Golf Vacations Magazine January 2013

OUR 11th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: SweetStuff • Destinations • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS JANUARY 2013

BAJAMAR

THE PEBBLE BEACH OF GOLF IN MEXICO

FIRST CLASS TO

SOUTH AFRICA

Plus: FRENCH LICK: TRUE MIDWESTERN GOLF www.golfvacationsmag.com

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JANUARY 2013

French Lick Golf Resort

GOLF VACATIONS

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ChipShots

14 • Bajamar Golf Resort

by Dave McKibben

With fairways carved out of the Baja Hills and greens peering over the jagged cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, it’s not difficult to see why the Bajamar Golf Resort has been called “the Pebble Beach of Mexico.”

16 • First Class to South Africa

by Barry Lotz

Lions five feet away? Cheetah walks? Phenomenal accommodations that are so luxurious that leaving the hotel is a sad event?

Riding on the most luxurious train in the world? This is all available in one of the most sought after world destinations.

26 • Resort Report: French Lick

by Andy Reistetter

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter and Merri Daniel accepted an invitation to play the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana stopping by on the way to the Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago. Two resorts which are now one- the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Resort initially confused them but actually made the visit all the more exciting and fun.

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by Terry Ross

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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

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Spotter, Research and Broadcast Assistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. He spends time on all four major American golf tours and resides near the PGA TOUR headquarters and TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Andy is a lifetime golfer and enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS, while pursuing his passion for the game of golf.

He can be reached at AndyReistetter@gmail.com

Associate Editor Terry Ross

Features Editor Larry Feldman

Senior Writers Barry Lotz is a recovering attorney who prefers finding the quality of life and figuring how to pay for it rather than working ceaselessly to try and get that quality of life. Currently working with 14 PGA Tour players on the mental side of golf, Barry operates the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America, sells luxury desert homes in the Palm Springs area and writes golf travel and golf equipment articles for 20 regional golf publications.

Dave McKibben has been battle-tested in raucous newsrooms and dimly-lighted press boxes for nearly 20 years as an award-winning Los Angeles Times journalist. He’s covered the PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, NCAA sports and even local high schools sports. In his career he’s interviewed such greats as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Cal Ripken, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Tony Gwynn and Michael Jordan.

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

Published by

S

portsMedia publications

President Jeffrey Diaz

455 NE 5th Avenue, Suite D-151 Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (760) 774-2655

and

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 2013 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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AER LINGUS VACATION STORE INTRODUCES THE GATHERING ON THE GREENS

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY – Aer Lingus Vacation Store (ALVS) introduced The Gathering on the Greens Collection, an assortment of above par golf vacations that include opportunities to play all of the beautiful and challenging courses for which Irish Golf is legendary.

The Gathering on the Greens Collection has been developed to align with “The Gathering,” a year-long celebration during which Ireland and its people will welcome friends and family from around the world to visit and celebrate all things Irish. According to ALVS Director of Marketing, Ciaran Barry, “I’ve yet to meet a golfer who didn’t either rave about Irish golf or dream about someday playing its legendary courses.

As Ireland extends its invitation to visit and celebrate all things Irish, Aer Lingus Vacation Store makes it easy to celebrate and experience the best of Irish golf with its Gathering on The Greens collection.”

The Gathering on the Greens Collection includes The Gathering on the Northern Greens, The Gathering on the Southern Greens, and the ultimate – a blend of both. These boutique tours provide a unique opportunity for groups of 2, 4 or more to join other golf enthusiasts on some of the same championship courses that have challenged the game’s greatest players.

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According to Barry, “The Gathering on the Greens escorted tours are ideal for golf buddies, couples, fathers and sons, your old college friends, colleagues, etc. And regardless of whether someone chooses the Southern tour, the Northern tour or a combination of the two, they’re certain to return home with cherished memories and stories to share for a lifetime; even if, like most good golf stories, there’s a wee bit of exaggeration involved.”

Each of the tours includes round-trip economy class air from NYC on Aer Lingus (additional gateways available), golf, accommodations, transportation via luxury coach with the services of an experienced professional chauffeur, all local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase and one golf bag per person. Caddies, carts, clubs & gratuities are not included.

The Gathering on the Northern Greens from $2689*per person, based on two people traveling Golf • 1 round at Portmarnock Old Course • 1 round at European Club • 1 round at Royal Portrush • 1 round at Portstewart • 1 round at Royal County Down Accommodations • 2 nights Croke Park Hotel (or similar), Dublin (4-star)

• 2 nights Everglades Hotel (or similar), Derry (4-star) • 1 night Europa Hotel, (or similar) Belfast (4-star) Other Inclusions • 5 full Irish breakfasts • 1 farewell dinner in Dublin The Gathering on the Southern Greens from $2579*per person, based on two people traveling Golf • 1 round at Lahinch Old • 1 round at Tralee • 1 round at Old Head • 1 round at Portmarnock Old Course • 1 round at European Club.

Accommodations • 2 nights Old Ground Hotel, (or similar) Ennis (4-star) • 1 night River Lee Hotel, (or similar) Cork (4-star) • 3 nights Croke Park Hotel, (or similar) Dublin (4-star) Other inclusions • 6 full Irish breakfasts • 1 farewell dinner in Dublin For complete information about these and other golf vacations to both Ireland and Britain, including a blend of the Northern and Southern Greens tours, call 1-800-495-5192.

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MISSION HILLS SERVES UP PERFECT FAMILY GET-AWAY ON TROPICAL HAINAN ISLAND

HAIKOU - Mission Hills launched two enticing short-stay packages for golfers and families in its Haikou resort on the tropical island of Hainan in China.

Mission Hills Haikou boasts 10 worldclass golf courses set amidst rugged black lava rock and its crown jewel -- the championship Blackstone course was named Asia’s “Best New Course” by GOLF Magazine (U.S.) and has quickly earned a reputation as “Asia Pacific Best Championship Course” from Asian Golf Monthly magazine. Similarly the Lava Fields course was ranked world top 100 courses by Golf World magazine in the United Kingdom.

Those attempting the Blackstone course will be in good company, having been the course of choice for both the World Cup of Golf and the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am. The pro-am tournament was inaugurated in 2010 and boasted a playing field that included Hollywood celebrities Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Grant, Matthew McConaughey and Christian Slater competing against Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Yani Tsang. In 2012, spectators were able to witness all-time football great Ronaldo, the most decorated Olympian of all time Michael Phelps, NBA star Yao Ming, tennis

ace Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash, former World No.1 snooker Champion Stephen Hendry, Godfather actor Andy Garcia, Oscar winner Adrien Brody, Green Lantern actor Ryan Reynolds and action heroine Michelle Yeoh as they wowed the fans on fairway by day and red carpet by night.

Away from the fairways, the resort has recently been accredited the “World’s Largest Spa Resort” by Guinness World Records. The 176,284 square-meter Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa Resort offer guests an extensive range of holistic and wellness treatments in an architecturally striking facility.

Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa has been ranked the “World’s top 35 New Spas” in the Conde Nast Traveler’s 2012 Hot List, and also been named the “15 Best New Spas in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine.

Other resort offerings include 518 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, 12 world-class restaurants and bars, a fully-equipped sports and fitness center, Hainan’s only aquatic theme park, kids’ recreation center, a shopping arcade featuring the world-renowned sport and fashion brands and many other facilities. Mission Hills Haikou is a fully-integrated family resort and a perfect holiday destination offering something for everyone.

