Golf Vacations Magazine Fall 2008

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GOLF VACATIONS FALL FALL 2008 2008

LIVING AT THE CLIFFS IN SWEET CAROLINA NORTH AND SOUTH GET TOGETHER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION

CANADA’S FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER

OLYMPIC GOLF ON THE HORIZON

PLUS:

Cooperstown’s Hall Of Fame Golf I Florida’s Emerald Coast

“Best Overall Golf Experience” – VegasGolfer “Golf’s hidden treasure” – Sports Illustrated cascatagolf.com

Tee Times / Stay & Play Packages Call 1.888.727.4427 or visit us online at harrahsgolf.com For groups of 16 or more call 702.294.2010

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2007, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

Cut out the middleman.

Reserve directly with the golf course and hotel operators.

Choose to stay at Bally’s, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Paris & Rio in Las Vegas and play at Cascata, Rio Secco, or one of over 12 other fabulous golf courses.

Check availability and pricing, and reserve the entire package online at www.harrahsgolfonline.com

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2007, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

TOUR PROS MIS-HIT THE BALL MORE THAN 20% OF THE TIME.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU?

INTRODUCING LDP TECHNOLOGY. LONGER WHEN HIT PERFECTLY. LONGER WHEN NOT HIT PERFECTLY. A typical driver mis-hit puts too little spin on the ball, and the ball loses yards. The new TaylorMade balls with LDP Technology fly far even when they’re not hit dead-solid perfect. That’s why 120 Tour Pros are playing them around the world. RethinkYourBall.com ©2008 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. Player count based on the PGA, LPGA, Champions, Nationwide, European and Japan Tours according to Darrell Survey and Sports Marketing Surveys, Ltd. for the 2007-2008 season.

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contents I fall 2008

18 cover

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stories

Ponte Vedra Is Family Fun

by Lisa Tucker McElroy

If you thought Florida was all about Miami and Palm Beach, think again. In this tiny beach corner of Florida you’ll find championship-level golf, unbelievable cuisine, and the widest wide sand beach you’ve ever seen.

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Destination: Florida’s Emerald Coast

by Michael Villalpando

Located about mid-way between Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida lies a golf destination region that is quietly positioning itself as the next great Sunshine State must-play.

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Carolina’s On My Mind

by Joel Zuckerman

Bored with the beach? Listless about the lake? Early fall mountain retreat sound enticing?. Then pack up for a visit to the Cliffs Communities straddling North and South Carolina. If you stick around a spell, you just might spot a “Tiger”.

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Canada’s Fairmont Chateau Whistler

by Tom LaMarre

It’s hard to beat the convenience at Fairmont Chateau Whistler for the outdoors type, with skiing, golf and other activities only minutes away. Hosting part of the 2010 Winter Olympics, whether winter or summer games, this resort gets the gold medal.

ON THE COVER: 18th Hole at Leatherstocking GC, Otesaga Resort, Cooperstown, NY

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GLAMOUR Diamond Collection

Automatic 25 Jewels

Gevril Switzerland - Rue Meval 20, 2720 Tramelan - Switzerland info@gevril.ch

contents I fall 2008

featurette 36 Resort Report: Renaissance Esmeralda

by Terry Ross Sitting next to the newly redesigned Indian

36

Wells Golf Resort, this classic redefines desert cool. The golf will bring you, the world class pampering will keep you.

40 Personal Postcard: Cooperstown, New York

by Lisa Tucker McElroy The World Series is just around the

bend. What better way to celebrate your favorite team than a round of golf in this hallowed Norman Rockwell-esque town.

departments 12 Chip Shots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

16 Sweet Stuff

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by Terry Ross

Roundup Of Gear You Just Know You Gotta Have

42 My Turn

by Terry Ross

The U.S. Open In San Diego: What Took So Long?

44 World Beat Golf Wasn’t An Olympic Sport In China. You Sure About That?

45 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

v i s i t w w w. g v l i n k s . c o m

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Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz Contributing Writers Tom LaMarre • Lisa T. McElroy • Terry Ross Michael Villalpando • Joel Zuckerman Design & Production Buy Design • J.D. Latorre Features Editor Larry Feldman Special Projects Editor Terry Ross Copy Editor Mary Anne Pinkston For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 • e-mail: info@GVLinks.com

Advertising Representatives Los Angeles, CA • 323-933-5518 Michael Villalpando - Melrose Media Group Phoenix, AZ • 520-429-8625 Jay Trapnell San Diego, CA • 619-709-4425 Wayne McCollum Atlanta, GA • 770-331-1775 Philip Herterick Punta Gorda, FL • 941-585-9210 Shawn Harlan

Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz 100 S. Sunrise Way., Suite 257 Palm Springs, California 92262 1-800-940-7816 • fax 214-889-3667

and

Destiny Media, LLC President/CEO James A. Diaz 11645 E. Del Timbre Drive Scottsdale, Arizona 85259 Golf Vacations Magazine is published bi-monthly and is selectively distributed throughout the entire fifty United States.

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2008 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number and $18 to Golf Vacations Magazine at the address above. www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • F A L L 2008

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

from the editor . . .

F

all means football season, colorful leaves, crisp, cool nights and your kids returning to school.

Oh yeah. It also means golf can be played virtually anywhere in the good ol’ U.S. in just about perfect golf weather. Trust me. Check out the weather map in USA Today on any given autumn day and tell me I’m lying when I say that every corner of the nation is in prime-time for teeing it up!

The oven temperatures in the deserts of Southern California begin to cool in late September and provide for gorgeous late afternoon rounds. Check out the new Indian Wells Golf Resort with a long weekend stay at the Renaissance Esmeralda and be mesmerized by the sunsets over Mt. San Jacinto.

Further north in Canada’s western province of British Columbia you’ll find the star-studded Fairmont Chateau Whistler to be a slightly cooler alternative to catch a western round.

Moving east on your map, the mountains of western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina come together to form the perfect recipe to showcase The Cliffs Communities. You’ll marvel at the roster of designer courses served up and Tiger hasn’t even shoveled his first scoopful of dirt yet!

Heading further south brings our autumn golf trek to Florida, with it’s summer humidity now in the rearview mirror.

And last, but not least, we check in on Cooperstown, N.Y. this issue. Why? Because it’s Fall Classic season and the golf there is great this time of year. Honest.

Check your color coordinated map.

This fall season is especially poignant for my wife and I as we just dropped off our only child at DePaul University in Chicago to begin his freshman year of college. Gulp!

With a potential Cubs-Chisox World Series looming and Wrigley Field only three subway stops from his campus, I’m green with envy over the possibility that he may witness baseball history this October.

Joel Zuckerman, the Vagabond Golfer, was recently called “one of the most respected and sought-after golf writers in the Southeast” by Golfer’s Guide. Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye said, "Joel is both a great writer and a great friend." His latest book, titled Pete Dye: Golf Courses---Fifty Years Of Visionary Design, will be released in September.

Visit www.petedyebook.com for more information.

Lisa Tucker McElroy is a lawyer, writing professor, and mom living in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Although she is a beginning golfer, she has absolute faith that her first hole-in-one is right around the corner. Lisa writes regularly for national magazines about travel, golf, parenting, and family, and she is also the author of nine books for children.

Michael Villalpando is a Los Angeles based travel writer. He is also publisher of the Park La Brea News and The Beverly Press, both local weekly publications covering news and events in the Los Angeles area. Michael and his wife Karen also run The Melrose Media Group, a successful L.A. based media rep firm.

Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.

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 now in the Orlando area.

Here’s to you kid!

Jeffrey Diaz executive editor 10

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chip shots

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 >> BONDING AT ITS BEST WITH POKER, GOLF AND SURFING IN MEXICO Girl or guy friends looking for a getaway in 2008 can ride the waves during three surfing lessons in the Sea of Cortes, hit the links for two rounds of golf at nearby Cabo del Sol and shuffle the cards during poker night with the Surf & Turf Getaway at Marquis Los Cabos.

Immediately upon arrival, guests are transported to a Mexican state of relaxation when delivered the signature cocktail, some ice-cold beers and chips with guacamole, and a special cigar gift box.

Luxurious accommodations in a Junior Suite or Private Pool Casita with ocean front view and spacious balcony for dining, daily buffet breakfast at the resort’s restaurant Vista Ballenas, and unlimited access to the gym and Jacuzzis round out the package offerings.

Available through December 15, 2008, the 5-day / 4-night Surf & Turf Getaway starts at $2,100 per person including tax and service charge. For reservations or more information visit www.marquisloscabos.com

Marquis Los Cabos

FLORIDA’S HISTORIC GASPARILLA INN GOLF COURSE GOES GREEN One of Florida’s most historic resorts, The Gasparilla Inn & Club, has implemented numerous measures to transform its golf club into an eco-friendly destination. Travelers are drawn to this seasonal National Historic Landmark resort’s main attraction – a championship, Pete Dye-designed golf course, which is situated on scenic Charlotte Harbor.

The Gasparilla Golf Club has taken steps to preserve this picturesque course’s eco-system by implementing a “green golf” initiative, including the use of an extensive water recovery system, the use of electric

golf carts, as well as being walking friendly.

