GOLF DIGEST

best golf destinations 2003

In 1950, there were just 5,000 courses in the United States. Nowadays the country counts more then 16,000 courses, many of them in the most wonderful places of America.

To mark his 50th anniversary, the great American magazine Golf Digest (1.4 million readers) has asked to a panel of more than 700 of their low-handicap American readers to rank their 50 best golf destinations in the world.

They had to rate from 1 to 10 each destination through different criteria:
- good variety of terrific courses
- a strong golf ambience
- other area attractions/amenities
- a good variety of quality accommodations
- good value - good service
- easy travel (to & from, and within)

After analysis, counting and ranking of the answers, Monterey and St Andrews appeared at the top, but Ireland (North and South), Scotland and Spain did better than one could imagine in competition with America's best destinations like Pinehurst, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Hilton Head Island or Palm Spring/Palm Desert.

Here are abstracts of the results of this Golf Digest very special and very interesting panel:

1. Monterey, Calif.

Pebble Beach is the king; nearby are Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay. Cheaper options in Carmel Valley.



2. St. Andrews, Scotland

Native place of golf and headquarter of the Royal and Ancient. Play the revered Old Course, but don't miss the New and Jubilee, too. Great additions nearby such as Kingsbarns.

3. Pinehurst/Southern Pines, N.C.
Golf is Pinehurst's raison d'être with eight courses, including famed No. 2. 0ther great layouts: The Plantation, Mid Pines, Pine Needles…

4. Northern Ireland (see article)
Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are the two best courses in Ulster. Others worth a visit: Castlerock, Portstewart, Malone…

5. Southwest Scotland/Ayrshire
Play the holy trinity of Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Troon, about an hour south of Glasgow, with 34 British Opens among them.

6. Southwest Ireland/County Kerry
Ballybunion, Dooks, Killarney, Tralee, Waterville are the experiences of a lifetime. Across the Shannon, hop to County Clare and play Lahinch.

7. Sheboygan, Wis.
Two five-star courses at Blackwolf Run and the magnificent two-year-old Whistling Straith, three classic Pete Dye designs.

8. Phoenix/Scottsdale
A desert full packed of super-deluxe, manicured courses such as The Boulders, Grayhawk, The Raven, Troon North. Keep away from the cholla cacti.

9. Greater Myrtle Beach, S.C
Already more than 100 courses along the strip… Try Caledonia, The Dunes, Heritage, The Legends, Tidewater and Wild Wing.

10. Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Play Harbour Town, Ocean Course, Palmetto Hall, Arthur Hills, Old South… About 50 courses on the island.

11. Palm/Palm Desert, Ca
12. Northern Michigan
13. Northwest England/ Southport
14. Los Cabos, Mexico
15. Dublin, Ireland
16. Maul @ Lanai, Hawaï
17. Kauaï, Hawaï
18. Big Island Hawaï
19. Whistler,B.C.Canada
20. The Algarve, Portugal
21. Domincan Republic
22. Runswich/Sea Island, Ga
23. Central Oregon, Bend
24. Williansburg, Va
25. Costa del Sol/Marbella, Spain
26. Prince Edward island, Canada
27. Calgary/Canadian Rockies
28. Orlando
29. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
30. Tucson (Az)
31. Robert Trent Jones Trail, Alabama
32. Virginia West & mountains
33. Oregon coast
34. Greater Charleston, S.C.
35. San Diego, Ca.
36. Las Vegas, Nevada
37. Jacksonville/St Augustine, Fla
38. Lake Ocones, Ga.
39. Colorado Rockies
40. Wales, UK
41. Brainerd area, Min
42. Reno/Lake Tahoo, Nevada
43. Austin, Texas
44. North Carolina Mountains
45. San Antonio, Texas
46. Flathead Valley, Montana
47. West Palm Beach, Florida
48. Newport Beach/Orange County, California
49. Bermuda Island
50. Puerto Rico

Just a comment about this: in our "worldwide opinion", one can regret that some other great destinations are missing like Australia, New Zeland or South Africa.

"That's another story" as Kipling was used to say as a conclusion of each one of his many tales.

