Golf Vacations Magazine April 2010 by Golf Vacations Magazine

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8th

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GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2010

PLAYING THE DOMINICAN EVERYDAY’S A SUMMER DAY

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contents I april 2010

cover

stories

Texas-Sized Golf at TPC San Antonio Oaks

Dominican Republic: Always A Summer Day

Maui’s Makena Golf & Beach Resort

Spotlight: Cave Creek, AZ

by James McAfee

San Antonio already has a good reputation across the country as a great place to get away for vacations but the addition of the TPC San Antonio at the JW Marriott Resort in San Antonio will give visitors even more reasons to make the trip.

by David R. Holland

“I don’t know anyone who would not like to look out at those views and play the golf course and not have a good time,” Fred Couples said. “It is just spectacular and I know the Champions Tour players are excited for hot weather. I love hot weather.”

by Larry Feldman

While Wailea is blessed with an abundance of fine hotels, they are lined up one after another. Makena Beach & Golf Resort is situated on 1,800 acres of the southern shore of Maui in the Makena district of the island and is the “only” resort in the Makena area.

by Brandon Tucker

Downtown Scottsdale, Arizona is known for its spas and luxury hotels and restaurants, but north of the city around Cave Creek, you'll encounter cowboy dive bars and wide open spaces, but still plenty of great golf courses like Boulders Golf Club and Troon North.

departments

17 ChipShot New Championship Golf at Anguilla’s CuisinArt Resort

25 Real Estate

by Terry Ross

Olde Mill Unveils Fourth Residence Design Style

28 Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

STX Putters and Bushnell’s Patriot Day Rangefinders

on the cover: Casa de Campo, Teeth of the Dog, Dominican Republic

22 4

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 0

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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.

James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was executive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 27 years and executive director of the Dallas District Golf Association for eight years. With editor stints at Golf Shop Operations, Golf Digest and Texas Golfer Magzaine he is currently the director of communications for GolfDFW.com. He has been a member of the Golf Writers of America for 37 years and was one of the founders for the Texas Golf Writers Association. Playing the game for 56 years he was recently named to the U.S. Amateur Golf Hall of Fame.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz Associate Editor Terry Ross Features Editor Larry Feldman For Editorial:

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.

Brandon Tucker is a Senior Writer and Special Projects Editor for the WorldGolf.com Network, where he contributes not only golf and travel articles, but photo essays, videos and more. His golf travels have taken him across the U.S., including more than 50 Myrtle Beach-area golf courses, and to such destinations as Scotland, Wales, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Malaysia.

Cimarron Golf Resort – 1 round incl. cart Woodhaven Country Club – 1 round incl. cart 1 nights accommodations Homewood Suites – Palm Desert or Holiday Inn Express – Palm Desert

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Destiny Media, LLC President/CEO James A. Diaz

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 2010 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S â&#x20AC;˘ A P R I L 2010

TPC San Antonio

Great Addition to

o Oaks

Texas Golf

by JAMES McAfee

an Antonio already has a good reputation across the country as a great place to get away for vacations with theme parks, the Alamo, the River Walk, good golf courses and great weather, but the addition of the TPC San Antonio at the JW Marriott Resort in San Antonio will give visitors even more reasons to make the trip. I'd highly recommend the AT&T Oaks Course, designed by Greg Norman with an assist from Sergio Garcia. Departing from the PGA Tour's modern tournament-style course with expansive grass areas and spectator mounding, the Oaks features a more natural look with tree-lined fairways, perched and undulating greens with run offs to closely mown chipping areas and massive bunkers with edges emulating the canopies of the native oak trees. Take the advice of the starter and move up a set of tees. I played from the Club tees at 6,242 yards—course rating of 71.1 and slope of 138—and found there were narrow corridors between the trees, yet ample room off the tees in the landing areas. The true challenges were getting approach shots to the right sections of the undulating greens or being able to handle all the different chipping options if you missed the greens. I did notice that there was a 78.4 course rating and a slope of 143 for ladies who wanted to play those same green tees, but don't see many that will try it. Even ladies with double digit handicaps might find the forward tees at 5,514 yards with 74.1 and 132 numbers more then they want. Playing from the Players at 6,624 yards (72.7 and 142) will probably be OK for long hitters, but the Tournament at 7.034 yards (74.7 and 145) should probably be only for single digit handicap amateurs. The course can be stretched to 7,435 yards from the Tiburon tees for the Valero Texas Open in May and I don't see the red numbers going as low as they have in the past at the LaCantera Resort Course. Even the pros are going to have to be creative with their short games, trying to decide whether to use a putter or hybrid, a bump and run or to go with the usual flop shot with the wedge when they miss the greens—and they will more than usual because of the run offs around the green edges. Architects like to create indecision with the short game. I especially liked the closing holes where the leader can not afford to coast at all. The 15th can be stretched to 464 yards and a par might make up a stroke. The 16th is a 183yard par 3 from an elevated tee sitting on rocks and features a bunker in the middle of the green, like the 6th at Riveria Country Club. The 17th is a drivable par 4 for the long hitters, especially if Tour officials move the tees up, but avoiding a large bunker on the right side of the fairway may be difficult. Then the 18th is a risk-reward par 5 where a player might have to make a decision to go for it rather than laying up with his second shot. A stream comes into play about 150 yards out, narrowing the lay up area, and then cutting into

