OUR 12th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS AUGUST 2014
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EAST COAST GEMS TEE IT UP WITH PETE DYE
GREETINGS FROM
FLORIDA WHERE PGA TOUR PLAYERS LIVE
Plus: GOLF AND PLENTY TO DO IN KANSAS CITY www.golfvacationsmag.com
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GOLF VACATIONS AUGUST 2014
Keswick Hall Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
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Chip Shots
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Golf in Kansas City by Chuck “The Traveling Guy’ Miller The official visitor’s guide to Kansas City, Missouri welcomes visitors with this statement…”Kansas City has a way of surprising you”. After my first time visit to Kansas City, known as the “City of Fountains” because it has more fountains than any other city in the world except Rome, I have to agree. The city and the surrounding Metro area definitely caught my attention as there are outstanding golf courses, an abundance of wonderful dining options, museums galore, and for shopping enthusiasts a multitude of shopping areas.
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5 Pete Dye Gems On The East Coast by JD Latorre When a new Pete Dye-designed course opens, the golf world pays heed. For 40 years, his fervid imagination has conjured up wholly original course designs demanding a definite plan of attack from the get-go rather than a willy-nilly approach. Dye admirably wants you to take the game as seriously as he does. The maestro is about to open another “must play” masterpiece as his latest creation – the new Pete Dye Course at Keswick Hall – opens this fall.
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Florida: Where PGA TOUR Players Live
Dozens of PGA Tour players call the small stretch of the Sunshine State between Jupiter and West Palm Beach home. Known as the world’s most exclusive golf address, the area provides a convenient location to lessen the burden of a demanding TOUR travel schedule and an opportunity to practice year-round in the warm Florida sunshine.
Sweet Stuff
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by Terry Ross www.golfvacationsmag.com
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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) is a resident of the golfing community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. For the past 20 years he has traveled extensively throughout the US and around the world writing about “Places to Play and Places to Stay”. In 2012 he played golf in every state during a 50-week, 50-state driving tour of the US.
Jeffrey Diaz
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor Larry Feldman
David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Holland, whose favorite golf moment was teeing it up with former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, splits home time in Colorado and Texas. He has written for GolfWeek’s Superintendent News, Colorado AvidGolfer, Midwest Golfing Magazine, South Central Golf Magazine, and Fairway to Green (UK). He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, United Press International and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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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portsMedia publications
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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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HILTON HEAD GOLF ISLAND, PGA TOUR RADIO ANNOUNCE ‘DREAM GOLF VACATION GETAWAY’ SWEEPSTAKES
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – a collection of 30 of the Lowcountry’s premier golf courses – and PGA TOUR Radio announce the “Dream Golf Vacation Getaway” sweepstakes featuring three complete packages with accommodations and golf for four at the island’s premier resorts and courses. Golfers can enter by visiting www. hiltonheadisland.org/golf/pga-radio-contest/ through September 14, 2014 for the chance to win one of the following three vacations: Golf Getaway at The Sea Pines Resort Four days, three nights’ accommodations for four in a two-bedroom Sea Pines villa One round of golf each on Harbour Town Golf Links, Heron Point by Pete Dye and the Ocean Course for four 10 percent dining discount at The Sea Pines Resort’s restaurants 10 percent off full-priced merchandise at The Sea Pines Resort’s pro shops and retail locations Two hours of complimentary court time
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daily at The Sea Pines Racquet Club Complimentary access to The Sea Pines Fitness Center and Harbour Town Pool Special discounts on Eco-Adventures, activities and bicycle rentals Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort Golf Foursome Getaway Prize Four days, three nights’ accommodations for four in a two-bedroom resort view villa at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort One round of golf for four on each of the three Palmetto Dunes championship courses (Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, Arthur Hills) Two hours of court time daily at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center Complimentary bike rentals for four during stay Resort dining and merchandise discounts Heritage Golf Collection & The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Four days, three nights’ accommodations for four in two oceanview rooms featuring The Westin Heavenly Bed & Rainshower Three rounds of golf for four on any of the seven Heritage Golf Collection courses including Oyster Reef, Shipyard, Palmetto Hall and Port Royal Golf Club
One breakfast for four at Port Royal Golf Club Complimentary tee gift on first day of play Discount cards for the golf shops and clubhouses (some restrictions apply) “The Dream Golf Vacation Getaway sweepstakes is a fantastic opportunity to visit the island on a golf buddy trip and experience our first-class golf and resort accommodations,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association and Vice President of Sports and Operations at Sea Pines Resort. “We are thrilled to partner with PGA TOUR Radio to offer listeners and golf enthusiasts the chance to win an ultimate Lowcountry vacation.” As one of the nation’s foremost golf locales, Hilton Head is the preferred vacation spot of players seeking a high-concentration of world-class 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. More info: www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland. com, 800.523.3373.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS JUNIORS PLAY FREE THROUGH AUGUST 31 AT POIPU BAY GOLF COURSE POIPU, KAUAI, HAWAII – Poipu Bay Golf Course on Kauai’s south shore is offering free golf for juniors on a special summer promotion now through the end of August. The Juniors Play Free summer program is valid for young golfers ages 6 to 17 who are each accompanied by a paying adult (one free junior per one paying adult). Juniors should bring their own set of clubs, although reduced rental club charges are available for juniors, if needed. The Juniors Play Free program is offered now through August 31 for play seven days a week during any available tee times. Poipu Bay Golf Course is situated on 210 oceanfront acres adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa on Kauai’s south shore. The spectacular course gained fame as the host site for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, Poipu Bay has been consistently ranked over the years among the top resort courses in the U.S. It was named to Golf Digest’s 2013/2014 list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” and Golfweek’s top 10 “Best Courses You Can Play” in Hawaii for 2014.
