Golf Vacations Magazine - January 2023

Page 1

OUR 22st YEAR! THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots GOLF VACATIONS GOLF ACATIONS JANUARY 2023 PLUS: KENNY PERRY’S COUNTRY CREEK GOLF COURSE QUIVIRA GOLF COURSE BAJA GOLF THRILL RIDE HERITAGE GOLF GROUP TRIO OF PREMIER PRIVATE CLUBS
www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 3 www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • December 2022 3 VISIT: www.swingcaddie.com/sc200plus/golfvacationmagazine OR www.swingcaddie.com/sc300/golfvacationmagazine

GOLF VACATIONS GOLF VACATIONS

Chip Shots

18 Club Selection: Kenny Perry’s Country Creek GC

Most golfers who have followed the PGA TOUR for any length of time are familiar with the name Kenny Perry, after all, he’s won more than 20 professional tournaments on the PGA and PGA Champions Tours. What they may not be aware of is a golf course that Kenny designed and built; he still owns it to this day. I’m talking about Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course in his hometown of Franklin, KY.

22 Heritage Golf Group

Heritage Golf Group has come a long way since new owners took over the company a couple of years ago. Mark Burnett, Jim Oliver, and Andy Miller have more than 90 years of combined experience in the golf industry, primarily in club acquisition, operations, membership, and redevelopment. Since purchasing Heritage Golf in 2020, they have grown the number of clubs in their portfolio from 6 to 23 with plans to add several more in 2022.

26

Baja’s Quivira Golf Course

by Tim Cotroneo

Our group had just finished putting out on Quivira Golf Course’s 13th hole when it happened. My playing partner pointed toward the Pacific Ocean and yelled, “Look at that!” Dozens of stingrays were jumping and clapping on the ocean surface. It was almost as if they were congratulating my golf mate for his up and down from the sand trap.

4 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com 9
32 Sweet Stuff
JANUARY 2023
Quivira Golf Course • Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

David Theoret (aka The Golfin’ Guy) grew up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, where it was naturally assumed he would play hockey. Beginning at the age of 3 and continuing into his late 30s, he did just that, however, after one too many pucks to the head, he realized that golf was a lot easier on the body and took the game up. From 2003 until 2009, David ran the sales and marketing department of TravelGolf Media – now known at GolfNow.com. While at TravelGolf, an editor told him he had a flair for writing and he started writing articles about anything golf-related. He currently resides in Lake Tansi, TN

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

Jeffrey Diaz

Associate Editors

Terry Ross Dakota Diaz

Features Editor

JD Latorre

Senior Writers

Tim Cotroneo • Larry Feldman

David R. Holland • Dave McKibben Jakki Right • David Theoret

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 • (678) 906-4050 harold@chamblissmediagroup.com Chicago Dakota Diaz •(312) 809–8808 dakota@GolfVacationsMag.com

Published by

President

Jeffrey Diaz

PO BOX #222

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 (760) 774–2655 StonyCreekMedia.com

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 2023 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.

6 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
Shane Sharp is a freelance writer and the owner of Southbound 4, a content marketing and PR shop in Greenville, S.C. He’s a contributing editor with GOLF Magazine, Club & Resort Business, Golf Inc. and Club Management. with his wife Belinda and their four-legged “kid,” Louie. 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.

New Golf Nation Channel Showcases Golf Destinations in Cool Ways

Finally, there’s a new medium for golf destinations globally to showcase their offerings. And, logically, the medium exposes traveling golfers to exotic golf courses, clubs, resorts and cultures they may never have otherwise considered.

We love this type of matchmaking.

The medium is the super-cool Golf Nation channel that sneak-peeked on December 5 on www.golfnation.com. It is the first and only producer of original golf-lifestyle entertainment shows with the ability for viewers to instantly purchase items while never leaving the screen.

Equally impressive as “Golf Unseen,” is the early line-up of Golf Nation shows:

• Ambush with David Feherty –Hidden camera hijinks with golf’s foremost funnyman

• Don’t I Know You? – Golf’s “Newlywed Game;” first episode with Zach & Kim Johnson

• No Judgment – Three female friends from Grueter Golf breaking down golf’s barriers

• Tee Shots – Drink, chat, swing, repeat hosted by famous mixologist Bill Binder

• Versus – Golf influencers compete head-to-head

• Watch. Buy. Play. – Hottest golf products on the planet

That’s an amazing core audience from Day One.

Succinctly, Golf Nation is hailed as “Netflix Meets Home Shopping Network.”

Watching shows is free. In early 2023, they will also be viewed on a mobile app, connected-smart TVs, Apple TV, Android, Fire TV and Roku in early 2023.

A signature Golf Nation show is “Golf Unseen,” and the first four season-one episodes focus on “Adventures in Africa.” Golf Nation cameras traverse South Africa, highlighting The Links at Fancourt, Pinnacle Point, Erinvale Country Club and Simola.

The cinematography, music of the land and narrative are magnificent as shows capture the true essence not only of golf, but the people, customs, landscapes, food, music and all things culture. It’s like you’re supplanted there, on the scene. Thanks to Golf Nation, South Africa is sure to gain its rightful place on golfers’ bucket lists.

Viewers request information about places, like South Africa, they see on “Golf Unseen” by clicking on an icon that intermittently pops on-screen while watching the show. Each episode is a digestible 18 to 24 minutes without annoyance of commercial breaks.

The concept of on-screen shopping inside videos isn’t new to Golf Nation parent company NBTV Channels and its NBTV Studios production arm. Backed by pioneering video commerce technology, leadership created the highly dynamic and successful Spirits Network that sells countless products inside “Cocktail History,” “Tales from the Cask,” “Sipping Point” and “Science of Spirits” and other shows.

Golf Nation was founded because surveys show more than 60% of Spirits Network viewers count golf as a passion.

“The watch, buy, play experience is efficient, pleasant and immediate for viewers of Golf Nation shows,” says Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation. “Click on the screen to request information and quotes about travel to golf destinations and buy products right then and there.”

Whaley should know. Like Golf Nation, she’s a groundbreaker as the first and only female President of the PGA of America and one of only a handful of women to compete in a PGA TOUR event.

Golf equipment, travel, fashion, technology, instruction, club lifestyle and fitness brands are already onboard with Golf Nation. More than 10 non-endemic brands are expected to be fully immersed selling their products via on-screen icons / “buy bars” inside Golf Nation shows in Q1.

With aplomb, Whaley notes “Golf Nation’s video commerce is transforming the way golf entertainment, including golf destinations, is presented and products are bought and sold,” likening this business approach to a “secret sauce.”

NBTV’s investor line-up is a clear indication Golf Nation’s on-demand, streaming channel is here to stay. They include Mark Bezos (HighPost Capital), Mindy Grossman (former CEO of Home Shopping Network and Weight Watchers International), David Nichols (former President of K-Swiss), John Esposito (Chairman of Whistle Pig and former CEO of Bacardi North America), and other family offices and venture funds.

Getting back to “Golf Unseen,” we can’t wait to see the exotic destinations to soon be featured. That begs the question –is there golf at the North Pole?

