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FLORIDA GOLF CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
Scottish Golf Classic 2019 COMPETE AT THE HOME OF GOLF • THE OLD COURSE • CARNOUSTIE • KINGSBARNS • THE JUBILEE COURSE FULL DETAILS ON PAGE 8
worldwide golf holiday experts for 24 years www.chakatravel.com
OMAN
from £1,995 PP
MAURITIUS
from £2,295 PP
5* Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort
5* Constance Belle Mare Plage
3 rounds of golf on 3 courses Incl. flights & transfers, play the Al Mouj Golf Course!
Incl. flights & transfers, golf approximately £13 per round All inclusive supplement from £760 pp with golf buggy
7 nights Half Board
ABU DHABI
12 nights Full Board
from £1,595 PP
5* Crowne Plaza, Yas Island
SOUTH AFRICA
from £2,295 PP Fancourt & Capetown Classic Garden Route
7 nights with 4 rounds golf on 3 golf courses Incl. flights & transfers
10 nights Bed & Breakfast with 6 rounds of golf on 6 courses
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
THAILAND
5* Casa De Campo
Incl. flights, transfers & hire car
from £1,595 PP
7 nights All Inclusive including the Teeth Of The Dog Course Incl. flights, transfers & golf buggy
Bangkok & Hua Hin
from £2,395 PP
14 nights Bed & Breakfast with 5 rounds of golf Incl. flights, transfers & caddie included per round
INTRODUCING OUR NEW
MIDDLE EAST GOLF SPECIALIST We’re delighted to welcome Richard into the Chaka Travel team. Richard brings a wealth of experience of golf in the Middle East and we’re excited to expand our range of holidays within the region. “I spent the past four years heading up the inbound sports travel division at a leading destination management company based in Dubai. This provided me with some amazingly unique experiences and insight into the world of Middle East golf travel.”
book with the worldwide golf specialists www.chakatravel.com For more details please visit our website 2
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call our specialists
028 9023 2112
for more details please visit our website ISSUE 4
Welcome to the fourth issue of Exclusive Golf and Travel – your one-stop guide to the best golfing destinations around the world and packed with ideas for your next golfing getaway, no matter what your budget. If you are after ideas for your golfing break in the UK, Europe or much further afield, then Exclusive Golf and Travel has everything you need to make your trip a memorable one. In this issue we include an extensive feature on the ‘Golf Capital of the World’ – Florida. Along with our friends at Chaka Travel we have produced a special supplment to focus on some of the very best golf destinations Florida has to offer and packages to make your dream golf trip a reality. We also have plenty of news and featres from the UK, Europe and around the world Why not sign up to receive our monthly email promotions with the latest golf holiday offers and features from us and our partners. SIGN UP TO RECEIVE LATEST PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX ISSUE 4
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CONTENTS
08 SCOTTISH GOLF CLASSIC SCOTLAND
The Old Course • Carnoustie • Kingsbarns • Jubilee Course
CLICK ON PANELS TO GO DIRECT TO PAGES
10 THE OPEN NORTHERN IRELAND
Set to showcase golf in Northern Ireland
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CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF GLENEAGLES GOLF
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OMAN
The Middle East’s best kept secret
GOLF IN
FLORIDA 30 PAGE SPECIAL GUIDE STARTS ON PAGE 29
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View our golf destination guides online here . . .
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PORTUGAL
SWING SPRING INTO
AT QUINTA DO LAGO
G
uests can combine world-class golf with an array of luxury lifestyle facilities when booking a golfing break at Portugal’s Quinta do Lago resort this spring – with three-night, two-round hotel packages available from €338 per person including buggies. The Algarve’s premier golf, sports and family destination is offering outstanding value on golf breaks taken between now and April 30 in the resort’s boutique Magnolia Hotel. The new luxury packages feature two rounds of golf person on Quinta do Lago’s acclaimed 18-hole championship courses, Laranjal or the South – nominated to be named as ‘Portugal’s Best Golf Course’ at this year’s World Golf Awards. Transfers to the golf courses are also included while guests can unwind
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afterwards with free access to the facilities at The Magnolia Hotel, including Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and chill room. All prices are based on two people sharing a twin room. Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is the perfect choice for a sporting break and boasts a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities. As well as three renowned golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at the state-of-the-art performance centre The Campus, a worldclass sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit. For more information on the latest golf packages available at Quinta do Lago this spring, please click here www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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Scottish Golf C 20TH OCTOBER 2019
ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE
CARNOUSTIE
Take your place on this 5 night, 4 round event including Guaranteed Tee Times on Carnoustie Championship Course, Kingsbarns Golf Links, St Andrews Jubilee and St Andrews Old Course. Stay at the world renowned AA Five-Star Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa including golf transfers, lunches, evening meals and prizes.
