Golf Vacations Magazine - October 2013

OUR 11th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: SweetStuff • Golf Trends • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2013

LAS VEGAS NATIONAL BLAST FROM THE PAST

19th HOLE TIPPLES SIPPING A FINE NINE THROUGH EUROPE

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Plus: RESORT REPORT I BAY HILL LODGE & CLUB www.golfvacationsmag.com

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GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2013

Amarante Golf Course, Portugal

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ChipShots

14 ANine 19th Hole Tipples by Andrew Marshall game of golf just isn’t complete without a post round tipple at the 19th hole. Discussing the highs and lows of the round, like reaching a par-5 in two or holing a snaking downhill putt from long range become legend over a refreshing pint of beer in the clubhouse or a wee nip of whiskey in a local bar.

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Las Vegas National Golf Club by Terry Ross Desert golf in the Western United States may be more associated with the celebrities of yesteryear than anyplace else in the world, and perhaps no golf course has as much history with its celebrity past as Las Vegas National Golf Club located in the heart of the city.

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Resort Report: Bay Hill Lodge & Club

by Andy Reistetter Bobby Jones, golf’s most famous amateur, once said “There is golf and there is tournament golf, and they are not the same.”

The Bay Hill Lodge and Club are and has been a host to a PGA Tour tournament for the last 35 years. One of a select number of “Invitational’s” on tour, it is distinctly Arnold Palmer’s, whether you look at the golf course, the field or how the tournament is conducted.

SweetStuff

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 James McAfee is the Dallas area based writer for The A Position and Texas Golfer. He is Director of Communications for The Golf Connection and President of On the Tee Communications, which handles PR assignments and runs more than 20 tournaments a year. He has been a member of the Golf Writers of America for more than 39 years. He was an editor with Golf Digest from 1971-78 and worked for 18 years as a sports writer and editor of newspapers in Texas and Oklahoma. He served as Executive Director of the Northern Texas PGA for 17 years and Executive Director/Secretary of the Dallas District Golf Association for eight years.

Jeffrey Diaz

Associate Editor Terry Ross

Features Editor Larry Feldman

Senior Writers Andy Marshall Born in England, Andy has been a professional freelance travel writer for the past 20 years. During that time, he has traveled to over 50 countries, including Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Barbados, Panama and Indonesia to cover a diverse range of travel-related features for various magazines around the world. He regularly works with his professional photographer brother, Paul, on different projects, particularly golf, food and drink features. Visit his work at www.bogey.se

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

JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo

For Editorial:

call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com

Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com

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portsMedia publications

President Jeffrey Diaz

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

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Destiny Media, LLC President/CEO James A. Diaz

Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue.

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 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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THE NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB OFFERING 4TH NIGHT FREE THIS FALL

NAPLES, FL – If a getaway this fall to a beachfront resort that features a picturesque on-site championship golf course and a world-class spa sounds appealing -- or if you would like to get some holiday shopping done in chic Naples -- you should consider heading to The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Southwest Florida, which is offering the 4th Night Free from October 1-December 21, 2013.

Located just blocks from Naples’ renowned shopping districts of fashionable 5th Avenue South and historic 3rd Street South, the lush 125-acre resort completed a $5 million renovation in January 2013, which followed an impressive $40 million spent by the resort over the last five years. The multiphase project included the renovation and remodeling of the resort’s 317 guest rooms and suites, enhancements to the golf course, the renovation and expansion of The Sunset Beach Bar & Grill, and the addition (in 2010) of a beautiful beachfront pool complex (with

two new pools, two whirlpools, a pool bar with food service, restrooms, locker facilities, and a pool shop).

For more information or for reservations, call (800) 237-7600 or (239) 261-2222 and ask for the “4th Night Free Promotion,” or visit www.naplesbeachhotel.com/ FourthNightFree.

“Fall is an ideal time to visit Naples for a relaxing getaway,” said Jason Parsons, general manager of the family-owned resort.

“The weather is great, and there are so many recreational options at the resort and in the area from which to choose. Add in our newly renovated resort, pristine beach, and our ideal location, and you just can’t beat The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.”

“Whether you wish to walk on the soft white-sand beach, lounge by our two beachfront pools, golf, experience a relaxing service at our spa, or shop at Naples’ famous shopping districts just blocks away, The Naples Breach Hotel & Golf Club is the place to be.

The ‘4th Night Free’ offer simply provides even more incentive to visit,” added Parsons.

Rich in hospitality and tradition, The

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club has resided on the Southwest coast in Naples since 1946. Owned and operated by the Watkins family for three generations, the resort features: 1,000 feet of white-sand beach; the 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course; the world-class spa; a fitness center (with complimentary admission for guests); the Mary C. Watkins Tennis Center with six Har-Tru courts; Beach Kids Club, a complimentary daily recreational program for children ages five to 12; an Orchid House, home to over 3,000 tropical plants; retail shops; and beach rentals.

The resort also features multiple restaurants and lounges, including: Broadwell’s, providing panoramic views of the golf course; and the Seminole Store, which serves deli sandwiches, ice cream, gourmet coffees and a variety of freshly baked pizza, pastries and desserts in a café atmosphere. The resort’s recently renovated Sunset Beach Bar & Grill is consistently named “Best Place To View A Southwest Florida Sunset,” and was named “Naples’ Best Beach Bar” by Travel Channel.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

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HILTON HEAD GOLF ISLAND ANNOUNCES CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGES

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island – a collection of more than 25 of the Lowcountry’s premier golf courses – announces the 2013 Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance golf stay-and-play packages, available Oct. 25 – Nov. 3, 2013.

