Champions Return in a Big Way to Desert
and then finally today I started making a few early on,” said Goosen after his round. “Yeah, got it going nicely. It’s disappointing about the finish. But I think when I was driving to the course this morning I was thinking if I could shoot 10 under, I’ve got a pretty good chance. I could have shot 10 under if I didn’t mess up coming in.
“The weather is beautiful. Overall, it’s a great golf course, the weather is beautiful, a great event and we’re very pleased about Galleri coming in for this new event this year. I will be back next year.”
Toms echoed the same sentiments as he won his second event in his last three starts.
Achance for golf enthusiasts and travelers reveling in the sunshine of the Southern California desert in the breaking weeks of spring to experience something new and exciting certainly exceeded any expectations this past month at the debut of the new Galleri Classic in Rancho Mirage.
The Mission Hills Country Club—the host for the event—is one of the best in this golf-centric area that boasts of 120 courses in the vicinity and was the host for 51 years of the LPGA major that began in 1972 as the Colgate- Dinah Shore Winners Circle Tournament.
It was a great run at this iconic course until the sponsor moved the event last year— and in stepped the PGA Tour Champions into a market ready made for the 50+ age group of past winners of the PGA Tour. Ever since the Champions Tour left the desert after 1993 local leaders and golf enthusiasts often yearned for its return since it fit the area so well. And back it is—better than ever.
The Galleri Classic, named after the title sponsor Grail’s multi-cancer early detection test, had something for everyone in the area--be it a class on the cancer
test, good food, a local artist recording the scenic beauty, demonstrations of golf items and opportunities, a field featuring the top players in the world from the past 40 years and some of the best weather on the planet.
This area has been headlined as a golf destination since 1960 by the American Express, the PGA Tour’s regular stop during January in La Quinta that began as the Bob Hope Desert Classic. The Galleri Classic sports many more familiar veteran pros in its field—including this year’s lineup that had 10 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, winners of 358 combined Tour titles and eight former winners of the Am Ex.
The enthusiastic crowds were drawn to these familiar faces—and the competition didn’t disappoint. Sunday’s final round evolved into a shootout—until the tournament’s leader all week—David Toms-took control on the back nine and won by four strokes over Steven Alker at 16 under. And to think—Hall of Famer Retief Goosen shot out of the starting gate that day with birdies on 9 of his first 12 holes to take a three shot lead mid-way through the final day’s action.
“I haven’t made any putts for two weeks
“First of all, it’s a really good golf course, it was in perfect shape,” he noted. “We got lucky, we had quite a bit of wind every morning and by the time we played it was kind of nice. it was a really good test, you had to keep the ball in the fairway, which was very difficult. Just enough rough to make you think. Greens got firm, so you really need to be in the fairway. Fortunate for me, I kept it in the fairway for the most part. If not, I always had a shot where I had an open green or something, and the putter felt really good the last few days.”
The overall atmosphere and course were
8 Golf Vacations • April 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
TURN
MY
by Terry Ross • photos by Scott Avra
David Toms - Final putt on No. 18
18th Green at Mission Hills
also something that Toms took note of.
“I think what you saw is you saw some good crowds out there, people interested. This is a great time of year to be here. A lot of us still live in places where the weather’s very unpredictable so it’s nice to be here, added Toms. “It certainly for me had a bigger feel to it than, say, when we used to come here to play what was then the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic because it was a different type of event. We had a lot of amateurs playing with us, celebrities, things like that.
“This felt like a really important event. We had a great sponsor and I think most guys will tell you the golf course is hard to get in any better condition than the golf course we played. So, you put all that together and I think guys will continue to come back here. And the guys that didn’t come, they will be here just because the word will get out on what a nice event it was and how good the golf course held up.”
Another top finisher—Fred Couples— had a homecoming of sorts after living and competing in the area for many years in the Bob Hope Classic and the Skins Game. He is
well-known in the area as a course designer and sometime resident.
“Well, growing up and playing the Tour, I always saw the tournaments here and then it left us. said Couples. “Then, when I turned 50, I thought, why do we not have a tournament in Palm Springs, and now we do. I used to live at Mission Hills, so I know this course. Thirty-two years ago-- with John Cook-- we used to play a lot.
“But (the LPGA event at Mission Hills) was a phenomenal tournament-- everyone knows about the Dinah Shore. I think it is like their Augusta. I think we as older (players) need to be playing here. So, you know, if there’s such a thing as this time of year for us, maybe this tournament can become like the women’s, you know, the Dinah Shore, like the Masters. And then for us to have a tournament in this area is pretty cool-- and this is a heck of a week to play.”
Could this be another Champions major in the making? One thing is for certain, the Galleri Classic deserves to be added to the “Must-do” list for any travel to this area of the country.
www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • April 2023 9
2023 Galleri Classic champion David Toms with The Galleri Classic Trophy
David Toms - No. 18 tee box and gallery
OMAN, MUSCAT – La Vie, a leading real estate project in Oman, has been officially unveiled by OMINVEST subsidiary ORIS. ‘La Vie’, which translates to ‘The Life’ in French, was announced during OMINVEST’s 40th Anniversary celebrations earlier this month.
The first phase of the project is the reopening of the golf club inside Muscat Hills, named ‘La Vie Club’. The club will be managed by Troon Golf and recently allowed preview play of its desert style 18-hole championship course. Investment has been made by ORIS in a new Club Car golf cart fleet, golf course machinery along with a new clubhouse that is due to open in the coming months.