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For more information or to book tee times, call the Poipu Bay Golf Shop at toll free 1-800858-6300 or direct (808) 742-8711. Visit Poipu Bay at www.poipubaygolf.com and check out the live webcam looking over the 18th hole.
MISSISSIPPI’S PGA TOUR EVENT CHANGES HOST SITE TO HISTORIC COUNTRY CLUB OF JACKSON JACKSON, MS – The state’s annual PGA TOUR competition – the Sanderson Farms Championship benefitting Century Club Charities – will move to historic Country Club of Jackson, the tournament director confirmed yesterday. Sanderson Farms Championship will debut at Country Club of Jackson, Nov. 3-9, at the start of the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season. Country Club of Jackson dates back to 1914. It is a private club with 27 championship holes, 18 of which were re-designed by John Fought in 2008 and measure 7,284 yards from the Championship Tees. Fought’s layout incorporates classic Donald Ross flavor – parkland style routing with smallish, tricky greens – which range in size at CC of Jackson from approximately 5,000 to 8,500 square feet.
Mississippi’s annual PGA TOUR stop dates back decades and has been played at several venues under different title sponsors or tournament names. It has been played – to great reception – at Jack Nicklaus-designed Annandale Country Club in Madison the past 20 years. Woody Austin prevailed at Annandale during the 2013 Sanderson Farms Championship, one of two TOUR events played in the golf-rich Magnolia State. The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic – a Champions TOUR event – was played at Fallen Oak Golf Club last month and won by Jeff Maggert. “Mississippi is proud to support the great work done by Sanderson Farms Championship and Century Club Charities,” said Mississippi Development Authority Director of Tourism Malcolm White. “Simultaneously benefitting charitable organizations and highlighting our great state through professional golf is a win-win.” Mississippi’s Friends of Children’s Hospital is Sanderson Farms Championship’s main beneficiary. The state of Mississippi offers multiple stay-and-play packages at a variety of price points in five distinct regions. For more information please visit www.visitmississippi. org/golf.php or call toll-free 1-866-801-8551.
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BALLYBUNION GOLF CLUB LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE SHOP
Ballybunion Golf Club – Ireland’s fabled 36-hole golf links – has launched a new online store making it easier-than-ever to order officially-licensed Ballybunion merchandise from the comfort of home. Accessible via the club’s new-andimproved website, www.ballybuniongolfclub. ie, it offers a variety of logoed items. They include apparel, head ware, accessories, art, gift cards and more from respected brands like Fairway & Greene, Calvin Klein and Pukka. Equipped with the latest security software, the online shop accepts Mastercard, Visa and Maestro (Switch). It is easy to view and navigate from PCs, tablets and smart phones, making ordering a snap. “There’s no longer a need to visit our pro shop to purchase Ballybunion-branded merchandise,” says Vari McGreevy, General Manager at Ballybunion. “The online option
is ideal for shoppers worldwide seeking the perfect gift for family or friends who wish to show their affinity for our iconic club.” Meandering through fescue-covered dunes along County Kerry’s rugged Atlantic coastline, Ballybunion’s Old Course and Cashen Course present quintessential Irish golf experiences. Their windswept setting amid tumbling, seaside terrain recalls the game’s earliest origins making them “must plays” for every serious golfer. Ranked consistently in the world’s top 20 courses by GOLF Magazine, the par-71, 6,802yard Old Course radiates majesty and charm. Beautifully contoured fairways fuse with a blanket of grassy dunes to fashion a classic test of links golf. The Old Course has mesmerized guests for decades, a tribute to its embodiment of the game’s greatest traits. The 402-yard 11th hole is widely heralded as one of the finest par 4s in the world, while the long par-3 No. 15 is both remarkably scenic and treacherous.
Opened in 1984, the Cashen Course was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones. Situated on an even more dramatic parcel than its sister layout, the par-72, 6,306-yard course is one of the most challenging in Ireland. Bold and flirtatious, it requires acute precision off the tee and into the greens. Wildly undulating with breathtaking views throughout, the Cashen Course is consistently rated among the best modern layouts in Great Britain and Ireland by Golfweek. For information about tee times, packages, overseas memberships and more: www. ballybuniongolfclub.ie, (011) 353.68.27146 Getting There Shannon Airport (SNN) is 1.5 hours from Ballybunion Golf Club and offers non-stop service from New York, Boston, Toronto and more. Dublin Airport (DUB) is 3.5 hours away with non-stop flights from major cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, Toronto and Montreal.
