OUR 18th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS MAY 2019
RESORT REPORT HORSESHOE BAY RESORT
CASCATA
HAWAIIAN MASTERPIECE
ITALIAN FOR WATERFALL
MAKAHA VALLEY RESORT
Golf Vacations • May 2019 1 Plus: ENGLAND’S TOP 100: CHURCH COURSE ST ENODOC
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GOLF VACATIONS MAY 2019
Cascata, Boulder City, Nevada
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Chip Shots
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Cascata: Italian For Waterfall
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by David R. Holland
Any time you get the chance to play a golf course that’s hidden away behind a remote-controlled gate go for it. Cascata, an Italian word for waterfall, is one of those experiences. Golfers arrive by limo or private car and that’s when the firstclass golf adventure happens.
The Church Course at St Enodoc Cornwall, England; Great debate abounds year round amongst golfers and the golf media alike about which the top golf courses in England are, but less often the topic turns to which are the best value courses in a country boasting hundreds of good quality layouts.
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Hawaiian Masterpiece at Makaha Valley Resort
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Resort Report: Horseshoe Bay, Texas
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Sweet Stuff
Golfing icon Tiger Woods and his TGR Design company have been unveiled as lead architects for one of two spectacular golfing layouts to be created at Makaha Valley Resort, Hawaii, a project commissioned by Pacific Links International, a premier golfing network
by David R. Holland
On a cool Hill Country day in early spring two Horseshoe Bay Resort golfers, Jim Smith and Ralph Johnston, teed it up on the famed Ram Rock Course and didn’t mind at all that the layout was tough and unforgiving.
by Terry Ross
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Your gateway to 120 golf courses . . . A boutique hotel for your next desert trip
74-470 Abronia Trail, Palm Desert CA
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Tim Cotroneo is a Mineapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Caribbean travel, business, and golf. Tim is a long-time contributor to Tee Times Press and he’s also the Travel Writer for American Business Magazine.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling the Pocono Mountains his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Tenerife, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor JD Latorre
Senior Writers Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.
Tim Cotroneo Larry Feldman David R. Holland Dave McKibben
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. “Multiple careers” best describes this world traveler (visited 35 countries), who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve. Holland splits home time in Colorado and Texas. He has written for GolfWeek’s Superintendent News, Colorado AvidGolfer, Midwest Golfing Magazine, South Central Golf Magazine and Fairway to Green. He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, UPI and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Follow Dave on Twitter @David_R_Holland.
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
Published by
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tony Creek Media
President Jeffrey Diaz
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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 The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in SW Florida Offering “Summer Savings” NAPLES, FL – If a fun and relaxing getaway to a beachfront resort in Southwest Florida sounds appealing, you should check out the enticing “Summer Savings” deal that is being offered by The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Available for stays from June 1-September 30, 2019, the promotion provides a 20% discount off accommodations at the AAA Four-Diamond resort, which is Southwest Florida’s only beachfront resort with an onsite championship golf course, world-class spa and award-winning tennis center. Also to be noted is that guests at the lush 125-acre resort always benefit from no resort fees and complimentary valet parking and self-parking. Complemented by seven miles of pristine soft white-sand beach, the picturesque resort features a par-71 championship golf course that was dramatically redesigned in 2016 by golf icon and acclaimed course designer Jack Nicklaus in collaboration with renowned course architect John Sanford. Featuring five tees, ranging from 4,800 yards to over 6,900 yards, the course was designed to challenge the best players but also be enjoyable for all golfers. Situated just blocks from Naples’ renowned shopping districts of fashionable 5th Avenue South and historic 3rd Street South, the resort is also within minutes of shopping at Venetian
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Village, Waterside Shops, Bayfront and Tin City. Guests can also experience the area by taking tours of the Everglades, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Corkscrew Swamp, The Botanical Gardens, or the Conservancy Nature Center. Boat and fishing trips also can be arranged at the hotel. Other leisure time activities can include Naples’ outstanding museums, theatres, and art galleries. To take advantage of the “Summer Savings” offer, call (800) 237-7600 or (239) 261-2222, or visit NaplesBeachHotel.com , specifically the “Reservations” section on the website. Note that the offer is based on availability, is not available on holiday weekends, and blackout dates may apply. The promotion may not be combined with any other offer, and is not applicable to groups. Note that, based on availability, the offer can be used on the resort’s “SummerJazz on the Gulf” concert series weekends. A Southwest Florida tradition, this year’s SummerJazz concerts will be held on the resort’s Watkins lawn overlooking the Gulf on: Saturday, June 29 (with entertainment by Alter Eagles); Saturday, July 20 (with Late Night Brass); Saturday, August 17 (with Pocket Change); and Saturday, September 14, 2019 (with Ari & The Alibis). The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club is located at 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North in Naples, Florida. An exceptional tropical getaway, the resort is rich in hospitality and tradition. For more information, visit NaplesBeachHotel.com
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The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in SW Florida Offering “Summer Savings”e ‘Oscars’. The Asian Golf Awards on-line poll will be activated on April 1, 2019 and will be “live” for three months. THE BOLD DECISION has been taken and with the pace of golf course development hitting a frenetic pace in China, South Korea, Vietnam and India, there has never been a better time for the golf industry to come together and prepare for a road map to make Asia the new home of golf in the world! The official web site of APGS 2019 will be going “live” on March 20, 2019 and you can check it out at http://www.golfconference. org/ India is all set to welcome you for a wonderful and colourful experience like no other!
