OUR 14th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2016
THE KING
ARNOLD PALMER 1929-2016 www.golfvacationsmag.com
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GOLF VACATIONS OCTOBER 2016
Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland
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Chip Shots
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Kingsbarn vs. Barnbougle
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4 Countries, 3 Rivers, 2 Courses
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by Matt Cleary
If you’ve played Bandon Dunes or Chambers Bay or the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay, you’ll have experienced some of the theatre of Kingsbarns, the stunning links just south of St Andrews in Scotland. Gnarly dunes, salt-licked winds, hillocks, basins, bulbous fairways like billowing green sheets of water frozen in time, greens of truth and justice. It’s world-class golfing real estate carved from the heather. It’s a sexy green beast, Kingsbarns.
by Chuck “The Traveling Guy” Miller
If you have ever considered a golfing vacation in Europe during which you can visit four countries, sail on three of Europe’s most important rivers, and play golf in two different countries, here’s how. Do as my wife and I did. Take a Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on one of Viking’s 190-passenger longships. You will find the entire experience to be outstanding.
Resort Report: Wigwam Resort
The Wigwam’s $30 million multi-phase resort and golf course renovations have recently grabbed the attention of several prominent golf and travel publications in their annual ‘best-of’ rankings. GOLF Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWeek and Conde Nast Traveler have all recognized The Wigwam for its exceptional golf, premier accommodations and historical significance.
Sweet Stuff
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by Terry Ross www.golfvacationsmag.com
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Matt Cleary is a sports, travel and lifestyle writer, and contributor to The Guardian,Rugby League Week, Inside Cricket, Golf Australia, Golf Digest, Inside Rugby, Sydney Morning Herald, Bleacher Report, Inside Golf, Luxury Travel and more. He once spent four months driving 25,000 kilometres around Australia, for a 12-issue series of stories in Golf Digest about playing golf in Australia. He lives on the northern beaches of Sydney, enjoys Four Pines Pale Ale, and spends as much time as conscience allows at Long Reef Golf Club.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) is a resident of the golfing community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. For the past 20 years he has traveled extensively throughout the US and around the world writing about “Places to Play and Places to Stay”. In 2012 he played golf in every state during a 50-week, 50-state driving tour of the US.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor Larry Feldman
Senior Writers 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.
JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. “Multiple careers” best describes this world traveler (visited 35 countries), who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve. Holland, whose favorite golf moment was teeing it up with former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, splits home time in Colorado and Texas. He has written for GolfWeek’s Superintendent News, Colorado AvidGolfer, Midwest Golfing Magazine, South Central Golf Magazine and Fairway to Green. He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, UPI and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Follow Dave on Twitter @David_R_Holland.
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
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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 2016 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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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Pebble Beach Resorts Welcomes Xojet As Official Private Aviation Partner
PEBBLE BEACH, CA – In order to provide its guests with the best in private aviation opportunities, Pebble Beach Resorts is pleased to welcome XOJET, the leader in on-demand private jet charter services, as its Official Private Aviation Partner in a multi-year contract. XOJET is one of the largest and fastestgrowing private jet charter companies in the United States, and focuses on the customer experience by providing tailored, flexible aviation solutions. Through this new partnership, Pebble Beach Resorts guests receive preferred rates with XOJET, and enjoy on-demand access to more than 1,000 private jets, including North America’s largest floating fleet of Challenger 300 and Citation X super mid-size jets. XOJET clients enjoy premier in-flight service, a round-the-clock Aviation Advisor, and, for flexible flyers, the ability to manage costs by selecting flight features that matter to them. XOJET does not require upfront fees and long term commitments, making its services both accessible and convenient to guests. “We are proud to welcome XOJET into our family of brand partners,” said Bill Perocchi, CEO of Pebble Beach Company. “Our partnership with XOJET will provide our guests with another top-notch service, whether they
are traveling to Pebble Beach for one of our special events, booking a memorable flight for a once-in-a-lifetime Pebble Beach experience, or are a frequent business traveler in need of the comforts of private aviation.” The XOJET client benefits through Pebble Beach Resorts include transfers to and from the airport, along with preferred access to golf and amenities at the resort. Additionally, XOJET and Pebble Beach Resorts will be co-curating exclusive luxury travel packages. The brand partnership will also allow resort guests the opportunity to travel to the Monterey Peninsula using a trusted aviation partner – including those staying at the resort for celebrated annual events like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach Food & Wine and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Guests traveling on XOJET to Pebble Beach Resorts have the opportunity to fly into Monterey Regional Airport – a 15-minute drive from Pebble Beach – along with popular airfields in the Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. “Not only are the Pebble Beach annual events some of the most highly attended by XOJET clients, but their focus on personalized service and high-touch experiences for their guests mirrors our own,” said Gregg Slow, Executive Vice President, XOJET Sales and Client Services. “As we continue to introduce value-added experiences for our loyal members, an official partnership with Pebble Beach was a logical next step for us.”
