OUR 18th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS AUGUST 2019
KINGSMILL RESORT WHERE AMERICA WAS BORN
CORALES GC
AT PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB Golf Vacations • August 2019 1 Plus: CLUB SELECTION: NEBRASKA’S TATANKA GOLF CLUB
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GOLF VACATIONS AUGUST 2019
Corales Golf Course at Puntacana Resort & Club, Dominican Republic
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Chip Shots
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Kingsmill Resort: Where America Was Born
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Corales Golf Course at Puntacana Resort & Club
by David R. Holland
History nerds should have a field day when they check in to Kingsmill Resort, where golfers can gaze over the massive James River, and enjoy sunrises and sunsets – the same that British settlers saw in 1607 and where Pocahontas once walked. It is where America was born.
by Tim Cotroneo
Imagine what Golf Architect Tom Fazio could design with 350 acres of prime Dominican oceanfront property. When experiencing Corales Golf Course in dreamy Punta Cana, the question is answered before you place your first tee in the grass.
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Club Selection: Nebraska’s Tatanka Golf Club
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Sweet Stuff
by David R. Holland
Tatanka Golf Club rolls out over rugged scrub brush, oak-lined northeast Nebraska ridges, down into a wetlands valley, and past an occasional buffalo grazing on a dense natural grassland that springs to life when you have a wet year like 2019.
by Terry Ross
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Tim Cotroneo is a Mineapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Caribbean travel, business, and golf. Tim is a long-time contributor to Tee Times Press and he’s also the Travel Writer for American Business Magazine.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling the Pocono Mountains 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, Tenerife, 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.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor JD Latorre
Senior Writers 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.
Tim Cotroneo Larry Feldman David R. Holland Dave McKibben
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. “Multiple careers” best describes this world traveler (visited 35 countries), who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve. Holland 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. He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, UPI and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Follow Dave on Twitter @David_R_Holland.
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
Published by
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tony Creek Media
President Jeffrey Diaz
PO BOX #222 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 (760) 774-2655 StonyCreekMedia.com
and
Cimarron Communications President/CEO James A. Diaz
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 2019 Stony Creek Media, LLC, 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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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Poipu Bay
Kaua‘i Golf Courses Honored By Golfweek KAUA‘I, HI – Kaua‘i’s spectacular collection of golf courses were recently honored by Golfweek in the publication’s annual Best Golf Courses rankings of Hawai‘i and the nation’s finest golf properties. In Golfweek’s 2019 “Best Courses You Can Play, State-by-State” list, Golfweek’s panel of course raters named four Kaua‘i courses among the 15 best courses in Hawai‘i, including Princeville Makai Golf Club at No. 4, Poipu Bay Golf Course at No. 6, The Ocean Course at Hokuala at No. 11, and Wailua Golf Course at No. 14. Kaua‘i (four courses) and Maui (four courses) had the most courses listed of any Hawaiian island. In Golfweek’s newly published Best 2019: Top 200 Resort Courses in the United States list, Kaua‘i had three courses listed among the top 150, including Princeville Makai Golf Club (Princeville Resort) at No. 54, Poipu Bay Golf Course (Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa) at No. 85, and The Ocean Course at Hokuala (Timbers Resort Kaua‘i) at No. 145. “With the island’s collection of award-winning golf courses and resorts, Kaua‘i has become a top destination for golfers,” said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. “We are honored and humbled by Golfweek’s recognition of these incredible golf courses.” All five Go Golf Kaua‘i courses exemplify the stunning views and exceptional golf found on the island. Nicknamed the Garden Isle for its lush tropical foliage, waterfalls and ever-present Pacific Ocean scenery, Kaua‘i is perennially recognized for its beaches, award-winning golf courses, ideal playing weather and stunning natural beauty. The Go Golf Kaua‘i courses include: Poipu Bay Golf Course – Poipu Bay Golf Course was designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr and is set between lush mountains and rugged ocean bluffs. The course incorporates more than 30 acres of colorfully landscaped tropical
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plants and flowers, making it one of Hawaii’s most beautiful courses. Poipu Bay hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 to 2006. Puakea Golf Course – Designed by architect Robin Nelson, Puakea is a spectacular layout built along massive ravines and lush tropical undulating terrain, with the backdrop being used for the Jurassic Park series. Named one of the top courses in Hawaii by Sports Illustrated, Golf Advisor and Golfweek, the dramatic 18hole golf course is also known for its high-quality, “Kauai-style” customer service. Puakea was rated “Best of Kauai” by Garden Island Newspaper from 2013 – 2018. Princeville Makai Golf Club – Princeville Makai Golf Club opened in 1971 as the first solo effort of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course was completely renovated in 2009, introducing spectacular new Seashore Paspalum turf grass on all fairways and greens. Princeville Makai features surreal vistas of Bali Hai and Hanalei Bay, including the signature par-3, 7th hole that offers a 213-yard shot over scenic cliffs. The Ocean Course at Hokuala – The Ocean Course at Hokuala is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that boasts the longest stretch of oceanfront holes in all of Hawaii. The picture-perfect course winds its way through papaya and guava groves to dramatic seaside cliffs. A 2016 renovation added sparkling white sand to all the bunkers, framing holes to be even more spectacular than before. Rated Hawaii’s Best Golf Course, 2018 World Golf Awards, golfers can also surf the earth on Hokuala’s Golf Boards during their round. Wailua Golf Course – Wailua Golf Course offers classic, goldenera seaside golf holes just a few steps from the Pacific Ocean. First built as a 9-hole course in the 1930’s, and expanded to 18 holes in 1961, Wailua has hosted three USGA Amateur and three US Public Links Championships. This wonderful municipal layout was designed by Toyo Shirai and features stunning mountain views along the Coconut Coast. For more information on Kaua‘i golf, visit www.gogolfkauai.com.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Faldo Signature Design Laguna Golf Lang Cô