Golfers can take advantage of The Gasparilla Inn’s fall Pete Dye Golf Getaway which includes daily golf on Gasparilla Golf Club’s par-72 course, complimentary use of a an electric golf cart or pull cart, for 18 holes a day and complimentary use of the practice facilities. The golf package is available Sunday through Thursday, with rates starting at $398 per room per day. For reservations or more information visit www.gasparillainn.com

TEE IT UP AND WIND DOWN AT KAUAI’S HANALEI COLONY RESORT Hanalei Colony Resort, located beachfront on Kauai’s magnificent north shore, has introduced a new golf and spa package for two people to share. The “Tee Up & Wind Down” package offers golf at Kauai’s acclaimed Princeville Golf Courses and spa treatments at Hanalei Day Spa, located at the resort.

The package provides flexibility, so two guests can both enjoy the golf and spa activities, or one person can head to the golf course while the other luxuriates

Corporate Golf School & Individual Golf Lessons Available • Schools range from 1 to 3 days • Room accommodations at one of six Harrah’s properties • Ground transportation to and from school included

acations Magazine –

• Limited Availability – call today for details

Please call (702) 777-2444 or visit us online at www.butchharmon.com.

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2007, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

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Trump International Residences and Golf Club, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

at the spa.

“Tee Up & Wind Down” includes five nights Ocean View accommodations at Hanalei Colony Resort, a “Back Nine” welcome basket upon arrival with a variety of golf-related gifts, and choice of one item from each of the following two activity lists (choose one from each list): List A: Two rounds of golf at Princeville’s top-ranked Prince Golf Course; two Golfer Spa Treatments at Hanalei Day Spa or one round at the Prince Course and one Golfer Spa Treatment.

List B: Two rounds of golf at Princeville’s Makai Golf Course; two Pamper Me spa treatments or one round at the Makai Course and one Pamper Me treatment.

Hanalei Colony’s Tee Up & Wind Down package price is $2,057.50 for Low Season travel (September 9 to December 19, 2008) and $2,182.50 during High Season (December 20, 2008 to January 4, 2009).

For reservations or information visit www.hcr.com or email aloha@hcr.com.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCES & GC Situated in the quaint village of Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, only twenty minutes from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Trump International Residences and Golf Club is spread over one thousand lush acres on the Atlantic Ocean.

Positioned at the foothills of the world famous El Yunque Rainforest, the property’s setting provides its residences with one of the most eco-diverse attractions in the world.

With an investment of over $600 million, this development will be the first of its kind on the island and throughout the Caribbean and will showcase 500 luxurious residences at its completion. The first residents will become part of the Founders Club, an exclusive community that will allow its residents to enjoy superb benefits, including preferred tee times and access to elite services such as a private jet, helicopter and limousine service. In

addition, the project will feature a vast array of residences from condominiums to estate homes, with price ranges from the $600’s to $5 million.

The property also includes The Beach Club, which offers an array of amenities and facilities for both adults and children including beautiful views of the ocean, an international gourmet restaurant and outdoor cafe, indoor and outdoor bars, an intimate first class spa, state-of-the art fitness centers, tennis courts, a fullyequipped business center, glistening swimming pools, and various water sports.

Children will also enjoy the never-ending activities to choose from such as a kids club with pool and sports area. For sales information visit www.TrumpGolfClubPuertoRico.com

Grass or felt, we have the greens to play on.

At Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, we’ve combined the luxury and comfort of a AAA Four Diamond Award Resort and Casino with the impeccable greens of a Championship Golf Course. Our Ted Robinsondesign course is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also quite challenging to play with its island fairway and fast-breaking greens.

Excitement, relaxation and everything in between – it’s all yours - all year ‘round.

Mescalero, New Mexico near Ruidoso

For reservations, call (800) 545-9011 or visit www.innofthemountaingods.com.

For tee times, please call (575) 464-7941.

Please gamble responsibly.

www.gvlinks.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 >> HOMEWOOD SUITES: GOLFER’S HOME AWAY FROM HOME An impressive newcomer that bills itself as the “Golfers Hotel” in the Southern California desert region is making quite a splash with visitors to this resort area.

As not only one of the newest hotels in the region, the Homewood Suites by Hilton in La Quinta is positioned at the gateway to the many courses in the eastern Coachella Valley and just across the street from the world-famous Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where one of the largest sporting events of the season takes place each March.

The hotel features not only beautifully appointed full suites in all of its 130 rooms, but also includes a kitchen, dishwasher, full-size refrigerator, dining table, workstation, high speed internet capability, two televisions and a luxurious feel that belies its modest rates. Studio, one bedroom and two-bedroom suites are available for family stays, and the pool, Jacuzzi and fitness areas provide all of the comforts of home. The hotel also offers a complimentary grocery shopping service.

NEW!

chip shots The Homewood Suites may be the new kid on the block when it comes to this desert golf getaway, but with its plush feel and amenities, it’s earning its reputation as the Golfers Hotel. www.laquinta.homewoodsuites.com

TOUR EDGE GOLF OFFERS KID-SIZE CLUBS FOR UP-AND-COMERS In the mornings, a complimentary hot breakfast is available in the lobby seven days a week, and from Monday through Thursday there is a complimentary Welcome Home Reception in the evening that features a light meal and beverages.

The Homewood Suites in La Quinta offers a concierge desk and an efficient staff to help with business or golf needs, along with a business center for those mixing in some work with their golf.

Extended-stay golf and vacation packages are the specialty of the Homewood Suites, and they work with numerous courses in the area such as PGA West, SilverRock Resort and others.

All golf organizations talk a good game about growing the game, but Tour Edge Golf is doing something about it. Operating out of Batavia, Ill., Tour Edge makes it easy for youngsters to get involved in the game with its Bazooka Max Junior set.

“Tour Edge is all about value for the dollar, not only in getting juniors involved in the game but adults, too,” said Jay Hubbard, vice president of marketing and public relations for Tour Edge.

“Tour Edge has been the official golf equipment of Hook a Kid on Golf and we also have been involved with the First Tee. There are several programs we are involved in to get equipment to kids who can’t afford them and to make clubs more affordable to the rest.”

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David Glod, founder and owner of Tour Edge, created the Jim Glod Tour Edge Clubs for Kids Foundation in honor of his late father. The program supplies free clubs for underprivileged children.

Tour Edge makes its Bazooka Max Junior sets available at the most affordable prices on the market, particularly the 9-12-year-old set for players 4-foot-4 to 5-1.

This gives pre-teen golfers two titanium woods, three irons, a hybrid iron-wood and a putter in a stylish bag that includes four headcovers and all the zippered pockets a kid needs. All of the clubs except the putter are equipped with graphite shafts.

“I love the iron-wood,” said 9-year-old Jessica May of Sanford, Fla. “I can use it for driving, getting out of the rough and chipping around the green. It’s been my favorite club since the first day I got my Tour Edge clubs.”

Hubbard’s 9-year-old son Drake recently made a hole in one from 67 yards with his iron-wood on the Youth Links Course at Cantigny Golf & Tennis Club in Wheaton, Ill. How many kids even have a hybrid in their bag?

The 5-to-8-year-old set, for players 3foot-5 to 4-4 in height, includes a driver/fairway wood, the hybrid iron-wood, two irons and a putter, while the 3-5-yearold set for players 3-foot-3 and under includes a 5-7 wood, 7-8 iron and a putter.

The Junior Max putter in each set has a face-balanced, mallet-style head and a triple-bend shaft.

Tour Edge is making youngsters golfers for life.

includes two nights at the brand new Agua Caliente Casino – Resort – Spa, a cocktail reception on Friday night and lots of fun at the casino, pool, spa, restaurants and live music lounges.

On Saturday there is a choice between golf at Westin Hills Golf Resort or a spa treatment.

Transportation will be provided for golf.

After golf there will plenty of time for casino fun or relaxing by the pool.

Transportation will be provided to the stadium luxury skybox suite. The game and the hoopla that surrounds it will be spectacular. A fully hosted open bar and a courtview food spread will be provided.

After the game it is back to Agua Caliente and, you guessed it, more fun at the casino.

Sunday starts off with a complimentary breakfast buffet followed by more high energy at the tables or hit the pool or spa and relax. The rest of the day and the Desert is yours.

For more information contact email info@gvlinks.com

NBA SKYBOX PARTY WEEKEND The NBA will be holding the first outdoor NBA game in the modern era on October 11th with a match up between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets. The game will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the second largest tennis stadium in the world with over 16,000 seats.

CannedyQUEST has limited Luxury Skybox Packages available for readers of Golf Vacations Magazine. The package www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • F A L L 2008

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SWEETSTUFF O

ne of the most successful golf training aids in history has now been retooled and improved to help players of all levels practice and perfect the feel of a proper golf swing. The SwingSetter Pro™, a new and improved version of the SwingSetter by renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter is now available and can be used indoors as well as on the practice range to help obtain the correct wrist cock, swing plane and proper release at impact that is so important to a sound golf swing.

The SwingSetter Pro, unlike the earlier version, is a practice sixiron that can be used on the range or indoors and features a molded grip that shows proper hand position; a plane pointer that extends out from the grip to show the proper club angle; one adjustable magnetic ball that features three levels of resistance that actually lets a player know when they have achieved the proper release with a click when the wrists have achieved proper cock on the backswing-- and another click when the hands have released properly at the bottom of the downswing.

2008 Masters Champion, Trevor Immelman, says, "The beauty about the SwingSetter Pro is that it really targets every golfer out there, especially beginners, because they can see how they place their hands on the club and they get that immediate feedback.

I think it's something that could really help any golfer out there." www.SwingsetterPro.com

K

nown primarily as a producer of some of the most popular drivers and woods used by both professionals and recreational golfers alike, TaylorMade Golf has made its biggest splash yet in the premium putter market with the launch this year of the Rossa Monza Spider.