Ideal for automotive aficionados who hit the links, Hilton Head Golf Island is offering an array of golf and accommodations packages including tickets to the storied Concours d’Elegance. Stay-and-play offers include: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort “Stay, Play & Show Package:” Stay three nights and play up to three rounds at each of the resort’s championship courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio, and enjoy two-day tickets for two people to the Concours d’Elegance for Nov. 2-3. Guests also receive a $100 dining certificate for two people to select resort restaurants, two hours of complimentary tennis court time daily, preferred rates on all other resort activities as well as merchandise discounts. Rates start at $199 per person, per night, including all taxes and resort fees. For package and reservation information: 866.809.1919, www.PalmettoDunes.com.

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The Heritage Collection and Westin Resort & Spa “Concours d’Elegance Special:” Enjoy two nights at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, one round of golf at any of the seven Heritage Collection courses and two tickets for a two-day pass to the Concours d’Elegance, Nov. 2-3. Based on double occupancy, packages start at $305 per person and include all taxes and resort fees. For package and reservation information: 843.681.1706 or email vcastaneda@heritagegolfgroup.com.

The Sea Pines Resort “Concours d’Elegance Getaway Package:” Experience reduced rates and preferred tee times at any three of Sea Pines’ championship golf courses (Harbour Town Golf Links, Heron Point by Pete Dye and Ocean Course), 15 percent off private villa and home accommodations, complimentary lunch and dinner entrees for two at select resort restaurants, courtesy bicycles for two, one complimentary portrait session on the beach, 10 percent dining discount at the resort’s restaurants and two complimentary hours of tennis per day. Package starts at $149 per night for three nights in a two-bedroom villa in Harbour Town. To make a reservation, call 866.561.8802, or enter promo code CONCOURS at www.SeaPinesGolf.com.

One of the nation’s largest and fastest-

growing automotive and motorsports events, the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance celebrates its 12th year this fall. The festival kicks off with the Savannah Speed Classic, Oct. 25–27, and continues on Hilton Head Island, Nov. 2–3, at Port Royal Golf Club where the Concours d’Elegance takes center stage.

With over 62 years of history, Porsche is the selected Honored Marque for the 2013 Festival and will be celebrated throughout the week. Additionally, this year’s event will showcase cars of the Great Gatsby era including the 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster, 1928 Packard 443 Roadster and 1931 Rolls-Royce P1 transformable sedan, among others.

As one of the nation’s foremost golf meccas, the Lowcountry is the preferred vacation destination of golfers who seek a highconcentration of world-class quality courses, an unspoiled natural environment, beautiful resorts and inns and old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Each course on Hilton Head Island has its own set of unique characteristics and challenges to keep even the most skilled player motivated.

For additional information or to receive a quote: www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com, 800.523.3373.

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CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT ANNOUNCES “FIVESTAR EXPERIENCE” GOLF & STAY PACKAGE

(HAMBURG, N.J.) – Crystal Springs Resort – home to seven distinct golf courses just one hour from New York City – announces its “Five-Star Experience” golf and stay package.

Perfect for couples seeking a convenient, luxurious overnight escape, it features: • Golf at Ballyowen, a links-style course recently rated No. 1 in the state by New Jersey Monthly • Eight-course wine-paring dinner at four-star Restaurant Latour • 100-minute “Chardonnay, Nectar & Honey Couples’ Treatment” at award-winning Reflections Spa • Accommodations at the sophisticated Grand Cascades Lodge, highlighted by Temper-Pedic mattresses, top-brand bed linens and flat-panel TVs • Unlimited access to the Tropical Biosphere Pool Complex’s indoor pool, water slide, hot tub, steam room and sauna • Unlimited access to Minerals Sports Club’s four indoor / outdoor heated pools, fitness and yoga classes • Complimentary 2pm checkout “The ‘Five-Star Experience’ is ideal for sampling our top-shelf amenities,” says Art Walton, Vice President of Golf Operations at Crystal Springs Resort. “Easily accessible to millions of East Coast residents, we’re uniquely positioned to cater to avid golfers, wine lovers, foodies and spa goers.”

Opened in 1998, Ballyowen was masterfully sculpted by renowned golf course architect, Roger Rulewich. Situated on 250 sprawling acres atop a plateau overlooking the Wallkill River, it is surrounded by rolling farmland and craggy knolls. Virtually treeless, Ballyowen pays homage to golf’s Scottish and Irish roots.

Restaurant Latour showcases locally grown produce, artisan cheeses and breads, meat and fish from the Hudson and Delaware Valleys, as well as organic rack of mountain lamb from Colorado. Chef de Cuisine John Benjamin employs only the freshest ingredients to create splendid, innovative recipes blending techniques and flavors from around the world. Annually bestowed Wine Spectator’s Grand Award since 2006, Restaurant Latour’s 135,000-bottle cellar holds an unparalleled 200 wines that have received perfect 100-point scores.

The anti-aging Chardonnay, Nectar & Honey Couples’ Treatment is a favorite at Reflections Spa. A warm sugar and Manuka Honey scrub polishes dull, dry skin off arms, hands and feet, while the Chardonnay grape seed oil, full-body massage nourishes the skin and delivers powerful antioxidants while

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easing tension and sore muscles. A body hydrator is applied after the Nectar Douceur shower to place the entire body in a relaxed state, and make skin baby-soft.