WATER BUFFALO EATING UP SIR NICK FALDO’S COURSE DESIGN IN VIETNAM Lang Co, Hue, Vietnam: One of Vietnam’s leading golf layouts, Laguna Golf Lang Cô, now a Signature design by six-time Major champion, Sir Nick Faldo, is staying at the top of its maintenance game by employing the talents of a very special group of greenkeepers: a family of water buffalo. The bovine threesome act as biomowers, while also protecting the traditional Vietnamese landscape, helping to manage rice paddies by eating excess weeds and crops in the area that would otherwise require machinery and manpower to maintain. The father, called Tu Phat, leads the charge in attending to the four hectares of rice fields located in the middle of the golf course, alongside the mother Chi Chi of their calf, Bao. The rice paddies contour the 3rd and 4th holes and reappear in the back nine between the 13th green, 14th tee and run alongside the 15th fairway. With prime conditioning key to the success of every leading golf course, dedicated greenkeeping staff at top clubs around the world deploy sophisticated hardware and a variety of innovative
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techniques to keep their layouts in worldclass nick. Yet things are different at Laguna Golf Lang Cô, where golfers encounter tropical jungle, ocean sand dunes, and rice paddies, with the maintenance shared between man, machinery and beast. “We are pretty sure it’s a first in this part of the world to have animals performing such an important role on the golf course,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Cô, of the work carried out by the water buffalo. “In the early days of golf, when courses were mostly laid out on public land it was not uncommon for sheep and cattle to roam freely across fairways and greens. Even today at some courses, notably the wilder links clubs in remote regions of Scotland and Ireland, livestock play their party in trimming turf and thinning out rough. But, until now, courses in Asia though have been less willing to let animals in on the greenkeeping act, so we’re pretty unique in that sense.” Even on the quietest days, the water buffalo are always out wading through the rice paddies and performing their duties. “We looked at various methods to
increase the aesthetics of the rice paddies between the harvests as continually mowing the fields to maintain vast rice terraces can consume a large amount of labour,” adds Calver. Even the rice paddies are not just for show. Harvested twice a year, they yield up to 20 tons of rice that are used to support the organic farm at Laguna Golf Lăng Cô and donated to families and seniors in the area. Talking about the rice paddies, Sir Nick Faldo, said: “We knew that having the holes weave through the rice fields would be a unique and memorable experience for golfers. And there would be potential to give back to the community in a sustainable and regenerative fashion. “All the best golf courses have character and at Faldo Design our philosophy has always been to work with the natural environment presented before us. Laguna Golf Lang Cô is a special place and, right from the first moment we were on site, we felt that if we could adapt to the surroundings then we would be close to achieving something really special with this golf course.”
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS The Gasparilla Inn & Club
The Gasparilla Inn & Club Named Florida’s #1 Resort by Travel + Leisure Magazine BOCA GRANDE, Fla. (July 10, 2019) — The Gasparilla Inn & Club is pleased to announce that it has been ranked the #1 Resort in Florida by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. To celebrate this honor and thank guests, the resort is offering “The Gasparilla Experience Package” that will run October 3-31, 2019. Whether seeking outdoor fun or a relaxing escape, guests can select one of the following complimentary experiences each day: • Round of golf on the property’s Pete Dye Championship Golf Course • Guided kayak or paddle board tour around Gasparilla Island • Gasparilla Experience Treatment at The Inn’s Spa • Sunset cruise in the Gulf of Mexico “We at The Gasparilla Inn & Club are incredibly proud to be recognized by Travel + Leisure readers for our first-class service and overall commitment to excellence,” said Jon Reecher, General Manager. “We are so thrilled by this honor, we want to invite new and repeat guests to experience ‘Florida As It Was Meant To Be,’ with a special visit tailored to their definition of the perfect Gasparilla getaway.” This exclusive offer also includes a golf cart for use during the stay and complimentary breakfast in The Inn’s Dining Room. Rates start at $399 per night based upon double occupancy, with a twonight minimum on weekends. To make a reservation, please call 1 (844) 651-0107. About The Gasparilla Inn & Club Entering its 106th season, The Gasparilla Inn & Club has been a premier destination on Florida’s Gulf Coast since 1913. A member of Historic Hotels of America and listed on The National Register of Historic Places, this grand resort offers 142 accommodations in a pristine environment in the heart of Boca Grande, located on Gasparilla Island. Owned by the William Farish family, the resort has played host to many notables throughout its storied history, including Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison, Katharine Hepburn, the George H.W. Bush family, members of the DuPont family, and others. For more information about The Gasparilla Inn & Club, please visit www.gasparillainn.com or call 800.996.1913.