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 9
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation

Rumbling Bald Golf

Rumbling Bald Releases Winter, Spring Golf Packages For 2023

LAKE LURE, N.C. – Amid record demand for golf stay-and-plays – Rumbling Bald – the 36-hole golf sanctuary on Lake Lure an hour east of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announces its winter and spring golf packages for 2023.

Winter rates start at $308 per golfer for two nights lodging in a Rumbling Bald vacation rental and two rounds on its Apple Valley and Bald Mountain Golf courses. Three-night, three-round and fournight, four-round options are also available for $452 and $574 per golfer, respectively. Spring rates start at $363 per golfer for two nights and two rounds, $501 for three nights and three rounds and $640 for four nights and four rounds.

Rumbling Bald will once again offer its popular Weekday Specials starting April 1, 2023. Rates start at $330 per person for two nights and two rounds, $452 for three nights and three rounds, and $574 four nights and four rounds. Weekday Special rates are available for any combination of Sunday through Wednesday nights only. Rates include all taxes and fees and are based on full occupancy (blackout dates apply).

Lodging options geared specifically for golfers include the Apple Valley Studios (across from Apple Valley) and two- and four-bedroom Fairway Villas situated along Bald Mountain just steps from its first tee. Via its wide variety of spacious vacation rentals, Rumbling Bald can accommodate golf groups of all sizes. Luxury vacation homes are also available for extended stays and golf rounds can be added a la carte.

“We can’t wait to welcome golfers to Rumbling Bald in 2023 and showcase all the enhancements we’ve made to the golf courses, practices facilities and amenities,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler. “Whether it’s a foursome or large group, we provide a relaxing, fun golf experience that provides an escape from the day-to-day grind.”

Rumbling Bald continues to extend complimentary golf rounds to leaders of groups of 12 or more when booking their first trip to the property. The Large Groups 12+ Comp is ideal for PGA Professionalmember trips, small tournaments, or large golf buddy trips. The shoulder- and off-seasons are ideal for group play, with ample value

and typically a faster pace of play than the peak spring and fall periods.

To learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www.rumblingbald.com, or email jdoran@rumblingbald.com. To book packages directly, or to speak with a golf vacation planner, call (828) 694.3072.

Golf Course Architect

Hill Barbados

APES HILL BARBADOS – Legendary golf course architect Ron Kirby, ASGCA, is thrilled to confirm that his most recent design work is completed following a final pre-opening visit to Apes Hill Barbados last month.

The par-72 layout features stunning views over the Caribbean Sea to the west and Atlantic Ocean to the east. Set within 475 acres of natural terrain and perched on one of the highest points of Barbados 1,000 feet above sea level, Apes Hill is the most elevated golf experience on the exquisite island.

Kirby’s visit followed an exclusive opening to the Apes Hill Barbados members and their guests on November 1. The course is planned to officially open during late 2023, barring unforeseen circumstances. Members who played Apes Hill say its playability, hole variety, and several new signature holes make it an exceptional golf experience.

Kirby, who has collaborated with design greats such as Robert Trent Jones and Jack Nicklaus in a distinguished career, is perhaps best known for his superlative work at Old Head Golf Links in Ireland.

“When I saw Apes Hill for the first time, I noted that the hills and vistas were superb –you can see both the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean in many places,” said Kirby. “I knew that if I could get the holes to play with the vistas in the right position, players would more deeply enjoy the course while taking in the astounding views.”

Kirby’s work – aided by Justin Carlton and Gary Shapiro, two of the finest land shapers in the industry – began in 2019 and he has created a new Caribbean golfing masterpiece at Apes Hill Barbados.

The layout has been beautifully crafted around the surrounding landscape and indigenous tropical forests, with sustainability at the forefront of the resort’s long-term DNA to make it the most

10 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Ron Kirby Greenlights ‘Caribbean Masterpiece’ at Apes

environmentally responsible golf course and resort development in the Caribbean. Underscoring its commitment to sustainability and conservation best practices, the Apes Hill Barbados golf course has become a member of Audubon International, the global leader in environmental sustainability certifications.

Fairways and tees have been re-laid using the more drought tolerant Zoysia Zorro grass and the greens with TifEagle. The resistance of these grasses to insects also further reduces the reliance on fertilization and use of pesticides, with a view to eventually becoming ‘chemical-free’.

Meanwhile, the construction of a reservoir that can hold up to 58 million gallons of rainwater will help fully irrigate the resort, with hundreds of trees, fruits and vegetables being planted around the property.

Playing the course for the first time since its reopening, members were struck by a layout set against remarkable topography that separates Apes Hill Barbados from any other course in the Caribbean. Kirby’s work has been hailed not only for the test he has created for better players, but also the scoring opportunities and variety which make it appealing to less accomplished and novice golfers.

The new layout stretches to 7,002 yards, although four teeing options make it playable for all levels with the shortest at 5,034. The holes weave seamlessly through the island’s natural surroundings, and robust Atlantic trade winds can influence the difficulty of play, bringing shorter tee boxes into consideration.

“We put four tee boxes in so that we could cover all types of players,” Kirby said. “From those who can strike it pure to the average players and then beginners. We have made this mix so that Apes Hill can be fun for everybody. Also, I only needed to use what land we had, and so did not want to abuse what nature had given us. Sustainability means you don’t build anything you cannot maintain.”

An exclusive and gentle opening has been designed to ease players into the course, with the second hole serving up an early birdie opportunity. A par four stretching to only 255 yards, it is still demanding of a well-placed drive should you wish to attack the green from the tee, with the putting surface heavily protected by bunkers, coral rock and a cascading creek.

While there is plenty to get excited about on the course’s outward nine – notably the fourth hole with its tee box positioned on one of the highest points of the course – the inward half delivers great excitement. Notably, the run from 12 to 15 – perhaps the most popular and stunning part of the layout – that sets up a grand finish as players reach the course’s signature hole at 16.

Named the ‘Cave’ with a coral rock hugging the hole behind the green and water lining the right, Kirby has left an indelible mark on Caribbean golf with a par 3 that possesses many characteristics for which Barbados is genetically famous for.

The course finishes with another short par 4 at hole 17, followed by a monstrous downhill par 5 on the home hole where a gully snakes along the left-hand side and round to the back of the green. It is a high-drama finish that is befitting of top-level championship golf.

Kirby added: “I am grateful to be a part of Apes Hill Barbados and proud to say it is one of mine. I can say that about 140 or 150 golf courses, but this is a special one. It is hard to find a golf course anywhere that has everything that we have here at Apes Hill.”

To complement the work that has gone into Kirby’s ‘Caribbean Masterpiece’ and the championship routing, a state-of-the-art Performance Centre and floodlit driving range are due to open soon. A family friendly short course, with holes ranging from 95 to 150 yards, will open in 2023 while an additional 19th hole played to an island green, and a contemporary clubhouse are set to be completed during the first quarter of the year.

Guests will be able to enjoy a range of other amenities such as a fitness centre and health club, hiking and nature trails, eight floodlit paddle and two tennis courts, while a world-class spa is also in development.

