OUR 18th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS JULY 2019
DISCOVER CANADA’S
VANCOUVER ISLAND GOLF TRAIL
DREAMING BIG IN THE BAHAMAS
OCEAN CLUB GC
Golf Vacations July 2019 1 Plus: CLUB SELECTION: WOLF POINT RANCH IN •TEXAS
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GOLF VACATIONS JULY 2019
Ocean Club GC, Paradise Island, Bahamas
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Chip Shots
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Discover Canada’s Vancouver Island Golf Trail
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Dreaming Big in the Bahamas: Ocean Club GC
The Vancouver Island Golf Trail is not the first golf “trail” to be created. That honour goes to the tremendously successful Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Since 1990, when the RTJ Trail was born, many other “trails” have been charted and mapped.
by Tim Cotroneo
Gumbo Limbo, reef sharks, and Justin Rose are all woven into the fabric of an 18-hole round at the beautiful Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Ocean Club delivers non-stop landscape visuals, only in the Caribbean back stories, and an upscale island vibe that is pure Bahamian.
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Club Selection: Wolf Point Ranch
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Sweet Stuff
by David R. Holland
Wolf Point Ranch’s fairways are wide and rumpled as an unmade bed, and the wild contours on the greens will make you pay. Like in golf’s olden days it plays firm and fast. But that’s a mere percentage of what this secretive course is all about. Today, this 2008 Mike Nuzzo-designed course with Don Mahaffey responsible for several duties, is for sale, the mystery is being revealed -- somewhat.
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
S
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
Sir Nick Bestows Signature Design Status on Laguna Golf Lăng Cô
View over the 10th hole at the Faldo Signature Design Laguna Golf Lang Cô
Golden Bridge tourist attraction in Bà Nà Hills resort, near Da Nang
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Faldo Signature Design Laguna Golf Lang Cô plays host to the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final
LAGUNA Golf Lang Cô, the awardwinning golf component at the Laguna Lang Cô integrated project in Central Vietnam, has become the first fully operational course in the world to be elevated into a new elite category by its designer Sir Nick Faldo. The British legend, a six-time major winner and prolific course architect, sees Laguna Golf Lang Cô as his flagship layout in Asia. Opened in 2013, the stunning course makes full use of the property’s amazing location sandwiched between the ocean and the mountains, with play incorporating rice paddies, jungle and coastal holes. The track has earned widespread acclaim over the years, garnering numerous awards and cementing itself as home of the annual Faldo Series Asia Grand Final -- one of the world’s most respected showcases for young players. News that the layout has been named a Sir Nick Faldo Signature course is sure to further enhance its appeal to golfers. The new Sir Nick Faldo Signature category will only be applied to Faldo courses -- both existing and forthcoming
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-- that match then maintain their designer’s famously exacting standards across a range of markers including sustainability, conservation, and quality of design. “Being elevated in status like this really speaks volumes of our ongoing commitment to realising Sir Nick’s vision,” said Adam Calver, Director of Golf at Laguna Golf Lang Cô. A mantra of continual improvement has been ingrained at Laguna Golf Lang Cô under the stewardship of Calver. And it is this philosophy that has helped it secure its position as one of Faldo’s most lauded masterpieces. Calver and his team have made numerous improvements to the layout in recent times. New tees have been added, providing alternative challenges for golfers. Trees have been cleared on the coastal holes, opening up views of the beach and the East Sea. Also eye-catching has been the introduction and reintroduction of rice paddies on the course, with four hectares of rice fields right in the middle of the course tended to by a family of water buffalo who act as “bio-mowers”. “From the first time I came here when
it was still jungle almost 10 years ago, I’ve always considered it a unique place,” said Faldo. “We knew the course was going to be different and special because you play through different environments. You go through the rice fields to the jungle. Then we’ve got beach and river and rocks. It really is a special course, with a memorability factor that is sure to keep golfers interested.” Laguna Golf Lang Cô is part of Laguna Lang Cô, one of the most far-reaching integrated resorts in Southeast Asia. The 280-hectare community, which marks the first project in Vietnam for Banyan Tree Group, is framed by jungle clad mountains and a three-kilometre beach running alongside the East Sea. Laguna Lang Cô echoes the sustainability ethos of Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree’s flagship integrated resort community in southern Thailand. In addition to Laguna Golf Lang Cô, the development includes Banyan Tree and Angsana branded hotels and spas, private villas and residences, convention facilities and a plethora of recreational activities for guests of all ages.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”
shot ended up in the hole. I guess it proved what my dad said to me when I first began playing, ‘it’s not how but how many.’” Miller is known as the “Traveling Guy” and is a featured writer with this publication, Golf Vacations Magazine. He once visited, and played golf in, every state during a calendar year, writing a book on his journey. According to Miller, he’s had one other hole-in-one in his career, which happened 45 years ago. If this wasn’t enough, Miller claims to have shot his age two days before his holes-in-one feat. The man is clearly a legend. Or, to some jealous golfers, the bane of their existence.
