Nicklaus Resort Course Honored by GOLF Magazine

(CUMBERLAND, Md.) – Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort – an amenity-rich AAA Four-Diamond Resort – today announces its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course appears in GOLF Magazine’s “Best Courses Near You” rankings.

The September issue marks the first time GOLF – one of the nation’s most widely circulated golf publications – has ranked the best courses in each state. Rocky Gap is in elite company on the list of Maryland’s finest and can stake claim to being the state’s only Nicklaus Signature Course. The magazine’s rankings panel included editorial staff and well-traveled golf industry sources.

“It’s always a thrill to be recognized as a top-of-the-bell-curve course and to have such a prestigious publication such as GOLF consider Rocky Gap one of the best courses in the state speaks volumes,” says Rocky Gap General Manager Tim Grambley. “This is a credit to the design as well as the day-to-day efforts of our dedicated staff here at the resort – both on and off the course.”

The award-winning par-72 course is a design masterpiece that features two unique playing experiences. The front nine was carved out of the mountainside and boasts dramatic elevation changes, while the back nine features expansive, gently rolling fairways and scenic vistas with breathtaking views of the wooded splendor.

From the first tee to the final putt, Rocky Gap is an experience unlike any other. The variety of holes – from long-and-demanding to short-but-sweet, doglegs left and right, and a mix of terrain – keeps the round fresh at every turn.

In addition to championship golf, Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort also offers many packages ranging from treatments at the Garden Spa to holidays, romance and family.

Conveniently located within two hours of Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington D.C., the all-inclusive resort sits at the gateway to Rocky Gap State Park and is nestled at the base of Evitts Mountain, on the pristine shores of Lake Habeeb.

For more information on Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort, visit www.rockygapresort.com or call 800-724-0828.

Great Golf, Breathtaking Scenery Make the Pocono Mountains a Must-Visit Autumn Destination

Pocono Mountains Thrill During the Fall with Diverse Stay-And-Play Packages, Brilliant Weather and Blazing Scenery

(POCONO MOUNTAINS, Pennsylvania) – Autumn in the Pocono Mountains – a time to enjoy the great outdoors and the wonder of Mother Nature’s colorful palette – is also the ideal time to experience the hundreds of holes of golf.

The Pocono Mountains: Discover Golf’s Great Destination Secret offers a wide array of stay-and-play packages and diverse playing options, while allowing visitors an opportunity to relax and reconnect in the authentic, forested beauty – alive with vibrant colors of reds, yellows and oranges.

“There is always something wonderful to do in the Pocono Mountains, but fall offers an experience unlike any other,” says Carl Wilgus, President and CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “The many resorts and golf courses take on another life during this time of year. On the courses, the tree-lined fairways are stunning and golfers are treated to long views of the valleys below. Splendid scenery greets guests around every corner.”

In mid-September, the destination offers a 24-hour fall foliage hotline (570-421-5565) to provide visitors nonstop information on the natural beauty available in the four-county region.

Many Pocono Mountain courses and resorts offer value-laden packages – both midweek and weekend – that provide added incentive to discover all the area has to offer. That said, by planning a weekday visit to the Pocono Mountains, golfers can avoid the traditional weekend traffic while unwinding in this natural setting. For a comprehensive list of courses and packages, visit www.poconosgolf.com.

The Pocono Mountains – home to great designs by acclaimed architects such as Donald Ross, Jack Nicklaus and A.W. Tillinghast – have been a must-visit vacation destination for generations. While other areas have rested on their laurels, the Pocono Mountains have undergone a reinvention over the last few seasons. Venerable resorts and courses remain, but have met demand of today’s savvy traveler, while modern gems have hit the scene to provide additional firepower to an already formidable stable of playing options.

With something to meet each traveler’s wants and needs, now more than ever it’s time for the Pocono Mountains. From stern tests to challenge the top players, to family-friendly and affordable layouts, the Pocono Mountains has got every golfer covered.

In addition to myriad golf options, the Pocono Mountains is blessed with numerous lakes and rivers, miles of marked and unmarked trails for hiking and biking, fine dining, shopping and historical site-seeing.

If it’s an overnight stay, a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, people are increasingly discovering the convenience and proximity of the Pocono Mountains golf properties and value-laden golf packages available via the destination Web site (www.800poconos.com).

For more information on the area, visit www.800poconos.com or call 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667).

About the “Pocono Mountains: Discover Golf’s Great Destination Secret”
The Pocono Mountains has long been known to avid travelers and mountain aficionados for its lush, relaxing family friendly ambiance and romantic setting, as well as its fall foliage, winter skiing, spring-summer outdoor recreation options and natural beauty. Numerous lakes, parks and other environmental wonderlands are found throughout the four-county Pocono Mountains region.

Discerning golfers are well aware that the Pocono Mountains are home to golf courses designed by renowned architects such as Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast. Pocono Mountains golf properties and value-laden golf packages are available on www.poconosgolf.com, which allows players to enjoy majestic mountain-view scenery, the area’s natural splendor, year-round amenities and unequaled value and variety.

Attributes of the golf-and-resort properties and destination include:
· Home to hundreds of golf holes at numerous clubs, many located close to one another:
· Two NASCAR races held annually each spring-summer
· Golden Era of Golf Architecture period designs strongly represented by legendary designers Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast
· Golf, lodging and resort accommodations at all price points, from luxury to value
· Hiking, biking, camping, spas, horseback riding, boating, fishing, hunting and many other activities
· Attractions, festivals and other special events
· Meeting and conference facilities
· Great food at a wide array of eating establishments and resort restaurants
· Bed & breakfasts, country inns and resorts
· Antique shops, outlet malls and other unique shopping venues