10 Masters Tournament Don'ts

Here are 10 things you absolutely shouldn't do if you want to be an honorable fan, I mean patron:

1. Don't refer to your fellow spectators as fans. At the Masters they're always called "patrons".

2. If you're tired and want to lay down for a spell. Don't. It's bad manners and etiquette to sprawl out and take a nap on the lush green grass.

3. Don't take off your shoes and go barefootin'. It's a bad look and bad form at the Masters.

4. Don't wear your hat backwards like a rapper. In 2011, Rickie Fowler was asked to turn his hat around before a pre-tournament press conference.

5. Don't run. Once again, it's bad manners and etiquette to try and beat your fellow patrons in a foot race to the next hole.

6. No cell phones. Leave it in the car whether it's a practice round or tournament day. If you think you're the one person to sneak it in, think again, the metal detectors are just like the ones at the airport. Cameras, however, are allowed on practice round days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday).

7. Don't try and scalp tickets. Anyone caught selling or handing off tickets within a 2,700 foot barrier around the Augusta National could face misdemeanor charges.

8. Don't ask for autographs on the golf course, only in the parking lot.

9. Don't bring strollers, selfie sticks or periscopes.

10. Don't tip. Tipping is frowned upon at Augusta National.

The Greatest Show on Turf: Ryder Cup 2016

I've been to a World Series, Orange Bowl game, NCAA basketball tournament games, major NASCAR races and a host of other big time sports events.

My best sports spectator experience, however, was the 2014 Ryder Cup matches at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, compares to the patriotic fervor, passion and drama of the Ryder Cup matches. The raucous crowds and cheers that reverberate from one fairway to another give the event the feel of a golf tournament in a soccer stadium.

Watching the best players in the world play for their country just elevates the importance of every putt, every drive and every point won.

If you have the time, money and inclination, I strongly encourage you attend in person to adequately immerse yourself in Ryder Cup mania.

The Course

Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, is one of America's great championship layouts. Opened for play in 1962, this Robert Trent Jones design is a popular choice for some of golf's biggest events. Hazeltine hosted the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Opens, 2002 PGA Championship and 2009 PGA Championship.

Minneapolis/St. Paul

For playing golf, shopping, dining, nightlife and gaming, the Twin Cities has lots of options. There are more than 65 golf courses within a 20 mile radius of the metropolitan area; the Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S. with more than 400 stores; there's a great selection of restaurants such as Alma (New American), I Nonni (Italian) and Butcher & The Boar (American/Beer Garden) to name a few; the North Loop in the Warehouse District is brimming with nighttime activities and there are several casinos within easy driving distance.

Spieth v. McIlroy

Most likely, phenom Jordan Spieth will lead the U.S.A. team against a European team led by Rory McIlroy. The 2016 teams (based on current standings) look like they'll be young, dynamic and exciting. As of March 14, 2016, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler top the U.S.A. standings. On the European side, Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Andy Sullivan and Matthew Fitzpatrick lead the way.

The Captains

Two of golf's most respected elder statesmen, Davis Love III and Darren Clarke are the captains of the 2016 Ryder Cup teams. Low-key, but fiercely competitive Love has Ryder Cup captain experience at the 2012 matches at Medinah C.C. The popular and affable Clarke served as vice captain in the European wins in 2010 and 2012.

How to Go

If you want to attend, I recommend Premier Golf, a highly respected golf travel company based in Atlanta, Georgia. They've been licensed since 1991 by the PGA of America as the exclusive distributor of official Ryder Cup packages. Their travel specialists have planned and executed a wide variety of Ryder Cup trips for hundreds of clients and they have more experience than anybody in coordinating attendance to this event.

You can choose from a list of packages that includes the Ultimate Ryder Cup Experience with accommodations at the JW Marriott starting at $6,995 per person, double occupancy to the economical Blue Tee Package at the Commons Hotel starting at $2,895 per person, double occupancy.  Other packages include Championship Tee (Hyatt Regency Minneapolis); Resort Package (Mystic Lake Casino Hotel); Gold Tee (Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America); Gold Tee (Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot); Blue Tee (Best Western Plus Bloomington) and Blue Tee (Residence Inn at The Depot).