Bay Harbor, Heather at Boyne Highlands Layouts Ranked Among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses
Golf Vacations Magazine Features Writer, 81-year-old Chuck miller, makes two aces in six-hole stretch To all cursed hackers who have never made a hole-in-one, let this be your sign of hope. On second thought, hide your eyes. Last week 81-year-old Chuck Miller made two aces at the Cortez Course in Hot Springs, Ark. The first came on the 12th hole, a 135yard par 3, the second at the 138-yard 17th. In both instances, Miller used a 6 iron. “When the first one went in on the 12th hole, I was really excited,”Miller told KARK.com. “It was a great shot over the front bunker onto the green; it bounced once or twice and went into the cup. We all jumped and shouted.” But—and here’s where we’d advise all “1”-less golfers to avoid sharp objects—Miller conceded the second was “a total fluke.” “I sculled my tee shot on 17. It never got much off the ground and hit the ground only about 70 or 80 yards from the tee,” Miller said. “Since the ground was dry and the hill sloped downwards, the ball continued to roll. It rolled past the front left bunker guarding the green and rolled onto the green. Once the ball got onto the green, one of my playing partners yelled it’s going to go into the hole – and damned if it didn’t. I was thrilled but couldn’t believe such a lousy
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PETOSKEY, MI – BOYNE Golf, one of the largest and most-lauded golf resort companies in the U.S. is pleased to announce that two of its acclaimed resort golf courses have been ranked on Golf Digest’s 2019 - 2020 list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Heather at Boyne Highlands Resort joins the distinguished roster for the first time while the 18-hole Links/Quarry pairing at Bay Harbor Golf Club has been a staple on the list since 2003. Golf Digest uses nearly 1,000 low-handicap male and female golfers on its Course Ranking Panel and asked each to submit ballots based on eight criteria including shot options, challenge, layout variety, distinctiveness, aesthetics, conditioning, character, and fun. The Heather, the 2019 National Golf Course Owner’s Association Course of the Year, was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and was one of the courses that put northern Michigan on the map as a premier travel destination. The Arthur Hills-designed Bay Harbor Golf Club opened in 1999 and, according to Golf Digest, was praised as one of the “New Pebble Beaches” along with Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits. Both properties are must-plays on a northern Michigan golf trip. “It’s a great honor to be recognized again by Golf Digest,” Bernie Friedrich, Boyne Resort’s Senior Vice President of Golf Operations, said. “The Heather and the Links/Quarry combo are two very different courses, but the fantastic variety of unique golf offerings has been our calling card at our Boyne properties, so we’re extremely pleased the Digest panel agrees.” Boyne Highlands Resort, rated the No. 1 Golf Resort for Value by Golf.com, features 72 holes of premier golf design, including The Heather and Arthur Hills courses (crafted by Arthur Hills). In addition, the resort features the Donald Ross Memorial, which is a rendition of the legendary architect’s great holes from around the country, and the always-fun Moor course. The Highlands is the perfect buddy trip destination for golfers who like to play as many holes as they can during the long summer daylight hours northern Michigan features. The scenic Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club, located along a five-mile stretch of Lake Michigan in northern Michigan, was recognized by the editors as one of the best resorts in the Midwest region. Complementing the beautiful Inn at Bay Harbor are 45 scenic golf holes overlooking Lake Michigan. Bay Harbor Golf Club (Golf Digest Top 100 Public Course) features 27 holes designed by Arthur Hills, which plays as three different course combinations. The (Links/ Quarry, Quarry/Preserve, Preserve/Links) combinations meander along the bluffs of Lake Michigan, trek through a rugged old limestone quarry, and wander through beautiful northern Michigan hardwoods. Crooked Tree Golf Club is perched on bluffs high above Bay Harbor. The course was sculpted through century-old hardwoods and the back nine opens to breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan. For more information, visit BOYNEGolf.com
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
Briar’s Creek Hole No. 2
The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek Unveils Stateof-the-Art Performance Center JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. – The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek celebrated the grand opening of the Robert C. McNair Performance Center, a high-tech practice facility dedicated to improving members’ golf game and experience. Named after late entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert C. “Bob” McNair, the performance center is part of a recently announced two-year, $6-million renovation plan for the club’s golf course and facilities. The private golf club is majority-owned by McNair Interests, a private investment and management company founded by Bob McNair, who passed away in November 2018. Bob’s wife, Janice McNair, attended the June 24 grand opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting, along with son Cal McNair and his wife Hannah and grandchildren Robert, Calhoun, Michael and Hunter Grace. The new 1,000-square-foot facility features a dedicated putting room, a hitting bay equipped with cameras and top-of-the-line swing and ball flight monitors and a club-fitting room to ensure members are outfitted with the proper equipment. The center also includes a cuttingedge course simulator, which allows members to practice virtually on real courses throughout the U.S. “The Robert C. McNair Performance Center will allow members of The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek to refine their skills under the direction of top instructors, combining state-of-the-art equipment with personalized training,” said Clint Wood, general manager at The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek. The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek also announced the hiring of Hank Smith as the Director of Instruction. Smith will manage the performance center and will oversee training. Smith is the former Director of Golf and Lead Golf Instructor at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island in Georgia.
