Lifestyles Fall-Winter 2011-12

GOLFER’S GUIDE

LIFESTYLES Fall/Winter 2011-12

golfersguide.com golffersguide.com i

Celebrating The Game PLUS C Celebration Golf M Management

Presented by

D Developing a unique fformula for success

Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Rewriting the book on Southern golf

Vegas Baby – Ceasar’s Entertainment Three of the most renowned courses in the Valley

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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

WHERE AMERICA COMES TO PLAY More Courses. More Holes. More Fun.

MAN O’WAR

KING’S NORTH AT MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL

HEATHER GLEN

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Myrtle Beach, FOUNDER’S CLUB

South Carolina

AT PAWLEYS ISLAND

It’s Where America Comes to Play With an offering of over 100 championship courses along a 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline, hundreds of great restaurants, affordably priced oceanfront and fairway accommodations, comfortable year-round climate and a healthy dose of warm Southern hospitality, it’s easy to see why more vacationing

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golfers choose Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A recent National Golf Foundation survey of golf travelers placed Myrtle Beach at the top of the leader board for Quality, Selection and Affordability of golf.

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Contents Fall/Winter 2011-12

Fall/Winter 2011 GOLFER’S GUIDE, INC. PO BOX 5926 HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29938-9790 (843) 842-7878 • Fax (843) 842-9387 STAFF

Mike Choma

Director of Sales mchoma@golfersguide.com (904) 697-9070 or (843) 842-7878 52 New Orleans Rd. Ste. 300 Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Chief Operating Officer:

Glenn Klepchick gklepchick@golfersguide.com Editor

Ed Cherry echerry@golfersguide.com

A Golden Bear masterpiece.

Features Florida Golf

6 Celebration Golf Management

Sections

20 Instruction PGA Tour Academy Lead Instructor Todd Jones works with professionals and amateurs alike and he approaches both category of player the same way when helping them improve.

Gulf Coast Golf

42 Participation A new program

While you might not have played it, you’ve certainly heard about it. Welcome to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama..

Lowcountry Golf

44 Best of the Beach

Golf is grand from the heart of Myrtle Beach to the Carolina border.

Desert Southwest Golf

86 Ceasar’s Entertainment

With three legendary courses, eight fabled hotels and a host of perks for small and medium groups, Caesars proves that golf, like virtually everything else in Las Vegas, is a numbers game.

Shawn P. Grimes sgrimes@golfersguide.com

CGM’s exciting array of courses in the Orlando area are as diverse as they are beautiful and challenging.

32 Touring the RTJ

Production Director

geared toward making the game easier to play and enjoy is gaining steam. Find out why it’s better to “Tee it Forward.”

53 Edwin Watts A complete guide to the hottest and best golf equipment on the market today.

Departments

40 PGA Tour For more than 40 years The Heritage has been a staple of the PGA Tour spring schedule. Thanks to the Royal Bank of Canada, that Hilton Head Island tradition will continue.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF

Rob Kaufmann Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Contributors

Brett Borton

Circulation

200,000 per year reaching an estimated 750,000 readers Issue 1 of 2 ANNUAL EDITIONS For subscriptions or single-copy orders, go to www.golfersguide.com/order Copyright ©2011 Golfer’s Guide, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Golf course rates are subject to change at any time. Golfer’s Guide is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions or changes in rates or information. *Publisher’s data. We are expanding our network of magazines and will be adding several new regions within the next year. If you would like to publish a Golfer’s Guide magazine with us in your home region send your resume and previous publishing samples to Golfer’s Guide, P.O. Box 5926, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938-9790, ATTN: Executive Publisher.

96 Hot Spots We look at the hottest places and best deals for your next golf vacation.

A

4 Golfer’s Guide Lifestyles

Introducing

GOLFER’SGUIDE MOBILEAPP

• GPS enabled golf course locator • Instant contact via telephone and course website • Course descriptions • Scorecard • Course ratings • Photo gallery • Course Videos • Coupons and specials

The Power of Golfer’s Guide on Your Smart Phone Vital golf course information no matter where you are or when you need it.

Free to download or view through your browser Compatible with Android and iPhone

Available now @ m.golfersguide.com or the Android Marketplace 005.GG Mobile.indd 1

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Celebrating The Game

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Celebration Golf Management’s exciting array of courses area are as diverse as they are beautiful and challenging.

Photography Courtesy of Celebration Golf Management

B

ringing together years of successful golf course management and a creativity to develop a unique approach for each of their courses, Celebration Golf Management understands that every facility has its own identity, whether it’s daily-fee, resort or private. Providing design, consulting, operational and management services for a wide range of courses, and guided by an executive team with more than 75 years of experience in the golf and hospitality industries, CGM doesn’t just work for their clients, they work with them to ensure the best formula for success.

And nowhere is this more evident than at the six courses in the immediate Orlando area that are currently managed

by CGM. From the members-only Golden Bear Club to the award-winning Celebration Golf Club open to the public, the influence of the Celebration Golf Management team is evidTent in every phase of the operations.

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F L O R I D A

G O L F

The Golden Bear Club’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Keene’s Pointe reflects the extraordinary beauty, challenging layout and environmental sensitivity that Nicklaus courses have come to represent around the world. Surrounded by sparkling lakes and majestic oaks, this 7,173-yard 18-hole masterpiece appeals to golfers of every level. With a fully stocked Pro Shop carrying the latest in men’s and women’s apparel, equipment, shoes and golf balls, the professional staff is able to assist you with your every need.

There’s no better way to start off your day at The Golden Bear Golf Club than at

Above: Surrounded by sparkling lakes and majestic oaks, the 7,173-yard 18-hole Golden Bear masterpiece appeals to golfers of every level.

Below: From the members-only Golden Bear Club (pictured) to the award-winning Celebration Golf Club open to the public, the influence of the Celebration Golf Management team is evident in every phase of the operations.

their immaculate driving range and practice facility, and their staff of PGA Professionals will work with you to either learn the game or lower an already decent handicap.

A world-class tennis facility featuring four new lighted hard courts, the Golden Bear Club Fitness Center where classes and individualized instruction are geared to meet each member’s personal fitness goals, and a wealth of food and beverage options round out this extraordinary members-only club experience.

For more information visit our website at www.thegoldenbearclub.com or call (407) 876-5775.

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F L O R I D A

G O L F

With rolling greens and lush fairways spreading out in every direction under the warmth of sunshine from sunrise-to-sunset, the Kings Ridge Golf Course located in the

The par-57, 3,660 yard Ridge Course brings out the competitive spirit in every player, and includes scenic views of the surrounding hills and sunny skies, adding

Eagle Creek’s five par-5s, five sets of tees, and more than 90 bunkers and dramatic bulkheads are reminiscent of those found in Scotland and England.

hills of Clermont is an emerald sparkling in the Florida sunshine. There are two great courses from which to choose: the original Lloyd Clifton par-71 course, designated as the Kings Course, and the very exciting Ron Garl creation, the par-57 Ridge Course.

Designed to challenge the golfer to think and to use every club in his or her bag, the Kings Ridge course capitalizes on the naturally rolling terrain of the beautiful Clermont countryside. The seasoned golfer will enjoy the surrounding panorama while encountering the elevated tees, rolling fairways and undulating greens. The 6,269yard Kings Course has often deceived many golfers into believing this will be an easy course to play; even seasoned golfers are lured by the elevated fairways and impressed with the undulating greens. Bring your best putting game to Kings Ridge Kings Course and be prepared to enjoy some of the best views in the state .

enjoyment to the challenge of this exceptional course. Water hazards, precise landing areas, well-protected multi-tiered greens, pot bunkers, grassy hollows, and deep Bahia grass roughs will test the skills of every golfer. Come prepared to play your best golf.

For more information visit our website at www.kingsridgegc.com or call (352) 242GOLF (4653).

The Legends Golf Course in Clermont is one of the finest accomplishments of renowned course designer Lloyd Clifton.

This beautiful Clifton-Ezell-Clifton 18-hole course stretches 6,911 yards from the gold tees and is a test for any golfer. Legends is a par-72 with a slope rating of 130 and course rating of 72.9.

National golf publications have recognized Legends as one of the Top 10 golf courses in Central Florida, which has hosted the Hooter’s Tour Event and the National Football League Player’s

Association tournament.

The Legends Grille and Tavern is famous for its fabulous Sunday Brunch, and its team of event professionals will work with you to plan and host your next party or tournament.

For more information visit our website at www.legendsgolfcc.com or call (352) 243-1118.

The top-ranked golf course at Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Winter Garden has been a favorite in Central Florida since it opened for play in 2000. The 18-hole, par-72 course offers the perfect blend of challenging shots, exciting hazards and delightful scenery. Locals and visitors to the area return time after time for another round of golf at Stoneybrook West.

Designed by award-winning golf course architect Arthur Hills, every detail on the course was given careful consideration. Although enjoyable for beginner golfers who play from the front tees, the true challenge is for golfers playing from the back tees, a distance of some 7,101 yards. Water hazards are found on nearly every hole, forcing players to strategize and focus, while more than 1,500 palm trees and an abundance of sand bunkers enhance the challenge of the Orlando golf course.

Golf Digest ranked the course as one of the best places to play, and it was named the second-best golf course in Florida and Number 27 in the nation by golflink.com. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Orlando and only 15 minutes from the main gates of all the major attractions, golfers can play a round of top-rated golf while their families head to the wonders of Disney World, Epcot Center and MGM and Universal Studios.

For those who live and work in Orlando, it is easy to escape the bustle of the city, play a round of golf, and make it back to the office in time for an afternoon meeting.

For more information visit our website at www.golfsbw.com or call (352) 243-1118.

The wind is blowing, the golf course is firm and fast, and the Scottish-style bunkers are intimidating. If you want to experience a taste of Scotland, and have some fun in the process, book your 4-ball at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Designed by world-renowned golf course architects Ron Garl of the U.S. and Howard Swan of Europe, Eagle Creek’s 7,198-yard golf

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Experience the Difference

epresenting a consolidation of the best traditions of the game combined with the latest in golf course design, Jacaranda Golf Club embodies the best of both worlds for today’s golf enthusiast. A $10 Million renovation to both courses breathed new life into a classic South Florida design. Both East and West courses have been transformed with new fairways, tees, greens, cart paths and landscaping. The restoration showcases a combination of new technology and traditional design allowing both the scratch golfer and the weekend warrior to compete on the same playing ground. Impeccable conditions paired with private club atmosphere & service provides players an opportunity to “Experience the Difference” Jacaranda’s new look brings to a South Florida visit.

R

For T-times and info call or visit…

(877) 676-2641 www.golfjacaranda.com 9200 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, Florida 33324

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F L O R I D A

G O L F

course offers the best of both worlds. Its five par-5s, five sets of tees, and more than 90 bunkers and dramatic bulkheads are reminiscent of those found in Scotland and England. Overall, the true Scottish-style experience of Eagle Creek Golf Club stands out from other Orlando championship golf courses as a true golfing masterpiece.

Guests enjoy the spectacular 14,000square-foot, two-story clubhouse designed in a vintage, New England-manor style, which includes a fully stocked pro shop, 120-seat restaurant with private banquet space, and locker rooms and showers for men and women.

Named one of the Top 10 New Courses Since 2000 in Travel & Leisure Magazine, and selected as Pro/Pro Series Site and National Site for 2005 Buick Scramble, Eagle Creek is a member of the Audubon International Silver Signature Program.

For more information visit our website at www.eaglecreekorlando.com or call (407) 273-Golf (4653).

Inspired by its Old World legacy and located just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort in the town of Celebration, Celebration Golf Club reflects the

combined talents of the legendary fatherson duo, who created a course unlike any other in the Central Florida area. The final collaboration between Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior is proof positive that they did indeed save their best for last. It’s lush, much like a nature preserve, with undulating swells and topography that create drama on virtually every hole The design delivers a golfing test that can challenge the pros, yet offer a rewarding experience for beginning golfers of any age. Its challenge is evinced by the impressive list of professional events the course has hosted, including the U.S. Senior Open Qualifier, the Robert Gamez Celebrity Invitational, the Florida State Public Links Championship, the Buick Scramble National Championships, and The Golf Channel’s Drive, Chip and Putt Finals. All the more reason why Celebration has been rated 4-1/2 Stars in Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play since 2004, and in the magazine’s Top 200 facilities in North America for Standard of Service and Course Conditions.

And it’s not surprising that golf event planners rate Celebration Golf Club as the #1 golf event venue in Central Florida – the

club has a wealth of experience from which to draw upon, having hosted more than 3,500 successful tournaments and outings.

Celebration’s services, value-added features and attention to detail set them apart from the all the rest. Their goal is simple: achieving excellence in every event they host.

Whether for the impeccable course conditions, the friendly and helpful staff, the convenience of the location or the surprisingly reasonable rates, visiting and resident golfers have made Celebration Golf Club a must-play in Central Florida.

And while Trent Jones Jr. is still designing masterpieces around the world, Trent Jones Sr., who designed (or re-designed) about 500 golf courses in 40 states and 35 foreign countries, passed away in 2000, just days shy of his 94th birthday.

Which means, unfortunately, that the stunning Celebration course is truly a golf experience that can never be repeated.

For more information visit our website at www.celebrationgolf.com or call (407) 566-GOLF (4653).

For more information on any of the Celebration Golf Management courses, log on to www.cgmgolfproperties.com.

Inspired by its Old World legacy and located just minutes from the Walt Disney World Resort, Celebration Golf Club reflects the combined talents of the legendary father-son duo of Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior, who created a course unlike any other in the Central Florida area.

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Experience the beauty of the

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Building Better Golfers PGA Tour Academy works with amateurs and professionals alike with one goal in mind – Improvement Photography Courtesy of PGA Tour Academy and World Golf Village

O

n the same day, sometimes even minutes apart, Todd Jones works with talented golf professionals seeking to make a living at the game and then hard-working amateurs just trying to improve upon a passion for it.

Thing is, whether it’s a Champions Tour stalwart looking to break through or a mid-handicapper looking to figure it out, the method Jones uses to create better golfers is as consistent as it has proven to be tried and true.

As Jones sees it and his students buy into it, improving at the game of golf

is a dedicated process of goal setting, mechanical dedication, consistent drill work and mental commitment that will lead any golfer to the desired outcome – whether that end result is a Tour victory, a club championship or just a $5 Nassau win when painful defeat had been the previous standard.

The head instructor at the PGA Tour Academy at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Fla., one of several such schools located across the country, Jones is the swing coach of Champions Tour stars Blaine McAllister and Sandy Lyle and

Nationwide Tour stalwart Gary Wheatcroft. At the same time, Jones teaches low-, mid- and high-handicappers looking to improve their games just enough to better enjoy the game. While the aptitudes of the two segments of players are certainly light years apart, the program and processes Jones uses to help all his players improve are essentially the same.

“Really the key is to establish a game plan as to where we want to be and what the realistic goals are,” Jones said. “That way we have an end goal and then we put the program in place so that the improve-

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ment happens. If we stick to that plan, everything else takes care of itself.”

When discussing his professional stable, which includes Lyle, a past winner of The Masters, that program is certainly one that Jones follows almost to a tee … if you’ll excuse the pun.

Jones is hands on with his professionals during golf’s traditional offseason – November to January – where he works with them on particular phases of the game that will help drive the ultimate goal: lower scores and larger paydays. Most of Jones’ work takes place at the Academy, but the teaching professional will also travel with his players to tournament sites when immediate work is needed.

Each fall, Jones will work on specific parts of the game that are intended to improve the whole.

Driving accuracy will help greens in regulations.

Better putting will help sand save percentage.

More greens in regulation will help putts per round. Bottom line, you improve one aspect of the game for the most talented of players and it will filter through the entire round. That, Jones says, is a multiple-purpose approach to one singular focus.

Along with the World Golf Hall of Fame, the PGA Tour Academy calls the World Golf Village home.

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500 Highlands Reserve Blvd., Davenport, FL 33897

(863) 420–1724 www.highlandsreserve-golf.com

When you combine one of the best layouts in Central Florida with 120 feet of elevation change and customer service second to none, you’ll understand why golfers from all over the world have put Highlands Reserve at the top of their “must play” list of Orlando golf courses. With pine treelined holes reminiscent of the Carolinas and vast waste bunkers providing a Scottish links feel, Highlands Reserve provides a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else.

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Outside of one primary difference – playing ability – instructors put the same processes and programs in place for a 10-handicapper as they do for a Nationwide or Champions tour winner.