All packages include: Four nights accommodations (Thursday Sept. 29-Monday Oct. 3), breakfast daily, Ryder Cup Season Ticket (Thurs.-Sunday), Round-trip transportation daily (between your hotel and Hazeltine National Golf Club), Welcome reception and Ryder Cup Gift.

Some of the optional add-ons include VIP Hospitality upgrade, International Pavilion upgrade (Thurs.-Sunday), additional nights accommodations (ask for quote) and practice round tickets.

I suspect these packages are moving pretty fast. Click to PREMIER GOLF for information or call one of their travel specialists at 866-260-4409.

5 Places to Play Golf While the Dollar is Strong

Remember the great Kool & The Gang song "Celebration"?

Well, it's time to start singing it: "Let's celebrate, it's all right...."

The U.S. dollar has been gaining strength of late and I've got a list of countries where the golf is superb at a very happy price (when you consider the excellent exchange rates).

Here are Five places to consider:

CANADA--The U.S. dollar has been steadily progressing against the Canadian dollar for the past five years so it's a great time to visit up north. Better still, Canadians love to swing the sticks, and I don't just mean hockey sticks. There's great golf all over the country from the picturesque layouts in British Columbia on the west coast to Banff Springs and Jasper Lodge in Alberta to excellent courses in and around Toronto and, the latest rage, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia.

MEXICO--Bueno, Bueno, Bueno...The U.S. dollar to the Mexican Peso has risen more than 22% in value since February 2015. If you've been thinking about playing golf in Mexico, now is a great time with excellent value. You can tee up in all sorts of settings ranging from the all-inclusives in Cancun and Riviera Maya to Puerto Vallarta and the stunning, ruggedly beautiful courses in Los Cabos where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean.

SOUTH AFRICA--If you enjoy stunningly picturesque golf courses, world class wines, luxury hotels and game lodges and safaris where you can see the Big 5 (elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion and rhino), you'll absolutely love South Africa. Whether you decide to tee up in the Las Vegas-like Sun City area near Johannesburg in the north or the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in the south, or both, you'll find excellent golf courses and great deals on hotels, dining and wine thanks to the favorable exchange rate.

THAILAND--Since February last year (2015), the U.S. dollar is worth about 10% more against the Thai Baht. Golf in Thailand ranges from the luxury beach/golf resorts in the south to the mountainous surroundings in the north. You can also tee up in Bangkok an Pattaya. In fact, there are more than 60 courses near Bangkok. Thailand has a great golf tradition dating back to 1923 so the sport is well ingrained in the tourism infrastructure. Top courses to play include Ayodhya Links, Amata Spring and Alpine Golf Club.

TURKEY--The U.S. dollar is favorable against the Turkish lira right now. While golfers don't immediately think of Turkey as a golf destination, the country has quietly emerged as a great place to combine a beach/golf excursion. The Turkish Riviera on the country's southern coast has 14 golf courses with designer tags like Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and David Feherty.

2016 PGA Merchandise Show Product Picks

The Guru has to been to more than 20 PGA Merchandise Shows so I've seen just about every new golf product imaginable. "The Show", staged annually in Orlando, Florida is the greatest display of golf products and services on the planet.

I spent three days wandering the miles of aisles at the Orange County Convention Center  at this year's show in late January. With more than 1,000 companies represented there's a great mix of new and old product offerings.

Here are some of the booths and products I liked:

Premier Golf Travel--I heard lots of buzz at "The Show" about the 2016 Ryder Cup. Excitement abounds that Jordan Spieth and other young guns can help U.S.A. get the Cup back. Hazeltine National Golf Club near Minneapolis will be the venue for the 2016 Ryder Cup matches. If you want to go, Premier Golf is the official distributor of Ryder Cup travel packages. I spoke with a couple of their travel experts, Premier Golf President Jim Ward, and international golf travel specialist Ann Mabry. Premier has a great selection of accommodations in their various packages and they can provide you with all sorts of great information on attractions, places to play and dining in the area. C'mon, all together now: "U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A..."

