OUR 12th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2014
LOS CABOS
GOLF RESORTS
ON THE REBOUND
COLLEGE COURSES
OFFER UNIQUE STAY, PLAY OPPORTUNITIES
Plus: VIDEO SWING TECHNOLOGY IN CHARLESTON www.golfvacationsmag.com
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GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2014
Birdwood Golf Course at the University of Virginia
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Chip Shots
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Los Cabos on the Rebound by Terry Ross LOS CABOS, Mexico – Despite the impact of Hurricane Odile, a Category 3 storm that make landfall in Los Cabos on Sept. 14, the destination’s golf courses sustained only minor damage and are bouncing back quickly.
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College Courses Offer Unique Golf by JD Latorre When it comes to time-honored and storied traditions, no sport matches college football. Army-Navy, Michigan-Ohio State, The Red River Shootout (Texas-Oklahoma), Texas A&M’s 12th Man, and Florida State’s Chief Osceola are but a few of the well-known rivalries and rituals. Another college football tradition catching on faster than alternate uniforms is fans bringing their golf clubs on gameday weekends. And why not?
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Charleston Area Golf Golfers looking to drop strokes and elevate their game are headed to the Charleston area for the newest in video swing lesson technology. Utilizing state-of-the-art motion sensors and wireless equipment, Charleston area golf professionals are providing players with the best in swing analysis software to help maximize strength and accuracy. Home to 19 championship courses, below is a sampling of Charleston area courses combining high-tech lesson facilities with impeccable instruction:
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Sweet Stuff
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by Terry Ross and Fred Robledo
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) is a resident of the golfing community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. For the past 20 years he has traveled extensively throughout the US and around the world writing about “Places to Play and Places to Stay”. In 2012 he played golf in every state during a 50-week, 50-state driving tour of the US.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor Larry Feldman
Senior Writers Fred Robledo has been covering professional golf for more than 35 years. He wrote for the Los Herald Examiner and the Los Angeles Times before moving into public relations where he promoted professional tour events for Brener Zwikel & Associates. He is now semi-retired, traveling the country and reviewing golf destinations for Golf Vacations Magazine.
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, Cabo San Lucas, 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.
JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
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portsMedia publications
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455 NE 5th Avenue, Suite D-151 Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (760) 774-2655
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Destiny Media, LLC 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 2014 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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GEORGE FAZIO COURSE AT PALMETTO DUNES OCEANFRONT RESORT NAMED 2014 SOUTH CAROLINA GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island – a collection of 30 of the Lowcountry’s premier golf courses – announces the George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort has been named 2014 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year. The South Carolina Board of Directors of the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) awarded the prestigious statewide accolade to the George Fazio Course, which will now compete in the next tier at the national level. The win follows the “Chapter Course of the Year” award, voted by the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association. The NGCOA criteria includes: exceptional quality of the course; exceptional quality of management; outstanding contribution to the community; and significant contribution to the game. The honor completes a trifecta for Palmetto Dunes, as all three of the resort’s golf courses have been named South Carolina’s Course of the Year. “It’s certainly a tremendous distinction for all of Palmetto Dunes’ courses to win
South Carolina Course of the Year,” said Brad Marra, Vice President of Resort Operations. “The George Fazio course offers year-round championship golf in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Many golfers regard it, the only par-70 on Hilton Head Island, as the island’s most challenging layout.” Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort offers a storied history of unparalleled golf experiences for guests from all corners of the globe. The resort is renowned for the excellent quality of its courses, challenging layouts and commitment to customer service. For more information about Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort: www.palmettodunes. com, 877-567-6513.
PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA ANNOUNCES 72HOUR ‘FLASH’ SALE PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – PGA National Resort & Spa announces a 72-hour “flash” sale with 25 percent off rates for stays through March 31, 2015. All available room categories can be booked by calling 844.330.8373 from Wednesday, Oct. 1 to Friday, Oct. 3. Guests taking advantage of these special
rates will have the opportunity to play the famed Champion Course which was recently reopened after an extensive renovation under the direction of course-designer Jack Nicklaus. The host venue of the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic now features Celebration Bermuda grass on the fairways, tees and green surrounds as well as a re-designed par-4 14th hole which leads to the intimidating Bear Trap (Nos. 15 – 17). This offer is for new reservations only (based on availability), and is not valid for discounted rates, group rates or packages. Offer is non-combinable. A one night non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking and a two night non-refundable deposit is required for stays over December 24-31, 2014. Use PROMO CODE 72H when booking. For additional resort information visit www.pgaresort.com.
CANADIAN ROCKIES GOLF COURSES UNVEIL FALL RATES AND SPECIALS CANMORE, ALBERTA – Canadian Rockies Golf (www.canadianrockies.net) – the esteemed collection of mountain courses in Western Alberta – welcomes the fall golf season with special rates and packages.
George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Available through the end of the season, golfers can net savings of nearly 50% at some courses. Highlighting the variety of options for both adults and junior golfers are the following deals. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge: Beginning Sept. 29, golfers play 18 holes for $99 (including cart) and also receive a $20 shopping credit at the golf shop. Shotgun starts begin at 11 a.m. daily. The Fairmont Banff Springs: Beginning Oct. 1, 18-hole green fees are $184 per golfer, with daily specials as low as $110. The 9-hole Tunnel Mountain course is free for junior golfers and $77 per round for adults. Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club: Beginning Sept. 27, weekend golfers net significant savings with green fees of $149, Thursday-Sunday. A rate of $119 is available the rest of the week. Canmore Golf & Curling Club: Beginning Oct. 1, golfers can take advantage of $55 green fees with cart rental optional, also at a discounted rate. Huge savings on golf gear are available at the pro shop as well. “You just can’t beat the unbelievable scenery on hand when summer turns to fall in the Canadian Rockies,” says Darren Cooke,
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Director of Golf at Canmore Golf & Curling Club. “Golfers can’t help but be enticed to play a few more rounds before winter when they see the golden foliage and snow-capped mountain peaks as a dramatic backdrop to each course.” For more information on each special, or to take advantage of additional daily or stayand-play packages, visit www.canadianrockies. net or call 1.855.835.8484.
MYRTLE BEACH SEASIDE RESORTS ANNOUNCES “BUCKET LIST GOLF PACKAGE” NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts (MBSR) – operator of the area’s premier oceanfront condo-hotel and vacation rental properties – announces the “Bucket List Golf Package” featuring four nights of oceanfront accommodations and four rounds of championship golf at GOLF Magazine’s “Top 100 You Can Play” courses. Starting at $501 per golfer, the package includes 72 holes of premier golf with one round each at Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, Dunes Golf and Beach Club, True Blue Plantation, and Barefoot Resort’s Love Course. Guests will also enjoy five days and four nights in a two or three-bedroom condo
with beach access at Avista Resort, Seaside or Grande Shores. Available October 2 through January 14, 2015, the offer also features daily breakfast and one prime rib dinner (per golfer) at the resorts’ onsite restaurants. For groups of 12 of more, MBSR is including one night out in Myrtle Beach (five hours) with a personal driver and unlimited mileage and stops. “This once-in-a-lifetime package is a fantastic opportunity to visit Myrtle Beach on a buddy trip and experience the best golf and resort accommodations we have to offer,” says Scott Thrailkill, Director of Golf at MBSR. “With enjoyable year-round weather, we are thrilled to be able to offer our guests such a value-laden itinerary.” For the ultimate dream golf getaway, a three-bedroom, three-bath oceanfront condo with a private balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows in each bedroom is available at Avista Resort starting at $561 per golfer. Rates are based on quad occupancy and include all taxes and resort fees. To book or for more information, visit myrtlebeachseasideresorts.com or call (888) 571.4104.