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Classic 2019
E
DON’T MISS OUT
ONLY 16 PLACES LEFT
KINGSBARNS
CARNOUSTIE
ST ANDREWS JUBILEE
KINGSBARNS
ST ANDREWS JUBILEE
Let your golfing dreams become reality GHW Golf Tours have been creating memorable Scottish and Irish golf tours for over 14 years. Let one of our Golf Tour consultants assist you, leaving you to concentrate on the most important part - your game!
www.ghwgolftours.com ISSUE 4
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NORTHERN IRELAND
THE OPEN SET TO SHOWCASE GOLF IN NORTHERN IRELAND
A
s Royal Portrush prepares to host the world’s top players in July for golf ’s oldest tournament, the scene is set for Northern Ireland to truly make its mark on the international golf scene.
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the venue for The Open in 1951, when Englishman Max Faulkner won a princely £300 out of total prize money of £1,700 for his victory. This year’s winner will pocket almost $2 million.
The 148th Open takes place on the celebrated Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club from 14-21 July, only the second time the Claret Jug has been contested outside Scotland or England.
Such has been the level of interest that tickets for the four championship days sold out months ago, although tickets are still available for hospitality and the four practice days and through golf tour operator packages.
The Harry Colt masterpiece was also
In addition to the 200,000 spectators likely
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Royal Portrush Golf Club to attend competition and practice days, many of whom will be from overseas, The Open is expected to be watched by a global TV audience of 600 million in 150 countries. It will be the biggest sporting event ever held in Northern Ireland and a showcase for the country’s golf product and other attractions. A huge spectator village with vending and refreshment outlets is being constructed for The Open on what was formerly the closing two holes of Dunluce Links. They have been replaced by newly-created ISSUE 4
7th and 8th holes “borrowed” from the sister Valley Course as part of acclaimed enhancements ahead of this year’s final Major. Royal Portrush lies in the heart of the small Causeway Coast seaside town of Portrush, which has a resident population of just 7,000. Events will take place throughout the entire week in the town to entertain the throng of the Championship attendees. A park-and-ride service will ferry the public to and from nearby car parks to keep traffic out of the town. www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Portstewart Golf Club Visitors can slake their thirst and try local dishes at several restaurants, cafes and pubs in Portrush and the surrounding area. They can also find traditional music at many establishments, among them the Crosskeys Inn, Ireland’s oldest thatched pub 50 minutes away near Lough Neagh. The undoubted star of the craggy Atlantic coastline is the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site and less than 10 miles from Portrush. For visitors attending The Open who want to stay on and play golf, there are excellent courses within an easy drive of Royal Portrush. Just 15 minutes west lies Portstewart Golf Club, offering 54 holes of links golf set amidst dunes and a towering opening tee shot on its championship Strand Course, host of the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. Many regard the opening hole, one of 11 created by two-time Open Champion Willie Park Jr in 1894, as the finest in the whole of Ireland. Across the River Bann from Portstewart 12
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is Castlerock Golf Club, its Mussenden Links first laid out by Scottish pro Ben Sayers, who is more famous as a golf club maker, and later reworked by Harry Colt. Golfers wanting to combine playing rounds during a resort stay with watching The Open can choose from Roe Park Resort, half an hour from both Portrush and Derry~Londonderry, Lough Erne Resort with its Nick Faldo-designed championship course on the southern shore of Lough Erne, Northern Ireland Open host venue Galgorm Castle Golf Club and nearby Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort 30 miles south-east of Portrush, or the Hilton Templepatrick Golf & Country Club 20 minutes from Belfast. Northern Ireland’s capital is only 75 minutes by road from Portrush and is a good option to use as a base for visitors going to The Open. It has several topnotch golf courses close to the city centre, among them Ireland’s oldest golf club, Royal Belfast Golf Club, that was founded in 1881 as well as Belvoir Park Golf Club, Malone Golf Club, Shandon Park, Knock Golf Club, Dunmurry Golf ISSUE 4
NORTHERN IRELAND
Royal County Down Club and Holywood Golf Club, where local hero, four-time Major champion and 2019 Players Championship winner Rory McIlroy honed his skills as a youngster and where a special memorabilia-filled area of the clubhouse celebrates his career. Holywood Golf Club
Castlerock Golf Club
An hour south of Belfast lies Northern Ireland’s other trophy golf venue that visiting golfers will undoubtedly want to include, Royal County Down Golf Club. Its iconic Championship Links is the work of three golfing legends – Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt, and Harry Vardon – as well as Donald Steel, who later modified some holes. Just along the coast is another seaside links gem worth including in a stay, Ardglass Golf Club, boasting the world’s oldest clubhouse built as a castle over 600 years ago. No matter who lifts the Claret Jug this year, visitors who come for The Open will be onto a winner.