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS The Inn at Bay Harbor
Golf Digest: Bay Harbor among Best Resorts in the Midwest PETOSKEY, MI – The Inn at Bay Harbor, the flagship property for BOYNE Golf, one of the largest golf destinations in north America, received the Editors’ Choice Award by Golf Digest as one of the Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest. The publication’s annual review of “The Best Things in Golf” by its editors appears online at Golfdigest.com featuring the Best Resorts in the Americas. The listing recognizes resorts throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada. 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. Bay Harbor joined other elite destinations from the Midwest including The American Club, Erin Hills, Forest Dunes, French Lick Resort, Giants Ridge, and Sand Valley. Named a “Top Resort” and “Top Spa” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, the Inn at Bay Harbor has been a must-experience destination since opening in 1998. It became a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels in 2016. The shoreline destination, designed in homage to the grand hotels of the late 19th century, features 111 newly renovated guest rooms including one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, as well as 22 Lakeside Cottages, 13 Crooked Tree Cottages, world-class spa amenities, and a variety of dining options and meeting space. 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, and 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. Beyond the world-class golf Boyne Resorts’ Michigan properties are centered amid one of America’s most beautiful vacation spots. The
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scenic Lake Michigan beach towns of Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Petoskey are minutes away, and a side trip to Mackinac Island is easily managed. Guests can enjoy award-winning spas, waterfront dining, sandy beaches, water sports, gaming, microbreweries, wineries, hiking, biking, tennis, zip-lining, shopping and more capped by the spectacular northern Michigan sunsets. For more information, visit http://www.innatbayharbor.com and http://www.facebook.com/innatbayharbor.
Go Golf Kaua‘i Launches New Website Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i (May 2, 2019) – Go Golf Kaua‘i, a collection of Kaua‘i’s top daily-fee and resort golf courses, has launched a new and improved website at www.gogolfkauai.com. The new website makes it easy for golfers to book tee times, plan group outings, learn more about stay and play packages, and get the latest news and information about golf on Kaua‘i. On gogolfkauai.com, golfers are booking tee times directly with the Kaua‘i golf properties with live inventory displaying the courses best available rates. The five Kaua‘i golf courses represented on the website are The Ocean Course at Hokuala, Poipu Bay Golf Course, Princeville Makai Golf Club, Puakea Golf Course and Wailua Golf Course. “We’re excited to debut the new Go Golf Kaua‘i website,” said Sue Kanoho, Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau. “Kaua‘i is a top destination for golfers from around the world. The new website is easy to navigate, beautiful to view with stunning photos, and simple for golfers to plan and reserve their Kaua‘i golf vacations.” Nicknamed the Garden Isle for its lush tropical foliage, waterfalls and ever-present Pacific Ocean scenery, Kaua‘i is perennially recognized for its beaches, award-winning courses, ideal playing weather and stunning natural beauty. Five Kaua‘i golf courses were recently named “Best of Hawaii” by Golf Advisor. In a Top 20 listing of the best courses in Hawai‘i, Golf Advisor’s community of golfers voted Princeville Makai Golf Club No. 2, Poipu Bay Golf Course No. 7, Puakea Golf Course No. 13, The Ocean Course at Hokuala No. 17, and Wailua Golf Course No. 19. All five courses exemplify the stunning views and exceptional golf found on the island. For more information on Kaua‘i golf, visit www.gogolfkauai.com.
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Banyan Cay Resort & Golf’s Unconventional Clubhouse Opens this Spring
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Banyan Cay, a Noble House Resort, is set to open a well-appointed 10,000 square-foot Clubhouse at its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course this Spring. Located in the center of the 250-acre Banyan Cay property, the Clubhouse will offer members spectacular views of the course, full-service men’s and women’s locker rooms, a golf shop, lounge, weekly social events and activities, and an exclusive dining experience at the “Club 300” restaurant and bar in addition to six Har-Tru tennis courts, tennis clinics and lessons. Positioned as the antithesis to a traditional golf club, the Banyan Cay Clubhouse will invite members and their families to ditch the standard dress code, revel in its modern vibe and unwind course-side. For those looking to elevate their golf game, the Clubhouse will also offer services such as caddie programs, Club Cars with Visage GPS systems and golf teaching professionals. Inspired by the West Indies islands of the Caribbean, the airy Clubhouse will boast an upscale, casual atmosphere and relaxed dress code. Draped in sophisticated shades of blue accented with gold, the main dining area will feature dark walnut and distressed white wood finishes. The exclusive restaurant will be complemented by an open kitchen and large U-shaped bar, creating a flowing, active atmosphere. Along with elegant indoor
dining areas, “Club 300” will feature outdoor deck seating overlooking the Signature Course. Taking inspiration from Palm Beach’s local ingredients and fare, Club 300 will serve coastal steakhouse cuisine and craft mixologist cocktails. A flexible, private dining room will be available for guests looking to host exclusive dinners or corporate events. Outside the doors of Club 300, the Clubhouse’s lounge shall make way for entertainment and activities, including cornhole, cook-outs, and programs for kids. Opening in late 2019, the luxury Noble House Hotel will offer 150 boutique guest rooms and suites, suitable for families, golf enthusiasts and business travelers alike. Hotel guests will enjoy plentiful amenities, including a signature restaurant, dazzling pools with private cabanas, a fitness center, salon, and spa offering body treatments and therapies. Each guest room will feature coastal décor, a private balcony and deluxe bathroom to ensure a comfortable, lavish stay. Once completed, the Banyan Cay development will boast 179 Deluxe Condominiums, 94 Executive Homes by SobelCo, 52 Custom Estate Homes, 22 Luxury Resort Villas, and 8 outdoor event venues alongside the Noble House Hotel, Clubhouse and Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. Banyan Cay Resort & Golf is located at 3200 N Congress Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. For more information, call (561) 5575840 or visit https://www.banyancay.com. Banyon Cay Resort, West Palm Beach, FL
