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GOLF VACATIONS MARCH 2016
THE ULTIMATE GOLF ADVENTURE
NORTHWEST
IRELAND BATTER UP!
GOLFING THE CACTUS AND GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUES
Plus: TROPICAL GOLF TOUR ON A PRIVATE JET www.golfvacationsmag.com
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GOLF VACATIONS MARCH 2016
Narin & Portnoo Golf Club, South West County, Donegal Ireland
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Chip Shots
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Golf Northwest Ireland
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Private Jet Tropical Golf Tour
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by David Wood
My long held suspicions are now confirmed after a recent trip to Northwest Ireland, it’s my favorite golf destination in the world. The judgement isn’t made lightly as I’ve played the ancient game in 50 or so countries, including 22 different lands during a year of roaming with clubs in tow for my book “Around the World in 80 Rounds.”
Experience the best and the most of the game of golf on a seven-night or longer, multi-destination extraordinary golf tour package through an exclusive partnership between Magellan Jets, Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo and Four Seasons Resort Nevis.
Batter Up!
by JD Latorre
The popping of the gloves, the cracks of the bats, John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” on the loud speaker – hearing those sounds this time of year gives baseball fans goosebumps.
Shoulder Season Shines in South Florida
by JD Latorre
For last minute trips to catch a spring training game or two, or an extended golf sojourn this spring, PGA Golf Club is offering a wide array of golf packages featuring its three onsite golf courses (Dye, Ryder and Wanamaker), nearby St. Lucie Trail Golf Club and a variety of lodging options to suit any size golf group.
Sweet Stuff
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by Terry Ross www.golfvacationsmag.com
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Dave McKibben has been battle-tested in raucous newsrooms and dimly-lighted press boxes for nearly 20 years as an award-winning Los Angeles Times journalist. He’s covered the PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, NCAA sports and even local high schools sports. In his career he’s interviewed such greats as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Cal Ripken, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Tony Gwynn and Michael Jordan.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, 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.
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.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor Larry Feldman
Senior Writers JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com
Regional Advertising David Wood is the author of the acclaimed book “Around the World in 80 Rounds.” A longtime writer, standup comedian and event speaker, he resides in New York City.
Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
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Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2016 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
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Marriott Golf Celebrates 9Th Annual International Family Golf Festival
ORLANDO, FL – Golfers of all ages and abilities are invited to join their family members and experience the true meaning of “togetherness on the links,” as Marriott Golf today announced the schedule for the 9th Annual Marriott International Family Golf Festival. On Friday, April 1st, Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA will play host to the first of 25 scheduled Family Golf Festivals on the 2016 calendar. These one-day family golf-themed events will take place at a premier collection of leading Marriott Golf-managed destinations throughout the world. The Marriott International Family Golf Festival is open to golfers of all ages and skill levels, and aligns with Marriott’s commitment to player development programs. Golfing families are invited to Marriott Golf properties for a an exciting line-up of fun-filled activities, highlighted by FREE golf instruction, clinics, interactive golf games, contests, family golf programs, prize giveaways and much more. Supervised by PGA Professionals, each respective venue offers a welcoming environment where families, women, boys & girls, military Veterans, parents and grandparents can learn and play the game together. Since inception, thousands of families have participated in this program across the globe. “The Family Golf Festivals have become a
signature must attend event for many families that visit our portfolio of properties around the globe,” said Brett Stark, Senior Director, Golf Marketing & eCommerce, Marriott Golf. “We are committed to using our properties to host programming that enables families to enjoy the game with each other, and in a welcoming environment.” In addition to core events at the one-day Family Golf Festival, after 3 p.m. adults can take advantage of special rates and children can play golf for free as part of Marriott Golf’s “Kids Golf-4-Free” program. Launched in 2006, “Kids Golf-4-Free” enables kids up to 15-years old to golf for free when accompanied by a full paying adult after 3 p.m. In addition, Marriott Golf offers free lessons anytime to kids up to 15-years old when accompanied by an adult who is taking a fully paid lesson from a Marriott Golf instructor. Marriott Golf estimates that nearly 10,000 parents and children participate in the program each year.
Veteran Golfers Association Announces Nationwide Golf Tour For Veterans And Family
PINEHURST, NC – The Veteran Golfers Association (VGA), a national non-profit organization offering U.S. military veterans the opportunity to enjoy competition and community through golf, has released its 2016 VGA Tour schedule along with a comprehensive array of sponsorship
opportunities for a series that inspired millions in its 2015 debut. Kicking off March 1, the event roster features over 100 tournaments at military, public and private courses, including the 2016 VGA Championship during Veteran’s Day week, Nov. 6-9, at historic Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Last year, the newly launched VGA Tour captivated attention and stirred hearts throughout the golf world and beyond as the first VGA Championship was hosted at Pinehurst No. 2, putting the service, sacrifice and patriotism of its participants in the national spotlight. Wounded veterans made up nearly half the field, and more than a dozen competitors were Purple Heart recipients. From USA Today to the Golf Channel and others, media coverage reached an audience of 57 million and put the VGA on the golf map. Highlighting the camaraderie and emotion of the 2015 championship held during Veteran’s Day week, and celebrating individuals such Army Sgt. Andrew Smith, a double amputee who competed for months to qualify, each story was a moving tribute. Army Staff Sergeant Micah Tilley triumphed as the 2015 Men’s Champion. Army Chief Warrant Officer Kris Engelhaupt was the Women’s Champion and Smith, who lost both legs in combat in Afghanistan, won the Combat Wounded division. Each donned the iconic red blazer with the VGA shield, and as fighter jets soared in formation overhead, a new golf
Shadow Ridge Golf Club
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tradition was born. “The response to the VGA Tour and championship event has been overwhelming,” said VGA President Joshua Peyton, a retired Army Captain and Army Ranger. “The 2016 tour is going to be a historic undertaking as we grow this series around the country. To be returning to Pinehurst No. 2 for the VGA Championship and to have Wilson Golf as a premier tour sponsor speaks volumes about the support we are receiving at the highest levels of the sport.” The 2016 VGA Tour will be comprised of approximately 100 tournaments in four geographic regions. Each event is a two-day, 36-hole stroke play tournament hosting three divisions of competition: Veteran, Combat Wounded and Family. Within each division are four handicapped flights and an open handicap Women’s flight. Participants earn points to compete in post-season play in one of four regional qualifiers. The top 90 players from the national field are awarded automatic bids to the post-season
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qualifier in their region. At each regional, a total of 120 players will compete in three divisions. Twenty-five players from each region will move on to Pinehurst. The regional tournaments include Queenstown Harbor in Queenstown, Md. – Sept. 17-18 (North), Fallen Oak Golf Club in Biloxi, Miss. – Sept. 10-11 (South), Blackwolf Run in Sheboygan, Wisc. – Sept. 4-5 (Central) and Chambers Bay Golf Club in Tacoma, Wash. – Oct. 1-2 (West). Founded in 2014, the VGA is open to all U.S. veterans – wounded, non-wounded, disabled, active duty and retired – and their family members including parents, siblings and dependents who are 18 years or older. The VGA enables members to compete, socialize, and remain physically active through their shared passion for the game of golf. The VGA also focuses on Post Traumatic Growth initiatives to help veterans and their families cope with combat-related injuries. Using golf as an alternative activity, these veterans can choose a more productive way to deal with the challenges that impact their everyday lives.