Available Thursdays through Sundays, the “Five-Star Experience” starts at $1,332 per couple (based on double occupancy).

To book, call 973.827.5996 x 2 and mention the “Five-Star Experience” package.

For more information: 973.827.5996 or visit www.crystalgolfresort.com.

OLD AMERICAN GC, NYLO PLANO AT LEGACY OFFER STAY-AND-PLAY FOR FALL GOLF SEASON THE COLONY, Texas – Old American Golf Club – a pure golf experience from awardwinning architect Tripp Davis and PGA TOUR player Justin Leonard – and NYLO Plano at Legacy are offering a stay-and-play package starting at $213 per player for the fall golf season.

This original pairing of a classically designed course and ultra-modern boutique hotel includes one round per player at Old American and one night at the Plano at Legacy (double occupancy). A complimentary yardage book, water, snacks and a pro-shop gift complete the offering, which can be booked for multiple nights.

Old American, opened in 2010, is a strategic gem wrought along the shore of Lake Lewisville just 20 minutes north of DFW International Airport. Inspired by the ‘Golden Age’ of golf course architecture – a period of excellence between 1911 and 1937 -- it garnered “best new” recognition from GOLF Magazine, Golfweek and LINKS. Naturally formed bunkers, organic green complexes and a variety of native grasses combine to create holes leveraging varying wind conditions.

“Dallas comes into its own as a golf destination in the fall, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s,” says Old American General Manager Mike McCabe. “The stay-and-play package with NYLO Plano at Legacy is perfect for traveling golfers who collect unparalleled playing and accommodation experiences.”

The original NYLO, Plano at Legacy blends urban, industrial design with classic Texas comfort to provide an unmatched and highly social hotel experience. Business and leisure travelers alike will enjoy chic loft-style accommodations, signature LOCL Bar & Restaurant, heated outdoor pool, state of the art gym, and 1,800 square feet of meeting and event space To book: NYLO rooms are reserved online at www.nylohotels.com/plano/nylo-plano-stayand-play-golf-package-packages-1.aspx; tee times are booked by calling (972) 370-4653.

Mention the “NYLO Stay and Play” when booking tee times for additional offerings.

For more information on Old American: (972) 370-4653, www.oldamericangolfclub.com.

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THE DUNES GOLF AND BEACH CLUB REOPENS WITH NEW CHAMPION BERMUDA GREENS MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Dunes Golf and Beach Club, the classic Robert Trent Jones design that put Myrtle Beach on the world golf map, reopened Aug. 31 with pristine new Champion Bermuda greens and a few other strategic changes.

Rees Jones, son of the Dunes Club’s architect and highly acclaimed for his work renovating seven U.S. Open layouts, oversaw the changes on a Dunes Club course that has graced many national top 100 lists and will host the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship, June 22-25. He said he considers the Dunes Club to be one of his father’s “true masterpieces.”

“It has been one of the highlights of my career to have had the opportunity to restore and enhance the original design intent,” said Rees Jones. “The course is now positioned for play by today’s golfers.”

The recent choice of many top golf courses in the Southeast, Champion Bermuda putting surfaces can be maintained at a higher quality throughout the year with faster speed than bent grass.

Other improvements completed over a 90day period included a 50-percent expansion of the driving range; creation or extension of back tee boxes on eight holes; and new or rebuilt bunkers on Nos. 1, 7 and 11. A beautiful new brick bridge crosses over the water that runs in front of the opening tee and the 18th green.

An improvement golfers especially should enjoy is a new tee complex right of the previous tee box at the dogleg-left No. 2 that gives them a better opportunity to cut yardage off the long, difficult par-4 hole.

With 185 yards added to its back tees, the course now stretches to 7,370 yards. About 30 yards were added to the world-famous par5 13th hole, “Waterloo,” extending it to 620 yards from the back tees.

For more information, visit www.

TheDunesClub.net. To find out how to book tee times, call the pro shop at (843) 449-5914.

KAUAI’S POIPU BAY GOLF COURSE INTRODUCES “PRACTICE & PLAY” 3-HOLE PROGRAM FOR $25 POIPU, KAUAI, HAWAII – Kauai’s famed Poipu Bay Golf Course, situated on the island’s sunny south shore, has introduced a new program providing golfers the opportunity to practice at the range then play three holes in late afternoon on the spectacular oceanfront course. For a cost of $25, golfers can “Practice & Play” by booking a check-in time between 3 and 4 p.m. any day of the week. Players are provided with range balls and use of the practice facility (closes at 5 p.m.), as well as a golf cart and access to play the course’s first three holes, which offer par 4, 5, and 3 experiences for a well-rounded practice session.

“This new program has already proven to be very popular,” says Poipu Bay’s Director of Golf Craig Sasada. “It’s ideal for the golfer who wants to get in a solid practice session at the end of the day. And playing the first three holes provides a great introduction to our beautiful course.”

Poipu Bay Golf Course is situated on 210 oceanfront acres adjacent to the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa on Kauai’s south shore.

The course gained fame as the host site for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994 through 2006. A Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design, Poipu Bay has been consistently ranked over the years among the top resort courses in the U.S.

and Hawaii. It has been named to Golf Digest’s 2013/2014 list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” and Golf Magazine and Golfweek’s top 10 public courses in Hawaii.

