Golf Vacations Magazine Holiday 2009

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PETE DYE STRIKES AGAIN I NAPLES BEACH HOTEL I HANK HANEY SCHOOL

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GOLF VACATIONS HOLIDAY 2009

DREAMING OF HILTON HEAD GOLF LOVERS HAVE PLENTY TO CHOOSE

ALOHA GOLFING BEGINS IN MAUI

THE PLAYGROUND OF HAWAIIAN ROYALTY

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contents I holiday 2009

cover

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stories

Pete Dye Strikes Again

by Stephen Reynolds

Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’s most famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, the insurance salesman turned master architect’s credits are legendary.

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An Old Playground Of Hawaiian Royalty

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Personal Postcard: Alabama

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by David R. Holland

On a beautiful, sunny, typically flawless Hawaiian day in 1962, Bing Crosby took a smooth swing and hit the inaugural shot on the Royal Ka'anapali Course.

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by David R. Holland

In the Heart of Dixie state known for football, one of the most surprising golf courses you may ever experience is in the Appalachian foothills - a boondocks experience . . .

Low Country’s Hilton Head Island

by Lisa Allen

Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’s most famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, the insurance salesman turned master architect’s credits are legendary.

departments 8 School Session

by Terry Ross

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The Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy

10 ChipShot

by Tom LaMarre

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

22 Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

The Golf Book, Cleatskins, Sport Specific and more!

24 My Turn

by Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”

Acapulco’s Mayan Palace

on the cover: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina 4

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS David R. Holland is a former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, a football magazine publisher and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Multiple careers best describes this world traveler, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, serving during the Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. A former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, you can follow Dave’s travels on www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) a Southern California native and 11 handicap golfer at Shadowridge Country Club in Vista, California, writes about golf for newspapers, magazines and internet travel sites. His business background includes developing the initial international distribution network for Adams Golf.

Associate Editor Terry Ross Online Content Editor Bruce Binder Features Editor Larry Feldman For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 • e-mail: JD@GVLinks.com

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.

Regional Advertising New York • 518-789-3005 Jon Meigs - jon@meigsmedia.com

Tom LaMarre has been a sportswriter for some 40 years, including long stints with the Oakland Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He was the Tribune’s beat writer with the Oakland Raider for seven seasons in the 1970’s and has written two books, “Winning Offensive Football” with quarterback Kenny Stabler and “Stadium Stories: The Oakland Raiders.” Tom makes his home in Orlando

Chicago • 630-871-9417 Patrick Keane - patkeane@comcast.net Atlanta • 770-971-1616 John Reock - reock@mindspring.com San Diego • 619-889-7706 Bob Black - bobblack@cox.net San Diego • 619-709-4425 Wayne McCollum - wayne@gvlinks.com

Palm Springs Resorts Golf Package Specials Cimarron Golf Resort – 1 round incl. cart Woodhaven Country Club – 1 round incl. cart 1 nights accommodations Homewood Suites – Palm Desert or Holiday Inn Express – Palm Desert

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Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz 100 S. Sunrise Way., Suite 257 Palm Springs, California 92262 1-800-940-7816 • fax 214-889-3667

and For reservations or inquires contact Bill Cannedy Golf Vacations Magazine Travel Concierge

Destiny Media, LLC

mrgolf@dc.rr.com

President/CEO James A. Diaz

(760) 902-5587

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 2009 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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PETE DYE STRIKES AGAIN

His Best Designs Of The Past Five Years

by Stephen Reynolds • Special to Golf Vacations Magazine Mission Hills - Hole #18

1. Mission Hills (Pete Dye Course), Shenzhen, China – Dye’s first course in China is a collaboration with Schmidt-Curley Design and features all of his trademarks: small pot bunkers, long teeto-green waste areas, railroad ties used as sleepers and walkway steps framed by tall native grasses. The layout is masterfully routed through rolling terrain and appropriately crescendos with a devilish threetiered green at the par-5 18th hole. A must-play that’s garnered significant accolades in Asia.

2. Pound Ridge G.C., Pound Ridge, NY – This collaboration with son Perry exquisitely incorporates Westchester County’s rocky terrain – case in point the par-3 15th and its granite backdrop positioned to violently deflect tee shots that are ever-so-slightly awry.

Intimidation on a Dye design? Imagine that!

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ver the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’s most famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, the insurance salesman turned master architect’s credits include TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course, Whistling Straits, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Casa de Campo’s Teeth of the Dog. Dye’s reach has been so influential that last year he became only the fifth course architect elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, joining luminaries Robert Trent Jones, C.B. MacDonald, Alister MacKenzie and Donald Ross.

The soon-to-be 84-year-old shows no signs of resting on his considerable laurels however, as evidenced by the noteworthy projects he’s completed over the last five years. Below is a selection of designs that promise to continue his considerable legacy.

Wintonbury Hills

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3. Wintonbury Hills, Bloomfield, CT – Consistently ranked among the top courses in Connecticut, Pete teamed with Tim Liddy to fashion his first design in New England. The 6,711-yard, par-70 features rolling fairways and a links-style design highlighted by 125 bunkers.

4. TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA – Home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic, the par-72, 7,300-yard course is marked by relatively flat and small greens. Don’t let this trait lull you to sleep however, as nearly one-quarter of the layout’s playing area is covered in sand. Be sure to bring your trusty 60-degree wedge.

