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THIS MONTH: WALDORF ASTORIA GOLF CLUB I CHIPSHOTS I SWEET STUFF
9th
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GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2011
THE LODGE OF FOUR SEASONS
MISSOURI LEGEND IN THE OZARKS
PGA WEST SAMPLER
18 HOLES TO PLAY
TOP
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Exclusive offer for guests at Central Missouri’s The Lodge of Four Seasons
MASTER GOLF TOUR Jack Nicklaus - Robert Trent Jones Sr. - Arnold Palmer - Tom Weiskopf - Ken Kavanaugh
porto cima DESIGNED BY JACK NICKLAUS
osage national
old kinderhook
the ridge
the cove
DESIGNED BY ARNOLD PALMER
DESIGNED BY TOM WEISKOPF
DESIGNED BY KEN KAVANAUGH
DESIGNED BY ROBERT TRENT JONES SR
You pick how many of these world class golf courses you want to play, how many nights you want to stay, then go online to www.4SeasonsResort.com and we’ll help set up your own personal MASTER GOLF TOUR. Pack your bags, it’s easy, quick, and lots of fun!
THE LODGE of FOUR SEASONS G O L F
R E S O R T
&
Click here to go to www.4SeasonsResort.com IN COOPERATION WITH THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS GOLF COUNCIL
S PA
S H I K I
contents I april 2011
cover
stories
14
The Lodge of Four Seasons
24
Top 18 Holes You Can Play
28
Resort Report: Starr Pass Tucson
32
Royal St. George Highlights Area Tracks
12
by JD Latorre
Over the past several decades, the Lodge of Four Seasons has played a significant role in establishing the Lake of the Ozarks as a major golf destination.
by Larry Feldman
Over the years, luminaries ranging from Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer to Phil Mickelson and David Duval have tested their mettle at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST.
by David R. Holland
14
Few golfers who walk the sixth hole on the Coyote nine at Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club know it, but they're following a legendary trail on this 351-yard par 4.
by Tom LaMarre
The hosting of The Open Championship at Royal St George’s on the Kent coast in July will highlight the abundance of premier links courses that can be found elsewhere in the south of England.
departments
24
9 ChipShots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel
12 Wine Tour with the Golf Tour Pro Golfers Tee Up Their Pro Wines
34 Sweet Stuff
by Larry Feldman
Around The World in 80 Days, TaylorMade Penta TP
36 Club Closeup
by JD Latorre
Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in Orlando
on the cover: The Lodge Of Four Seasons - Hole #4 On The Cove
28 6
G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 1
www.golfvacationsmag.com
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Larry Feldman is a nationally published freelance golf journalist of more than 17 years. Based in Park City, Utah, his writing has appeared in such high-profile publications as Southern California Golf News, Palm Springs Life, Golf Tips, Sports Profiles and Men’s Look. Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
Tom LaMarre has been a sportswriter for some 40 years, including long stints with the Oakland Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He was the Tribune’s beat writer with the Oakland Raider for seven seasons in the 1970’s and has written two books, “Winning Offensive Football” with quarterback Kenny Stabler and “Stadium Stories: The Oakland Raiders.” Tom makes his home in Orlando
David R. Holland is a former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, a football magazine publisher and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Multiple careers best describes this world traveler, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, serving during the Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. A former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, you can follow Dave’s travels on www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland.
Associate Editor Terry Ross Features Editor Larry Feldman Senior Writers Tom LaMarre Fred Robledo For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: INFO@GolfVacationsMag.com
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JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Cabo San Lucas, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angeles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.
Los Angeles • 949-279-7801 Terry Ross - terryross@cox.net Atlanta • 770-971-1616 John Reock - reock@mindspring.com San Diego • 619-889-7706 Bob Black - bobblack@cox.net Kansas City • 913-217-7242 Harry Noll - hmdn1954@yahoo.com
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Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2011 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. www.golfvacationsmag.com
U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> GRAND VIEW LODGE CHOSEN “BEST RESORT FOR ALL SEASONS”
TEE IT UP AT THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNEY
BRAINERD, MN. - Grand View Lodge has been chosen as the “Best Resort for All Seasons” in the Editor’s Picks of Minnesota Meetings + Events magazine’s Best of the Industry Awards. Cited for having the best activities, atmosphere and amenities all year round, the resort proudly accepted the award at the W Hotel Minneapolis on Thursday, March 24.
KENNEBUNKPORT, ME. - As the premiere golf event in Maine, the 9th Annual George H.W. Bush Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place June 14, 2011 at Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport with Former Patriots and Red Sox players in attendance. The tournament is a best-ball scramble with a maximum of 27 teams, each with one Maine golf professional. Registration is now open for the tournament, with May 20, 2011 as a deadline to enter. Teams may purchase a spot in the tournament online at www.mercyhospital.org/content/ghgolfinfob.htm This event will also feature the Point of Light Award, given to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to the growth of Gary’s House. Previous winners include President George H.W. Bush, American Airlines, and the Maine PGA Professionals.
“Winning the Best Resort for All Seasons is a remarkable achievement,” said Mark Ronnei, general manager of Grand View Lodge. “Our guests are looking for a resort that they can love both in the summertime and in the cold months of winter; with our spa, culinary experiences and plethora of outdoor activities, we can accommodate them with a range of options no matter the season.” Grand View Lodge’s year-round offerings include the luxurious Glacial Waters Spa, first-class wine tastings and culinary events located in the resort’s exclusive wine cellar, extensive kids programs and cozy cabins. In the winter there’s dog sledding, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. In the summer, the resort fills with guests taking advantage of the property’s three championship golf courses, water activities and the views of beautiful Gull and Roy Lakes. Furthermore, Grand View Lodge is equipped with the impressive Gull Lake Center with meeting rooms for all sizes as well as a Grand Ballroom, serving as the perfect backdrop for weddings and special events. The honor and the rest of Minnesota Meetings + Events Best of the Industry Awards winners will be highlighted in the publication’s spring issue. For additional resort information and to find out about vacation, visit www.grandviewlodge.com or call 1-866-801-2951. www.golfvacationsmag.com
Scheduled celebrity appearances include: Former New England Patriots Troy Brown, Steve Grogan and former Boston Red Sox players - Luis Tiant & Rico Petrocelli. There is a maximum of 27 teams in the tournament, each with a golf pro. All golfers receive gift bags, breakfast and lunch on the course, and dinner and wine at the Colony Hotel. They will also have their names printed in the program book. The Point of Light Award will be presented at the Golf Classic Dinner and Auction, taking place after the tournament
chip shots at the Colony Hotel. The tournament has historically brought in more than $150,000 for Gary’s House, and it is usually a sold out event for golfers The tournament is a top fundraiser for Gary’s House and essential to supporting its ongoing operations.
