Picking the best golf course in the world is a tricky task, there are so many factors to take into consideration and choosing and picking a certain course would be hard. Instead of picking an out and out winner, here is what are believed to be the greatest courses in the world and what we would imagine would make the top 5.

1. Pebble Beach set in California is considered one of the finest courses in America, and of course, as you can imagine, that is a terrific title. Most of the courses in the US such as Pine Valley and Augusta are only available to a few of the very wealthy members. The course is a tricky one with various water hazards dotted around it. The course also holds a lot of history, the most famous closing two holes in golf were played here (Tom Watson’s chip-in during the 1982 US Open and Jack Nicklaus’s unerringly accurate one iron a decade earlier).

2. Cape Kidnappers, upon the east coast of New Zealand on the beautiful North Island is almost untouchable in terms of location. The fairways on this course are humungous fairways and jagged edges and fearsome ravines due to the mountainous terrain. The course was originally designed by American architect Tom Doak. The course is unlike most, it is missing sand dunes however it adds its own unique challenges such as the gigantic ravines. Some say this course is the greatest of all.

3. Turnberry, Scotland’s finest course is respectably amongst the best in the world. The course which is home to two championship standard courses was designed by Mackenzie Ross. The pick of the course, the 8th hole may now be named “Duel in the Sun”, after Tom Watson’s famous victory over Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke 31 years ago, but the ninth – on a cliff edge – blows the mind.

4. Staying in the same area of the globe, Northern Ireland’s Royal County Down is also up there with the best of the lot and it is easy to see why. The first 9 holes of the course particularly have been picked out as some of the best on the planet. The coastline course is not only a terrific course to play but the scenes will also take your breath away.

5. Last but most definitely not least is the Leopard Creek in South Africa. This course is fantastic and is a huge challenge, as you could imagine with moving water hazards. The pick of the holes are two par fives: the fourth, more than 600 yards long, sits 100ft above the edge of Crocodile River.

Author Bio:

Aidan currently writes for View My Fairway, a company that specialises in fairway view cameras for golf clubs.

Golf can not only be a hobby and a sport but as you may already know, the pay can be incredible. Of course, most athletes do tend to make a lot of money, yet the amount made in golf is not as widely known, especially for the top players of the game who also take in millions in endorsements. After figures were released, we found out the highest earning players in world golf as of last year.

Topping the list is a golfer that will not surprise many, Tiger Woods, possibly the most well-known golfer of all time tops the list for the highest earner in golf for 2012. Woods is the highest earner with a humungous $86 million with $77 million from endorsements. Woods tops the list by some distance too with number two on the list, Phil Mickelson totalling in at $45.3 million with $40 million from endorsements and number 3 Arnold Palmer in with $36 million, which is noticeably all from endorsements. Some may have expected Jack Nicklaus or Rory McIlroy to compete amongst the richest after a great year for the Irishman however they fall 4^th and 5^th respectively. The full list is below.

20. Dustin Johnson – $8.7 million

19. Adam Scott – $8.8 million

18. Bubba Watson – $9 million

17. Graeme McDowell – $9.1 million

16. Jim Furyk – $9.6 million

15. Ryo Ishikawa – $9.63 million

14. Louis Oosthuizen – $9.8 million

13. Justin Rose – $13.1 million

12. Sergio Garcia – $13.35 million

11. Lee Westwood – $13.36 million

10. Gary Player – $14 million

09. Luke Donald – $14.3 million

08. Greg Norman – $17 million

07. Brandt Snedeker – $17.4 million

06. Ernie Els – $18.6 million

05. Rory McIlroy – $22.5 million ($7 million from endorsements)

04. Jack Nicklaus – $28 million (100% from endorsements)

03. Arnold Palmer – $36 million (100% from endorsements)

02. Phil Mickelson – $45.3 million ($40 million from endorsements)

01. Tiger Woods – $86 million ($77 million from endorsements)

Tiger woods was said to have moved from the state of California to Florida back in 1996 due to the high rate of taxes which saw him save $8.6 million last year which works out at $716,000 every month. There has also been talk of Phil Mickelson moving out of the state due to the high tax rate.

Author Bio:

Aidan currently writes for Vie w My Fairway, a company that specialises in providing fairway view cameras to golf clubs.

We start off in Spain, La Manga which is well known as a popular holiday location for Premier League footballers, with its luxurious courses accompanied by the occasional palm tree or two dotted around the area. The location is topped off with close by golden beaches perfect for relaxing on. The courses are close to a number of various villages and towns where you can look around, grab a drink and a bite to eat. The paradise and scenery can only be admired for a short while though as the courses require you to focus if you want to conquer their devilish bunkers and enormous fairways. The courses are designed to meet PGA standard specifications.

Tenerife has always been a hotspot for British tourists however, isn’t always seen completely for its golf courses. On the island of La Gomera there lies a terrific couple of courses which are home to unusual and exotic hazards such as waterfalls and volcanic cliffs. As well as the terrific game of golf the location offers, there are activities for the whole family such as water sports, treasure hunts and other forms of entertainment.

Praia del Rey in Portugal is home to not only a thrilling 18 hole course but a nearby vineyard and markets. The rather tricky course is home to challenging shots through pines and unpredictable sand dunes. The course really does offer a test to any golfer of any skill level or experience of the game.  If you differ from most that enjoy the peace and quiet by the courses, Lisbon is always only an hour away with its shops and nightlife waiting for you.