5. The Black Pearl, Roatan, Honduras – Scheduled to open in early 2010, The Black Pearl at Pristine Bay Resort is located on the gorgeous Caribbean island of Roatan, 40 miles off the coast of Central America. With 14 holes featuring jaw-dropping ocean views and an iconic par-3 island green, this Pete and Perry creation is sure to impress the traveling golfer seeking the next “must play,” tropical layout.

Pristine Bay - Hole #15

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SCHOOLSESSION Hank Haney IJGA Offers the Ultimate Golf Training Program ilton Head Island has been famous as a golf resort for decades with its 30 or so courses and moderate climate among the many great golf destinations on the East Coast. But more recently it has earned a reputation as a place where you will find some of the top young talent in the world working very hard to become the top players of tomorrow.

The Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA), which has called Hilton Head home since 1995, has quickly become the preeminent full-time junior golf training facility in the world and now boasts Haney, coach of the world’s No. 1 player—Tiger Woods—as its Director of Instruction.

Haney and his elite teaching and coaching team train junior golfers from 22 different states and more than 23 countries. As part of the Academy, the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) is the nation’s sec-

grades 5 through 12. The Academy’s fulltime boarding program offers a combination of premium golf instruction and rigorous academic studies to help young men and women maximize their potential as student athletes “We specialize in only one sport at the Academy—golf—and with Hank’s involvement as the coach for Tiger Woods, who is arguably the greatest athlete of our time, he can bring those experiences to share with the students here. I don’t think you could have a better holistic approach to golf training than that,” said Blaik Shew, the Chief Executive Officer for the IJGA. “You won’t find this kind of experience anywhere else.”

Haney provides personalized instruction to every student during the school year, usually spending at least one week of every month at the Academy and is normally in contact with the staff there on a daily basis.

ond-largest junior golf tour while the Heritage Academy is one of the country’s leading private middle/high schools for students pursuing both academic and athletic excellence. The Academy’s mission is to prepare its students for college golf and the rest of their lives.

The IJGA is the world’s only organization that combines training, competition and academics for serious junior golfers in

His team of 13 golf instructors work with academy students daily on an individualized training curriculum, ensuring each student achieves the most rapid progress possible.

In addition to Haney’s involvement, 2005 PGA Teacher of the Year Peter Krause is the Director of Golf and heads the on-site staff. The physical training and conditioning program has been designed by yet another professional at the top of his field—

H

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Keith Kleven—who is the trainer for Woods and a number of other top pro athletes.

“Conditioning and training is a huge part of the program,” added Shew, who has more than 25 years of experience in the golf industry and sports academies business.

“The stronger and more fit you are, the better you can play golf.”

In addition to an individualized golf training program for each that is overseen by Haney, the full-time students at the academy normally spend either the morning or afternoon in classes, depending on their grade level, and either the morning or afternoon on the golf course.

The late afternoon and evens are programmed with fitness training, meals, study hall and free time.

“We have the students up at 6:30 a.m. and out the door by 7:30 to get their day started,” said Shew. “By 10:30 p.m. we have lights out—so it is a pretty structured environment. But it is not much different than the type of schedule that a collegiate golfer would have. There aren’t a lot of successful business people that haven’t figured this out already. We try to help them focus on the areas they need to concentrate on to be successful.”

The IJGA has been very successful in providing the path for its students to get college scholarships. Ninety-four percent of the students in 2009 received collegiate golf scholarships.

Each student is tested on the basic elements of their game when they enter the academy—iron play, driving, putting, etc— and then their progress is monitored as they go through the program and in the various tournaments and competitions to see how their level of performance holds up under pressure.

“We grade students on their level of proficiency in a tournament and compare www.gvlinks.com

orre T THE HANK HANEY INT’L JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY Hilton Head, SC

by Terry Ross

that with their testing and training results,” noted Shew. “Some students are better in one than the other. One thing that Hank stresses to them is that they should never give up—even when things are going bad. He tells how Tiger never gives up—even when he is six down with six to play. He thinks he will make six birdies to catch up.”

The IJGA Summer Camps have become a popular golf-only program at the Academy during that time of year, and upwards of 75 students a week are enrolled during the 10 weeks starting in June. The same staff and techniques that are used during the academic school year are utilized for the camps, and both residential and commuters are welcome.

Some students attend for only one week, but three weeks are the norm at the Pinecrest Golf Club, the exclusive training facility for the IJGA that includes a newlydesigned practice facility with a 15,000 square foot putting green, short game area

and a practice range at the 7,143-yard private golf course.

The summer camps create a great opportunity for a family golf retreat where the junior player can get a real taste of the academy and some expert training while parents can stay at one of the nearby resorts and enjoy many of the recreational amenities on the island, including the many world famous golf courses.

Hilton Head is a pristine barrier island off of the South Carolina coast that is just north of Savannah, Georgia and about ninety miles south of Charleston, SC. Surrounded by the temperate Atlantic waters, the Island is a beautiful setting where there is an abundance of plant and animal life that enhances the natural splendor. In addition, the climate is one that allows for year-round golfing.

More information on the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head can be obtained at www.ijga.com.

THE CUISINE OF ITALY

“Combining Old-World Italian comfort food with personalized service, a congenial atmosphere and an extensive wine list, La Torretta excels as one of Arizona’s most impressive restaurants” — Dining Out

With a menu that utilizes the freshest and most authentic ingredients and pasta made fresh in-house daily, the restaurant’s culinary fare is consistently delicious and refreshing.Their Osso Buco,Taglio del Vitello Farcito con Quattro Farmagio and Veal Piccata have become local legends and inspired positive reviews from the Scottsdale Republic, the New Times, Guest Informant, TravelHost, and Scottsdale Magazine.

