OUR 12th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2014
DESERT DREAMS POWER PLAY IN PALM SPRINGS
DESERT GREENS LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS
LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS
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GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2014
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, CA
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Chip Shots
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Desert Dreams by Terry Ross For those that love to mix fine resorts with nightlife, casino gambling and great golf, Las Vegas usually comes to mind, but for those that enjoy a little less hectic pace and perhaps a trip of half the distance, the Palm Springs area of Southern California can’t be beat during this time of year for either a weekend getaway or even longer..
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Desert Greens
by Andrew Marshall
Road trips in the States don’t come more quintessential than Los Angeles to Las Vegas via Death Valley. All the classic imagery is there in abundance; film locations, roller-blading Californian blondes, lone roadside motels, highways stretching to infinity, buzzards circling cloudless skies and diner breakfasts.
Sweet Stuff
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS 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.
Executive Editor Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) a Southern California native and 11 handicap golfer at Shadowridge Country Club in Vista, California, writes about golf for newspapers, magazines and internet travel sites. His business background includes developing the initial international distribution network for Adams Golf.
Jeffrey Diaz
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor Larry Feldman
Andy Marshall Born in England, Andy has been a professional freelance travel writer for the past 20 years. During that time, he has traveled to over 50 countries, including Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Barbados, Panama and Indonesia to cover a diverse range of travel-related features for various magazines around the world. He regularly works with his professional photographer brother, Paul, on different projects, particularly golf, food and drink features. Visit his work at www.bogey.se
JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Cabo San Lucas, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.
Senior Writers JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
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Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2014 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
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FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB 2014 GOLF PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING
ROSCOMMON, MI – Forest Dunes Golf Club, the nationally acclaimed Tom Weiskopfdesigned course in northern Michigan, has experienced exciting growth and recognition in two seasons under new ownership. The 2014 golf season is sure to bring another year of success for the premier golf facility, especially with the addition of the Lake AuSable Lodge creating demand for an array of exciting golf packages. The property also features six beautifully furnished homes that are perfect for golf groups. Check out the following Forest Dunes 2014 package offerings, which are now available for booking: Lake AuSable Lodge Standard Room Packages A one-night stay-and-play package in the Lake AuSable Lodge starts at $119 for off-season rates and $239 during the prime summer season. The package includes 18 holes of golf, lodging in a standard room and breakfast. The 36-hole one-night package ranges from $169 to $329. A two-night stay-and-play package in the
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Lake AuSable Lodge starts at $219 during the off-season and $409 during the prime season. The package includes 36-holes, lodging in a standard room and breakfast. The 54-hole two-night package ranges from $279 to $549 depending on the season, and the 72-hole package ranges from $329 to $639. Lake AuSable Lodge Suites and Golf Cottages Packages A one-night stay-and-play package in the Lake AuSable Lodge suite or golf cottage starts out at $129 for off-season rates and $249 during the prime summer season. The package includes 18-holes, lodging in a twobedroom suite or three-bedroom golf cottage and breakfast. The 36-hole one-night package ranges from $179 to $339. A two-night stay-and-play package in the Lake AuSable Lodge suite or golf cottage starts out at $239 during the off-season and $429 during the prime summer season. The package includes 36-holes, lodging in a twobedroom suite or three-bedroom golf cottage and breakfast. The two-night 54-hole package ranges from $309 to $569, and the 72-hole package ranges from $359 to $659. Couples Stay and Play Package One of the most popular golf packages in
2013 is returning in 2014. The Forest Dunes Couples Golf Package is $429 per couple Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and $459 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The package includes one-night of lodging in the Lake AuSable Lodge, 18-holes, dinner with a bottle of wine and breakfast. About Forest Dunes Forest Dunes is consistently ranked among the top courses in the country by the leading golf publications. GOLF selected it among the “Top 10 You Can Play” in 2003, as well as placing Forest Dunes at No. 45 on their list of the nation’s Top 100 Public Courses and No. 72 on their Top 100. Golf Digest selected the course as the “Best New Upscale Public Course in America” in 2003. Forest Dunes is also ranked No. 23 among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses,” as well as at No. 4 (*No. 2 public) in the state of Michigan. Its sister publication, Golf World, also selected Forest Dunes the No. 1 public course in America through its reader survey in 2009. GolfWeek has also included the facility among the magazine’s Top 100 Modern Courses. For more information about Forest Dunes Golf Club and the new Lake AuSable Lodge, please visit www.forestdunesgolf.com.
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THE RENAISSANCE WORLD GOLF VILLAGE OFFERING STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGE
JACKSONVILLE/ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – If you are a golfer, you should check out the “Stay and Play Golf Package” that the AAA Four-Diamond Renaissance World Golf Village Resort in Jacksonville/St. Augustine, Florida is offering. The package at the Northeast Florida resort includes a round of golf on the resort’s popular Slammer & Squire championship course (just steps from The Renaissance Resort) or renowned King & Bear championship course (co-designed by Arnold “The King” Palmer and Jack “The Bear” Nicklaus) per golfer, as well as overnight accommodations in a deluxe guest room. The package also includes a World Golf Hall of Fame Combo Ticket per golfer, which provides a two-day admission to the adjacent World Golf Hall of Fame, the ultimate destination for the celebration of golf ’s greatest players with fun interactive exhibits and historic golf artifacts. In addition, the package includes: one round on the Hall of Fame’s 18-hole championship putting course; one shot at the resort’s 132yard Island Challenge Hole; a $50 PGA Tour Academy credit voucher per golfer; breakfast daily in the resort’s Villagio Italian Grille; and free range balls. Making the package even more appealing is that the resort also provides a complimentary shuttle for individual guests (based on availability) to and from historic downtown St. Augustine. This service enables guests to easily visit such sites in St. Augustine, which was founded in 1565, as the historic Castillo de San Marcos fort, The Fountain of Youth, and shopping on the charming, brick-paved St. George Street. Additional options in downtown St. Augustine include the Old Town Trolley Tour, The Old Jail, The St. Augustine History Museum, The Spanish Quarter, The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Flagler College, Whetstone’s Chocolate Factory, Lightner Museum, and a variety of water activities. In addition, resort guests benefit from no resort fees and complimentary self-parking. The “Stay and Play Golf Package” starts at $184 per room, per night, plus tax for one golfer, or from $259 per room, per night, plus tax for two golfers in the room. The package is available through December 18, 2014, based on availability, with a limited number of rooms and rounds of golf available for this promotion. For reservations for the “Stay and Play Golf Package,” or for additional information, call 888-740-7020 or 904-940-8000, or visit www.renwgv.com, or specifically http://tinyurl. com/9oezzld. For information on The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort visit www.renwgv.com.