Puerto Rico-I spoke with Waleska Lugo, the director of sales/luxury market for the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. We talked about the great golf options in areas like San Juan, Dorado Beach, Rio Mar, Bahia Beach and Ponce. There are more than 20 championship golf courses in Puerto Rico. My favorite course in Puerto Rico is Royal Isabela in the northwest corner of the country about 70 minutes from San Juan International Airport. Some of the things I like about Puerto Rico as a golf destination, include: No money exchange. No passport needed. Great airline deals and easy access. Excellent selection of golf courses by top notch designers. Superb cuisine and exceptional restaurant selection in San Juan. Friendly people. Bacardi rum. Rum Punch. Medalla Light Beer. Pina Coladas. El Yunque tropical rain forest...

Sligo Wear--The Guru likes to add a little pizzaz to his wardrobe on the golf course, but I definitely can't go for the in-your-face Loudmouth John Daly look or that over-the-top, orange pumpkin Rickie Fowler fashion statement. Luckily, there's a Montreal, Canada company, Sligo Wear, that makes some great looking, tasteful, colorful golf clothing. "What sets us apart are our bright colors, patterns and design detail," Bernadette Ray, Sligo's Florida sales rep told me at "The Show". "The colors and patterns are dynamic and fun." Sligo offers shirts, shorts, pants, sweaters, wind shirts, wind jackets, belts, hats and other accessories.

Sundog Eyewear--I ran into my long-time friend Hal Quinn (we teed it up in China a few years ago) at the Sundog booth. He introduced me to the company's TrueBlue line of sunglasses. I absolutely love the TrueBlue Laser sunglasses I wear from their Performance Collection.  One of its advantages is they reduce short term eye fatigue by decreasing veiled glare. The TrueBlue lens is the only non-prescription sunglass lens in the world to incorporate both synthesized Melanin and OLP (Ocular Lens Pigment) to provide ultimate eye protection and vision performance. Quinn and I had a great conversation about the damaging impact of blue light on the front and back of the eye. Sundog Eyewear has  been at the forefront of lens technology to combat the negative effects of blue light. For golfers, Sundog also has some great selections in its Athleisure and Athleisure/Polarized collections.

TaylorMade M2 Irons--Introduced at "The Show", these game improvement irons are designed to give golfers greater distance and higher trajectory. Hmm, the Guru could use both of those as well as a major reduction in three putts. What's the secret to these new irons?I was told that club designers positioned the center gravity lower and farther back in the clubhead.

Topgolf--I'm a huge fan of these golf entertainment/nightclub style complexes that feature point-scoring golf games with micro-chipped golf balls, great drinks and fab food like Asian Sesame wings and cinnamon-sugar dusted donut holes. I'm not the only one who loves Topgolf, either. Last year more than 8 million people visited the 24 Topgolfs around the world. At "The Show" Topgolf made two big announcements: They'll soon break ground on Topgolfs in Orlando and Nashville with scheduled openings for early 2017 and they acquired the World Golf Tour, the leading web and mobile golf game.

Voice Caddie--My friend Tommy Glasgow of the Buffalo Brand Invigoration Group introduced me to this great company, which has a slew of high-tech products like a portable launch monitor, Hybrid Golf GPS Watch and Golf GPS Band. One of their reps showed me the VC300 Voice Output Golf GPS, an amazing device that you clip to the bill on your hat or visor. There are 30,000 courses preloaded and it has automatic course and hole recognition. With a simple click, it provides distances from the front, center and back of the green. Better still, it only costs $129.99. 

VPAR--I first used the VPAR golf app at Salish Cliffs Golf Club, an excellent resort course near Tacoma, Washington. Hey, now you can use your paper scorecard as a beer coaster because this special piece of technology keeps your score and a lot more. VPAR allows you to set up your own golf tournaments with friends and follow their scores in real time leaderboards on your phone or to share online. It also has a GPS course planner and tracks performance (or, in my case, lack of performance).  