To participate in the VGA Tour series, qualified veterans and family members must be VGA members (a $40 membership fee includes a handicap rating and subscription to Golf Digest), and register for at least three tour events. Each $125 tournament registration fee covers cart and greens fees for two days of competition. More than 10,000 VGA members are expected to compete in the 2016 tour. In addition to Wilson Golf, the Official Golf Ball of the 2016 VGA Tour, sponsors include Bobby Jones apparel, Military Tee Times, KD Kanopy, Biion Footwear, Black Clover, Druh Belts & Buckles, Grunt Style and Vessel golf bags. A complete overview of 2016 national tour and regional event sponsorship opportunities, including media packages, is currently available from the VGA. Veterans interested in joining the VGA, and golf professionals interested in adding their golf course to the VGA Tour, can visit www.vgagolf.org to sign up. More information on the 2016 tour and championship event is available at www.vgachampionship.org.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Get into the Swing of Spring with Golf Packages at California B&Bs
SACRAMENTO, CA – Pack your clubs and enjoy some time on the greens this spring in California. Several members of the California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns offer specials and packages just for golfers. Book two nights in any room at the Martine Inn in Pacific Grove and receive a free round of golf at the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course. The golf course was designed by the same golf architect as Pebble Beach and shares the same coastline. The historic, oceanfront inn is furnished with museum-quality antiques. Many of the rooms have fireplaces, claw foot tubs and/or views of the waves crashing against the rocky coastline; all feature luxurious sheets and pillow top mattresses. The inn’s golf special is valid April through May, 2016 and includes free rental of golf clubs if needed. To reserve, call 831-373-3388. Save on golf and lodging with Joshua Inn’s Stay and Play Package in Hollister. The package includes 15% off any room at the inn and 15% off green fees, cart rental and
a small bucket of balls at the San Juan Oaks Golf Course. The course was designed by Fred Couples and offers gorgeous vistas of the surrounding hills of San Benito County. Joshua Inn is a lovely Victorian that transports guests to the grace of a bygone era with coved ceilings, carved balustrades, antique furnishings and more. Package prices vary depending upon the time of year. Call 831265-7829 to make reservations. Stay two or more nights at the Benbow Historic Inn in Humboldt County and enjoy the hotel’s Stay and Play Golf Package at no extra charge. The package includes a round of golf for two with a golf cart rental at Benbow Golf Course. The course, which is adjacent to the hotel, is one of the most challenging golf courses on the Redwood Coast. Nestled on the banks of the Eel River near Avenue of the Giants, Benbow Historic Inn also features an award-winning dining room and wine cellar, driving range, sport court, pool, Jacuzzi and more. The golf package is valid year-round. Call 707-923-2124 to make a reservation. Enjoy 18 holes of golf amid the redwoods at Humboldt County’s premier club, Baywood Golf & Country Club with Carter House Inns’ Golf in the Redwoods Package. The package
includes 18 holes of golf for two, golf cart rental and one-night stay in a beautiful queen room with a champagne toast for two. The stay also includes a complimentary glass of wine at check-in, afternoon hors d’oeuvres, evening tea and cookies, and a two-course breakfast at Restaurant 301. On the golf course, guests will enjoy Baywood’s beautiful wooded fairways with two ponds and a creek meandering through the course. The golf package starts at $400. To reserve a room and a tee time, call 707-444-8062. Guests of the Las Fuentes Inn and Gardens in Palm Springs can receive a $10 per person discount on green fees at the nearby Mesquite Golf and Country Club. The Mesquite Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course with five lakes, tree-lined fairways with swaying palms and desert mountain vistas. It’s a challenging course for players of all skill levels. Las Fuentes Inn is a private desert retreat with a fireplace, soaking tub and 60 foot saltwater lap pool and swimming pool surrounded by tranquil desert gardens. The $10 discount vouchers valid for up to four people and are valid through September-May. Discount vouchers of $5 are available June-August. To reserve, call 760-989-4097. Mesquite Country Club, Palm Springs
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS On Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of March, guests of POSH Palm Springs can take advantage of a two-for-one golf special on the North Course of the Indian Canyons Golf Club. The golf special includes 18 holes of golf for two people for the price of one and a cart rental. The inn is a relaxing desert retreat with Art Deco charm, modern furnishings and a large courtyard pool and hot tub. Just stop by the front desk at the inn to receive the golf savings certificate and call 760-833-8706 to reserve a tee-time. Tee times can be made up to seven days in advance. The offer expires March 31, 2016. To reserve a room at the inn, call 760-992-5410. Golfers can receive a 10% discount off midweek stays at the Lavender Inn in Ojai. There are two golf courses just five minutes away from the inn: Soule Park Golf Course and the golf course at Ojai Valley Inn. Both are award-winning, championship 18-hole courses with mountain vistas and heritage oaks. The eight-room Lavender Inn was built in 1874 as Ojai’s first schoolhouse and offers an on-site day spa, cooking classes, beautiful gardens, lavish breakfasts and a tapas and wine hour each afternoon. The discount for golfers is valid Sunday through Thursday only. For more information and to reserve a room, call 805-646-6635. For more details on these golf packages and other bed and breakfast packages, visit www.cabbi.com/specials.
