I can’t even say his name let alone acknowledge his victory at the British Open but Oostuizen’s  performance and final total score of -16 speaks for itself. The next player, Lee Westwood, finished seven shots back  at -9 which is an indication of how well  Oosthuizen really played for this prestigious tournament at the world’s oldest and most revered golf venue, St. Andrews. I have to admit this years Open was a bit boring for golf fans in the United States as the top American player, Sean O’Hair finished at -6, ten strokes back and tied for seventh place. None of our players even sniffed at  a chance for the top three spots, which is unusual for the U.S. team.

Tiger Woods, who has not yet returned to true form, struggled with the putter and had to settle for a tie for 23rd with a -3 finish total on Sunday. John Daly, who was on the leader board on Thursday with a first  round sixty six, Stewart Cink, last years winner in the Open over Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite, all shot plus one and tied for 48th place, which is not so impressive for these U.S. players. I had high hopes for Phil Mickelson coming into this championship but he his play has been less than stellar since his Masters victory in April of this year.

The British Open has been the second major golf tournament in a row where the European and other top world players have stymied the United States from the leaderboard. In the U.S. Open in June, the top three places went to McDowell, the barely known Frenchman,  Havret and Ernie Els from South Africa. The outcome and lackluster performance by the American players in these last two major venues does not bode well for the U.S. in the coming Ryder Cup championship in September of 2010. Corey Pavin, the captain for the U.S. has his work cut out for him if the Amercian team is to be competitive enough to win this years Ryder Cup. I wish them the best of luck as they may surely need some this year. Our players had better get to the golf range and start hitting golf balls to prepare for the challenge they face ahead.

Congratulations to Louis Oosthuizen on a stellar performance in this years British Open. If he keeps playing in this form we may be hearing from him again soon. Happy Golfing to All!

The one upgrade that impressed me the most was the addition of a 19th hole situated at the rear of the club house just off the dining veranda. The hole is scheduled to be completed by the end of June. Anyone having lunch or enjoying a beer or other libation after the golf round can watch the golfers hit their golf balls onto the green or in the water as it is an Island Green for all intents and purposes. This is a fun innovation where all the bets made during the golf round will be doubled or lost, depending on who can handle the pressure better. Donald Trump has added another fine golf course to his portfolio and I look forward to playing there again soon. Happy Golfing to All!

The weather was beautiful, the sun shining each morning, temperatures in the seventies, a little windy but perfect conditions for golf.  On Saturday, which was our last day, we played Indian Wells, a nicely laid out course and convenient as it was located off Rt. 17 in close proximity to Myrtle Beach National Airport. It was a great trip and my friends and I are already planning next years golf getaway. Maybe Pinehurst or Hilton Head? Wherever we choose I have no doubt that it will be great golf and a good time for all. Happy Golfing to All!

I am looking forward to getting away for a few days as this winter has been tough on the golfers this off season with all the torrential rain, heavy snow and consistently inclement weather in general for the past three or four months. If you have not yet visited Myrtle Beach it is a golfers paradise and I would highly recommend a vacation there. It is not known as “The Golf Capital of the World” for nothing. I have been visiting the Grand Strand for the pasty twenty years or so and I hope to retire in this area one day. There are so many excellent golf courses, all located  in a radius of about 30 miles and one better than the other. I will fill you in on the trip upon my return. Happy Golfing to All!

This past weekend was great for golf and outdoor activities. Golf Fever will quickly catch on as spring is in the air. The plants are budding and the grass is turning green which is a hopeful sign that spring has arrived on time for once. It was a good feeling to see the sun shining again after the harsh winter months and the near hurricane conditions we experienced just last weekend. Cathi and I enjoyed golf at Morgan Hill Country Club in Easton, PA on Saturday. This golf course is tough for the first time out but the warm sunny weather and beautiful mountain backdrop made it well worth the trip and the effort. The only downside to this golf course is that walking is near impossible as the elevation changes are dramatic and tough to traverse even while riding in a golf cart.