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Future club enhancements include the addition of three on-site guest cottages and a total renovation of the club’s golf course, which will take place in spring and summer of 2020, respectively.
July Is “Family Golf Month” At Troon-Affiliated Courses Scottsdale, AZ – July is “Troon Family Golf Month” at Troonaffiliated facilities around the world. Throughout the month, many Troon courses will feature family-oriented instructional programs, clinics, events and tournaments. Examples of Troon Family Golf Month activities include: Hiddenbrooke Golf Club – Vallejo, Calif.: To celebrate Troon Family Golf Month, Hiddenbrooke Golf Club will have a Family Golf Tournament on July 24th at 3 PM. The four-person scramble tournament will played from the course’s shorter family tees and will have on-course contests and prizes. Juniors play for free with adults just $25. In addition, throughout the month of July, juniors can play for free any time after 12 noon when playing with a paying adult. Those interested can register in the Hiddenbrooke golf shop or by calling 707-558-0330. Highland Park Golf – Birmingham, Ala.: Throughout the month of July, Highland Park Golf Course will be offering complimentary 30 minute Family Golf Clinics. Clinics are for all ages and skill levels and complimentary junior clubs are available for everyone. Call 205322-1902 or email paul.killgallon@honoursgolf.com to register. Kahili Golf Club – Waikapu, Hawaii: To celebrate Ohana Golf Month, Kahili Golf Club is offering an Ohana Play Package in which two adults and two juniors can play for $125 after 12 PM in July. For more information, visit Kahiligolf.com. Troon North Golf Club – Scottsdale, Ariz.: Troon North will have a Parent/Child 9-hole golf tournament on Saturday, July 27th at 5
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS PM. The four-person scramble tournament includes golf, a golf cart, range balls, on-course contests and prizes and a post-tournament burger buffet dinner. The cost is $30 (plus tax) per adult and $10 (plus tax) per junior. Call 480-419-5367 or email bgifford@troon. com to register to play. Visit www.troon.com/troon-family-golf or call the Troon club nearest you to learn more about specific Troon Family Golf Month programs. For more information on all of Troon’s “grow the game” initiatives, visit www.PlayTroon.com.
Project Golf Expands Its “Introduction To Golf Series” MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Project Golf, a Myrtle Beach-based initiative dedicated to growing the game by increasing access to facilities and quality instruction, is bringing its “Introduction to Golf” series to three more Grand Strand courses this summer. Barefoot Resort (Mondays), True Blue Golf Club (Tuesdays) and Blackmoor Golf Club (Wednesdays) will each host “An Introduction to Golf,” beginning mid-July and running through the middle of August. The six-week series will focus on everything from booking a tee
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time and using the bag drop to on-course playing lessons, laying the foundation for new golfers to enjoy the game. Each session is limited to 21 students and they will be divided into three groups, moving through stations that focus on the short game, putting and the full swing. “Our team of PGA professionals takes the time to work with each student and ensure they understand key concepts and can execute the golf swing,” said Gene Augustine, the director of Project Golf. “What I really love about the program are the social connections it creates. Project Golf facilitates an enduring relationship between players and the game by cultivating a pool of new-golfers students can play with, by providing discounted tee times, and by creating Project Golf play dates at local courses.” Each session will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and be led by PGA professionals. The cost of “An Introduction to Golf” is $120 and golf equipment will be provided. Project Golf launched “An Introduction to Golf” at Arrowhead Country Club and Prestwick Country Club this spring, and the sold-out sessions were a hit. To register for “An Introduction to Golf” program, please visit ProjectGolf.org/introduction. For more information, contact Gene Augustine at 843-282-2668 or via email at gene.augustine@projectgolf.org.
