On the Tee

For the past decade, the face of American golf has looked the same. The steely-eyed glare of Tiger Woods possessed combined with the sly grin of Phil Mickelson was enough to steal all the attention. But with Woods having imploded and Mickelson unable to establish control on a regular basis, there really is no clear-cut top U.S. golfer at the moment.

Experts have been saying for years the future looks ‘bright’ for American golf, yet it is the young international golfers who are gobbling up major victories regularly, leaving us to wonder: What really is the state of American golf and why is Europe dominating the rankings?

Members now enjoy access to America’s best private golf courses and dining experiences

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – Residents and buyers in the market for a Southwest Florida home now have even more reason to consider a community built by WCI Communities: free golf privileges and complimentary fine dining at the country’s top private golf courses and dinner clubs.

WCI Communities has formed a strategic partnership with ClubCorp that provides members and residents complimentary play at 140 country clubs and free four-course meals at more than 65 private restaurants, including Chicago’s famed Metropolitan Club, City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles and the landmark 21 club in New York City.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Bearded and dressed in all black, with the exception of his dark gray cross trainers and out-of-place pastel belt, Daniel Brunson sips on his second Terrapin IPA as he recalls playing alongside Graeme McDowell during his days at the College of Charleston.

McDowell, who spent his collegiate career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, exceeded his own wildest dreams in 2010, winning the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and securing the decisive point for Europe in th eRyder Cup. Brunson, who just turned 30, doggedly continues the pursuit of his dreams in much more pedestrian corners of the world. 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV - "When I say Jim, you say Justice!"

"Jim - Justice."

"Jim - Justice."

I can't decide what's more abnormal - a resort owner being serenaded with the sound of his own name or the prim and proper gentleman dressed like a Polo Rugby store manager who's leading the cheers. Rascal Flatts is about to take the stage, but the princes of country power ballads are being overshadowed by an unlikely rock star.

Award-winning architect Tom Doak admits that he’s a “moving target.” He might as well be crossing the land playing in a traveling band. The month of September alone took him to Detroit, Long Island, Cape Cod and the Dominican Republic. Old MacDonald, his follow-up to celebrated Pacific Dunes, opened for play this year to approving reviews. He’s also lending his time and energy to create a practice facility for the inspirational Midnight Golf program in Detroit.

First accepted by MIT to pursue an engineering degree, Doak elected to study Landscape Architecture at Cornell. Just your ho hum undergraduate experience, right? We caught up with Doak via email during his travels. He’s a very astute man, and he had a lot of interesting thoughts on current happenings in design and golf. Take it away Tom.

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - Orange County National will host the PGA Tour's Q-School finals Dec.1-6. With a great field of players once again, competitors will be trying to play their way through the extremely stressful competition in hopes of earning their 2011 PGA Tour Card.

The top 25 players will earn a full exemption and Tour Card for 2011. Orange County National is hosting PGA Tour Q-School for the fourth time. This event is free of charge and is open to the public. 

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Concession Golf Club, Golf Digest's Best New Private Course of 2006, has announced that the enhancements to the 7,470-yard course that started in April have recently been completed.

Jack Nicklaus, who designed the Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in association with British great and fellow World Golf Hall of Fame member Tony Jacklin, visited The Concession at the end of March to play and assess how the course had matured since it opened in 2006.

NAPLES, Fla. – The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s championship golf course has reopened and is expected to be better than ever after a series of enhancements.

The course was closed July-September to allow for the installation of new grass on 12 of the greens, and on all 18 tee boxes. In addition, new bridges were constructed over some of the course’s water features. 

Bluffton, S.C. – Crescent Pointe Golf Club was named the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association Golf Course of the Year for 2010 and was ranked second best golf course in the state of South Carolina.

The judges rated the clubs based on quality of the course and management, in addition to the facility’s contribution to the community and the game of golf.

As summer is coming to a close around the nation, the Grand Strand of South Carolina is looking forward to another two months of great weather. That means golfers are turning their attention to finding the best bargains in Myrtle Beach. This year, there are plenty of deals to be had.

Here's a look at some of the best values at top tier courses: