Scotland may be the spiritual home of golf, but as we edge further into the new millennium it is surely the United States that is showing the way forward. Nowhere on earth can match the US for the sheer number, diversity and quality of its golf courses.

They are everywhere.

Even so, there are true hotspots dotted around that boast just as much heritage as St Andrew's or Turnberry, such as North Carolina, Georgia, New England and Michigan with venues such as Pinehurst, Augusta, Bethesda and Oakland Hills.

And then there are the up and coming areas like Florida (Sawgrass), California (Torrey Pines) and Arizona, best represented by the stunning desert courses around Phoenix and Tucson.

Phoenix, one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the US due to its stunning climate (perfect for most of the year but red hot in the summer months), boasts hundreds of courses - more than in the whole of Scotland.

And the suburb of Scottsdale - with over 160 courses itself - is certainly the jewel in the crown.

In fact, Scottsdale now rivals Florida as a top-class venue for holiday golf.

A city in its own right, the Sonora Desert scenery is stunning - and to us Brits, the total antithesis of what we are used to.

Scottsdale also boasts some of the best resort hotels in the world - such as the Four Seasons and the Westin Kierland - and is a fabulous holiday destination in its own right, particularly as flights from the UK are readily available to nearby Sky Harbour International in Phoenix.

Central Scottsdale also features an array of glitzy shopping malls while there is a plethora of other attractions waiting to be discovered - such as revolutionary architect Frank Lloyd Wright's home, the Hubble space observatory, the spectacular red rock cliffs of Sedona and, a little further to the north, the legendary Route 66, the mighty Grand Canyon as well as Monument Valley.

All in all, this part of Arizona it's a great place for a family holiday as the hotels are so well equipped there's plenty to keep the non-playing members of the party happy while you are out on the fairways.

Ideally, spend part of your break in central Scottsdale at a resort such as the Westin Kierland, which has 27 holes right on the property as well as a great adventure water park - complete with a 900-foot flowing river, a 110-foot water slide, an adult pool and a sandy beach leading into a wading area - as well as a spa.

Then, you can move out of town to the Four Seasons to experience more of a true desert course like Troon North.

The Kierland is a fabulous spot and is the perfect place to try and refine your game - and your fitness.

The course is magnificent, incredibly lush with wide fairways and studded with a myriad of sensuously shaped white sand bunkers.

True, this is a resort course and so its aim is to guide you around as comfortably as possible, which makes for a lot of fun, though it is testing enough to keep you on your toes.

What's great about playing golf in the US is that if you are on your own you will get the chance to play with some regular Americans, which is a brilliant experience.

You can also make use of one of the air-conditioned buggies or try out one of the new Segway two-wheelers - a sort of upright robo-scooter with touch sensitive steering and a wrack for your golf bag (amazing and great fun in its own right).

And you can also try out a brand new fitness regime especially designed for golfers at the Kierland.