Hilton Head Golf Island Unveils Exceptional Stayand-Play Offers
HILTON HEAD, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – voted the “No. 1 Island in the Continental U.S.” by Travel + Leisure magazine readers – is offering golfers an array of exceptional stay-and-play packages for getaways to long savor. At Palmetto Dunes, the Players Golf Special starts at $410 per person. It includes three nights’ stay in a two-bedroom villa, two rounds on the Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio or Arthur Hills courses (plus free replays), logoed-hat and golf balls as well as dining discounts. For reservations and more information, call 877.567.6513. For 12 or more players, the Sea Pines Resort’s Group Package starts at $199 (per person, per night) and includes three rounds of golf on the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, Heron Point by Pete Dye or Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III (the island’s newest layout), three nights’ deluxe villa accommodations, resort gift card, personal on-site coordinator, complimentary green fees for afternoon replays and the group organizer plays for free. For reservations and more information, call 843.842.1488. Ideal for 12 or more golfers, Heritage Golf Group’s Lowcountry Group Special starts at $185 per night. It offers three
Palmetto Dunes
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS nights’ accommodations, a Lowcountry boil at Lagerhead Tavern, and three rounds of golf with unlimited replays on any of the Heritage Golf Collection’s excellent courses including the recently Pete Dye-renovated Robber’s Row. “Our packages are ideal for family and friends to have incredible experiences playing golf and staying here on Hilton Head,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association. “Few locales offer such a wide range of entertaining courses and accommodation options for all budgets.” With numerous courses for players of all abilities, exceptional value, pleasant year-round weather and direct flights from more than 20 major cities, Hilton Head Island is one of the world’s premier golf destinations. In addition to being named the International Association of Golf Tour Operators’ 2016 North American “Golf Destination of the Year”, Hilton Head Island has received recent accolades from Golfweek, Golf Channel’s Golf Advisor and the South Carolina Golf Course Rating Panel. Getting to “Golf Island” is easier than ever from East Coast and Midwest population centers. JetBlue Airways operates non-stop flights from Boston (BOS) and New York City (LGA / JFK) to Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport (SAV). Allegiant Air also flies non-stop from Indianapolis (IND), Cincinnati (CVG), Baltimore (BWI) and Pittsburgh (PIT), among others cities. Fourteen other locales offer non-stop service to SAV including Chicago, Detroit, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. For additional information about rates, restrictions and other package inclusions, or to receive a quote: www.hiltonheadgolfisland.org, 800.523.3373.
TwoSome and FourSome Cardholders and their guests enjoy the best Troon courses at the best rates. Tee times maybe booked three days in advance for up to 50 percent off greens fees. For those who’d like to book further in advance, Troon Card’s Best Rate Guarantee allows Cardholders to book any other online rate and receive 15 percent off at check-in. Troon Cards offer more than just savings on greens fees. Cardholders can improve their golf games through complimentary skills clinics, play more golf with exclusive Troon Card replay rates, celebrate their birthday on the golf course with the new Birthday Round discount, explore the world of Troon with customized experience packages, and treat friends and family to “2 for 1” golf offers. “Our Troon Card program is entering its 19th year and it just keeps getting better and better,” said Guy Sugden, vice president, corporate sales & marketing, Troon. “In
2017, we’ve added more benefits like the new Birthday Round discount. We can’t thank our Cardholders enough for their continued loyalty and support of Troon facilities around the world. We hope they enjoy the enhanced offerings for 2017 and play even more golf.” Additional Troon Card benefits include the Troon Card Text Club, which provides instant special offers exclusively to Cardholders, 10 percent off merchandise at participating golf shops and restaurants, monthly Troon Card E-News with additional exclusive Cardholder offers, appreciation events, and the ability to book tee times online at www. TroonCardTeeTimes.com. The 2017 Troon Cards are valid November 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017 with “early bird” discounts available. To view a list of participating courses, read more information about terms and conditions or to purchase a Troon Card online, go to www.TroonCards. com or visit any participating facility.
Successful Loyalty Card Program Enters 19th Year
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Troon®, the leader in golf course management, development and marketing is proud to announce the launch of the 2017 Troon Card program – offering greens fee discounts of up to 50 percent at participating Troon facilities around the world. 2017 Troon Cards are available as TwoSome Cards and FourSome Cards and are offered for specific states and regions of the country. Some state-specific cards also include “bonus states” so Cardholders can tee it up in neighboring states and all Troon Cards offer discounts at Troon’s international locations. And, for those who love to travel, the Troon National Card offers Cardholders preferred rates at all participating Troon facilities, including properties across the continental United States, Hawaii, and international facilities.