Commenting on the reopening, La Vie Club Operations Manager Freddie Rexstrew stated, “We are very excited to re-establish the club as one of the premier golf facilities within the region serving golfers, the community and growing the game of golf in Oman. We will be delivering the Troon Experience and are focused on being a fun and family friendly club.”
La Vie Club already boasts the first TopTracer Range in the country, the #1 range technology in the world, with game modules suited for all ages and ability levels. Additionally, a community calendar has been created including FootGolf and cycling around the course.
In the future, the La Vie project will boast residential, commercial and tourism buildings including an 80-room boutique hotel. Touching on the project’s objective, Nasser Rashid Al Shibli, Chief Real Estate Officer at OMINVEST, said, “Through this project, OMINVEST aims to support the Sultanate’s efforts in enhancing the role of tourism and sports sector in the diversification of the country’s economy. LA VIE will be a valuable addition to the sector’s infrastructure, attracting top brands in tourism and sports from around the world to operate its various facilities. It will also provide several job opportunities for
Omani nationals, which aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. As an enabling body, OMINVEST is committed to realizing this vision in a way that meets everyone’s aspirations.”
Troon International’s Senior Vice-President, DJ Flanders, remarked “Troon is delighted to reopen the course and look forward to bringing the Troon Golf standards to La Vie and the city of Muscat. Towards the end of this year, golfers will experience superior guest service, the finest playing surfaces and outstanding amenities. The new clubhouse, a summer of cultural practices with the new machinery, will enhance La Vie Club and make the club a focal point of not only the community but also of Muscat. We would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to our ownership OMINVEST and look forward to playing a central part of this exciting project.”
South Florida Broadcaster’s Golf Tournament May 5, 2023, Vip Celebration, Live Radio Broadcast 7 More To Benefit My Family Matters Foundation
Meet some of South Florida’s most well-known and respected members of our community from Radio Broadcasters to Rock Stars and Athletes as we work together to fundraise for My Family Matters Foundation. This is the 2nd Annual South Florida Broadcasters Golf Tournament will be held at Pembroke Lakes Country Club on May 5, 2023. The golf tournament includes a VIP Celebration of Cinco De Mayo for the golfers playing in the tournament. This spectacular golf tournament includes a live radio broadcast.
Proceeds of this Golf Tournament will be allocated for My Family Matters Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charity Organization. Together with Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital Foundation we provide financial assistance for families with Children fighting cancer.
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La Vie Unveiled – The Newest Troon Golf Facility In The Middle East
La Vie
Main Sponsorship Opportunities include but are not limited to: Name inclusion in one hundred fifty (150): 15 second public service announcements to air across 9 iHeart; Media South Florida radio stations; Inclusion in twenty (20) posts on social media; Inclusion in one WBGG station eblast, Name and business information on Press Releases which cover Florida Distribution Channels (708); targets; major search engines and social media site which Google, Google News, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, Facebook & Twitter; and World Media Directory which includes 211 targets in the US, logo on Golf Cart’s GPS and more. For information regarding sponsorships contact: doris@golfcharitytournaments.com or (954) 240-4853.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:
Registration and check-in: 12:00 pm. Shotgun start: 1:00 pm
ENTRY TICKETS: $250 single golfer $1,000 Foursome.
REGISTRATION: https://myfamilymattersfoundation. org/golf-tournament
• Complimentary range balls for practice
• Complimentary Lunch on arrival
• Beverages on the Course
• Golfer’s Gift Bags
• Silent Auction
• Raffle, Giveaways
• VIP Dinner party with full course meal and cash bar
CONTEST PRIZES: One Million Dollars Hole-in-One Contest, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Beat the Pro, Raffles, Silent auction, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners and much more.
For additional information, contract Doris Muscarella, Golf Tournament Consultant at doris@golcharitytournaments. com or (954) 240-4853.
Troon Selected To Manage
Teleli Golf Club In Sonora, California
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Troon®, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage Teleli Golf Club in Sonora, California. Indigo Sports, a Troon company, will oversee golf operations, agronomy, and sales and marketing for the daily-fee golf
facility.
Located on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the historic gold rush town of Sonora, Teleli Golf Club opened for play in 1990 and was designed by Robert Muir Graves. The 6,559-yard course plays to a par of 72 and features rolling fairways and large greens.
Teleli has been owned by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians since 2019 and serves as an amenity to both the Black Oak Casino Resort and the community. The name Teleli is from the Me-Wuk language and translates to Black Oak.
“We at TEDA are excited for what the future holds; this newly formed relationship is going to help benefit the community as well as the golf course. There are many good times to come!” said Darryl Tinkle, president of the Tuolumne Economic Development Authority.
In addition to a beautiful golf course, Teleli Golf Club also has a practice range, multiple practice putting greens, a fully stocked golf shop and the West Wind Bar and Grill. With a wide range of banquet facilities, the club can host events of up to 150 guests including weddings, parties, tournaments and more.
For more information on Teleli Golf Club, visit www.teleligolfclub.com or call 209-532-1000.
For more information on the Black Oak Casino Resort, www.blackoakcasino.com or call 1.877.747.8777.
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Teleli Golf Course
Marriott Lincolnshire Resort Offers Two New Golf Packages
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL – Looking to experience the ultimate golfer’s getaway? Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, part of Marriott Bonvoy, is offering the perfect package for golf enthusiasts. Marriott Lincolnshire Resort’s Birdies and Brews package offers the ideal golfer’s escape where impeccable service meets world-class greens.
Grab your clubs and tee off at Crane’s Landing, Marriott Lincolnshire Resort’s 18-hole golf course. After a full round of birdies and brews, guests can enjoy a relaxing evening at the resort and enjoy a meal at Wright’s Brew and Bistro.
