Troon Golf & Travel by Trae Walker

8: NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF TROON 13: OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW 16: O CANADA—GEMS OF ALBERTA

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 6 JUNE 2011

Heeere's Johnny! Johnny Miller’s Plans to Breathe New Life into Silverado Resort, a Course Near & Dear to His Heart. p.9

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E D I TO R ' S N OT E

LEGENDARY ENCOUNTER

he morning of April 29 dawned bright and blue, as if the Napa Valley CVB had ordered it so. I was making my way toward the stately mansion that houses Silverado Resort's main dining room and lounge and also serves as the guest check in lobby. "George!" I heard someone call behind me. "Good morning!" I turned and saw Johnny Miller approaching, cheery as the day was bright. Having only met him the previous evening, I was impressed that he remembered my name. Not every legend does. "Good morning!" I said. "And happy birthday!" Johnny Miller had every reason to celebrate that fine April day. He was celebrating his 65th birthday by hosting the Grand Re-Opening of the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa, the iconic Napa Valley property he and a group of investors had recently purchased. His first order of business after escrow closed: redesign the North Course. And what a job well done. Having played the North Course at Silverado over the years, I can attest that what was a good course with great beauty now is a great course with greater beauty after Miller's redesign. And he is not done. You can read about his plans to bring Silverado on par with the best golf resorts in the country in my feature starting on page 9 of this issue. But I also have to say that while his work as a course designer struck me as more impressive than ever (to be honest, I've often found the courses he has designed to be too difficult), what I most enjoyed was what I perceived to be an evolution of the man himself. Known as a no-punchespulled, sometimes caustic, announcer on his NBC golf telecasts, whose comments sometimes touch nerves in players and viewers alike, I found him to be a "kinder, gentler" person than I had anticipated. To this end, one of my favorite quotes from the fireside chat he and a small group of us writers had the evening before his birthday was, "Maybe my announcing doesn't bring that much pleasure to the players," he said with a sly grin, "but at this stage in my life, my goal is to bring pleasure to people. I hope Silverado does that." I know it did to me, as did a few minutes with a living legend who remembered my name.

George Fuller, gfuller@troongolfandtravel.com

Volume 2, Number 6 June 2011 EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

George Fuller gfuller@troongolfandtravel.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Brett Brooks, Tim Greenwell C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R

Kevin Gilbert SECTION EDITORS

Tom Bedell (travel), Malcolm Campbell (at large), Scott Kauffman (business), Jason Kerkmans (apparel), Scott Kramer (equipment), Jeff Williams (professional golf) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/ P H O T O G R A P H E R S / I L L U S T R AT O R S

Joann Dost, Mark Newcombe, Rob Smith ADVISORY BOARD

Fred Ackerman, Dave Barkin, Quentin Lutz ADVERTISING V P A D V E RT I S I N G A N D S A L E S

Trae Walker trae@troongolfandtravel.com N AT I O N A L A D V E R T I S I N G D I R E C T O R

Kristin Ackerman Heaton kristin@troongolfandtravel.com A D V E RT I S I N G M A N A G E R S

Steve Bliman, Richard Holcomb, George Junger, Jeanne Louise Pyle, RMS Media Group Copyright 2011 by Flagship Custom Publishing. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Flagship Custom Publishing. Troon Golf & Travel is published by license with Troon Golf by Flagship Custom Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 2120, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340. Editorial inquiries should be directed to: editor@troongolfandtravel.com.

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM

ART IMITATING GOLF < swilcan bridge & 18th hole, old course at st andrews

Linda Hartough, world-renowned golf-landscape artist, is the only artist ever commissioned by the United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to do the annual paintings and prints for the U.S. Open and British Open Championships. This year, 2011, marks 22 years since Hartough was first commissioned by the USGA to create annual paintings and prints of U.S. Open venues. She painted the first of her U.S. Open series in 1990, when Hale Irwin won at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. Known for extraordinary attention to detail in her recreation of some of golf’s most beautiful holes, Hartough imbues her paintings with admiration for the scenery’s natural beauty and respect for the game’s history and tradition, elements which seem to emerge from the canvas. A slide show of Hartough's work can be seen at her website. Click on "Studio" and then "Art Show." You'll want to start collecting too. hartough.com

augusta national golf club, hole 12

pebble beach golf links

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1: ON COURSE+OFF COURSE =OF COURSE

Four new on course/off-course shoes from Ashworth have caught our eye. The highlight of the collection is the Cardiff, a spikeless golf shoe with the cross-over appeal of a town shoe. Playability, wearability and a sure-footed spikeless sole unite with tumbled leathers and rich suede accents to take the Cardiff from the course to the clubhouse and beyond. $120; ashworthgolf.com 2

2: THE SWEATER

The Sunice Mackenzie performance merino wool sweater does not just come with a windproof liner, it also features easy breathing vents for those shoulder season rounds when the temperature can drop and rise faster than your score. And though this full-zippered sweater looks stylish enough to wear in the clubhouse for dinner, it feels even better as it warms you up before an early morning round. $200. sunice.com

3: STAND & DELIVER

The aG Tour stand bag by Adidas delivers on-course comfort and performance with full-length shaft dividers, six pockets, and insulated water bottle sleeve and a new ultra-light stand and base system... all in 6.5 pounds. $229.99; adidasgolf.com

4: WHITE BULLET

Advanced aerodynamics match with that trendy white crown and black clubface in TaylorMade's new Women's Burner Superfast 2.0. The result is a club that will get you further with more roll... and an ever-so-sweet feel. $199; taylormadegolf.com

Come play one of the top-rated courses in Florida, the Greg Norman-designed SHARK’S TOOTH GOLF CLUB.

