California Golf + Travel September 2019 by California Golf + Travel

BUILD A POWERFUL SWING • TEEN WINS STATE TITLE • STAY & PLAY AT SOBOBA

SEPT/OCT 2019

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GOLDEN BOYS

CALI KIDS WIN ON PGA TOUR

GEOFF CUNNINGHAM:

THE ARTISTIC VISION BEHIND LINKSOUL

SEPT/OCT 2019

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CALIFORNIA GOLF + TRAVEL MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

SEPT/OCT 2019

Publisher’s Note The State of the Game

California Golf Scene News and Notes From Around the State

Teen Prodigy Takes California Women’s Am Amari Avery Claims Breakout Victory

The New Golden Boys of The Golden State Young Guns Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff Come Out Firing

Linksoul’s Creative Vision How the Oceanside-based Company Plans to Change Golf

Vegas’ Golf Trifecta Golf Summerlin: High-End Golf That’s Wallet-Friendly

A Few of Our Favorite Things Our Team’s Top Ranked Equipment, Apparel and Accessories

Adding Distance Off the Tee Build a Powerful Driver Swing With Arrowood Director of Instruction, Jason Hong

Develop An Eye For Putting Putting Tips From PGA Tour Coach Derek Uyeda

32 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 23, ISSUE 5 BUILD A POWERFUL SWING • TEEN WINS STATE TITLE • STAY & PLAY AT SOBOBA

SEPT/OCT 2019

VALUE IN VEGAS GOLF SUMMERLIN’S TRIO OF COURSES

GOLDEN BOYS

CALI KIDS WIN ON PGA TOUR

GEOFF CUNNINGHAM:

THE ARTISTIC VISION BEHIND LINKSOUL

Wine Selection Joseph Carr: Wine With Character Getaways Soboba Resort Casino Has it All

On the cover: Golf Summerlin’s Highland Falls Golf Course Photo Credit: Golf Summerlin

Visit us online at calgolfnews.com and be sure to LIKE us at facebook.com/calgolfnews. California Golf + Travel

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ROB OGOLFP RO • T RUE SP EC C US TO M C LU B F I T T I N G • DAV E P E L Z S CO RI N G GA ME S C H O O L • G O L F BOA R D • PH AT S CO OTE R

California Golf + Travel

JULY/AUG 2019

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

THE STATE OF THE

GAME A

ccording to a recent sports marketing survey by the National Golf Foundation, an estimated 107 million — ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS AGE 6+ — played golf on-course or off-course, watched golf on television or read about it in 2018. 33.5 million AMERICANS AGE 6+ played golf both on-course and off-course in 2018. This includes 24.2 million people who played on a golf course and an additional 9.3 million who participated in off-course golf activities at places like driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, golf labs or golf entertainment venues like Topgolf and Drive Shack. GROWTH: More than 2.6 million people played on a golf course for the first time in 2018 and the industry has had five straight years of growth with more than 2 million beginners. The category of young adults (18-34 year olds) is the sport’s biggest customer age segment, with 6.1 million ON-COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND ANOTHER 4.1 million OFF-COURSE ONLY PARTICIPANTS. Interest in playing among non-golfing young adults is also high, with more than 5.3 million saying that they are “very interested” in taking up the game. JUNIOR GOLFERS and DIVERSITY! More than 2.5 million juniors played golf on a course in 2018, remaining relatively stable in relation to recent years, with the participation base fluctuating between 2.5 million and 3 million. This segment of the golf population is more diverse than ever before. MORE THAN ONETHIRD or 36% of today’s juniors are

girls compared to 15% in 2000. And almost one-quarter of juniors are noncaucasian while just 6% were minority participants 20 years ago. GIRL POWER! There were approximately 5.7 million female on-course golfers (AGE 6+) in 2018. The number of female golfers (adult and junior) has held steady at approximately 6 million over the past five years. Overall, 23% of golfers are women. Females represent a disproportionately higher percentage of beginners (31%), juniors (36%) and off-course participants (44%) than they do in the overall golf population. LATENT DEMAND: According to the NGF, 14.7 million people who didn’t play golf in 2018 said they are “very interested” in playing golf on a golf course. A 15% increase in this pool of potential golfers over the past two years is attributable in part to the growth and popularity of off-course golf. Almost half of this untapped demand is comprised of “lapsed golfers” who played on a course previously, but not within the past year. There are another 33 million Americans who say they are “somewhat interested” in playing. A HALF BILLION ROUNDS OF GOLF! In total, there were a staggering 434 million rounds OF GOLF PLAYED ON GOLF COURSES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. IN 2018. That’s nearly a half billion rounds of golf played with 1-4 or more players. In addition, the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council reported that more than $34 billion is spent on golf equipment and green fees alone in the United States every year by people who play golf or know someone who does. For more information, see www.ngf.com. Enjoy your walk, Eric Woods

CALIFORNIA GOLF + TRAVEL PUBLISHER Eric Woods EDITOR Mark Spinn ART DIRECTOR Long Tran ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mike Stubbs, Suzy Evans, Ed Travis SENIOR WRITERS Randy Youngman, Jim Dover, Tom LaMarre CONTRIBUTORS Ian Leggatt, Ed Vyeda, Leonard Finkel, Tom Stankowski, Ken Lane PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Weinstein, Tom Neas, Mark Susson, Channing Benjamin TRAVEL EDITOR Larry Feldman EQUIPMENT EDITOR Scott Kramer, Ed Travis WINE + GOLF John Finney, Matt Palaferri CONTRIBUTING INSTRUCTORS Eric Lohman, Kris Moe, Perry Parker, Ted Norby, Scott Heyn, John Ortega, John Burckle Accounting Jep Pickett

SEPT/OCT 2019

California Golf + Travel

California Golf + Travel is published by Golf Lab Media LLC 1224 Village Way, Ste. D, Santa Ana CA 92705 Phone: (714) 542-4653 website: www.CalGolfNews.com California Golf + Travel is published bimonthly and distributed to California golf courses, country clubs, practice facilities, golf retailers, hotels, and resorts Entire contents of this publication is copyrighted Golf Lab Media LLC 2015, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner in whole or in part without the written permission from the publisher. For subscriptions, go to calgolfnews.com and sign up online or send your name, address, phone number, and $20 to Golf Lab Media at the Above address. For advertising opportunities and editorial information: Please call (714) 542-4653 or email to info@calgolfnews.com

