36 minute read
TRAVEL
BY: John Torsiello
In Princeton, New Jersey
TPC Jasna Polana’s par-72, 7,098yard championship layout crafted by the legendary Gary Player, is considered among the top private golf courses in New Jersey.
The course blends harmoniously with its surroundings amidst the rolling hills of Princeton. Corridors of mature hardwood trees frame manicured fairways, while TPC Jasna Polana’s amenities and exclusive benefits make it one of the most coveted private club memberships in New Jersey.
TPC Jasna Polana members enjoy a sense of community, camaraderie and belonging that come with participation in golf and social events throughout the year such as wine pairing dinners, cooking classes and “Nine and Dine” mixed golf outings and other golf tournament formats. Adjacent to the course, several historic luxury accommodations provide an ideal retreat for special conferences, celebrations and weekend getaways.
The Annex, which is adjacent to the 14th tee, is a 12,300-square-foot Georgian mansion and is the original house on the property. Beata’s House, built in 1987, offers 10,100 square feet of comfort overlooking the 18th fairway. Complementing the golf course is a 3.5-acre practice facility that features a 60,000-square-foot practice tee, four putting greens, and practice bunkers.
TPC Jasna Polana was built in the early 1970’s as the country home of J. Seward Johnson and his wife, Barbara. Designed by world-renowned architect Wallace Harrison, no effort or expense was spared in its design and construction.
When the decision was made to convert the private estate, Barbara Johnson and her family partnered with the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network, the only organization with the history and vision to turn Jasna Polana into a truly unique golf and social club.
The golf course is a true delight to play. The second hole, at 145 yards, requires an accurate tee shot to a guarded green. A creek that runs in front of and down the right side of the green will capture any wayward shots. The putting surface is 33 paces deep and slopes from back to front, making club selection on this hole critical.
On the third hole, two well-struck shots will reach this 480-yard uphill par-five in two. A meandering creek and waterfall guard the fairway from 150 yards in on the right, and fronts the entire green, which is 46 paces deep and slopes from back to front. Any shots above the hole will lead to very fast-breaking putts.
A spectacular risk/reward finishing hole, the 515-yard, par-five 18th favors long hitters that can carry their tee shot down the slope for a realistic chance at hitting the green in two. The pin position on this hole will determine how difficult it plays, as several tricky spots will challenge even the most skilled players. The green is 30 paces deep and slopes severely from back to front.
www.TPC.com/jasnapolana
BOYNE GOLF
By Mike May
10 Great Courses • 1 Location
Golfers dream about playing Pebble Beach, hope to play St. Andrews, and pray for a tee time at Augusta National. Those dreams, hopes, and prayers may never come true, but every golfer who craves a memorable golf getaway must travel to northern Michigan to play BOYNE Golf, one of America’s most appealing golf destinations.
BOYNE Golf is best described with seven words: “ten golf courses, three resorts, one destination.” When you consider the key components of any stay-and-play golf getaway, it checks all the boxes: first-class accommodations, terrific weather, delicious food, genuine hospitality, and a cluster of championship golf courses.
