Hard-core swingers know where they like to play and why; but others haven't got a clue on championship courses, let alone on the ins and outs of a good golf vacation. We pick three warm spots, where beautiful natural scenery is a key ingredient. The other big catch? Fun stuff to do when you're not lugging around a bagful of clubs.

• Bermuda Close to the states, this golf locale makes a perfect last-minute or long-weekend option. Temperatures hover in the mid-70s as courses outline the Atlantic Ocean. Pink sand beaches await if your tee shots find the sandy beach bunkers all morning. Although eight courses may not seem like much, it's a lot of golf for a 21-square-mile island, with a combination of public and private golfing options. Attire is informal on the courses, which allows for an opportunity to sport your Bermuda shorts.
• Las Vegas Who says you have to blow your money on indoor games at the craps table while in Sin City? There are 50-plus courses to choose from in the Las Vegas area, from Joe-public grounds to exclusive, celebrity-designed courses, with a wide variety at the championship level. You'll get to swing among awesome scenery — canyons, Black Mountain foothills, valleys, arroyos and desert vegetation or opt for twilight golf — a.k.a. swinging around sunset. If you're still hankering for a casino buffet at dinner, it's all there, waiting for you. Average spring highs: March, 69°F; April 78°F; May 88°F; June, 99°F.
• Georgia Barrier Islands Grand estate-hotels and enormous oak trees provide an opportunity to golf among America's wetlands. There are a handful of courses to choose from with some on the �ber-expensive side, but the allure here is the natural scenery. Fabulous food — this is shrimp and grits country — and a village of cafés and watering holes highlight St. Simon's and the area as a whole is a m�lange of American history and architecture where nature still runs the show.