Irelands’s Ballybunion Golf Club
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Grand Traverse Resort
GOLF AND A WHOLE LOT MORE MAKE GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA THE IDEAL CHOICE FOR FAMILY VACATIONS ACME, MI – Tom McGee will often look out from near the golf pro shop at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa late in the day and see an entire family gathered near the putting green, some in golf attire, others in casual “Up North” vacation wear and still others who clearly just returned from some shopping. “You see that quality family time is being spent together,” said the Resort’s Director of Golf “Everybody has been doing their own thing, playing golf, swimming, and yet they are together now in a beautiful place, sharing what they’ve done through the day and maybe making dinner plans.” A perfect family vacation includes activities like golf, tennis, pool time, a day or two at the beach, spa treatments, shopping, and adventures for just the kids, perhaps some casino fun for mom and dad, great food and top-notch facilities where quality family time is easily accessible and comfortable to boot. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is fully aware that it is family vacation booking season, and they want visitors planning a trip to Northern Michigan to know a great family vacation with all of the above is only a few online clicks or one phone call away. Visit www.grandtraverseresort.com or call 800236-1577. Letting the Resort do the heavy lifting in planning saves time, money and the frustration of booking several vacation activities said Steve Timmer, the Resort’s Director of Marketing. “A perfect family vacation with a great
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selection of activities can be found at Grand Traverse Resort, and it’s all made easier with easy access to air travel at the nearby Cherry Capital Airport (airport code TVC), side trips to downtown Traverse City and the natural beauty of the area,” he said. “The staff at the Resort will help you customize your visit and we have well-planned affordable family packages available.” A vacation at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is not just about golf, or the spa, or the Resort’s sister property Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, but it can be if the guest chooses. It can also be a little bit of everything, or some of just a few things. And with five restaurants and lounges located at the Resort, everybody can gather together at dinner to share stories of their adventures during the day. Think of it as a candy store, (or perhaps Dylan’s Candy Bar in the Resort’s Gallery of Shops) where you get to pick your favorites, and there’s almost too much to pick from. The Resort includes the Cub House licensed day care center, day camp for kids, 900 acres of northern Michigan landscape to explore, 86,500 square feet of versatile meeting space, 7,000 square-foot Spa Grand Traverse, nearly 600 guest rooms and condominiums, the Gallery of Shops, and multiple food and beverage outlets including the distinctive Aerie Restaurant & Lounge on the 16th floor of the Resort’s glass Tower. Nearby is the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel where excitement, fun and winning happens 24/7/365. When Resort guests are ready for sporting activity, the golf is first class, with three championship golf courses including the Jack Nicklaus-designed The Bear, The Wolverine
by Gary Player and Spruce Run by William Newcomb, not to mention the Resort’s yearround Golf Academy with special events and programs for golfers of all ages. There are four indoor/outdoor pools and several indoor/outdoor hot tubs, and a popular indoor water playground for the kids. The 100,000 square-foot Health Club with five indoor tennis courts bustles with activity, and the four outdoor tennis courts are summer favorites. The private Beach Club on Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay offers watercraft rental and more. Finally, the Resort offers the Dog Dreams Inn – The ultimate dog retreat for guests who want to bring their furry family members. Family packages during the peak summer months vary widely and may include “Family Fun” lodging packages include breakfast coupons, an in-room movie, arcade tokens, candy, ice cream and more. Several other options and specials are available through the summer, all perfect for a family vacation. “Without a doubt for a family it’s the choice of activities that they love,” Timmer said. “For instance, dad and son can rent a Jet Ski at the Beach Club, while mom and daughter can visit the spa; or mom and son can play tennis while dad and daughter spend time on a pontoon boat. And of course, they can all play golf. It’s so easy to split up any way you want and do what you want, and yet reconvene in a great family atmosphere and share stories about what you did that day. There is a sense of freedom and individuality, and yet the family is gathered together,” concluded Timmer.” Visit www.grandtraverseresort.com for more.
