Aloha in Full Swing
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Falcone SCPGA Golf Professional of the Year
By ED TRAVIS
Kimberly Falcone, PGA has been awarded the Southern California PGA Section Golf Professional of the Year for 2024, heading a list of PGA professionals recognized for excellence in the past 12 months. Winners will be celebrated for their accomplishments at the 2024 SCPGA Presidents Dinner on December 8 at Hilton Costa Mesa.
Falcone is assistant head professional and operations manager at La Jolla Country Club and is a member of the Quarter Century Club of the PGA. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and played for the University on the women’s golf team.
The President’s Award this year goes to Sal Cimbolo for his outstanding contribution to the Southern California PGA. Cimbolo is Chairman and CEO of Friends of Golf or FOG.
Nikki Prichard, PGA, Assistant General Manager at Arrowood Golf Course, is recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award presented for day-to-day efforts making significant contributions through the mentoring of PGA Professional’s employment.
Her first golf professional experience was gained at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis and after seven years she moved to San Diego. She has been at La Jolla Country Club for 25 years working her way up to the position she presently holds. Falcone is active in the SCPGA serving on the Board of Directors for multiple terms as well as working on two committees of the PGA of America.
Joining Falcone in acknowledgement of contributions to golf and the SCPGA is the Eddie Merrins Teacher and Coach of the year awarded for excellence in golf instruction and coaching David Phillips, PGA of the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside. Phillips is a co-founder of TPI and ranked by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the top teachers in the country.
Receiving the Tom Addis III Professional Development Award is Robin Shelton, PGA Master Professional and general manager at Newport Beach Country Club. Shelton is a former president of the SCPGA.
Brain Agoncillo, PGA who is Director of Instruction at Sherwood Country Club has been named the winner of the Player Development Award for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in player development.
Other award winners named by the SCPGA include Colin Tucker, PGA, The Vintage Club, Assistant Golf Professional Award; David Menke, PGA, Coachella Coaching, the Youth Player Development Award; and Paul Guerra, PGA, Bakersfield Country Club, the Clubfitter Award.
Merchandiser of the Year in the Private Category is Michael Oberlander, PGA, Ironwood Country Club and in the Public Category Derek Mazzioni, PGA, Classic Club.
The Patriot Award goes to Tom Son, PGA, Arrowood Golf Course which recognizes the PGA Professional “who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United State of America.”
Named as Honorary Life Members for ongoing support of the SCPGA and its members were Bob Lovejoy, PGA, Jerry Wisz, PGA and Tom Wilson, PGA.
vesselgolf.com | #CraftedForTheDriven
THE SOIL SOLUTION: Improving Profits and Performance for Golf Course Operators
For years, golf course superintendents have relied on core aeration to maintain turf health. This disruptive process aims to reduce compaction, improve oxygen transfer, and control thatch. However, a more effective and cost-efficient approach is gaining traction and becoming the latest standardized practice in the turf industry: biological soil management.
Core aeration, while seemingly beneficial, is actually a significant financial burden, considering cost, lost revenue, and known to harm soil health in the long run. A healthier approach focuses on rehabilitating the soil’s biology, which is the foundation for overall well-being of the grass.
“Soil is the most underutilized asset on every golf course.”
–Parker Cohn, CEO Performance Resource Management
Investing in biological soil management, branded “BIOS” by PRM, offers golf course owners and operators a remarkable return on investment. Healthy soil translates to improved playing conditions, reduced maintenance costs, and increased revenues. Win-win-win.
Golf courses that adopt BIOS realize remarkable results. Some courses have even eliminated core aerification. A thriving soil ecosystem, rich with microorganisms, naturally decomposes organic matter, cycles nutrients, and enhances soil quality. This leads to increased oxygen transfer, denser turf, improved irrigation efficiency, and reduced thatch. The repercussions of healthy soil and improved agronomics translate to serious financial benefits, including cost savings and higher revenue opportunities.
Eliminating core aeration saves on labor, equipment, fuel, and sand costs. Additionally, courses avoid lost revenue from course closures (zero revenue) and discounted green fees (for 10+ days) that follows from pulling cores.
Brentwood Country Club (Los Angeles) implemented BIOS to eradicate aerification in their roughs to save $150,000 annually while improving conditions, saving 20 million gallons of water, and substantially reducing fertilizer applications. But soil science isn’t only providing value for private golf courses in high-end markets. For instance, The City of Tucson implemented BIOS across
half of their municipal golf courses in 2013. They eliminated the financial disruptor of core aerification and posted their largest profit in historyover $730,000 - due to improved conditions, increased rounds played, and significant labor, water, and chemical savings. Pinecrest Golf Course, a municipal facility in Eastern Idaho, transitioned to a BIOS program and saved $15,000 in maintenance costs alone. They also generated an additional $40,000 in revenue due to increased rounds played and full tee sheets at regular prices.
“We saved over 100-acre feet of water during one of the hottest years recorded (2012), while improving the playing surface and increasing the numbers of rounds played.”
–City of Tucson
The evidence is clear: biological soil management is a superior alternative to core aeration. It’s time for golf course operators to embrace this proven, innovative approach to reap the benefits that healthy soil provides including increased profitability and improved performance of playing conditions…the best of both worlds.
Pacifica: Ivory / SR-91® Polarized Brown
SOLMAR GOLF LINKS
THE NAME HAS CHANGED, BUT THE BEAUTY AND CHALLENGES OF GREG NORMAN’S SEASIDE CABO COURSE ARE UNTOUCHED
By DAVE MCKIBBEN
AsI played the first few holes of the Solmar Golf Links in Cabo San Lucas, I was awed by its beauty. The shoulder-high windswept sand dunes surrounding lush, pristine fairways are something you don’t see every day, even in Los Cabos. Adding to the jaw-dropping scenery, the aqua blue Pacific Ocean is so close, it looks like you’re hitting directly into it on every shot. But as I stood over my ball in the fairway on No. 2, I began to wonder if this stiff sea breeze was ever going to let up. I was hitting an extra two clubs on every shot.
“Don’t worry, there are lot of holes with the wind at your back on the front and the back,” said Jose Marcellan, Solmar’s head pro and my playing partner. “It’s a challenging course, but it’s fair. It’ll even out. You’ll see.”
Sure enough, the wind was at my back on the par-3 third hole.
We played from the blues, so my distance was 205 yards. I hit just a 7-iron and launched it next to the green with a 25-mile an hour following breeze. With an easy two-putt, I had my first par of the day.
Sol and Mar merge the Spanish words Sol (sun) and Mar (sea), so it stands to reason that the Pacific Ocean would be visible from every hole on this 7,200-yard Greg Norman-designed masterpiece. The course debuted in early 2020, then changed its name in 2022 from Rancho San Lucas to Solmar Golf Links to maintain branding consistency with the surrounding Solmar hotels.
The course spans three ecosystems: hugging shoulder high windswept dunes, weaving through a thick cactus forest on the front nine before coming back to the beach and the dunes on the finishing nine. The course also includes two full-service comfort stations where snacks and
beverages are included in greens fees.
The par-3 17th hole is the only island green in golf-rich Cabo. For me, it played like the 17th hole at TPC at Sawgrass – I dumped three balls in the water!
Minus the 17th hole, Solmar is more playable than most Cabo resort courses with five sets of tees, wide landing areas, a limited number of fairways bunkers and subtly contoured medium-sized greens.
But there also isn’t any rough, which is problematic if you miss the fairway.
“We’re trying to grow the rough around the greens and the fairways,” Marcellan said. “If you miss a hole just a little, it’s not fair to go straight into the jungle.”
Nubia Sarabia, who was hired earlier this year as Solmar Golf Links’ Director of Golf, said more changes are being planned at Solmar beyond defining the fairways better.
“We are in the process of creating a golf culture here, “she said.
Nubia realizes she’s already working with an amazing piece of land, so there won’t be any major changes. Solmar is ranked 16th on the list of
best golf courses in Mexico and the Caribbean by Golfweek. Last year, Golf Digest named it one of the top three Golf Resorts in Mexico. Solmar is also the only Mexican golf course to receive an Audubon International certificate for protecting the environment.