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 0

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orre T the front and right side of the green where it will catch short or pushed approach shots. I took a cart ride around the AT&T Canyons, designed by Pete Dye with an assist from Bruce Lietzke. Yes, the Dallas-based company bought the naming rights to both courses. The Canyons just did not have the normal punitive characteristics of a Dye design and is probably going to be better for resort play as evident from the shorter yardages, course ratings and slopes—74.1, 136 from the Cibolo at 7,106 yards, 71.9 and 131 from the Tournament at 6,622 yards, 69.8 and 127 from the Players at 6,142 yards, 67.5 and 120 or 73.7 and 131 for ladies from the Club at 5,609 yards and 70.4 and 118 from the forward or ladies at 4,968 yards. My friend Mike Sheridan played it as few days later and said that the putting surfaces were very good, but noted it was plain visually, no great holes, no views, no unique shaping features, no great trees, no water features and poor bunker shaping. Give it

some time to mature. The closing holes on the continuous-routed course (no return to the club after nine holes) are the best with a long par 3 over a canyon on the 16th, a drivable par 4 on the 17th and the par 4 that can be stretched to 482 yards on the 18th with lots of up and downs in the fairway. Both courses will have closed-loop drainage and irrigation systems that will catch run off and recycle back onto the course that will ensure the protection of the Edwards Aquifer. To play the golf courses, one option is to stay at the JW Marriott. I did notice one package at $595 per person that included two nights of lodging and a round of golf om each course plus a trip to the lesson tee. If given the choice, I would play the Oaks twice. Green fees were listed at $131 to $175. Golf packages are available by going on line at http://www.tpcsanantonio.com/ or calling 888-877-9193. Another option is to be a guest of a member. One nice thing is that your host does not actually have to play with you.

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

Always A Summer Must Plays On This Bountiful Caribb

r Day

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

ean Golf Coast

By David R. HOLLAND courtesy of WorldGolf.com

AP CANA, Dominican Republic -- Just days before Fred Couples hoisted his third straight trophy for a win on the Champions Tour in late March he looked out over the Caribbean Sea at The Cap Cana Championship at Punta Espada Golf Club and said: “I don’t know anyone who would not like to look out at those views and play the golf course and not have a good time,” Couples said. “It is just spectacular and I know the Champions Tour players are excited for hot weather. I love hot weather.”

photos courtesy Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

You like summer in the winter? Then the Dominican Republic is for you complete with views of turquoise water, blinding white sand and rocky bluffs.

Golfweek named it No. 1 on its list of Caribbean and Mexico golf courses. A second Nicklaus design at Cap Cana, Las Iguanas, has nine holes finished.

We’ve all been there. As avid travel golfers we’ve anchored ourselves in Scotland or Ireland against sideways wind, blustery, bone-chilling rain, and dressed ourselves in layers -- head-to-toe in a Gore-Tex rain suit with those winter golf gloves. Last time it happened to me I asked, why?

Also in the Punta Cana vicinity (45 minutes north) is Nick Faldo's The Faldo Legacy Course, Roco Ki Golf Resort with an awesome routing and ghost town shell of what was to be a massive Westin and almost zero finished infrastructure.

Why not say no to snow and ice - even Dallas and Atlanta had numerous snow and ice storms because of this “El Niño” winter weather pattern. Just say no and head for the Dominican Republic. “You know, Stuttgart’s weather sucks on its best days. Just look at this. I’ve been coming to the Dominican Republic for more than 40 years and it is sunny and hot 365 days a year. There’s never a rainstorm you can’t walk through. There’s no lightning. If someone in Germany wants to get on an airplane and fly for hours what are the options? “You could go to Israel and lay on the beach, you could go visit Libya and see President Qaddafi. But there are no available women or whisky. Or you could come here,” said P.B. Dye, the youngest son of legendary golf course designer Pete Dye, and designer of three Dominican Republic golf courses - La Cana, La Estancia and a yet to be opened Punta Cana Resort course called Hacienda. Punta Espada, located in the southeast corner of the Dominican Republic just 10 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport (world’s largest privately owned international airport), is a mere coming attraction of Dominican Republic new venues.