Away from the golf, Apes Hill Barbados has a range of luxury real-estate options available with pricing to be announced in the new year. Additionally, golf vacation properties allowing guests to stay and play are in development, with pricing to be announced in early 2023.

To learn more about the real estate community, golf course, luxury residences and amenities at Apes Hill Barbados, email info@ apeshill.com or call +1 246 826-5020.

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 11
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Apes Hill Barbados

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas Announces Outstanding Winter and Spring Golf Getaways

LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo Resort & Villas – home to the Caribbean’s premier, luxury golf experiences, including its iconic Teeth of the Dog ranked No. 20 in Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Courses in the World” – is offering an outstanding array of winter and spring stay-and-play packages perfect for couples, families and group vacations.

The “Unlimited Golf” package starts at $1,259 (per room, per night). Resort guests can tee it up to their heart’s content on two renowned Pete Dye-designed gems: Dye Fore (27 holes) and The Links (18). Play on the legendary Teeth of the Dog has a preferred rate of $199 per round (plus taxes). All golf rounds are based on availability and include play on arrival and departure days.

The offer also includes deluxe accommodations in the resort’s recently renovated guest rooms, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, use of a four-passenger golf cart to internal travel throughout the 7,000acre gated property, unlimited horseback riding, use of the property’s tennis courts, one round at the 245-acre Shooting Club, non-motorized water sports, family program activities and use of the resort’s fitness center.

Casa de Campo is additionally offering its “Unlimited Golf in Villa” stay-and-play offer starting from $3,319 (per villa, per night). The package allows groups and families the opportunity to enjoy a “world of their own” in a three- to five-bedroom luxury villa with one daily round of golf (per person) on Dye Fore and The Links. Breakfast

for the group is prepared right in the villa each morning along with daily housekeeping and dedicated concierge services.

“Our world-class resort is the perfect escape for family, friends, groups and golf buddies looking for respite during the cold months,” says Jason Kycek, senior vice-president of sales and marketing. “With gorgeous golf courses, beaches, pools, marina, equestrian and shooting centers, and much more, our Casa de Campo experience is truly exceptional.”

Teeth of the Dog has long been a “bucket list” layout for those seeking to play one of the top 50 golf courses in the world. Dye’s design hallmarks are all present: railroad ties, vast waste areas, peninsula greens and tees, hand-sculpted putting surfaces and a unique assortment of pot bunkers. “The Heaven 7” oceanfront holes are astoundingly beautiful, causing Dye to famously quip: “I created 11 holes and God created seven.”

The resort’s world-class Golf Learning Center is a “must visit” when on property. Highlighted by Trackman and BODITRAK technology, it features two indoor hitting bays for rapid game improvement, yearround training, individual and group golf lessons and schools, and expert club-fitting and repair. Residing on 21 acres of “pure grass,” the PGA Tour-quality facility also showcases practice greens for honing putting, chipping and pitching skills as well as unlimited use of the pristine outdoor range for full shots. On-course instruction is also available.

For more information on Casa de Campo Resort & Villas please call 800.877.3643, email golf@ccampo.com.do or visit: www. casadecampo.com.do.

12 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
No. 5 - Teeth of the Dog

Tom Doak to Design Pinehurst Resort’s 10th Course

To borrow a phrase from former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth, “and the Cradle of American Golf will rock.”

Pinehurst Resort will break ground on its first new golf course in nearly three decades this month, and it will be designed by Tom Doak, one of the most respected and decorated golf course architects of the modern era.

Located four miles south of the main resort clubhouse, Doak’s 18-hole routing is expected to open late spring of 2024, coinciding with the return of the U.S. Open to Pinehurst No. 2. The new course – the resort’s 10th – will incorporate rugged dunes mined at the turn of the 20th century accented by native sand and wiregrass. With natural ridgelines, intriguing landforms, towering longleaf pines, streams and ponds, Doak envisions a course that complements the resort’s other courses through its contrasts.

“The site is topographically distinct and drastically different from anywhere in Pinehurst,” Doak says. “It’s bigger, bolder and more dramatic. There’s about 75 feet of elevation change, and we’ll work our way up to it around the mid-point of the layout. You’ll have expansive views from this apex over the rest of the course. It will be an unforgettable experience for golfers.”

Doak recalls first visiting Pinehurst more than 40 years ago and playing and touring No. 2. He rated the storied Donald Ross design a perfect “10” in his famed book “The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses,” and was one of the most vocal supporters of its restoration by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2010 prior to the 2014 U.S. Open.

“Tom Doak builds incredible golf courses on sand, and we’re excited to see what he’ll create in the North Carolina Sandhills,” says Pinehurst Resort President Tom Pashley. “We’ve worked with some amazing golf architects who’ve embraced our natural aesthetic and believe Tom will do something fantastic on this site.”

Landscape architect Angela Moser will serve as Doak’s lead design associate for this project. Moser’s impressive credentials include work at the Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course, Streamsong Black in Bowling Green, Fla., St. Patrick’s Links in County Donegal, Ireland, Te Arai Links in Tomarata, New Zealand and Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown, Ga.

“The number one thing that excited us about the project is working with the beautiful sand that’s native to this region,” Doak says. “The sand, the wiregrass, the bluestem grass, and other native grasses that grow around the Sandhills create a fabulous texture for golf. It’s something most places just don’t have.”

In addition to Doak’s routing, Pinehurst envisions the potential for more growth in the area, which encompasses 900 total acres in Aberdeen. A variety of development opportunities will be evaluated with town officials, including additional golf, short course, clubhouse, guest cottages and other lodging.

“This exceptional property is a place where many of our dreams of the future can be contemplated,” says Pinehurst Resort CEO Bob Dedman Jr. “How those dreams play out will be determined over time, the same way the path forward revealed itself through recent additions like The Cradle, Thistle Dhu and the redesign of Pinehurst No. 4. Adding a Tom Doak design to our collection is another historic chapter in the story of Pinehurst. We can’t wait to read it.”

Pinehurst Resort is heading toward what’s sure to be an epic year in 2024 with the opening of its 10th course and the playing of the U.S. Open on No. 2. It’s been a busy two years at the resort, with the renovation of The Manor, the opening of the North & South Bar, the opening of the opening of The Next between No. 2 and No. 4 and stately Carolina Hotel just is undergoing a complete refresh to its rooms, hallways and dining areas.

For more info on all things Pinehurst Resort, visit www. pinehurst.com.

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 13
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Tom Doak

BRANSON, MO – Branson Golf – home to 10 extremely diverse yet highly complementary courses in the Southwest Missouri Ozarks – had an exceptional 2022 season that included increased visitors, additional best-of honors, and pervasive media coverage extoling the destination’s must-visit status.

The flourishing golf travel venue now claims five of Missouri’s top10 rated courses (and three ranked among the top 100 nationally), and five courses hold Audubon International Signature Sanctuary certification for their sustainability and environmental best practices.

Virtually each course in the destination experienced upticks in key metrics, underscoring the increased number of players who are coming to play here.

At LedgeStone Country Club (Tim Clark design), for example, 2022 was the best year for rounds and revenue in the 29 years the course has been operating.