“The end result we are looking for is lower scores,” Jones said. “The fact is there are different ways to get there that need to be focused on.”

Ultimately, the same thing is true for the more average variety of golfers that Jones spends as much or even more of his time with on the practice range and in the video room at the PGA Tour Academy, which is located in the shadow of the famed Stadium Course. Outside of the one primary difference – playing ability – Jones puts the same processes and programs in place for a 10-handicapper as he does a Nationwide or Champions tour winner.

In fact, the conversation with an amateur golfer essentially begins the same way when Jones is on the other end of the desk.

Just as with a pro it’s about setting goals, establishing the type of player the golfers wants to be and then heading out to the range to work on the appropriate mechanics to make that plan a reality. The practice range relationship begins extremely technical, but once the player gets a feel for the new swing or different shots, it becomes more of a psychological relationship.

“I start out as the teacher but my goal is to eventually become the coach,” Jones said. “What I want to be to my players is a coach that helps them stay with the program and understand what they are doing on the golf course.”

To accomplish that, whether it’s with a tour player or a Saturday scratcher, Jones asks for a commitment from his players that keeps them working with him for months if not years.

With every aspect of the game that gets tweaked or maybe even overhauled other facets much also be addressed, meaning a long-term relationship will prove a better option than the traditional quick fix many amateurs seek.

“The goal is to make the swing less mechanical and more feel,” Jones said. “I tell the player that he can now just start to play because he if free of all the swing thoughts.”

No matter why a player comes to Jones and the PGA Tour Academy, that is ultimately the goal – to play the game free of thoughts that get in the way of a free swing and an enjoyable round of golf. For some it’s a million dollar goal. For others it’s just a desire to play better than their peers. Thing is, Jones doesn’t really care about the reasons; the end game is all the same to him.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION

Orlando’s “Bear” is Back Black Bear Golf Club returns to its former glory

I

t’s been nearly a year now that a new ownership group and a dedicated staff have been restoring Black Bear Golf Club back to its rightful place among Central Florida’s most challenging, scenic and unique golf courses. Now with summer thankfully giving way to fall, there’s never been a better time to acquaint or maybe re-acquaint one’s self with Black Bear and discover what has so many people buzzing.

A P.B. Dye-designed classic located just outside of Orlando, Black Bear is one of a very few true links style layouts located in Central Florida. The course takes full advantage of spectacular mounding, significant bunkering and challenging well-guarded greens. From the back of its four sets of tees, the course can stretch to more than 7,000 yards, providing more than a stiff test for the finest of golfers.

Since taking over the course in late 2010, managing partner Richard Horton, his partners and his staff have moved

quickly to return The Bear to its former glory – now nearly 12 months later, the results simply cannot be argued with.

From rebuilt bunkers to enhanced and well-maintained landscape, the course has simply never looked better than it does today. In addition to on-course improvements, ownership focused on improving the already-impressive 40,000-square-foot practice facility that includes a 400-yard double-ended driving range complete with seven target greens and a large practice putting green.

The work and attention has certainly helped to restore the courses best asset – its incredible design – which has been drawing both local and visiting golfers to Black Bear since day one. Visually and strategically defined by rolling mounds and deep, gorgeous bunkers, Black Bear truly is a special course. When played early in the morning and late in the afternoon it’s even more spectacular as the rising

Black Bear Golf Club

and setting sun illuminates the challenging terrain as it moves beyond the large moguls.

“Play this course at just the right time of day and it is a truly inspiring experience that you will want to repeat again and again,” Horton said.

Inspiring is a good word to use regarding Black Bear’s return to its rightful place among the elite courses in Florida. It’s a layout that needed only some attention and care and it has gotten just that during the past year.

Signature Hole

9th

COURSE FACTS Par 72 (men and women) Yardage: 7,062 from back tees 5,044 from front tees Designer: P.B. Dye, a renowned golf course designer and architect of many fine courses throughout the world.

MORE INFORMATION: Pro Shop Number: 352-357-4732 Web site: www.blackbeargolfclub.com Address: 24505 Calusa Blvd.

Eustis, FL 32736 “Black Bear is a unique, challenging, links-style golf course, said Travis Owens. As a result Black Bear plays host to several pro and major amateur events each year.

While very open, Black Bear challenges golfers of all levels with undulating fairways, monster bunkers and slippery fast greens.

It is simply different than most Florida courses, thus a pleasure to play. With our new ownership in place for nearly a year the course is in the best shape in years.”

– TravisOWENS

“This 432-yard par 4 is one of the few holes at Black Bear where trees actually come into play. Two great oaks frame the tee shot thus requiring an accurate drive down the middle. The approach shot is one of the toughest on the course. Golfers hit into a two-tiered green in an amphitheatre setting. The green is well protected by 3 bunkers on the right and one on the left making this the No. 2 stroke hole at Black Bear.”

Golf Pro

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Els’ Hall of Fame exibit includes trophys from some of his most significant victories. The display open with his inaguration in May 2011.

The World Golf Hall of Fame Time for a visit!

Photography Courtesy of World Golf Hall of Fame

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uoyed by an impressive 2011 induction class, new exhibits and plans to take one of its most popular displays on the road, the World Golf Hall of Fame is enjoying a renaissance of sorts that is shining the spotlight on the still relatively-young museum dedicated to the history of golf and those special players that made history playing it.

This past May, the Hall, which is located at the scenic World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., inducted a class led

by International golf star and three-time major winner Ernie Els, former President George H.W. Bush and famed CBS golf producer Frank Chirkanian. The diverse class and a new induction date that coincides with THE PLAYERS Championship at the famed TPC Sawgrass Stadium course brought significant attention to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“There was a lot of electricity and energy around this class and the induction,” said Travis Hill, director of communications for the World Golf Hall of Fame. “It created a huge golf week here in the Jacksonville area with such a great class coming in the same week of THE PLAYERS Championship. It’s something we are looking forward to enjoying in the future as well.”

By all accounts the headliner of the induction celebration, Els is among the most popular golfers to enter the Hall in the past decade or so. A two-time U.S. Open champion and a winner of the British Open, the South African has truly been a globetrotter, winning multiple tournaments in the U.S., Europe and in his native country as well. It’s an international style Els learned from his mentor and fellow South African Gary Player.

“Most of the people in here are idols and heroes of mine,” Els said of the hall.

“To think you are in the same group as them, well, it really makes you stop and think about it a little bit. It is truly special.”

Granted, Els has been less legendary and more ordinary the past several years on tour, but as he joins longtime greats such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Player, and contemporaries such as Vijay Singh, the man they call “The Big Easy” because of his graceful swing and easygoing personality, can forever add “Hall of Famer” to his title, even as he toils on tour to add to his resume.

“I know time is running out, but I also know there have been plenty of players that have won major championships in their 40s,” Els said. “I’m hoping to get a kick start. I need to get going.”

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One of Naples’ Signature Golf Courses has as New Name Panther Run Golf Club, formerly known as The Golf Club at Del Webb is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by noted architect Gordon Lewis located within the Del Webb Naples community.

Opened in 2007 and managed by Troon Golf, the golf club boasts an expansive practice facility with five practice greens, a short game area, which includes two practice sand bunkers and an aqua driving range with natural turf target greens. PGA professionals are on-site for individual lessons and group clinics. A pro shop also features all the latest equipment, accessories and apparel.

The golf club was recently named as a 2010 Top 50 golf course for women by Golf Digest magazine and was nominated as a Top 10 New Public Course in 2007 by Golf Magazine.

Panther Run Golf Club is within Del Webb Naples, an active community for those aged 55 and older. The community will have 2,000 homes at build out, with a 35,000-square-foot amenity center which is expected to open in 2012.

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Experience p the Pride Wildcat Run Golf and Country Club is a private member owned Club located between Naples and Fort Myers, Florida. Founded in Golf & Country Club 1985, Wildcat Run is known as one of the most st prestigious private country clubs in Southwest Florida. Amenities include an exceptional Arnold Palmer 18-hole golf course, a state of the art fitness center, five Har-Tru tennis courts and a spacious clubhouse that comfortably accommodates the many dining and social activities of this vibrant community.

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Along with Els, the induction of President Bush gave the class a special addition. Bush was inducted into the class by the 300 voting members of the Hall that attributed the President’s contributions to the game, especially his tireless efforts to help grow The First Tee initiative, as invaluable to the sport. Like many presidents before him, Bush has long held a passion for the game both as a player and an advocate for its important role in teaching valuable life lessons to our youth. Both those traits will be on display through the hundreds of pieces Bush has donated to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

“The addition of President Bush made it such a diverse and special class,” Hill said. “To have him associated with the Hall of Fame and to have him be part of the class gave it a lot of clout.”

The same can be said about the potential for next year’s class. Looking forward, another popular player in the form of Phil Mickelson could headline the 2012 class into the Hall of Fame, continuing the momentum that began this summer with the Els and President Bush induction and is being continued with some exciting things going on within the World Golf Hall of Fame itself. Mickelson would qualify for the PGA Tour ballot as he turns 40 before next year’s inauguration, the same path Els took into this year’s class.

There is, however, so much more to the current goings on around golf’s hallowed halls that has World Golf Hall of Fame officials excited about the future of the museum that is supportEls will now forever be ed so well by golf’s governknown as a hall of famer. ing bodies and several major corporations including Shell. For the first time ever, the World Golf Hall of Fame will send one of its most popular exhibits – the Bob Hope display – on the road to visit various locations of the country.

The Hope exhibit, which has received significant acclaim, will begin its five-year road trip in Grand Rapids, Mich., in February 2012 before making its way across the Atlantic to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics. While it might not seem like such a big deal on the surface, bringing the Hall of Fame out to avid golfers rather than waiting for them to find it in North Florida is a positive move forward to increasing the significance and exposure to the game’s official museum of record.

“We hope this brings at least some of the experience of the World Golf Hall of Fame to those that might not have been exposed to it,” Hill said. “Considering it will be five years on the road it is definitely a big deal for us.”

Considering the way the summer began and the way it has continued, the expression “big deal” is extremely appropriate when it comes to discussing the World Golf Hall of Fame. From its newest members to its most treasured exhibits, this is a place avid golfers must experience. Even better, if you can’t make it to the East Coast, hang tight, golf’s most treasured history could be coming to you.

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an authentic shiny red British phone booth where lunch at the turn can be ordered in advance. On the ninth hole, golfers will be surprised to find the face of Hooken-Facher embedded on a stone wall behind the back tees. Golfers are encouraged to rub the nose of this God of Long Drives with the head of their drivers before taking on the difficult 525-yard par-5. Rub the nose well, because length is crucial on this tough hole.

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Happy Trails Golf Photography Courtesy of Mike Clemmer | Hotel Photography Courtesy of RTJ Golf Trail

Turning 20 in 2012, Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail has rewritten the book on Southern golf, and jump-started the state’s tourism economy 32 Golfer’s Guide Lifestyles

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Capitol Hill in Prattville/Montgomery is the home of the Navistar LPGA Classic and offers three 18-hole courses: The Senator, a traditional, Scottish-style layout; The Legislator, comparable to some of the more famous courses in North Carolina; and The Judge, featuring elevation drops of more than 200 feet.

G

olf course architect Robert Trent Jones saw the group of public courses he designed in Alabama as his version of the Sistine Chapel, and as The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail prepares to welcome its 10 millionth visitor next year (its 20th) golf enthusiasts can be forgiven for comparing it to Michelangelo’s masterpiece. The 26 courses, now widely known simply as “the Trail,” offer a total of 468 holes at 11 locations across the state, and its long list of accolades includes recognition as the best golf-destination value in the country, according to a recent Golf Digest survey. Golfers in the same survey put the Trail among the top eight in the nation for quality of golf.

Additionally, the Trail has been a strong contributor to Alabama’s economy: In the past 10 years, tourism dollars have

increased from less than $2.5 billion to roughly $9.3 billion.

The Trail’s artfully designed and beautifully landscaped courses, according to The New York Times, are “some of the best public golf on earth.” The Wall Street Journal said the Trail “may be the best bargain in the country.” Green fees along the Trail average $50; during peak season, the highest fee at most courses is $64.

The Trail stretches from the rolling hills of northern and central Alabama to the wetlands and woods near the Gulf Coast, and is the largest golf course construction project in history. More than 100 miles of courses have been built, with each course ranging from 4,500 to 8,191 yards. Each of the eight stops on the Trail is within a two-hour drive of the Trail course closest to it, and each is within

15 minutes of a major interstate. Courses are located in or near Anniston, Auburn, Birmingham, Dothan, Greenville, Huntsville, Mobile, Point Clear, Prattville (near Montgomery), Hoover and Muscle Shoals/Florence.

Cambrian Ridge in Greenville features three nine-hole courses. The Loblolly exudes a stately, Augusta-like quality. The Canyon is carved from former hunting grounds where deer blinds remain nailed to the hardwoods, and offers a thrilling stretch of “target-style” golf. The Sherling’s ninth hole rises straight uphill past a deep ravine strewn with ochre boulders to a lolling tongue of a double green.

Capitol Hill in Prattville/Montgomery is the home of the Navistar LPGA Classic, and offers three 18-hole courses.

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The Senator is a traditional, Scottishstyle layout, with more than 150 pot bunkers and mounds 20 to 40 feet in height located so that the cart path or any other hole cannot be seen from a given fairway. Bent-grass greens provide exceptional conditions 12 months a year.

The Legislator features huge pine trees and has been compared to some of the more famous courses in North Carolina.

The Judge plays alongside the Alabama

green on the 15th hole might be the most picturesque on the entire Trail. More than half of the Short Course’s 18 holes touch the lake.

Hampton Cove in Huntsville also offers three 18-hole courses. The Highlands emulates a Scottish course and is planted with thousands of Japanese black pines, oaks, dogwoods and crepe myrtles. The River is the only Trail course without a bunker. Laid out on former soybean

marsh filled with lichen-dappled trees.

The Short Course has perhaps the bestputting Bermuda greens in the South.

Magnolia Grove in Mobile comprises three 18-hole courses, as well. The Falls is laced with large, liberally contoured greens and massive cloverleaf bunkers. Its 570-yard, par-5 10th hole has a waterfall that cascades across steps immediately below a green that falls eight feet from front to back. The Crossings is a shot-maker’s heaven, with several pulpit greens elevated well above fairway levels. Most of the holes on the Short Course call for forced carries over marsh to liberally sloped, bulk-headed greens.

Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear is the site of the historic Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, built in 1847. Lakewood’s Azalea course was renovated in 2005, and the Dogwood course renovation was completed in 2004. The Grand Hotel sits on 550 acres along Mobile Bay and has 405 rooms, 23 meeting rooms, a European-style spa, multiple beaches and magnificent feature pools. Grand hotel guests have playing privileges at these two amazing tracks, and the resort consistently ranks as one of Marriott’s best hotels in North America for guest satisfaction.

At 8,191 yards from the back tees, Ross Bridge in Birmingham is the third

Cambrian Ridge in Greenville features three nine-hole courses: The Loblolly exudes a stately, Augusta-like quality; The Canyon is carved from former hunting grounds and is a target-style track; and The Sherling’s ninth hole rises straight uphill past a steep ravine to a treacherous double green.

River, with 12 water-bordering holes that provide some of the most spectacular scenery and golfing exhilaration in the world, along with elevation drops of more than 200 feet.

Grand National in Auburn/Opelika and its three 18-hole courses has been named the best public golf in the country

by Golf World readers. The Links is the cornerstone of the Grand National complex, and its 18th hole is billed as the strongest finishing hole on the Trail. The Lake course includes 12 holes that hug the lake’s shore, and its 230-yard island

fields in the flood plain of the Flint River basin, The River is a throwback to the way courses were built long ago – dirt has been simply pushed up to create the greens and tees. And 11 of the Short Course’s 18 holes have water in play.

Highland Oaks in Dothan features four distinct 9-hole courses. The Highlands is relatively open, with several lakes in play. The Marshwood is known for its notorious par-5 6th hole, a 701-yarder.

The Magnolia is graced by magnolia trees on high ground that is reached via a 1,000-foot wooden bridge spanning a

Magnolia Grove’s The Falls course is laced with large greens and massive cloverleaf bunkers. The Crossings is a shot maker’s delight, with several pulpit greens, while the Short Course calls for forced carries over marsh on many of the holes.