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Troon’s Pronghorn Resort in Bend, Oregon
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Stoatin Brae Brings a British Isle Golf Experience to Southwest Michigan’s Gull Lake View Resort
RICHLAND, MI – Bill Johnson walks over to the 10th tee of Stoatin Brae golf course and stretches his arms across a broad landscape of hills and dales teeming with grasses, colorful wildflowers and sprawling sand bunkers. “What do you think?” he asks. It is truly a rhetorical question as the newest addition to Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort in southwest Michigan serves up virtually every attribute that defines a premier golf experience: majestic landscapes, spectacularly rolling topography and design features that challenge players but do not overwhelm them. Vice-President and PGA professional Johnson states that the course is everything he, owner Jon Scott and family imagined it would be two years ago when they brought in Michigan-based Renaissance Golf Design to look at the property adjacent to the resort’s Stonehedge layout. “Jon and I looked at that land a while back and knew that it was an apple orchard disguised as a golf course,” Johnson says with a chuckle. The land brought smiles of a different sort to Eric Iverson, Brian Schneider, Don
Placek and Brian Slawnik, senior associates at Renaissance. “The property lends itself to golf in two ways,” Iverson says. “The natural undulations and prairie grasses create the venue while the elevation high above the Kalamazoo River Valley makes for interesting wind patterns that will make the course play differently not just day-to-day but hour-to-hour!” Based in Traverse City, MI, Renaissance Golf Design is owned and managed by internationally acclaimed architect Tom Doak. The aforementioned 10th tee is a wondrous observation point to affirm Iverson’s comments. Flagsticks on greens below one’s feet bend slightly as breezes make their way across the property. The tee is also an outstanding vantage point to admire the minimalist design strategies used by the architects. Greens on the par-3s are framed by large sand bunkers. Fairways are wide and maintain the natural contour of the land. Putting surfaces on many of the longer par-4s are large and unencumbered by hazards to allow players to fire away at the pin. The course plays to 6,800 yards and a par of 71. Stoatin Brae means “grand hill” in Scottish Gaelic, a fitting name for a course reminiscent of the great inland courses found across the British Isles. Indeed, both Johnson and Scott
toured Scotland to receive insights on natural golf course design. “We wanted the land to stay the way nature shaped it,” Scott says. “That’s what led us to the Renaissance Design team as they embrace the same philosophy.” The 18th hole ends a short distance away from a newly constructed clubhouse which features the pro shop, a bar, an outdoor patio and the Blue Stem Restaurant. The dining facility is named after a native grass that grows across the course. “A number of our regular guests have already visited the course and given us some real positive comments,” Scott says. “With the clubhouse now open and the fescue across the property now turning a gorgeous golden hue, the course is starting to look a picture postcard.” Scott reflects for a moment as he thinks about the new layout. “Our guests can look forward to having a special experience.” Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort is Southwest Michigan’s oldest and largest golf resort. The complex is owned and operated by the Scott family and features five championship 18-hole parkland courses and a variety of accommodations, including luxury cottages, deluxe suites and fairway villages. For tee times and more information, visit www.gulllakeview.com.
Gull Lake View Resort
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Playing golf can add five years to your life
People who play golf could live five years longer than those who don’t according to new research from Scotland. Scientists in Edinburgh claimed the sport was helpful in preventing 40 different chronic diseases as well as offering improved mental health. Researchers reviewed 5,000 studies into golf and found while it had health benefits for people of all ages, the gains were more pronounced among older players. Golf was seen to aid balance and improve muscle strength but was also found likely to improve cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic health. Dr. Andrew Murray, from the physical activity for health research center at Edinburgh University, said Wednesday that regular golf can help players beat official recommended levels for physical activity. “Evidence suggests golfers live longer than non-golfers, enjoying improvements in cholesterol levels, body composition, wellness,
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self-esteem and self-worth,” he said in the report’s release. The study claimed playing golf could also help those who suffer chronic diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer and stroke. According to the data, golfers typically burnt a minimum of 500 calories over 18 holes and those walking the course could trek up to eight miles. Even golfers using a motorized cart were found to walk as much as four miles over a full round. Three-time major golf title winner and ambassador for the Golf and Health project, for which the study was published, Padraig Harrington said in the report’s release that the finding was no surprise. “I have seen how impactful golf can be on peoples’ wellbeing, now it is time to get the message out there,” he said. The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and is part of the Golf and Health Project, which is led by the World Golf Foundation.
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Kingsbarn
Kingsbarns in Scotland vs I
f you’ve played Bandon Dunes or Chambers Bay or the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay, you’ll have experienced some of the theatre of Kingsbarns, the stunning links just south of St Andrews in Scotland. Gnarly dunes, salt-licked winds, hillocks, basins, bulbous fairways like billowing green sheets of water frozen in time, greens of truth and justice. It’s world-class golfing real estate carved from the heather. It’s a sexy green beast, Kingsbarns.
land on his property “Barnbougle” - the one with the winding, troutfilled streams and lush chocolate soil that has produced so many award-winning Black Angus - they thought it was a joke. A golf course? Yeah, good one, mate. Knock up a roller disco, too. When it became apparent Sattler was going to build a course there by the little town of Bridport on the north-eastern tip of Tasmania, they though he’d lost his mind.
But head down south - way down south - to Australia and the island state of Tasmania and you’ll find not one but four golf courses considered Kingsbarns’ equivalent, even its better. Recently-opened Cape Wickham on King Island immediately debuted at No.24 in Golf Digest’s world Top-50. Its neighbour Ocean Shores has just opened and will likely receive similar rave reviews once enough people have actually played it.
Today many of those doubters work for Sattler, be it on the course, in the bar, in the pro shop, or shuttling people between Barnbougle Dunes and Barnbougle Lost Farm, the award-winning courses that have for so long occupied spots in most pundits’ top-50 courses in the world.