Sailfish Point Honored in Golfweek’s 2019 ‘Best Residential Courses’ STUART, FL – Sailfish Point – the 532-acre oceanfront luxury community on Hutchinson Island 45 minutes north of Florida’s Palm Beaches – announces its Jack Nicklaus Signature Course is
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ranked No. 75 in Golfweek’s prestigious “Top 200 Residential Golf Courses” in the U.S. The coveted ranking places the superlative property’s sole course in elite company alongside some of the most exclusive layouts in the world. The annual list of the 200 U.S. top residential golf courses is determined by Golfweek’s elite team of more than 850 course evaluators. The raters survey over 3,600 layouts annually, grading each nominated course in accordance with Golfweek’s 10 standards for evaluation. “We’re honored to be included in this esteemed list from Golfweek,” says Victor Tortorici, PGA Director of Golf at Sailfish Point. “Our members and staff take immense pride in quality conditioning as well as the course’s overall playability, so it’s wonderful to have these key factors recognized by premier golf publications like Golfweek.” Opened in 1981, the course was renovated by Nicklaus Design in 2007. Play is challenging and varied for golfers of all skill levels with numerous holes offering picturesque views along the 7,088 yards of waterfront scenery. The par-4 signature 18th hole has been dubbed “Window on the Sea” for its remarkable ocean view. It’s the ideal end to a thrilling and fun golf experience. Steps away from the Sailfish Point clubhouse is a short-game practice area where golfers can hone their respective skills before moving on to the driving range or teeing it up on the first hole. Four full-time teaching professionals are on staff, and the fully outfitted pro shop offers a wide selection of golf equipment and gear. Member amenities additionally include a newly-renovated 60,000-square-foot clubhouse with multiple dining options, fitness center, multiple pools, tennis courts, full-service spa and five miles of pristine beach. Residents enjoy access to the full-service marina and yacht club, offering 77 wet slips and 45 dry slips while accommodating vessels up to 125 feet. Organized events such as casino nights, wine tastings, themed dinners and golf outings keep homeowners’ social calendars bustling year-round. Nearby Witham Field Airport, one of the top Fixed-Based Operators in the state, recently opened an official U.S. Customs facility for processing international travelers via water and air, the state’s first intermodal location of its kind. Located on Hutchinson Island, Sailfish Point enjoys easy access to Stuart, a vibrant seaside town rich with cafes, fine dining, a bustling art scene, upscale boutiques and the Cleveland Clinic Martin Health. For more information, visit www.sailfishpoint.com or 772.225.6200.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Los Cabos
Super-Saver Summer Golf Deals Available In Los Cabos LOS CABOS, Mexico – Golfers headed to Los Cabos this summer can expect well-conditioned courses, plenty of availability, lots of sunshine—and deeply discounted green fees. Summer is family vacation time, but it’s also the season that invites players to take a swing at bargain rates on a bevy of world-class venues. For example, all three Questro Golf courses in Los Cabos offer significant seasonal discounts through Oct. 31. Last year’s rates were retained for 2019. Questro Golf’s Club Campestre, located five minutes from downtown San Jose del Cabo and a local favorite, is a Nicklaus Design course chiseled into sloping terrain that offers undulating greens and excellent value. In addition to an 18-hole green fee of $140 and a twilight rate of $100 after 12:30 p.m., Campestre’s “Fore for 4” promo rate for foursomes, priced at $420, is arguably the best bang for the buck in Los Cabos this summer. At Cabo Real, another Questro Golf facility in the center of the Tourist Corridor, an 18-hole green fee of $180 and a twilight rate of $125 after 12:30 p.m. are available. The club’s Robert Trent Jones IIdesigned course, recently updated, is a challenging, well-balanced layout that climbs from the beachfront into mountain foothills high above the Sea of Cortes. The “Fore for 4” promo rate for foursomes at Cabo Real is $480. Puerto Los Cabos, situated on the outskirts of San Jose del Cabo, is now a 27-hole complex thanks to the new Jack Nicklaus-designed nine unveiled last year. The new holes are a perfect complement to Jack’s previous nine built in 2008. (The club’s third nine was designed by Greg Norman). The 18-hole summer green fee at Puerto Los Cabos is $210. The twilight rate (after 12:30 p.m.) is $150. The “Fore for 4” promo rate for foursomes is $580. Complimentary food and beverages are served at the club’s on-course palapas. In addition, Questro Golf’s 2-, 3- and 5-round summer passes, priced at $260, $345 and $525 respectively, permit play on all three courses. Some restrictions apply. https://questrogolf.com/ Palmilla Golf Club, a landmark facility that boasts the first Jack