GULF SHORES ENJOYING ROBUST SPRING GOLF SEASON GULFSHORES, AL. – Gulf Shores is experiencing a flourishing spring golf travel season and is trending to exceed 2010 bookings this year, due to its competitive marketing approach this year. Golf Gulf Shores, the CVB-led regional golf tourism association, reports that golf rounds and bookings into the destination so far are ahead of last year’s figures. Website inquiries are on the rise on golfgulfshores.com, and travelers are offering positive feedback on the quality of their recent experiences, with a 100% “intent to return” factor from all reporting visitors in 2011. Golfers have also responded to the variety of price-point options, offering play at nine quality courses and over 20,000 accommodations units with booking ease. The destination was also lauded for its visitor-friendly website booking tool that produces quick and thorough quotes based on a guest’s own preferences, putting the power in the hands of travelers to customize their stay at very attractive rates. “Gulf Shores prides itself on its people, and it’s edifying to see that our friendliness and efficiency push us ahead of other destinations,” said Golf Gulf Shores Executive Director Duncan Millar. “Our golfers clearly love it here.” Most spring golf packages that include accommodations and golf start under $100 per person per night through May, based on multiple night stays.
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U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> SADDLE CREEK OFFERS GREAT SPRING VALUE IN APRIL, MAY COPPEROPOLIS, CA. – Saddle Creek Resort – rated one of the top golf courses in-state by Golf Magazine and Golfweek – is offering the “Great Spring Value” beginning April 1 and featuring golf on its championship-level layout starting at $75 per person.
With the course in prime condition, the Great Spring Value includes golf, cart fees, a sleeve of Saddle Creek logoed golf balls, and a lunch consisting of an all beef hot dog and chips. Mid-week prices are $75 per person and $105 on the weekend. “As the new season approaches, local and regional golfers can experience Saddle Creek’s award-winning layout at an unbeatable price,” says Bob Higgins, General Manager. “The course is in prime condition due to the mild winter, yet there’s still enough time to enjoy stunning vistas of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in the distance.” For those looking for overnight accommodations, Saddle Creek Resort offers luxurious, course-side bungalows. Options include a full two-bedroom, two-bath bungalow, or a one-bedroom suite with full kitchen and dining area, and a living room with cozy fireplace. Guests will also receive access to the resort’s Sports Club, which houses a junior Olympic-size lap pool, workout equipment, tennis and bocce ball courts and a horse shoe pit. Saddle Creek’s challenging-yet-fair design and excellent conditioning has made the resort a perennial favorite for golfers of all abilities. Not to be missed while at Saddle Creek Lodge is the awardwinning Copper Grille — a culinary destination of Calaveras County featuring more than 500 wines including the highlypraised local Petit Syrah. Saddle Creek Resort’s miles of hiking and biking trails 10
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are easily accessible from the bungalows. For more information, call Saddle Creek Resort at 209.785.7415 or visit www.saddlecreek.com
BEST’S GOLF GUIDE NAMES OCHOA PERSON OF THE YEAR PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Quintana Roo, Mexico - Golf Publishing International has announced the Person of the Year for 2010, Mexican Super Star, Lorena Ochoa presented by Avis Car Rental. The four-time LPGA Player of the Year, now retired at the ripe young age of 29, has set her focus on giving back to her community, to her country and to the young Hispanic population, especially girls. She has established the Lorena Ochoa Foundation in both Mexico and the United States to create a system to introduce the game of golf that she has loved all her life and excelled at it. She won a record of 5 times World Amateur Championship as a pre-teenager while growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico. She also won the Charlie Bartlett award this year from the Golf Writer's Association of America for her humanitarian efforts. Lorena is truly unique. She is a tireless giver and is passionate about all the things she does. When she is at an event like the recent Mayakoba Classic in the Riviera Maya, full with top PGA players, she is the one the fans look for and she is the one that naturally reaches out and shakes a hand or smile for a photo.
"It is always a pleasure to be around her and share in the positive energy that radiates from the core of her being" said Chuck Kinder, Founder of Golf Publishing International and a long time friend of Mexico. For more information on her Lorena Ochoa Foundation go to: www.fundacionlorenaochoa.org/index_i.html
chip shots TEE OFF AT THE WOODSTOCK INN & RESORT THIS MAY WOODSTOCK, VT – The Woodstock Inn & Resort 2011 golf season swings into full gear this May with two golf packages that encourage guests to reach the top of their game while enjoying Woodstock’s top-rated 18-hole golf course designed by legendary course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Set in the unspoiled Kedron Valley, The Woodstock Inn & Resort offers a spectacular 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr. golf course with picturesque views from nearly every green. The 6,000-yard, par70 course is a challenging sequence of fairways, sandtraps and water hazards guaranteed to test the most seasoned golfer.
Available May 1 through October 31, 2011, Woodstock’s golf packages include: Heritage Unlimited Golf Package Unlimited golf at The Resort's Golf Club, One night's luxurious accommodations, Breakfast, Golf cart, Complimentary use of the practice facility, Complimentary yardage booklet Rates start at $298 per room. Woodstock – Quechee Golf Package This year The Woodstock Inn & Resort offers a chance to play two top-rated courses including the exclusively private, The Quechee Club, and Woodstock’s own Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed golf course. The package includes: Two night’s luxurious accommodation at The Woodstock Inn & Resort, Two rounds of golf with cart (one at The Quechee Club and one at the Woodstock Golf Club), Breakfast daily at The Woodstock Inn & Resort, Complimentary use of the practice facility Rates start at $458 per room. For more information, visit www.woodstockinn.com or call (888) 481-8802. www.golfvacationsmag.com
orre T U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >>
SPRING SEASON SPECIALS AT POCONO MOUNTAIN TRACKS
POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA. - The Pocono Mountains are celebrating the beginning of spring and the 2011 playing season (www.poconosgolf.com) by taking advantage of specials from over 35 golf courses in the region. Located within easy drive of New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey, most golf courses are offering early stay-and-play rates around or below $100, including: Buck Hill Golf Club: This classic Donald Ross design is opening its spring season with a “Pay One Greens Fee, Get a Second One Free” promotion from April 9-June 15. Call 570-595-7730 for details or visit www.buckhillgolfclub.com. Free Golf April at Shawnee Inn: As part of its 2011 Centennial celebration, The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort is offering free golf to guests from April 3 to April 28. For mid-week rates as low as $106, guests receive one-night accommodation, breakfast and a round of golf, including a
cart at the renowned course that opened in 1911 and is A.W. Tillinghast’s first American design. Call 1-800SHAWNEE or visit www.shawneeinn.com Spring Weekend Golf Tournament at Pocono Palace Resort: Couples will enjoy a romantic golf getaway at the Pocono Palace Resort, April 28-May 1. Set in a beautiful mountain setting, this ninehole regulation course is perfect for all skill levels. Enjoy closest-to-pin and straightest and longest drive contests as well cocktail parties, a wine and cheese meet-and-greet, a complimentary sunset Italian feast, dinner at Fat Paulie’s and live entertainment. For more details visit www.covepoconoresorts.com. Fernwood Hotel and Resort Spring Golf Package: Experience a round of golf on the rolling fairways of this 18-hole gem
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and get one night accommodation for rates that start at just $69 per person. For even more value, book two nights’ accommodation and two rounds of golf for just $138 per person. Offer is valid from April 1 to June 2. Visit www.fernwoodhotel.com. Mount Airy Golf Club: Designed after Sports Illustrated’s “18 Best Holes of Golf,” Mount Airy will open its season April 1 with rates between $20-$25 for nine holes or $37-$45 for 18 holes during the month of April. See www.mountairycasino.com. Mountain Manor: Offering $35 rounds on weekdays and $45 rates on weekends for unlimited play during April. Call 570-223-1290 or visit www.mountainmanor.com
THE CUISINE OF ITALY
“Combining Old-World Italian comfort food with personalized service, a congenial atmosphere and an extensive wine list, La Torretta excels as one of Arizona’s most impressive restaurants” — Dining Out
With a menu that utilizes the freshest and most authentic ingredients and pasta made fresh in-house daily, the restaurant’s culinary fare is consistently delicious and refreshing.Their Osso Buco,Taglio del Vitello Farcito con Quattro Farmagio and Veal Piccata have become local legends and inspired positive reviews from the Scottsdale Republic, the New Times, Guest Informant, TravelHost, and Scottsdale Magazine. The combination of La Torretta’s sophisticated interior and authentic food make it a prime candidate for intimate dinners to group celebrations of special occasions.