“This is a unique golf product in this part of the world,” Nubia said. “It emulates what the purists love, a links course in the best way possible, undisturbed. What land was here is what was used by Greg Norman. The wind works in our favor, and then certain times of the year against us. The opportunity for a golfer to enjoy a golf links experience in the Pacific of Mexico is special.”
The first time Brian Nixon played Solmar it reminded him of another Norman-designed links course - Doonbeg in Ireland.
“Minus the rain and the cold, Solmar and Doonbeg could basically be sister courses,” said Nixon, a scratch golfer who owns a vacation rental company in Cabo and lives in Savannah, Georgia. “They both have generous fairways with a lot of undulation, which can give you tricky lies, and both courses have a lot of wind to deal with. They are basically different courses every day depending on how the wind blows. To have a links golf course in Cabo is just such a wild thing.”
Solmar Golf Links is also one of the few courses in Cabo that’s not semi-private, meaning it’s not necessary to stay at the resort to play it. But for those who’d rather stay and play, there are plenty of options. The 145-room Grand Solmar Pacific Dunes Golf and Spa, located just north of Cabo
San Lucas and minutes from the course, comes with startling Pacific Ocean views, two gourmet dining spots and a deli, multiple pools, a seawater lagoon with kayaking and paddle boarding, two water slides, pickleball courts and a seaside spa.
Three-night stay and play packages in Pacific Dunes’ grand studios for two golfers are $577 per night. The packages include two days of unlimited golf, free Wi-Fi and free parking. The studio suites offer ocean views, a king bed and a queen murphy bed for up to three guests.
Three-night stay and play packages for two golfers in a grand master suite for up to four guests run $676 per night. Grand master-suites include a bedroom and two bathrooms, a dining room and living room, marble floors and private balconies. A stay and play in penthouse suites, perfect for a buddies trip or multi-family golf trip, are $950 a night and come with two spacious bedrooms and three bathrooms for up to eight guests. Golf packages aren’t available yet at two larger resorts 20 minutes from the course – the 258-room Playa Grande and the 246-room Grand Solmar Lands End – but that may change by the end of the year.
Getting to Los Cabo is easier than ever, especially for Southern Californians who access the Tijuana Airport via the Cross Border Xpress in Otay Mesa, where $23 will take you across the border, through customs and airport security in 15 minutes. Street parking, reserved and valet parking are available at CBX, which has had over 22 million passengers since opening eight years ago. Round trips for the two-hour flight from Tijuana to Cabo start at just $250 on Volaris Airlines. Upon returning to Tijuana, I made it off the plane, across CBX’s pedestrian bridge and into our car on the U.S. side in under 15 minutes.
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MORIKAWA
TAKING POSITIVES FROM CLOSE CALLS IN MAJORS INTO 2025 MORIKAWA
Los Angeles native Collin Morikawa is coming off a slightly quieter 2024 season, by his high standards, with no PGA Tour wins but still his signature consistency in major championships. He missed only two cuts for the year and posted eight top 10s in 22 starts (at press time) versus one win in 2022-23 with six missed cuts and seven top 10s in 25 starts. Without question, playing his way into the final groups and finishing top four at the first two majors highlighted the year. The SoCal native had a number of takeaways from those experiences in final groups and looks ahead to 2025 and his passion to make another Ryder Cup team.
What do you make of course knowledge and familiarity as you play in various major venues?
“When I first turned pro, I had never seen any of these golf courses on Tour. I think people underestimate what we do as professional golfers in learning a new golf course. If all of us showed up blind to a major championship course, we’d all still do just fine. At the end of the day, we know how to pinpoint things. Yes, it’s good to know where to miss, and it’s good to know where you want to hit it, but that’s what we do as professional golfers. We know
how to take apart a golf course and really strategize how we’re going to play it.”
What did you learn about yourself from being in the final groups in both the Masters and the PGA Championships consecutively this year (finished T3, T4)?
“I learned that it’s getting there. We’re getting close. If you ask anyone-they’d love to be in that position and I worked really hard to be in that position, really hard. When it comes down to it, you want to be able to close and back-to-back majors not being able to put together those final rounds, it stings but at the end of the day I know we’re on the up right now and the game’s feeling really good so it’s about putting together four solid rounds and seeing how things play out.”