34 Golfer’s Guide Lifestyles

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longest golf course in the world. The course meanders through indigenous landscape and around the new Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa. Symbolic of an old parkland style course, 10 holes play along the banks of two significant lakes connected by a spectacular water fall dropping over 80 feet between the ninth and 18th greens. Ross Bridge is the host of the Regions Charity Classic, a PGA Champions event each May. Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham is another 54-hole gem. The Ridge boasts rolling fairways, heavy tree cover and sharp, 150-foot elevation changes. Extremely photogenic, this course’s par-5 12th hole is buttressed by a shelf of exposed shale rock - a reminder of the area’s strong mining and manufacturing past. The Valley’s 18th hole – nicknamed “The Assassin” – is a 441-yard par-4 that rises to a dramatic finish. Golf Digest’s Places to Play listed the Short Course one of the nation’s Great Value courses. These courses are located adjacent to Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. Silver Lakes in Anniston/Gadsden – and its four nine-hole courses – is currently closed due to tornado damage.

The Heartbreaker is considered by many to be the most challenging nine holes on the Trail if played from the championship tees. The Backbreaker is a photographer’s dream, with stunning views of the Appalachian foothills from the elevated tees.

Other courses include The Mindbreaker and The Short Course, both with their own unique challenges.

The Fighting Joe course at the Shoals in Florence course opened in August 2004 and is the first Trail course to break 8,000 yards. First reports indicate The Schoolmaster may be a tougher course than Fighting Joe, with narrower fairways, tree-lined greens and a length of nearly 8,000 yards. The nearby Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa has 200 luxurious rooms overlooking the Tennessee River and was ranked one of Marriott’s top hotels for guest satisfaction and golf in 2006 and 2007.

After challenging round of golf, splurge a little and enjoy the luxurious Resort Collection on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The Resort Collection features six of Alabama’s Four Diamond Hotels and some of the finest spas in

North America.

With four fullservice Marriott Hotels and four Renaissance Hotels, the good life on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail just got better and more affordable.

Since 1847, The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear has maintained a gracious tradition of Southern hospitality on historic Mobile Bay. The Grand Hotel consistently receives the AAA Four Diamond Award and is a family-friendly historical hotel that is 164 years young. All 405 luxurious guest rooms were updated in 2010. In addition to world-class golf and the 20,000square-foot spa, the Originally built in 1852, the 238-room Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa, resort has a variety of renovated and reopened in May 2007, has been named one of National Geographic’s “Top activities including Places to Stay in North America.” eight rubico tennis erview Plaza Hotel in Mobile a favorite courts, a croquet for business guests. Leisure travelers will lawn, horseshoes, bikes, kayaks, sailboats enjoy easy access to the Alabama Cruise and other watercraft for guests’ enjoyment.

Terminal, the home port for the CarniOriginally built in 1852 and closed val Cruise Line’s Holiday ship. Renaisin the mid-1970s, the 238-room Battle sance Riverview Plaza also is a short House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa has been restored to its original grandeur. walk from the city’s Carnival Museum, the Museum of Mobile and the Gulf The Battle House reopened in May 2007 Coast Exploreum Science Center, which and has been named as one of the “Top also features blockbuster exhibitions 500 Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure in 2009. The new spa and historic Having just undergone a $50 million renovation, the 374 plush guest rooms lobby, restaurant and ballrooms make are as popular as the hotel’s spectacular Battle House the perfect urban retreat views of Mobile Bay. for business and leisure guests with an The Renaissance Montgomery Hotel affinity for the finer things in life. The & Spa at the Convention Center opened hotel has been named one of National in February 2008 and brings Alabama’s Geographic Traveler’s “Top Places to Stay” capital city a great cultural, culinary and in North America. corporate hub.

The hotel features 346 A prime downtown location with a luxurious rooms and suites, several rescovered walkway to the Mobile Conventaurants and bars, an 1,800 seat performtion Center makes the Renaissance Riv-

36 Golfer’s Guide Lifestyles

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Located near the Alabama River, Renaissance Montgomery is a part of the city’s downtown revitalization. For concerts, plays and general entertainment, the hotel’s 1,800-seat performing arts centre is quickly becoming the city’s social hot spot. The Renaissance Montgomery is approximately 10 minutes from the Capitol Hill site on the RTJ Trail.

Minutes from downtown Montgomery and near the Bass Pro Shop, the Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Hill’s 95 guest rooms were completely renovated in 2009. Seventy-four spacious guest rooms are located in the main lodge. Two eight-room luxury villas have living areas for informal gatherings and are ideal for golf groups. The Marriott’s Oak Tavern offers dining with an extraordinary view overlooking the 17th Fairway of the Senator Course. Indoor and outdoor dining options are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa in Birmingham has been named “One of the Top 500 Hotels in

the World” by Travel + Leisure magazine.

This four diamond resort has 259 guest rooms, with balconies overlooking the fourth longest golf course in the world at 8,191 yards from the tips. The resort has 11 spacious suites, for an extra level of comfort and indulgence. Between Ross Bridge and nearby Oxmoor Valley, golfers have access to 54 holes of golf at this luxury resort.

Overlooking the Tennessee River and historic Wilson Dam in Florence, Alabama, the Marriott Shoals Hotel &

After a day spent pounding a golf ball around the Ross Bridge Course, at 8,191 yards from the tips the third longest golf course in the world, a cool libation at the Clubhouse Bar is the “order of the day.”

Spa continues to be the Marriott leader for exceptional golf, hotel rooms, pools and overall guest satisfaction. The 200 guest rooms, including seven suites, have private balconies and riverfront views.

The Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa is a short distance from two new Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses: Fighting Joe and Schoolmaster. In addition to great golf, the Shoals area is internationally known for two things: bass fishing and a rich musical heritage.

Granted, it may be something of a stretch to compare the Trail to the Sistine Chapel. After all, as it turns 20 next year the Chapel will be turning, oh, about 800. And it is rather difficult, when you really think about it, to conflate the paint brush of Michelangelo with the backhoe of Trent Jones. But it’s apparent that they both have an eye for beauty, and if Michelangelo were a golfer it wouldn’t be at all surprising to find him teeing it up on the Trail. But since it took him nearly six years to complete just the Last Judgement portion of the Chapel ceiling, you’ll want to be sure you’re not playing behind him.

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P G A

U P D A T E

Tour News The Heritage Classic survives, and there’s a lesson to be learned.

Photo courtesy of Heritage Classic Foundation

Hilton Head Island, SC

T

he warm blast of air emanating from the South Carolina Lowcountry on June 16 had nothing to do with the wacky weather experienced throughout the U.S. during 2011. It was a collective sigh of relief from 30,000 or so local residents upon hearing that their PGA Tour event had a future.

The Tour and event operator Heritage Classic Foundation jointly announced that day that the Royal Bank of Canada agreed to a five-year deal to serve as title sponsor for the Heritage tournament, played for the past 43 years on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Also announced was the participation of The Boeing Company as a “local presenting sponsor” for the tournament. Earlier this year, the aircraft company opened a manufacturing facility near Charleston, Hilton Head Island’s coastal neighbor to the north.

The announcement ended 18 months of discussion, debate, hand-wringing, and more than a few sleepless nights for those intimately associated with or even remotely concerned about the tournament. Verizon discontinued its sponsorship of the event in 2010, the end of a 24-year partnership that also included the communications giant’s predecessors, MCI and WorldCom. Since then, tournament officials worked tirelessly to secure a new title sponsor against formidable odds. As the weeks and months passed, it became eminantly clear that few, if any, corporations would be willing to devote $8 million to a golf tournament in the midst of a historic economic recession.

As the 2011 tournament approached, the cautious optimism long expressed

by Tournament Director Steve Wilmot and his staff seemed to give way to quiet desperation. Wilmot, one of the most likeable guys in the golf business, admitted to Fox Business News that the tournament was strapped for cash and that “closing the doors” had become a reality. Golf Digest

039.Tour News.indd 1

The first Heritage was won under the unfinished Harbour Town lighthouse in 1969 by Arnold Palmer.

The Royal Bank of Canada has agreed to a five-year deal to serve as title sponsor through 2016 for the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, for 43 years one of the most popular stops on the PGA Tour for both players and fans.

and Golf Magazine both hinted that the end was near for the Hilton Head Island event and that its demise was virtually guaranteed if a sponsor wasn’t secured by the close of this year’s tournament on April 24. And there was no shortage of possible solutions proposed online by the public. One wag suggested that the Heritage become a joint event with the LPGA (as if that tour doesn’t have its own problems, but more on that in a moment).

Another commentator inexplicably proposed that Augusta National take on the sponsorship role, with no viable rationale other than the fact that the Heritage has traditionally followed the Masters on the Tour schedule. Hmmm…

But, of course, the 2011 Heritage came and went without a new sponsorship commitment. It took almost two more months before a formal announcement was made, with smiles and handshakes all around among RBC and Boeing officials, Wilmot and Heritage Classic Foundation Chairman Simon Fraser, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and PGA Tour Commissioner

Tim Finchem. Indeed, it took a village, but the event that helped define Hilton Head Island won a five-year reprieve.

And this is where a valuable lesson can be learned about the future of bigmoney sponsorships in professional golf: take nothing for granted. The Heritage was certainly not alone in its arduous quest to survive. If you want trouble, take a look at the LPGA Tour. The women’s circuit began 2011 with just 23 events on its calendar, as disappearing sponsors helped shutter long-standing tournaments.

From the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open on July 10 to the start of the Safeway Classic on Aug. 18, there were no official LPGA events held. Zero.

The Heritage beat the odds, but it’s a safe bet that Wilmot and his staff have already begun plotting a strategy for 2016 when the RBC agreement comes to an end.

As anyone in the golf business will attest, the halcyon days are long gone. Running a professional golf tournament is undoubtedly a monumental task, but it’s nothing compared to trying to save one.

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Making a Difficult Game Easier Courses Embrace Tee it Forward

G

olf is anything but a game of easy.

In fact, for more than 90 percent (if not higher) of the amateurs that play the game of golf, it’s a hard damn game. The object of putting a small ball in an equally small hole some 400 yards away on average is equally nuts as it is difficult. The equipment is hard to hit.

The rules are hard to understand, remember, and, to be honest, always adhere to.

So it’s with that in mind that any idea, inclination or innovation that makes the game easier to play, more enjoyable to endure and more satisfying at the end is worth exploring at the very least. Such an innovation is taking root and being championed by leaders of the sport that promises to lower the scores of even the lowliest of players.

A joint venture between the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association, the country’s two most influential golf organizations, has spawned

a new concept geared toward making the game more “hacker friendly” (my term, not theirs). It’s one that is beginning to gain some steam and make its way across the municipal, public and resort tee boxes across the country. The idea is simple: “Tee it Forward,” and watch the game become more enjoyable and, ultimately, easier to play.

Tee it Forward is actually based on one simple concept, play the golf course from the distance that suits ability level, thus reducing the game’s difficulty while maintaining its primary challenges. The shorter you hit the ball, no matter how good the other aspects of your game are, the shorter tees you play.

For instance, most golfers hit their drive somewhere between 200 and 225 yards on average (albeit not always straight). Those players should play the course of their choosing somewhere between 5,400 and 6,000 yards to take

on what their game can essentially chew.

In creating the program, the PGA and USGA have incorporated a grid of sorts that matches driving distance with the length of course that should be played.

In the instance the distance leaves a player between tees, the program suggests they “move it forward” and enjoy shorter approach shots with easier-to-play clubs.

Following that rule, golfers will have shorter distances to navigate hazards off the tee and when in trouble will be further down the hole to help get out of it without a figure resembling a snowman appearing on the scorecard. In other words, the game becomes easier even when our swings make it harder.

“Simply put, Tee It Forward can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” said Allen Wronowski, president of the PGA of America. “We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting new

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approach to the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even more golf.”

The movement, which had its origins with Barney Adams of Adams Golf and is now being championed by the PGA and its membership, has moved somewhat slowly but is starting to gain steam, especially among players that care more about enjoying the game than feeding an ego through it.

Granted it’s never easy to beg forward a tee box when partners are playing the course back, but acknowledging the limitations of one’s own game doesn’t mean that game is unworthy of the golf course being played. Distance from tee to green and from one side of a hazard to the other is a constant challenge of the game; but it’s one made all the more easier when the proper distance is adhered to.

“The passion that golfers have for our game has the potential to be enhanced by the Tee it Forward initiative,” said Jim Hyler, president of the USGA. “This is an innovation that we think will appeal to golfers of all skill levels because it gives them a new challenge that better aligns

with their abilities. We hope that Tee it Forward will be embraced by players and golf facilities across the country.”

Not only should the theory be embraced by players of average ability but also by lower-handicap golfers that might just find the time of rounds reduced as the idea gains momentum. With middle- to higher-handicap players finding more suitable tees, less trouble might be found and more easily escaped from when it does rear its ugly head.

The end result might be more fourhour rounds of golf, which the game desperately needs, rather than the often unbearable five- or five-and-half hour weekend odysseys. It’s a fact that even one of the greatest professionals golfers of any generation agrees with.

“I love the game of golf but I will be the first to tell you that there are things about our game we need to improve,” said 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus. “Now the PGA of America and the

USGA have come together to develop ways to make the game more attractive and enjoyable.”

The program, Nicklaus believes, will also help the game continue to cultivate the positive family appeal that could help it rebound from several years of a backward slide in participation. If father, mother and

“Simply put, Tee It Forward can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” siblings can play from different tees that fit their skill and length, a more enjoyable round of golf, and even some fair competition, can well be the end result.

“I think families around the country will enjoy alternate formats like this to make the game more fun,” Nicklaus said.

At the end of the day, that’s the goal of Tee It Forward; make the game a little easier and a whole lot more fun so a whole lot more people play it and stay with it.

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BEST OF THE BEACH Golf is grand from the heart of Myrtle Beach to the Carolina border Just by its sheer size, the greater Myrtle Beach area has naturally evolved into a collection of smaller regions, each with its own character, features and attractions. But the legendary stature of this coastal destination is perhaps best defined by the exhilarating excitement of Central Myrtle Beach and the stellar resorts and courses that comprise North Myrtle Beach. Together, these two areas offer an unforgettable experience that exemplifies the allure of the “Grand Strand.”

Meadowlands

Tidewater

Central Myrtle Beach: A Seamless Blend of Old and New Emboldened by the opening of the nationally-acclaimed Grande Dunes Resort nearly a decade ago, and lifted by the redesign of the venerable Pine Lakes Golf Club, the heart of Myrtle Beach is quickly claiming the hearts of the millions of golfers that flock to the Grand Strand every year. Further en-

hancing the area’s profile is the 36-hole Myrtlewood Golf Club and longtime Strand favorite Arcadian Shores.

There’s little argument that the creation of the Grande Dunes Resort, which includes a private Nick Price-designed Members Club and a Resort Course crafted by Roger Rulewich,

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION has been the most significant addition to the Myrtle Beach golf scene in the past decade. Rulewich, a disciple of the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr., crafted the Resort Course as a challenging but fair test with seven holes along the Intracoastal Waterway, 34 acres of fresh-water lakes, rolling fairways with dramatic elevation changes, and strategic bunkering throughout.

Myrtle Beach’s reputation was well established long before Grande Dunes, thanks in large part to Pine Lakes Country Club. Affectionately dubbed “The Granddaddy,” Pine Lakes dates back to 1927. A few years ago, owner/operator Burroughs and Chapin closed the course for an extensive renovation intended to return the course to its glory days and pay homage to the original design by Robert White. The course reopened almost two years ago, and the redesign has been praised for the striking balance between the original design elements and some exciting new features.

The new and the newly restored in central Myrtle Beach are complemented by the 36-hole Myrtlewood Golf Club. The PineHills and Palmetto courses, crafted by Arthur Hills and Edmund Ault respectively, offer unique challenges with strategic water hazards, mounded fairways, challenging bunkering and well-guarded greens. PineHills is Hills’ only Grand Strand design, and Palmetto has long been ranked among the finest repeat play courses in Myrtle Beach.

Speaking of impressive, Arcadian Shores has been just that for many years. Designed by Rees Jones and opened in 1974, Arcadian Shores combines tree-lined Bermuda fairways, imposing lakes and dramatic bunkering into a design that has challenged and thrilled Grand Strand golfers for nearly four decades.

Bringing the past to the present and ensuring the future of Myrtle Beach golf, Pine Lakes, Grande Dunes, Myrtlewood and Arcadian Shores have all built and built upon the legend of the Grand Strand.

Grande Dunes

owlands and Farmstead. Located less than a mile from one another, these two layouts are perhaps the most underrated among the classic courses that hug the South Carolina/North Carolina border.

Farmstead offers not only one of the best layouts in Myrtle Beach, but also one of the most unforgettable holes in the region.