All ten golf courses are well designed and maintained with meticulous attention to detail. Another bonus to the BOYNE Golf experience is the daylight. You can play at least 54 holes on most summer days. BOYNE Golf has three destinations: Bay Harbor Golf Club, Boyne Highlands, and Boyne Mountain. Each locale is strong enough to stand on its own as a desirable golf destination, but when they are bundled together it rises to the top of anybody’s wish list. Bay Harbor Golf Club features 27-holes of golf -- three nine-hole golf courses (Links, Quarry, and Preserve) and the scenic 18-hole Crooked Tree Golf Club is just down the road. Bay Harbor Golf Club is set along an attention-getting stretch of Lake Michigan. At Bay Harbor, there are many views of Lake Michigan, but the best lakeside views are from the tee of the par-three 8th hole of the Quarry and along the fairway of the par-five 7th hole of the Links. You must stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor, one of America’s most iconic hotels with spectacular views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan. The specifics on Boyne Highlands are impressive – four 18-hole golf courses. The Heather, which opened in 1966, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and was named the 2019 National Golf Course Owners Association’s Course of the Year. The two biggest memories from the Arthur Hills course are the white pine trees that line the 5th fairway, which is why the 5th should be called ‘White Pine Boulevard’, and the stadium-like effect of the pine trees surrounding the raised green of the par four 10th. Donald Ross Memorial is a creative collection of some of Ross’ finest holes from his classic golf course designs. The 18 holes are replications from the original design plans from 14 of Ross’ courses including the 6th hole at Seminole Golf Club, the 14th at Scotland’s Royal Dornoch Golf Club, and the 18th at Inverness Club. The 14 courses memorialized at the Ross Memorial have hosted 14 U.S. Opens, 11 PGAs, eight U.S. Amateurs, and five Ryder Cups. Members at Boyne Highlands often rate The Moor as their favorite. Twists and turns are Quarry Course at Bay Harbor Golf Club a common theme at The Moor, especially the front nine, which has four left-to-right doglegs. Accommodations at Boyne Highlands range from private cottages to rooms inside the Main Lodge. The Ross Cottages have that ‘home sweet home’ feeling, making it an ideal location for a golf buddy trip. Boyne Mountain features two 18-hole courses -- The Monument and Alpine -- along with the charming Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa, a family friendly destination and home to Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark. The first tees for both courses are a 10- minute cart ride to the top of the mountain from the golf shop. The course quality, mountain setting, abundance of wildlife, and the views of Deer Lake will bring you back to The Alpine. Golf historians always enjoy playing The Monument course. It was designed by borrowing the design tendencies from great golf course architects like Donald Ross, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, Pete Dye, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and pays tribute to some of America’s most accomplished and memorable golfers. Again, you don’t have to dream, hope, or pray about visiting BOYNE Golf, you just have choose dates, reserve tee times, and go play. www.BOYNEgolf.com
Arthur Hills Course at Boyne Highlands
A Bucket List Destination – GOLF & MORE
BY: Claudio DeMarchi Traveling Golfer Instagram: travelinggolfer23
So many reasons, here are just a few from recent first-hand experiences. Currently it is one of the safest places in the world.
When we could travel, not all that long ago, 4 North American Golf Media guys, 2 from the USA and 2, including me, from Canada were invited on a 2-week adventure in Amazing Thailand. Golf there was a plenty, but there was so much more.
Starting with your arrival which if coming from North America will likely be into Bangkok. It won’t take long before you understand why Bangkok is the #1 most visited city in the world.
Our journey although compact geographically took us to 4 major centers, conveniently, all within a few hours of Bangkok, and, with the services of Asia’s #1 golf tour operator Golfasian, it was smooth and slick.
With that and keeping in mind the current pandemic situation that we are facing worldwide perhaps one of the things that you should be thinking of for when we can travel is safety. Thailand is very proud of the COVID controls and the cooperation shown by its residents to control the virus. That has not gone unnoticed. Recently World Health Organization DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “Thailand is an excellent example
that, with a whole-of-government, wholeof-society, comprehensive approach, this virus can be contained — even without a vaccine.”
Many are feeling that things are getting closer to normal everyday.
Recently announced “The Amazing Thailand Plus” program, an initiative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand along with Thai Airways International, and the Thai Hotels Association that will allow foreign visitors to enter Thailand. There is a mandatory 14-day quarantine period but the added value and benefits in the over 400 packages available might just be worth it!
Without further ado, why we loved our Thailand Golf Experience: 1. Destination Diversity: It is more than just golf! Be it world famous beaches, to the mountainous golf courses, exotic culinary delights to exotic night life or history and culture Thailand touches all the bases. We did it all.
2. Bang for Your Buck: Tell me if you know of a place where you can get a T-Bone Steak full dinner with a side of prawns the size of your hand for $13. A 90-minute Thai massage for $20, very knowledgeable caddy for $10 or a tuk tuk (form of taxi for virtually nothing compared to America). 3. Great Weather: Over the 2 weeks we had rain twice, and both times overnight! November to February is most ideal for golfers, plenty of sunshine with coolest temperatures in the 80 – 90 range. There is a rainy season as Thailand is a tropical country – best check before you book. 4. Thai Massage: It started here and nobody does it better. If you have never had one you don’t know what you are missing. Take it from someone who has one monthly, (from a Thai Osteopath) even here in America. Working you from head to toe, a therapist utilizes deep-pressure point techniques while assisting you in a series of yoga like stretches and contortions. Even you will be able to make a full turn on your next golf swing. 5. Food: Be it Thai food or International Cuisine you will find it all. But when in Thailand you would be remiss if you did
Doral Blue Monster replica hole at the Ron Garl Designed Royal Gems Golf City Bream Arena
Creations from Bamboo Thai Cooking Class
not indulge in the flavours of the land. If you like it hot, you are in the right place. Just a warning – don’t jump into the heat all at once. This is one time where sticking your toe in the water could be a good thing. If one word could describe the tastes of Thailand – FLAVORGAZAMS! …… and take a Thai Cooking Class. We did!
