Application for 2014 St. Andrews Old Course Tee Times!!!

The Application Date for your chance to play the Old Course at St. Andrews Golf Links is September 4th, 2013.

The link below is one of your best chances to play the one and only St. Andrews Old Course in Scotland. Every year The St. Andrews Links Organization offers the Application Process to Golfers around the world for a chance to play the Old Course.

There has been a slight change this year in that application time is from 2:00 PM UK time on September 4th, 2013 which is 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time.

Set yourself up for success - Years of experience shows that if you are not ready to file the application at 9:00 AM EST and leave it for much more than a couple of hours you may be unsuccessful. Around 2000 requests will more than likely be made within the first couple of days and this will probably be more applications than available tee times.

Please see the following link to the Old Course Application Form

Remember: If you are successful with the Old Course Application, we will build your Dream Scotland Golf Vacation package around the tee time you have secured.

Please contact Worldwide Golf Vacations at info@worldwidegv.com or call 781-944-1123 with any questions. Don't forget to let us know that you were successful and we will get started on your 2014 Scotland Golf Vacation now.

Good Luck!!!

Golf in The Azores: The Golf World's Best Kept Secret

The mild Azorean climate, beautiful scenery and quiet courses make the archipelago an ideal year round golfing destination.

There are currently three golf courses on the islands, 2 with 18 holes and 1 with 27 holes. On São Miguel, Batalha overlooks the sea and is the newest and most challenging course while Furnas (located in the mountains) is sprinkled with lakes and stands of Japanese Cryptomeria. The courses were designed by Mackenzie Ross and Cameron Powell Associates and offer many facilities including, trolley, club and caddie hire, together with clubhouse and training facilities. The Vila Nova course on the island of Terceira is a heavily wooded course close to the UNESCO World heritage site of Angra do Heroismo. The course dates back to 1954 and is well maintained, offering similar facilities to those on Sao Miguel.

We can tailor golfing vacations to suit your requirements with accommodation, transfers, reservations and green fees all included. We can even include an excellent sightseeing package for partners who don’t share the passion for golf.

Getting to The Azores is as easy as possible thanks to our friends at SATA Airlines who offer direct flights from the US East Coast. It's Europe only 4 hours away!

Additional Detail on Each Golf Course

FURNAS

The course is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Sao Miguel set above the Furnas Valley and close to the beautiful Furnas Lake with its famous boiling cauldrons.

The original 9 hole course was completed in 1939 by the designer MacKenzie Ross, who is probably best known for the Estoril Golf Course near Lisbon and for his work in restoring, from near ruin, the world famous Ailsa and Arran Courses at Turnberry in Scotland.

Extended in 1990 - under the supervision of the British Golf Course designers Cameron Powell Associates - the full 18 hole Course is now par 72 with a maximum length of 6232 yards.  We are sure that MacKenzie Ross would be delighted to see that the new 9 holes are so in harmony with the style of the original that it is becoming increasingly difficult to ‘spot the join’.

The course itself - set amid stands of majestic Japanese cedars and with fiendishly contoured greens - is quite gentle in nature but is without doubt a genuine test of skill and finesse.

Facilities - Clubhouse with bar and restaurant, pro shop and TV/video room.  2 putting greens, practice tee and chipping area.

BATALHA

This course is located on the north coast of São Miguel, just 10 minutes from the centre of the capital, Ponta Delgada.

Designed by Cameron Powell Associates, this 27 hole course was opened in 1993.  Its magnificent setting, nestling in surrounding hills with sweeping views to the ocean and its large flowing greens, wide and generous fairways and wonderfully contoured bunkers make it one of the most popular courses on the islands.  It is also deemed the most challenging.

It is difficult to select a best hole - they are all in some way exceptional - but there is a very special feeling when you are standing on the soaring 6th tee on B loop. 

