9 golf trips our staff is eager to take in 2021

Welcome to GOLF’s Journey Mailbag, a weekly, interactive GOLF.com sequence by which members of our employees discipline your course- and travel-related queries. This week, earlier than we get to answering your questions, we’re offering considerably of a table-setter in your golf yr. To inspire you and your buddies, we requested 9 staffers the place they plan on taking golf journeys in 2021. Right here’s what they stated. Have a query for a future mailbag? Tweet us at @golf_com.

Jessica Marksbury, multimedia editor: Right here in Arizona, there are some superior summertime offers at space resorts, and this July, I’m branching out to Tucson, which is lower than two hours from my house in Phoenix. I’ve a boatload of unused Hilton factors, so the plan is to remain on the El Conquistador Tucson, which, except for a beautiful setting within the foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains, appears prefer it has one thing for everybody: 45 holes of golf, 5 swimming pools (together with a 143-foot waterslide, yeah!) and loads of alternatives for some scenic climbing.

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Josh Berhow, managing editor: I, like many golf followers, have lately turn out to be smitten with Big Cedar Lodge. I’ve lengthy recognized of the resort and had been considerably acquainted with its programs, however watching Tiger/Rory/JT/Rose within the Payne’s Valley Cup — the TV occasion that showcased Woods’ first public design, Payne’s Valley — actually put the place on my radar. I don’t assume I used to be alone. (That’s what you name good promoting!) Anyway, it’s a spot my group can drive to and has 5 programs to choose from. There’s plenty of different issues to do there, too, though I’m guessing our schedule will likely be fairly filled with golf. A pleasant change-up is that two of the 5 programs are brief programs — good for a gaggle of pals on the lookout for laidback rounds.

Tim Reilly, director of social: I’m in additional golf-centric group texts than I can hold monitor of today. It looks like ALL of my pals have the golf bug. The most typical matter mentioned is a 2021 journey, and the commonest suggestion is Bandon Dunes. Not a day goes by the place I don’t scroll via an eye-popping photograph from Bandon on social media. Hell, every time somebody from our employees returns from their Bandon journey, the very first thing I do is ask a dozen questions. It looks like everybody at GOLF has gone except for me. In that sense, I’ve already completed all of the analysis. I do know the journey suggestions. I do know the place to remain. I do know what programs to play on the identical day, and which to not. Now it’s time to cease placing the journey off.

Sean Zak, senior editor: I’m most probably to take an analogous journey to 1 I took in 2020: Da U.P.! Critically, there may be some excessive worth for golf on Michigan’s Higher Peninsula — Greywalls, Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Timberstone. Yow will discover mid-week rounds at every of those programs for $100 or much less, and so they’re all nice. There’s the quaint, pretty city of Marquette, the hoppin’ on line casino in Harris and some of the stunning lakeshore drives within the Midwest on Freeway 35. It’ll be definitely worth the trek!

James Colgan, assistant editor: Again after we have been college students at a sure frigid ACC college, my buddies and I grew an affinity for road-tripping to the greener (learn: hotter) pastures of North Carolina. The state is gorgeous, low-cost and enjoyable, significantly for a gaggle of younger bachelors. This yr, we’re operating it again and heading to the house of (American) golf, Pinehurst, for the buddies’ weekend of a lifetime. In between the bars, eating places, award-winning brief programs and main championship venues, we’re taking the brief trek up the highway to Raleigh to see our alma mater tackle NC State. To reply your subsequent two questions: sure, you may squeeze a soccer sport right into a golf weekend, and sure, we will likely be sporting that immutable orange with reckless abandon.

Alan Bastable, government editor: After months of hibernation, I’m aching for an journey — learn: Eire or Scotland. Seems like a lonnnng shot in 2021 with quarantines nonetheless in place, however a golfer can dream! For the needs of this train, we’ll go along with a fast jaunt to Southwest Eire, which, with some cautious planning, could be completed in 5 days. Ballybunion Previous has lengthy been on my brief record, so we’ll begin there, then head south to Tralee earlier than closing out the journey with a doubleheader at Waterville and its thrilling new neighbor, Hogs Head (and never simply because it has what is perhaps the perfect brand in golf). If I’m certain to home journey, I’m eager to pay my first go to to Streamsong. The entire place — 54 holes robust! — appears like a blast, and I really like the concept of a shortish flight and shortish drive to get to relative {golfing} remoteness.

Ashley Mayo, editorial director: I do know I probably received’t be capable of take this journey in 2021, however I can definitely begin planning for it. A golf-filled weekend in Iceland has been on my bucket record for years, and I’m lastly going to begin mapping out logistics and constructing an itinerary. Nearly all of programs are situated within the southwest nook of the nation, making it simple to expertise them in only a matter of days. I do know I’ll wish to construct my journey round Reykjavik Golf Membership, which, from what I’ve seen in photographs and movies, is a real stunner. And if my journey has me touchdown in Iceland on a Thursday morning and departing on a Sunday evening, I’ll wish to play not less than seven rounds of golf, contemplating you may tee it up there across the clock throughout the summer time. Planning for a visit is nearly as enjoyable as taking it, and I’m going to savor each second of planning my Iceland golf journey.

Emily Haas, venture analyst: My finest pal and former teammate is in her first yr of residency at Penn State Hershey, which doesn’t permit her a lot time to take a trip. So, this yr, I’m planning on taking the holiday to her! Again within the day, we used to play our convention championship at Hershey Nation Membership’s East Course — considered one of my all-time favourite tracks. (Being the chocolate fanatic that I’m, it’s actually no shock.) A weekend keep at The Resort Hershey will get us entry to each the East and West programs and the esteemed Chocolate Spa (bought!) for a long-overdue weekend of rest and nostalgia.

Nick Piastowski, senior editor: Vegas. Vegas! There are programs regardless of the curler you’re, and desert golf is a breed unto itself. Amongst my favourite programs within the space are Revere Golf Membership, Paiute Golf Resort, Rhodes Ranch and Aliante Golf Membership, the place we as soon as performed with a person who hit each shot from 100 yards in with one arm and by no means — by no means — dropped his cigar all through the spherical. On the excessive finish, I’ve been fortunate sufficient, no pun supposed, to play Shadow Creek and Cascata, the place our forecaddie advised us he as soon as noticed Yankees outfielder Aaron Choose hit one 450-plus. And, oh yeah, there are casinos and swimming pools and reveals and eating places and bars. (Though, a visit to In-N-Out Burger after a spherical is enjoyable, too.)

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