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Circling Raven Golf Club aerial view of 4th and 5th holes
Worley, ID – Fresh off an awardwinning 15th Anniversary Season, Circling Raven, the No. 1-rated public course in Idaho, is paying it forward in 2020 with a variety of special offers and events. From value-priced Stayand-Play Packages, to hosting its inaugural Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event – the Circling Raven Championship – the casino resort golf club is poised to parlay last year’s robust investments into big-time winnings for avid golfers near and far.
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“We surveyed our extensive database in 2019, and overwhelmingly golfers rated Circling Raven as one of the best places they play annually, both local players and those who come to stay and play,” said David Christenson, PGA, Circling Raven Director of Golf. “We’re rewarding that enthusiastic patronage by incentivizing golfers to come early and often in 2020.” Players who purchase the 2020 Spring Stay-and-Play Package by March 1 will receive one night’s accommodations for two in the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel Spa Tower, two rounds of golf (one per occupant), two breakfast vouchers, two free sleeves of Titleist Pro V golf balls, and two signature bag tags (a large arrowhead of bronze appearance) for $249 plus tax. The purchase price covers both players. That’s more than 30% off the customary fees at one of America’s finest playing venues.
The offer is valid for the 2020 season, Mondays – Thursdays, and must be used by May 21, 2020, to receive the golf balls and bag tags. To book, call 800.523.2464, and mention the code LOVERAVEN for the Spring Stay-and-Play Package.
Circling Raven Stay-and-Play Packages are made even better by pairing golf with other Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel amenities. From massages and other services at Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced Sock-wah-kin), to immersing in Native American tradition through the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s cultural activities offered to guests and resort visitors, the options are many. Culture activities include touring a 17th Century Mission that the Tribe built (now a museum), eating authentic Native American foods, visiting a bison ranch, hiking ancestral homelands, learning how to weave baskets and create beaded bracelets, and much more.
The 2020 Circling Raven Advantage Card provides tremendous value at the exceptional golf club this year. Purchasing the card enables Cardholders to receive a complimentary round this season, free entry into an Advantage Cardholder tournament, and free entry to attend the Circling Raven Championship, a Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event, Aug. 28- 30, 2020. Additionally, when card holders return to play Circling Raven in 2020, they are guaranteed the lowest rate, which will save $10 off each additional round.
Visit www.cdacasino.com for more information on golf and other resort options. Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Circling Raven Golf Club Announce Spring Stay-and-Play Packages
Westgate Resorts Celebrity Classic Set For Lvcc Nfl Draft Weekend
LAS VEGAS, NV - The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino will elevate NFL Draft Weekend in Las Vegas by launching a new celebrity golf tournament, April 23-26, at historic Las Vegas Country Club.
The Westgate Resorts Celebrity Classic, featuring 36 top-tier golfers from sports and entertainment, will be a 36-hole, $200,000 competition among active and retired NFL players plus other celebrities on Saturday and Sunday April 23-26. A celebrity-amateur competition will be held on Friday, April 24, at Las Vegas Country Club.
The line-up will include former Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, former NFL All-Pro and Oakland Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder plus a host of other players familiar to fans from the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach and the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando. The field is expected to include active or retired entries from all the major sports plus select amateurs invited via sponsorships and other tournament partnerships.
“We have long believed that celebrity golf is a great fit for Las Vegas and for our property and our partnership with Las Vegas Country Club,” said Richard Siegel, Westgate Resorts’ Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The Westgate is proud to be a dynamic part of the big weekend with the NFL Draft in town.”
In addition to Urlacher and Schroeder, other early confirmations for the tournament field include Roger Clemens, Robbie Gould, Kevin Millar, Mark Mulder, Mardy Fish, Eric Gagne, Kyle Rudolph, Bret Saberhagen, Ha Ha Dixon, Adam Theilen, Deron Williams, and Jeremy Roenick.
Additional player confirmations will be announced in the coming weeks. Information regarding sponsorship and Las Vegas hotel packages can be obtained at www. westgateresorts.com/golf-tournament/. Hotel packages can also be obtained by calling 877- 206-1425.
Established in 1967, Las Vegas Country Club has long been a celebrity haven, popularized in the early years by legendary entertainer Dean Martin.
Poplar Grove to Host Virginia State Golf Association FourBall Championship This Spring AMHERST, VA – Poplar Grove Golf Club – Sam Snead’s final course design located in the rolling hills of beautiful southern Virginia – will host the Virginia State Golf Association’s (VSGA) Four-Ball Championship on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. Those who successfully qualify at various sites throughout the Commonwealth are eligible to compete in the 36-hole four-ball stroke play competition.
