2022
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the natural scenic splendor of northern Michigan, I’m reminded of a standout line from an early season of Mad Men: “You have everything…and so much of it.” From mile after mile of beautiful Lake Michigan coastline to towering sand dunes, from idyllic small towns to deep hardwood forests, from vast serene lakes and meandering rivers to breathtaking elevations and long summer days, northern Michigan is as uncannily pure as they say.
With 10 acclaimed golf courses sprawling across three separate and distinctive resort properties, the folks at BOYNE Golf have been curating their destination in northern Michigan for more than 50 years. You can’t go wrong putting your next golf trip in their hands and getting there has never been easier.
Once you lay eyes on the red-roofed Victorian-style Inn at Bay Harbor near Petoskey and the beaming shoreline it sits next to, you start to get what those who dubbed the property “The Pebble Beach of the Midwest” were fussing about. The Inn at Bay Harbor is a Marriot Autograph Resort and features 116 guest rooms and suites and 35 two- and three-bedroom cottages at the Lakeside Cottages and Cottages at Crooked Tree. All provide views of the area’s famous million-dollar sunsets.
The club offers 27 dazzling holes designed by Arthur Hills that are played in three 18hole combinations (Links/Quarry, Quarry/ Preserve and Preserve/Links). Bay Harbor’s Links/Quarry routing has been a staple on Golf Digest’s biannual list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Preserve is the “sleeper.” It winds extensively through a hardwood forest, just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan. Across the street, scenic 18hole Crooked Tree Golf Club delivers great golf plus stellar panoramic views of Lake Michigan.
The Highlands sits just 15 miles north of Bay Harbor and resembles a Scottish country
estate. It’s a multi-course template many resorts have replicated. With four courses, The Highlands is perfectly suited for golf buddies’ trips. The timeless parkland allure of The Heather (the original BOYNE Golf course by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1966) and the natural beauty of the Arthur Hills course, which features a 30 story drop from tee-to-green at the par-5 13th, stand tall as must-plays on a visit to northern Michigan. In 2019 The Heather was named the National Golf Course Owners Association’s Golf Course of the Year.
The Donald Ross Memorial is an extremely well-executed tribute course comprised of holes inspired by famous Ross designs that have hosted three Ryder Cups, eight U.S. Amateurs, 11 PGA Championships and 14 U.S. Opens. The Moor course has recently undergone subtle but significant updates to improve approach angles and allow for additional shot selection choices around the greens.
Just south of Petoskey, Boyne Mountain Resort’s 4,500+ acres offer a variety of accommodations and two outstanding courses that offer tremendous views of
nearby Deer Lake. The Monument and The Alpine both zigzag through tree-lined hills before winding down to tamer, rolling terrain. Both courses begin with a scenic 10-minute cart ride up a ski hill to their respective first tees.
BOYNE Golf meets all the requirements for a great golf vacation and has been recognized by FORBES.com as one of the Best Golf Resorts in America, along with Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straights, Kapalua, and Pinehurst.
Golfers looking to fly into northern Michigan can access Traverse City (TVC) via Delta, United, American, and Allegiant with direct service from 17 major U.S. cities. Private planes can also land directly at Boyne Mountain’s 5200’ private airstrip that has recently undergone a four million dollar upgrade.
For more information on BOYNE Golf and to plan your summer golf adventure, visit www.BOYNEgolf.com or call 855.428.7447.
popularity is surging, and there’s no place better to experience this great game than America’s Golf Island. Comprised of a diverse collection of 26 golf courses spread throughout Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Beaufort, South Carolina, the region’s breathtaking natural beauty attracted many of golf’s greatest architects: Robert Trent Jones, Rees Jones, Davis Love III, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and George Fazio, just to name a few.
Hilton Head Island is the perfect destination for any golf getaway, whether it be a buddies trip, family vacation or couples retreat. Golf is played 365 days a year here among the palmettos and live oaks, as the Lowcountry boasts glorious spring and fall weather, mild winters and balmy summers. Off the course, the region is home to worldclass beaches, award-winning restaurants and local eateries, and myriad activities ranging from deep sea fishing, tennis, pickleball and biking along 50-plus miles of public pathways.
Many golfers are already familiar with Hilton Head Island because of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage, an area tradition since it was first played at Harbour Town back in 1969. One of the most popular stops on TOUR, the tournament is known for its Southern hospitality, laid back atmosphere and the famed Harbour Town Lighthouse overlooking the 18th green along the Calibogue Sound.
Rounds are best re-lived in the evening over a relaxing dinner with family, card games with friends or sitting a spell on a deck watching the sun drop in the South Carolina sky. Numerous lodging partners oblige with a vast array of accommodations ranging from rental homes, villas and condos to brand-name hotels and boutique inns.
Expert golf vacation planners are available to customize stay-and-play packages for any size group, any time of year, for the golf trip of a lifetime. Log onto the easy-to-use website, www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com, for course and accommodation overviews, up-to-date golf packages, area information or to request a golf trip quote. Consider yourself invited to experience the game the way it was meant to be played on America’s Golf Island.
Visit www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com to start planning your dream golf vacation to America’s Golf Island - Hilton Head Island, SC.
Harbour Town Golf Links
Palmetto Dunes - Jones Course
Ifyou’re thinking golf – and we know you are – you should be thinking NC’s Brunswick Islands. This strand of bar rier islands is located on the southern coast of North Carolina, just across the state line from neighboring Myrtle Beach. And what these islands and their accompanying main land towns offer is a delightfully refreshing, spacious coastal landscape that calls golfers with a deep-rooted love of the game back year after year. It’s no wonder the destina tion has become known by another name: NC’s Golf Coast.