For more information, visit www.missionhillschina.com

“MIKE & MIKE IN THE MORNING” RETURN TO MYRTLE BEACH FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C – Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday -- the Grand Strand’s golf marketing cooperative – announces ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” will air its show for the third straight year from the 19th annual Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am (MAM) on April 15.

Wildly popular with over 11 million weekly listeners / viewers on ESPN Radio and ESPN2, hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic’s will simulcast live from 6 – 10 a.m. on the 1st tee of the Dye Club at Barefoot Resort.

MAM is the largest one-day charity event in South Carolina, raising more $4 million in its history benefiting state education programs and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. The event has attracted some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment including Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Bill Murray, Annika Sorenstam, Samuel L. Jackson and Dan Marino.

“Mike & Mike is the most popular sports talk show in the nation, and Myrtle Beach is America’s most popular golf destination, so it’s an ideal partnership,” says Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.

For more information on MAM and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, visit www.GolfHoliday.com.

Mission Hills

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WINTERTIME IS GOLFTIME IN SCOTTSDALE

SHARE “YOUR RULES FOR SCOTTSDALE GOLF” AND WIN A FREE GOLF VACATION Now through April 15, 2013, write or submit a photo or video of your own Rules for Scottsdale Golf on the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s ILoveScottsdaleGolf. com website and enter to win a trip to play a round with former PGA TOUR pro and Golf Channel personality Brandel Chamblee. The winner, chosen by Chamblee, will receive round-trip airfare for two, a three-night stay at Zona Resort & Hotel Suites, and two rounds of golf for two people. And, the best part of it all – you get to choose which course to play!

HISTORIC GOLF COURSE DEBUTS NEW CULINARY CONCEPT The culinary lineup at Starfire Golf Club is getting a fresh new look under the creative direction of consulting chef Payton Curry, one of Scottsdale’s local celebrity chefs. Starfire Golf Club will unveil its new clubhouse restaurant The Scottsdale Grille in early January. Originally founded in 1953, the storied public course’s clubhouse will undergo $300,000 of renovations

that will position The Scottsdale Grille as a popular breakfast, lunch, happy hour and Sunday brunch hangout with a seasonally changing menu that supports local farmers and producers. In addition to a fresh menu, the clubhouse will undergo a two-phase renovation that incorporates warm design elements, the debut of a new pro shop with a farmer’s style market and an expanded special events space capable of hosting gatherings, weddings and corporate functions of all sizes. The first phase of construction will be finalized in early January, with the second phase completed by summer 2013.

AIN’T NO SHAME IN IMPROVING YOUR GAME Hoping for at least one Eagle next time you’re on the course? Head to The Boulders Resort for its Strong sCore Golf Program, headed by Bart Knight, a Titleist Performance Institute certified trainer. Knight works in conjunction with The Boulder’s Golden Door Spa to develop detailed wellness programs that are tailored to you, helping to strengthen your swing, balance and control. For something a bit more comprehensive, choose The Boulders award-winning Golf Simplified teaching

program for a fully integrated game makeover.

Take advantage of the program with the Boulders Strong sCore Golf and Fitness Package, which includes swing diagnosis and correction, fitness analysis, and a workout plan as well as two 9-hole rounds of golf. Rates start at $635 per player.

SNOW BLOWS – GOLF THE SONORAN DESERT THIS WINTER Escape freezing weather this winter with great deals from Scottsdale’s leading courses.

Take advantage of the steals with the “Top 20” AZ Golf Package at The Inn at Eagle Mountain, providing a three-night stay and three rounds of golf (one each) on We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s acclaimed two courses and at Eagle Mountain Golf Club. Rates start at $250 per person, per night Jan. 1 through March 31, 2013.

If you want to play by day and party by night, there’s no better package than the Scottsdale “Breaking Winter” Golf Package, offering fivenights at The Hyatt Place Scottsdale and five rounds of golf (one each) at Scottsdale favorites including ASU Karsten Golf Course, Eagle Mountain Golf Club, Longbow Golf Club, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Raven Golf Club

The Boulders Resort

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– Phoenix. And when you’re off the course, enjoy Scottsdale’s trendy nightlife scene with VIP access to local Scottsdale nightclubs and complimentary breakfasts, also inclusive of the package. Rates start at $350 per person, per night Jan. 1 through March 31, 2013.

Not to be outdone, Phoenix Scottsdale Golf can custom build golf vacation packages for travelers offering a wide selection of golf course and resort options from local favorites such as The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Zona Hotel & Suites and Carefree Resort & Villas. Customized packages begin at $99 per day, per person for golf and accommodations.

BOOM TOWN: NEW GOLF DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTTSDALE From new restaurants to expanded schools, construction is abuzz in Scottsdale’s golf scene, especially at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, which has upgraded its practice facility with a new 1,600-square-foot performance center, home to the Jim McLean Golf School. Featuring indoor and outdoor hitting bays outfitted with the latest Trackman launch monitors, the new performance center also offers a club-fitting suite and fitness studio for flexibility, stability and strength training programs.

McDowell Mountain Golf Club is nearing completion of its own new clubhouse. Slated to debut in January 2013, the new facility will feature a large covered, outdoor dining terrace, an indoor and outdoor bar, new locker rooms, and an enhanced event space. And all golf foodies will be pleased to know that Grayhawk Golf Club recently unveiled Isabella’s Kitchen. Located just off Grayhawk’s Talon Course, the American Italian restaurant offers scrumptious bites such as pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches and optimal views of the golf course and city lights.

DITCH YOUR STICKS With baggage fees, TSA checks and other travel obstacles, schlepping golf clubs along on a trip can be exceptionally cumbersome.

Thankfully, Kierland Golf Club recognizes that and has recently teamed with Nike to offer the “No-Hassle” Rental Package. The twilight tee time package includes the latest Nike Golf technology such as Nike rental golf clubs, Nike golf shoe rental, a sleeve of Nike golf balls and a Nike golf glove for $45.

Or, if you want to ditch your sticks because they’re older than your college bound kiddo, head to Cool Clubs in Scottsdale and pick up a whole new set. Cool Clubs, one of the world’s leading custom club fitters, carries the best technology from top manufacturers, allowing you to precisely match the latest golf club offerings with a player’s unique swing. For the ultimate experience, Cool Clubs offers travelers a unique Day in the Life Package that includes a premium outdoor Tour Fitting, lunch and a massage at Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (which will

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take on the name Well & Being at Willow Stream Spa on Jan. 1, 2013). Packages start at $1,000.

MORE THAN ONE DAY TO PLAY AT TPC SCOTTSDALE Many courses offer guests substantial discounts if they book 36 holes at the same time. But, with limited daylight during the fall and winter, getting in two rounds of golf on a single day often can be a challenge.

To remedy this, Tournament Players Club Scottsdale (TPC Scottsdale) is giving guests up to five days to play both rounds. Starting in November, TPC Scottsdale guests can play the Stadium Course (home of the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open) for $199 per person including forecaddie, and then add a round on the Champions Course for an additional $55 per person. That’s a savings of more than $84 off of the rack rate.