The combination of La Torretta’s sophisticated interior and authentic food make it a prime candidate for intimate dinners to group celebrations of special occasions.

LIVE WELL

•

LOVE MUCH

•

LAUGH OFTEN

LA TORRETTA Ristorante & Italian Steakhouse

16640 N. Scottsdale Rd • SW corner Frank Lloyd Wright/Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale • 480.991.2000 • www.latorrettaaz.com Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm • Dinner Daily 4:30-9:30pm

CHIPSHOT

FLORIDA

NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GC

SW FLORIDA BEACHFRONT RESORT COMPLETES MULTI-MILLION REMODEL A great way to experience the newly-renovated resort is by taking advantage of the special “Value Rates” that are now being offered by the 125-acre resort. In addition to accommodations in a newly-remodeled guest room, the special rate includes two reserved beach chairs, unlimited tennis, access to the resort’s world-class Spa and complete Fitness Center (with use of the exercise room, whirlpool, sauna and steam room), valet parking, afternoon tea and cookies at 4 p.m. daily, and admission for children ages five to 12 in the morning activities of the Beach Klub 4 Kids supervised child activity program. The special rate is from $159 per room, per night through December 20, 2009, or from $289 per room, per night December 21, 2009 – April 11, 2010.

Owned and operated by the Watkins family for more than 60 years, the resort features an enviable beachfront location in the heart of scenic Olde Naples. Recreational offerings at the 125-acre resort include: 1,000 feet of pristine white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico; an on-site par 72 championship golf course; a worldclass Spa; complete Fitness Center; the Mary C. Watkins Tennis Center with six Har-Tru courts; Beach Klub 4 Kids, a recreational program for children ages five to 12; and an Orchid House, home to over 3,000 tropical plants.

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APLES, FL – Whether you’re interested in a beach vacation, a golf getaway, a spa experience, or a shopping excursion, a trip to The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club could be just what you’re looking for. As Southwest Florida’s only resort directly on the beach with an on-site championship golf course, a world-class spa, and an award-winning tennis center, it has long been a popular choice for vacationers.

Adding even more to the allure is the fact that the beachfront resort has just completed a multi-million dollar remodeling of all 319 guest rooms and suites.

In addition the resort is nearing completion of its all-new pool complex. The new, much larger, beachfront pool complex is just north of the existing pool area, and features two pools. There also are eight new cabanas that may be reserved, which provide views of both the pool and the Gulf.

In addition, guests can take advantage of multiple great restaurants, including the beachfront HB’s on the Gulf, the Gulf-view Everglades Room, and the Seminole Store that serves deli sandwiches, ice cream, gourmet coffees, pizza, pastries and desserts.

The resort also features three bars, including the popular Sunset Beach Bar, consistently named “Best Place To View A Southwest Florida Sunset.”

The resort is just blocks from Naples’ renowned shopping districts of fashionable 5th Avenue South and historic 3rd Street South. Venetian Village, Waterside Shops, Bayfront and Tin City are minutes away.

Guests can experience the area by taking tours of the Everglades, Caribbean Gardens, or the Conservancy Nature Center. In addition, boat and fishing trips can be arranged at the hotel. Other leisure time activities can include Naples’ wonderful museums, theatres, and art galleries.

For reservations, or for more information, call 1-800-237-7600 or 239-261-2222, or visit www.NaplesBeachHotel.com

By TomLaMarre

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Hawaiian Royalty Used Maui as a Playground . . . And So Can You!

on the island is not as fast as Oahu, and not as slow as some of the other islands, and for me, just completes the ideal golf getaway."

Ka'anapali Golf Resort (http://www.kaanapali-golf.com) For the past 45 years the Royal Ka'anapali Course, situated with views of the Pacific, Lana'i, Moloka'i and the West Maui Mountains, has tested the games best in the Wendy's Champions Skins Game (2008-2010), hosted Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, the Canada Cup, LPGA Kemper Open and the Ka'anapali Classic, Senior PGA Tour event. Big Break Ka'anapali (Golf Channel 2008) was also played here.

Ka'anapali Golf Resort earned Golf Digest's 4 and 1/2 stars, "Best Places to Play" and recently underwent a $13 million renovation

by Robin Nelson, who designed all new bunkering and resurfaced the greens with Tif Eagle, a Bermuda hybrid.

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AHAINA, Maui, Hawaii - On a beautiful, sunny, typically flawless Hawaiian day in 1962, Bing Crosby took a smooth swing and hit the inaugural shot on the Royal Ka'anapali Course - a layout built on the historic playgrounds of ancient Hawaiian royalty, and one of only two Robert Trent Jones Sr. layouts in the islands.

Sutee Nitakorn, head golf pro, thinks the excellence of the Royal Course comes in its subtleties. "From the tee on the fifth hole, a 474-yard par-4, your first look is kind of benign except for the

OK, I confess. I don't know if it was a perfect day or not, but there's a 99 percent probability. After all, the name Maui comes from a demi-god of Polynesian mythology.

Throughout my life I listened to stories of "Lahaina Roads" as it was called in the old days and the deep harbor that was used as an alternate anchorage to Oahu's Pearl Harbor during World War II. My dad was here serving in the U.S. Navy and it was the most exciting time in his life.