With more than 30 of the world’s fin est courses, including notables Bald Head Island Club, Thistle Golf Club and Tiger’s Eye, NC’s Brunswick Islands has become a place where those who revel in the heritage and the camaraderie of a game, a hole or a shot well-played can find their fulfillment. It’s a special place that can so delightfully combine a 45-mile stretch of pristine barrier
islands with lush maritime forests, expan sive marshes and inlets, and the majestic Intracoastal Waterway to create a terrain primed for the most alluring course designs in all of golf. The game’s legends would agree. Palmer, Byrd, Maples, Jones, Cate, Couples, Robbins – they all came and left their footprints on the land. Volume. Variety. Climate. Terrain. All the essentials have aligned here to create a nearly endless succession of challenges for you and your fellow golf enthusiasts. The coastal landscape of waterways and marshes in NC’s Brunswick Islands is the ideal place to reaffirm your love of the game. Mild weather year-round makes for an all-season golf climate where you’ll find playing con ditions to your liking almost any time of the year. Good thing, because with, at last count, 540 holes, you’ll want to schedule a few trips to the coast to meet the challenge. And while you’re there, don’t be surprised when you discover that some of the best
golf on the Grand Strand is actually in Brunswick County.
The destination is perfect for staying and playing. NC’s Brunswick Islands has managed to harness that special something that brings both golfers and families back year in and year out. Whatever you’re searching for in accommodations, from a charming villa right on the fairway to the perfect vacation home to welcome a group of any size, you’ll find it in the Brunswick Islands. You’ll also have access to profes sional golf packagers who are ready to help line up all the details, from the excite ment of the play to the relaxation of the stay. From setting up tee times to finding courses close to the place you’re staying so you can spend more time lining up your first drive, your every need will be tended to. You’ll come with a passion for the game and leave with a love of a place. The place? NC’s Golf Coast.
www.NCBrunswickGolf.com
They call it NC’s Golf Coast. With more than 30 championship
and 120 miles of
going to want some time to play
Request your
Resort & Golf Club offers a golfing experience unlike any other in the world. No stranger to awards and accolades, Reunion is the only place in the world you will find three Signature Design courses by golf’s greatest legends: Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Jack Nicklaus.
If you can only pick one course while staying at Reunion, we recommend the Palmer Course. It’s the least challenging of the three, but it boasts the most spectacular views of the resort. You will play through bunkers, lush greenery, and some of their stunning vacation homes. The Palmer 7 hole is the most iconic of all 54 holes at Reunion. You might recognize Palmer 7 by its vantage point of the long winding bridge over a sparkling pond with the resort’s Reunion Grande tower standing elegantly in the distance. The Palmer course offers 6,916 yards of rolling terrain with elevation changes up to 50 feet.
The Watson Course is adjacent to the Palmer course. Both start just behind the Clubhouse restaurant and Pro Shop. The Clubhouse serves a traditional American fare and is a great spot for a cup of coffee before heading out to the driving range or your morning tee time. Once on the course, you will encounter wide-open greens, rolling fairways, and strategically placed bunkers.
Club selection is crucial for this course.
The most challenging of Reunion’s three courses is the Nicklaus Course. Located on the other side of the resort property and winding through parts of the nature reserve, the Nicklaus course can be a bit quieter and more scenic than Watson or Palmer. This course provides long fairways and challenging water hazards. Inside the Nicklaus Clubhouse, you’ll find men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers, the Pro Shop, and a tavern-style restaurant called Traditions. Traditions is the ideal spot for your post-round meal and celebratory beverages and features panoramic views of the 18th green. On Sunday’s this location also features a truly delicious brunch.
Reunion Resort has been consistently recognized for providing a premier golf experience in Central Florida since 2005. This fall, Reunion has added another legend to their golf resume. The Golfzon Leadbetter World Headquarters, led by David Leadbetter is now home to Reunion adding another layer of unique golf offerings to the already esteemed resort.
Golfzon Leadbetter and Reunion are proud of this partnership that has established Reunion as the new home of the Golfzon Leadbetter Golf Academy. This facility
features the latest golf technology for instruction and practice including lesson studios with launch monitors, 3D swing analysis, range radar ball tracking, club fitting, golf fitness and biomechanics. The facility also features Golfzon TwoVision simulator studio to help improve your game.
Open to resort guests and members, Reunion’s rolling greens stretch across the 2,300-acre resort, just minutes from Walt Disney World® and other famous Orlando attractions. Reunion attracts avid golfers from around the world looking to experience an enhanced level of play with exceptional conditions and unique course layouts designed by three PGA legends. With spacious multi-room villas and luxury vacation homes featuring up to 15-bedrooms, this property is an easy option for golf trips.
In addition to golf, Reunion’s amenities include a mini-golf course, multiple tennis and pickleball courts with a Pro Shop, casual and fine dining, 7 community pools, the five-acre Water Park, and over 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting event space. From family vacations, to a golf getaways with the guys, and everything in between, Reunion has something for every occasion. For more information, to make a reservation, or to book tee times, visit www.ReunionResort.com
Tee off at a Floridian golf destination beyond compare. Reunion Resort is the only place in the world where you can play three signature courses designed by PGA legends Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Jack Nicklaus, all in the same location. Visit ReunionResort.com
FL
Play is what they say at Experience Florida’s Sports Coast. You might not be able to find Florida’s Sports Coast on a map simply because it is a tourism district, and tourism districts in my mind don’t get their “just rewards”. Read on and you will know exactly where it is and all that there is to do!
If you are a golfer, paddler, fisherman, beachgoer or just a toe dipper, there is a good chance that you have been to the Sport’s Coast. This region, on the Gulf of Mexico is located about 35 miles north of Tampa, 90 miles east of Orlando and 75 miles south of Ocala, is a magnet to outdoor adventurers’ as well as those into Extreme Sports…..skydiving anyone?
Golfers from the Northeast USA and Canada have been flocking to Saddlebrook for years. The two Arnold Palmer designed courses are surely the number one reason and I suspect, the gazillion gallon pool with its conveniently located Tiki Bar could be number two.