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Renaissance World Golf Village Resort
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Saddle Creek Resort
SADDLE CREEK RESORT ANNOUNCES RETURN OF POPULAR GOLF STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGE COPPEROPOLIS, CA – Saddle Creek Resort – the Castle & Cooke golf community in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County – announces its popular two-day, onenight golf stay-and-play package will return for 2014. Available throughout the year, it’s a fantastic opportunity for groups of eight or less to tee-it-up in Northern California’s beautiful Gold Country. The resort is only two hours from the Bay Area and 1.5 from Sacramento, making it easily accessible for buddy trips, couples escapes, family outings and other special occasions. Rates – based on double occupancy – are $219 per person (Sunday through Thursday) and $309 per person (Friday, Saturday and Holidays). Included are: • Two rounds of golf on one of state’s most acclaimed courses • Use of state-of-the-art practice facility and short-game area • Lodging in charming bungalows complete with fireplace and full kitchen • Breakfast or lunch at the Lodge’s Copper Grille • Golf cart at your door in the morning •Unlimited use of Sports Club featuring Olympic-size swimming pool, Jacuzzi and gym “As our high-season ramps up, we’re rolling out the red carpet for Northern California golfers,” says Bob Higgins, General Manager. “Nestled in the Sierra foothills, our celebrated golf course and well-appointed accommodations caters to guests seeking a scenic and fun getaway.” For more information or to make reservations: 209.785.7415 or 866.785.7829, www.SaddleCreek.com. Castle & Cooke, Saddle Creek’s owner and operator, specializes in lifestyle-oriented,
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master-planned residential communities. It is building the finest new homes in Copperopolis and incorporating the company’s famed ecofriendly “Green-Wise” building philosophy. For more information and to explore inventory: www.saddlecreeknewhomes.com.
MULTIPLE 2014 GOLF PACKAGES AT SHANTY CREEK RESORTS AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING Bellaire, MI – Golf packages combining the beauty, variety, quality and affordability of Shanty Creek Resorts (SCR), one of Northern Michigan’s leading golf destinations, are available for booking. Experience Arnold Palmer’s Legend or the award-winning Tom Weiskopf Cedar River course, as well as the picturesque Schuss Mountain and Summit golf courses. Golf Digest rates the Cedar River course among the Top 25 in Michigan, and Rolex has ranked the course among the Top 1,000 Courses in the World. Check out the package options below. Please note applicable taxes and fees are not included and that rates can vary depending on the time of the golf season you choose to book. Please ask your reservation agent for specific dates and rates.
Players Choice The Players Choice lets you play unlimited golf on any of the courses at SCR. Tee it up in the morning on the Legend if you wish, and then head to Cedar River in the afternoon for one low price. The package also includes a night of lodging starting at $129 per adult/ per night based on double occupancy. Add breakfast to the package for $8.
The Classic The Classic features one day of unlimited golf on any of the SCR courses with a night of lodging, though the first round of golf must be on the Summit or Schuss Mountain course. It starts at $119 per adult/per night based on double occupancy. Add breakfast for $8. Room and a Round Room and a round packages are available on each of the four courses at SCR. Play one round on the Summit or Schuss Mountain courses and receive a night of lodging starting at $89 per adult/per night based on double occupancy. Play one round on The Legend and receive a night of lodging starting at $109. Play one round on Cedar River and receive a night of lodging starting at $124. Golf ‘Til You Drop This is one of the best golfing values in the Midwest for the hard-core golf aficionados with a couple of days to spare. It includes a night of lodging, one breakfast and two days of unlimited golf on any of the resort’s four golf courses. It starts at $210 per adult/per night based on double occupancy. Nine and Dine It could be the perfect afternoon and evening with this package that includes nine holes of golf on the Summit or Schuss Mountain golf courses, one relaxing dinner and a night of lodging starting at $125 per adult/per night based on double occupancy. Families choosing this package will want to check out special grow-the-game programs implemented this year for beginners and families. Be sure to ask resort representatives about Hack Golf and FootGolf on the Summit course. 3 Night/4-Day Package All the golf seemingly anyone could handle is included in this package. It starts with 18-holes of golf on any of the resort courses after 12 p.m. on the day of arrival and then features three more days of unlimited golf on any of the SCR courses as well as three nights
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS of lodging. It starts at $423 per adult/per night based on double occupancy, and a breakfast can be added for $8. Golf and Spa Package Combine two of the great amenities at SCR with this package. Play a round of golf on any of the SCR courses and then receive a 25-minute golfers’ massage. It also includes a night of lodging and starts at $176 per adult/ per night based on double occupancy. Fall Fest Golf Package When fall rolls around and the Northern Michigan color explodes, the fun continues at Shanty Creek. Receive one day of unlimited golf, and a night of lodging starting at $127 per adult/per night based on double occupancy. A breakfast can be added for $8. As always, the beauty all around you is free. About Shanty Creek Resorts Shanty Creek Resorts, located 30 minutes east of Traverse City, lit the fuse on the northern Michigan golf scene when legendary golfer Arnold Palmer designed The Legend in 1986. Today the resort features three distinct villages, 53 ski runs on two mountains and four-championship golf courses within its 4,500 acres. Summit Village underwent a $10 million renovation in 2008, and remains one of the most stylish four-season resorts in Northern
Michigan featuring 500 rooms plus a spa and fitness center. There is a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, and 36,000 square feet of event and meeting space. Cedar River Village features an 86-room luxury condominium hotel and the awardwinning Tom Weiskopf golf course rated among Rolex’s Top 1,000 Courses in the World. Schuss Mountain Village includes the ever-popular Warner Bowen-designed Schuss Mountain golf course. For more information and to book a 2014 golf package at northern Michigan’s most beautiful resort destination, visit www. shantycreek.com or call (800) 678-4111. Groups should call (866) 901-3150.