Today, though, I'm here for golf worthy of royalty - the Royal Ka'anapali and Ka'anapali Kai layouts. But this visit will also include the picturesque Wailea Gold and Emerald courses and the difficult Kapalua Plantation minefield, home to the PGA Tour's January kick-off, and the Kapalua Bay Course, host of LPGA events in the past.

Why come to Maui?

"Although I have enjoyed playing golf on all of Hawaii's islands, I have always loved my experiences on Maui above all others," said Allan Long, a former University of Arizona golfer and Director of Event Services-Ice Hall at World Arena in Colorado Springs.

"If I was going to go back to just one island, I would choose Maui hands down because I think it has the total experience. The pace

By David R. Holland Courtesy WorldGolf.com

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • H O L I D A Y 2009

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Kapalua Villas

Lahaina

length. It is a huge, wide fairway, but then you see this fairway bunker out there just in the right spot to catch someone who has pulled it or hit a draw."

The Ka'anapali Kai Course, 6,388, par-70, was designed by Arthur Jack Snyder and is beginner's heaven. But the resort has much more - like 30 professional tennis courts and a tennis stadium.

And just within site is Ka'anapali Beach Resort - home to kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, body boarding, parasailing, diving, beach volleyball and hiking. Stay at The Westin Maui Resort with Spa and enjoy its 14,000 square feet of oceanfront luxury and a Westin Workout Facility.

Historical Society for its preservation of prehistoric lava rock walls during construction.

The Emerald (6,825, par-72) was designed by Snyder, is a strategic beauty, and the Old Blue (6,765, par-72), also a Snyder design, was the first Wailea course.

But Wailea is much more than golf - this 1,500-acre resort community hosts five luxury hotels, five crescent-shaped beaches, restaurants, tennis, and condominium complexes. Book your condo through Destination Resorts, www.drhmaui.com, located in The Shops at Wailea.

Wailea Golf Club (http://www.waileagolf.com) The Pacific panorama from Wailea's clubhouse, host for many weddings, is fixating. The partially submerged Molokini Crater is visible amongst a sea of blue. Lush gardens cozy up to the putting green and 18th green of the Gold Course, coconut palms wave in the breezes, and Lana'i can be seen in the distance to the right and Moloka'i to the left. Look the opposite direction and gaze upon Mount Haleakala, the 10,023-foot dormant volcano.

Kapalua Resort (http://www.kapalua.com) The PGA Tour big boys play here, a serene spot on Maui's northwest shore, where towering Cook Island pines line the narrow roads through 23,000 acres where pineapples once grew. Kapalua is the best of ritzy and down-to-earth Maui. An organic pineapple farm is next door, the Ritz-Carlton and Kapalua Villas dazzle you, and the old plantation roadside stop - Honolua Store - dates back to 1929 and reminds you of another era.

This ritzy Wailea area is three times larger than Oahu's Waikiki, and the Gold, Emerald and Old Blue courses are superb.

The Kapalua Plantation Course (Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore, 1991), ranked 19th on Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play list, hosts the newly sponsored Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) PGA Tour event January 4 - 10, 2010. It is a 7,411-yard, par-73 -- a wild ride off stiff 30 miles-per-hour trade winds, plummeting gullies, and extremely wide fairways. There should be a sign like at Bethpage Black declaring this is a golf course for experts.

Wailea Gold (7,078, par-72), designed by Robert Trent Jones II, home to The Champions Skins Game from 2001 to 2007, is the most challenging of Wailea's trio, and has been honored by all major golf publications. It has also been recognized by the Maui

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Westin Maui

Where to Stay Destination Resorts Hawaii www.drhmaui.com (866) 384-1366 The Westin Maui Resort with Spa www.westinmaui.com (866)716-8112 The Kapalua Villas www.kapalua.com (800) 545-0018

Your favorite will be the Kapalua Bay Course, a 6,600-yard, par-72, designed by the Arnold Palmer team. If you can hold on to your hat, the views at the fifth, a 205yard par-3, of Oneloa Bay is stunning. The fourth hole, a 357-yard, par-4, is a fun, ocean-view hole - a challenge just to keep the ball in play from the cross wind. Ask the folks at the Kapalua Golf Academy how to do that.

"While the Plantation course at Kapalua is probably the best course on the island, I have always been fond of the Bay Course," Long said. "My first Maui golf trip was here and I was instantly taken in with the Bay course. It's not the challenge of the Plantation Course, but you can get caught up in the beauty. No matter what kind of shape my game is in when I arrive, it always seems to show up at the Bay Course. Any level of golfer will enjoy it, and it is one that I never tire of playing."

Amen, brother. Your golf portfolio is not finished until you come to Maui - it is one of those places you can't miss.

www.gvlinks.com

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PERSONALPOSTCARD

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

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YLACAUGA, Ala. - In the Heart of Dixie state known for football, taking center stage in the Civil Rights movement, and The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, one of the most surprising golf courses you may ever experience is in the Appalachian foothills - a boondocks experience, where your feet and your eyes can imagine a story on every single hole.

FarmLinks Golf Club is part of the 3,500-acre Pursell Farms - where longhorns graze and the rolling hills are abundant with deer, turkey, quail and bobcat. Alabama is a state proving it can grow more than cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans and kudzu. It is a pioneer in turf-grass management.

When a travel golfer arrives, he may never realize that he is playing on a 7,444yard, par 72, designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, which is camouflaged as a living laboratory, a golf course superintendent's heaven and testing site, studying every facet of a superintendent's job.