GOLF 20/20 REPORTS GOLF’S ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $68.8 BILLION ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – GOLF 20/20, the collaboration of leading organizations representing all segments of the United States golf industry – reports golf’s economic impact of $68.8 billion in 2011.

In a study conducted by SRI International, findings are based on several core segments (golf facility operations, golf course capital investment, golfer supplies, tournaments and associations, and charities) and enabled categories (real estate, hospitality and tourism).

When indirect and induced economic activity driven by the golf sector is taken into consideration, a total impact of $176.8 billion was generated.

Highlights include: 1.98 million jobs $55.6 billion wage income 25.7 million golf participants 15,751 traditional golf facilities In November 2012, GOLF 20/20 announced the game’s charitable impact of $3.9 billion. Golf as a fundraising vehicle includes an estimated 12,000 golf facilities, 143,000 events, 12 million participants and raises $26,300 average per function.

“The economy has endured two significant recessions the past decade and golf has fared well,” says Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, administrator of GOLF 20/20. “The health and growth of the game has a direct bearing on jobs, commerce, economic development and tax revenues for U.S. communities and industries.”

Golf’s core industries alone exceed the economic impact of spectator sports, the performing arts, and the amusement and recreation industries.

For more information about GOLF 20/20 visit www.golf2020.com

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BAJAMAR GOLF RESORT

By DAVEMcKibben

W

ith fairways carved out of the Baja Hills and greens peering over the jagged cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, it’s not difficult to see why the Bajamar Golf Resort has been called “the Pebble Beach of Mexico.”

The breathtaking scenery convinced golf pro David Quiroz to leave a job in the golf mecca of Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, for Bajamar, located 50 miles south of the U.S. border.

“As the sun’s going down and I’m finishing up my interview, I’m seeing six whales jumping up and down from our whale watch observation deck just above the eighth green,” Quiroz said. “Right then, I was sold on Bajamar.”

Since taking over as director of golf six months ago, Quiroz has been working overtime to sell everyone else--Americans, Mexican nationals, Japanese tourists and Bajamar residents--on all that this narrow, 1,600acre strip of land offers.

He acknowledges that negative publicity from Mexico’s drug-related violence and a prolonged economic slump on both sides of the border has taken a toll on the Baja region and the golf resort.

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“Once people get here, I have no doubt that Bajamar will speak for itself,” Quiroz said. “It’s just a matter of people getting over the fear factor of traveling into Mexico. The media has done a good job of beating us up as an uncomfortable place to be and to travel to. That’s unfortunate. I feel very safe here.”

Americans are still heading south to play the 27-hole layout, but the numbers are down considerably from the peak years of the late 1990s.

The original 18-hole course, designed by Perry Clifford, opened in 1976. Eighteen years later, the 3,540-yard Oceano nine opened.

Designed by Robert Von Hagge, Oceano features four spectacular oceanfront holes. The signature hole is the 185-yard par-3 fifth, the only oceanfront hole that demands a tee shot directly over water. Lava rocks protect the large green, so most golfers will feel lucky if they can escape with a par.

Only a few golf courses on the West Coast have holes that straddle the Pacific Ocean, so once word spread about the Bajamar’s stunning ocean nine, golfers from Southern California and Arizona began streaming across the border. The course became so popular in the late

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1990s that Bajamar had to turn people away.

Bajamar officials are hoping that a recovering economy, a renovated resort and a new fast pass lane for Americans only at the Tijuana border crossing will bring back the crowds. Crossing back to the U.S. at peak times can take up over two hours. Fast passes—given free to resort guests—can reduce crossing times to 15 minutes.

Tim Ryan, president of the Honda Center Arena in Anaheim, recently made the three-hour drive from Orange County for a golfing weekend with friends. Ryan, who owns a second home near Ensenada, doesn’t see why the glory days can’t return to Bajamar.

“Hitting golf balls along the coast while dolphins and whales swim by is just not something you see every day,” said Ryan, also executive vice president of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team. “The holes along the Pacific rival some of the great holes in the game.”

Esteban Toledo, a Mexican native and former PGA tour player, likes what he sees of the revamped Bajamar.

“There aren’t many courses where you can have a perfect view of the Pacific Ocean on every single hole,” said Toledo, who played Bajamar this summer at the Negra Modelo Open, a Mexican Tour event. “Some of pros loved it so much they want to move here.”

While Bajamar’s unquestionable drawing card is the Oceano nine, the Lagos and Vista nines offer plenty of challenges for every level of player. Lagos is fairly short and flat, but features plenty of water and tight, rolling fairways. Vista, the longest of three courses at 3,605 yards, plays much like a typical desert course with elevation changes and blind shots on nearly every hole.

Over the course of a round, you might also come across some unexpected visitors. Roadrunners, bobcats, red tail hawks and coyotes are known to patrol the brush areas that surround the fairways.

Until recently, Bajamar management has focused mainly on the three nine-hole courses. But Quiroz has shifted his attention to improving

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the overall quality of the resort in hopes of attracting more than just weekend players. Construction is nearly complete on a multi-tiered grass amphitheater that will be able to hold 5,000 people for concerts and also host wine festivals. All 81 room of the colonial style Hacienda Hotel recently received a facelift and there are plans for a workout gym and spa near the clubhouse.

“We want to fill the hotel with weddings, couples and golfers,” Quiroz said. “Not everybody plays golf, so it’s nice to have some other options on the property like jazz concerts and wine festivals.”

Bajamar has also begun arranging wine tours for its guests at some of the 60 plus wineries in the Guadalupe Valley, many are with 30 minutes of the resort. For guests who aren’t quite as adventurous, there are several inexpensive restaurants within five miles of the Bajamar gates and all have spectacular ocean views--the La Salina Beach Hotel and Cantina, Poco Ceilo and La Fonda. The small town of Puerto Nuevo, known for its lobster, is a few more miles to the north on the toll road.

If you can’t be bothered to leave the grounds, the Dos Lagos restaurant serves everything from filet mignon and lobster to tacos, sandwiches and omelets. The Las Trampas bar features live music, sports on big screen televisions and ice cold margaritas and cervezas.

However you choose to spend your time at Bajamar, expect the pace of play to be a bit slower than it is on the other side of the border.

“It’s pretty unique that you can travel three hours and be submersed in a completely different culture,” said Ryan, who has been coming to Baja for 30 years. “I really enjoy the spirit of the people, the authentic Mexican food and the pace. It’s a hard place to beat.”

Bajamar specials: Weekday stay and play packages start at $99 per person for a standard room, 18 holes and ½ cart, a bucket of range balls, a welcome cocktail and a continental breakfast. Weekend rates start at $129. For more information visit, www.golfbajamar.com

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First Class to

A Primer on How To Visit this Awesom 16 Golf Vacations • January 2013

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South Africa

By Barry Lotz

By Barry Lotz

Ulusaba Private Game Reserve

me Country with No Expense Spared www.golfvacationsmag.com

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L

ions five feet away? Cheetah walks? Phenomenal accommodations that are so luxurious that leaving the hotel is a sad event?

Riding on the most luxurious train in the world?

This is all available in one of the most sought after world destinations, according to Condé Naste Traveler Magazine who recently rated Cape Town as the second best city in the world 2012. It is assumed of course, that flying first class, commercial or private, is a given. BUT if that is not in your budget, go anyway, and allow a day to rest when you arrive....