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 0

Tom Fazio's Corales, a private membership club (exclusive, but accessible) at Punta Cana Resort & Club is finished setting an April 2010 grand opening, and P.B. Dye's La Hacienda, an inland course, is under construction. “Punta Cana’s Corales and Cap Cana’s Punta Espada are the two best golf courses in the Caribbean that are 10 miles apart,” said former PGA Tour Player Jay Overton of Corales.

Overton, as a club pro at Pinehurst and Innisbrook, holds the record for all club pro’s in history - qualifying for 26 major championships.

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Here’s a closer look at the must plays of the eastern coast Dominican Republic: Punta Espada Golf Club, Cap Cana The 7,382-yard, par 72, Punta Espada routing includes eight oceanside holes and others that cling to the sharp coral rock daggers that dangle over cliffs with a background of turquoise ocean. Nicklaus even compares No. 13, a par three of 250 yards, with Cypress Point’s world-famous No. 16. This is a beautiful hole, but from the back tees it is way too hard for the average golfer. The Champions Tour guys got to play it from 187 yards. This treacherous minefield demands a daunting line over ocean to a slightly elevated green in windy conditions. Another element of Punta Espada is a limestone ridge that runs through the routing creating some elevated tee boxes and panoramic views of the ocean. Punta Cana Resort & Club, Punta Cana - La Cana Golf Course P.B. Dye had plenty of experience when he came to Punta Cana to build a world-class golf course on land similar to Teeth of the Dog. Coral rock dominated an overgrown, jungle-like land with very little top soil. P.B. spent two summers on the back of a bulldozer helping to shape Teeth of the Dog. La Cana Golf Course, opened in 2001, measures 7,152 yards at par of 72 and has sweeping vistas and five holes played along the sea. It's fun and quirky, just like its designer -- the Dye pot

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bunker is ever present. The seventh hole boasts a cluster of 21 traps that P.B. jokingly refers to as “Hecklebirnie” - a type of golfer’s purgatory according to Scottish lore. Seashore Paspalum and other salt tolerant turf, dominate the courses of this area. Corales, Punta Cana Resort & Club Overton thinks that when this brand-new 7,555-yard, par 72, Tom Fazio course is rated it will be among the best international courses, or perhaps the world. What’s amazing is that there are more than 230 acres of flawless, irrigated Paspalum Supreme just imagine what someone from Arizona would think? Arizona is allowed 90 acres of irrigated turf per 18 holes. Homes of Oscar de la Renta and Julio Iglesias line the final holes and there are two holes that have two separate greens so you can have even more variety from day to day. Also included are jutting inlets that demand shots to carry the ocean for the shortest route to green, like No. 18, a 448-yard par 4. President and CEO of Punta Cana Resort, Frank Rainieri, says “it is the Mother of all golf Holes”. After your round it doesn’t get any better than sitting on the porch of the clubhouse, having the local Presidente beer, with a view of the crashing blue surf, white sand bunkers, green grass and a natural “blow hole”. Roco Ki Golf Club, The Faldo Legacy Course, Macao, Punta Cana Roco Ki, a 7,152-yard par 72, begins in the headlands just

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2010

below the unfinished Westin Hotel shell, presenting a view right of the ocean and the mountains beyond. He takes you through a tropical jungle, where tee shots are demanding and through 100year old mangroves that line the fairways. Then 16 brings you back in sight of the blue sea with 17, a 100-yard tee shot much like Pebble Beach‚s No. 7. Beauty is a 360-degree sight. You have to see this one to believe the beauty. But 18 doesn’t disappoint, either. This 508-yard, par 5, demands a precise tee shot just over one inlet short of another inlet. If you negotiate the rugged coastline and rocks then the approach has sand an ocean left to a heavily guard green against the prevailing wind. This hole is aptly named “Los Dos Rezos” or Two Prayers. These two holes just might be the most dramatic finishers in the Caribbean. Casa de Campo, Teeth of the Dog, Dye Fore, La Romana Casa de Campo is the forerunner for golf in the D.R. This 7,000-acre resort is truly the most complete outdoor playground in the Caribbean. Name an outdoor activity and you can find it here.

