OUR 19th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020
REFLECTION BAY GC HIGH PERFORMANCE GOLF INSTITUTE
COLORADO BEAUTY FOUR MILE RANCH GC
VERO BEACH
FLORIDA THE WAY IT USED TO BE Vacations • September 2020 1 Plus: THE SONORAN DESERT TEES Golf UP HOT RATES
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2 Golf Vacations • September 2020
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GOLF VACATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020
Reflection Bay Golf Club - Lake Las Vegas, NV
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Vero Beach Golf Course
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by Shane Sharp Historically golf travelers have fallen into a pattern when it comes to Florida-based golf trips: grab a flight to Orlando, the Palm Beaches, the First Coast or Naples for a few days, play 36 holes a day, rinse, and repeat.
Reflection Bay Golf Club
by David R. Holland LAKE LAS VEGAS, NV. – One never knows when a kid makes a decision about his life’s work but you can be pretty sure Eric Dutt was in the gallery watching the PGA Tour’s Sahara Invitational in the 1970s when the light bulb went off. He was going to be in the golf business.
Four Mile Ranch Golf Club
by David R. Holland Four Mile Ranch Golf Club, designed by award-winning former Colorado architect Jim Engh, is a scrubby desert-like journey for the senses. It traverses rumpled fairways, presents countless backboards and perplexes you with boomerang putts, and has a few blind shots inspired by Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland -- one of Engh’s favorite spots to worship the game. It is void of traditional bunkers.
Sweet Stuff
by Terry Ross
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Dakota Diaz is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Growing up in the golf mecca of Palm Springs, CA, Dakota is no stranger to the golf resort lifestyle. You’ll find him at his “real job” as Partner/Chief Investment Officer at Green Cloud Capital, a Rancho Mirage, CA. headquartered private equity firm.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
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.
Associate Editors Terry Ross Dakota Diaz
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 Shane Sharp is a freelance writer and the owner of Southbound 4, a content marketing and PR shop in Greenville, S.C. He’s a contributing editor with GOLF Magazine, Club & Resort Business, Golf Inc. and Club Management.
Regional Advertising
Los Angeles Terry Ross • (949) 279–7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • (770) 239–7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com Chicago Dakota Diaz •(312) 809–8808 dakota@GolfVacationsMag.com
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Bringing Communities Together
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PO BOX #222 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 (760) 774–2655 StonyCreekMedia.com
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 2020 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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Ease into Fall Golf with Peter Millar’s Crown Sport, Crown Crafted
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eather experts are calling for an historically balmy fall throughout much of the U.S., and Sept. and Oct. are shaping up to feel a lot like summer, especially in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Rocky Mountains. Golfers who typically switch into long pants and performance pullovers might find themselves in need of reloading on summer apparel. If so, there are a couple ways to go. One, they can shop around and mix-and-match a few polos and shorts. Or, for those who prefer an “easy button” solution, they can opt for a coordinated look to finish off the warm season in style. North Carolina-based Peter Millar is all about coordination (and balmy autumns), and its Crown Sport and Crown Crafted Looks answer the bell. Crown Sport Look The Featherweight Polo has proven to be one of the most popular options in the Crown Sport Look and has emerged as a true contender for best golf polo across all brands. Weighing in at an incredible 2.5 ounces, Featherweight Polos pack all the performance punch of your favorite golf shirt in patterns and prints that look situation appropriate on and off the course. They’re engineered from super-lightweight performance fabric that stretches four ways for a full-range of motion, wicks away moisture from the body and resists odor. They come in a classic fit, designed with a standard sleeve length and opening and are relaxed in the shoulder, chest and waist. The Salem High Drape Performance Short is another smart Indian Summer selection. Crafted from 5.6-ounce polyester woven twill, the short offers two-way mechanical stretch for ease of movement, moisture wicking, quick dry and easy care. It’s an impeccably designed course favorite with visual refinement for easy wearing around town. Peter Millar is building a sterling reputation in the casual men’s shoe citatory, led by the Hyperlight Glide Sneaker. Equally at home in casual workplaces or on weekend jaunts, the these insanely comfy kicks are designed with a machine washable, heathered knit upper that offers ample ventilation for breathability and optimal stretch for mobility.
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The lightweight, durable outsole and foam insole deliver supreme comfort underfoot. The interior features a woolpolyester sock liner and heel pad for additional comfort and moisture management. It’s finished with stretch laces with T-lock aglets for a secure fit throughout the day while providing easy slip-on/slip-off access. While designed for life before and après golf, I’ve actually walked more than a few rounds in these shoes. They’re just that comfortable. And in today’s casual business environment, the Hyperlight Glide Sneaker easily passes muster for socially distanced coffee shop or sidewalk café meetings. Crown Crafted Look The Crown Crafted Look offers contemporary sportswear blending cutting-edge technical materials with luxury fabrics. According to Peter Millar, it’s a modern, tailored approach to everyday performance apparel. Communicating casual sophistication, the Stealth Performance Short leverages a high-twist performance fabric to deliver four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, water resistance, quick-dry and easy-care to deliver comfort and style in a variety of settings. It’s styled in a tailored fit, with a shorter rise than mainline offerings. The finish is highlighted by belt loops, quarter-top pockets and a zip fly with a button closure. The Miles Performance Polo features a tailored fit and is crafted to deliver enduring comfort on and off the course. It’s constructed from an innovative performance-blend fabric with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, odor resistance, easy-care and UPF 50+ sun protection. Yes, legs need protection, too. A distinct stripe pattern is added for visual flair and is designed with a trimmer, tailored fit in the torso and sleeves. The Miles Performance Polo is finished with a Sean self-fabric collar and a two-button placket. Here in Greenville, S.C., the land of Furman University (purple) and Clemson University (again, purple), we test drove the Deep Violet edition for 12 rounds in 90-plus degree heat and humidity. Its overall performance and moisture-wicking was unmatched by any polo we’ve tested outside of the Featherweight. For more information and to shop Peter Millar visit www.petermillar.com.
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Two-For-One Airfare Offer And Unlimited Golf Sweetens A Trip To Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa At The Islands Of Loreto
LORETO, Baja California Sur, Mexico — A visit to The Islands of Loreto just got easier and more affordable, with two-for-one airfare and unlimited golf on TPC Danzante Bay, adding to the broad appeal of Villa del Palmar Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto. This awe-inspiring destination resort is noted for its natural, unspoiled beauty and warm, welcoming staff. A package is available now through November10, 2020 and includes the following: • 2-for-1 flights on Alaska Airlines from LAX to Loreto • Five-night stay in a deluxe suite • Unlimited golf rounds with golf cart per adult, per day • Daily Meals • Tax and services The package price starts from $2949 for two adults in a deluxe suite. Meals include daily American breakfasts and lunches at the Market and dinner at Casa Mia. TPC Danzant TPC Danzante Bay, the resort’s award-winning Rees Jones designed golf course, is a brilliant, multi-themed challenge accented by valleys, arroyos, dunes, and foothills. Holes feature panoramic views of Danzante Bay, the Sea of Cortez, the Islands of Loreto, and the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range. The resort sits on a sprawling stretch of white-sand beach along Danzante Bay in the Islands of Loreto, where the natural habitat includes 900 species of fish and unspoiled, clear waters. Guests enjoy world-class sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and seasonal whale watching. The property has six swimming pools, tennis courts, miles of well-marked hiking trails and plenty of open space for social distancing. There are four on-property restaurants, with abundant outdoor seating, in addition to a fully stocked grocery and sundries market. This package can only be booked by calling 1-800-790-4187 and mentioning the promo code FLIGHT2X1GOLF.