National Golf Day 2016 Set for May 18 in Washington, D.C.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – WE ARE GOLF – a coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners – today announces the ninth annual National Golf Day will be held Wednesday, May 18 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. National Golf Day celebrates the game’s nearly $70 billion economy, $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. Industry leaders will meet with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies on Capitol Hill to discuss golf’s 15,000-plus diverse businesses, two million employees, tax revenue creation and tourism value. “With 2016 being an election year, it’s even more important for political leaders to understand the impact our industry has on local communities and millions of Americans,” said Steve Mona, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of World Golf Foundation, administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “Since our first event in 2008, National Golf Day has educated our nation’s lawmakers about the countless benefits of the game and we look forward to continuing
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this agenda in May.” In April 2015, National Golf Day was the most successful to date with over 120 scheduled Congressional meetings in one day. Globally, the #NGD15 Twitter campaign eclipsed 37 million impressions and reached 19.8 million accounts, including 3.3 million users in a one-hour span. Organizations who participated include the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Ladies Professional Golf Association, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, United States Golf Association, United States Golf Manufacturers Council, World Golf Foundation and others. To join the conversation, visit the WE ARE GOLF social media hub. Use #NGD16 and @wearegolf on Twitter and Instagram to show your support for the golf industry. WE ARE GOLF, created in 2010, is an industry coalition that communicates the economic, charitable and environmental impact of golf, as well the health and wellness benefits of the game and the affordability and accessibility of golf, to Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and regulatory agencies. The goal of WE ARE GOLF is to ensure that laws and regulations that impact the golf industry are fair and appropriate to an industry that generates nearly $70 billion in economic impact annually, employs close to two million Americans and generates nearly $4 billion in charitable giving each year. For more information, please visit www. wearegolf.org.
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa Offers Golf Madness
AUSTIN, TX – No need for brackets this March, only golf scorecards as Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa is letting golfers swing away all month with packages and offers for golfers of all levels. Enthusiasts can play to their hearts’ content with the Unlimited Golf Package. The offer includes unlimited rounds of golf per adult per day, unlimited same-day replays on any of the four courses, unlimited use of the resort driving range, and daily breakfast. Golf lovers can also choose to watch the World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play up close with the Dell Match Play Package. The offer includes two tournament passes, breakfast and transportation to and from the venue for two night stays during March 23, 2016 through March 27, 2016. Passes are limited and will go fast. Families staying at Omni Barton Creek in March can book Kids Tee and Eat Free
to receive one complimentary tee time for children under 15 per paid adult after 2:00 p.m. and breakfast each morning. A FatherSon Presidential Package is also available in honor of the election year to play where the No. 41 and No. 43 presidents played. All father and son resort guests will play golf rates equivalent to 1999’s prices; will receive a sleeve of golf balls with the American flag; and enjoy a daily Art of Breakfast buffet. Causal golfers “looking for a little something ‘eggstra’” can play over Easter weekend and partake in the resort’s 2nd Annual Easter Ball Hunt. The event encourages golfers to collect colored golf balls hidden along the fairways, bunkers and greens for the chance to win prizes ranging from discounted spa treatments, meals at the resort’s award-winning restaurants, complimentary golf rounds and overnight resort stays. Ladies searching for a weekend away can book the Girlfriends’ Golf Getaway package to enjoy a round of golf, welcome cocktail, spa treatment and a personalized group dinner hosted by the executive chef. Resort guests have access to the resort’s four golf courses, as well as the golf pro shop and onsite professionals at the Barton Creek Golf Academy. Golfers can tune up their game and receive tips before teeing off at any of the following participating courses: • Fazio Foothills – Designed by course architect Tom Fazio, this cliff-lined course in the Texas Hill Country is a shot-maker’s paradise, complete with TIFSport Bermuda fairways and TiffEagle Bermuda greens for a variety of skill levels. • Fazio Canyons – At 7,153-yards, this par-72 course is lined with majestic Red Oaks and Sycamore trees, featuring views of the hill country, complete with a limestone bed creek that meanders throughout the course. • Coore Crenshaw – A championship layout with a variety of interesting holes, this course incorporates durable grasses, rolling fairways and varied green sizes to challenge all levels of golfers. • Palmer Lakeside – Perched on a secluded hilltop overlooking Lake Travis, Palmer Lakeside is a hidden retreat that rewards guests with striking, panoramic lake views and twilight glimpses of whitetail deer. To book a tee time, golfers can call 512329-4653 or visit http://www.omnihotels. com/bartoncreek. Travelers or media also can follow Omni Barton Creek at Facebook. com/OmniBartonCreek and Twitter.com/ OmniBartonCreek. Blackout dates, major holidays and other restrictions apply. Promotion times are subject to change based on inclement weather.
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Northwest Irela
The Ultimate Golf Adventure Destinatio
Enniscrone Golf Club - Dunes Course No. 16
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and
M
y long held suspicions are now confirmed after a recent trip to Northwest Ireland, it’s my favorite golf destination in the world. The judgement isn’t made lightly as I’ve played the ancient game in 50 or so countries, including 22 different lands during a year of roaming with clubs in tow for my book “Around the World in 80 Rounds.” Simply put, Northwest Ireland has everything a true golf explorer desires: joyously dramatic seaside links-style courses playing through incredible duneland; comfortable accommodations for all budgets to recharge in nightly along the way; and gracious Irish hospitality that’s as prevalent as the myriad green pastures dotting the terra firma of this magical land. It’s tough to beat.