Any specific takeaways from that final group in the PGA (T4)?
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to play well. We all know what’s at stake and what we’re trying to do at the end of the day. You’ve got to make the putts and you’ve got to hit the shots and sometimes it’s just not your day. For me it’s not about dissecting it too much, it’s about ‘ok, I’ve done it in the past (closed in majors) it’s going to happen again, and it’s really about staying true to who you are and believing in my game.”
What do you tell yourself when you’re in the final group and players like Scottie Scheffler (at the Masters) and Xander Schauffele (at the PGA) start extending their lead over you?
“You get to a point where you think, ‘man, what do I need to do differently?’ But sometimes it’s not about doing something differently, it’s going back to what you were doing the first 3 days. It’s easy to look at it in hindsight 20/20 and say I could have done this or could have done that but just learning about
certain processes that I go through before each shot, and how the body’s reacting in a certain pressure situation. You kind of take that and go on to the next final round situation.”
What do you expect from your caddie JJ Jakovac when you stand over shots on a Sunday?
“Well, we’ve done it for so long now, I don’t really expect anything. I think it’s just him being him. I think why we are a great team is because we work so well together. I’m not asking anything really extra from him, it’s just him being him and me
being me and when we don’t that really well it’s a nice blend of opinions when we discuss each shot and then we go from there and execute.”
What is your swing thought to get to a good finish?
“It changes, but it’s simply knowing where the finish is and trying to rehearse that and allowing my body to get all the way to the finish and not focusing on the millisecond before you get to the finish. I think the key is to hold the finish. Everyone worries about impact in their swing, but when you watch all of us pros on the range, we’re all holding our finishes-that’s what’s most important.”
What do you make of PGA Tour/ LIV negotiations and the future of golf?
“I haven’t been part of those talks. I hope golf in the short term very soon is in a great spot. We’re already a very small sport, but hopefully we can get on the same page.”
What’s your overall mindset for the 2025 season?
“I just want to make sure I’m putting in the work and giving myself the opportunity to go out on the course and hit good golf shots and not to worry about anything else. Not that I was worrying about anything else, but just really making sure I’m taking care of my body and that I’m doing the right prep work. I’m flowing really well with everyone around my team, and that’s important. The goal is to have the game smooth sailing to the point where all I have to do is just step up there and hit a good shot.”
How much of a goal is making the Ryder Cup team?
“It’s a huge goal to make it on the Ryder Cup team. I love playing in team events. Obviously they have a lot of passion to retain the cup and their fans really get into it as well. I’m putting a big emphasis on making that team and ensuring we do everything we can to help out as much as we can. First, I’ve got to make that team, and there’s a lot of golf left.”
OMNI LA COSTA RESORT & SPA
A SPECTACULAR LUXURY WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION
Surrounded by lush rolling hills and tucked in a peaceful, tranquil canyon in Carlsbad just north of San Diego, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is a luxury world-class destination and home to 36 holes of some of the most challenging and historic golf courses in Southern California.
In 2024, after a comprehensive renovation of its Champions Course by Gil Hanse Course Design, it was announced that the course was reverted to its original name, the North Course and reopened to members and resort guests following the 2024 NCAA Division I Golf Championships.
North Course hole #18
North Course hole #3
The golf practice facilities also went through a complete transformation, now offering two large teeing areas, a 12,000 square foot putting green, two short game practice areas with bunkers, and a private Golf Member’s practice tee featuring Top Tracer Technology.
On the first day of our visit, we played the gorgeous North Course. Originally designed by Dick Wilson, it has hosted nearly 40 PGA Tour events. For thirty years, it was the home of the Mercedes Championships and in 1999 and on six other occasions, it hosted the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships. Nine holes on the North Course (holes 1-3, 13-18) and nine on the South (holes 10-18) were used for PGA TOUR events and the KIA classic was played on the South.
The North Course saw significant changes on every hole and now features six sets of tees ranging from 4500-7500 yards, creating thrilling choices to challenge and
engage players of all skill levels. Nearly half of the greenside bunkers were removed, offering golfers more options around the greens.