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Discover
Vancouver Isl
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Canada’s
land Golf Trail www.golfvacationsmag.com
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he Vancouver Island Golf Trail is not the first golf “trail” to be created. That honour goes to the tremendously successful Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Since 1990, when the RTJ Trail was born, many other “trails” have been charted and mapped. There are golf trails in many different states, many countries, including such unlikely locales as North Dakota and Arkansas. This much is true: there are many golf-rich destinations, many “trails,” that adventure-seeking golfers can dream about and explore. So what makes the Vancouver Island Golf Trail extra special? When it’s all said and done, what makes this 13-course, 155 mile (250-kilometre) trail one of the greatest? Well, for starters, it’s on Vancouver Island on the west coast of beautiful British Columbia. And that kind of head start is almost unfair. Voted by Condé Nast readers as the top island destination in North America for numerous years, Vancouver Island is a 342 mile (550-kilometre) long playground of the utmost beauty. Amidst the giant cedar and fir trees, the charming seaside towns, the harbours, the gardens, there is a lifetime’s worth of attractions and activities. Whale watching, salmon fishing, hiking, sailing, ocean kayaking, mountaineering, antiquing – and, of course, golfing – have all made this island what it is: simply one of the finest vacation destinations in the world. 16 Golf Vacations • July 2019
Mile 0 of the Vancouver Island Golf Trail is anchored in Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. Consider the temperate climate, the hundreds of species of fauna and flora and you’ve got yourself a botanical utopia throughout the entire city as well as the infamous and regal Butchart Gardens, located just a short ride from Victoria’s famed inner harbour. Victoria, a city teeming with old-world charm, and new world vibe, has more restaurants per capita than most, a craft beer scene worth your venture, amazing boutique shopping, and truly much to explore. But now it’s time to dream a little golf - the real reason why a visit to the island has been drifting through your mind. There is no better initiation to this journey than the amazing Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria. Bear Mountain boasts Canada’s only 36 hole Nicklaus Design golf facility, complemented with the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa Victoria, miles of hiking and biking trails and new, as of 2018 eight red-clay tennis courts. The signature Mountain Course tumbles through a rugged mountainous setting. Shooting up the slopes of Mount Finlayson, with glorious views of Victoria and across the Salish Sea to the Olympic Mountains of Washington State, the layout at Bear Mountain is an exhilarating ride that will be seared in your memory for years. “There are 18 signature holes,” says Jack. Sounds like a cliché – that is, until you play it. www.golfvacationsmag.com
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Following his win at the PGA TOUR Champions Pacific Links Championship in 2016, Colin Montgomerie commented “I speak on behalf of all the players in saying that we were all enamoured with the place. We talk about that billion-dollar view from the 14th hole there, overlooking Canada, America and the city of Victoria — it was a marvellous place.” After exploring Victoria’s inner harbour, a place renowned for its charming restaurants, grand hotels, museums, boutiques, craft beer and street entertainment, you’ll want to test your game at a couple of other great courses in the area – Olympic View Golf Club, Highland Pacific, and Arbutus Ridge. Speaking of dream-like swings, when he was an amateur, Tiger Woods made a trip to Victoria and played Olympic View. Impressed with the layout, but none too intimidated by it, Tiger blasted a tee shot of ridiculous length on the closing hole, easily knocked his ball onto the par-5 green in two, and made a ho-hum eagle. Besides the waterfalls, rock bluffs, and the spirited route, it’s worth experiencing this course just to try and pull off some Tiger-like magic of your own! From Victoria, the trail heads north, along the scenic Island Highway and over the Malahat. A round at Arbutus Ridge - which is on the way to The Warm Land (Cowichan) - is a reminder that you are, indeed, on a trail of supreme beauty. By now, you’re getting accustomed to the dazzling shorelines that are christened with water-smoothed rock. You’ve seen moss-coated trees hanging above the foamy sea. You’ve witnessed a fiery sunset over a harbour swarming with sails. You’re beginning to see that you chose the right trail. About 37 miles - 60 kilometres north of Victoria, tucked in a gorgeous valley known as The Warm Land - from the First Nations Coast Salish, who named the area Quw’utsun’ or Cowichan, meaning “land warmed by the sun” - begins with a round at the Cowichan Golf Club. The pastoral golf experience speaks volumes about the easy-paced lifestyle that’s ingrained on the island.
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A warm and friendly place with outstanding playing conditions and just the right amount of challenge on this distinctly classic course with tree-lined holes and smallish greens. (Tip: Before playing in The Warm Land, head to the Cherry Point Vineyards and grab a shot – or two - of their award-winning Blackberry Port, then watch yourself play the golf of your dreams.) After a gorgeous 1-hour drive, you’ll come to the Parksville and Qualicum Beach area. Here you can sample a fantastic trio of courses – and explore one of the finest marine environments on the island. Fairwinds Golf & Country Club, Pheasant Glen & Eaglecrest, are all ripe with character and provide for excellent golf experiences. Designed by architect Les Furber, Fairwinds is a tucked-away haven that caters to boating enthusiasts and golf-lovers alike. The 18-hole layout at Fairwinds is easily one of the most scenic courses on the island. Perhaps overlooked because it plays just under 6,200 yards, Fairwinds is the type of golf course that rewards smart shotmaking, not brute strength. Before you