The clubhouse covers over 3,000 square meters and offers a superb range of support services.  With its elevated views, across the course to the mountains and the ocean, there can be very few better places, anywhere, to enjoy a drink, snack or meal… either before or after your round of golf.

Facilities – Clubhouse, social bar, luxury restaurant and Banquet room.  Pro-shop and TV/video room. WiFi access. Driving range for up to 30 players, chipping and pitching area and 2 putting greens.

TERCEIRA

Located just 13km from the World Heritage city of Angra do Heroismo, this rural course is at 350m above sea level, with several wooded areas and 6 artificial lakes.  It is probably at its most beautiful in May and June when the azaleas and hydrangeas are in bloom.

The course was built in 1954 and is par 72 (18 holes), 5886 yards.  It was built by the North American military who are based at Lajes.

Facilities - Driving range, putting green, snack bar/restaurant and pro shop.

For more information about Azores Golfing Vacations, visit us at www.worldwidegv.com or call us at 800-946-5318 and speak with one of our Golf Vacation Specialists.

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Iconic Doral Resort Officially Renamed Trump National Doral® Miami by Trump Hotel Collection

MIAMI - August 5, 2013 - TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™ announced the official renaming of the historic Doral Resort as Trump National Doral® Miami, part of its comprehensive transformation. Purchased by the Trump Organization in June 2012, the iconic property, long recognized for its award-winning championship golf courses, is presently undergoing an elaborate restoration to recapture the resort’s early grandeur infused with the distinguished five-star level of service that is synonymous with the Trump brand. Once complete, the nearly 800 acre property will feature five enhanced and expanded golf courses highlighted by the redesign of the famed Blue Monster; 640 completely remodeled guestrooms; revamped main building, lobby, fitness center, ballrooms, pools and spa; new restaurants and bar concepts; landscaping renewal and technology upgrades to all rooms and meeting and event space.

“With all of the expansive enhancements now underway, it seemed appropriate to launch the property's new name and identity; officially signaling the beginning of the next chapter in the storied history of this iconic resort,” said Jim Petrus, chief operating officer of Trump Hotel Collection.

A key collaborator in the renovation is renowned golf course architect, Gil Hanse, which was retained to work directly with Donald J. Trump and the PGA TOUR leadership team to expand and redesign The Blue Monster golf course and bring it up to the highest standards and levels in the golf industry. Known as one of the most famous golf courses in the world, The Blue Monster has been the home to the PGA TOUR every March since its opening more than 50 years ago. The new redesigned course will be unveiled for the upcoming World Golf Championships -Cadillac Championship in March 2014.

Notable on its own merits, the celebrated resort spa will similarly undergo considerable renovation in 2014, introducing a newly reimagined 48,000 square-foot sanctuary with 33 treatment rooms that will boast over 100 signature spa treatments and services. Adjacent to the Spa reside 48 luxury suites that will also be restyled, providing a ‘hotel within the hotel’ concept allowing guests to indulge in added amenities and services not available with other guestrooms or suites.

Vibrant new restaurant and bar concepts will also be introduced to the property, including a reimagined Champions Bar & Grill, which will reflect the best of the highly touted restaurant offerings from among the Trump global golf portfolio. Other noteworthy changes will include the reveal of a new hotel lobby; a completely revamped pool complex to feature lush landscape and an expansive patio design along with 22 lavish cabanas; a fully redesigned state of the art fitness center: and the restoration and expansion of 100,000 square feet of event space, including the creation of a of beautifully detailed 7,200 square foot ballroom and 8,000 square terrace, located atop the main Clubhouse with a scenic overlook of the resorts signature golf courses.

The property remains open, with the majority of its vast recreation options remaining operational during the renovation.

For more information about the above mentioned resorts or our full product line, visit us at www.worldwidegv.com or call us at 800-946-5318 and speak with one of our Golf Vacation Specialists.

Don't forget to sign-up for weekly email specials and your chance to WIN A FREE GOLF VACATION!