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For more information on Northern Ireland and its golf, visit: www.discovernorthernireland.com www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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MAURITIUS MALDIVES SEYCHELLES SOUTH AFRICA DUBAI THAILAND MALAYSIA BALI CYPRUS MOROCCO USA EUROPE
GOLF HOLIDAYS AROUND
THE WORLD
PROVIDING AN EXPERT SERVICE
FOR 23 YEARS At Chaka Travel we pride ourselves on providing a highly personalised service and having an intimate knowledge of some of the worlds’ most exciting destinations. 14
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Our team have travelled extensively and have first-hand knowledge of our destinations A dedicated travel expert will tailor your holiday to suit you Creating amazing experiences since 1995
Over 94% of our clients rate us as 5-star excellent with Trustpilot We only work with the best resorts and suppliers We are ATOL regulated and hold licence 9422
Our long-standing partnerships give us access to the best possible rates No credit card fees or currency surcharges No hidden charges
www.chakatravel.com Call our specialists: 028 9023 2112 ISSUE 4
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IRELAND
ADARE MANOR REOPENS FAIRWAYS
C
ounty Limerick’s 5-star Adare Manor has reopened its fairways to golfers for the season after an extensive and thorough maintenance program to ensure the course continues to play in first-class condition to members, guests and hotel residents throughout the season. Approaching its 1st Birthday since the redesign was completed last April, the greens team at Adare Manor has left no stone unturned in the first round of maintenance. The putting surfaces have been shown special attention and to ensure the greens are in pristine condition, the staff having been plugging, by hand, old pitch marks and imperfections to then replace them with plugs from the turf nursery. These careful processes and attention to detail means the Greens at Adare Manor
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will give the truest putting surfaces throughout the season. The Greenkeeping team have also been carefully adjusting the sand depths of the 42 bunkers to achieve the desired level of 3 inches on the faces and 4 inches on the bases, that will produce consistent and uniform lies in bunkers across the golf course. Alan McDonnell, Superintendent at Adare Manor, commented, “There has been a huge commitment by the whole Greenkeeping team this winter to ensure the course is in great shape for the season ahead.” “We are exceptionally proud of the conditioning we are able to maintain here at Adare Manor. The Course is looking better than ever going into this golfing season.” To find out more about Adare Manor, visit: www.adaremanor.com
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SCOTLAND
CELEBRATE 100 YEARS WITH SPECIAL GOLF PACKAGES AT
GLENEAGLES G
leneagles, the world-famous hotel and sporting estate, has today unveiled two special commemorative golf packages, only available during the month of May, to coincide with centenary celebrations for The King’s and The Queen’s courses. To celebrate all the great golfing memories and moments that have made Gleneagles one of the world’s must-visit experiences, golfers booking to play either course between May 1-15, 2019, will pay a reduced £100 per person as a special ‘nod’ to their 100th birthdays.
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Both 18-hole championship layouts remain beacons for golfing aficionados, corporate guests and world-renowned celebrities and are steeped in history. The King’s hosted a famous match between the ‘Big Three’ of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player in 1966, as well as the popular Bell’s Scottish Open on the European Tour from 1987-1994, the largest spectator event after The Open at the time. For golfing guests wishing to combine their sporting passion with the splendour of staying at award-winning Gleneagles, they ISSUE 4
can take advantage of the exclusive ‘Regal Rounds’ overnight residential package, available throughout May 2019 only.
REGAL ROUNDS RESIDENTIAL OFFER
Based on two people sharing either a twin or double Classic Room, guests can enjoy two rounds of golf each, indulge in a hearty Gleneagles breakfast, and enjoy full use of The Health Club during their stay, for £680.
For golfing guests wishing to combine their sporting passion with the splendour of staying at award-winning Gleneagles, they can take advantage of the exclusive 'Regal Rounds' overnight residential package, available throughout May 2019 only.
This package allows access to all three championship golf courses, including the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary, host venue of the Solheim Cup in September. Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at Gleneagles, said: “As we look ahead to the next 100 years of golf at Gleneagles, we’re delighted to announce these special offers, which will give many more golfers the opportunity to experience our world-class courses, and the chance to join our celebrations as we start the next chapter of the Gleneagles golfing story.” For further information and booking, call: 0800 704 705. ISSUE 4
Based on two people sharing either a twin or double Classic Room, guests can enjoy two rounds of golf each, indulge in a hearty Gleneagles breakfast, and enjoy full use of The Health Club during their stay, for only £680. www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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THE BUCKET LIST
JCB Golf
& Country Club
STAFFORDSHIRE | PAR 72 | 7,300 YARDS | Design: European Golf Design
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The JCB Golf and Country Club reflects a bold, ambitious vision of Lord Bamford, chairman of the iconic construction and agricultural equipment manufacturer: nothing less than the creation of a tour-ready contemporary masterpiece in course design. Set amid the lush green rolling countryside of Staffordshire, the course along with luxury accommodation and dining will offer the ultimate in golfing retreats.