depart your beachfront accommodation, like that found at Tigh-na-mara Seaside Spa Resort, be sure to sample more of the bounty of the Island with a tasting tour of locally crafted creations at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. You will be glad you did. At mile 139 (kilometre 224) from Victoria, you’ll have reached the North Central Island and Courtenay BC. Crown Isle Resort, which quite possibly features the grandest clubhouse in Canada, can certainly be a highlight on the trail. Here architect Graham Cooke sculpted a superb track that flows through spindly pines and gently rolling terrain. Beautifully shaped with plenty of variety, Crown Isle is, according to SCOREGolf Magazine, one of the top-100 courses in the Nation. Staying course-side in a luxury villa is definitely the way to go! Further north still in beautiful Campbell River, golfers will find Storey Creek Golf Club - one of Les Furber’s finest, the recently renovated Campbell River Golf & Country Club and a short ferry ride or water taxi away - Quadra Island Golf Club. Storey Creek offers one of those rare experiences where every hole is totally isolated is truly a course in nature Those looking to play a course that fully engages modern technology and state of the art facilities, look no further than Campbell River Golf & Country Club. Their motto of Golf #FOREveryone is truly the way the future of golf is heading. The Vancouver Island Golf Trail is all about great golf on one of the world’s most sought after islands. With all that this Pacific paradise has to offer, the Vancouver Island Golf Trail will surely be considered one of the best golf adventures to be found. Anywhere. And, regardless of the courses you play, the stops you make, you’ll be able to lie down at the end of a memorable day, pull the covers over your eyes, and, very happily, dream a little dream. For more information on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail, visit https://golfvancouverisland.ca www.golfvacationsmag.com
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Dreaming Big
at Ocean Club Golf Co
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ourse in the Bahamas
By Tim Cotroneo
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G
umbo Limbo, reef sharks, and Justin Rose are all woven into the fabric of an 18-hole round at the beautiful Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Ocean Club delivers non-stop landscape visuals, only in the Caribbean back stories, and an upscale island vibe that is pure Bahamian. Prepare to witness the Caribbean Sea on each of Ocean Club’s sunsplashed 18 holes. Your golf adventure becomes especially interesting on the seven holes that touch this photo worthy turquoise sea. These are the same multi-layered shades of blue that draw seven million tourists to the island each year, only this time in a golf environment. Ocean Club welcomes golfers at the pro shop and restaurant deck with a sweeping left to right view of the 18th green, ninth green, 11th green and 10th tee box. General Manager Robbie Leming elbowed a first time Ocean Club golfer staring wide-eyed at this scene and said, “How can you not love this?” Names in the Game of Paradise Part of Ocean Club’s mystique occurs because of the Bahamian flavor that is sprinkled throughout this Tom Weiskopf design. Golfers can’t help but ponder the names posted on signs next to each Ocean Club tee box. The first hole is christened with the delicious tag of Gumbo Limbo. Before you think this is a favorite Bahamian soup, realize this label honors the species of hardwood trees that are prevalent on this 403-yard Par 4.
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The 411-yard, Par 4, 7th hole is called the Peninsula. This scene stealer features a zigzag tee-to-green journey that culminates in a putting green embraced by water on three sides. The hole is so photogenic that you can purchase a postcard reminder at the pro shop. Paradise Found is the name of the picturesque 433-yard, 9th hole. This title tugs at the heart of a Bahamian who frequents Ocean Club on an almost daily basis. Herbert, a limo driver for the Four Seasons Resort, remarked that he’s fallen in love with his treks to and from the Ocean Club. “Entering this golf course is the favorite part of my job. I dream that someday I’ll live here. It’s okay to dream big, right?” International Stage The image of Ocean Club has found its way into the living rooms of television viewers on multiple occasions. In addition to being the locale for the Big Break golf reality show in 2012, this 7,100-yard track has also been home to several LPGA events including the Pure Silk Classic from 2013 to 2018. Members of the PGA Tour have found Ocean Club to be a great escape. Ernie Els held the course record until Justin Rose broke his mark with a 63 in 2016. Future PGA stars will test Ocean Club in November during a boys and girls NCAA event. With the course’s international exposure and a growing reputation for combining challenge with beauty, Ocean Club has become a favorite
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for travelers looking to add ocean golf to their vacation itinerary. Leming attributes his course’s popularity to its wide fairways, sterling conditions provided by long-time Director of Agronomy Jeff Hood, and the dramatic blue stuff crashing along the course’s shoreline. The Nature Channel Before or after your round, you’ll note four Tabby cats that call Ocean Club home. The cats have taken up residence long enough that they answer to the names Monkey, Bubba, Goldie, and Princess. Birdwatchers enjoy the 40 different species of bird life found at Ocean Club. There is a whole congregation that operate on legs that appear longer than most NBA centers. Osprey, Ibis, and a local family known as Stilts would all order their pants in the Big and Tall bird shop. If you tend to slice, please don’t be offended by the guffaws coming from a species dubbed Laughing Gulls. There is another Ocean Club neighbor you may spy swimming by the 4th green and near the private beach located to the right of the 5th hole. Leming’s entry into scuba diving was tempered after watching an episode of Shark Week and discovering that the Reef Sharks featured in an episode happened to reside along this Par 4, 429-yard hole.