The Birdies and Brews package will be available from Apr. 1 - Oct. 28. Rates begin at $189 and are available every day except for Tues. and Thurs. Reservations are required a minimum of 7 days prior from date of play. Restrictions apply. The package includes: Birdies and Brews Package ($189++):
Deluxe Guest Room
(1 King or 2 Double Beds)
1 Round of Golf
at Crane’s Landing 1-2 people
Green Fees and Cart included
$30 Dining Credit to Wrights Brew and Bistro
6 pack of beer from the Golf Shop
WHEN: April 1, 2023 - October 28, 2023
Every day except Tuesday or Thursday Reserve 7 days in advance of play PRICE: $189++
Marriott Lincolnshire Resort Debuts ‘Putt and Pamper’ Package for Two
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and indulge in a fun, relaxing experience at Marriott Lincolnshire Resort with the luxurious ‘Putt and Pamper’ package. Beginning Apr. 1, guests can enjoy a round of golf at Crane’s Landing, the resort’s lush greens and 18-hole golf course. After a day on the greens, guests can be pampered with a massage at Lift Salon and Spa.
The Putt and Pamper package will only be available to book from 4/1-11/1. Reservations and tee times are based on availability. Terms and conditions apply.
‘Putt and Pamper’ Package
Grab your clubs and tee off at Crane’s Landing, Marriott Lincolnshire Resort’s 18-hole golf course, and enjoy a round of golf for two. After, relax and unwind with two 60 min massages at Lift Salon and Spa. Enjoy our breakfast buffet at Three Embers in the morning for the ultimate stay, play, and relaxing getaway.
Breakfast Buffet for 2 in Three Embers
1 Round of golf for two at Cranes Landing (Cart Included)
Two Massages at Lift Salon and Spa
WHEN: Available April 1 to November 1
Reservations and tee times based on availability.
WHERE: Marriott Lincolnshire Resort
Ten Marriott Dr. , Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Book tee times: (847) 634-5935
Book spa services: (847) 634-3515
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CHIPSHOTS
Marriott Lincolnshire Resort
Keswick Hall’s Full Cry to Host 2023 U.S. Open Qualifier
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Keswick Hall – the acclaimed 600-acre luxury resort set in Virginia’s scenic Wine Country – announces its celebrated Pete Dye-designed Full Cry golf course will serve as a 2023 U.S. Open qualifying venue on May 16.
Local qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Open Championship is conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states and Canada. The championship will be contested at The Los Angeles Country Club on June 15 – 18. In 2022, Full Cry hosted the Virginia State Golf Association’s prestigious Mid-Amateur Championship.
Keswick Hall recently completed an impressive resort renovation. Highlights include an increase in the number of guest rooms from 48 to 80 as well as inspiring food and beverage outlets under the direction of acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten who oversees the property’s culinary operations. The resort’s new, luxurious Keswick Hall Spa offers a selection of holistic spa experiences thoughtfully curated to support mental, physical and emotional well-being.
In addition to play on Full Cry for its resort guests, Keswick Hall offers a unique private club experience highlighted by a convivial, family-friendly atmosphere set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Keswick Club members enjoy numerous choice amenities in addition to the worldclass golf. The property’s new tennis facility provides members with access to seven tennis courts, including two featuring allweather “Claytech European Red Clay” – a hybrid surface combining a durable hardcourt with the unique beauty and playability of clay courts.
Members will also savor the use of Keswick Hall’s new Pavilion with its additional pool, Pool Bar & Grill, two pickleball courts, tennis shop and club event space for special occasions. The resort’s Club Grill is open for dining each day starting at 11 a.m. Members can relax in the comfortable dining room or take a table on the spacious outdoor terrace. For more information or to become a Keswick Club member call 434.923.4359.
For more information on Keswick Hall visit www.keswick.com or call 434.979.3440.
Sjm Macao Open Returns To 2023 Asian Tour Schedule For 20Th Edition
The Asian Tour and IMG are delighted to announce the return of the Macao Open and to reveal SJM Resorts, S.A. (“SJM”) as the new
title sponsor for one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Asian Tour, taking place 12th – 15th October 2023 at the picturesque Macau Golf and Country Club.
SJM, a leading owner, operator and developer of premium integrated entertainment resorts in Macao, is confirmed as the title sponsor for the next three editions with the SJM Macao Open, benefiting from the full support and endorsement of the Sports Bureau of Macao and the Macao Golf Association.
SJM has been pivotal to reviving this celebrated event and its support and vision ensures that one of the most popular stops on the Asian Tour will return bigger and better than ever for its 20th edition. Featuring on the schedule for the first time since 2017, when the tournament was won by India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, this year’s 144-player
field will compete for a prize fund of US$1million.
The Macau Golf and Country Club, a business unit of SJM’s parent company Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, S.A. (“STDM”), has staged every edition of the event and is renowned as one of the most beautiful courses to play in Asia, offering stunning views of the South China Sea. An impressive roster of global stars has competed over the years including Major winners Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Nick Price, as well as prolific international winners including MiguelAngel Jimenez, Branden Grace, Ian Poulter and Thongchai Jaidee. Past winners have included Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and China’s own Liang Wen-chong and twotime winner Zhang Lian-Wei.
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Gaganjeet Bhullar
Dundonald Links Further Enhances Reputation with New Best-Of Honors
AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND – Dundonald Links continues to ascend on the world golf stage following a trio of notable industry achievements it recently garnered from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
After being named on the elite list of IAGTO’s Outstanding Service Awards 2023, it was announced that the resort had earned top-30 placements in two of Golf World’s Top 100 highly respected lists.