Ranked #19 in the state, Shark’s Tooth is a private club, but reciprocal privileges are extended to members of other private clubs; and to guests staying at the nearby WaterColor Inn. With its fairways lined by loblolly pine and stately oak trees, and with half a dozen holes backdropped by Lake Powell, there are no more beautiful courses in the state. Norman, the Great White Shark, calls this one of his favorite designs. Find out why for yourself! (We promise you won’t get bit.)

www.sharkstoothgolfclub.com | 850.249.3015

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A P PA R E L : S H O R T S

GET SHORTY

long on style, this performance apparel stops at the knee By JASON

KERKMANS

horts are shorts, right? that’s what we’ve always thought. let them be comfortable enough in the waist so that we can enjoy a hot dog at the turn and long enough in the leg so we don’t expose skin previously unseen by the sun, and we’re good to go. that was until we started trying on a few pairs of this year’s performance shorts—long on style and comfort—and never wanted to take them off. proving how comfortable golf shorts really should

Unleash the Athlete

Get Game

The Collection Pattern Short ($65) is constructed from Nike’s Dri-Fit fabric, a blend of cotton, polyester and spandex that pulls moisture away from the interior fabric that touches the skin, leaving it to evaporate on the exterior of the shorts. So while they may look like contemporary golf shorts, they make you feel like going for a run, bike and swim as a pre-round warm-up. nikegolf.com

Swing Free

Silicone tape inside the waistband of the Puma Golf Patterned Bermuda ($65) shorts earns points by holding a tucked-in shirt in place. But it’s the Teflon coating on the exterior that you’ll appreciate most. Not only does it increase the durability of the cotton/polyester/elastane blend, it also protects against stains. Hello mustard. puma.com/golf

be, these five all make use of technical fabrics that can easily be found in workout shorts. yet, each of these shorts are just as capable in and around the resort for anyone with an already full suitcase. on the course, whether you’re playing at troon north in scottsdale or the ocean club in the bahamas, the right pair of shorts can make a good round better or a bad round untenable. so, slide on a pair of these shorts and get walking.

Quagmire creates athletically cut golf apparel that’s styled for this decade and not something that might have hung in pro shops back in the 1980s. And the Player ($70) shorts may be their best example yet. Cut to look like they belong on the beach, the 65 percent polyester and 35 percent cotton shorts move enough to rock climb in, so there should be no problem getting your hips through on the downswing. quagmiregolf.com

Power Plaid

Ashworth’s refined casual look has upped the style quotient on courses around the world as of late, but walk 18 in a pair of the Flat Front Polyester Plaid ($65) shorts this season and you’ll finish your round remembering the way the 100 percent polyester microfiber fabric never bunched nor constricted your step or swing. ashworthgolf.com

Fashionably Triumphant

After seeing the polished J. Lindeberg pants worn on Tour by players like Camilo Villegas, any shorts from the Stockholm-based brand have a lot to live up to. And yet, by not basing the style of the knee-length Lawrence ($98) shorts— made from a breathable 100 percent polyester H2OFF fabric that repels water—on any long pant pattern, the brand has outdone itself. jlindebergusa.com

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EQUIPMENT: HYBRIDS

HYBRIDS

if there's a gap in your distance, there's a hybrid to fill it By SCOTT

ybrids are among the most-pertinent forms of new golf equipment in recent years. Think about it: When was the last time you hit a 3-iron from 200 yards with high trajectory and had it land softly on the green? Didn’t think you’d remember. And most golfers can’t because that shot is so rare. But with a hybrid, long and high shots that plop down softly on the green without running through it are much more commonplace. There are a few reasons why hybrids are superior to long irons. First, they have slightly longer shafts, so you’ll pick up extra whip action and distance. Second, they

Adams

Adams Golf’s Redline Super hybrids ($899.99/set with graphite shafts, $799.99/steel) are part of a new hybrid-iron set that you configure. Billed as the company’s longest-hitting hybrids, these three lofts each have a large clubhead, ultra-thin steel face and longer shaft length. adamsgolf.com

Cleveland

The throwback-style Cleveland Golf Mashie utility club ($149.99) boasts a Gliderail sole, small clubhead and matte finish. However, it’s also state-of-the-art with a lightweight shaft and grip that help boost clubhead speed and distance. clevelandgolf.com

KRAMER

have larger clubheads than most long irons to get more clout behind your shot, along with a low center of gravity that helps the ball get up high. Third, they have soles that are shaped to be versatile and interact gracefully with the ground—so you won’t hit many fat shots, no matter your lie. This summer, you have an awesome selection of fresh hybrids from which to pick. Just about every major club manufacturer is offering something new in the category. So if you want to rev up your long game, you may want to try out a few. Here are some of the best.