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Finishing in Style The 17th hole is a classic, especially if you’re playing from the tips. For those driving from the green tee box, a palm tree leans so far into the fairway it looks like it’s doing the limbo. Weiskopf so loved this tree, that when it was uprooted after a hurricane, he ordered it replaced. The 17th’s left side is nothing but Caribbean Sea, and a beach considered the most beautiful on the entire island. The putting green is guarded by bunkers and rolling contours. Number 17 serves is a “top this” transition into Ocean Club’s final entrée. The Par 4, 418-yard 18th hole is named Coming About. The Bahamian saying for “it’s going well” is a fitting description for your Ocean Club golf experience. After a day of extreme Caribbean visuals, bird encounters, and wave after wave of ocean holes, “it’s going well,” seems an understated reply. Returning to the elegant clubhouse, you take one last long stare at Ocean Club. That’s when you agree that this is a golf course in which it’s more than okay to dream big. https://oceanclubgolfcourse.com https://www.fourseasons.com/oceanclub https://www.atlantisbahamas.com
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CLUB SELECTION
Wolf Point Ranch
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by DAVID R. HOLLAND
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PORT LAVACA, TEXAS The enigma that is Wolf Point Ranch is reaching for a new horizon – upscale, private and for the wealthy PORT LAVACA, Tex. – Wolf Point Ranch’s fairways are wide and rumpled as an unmade bed, and the wild contours on the greens will make you pay. Like in golf’s olden days it plays firm and fast. But that’s a mere percentage of what this secretive course is all about. Today, this 2008 Mike Nuzzo-designed course with Don Mahaffey responsible for several duties, is for sale, the mystery is being revealed -- somewhat. That doesn’t mean you will get to play this Texas Gulf Coast gem anytime soon. Al Stanger built Wolf Point Ranch for himself and one buddy to play every day. The coastal prairie 1,600 acres is close to Carancahua Bay -- a northern extension of Matagorda Bay and is home to farmers and ranchers. But Al loved it because it was warm almost year around. “This was a labor of love -- it was never intended to be a public course and never intended to be sold,” said Rick Doak, the real estate agent for Republic Ranches. The property is listed for $11.5 million. Unfortunately, Stanger died in an accident and his wife, Dianna, a world-renowned pilot, rated for jets, decided to sell – just too many painful memories. Al served on a submarine in the United States Navy from 19551959. He was visionary in every sense and true American success story. With just a technical trade school education, he went on to grow Electro-Methods, LLC, a manufacturing company for commercial and military jet engine parts. He worked his way up from the shop floor to monetary success but was always a down-to-earth regular guy. In 1998, Al and Dianna moved to Port Lavaca. Al employed numerous people in Calhoun County through his various business endeavors including award winning Wolf Point Ranch, Shellfish Sports Bar & Grille, Bayou Feed Store and Greenscape Methods. “Al and Dianna found this property because they loved ranching and Dianna had brother in Houston,” Doak continued. “The main house is a beautiful 7,200-square foot home sitting on top of a hill with incredible views of the golf course. The home, with steel bracing, was built to withstand the Gulf Coast winds and hurricanes. “There’s floor to ceiling windows to let in lots of light. The kitchen is a chef’s dream -- a gourmet commercial kitchen built of mostly stainless steel and combined with modern lighting. The open kitchen and den area is perfect for entertaining. The curved roof was built to let strong winds go over it. A tornado is not going to take it down.” During golf course construction a 13-acre lake was dug out and the fill created the elevated hill where the house was built. Remember this is flat land – so the house on an elevated knob gives golfers a view of the house during their complete round. Doak envisions plenty for a future owner. He is currently entertaining talks from four different investment companies. “This could be a world-class destination for golf, hunting, quail, deer, sporting clays, tennis, spa, and the addition of casitas or cottages,” said Doak. “I really think it needs to be an exclusive resort with upscale golf memberships. “We already have underground fiber obtics and utilities -everything in place to develop. Who else has on-site a 5,000-foot runway, enclosed by high-fencing, that will support 30,000 pounds per wheel – for any private-corporate jet out there. That opens this up to anyone in the world. And I’ve never seen a better hangar. It is even
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CLUB SELECTION
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PORT LAVACA, TEXAS climate controlled. “We already have the Stanger’s home that we could develop into a clubhouse easily – plus another clubhouse with kitchen and men’s and women’s locker rooms. We have room out there by the runway where you could develop 5- to 10-acre lots – would have enough room to build your own personal hangar,” said Doak, a retired Continental Airlines captain. “We have plenty of room across the road to put in a boat dock -- maybe a ramp, lodge or bay house, and we don’t need to offer the fishing, Brandon Critendon and I both know plenty of fishing guides all over the area. You could come in here and book a fishing trip for bay fishing for redfish and trout or go offshore to the Gulf of Mexico through the pass right out through Matagorda Bay -- I go out there all the time when it is smooth and it is some of the best fishing in the world. “I’ve also heard from Koreans and Japanese who also are interested with thoughts of keeping this very exclusive and keep the mystique alive of Wolf Point,” Doak said. Wolf Point Ranch, The Golf Club This is raw, beautiful coastal prairie land with native grasses, deer, quail and three camels. Yep, it even has camels. Allan Long, a former college golfer, got to play Wolf Point Ranch years ago. “One of the