There are 11 premier golf courses in the immediate Sports Coast region with
the crown jewel in the region, is without a doubt Saddlebrook Resort.
Coming north from Tampa, Saddlebrook Resort is a short drive off I-75 on Route 54 towards Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel offers up another for of adventure, unless it is really hot outside you might not even break a sweat! Shopping!!!! The community grabs your attention like a shiny new penny with first-class retail, a plethora of restaurants and contemporary homes that look like they were built yesterday.
The Shops at Wiregrass lures shoppers with a pedestrian-friendly, open-air and aesthetically pleasing alternative to the generic big-box-in-a-giant-parking-lot headache that’s found everywhere else in America. No shop till you drop would be complete with the ultimate in brand name deals at Tampa Premium Outlets.
Staying and Playing at Saddlebrook Resort (www.Saddlebrook.com) is almost like being at home. Except that your home here has 2 Arnold Palmer designed courses in your back yard. No walking required and
if you decide not to walk to the Pro Shop from your villa, call the concierge and a golf cart will come get you. There are over 500 condo style units 1-3 bedrooms, so not everyone can be right next to the pro shop or pool.
“On the Saddlebrook course, it’s about course management,” said director of golf Kyle Bruce. “There are water and tree lines on both sides of the fairway, you basically want to get the ball to the 150-yard marker, then move the ball from there. The greens are relatively flat so it’s easy to get up and down. It’s more course management than a grip-it-and-rip-it type of golf course.
Its fairways are lined by a hammock of cypress and oak, the natural beauty will transport you back in time to the Florida of the Conquistadors. The signature hole, the 425-yard 18th, magnifies this sensation. The drive must be sent down an emerald ribbon between stands of towering cypress, whose branches are adorned with Spanish moss. Three white-faced bunkers staring at you in the landing area. The soft afternoon sunlight glints softly off the deep pond fronting the green, where gators and turtles
Bay’s preeminent resort
A place to rest and recharge with family and friends, a place to enjoy your athletic passions on the golf course or the tennis court, a place to meet and mingle … the legendary Saddlebrook Resort is Tampa Bay’s preeminent resort, where leisure time takes over, whether you’re getting away with your friends or vacationing with the family.
Spread out on our 480 lush acres of lagoons and cypress trees, teeing off on one of our two Arnold Palmer signature golf courses, volleying on one of 43 tennis courts, savoring a convivial meal with friends at Dempsey’s Too or spending a blissful afternoon in the expansive pool.
It’s our pleasure to host you for your golf getaway, whether you’re hoping to improve your game or are simply seeking a fairway-filled weekend with favorite golfing buddies. Our Tampa golf packages are designed to give you access to Saddlebrook’s complete resort experience. Want to add something? Just give us a shout and we’ll make it happen.
Getaway Package includes a stay in a Deluxe Guest Room, One-Bedroom Suite or Two-Bedroom Suite; full breakfast per adult per paid night of stay; lunch per adult per paid night of stay; total of 4 rounds of golf (18 holes on arrival day, 36 holes on middle day, 18 holes on departure day, with cart and greens fees); a $20 resort credit per adult for the golf pro shop; a welcome golf gift; unlimited use of the practice facility; nightly club cleaning and storage; fitness center access; and additional Saddlebrook amenities. Starting at $129 per night per person!
rest on the bank. Two solid, aggressive shots will reach the green and award the player with par.
“The Palmer course is more of a links style course. You want to try and get as far as you can down the fairway. It’s open off the tee box, left and right. Your second shot is most important, if you’re above the hole, it’s going to be a three putt, pretty much, with the undulation of the greens. If you’re not on your short game that day, it can be very tough.”
While many of the holes provide generous driving areas, level ground is rare and the firm green fairways are contoured. Facing the green from the slanting fairways, the smallish greens are framed by whitefaced bunkers. Hilly lies and sweeping Florida breezes make it challenging to attain the accuracy needed to find these targets. The Tif-eagle greens are firm, fast and undulating, allowing only a crisply struck shot to hold their surface. Surrounding the greens, the thick, gnarly Bermuda rough tangles around the club and complicates the soft touch needed to play short pitch shots. Miss the green, and you face a difficult par. Several holes require length, all reward finesse. The Par 4 fifth hole is a beauty, with water to the right and sand to the left of the green.”
The other courses in the Experience Florida’s Sports Coast region offer up a great
variety in both stye and challenge making it ideal for every level of golfer. Below is a sampling of what you will find.
Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club: Two pristine courses await traveling golfers here, Lake Jovita South Course and Lake Jovita North Course designed by US Open Champion Tom Lehman and golf course architect Kurt Sandness. The 7,151-yard, par 72, Lake Jovita South Course is known for its immaculate maintenance, velvet greens and generous fairways blend in perfectly with the hilly terrain.
The 7,276-yard Lake Jovita North Course is equally impressive. More contemporary in style, this par-72 course has even greater elevation changes than the South Course. In fact, from the second tee box, you can see five or six miles to the northeast!
Fox Hollow Golf Club is one of the last courses designed and built by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., one of the most prolific and innovative golf course designers of all time. Recently rated 57th by Golf Digest’s Top 75 Courses, the par-71 championship layout features, rolling fairways, five sets of tees, mixing native trees and vegetation, sparkling lakes, sand bunkers and a variety of wildlife.
Plantation Palms Golf Club: The David Harmon design meanders through naturally rolling terrain with abundant
wildlife. Considered one of Land O’Lakes finest properties with its meticulous conditioning, with each hole designed to challenge every level of golfer.
Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club: Designed by Chi Chi Rodrigues and Bobby Weed stretches back to over 7,000 yards, winding its way around beautiful lakes and conservation areas. Position off the tee is critical to good scoring as water and out of bounds comes into play on all 18 holes. With five sets of tees, the course is appealing to all skill levels.