9 Great Golf Travel Tips for 2016

Royal County Down in Ireland

Jordan Spieth certainly got off to a great start in 2016 with his victory in Hawaii. I'm hoping some of the tips below will help make your golf travel excursions real winners in 2016

1. Play Royal County Down--Recently voted #1 in Golf Digest's World 100 Greatest Golf Courses, this Irish gem is world class on so many levels. It's Ireland's answer to the Old Course at St. Andrews and Pine Valley and Pebble Beach. Opened in 1889, Royal County Down is set on natural dune-land at the foothills of the mountains of Mourne in Newcastle, about 30 miles north of Belfast. Stretching out before you like a Monet painting come to life, this course is colorfully accented with purple heath and yellow gorse. Roller coaster like fairways, blind drives, bunkers framed by shaggy fescue grasses and smallish greens dominate the golf experience at Royal County Down.

2. Great Canadian Value--If you want great value, head north, my friends. The U.S. dollar is predicted to stay strong against the Canadian Dollar in 2016. Now is an excellent money-saving time to play heralded locales like the Canadian Rockies (Banff and Jasper) and Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia.

3. Hot Destinations--South Africa and New Zealand: For those seeking new golf horizons, these two destinations offer great golf and a wealth of off-the-course activities. In South Africa, the experience encompasses stunningly scenic courses, winery tours and safaris where you can see the Big 5 (elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion and rhino) all in one day. New Zealand offers golf courses with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Doak and Robert Trent Jones Jr. designer tags, uncrowded golf courses, exceptional cuisine and fine wines and an awe inspiring landscape of rugged mountains, lush forests and spectacular beaches.

4. New Golf Courses to Play--Tired of the same ol' courses. Here's a list of courses that have recently opened or are set to open in 2016. Trilogy (Ocala, Florida), Blackjack National (Houston, Texas), Oakhurst at Greenbrier (Sulphur Springs, West Virginia), Forest Dunes (Northern Michigan), Canyons Golf Club (Park City, Utah) and Links at Brunello (Halifax, Canada).

5. Ryder Cup 2016 Fever--Young guns like Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed will try to bring the cup back to the U.S. The 2016 Ryder Cup matches will be staged at Hazeltine National Golf Club near Minneapolis, Minnesota in September. Minneapolis is easily accessible thanks to an excellent airport and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are loaded with a variety of restaurants, shopping options and recreation opportunities.

6. Mobile Passport App--Is there anything worse than returning from a fabulous international golf trip only to be welcomed by long, slow moving lines at customs in the U.S. The Mobile Passport App is the ultimate time saver. It allows U.S. Citizens to expedite the entry process back in the U.S. by avoiding the line at Custom and Border Protection (CBP) and going directly to the "Mobile Passport Control" express lane. Airports where the service is available include Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle-Tacoma.

7. Burn Your Miles--This is a great year to start spending all those miles you've piled up. Several experts are predicting airlines will move to devalue points even more this year.

8. Change in Tee Time Policy at The Old Course--Late last year, the St. Andrews Links Trust announced that beginning in 2018, the guaranteed tee times previously given to The Old Course Experience will be distributed to several different golf tour operators. This is could be great news for those planning to play the Old Course in the future because several golf travel experts predict lower prices for guaranteed tee times.

9. Destinations for Non-Golfer Spouses--For those who want to avoid leaving their spouses alone in a hotel room with a remote and a big screen, there are numerous golf destinations where non-golfers can enjoy themselves. Gaming destinations such as Biloxi, Atlantic City and Las Vegas have a wealth of entertainment offerings. The Monterey Peninsula has the charming village of Carmel-By-the-Sea and the 17-Mile Drive. Hilton Head Island is brimming with excellent restaurants, bicycle trails, walkable beaches and shopping areas. San Diego has great shopping, beach and boating activities and superb restaurants. Orlando has theme parks, outlet shopping and walkable villages like Winter Park and Mount Dora. Branson has live entertainment shows, a vibrant downtown area and outlet shopping.