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS TPC Danzante Bay, Loreto, Mexico
‘Unlimited Golf’ Package At Tpc Danzante Bay Gives Golfers Chance To Enjoy One Of World’s Top New Courses LORETO, Baja California South, Mexico – Resort guests and media alike have concluded that as beautiful as TPC Danzante Bay is in photos and videos, it’s even more magnificent in person. The acclaimed Rees Jones design, centerpiece of Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at The Islands of Loreto, has to be seen to be believed and guests who take advantage of the property’s new “Unlimited Golf Package” will enjoy hours playing this seaside stunner. Available May 1 through Dec. 20, the resort and TPC Danzante Bay are offering the Unlimited Golf package for just $288 USD per person, per night (based on double occupancy and a three-night stay). The package includes: Three nights’ lodging in a Deluxe Suite at Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa; • Unlimited golf at TPC Danzante Bay for three days; • $25 Sabila Spa certificate; • Plus one day access to wet areas at Sabila Spa and; • $500 in resort credit coupons per stay It didn’t take long for lavish praise to be bestowed on this Rees Jones masterpiece along the Sea of Cortez and Baja’s majestic Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. In its first year, the layout earned the Editors’ Choice Award for “Best in Travel 2018” from Golf Digest, and attention from GOLF magazine, Robb Report, and Golf Channel. Danzante Bay also joined the TPC Network, owned by the PGA TOUR, as the fourth international facility in its collection of
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championship golf courses. TPC Danzante Bay—par 72, with five sets of tees measuring from 4,916 to 7,237 yards—is accented by coastline, valleys, arroyos, dunes, and foothills. There’s also a spacious practice facility, including a dedicated short-game area. The immediate popularity of the golf course also was a factor Villa del Palmar Loreto Beach Resort & Spa being named 2018 Leading Resort in Mexico and Central America and 2018 Best Beach Resort in Mexico by the World Travel Awards, as well as recognized for excellence in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the “Top Resorts in Western Mexico.” The resort sits on a sprawling stretch of white-sand beach along Danzante Bay, where the natural habitat includes 900 species of fish. Guests can enjoy world-class sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and whale watching. In addition to championship golf and the luxurious Sabila Spa, the resort features six swimming pools, tennis courts, miles of well-marked hiking trails, and glass-bottomed kayaks. Located 300 miles north of Los Cabos, Loreto is only a two-hour flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via Alaska Airlines, accessible from Calgary with seasonal direct WestJet flights, and from Tijuana and Guadalajara via Calafia and Volaris Airlines. To book the Unlimited Golf package, visit this link or call (800) 790-4187. For more information about the resort, visit https:// villadelpalmarloreto.com. For information on the golf course, visit www.tpcdanzantebay.com.
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PGA National Resort & Spa Announces ‘Summer Escape and Play Unlimited Golf Package’
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – PGA National Resort & Spa – South Florida’s world-class golf, vacation, meetings and spa destination – announces its value-packed “Summer Escape and Play Unlimited Golf Package” for exceptional getaways at one of the premier golf destinations in the U.S. PGA National 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. The Champion underwent a recent renovation and reopened for play late last year to rave reviews. The resort’s superb Palmer Course reopened in late 2017 after undergoing a renovation. Offered from May 24 – Sept. 30 and starting at $96.50 (per person, per night, double occupancy) and $179 (per person, per night, single occupancy), the Summer Escape and Play Unlimited Golf Package features: • Resort accommodations with new luxury bedding • Full breakfast daily in the Palm Terrace restaurant • One round of golf daily on the Fazio, Squire or Estates courses (surcharge for play on the Champion and Palmer courses) • Complimentary replay round daily (surcharge for play on the Champion and Palmer courses)
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• 50% off daily golf clinics • Additional $40 cart fee per person, per day Additionally, offered from May 24 – Sept. 30, “Kids 12 and Under Stay, Play Golf and Eat Breakfast Free.” Based on availability, children ages 12 and under of resort guests eat breakfast free with each accompanying adult breakfast purchased in the Palm Terrace restaurant. Kids 12 and under also receive complimentary golf after 2 p.m. with each accompanying adult golf round booked (cart fee applies). “The endless days of summer are ideal to enjoy our championship courses, first-class accommodations and array of resort amenities at fantastic rates,” says Jane Broderick, Director of Golf. “We invite golfers and their families to visit us here in South Florida and discover firsthand why we’re one of the premier resort destinations in the country.” PGA National also offers the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and David Pelz Scoring Game School for individual instruction and group clinics; Every Ball Counts – the world’s first science-based, statisticsdriven training system for golf improvement offered at its off-site Estates Course; and state-of-the-art club fitting at Cool Club. For more information, please visit www.pgaresort.com or call 800.863.2819.