Quinta do Lago September breaks are golfers’ new flexible friend Quinta do Lago is putting the smile back on the faces of UK golfers following the easing of travel quarantine restrictions, with accommodation savings of 20 per cent on offer at the luxury Portuguese resort’s boutique Magnolia Hotel until the end of September. Players can take advantage of a wide range of benefits when booking a bed-and-breakfast package at the hotel over the coming weeks with the top Algarve resort’s ‘Flexi-booking’ option, with discounted golf and free meals all available. Bringing a taste of Palm Springs to the Algarve, The Magnolia Hotel offers guests the chance to combine world-class golf with an array of luxury lifestyle facilities that have made Quinta do Lago a favourite with golfers around the world for the last five decades. Available until September 30, guests can enjoy a fifth off their accommodation when staying for two nights or more, with one free dinner in the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant included for every three nights stayed. In addition, kids stay and eat for free when families book one of the hotel’s cottages while golfers can enjoy 18 holes on Quinta do Lago’s acclaimed North and Laranjal courses including buggy for €99 per person per round until September 8 – with transfers to the beach, golf courses or resort’s multi-sports centre The Campus
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all included. All bookings – which are based on two people sharing a twin room – can be cancelled 48 hours prior to arrival with no penalty, while the ‘Flexi-booking’ option also offers guests the chance to change their booking dates without any charge. Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is regarded as Europe’s premier golf and lifestyle resort, and was one of the first to be awarded Clean & Safe approval by the Portugal Tourist Board after the Covid-19 lockdown. The award-winning venue boasts a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities and has invested a further €7m in a golf course improvement programme this summer, including a major overhaul of its famous South Course and the reopening of its main golf clubhouse following a modern and sophisticated makeover. As well as three renowned golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit. Complementing the facilities is a choice of 12 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious world cuisines, including the acclaimed Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, and accommodation at the boutique The Magnolia Hotel. For more information on the new ‘Flexi-booking’ stay-andplay breaks and to book, go to www.themagnoliahotelqdl.com/ special-offers/stay-play
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The Playground at Jack’s Bay
Tiger Woods Opens The Playground At Jack’s Bay On Eleuthera Island, Bahamas Rock Sound, Bahamas – Tiger Woods and Jack’s Bay Company, developers of the new Jack’s Bay private club and community in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas, opened The Playground, a spectacular 10-hole, par-3 golf course created by Woods’ TGR Design. The Playground is the first of the club’s major recreational amenities to open with others to follow shortly. Carefully crafted by one of the greatest talents in the history of golf, The Playground is intended to bring the pure enjoyment of the game to generations of players. The short course sits atop a dramatic bluff, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Holes range in length from 55 to 170 yards and can be played in a variety of configurations, making it fun for families and friends, yet capable of challenging the game’s best players. Adding to the experience, a signature Blue Bar is located adjacent to the No. 4 green. Here members will find a treasure trove of treats, ranging from assorted childhood candies, soft drinks and island favorites to exceptional sliders, jerky and other small dishes prepared daily by our culinary team. “It is great to be part of this spectacular project in paradise,” said Woods. “The natural terrain and coastline are incredibly beautiful and call for an equally spectacular golf experience. The golf course complements the true spirit of the Jack’s Bay development because it’s designed for golfers to have fun, foster friendships, and create memories within an unforgettable setting.” Located 279 miles SE of the Florida coast, Jack’s Bay is a spectacular 964-acre property with 2 ½ miles of Atlantic Ocean frontage just 10 minutes from Rock Sound International Airport. The community will offer approximately 500 residences including artfully designed golf and club villas, club suites and spacious estate lots. The ruggedly beautiful property features bluffs with elevations of up to 80 feet, offering sweeping views of the Atlantic, as well as spectacular pink-sand beaches. Jack’s Bay Company is chaired by Sir Franklyn Wilson, KCMG, and is owned by some of the most well-known entities in the Bahamas and an impressive array of investors. In addition to The Playground, Tiger Woods and TGR Design have
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been engaged to create a spectacular 18-hole, championship-caliber golf course at Jack’s Bay. Design work is currently underway, and the course will be developed as the community matures. Other soon to open amenities include a thoughtfully designed clubhouse, tennis facility, adventure program, and sustainable aquaponic farm for true organic farm-to-table dining experiences. (www.jacksbayclub.com)
Autumn Golf At Praia D’el Rey To Make Lockdown Blues A Distant Memory The wait for UK golfers to return to Portugal is finally over after the easing of Covid-19 quarantine travel restrictions, and Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort has the perfect tonic for players eager to forget lockdown and enjoy a five-star golfing break this autumn. Available until November 16, the award-winning resort’s latest offers include its ‘Links Golf Package’, where players can enjoy four nights’ bed-and-breakfast hotel accommodation and three rounds of golf on any course from only €416 per person. (approx £375) Set an hour north of Lisbon on Portugal’s stunning Silver Coast, Praia D’El Rey is renowned as one of Europe’s elite golf resorts and features outstanding sports and leisure facilities including two worldclass 18-hole championship golf courses – Praia D’El Rey and the spectacular West Cliffs Golf Links. Few golf courses in the world have received as much widespread acclaim as West Cliffs since it was opened three years ago, while the resort’s other championship layout is also ranked among Europe’s top 50 courses. Daily bed-and-breakfast accommodation in a garden or golfview room is provided at Praia D’El Rey’s five-star hotel, together with complimentary access to the resort’s luxury spa and health club, which includes a gym, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. As well as golf, Praia D’El Rey boasts an extensive array of world-class sports, leisure and accommodation facilities including a Marriott hotel, a wide selection of villas, a tennis academy, a luxury Spa and health club and numerous watersports and restaurants. Guests have a choice of five restaurants from which to choose, all serving the fresh and authentic produce for which Portugal is
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS famous, while the comprehensive range of therapies and treatments on offer at the Kalyan Spa promise to restore energy and balance to the body after a day on the fairways. For more information on Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort and West Cliffs and to book, email golf@praia-del-rey.com. www.praia-del-rey.com or www.westcliffs.com