The Grand Strand’s only par-six, the 600-yard-plus 18th hole begins in South Carolina and finishes in the Tarheel state. With five sets of tee boxes and an open, spacious layout, Meadowlands has also been cited as one of the country’s most women-friendly courses.

While just a sampling of the North Myrtle Beach golf experience, Tidewater, River Hills, Farmstead and Meadowlands are certainly representative of what golfers can expect when they “head for the border” at the upper reaches of the Grand Strand.

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North Myrtle Beach: Bordering on Perfection Encompassing an area that stretches across the South Carolina border into North Carolina, the northern end of Myrtle Beach is as rich in golf as its beaches, entertainment and overall family fun. The courses of the “northern Strand” range from well-known and acclaimed courses like Tidewater Golf Club and River Hills to hidden gems such as Farmstead and Meadowlands.

Long regarded as a must-play in the North Myrtle Beach area is Tidewater Golf Club. Crafted by Ken Tomlinson, this layout meanders along the Intracoastal Waterway and around breathtaking salt marshes. The course recently underwent an extensive and ambitious redesign in conjunction with its 20th anniversary. As a result, a course deemed the “Pebble Beach of the East Coast” and perennially ranked by leading publications as one of South Carolina’s best is better than ever.

Nearby is another golf course that has earned its fair share of accolades, the Tom Jackson-designed River Hills Golf and Country Club. Noted for its design and playability, River Hills was carved from the quiet woodlands of Little River, and with elevation changes of up to 40 feet, it is as visually stunning as it is challenging.

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Right on Course Golfer’s Guide tees off on its next phase In August 2011, Glenn Klepchick joined the Hilton Head Island-based Golfer’s Guide Marketing Solutions as its new Chief Operating Officer. An on again/off again resident of the Island for 30 years, his previous business experience includes senior level positions with AOL, IBM and iXL, as well as CEO of the Americas for ADPepper Media NV. Congratulations on your new job.

“Growing?” In this economy?

Glenn Klepchick: Thanks. Marc Frey made me one of those offers I couldn’t refuse — the challenge of helping to reinvent one of the biggest brands in the golf business and set a new standard for interactivity and value in the online golf-information space. And I get to stay on this fabulous island of Hilton Head that I’m lucky enough to call home. In the past, my life revolved around airline and off-site meeting schedules; now I can work from my south-end office or the golf course or the beach or wherever — it doesn’t get any better than that..

GK: It’s thrive-or-die time for businesses like ours. So we’re going to increase our print circulation, online viewership and enhance our multi-national team — that last one being the most important because we can’t accomplish the other two without the best and brightest people making it happen.

By “biggest brands” you mean Golfer’s Guide….

GK: Right. Golfer’s Guide publishes 55 magazines in 20 major golf markets in the U.S. and Canada, reaching roughly 15 million readers annually. In terms of total North American circulation, we’re No. 3 and growing.

How many people does that involve?

GK: Right now we have 10 full-time employees in the corporate office here on the island and between 25 and 30 local contractors at any given time supporting their efforts. With the managers and contractors based in our other markets, we’re over 40 people and counting.

But the success of any expansion efforts will be directly tied to our productivity here at the island office, so we’re putting together an all-star team: Matt Ondo, our new Chief Financial Officer; Fred Warren, formerly of LINKS Magazine is our new publisher for the Hilton

The Golfer’s Guide team, L-R: Ashley Hamilton, CFL Matt Ondo, CEO Marc Frey, COO Glenn Klepchick, Lisa KunkleMeyers, Tiffany Taylor.

Head magazine; Ashley Hamilton heads up our Operations and Support Organization with the help of Tiffany Taylor; Lisa Kunkle-Meyers is handling businessdevelopment opportunities on a national scale and Karen Rhodes supports our online efforts. These are outstanding folks — dedicated, creative and passionate about our future as a company. And of course, our leader is Marc Frey, who has built the Golfer’s Guide brand with intelligence and vision. With others of us taking over the dynamic day-today operations, Marc has more time to pursue new opportunities, explore new ideas to enhance our clients’ marketing capabilities and focus on expanding into new markets.

Are there really any “new markets” to expand into these days?

GK: Yes, if you know where to look for them. There’s no doubt that the golf business has been hurt like just about every business in the last few years — maybe even a little bit more than most

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because golf is a recreational pursuit that can become a luxury in the average household when times are tight. So companies like Golfer’s Guide have the challenge of creating new products and services that offer our customers better value. Now our flagship publications — the seasonal visitor guide in those 20 golf destinations — have always been free, so if you can’t reduce the price, you have to improve the quality to reach more readers. That means improving the editorial content, the advertising diversity, the number of distribution locations — and that’s just for the print publications. The opportunity for online growth is even greater.

New websites?

GK: Yes, but it’s more than that these days. We’ll be launching some new websites next year and significantly enhancing the content of GolfersGuide.com and TeeTimeSavings.com, among others. But one of the things that makes us optimistic is that, while overall economic

growth has been stagnant in recent years, there’s been a revolution in smartphones.

This creates tremendous potential if you already have an established brand name in the informationservices industry — particularly in a large niche business where the customers, by definition, are on the go. So we’ll be debuting Golfer’s Guide smartphone apps in 2012 that will make our information about golf courses and golf services and golf-related businesses like resorts and restaurants available anywhere, any time at 4G speed.

So do you think magazines will be obsolete in, say, five years?

GK: Absolutely not. They are the hook, our grassroots platform for exposure, and will play an important role for our businesses for years to come. Certainly, for those of us over 40. We’re planning to play golf and take vacations for many years into the future and part of that experience is picking up those free magazines at welcome centers and off the racks that tell us more about the courses,

hotels, restaurants, shops and so forth in our chosen destination. We’re in talks right now to add to the number of those golf destinations that we cover because there are still print opportunities in locations where we think that advertisers and visitors would benefit from a new Golfer’s Guide in their areas.

And those are just the visitors’ guides. We think there’s also a local golf community right here on Hilton Head, in Bluffton and throughout the Lowcountry that would benefit from a new kind of golf publication, one geared to club members and daily-fee players alike. It’ll have local news, interviews, community features and more, all tied in with a new online presence that will give golfers in our area a hub for the latest information and a place to share ideas and opinions.

To learn more about Golfer’s Guide, visit their website, www.golfersguide.com or call 843-842-7878.

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NEW LO aa. RAZR HAWK™ | driver $

299 99 each

F Forged Composite™, which comprises 67% of the RAZR Hawk™ cclubhead, is lighter, stronger than titanium. Hyberbolic Face T Technology™ precisely controls thickness of the face for consistently h high ball speeds and longer distance.

D Draw #27585 { 9.5˚, 10.5˚, 11.5˚ & 13˚ } RH Sr { 10.5˚ & 11.5˚ } LH Sr N Neutral #27587 { 9.5˚ & 10.5˚ } RH T Tour #27586 { 8.5˚, 9.5˚ & 10.5˚ } RH { 9.5˚ } LH W Women’s Draw #27588 { 11.5˚ & 13˚ } RH { 11.5˚ } LH

bb. RAZR HAWK™ | fairway #27590 $

229 99 each

Forged Composite™ is a new material used in the crown that’s F llighter and stronger than titanium for more power and precision.

[c.]

{ 3, 5 & 7 } RH Sr { 3 & 5 } LH T Tour #27591 { 13˚ } RH W Women’s #27592 { 3, 5 & 7 } RH { 3 & 5 } LH

[b.]

cc. RAZR HAWK™ | hybrid #27605 $

159 99 each

Z Zero Ze Roll Design on the clubface produces a higher launch angle on shots hit low on the face, increasing distance with softer landings.

Aggressive VFT™ Technology increases the size of the sweet spot of the RAZR X hybrid and generates hotter ball speeds for longer distance. { 3, 4, 5 & 6 } RH Sr { 3, 4 & 5 } LH Sr Tour #27607 { 2, 3 & 4 } RH { 2 & 3 } LH Women’s #27606 { 4, 5 & 6 } RH { 4 & 5 } LH

d. RAZR X | irons #27594 RAZR Technology provides the power and forgiveness of a wide sole iron while retaining the precision and playability of a thin sole iron.

[c.] Tour

{ 3 iron, 4-PW, AW, SW, LW } RH LH Sr Combo Set #27580 { 3H, 4H, 5-PW } RH LH Sr Women’s #27595 { 3 iron, 4 iron, 5-PW, AW, SW, LW } W Women’s Combo Set #27581 { 4H, 5H, 6-PW, SW } W $ 61299 stl 4-PW 5-PW (senior & women’s) $ Each Iron 8700 stl $ 3H, 4H, 5-PW (combo set) 79900 stl 4H, 5H, 6-PW, SW (senior & women’s)

[e.]

[d.]

$

78799 gra 67499 gra $ 11200 gra $ 89999 gra $ 89999 gra $

NEW!2012 e. NEW! RAZR XF™ | iron set #29725 The new RAZR XF Set is constructed from the best premium materials and is designed with Callaway’s highest levels of forgiveness. { 4H, 5H, 6-PW, AW, SW } RH Women’s #29911

[e.]

4H, 5H, 6-PW, SW AW, SW

$

129999 gra/stl $ 16299 stl

$

139999 gra/gra $ 17499 gra

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some things we look for when...

fitting you for the

perfect driver

BALL SPIN...

Ultimately you want the furthest possible carry on your tee shots and a lively landing with plenty of roll. Optimal ball spin means maximum distance. If you have a lower clubhead speed, you need more ball spin to get lift, so your shot rises into the air. If you have a higher clubhead speed, you need less ball spin for a more penetrating shot. The Watts Guys will help you optimize your ball spin.

LAUNCH CONDITIONS...

The proper launch conditions – such as launch angle, ball spin and ball speed – result in the best-possible drive you can hit, in terms of distance, flight and accuracy. We use a sophisticated launch monitor, to ensure that you’re generating the best-possible launch conditions with your driver.

GUYS

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How fast your clubhead travels through impact during your swing helps determines your shot distance. Generally speaking, the faster your clubhead speed, the further you’ll hit the ball. It’s the result of several factors working in concert with one another. Things such as swing tempo, swing balance, clubhead aerodynamics, and weight distribution all play a role, as do shaft characteristics, such as length, flex, weight and how you load it in your swing. We’ll find the driver and specs that best help you milk the most yardage from your swing.

S

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1 2 3

CLUBHEAD SPEED...

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Giving the gift of distance is a sure way to make your golfer happy. That’s why the latest high-tech drivers make outstanding gifts. Many of the latest models feature lightweight shafts that help generate more distance, space-age materials in the clubhead that add forgiveness, and adjustability that helps golfers fine-tune their ball flight.

When buying a driver, know your golfer’s playing level. Beginners and high-handicappers generally use drivers billed as a “super game-improvement” or “game-improvement” that help with distance, forgiveness and ball flight. Built-in draw bias will help eliminate slices. Meanwhile, better players will likely appreciate a top-brand model with less clubhead offset. And low-handicappers will generally gravitate toward Tour-style drivers with lower lofts and very little offset.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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a. R11 | fairway #27925 $

199 99 each

NEW LOW PRICE!

More adjustability, more distance. Adjust the loft with Flight Control Technology. Adjust the face angle with the new Adjustable Sole Plate. { 3+, 3, 4, 5 & 7 } RH Sr { 3 & 5 } LH

[a.]

b. R11 | driver #27924 $

299 99 each

NEW LOW PRICE!

Only R11 can activate the three dimensions to distance. Adjust the loft with Flight Control Technology. Adjust the face angle with the new Adjustable Sole Plate. Adjust the Flight Path location with Movable Weight Technology™.

[b. & c.]

{ 9˚ & 10.5˚ } RH LH Sr

c. R11 TP | driver #27923 $

399 99 each

NEW LOW PRICE!

Fujikura Blur TP shaft. { 8˚, 9˚ & 10.5˚ } RH LH

NEW!2012 d. NEW! R11 | irons #29244 Inspired by R11 driver innovation, the new R11 iron is tuned to perfection. Precision CG placements, ultra-thin faces, a tour sole design and Inverted Cone Technology make R11 our most powerful, playable and refined iron ever. { 3, 4-PW, AW, SW } RH LH Sr

UW, SW, LW #29162 $ 699 99 stl 4-PW 3 iron, AW, SW $ 9999 stl

[d.] $ $

87499 gra 12499 gra

e. BURNER® 2.0 | irons #26666 Each iron individually engineered, resulting in the enhancement of multiple club properties that promote distance, uniform distance-gaps, increased playability, better sound and feel. { 3, 4-PW, AW, SW & LW } RH LH Sr

Women’s #26665 { 5-PW & AW } W $ 78799 gra $ 11200 gra $ 67599 gra $ 11200 gra

$ 612 99 stl 4-PW $ 8700 stl Each Irons 5-PW (women’s) Each Irons

(women’s)

041-072.indd 7

[e.]

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Fairway Woods/ Hybrids BRIDGING THE GAP

A

fter bombing your drive, you sometimes need to be able to follow that up with another great long shot. And on par-5’s and long par-4s, that usually means playing a fairway wood or hybrid. Just as your driver needs to fit your swing, so do your fairway woods and hybrids. With these clubs, you want to be able to achieve the best possible ball spin, launch angle and ball speed for your unique swing. And the Watts Guys will help you accomplish that.

because fairway woods havee longer llon onge gerr shafts sh shaft aftss and and larger clubheads than hybrids, which themds, w whi hich ch tthe hem mselves have longer shafts and larger d llar arge gerr clubheads club cl ubhe head adss than most long irons. Each club club lub ty type pe brings bri b ring ngss along its own distances, ball fli flight, trajectory, fligh ght, t, ttra raje ject ctor ory, y, and shot landing angle. So yyou need decide ou n nee eed d to d dec ecid idee el most most ccom omfo fort rt-which clubhead style you feel comfortable standing over and swinging, gin ing, g, and and then tthe hen n calculate how many of the clubs lub ubss you’re you’ yo u’re re going ggoi oing ng to carry in your bag and how w ffar ar yyou ou ccan an h hit it each of them. The Watts Guys ys help help remove rrem emov ovee th thee guesswork from this important antt pr an proc process. oces ess. s.

But with fairway woods and hybrids, you also need to bear in mind the distance gapping between the clubs, as well as which club types suit your swing and preferences better. That’s

G20 FAIRWAY #29169 $

TAYLORMADE R11 FAIRWAY #27925 NEW LOW PRICE

8

CALLAWAY RAZR HAWK™ FAIRWAY #27590 $ 22999 EA

ADAMS IDEA PRO A12 HYBRID $ 16999 EA

TAYLORMADE BURNER® SUPERFAST 2.0 FAIRWAY #27931 NEW LOW PRICE

19999 EA Golfers of all abilities will have an easy time getting the ball airborne and adding yards with the low-deep center of gravity in the 17-4 stainless steel head that creates low spin but a much higher launch.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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a. 620 | driver #29167 $

299 00 each

For all ability levels, the external weighting of the G20 driver helps launch the ball high with low spin for maximum distance and accuracy. Distance is generated with a new version of PING’s proprietary TFC 169D High-BalancePoint shaft technology. { 8.5˚, 9.5˚, 10.5˚ & 12˚ } RH LH Sr

[a.]

b. 620 | fairway #29169 $

199 00 each

Golfers of all abilities will have an easy time getting the ball airborne and adding yards with the low-deep center of gravity in the 17-4 stainless steel head that creates low spin but a much higher launch. Accuracy comes from perimeter weighting and a slightly larger face that raises the MOI. { 3, 4, 5 & 7 } RH LH

SCOTTSDALE | putter High-contrast alignment aids and improved sight lines make lining up the Scottsdale remarkable easy. Solid feel and consistent response of the insert will help your distance control and accuracy.

The combination of TPE and high-contrast alignment aids allow you to take confident aim. { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH { 34” & 35” } LH

c. Anser 2 #25768 d. B60 #25769 e. Wolverine #25777

129 00 each 129 00 each (Not Shown) $ 159 00 each (Not Shown) $

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

$

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

[c.] Anser 2

KARSTEN 1959 | putter Cavity insert & thin top rail. { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH { 34” & 35” } LH

f. Anser 2 #25786 g. B60 #25788 h. Craz-E #25789

99 00 each 99 00 each (Not Shown) $ 129 00 each (Not Shown) $

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

$

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

j. G20 | irons #29158

[b.] [f.] Anser 2

PING designers engineered extreme forgiveness and predictable distance control into the G20 irons.

