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2016!YTD!Media!Highlights!
November 2016
Eddie Redmayne Believes in magic
Light Show
Searching for the northern lights from Sweden’s Icehotel
The Good Life
How Tony Bennett got his start
Grudge Match
The biggest college football rivalries, ranked
My Second Home
Jackson, Wyoming 15280 S. Wagon Road
For the select few who crave the isolation of the woods for a party of one, kudos. For the rest of us, this 3,000-square-foot luxury cabin, complete with four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and 20-foot vaulted ceilings, is nothing short of the ultimate clubhouse for family, friends, and friends of friends. Located on the second fairway of the Snake River Sporting Club, the cottage’s open floor plan is circled by nearly 750 feet of exterior decks that offer a killer backdrop of Bradley Mountain. $2,450,000, snakeriversportingclub.com
Indoor and outdoor living are one and the same at this Hawaiian paradise HIDEAWAY+IN+HAWAII+
Hualālai Resort, Hawaii 72-122 Hainoa Place
The Basics: Looking for a private getaway on the Big Island? This four-bedroom condo overlooks the rugged lava fields that line the Kona Kohala Coast. The airy floor plan is designed to mesh with the lush island surroundings just outside: Massive 24-foot sliding doors lead from the main room onto a large lanai, the covered terrace popular in Hawaiian architecture. After sun salutations on the shaded patio, dive into the infinity pool for morning laps. The Extras: Odds are the whole family will want in on your new island life. A separate media room can distract the brood, while a detached guesthouse can accommodate those extended !!" " November 201 6
stays by the in-laws. When it’s time for the gang to get together, hold an evening cookout on the open lawn, where you can watch fiery ocean sunsets reflect off the pool. The Lifestyle: Hualālai Resort embraces the Big Island’s lush flora, eschewing overdevelopment for open spaces and intoxicating views. In other words, from where this property sits—on the first fairway of the Ke’olu Golf Course, named one of the top four courses in Hawaii—the idyllic view is a permanent offering. If you must make contact with civilization, the members’ only Mauka Clubhouse, just a short walk away, offers the finest Mediterranean and coastal dishes in the region. $4,575,000, hualalairealty.com
UNITED+OFFERS+YEARROUND+FLIGHTS+TO+HILO+ FROM+LOS+ANGELES+AND+ TO+KONA+FROM+BOTH+ LOS+ANGELES+AND+SAN+ FRANCISCO﹐+PLUS+ SEASONAL+SERVICE+TO+ KONA+FROM+DENVER﹒+ GO+TO+UNITED﹒COM+TO+ PLAN+YOUR+ESCAPE﹒
Las Catalinas, Costa Rica 17 Paseo del Mar
This beachfront four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom mansion is called Casa Sirena (“Mermaid House”) for good reason: It’s just steps away from the black-sand beach of Playa Danta and offers a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Papagayo. The courtyard features a jacuzzi and a stately fountain that flows beneath the entry path and into a turquoise saline pool. The interior boasts multiple open-air living spaces and a domed ceiling of coralina stone. $2,900,000, lascatalinascr.com
David J. Swi! (log cabin)
Big Island, Big Escape
Start your day with morning laps in your private infinity pool
Story Nathan Pemberton
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22 Luxury Escapes Worth the Money By Hudson Lindenberger
Snake River Sporting Club, Wyoming Six miles of private access to blue-ribbon fly fishing on the Snake River, horseback riding in the surrounding Bridger-Teton National Forest, championship golf on a course designed by Tom Weiskopf, Heli-skiing in the winter, and miles of cross-country ski trails are a few of the highlights this private club offers. If being surrounded by nature becomes too much, you can always head up the road to Jackson Hole only 30 minutes away, but, really, why would you want to? [From $5,000/ year;snakeriversportingclub.com]
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MetGolfer TRAVELER The
T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M E T R O P O L I TA N G O L F A S S O C I AT I O N
M G A G O L F. O R G
IN THIS ISSUE September 2016 3 NEWS Wild Dunes andTom Fazio continue to enjoy a very successful 36-year relationship.