TEE TIME IS FAMILY TIME WITH THE KIDS STAY AND PLAY FREE PACKAGE AT TURTLE BAY NORTH SHORE, OAHU, HI – With 36 holes of championship golf and nearly 350 days of sunshine, family day is just a round of golf away on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore. Get out on the green with your kids with the new “Kids Stay and Play Free” package. We have included two rounds of golf for two adults and two kids, along with custombuilt welcome amenities and daily breakfast so the entire family will be ready for the course. We’ve even got you covered with kids’ golf
clubs. Three-night packages start at $459 per night for two adults and two kids in a newly renovated epic room. The “Kids Stay and Play Free” package includes: Three nights in a newly renovated epic ocean-view room. Two rounds of golf for two adults and two kids at the resort’s Palmer Golf Course or Fazio Golf Course, regarded as some of the best places to play in Hawaii. Daily breakfast for the family at the new North Shore Kula Grille restaurant, featuring a selection of healthy, farm-to-table options that will have you ready for the course in no time. Golf clubs for the kids and exclusive Turtle Bay golf-themed amenities for the whole family. There’s plenty more to see. One-of-a-kind experiences await at the resort’s Stables, which offer a kid-friendly Pony Experience; ukulele lessons with Tutu Janet; hula classes and lei making for a taste of authentic Hawaii; and an endless array of outdoor activities across the resort’s 840 acres and in the legendary North Shore surf. Book at Turtlebayresort.com or call (866) 827-5321. To discover the destination and stay up to date on the Turtle Bay experience, check out Oahusfablednorthshore.com.
Turtle Bay
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HILTON HEAD GOLF ISLAND ANNOUNCES 2014 SPRING GOLF PACKAGES HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – a collection of 28 of the Lowcountry’s premier golf courses – announces a diverse selection of stay-and-play packages available through May 2014. With temperate climates, the azaleas in full bloom and the return of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage, golfers will savor a getaway to the premier coastal Carolina destination. Ranked top 10 in seven categories by Golf Digest including “Best Courses” and “Best Weather,” Hilton Head Golf Island offers an array of exceptional golf course and accommodation options. Sample packages include: Palmetto Dunes – “Spring Stay-and-Play:” Stay three nights and play two rounds at any of the resort’s championship courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio. Enjoy additional resort activities including tennis, bikes, dining and merchandise discounts. Starting from $139 per person, per night, rate includes all taxes and resort fees. Valid through May 31, 2014. For package and reservation information: 877.567.6507, www. PalmettoDunes.com. Customized stay-andplay packages for groups of 12 or more are also available: Michael Royer at 866-306-4330 or mroyer@palmettodunes.com. The Sea Pines Resort – “Stay-andPlay Villa Golf Package:” Experience three nights in private villa accommodations and three rounds at Sea Pines’ championship golf courses (Harbour Town Golf Links, Heron Point by Pete Dye and Ocean Course) with complimentary repeat rounds at Heron Point and Ocean Course based on availability. Sea Pines recently unveiled the new 23,000 square foot Plantation Golf Club and golf learning center at its Heron Point by Pete Dye and Ocean courses for members and guests to enjoy. This value-packed offer also includes
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complimentary range balls, 10 percent pro shop discount on retail merchandise and 10 percent food and beverage discount at the resort’s restaurants. Packages start at $213 per golfer, per night based on quad occupancy in a two bedroom villa. Valid through May 31, 2014. For package and reservation information: 1.800.SEAPINES, www.SeaPinesGolf.com Old South Golf Links – “Spring Fling Package:” Just over the bridge in the charming mainland town of Bluffton is the acclaimed Old South Golf Links. Package includes two nights at the Hilton Garden Inn and three rounds of golf including one round each at Old South Golf Links, Hampton Hall Golf Club and the Country Club of Hilton Head. Golfers also enjoy daily breakfast. Starting at $375 per person, price includes sales and accommodations tax. Valid through May 18, 2014. For package and reservation information: 843.837.2610, bonnie@oldsouthgolf.com The Heritage Collection – “Spring Stayand-Play:” Enjoy two nights at The Sonesta Resort with daily breakfast included, two rounds of golf at any of the seven Heritage Collection courses and a 20 percent discount card to be used at Heritage pro shops. Based on double occupancy, packages start at $185 per golfer, per night. Valid through May 22, 2014. For package and reservation information: 843.681.1706 or email vcastaneda@ heritagegolfgroup.com. “After a long, harsh winter across most of North America, Hilton Head Golf Island is the perfect destination for golfers to sharpen their skills for the upcoming season,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association and Vice President of Sports and Operations at Sea Pines Resort. As one of the nation’s foremost golf locales, Hilton Head is the preferred vacation spot of players seeking a high-concentration of worldclass courses. Legendary designers like Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Gary
Player and Davis Love III are represented. The region features an unspoiled natural environment, beautiful resorts and inns, and old-fashioned Southern hospitality. For additional information or to receive a quote: www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com, 800.523.3373.