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OMAN THE MIDDLE EAST’S BEST KEPT SECRET
H
aving started in 1969 with two sand courses the game of golf in Oman has grown from humble beginnings and now has six golf courses, five of which are grassed, all located in close proximity to the capital city Muscat. The country’s undeniable beauty, authenticity, and welcoming year-round climate make golf an ideal activity to support the growth of tourism as well as a providing healthy and wholesome pastime for its residents, both Omani and expatriate. Work done by the Ministry of Tourism, who have identified golf as a key supporter of tourism, and the global exposure gained from the European Challenge Tour and European Tour events have placed one of the Middle East’s best kept secrets firmly on the world stage. Golf Oman now looks to consolidate and coordinate this interest to ensure that golf in the Sultanate of Oman is offered to all and continues to grow.
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Al Mouj Golf Club ISSUE 4
SHANGRI-LA BARR AL JISSAH RESORT & SPA 7 NIGHTS FROM £1,995pp PACKAGE INCLUDES: • Flights from the UK • 7 Nights – Half Board • 3 Rounds of Golf • Return Private Airport Transfers • March 2019 – April 2020
Al Mouj Golf Club
An oasis of endless choices and rich experiences Oman is steeped in culture. Sweeping highways wend their way between historic forts and carry trade between the souks of her towns in the way camel routes did centuries ago. Muscat Hills Golf Club
Beautiful hotels combine modern comfort with traditional designs, and the Omanis deliver the famed Arabian hospitality, nearly always in traditional dress. Golf in Oman Oman is home to the stunning Al Mouj Golf Course, host of the European Tour’s ‘Oman Open’ and one of, if not the best course in the whole of The Middle East region. A must play at least once whilst on an Oman golf holiday! You will play at Al Mouj Golf Club, Muscat Hills Golf Club and Ghala Golf Club
VIEW THIS PACKAGE HERE Ghala Golf Club ISSUE 4
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For those looking to drive somewhere different
Play & Stay in France from £105pp Enjoy a great value spring golf break playing on some of the finest crowd-free courses in Brittany or Normandy. Sailing from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth, you’ll arrive that much closer to the courses, meaning less time at the wheel and more time to enjoy the golf. Our Golf Desk will look after the travel, hotel and tee-time arrangements – all you have to do is pack you clubs in the car and enjoy your break! Travel until 31 March 2019.
Your break includes:
✓ Return sailings with your car including overnight cabin
✓ One night’s hotel stay with breakfast ✓ Two rounds of golf ✓ The freedom to mix and match hotels, courses and ferry routes to suit your plans
Call 0330 159 5418 email golfdesk@brittanyferries.com or visit brittanyferries.com/golf Prices shown are per person based on 4 travelling together in a standard sized car and sharing a cabin and twin rooms. Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply - see website for details.
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FRANCE
BRITTANY FERRIES SPECIAL PLAY AND STAY OFFER
4 NIGHTS AND 3 ROUNDS OF GOLF
FROM ONLY £231pp
This great value offer for groups of 12 or more gives you the chance to play some of the finest golf courses in Brittany, all within an easy drive from arrival ports.
5 SUPERB GOLF COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM . . .
Saint Malo
Des Ormes
St Samson
St Laurent
Cicé-Blossac
Packages include return sailings and overnight cabin, two nights hotel stay with breakfast and three rounds of golf from the selection above. All golf to be played on site.
CALL THE BRITTANY FERRIES GOLF DESK
01822 618181
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LINKS GOLF AT ITS BEST England’s Atlantic Links, a collection of six ancient championship links courses in South West England, is set against the dramatic backdrop of the north Atlantic Coast. These legendary links have firmly established themselves as one of England’s premier golfing destinations.
CONTACT 01822 618181 EMAIL SALES@ATLANTICLINKSGOLFTOUR.COM 26
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Packages with 1 night B&B and 2 rounds of golf
Packages with 2 nights B&B and 3 rounds of golf
Stay at The Seagate Hotel
Stay at The Seagate Hotel
One round at Burnham & Berrow and Royal North Devon
One round at Royal North Devon, Saunton East & Saunton West
from £150.00pp
from £205.00pp
Stay at The Barnstaple Hotel
Stay at The Barnstaple Hotel
One round at both Saunton East & Saunton West
One round at Royal North Devon, Trevose and Burnham & Berrow
from £135.00pp
from £255.00pp
Stay at The Point at Polzeath
Stay at Trevose Apartments
One round at Trevose and St Enodoc
One round at St.Enodoc, Trevose and Burnham & Berrow
from £145.00pp
from £225.00pp
VIEW MORE PACKAGES AT
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DESTINATION
FLORIDA For the golf-hungry traveller aiming to keep their scores low and spirits high, there is little better than hitting Florida’s sun-soaked fairways. Whether it’s holing up in a swanky stay-and-play haven or exploring the links at local pay-as-you-play clubs, there is plenty to please those eager to unleash their inner Tiger or Rory . . .