Cobra

Cobra’s low-profile S3 MAX hybrids ($127) are perfect for mid- to highhandicappers striving for forgiveness and high launch. Its railed sole eases impact—no matter the lie—so no power is lost along the way. cobragolf.com

Nike

The hot clubface of Nike Golf’s VR Pro ($203.99) lands you more distance and control. A flatter sole on the lower lofts eases shots from tight lies, while the steeper sole on the higher lofts adds versatility. nike.com

Titleist

Titleist’s 910H ($259) generates high launch and low spin, for more control and consistency. Its large, high-MOI clubhead enhances shot straightness. The dual-angle hosel allows you to adjust loft and lie independently. titleist.com

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H E A LT H

SUN SAFETY

in this case, "better safe than sorry" can be the difference between life & death

laying golf doesn't seem like a very dangerous sport. There are no 300-pound defensive linemen bearing down on you with malice intent; no 98MPH fastballs screaming straight for your chin. But PGA Tour standout Rory Sabbatini knows first-hand one of the primary dangers of our chosen obsession: skin cancer. Sabbatini was diagnosed in late 2010 and had surgery shortly thereafter to remove cancerous skin from his face. He is back on the golf course now and fully recovered. His win at the Honda Classic in March shows that while skin cancer is a serious and sometimes deadly disease—particularly if it progresses to the melanoma stage—if diagnosed and treated early, it can be easily beat. Sabbatini is not alone on the PGA Tour in facing the issue. Though it is vastly underreported, Padraig Harrington, Andy North and Tom Kite have also faced skin cancer in their careers, as have millions of amateur golfers. But, "Rory's experience at a young age [he's 34] caught everyone's attention," says Mark Wishner, president of Sun SafeTee, a non-profit organization that teaches sun protection and skin cancer prevention programs specifically for the golf community. "When I do talks, I always ask the audience if they have personally had or know of someone who has had skin cancer issues. Invariable, there is a 95

percent affirmative response." And even though beating the disease is possible, better yet, says Wishner, are preventative measures. He details the issue: "More skin cancer is diagnosed every year than lung cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer combined. And while it is more prolific, it is also the most preventable and treatable cancer. Education and early diagnosis are the keys." There are many simple preventative measures that can be taken. Though fully recovered, Sabbatini says, "It was serious enough that it scared me pretty well." He nowadays wears a widebrimmed hat and uses (and endorses) a product called Smart Shield. "Other than that, it's just that I've got to be very cautious out there." Wishner advises, "Clothing, especially for kids, should be the first barrier against sun exposure," and adds that all golfers should look for garments with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 30+ or dark fabrics with a tight weave. "Or," he says, "you can buy SunGuard, a product you can apply to the shirts hanging in your closet that will help protect you from the sun for about 20 washings. Wishner's group is not the only company working to educate golfers on the subject. Among the companies who are making golf shirts with UPF (many with 50+UPF) is Iconic Sport. "Certainly sun protection has always been an integral part of our product mix,"

"though it is vastly underreported, padraig harrington, andy north and tom kite have also faced skin cancer in their careers, as have millions of amateur golfers."

said Iconic founder and designer, Leslie Chow, a former NASA engineer. Iconic builds UPF straight into the fiber of the material, a process that is much longer lasting than applying it chemically after the shirt is manufactured. Celebrated golf instructor David Leadbetter is both a customer and a personal consumer of the Iconic Del Sol accessories. His Florida-based Leadbetter Golf Academy offers Iconic products to students, and Leadbetter, whose father passed away from skin cancer, often wears the Iconic sunsleeves. Another company working in the field is Kinesys, which has manufactured sunscreen products since 1994. Nowadays, Kinesys is blazing trails in the digital arena with an application for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. This UV Safe Timer app allows golfers to check the weather and UV rating of the courses they intend to play, set a timer for safe sun exposure and locate sunscreen retailers all with the tap of a finger. But perhaps the most unique aspect of the app is a Sunburn Alert timer, which allows each user to create a profile of their own skin type and planned activities. The timer then calculates these factors and creates an appropriate time frame for safe sunscreen reapplication. "There are six different skin types," says Wishner. "The lighter your skin, the more at risk you are. Even if you think you are not at risk, you are. The reality is that everyone has a risk for developing skin cancer. Some people just have a higher or lower risk based upon sun exposure, genetics and skin type. "A lot of people don’t realize that reggae artist Bob Marley died of melanoma. The point is, even people with very dark skin need to use sun protection. Bottom line: We recommend that EVERYONE educate themselves, take precautions and be smart." It is certainly better to be safe than sorry and in this case, it could just save your life. 

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM WORLD OF TROON

MINT CONDITION CARS… AND FAIRWAYS

Troon Golf Drives H.O.P.E.

roon Golf recently launched an industry-leading social responsibility program called “Troon Golf Drives H.O.P.E.” to celebrate how Troon’s facilities and employees around the world are involved in charities, environmental initiatives and fundraising events. The four elements that make up the H.O.P.E. acronym serve to bring these actions to light and to share the collective impact Troon Golf facilities and employees have on their communities. To officially launch Troon Golf Drives H.O.P.E., employees at Troon’s world headquarters in Arizona participated in a meal-packaging event that provided 10,000 meals to those living in countries suffering from disastrous circumstances.

onarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, Calif., will host the 29th Annual Concours d’ Elegance classic car show June 24-26, with more than 200 cars on display. The event stages high-end automobiles on the first two fairways of the golf course and includes a 50-mile driving tour around southern Orange County and an auction on June 25. A topic always up for debate during the show—which are more meticulously maintained, the cars or the fairways?

> Click here for more information on the event

> CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FANR RESTAURANT.

above: troon volunteers prepare meals

View the four elements of Troon Golf Drives H.O.P.E.

FANR RESTAURANT SHINES AT SAADIYAT ANR, which appropriately translates to “a source of light” in Arabic, is the newest addition at Saadiyat Island near Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. Complete with contemporary styling, the opulent dining venue offers a wide variety of authentic regional and international cuisine, including a diverse beverage offering, cooked breakfasts and an array of main courses from salads and sandwiches to fish and tagines, plus a host of delicious desserts. Guests can enjoy al fresco dining in the traditional Arabic courtyard or inside the striking interior surroundings.