California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

IN THE NEWS

NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE GOLF SCENE IN CALIFORNIA THE LIST OF TOURNAMENT WINNERS WITH GOLDEN STATE TIES: • Xander Schauffele (Scripps Ranch High, San Diego State): HSBC Champions in Shanghai and Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui. • Cameron Champ (Sacramento, Heritage Peak Charter School): Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi. • Bryson DeChambeau (Modesto, Clovis High): Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas. • Rickie Fowler (Anaheim, Murrieta Valley High): Waste Management Phoenix Open. • Phil Mickelson (San Diego, University of SD High): AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. • Tiger Woods (Cypress, Anaheim Western High): The Masters. • Max Homa (Valencia High, Cal): Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina. • Kevin Na (Diamond Bar High): Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial. • Patrick Cantlay (Servite High, UCLA): The Memorial Tournament in Ohio. • Matthew Wolff (Agoura Hills, Westlake High): 3M Open in Minnesota. • Collin Morikawa (La Canada High, Cal): Barracuda Championship in Reno. Rory McIroy won the season-ending Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup and $15 million payout, finishing four shots ahead of Schauffele, who pocketed $5 million for second place. Woods, the defending champion, did not get to defend his 2018 Tour Championship for the top 30 players in the points standings because he was 42nd on the list.

Rickie Fowler

PRESIDENTS

CUP TEAM

Native Californians Patrick Cantlay (4th), Xander Schauffele (5th) and Bryson DeChambeau (8th) finished among the top eight on the rolling points list to grab automatic berths on captain Tiger Woods’ U.S. Presidents Cup team, which will take on Ernie Els’ International team when the biennial matches are contested Dec. 12-15 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia.

Tiger Woods 12

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California Golf + Travel

PHOTO: RASHEDA ISAAC PHOTOGRAPHY

Woods is expected to announce his four captain’s picks in early November. He finished 13th on the points list, so there is a possibility he could pick himself as a playing captain. That, however, will be contingent on his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery in late August to “repair minor cartilage damage” in his left knee. Woods is expected to select Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland as captain’s picks.

PHOTO: RASHEDA ISAAC PHOTOGRAPHY

It was a great year for professional golfers from California during the 2018-19 PGA Tour season.

WALKER CUP CALIFORNIANS Four Californians played a key role in the U.S. victory at the 2019 Walker Cup. Stewart Hagestad of Newport Beach along with 2019 Stanford graduates Isaiah Salinda of South San Francisco and Brandon Wu earned 7 of the teams 15 ½ points. The U.S. side was Captained by the Nathaniel Crosby, the 1981 U.S. Amateur champion, who was born and raised in the Bay Area. The 47th playing of the biennial team competition between world’s best amateurs was contested at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.

SHORT STUFF On the final day of the Tour Championship in Atlanta, Rory McIlroy (69.06) passed Patrick Cantlay (69.30) to win the Vardon Trophy for lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour . . . Jake Knapp (Costa Mesa’s Estancia High, UCLA) finished third on the Order of Merit on the Mackenzie TourPGA Tour Canada in 2019 to earn his Korn Ferry Tour card for 2020. Knapp won two Canadian events and finished with a 68.16 scoring average . . . Before heading to University of Florida for his freshman year, Ricky Castillo of Yorba Linda advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst. Castillo also tied for second in stroke play in the 312-player field before qualifying for match play . . . After a threeweek hiatus, the PGA Tour began its 2019-20 schedule in September. First California event on the schedule is the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Sept. 26-29.

HOSSLER REGAINS TOUR CARD After a spectacular first full season on the PGA Tour in 2018 ($2.4 million earned in 28 events, 46th in the FedEx Cup standings), Mission Viejo native Beau Hossler slipped to 145th on the money list in 2019 ($646,000 in 27 events). Because he missed the FedEx Cup playoffs, he was forced to try to regain his PGA Tour playing privileges through the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com Tour) playoffs. Thanks to a tie for second in the Nationwide Children’s Open in Columbus, Ohio – the first of three events in the Korn Ferry Finals – Hossler, 24, earned enough points to secure his PGA Tour card in the first week. He finished eighth in the finals, with the top 25 earning tour cards along with the top 25 in the regular-season Korn Ferry standings. Santa Monica’s Brandon Hagy, a Cal grad, finished third in the Korn Ferry Finals to earn his tour card, as did Stanford’s Joseph Bramlett, who finished 23rd. San Jose State’s Mark Hubbard (6th) and Stanford’s Maverick McNealy (23rd) earned their 2019-20 PGA Tour cards based on the regular-season Korn Ferry standings.

California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE USGA

Stewart Hagestad

WOMEN’S CALIFORNIA AMATEUR

15-YEAR-OLD AMARI AVERY CLAIMS STATE TITLE By TONY L. STARKS

eople start to pay attention when a 15-year-old wins the state amateur championship. But in the case of Amari Avery, the spotlight was shinning on her well before she captured the 2019 California Women’s Amateur at Quail Lodge in Carmel-By-The-Sea on July 20. She initially burst onto the scene as a precocious 7-year-old starring in the 2013 Netflix documentary, “The Short Game.” From executive producers Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, the film followed Avery and a slew of other talented junior golfers as they prepped for Junior Worlds. Many eyes were on Avery. She was a fiery competitor, and the film pitted her against then rival and now close friend Alexa Pano – the reigning AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Champion and Avery’s partner in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. Her father played the role of overbearing golf parent, cringing and flinching at any shot that missed perfection. Outside criticism flooded in, chiding her father’s animated character and tough love approach, as well as Amari’s unwavering need to win. From that moment on, the youngster was pushed into the public eye. As if that didn’t warrant enough attention, Avery once went by the nickname “Tigress,” a moniker she’s since shed. She shares a variety of commonalities with Tiger Woods, who she still considers her favorite golfer. They have the same birthday (December 30) and come from similar ethnic backgrounds – both having African-American fathers and Asian mothers. Furthermore, they were both born in Orange County and recorded their first hole-in-one on the same course. These factors amount to a ton of pressure for a young golfer, but Avery handles it with more moxie and grace than you’d expect from a teenager. Her father, Andre, has learned to better control his emotions and has taken a less prominent role in Amari’s golf journey. Although the film often depicted him in a negative light, the fatherdaughter bond has always been strong.