The news is testament to extensive investment in recent years, which has transformed one of Scotland’s most popular golf courses into a world-class resort with an array of luxury facilities and accommodation options.
IAGTO, the global trade organization of the golf tourism industry, presented its annual Outstanding Service Award to fewer than 50 of the world’s finest golf resorts, courses and hotels. The honor was voted for by IAGTO members and recognized destinations that consistently delivered an outstanding customer experience in 2022.
Published by Today’s Golfer, the eagerly anticipated Golf World Top 100 rankings remain one of the most respected resources for golfers who are looking to find the best courses the sport has to offer. Dundonald Links moves up to 30th in the latest edition of the ‘Top 100 Courses Scotland’ list, with the layout awarded an impressive 76
points out of 100. Meanwhile, the resort’s recent transformation has seen it enter the ‘Top 100 Resorts Great Britain and Ireland’ for the first time, ranking an impressive 29th place.
“Every member of our team works hard to ensure that every guest at Dundonald Links leaves having had a truly memorable experience,” said Ian Ferguson, General Manager, Dundonald Links. “It is pleasing to be recognized among the best venues to stay and play in Scotland so soon after completing our transition into a fullyfledged resort.”
Driven by new owners Darwin Escapes, Dundonald Links transformation was spearheaded by the opening of a new clubhouse in 2021. The contemporary building includes the resort’s fine-dining experience, the Canny Crow Restaurant, as well as a state-of-the-art gym, pro shop and bar. Guests can stay in either the elegant hotel or a collection of luxury lodges just a short distance from all the resort’s amenities.
Dundonald Links par-72 course has been one of Scotland’s most popular layouts since a 2003 redesign, which was orchestrated by American architect Kyle Phillips, who has overseen the development of a number of modern-day classics such as Kingsbarns in Fife and The Grove in Hertfordshire. After successfully staging the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open in 2022, the event has been confirmed to return to the resort in 2023, along with Final Qualifying for The Open Championship.
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Dundonald Links
Audubon International Adds Signature Platinum Level
TROY, NEW YORK – Audubon International – the environmentally focused non-profit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play – announces the addition of a new Signature Sanctuary Platinum Certification level.
Signature Sanctuary Certification is specifically designed for properties undergoing renovation or new development with the goal of ensuring sustainable design, construction, and long-term management of golf courses, resorts, and communities, and has traditionally been offered on three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The Platinum Certification level offers the opportunity to encompass an entire resort under one certification umbrella –Signature Sanctuary for golf course and maintenance structures and systems and Green Lodging and Green Hospitality for the clubhouse, and if there’s lodging onsite, the resort aspect as well.
“The Signature Sanctuary Platinum Certification level provides an opportunity to have an all-encompassing certification for a property,” says Kat Welch, Director, Signature Sanctuary Certification. “The nice part about Signature Platinum level is that it is a single title, encompassing multiple certifications, which is easier for the public or the client to understand and appreciate.”
Directed by Audubon International COO Fred Realbuto, the Green Lodging and Green Hospitality programs currently have about 130 full-service Certified resort members. By blending elements of the Lodging/Hospitality curricula with Signature’s property development requirements, Platinum Certification gives qualifying properties more options to meet their overall sustainability goals.
“If a resort is established and operating, but undergoing a renovation to only the golf course, it can still be a candidate for Platinum,” Welch says, “because the Green Lodging and Green Hospitality Certifications were designed for existing properties. If it’s a totally new construction, we look for the criteria to be built into the architectural plan.”
For golf course grounds and structures including cart barns and maintenance buildings, Platinum Certification adds a new slate of requirements to its already comprehensive Gold level. For instance, native plantings must occupy 90% of out-of-play golf course acreage, rather than Gold Level’s 75%.
Welch adds that The Signature Sanctuary process as a whole is currently going through an update, including the list of criteria handed out at enrollment and necessary for certification. “We’re working with American Society of Golf Course Architects on revising and expanding it in certain areas. We are launching it later this year.”
But for properties looking for a complete certification solution, the Green Hospitality and Green Lodging elements truly set Signature Sanctuary Platinum apart in Audubon International’s suite of Certification programs.
For information about joining AI’s Signature Sanctuary Certification please contact Kat Welch at 518-767-9051 x124 or kat@auduboninternational.org
To learn more about how your local golf course, community or resort can gain recognition for your environmental efforts or to learn how to expand your initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, visit www. auduboninternational.org or call toll free: 1-844-767-9051.
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Cyprus, Dubai, Los Cabos, South Carolina and Thailand lauded in 2023 IAGTO Awards
In the 22nd annual IAGTO Awards, five very different golf destinations – Cyprus, Dubai, Los Cabos, South Carolina and Thailand – have each been proclaimed as Golf Destination of the Year for 2023.
Established in 2000 and recognised as the most prestigious awards in the global golf tourism industry, the 2023 edition of the IAGTO Awards celebrates not only these five golf destinations, but also the outstanding service provided by 60 golf resorts, golf courses, hotels, receptive operators and tourist boards in 22 countries. This year, members of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) across five continents were invited to vote for destinations and businesses that delivered a great experience for golf travellers in 2022.
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said “IAGTO golf tour operators handle 90% of international golf vacation sales worldwide, so they are in a great position to assess the performance of golf destinations and the service provided by industry partners, through the experience of their customers. We currently have 669 golf tour operators in 61 countries which explains the geographical diversity of this year’s Awards recipients.