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GOLF
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
The stunning Streamson Golf Resort & Spa 30
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TRAVEL GUIDE FLORIDA
F
lorida is the golf capital of the world, with over 1,250 courses in every corner of the state, waiting to challenge everyone under the sun. A Florida golf experience can be whatever you need it to be as there are options galore for the perfect Florida golf trip. If you want sparkling Florida coastlines to be your companion, The Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast offers a half-dozen holes on the Atlantic, while the short-course paradise Palm Beach Par 3 hugs the same coastline. If your vibe is the Keys, America's only Caribbean golf course awaits with the Key West Golf Club. How about conquering the water? Head to Ponte Vedra Beach to take on golf 's most famous hole, the island-green par-3 17th at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. More than 100,000 balls are rinsed there every year, so just consider yourself part of the club if your shot falls a bit short (or left, or right, or long). At the Nicklaus Course at Bay Point Golf in Panama City Beach, the par-4 fifth hole requires a shot to an island fairway before attacking the green. Speaking of Nicklaus, he's one of many famous players to put his design stamp on Florida courses. At Orlando's Reunion Resort, he designed a course, as did Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson. Greg Norman handled both courses at Tiburon in Naples, which like many great Florida resorts also boasts a world-class hotel on-site. Elsewhere in the state, you'll find some of the finest work from acclaimed architects Pete Dye, Donald Ross, Tom Doak and Gil Hanse. No two golf courses are alike in Florida, indeed some are spectacularly different. Palm Harbor's Copperhead course at the
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TRAVEL GUIDE FLORIDA
Trump National Doral Miami - The Blue Monster 32
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TRAVEL GUIDE FLORIDA
The Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast
Innisbrook Golf Resort features elevation changes and tree-lined fairways. The Blue Monster at Trump National Doral is a lengthy challenge among South Florida palm trees and lakes. Streamsong Resort in rural Bowling Green is like nothing else anywhere, with three courses spread among dunes left behind from long-abandoned mines. It's worth setting your GPS for. If you really love golf the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine should be on the itinerary. The history of the game is told through exhibits and interactive displays, while each Hall of Famer has his or her own space in the Member Locker Room. And naturally the Hall of Fame has two courses, one ISSUE 4
named the King and Bear, the lone co-design by Mr. Palmer and Mr. Nicklaus. In Florida, you can play the best courses and see the best take on those same courses. Every year the professional tours jet all over the Sunshine State, with the PGA Tour's PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando's Bay Hill and Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens' PGA National Resort & Spa Champions course just three of several events where the game's top players try to make history. The PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour are based in the state, because they know what you know -- Florida is the golf capital of the world. www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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TRAVEL GUIDE FLORIDA
THE NICKLAUS REUNION GOLF & SPA RESORT
R
eunion Golf & Spa Resort, one of the Kingwood International Resorts, is the only resort in the world where you will find three outstanding signature championship golf courses designed by the greatest legends of the game and designers Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Located in Kissimmee, Florida near the attractions, Reunion is the complete package when it comes to golf or just a family vacation. The resort features luxury accommodations ranging from 700 to 10,000 square feet, featuring villas, condos, multi bedroom homes (up to 20 bedrooms) or the eleven story hotel.
