Golf Vacations Magazine August 2010

ENTER THE “WEAR IN THE WORLD” SWEEPSTAKES . . . PAGE 5

Our

8th

Year!

GOLF VACATIONS AUGUST 2010

P

LAYING PINEHURST

HOME OF AMERICAN GOLF

SAN ANTONIO

A TEXAS HOWDY TO WORLD-CLASS GOLF PLUS:

Golf Scenic Colorado I Sherwood Country Club I My Turn

contents I august 2010

cover

stories 10

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Clock Dialed Back At Pinehurst

by James McAfee

Dreaming of an ideal place to take your next golf vacation? Well, the Sandhills region of North Carolina centered around the village of Pinehurst definitely should not be overlooked.

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Golf in Scenic Colorado

by Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”

Over the years I have traveled extensively throughout the US and the world. I have always looked forward to visiting a new city, a new country and playing new golf courses. Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Grand Junction and Montrose, Colorado to play golf.

San Antonio: Howdy To World-Class Golf

16

by David R. Holland

Today, Texans and visitors from all over the world, converge on the Hill Country and San Antonio in the spring to enjoy worldclass golf. The Texas wildflowers and lush green hillsides from heavy spring rains, are just added bonuses.

departments 8 ChipShots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

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26 Sweet Stuff Feel Free Company, Miura Golf

28 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

30 My Turn

by Larry Stewart

Southern California’s Sherwood Country Club

on the cover: Golf’s a Family Affair at North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS 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.

James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was executive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 17 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.

Larry Stewart is an avid golfer and spent nearly 40 years as a prominent sportswriter in Los Angeles. He started out at the now-defunct L.A. Herald Examiner in 1969 and was that newspaper’s assistant sports editor from 1974-78 before going to the L.A. Times. Stewart was best known for his TV sports column, which he began writing for the Herald Examiner in 1973 and continued on until he left the L.A. Times in 2008.

Stewart also covered golf and other sports as well.

Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) a Southern California native and 11 handicap golfer at Shadowridge Country Club in Vista, California, writes about golf for newspapers, magazines and internet travel sites. His business background includes developing the initial international distribution network for Adams Golf.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz Associate Editor Terry Ross Features Editor Larry Feldman

Staff Writers Fred Robledo Rob Mottram For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: INFO@GolfVacationsMag.com

Regional Advertising Los Angeles • 949-279-7801 Terry Ross - terryross@cox.net

Atlanta • 770-971-1616 John Reock - reock@mindspring.com

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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 >> KAUAI MARRIOTT EMERGES ANEW AFTER $50 MILLION MAKEOVER LIHUE, KAUAI, HAWAII – Following a nine month, $50 million renovation that touched all hotel areas, the new Kauai Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach was reintroduced recently with a special ceremony including a traditional Hawaiian blessing, hula dancers and musicians.

“We are moving forward with excitement and confidence that we will be a favored choice of accommodations for the different markets – leisure, business, group meetings and Marriott Rewards members,” said Brad Snyder, area general manager of Kauai Marriott Resort. “We’ve had a strong presence on Kauai since 1995 and now, the new hotel rounds out our luxurious Kauai Lagoons resort offerings that include our award-winning Kauai Lagoons Golf Club and vacation ownership by Marriott Vacations Club.”

The 356-room Kauai Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach is located on one of the island’s most picturesque beachfronts, conveniently situated within minutes from

Lihue Airport. In conjunction with the re-introduction of the new Kauai Marriott Resort, the resort hotel is offering a Free For Fall rate starting at $209 for a pool view guestroom.

For more information or reservations, call 1-800-220-2925 or visit www.kauaimarriott.com.

CELTIC MANOR UNVEILS “TRIPLE TEE” STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGE NEWPORT, WALES – The Celtic Manor Resort, host of golf's 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than

two hours outside London -- announced its "Triple Tee" stay-and-play golf package.

Caressed by the River Usk in the rolling countryside of South Wales, Celtic Manor features three exceptional 18-hole golf courses, plush accommodations and top-shelf amenities.