“It’s great to see relatively small golf destinations such as Cyprus, Dubai and Los Cabos in the mix with the established giants of South Carolina and Thailand. Recipients of our Outstanding Service Award include the renowned golf resorts of Adare Manor, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Casa de Campo, Fancourt and SO/ Sotogrande Resort, alongside the relative newcomers of Vattanac Golf Resort in Cambodia, Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam and the Monte Rei Golf & Country Club in Portugal.
“There are also names likely unfamiliar to golfers themselves, as the Awards also recognise specialist golf receptive operators, such
as PAGS in Portugal and Desert Gate Tourism in the United Arab Emirates which organise the ground arrangements for international golf tour operators. Lesser-known winners include El Gouna Golf Club on Egypt’s Red Sea coast and Heritage Hotels in Kenya.
“Finally, hats off to the tourist boards who did such a great job supporting the golf tourism industry last year, including Cadiz Tourism in Spain’s Andalucía region, Florida’s First Coast of Golf in north east Florida and England’s Golf Coast, in the country’s north west, among others.”
A full list of winners is published at www.iagto.com/awards where the 2023 IAGTO Awards logo can also be downloaded in JPG, PNG and EPS formats.
Legends Tour: Italian Senior Open to return to San Domenico Golf
The Legends Tour will return to the distinguished San Domenico Golf course in 2023 with the Italian Senior Open held at the venue where it was previously staged in 2021 – an event which saw South African James Kingston secure his maiden Legends Tour title.
Located in Italy’s Puglia region, San Domenico Golf is rich in history and a true test thanks to strategically designed bunkers and carefully positioned fairways. No stranger to hosting big events, the Italian venue staged the Challenge Tour Grand Final on eight occasions between 2005 and 2012.
Held between October 27 and 29 at the luxury five-star resort, the Italian Senior Open will be the penultimate European event on the 2023 Legends Tour season before the competition travels to Africa for three back-to-back tournaments prior to the season-ending MCB Tour Championship in Mauritius at Constance Bella Mare Plage.
Four-time DP World Tour winner Ricardo Gonzalez will visit
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Aphrodite Hills, PGA National Cyprus
San Domenico Golf as defending champion following his victory in the 2022 Italian Senior Open at Argentario Golf Club – the Argentinian won the event by three strokes ahead of defending champion Kingston.
Since his Italian win in 2021, Kingston has established himself as one of the best players on the Legends Tour. Last season the two-time DP World Tour winner secured the Legends Tour Order of Merit title, receiving the John Jacobs Trophy following an impressive campaign which saw him claim his second Legends Tour title at the Swiss Senior Masters, with nine further top10 finishes.
The Italian Senior Open – which will be played just weeks after the Ryder Cup takes place in Italy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September – will also be one of the Legends Tour events this year to host the Alliance Series, a universal success since its inception. The format provides an exclusive opportunity to live the life of a golf legend as everyday players play alongside two professionals in a team event format, as well as in an individual tournament against other Alliance competitors, in front of crowds and TV cameras.
The aim is to give amateur players the opportunity to experience what it is like to compete at the highest level under the
pressure of competition as they play on some of the world’s best courses alongside some of the world’s finest golfers – former Ryder Cup captains and Major winners including Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie, Michael Campbell, Ian Woosnam and Thomas Bjorn all competed on last year’s Legends Tour.
Franco Chimenti, Italian Golf Federation president, said: “The Senior Italian Open is one of the most awaited tournaments on the circuit. It will be played a month after the Ryder Cup, an event that will attract the attention of the whole world on Italian golf and will help to increase the interest of Italians in our sport.
“The stage of the Legends Tour - which will see players in action who have made such history in the game of golf - returns to play at San Domenico Golf, a golf club of great tradition that represents the excellence of our country with wonderful natural scenery. It is a showcase for southern Italy that has unparalleled potential in terms of golf tourism to live all year round.”
The upcoming season promises to be the biggest since the Legends Tour rebranding, with larger fields and record-breaking prize money as well as new venues hosting major events like Ireland’s Seapoint Golf Links and Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen.
The 2023 season will feature at least 18 tournaments with a minimum confirmed cumulative prize fund total of more than €16million, a significant increase on the 2022 campaign.
Rounds 4 Research Auction Kicks Off April 24 With Opportunities To Golf At Nearly 1,000 Courses
LAWRENCE, KS – Rounds 4 Research presents its 2023 online auction April 24-April 30. Nearly 1,000 rounds of golf (each round includes two or four players) have been donated at courses in 43 states plus Bermuda and Costa Rica. Rounds are added daily, so check back often. To preview rounds and to bid when the auction opens, visit www.rounds4research.com.
Rounds 4 Research is a venture of the GCSAA Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). It is presented in partnership with The Toro Co. Funds generated from the auction support research-related initiatives of GCSAA and its affiliated chapters. Since launching in 2012, Rounds 4 Research has raised more than $2.5 million for turfgrass research, education and advocacy programs. In 2022, the auction raised a record amount of more than $490,000. Funds raised by the
event also help support GCSAA’s national research program.
“Rounds 4 Research gives golfers the chance to help fund efforts that help ensure the game’s future and do it while playing the game they love,” said Rhett Evans, chief executive officer of GCSAA. “Last year’s auction set our all-time record, and through the generosity of the facilities and management companies that donate and the golfers who bid, we hope to exceed that this year.”
Some of the high profile facilities that have donated rounds for the auction include Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa, Fla., TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nev., Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown, Ga., Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla., Frederica Golf Club in Saint Simons Island, Ga., Sutton Bay in Agar, S.D., and Nanea Golf Club in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Several management companies also have joined the effort to support research, including Invited, Dormie Network, Founders Group International, GreatLIFE KC, Indigo Golf, KemperSports, Marriott Golf, the PGA Tour TPC network of courses and Troon Golf.