SEPT/OCT 2019

“I want to win more than he does,” laughed Amari. “I’m very competitive, work extremely hard and expect more of myself than anyone else.” Avery plays golf everyday. She’s home schooled and her academic schedule orbits around practice and tournaments. She’s grooming herself for life as a tour professional. This summer that hard work started paying heavy dividends. First she broke the women’s course record at The Pete Dye Challenge Course at Mission Hills (5-under-par 67). Then during the 2019 Girls Junior PGA Championship at Keney Park Golf Course in Connecticut, Avery broke the event’s final-round scoring record when she carded a 63 en route to a third place finish. Her game was trending in the right direction when she reached Quail Ridge for the 53rd playing of the California Women’s Amateur. After a long week of match play, she found herself paired

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against Aman Sangha of San Mateo in the finals. Sangha, who aims to finish her collegiate career at CSU-Northridge alongside her sister Kiran, was 1-up after 12 holes before Avery came roaring back. Birdies at 13, 14 and 15 flipped the momentum and left Avery 2-up with three to play. A par at 16 sealed the match. It was arguably the biggest win of Avery’s young but storied career. She was able to share the moment with her father and little sister, Alana, an accomplished golfer in her own right, as she caddied for Amari throughout the week. She now joins an illustrious list of champions including Juli Inkster (1981), Patty Sheehan (1977-’78) and Amy Alcott (1973). “It’s a really long week, but it was great,” Avery told AmatuerGolf.com. “You’ve got to stay focused all the time… It means a lot to win something that so many great players have won.”

California Golf + Travel

JULY/AUG 2019

PGA TOUR

THE GOLDEN STATE’S NEW GOLDEN BOYS COLLIN MORIKAWA & MATT WOLFF: THE NEXT GENERATION OF CALI KIDS ON THE PGA TOUR By RANDY YOUNGMAN

t the age of 20, a San Diego native named Phil Mickelson won his first PGA Tour title, the 1991 Northern Telecom Open in Tucson – as an amateur, no less. At the age of 20, an Orange County native named Tiger Woods won his first PGA Tour title, the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational. At the age of 20, a Long Beach native named Patrick Cantlay won his first professional title, the Web.com Tour’s 2013 Colombia Championship. And 2019 marked the arrival of two new firsttime PGA Tour champions from the state of California. The latest “Golden Boys” from the “Golden State”: Matthew Wolff, 20, and Collin Morikawa, 22. One arrived with considerable fanfare, and the other came in under the radar, but both turned pro in June and picked up their first PGA Tour wins in July. And so a California tradition continues. Wolff was born in Simi Valley, grew up in Agoura Hills and went to Westlake High. He was the “Golden Boy” who came in with tape measures and trumpets blaring. After initially committing to play golf at USC, he decided to enroll at Oklahoma State, where he became an immediate star on the way to winning the NCAA individual champion-

SEPT/OCT 2019

California Golf + Travel

ship this spring as a sophomore – a month before turning pro. In his third event as a pro, Wolff won the 3M Open in suburban Minneapolis with a dramatic eagle on the final hole. Morikawa was born in Los Angeles, grew up in La Canada Flintridge and attended La Canada High near Pasadena. He was the “Golden Boy” who developed quietly and steadily, patiently competing at Cal all four years while resisting the temptation to turn pro early. After winning the Pac-12 title and finishing sixth in the NCAAs as a senior, he graduated with a degree in business administration and turned pro in time to qualify for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. In his sixth tour event as a pro, Morikawa won the Barracuda Championship in Reno, thanks to four birdies over the final five holes at Montreux Golf & Country Club. With two-year PGA Tour exemptions in their back pockets, Wolff and Morikawa didn’t stop there. Both qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs despite only a handful of starts. Wolff bowed out after the first playoff event, the Northern Trust, and finished 74th in the FedEx points standings. He won $1.39 million in only eight events and was ranked 116th in the world rankings at season’s end.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Collin Morikawa

Morikawa’s rise was even more meteoric. He tied for 14th at the RBC Canadian Open in his pro debut, tied for 35th at the U.S. Open, tied for 36th in the Travelers Championship – and then took off. He finished tied for second at the 3M, one behind Wolff; tied for fourth at the John Deere Classic, locking up his tour card for next season; and then won the Barracuda Championship, an event featuring Stableford scoring, to nail down a two-year PGA Tour exemption. It also guaranteed him a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs, as well as a berth in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui to open next season. “I’m speechless. It means everything to me,” Morikawa said after winning in Reno in front of a large contingent of family and friends. “I

didn’t know when this time would come. . . . I didn’t know what the timetable was going to be. Obviously, the way the summer started, I just kept pushing myself, (to) keep doing better, keep shooting low scores and put yourself in those positions. “And after the 3M, I felt really comfortable out there. . . . This proves that I am ready. To get this first win off my back means a lot. It’s going to open just a lot more confidence and doors for me, obviously. And to get into the playoffs is something special. . . . I think the gates are open.” The win propelled him into the FedEx Cup playoffs, for the top 125 players in the season-long points standings. He tied for 52nd in the Northern Trust, then advanced to the BMW Championship

California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

PHOTO: COURTESY OF TAYLORMADE GOLF

PGA TOUR

Matthew Wolff

(for the top 70 players), where his season ended with a tie for 48th. He finished the season 59th in the standings, winning $1.75 million in only nine events (61st on the tour money list). He was so consistent, he scored in the 60s 15 out of 17 rounds in one stretch. He also moved up to 86th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Not bad for a kid who grew up playing public tracks in Glendale such as Scholl Canyon and Chevy Chase, a nine-hole course that didn’t even have a driving range. As a youngster, he also played basketball and baseball because he was a huge Lakers and Dodgers fan, but he said he made the decision at 12 to focus on golf. At La Canada High, Morikawa helped the Spartans win four Rio Hondo League championships before heading to Cal to play on the golf team – and to study for his degree at the Haas Business School in Berkeley. “All along, I knew that academics were important to me,” he said. But after nearly winning the 2016 Air Capital Classic in Wichita, a Web.com Tour (now Ferry Korn Tour) event, as a sponsor’s exemption the summer after his freshman year at Cal, he conceded he thought about his options. “I lost in a playoff to Ollie Schniederjans and J. J. Spaun. I mean, who knows what could have