Branson Hills Golf Club (Chuck Smith and Bobby Clampett) realized a significant increase in membership and merchandise sales, and the golf course was in better shape than ever with faster green speeds and improved rough in high-traffic areas. The club recently installed all new wood flooring in the clubhouse, adding a revitalized look to the upscale club.

Area players and golf travelers are choosing Branson Golf for many reasons, not the least of which are the five courses under the Big Cedar Golf mantle – Payne’s Valley (Tiger Woods and Johnny Morris), Ozarks National (Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw), Buffalo Ridge (Tom Fazio and Morris), Top of the Rock (Jack Nicklaus), and

Mountain

Top (Gary Player).

Big Cedar added a caddie program in 2022, as well as a half-way house at Payne’s Valley and a tee-side bar at the bonus 19th hole there. This winter Payne’s Valley, Buffalo Ridge and Top of the Rock remain open (weather permitting). Ozarks National and Mountain Top are closed from now until Friday, March 10.

The courses at Thousand Hills (Bob Cupp), The Pointe, and Holiday Hills continue to be player favorites and some of the most popular, particularly for local and regional golfers.

“We’ve entered a new era with our golf destination and once people come here to experience it, they keep coming back due to the high quality of the courses and our after-golf activities,” said Lynn Berry, Explore Branson, Director of Communications. “We look forward to welcoming new visitors in 2023.”

The blossoming golf haven is made more captivating thanks to the destination’s plethora of complementary other attractions. Three superb lakes offer boating and water sports. Astounding museums – Titanic Branson and Ancient Ozarks Natural History – showcase displays not found anywhere else. Also beckoning are hundreds of restaurants and lodging establishments, dozens of live entertainment theatres, an array of outdoor adventure options, and Silver Dollar City (award-winning theme park).

Most of Branson’s courses are open year-round. Call to confirm playing availability via the phone numbers below. For those considering booking stay-and-play packages for 2023, reach out sooner than later as the tee times are filling fast and ahead of time due to the popularity of the golf destination. For more information about Branson Golf, visit www.explorebranson.com/golf or www.facebook.com/bransongolf

14 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Branson Golf Thriving; Recognized as 2022 Leading North American Destination Branson Hills Golf Club

Dom Pedro Experience Centre Stage with Vilamoura Hailed as Peak of Golf

Travel

The bustling town of Vilamoura is preparing for another busy year in 2023 as the evergreen Portuguese venue remains one of Europe’s most coveted destinations.

Home of the Dom Pedro Experience, the Algarve hotspot is a firm favourite among tourists and passionate golfers looking for a luxury break. The resort’s world-class golf offering is headlined by the Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, boasting five stunning courses within a 3km radius.

Vilamoura’s breath-taking natural vistas are tailor-made for the game, while the pleasant climate is a joy to play in throughout the year. Guests can enjoy easy international access from the nearby Faro Airport to the resort’s plentiful accommodation, including a trinity of luxuriant Dom Pedro hotels.

Away from the fairways, the coastal destination is a hive of activity, with plenty to see and do between rounds. The popular Marina de Vilamoura is the largest in Portugal and bisects two golden beaches overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. Nearby stands the Casino Vilamoura, a vibrant hub combining games, theatre, cuisine and comedy. A diverse range of bars and restaurants await throughout the area, ensuring that visitors can always find their perfect dining option.

Available until October 31, 2023, the Dom Pedro Experience presents an elegant way to experience everything on offer in Vilamoura. The per-person package includes accommodation with breakfast at a Dom Pedro hotel as well as one round of golf per day at Dom Pedro Millenium, Dom Pedro Pinhal or Dom Pedro Laguna. Green fees at the esteemed Dom Pedro Golf Victoria and Dom Pedro Old Course are available as part of a premium package, giving guests the opportunity to

sample Vilamoura’s world-class golf for incredible value.

Luis Correia da Silva, CEO of Dom Pedro Golf, said: “We have three hotels in Vilamoura and five golf courses. We also have hotels in Lisbon and on the island of Madeira, but our focus is always here in Vilamoura.

“During all the different seasons, we always have great numbers of incoming tourists. We have a great offering – it’s affordable for them and they can play a different golf course every single day of the week, and we have some of the best golf courses in the Algarve.

“There is great variety on offer for all levels of player. Of course, people are always keen to play a DP World Tour venue and so the Victoria course is very popular.

Pietro Dal Fabbro, CEO of Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, added: “We started the whole process of changing the mindset of golfers, turning golf into an event for everybody - something that people do to have fun.

“Vilamoura offers great qualities both on the course and off it, and that is why it remains one of Europe’s best destinations where visitors can rely on a first-class experience with great golf and accommodation options at Dom Pedro.”

The Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection is at the heart of Vilamoura’s lively tourist scene, with its quintet of unique courses featuring the Dom Pedro Victoria, an acclaimed par-72 course known as the stage of the Portugal Masters. The Dom Pedro Old Course, Dom Pedro Millennium, Dom Pedro Pinhal and Dom Pedro Laguna complete one of the most well-rounded luxury golf offerings in Europe.

Over 600 rooms across three Dom Pedro hotels provide the ideal place for golfers to stay: Dom Pedro Vilamoura, Dom Pedro Marina and Dom Pedro Portobelo. Each luxurious hotel neighbours the marina and casino, with every Dom Pedro golf course just a short drive away.

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 15
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS

OnCore Igniting ‘DTC’ Golf Ball Category in 2023

There was a time not long ago when direct-to-consumer golf ball companies were few and far between. Golfers would typically buy balls at the local golf shop minutes before teeing off, or at a big box store while shopping for other gear or household items. Entering 2023, however, the “DTC” channel continues to explode as golfers have migrated online to buy golf balls, clubs and apparel.

One of the DTC category leaders over the past decade, OnCore Golf, caught fire in 2022 with the release of two new golf balls. The Buffalo, N.Y.-based company dropped the new ELIXR, a three-piece, 84-compression offering geared toward golfers with driver swing speeds between 85 and 100 mph. And in October, OnCore unveiled the four-piece VERO X2, the follow-up to the wildly successful VERO X1, aimed at players with 110 mph and above swing speeds.

as is Buffalo Bills Quarterback Josh Allen, who also serves at the company’s lead ambassador. Major traction in the DTC golf ball category has ignited OnCore’s foray into adjacent technologies, such as the Golf Boost AI app for virtual golf instruction, a “smart golf ball” that will track myriad performance parameters and a golf and entertainment complex in Buffalo.

Golfers new to OnCore can visit the website, www.oncoregolf. com, for an online ball fitting and receive $10 off their first purchase. And new for 2023, the company will offer a “Performance Pack” with a sleeve each of VERO X1s, VERO X2s, ELIXR 2022s and AVANT 55 (a two-piece Surlyn cover) for just $35.

OnCore offers free shipping on orders over $100 – key for DTC brands looking to steer golfers away from shopping offline. And for golfers who’re all-in on the brand, there’s Club OnCore – an Amazon Prime-like concept offering free shipping, customization, site-wide discounts and deals on other golf and lifestyle products.