Lexington Oaks Golf Club: Built on a stunning piece of land, Lexington Oaks is an 18-hole, Par-72 masterpiece course that’s known for its par 3s. Measuring 6,748 yards from the tips, this stunning course is skillfully routed through woods, lakes and marshlands, providing a fun challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
When not on the golf course you are in the right place to let the adventure seeker in you come out. With 35 area parks, 2 state parks, vibrant nature trails, thrilling zip line courses, hot-air balloon outings, sky-diving adventures, nearby islands with artificial reefs, year-round recreational fishing, paddleboarding and kayaking trails, the options for exploration are unlimited.
To find out more details on the adventures that abound at Experience Florida’s Sports Coast visit www.FLSportsCoast.com
Florida’s Sports Coast offers a more exciting kind of vacation. With four amazing cities to explore – and countless ways to get out and play – visitors will find there’s much more than just great golf in this area. Whether they’re exploring the Gulf of Mexico, tackling tandem skydiving over Zephyrhills, or enjoying a beer at one of our craft breweries, they’ll discover Florida’s Sports Coast is an unbeatable location for their next golf trip.
When traveling around the globe in search of another ultimate golf experience you are most likely to make it a multi destination experience giving you a broader cultural and golf experience. Destination Amazing Thailand, the city of Bangkok will be the initial landing spot for more international travelers and what a spot it is. Consistently one of the most visited cities in the world.
In March we published a feature “Covering All The Bases” touching on golf in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Pattaya. In a baseball perspective we might consider these bases as part of the infield. With these next 2 destinations, Phuket and Chiang Mai, we take you a little further afield, you might say that we are playing the outfield. Covering All the Bases |
Phuket is your island in the sun, located in southern Thailand. It is the biggest of Thai islands adjoining the Andaman Sea. Flight time from Bangkok is about 1.5 hours and what awaits is an island full of magnificent white sand beaches with turquoise blue water, amazing sunsets and the famous Phuket nightlife. The Thai food culture here has
some Portuguese and Chinese influence. Note: southern Thai food is known to be super spicy.
The drive from top to bottom of the island will take about 75-90 mins. Patong Beach is the main beach and the center of the action form a nightlife standpoint. Another hot spot is Bang Tao beach, home to The Laguna Complex, which has more 5* hotels and higher end dining options with far less
nightlife than Patong.
Must play courses in Phuket include: Red Mountain Golf Club, winding its way through a truly dramatic former tin mine site in the heart of Phuket, Red Mountain is one of Asia’s most exciting courses that opened in 2008. The course has been routed to take advantage of a huge variety of landforms and elevation changes. Scars left from the tin mine era have been imaginatively incorporated
Chiang Mai Highlands, 9th Holeinto the overall scheme, creating a unique character at the same time as establishing an indelible link with an important era in the Island’s past. A challenging course with numerous risk / reward options, creating a fun playing environment, an exhilarating test of golf and a breathtaking scenic tour around a course. The signature hole is the par 3 17th which plays about 150 yards straight downhill to a small green surrounded by forest.
Blue Canyon Country Club - Canyon Course: Award winning since its opening in 1991. Hosting the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1994, 1998 and 2007 gave the course world wide recognition as one of the preeminent championship courses in Asia. A classic parkland style course, sculpted with minimal disruption to the original landscape, lush tree lined fairways always in pristine condition.
Aquella Golf & Country Club - The newest course has taken Phuket by storm with its setting on the shoes of the Andaman Sea. Amidst spectacular vistas across the soft turquoise hues of the captivating Sea, the refreshing sea breezes,
and immaculate white sands coupled with the luxury clubhouse, Aquella Golf & Country Club is truly a precious jewel in the golf destinations of Thailand.
Have your camera or phone in hand when you get to everyone’s favorite hole, the par 3, 11th.
For a complete about face, Chiang Mai with its northern setting in a mountainous region of Thailand offers up a completely different scenario from Phuket and for that matter the rest of the nation. Playing here is best in the winter months, when the temperature is cool and humidity is low.
Chiang Mai is northern Thailand’s largest city and the 2nd largest in Thailand. Many visitors are absorbed with the nature and mountain tours and stepping on Thailands highest point doi inthanon is always a thrill. Beautiful nature blended with Lanna Culture and colours of contemporary life bring millions of tourists annually. Thapae Walking Street exemplifies the local way of life provides the opportunity to shop for stylish handmade products. Nimmanhaemin Road is another of tourist’s favorite streets with a plethora of tastes and cuisine! Not to be missed.
Other Phuket courses for your consideration: Loch Palm Golf Club, Blue Canyon Country Club - Lakes Course, Laguna Golf Phuket, Mission Hills Phuket, Phuket Country Club
Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort - a 27-hole golf resort set in the hills outside Chiang Mai. Voted among the top 3 golf resorts in Asia, by 2015 Asia Golf Awards. Each 9 offers views over the densely forested hills, and the fairways meander amongst lush vegetation and large water hazards. It can play long so the longer hitters will really enjoy this.
Alpine Golf Resort - another 27-hole complex. A Ron Garl Design set 1,500 meter’s above sea level delivers a beautiful natural setting amongst the old dense forest and holes out in the flatlands that are more exposed to the wind. One of the most unique layouts in Thailand. An excellent club house, it is more than just golf here. Definitely a place to enjoy a meal and drink at before or after the round.
Gassan Khuntan Golf & Resort - a very popular and challenging 18-hole course, about 60 mins outside of Chiang Mai, in Lamphun province. There is a good amount of water, undulating terrain and distinct elevation changes which keeps the round very interesting. The course is beautiful and the train runs across a bridge which the course is worked around, another good course to being the camera to.