6. Night Life Beyond
Compare: Dining and drinks usually kick off most nightlife scenarios. On this trip Bangkok by Rooftop highlighted a series of evening adventures. With Thai and International Cuisine to suite any pallet it was only the beginning. You have no doubt heard about the infamous Red-Light District’s which garner a great deal of attention, Vegas on steroids or the Asian version of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! 7. The People: Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles, and it is that for a reason. Maybe the friendliest and most hospitable people in the world. We don’t make much of an effort to learn the Thai language or about the culture but they certainly go out of their way to learn ours.
There is a reason as to why Golf has yet to be mention, but we are getting there! There is just too much, might say that we are saving the best for last.
you need can be taken care of. Even finding that cooking class. Safety Note: below. ** Also if you would like to utilize the services of a US Based Golf Tour Operator a number are listed below. 9. The Caddie Experience: Yup, this too started here, female caddies are the norm, and again, nobody does it better. Do not underestimate the knowledge of these young ladies. They have been well trained and love what they do for a living. Professional and friendly and it won’t be more than 3 holes in before they know how far you hit very club in your bag. It is an experience like no other, about $10 - $15 is the standard fee. Please tip generously – they deserve it!
10. Golf-Golf-Golf:
I have been fortunate 8. Getting There / One Stop Shopping: enough to visit Thailand on 3 other occaOne company stands out above the rest, sions visiting other regions but coming Golfasian has been a leader in booking golf nowhere close to touching the 260 courses into all of Asia, and here too is an example in Thailand…….. of starting in Thailand. Golfasian will take ….. MORE - Golf-Golf-Golf: Hua the guesswork out of your Thai experience Hin is a must stop for the Bucket List golffrom the moment you arrive everything that er, home to 2 of the best. Black Mountain www.GolfingMagazine.net 11
Golf Club is Top 100 in the World Gems Golf City Dream Arena created par five with an intimidating yet exciting by Golf Digest (59). Best New course in by the master of replica golf courses Ron shot into the green no matter where you Thailand in 2008, #1 Course in Thailand Garl. Step on to the first tee and you are are. The only one of its kind in Thailand by Golf Digest in 2016 and to top it off transported onto some of the best golf with three sets of 6 holes and an equal IAGTO (International Association of Golf holes in the world. From TPC Sawgrass to number of par 3’s, 4’s, and 5’s. A five-star Tour Operators) 2020 Golf Experience Bethpage Black and the Road Hole at St. experience from start to finish and I would of the Year for Thailand. A great Andrews to a back nine that includes Amen highly recommend that you take layout and meticulously main- advantage of the exceptional dintained, it is WOW factor to the ing experience as it is included in nines. Rock walls and waterfalls your green fee! enhance the elevation changes and The Town of lily ponds, captivate your atten- Kanchanaburi,128kms to the tion throughout the round. Hop west of Bangkok is home to one on our cart and enjoy the sites and of the most infamous bridges in sounds as much as we did. time! The Bridge over the River
Banyan Golf Club, another Kwai. “Best in Asia,” multi award win- The name, Grand Prix Golf ning course in Hua Hin, in addi- Club says it all, or does it?! As tion to the Order of Zenith, which you drive in past automobiles and is the highest and most prestigious Formula 1 sponsor signs, if you golf award in Asia Pacific by Asian Dream Team at Royal Gems Golf City Dream Arena asked anyone you will learn that Golf in 2018. This tropical layout all 18 holes have been sponsored has two distinct nines with the by leading automobile companies front meandering through the lower and Corner, for that matter the entire back nine with signage delicately placed throughout. flatter terrain while the back nine takes you replicates Augusta National. The course has The high standards of F1 have been impleup and down the mountainside offering up only been open for a couple of years and is mented in the look and maintenance of a view of the Gulf of Siam on the signature in great shape and will only get better with the course. Perched high above the course, 15th with all day panoramic views of the age! That was fun! from the clubhouse and first tee you have a Myanmar Mountains in the distance. Nikanti Golf Club: the very first hole bird’s eye view of the course with panoramic
In and around Bangkok we were treated gives you an indication of the style and views of the nearby Burmese Mountains. to a couple of very unique tracks, Royal quality of golf that you are in for. A tough A truly unique experience for anyone
Perched at the Clubhouse high above Grand Prix Golf Club
from North America. Monkeys here are a-plenty Royal Ratchaburi Golf Club, as we stood on the first tee of the and must have seen a couple of hundred traverse the fairway. All going in the same direction, Monkey’s on a mission. You’ve got to keep an eye on your ball and other things when they are around. They are very inquisitive. Once they grab something you are not likely to get it back!
