Golf is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with an estimated 50 million people around the globe enslaved by the little white ball.

International golf course designers are arguably more sought after today than ever before and virtually any land not developed is being turned into a golf course with startling alacrity.

The Peoples Republic of China is an effective microcosm of the unprecedented growth of the game. The first golf course was opened in China in the mid 1980s and by 2005 there were already 200 operating courses in the land!

With well over 32, 000 golf courses on the planet and many more in the early stages of development, choosing the top ten in the world is no easy matter. That said, heres our top ten pick of the year:

Augusta

Augusta is not only one of the most exclusive clubs in the world but also one of the most attractive, with each hole named after the abundant flora that grows around the course. Home to the first grand slam of the year, the Masters, Augusta has been tweaked here and there to make the course more challenging for the true champions of the game. Known to favour the long hitters, Augusta National may be the ideal place to improve your golf swing - if you can afford the green fees.

Ballybunion

Regularly referred to as the finest sea-side course in the world, the old course at Ballybunion is a tempestuous blend of wild, angry seascapes and gigantic Irish dunes. A formidable challenge to even the best of golfers, Ballybunion is tipped as the supreme test of golf.

Leopard Creek

The Gary Player-designed Leopard Creek golf course is one of the leading courses in South Africa and is arguably one of the most exciting courses to play simply because of its proximity to the Kruger National Park, South Africas largest wildlife conservation area. Hazards take on a whole new dimension as the water is home to hippos and crocs and it is not unusual to be closely watched by elephant and giraffe when teeing off.

Kingston Heath

Located in the famous sand belt of Melbourne, Kingston Heath is considered the jewel in the crown of Australian golf. A perfect example of strategic golf, Kingston Heath boasts a classic design with a great variation in length.

St Andrews Old Course

It would be remiss to exclude the oldest golf course in the world and the spiritual home of golf. This old course is recognised as the most famous of links on the planet and boasts some of the biggest greens in the world. According to golf legend, the course was played as early as the 12th Century and the bridge over Swilcan Burn is believed to have been built by the Romans. Anybody who is passionate about golf will be entranced by this old, familiar course.

Valderrama

Dubbed the old continents finest coarse, Valderrama in Spain is the venue of the European Tours grand finale, the Volvo Masters. A powerful course, Valderrama is the epitome of all things Spanish.

Nine Bridges

Located on a volcanic island off South Korea, Nine Bridges was designed by a team led by a horticulturalist and consequently the aesthetic appeal of the course is quite overwhelming. Built as a championship golf course, the location, excellent design, bent grass fairways and pristine greens make it one of the most attractive golfing options in the Far East.

Ailsa at Turnberry

A regular Open Championship golf course, the Ailsa at Turnberry has one of the most scenic settings in the United Kingdom, with fabulous views across the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Arran. Ball tracking may have to take on a whole new dimension at the Ailsa though, as the notoriously fresh winds have claimed their fair share of booty.

Cabo del Sol

Located in Los Cabos, Mexico, the Cabo del Sol is a Jack Nicklaus signature course, boasting 1.5 miles of beachfront along the Sea of Cortez. Apart from its spectacular design, it is quite challenging to play with plenty of hazards waiting to trap the unwary.

Pebble Beach

A Jack Nicklaus favourite, Pebble Beach Links is the Mecca of world golf and is located within earshot of the thunderous Pacific Ocean. A classical out-and-back, Pebble Beach was ranked the number one public course in America by the Gold Digest magazine in 2007. It has hosted the prestigious US Open several times since 1972 and will be the venue of the 2010 edition.

Golf Course Discounts

If we are going to be able to continue playing golf in the next couple of years when money is going to be a little tight, then we are going to need to be able to do so without spending too much money

I enjoy playing new courses, so for me saving money needs to include searching for golf course discounts.

How To Find Golf Course Discounts

There are companies online who specialise in selling discount green fees. They approach golf courses and offer to sell their excess tee times for them. The website makes a commission, the golf course gets extra business and we get great golf course discounts.

Most of the deals on offer are two for one deals, and there are literally thousands of courses across the nation who have an arrangement with one of these websites, so your choices are not exactly limited.

Some of the larger programs include Golf Card, Golf Now and Players Pass but there are many others out there.

How To Get Access To These Golf Course Discounts

The easiest way to find them is through Google or one of the other major search engines. There are over twenty online so you shouldnt have much trouble finding them

Some of these sites cover courses all across the nation. Other programs are smaller and concentrate on a specific region. You may need to check few a few of the programs to find discounts at the golf courses in your area.