Autumn Golf In Madeira Is Blooming Good Fun Golf is blooming in Madeira this autumn with the Covid-19 pandemic offering players the unexpected opportunity to indulge in the world-famous culture and history of the island. Travelling golfers can combine golf on three outstanding 18-hole courses with the added bonus of experiencing some of Madeira’s most celebrated annual events until the end of September, including its globally-renowned Flower Festival and Wine Festival. Traditionally held each May and centred around the island’s capital of Funchal, the 2020 Flower Festival had to be postponed and rearranged earlier this year following the outbreak of coronavirus. Now taking place from September 3-27, the three-week festival offers visitors the unforgettable chance to experience a kaleidoscope of colour and the magic that runs through the municipalities of the Madeira archipelago with an array of unique exhibits made totally from flowers. Running at the same time, the Madeira Wine Festival invites guests to raise a glass and sample a plethora of the island’s worldfamous fortified wines while tasting a range of regional snacks and enjoying one of the many live concerts. Madeira and her islands – which were last year hailed as the ‘world’s best emerging golf destination’ at the World Golf Awards, and as Europe’s ‘leading island destination’ for the fourth successive year, as well as the world’s ‘leading island destination’ for a staggering fifth year running in the 2019 World Travel Awards – reopened to
international visitors on July 1. Madeira is home to three magnificent golf courses in total, with Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf located on the mainland, and Porto Santo Golf located on the nearby island of Porto Santo. The par-72, 6,656-yard (6,086m) course at Palheiro Golf – designed by Robinson – is situated within the magnificent Palheiro Estate, which is more than 200 years old. At nearly 1,640ft above sea level, the location enjoys dramatic views of Madeira’s mountainous skyline and the ocean, as well as – nestling below, just 10 minutes away – the island’s capital, Funchal. The original course at Santo da Serra, dating from 1937, was redesigned in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones Snr, who created a new and spectacular 27-hole complex. The third and fourth holes of the Machico course are regarded as the signature holes, sitting atop cliffs more than 2,200ft above sea level, providing views of the bay of Machico, where Portuguese navigators first landed in 1419. The 27-hole, Severiano Ballesteros-designed Porto Santo Golf is a short plane hop or ferry ride away. The par-72, 7,036-yard (6,434m) course, which opened in 2004, comprises two distinct nines. The southern route – a US-style layout – is dotted with lakes, requiring a long and precise game; while the northern route is atop fantastic cliffs, near the stunning beach of the same name. Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round destination for a golf break. The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport – available from most hotels and the golf clubs – which entitles the bearer to five rounds of golf across the two ‘mainland’ tracks: Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf. www.madeiraallyear.com
Palheiro Golf
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Firestone Country Club - North Course
Private Firestone Country Club Unveils NonMember Stay-and-Play Packages AKRON, OH – Firestone Country Club, renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf, is now allowing an exclusive opportunity for non-members to reserve a limited number of stay-and-play packages and experience its celebrated on- and off-course offerings. Since the 1950s, the club and its famed South Course has annually hosted the biggest names in professional golf. In addition to being site of three PGA Championships, Firestone was the long-time venue for the PGA TOUR’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor, the World Series of Golf. It currently hosts the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, being held this week and televised on Golf Channel. One-, two- and three-night packages are now available with prices starting at $595 that include lodging and golf. More information can be found here. Packages feature play on the aforementioned South Course, which is highlighted by the famed 667-yard par-5 16th hole (famously dubbed “The Monster” by Arnold Palmer after he recorded a triple bogey during the 1960 PGA Championship); the Robert Trent Jones-designed North Course; and the Tom Fazio-designed West Course. Accommodation options are villa-style suites bordering the golf courses or recently updated dormitory rooms above the clubhouse
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and adjacent to the club’s iconic water tower. Dining is available at three on-property establishments, including the clubhouse’s 1929 Grille & Legacy Pavilion and 55th Hole Bar, both of which offer open-air dining and golf course views. Firestone Country Club - North Course “Nearly every legend in modern golf has been crowned a champion at Firestone Country Club, names like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Tom Watson,” says Jay Walkinshaw, general manager. “We’re excited to now offer non-members the opportunity to play our 54 challenging, scenic holes and enjoy our club’s warm, welcoming hospitality.” The South Course has been especially well-liked by the two greatest players of the last 60 years, Nicklaus and Woods. The Golden Bear played in his very first PGA TOUR event at Firestone, the 1958 Rubber City Open, and won seven titles there as a professional, including the 1975 PGA Championship. Woods won the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational eight times, including a remarkable seven in an 11- year span from 1999-2009. Firestone is conveniently located only 45 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and less than 15 from Akron-Canton Airport. It is also within easy driving distance of other major metropolitan areas like Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Recent research from the National Golf Foundation shows some 75% of golfers are willing to drive more
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS than four hours to reach their 2020 golf getaway. Nearby off-course attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, making it especially ideal for buddy trips. To book or for more information, please visit clubcorp.com/ Clubs/Firestone-Country-Club/Stay-Play or call 330.245.3280. New national membership options are also available, and non-members are invited to inquire about hosting special events, meetings and weddings.
Giants Ridge Introduces Noteworthy, Attractive Midweek Fall Golf Packages Giants Ridge – Minnesota’s leading golf resort, set in the rugged beauty of the Mesabi Iron Range – unveils unbeatable Play and Stay Packages for fall, which accentuate the resort’s spectacular golf courses and accommodations. A convenient three-hour drive along Interstate 35 from the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area, Giants Ridge boasts two of the highest-ranked layouts in state, The Quarry and The Legend. The aptly-named Quarry is built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, and dramatically raised tees and hazards provide dramatic Iron Range vistas. Carved out of the Superior National Forest, The Legend is a true “northwoods” course featuring towering pines, giant fairways and majestic views of Wynne and Sabin Lakes. The “Fall Play & Stay at GreenGate Guest Houses” package includes a three-night stay at the unique GreenGate Guest Houses, a round of golf on either course, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book, and starts at $279 per person/per night. Taxes are not included and other restrictions may apply. To reserve, call 218-290-2607.
Valid through October 15, the “Fall Play & Stay at the Villas” package includes one round of golf with cart on either of the resort’s two courses, range balls, a yardage book and accommodations at the Villas at Giants Ridge with 25% off weekday rates and 10% off on weekends. Taxes are not included, and other restrictions may apply. To book a reservation, call 855-373-4231. More information about these festive fall golf packages at Giants Ridge can be found on the resort’s special offers page. “Fall is the idea season to enjoy our incredible courses and splendid accommodations at great rates, especially midweek,” said John Kendall, director of golf. “We invite everyone to come visit us and discover firsthand why we’re at the pinnacle of Minnesota golf destinations.” Earlier this year, Giants Ridge received the coveted “Editors’ Choice Award” from Golf Digest in the “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest” category for 2020. Celebrating the “best of the best” golf destinations, Giants Ridge was one of only eight resorts listed in the Midwest and the only destination in Minnesota. In addition to the Golf Digest honor, Giants Ridge and its courses have received
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accolades from Golf Magazine, Golfweek, My Golf Spy, WorldGolf. com and Golf Advisor.