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Nicklaus Signature course built in Latin America (1992), offers a triple-tiered system of discounted rates for outside play through Oct. 31. Beginning July 16, green fees for an 18-hole round are $145 from 7:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.; rate drops to $105 starting at 11:40 a.m. There’s also a special twilight rate of $75 starting at 3:00 p.m. Considered the “Grande Dame” of Los Cabos golf, Palmilla’s Mountain, Arroyo and Ocean nines offer beautiful sea views and a diverse array of challenges. For an ultra-luxe vacation, players can book the Unlimited Golf Offer (unlimited play on all 27 holes) at One&Only Palmilla, a world-class resort on the Sea of Cortes five minutes from the golf course. https://www.palmillagc.com/ At Quivira Golf Club, its epic Jack Nicklaus-designed course marked by huge dunes, sheer cliffs and desert foothills, players can take advantage of summer rates through Sept. 30. Green fees are the same this year as they were in 2018. Voted to Golf Digest’s list of the “World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” Quivira is priced at $275 for the mid-morning period from 11 a.m. to 1:24 p.m. The twilight rate, available from 1:36 to 3:00 p.m., is $233. Rates include food and refreshments at the club’s four comfort stations. ‘Stay & Play Packages’ at Pueblo Bonito Resorts’ five properties, including the adults-only, allinclusive Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort located five minutes from the course, are available. https://www.quiviraloscabos.com/golf Among other amenities, green fees at all Los Cabos facilities include shared golf cart, use of practice facility and bottled water.
Play Maine’s Top Golf Courses and Save with New Golf and Lodging Package NEWRY, ME – Maine offers some of the most spectacular and scenic golf courses in the Northeast. This summer and fall, Sunday River Resort is offering the Maine Golf Package to play one round at Sunday River Golf Club, plus a round at either the Sugarloaf Golf Club or Belgrade Lakes Golf Club with a night of lodging at Sunday River’s Grand Summit or Jordan Hotels. Rates start at just $245 per person for two rounds of golf plus a night of lodging with breakfast included. Golfers can select which course
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS they play first, and select the tee time at each, based on availability. Sunday River also offers Stay and Play packages for those looking to book an overnight trip and play at the Sunday River Golf Club only. Maine and New Hampshire residents can save on midweek greens fees as well. Granite Staters can play on Tuesdays for $59, and Mainers can play on Wednesdays for the same rate when they show a valid photo ID. For more information, visit SundayRiver.com/golf. About Sunday River Resort: Sunday River Resort is located minutes from picturesque Bethel Village in western Maine’s Mahoosuc Mountains. A true four-season destination, Sunday River offers eight interconnected peaks of world-class skiing and snowboarding, an 18hole golf course at the Sunday River Golf Club, two resort hotels and an inn, and numerous events throughout the year. Sunday River is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions.
PGA Golf Club Offers Great Golf Summer Staycation Package PORT ST. LUCIE, FL — PGA Golf Club — the PGA of America’s award-winning 54-hole facility designed by legendary course designers Tom Fazio and Pete Dye — announces its exclusive Great Golf Summer Staycation package for 2019. The select offer includes two nights’ stay with breakfast for two at the Hilton Garden Inn in sunny Port St. Lucie. In addition, guests can play a round of golf at any of PGA Golf Club’s layouts with varying
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rates for morning or afternoon reservations. “Our Summer Staycation package is the perfect golf getaway for couples and pairs,” says Jeremy Wiernasz, PGA Golf Club General Manager and Director of Golf. “Guests are invited to experience a relaxing stay, on-site dining and outstanding golf on one of our award-winning courses.” Known as the “Ultimate Golf Destination,” PGA Golf Club is home to three highly decorated courses. The Dye Course ranked 22nd in Golfweek’s 2019 “Best: State-by-State Courses You Can Play” rankings, while the Wanamaker Course ranked 24th and the Ryder Course placed 45th. Spacious guestrooms are available with one king or two queen beds including a microwave, refrigerator, and complimentary highspeed wireless internet. The Hilton Garden Inn is also home to Sam Snead’s Oak Grill & Tavern offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening room service. Situated in the heart of PGA Village adjacent to the PGA Golf Club, the Hilton Garden Inn is just 15 miles from the beautiful beaches of Florida’s Treasure Coast and near the New York Mets’ Spring Training facility. For more information or to make reservations, call (772) 8284052. Accommodations and golf must be booked through the Hilton Garden Inn to receive the Club’s elite rate. To learn more about PGA Golf Club, visit PGAVillage.com.