“Hosting the VSGA Four-Ball Championship is an exciting opportunity to showcase the new and improved Poplar Grove to the best players throughout the Old Dominion,” says Jacob Mast. “We’re confident competitors will have an exceptional experience and a proper challenge.”
Headlining Poplar Grove’s $3 million Phase I renovation are new teeing grounds that have lengthened the course to an exhilarating 7,300 yards. Other upgrades include the re-building of bunkers and green complexes, updating drainage, tree clearing, new on-course comfort stations, remodeled practice areas and renovated cart paths with a new fleet of 60 E-Z-GO golf carts.
The course restoration was led by Ed Carton, a Virginia native who learned under Tom Fazio, Michael Hurdzan, Gary Player and Raymond Floyd. Carton consulted closely with Snead when designing Poplar Grove and saw the project through to its finish in 2005, three years after “Slammin’ Sammy’s” passing. Poplar Grove, a Golf Digest “Best New Upscale Public Course” in 2005, is returning to its heyday under the close watch of Carton, the man who brought Snead’s blueprint to life.
The historic Manor House, Poplar Grove’s storied centerpiece, is also being restored as an event space. A 100-seat indooroutdoor dining space, luxury bar, several member-exclusive areas and overnight accommodations are among the planned additions for Phase II of the project.
For more information, visit http://www. poplargrovegolf.com/.
Ocean Course at Hokuala
10 Golf Vacations • March 2020 www.golfvacationsmag.com Myrtlebeachgolftrips. com Launches ‘Gimme Golf’ Podcast, Exploring the Best of Myrtle Beach and Beyond
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, one of the game’s leading vacation companies, has launched Gimme Golf, the first podcast dedicated to telling the story of the Grand Strand golf community, on and off the course.
Gimme Golf (LISTEN) is hosted by Meredith Kirk, a LPGA member and one of South Carolina’s premier instructors. Kirk will take listeners into every facet of the Myrtle Beach golf community, talking with head golf professionals, course superintendents and media members during the weekly show, which is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, Pandora and Tune-In.
Powered by MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, 13 Gimme Golf episodes are already available to listeners, covering topics ranging from the Grand Strand’s best courses to the decision to overseed during the winter, among a host of other subjects.
“Meredith is as knowledgeable about the area as anyone and there are so many stories to tell along the Myrtle Beach golf scene,” said Justin Binke, Director of Marketing for MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com. “Gimme Golf will provide people the chance to enjoy an insider’s perspective on Myrtle Beach, allowing them to learn and laugh along the way.” Listeners can subscribe and listen to Gimme Golf on major podcast platforms, and each episode is embedded on https://www. myrtlebeachgolftrips.com/podcasts/. While the content to date has focused entirely on Myrtle Beach, Kirk will periodically interview guests from outside the area in the future.
Kirk is a creative media consultant and nationally ranked LPGA teaching professional. She is a former Mrs. South Carolina America (2014) and achieved recognition by Golf Magazine as a top “Innovator” in golf for her creative development of a national nonprofit junior program that provided fitted equipment to youth.
She has been featured in Sports Illustrated/ Golf.com as a “Most Beautiful Woman in Golf” and appeared on national radio, cable, and television programs, including The Golf Channel.
To follow all the latest news on the Myrtle Beach golf scene, go to www. MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com. Follow the “Kaua’i Golf Trail” to Save on Go Golf Kaua’i Courses
Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – Golfers headed to the “Garden Island” in 2020 and looking to save on green fees should follow the Kaua’i Golf Trail. The popular Kaua’i Golf Trail package allows golfers to play three out of the four participating island courses for one flat fee of $540 (inclusive of tax). Participating courses in the Kaua’i Golf Trail package include The Ocean Course at Hokuala, Poipu Bay Golf Course, Princeville Makai Golf Club and Puakea Golf Course.
Golfers interested in reserving the Kaua’i Golf Trail package should contact any one of the participating golf courses to book their first tee time, and while doing so inform the staff they wish to book under the Kaua’i Golf Trail package. It is recommended golfers purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package from the golf course that will be their first round on island. Upon arrival at the first property, golfers will purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package in person for $540, at which time they will receive Kaua’i Golf Trail Card. The Kaua’i Golf Trail Card is non-transferable, rounds may not be redeemed more than once per location, and cards are valid 30 days from the date of issue.
In addition to savings on golf, those who purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package will receive 10 percent off regular-priced merchandise in golf shops on the day of play. If a golfer chooses to play the award-winning Puakea Golf Course for one of their rounds, they will receive a $100 gift card towards golf shop merchandise, club rentals or an additional round of golf.