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Turtle Bay Resort
‘SWING FREELY’ AT TURTLE BAY IN OCTOBER WITH UNLIMITED FREE GOLF DURING ANY STAY NORTH SHORE, OAHU, HI – With nearly endless sunshine and two championship courses, there are hundreds of acres of uninterrupted golf to enjoy at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore. For the first time, Turtle Bay is opening up both its legendary Palmer Golf Course and Fazio Golf Course, regarded as some of the best places to play in Hawaii, for unlimited free play – that’s savings up of to $140 for a morning tee time. With Turtle Bay’s ‘Swing Freely’ offer, guests can enjoy unlimited golf on either of the resort’s two courses for up to two guests per room throughout the month of October. Simply book an October stay at Turtle Bay and reserve your tee time – you’ll even enjoy free use of the practice range. With 36 holes of championship golf, new high-performance rentals by Titleist, and worldclass instruction clinics, the hardest decision you’ll face is figuring out how often to play. Enjoy a round with a seasoned pro. Turtle Bay recently expanded its new North Shore Guides Club with a team of seven golf pros, providing opportunities for guests to get the most out of their game. The Guides Club allows guests to experience and learn about Oahu’s Fabled North Shore through the insider knowledge of an experienced team of select resort employees and friends. Individual lessons start at $85 for a onehour session; a free 10-minute tune up, group
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instruction clinics, and on-course playing instruction for half- or full-day sessions are also available. Turtle Bay guests receive a 10 percent discount on services. For more, visit turtlebayresort.com/hawaii_golf/instruction. For more information on the Guides Club golf team or to make reservations to play a round, call (808) 293-8574 or e-mail info@turtlebaygolf.com. Be one of the first to experience a new era at Turtle Bay, with extensive upgrades to all standard and premium guest rooms and hallways; two restaurants featuring the best of fresh, locally sourced cuisine; a new luxuriously renovated spa and fitness center; the main building roof and lobby area; as well as two new coastal lifestyle retail shops. Turtle Bay’s ‘Swing Freely’ offer is based on tee time availability and does not include golf club or cart rental. Some restrictions may apply. Book your stay at Turtlebayresort.com or call (866) 827-5321. About Turtle Bay: There’s one North Shore on Oahu. And there’s one resort on it. Ideal for watermen, wave watchers or waders, Turtle Bay is at the epicenter of set after set of activities, events and adventures. Complete with the finest accommodations and amenities suited for the entire family, Turtle Bay is where the “7-Mile Miracle” begins and the lineup is endless. To discover the destination and stay up to date on the Turtle Bay experience, check out Oahusfablednorthshore.com.
ESCALANTE GOLF ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CAROLINA TRACE COUNTRY CLUB FORT WORTH, TX – Escalante Golf, boutique owner and operator of high-end golf clubs, has acquired the highly-acclaimed Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, N.C. “We are very excited to acquire Carolina Trace and honored to be associated with such a storied club,” says David McDonald, President of Escalante Golf “It is a beautiful property in one of the most sought-after locations between Raleigh and Pinehurst. The two courses have hosted several well-known events and have terrific reputations throughout the Mid-Atlantic. The community itself is a gorgeous setting highlighted by the pristine Lake Trace.” Escalante acquired the club from the members, who selected the owner/operator from other potential suitors. The company will begin aggressive capital reinvestment including a complete renovation of the Lake Course, a new fitness and workout facility, clubhouse renovation and new landscaping. Carolina Trace Country Club, opened in 1972, is the centerpiece of the 1,600-home Carolina Trace Community. The club features two layouts designed by acclaimed golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the Lake Course and the Creek Course. Other amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, and spacious clubhouse with a fully-stocked pro shop and various dining options.
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Golf Kansas City and Plenty to Do in
by Chuck “The Traveling Guy” Miller
T
he official visitor’s guide to Kansas City, Missouri welcomes visitors with this statement…”Kansas City has a way of surprising you”. After my first time visit to Kansas City, known as the “City of Fountains” because it has more fountains than any other city in the world except Rome, I have to agree. The city and the surrounding Metro area definitely caught my attention as there are outstanding golf courses, an abundance of wonderful dining options, museums galore, and for shopping enthusiasts a multitude of shopping areas. My wife and I traveled to Kansas City to play four of the more than thirty courses listed in the 2014 GOLF KC Kansas City Golf Guide, and to attend a Web.com Tour event at the Jack Nicklaus designed Lionsgate County Club in nearby Overland Park. When in Kansas City, we stayed at the Raphael Hotel, recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a Historic Hotel of America and by the 2013 Forbes Travel Guide as one of the Finest Four Star Properties in the World. It was conveniently located to all four courses we played and was just across the street from Country Club Plaza, a 15 square block outdoor shopping and entertainment
district home to more than 200 shops, restaurant and cultural attractions. With its Spanish design influence, the Plaza area has been described as “one of the country’s architectural and cultural treasures”. Our first venture into Kansas City golf was at the semi-private Hillcrest Country Club, the only Donald Ross designed course in Missouri. Opened in 1916, Hillcrest is a true parkland course with every fairway bordered by tall, ball-swallowing oak and maple trees. From its opening hole, a 243-yard downhill Par 3 to the lengthy 10th hole, a 621 beauty, it has all the flavor and feel of time-honored courses of the past. Excellent carts with Uplink GPS systems guide you over rolling Zoysai fairways to smooth relatively small Bent Grass greens. A hint when playing Hillcrest...if you hit into or around the trees, identify in your mind which tree your ball is headed toward as the rough, although not tall, is thick. With three sets of tees playing from 5554 yards to nearly 6700 yards, Hillcrest is both challenging and fun. The second course we played was Sycamore Ridge in Spring Hill, Kansas a semi-rural former dairy and farmland area just 30-40 minutes from downtown Kansas City. The course has a split personality. The
