Marriott offers global golf opportunities

Japanese travelers relish Phuket's unspoiled beauty and close proximity. Picturesque beaches, a rich diversity of coral life, and exotic seascapes engulf travelers at Thailand's largest and poshest island. At the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, golfers are surrounded in luxury with tropical gardens, natural beachfront and views of the Andaman Sea.

While the resort is a world of its own, a 10-minute drive takes you to the Blue Canyon Country Club, named the 'Best Championship Course in Asia,' by Asia Golf Monthly Magazine. The club's two courses are molded around water-filled canyons and rubber plantations and have been played by the likes of Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Ernie Els.

New South Pacific course

In 2006, Marriott will welcome another championship golf course in the South Pacific with the opening of the Fiji Marriott Resort on the island of Fiji. The Fiji Marriott Resort will offer a brand new 18 hole golf course designed by Thompson Wooldridge offering spectacular views of the South Pacific.

Globetrotting travelers will delight in Marriott's wide range of historic courses throughout England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, the birthplace of golf. Set in a thousand acres of wooded parkland at the foot of rolling hills, the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club in Edinburgh dates back to the 13th century when King Alexander III ruled Scotland.

Or just outside Dublin, the Druids Glen Marriott Hotel and Country Club overlooks the 13th tee at the famous Druids Glen Golf Club. This beautiful 400-acre golf estate repeatedly hosted the Irish Open from 1996-1999.

Whether a short getaway or long vacation, French travelers can soak up Spain's sunny Mallorcan countryside in which pine, olive and almond trees abound. At the southern end of the island rests the Mallorca Marriott Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa, featuring two championship courses and a golf academy, where the Spanish Golf Federation sends juniors to train for the national team. Beginner and advanced players can practice to perfection at the academy's driving range, putting greens, chipping areas and practice bunkers.

An ecological wonderland, Latin America's tropical forests and mountainous terrain have long fascinated British explorers. The Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, nestled between warm Pacific waters and a verdant rain forest, offers adventure-seeking golfers the best of both worlds.

Carved out of the natural landscape, the 18-hole Ted-Robinson golf course is replete with friendly monkeys, brightly hued macaws and iguanas. Off the course, guests can mingle with tropical fish on a snorkeling expedition or convene with exotic animals on a guided jungle tour.

Try the Caribbean

Known as the 'Sugar Island,' St. Kitts has previously offered travelers a charming selection of cozy plantation inns, vacation condominiums, villas, guesthouses and small resort facilities.

This beautiful Caribbean island is now home to one of Marriott's most long awaited resorts, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Royal Beach Casino. This fabulous resort offers 18 holes of championship golf bordered by both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

One of Egypt's premiere resorts is now open, the JW Marriott Golf Club at Mirage City just outside Cairo. Plush tree lined fairways, countless lakes, streams and waterfalls adorn a once barren desert, creating one of the most challenging courses in the region. Visitors can tee off with locals, who favor the golf club for its weekly social activities, golf outings and leagues for juniors and women. Want to improve your handicap? Teaching programs incorporate the latest technology with video swing analysis.

The United States has long been a haven for golf lovers from around the world. The Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Beach Club in Pointe Verde Beach, Florida, is surrounded by five championship golf courses including the famed TPC Stadium Course. Described as mystic and enchanting, the Stadium Course is the crown jewel of the PGA tour and hosts more than 40,000 rounds each year.

Further up the East Coast, the Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa, is widely recognized as one of the top golf destinations on the northeastern seaboard. Situated on 670 pristine, woodland acres on the southern New Jersey shore, the Donald Ross designed Bay Course offers scenic views across the water to Atlantic City.