Pete Dye brought a vision to transform an overgrown, but scenic turquoise-tinted coastline, jagged and rugged with coral rock, into one of the world’s best golf courses. Named for that same rock that bites unmercifully at bare skin, Teeth of the Dog, 7,471 yards, par 72, is the gem of the Caribbean. But Dye didn’t stop with just those two. Actually, there’s private La Romana Country Club, The Links, and now there’s Dye Fore, which cost $6.25 million. Green fees at Teeth of the Dog aren’t cheap, like most golf in the Dominican Republic, but when you reach the par-3 fifth, with the Caribbean on your left, you will think it’s worth the price. Dye Fore, originally named Pete’s Dream, is a 7,700-yard, par 72 high on a plateau 500 feet above the Chavón River. Golfers also enjoy views of the Caribbean Sea and the resort’s remarkable Altos de Chavón -- a 16th-century replica of a Mediterranean village. La Estancia Golf Club, La Romana Designed by P. B. Dye, La Estancia sits on the edge of a cliff, above the Chavon River, and was opened in 2007, and measures 7,382 yards at par 72. Plans are for a resort hotel and semi-private entry. The golf course includes a variety of holes including one 200-yard plus carry over a huge gorge, that feeds the deep river gorge, where the 1979 movie Apocalypse Now’s helicopter scenes were filmed. 16

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A P R I L 2 0 1 0

Where to Play Cap Cana – www.capcana.com Casa de Campo – www.casadecampo.cc PuntaCana Resort & Club – www.puntacana.com Roco Ki – www.rocoki.com Where to Stay Secrets, Sanctuary, Cap Cana – www.secretsresorts.com/sanctuary

David R. Holland is the author of The Colorado Golf Bible http://drholland77.googlepages.com http://www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland

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CHIPSHOT

ANGUILLA

CUISINART RESORT

NEW VILLAS, NEW SPA, AND NOW, CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla – Five-star CuisinArt Resort & Spa is expanding luxury offerings to include world-class golf at the newly reopened Temenos Golf Course. In celebration of the course’s re-launch, CuisinArt Resort will offer the very special five-night “Tee Up & Revive” package from now until June 23, 2010, which includes rounds of golf, spa treatments, dining experiences at the resort’s signature restaurants, and more. Anguilla’s prestigious, 18-hole championship Temenos Golf Course was created and designed by renowned golf pro Greg Norman. Lush with native fauna and a winding salt marsh, this golf lover’s paradise boasts wide sand pits, dramatic shifts in elevation, and sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring island of St. Maarten. Rates for the “Tee Up & Revive” package begin at $3,090 based on single / double occupancy. Additional rounds of golf may be purchased for $225 per round.

CuisinArt Resort & Spa, a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, is a five-star, award-winning resort on the unspoiled Caribbean island of Anguilla. Situated on Rendezvous Bay, the resort offers 93 luxurious accommodations on pristine beachfront property, as well as six private luxury villas. The unique architecture of the whitewashed villas is inspired by the Greek island of Mykonos and creates a visually stunning contrast against the sparkling turquoise waters and exquisite white sand beach. With the recently expanded world-class Venus Spa, inspired cuisine including an exclusive Chef’s Table and Wine Cellar, breathtaking views and the world’s only resort-based hydroponic farm, CuisinArt Resort & Spa provides an unrivaled luxury Caribbean experience.For additional information on CuisinArt Resort & Spa or to make a reservation, call (800) 943.3210 or visit www.cuisinartresort.com.

In addition to significant savings, the “Tee Up & Revive” package includes the following: • • • • • •

Five nights, six days accommodations in beachfront suite Three rounds of golf at Temenos Golf Course Two 50-minute spa treatments or couples massage Lunch for two at Café Mediterraneo Dinner for two or theme dinner at Santorini Daily continental breakfast

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• • • • • •

Airport and ferry meet-and-greet service Caribbean welcome drink upon arrival Use of non-motorized water sports Use of three night-lit tennis courts Complimentary use of health club Scheduled fitness classes

MAKENA GOLF & BEAC

YOUR ISLAND HOME A

by Larry Feldman

CH RESORT

AWAY FROM HOME

ell, my wife was right again.