The cavity’s floating CTP structure stabilizes the face and its aluminum badge with elastomer heel and toe sections produces a solid feel and sound. Combined with PING’s new CFS steel shaft (control, feel and stability), the G20 optimizes feel and trajectories.

Consistent yardage gapping is a key benefit of the G20 set, which includes high-launching long irons that maximize the overall range and predictability of a player’s set. { 4-PW, UW, SW, LW } RH LH Sr

UW, SW, LW #29162 4-PW UW, SW, LW

$

61250 stl $ 8750 stl

$ $

78750 gra 11250 gra [j.]

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Wedges APPROACHING YOUR TARGET

M

any golfers fear those daunting wedge shots the most. These types of strokes require you to sometimes be delicate while taking a full swing, or to other times take an abbreviated swing and loft the ball up quickly before stopping on a dime. Not an easy task. But we can make things a lot easier on you. Through a state-of-the-art fitting system, we will determine which wedges bear the proper lofts, bounce angles, sole shapes and loft gapping for your game. We’ll watch your swing, ask you about the types of short shots you typically hit, and then work with you to find your Utopian wedges. Without a doubt, you want consistency from your wedges, in terms of distance, feel and performance. This type of control improves your confidence in your short game so you can attack the pin more often.

AVA

ILA

BL

EL

ATE

NO

VEM

BE

R

588 WEDGES #30054 $

TITLEIST VOKEY SM4 WEDGE #29562 $ 12999 EA

10

CALLAWAY X-SERIES JAWS WEDGE #23633 $ 10999 EA

MIZUNO MP R-12™ WEDGE #29237 $ 11999 EA

CLEVELAND CG14 BLACK PEARL TOUR ZIP WEDGE #28359 CALL FOR NEW LOW PRICE

13999 EA Remake of the most succesful and preferred wedge shape ever, revered by golfers of all skill levels for its confidence-inspiring look. Precision Forged from 1025 Carbon steel. Tour Zip Grooves™ & Laser Milled™ Technology.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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NEW!2012

a. CG BLACK 265 | driver #30057 $

399 99 each

Ultralite Technology. Proven lightweight performance found in premium Miyazaki graphite shafts and lightweight grips. Lower, deeper center of gravity. Strategically positioned weight insert. { 9˚, 10.5˚ & 12˚ } RH Sr { 9˚ & 10.5˚ } LH Sr

[a.]

b. CG BLACK | fairway #30058 $

229 99 each

Speed Crown Design, the most dynamic wood shape Cleveland Golf has ever engineered. Teardrop-inspired profile reduces drag at all angles of airflow during the swing for superior speed. {3, 5 & 7} RH Sr {3 & 5} LH Sr

c. CG BLACK | irons #30047

[b.]

Deep Undercut Technology. High-strength Ti club face that’s larger and thinner for a higher C.O.R. and amazing distance. { 3 iron, 4-PW } RH LH Sr 4-PW Each Iron

$ $

99999 gra 14999 gra

[c.] d. CG BLACK | wedges #30056 $

149 99 each

High-strength Ti club face that’s larger and thinner for a higher C.O.R. Deep Undercut Technology. { 48˚, 52˚, 56˚ & 60˚ } RH LH

[d.]

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the best set for you T

he best irons for your game depend on several factors, including how they look to you at address, how they feel, how they perform for your swing, and how forgiving they are. In fact, you may find that a mixed bag of irons suits you best – hybrids at the long end, cavitybacks in the middle, and blade short irons. Our Watts Guys will help you find the best combination, to help you find the green in fewer shots. In general, there are three types of irons on the market.

PLAYERS’ IRONS

GUYS

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For better players who don’t need much forgiveness on their ball striking, these irons are typically smaller and more workable than gameimprovement irons. The top line and sole are usually narrower, too, and there is no offset. Sometimes players’ irons are forged for soft feel.

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GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS

SUPER GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS

These sport slightly larger cavityback heads bearing weighting and mass that are spread out, adding forgiveness, playability and distance.

They also cause shots to get airborne quicker. These are for mid-handicappers and better players, alike.

For golfers needing plenty of help, these offer extreme weighting, lower mass, wider soles, and offset – all in an attempt to guide the ball high and straight. Many of these sets feature hybrid-style clubs at the long end, to ease striking long shots.

Irons can be great gifts, particularly for beginners and high-handicappers who probably need super game-improvement irons that will help them get shots airborne quickly and traveling straighter and longer. Players with some experience but are still working on lowering their handicap may very well appreciate game-improvement irons that will help them better their scores. Better players are rather specific about which irons they like to play, so you may be best off giving them a gift certificate for their irons. That way, they can come back in to get fitted for their irons by the fitting specialists at Edwin Watts Golf.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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NEW!2012

[[a.] [a. .] a. AP1 | irons #29565 Advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity irons providing more forgiveness with solid feel and improved looks for the aspiring to skilled golfer.

Increased forgiveness through advanced technology, multi-material, high MOI design featuring a precise stainless steel body and high density tungsten sole weight. Higher ball speed on miss-hits for improved distance control. Improved solid feel from the high MOI design and tuned feel cavity insert. True Temper Dynalite Gold XP is a high performance mid-weight steel shaft with a more stable tip designed to optimize initial launch angle and maximize distance. { 4-PW & GW } RH LH 4-PW, GW

$

79999 stl $95999 gra

b. AP2 | irons #29566

[b.]

Advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity forged irons providing more playability, solid feel and a improved classic profile for the serious and skilled golfer. Increased playability through an advanced technology, multi-material, forged carbon steel body and high density tungsten weight design. Consistent ball speed and improved distance control on miss-hits.

Dynamic Gold steel shaft. { 3-PW } RH LH 3-PW

$

109999 stl

c. CB | irons #29567 More playable versus MB through the cavity back design. Traditional solid feel through the compact head shape and optimized shallow cavity with an inner muscle behind the impact area. Maximum shot control from the minimal progressive offset and traditional constant blade length design.

High performance sole with a blunted leading edge and cambered bounce surface for smooth turf entry and release. New satin finish. Superior ppearance with a thin topline and rounder profile for a classic, but contemporary look. { 3-PW } RH LH

[c.]

$

3-PW

99999 stl

d. MB | irons #29568 Superior appearance with a thin topline and rounder profile for a classic, but contemporary look. New satin finish. Crisp turf contact from a new sole design with enhanced trailing edge and heel relief. Maximum shot control from the minimum progressive offset and traditional constant blade length design.

Traditional solid feel through the compact head shape and optimized muscle back weighting behind the impact area. High performance sole with a blunted leading edge and cambered bounce surface for smooth turf entry and release. { 3-PW } RH LH 3-PW

$

99999 stl

[d.]

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fairway woods or hybrids?

advantages of both H

GUYS

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ybrids are made to be easy to hit – they were designed to be a viable alternative to both difficult-to-hit long irons and fairway woods. They’re larger and longer than long irons, so you’ll find them to be an easier and more reliable way to hit nice and long shots. Compared to fairway woods of similar lofts, hybrids are smaller, shorter and are easier to control. Shots you hit with hybrids will generally soar higher, travel straighter and land more softly than with similarly lofted fairway woods. So they’re great to hit into greens – particularly hard, fast greens – as the ball will land from a higher angle and settle more quickly. Hybrids are also more versatile than fairway woods, in that you can hit them from just about any lie – even from the sand. However, you won’t hit the ball as far with them.

Fairway woods, on the other hand, have their own advantages over hybrids. For one, distance: You can simply hit the ball further with them. Some of the latest models also feature adjustability like their sibling drivers, so that you can tune the ball flight on your own.

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When buying fairway woods or hybrids for the golfer in your life, it will help the Watts Guys to know which driver, wood and hybrid models your golfer currently plays. It also helps to know his or her ability level. That way, we can make the transition to new fairway woods and hybrids go smoother. Some of the newest fairway woods feature aerodynamic-shaped clubheads, lightweight shafts and even clubhead adjustability that allows golfers to quickly and easily fine-tune ball flight and alter the club to course and weather conditions. Getting a matching set of fairway woods and hybrids isn’t necessary, but it does make feel, ball flight and distance gapping consistent from one club to the next. If you’re keying in on hybrids, remember that golfers with slower swing speeds need higher lofts. Also, if your golfer tends to slice the ball on longer shots, opt for a higher-lofted fairway wood or hybrid that will likely have more of a closed clubface to help straighten out shots.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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NEW!2012

a. ZL ENCOREâ&#x201E;˘ | driver $

399 99 each

New E9 Face Technologyâ&#x201E;˘ with Dual Roll gives you even longer and more forgiving drives. Advanced Multi-Material Construction. Adjustable Flight 5FDIOPMPHZÂ&#x2DC; t 5PVS QSPWFO 'VKJLVSBÂŽ MotoreÂŽ F1 and F3 shafts { 8.5Ë&#x161;, 9.5Ë&#x161;, 10.5Ë&#x161; & 11.5Ë&#x161; } RH { 9.5Ë&#x161; & 10.5Ë&#x161; } LH White #29918 Black #29914

[a.] White

[a.] Black

b. LONG TOMâ&#x201E;˘ | driver #29922 $

349 99 each

This four-foot-long, ultralight driver is the ultimate weapon for jaw-dropping distance. Highest length to weight ratio of any COBRA driver. Advanced material placement with high strength thin Titanium 8-1-1 alloy face repositions up to 20 grams of weight to move CG extremely low and deep. E9 Face Technology with Dual Roll. Ultralight GrafalloyÂŽ Blackbird shaftÂŽ with a 50 gram overall weight. { 8Ë&#x161;, 9Ë&#x161;, 10Ë&#x161; } RH { 9Ë&#x161; } LH

[[b.]

c. S3 MAX IRON & IRON-HYBRID SET | irons set #27679 Low-proďŹ le, wide-sole irons combine with large-proďŹ le, BafďŹ&#x201A;er-style hybrids to provide maximum forgiveness and consistent distance gapping.

[c.]

{ 3H, 4H, 5H, 5-PW } RH LH Sr Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #27682 { 4H, 5H, 6H, 7-PW, SW } W 3-4 Hybrid, 5-PW 3-5 Hybrid & 6-PW 4-PW, GW All Iron Set 4-6 Hybrid & 7-PW, SW (senior & womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)

$

49999 stl

$

39999 stl

$59999 gra $49999 gra $59999 gra

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the face of wedges G

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olfers initially feared that the end of “aggressive” grooves on wedges would make it tough to get backspin, once the United States Golf Association outlawed them last year. But they quickly found out that’s not the case. Newly conforming grooves work every bit as well. And golf club manufacturers have made sure that you still generate plenty of spin on the ball. They did this by adding more grooves to the clubface and also milling patterns into the face, to create more surface texture. Both of these approaches pinch the golf ball at impact just for a split second, imparting backspin on your shot so that it stops quicker around the pin.

E WAT

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New players and high-handicappers can benefit from two or more matching wedges of different lofts. This provides them consistent feel from one wedge to the next, properly spaced distance gaps, and progressive ball trajectory from one loft to the next. Plus, they’ll have a wedge to cover every short shot distance that they may encounter on the course. If you’re buying your golfer a wedge set, make sure you get a mix with equal gaps: Consider a four-wedge system (likely lofts of 48º, 52º, 56º and 60º) so your golfer can take full swings from many distances; a three-wedge mix (48º/54º/60º) or a two-wedge combination (48º/56º) that help players who can control halfswings and chips. You may find that the wedges bear a name -- such as pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge or attack wedge – instead of the actual degrees of loft. The Watts Guys will be happy to help you out in that case, and explain the true lofts.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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NEW!2012

[a.] c. VR PRO COMBO CB | irons #30436 Change from pocket cavity to split-cavity throughout the set for the optimal shot and more forgiving performance. { 3-PW } RH 3-PW

$

89999 stl

a. VR PRO LIMITED EDITION | driver #30334 $

34999 each

From the concept to the course, it’s the driver made with and for the game’s very best. { 8.5˚, 9.5˚, & 10.5˚ } RH { 10.5˚ } LH

b. VR PRO LIMITED EDITION | fairway #30341 $

[b.]

22999 each

Designed with our tour players to provide top-level performance on every shot in the arsenal.

[c.] [ .] [c.

{ 3 & 5 } RH { 3 & 5 } LH

[d.] d. MP-69™ | irons #29235 4D Muscle design delivers unmatched ball and flight control.

Strategically placed trailing edge bevel delivers tour confirmed performance and increased versatility. { 3-PW } RH

[e.]

3-PW 4-PW

$ $

899 99 stl 789 99 stl

e. MP-59™ | irons #29234 Forged Ti Muscle technology delivers increased forgiveness and solid feel in a player’s head shape. { 3-PW } RH LH 3-PW 4-PW

$ $

999 99 stl 879 99 stl

f. JPX-800 PRO™ | irons #25973 CNC milling and “Under Cut Forging” technique create a thin face that delivers amazing distance and a low deep center of gravity for forgiveness

{ 4-PW & GW } RH $ 799 99 stl 4-PW, GW

[f.]

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NEW!2012 a. IDEA A12 OS | hybrid #29548 $

169 99 each

The patent-pending Velocity Slot Technology in the new Idea a12 OS hybrids create a game improvement club that is substantially more forgiving while producing a hotter ball flight for more distance. { 17˚, 19˚, 22˚, 25˚, 28˚ & 32˚ } RH { 19˚, 22˚, 25˚, 28˚ & 32˚ } LH

b. IDEA A12 | hybrid #29550 $

[a.]

169 99 each

[b.]

[c.]

The hotter face combined with higher launch produces increased distance and reduced spin. { 17˚, 19˚, 22˚ & 25˚ } RH { 19˚ & 22˚ } LH

c. IDEA PRO A12 | hybrid $

199 99 each

[d.]

A hot face constructed of maraging steel produces higher ball speeds and a penetrating ball flight.

Rip Shaft #28728 & Ozik Shaft #28729 {16˚, 18˚, 20˚, 23˚ & 26˚ } RH { 16˚, 18˚, 20˚ & 23˚ } LH

d. IDEA A12 0S | irons #29551 The Idea a12 OS hybrid irons are built with ultra thin faces, perimeter weighing, and low CG’s throughout the set. { 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 5-PW, AW, SW, LW } RH LH Women’s #29552 { 4H, 5H, 6H, 7-PW, GW } W 4H, 5H, 6H, 7-PW, GW 4H, 5H, 6H, 7-PW, GW (Women’s) Each Iron Each Hybrid #29548

$

599 99 gra/stl

$

699 99 69999 $ 8799 $ 169 99 $

$

74 99 stl

gra/gra gra gra gra

NEW!2012 e. FG V2 | irons #30138 Maximum amount of soft 8620 mild carbon steel directly behind the impact zone provides maximum feedback and positive feel. { 3 Iron, 4-PW } RH LH $

4-PW

[e.]

69999 stl

f. Ci11 | irons #30125 Delivers maximum playability for the aspirational golfer and the power and forgiveness for those wanting additional technology. { 4-PW, GW, SW } RH LH 4-PW Each Iron

$

52499 stl $ 7499 stl

$ $

61299 gra 8799 gra

g. 88 SERIES™ BLK | putters $

9999 each

8881™: BLK Traditional heel/toe weighted, plumber hosel (LH).

8882™: BLK Timeless 8802 shape, heel shaft, offset gooseneck hosel (LH).

8883™: BLK Toe weighted semi-mallet, heel shaft, offset gooseneck hosel.

8884™: BLK Heel/toe weighted, semi-mallet hybrid, heel/shaft, plumber hosel.

8885™: BLK Heel/toe weighted, mallet, heel shaft, plumber hosel (LH).

8885™: BLK Women’s Heel/toe weighted, mallet, heel shaft, plumber hosel.

[f.]

{ 34” & 35” } RH LH { 32” }W 8881 #30126, 8882 #30127, 8883 #30128 8884 #30129, 8885 #30130, 8885 Women’s #30131

18

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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[g.]

12/16/11 11:53:21 AM

NEW!2012 [a.]

a. XCG5 | driver $

329 99 each

Ultra-thin and light beta titanium crown joined to a titanium cupped face and body for ideal weight positioning, lower spin, and improved sound.

[b.]

55g Blur Shaft #30116 { 9˚, 10.5˚ & 12˚ }

40g Tour AD Ultralite #30115 { 9˚, 10.5˚ & 12˚ } RH { 10.5˚ } LH

b. XCG5 | fairway $

299 99 each

The longest hitting fairway wood, guaranteed. Features a titanium cup face and crown, beta titanium face insert, and a heavy tungsten sole plate that weighs 68% of the head’s total weight.