Golfers can purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail Package at any of the following Go Golf Kaua’i golf courses:
The Ocean Course at Hokuala - (808) 246-6844 Poipu Bay Golf Course - (808) 278-6572
Princeville Makai Golf Club - (808) 278-6573 Puakea Golf Course - (808) 278-6574 For more information on the Kauai Golf Trail visit www.gogolfkauai. com/trail.
Wailua Golf Course, a Go Golf Kaua’i member course, does not participate in the Kaua’i Golf Trail package but is a wonderful and affordable seaside golf option for Kaua’i-bound golfers.
Nicknamed the “Garden Island” for its lush tropical foliage, waterfalls and ever-present Pacific Ocean scenery, Kaua‘i is perennially recognized for its beaches, award-winning golf courses, ideal playing weather and stunning natural beauty. For more information on Kaua‘i golf, visit www.gogolfkauai.com.
Scottsdale, AZ – Troon®, the leader in club management, development, and marketing, is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club in Cicero, New York. Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon, will oversee the golf operations, golf course agronomy, membership sales and marketing, and the club’s food and beverage operations.
Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club was established in 1860 and is nestled on 150-picturesque acres on the south shore of Oneida Lake. The club’s par-72, 18-hole golf course originally opened for play in 1928 and has since been renovated by golf course architect Stephen Kay. Lakeshore’s beautiful lakeside clubhouse includes a golf shop, a restaurant and the most picturesque banquet facilities anywhere, providing the ideal setting for weddings, parties and other celebrations. “Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club is a gorgeous property with an active membership,” said Archie Cart, operations director, Troon. “We’re thrilled to be engaged with this historic club. Our Privé team will look to enhance the service levels and improve the overall member experience.”
In addition to golf, Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club members also enjoy other amenities including a swimming pool complex and a marina offering dockage space for yachts and boats.
“Partnering with Troon is significant as we work to improve all facets of the Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club experience,” said Seamus Lyman, Senior Partner & General Counsel for Hart-Lyman Companies, owner/occupant of Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club. “We plan to develop the land adjacent to the golf course by adding residential opportunities, mixed-use commercial space, a 200-key boutique hotel and significantly enhance the marina.”
Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club is located just north of Syracuse along the south shore of Oneida Lake. For more information on Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club, visit www.LakeshoreYCC.com or call (315) 699-2797. Gamble Sands
12 Golf Vacations • March 2020 www.golfvacationsmag.com ‘Escape’ to the Sea Pines Resort for Fun-Filled Vacation Package
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island has created the perfect “escape” package for families seeking coastal fun, while also showcasing one of the world’s top golf destinations. The resort’s “Escape Vacation Package” offers an attractive array of amenities and activities for children of all ages. The Escape Vacation Package includes: • A free round of golf at the Pete Dye-designed Heron Point for children 12 and younger with each paid adult round;
• A free 90-minute dolphin cruise for children 12 and younger with a paid adult;
• One complimentary family portrait session on the beach by Memory Lane Portraits;
• Choice of one complimentary Eco-Adventure or activity for two people at The Sea Pines Resort or Coastal Discovery Museum at Historic Honey Horn;
• Complimentary access for two guests to the Harbour Town Lighthouse;
• Two hours of complimentary tennis per day at The Sea Pines Racquet Club; and
• Exclusive and convenient parking at the Sea Pines Beach Club. Guests also will have the option to purchase the Summer Golf Passport, which is exclusive to Escape Vacation Package holders and includes up to one tee time per day on Atlantic Dunes or Heron Point. A two-player, one-week passport is available for $349 with the courses available for play May 26 through Sept. 2. Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage tournament, can be added to the package for an additional $140 per guest per round of play.
To make travel easier and minimize the possibility of layovers, Hilton Head Island visitors now have seven direct flight options. American, Delta and United airlines are flying directly into Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) from New York (LaGuardia), Washington (Reagan and Dulles), Newark, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago.
To reserve The Sea Pines Resort “Escape Vacation Package,” visit www.seapines.com/vacation-rentals/specials/escape-vacationpackage and enter the promotion code ESCAPE during the booking process. The package also can be booked by phone by calling (866) 561-8802.
For more information about The Sea Pines Resort, visit www. seapines.com. Win a Round of Golf With Charles Howell Iii in Reynolds Lake Oconee Sweepstakes
GREENSBORO, GA – Think your game compares with the pros? Someone will find out by winning the “3 for 4” sweepstakes offered by Reynolds Lake Oconee. The prize package includes 3 unique activities for 4 guests over 3 nights and 4 days. The experiences include playing a round of golf with long-time PGA Tour professional
www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • March 2020 13 and three-time champion, Charles Howell III; fishing on Lake Oconee with avid sportsman and PGA Tour professional Blake Adams; and a sporting clays experience with professional shooting expert, Justin Jones.
