This week, the European Tour is headed for the Algarve, the sun-soaked southern coast of Portugal. I enjoy following the European Tour, not just because I happen to be European, but mainly because the players in Europe seem to take themselves just a little bit less seriously than their American counterparts on the PGA tour. Add in a relaxed and…

The European Tour is making its annual stop in the south of Spain this week. Yesterday, I flipped on the Golf Channel and watched Miguel Angel Jimenez stroll down the lush Valderrama fairways, cigar in mouth, the sun beaming down on him. The 57-year-old proceeded to effortlessly stripe a 3-wood down the fairway, then gave the camera a quick smile…

Happy Ryder Cup week, fellow golfers! The three-year wait is finally over. This week we will see the United States’ best golfers battle it out against the top European players at The Straits – Whistling Straits’ flagship course nestled along the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Michigan. The decades-long rivalry, the heckling fans, the aging European team with Westwood making his 11th Ryder…

In this edition, Bill Hogan lists some “still available” golf travel options for 2022 Vaccination rates are up, Covid-cases are down, and with that comes a general excitement and eagerness to start traveling again. However, the impact of the pandemic lingers, even when looking ahead to 2022. We are experiencing a “pent-up demand” for golf travel due to the pandemic, and…

In this edition, Bill Hogan introduces you to Pioneer Golf’s Mitzi Edge from Augusta, Georgia.  The first thing you notice when talking with Mitzi Edge, the Senior Golf Travel Advisor for Pioneer Golf, is that she talks with a Georgia accent reminiscent of many Patrons attending The Masters this week at Augusta National Golf Club. There’s good reason for that,…

In this edition, Pioneer Golf CEO Bill Hogan outlines some timely information about booking your Ireland golf vacation. Experienced golf travelers know that there are always reservation deadlines required to secure the top golf courses for their trip. In 2022 and 2023, this is more important than ever due to the pent-up demand for international travel once this pandemic subsides….

Pioneer Golf CEO Bill Hogan discusses his memories of, and recommendations for, playing Muirfield, the exclusive and historic links outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. There is no doubt that 2020 and 2021 have presented unique challenges for anyone who yearned to play the great links courses in Scotland. As disappointing as it was, there appears to be some light at the…

  This week, Pioneer Golf CEO Bill Hogan discusses his many years of association with The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am being played this week on the Monterey Peninsula. You can always tell an old-timer in California by the way they refer to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am as “The Crosby” or “The Clambake”.  These monikers date back to…

This week, Pioneer Golf CEO Bill Hogan discusses some travel ideas for 2020: Now that it’s January, most of the tee times at the famed links courses in the UK and Ireland are sold out for the 2020 season. Advance reservations have never been higher and the most demanded courses such as Muirfield, Royal County Down, Royal Portrush and St…

This weekend you’ll probably watch some of the world’s best golfers battle it out on the lightning fast greens at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.  The masterpiece Composite Course, designed in part by Dr Alister MacKenzie, will look mesmerizing with the gorgeous bunkering around the pristine putting surfaces. Why only “in part” by MacKenzie?  That’s because the Composite Course utilizes the…

This week, Hogan discusses holiday gift ideas for the golfer in your life. Let’s face it: golfers are a finicky bunch. Each player is unique and they favor certain brands of equipment for various reasons. Some shoppers might assume that a dozen golf balls would make a great gift, but if you get the wrong brand and or model, the…

Top 10 Modern Courses Scotland   According to the Pioneer Golf staff of trip planners and PGA / LPGA Professionals, here is our ranking of the Top 10 Modern Courses (accessible to our customers) and some candid quotes:   10 ) Dundonald (2003): “originally named Southern Gailes until Kyle Phillips redesigned it”; “I often recommend it for arrival day because it…