There’s probably never been a better time to get great golf at a great price, with many bargains to be found in the southern U.S.

With more than 400 golf courses, a diverse landscape and 300 miles of coastline, North Carolina is one of the five most popular destination states for golf travelers. Golf Digest has also ranked 70 of North Carolina¹s golf courses as four star or higher. Now, North Carolina’s fabulous courses in the Pinehurst area are even more affordable than ever with Canadian specials starting from $69 per person, per day for golf and accommodation, based on quad occupancy.

For $499 US, you can get four nights lodging in a two-bedroom villa at Talamore Golf Resort, along with breakfast each morning, and five rounds of golf. The offer is valid until Nov. 8. Call 1-800-552-6292 and mention promo code CVB Canada when booking. For more great Canadian deals, check out: www.homeofgolf.com/specials/canadian.htm or www.talamoregolfresort.com.

“We own properties and we have an affiliation with 30 golf courses,” says North Carolina Golf Vacation president Joe Mobilio, whose offices are in Mississauga, Ont., and whose oceanside or fairway condos are just 45 minutes outside of Myrtle Beach.

“For about $100 a day, can get you top quality golf, cart and accommodation. It costs less than staying home. Our motto is ‘take a vacation from the high price of golf accommodation and try us.’”

“There are golf courses everywhere. If you swerve off the road, you’re likely to swerve into a sand trap. You can take your two-stroke penalty and move on.”

Check out www.ncgolfvacation.com for more info, or call the toll-free number at 1-866-762-4653.

Myrtle Beach remains a hotspot.

“There’s no better time to go,” says Heath Carter, director of New Market Development for Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “We’re offering the best rates in several years and people will love golfing here. We have 10 of the top 100 Golf Digest-rated public courses. Nowhere else will you find that.”

Check out www.golfholiday.com

Several courses list their specials and there’s a section called “Quick Quotes” where you can specify what you’re looking for and courses will start a dialogue, answer your questions and send you package info.

“Canadians have been coming here for years and years,” says Carter. “There are direct flights (out of Niagara Falls and Plattsburgh, both in New York State). You can get down here in an hour and 45 minutes, instead of driving for 13 to 15 hours. In less than two hours, you can be teeing it up. We’re really trying to push the Canadian market.”

The Golf Wizard, Golf and Blues Tournament takes place in Tunica, Mississippi from April 25-May 1.  This is one event you may want to mark on your calendar. You get six nights accommodation at the Harrah’s Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss., daily breakfast buffet at Paula Deen’s Kitchen, four rounds of championship golf, a motor coach trip to Graceland and Beale St. in Memphis, a motor coach trip to Clarksdale, Miss. with a tour of the Delta Blues Museum and dinner and entrance into Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club. And there’s plenty more on the slate for the $599 (per person, double occupancy) entry fee.

“It’s not like it’s a huge golf destination, but there are so many other things to do there,” says MB Golf Wizard manager Bill Pesavento. “You can take in the blues, see Graceland … make it a whole experience.”

The hope is to get 128 golfers signed up to play.  They are hovering around 60 now.

MB Golf Wizard has taken a liking to Canadians and vice-versa. Eighty per cent of the tournament players are from Canada.

“There’s a stronger loyalty factor in Canada,” says Pesavento.  Canadians appreciate the service. When they find somebody treats you well, they stick with them.”

The already-established Myrtle Beach Golf Wizard Open ($589 per person, double occupancy) had 80 players in its first year and 190 last year. Hopes are to push that number for the Nov. 15-21 tournament in the Myrtle mecca, to 256 this year. Included in the package are six nights accommodation, with breakfast, at the Ocean Front Hotel, five rounds of golf and several other goodies. “We do it more as a marketing thing than a money maker,” says Pesavento.

“Myrtle Beach has something unique, something for every budget. You can go on the shoestring budget or you can rub elbows with the rich and famous. We deal with something like 50 different properties.”

Check out www.mbgolfwizard.com for more details.

Finding a perfect golf destination for a perfect price can be both time consuming and frustrating.
What’s the weather going to be like? Can you get tee times? Which golf courses offer what you’re looking for? Questions, questions and questions. And sometimes the answers aren’t what you’re looking for.
That’s where golf destination specialists like Gendron Travel come in. Really, the only worry you’ll have is trying to keeping the ball in the fairway. And as much as Gendron can do, you’re on your own with that one. “Having the expertise on our staff is huge for us,” says Gendron’s Golf Product Manager Adrienne Beattie. “We know how long it takes to get to the golf course from the hotel. Tee times are all pre-arranged. And our customers know when they’re teeing off before they leave.” Gendron offers a wide spectrum of golf vacations - Europe, the Caribbean, all over the United States … pick a place and Gendron will be happy to get you there. If you know where you want to go, Gendron will help make it a terrific experience, or if you’re looking for a suggestion, they’ve got some great ideas to pass along.
“November is a very reasonable time of the year to travel to the U.S.,” says Beattle. “The temperatures are still very good. Everybody wants to extend their golf season. They want to keep going.”

Orlando is one popular destination and Gendron has added private-home
rentals. “They’re in golf communities. It’s like one-stop shopping,” says Beattie. The private homes are attractive to families and especially to groups of golfers, who maybe don’t want to crowd four into a hotel room.
Tucson, Arizona is another hotspot, a more inexpensive alternative to the Scottsdale golf mecca. The Dominican Republic, while not cheap, has also become popular. “We want people to realize there are other places in the world to golf,” says Beattie. “If you’re not really sure, we can suggest options. A lot of people like to try different things. But if they know where they want to go, we’ll set it up. We’ll give our customers what they want.”

If you’re looking to book a trip or get more info on Gendron’s packages, check out gendrongolf.com.

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