Among avid golfers who use the Internet, 62% have bought a golf product online and of those respondents, 95% rate their overall experience of purchasing online either excellent or good. This is according to a study that is released by Golfweek and Golfweek.com, entitled Golfers and the Internet Volume II.

Golfweek's Golfers and the Internet, a study conducted this summer, is a revealing look at how golfers utilize the Internet for golf information and products, with a special emphasis on golf e-commerce. Golfers and the Internet was conducted by Golf Datatech L.L.C., a leading golf research firm located in Kissimmee, Fla.

This is the second study Golfweek and Golfweek.com have released focusing on the impact the Internet has had on the lives of avid golfers. The 1999 study was the first study of its kind, asking avid golfers how and why they access the Internet. The 1999 study showed that avid golfers accessed the Internet an average of 8.8 hours a week and 52% had purchased a golf product online. The 2000 study revealed a strong increase in Internet usage and online purchases by this group, showing that avid golfers now spend an average of 11.3 hours a week online and 62% have purchased a golf product over the Internet.

"Any company marketing to the avid golfer - a highly targeted consumer with a generous amount of spending power - should utilize this study's information to better understand how to earn this customer's business online," said Golfweek and Golfweek.com publisher Jim Nugent.

Among the more interesting findings are:
* 61% of avid golfers access golf product information online (up from 53% in 1999)
* 47% have bought golf balls over the Internet (up from
* 24% in 1999)
* 41% plan to purchase more online over the next 12 months
* 40% regularly visit golfsmith.com
* 33% regularly visit callawaygolf.com

"We believe that the entire golf community - manufacturers, associations, Web sites and the media - will need this information to further develop their golf information or golf e-commerce Web sites," said Golfweek.com business manager Rich Baker.

To purchase Golfweek's Golfers and the Internet Volume II, call toll-free 1-877-805-4653. The study is $495.

Founded in 1975, Golfweek is the journal of record for competitive golf. It delivers the most complete news and information about the game, the people and the industry, to golf's most important audience. The Golfweek Group, owned by Turnstile Publishing Co., includes Golfweek, Golfweek's Superintendent News, Golfweek.com and Turnstile's Golf & Travel. Headquarters for The Golfweek Group is in Orlando, Fla.

Here are quick facts from Golfweek's 2000 Golfers and the Internet Study:

General Usage
Total hours online per week: 11.3 hours
* 52% of avid golfers spend more time online this year (2000) as compared with last year (1999)
* 48% of respondents say they watch less television so they can use the Internet (down from 58% in 1999)

Internet and Golf
* 54% access golf news on the Internet
* 61% access golf product information online (up from 53% in 1999)
* 41% access golf tournament scores
* 11% access tee times (up from 6% in 1999)
* 38% of respondents have bought a driver over the Internet (up from 20% in 1999)
* 95% rate their overall experience of purchasing online either excellent or good
* 72% say free shipping would increase their Internet purchases
* 28% say they would never purchase golf shoes online

Of the most visited golf manufacturer sites:
* 33% of avid golfers regularly visit callawaygolf.com
* 30% regularly visit titleistgolf.com
* 25% regularly visit taylormadegolf.com
* 31% regularly visit none

Demographics
* Male : 90%
* Female: 10%
* Mean Age: 47
* Mean Household Income: $88,000
* Mean Handicap: 16
* Mean rounds of golf played in past 12 months: 58.9

METHODOLOGY

Golfweek's 2000 Golfers and the Internet study was conducted in two waves by Golf Datatech, L.L.C. in May and June 2000.

In the first wave, 5,000 known avid golfers were contacted via direct email and asked to participate in an Internet survey. Over 1,800 replies were received. After duplicates and incomplete surveys were eliminated, 1,787 qualified and complete replies were available for analysis.

In the second wave, 4,000 known avid golfers were contacted via direct mail and asked to fill out the survey and return it via a return postage paid envelope. 528 completed replies were received. In total, 2,315 replies were received. Each respondent was provided with an incentive of participating in a drawing for unspecified golf equipment to increase participation.