Other courses - Gassan Panorama, Gassan Legacy, Mae Jo Golf Club, Summit Green Valley Golf Club, Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club, North Hill Golf Club (night golf here)
Asia Golf Experieances based in Thailand can take care of any and all arrangements for your visit to Thailand. Thailand Golf Holiday l Thailand Golf Trip - Asia Golf Experiences
Check out the Four Points by Sheraton Invitational Phuket Golf Week set for October 2022. https://asiagolfexperiences.com/toursand-tournaments/phuket-invitationalgolf-week/
Or for a sample of a 10-day Phuket Stay and Play Package with 5 rounds of golf: https://asiagolfexperiences.com/packages/ phuket-golf-package/
Similarly for a 10-day sample of a Chiang Mai Stay and Play Package: https://asiagolfexperiences.com/packages/ chiang-mai-golf-culture-experience/
For more general information on Amazing Thailand, visit: www.ThailandInsider.com or www.AsiaGolfExperiences.com
By TOM LANDERS
The Sandhills region of North Carolina is a unique geographical location that was spawned thousands of years ago. It features sandy soil and vegetation, such as the famous Carolina pines, which gives golf in this neck of the woods a special quality that has the feel of woodland and links courses all once.
The Village of Pinehurst and surrounding area showcases almost 40 championship courses. Every major golf architect has left his stamp on the Sandhills area, including Donald Ross, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones, Gary Player, Mike Strantz, Ellis and Dan Maples, Davis Love III and Gene Hamm.
Quite simply, the Village of Pinehurst area has more top-ranked courses within a 10minute drive than any other area in the country! Since the 1930’s, champions from every generation have played their way through this golfing Mecca in such events as the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and the Ryder Cup. Come walk in their footsteps and make your own golf history.
Most golfers know of Pinehurst, the magical resort that boasts over a half dozen historic courses. We had the pleasures of playing four other courses that make the area famous -Mid Pines, Talamore, Mid South and Pine Needles. While perhaps not of the majesty and household
name status as Pinehurst Resort’s courses, all four are wonderful routings that carry with them that definitive Sandhills flavor.
Myself and several buddies decided to make the area a golf getaway and we came back inspired and pleased to have had the chance to play such super layouts.
Our first day we gave Mid Pines a go. It remains exactly as the world renowned architect built it in 1921 and impeccably restored by Kyle Franz in 2013. The renovation was honored with GOLF Magazine’s Best U.S. Resort Renovation and Restoration of the Year. The course, often characterized as “pure Donald Ross,” was designed to fit perfectly into the
natural landscape, as was Ross’s signature approach.
Mid Pines was not intended to be a daunting challenge for the finest players competing under championship conditions, but was envisioned as a course that would offer friendly competition for members and guests of a private club and resort. However, accomplished golfers and pros have taken note of the perfectly preserved course and Mid Pines has become a classic gem, which has now played host to many national competitions including the 2002 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.
Mid Pines was incredible and what I felt was the “purest” course we played in an aesthetic sense. It was like a walk through the woods; fun, with ridiculously cool greens. Every hole was picturesque and it’s what you envision when people talk about Pinehurst area courses. I could play 36 there for a couple days in a row and never get bored. The clubhouse was awesome; you could feel the history just walking through it. Mid Pines is a classic throwback to a simpler era and it makes you take a breath and slow down. Staying there I’m sure leads you into a different pace.
The next day it was as the Talamore Resort with two courses, Talamore and Mid South. Talamore is a big and bold resort style course.
Features were bunkers that seemed to reach China on a few holes and big, sweeping holes with massive greens. The course lets you grip it and rip it and it makes for a fun round. MidSouth isn’t as delicate as Mid Pines and much more refined than Talamore. It was a perfect balance of the previous two we played. I felt the course was filled with resort signature holes; done right, not cliché. Inside the clubhouse we found an awesome bar with good food.
Talamore recently went through a remastering plan, which reimagined the both tract through a clever combination of restoration and rejuvenation projects that unlocked the course’s hidden potential. The project was executed by a huge team including course superintendent Rusty Smith, David Walsh and their staffs, and PGA professional and General Manager Matt Hausser. Alongside the Resort’s staff were the skilled crews of Shapemasters, a world-class certified golf course builder that has worked for many of the major modern era golf course designers including Jack Nicklaus, Rees Jones, Arnold Palmer, Pete and P.B. Dye, Tom Fazio and Greg Norman.
Greens on the courses were restored to the original Rees Jones and Arnold Palmer designs, resulting in a 25 percent larger putting surfaces, and the addition of generous 60-inch Tif Eagle Bermuda green collars. The new Champion Bermuda putting surfaces provide significantly better playing conditions than its bent grass predecessor and put Talamore’s and Mid South’s
greens on par with the other top courses in the area that have already made the switch to Bermuda greens--Pinehurst No. 2, No. 8, the Country Club of North Carolina, Pine Needles, Mid Pines and Tobacco Road.
The courses feel bigger with the fairways opened up, limited rough and the removal of excessive bunkering. Improved cart access and the reshaping of certain areas to help cart flow has improved pace of play and general enjoyment of the course.
Scotland and the Sandhills collide with the addition of 12 strategically placed, old-world style sod wall bunkers. Talamore is the only course in the Village of Pinehurst/Southern Pines area with multiple sod wall bunkers.
On day three, we checked out Pine Needles, an award-winning golf course and the first in the nation to be awarded four U.S. Women’s Open Championships. Named the number four course in the state by Golfweek, the layout was designed by the legendary Donald Ross in 1927, and meticulously restored by Kyle Franz in 2017. Today, the course spans more than 7,000 yards with each rolling hill and fairway bunker reimagined to reflect the challenges Ross envisioned nearly a century ago.
We had the pleasure of staying at the Jefferson Inn, which has a classic feel and fits perfectly with Southern Pines. We enjoyed a walk through the town of Southern Pines from the Jefferson Inn. The owner of the Inn was very helpful in pointing out great places to eat and things to
do in the area.