The Real Club de Golf El Prat to host the II Open de Barcelona
The Real Club de Golf El Prat to host the II Open de Barcelona
The Real Club de Golf El Prat will host the second edition of the Barcelona Open by Pablo Larrazábal, which will take place during the week of the Masters, from 5th to 7th of April. The historic club organized the first edition of this PGA Spain tournament in 2022, with great success.
This second event will be hosted again by the six time winner on Tour, who came in second position last year, surpassed by the Andalusian golfer, Ángel Hidalgo, who is competing this year on the DP World Tour and made his debut on the PGA tour recently at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
For this edition, in addition to the participation of Pablo, the tournament will have the presence of illustrious players such as Álvaro Velasco, Alfredo García Heredia and Pep Anglès, some of the best-ranked Spanish players in the world.
The Real Club de Golf El Prat, founded in 1912, is the ideal venue for professional tournaments, having hosted more than 200 international. Events in its history. It has 45 holes designed by former world number one, Greg Norman, and has hosted the Spanish Open 10 times (1959, 1963, 1971, 1978, 1981, 1998, 1999, 2011 and 2015).
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Jamaica’s Annie’s Revenge Pro-Am
By David R. Holland
Cinnamon Hill Golf Course
ROSE HALL, JAMAICA – Annie’s Revenge Pro-Am is many things – warm breezes, jerk chicken, Red Stripe beer, Appleton Rum, new golf buddies and island hospitality.
Montego Bay is where, each November, amateur and professional golfers, come to play and enjoy tropical vistas to the Caribbean Sea, lush hillsides and target holes prominent on Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, winding uphill and downward toward ocean-hugging holes.
Near the 15th green there’s a gentle waterfall, site of a scene in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die. You will pass the 1761 ruins of a sugar mill and aqueduct, and on another day enjoy the Half Moon Golf Course that was designed by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Half Moon is routed through a retired sugarcane estate, and the course hugs forested hills.
Participants of Annie’s Revenge are spoiled from airport to check-in at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, an adults-only all-inclusive resort. Besides three rounds of golf, attendees are presented with a Jamaica Tourism backpack and swag worth $400. We got Puma golf shoes, golf shirt, long-sleeved pullover, 12 Bridgestone golf balls, bluetooth speaker, Shady Rays sunglasses and more.
After golf, beach and pool times are built in to the afternoon schedule and the all-inclusive dining included full breakfast buffet at Port María Jamaican Restaurant in the morning, on-course drinks, breaded jerk chicken and beef snacks and evenings at restaurants Teppanyaki Kiniro, Surf and Turf Galleon, La Toscana Wine Cellar, Cornwall Buffet, Es Palau gourmet restaurant and the Beach Grill
The Golf Connection LLC., led by golf industry veteran Tom Jaronski, provided the coordination of the two courses, scoring logistics, the parties, awards and work with the Jamaican Tourist Board and major sponsors like Puma Golf, Red Stripe beer and Appleton Rum.
Meeting my playing partners was another enjoyable highlight. How many times have you teed it up with a 6-foot-10, 295-pound golf pro? That would be once for me with Zach Ramey, Swing Coach for Next Level Golf -- he couldn’t have been more fun, helpful with shot analysis and gracious. Kevin and Carol Creter completed my fun foursome.
“The courses here, Half Moon, Cinnamon Hill, White Witch and Tryall are so different,” Ramey said. “There are no two holes alike and each have their challenges with the wind on the island that can pick up, go down, can be a benefit or be a disaster. At the end of the day you think, man, I want another try to do better.”
Ramey, who first came to Jamaica in 2014 for the Pro-Am, said: “The hospitality is always warm. Annie’s Revenge, from start to finish, is so enjoyable and Tom Jaronski is always there to address any questions. I travel around to many mini-tour events and tour qualifiers as a professional and you don’t always get great communication, but here is is clear cut what’s going on 24-7.”
So what’s the story behind the pro-am’s name? The Rose Hall Great House is a former plantation headquarters and Annie Palmer, who lived there, became known as the “White Witch” as she terrorized her slaves. She was accused of killing three husbands, using black
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White Witch
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White
Witch
White Witch
magic, and contrary to rumors she was not murdered. Legend has her haunting the grounds.
Here’s a snapshot of the two golf courses we played:
CINNAMON HILL GOLF COURSE
History follows you along your journey here. On the second tee you swing toward the Rose Hall Great House. Off the fourth tee box is a centuries-old cemetery for the family of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Here, also, is The Cinnamon Hill Great House, built in 1734 by Edward Barrett, ancestor of the poet, and the second home of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash for 30 years.
Photo ops include an ancient aqueduct used to grind sugar cane in the plantation era. Upon close inspection of the supporting pillars, players can see the year of construction, 1761.
There’s 400 acres of fun at Cinnamon Hill, a par-72, 6,828 yards, starting in an open, wind-swept front nine that features two holes on the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
The Robert Von Hagge 2001 redesign morphs in to a back-nine with dense foliage and target golf.
The signature hole, Majestic Blue, is the fifth, a 453-yard par 4, slopes gently and the fairway fades into the aquamarine sea. It’s the best hole in Jamaica say many golf enthusiasts. The sixth hole is a par-3, 168-yarder over the sea with a bunker guarding.
HALF MOON GOLF COURSE
Open in 1962 by Jones, Sr., the course was modernized by Roger Rulewich, who removed non-native trees and and renovated bunkers, creating a fun track routed through a retired sugarcane estate in the foothills of the western Jamaican coastline. The best caddies are found here.