things I enjoyed most about Wolf Point is that it played fast and firm,” Long said. “I’ve played a lot of links courses worldwide, and I was stunned how similarly it played to some of the true links courses of the world. By no means would I call Wolf Point a links course but the design and maintenance practices combined to give the course those characteristics while adding to the fun of the round and not sacrificing challenge. “I didn’t know what to expect, I’d only heard some stories about Wolf Point Ranch, but what I found was one of the most fun courses I had ever played, and a course I fell in love with after seeing it for the first time. “When you putt out on No. 18 at Wolf Point, you run back to the first tee. Wolf Point is a truly special place, full of strategy, excitement and fun, and I feel very privileged that I had the opportunity to play there. I could play there every day and be quite content,” Long concluded. Can you imagine a golf course where it is just you and one other playing as the only tee-time of the day? That was my experience. My day on the golf course was swift and fun. My group included Abby Frank, Doak and Critendon, who handles the everyday running of the ranch and heads maintenance of the golf course. Only Frank and I actually played. There are no tee or yardage markers only a few mounds close to your last green and the discussion was aimed at Critendon. We asked him all day: “What’s the yardage from this mound?” It was just make a decision and hit your drive. The golf course cost $3 million and $900,000 went to irrigation. The course irrigation system, weather station, and pump station are integrated into a central computer control system and can interface with any device connected to the internet. It took 18 months to build. In Tom Doak’s (no relation) The Confidential Guide, Volume 2, he says Wolf Point Ranch has the best set of greens in Texas. More notes of Wolf Point Ranch’s rise to stardom It has been claimed that it is one of the most exclusive private clubs ever built. Some claim that as few as 200 have ever teed it up here since its opening. One who rates top golf courses has Wolf Point Ranch at No. 96 out of the 147 in the world. Wolf Point is located only an hour and a half from Houston. For purists of the game all over the USA waiting to play Wolf Point Ranch the mystery has now turned into a cliffhanger. The mask is still on. Photos courtesy of Mike Nuzzo, Republic Ranches and David R. Holland
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SWEETSTUFF
best designers, materials, manufacturing and quality control available in the world. The FLAGMASTER 1800 is our masterpiece for ranging on the course.” German Precision Optics was founded on the premise that design, engineering and quality management is 100 percent controlled in Germany to its strictest standards, yet products can be produced at some of the largest production facilities around the world. Its USA headquarters are in Richmond, Virginia. The FLAGMASTER 1800 comes equipped with a hard-molded case, carrying strap with a carabiner clip, microfiber cleaning cloth, loop wrist strap, DuracellTM CR2 battery, multi-language instruction book and a quick guide flaglock card. For more information: www.gpo-usa.com
FootJoy Flex-Fury
GPO USA Rangefinder
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aving a good rangefinder in the bag today has become as important as having the latest driver—and obviously you are going to use the rangefinder much more often than the big
stick. The advancement in rangefinder technology and quality has been rapid over the past several years, with many new players in the marketplace introducing some high-quality tools for figuring out what club to hit. One of the best new products top hit the market, the FLAGMASTER 1800 by GPO (German Precision Optics) not only has one of the brightest and clearest optical lens systems we have seen, is extremely responsive and is also packaged in a handy, small 3.7” X 1.3” X 3” size that fits extremely well in your hand and takes minimal space in a golf bag or on a cart cup holder. Accuracy is another trademark of this rangefinder, as it has been rated accurate to one yard out to 1,800 yards. The new 6-power rangefinder lens features advanced optics and the latest range finding technology. In addition to its proprietary GPOBright™ high-transmission lens coatings, this rangefinder is equipped with a fast-focus ocular that help to locate the object you want to range. When the flag is confirmed, the rangefinder will vibrate (short vibrating bursts for sensory notification), a circle will appear around the flag icon visible in the display, and the distance will be displayed. The GPO FLAGMASTER 1800 is equipped with two different flagdistance technologies to assure a flaglock distance can be acquired. This unique system will first look for the reflective prism located at the top of the golf course flag pin, if that is not available, it will immediately convert to close-target distance. The slope function of this new rangefinder features a red flashing LED light that is activated when you want to calculate elevation-adjusted distances. This feature can be turned off and on for tournament play. “We seek to offer the most technologically advanced products at a price that is affordable for all players,” said Mike Jensen, GPO owner and CEO. “Unlike the other brands on the market, we use the very
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hen it comes to the preferences of today’s golfer, it has come down to being able to blend the on-course with the offcourse lifestyle—especially with what you wear. FootJoy recently released one of its most innovative all-purpose golf shoes with the introduction of the FJ Flex for players who enjoy athletic styling and a shoe that looks and feels comfortable enough to be worn just about anywhere. This shoe has a new patent-pending outsole configuration that features a mix of both on and off course traction elements that maximize traction on the golf course while providing good grip on smooth, hard or wet surfaces off the course. Its proprietary VersaTrax rubber outsole technology also performs as a walking shoe—in addition to providing a wide base of support during the golf swing.