It is important to read through the instructions for each program. The way they operate will vary slightly from program to program.

Keep Track Of Any Good Deals You See

There are so many programs out there, that it may take you a little time to find a deal for a specific course. One thing I would suggest you do is build up a little swipe file of golf courses with discounts. Any time you come across a course that you might be interested in playing, make note of the program that offers the discount, so it will be easy to find in the future.

Over time you will build up a nice little list of courses to play, and variety will never be a problem. Always remember to do a search for a discount before playing any new course there is a good chance that there will be some sort of deal available.

Massive Free List Of Discount Green Fee Websites - Get Your Copy Now

There are many advantages and benefits you can enjoy by choosing to get a golf course membership rather than playing at different golf clubs in your area. Consider some of the top benefits and reasons for joining a local country club and then decide whether or not joining your local golf club is a good idea for you.

First, most golf clubs systems if not all of them provide you with a handicap tracking system. This makes it easier for you to keep track of your golf scores. Rather than sending your scorecard to a golf association for a real handicap which means you are allowed to play in golf tournaments.

Second, by having a membership to a local golf club you can have access to facilities with locker rooms. You may also be allowed to use their restaurant as a meeting place. This allows you to get to know fellow members better and make it easier when you are going to play golf to find a player you can team up with.

Third, if you have a membership to a local golf course then you are more likely to take a drive down there for a few hours of practice or a round of golf when you have the time. If you are unfamiliar with a golf course you are less likely to go when you have the time or you will have a harder time getting available times. The most times you can practice your golf strategy the better you will become.

Fourth, those with a golf club membership often have a better game plan approach since they are more familiar with the course. You know what lies ahead when you are familiar with a golf course when makes it easier for you to make your club selection at each hole.

Fifth, when you regularly visit a golf course that you have a membership at you will start to memorize the yardage at each hole. This will also help with your understanding of your yardage capabilities.

Six, many golf clubs will provide you with a trade-off system. This is an excellent opportunity to visit different golf courses in the area in exchange for letting members from other clubs play at your golf course. So you can still have a different challenge when you want it, rather than being stuck at one golf course all the time.

Seventh, by being a member of a golf course you are more likely to take part in golf tournaments. Check the member's bulletin board at your local golf course and you will be informed of any upcoming events. Consider taking part in a tournament that interests you to have a unique challenge.

Eighth, with a golf course membership you only pay a yearly green fee at the country club and then you can play unlimited golf. There are only certain day and hour restrictions which you will be notified about up front when deciding whether or not you want the membership.

Lastly you have a better chance of getting last minute tee times. If you are a member you will often be allowed to join up with other members.

For those that play golf, nothing is more satisfying than a great game on a great course. However, sometimes finding a great course can be difficult. For those of you that are looking for a terrific New York Course, there is a place you can go to find the most comprehensive golf course directory for the Mid-Atlantic States.

The Local Golfer is a terrific website dedicated to golf in this region of the United States. You can quickly find whatever information you are searching for when it comes to any public golf course in the New York area, as well as many others. If you love the game of golf, this is the website for you.

The Local Golfer also contains reviews of New York golf courses. These are posted by real people who have played at these courses. Most of these are honest, fair reviews and can provide terrific insight into the course. You may find the fairways are not in very good shape, or that the cost of the New York course is an outstanding value. The Golf Course Directory will give you all the contact information, including phone numbers, and some will even list out the green and cart fees.

Another nice part of The Local Golfer is the forum. This allows people to read what others have written about the great game of golf. You can also post up your stories and comments. This is a great way to make some new friends that love the game as much as you do.

One feature that is really cool is The Local Golfer Blog. This is a great way to stay up to date as to the news and headlines relating to the sport of golf. You can quickly find out the latest stories, such as the return of Tiger Woods to the golfing world, and many other interesting things.

As for finding a great New York Course, you can find listings for the most visited courses on the site and the courses with the best reviews. The course with the most reviews is Oyster Bay Town Golf Course. This golf course is located in Woodbury New York and shows an overall rating of three out of five stars. The best rating for a New York Course goes to Eisenhower Park Golf Course in East Meadow.

In the Golf Course Directory, there are hundreds of public courses to search through until you find just the right one for you. Make sure you leave a review or two of your own so others can learn about the courses you play at.

You will also find a for sale section in the forum that will allow you list your golf items that you're ready to get rid of. You may find just the perfect set of clubs here, as well. Take a few moments to browse through the ads and see what strikes your fancy. There were four American Cancer Society Pennsylvania Golf Passes listed, as well as other passes and golf equipment.