But, as a golfer, you have to pay attention - from the incredibly fun downhill par3 beauties at No. 5, a 210-yarder, and No. 17, a 196-yarder, each hole changes grasses, and markers and the yardage book will tell you what grass you are playing on. Here's the list: Tifway 419, Zorro Zoysia, Cavalier 16

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Empire Zoysia, Meyer Zoysia, Diamond Zoysia, Sea Isle Paspalum, Thermal Blue Bluegrass, Celebration Bermuda, Tifsport Bentgrass, and A1+A4 Bentgrass.

Innovation - that's this singular experience - don't miss it and don't skip an overnight stay in its cottages, cabins or Parker Lodge.

Here's a capsule look at more of Alabama's finest golf experiences: Limestone Springs Golf Club, Oneonta Just 25 minutes north of Birmingham, the Jerry Pate-designed Limestone Springs Golf Club, is a hidden gem, stretching out 6,987 yards at par 72.

This 225-acre tract is rolling, beautiful, features snaking doglegs and stream crossings. The par-3, 148-yard seventh, is a favorite. It requires a precise dart to an elevated green over water, with rocks and a wooded hillside as the background.

Conditions are superb along with the Crenshaw bent grass greens. Golf Digest rates it 4.5 stars.

Ballantrae Golf Club, Pelham Ballantrae Golf Club, a Bob Cupp design, pays homage to golf traditions with fast, firm conditions and a Scottish manor

clubhouse. This 7,310-yard, par 72, is an upscale municipal just minutes south of Birmingham, located in rolling hills and elevation changes. Most who play here agree it is a playable 18, where you might just log your career round. Ballantrae Golf Club won national accolades in Golf Digest as the Best New Affordable Public Golf Course in 2005 and as one of the Top 50 Courses for women by Golf for Women Magazine in 2005.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the largest golf course construction project ever attempted. The Trail is a collection of 26 courses, 468 holes of championship golf on 11 different sites across Alabama.

The Wall Street Journal said the Trail "may be the biggest bargain in the country" and The New York Times called the Trail "some of the best public golf on Earth."

Envisioned in the late 1980's, Dr. David Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, saw The Trail as a way to diversify the assets of the state's pension fund and to give the economy and tourism a needed boost. Boy, did he ever hit the nail squarely on the head.

Here are a few highlights: www.gvlinks.com

ALABAMA GOLF: SURPRISING AND INNOVATIVE

by David R. Holland

FarmLinks Golf Club

Grand National, Opelika Built on 600-acre Lake Saugahatchee, near Auburn, 32 of the 54 Grand National holes adorn its fingered shores of the Lakes and Links courses. Grand National features 36 Championship Holes and a first-rate 18hole short course.

Grand National was ranked as the top public golf course in the 2009 Golf World Readers' Choice awards. The Lakes' 230-yard island green 15th hole may be the single deadliest and prettiest hole on the Trail.

Oxmoor Valley, Birmingham Built on former mining land owned by U.S. Steel, Oxmoor Valley's Ridge, Valley and short course are dips and rolls of the Appalachians, with numerous creek crossings, exposed shale outcroppings and elevated greens that would challenge the best of the PGA Tour.

The Short Course is listed by Golf Digest's Places to Play as one of the nation's Great Value courses in the public category.

Watch as a train passes in the distance then just try to survive on the Valley's 18th, a 441-yard par-4 nicknamed "The Assassin" it rises to a dramatic finish at the signature clubhouse just above the green.

The Shoals, Muscle Shoals The Shoals, located just between the Wheeler and Wilson dams on the massive Tennessee River, is home to two 18-hole championship courses that will humble you if you play from the back tees. Fighting Joe, named a Confederate General, is 8,092 www.gvlinks.com

yards at par 72. Just for grins play the back tees on the 716-yard, par-5 12th.

Schoolmaster (named for President Woodrow Wilson who was responsible for getting Wilson Dam built) is 7,971 yards at par 72 and ends on a high bluff overlooking the river.

Hampton Cove, Huntsville Northern Alabama is home to Hampton Cove's Highlands, River and short course.

The Highlands, 7,262, par 72, begins in open terrain, moves to some wooded holes and concludes with water carries. At the signature fifth, a 412-yard, par 4, an old mule barn adds to setting and a creek forces you to gauge your drive - it is reachable from the forward tees.

The River Course (7,667 yards, par 72) is laid out on former soybean fields in the flood plain of the Flint River. There's only one bunker and very little dirt was moved.

Locals say the sprawling black oak behind the 18th green is the third oldest in the state at 250 years.

Ross Bridge, Hoover Ross Bridge, the newest course on the RTJ Trail is a roller coaster ride with dastardly false fronts funneling into water and attractive, rolling terrain of the Shannon Valley.

It is representative of an old parkland layout as 10 holes play along the banks of two lakes connected by an old mill replica waterfall that drops 80 feet between the 9th and 18th greens. The 7,438-yard, par-72 course has a backdrop of the 259-room Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort &

Spa. Two par-3 beauties dare you to go for the pin over water, on the 175-yard 4th, and the 223-yard 14th.

Greens fees on The Trail range from $45 to $136, not including cart. So there's lots of value to go along with the memorable golf and southern hospitality.

