Home-Course Advantage: Jones Creek Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

If you're one of the fortunate few traveling to Augusta, Georgia for the Masters Tournament, you'll want to play Jones Creek Golf Club.

Although nothing matches Augusta National, Jones Creek is reminiscent. Judged by Golf Digest as one of the premier places to play, like Augusta National, it can play tough. If you've never played at Jones Creek, or if it's been a while since you visited, Suite Golf Travel has found a bit of home-course advantage for you.

Jones Creek underwent a Tom Fazio re-design in 2003. It now has bermuda greens and has become a target-style course. Accuracy is now a premium. If you're planning to play Jones Creek GC, bring your A-game (Accuracy).

Stay Away from Funky: A Proper Travel Diet Can Save Your Vacation

Oh, yeah! You can't wait to step off the plane and experience everything your vacation destination has to offer: sun, sand, golf, tennis, hiking, mountains, snow, history, and, most importantly, food.

After reading an article at TennisMD.com about tennis competitor diets for in preparation for tournament travel, I realized that stomach ailments caused by an improper vacation diet ruins a lot of family trips.

Gorging yourself on the local fare, plus snack foods, soda, and alcohol throughout the day, can end your vacation excitement after Day 1. Even if the food you eat isn't tainted in some way (funky), straying from good dietary habits in favor of vacation "eating exuberance" can confine you to the hotel room.

In the TennisMD.com article, Page Love, a leading US sports nutritionist and a consultant for the US Tennis Association, has some suggestions to help prepare your body for vacation and help you feel great on the golf course, tennis court, on the beach, sightseeing or whatever it is you have planned. Her suggestions are tailored for competitive tennis players, but many of them work for vacationers, as well.

For example, according to Ms. Love, prior to your flights, drink more fluids than usual and avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. Make sure to continue consuming fluids throughout your vacation.

Also, limit high intakes of fat and meat, as these have a dehydrating effect. Awareness of your fat consumption in conjunction with adequate fluid intake can ensure you remain well-hydrated. Just because you aren't in a hot climate doesn't mean dehydration can't creep in, especially if you don't have a proper diet.

It's also a good idea to pack some healthy foods to bring with you. Foods like bananas, sandwiches, apples, string cheese, pretzels, raisins, nuts and oranges can help keep your diet, and digestive system, in working order.

Last, but not least, plan ahead for eating out. Try to scout your potential eateries and find out whether others rate them highly. The better your fellow travelers feel about restaurants, the better chances you have of getting a great, healthy meal.

Eat at least three meals per day, consuming plenty of fluids and follow basic dietary guidelines, will help keep you healthy and happy throughout your much needed vacation.

You can go Anthony Zimmern "Bizarre" with your food, even go Man vs. Wild, just do it in moderation, and cook thoroughly.

Rodeo and Golf, A Match Made in Heaven

Yes, made in heaven; and at an altitude of 7,500 ft, the Estes Park, Colorado Rooftop Rodeo and Charity Golf Tournament can't get much closer.

Beginning July 7 and continuing through July 12, 2009, the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys) brings it's tour to Estes Park. Each day you'll be treated to riding, roping, wrestling and everything you love about the sport. Since 1908, the award-wining Rooftop Rodeo, so named due to it's altitude, has been a Rocky Mountains summer mainstay.

On Wednesday of the week's festivities, the 2nd Annual Golf Benefit will be held at the Estes Park Golf Course. The golf benefit is a scramble format for four-person teams (entry fee is $85 per person). Lots of prizes will be awarded, but proceeds from the tourney will go to cancer research and other non-profit organizations.

The above-photo, courtesy of the Estes Park Convention and Visitors Bureau, is fabulous, but the blessing you will receive by seeing the beauty in person will be immense. Enjoying two great sports, while supporting some worthy charities, will add to even more your golf and rodeo vacation.

It will be a great way to spend a week in the Rockies. For more information about the Rooftop Rodeo and golf benefit, visit the website here.

