A  recent survey in conducted by Golf Digest magazine found that despite the economic downturn of recent years, 65% of the 2000 people who responded take an annual golf buddy trip.  Almost half said they would continue the tradition even if their income fell by 25%.  Those surveyed said the like the camaraderie as much as the golf. 

About 80% of golf buddy trips are taken by men, while women enjoy spa trips with friends.  According to an article on the Reuters Money Blog, Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona is a popular health spa destination. 

What makes golf and spa trips worth every hard-earned penny?  According to those surveyed, the return on investment  is relaxation and fun.  Read more about destination getaways at the Reuters Money Blog

The beautiful golf courses that dot the landscape of Arizona are made possible by the hard work of hundreds of grounds crew workers.  Most of the workers are Mexican immigrants who make less than $10 per hour.  The work isn’t easy, but many grounds crew workers enjoy spending time outdoors as they shovel sand, mow greens, dig trenches and rake bunkers. 

To gain a better understanding of the job of a grounds crew worker, read about a worker named Miguel Ramirez who works at the Grayhawk Golf Course in Scottsdale on the GOLF Magazine website.  Ramirez has a zen-like philosophy that allows him to enjoy his job.

Tim Mickelson, brother of pro golfer Phil Mickelson, has accepted a position as head golf coach for Arizona State University. Mickelson will be leaving a coaching position at the University of San Diego, where he led the golf program to its first three NCAA tournaments while collecting four West Coast Conference championships. Mickelson has also been named WCC Coach of the Year four times.

Both Tim Mickelson and his brother Phil spent time in the ASU golf program. Tim Mickelson was part of the time that won a National Championship in 1996.

Read more about the new ASU coach on the ASU Sun Devils Athletics website.

Turquoise Valley Golf Course, located in Naco, Arizona near the border with Mexico, is considered to be the state’s oldest continuously operating course.  Found in 1908, Turquoise also has the distinction of being home to the 747-yard “Rattler.”  The Rattler is the only Par 6 hole in Arizona.  It’s the 5^th longest hole in the U.S. and the 10^th longest on the planet. 

Naco is located a short distance from Tombstone, one of the most historic towns of the Old West.  The course includes a restaurant and RV park, making it a great golfing destination for those who aren’t looking for a 5-star resort.

Find out more about Turquoise Valley Golf and the Rattler on the official course website.  You can also see footage of the Rattler and learn about Arizona golf history in this YouTube video from Arizona Highways TV.

PING, a family-owned Arizona golf equipment company, makes some of the finest golf clubs in the world. Started as a garage business in 1959 by Karsten Solheim, PING was reportedly named for the sound Solheim heard when a club made contact with a ball. Solheim, who died in 2000, was a mechanical engineer who retired from a career in the aerospace industry to purse his passion for designing the perfect putter. He is the only golf manufacturer to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

To see what PING golf clubs are capable of in the hands of a pro, see this YouTube video about how Hunter Mahan uses the contents of his golf bag.

Learn more about PING on the official company website.

Arizona is a great place to vacation (see our Top Reasons why), but it does heat up in the summer. This can be a boon for travelers because innkeepers tend to turn up the heat on promotions. Case in point is the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa.  This 125-acre desert resort, located in Scottsdale at the foot of Mummy Mountain is offering special “Linger Longer” weekend packages with extended check-in and check-out times, as well as a $50 credit per day for golf, dining or spa services. Camelback Golf Club, located 3 miles from the resort, features 36 rounds of championship golf.

Find out about all the summer vacation packages on the Camelback Inn website.

Golf in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona is in a class by itself.  Besides over 300 days of sunshine per year, there are so many golf courses that every golfer is sure to find the perfect challenge.  Here are our Top Reasons to plan a golf vacation in Arizona.

Read more about Arizona golf vacations on the official Arizona Visitor’s Guide website.

Besides a plethora of public golf courses, Arizona is home to scores of private courses and golf clubs. One if these is Blackstone Country Club, located in the rolling hills of Peoria about an hour from downtown Phoenix. Named for the area’s indigenous volcanic rock, Blackstone features a 30,000 square foot clubhouse and a private, walkable 18-hole championship golf course. The club is family-friendly and located adjacent to a peaceful gated community named Vistancia.

With the housing market still down, many out-of-towners are buying second homes in Blackstone’s gated community. Read about Canadians who have discovered Blackstone Country Club in this Edmonton Times article.

DuPont and Nike have joined forces to produce the 20XI, a next-generation golf ball. Instead of a traditional rubber core, the 20XI has a new thermoplastic resin core. Its resin core technology makes the ball lighter and allows it to go the distance off the tee. It also provides more control on the greens.

Find out more in this YouTube video, which features Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie, Paul Casey and several other top golfers as well as Nike designer Rock Ishii.  You can also visit the Nike 20XI website to find out more about this ball.

Politics and celebrity golf recently collided when Jerry Seinfeld pulled out of a charity tournament organized by Donald Trump’s son in protest over Trump’s recently comments about President Obama’s citizenship. Trump blasted Seinfeld for dropping out of the event and replaced him with rocker Bret Michaels. The lead singer for rock band Poison was the winner of Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice reality show in 2010.

The Eric Trump Foundation 5th Annual Golf Invitational will be held September 13, 2011 at the Trump National Golf Course in Los Angeles and will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.