The green on the fifth hole was moved 30 yards right with mounding added on both sides, offering a completely different look and feel. I teed it at the fives while my husband played the championship tees for a great day of play on a historic, challenging, gorgeous, world-class course.
The seventh hole was lengthened 45-yards, now playing 517-yards from the championship tees, while the eighth hole, aptly named “little terror” was shorted to play as little as 77-yards with little room for error. The water hazard that came into play on the eighth and ninth holes was removed and transformed into a beautiful barranca with native, drought tolerant vegetation.
The sixteenth hole resembles the twelfth at Augusta National, and the 18th hole now plays over 600-yards
Hole #18 South Course
Hole #1 North Course
from the championship tees, into the wind, with water on both sides. The North Course is very walkable and was named a “Top 100 Walking Course in America” by Golfpass.
The Legends Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa also reverted to its original name: the South Course, which is the perfect complement to the North Course, featuring a walkable, fun, and friendly parkland style layout with majestic trees, gentle doglegs, and challenging hazards. Some of the greatest PGA players in golf history have clinched victories at La Costa including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is adding to its rich tournament history as host of the 2024-2026 NCAA
Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships. La Costa, in partnership with The University of Texas Longhorns has bid on hosting this prestigious championship for 2027 and 2028—this selection will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2024. La Costa, The University of Texas, and College World Golf Championships Foundation (cwgcf. com) are making a strong case to become the permanent home of the NCAA DI Golf Championships.
FINE AND RELAXED DINING
We dined at VUE three times on our visit. It’s an elegant but California casual restaurant with a great vibe and large outdoor patio with beautiful views of the canyon and two courses. It features a menu
Aerial view of hole #14 green (left) and #15 tee (right)
with creative dishes and a wide selection of craft and bottled brews, fine wines, cocktails, and more. Keep in mind that this is a sprawling resort and you might want to ask for directions to walk there from your suite, villa or room. I got lost twice trying to find it and the friendly General Manager laughed when I asked for directions and joked that it takes some new employees a month to figure out how to get around the resort, but it’s well worth it for a fun golf-and-sun filled weekend or even longer.
On our second night, we dined at Bob’s Steak & Chop House that offers simple elegance, a lively atmosphere, and prime steak, chops and seafood along with big pours and exceptionally friendly service. And the new Bar Traza offers rustic Mediterranean cuisine and a creative menu featuring fresh, local organic ingredients.
THE SPA AT LA COSTA
I’m not really a spa girl (I’d rather golf!) but wellness-seekers and lux-
ury travelers have chosen The Spa at La Costa to relax since 1965, when the resort was widely known as the original destination for mind, body, and sport. With a multimillion-dollar refresh in 2024, the Spa carries this rich tradition forward, offering resort and spa guests a whole-body wellness experience to relax and recharge. But wait! I have a tee-time. Gotta go!
RACQUET SPORTS
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa features a robust racquets program for members and resort guests of all ages under the direction of Cliff Drysdale Tennis (cliffdrysdale.com) offering twelve tennis courts and six pickleball courts.
EDGE ADULT POOL & TERRACE
For resort guests age 21 and up, Edge Adult Pool & Terrace is full of energy all day where you can enjoy a ton of fun in the sun and then relax poolside next to the romantic warm glow of fire pits and tranquil sounds of trickling fountains. Or you can
relax in the privacy of the plush, fun cabanas. This place was rocking all day on our fun weekend visit!
THE ATHLETIC CLUB
The Athletic Club at La Costa offers a wide variety of classes and state-of-the-art athletic equipment for resort guests. You can choose from many fitness classes including body sculpting, Spin and much more or customize your workout and exercise with a friendly personal trainer.
MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Club at La Costa is a wonderful community and offers members daily access to the amenities of this world-class destination, a full calendar of social events, complimentary fitness classes, discounts throughout the property, and travel benefits when visiting other Omni properties.
If you’re looking for a luxury world-class resort to stay, play, and getaway, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is the perfect destination!
For more information, please visit omnilacosta.com.