The course itself is carved from a lush jungle setting (1994), flanked by both the Ratchaburi and Burmese Mountains and is relatively flat, fairways and greens are rolling and greens are undulating. You would expect nothing less but nothing too crazy.
Amazing Thailand should be on your bucket list for any number of reasons.
For more information on Amazing Thailand in general: www.thailandinsider.com.
Golfasian, a specialist golf tour inbound operator based in Thailand, they organized our trip and knows the destination inside and out – see www.golfasian.com
If you are looking at making arrangements through a US based tour operator, consider reaching out to one of the members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) that promote and sell golf packages in Thailand such as:
Caddies at Grand Prix Golf Club
Pure Golf Adventures www.puregolfadventures.com Women’s Golf & Travel Concierge www.womensgolfandtravel.com Mana Luxury Golf Vacations www.manaluxury.com Kalos Golf - www.kalosgolf.com MBA Global Excursions
** Safety Note – Golfasian, has been SHA (Safety & Health Administration) accredited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in September 2020. As Thailand is slowly preparing to re-open its borders for international golf travelers, an initiative by the Tourism Authority of Thailand has provided a selected number of tour operators and DMCs who underwent stringent safety & health checks with the SHA accreditation. The stringent measures include frequent deep cleaning of Golfasian vans before each service, drivers wearing masks and frequent washing of hands. All customers will be provided with masks and free hand sanitizer upon arrival. Temperature checks before entering the vans and before golf and sightseeing activities are now standard. We are also making use of QR codes for digital in-van golf guide brochures and provide touchless payment. Drivers and the operations team are well trained on standardized safely protocols required by the government’s strict guidelines.
Los Cabos, Mexico
As Safe as it Gets for North American Golfers
BY: Claudio DeMarchi Traveling Golfer Instagram: travelinggolfer23
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez on three sides and 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) of expansive desert that separates it from California, Los Cabos has turned itself into one of the few safe havens for golfers and travelers to get some of the heat and sunshine.
In a recent interview on the IAGTO News Channel, with IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton, Rodrigo Esponda, Director General of Los Cabos Tourism, described Los Cabos as “Its own island. The only way to get here is by air and because of that we are able to enforce strict airport protocols and contact tracing formats for visitors. All protocols have been implemented in a working partnership between the private sector and the Government.” Providing that all admission protocols are met, there is no quarantine period entering Los Cabos.
Esponda went on to add that the private sector, working hand in hand with the government in Los Cabos has become a model for all of Mexico and currently there are fewer active cases, and lower hospitalization than in April and May when Mexico was in lockdown. After all, it is in the best interest of the private sector to control the virus and remain open.
Golf quickly became recognized as one of the safest participation sports that one can get involved in during COVID. With that, all golf courses in Los Cabos are open and have enjoyed a good golf season considering. 80% of golf rounds have been recovered and a strong percentage of that being international rounds.
The situation though is far from normal, all hotels that are open, including staff, have had to go through a Hotel Certification program before being allowed to open. Hotel occupancy is capped at 50%, as touchless as possible and activities within the hotel are limited. All tourism related staff members are constantly being tested.
For anyone that has been to Los Cabos the one thing that you will find missing is the nightlife. Clubs and discos are closed although you can enjoy drinks and dinners up to the 11PM curfew.
Exceptional Golf and it Only Gets Better
There are now 18 golf courses and you can probably count on one hand the number of fairways where you cannot find yourself mesmerized by the trifecta of vistas that include ocean, mountains and desert.