Where to Stay FarmLinks Golf Club Sylacauga • www.FarmlinksGolfClub.com Marriott at Grand National Opelika • www.marriott.com The Westin Huntsville www.Westin.com/Huntsville Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa Florence • www.marriott.com Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa Birmingham • www.marriott.com

Where to Play FarmLinks Golf Club www.FarmlinksGolfClub.com Limestone Springs Golf Club www.limestonesprings.com Ballantrae Golf Club www.ballantraegolf.com Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail www.rtjgolf.com

David R. Holland is an award-winning writer who has published more than 5,000 articles. He's author of The Colorado Golf Bible and former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News.

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • H O L I D A Y 2009

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HILTON HEAD

Story Courtesy Lisa Allen of TravelGolf.com and GolfersGuideTravel.com

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www.gvlinks.com

H

ILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C - Picking the top golf courses in Hilton Head Island, S.C. is like declaring one's favorite flavor of ice cream. They're all good.

So knowing there isn't a bad course on Hilton Head, here are five you won't regret choosing.

1. Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort

Of course. Harbour Town Golf Links is the annual PGA Tour haunt one week after the Masters. The golf course itself consistently ranks among the favorites of PGA Tour pros. For the rest of us mere mortals, Pete Dye has designed a dream come true.

It starts straight forward, but Dye begins to toy with you by the fifth hole, threading the fairway between a spray of bunkers.

From then, look for mosiac-like sandy hazards, some with grass in the middle and others with trees. The clear shots to the green are usually razor-thin.

Harbour Town builds to a crescendo with the 18th hole along the Calibogue Sound and its whirling winds - the famous red and white lighthouse as a backdrop. This is a golf course you would not forget even if it didn't appear on TV each April.

city, when it's not presenting a water carry. The only missing element is fire. It's a fun golf course that requires some complex math at each tee to plot your path to the flag. Slightly wayward shots land in expertly placed bunkers. Vast and sharply waved, they offer a wall of sand to navigate, sometimes shoulder-high.

You'll lose a stroke in a fairway bunker, because a wedge is the only way out. The golf course is tightly packed, but you'll not notice as you think your way around it.

4. Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort The Heron Point course at Sea Pines Resort is one of the most challenging courses anywhere. Recent renovations scaled it back a little, but this remains formidable. It will test every golfer with undulating fairways that erupt violently near the green, making essential approach shots that land on the putting surface.

It's Pete Dye in a diabolical mood. He adds lone trees to the middle of fairways and angles greens to require extra precision. His creation includes sand, mulch, limestone and a mixture of grasses. It features six tee boxes, providing a range 5,261 to 7,103 yards, a daunting 143 slope and 75.4 rating from the tips. There's no shame in choosing a shorter tee on this course. It's a smart play from the start.

Low Country For Golf Lovers

2. Country Club of Hilton Head For some reason, the Rees Jones-designed Country Club of Hilton Head rarely garners the attention it deserves. It consists of a string of memorable holes that use a variety of tactics to keep you on your game. Gulleys dump mishits into the drink. Ponds wrap around greens, and golfers must contend with a half-dozen bunkers that line a fairway or surround a putting surface. The service is great. The course is in sound shape, and a robust teaching program welcomes players of every age and skill level. Because it flies under the radar, your round will move at a nice pace.

3. George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes The George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort is sand

www.gvlinks.com

5. Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort The secret is out about the Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort, so expect a bit of a crowd at the first tee.

But once you get going, it's a delight.

Jones throws a wide variety at you, from the relatively benign front nine he wove between trees and sand, to the back, which skips over the island's canal system. Regardless of the hole, course strategy is a must at nearly every tee. There's not much grip-andrip golf here, despite the length in excess of 7,000 yards.

The signature hole, No. 10, marches right to the beach as just a chain-link fence separates sunbathers from golfers. Not to worry, though. Given the amount of sand on this course, you'll spend time at the beach in your cleats.

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Your perfect itinerary for a long, luxurious golf weekend in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina In addition to premium resorts and hotels, Hilton Head has some great public golf courses suitable for a three-day weekend, including Harbour Town at Sea Pines Resort, the Hills course at Palmetto Dunes and Melrose Golf Course on Daufuskie Island.

Hilton Head Island is easily reachable from north, south or west - and even east if you're in a boat. The laid-back but upscale island is perfect for a long golf weekend.

And since you're considering Hilton Head for a golf miniretreat, we know you're not exactly scraping together pennies to pay the light bill - you've got the scratch to really put on the dog.

Trouble is, you don't know anybody who's a member at one of the area's many excellent private courses. Oh well, the golfers who frequent the public courses aren't exactly railyard winos.

With that in mind, here is our perfect, long weekend of golf on Hilton Head at courses the public can play.

FRIDAY STAY: Since you're playing Harbour Town Golf Links today, you'll be staying at the Sea Pines Resort, a huge, 5,000-acre property in which you can easily get lost.

Sea Pines has a mess of ritzy, privately owned vacation homes, ranging from the simple (for Hilton Head) to grand oceanfront

estates, from one to seven bedrooms.

If you don't want something that ostentatious, you might consider booking a room at the quaint Inn at Harbour Town or renting a villa.

PLAY: Harbour Town is the island's marquee course, one of three at the resort, and one that is frequently mentioned when various magazines put together their "best" lists. This is the course Jack Nicklaus got his designer feet wet on, at the feet of Pete Dye. It launched Nicklaus' career, and he's never looked back.