North Course hole #15
FORGE YOUR LEGACY
Unwavering in our commitment to innovation and craftsmanship, our first-generation irons are the result of over 30 years of experience in machining metal and a quarter-century of dedication to the game of golf. Employing our signature One Piece Forging Technology, our seamlessly co-forged irons utilize a tri-material construction to individually optimize COG across the set, offering maximum forgiveness, tight dispersion, and consistent gapping. Years of research and planning, and hours upon hours of collaboration with Tour players, went into crafting these impeccable irons. Forge your Legacy with the Bettinardi MB24 and CB24 irons
GOLFER’S GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
By ED TRAVIS
As the season progresses from summer to winter there’s still a lot of golf to be played and this time of year offers several pluses including lower greens fees and less crowding on the courses. It also means the gift giving season is fast approaching and for that special golfer on your list the staff at California Golf + Travel has come up with a few suggestions. It is a great time to for new clubs and gear plus the cooler temperatures provide the opportunity for apparel gifts and they will remember you each time they are worn.
Duca Del Cosma Castello Winter Golf Boot
Being on the course in cool or even cold weather calls for warmth and performance from head to toe and the fleece lined Castello men’s winter golf boot will keep your feet warm and dry in most any weather. This Italian Nappa leather boot is lightweight and has a spikeless sole with a Duca Del Cosma exclusive pattern with nubs of three different sizes plus the insole is breathable for added comfort. $249
Gen Teal Downey Half-Zip Jacket
Here’s a lightweight quilted front jacket every golfer will quickly put at the head of the must-wear list. The front provides warmth and comfort and is made from 76% nylon, and 24% spandex while the back (88% poly ester, 12% spandex) is moisture wicking as are the sleeves. There are many nice touches like the hem and cuffs are banded knit and the front and pocket zippers are waterproof. Offered in the color pewter. $149
The Bettinardi Remix putters are variations of popular current models and the one we have selected is the same weight, 358 grams, as the original but has a titanium PVD finish and a face milling pattern that gives a firmer feel. The full shaft offset plumbers’ neck hosel is a favorite of many and head weight positioning provides a half toe-hang which is ideal for many strokes. $500 each
Shot Scope GPS Watch X5 Stealth Black
A wrist GPS golf watch is convenient to use for yardages and hazard locations so the X5’s large 1.2” color touchscreen is a favorite of users. The display also shows hole maps and a green view with the watch’s functions including scoring controlled on the display or with the side buttons. Sixteen shot tracking tags providing over 100 game stats are included as are more than 36,000 courses worldwide. $300
MGI Ai 500 Electric Caddy
Walking with a pushcart is fine but MGI has taken it to another level in the Electric Ai 500. There’s a built-in GPS with a 4-inch color display and in combination with the MGI no-charge app there are 40,000 course maps and scoring available plus it can connect via Bluetooth with your smartphone. Folding for transportation is a snap with a single action level and even with the battery in place the Ai 500 weights just 31 lbs. $1449
Blue Tees Series 4 Ultra Laser Rangefinder
The Series 4 Ultra offers several very useful features, the result of the many successful prior laser rangefinders Blue Tee has manufactured, starting with a bright OLED display with a 6x view. The 1200-yard range includes a flag lock feature with auto-depth and auto-focus. Users will appreciate the strong built-in magnet for attaching to a cart plus a convenient switch to turn on or off slope adjustment.
Mizuno JPZ925 Hot Metal Irons
The new JPZ925 line has three members: the game-improvement Hot Metal irons, the Hot Metal Pro better players distance iron and the Hot Metal HL in the super game-improvement category. All make use of a stainlesssteel variable thickness face cup and have tungsten weighting posi tioned low in the head to produce a higher initial trajectory. Face flex at impact is aided by the variable thickness sole.
Tested by tour professionals the outsole has a unique design wave pattern crafted for traction and stability in even rugged conditions. They are lightweight and can be worn all day due to the thick midsole and extra cushioning. Offered in three colors for men and two for women $200 pair.
