Golf: Links to the links

Posted on Sun, Jul. 20, 2008

As golf grows as a vacation activity, tour operators, cruise lines and regional tourism offices are adding golf courses to their lists of travel possibilities. For travel packages, surf the Internet at sites such as GolfOdyssey.com, GolfVacationInsider.com, FairwayGolf.com, PerryGolf.com, GoGolfandTravel.com, TravelGolf.com and GolfHolidays.com.

For some courses, including England's Royals, you will need a statement indicating your official handicap. Some require a maximum of 21, others 26. Golfers without a club membership can purchase a handicap certificate after listing scores at Global Golf Handicap, www.ggh.com.

ENGLAND

The area near Liverpool, less than three hours by train from London and an hour from Manchester (which also has an international airport), is England's Golf Coast. It is home to one of the highest concentrations of championship courses in the world, including three Royal courses, all available to travelers.

The top courses cost $200 to $300 to play, including lunch, but dozens of other courses are available for public play with rates as low as $70. (For a bargain, look for Silloth-on-Solway.)

At www.EnglandsGolfCoast.com, you can book tee times and accommodations, including the clubhouse at Lytham, where the weekday package of about $330 includes golf, three meals and accommodations in the Course and Dormy House. Some courses are adding motorized carts to appeal to the American market.

SCOTLAND

Most golfers head first to the delightful city of St. Andrews. If you haven't booked a tee time in advance through a tour operator, you can enter the daily lottery.

Your chances for landing a tee time improve in bad weather, say locals, especially between October and April. The Old Course is closed on Sundays. Check

www.standrews.org.uk for NB (''no ballot'') dates when there is no public play.

For other area courses, see www.standrewsgolf.org and www.golfscotland.com. If you're playing one the area's big-name courses, consider a second round -- often priced only 5 to 10.

-- DAVID G. MOLYNEAUX