For more information or to book tee times, call the Poipu Bay Golf Shop at toll free 1-800858-6300 or direct (808) 742-8711. Visit Poipu Bay’s website at www.poipubaygolf.com and check out the live webcam looking over the 18th hole.

STAY AND PLAY THE BAHAMIAN WAY: GRAND LUCAYAN OFFERS UNLIMITED GOLF PACKAGE GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND, Bahamas – Grand Lucayan, Bahamas, the award-winning resort located just 55-miles off the Florida coast, is offering golf enthusiasts endless play on its renowned Reef Course with a new Unlimited Golf Package. The championship 18-hole course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., has 6,930 yards of expansive greens and fairways, scattered with bunkers, water hazards and grassy rough.

In addition to unlimited rounds, The Unlimited Golf Package, available for booking through Dec. 25, 2013 with rates starting at just $142 per person based on double occupancy, provides green fees and golf carts.

Grand Lucayan, Bahamas offers guests a classic Bahamian experience and is an ideal destination for couples, families and groups for its ease of access, affordability, and the range of soft adventure activities available on the island.

Reservations for the Unlimited Golf Package can be made at www.grandlucayan.com/ hotel-deals/packages. For more information on Grand Lucayan, Bahamas or to make reservations visit www.grandlucayan.com or call (877) 434-2996.

Grend Lucayan , Bahamas

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19th Hole Tipples

By Andrew Marshall

A

game of golf just isn’t complete without a post round tipple at the 19th hole. Discussing the highs and lows of the round, like reaching a par-5 in two or holing a snaking downhill putt from long range become legend over a refreshing pint of beer in the clubhouse or a wee nip of whiskey in a local bar. Golfing brothers ANDREW & PAUL MARSHALL play golf in five European countries and then enjoy their unique liquid refreshments…

NORTHERN IRELAND I Whiskey

Play: Situated on North Antrim’s Causeway Coast is a quartet of the most natural links courses you are ever likely to find so close together – and the star attraction is undoubtedly Royal Portrush. Established in 1888 and included in every list of the world’s top 100 golf courses, Portrush has long been regarded as a great test of a golfer’s skill, and had it been more suitable in other respects for staging a modern British Open Championship it would almost certainly have held more than the one it did in 1951, when England’s Max Faulkner lifted the trophy. The good news is that’s its home to the 2012 Irish Open.

It’s a claim that’s often made, that Portstewart has the best opening hole in Irish golf. Played from a high tee with topography that bucks and plunges like a raging river, you will need more than the stunning coastal views of nearby Donegal and a shot of Irish whiskey to steady your nerves. Close by is Castlerock, a welcoming local links and Ballycastle, a part links, part parkland 18-hole course among the ruins of the 12th century Bonamargy Abbey.

Drink: Irish whiskey. It is difficult to explain to the uninitiated the pleasures of this smooth amber fluid.

James Joyce wrote of “the light music of whiskey falling into a glass - an agreeable interlude.” All the surrounding seaside towns have their own cosy bars where you can discuss the day’s golf while enjoying a glass of liquid cashmere.

In Bushmills town try the Bushmills Inn, a favorite base among golfers where, by the cozy glow of an open turf fire, you can sample a 25-year-old Bushmills Malt from the inn’s private cask or the nearby Scotch House, a regular haunt of British Open champion Darren Clarke. A ‘must do’ is to make the pilgrimage to Old Bushmills (1608) - the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Take a tour to learn more about the whiskey-making process, and then enjoy the best bit with a taste test in the distillery bar.

Royal Portrush

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Nick Falso hits a “rough patch” at Ledreborg Palace Golf

DENMARK I Beer

Play: Get your golf trip underway by driving twenty minutes north of Copenhagen to historic Royal Copenhagen Golf Club, the oldest in Scandinavia and virtually unchanged since 1928. Situated in the middle of Dyrehaven, originally an ancient hunting ground and now a beautiful nature reserve, one of the course’s unique features are the two thousand deer that roam freely over the fairways and greens. Further north is the highly rated 27-hole golf facility of Simon’s Golf Club, host to the first European Tour event held in Denmark, the 2003 Nordic Open, won by Ian Poulter.

About 35 minutes southwest of Copenhagen is Nick Faldo’s first Scandinavian course design, Ledreborg Palace Golf. Opened in 2007, this inland links-style layout weaves its way through the sumptuous grounds that border the 18th century Ledreborg Palace. At Jystrup, the Skjoldenæsholm Golf Center features two different 18-holers, both situated around historic Skjoldenæsholm Manor. The more recent of the two, the Jones Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr is a top quality open, risk/reward layout framed by forests.

Drink: Denmark is where beer rules supreme. Danes down some two billion bottles a year, ranking them sixth among the greatest beer drinkers worldwide, and alongside a rich brewing tradition is a new wave of microbreweries and brewpubs entering the scene. A good place to start your off-course beer education is the Carlsberg Visitors Centre in Copenhagen, which offers a self-guided tour (that include two beers) of the world-famous Carlsberg Brewery dating from 1847.

Next, check out some traditional watering holes such as Copenhagen’s oldest bar, Hviids Vinstue founded in 1723, the Lord Nelson, Charlie’s Bar and the Hvide & Lam, all serious haunts for golfing beer lovers. At the Nørrebro Bryghus, a combined microbrewery, bar and restaurant located in a former metal goods factory you can enjoy a special sevencourse gourmet meal served with Nørrebro’s own handcrafted brews.

‘Cheers’ or as the locals say... ‘Skol.’