TaylorMade P-770 & P-7CB Irons
The P-770 and P-7CB irons are engineered with the feedback and feel better players want. The P-770s have a forged carbon steel head with stainless steel face and an interior tungsten weight. The forged P-7CBs are a compact cavity back design with a co-forged tungsten toe weight. The appearance at address is very similar and stock lofts are close so composite sets are a possibility. $200 per club
Sun Mountain WeatherMax Stand Bag
Here’s a dual strap carry stand bag that players will take to instantly. Weighing in at just 5.1 lb. the well-known WeatherMax fabric is water and UV resistant, just what is needed in a bag. The top is a generous 9 inches and has four dividers for separating clubs efficiently. The nine pockets include one that is velour-lined for valuables, four easy to access pouches, a full apparel pocket and drink pouch.
Titleist GT Series Drivers
The GT Series has three models targeting players of varying skill levels. All have a wraparound crown of carbon fiber and engi neered polymer with internal weight towards face and rear. The GT2 game-improvement model has an interchangeable back weight while the GT3 for better players has a sliding sole weight. The 430c GT4, also for better players, is a lower spin model with two interchangeable weights. $650
Tour Edge Exotics 725 Drivers
The new Exotics E725 (game-improvement category) has an MOI of over 10k with the 460cc clubhead having an 18g weight that can be moved to three positions to facilitate a desired ball curvature. The C725 (better player category) has a smaller clubhead of 445cc and sole weights front and rear with the rear offering a choice of three positions. Both use a redesigned 3D Diamond variable thickness face. $400
GET YOUR GRIP RIGHT
By JOHN BURCKLE
Do you have a neutral, strong or weak grip of the golf club, and can you read the signs of each one?
As an instructor, the first thing I look for is the way my student holds the golf club. If your hands don’t hold the grip the correct way, you’ll never reach your full potential as a player.
The trick: Get the creases right.
In Image 1, I have my hands set in a neutral position. Notice how the creases between my forefinger and thumb on both hands point just to the right of 12 o’clock. This neutral positioning of the hands can result in a straighter ball flight.
If you have your creases pointed further to the right, towards 10 o’clock, then you’ve got a strong grip (Image 2), which can help you hit a draw.
If your creases point left towards 2 o’clock (Image 3), your grip is weak. This usually means fore right!
Getting your hands on the club in a position that works for your swing is essential to improving your game. Remember, the golf swing starts with correct grip.
JOHN BURCKLE has 27 years of professional playing experience, including the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour, Asian Tour and local mini tour events. He has 20 years of teaching experience with students ranging from PGA Tour players to beginners. He is currently Director of Instruction at Golf Lab Academy in Santa Ana. Contact John Burckle at golflabacademy.com or 714-542-4653.
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Lalo Tequila Generations of Outstanding Tequila
LALO Tequila was founded by Eduardo “Lalo” González, the grandson of Don Julio, and David “R” Carballido, two friends who grew up together in Mexico and share three generations of tequila-making experience. Lalo and David set out to create the purest expression of tequila that would honor their heritage, ancestry and homeland. They first created LALO as a small batch tequila for their family and friends to enjoy on special occasions. Their small batch tequila received so many rave reviews from their local community that Lalo and David knew they had to share LALO with the world to honor the legacy of Lalo’s father (also known as Lalo), grandfather, and the spirit of modern Mexico with the masses.
Since inception, LALO has been crafted with the finest ingredients to ensure that the integrity and flavor of the agave is maintained. What was once a celebratory small batch tequila has gone on to nationally available, and one of the top
ten fastest-growing spirits in the United States. The dedication to authenticity and purity is evident in every sip and is a testament to Lalo and David’s bold new approach to perfecting Blanco tequila. Each bottle of LALO is crafted with just three simple ingredients; champagne yeast, handpicked agave from the Jalisco highlands, and water. The champagne yeast brings out the bright crisp flavor of the tequila and the traditional cooking process allows the complex essence of the agave to shine through and be enjoyed. LALO is distilled only twice and does not use any barrels or additives for a clean drinking experience.
LALO’s crystal clear liquid boasts top notes of cooked agave, sweet potato, and a hint of dulce de leche as well as notes of citrus and tropical fruit. The flavor profile of the tequila makes it ideal for sipping neat or mixing into cocktails. LALO is the embodiment of modern Mexico from its premium, pure tequila and artfully designed bottle, it brings the spirit of Mexico to life one sip at a time.
(L to R) Founders Eduardo “Lalo” González and David “R” Carballido