65g Blur Shaft #30121 { 11˚ #3, 13˚ #3, 15˚ #3, 4, 5 & 7 } RH

[c.]

40g Tour AD Ultralite #30120 { 3, 5 & 7 } LH

c. XCG5 | hybrid #30110 $

199 99 each

High-density tungsten-steel sole and maraging steel cupped face and crown for less spin and faster speed. Heavy tungsten-steel sole plate positions weight for enhanced forgiveness.

{ 2H, 3H, 4H & 5H } RH { 3H & 4H } LH

d. FLX2 KIT | package set $

299

e. WIDE TRACK | men’s 16 piece package set #23797

99 set

$

Everything you need to hit the course in this Ready to Play set. The FLX2 includes: High MOI woods and hybrids, forgiving undercut cavity irons, a mallet putter, golf bag & 4 headcovers.

Men’s steel #24386 RH LH Men’s + 1 #24388 RH LH Teen #24387 RH

299

99 set

f. BLUE STAND SET | junior package set #5696 $

The Nicklaus Wide Track 16 piece package set features a 460cc Ti-reinforced driver, #3 Fairway wood, #3, 4 Hybrid irons, 5-PW Stainless steel cavity back irons, Ultra-light graphite shafts on woods and hybrids, steel shafts on irons, Bear Claw Blade putter, Golden Bear stand bag and 4 headcovers.

139 99 set

This ultralight for beginner players 5-7 years old includes: 3W, 6I, 8I, W, Putter and Stand Bag. Perfect for children 42”-48” tall.

{ 3W, 6I, 8I, W, Putter & Stand Bag } All ages available

{ Men’s standard } RH LH { Men’s right hand + 1” available special order }

[d.]

[e.]

[f.]

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Putters GETTING ON A ROLL

T

he putter is the most-personal club in your bag. On every hole, you need to be precise and comfortable with it. Thus, you want it to feel just right in your hands. Most golfers are just starting to realize that they can get a putter fitted to their unique stroke. Let the Watts Guys do the same for you, finding you a model that will help you roll the ball more often directly on target. We analyze your stroke and can suggest the ideal model for you. Or you can have a model tailored to your alignment, impact sound and feel, face type, length, loft, lie and weight. Alignment is key – most golfers are actually not aiming the ball where they think they are. We will get you on track. Sound and feel at impact are also key, as they combine to give you the sensory feedback that helps you determine how hard you need to stroke the ball. Different face types will affect this factor, and we will help you find the one that’s best for you. Then there’s a matter of length. With long and belly putters becoming so popular in late 2011 because of their ease of use, many golfers want to try them. Edwin Watts Golf has a great selection of longer putters. We can show you how they’ll fare for you, as opposed to a standard-length model. And of course, no matter which model you choose, we fit you for the proper loft, lie and weight so that the ball gets on a true roll as soon as it leaves your putter face, allowing you to experience consistency in distance and directional control.

SCOTTY CAMERON CALIFORNIA DEL MAR PUTTER

TAYLORMADE GHOST SPIDER PUTTER $ 17999 EA

20

ODYSSEY WHITE ICE D.A.R.T. PUTTER $ 17999 EA

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PING KARSTEN 1959 ANSER 2 PUTTER $ 9900 EA

$ 34999 EA t Tour-proven deep face milling makes its debut producing a soft feel the pros rave about

BELLY PUTTER $

11999 EA

12/16/11 11:54:47 AM

a. ODYSSEY D.A.R.T WHITE ICE PUTTERS ______________________________________________ $17999 EA MALLET #26770 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } #BLADE #26771 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } D.A.R.T MID & LONG WHITE ICE PUTTERS ___________________________________ $18999 EA MID #29599 RH { 43” } #LONG #29601 RH { 48” & 50” } CORE WHITE ICE PUTTERS _______________________________________________ $12999 EA #3 #26772, #6 #26774, #7 #23588, ROSSIE #23590 & 330 MALLET #24098 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } #1 #23587, #2 #24096, #4 #26773, #5 #24097 & #9 #23589 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } WHITE ICE 2-BALL PUTTERS ______________________________________________ $18999 EA 2-BALL MID #24094 RH { 43” } 2-BALL LONG #24095 RH { 48” & 50” } 2-BALL WHITE ICE PUTTERS ______________________________________________ $17999 EA 2-BALL #24088 & 2-BALL LINED #26775 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } 2-BALL V-LINE #24089, 2-BALL CS #24090, 2-BALL BLADE #24092 & 2-BALL BLADE LINED #26776 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } PROGRESSIVE WHITE ICE PUTTERS ________________________________________ $14999 EA SABERTOOTH #23591, SABERTOOTH 2 #24099 & TERON #24100 & SABERTOOTH MID LENGTH #30377 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } PROGRESSIVE WHITE ICE PUTTERS ________________________________________ $11988 EA TERON CS #24101 & MINI T #24102 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } BACKSTRYKE PUTTERS __________________________________________________ $14999 EA 2-BALL #24302, BLADE #24303 & SABERTOOTH #26781 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } D.A.R.T. #26782 & MARXMAN #24301 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } WHITE HOT XG PUTTERS ___________________________________________________ $9999 EA ROSSIE #24003 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } #1 #24004, #7 #24005 & #9 #24006 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } DIVINE WOMEN’S PUTTER _______________________________________________ $17999 EA 2-BALL #26702 RH W { 33” & 34” } DIVINE WOMEN’S PUTTERS ______________________________________________ $12999 EA BLADE #26703 & ROSSIE #26705 RH W { 33” & 34” }

[a.] D.A.R.T. Mallet

[a.] Core #1

[a.] White Ice 2-ball

[a.] Progressive Mini-T

[a.] Backstryke 2-Ball

[a.] White Hot XG #1

b. TAYLORMADE GHOST SPIDER PUTTERS ________________________________________________ GHOST SPIDER #29073 RH LH & GHOST SPIDER CS #29075 RH LH { 33”, 34” & 35” } GHOST SPIDER PUTTERS ________________________________________________ GHOST SPIDER BELLY #29074 RH { 41” & 43” } GHOST PUTTERS _______________________________________________________ CORZA GHOST #27966 RH LH, CORZA GHOST CS #27972 RH, TOUR DAYTONA GHOST (TM-110) #27968 RH LH, TOUR FONTANA GHOST (TM-770) #27965 & TOUR MARANELLO GHOST (TM-880) #27974 RH { 33”, 34” & 35” } CORZA GHOST BELLY & LONG PUTTERS _____________________________________ CORZA GHOST BELLY #27971 RH { 41” & 43” } CORZA GHOST LONG #27969 RH { 48” & 50” }

$

17999 EA

$

19999 EA

$

15999 EA

$

19999 EA

c. PING SCOTTSDALE PUTTERS { 33”, 34”, 35” & 36” } RH { 34” & 35” } LH ANSER 2 #25768 & B60 #25769 RH LH ________________________________________ $12900 EA WOLVERINE #25777 RH LH _________________________________________________ $15900 EA KARSTEN 1959 PUTTERS { 33”, 34”, 35” & 36” } RH { 34” & 35” } LH ANSER 2 #25786 & B60 #25788 RH LH __________________________________________ $9900 EA CRAZ-E #25789 RH LH ____________________________________________________ $12900 EA

[b.] Corza Ghost

[c.] Scottsdale Anser 2

[d.] Studio Select Newport 2

[e.] Si3

[f.] L3

[g.] DCF-2 Black

d. TITLEIST CALIFORNIA SCOTTY CAMERON PUTTERS SONOMA #29557, FASTBACK #29560 & MONTEREY 1.5 #29561 { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH _____________________________________ MONTEREY #29558 & DEL MAR #29559 { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH LH _______________________ STUDIO SELECT SCOTTY CAMERON PUTTERS LAGUNA 2 #26442, LAGUNA 1.5 #24337 & NEWPORT 2.5 #23319 { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH ______________________________________ NEWPORT 2 #1799 { 33”, 34” & 35” } RH LH ______________________________________

$ $

$ $

34999 EA 34999 EA

29999 EA 29999 EA

e. SEEMORE SiSERIES PUTTERS Si3 #28357 { 34” & 35” } RH & Si4 #28355 { 34” & 35” } RH LH ________________________ $18000 EA

f. HEAVY PUTTER LITE-WEIGHT PUTTERS M4-L #27199 & N1-L #27201 { 34” & 35” } RH ___________________________________ $11999 EA MID-WEIGHT PUTTERS Q2-M #27080 & L3-M #22538 { 34” & 35” } RH ___________________________________ $11999 EA

g. SUPER STROKE DCF-2 PUTTERS BRONZE #30429 & BLACK #30425 { 34” & 35” } RH ________________________________ SILVER #30421 { 34” & 35” } RH ______________________________________________ DCF-3 PUTTERS BRONZE #30430 & BLACK #30426 { 34” & 35” } RH ________________________________ SILVER #30422 { 34” & 35” } RH ______________________________________________

041-072.indd 21

$ $

$ $

39999 EA 34999 EA 39999 EA 34999 EA

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where various balls help you I

GUYS

S G UYS TT

E WAT

T

u

Golf balls are not all the same and they don’t react identically to your swing. Each model performs uniquely, so I’ll check your ball speed to determine the type of ball needed for your game.

u

Distance balls are ideal for you if your long drives tend to find the rough, or if you bump-and-run most of your short shots.

u

If you’re less-skilled, stick with less-expensive distance balls. As your game improves, experiment with more-expensive, high-spinning premium control balls that feel soft and generate more backspin on shots to the green.

GUYS

S G UYS TT

TH 22

WATTS TIPS:

S

TH E WA

TH

S

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t used to be that you could find a hard-feeling ball for longer tee shots, or a softer ball that spun more around the greens for backspin. It was a trade-off. Not anymore. These days, distance balls feel softer and spin balls can fly further. Manufacturers have miraculously come up with balls that can soar higher and, based off the launch angle, will be able to spin as needed so that you get the optimal combination of tee-shot distance with greenside spin and feel. In fact, some models rev up performance for slower swing speeds, too, to help add some distance to those who need it. That’s why it’s key to get fitted for a ball, whenever possible. Ultimately, it comes down to trial-and-error, but the Watts Guys can help you eliminate a lot of bad choices right out of the chute.

E WAT

T

You would think that all golf balls are the same – white and round, right? Well, there’s actually performance and feel differences between them. While we urge golfers to get fitted for golf balls, we realize that balls make great gifts, too. After all, they’re relatively low-priced and every golfer loves using fresh golf balls because they perform and feel so well. But golfers also tend to lose a lot of them during any given round, so it’s always convenient to be well-stocked If you can, check your golfer’s bag to see which ball model is the favorite. If you can’t, then talk with our experts who can likely narrow down your choices with a few questions. You can always mix and match your own dozen with three-ball sleeves of four different ball models.

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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a. TITLEIST Pro V1® #27708 { Hi number balls #27709 } ___________________________________ CALL FOR PRICE Pro V1x™ #27710 { Hi number balls #27711 } ____________________________________ CALL FOR PRICE NXT® Tour #24047 _________________________________________________________$2999 DZ NXT® #24048 _____________________________________________________________$2599 DZ DT® SoLo #24049 __________________________________________________________$1999 DZ

b. BRIDGESTONE GOLF Tour B330-RX #24348 { Yellow #28256 } __________________________________________$3799 DZ Tour B330-RXS #24349 _______________________________________________________$3799 DZ Tour B330 #26089 __________________________________________________________$3799 DZ Tour B330-S #26091 ________________________________________________________$3799 DZ FIX #25939 ______________________________________________________________$1999 DZ e5 #28251 ______________________________________________________________$2699 DZ e6 #28252 { Yellow #28253, Orange #28254 } _____________________________________$2699 DZ e7 #28255 ______________________________________________________________$2699 DZ

[[a.]] Pro V1® [a

[[a.]] PPro V1XX™ [a

[[b.]] Tour B330-RX [b

[[c.]] Lady iQ+ [c

[d.] Penta TP

[[e [e.]] QSTAR Pure White

[ ] TTour i(i(z)) [f [f.]

[[f. [f.].] HX Diablo

[g.] Pinnacle Gold

[[h [h.]] Power Distance Soft

[ ] 20 XI [h [h.]

XI-SS

[i.] Gamer V2

c. PRECEPT Lady iQ+ _________________________________________________________________$1999 DZ Sharp White #23280, Brilliant Clear #23282 & Bright Pink #23281

d. TAYLORMADE Penta TP #23817 ______________________________________________BUY 2 - GET 1 FREE $3999 DZ Burner® TP #7002 __________________________________________________________$2499 DZ Burner® #7003 ____________________________________________________________$1999 DZ

e. SRIXON Z Star ___________________________________________________________________$4499 DZ Z STAR 2 Pure White #28059 & Z STAR 2 Tour Yellow #28060 Z Star XV _________________________________________________________________$4499 DZ Z STAR XV Pure White #28061 & Z STAR XV Tour Yellow #28062 QSTAR ___________________________________________________________________$2499 DZ QSTAR Pure White #29188 & QSTAR Tour Yellow #29189 Soft Feel #25923___________________________________________________________$1999 DZ Soft Feel Ladies #25924 ______________________________________________________$1999 DZ

f. CALLAWAY Tour i (s) #23835 & High Numbers #23836 _________________________________________$3599 DZ Tour i (z) #23837 & High Numbers #23834 _________________________________________$3599 DZ Warbird® Plus #22042 _______________________________________________________$1699 DZ HX Diablo™ #27145__________________________________________________________$1999 DZ HX Diablo Tour™ #27144 _______________________________________________________$2599 DZ Solaire Ladies #23592________________________________________________________$1999 DZ

g. PINNACLE Pinnacle Gold ______________________________________________________ $1599 15 BALL PACK White #30447 & Yellow #30448 Ribbon White #30449 ________________________________________________ $1599 15 BALL PACK Ribbon Pink #30450 _________________________________________________ $1599 15 BALL PACK

h. NIKE GOLF Power Distance _____________________________________________________________$1599 DZ Soft #26693, Long #26694, Long Yellow/Long Orange #28280, Women #26695 & Women Pink #28281 One Tour #21843___________________________________________________________$2999 DZ One Tour D #21844 _________________________________________________________$2999 DZ Crush #26696 ____________________________________________________________$1999 DZ 20 XI-S #27499 ___________________________________________________________$4599 DZ 20 XI-X #27500 ___________________________________________________________$4599 DZ

i. TOP FLIGHT Gamer V2 #27150 __________________________________________________________$1999 DZ D2 #22044 ______________________________________________________ $1599 15 BALL PACK Diva, Feel, Distance, & Straight

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TM

TGIF TOUR hitley

New apparel Coming Spring 2012

24

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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Apparel MAKE A STATEMENT

G

olf apparel pertains to way more than just fashion these days. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also about comfort and function. No matter if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for shirts, skirts, shorts, pants, outerwear, hats, visors, caps, or even socks, there are plenty of products with built-in performance advantages. For example, did you know that many golf jackets these days feature removable sleeves, for play on cooler mornings? Most jackets are whisper-quiet these days, as well, and give you complete freedom of movement during your swing. And cinch straps make jackets and wind shirts fit you to a tee, which prevents them from bulking out as you stand over a putt. A majority of golf garments also sport moisture-wicking technology that keep you cooler and drier throughout your round, by drawing sweat away from your body. Some shirts have built-in SPF, to guard you from the sun. Edwin Watts Golf stocks top clothing from all of the major labels.

ADIDAS CLIMAPROOF WIND FULLZIP #P15003 $ 6499 EA

EWHITLEY PERFORMANCE CAPRI #037-010 $ 4999 EA

EWHITLEY 1/4 ZIP LONG SLEEVE POLO #700-431 $ 3999 EA

NIKE THERMA FIT 1/2 ZIP PULLOVER #235-400 $ 5499 EA t ,OJU DVGGT t 4FMG DPMMBS FMBTUJD XBJTU t 1PMZFTUFS t 4J[FT . 99-

ASHWORTH EZ TECH LONG SLEEVE POLO #AM1140 $ 4999 EA

041-072.indd 25

OAKLEY TAKE PANTS #421248 $ 7499 EA

DRYJOYS TOUR COLLECTION SHORT SLEEVE RAIN SHIRT #34790 $ 13999 EA

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12/16/11 11:56:39 AM

NEW!2012 [a.]

a. DRY KNIT DOUBLE FACE FLEECE | hoodie $

44 99 each

Brushed cotton face for added and warmth.