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Kingsmil
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By David R. Holland
ll Resort www.golfvacationsmag.com
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H
istory nerds should have a field day when they check in to Kingsmill Resort, where golfers can gaze over the massive James River, and enjoy sunrises and sunsets – the same that British settlers saw in 1607 and where Pocahontas once walked. It is where America was born. But Virginia’s only AAA Four Diamond Condominium Golf Resort has so many family friendly activities you might never think about the history even with Colonial Williamsburg right next door. It’s always a treat to play golf on a course that has been hosting a televised event for years. That’s Kingsmill, which hosts the annual Pure Silk Championship on the famous River Course designed and updated by a legend, Pete Dye.
stunning finish that brings you within sight of the James River. On hole No. 16, hit it long on the fairway’s left side for the best approach to this par-4, 458-yarder. Two deep bunkers guard the back portion of the green making an accurate second shot essential. Playing short provides the best opportunity to score. And next you climb to a famous signature hole. The beautiful par-3, 177 yards could be the most historic spot in American golf. On The James River, this area was part of the American Revolution and the first place the Jamestown settlers actually docked. The surroundings include a cannon, an Indian shell mound, an island just upriver is where there are traces of a pier and road to Williamsburg. Foundations for a tavern, storehouse, and brothel are also close by.
LPGA players love the week-long event staged each May because of the hospitality shown to them by Kingsmill and many local fans, businesses and volunteers. Players compete for a $1.3 million purse in a 72‐hole stroke play tournament. The River Course plays to a 6,379-yard, Par 71 during the championship.
It’s also a formidable par 3.
The River Course You, too, can play the same course that is highlighted by a
Finish your round with a beautiful par 4 of 450 yards. Length and accuracy off the tee demand a booming forced carry drive.
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Kingsmill’s signature hole features a deep green making proper club selection on the tee shot the highest priority. The right side poses a lot of danger making the safety zone just short and left of the green.
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The longer hitter may take a more aggressive line while others should aim well to the right, which provides the shortest carry distance to the fairway. The water hazard behind and to the left of the green requires a precise mid to long iron approach. The Plantation Course The Plantation Course, Kingsmill’s more player-friendly 18 is an Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design that moves out to 6,432-yard, par 72. This course favors accurate iron play and good putting. Fairway landing areas are generous, but water comes into play on eight holes, and there’s no shortage of deep woods or rugged ravines. Greens are large and provide inviting targets for approach shots. Once on the putting surface, undulations and swales make getting down in two a satisfying accomplishment. The Plantation course is historic, too, with landmarks from Richard Kingsmill’s 1736 plantation woven into the landscape. Golfers must be overnight guests or members of Kingsmill Resort. The Rebirth of the ultimate estate house Did you know there is a 7,000-square-foot private estate with panoramic views of the James River that you can rent? It was formerly known as Pettus House – originally built as the private mansion for the Busch family, of Budweiser Beer and Busch Gardens fame. Now, after a $3 million renovation the Estate at Kingsmill is available as a luxury rental for vacationers, corporate retreats and to those celebrating a milestone or special occasion.
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“With inspiring design and the finest materials, we have created a premier living, gathering and entertaining space that modernizes and elevates the guest experience,” says David McDonald, President of Escalante Golf, owner of Kingsmill Resort. “The estate offers stunning views through expansive walls of retractable glass and unparalleled service that includes an estate manager and chef.” The four-bedroom residence provides full access to Kingsmill Resort’s world-class amenities including golf, tennis, spa treatments, yoga and Pilates classes, two luxury SUVs, customized golf carts, private jet skis, personal shoppers, laundry service, and personalized menus and music selections. The family fun never stops And if your family is not on the links with you, they can head to Kingsmill’s River Pool and Lazy River. The kids can dive down the water slide or slide into the on the zero-entry pool. The Lazy River is built for fun or a race with 250,000 gallons of water and a current of nearly five miles per hour – and adults have just as much fun. Guests have three other options: two quieter outdoor pools, one at the sports club, and an expansive indoor pool where the water is always at 87 degrees. The Marina is Kingsmill’s nautical hub. The James River has a full-service marina for watercraft or a relaxing day cruising on a pontoon boat. Ever tried a stand-up paddle board? You can here. Kingsmill today and in the future Xanterra Parks and Resorts purchased Kingsmill in 2010 and in 2017, Ft. Worth, Texas-based Escalante Golf bought the golf courses. You might know Xanterra from its operations at national parks and lodging. Escalante Golf, a small owner and operator of luxury golf properties in nine states, bought the 2,900-acre property located along the James River for around $30 million. Dining at Kingsmill Select the Captain’s Platter at The James Landing Grille. You will not be disappointed by the food or the views at the dining locations. Fresh seafood, desserts and craft beers hightlight this restaurant overlooking the James River. Elements 1010 is for breakfast and lunch then more upscale at night. The view – yep is awesome of the river and Plantation Courses. Kingsmill Ressort is located off I-64 between Richmond and Norfolk the property is within minutes from Williamsburg’s numerous destinations including Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, The College of William & Mary, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. To plan your trip to Kingsmill, visit www.kingsmill.com.