A few years back, we visited The Big Island of Hawaii and I, of course, wanted all the bells and whistles of the swankest hotels on the island. My wife, on the other hand, preferred the old charm of Hawaii and wanted to chill on a beach at a hotel that reminded her of Hawaii of years past. Of course, she won and we stayed at Mauna Kea instead of The Fairmont. We sat on Mauna Kea’s world-famous beach for eight straight days and had the best of times, coming back completely rejuvenated and ready to face the real world. So, when we visited Maui earlier this year, I must have lost some of my memory cells because I wanted to take her and my son to the best Wailea had to offer…water slides, an abundance of pools, shops to spend frivolously, you name it. There’s a “grand” hotel on the Wailea strip that has all that and it had my name on it. Unfortunately, another hotel had my wife’s name on it. It was the Makena Beach & Golf Resort, five miles past anything Wailea had to offer and with that “old Hawaii feel” that she relishes. Naturally, she won. Naturally, she was right. Makena Beach & Golf Resort is situated on 1,800 acres of the southern shore of Maui in the Makena district of the island and is the “only” resort in the Makena area. On the other hand, while Wailea is blessed with an abundance of fine hotels, they are lined up one after another. And, with that in mind, it feels like there are people everywhere you turn and everywhere you go. At Makena, you literally feel like you’re staying at your own home on the beach.

The resort's perfect beachfront location at the foot of Mount Haleakala affords all rooms and suites views of the blue Pacific and the beauty of Makena's natural landscape and a spacious, private lanai to soak it in. While all rooms are air conditioned, they also have a unique feature: a louvered door and screened lanai door to allow fresh ocean breezes through the room. Rooms also feature new Serta Presidential Plush beds, with crisp, elegant white-on-white linens, and décor with a warm palette and floral motifs inspired by Hawaii’s natural landscape. Each one of the 19 suites has a living room and a spectacular ocean view. Makena’s Beach’s activity center offers a variety of things to do, including an Eco Kayak Snorkel Tour, outrigger canoe excursions, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkel gear, scuba, body boards and beach umbrellas for those that prefer to relax on the beach. Moored off the beach fronting the hotel, the Kai Kanani catamaran takes visitors to nearby Molokini Island for snorkeling or site seeing excursions. On land, the Peter Burwash Tennis Center offers six Plexipave championship tennis courts, two lit for night

play. The hotel also offers a fitness center, with massage and spa services. For dining, the resort offers a number of outstanding eateries, which again affords you the luxury of not having to leave the grounds. From the Molokini Bar & Grille, which offers a casual dining experience with panoramic ocean views and a killer Mai Tai to Zen-Zen, Pacific Rim fusion cuisine served in a peaceful natural environment overlooking the ocean. With selections from both land and sea, Zen-Zen brings a fresh presentation to quality local ingredients. Choose from Maui Grown Rib Eye Steak or Broiled Black Cod and Slow Roasted Salmon, or sample from the sushi bar. The Sunday Brunch, voted “Best Brunch on Maui" by the Maui News poll, is just that…the best. And, the Maui Sunset Luau allows you to enjoy an authentic Hawaiian experience in a secluded, romantic, oceanfront paradise setting at Makena beach with spectacular sunset views, entertainment and an all-you-caneat buffet including kalua pork cooked in the on-site imu (earthen oven). But, when push comes to shove, the golf at Makena is still the star of the show. It is widely acclaimed and it deserves every accolade you can muster. Makena Golf Course, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 18-hole course that runs along the Pacific coastline, possesses possibly the most breathtaking views in all the land, sans Pebble Beach. With stun-

Makena North #12

ning vistas from nearly every hole, the course is also renowned for its ancient Hawaiian rock walls, natural gullies and stream beds, which were incorporated into the course's design. The endangered Nene birds (or Hawaiian Goose) are plentiful.

Aerial View of Makena Property

The layout rivals the views, so it’s a win-win. The course has a collection of great Par 3s. The 183-yard, 4th hole requires an accurate shot to a long, narrow, green with bunkers flanking both sides, water on the right front and a lava area right rear. This hole begins what will be a series of 10 straight holes in which the views get more spectacular with each hole. The Par 4, 6th hole, while only 364 yards, is a devilish hole that offers a split fairway separated by a large lava ravine that runs nearly the entire length of the hole. Find the ravine and you’ll find double bogey staring at you on your scorecard. If you do find trouble, just look back and take your mind off your game with views of Kahoolawe and Molokini. No. 12 is another great Par 3, with Molokini as a backdrop and Mt. Haleakala behind the tee. Hit the putting surface or find another large lava ravine running from tee to green along the right side and two bunkers on the left.