The "Triple Tee" package includes: • Two nights accommodations at fivestar Resort Hotel with breakfast • 18 holes on Twenty Ten Course, host of October's Ryder Cup matches • 18 holes on Roman Road Course, designed by revered architect Robert Trent Jones • 18 holes on Montgomerie Course, designed by Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie • Complimentary use of Forum Health Club's facilities Weekday prices start at $447 per person, weekend at $460. For more information, email Reservations at bookings@celticmanor.com or call 866.789.5779 and ask for Golf Sales Manager Sean Clancy; or visit www.celtic-manor.com

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HYATT REGENCY CHESAPEAKE BAY OFFERS UNLIMITED GOLF GETAWAY

CAMBRIDGE, MD. – Challenging golf and breathtaking waterfront views, just a short drive away … Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina offers it all for avid golfers looking to pair their favorite pastime with a long-awaited vacation. Now through the end of the year, guests of the sce-

nic Eastern Shore resort can take advantage of the Golf at River Marsh Club package, which offers unlimited golf for two players, a $40 food and beverage credit, luxurious overnight accommodations and other perks.

The resort’s scenic 18-hole championship course was just named one of Maryland’s “Best Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek magazine. “This latest recognition further attests to the classic styling of our Keith Foster-designed course,” said Abby Messick, the recently appointed LPGA Head Golf Professional at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort.

“River Marsh Golf Club not only offers a challenging game, but also impresses golfers with its stunning vistas of the Choptank River and the resort’s private wildlife refuge.”

The Golf at River Marsh Club package is available now through December 31, 2010.

The package includes unlimited golf for two players, including green fees, cart fees, driving range fees, club cleaning, bag storage, and bag tag. In addition to luxurious overnight accommodations, the package includes a $40 food and beverage credit per room, per night; a Yardage Guide; a sleeve of golf balls; and a 20 percent discount on merchandise at the

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River Marsh Pro Shop. Prices start at $349 per night. For more information and to make hotel reservations, call 800-633-7313 or visit www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com

WORLD GOLF TOUR SPECIAL RATES FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – As part of its 10-year anniversary, World Tour Golf Links announces a last minute special that can save golfers up to $76. Golfers who book tee times within 48 hours of playing can get an exceptional value this summer at World Tour Golf Links, an award-winning, public, 27-hole course in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Green fees when booked through this last-minute special are only $69 per person, per day and include 27 holes of championship golf, use of a Club Car® golf cart equipped with Uplink GPS system, and a stunning 24"x36" poster print featuring the famous holes at World Tour Golf.

Contact World Tour Golf at 877-377-7773 and secure a tee time reservation starting within 48 hours. The special is offered through September 29, 2010.

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.

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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

PLAYING PINEH

HURST

CLOCK TO BE DIALED BACK FOR NO.

2

D

reaming of an ideal place to take your next golf vacation? Well, the Sandhills region of North Carolina centered around the village of Pinehurst definitely should not be overlooked. There is no doubt it is one of the crown jewels of golf here in the United States, deserving the name as Home of American Golf with 43 courses within a 15-mile radius. The tradition of golf lives here on these courses roamed by legends of golf like Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead.

Perhaps the most revered of these courses is the Donald Ross-designed Pinehurst No. 2, which has been home to two U.S. Opens along with with a U.S. Senior Open, a Ryder Cup and a PGA Championship and will make history in 2014 by hosting the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women's Open back-to-back.

I still treasure the memory of my first and only time to play the course in a foursome that included Paul Runyan back in the 1970s when I worked for Golf Digest. Playing with a caddy who was clubbing me and giving me great advice, I didn't realize how well I was playing until we reached the 15th green and had a 12-footer for a birdie. “Make this putt and you can shoot in the 60s,� he said. That was a mistake. I never even came close, but did save par.

Going against his advice to lay up on the par 5 16th, I took out a 3-wood and hit it into the trees by going for the green. A bogey when I could not get up and down from the green side bunker still left me one under and some how I managed to chip close enough to save pars on the final two holes for a 71.

