College Game Day

August 29, 2014

Donning your favorite school colors. Meeting with friends and fellow college alumni to watch the “big game.” Travelling for hours (upon hours) to cheer your team on as it faces off against a longstanding rival.

There are few traditions in sports quite like college football. And, as hard as it may be to believe, yet another college football season has just officially begun.

To celebrate the return of the gridiron, we have chosen five spectacular GolfNow partner courses from cities in which some of the most highly-anticipated match-ups will take place over the next few weeks.

So go ahead and prepare your snacks, put on your jerseys, and turn on your televisions. And the next time you visit each of these cities, consider playing these beautiful courses.

 

Florida State University Seminoles vs. Oklahoma State University Cowboys

Saturday, August 30^th

The Golf Club at Fossil Creek (Fort Worth, Texas)

As the first stop for ESPN’s College GameDay, Fort Worth is a football and golf hotspot. Designed by “The King,” Arnold Palmer, The Golf Club at Fossil Creek is sure to test the skills of even the most proficient golfers. Enclosed by soaring trees, numerous streams and lakes, and hilly terrain, the 6,865 yard, par-72 course is one of Fort Worth’s most daunting layouts. It is also highly popular among locals and tourists alike, as it has previously been voted by PGA.com Facebook readers as the “Best Public Golf Course in Texas” and by The Fort Worth Star Telegram readers as their “Favorite Public Course.”

 

Michigan State University Spartans vs. the University of Oregon Ducks

Saturday, September 6^th

Emerald Valley Golf Course (Creswell, Ore.)

Due to its pristine course conditions, the Emerald Valley Golf Course has earned its fair share of accolades over the years, including the Oregon Golf Association’s past ranking as “Golf Course of the Year.” Home of the University of Oregon’s golf program, the course provides something for everyone – a gorgeous setting near the Willamette River, a prestigious practice facility, and an endless array of challenges, including narrow fairways and greens that are sure to test the nerves of even the most talented putters. From the back tees, the course measures a respectable 7,165 yards and has a slope of 133.

 

University of Georgia Bulldogs vs. University of South Carolina Gamecocks

Saturday, September 13^th

Indian River Golf Club (West Columbia, S.C.)

For over 20 years, Indian River Golf Club has offered guests and members a golf course that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what their age or experience level is. However, it is certainly not a cakewalk either. Although it only measures 6,507 yards from the championship tees, the course’s tight, undulated fairways and regular elevation changes place a premium on precision, rather than distance, forcing golfers to fully utilize their course management skills. And whenever golfers aren’t planning their next shots, they can take a moment to pause and look at their surroundings – the Carolina Sandhills, the 20-acre Hunt Lake, and plentiful wildlife, which may very well be the best characteristics of the course.

 

Clemson University Tigers vs. Florida State University Seminoles

Saturday, September 20^th

SouthWood Golf Club (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Since 2002, SouthWood, a creation of 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples and architect Gene Bates, has steadily gained popularity as one of Florida’s “must play” courses. Featuring six sets of tees, ranging in length from 2,696 to 7,172 yards, the course provides options for everyone, whether parents want to teach their young children the game from the course’s shortest layout or a foursome is interested in competing from the championship tees. As a result, it has previously been ranked among America’s Best New Courses by Golf Digest and has even been selected as Tallahassee’s Best Golf Course, according to Tallahassee Magazine.

 

Duke University Blue Devils vs. University of Miami Hurricanes

Saturday, September 27^th   

The Biltmore Golf Course (Coral Gables, Fla.)

A classic Donald Ross layout, The Biltmore preserves the legendary architect’s vision, while also remaining a challenge in today’s era of larger club heads and sweet spots, even though it was built 89 years ago. Measuring 6,800 yards from the back tees, the par-71 course features impeccably maintained fairways and greens, as well as a variety of amenities, including the Biltmore Golf Academy, which is overseen by well-versed golf instructors and PGA professionals. After a round of golf, guests are also welcomed to spend the night at the historical Biltmore Hotel, where they can receive massages at the hotel’s spa or enjoy a fine dining experience at the hotel’s French and Italian restaurants.