First Tee-Naples/Collier announces “Swing Fore the Future” Gala Event on February 13

NAPLES, FL - First Tee-Naples/Collier is pleased to announce that the “Swing Fore the Future” gala event will be held on Monday, February 13, at 6:00 PM. The event will be hosted by the Presenting Sponsor, Arthrex, Inc. at its corporate event center in Naples, Florida. The Swing Fore the Future gala will include cocktails, dinner, and an exciting auction of golf-related auction lots. Special Guests will include PGA Tour and Champions Tour Legends Peter Jacobsen, Bernhard Langer & Padraig Harrington and Golf Channel Host Rich Lerner.

“Working with First Tee-Naples/Collier has opened my eyes to the powerful role we can play in mentoring the next generation of leaders. Each year, 1,000 students are actively engaged in our afterschool golf and character education programs, but limited access to driving ranges and golf courses has inhibited our growth. Fortunately, Collier County has offered us the opportunity to create our own home base – a Learning Center on the site of the old Golden Gate Country Club – and now it’s up to us with the help of our community to raise the funds to build it. We hope The Swing Fore the Future Gala will help us to reach our goal,” Ann Bain, Gala Chair and Board Member.

Proceeds from this event will support the ongoing capital campaign to fund the construction of First Tee Naples/Collier’s New Learning Center. The Learning Center will be part of a larger public golf venue which will include a BigShots Golf Driving Range facility and a 12-hole Nicklaus Designs golf course. Designed Pro Bono by MHK Design and Architecture and Freestyle Interiors, the center is designed with materials that absorb sound, accent lighting that provides a warm atmosphere, and resilient flooring aimed to prevent leg fatigue and will also include golf simulators, a putting area, an outdoor range, stadium seating, classrooms and event space.

The ELIXR 2022 and VERO X2 join OnCore’s AVANT 55, ELIXR and VERO X1 to round out OnCore’s five-ball lineup. The common thread among the portfolio is the company’s proprietary perimeter weighting that pushes mass to the ball’s exterior for less side spin and straighter ball flight across all clubs. Case in point, the VERO X1 tested at 60% less driver side spin than Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x in independent testing by Golf EQ.

Founded over a decade ago, OnCore has fast-tracked its growth through performance on the course and partnerships in the boardroom. Financial legend Charles Schwab is a key investor,

16 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS

This new facility will allow First Tee Naples/Collier to reach many more children from Golden Gate, East Naples, Immokalee, and other communities throughout Collier County. Executive Director Cindy Darland is confident they will be able to double the children served to 2000 within the first three years of the center’s operation. With the Learning Center, children will have a safe place where they can grow, learn, and have fun after school and on weekends. The program teaches children nine core values, valuable life skills and helps them build confidence and develop a positive character that will be beneficial as they step into adulthood.

In addition to the Presenting Sponsor Arthrex, Platinum Sponsors include Benson Blackburn, LLC, DeVoe Automotive Group, and First Foundation Bank. And Golf Digest has come in as a Silver Sponsor.

For more information about the gala event, contact First Tee Naples/Collier’s Executive Director, Cindy Darland at cindy@ firstteenaplescollier.org or call (239) 825-4851.

Introducing Camiral Golf & Wellness: the new name for PGA Catalunya, Spain’s #1 Golf Resort

GIRONA, SPAIN – Camiral Golf & Wellness becomes the new name for Spain’s number one golf resort.

For more than two decades, as PGA Catalunya, home of the revered Stadium Course, consistently ranked among the top 10 courses in Continental Europe, it has been a must-visit destination for discerning international golf travellers.

Now, complemented by the acclaimed Tour Course, Golf Academy and Golf Hub, the European Tour Destination and DP World Tour hosting venue and begins a new journey and a new chapter in its history.

Camiral Golf & Wellness, which combines world class golf, the five-star Hotel Camiral, a state-of-the-art Wellness Centre and award-winning residential community, brings together an array of experiences under one name.

The name Camiral is taken from an ancient Roman Road, the

Camí Ral, meaning Royal Way, connecting France and Spain and which can still be followed on foot or by bicycle through the 500-hectare forested estate.

It is also the name of the resort’s five-star Hotel, which sits at the heart of the property, alongside a new €5 million state-of-the-art Wellness Centre.

Consolidating its position as a unique wellness and leisure destination, Camiral Golf & Wellness will now create a new 3-hectare naturalised lake for waters sports, alongside a 700 square metre swimming pool and Lake Club with restaurant and bar. An initial investment of €8.4 million will see work begin in 2023.

Camiral Golf & Wellness CEO David Plana said: “It is the right time to take this important next step on our journey, reflecting how far we have come as a golf resort and our future as a golf and wellness destination.

“With the support of our proprietors, Denis and Catherine O’Brien, there will be continuity and significant further investment for our two world class golf courses and academy facilities. We will also continue to associate closely with our valued partners, including European Tour Destinations.”

More than €1 million has been invested in golf in the past year, including sustainability measures for the Stadium Course that have reduced water usage by 25%. Camiral Golf & Wellness is one of the few resorts worldwide that employs a full-time biologist to advise on ecological and sustainability management of golf. The resort produces its own honey, grows its own eco-wine and in 2020 achieved the IAGTO Sustainability Award for Nature Protection.

David Plana continued: “Of course, as PGA Catalunya, we have been a familiar name in golf for more than two decades. Now, we have reached an important milestone in our journey. As the world evolves, golf is changing, too, and, more than ever, we can appreciate the value and rarity of our green spaces.

For more information about Camiral Golf & Wellness, please visit www.camiral.com

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 17 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Camiral Golf & Wellness

Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course

CLUB SELECTION
Fun
Enjoyed By All Who Play Here
& Challenging

Most golfers who have followed the PGA TOUR for any length of time are familiar with the name Kenny Perry, after all, he’s won more than 20 professional tournaments on the PGA and PGA Champions Tours. What they may not be aware of is a golf course that Kenny designed and built; he still owns it to this day. I’m talking about Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course in his hometown of Franklin, KY.

Perry literally grew up at Franklin Country Club; his family lived on the golf course. While it was great to have easy access to the course, it frustrated Kenny that it was a private club, which prevented him from inviting friends that weren’t members. He vowed that if he ever made it as a professional golfer, he was going to build a public golf course in Franklin KY where everyone would be welcome.

Kenny spent his high school years golfing at Paxton Park in Paducah, KY, a local municipal course that he loved. When building Country Creek, his goal was to create a course like Paxton Park in Franklin, KY. Perry intentionally designed a friendly, enjoyable course that the average golfer could play in a reasonable amount of time.

Construction of the golf course began in 1992 and it officially opened for play in 1995. Country Creek is built on 300 acres of rolling Kentucky hillside in Franklin, KY. Fairways and greens are vibrant green, lush, and healthy. As Perry says, “There are some tough holes, some drivable holes, and some easy holes. The golf course won’t beat you up; at least it’s not designed to.” Because it is designed for high handicappers in the 15 – 30 range, there is very little trouble on the right side of most holes, making it very slicer friendly. He accomplished his goal of making the course affordable and accessible to everyone with a weekend rate of only $42.00 and an average 18-hole play time of 4 hours and 15 minutes.