Makena Lobby Courtyard

The 14th hole, regarded as the course’s signature hole, is a monster 620-yard, Par 5 that tees you off from 200-feet above from tee to green. Despite its length, you can reach it in two by bombing your drive and carving a fairway wood to severely sloping left to right green. The last of the Par 3s is a demanding 217-yard masterpiece that requires a long iron to a large green guarded by bunkers left and right front. It’s also the final hole in which you get an eyeful of eye candy. The closing stretch of holes is a trilogy of tough, long Par 4s which measure 392, 395 and 433 yards, so re-focus your view from the islands to your golf game or you’ll be running to the 19th hole. So, if you’re looking for all the bells and whistles like I was before we made our trip, visit Wailea. It’s a great spot with lots to do.

Makena North #12

But, if you’re into a relaxing Hawaiian trip, go with Makena Beach & Golf Resort. You’ll arrive home without that gnawing feeling of needing a vacation from your vacation. For me, I felt like I was at home. Only difference was that my backyard was my own private, un-crowded beach with only the neighboring sea turtles to rustle the soft, white sand. Now, that’s what I’m talking about. Did I say my wife was right again? Well, you can never say that enough! Makena Beach & Golf Resort (800) 321-MAUI www.MakenaResortMaui.com www.golfvacationsmag.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2010

SPOTLIGHT

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Cave Creek, AZ

Dive Bars and the Wild West Meet Upscale, Desert Golf in Cave Creek, Just North of Scottsdale By BrandonTucker

COTTSDALE, Ariz. - The Valley of the Sun - especially Scottsdale - presents quite a juxtaposition: Cowboys and the wild, Wild West mixed with luxury living and recreation. Designer shops, trendy bars and luxury hotels fill Old Town and downtown Scottsdale, but you can head north on Scottsdale Boulevard and find a Wild-West feel in Cave Creek. The main street consists of little more than a few small shops and bars near Frontier Town, a main attraction that pays tribute to the area's history. Even outside Scottsdale and into the Sonoran Desert, where the bright hotel lights fade into beautiful mountain and boulder formations that fill the horizon, you'll still find the culture contrast. "Cowboys ride their horses to the bar," said Michael Bahnerth, assistant professional at the Boulders Resort near Cave Creek. "And they're sitting next to millionaires who drove a Bentley there." The bars along winding Cave Creek Road are mostly honkytonk dives with plenty of local color. One popular, local spot is Tuesday's at Silver Spur Saloon, home to Mel's Auction, where locals bring in odd items for Mel to raffle. The house is packed, and everyone eats fried chicken, usually leaving with something weird for their collections. Elsewhere on Cave Creek Road, Buffalo Chip offers full-on honky tonk with live bull riding on Wednesday and Friday nights. Next door is the biggest and most popular bar to visit, Harrold's Corral, another dive whose clientele is a melting pot of bikers, cowboys and golfers. But there's nothing grungy about the golf in this neck of the desert. In fact, many of Scottsdale's finest golf clubs sit north of Highway 101 around Cave Creek, all within about a 15-minute drive.

Troon North Golf Club's Pinnacle and Monument It's amazing to think that one of most popular properties of the past 20 years would undergo an extensive overhaul of its golf courses, but that's exactly what Troon North did. Just east of North Scottsdale Road on Dynamite Boulevard, the Pinnacle course and Monument course, designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, www.golfvacationsmag.com

rank perennially among the best golf courses in Arizona. The renovation project, overseen by Weiskopf and completed in 2007, included some redesign and rerouting, so some holes once on the Pinnacle shifted to the Monument and vice versa. The result? Two more walker-friendly courses with no long drives from green to tee and more consistent aesthetics. The golf courses still includes top-shelf practice facilities, a clubhouse, restaurant and everything else you'd expect from Troon's flagship facility. Troon North

Boulders Golf Club's North and South In contrast to Troon North and Grayhawk Golf Club - venues designed to host top professional events - Boulders' two courses offer an unmatched golf experience for the rest of us. Both golf courses top out at less than 6,900 yards and feature one of the area's top golf schools and practice facilities. That said, the Morrish-designed, semi-private, resort golf courses remain among the area's best, thanks to unbeatable service and conditioning. The South course and North course present similar challenges. But the South is more scenic, playing closer to the striking boulder formations of Cave Creek. The picturesque fifth hole plays straight toward a formation with a green at its base, and No. 7 is known for Rosie's Rock, a mysterious balancing stone. Both the North and South feature smooth bentgrass greens. And the altitude, a few hundred feet above Scottsdale, allows them to be kept in top shape, even heading into the summer months. Grayhawk Golf Club's Talon and Raptor Grayhawk Golf Club, a bit south of Troon and Boulders, has hosted the Frys.com Open since 2007 during the PGA Tour's Fall Series. When the tour fellas leave, both courses serve up a championship test in their own way. Grayhawk Golf Club's Raptor, G O L F V A C A T I O N S â&#x20AC;˘ A P R I L 2010