SEPT/OCT 2019

California Golf + Travel

happened if I’d won?” he said. “It was hard (not to turn pro). But I knew what I wanted to do. I was going to do four years and get my business degree.” Staying in school also enabled him to become Cal’s first four-time All-American in golf and to play in high-profile amateur events, including the U.S. Amateur and Walker Cup, that helped him develop his game and competitive edge. In the summer of 2017, he went 4-0 for the U.S. team that won the Walker Cup in a runaway at Los Angeles Country Club. The next spring, he also spent three weeks at No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Interestingly, most of Morikawa’s Walker Cup teammates in 2017 (e.g., Wolff, Stanford’s Maverick McNealy, Oregon’s Norman Xiong, Texas A&M’s Cameron Champ, Clemson’s Doc Redman and Ole Miss’ Braden Thornberry) generated a lot more headlines than Morikawa did during his college career. But none of that matters now. It’s time for Morikawa and Wolff, the latest Golden Boys from the Golden State, to bask in the sunshine and the limelight. Youngman has covered golf in California, at the amateur and professional levels, for more than 30 years.

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SEPT/OCT 2019

INDUSTRY PROFILE

INSIDE THE

WOODEN HORSE Why Linksoul is Golf ’s Trojan Horse

Geoff Cunningham, Linksoul Co-Founder

By TONY L. STARKS Photos By LAUREN MILNER

stood inside the Linksoul Lab with the company’s co-founder Geoff Cunningham. We stared into an oil painting he calls one of his favorite pieces. You see, before Linksoul, Cunningham studied art around the world, grooming his talents as a painter and sculptor. His studies included a stint in South Africa where he witnessed the systematic affects of Apartheid, viewing it through the lens of art and culture. “Quite honestly, returning to work in golf after those experiences made me realize that I kind of wanted to turn this industry on its head, but subtly and craftily,” says Cunningham. “I thought if I could somehow change the game that’s played by the wealthy, then I

SEPT/OCT 2019

could begin to change the way they think. That’s really my purpose, and Linksoul is our vehicle.” That painting we gazed upon was of a Sri Lankan caddie (page 21). They are young and their bronze skin is draped in oversized clothing. During the British colonization of the island country in southern Asia, which lasted more than a century, soldiers would build golf courses to fill their leisure time and enlist local children to carry their bags. “On the surface, it’s a beautiful piece of golf art. But if you take a moment to think, you’ll see so much more,” says Cunningham. “You also have a completely colonialist image. While there’s beauty, what is the history of that? What is the meaning behind that? There’s a message hidden beneath what the eye can see.” He views Linksoul in much the same way. Their apparel is sleek and pleas-

California Golf + Travel

ing to the eye, but below the surface the brand has greater purpose. Cunningham likes to call himself golf’s Trojan Horse. As the creativeminded nephew of apparel icon John Ashworth – whose namesake brand dominated market share from the 90s into the turn of the millennium – Cunningham has partnered with his uncle to build Linksoul into one of the most unique and cultish brands in the game. “This seems like a golf clothing company that’s all about cool golf and making the game soulful again, and it is,” says Cunningham. “But for me, what it truly does is challenge the fabric of a game and industry that’s been culturally divisive for too long. Linksoul is the cloak that allows us to go on that mission. It’s our Trojan Horse. “Nothing we do, say or make is by accident,” he continues. “It’s all tied to who we are and what we believe.”

Perhaps the phrase that best captures that sentiment is “Make Par, Not War.” Those four words are familiar to every Linksouldier and fit perfectly into Cunningham’s vision of himself and the brand (remember, the Trojan Horse was also a tool of war). How was the iconic slogan born? “It was right after 9/11. John and I were kind of mourning and lamenting the fact that our country was going to be at war,” Cunningham remembers. “He looked over at me and said ‘Wouldn’t it be great if instead of war, people could just play golf?’ I simply replied, ‘Yeah, make par, not war.’ “That was the beginning of it. It all stems from this idea that golf has the

Cunningham’s artistic vision has helped shape the Linksoul culture.

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SEPT/OCT 2019

INDUSTRY PROFILE

Much of Cunningham’s artwork depicts the culture, history and connectivity of golf.

power to bring people together and literally allow them to ‘link souls,’” he says. “We’ve built golf into this exclusive thing and have put up a lot of barriers. But the game also has the ability to tear down those walls. That’s what it was about in the beginning.” Cunningham often references the game’s centuries old origin in Scotland. On many of the first courses, local families were caretakers of the holes on which they lived and the game was a communal beacon. To an extent, the game still exists in that form there today. “Whole communities play golf (in Scotland) and it’s inclusive,” says Cunningham of his experiences in the birthplace of golf. “You’ll have a group of four older women in front of you, then two 11-year-olds in the group behind you. It’s a whole different game. Everyone walks, it’s relaxed, leisurely and social, and everyone is invited.” Ashworth and Cunningham brought those same principles to Goat Hill Park – the municipal golf facility in Oceanside they rescued from a fate of concrete and steel. “It’s valuable land that the city wanted to turn into a minor league soccer stadium, or build office buildings on,” Cunningham says. “But the community

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rallied together and we preserved the golf course.” The Goat is a departure from the norm. The pro shop and 19th hole are one-in-the-same, and you can always find locals enjoying a craft beer in the chill outdoor seating area. Golfers can play in flip-flops and board shorts if they so choose – or no shoes at all. Walking is encouraged and everyone is welcome, including dogs. The unique 18-hole layout lives up to its name, as there are plenty of hills to navigate across the 4,454 yards. There’s a golf park for short game practice and a downhill range that’s never empty. Ashworth has improved the conditions, but it’s not really about the golf at Goat Hill. It’s about the people, the culture and the atmosphere. Cunningham still marvels when he thinks about what’s been created at The Goat. “We never thought our proposal to save Goal Hill would be accepted (by the city),” he says. “That just doesn’t happen. You’re not supposed to beat the millionaires and billionaires. To me, it just shows that all of this – Linksoul, Goat Hill – it’s supposed to exist.” Behind closed doors, Cunningham and Ashworth refer to Linksoul as “The Weed.” They’re just the gardeners who