But for now, Kingsbarns’ established competition in the gorgeousgnarly-green-beast stakes are the two courses on the north-east tip of Tasmania - Barnbougle Dunes and Barnbougle Lost Farm. And they’re a bit special. They are a long way away. But therein, perhaps curiously, lies their appeal. When friends of potato-farming cattle man Richard Sattler heard that he’d be building an 18-hole golf course on the non-arable “links”
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In the self-deprecating ways of the locals, Sattler calls himself an “old spud farmer”. But he’s actually a genius. He doesn’t really play golf, yet he somehow realised the potential of the land in terms of creating a “Scottish” links golf experience. And that were he to build something world-class in such a remote and unlikely location, that very unlikelihood would be part of its charm and one of the hooks. It was a classic case of if you build it they will come. No such worries for Kingsbarns in Scotland’s Kingdom of Fife. Though relatively new (it was opened in 2001) compared with near neighbours such as the Old Course at St.Andrews (where golf has been played
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By TIM COTRONEO
Barnbougle
s Barnbougle in Tasmania
by Matt Cleary
since 1552), it has never struggled to attract golfers. Kingsbarns is in the Kingdom of Fife which is right in the middle of golf’s middle earth. And here we are. Or more to the point here you are, American golf tourist, considering where to go for your next world-class bucket list golf trip. And here I am, Australian golf travel writer, offering a few tips on choosing between Kingsbarns - which I have played and thoroughly recommend - and Barnbougle - where I hope one day to be buried. They are both fabulous. Subtly different in some ways, extremely different in others. It’s like the choice between Christmas or your birthday - both come with gifts. But if you absolutely must choose, here’s one man’s head-to-head assessment. Conditioning Kingsbarns wins this one. Kingsbarns is Barnbougle without the rough edges. Well, Barnbougle doesn’t have “rough” edges. It’s in world class condition. But Kingsbarns is mint. Kingsbarns is pure. Kingsbarns is Barnbougle but with b’rns and tam o’shanters and whisky and haggis. Kingsbarns is jaw-dangling gorgeous. Don’t take my word for it - Google up some pics, ogle the webcam. Kingsbarns is Barnbougle with a manicure. And the Scots have more money to pretty it all up. Theatre Tie. Can’t split ‘em. Barnbougle is Raquel Welch in One Million Years BC
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- wild, with unquenchable lust. Kingsbarns is Raquel Welch in Bandolero! almost as wild but with greater refinement. As for the sexier one, it’s a moot point - it’s relative. They’re both so gorgeous and photogenic they are golf course porn. And if you love links golf, and rolling bowls and caverns and chutes, and all by the raging tempest of the sea from which fly licks and welts of salt water, then this is the golf for you. Value Barnbougle. At about $100, the green fees at both Barnbougle courses are the cheapest of any of the world Top-50 courses. Kingsbarns’ greens fees are closer to four times that amount. Because golf in Australia is a highly-accessible game, because every town in the country has a golf course and anyone can play, competition is strong, and even the best courses can’t price themselves out of the local market. And somewhere like Barnbougle, with its cussed streak of egalitarianism, it would be seen almost as snobbery to “over-charge” for golf. True story. Golf Carts Effectively unavailable at both courses. Barnbougle has one (1) cart for the use of those who can’t or won’t walk, and charges over-the-odds for it. Kingsbarns advises that “Kingsbarns is a walking experience golf course, however we have two buggies available for mobility restricted golfers by advance reservation”.
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Caddies Kingsbarns by some margin. As at many courses in Scotland, caddies are a big part of the experience. The bag-toters at Kingsbarns are knowledgable and very good golfers. They know the putting lines, know where the danger is, know how many clubs you’ll need into the prevailing wind. But at Barnbougle - and it’s the same throughout Australia caddies aren’t really a “thing”. You can employ a caddie at Barnbougle but it could be one of 25-handicappers from the local 9-hole Bridport Golf Club who will offer up little in the way of putting lines and club selection, and whom you might be almost ashamed to make carry your clubs given his advanced age. Story Kingsbarns opened in 2001 and has since hosted many Dunhill Links Championships. But the story of how Barnbougle came to be
is a tale of inspired, original thought. It’s an outlier event. A world-class links golf course built on one of the most unlikely, remote lumps of land in the world, and just because a man had a plan. And today there is Cape Kidnappers because there is Barnbougle. And there are now two courses on King Island - an island off the island state off the island continent of Australia - because of Barnbougle. So: Barnbougle. Practice Facilities Kingsbarns. Range balls placed in a pyramid are setup and waiting for you to whack away at. At Barnbougle you can buy a bucket and smack them out into a paddock. Both courses have fine short-game areas, though Kingsbarns’ look prettier. Food Barnbougle. The Lost Farm’s restaurant perches
high over the course with 270 degree views of many holes and Bass Strait. In the long dusk of summer evenings it’s beautiful. And the food is divine. Scallops and rib-eye steaks, the finest local wines. The Dunes’ restaurant is also very good, with many of the same dishes. Kingsbarns has delicious steaks and can do things with haggis that have to be eaten to be believed. But “Tassie tucker” tops it. Accessibility Kingsbarns. Part of Barnbougle’s charm is its remoteness. But it’s a 16-hour flight from LA to Melbourne, a 45-minute flight Melbourne to Launceston and then an hourlong drive to the north-east tip of the island state. There is an option to fly charter from Essendon Airport straight to the course. And the course has a shuttle bus if you don’t fancy dodging kangaroos, wombats and many other species of wild beast while
Kingsbarn
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navigating on the left-hand side of the road. Barnbougle also has a helipad if you have, you know, a helicopter. Kingsbarns, meanwhile, is 90 minutes from Edinburgh International. Locals Tie. The Scots are golf people. They understand. They know the wandering golfer and their needs. The locals in “Tassie” are as apt to be fishermen or cattle farmers or quite taken by the local version of football, Australian rules football which from a cursory glance one might gather has no rules, Australian or otherwise. But for friendliness and hospitality, you can’t separate these people. Accommodation Barnbougle. At both the Dunes and Lost Farm, the accommodation is on-site. You can walk out of your cosy room, onto a nice little
verandah - perfect for pre- and post-round refreshment - and onto the first tee. The Dunes’ bungalows nestle around a chipping practice area. Lost Farm’s have views over many holes. Kingsbarns of course is well served by B&Bs and such in Fife. Other Golf Close - but Kingsbarns, given that a 20-minute drive north lies the town of St Andrews, which you may have heard has several excellent 18-hole golf links including the Old Course, which is probably number one on any golfer’s bucket list. But the two beauties on King Island are must-visits while you’re in that part of the world, while a short hop across Bass Strait is Melbourne which is home to the famous “Sandbelt” courses, along with many stunners further south in the Mornington Peninsula. Google them all.