5 SHORT SHOTS Looking for a classy destination within driving distance from NYC? We have something for you.
7 NEW TRACKS Golf should be fun, Reynolds Lake Oconee believes, and they are investing time and effort to make it that way.
9 VISITING DAY Should you consider Las Vegas as a golf travel destination? We are firmly in the “yes” camp.
11 CHECKING OUT Jackson Hole tempts you with the sporting life – and Snake River Sporting Club is the place to be.
Pictured: On land once trod only in summer by the Shoshoni, Crow and Blackfeet, now Snake River Sporting Club offers a remarkable joie de vivre in all four seasons.
SNRSC / TONY ROBERTS
CHECKING OUT ▼
Snake River Sporting Club (snakeriversportingclub.com) is adding nightly guest accommodations to help their members enjoy even more of the four seasons and all the excitement of Jackson Hole. With seasonal non-stop flights from NY to Jackson (JAC), you can be on the slopes, the river, or the fairways by lunchtime. A new tubing hill, terrain park, and discovery village join an impressive list of outdoor pursuits including the Tom Weiskopf’s championship layout—the #1 ranked course in Wyoming (Golf Digest).
THE LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF TEXAS
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escape enlightened explorer
>> FOR THE KNOWLEDGE-SEEKING URBANITE
GRACE PANAMA
>> FOR THE TRAVELER DOWN UNDER
COMO THE TREASURY
Opening October 2015, COMO The Treasury is this luxury hotel group’s first offering in the Land Down Under. The 48-room Perth hotel is located in the city’s vibrant, historic heart and occupies state buildings dating from the mid-19th century. Architecture aficionados will appreciate the structure’s careful restoration, from its roof-top copper trimmings to its re-installed dormer windows; the stripped façade displays the original surface. In addition to COMO The Treasury’s ambiance of understated luxury and its signature amenities, highlights include a rooftop restaurant with views of the Swan River, a lounge and bar (don’t miss the afternoon tea on weekends), a heated indoor swimming pool and the holistic therapies and state-of-the-art wellness center at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape. comohotels.com/thetreasury
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PRIME-LIVING.COM
>> FOR THE FLY-FISHING ENTHUSIAST
SNAKE RIVER SPORTING CLUB
Starting in June and continuing through October 2016, in-depth and personalized lessons will be offered to fly fishers from around the world in a partnership between Snake River Sporting Club, Orvis and Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School. A series of five one-day ($279) and seven twoday ($489) intensive classes merge classroom learning with handson instruction along 6 miles of private access to the Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with options for both beginners and experts. The experience includes lunch at the Snake River Sporting Club’s Clubhouse and the use of top-notch fly fishing equipment, as well as one-on-one time with an expert instructor. snakeriversportingclub.com KATHRYN HUNTER Kathryn Hunter is an Austin-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.
GRACE HOTELS | SNAKE RIVER SPORTING CLUB | COMO HOTELS AND RESORTS
Panama City is a Central American metropolis known for its energy and diversity as well as its fascinating mix of old and new. Boutique hotel Grace Panama, featuring 60 luxurious rooms in the newly constructed Twist Tower, offers the perfect starting point for exploring the city’s atmospheric urban center. Grace Panama’s bespoke experiences provide an authentic, immersive look at the culture from many vantage points, ranging from an educational Panamanian rum tasting to a three-hour photography masterclass. On the “Journey Through the Rainforest” experience, take a personal guided hike of the Metropolitan Natural Park, a wildlife refuge and rainforest within the city. Or join chef Pedro Masoliver on “A Flavour of Panama With Pedro” to visit the famous Panama City fish market and choose your own fish, later prepared to order in the evening’s cooking class. gracehotels.com/panama
enlightened explorer
escape
>> FOR THE TROPICAL ESCAPIST
PITT’S LAGOON