The Inn’s cozy wood bar with pot belly stove just asked you to relax with a Manhattan. The rooms we stayed in were very impressive. Expecting a more period-style room, we very pleased to find it was fully updated with current amenities. Beds were beyond comfortable and the bathroom spacious. We will be booking there next spring..
We had breakfast one day at Betsy’s Crepes which was Ahhhhhhhhhmazing! One day is not enough. It was quick, delicious and the best way to start your golf day. After playing we hit the Pinehurst Brewery, a modern brew pub with a great view, good food and a fun atmosphere.
The Workshop close by in Aberdeen was also sublime. It’s small and cozy and has scrumptious food. We nearly tried everything and could barely walk after. Mac and cheese bowls, sandwiches, specialty drinks--the works. We didn’t play Pinehurst #2 but the clubhouse was worth the trip. Steeped in history and memorabilia, just walking the stairway you can see a who’s who of golf and the great matches they played. It has a beautiful bar area where we had fantastic burgers. There’s a neat view of the course.
The area had it all; special, immaculately groomed courses, great accommodations and fine places to eat and relax. We’ll be going back soon, I’m sure.
One of the most unique and impressive Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses
Two great minds, Lt. Col Dan Rooney with a vision and the other Jack Nicklaus who turned Rooney’s vision into a reality!
More than just a golf club, this monument just off the shores of lake Michigan, in Grand Haven, commemorates the birthplace of the Folds of Honor, with a Nicklaus Signature Course, pays tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for the United States. The Folds of Honor is a foundation that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s deceased or disabled service members.
A memorial walkway guides you from parking lot to pro shop and the course. While walking through if you don’t get emotional, you best check yourself for a pulse. “I love the game of golf, but I love my country even more,” a statement, on the wall, from Nicklaus, is impossible to miss. For this very special project Nicklaus waived his design fee.
The emotional experience doesn’t stop there as at 1300 hours (1PM), play stops, carts shut
off, all staff come out standing at attention facing the enormous US flag close to the 9th green. Taps is played and a bell chimes 13 times.
At each hole, one commemorative plaque describes a military hero, another tells a tale about one of Nicklaus’ major championship victories. In the golf carts, videos play with course tips and Folds of Honor family tributes. Undoubtably you can play golf elsewhere for a lot less that you will pay here. That is not the point, it is golf with a purpose and in support of an extraordinary cause. You get all the bells and whistles on your day. Fully loaded carts,
water on the carts and a fulfilling experience and more.
Truly the most unique Nicklaus experience, maybe even the most unique Michigan golf experience. Did Nicklaus bring the desert to Michigan? You might just think so after your round. But here you will get to experience some parkland style golf bordering the dunes. Six parkland style holes and 12 dunes holes and believe me you will have plenty of sand to fill your boots!
By the time you get to the first tee you will have come across a number of staff members as friendly and courteous as any in the business. That is the only way one of the true professionals in the industry would have it. General Manager, Doug Bell is a long-time friend who is the perfect fit for this project. “They only treat people in a manner that they would like to be treated,” said Bell.
Let’s tee it up! Three rather tame parkland style holes is what American Dunes opens you up with. Tame only in comparison to what you
are in for!! Nicklaus opens you up with a taste of the dunes on the 1st hole, left hand side but should not really come into play. Surprisingly on the 2nd hole, Nicklaus has a pond running up the right-hand side. What happened to his fade? Nice par 5. Another taste of dunes on 3 but again should not come into play.
As we ascended to fourth tee, I remember blurting out to words, “Holly Sh**.” Doug looks over at me and says, “you had to know that if Jack was going to create one more Signature Course, it was not going to be an ordinary course.” Truer words have never been spoken. The WOW FACTOR was upon us.
From the elevated 4th tee box, you stare down at a green, about 140 yards away depending on which tees you play. You are likely more captivated by all the dunes that you need to avoid, not only on the immediate hole but your eyes cannot help but to look beyond.
The former tree-lined Grand Haven Course, which is located a few hundred yards from the east shore of Lake Michigan, is now a dunes-like course, utilizing the dramatic local topography and sand base that covers the property. There are 30 bunkers, and sand dunes are located either right, left or in front of you at each hole.
Fairways are generous for the most part and like most great golf courses your shot into the greens are what is going to make or break your day……..and here, staying out of the dunes. Once on the greens your work is not done, big and fair greens, nothing crazy, but there
is plenty built into the greens to test even the greatest putters.
From the 4th through the 8th holes, you have one dune-full hole after another. The 9th parkland style, takes you back to the clubhouse with an enormous American Flag along the left side.
The 10th hole kicks off with another parkland hole before bringing you back to the well sculpted dunes holes.
Weather wise our September day was
exceptional, nice temperature, sunny for the most part and little wind to speak of. That might have had something to do with my being able to hit most fairways and most importantly avoid the massive dunes.
Only 1 over, on the back after 6 holes. Hmmmm feeling pretty good! Then came the dreaded 400-yard 16th, at least I can console myself to the fact that my triple bogey came the #1 handicap hole. Ugly lie in a grassy dune bunker on the right, slashed it out to a bunker on the left and promptly into the 130-yard-long bunker protecting the front and right side of the green. Out, but still not on the green. Stick a fork in me, I am done!
Two more bogeys to round out the 9, but still smiling as the overall experience is second to none.
“Mr. Nicklaus and I talk about this place … as a church. A church is a place you come to find spirituality. This is a golf course that is going to raise people’s spirits,” Rooney said.
Rooney’s goal was to make American Dunes the type of golf course that would inspire golfers and veterans from all across the country to make the pilgrimage to Grand Haven. I would say “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”
For more information on American Dunes Golf Club HOME BASE visit www.AmericanDunesGolfClub.com
CapeCod, Massachusetts offers golfers a chance to enjoy the game near the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures on the peninsula say mild well into autumn and the courses are in great shape thanks to cooler nights. From championship 18hole layouts, resort courses and charming, old nine-hole tracks, The Cape offers myriad golf options. Rom sweet nine-hole layouts to 18hole “championship” courses, Cape Cod has great golf located within an hour or so drive of one another. Plus, the Cape’s courses will remain open year-round weather permitting.