Alpensia’s Olympic Bid

lpensia resort, home of the troon golf-managed alpensia 700 club and a myriad of winter sports venues, is bidding for the opportunity to host the 2018 olympic winter games. alpensia, located in gangwondo, south korea, has hosted the international olympic committee on several occasions to showcase its world-class winter sports park. the destination is a strong contender for the games and the final decision is coming this july!

> More on Alpensia Resort

cover story

Heeere's Johnny! A Kinder, Gentler Johnny Miller Makes His Mark at Silverado Words GEORGE FULLER Photos JOANN DOST

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C O V E R S T O RY : S I LV E R A D O

“I

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never thought I'd be an owner,” Johnny Miller says of Napa Valley's 36-hole Silverado Resort and Spa, his voice and face belying a great pride. “But I’ve been redesigning these courses in my mind for 40 years.” ¶ So when Miller— 25-time PGA Tour champion and now lead commentator on golf telecasts for NBC Sports—and an investor group purchased the landmark resort in 2010, his first mission was to start work on redesigning the North Course, bringing it back to the championship level it once enjoyed. Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Miller played several junior and amateur tournaments at Silverado. He also won two PGA Tour events here, the Kaiser International Open Invitational in 1974 and 1975. He says he knows “every inch of both courses,” having competed here so frequently, as well as playing leisurely rounds with his sons who learned to play on Silverado's fairways when the family moved nearby. Thus, when it came time to redesign, Miller knew exactly what he had to work with and what he wanted to do. The original design was one of Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s first after he broke away from his father's employ. Opened

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close to 50 years ago, it stood the test of time as a resort and popular members course, but its runway tee boxes, flat bunkers and straightaway fairways were dated.

nter Miller. “I took out 15-20 bunkers,” he says, “but the bunkers that are left are there for a reason. They don't always come into play for the members, but for better players they will. We also moved tee boxes to create doglegs and add shape to the holes. We pulled many bunkers into the fairways and flashed the faces. The only common denominator in great courses is great bunkers, and now I think we have great bunkers.”

<<even at the busiest points in his broadcasting schedule, miller would spend his free time working on redesigning the north course.

Saying he was influenced by the bunker styles at Pebble Beach and Augusta National, Miller's bunker work at Silverado transformed the playing experience by adding an element of strategy from tee to green. Now, standing on any tee box is not just a matter of gripping and ripping, but contemplating position and even club selection. One thing that Miller left pretty much untouched from a design standpoint was the putting surfaces. But with the superior agronomy standards brought to bear by new management company, Troon Golf, the greens now not only showcase great design, but are in tip-top shape. “The greens had not been good for 20 years,”

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM C O V E R S T O RY : S I LV E R A D O

Miller says, “but now they are the best they have ever been.”

iller is convinced by the resort's potential and so enamored with the property—and so personally involved—that even during the most hectic period of his NBC broadcasting schedule he would fly back to Napa on his off days to work on the North Course redesign. “I came some 30-40 times,” he says. “You can't name many places better than Napa Valley and Silverado. Our oak trees average 150 years old, with some as old as 300 years. There's no hidden OB on the course, no hidden water, not a lot of squirrel-y stuff. The greens are not mine, but everything else is mine.” Miller also added some 300 yards to the overall length of the North Course. It now measures more than 7,200 yards and has the ability to challenge the best players in the world. Confirming his interest in hosting championship play at Silverado, Miller says, “We are looking at bringing tournament golf back, but we want to get our ducks in a row first.” By getting his “ducks in a row,” he means working with Troon to ensure the playing experience is superior in every way; working with new hotel management partner Dolce Resorts to improve and upgrade the guest experience, from lodging to dining (though he does point out that, “We do have 100+ rooms that are all really high quality now”); working with the more than 600 members to redesign the South Course, add a world-class practice facility; develop plans for a teaching academy and junior golf programs; possibly adding a 5-star golf lodge and more.

“I

mature oak trees, some 300 years old, dot the landscape and add a degree of challenge to the golf courses.

now, standing on any tee box is not just a matter of gripping and ripping, but contemplating position and even club selection.

t's an iconic property,” Miller says, and announces his intentions to bring it on par with the top golf resorts in the country. “We're focusing on improving all aspects: lodging, golf, service. Arnie (Palmer) has Bay Hill, Jack (Nicklaus) has Muirfield and now I have mine.” He is also interested at this juncture in his life—on April 29 he celebrated his 65th birthday by hosting the Grand Reopening of the North Course—in creating something the members, his kids and his family can be proud of and involved with for many years to come. “I learned something from Greg Norman,” he shares. “He said he wanted to create a business that was a family legacy. Maybe my announcing doesn't bring that much pleasure to the players,” he says with a sly grin, “but at this stage in my life, my goal is to bring pleasure to people. I hope Silverado does that.” If his work renovating the North Course is any indication of how good the property will be when all work is completed, Silverado is certain to bring great pleasure to all. www.silveradoresort.com