SPOTLIGHT Dove Valley

Grayhawk Golf Club

designed by Tom Fazio, showcases big, steep, dramatic bunkering, brawny par 3s and 4s, and mighty, tough-to-read green complexes. Before teeing off, ask a local for advice on the break of putts. It can help. Opened a year before the Raptor in 1994, the Talon course at Grayhawk presents a formidable test in its own right. It hosted the Andersen Consulting World Match Play Championships, predecessor of the Accenture event. Designed by Gary Panks and player associate David Graham, the golf course requires strategy and distance to score well, though its areas around the greens can be more generous than the Raptor on many holes. Off-course amenities are tour ready every day at Grayhawk, from an enormous practice facility and numerous putting greens to two restaurants that host a good amount of non-golfers for the lunch rush, Phil's Grill and the larger, more upscale Quill Creek Cafe. Cave Creek Golf: Solid Seconds If you're want more affordable golf courses to round out your golf trip in Cave Creek, consider these two nearby courses:__ Rancho Manana Golf Club and Dove Valley Ranch. Rancho Manana features plenty of elevation changes and scenery to keep things interesting, even though it plays just 6,004 yards from the tips. Dove Valley Ranch is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design from 1998, built as an escape from "target golf." It stretches to more than 7,000 yards. Lodging at The Boulders Resort Set below 12-million-year-old boulders, the Boulders Resort, a Waldorf Astoria property, sprawls over 1,300 natural-desert acres. It features numerous lodging options, from casitas to larger villas and haciendas, and outdoor activities that range from golf to tennis to rock-climbing classes. It's also home to the 33,000-square-foot Golden Door Spa, one of the best brands in the desert, with more than 50 years of treatment expertise. If you're not up to heading into Cave Creek's Frontier Town, check out the resort's El Pedregal complex. It features its own shopping and dining options, including the Spotted Donkey Cantina, a casual but stylish southwestern restaurant with happy-hour specials and an upbeat atmosphere.

Stage at El Pedregal

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Rancho Manana

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by Terry Ross

REALESTATE Olde Mill Unveils Fourth Residence Design Style

LAUREL FORK, VA - "That is perfect," sighed the North Carolina-based wife, resting her head upon her husband's broad, polo-clad shoulder.

- unveils its fourth housing option, The Overlook. Joining the previously constructed and recently renovated Overlook Villas, new Laurel Mountain Manors and custom estate homes, these condominiums are designed with the authentic mountaincraftsman style architecture, abundant throughout the property.

$309,000, these modern 1,300-square-foot condominiums boast a warm design while providing modern amenities and luxuries. Each 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom unit offers individual garages, gas fireplaces, granite counters, ceramic title floors, exposed cedar beams, rock accents around fireplace and base of beams, General Electric

She wasn't speaking about the 210yard drive she smoked earlier on Olde Mill's highly-acclaimed golf course, or the savory post-round lunch at The Maples Restaurant or even the peaceful, idyllic surroundings just minutes of the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway. Instead she was referring to the brand-new luxurious-yet-affordable condominiums, The Overlook, shrouded in the private, wooded enclave of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Olde Mill - the 850-acre master planned community - conveniently located an hour from Roanoke, Va., and WinstonSalem, N.C., and two hours from Charlotte

"The two bedrooms are perfect for when the kids come to visit," the wife said. "It can be our home away from home with both of our girls at Virginia Tech, it's so close to campus." Sip a cocktail at sunset on the deck of The Tavern at Olde Mill - perched gloriously above the resort community's 54-acre lake and golf course below. Meander through marked trails in the mountains, swim in the pool, exercise in the fitness center, play tennis or relish an exquisite meal by accomplished Chef Ed Badgett III at Olde Mill's Maples Restaurant. Ranging in price from $239,000 -

Appliances and 10-foot balconies overlooking the 18th green. The Overlook is done by Atlanta-based Garrell & Associates. Appointments to tour Olde Mill are now being welcomed and those interested should contact Mark Wuerthele at mark@oldemill.net or call 800.753.5005. Getting There Olde Mill is minutes off Interstates 77, 81, 85 and 40; easily accessible from Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee; and roughly one hour from Blacksburg / Christiansburg, Virginia and the Roanoke, Winston-Salem and Greensboro airports.