No #2 Bunker

By James McAfee

When they arrive for the majors in 2014, the game's elite of the modern era will see a different look—perhaps a little rough around the edges-- as architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw have taken on a renovation projects intended to dial the clock back and restore the natural aesthetics like Ross intended 100 years ago.

Over the past 30 years, No. 2 took on more of a modern wall-to-wall grass look as the fairways became a lot narrower with the rough allowed to grow and expand.

Remember how Payne Stewart just had to hack his ball out of the rough and back to the fairway before playing his third shot to the final green and making that all important

Just Putting Around

putt for par to win the 1999 Open.

When the renovation is complete, the fairways will be widened to 50 to 60 yards and bordered by sandy waste areas and native wire grasses leading into the towering pines. The bunkers will be spruced up, but the signature “turtleback greens” that put a premium on accurate approach shots will not be touched and all tees with the exception of No. 7 will remain the same.

“We're trying to uncover it, not recover it,” said Coore. “We're trying to take what Ross left and perhaps bring it back to the character and definition of what was

once here. In short, we'll bring the strategy back and reinstate its character.”

Hole #7

Pinehurst President Don Padgett II indicated the re-do was not being taken as a project in preparation for the two majors. “We're doing it because it's the right thing to do as stewards of this historic course,” he said.

While No. 2 will remain open until Nov. 15, 2010, I would recommend those thinking of a Pinehurst vacation to wait until after it re-opens in the spring of 2011 to actually play a round where the green fees can be more than $400.

That's the advice I heard from fellow scribes attending the

Putting Green

Payne Stewart Statue

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

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Pinehurst Clubhouse

20th anniversary of the International Network of Golf's Spring Conference and a few guests who were disappointed after playing No. 2 in its current shape.

There are four other Pinehurst courses, operating out of the same massive golf clubhouse filled with lots of history, available for guests of the renovated Carolina Hotel—often called the Queen of the South. Three other Pinehurst courses are only minutes with No. 8 being the choice of many corporate outings.

No. 4, the site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur, is not a traditional Ross design anymore as Tom Fazio re-did it in 2000, following the original routing. As Anders Bengtson and I discovered in a qualifier for the International Pairs, the crowned greens are still very difficult targets for your approach shots and the140 pot bunkers are definitely to be avoided.

No. 5, an Ellis Maples design that I also played on my most recent visit, has perhaps the best variety of holes and the most water hazards to avoid. It would be on my must play list.

Here is a quick look at the other courses at Pinehurst: No. 1 is short by today's standards, but is a great place to start your Pinehurst adventure.

No. 6 has been renovated by Fazio with new greens and bunkers and is very challenging with rolling terrain.

No. 3 is also short, but has some interesting holes with character, according to Crenshaw. The greens have been renovated with bent grass.

No. 7 a Reese Jones design renovated in 2003, is located on some of the most rugged land around Pinehurst with the added challenge of wetlands.

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

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No. 8 is a Fazio design that incorporates signature Ross features, including dips and swales around sloping greens with false fronts.

With 35 other neighboring courses, many with four-star ratings

by Golf Digest, you can not go wrong with a golfing getaway to the Sandhills, especially in the fall.

Donald Ross' fingerprints are also on the Pine Needles course, which has hosted three U.S. Women's Opens. It was renovated in 2004 by John Fought, who indicated his design team had to step back in time to rediscover some of the original Ross elements. Try to also play the sister Mid Pines, another Ross creation.

I got a chance to play the Little River Golf & Resort, a Dan Maples design built on an old horse farm featuring a lot of elevation changes, would be on my must play list. There are villas on the property and I was impressed with the hospitality and service provided on my visit.

www.golfvacationsmag.com

Claudio Demarchi and Randy McDonald, a pair of Canadian publishers, raved about the Talamore Golf Resort, a Reese Jones design, and the beautiful view they had from a balcony on a condo on the 18th hole. Next door is the member-only Mid-South Club, an Arnold Palmer design recognized by Pinehurst Magazine as the No. 1 private club in the area.

Looking for something completely different, try Tobacco Road, the late architect Mike Strantz' version of Pine Valley, or the Pit Golf Links built in an old quarry.