With more golf courses per capita, and on everyone’s best of the best list if you are a bucket list golfer there is no way that you can over look Los Cabos. There is a reason as to why 2.8 million visitors descended on Los Cabos in 2019. No doubt that some of that visitation has to do with the sun-drenched climate; 320 plus days of sunshine, ideal average temperatures of 24 degrees C or 78F, add to that sun drenched beaches, a little tequila and margaritas and you are in the Baja Peninsula’s heaven.
Interestingly, the number of visitors coming to Los Cabos primarily to play golf increased from 3% in 2019 to 6% in Covid-stricken 2020!
Los Cabos boasts an extraordinary mountain-desert-ocean environment where golf’s top designers have crafted some of the finest courses in the world. The best of the best has stamped their mark and they include luminaries such as: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones
Twin Dolphin Golf Club
Jr., Tiger Woods and Greg Norman.
Four courses are on Golf Digest’s elite “World 100 Greatest Golf Courses” list and seven of the top 10 courses in Mexico as rated by the magazine, Los Cabos is the undisputed golf capital of Latin America.
Within the past year, three new spectacular courses have pushed the destination to another level, again raising the alure for golfers. A destination to which this Traveling Golfer would put up against any in North America?
First up…the Fred Couples Signature
Golf Course - Twin Dolphin Golf Club
There’s a reason why this special property became home to one of Cabo’s first hotels. It tops the list of Mexico’s most spectacular settings — the mountains, arroyos, and Blue Flag beaches tell a story that spoke to Twin Dolphin.
The Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean form the backdrop on nearly every hole on this 7,100yard hillside layout. Built into the mountainous backdrop of the Sierra Laguana Mountains and the Baja desert, arroyos (washed out stretches of desert) are attention getters. You play into some, out of others and they criss-cross the rippled fairways all day long. They add beauty to the background of rock outcroppings, a home to some of the oldest Cactuses in the world, while adding fun and interest for all. The par-3 14th sits at the property’s highest point, 300 feet above sea level, yielding glorious ocean vistas and you will undoubtably meet some Baja winds on this peak. Equally spectacular is the 420-yard, par-4 15th, which skirts an arroyo and then tumbles down to the sea.
It is Championship Golf for the everyday player and the Twin Dolphin Club is Cabo’s best private golf and outdoor adventures club — exclusive to Maravilla Residential Community and Club and Montage International Resort, Los Cabos. www.TwinDolphinLosCabos.com
The name Robert Trent Jones is most familiar to the Cabo area and his return put another high mark on the destinations golf scene with The Costa Palmas Golf Club.
A world-class 18-hole championship golf course by Jones II, features desert and ocean views, perfectly manicured dunes, and fairways that unravel down hillsides.
Designed to delight!! Artfully mimicking the gentle rise and fall of the coastal landscape the course is designed to challenge and excite
golfers from around the world. The course takes advantage of Baja’s distinctive topography to create a novel golf experience comprised of three movements and punctuated by two transitions. The ‘Dunescape’ covers the first six holes of the course, featuring greens with unguarded entrances from the fairways; these lead on to the next six holes—the ‘Upland’, which offer generously wide landing areas off the tee, trees and plenty of strategically placed bunkers. Rounding off this journey is the ‘Marina’, the final quartet of holes that provides glimpses of the Costa Palmas Marina—the gently sweeping final hole finishes with a yacht cove in the background. The Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos makes for the ideal stay & play option. CostaPalmas.com/golf/
If there is one man who has left his print on the Mexican Golf Scene it is Greg Norman. Rancho San Lucas is a Greg Norman Signature golf course and is 7,210-yards of fairways and greens specifically tailored to Cabo’s terrain that flows naturally with the dune and desert landscape.
The course hugs huge windswept dunes and parallels the beach at the start before climbing through a thick cactus forest creased by arroyos. The back nine descends from desert foothills to the wave-tossed sea for a rousing finish. One of the defining traits of the links-style course at Rancho San Lucas is its riveted pot bunkers. These sharp-edged, steep-walled sandy pits, constructed from recycled artificial turf, are identical to the natural sod-walled bunkers found on British seaside courses. The island green, par-3 17th is the penultimate hole, with onshore breezes complicating
club selection.
The Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas Resort is the perfect option for your stay and play here with three distinct categories of luxurious accommodations, all with ocean views. ranchoSanLucas.com/golf/
Do you have the itch to go? I certainly do! The weather will be reliably warm and sunny and the golf is down right HOT!!!
www.VisitLosCabos.travel/golf/
Costa Palmas Golf Club Rancho San Lucas
They Said, the Show Must Go On Santee’s Winter 4 Ball Classic By: Claudio Demarchi Instagram: @travelinggolfer23 …AND IT DID!!!!
It’s been taking place for three years now and based on the participant’s satisfaction again, this event might just go on who had been to, or knew someone, from a previous year’s event. “Great news is that they all plan to come back!” added Miller. sively at the Santee Cooper Resort and has the feel of all-inclusive, accommodations on site in the Lake Marion Condos and forever! “It was as close to a normal event as we have had in a long time,” said Todd Miller, General Manager of the Santee Cooper Resort.
For the past number of years, the Winter 4 Ball Classic had been hovering around the 100-participant level, with COVID it was questionable as to whether it would even happen. Miller decided that surveying the past participants might be the prudent thing to do. Survey’s completed; he decided The Show Must Go On!
“We did miss our Canadian friends this year, with them we would have been almost back to normal.” With Santee, SC being pretty much a drive market for Canadians and with 30 having participated the year before, had they been able to cross the border there could have been potentially 82 participants. The end result was 52 participants, all From Day 1 of the event, Tour Edge Golf has been the major sponsor, providing each player with a new golf club each year and with the Santee Cooper Resort as the #1 green grass shop when it comes to selling Foot Joy Shoes, they too have stepped up to the plate and everyone literally walks away with a new pair of shoes! It doesn’t stop there either, each player received a dozen balls, a Foot Joy glove, towel, and events shirts and caps! The 4 Ball Classic takes place excluVillas lining the Lake Marion Golf Course. Breakfast and dinners are at the Hospitality Center centrally located to the Villas, with lunches at the clubhouse. Oh ya, meals, accommodations and all the swag are included for the price of $549.00 with 4 people in a 2-bedroom unit. It’s no wonder that they keep coming back. If you want to be in the loop on next year’s event, connect with the folks at Santee Cooper Resort www.santeecoo pergolf.com Over the 1st weekend in December, expect temps in the mid 60-degree range but be prepared - it could be cooler too! The Santee Cooper Resort has two courses, Lake Marion being the home base for the event with the Santee
Ballard Point Condos
Cooper Country Club right next-door hosting a round. A fun addition to this year’s event was an evening Putting Contest on the recently completed Palmetto Trace. A first for South Carolina, the 18-hole putting course is 35,000 square feet, fully lit, over some of the most varied terrain you will ever see in a putting surface. The design is based off the Himalayas putting course at St Andrews, and designed by golf course architect and Donald Ross restoration specialist Kris Spence.
As usual, most of the golfers that come for the event are in no hurry to leave. No wonder why as those from the northern parts of the states are likely buried under show or it is way to cold to play. Santee is an ideal place to hang out for a few days more. Once you get to Santee for this event you will not have much in the way of driving to do! The Town of Santee is located smack dab right on I-95, just off the Interstate and you are there! Santee National Golf Club is also just about a mile down the road on the west side of Town.
For a small town of just over 800 residents it certainly has it fair share very good dining options. Starting with the Town’s landmark eatery Clark’s Inn and Restaurant, Est 1946, has been in the family for more than 70 years. Southern Living Magazine has twice now recognized Clark’s as a must stop in “The South’s Best Road Food.” Customers come away raving about the food, with the fried chicken at the top of the list of deliciousness followed closely by the prime rib. The staff has a way of serving up that southern hospitality too!
Other must stops are: Armando’s Mexican Restaurant with its monster margaritas provides that sporty atmosphere along with some authentic cuisine. Wilbur’s Cocktails and Supper Club offers up a wide variety of meal options – love the steaks and pork chops here, probably the finest in wine selections in Town. Last but not least for the fish lover in you Captains Quarters, a staple in Santee for over 25 years and one of this golfer’s favorites.
Established years ago as America’s Value Destination, Santee has been attracting upwards of 100,000 traveling golfers for years. If you have yet to make your way to Santee you will need to make that a priority for 2021. Inexpensive, good golf, everything is within easy reach and as you have seen by our impressive return rate of golfers, it’s fun and most importantly today, it is safe!