As the latest addition to the popular Rossa line of putters that TaylorMade has produced over the past few years, the Spider features all of the technological advances of earlier models like the Monza Corza, but takes it to a new level that has been a hit on the PGA Tour as well as with amateur golfers.

With its unusual name and look, the Spider appears more like a plane with two jet engines but feels exceptionally stable at address and throughout the swing, and has performed at the highest level with two victories and 14 top-10 finishes through its first four months on the PGA Tour. When it was first released early in the year it quickly became the top putter model used in the FBR Open in Phoenix, and was in the bag of the event’s winner—J.B Holmes, who beat Phil Mickelson in a playoff.

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According to TaylorMade officials, the Spider’s increased stability and forgiveness is because of the revolutionary design characteristics in what has made it the company’s most popular putter ever.

To increase the Spider’s forgiveness, TaylorMade engineers needed to increase the MOI (Moment of Inertia) by designing a steel wire-frame head construction that was wider that previous models and allowed for even more weight distribution on the perimeter that helps the putter head resist twisting when impact is made toward the heel or toe.

A light and strong aluminum core also assists in allowing for more weight to be distributed to the Spider’s “wings” into which two Moveable Weight Technology® cartridges are inserted.

These allow for changes to the putter head weight using the same cartridges found in the TaylorMade r7 driver line.

As with other models in the Rossa line, TaylorMade uses the Anti-skid Groove System Insert that features 14 polymerfilled grooves on the face of the Spider that promotes forwardspin and more accurate roll.

The crown of the Spider also incorporates an optically friendly alignment pattern that was created with input from Tour professionals to aid in squaring up the putter face to the target. For more information: www.tmag.com

S

leeping on airplanes is never easy, especially in those tiny coach seats that airlines attempt to fit the bulk of their passengers into these days. Former pilot Bob Duncan, a veteran of 29 years of flying professionally, has invented a simple yet effective way to turn that cramped coach class seat into a bed.

His device, called the 1st Class Sleeper® utilizes an ingenious air bed that fits comfortably into a coach seat—or even one in first class for that matter—with only 10 or 11 breaths of air to inflate it.

It instantly creates Bob Duncan an air bed out of a reclining coach class seat with all the comfort of a bed in first class by supporting the body from just below the belt line to the top of the head. It is also designed to cradle your head and prewww.gvlinks.com

SWEETSTUFF vents flopping over to the side, and keeps the neck, shoulders and spine in perfect alignment. It also becomes an excellent lumbar pillow when folded in half.

The 1st Class Sleeper weighs just over a pound and folds to the size of a bulky travel umbrella or 20 oz. water bottle, and can also be used for car travel, although it is not recommended for drivers, for obvious reasons. For more information: www.1stclasssleeper.com

F

or years, Club Glove has been the unchallenged leader in producing travel golf bags, even advertising itself as the No. 1 travel bag in golf, and justifiably so. So at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., in January, there must have been some angst at the Club Glove booth because barely a chip shot away Sun Mountain, known primarily as an apparel company, was introducing a revolutionary travel bag called the ClubGlider.

Golf travel bags, which at one time had to be dragged or carried everywhere, became much easier to deal with when wheels were placed on the bottom end, but golfers still struggled with their clubs through airports, train stations and hotels.

What sets the ClubGlider apart is a spring-loaded set of extendable legs and wheels, a sort of kick-stand, in the middle of the bag to support the entire weight while eliminating the repeated bending and lifting required with traditional travel bags.

This puts the top handle of the ClubGlider in perfect position for walking it effortlessly through parking lots, airports or anywhere a golfer wants to take it. In addition, the bag can easily be loaded and unloaded at the same height.

“We can fit the pro bags in the model we have now, but they are so large that we had to make a bigger one with extra room for all the things the pros carry,” Gary Sherrell, inventor of the ClubGlider said.

In the beginning, Sherrell was simply trying to find an easier way to get his golf clubs from one place to another. After playing 36 holes of golf a day for a several days with his buddies in Las Vegas, he was exhausted after packing his clubs in a parking lot and then dragging them through the airport.

When he finally was seated on the plane, he sketched out his idea for the ClubGlider on a cocktail napkin. Once home, he took it to his father-in-law, a handyman-type who had most of the materials to make a prototype in his garage/workshop.

The cocktail napkin has its place in golf history because legendary course architect Pete Dye first sketched out his plan for the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgass on a similar scrap of paper.

And the critics said that idea wouldn’t fly, either. www.theclubglider.com

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I

t’s not often that a golf club maker can design an iron that satisfies the needs of both professional and recreational players, but it appears that Titleist has achieved that rare feat with its AP (for Advanced Performance) family of irons.

With a long tradition of being a favorite in the professional ranks, Titleist has had a reputation of building clubs for better players, as evidenced by their lofty position as the No. 1 or 2 mostplayed-irons on the PGA Tour week-in and weekout. The AP1 and AP2 are the most technologically advanced irons that the company has produced, say Titleist officials, and although the AP2’s are very popular on the tour, this is an iron that can be used with a lot of success by a 10-handicaper.

“This club has had more demand than for any we have ever had,” said Mike Griffith, a long-time Titleist representative in Southern California. “I think it is the best club we’ve produced—it (the AP2) is played by our tour players more than any other model we have. This iron appeals to a wider audience and the feedback we’ve had is that they love how solid they are and the workability.”

The AP2 is a forged iron with a multi-material, dual cavity, chrome-plated with a high-density tungsten nickel box that provides additional feel and forgiveness. An elastomer cushion central support bar dampens vibration but helps give this iron tremendous feel for those players wanting some feedback on their shots. The weight of the club is distributed low and deep to help performance and the thin face design optimizes the center of gravity and provides optimal launch conditions and improved ball speed. The thinner face is a great bonus to this club at address, and is nice to see together with a design that offers some outstanding forgiveness.

“The dual cavity allows us to push more weight to the perimeter of the clubhead and gives it that solid feel and much better weight distribution,” added Griffith. “This also optimizes the launch angle and makes this a more consistent golf club.”

These irons have been used with great success on the professional level by players such as Adam Scott, Jay Hass and Steve Stricker, while Ben Curtis had them in his bag while leading the PGA Championship on the last day.

The AP1 irons look similar but are somewhat larger and have even more game-improvement features than the AP2. It is designed for mid-handicappers and is a cast, multi-material, dual cavity design that still retains a classic look. With a wider sole than the AP2, the AP1 features lofts that are two degrees stronger and a lower center of gravity for higher launch conditions and more forgiveness. www.titleist.com TERRY ROSS G O L F V A C A T I O N S • F A L L 2008

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PONTE VEDRA

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’m out on the driving range, practicing my swing. Dragonflies are buzzing by, the air is crisp, and the sun is shining so brightly that I have to keep stopping to pull my visor down over my eyes. It’s fall in northeastern Florida, the golf course is perfectly groomed, and I’ve just figured out how to keep my head down and my elbows tucked when I drive the ball. It’s hard to remember a better day of golf, a better day for golf, or a better day, period.

My kids are loving it, too, even though they swore up and down that they wouldn’t. Ages six and eight, they’ve protested every time my husband and I - we’re both golf lovers, students, and optimists – have tried to get them to play over the past year or two. They weren’t game for the game on this particular day, either – not until they met the golf pro, that is. He put Ponte Vedra visors on their heads and knelt down to show them how to grip the club, connect with the ball, aim for the blue flag.

Suddenly, they’re hitting the ball farther than I am, horning in on my lesson, and begging for another bag of balls. Yep, it’s a pretty good day for family in the fall in Florida.

Do I mind that my kids are gloating because they’re better golfers than Mommy? Not a bit. I’m thrilled, in fact, because if they like playing golf at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, they’ll want to come back here – and this Jacksonville-area resort and club is a place I want to return to again and again.

The Ponte Vedra Resorts – the family-oriented Inn and

Club, and the romantic Lodge and Club – lie on the Atlantic coast of Florida, near Georgia and Jacksonville (don’t even ask about the uber-Georgia-Florida rivalry that permeates this place, embroidered golf pants and golf-club covers complete).

If you thought Florida was all about Miami and Palm Beach, think again. In this tiny beach corner of Florida – a good fivehour drive from those southern cities you know so well - you’ll find championship-level golf, unbelievable cuisine, and the widest wide sand beach you’ve ever seen.

And this place is heaven-sent for family, our family in particular. Why? Because my husband and I really love the kind of family vacation where we can be active and outdoors, with and without our kids. Take today, for example. We wake up to a view of the ocean right outside our window, a pristine white sand beach, sandpipers running up and down and digging for crabs in the sand.

We have a family breakfast at the over-the-top buffet- complete with individual china pots of hot chocolate for the little girls - in the Inn’s main building. Then we ditch the kids at the on-site nursery, free to guests who want to get out and play 18 holes without dragging the rug rats along.

Secure in the notion that the kids are safe and happy, my husband and I tear up the golf course.

The Ponte Vedra boasts two 18-hole courses, both on the water (and near the gators!). The Lagoon course is recently ren-

A Florida Family Golf Vacation

By Lisa Tucker McElroy

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INN AND CLUB

ovated, and it’s now pretty special. The course, although not especially long, places a premium on accurate drives and thoughtful approaches. Water is definitely the dominant feature with a mosaic of lakes and lagoons threatening golfers on eleven holes. Tall pines, palms and ancient, sprawling oaks form the contours of this lushly landscaped course. Fairways are narrow, kept in immaculate condition and the greens small and fast.