When visiting the village of Pinehurst, be sure to stop by Tom Stewart's place, filled with all kinds of golf memorabilia and books.

The Home of American Golf awaits your next visit. I know I will return.

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

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Redlands Mesa

Story by Chuck Miller

GOLFING IN SCENIC COLORADO Harvesting Wine Grapes 16

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

www.golfvacationsmag.com

O

ver the years I have traveled extensively throughout the US and the world. I have always looked forward to visiting a new city, a new country and playing new golf courses.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Grand Junction and Montrose, Colorado to play golf. As with every new golfing venture, I was curious about the area and its golf courses. So I did what everyone does these days, I went to the Internet. Upon reading about the Colorado National Monument, Colorado's answer to the Grand Canyon, and viewing photos of the courses I was going to play, I developed a keen interest in my upcoming trip to these cities located four hours west of Denver by car.

Along with my three companions on the trip, golf writers from Vancouver, B.C.; Mesa, Arizona; and Yakima, Washington; I played 72 holes of golf in two days, 18 holes at Redlands Mesa and Tiara Rado in Grand Junction and 18 holes at Cobble Creek and The Bridges in Montrose. I found all four courses, although different in terrain and difficulty, to be well designed, quite scenic and fun to play.

Redlands Mesa

of $41 including cart Monday thru Thursday and $46 Friday through Sunday..

Following our first day of golf, our group dined at Naggy's Irish Pub in Grand Junction. With Irish music playing in the background, we recounted the day's golfing success and failures while enjoying tasty Irish dishes and pints of Guinness. I dined on an Irish stew that would have made anyone from the Emerald Isle quite proud.

Our second day of 36 holes was spent in Montrose, an hour south of Grand Junction. As a native Californian who lives in Vista, a relatively wind-free city forty miles north of San Diego, this day was a new experience. Playing in winds with gusts up to 40 miles per hour, I gained a new respect for Tour players who often are subjected to winds of this velocity. Both courses, Cobble Creek, known for the creek that winds it ways throughout the course, and The Bridges, a Nicklaus course with water on 15 of its 18 holes, are links style courses. Both have left and right dog-legged fairways, lengthy par 3's, large undulating greens, and of course, lots of water..

Grapes Growing Near Mt. Lincoln

Redlands Mesa is a semi-private course located in an upscale community at the base of The Colorado National Monument.

Rated the #1 Best New Affordable Course in America by Golf Digest in 2001, and the #1 Public Golf Course in Colorado by Colorado Golf Magazine in 2009, Redlands Mesa is an outstanding track. It stretches from 4,890 to 7,007 yards, has 41 strategically placed bunkers, 11 elevated tees and spectacular views of the multicolored sandstone face of the "The Monument", as The Colorado National Monument is referred to by locals. With its challenging course design and its breathtaking views of "The Monument", Redlands Mesa is a "must play" when visiting Colorado.

Played from the 6400-yard tees, both courses were challenging, particularly the holes played into the wind. Playing downwind at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet was a lot less difficult and in fact was lots of fun. Both Wes Bolyard, my playing partner from Mesa, Arizona, and I hit balls way beyond our normal length. Never in my life had I hit a 155-yard pitching wedge onto a Par 3 and I doubt Wes had ever hit a 343-yard drive followed by a 240-yard five wood onto a Par 5. It was truly an experience being able to hit drives and

Tiara Rado, a municipal course owned by the city of Grand Junction, is a course for all ages and all skill levels. To me it was much more interesting and scenic than most municipal courses I have played. When the back nine's extensive remodel is totally completed, and the new lakes and tee boxes come into play, I think Tiara Rado will rank as one of the best municipal courses in Colorado.

Playing to 6,289 yards from the tips, the course is tree lined with well placed bunkers guarding small to medium sized undulating greens. It is an enjoyable course, one that will only get better when all the remodeling if done. It is well worth the reasonable green fees

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Growing Grapes at Base of Horse Mountain

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

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The Bridges

iron shots of that length, shots that Tour players hit on a regular basis without the benefit of a blustery tail wind.