WHERE TO STAY The Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa -Egoli/Johannesburg This exceptional all-suite hotel is situated on ten prime acres of land in the heart of Sandhurst, amongst opulent mansions and close to Sandton City, the largest shopping center in Johannesburg. Within close proximity to the central business district and the two major shopping areas in Johannesburg, the Saxon has been voted the World’s Leading Boutique Hotel every year since 2001.

Here at the Saxon is where Nelson Mandela edited his best-selling autobiography, “A Long Walk To Freedom”. The serenity, the renowned luxurious guest rooms, the outstanding concierge services and the food are hallmarks of the Saxon. This hotel is where returning royalty, nobility, statesmen, Nobel prize-winners and celebrities have called it a home away from home.

This exclusive luxury hotel epitomizes/personifies authentic African elegance, combined with discretely personalized attention to detail.

The Saxon’s contemporary African interior is a tempered mixture of novel Eastern influences and African artifacts.

There are 24 suites in the Saxon main hotel and three Villas, adding

an additional 29 suites - each incorporating a strong element of African Art, state-of-the-art facilities, writing desk, in suite laptop and wireless Internet access.

One of my favorite rooms at the hotel is the well-stocked library with traditional weaponry and artifacts and is a haven of peace and quiet.

George Cohen, the hotel’s general manager since opening, is both knowledgeable and friendly. His attention to detail and service permeate to every staff member. Nothing is too much to ask for during your stay. I recommend a visit to see the Villas and to use the spa services - as they say in South Africa - Stunning!

Professional butlers are included in the Presidential Suites and in the truly majestic Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite.

David Higgs is the Executive Chef. His culinary skills can meet or exceed any world famous chef one can think of. His use of textures and flavors, coupled with innovation, creativity and an unrivaled ability to perfectly recreate old classics, are second to none. So is the wine selection.

Rates start around ZAR 8,00.00 (US $1,000.00) per night, making it the most expensive hotel in the country and probably in Africa. They are warranted, simply because the rooms are amazingly decorated and comfortable, the security is impressive. The public areas such as the lounges, pool, cigar bar and especially the service and the food are outstanding . The Saxon simply makes you feel good! A stay here should be a top contender for your bucket-list. www.saxon.co.za Ulusaba Private Game Reserve Sir Richard Branson calls this un-spoilt, game rich, 13, 500 hecatares, his South African home and often visits with his family. As far

Leopard at Sabi Sand Game Reserve

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as private game reserves go, Ulusaba is in the top three. The Ulusaba Private Game Reserve is set in the heart of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve that borders to the south west of the sprawling Kruger National Park in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. Ulusaba is accessible by air as well as by car. Ulusaba has 21 rooms and suites spread over two lodges. Rock Lodge is ‘Heaven in Heaven’, perched high on the summit of a koppie (rocky hill) with views over miles of the South African bush below.

Nearly 500 meters away is Safari Lodge, known as ‘Heaven on Earth’ and is built “tree-house” style. Built along the banks of a dry riverbed, Safari Lodge guests cross swing bridges between the exquisite tree house style rooms. For the ultimate experience, guests can share their time between both lodges.

Aside from the exceptional personal service, be prepared to see an amazing range of animals and 350 species of birds in the game reserve, particularly as animals from the neighboring Kruger Park can cross ranges into Sabi Sands. The Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Leopard and Cape Buffalo) are in abundance. We were fortunate in that we saw numerous sightings of leopards, lions and lionesses, playful elephants, rhinos, hippos and wild dogs.

Once you have settled in to your room of choice, of which all are extremely comfortable and well furnished, you will appreciate the stillness, solitude and the smells of nature. Your daily routine looks like this: Game Drive - 5:30am wakeup call from your game ranger for coffee and light snacks, at 6:00 am you start your game drive. Dress warmly (in cool winter months) layering is advised. You return at about 10am to an extremely, nice, large communal and à la carte breakfast, whilst sharing stories and sightings with the rest of the guests and rangers.

Thereafter, you can relax in your room, work out, take advantage of the

Aroma Boma Virgin Touch Salon, catch up on world news, as Internet is available, or just have lunch at whatever time you choose.

The afternoon game drive begins around 4:30 pm. One of the most enjoyable highlights of the afternoon drive is “the Sundowner” - cocktails with snacks such as nuts, biltong (beef jerky) and chocolates. When you return, you can freshen up and then prepare yourself for an outstanding dinner around 8pm.

The food at Ulusaba is superb, as is the South African wine collection.

Try the Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir. (I am a owner in this winery) . Whether you eat in a Boma (outside) or in the main lodge, the atmosphere, both literally and figuratively, makes the trip so worthwhile.

You will be fast asleep by 10:00 pm ready to repeat the day’s earlier activities. Both Ian and Corinne are exceptional culinary masters, whose dishes are as good as can be found at any 5-star restaurant in the world.

Both our game ranger and Shangaan (a native tribe of South Africa) tracker seemed exceptionally knowledgeable on a complex range of topics, from the diversity of wildlife and fauna, to animal behaviors, tracking techniques, astrology, geology, local tribes/myths and even weaponry (they have to carry rifles, so makes sense!).

Highly recommended is a walking safari with a game ranger. Not only is it exciting, but being close to nature in the bush, with animals all around, is an experience unlike many others. It is like being underwater and knowing sharks are possibly close by. It definitely changes your perspective and comfort zone. And the appreciation that your ranger is competent and has a rifle is most apparent when you hear the call of the wild!.

Rates, aka Tariffs, depending on time of year, range R4750 (US $550) to R14,700 (US $1650) per night , per person, all inclusive. Rate conversion as of October 23, 2012 $1.00 equals R8.75. www.ulusaba.virgin.com

Ulusaba Private Game Reserve

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Golf Vacations • January 2013 19

The Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa

20 Golf Vacations • January 2013

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Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, Sabi Sand Game Reserve Sabi Sabi offers four completely separate luxurious, all-suite, awardwinning lodges with very distinct characters and atmospheres - those of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” . The “Yesterday” experience is the romantic Selati Camp; “Today” , the more contemporary lodges are the Bush Lodge and the Little Bush Camp and “Tomorrow” is the groundbreaking Earth Lodge.

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge with its 13 ultra-luxurious suites is the only choice if you want to enjoy a South African eco safari. This eco safari lodge has many unique features and is designed using green techniques.

What sets the sumptuous Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge apart from almost all of the private game reserves in South Africa, is that this upscale reserve combines opulence with environmental sensitivity, truly great food and outstanding service, treating the senses to a fusion of comfort and the untamed wilderness. Drienie, the general manager, is like a genie - ask her for anything and it expeditiously appears. The service at the Earth Lodge is amazingly excellent!

Each of the suites at this luxury lodge features individually designed furniture, a private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom and indoor and outdoor shower. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic.

The Earth Lodge is committed to ecologically sustainable tourism,

and has been built in a sustainable way, which makes it one of the most eco friendly African safari destinations for the discerning traveler.

This eco safari lodge has many unique features, especially the design of the rooms. It is both fascinating and stunning to see your room upon arrival. Taking time to observe the natural materials and green techniques is in and of itself, very rewarding.

