I like to get away at least a couple of times a year.  You know, take a trip that let’s you relax and have a good time so that once you come back reality does not seem nearly as bad.  You can at least make it until the next time you have the chance to take off some work and vacation.

You already knew that I am an avid golfer and golf lover, and now it is pretty apparent to you that I love vacationing too.  So what do you figure that I occasionally like to play golf while on vacationing?  If you think that those are some pretty even odds for you to bet on then you would be absolutely right.

One of the best vacations I ever took was actually one that was centered around golf completely.  It was a golf getaway to an area in North Carolina that is known as the Sandhills.  In this area is where you can find the amazing golf-centered community of Pinehurst.

Pinehurst, North Carolina is world-renowned for its golf.  Golfing legends like Donald Ross lived called Pinehurst home for many years.  The Pinehurst Resort and other courses in the area are full of incredible history and kept in the best of conditions year round.

On my trip I was able to play many different courses in the area, all with their own challenges and charms.  I never knew that there would be such a wonderful vacation as the golf getaway that I was able to experience.  If you love the game and love to vacation, as I am sure you do, then set up your trip today.

Not only is Tiger Woods the former number one world golfer, but he is also the only person who has won this event three different times.  Unfortunately, his fall to Nick Watney eliminated his chance to try for a fourth win.  What did him in was the 5 foot birdie putt that he missed which would have sent the match into extra holes.

While Tiger Woods was readying for the putt, Nick Watney revealed that he was already thinking forward to playing extra holes.  He expected Woods to make the putt.  In fact, everyone expected the putt to be made really.  Alas, Woods missed the putt and Watney advances into the third round.

Check out Watney’s interview after round two of yesterday’s play. I watched this while working my desk job at www.aspenstoragecenters.com and thought it was pretty interesting.

Each year in either Scotland or England The British Open is held.  The Open has the lowest prize purse of all four of the majors, but is still rather up there on the scale of winnable money.  You could leave behind your home security in Virginia and take an Atlantic crossing to attend this renowned event if you are so inclined.  Here are the facts on this very European world famous golf tournament, along with some of its most illustrious players and champions and a little history as well.  Enjoy:

This tournament is the one that will be kicking off the 2012 PGA Tour season on Friday, January 6th.  Like the Deutsche Bank Championship, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions is scheduled for a Monday finish.  

Those competing in Hawaii this week are a varying group of champions.  Out of the 39 who qualified, 28 will be in the field.  Almost half of the golfers will be first timers to this tournament.  Only one of the golfers who is scheduled to be competing will be a defending champion.  In 2011, Jonathan Byrd took the win during a playoff against Robert Garrigus.

So who is going to take the win at this tournament?  Here is a look at some of the players with the best chances of taking the big win at the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

• Gary Woodland – Last year was a good year for this precise and powerful golfer.  In his last ten starts he ended up posting in the top twenties seven times.
• Webb Simpson – 2011 was Simpson’s third year on the PGA Tour and it was an impressive year for him.  He dominated his peers in all-around ranking, and if he keeps it up, his first time at Kapalua might lead to a big win there.
• Nick Watney – During last year’s season Watney was a leader in the FedEx Cup points and a two-time winner.  While he might have had some rough patches in big events, you cannot count him out.
• Keegan Bradley – Bradley was the 2011 Rookie of the Year.  He definitely stayed busy and added a list of things to his resume throughout the remainder of the year.

Who do you think is going to crank out a win in the first Tour event of the year?

It’s evident that Tiger Wood has a positive impact on the game of golf financially speaking.  Even after Tiger announced that he would be playing in the Masters this year ticket prices soared.  Though he was unable to perform as the typical Tiger and claimed he hurt an injury, people had already played big bucks to see him.

So, Tiger Woods might not yet be a golf force to be reckoned with again, but his influence on the game is too monumental to deny.  Check out more ways that Tiger helps boost golf in financial ways.  Click the infographic to make it larger.

There’s nothing I like more than having a good time.  I don’t have to be hitting the links to enjoy some good times, of course it doesn’t hurt.  Professional golfers are human too, and they like to live it up just like we do.  In fact, they might even know how to have more fun than we do, if you can believe it or not.

To prove my point, I have found the perfect video.  Folks, let me introduce you to the Golf Boys.  Some of golf’s finest gentlemen got together to create a hilarious music video while posing as the boy band of golf.  In this video you will see the professional golfers Ben Crane, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, and Rickie Fowler dancing around and rap/singing in outrageous outfits.

So, if your Friday is like mine where it is raining and cold (not the ideal golfing conditions) and you need a laugh, have at it.

Donald Ross was born in Scotland in 1872.  It was in St. Andrews that Ross became an apprentice to Tom Morris.  Eventually in 1899 Ross used all the money that he had saved up to head to the United States.  The first job that Ross held in the states was in Watertown, Massachusetts at the Oakley Country Club.  Just a year after his arrival though Ross earned the spot of golf professional at the Pinehurst Resort.  That is where Ross began designing courses, while still playing the game.

It would happen that Ross would give up playing solely for designing courses, and that is why he is so remembered today.  Not for his playing, although he was good, but for his amazing design and architecture.  Other players and designers stand in awe of a Donald Ross creation and with good reason.  He had the amazing ability to create a hole that was inviting as you approach it, but in the back of the green trouble awaits.  Ross is credited with designing or re-designing over 400 golf courses in his career.

Some of the more notable courses designed by Donald Ross are:

Pinehurst No. 2 – This course and resort became the first large golf resort in America thanks to Donald Ross.  It was in the place where Ross lived and loved, Pinehurst, North Carolina.  Still to this day you can experience Pinehurst golf just like Ross did.

Oak Hill – In Rochester, New York Oak Hill Country Club features two 18-hole facilities designed by Donald Ross.  Like Pinehurst No. 2, Oak Hill hosts many PGA Tour Tournaments.

Seminole – The Seminole Golf Club in florida was designed by Ross in 1929.  It continues to rank as a top course in the United States.

• Harry Lee Bonner had 68 holes in one over his career from 1967 to 1985.
• Scott Palmer had the most holes in one in a year in 1983 with 28.
• In the year 1890 there were only 387 golf courses all over the world.
• Golf will once again be an Olympic sport in the year 2016 at the Rio de Janiero Olympic Games.

So, if you missed out in August on National Golf Month, then celebrate this month.  Might I recommend you call up your favorite course and set up a tee time as soon as humanly possible?  You can even take a sick day, I won’t tell anyone.  Happy golfing!

After the tournament kicked off it seemed like it was a battle of the locals.  Eleven golfers actually live right there in Las Vegas, so you could say that they had the home field advantage.  In the end it was between two Vegas residents Kevin Na and Nick Watney.  Even after whiffing his driver on the 15th tee Na still takes the win by two strokes.  That’s right, he completely missed the ball on the tee.  A swing and a miss.  I wish I could show you video footage but the PGA has had it all removed.

Anyway, Na beat Watney and there was lots of money raised for a great cause, the Shriners Hospitals.  All in all I think it was a pretty great weekend, but just in case you missed anything here is a recap.