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Riding the Wave
Corales Golf Course at P 22 Golf Vacations • August 2019
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s in Punta Cana
By Tim Cotroneo
Puntacana Resort & Club www.golfvacationsmag.com
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I
magine what Golf Architect Tom Fazio could design with 350 acres of prime Dominican oceanfront property. When experiencing Corales Golf Course in dreamy Punta Cana, the question is answered before you place your first tee in the grass.
Within seconds of stepping inside the clubhouse, you spy giant white letters outside just beyond the expansive deck. From this profound vantage point, even the most near-sighted golfer becomes aware that he or she is on the verge of something special. Fifty yards beyond the clubhouse, the word “Corales” is spelled out in four-foot high pearl white letters. Framing the letters is an image that yanks the cell phone from your pocket like a ripcord.
at an exhilarating ocean view that was missed while fixating on the scene straight ahead. The golf course you’re about to play is big. We’re talking three times the size big. Most world-class golf layouts check in at around 175 acres with 90 acres of grass. To put Corales gigantic 350 acres in perspective, realize that the Par 5, 623-yard, 12th hole is 17 wall-towall acres all by itself. You can almost visualize Fazio on horseback and waving a cowboy hat while surveying the raw property of Corales. Giddyup partner, we’re just getting started.
Under the Spell of C-O-R-A-L-E-S. Just past the letters is a live, high-def view featuring an all-natural convergence of emerald green Paspalum fairway, treacherous rocky coastline, and miles of crashing ocean that seems to go on forever. Your cell phone camera fires off a hat trick of click, click, clicks.
Whale of a Caribbean Experience Just in case you forgot that you’re smack dab in the heart of the Caribbean, a Corales staffer named Jose is waiting with a surprise on the Par 5, 545-yard 4th hole tee box. Jose asks if you’d like him to cut open a fresh coconut so you can drink the juice. If there is any hesitation about taking advantage of this authentic island moment, Eddie and Santiago remind that coconut juice is full of electrolytes and is known as nature’s sports drink.
Catch your breath because you’ve yet to play Corales’ Par 4, 433yard first hole. This is where the fun starts and the views pop out of nowhere. If you’re lucky enough to tap Eddie or Santiago as a caddie, you’ll learn insider tips on the nuances of undulating greens, which palm trees to avoid at all cost from the tee, and when to whirl around
Depending on the time of year, the Corales ocean holes may also provide a glimpse of jumbo seaside entertainment. During this year’s Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship which was won by Graeme McDowell, television viewers of this PGA event were treated to the sight of a humpback whale breaching on the back nine.
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About the time you’re fully engaged into the Corales visuals and Caribbean ambiance, that’s when this Fazio design turns up the front nine to back nine momentum. The 7th, 8th, and 9th are a trio of husky fairways followed by putting greens that are bearhugged by a rip-roaring ocean. The ninth is a grip it and rip it 204-yard Par 3 with the Caribbean Sea hanging on to the green’s backside like a novice skydiver who won’t let go. King of the World The back nine generates an encore crescendo with a trio of finishing holes boasting the sinister handle of The Devil’s Elbow. The Par 4, 501-yard 18th hole tests your will with a dramatic forced carry over the cliff-lined Bay of Corales. This is more than a dogleg right, it’s an “I dare you” leap over a gaping left to right cove. Prepare for a second shot that demands steely nerves on to yet another green that’s engulfed by the ocean. This one-of-a-kind finisher provides a golf exclamation point to an already exhilarating round. To truly appreciate what has taken place over the past four hours, glance back and reflect on what you’ve just
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completed. With ocean waves crashing around you, it’s time to let go, reach your arms to the sky, and do your best Leonardo DiCaprio “I’m King of the World” rendition. After shaking hands with your playing companions, it’s hard not to check out the letters spelling Corales one more time as your group marches back to the clubhouse. You feel the cell phone in your pocket again stir into lift-off mode. You smile and acknowledge that there’s no harm in sharing Corales with the folks back home. With the click of a button you convey to friends, “Corales. Wish you were here.” Ride ‘em Cowboy Whether you’re a social media maven or someone who prefers experiencing a special golf moment in silent bliss, there’s no denying that Fazio’s 7,600-yard work of art by the ocean has stolen your heart. Somewhere there’s a golf architect turned cowboy riding off in the distance. Adios partner. www.puntacana.com/golf/corales-golf-course
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CLUB SELECTION
TATANKA GOLF
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by DAVID R. HOLLAND
F CLUB
NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA
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atanka Golf Club rolls out over rugged scrub brush, oak-lined northeast Nebraska ridges, down into a wetlands valley, and past an occasional buffalo grazing on a dense natural grassland that springs to life when you have a wet year like 2019. This Santee Sioux Nation golf course, that shares a parking lot with the Ohiya Casino Resort, opened in 2015 as a Paul Albanese design and earned GOLF Magazine’s “Best New U.S. Resort Course” for 2015. Yes, Tatanka is a Lakota word that translates to buffalo – many know that word from the Kevin Costner movie “Dances With Wolves”. Bring Extra Balls. You Might Need Them. This is a layout with foot-tall grasses once you exit the primary rough. And by all means stand on the third tee, look back and gaze upon the Missouri River, South Dakota, and three counties. The tee boxes on five and 16 also have spectacular views. Albanese, inspired by his research and the culture of the Santee Sioux Nation, created a modern day gem that fits naturally on the land and integrates with the environment. “Winning this award from GOLF Magazine is a great honor, especially because we have worked with the Santee Sioux tribe for more than 10 years in making this project an award winning reality, something