As with all private game reserves, game drives are the main feature and highlight of your safari. Your daily routine looks like this: Game Drive - 5: 30am wake up for coffee and light snacks, at 6:00 am you start your game drive. You return at about 10am to enjoy an extremely tasty buffet of fruit, breads, hot foods per your request , all while getting to meet and speak to the other guests, if you so choose. Conversations are predominantly about sightings and the best part, beside the food, is your ranger dines with you and your Land Rover fellow passengers.

The Big Five are in abundance, as are many other species of animals such as giraffes, warthogs, cheetahs, and so many different bird species.

Best of all, we experienced the sighting of a rare Honey Badger.

Take a walk around the main reception area. Its contemporary look, though very natural, blends in with the bushveld. You can relax and rejuvenate body and mind with a sensual massage at the Amani Spa at Earth Lodge; or feel your cares drift away while in the meditation area. In the middle of the day, you can sunbathe by your own private plunge pool, Pearl Valley Golf Estate

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Golf Vacations • January 2013 21

while reading a book from the library.

The game rangers ensure that you experience the beauty of the African night on an evening safari where you will catch a glimpse of the many nocturnal animals that live in the African bush. Those with an interest in the stars can also use the lodge observatory and enjoy the beauty of the African night.

Solitude and service are two of the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) of the lodge and to that end have instituted a child policy: Children are not permitted at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, unless the entire camp is privately booked.

Rates, aka Tariffs, begin at R9300 (US $1100) up to R17,000 (US $2,000) per night (Amber Suite), per person, per night and depending on time of year. All meals and drinks are included. These rates available through December 31, 2012. Rate conversion as of October 23, 2012 $1.00 equals R8.75. www.sabisabi.com Rovos Rail Luxury Train What a thrill it is to go back to a bygone era of travel on a train as luxurious as Rovos Rail.

Rovos Rail, otherwise known as “The Most Luxurious Train in the World” is, indisputably the world’s most luxurious train with an international reputation for world-class travel experiences. It is a fantastic and slow way to travel and a great way to relax and de-stress with the country air and the dream ride enhancing the whole experience.

The 5 -star treatment begins at the rail station in Pretoria with Champagne, sandwiches and red carpet service. Meeting fellow passengers and inspecting the Rovos Rail’s steam engine put you in the right frame of mind immediately. You can even pull the train’s steam whistle!

Each of the carriages on the Rovos Rail have been impeccably and lovingly restored to capture the lavishness of a bygone era with each of the carriages carrying its own story. Some date back nearly a hundred years, others have transported royalty—but all are utterly opulent. It is the only train in the world with a private bathroom in each cabin. The library carriage offers peace and solitude. There are no radios or television sets on board and the use of mobile phones and

laptops are confined to the privacy of your suites only. Smoking is only allowed in the privacy of your suite and in the Club Lounge. Land line phone service is available at each town the train stops.

Train stops in Kimberly, to see the Black Hole , and a stop in Matjiesfontein to see a South African museum, chock-full of historical memorabilia, gives you a chance to stretch your legs and make phone calls, if needed. Plus the museum is fascinating, especially their collection toilet bowls, costumes of the day and a fully-stocked 1930’s apothecary.

If you embrace the atmosphere around the nostalgia, unexpected stops in the middle of the Karoo giving you the opportunity to walk for an hour, you will have an experience for life. The scenery, especially going from 5,000 feet above to sea level, is outstanding, especially as you approach Cape Town.

Rovan Ros and his family, throughout the whole train, have painstakingly ensured that every detail has been considered: wood-paneled walls feature intricate art. Traditional furniture and finery recall turnof-the-century elegance.

The linens are soft and cosy, the bathroom is more than adequate in each cabin, especially the Royal Suite. The Victorian dining room provides world-class ambiance for five-star cuisine, and suites are the most spacious in the world, melding Edwardian elegance with modern amenities. A fine selection of wines are available, such as Haute Cabriere - try the new Unwooded Pinot/ Chardonnay.

The food was exceptional, the service marvelous and the staff goes out of their way to ensure your enjoyment and cater to your every need. Meeting people in the Observation carriage, while the professional bar men and women fix your favorite drink, whether tea, wine or liquor, coupled with deserts and sandwiches, is part of what makes this rail trip so entertaining.

This is truly a travel experience unlike any other—travelling through a storied land in unmatched luxury… riding on a legendary “iron horse” with a singularly velvet touch.

Rovos offers Cape To Cairo trips, trips to Victoria Falls and Safari and Golf trips. www.rovos.com Rovos Rail

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Cape Grace Hotel Sheltered beneath the familiar shape of Table Mountain, Cape Town is the birthplace of modern South Africa, as well as an historic port with a vital role in overseas trade between Europe and the East.

Perhaps the most picturesque city in all of Africa, the city presides over a coastline of stunning grandeur, mountains rising above the seashore, and romantic, outlying vineyards whose proprietors have been practicing the art of winemaking since the 18th century.

The Cape Grace Hotel is situated on the West Quay of Cape Town’s Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with Table Mountain as its majestic backdrop. “The Waterfront”, as it is known, is home to many shops and upscale boutiques and superb restaurants such as Willoughby’s, Sevruga, Melissa’s and Balducci’s.

A not to be missed sojourn would be to Robben Island. The ferry for Robben Island, the former political prison where Nelson Mandela and his partners in the struggle against apartheid were held captive for decades, is set on an island about 30 minutes from mainland Cape Town. The hotel’s concierge is excellent in obtaining tickets to all events and tours.

This elegant luxury hotel’s architecture reflects the strong French historical influence on the Cape. Furniture of the finest design and quality grace the public and private rooms. Each room has lounge areas, walk-in dressing rooms, bathrooms with separate showers and double vanities, so as to cater for the privacy and individuality of its guests. A CD player and DVD machine is also available for in-room entertain-

ment. These spacious suites, with their French doors, open out onto generously sized balconies overlooking Signal Hill, the yacht basin, the working harbor and Table Mountain - the perfect setting for a private dining experience.

Other hotel facilities include a contemporary and private restaurant, cigar bar and selection therein. All are outstanding. Just beyond the doors of the hotel, the V&A Waterfront provides a choice of international cuisines, a range of boutiques, arts and crafts centers, and the world-renowned aquarium.

Two to three weeks are more than adequate and tours to all South Africa’s places of interest , both in Johannesburg and Cape Town and are readily available from the hotel’s concierges. Table Mountain, Robben Island , the Kirstenbosch Gardens and the wine country tours to Franschoek and Stellenbosch, will make your trip memorable.

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the California Golf Writers Association, and serves both as a Consultant and Mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers”, “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf” which is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His latest book,” The Right Mind for Golf”, released in February, 2012 is already in its third printing.

He can be reached at www.pgtaa.com or drlotz@cbsgolf.net

Cape Grace Hotel

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Golf Vacations • January 2013 23

WHERE TO PLAY Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort Your first stop should be at Pinnacle Point just outside Mossel Bay. Superbly situated close to Mossel Bay on the edge of the magnificent coastline that signals the gateway to the Garden Route, Pinnacle Point epitomizes coastal luxury and exclusive living. This development, especially the golf course, will knock your socks off. Sure there is Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, Kingsbarn, Torrey Pines and Cape Kidnappers, and they are marvelous, but Pinnacle Point is in a class of its own! It’s the new Garden of Eden of golf. Pinnacle Point was recently voted one of the top ten golf courses in the world – it’s that good!