12 C O V E R S T O RY : A Q U I C K Q & A W I T H J O H N N Y M I L L E R

YOU HAVE LIVED NEAR AND PLAYED THE SILVERADO COURSES FOR MANY YEARS... WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF PLAYING HERE? Probably, my fondest is the first time I played in the Anheuser Busch/Kaiser International in 1968 as an amateur. I was in 2nd place when they rained it out. They played it during the winter back then, and I remember the pro, Craig Williamson gave me a new pair of Footjoys. I guess mine weren’t looking too good. Then my wife and I had the second part of our honeymoon here after spending the first part at Pebble Beach. It was so peaceful and quiet, a great place to play golf and everything was new back then. In 1970 I started playing in the Kaiser as a pro. Winning it in '74 and '75; In '74, I won it by 6 or 8 shots, which was great. I’d been living there since 1970, so there was a lot of pressure, but I knew the course better than anybody. That was a heck of a year and a real treat to win here two years in a row. Then, my second senior event was at Silverado. My other great memories were playing golf with my kids and my dad and catching a few fish out here as well. HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THE PLAYING EXPERIENCE HERE? They are really two different courses. The South Course is a hilly course, with difficult greens and it’s shorter. It has a lot of angles to it, so you can make a lot of birdies if you can hit good shots. That’s one of the reasons the Senior Tour played the South Course I think; it’s exciting and fun. The North is more of a championship course. You can hold the U.S. Open here now that I’ve redesigned it and lengthened it. It’s more of a

flatter course. There’s a little bit of hill on 2, 3 and 4, but it’s an easy walking course,. Still, it’s a real test of golf. North of San Francisco, it’s the best course in the state now that we opened it up a little bit and took some trees out. I hope to redo the South Course in the next year or two. I’m real proud of the North Course, but since the South Course is so much fun and the greens are so tough, it doesn’t need more length. Instead, it’s the bunkering that needs to be redone, and we need to make the water hazards more visible from the tee. ANY THOUGHTS OF BRINGING CHAMPION SHIP GOLF BACK TO SILVERADO? We’ve been in discussion with the LPGA, the Champions Tour, the USGA and the men’s tour. We’ve had some tournaments laid at our feet and decided not to go down that road. We can be picky because players will want to come to Napa. The tournament is nice, but the wives the families the friends will all want to come to Napa. The food and wine is the best in the country, maybe the world outside France. All of the guys who played in the Kaiser want to come back. We want the rooms to be ready, even though we do have 100+ rooms that are all really high quality, we want to get them all up to the same level first. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE NAPA VALLEY PLACES TO DINE? WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE THIS AREA HOME? I’m a part owner in Bistro Don Giovanni, which is a fantastic restaurant. If I never ate at another restaurant, I’d be happy. So Bistro, Ad Hoc, Rutherford Grille, French Laundry, in that order, would be my choice for eating in Napa. I used to be thin until I owned Bistro Don Giovanni.

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www.antigua.com

Genuine Golf Performance Apparel Brand

The

OPEN Championship 2011 royal st george’s, sandwich R

By ROB SMITH

he Open Championship is the oldest of golf ’s majors and dates back to 1860 when it was first held at Prestwick in Scotland. Since then, barring the odd interruption for hostilities, it has been contested at 13 other courses of which 10 are generally considered to be on the current roster. ¶ Of these, the only one in the south of England is Royal St George’s, just outside the charming medieval town of Sandwich in Kent. It is an area rich with fine courses both next door and within an hour's drive, and for the traveling golfer it is a largely unexplored region that has many charms to be discovered.

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

St George's, the idea being that it would become the English equivalent of Scotland's St Andrews. As early as 1894, the club found itself hosting The Open Championship, the first time it had moved away from its Scottish roots. Its inaugural winner was J.H. Taylor who went on to amass four more victories before becoming a golf course architect. Along with F.G. Hawtree, he was subsequently responsible for the design of Royal Birkdale, another mainstay of the Open circuit. Royal status was bestowed on St George’s by King Edward VII in 1902.

photo by mark newcombe

he Open has always been played on a links course, defined by Walter Simpson in his 1887 book The Art of Golf as “…the barren sandy soil from which the sea has retired in recent geological times. In their natural state links are covered with long, rank bent grass and gorse. Links are too barren for cultivation: but sheep, rabbits, geese and professionals pick up a precarious livelihood on them.” Possibly not so appealing to the eye of the TV camera as the more dramatic parkland or clifftop designs, links courses nonetheless have a unique and compelling appeal to all those who are lucky enough to play them. They provide arguably the stiffest challenge to the golfer and are characterized by the demand to be creative and to improvise. Often there is the need to play a bump-and-run or a knock-down shot that keeps the adverse effects of the wind to a minimum. Above all, a links course offers golf at its most traditional and elemental. About 75 miles from the center of London and half as much again from Heathrow Airport, Royal St George’s—or “George’s” as it is affectionately known—was founded and designed by William Laidlaw Purves in 1887. He was an accomplished and well-traveled surgeon, and in his quest to find a suitable site, it is said that he climbed the tower of St Clement’s Church in Sandwich to scan the coastline. His eye came to rest on a particularly fine stretch of dunes which looked to have been made for golf. Indeed, immediately adjacent to the 14th hole is Prince's, and less than a mile to the south is Royal Cinque Ports; each of these has also hosted The Open. Purves' main purpose for forming the new club was to serve the needs of London golfers who at the time had to play on the capital’s overcrowded courses, which were often not very well maintained. The original name of his new club

ccupying sixth place in Golf Monthly’s prestigious list of the Top 100 Courses in the UK & Ireland, the course is a severe test which stretches to well over 7,000 yards from the back tees. This is no standard outand-back links; instead, it constantly twists and turns through the dunes with the wind an evershifting influence. With only two par-5s, it is the armory of long par-4s that provides its greatest challenge, with no fewer than 11 measuring up at over 400 yards. No. 1 sets the tone: 442 yards across a shallow valley before an approach over cross bunkers to a green that falls away to the right. The last time The Open was here in 2003, Tiger Woods carved his opening tee shot 30 yards to the right and it was never seen again. No. 8 is a cracking hole where you drive up the hill before an approach over a lunar landscape to a two-tier green. At the 10th, Tom Kite went from bunker to bunker by the green en route to a double-bogey six when leading the 1985 Open. The par five 14th is a classic with OB hugging the right-hand side along every one of its 545 yards, and the ‘Suez Canal’ crossing the fairway some 200 yards from home. The closing holes provide a seriously tough finish to your test before the sanctuary of the historic clubhouse. James Bond creator Ian Fleming was a member here.