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The three designs are very different from each other and always in immaculate condition. The Watson and Palmer play out of the main pro shop connected to the Hotel, while the Nicklaus is a short drive away, still on the property, with a brand-spankingnew clubhouse. The one constant no matter which course you play or where you drop your bags is the exemplary service by the staff. The "Golden Bear," as Jack is known throughout the golf world, brought his unique perspective and design acumen to Reunion and has built a golf course which opened in 2007 as the "Tradition" and is a top favorite among guests and members at Reunion. The Jack Nicklaus Signature ISSUE 4
design course is a parkland style layout with generous fairways, smooth and flowing with long horizon lines, elevated tee boxes and greens, but can be as deceptive as it is beautiful. Designed to tempt players into hitting risky shots with potentially big payoffs, the course challenges the golfer to step up to the ball with a carefully organized series of shots in mind. The practice facilities are on par with the quality of the golf course. A meticulously maintained 1,105 foot driving range and a 13,356 square foot putting green are provided near the clubhouse. In addition, the Resort has a five-acre dual-ended driving complex with a large teeing area adjacent to the Palmer and Watson ISSUE 4
courses with chipping, putting and bunker practice facilities. The 5,400 square foot Reunion Golf Academy sits at the back end of the driving range nestled near the 18th fairway of the Watson course. The starter Ron gave us the lay of the land, the facility locations and the appropriate entry and exit to and from the fairways on this bearable 7219 yard layout. The dogleg right par 5, 3rd is a bear. The right side has bunker after bunker and water beyond, so the best play is avoiding the right side. Again, the wind held our drives back and it took me 4 shots to reach the back pin placement on a narrow green. A one putt salvaged par. It is a great hole at 585 yards from the tips. The signature www.exclusivegolfandtravel.co.uk
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hole, #16, is a par 3, 210 yard shot over water. It looks better than it plays. With a low flight trajectory, if I did make the green my ball would have continued through the green, so I bailed to the larger landing surface left of the green, from which I chipped on for a respectable four. The closing hole presents a cavern between tee box and fairway approximately 150 yards across. Drives should favor the right side on this 570 yard par 5. The fairway slopes right to left with a waste area that continues almost to the green, which is small and tucked left of the fairway. Good luck. The folks on the patio of the clubhouse applauded as I putted out for a big number. Speaking of the clubhouse, the 12,000 square foot building features a panoramic view of the 18th hole that was rerouted to accommodate the clubhouse and the new ultra-luxury 36
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Bear's Den residential enclave. Located on over three acres, the Nicklaus clubhouse includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, men's and ladies locker rooms and showers, a golf lifestyle retail center, an event lawn for group functions and special events and an upscale sports bar, Traditions, with an open kitchen and outdoor terrace overlooking the closing green. "We are confident that every member and guest will enjoy this distinctive golf experience," says Reunion Resort's General Manager Kevin Baker. "It is always our desire to provide the best in service, facilities and playing conditions. This new Clubhouse provides an intimate and refreshing location to gather with friends and family, or share the triumphs of a day of championship golf." Editorial: By Dave Daubert www.floridagolfer.com ISSUE 4
TRAVEL GUIDE FLORIDA
JACK NICKLAUS COURSE This Parkland-style layout is smooth and flowing, with long horizon lines and elevated tee boxes and greens. Yet The Nicklaus Course, a Signature Design by Jack Nicklaus, can be as deceptive as it is beautiful.
ARNOLD PALMER COURSE Innovatively routed on hilly, roller coasterlike terrain, Arnold Palmer’s 6,916 yards, par 72 Signature Course boasts dramatic elevation changes – up to 50 feet in some places – creating a unique variety of risk/reward shots.
TOM WATSON COURSE Highlighted by fast, firm and wide rolling fairways, a variety of strategically placed bunkers and large greens, the 7,154 yard, par 72 Watson Course, a Signature Design by Tom Watson, is as much about strategy as it is about length. ISSUE 4
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THE PLAYLIST
FLORIDA YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST GOLF IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
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Streamsong (Blue) Location: Fort Meade Course: 18 Holes Course Type: Resort Architect: Coore & Crenshaw & Doak Opened: 2012
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THE PLAYLIST: FLORIDA
Streamsong (Blue) Forget about any shot you've ever played, any course you've ever visited. When it comes to golf at Streamsong, there is no comparison. Because for the first time in their considerable careers, renowned golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw of Coore & Crenshaw, and Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design, worked side by side simultaneously to create two extraordinary 18-hole golf masterpieces-the likes of which have never been seen, nor are likely to be seen again.
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Streamsong (Red)
Streamsong (Black)
Simply put, Streamsong Red is like nothing you’ve ever played. Designed by the legendary team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw— architects of five designs in the Top 100 in the United States—Streamsong Red is an 18-hole masterpiece. With its 419 Bermuda Grass fairways winding through decades-old sand dunes, lakes, and natural bunkers, Streamsong “is naturally conducive to uncovering great golf holes,” says Crenshaw, who himself is a two-time PGA Masters Champion. “It is going to be spectacular.”
Marvel at stunning panoramic views and vast landscapes of impressive elevation rolls, tumbles and ridges. Streamsong Black, brought to life by renowned designer Gil Hanse, offers golfers the opportunity to play a premium course that rivals the greatest golf venues in the world. Here you’ll take on an impressive yet intense Par-73 championship layout and discover Streamsong’s latest features including the Gauntlet, a two-acre putting course, and the Roundabout, a freeflowing 7-hole practice area.
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TPC SAWGRASS THE STADIUM COURSE: The Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course is home to one of the most challenging and photographed holes in the world, the famed 17th Island Green. It is also home to THE PLAYERS Championship, one of the most coveted titles in golf. The Stadium allows golfers to experience access usually reserved exclusively for PGA TOUR players.