California Golf + Travel

water it, feed it and watch it grow. He says it just “pulls in” who it needs to survive – evidenced by the fact that he’s never had to post to a job board. All Linksoul employees have just found them and it’s been the right fit. Take Caitlyn Gaurano, for instance. The FIDM graduate manages the Linksoul Store adjacent to the Lab. After college, she pursued women’s high fashion in New York before returning home to Southern California, where she met Cunningham during a local art show. “Coming from that industry, working with Geoff and John is a total breath of fresh air,” she describes. “I’ve never been at a company that’s as welcoming and understanding as they are.” The Wednesday women’s league at Goat Hill Park gave Gaurano her first experience teeing it up. “Although I’d never played before, because of how open and welcoming it is, I’ve really gotten into it,” she says. “Goat Hill is all ages, all classes, all everything…and that’s the same message we’re bringing to the golf landscape.” Like many of the people connected to Linksoul, Gaurano is herself an artist – using her skillful eye to capture stunning photography. That artistic thread among Linksoul staffers helps the brand remain authentic and true to its origins. When asked if he can distinguish his artisanship from his professional life, Cunningham replies: “I don’t think there’s even a separation between the two at this point.

Golf has the power to link people’s souls.

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SEPT/OCT 2019

INDUSTRY PROFILE Linksoul is just our living, breathing artwork every day.” Furthermore, Cunningham flexes his artistic muscle in myriad ways. His grandfather was a master woodworker who carved golf clubs from scratch. As a child, Cunningham spent hours sitting alongside his workbench and became fascinated with the process. He dreamed of building his own persimmon masterpieces some day. Coming full circle, in 2018 Linksoul partnered with Louisville Golf Company– which has crafted wooden golf clubs for nearly 50 years – to create the Art Series Wood Collection. The limited edition Linksoul persimmon drivers were handcrafted by the Kentucky-based company and handpainted by Cunningham. However, it’s not just his own artwork that gets created and displayed at the Linksoul Lab. Cunningham shares the space with Hill Street Country Club – a non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the growing arts and culture scene in Oceanside. Once a month, Hill Street transforms the Lab into a gallery to showcase local artists from all walks. The events have become part of Linksoul’s fabric, and gained so much notoriety that they’re booked out for the next two years. “We do a lot of artist-for-artist fundraisers that lend support to our local community, as well as help cultivate and keep alive the artistic spirit of Oceanside,” says Dinah Poellnitz, who co-founded Hill Street Country Club along with her close friend Margaret Hernandez. “Art, creativity and community are central to Linksoul. I knew that if we were going to enter back into this industry again, we weren’t going to

build a brand this time, we were going to reflect our philosophy. Having a space for art was essential to this,” says Cunningham. “Our bond with Hill Street keeps us true to that mission.” Although “Country Club” is in the name, the organization had no prior connection to golf before teaming with Linksoul. In fact, the name was selected satirically. Hill Street, which is now Coast Highway, was once a vibrant center of social activities and a gathering space in Oceanside. The name is a throwback to that era and counters the

exclusivity that can exist in both art and golf. “Country clubs’ are generally members only. We wanted to cancel out the idea that art only belongs to a small few. So, it just made sense,” says Poellnitz, who curates each of the exhibits. “Like Linksoul, we aim to be a linking agent for people from all walks of life. We use art and Linksoul uses golf, but as Geoff shows – there are plenty of crossovers.” Poellnitz calls Linksoul “golf’s unicorn,” because no other brand shares their vision or execution. Whether it’s a Trojan Horse, a unicorn or both, Cunningham and Linksoul are resoundingly unique within an industry of sameness. If the plan was to sneak up on golf, now the secret is out.

Cunningham hand painted each design in the Linksoul Art Series Wood Collection.

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MAY/JUNE 2019

GOLF & TRAVEL

Golf Summerlin WALLET-FRIENDLY

LAS VEGAS GOLF By RANDY DODSON

or California’s recreational golfer traveling a day away to escape reality, Golf Summerlin, just northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, is quickly being added to travel agendas for those headed to the land of bright lights and entertainment. Save your money for the strip and tee it up at Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest golf courses. Just off I-15 and near the home of the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, you’ll find three golf courses designed by Billy Casper/Greg Nash and managed by Golf Summerlin. The Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest courses are well conditioned and an enjoyable test of golf.

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Palm Valley No. 14

Eagle Crest No. 1

Highland Falls No. 17 California Golf + Travel

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GOLF & TRAVEL

Highland Falls No. 5

PGA Director of Golf Donny Long says, “The Golf Summerlin courses are among the finest and best maintained in Southern Nevada. Palm Valley was built in 1989, Highland Falls in 1992 and Eagle Crest (an 18-hole executive course) in 1994. Most believe Golf Summerlin is private, as we are a hidden gem in a Sun City community of 7,800 homes, but all three courses are public and open to outside play and golf outings. Highland Falls is a fourtime winner of the Review Journal’s coveted Best of Las Vegas award.” “I believe these golf courses provided an excellent amenity for the beauty of the surrounding community. All three courses are in excellent condition,” says Golf Summerlin Marketing Consultant Cody Law. “The bunkers on Highland Falls and Palm Valley have been renovated and add to the playability of the courses. Highland Falls is a favorite, as it combines thought-provoking looks off the tee with excellent views of the Las Vegas Valley. It is the most challenging of the three Sun City courses. Palm Valley is a favorite of the locals as it is a fair test with minimal elevation changes.” Golfers will enjoy the private clublike atmosphere at Highland Falls and Palm Valley without the sticker shock.

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“Highland Falls tends to be the favorite for most out-of-towners due to spectacular conditions, elevation changes and the views of the Las Vegas Strip,” adds Long. “Palm Valley is a more traditional layout, flatter but longer, with strategically placed bunkers and outstanding conditions. Eagle Crest has become a favorite for many locals in the Las Vegas area due to quick rounds and playability. It draws players looking to finish a round in two and half hours. Players are often surprised by the unbelievable views of the entire city and the fact that it can play as difficult as any course in town if you choose to play it from the tips.” The manicured conditions and clublike atmosphere of these courses are at odds with the pricing, especially when considering other higher-end, sexier courses in the area. Advantage goes to the visiting Golf Summerlin guests. “The private feel is a bonus,” says Long. “Not only are you guarded in a beautiful community but you will enjoy the mountain scenery as we are located on the base of a mountain range. Our courses sit at 3,000-plus feet of elevation – making us about five degrees cooler than most of the Las Vegas area.” “The views are superb from Eagle Crest as well,” adds Law. “You should