Nestled in an unspoilt natural paradise, embraced by the warm Indian Ocean, Pinnacle Point is situated at the gateway to the Garden Route in South Africa. The resort is just a 3-hour drive from Cape Town and a 20-minute drive from George International Airport, which in turn is only a short 1-hour flight from Cape Town International Airport. Pinnacle Point lies on a huge property of 400 hectares right at the sea and looks down on four kilometers of spectacular coastline and boasts dramatic cliff-side holes and over 1000 hectares of unspoiled beachfront of which 100 is a nature reserve. The championship course was designed by Darren Clarke and Peter Matcovitch, who himself called it the most dramatic course he had ever worked on. Several of the holes are situated right above the ocean. The emerald green fairways and tees provide the perfect surface for making shots and the bent grass greens will ensure a challenging and entertaining game.

The views, especially from the ultra modern clubhouse, are awe inspiring, with dramatic coastal views of the ocean from all areas of the course. Some of the holes are situated along the cliff side. In addition to this, the natural beauty of the indigenous flora and fauna complete this unique golfing experience. In fact, the resort is home to indigenous wildlife, bird life and 264 varieties of fynbos - a nature lover’s delight!

The resort consists of eighty-two luxurious lodges and nineteen lavish villas, each comprised of two to four bedrooms en-suite. A picturesque swimming pool with snack bar and magnificent clubhouse with restaurant complete this total resort experience. When you need a break from golf or the weather is unforgiving, there is also a casino right at the entrance to the

development. The new Pinnacle Boutique Hotel will open in December. www.pinnaclepoint.co.za Ernie Els’ Oubaai Golf Course - Herold’s Bay. Oubaai, an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, is just 8 kilometers from George and approximately 60 kilometers from Knysna. It is also near Herold’s Bay (and his beloved Bosvelt Saloon bar) which is one of his favorite holiday homes. His father Neels, lives two doors down. Ernie and his team have taken full advantage of the spectacular site they were given.

Playing the course, your views and outlooks take in forest, sea, river and mountain - Spectacular!

The dramatic golf clubhouse overlooks the 16th, 17th and 18th greens and offers open air terraces and panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, Outeniqua Mountains, natural forests and the Gwaing River Valley.

Not only is the course memorable and scenic, the course also fairly displays challenges and hazards whilst affording players the opportunity to use a full range of shots and plan strategically for individual holes. More importantly, it flows so well. Ernie did a magnificent job in his approach to golf course design which is primarily centered on flexibility and enhancement of the surrounding environment. Concepts are molded according to the landscape and not vice versa.

Simply stated, Oubaai is spectacular and of championship quality.

Oubaai Golf Club 011-27- 44-851-0131 www.oubaai.co.za Simola Golf and Country Estate – Knysna If you have time to spare and do decide to play another round, try the newly completed Jack Nicklaus - Golden Bear 18 hole parkland style championship course at Simola . The course was designed to challenge the professional and inspire the amateur.

The luxurious 5 star Simola Lodge and Country Club’s facilities include a gourmet restaurant, pro shop and heated outdoor swimming pool with breathtaking views over the Knysna Lagoon to the warm Indian Ocean. www.simolaestate.co.za

Simola Golf and Country Estate

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Oubaai Golf Course

Steenberg Hotel & Golf Twenty minutes away from the bustling center of Cape Town is the amazing 5-Star Steenberg Hotel, award winning winery and golf course.

The 30-bedroom hotel nestles in the tranquil Constantia Valley, against the slopes of the Steenberg Mountain. It is, without doubt, the ultimate Cape experience. This luxurious estate is designated as a National Monument and is the oldest wine farm in the Cape Peninsula. The scenery is breathtaking and its championship golf course is outstanding.

Steenberg offers the elegant and exclusive Catharina’s restaurant, a producing wine cellar, and all the facilities of a top-class country hotel, your’s to enjoy at whatever pace you choose.

This stunning boutique hotel is a haven of serenity with a choice of 30 elegant, air-conditioned rooms, the best being the contemporary design rooms, rather than those more chintz-clad—housed in the original manor house, barn and jonkershuis (house of the eldest son). Each en-suite room is tastefully furnished with exquisite antiques and all rooms overlook the vineyards, golf course or manicured gardens.

These beautifully renovated white-walled Cape Dutch buildings are grouped around a large manicured grass courtyard.

Amenities include an on-site hairstylist and beauty consultant and a gymnasium. Guests can shed their cares and surrender themselves to the upper level quality of personal service, unique to a small luxury hotel.

The Steenberg golf course is a wonderful golfing experience and is well known for its hybrid design by renowned South African golf course architect, Pete Matkovitch.

Opened in 1995, the course attracts golfers wanting a total golfing experience. Tradition is represented by aprons of bent grass around the greens that allow for the bump and run—a shot rarely seen in South Africa, where robust kikuyu grass usually takes this option off the table. The radical hybrid change instituted comes in the shape of sand- and water-protected island greens and waste areas (a la Pete Dye?) hugging entire fairways.

The club house has recently undergone an extensive renovation. Remember, irrespective of your score, you’ll want to try a glass of Steenberg’s stunning merlot at the nineteenth hole.

Yardage: 7,025. Par: 72.

Steenberg Estate, Tokai Road, Tokai, Cape Town; 011-27-21-715-0227, www.steenberggolfclub.co.za.

Greens Fees: $77 (hotel guest), $49 (with member). The golf course is open only to hotel guests and members.

Rooms: $280–$380. Suites: $600–$700. www.steenberghotel.com The Royal Cape Golf Club If you love playing a traditional, old-time golf course that stirs your

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soul and sense of history, then Royal Cape Golf Club is just the right place. Royal Cape Golfplatz The Royal Cape Golf Course lies only 15 minutes away from the city center of Cape Town. Access from Cape Town is via the M5 in the direction of Muizenberg. Turn-off at the “Ottery / Wynberg” exit, and then turn right. Driveway is sign-posted.

The Royal Cape Golf Club is the oldest golf course in South Africa. It was founded as early as 1885 by the British General Sir Henry Torrens, who had taken over the command of the troops at the Cape and immediately laid out a golf course in front of his military camp in Wynberg. It received the attribute “Royal” in 1910 by the Duke of Connaught, who represented King George V at the opening of the first parliament of the South African Union. The Royal Cape Golf Course is famous for its superb scenic beauty, but also known to be windy and difficult to play. Pars are rarely possible. The course has been host to numerous competitions. Nine times the South African Open took place at the Royal Cape already. In 1965, Gary Player won the tournament with a record of 273 Scores (4 rounds = 15 under par). The green fee is R500; considered high for a local, but equivalent to just $50 and with a caddie, add another $11. Tel: +27 (0)21 7616551, Fax: (0)21 7975246, manager@royalcapegolf.co.za Pearl Valley Golf Estate Home to the South African Open, owned by Dubai based Leisurecorp, the Jack Nicklaus designed Pearl Valley lies in the Franschhoek Valley which is only 45 minutes from Cape Town.Visiting Franschoek is an experience in and of itself, as eight of South Africa’s “Top 100” restaurants are found in Franschooek, known as the gourmet capital of the country.