Golf Travel Guru's Top 5 Favorite Pubs

For the GT Guru, the only thing better than crushing a drive down the middle of the fairway on the first hole on a dew busting morning is savoring the first sip of hops and barley after the round at one of my favorite pubs.

Luckily my travels have introduced me to some amazing pubs. While I've consumed enough beer at these places to consider myself somewhat of an expert, fact is, my choices are totally subjective. My selections are based on fairly innocuous factors like the friendliness of the clientele and bartender, whether somebody bought me a beer for being an amiable guy and if my fries or chips were hot. 

That said, here are five of my favorite pubs:

1. McDonnells (Bellmullet, Ireland)--The nickname for this cozy pub teeming with locals is "The Lobster Pot" (because once you go in, you never come out). It's located a couple of doors down from the Talbot Hotel on Barrack Street, where I stayed on my visit to play Carne Golf Links. I sauntered into McDonnell's one night and, yes, I did make it out, but just barely. The locals are a friendly bunch and there's a great selection of beers and ales. 

2. Hargadon Bros. (Sligo, Ireland)--I just love the live, toe-tapping Irish music in this place. Sligo is one of the live music capitals of Ireland and Hargadon's had a fantastic group performing the night I was there following a round of golf at The County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point. The superb pub menu includes a steak sandwich, Bangers and Mash and the "Homemade Irish Beef Burger." There's also a Hargadon's in Dublin.

3. Mr. B's Lounge at Pinecrest Inn (Pinehurst, NC)--Donald Ross once owned this place and after a brew or two you might feel like you're in Scotland. There are photos of Mr. Ross on the wall and the Barrett family, who've owned Mr. B's for more than 40 years, make everyone feel welcome. It's been voted the best 19th hole in America by several websites and publications and I heartily agree with them.

4. Original Irish Pub (Atlantic City, New Jersey)-A long-time fixture in Atlantic City a block or so from the Boardwalk, this places oozes with history. The walls are dotted with classic black and white boxing and baseball photos and if owner Cathy Burke is around she'll show you the booth were Joe DiMaggio always dined back in the day.  Better still, just like at the Masters where concession prices are circa 1980, this place has the same approach. For lunch, you can get burgers and sandwiches for under $5. 

5. Golfer's Corner Lounge Bar at the Dunvegan Hotel (St. Andrews, Scotland)--The classic Yogi Berra line, "It's so crowded, nobody goes there anymore" could well describe this St. Andrews favorite. While it's a bit touristy and usually teeming with Americans, I still love this place. Dubbed "The Dunny" by locals, the bar is situated just 112 yards from the 18th green of the Old Course.  Jack Willoughby, a fourth generation Texan and his wife, Sheena, own the Dunvegan. The ambiance is a combination of traditional Scottish pub, Texas roadhouse and college bar. Several Old Course caddies hang out there and if you're lucky you'll sit next to one of them at the bar, like I've done, and hear all sorts of great stories--especially about goofy Americans. The menu has a sports bar flair with burgers, wings, fish and chips and American style chili.

On Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

Mark Twain could have easily described Atlantic City when he famously said: "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."




All you seem to hear these days is how Atlantic City is down and it can't get up.




Not true.




I played some excellent golf courses, hit the slots, hoisted a few at the Original Irish Pub, had a shot of Tequila at the Tropicana's taco and tequila bar, strolled the Boardwalk, feasted on a funnel cake and gorged myself on some of the best Italian food and seafood I've enjoyed in all of my global travels.




Atlantic City is much more than mega-casinos and the Boardwalk and tourism officials are working diligently to expand its appeal.




After spending a few days there, rest assured, golf vacationers, especially buddy trippers, will find "AC" very accommodating on many levels.




Once you put the clubs away for the day, there are few destinations that can match the off-the-course entertainment that encompasses 24-hour casino gaming, big name shows, comedy clubs, pub crawls, eclectic dining and deep sea fishing.