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas Offers Outstanding Array of Vacation Villas LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo Resort & Villas – home to the Caribbean’s premier, luxury golf experiences, including its iconic GOLF Magazine “World Top 100” Teeth of the Dog course – offers a dazzling array of exceptional fullyappointed villas ideal for golf group fall getaways at the world-class destination. Starting at $599 (per villa, per night) and perfect for creating a tranquil and secure “world of your own,” the luxury villa options range from three to 11 bedrooms with stylish living areas, private pools and myriad creature comforts. From secluded Garden Villas showcasing the area’s abundant flora to the serene splendor of the Caribbean coast in an Oceanfront Villa, each style offers contemporary designs. Daily breakfast, private maid service and full access to a wide range of on-site activities are additional highlights of villa stays as well as use of four-passenger golf carts for easy transportation throughout the 7,000-acre resort, complimentary Wi-Fi and unlimited use of the resort’s fitness center. Through Sept. 30, Casa de Campo is offering a $100 resort credit on three-night villa stays. For those seeking the opportunity to enjoy the Pete Dyedesigned masterpiece widely acclaimed as the No. 1 course in the Caribbean, the “Unlimited Teeth of the Dog with Breakfast” package starts at $399 for two guests, per night. In addition to “dawn to dusk” play on celebrated Teeth of the Dog, resort guests can also tee it up and play to their heart’s content on two additional Dye gems: Dye Fore (27 holes) and The Links (18). The offer also includes deluxe accommodations in the resort’s recently renovated guest rooms, daily breakfast, use of a fourpassenger golf cart to travel throughout the resort, complimentary Wi-Fi and use of the resort’s fitness center. All golf rounds are based on availability and include arrival and departure days. The “Unlimited Teeth of the Dog All Inclusive” golf package features all the highlights above plus daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and drinks by the glass at resort signature restaurants or room service (extra delivery charge), unlimited horseback riding, use of the property’s tennis courts, one round at the 245-acre Shooting Club, non-motorized water sports and family program activities. This offers starts at $599 per night, double occupancy. For the remainder of 2020, Casa de Campo is also offering the “family-friendly” opportunity for two kids or young adults (21 and younger) to be able to play golf for free when accompanied on the same rounds with their parents during resort visits. The five-star resort has initiated its “Casa Cares” program touching virtually every area of the property including significant investment in new equipment and employee training. The robust health and safety practices continue to remain a top priority for its guests. A full list of the new measures may be found here. Since opening in 1974, Teeth of the Dog has been a “bucket list” layout for those seeking to play one of the top 50 golf courses in the world. Dye’s design hallmarks are all present: railroad ties, vast waste areas, peninsula greens and tees, hand-sculpted putting surfaces and a unique assortment of pot bunkers. “The Heaven 7” oceanfront holes are astoundingly beautiful, causing Dye to famously quip: “I created 11 holes and God created seven.” For more information on Casa de Campo Resort & Villas please call 800.877.3643, email golf@ccampo.com.do or visit: www. casadecampo.com.do/.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Sentosa Golf Club Becomes World’s First Golf Club To Join Un’s Sports For Climate Action Initiative
Singapore-based club joins prestigious list of sports associations, events, clubs and leagues from around the world in commitment to climate action The iconic 18th hole on the New Tanjong and clubhouse at Sentosa Golf Club
S
entosa Golf Club in Singapore made history last month by becoming the world’s first golf club to join the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative. The prestigious golf venue, set on Sentosa Island alongside a diverse array of unique leisure experiences, is already highly regarded for its approach to environmental sustainability, and takes this significant step following its collaboration with international sustainable golf non-profit, GEO Foundation. The UN’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative aims to support and guide sports organisations and their communities on a path to achieving the global climate goals set out by world leaders in the Paris Agreement. The golf club will add its name to an already impressive list of sporting organisations to have joined including the New York Yankees, La Liga, Sky Sports and the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon). Sentosa Golf Club, currently holding the accolade of World’s Best Golf Club (World Golf Awards), will join these other participants in committing to a set of five agreed principles and incorporating them into their club strategy, policies, and procedures, as well as communicating them to their wider sporting community within Singapore and other golf clubs around the world. The initiative also provides sports organisations with a forum
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to pursue climate action in a consistent and supportive manner by learning from one another, disseminating good practices, lessons learned, developing new innovations, and collaborating on areas of mutual interest. It also aims to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius, as well as strengthening the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. Andrew Johnston, General Manager & Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, said: “Becoming the first ever golf club to join the UN’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative is a tremendous honour for everyone associated with Sentosa Golf Club. We have already taken great strides with our sustainability programme in the last two years and are therefore extremely excited to be joining this initiative. We believe it is the right step for us as a club to continue on our journey to tackle climate change throughout the world and the game of golf.” Sentosa Golf Club also recently announced a new partnership with GEO Foundation, an international non-profit which aims to inspire, support, recognise and share sustainability across golf. Through this collaboration, Sentosa Golf Club’s future sustainability work will be guided and supported by GEO’s sustainable golf agenda; tracked and evaluated using the industry leading OnCourse® program; verified
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS and assured through the GEO Certified® label. It is also anticipated that GEO will help guide and accelerate sustainability action in relation to Sentosa Golf Club’s course renovations and the hosting of the SMBC Singapore Open. Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of GEO Foundation, said: “This announcement underlines the strength of Sentosa’s forward-looking commitment to sustainability and climate action. We congratulate them on taking this important and ambitious leadership step, and look forward to supporting that commitment with the purpose-built tools, analysis and recognition that we provide to golf. Of course, we’d encourage other facilities interested in building sustainability and climate action into their operations to consider joining OnCourse® - as a practical first step to understanding current performance, guiding future efforts and establishing their position in the growing community of sustainable golf.” Sentosa Golf Club’s green commitment was brought to the world’s attention with the launch of its #KeepItGreen campaign at the SMBC Singapore Open in January 2018. It has seen a number of key environmental features implemented at the club, such as the creation of its own bee colonies; using rechargeable lithium batteries in its golf carts; banning single use plastics from the golf course and replacing them with water stations; as well as building its own sustainable herb garden. In January 2020, the club unveiled a new
