Golf travel has become a huge business in the United States and developers have to fight very hard to capture a slice of this market. Keeping track of all the best that golf resorts have to offer can be a daunting task, but there are several areas of the country that you need to keep an eye on in the coming year. These golf courses are consistently ranked among the top golf destinations currently in America.

The amenities being offered at these clubs grow in quality and quantity as time goes by. Hotels and attractions tend to go hand in hand with golf. If you are planning a trip this next year be sure to check out these golfing hot spots.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale has established itself as the hot spot for winter golf. There are so many great golf courses in the area that players can never get bored. There is a great variety of target, resort and desert-style golf courses to choose from. The distinctive landscape makes this a great option for people from the cold Northeast part of the country.

Many of the top designers are represented in Scottsdale including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones. Winter is a perfect time to visit this area when the weather is perfect and the golf courses are in top condition.

Coyote Springs Golf Club - Las Vegas, Nevada

This will be the first in a series of golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus to be part of the Bear Trail. Although not yet completed, this golf course will be opened in the first part of 2008. Jack Nicklaus is one of the most popular designers in the country and this first golf course looks amazing. Expect to find generous fairways, large greens and immaculate golf course conditions.

This golf course will be located a short drive from the famous Las Vegas Strip. When it comes to entertainment, nothing can compare to the lights and dazzle that is Las Vegas.

Pinehurst Golf Resort - Pinehurst, North Carolina

The first golf course at this mega resort opened in 1898 and since that time Pinehurst golf resort has captured the hearts of the golfing world. Who will ever forget the dramatic US Open Victory of Payne Stewart in 1999 or Michael Campbell defeating Tiger Woods to win the Us Open, all of which happened on the No.2 Course.

Pinehurst Golf Club has eight golf courses - all designed by some of the best architects in the industry, including Donald Ross, Tom Fazio and Rees Jones. This is one of the few resorts where you can stay for a week and never play the same golf course twice. First-class Hotels and accommodations make this the perfect place for a golfing vacation.

Whistling Straits - Kohler, Wisconsin

There are two golf courses at this resort, the more famous of which is the Straits Course. This golf course has been the site of numerous professional tournaments including the 2007 US Senior Open. This golf course is built along a two-mile stretch of Lake Michigan and replicates the old links courses of Scotland and Britain. This is one of the best examples of links golf anywhere in the United States.

Both golf courses at this luxury resort play to well over 7,200 yards and both were designed by Pete Dye. The nearby American Club offers a AAA Five Diamond resort and Spa - the only such resort in the Midwest.

Lake Las Vegas - Las Vegas, Nevada

This resort complex is designed around the man-made Lake Las Vegas. There are three golf courses around the property with a fourth golf course, designed by Tom Fazio, currently under construction. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf designed the public golf courses open for play here. Both golf courses have some dramatic views and are built around the rugged landscape typically found in the desert.

Also located on the lake are two elegant resorts, The Ritz-Carlton and the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort. This complex is located about 30 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

Bandon Dunes - Bandon, Oregon

This is almost a no-brainer when it comes to golf. All three of the golf courses here are listed in the Top 25 Best Public Golf Courses by GolfDigest magazine. Situated along the breathtaking Oregon coast, these golf courses do a great job of replicating a seaside golf links. The Pacific Ocean can be seen from many of the holes and a walking-only policy preserves the traditional aspects of golf.

This resort has small villas and condos that enhance the intimate feel of the property. Bandon Dunes is located about 25 minutes from the North Bend airport and has 23 miles of coastline and views of the Pacific Ocean.

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