When we finished playing The Bridges, we adjourned to the elegantly designed clubhouse which overlooks the Par 5 seventeenth and the Par 5 eighteenth. Both holes feature water to left of their fairways almost the entire length of each hole. Both are wonderful closing holes and a true credit to Nicklaus and his design team.

After golf, we headed to The Stone House, an excellent restaurant in Montrose.

We dined on melt-in-your-mouth steaks after a brief stopover in the bar's relaxing lounge next to a warm and inviting fireplace. The Stone House, well known in Montrose for friendly hospitality and tender and delicious steaks, was a great place to finish our day following golf at Cobble Creek and The Bridges.

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

On my last morning in Montrose, before heading back to Grand Junction for my flight to San Diego, I had breakfast at Damiano's Cowboy Caio. Owned and operated by nationally known restaurateur Anthony Damiano, a member of the World Master Chef Society, and his wife Lisa, an accomplished pastry chef, Cowboy Caio has become a favorite for locals and tourists alike.

There aren't many places I know of where you can you get large portions of really good food served by a fun waitstaff in a restaurant with an unusual mixture of cowboy and Italian dĂŠcor and cuisine.

Breakfasting at Cowboy Caio was a real treat.

In addition to golf, my four days in Grand Junction and Montrose included a two mile hike up and back on the Serpentine Trail on "The Monument".

Located just minutes away from the agriculturally oriented city of Grand Junction, the

trail offers spectacular views of both the extensive valley and the rock rimmed canyons formed millions of years ago by glaciers and broad rushing rivers. At one overlook along the trail, a sign explained the various layers of rock I was observing dated back 1.6 billion years.

I highly recommend a Serpentine Trail hike when visiting Grand Junction.

However, if you are a non-hiker, take the 20 mile drive through "The Monument" and make stops at vista points along the way.

You'll see incredible multi-colored rocked canyons, spectacular views of the valley and the city of Grand Junction in the distance.

When in Grand Junction, be sure and dine at one of downtown's most well known restaurants, Il Bistro Italiano. Housed in an unpretentious pink building, Il Bistro Italiano is a comfortable unassuming restaurant that serves mouth watering Italian food at reasonable prices. Our famiwww.golfvacationsmag.com

ly style dinner, which followed recipes brought over from Italy by owner/chef Brunella Gualerzi, included antipasto, salad, pasta, sea bass, and boneless beef short ribs cooked in a tasty red wine sauce. Dinner, which was enjoyed with more than one bottle of Cabernet Franc from the local Garfield Estates Winery, was topped off with a dessert of a chocolate cherry almond tart covered in a rich chocolate sauce.

A quick note about the wine industry in the Grand Junction/Montrose area.

There are 19 wineries in the area, 18 of which have tasting rooms. You may not be familiar with the wines or wineries as most all of the wines produced in the area are sold and consumed in Colorado. However, I think this will change as the wineries

The Monument

Garfield Estates Winery definitely gets my vote.

Venturing to new places to play new golf courses is a real treat for me. My four days in Grand Junction and Montrose only scratched the surface of the many things to do and places to see in the area. I have decided to put these two cities on my "Places To Go Back To" list as both are ideal cities for a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or an even longer golfing getaway.

grow larger and increase production. My prediction is that Grand Junction/Montrose area wines will be winning prestigious awards at wine tastings throughout the US and quite possibly the world. The Cabernet Franc from

For more information about Grand Junction and Montrose, go to www.visitgrandjunction.com and w w w. v i s i t m o n t r o s e . c o m .

There you will find information about the area, accommodations, restaurants, etc. as well as information on the Redlands Mesa, Tiara Lado, Cobble Creek and The Bridges golf courses.

Tiara Rado

www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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San A

Say Howdy To W

Antonio

World-Class Golf

By David R. Holland

Things Texans Learn Early In Life: • Never kick a cow chip on a hot day, especially with brand-new white golf shoes.

• You are allowed to play golf with your boots and a Stetson on.