Hillcrest Golf & Country Club
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Water on the 15th and 16th hole on Shoal Creek Golf Course
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Deer Creek Golf Course
front nine is a links style nine with wide receptive fairways and few trees while the back nine is definitely a parkland style with holes carved through a vast forest. The back nine requires more delicate shots as there are a number of shallow intimidating ravines to hit across, numerous blind shots, and several of the elevated Bent Grass greens are fronted by rock creeks. PGA and Champions Tour professional Jim Colbert did a masterful job in using the land available when he designed the course which opened in 2000. Our third course, Shoal Creek, an upscale championship public “Daily Fee” course owned by Kansas City Parks and Recreation, was also just minutes from downtown. It is Along with Chambers Bay, site of the 2015 US Open, is one of over 100 courses operated throughout the United States by KemperSports. Ranked the #2 Public Golf Course in Missouri by Golf Week’s America’s Best 2006 through 2014, Shoal Creek is a Par 71, 5500 to 6900-yard beauty with lush manicured and sculptured Zoysia fairways and Penn G-2 Bent Grass greens. With receptive and undulating fairways, and a number of elevation changes, it is an interesting course that is player friendly. It is easy to navigate as it has excellent carts with GPS systems showing each hole layout with distances clearly marked. Playing from the Whites, my favorite holes were two Par 4’s which happened to be the only two water holes on the course, the 343-yard 15th and 287-yard 16th. Since my golf game often requires a scuba diver to retrieve shots from lakes and ponds, and I didn’t hit into the water on either hole, these two holes automatically became my two favorite holes. The fourth and final course we played was Deer Creek, a delightfully lush semi-private, open to the public course located in the Kansas
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City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas. It was just a long Par 4 distance from our clean, comfortable and convenient hotel, TownePlace Suites which made it very easy to get to the course for a morning tee time after enjoying the hotel’s complimentary continental breakfast. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, Deer Creek, with four sets of tees ranging from 5100 to 6800 yards, was an enjoyable course to play and an excellent test of golf. Although there were no blind shots to worry about, it did have numerous challenges with densely wooded areas, left and right dog legs and a meandering creek that came into play on a number of holes. We spent our final day in Overland Park watching future PGA TOUR players compete in the Web.com Midwest Classic at Lionsgate Country Club. Watching both young bucks and seasoned veterans compete was a true delight particularly when we realized that since its inception in 1990, the tour has graduated 433 players to the PGA TOUR who have produced 365 TOUR victories including 18 majors and five PLAYERS Championships. It is interesting to note that more than three out of four PGA TOUR members, including Tom Lehman, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson have Web.com Tour roots. When not golfing in the Kansas City Metro area, there is plenty to do for one and all. Here are some recommendations based upon our brief stay in the Kansas City Metro area, home to the American League Kansas City Royals, the NFL Chiefs and golf icon Tom Watson: Enjoy a delicious breakfast in Kansas City at the Classic Cup Café at W. 47th street. We did and loved it. Have a great brunch, lunch or dinner at café SEBASTIENNE in the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art at 4420 Warwick Boulevard. Whether you eat inside or on
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the patio, artwork abounds. When finished with your meal, visit the museum’s three galleries. Admission and parking is free. For a romantic dinner with music seven nights a week, dine at Chaz in the Raphael Hotel where beef, pork, lamb, poultry and seafood specialties are paired with wines from the Chaz’s award-winning Wine Spectator wine list. Lovers of Italian food or PBS viewers who have seen famed chef and author Lidia Bastianich on TV, will enjoy the delicious and plentiful dinners at Lidia’s Italian Restaurant at 101 W. 22nd Street. A must for BBQ devotee is Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ located at 4747 Wyandotte Street. Rated one of the top barbeque restaurants in the country by Zagat’s, in addition to beef, pork and lamb ribs, salads and seafood dishes are also house specialties. In Overland Park, the newly opened Prairiefire district, just blocks away from the TownePlace Suites and the Deer Creek Golf Course, has a number of restaurants including Pinstripes Bowling/Bocce/Bistro, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s Rock & Brews, Wasabi Sushi, Newport Grill, Paradise Diner and Cocobolos Wood Fired Grill and Cantina where we enjoyed Southwestern and New Mexico cuisine dinners along with cool, refreshing Margaritas. The Prairiefire district, which opened this past May, is a bustling entertainment, shopping and dining district. It is also home to the Museum at Prairiefire, which is housed in the most unique, beautiful and dynamic glass building I have ever seen. The museum, which has one of only three replicas of “Lucy”, the first Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur ever discovered, is a collaboration initiative with the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It has something for young and old alike. Another restaurant to be enjoyed in the Overland Park area is North at 4579 W. 119th Street in Leawood, Kansas. Located just across the street from Overland Park, and again just minutes from Deer Creek and the TownePlace Suites, North features delicious Northern Italian cuisine. When not playing golf, shopping, dining, or listening to great jazz, the Kansas City Metro area has outstanding museums and cultural
Prairiefire Building
activities to enjoy. A couple of suggestions…visit the World War 1 Museum, Union Station and the Money Museum (all within a one mile radius and all celebrating their 100 year anniversaries this year), the fore-mentioned Kemper Contemporary Art Museum, the Harry S Truman Presidential Library described by the Dallas Morning News as the “Best Presidential Museum”, and the magnificent Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts which houses the Kansas City Ballet, the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Opera and hosts Broadway plays and top musical performers Each of the courses we played, Hillcrest, Sycamore Ridge, Shoal Creek and Deer Creek, had reasonable rates and each was outstanding in its own way…and…Kansas City and Overland Park were wonderful cities to visit. For more information about golf, places to stay, dining, shopping and the myriad of activities available in Kansas City, Overland Park and the Kansas City Metro area, visit www.VisitKC.com and www.visitoverlandpark.com. Sycamore Ridge Golf Course