sustainability campaign, GAME ON, at the SMBC Singapore Open, that is designed to unite the global golf community in addressing the growing concerns of climate change. It aims to help golf clubs around the world to better prepare for climate change by introducing modern sustainability practices to reduce their own environmental footprint. The campaign is closely aligned with The R&A’s 2030 Golf Course Initiative that considers the impacts, both positive and negative, of the changing climate, resource constraints and regulation on course condition and playability. The R&A’s Asian headquarters is based at Sentosa Golf Club and they too are pushing an important sustainability agenda. Dominic Wall, Director – AsiaPacific at The R&A, said: “We consider sustainability to be an important priority for golf and is crucial to the sport’s contribution to society, including its impact on the environment and use of resources. “Our own Golf Course 2030 initiative aims to produce a roadmap that will outline steps to mitigate the challenges created by climate change, as well as taking advantage of the opportunities that exist to provide improved on-course conditions and playability for golfers around the world.” For more information on Sentosa Golf Club visit www.sentosagolf.com or follow the club on social media: Twitter: @SentosaGolfClub Instagram: @sentosagolfclub Facebook: @SentosaGolfClub
Signing Sports for Climate Action Initiative (from left to right) SGC President Andrew Lim, SDC Chairman Bob Tan, SDC CEO Thien Kwee Eng, SGC General Manager Andrew Johnston
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Golf Vacations • September 2020 15
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS
SPRING WAS A BOGEY, FALL’S A HOLE-IN-ONE
by Dakota Diaz
The Sonoran Desert Tees up Hot Rates and Cool Temperatures this Fall
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Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
COTTSDALE, AZ – Since you’ve been gone, a lot has happened in Scottsdale. After a long spring spent inside and travel restrictions limiting summer vacations, many restless travelers are eagerly awaiting their next trip, once conditions allow. Here to answer the call are Scottsdale’s famed golf clubs and resorts, looking forward to welcoming guests back with shiny and new offerings sure to put visitors’ minds at ease, and reignite the joy of golf travel. Mountain Shadows – nestled between the iconic Camelback and Mummy Mountains in Scottsdale – is home to Arizona’s only par-3 course and offering two new exciting types of accommodations prime for a golf getaway. The Tower, Mountain Shadows’ exclusive “hotel within a hotel,” is ideal for longer stays or those looking for plenty of room to kick back and relax. These one- and two-story, desert modern designed suite accommodations feature private balconies, full kitchens, in-suite laundry, and ample living space. Or perhaps, after a round of golf at The Short Course, guests might want to turn in for the evening in one of the resort’s new, equally chic Studio Plus guest rooms. Generously sized at 400 square feet with oversized tubs, floor-to-ceiling glass and wrap-around terraces, these accommodations are the perfect place to order in with contactless
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room service, catch the sunset over the mountains and take in the outstanding views of the desert surroundings. Guests who book the resort’s Slip Into Fall package receive a $50 daily resort credit, bottle of wine arrival amenity, and 25 percent off cabanas. Over at Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, the resort and Troon Golf Vacations have partnered up to help visitors swing into savings this fall. The Best of Scottsdale golf package, starting at $217 per night, includes three nights’ accommodations and three rounds of golf – one each at the scenic Troon North Golf Club, The Boulders Golf Club and Quintero Golf Club – as well as an Avis full-sized rental car. Additional rounds can be arranged at any partner course, including Westin Kierland Golf Club, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, McDowell Mountain Golf Club and Eagle Mountain Golf Club, and for those looking for even more time spent in the great outdoors, the sprawling casita-style resort sits at the foot of Pinnacle Peak Mountain, one of the city’s most picturesque and beloved hiking areas. Autumn also marks the 25th anniversary of Grayhawk Golf Club’s acclaimed and highly photogenic Raptor Course, as well as the opening of its clubhouse. Raptor has hosted some of the state’s highest profile competitive golf events, including the Tiger Woods’ Williams World Challenge and the PGA TOUR’s Frys.com Open. In spring
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS 2021, Raptor will continue the tradition by hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championship. Guests can get a preview of Raptor’s challenges, and play Grayhawk’s other stand-out track, Talon, with the club’s 36-Hole Special. Players can enjoy both courses within a five-day period – so they don’t have to be played on the same day – at a great value. Beginning in late September, conditions permitting, Grayhawk has slated the return of its popular “Live at Grayhawk” to the Quill Creek Café patio, which features acoustic live-music performances by local artists as well as drink and appetizer specials. The open and expansive patio overlooks the stunning Raptor Course, making for an ideal spot to relish the season’s cool and crisp-air evenings. Never one to miss an opportunity for innovation, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa has recently transformed its casita suites, remodeled its Adventure Water Park and added new ways to “surf the turf” while playing its spectacular 27-hole golf facility. Great for families or small groups of friends – or a “quaranteam” – the reimagined Casita Suites are a home away from home with all-new decor with upgraded living areas and kitchenettes. Guests also receive complimentary, ondemand resort transportation for outstanding access to the golf course, water park and resort restaurants. The Adventure Water Park has an expanded reserved seating area, a remodeled Tommy Bahama private island and enhanced waterslide, lazy river for socially distanced floats in the cool water and the iconic FlowRider surfing simulator. Kierland Golf Club also makes it easy to maintain safe physical distance while having a blast
by allowing golfers to choose their preferred mode of transportation, including Segways, GolfBoards, golf bikes and TurfRiders. For a great value, guests can book the Golf Escape for Two package, which provides outstanding accommodations plus one round of golf per person per night. Visitors hoping for effective game improvement will find just what the doctor ordered at Raven Golf Club. The club’s Tour Striker Academy is offering outstanding three-day golf schools with Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor Martin Chuck from mid-October through early-May 2021. Lessons include in-depth swing analysis, on-course guided play, and coursemanagement techniques. Travelers can now also get their clubs dialed in for optimal play at Raven before hitting the links with an expert custom clubfitting from Scottsdale-based, outdoor clubfitting facility True Spec. For the ultimate concentration and peace and quiet, golfers can seek the Afternoon on Course program at the Boulders Resort & Spa, unbeatable for those who want a quick tune-up before hitting the links. Donald Crawley, Boulders’ Director of Instruction and a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher, oversees the Afternoon on Course program, including a one-hour, hands-on full-swing diagnosis and correction, a one-hour short-game clinic, and nine holes of golf. To learn more about new offerings at Scottsdale golf properties, as well as how Scottsdale golf courses are committed to the health and safety of visitors and players during the Covid-19 pandemic, visit ExperienceScottsdaleGolf.com and check out Experience Scottsdale’s health and safety protocols.
Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North
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Golf Vacations • September 2020 17
Indian River Golf Club # 18
Vero Beach Offers Wide Variety of Private, Public Golf Course in a Tranquil Intracoastal Setting
by Shane Sharp
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istorically golf travelers have fallen into a pattern when it comes to Florida-based golf trips: grab a flight to Orlando, the Palm Beaches, the First Coast or Naples for a few days, play 36 holes a day, rinse, and repeat. As our travel patterns and habits adjust to the new normal, however, it is more about hitting the open road in a suitable SUV or convertible and discovering new places along the way. One of those places worth discovering … or rediscovering, is Vero Beach. This quaint, intracoastal community along Florida’s unheralded Treasure Coast is Florida the way it used to be. Or, as best-selling Florida author Carl Hiaasen imagines it should be. “Vero,” as the locals refer to it, is devoid of the monolithic condo towers that most people associate with South Florida. In fact, the town ordinance limits both residential and commercial building heights to 35-feet (the exception being downtown, where 50-foot structures are permitted). Citizens have been equally concerned about density over the years, voting down numerous large-scale developments and resorts that would alter the charming character of their beloved burg. It’s only fitting, and commensurate with the town’s ethos, that Vero and surrounding Indian River County are graced with a preponderance of outstanding golf courses, both private and public, that fly below the national radar. Indian River Club If you were to design and build the perfect golf club and community for the times we live in, Indian River Club would be the model. For have-club-will-travel golfers who want to sample what life at Indian River would be like, the club extends a stay-and-play package in its four-bedroom, four-bathroom Charlesworth Lodge. For those considering relocating to Vero full-time or part of the year,
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a variety of membership plans are available. A full golf membership includes unlimited golf for the member and spouse, practice facility use, club storage, and swim and fitness center access. With working remotely quickly becoming the norm, more and more people are able to work – and live – almost anywhere. Indian River has a very enticing Young Executive Membership that waives initiation fees and offers 50% off full golf dues for those under 40. Ages 41-50 have almost as sweet a deal, with $5,000 initiation and 35% off full golf dues. Indian River also has real estate covered, as the 300-acre gated community has a variety of residences ranging from golf course condos to luxury, custom-built homes. The architecture is a gentle blend of the Old Florida, local Riomar style vernacular and the plantation and cottage homes found in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Ten neighborhoods offer distinctly different living options and arrangements. Water Oak is Indian River’s newest luxury enclave, with 28 carriage homes providing the spacious floorplans of a singlefamily residence, along with the carefree, low-maintenance lifestyle of a condo. For those in search of prime building lots, Pine Valley features 18 homesites along the fifth fairway of the Ron Garl-designed golf course. Estate homes in Pine Valley will be built alongside a protected Florida Scrub Jay habitat. Myriad amenities notwithstanding, the centerpiece of Indian River is Garl’s aforementioned masterpiece. Long overshadowed by big brand golf course architects, the Lakeland-based designer has quietly crafted award-winning layouts throughout the U.S. and around the world. Garl’s work at Indian River is among his best, as he artfully entwines the natural wetlands and native trees with visually stunning, white sand waste bunkers. The tee shot from the back tees on the par-5 third hole (“Oak Hammock”) is a bedazzling case in point. The
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challenging three-shotter requires a short carry over a small lagoon to a landing area framed by native areas. The sheer amount of sand Garl employs throughout the course would be overwhelming if not for the track’s enormous landing areas. For golfers who enjoy picking a line and pulling driver, Indian River is pure, unadulterated fun. Indian River places a premium on approach shots, which much find the proper green quadrant for any chance at rolling a makeable birdie putt. Greens are also generously proportioned to receive shots, and subtle contours provide the perfect blend of challenge and fairness. Florida is full of hit-and-giggle retirement courses – and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But Indian River isn’t one of them. The course tips out at 7,000 yards from the Championship tees with a slope rating of 140 and a 73-course rating. Garl was one of the early proponents of ensuring that golfers with lower swing speeds and higher handicaps had ample tee choices. While five sets are the norm at most venues, Garl has provided seven at Indian River, including multiple sets rated for women starting at 4,747 yards. For more information about golf packages, membership and real estate at Indian River Golf Club, visit www.indianriverclub.com. Sandridge Golf Club Traveling golfers in search of a few extra rounds in the Vero area would be well-served to check out Sandridge Golf Club, about 25 minutes north of Indian River. Owned and operated by Indian River County, it is easily one of the best municipal facilities in the state. Sandridge boasts two, regulation 18-hole Garl designed courses,
the Dunes and Lakes. Dunes opened in 1987 and winds around a preexisting ridge that runs along a huge swath of the state’s eastern shore and was once used for mining. The Lakes Course, opened in 1992, is known for the island green on its par 4 14th hole. The other 17 holes are just as solid, if not spectacular. Sandridge is an incredible value any time of year, but the late summer, early fall months see green fees (with cart) as low as $20. Junior golfers play for $1 (not a type-o) with a paying adult. For more info and tee times, visit www.sandridgegc.com. PGA Golf Club Vero’s convenient Treasure Coast location means numerous golf destinations are a short drive away. The three nationally-ranked courses of PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie to the south are quick 25-minute jaunt down I-95. Owned and operated by the PGA of America, golfers are greeted with world-class service, sublime conditions and a brisk but enjoyable pace of play. If time permits, sample all three layouts: the Wanamaker, Dye and Ryder. Pressed for time? The Wanamaker, designed by Tom Fazio and named for PGA founder Rodman Wanamaker, is the ideal representation of PGA Golf Club’s superior offering. The course is set against a backdrop wetlands, palms and palmettos and features many of Fazio’s finest design trademarks. PGA Golf Club’s six-hole Short Course is a total delight and ideal for golf-loving families. The Short Course is complementary for guests and offers holes 35 to 60 yards in length. Junior rates are also available on the three regulation layouts, just ask when contacting the golf shop. For more information or to book tee times, visit www.pgavillage.com. Indian River Golf Club # 16
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20 Golf Vacations • September 2020
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Reflection Bay Golf Club Eric Dutt Develops The High Performance Golf Institute by David R. Holland
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AKE LAS VEGAS, NV. – One never knows when a kid makes a decision about his life’s work but you can be pretty sure Eric Dutt was in the gallery watching the PGA Tour’s Sahara Invitational in the 1970s when the light bulb went off.
1981 and on to the NCAA Tournament. His siblings were all accomplished players in their own right.
He was going to be in the golf business.
He’s in the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame and was a visionary for growth at The Badlands, Rio Secco, Cascata, Las Vegas National Golf Club, Caesars Entertainment and the Butch Harmon School of Golf. Not to mention he was involved in the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, benefiting the Dave Thomas Foundation for adoption. In 1996 he generated 51,000 rounds at The Badlands, it’s first year of operations.
Today he is Manager of Operations of Reflection Bay Golf Club, taking on another resort community project to transition the 1,000 acres on Lake Las Vegas, including private SouthShore Golf Club, to profitability. The real estate recession of 2008 nailed the opulent subdivision in Henderson – one day foursomes were teeing it up, the next day no one was. Reflection Bay, a Jack Nicklaus beauty, and The Falls, a Tom Weiskopf design, were closed for business. Paulson and Company, a conglomerate founded by American hedge fund manager John Paulson, reopened Reflection Bay in 2014. The purchase included The Falls, too, but a decision was made to not reopen it.
After college he probably never envisioned himself as one of the guys to be part of Las Vegas’ growth into resort golf.
The new game plan -- The High Performance Golf Institute As Manager of Operations at Reflection Bay, Dutt is looking for excellent, pristine conditioning for a fun day on the golf course, but he’s also looking to expand a vision of providing state-of-the-art resort golf instruction scenarios to make good golfers reach loftier heights.
So they fixed the irrigation system, turned on the water, and about half the brown grass came back to green. While they were addressing getting 100 percent grass coverage Nicklaus came back and removed about a dozen bunkers and changed 20 more for playability purposes. A management company was brought in to manage the course upon reopening in November of 2014 but expectations weren’t met so the powers that be convinced Dutt to come on board and help resurrect the golf reputation of Lake Las Vegas. Apparently, it worked as Reflection Bay was just recently named the #6 Best Course You Can Play in the state of Nevada on one of the major golf publications annual rankings. So who is this guy? Many consider Dutt part of a golf pioneer family in Las Vegas. He won the Nevada State Amateur as a 17-year-old, went to Purdue to help the Boilermakers win the Big 10 golf title in www.golfvacationsmag.com
Rees Jones and Eric Dutt at Cascata Golf Vacations • September 2020 21
Photos courtesy of Reflection Bay Golf Club and David R. Holland
“My hope is that the High Performance Golf Institute, www. highperformancegolf.com will take, say, a very good junior player and give him or her additional skills that will move them to become a college golfer,” Dutt said. “And I’m hoping we will become the place to come in Las Vegas for golf instruction and club fitting.”