Moisture-wicking. 52% Cotton. 48% Poly.

{ Sizes: M-XXL }

Navy #G45016, Nickel #G45013, Black #G45014 & Stone #G45012

b EZ-TECH L/S INTERLOCK | polo #AM1140 $

[b.]

49 99 each

100% Non-Iron Cotton. Fade, shrink, pill & wrinkle resistant.

{ Sizes: M-XXL }{ Carmine, White & Black }

c. CARDIFF | golf shoe $

119 99 each

A golf shoe with playability, wearability and a sure-footed spikeless sole.

Tumbled leathers and rich suede accent stake this shoe from the course to the clubhouse. 2 year waterproof warranty.

{ Sizes: 7-13 Med }

White #G54168, Navy #G54169, Black #G54170 & Chocolate #G54171

[c.]

26

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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12/16/11 11:56:45 AM

[a.]

a. FJ BUCKET | hat #23016 $

100% waterproof

d. FJ DRYJOYS S/S RAIN SHIRT | outer layer $

139

{ M-71/8, L-73/8 & XL-75/8 }

99 each

b. FJ BASEBALL | cap #23014

Completely waterproof, breathable, windproof, lightweight, comfortable and quiet. FJ Four-Way stretch shell for complete range of motion.

Tour proven

$

e. FJ PERFORMANCE HALF-ZIP PULLOVER R mid layer $

19 95 each

100% waterproof. One size ďŹ ts most

c. DRYJOYS PERFORMANCE LIGHT

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Small available by special order }

White/Black #34790 90 Black/White #34759 59 Red/Black #347199

[b.]

22 95 each

jacket #21432 pant #A35531

[d.]

$

|

149 99 each $ 99 99 each

Lightweight Sta-Dry system. 2 year waterproof warranty.

{ Sizes: S-XXL }

|

[c.]

74 99 each

FJ Four-way stretch fabric. UV Protection.

Easy care. Anti-microbial

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Small available by special order }

Black #32501 White/Grey #32527

[e.]

f. FJ PRODRY PERFORMANCE | base layer $

49 99 each

ProDry fabrication conforms to the body to keep warmth inside. Easy care. Anti-microbial.

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Small available by special order }

White #32393 Black #32386 [f.]

g. FJ ICON | golf shoes $

229 99 pair

Premium soft breathable leather uppers with calfskin detailing. 2 year waterproof warranty. Full leather linings for the ultimate in comfort. { Sizes: 7-12, 13, 14 & 15 Med, 7.5-12 & 13 Wide } { Other size available by special order }

[g.]

Black/Brown Caiman #52209 White/Brown Caiman #52184 White/Black Caiman #52192

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a. FOUNDATION | polo #108640 $

[a.]

34

99 each

b. HEADLINER | polo #108742 $

39

99 each

$

Moisture wicking, antibacterial.

100% Bird’s Eye polyester.

Moisture wicking, antibacterial.

100% polyester yam dye stripe.

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Fuchsia }

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Azure Blue }

[b.]

c. BOSS | polo #108746

44 99 each

Moisture wicking, antibacterial.

95% Super-fine polyester. 5% spandex in space dye yarn stripe.

{ Sizes: M-XXL } { Lavender & Periwinkle }

[c.]

d. MATINEE | shorts #104071 $

44 99 each

Flat front short. Score card pocket on leg.

65% polyester 35% rayon

{ Sizes: 30-42 } { Navy, Cool Grey, White & Coffee }

28

[d.]

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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NEW!2012

a. LOUDMO LOUDMOUTH | polo $

79 99 eeach

Superior soft feel for optimal performance performance, wrinkle resistant.

State-of-theState-of-the-art syntrel for maximum mo moisture transport and breathab breathability. 54% Cotton.

46% Polyest Polyester.

{ Sizes: MM-XXL }

White Oakmont #29946 White Disco Ba Balls #29944 BBlack Shagade Shagadelic #29948

[a.]

[b.]

b LOUDMO b.

LOUDMOUTH | shorts $

75 00 each

t $PUUPO -ZDSB

{ Sizes: 32-42 }

Red Tooth #29536 Yellow Shagadelic #29539 Sweet Tooth #29542 Torrey Lines #29545 White Oakmont Houndstooth #23028 White Disco Balls #23028 Black Shagadelic #23028

[c.]

d. LOUDMOUTH | ladies skort $

75 00 each

$PUUPO -ZDSB

{ Sizes: 0-16 }

Torrey Lines #29546, Red Tooth #29537 Sweet Tooth #29543 & Shagadelic Yellow #29540

c. LOUDMOUTH MINI | ladies short $

65 00 each

[d.]

$PUUPO -ZDSB

{ Sizes: 0-12 }

Shagadelic Yellow #29541, Red Tooth #29538, Sweet Tooth #29544 & Torrey Lines #29547

041-072.indd 29

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12/16/11 11:57:49 AM

Footwear IT ALL BEGINS WITH COMFORT

T

he key to finding a good pair of golf shoes starts with comfort â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it should fit right out of the box with no break-in period. While youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying on pairs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which by the way should be in the morning before your feet swell, while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re wearing your usual golf socks â&#x20AC;&#x201C; make sure that the ones youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re considering have intact stitching, a comfortable footbed, and an abrasion-resistant rubber outsole. Also, bend them to ensure that they flex at the forefoot, and not in the middle. Wear them around our shop for 15 minutes, and take a few practice swings wearing them and make sure that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slide up and down on your feet. Finally, if you tend to play in hot weather, opt for breathable models that vent air through the shoe, to cool down your feet.

FOOTJOY ICON GOLF SHOES #52184 $ 22999 PAIR

FOOTJOY DRYJOY GOLF SHOES #53767 $ 14999 PAIR

FOOTJOY FJ STREET GOLF SHOES #56413 $ 8999 PAIR

FJ CONTOUR GOLF SHOES #54024 $

ASHWORTH CARDIFF GOLF SHOES #G54170 $ 11999 PAIR

30

ADIDAS NIKE ADICROSS GOLF SHOES #675551 AIR RANGE GOLF SHOES $ 8999 PAIR #418539-161 $ 9999 PAIR

9999 PAIR t 'VMM HSBJO MFBUIFS VQQFST t 5XP ZFBS MJNJUFE XBUFSQSPPG XBSSBOUZ t 4PGU DVTIJPOFE &7" NJETPMF EVSBCMF %VSB.BYÂ&#x2DC; SVCCFS PVUTPMF

| EDWINWATTSGOLF.COM

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shoe performance G

S G UYS

GUYS

TT

TH

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olf shoes have become more of a performance asset than a fashion statement. That’s because of all the latest advancements in lightweight materials, construction and footing. Many shoes hitting the market weigh a fraction of what they did a few years ago. That allows your feet to stay more energized throughout the round, especially if you’re walking 18. Some models are built low to the ground, which actually lowers your body’s center of gravity during your swing and improves your ball-striking.

Then there’s sole advancement to consider: Nearly every major shoe company now is offering cleatless golf shoes, which feature permanently molded nubs on the sole that are strategically positioned to maximize your footing on most types of lies. They have no removable cleats, so you don’t have to worry about replacing worn-out spikes. If you’re used to playing hilly courses in wet conditions, you’re probably best off playing conventional cleated shoes. Come on in and try on both types. You might be pleasantly surprised and wind up with a pair of each.

E WAT

T

WATTS TIPS:

X We do have several warranty options available on each brand of shoe.

X A new trend is the non-cleated shoes, it’s important for us to educate the consumer on the benefits of cleated vs. non cleated shoes.

X Try the shoes on and walk around the store to ensure they fit properly in all areas and are comfortable.

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twofor $

shop online at edwinwattsgolf.com

25

to view our complete selection of special offers

a. PRECEPT EV | golf balls #237622 $

[ .] [a. [a.]

15 99 pk

b. CLEVELAND GOLF CG15 | wedges

99

$ 99 each Satin Chrome #23545 Oil Quench #23546

[b.]

[d.]

save$100

save$50

d. CALLAWAY GOLF OCTANE fairway #26754

e. CALLAWAY GOLF OCTANE driver #26752

[c.] c. FOOTJOY FJ SUPERLITES golf shoes #58092 MANUFACTURER CLOSEOUT $

64 99 pair

$

$

149 99 each

save$87

199 99 each

{ 9.5˚, 10.5˚, 11.5˚ & 13.5˚ } RH Sr { 10.5˚ & 11.5˚ } LH

{ 3, 4, 5, 7 & 9 } RH Sr { 3 & 5 } LH

{ Size 7-12, 13, 14 & 15 Med } { 7.5-12 & 13 Wide }

[g.]

[e.]

f. PING G15 | irons #23142 { 4-PW } RH LH Sr $

4-PW

52400 stl [f.]

g. TAYLORMADE BURNER® SUPERFAST | driver #24073 $

[i.]

149 99 each

{ 9.5˚ & 10.5˚ } RH Sr

[h.] h. TAYLORMADE BURNER® 1.0 irons #26671 { 4-PW, SW } RH LH 4-PW, AW 4-PW 4-PW, SW

39999 stl 34999 stl $ 59999 gra $ $

i. TAYLORMADE PENTA TP golf balls #23817 $

39 99 dz (while supplies last)

buytwogetone

FREE!

Didn’t find what you were looking for?

Edwin Watts Golf Gift Cards. The perfect gift for any occasion.

E eGIFTCARDS NOW AVAILABLE electronically and delivered immediately to your inbox where you can forward to friends and family.

800.874.0146 | 32

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Spectacular

LAS VEGAS Golf

Book online for best rates guaranteed!

angelpark.com 800.347.6344

085.OB Sports.indd 1

thelegacygc.com 800.347.6344

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OďŹ&#x20AC;ering a true parkland golf setting with abundant greenery and water features more often found in Southern Florida than Southern Nevada, Las Vegas National has hosted Tour events, celebrities and athletes from around the world, and the infamous Rat Pack â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dean Martin and Peter Lawford are rumored to have routinely picked the pockets of pals Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and The Chairman of the Board himself, Frank Sinatra.

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(SCORE –)

Card Counting With three legendary courses, eight fabled hotels and a host of perks for small and medium groups, Caesars proves that golf, like virtually everything else in Las Vegas, is a numbers game

By Ed Cherry Photography Courtesy of Cascata and Rio Secco Golf Club

S

ince the halcyon days of Bugsy Siegel’s mid-1940’s Las Vegas, marketing gurus have successfully promoted the fabled Sin City with an extraordinarily large and diverse group of marketing campaigns. Some of these, by turn, include playground for the stars; getaway for the rich and famous; gambling mecca; playground for adults; convention mecca; playground for families; etc.; etc. The one exception: Despite dozens of top-tier courses concentrated in a relatively compact area, Las Vegas has never successfully positioned itself as a golf destination. Remarkably, only about 40% of golf rounds are booked prior to guest arrival, unequivocally the lowest percentage of any true golf destination in the U.S., and in many cases less than half of that of resorts such as Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, Scottsdale, Palm Springs and Hilton Head Island.

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Caesars Entertainment intends to reshape that dynamic, and with an array of legendary casino hotels and three of the most renowned courses in the Valley, there’s a very good chance they can pull it off.

The flagship of Caesars Golf Las Vegas is undoubtedly Cascata Golf Club, located about 30 minutes from the southern end of the Strip in Boulder City. Billed as “a tranquil oasis ... and quite simply Las Vegas’ ultimate natural golf experience,” Cascata has, since its opening in 2000, either received or been nominated for every major accolade from every major golf publication or web site on the planet. “Number 1 Golf Facilities in the U.S.” from the 2009 Zagat Survey; “Top Casino Courses in the U.S.” (No. 4), Golfweek 2007; “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” (No. 49), Golf Digest 2010; “Best Resort Courses in the U.S. (No. 16), Golfweek 2005. The list goes on and on.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, the par-72, 7,137-yard championship layout features stunning

vistas at every turn, including the 3,600-foot peak at Red Mountain, lush fairways, lakes and streams. One of those many streams emanates from a 418-foot waterfall that flows down the mountainside, over mammoth boulders, cascading into a river that roars through the clubhouse. (Cascata, after all, is Italian for “waterfall.”)

Although Cascata’s total golf experiAbove: With an interior design and atmosphere reminiscent of a Rodeo Drive boutique, the stunningly beautiful Golf Shop at Cascata offers the very latest in equipment, stylish apparel and accessories. Below: The 566-yard, par-5 eighth hole at Rio Secco, with the Las Vegas Strip looming in the background, culminates at the well-protected green, with strategic bunkering front and right and virtually no bail-out areas for errant approach shots.

ence begins at its private gates, arrival at the Tuscan-style, 37,000-square-foot clubhouse is where golfers truly begin to realize they’re in for something very special. Offering an Old World ambience of unpretentious luxury, the clubhouse comprises a dining room featuring an appetizing menu sure to impress every taste; a Cigar Lounge with an excellent collection of rare and fine tobaccos stocked in the custom-designed humidor; a stunningly beautiful Golf Shop offering the

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very latest in equipment, stylish apparel and accessories; and Men’s and Women’s lounges equipped with every conceivable amenity, including sink-side flat-screen TVs. Class A PGA professionals attend to equipment, fashion and instruction needs, and players are accompanied oncourse by a mandatory Tour-class caddie.

Even the rental clubs are top-of-the-line Callaway Razr irons and Diablo Octane woods. The cost is $75 per set and includes two sleeves of balls or one sleeve of premium balls; advanced reservations are recommended.

Cascata Golf Course is the ultimate in privacy, luxury and uncompromising service. From the moment you arrive to the moment you depart the accommodating staff is there to ensure you have an unforgettable day. Few places on Earth offer such extravagance. The air is pure, the silence nearly deafening. It’s no wonder Sports Illustrated called Cascata “golf’s hidden treasure.”

For more information or to book tee times call (702) 294-2005, Ext. 1. Rates range from $225 to $375; forecaddies are mandatory and $50 per player for caddie fee and gratuity is the recommended rate

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Guests of Rio Secco have the option of reserving a T-Mate, who serves as golf concierge and hostess during the round. T-Mates’ caddie skills have been tested through an intensive training program, and tee to green match up with any traditional caddie program anywhere.

I

f Cascata was “woven” among the foothills, then Rio Secco – the second jewel in the Caesars Golf Las Vegas triple crown and another renowned Rees Jones design -- was carved (chiseled, actually) from the canyons, gorges and arroyos that surround it. Located in the foothills of the Black Mountain Range in Henderson, just over 13 miles southeast

At just under 400 yards from the back tees, the par-4 fourth at Rio Secco would be a relatively simple exercise, were it not for the deep pot bunkering surrounding the tiered green, where three putts (or more) are not uncommon.

of the Strip, Rio Secco plays to more than 7,400 yards and can be exceptionally challenging for even the best golfers.

Design features at Rio Secco include six holes twisting and turning through steep canyons, six on a plateau overlooking the Strip, and six holes set in a broad desert wash. Extremely popular for group business, including corporate and association outings, PGA Section and private-club tournaments, and local and league play, Rio Secco is now host to the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, as well as the Western Athletic Conference Golf Championship, an event that brings some of the best college golfers West of the Mississippi to Las Vegas.

The 30,000-square-foot Europeanthemed Rio Secco Clubhouse is tastefully understated in its decor, featuring dark woods and natural stone throughout.

Overlooking the seventh, eighth and ninth holes – with multi-million-dollar estates on the adjacent cliffs – clubhouse facilities include a private locker room and club-room for VIP guests; a 2,000square-foot Golf Shop offering the latest in name-brand golf apparel and equipment; and Janelas Restaurant & Bar, one of the finest golf course dining experiences in Las Vegas.

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Rio Secco is home to the Butch Harmon School of Golf (see sidebar page 11), and offers the world-famous “T-Mate” Program. Golf guests have the option of reserving a T-Mate, who serves as golf concierge and hostess during the round.

T-Mates’ caddie skills have been tested through an intensive training program, and tee to green match up with any traditional caddie program anywhere. T-Mates are outgoing, physically fit, reliable, attractive and, above all, supportive. They’ll register their assigned guests in Golf Shop, assist with Golf Shop purchases, keep the score, replace divots and fix ball marks, move the carts as required to maintain a near-perfect pace of play, and provide expert information on the course and help direct strategic play.

Come see for yourself why Rio Secco has become the favorite Las Vegas course for discriminating golfers. To make reservations call (702) 777-2400 Extension 1, or book online at www.riosecco.net. Peak season rates typically range from $140-$225; off season rates are in the $60-$175 range.