britain’s historic links, usually playable yearround due to their sandy settings, dominate the uk & ireland golf course rankings.

nyone visiting the Open and Sandwich will find plenty of Old English hospitality 3 and other attractions in the area. Once the major port in England, Sandwich is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the UK. Within the old town walls, historic buildings are laid out in a street plan which has changed little since the creation of the Domesday book (the great survey of England completed in 1086 by William the Conqueror). There are museums, Roman ruins and a delightful river bus service which gives visitors the opportunity to view different aspects of Sandwich, the River Stour and its wildlife. The Bell Hotel has been welcoming guests to stay and dine since Tudor times and with its excellent accommodations, dining rooms and bars, it is a perfect meeting place for the visiting golfer. 7

above: royal st george's will provide a true links setting for this year's open championship

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A Review of Local Courses

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

P R I NCE' S

ROYA L C INQUE P ORTS Just down the beach and separated from Royal St George’s by just a couple of roads and a few houses, Royal Cinque Ports has hosted The Open twice. Sadly, later attempts in 1938 and 1949 were both thwarted when abnormally high tides and easterly winds swept the sea over the course. A wall now exists so that golfers can enjoy this vintage and first-class, out-and-in links. The final seven holes, when into the wind, are as tough as they come. royalcinqueports.com

LITTLESTONE Often described as a "hidden gem," this is a super links some half-hour from Sandwich. It will provide challenge and enjoyment in equal measure. No. 2 is a fun hole with its approach over a ditch and between two large dunes, while No. 17 is one of the best par-3s you will find; a wood one day, a short-iron the next. Along with Royal Cinque Ports, Littlestone will host Final Qualifying for the 2011 Open. littlestonegolfclub.org.uk

"...gene sarazen won the 1932 open (at prince's)using a golf club which he had invented specifically for the tournament: the first modern sand wedge."'

NO RT H FOR ELA N D This par-71 course eight miles from Royal St George's is a little different from the others as it is actually more of a cliff-top setting. However, it has plenty of links characteristics and has been used for Open qualifying. There are two distinct loops of nine either side of a country lane. For those feeling thirsty and fancying something a little different to break up their round, it is possible to leave your clubs by the 7th green, sneak out through the boundary fence, and have a pint in the Captain Digby pub that is just over the road. northforeland.co.uk

mmediately adjacent to Royal St George's is Princes Golf Club, where Gene Sarazen won the 1932 Open using a golf club which he had invented specifically for the tournament: the first modern sand wedge. He went on to describe this excellent facility (now managed by Troon Golf) as “Britain’s finest course,” and whilst it has only hosted The Open once, it is used for local final qualifying whenever the event comes to Sandwich. Unusually, it is blessed with three loops of nine, with the Shore and Dunes generally being used for more serious competitions. Slightly flatter than its neighbor, it offers a more relaxed welcome and exceptional value throughout the year. The original clubhouse at Prince's is currently being rebuilt and expanded into The Lodge. The new portion of The Lodge development will be ready ahead of The 2011 Open Championship and will accommodate up to 48 guests. The original clubhouse will have 15 suites, a restaurant, bar, gym and snooker room and is scheduled to be fully operational in January 2012. Meanwhile, the bunkers on all 27 holes are being redesigned and revetted, with a threeyear refurbishment program for tees and paths throughout the courses. princesgolfclub.co.uk

RYE A little further away but well-worth the trip is this Harry Colt-designed classic. With his trademark bunkers and a number of blind shots over ridges, this is historic and traditional golf played the way it was designed to be played. There are some excellent long par 4s, and the five short holes are as testing, fun and attractive as you will get to play anywhere. Rye is staunchly old-fashioned with memorabilia and the ghosts of golf-gone-by haunting every corner of the clubhouse. ryegolfclub.co.uk

Amazing

The Canadian Rockies One Week is Barely Enough to Enjoy a Region this Big, Bold and Beautiful

By GEORGE FULLER

Silvertip's 18th hole is so steep from tee to green it is used for tobogganing in winter months.