The Ocean Course is more challenging, probably too much so for beginning beat-by-my-kids golfers like me. But it’s so beautiful that I give it a try anyway, driving the cart and hitting a few shots while my husband goes to town with all fourteen of his clubs. What makes it hard? Well, the ninety-nine strategically positioned sand bunkers, for one thing.

I’m pretty sure my ball ends up in about ninety-eight of them. I’m not too great on approach shots, either, and you have to be on this course – suffice it to say, I’m way over par. Like way over. Like maybe I’ll just stop keeping score over.

But it doesn’t matter. The kids are having fun back at the nursery, I’m outside on a beautiful Florida day, and I’m wearing a madras golf skirt and sipping a cold drink. I’m on a golf course that is consistently rated high for both playability and beauty. Hard? What the heck.

This sure beats the Philadelphia drizzle.

Keep in mind that the Ponte Vedra isn’t just for golf lovers. After golf, I have the best facial of my life at the newly renovated, 30,000-square-foot spa – and then I relax by the private spa pool, which has several different specialty bubbly spots (who knows what they are or what they’re supposed to do – I’m loving every minute) and a waterfall, to boot. All this, while my husband chases our kids around the family pool, complete with water slide and a one foot entry designed just for little ones.

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Water,Water, Everywhere!

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Getting lessons from a pro

Those pools are just two of the four that dot the resort – there’s also a lap pool, a kids’ wading pool, and a general use pool, plus a Jacuzzi.

The food on property is also pretty amazing, particularly at the Seahorse Grille, a fine dining restaurant overlooking the ocean. What’s terrific about the Seahorse is that it serves all the food an adult with a gourmet palate could ever want – my lobster is sweet and even better because they’ve done the hard work of

shelling it for me – while offering pasta and butter for my kids. A lounge singer croons in the background, and older guests sway on a tiny dance floor. The moon comes up over the water, and soon all we can see out the window by our table is moon and black where water would be.

When my kids are falling asleep in their seats, napkins still in their laps, an understanding waiter brings desserts – even chocolate lava cake – wrapped up for them to take home.

We hitch a ride back to our room with one of the ubiquitous staff-driven golf carts –the college-aged staffer even helps me carry the little ones up to the second floor and deposit them on their sofa bed. Sure enough, they then wake up, but that’s OK – someone has to eat the chocolate lava cake.

Come morning, it’s time to walk the beach. With little kids, we’re up before the lounge chair crowd – it’s mostly dog walkers and joggers at this early morning hour. But this is the time for shells, and we find five or six perfect sand dollars, some shiny pink shells we’ve never seen anywhere else, and one perfect conch for our mantel at home.

The kids build a drip castle while my husband I sit in the Adirondack chairs the resort puts out along the beach. We read the paper and watch them race a poodle into the waves. We rock, paper, scissors for who has to get up and get the coffee.

We’re that relaxed, that comfortable, that engaged in the space – until the kids splash us with sandy water, that is.

And that’s when we come back to golf, and our lessons, and our kids’ killer drives.

Twenty minutes into their first lesson, they’re hitting straight and long. The sun is shining. There’s not a cloud in the sky.

Our family is together playing golf.

Oh, yes, we’ll be back.

The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club 200 Ponte Vedra Blvd.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Toll Free: (800) 234-7842 www.pvresorts.com

TIDBITS Matthew’s Restaurant: Head into Jacksonville for dinner at this very special spot, founded and run by rising young chef Matthew Medure. Not to be missed: The tomato and gnocchi soup, the pork tenderloin (the best my very picky husband has ever had), the short ribs, the dessert soufflés. Begin and end with a chocolate martini, then pick from the extensive wine list for that something special to accompany your meal. www.matthewsrestaurant.com Jacksonville Zoo This beautiful zoo has something for everyone, including the only walking safari in Northeast Florida and its very own baby pudu (a type of Chilean deer). The zoo also has an extensive botanical garden. www.jaxzoo.org St. Augustine, Florida About a 45-minute drive from the Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine is known as the nation’s oldest city. There’s a charming town center with cobblestone streets and lots of boutiques and restaurants to explore. www.oldcity.com.

Lagoon Course, Hole #12

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Getting There Getting to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club is much easier than you’d think.

From Philadelphia, New York, or Dallas, it’s only about a two-hour flight.

Fly into Jacksonville International Airport, then rent a car and drive toward the beach. While the reservation agents at the resort will tell you it’s twenty minutes from Jacksonville, plan for more like forty. www.gvlinks.com

Florida’s• • •

Emerald Coast

Camp Creek Golf Club, Hole #3

rom top-flight destination with a jaw-droppingly good golf course to a world-class golf destination with three outstanding courses – this metamorphosis has taken place in WaterSound, Florida, located about mid-way between Panama City Beach and Destin in scenic South Walton County.

as one of Fazio's most thought-provoking, aesthetically-stunning design credits. Featuring a unique “dunescape” appearance, the course sports eye candy galore ranging from windswept dunes and native grasses to tranquil wetlands and towering green complexes.

Strategically, the emphasis is on power off the tee, precision on approach shots.

Camp Creek Golf Club, the original Tom Fazio-design that opened along with the WaterColor Inn & Resort in 2001, now has formidable company. The Davis Love III-designed Origins Course in WaterSound opened in 2006, and is a unique, six-hole “concept” course designed for families and beginners.

Hole to Watch: the par-4, 352-yard 13th, with a daunting tee shot to a sliver of landing area and a knee-knocking approach to a “wedding cake” green built some 30 feet above the playing surface.

F

And in the fall of 2007, the St. JOE Company purchased Shark’s Tooth in nearby Panama City Beach. Designed by Greg Norman, Shark’s Tooth is widely considered one of the best private courses to open in Florida over the past decade.

Shark’s Tooth Golf Club – This Norman gem comes with accolades in tow; Golf Digest rated the course No. 7 course in the state, and the No. 2 private course to open in 2002. In sharp contrast to Camp Creek, Shark’s Tooth is built into the land, rather than above it. A handful of holes border Lake Powell, providing postcard backdrops to a strategically sublime golf experience.

Private? That’s correct: both Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek are private facilities operated by Troon Golf, but are available to play by guests of the WaterColor Inn and WaterColor and WaterSound luxury vacation rental homes. The Origins Course is available for play by guests and the general public.

Hole to Watch: The 460-yard par-4 18th hole is capped by one of the country’s best clubhouses where golfers will find a full-service grill and locker room.

The combination of Camp Creek and Shark Tooth’s exclusivity, and The Origins Course’s innovative layout (it also plays as a ninehole executive course) has golfers with a have-clubs-will-travel attitudes, abuzz.

Here’s the skinny on the courses, getting there, and the time to go: Camp Creek Golf Club – Camp Creek has been consistently cited

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The Origins Course – This six-hole regulation course also plays as a nine-hole executive and 10-hole par-3 layout through the use of alternate tee boxes and auxiliary greens. DLIII’s firm designed and built Origins with the traditional Scottish “short course” concept at its core. The mission: make golf more fun, accessible and attractive to families, beginners and casual golfers. Via its nonpenal design and manageable distance (approximately 1,800 yards) it caters to both novices and veteran players.

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• • • • • •

by Michael Villalpando

The Emergence Of An Exclusive Golf Destination SouthWood Golf Club – SouthWood is located 2.5 hours east of WaterSound in Tallahassee. But golfers making the trek to play Camp Creek, Shark’s Tooth and Origins Course have been known to detour to this Gene Bates/Fred Couples design. Opened in 2002 and the home course of Florida State University’s men’s and women’s golf teams, SouthWood is as Southern as the day is long.

The layout is framed by towering live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and bobs and weaves its way through the gently rolling hills of the Capitol region. Golfers can recharge with a night’s stay in one of five cottages located on the hill just two minutes from the course.

Hole to Watch: The 459-yard par-4 9th hole is one of the stoutest two-shotters on property. Giant oak trees flank each side of the fairway landing area, and hitting the right side of the fairway is a must to have an unobstructed look at the green.

Getting There Flights into Panama City/Bay County International Airport (PFN) or Okaloosa Regional Airport (VPS) are available on Delta, Northwest and most major carriers. Airport transportation can be arranged through the WaterColor Inn.

WaterColor Inn & Resort

When to Go The courses are in full-swing year-round. Fall and spring are peak golf seasons, with high temps in the 70s and 80s and lows in the 50s and 60s. Summer is the peak season for the Inn, so plan accordingly. Winter is downright bearable, with highs in the 60s.

Shark’s Tooth Golf Club, Hole #15

For More Information WaterColor Inn & Resort www.watercolorinn.com www.watercolorvacations.com Shark’s Tooth www.sharkstoothgolfclub.com Camp Creek, Origins Course and SouthWood www.campcreekgolfclub.com www.southwoodgolfclub.com If You Like These Courses You’ll Like Golfers who like St. JOE’s Emerald Coast collection should also check out Victoria Hills in DeLand, Florida (www.victoriahillsgolfclub.com).

Situated about 30 minutes north of Orlando and 20 minutes south of Daytona Beach, the Ron Garl design sets up perfectly for a quick getaway round of golf for Disney goers, NASCAR fans or beach bums.

www.gvlinks.com

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Carolina’s On My Mind

by JOELZUCKERMAN

Nature’s colors paint a pretty picture in the Ashville area

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ored with the beach? Listless about the lake? Perhaps an early fall mountain retreat is in the offing, and a unique hotspot (actually, not so hot, and therein lies the beauty) to consider is the beautiful mountain region of western North Carolina.