There is a handicap tracker that is available to people who sign up for access to The Local Golfer. This handy tool can save you a lot of time.

All in all, you won't have any difficulty locating information on The Local Golfer. It's free to join and you can access any area by simply signing in.

The Lincoln Park Golf Course, Oklahoma City consists of two 18-hole courses that are maintained in tournament condition. If you want to play the way the legends of golf do, youve got to experience the East and West courses at the Lincoln Park Golf Course. Steve Carson serves as the Director of Golf, while Jim Wood is Superintendent.

The West course is an 18-hole 6,576-yard par-71 course, designed by Randy Heckenkemper and opened in 1921. It has received a rating of 70.1 while the slope rating on Bermuda grass is 122. The East course is another 18-hole course. This 6,535-yard par-70 course is rated 70 with a 120 slope rating on Bermuda grass. Randy Heckenkemper designed the course that opened in 2008. The West course particularly offers a real test of golfing skills, while the East course offers a test plus great fun.

Visitors to the Lincoln Park Golf Courses West course have heaped praises on the experience it offers. It features a great layout and tough greens. Once youve played at the West course youd want to come back for more action.

If youre an avid golfer and visiting Oklahoma City, you need to check out the Lincoln Park Golf club. Experience true golfing at the well-maintained tournament trim West and East courses, and gain valuable experience thats surely beneficial whether youre a professional or an amateur.

Hotels in OKC offer shuttle services to all important destinations in the city, including the Lincoln Park Golf Course.

The game of golf has evolved much over the last fifty years. The jobs that go along with this sport have also changed. Golf course jobs were once thought to be tasks that were reserved for young boys during the hot summers at their country club. Gone are the days when the only golf jobs available were to be a cart boy or pro shop pawn. While most golf courses still employ individuals to take care of guests and perform tasks such as rounding up the range balls, they offer career opportunities that far exceed those, as well. You might even be surprised at some of the folks who are finding work in the golf industry these days.

When you head out to the links and you shoot that 87 with three double bogies, it is easy to forget that a golf club is also a business. Despite the beautiful grass and seemingly lazy atmosphere, there is a whole heap that goes on behind the scenes to make sure the final product is up to par. Because of this, golf courses hire professionals just like any other business. Those graduating from law school may feel this precludes them from participating in the golf industry. That is completely false. Golf course jobs have evolved to the point where courses and country clubs are now hiring their own personal team of attorneys to handle everything from contracts to potential litigation from accidents that may happen on the course. Many golf courses also employ their own accountant in order to take care of the tax needs of the company. Golf course jobs have come a long way since the days where cart boys had the responsibility of washing down the golf scooters.

You might not look like Jennifer Lopez and your specialty may not be in weddings, but if you are an event planner or special occasion specialist, then a golf course in your area might be your next client. When special days roll around at the country club, the members generally like to party in style. Many golf courses, especially the upper-end variety, will hire out the services of an event planner that will take care of all the arrangements. Taking this to an even greater extreme, some golf clubs even have a full time event planner on staff in order to coordinate all of their special events.

Many students have recently been going to college to learn about landscaping and horticulture. If keeping grass green is something you do, then there are Golf course jobs out there in huge numbers. The golf side of the business requires that these employees keep their property looking pristine. When golf course managers cannot accomplish this feat themselves, they often turn to landscape specialists and turf grass experts to do it for them. The fairways stay neat and the greens so colorful because the work has been done professionally.

Many golf courses also have a need for experienced business professionals. Like with any business, large or small, there must be a core of financial managers to look after the profits of the company. A growing addition to the golf jobs market is in the field of human resources, where golf course managers are staffing their team with qualified workers who know how to motivate and handle employees.

If you have both a love for golf and a professional skill, then these golf course jobs might be right up your alley. The golf industry has expanded to such a level where these positions are not only available; they are necessary. As golf continues to grow, there is no question that the new and improved golf course jobs will make the jobs of old seem very dreary.

Its easy to see why Naples, Florida is one of the worlds top destinations for golf enthusiasts. Amateur and professional golfers are drawn to Naples sunny skies, warm climate, and lush tropical landscape. An impressive collection of emerald manicured greens beckons players form around the world.

10 The Flamingo at Lely Golf Resort - First, any one of the Lely courses could make our list, although Flamingo is likely to be our highest ranking. The 18 hole golf course is on 6527 yards is a Par 72. Call up to 3 days in advance. The public course is considered must play in Southwest Florida. Course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. This course is unusually demanding from the back tees. The greens are large and well protected by traps. Water comes into play often on this course with winds creating a challenge on the 14th. Golfweek Magazine has twice designated this course as one of Americas best, while Golf Digest gives it a four star rating. With its hourglass fairways, fingered sand bunkers and large rolling greens, this golf course is destined to provide many exciting challenges. Play it for yourself, we're sure you'll agree.

9 - The Mustang at Lely Golf Resort - Just as challenging is the Mustang course at Lely Golf Resort. It has 18 holes on 7217 yards. Par 72. The course is an excellent challenge in a fabulous, tough, fair course. Lely's Mustang course is a legend in the making. Designed by Charles Mahannah and Lee Trevino, Mustang is a course that follows his philosophy of making the game challenging - but a fair challenge - for the average golfer. The course offers a variety of golf holes that are difficult to a point, but always fun to play - where a player can always recover from an errant shot. Punctuated by 12 sparkling lakes, the Mustang gently flows across rising and falling fairways and winds through stands of towering Florida pines. Strategically placed bunkers will test your decision-making prowess as well as shot making abilities.

8 La Playa Golf Course - La Playa offers a natural look and the feel of a traditional links course and great variety of indigenous landscaping; rolling fairways and water features make it not only fun and challenging to play, but also pleasing to the eye. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, is proud to host the one of the newest golf courses in Naples Florida. La Playa Golf Course, designed by internationally renowned golf course architect, Bob Cupp. The course features 18 holes of championship golf, allowing die-hard golfers to test their mettle on the par-72 course, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and an impressive collection of manicured greens.

The 6,907-yard course is designed, constructed and seeded to offer a hard, fast playing surface similar to those found on true links courses. With numerous bunkers and rolling fairways, the course boasts a number of unforgettable holes, such as the signature 12th, which although short, requires a bold shot to a barely visible green over a two-tiered front.

The course also showcases 14 holes lined by water, including eight of the front nine and six of the back nine. Providing the opportunity to use every club in the bag and play every type of shot, the LaPlaya Golf Course is a treat for golf enthusiasts, with memorable par 3 shots and daunting tee shots.

7 Arrowhead Golf Course - Since opening in the spring of 1998, Arrowhead Golf Course has been known as the course to play for golfers of all types. Beautifully designed by noted architect Gordon G. Lewis, Arrowhead features eighteen picturesque holes positioned amongst 16 pristine lakes and rolling fairways. With spacious greens and wide landing areas, Arrowhead is friendly to high handicappers; however, better golfers will find the many well-placed bunkers and water hazards a real test of their skills. With four sets of tees, our course allows for play at many varying degrees of difficulty.

The Naples Florida golf scene has it all. Whether you are simply looking for a place to play golf in Naples or are shopping the many Naples golf communities and homes, you can find the perfect property at Living in Naples.

Golf might be a sport of skill and ability, but part of the beauty of playing golf is also the beautiful scenery that surrounds you. Golf courses are often built in areas of natural beauty, from an oasis in the desert to serene lakes and forests. If you are playing golf, then you should remember to stop and take a moment to look at the golf course view around you. Playing the game well is important, but you won't get all you can out of the golfing experience if you don't take in the golf course view. If you are looking for the best in golf course scenery, then here are some ways to best appreciate that lovely golf course view.


Stop and admire the view


You might be worried about your golf game, but don't forget to appreciate the beautiful landscaping and scenery around you. Not only are golf courses often stunning in their construction and layout, but also many courses are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty. So, when you are playing a round make sure you take the time to stop and admire the golf course view. Take some pictures to capture the moment and remember that playing golf is not just about sport, but about getting outdoors and being closer to nature.


Buy golf course view souvenirs


If you are playing or visiting one of the more famous golf courses, then one of the best ways to remember the brilliant golf course view is to purchase pictures or souvenirs of the landscape. From postcards and key rings to cups, t-shirts and framed photographs, many famous resorts have all manner of golfing gifts to help you remember the beautiful surroundings.


Relax in the resort


Rather than just play your round and leave, take time to relax in the golf course resort and use the facilities, many of which you can enjoy the golf course view from. Top courses will have bars and restaurants that overlook the landscape and the course itself, allowing you to soak up the atmosphere and appreciate the view around you whilst relaxing in luxury surroundings.


Although it can be hard to tear yourself away from the concentration and competition of your round of golf, make sure you do take the time to appreciate the landscape of the course. Not only will you have a more enjoyable golf round, but also you will get more for your money. You can enjoy your favorite sport and beautiful scenery at the same time when you take the time to admire that lovely golf course view.