Green fees include shared golf cart, practice

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Golf where the air is pure, the silence nearly deafening. It’s no wonder Sports Illustrated called Cascata “golf’s hidden treasure.”

balls and a divot tool. Individual golf reservations are taken 90 days in advance, and group reservations are taken up to six months in advance. Tee times are every 10 minutes.

Just minutes off the Strip and perfect for arrival- or departure-day rounds, Las Vegas National Golf Club is a traditional, oasis-styled golf course with thousands of trees placing a premium on ball position.

Two beautiful lakes come into play on four holes, enhancing their challenge; five intriguing par-3s offer a stern test to even the best golfers; while four mid-length par5s offer a good chance at birdie. Greens are typically smallish, and are usually flanked by strategically located bunkers. While affording a relaxing and pleasurable round for high-handicappers, The National is certainly no pushover.

The National has a long and storied history in the Las Vegas Valley. Just after completion in 1961, the course, then called Stardust Country Club, hosted its first pro-

fessional golf event, the LPGA Championship. The layout, designed by Bert Stamps, has subsequently hosted the Tournament of Champions, the Sahara Invitational, and, from 1993 to 1996, the Las Vegas Invitational. Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Lanny Wadkins, Al Geiberger, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk have all hoisted the winner’s trophy. Tiger Woods won the event in 1996, his first-ever win on the PGA Tour.

But it was during the 1960s that The National hosted its most revered golfers: The Rat Pack frequently played golf, then spent time carousing in the bar around the piano, entertaining guests with songs and stories. Although all of the Rat Packers were good players in their own right, it was widely known that Dean Martin and Peter Lawford were the ones to beat. Locals tell great stories about late night matches under the glow of the driving range lights.

Over the years The National has become a truly unique and historic site.

Come play The National, and start making a little history of your own. For more information or for tee time reservations call (888) 584-6531.

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GAME The instructor at the top of his game ON! will take you to the top of yours Not surprisingly, for the 12th straight year Butch Harmon has been named the Top Golf Teacher in America in a recent Golf Digest poll of 1,500 of his peers. Harmon, who teaches some of the game’s best players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Nick Watney, among others, and who coached Tiger Woods during his heyday, has a teaching facility at Rio Secco that offers one-, two- and three-day Golf Schools with Butch and his staff; corporate schools and appearances by Butch may also be arranged based on availability.

The ultimate offering is the Three Days With Butch Harmon school, which at $5,900 per person includes: • 4 nights accommodations at Caesars Palace • Three days of instruction with Butch and his Staff Professionals • Computerized video analysis PLUS official personalized student handbook with swing photos and action items

• One nine-hole playing lesson at Rio Secco with Staff Professionals • One eighteen-hole playing lesson at Cascata Golf Club with Staff Professionals PLUS a breakfast with Butch, interaction on the course with Butch, and clinic • Lunch each day of the school with Butch and Staff Professionals • Transportation between Caesars/Golf School/Cascata Golf Club Using his time-tested approach to instruction that spans more than three decades of success, Butch and his staff will refine your game through personalized attention.

With only 8 students and 4 instructors per class, you’ll receive focused attention on the unique needs of your particular swing.

For school availability, rates, and other information, please visit www.butchharmon.com, or call (888) 867-3226, option 2 to speak directly to a Team Butch Harmon staff member to get started on your way to better golf.

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H O T

S P O T S

Trio Elevates all Five Senses

Y

ou just shot three better than your handicap and you want to elevate your “feeling lucky” mood to the next level. There is no better place than Trio on the Bay to celebrate. If, on the other hand, none of your shots went quite the way you envisioned them, you will soon forget your game, because the minute you step into Trio everything is forgiven and the pulsating positive energy will soon have you enthralled.

Trio on The Bay is Miami’s premier high-energy event space, restaurant, and ultra lounge, where dinner, drinks and dancing merge at this stunning 23,000-sq.ft. space, which includes a stylish indoor dining room and outdoor terrace space with breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay. What makes Trio such a unique place is that it appeals to all five senses at the same time. As a starter, for the eyes you have the “smart” looking people, the engaging interior, the sumptuous terrace and

the magical water-view over the bay. For the ears you have the sounds of a professional DJ going from mood to dancing later at night. Your taste buds will explode savoring the plates super chef Klime Kovaceski is preparing from his stunning kitchen. And the aromas emanating from Chef Kovaceski’s kitchen will positively put you in trance-like state. Finally, for your sense of touch there is the velvet, wood and steel of the interior and exterior spaces, and the cool drinks flooding past your palate.

Trio is of one of these rare places that makes you immediately feel welcome. Regardless if you are by yourself, a romantic couple or are coming with your entourage, it all effortlessly mixes on this world stage that simply elevates every occasion to an unforgettable experience.

Trio’s New American Cuisine flaunts a bright Mediterranean flair. A late night tapas menu runs until 3 a.m. With its

state-of-the-art sound system and dining room capacity of over 200, Trio on the Bay provides an ideal setting for corporate events, private parties and weddings.

Conveniently located at 1601 79th Street Causeway, just minutes from South Beach and Bal Harbour, Trio is South Florida’s most unique and talked about new venue.

OVERALL RATING: Definitely worth the drive CROWD: Relaxed, smart, sexy FOOD: Mediterranean taken to the next level ATMOSPHERE: Miami magic THEME: Dine, Drink, Dance (in any order you feel like) AWARDS: 2011 “Best Outdoor Dining” by My City Eats!

WEBSITE: www.trioonthebay.com

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The accolades keep coming.

Desert Canyon was just named “Best Places To Play” by Golf Digest! This honor, combined with Market Surveys of America’s award of “Best Public Golf Course” seven years in a row (2005-2011), means that Desert Canyon should be on your golf agenda. Desert Canyon is a challenging yet playable experience. The course winds its way through wonderful desert terrain up and down the natural arroyos and canyons that occur in the Sonoran Desert

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International Incident

We polled five of the top golf tour operators in the country to find out why international golf travel has rebounded faster than U.S. packages.

Their answers may surprise you.

Despite the down economy, upper-tier international golf packages have come back faster than less-expensive domestic golf travel, and we wanted to know why. We allowed the GTOs to remain anonymous, so their conversation was candid, and compelling.

If you had money then, you probably still have money now.

GTO1: The ongoing recession has undoubtedly been a punch in the gut to most Americans, but, far and away, Main Street has absorbed a much harder blow than Wall Street. Recent fluctuations in the stock market aside, the Dow is nearly double what it was in 2008-09, so if you’re living on income that’s market-based, and you’re paying a much lower tax rate – capital gains tax is currently 15 percent, I think – than everyday working people, you’re getting to keep more of it.

GTO5: Discretionary spending by wealthier Americans, in general, has returned nearly to pre-recession levels. Everything from luxury automobiles, jewelry, clothes, even Sweet 16 birthday parties – you name it. The wealthy are spending money like there’s no tomorrow.

GTO4: If Congress and the Administration don’t pull it together soon, there may not be.

A golf trip of a lifetime has become the golf trip of a lifetime.

GTO2: For years we’ve marketed our international golf trips, especially Scotland and Ireland and the exotic golf cruises, as a “once in a lifetime experience.” Whether it’s solely financially based or that people are feeling more vulnerable – fragile, even – now than ever, many believe that if they don’t take the trip now they may never get another chance.

International golf travel is still dominated by men, comprising as much as 85 percent of golf tour operator business.

Scotland is by far the most sought-after destination, but Ireland, Spain and Portugal, as well as Asian destinations such as Vietnam and Thailand, are quickly making up ground.

GTO3: Part of that is what we’ve been calling that the Bucket List effect. In many cases it’s the age of the golfer that is the primary determining factor; affordability is a distant second. A few months back I had one of my clients tell me that he ate a hot dog at the snack bar when he made the turn at his home club, and by the 12th hole he had indigestion so bad he thought he was having a heart attack. He swears that his first thought wasn’t of his family or friends or his career or of the person he wished he had been, but that he was consumed by the thought of never having played the Old Course at St Andrews. Can you imagine?

It’s like nowhere I’ve ever played.

GTO2: I think the overheads (camera shots from blimps and airplanes) during the majors have been responsible for a lot of my Photography Courtesy of PerryGolf

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international bookings. Looking down on those layouts provides a much different perspective of the courses and their immediate surroundings than a flat camera angle ever could. Look at this year’s tournament at Royal St Georges, for example. During the flyovers the camera showed a landscape that probably hasn’t changed much since the course first opened in 1887 or ‘88. The deep pot bunkering more resembles a moonscape than anywhere here on earth, and if during the broadcast they told the TV audience that the grass was trimmed by goats, who wouldn’t have believed them? Face it, most Americans regularly play in a parkland setting. Leaving the country virtually guarantees an environment that few would experience here at home.

GTO1: You know, same goes for my Canada groups. The mountain golf experience is pretty darn good right here in the U.S., but the Canadian Rockies are just bigger, higher, more majestic. Who doesn’t want to play in the most dramatic surroundings possible?

GTO3: New Zealand? South Africa? China? Even Vietnam and Thailand. Unbelievable!

No one’s going anywhere without me (us).

GTO2: I think you’ll find that even high-end domestic travel has rebounded faster than normal, and that may have something to do with the annual family vacation. Or lack of it, actually.

GTO5: Exactly. Spouses who sat at home while their mates went off with their friends two or three time a year on golf trips are no longer willing to wait “their turn.” I’ve had couples in my office arguing about the time spent and the cost of these trips, and wondering out loud why they, and the rest of the family, may not be able to take a vacation this year, or next, while the boys (or the girls) are jetting off to Las Vegas or Myrtle Beach.

GTO3: A couples or family golf vacation is more likely to be closer to the high-end than the low. Golf cruises, especially, have become a particular favorite. There’s more to see and do in more places, and that’s proven to be a very valuable commodity these days.

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If Tom Watson can still do it, so can I. GTO4: This may be part of the Bucket List theory we spoke of earlier, but remember back in 2009 when an about-to-turn-60 Tom Watson was on the green of his 72nd hole with a chance to win the Open Championship at Turnberry? That was a full 32 years after winning his first Open (also at Turnberry) in 1977. In the first weeks after that nearly monumental event we had more 60-something men book golf trips to the U.K. than we’d had in the entire 12 months beforehand.

GTO5: Same thing happened with us. We’re still booking predominantly men – 80 to 85 percent of our business, probably – and Watson showed that getting around a links course requires as much guile as guts. Male golfers, perhaps to their detriment, are more aware of their limitations on a golf course than most female golfers are. Middle-age men realize that they can no longer stripe it 275 or 280 down the middle of the fairway, if they ever could, but Watson proved that keeping it in play – even when you’re 60 or 70 yards behind the big hitters for your second shot – usually means you have a better-than-average chance of posting a decent score.

GTO1: We should have all sent Tom a thank you note for that little boost in bookings.

GTO5: What do you mean, “Should have?” (Laughs.) I sent him candy and flowers.

Discover the Sun ‘n Lake difference!

Welcome to the refreshingly inclusive Central Florida golf community you’ve always wanted – with value and lifestyle that set it apart.

• 12 square miles of conserved green space & custom homes • 2 championship golf courses with island green • Community and fitness centers • Clubhouse with restaurant, banquet facility and pro shop • New Recreation Complex with pool, bathhouse and picnic area • Tennis/pickleball courts, basketball and outdoor activity area, island pavilion, picnic area and miles of walking/biking trails To discover Sun ‘n Lake for yourself, call (863) 386-9135 or visit us online at www.LiveSunnLake.com WIN Enter to PIN A SET

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NEW ZEALAND – Golf, Grandeur & Grapes Photography Courtesy of PerryGolf

5

Golf down under is over the top.

How many reasons do you need to take the golf trip of two lifetimes?

Here’s five: 1. Our winter is their summer. (Florida is fine but New Zealand is phenomenal.)

2. Their golf is played among some of the most dramatic and diverse landscapes on earth.

(Keeping your head down is not an option.)

3. New Zealand is unique for its collection of boutique luxurious lodge-style properties.

(Think Four Seasons gets back to nature.)

4. Fly fishing here is absolutely second to none. (The ladies will catch Art Deco City.)

5. Their dollar exchanges favorably with our dollar. (Start packing!)

T

he marvel of New Zealand has always been its stunning, varied and pristine natural beauty. Every imaginable landform is at hand including vast snow capped mountain peaks, steaming volcanoes, cliff hanging coastlines, and deeply indented fjords.

Comparable in size to California or Japan, New Zealand has a population of just 4 million making for a refreshing change of pace. As a people, the Kiwis are among the most relaxed and engaging in the world.

It is no wonder that thrilling golf is abundant in such a place. More than 400 courses exist today, with roots dating to 1871. Local hero Sir Bob Charles has authored perennial favorite Millbrook offering a “big sky” golf experience on the South Island set against the stunning alpine backdrop of The Remarkables mountain range.

The North Island is home to astounding World 36 Cape Kidnappers whose seaside holes are perched 500 feet above the Pacific and played along fingers of land separated

by deep chasms extending tee to green.

Further north is World 78 Kauri Cliffs, another scenic extravaganza routed through 800 acres of strange fern forest, marshland and along cliff tops 200 feet high.

Away from the golf course you’ll find one of the most respected wine producing nations in the world. Hawke’s Bay is one of the country’s three major winemaking regions, and New Zealand’s premier destination for food, wine and lifestyle leisure.

Relax on golden sand beaches, swim with

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SEC TION dolphins, visit the National Aquarium or tour the largest mainland gannet colony in the world. Nearby Napier is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of Art Deco architecture. Leveled by an earthquake in 1931, the city’s re-founding fathers built what looks to be a Jazz Age movie set but it is quite real and uniquely charming with excellent shopping and restaurants.

Ninety miles west is world fishing famous Lake Taupo. (Ask Jack Nicklaus) The pristine lake is prized for the quality of its Rainbow and Brown trout, legendary for their condition and size. The Tongariro River at the southern end of Lake Taupo is one of the best fly fishing rivers in the world. This area of the North Island is also famous for its boutique lodge style accommodations.

Fifteen minutes south of Napier is prestigious Mangapapa Lodge. This 1885, colonial-style homestead with a wraparound veranda and with just 12 individu-

ally decorated suites is surrounded by more than 20 acres of lush, green, manicured gardens brimming with roses, established trees and orchards, it is one of the country’s very finest small hotels.

Hidden on the banks of the Waikato River below Lake Taupo is Huka Lodge, just 300 meters up-stream from the mighty Huka Falls. Started some 70 years ago as a simple fishing lodge, today this luxurious property lures anyone seeking an extraordinary retreat. Huka has just 20 guest rooms and suites; each set privately in native bush, each overlooking the swift flowing Waikato. The Lodge’s own fishing guides will steer you to some of the finest Rainbow and Brown trout spots in existence.

Fly fishing is available on 23 nearby streams and rivers. Wilderness areas are offered by helicopter and off-road vehicles.

On Lake Taupo, boat fishing will explore the many isolated coves and inlets fringing the edges of the great lake.

The South Island is home to New Zealand’s other two wine regions, Marlborough and Central Otago which is home to 75 wineries serving 177 vineyards. Pinot Noir from this region is widely recognized to be among the best in the world. You can visit over 200 ‘cellar door’ operations under your own steam or with a wine tour.

West of the magnificent Millbrook Resort and deserving a full day of your attention, is stunning Milford Sound. Located in 3 million acres of the Fiordland National Park and reaching nearly 10 miles inland from the Tasman Sea, sheer rock faces rise more than 1,300 feet about the water on either side.

In Maori legend, the fiords were created not by rivers of ice, but by Tu Te Raki Whanoa, a godly figure who came wielding a magical adze and uttering incantations.

By any measure, Tu Te had quite a swing.

PerryGolf can be contacted at www.perrygolf.com or 800.344.5257.

Top left: The Main Lodge at Kauri Cliffs affords spectacular 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean over Cape Brett and the Cavalli Islands. Each of the 22 guest suites offers a private porch, bedroom with sitting area and open fireplace, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom.

Above: New Zealand wine is distinctive for its purity, vibrancy and intensity. The long ripening period - a result of cool temperatures - allows flavor development whilst retaining fresh acidity, a balance for which New Zealand wines are renowned.

Bottom left: Kauri Cliffs plays to a par 72 from five sets of tees to challenge every skill level. Fifteen holes view the Pacific, six of which are played alongside seaside cliffs. The beautiful inland holes wind through marsh, forest and farmland. Golf Magazine ranks the club among the World Top 100 at No. 78.

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