LIVE WELL
•
LOVE MUCH
•
LAUGH OFTEN
LA TORRETTA Ristorante & Italian Steakhouse
16640 N. Scottsdale Rd • SW corner Frank Lloyd Wright/Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale • 480.991.2000 • www.latorrettaaz.com Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm • Dinner Daily 4:30-9:30pm
WINE TOUR
GOLF TOUR
with the
For some time now, golf superstars have been cultivating the craft of making wine in addition to practicing the perfect swing. In this process, golfers like Annika Sorenstam (ANNIKA Vineyards), Arnold Palmer (Arnold Palmer Wines), Greg Norman (Greg Norman Estates), and Ernie Els (Ernie Els Winery) have found that the attributes that make an unforgettable bottle of wine also make a championship golf course. Listed below are wines made by the famous golfers, which have also been paired with the world’s most revered golf courses. ANNIKA SORENSTAM, who is one of the world’s most celebrated golfers with 89 international championship wins, has produced a classic California style Chardonnay under her new wine label ANNIKA Vineyards. Her 2008 Chardonnay is smooth, but full-bodied, and pairs excellently with the Augusta National Golf Course. With the Augusta’s famous holes named for the trees and shrubs that can be spotted on the course. Like the Flowering Peach, Magnolia, and Azalea, the course is smooth and sweet. The course is also an undisputed challenge with a rich finish just like Annika’s Chardonnay. ARNOLD PALMER has produced a 2007 Arnold Palmer Cabernet Sauvignon. This elegant and complex Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. The Old Course is one of the most elegant, intricate, and difficult courses in the world. Its greatness, like the Cabernet Sauvignon, comes from its purity, and complexity. GREG NORMAN has produced a 2007 Greg Norman Estates Limestone Coast Shiraz. This balanced, soft, and even textured wine is the perfect match to the Royal County Down course in Northern Ireland. The course, like the Shiraz, is even, balanced, and well textured, with immaculately polished greens, and is considered to be the best maintained course in the world. ERNIE ELS has created a 2006 Guardian Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch. This wine has a wonderful length without being overly powerful, much like the Pine Valley Golf Club. Pine Valley is praised for the consistent level of challenge and conditioning on each hole. It is, like the wine, a full and demanding course, but not overly so. Just enough to be pleasurable.
ANNIKA • CHARDONNAY 2008 • LIVERMORE VALLEY This Chardonnay exhibits classic aromas of apple and pear along with honey and graham. Malolactic fermentation and battonage, the stirring of the lees, introduces a yeasty, leafy characteristic to the wine. Intense citrus flavors fill your mouth, followed by a subtle toasty vanilla and ground spice flavor from the barrel aging. The wine finishes with a long, rich and lush finish. VINEYARD The Chardonnay was harvested from the Ranch 4 block on the Livermore Valley estate. These particular vineyards are known for their outstanding fruit and production consistency, making them the optimal selection for the Annika Chardonnay. FERMENTATION After being handpicked, these Chardonnay grapes were hand sorted at the winery, then gently pressed and barrel-fermented in French, American, Eastern European and neutral oak. A long, cool fermentation allows for the retention of the fruit flavors and beautiful integration of the flavors from the oak. AGING The Chardonnay was aged in a combination of French, American, Eastern European and neutral oak for 17 months. PRODUCTION 221 cases www.golfvacationsmag.com
DESTINATIONS
www.golfvacationsmag.com
WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO PLAY
G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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MISSOURI MAS
SHOWING OFF THE SH
Founder Howard Koplar
First Family of Hospitality Determining the long-term influence of two families – the Koplars and the Browns – on the state of Missouri will be something business professors will discuss with students many years from now. Harold Koplar was lured to central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks region. He believed the Lake of the Ozarks region had potential beyond what anyone at the time dreamed in the early 1960’s. Today’s Four Seasons Group of Companies – which encompasses thousands of acres and several businesses – began as his vision.
STERPIECE
HOW ME STATE
Hole #15 at Porto Cima
by JDLATORRE
Koplar had a vision to create an unequaled experience in a remote land that would bring enjoyment to people of all ages. The 3,500 acre community of Four Seasons USA in the Midwest's Lake of the Ozarks emerged in 1965. Koplar brought a family tradition of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and entertainment to the Lake. Part of Koplar's dream was to create an experience for all guests. In the early 1980s, his creative spirit even brought a live Brahma Bull to mingle with the crowd as part of a country and western act. While the rhinestone days of bulls and country singing have passed, some aspects of the Lodge have remained intact. The beautiful Japanese gardens still provide a quiet backdrop for the resort. Koplar brought Japanese landscape artist Buffy Murai to the Lake to design the Lodge scenery. Murai once added his watercolor talents to film backdrops for "Sayonara" and "Around the World in 80 days". Inside, during the early days, the Lodge continued its air of uniqueness with hand-carved furniture from Madrid. Today, guests find comfortable Lodge rooms with furniture custom-made in Guadalajara, Mexico. Young artists are sought after to create custom pieces for the Lodge, continuing its tradition of exclusive, irreproducible decor. Shortly before Harold Koplar’s death in the late 1980s, his daughter, Susan Koplar Brown, became president of the operations. “My passion comes from my father,” says Susan Koplar Brown. “He gave us that drive. He was my father, my friend, my business associate and my inspiration.” Harold Koplar, founder of The Lodge of Four Seasons and Robert Trent Jones Sr., architect who designed The Cove Signature golf course, discuss details of the layout.