ST. MAARTEN GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 22ND ANNUAL ST. MAARTEN OPEN, APRIL 26 - 27, 2014 PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Golf Association (SMGA) has announced it will host its 22nd St. Maarten Open on April 26-27, 2014. This year’s open expects more than 80 players in attendance hailing from St. Maarten/ St. Martin and other Caribbean islands such as Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Curacao, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europe and the U.S. The open is held to aid the local St. Maarten community with the majority of the proceeds donated to local organizations. Previous beneficiaries include Art Saves Lives Foundation, Belvedere Community Association, Generation New Status STM Band, I Can Foundation, Imbali Center, Key to Freedom, L.C. Fleming Hospital, Mental Health Foundation, No Kidding with Our Kids Foundation, St. Maarten Medical Center and Repair of Broken Walls Community. The St. Maarten Open also assists in funding the SMGA Junior Golf program which teaches children the basics of the game in an after-school program. Qualified junior golfers can also enhance their skills through professional instruction. For more information, contact Ricardo Perez at ricardop@obbr.com or call (721) 5436040 ext. 3801. For more information on St. Maarten, visit the official site of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau at www.VacationStMaarten.com.
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THE GREENBRIER’S “OLD WHITE” GOLF COURSE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST CENTURY
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV - It was one hundred years ago that one of America’s most legendary golf courses was inaugurated, and at exactly 8:24AM on Saturday, March 29. Known as “America’s Resort,” The Greenbrier has long been considered one of the United States’ most magnificent vacation facilities. The centenary of “Old White” will be formally marked on Saturday April 19, when The Greenbrier’s owner and Chairman, Jim Justice III, using a 1914 driver, will strike a ceremonial ball from the tee. In 2011, with The Greenbrier’s admission to the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network, “Old White” joined the exclusive group of the most prestigious golf courses in the nation and is now formally known as “The Old White TPC.” The Old White TPC is the oldest course on the PGA TOUR to continually host an annual tournament, The Greenbrier Classic. To celebrate the centenary of “Old White,” The Greenbrier is offering a “CENTURY OF GOLF” play and stay package including
championship golf on the “Old White” course and luxurious accommodations at The Greenbrier Resort. The Century of Golf Package Includes: • Championship golf on The Old White TPC • Luxurious accommodations at The Greenbrier Resort • No cart fees for replay rounds • Access to practice facilities and locker rooms •Commemorative coin to celebrate 100 years • Plus, extra concessions for groups of 8 or more, including: • Group organizer stays and plays for free •10% discount on spa treatments • Ability to reserve private gaming tables in The Casino Club •Discounted upgrade fees for multibedroom cottages and estate houses • Assistance with setting up tournaments and scoring •Personalized lockers in the Golf Clubhouse Locker Rooms
• Discount on pre-arrival group retail purchases •Prices for the package ranges from $175$300* per night. The list of those who have golfed at “Old White” reads like a who’s who of golf and celebrity: Ben Hogan, The Duke of Windsor, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Joe DiMaggio, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods and a bevy of U.S. Presidents including Woodrow Wilson, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Perhaps more than any other individual, however, it was legendary golfer Sam Snead who put The Greenbrier on the map as one of the world’s foremost golf destinations. During his years at The Greenbrier, Snead shot “60” six times on the Old White course and climaxed his career with a historic final hole-in-one on Hole 18 in 1995. For more information about The Old White TPC course and The Greenbrier, please visit: www.greenbrier.com. Follow The Greenbrier on Twitter at @The_Greenbrier.
The Greenbrier
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by Terry Ross . . . . . . .
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E
ven though much of the nation is just now getting into seasonal golf weather after one of the coldest winters in recent memory, the Southwest resorts are coming out of a spectacular winter and moving into an even better springtime with lots of outstanding choices for both golf and a good time.
including mind body stretch, yoga, Pilates and aqua classes.
For those that love to mix fine resorts with nightlife, casino gambling and great golf, Las Vegas usually comes to mind, but for those that enjoy a little less hectic pace and perhaps a trip of half the distance, the Palm Springs area of Southern California can’t be beat during this time of year for either a weekend getaway or even longer.
It is an ideal downtown Palm Springs location for shopping, dining, hiking and steps away from famous Palm Canyon Drive and two blocks from the Palm Springs Convention Center. The award-winning Steakhouse is a great dinner choice or enjoy refreshing cocktail in the Cascade lounge.
Each of the 229 guest rooms have been revitalized with all the modern amenities you’ve come to expect: comfortable mattresses, cozy bedding, plush pillows and flat-screen televisions.
Located just over 100 miles from Los Angeles, the Palm Springs valley-with its Native American tribal casinos—offers the warm and inviting desert climate with the feel of Las Vegas casinos in an area that supports 124 golf courses and a non-stop activities for visitors. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians own and operate two of the most acclaimed casinos in the area, along with two premier golf courses in the western end of the Coachella Valley. The Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs is a newly-remodeled mid-century modern design originally built in 1960 as a resort and spa with the emphasis on total wellness of the body based on the healing factors of the natural hot springs in the area that have attracted visitors since the 1800s. This retro-chic boutique hotel was expanded in the 1966 into a 24-hour casino with slots, table games and a gorgeous live music lounge. The signature Spa treatment is the Mineral Immersion, featuring a private soak in these famous hot mineral waters. There is also a fitness center with a fully equipped gym, personal training and a wide variety of activities
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Just minutes to the east of downtown Palm Springs is the newest resort opened by the tribe, Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, near the Bob Hope Drive and Interstate 10 junction. This 340-room luxury resort opened in 2008 and quickly has gained a reputation as one of the finest in the desert and throughout the world, gaining the coveted “World’s Top Hotels” designation by the Expedia travel booking site. Looking out over a vast expanse of pristine desert and the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, the ultra-luxury rooms feature 42-inch plasma flat screen televisions, high-speed internet access/Wi-Fi, oversized desk/ working area, his and her guest robes, and in-room safe. The bathroom features a flat-screen television for added convenience, dual vanities, an oversized sunken tub and separate shower.
