2 nights/ 3 rounds $375 per person

2 nights in 2BR/2BA Pinehurst condo located only minutes from the Historic Village of Pinehurst. Golf package includes 2 full breakfasts at the Track Restaurant, arrival beverages & snack, daily maid service, departure cleaning and all taxes. Choose the following golf: pick 1 from Talamore, Legacy or Pit Golf Links & pick 2 from Beacon Ridge, Longleaf, Seven Lakes, Whispering Pines, Southern Pines or Foxfire.

Valid 3/15-5/17, based upon quad occupancy. Call us to book 910-255-6420 or khgolfpackages.com

Valid March 15-April 18, 2010
Not valid on any previous booked trip
Based on quad occupancy

**Do you have a group of 8, if so ask us about our wonderful 4BR/4BA Pinehurst home.

Contact us today for more information. golf.4u@live.com or 410-404-6628
website: http://www.khgolfpackages.com

Sandhills – Pinehurst Area Golf Packages

Premier Package – 4 nights, 4 rounds

• Accommodations at the award winning Holiday Inn Historic District
• Play Rivertowne, Wild Dunes Links, Kiawah Island Oak Point and Patriots Point
• Only $249 pp/day  double occupancy

Lowcountry Deluxe – 5 nights, 5 rounds

• Accommodations at Hyatt Place, the area’s newest hotel 
• Play Pine Forest, Links at Stono Ferry, Coosaw Creek, Legend Oaks and Charleston National
• Only $133 pp/day  double occupancy

 Packages valid March 15 – May 6, 2010 

Call 1-800-774-4444 or visit www.charlestongolfguide.com

While Tiger Woods was presumably getting prepped by handlers for his big press conference tomorrow morning, there was a golf tournament underway in Arizona. The Accenture Match Play Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Mirana was pretty newsworthy as well.

After top seed Steve Stricker succumbed in his opening match yesterday to Ross McGowan, the remaining top seeds – Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Jim Furyk – were sent home early Thursday.

Westwood lost to Nick Watney 2 and 1, Kaymer fell to Tim Clark 3 and 2, and Furyk lost to Charl Schwartzel of South Africa 3 and 2.

When Watney learned the other top seeds lost, he said, “I guess that’s partly the game of golf and that’s partly a credit to the strength of the field. It’s definitely different than the NCAA basketball tournament.

“There’s a pretty big discrepancy between a 1 and a 16. But like you saw Steve Stricker won two weeks ago, and lost yesterday. So it’s just – it’s a crazy format. I think the field is also very strong.”

Clark, who beat Vijay Singh in Wednesday’s opening round 1-up, said of his win over the young German, “Today I felt a lot better than yesterday. I just felt like I played really well. I knew Martin was going to be a really tough match. No holes were given away out there. It was a good match.”

Schwartzel was pleased to get by one of the game’s top match-play competitors. “Obviously going out today, playing against Jim, he’s such a good player, and you can see it. He was never going to make any mistakes. And I knew he wasn’t going to give me holes. I’m going to have to make birdies. Fortunately for me, I’ve been striking it really good. Yesterday was a little iffy, but I found something on the range, and I did really good today.”

Other players who moved on to the round of 16 included Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, who edged McGowan 1-up. He will face Thongchai Jaidee in the top half of the Jones bracket. The 40-year-old Thai, who rolled over Sweden’s Robert Karlsson 4 and 3, said of his performance: “Yeah, a good day. He didn’t play well on the front nine. He came back on the back nine a bit. Match play is tough to tell, you know. You have to look shot by shot. How is playing my partner. I played well today. I think some hole we missed about birdies. Very good match and very enjoy. And look forward for tomorrow.”

American Matt Kuchar was edged by India’s Jeev Milkha Singh 1 up. “It was hard work,” the 38-year-old Singh said. “I think it was a fantastic match today. It started off not too good on the first, but came back pretty good. Matt came back strong and birdied 14, 15, and I made some good up-and-downs on 16 and 17 and the last was an exciting one.”

In the bottom half of tomorrow’s Jones bracket, Singh will face Ian Poulter, who beat Australia’s Adam Scott 2 and 1. The flamboyant Englishman enjoys the head-to-head nature of match play. “I’m happy. I like this format,” Poulter said. “I guess you get the adrenalin going from the first tee, which is nice. I think you can never expect your opponent to be out of the hole even when he does look like he’s out of the hole. So I kind of did that on 16, and I was a little bit frustrated with that.”

In the upper half of the Hogan bracket, the diminutive South African, Clark, will go against Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who beat Denmark’s Anders Hansen 2 and 1. “Obviously very thrilled about getting through to the third round,” Garcia said. “I don’t know, I guess it’s just – it’s a funny tournament, this match play, because some years you come here you feel like you’re playing unbelievable, and you get beaten in the first or second round. And some years you come here, and you don’t feel quite as great and you manage to somehow get around it. So I’m happy about that.

“But I still need to get a lot better. I need to get rid of some shots that I’m hitting out there. But I’ll take what comes.”