Where to Play
on
Enniscrone Golf Club www.enniscronegolf.com On several previous visits to Ireland, I’d somehow overlooked playing Enniscrone Golf Club in County Sligo. What a mistake! I could happily tee it up there on the Dunes Course for rest of my golfing life and be as happy as a leprechaun finding the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It well deserves to be put in the same conversation with Royal County Down, Ballybunion and Royal Portrush as a “must play” when visiting Ireland. Why so good? Well, the seaside layout is routed through as fine an example of duneland as you’ll find. The original layout first took shape in 1918, but it took several decades before the expertise of famed (and ubiquitous) Irish course designer Eddie Hackett fashioned this marvelous swath of turbulent topography along the beaches of Killala Bay into an absolute gem. The holes are never less than first-rate, several are extraordinary. Case in point, at perhaps the farthest point from the welcoming clubhouse, the 9th hole is all the par 4 you’ll ever want. At 395 yards from the back tees, the hole parallels Scurmore Beach and is accented with a mesmerizing view out to sea as the ever changing sky and cobalt ocean form a tranquil tapestry. Flat lies are rare on the rippling fairway. Three unforgiving front bunkers must be negotiated successfully on the approach. The tricky elevated green is enticingly perched into a craggy sandhill. The whole endeavor is natural and perfect and really, really good. My scorecard notes are redundant with superlatives. “Marvelous” is the accolade for No. 10 as the par 4 also plays alongside the eye-catching beach. The inland turning par-4 12th earns “joyous.” The 542yard par-5 14th wends through towering dunes that may be the biggest and most perfectly shaped I’ve seen. I could go on and on, but my plea is clear. Play Enniscrone when in Ireland. Carne Golf Links www.carnegolflinks.com I’ve been raving about Carne Golf Links for years. Situated just outside the sleepy seaside village of Belmullet tucked away in the upper northwest corner of Ireland, the Eddie Hackett-design is big, bold and an absolute blast to play. The 18 plays through enormous sandhills sculpted through the ages by the steady winds and elements coming in hard and vociferous off the near Atlantic. Many of the dunes are so majestically steep, hoofs rather than soft spikes are better suited should one attempt to hike up to retrieve a wayward ball. Thankfully, the firm fast fairways provide plenty of room to have a lash at it.
by DAVID WOOD www.golfvacationsmag.com
Few courses are more natural looking. The routing constantly surprises with greens dramatically set in hillocks and fairways careening to and fro amid dune-flanked alleyways and dells. My favorite hole, if I had to pick from the bounty of Carne’s wonders, is the stout 17th. Playing at 435 yards (usually into a stiff wind), two strong pokes are required to reach the Promised Land in regulation. There are no fairway bunkers and plenty of room for the tee shot, but the undulating fairway doesn’t seem to have a level bit of
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turf anywhere. An insidious greenside bunker lurks on the left exactly where your second shot seems to want to go. It must be avoided at all costs or you might be raking for a spell. The excellent new Kilmore nine plays adjacent to its older mate and is cut through the same rolling geography and gigantic dunes. Carne Golf Links never fails to excite and surprise. Donegal Golf Club www.donegalgolfclub.ie
along a tree-lined backroad for a mile or so before reaching a vast clearing of handsome golfing ground venturing off toward the sea. Is there anything better in golf travel than that feeling of being away from it all with 18 to play and nowhere to be after? Not for me. First off on a cheerful sunny morning as the sun peeked through puffy white clouds holding little threat of rain, I had the course to myself as the vivid beauty of the rugged Murvagh Peninsula gave way to the Bluestack Mountains on the horizon. I set off with my clubs on my shoulder, a song in my heart, and gratitude to be on another Eddie Hackett gem. While the dunes aren’t as dramatic and the topography a bit flatter than Enniscrone and Carne, this is true championship golf providing a stern test as it plays to almost 7,400 yards from the tips. Thankfully, there are several sets of tees for we mere mortal golfers to have an easier time of it, but you still need your thinking cap on and golf shoes tied tight. The front side runs counter clockwise around the perimeter, the inward half proceeds in the opposite fashion as every bit of land is used perfectly. This is 18 holes of the highest order.
Just a short drive from the charming town of Donegal (my favorite in Ireland), the Donegal Golf Club, also called Murvagh, is outstanding. No less an expert than Irish golfing great Darren Clarke calls it “one of my favorite courses in the world.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Ballyliffin Golf Club www.ballyliffingolfclub.com As a lover of golf in out of the way locales, the fact that County Donegal’s Ballyliffin Golf Club is the northernmost in Ireland merely adds to its alluring charms. The Old Links layout there has long been underrated; thankfully traveling golfers have begun including it on itineraries. And with the splendid accompanying Glashedy Links (designed by Pat Ruddy and Tom Craddock in 1995), this marvelously violent golfing terrain has 36 holes to play on to your heart’s content.
A sense of splendid remoteness prevails at Murvagh as you drive
Ballyliffin Golf Club
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What I love most about Ballyliffin is how wonderfully wild and wooly it looks. Before teeing off, venture up to the second floor of the modern clubhouse and take in the view of the two courses from the balcony near the bar. You’ll see the ground’s ripples and bumps and swales spreading off to the shoreline as fairways tumble along amid camelback-shaped dunes before giving way to greens looking like they are exactly where they need to be. It’s a visual primer on how links golf looks at its best. My advice is to camp out in Ballyliffin for a few days and play both the Old Links and Glashedy course several times each. It’s one of those places on Earth I’m reluctant to leave. I just want to go around one more time. Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort www.rosapenna.ie
reminiscent of classic old Scottish gems like Brora Golf Club and Crail’s Balcomie Links. The course plays hard and fast through sandhill mesas and fiercely undulating turf. Run-up plays closer to the ground are the better option as the blustery sea winds will smack high shots out of the sky like a Roger Federer overhead. Similar to the Old Course at St. Andrews, the routing classically plays “out and back” with the green of the superb par-4 9th as far from the clubhouse as it’s possible to get. Many of the tee-boxes are built into the dune pinnacles or the tiptoe edge of seaside cliffs, so jaw-dropping views are the norm. Similar to most of the great links courses in the world, and Narin & Portnoo is certainly in that category, the layout looks like Mother Nature knew a spectacular course was there through the ages and was just waiting for the ancient game to come along in the mid1500s. This is golf exactly the way it should be: natural, pure and thrilling.
Where to Stay
Mount Falcon Estate www.mountfalcon.com Within easy driving distance from Enniscrone Golf Club and Carne Golf Links, County Sligo’s Mount Falcon Estate is about as good as it gets accommodations wise. The elegant Victorian manor house features 32 guestrooms and resides peacefully amid 100 wooded acres along the banks of the River Moy – one of the great salmon fishing waterways in the world. Tiger Woods has stayed at Mount Falcon and plied his fly fishing skills there.