Susan and Peter Brown became key figures in the hospitality, real estate and development industries. With Susan at the helm of the resort and hospitality aspects of the business and Peter running all the real estate and development enterprises, the Four Seasons Group of Companies became one of the most respected family businesses in the country. Throughout the years of growth, the company has stayed in the family. In addition to Susan and Peter Brown Sr., Harold Koplar’s grandsons Peter Jr., David and Mark all maintain an integral role in the family business. Some of those businesses include The Lodge of Four Seasons, Porto Cima, Four Seasons Realty, Four Seasons Homes and Spa Shiki, which is located at The Lodge.
Golf at The Lodge of Four Seasons Over the past several decades, the Lodge of Four Seasons has played a significant role in establishing the Lake of the Ozarks as a major golf destination.
The Cove The Cove, The Lodge's signature course, was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. This 18-hole, par-71 championship course challenges guests with its rolling greens, 65 bunkers, and our signature hole #4. Panoramic views of the scenic hills complement this golfing experience. Golfers will also enjoy a large new pro shop, a clubhouse and grill.
The Ridge The Brown Family
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Ken Kavanaugh's design, The Ridge, is one of the finest championship courses in the Ozarks and has been ranked by Golf Digest as a 4www.golfvacationsmag.com
Green #5 on The Ridge Golf Course
Hole #3 on The Cove Golf Course
www.golfvacationsmag.com
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The Lodge of Four Seasons located on more than 3,500 acres.
“
What we are offering from an amenities standpoint is far beyond what anyone else offers. ” Alan R. D’Zurilla Director of Sales and Marketing
The Residences at The Lodge
star course for "Places to Play." Many golfers refer to the18-hole course's altitude drops and generous landing areas as "player-friendly." Golfers on this par-72 course enjoy rolling hills, native wildflowers, and beautiful views of the Lake. The Ridge includes a 4,000 square-foot clubhouse, featuring a large pro shop and grill.
Porto Cima While the Club at Porto Cima is a private Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, tee times are available exclusively to The Lodge guests. The course is located immediately across the Lake of the Ozarks Community Bridge on the Shawnee Bend peninsula of the Lake of the Ozarks. It is the only 18-hole, waterfront Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in Missouri, 20
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and Golf Digest has recognized The Club as the # 4 ‘best new private golf course’ in America. Individual, family or corporate memberships to this private course are available. Visit www.PortoCima.com Premium rental equipment and complete food and beverage service are available at all of the courses. Golf reservations can be made by calling central reservations at 888-265-5500 or visiting online at www.4seasonsresort.com
Perfect Getaway For Any Time of Year Being on the water is one thing the whole family can agree on, and The Lodge of Four Seasons has the lake’s largest full-service marina. After you’ve had your fill of life on the lake, visit any one of the four swimming pools, including an indoor/outdoor pool. Accommodations at The Lodge of
Four Seasons are world-class. There are 350 rooms to choose from, including the upgraded executive floor, where you’ll receive VIP service. The lodge is perfect for business trips as well. It has 21 meeting rooms, 65,000 square feet of meeting space, a theater that can hold 240 people, and a banquet capacity that can accommodate 1,300 guests.
The Residences At The Lodge In an area dense with hospitality options, like the Lake of the Ozarks, it is important to stand out from the pack. The Residences at The Lodge - Avila does just that by offering a lavish resort accommodations experience with highend amenities. “What we are offering from an amenities standpoint is far beyond what anyone else offers,” says Alan R. www.golfvacationsmag.com
Luxury Living at The Residences
Luxurious furnishing with a balcony and view
A full furnished kitchen at The Residences
www.golfvacationsmag.com
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D’Zurilla, Director of Sales and Marketing. “With three golf courses, including the onsite Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Signature championship Cove course, the Ken Kavanaugh designed Ridge course, and The Club at Porto Cima, the Jack Nicklaus designed 18hole course, there are plenty of places to play at The Lodge.
Say Aaaaah! At Spa Shiki
Also featured is an on site cinema, the award-winning Spa Shiki, three outdoor pools and an indoor/outdoor pool. A variety of dining options, including the resort’s signature restaurant HK’s, casual dining at Breezes, Soleils, Parrot Bar & Grill and two golf course grills, combined with the nightlife at the Mist Lounge and the Lobby Bar. Relax in the whirlpool at Spa Shiki
Kids can be entertained at the Adventure Club, a supervised child-care facility on the premises. And, there is a full service marina, with boat rental slips for owners and guests,”added D’Zurilla. Guests can relax and enjoy Avila accommodations from a two-bedrooms and two baths on a one-bedroom one bath, all come fully furnished. Accommodations can include a full kitchen with dark wood cabinetry, granite countertops and black appliances. Bathrooms include granite vanities and large walk-in showers. A flat screen TV provides entertainment in every room. With its myriad entertainment options and award-winning restaurants and lounges, its no wonder The Lodge of Four Seasons is one of the top destinations at the Lake of the Ozarks. The Lodge of Four Seasons can be reached at 888-265-5500 or on the web at www.4seasonsresort.com
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R
ecognized by Spa Magazine as one of the top 10 resort spas in the Midwest, The Lodge of Four Seasons’ Japanese-themed Spa Shiki draws upon Far Eastern philosophies of health and wellness. With more than 15,000 square feet and 15 treatment rooms, plus men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms and infrared saunas, a co-ed salt purified whirlpool, salon and fitness center, Spa Shiki provides a complete escape to round out a golf getaway at the Lake of the Ozarks. Outdoors, the resort’s Japanese garden and Koi pond overlook the expansive lake, complementing the spa. Beyond the world-class facility, Spa Shiki prides itself on providing exceptional treatments by some of the most highly trained therapists in the industry. Bringing in nationally and worldrenown educators, Spa Shiki provides advanced post-graduate level training for its therapists, estheticians and technicians. Training through such leaders as the American Spa Therapy and Education Certification Council (ASTECC) ensures that Spa Shiki stays on both the leading edge of spa therapy and incorporates established spa methodologies that have been proven through centuries of healing. Signature treatments at Spa Shiki include Spa Shiki’s Signature Swedish
Massage that follows a specific routine utilizing the five strokes of Swedish massage and the Japanese Cleansing Ritual, which provides a multi-faceted deep relaxation experience. The Golfer’s Delight Massage is designed specifically for a golfer’s concerns, concentrating on the neck, back and shoulders to relieve discomfort and working on the low back and hamstrings to improve balance and flexibility.