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FRANCE I Champagne

Play: The northeast province of Champagne-Ardenne is best known for its production of the world’s most famous sparkling wine, but there are also several courses in this up-and-coming golf area. Tee off first at Golf de Reims (8km west of Reims), in the middle of the famous vineyards.

This picturesque woodland track features tight tree-lined fairways and large well-guarded greens in the beautiful surroundings of the 15th century Château des Dames surrounded by a moat.

50km north-east of Reims on the outskirts of Fagnon village, is Golf de l’Abbaye de Sept Fontaines built around an historic château nestling between valley and forest with superb views of the château especially from the par-3 9th hole. Other golfing options include Golf de Troyes la Cordelière, dotted with water features and ancient trees and Golf de l’Ermitage with its par-3 12th signature hole and island green.

Drink: “Any man who drinks Dom Pérignon ´52 can’t be all bad,” said

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Golf de l’Abbaye de Sept Fontaines

James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, and throughout the decades, countless quotes have been uttered about this celebrated alcoholic beverage. An excellent way to learn more about the champagne-making process is to explore the sign posted roads that make up the Route Touristique du Champagne (Champagne Tourist Route) – 600km in total, divided into various circuits meander through the region’s principal wine-growing areas where producteurs (champagne producers) welcome thirsty golfers.

The provincial town of Épernay is home to some of the world’s most famous champagne houses such as Moët & Chandon and many of them offer entertaining, informative tours followed by tastings and a visit to the factory-outlet bubbly shop. Situated in the wooded hills around Verzy, is a totally new concept in enjoying champagne. A 10-minute walk through the forest creates a sense of anticipation for arrival at Le Perching Bar – the world’s first champagne bar in the trees.

PORTUGAL I Port

Play: There are several decent layouts within an hour’s drive of Porto.

Laid out on links terrain near Espinho, south of the River Douro is Oporto Golf Club, Portugal’s oldest club founded in 1890. Walking into the clubhouse is like stepping into a golf museum with dusty trophy cabinets and all manner of golf memorabilia.

Picturesque Amarante Golf Course situated in hilly terrain 50kms east of Porto has seven par-3s on the card and near the Spanish border is Ponte de Lima, a varied mountain layout with glorious views (especially from holes 2 and 8) over the Lima Valley. The pick of the region’s courses is undoubtedly Estela Links. Built over three kilometers of beautiful dunes on the Costa Verde and set tight to the pummeling Atlantic Ocean, this is a testing pure links especially when the prevailing north winds blow.

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Drink: Port is produced from grapes grown on the steep, rocky slopes of Northern Portugal’s Upper Douro Valley and was discovered during the 17th century when two British traders added brandy to preserve the local wine for an Atlantic sea voyage.

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Amarante Golf Course

Huddled in the tight streets of Vila Nova de Gaia, across the River Douro estuary from Porto, are wine lodges such as Cockburns, Ferreira and Taylors, that offer tastings and tours for visitors. Rubies, tawnies, vintages...the more you taste, the more you understand the complexities of the types and styles of port.

One of best vodka establishments for a 19th-hole tipple is the Icebar Stockholm by IceHotel in Stockholm’s Nordic Sea Hotel. After dressing in the provided clothing of boots, mittens and a warm silver fur-lined poncho, you enter a world of –5 degrees Celsius, and what literally must be the coolest place around to drink vodka.

No Portugal port and golf trip is complete without traveling to the spectacular World Heritage Douro Valley where the luxuriant liquid is produced. The River Douro is always present - snaking through abstract patterns of rose-colored vines that march up the dizzyingly steep valley sides. Rota do Vinho Do Porto, is an association that organizes wine tastings and visits to grape harvests to some of the Douro Valley vineyards.

The entire interior is constructed of ice brought down from the frozen waters of the Torres River in Lapland: walls, bar counter, tables, works of art and even the glasses that the drinks are served in are made of ice.

The entrance fee includes the first Absolut vodka drink with tantalizing names such as: Northern Light, Reindeer and Icemopolitan.

SWEDEN I Vodka

Play: Since the first golf club, Gothenburg, was founded in 1902 Sweden now has around 480 golf courses with at least 50 of these (which is more than most cities in the world) within an hour’s drive of Stockholm.

The number one ranked course in the Stockholm area and Sweden is Bro Hof Slott’s Stadium Course - a state-of-the-art layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Built around the baroque style Bro Hoff castle the attention to detail is evident from the moment you enter the regal gates to the last hole.

Kallfors Golf Club

Well worth a visit is Kallfors Golf Club an open woodland layout with large undulating greens, where to score well you need to carefully negotiate the early Amen Corner through holes 4, 5 and 6. Brollsta has one of the classic holes in Stockholm golf - the 308- metre Par-4 9th.

With water all the way to the green, it’s drivable, but most people take the shorter safer route to the fairway on the right leaving a tricky chip to the green.

Drink: Swedish vodka has its roots dug deep in the 15th century when Swedes began distilling spirits called bränvin, literally meaning burnt wine. Made from grain or imported wine, these spirits were originally used for making gunpowder and as medicine to cure everything from colic to the plague. By the 17th century, the distilled spirit that is now referred to as vodka had become a national drink.

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By Terr

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ry Ross

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D

esert golf in the Western United States may be more associated with the celebrities of yesteryear than anyplace else in the world, and perhaps no golf course has as much history with its celebrity past as Las Vegas National Golf Club located in the heart of the city.