On previous visits to Northwest Ireland, I’d played (and loved) the Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna. In 1893, Old Tom ventured out from his beloved St. Andrews to lend his design expertise on this enticing linksland bordering idyllic Sheephaven Bay. The layout features exceptional seaside golf that’s wholly natural and requires every club in the bag to be hit throughout the round. Old Tom sure knew what the heck he was doing. On this trip, I was fortunate to play the “new” Sandy Hills Links at Rosapenna which opened in 2003. Pat Ruddy, the esteemed golf writer turned esteemed course architect, created a layout permeated with a timeless feel as if it had been residing alongside the older course since Old Tom trod there over a century ago. Most every hole travels through corridors framed by hefty sandhills creating an atmosphere of peaceful tranquility from the outside world. Many feature elevated tee shots hit down to serpentine fairways that pinball your drive with reckless abandon. The par-4 420-yard 6th hole at the far end of the course is a treasure. The drive plays over a crest atop which offers a mesmerizing vista of the bay, bucolic farmland across the way, and imposing Muckish Mountain straight ahead in the distance. It’s one of those holes you just want to savor, but that’s the way I feel about all 36 at Rosapenna. Narin & Portnoo Golf Club www.narinportnoogolfclub.ie/ Smackdab on the rugged, weather-beaten Atlantic coastline with dramatic views of the endless whitecaps of Gweebarra Bay, Narin & Portnoo Golf Club is nothing but fun to play. This is as authentic a golf experience as you’ll find with its old-fashion ambience
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Originally a baronial lodge completed in 1876, the estate went through an extensive renovation and reopened in 2006 to wide acclaim. Though thoroughly modern with all the amenities one would expect –first-rate spa, gym, sauna, steam room and heated indoor pool where I spent a ton of quality time – the property nonetheless maintains a rustic aura of life lived at a slower pace. Other than venturing out to play golf, I recommend getting back to Mouth Falcon pronto and enjoy the comfortable luxury. Have a drink in the cozy Boathouse Bar with its bistro style menu perfect for a late lunch après the round. Have dinner in the terrific chef-driven Kitchen Restaurant. I had a rack of lamb so tasty I still think about it every couple of days. The property also highlights 45 luxury lodges for rent fully-equipped with three- or four-bedrooms. An array of golf packages through the hotel is available. Mount Falcon Estate is worth a visit to Northwest Ireland even if you’ve ever held a golf club in your life. Harvey’s Point www.harveyspoint.com Set of the shores of tranquil Lough Eske 10 minutes out of town from cheerful Donegal, Harvey’s Point is the place to stay when playing nearby Donegal Golf Club and Narin & Portnoo Golf Club just up the road a spell. One of the pleasures of a Northwest Ireland golf adventure is the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle. Harvey’s Point offers that in spades with its splendid seclusion and incredible views of the lake, surrounding forests and stately mountains. I bellied up to the friendly hotel bar after my round on Murvagh and relished a delicious repast of a Guinness (or two) and fish and
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Narin & Portnoo Golf Club
chips. By the way, in my experience, the fish and chips served at most every bar and pub in Northwest Ireland is the way to go. When combined with the ever-present amiable bartenders armed with that prevailing Irish gift of gab, it’s a delightful way to spend time. My comfy room was huge and even featured a hot tub in the cavernous bathroom where I joyously soaked my slightly aching golf muscles. A full Irish breakfast the next morning in the sunny hotel restaurant had me ready for a scenic drive up to Rosapenna for more golf. Harvey’s Point was just what the doctor ordered. Rosapenna Hotel www.rosapenna.ie Set alongside the resort’s 36 holes, the Rosapenna Hotel is charming and ideal to rejuvenate in especially with the soothing room views of Downings Beach and Sheephaven Bay. The staff there is welcoming, attentive, and as friendly as could be, but I guess that’s just how things roll in this neck of the woods up at the top of County Donegal. When visiting, be sure to visit the James Braid Bar. Located just off the lobby, the watering hole is named after James Braid, winner of five Open Championships. Braid and fellow golfing legend Harry Vardon both retouched Tom Morris’s original Old Links design by adding a bit of length and strategic bunkers. Acting on the theory “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” I again opted for the pint of Guinness and dinner of fish and chips. It was a good call as was bunking overnight at Rosapenna Hotel.
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Ballyliffin TownHouse www.ballyliffintownhouse.ie Quaint and charming, the Ballyliffin TownHouse is an ideal spot for accommodations when up at the top of Ireland to play the Ballyliffin courses. Situated not far from the famed Wild Atlantic Way and its world-class fishing, guests can now enjoy the results of a recent extensive renovation. The rooms are well-equipped for all a traveler’s needs and the bed was so comfortable I could have slept peacefully for a week. The courses are a quick five-minute drive away. Plus, the Bar & Bistro pub in the lobby is welcoming. What more does a golf wanderer need? Conrad Dublin www.hilton.com/Dublin When visiting Ireland, I urge you to spend a night or two in Dublin and enjoy one of the great European cities with its thriving spirt, historic Celtic culture and unending charm. Before flying back to the U.S. from the Dublin Airport, I camped out in style at the Conrad Dublin which is ideally located in the heart of the city near St. Stephens Green. Dublin possesses a captivating vibe of enjoying life no matter what it throws at you. Its pubs, many featuring wonderful Irish music, are everywhere and are not to be missed.
How to Book
While travelers can certainly book an incredible golf adventure of the courses and accommodations above on their own, the good folks at Galway-based North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland (www. northandwestcoastlinks.com) are experts on the subject and can make booking an Ireland golf excursion as easy as pie. They offer a plethora of stay-and-play packages that include transportation. The incredible golf of Northwest Ireland waits with open arms.