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach Course Type: Resort Architect: Pete Dye Opened: 1981
PGA National Palm Beach
PGA National Resort & Spa offers the highest quality golf and is a mecca for players and fans alike. Host of the Honda Classic an official PGA TOUR event, PGA National has a distinguished history of tournament play - including the 25th Ryder Cup, the 69th PGA Championship, and nearly two decades of PGA Seniors’ Championships. As our guest, you are invited to walk in the shadow of legends. Test your skills on five spectacular, tournament-ready courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio and George Fazio, and Karl Litten. ISSUE 4
Location: Palm Beach Course: 18 Holes Course Type: Resort Architect: Karl Litten Opened: 1984
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THE PLAYLIST: FLORIDA
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Recently and completely renovated, Innisbrook features 72 holes of championship golf, 608 spacious guest suites and rooms, four restaurants and three bars, the Innisbrook Golf Institute, 11 tennis courts, the new full-service Indaba Spa with 12 treatment rooms and state-of-the-art Fitness Center, six heated swimming pool complexes, a nature preserve, and three conference halls with 65,000 square feet of meeting space. 42
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Location: Clearwater Course: 18 Holes Course Type: Resort Architect: Larry & Roger Packard Opened: 1998 ISSUE 4
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge encompasses an Orlando golf course, a Florida golf course, that is recognized as one of the most impressive layouts in the world. With beautifully appointed rooms, suites and guest houses, the 70-room Lodge at Bay Hill has made this a unique Florida golf resort. Guests will also find a full-service spa, a salon, a pool, tennis, as well as three restaurants and lounges.
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Location: Orlando Course: 18 Holes Course Type: Resort Architect: Dick Wilson Opened: 1961
Hammock Dunes Club
Location: Palm Coast
Hammock Dunes Club, located in Palm Coast, is a 18 hole Private course. From the back tees, the course plays over 6766 yards with a slope of 132 . Hammock Dunes Club was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 1989.
Course: 18 Holes Course Type: Private Architect: Tom Fazio Opened: 1989
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THE PLAYLIST: FLORIDA
Trump National, Doral Home of the PGA Tour’s WGC-CA Championship, this resort has five outstanding 18-hole courses. The Blue Monster course, the legendary design by Dick Wilson, features long fairways (totaling 7,125
yards from the tournament tees) with undulating greens and plenty of water hazards, bunkers and deep Bermuda rough. The famous 18th hole, with its signature fountain, is one of the most recognized symbols in golf.
World Woods GC World Woods Golf Club - Rolling Oaks, is a Resort course. From the back tees, the course will challenge even the best of golfers .
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Location: Miami Course: 54 Holes Course Type: Resort Architect: Robert von Hagge Opened: 1967
Location: Brooksville Course Type: Resort Architect: Tom Fazio Opened: 1993
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Marriott Marco Island Resort & Golf Club Explore a world of paradise at Marriott's exclusive Marco Island, Florida resort near Naples. This world-class Marco Island resort is situated on three miles of pristine beachfront property and offers an exhilarating retreat from the ordinary. Location: Marco Island Course Type: Resort Architect: Joe Lee Opened: 1990
Turnberry Isle Resort Situated within the exclusive enclave of Aventura in North Miami Beach and encompassing over 300 lush acres, Turnberry Isle Miami’s Mediterraneanstyle resort & club offers something for everyone.
Location: Miami Course Type: Resort Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Opened: 1972 ISSUE 4
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VIEW PREVIOUS EDITIONS
VIEW PREVIOUS EDITIONS 46
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TRAVELDEALS In association with Chaka Travel – Providing an expert service for 23 years
FLORIDA - THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 GOLF TOUR The Players Championship is recognized by PGA-TOUR members as their championship tournament. Be in attendance at this amazing event at TPC Sawgrass plus enjoy 4 rounds of Championship Golf on this 7-night golf tour.
Golf Tour includes: Flights from the U.K. 7 nights at TRYP Sebastian Hotel St Augustine. Daily breakfast at the hotel 4 rounds of championship golf. Slammer & Squire GC
Tickets for The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Friday & Sunday.