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‘THE RYDER CUP: GOLF’S GRANDEST EVENT’ DEFINITIVE HISTORY BOOK DEBUTS PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Oct. 6, 2014) - The Ryder Cup, one of the most compelling events in sports, is now captured in an extraordinary, 488-page book that connects golf fans and historians on a nonstop journey from its humble beginnings in the 1920s to today’s riveting competition. “The Ryder Cup: Golf’s Grandest Event,” by Martin Davis and published by The American Golfer in cooperation with the PGA of America, was officially released at the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland, and is now available for ordering. The book traces the incredible history of the Ryder Cup and features forewords by Ryder Cup Captains Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin; an introduction by John Feinstein; and outstanding profiles written by some of the foremost writers in the game including: Dave Anderson, John Hopkins, Renton Laidlaw, Jim McCabe, Charles McGrath, Alex Miceli, Nick Seitz and Art Spander. The book also contains original reporting by legendary sportswriters Bernard Darwin, Grantland Rice and Herbert Warren Wind from the archives of The New York Times, The Times of London and other publications, as well as extremely rare photographs of iconic Ryder Cup moments from the vast collection of the PGA of America. “The Ryder Cup: Golf’s Grandest Event” is available to consumers on Amazon.com,
with a suggested retail price of $85. The book will start shipping November 15. PGA Professionals may order directly from The American Golfer by phone at (800) 888-4741. Orders also may be made via email at imd@aol.com. For more information on the Ryder Cup, visit www.RyderCup.com. For more information on the PGA of America, visit www.PGAMediaCenter.com.
JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA AND TPC SAN ANTONIO TEE UP SPECIAL AT&T CHAMPIONSHIP PACKAGES SAN ANTONIO, TX – The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa and TPC San Antonio today announced special resort packages for golfers and golf enthusiasts in honor of the upcoming AT&T Championshipon the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour. Celebrating its fourth year at TPC San Antonio and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, the 30th annual AT&T Championship presented by Alcatel-Lucent will bring the Champions Tour and some of golf’s greatest players to TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Canyons Course, Oct. 20-26, 2014. An ultimate Texas-sized golf package provides guests the opportunity to go inside the ropes alongside the best players in the world by playing in the tournament’s pro-am rounds. The package allows golfers to not only play where the pros play but also under tournament conditions, the way the pros play,
with the rough up and the greens slick. The resort is offering a $12,000 package for a golf buddies’ foursome that includes four resort rooms and four entries to play with the pros in a pro-am round on TPC San Antonio, which has been named a Top 75 Golf Resort by Golf Digest and one of the Best Courses You Can Play by Golf Week. The cost to enter the ProAm is $3,000 per person creating a package that offers a savings of $1,100 for the room costs, tournament tickets and resort fees. Eighty-one Champions Tour Professionals will participate on the Pete Dye designed course. Golf legends highlighting the field of players include defending champion Kenny Perry, as well as David Frost, Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman and Mark O’Meara. “We are honored to welcome these golf champions,” said Arthur Coulombe, JW Marriott San Antonio general manager. “TPC San Antonio and the hotel were designed to offer guests the ultimate golf experience. Our staff is excited to have these elite players stay with us and enjoy time on and off the course while here.” The JW Marriott San Antonio Resort & Spa is offering three limited time special AT&T Championship Golf Fan Packages in honor of the tournament. Two packages extend significant savings with golf rounds and tournament tickets and the other offers the rare opportunity to gather a foursome and play with the pros in the ProAm Tournament on a course where only
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS members and resort guests have access. The AT&T Championship Pro-Am Foursome package is $12,000 and includes: • Four resort rooms with view for one night, resort fees included • Four player spots in the Pro-Am Tournament either October 22 or October 23 • Four complimentary tickets for the AT&T Championship Oct. 24-Oct. 26 The AT&T Championship Tournament Ticket package starts at $229 per night and includes: • Resort guest room based on double occupancy • Two complimentary tickets (per night stayed) for the AT&T Championship rounds The AT&T Championship Tournament Golf and Ticket package starts at $299 per night and includes: • Resort guest room based on double occupancy • Two rounds of golf (per night stayed) on the AT&T Oaks course • Two complimentary tickets (per night stayed) for the AT&T Championship rounds All packages are based upon availability,
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a resort fee applies, taxes not included. For reservations and information please visit www. jwsanantonio.com or call 866-882-4420 in the U.S. or contact the resort at 210-276-2500.