In Greece there also lies a fantastic handful of luxurious courses and Porto Carras offers just that. With 26 miles of Blue Flag beach close by, the course offers an 18 hole challenge with terrific scenery and with wine tasting at the on-site vineyard, you surely can’t complain.  The course can be tough for any golfer making it a true experience. Try to keep your ball dry on the Greek version of Augusta’s ‘Amen Corner’ as four holes crisscross a series of lakes between the 11th and 14th.

Author Bio:

Aidan currently writes for View My Fairway, a company that specializes in placing fairway cameras around golf courses.

Whether it was snow, freezing rain, torrential rain, or howling winds, golfers everywhere stayed indoors and looked longingly at their unused golf bag, cleats, and bucket of balls.

So with golf season upon us, eager players everywhere are looking forward not just to the game itself, but the subtler moments that make the sport so wonderful, such as the first tee-time of the year, that first successful putt, or that booming drive that clears away winter’s cobwebs.

This urge among golfers to hit the greens after a brutal winter makes a spring golf tournament a great idea. Players will be excited after months of inactivity, and when coupled with good weather, cool golf awards, and great camaraderie, your early-Spring charity tournament could be the event people are talking about all summer.

Think about it.

Golf is the slowest game imaginable. There is no physical contact between players. Golfers don’t wear helmets and aside from Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, most Americans cannot name a single player.

Yet golf is more popular than ever, especially among men. Men, in fact, comprise of 80 percent of golfers in America, and despite major inroads among women, the percentage of female golfers has remained relatively stagnant.

The sport is so male-dominated, commentators have coined a term for it, called “the golf gene.”

Only by talking to a golfer can one know what truly attracts them to the sport. The odds are that you know one personally, and if the data is to be believed, they are male.

So with Father’s Day coming up, why not consider a host of golf products for the perfect gift?

And there will always be a time and place for traditional gifts like trophies and certificates. They’re regal and honorary, and when hung on a wall, will always remind the winner of their accomplishments.

But that’s precisely why other companies and sponsors are looking at other golf gift options: some prizes shouldn’t be hung on walls. Some prizes should be used by the recipients in their daily lives, to not only remind them of their win, but promote the sponsor.

In other words, some prizes should save the winner time and money by providing them with something they’d probably buy anyway.

So if you’re a golf tournament planner looking to think outside of the traditional golf gift “box,” we’d like to suggest other options, like leather card cases, beer mugs, beer steins, leather golf shoe bags, and leather trimmed canvas golf shoe bags.

May enthusiasts may be fortunate enough to practice on their own property. For these lucky individuals, spring also brings with it ongoing maintenance of their personal fairways.

One of the most common maintenance issues is repairing divots. To the golfing neophyte, the divot is the area in the turf that has been dug up by the shot.

While without a doubt an eyesore, divots are a necessary part of golf – after all, players will need to “dig out” a shot, and often times, it means exacting a toll on the turf itself. Not all divots need to be harmful to the turf – if executed properly, a divot can shear the grass cleanly without digging deep into the turf.

Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world, and often times divots are deep and damaging, which is where where divot repair tools come into play.

Today athletes are demanding of a proper, well-fit, comfortable shoe that will not detract from their game. Price, comfort and style are all factors that one can consider when purchasing these very much improved golf products. There are so many choices that it comes down to personal preferences.

All golf shoes need to have excellent traction as they are designed to aid in a golfer’s grip and stability on the ground. This will translate to better distance and accuracy. Once a golfer’s foot is firmly planted, they are able to concentrate on their swing.

The golf shoe has now joined the ranks of other athletic shoes in terms of padding, arch support, lightweight material and flexibility. You want to also make sure your golf shoes are waterproofed before heading out. Experiencing rain and bad weather on the golf course is, well, par for the course.

Golfers have a lot ot think about and concentrate on when heading out to the greens. The comfort of their shoes should not be one of them.

Sponsors, for example, can sponsor a hole or make a one-time donation; participants, meanwhile, can play a flat fee for entry into the tournament. In both cases, these donations are tax-deductible.

Tournament planners should reward their sponsors accordingly; they can display the sponsor’s name at the tee box, for example, or engrave it in all promotional materials, such as personalized golf mugs, awards, and trophies.

Effectively promoting your tournament’s sponsors is a win-win for all involved parties. Sponsors themselves get valuable publicity in return for their tax-deductible donations, while organizations receive much-needed dollars to make the event a success.

And by properly rewarding sponsors through these generous advertising opportunities they’ll be more likely to return to future events – and open their wallets in the process.

If you have ever been to a golf tournament then you know one of the things they do to raise money, typically during the cocktail hour or dinner, is host a silent auction. Folks put down what they want to bid for (using a bid number instead of their name) and they watch as the bidding rises when more people bid. They can also rebid if it’s an item they really want.  It’s a lot of fun with a lot of great prizes.

If you are donating a gift as a silent auction item, think about donating a basket full of golf gifts. You can place golf mugs, golf divot repair tools, golf t-shirts, golf gloves, a golf bag, even golf clubs; the possibilities are endless. A great marketing idea is to have each of those gifts furnished with your company’s logo. Now the winner of this terrific gift will always remember the generosity of your company’s donation.