In the bottom half of the Hogan bracket another Englishman, Owen Wilson, beat Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy in 20 holes. “It was a long day, like you said,” Wilson said. “Obviously delighted with the result, mainly relief, I think. But it was a tough day. It’s always going to be tough against Rory, and it’s great for me. Even though he’s only 19, he’s a great player. It was a good day.”

Wilson will face fellow Englishman Luke Donald, who overcame Australian Robert Allenby 6 and 5. Of his match, Donald said: “Just played very nicely, picked off the par-5s today, made birdies at all four of them and another birdie on the 4th. And Robert didn’t quite have his game today. He only made one birdie on the 2nd. So obviously didn’t put too much pressure on me, and I was able to eek out a reasonably easy win today which was nice.”

In the top half of the Player bracket, Watney will play Retief Goosen, who overcame fellow South African Ernie Els in 20 holes. In the bottom half of the same bracket, Ben Crane beat Y.E. Yang 3 and 2 and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy lost to Camilo Villegas 2 and 1. Crane and Villegas will oppose each other Friday.

Villegas lost to Ogilvy last year and had that in mind when he teed off against the Aussie this year. “It was a consistent match. I was excited to be there, but I knew I had to be very patient,” Villegas said. “Geoff is a great player, obviously has a great record in this tournament. And he beat me last year. And funny enough, as players, we don’t forget those things. So last night I went to bed, I said, you know what, Geoff beat me last year, I think it’s my turn. But you’ve got to be focused. You have to hit one shot at a time and take it as it comes, and that’s what I did.”

In the Snead bracket, Schwartzel will go against reigning British Open champion Stewart Cink, who beat fellow American Sean O’Hair 1-up in an exciting match. “It was a battle,” Cink said. “We knew it would be. Sean is a real feisty competitor. And he’s a great player. He’s got a lot of skills. He just never is going to back down. I knew it was going to be a tough fight. I played similar to the way I did yesterday. I didn’t have everything going on the front nine, but I played much better on the back. And it was enough.”

The final twosome going head-to-head tomorrow is Paul Casey, who beat Mike Weir 5 and 4, and Brian Gay, who edged Zach Johnson 2-up. Casey joins fellow Englishmen Poulter, Wilson and Donald as survivors who moved on to Friday’s matches.

“We had nine Englishmen in the field this week, which was impressive,” Casey said. “I mean obviously it was because of Tiger and Phil not being here. But I think that puts a little extra sort of emphasis or a little extra – you kind of want to be the last Englishman here, if you can. I think that’s fun. I think it’s great how many good players we’ve got coming out of the UK right now. We’re all friends, but I think we’re all competitors deep down and would like to sort of be the best Englishman, not just this week, but in the World Rankings and all of rest of it.”

By Wayne Mills

Every golfer worth his salt has gone on a buddy golf trip. They are adventures where adults can spend their time and money on pure enjoyment and occasionally revert to acting like a teenager without risking the wrath of their spouse.

I am a born and raised New Englander and the only time I had spent in the South as a young man was in Florida which doesn’t really count as the South since it is just Northerners in Bermuda shorts anyway.

My first golf buddy trip was in 1984. I had taken up golf rather late in life at age 32 in 1982 but fell for it hard. By ’84 I was ready to take my game on the road. Since I was the organizer in our group it fell to me to make the arrangements. You have to understand that we don’t get to play golf in the winter in northern New England where I lived at the time. From early November to mid-April we are holed up in our shacks amidst snow, ice and below freezing temperatures suffering from cabin fever and green golf course envy. When the pro golf tournaments start showing up on TV from warm weather sites, we just sit and cry. Therefore the decision was made that we will go South in the early spring, sort of a golf spring training for us Yankees, to sort of run out on the last days of winter in the North.

After studying all the advertisements in the golf magazines for months I finally decided that we would go to Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms near Charleston, SC. Why? I don’t really know but it looked good in the pictures, had a beach, was near the city and I liked the name and it was within a (long) days drive. Oh, and they were running some kind of silly spring special of like $34 per day per man for golf and condo.

So we took off in Freddy’s beat up old Buick which didn’t look like much with the front hood kind of crinkled up, but man, it had leg room and rode like a dream on the highway. When faced with 17 hours in a car, comfort wins out over appearance every time. So we took turns driving and when finished with our shift adjourned to the back seat and drank beer.

Sometime the next day after driving over what looked like a rickety old bridge from Charleston, we landed on the Isle of Palms and pulled into Wild Dunes. From the moment I laid eyes on the place I was in love with the Low Country, a love that has not dissipated with the passage of over 25 years.

Wild Dunes was just covered with palmetto trees and live oaks with Spanish moss amongst rolling dunes and a deserted 9 mile long beach. We stayed in a little house on stilts next to the ocean and I could hear the surf crashing from my bedroom. The next day we played the most gorgeous golf course I had ever laid eyes on that was designed by some unknown by the name of Tom Fazio. It played through the oaks, palmettos, marshes and out along the beach. The oceanfront par 5 18^th hole embodied the heart and soul of golf to me. It was beyond being a religious experience. If I had had real religious experiences on this level, I bet I would have become the Pope.