Its turquoise waters and expansive coral reef present the ultimate playground for the island-lover, with world-class diving and fishing, snorkeling, boating, swimming and paddling; an 18hole golf course is nearby for those who prefer to concentrate their leisure on the green. Roatan’s Homes at Pitt’s Lagoon offer an unparalleled, family-oriented Caribbean experience on the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands. In addition to 25 elevated island-style cottages, which surround a private swimming lagoon, the gated community features a pier and marina. All residences are owned outright by the buyers and are primarily vacation homes, but they can be made available in a rental pool if desired, and weekly direct flights from Houston make Roatan an easy getaway. Construction on the property began in January. homesatpittslagoon.com >> FOR THE STYLE CONNOISSEUR
WIDDER HOTEL
In a setting where the ancient merges effortlessly with the avantgarde, the result is a sense of timelessness. Journey to Widder Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland, for a stay that is exceptionally and stylishly unique: nine medieval houses decorated with 15th-century frescoes, house furnishings by celebrated modern designers and the works of notable artists like Andy Warhol, Aldo Rossi and Serge Poliakoff, among more. The small, exclusive hotel offers 15 suites and 34 rooms, each representing a warm and one-of-a-kind homecoming, and the sees and dos of Zurich are endless. Peruse online tips from the Widder Hotel’s head concierge for a curated collection of the city’s top restaurants, museums, bars, historical sites and other attractions; many are just a stone’s throw from the hotel’s doors. Widder Hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. widderhotel.com >> FOR THE LA-GOING ART LOVER
BRUCE DAMONTE | LEADING HOTELS OF THE WORLD | PITT’S LAGOON
THE BROAD
Los Angeles’ new contemporary art museum, The Broad, opened its doors in September 2015, but the buzz surrounding this downtown attraction’s addition to the LA art scene is expected to continue long into the future. Though general admission is free, The Broad’s popularity makes advance online reservations a good idea. Representing the private collection of philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, The Broad’s 2,000-work treasure trove is said to be among the best holdings of postwar and contemporary art worldwide and features the work of more than 200 artists. The groundbreaking architecture of the 120,000-square-foot, $140-million structure is also a big draw—the honeycombed “veil-and-vault” design makes it a vast and open space of natural light and interesting complexity. A bonus: Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall is just across the street. Complement your artistic wanderings through The Broad with a creative culinary experience at Otium, the new and celebrated restaurant next door to the museum. thebroad.org, otiumla.com
MARCH/APRIL • 2016
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Given its setting—in the Platte River Valley in southeast Wyoming between the Sierre Madre Mountains and Medicine Bow National Forest—it would seem plausible to come to Magee Homestead for the scenery alone. But this intimate 24 guest/nine log cabin property, which shares 30,000 acres with its larger sibling Brush Creek Ranch down the road, does such a good job of cossetting that it’s the perfect place to stretch out and unwind. And due to a policy change this year, individual (adults only) guests can now take advantage—it was previously rented only if guests took the property overall. (That’s still possible in which case children are allowed.) Back in the early 1900’s, cowboys working this cattle and hay producing ranch were the residents here and some of those cabins remain although now heavily restored and all redesigned in sharp, idealized western style by the Simeone Dreary Design Group in Chicago, the home base of hotelier owner Bruce White and his wife Beth. The group also designed the homestead main lodge with its animal print chairs, antler chandeliers and massive stone fireplaces in the dining room and bar and the spa that opened this year with its pool, pool bar, western style cabanas and yurt for sunrise yoga. The spa doesn’t have an official changing room so guests padding across the green past the log cabins en route to a massage or a soak in the hot tub grotto are a common sight. The quiet, secluded environment clearly encourages lazing. But there are many other activities that can be arranged on the grounds. There are 108 horses over at Brush Creek and several along with accompanying wranglers can be brought over for rides ranging from simple trail rides to more challenging rides up and down the property’s hills. (There are plans, though, to establish a separate corral and horse program at Magee.) Also: archery, sporting clays, hiking or biking 50 miles of trails, float trips or fly fishing on the North Platte River. For those who want to concentrate on fly fishing, the Whites opened French Creek