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CASC
Italian for Waterfall and a First-Class Gol 14 Golf Vacations • May 2019
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CATA
lf Adventure www.golfvacationsmag.com
By David R. Holland
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B
OULDER CITY, Nev. – Any time you get the chance to play a golf course that’s hidden away behind a remote-controlled gate go for it.
Vegas Strip. Cascata is rugged, scenic, has slick greens and you will experience sightings of desert critters and Bighorns during your upscale trek.
Cascata, an Italian word for waterfall, is one of those experiences. Golfers arrive by limo or private car and that’s when the first-class golf adventure happens.
Towering 3,200 feet above Las Vegas’ desert valley, the par72 course has vast vistas at every turn, including the 3,600-foot peak at Red Mountain, lush fairways, lakes, and streams. Class A PGA professionals attend to equipment, fashion or instruction needs, and players are accompanied on-course by a Tour-class forecaddie for a bargain $50 mandatory fee.
“The overall experience is very high end,” said Neil Setchell, a tourist golfer from Birmingham, England. “I was very impressed by being greeted at the front door by Jeff Krohn, Vice President, PGA Golf Operations and Andy Elliott, PGA Head Golf Professional & Tournament Director. The facilities are top notch, and very reminiscent of a 5-star hotel. “The golf course was in immaculate condition and I found the layout to be challenging but fair. My advice to anyone playing there for the first time would be to listen to the forecaddies’ advice!” Cascata, designed by Rees Jones, is set in the craggy foothills of the River Mountain Range, approximately 30 minutes from the Las
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Actually Cascata’s birth in 2000 was very limited in availability. Its’ $500 green fee was to rival Las Vegas’ Shadow Creek, but eventually the gates opened for anyone who had the cash and subsequently the price tag has dropped a bit with off-season fee and a package with Rio Secco. When one sees the 417-foot waterfall cascading down the back of the practice facility and running through the center of its clubhouse you definitely take notice. You are in the desert and the plants, each with a drip system, include Joshua trees, yucca, palm trees, poplar trees, and wildflowers and flowering shrubs.
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The 37,000-square-foot Tuscan-styled clubhouse affords panoramic views of the surroundings and there’s full-service dining room and bar, banquet facilities, golf shop, a cigar room, and locker rooms. Don’t be surprised to see a celebrity you know like Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan or Julius Erving who also participated in a Tiger Jam charity fundraiser at Cascata that included a concert entitled Bon Jovi and Friends. Noted instances of celebrities gone wild include Bobby Flay and Barry Bonds. You have to laugh out loud when these kind of guys snarl at golf course staffers. “I call it ‘desert links’ because all of those rock outcrops are almost like dunes. It really was the perfect site. We routed the holes through the canyons and between the ‘dunes,’ so each one is different and there are many places on the course where you can’t see any other holes,” said Jones. “And the site was large and diverse enough where we thought we could do a lot with it, but we also used helicopters to find the holes.” Eric White another travel golf enthusiast said: “This course is perfect; the maintenance of this course in the middle of the desert is pristine. The beautiful waterfall-stream running down the mountain that intersects thru some of the holes and even runs under and through the clubhouse is amazing. “I was shown to my locker that had my name on a metal plate! When I was ready they showed me to my cart, which was parked inside the bottom floor of the clubhouse and my forecaddie was waiting for me next to the man-made river that runs through the building from the range. Playing as a single was nice and completely not rushed; my caddie even had my iron distances dialed in by the third hole where he was making recommendations for me on what and how to hit shots,” White said. The first time I visited Cascata the slogan displayed atop the scorecard read: “Respect the game, the course, and each other… enjoy Cascata!” Cascata is pricey, but if you like being pampered from front door to SUV door leaving the grounds this is a great way to spend a sunny day in Nevada.
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THE CHURCH COUR C
ONE OF THE BEST VALUE COU
ornwall, England; Great debate abounds year round amongst golfers and the golf media alike about which the top golf courses in England are, but less often the topic turns to which are the best value courses in a country boasting hundreds of good quality layouts.
In one of the latest standings to be released by a golf magazine, Golf World placed the Church Course at a heady number six with a group of independent assessors taking into account the various factors of design, setting, playability presentation, memorability and consistency.
Whilst all such discussions are on the whole subjective, there can surely be little argument that the Church Course at St Enodoc is one of the best value courses in the top 100 golf courses in England?
Summing it up, the assessors wrote: ‘Playing over as eccentric and exaggerated piece of links golfing terrain as you are likely to find anywhere on the planet, a round of golf at the James Braid designed Church Course is a full scale assault on your senses’.
Whilst regularly appearing at the higher end of golf course rankings created by the various golf magazines following assessments by panels that consider such factors as design, location, conditioning and overall impression, a round over the championship links Church Course in north Cornwall will cost just £85 in the peak of summer. And of course if you fancy a spot of relaxation after work or whilst on holiday when the summer days are long, then a twilight round can be booked for as little as £55 whilst 18 holes in the winter will also set you back just £55.
Compared to the green fee rates of the top five golf courses in Golf World’s Top 100, St Enodoc is the lowest and indeed over half the price of most of them, therefore offering incredible value for money for the quality of the course. “St Enodoc is extremely proud to be regularly placed so highly in the various golf course rankings as the club and greens staff work hard all year round to maintain the course as well as continually
The approach to the green on the par 5, 1st hole at the St Enodoc Golf Club, on May 24, in Rock, England
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RSE AT ST ENODOC
URSES IN ENGLAND’S TOP 100 looking at ways to further improve this great course,” comments Simon Greatorex, General Manager at the club.
winds its way towards the 11th century St Enodoc Church, where poet laureate Sir John Betjeman lies buried beside his favourite course.