The Overlook Condominiums Now for Sale in Blossoming Blue Ridge Mountain Resort Community

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S â&#x20AC;˘ A P R I L 2010

DESTINATIONS

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WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO PLAY

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WHERE TO STAY

DESTINATIONS

WHERE TO PLAY

RANKED - TOP 5 PUBLIC COURSES

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Rated Best Course Under $100 - The Desert Sun Turbo’s Tavern & Grille (760) 200-9844

RATES THROUGH MAY 31 www.golfvacationsmag.com

• Golf Digest - Places To Play • Public Welcome • Corporate & Group Events Welcome • GPS Yardage System On Every Golf Cart • Premium Club Rentals • 18 Hole Championship Course G O L F V A C A T I O N S • A P R I L 2010

by Terry Ross

SWEETSTUFF A

djustable golf clubs have become the hottest ticket in the equipment market place, but a veteran putter company that pioneered weighting adjustments and variable face inserts over a decade ago has continued to expand its line of flat sticks. STX was the first company to introduce interchangeable technology, a system that provides quick adjustments for feel and weighting through the changing of faces and weights. This ability to control the putter head and speed according to personal preferences and course conditions is a huge advantage. They have utilized their patented Soft Face Insert Technology and expanded its popular ProFIT Series with the addition of the new ProFIT 6 Mallet Putter. The ProFIT Series is a broad selection of STX Putters that feature its progressive interchangeable technology, a system that provides quick adjustments for feel and weighting through the changing of faces and weights. This ability to control the putter head and speed according to personal preferences and course conditions is a huge advantage. For example, in slow conditions the green insert should be used with the 14 gram weight and in fast conditions the black insert should be installed with a 5 gram weight for pinpoint accuracy. The Profit 6 Putter is available in three face insert options; the black, red and green insert options. The black face insert is “the” softest insert. It delivers the highest friction and resilience rate plus increased dwell time. Those characteristics are chemically formulated to get the ball rolling sooner and keep your putts on line. For a medium resiliency rate, the red insert offers an intermediate amount of dwell time for true control. And, for golfers who prefer a firmer feel, the green insert provides a

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harder feel with less resilience. This technology provides superior directional control, decreased ball skid, reduced ball deformation and compression. The ProFIT 4 & 5 Putters are classically designed for the more traditional golfer and the ProFIT 6 Putter is specifically developed for the forward-thinking golfer who demands the latest in innovation and appreciates contemporary lines. The ProFIT 6 Putter is a striking modern mallet with angular lines and is milled from 17-4 stainless steel. It is uniquely contemporary with its distinctive hardware and dramatic PVD finish. STX is acknowledged as being the golf industry’s foremost authority on insert face technology. Over a quarter century ago, the company introduced the first patented soft face elastomer insert, creating the “softest legal face in golf.” Behind the company’s uniquely styled putter heads is Robert "Bob" Engman, STX Putters' Chief Club Designer. A world-renowned sculptor with works in the Hirshhorn Museum, the Whitney Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, Bob is also a three-time senior champion at Merion Golf Club in Philadelphia. For more information visit www.stxgolf.com

ushnell has teamed with the PGA of America, the USGA and the Folds of Honor Foundation to help the families of fallen U.S soldiers by issuing a special version of its popular Tour V2 golf rangefinder and earmarking a percentage of sales to help in commemorating Patriot Golf Day, an event that will celebrate its fourth anniversary this Labor Day.

Patriot Golf Day is a joint initiative of The PGA of America and the United States Golf Association that encourages golfers across the country to add $1 or more to their greens fees over the Labor Day weekend. Sparked by the vision and dedication of PGA Golf Professional Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the 125th Fighter Squadron of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Patriot Golf Day has raised $5.1 million during its first three years. Bushnell is introducing the Tour V2 Patriot Pack which comes equipped with a Tour V2, Skinz with a Patriot Golf Day symbol on one side, and red, white and blue stars and stripes on the other, extra battery and premium carrying case for $299. Bushnell will also provide 20 complimentary Tour V2 Patriot Packs to be sold in the Patriot Golf Course pro shop with all proceeds supporting the foundation. The Tour V2 incorporates the same “PinSeeker” technology that has made Bushnell products the #1 rangefinder on the PGA Tour. It is available in Tournament and Slope Editions, features golf-grip touch points for enhanced feel and stability, and is capable of ranging up to 300 yards to the flag stick with incredible +/- one yard accuracy. "We have lost more than 4,000 soldiers and Patriot Golf Day is a way for patriotic

Americans to assist families of military personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said Rooney, who returned from his third tour in Iraq in 2008. For more information on Bushnell laser rangefinders, visit: www.bushnellgolf.com.