Hang your hat in Asheville, the epicenter of these wonderfully scenic Blue Ridge Mountains for a few days, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how the elevation makes temperatures downright pleasant.

Asheville is cool, in more ways than one.

Let’s begin with the obvious attribute - an elevation of over 2,000 feet makes everything feel oh so nice. Head to the area’s premier tourist attraction, the astonishing Biltmore Estate. Simply put, this is the largest private home in the country. It has 250 rooms, with 31 guest rooms and 65 fireplaces. The floor space covers four solid acres, which is the equivalent of 175,000 square feet, or 88 normal size houses.

The Vanderbilt family built their massive fortune in shipping and railroads, and built this home of grandeur on 8,000 acres

in 1895. Although it’s still owned by the family, no one lives in the house anymore.

Instead it’s filled with priceless art by Renoir, Whistler and Sargent, with a 20,000-volume library.

The estate is the focal point, but equally impressive are the gardens, designed by Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmstead. You can party at the on-site winery, go horseback riding, kayaking, biking or carriage riding, all on the estate itself. Those Vanderbilts really knew how to live.

Now there is golf on the estate, but Biltmore Forest is a private track, tourists need not apply. It’s a shame, really. This 1925 Donald Ross beauty hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1999, and the rolling terrain, corridors of hardwood and dazzling mountain views both enthralled and intimidated the players concurrently. But there is worthwhile golf in or near Asheville, courses that welcome visitors. In fact, there’s another Donald Ross jewel just 15 minutes away.

The Grove Park Inn features a tiny diamond of a golf course, laid out in compact

fashion in the shadow of the historic hotel itself. Golf was first played here in 1899, and then Ross redid the routing in 1924. A 2.5-million-dollar restoration just a few years ago restored what was a fading beauty to its original luster, but the original Ross touches still abound.

The old master was fond of saying, “golf should be a pleasure, not a penance,” but apparently he could steer his gutta percha away from the intimidating ravine lurking right of the difficult seventh, a staunch par-3 playing 190 yards into the prevailing breeze. The varied length of the one-shot holes, the tiny greens, the false fronts and the mostly reachable par-5s make this delightful antiquity one of the most memorable resort tracks you’ll encounter.

The award-winning spa presumably does more business than the links, although it’s a bit confusing. With eclectic treatments available like the Carolina Mud Pie Wrap or the Champagne Facial, spa neophytes must occasionally think they’ve stumbled into a restaurant.

And on that same train of thought, if

The Biltmore Estate

spas were awarded Michelin stars for excellence, the Grove Park Inn would be as bright as anything in the firmament. It is nothing short of exquisite—handsomely appointed, sparkling clean, highly skilled and gracious staffers—even champagne refreshment both before and after massage treatments.

Spas and historic lodgings are all well and good, but Asheville is all about the outdoors. Indulge you love of nature at delightful Chimney Rock Park an hour from town, a thousand-acre paradise of vistas, waterfalls and hiking trails. Chimney Rock is unique in that it’s mostly a vertical experience. The parking area is nine hundred feet higher than the ticket office, the namesake rock another three hundred feet above that.

Those who just want the views that stretch to 75 miles on a clear day can relax in a unique elevator that covers almost 26 stories in 30 seconds. It was quite the engineering feat some 55 years ago, blasting a 200 foot long tunnel into the granite, and then installing the elevator shaft to the top of the rock.

For those who prefer the view as a reward for a brisk workout, start climbing.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of

Grove Park Inn Main Spa

steps, all with handrails, that will lead to the same place. Take the fifteen minute climb, and never look at a Stairmaster in the same way again.

Of course many of us prefer getting our exercise by swinging a stick. Indulge your love of the greatest game at Mount Mitchell Golf Club in nearby Burnsville, which bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the greatest mountain courses ever created. This is a curious but endearing track, sitting in the imposing shadow of 6,000-foot Mt. Mitchell, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi.

At a glance the golf course looks a bit like Upper Cascades, the fabulous William Flynn creation at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. While Upper Cascades is really a valley track on the floor of the Alleghenies, Mt. Mitchell has some notable elevation changes, particularly on the inward nine.

Here you’ll find tilting greens and encroaching woods the major lines of defense. It’s a worthwhile excursion, but too many parallel fairways and quirkily short par-4s and par-5s that were shoehorned into the terrain keep this course from being much more than a pleasant diversion.

Old Postcard from the Grove Park Inn

For casual golfers, a worthwhile stayand-play option can be found at the Crowne Plaza Resort, which offers the attractive combination of modern, spacious rooms, a convenient location just minutes from downtown, and an agreeable, albeit forgettable, little on-site golf course right outside the resort’s front door.

Downtown Ashville offers myriad charms of its own. It’s a literary town, the boyhood home of Thomas Wolfe. F. Scott Fitzgerald and O. Henry spent significant time in the region, as did Carl Sandburg and Charles Frazier, who’s debut novel Cold Mountain has been one of the most acclaimed novels of the last decade.

The city is full of art deco buildings, crafters and artists of every persuasion, and dozens of unique eateries, outdoor cafes and nightspots. It’s a cultural and culinary oasis in the middle of the mountains.

Ashville is cozy in winter, blazingly beautiful in autumn, redolent in spring.

Enjoy this arty, earthy and outdoorsy community in the heat of summer. “Dark and silent late last night, I think I might have heard the highway calling,” sang former Asheville resident James Taylor in ‘Carolina on my Mind.’ Take the troubadour’s advice. Follow the road to Asheville.

How impressively attractive are The Cliffs Communities--pockets of wealth, privilege, prestige and sterling amenities, great golf especially—between Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina?

Put it this way—never mind the forward-thinking membership, who have come from literally all 50 states, and several foreign lands to purchase property in any of seven (soon to be eight) separate communities. The fact is that even the employees of The Cliffs arrive to upstate South Carolina and the western North Carolina mountains from all corners of the resort world, and love their jobs for many of the same reasons the members do: The natural beauty and tranquility of the landscape, and the outdoor-oriented, health-and-wellness lifestyle.

Pebble Beach Golf Resort, the sumptuous Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, The Arizona Biltmore, and the highly acclaimed Ritz-Carlton organization are just some of the marquee venues where The Cliffs has drawn its talent pool.

“This area is so naturally beautiful, with a great quality of life, a relatively mild, but four-season climate, so it’s not hard to understand why so many hospitality

industry veterans, and health-and-wellness professionals choose to brink their skills to The Cliffs,” offers company executive Rick Hayduk.

What is hard is choosing where to live within the varied Cliffs communities.

There are currently three separate communities by South Carolina’s beautiful Lake Keowee—Keowee Vineyards, with a Tom Fazio stunner of a golf course, Keowee Falls, with an award-winning Jack Nicklaus course, and the newest entry, Keowee Springs.

This latest enclave is just 15 minutes from the bustling college town of Clemson, South Carolina, and has a soonto-open Tom Fazio course in the offing, and in early 2010, a state-of-the-art, 100,000 square foot spa and wellness center, which will be the first resort offering at The Cliffs—open to the public.

About 40-odd minutes away is another trio of enclaves. The original Cliffs at Glassy community is situated some 3,000 feet above sea level. Many of the precipice homes have amazing, 50-mile views, and the Tom Jackson-designed golf course is considered one of the most visually spectacular courses in the nation.

Also in the same general vicinity, about 30-or-so minutes to the lively South Carolina city of Greenville, is the Cliffs Valley, with a Ben Wright-designed

course, and the under-construction Cliffs at Mountain Park, with a Gary Player course in the offing. Player is so taken with the whole area he is making a permanent move to Mountain Park with his entire design company.

Crossing the state border into North Carolina, the Cliffs at Walnut Cove has a stern Jack Nicklaus course as its centerpiece, and quick and easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the city of Asheville.

Last is definitely not least, though. In the foreseeable future, none other than Tiger Woods will be delivering his firstever U.S. design, some 20 minutes northeast of Walnut Cove, on spectacular terrain at the club’s newest development, called the Cliffs at High Carolina.

The golf, while sensational, is just part of The Cliffs story. Another major focus is wellness, and each of the communities offers some combination of modern fitness centers, pools, hiking/biking trails, organic gardens, integrative medicine and the like.

All told, The Cliffs are surrounded by one million acres of protected woodlands, including 14 state and four national parks in the Blue Ridge Escarpment. With an additional 1,000 acres of parks and more than 20 miles of trails “inside the gates,” staying fit is the only way to truly enjoy all the sterling amenities—and most especially all the great golf.

The Cliffs

Stunning natural beauty and tranquility÷

Fairmont Chateau W All The Best In Golf - Plus

WHISTLER, B.C., Canada - This world-class ski area will host the Alpine events in the 2010 Olympic Games, but golfers don’t have to wait until then to let the games begin.

That’s because when the snow melts, there are four fun and challenging courses designed by renowned architects that can be played from May to October on the foothills of Whistler and Blackomb mountains, and in the picturesque surrounding valleys and meadows.

All may be reached in minutes from the spectacular Fairmont Chateau Whistler, one of the newer resorts in the world-wide chain, which has its flagship in San Francisco. In fact, right on the property is Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, voted No. 7 on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World in 2007.

From May to July, guests can enjoy the rare treat of playing

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golf and skiing on the same day.