Sportsman’s Club on the 15,000 acre Sanger Ranch nearby this year. This revamped four cabin complex, complete with mancave, directly on the river has 11 ½ miles of access to it and has to be taken as a total buyout. Since the assembled ranches are still working cattle ranches, cattle drives are also possible for guests fantasizing about the cowboy experience. While on a drive, they may encounter the 400 reddish brown Akaushi cattle, part of the 1000 that comprise the herd, and are a breed of Japanese Wagyu. Producing their own meat is one part of a refined, epicurean dining program and the rich, buttery Akaushi burger is a regular on the lunch menu. (and worth trying.) Other well executed dishes such as crab cakes in a fennel beurre blanc,
beef tenderloin in a Cabernet reduction and Rocky Mountain Elk in a red wine jus change every day. And after dinner, there may be a cowboy singing and strumming a guitar reinforcing the sense of place. Diagonally across the state, just south of the Grand Tetons and the city of Jackson, the Snake River Sporting Club is a Lazarus-like reinvention of a members club that was derailed by the 2008-9 financial crisis and is rising again thanks to new owner Cygnus Capital which bought the club in 2013. There are a few available houses to rent while the private club builds up memberships and with it, more property sales and house construction that will be put into the overnight rental pool. But it’s worth keeping an eye on it for the spectacular location—surrounded by the mountains of Bridger Teton National Forest with the trout rich Snake River running through its 800 acres and similar activities—horses, archery, skeet shooting—to Magee plus a Tom Weiskopf designed 18 hole golf course. Another advantage is proximity to Jackson for excellent restaurants such as Rendezvous Bistro for its well prepared span the globe menu. And to the Tetons for those rugged, True West views
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! ! ! ! ! July!27,!2016! From!the!Robb$Report!Luxury!Newswire! ! July!28,!2016!(Jackson!Hole,!WY)!–!Snake!River!Sporting!Club!in!Jackson!Hole!has!received!final!approval!on!a!longM awaited!plan!to!bring!new!overnight!lodging!to!the!private!club!and!residential!community.!Two!years!in!the!making,! developers!Cygnus!Capital!finalized!a!transaction!with!Northlight!Capital!Partners!and!The!Trust!for!Public!Land!that!will! relocate!development!entitlements!from!an!adjacent!parcel!onto!club!land,!creating!short!term!rentals!and!overnight! accommodations.!The!plan!officially!received!final!approval!from!the!Teton!County!Board!of!Commissioners!in!early!July! and!development!is!moving!full!steam!ahead.!A!selection!of!residentialMstyle!accommodations!is!already!available!for! members!and!guests,!with!plans!for!additional!lodging!to!be!completed!by!year’s!end.! ! The!landmark!deal!also!has!significant!benefit!to!the!local!community,!solidifying!a!highly!regarded!effort!to!restore! Astoria!Hot!Springs!Park,!a!favorite!recreational!spot!that!has!been!closed!for!17!years.!Located!adjacent!to!the!Club!on! the!north!end!the!property,!the!rezoning!agreement!will!allow!the!park!to!reopen!to!the!public.!!A!fundraising!campaign! to!start!the!first!phase!of!renovations!is!currently!underway!by!The!Trust!for!Public!Land.!The!project!includes!a! community!design!process,!construction!of!hot!soaking!pools,!a!bathhouse!and!welcome!center,!as!well!as!a!snack!bar.! Future!additions!include!walking!trails,!a!picnic!pavilion,!pond!and!wetland!enhancements,!and!additional!gathering! spaces.! ! “This!is!a!momentous!milestone!for!Snake!River!Sporting!Club,!Northlight!Capital!Partners!and!The!Trust!for!Public! Land,”!said!Christopher!Swann,!Founding!Investor!of!Cygnus!Capital.!“We!are!pleased!to!have!reached!a!final!agreement! that!benefits!all!parties!and!puts!a!beloved!local!landmark!back!into!public!hands.!Offering!lodging!is!an!exciting!next! chapter!for!the!Club,!and!we!look!forward!to!welcoming!new!guests!while!continuing!to!create!priceless,!authentic! western!experiences!for!our!members.”! ! Cygnus!Capital!acquired!the!800Macre!property!in!early!2013!and!has!invested!more!than!$10!million!in!Snake!River! Sporting!Club!over!the!past!12!months!alone,!developing!several!new!amenities!that!complement!the!Club’s!already! robust!stable!of!offerings.!Construction!is!currently!underway!on!a!paddle!tennis!and!clay!court!facility,!outdoor!pool! and!a!bike!path!that!will!join!the!Club’s!existing!equestrian!facilities,!archery!and!shooting!clay!ranges,!Tom!Weiskopf! championship!golf!course,!hiking!trails!and!worldMclass!fishing!and!boating.!Infrastructure!improvements!include!the!