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM

ghcalgary

When golfers discuss their favorite golf resorts in Canada, it's often a toss-up between Jasper and Banff...

photo credit: bill marsh

ALGARY, ALBERTA, sits on the western edge of the vast Canadian prairie. Arriving by air, one sees clearly just west of this cowboy-influenced town a long backbone of tall mountains that runs to the north as far as the eye can see, a continuation of the great Rocky Mountain range that stretches 3,000 miles from southern New Mexico all the way up to the northernmost parts of British Columbia. Formed more than 76 million years ago by a geologic event wonderfully referred to as a "magnatically null subduction" of tectonic plates under the continent (meaning no volcanic eruption, but lots of upwardly thrust land), over the eons glaciers and water runoff have created what we see today as soaring mountain peaks cut through by deep river valleys and alpine meadows. Snow rests on the highest summits year-round, and from a window seat in an airplane the whole area looks pristine, as though, as they say in the prologue to Star Trek, "no one has gone before." But in fact the Canadian Rockies have seen trekkers before, as well as golfers and fishermen...and many others too. The region encompasses five very popular national parksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the largest of which are Jasper National Park (4,200 square miles) and Banff National Park (2,564 square miles)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;some darling resort towns, scenic fly-fishing and rafting rivers, countless lofty mountain peaks, glacier fields, an abundance of elk, bear and wildlife of many sorts and several historic and renowned resorts...and a number of must-play golf courses. It all adds up to a great vacation adventure that will give every member of the family vivid memories. A week is hardly enough time to

take in all there is to see and do, but you can sure try. If you time it properly, you can spend a couple of days at the Calgary Stampede (July 8-17, 2011) a summer tradition where "ordinary people become cowboys and cowboys become heroes." Imagine a rodeo, chuck wagon races, concerts (where acts including Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, George Strait, Reba and Gretchen Wilson, Bon Jovi and Kid Rock have appeared), ice show and food court all rolled into 10 days of ruckus partying and that's the Calgary Stampede.

ut that's just the tip of the region's iceberg of fun. You haven't even pulled out your driver yet, although a short drive into the mountains will give you that opportunity. One of the most convenient ways to experience the best courses and book the best deals is through the organization called Canadian Rockies Golf. A consortium of six golf and resort properties that have banded together to offer visitors peace of mind and convenience of travel, Canadian Rockies Golf can take care of everything from tee times to hotel rooms to dining reserva-

above: thousands flock to see the annual calgary stampede. left: the grandstand show is part of a 10-day celebration.

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM

Snow rests on the highest summits year-round, and from a window seat in an airplane the whole area looks pristine, as though, as they say in the prologue to Star Trek, "no one has gone before."

hole 14 at jasper park lodge, bordered all along the left by lac beauvert, is one on many highlights holes on this stanley thompsondesigned classic.

tions...with a little fly-fishing and helicopter touring thrown in too if that's your pleasure. About an hour into the mountains from Calgary is Kananaskis Country, which first gained prominence as site of some skiing events for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Anchored by the Delta Lodge, 36 holes of golf are found here, all designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the 1980s, who said upon viewing the site, "It's the best natural setting I've ever been given to work with." Carved into the floor of Kananaskis Valley and named after the soaring peaks that serve as their backdrops, both the Mount Kidd and

Mount Lorette courses can play as long as 7,200 yards, but with an extra 10 percent distance on your shots promised from the 5,000foot altitude, length is not a big concern. The Kananaskis River comes into play on a couple of holes on the Kidd Course, giving pause when contemplating club and shot selection. Also in Kananaskis Country, visitors enjoy horseback riding at Boundary Ranch and river rafting with Inside Out Experience. And though you are most definitely in the mountainsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which the dramatic, in-your-face, stunningly beautiful Canadian Rockies will not let you forget even for an instantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;not all

the golf courses you will play can be defined as typical "mountain courses." The oldest and most well-known courses in the area are Banff Springs (1928) and Jasper Park (1925). Both artfully combine mountain holes with river valley holes; both were designed by Stanley Thompson and are classic examples of his graceful, in-harmony-with-nature philosophy. At Jasper, fairway mounding and bunker shaping mimic the shapes of the surrounding mountains. Holes flow so naturally across the terrain that you can feel as if you're out for a pleasant stroll in the woods and meadows of Jasper National Park, which in fact you are. But beyond the pleasant demeanor it affords high-handicap golfers, Jasper will provide a thoughtful round, asking control and placement over length in order to score well across its 6,600-plus yards. For sheer beauty, holes 14-16 at Jasper Park are among the most scenic in Canada, playing next to Lac Beauvert (Beauvert Lake), and looking across the shimmering water at the 9,075-foot peak of Pyramid Mountain in one direction and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in another. Accommodations at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge range from a comfortable, rustic eight-person cabin complete with kitchen and living room (perfect for golf groups) to lake view suites with wood-burning fireplaces to single rooms. The expansive main lodge building and reception area has recently been upgraded with a new all-day restaurant called Cavell's, new retail shops and a much-needed new spa that opened in fall 2010. When golfers discuss their favorite golf resorts in Canada, it's often a toss-up between

JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM

Jasper and Banff, with half the votes going either direction. Both are on your must-play list. With a 4.5-hour drive between the two resorts across the Icefields Parkway, a spectacular high altitude road that parallels the Continental Divide between Jasper and Lake Louise, many golfers book accommodations at both the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Fairmont Banff Springs hotels and play both courses. At Banff, several holes play next to the Bow River and are overlooked by the commanding Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. Hole 15 tees off just below the hotel, some 150 yards above the fairway. Your tee shot hangs in the air a long while, crosses over a river and lands in a treelined fairway as hotel guests spectate behind you, providing a feel-good, memorable moment. Included in a helpful hints sheet at Banff Springs is the notation that, "If your ball hits an elk, play your shot over without penalty." This course is also in the midst of a national park, so the elk are protected (if not loved by the greenkeepers who are charged with repairing greens gashed by elk antlers). The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel is the opposite of Jasper Park Lodge in scope and architecture. Whereas Jasper is moderate and low key, Banff Springs is majestic and imposing. Styled after a Scottish Baronial castle, everything about Banff Springs is big, bold and elegant. The lobby is grand with towering ceilings, marble floors, sweeping staircases; libraries and drawing rooms are stately with rich wood walls and roaring fireplaces; hallways wander off in every direction to large guestrooms. One course that without a doubt can be called mountain golf is Silvertip near the village of Canmore. Hole 18 is so steep from tee to green that it resembles a black diamond ski run