“Late in the ski season this year, you could ski all the way down to the Chateau, change clothes and walk over to the golf course to play 18 holes,” said Gregg Lown, director of golf at Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

“That’s a rarity, but it’s remarkable how much snow we’ve had in the last two years. As a golfer, I wish the snowline was higher, but especially with the Olympics coming, it’s good for the area and what we’re trying to do at Whistler.”

When the snow does melt away, it reveals a remarkable course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., which opened in 1993.

The par-72 course measures only 6,635, but it plays to a rating of 72.8 and a slope of 145 from the back tees.

The course climbs 400 feet up the slopes of Blackomb Mountain and many of the holes are criss-crossed by the

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Whistler

by

TomLaMarre

s The 2010 Winter Olympics Horstmann River and numerous gushing streams fed by the Blackomb Glacier, elevation 7,347 feet.

There is a waterfall that cannot be seen but only heard at the intersection of the third and 16th holes, and in the hot summer months it actually cools the temperature in that area.

The designer was careful to work with what nature gave him at Whistler.

“There are so many approaches to golf course architecture but a Pete Dye design, where you move a lot of dirt around, wouldn’t fit here,” Lown said. “The best designers use the surroundings and produce course that match the terrain.

“Robert Trent Jones Jr. used the mountain and the terrain at Whistler to create a wonderful resort golf experience.”

Carts are required because of the steepness of the course, and don’t be surprised to see a bear looking for a handout.

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Obviously, since this is a mountain course, Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club features some tight fairways, doglegs, severe drops and rises from tee to green, plus uphill, downhill and sidehill lies. The course winds through granite rock outcroppings and tall Douglas fir trees, some that are 1,300 years old, adding to the challenge.

However, this also is a resort course, so playing from the one of five tee boxes that most suits your game can bring an enjoyable and even exhilarating golf experience—but selecting the right club is a must. And the GPS system in the golf cart provides the golfer with spot-on distances.

“The course is definitely challenging, but we try to steer our guests to the correct tees,” Lown said. “The change in elevation makes it tough at times, but it’s a unique course, like the view of the Garibaldi Range, 30-to-40 kilometers away, from the third tee.

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“You are right in the Upper Village when you tee off, and you won’t get those views if you didn’t go 400 feet up. At times, you don’t see another person, another group. And what goes up, must come down. You just have to remember, when going uphill, to hit that extra club.”

Most of the climbing comes on the first six holes, starting with relatively gently sloping 505-yard, par-five first hole, which allows the golfer to ease into the course.

Even though No. 2 is only 326 yards, it plays dramatically uphill and requires a second shot across a creek that also guards the left side of the fairway. Once safely across the water and a large bunker, the golfer must navigate a green that slopes seriously from back to front.

“No. 1 allows you to get started without much difficulty, but No. 2 sort of sets the tone for what is coming,” Lown said.

“You have to be patient on this course and it starts at the second hole. The tee shot should be aimed at the bunkers on the right to get the right angle for the second shot.

Golfers who also ski will know to look for the fall line.

“The green is wide but not very deep and the slope makes for plenty of break. There is no grain on the greens on the mountain. You just have to be aware of where the 32

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slope is because it affects the speed and the break. But there are no tricks and you won’t see putts break uphill or anything like that.”

The third and fourth holes are monster par-fours, because they play straight uphill, measuring 411 and 399 yards, but playing much longer.

No. 3 is a sharp dogleg left with water down the left side and crossing in front of the golfer to protect the green, while No. 4 is straight all the way to the green but requires the most difficult drive on the course and a well-struck approach shot because of a false front.

“I think most high handicappers should play No. 3 as a parfive and lay up on the second shot, then play to the back of the green because there is an extra five-to-eight yards back there,” Lown said. “You don’t want to be short there.

“The tee shot on No. 4 is probably the toughest shot on the course, period,” Lown said. “You just have to pick a spot and hit it confidently. If you can do that, you should be OK because there is much more room in the fairway than you can see from the tee.”

The fifth hole is a bit of a breather, a downhill par-3 that is not long except from the back tees, from where it measures www.gvlinks.com

190 yards. Take the elevation change into account, but be sure to reach the green because the front bunker is very deep.

No. 6, the last of the opening climb, is rated as the most difficult hole on the course. The 457-yard par-four plays downhill to the fairway and back up to the green, which slopes toward the back.

“No. 5 is short but deceptive,” Lown said. “It’s a big green, so your target should be the middle, taking the bunker out of play and giving you a chance to putt for birdie, and guarantee a par.

“Play to the right-center of the fairway on the sixth hole and a good drive will leave about 180 yards to the green. It requires two good shots to get the green, which slopes to the back, and you don’t want to go over. There’s a large shelf on the front and you can still make par from there.”

Once you get to the high point of the course, there are many spectacular sights and very interesting holes. Best of the latter is No. 8, the signature hole, a gorgeous 212-yard downhill par-3 to a green with a lake on the left and a large, granite outcropping as a backstop on the right.

Playing safe to the right and overdoing it, hitting your tee shot off-the-wall, sometimes will kick the ball onto the green for a birdie opportunity but it also can also sent the ball skittering across the green and into a bunker or even the lake “There is some intimidation factor there,” Lown said. “The hole plays downhill, but usually into the wind, so they tend to balance each other out. There’s more room on the green than most people see, so you can hit the front of the green and the ball will release toward the hole.”

No. 15 is a breathtaking downhill par-four on the way home that measures 389 yards. After all the uphill shots on the front nine, a big drive down the hill here will leave a short-iron approach and a chance for birdie or par.

Just don’t get caught looking at the view.

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“That is one of the most dramatic tee shots on the course because you get to see your ball in the air for so long against the backdrop of Blackcomb Mountain,” Lown said. “The fairway slopes from left to right, so you want to hit your shot down the left-center.

“There are a couple of flat spots down there, one for the bombers and another one farther back. If you hit those plateaus, it’s a ideal spot for the approach shot.”

While all of the rushing water almost makes you feel if you are playing in the shower, the roar on the 444-yard 17th is the loudest, perhaps because water cuts across the fairway twice.

Two precise shots are needed to safety reach the tricky green, where a large swale dominates the right side.

The 543-yard, par-five finishing hole plays downhill off the tee toward one last lake 300 yards away, with trees on the right side of the fairway but open area to the left. Try to stay below the hole on the approach because the green is banked from back-to-front and right-to-left.

“No. 17 is one of the few holes shaped to go to the right, so it’s a little different challenge,” Lown said. “There’s a very large tree that is your aiming point off the tee and it’s pretty flat in the fairway when you get down there. But it’s another elevated green, long and narrow, so it’s important to get the yardage right.

“There’s a decision to make off tee on the 18th, whether to use driver or not. With a great drive you are just short of the creek, but it’s still 240-260 yards to the green. Play it as a three-shot par five so you can be aggressive going for the green and maybe finish with a birdie or par.”

Bring the whole family when you come to play golf at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, because players under 18 golf for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

If your game needs work before or after your round, book a lesson or two at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, right

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on the property. The only Leadbetter Academy north of the border, it offers private and group lessons, with all of the modern teaching technology.

“It’s always an exciting time of year when we get ready to dust off the snow and reopen the doors of Canada’s only David Leadbetter Golf Academy at the Chateau Fairmont Whistler Golf Club,” said Leadbetter, whose pupils have included Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Masters champion Trevor Immelman.

“The Whistler academy really offers a tremendous environment to work on your golf game in and a very intimate setting equipped with the latest swing analysis technologies and not to mention one of the best views from the lesson tee that I’ve ever seen.”

The first ski run opened at Whistler in 1965 and golf did not arrive until Whistler Golf Club, a course designed by Arnold Palmer, was created in 1982. Located just inside the town limits, it underwent a $1.8-million renovation in 2000.

Nicklaus North Golf Course, less than a five-minute drive from Fairmont Chateau Whistler, brought thousands of golfers to the Whistler area when it hosted the televised Telus Canadian Skins Game in 1997 and 2005.

Big Sky Golf and Country Club, located about 25 minutes north of Whistler, is a spectacular course designed by Robert Cupp and John Fought at the foot of Mount Currie in the Pemberton Valley. It opened in 1994 in a valley where potatoes once grew and features seven lakes plus several streams that bisect the course.

If you have a chance on the way up from Vancouver, stop and play Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club below the towering Coast Mountains in Richmond, or picturesque Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, about 30 minutes south of Whistler on the Sea-to-Ski Highway.

Whistler is normally about a two-hour drive from Vancouver through the Coast Mountains along the Sunshine Coast, but it takes a little longer these days.

The scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway is being widened to handle the traffic expected for the Olympics.

Workers blasted enough granite out of the mountains to fill 60,000-seat B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, where the Opening Ceremonies will be held, and all of the rock is being recycled into fortifying the old two-lane Highway 99.

“It’s getting better because all the blasting is done,” said Lynn Gervais, public relations manager at the Fairmont Chateau Whister. “It’s been a bit of a bother, but it will all be worth it when it is finished sometime next year.”

Actually, it is worth it once you get to this outdoor wonderland.

Conde Naste Traveler magazine has selected the Fairmont Chateau Whistler as the No. 1 ski resort and No. 1 golf resort in Canada. Whistler receives 46 feet of snow a year and the Wizard chair lift right outside the back door of the resort whisks skiers up the slopes of Blackcomb Mountain to 8,100 acres of skiing terrain.