The Club at South Hampton
Other excursions. You will play a round of golf at: Slammer & Squire GC St. Johns Golf & Country Club The Club at South Hampton The King & The Bear GC St. Johns Golf & Country Club
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The King & The Bear GC
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GOLF PACKAGES FLORIDA
TURNBERRY ISLE, MIAMI
7 NIGHTS FROM £1,695pp B&B, flights & 5 rounds of golf Turnberry Isle is a 300-acre tropical playground in Aventura, Florida – a short drive from Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Play the two 18-hole championship courses Turnberry Isle has to offer with this 7 night golf holiday. VIEW PACKAGE DETAILS
MARCO ISLAND, TURNBERRY ISLE & SAWGRASS
12 NIGHTS B&B, flights, car hire & 8 rounds Multi-Centre golfing holiday of Florida, featuring 3 nights at Marriott Sawgrass, 2 nights at Turnberry Isle Miami & 7 nights at Marriott Marco Island. VIEW PACKAGE DETAILS
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GOLF PACKAGES FLORIDA
EAST AND WEST COAST GOLF HOLIDAY
14 NIGHTS FROM £2,995pp Room only, flights, car hire and 9 rounds of golf USA multi centre golf holiday • 3 nights Turnberry Isle Miami • 7 nights Marriott Marco Island • 2 nights Marriott Desert Springs, Palm Springs • 2 nights La Quinta Resort, California VIEW PACKAGE DETAILS
MARRIOTT RESORT MARCO ISLAND
7 NIGHTS GOLF INCLUSIVE Flying from London Heathrow with Virgin – other departures and airlines
• 7 nights at Marriott Marco Island with daily breakfast • 4 dinners (excluding drinks) • 4 rounds of golf incl. green fee and club cart • Use of range balls and practice facility VIEW PACKAGE DETAILS
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GOLF PACKAGES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
7 NIGHTS FROM
£1,850pp VIEW INFO
WALDORF ASTORIA, RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE WITH 5 ROUNDS OF GOLF Stay at this luxurious 5 star hotel which is surrounded by desert, sea & features its own golf course... perfect for a golf holiday in Ras Al Khaimah Package Includes: Flights with Etihad from London (other airports and airlines available on request)
Airport transfers 7 nights at The Waldorf Astoria with daily breakfast 5 rounds of golf Golf transfers
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GOLF PACKAGES UNITED ARAB EMIRATES YAS HOTEL, ABU DHABI WITH GOLF 7 NIGHTS FROM £1,795pp Stay at the iconic Yas Hotel in, the host of the F1 Grand Prix Abu Dhabi. Flights from London with Etihad Private return transfers 7 nights B&B at the Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi 4 rounds of golf including transfers
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RIXOS SAADIYAT ISLAND – ABU DHABI 7 NIGHTS FROM £1,995pp Flights from the UK 7 Nights – All Inclusive Private return airport transfers 4 Green fees with golf cart & range balls You will play at: Saadiyat Beach Golf Club (x2) Abu Dhabi Golf Club & Yas Links VIEW INFO
FAIRMONT – THE PALM GOLF HOLIDAY DUBAI 7 NIGHTS FROM £1,825pp Half board, flights, transfers & 4 rounds of golf CAPE TOWN-WINELANDS-
FANCOURT Staying in a Deluxe Fairmont Room you can enjoy a complimentay half board upgrade at this fantastic 5* hotel
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MADINAT JUMEIRAH MINA A’ SALAM GOLF HOLIDAY DUBAI
Flights with Emirates, private transfers, half board basis, 4 rounds of golf Mina A’ Salam, the gateway to the luxurious Jumeirah Madinat complex.
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TOURNAMENTS & ESCORTED HOLIDAYS WITH
JAQUES GOUS I
f you enjoy travelling as part of a group then look no further than our escorted golf tours or our fun and sociable golf tournaments.
Many of our amateur golf tournaments include tuition and are ideal for single golfers, couples and groups of friends. Nongolfers are also welcome and we will make sure they have an equally good time! Here are a number of good reasons to go on one of our tours or join one of our tournaments.
Jacques Gous Chaka Travel’s PGA Professional
South African born Jacques moved to the UK in 2000 and since then has worked as a PGA Professional in England. Since his path crossed with Chaka Travel in 2013 he has not looked back, in his own words “The guys at Chaka Travel has made my dream come true. They made it possible for me to take groups of golfers to some of the most beautiful locations and whilst playing golf with them and improving their golf through professional tuition”. Obviously South Africa was his first country to visit with a group and since then he has added more countries with groups joining him to Turkey, Mauritius and Spain 52
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Meet like-minded people and make lifelong friends Escorted golf holidays are suitable for everyone from solo travellers to couples, and because you’re joining a group of like-minded people with similar interests you’re very likely to make new friends and acquaintances. Benefit from having your own tour guide and improve your game Our guides are extremely knowledgeable about the areas where you’ll be staying, and will also be on hand to offer expert tuition and advice on improving your game during your stay. This means you’ll get a highly enjoyable social and cultural experience combined,
really providing the best of everything in a holiday whether you’re a golfer or not. Play stunning courses and visit exotic locations Our escorted group holidays take place in some of the most beautiful and intoxicating destinations in the world, so this could be the ideal opportunity to play some courses on your bucket list. Total flexibility Many people incorrectly assume that joining an escorted golf holiday means that their days and night are planned out in advance and that it takes more of a ‘school trip’ feel than a relaxing and luxurious holiday. This really couldn’t be further from the truth. ISSUE 4
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At Chaka Travel we pride ourselves on our open and friendly way of doing business, and we find that this attracts clients who share our values to create a group of people who want to travel, enjoy good food and wine and play on some of the best golf courses around the world. Sound like your kind of people? We thought so. Why not call us today to find out more on 028 9023 2112 ISSUE 4
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