I always knew was possible,” said Albanese. “This recognition would not have been possible without the dedication of the Santee Sioux Nation, allowing us to fulfill a unique and inspiring vision on a beautiful piece of land that reflects their heritage, history and principles.” This place is fantastic,” said golfer Jarrod Peters. “It has a bar, casino, and golf course all in one parking lot. You don’t waste time driving to the course, driving to dinner, etc. You just wake up and grab your bag and walk across the parking lot. So convenient! The golf course was in really good condition when we played there. It was not crowded and the holes are very scenic and challenge the better players. It is a great place, and I plan to get back there this fall.” With every hole designed Albanese said it was like writing another chapter to a book. “We took the history and the culture of the area and the Santee Sioux Nation and used it as a design inspiration in a subtle and respectful way,” he said. “We looked at the land forms and designed something that might reflect local stories. For instance, how a certain mountain looked and got its name was used. We used a story about a medicine woman as inspiration, too.
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CLUB SELECTION
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NIOBRARA, NEBRASKA “We studied the clouds. We looked at the rocks, the trees, and valleys that made the golf course fit there as if it belonged. Another hole, inspired by a story, has a spirit bunker shaped after thinking about the story. It’s all very subtle, but impactful I feel to those who live there.” Major stories include the great buffalo of the region, and in that regard Albanese took great care to make sure there was literal interpretation. In fenced in spaces very close to the golf course buffalo do roam. Each hole marker tells a story of a Santee Sioux legend. The first marker tells a story of a Peace Pipe – a young woman turns into a buffalo and teaches two young men to use the peace pipe. The second is the Man and the Oak, about a man who was betrayed by a sorceress and had a tree grow out of his body. No. 18 explains the legend of the white buffalo. “Depending on where the buffalo graze on a given day the golfer on a tee can be 10 yards from buffalo,” he said. “We routed the golf course close to them, especially Nos. 11, 12 and 13 and they will be part of the experience of playing Tatanka.” Ohiya Casino Resort was the first casino in Nebraska, and was developed 17 years ago. It continues to be an ideal entertainment destination for those seeking excitement, particularly in northeast Nebraska, southwest Minnesota, southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa. History of the Area – Niobrara Settlement’s Watery Background Tatanka Golf Club is located just a few minutes east of the historic town of Niobrara, that was established in 1857 – one of Nebraska’s oldest towns – and one with a violent history. With only the Mighty Missouri River separating it from South Dakota and also the confluence of the impressive Niobrara River, one can guess swollen waters have molded the area. Niobrara’s early days had easy access for steamboat traffic. The town thrived and by 1880 had a population of 850, but a year later luck ran out. The Missouri was clogged with an early spring ice jam, and water inundated the town. Through the years flood waters have put the town in danger and eventually some buildings that survived were jacked up on huge logs and rolled to other spots. Today’s Niobrara sits on a hill top but even this March a flood leveled a lowlying café and washed out a Niobrara River bridge. Tatanka Golf Club is in the boondocks, but the golf is awesome, yet daunting – kind of like the settlers have faced from early statehood to the present. Living here is not for folks having to make a daily visit to a 21st century city mall, Starbucks or Wal-Mart.
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SWEETSTUFF SQRDUP Swing Alignment
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good golf swing and proper alignment pretty much go hand-inhand, and players down through the years have used just about everything to help them get lined up during a practice session—be it laying golf clubs on the ground or the alignment rods that are popular accessories today. But with an eye towards the new trend of using technology to help improve one’s game, former 20-year Marine Randy Bowman has developed and brought to market a 21st century solution to an ageold problem for players—that of setting the feet, shoulders and the golf ball in proper alignment with one another to get the most power and hit the ball along its intended path. The SQRDUP (Squared up) alignment tool utilizes an ultra-bright laser beam as guide “posts” to position hands, feet, club and target in the proper sequence and can provide invaluable adjustment feedback when trying to groove a swing on the range. SQRDUP has already won awards as one of the best new training aids around, and it is easy to set-up and use. The bright
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laser light provides the kind of unique alignment guide that few players who have already used other tools for this purpose over the years have ever experienced. It can also be used on the putting green to groove a stroke down the line, and the intense light provides the best putter alignment guide we have ever seen as it shines on the back of the club, over the ball and down the intended line. “I have been impressed with the great response to our product by golfers of all types from savvy pros to beginners,” said Bowman, SQRDUP co-founder and CEO. “Users keep coming up with innovative ways to use our product. The latest is golfers using SQRDUP for wedge practice at dusk. It is a very rewarding feeling. My brother and I spent three years in the garage learning everything we could about lasers, LEDs, and holograms. Once we figured out our vision was possible, SQRDUP was created and is now helping golfers around the world.” Lightweight and easy to store in a golf bag, the SQRDUP has been designed as a 6-inch crosshair square that is only 1½ “ thick and weighs 8 ounces. Its highly accurate alignment with the visibility of a green laser beam provides a fixed line to help golfers visualize their correct setup. The ABS plastic is ultra-durable to stand up to years of heavy use that includes 545 NM wavelength laser technology, and it can be used in any setting since lasers are visible in full daylight and can work on any type of terrain from fairways to deep in the rough.