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Five Pete Dye Gems You C
By JD L
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Can Play on the East Coast
LATORRE
Pete Dye Golf Course at Keswick Hall
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hen a new Pete Dye-designed course opens, the golf world pays heed. For 40 years, his fervid imagination has conjured up wholly original course designs demanding a definite plan of attack from the get-go rather than a willy-nilly approach. Dye admirably wants you to take the game as seriously as he does. The maestro is about to open another “must play” masterpiece as his latest creation – the new Pete Dye Course at Keswick Hall – opens this fall. Here are five Pete Dye gems you can play on the East Coast: New Pete Dye Golf Course at Keswick Hall The new Pete Dye Course at Keswick Hall is an intriguing, seamless synthesis of modern golf course architecture and the bucolic Hunt Country of Virginia. The brand new 18 traverses the scenic, rolling terrain that tumbles below the magnificent resort hotel. Playing between 5,000 and 7,000 yards and ideal for players of all abilities, Dye says “the new course at Keswick Hall is as good as any I’ve ever done.” Dye masterfully combined “old world” architectural charm and modern technology. With the exception of one hole, the greens have open fronts and are approachable either through the air or on the ground, making “old school” run-up shots a viable means
to reach the putting surface. The riskier aerial route brings Dye’s ubiquitous penal bunkers and hazards into play. The master is still at the top of his game. www.keswick.com Harbour Town Golf Links With the eminent red- and white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse standing sentinel on its famous finishing hole along the Calibogue Sound, Harbour Town Golf Links as one of Dye’s seminal designs. Called “nothing short of a work of art” by famed golf writer Dan Jenkins, Harbour Town has continually ranked in the highest echelons of championship courses and is a perennial “bucket list” play. Not long by today’s standards at just under 7,000 yards against a par of 71, Harbour Town is the epitome of strategic golf – almost like chess in the great outdoors with clubs in tow. To find success on this beguiling golf course, a player must not only find the fairway, but also frequently land on the proper side in order to safely reach the green. It’s as joyous and testing as golf can be. www.seapines.com Ocean Course at Kiawah Island The site of the dramatic 1991 Ryder Cup and 2012 PGA Championship won in grand style by Rory McIlroy, the Ocean Course
presents a stout challenge in a glorious setting. While 10 holes run along the Atlantic, Dye raised the fairway of the other eight onefoot on the advice of his wife Alice. This slight elevation of the Lowcountry now affords every hole a seascape. Great call Mrs. Dye. While the views mesmerize, the course is flat-out difficult. With a slope of 156 and a course rating of 79.6, it’s generally thought of as perhaps the sternest test of the ancient Scottish game in the U.S. With tricky sea winds, evil bunkers and a full complement of Dye’s trickery – skewed angles, angry ridges, wild dunes and mean falloffs – it’s a MENSA test of golf at 7,800 yards from the tips. www.kiawahresort.com Heron Point by Pete Dye Opened in 2007 at The Sea Pines Resort, Heron Point is resplendent with knotted hardwoods, lagoons and salt marshes teeming with wildlife. Like Harbour Town, Mother Nature provided an ideal palette for Dye’s design prowess and unlimited imagination and the result is marvelous. At 7,000 yards from the back tees Heron Point is a mathematician’s fusion of short and long holes. It can play considerably shorter if needed via six sets of tees on each hole, but length has little to do with the layout’s overall strategic repertoire. Golfers are
Pete Dye Golf Course at Keswick Hall
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Pound Ridge Golf Club
challenged by a cadre of risk-reward holes, fairways that frolic to and fro, and Dye’s ubiquitous mounding and swales framing target areas. It’s an ideal counterpart for Harbour Town. www.seapines.com Pound Ridge Golf Club Golfers will delight in discovering Pound Ridge Golf Club, the only Pete Dye-designed course in New York. Opened in 2008 to critical acclaim, Pound Ridge is situated in upscale Westchester County, roughly an hour from Manhattan. The dramatic layout is hewn from
172 acres of magnificent cliffs, streams and wooded hills. In a region populated by famous private clubs, Pound Ridge stands out as a beacon for daily fee play. Contoured fairways wend through hardwood forests and fescue mounds, leading to open meadows crowned by picturesque green complexes. The 7,165-yard, par-72 layout features some of the highest points in the region, with a number of tee boxes offering expansive vistas of the surrounding countryside. It’s a true Empire State golf jewel. www.poundridgegolf.com
Heron Point by Pete Dye
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Where PGA TOUR Players Live www.golfvacationsmag.com
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Old Palm Golf Course
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ozens of PGA Tour players call the small stretch of the Sunshine State between Jupiter and West Palm Beach home. Known as the world’s most exclusive golf address, the area provides a convenient location to lessen the burden of a demanding TOUR travel schedule and an opportunity to practice year-round in the warm Florida sunshine. It comes as no surprise that three of the world’s top ranked players – former world No. 1 Lee Westwood, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel – decided to relocate to Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. The prestigious private club is now home to Lee, Louis and Charl and their families while they are state-side for PGA Tour events. They join golf Hall-of-Famer, course designer and honorary Club Chairman, Raymond Floyd, as well as 1991 Open Champion, Ian Baker-Finch, as full-time residents. All have purchased homes and utilize Old Palm’s 7,400-yard, Raymond Floyd-designed golf course and world-renowned 33-acre Golf Studio practice facility to sharpen all facets of their respective games. One of the most complete golf instruction and training facilities in the U.S., the Old Palm Golf Studio anchors a spacious double-ended range, TrackMan and V-1 equipped hitting bay, short-game area and three regulation practice holes – a par 3, 4, and 5 – on which golfers can replicate every shot and angle they encounter on the par-72 course.