POUND RIDGE GOLF CLUB, DELAMAR GREENWICH HARBOR OFFER UNFORGETTABLE FALL GOLF PACKAGE POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – Pound Ridge Golf Club – the Pete Dye daily fee course 40 miles north of New York City – and the luxurious Delamar Greenwich Harbor, minutes from the course, announce the return of their popular fall golf package. The stay-and-play is offered seven days a week and includes one round of golf. Rates start at $515 (single-occupancy) and $710 (double-occupancy). It is loaded with added value, including: • Golf shoe and club rental • 10% off all golf shop merchandise at Pound Ridge Golf Club • Continental breakfast served in the Delamar lobby • A bottle of champagne/wine delivered to the room • 10% off a Sports Massage at the Spa at
Delamar “Autumn is one of the best seasons for golf in Westchester County, as the Hudson Valley comes alive with fall foliage,” says Todd Leavenworth, Pound Ridge Golf Club General Manager. “The golf package offers discerning leisure and business travelers an unforgettable luxury experience.” The Delamar Greenwich Harbor features 82 deluxe rooms and suites with 500-feet of waterfront and private docks. Designed to evoke old world charm, it houses a full service spa with services and treatments by the luxury brands Biologique Recherche and Valmont, and an award-winning restaurant and bar, L’escale. Wrought iron balconies, marble bathrooms and working fireplaces grace the guest rooms of this Mediterraneaninspired “inn.” Guests enjoy tee time booking via concierge or hotel staff and transportation options (from shuttles to rental cars and limousines). For reservations: www. delamargreenwich.com; (203) 661-9800. For more information about Pound Ridge Golf Club: www.poundridgegolf.com; (914) 764-5771.
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GOLF COURSES IN LOS CABOS ON THE L
OS Hu ma destin dama Di report are w cactus storm of the ecosys condit (A det openi Tw Club (
Cabo del Sol 12 Golf Vacations • October 2014
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E REBOUND FROM HURRICANE ODILE
S CABOS, Mexico – Despite the impact of urricane Odile, a Category 3 storm that ake landfall in Los Cabos on Sept. 14, the nation’s golf courses sustained only minor age and are bouncing back quickly. irectors of golf at Cabo’s leading facilities t that cleanup and restoration efforts well underway. With only minor erosion, s loss and sand intrusion caused by the m, golf courses in Los Cabos, which partake e region’s unique mountain-desert-ocean stem, are expected to reopen in excellent tion starting Oct. 1 through mid-December. tailed list of confirmed and estimated course ings is attached). wo high-profile newcomers, Quivira Golf (designed by Jack Nicklaus) and Diamante’s
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El Cardonal (Tiger Woods’ first completed 18hole course), are slated to open Oct. 9 and midDecember, respectively. These two new venues will bring the destination’s total course count to 14, qualifying Los Cabos as Mexico’s golf capital. At press time, electricity, telephone, Internet and potable water supplies had been fully restored in Cabo San Lucas. No major structural damage was inflicted by the storm, enabling Los Cabos to recuperate quickly. Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) reopened to commercial flights on Oct. 3. The federal government has made the recovery of Los Cabos, Mexico’s third most popular tourism destination, a top priority. (Los Cabos, which includes Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the 20-mile ‘Corridor’ between them, attracts about 2 million visitors per year,
many of them golfers). “The response from the federal government has been beyond incredible,” said Greg Tallman, director of golf at Cabo del Sol, of the government’s $5 million recovery campaign. “This is the playbook for how to deal with a natural disaster.” According to the Mexico Tourism Board, approximately 5,000 hotel rooms in Los Cabos are expected to open by Oct. 15, with an additional 7,000 rooms to open by Nov. 15 and a final 10,000 rooms to become available by Dec. 15. A new advertising campaign designed to support the recovery effort, entitled “Los Cabos - Unstoppable,” will launch Oct. 15 and will include digital/social media engagement, TV ads, and on-the-ground activations/events.