Country Creek offers golfers three sets of tees. From the Blue Tees, Country Creek plays 6,633 yards with a course rating of 71.3 and a slope of 122. The White Tees play 5,870 yards (67.8/116) and the Red Tees play 4,901 yards (67.7/113). No matter your level of talent, you’re sure to find a yardage that will make your round enjoyable.

Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Couse has several memorable holes. If I were naming holes, Number 2 would be called “Deception.” It’s a short, 294-yard par 4. The thing about this hole is that the fairway slopes to the right and there are several trees in the landing area; trees that tend to keep golf balls. Keep your ball in play off the tee and you’ll be looking at a short pitch shot into a wellelevated green. There are only a few bunkers on the entire course and two of them guard the right side of this green!

Golf Vacations • January 2023 19 by David Theoret
KENTUCKY
FRANKLIN,

CLUB SELECTION

Number 7 is a short, 470-yard par 5 dogleg left. Most amateur golfers will be best suited to play their tee shot down the right side of the fairway. That will leave a downhill approach shot with a long to mid-iron into a green that slopes front to back. There is a lake behind the green so going long is not an option. From the White Tees, the hole is short and will give up low numbers.

Course knowledge is everything. When I finally caught up with Kenny Perry, he was heading to the 7th tee. To the left of the fairway are a lot of large trees and a barn that has been there since before he bought the property. For most players, your tee shot is a blind shot – unless you’re the guy who built the course and knows where to hit it. Perry took a line directly over the barn and the trees and after he hit it, he knew it was somewhere up around the green. It was a line that the average golfer wouldn’t consider – let alone try and pull off!

The par 3 8th hole plays 199 yards from the Blue Tees. From back here there doesn’t seem to be anything between you and the green; it’s just a long tee shot. Move up to the White Tees (137 yards) and the lake in front of the green comes into full view. Regardless of where you play from, hit a good tee shot

and you’ll be saying “What water?” The green is shallow, so distance control is important. Par is a good score here.

Number 10 is a legitimate par 5. This 473-yard (White Tees) dogleg left starts with a tee shot over a ravine, then it’s two more shots straight away to the green. Hit it straight, keep the ball in play and you can score well.

Number 12 is an interesting tee shot from an elevated tee over a ravine and downhill to a wide-open fairway. From there it’s a short chip shot to an elevated green.

The finishing hole is a 399-yard par 4 that’s a slight dogleg left. Your tee shot plays slightly downhill and then your approach is slightly uphill into a large green that slopes back to front. It’s a fitting end to a great day and also rated the toughest hole on the backside.

Director of Golf Operations, Marty Sharer, is who Perry credits with resurrecting the golf course when they were going through some lean times. Sharer also serves on the County’s Tourism board. The Franklin area is primarily known for three things: The Mint Gaming Hall, which also features a horse racing track, the Dueling Grounds Bourbon Distillery, and Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course.

20 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com

People come from all over to play this golf course and why not? It’s a lot of fun for the average golfer. According to Sharer, they get a lot of play in the spring from northerners who are looking to get on a course after being cooped up for the winter without having to drive to Florida. And with gas prices the way they are these days, who can blame them?

Sharer is often asked about the stay and play packages, but unfortunately, they are not aligned with any other courses or hotels at this time. But look for that to change in the future. Sharer’s parents own The Arling, a wedding and event venue next door, and they plan on building a few cottages for their

FRANKLIN, KENTUCKY

wedding business. Golf packages could help keep them occupied during the week.

The golf course is open year-round, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas, weather permitting. Winter golfers are typically Canadians and those from the northern states that drive south just far enough to play golf without making the pilgrimage to Florida. The course is right off Interstate 65 about 45 minutes from downtown Nashville.

For more information on Kenny Perry’s Country Creek Golf Course or to book your next round of golf, visit them online at www.kpcountrycreek.com.

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 21

Heritage Golf Group

Heritage Golf Group has come a long way since new owners took over the company a couple of years ago. Mark Burnett, Jim Oliver, and Andy Miller have more than 90 years of combined experience in the golf industry, primarily in club acquisition, operations, membership, and redevelopment. Since purchasing Heritage Golf in 2020, they have grown the number of clubs in their portfolio from 6 to 23 with plans to add several more in 2022.

Burnett and Miller came over from ClubCorp, Oliver from Arcis Golf, and along the way, they have cherry-picked top personnel from their previous companies to form a “supergroup” of club management and staff. Many of the people I met and spoke with in my tour of their three southwest Florida clubs were from one of the two companies.

Head south along the I-75 corridor in Florida and you’ll

encounter three of Heritage’s top-notch private golf clubs: TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, home to an 18-hole Ron Garl championship golf course and an 18-hole Robert Von Hagge layout, the Chip Powell-designed Venetian Golf Club in Venice with its generous fairways framed with natural-looking mounds and strategically placed bunkers and another 27hole Chip Powell layout in Fort Myers at the Club at Pelican Preserve.

TPC Prestancia is part of the legendary Tournament Players Club Network. It’s located in Palmer Ranch, one of the most successful master-planned communities on Florida’s West Coast, and is the centerpiece of fourteen exclusive residential communities within the gates. Besides 36 holes of championship golf, the community boasts an assortment of recreational facilities that will meet the exercise needs of just

22 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com

A Trio of Premier Private Clubs in Southwest Florida

about anyone with several swimming pools, as well as health and fitness facilities.

The Stadium Course was designed by Ron Garl and TOUR Player Mike Souchak. Since opening in 1985, the course has hosted PGA Senior events including 8 Chrysler Cup Tournaments and 5 American Express Invitational Championships. PGA TOUR greats such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and Chi Chi Rodriguez, have all played here.

Inspired by TPC Sawgrass, the course allows for gallery viewing along the hills that line the expansive fairways. Even though the back tees measure 6,941 yards from the Black Tees the course is more about shot-making than “grip it and rip it.” The scorecard shows 8 different yardages for men and women so everyone can play from a suitable distance and still leave

with a little dignity. The Stadium Course is a favorite of both members and guests.

The 18th hole will put your shot-making abilities to the test. The hole plays 363 yards from the Blue Tees and most players will hit something less than a driver off the tee. Hit your tee shot too far right and you’ll be blocked out by trees. A well-executed tee shot of about 230 yards will leave around 140-150 yards over water into a green that is very wide, not very deep, and fronted by a waste bunker along the water’s edge. It’s a tremendous but fair finishing hole.

The 2nd course at TPC Prestancia is The Players Course which was once part of The Country Club of Sarasota. It was designed by legendary golf architect, Robert Von Hagge, and PGA TOUR player Bruce Devlin. Here you’ll find holes lined with giant oaks, doglegs in both directions, and a few forced

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 23
The Club at Pelican Preserve

carries over the wet stuff. During the 2017-2018 season, the course underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and provides an enjoyable experience for all who play.