Barnbougle Dunes and Barnbougle Lost Farm reservations@barnbougle.com www.barnbougle.com Kingsbarns info@kingsbarns.com www.kingsbarns.com Stay Barnbougle www.barnbougle.com www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/tas/ northern-tasmania/bridport www.homeaway.com.au/holiday-rentals/ australia/bridport/r36400 Kingsbarns www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/ kingdom-fife www.kingsbarns.com/partners/
Barnbougle
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Viking Longship
STORY BY CHUCK “THE TRAVELING GUY” MILLER
Four Countries, Three Rivers, Two Courses I
f you have ever considered a golfing vacation in Europe during which you can visit four countries, sail on three of Europe’s most important rivers, and play golf in two different countries, here’s how. Do as my wife and I did. Take a Viking river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest on one of Viking’s 190-passenger longships. You will find the entire experience to be outstanding. Prior to leaving home for our fifteen-day river cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, we made independent arrangements to stay one night in Amsterdam. What we didn’t know is that we would be spending the night in a prison cell. We stayed in a very unique hotel, a barge which had been a floating prison in Rotterdam prior to being brought to Amsterdam to become, not just a good hotel, but the Good Hotel. Our hotel room was a refurbished prison cell but we weren’t worried about being locked in because there were no guards or jailers, just friendly hotel employees Once you check out of an Amsterdam hotel, arranged through Viking River Cruises or booked independently, or board your ship after a flight or train ride to Amsterdam, you will begin to enjoy relaxing Viking style. For the next fifteen days, a 443-foot state-of-the-art Viking Longship will be your home-away-from-home. As soon as you board the ship you will be able to enjoy lunch in the ship’s dining room, a delightfully casual yet elegant dining area where complimentary beer and wine is served during lunches and dinners. Following lunch, your bags will be ready to be unpacked and you will have time to put away your clothes in the cabin’s more than adequate closet and drawers. Then you will have the option of merely relaxing on board or taking a one and one-half hour all-included Viking walking tour of Amsterdam.
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That evening, your first evening on board, you can enjoy cocktails in the lounge and hear a brief but thorough explanation on what is to come on your cruise. Our cruise briefing was given by Caspar, our extremely knowledgeable Program Director, and by Attila, our ship’s very accommodating Hotel Manager. Following your briefing, it will be time for the first of fifteen delicious and excellently prepared dinners you will enjoy while on your cruise. If you like to listen to music, you can do so after dinner as music is played in the lounge on a keyboard by your ship’s on-board musician. On our cruise, we were very pleased with the service we received in both the dining room and in the lounge from all the staff, especially from two truly fun and upbeat bartender/waiters, Kristiyan from Bulgaria, and Johnny from Serbia. If they happen to be on your cruise, you’ll be in for a real treat. A nice aspect of river cruising is that most of the cruising is done at night. This will be the case on most of your Amsterdam to Budapest cruise except when sailing through the Middle Rhine, one of Germany’s most scenic regions, and the eighteen mile Wachau Valley in Austria, celebrated as one of the most scenic stretches of the Danube. Your first night on board you will cruise from Amsterdam to nearby Kinderdijk to visit an historic UNESCO world heritage site with the largest concentration of windmills in The Netherlands. Following Kinderdijk, your cruise on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers will have you visiting, and touring with English speaking guides in eight German cities: Cologne, Koblenz, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau, and the Austrian cities of Melk,
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Krems and Vienna before arriving in Budapest, Hungary. All this while proceeding through sixty-eight locks that rise from the lowlands of outside of Amsterdam, continue through the 106-mile Main-Danube canal in north central Bavaria in Germany, and then descend on the Danube as you head toward Budapest. When in Regensburg, a “must see” for both museum goers and golf enthusiasts is the Golf Museum Regensburg, For more than fifty years, golf historian Peter Insam has been collecting golf memorabilia. His museum has more than 1200 rare golfing exhibits from all over the world, including the world’s oldest golf club from 1450, and the world’s oldest golf ball from 1525.
thirty-four room hotel; and one of the seven premier golf schools in Germany. A unique aspect to the courses is that no pesticides are used. The Kolner Golf Club creates its own micro-organisms to combat and control unwanted weeds and plants. Before our round on the Championship course, we had the opportunity to speak with Kolner’s General Manager, Guido Tillmanns, who is a Vice-President of the German PGA. He reviewed the history of the courses and explained that, although the courses were open to the public, over 2,000 men and women golfers play on various types of membership status.