Even though The Falls was closed, several holes have been designated for practice and instruction as part of the HPGI instruction assets. The facilities include practice holes, bunker areas, putting and chipping and pitching greens as well as on course instruction.
All the newest technology is here, including indoor hitting bays with TrackMan, and two PGA Tour professionals to guide you on a journey to become the best you can be. Craig Barlow, a Henderson native, and Jeff Gallagher are the two PGA Tour players who have been hired as teaching instructors. Barlow played in eight major championships, six U.S. Opens, a British Open and a PGA Championship and made 170 lifetime cuts on the Tour. Barlow had a storied amateur career in Las Vegas winning every amateur title before turning professional in 1995. Barlow’s most heralded course record is a 63 at Cypress Point that is shared with Ben Hogan.
“I think one should focus on scoring areas of the game, 100 yards and in,” Barlow said. “I also focus on proper set up, lack of tension, and great rhythm.”
Two of Barlow’s junior students, Michael Sarro and Morgan Goldstein just recently won the Nevada State Amateur titles this past summer. Gallagher grew up in Indiana and attended Ball State. His brother Jim and sister Jackie both played the professional tours. Jeff turned professional in 1987 where he won twice, on the then Ben Hogan Tour, the 1990 Cleveland Open and the 2000 Web.com Tour’s South Carolina Classic. He still competes on the PGA Champions Tour.
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Reflection Bay is scenic, fun golf Reflection Bay Golf Club, built in 1998, is set on luxurious Lake Las Vegas, located 20 minutes east of the Las Vegas Strip. A 320-acre man-made lake is the centerpiece of this high-end residential resort community. Five holes stretch along a mile and a half of shoreline, with greens connecting the hillside property of the Westin Lake Las Vegas, which has been remodeled and offers Stay and Play packages. The 200-yard, par-3 eighth, showcases a peninsula jutting out into Lake Las Vegas. The lake’s vast shoreline and terraced hillsides are home to ritzy Mediterranean residences and many unique offerings. In addition, courtyard villas, Venetian-style waterfront homes, and luxury executive homes climb the hillsides. For more information visit www.reflectionbaygolf.com
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George Strait, Butch Harmon, Eric Dutt
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Golf Vacations • September 2020 23
CLUB SELECTION
Four Mile Ranch Golf Club 24 Golf Vacations • September 2020
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CAÑON CITY, COLORADO
by DAVID R. HOLLAND
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our Mile Ranch Golf Club, designed by award-winning former Colorado architect Jim Engh, is a scrubby desert-like journey for the senses. It traverses rumpled fairways, presents countless backboards and perplexes you with boomerang putts, and has a few blind shots inspired by Lahinch Golf Club in Ireland -- one of Engh’s favorite spots to worship the game. It is void of traditional bunkers. It is incomprehensible to me that Engh, a golf-course architect of the year, has not completed a USA golf course since 2015. Opened in 2008, Four Mile Ranch was once a 1,640-acre working cattle ranch. It has a panorama that includes the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Wet Mountains, Greenhorn Mountain, Skyline Drive, and in the distance near Florence is the Federal Supermax prison -- home to Richard Reid (the “shoe bomber”) and Ted Kaczynski (the “unabomber”). The area is home to 10 state and four federal prisons. For golfers, Engh’s 7,053-yard, par-72 moonscape beauty is a lot more fun than jail time. You can, however, be stymied by the natural white-shale hogbacks and the rocky terrain of piñons and junipers once you hit one sideways. You will also get some atypical lies in the fairways that have as much roll as an ocean tide. So how did a boondocks location survive economic downturns and a botched pandemic? It is a blast to play and is loaded with mesmerizing holes. It has a loyal following of non-traditional architecture lovers. “Four Mile Ranch is always a course I look forward to playing because it holds the player’s interest from the opening tee shot to the last putt holed. It’s a thrill ride packed with wonderful landforms, big, bold features and some wild green complexes that will keep the player engaged all day long. As much as I enjoy Four Mile Ranch for its challenge, I enjoy coming back time after time simply because it’s just a really fun golf course, and one that is never boring,” said Allan Long, Director of Event Services-Ice Hall at the Broadmoor World Arena.
Four Mile Ranch Golf Club starts with a beauty
The beautiful first hole is one of the favorites. It is 418 yards from the tips and makes you focus on hitting the left side of the fairway. Hit it too far left and you are in a white shale and sagebrush hoodoo area. Go too far right and you have a tricky approach over treed outcropping. Zero in on the aiming pole at the 563-yard, par-5 sixth. This fairway is particularly resplendent with rolls and swales, but it is wide. It is the approach to a hidden green that makes you pay attention. The green is surrounded like a fortress with the semi-arid rocky dirt, but the green is bowl-like, causing friendly rolls to the pin. You can drive the green on the 353-yard, par-4 eighth. It’s a risk/reward hole with one massive white-shale hogback to negotiate. Then there’s no. 12, a 166-yard par 3 with a reverse-Biarritz green (a huge swale dissecting the middle of the green). Love it or hate it, you will be thinking before you hit. Four-putters will exit the green muttering nastiness. Those who conquer it will exit feeling proud.
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Golf Vacations • September 2020 25
CLUB SELECTION Many say the best view on the whole golf course is the 482-yard, par-4 no. 13, You have to hit your tee shot long and through a shoot over a canyon, but it’s a special view in the fall when all the trees are changing colors. Engh borrowed Lahinch’s Dell hole at no. 14, a 217-yard par 3 that only has a directional pole to guide you to a hidden, generous green with curved corners and slopes that sometimes propel wayward shots back to the hole. “I always seem to gravitate towards the incredible set of par-3’s, and the risk-reward par 5’s,” said Long, a former college golfer at Arizona. “The par-3 holes feature a great deal of variety, and the green complex on number 12 has to be seen to be believed. The Dell hole-inspired 14th hole with its blind shot always gets my attention. “Engh did a great job with the design of the par 5’s. If you’re going for the par 5’s in two, the approach shots are a thrilling combination of risk-reward options where blind shots are the norm. However, if you take the more traditional route, you normally have a good look at the green site.”
Four Mile Ranch Golf Club: Don’t expect frills
Golfers don’t come here for the steak dinners because a fancy clubhouse is nowhere to be found. And there’s no piped in music at the range -- just dirt, aiming poles and hogbacks.
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CAÑON CITY, COLORADO
The good times are in the fun you will have on a golf course in southern Colorado, and the no-frills atmosphere is perfect for the Chevrolet crowd and the Bentley boys. Needless to say, the area is in the wild, with Colorado Springs 45 minutes away and Pueblo 35 minutes. Denver is two hours away. But Four Mile Ranch is also close to one of Colorado’s biggest tourist draws -- Royal Gorge. A wildfire almost got the attraction in summer 2013, burning part of the world-famous bridge and many of the individual tourist buildings, but it also signaled a time to rebuild, making the attraction even bigger and better when finished. The Royal Gorge Railroad runs on a daily basis. Perhaps Cañon City’s major plus is the weather. Known as the “banana belt” of Colorado, it is normally 10 degrees warmer in the winter than other state locations and 10 degrees cooler in the summer. The golf course is open yeararound and normally any significant snowfall melts in one day. Four Mile Ranch photos by Rene Tate and David R. Holland www.golfvacationsmag.com
Golf Vacations • September 2020 27
SWEETSTUFF
nationwide. For more information on the Bushnell Tour V5 and Tour V5 Shift, visit: www. bushnellgolf.com.