The 170-hectare championship golf course (par 72) is in the heart of the Cape Winelands. This upscale American-style gated residential development is set against the stunning backdrop of the Drakenstein and Simonsberg Mountains, and bordered by vineyards with The Berg River water hazard running through it. This fairly flat and largely uninterrupted terrain fits with the environment and enabled Nicklaus the freedom to develop hole strategies making this a golf course the golfer has to think his/her way around. In its engineering and planning detail, the course is very rare. It is crossed by roads in only three places, and the drainage system allows play to continue just minutes after a severe cloudburst. It is one of the most visually spectacular golf courses in the Cape – and from the tips, one of the most challenging. Their management are exceptionally friendly, competent and make you feel like a king. All the staff are extremely courteous. The state-of-the-art clubhouse is spectacular as is the food. Accommodations are available onsite or in a variety of hotels in the Franschhoek and Paarl areas. www.pearlvalleygolfestates.com

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RESORTREPORT

French Lick

A Golf Resort Like No

26 Golf Vacations • January 2013

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FRENCH LICK, INDIANA

by ANDY REISTETTER and MERRI DANIEL

Other

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter and Merri Daniel accepted an invitation to play the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana stopping by on the way to the Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago.

Two resorts which are now one- the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Resort initially confused them but actually made the visit all the more exciting and fun. With so much golf to be played and history to be experienced they came back for three more nights after the Ryder Cup. Join Reistetter as he shares their historic discoveries and golfing experiences in the beautiful hills of Southern Indiana and enjoy Merri’s Magnificent Moments.

A

n invitation to visit and stay at a historical landmark, what was known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” when it opened in 1902 immediately intrigued me. Throw in an opportunity to play, not only a Pete Dye designed golf course, but the Pete Dye Course, his latest and greatest creation debuted in 2009 and my calendar is opened trying to comprehend the dates and geography. Work out it did as a sojourn in French Lick would fit in nicely on the way during my northern odyssey to Medinah for the Ryder Cup. Can you imagine an open area beneath a dome that is round and stretches across what seems to be as wide as a football field is long? So vast it makes a fireplace that can accommodate 14 foot logs look like some small miniature version in a doll house? There you are standing in the domed atrium of the West Baden Springs Hotel. Standing there in awe you wonder at first about nothing in particular. It seems magical, make-believe, and almost fairy tale-like. This is history and now you are a living part of it, truly amazing.

Originally there were two nine-hole courses adjacent to the hotel“The Lower” one in a meadow with a flattish terrain, the other “The Upper” on top of the hill with mountainous contours. Neither course exists today though the imprint of the lower’s layout can easily be seen and the land of the upper one is now incorporated into the Pete Dye Course. The way to the golf courses remain designated above the exits in the domed atrium with “Golf Covrse” etched in marble reflecting the use of the Latin alphabet at the time.

The history of French Lick goes back to the late 1700s with the discovery of salt licks and mineral springs. Both hotels suffered devastating fires with French Lick being rebuilt by Thomas Taggart in 1901 and West Baden by Lee Sinclair in 1902. Their historic rivalry and their resorts were separated by less than two miles. Sinclair’s “Eight Wonder” out did Taggart at the time when it came to hotels. But when it came to golf courses, Taggart out did Sinclair like Tiger Woods lapped the field when he won the 2000 U.S. Open by 15 strokes.

Taggart hired the top name in golf course architect of the day in 1907, the “Johnny Appleseed of American Golf, Tom Bendelow to design his golf course. Having started laying out courses in 1898 and doing over 600 in his career, Bendelow’s French Lick design was completed in the sweet spot of his artistry. Three years later he would do East Lake in Atlanta upon which Bobby Jones grew up and become golf’s ultimate hero. The golf course was so good that it attracted new golfers to the game, to Taggart’s resort versus Sinclair’s. Today, called the Valley Links Course, it is a modern full-length competitive 9-hole course that preserves Bendelow’s original design genius. With a Scottish flavor it is enjoyable walk in a park-like setting.

Once a U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Democratic National

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Golf Vacations • January 2013 27

Committee, Taggart went one better golf wise, hiring Donald Ross to design a Hill Course in 1917. This was the course on which Walter Hagen won the 1924 PGA Championship. It is also a course with LPGA history starting with Louise Suggs winning there in 1957 as well as Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright capturing LPGA Championships. The French Lick Resort will be hosting an event in September, 2013

28 Golf Vacations • January 2013

for the LPGA Legends, which is the Official Senior Tour of the LPGA on a newly restored and newly named Donald Ross Course.

French Lick’s modern day Taggart is Bill Cook. He went out and hired Pete Dye to design a legacy course on a mountaintop that encircles Mount Aire, Thomas Taggart’s 1928 Colonial-style mansion. The Dye Course hosting of the PGA Professional

National Championship in 2010 shortly after opening is usually a precursor to obtaining a PGA Championship. The next PGA yet to be announced is 2019 and my guess it will be played in 2020 on Dye’s “long view” golf course for the entire world to see.

Sadly the Indianan billionaire of medical device ingenuity passed on in April, 2011 but not before he invested over $500 million to

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restore the two resorts. A century after the resorts were rebuilt separately after fires, in 2006, the French Lick Resort and in 2007, the West Baden Springs Hotel opened for business together in a united community.

“Bill Cook’s life was an inspiration and those who knew him will miss him dearly,” said Steve Ferguson, a longtime friend and chairman of the board of Cook Group, Inc. “Few men have ever touched as many lives, saved as many lives, as Bill Cook and the company he created.”

From an “Eighth Wonder of the World,” to three historic golf courses, to the people of French Lick it is no wonder that a vacation spent here is a relaxing, meaningful and inspirational time for the whole family. I would go back for another visit in a heartbeat!

Merri’s Magnificent Moments 1. Take the guided historical tour offered daily at the French Lick and West Baden Springs Hotels. Your ticket awaits you in the Landmarks Emporium. The history, restoration and beautiful insights will enhance your visit tenfold.

2. Lie down in the center of the floor of the atrium and look directly up at the cone.

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Say something quietly and hear the loud echo all around. It’s a different feeling, a unique feeling in a one and only place.

3. Take a lap swim in the natatorium at West Baden Springs Hotel. After a good workout it is almost as if you are in a bath with mystical gods of the ancient world or Hollywood celebrities of the 1920s. Either way it is exercise and fun!

4. Have lunch or dinner at the Pete Dye Mansion (Taggart’s restored Mount Aire Mansion) and meet Carissa the waitress.

Ask her what she and others did for work while the resorts were shutdown and being renovated and you will know Bill Cook.

5. Play golf with your guy using hickoryshafted golf clubs on the Valley Links Course. It might take some planning, finding a member of the Golf Collector Society of America but the experience will take you right back to the 1920s and give you a whole new perspective of the game of golf. Actually, trust me; it will improve your modern game.

6. Sit on the veranda of French Lick Resort with that special someone and rock in a rocking chair for 30 minutes.

7. Visit the clubhouse at the Donald Ross Course. See the museum-like collection of Donald Ross and French Lick golf memorabilia. Say hello to French Lick’s Director of Golf Dave Harner if you can and you will learn something new about the history of French Lick.

8. After visiting the Donald Ross clubhouse stop in Hagen’s for lunch or dinner. Say hello to Marilyn the bartender and sit near the carved arrow designating Al Capone’s place. Then have the cheesecake stuffed strawberries for dessert.