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GOLF & TRAVEL

Palm Valley No. 8

expect to be greeted by a friendly and helpful golf staff at our courses and enjoy very fair golf pricing. The layouts are diverse; each hole keeps the interest of the golfer throughout the round. I believe our courses compare favorably to other courses in the area relative to quality of play and cost per round. Golf Summerlin also has the advantage of elevation variety and our weather, on a year-round basis, is excellent with very low rain totals, low humidity and lots of sunshine.” Golf Summerlin is the home of the Southern Nevada Golf Association and hosts many amateur and junior tournaments throughout the year. Next time you’re heading to shows, concerts, bowl games, conference championships or the ever-popular nightlife found on Las Vegas Blvd., consider adding this trifecta of Vegas golf. Yes, Las Vegas is built on fast-paced, neon-encrusted fun, including some of its more popular golf courses, but if you’re looking for walletfriendly enjoyable golf, please visit www.golfsummerlin.com.

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HIGHLAND FALLS

Par 72 • 6,512 yards • 70.1 rating/119 slope Awarded the coveted “Best of Las Vegas” by the Review Journal, Highland Falls offers elevation changes, well-designed fairway bunkering and protected greens. Challenging from any tee box, this championship course also has one of the highest viewpoints of the Las Vegas Valley.

PALM VALLEY

Par 72 • 6,824 yards • 71.7 rating/123 slope A stunning layout of rolling fairways with spectacular mountain views, Palm Valley offers an exciting test of golf with manicured fairways and greens. Strategically placed bunkers guard large mildly undulating greens.

EAGLE CREST

Par 60 • 4,067 yards • 60.6 rating/95 slope An 18-hole executive course that packs a punch, Eagle Crest is popular with residents and guests alike. It offers plenty of variety off the tee and will test every club in your bag. If you are looking for a quick round that will test your game, play Eagle Crest golf course. Enjoy Fresh Air and Spectacular Views with Golf Summerlin courses; three well-conditioned, diverse and exciting courses, including two championship designs and an executive course. Together, this trifecta of Vegas golf offers a broad variety of experiences for players of all skill levels and offers golfers some of the most remarkable views of Las Vegas. www.golfsummerlin.com • 800.803.0758

NEW!

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SEPT/OCT 2019

EQUIPMENT

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS BY ED TRAVIS At California Golf, we get asked our opinions on golf equipment all the time. Most frequently golfers want to know our favorite clubs, bags, balls and more. So in this issue, we’re sharing a “Few of Our Favorite Things” with readers as a starting point for club, apparel and accessory purchases.

Cobra KING F9 SPEEDBACK Driver There are lots of attractive features in the SPEEDBACK driver, starting with the highly efficient aerodynamic head shape that, unlike other drivers, has the center of gravity both low and deep in the head. The raised perimeter skirt, tail and crown and the rounded edges allowed Cobra to slash drag for more clubhead speed. Coupled with Cobra’s hottest CNC milled face, adjustable loft and interchangeable sole weights, the SPEEDBACK has become a favorite of many golfers. www.cobragolf.com

The Blank Group This is the original full-print headcover. It’s made of strong 100-percent polyester synthetic leather and each may be fully customized with an image, company logo, golf course logo or even personalized with your favorite family picture. Anything that can be printed on paper can be put on a headcover through the company’s digital print process. A family business run by James and Tiffany Muir, headcovers and other products are hand assembled in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. www.theblankgroup.com

Dormie Workshop Brothers Jeff and Todd Bishop are two golf nuts and PGA of Canada Members who started Dormie Workshop to provide “fellow golfers awesome covers and allow customers to be involved in the process.” Their leather products are handcrafted and merge tradition with today’s design for both freedom of expression and fun. According to the Bishops, “Dormie Workshop headcovers blend modern design technology with premium leathers which are produced by local artisans.” www.dormieworkshop.com

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Cleveland CBX 2 Wedges Most recreational golfers play cavity back irons, so Cleveland Golf thinks it makes sense to play a cavity back wedge like the CBX 2 – the second rendition of their Hollow-Cavity construction with an empty chamber near the heel which, coupled with toe-weighting, give easy-to-hit forgiveness. A hosel cutout plus a cavity inside the hosel remove weight where it isn’t needed. The three sole grinds provide lots of versatility and all come equipped with Cleveland’s Rotex Milling of the face and Tour Zip grooves. www.clevelandgolf.com

Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Driver High launch and straight flight are two things Cleveland’s Launcher brand has always stood for, and now there’s the improved Launcher HB Turbo with a variable thickness cup face to give even more ball speed. The HiBore Crown improves head aerodynamics while lowering the center of gravity. Plus, hosel weight was reduced and a heavy sole pad was added. The stock Miyazaki C. Kua shaft is counterbalanced, allowing for more head weight to improve momentum and energy transfer. www.clevelandgolf.com

Linksoul Art Series Wood Collection You may never have experienced the fun of playing golf with authentic old-style clubs, but you can. Linksoul has a line of real “wooden woods” with heads crafted by three brothers and a family friend in Kentucky from real North American persimmon. As Linksoul says, “These clubs are alive in your hands and they’ll bring your game to life as well.” The Art Series Wood Collection features hand-painted designs from Linksoul co-founder Geoff Cunningham. www.linksoul.com

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SEPT/OCT 2019

EQUIPMENT

Tour Edge Golf EXS Metalwoods Like you, the folks at Tour Edge love a good deal. They just announced a major price drop for their award-winning EXS metalwoods. The EXS Driver has been reduced $50 and is now $249, which is not a lot for a tour-quality driver that’s been used to win four World Long Drive events this year, including a world record in the women’s division with a 413-yard drive. These tech-loaded EXS metalwoods the most golfer-friendly, ultrapremium clubs in golf…and it’s not even close. www.touredege.com

2UNDR Every guy knows it’s all about comfort and 2UNDR does too with flat locked stitching and construction seams put in just the right place to eliminate rubbing, while providing a seamless look and feel. Each pair is made with soft lightweight fabric and in critical areas the material is thermal-reducing with a hydrophobic membrane. You stay cool and comfy. The fly even is designed for increased airflow, which 2UNDR has tagged as “In-your-pants” air conditioning. www.2undr.com