When not golfing, you can get away from it all on the beaches, hiking trails, and shopping in cozy villages. Check out the numerous seafood restaurants and lobster shanties, where you can sample freshly-caught seafood and enjoy a beverage while sitting on a picnic table and gazing out into a harbor or the rolling ocean waves.
The National Seashore that is located on the tip of the Cape features a very informative visitor’s center, as well as a number of wildlife sanctuaries for walking
and biking and unfettered strolls along the beach. And it’s easy to find suitable accommodations, whether it is on the ocean or bay side of The Cape, a posh hotel in Chatham or a weathered cottage in the dunes in Wellfleet.
number of courses on Cape Cod. Check out the details of this can’t miss offer in this issue. Call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net to sign up.
Here are some courses to play on your Cape Cod road trip.
The Captains Golf Course (www.TheCaptainsGolfCCourse. com) in Brewster features 36 holes of golf on two very distinct 18-hole layouts. The club calls itself the Cape’s premier public golf facility, and the conditioning here is always excellent, and the golf challenging but approachable for players of all abilities.
The Port Course plays to a yardage of 6,724 yards and has a slope of 131 and a rating above its posted par of 72, which gives an indication of the difficulty of some of the holes. One of the best holes is the 573-yard, par-five eighth. A pond guards the putting surface and there are several large fairway bunkers to complicate matters.
Thanks to Golfing Magazine’s comprehensive Course Play Stimulus Program, our subscribers can try out a
The Starboard Course plays around 6,800 yards and has a slope of 122. It’s a bit more “player friendly” than its sister layout, with wider fairways, large greens,
Bayberry Hills Golf Courseand fewer bunkers than the Port Course, which makes it more suitable for mid- and higher handicap players. Number 18 is a great finishing hole, a 534-yard par-five that can be reached in two by big hitters.
Dennis Highlands Golf Course (www.DennisGolf.com), in the town of Dennis, is situated on 175 acres of pine and oak forest on the north side of Dennis. Designed by Jack Kidwell and Mike Hurdzan and opened for play in 1984, Dennis Highlands is considered by some to be one of the “crown jewels” in the traditional list of fine Cape Cod golf courses. It boasts a spectacular practice range and offers a visually enjoyable golf experience.
Dennis Pines Golf Course (www.DennisGolf.com) is located on 170 acres of pine forestland in East Dennis. Designed by Henry C. Mitchell and opened for play in 1966, Dennis Pines has long been noted as one of the toughest layouts on Cape Cod. Tree-lined corridors place a great premium on accuracy rather than distance. Water comes into play on four holes, and the 12th hole is known as one of the most
difficult par-fives anywhere. The Pines plays 7,029 yards from the tips and will provide the most accomplished players a true test of golf.
The Club at New Seabury (www. NewSeabury.com) is a great place to visit and stay for awhile at this time of year. Stunning ocean views frame the 1,500-acre property, which boasts two recently renovated championship golf courses and Sea Quarters 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, all with spectacular views of Nantucket Sound.
Golf enthusiasts will love the Ocean (amazing views) and Dunes courses and also have unlimited use of the resort’s practice facility and professional instruction. If you want to complement your golf experience with other recreational interests, there is no shortage of activities at New Seabury. If you stay on property, you can 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.
Yarmouth is home to 45 holes of golf that encompasses the newly renovated Bayberry Hills Golf Course, the Links 9, and Bass River Golf Course.
The work at Bayberry Hills Golf Course (www.GolfYarmouthCapeCod.com) was undertaken by Tim Gerrish of Providence, R.I., a former member of the Geoffrey Cornish/Brian Silva team that laid out the track in 1988. Changes were made to make the nearly 7,300-yard course friendlier to the average golfer, yet maintain or even enhance the course’s challenge to the low handicap player.
Bunkers were re-positioned to enhance play options, and others replaced with closely mown collection areas on some holes, providing multiple options for greenside recoveries, fairway corridors have been widened, and green surrounds have been expanded.
Rough areas in the front of greens have been replaced by tightly mown fairway to create the illusion of false fronts in many
cases. Fairway corridors were widened and tree lines thinned, allowing for recovery shots where previously none existed. This feature, accomplished through the removal of over 3,000 trees, provides enhanced course playability, along with a vast improvement in aesthetics and added panoramic course views.
The course’s original bunkers were also re-built to reduce sand area, while maintaining proper proportions and enhancing the original style. The bunkers were lined with pervious capillary concrete that allowed dramatic sand flashing, while reducing bunker face maintenance.
Forward teeing areas on four holes were added for more options in course setup and to provide additional user friendliness. Three tees were re-surfaced, including a new championship tee on number three (a par three), stretching the course to nearly 7,300 yards. In some cases, tees were located for better playability, and on other holes additional playing surface was added to provide varied play lines and more tee placements.
The Links 9, which is on the property at Bayberry, opened in 1999 and is a fun layout, with wide open fairways, solid par-
threes and exposure to the Cape’s wind, which makes the course play different from day to day. A number of the holes are doglegs, which makes approach shots tricky if you don’t put your tee shot in the proper position. Number nine is a 195-yard parthree that demands an accurate shot over water to reach the green.
Bass River Golf Course (www.GolfYarmouthCapeCod.com)is over100 years old that the legendary Donald Ross renovated and expanded. The layout
rolls along among trees and sandy hills and features narrow fairways, small greens and views of nearby Bass River. The club’s signature hole is the sixth, a 169-yard parthree that plays across the river. The layout is on the short side, but the holes demand good shot making and a good short game, a typical Donald Ross demand on the player.
Visit www.CapeCodChamber.org for information.