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Back No. 16 hole at Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas
College Courses offer Unique Sta Play Opportunities for Traveling 14 Golf Vacations • October 2014
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k to School By JD Latorre
ay, Golfers www.golfvacationsmag.com
Golf Vacations • October 2014 15
Birdwood Golf Course at the University of Virginia
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hen it comes to time-honored and storied traditions, no sport matches college football. Army-Navy, Michigan-Ohio State, The Red River Shootout (Texas-Oklahoma), Texas A&M’s 12th Man, and Florida State’s Chief Osceola are but a few of the wellknown rivalries and rituals. Another college football tradition catching on faster than alternate uniforms is fans bringing their golf clubs on gameday weekends. And why not? Fall is one of the best times to play, college golf courses are getting better and better, and many of these clubs offer exceptional stay-and-play options allowing players to tee it up and easily make the tailgate festivities and game. So what are the top college courses with stay-and-play options? It’s a list as competitive as any college football national poll. Traditions Club www.traditionsclub.com Located in the shadows of Texas A&M University, the Traditions Club sports a Jack Nicklaus/Jack Nicklaus II Signature design that’s both challenging and breathtaking. Taking advantage of the stately hardwoods, natural water features and surprising elevation changes, the golf course is a shotmaker’s paradise. The club has played host to some marquee college tournaments including the 2011 Division I Women’s Golf National Championship and the annual “Mo” Morial tournament. Home to the Aggie golf teams, the Traditions Club has two-, threeand four-bedroom cottages available for rent during gameday weekends. All are located on the course and come complete with the comforts of home like cable television, washer and dryer, outdoor kitchens and many other amenities. Another bonus: On Friday evenings before
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the game, the Aggie football team takes its pre-game meal at the club. Be sure to place your order before they arrive. Boar’s Head/Birdwood Golf Course www.boarsheadinn.com Once 500 acres of rich farmland, the par-72, 6,907-yard Birdwood Golf Course is the official home of the University of Virginia golf teams. Once part of an “upland wilderness” land patent in the 1700s, the land on which the golf course now sits was acquired by the university in 1974. Ten years later, they opened the Lindsay Erwin design to the public. Over time, the club has stayed true to its wilderness roots, as Birdwood is a certified member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. The layout is the star attraction of the Boar’s Head Inn, a charming retreat in the heart of Charlottesville. Southern Colonial touches are prevalent throughout Boar’s Head, and guests will quickly unwind in the 175 guest rooms and suites. Each room offers delightful antique furnishings complemented by modern conveniences sure to please before or after a round of golf, or a Cavalier victory. Golfers can also head over to the new Pete Dye designed Full Cry golf course at Keswick Hall. Opening in October, Full Cry is the centerpiece of the award-winning boutique inn set in Virginia’s bucolic Hunt Country. It is just minutes away from campus. Karsten Creek www.karstencreek.com Designed by Tom Fazio, Karsten Creek is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and like a five-star linebacker, the course is tough and tenacious all the way through the finish. There are many aspects
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Karsten Creek Golf Club
that make it so appealing ¬– zoysia fairways, a challenging layout where players like Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Charles Howell III and many other Cowboy greats honed their craft, and Lake Louise, which looms large on the finishing holes. Hidden in the thick Black Jack trees, and overlooking the 18th fairway and aforementioned lake sits three guest lodges. Each multi-level lodge contains six rooms with two queen size beds and many great appointments. Every level of the lodges also features a common area perfect for entertaining or mapping out a golf/ tailgate/game plan.