Many of the tee boxes are elevated and afford spectacular panaromic views of Easton, the Delaware River and the other areas of the golf course. It felt good to hit golf balls again and shake some of the winter rust off. After golf we enjoyed lunch at the 19th hole in the clubhouse which offers excellent dining and ambiance. We sat outside at a table overlooking the 18th hole and watched the other golfers finish their golf round as we dined and enjoyed some refreshing libations. We are looking forward to playing golf again very soon especially since I need to prepare for my Myrtle Beach trip at the beginning of April during Masters week. I played well this past weekend but I still need to fine tune my game and get the rust off before the trip. My comrades are as competitive as I am so I need to bring my A- Game or I will be paying the tab at the 19th hole which I certainly do not enjoy. Happy Golfing to All!

The forecast for this coming weekend on Saturday is 66 degrees and sunny so it’s not hard to figure out what most golf fans will be doing, playing Golf!  I really can’t wait until the weekend arrives. I’ve only played one time since mid – November and I’m looking forward to the spring and  summer temperatures again. With any luck April will not be too rainy as my friends and I are heading to Myrtle Beach at the begiining of the month. I will have to shake the rust off, take out the golf training aids and prepare to play golf. Happy Golfing to All!

Being that as it may, my significant other and I are planning an early December trip. No frills, just a long weekend down south and hopefully the weather will cooperate. We have planned prior trips to Myrtle Beach as early as mid to late November and hit some pretty severe temperatures for the middle south, 40’s in the morning and mid fifties in the afternoon and windy to boot. Not exactly what one would expect when the temperature up north at home was about the same. But that is not the norm for Myrtle Beach where the weather generally, even into early December, ranges from the high 50’s to the mid 70’s or above at that time of year if you hit it right. In a few weeks we’ll be packing our clubs and golf gear and crossing our fingers that the weather will be in our favor for both travel safety reasons including little or no delays and to have a more enjoyable time while playing golf upon our arrival. I have in the past and will still play golf in severe weather and low temperatures but my significant other cringes at the thought of 40 degrees or less. I sort of understand now that I’m a bit older and the weather affects me more than in my younger days. The temperature usually isn’t the main problem, it’s the wind that accompanies the cold at that time of the year which magnifies the conditions ten fold. Needless to say, we will be packing a variety of clothing to address any conditions we may encounter on our arrival on the Grand Strand, as the strip of beach running north to south and centered on Myrtle Beach is so fondly called. Cold, Schmold – no matter what we may find upon our arrival we will enjoy the experience just the same as we both love the game and playing golf in our eventual retirement location of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

We have booked two of the nicer and more reasonably priced golf venues, Heritage, located on the South Strand and Blackmoor, a Gary Player design and one of our favorite layouts to play when we visit Myrtle Beach. We will be staying at Legends Resort, which is centrally located off Route 501, in a two bedroom unit that includes an efficiency kitchen with a coffee maker so we can enjoy our early morning caffeine fix. The airline is Spirit, who offered some very reasonable rates, but not as reasonable as they first appeared after all the additional fees are tallied. The price quoted starts out at around $100 for both of us round trip, which is a terrific price so we said, “Great, let’s book it” but once the additional fees get added the price more than doubles which is the kicker but still reasonble even though not as advertised. After golf we have our favorite places to visit and restaurants to dine at. Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing are two of our favorite spots for shopping and gifts and Greg Norman’s Australian Grill restaurant located at Barefoot landing is a must stop for us to dine at since we tried it about four or five years ago. The food is usually high quality and very well prepared and although the price is a bit on the high side, the ambiance and setting in both the inside and outside restaurant dining area is worth the additional cost. In the spring and summer months we try to schedule our meal just before sunset so we can relax in the outside dining area adjacent the intercoastal waterway, watch the boaters, jet skiers and fisherman all enjoying their day while we await the setting of the sun after an enjoyable day of golf. After a leisurely meal we head back to the room, put on some relaxing music or watch TV as we plan our next days itinerary. On this coming visit at the beginning of December, Myrtle Beach will be decorated for the holiday season which will make it that much more enjoyable an experience. Cathi and I both enjoy this time of year and we will be sure to take in a few holiday shows during our getaway weekend. I wish you all could join us and if you are planning a trip and need any ideas or information about where to stay and play while at the Beach feel free to e-mail me at mikedeagle@optonline.net and I will reply with my best suggestions for you and your family to have a great time. Happy Golfing to All!