Suite Golf Travel's 100th Post

There are few places on earth that you can’t find a golf course, which makes it easy to find vacation spots for golfers. Interested in Mongolia? There’s a golf course there for you! (I always like saying "Ulaanbaatar")

This is Suite Golf Travel’s 100th post. Just an arbitrary milestone, I know, but it’s worth noting. I wonder how many blogs never make it to 100?

On this 100th post, I’d like to take the opportunity to state what this blog will do for you. It will:

• Help you find great golf courses.
• Give you insider information about great golf courses.
• Help you find great golf vacation values.
• Give you recommendations on quality lodging, attractions, dining and activities near golf destinations.
• Give you practical and useful travel tips.
• Regular golf travel reports, just for our readers (free of course).
• Only display sponsors with which we have first-hand experience, so that when you click ads, you’ll feel secure you aren’t being scammed.
  

For now, look around, look through the top-five posts, or look at random. You’ll find something you like. Sign up for the email list and get new travel info before it’s posted here.

Whether it's the best places to stay and play in Ulaaaanbaataaaaaar, or Utaaaaah, we want to play a part in you to having the best, at the best price, and the best experience.

Thanks for coming.

Follow me on Twitter: @alanlhammond

Las Vegas Golf Super Bowl Giveaway

If you'll be in Las Vegas January 30th - February 1st, you could have a chance at a great piece of Super Bowl memorabilia, worth an estimated $3,500.

By playing two rounds of golf, choosing any combination of rounds at Bali Hai Golf Club, Royal Links Golf Club, or Desert Pines Golf Club, you will be entered into a drawing for one of two authentic team-signed helmets. Two winners will be chosen, both receiving one of the team-signed helmets.

A good reason for a Las Vegas getaway weekend. If you're already traveling to Las Vegas that weekend, not booking and playing those courses could cause you to miss out on a one-of-a-kind helmet and $3,500!

The drawing is being provided by Walters Golf.

If you win, don't forget where you heard about it.

Golf Travel Tip: Consider Rental Clubs

About a year ago, I published a post about leaving your golf clubs at home. It bears repeating.

Golfers are certainly picky when it comes to their clubs. Using another set of clubs is like wearing someone else's underwear, wrong on so many levels. But, nowadays you can rent top-quality clubs from major retailers, golf shops and golf courses. You can probably even find your own clubs, or something very close.

Fees vary, but they're quite reasonable. Depending on your location, you may be able to find rental clubs for a few dollars per day to around $50 per week.

I think it's worth the few extra dollars in exchange for the reduced hassle of keeping up with your clubs, or the damage that you risk to them, on a trip of any length.

Tips for Choosing Vacation Childcare

There's nothing wrong with using childcare services while on vacation. Many resorts and hotels have certified, top-quality people on staff that will take fantastic care of the little people.

If you're wondering what to look for as you make your decision to use their services, here are some tips, courtesy of BabyCenter.com, that will help you make a decision and establish peace of mind:

• Do the caregivers know CPR and other emergency procedures?
• What are the program hours?
• Is there any flexibility to come and go? (Your child may want to leave the group to spend some time with you, for example, then return later.)
• What are the prices?
• Are there discounts for siblings?
• Which meals (if any) are provided?
• Are both indoor and outdoor activities offered? What are they?
• How many children are expected to be there at the time of your visit? Will the program operate if only a few children show up?
• What's the ratio of caregivers to children? (The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends an adult-to-child ratio of one to four for infants; one to five for 12- to 18-month-olds; and one to six for 24- to 36-month-olds.) Are extra staffers added if more children unexpectedly join the group?
• Are children grouped by age? If so, what are the age ranges? What are the minimum and maximum ages?

In addition to those suggestions, you may want to ask for the qualifications and any certification of caregivers. You could also, in advance of your trip, try and locate childcare reviews for your particular destination. A good place to look for reviews, and local caregivers, is CareSquare.com.

At Suite Golf Travel, we believe vacations are essential to healthy family development. If you have recommendations for resort or hotel childcare, please leave comments below for others to see. We need all the help possible to protect and nurture our little ones, and not so little ones.

Happy traveling.