It’s a par-72, 7,141-yard traditional classic with lots of chances to dodge countless shallow-faced bunkers and is very walkable. Constant trade winds blowing off the Caribbean Sea create up-wind challenges and down-wind opportunities.
Half Moon has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments including the Jamaica Open Golf Championship, the Dunhill Cup Final of the Americas, and the Red Stripe Pro-Am.
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IBEROSTAR GRAND ROSE HALL
This beachfront, adults-only, all-inclusive hotel on Montego Bay provides butler service, and a variety of amenities right down to the pillows, which can be chosen nightly from the pillow menu. Sea and garden views are available from 189 of the rooms, while 104 rooms have direct beach access.
One can also be spoiled with a treatment from Spa Sensations. An offering of individual or couples treatments, massages, and therapies by the Caribbean staff are performed. Opt for in-house or seaside services. Turkish and Roman baths, jacuzzis, thalassotherapy pools, and suites for private treatments are also available.
Every day at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall is just right for poolside fun. The pools and Jacuzzis of the hotel open daily, bright and early. Try a dip in the infinity pool or laps in the activity pool. All the pools of the hotel are open 12 hours a day.
Nighttime brings live music and theatre. Hotel guests can take a seat at one of two theatre showings, before or after dinner. Live entertainment options are available and the concierge will make sure guests know what’s in store during their stay. Live music is always on the menu, as is dancing and games of chance in the game room and billiard hall.
Book it now. Annie’s Revenge is an experience you won’t forget.
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Golf A-Round Spokane
By Wes Bolyard
Kalispel Golf & Country Club
Being a suburbanite, I never thought about staying downtown when planning a golf trip. However, after staying several days at The Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington I discovered there are definite advantages that are explained below.
From the moment you walk into the foyer, the grandeur of its 1914 beginnings presents itself. A large open area of refined opulence with a surrounding balcony warmly invites you for a stay. Take a stroll around this balcony and view the paintings and historical areas. Privacy and comfort are combined into your stay and dining here is a distinct pleasure. davenporthotelcollection.com/our-hotels/thehistoric-davenport-hotel
Located on the eastern side of the state, Spokane is surrounded by a wonderful choice of golfing venues. It was extremely convenient to drive to these courses since most of them are just 12 to 20 minutes away. Added to this convenience is superb dining within walking distance of the hotel with the different aromas tantalizing your taste buds. An added benefit for Arizonans is the long days and cool nights in the summer months allowing more time to play golf and enjoy being outdoors in the evening.
Mark Poirier, the City Golf Manager for all four of Spokane’s municipal golf courses, said “ Esmeralda is for someone relatively new to the game, who wants to play fast without a lot of trouble, including no water hazards and very little bunkering. It’s a fairly easy golf course to play. Downriver is the busiest city course; it is a really good setting overall, and a great experience for all levels. The next two, Indian Canyon and The Creek at Qualchan , are championship-style courses. They have more undulating greens and elevated tee shots making it just a little more difficult from tee to green. I consider Indian Canyon the crown jewel in the city of Spokane. It is the one that gets the most recognition. The Creek at Qualchan is the newest course and is probably the toughest of the four. It is the longest and has a few forced carries. You really get an array of elevation change from the front nine to the back nine and it presents a spectacular playing experience.”
Esmeralda , constructed in 1956, is in Northeast Spokane. It has an open space layout and flat fairways lined with over 2,000 trees. This combination of attributes makes the superbly maintained course an easy one to score under 100 but tough to break par. my.spokanecity.org/golf/esmeralda
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Downriver , Spokane’s oldest golf course, is nestled in tall
The Historic Davenport Hotel
pines along the Spokane River and Riverside State Park. Gently rolling terrain and views of the beautiful Spokane River are all part of the golfing experience. Established in 1916, the course has hosted many major tournaments and provides a challenge to all skill levels. This tree-lined classic golf course is short with small greens, rolling hills and elevation changes. In fact, one of the holes offers a mirror to help you see when the fairway is clear. my.spokanecity. org/golf/downriver
Indian Canyon sits just to the west of Spokane, overlooking the city. Indian Canyon requires accuracy from tee to the green. Built on a canyon wall with a vertical drop of 240 feet amid many towering pines, the layout offers a very diverse and unique playing environment. It is well bunkered and has undulating greens which require a deft touch. my.spokanecity.org/golf/indian-canyon
The Creek at Qualchan features a creek meandering throughout the course. It has five ponds, wooded and hilly areas, and holes with open beauty and well-protected greens. Qualchan has a very natural setting and is a sanctuary for many species of birds and wildlife. my.spokanecity.org/ golf/qualchan
Spokane’s other golf option is the century-old Kalispel Golf & Country Club . Originally the club was founded in 1898. After several moves, it settled at its present location nestled up against the Little Spokane River on Spokane’s north side. In December 2015 the Kalispel Tribe of Indians purchased the Spokane Country Club and gave it a new name. This historic course provides the ultimate Inland Northwest golf experience. Members enjoy a challenging, yet beautiful course, a world-class dining experience, and the highest levels of service and quality in a picturesque setting. It offers natural landscaping with very few fabricated contours and the opportunity to see deer, moose and other beautiful animals wandering across the fairways.