Your ship’s first stop after Kinderdijk will be Cologne. Having been there the previous year on a Basel to Amsterdam Viking river cruise, we made plans before leaving home to play golf at the Kolner Golf Club located on the outskirts of Cologne. Designed by Architect/Designer Heinz Fehring, a former German and Austrian national golf trainer, (Bernard Langer was one of his trainees), it is quite a complex. It has two 18-hole courses, the Championship Course, a Par 72 layout constructed in 2012 and the Links Course, a shorter Par 63 course completed in 2013.
If you decide to play the Kolner Golf Club, and we highly recommend it, be sure and schedule your tee time so you will have the opportunity to participate in Viking’s two-hour walking tour of Cologne which includes a visit to Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedral which dates back to the thirteenth century. If you want to enjoy a fun evening, also leave time after golf for the optional three and one-half hour Cologne Beer/ Cultural Dinner Tour which includes an authentic German dinner and visits to four Kolsch Brauhauses where you will sample Cologne’s unique style Kolsch beer.
Both courses are well laid out on relatively flat terrain with severe and calm greens and well-placed water hazards. In addition to the Championship Course, which is rated the #22 course in Germany, and the Links Course, the Kolner Golf Club has an excellent fully stocked pro shop, a chip and putt short course; a driving range with 65 tees, 60 of which are covered; a practice area with a large putting green; a restaurant overlooking the complex; excellent smooth running electric golf carts with outstanding GPS systems; a newly constructed
When you arrive in Koblenz the next morning, and after enjoying a hearty breakfast prepared to order by one of your ships cook’s, you can enjoy a tour of Marksburg Castle, a 700 year-old fortress overlooking the Rhine, or take an optional tour by cable car up to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, Europe’s largest fortress. The fortress, located some 400 feet above the Rhine overlooks the city of Koblenz and the convergence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. The views from both the Marksburg Castle and the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress are impressive.
Kolner Golf Club
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Golf Vacations • October 2016 17
When you arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s enchanting capital, and one of Europe’s most rewarding cities, you will be treated to a Budapest coach and walking tour of the city. You will overlook the Danube with traditional hillside Buda on one side, and modern-day Pest on the other. There will be free time to walk around Budapest before returning to your ship for dinner and before packing for your next day’s morning disembarkation from the ship. You will also have time to say your goodbyes to the new friends and crew members. Even though your cruise will be over, you will have wonderful memories of new friends, wonderful cities and towns you have visited, and of days and evenings cruising with Viking, that will last a lifetime. Our cabin steward said it all when he left us with this heartfelt message, “Don’t be sad because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” Kolner Golf Club
When you return from your chosen tour to your “floating hotel”, it will be time to enjoy lunch in either the outdoor Aquavit Terrace or the ship’s indoor restaurant. While dining and relaxing you will observe barges loaded with coal and other freight, vineyards dotting the hillsides, and castles looming over the river. All this while listening to your Program Director point out interesting sites as you sail smoothly through the Middle Rhine region. In addition to numerous on-board activities, presentations and entertainment, your complimentary off-the-ship tours and excursions will include bus and walking tours of Nuremberg, the grandiose Melk Abbey, the imperial city of Vienna, and both Buda and Pest, two cities which joined together in 1873 to become Budapest. The tours are plentiful, educational, and highly interesting. Among the many optional tours available are a side-trip to Salzburg, the “Sound of Music City”, and a Mozart and Strauss Concert in Vienna.
If your schedule allows, by all means spend a few days in Budapest. It is a very regal city full of excellent restaurants and outdoor cafes, outstanding hotels and a myriad of things to see and do. Since we planned a few days in Budapest, upon disembarking our Longship, the Mimir, we took a short cab ride to our hotel, the Kempinski Hotel Corinvus, which was built in 1992 as the first luxury hotel in Budapest. There we were to enjoy luxurious accommodations for two nights before our flight back home. After checking in, we relaxed for a few hours and then took a forty-five minute taxi ride through the city and countryside to the Pannonia Golf and Country Club on the outskirts of Budapest to play Hungary’s #1 course. One of the eight 18-hole golf courses in Hungary developed since the early 1990s, the course is set on rolling hills in a peaceful valley. You will enjoy its wide fairways, and marvel at its bunkers, some in plain sight and some hidden from view. You will be challenged by Pannonia’s numerous elevated greens with challenging pin placements
Kolner Golf Club
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restaurant suggestion. He suggested the Aszu Restaurant, a new dining hot spot near St. Stephen’s Basilica. It was an excellent choice. Following dinner, which included goulash, a Hungarian favorite, we strolled along the Danube and walked across the famous Chain Bridge. While doing so we observed city buildings and churches glowing brilliantly in the night time sky. Day or night, Budapest is a remarkably gorgeous city.