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When asked what it takes to get in the proper state of mind before playing a tournament, Schwartzel, who has already won four times since moving in, notes “a relaxed environment is key. I get that at Old Palm and I can feel myself improving when I use the state-of-the-art practice facilities to work on all aspects of my game.” Situated on 650-acres, Old Palm prides itself on the intimate character of the community with no more than 320 planned residences. The lowdensity masterplan allows for high, attentive levels of service, privacy and a relaxing lifestyle. Westwood, who has had one victory since relocating, has settled into the area nicely stating, “Old Palm is the finest club in the Palm Beaches offering world-class golf amenities, exclusivity and kinship among residents that makes me feel comfortable at home and when I am traveling.” For those who would like to experience all South Florida has to offer, but aren’t quite ready to move next door to Ryder Cup heroes and major champions, look no further than PGA National Resort & Spa. Located directly across the street from Old Palm on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, few destinations have a golf pedigree as storied as PGA National and its Champion Course. Its vaunted resume includes hosting the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship, and nearly two decades of the Senior PGA Championship. Currently, PGA National hosts The Honda Classic, one of the PGA TOUR’s premier events and the first stop on its famous “Florida Swing.” Re-
cent tournament winners include elite TOUR players such as Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington. The Champion is also home to the famous “Bear Trap” – holes 15, 16 and 17 where designer Jack Nicklaus famously said, “It should be won or lost right here.” PGA National boasts four other award-winning layouts designed by elite architects in addition to The Champion including The Fazio, The Palmer, The Squire and The Estates. The AAA Four Diamond resort recently underwent a $100 million revitalization and boasts 379 rooms, world-class spa, 33,000 square-foot health-and-racquet club with 19 Har Tru tennis courts, and seven onsite restaurants and lounges. Another famed South Florida golf destination worth the trip is PGA Village in Port St. Lucie. Located an hour north of the Palm Beaches, PGA Village is home to 54 holes of Championship golf – 36 from Fazio and 18 from Dye. Owned and operated by The PGA of America, PGA Golf Club is one of the premier public-access resort facilities and the “home course” for the 27,000 men and women PGA Professionals. Not to be missed, the PGA Museum of Golf is located steps from the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance. Trace the history of the game with complimentary admission to see the four major Championship trophies of golf. The Museum periodically features a Speaker Series with iconic PGA Professionals and golf industry experts such as 1958 PGA
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Champion Dow Finsterwald and legendary PGA teaching Professional Bob Toski.
Annika Sorenstam with students
Another two hours north on Florida’s Turnpike is Orlando, home to Annika Sorenstam’s ANNIKA Academy. Perfect for golfers looking to learn to play like Lee, Louis and Charl, the ANNIKA Academy is a state-of-the-art, boutique golf instruction and fitness facility at Orlando’s renowned Reunion Resort. The Academy offers an exceptional opportunity to learn from the same teachers who coached Annika during her storied career. Lead instructor, Henri Reis, has been her golf coach since 1987 and Annika’s personal trainer, Kai Fusser, is also intimately involved, teaching proven cardio and core-strengthening exercises designed to translate to more power on the course. One of only 15 certified Callaway Performance Centers in the country, the Academy offers a diverse menu of custom-tailored corporate packages, individualized golf instruction, personalized fitness programs, club fitting and even opportunities to play with Annika. South Florida is easily accessible via three international airports: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI). For more information: www.oldpalmgolfclub. com, www.pgaresort.com, www.pgavillage.com, www.theannikaacademy.com
PGA National
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SWEETSTUFF
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ne of the latest high-tech products to become available to add yet another tool to analyze and enjoy the sport—GAME GOLF— has started to not only gain a foothold in the consumer market, but is now going to be utilized by both the United States and UK/Ireland PGA organizations for their teaching professionals as well as club members to better track and fine tune their game. GAME GOLF is a wearable device and integrated software platform that tracks and captures real performance data and displays rounds of golf in a dynamic and socially driven interface. Utilizing sensors placed on the golf clubs and GPS technology, GAME GOLF actually lets you track every shot during a round by club used and the distance hit, and providing a shot-by-shot map of a round with statistics for players to look at on their computer once the round is finished. Users wear a small wearable data-collecting sensor clipped on the belt — or at the hip on a skirt. Before hitting each shot on the course, the golfer taps the sensor with the end of the club where a sensor has been inserted into the grip. Using GPS technology, motion sensors and near-field communication technology, a connection is made between the device and the sensors, allowing it to record each shot and the club used. At the conclusion of the round, the golfer connects the wearable sensor to the computer to transfer the data. That data is combined with the map of the course and the golfer’s GPS position for each shot to track shot location and distance. The golfer’s actual performance data can be viewed on an iPhone, iPad and any computer; meaning golfers can share their round with their coach, colleagues and friends. In addition to enabling golfers to view their game, GAME GOLF features a social media hub where players can share their round, compare it to others, and virtually compete with friends or colleagues across the