Quick to set up and easy-to-use, it can be easily moved with your foot or golf club to get the perfect alignment in seconds. The SQRDUP has a built-in rechargeable battery that allows for four hours of precise alignments on a single charge. SQRDUP has also partnered recently with Cameron Percy, a PGA Tour player who is now using the device, and Grant Price, a PGA teaching pro. “SQRDUP is simple, lightweight and extremely functional,” Price noted. “This is not just a product to improve solid golf fundamentals--but can be used to help visualize start points and lines on the greens as well as enhance your stroke at home, the office or at a hotel when traveling. It is a must-have product to aid players at all skill levels.” SQRDUP is available on-line. For more information, go to: https://SQRDUP.com
Breakthrough Golf Arm Lock Shaft
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hen the USGA banned the anchored putting stroke from the game of golf several years ago, the early assumption was that the “broomstick” and “belly” putters—each with their own longer shaft—would disappear into history like wooden driver heads. The reality has been quite different. While the USGA rule says you cannot use your body to steady the club during the putting stroke, it still doesn’t outlaw the use of longer putting shafts in today’s game— if you don’t use your body as a stabilizing force. Golfers that relied on the longer putters have adapted and to a degree are still using the long shafts—but they have just altered the way they use it and keep the hands and club away from their body. It is into this void that players have adapted the Armlock technique to stabilize the shaft instead of using the body. Breakthrough Golf Technology has just introduced a new putter shaft designed especially to be used with this putting technique--the Stability Armlock Putter Shaft. Designed with the same advanced technology and performance benefits as the original Stability shaft, the Armlock Stability features a steel core wrapped with a highly
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
twist-resistant outer graphite wrap that reinforces flexural rigidity; over the typical flex point of the shaft, which is closer to the putter head. The Stability shaft uses a scientifically advanced multi-material design with new geometries never used in putter shaft design before. A shaft that has the same look, solid feel and weight as traditional steel putter shafts. The Stability Shaft delivers the face squarer at impact for improved accuracy and solid feel--and has a lower launch for a predictable roll, resulting in better distance control. The long Stability putter shaft will rest against the inside of the left arm without anchoring to the golfer’s body, which makes it perfectly legal. It can be fitted to almost any existing armlock-style putter. Blair Philip, the Vice-president of R&D at Breakthrough Golf Technology noted, “It’s great to be able to provide the same performance benefits of a standard-length Stability in a longer shaft. A Stability Armlock shaft is a great option for golfers that want to play with a longer or belly putter.” The Stability Arm Lock Shaft is available in lengths from 37 1/2”- 46”. It is USGA and R&A approved and can be installed on just about any putter head. To learn more visit www. breakthroughgolftech.com
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Bridgestone’s New e6 Golf Ball
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ridgestone Golf has used the data from more than two million golf ball fittings to reformulate its e6 golf ball for moderate-swing-speed players to help them maximize distance and yet retain a soft feel for those shots around the green. The new Bridgestone e6 features a 2-piece, low-compression construction to ensure that players with slower swing speeds can fully activate the core on tee shots, delivering increased distance throughout the bag. The new ball also provides players
with a super soft feel thanks to its low compression core. “The e-Family of Bridgestone golf balls keeps getting better and better,” said Elliot Mellow, Golf Ball Marketing Manager, Bridgestone Golf. “With the recent introduction of e12 SOFT and SPEED, we’ve ensured that players who love the feel and playability of a 3-piece, surlyn construction golf ball have two distinct swing speed options in our e-product lineup. In addition, now we have reformulated the e6 to provide a more economical option for consumers who are seeking distance and super soft feel.” Complementing the new e6 golf ball is the slightly lower compression e6 Lady. Delivering the same reliable distance with an even softer feel, the e6 Lady is designed to help female players get the ball air-born easier and provide added distance on shots where it is needed most. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding cutting edge performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is represented on the professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson. Bridgestone’s reformulated e6 golf balls are available in most golf shops and are available in white and optic yellow color options, while the e6 Lady is available in white and optic pink hues. More information is available at: www. bridgestonegolf.com
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