This 50-year-old course that was designed by Bert Stamps just oozes history—from the Rat Pack Bar and Grill to the exhibits in the clubhouse for the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, this course has a grand old feel and tradition and yet is a very fine test of modern golf.

It is an old-style classic parkland-type course with more trees than just about any golf course in Las Vegas. Mostly flat, Las Vegas National is an ample test of golf with a number of challenges, such as a trio of Par 3 holes that measure over 200 yards from the Professional Tees at 6,721 yards, playing to a Par 71. The fourteenth hole plays a full 233 yards from the longest set of tees and the Par 4’s are a good mixture of short and longer holes that provide some interesting variety. The Par 5 18th is a great risk-reward hole with water fronting the green. From here you can also see the house used in the filming of the 1995 movie “Casino” starring Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci, as it sits off the left of the #1 Tee Box between the #1 and #18 fairways.

This layout demands tee shots in the fairways, since the many trees along the course and the strategically-place bunkers will make scoring tough otherwise. Tiger Woods, in his first professional victory in the fall of 1996 during the Las Vegas Invitational that used several courses during the week, shot his highest score of the tournament at Las Vegas National with a one-under 70.

This course may have as much history as anyplace—golf or otherwise—in Las Vegas. It opened in October of 1961 as the Stardust Country Club and promptly hosted its first tournament—the LPGA Championship—and was the site of a number of the ladies’ events through 1966. The National hosted the Tournament of Champions on the PGA Tour in 1967. From 1969 to 1976 it hosted the Sahara Invitational and in 1993 became one of the venues for the Las Vegas Invitational along with the Desert Inn and Las Vegas Country club.

After 1996, this event moved to the TPC course at Summerlin.

The professional winners at Las Vegas National is like a who’s who of golf. In addition to Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Lanny Watkins, Al Gieberger, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk have all hoisted trophies there, while on the women’s side, Mickey Wright and Sandra Haynie have won tournaments at the venue.

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Arnold Palmer set the course record during the Tournament of Champions in 1967 with a 63—a record that held for 28 years until it was broken by Tom Kite in 1991 with a 62.

David Graham now shares this course record.

Over the years, The National has played host to celebrities from all over the world, including professional athletes from just about every major sport as the club evolved through various names and owners.

It was first called the Stardust Country Club and was owned by the Stardust Hotel and Casino, but in 1969 the Del Webb Corporation acquired the club and renamed it the Sahara-Nevada Country Club. In 1982 it was purchased by American Golf and then re-named the Sahara Country Club. In 1994 a partnership was formed between American Golf and the Las Vegas Hilton and the course was re-christened as the Las Vegas Hilton Country Club. Finally, in 1998, the name was changed to the current Las Vegas National.

But much of the courses history didn’t come in headline-making professional events, but the big celebrity names that would come over from the Strip and enjoy some golf and good times. During the 1960s, the Rat Pack—

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Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and finally Joey Bishop—frequently played golf together and then spent time at the bar that is now named in their honor. Although all five were regarded as good players, Martin and Lawford were the ones to beat and locals tell great stories about late night matches under the glow of the driving range lights. Many nights would have all of them around the piano entertaining their guests with songs and stories and enjoying the cuisine.

Even to this day, the Rat Pack Grill has drinks like the Frank Sinatra (Scotch & Martini), the Dean Martin (Scotch & Gin Martini), the Sammy Davis Jr. (Stinger), the Joey Bishop (Rat Pack Manhattan) and the Peter Lawford (Champaign—and lots of it).

The National is also celebrating its past with the First Annual Sammy Davis, Jr. Invitational on Saturday, December 7 with a scramble event to benefit the Sammy Davis Jr. Foundation that supports various community charities and will be attended by the late entertainer’s son and daughter.

Another celebrity outing that promises to bring some old nostalgic fun to the National is the 2013 O’Jays Scholarship Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament set for Sunday, October 27 and featuring entertainers such as Steve Harvey, Clifton Davis and The Whispers.

For a good time playing a tournament or just a few days in Las Vegas, few places can offer the combination of a fun atmosphere, great golf conditions and a look back at how it all started in this famous resort.

For more information, visit: www.LasVegasNational.com

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Beautiful Place!

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RESORTREPORT

Bay Hill Lodge & Club America’s Golfing Treasure

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA

by Andy Reistetter

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter started his “Play-Write” series in 2009 playing the course the Monday after tournaments. In this the 46th and expanded “Stay-Play-Write” article, Andy happily returned to Bay Hill after covering his sixth Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Although he missed Mr. Palmer who headed up to Latrobe, Pennsylvania earlier in the month, he felt his presence and the sense of what the game of golf and golfing fellowship is all about. The best part is that this experience is available to everyone through a reasonably priced Bucket-List-Dreams-Come-True-Package by calling (888) 422-9445 or visiting www.

BayHill.com. Come and experience Bay Hill for yourself with family and friends or come alone and meet new ones. If not, enjoy as Reistetter shares the tales and tributes of his recent visit.

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Writer Andy Reistetter in Winnie’s Hummingbird Garden Bay Hill

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obby Jones, golf’s most famous amateur, once said “There is golf and there is tournament golf, and they are not the same.” The Bay Hill Lodge and Club are and has been a host to a PGA Tour tournament for the last 35 years. One of a select number of “Invitational’s” on tour, it is distinctly Arnold Palmer’s, whether you look at the golf course, the field or how the tournament is conducted. When I drove to the club to play golf (I am not a professional golfer so it was not championship week) it looked different.

