To some people, spring means one thing – the coming of golf season. If you’re one of them, there are lots of ways to combine the love of travel with golf. Why not plan a vacation around a dream golf destination?Many golf lovers dream of making a pilgrimage to the prestigious Links at St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland, where the game was invented around 1400 AD. We might have had a world without golf – the game was banned in 1457 by King James II, who thought that archery practice was more important. Fortunately, in 1502, King James IV threw in the (golf) towel and took up the game himself. St. Andrews is now the largest golf club in Europe, with seven public courses. If you have a nongolfing companion, he or she will enjoy exploring the stunning scenery and historic buildings in the town of St. Andrews.If you dream of championship-quality golf in a more tropical location, look to Hawaii. The islands are dotted with spectacular, fun and challenging courses; including Poipu Bay and Princeville on Kauai, designed by renowned course designer Robert Trent Jones. On the Big Island, try the Mauna Kea and Hapuna courses. Maui’s finest courses include Kapalua and Wailea. Wherever you golf in Hawaii, just try to keep your head down through your swing when you’re surrounded by beautiful scenery.There are plenty of options for a dream game of golf when vacationing on the U.S. mainland, too. Dream destinations include Torrey Pines outside San Diego, with fantastic views of deep ravines along the Pacific coastline. Pebble Beach on California’s Monterey Peninsula may be the most beloved course in the U.S. There’s also the TPC Scottsdale course in Scottsdale, Ariz., which has stadium seating around its famously raucous 16th hole. This is where fans often break golf’s code of polite applause to loudly cheer – or loudly harass – some of the most famous names in golf.To make a dream golf course the focus of your next vacation or an enjoyable side attraction, talk with your travel professional.