“We certainly like to think that we offer a green fee that is ‘probably one of the best value courses in England’ and look forward to welcoming visitors all year round to take advantage of our great rates and enjoy our wonderful course in its spectacular setting.”
In addition to great golf, north Cornwall is a holiday destination offering a wide range of sightseeing opportunities as well as charming seaside towns. Examples of these include the celebrated Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Tate St Ives, featuring local as well as international artists, and the lively fishing port of Padstow, where the TV chef Rick Stein established his first seafood restaurant.
St Enodoc Golf Club is located in the heart of Rock, high above the sand dunes of the north Cornwall coast overlooking the Camel River and the Atlantic Ocean giving the Church Course some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any 18 holes in the world. Founded in 1890, the club is home to one of revered architect James Braid’s finest designs that features blind shots, undulating fairways, tricky greens and an imposing Himalaya Bunker on the 6th hole, which is reputedly the highest in Europe. It is however the 10th that is referred to as the signature hole as it
For those who love the outdoors, it is a perfect place for long walks along the beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay and the Camel Estuary, which are also ideal for watersports such as surfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and water-skiing. For more information on St Enodoc Golf Club, please visit www. st-enodoc.co.uk and for information on St Enodoc golf breaks, click on www.st-enodoc.co.uk/visitors/devon-and-cornwall-links
St Enodoc Church overlooking St Enodoc golf course and the sea beyond, Rock, Cornwall
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HAWAIIAN MASTERPIECE AT MAKAHA VALLEY RESORT
TIGER WOODS AND PACIFIC LINKS INTERNATIONAL REVEAL DESIGNS
G
olfing icon Tiger Woods and his TGR Design company have been unveiled as lead architects for one of two spectacular golfing layouts to be created at Makaha Valley Resort, Hawaii, a project commissioned by Pacific Links International, a premier golfing network. Inspired by the pristine setting on Oahu’s Leeward Coast, TGR Design will lead the development of the Makaha North Course, while Gil Hanse, creator of the Olympic Course in Rio de Janeiro, will develop the Makaha South Course. Together, these world-class, tournament-quality layouts will become the centre pieces of the Makaha Valley Resort, a 644-acre mixed-use property developed in conjunction with community leaders and native cultural practitioners on Hawaii’s third-largest island. Nestled high above the Pacific and meandering through lush, rolling terrain, the North Course lies in the shadows of the Waianae Mountain Range, where players will encounter stunning scenes of Mt. Ka’ala (an ancient volcano and the highest peak on Oahu) and expansive ocean views that contrast strikingly with the imposing emerald mountains.
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The open nature of the course will provide countless opportunities to bask in this beautiful setting, while the vast fairways, speckled with bunkering, will promote strategic choices and different routes of play. The natural layout will require golfers to navigate a myriad of options in order to score well. Large, tightly mown green surrounds and intricate internal greens contours will further emphasize the highly strategic nature of the golf course, which also boasts variety in hole direction, elevation, shot shape, and distance. The majestic ridges that define the Makaha Valley create a backdrop that cannot be replicated. This bold canvas provides depth to a course which has been created to consider the environment and sustainability at every turn and exhibits a design concept that focusses on a unique and memorable golf experience for players of all levels. 14-time Major Championship winner and one of the most successful sportsmen of all time, Tiger Woods, said: “At TGR Design, we focus on finding spectacular locations to design distinct and memorable golf courses. The Makaha Valley on the west coast of Oahu is truly one of these unique and special locations. The cathedral-like setting of the property is framed with
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big ocean views to the west and towering mountains to the east. We are designing a golf course that will take advantage of this spectacular setting yet still be fun and playable for golfers of all abilities.” Gil Hanse, also responsible for the renowned Streamsong Resort – Black Course and Pinehurst Resort & Country Club No.4, said: “We at Hanse Golf Course Design are very excited to be partnering with Pacific Links International on the South Course at the Makaha Valley Resort. The opportunity to work on such a magnificent site, with equally dramatic views of the ocean, the mountains and up the valley is all we could hope for on a property. “With the sloping nature of the land, several natural washes, and a few significant elevation changes to work with, we know that the course will have a great deal of variety and will flow wonderfully across the topography. Combining those natural advantages with a style that will be based on the great California courses designed by George Thomas (Riviera, Bel Air, and The Los Angeles Country Club) should yield an interesting and thoughtful course to play and a spectacular one to look at. “It is also an honor to be part of the design team at Makaha Valley where we will be building side by side with the greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods and his design group. The commitment to bringing these two design groups together for the first time anywhere is the vision of Pacific Links International, and we could not be happier to be working with them as they continue their pursuit of building the finest golf facilities in the world.” Mr. Du Sha, owner and founder of Pacific Links International, said: “The Makaha Valley Resort represents an incredibly exciting development for Pacific Links International and we are extremely pleased to be able to unveil our partnership with TGR Design and Hanse Golf Course Design. “Through the creativity and ingenuity of both Tiger Woods and Gil Hanse, and the natural beauty of the Makaha Valley, we will create one of golf’s finest and most sought-after destinations, and we look forward to sharing further details with the golfing world as the project develops.”
