“Show me a man who is a good loser and I’ll show you a man who is playing golf with his boss” – Jim Murray.

The quote while it draws laughs, points out the age old link between golf and business. Away from the formal confines of a boardroom and golfing in fresh air, the business honcho has ample time to chat with a partner and even study his character. The golf course is an open air office of sorts, affording almost as many opportunities for networking as a business party. Amusing as it may sound, it is a fact that many business colleges offer a course in golf to their students.

So if you are planning to gift a golf vacation to your boss or recommending some of the top golf courses where he can de-stress with the game or even hold a meeting, here are the names of 3 Best American Golf Courses:

Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California

“If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. I’ve loved this course from the first time I saw it. It’s possibly the best in the world.”– Jack Nicklaus

This legendary golf course famed for its beauty and golfing challenges, is located in the Monterey Peninsula, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This 18-hole course features 6,828 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. Managed by the Pebble Beach Resorts the course has hosted several prestigious golfing events like the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the US Open Championships.

Caddy Services: The caddies enhance your golfing experience with their detailed course knowledge and assistance during play.

Facilities: There are three beautiful resort facilities for accommodation- The Lodge, The Inn at Spanish Bay or Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach. Over a dozen restaurants and bars provide the best of world cuisine and beverages. Fitness, tennis and spa facilities are also available. Shopping enthusiasts can shop for golfing apparel, art items or gifts at the resort. The beautiful Monterey Peninsula also has many places of tourist interests to visit.

Meetings and Events: From intimate boardrooms to large-scale ballrooms, any group can be accommodated here. An experienced representative will help you to choose venues, activities and help in the smooth running of the event. State-of-the-art equipment, custom designing and dynamic lighting packages further enhance your business experience.

[box border=”full”]Some Useful Tips:
Call early for bookings
Closest airport: Monterey Peninsula Airport
Contact: 800-654-9300
Course Designer – Jack Neville
Web: www.pebblebeach.com [/box]

Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin

Set on the edge of Lake Michigan, this airfield turned golf course, is an architectural and engineering marvel, and the brainchild of Herbert Kohler Jr. and Architect Pete Dye. It is associated with American Resort, a luxury resort. Featuring 7,228 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72, this 18-hole course’s rating is 76.7. Whistling Straits offers 2 courses – Straits and Irish. While the Straits has an open, rugged, windswept landscape, the Irish course is interspersed by four streams and has grassland and dunes look. Both have hosted the PGA championship, US Senior Open and the Palmer Cup.

Accommodation: There are 3 places to choose from – The American Club (a Forbes five-star resort hotel), Inn on Woodlake (121-room hotel with lovely views) and the secluded, luxurious cabins of Sand hill.

Facilities: Whistling Straits has a lovely club-house, a fantastic golf shop, spa services, and a collection of 20 shops and boutiques. There are varied restaurants serving world class gourmet food. The resort has a plethora of activities to suit all tastes and ages. There are beach outings, golf, ice-skating, outdoor hikes and guided tours. The Village of Kohler hosts events like the Kohler Festival of Beer and Food and Wine Experience.

Meetings and Events: This beautiful venue with its professional staff and world-class golf courses is the perfect place for a business meeting. You can choose from 3 venues – The American Club, Inn on Woodlake and the Kohler Golf Courses. Inn on Woodlake offers 3,000-square-feet of versatile meeting space in a comfortable setting. Year-round professional services ensure every requirement of your meeting is to your satisfaction. There are outstanding banquet facilities at the Blackwolf Run lodge-pole clubhouse as well. Whistling Straits Clubhouse and Irish Barn also offer unique opportunities for banquet functions and meetings. There are meeting room options at the Sports Core for up to 30 people with delicious food and beverage options from Take 5 Café. Audio-visual equipment is also provided.

[box border=”full”]Some Useful Tips:
Call early for bookings
Closest airport: General Mitchell International Airport
Contact: 886-918-3683
Web: www.americanclubresort.com/golf/ws/ws_index.html [/box]

Pacific Dunes, Bandon, Oregon

“It is here, on this remote stretch of the wildly stunning Oregon coast, where the finest golf courses in the whole world quietly await you.” – Golf Odyssey

The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is a resort in the Links Tradition. It has four different courses built on a beautiful stretch of sand dunes perched 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean. They are Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails and Old Macdonald. Bandon Preserves is the latest addition.

Pacific Dunes opened in 2001 and was designed by Tom Doak. It features an 18-hole course laid in two distinct 9-hole circuits with the first half winding through Angophora and Swamp Mahogany trees and the second around a lovely lake and wetland settings.

Caddy Services are available and highly recommended as they greatly add to the golfing experience with their basic services, golfing tips and even local stories.

Facilities: There are a variety of charming lodging options available from the lovely rooms at the Lily Pond, The Inn and The Lodge to the cottages at The Grove or Chrome Lake. The finest selections of food, snacks and drinks are available at the Gallery Restaurant, Tufted Puffin Lodge or the Bunker Bar – the three most notable resort eateries. A resort shuttle takes you to any golf course or units of the resort. There is a fitness and practice centre. You can also shop for apparel, DVDs or gift items at the online store.

Meetings and Events: Private meetings and catered events for groups from 12 to 75 can be held in any of the four venues – The Wedge Room, St. Andrews Room, Garden Room or the Mackenzie Hall.

[box border=”full”]Some Useful Tips:
Contact early for bookings
Closest airport: North Bend Airport
Contact: 888-345-6008
Web: www.bandondunesgolf.com [/box]