We went to dinner where a classy Southern black man served us oysters, she-crab soup and hush puppies and some other Southern dishes that warped my mind and delighted my palette. Given a choice between heaven and where I was, I would have stayed right there.

Later that week we went into Charleston at night and ran into some sort of festival where the natives were dressed up in Colonial garb and let us into their Antebellum homes and showed us what Southern hospitality was all about. I said out loud that this all had to be some kind of dream.

Eventually the week ended and we had to leave. I have never been back. Oh sure, I’ve been to Kiawah, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach a million times. I saw that Hurricane Hugo came ashore there in 1988 and did big damage. I’ve been afraid to go back. It’s like trying to decide to go to your 25^th high school reunion for fear of seeing your high school sweetheart. Is it best to not go and just remember how beautiful she was all those years ago or go and see her and see how she has gracefully weathered life’s storms?

While Pine Needles and Mid Pines resorts are most famous for championship golf, our golf courses and accommodations provide a resort destination for all occasions. Situated on 500 acres, we offer two resorts separated only by the lush pine trees.

Accommodations in either of our resorts are a welcome change of pace. Pine Needles Lodge offers a rustic casual resort setting, with sleeping rooms located within chalet style lodges. Mid Pines Inn offers a more upscale Georgia style Inn atmosphere, and rooms with an Old South Charm. Mid Pines Inn history is also reflective of our membership in Historic Hotels of America. All accommodations offer modern amenities, beautiful appointed rooms. exquisite dining options, versatile meeting space and staff dedicated to exceeding guests’ expectations.  Call us at (800) 747-7272

Getaway Golf Package
Deluxe Accommodations at Pine Needles or Mid Pines, 18 Holes of Golf per day, Carts, Unlimited Range Balls & Club Storage. (Two Night Minimum)

Dollie Llama Spring Special! - $389 per person
2 Nights / 3 Rounds

Stay 2 nights in our spacious 2 bedroom/2 Bath Talamore Villas, 3 Rounds of Golf , a $25 gift certificate to one of our Pro Shops and Breakfast at Mac’s Breakfast Anytime. While on your trip your group will enjoy one round of golf at the Rees Jones designed Talamore Resort Course and any combination of two of the following courses:

Beacon Ridge, Foxfire, Hyland Golf Club, Longleaf, Seven Lakes, Southern Pines, Tot Hill Farm, or Whispering Pines

For an additional $50 per person you can substitute the Arnold Palmer-designed Mid South Club for any of your rounds other than Talamore.

Valid 3/15/2010 – 5/17/2010.

Price based on 4 people staying in a 2 bed / 2 bath Villa at Talamore. Price includes all lodging fees, Greens fees, Cart fees and applicable taxes. One round required to be at Talamore. Mid South round can be substituted for any round except round at Talamore.

Customized Trips Also Available – Call Toll Free (800) 552-6292

http://www.talamoregolfresort.com/

Services offered:

Daily maid service, FULL homemade breakfast each morning, social hour in the afternoon.

Stay where the great Byron Nelson stayed at the Inn (Originally called the Lantana) in 1935 the same year he posted his first victory at the New Jersey State Open!

We are a proud member of the Sandhills Golf Association so we may offer you the best prices in golf at the best courses!

We offer a unique alternative to a traditional hotel with 8 bedrooms in our main house. Plus, Plenty of room to play cards, watch TV, read a book, relax or too enjoy great conversations in our parlor or large front porch. We offer availability for 2-16 golfers.

Each quote is customized to meet your golf group needs and golf desires.

Please call or email us and let us help you create a successful golf experience!

Aberdeen, NC Bed and Breakfast with golf packages for the Sandhills area of North Carolina (including Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen)

Renowned golf course architect, Dan Maples, established Little River Golf & Resort in 1996. Maples was born only a few miles from the waters of the Little River, and has brought a dedication to this course that no other architect could. His achievement is both a gift to the golf resort community where he grew up and a challenging experience for golfers everywhere.

Discover A Legend Among World-Class Golf Resorts… Little River Golf & Resort

Little River’s Blazin’ Winter Special is offered at $199.00 per person to include:

• Lodging for 2 evenings, based on 4 people staying in a 2 bedroom / 2 bath golf course villa
• Full hot breakfast each morning in the clubhouse dining room at Little River
• Daily housekeeping service
• 2 rounds with cart at Little River Golf Club
• Package includes REPLAY incentives (call for more details)
• Choose a 3rd round at any of the selected area golf courses: Anderson Creek, Beacon Ridge, The Carolina, Deercroft, Foxfire, Hyland Golf Club, Legacy,  Longleaf, the Pit, Seven Lakes, Southern Pines Elks, Tobacco Road, Tot Hill, Whispering Pines, Woodlake
• Full use of the practice facilities at Little River Golf Club for the duration of your stay
• Includes all applicable state/local taxes
• Based on availability through February 28, 2010
• Click Here to Book Now! or call (888) 766-6538