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The Casino has an array of entertainment possibilities, including The Show, a premier 2,000-seat concert theater that has featured acts like Matchbox Twenty, Tony Bennett, Jay Leno, Ray Romano and many others. Fine dining in the Steakhouse plus an assortment of other great dinning and buffet choices gives this a real Vegas feel with a California accent. With a span of more than 50,000 square feet the outdoor playground offers two swimming pools, a jetted spa and ten comfortable cabanas with amenities including Internet, phone, flat screen televisions, misters, ceiling fans and a mini refrigerator. Guests also have access to a full-service outdoor bar and grill called the WetBar. In addition to these two casino resorts, the Agua Caliente tribe also owns and manages the Indian Canyons Resort Golf Resort--North and South—two fantastic layouts located in one of the prime windprotected and scenic areas of South Palm Springs’ Indian Canyons’ neighborhood. The courses are set on 550 acres of Native American tribal property. Once a private club named Canyon Country Club, the original 18hole North course designed by William F. Bell, the son of famed golf course architect William P. Bell, was a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities and opened in 1961 as a private facility and has a history that is as colorful as any in Southern California. Names like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Dinah Shore, Jack Benny, Chuck Conners, Phil Silvers, Robert Wagner, Johnny Carson, Doris Day, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lawrence Welk, Walt Disney and Dean Martin, along with former U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan also walked the fairways.
Palmer, Watkins and Sinatra
The starter’s shack on the first tee—in the pre-cell phone era--even used to have a red rotary dial phone that was a hot line to the White House for the use of the Washington elite who used to play here. Even the 50-year old clubhouse—which still keeps its charm today— houses a classic locker room where locker #1078 still reads Frank Sinatra and below it is #2078—Walt Disney. The original feel is still evident here with built-in ash trays from a bygone era. At the time it opened, Canyon Country Club was the only 18-hole golf
Indian Canyons North
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Bob Hope
course in Palm Springs and for a time was called “Wind Free” because of the location next to the San Jacinto Mountains that shelter these courses from the desert gusts. “This was the place to be in the 1960’s,” noted current Indian Canyons General Manager Todd Connelly, a veteran of several of the area’s finer golf courses. “It is a special place to play with the history of this area and the people who helped start things around here.” He noted that Disney once owned several homes in and around the golf course and even donated the unique fountain in the middle of the lake next to the ninth hole—because he was grateful for longtime Director of Golf Jack Koennecker giving lessons to his son. Howard Hughes also had a home along the course, which is surrounded by an assortment of mid-century-designed homes in one of the most tranquil settings in the entire area. The North Course at Indian Canyons is a must-play for anyone visiting the area. Besides being a classic, park-like design with lush fairways and greens, with an abundance of palm trees and mountain vistas in the background, it can be one of the most enjoyable settings on your trip. This can also be a great course to walk before it gets too hot, with the traditional design elements that eliminate long treks between holes. Generous fairways make this course a real treat for those who like to bomb the driver, but it has plenty of length at 6,943 yards from the Blue Tees. The assortment of interesting challenges and hole lengths offer an outstanding golf challenge for all levels of players. The 460yard 5th hole is the #1 handicap as a Par 4, but the 489-yard 18th, which is a Par 5, may even be even more challenging with its tricky driving area and dog-leg approach between two lakes that can lead to
Indian Canyons South
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a big number if not played correctly. The 339-yard 15th is an excellent short Par 4, while the 220-yard 16th is an ample Par 3. Many notable celebrity and college events have been played on this course, including the Frank Sinatra Invitational which is still staged in the valley during the winter months. Just across the street from the North Course is the South Course, which has always been reserved for public play but was completely remodeled in 2004 to give it a more modern resort feel. An entirely different and distinctive round awaits on the South Course. Architect Casey O’Callahan remodeled the 6,582-yard layout with player consultant, LPGA legend Amy Alcott, who has helped make it an area women’s favorite from the 4,878-yard forward tees.
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This scenic course is home to four ponds and 850 palm trees. Also, 500 Washingtonia Filifera, a cherished tree of the Agua Caliente Native American tribe, are abundant throughout the course. Golfers will particularly enjoy the South’s five par 5’s to take on during the round. Once considered a hidden gem off the beaten path to Coachella Valley visitors, today Indian Canyons can be found right in the heart of the all the action in Palm Springs. Following a round at either course, golfers can enjoy dinner and drinks in the South clubhouse while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding San Jacinto mountain range. More information on these resorts and golf courses can be obtained at: www.sparesortcasino.com, www.hotwatercasino.com, www.indiancanyonsgolf.com
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Indian Canyons North
Indian Canyons North Fountain
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DESERT G Los Angeles
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GREENS to Las Vegas by Andrew Marshall
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The tougher the environment, it seems, the more spectacular are the golf courses built in it. ANDREW MARSHALL hits the road from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in search of some of the best places to swing a club in the States.
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oad trips in the States don’t come more quintessential than Los Angeles to Las Vegas via Death Valley. All the classic imagery is there in abundance; film locations, roller-blading Californian blondes, lone roadside motels, highways stretching to infinity, buzzards circling cloudless skies and diner breakfasts. And for serious golfers, this is a true place of pilgrimage. From Trump National Golf Course at $264 million, one of the most expensive golf courses ever built - to the world’s lowest level golf course and some of the best desert layouts on the planet - the sheer quantity and variety of golf courses in California and Nevada is astonishing. After loading our clubs into our spacious Alamo SUV at LAX, my brother Paul and I cruise north along palm-fringed Pacific Highway 1, passing through Santa Monica, Malibu and Ventura en route to the picturesque beachside town of Santa Barbara, dubbed the American Riviera thanks to its low-slung redtiled roofs, white stucco buildings and gorgeous sunsets.