After returning from the slopes and the links, have yourself pampered in the Vida Wellness Spa. Then enjoy exceptional cuisine in the Wildflower Restaurant, the Wine Room or the Portobello Market and Fresh Bakery, and have a drink in the Mallard Lounge. For even more exceptional service, stay on 34

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Fairmont’s exclusive Gold Level.

Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Stephen Ames and John Daly were among the first guests to stay on the recently-opened Gold Level when they played in the Telus Skins Game at Nicklaus North in 2005.

Other winter activities include cross-country skiing, horsedrawn sleigh rides, snow-shoeing, dog-sledding, ice skating, fourwheel driving, indoor rock climbing and snowmobile riding.

During the spring and summer, guests also enjoy kayaking, wakeboarding, windsurfing, jet boating, whitewater rafting, swimming, fishing, roller-blading, mountain-biking, hiking, rock climbing and canoeing.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler, which opened its doors in 1989, is one of the newer golf/ski resorts in the chain’s portfolio north of the border. However, it features the same Fairmont ambience and service that can be experienced at the Jasper Park Golf Lodge Golf Club and Fairmont Banff Springs

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Golf Course in Alberta; Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello Golf Club and Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu Golf Club in Quebec; and Algonquin Golf Course and Academy in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea New Brunswick.

Golf can be arranged by the concierge at outstanding local courses for guests of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal; the Fairmont Tremblant in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec; the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City; the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton and other Fairmont properties that do not have their own courses.

Even within the diverse world-wide chain, it’s hard to beat the convenience at Fairmont Chateau Whistler for the outdoors type, with skiing, golf and other activities only minutes away.

For winter or summer games, this resort gets the gold medal.

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Renaissance Esmeralda

Pamper Yourself in the Desert

by TerryRoss

RESORTREPORT When it comes to finding that perfect blend of relaxation and recreation, it is hard to beat the ambiance and the amenities one will find at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa in Indian Wells.

Located in the heart of the Coachella Valley in the Palm Springs desert region of Southern California, the City of Indian Wells has spent upwards of $80 million on redesigning its two resort golf courses and building a new clubhouse. But the vacation centerpiece of the Indian Wells Resort is the Renaissance Esmeralda, which has consistently ranked among the top places to stay, relax and dine by a bevy of national publications and ranking services.

Redefined by its own recent makeover, the Renaissance Esmeralda enjoys a prime location at the resort and in the valley as it sits just off of Highway 111 under the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains and next to the new Players’ Course that wraps around the hotel and finishes on its southwest side.

This course will also serve as the host of the LG Skins Game during Thanksgiving weekend, which is annually one of the most popular post-season golf events on the PGA Tour schedule.

One of the outstanding features of the Esmeralda is that two world-class golf courses, a new state-of-the-art clubhouse, an exceptional spa and cuisine to die for are all within a short walk of the 560 rooms and suites of the hotel, built in an elegant Mediterranean style that features African ash woods accented with hand-laid tile walkways, an eight-story atrium lobby, lush foliage and a spectacular grand staircase. The rooms and suites feature over-sized plasma TVs and all of the deluxe appointments that give has given this resort the AAA Four Diamond Award for the past four years.

The pool complex offers a sandy beach area, complete with a beach-entry pool, along with a grand water fall feature and combinations of shallow swimming areas and Jacuzzi bungalows. There is also a Camp Oasis—a full service children’s recreation program featuring interactive games, activities and recreation.

The Spa Esmeralda has been ranked among the world’s top 100 spas, and deservedly so with its relaxing array of treatments and massages in a soothing atmosphere that features a desert spa garden and cascading waterfalls. This is the perfect way to start the day or finish after a round of golf, and the expert staff makes you feel as if you are in your own private club. The Spa even has a series of Couples Experiences in its romantic Esmeralda Suite with an interactive mud facial mask and rose petals to set just the right mood.

The Renaissance Esmeralda has an impressive list of dining options to choose from, including Cava, the resort’s bistrostyle eatery near the pool that has an excellent choice of casual fare and an extensive California wine collection. For nightly entertainment, Stir offers live music and cocktails and is well established in the valley as one of the premier nightspots.

But one of the true cuisine gems of the valley is the Sirocco Restaurant, located next to Stir in the main lobby. Master Chef Livio Massignani has created the top Italian restaurant in the Palm Springs area with his own creations of traditional dishes prepared from a fine selection of fresh meats and seafood that is handpicked daily. Among the favorite dishes, the Nasello Alla Brace— wild seabass marinated and grilled—is a great choice as is the Carnevale in Venezia—a mixed seafood plate featuring a sampling of lobster, sautéed green mussels, clams, shrimp and crabcakes.

You really can’t go wrong with anything you choose in Sirocco, which features an elegant atmosphere and grand views of the surrounding valley, together with a friendly staff that will make just about anything you want. An extensive wine list complements this fine dining experience that has some of the best authentic Italian food anywhere.

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With all of the pampering available at the Renaissance Esmeralda, it’s nice to know that the feeling will carry over to the golf course as well. The new clubhouse— called the IW Club—is a 53,000-squarefoot modern facility that has just opened, and includes a Callaway Performance Center that offers a high-tech approach to golf lessons and club fitting.

It is one of only nine such Callaway facilities in the world. The pro shop will no doubt be ranked among the top such venues in the nation, and features fitting alcoves for apparel, complete with cigars and champagne, not to mention a selection of clothing befitting the finest department stores.

In addition to fine and casual dining, the IW offers a patio commanding views of the surrounding mountains with a lighted 18-hole putting course below. The furnishings and appointments in the IW rival those of the finest private clubs, and with the concierge and valet parking services, the feel is something special.

The resort’s two golf courses—the Celebrity, completed in 2006, and the Players’ Course that opened last year, are two contrasting layouts that give both professional and recreational golfers a variety of challenges.

Both courses are playable from the right set of tees, with the Players’ course somewhat more demanding. Former European Ryder Cup member Clive Clark designed the Celebrity Course while PGA Tour veteran John Fought designed the Player’s Course.

Both layouts have garnered rave reviews and have been included in GolfWeek’s Top 20 public access courses in California—the only 36-hole facility to have both courses included in that list.

The Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, along with the newly rebuilt Indian Wells Resort, is an all-star choice for those looking to pamper themselves on a golf vacation.

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For information on the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa visit www.renaissanceesmeralda.com

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PERSONALPOSTCARD It’s Not Just for BASEBALL LOVERS

M

y husband is awfully surprised when I ask him if we can go to Cooperstown for the weekend. After all, he’s the diehard Red Sox fan; I just watch a game or two to keep him company. I don’t know the first thing about the legendary “Road to Cooperstown,” I’ve only vaguely heard that the Hall of Fame has started honoring players from the Women’s Professional and the Negro Leagues, and the Jim Rice controversy doesn’t even ring a bell.

But a few friends have visited recently and told me that Cooperstown is one of the most charming, Norman Rockwell-esque villages they’ve ever seen. I’m always up for a little hometown Americana, so we set off in the minivan, my husband scarcely believing his good luck, our two daughters excited to see “the town that invented baseball,” I ready for a weekend of relaxing at a nice hotel and playing some good golf.

We arrive at the Otesaga Resort Hotel late on Friday night. We’re tired, hungry, ready for food and bed – but the lake calls. Its name – the Glimmerglass – seems appropriate even in the dark; with the lights on around the resort, we can just barely see what’s going to turn out to be the spot we visit again and again all weekend, whether for the golf course, for a breakfast picnic, or for a moonlight stroll which would be the ultimate in romance were two school-aged girls not giggling behind us at every step.

The Otesaga is special – worth a trip even if you aren’t a baseball fan. Near Cooperstown’s classic Main Street (more on that in a minute), it’s luxurious without being fussy, decorated in chintz but welcoming even to the busloads of macho baseball fans that flood the town from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Our room has two four-poster double beds, a sitting area, and a tiled bathroom big enough for me to make an escape for a long, hot bath – until the kids decide enough’s enough early on Saturday morning and demand that we take in the sights.

We head out to the Farmer’s Museum down the street. The sun is sparkling, the birds are waking up, and my girls find half a robin’s egg on the ground underneath a tree. They are entranced, and we spend a good fifteen minutes looking for the robin’s nest. The only thing that will drag them away – and I do mean drag – is the baby lambs inside the authentic 1840’s recreation vil-

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lage. They’ve just been born two hours before, and the farmers – real farmers in period costume – allow the girls to hold and pet them. We wander around the farm for hours, as the crisp air rings with cackles (chickens), gobbles (enormous turkeys roaming around), and bleats (so many lambs that we lose count). Children feed animals in the barnyard, and the blacksmith pounds iron at his real forge, complete with giant bellows.

We end our visit with quite a few rides on the Empire State Carousel. Carousel manufacturing was at its peak in the mid-nineteenth century in New York, and this elaborate merry-goround pays tribute to that industry, as well as to the culture, legends, and history of the state.

Next, we drop into the Fenimore Art Museum across the street. Nestled on the western shore of Otsego Lake, housed in an elegant 1930’s neo-Georgian mansion, the museum presents a perspective on the heritage and history of America through art. The beauty of the museum setting is matched by the quality of the collection it houses, including some of the nation’s finest examples of American landscape, history, and genre paintings, American folk art, photography, and American Indian art. We explore the exhibits and the grounds, but our bellies are grumbling (so are the kids), so we call it a morning and head in to Main Street for lunch.