installation!of!a!highMspeed!Fiber!Optic!internet!network!in!2014.! ! Other!developments!underway!include!the!Discovery!Village!with!four!tiny!homes!and!two!western!Conestoga!wagons! that!will!be!used!for!short!term!lodging,!and!Cottonwood!Court,!a!new!collection!of!twelve!turnMkey!homes!within!the! community!with!amazing!downMvalley!views.! ! New!winter!amenities!for!the!2016/17!season!include!a!tubing!hill!and!terrain!park!for!snowboarders!and!skiers.!These! activities!will!be!added!to!the!already!existing!miles!of!cross!country!skiing!and!snow!shoeing,!ice!skating!and!helicopter! skiing!offered!from!the!property!through!High!Mountain!HeliMSkiing.! ! For!more!information!on!membership!or!to!arrange!a!stay!at!Snake!River!Sporting!Club,!please!visit! www.snakeriversportingclub.com!or!call!(307)!200M3114.! !! About!Snake!River!Sporting!Club:! Located!just!south!of!the!confluence!of!the!Snake!and!Hoback!rivers,!Snake!River!Sporting!Club!provides!a! comprehensive!Jackson!Hole!experience!within!a!private!club!environment.!Situated!on!800Macres!of!verdant! topography,!the!Club!and!Ranch!embrace!natural!surroundings!and!celebrate!the!beauty!and!ruggedness!of!the! wilderness.!The!four!season!residential!community!and!private!club!offers!world!class!golf!on!a!Tom!WeiskopfMdesigned! championship!course,!flyMfishing!along!the!famed!Snake!River,!hiking!trails!to!be!traveled!by!foot!or!mountain!bike,! equestrian!facilities,!archery!and!shooting!clays,!children’s!programs!and!more.!In!the!winter,!residents!and!Club! members!enjoy!snowshoeing,!ice!skating,!cross!country!skiing,!as!well!as!private!Après!ski!and!valet!service!at!Jackson! Hole!Mountain!Resort.!www.snakeriversportingclub.com!
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! Determining!America's!most!expensive!resort!courses!and!private!clubs!open!to!resort!guests!isn't!as!simple!as! it!seems.! ! All!40!of!the!resort!and!private!courses!listed!in!this!story!have!rack!rates!that!cost!$200!or!more,!but!how! many!golfers!are!foolish!enough!to!pay!them?!Most!customers!are!going!to!be!staying!on!a!golf!package!that! should,!theoretically,!cut!the!"peak!rates"!used!in!this!story!down!considerably.! ! For!the!sake!of!fairness,!I!had!to!follow!the!theme!of!my!first!story!on!America's!most!expensive!publicG accessible!golf!courses,!which!included!118!courses!across!the!country!that!cost!more!than!$200!to!play.! ! Just!to!reiterate:!When!I!began!researching!expensive!green!fees,!it!wasn't!necessarily!to!call!those!courses! out!for!being!"overpriced"!or!for!"gouging"!customers!or!being!"most!expensive."!It!was!to!find!out!what! "bucket!list"!golf!costs!these!days.! ! The!best!courses!are!expensive.!There's!no!sense!in!arguing!that!point.!And!they!get!even!more!so!when!you! add!a!stay!at!a!posh!resort!into!the!equation.!The!total!costs!to!stay!and!play!(without!a!golf!package)!at!these! resorts!could!only!be!estimated!due!to!fluctuating!room!rates!and!green!fees.! ! You!can!use!this!list!two!ways:!As!a!guide!to!seek!out!and!play!the!most!exclusive!publicGaccessible!courses!in! the!country,!or!avoid!them!altogether,!because!they're!simply!too!costly!for!your!budget.!You!decide.!