Bushnell Tour V5 Rangefinder
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ushnell Golf has once again gone to the front of the class when it comes to producing innovative and accurate laser rangefinders. The company’s latest— the Tour V5 and Tour V5 Shift—demonstrate not only the newest technologies that can help golfers, but also some very subtle improvements that make this device a cut above. From a functional standpoint, the brightness and clarity of the scope is impressive and much improved—and easy on the eyes. With the latest laser technology, the Tour V5 locks onto targets very quickly and with the Shift version of the V5 (which adds the slope feature), the new and improved slope algorithm gives very accurate
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RZN Golf Balls
R readings for those uphill or downhill pins. The slope feature can be turned off and on easily with a slide button, and the changing from yards to meters is available with a side toggle switch. The accurate PinSeeker with the Visual JOLT Technology lets you know when your target is registered. The size and shape of the Tour V5 fits easily in the hand and offers one-button operation. One of the best new features is the built-in BITE Magnetic Cart mount that allows the laser rangefinder to be secured to the metal golf cart without any additional accessories. The magnet that is embedded on the right side of the device stays nice and secure to the cart’s post with seven pounds of pull strength. This makes it extremely easy to check yardages in seconds. “Golfers look to us to provide the most accurate distance readings on the course to perform at their highest level,” said Derek Schuman, Senior Brand Manager at Bushnell Golf. “We are constantly innovating and developing new technologies, and with the addition of our BITE magnetic cart mount, Visual JOLT and our updated slope algorithm in the Tour V5 Shift, we continue to provide golfers the products they need to increase their confidence and play better golf.” Among the other features of the Tour V5 and Tour V5 Shift is six-times magnification (objects appear six times closer); optics that are two times brighter than anything Bushnell has previously produced; accuracy to within one yard to a flag more than 400 yards away and it is rain proof. A premium zip carry case is included that can be attached to your golf bag—and it even has a handy quick-release closure for easy access. The Tour V5 has a twoyear warranty and is available at retailers
ZN Golf may not be a household name, but the technology behind the golf balls that the company produces should be familiar. From 2006 until Nike exited the golf equipment business in 2016, a company called Feng Tay Enterprises based in Taiwan supplied much of the manufacturing for their golf ball line. After Nike shut down their golf ball business, Feng Tey purchased the patents for the RZN ball and relaunched the brand earlier this year in the United States with technology that has helped elite golfers win more than 50 professional events around the world, including 4 majors. RZN has taken a customer-centric approach to the relaunch with a fitting tool on their web site to get players into the correct ball for their swing speed and ability level.
Most recreational players will want to test the RZN MS-Tour and RZN Distance ball. Each of these balls has a good feel and both are 85 compression, with the Tour model being somewhat softer to the feel— but still capable of getting excellent distance from the driver or irons. This ball is designed for a variety of swing speeds, but probably suites those with medium swings the best. It feels as good as some of the premium balls
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
and the larger alignment lines for putting are a nice addition. The micro dimple technology and antislip urethane cover reduces air drag and enhances carry distance—and helps in wet conditions. The RZN Distance is a 3-piece ball with a 3D Speed Lock resin core designed for maximum distance. It also has the microdimple technology with a high resilient Ionomer cover that allows it to generate good distance on all shots. This ball has a piercing flight in windy conditions and has the larger putting alignment marking. For those that played the Nike ball and liked what they saw in those, this is an excellent continuation of that lineup. More information is available at: RZNGolf.com
Orgain
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ne of the biggest golf conversations of this strange golf season has revolved around the transformation of budding PGA Tour superstar Bryson DeChambeau with his addition of 20 to 40 pounds of muscle and added length with the driver that has made him one of the longest hitters in professional golf. After winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic earlier this year, much of the talk centered around would he make most conventional golf courses obsolete with his added length. Although the conversation quickly turned to other topics (as it normally does these days) in a week or so, the fact is that DeChambeau is hitting the ball considerably longer and has taken his game to a new level. Although his skill and hard work have been the catalysts for this change, DeChambeau’s new workout and eating regimen have supported the makeover, and one of those has been the addition of Orgain protein shakes to his diet. A 10-year old Southern California company, Orgain products are certified organic grass-fed, gluten free, non-GMO, soy free all-natural protein shakes that have a great, sweet creamy taste, fill you up and according to the company are the first-ever USDA Organic complete Vegan Nutritional Shakes. Their All-in-One Nutritional Shake is very handy on the golf course—it fits
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Lefa CBD Cream
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easily inside the cooler area of a typical stand bag in a fist-size, 11-OZ serving that contains 16 grams of protein and 21 vitamins and minerals in a refreshing pickme-up. The creamy chocolate fudge flavor shake only has 250 calories yet can serve as a meal replacement. Andrew Abraham, MD, the company founder, and a medical doctor, drew the inspiration for Orgain products from his own story. “I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer when I was 17. During chemo and radiation, I lost my appetite entirely and experienced alarming weight loss,” said Dr. Abraham. “When my doctors recommended nutrition shakes to get my weight up, the only options available were full of unhealthy and synthetic ingredients. So, my mother and I started making our own organic shakes at home. Not only did they help me regain strength, they restored my hope for a future. “The power of clean nutrition stayed with me as I entered my medical career. As I treated patients, I was consumed by the idea that I could help millions more people a day by bringing a healthier, organic nutrition shake to the market. So, I took a leap of faith, quit my medical practice and started Orgain.” Orgain products are available at major grocery outlets, convenience stories and many drug stores. For more information go to: www. orgain.com
mong the many CBD products that have come on the market, one of the more interesting formulations new to the golf market is utilizing a new blend of additives to help with those aches and pains after a round. Lefa™ Joint & Muscle Support Cream is formulated with 3,000mg of full spectrum hemp extract, plus menthol and betacaryophyllene (BCP). When you apply it to your skin, BCP activates the receptors in your body that allow CBD to work, helping to regulate and ensure your inflammatory system is working properly. The betacaryophyllene ingredient is what makes this cream completely unique. According to the company, this blend in unique and works together synergistically and provides better support than a single compound like CBD can alone! That is called the Entourage effect. The entourage of phytocannabinoids in full spectrum hemp oil provides maximum support to the Endocannabinoid System, which helps regulate systems in your body that have a significant impact on managing pain sensation and inflammation. This hemp oil contains over 90 phytocannabinoids, and the terpenes that are produced naturally in the hemp plant work together synergistically in this formula to give added relief. Lefa has been specially formulated for deep penetration into the muscle areas to get targeted relief. It has a pleasing aromatic aroma, is non-greasy and works rather quickly. For more information on Lefa: visit the company website at: www.lefalabs.com
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