and in fact the course general manager said the hole is used for tobogganing in winter months. Silvertip is one of those courses that you either love or hate, sometimes in the same round. With many hillside lies, elevation changes and precision-demanding shots, it's easy to get tired and discouraged. But you'll never get cheated on spectacular scenery. Canmore Golf & Curling Club is the opposite. Its fairways are ice rink flat and nary a foot of elevation change is found on the entire property except, as the members gleefully acknowledge, "the three stairs you climb to get into the clubhouse." But with five holes running immediately adjacent to the Bow River and the balance of the rota nicely designed through mature trees, Canmore Golf & Curling Club is a pleasure to play. You could take your grandmother here and she'd have a good round. Besides, where else can you find golf and curling in the same place? A sleeper course that winds up being one of your favorite experiences is Stewart Creek, also in Canmore. Set in the midst of a densely forested area that formerly was used for mining, this straightforward design lays out your task from the tee box. It's all right there in front of you, and your challenge is to hit the right shots. Inspiring views of Three Sisters Mountains and surrounding peaks are enjoyed everywhere on this course, and wandering out of the hills are elk and the occasional black bear, the latter of which is an arresting sight for a golfer seeking an errant ball. With golf season in the Canadian Rockies running from mid-May through mid-October, and with Calgary only a short flight from most U.S. cities, it's a golf destination easy to get to and well worth considering.7

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JUNE 2011 7 TROONGOLFANDTRAVEL.COM L A S T L AU G H

Hype versus Reality —can you believe this?

By GEORGE FULLER

t’s the Augusta National of Texas,” a golf course architect recently remarked to me, describing his latest design in the heart of the Lone Star state. Since we were standing in the middle of a vast, arid, treeless plain, I thought he was joking, so I countered, “No, it’s not. There’s not a tree or hill in sight…certainly no brilliant azaleas.” “But that’s how they want to talk about themselves,” the architect persisted. Hype: We’re deluged with it every day in magazines and newspapers; blitzed on television, squawked at by the radio. Highway billboards, website banners, the sides of buses, e-mail spams … where does it end? In the golf industry, the spin demands of today’s world causes sane men like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and others to say things about their newest design efforts like, “This could just be the best piece of land I’ve ever had to work with.” Emphasis on “could be.” As my friend and fellow golf writer Chris Duthie reminds me, “The spin machine never has met a hyperbole it couldn't overstate.” I’ve used hype-speak myself, so I know how tempting it is. But in the end, my vote is for truth in advertising. So I’m fessing up. Here are some of my favorite hype phrases, conveniently translated for you into plain-speak: 7 “A couple of questionable holes” means “I scored a triple-bogey here.” 7 “For all levels of golfers” means “It’s not a very challenging course.” 7 “Wide fairways” means “You’d have to hit a hosel-rocket to miss this fairway.”

“The spin machine never has met a hyperbole it couldn't overstate.” 7 “Tight fairways” means “What was this designer possibly thinking?” 7 “An ambitious development” means “It’ll never fly.” 7 “This hole plays further than you think” means “I dumped one into the arroyo.” 7 “Well-placed bunkers” means “If the course designer’s car was in the parking lot, I’d slash his tires.” 7 “This course doesn’t live up to its reputation” means “They didn’t give me a free golf shirt.” 7 “Challenging yet playable” means “This course isn’t all that good, but I needed the money so I wrote the story.” Designers and architects might need a little truth in advertising too: 7 “Club selection is important” means “I’ve got you by the tighty whities here.” 7 “Easy bogey, tough par” means “I own your 26-handicap rear end.” 7 “The greens have some subtle movement” means “You ain’t sinking a putt all day.” 7 “God did the design” means “Better write nice things or you’re going to hell.” 7 “This is a magnificent piece of property” means “I’m under contract to say glowing, meaningless things.” 7 “The two most striking features on this design are the trees and the stream running through” means “Ho-hum…oh, is the microphone on?”

I’d just love to hear some designer say: 7 “This place was basically flat and barren; it’s a wonder anything grows out here.” 7 “It requires pinpoint accuracy off the tee, something not even I can do.” 7 “I did the best I could (with this uninteresting patch of dirt).” 7 “It’s the St Andrews of Kentucky.” 7 “Well, it ain’t Pebble Beach or Augusta National.” 7 “I needed the money.” And from developers: 7 “Nicklaus or Fazio would have done better, but we couldn’t afford those guys.” 7 “Hey, it’s a real estate development; where would you have put the homes?” 7 “We’ve reserved a limited number of tee times for public play each day; the county made us do it.” 7 “I’m thankful for the EPA’s toxic waste clean-up program; otherwise I’d be unemployed and we’d all be knee deep in stank right now.” 7 “I needed the money.” So there you have it. Now don’t go running back to my previous stories to re-read them and find out what I really meant when I said all those fluffy things. You’ll only get me in trouble. There are a whole lot of courses to play, but truth be told, they are what they are: Sometimes a great course, sometimes a great notion. If you’d like my advice, avoid the bunkers, have a few beers at the turn, keep your concentration on the scenic holes and remember, if all else fails, you are just one level of golfer.

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