• The cattle drive was a historical prelude to today's mesquite-smoked BBQ. • Texas is still a republic. Iced tea is the "national" drink. Shiner Bock is the choice of adults.

• If you don't live here, a pilgrimage to San Antonio is required once a year. oday, Texans and visitors from all over the world, converge on the Hill Country and San Antonio in the spring to enjoy world-class golf. The Texas wildflowers -- bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush -- plus the lush green hillsides from heavy spring rains, are just added bonuses.

T

than 200 area courses, San Antonio also became a golf destination.

Twenty million annually visit the Alamo City.

While Phoenix-Scottsdale and Myrtle Beach proclaimed themselves as the greatest golf destinations on earth, both with more

And now San Antonio has another world-class golf destination in the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa -- just 20 minutes

Personally, I’d rather kick that cow chip than play golf in Myrtle Beach.

San Antonio’s River Walk 22

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

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photos: JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa

from the airport and handy for a trip downtown for the River Walk and Alamo. It it is the largest JW Marriott in the world with 1,002 rooms and 85 suites spreading out with massive views of the Texas Hill Country’s Cibolo Canyons.

This is where crystal clear streams, oaks and cedar trees mingle with rocky rough, prickly pear cactus and rolling hills. And amongst all that beauty is luxury.

The hacienda-styled hotel used native limestone in the brick work, and the resort includes the trademark Lazy River swimming experience, massive meeting space, countless restaurants and a spa. Guestrooms incorporate metals, tooled leather, carved wood, and hewn stonework.

And don’t forget 36 holes of golf. The Pete DyeBruce Lietzke-designed AT&T Canyons Course at TPC San Antonio rolls out to 7,106 yards at par 72 and could be the least penal course Dye has ever designed.

The difficult AT&T Oaks Course, home of the Valero Texas Open, is a 7,435-yard monster (par 72) which was designed to test the best players on the planet. Greg Norman with an assist from Sergio Garcia designed this beauty, part of the half-billion dollar resort. Play on both courses is limited to members or resort guests.

And it could be the most environmentally friendly golf resort ever built. A closed-loop irrigation system returns rainwater to the Edwards Aquifer, a precious source of water in an area parched from lack of summer rain. “Green initiatives” are prevalent throughout the massive grounds.

The old viewer-friendly TPC mounding was avoided for a more natural look and the bunkers were built to mimic the canopies of the area’s live oaks. Both courses have nary a house lining its rumpled, muscular-bunker infested fairways.

San Antonio: This ain’t a one-horse (golf) town As awesome as the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa is there are two other world-class golf resorts in San Antonio. The Westin La Cantera Resort, done in Texas Colonial architecture and limestone rock is located in the northwest part of town, is next door to Six Flags Fiesta Texas and is former home of the Valero Texas Open on its Resort Course.

This beautiful enclave sits on a hilltop providing stunning views of the rugged land and downtown.

The hotel has 508 renovated guest rooms, including more than 25 spacious suites and 38 rooms in an exclusive Casita Village. The resort also features six pools, three hot tubs, 36 holes of golf, unique dining, the spacious workout areas, spa services, tennis courts and a kids club. www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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The Westin La Cantera Resort

The Tom Weiskopf-Jay Morrish 7,465-yard, par 72 Resort Course is a blast and also a contrast from the hilly Arnold Palmer Course.

"The climate is just ideal here for year around golf," said Palmer, the PGA's legendary king. "Texas has always been home to lot of golfers and greats of the game. And the terrain is wonderful for golf."

The other not-to-be-missed stop is The Hyatt Hill Country Resort in the western part of town. Here you can walk land that was once the Rogers-Wiseman Ranch, but this version has lavishness. One gets Four-Diamond pampering, 27 holes of Arthur Hills championship golf, the Windflower Spa and four-acre swimming experience.

The encounter is like a Texas ranch house with grand beds, ultra-plush pillows, the softest of sheeting, and thick down blankets -- all piled atop pillow-top mattresses. Leather furnishings, Texas artwork and views of Hill Country gardens completes this vacation.

