SHORT HILLS, N.J., May 8, 2006 â?¦ Beyond the sheer hassle of it all, air travel with golf clubs has increasingly become one big headache due to heightened security and weight restrictions on checked baggage. Problem solved, according to the editors at Golf Odyssey. Golf bag shipping companies have a growing business in door-to-door pickup and delivery to both U.S. and select international destinations.
"In light of stepped-up airport security, extra fees for overweight bags and our general not-so-paranoid worry that our clubs are destined for a separate vacation on a luggage carousel in parts unknown—not to mention the inherent efforts of lugging a 40-pound bag to and from the car, the luggage counter, through customs, to a business meeting, etc.—we’ve become fans of golf club shipping services," note the editors of Golf Odyssey. "The questions to answer in advance include cost for standard and expedited shipping; insurance; availability of online tracking; rental club reimbursement for late arrival; and the terms and conditions of pick-up and return."
Among the club shipping companies the editors have dealt with include Skycap International (skycapinternational.com); Sports Express (sportsexpress.com); and Virtual Bellhop (virtualbellhop.com).
This phenomenon is but one emerging trend documented by the editors of the monthly, four-color newsletter that for nearly 15 years has been guiding golfers to many of the globe’s must-experience golf destinations. Other trends noted include everything from the increase in family golf travel to new courses on Native American reservations.
Since its 1992 debut, Golf Odyssey has reviewed more than 900 courses and 500 resorts spanning 30 countries — from traditional destinations to soon-to-be-discovered gems. While its primary area of coverage consists of North America, the British Isles, Mexico and the Caribbean, its editors have traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia to unearth treasures.
Of significance, and where it parts from many of its competitors, Golf Odyssey neither accepts advertising from golf courses, resorts or restaurants, nor courtesy discounts or gifts. Hence, the editorial insights, combined with the publication’s proprietary rating system, gives readers the opportunity to make informed decisions on where to go, when to travel, what courses to play and where to stay and dine.
More information is available by calling Golf Odyssey toll-free at (800) 550-2286 or by logging onto www.golfodyssey.com
GOLF ODYSSEY
Trends & Observations — May 2006
Traveling sans sticks
Traveling by air with golf clubs has always been a hassle and tighter security and airline weight limits have exacerbated the problem. Club shipping companies have a growing business in door-to-door delivery. In addition, club rental companies are also emerging, and many golf courses themselves are offering top-of-the-line club rentals.
Trail-blazing
The pioneering RTJ Golf Trail in Alabama has spawned innumerable copycat golf trails in Canada as well as Idaho, North Dakota, New Mexico and Tennessee, to single out a few.
Targeted aerification
Courses are finally responding to the ire and frustration of golfers who arrive at recently aerified greens and find them unplayable. More and more courses are punching greens with small tynes rather than big holes. In addition, more courses are staggering aerification so that only a portion of the course (or a portion of each particular green) is aerified. The Four Seasons Costa Rica aerifies a portion of large greens, so that the rest of the green plays normally and the course never needs to be shut down.
Babysitting optional
To capitalize on the increase in family golf travel, there is more emphasis on juniors. In fact, a number of resorts including Nemacolin Woodlands, Kiawah, Pinehurst and Sea Pines (Hilton Head Island) will have special junior tees set up on certain of their courses this summer.
Reservations recommended
Some of the best new courses have been built on Native American reservations and feature top designers such as Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Talking Stick), scenic housing-free vistas (We-Ko-Pa), relatively reasonable green fees (Lake of Isles) and excellent amenities (Turning Stone). In addition, a casino is usually nearby.
Exclusive territory
Inspired by the fractional jet model, a number of destination clubs have emerged and most offer a number of excellent golf venues. The largest such club, Exclusive Resorts, features homes in locations including Kiawah Island, Los Cabos, Scottsdale and Hawaii, among others.
Burst in seaside links
Thanks to advances like paspalum grass as well as salt-water desalination technology, golf is now thriving in tropical destinations such as the Caribbean that formerly had inferior grasses and poor, dreadfully slow greens.
Love is in the air
Romance on the links has never been better given the growth in intimate lodging options near first-class golf courses, often with spas and other amenities. Examples include Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, the Sanctuary at Kiawah, The Lodge at Sea Island and the Inn at Harbour Town.
Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations
908/876-5100
kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com