9. At West Baden stand by the west entrance to the atrium, the one with “Golf Covrse” (no ‘u’ back then) etched in marble above it and take yourself back to the early 1900s. Imagine going to play golf on the “Upper Course,” coming back to a relaxing hot mineral spring bath and then having dinner in Sinclair’s Restaurant. Think about how good that would have felt.

10. Do the modern version of the above No. 9. There are golf courses and spa treatments available today and the original Sinclair’s Restaurant is still there and open for your dining pleasure. Enjoy!

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SWEETSTUFF C

hamp, makers of the most popular soft spikes on the professional tours, has introduced its latest innovation with the rollout of the new Zarma spike that features a three-material design that has a soft-cushion layer between a durable traction layer and a ridged attachment layer.

All three layers are held together using advanced polymer molding techniques. Lotus Technology uses compression to soften the impact of walking. This reduces spike pressure and creates a more comfortable experience for the golfer. These spikes are also designed to be easier to clean, which is a nice added bonus for any player.

The most popular spike that Champ has

on the market--the ScorpionSTINGER--is non-clogging and made with a soft durometer TPU for superior comfort and durability.

Wrench holes formed in the rigid material hug a “C” visible wear indicator which turns solid when spikes need to be replaced. Primary spring-flex traction elements provide optimum gripping ability and a green friendly design minimizes marks on the green.

In addition to its top-selling spikes, Champ also offers some innovative accessories that just about any golfer will appreciate.

The CHAMP Zarma My Hite FLYTees come in a variety of heights and colors featuring a six-prong head and shallow cup to reduce friction, increase distance and improve accuracy. They are constructed from synthetic materials five times more durable than traditional wood, allowing players to use far fewer tees per round. The “My Hite” includes a unique colored band around the stem to routinely place the ball at a consistent height and promote consistent contact on every swing.

The Flix Divot Repair Tool is CHAMP’s lightest and most ergonomic yet, and features a fun-to-use and practical “switchblade” design that is collapsible with the push of a button, making it easy to store in clothing or a golf bag. It is incredibly durable, yet so light it is almost unnoticeable when being carried in a pants or skirt pocket. This divot tool fea-

30 Golf Vacations • January 2013

tures a magnetic attached ball-marker that can be customized to include company, club or event logos and names.

For more information on Champ golf products: www.champsports.com

T

our Edge, with its Exotics line of drivers and fairway woods, has produced its most advanced driver to date with the introduction of its new XCG6 Driver that features an adjustable hosel that allows players to dial in even more length from these already very long golf clubs.

With the new Shot Control Technology (SCT), the ability to adjust four faceangle/loft settings to optimize launch characteristics for maximum distance and control makes these traditionally long drivers even more of a distance machine. An SCT wrench is included that lets the user adjust the face angle, loft, and lie of the XCG6 driver. For example, if your tee shots tend to draw or hook (a right to left ball flight for a right handed golfer), select the “O” or open position on the SCT hosel. If your drives tend to fade or slice (a left to right ball flight for a right handed golfer) select the “C” or closed position for more slice correction or the “U” or upright position for less slice correction. If your tee shots are mostly straight select the “N” or neutral position on the SCT hosel.

A new design in the sole allows for greater heel/toe weighting and is created by four hexahedron weight pads that deliver a higher MOI for greater stability and greater distance. An advanced multilevel face design maximizes ball speed on all strike points on the face by incorporating multiple levels of variable face thickness that maximize the spring-like effect by thinning and thickening the forged titanium face. The new black physical vapor deposition (PVD) finish provides enhanced durability and has a good look at address.

Two superior shaft choices available for this club promote a pleasant ball flight and make this club extremely forgiving and easy to hit. The Matrix Ozik HD features Interply technology that has dynamic effects on ball speed and on sidespin reduction. The superlightweight Graphite Design Tour AD generates extra club head speed at any swing speed for longer shots off the tee and is one of the lightest shafts around at 42 grams.

A great companion club for this driver is

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SWEETSTUFF

by TerryRoss

seven stock shaft options and features a more “pear-shaped” design than the company’s earlier models. This hybrid boasts a maraging steel cup face and a tungsten steel sole and body. Maraging steel is used in the face over stainless steel because it possesses superior strength. As a result, the club face can be made thinner to launch the ball with less spin and at faster ball speeds.

The heavier, tungsten steel sole offers extreme heel and toe weighting that provides a high moment-of-inertia for reduced club head twisting and greater forgiveness. The XCG6’s hexahedron sole weighting moves weight back into the heel and toe areas further enhancing the playability of the club.

Another excellent fairway club that Tour Edge has recently introduced is the Xrail line that it calls the easiest-to-hit fairway wood in golf—and they could be right. With a smaller, more compact head design than the XCG6 fairways, the Xrail offers a high ball flight,

the lineup of XCG6 fairway woods that come in six lofts (11.5, 13, 15, 16.5, 18, 21 degrees) that Tour Edge calls its longest set of fairway metals ever. These fairway woods have a deeper face and larger club head size than previous models, but still retain the classic pear shape and a black PVD finish.

The new XCG6 design features a 15-33-3 beta titanium cup face, a high-density steel body and a tungsten sole plate that is combo-brazed for greater power and forgiveness. The larger titanium cup face provides to-the-limit COR even on off-center hits and the new, high-tech, high-density steel body is almost as light as titanium, allowing more mass to be placed in the heel and toe areas of the sole.

A heavy tungsten sole plate puts 65% of the total club head weight in the heel and toe areas for a higher moment-of-inertia, reduced club head twisting and greater forgiveness. Boomerang face technology offers multiple levels of variable face thickness that maximize the spring-like effect from more points on the face that gives it a higher ball flight. Two premium shaft choices include the Matrix Ozik and the Graphite Design Tour AD. The hybrid lineup for the XCG6 woods includes four lofts (17, 19, 22, 25 degrees);

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excellent control and accuracy in a club that takes little effort to hit a good shot.

The diamond rail-shaped sole helps square the club at impact and lowers the CG, and with 15 percent more weight in the heel and toe areas there is greater stability in offcenter hits. The multi-metal construction combines a hyper-steel body with a thinner Carpenter steel face with variable thickness.

The 60-gram Graphite Design G-Series shaft offers a lot of control, and this club is offered in a three-wood through seven wood configuration that includes five lofts (13, 15, 16.5, 18, 21).

For more information on Tour Edge clubs: www.touredge.com

A

s one of the iconic brands in golf apparel, Ashworth Golf has rolled out its new offerings for 2013 featuring the company’s new EZ-TEC2 quick-drying performance fabric.

One of its most popular styles in this line is the Performance Ombre Stripe Polo, made with 100% synthetic performance fabrics that are highly breathable and quick drying. The shirt has an extraordinary soft feel that’s wrinkle, shrink and color-fade resistant.

The cut of the shirt is relaxed and modern, giving the player more freedom of movement.

As with most Ashworth shirts, the Ombre Stripe Polo has a golfer’s cut with an ample open sleeve, rib-knit collar, three-button placket, has the Ashworth Golfman on right sleeve and is very fashionable and comfortable on and off the golf course. This particular shirt comes in three colors—Azure, Deep Royal and Magenta Purple.

For more information on Ashworth apparel: www.AshworthGolf.com

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32 Golf Vacations • January 2013

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