Bettinardi Rock & Roll ‘Merican Eagle Bettinardi putters are legendary and their accessories are immensely popular, as well. We like the Rock & Roll ‘Merican Eagle headcover featuring the American bald eagle wearing his American-pride sunglasses on the front, “Made in the USA” on one side, and a detailed embroidery of the American flag and stars across the body of the cover. Specifically requested and used by Bob Bettinardi himself, it’s proudly made in the USA. They wouldn’t have it any other way. www.bettinardi.com

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G/FORE “Pray For Birdies” Hat G/FORE makes lots of great golf apparel. Everything from gloves to shoes, polos to jackets and accessories such as bags. But the G/FORE piece we were immediately drawn to is the “Pray For Birdies” snapback hat. Constructed of a lightweight wool fabric they call “Snow,” the front patch says it all and is a great way to “top off” your look on the course with a sporty touch. Snapback closure is adjustable and fits most head sizes, plus the fabric wipes clean. www.gfore.com

Kaenon Cross Sport Whether you choose the fully rimmed Arcata or the semi-rimless Arcata SR, the Cross Sport model of sunglasses from Kaenon will help your performance on and off the course. With featherweight shatterproof construction, they deliver blockage of peripheral light and glare in a durable and stylish package. Available lenses include the Kaenon SR-91 polarized or the SR-91ULTRA – each offered in a variety of color tints. Rubber temple tips make for a secure and comfortable grip, plus nose pads are removeable. www.kaenon.com

Honma XP-1 Driver Japanese clubmaker Honma continues their aggressive entry into the U.S. market with the new XP-1 family of clubs. We especially like the gameimprovement category XP-1 driver. It has a built-in draw bias and there’s a double slot in the sole to increase flex across the entire face at impact. The crown is super-light and the thinnest in the industry. The hosel adjustment system for loft, lie and face angle does not require rotation of the stock Vizard spine-aligned shaft. www.honmagolf.com California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

INSTRUCTION

ADDING POWER O By JASON HONG here’s been a lot of chatter about ground force reaction among golf instructors for the last few seasons. But what does that mean for the average golfer? I like to refer to it as “squatting.” That’s the simple way of explaining it for your everyday golfer. You see it commonly among some of the longest hitters on the professional tours, such as Rory McIlroy and Lexi Thompson. On the downswing, you’ll notice them having increased knee bend and their head moves downward towards the ground – just before the legs extend upright at impact. It’s a knee inflexion to extension motion. In my teachings, I tell students that you squat to clear more easily and create space for a better and uninhibited turn. When you squat on the downswing with the driver, your backside moves away from the golf ball and gives you more room for the hands and club to move freely through the impact zone. What this ultimately does is naturally shallow out the club on the downswing and prevents you from coming over the top. It allows the club to drop down into the “slot” and then you can drive through with body rotation and not allow the hands to get too “flippy.” As we discussed earlier, this also brings ground force reaction into play. The squat is driving weight and force into the ground on the downswing. The extension that occurs at impact releases those forces and creates additional power. So the squat really serves multiple purposes. Yes it’s a source of power most definitely, but by engaging the lower body during the downswing you’re able to shallow out the club much easier, as well as create space for the body to rotate through the strike zone. It also is a great way to sequence your swing. When you reach the top of your backswing, the squat can

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California Golf + Travel

ADDRESS

R OFF THE TEE

SQUAT actually be a trigger to engage your lower body on the downswing and initiate turn through impact. In many cases, instructors and golfers will refute the squatting motion because they’ve been told to keep the head still throughout the swing. In my experience, keeping the head still will help you create more consistent contact conditions but you’ll also be leaving yards on table. That’s not to say you should let your head move as freely as it wants throughout the swing. You never want to excessively move laterally during the swing (right to left for right-handed golfers); nor do you want your head to rise upward from where it began at address. However, if your head moves straight down on the downswing (the squat motion we’ve discussed) and rises back to

EXTENSION/IMPACT the height it began at address, you’re actively creating more power in the swing. With the driver, the only thing I don’t want to see amateurs do is rise up out of posture on the backswing. So imagine there’s a box around your head at address, don’t let your head rise out of the box vertically. With pros, you’ll notice that their head stays steady throughout the backswing, and on the down and through swing it will drop down slightly during the squat but rises back into the middle of box as they rotate into impact and create more space to swing the club. Within this motion, the backside stays back while the chest comes down towards the ball and rotates towards the target. The biggest thing for driver, when you’re imagining that box around

your head, is not to sway too far horizontally. If you’re able to install these principles off the tee, you’ll quickly see yourself adding power and distance with the driver.

JASON HONG is the PGA Director of Instruction at Arrowood Golf Course in Oceanside, California.

California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

INSTRUCTION

DEVELOP AN EYE FOR PUTTING By Derek Uyeda

f you took a putting lesson the instructor would likely begin by analyzing and changing your putting stroke. However, the stroke doesn’t matter until you know where to hit it. That’s why I always start putting instruction with green reading. I’ll set up a breaking putt and ask the golfer to describe what they see. Most amateur golfers tend to read far too little break – so the first step is learning how to see the proper line. To help simplify green reading for my students, I’ll ask them to envision hitting the putt straight at the hole and thinking about where it would miss. If the answer is one foot left, just flip it and the initial target line is one foot right. I’ll then put a tee on both sides of the hole to signify each mark (pictured). This is a simple, easy and effective way for you to begin developing an eye for reading putts.

Charley Hoffman

DEREK UYEDA Derek Uyeda is the PGA Director of Instruction at The Grand Golf Club in Del Mar, California. He is the 2009 Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year and a renowned putting instructor known for his work with PGA Tour professionals such as Xander Schauffele and Charley Hoffman.