Set on more than 200 acres, The Hill Country Golf Club has a wide-ranging terrain with rolling meadows, steep hillsides, wooded ravines and tree-shaded plateaus, as well as the tranquil lakes and ponds.

Stop, look and listen. You will be amazed at the peacefulness.

Bluebonnets, windmills, barn wood, rocky creeks, and a cowboy theme are here. You are close to the city, but it feels like the boondocks. No houses line the fairways that Hills designed with greens mimicking the rolling land. Be precise, avoid the dry creeks and flight your ball away from the low-hanging giant live oaks.

photos: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa

Just getting started: Other places to play in San Antonio There's no golf history like Texas golf history. Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Ralph Guldahl, Jimmy Demaret, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, Jack Burke, Jr., Lloyd Mangrum, Harvey Penick, Lee Trevino, Don January, Miller Barber, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Scott Verplank and Justin Leonard, to name only a few, are names imprinted on Texas golf.

And San Antonio is at the heart of the history.

When you tee off at Brackenridge Park Golf Course you can't help but feel its one of the birthplaces of the PGA Tour. Built in 1915 by storied golf-course architect A.W. Tillinghast (also designed Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Inverness), it hosted one of the first PGA events in the formative days of the tour. It has been newly renovated, too.

Mike Souchak's 72-hole scoring-record of 257 in the 1955 Texas Open here was a long-standing PGA Tour record. And Nelson and Hogan came here in winter to fine tune their games.

Other area San Antonio daily-fee courses rank among my favorites in the Lone Star State: The Republic, Pecan Valley, The Quarry, Canyon Springs, Olympia Hills and Silverhorn Golf Club.

The Bandit in New Braunfels, Tapatio Springs in Boerne, The Buckhorn in Comfort, The Golf Club of Texas at Briggs Ranch, and Comanche Trace Ranch in Kerrville are others to check out. www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

25

by Terry Ross

SWEETSTUFF G

olf is largely a game of tradition and many things about the sport— down to the design and looks of clubs-- can be traced back decades to designs that have stood the test of time and carried through the present day.

One company that literally has turned a basic part of the golf club upside down is Feel Golf with its Full Release™ Performance Grips that are a “reverse taper” design that features the large end of the grip down the shaft and the narrow end at the butt of the club.

With its patented ergonomic design, it allows players to attain instant gratification by immediately increasing distance and reducing wayward ball flight. The "Taper Tip Technology™" design of this grip is thinner in the left hand and thicker in the right hand - similar to the grip of a baseball bat. The Full Release Grip allows one to hold the club in the finger tips for a tension free Tour player like grip. It helps to fully release the club through impact, creating an instant distance increase, a better touch and feel around the green.

The “reverse taper” design allows golfers of all skill levels to achieve a professional style finger tip grip, for more swing speed through impact, more control and above all, more power. Slices and hooks are greatly reduced and 38.7% of customers say, the grip eliminated my “awful slice” while picking up an average driver increase of 12 + yards.

The design promotes hand action through the swing in a much-more pronounced way than the traditional grip because the smaller fingers on the upper end of the club have less mass to control 26

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

during the swing.

The innovative and high performance grips (patented), have gained a strong foothold in the grip marketplace worldwide.

The newly introduced X-Line grips feature some dramatic new colors; a “Fly Yellow/Black, an “Orient Blue/Black”, and a “Fire Engine Red/Black. These new colors are accompanied by the, “X-Wrap” all Black and the “X-Line Full Cord”, a cord that is so soft, you won’t need a glove. The new colored models feature a distinct black oval mixed in the lowered colored section for easy grip placement for proper alignment also lending to a proper and faster release through impact.

An improved material has been employed in the new models, said Lee Miller, CEO of the Feel Golf Company, Inc. “We went to a special grade premium rubber this year. It is more expensive, but we believe the performance characteristics of real rubber are worth it. It is softer, gives much better feedback at impact and has better shock absorption. You can really feel your hands and the club head with this new material.”

Feel Golf Company, operated by PGA Members, is based in Monterey, California, near the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links.