For more golf info and travel tips visit http://www.guideforbeginninggolfers.com and check out my new book for beginning golfers, titled Golf “Fore Ever” as noted on my site.

The courses we played were TPC of Scottsdale, Las Sendas, Gold Canyon – Dinosaur, Whirlwind - Devil’s Claw and and We-Ko-Pa – Cholla, my personal favorite. The rates at that time of the year were a little pricey but well worth the cost in retrospect. The last three golf resorts had 36 holes each and we were able to replay another 18 holes on their alternate course, which was most enjoyable and convenient. I have played desert golf previously in Las Vegas in 2002, as I vacationed there with my significant other that year to celebrate my 50th birthday, but this was different. The red rock mountains and varied rock and cactus formations and shapes, respectively, were incredible. The green fairway grass against the colorful mountain backdrops, were breathtaking and I enjoyed every minute of the trip. We stayed at the Xona Resort Suites, which was centrally located and had excellent accommodations for a reasonable price. The elevation changes on Gold Canyon’s Dinosaur course were most incredible and the views from some of the higher altitudes were magnificent. After golf each day the restaurant and night life scene was hopping. We enjoyed Maggio’s family style restaurant, which offered so many pasta, fish and meat specialties that it was hard to choose and at all you can eat prices. We also enjoyed Capital Grill, another one of my favorites there. The only downside to this trip was the time of the flight from Newark, N.J. which was over five hours and I was seated against the fuselage with no window. I always request a window seat when I travel because I enjoy taking pictures of the aerial views of the mountains, lakes, canyons, rivers, the beautiful sunrise, sunsets and sometimes even the cloud formations so this seating arrangement was claustrophobic to say the least.

We normally go with a group of eight golfers, but this trip one of my good friends, Ferd, decided to invite a few acquaintances from San Francisco, Chris, Frank, and Dave. We also asked another associate from Philadelphia area, Richard, to join us and round out the third foursome. There was some interesting golf banter and comraderie between the new invitees and the former two groups of foursomes. Everyone got along great and the golf, good food and good times were par for the course. As terrific a time that was had by all, I will still opt for Myrtle Beach as my first choice of golf venues, but Scottsdale, Arizona is definitely a close second. If you are planning a golf trip or vacation, you cannot go wrong with either destination. The amount of choices for excellent golf and accommodations at either venue is unlimited and include many options for after hours’ entertainment. For more information you can check on line at either myrtlebeachgolf.com or scottsdalegolf.com to find some information to help you start planning your golf trip. Have lots of fun, enjoy your trip, and Happy Golfing to All!

We revisited Las Vegas about four months later and we got some great deals on golf and hotel rooms. I guess they figured they should lower the rates for anyone crazy enough to play golf in 114 degree temperatures. It was tough I must say, but we played and still had a good time, wet face cloths and all. It was another wonderful vacation under our belt and they just keep getting better. If you’re considering Las Vegas for your next trip, I can guarantee you won’t be bored. It truly is the “City That Never Sleeps”. You can get some terrific packages, both for golf or just to stay and play at the resorts. Las Vegas is truly the ultimate playground for the over 21 crowd. Happy Vacationing and Golfing To All !

Visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com and http://mddeagle.golfbegin.hop.clickbank.net/ for more valuable golf info, especially for the beginner to learn “The Right Way”

In September of 1990 we were headed for what turned out to be one of the best vacations ever. We booked our hotel right on Disney premises at, “The Disney Inn”, a quiet little section of the resort adjacent the two main golf courses, The Magnolia and The Palm. A few years later, the Inn was turned over to the U.S. Government and from my perception, it  is now utilized for the armed services entertainment and supplementary needs. We were disappointed when we couldn’t make our future reservations there because it was an out of the way place where we could enjoy peace and quiet. We now frequent the other resorts, especially Port Orleans, which is centrally located and reasonably priced. Although not quite as sequestered as The Disney Inn, it provides an amount of privacy, beauty and and just the right touch of ambiance in the surroundings to be enjoyable as well. In the process of booking our golf reservations, we were advised that there were two other newer courses at The “Bonnet Creek” Resort, not too far from where we were staying. They were named Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge, and were designed by two of the premier architects of the time, Tom Fazio and Pet Dye respectively. Having kept up with my Golf Digest subscriptions, I was well versed in the reputation of these two golf architects, and it dawned on me that I had just recently read about the openings and rave reviews received when they had first opened a short while ago. Since we were able to visit Disney World  for six days, it allowed us enough time to play a different course every day and one course twice if we chose to. Luckily, we were able to reserve tee times at the two new courses at Bonnet Creek. So, our room, airfares, rental car and tee times were booked as we waited impatiently for the next few months to go by so we could venture off to another unforgettable golf vacation.

Unforgettable is just what it turned out to be. Our days there commenced with awakening in a magnificent suite at the Disney Inn Resort, which included a view of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs carved into the hedges outside our room, enjoying the sunrise each morning with an overview of a water feature in the courtyard area outside, which was landscaped with beautiful and exotic plantlife and fauna, then off to a cheery musical  breakfast fare at The Contemporary Resort where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy entertained and joined us for some fun, and last but certainly not least, the anticipation of playing golf on any one of five magnificent golf venues, each one better than the next. How could you beat it ? We enjoyed every one of the golf courses, especially the two new Bonnet Creek courses, Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge. After golf, we enjoyed a quick lunch at the Clubhouse Dining Room, which overlooked the golf course. But then, the fun had just begun; it was off to one of the Magical Parks that are part of the Disney World Resort.

We visited every park, Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom amd Epcot and like the golf courses, I enjoyed each one more than the next. I was 38 years old when I first visited Disneyworld but age did not matter. Whether some of us want to admit it or not, we are all children at heart, and that is a good thing. It allows us to enjoy the rides, exhibits, entertainment, characters, parades, fireworks and the rest without the inhibition of feeling foolish. The high points of my Park experiences were “The Carousel Of Progress” in Magic Kingdom, where I reminisced of my pre-teen years and when I first viewed it at the “World’s Fair” in Flushing Meadows, Queens in 1963 -64, “Fantasmic” and the Sci- Fi restaurant at MGM, The Laser Light Show and Pavillions Of The World at Epcot, and The Tree Of Life, It’s A Bugs Life 3-D show, and “Tarzan” at Animal Kingdom, which was awesome and a must see if you visit Animal Kingdom during your stay at Disney World. There are so many other wonderful things to see and do at the parks too numerous to mention. If you are planning a family vacation, or just a getaway for yourself or for you and your significant other, make Disney World a choice for your next trip. If golf is on your itinerary, I can attest from my own experience, “You won’t be disappointed”. Note: If you stay on premises, and book your tee times after a certain time, around 10:00 am, you may be able to receive discounted rates on green fees. There are also twi-light rates in the afternoon that are priced at a reduced rate.

While on vacation at Disney World, my daily agenda included  playing some golf, then visiting the parks in the afternoon after golf (between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm),and stay well into the evening and enjoying the nightly parades, light shows and fireworks displays. Since this was my first trip there, I did not want to miss out on any of the Magic that Disney World has to offer. I have tried to make Disney World an annual or bi-annual stop since my first visit and I never tire of the excitement and Magical experiences that the resort has to offer. Bravo to Mr. Disney – He had a wonderful dream that we all can share and benefit from thanks to his fortitude and ability to make that dream come true ! Happy Golfing and Vacationing To All !

Visit http://guideforbeginninggolfers.com or http://mddeagle1golfbegin.hop.clickbank.net/ for more valuable golf information.