The Captains Golf Course
The Club at New Seabury
beach resort is now the hottest golf destination on the East Coast! Ocean City, Maryland offers activities for everyone to enjoy, and is “Close To Home and Close To Perfect”.
Ocean City Golf Getaway brings one stop hassle free shopping for your golfing vaca tion.
OC Golf Getaway has made choices simple. Included are varieties of all inclusive service-oriented packages with champion ship golf, hotels, condominiums, golf course townhomes, restaurants, golf schools, and entertainment.
“Ocean City Golf Getaway has been catering to golf enthusiasts and booking their Buddy’s Golf Trip since the early 1980’s, said Walter M. Brooks, Chief Operating Officer of OC Golf Getaways. “We have 17 championship courses, which rank nationally in Golf Digest and Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100’. It’s challenging
coastal golf, designed by legendary players and world renowned golf architects.”
For after golf, said Brooks, there is 10 miles of white sandy beaches with a world famous-three-mile boardwalk to enjoy and there are luxury accommodations from oceanfront to bayfront hotels and condos. The area also boasts excellent dining venues
and an exciting nightlife to keep you going all day and night. There are activities and year-round events, such as concerts, golf tournaments, wine tasting, fishing tourna ments and more.”
Ocean City features as perfect climate for playing the game with the warm waters of the Atlantic keeping the temperatures mild well into fall, with courses staying open year-round.
“We are less than a half-day’s drive from the Northeast,” said Brooks. “We have great stay and play packages with more added value, group leader incentives, and packages for all golfers’ needs and budget.
Ocean City is serviced by American Airlines into the Salisbury/Ocean City Regional Airport via Charlotte, North Carolina and Philadelphia. For informa tion and reservations, contact American Airlines at 800-433-7600. Flights fly direct ly into Salisbury, Maryland. Salisbury is
Rum Pointea 20-minute drive to Ocean City. Ocean City Municipal Airport can be contacted for direct charter service by calling 410213-2471, or contact your local airport for further information.
When planning next year’s summer fam ily vacation, don’t forget about champi onship golf at great value. You can take advantage of discounted prices that range from $40 to $65 for 18 holes with cart included. If you are coming to Ocean City and have a place to stay, you can book your tee times on OC Golf Getaway’s Website or can always call us direct. There are attractive golf specials all summer long.
Said Brooks, “Plan, book and custom ize your next Buddy’s Golf Trip with us.” For information on the Ocean City area, visit www.OceanCityGolf.com or call 800-4-OC-Golf.
Here is a brief look at the courses you can play when you hook up with OC Golf Getaway:
Bayside Resort Golf Club
Bayside Resort Golf Club is Delaware’s
first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, conveniently located just west of Fenwick Island, Delaware, off Rt. 54 and just 5 miles from Ocean City, Maryland. It fea tures a state of the art clubhouse and prac tice facility with gorgeous views along the Assawoman Bay coastline and magnificent pine forests.
An “Exclusively Public” 18-Hole cham pionship course, Baywood Greens offers golfers the most scenic and spectacular golf on the Delmarva Peninsula. Described as the “Augusta of the North”, at Baywood Greens you will experience meticulously, manicured woodland and waterside holes.
Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club offers one of the area’s most unique and memorable golf experiences on the Eastern Shore and is located in Ocean View, Delaware, just 3 miles west of Bethany Beach. Winding bent grass fairways are lined with native wetland grasses that drift into stunning sand dunes.
Eagle’s Landing boasts the most scenic and challenging golf course on the Eastern Shore. Eagle’s Landing has been rated “Best in State” in Maryland by Golf Digest and is the first certified Audubon Sanctuary in Maryland. A variety of links style holes with carries over marsh and wetlands.
GlenRiddle Golf Club (a 36 hole cham pionship golf facility) is the centerpiece of the GlenRiddle residential development located just minutes from Ocean City, Maryland. The Man O’ War course features pure, windswept links golf. The golfer faces challenges often found in the British Isles.
GlenRiddle Golf Club (a 36 hole cham pionship golf facility) is the centerpiece of the GlenRiddle residential develop ment located just minutes from Ocean City, Maryland. The War Admiral course is routed through mature forest and offers a completely different golf experience.
Heritage Shores Club offers an excit
ing Arthur Hills designed champion ship golf course, featuring a signature design with water flanking a majority of the holes and an elegant Nantucket inspired clubhouse providing a comfortable and inviting retreat with every visit.
This 4 1/2 Star Championship Golf Overlooking the Bay and the Ocean City Skyline was designed by premier golf archi tect Arthur Hills, Lighthouse Sound and offers a great variety in terms of visual excitement and strategy. The championship course features marsh, river and bay on 15 of the 18 holes.
“Southern Hospitality at Its Best”, Nutters Crossing Golf Club is strategically located off Rt. 50, just 25 miles west of Ocean City, Maryland. You will be wel comed with southern hospitality when you arrive at their classic colonial clubhouse.
Ocean City Golf Club--Newport Bay Newport Bay Course has all 18 holes alongside marsh and bay vistas and recog nized as one of the premier routing in the area. The course has great conditions.
The Seaside Course at Ocean City Golf Club offers players at every level of experi ence, age, and ability a round of golf with
solitude and beauty that will inspire you to challenge the course and evaluate both your play and enjoyment of the game.
Discover golf at the only Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed golf course on the Eastern Shore. With a new clubhouse and 18 newly restored greens, this timeless clas sic is sure to win you over as you make your way through tree lined fairways.
“A true seaside golf course,” says designer Pete and P.B. Dye. Rum Pointe overlooks Assateague Island National Seashore and the Sinepuxent Bay with no less than seventeen of the eighteen holes having a bay view and several holes having direct bay frontage.
See why “Great Golf Is Just The Beginning” in Ocean City, Maryland. Visit www.OceanCityGolf.com or Call (800) 4-OC-Golf