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Private Jet Tropica E
xperience the best and the most of the game of golf on a seven-night or longer, multi-destination extraordinary golf tour package through an exclusive partnership between Magellan Jets, Four Seasons Hotel Miami, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo and Four Seasons Resort Nevis. The exclusive Private Jet Tropical Tee and Golf Tour lines up play on three world-renowned, championship courses in three of the most amazing tropical destinations, combining luxury accommodations, and the superior, personalized service of Magellan Jets and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Guests will stay in luxury suites or private residence villas at each Four Seasons Hotel and Resort for authentic, immersive experiences. Everything from golf clubs and luggage handling between hotels, private jets and villas, to shoe shining, tee time, party on the 19th hole, and more destination-inspired experiences will be arranged by Magellan Jets and Four Seasons. Throughout the week-long journey, guests will enjoy a seamless runway-to-fairway tropical tour and play on some of the world’s most pristine greens, while experiencing three distinct Four Seasons properties, along with basking in personalized comfort, uncompromising safety and impeccable punctuality provided by Magellan Jets. The tour can accommodate as few as one or as many as twelve guests per jet. For more than twelve guests, additional jets may be arranged. Private Jet Tropical Tee and Golf Tour is available beginning April 2016. Rates start from $132,000 for a party of eight, but packages may be personalized to cater to smaller or larger groups. Crandon Golf Course in Key Biscayne
Personalized Luxury in the Sky Golf enthusiasts will travel between each destination in a private jet. A dedicated flight support team will handle everything from weather and flight tracking, ground transportation, in-flight catering, and ensuring guests’ needs and expectations are satisfied. Flying is much more than a means to an end. It’s an experience. The in-flight dining provided by Magellan Jets is of the highest quality and customized to meet guests’ health, dietary, and religious preferences. Four Seasons Hotel Miami – Urban Oasis The seven-night, multi-destination voyage, commences at the epicenter of modern Miami. Guests arrive by private transfer, to the 70-story Four Seasons Hotel Miami, set in the entertainment and dining neighborhood of Brickell. Boasting views of Biscayne Bay and the city’s evolving skyline, guests check in to their choice of luxury suite, or condostyle accommodation equipped with a full-size kitchen or kitchenette and other home-away-from-home amenities. That evening, they’ll be escorted to the Design District. Featuring internationally recognized luxury shops and award-winning dining options, they’ll celebrate their first night in Miami with shopping and reservations to one of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants of their choice. On the agenda for day two, is a round of golf at the 18-hole Crandon Golf Course, rated one of the “Top Public Golf Courses in Florida,” by Golf Digest, and located on Miami’s barrier island of Key Biscayne. With 250 acres of tropical paradise, guests will enjoy an interactive Four Seasons dining experience with “Lunch on the Green.” Upon returning to the hotel, they’ll enjoy poolside pampering on the 7th floor, twoacre terrace, before their final farewell dinner in Bahía, the recently renovated poolside restaurant. Private transfers to-and-from the airport and to pre-arranged experiences are provided. Daily breakfast in EDGE Steak & Bar also included. Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo - Coastal Beachfront Jungle Experience The group will then board a Magellan Jets flight to Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, a hillside oasis nestled between two golden sand beaches on the tip of Guanacaste’s exclusive Peninsula Papagayo where they will enjoy luxury combined with local ‘pura vida’ lifestyle. Upon landing, guests will be transported to the property via private SUV vehicles in true Four Seasons style. As the sun sets on day three, guests will retire to two or three-bedroom elegant treehouse villas or larger residences Casa del Cielo and Casa de la Luna which boast panoramic vistas of Bay of Culebra and the Pacific Ocean.
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al Tee and Golf Tour Leisurely excursions planned for the twonight playover include zip lining, golfing on the Resort’s Signature 18 Hole Arnold Palmer Golf Course, palatsunset cocktails at the 3rd hole, a locally-inspired cooking class, and the Taste the Stars experience where astronomy meets gastronomy for a palate-pleasing culinary experience. Guests will also enjoy treatments at the property’s award-winning spa and can also partake in Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica’s renowned Wellness and Fitness program. Four Seasons Resort Nevis - Authentic Caribbean Luxury Four Seasons Resort Nevis completes
the trifecta, with a golf game on the 6,766yard, par-71 golf course. The links ranges from Pinney’s Beach to the slopes of Nevis Peak, and offers spectacular panoramic vistas of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring St. Kitts. Guests also will stay in a luxurious two- to four-bedroom private villa, adjacent to the golf course, and be welcomed with an in-villa, private chef dining experience on arrival day. In addition to play on the Robert Trent Jones II-designed course, guests also will have an opportunity to rejuvenate with included spa treatments for each guest, a day’s rental of the Resort’s 200 sq. ft., beachside luxury Beach House, a sumptuous private rum pairing dinner in Mango, the Resort’s
oceanfront restaurant, featuring the 101 Rums Bar, the only bar in the Caribbean focused on fine-aged rums, and access to all the Resort’s extensive restaurants, lounges, and amenities. The Nevis visit will be bookended with the YU Lounge experience, where guests will be met at the jet on the tarmac with private luxury vehicles and ushered to the luxury airport lounge, where the Concierges handle all the immigration and customs procedures as guests enjoy gourmet hors d’oeuvres and champagne in a refined atmosphere. For more information on pricing and booking, please visit http://www.magellanjets. com/fourseasons/private-jet-golf-tour or call 877-550-JETS.
Signature 18 Hole Arnold Palmer Golf Course, Costa Rica
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BATTER UP! T
by JD Latorre
he popping of the gloves, the cracks of the bats, John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” on the loud speaker – hearing those sounds this time of year gives baseball fans goosebumps.
all aficionados of America’s Pastime.
They signify that Spring Training has arrived and everyone is a World Series contender – yes, even the Chicago Cubs. The Phoenix area hosts 15 professional baseball teams for Spring Training, including Fall Classic favorites Cubs and the Kansas City Royals, with many from all ports of call flocking to the Valley of the Sun to watch their favorite teams.
Fore! – The Phoenix area boasts more than 200 golf courses, making it one of the most golf-rich metropolitan areas in the country. Expect a little sticker shock and slow play at many of the top layouts. However, there are several clubs offering unique golf experiences and lodging. Situated in the northeast part of town, Rio Verde Country Club offers two redesigned Tom Lehman golf courses and a Discovery Stay package that allows guests to tour the community and stay in a guest house.
For these fans, it might be wise to pack a little more than just their baseball gloves and ball caps. The area boasts a slew of activities – golf, hiking, exploring – that should excite
Catch some hoops – This season has been a disappointing one for the hometown Suns. But in February and March, the Suns will take on some marquee NBA teams at home such as
Rio Verde Country Club
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the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies. Talking Stick Resort Arena is located in downtown Phoenix and close to restaurants and nightlife. Ice, Ice Baby – The Arizona Coyotes are fighting for a Wild Card spot, and will also host several marquee NHL teams. Among the teams visiting the Gila River Arena over the next two months to play the Coyotes: the Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers. Situated in Glendale, Gila River Arena is a hike from downtown Phoenix, but the Westgate Entertainment District offers plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment for everyone. Take a hike – Scale the mountains in and around the area, and take in the exceptional views from atop. Among the local favorites – Camelback Mountain near the posh Phoenician and Camelback resorts, Pinnacle Peak on the north side of town and South Mountain. Seeking an under the radar hiking location? Check out the McDowell Mountains and Tonto National Forest near Rio Verde. Combing the desert – One can easily escape to the desert from any outpost in the Phoenix area and indulge in its natural
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beauty. Companies such as Desert Wolf Tours and Desert Dog Hummer Adventures take guests off-roading through trails on all-terrain vehicles. Various stables dot the outskirts of Phoenix and offer desert explorations via horseback for a full Arizona Old West experience. Water foul – Not only should visitors expect sun-filled days throughout their visit, temperatures are pleasantly warm during Spring Training. Warm enough, in fact, to spend several hours poolside before the first pitch. There are no shortages of pools in the area – every major resort and hotel has one. It’s a matter of finding one that matches the mood – from fun and raucous to quiet and peaceful, to glam and celebrity-infested. Fill ‘er up – Unlimited miles on the rental car? If so, fill up the tank and escape the Phoenix area for a day trip to outstanding destinations less than a four-hour drive away. Travel a few hours east on Interstate 10 and check out Tucson, a thriving city that is also home to the University of Arizona. Many visiting Phoenix, and especially locals during this time of year, head north to Sedona for relaxation and spiritual healing. Go a little bit further north beyond Flagstaff, and there’s the Grand Canyon. All are reachable in the same amount of time as a nine-inning ballgame.