Spa Director, Ann Brown
Travel + Leisure Golf recognized Spa Shiki one of the top two spas in the Midwest, and the spa has also been seen on NBC’s Today Show, in Spa Magazine, Midwest Living and more. Visit www.spashiki.com
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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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PGA WEST a
“Top 18 H Dunes Course
“The Best of the West” Announced in Tandem with 25th Anniversary LA QUINTA, Calif. – It’s a golf lover’s dream come true: mastering the 18 most memorable holes – all designed by golf greats Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye – at one of the country’s premier golf resorts. Over the years, luminaries ranging from Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer to Phil Mickelson and David Duval have tested their mettle at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST – one of the top golf destinations in the West. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of PGA WEST – a spectacular master-planned country club community on 2,200 acres – La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST have culled the “Top 18 Holes” from five iconic resort courses: the Pete Dye-designed Mountain and Dunes courses at La Quinta Resort & Club and the Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus Tournament and Pete Dye TPC Stadium courses at PGA WEST. La Quinta Resort and PGA WEST invite golfers to put their talents to the test on all five courses, and then tackle what has been dubbed “the sixth resort course,” which is a combination of the best 18 holes determined by PGA WEST pros. Some of the holes were chosen for their beauty, others for playability and fun, and some for their difficult challenges. The “Top 18” has a flow that allows players to test all of their golfing skills, and it’s a course to be enjoyed by all who love the game – from high handicappers to professionals. Further celebrating PGA WEST’s 25 years of excellence, the player with the top score earns a well-deserved prize for achieving what is truly a golfer’s tour de force. Below, Mike Kelly, executive director of PGA WEST, describes the course highlights, as well as the “Top 18” selected from the designs of Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST: 24
G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 1
FRONT NINE: Par 36 Black Tees: 3,456 yards White Tees: 3,212 yards Red (Gold) Tees: 2,802 yards
Dunes Course at La Quinta Resort designed by Pete Dye. Utilizing a bump-and-run style that brings an international bent to La Quinta, this par-72 course offers a traditional rolling-links-style golf course with Scottish and Irish flair, characterized by contrasting manicured fairways and thick penalizing rough. Top holes: HOLE 1 - Dunes 14 (par 4) 377 / 354 / 278 (HCP) – 5 Positioning off the tee to a yardage that will not allow too much spin on the next shot to the green is key here. Too much backspin, and the ball is in the front bunker 20 feet below the green. HOLE 2 - Dunes 17 (par 4) 420 / 414 / 369 HCP – 1 Once voted the most difficult in California by PGA Professionals, this crescent-shaped hole has Pete Dye’s name written all over it. Aggressive players may do well, or lay back and take a bogey five as a good score. HOLE 3 - Dunes 6 (par 3) 191 / 173 / 106 HCP – 13 An island green surrounded by bunkers requires a middle of the green approach when deciding on the club of choice.
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and La Quinta Resort & Club
Holes You Can Play” Mountain Course Hole #15
by LarryFeldman
Greg Norman Course at PGA WEST® Known for its spectacular desert terrain and limited turf, this targetstyle course spans 68 acres of turf and features native desert plants and grasses, colorful pockets of wildflowers and nine lakes. The newest course at PGA WEST and the only Greg Norman-designed golf course in the Coachella Valley, the course is situated 40 feet below sea level and features 102 white crushed marble bunkers, offering a truly "Outback" experience. HOLE 8 - Norman 15 (par 4) 431 / 383 / 358 HCP – 9 Bunkers will challenge players at every step of this hole. Place the ball in a fairway bunker and getting to the green in regulation will not be an option. Straight beats long on this hole every day. HOLE 9 - Norman 16 (par 5) 537 / 491 / 476 HCP – 15 A beautiful desert hole with the mountains as a backdrop allows players to enjoy an outback experience on this challenging par five.
Mountain Course at La Quinta Resort designed by Pete Dye. Famed for its unique Pete Dye design, playability and stunning visuals, this ultra-challenging course features pot bunkers and rock formations, as well as incredible elevations of tee boxes and well-bunkered greens. Top holes:
Black Tees: 3,557 yards White Tees: 2,952 yards Red (Gold) Tees: 2,731 yards
HOLE 4 - Mountain 9 (par 4) 433 / 361 / 352 HCP – 3 Getting to the green is the easy part. This green challenges all players as they make the turn to one of the finest back nines on the planet.
HOLE 10 - Norman 11 (par 4) 337 / 272 / 262 HCP – 14 A hole doesn’t have to be long to be challenging. This drivable par 4 tempts players to go for it, as the scattered bunkers short of the green make it just as difficult to lay up.
HOLE 5 - Mountain 14 (par 4) 389 / 377 / 310 HCP – 7 Strike a tee shot toward the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains to lay the groundwork for an approach shot over the desertscape onto a raised green.
BACK NINE: Par 36
Nicklaus Tournament Course
HOLE 6 - Mountain 15 (par 5) 517 / 502 / 464 HCP – 11 Playing along the base of the mountains, stay tight to the base and go for this par 5 in two. The green stays snug up against the base and will not be in full view. HOLE 7 - Mountain 16 (par 3) 161 / 157 / 89 HCP – 17 As the cart climbs the mountain to the tees, take in the rugged beauty of the desert as well as a glimpse of the Salton Sea. Strike a tee shot that will appear to be suspended above the desert. The ball will eventually land – hopefully on the green at the base. www.golfvacationsmag.com
Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA WEST® This par-72 course combines dramatic backdrops with a challenging Jack Nicklaus design that features a premium on driving accuracy and ability to work the ball left and right for small but receptive greens. G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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HOLE 11 - Tournament 5 (par 4) 364 / 299 / 288 HCP – 10 Play to the right fairway for a wide but shallow green to hit to. Play to the left fairway for a long but narrow green to approach. Which is optimal? Jack says play to the right side.
TPC Stadium Hole #17
HOLE 12 - Tournament 8 (par 3) 172 / 132 / 125 HCP – 18 This peninsula of a green allows players to over club to avoid the water. Take advantage of Jack’s kindness on this one. HOLE 13 - Tournament 15 (par 5) 572 / 472 / 462 HCP – 12 Staying left off the tee will allow the second shot to play away from the lake. The third shot to the island green needs to be a pin seeker – as this is an exceptionally difficult green, especially with an overly long putt. HOLE 14 - Tournament 18 (par 4) 453 / 403 / 388 HCP – 4 This is a tester. A Nicklaus fade will be needed to get one close as the green climbs up from left to right.
TPC® Stadium Course at PGA WEST® This par-72 Pete Dye-designed jewel is a "must play" for those seeking the ultimate golf challenge. Its mystique is derived from unique undulations, cavernous bunkers and peninsula and island par 3s. Tournament highlights include Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the Skins Game.
HOLE 15 - Stadium 9 (par 4) 452 / 382 /313 HCP – 6 Bomb it off the tee as this green is well-protected and difficult to hold with a long iron or hybrid. A four here will feel like a birdie.
