You can't deny it, the United States is a nation of golfers. Of the world's 32,000 golf courses (approximated), nearly 16,000 of them are here in the U.S.A. That's almost half. The state of Florida is the leader with over 1,100 golf courses, followed somewhat closely by California with around 950.

We also stand well-beyond the rest of the world in how we "celebritize" golf. What comes from a very humble Scottish tradition the U.S. has turned into a major spectator sport on the back of personalities like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and more recently, Tiger Woods. In fact, it was Palmer who ushered in the idea of televised golf, a tough sell at the time given the game's rather slow pace of play and lack of face-to-face competition. Nevertheless, people bought into it, and today golf is one of the most popular televised sports.

Of course, with such popularity comes choices, and with choices comes insecurity. Where should I go to play? I've never heard about golf in this town, will there be any good courses? This place is all the rage but it's expensive and a hassle, so is it worth it?

Here we'll discuss four great golfing towns, some you might have considered, and some maybe not. We'll also provide hotel recommendations to make planning that world-class golf vacation as easy as sinking a one-foot putt.

Phoenix, Arizona

Okay, so you've probably thought about this one before, but it's with good reason. Thanks to a dry climate with fairly low and predictable precipitation patterns, golf course owners in Phoenix are able to keep the maintenance of their courses in their own hands, and eager Phoenix visitors reap all the rewards.

The Phoenix/Scottsdale area of Arizona is the only true golf Mecca in the American Southwest with a variety and quality of courses to compete with both Florida and Southern California. Everywhere you turn you can find an award-winning course designed by some of the sport's most influential architects including Arthur Hills, Robert Trent Jones (and Jr.), and even Arnold Palmer himself.

The courses in the Phoenix area are especially well suited to golfers who like to put a little distance into their game. The wide open spaces of the Arizona desert allow for courses that push the averages in terms of course length. Where you might be used to championship courses as low as 6,000 yards from the back tees, a good Phoenix course (and they're virtually all good) will top over 7,000 easy. If you think the thrill of an explosive drive off the tee just can't be beat, then Phoenix is for you.

For rewarding Arizona golf vacations, try the Embassy Suites Phoenix – Scottsdale Hotel

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina isn't just for stock car racing anymore. In fact, as one of America's greenest cities, it's no wonder that a full host of terrific public, private, and semi-private courses have sprung up in Charlotte over the last fifty years. While it can get a little balmy during the peak of summer, the relatively mild spring, fall, and winter seasons have created a fruitful golfing environment that encourages play year-round.

Like Phoenix, Charlotte has proven a popular destination not just for amateur players but for professionals and course designers as well. Arnold Palmer, Tom Jackson, and Michael Hurdzan all have courses in Charlotte. Since 2003, Charlotte has been home of the Wachovia Championship, PGA Tour event hosted at the Quail Hollow Club. Played annually in early May, this event attracts the tour's biggest names.

The verdant, natural vibrancy of Charlotte is perfect for golfers who enjoy the scenery of golf as much as the game itself. Lapping streams, tuneful bird calls, and the crisp air of an autumn morning define the Charlotte experience. For a special treat, pass through in late autumn during the changing of the seasons for as breathtaking a view as you will find at even the most famous courses.

For accommodations near Charlotte, NC, choose Doubletree Charlotte Airport Hote

Dallas, Texas

Enthusiast magazine Golf Digest loves Dallas, and you will too. From several top-ranked public courses to star-studded tournaments to charity events, golfing in Dallas has a buzz about it that you don't see in more proven destinations like Florida and South Cali. Where does the buzz come from? Where else? Great courses!

Like Phoenix, in Dallas you can find a lot of lengthy courses, even pushing past 7,500 yards from the back tees, so seasoned players looking to work their long game will have a workout ahead of them in Dallas. The rather flat, dry landscape of North Texas does mean that you won't play many courses with natural features. You can be sure that all water hazards are by design only, but there's an excellent sense of variety and creativity in the Dallas lot. With courses by Jay Moorish, Leon Howard, Dave Bennett, and D.A. Weibring, that's really no surprise.

The most popular day in Dallas Golf is surely the late-April/early-May EDS Byron Nelson Championship. This PGA Regular Tour event has been won by golfing greats Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Jack Nicklaus, and in an older format, Mr. Byron Nelson himself.

Three great Dallas hotel options:

For affordable Dallas vacation packages, try the Doubletree Dallas Hotel near downtown and Northpark Mall at Campbell Centre

For a choice of hotels in Dallas near Love Field Airport, try the Embassy Suites Love Field Airport Hotel

For downtown Dallas hotels by the Dallas Market Center, choose Hilton Garden Inn Dallas Market Center

Palm Springs, California

Here's another destination widely known for the highest quality golfing, and while it will run you a few more bucks per round than Dallas or Charlotte, the luxurious excellence of the Palm Springs resort community is a different flavor of golfing that every player should experience at least once.

First and foremost, Palm Springs is a golfing community. While there are plenty of other activities to take up the evenings, a strong majority of the tourists are there to be out on the links. This means you will have to do a little planning ahead. Browse the courses and get reservations up to two, possibly even three weeks in advance. It's not impossible to find a walk-up game somewhere, but to play at the best courses you'll need reservations for sure. While this can be a hassle, the strength of the golfing community is that Palm Springs is a very easy place for a golfer to visit alone. You'll have no trouble finding a friendly group that will let you in on a game.

When playing in Palm Springs, try not to be overwhelmed by the effervescent beauty of golf's most iconic and remarkable sights. Towering palm trees, rippling ponds, and a stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains make an easy case for Palm Springs as a top golfing destination, and that's against the steep competition of Southern California's finest.

For Palm Springs hotel reservations, consider the Wyndham Palm Springs

This is, of course, an incredibly slight sample of what is truly a nation of golfers. Big names like Phoenix and Palm Springs earn the reputations with smartly-manicured courses and luxurious resorts, while lesser known golf cities like Dallas and Charlotte are in many ways just as good. The list could go on and on, but here's four golf vacation ideas to keep you occupied for now. And remember, always follow through.

About the Author (html): Steven Mayo is a content writer for Worldwide Revenue Solutions, an Internet marketing company specializing in Search Engine Optimization and service to the hospitality industry.