It hosts the PGA Tour's MCI Heritage Classic, a relatively short course by modern standards at a touch less than 7,000 yards from the back tees, but one that demands precise shots. No. 18 is one of the toughest and most scenic holes in the Southeast, a 452yard par-4 that finishes on Calibogue Sound.

Green fees are in the $225 range.

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SATURDAY STAY: It's an easy drive down the road to Palmetto Dunes, another sprawling resort with three golf courses. You have your choice here as well for accommodations, from luxurious hotel rooms to big vacation homes or villas views of the ocean, marina, golf course or lagoon.

If you choose a hotel room, you'll be staying at either the Marriott Beach and Golf Resort or Hilton Oceanfront Resort.

PLAY: Palmetto Dunes' Arthur Hills course is always mentioned when people talk about their favorite public-access courses on Hilton Head.

Hills likes to design courses that force you to make decisions before you take action, and this layout is no exception. The members like it because a course that requires thought and finesse rarely gets boring.

The Hills course isn't one of Hilton Head's monsters at only 6,652 yards from the back tees, but it has traditionally been a favorite of both island regulars and newcomers.

It's an imaginative layout in excellent condition and, as with all Palmetto Dunes courses, it has excellent service. There are relatively few fairway bunkers, and the green complexes are nicely contoured and sloped.

SUNDAY STAY: A special Sunday treat. You'll be leaving one island for a smaller one, Daufuskie Island. The island, though it's grown in

recent years, is still home to less than 500 full-time residents. This is the island Pat Conroy wrote about in his book "The Water is Wide."

The Dafuskie Resort and Breathe Spa has ocean front and ocean "breeze" cottages. The 1,500-square foot cottages have two, three and four bedrooms, and each has its own porch with Adirondack chairs, dining rooms for six, fully equipped kitchens, living rooms with fireplaces and overstuffed chairs. You don't even have to leave the cottage to eat - grocery delivery is available.

And or course it has the Breathe Spa, where you'll have your own "personal spa coordinator," who will probably steer you to the "Chocolate bliss." It's "calorie free" by the way.

PLAY: The Melrose Golf Course, one of two at the resort, is another Nicklaus design. It's 7,081 yards from the back tees. It's well known for its three spectacular closing holes that run along the Atlantic Ocean. "Melrose has all the elements you'd expect from a Hilton Head-area course, and some you don't," www.gvlinks.com

Booking a Golf Package For Your Hilton Head Island Golf Vacation T

he long and storied relationship between golf and Hilton Head Island is well documented and often celebrated. With a little help from the locals, visitors traveling from near and far can see it for themselves.

The 12-mile long, 5-mile wide island is a golfer's paradise whose charm and natural beauty has been maintained by the relentless efforts of its residents for the millions of annual visitors to enjoy.

With more than 20 public courses, not to mention those in the surrounding area, and a host of full-service beachfront hotels and villas not to mention dozens of dining options, trying to make a step-by-step itinerary for your stay on Hilton Head Island can be just as stressful and frantic as the everyday grind you're trying to leave behind.

So why not leave that job up to those who know the island best.

A number of golf vacation planners specialize in creating a memorable HHI experience and focus solely on customizing trips to this low country getaway.

There are numerous outfits to chose from when it comes to planning your special excursion, but no matter which one earns your endorsement they all offer unparalleled knowledge of Hilton Head Island.

Local travel companies boast an intimate knowledge of the courses because they've played or visited them. They know the ins and outs of the resorts and rental properties because they've take the time to inspect the amenities and accommodations offered. So why would you book a Hilton Head golf vacation with other companies that have never even played a round of golf on Hilton Head Island?

www.gvlinks.com

Golfisland.com is a comprehensive website complete with online quoting. The site details travel options, lodging, and entertainment and offers a detailed history of Hilton Head along with other historical and helpful information.

The current monthly special is a 3 night stay in the Sea Pines Resort which includes 3 rounds of premium golf at Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the PGA's annual Verizon Heritage Classic, The Ocean Course and the new Pete Dye creation Heron Point.

Booking your trip through a local provider can also save you money and time - companies on the island often get the best rates and can plan every aspect of your trip up to six months in advance.

Another site worth a look is hhigolfvacations.com which prides itself as a local vacation wholesaler. Working with villa rental companies and hotels island-wide, this site can develop a package that suits your needs and price range.

Hotel reservations can be confirmed up to a year in advance and depending on the course, tee times can be confirmed up to 6 months in advance and sometimes can be done so at discounted rates.

Hiltonheadgolf.net offers a wide variety of golf packages featuring the Heritage Group's holdings on the island which include Palmetto Hall, Port Royal, Shipyard Plantation and the Oyster Reef Golf Club.

The site has five recommended, award-winning packages available to choose from but also allows the golfer to fully customize his or her own unique experience by selecting their length of trip, courses and lodging options.

Whether you're making a long-term plan or shopping for a spur of the moment trip, it's best to leave the logistics to the locals.

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S WEETSTUFF W ith the holidays just around the corner, the perfect family golf gift has just hit bookstores with the recent publication of Sports Illustrated’s The Golf Book, the first comprehensive illustrated golf book from the editors of the venerable weekly sports magazine.

The large, coffee- table style format lends itself well to the stunning photography that can be appreciated by both golfers and non golfers alike. Not just a picture collection by any means, The Golf Book is actually a wellthought out history of the game through the past 500 years that is chalk full of interesting tidbits, facts, figures and personalities that make up the fabric of the sport.