Greg Norman Hole #11
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HOLE 16 - Stadium 16 (par 5) 600 / 474 / 463 HCP – 8 Time to accept Pete Dye’s version of risk vs. reward. Get greedy and go for this green in two and earn a chance at eagle. If you place your ball left or long of the green, you’re into the side bunker known as “San Andreas Fault” and where you must utilize an incredibly skilled bunker shot to get out. HOLE 17 - Stadium 17 (par 3) 168 / 131 / 112 HCP – 16 Welcome to “Alcatraz.” Home to Lee Trevino’s “Hole in One” – one of the most famous shots in golf history – which gave him the “Skins Game” victory over Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Raymond Floyd. He left with a “one” on his scorecard, but any player should be happy with three. HOLE 18 - Stadium 18 (par 4) 439 / 387 / 318 HCP – 2 Careers are made or lost on this hole. As a site for the PGA Tour Qualifying final stage, this is as demanding as it gets when hopes and dreams hinge on a single golf hole. The tee shot will determine success with a well-protected fairway on both sides. Many of the tours’ greats conquered this beast, using it as their springboard onto the tour. Black Tee Total: 7,013 yards White Tee Total: 6,164 yards Red (Gold) Tee Total: 5,533 yards
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La Quinta Resort & Club
La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST® is a world-renowned desert destination featuring 796 elegantly appointed casitas, suites and villas; the 23,000-square-foot Spa La Quinta® with 41 pools and 53 hot spas; 23 tennis courts; and exceptional cuisine at Morgan’s in the desert, TWENTY6 and Adobe Grill. Known as The Western Home of Golf in America® and named ”North America’s Golf Resort of the Year,” it is home to five award-winning golf courses and four private courses – designed by legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Tom Weiskopf. Golf instruction is offered at the Jim McLean Golf School. The resort is a member of Hilton Worldwide’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. For more information, call 760-564-411, or visit www.laquintaresort.com
G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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RESORTREPORT
Starr Pass Tucson
Elite Desert/Mountain Exper
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www.golfvacationsmag.com
TUCSON, ARIZONA
By David R. HOLLAND
Golf Club offers an
rience Designed for the Pros
T
UCSON, Ariz. – Few golfers who walk the sixth hole on the Coyote nine at Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club know it, but they're following a legendary trail on this 351-yard par 4.
Most first-time players are pleasantly surprised that Starr Pass Tucson is so
much in the mountains, Director of Golf Todd Howard said. Richard Starr crafted a stagecoach line through the rugged wilderness of the Tucson Mountains more than 120 years ago. He faced gigantic saguaros, dry washes, rocky expanses, nasty rattlesnakes and stifling summer heat as he carved a trail to the Old Pueblo - a settlement now called Tucson. Today, that striking path traces the signature hole at Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club, a 27-hole, championship layout. No. 6 presents a tight-squeeze tee shot, blinded by a large rock pile, through the middle of two weathered, desert mountains. If you remain in play, an approach shot awaits over a deep bunker in front of the green, sloped from back to front and left to right. Needless to say, when the Northern Telecom Open, also known as the Tucson Open and by many other names, was staged here in the 1980s and '90s, the sixth hole on the Coyote nine served as a favorite viewing spot for the patrons. Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club: A History of Challenging Golf Former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman, inspired by the natural beauty and rugged terrain, selected Starr Pass as a tour site when he saw the land for the first time. Bob Cupp and Craig Stadler designed the golf course as a Tournament Players Club (TPC) facility in 1986. The tour players struggled here on the Coyote and Rattler nines. But a youngster from Arizona State named Phil Mickelson won the tournament as an amateur in 1991 and provided the secret to taming Starr Pass: Hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and make a lot of putts. Mickelson did; many others did not. So the Tucson Open moved on without Starr Pass. In 2004, the course was mitigated, returning as an Arnold Palmer Signature golf facility.
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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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RESORTREPORT
(continued)
"The greens were a lot smaller and undulating, and the
STARR PASS TUCSON GOLF CLUB Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club: The Verdict
bunkers were very deep," said Todd Howard, director of
Realize from the first tee, with its sweeping view of
golf at Starr Pass. "So those features were softened with
downtown Tucson, that this golf course was built as a TPC
larger, less contoured greens and more shallow bunkers.
- meaning it was laid out to challenge the best players in
There wasn't a lot done tee to greens, except making the
the world.
elevation changes a little less dramatic."
But if you can purge your mind of its difficulty and
Starr Pass Tucson Golf Club: Today's Course
focus on the beauty of the rock-strewn mountains, you'll
"Most first-time players are pleasantly surprised that the
enjoy a fun day at Starr Pass.
course is so much in the mountains," Howard said. "They think it is going to be desert flat, but it is far from that." In addition to the Coyote (3,512 yards, par 36) and
Starr Pass also offers teaching facilities and practice areas with putting and chipping greens and a doubleloaded driving range.
Rattler (3,490 yards, par 36) nine, Starr Pass includes the
Where to Stay: The JW Marriott Starr Pass
Roadrunner (3,217 yards, par 35).
The views of the craggy mountains are vast from each
When the pro tournament visited annually from 1987 to 1996, Rattler's third and fifth holes rated as two of the most difficult on the PGA Tour, with the average score for 18 holes also among the highest on tour. Rattler's No. 3, a 485-yard par 5, sounds short. But it's a risk-reward hole, according to Howard.
of the resort's 575 guestrooms and 35 suites that feature a private patio or balcony. Swimming? One can drift along the Starr Canyon River, shoot down the Monsoon Falls Water Slide, lounge by the reflection pools and play in the dancing springs. To dine, I headed north of the University of Arizona on
"It you bomb your tee shot, you can go for the green in two,"
Campbell Street for two distinctive restaurants: Acacia at
he said, "but that will mean a second shot over a wash. The
St. Phillips for eclectic, new Latin and Pacific Rim food and
green is somewhat elevated, and the flag is protected by large
Pastiche Modern Eatery for American-based cuisine with
bunker in front and the wash. But it is a flatter green that most."
influences worldwide and creative pastries and desserts.