Leeward Coast, Oahu
Over the past two years, Pacific Links International has partnered with developer, Stanford Carr, to work with community leaders, landowners, native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and regulatory agencies of the State and City on the long-term vision for Makaha Valley. This encompasses a holistic traditional Hawaiian Ahupua’a concept, which considers the entire valley from the mountain (Mount Ka’ala) to the ocean (Makaha Beach). Through this partnership, this project will incorporate Hawaiian culture, golf, homes, resort, community use, economic development, recreational uses, and natural resource management. This major initiative is being led by vested stakeholders whose role it is to maintain the well-being of the region and to create a common vision that is economically sustainable and steeped in the values and practices that will make natives of Makaha and the Leeward Coast proud. Pacific Links provides golfers with a premium golf experience through an innovative international membership structure focused on the Chinese golfer. Pacific Links offers them access to the finest collection of highquality golf clubs in the world. Since 2012, the Pacific Links Network of Affiliated and Reciprocal clubs has grown to over 400 properties located in more than 37 countries around the world. Its membership roster in China is now in excess of 17,000, as well as an aggregated population of over 125,000 network golfers from participating network clubs. For more information visit www.pacificlinks.com
Gil Hanse, Tigrt Woods and Du Sha
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RESORTREPORT
Horseshoe Bay R
Finalizes $70 Million Resort/Mult Renovation Project in 2019 24 Golf Vacations • May 2019
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HORESHOE BAY, TEXAS
by DAVID R. HOLLAND
Resort
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ORSESHOE BAY, TX – On a cool Hill Country day in early spring two Horseshoe Bay Resort golfers, Jim Smith and Ralph Johnston, teed it up on the famed Ram Rock Course and didn’t mind at all that the layout was tough and unforgiving. They know on any given day it could bring them to their knees. Here’s a couple of retired guys who once lived in the flatness of scenerychallenged Lubbock and were just thankful they were able to experience one of the world’s premier golf resorts any time they wanted. Lubbock in their rear-view mirror never looked so good, even though they both said they once loved living on the South Plains. On the tee at No. 11 they pointed to an awesome home and said: “That’s where Spike Dykes lived.” The affable former Texas Tech football coach, who passed away a few years ago was a fixture on Ram Rock. They enjoy the scenery, the bluebonnets, the granite-rock outcroppings, an occasional birdie and a stretch of holes at Ram Rock that would challenge any golfer. “Augusta has its Amen Corner,” Johnston said. “But we have one too. Holes eight through 11 at Ram Rock have more trouble than you ever could imagine.” When they arrive at the 16th, a mean par 4, 376 yards, with water to carry and a blind second shot (for shorter hitters) to a tiny, long, narrow green, Smith says, with a wink, “There ain’t no green there,” in reference to a minuscule target that has water right and a huge bunker left. Just the day before another former Lubbock resident and Texas Tech graduate, Gary McWilliams, a San Antonio retired physician, played Ram Rock and Slick Rock in one day. He said: “If your driver isn’t working you will be. These courses reward a good drive with manageable approaches to the greens, but you will be praying for your bogey if you botch the big stick, which I did on more than one occasion. “When you play these courses at Horseshoe Bay you should take time to enjoy golf the way it once was, when missing the fairways meant you were gnarly rough instead of in someone’s backyard. Even the sting of a bad score won’t last for long if you take time to soak up the beautiful Hill Country all around you,” he said. Today, Horseshoe Bay Resort is more spectacular than ever. The final touches on a $70-million resort and multi-course renovation that has the AAA-Four Diamond and Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Award-winning property poised to become one of America’s premier golf destinations. With four acclaimed championship golf courses and the neat Whitewater Putting Course, Horseshoe Bay offers an a bounty of golf experiences designed by World Golf Hall of Fame members Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jack Nicklaus. The resort is 55 miles from the University of Texas in Austin.
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In 2016, Horseshoe Bay embarked on an expansive $7.5-million project to upgrade all three of its Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designs, Slick Rock, Ram Rock, and Apple Rock. Improvements to the courses and the overall golf experience has the resort community in position to earn nationwide attention and a rise in out-of-state rounds. “Everything traveling golfers’ value, you’ll find here in a truly distinct and elevated presentation,” says managing director of Horseshoe Bay Resort Bryan Woodward. “The investment we have put into these renovations have elevated the quality of our golf to a national level and has made the overall golf experience more fun for our guests.”