The clubhouse is undergoing a renovation of its own and is currently in Phase II. The goal is to create a space that combines Florida’s sunshine and vibrant color palette with classic architecture, creating a place where members can dine, entertain, and socialize. Upgrades are being made to both the Sandhill Grille and the main dining room. The practice facilities are also getting an overhaul and will feature a full-length driving range, short game areas, and chipping and putting greens. The new putting course will mimic every putt you will encounter during your round.

A few exits south on I-75 you’ll find the Venetian Golf Club. Venetian offers one of the area’s most dynamic golf experiences and has by far one of the most interesting greens I have ever played on. The Club opened in 2003 and was designed by native Floridian Chip Powell. According to a few members I spoke with including “The Mayor,” the course was in pretty rough shape when the new Heritage Golf Group stepped in and immediately spent more than $1 million on course improvements. The Mayor remarked that “General Manager Jay Pittman and his staff have done a remarkable job of restoring the club to its former glory.”

The course offers generous fairways that are framed with mounds, grassy hollows, and strategically placed bunkers. The TifEagle greens roll firm and true and are a joy to putt on. It’s a course that will test all aspects of your game: mental, physical, shot-making, and, of course, putting!

Speaking of putting, I have never encountered a green that rivals the 11th. It’s a “Biarritz” green, which I believe is a foreign word for “golf roller coaster!” The hole is a par 3

24 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
TPC Prestancia

which plays 178 yards into a long narrow green that looks like someone dug a channel through the middle of it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s meticulously maintained, but if the pin is in the back and you don’t bother to check your yardage before your tee shot, you can end up on the front of the green. From up here, the putt requires almost a full hip turn to make it down the hill and back up the hill to the proper level. It’s one of the most enjoyable par 3s I’ve ever played.

The Club at Pelican Preserve is a private, gated community that features indoor and outdoor dining areas, a fitness center, and private event spaces. The centerpiece of the community is 27 holes of championship golf designed by Chip Powell. As you play your way around any of the three 9-hole layouts, you’ll notice that everything is natural. Whether it’s a nature preserve or one of the many water hazards you play around, or one of the many sand and grass hollows you’ll see, everything seems like it was meant to be there. Meticulously maintained fairways with generous landing areas lead to TifEagle “Ultradwarf” greens with gentle undulations and contours. Each of the nines will challenge you but not beat you up!

The practice facilities at The Club consist of a full-length aqua range and practice greens with bunkers so that you can work on all facets of your short game. As a Member, you’ll enjoy the convenience of golf club storage, club cleaning, and repair.

Of course, membership does have its privileges. Heritage Golf Group’s portfolio of courses and private clubs extends well beyond Florida and into North and South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, New York, and New Jersey. Heritage takes the club experience to the highest level by offering golf members, experiences at all of their private, resort, and daily fee facilities by upgrading to the Heritage Plus membership, which is currently in pilot at three clubs with plans to roll out to all participating Heritage clubs later this fall. There is an upper-tier category available at the TPC facility in Sarasota or Tampa, where you can also be part of the TPC Passport program with benefits that reach far beyond your home club to such places as TPC Sawgrass and TPC Scottsdale. For a complete list of all of the clubs within the rapidly growing Heritage Golf Group’s portfolio or to learn how to become a member, visit their website at www.heritagegolfgroup.com.

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 25
Venetian Golf Club

Quivira Golf Course A Baja Golf Thrill Ride

Our group had just finished putting out on Quivira Golf Course’s 13th hole when it happened. My playing partner pointed toward the Pacific Ocean and yelled, “Look at that!”

Dozens of stingrays were jumping and clapping on the ocean surface. It was almost as if they were congratulating my golf mate for his up and down from the sand trap.

We had spotted two humpback whales earlier in our round, but they were like specs in the distance. This aquatic phenomenon was more up close and personal. The stingrays were dancing about 100-yards out from the 13th hole putting green. It felt like we were witnessing the stingray version of a Cirque du Soleil performance.

Quivira- The Drama Builds Let’s back up and start at the beginning. Even before your round, the Jack Nicklaus-designed Quivira Golf Course delivers major clues that something special may occur. The Steakhouse & 19th Hole Bar next to the pro shop grabs you with a first glimpse of the ocean as a backdrop. You make a mental note that following your round it would be a shame to not reconnect with this amazing patio view.

When you head to the driving range you are again swept away by the ocean’s magnificence to your right. Straight ahead, you warm up by hitting golf balls into a view framed by a mountain range that would make a National Geographic photographer drool.

Service is 5-star at Quivira. While practicing, you glance back and notice an attendant is quietly cleaning off the wedge you just finished hitting. For those looking to rent clubs, Quivira carries the latest edition of Taylor Made woods, irons, and putters.

Front nine – Stairway to Heaven

After a couple of ocean glimpses on holes one through four, the trek to the 5th hole tee box is the stuff of legends. Set your watch, you’re driving your golf cart for just under five minutes as you launch straight up the mountainside.

It is worth the wait, because before teeing it up on the 310-yard, Par 4, 5th hole, there are refreshments and a spectacular view to be had. That’s right, Quivira offers up a comfort station with a fully stocked bar and tasty morning appetizers. For those who crave dessert, the comfort station delivers a delicious view – a panoramic

28 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 29

wall-to-wall seascape of the Pacific Ocean. This is an only in the Baja kind of moment.

Whether your choice of liquid courage is a Mango Margarita, a Bay Breeze, or a top-shelf double shot of Posadas tequila, steel yourself for the upcoming tee shot. The 5th hole is an Instagram and YouTube favorite with its death-defying cliff and ocean view to your left. What this hole lacks in length, it more than makes up for it with the steepest right to left incline. Even a simple greenside chip is a test of your nerves on this beautiful Par 4.

Follow the Lighthouse to the Good Life As you begin transitioning from the front nine to back nine, you ask about the lighthouse located between the 8th and 9th holes. In Spanish, it’s called El Faro Viejo. You learn it was built in 1905, and it’s the southern Baja’s oldest standing structure. The vertical fortress also serves as the symbol for Quivira Los Cabos’ newest luxurious private home development which is currently under construction.

Yet another comfort station greets golfers at the Par 5, 554-yard, 10th hole. You ask the bartender for the Spanish words for “good life.” He responds with a smile and replies, “Buena Vida.” You drain a cold Pacifica cerveza and ponder that Quivira is as Buena Vida as it gets.

Quivira’s back nine returns to the ocean with the massive zigzagging 625-yard 12th hole. After a well-placed tee shot to avoid the fairway bunkers on the right, your second shot soars down a Paspalum ski

slope pummeling straight down to the Pacific Ocean. The green is tucked left behind a bunker. After holing out, you notice two spear fishermen doing their thing along the shoreline below. Could this be the fresh catch on tonight’s dinner menu?

Butterflies, Boulders, and Best Golf Moment

At the Par 4, 493-yard 17th hole, you’ll find a final comfort station. This alfresco watering hole is the perfect venue for quenching your thirst and admiring another elevated epic view. To your right, you notice a family of Monarch butterflies hovering overhead. The bartender shares that in Mexican culture, butterflies are believed to be ancestors communicating comfort, hope, and positivity. On this poignant thought, you reflect that your Quivira experience has been all this and more.