Howard's favorite, the 510-yard, par-5 No. 5 on Rattler, requires a good, long tee shot to reach the green in two. Or you can lay up to an elevated plateau of fairway and throw an approach to a green sloped back to front. Above the hole, Howard said, expect a very quick putt. Coyote's aforementioned sixth is the signature hole. "It is a risk-reward hole, because of the blind tee shot," Howard said. "Some players try to drive it over the huge rocks, and others play conservatively. The green slopes left to right and seems narrow, so it is kind of an optical illusion and hard to get the exact yardage. "Putting toward Tucson doesn't look that downhill, but it will fool you." 30
G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 1
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OPEN CHAMP ROYAL ST. GEORGE SOUTHERN ENGLAND’S P
by Tom
T
he hosting of The Open Championship at Royal St George’s on the Kent coast in July will highlight the abundance of premier links courses that can be found elsewhere in the south of England over the next six months. With The Open Championship so often staged in Scotland – it returns to St Andrews every five years for example – and North West England, some of southern England’s oldest and most beguiling links rarely fall under the golfing spotlight during the only major championship staged in this country. England’s Atlantic Links in the south west of England is however hoping to benefit from Open attention and attract more visitors this summer as golf fans extend their trip to Royal St George’s with some links golf of their own. Visitors will not be disappointed if they make their way to England’s Atlantic Links which comprises the five premier links golf courses in the region; Burnham & Berrow in Somerset, Royal North Devon and Saunton in Devon, and St Enodoc and Trevose in Cornwall. This tantalizing trail of ancient links golf, set amid the wild and unadulterated landscape of north Atlantic coastline, offers some of the most challenging and exciting links golf in the country. Nick Faldo, arguably England’s greatest golfer, once said of the Saunton links, "I've no doubt that if the East Course were located on
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the coast of Lancashire or Kent it would have hosted an Open Championship by now". Praise indeed from Faldo who has been a fan of Saunton since playing there as a boy. No wonder then that Saunton’s East Course was awarded 21st spot in Golf World’s “Top 100 Golf Courses in the UK” in 2010. The other four clubs also have great pedigree and three have also hosted a number of top amateur championships over the years. The 2009 Tillman Trophy was staged at Burnham & Berrow whilst later this year will host the R&A Boys Championship and The Brabazon Trophy - for the fifth time – and in doing so enter golfing history in 2011 by becoming the first course to hold both championships in the same year. Trevose staged the 2008 Brabazon Trophy, the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, whilst St Enodoc’s Church Course hosted the 2002 English Ladies Amateur Championship 2002 and the 2005 English Counties Championship. Royal North Devon meanwhile is England’s oldest links course and a must for anyone interested in the history of golf. The course, still on its original site, is like taking a step back in time to see how golf was played a hundred years ago whilst the memorabilia and history found in the clubhouse is rivalled only by that found in the Royal & Ancient clubhouse in St Andrews. Together these legendary, award-winning championship courses
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PIONSHIP AT E WILL HIGHLIGHT PREMIER LINKS COURSES
mLaMarre
have firmly established themselves as one of the most prestigious links destinations in the UK. “The staging of The Open Championship in southern England for the first time since 2003 is a great opportunity for England’s Atlantic Links to grab a share of the attention of the golf world in 2011,” comments Mark Evans, Secretary of Royal North Devon. “Like Royal St George’s, our courses offer golfers the chance to experience traditional, championship links golf at its best. What’s more, our green fees average out at around £70 per round which is excellent value in light of the quality of the courses.” In addition, England’s Atlantic Links’ courses boast the combined appeal of history, tradition and variety which is complemented by numerous off-course activities along the Atlantic coastline. England’s South West is simply bursting with attractions including pretty coastal towns like Ilfracombe in North Devon, bustling market towns such as Wadebridge and Barnstaple and charming fishing villages like Port Isaac, Rock and Padstow along the north Cornish coast whilst historic towns like Weston-super-Mare and Bath, near Burnham & Berrow in Somerset, are ideal destinations to round off a golfing adventure. The region’s rich culture features the inimitable Barbara Hepworth Museum and Tate St Ives, displaying the very best in modern and local art, the renown Eden Project and fascinating Lost Gardens of
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18th Hole at Saunton’s East Course in Devon
Heligan whilst outdoor activities such as surfing around Newquay and walking and horse riding in Exmoor National Park are as good as anywhere in the British Isles. The gastronomic delights of the South West are not to be missed either, from the exceptional Padstow seafood restaurants of famous local chef Rick Stein and a variety of other Michelin-starred restaurants, to real English ale and authentic pub grub in an abundance of traditional country pubs. The temperate micro climate allows year-round golf with the gentler winter conditions enabling the greenkeepers to maintain their courses in immaculate condition throughout the changing seasons. Meanwhile the overall standard of accommodation in the South West has risen dramatically in recent years and there are now a host of comfortable, character hotels like Woodlands Country House Hotel, beautifully restored stately homes such as the Bath Spa Hotel, modern seaside hotels such as Saunton Sands and the St Moritz Hotel & Spa and delightful, friendly bed-and-breakfasts. In terms of travel, the nearby M5 motorway and A39 “Atlantic Highway”, and international airports at Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter and Newquay, ensure easy accessibility for all visitors. For further information on England’s Atlantic Links, visit www.atlantic-links.co.uk
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SWEETSTUFF V
IENNA, VA – “Around the World in 80 Rounds” -- the humorous travelogue chronicling David Wood’s year-long odyssey from the world’s southernmost to northernmost golf courses (Ushuaia, Argentina to Tromso, Norway) – has just been released in paperback through Amazon.com’s publishing company. Originally released in hardback by St. Martin’s Press in 2008, the book covers Wood’s hilarious journey as trains, planes, ferries, camels and elephants haul him and his beloved golf clubs to courses in 26 countries and more than 60,000 miles. The work has been called “laugh out loud funny” by CBS golf analyst Bobby Clampett and “highly entertaining” by Publisher’s Weekly. “Wood’s debut scores a solid eagle,” says Kirkus Reviews. The audio version (narrated by Wood) was produced by Brilliance Audio. “Along the way, I suffered ghastly food poisoning in India and Egypt; weathered severe altitude sickness when crossing the Andes; encountered bloody civil wars in Bolivia and Nepal; accidently met Argentina’s notorious dictator Carlos Menem; and was arrested by armed guards and deported in Ukraine,”
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says Wood. “It wasn’t exactly a golf weekend in Myrtle Beach.” A former comedian with several appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman,” Wood now holds a public relations position with Buffalo Communications – the global golf-lifestyle PR, branding and marketing-communications firm. He mainly works with international resort clients, including Mission Hills China, Celtic Manor (Wales) and Pristine Bay (Roatan, Honduras). “David Wood’s worldly experiences and media contacts help Buffalo Communications effectively relate to our international clients,” says Rich Katz, Managing Director of Buffalo Communications. “This allows our agency to consistently position clients ‘in the news’ to benefit their brand equity and sales.” For interview requests and photographs contact Jamie Brooks at 703.891.3510 or jbrooks@buffalocommunications.com. “Around the World in 80 Rounds” is available in hardback, paperback and audio on Amazon.com.
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SWEETSTUFF T
o develop the concept for their newest golf ball, TaylorMade Golf spent a lot of time on tour asking questions. What do players like about the ball the play? What do they dislike? The answers to all of the questions inspired them to create their newest ball, Penta TP. This golf ball took three years to develop as their R&D team carefully experimented with different mantle materials, compositions and thicknesses until the ideal combination was defined. Extensive computer modeling, prototype creation, robot testing and player testing went into creating what they believe is the finest all-around performing golf ball of its kind, a ball that delivers outstanding performance on every key type of shot a golfer has to hit while also delivering tremendously soft and responsive feel off everything from driver to putter. Obviously the biggest news about the TaylorMade Penta TP golf ball is that it is the first tour ball constructed of five solid layers. The five layers of Penta TP include the core, inner mantle, middle mantle, outer mantle and cover. Layer 1 - Cover The soft Urethane Cover promotes a higher than average spinrate on the all-important partial wedge shots required in the scoring zone, within 100 yards of the flag. These are the types of shots where many current tour balls fail to deliver the goods because they launch too high and don’t spin enough. Instead, most tour pros want a ball that launches lower and spins enough to stop fast after one or two bounces, which gives them maximum control over these types of shots. Penta TP’s soft, durable Urethane Cover has the necessary characteristics to deliver that coveted combination of lower launch angle and higher spin-rate, while also providing soft tour feel. Layer 2 - Outer Mantle The firm and fast Outer Mantle promotes optimum spin off the short-irons to stop the ball quick without sucking it off the front of the green or drawing it back too far from the hole. The Outer Mantle is the fastest mantle in the ball; because it’s positioned just beneath the cover it’s easily compressed by slower swingers (ball speeds 120 mph and below), helping them to generate higher ball speed for increased distance. Layer 3 - Middle Mantle The semi-firm and fast Middle Mantle, which surrounds the Inner Mantle promotes mid-launch and mid-spin off the middle irons. Mid-launch promotes control; mid-spin keeps the ball from up-shooting, ballooning and falling short of the target. The Middle
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mantle consists of a fast material, allowing medium-slow swingers (who average from 120 to 140 mph in ball speed) to generate more ball speed and distance, as they will compress only the two outermost mantles underneath the cover. Layer 4 - Inner Mantle The soft, fast Inner Mantle, which surrounds the core, promotes soft feel, high launch and low spin off the long-irons for exceptional distance and high, soft-landing flight that helps the ball sit quickly on the green. Because the Inner Mantle consists of a fast material, it helps players who average from 140 to 160 mph in ball speed to generate more ball speed and distance, because although they don’t swing fast enough to activate the core, they are able to activate the three layers between the core and cover including the inner mantle, which is the deepest of the three.
