Joe_T

I'm interested in this as well. I've flown through Madrid to get to Ireland my last couple of trips so already have had my clubs but didn't play.

Even on the public side there is some good golf with Bethpage and Montauk. On the private side there is a wealth (you'll need wealth to play them) of great golf (Shinnecock, NGLA, Maidstone, Friar's Head, Sebonack, Garden City...).

Think this one is great advice for someone who plans to make regular trips. I've got memberships in Ireland and Wales and on the waitlist for a links ticket (looks like it might be another 10 years till that one comes up).

Really? Cheap and golf in Japan are never things I would have put together. Plus access to most high quality courses is kind of like the US and there weren't many true public courses. I do agree there is some pretty good golf in Japan but not really accessible or cheap in my experience (also usually have to have a group). Also not sure how New Zealand is getting mentioned as underrated. I figure if you ask people for their top 5 golf countries outside of their home country a good chance New Zealand makes it. For under rated I'm going with the Netherlands. Truly one of the best golf trips I've made. I'd also say Wales should get a mention with some good value (I've joined a club in Wales).

I've played golf in every state but Alaska. If access to private clubs isn't a problem I'd go with California or New York. Monterey and Long Island would also be the places I would want to live if money wasn't an issue. Living in my reality NC is where I plan to retire (spending a good amount of time in the UK/Ireland)

You can look at joining one of the local clubs (Royal and Ancient, St. Andrews Golf Club, New Club) but joining the clubs don't give you access to the courses (and they aren't easy to join). For unlimited golf on the links courses you need a links ticket. You can get on the links ticket waiting list but it's going to take a bit of advanced planning. I'm currently on the waitlist and at number 1187 I figure I should get my ticket in about 10-12 years (I've been on the list a couple years now). South of St. Andrews you can get an overseas memberships at Leven or Lundin which are pretty good links courses.

You say military can get on for under $50 but then say the resident price is $63. Wouldn't the price be $88 ($63+$25 for the residency card)?

I've made a number of international trips (Jamacia, UK/Ireland multiple times, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea). I've always taken the clubs on the flight in a pretty cheap golf travel bag. It sounds kind of weird but I use a broom instead of something like a stiff arm. I've never experienced broken clubs or anything like that. I usually wrap towels and jackets around the clubs. I always end up bringing way too many golf balls but balls are usually more expensive outside the US so don't want to buy them on the trip. I've never had my clubs not make it (arrive early and watch them get taken by the staff) but have had my clubs not arrive home with me. Last trip played with a group where two guys shipped their clubs with ship sticks and dropped them off together (one guys clubs didn't make it, but ship sticks paid for his rentals for the trip). Advice for UK/Ireland trips is to try and play some of the smaller links courses that don't have the tour busses full of americans stopping by. Also look to play in open competitions as you'll get to play with some locals. I've also joined clubs as an overseas member and the annual fees are usually less than I pay for a month in the US. If you plan to make regular trips to the same location or if you plan to stay in the same town for a bit more than a week, the overseas membership can make good sense.

What speed do you guys think these things roll? I have the original birdie ball and it rolls a bit faster than I would like. Figure these mats might roll a bit slower.

Updating after using the sidekick for a good part of the season. The sidekick isn't perfect but I prefer it to the tether. If money is an issue definitely get the tether system because it gets you almost there. The things I like: Remote is magnetically attached to the clip. Once it's following it's pretty rare it stops following (tether would sometimes seperate with bumps or if I walked to fast) Things I don't like: When going back to follow mode after being stopped for long periods (greens and tees) it sometimes takes awhile to find where the remote is and doesn't follow. It makes noise constantly as it kind of twitches around. It doesn't bother me but worry it bothers people I'm playing with. I have to remember to charge after each round (not sure how long the battery lasts).

I have the alphard v2 with the tether follow system ($150) on a rovic. I had a bat caddy remote and have to say I love the tether. Hate to say it but ran the bat caddy into things more than I'd like to admit. Unfortunately with the tether about 5 times a round the tether disconnects, and I have to walk the 5 feet back to my bag to reconnect the magnetic tether (I also have to avoid walking on big sidehills as the v2 can't always stay the straight line on the sidehill). Other than the disconnecting I actually like the tether because I know the bag is still following me. I don't like when it disconnects though and wondering how I'll know if the CB sidekick loses me. Similarly, if I turn the follow off to help a friend look for their ball in the woods when I restart it 20 feet away does it come to me and start the follow or do I need to be close to start the follow.

Driver/woods: Taylormade Irons: Mizuno Wedges: Titleist Putter: Hogan by Bettinardi