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Shoulder Season Shi
Take a Break at PGA Golf Club or PGA National Resort and Spa 22 Golf Vacations • March 2016
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ines in South Florida By JD Latorre
The PGA National Champion Course - Montana Pritchard Photography
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PGA Golf Club - Montana Pritchard Photography
F
or last minute trips to catch a spring training game or two, or an extended golf sojourn this spring, PGA Golf Club is offering a wide array of golf packages featuring its three onsite golf courses (Dye, Ryder and Wanamaker), nearby St. Lucie Trail Golf Club and a variety of lodging options to suit any size golf group. And Mets fans take note: the spring training home of the “Amazings” is next door at 7,000-seat Traditions Field. For players in search of a quick-hitter, two-night, two-round packages begin at $209 per golfer. Starting at $686 per golfer, “The Handicap Wrecker” includes five nights and five rounds (one on each course, plus an additional area course), for a more immersive experience. All told, there are nearly 20 different options available to book at www.pgavillagegolf. com. Accommodations are offered in partnership with a number of local area hotels, as well as the onsite, multi-bedroom “Perfect Drive Villas.” “Traveling golfers associate South Florida with winter getaways, but the spring is arguably the single best time to tee it up in the Sunshine State,” says Jimmy Terry, PGA General Manager, PGA Golf Club. “The courses are in superb condition, the weather is typically dry and sunny, and the overall value is hard to beat. Generally, fairways are less crowded, the pace of place brisk, and the days are longer.” Weather, conditions and value withstanding, there’s never been a better time to visit PGA Golf Club. Its 20,000-square-foot clubhouse was completely renovated with a modern golf shop, the American-British fusion Taplow Pub featuring a cozy, welcoming interior, and NINETEENSIXTEEN Bar & Grille, a members-only restaurant adjacent to the 18th Hole of the Wanamaker Course. For history buffs, the PGA of America has relocated notable trophies and artifacts tracing its 100 years to the new “PGA Gallery” area of the clubhouse. A showcase of the major championship trophies of golf includes the PGA Championship’s original Wanamaker Trophy. The Senior PGA Championship’s Alfred S. Bourne Trophy and the
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Vardon Trophy, with its iconic overlapped hands sculpture, are also prominently displayed. Additionally, PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course underwent a significant re-grassing project late last year, heightening the playing experience by introducing new turf to fairways and bunker surrounds, and planting several ornamental species to reframe holes. It was recently rated one of the top-five courses in South Florida by The Golf Channel’s course rating website, Golf Advisor. Extended Stay: PGA National Resort and Spa For many golfers who have been bottled up all winter, the only thing better than one golf destination is two. Like PGA Golf Club, PGA National Resort and Spa is a golf lover’s dream. The legendary locale offers 90 holes of high-caliber golf on five courses including the famed Champion Course, home to the popular PGA TOUR Honda Classic and past host of the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship and several Senior PGA Championships. Through April 30, PGA National Resort & Spa’s popular Gold Golf stay-and-play starts at $329 (per person, per night, double occupancy) and features a daily round on one of the resort’s layouts (surcharge for the Champion Course). Included are nightly deluxe accommodations, complimentary cart fees and club storage, access to PGA TOUR quality practice facilities with unlimited range balls, and full daily breakfast at the Palm Terrace. Cardinals fans, time for you to take note: the Redbirds’ Roger Dean Stadium is only minutes away from PGA National. Getting There PGA Golf Club is conveniently located off Interstate 95 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. just 50 minutes north of Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). PGA National Resort and Spa is only 15 minutes north of PBI. Known as the “easy in, easy out” airport, PBI offers nearly 100 non-stop flights to more than 25 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Both golf havens are about a twohour drive from Orlando, Miami and other Florida population centers.
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“SCOTTSDALE IS transformative. IT encourages YOU TO BE OUTDOORS AND play.”