GOLF OVERVIEW


There are 20 courses within 25 minutes of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The menu features lots of diversity, too. On my visit, I played a couple of classic, tree-laden layouts, a links style course and a replica holes course. 




Word is, they started swinging the sticks in the area way back in 1890s so golf is an integral part of the overall Atlantic City experience.




Better still, Atlantic City offers reasonably priced golf packages. The average cost is about $375 per person for a 3 day/2 night stay with three rounds of golf. Casino accommodations typically run around $475 and value-oriented hotels are approximately $275 for the package.




Here's where I played:


Atlantic City Country Club--Dripping with tradition at every turn, this historic club was founded in 1897. Playable and picturesque, I see why this has been ranked the #1 Public Golf Course in New Jersey by several publications and websites. The beautiful views of the Atlantic City skyline, superb course conditions and classic clubhouse grill and locker room are at the heart of this course's appeal. It received a makeover and modernization treatment by designer Tom Doak in 1999.




McCullough's Emerald Golf Links--This course plays much longer than its 6,535 yards from the back tees. It's an Irish-Scottish golf experience with lots of grass mounds, bump and run opportunities and tricky winds. It's a true replica course as the hole designs are inspired by famed courses like St. Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie, Prestwick, Gleaneagles and Turnberry. It has water on five holes, a three-acre waste bunker, an island fairway and 100-foot elevation changes. My favorite hole is number 7, a 464-yard par four, which is dedicated to architect Alister Mackenzie.  It's the hole with the humongous waste bunker facing you off the tee.

Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club--A fixture on the Atlantic City golf scene since 1915, this 36-hole complex offers two different golf experiences. The Bay Course, home to the LPGA's ShopRite Classic, is a Donald Ross/Hugh Wilson design that runs along Reeds Bay and has a Scottish feel. The Pines is a traditional parkland-style layout.

Twisted Dune--You could air drop this course into Scotland and it would easily blend in. If you love Scottish links golf, this American version is the closest thing to being there. The wind, bump and run shots and undulating fairways make it fun and challenging.

In conversation with local, well connected golf tourism officials, other play suggestions include Ron Jaworski's Blue Heron Pines, Shoregate GC and Galloway GC.

7 Little Things I Liked




1. The free Wi-Fi you can access while walking outside on the Boardwalk.




2. The funnel cakes on the Boardwalk. The best in the world. Period.




3. The affable and all around great guy, Mike Charlton, who is a Greater Atlantic City Golf Association member, owner of GolfAC.com and knows everything about Atlantic City golf vacations.




4. The Turtle Nine Putting Course at Seaview Hotel & Golf Club.




5.  The amazing vintage photographs of Yankee greats like Dimaggio and Berra hanging on the walls at The Original Irish Pub.

6. The traditional clubhouse at Atlantic City Country Club that has lockers for swimmer Michael Phelps, PGA Tour star Hale Irwin and other notables

7. The amazing bowl of homemade white bean soup I had at Twisted Dune.




ACCOMMODATIONS


I stayed at Tropicana Casino Resort. It's a great place for golfers in Atlantic City. It's located directly on the Boardwalk and has a 24-hour casino, 25 restaurants including Carmine's and Chickie's, Pete's Sports Bar and Crab House and Hooters, lots of bars and nightclubs, concert showroom, IMAX theater, spas, swimming pools and shops.




Atlantic City has a good mix of casino hotels as well as reasonably priced chain offerings like Ramada, Comfort Inn and Days Hotel, which are offered in golf packages.




DINING


You can get everything from fantastic funnel cakes to phenomenal seafood in Atlantic City. There's a terrific blend of old and new restaurants with some that have been around for decades and others inspired by celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsey and Guy Fieri.




On my visit, I dined at some of Atlantic City's most heralded traditional restaurants. 