Santa Barbara makes a good base for our first tee off at the Rancho San Marcos Golf Course, about a 30- minute scenic drive northeast up Highway 154. Set in a gorge in the Santa Ynez Mountains among century-old oaks on land where cattle once grazed the historic San Marcos Ranch, this heavily bunkered Robert Trent Jones Jr. course features slick putting surfaces, blind tee shots and two contrasting nines. The hole names - Eagle’s Nest, Old Headquarters, Stagecoach and Davy’s Stables - reflect the history of the ranch. ZEN GOLF From Santa Barbara we follow Highway 33 into the golden hills of the Los Padres National Forest and the Ojai Valley where we have an appointment at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa’s historic 1923 course designed by master golf architect George C. Thomas. Standing outside the Spanish Colonialstyle clubhouse wearing a Zen-golf baseball cap is Dr Joseph Parent, the author of bestselling book Zen Golf. With a PhD in psychology, a background in stress management, Bud-
dhism and meditation, he’s amply qualified to instruct the mental side of the game. We ignore his topped drive with a rescue club, putting it down to first-tee nerves. “Zen Golf is the expression of insights I’ve developed through my teachings combined with the Buddhist state of mind,” says Dr Joe, as we stroll the course’s eucalyptus-lined fairways. “I sent out advance copies of the book to several pros and Vijay Singh really liked it. We worked intensively for a couple of years between 2002 and 2004, and then Vijay won a handful of tournaments and didn’t need me anymore. What do you say to a guy like that, apart from keep up the good work?” Old wooden bridges lead over gurgling brooks, ancient oaks and sprawling pepper trees stand sentinel along fairways and greens as Dr Joe continues. “I basically teach golfers how to get the most out of their game that they have developed so far. During golf, the mind tends to wander into the past and future, its all about staying in the present,” he says. “Plus, the closer you get to the hole, the more the mental game kicks in.” Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
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Rancho San Marcos Golf Course
DESERT DRIVE Saturday morning, and there’s golf to be played at Pete Dye’s Lost Canyons before the long desert drive to Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. Widely regarded as one of the best golf experiences in California, Lost Canyons features two distinctly different 18-hole, par-72 championship courses routed through canyons and along ridges in the pristine Santa Susana Mountains north of the Simi Valley. The course’s renowned architect, Pete Dye, called the area “the best-suited and the most naturally-beautiful land that I have ever had the opportunity to design upon.” With its majestic terrain, The Sky Course features
holes that meander across rolling hills, along dramatic ridgelines and the floor of a hidden valley. The Shadow Course follows Dry Creek Canyon and affords breathtaking views of White Face Mountain. Leaving Lost Canyons behind, we head north to Mojave along roads flanked by distinctive Joshua trees. When we reach the desolate outpost of Randsburg, low on gas, it’s like entering a Wild West movie set, with tumbleweed blowing down the main street. It’s late afternoon and the sun still beats down like a hammer on Highway 178. Heat waves peel off the sweeping line of asphalt that stretches forever towards distant snow-capped mountains and Death Valley
shimmers far below in a haze. Death Valley is one of one of the hottest and lowest-level places on earth. As we near it, the names on our crumpled road map take on an ominous tone: Furnace Creek, Desolation Canyon, Starvation Point, Hell’s Gate and Stovepipe Wells. Death Valley National Park’s headquarters are situated within the welcoming oasis of Furnace Creek where a plantation of 1,800 date palms was planted in the 1920s, creating a scene that wouldn’t look out of place in the African Sahara. From Furnace Creek’s verdant 18-hole golf course, a network of well-maintained roads lead to the so-called Devils Golf Course,
Lost Canyons Golf Club
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Furnace Creek Golf Course (above) Furnace Creek Resort (below)
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in reality a vast and surreal expanse of gnarled and jagged crystalline spires - not somewhere we or any other golfer with sense would think of teeing off. THE ROAD TO VEGAS It’s twilight along Highway 160 when the infamous Las Vegas Strip looms into view, four miles of pulsating neon signs and a surreal skyline made up of the Eiffel Tower, an Egyptian pyramid, a Sphinx, the Statue of Liberty and an exploding volcano. Love it, loathe it, or both, Vegas is cheesy, artificial and completely over the top. It’s changed direction and reinvented itself more times than David Bowie crossed with a chameleon, and each time it emerges with a better and classier product, becoming one of the world’s luxury resort destinations. Over the past ten years, the number of immaculately conditioned golf courses within a two-hour drive of the city has increased to more than 60 and many of these, are topflight tracks designed by some of the biggest names in golf including Nicklaus, Palmer, Dye and Fazio. The desert landscape has offered them an amazing canvas from which to create their
works of art - swathes of emerald green fairways in a sea of red rock. Admittedly, golf doesn’t come cheap here and you will be hard pressed to find green fees under $100, although there are some public access courses, too, including Bear’s Best, Bali Hai Golf Club, Primm Valley, Rio Secco, Paiute Golf Resort and Badlands. The following morning we find ourselves inside the office of Dream Car Rentals on the Strip, surveying the list of exotic vehicles for hire. We want to add a little “vintage” to our US golf tour and plump for a 1959 Cadillac Convertible, whose specifications make interesting reading: length: football field; width, boat; engine, V8; horsepower, 300; max speed, who cares? 0-60, you’re kidding! We rumble onto the main drag. I strap myself in, twiddle the chunky knobs on the radio to tune-in a local station and rumble the ‘retro orgasm on wheels’ onto the main drag. Even in “anything goes” Vegas, the birthplace of bikini bull riding, the car still manages to attract a fair bit of attention from pedestrians. Ah, this is the life - two high-handicap golfers in a fire engine red convertible with fins, driving down the Strip in search of the great
American dream. While the golf clubs stand proudly against the red leather back seats, the inside of the trunk looks like a mobile golf store, containing all the essentials for another day of desert golf; a crumpled map of Nevada, four-dozen Pro V1’s, an assortment of hard low-grade two-piece balls, four bags of tees, a whole galaxy of multi-coloured markers, a six-pack of Powerade, four protein bars, a case of Budweiser, a quart of Wild Turkey bourbon, two bionic golf gloves and a wellthumbed copy of Zen Golf personally signed by the Doc himself. We are about 60kms northeast of Vegas along Highway 15, when my roaring hangover (from all the free bourbons the previous night) begins to kick in. I almost start hallucinating at the wheel and say to my brother something like “I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should drive....” He just laughs and rips open a beer can that foams all over the back seat while I keep talking. Suddenly, rivulets of sweat begin running down my brow and I can’t seem to get Dr Joe Parent’s words of golf wisdom out of my brain....“The closer you get to the hole, the more the mental side kicks in.” “On a birdie
Wolf Creek Golf Club
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Golf Vacations • April 2014 27
putt just think of the length of grass between the ball and the hole.” “Just tap it in.” “Don’t get in your own way.” “Stay in the present.” “Just tap it in...” I hit the brakes, aim the vehicle towards the shoulder of the highway and quickly gulp down a bottle of chilled Powerade. It doesn’t seem to help much. But, the one thing that shakes me out of my desert delirium and keeps me steering the ‘red beast’ down the furnace-hot asphalt towards the border town of Mesquite (80 miles from Vegas), is the promise of eighteen glorious holes at one of the most amazing golf courses on the planet, never mind Nevada - Wolf Creek. There are some overused words when it comes to describing a golf course - spectacular, dramatic and golf on a grand scale - which makes it difficult to describe Wolf Creek in an original way as it’s all of these things and more. Set high above the desert floor among red-rock canyons, teeming waterfalls and glistening creeks, it looks as though strips of green velvet have been laid out on a lunarlandscape. There are precious few courses that can generate a genuine sense of awe for several holes at a stretch.