If you have played a golf course before or after seeing a golf tournament you know what I mean. It is different without the grandstands, galleries and ropes.

Bay Hill looked more alive than ever to me with her open vistas and magnolia trees in blossom. She was beautiful in her nakedness. Although the Bay Hill tournament welcome is as warm as anywhere on tour, the smile and greeting of Khadijah and Ginny at the front desk made me feel like family, I felt as invited as the golf pros in Arnie’s tournament. My room overlooked the putting green and the Rolex Clock it envelops. Looking past the green to the practice tee I did what I always wanted to do- hit some balls, work on my game in the evening, sleep and then again when I woke up in the morning. There is something special about staying on the grounds of a golf course.

I took a walk down the corridors of what is the nicest lodge I have ever seen. I went past a steward as he ran a rag along the top to dust a chair rail. The place was spotless. The accommodations so clean and maintained that one could eat off the light wood floors or sleep comfortable on the rugs of the long corridors. The pictures and artwork were so unique, so Palmer-esque that I knew there was no other place like this in the world.

Heading towards the pro shop I saw plaque of the Past Invitational Champions. I reminisced about coming here for the tournament since 2008. How could Tiger make a 25foot birdie putt to win by one? Then do it again the following year? That year though a man, I was a kid and hung around the 18th green a long time after the excitement dissipated. A real kid ran home and came back with a putter and a few golf balls. We tried that same putt 50 times and could not make it even once like Tiger did.

The plaque had more recent Tiger plates; for 2012 when Tiger broke his winless streak on tour dating back to September 2009 and only a few weeks ago when he ascended back to the World No. 1 Golfer. There were his four-in-a-row from 2000 to 2003 making eight the number of times Woods has won a tournament at Bay Hill tying Sam Snead’s eight Greater Greensboro Opens. Of course, if you ask Tiger, this is old news as he won seven times on tour at Torrey Pines, eight if you count his last major won, the U.S. Open in 2008.

A trip down the corridors, into the locker room and around the grounds rates right up there with a visit to the USGA Golf House, the PGA Village and the World Golf Hall of Fame. The picture of Arnie in Church—Oakmont’s Famous Church Pews, the cover of the September 1954 Golf World magazine proclaiming “The New Amateur King” and having a quiet reflective moment in Winnie’s Hummingbird Garden were tops on my list of touch points. I wish my dad was alive. I would bring him here in a heartbeat.

Though they did not put it in the name of the Bay Hill Lodge and Club, remember there is a vintage 1961- Dick Wilson designed golf course that was modernized by a hands-on Arnold Palmer renovation in time for the 2010 tournament. Though I did not climb a tree like Sergio did on the tenth hole, I did take a ground level double bogey there on my way to a memorable back nine 39. After hitting some balls on the range I met a new friend and enjoyed an Arnold Palmer (the beverage) and dinner in The Bay Window Room. Though I missed the tennis, spa, salon, pool and fitness center, I can personally certify that the lodge, club, golf course and restaurant are all A-Plus.

Bay Hill opened 10 years before Walt Disney World. Dreams do come true in Orlando, whether at the Magic Kingdom or a few miles away at the King’s magical Bay Hill Lodge and Club. Visit www.bayhill.com

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SWEETSTUFF A

s its custom has been over the past few years, TaylorMade Golf normally launches its latest and greatest drivers at the beginning of the year and then watches as both tour players and recreational golfers readily flock to the latest technology.

This year started out the same way, but then just over halfway through 2013, TaylorMade’s engineers had developed such radically improved designs that the company decided to break precedent and introduce a new, drastically different flagship driver just over six months following its previous introduction.

The new SLDR, featuring an innovative sliding weight system on the sole; a new forward center of gravity (CG) and reverting back to the darker-color club head are just part of the story for this new TaylorMade driver that has already received rave reviews from tour players—not to mention some impressive wins on the PGA Tour in just its first few months.

In addition to the low-forward CG benefits, SLDR also incorporates a complete reinvention of TaylorMade’s movable weight technology (MWT), making it more effective and easier to use. SLDR features a blue, 20-gram weight with 21-point adjustment settings located on the front of the sole that helps with some dramatic improvements in distance and promotes a shot-dispersion range of up to 30 yards. Movable weight shifts the club head’s CG horizontally toward either the heel, to promote a draw, or toward the toe, to help a fade. The six millimeters of movement for the weights is 50 percent more than TaylorMade’s R1 driver.

Moving the CG forward in a driver is a monumental shift in metalwood thinking, according to TaylorMade engineers. For years it’s been accepted that low and back was the ideal CG location for a driver, and their testing found this is not the best way to generate the most distance.

Long distance comes from combining fast ball speed, high launch-angle and low spin-rate, ideally with a 17 degree launch angle at 1700 rpm.

TaylorMade discovered that moving the CG forward promotes more ball speed and less spin, and that most players could benefit from more loft.

“Without a doubt, this is the longest driver we have ever created,” said TaylorMade’s Chief Technical Officer Benoit Vincent. “Our expertise at positioning the CG low and forward sets us apart from our competi-

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tors, and is vital to making SLDR the spectacular distance machine that it is.”

Another big improvement is the Fujikura Speeder 57 graphite shaft that comes standard with the SLDR. The Tour Preferred (TP) edition combines the same club head with the tour-caliber Fujikura Speeder Tour Spec 6.3 graphite shaft.