Pannonia Golf and Country Club
On a Viking river cruise you can enjoy seeing much of Europe while only having to unpack once. You will enjoy a floating hotel which has excellent staterooms, delicious meals and on several evenings, entertainment by local musicians and singers who come aboard to sing and dance for you.
and subtle breaks, and by lakes that come into play on eight holes. Don’t be scared by this description. With six sets of tees the course is a pleasurable course to play for both beginners and advanced players. Golf, which was brought to Hungary by Count Geza Andrassy in 1902, was at its height in the 1930’s when Bobby Jones played in Budapest, some sixty years after Buda and Pest became one city. After a long hiatus, golf began a comeback in Hungary in the 1980’s following World War II and the breakup of the communist
stranglehold on the nation. Today golf is a growing sport and the Pannonia Golf and Country Club plays a big part in the growth. It has been home to numerous European tournaments including the European Senior Ladies and Men Championships, the Hungarian Amateur and Open Championships and the 27th Junior Hungarian Open Championship. After a most enjoyable day of golf we returned to our hotel and asked the concierge for a
You will delight in the camaraderie with new friends from around the U.S. and around the world. And, you will have the opportunity to play on some of Europe’s finest golf courses. Viking’s on-board concierge can help you make tee times at both the Kolner Golf Club and the Pannonia Golf and Country Club as well as other courses in cities along the route from Amsterdam to Budapest. Having the opportunity to visit four countries, sail on three rivers and play golf in two different countries while on a Viking river cruise makes for a great golfing vacation.
Pannonia Golf and Country Club
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RESORTREPORT
Wigwam Resort
“Must Stay And Play”
The Links at Crowbush Cove
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LITCHFIELDPARK , ARIZONA
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he Wigwam’s $30 million multi-phase resort and golf course renovations have recently grabbed the attention of several prominent golf and travel publications in their annual ‘best-of’ rankings. GOLF Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWeek and Conde Nast Traveler have all recognized The Wigwam for its exceptional golf, premier accommodations and historical significance. In the September 2016 issue of GOLF Magazine, the Wigwam’s Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed Gold Course returned to GOLF’s list of “Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona.” Every two years, GOLF Magazine puts together a ranking of the best of the best golf courses you can play in each state. The list is determined by a panel of 100 raters that includes major winners, course architects, journalists and golf connoisseurs. The Gold Course returned to the prestigious list after it underwent a large-scale bunker and course renovation during the summer of 2015. In July 2016, The Wigwam Resort was named to Golf.com’s prestigious “Premier Resorts” rankings for 2016-17 – the biennial guide listing the greatest golf resort destinations in North America. Voting for the “Premier Resorts” was based on four criteria: golf, lodging, food & drink, and service. In March 2016, GolfWeek magazine named The Wigwam’s Gold Course to their list of the “Best Courses You Can Play, State-By-State.” Among the criteria used by GolfWeek’s panel of course raters include: ease and intimacy of routing, variety and memorability of par 3s, 4s and 5s; basic quality of conditioning; and the “walk in the park” test. About Wigwam Golf The Wigwam’s three 18-hole championship golf courses offer a diversity that cannot be matched by any other Arizona resort. Here, the golf enthusiast has their pick of not just one or two courses, but three 18-hole courses – 54 holes of championship golf including two courses designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, Sr. And, in true Wigwam style, each course – The Gold, Patriot and Heritage – offers a unique challenge that adds spice and variety to one’s stay at this timeless and relaxing retreat. For more information, please visit www.wigwamgolf.com. About The Wigwam Designated as a “Historic Hotel of America,” The Wigwam is an iconic Arizona landmark situated on an estate-like setting. The Wigwam spans over 440 acres and features 331 casita-style guest rooms, including 72 suites, crafted from distinctive adobe architecture. The only resort in Arizona to offer 54 holes of championship golf on-site, The Wigwam also features a 26,000-square-foot Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, four pools, and five restaurants and bars. The Wigwam invites guests to create new traditions and lasting memories by participating in a variety of activities from morning nature walks to cooking classes, wine-tasting events and more. For more information, visit www.wigwamarizona.com or call (623) 935-3811.