For more information on the Town of Santee – www.santeetourism.com
For more information on future Winter 4 Ball Classics visit Santee Cooper Resorts at: www.santeecoopergolf.com 1-800-344-6534
Santee National Golf Club
Santee Cooper Country Club
BY: John Torsiello
In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
I’ve had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, which is located about a half hour’s drive from the magical city of Charleston.
In fact, two of the best public courses in the area are located right across from one another on Route 41 in Mount Peasant; RiverTowne Country Club and the Dunes West Golf and River Club.
Before I tell you about both, make sure if you are in the area to check out the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island, two ocean communities boasting funky cafes and bars off the warm, soft brown sand and mild ocean waters. Hang out in downtown Charleston, with its trendy pubs, restaurants, shops, and historic sites. There are myriad lodging choices, and the city has a central shopping area called, appropriately, “The Marketplace.”
RiverTowne Country Club
RiverTowne is Arnold Palmer’s first signature course in the Charleston area. The course, which hosted a LPGA event for several years, is situated among scenic marshlands and live oaks, with 13 holes routed along the Wando River and Horlbeck Creek. The treelined fairways provide generous landing areas to set up approach shots to multi-tiered greens guarded by bunkers and water. The course plays from 7,188 yards down to 5,089.
“The Arnold Palmer Signature layout is what makes RiverTowne a standout golf course,” said Pete Dunham, Director of Golf. “The conditions are excellent, especially the greens, and the challenge tests all levels of golfers every round.”
The back nine at RiverTowne, home of an LPGA tournament for several years, is tougher than the front. Although the front ends is brutal fashion, with a 563-yard parfive. With the marsh still on the right, the ninth is a true three-shot hole the majority of the time. A drive over a finger of marsh will find a wide landing area. The second shot needs to be positioned carefully to leave the best angle into a demanding green guarded tightly by bunkers.
Dunes West Golf and River Club
Dunes West plays anywhere from 6,859 yards down to 5,208 yards from the forward markers. Water comes into play on seven holes and the fairways are fairly large and forgiving. The greens are mildly undulating and guarded by bunkers, both sand and grass.
At Dunes West Golf and River Club, a long drive eventually takes you to a stately clubhouse after passing tall live oaks draped with Spanish moss. It creates a sublime mood for a fun day of golf. Dunes West plays anywhere from 6,859 yards down to 5,208, and water comes into play on seven holes. The fairways are fairly large and forgiving.
Number four at Dunes West, a 489-yard par-five, is a well thought out design. A big tee shot leaves the player with an opportunity to go for the green in two, which demands a carry across a pond that runs down the left side of the fairway to the green. “What makes Dunes West special to members is that we always give back to the club with annual improvements,” said General Manager Rich Rankin. “In 2018, we renovated all greenside bunkers, painted both the athletic clubhouse and the tennis pro shop, made landscaping improvements around the tennis facility as well as the main pool, and purchased new maintenance equipment to be able to continue to keep the golf course in great shape.”
If get an invited, make sure you accept and play the private Snee Farm Country Club, just down the road from the two aforementioned layouts on Route 17. The club is home to a really interesting George Cobb-designed course, a newly renovated clubhouse, a full service restaurant and bar.
www.RiverTowneCountryClub.com www.DunesWestGolfClub.com
Rivertowne Country Club
BY: John Torsiello
An ‘Ultimate’ Experience at Reynolds Lake Oconee
The 2021 season kicks off in grand fashion at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia, with “The Ultimate Kingdom Experience” package that includes professional club fitting, a custom-fit TaylorMade driver made on site, and two rounds on Reynolds Lake Oconee’s award-winning layouts.
Starting from $2,595, the package features a one-on-one consultation with a TaylorMade Tour clubfitter and the building of a new TaylorMade SIM2 driver to the guest’s specifications. The driver will be built in time for the golfer to use it on at least one of two rounds on any of the community’s five championship resort courses, all rated among the best in the Southeast. The package also includes an on-course lesson from PGA Tour veteran and Kingdom Instructor Blake Adams.
Since opening in 2007, “The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee” has been TaylorMade’s primary East Coast fitting center for PGA and LPGA touring professionals, mini-tour players, and elite junior, high school, and college players. It is the only TaylorMade fitting venue in the country where recreational golfers have access to the same expertise and technology enjoyed by TaylorMade’s athletes and club professionals.