The entry period is now open and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. One grand-prize winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries and announced shortly after the sweepstakes closes.
Howell III’s résumé on the PGA Tour is highlighted by three tournament victories, including the RSM Classic in 2018, and eight Top-25 finishes in majors. Now 40, the Augusta, Ga., native remains ranked among the Top 70 players in the world and reached a careerbest No. 15 shortly after turning pro in 2001 when he was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
Adams, 44, turned pro in 2001 after playing collegiately for University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University. An avid sportsman, Adams is currently on medical leave from the PGA Tour, and works at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee in player development and instruction.
Taught to shoot by his grandfather at the age of 12 and a competitor since 15, Jones has traveled internationally representing Great Britain in both Olympic Trap and Skeet.
In addition to the round of golf with Howell III, fishing with Adams, and shooting with Jones, the grand-prize package for the winner and three guests includes:
• Three nights’ luxury lodging accommodations in a Reynolds National Club Cottage
Three rounds of golf with caddies on Reynolds Lake Oconee courses
• Club-fitting experience at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee with a $500 credit toward TaylorMade golf clubs
• Instruction experience with the Reynolds Elite Performance team at The Kingdom
•Domestic round-trip coach airfares for four arriving at and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and rental car
•Shipment of golf clubs to and from Reynolds Lake Oconee •Meals and tasting experiences at selected Reynolds’ restaurants. Entry forms are available at www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/ reynolds-insider-sweepstakes. There is a limit of one entry per person; no purchase is necessary to enter or win. Entrants must be residents of the United States, at least 21 years of age and possess a valid email address at time of entry. The prize must be taken on the dates to be specified in 2020 or it will be forfeited by prize winner. For complete rules and prize details, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee. com/reynolds-insider-sweepstakes-official-rules.
Located between Atlanta and Augusta, Ga., and home to one of the most diverse collections of elite courses in the United States, Reynolds Lake Oconee has six distinctive designs, fantastic lodging and dining options, and a magnificent lakefront location. The community is recognized as one of the country’s premier golf and lakefront destinations and communities.
Also home to The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee, which is one of the only facilities in the country where recreational golfers can receive professional instruction, be fit for TaylorMade equipment in the same elite environment used by Tour professionals, and have their clubs built onsite in one of the custom trailers that traveled the PGA Tour.
For additional information about Reynolds Lake Oconee, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com Rumbling Bald Announces New ‘Golf Vacation Planning Service’
LAKE LURE, N.C. – Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf resort on North Carolina’s stunning Lake Lure, announces its new Golf Vacation Planning service in advance of the 2020 golf season.
Led by Golf Group Sales Manager J.P. Doran, a veteran tour operator and golf packager, Rumbling Bald’s expert golf vacation planners offer a concierge-level experience helping golf groups plan, organize and executive trips and events of all sizes.
“Being in charge of a large golf group or even planning a trip for a foursome is challenging on many levels, and our goal is to flip the script and make the process easy and enjoyable,” says Doran. “And that doesn’t end when the trip is booked. We are here every step of the way, from the first call or email until the last putts are holed out.”
Home to Apple Valley and Bald Mountain golf courses, Rumbling Bald is one of the region’s only 36-hole golf destinations. Golfers and groups can select from a wide-array of lodging options, ranging from rental homes to studios.
Tucked along the shores of scenic Lake Lure and surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, it is both remote and eminently accessible. Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh, N.C., Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn. and Greenville and Spartanburg, S.C. are all between one and five hours away.
Rumbling Bald recently announced its 2020 golf package lineup, including:
Hole-in One – Starting at $345 per person (based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees), it features: a two-night stay, two rounds of golf on the Apple Valley and Bald Mountain courses, breakfast both days and complimentary, unlimited range balls. Lodging options include the recently updated Apple Valley Studios and two- and four-bedroom Fairway Villas.
The Ryder Cup Package – Starting at $589 per person (based on quad occupancy, including taxes and fees), it includes: three nights lodging; three rounds of golf scored and handicapped; complimentary replays on either course; a team shirt and resort hat; private, one-hour opening reception with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres included; and unlimited use of the practice facilities.
“We are excited to welcome J.P. and his staff to the team, and just as excited about our offerings and momentum heading into the golf season,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler.
To learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www.rumblingbald.com, or email jdoran@ rumblingbald.com. To book packages directly, or to speak with golf vacation planner, call (828) 694.3072. Justin Jones, Charles Howell III, Blake Adams