Exceedingly rare is the layout that can sustain the feeling for an entire round; Wolf Creek Golf Club is such a place. Developer Doug Clemetson was determined to leave the distinctive natural landscape in place, accepting that a number of non-traditional golf holes would be the result. On the 2nd tee box, for example, 90 granite steps lead up to the driving area, which is located some 11 storeys high. The 215-yard par 3 3rd hole plays uphill to one of the highest points on the course with 70- mile views and the 5th is a short par-5 that makes a rather abrupt turn left through the rocks before heading up to the green. Another classic is the par 3 11th, an island in a sea of red rock and typical of Wolf Creek’s dazzling visual appeal. As we prepare to hit our drives from the elevated tee block of the17th hole, the sun casts long shadows across canyon walls, gullies and surreal driedearth formations, which glow red, pink, and gold in the late afternoon light. Leaning on our drivers we take a moment to take in this classic desert scene - one that provides a fitting finale to our golfing odyssey.
OFF-COURSE ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES • Get the lowdown on Los Angeles on a city tour, see where the movie stars live in Beverly Hills, and then put yourself inside big movie action at Universal Studios Hollywood. www.viator.com • The Sunset Strip, a section of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, may have lost some of its charm these days, but there’s so much of Hollywood’s history along this section of road that it’s not to be missed. It’s a great place for celebrity sightings, and nearby are such locations as the House of Blues, The Viper Room and the Walk of Fame to name a few of the notable landmarks. The Strip is a little run-down looking now, but that doesn’t prevent it from being a lively nightspot full of restaurants, clubs and interesting shops. • Visit opulent and perfect Beverly Hills the world’s most famous postal code, where to simple walk down the street is to experience intricately manicured yards, massive multistorey houses and utter suburban perfection. The shopping district around Beverley Hills is something to be seen as well, if Prada, Gucci and Dolce Gabbana are one’s thing.
Badlands Golf Club
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• Another L.A. cliché is the sun, sand and surf of the coastal regions that run alongside the city. One of the city’s more famous beaches, Santa Monica, is a great place to visit when the weather’s right, with golden shore and sapphire sea just two of the sights worth viewing. • Check out some of the best views over Death Valley from Dante’s View. From an elevation of 5475 feet in the Amargosa Ranges, the shimmering saltpans and sweeping sand dunes span out in a long corridor hemmed in by the bare bones of the mountains. • When in Las Vegas, self-drive or take a bus or helicopter tour to the world famous Grand Canyon and experience the new Skywalk- a unique glassbottomed cantilever observation deck that spans 70 feet over the canyon’s rim. www.grandcanyonskywalk.com www.grandcanyontourcompany.com • If you are planning on gambling while in Vegas, check out the free 30- minute classes held at the Las Vegas Hilton that can be fun and educational.
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• Park your cars right next to Las Vegas’ 50-year-old iconic sign “Welcome to Las Vegas” to take some memorable snaps.
WHERE TO STAY Sheraton Gateway (LA Airport): www.sheratonlosangeles.com
• Every evening in Las Vegas, a water and music show plays again and again in the spectacular fountains filling the quarter-mile-long lake in front of the Bellagio.