Layer 5 - Core The extremely soft, low-compression core is the most critical layer to promoting high launch and low spin off the driver, which are well known to be the launch conditions that promote maximum carry and distance. Despite being soft and low-compression, Penta TP’s Core is still very fast, which allows players who generate fast ball speed — in the 140 to 180 mph range — to generate more ball speed, which means that long-hitters who play a tour ball will likely be longer with Penta TP. Overall The total ball. TaylorMade has taken the best attributes of the previous series of golf balls and wrapped them all into the Penta TP. Tour validation has already been apparent as many of the top players on Tour have put these in their bags. In the end, the Penta TP was able to answer our questions and we give the highest of marks…every bit as good as Titleist, if not better. For more information on all the products that TaylorMade Golf has out, check out their website at www.tmag.com
by Larry Feldman G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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CLUBCLOSEUP
WALDORF ASTORIA GOLF CLUB S
tanding sentinel on New York City’s Park Avenue for over a century, The Waldorf Astoria Hotel is the epitome of elegance and grace. The renowned art deco building possesses an Old World charm. Once you enter the grand lobby and leave the hustle and bustle of Manhattan behind, you know you’re somewhere special . . . somewhere that has stood the test of time. That’s exactly the feeling found while playing golf at the venerable hotel’s namesake in Orlando – the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. Most golf courses of a recent vintage have that “new car smell” – the fairways look like they just grew in, the greens are hard as rock and about as receptive as a brick wall. Not so with the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. The Rees Jones design seems to have been hiding in the wetlands for eternity and all Mr. Jones had to do was fashion the routing. The Scots have a saying that a course needs to be walked on 10,000 times before it ages properly. Although, this new eighteen in the heart of Disney opened in 2010, it already seems as aged as fine wine. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised as Rees Jones is a master of the art of golf course architecture. "The course is different than any in Orlando, because it has an old, classic look," says Jones. The bunkers, in fact, were formed to be reminiscent of hazards designed at courses a century ago. They frame the course magnificently.
have the history yet to host a major event, it’s strictly a matter of time. That’s how good the course is. Perhaps, what’s best about the course is the well deserved moniker of being a “shot-makers” layout. With smallish, elevated putting surfaces reminiscent of Scotland’s Highland masterpiece Dornoch, a sound short-game is crucial. Hole after hole requires chips and lobs and run-ups needing the finesse of a cat burglar. As one would expect with a course built on wetlands, watery graves abound. Eight holes feature water in play off the tee with another eight having the drink making precision approaches paramount. Luckily, most of the water on the shot in is behind the sloped putting surfaces. Another intriguing aspect here is the holes bear the names of iconic features of New York’s Waldorf Astoria, central Florida attributes or a Rees Jones connection. Standout holes include the stout 624-yard 12th named “Conrad” after Conrad Hilton. In 1932, 17 years before the famous hotelier would buy the Waldorf Astoria, the prescient Hilton wrote on a picture of the
Jones earned the title "U.S. Open Doctor" for his reconstruction of such classic venues as Torrey Pines South, Bethpage Black and Congressional Country Club. And while Waldorf Astoria Golf Club doesn't
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Old World Elegance And Charm Well done, Mr. Jones. Though the course is smack dab in the middle of Disney, you’d never know from the serene ambience. The course has hospitality down to a tee as one would anticipate with its pedigree. With valet parking and a clubhouse featuring all the creature comforts golfers expect these days, the golf experience to be had comes highly recommended. With stay-and-play packages available with the nearby Waldorf Astoria Orlando – you and your family can have the time of your life. The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club lives up to its name.
landmark building as “the greatest of them all.” “Conrad” seems to play about 700 yards as you’re hitting directly into the prevailing breeze. Jones has protected par quite handsomely on this brute, which seems a par 6 in par 5 clothing, at least for amateurs. Nonetheless, it’s a fun hole. As a counterbalance after all that length, the 13th is a devilish delight as the back tees are but 322 yards from the well-protected green. With water down the entire left flank, hitting driver isn’t for the meek. More comfort may be found with the coward’s route. Named “Sir Harry” after the famous lobby bar found at both the Waldorf Astoria New York and here in Orlando, a powerful liberation might be just the ticket to provide the mettle needed to pull out driver off the tee. Probably the hardest hole is the monster 482-yard 17th coined “The Presidential” in honor of the first “Presidential Suite” ever at the original Waldorf Astoria. This august, penultimate par 4 requires two on the screws for any opportunity of sniffing the green in regulation. The finisher is a reachable par 5, but water lurks everywhere so be forewarned. Pleasantly named “Starlight” after the noted rooftop lounge in New York, the 18th green also serves as the launching pad for ceremonial fireworks marking special occasions. The layout here at Waldorf Astoria Golf Club is superlative.
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The “Unlimited Golf Package” starts at $349 per night and includes unlimited golf each night of stay, spacious guestroom featuring views of Bonnet Creek or Disney, choice of one king or double queen beds and $20 Resort Credit (per person). The “Performance Golf Package” features “test driving” the newest technology with rentals from Taylor Made and Adidas, 18 holes of golf and choice of one king or double queen beds with views of Bonnet Creek or Disney. Prices begin at $389 per night. Now Playing -- The Waldorf Astoria Golf Academy at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, led by prominent golf figure Brian Mogg as director of instruction, recently opened its doors. The new Orlando golf academy will assist local, national and international golfers of all skill levels and ages in improving their game, using the popular Waldorf Astoria Golf Club as a “classroom.” The academy will offer private individual instruction for junior and adult players, with a comprehensive half-day, single-day and two-day golf school program. It will also offer corporate outings and clinics for groups attending conferences in Orlando, including the adjacent convention center at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Half, Full and Two-Day schools are available. For more information on golf packages and tee times visit www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/golf or call 407-597-3783.
G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2011
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