This combination makes this the easiest driver to hit that TaylorMade has produced and with the adjustability that is built in, shaping shots is much easier than on any of their previous models. The sound on this club is much improved and the impressive smooth feel lends a lot of confidence to players at any level.

SLDR also incorporates TaylorMade’s Loftsleeve Technology, which allows players to easily adjust the loft. There are 12 positions within a range of plus-or-minus 1.5 degrees of loft change.

The more loft added, the more the face closes and vice-versa. SLDR is available in three lofts--9.5°, 10.5° and HL. The quick-adjustment of the sleeve allows you to fine-tune your trajectory on the range in seconds, along with the shape of your shot.

At address, players will see a driver that possesses a classic shape and a rich charcoal-gray crown color that contrasts with a silver face to aid with alignment.

More information is available at: http://taylormadegolf.com raveling with electronic devices these days can make life much easier on the road or on the course—that is until you run out of juice.

With smartphones and tablets becoming more important to everything travel--including airline bookings, hotel reservations, directions and even on-

T

course navigation, having a backup power supply has become vital. It seems like we just can’t get enough of our devices and the help they provide.

While portable charging packs have been around for a while, some of them have fallen woefully short when it comes to performance. And now that people are often using multiple devices when they travel, a reliable power supply is a must.

The Travelpak+ by New Trent is one of the more powerful external

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SWEETSTUFF

by TerryRoss

battery pack units on the market and also features the ability to charge two devices at one time with an impressive 7,000Ah of charge power.

While having the ability to charge a cell phone and a tablet simultaneously, the friendly flip-out AC plug on this power pack makes charging a snap and allows the pak to be charged-up while your devices are also getting juice.

While carrying the Travelpak+ around in a backpack, briefcase, golf cart or even in your pocket, it will charge up a dead phone in a relatively short period of time, even with two devices plugged in. Its 2.1A port is tablet optimized while the 1A port pairs with most smartphones. The unit comes with a micro USB charging cable. The unit itself weighs only 10 ounces and is rated to be capable of 500 charge cycles.

The LED light indicator on the palm-sized unit is a welcome touch that shows the battery status in four stages and can double as a nightlight as well. In controlled tests the Travelpak+ was rated to extend the battery life of an iPhone for up to 21 hours and an iPad as much as 5 hours.

For more information: www.newtrent.com

I

n just over two years the USGA will make an anchored putting stroke using an extra-long shaft an extinct practice—and much to the chagrin of a vocal segment of the golfing population, a new method of putting is going to have to be put in play.

The latest trend for players who may have issues with their stroke on the greens and have taken to anchoring with the broomstick or the belly putters is to compromise with something that is going to still be accepted when these other two styles of putting become illegal in 2016—that is the counter balanced putter.

Although not entirely new since manufacturers have produced putter models with heavy heads and heavy grips for years, more attention is going from the anchoring-style putter to these shorter clubs that may still have a bit longer shaft—but then are not overly long as to be able to anchor it.

A number of players, both on the professional and amateur level, are already starting to experiment with these putting alternatives, and one of the companies that is leading the way with these is TaylorMade Golf with their new lineup of Ghost Tour putters.

Several of its newer Ghost models with longer, counter-balanced

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shafts, are starting to make find their way into the bags of the world’s top players. For example, Justin Rose, who claimed his first major championship this past summer at Merion Golf Club, used a TaylorMade Spider Blade putter with a shaft of just under 38 inches and equipped with a heavier grip and head to achieve the added stability and feel that many believe will be more than a suitable alternative to the soon-to-be outlawed anchor stroke.

According to Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s director of iron, wedge and putter development, the counter-balance design gives these putters more stability when players choke down two to three inches and have that easy, smooth feel of weight above their hands and in the putter head. It also helps with the “release” of the club.

The ability to keep putters like the blade-style that Rose used in winning the U.S. Open and others in the new TaylorMade Ghost Tour arsenal--such as the Spider Mallet and the Spider Daddy Long Legs--on line during the stroke and increasing the all-important element of feel is something that is a huge advantage with these new clubs. Some testing has showed counter-balanced clubs to be as much as 50 percent more stable--based on overall MOI--than a traditional putter.

“We spent a full year perfecting every detail on our Ghost Tour putters, making each one a thing of beauty, elegance and excellence,” said Bazzel.

“Golfers will be blown away when they set each of these putters down for the first time, and again when they experience the performance.”

The company unveiled three new blade styles and four new mallet models recently for golfers who prefer traditional putter shapes and weighting--a group that accounts for at least half of all players. TaylorMade designers and product development experts have seen great results with high-MOI and counterbalanced putters in their testing, especially with its new multi-material 8020 PureRoll insert (80% Surlyn/20% aluminum) to promote smooth roll, keen distance control and an exceptional feel.

Aesthetically, some nice enhancements are part of the Ghost Tour Series. All models feature a premium black ion plating on the sole as well as a coat of durable white paint to provide contrast benefits against the green. The strong black parallel lines on the trailing edge form the first and second read alignment system to further reinforce accurate alignment.

Additionally, each model features a chrome stepless shaft and a tourpreferred TaylorMade rubber grip. For the first time, golfers have the option to upgrade to the same shaft in matte black, a finish used by players on the PGA Tour to help reduce glare. Shafts come in 33, 34 and 35-inch lengths, but can be extended by three inches as an option for counter balancing.

More information is available at: http://taylormadegolf.com

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