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SWEETSTUFF collection of knits that stand out even in today’s crowded marketplace,” said Carnoustie President and Founder Marshal Mancillas. “ We have consistently given our customer quality he can depend on. When he buys a Carnoustie product he knows that it will be in his wardrobe for a long time looking as good as the day he bought it. And he knows that he will be fashionable on and off the course in a Carnoustie polo.” This new collection of performance knits features chest stripes, color blocking, melange yarns and many self-fabric collars. Carnoustie is also offering for the first time a beautiful long sleeve style in five wonderful melange colors. The long sleeve polo has the perfect combination of weight and drape that will make it a favorite first layer in the colder conditions associated with the fall season. The classic fit that many golfers enjoy is evident in the design of these new styles. “ We are thrilled with the continued enthusiasm that our customers have for our performance styles. Our instincts were well founded: there is clearly a demand for performance garments that offer the wearabilty that today’s fibers can offer but that are styled in a tasteful, timeless fashion,”
added Mancillas. “There has been so much interest in this segment of our business that we have rebranded these goods under the new TECH label.” Also on the docket for the Fall of 2016 are new additions to its cotton suede choices for pullovers, jackets and vests. With a reputation of having some of the finest fleece garments available, Carnoustie has developed wonderful new colors, new handsome jacquard patterns and even some new styles--including a modern yet retro full zip jacket with front panels. “The market has remained very loyal to the Carnoustie cotton suede collection through the years,” noted Mancillas. “Despite the competition in this category, these goods have developed and maintained a wonderful following. The extraordinary hand that these goods offer is a result of a very intricate brushing process that is proprietary to us. It is a costlier process but nothing else comes close. I am excited to debut the new colors and styles we have developed for Fall 16. I am confident they will stir some excitement in this category.” The Mackenzie collection by Carnoustie was developed a few seasons ago because sometimes a garment that is a little lighter
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arnoustie Sportswear, which has been a staple in some of the country’s finest golf resorts, country clubs and retail golf shops for more than 20 years now, has unveiled its Fall 2016 lineup that features some bold new colors and looks as we head into the colder months. Beginning this fall, Carnoustie is introducing some new performance styles under the Carnoustie TECH label, which have been designed to evoke a more active, performance side featuring polos that have a rich, natural feel but are made of some of the finest performance knits on the market and maintain the Carnoustie tradition of refinement and elegance in its designs. “The simplicity of the patterns, with the boldness of color, combine to create a
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SWEETSTUFF in weight than their brushed fleece is all you need. This collection just keeps getting more and more popular and accordingly it is being expanded for the Fall of 16. In addition to quarter zip vests and long sleeve styles, they will offer a fun yarn dyed chest stripe pullover which quickly becomes the centerpiece of every merchandise group. It incorporates most if not all of the colors in the merchandise group in a contemporary yet tasteful manner. Also new for Fall ‘16 is a full zip jacket with a sporty flat knit detail that runs along the sleeve from the neck to the cuff. Nothing affords easier layering than an easy on/off full zip jacket and this stands out as casual yet elegant. “I have been taken aback by the immense popularity of this collection. But, I shouldn’t be surprised,” added Mancillas. “These styles are versatile, offer a perfect year around weight and are affordable. So this category deserves to be expanded and that’s just what we did. And, I am confident that the new additions for fall ‘16 will be very well received.” For more information on the fall Carnoustie lineup: www.carnoustiesportswear.com
extremely comfortable and easy to use. Weighing in at only 29 grams, this feather weight features a bright, slim OLED screen with a built-in sensor for easy touch operation. With a tap of the finger, the display changes to show GPS distances to the front, middle or back of the green, and driving distances can also be calculated by the push of a button. The B1 has a 10-hour battery life—good for at least two 18-hole rounds-- and is easily charged with the supplied USB cord that can also be used to update course information via the internet. The device comes loaded with information on 40,000 golf courses from around the world. “We always seek to provide innovative, yet uncomplicated wearable devices for golfers seeking reliable and accurate GPS technology,” says Juno Kim, CEO of Voice Caddie. “The B1 is perfect for golfers who want a lightweight, straightforward solution to obtaining yardages no matter where in the world they play.” This versatile band is also able to give distances in meters as well as yards, and is extremely accurate for such a small and light device. It is optimized for outdoor visibility and the band is designed to not impede the swing-- and can actually be worn opposite a watch for those that like to wear a time piece on the course. The elimination of complication buttons and menus is a pleasant feature of the B1 band, and there is no subscription or fees in keeping it updated with the latest course information. It is available for purchase online and at select golf and specialty retailers across the United States. For more information on the Voice Caddie B1 GPS band: www.voicecaddie.com
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by Terry Ross
he new Z5 golf club grips by Lamkin are not only colorful and have a soft, pleasant feel, the unique design and markings also provide excellent hand placement reminders for taking the proper grip on every swing. These advanced multi-compound grips are made with a proprietary rubber compound and feature five distinct zones designed to enhance performance and comfort by using scientifically engineered texture and color technology. The horizontal pattern and soft cord weave under the upper hand augments grip stability and traction, while a shallow micro texture at the bottom improves feel and comfort for the lower hand. Carefully designed color patterns and a simulated rope texture in the middle zone promote proper hand pressure and placement. The five zones of the Z5 grip include: Zones 1 and 2 feature soft cord weave designed to provide the top hand with exceptional traction, enhanced comfort and slip-free confidence in all weather conditions. Zone 3 includes two FingerLock panels to ensure the thumb is in an optimal position, while a simulated rope texture offers a tactile response to enhance club control without the need for excessive grip pressure. Zones 4 and 5 provide an exceptional feel for the lower hand thanks to the shallow micro-texture and a V-shaped dividing groove that promotes consistent hand positioning. The Z5 grips come in standard and midsize models; and are available in red, white and blue color combinations. More information on Lamkin’s G5 grips can be found at www.LamkingGrips.com
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oice Caddie, which has established itself as a company that produces some of the finest electronic golf and training aids, has hit the mark again with the sleek B1 GPS band that handles just about all distance-measuring chores during a round in a light, wearable device that is
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“SCOTTSDALE IS transformative. IT encourages YOU TO BE OUTDOORS AND play.”
200 Area Courses | 70+ Resorts & Hotels | 600+ Restaurants | 100+ Downtown Nightlife Options | EXPERIENCESCOTTSDALEGOLF.COM
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