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California Golf + Travel

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club is an incredible 240-acre golf club that is ready for you to experience. Enjoy lunch or cocktails at O’Neill’s Bar & Grill. Schedule your special event in our beautiful Trabuco Ballroom that overlooks the 18th hole. 26772 Avery Parkway Mission Viejo, CA 92692 | 949.305.5100 | www.arroyotrabuco.com

DESIGNED BY TEACHING AND TOURING PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE LEARNING EASIER AND MORE FUN The Golf Lab was a real eye opening experience for me, what a great environment to work on your golf game, very professional. After just a couple of lessons I gained yardage and height on all my shots.” – JOHN STUART” I would highly recommend any avid or recreational golfer to check out the Golf Lab, improve your game and have fun doing it!” – MIKE CLOSE

1224 Village Way, Suite D, Santa Ana CA 92705 714-542-4653 n www.golflabacademy.com California Golf + Travel

SEPT/OCT 2019

WINE SELECTION

JOSEPH CARR WINES:

WINE WITH CHARACTER, FROM A MAN WITH CHARACTER By Matt Palaferri here are many characters in the wine industry, and Joseph Carr is certainly one of them. The first time I met him was on the tee box at a golf course in Orange County. I won’t say where his tee shot ended up, but his reaction was worth its weight in gold.* I knew right away that this was the kind of guy I wanted to get to know. Passionate, competitive and a Red Sox fan (hopefully I didn’t alienate too many of you with that last fact). Joseph Carr served 10 years as a world-class sommelier and an executive in the international wine industry. He followed his passion, and in 2005 he formed a family-owned winery. In his own words, he had the chance to “follow a dream” – and he’s been making outstanding wines ever since. Being influenced by the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Carr’s winemaking philosophy is how it should be, simple and not over complicated. He aims to make balanced, sophisticated wines that are approachable and in an old world style, but with that California distinction. That’s easier said than done, but he’s found a way to do it very well without breaking the consumers bank account. I don’t know if Joseph remembers golfing with me that day, but I’ll never forget it. Anyone who has passion for something, a sense of humor and knows what they want is my kind of fellow. I mean, who wouldn’t want to get to know someone with those qualities? Here are a few wines that I KNOW you will enjoy. Find them at your nearest wine merchant or ask for them at your favorite place to enjoy wine. Joseph Carr Chardonnay – This Chardonnay is sourced from the cool climate region of Carneros. The juice ferments in barrels and shows great acidity, as well as some stone fruit and lemon meringue on the finish. This wine will please the folks that love both French and California Chardonnay. Paso Cabernet – This is a Paso cab that shows tons of red fruit as well as some soft tannins and rich fruit. Aged in French oak for 18 months, this Paso

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cab blows away the competition in this category. Enjoy with anything grilled, especially a nice Santa Maria Tri-Tip! Napa Cabernet – This cab is sophisticated and has a ton of layers of spices, big fruit and finishes with a little cassis. It’s soft on the palate but still has that Napa cab backbone you are looking for. This wine has a ton of personality that will please any dinner guests.

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*I couldn’t let you wonder where his ball went, could I? It went so far right that I think the house it hit is still wondering what hole it could have possibly come from. I will say, that he played fairly well the rest of the round and beat me pretty handily. And, being a gentleman, he even bought lunch for all of us. Until next time, drink what you like and like what you drink.*

STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR PGA PROFESSIONALS!

@scpga #MoreThanAMember

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SEPT/OCT 2019

GETAWAYS

SOBOBA CASINO RESORT HAS IT ALL WHERE EVERYONE CAN EAT • PLAY • STAY

ince it opened its doors earlier this year, the Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto, California, has been an entertainment hub. It hasn’t taken long for word to spread that this is the destination that has it all. A 200-room hotel, a state-of-the-art Event Center, a PGA-rated golf course, restaurants of fine dining and casual cuisine and more than 484,000 square feet of gaming fun at its casino. “You’d be hard-pressed to find so many exciting activities in one place,” said Assistant General Manager Jason Cozart. “Our customer service is unrivaled as evidenced by many return customers.” The hotel has six stories of luxury rooms, most of which include breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains or the Soboba Springs Golf Course. Presidential suites of nearly 1,800 square feet feature a spacious living room, wet bar, refreshment center and dining room for entertaining. These suites also include one king bedroom and an oversized bathroom with a two-sink vanity, sunken soaking tub, separate glass-walled shower with a walk-in closet and a separate guest restroom. Executive, studio and junior suites, as well as deluxe king and queen rooms are also available. A 180,000-gallon pool is adjacent to the stunning Soboba Springs Golf Course’s Signature Island Green which has a spectacular oasis-like setting with running streams and waterfalls. Ten cabanas are available to rent with each featuring a TV, refrigerator with waters,

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ceiling fan, sitting area and more. The Event Center can be set up for a convention utilizing all 34,000 square feet or divided into smaller spaces to ensure a perfect fit for any special event. Three meeting rooms are elegantly appointed to create the perfect atmosphere for executive gatherings. It took the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians a long time to realize its vision of a state-of-the-art destination center for the public to enjoy. In the hallway leading to the Event Center’s registration area is a visual timeline that depicts the long and hard-fought journey that the Soboba People endured to be able to enjoy its current status. The Soboba Springs Golf Course includes fully redesigned holes at 13, 14, 15 and 16. The course was recently

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updated by renowned golf course architect Cary Bickler, who did the original redesign that debuted in 2006. The new hole No. 15 will become the fourth longest par 5 on the PGA Tour, measuring a staggering 641 yards from the Tournament Tees. PGA Professionals work closely with guests who schedule custom tournament packages to ensure a second-to-none experience for participants. The Canyons restaurant takes fine dining to another level with its savory appetizers, creative entrées, fresh seafood, decadent desserts and an exquisite selection of wine. The Noodle Bar satisfies cravings of Shrimp Wonton, Pad Thai and Mango Pudding among other exquisite tastes of Asian cuisine. Other eateries are Chick’n It, La Casetta (Italian cuisine), Soboba Pub & Grill, El Comal (Latin kitchen), Fairway Café and Koffee Kiicha. The casino features 2,000 slot machines and 38 tables for games such as baccarat, roulette, blackjack and three-card poker. Soboba Rewards Club membership is free and provides for opportunities to earn points toward free slot and table game play, entries into monthly promotions and giveaways, food and beverage comps and exclusive membership only offers. Earn $20 in Free Slot Play for becoming a new member. The Soboba Casino Resort is at 22777 Soboba Rd. in San Jacinto. Information, www.soboba.com, 866-4-SOBOBA, 866476-2622 or guestservice@soboba.net.

EXPERIENCE

COASTAL ELEGANCE

Professionally managed by OB Sports

COME FOR THE VIEW, STAY FOR THE GOLF, JOIN FOR THE PEOPLE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL OR VISIT 949.248.3002

monarchbeachgolf.com

50 Monarch Beach Resort Drive North

Dana Point, CA 92629 California Golf + Travel

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