’s paradise. Are you ready to go? Then Book a Golf Getaway and Save at Luxury Link. When you golf Palm Springs, you are surely in for a trip that you will remember for years to come!