For more information about the Feel Golf Company and their lineup of products, visit their website at www.feelgolf.net

I

n a year when wedge design has taken a front seat in the golf world, one of the world’s best know manufacturer’s of fine hand-crafted custom golf clubs is introducing a new wedge design that is sure to catch on with aficionados of these high-end irons.

Japanese golf-club manufacturer Miura Golf--which has been making high-quality forged irons for 44 years—has released the K Grind wedge. The sole of the new K

Grind wedge is "fluted" which bears a striking resemblance to finger-tip impressions, or even human knuckles. These three channels reduce the resistance against the wedge in sand, thick rough, and even the fairway.

The sole of the wedge moves with the grass instead of against it. The channels move around the sand instead of colliding with it.

It allows the wedge to accelerate thru the ball with less effort in every condition to improve the odds of hitting a good shot.

These new wedges are built to achieve better results out of wet sand, reduce the odds of "catching it heavy" on long bunker shots, increase acceleration on half and quarter swings around the green and improve the ability to dig it out of deep rough.

"We are very excited about the release of the K Grind wedge", said Bill Holowaty, the VP of North American Operations for Miura Golf. "The unique sole design (each wedge grinded by hand) delivers uncompromised performance to your short game."

The international golfing press has always used the words "from the hands of god" to describe Katsuhiro Miura's forged irons. Could it be that the inspiration for his newest wedge came from his own hands?

In addition to the K Grind wedges, Miura Golf's product line also includes the CB-501 Cavity Back Model, Tournament Blade; MC-102 (Mid-Size Cavity Model); CB202 (Cavity Back Model): CB-301 (Cavity Back Model); Wedges (Wedge Series and Black Wedge Series, each available in six lofts); Series 1957 Small Blade Irons; Y and C Grind Wedges; Blade and Classic putters (two models); Edition Precious Driver, Fairway Wood and Utility Wood.

Miura Golf's corporate office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. More information on Miura products can be found at www.miuragolf.com.

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

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

29

MYTURN

SHERWOOD COUNTRY CLUB

by LarryStewart

P

lanning a trip to Southern California and wondering which of the area’s outstanding golf courses is the very best?

My vote goes to the Sherwood Country Club, located about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles in beautiful Hidden Valley.

What qualifies me to offer such an opinion is that I spent nearly 40 years as a sportswriter in Los Angeles – 8 _ with the old Herald Examiner and 30-plus with the L.A. Times – and at one time or other got to play almost every course in the area.

What sets Sherwood apart from the others, I believe, is its location. It is routed among ancient oak trees, jasmine and rose bushes and surrounded by multi-million mansions where such people as legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully now lives and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky used to live.

Also, the Jack Nicklaus-designed 7,052-yard, par72 course is magnificent and so is the ultra-modern clubhouse.

Television viewers have gotten a glimpse of Sherwood because Greg Norman held his Shark Shootout there for 11 years and more recently it has been the site of Tiger Woods’ annual charity tournament.

Yes, it is a fabulous place. But it is also very exclusive and very private. It’s easier to get a tee time at St. Andrews than it is at Sherwood.

30

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • A U G U S T 2 0 1 0

So how could one get to play the course during a Southern California vacation?

Here’s one way: Sign up to play in the Provident Financial Management Golf Classic, to be held at Sherwood next March 21. The entry fee is $1,500, but that is a bargain. It used to be $2,500. Also, you’ll be helping a good cause.

The tournament benefits the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Over the past three years, the tournament has raised more than $523,000.

This well-run tournament is as good as they get, and also a few celebrities show up. Last year, Eagles guitarist Don Felder and pro surfer Timmy Curran were among the notable participants.

After this year’s event, Provident Financial COO Ivan Axelrod said: “It was a privilege to enjoy Sherwood Country Club, but what truly made this event a success was the generosity of our players.

“Over 100 players from all corners of the business community came together for a vital cause, and together we are ensuing the doctors are the Bogart Labs at Childrens Hospital will be able to continue their groundbreaking research to save countless children’s lives.”

For information on next year’s tournament, contact Sara Fitzgerald at 323 330-0509 or Sam Dependahl at 310 313-6374.

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