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RESORTREPORT
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HORESHOE BAY, TEXAS Situated on the shores of the constant-level Lake LBJ and rolling through a rugged 7,000acre expanse of rolling Hill Country, the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort is the only waterfront resort in Texas. You will see palm trees, water and rock features and Hawaii-like colorful vegetation. Texas’ famous bluebonnets cascade through the landscape in the spring. “People know desert golf, mountain golf, links golf and parkland golf, but if you’ve never experienced golf in the rocky, panoramic Texas Hill Country, your bucket list has another line to check,” Woodward says. “Once you play golf in this setting, it just stays with you.” Before there was ever a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Horseshoe Bay was home to three very distinct courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The Ram Rock course, constructed in 1981, has made its reputation as one of the toughest courses in Texas. Slick Rock, the first golf course built (in 1971) at Horseshoe Bay, features a classic parkland setting and classic elements of Jones’ renowned architectural sensibility. Wall-to-wall renovations to both courses have enhanced playability and fun from the forward and middle tees while maintaining each layout’s legendary challenge for scratch players. Each of the course renovations included installing the latest 007 bent grass greens to improve quality of turf, expanded green sizes by as much as 50 percent in some areas, renovating bunkers, re-shaping and leveling tee-boxes, new irrigation, as well as adding beautiful rock retaining walls along all of the water-hazards to improve over-all course aesthetics. This was most significant with the awe-inspiring “Million Dollar Hole” where golfers follow a winding path across a 35-yard rock-walled waterfall. The final course and renovation project, Apple Rock, will see much of the same renovations completed as its sister courses and will re-open in May 2019. The course offers some of the most picturesque views in the region. Jones Sr. strategically routed holes to take advantage of the many higher elevation points that overlook Horseshoe Bay and Lake LBJ. The future includes the unveiling of the luxe, new Cap Rock Clubhouse. Members and guests of Horseshoe Bay will enjoy the new Cap Rock setting with its expansive views of the courses and Texas Hill Country. It will feature a dining room and bar area along with a proshop, swimming pool, cabana, pavilion area for groups, and a practice/teaching facility. In addition to the resort golf, Horseshoe Bay also offers a distinctive member-only experience with the Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Summit Rock (which opened in 2012). The course offers stunning scenery. Nicklaus routed holes along a high ridge, a setting that showcases spectacular views that stretch for more than 40 miles over the Texas Hill Country and Lake LBJ. Resort guests can have limited access to Summit Rock during certain times. Complementing the championship golf is the fun Whitewater Putting Course, a tropicallyadorned 18-hole day/night real-grass putting course that sits adjacent to the hotel and is routed around the energetic 360 Sports Club (A full-service destination for pub food, cocktails and live sports on more than two dozen flat screen TVs). It is the perfect attraction for golf buddy groups, couples and families. About Horseshoe Bay Resort Horseshoe Bay Resort is one of the largest golf resorts in the country and is the original Texas lakeside resort destination. It has invested $70 million in a property-wide renovation and new construction. The work included new guest rooms, suites, and multi-room units, as well as renovation of the golf courses and facilities, dining experiences, meeting spaces, and more. The resort also features a world-class spa and health club, tennis facilities with 14 courts, bike rentals, hiking trails, lake activities with a full-service lake marina and boat valet service, nearby wineries and a private airport. For more information and reservations visit www. hsbresort.com or call 877-611-0112. This world-class residential and resort community was developed in the early 1970s on the shores of Lake LBJ, one of the seven Highland Lakes formed by the damming of the Colorado River.
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SWEETSTUFF Titleist New ProV1 for 2019
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itleist has hit the market with its upgraded version of the ProV1 franchise—the most played ball on the professional tours—but this time the company has made a colorful splash—literally! For the first time, Titleist is issuing its flagship golf ball in a high optic yellow version to go along with the traditional white—so players have the option of playing a colorful rendition of this tour-quality ball. While golf ball color can be a personal preference matter—many studies and consumer feedback have indicated that for many players--the bright yellow ball is easier to see—both in the air on longer shots and around the green, than a white ball. Again, much of the benefit of the yellow ball is personal preference—but so is just about everything else in golf. And while some studies seem to indicate that older players or those with less than perfect eyesight see the yellow ball better, there is no doubt that it stands out on the course much more than traditional white. And even though the performance of the new ProV1 and its sister ball—the ProV1x is the same in white or yellow— reproducing these in yellow was not as simple as it might appear. “As the demand for yellow Pro V1 and Pro V1x started to grow, our material scientists got to work on what we knew would be a significant R&D undertaking,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing for Titleist. “The performance and durability characteristics of our cast urethane are the best in the industry. It’s because we formulate and manufacture the cover ourselves that we
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can control the material with such precision and consistency. While it may seem pretty straightforward, recreating those properties in yellow required a new and complex chemistry with considerable iteration until we got it just right.” Under the hood, both colors of ProV1 for 2019 provide some new advantages for more ball speed leaving the club face coupled with lower spin to create more distance—yet maintaining tour-level softness and feel for saving strokes around the green. “When we set out to develop the 2019 models, we found that golfers at every level are extraordinarily satisfied with the performance of their Pro V1 or Pro V1x. At the same time, golfers keep telling us they would still like more distance--as long as they don’t have to give anything else up,” added Mahoney. “Through the prototyping process, our chemists and engineers discovered a way to cast an even thinner urethane cover, and therefore increase the percentage of speed-enhancing materials in the overall construction. Pro V1 and Pro V1x are now even faster, as a result, all while maintaining the scoring performance and feel characteristics that golfers demand from these golf balls.” Both ProV1 models are noticeably longer off the tee and with the irons, because the 17% thinner cast Urethane Elastomer cover system delivers increased ball speed. The advancement of Titleist’s thermoset urethane casting technology has allowed their engineers to cast a thinner layer of the proprietary cover formulation, developed exclusively for Pro V1 and Pro V1x, while retaining its trusted Drop-and-Stop™