When we first hit Main Street, we almost expect to see horses and buggies; the street looks like something out of another time. So does Danny’s, an old-time general store where the locals have sent us for lunch. And while it looks like a hole-in-the-wall on the outside, it’s pretty amazing on the inside.

We chow down on hot-out-of-the-oven apple blackberry muffins, homemade butter cookies, colossal cupcakes . . . and then we start lunch. I choose the “Aged in Caves” sandwich, a huge combination of French bread with prosciutto, smoked gouda, and honey cup mustard. My husband, on the other hand, tries the “Glimmer glass,” ripe brie cheese with Greek olive spread and olive oil vinaigrette on fresh baked focaccia.

The kids just want another cupcake; we acquiesce, figuring we’re on vacation – and grab another couple of cupcakes for ourselves.

And now it’s time for the big event: the Hall of Fame. My husband is almost reverent as he wanders through the exhibits honoring great Red Sox www.gvlinks.com

COOPERSTOWN: NEW YORK

by Lisa Tucker McElroy

of yesteryear (yes, they have other teams there, too, but my husband would deny it).

The kids and I soon realize that we could be here for the rest of the weekend. As luck would have it, though, there’s something here for us, too – some alumnae of the Women’s Professional Baseball League are in town, and we’re invited to join them for tea. We’re at a table with Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands Ferguson, who regales us with a story about the league’s etiquette rules over cookies and lemonade, then convinces my younger daughter to become a catcher.

The girls and I head back to the Otesaga – my husband says he’ll join us in a few hours - and we wander around the lake. When my Sox-loving spouse finally shows up, he says he needs a good old American dinner, so we head to the Hawkeye Grill in the hotel for steaks and

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baked potatoes. Our children fall asleep in the chocolate pudding. It’s been an amazing day in Cooperstown.

The next day dawns fair, and after a huge brunch in the Otesaga’s main dining room, we head out to the Leatherstocking golf course, the girls and I wearing matching golf outfits, much to the delight of the many parents who are there to watch their teenagers play in a juniors regional tournament. The course is challenging but fun, and the scenery is knock-out: much of the course surrounds the lake, and the amazing 18th hole has us tee off from an island tee right in Otsego’s center. Water’s not my thing, at least when it comes to golf, so even my younger daughter beats me.

That’s OK – as long as I can head back to Danny’s for another homemade sandwich and a couple of those cupcakes.

60 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 800-348-6222 • www.Otesaga.com The Otesaga Resort Hotel

5798 Lake Road, Cooperstown, NY13326 607-547-1400 • www.farmersmuseum.org The Farmer’s Museum

5798 Lake Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 607-547-1400 • www.fenimoreartmuseum.org The Fenimore Art Museum

92 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 607-547-4053 Danny’s Main Street Market

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

25 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME • www.baseballhalloffame.org 60 Lake Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 800-348-6222 www.otesaga.com/LGC/CourseSpecs/index.shtml Leatherstocking Golf Course

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MYTURN

The U.S. Open:

T

his was a United States Open like no other. It had been 60 years since the United State Golf Association had seen fit to bring its marquee event to Southern California, and by the looks of things in San Diego, which recently played host to the national championship at the municipally-owned Torrey Pines South Golf Course, people in this area don’t want to wait another six decades for one to come this direction.

It’s not like SoCal, and San Diego in particular, are unknown when it come to golf. The sports’ two best male players—Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson— grew up in this region and played loads of junior golf here. They even won junior events on the same Torrey Pines course that hosted the Open. Between the two they have also won nine professional events on this seaside track.

The Buick Invitational is played there annually during the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing, and for many years the La Costa Resort just up the road hosted some high-profile tour events as well. Tourists and locals alike know the area as one of the premier destinations for golf, resorts and just a plain good time. The weather is always moderate—winter or summer—and the golf can’t be beat.

And during the U.S. Open, the world saw all of it.

From the ocean vistas along the San Diego shoreline to some of the most dramatic performances in sports his-

tory, the 108th U.S. Open Golf Championship had just about everything you could ask for.

The big question of would laid back Southern California support an event of this stature in the way that it had become accustomed was answered from the moment that the first balls were in the air. Galleries were sometimes six deep to watch the top pairings and a record Friday crowd of over 52,000 was followed by even larger turnouts on the weekend. The atmosphere was electric with spectators standing on boxes, chairs and shoulders-- and hanging in trees to get a glimpse of the magic that Woods exhibited over five days. For the 22nd straight year, the event was a sellout.

For many of the locals, it felt like a week-long Super Bowl, of which the city has hosted three. But it was obviously more. Since golf-minded San Diego has never hosted a tournament anywhere close to this magnitude, it wasn’t really surprising that celebrities and out-oftown dignitaries made this a special Open venue.

Ad in the fact that Torrey Pines is the first cityowned golf course to host the U.S. Open, which are normally played at places like Shinnecock Hills Country Club in New York or Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan—old established private clubs. Torrey Pines South is an everyman course, built and operated by the City of San Diego on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific.

It was renovated with the help of civic leaders and

Torrey Pines South Course

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What Took So Long? updated for the Open by Reese Jones in 2001, and also has the distinction of being the longest course to host the national championship at 7,643 yards. The sister North Course served as the staging ground and corporate hospitality site.

But once all of the grandstands, television towers, corporate and operational buildings are removed as part of the $50 million cost to stage the Open, anyone can play Torrey Pines. San Diego residents can play their signature muni course for $42; while out of towners will have to shell out a little more at $145.

For the USGA this was somewhat of an experiment to bring the Open to a municipal course in a region that it had not see fit to host this tournament since 1948 when Ben Hogan won at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. By all accounts San Diego and Torrey Pines exceeded all expectations. Hospitality sales broke all records and the TV ratings were the highest in years.

Players, fans and officials all raved about the condition of the course, the setup and the support of the community, which was really the unknown factor going in.

Many felt it was one of the best locations ever for a U.S. Open and the enthusiasm for the event that was felt all week could be felt throughout the city.

The USGA has already allocated its U.S. Open sites through the year 2015. Hopefully it won’t take another 60 years for them to rediscover Southern California.

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by

TerryRoss

Morning coffee at The Lodge at Torrey Pines Beautiful La Jolla, CA

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • F A L L 2008

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• CHINA•

WORLDBEAT

YOU SAY GOLF WASN’T AN OLYMPIC SPORT THIS SUMMER IN CHINA? MISSION HILLS BEGS TO DIFFER Annika Course

G Dongguan Clubhouse

Faldo Course

Olazabal Course

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olf as an Olympic sport? The debate rages on as the Beijing games fade from memory. But there’s no debating the fact that the largest golf club in the world sits just a twoand-a-half hour jet ride south, and Mission Hills is ready to open its doors (and its collection of 12 world-class courses) to have-clubswill-travel Americans. Whether partaking in the Olympics-like Golfathon (nine rounds in five days will earn you “Iron Man” status) or enjoying a more leisurely pace of play, there’s something for every golfer at the resort.

The term “collection,” however, dramatically undersells what the golfer sees upon first arriving at Mission Hills. Encompassing more than 4,500 acres (seven square miles) – roughly the equivalent of five of New York’s Central Parks – and developed on southern China’s most breathtaking terrain, Mission Hills is a golfer’s paradise that must be seen (and played) to be believed.

The initial course at Mission Hills – the World Cup Course by Jack Nicklaus – opened in 1994 and was immediately hailed as one of Asia’s best. It was the first course in China to receive U.S. PGA accreditation and was the venue for the 41st World Cup in 1995.

Signature courses from Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Jumbo Ozaki and Vijay Singh quickly followed on the heels of World Cup success.

And from 2003 through 2004 the David Duval, David Leadbetter, Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman and Jose Maria Olazabal courses opened on the rolling terrain of Dongguan.

The club’s 11th and 12th courses, Pete Dye’s first design in China and a par-3 course from Chinese golf legend Zhang Lian Wei, opened for play in 2007.

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Schmidt-Curley Design, Inc. created the master plan for Mission Hills and played an integral role in the

architecture of each course. During the Dongguan phase of construction, their on-site efforts required a staggering 2,000 laborers, 250 excavators, and 750 dump trucks, working in two ten-hour shifts, seven days a week.

“It was not uncommon to find a mountain gone overnight,” says Brian Curley, who grew up on the Monterrey Peninsula in the shadows of such great courses as Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and Spyglass.

While the construction was a site to behold, the golf courses are equally as impressive. They range from short and narrow (Annika Course), to long and penal (Norman Course); from a par-3 course perfect for beginners (Zhang Course), to a course that has been named host of the OMEGA Mission Hills World Cup through 2018 (Olazabal Course).

“We feel that our greatest feat at Mission Hills, in a project chock-full of them, was that we were able to give each course its own distinct feel,” Curley says.

The on-course experience at Mission Hills is matched by the quality of its off-course amenities. It features three opulent clubhouses, including the world’s largest at a whopping 680,000 square feet; a 315-room five-star hotel; four premier spas; eight fine dining establishments offering both Asian and Western cuisine; and golf academies by David Leadbetter and Cindy Reid, formerly the Director of Instruction at TPC Sawgrass.

Getting There: Mission Hills is a short drive north of Hong Kong International Airport, www.hongkongairport.com. Non-stop flights are available to Hong Kong from major U.S. hubs. From the airport, luxury shuttles transport golfers over the border to Shenzhen and Mission Hills.

For more information about golf packages, visit www.missionhillsgroup.com, or email info@missionhillsgolfgroup.com.

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