Angelo's Fairmont Tavern--Known as "Little Italy By the Sea", this cozy restaurant has been serving home style Italian fare for more than 80 years. Forget all these chains, this place is the real thing. Owned by the Mancuso family since 1935, this traditional Italian restaurant has a wood bar, pictures of Sinatra on the wall and huge portions. If you want to celebrate a round of golf and truly immerse in the Atlantic City lifestyle, eat at Angelo's. The menu is dotted with classic favorites. I had the sauteed mussels in red sauce, fried calamari and lasagne with a meatball. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!




Dock's Oyster House--Opened in 1897, this classic seafood restaurant is an absolute don't miss in Atlantic City. Let's face it, you don't stay open that long unless the food is great-- and, believe me, it's phenomenal. The dining experience encompasses white tablecloths, professional veteran waiters and a comprehensive menu of spectacular seafood specialties and prime steaks. I had Oysters Rockefeller, Potato Crusted Flounder and the Apple Crisp topped with vanilla gelato. This is the best seafood restaurant I've ever dined at. Period. End of Story.




Original Irish Pub--With walls dotted with vintage black and white sports photos, friendly service and prices that look like they haven't changed since the 1980s, this is a great place to gather after a full day of golf. For lunch, you can get a hamburger for $4.00, turkey sandwich for $4.50 and grilled chicken sandwich for $6.50. There's also an excellent selection of beers at reasonable prices. Chances are, you'll meet and see Cathy Burke, the wonderful long-time owner, who greets every customer with a smile and good cheer. Better still, it's open 24 hours.




Other exceptional places that are popular with golfers, include Carmine's, Capriccio, Cuba Libre, Chef Vola's, Il Mullino N.Y., Gallagher's Steak House and Landshark Bar & Grill. For a quick bite, don't miss the legendary White House Subs, a local mainstay since 1946.




THINGS TO DO


Stroll the Boardwalk--Running about 4.5 miles, this wide wooden walkway dates back to 1870. Updated and safe, it has complimentary Wi-Fi and is lined with casinos, nightclubs, restaurants and saltwater taffy shops.




Casino Gaming--The biggest names in gaming are represented in Atlantic City. Wanna throw some bones or play black or red? The top casinos are Borgata, Ceasars, Harrah's Tropicana, Bally's Wild West, Trump Taj Mahal, Resort Casino and Golden Nugget.




Big Name Entertainment Shows--The casino showrooms feature lots of major entertainment acts such as Jerry Seinfeld, Toby Keith, REO Speedwagon and Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson to name a few.




Deep Sea Fishing--If you can't win at the tables or slots, there's some excellent deep sea fishing charter options in Atlantic City and nearby Ocean City and Point Pleasant. The big catches are Striped Bass, Bluefish, Tuna, Mahi and Marlin.




Outlet Mall Shopping--The Tanger Outlets near The Boardwalk is an open-air mall spanning three city blocks with 109-stores, including Columbia Sportswear, Timberland and Kenneth Cole.




Bass Pro Shop--Opened in April 2015, this expansive, wilderness-themed store has been a huge hit in Atlantic City. Overflowing with fishing and hunting gear and outdoor apparel, the store also has a 13,000 gallon aquarium and pistol range.




Steel Pier--This iconic amusement park pier stretches 1,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. It has 25 rides, an arcade and food outlets.  




LOCATION


Atlantic City is situated 96 miles south of New York City. Philadelphia International Airport is 65 miles from Atlantic City. Fifteen minutes from the Atlantic City Boardwalk is the Atlantic City International Airport, which is serviced by Spirit Airlines, Air Canada and Choice Aire. Other distances to Atlantic City: (Harrisburg, Pa-155 miles, Hartford, CT--226 miles and Boston, MA-326 miles).




THE SCOOP


Visit DoAC, which is a great place for general information upcoming shows, accommodations and restaurants. For golf package information, call 844-475-2922 or click to PlayACGolf.

For those who wants lots of party opportunities after golf, I suggest clicking to Atlantic City Golf After Dark. Devoted casino gamers that want "Golf 'n Gamble" packages can click to Golf and Gamble or call 877-946-5318.