200 Area Courses | 70+ Resorts & Hotels | 600+ Restaurants | 100+ Downtown Nightlife Options | EXPERIENCESCOTTSDALEGOLF.COM www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • March 2016 25
SWEETSTUFF W
hen Marshal Mancillas founded Carnoustie Sportswear back in the early 1990s, his family background in fashion took over. He knew the business and he knew what appealed to the sports-minded, classic individual who enjoyed the finer things—with golf among them. The result was a company dedicated to fine fabrications and the elegant, timeless styling that goes hand-in-hand with the resort and country club golfer. The classic feel of mercerized cotton, which some companies seem to have forgotten about, is alive and well at Carnoustie Sportswear, which can be found in many top-end resorts, retailers and private clubs. This is not to say that Mancillas has failed to keep up with the latest trends like the socalled performance fabrics. It is just that he has successfully blended the best of the newer yarns and materials into classic styles that sport an elegant fit that is both modern and timeless. For instance, the buttons are made of real pearl, the cotton is triple mercerized while the collars are made with several ply’s of yarn and contain lycra for shape retention. “ We have consistently given our customer quality he can depend on,” said Mancillas. “When he buys a Carnoustie product he knows that it will be in his wardrobe for long time looking as good as the day he bought it.” For the spring of 2016, Carnoustie has introduced some exciting new lines of
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performance knits, performance outerwear, cotton outerwear, sweaters, shorts, waterproof outerwear and wovens with these timeless and classic looks very much in evidence. The performance knit collection contains not only timeless mercerized cotton and other natural fibers, but also the best in what is available on the performance side--with all the wearability features today’s consumer demands. The use of only the best micro poly fabrics available and blending it with generous amounts of lycra for just the right amount of stretch and wearability makes this line stand out. “All performance is not created equal,” noted Mancillas. “And I had to make a considerable effort to fundamentally understand man- made fibers. It was worth it given the reaction of our customers to our performance collection. I knew I had to offer a technical product that was commensurate with our reputation in cotton. I did and our customer responded.” Carnoustie developed the perfect complement to its performance knits with the introduction of the Hogan outerwear collection. Fabricated in a blend of polyester and lycra in the perfect year-round weight and offered in both a vest and 1/4 zip model, this outerwear has already become an important classification in its own right. Both styles feature a classic flat knit detail with tipping at the neck and contrast zipper details which distinguish these pieces
from the generic outerwear that is so common in the marketplace. “Golf, like many other sports such as skiing, has become all about layering,” added Mancillas. “As a skier, I always knew how important it was to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Today, with the advent of these wonderful new technical fabrics, we can offer a style like the Hogan, which is lightweight yet will keep the player comfortable in a wide variety of conditions. Just because performance outerwear is extremely functional, doesn’t mean it can’t be fashionable “ Having forged a reputation for the finest brushed fleece in the industry, two seasons ago Carnoustie introduced a lighter, unbrushed cotton fabric in a perfect year round weight. Called the Mackenzie collection, it is available in a 1/4 zip vest, 1/4 zip long sleeve pullover and new for Spring 16--a full zip vest. The Mackenzie collection of outerwear has quickly become a centerpiece of the collection because the styles are affordable, versatile and with their flat knit detailing at the collar and zipper placket, fit beautifully within the collection. Sweater offerings for Spring 16 features an exquisite yarn of 95% cotton and 5 % cashmere. That touch of cashmere gives these sweaters a luxurious feel--and gives them great versatility since these sweaters are light enough for spring but can be a perfect layering piece for other times of the year. Offered in a V neck vest, 1/4 zip raglan
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
pullover with sporty details at the shoulder and a handsome plaid, these pieces add dimension to any assortment of Carnoustie spring product. “It seems the Carnoustie customer understands that a well-made sweater in a beautiful color can set them apart from the crowd,” noted Mancillas. “Our sweaters typically evoke a more sophisticated, well dressed period in the game.” Carnoustie always includes a group of woven sport shirts in its collection, and this spring some of the finest combed Turkish cotton with fine tailoring highlight this line that includes real pearl buttons. Offered in a very versatile button down model, they can be worn around the course or around the office. They are colorful and evoke the spring season. This Spring Carnoustie offers three short styles. Based on the success of its solid performance short introduced last year, they have added a printed plaid performance short that adds that perfect fancy short for each collection. These styles are well made and feature an elastic gripper waistband for comfort. Additionally, they offer a cotton fancy short in a herringbone textured fabric styled in a plaid that features all the colors in the group. New for Spring 16 is the introduction of Carnoustie’s first waterproof garment ever. Made of a quiet, soft waterproof fabric, these pieces feature taped seams and a bonded waterproof lining. It is the perfect piece for that morning chill or late afternoon when the sun goes down. The fun part about this style, in addition to the handy front pockets, the Velcro tabs on the cuffs and the contrast zipper, is the fact that it comes in colors that once again fit perfectly into the collection. “Well styled outerwear can make a statement without having to be overly designed with piecing here and zippers,” noted Mancillas. “Our aesthetic at Carnoustie is rooted in the belief that less is more, that form follows function. Never trendy. Always timeless.” For more information on Carnoustie apparel: www.carnoustiesportswear.com
many people are finding an alternative way to get instruction—and practice. Golf TEC, which has 200 indoor facilities worldwide for teaching lessons, swing evaluations and club fitting, actually gives 25 percent of the golf lessons given in the United States through its more than 600 certified teaching professionals, with many of them given inside Golfsmith retail stores, while others are conducted in stand-alone GolfTEC facilities. Taking an indoor lesson is a more modern twist to the traditional hour on the driving range with a PGA pro and looking at ball flight and hearing some instruction—and perhaps leaving with some video and trying to remember what to do. A Golf TEC lesson is conducted indoors using the latest technology and simulators where every factor of your swing can be seen on a screen—from ball flight, distance, club-head speed, ball speed, attack angle, smash factor, etc. And with the sensors that can be worn via the Motion Measurement Technology system, various kinds of motion feedback are possible. An indoor lesson at a Golf TEC facility allows for a much-more controlled environment than outdoors and better visualization because of the absence of outside distractions. You also leave the session with great practice tips, goals for your game and improvement. The lessons are videoed with great examples that include clips of touring professionals to compare with your swing and instruction with the video that is uploaded to your personal lesson website to
review as often as you need. It is great when you can review the lesson on a computer or mobile device, in a series of short clips with your personal instruction to keep re-enforcing the changes and drills that you can practice. The Golf TEC instructors are top-tier, such as Thomas Howell, Jr., the Regional Manager for Golf TEC Orange County, California and Center Manager at Golf TEC Irvine. He has taught over 8600 lessons with Golf TEC, over 22,000 lessons in his 22- year golf career and played in over 100 professional events. “Our philosophy is that if you have a sound, repetitive golf swing, together with the physical ability, we feel that we can help you play your best,” said Howell. “Our lessons are built around teaching and getting you into the right equipment—it is a fact-based feedback for our students using video. We work on both the physical and mental aspects of the game and even offer playing lessons.” Having given more than 5 million lessons since 1995, the core of GolfTEC’s lesson philosophy are the company’s “Five Factors:” Fact-Based Diagnosis, Sequential Lessons, Video-Based Practice, Advanced Retention Tools, and TECfit club fitting. Golf TEC Improvement Centers can be found in almost all major U.S. cities, Canada, Japan and Korea and in 80 Golfsmith stores in the U.S. During the month of March, GolfTEC is discounting many of its lesson plans by as much as 20 percent. More information on GolfTEC is available at www.golftec.com
L
et’s face, golf is much more fun to play when you are playing well. In addition to practicing, the most efficient way to become a better golfer is to practice the CORRECT things—and this is where lessons come in and can make a huge difference. For many people, taking lessons from a club pro at a local course is the usual method, but in today’s world of limited time and technology,
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