“As one of only two such facilities in the world, our guests receive the same first-class experiences as PGA Tour professionals,” said Sean Cain, director of The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee. “Once we have the data and knowledge from the club fitting consultation, our master club builder will then craft the guest’s new custom club onsite in one of our TaylorMade Tour Trailers. Combine that with the on-course opportunity to learn from Blake and guests will find this to be a very cool experience.”
The 16-acre, 7,600-square-foot Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee includes four fully enclosed bays (two for instruction, two for club-fitting), three covered and heated hitting areas, TrackMan 4 launch monitors, high-speed Ximea cameras, the GC Hawk Simulator Lab, and two, full-service TaylorMade Tour Trailers on site.
Additional components of the “The Ultimate Kingdom Experience” package include: Luxury accommodations in a Reynolds Lake Oconee cottage or condominium (two-night minimum); $100 resort credit; and a “Southern-style” breakfast each morning at Eighty8 Kitchen+Cocktails.
Reynolds Lake Oconee is a golfing and active lifestyle paradise. Located between Atlanta and Augusta, the property’s courses were designed by legendary architects: Great Waters by Jack Nicklaus, The National by Tom Fazio, The Oconee by Rees Jones, and The Landing and The Preserve by Bob Cupp. A sixth course is the Jim Enghdesigned, members-only Creek Club. Guests can choose private accommodations that include luxury resort condominiums and cottages, or The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, a 257-room lakefront resort and spa named one of the Best Resorts in Georgia by U.S. News & World Report 2020.
Dining is available at 10 distinctive culinary venues.
Reynolds Lake Oconee, originally established in 1988, is located roughly 90 miles from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. www.ReynoldsLakeOconee.com.
BY: MARK WILLIAM PAUL
A Majestic Getaway Awaits at The Club at New Seabury
Cape Cod in late summer and early autumn is a splendid destination for golfers. The crowds are fewer, the air is fresh and clean, perfect for golf and other outdoor activities, and the nights are crisp and comfortable.
The Club at New Seabury is an ideal place to visit and stay for awhile. Stunning ocean views frame the 1,500-acre property, which boasts two recently renovated championship golf courses, and fab accommodations. Whether you are visiting, exploring a club membership or second/new home, The Club at New Seabury offers it all. The premier private golf community boasts resort amenities, as well as fine and casual dining with spectacular views of Nantucket Sound.
Golf enthusiasts will be delighted and challenged at the Ocean and Dunes courses. Playing 7,015 yards from the tips, with a slope rating of 134, the front nine of the Ocean course is an aesthetic wonderland of majestic blue ocean views and plush green fairways and greens.
Holes two and three run parallel to the oceanfront, offering up breathtaking glimpses of Martha’s Vineyard in the distance. Prevailing winds coming off of the water enhance the challenge of playing a true oceanside course. Par on both of these holes is considered a bonus for the average player. The par-four 9th hole, playing a robust 447 yards from the tips, is challenging for even the scratch player. The view of the expansive clubhouse in the background is very cool.
The Dunes course is a shorter inland 18hole track, playing a modest 6,041 yards from the back tees. Carefully placed bunkers and water hazards make for a unique opportunity for the above average player to shoot a low score if they choose their clubs wisely. On some of the holes it would be best to keep the driver in the bag and play for position instead of distance off of the tee.
One of our favorite holes was the short par-four 13th, which has a large waste bunker crossing the fairway around 240 yards from the tee. The accomplished player must choose between a long-iron, leaving a mid-iron to a large, flat green, or take out the driver and attempt to carry the fairway bunker, leaving nothing more than a short wedge as an approach. Either option can leave the player with a genuine birdie opportunity.
If you want to complement your golf experience with other recreational interests there is no shortage of activities at New Seabury with the Athletic Club (fitness, pool and tennis) and a nearby beach. If you stay on property, dine at the upscale “95 Shore” restaurant and bar, visit “The Sand Wedge Bistro” for breakfast and lunch, or check out nearby classic Cape Cod venues.
“The best way to discover Cape Cod is through New Seabury,” said Chris Card, President and Executive Director of The Club at New Seabury. “We have polished our jewel and believe we offer one of the most welcoming, stunning experiences in New England. You can stay put here and enjoy our all-inclusive accommodations and world-class amenities. There’s so much to do, or you can sit back, relax and enjoy doing nothing.”
For reservations, call 508-539-8322, or visit www.NewSeabury.com.
18the Green on Dunes Course