The Walker Course at Clemson University
Conference Center and Inn at Clemson University The Walker Course www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/madren The Clemson football team might have Howard’s Rock at their football stadium, nicknamed “Death Valley,” but the Clemson golf teams have The John E. Walker, Sr. Golf Course and its famous 17th hole. The par-3 is striking, with a glistening Lake Hartwell as a backdrop and four bunkers protecting the rear of the green. From the tee, the green complex looks like the school’s proud Tiger Paw. This DJ DeVictor layout is a lot more than that one hole, as it is regarded as one of the top layouts in South Carolina. The Conference Center and Inn at Clemson University is a quaint sanctuary that has won numerous awards for its lodging and meeting capabilities. Each one of the 62 rooms and 227 suites provide views of either the golf course or Lake Hartwell. Situated just minutes from campus, it’s the perfect place to gather before heading to “Death Valley.” SouthWood Golf Club www.southwoodgolf.com The Florida State Seminoles might be the hottest ticket in college football – a national championship and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback will do that – but what’s also a hot commodity, especially on gamedays weekends, is staying and playing at SouthWood Golf Club. Located a short drive from the Florida State campus, SouthWood
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was once the official home of the Seminole golf teams. Designed by Fred Couples and Gene Bates, it takes full advantage of the land’s rolling terrain and majestic oak trees draped with Spanish moss. A perfect example of this is at the par-4 ninth, nicknamed “Live Oak Bend.” Be sure the camera is charged and ready for this hole. Behind the Low Country-style clubhouse are five cottages that seamlessly blend with the other buildings on-site. Each is decorated and furnished with classic cottage décor, and contains a living area, bathroom and efficiency kitchen.
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Charleston Area
Charleston National Golf Club
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HARLESTON, SC. – Golfers looking to drop strokes and elevate their game are headed to the Charleston area for the newest in video swing lesson technology. Utilizing state-of-the-art motion sensors and wireless equipment, Charleston area golf professionals are providing players with the best in swing analysis software to help maximize strength and accuracy. Home to 19 championship courses, below is a sampling of Charleston area courses combining high-tech lesson facilities with impeccable instruction: Wild Dunes Resort Wild Dunes Resort offers some of the best golf instruction in the Lowcountry with a variety of available golf schools, clinics, playing lessons and private instruction catering to everyone from beginners to amateurs. The resort’s three PGA-certified instructors host 90-minute video lessons featuring V-1 Pro technology, ideal for golfers looking to improve swing mechanics and boost course confidence. Players can then hit the links and practice on either of Wild Dunes Resort’s two Tom Fazio designed courses- The Links Course and Harbor Course. The Links at Stono Ferry The Links at Stono Ferry’s Golf Learning Center is home to two hitting bays equipped with K-VEST wireless technology, deemed by golf pros to be the “future of golf instruction.” Players can schedule individual or group lessons with Director of Instruction David Kite, who utilizes this K-VEST technology to capture and analyze golf
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Courses Offer L swing motion in real-time 3-D. Kite also incorporates V-1 Pro and Vector Pro technology in his lessons, which delivers launch monitor data to assess a golfer’s swing path and distance. Kiawah Island Golf Resort Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Tommy Cuthbert Golf Learning Center includes seven state-of-the art covered hitting bays in addition to a practice green, Astroturf putting surface for use in inclement weather, practice bunkers and a computerized video swing analysis system. Three PGA and LPGA certified teaching professionals offer players private and semi-private lessons featuring the V-1 Pro video system. After their lesson, golfers can fine tune their skills with a round on one of Kiawah’s five championship courses, including the host site of the 2012 PGA Championship- The Ocean Course. Charleston National Golf Club The Charleston National Golf Club’s practice facility is home to Scott’s World of Golf (SWOG), led by Director of Golf Instruction Scott Rosenthal. Consistently named one of the top 50 Best Golf Teachers in America, Rosenthal offers lessons featuring FlightScope technology, the world’s first 3-D Doppler ball tracking simulator. FlightScope tracks shot distance, precise landing position, club speed and ball speed presenting players with a visual representation of their swing to diagnose areas of improvement. Golfers can practice their skills learned at SWOG on Charleston National’s Rees Jones design course, carved along the Intracoastal waterway and offering some of best golf views in the Charleston area.