greenside control and soft feel. Beneath the thinner cover, the speed enhancing casing layer has thickened by 14% on Pro V1 and 11% on Pro V1x, creating higher ball speeds with lower driver and long game spin. A new 2.0 ZG Process Core is formulated for more distance, and the outermost portions of the solid core Pro V1 and dual core Pro V1x have increased in stiffness while maintaining their soft centers, creating faster engines with higher ball speed and lower long game spin. As in previous editions of the ProV1, the feel and spin factors have become almost identical, while the real difference is that the ProV1 has a higher trajectory and the ProV1x has a more penetrating trajectory and a firmer feel as a four-piece golf ball. More than 200 professional tour players are playing the ProV1, which is available in golf shops and major sporting goods retailers worldwide. For more information: www.titleist.com
Swing Align
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s most golf instructors will tell you, proper alignment is one of the building blocks to having a good golf swing. A new practice aid called Swing Align is proving to be a great teaching tool for instructors and can be a valuable addition to anyone’s practice arsenal by helping get into and practice with the proper setup and continuing on to promote the necessary rotation into the swing. In addition to alignment and proper set-up to the target, this easy-to-use tool also helps players to keep their arms and body in sync and promotes the proper rotation that is so important to increased power and distance. Developed by golf industry veterans with more than 60 years of experience, along with input from PGA Tour players and top golf instructors, the Swing Align provides instant visual feedback and helps develop muscle memory by using it in practice sessions at home or at the driving range. “Two of the biggest issues golfers have are setting up properly and staying connected throughout their golf swing,” explained Chris McGinley, co-founder of Swing Align and 30year golf industry veteran. “The Swing Align training aid was designed to help golfers set up square and hit it solid by providing a strong visual indicator they can use to line up square to their intended target. The device uses muscle memory to develop a repeatable golf
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
swing with more power and accuracy by keeping their arms and body synchronized when rotating.” S w i n g Align is a wearable d e v i c e featuring a highly visible alignment rod that runs t h r o u g h adjustable arm cuffs that swivel and are held together by a flexible connection belt. This allows golfers to use the training device to make an athletic swing with any of their golf clubs, from the driver to irons, wedges or putter. The training aid comes in standard or XL sizes and has an optional, ground-based alignment product with a sliding ball position indicator puck. Visualization of the proper alignment and setup becomes much easier in practice with this tool, and the sensation of hitting golf balls wearing this device is much like having an instructor next to you holding a club on your chest to keep in the property alignment and sequence. According to Devan Bonebrake, a Golf Channel Academy Lead Instructor and a Golf Digest Top Young Teacher (2017-2019), the Swing Align is the perfect swing training aid for golfers and instructors with their students. “Most golfers, including many of my students, struggle with alignment, rotating the body correctly, or staying connected during the golf swing,” said Bonebrake. “The great thing about Swing Align is it works on all of those aspects --whether you’re a scratch golfer, or brand new to golf. I don’t know of a more versatile training aid than Swing Align. “One of the great things about Swing Align is how you can use it to hit balls with fullswing shots and stay connected developing important muscle memory in the golf swing.
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The connection belt guides your movement, and because it holds the arms together you can’t help but properly deliver and release the club squarely. There is no need to hold back. You can set up and take full speed swings with any club and be confident that Swing Align will keep you better aligned and connected.” McGinley notes that Swing Align is being used by golfers of all skill levels. Highly skilled golfers who want to reinforce the proper fundamentals, serious golfers committed to learning and improving, recreational players who need a quick tune up, and beginning golfers interested in learning what the proper golf swing feels like. For more information on Swing Align, go to: www.swingtrainer.com
Footjoy New StaSof Glove
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ootJoy has engineered a new even softer and more durable edition of its industryleading StaSof golf glove that produces improved fit and feel for its 2019 edition. Worn by more than 800 professional around the world, the StaSof glove has been the mainstay of the FootJoy golf glove lineup for more than 35 years—and the company keeps looking for ways to improve the product through research and development (R&D) and feedback from top tour professionals— such as Adam Scott. “I’ve been wearing StaSof my entire professional career because it fits the best, performs in all conditions and gives me fantastic feel on the club,” said Scott. “It’s amazing how the feel and the fit actually improve when your hands are sweating.” By utilizing the most advanced Cabretta leather along with premium Taction3™ Advanced Performance Leather®, FootJoy has produced its latest StaSof glove with a softer and lighter feel, improved all-climate grip and long-lasting durability. The fit is also improved along with the tackiness for a non-slip grip. “The StaSof glove franchise has always been the leader and is a clear demonstration of the difference that owning the process gives FJ, from design, construction, materials all the way through manufacturing and to the end consumer,” said Maria Bonzagni, Senior Director Acushnet Golf Gloves & FJ Gear. “The FJ heritage is founded on our commitment to golf and our passion for
pushing new ways of working to advance all of our products. “The performance of this glove is founded in the new leather technology and how it is crafted with the golfer in mind. It is designed to give golfers the ultimate grip with the best fit, flex in the right places and consistent wear over time. It features advanced moisture management technology and is engineered to stay softer for longer. Our sole purpose is to provide products that deliver a higher standard of performance where golfers need it most.” Among the advanced features of the new StaSof glove is the feel of the Taction3™ Advanced Performance Leather® that is tanned exclusively by Pittards® of England and designed to optimize and retain softness longer. It also maximizes water and perspiration resistance while optimizing grip performance. The tailored construction and precision placement of moisture wicking elastics improve fit consistency and overall comfort, while the proprietary angled ComforTab™ Velcro® closure secures a better fit. A strategically placed perforation and PowerNet™ mesh improves breathability and flexibility for a better feel. For more information on the new StaSof glove, visit: www.footjoy.com
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