Built upon a chassis of comfort EVA foam, The FJ Flex has an ultracushioned Fine-Tuned Foam (FTF) FitBed together with a premium performance mesh upper--and is one of the most breathable shoes you will find. The larger, flatter surface area traction elements look like something you would see in a premium running shoe but are surprisingly stable during the swing. “FJ Flex is a product designed for a variety of surfaces, while maintaining its functionality for the game of golf,” said Richard Fryer, Director of Product Management, FJ Footwear. “The Versa-Trax outsole delivers outstanding walking comfort, with advanced traction elements that produce excellent multi-surface grip.” FJ Flex comes in three colors: white, navy and black—all are laced models. In what is almost a sister shoe to the Flex, FootJoy has also
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
introduced the FJ Fury. It is a shoe that looks and feels much the Flex with its athletic styling but is an option that provides even greater ground traction in wet weather and on soft ground—in addition to several other technological advances. “With FJ Fury, we created a product that was designed from the inside-out,” added Fryer. “As a result, FJ Fury’s TruFit System balances lightweight, responsive support with a new dynamic outsole that delivers comfort and stability throughout your round.” A shoe that features dynamic, low-profile Pulsar Cleats, the Fury is highlighted by several unique performance features, including an internal fit system that focuses on fit, comfort and support. It also features FJ’s proprietary TruFit System, providing stability and comfort in the right places. Inside the shoe is a soft, stretch, one-piece Inner Fit Sleeve lasted underneath the insole board to provide a secure fit with no tongue slippage, enveloping the foot in comfort and control. The external FlexGrid MLC cage system adds structure to the upper and locks you in as you lace up, offering medial and lateral support, along with motion control through the swing. FJ Fury generates custom comfort with an OrthoLiteâ Impressions FitBedâ, comprised of two densities of foam--an Open Cell PU Foam that maintains its mechanical properties and cushion throughout its life cycle, and an impressions foam that takes an impression of your foot, creating a custom fit. The all-new D3 Outsole ensures a solid, rigid platform for lateral in-swing stability and turf-grabbing traction, while the FTF+ infused midsole provides comfortable feel and cushioning. The Liquid Metalinspired Flex Layer of TPU delivers heel-to-toe walking flexibility and crouch flex when reading putts. Even though Fury is an athletic-looking shoe, it features a full grain, waterproof leather upper, waterproof membrane and a vented toe for breathability that is coated for protection. This is a shoe for serious golfers who want the ultimate in traction, coupled with an athletic look and feel, and it has already been worn by top pros this season in tournament play. “I put these into play immediately because they look and feel so athletic,” said Rafa Cabrera Bello. “I’m amazed that a shoe that is so comfortable can also offer so much stability.” “I’m into my fitness so I love the athletic look,” said Brandon Stone. “I’m amazed with the breathability.” The FJ Fury is available in a laced version in white/red; navy/white; charcoal/lime; black/red; and white/navy/orange in the BOA® lacing system. For more information: www.FootJoy.com
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New Lamkin Sonar Grip Models
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amkin has introduced two new additions to its highly successful Sonar line of golf club grips with the rollout of the Sonar Tour and the Sonar Wrap that offer some new technology and a great feel that is worth trying out. Both additions to the Sonar line benefit from Lamkin’s proprietary Fingerprint Technology and Genesis material. Lamkin’s proprietary Fingerprint technology distributes intricate and densely spaced patterns throughout the grip’s surface. These micro-textures deliver a smooth, comfortable surface feel along with a high level of grip traction for enhanced comfort, confidence and all-weather control. The Genesis material provides added grip comfort by combining a slightly softer feel than traditional rubber with excellent durability. Lamkin’s Tour ambassador, Justin Rose, collaborated on the design of the Sonar Tour that features the omni-directional grip traction provided by Fingerprint Technology. This is combined with a firmer durometer Lamkin Genesis material for enhanced torsion control under the pressure of higher swing speeds. A unique finishing process preserves the Sonar Tour’s super-tacky surface feel, ensuring that it retains the line’s comfortable quality. A traditional taper shape delivers a conventional feel and in a final nod to its Tour inspiration, the grip is fitted with a logo down design, often preferred by the best players in the world. The Sonar Wrap provides the super tacky feel and all-weather performance of SONAR in a new wrap style model, and also features the same technologies as the Tour model. To further enhance the simulated wrap feel, Sonar Wrap includes an ergonomic ‘Progressive Skive’, with fluctuating spiral dimensions based on grip size and is available in both Standard+ and Mid-Size+ variations. The tackiness and comfort of the Wrap grip is impressive, and the added length of these grips is also a plus. “The combination of Genesis material and Fingerprint Technology in the sonar grip delivers an ideal feel for such a wide audience of players,” noted Lamkin CEO and President Bob Lamkin. “The two additions to the line add variations for golfers who have specific preferences in their grip style. I’m very excited about the success of the Sonar line and look forward to sharing the incredible feel of the new grips with golfers worldwide.” This same tacky feel and the Fingerprint Technology is also available for the flat stick with the Lamkin Sink Fit Pistol and the Sink Fit Straight putter grips that offers classic shapes and promotes proper wrist alignment for a more controlled, consistent putting stroke. These grips are available at select golf retailers and on-line at: www.LamkinGrips.com
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