Kalispel Golf & Country Club PGA Head Professional Nick McCaslin said “This golf course has a lot of history and has been here for over 100 years. Condition wise, it is topnotch. The greens are so pure, resulting in a layout that is challenging but fun. There is about 250 feet of elevation change overall on the course. When the weather does not permit golf, we have three golf simulators with full swing golf available. Being part of Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the members get discounts on rooms and the spa. For those who interested in a stay and play package but don’t want to bother with bringing clubs, there are several
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Creek at Qualchan
excellent choices of rental clubs are available from Titleist, Callaway, Mizuno and Ping. You can come in and actually get fitted and then try a set of them.” kalispelgolf.com
Julie Holland, Director of Marketing for Northern Quest Resort and Casino , part of the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority stated, “In the year 2000, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians first opened Northern Quest Casino. In the last 22 years, there have been six major expansions resulting in what we see today achieving a Four Diamond, Four Star rating with 250 rooms and suites. There is a Four Diamond Steak House, Masselow’s along with a wide variety of other bars and restaurants, an award-winning spa, a new movie and dinner theater called B & B offering a movie and dinner, an indoor concert area that seats 1,250 people and an outdoor entertainment area for summer concerts that can seat 5,000. There is a new Topgolf Swing Suite in the Epic Sports Restaurant. The casino offers a wide variety of gaming, including a non-smoking area. There is also a new luxury RV Resort across from the hotel. The resort offers a variety of stay and play packages including one for the Kalispel Golf and Country Club, as well as shuttle rides to and from the resort to the Country Club, airport and downtown Spokane”. northernquest.com
A twenty-minute scenic drive just south of Spokane is another setting for an exciting golf course, Latah Creek Golf Course . This 18-hole par-72 championship public golf course located along beautiful meandering Latah Creek is a challenging yet enjoyable test for golfers of all skill levels. The Course features wide fairways and wellbunkered greens in a very quiet and peaceful setting. Feel free to launch your tee shots but watch out for Latah Creek which comes into play on seven holes. According to Steve Nelke, head golf professional “what you see is what you’ll get for your golf shots. With a balance of four par-3s and four par-5s, you should be able to use every club in your bag for an enjoyable round of golf”. The course also offers a unique aquatic practice driving range. https://www. spokanecounty.org/1141/Latah-Creek
Your visit to Spokane would not be complete without taking a drive to Worley, Idaho where another great golf course is located. Circling Raven Golf Club was voted North Idaho’s Best Course and received Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses distinction. Chris Runyan, PGA Director of Golf says “Circling Raven is pretty unique. The course is laid out over 620 acres, with only 140 acres maintained leaving a lot of the acreage in its natural state. It goes through three
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Circling Raven Golf Club
different types of terrain as you play it: grasslands, wetlands, and the woodlands. There are several bridges that cross the wetlands and it is a very peaceful experience playing here. I think the fairways are generous in most cases and I see it as more of a second shot golf course.
There are five sets of tees, so play the ones where you will have the most fun. As you play the course, what stands out in my mind is that par 3’s seem pretty challenging and really unique. They have a nice visual look to them all and the tees are elevated. There is some elevation change throughout the course, making it very interesting. Some of the fairways are tree lined but still have a generous landing area. The view from the 15th tee makes for a beautiful picture with the mountains in the background and the trees on the sides of the fairway. Along with a gorgeous golf course, there is a 25-acre practice area to hone your shots in preparation for the course.” cdacasino.com/golf
A very relaxing and serene walk along Riverfront Park offers views of several sets of waterfalls on the Spokane River. This one-hundred-acre park was created 48years ago for Expo ‘74, a World’s Fair event. There are numerous experiences to be enjoyed here including the Numerica Skyride, the historic Looff Carrousel and the Radio Flyer
Big Red Wagon. Spokane is also home to over 87 beautiful parks. Be sure to visit Manito Park . Established in 1904, it comprises five major garden areas: Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden, Duncan Garden, Rose Hill, Lilac Garden and Ferris Perennial Garden.
While in Spokane, take advantage of the variety of dining options. Clinkerdagger at the Old Flour Mill, where tradition has continued for over 40 years at this Spokane landmark, overlooks the majestic Spokane River and city skyline. Spencer’s For Steaks & Chops at Double Tree by Hilton Hotel is where you will have the best filet mignon ever. With a fun, upbeat, family atmosphere, Tomato Street North Division is a locally owned and operated, and award-winning Italian restaurant. One of the best House Fresh Mojitos is served at Bistango Martini Lounge where they offer fresh quality ingredients, premium liquor, fair pours, great selection, upscale bar food, and top-notch service.
The golf courses around Spokane offer a variety of both beauty and challenge with towering pines, lush meadows and rolling terrain. Add the proximity to all of what downtown presents, and a visit here becomes exceptional. www.visitspokane.com
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Indian Canyon
Golfers traveling to the Sunshine State certainly have a lot of choices when it comes to playing golf. But there’s more to it than just selecting a course to play at, you need to choose a destination.
I believe that the St. Augustine area is one of the most overlooked golf destinations in the state. Not only is it home to the World Golf Hall of Fame and World Golf Village with two championship layouts on site, but there are also several other great courses in the area.
Like most Florida cities, St. Augustine is full of communities, many with golf as an amenity. One such community is St Johns, home to St. Johns Golf & Country Club. The course and community are conveniently located on CR210, a short
distance from 95. The country club is the centerpiece of the community and features an 18-hole Clyde Johnston-designed course that offers just the right amount of challenge for novice and accomplished golfers alike. The quality of the golf course and the service offered by the staff help to make it an exceptional value. St. Johns has been nationally ranked by the National Golf Foundation for its customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Golfers have five sets of tees to choose from with yardages that range from 5,202 (ladies) to 7,183 yards (Gold). I found the White Tees (6,273) presented a good test and still let me leave with a little dignity. The course is meticulously carved from a pine forest and is certified as a Cooperative Sanctuary
