Nowadays, those who really love the sport of golf and want to be able to play it whenever they go on vacation have an intriguing opportunity in front of them. The attractiveness of golf vacation resorts to these people can't be overstated. Some of these destinations combine a world-class golf course with a beautiful resort experience. There's really very little downside, for the most part.

The attractive part of all this is that there are these kinds of resorts popping up all over the world. Even Scotland, the birthplace of golf as we know it, is getting in on the act. But for true high-class resorts and high-class golfing, there aren't many better places to find them combined than in North America. Some of the resorts are paradises of golf and resort living, for a fact.

For golf enthusiasts wanting to partake of a true PGA experience on courses that frequently host the U.S. open and other top tournaments, then the region around the Monterey Peninsula needs to be explored. Home to world-famous Pebble Beach, the seven Links courses are currently rated as the number one public array of courses in the United States.

The quality of the hotels at many of these golf vacation resorts is also four-star. North Carolina's Pinehurst was the 2008 Travel and Leisure magazine Best Golf Resort award winner. Resorts like Pinehurst combine outstanding golf courses with equally outstanding luxury resort hotels that deliver on every promise. Both the courses and the hotels are truly four-star.

The attractiveness of golf vacation resorts as a way to not only get in a truly outstanding golfing experience and a luxury hotel stay in one all-in-one package can't be beat. For many avid golfers, the opportunity to play on world-class, PGA-certified courses is really a chance to play in the major leagues of golf, if only as a visitor.