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country and around the world. “GAME GOLF will revolutionize the game by changing the way we socialize about golf and reveal how we are actually playing the game,” said John McGuire, CEO of GAME GOLF. “Much like the introduction of plastic cleats changed the culture of the game, we are doing the same by making golf more social and bringing a golfer’s data to life,” For anyone who is interested in tracking their distances with clubs in real time with a modicum of effort, GAME GOLF gives someone all the tools for real-time feedback on their round, including the ability to edit shots or add them when mistakes occur. Among the PGA Tour professionals working with GAME GOLF to develop the product are 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and, most recently, 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk. McDowell has been testing and providing feedback on the product for the last two years. At the recent Bridgestone Invitational, Furyk and Westwood used the program during practice rounds and their stats could be compared to those of amateurs playing the course. As a sample, Furyk hit 71 percent of his fairways, 78 percent of the greens in regulation and scrambled to save par 50 percent of the time, with a long drive of 282 yards. Westwood hit 57 percent of his fairways, 89 percent of the greens and was a perfect 100 in scrambling, with a long drive of 326 yards. From a composite of amateurs using GAME GOLF, they hit 31 percent of the fairways, 31 percent of the greens, scrambled successfully 16 percent of the time but had a long drive of 328 yards. “It’s a great way to capture the game you’ve just played,” said Westwood. “You can see through the data where you can improve your game and, with golf being a game of such fine margins, just improving slightly in certain areas can mean saving one or two shots a round.” More information on GAME GOLF: www.gamegolf.com.
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SWEETSTUFF by TerryRoss
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ne of the fastest-rising names in the golf-sock category-Kentwool— has introduced its KW Series Sport and Pro-Light performance socks featuring new technical fabrications and updated aesthetics Both Sport and Pro-Light showcase a sleek silhouette that incorporates fresh design details and are crafted from a 50/50 blend of the brand’s superfine merino wool and bamboo for a soft hand and advanced moisture wicking. Sport appeals to those who prefer the gauge of the brand’s Tour Profile, while the Pro-Light is constructed from fine knit for golfers seeking a thinner in-shoe feel. “As a leading textile company, we are uniquely positioned to develop materials that push the envelope of performance,” said Mark Kent, President and CEO of Kentwool, a 171-year-old, family-owned American textile innovator. “Sport and Pro-Light are examples of using the latest fiber technologies to take comfort, energy and blister protection to the next level.” The Sport and Pro-Light are available for men and women in a variety of color combinations. Like all Kentwool socks, they boast superior moisture management, odor resistance, durability and a 100-percent blister-free guarantee. Kentwool manufactures socks with golfers in mind and the demands on the feet associated with the golf swing. Each pair features WINDspun technology that infuses the fibers with air to provide unrivaled cushioning at micro-stress points along the foot, enhancing comfort and energy levels while helping reduce injury risk. The KW Series Pro-Light and Sport models join the existing Kentwool range which includes the Tour Profile, Low Profile, Tour Standard, The Graduate compression and 19th Hole designs. Kentwool socks are worn in competition by scores of professional Tour stars, including Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Jonathan Byrd, Beatriz Recari, Ryann O’Toole, Peter Jacobsen, Duffy Waldorf, Brendon de Jonge, Tom Gillis, Jane Park, Charles Warren, Kevin Johnson, Kristy McPherson, Shasta Averyhardt, Jenny Suh, Sarah Kemp, Jenny Gleason, Meaghan Francella and Jenny Hong. For more information: www.kentwoolsocks.com
the new advance fabrics offer. The Lincoln striped polo comes in black or silver and provides a classic styling and comfortable feel. It is made from a premium anti-bacterial fabric that features Fila’s tech-dry moisture management to keep golfers cool in warmer weather. The tech-dry material works by drawing moisture and sweat away from the body and transferring it to the fabrics’ outer layer, allowing it to evaporate rapidly. The wicking fabrics dry quickly, keeping golfers cool during a hot, sticky summer round. The anti-bacterial finish is highly effective for eliminating bacteria causing perspiration odors, and has excellent washing durability. Eco-friendly recycled polyester provides the soft feel for these shirts, while the Spandex panels and Lycra give it a stretchy feel that is very welcome for the golf swing. The Americano is a solid color shirt with these properties, while the Scottsdale features a self-collar, contrasting under placket and shoulder panels and FILA linear logo embroidered on right sleeve for a sportier look. For more information, please visit: www.shopfilagolf.com
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ith the warm summer months of the golf season in full swing, Fila Golf has introduced some new styles of polo shirts that both beat the heat and make a fashion statement on and off the course. These new offerings include both classic and high tech designs cut for an athletic, sleek look, but yet have the soft, giving feel that some of
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