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a Golf
Latest in Video Swing Technology
Coosaw Creek Country Club Coosaw Creek Country Club’s golf academy and practice facility includes a twotiered natural Bermuda grass practice area, elevated practice green, large practice sand trap and practice fairway bunker available year-round. In addition to offering video swing analysis software, Coosaw Creek’s PGA-certified professionals host a five week “Get Golf Ready” clinic series geared towards novice golfers who may be intimidated to learn the game. After instruction from the pros, players can transition to the everchallenging Arthur Hills designed course to practice their newly taught skills. Charleston & Resort Islands Golf More than 200 years ago, Charleston was the site of America’s first golf club. This heritage of golfing excellence is evident today. Guests have convenient access to more than 19 championship courses, created by legendary architects including Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones, Gary Player, Arthur Hills, Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The area also offers plenty of yearround activity off the course. They range from historic tours and attractions to inshore and offshore fishing and award-winning dining, as well as a year-round calendar of festivals and events. For reservations or more information on these packages and others available in the area, visit www.charlestongolfguide.com or call 800-774-4444.
The Links at Stono Ferry
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Golf Vacations • October 2014 19
SWEETSTUFF
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t wasn’t that long ago that a launch monitor to give players, instructors and club fitters data on club head and ball speed—together with other numbers on distance, spin and launch angle—was an expensive and somewhat cumbersome proposition. As such, these devices were usually only found in high-level training centers and club fitting studios where professionals, who had invested thousands of dollars and had adequate space and facilities, could use them on an everyday basis. Today, with smart phones, apps and the technology that goes with them, along with the improvements in the various radar measuring techniques, bringing the kind of feedback on golf swings that only a launch monitor can deliver is readily attainable to the masses and the everyday player for a trip to the driving range. Although various companies have developed launch monitor systems—and some of these still command prices into five figures—one of the most affordable, efficient and easy to use is a relatively new device from a company called Voice Caddie, which has been known for its various GPS watches and other instruments. The Swing Caddie SC100 is the company’s latest and perhaps most innovative product released earlier this year that is literally a portable launch monitor no larger than a smart phone and sells for under $300. Besides the fact that it is light, portable and small enough to fit comfortably in a carry golf bag, this very accurate instrument is one of the easiest on the market to use while hitting balls on the range; features a large, well-lighted display that can be read easily in just about any lighting condition and best of all needs no cell phone app or computer connection to give you precise statistics in the most important categories on each shot for your overall training sessions. By placing it 3-4 feet behind your hitting area, selecting the club you are hitting and flipping a switch, the Swing Caddie records club head
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speed, ball speed, carry distance and smash factor, which is ball speed divided by club head speed. This is a rather recent additional metric to the statistical bundle used by instructors and fitters and is used to measure the efficiency of contact on a shot, such as on the heel or toe where distance is lost because of how the club strikes the ball. This is a great tool for monitoring the quality of your swings. The Swing Caddie also times your practice sessions and counts the number of strokes, and allows you to look back at your session and overall statistics for the last 100 shots. Another nice feature is the pocket/key chain-sized remote that eliminates the need to bend over to change club settings or look at additional statistics. The Doppler radar system in the Swing Caddie is accurate for measuring the club and ball speeds, which means that these are actual measurements for both and not just calculations based on one or the other, another nice feature for even the most discerning player. As a personal practice tool, this device also has two very valuable program settings to help with focus and shot-making to specific yardages, which are the keys to scoring in golf. The Target Mode lets you select a club and distance and then scores how close you come to that on your shot and gives you a numerical score of up to 10 for shot (with a one point bonus for hitting the exact yardage). It scores over 10 shots, allowing you to compete while on the range for a score in shot-making—or even challenge a friend. The Random Mode sets random target distances to challenge your accuracy. Instead of practicing one distance over and over it will display your first random distance and wait for your swing, and after each shot, displays your shot distance, swing speed, ball speed/smash factor, and a 1 to 10 score based on how close you come to the distance. For more information on the Swing Caddie: www. voicecaddie.com