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: www.ojairesort.com
WHERE TO PLAY Rancho San Marcus: www.rsm1804.com Ojai Valley Inn & Spa: www.ojairesort.com Lost Canyons: www.lostcanyons.com
Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort: www.furnacecreekresort.com USEFUL CONTACTS & WEBSITES Dream Car Rentals: www.dreamcarrentals.com Zen Golf International (Dr Joseph Parent): www.ZenGolf.com
Furnace Creek Golf Course: www.furnacecreekresort.com
California Travel & Tourism Commission www.visitcalifornia.com www.californiagolf.com
Wolf Creek Golf Club: www.golfwolfcreek.com
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority: www.visitlasvegas.com
Badlands Golf Club: www.badlandsgc.com
Las Vegas Golf: www.lasvegasgolf.com
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SWEETSTUFF H ybrids have become the go-to club for many recreational players who either have trouble with their long irons or just simply like the versatility that these clubs provide for both hitting out of tough conditions and being easier to control than the standard fairway wood for longer shots. Tour Edge has earned a reputation among club aficionados over the past few years as a manufacturer that produces top-quality woods and hybrids that are easy to hit and long for players at all levels—and even on the professional tours they are used by a number of top names. In the hybrid category, the Batavia, Illinois Company has several outstanding models to choose from in the XCG7 and the XCG7 Beta products, in addition to the Exotics Xrail lineup that continues to be one of the company’s best performing models. The XCG7 is called Tour Edge’s most forgiving hybrid design to date and it delivers with a light, easy feel but stable control in a variety of turf conditions—either from a tight lie, off the tee or out of the rough. It has a nice comfortable feel and look at address with a sleek profile. The XCG7 Beta is a more compact shape and deeper face for more penetrating ball flight, but both models are easy to work in finding the proper trajectory. The XCG7 model features a maraging cup face design for the ultimate in spring-effect, even on off-center hits, while the XCG7 Beta incorporates a lightweight Beta Titanium crown that weighs only six grams. The crown allows for additional precise weight positioning in the head to deliver Tour-caliber trajectory and versatility. Maximizing distance, the Power Grid positioned directly behind the sweet spot creates an accordion effect and increased spring-effect by flexing at impact, and alternates in thickness from 0.5mm to 1.0mm, allowing the thinner dimple-slots to flex, producing a hotter launch. Hexahedron sole weight pads are positioned back in the heel and toe to increase MOI and maximize stability on off-center contact. In the Beta model, the weight pad design positions more weight forward in the head, raising the center of gravity and producing a lower ball flight. Further enhancing stability, weight is removed from the rear center of the sole. This dual-step cavity in the XCG7 allows the extra weighting in the rear heel and toe to provide maximum forgiveness. A larger cavity is featured in the XCG7 Beta to move weight forward for a higher CG. The Fujikura Fuel shaft that comes standard in this club has been used in a number of Tour Edge’s latest models and performs at an exceptional level at making this club a top choice. The Xrail line has gained a reputation as one of the longer clubs on the market and offers a tight, explosive sound that lets you know when a ball has been well-struck. The Graphite Design G-Series shaft that comes standard has a soft feel and lends itself to a higher trajectory and
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more pop off of just about any lie. The Xrail’s sole features two outer rails and one wider inner rail that help improve playability from a variety of turf conditions. The larger outer rail has 15 percent more weight to produce a higher moment of inertia for enhanced stability on off-center hits. The inner rail or Diamond sole is wider than previous models, and the v-shaped Diamond sole guides the clubface into a square position at impact, which is evident in how easy the club is to square-up. The sole design also minimizes divots from heavy lies so shots get up and away quickly and easily. The offset head design makes alignment very easy and inspires confidence at address. The Xrail incorporates a multimetal construction and combines a hyper-steel body with a thinner Carpenter steel face. The thinner face along with variable face thickness allows for exceptional feel, forgiveness and added power, even on offcenter hits. For more information on Tour Edge hybrids: www.touredge.com
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or those wanting to deliver that “special” gift to a golfer, a new web site has launched called BirdieBox--a discovery shopping service created specifically to satisfy the needs of the golf community. Removing all the hassle from shopping and adding an element of “gift euphoria,” BirdieBox uses the personal preferences of each subscriber as the basis for a monthly delivery, allowing golfers to enjoy a curated box of premium golf, lifestyle and nutritional items delivered to their doorstep every month, either as a gift for someone else or as a self-reward. The items include a selection of the hottest products from major brands– plus the current issue of Golf Digest–all packaged in a stylish gift box. Offered in one, three, six and 12-month options, subscriptions range from $41.65 to $44.95 per month. Retail value of each delivery is $100 or more. To provide gift-givers with a can’t-miss option, BirdieBox also prepares specialty boxes commemorating golf’s major championships such as the Masters, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. The items are carefully selected by the company’s team of golf retail experts and boast double the retail value of a standard subscription box. “We’re taking a shopping practice that has literally revolutionized other categories and bringing it to passionate golfers who can’t get enough of the cool products that help them look, feel and play better,” said BirdieBox Founder and CEO Keith Bolognese. “With some of the game’s biggest brands already on board, our business is teed up for quick and sustainable growth.” Beyond individuals, BirdieBox is an entirely new way to source an unforgettable gift for corporate, charity or country club events. A team of experts will work within a set budget to create a truly unforgettable package. Adorned with a logo of the customer’s choice, each finely-appointed,
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SWEETSTUFF by TerryRoss
custom-curated assortment is hand-selected to precisely match designated preferences and impress guests. The current Masters edition of the BirdieBox program has enjoyed such popularity that it is sold out and includes: M-Clip Cuff LinksDark Green Genuine American Gator; Club Glove--Caddy Towel--Golf Microfiber Towel; Back9USA- Augusta 2014 Head cover with stitched magnolia flower; Kentwool Bubba Green Socks - WINDspun technology 100 percent blister free guarantee; TravisMathew - “Our Favorite Time of the Year” Tee Shirt; PGA TOUR Superstore - $20 off code on your purchase of $75 or more. More information is available at: www.BirdieBox.com
U
niversity and college alumni have flashed their pride for decades around the links with school logos and mascot head covers. Now a Birmingham, Alabama company called State Traditions has created top-notch, state and country-inspired apparel and accessories that reflect traditions across America and the world with a very simple method by connecting customers with hometown pride, favorite pastimes and sporting allegiances through quality products and memories to last a lifetime. Using the outlines of all 50 states, State Traditions offers golfers a subtle, sophisticated alternative to flashy logos in order to celebrate state or fan pride. Each piece in the extensive collection-which includes caps, visors, polos, belts, neck-
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wear and button-front shirts--offers a choice of state silhouette in its respective flag pattern or colors reflective of its popular sports teams. “Our brand connects emotionally with consumers, everyone has a home state, alma mater or favorite team,” says Keith Brown, President of State Traditions. “Whether it’s on a golf trip with buddies or at a game day tailgate, our pieces communicate those feelings in a timeless way.” The State Traditions 2014 lineup is anchored by its robust headwear range. The 100-percent cotton caps and visors marry classic style with modern design elements suitable for both sporting and everyday activities. Additional standouts include the brand’s
colorful belt program, featuring both embroidered and ribbon designs with brass and leather accents, along with short-sleeve polos crafted from ultra-soft Pima cotton and performance fabrics. These highly-versatile pieces transition seamlessly from the golf course to casual weekend wear. A variety of non-apparel items are also available, including rocks glasses, premium ball markers and divot repair tools, iPhone covers and key fobs. The State Traditions clothing line can be found in finer golf shops, men’s clothiers, outdoor specialty stores and children’s boutiques nationwide. For more information: www.statetraditions.com
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