As you approach your second shot, you encounter a pile of boulders stacked precariously on top of one another. You learn that during Quivira’s construction and layout, Nicklaus chose to maintain this statuesque boulder formation. You couldn’t agree more with Jack’s decision to embrace Los Cabos’ natural beauty. Jack rocks!

After shaking hands with your playing partners on the 18th green, in chorus your foursome chimes that Quivira was a special golf experience. As you look out at the Pacific, you wonder if the sting rays will perform again. Then you realize that your 13th hole marine moment was just like Nicklaus’ Quivira … one of a kind!

https://www.quiviraloscabos.com/golf

30 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com
www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 31

SWEETSTUFF

“Player 2 always comes through.” Try again because the next shot just might be “the one.” That is golf. And that’s how AJ, Bill and David came up with the name Player2.

From that encounter came the offbeat name and brand that has produced some very well-made polos, vests, hats, T-shirts, hoodies and accessories. Right now, it’s primarily men’s products, but eventually the company would like to add a women’s and kids’ lineup.

For such a newcomer to the golf scene, Player2 has produced some very stylish, comfortable and well-made garments with the type of soft feel, color combinations and functionality that normally comes with many years in the business.

Advances such as the Brrº Technology –Player 2 uses Brrº Triple Chill technology in its garments, which is proven to keep golfers cooler. Brrº has exclusive, patented yarns and the specialized manufacturing techniques combine natural cooling minerals, active wicking and rapid drying technology to create a Triple Chill Effect for an instant and permanent cooling sensation that won’t ever fade or wash out.

“Our designers looked to timeless and classic,” noted Romeo. “We set out to expand our polo portfolio by adding more colorways and styles that can be worn on the course, at the office, on the beach or at dinner. We are especially excited about the new Player2 premium performance hoodie which comes in three colorways.”

For cool, winter weather, the brand’s first premium performance hoodie exudes performance, style and comfort all in one. It is available in three colorways – Midnight Sky (navy), Island Fog (Dark Gray) and Island Mist (Light heather gray) and features a 2-pocket front with the brand’s hero blue brand accents and a silicone brand mark on the left sleeve. Player 2 designers eliminated the draw strings to avoid distractions during the golf swing. The Player2 premium hoodie is suitable for the golfer who shoots par, drops another--or who casually wants to wear it with their favorite denims.

Player2 Apparel

It isn’t too often when it comes to golf apparel that tradition gets along with quirkiness and outside the box thinking—but a newcomer to the clothing side of the sport has done just that—with magnificent results.

Player2 describes itself as a lighthearted yet classic men’s golf apparel brand—with the logo and slogan: “Drop Another” to signify the age-old mulligan or do-over.

The brand was founded just a year ago by three successful businessmen: David Petrie – Co-founder of Blue Buffalo Co.-Natural Pet foods; Co-Founder Sobe Beverages; Bill McGarry--Sr. VP, Advertising Sales + Strategic Partnerships at AccuWeather and AJ Romeo--Owner of the sports marketing firm, Barnburner Marketing. Each of them is passionate about the game—but appreciate all the imperfections that come with it. A golf shot is rarely perfect - yet there’s an addiction that can come with it.

The concept started with an early morning tee time. When AJ hit it off the tee, it was clear that his ball was lost. Bill, his buddy, said “drop another!” AJ did and striped it down the middle. Bill then said,

Player2’s newest addition to its performance polo line-up is the Drop Another polo that features four-way stretch technology for better mobility and utilizes Player2’s Brrrº Triple Chill Effect technology for ultimate comfort. It comes in two colorways-- National White and Sunny Blue-- and highlights a repeatable Player2 brand mark.

For a new golf clothing brand, Player2 is off to a fast start.

Find Player2 on the web at: https://player2.com

32 Golf Vacations • January 2023 www.golfvacationsmag.com

SWEETSTUFF

Life Signs

With a New Year breaking it is time for many golfers to change-up the scenery around their castle—and Mark Bernegger has the perfect accessory to add some spice to any player’s décor.

His new product line called “LifeSigns” is just that. They are technically signs but designed to be hung as artwork—and they are sure to be a conversation piece! Bernegger designs his pieces around what people are passionate about, and his golf creation is sure to be a conversation piece at home, office, vacation spot, clubhouse or at the local watering hole. It can fit in at a lot of places.

Goose Travel App

If the just-completed holiday season has shown us anything, it is that you must be prepared when traveling. From extreme weather to airline snafus—anything can happen.

Goose Insurance Services is now providing travelers with travel insurance policies at their fingertips 24/7 with a travel app that can provide emergency medical insurance, Covid-19 insurance and trip protection coverage that can reimburse you for your pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs (like airfare or accommodations), if travel plans are cancelled or interrupted due to one of the reasons listed on your plan’s policy.

The Goose app, available on the App Store or Google Play, offers travel medical insurance at your fingertips with instant policies. Goose Insurance provides easy to understand coverage. Many travelers do not realize that their regular healthcare coverage stops when travelling outside their healthcare network, state and United States. Having a travel medical insurance policy can potentially save you from paying thousands of dollars in medical bills if an accident or illness occurs.

“Travel medical insurance policies help to protect you when unexpected emergencies or accidents occur”, said Dejan Mirkovic, Co-Founder for Goose Insurance Services Inc. “A vacation should be worry-free and buying travel medical insurance provides peace of mind if an unexpected medical emergency arises while you are away from home--you are covered.”

U.S.

The golf LifeSigns are handcrafted in the USA, all steel, and have a hammered copper finish. Measuring 12”w x 38” high and weighing thirteen pounds, LifeSigns are more like artwork than a sign. The letters are machine milled and accented in black-- and the shape of the frame gives it a 3-D look on the wall. Decorative hardware lines the side adding even more flair. The artwork is meticulously designed and produced and ready to hang on the wall. Perfect for adding flair to any room.

LifeSigns is part of Bernegger’s new company called Whitetail Windows that he recently started after a varied career as a pilot for FedEx and a hunting and fishing products firm that he sold after 22 years in the business.

For more information email: marksbernegger@gmail.com

For less than $100 per year, you can travel worry-free during these unprecedented times with Covid-19 insurance that covers up to $500,000 worldwide for emergency travel medical expenses relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, when you travel outside of the U.S. The yearly plan includes unlimited trips of 30 days or less. It also includes meals and accommodation benefits if you must quarantine when traveling outside of the U.S.

“Medical emergencies overseas can be very expensive. Depending on the country you’re in, medical evacuations can end up costing around $100,000 and average hospital stays can be around $60,000 if not more” added Mirkovic. “I advise everyone to get travel medical insurance when traveling because you never know what could happen and you certainly don’t want to come home with a big medical bill from your vacation.”

To learn more visit: www.gooseinsurance.com

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • January 2023 33
The Goose App provides 24/7 emergency travel insurance whether you are travelling within the USA or outside of the USA. American citizens and residents are covered for emergency medical expenses related to accidents and medical emergencies experienced while traveling outside your home state--or outside the

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.