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very now and then the golf community takes a look at one of the biggest hazards inherent in the game—where it is played. As an outside sport that many times dictates hours under the rays of the sun that can become harmful over time to one’s health, protection to skin and eyes is many times overlooked. Probably one of the most overlooked areas is the proper clothing that
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SWEETSTUFF by TerryRoss and FredRobledo
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will filter out the harmful rays that can lead to skin cancer and even death if left untreated. Not all clothing is designed to protect against the sun’s rays, but an upstart company in Northern California is devoted to making time in the sun as safe as possible with a line of clothing that is both stylish and functional. UV Skinz was established in 2006 by Rhonda Sparks, who lost her 32 year old husband to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. She decided to create an apparel line for men, women and children to protect delicate skin from excessive sun exposure, and the company offers a complete line of golf polo’s in addition to infant, children, and adult sun-protective clothing in a variety of fashionable styles. All of the UV Skinz clothing line products carry a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks over 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVA rays and is chemical free, breathable and stylish for the entire family. “We want to raise awareness about the need for effective sun protection,” said Sparks. “While our products only require one application for all day protection and carry a UPF rating of 50+, which blocks over 98% of the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays, most sunscreens require multiple applications for the same period of protection and do not block UVB rays.” She points out that over 3.5 million skins cancers in more than 2 million people will be diagnosed this year, and that teenage melanoma has increased over 100 percent in the past 10 years. UV Skinz, with its products and awareness programs, hopes to change these statistics, noting that 98 percent of these cancers are preventable. For those with fair skin, products like this are even more important for health on the course, and the stylish, athletic fit and sporty styling make these a good looking choice as well. For more information on UV Skinz and sun safety, go to the website: www. uvskinz.com
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auge Design Golf, a premium golf company known for creating precise milled putters, has introduced the new Code M Mallet Putter, featuring the company’s patented brick sole design. The new Gauge Design Golf Code M putter is precision milled from a solid piece of 11L17 mild carbon steel and then electroplated and finished in satin black PVD. The heel-toe weighted design of the Code M is face-balanced, which helps reduce twisting and adds greater head stability resulting in improved consistency on every putt. “At Gauge Design Golf, we take pride in producing the best possible milled putters we can,” said David Whitlam, Founder and President of the company. “This beauty is milled out of a very soft carbon for amazing feel. It also features our unique brick sole mill pattern which gives it a fantastic look. With a combination of looks, feel, and performance, golfers can’t go wrong with this putter.” The Code M Putter is available in center shafted or double-bend heel shafted versions. It includes a Gauge Design Black Ion grip and the company’s logo head cover and comes standard with a 71-degree lie, 3.5-degree loft, and 355-gram head weight. It is available in lengths from 34 to 36 inches. Gauge Design Golf Putters are a blend of today’s technology and yesterday’s designs. Whitlam’s putters are one the most precise milled putters in the golf industry. All of the company’s putters are CNC milled and conform to the USGA’s strict guidelines governing the manufacture of golf equipment. In addition, all Gauge Design putters are made entirely in the USA. David Whitlam is the craftsman behind Gauge Design Golf/Whitlam Golf and has made every putter from the company’s inception. For more information: www.gaugedesigngolf.com
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