Some of the classic golf journalism that has appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated over the past 50-plus years is also featured in the book and woven into the story of the game along with the photographs that bring the stories to life. It feels like a golf museum in print.

The Golf Book embodies photography that spans both the early and contemporary days of golf. Interspersed with rare photos of Bob Jones, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Francis Ouimet and other legends are photos of Charlie and Jack Nicklaus behind the counter of the elder Nicklaus’ Columbus, Ohio pharmacy, Richard Nixon proudly displaying the ball he used to ace Bel-Air Country Club’s third hole in 1963 and Fidel Castro watching Che Guevara line up a putt shortly after the two revolutionaries conquered Cuba in 1959.

Vividly portraying all of the talent, drama, and arresting backdrops that make golf a unique, world-class sport, The Golf Book marks a singular tribute to the game and a collection for golfers to ponder over for years to come.

A

lthough the advent of soft spikes over the past decade or so has made walking through clubhouses and resorts easier than the in the bygone times of sharp, nail-like golf spikes, there are still times when the rough underside of golf shoes aren’t suitable. Enter Cleatskins Golf.

This relatively new product developed by former college athlete Rick Kay out of San Diego converts golf shoes to street shoes via a rubberized Skintek™ material that creates a shell the fits over golf shoes and instantly provides a safe, stylish shoe cover that can be worn indoors or out on

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the most delicate of surfaces.

Cleatskins Golf cups the bottom of golf shoes to extend the life of cleats, improve mobility and safety on asphalt, concrete and other hard surfaces, and provides a sealed barrier to keep dirt and grass out of the home and car.

This is a quick, time-saving and practical method for players who don’t want to take the time to change shoes—or may be going back on the course after lunch.

Cleatskins, which has developed cleat covers for sports like soccer, rugby and football, works especially well for golf because of the transition players make from locker rooms, dining rooms and even the car during the course of a day of play.

“When creating Cleatskins Golf, we took into consideration the specific needs of golfers, including style, durability and function,” said Kay. “In addition to protecting expensive golf shoes and providing slip-resistance, they are also a great accessory that makes it easier than ever to move from the green to other activities.

Cleatskins are machine washable and come in a variety of colors and sizes for both men and women.

For more information visit www.Cleatskins.com

M

ore than ever before even recreational golfers are looking for that edge for their game—be it a new driver, putter, swing technique or even shoes.

But as most teaching pros will tell you, the most important tool is the body. And to help that body get in shape physically, nutrition has become one of the cornerstones of any fitness program aimed at becoming a better player.

Food supplements for everyday life are more popular than ever, and for the golfer, a line of natural supplements to help increase strength, endurance and focus while playing by Sports Specific Performance are being used on the professional tours and can be just as effective for casual players.

Sport Specific Performance has created a product line that will enable users to achieve better overall health, evolve their game further, and increase frequency of rounds played as a result of a better physical state.

Currently over 50 Tour Players and caddies on the PGA, Nationwide, LPGA and Champions Tour are using the two golf Sports Specific supplement combinations-- Golf Focus and Golf Strength. These have a number of different vitamins and minerals that increase stamina, strength, and focus as well as improve overall well-being. Sport Specific Performance has targeted the elite players and also has made their products available for everyday golfers and individuals who just want to feel better during daily activities.

Golf Focus and Golf Strength products are available at www.amazon.com, www.vitacost.com, www.luckyvitamin.com, www.sportspecificperformance.com and select golf retailers nationwide.

Terry Ross

www.gvlinks.com

www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • H O L I D A Y 2009

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MYTURN

Acapulco’s Mayan Palace

NO RUINS, JUST FUN GOLF

I

f I were to ask you to tell me the first word that comes to your mind when I say Mayan Palace, chances are you would say ruins. That was my first thought. However, having recently returned from a Mexican Riviera cruise, I now think of golf when I hear the words Mayan Palace.

During our cruise we visited four ports, one of which was world famous Acapulco. Since I had visited Acapulco on four previous occasions, I decided to check out the Mayan Palace golf course while the rest of the family went to see the death-defying La Quebrada divers and spend time bargaining with native artisans at the massive shopping bazaar in downtown Acapulco.

The Par 72 championship Mayan Palace course, which opened in 1993, was a fun course to play even though the greens on the back nine were being aerated on the day I played. Because of its wide, receptive and forgiving fairways, its length of only 6156 yards from the blue tees, and its 125 slope rating, on first glance many golfers might think of it as a relatively easy course. Low handicappers might even find the Par 3’s at 103 to 168 yards, the Par 4’s at 306 to 438 yards and the Par 5’s at 461 to 517 yards less than challenging. This might be the case if it weren’t for the course’s four lakes, six dog legs, hundreds of palm trees, its club grabbing bermuda grass fairways, and the multitude of greenside bunkers ready to welcome wayward shots.

You may have noticed if you have read other of my columns that I seem to have a preference for water holes. Something about choosing the right club and executing a sphincter tightening shot while trying to avoid the expense of another drowned Pro V. As such my two favorite holes on the Mayan Palace course were the short 118-yard Par 3 second hole and the 503-yard eighteenth hole.

The Par 3, though only 118 yards, requires a very accurate shot as a lake runs from the tee to near the green, has a wide bunker positioned from the lake to the green, and additional bunkers on each side of the green.

All this plus a more than gentle breeze blowing directly into your face off the Pacific Ocean less than a mile to the West...well, you get the picture.

The Par 5 finishing hole is straightforward from tee to green. Big hitters with lots of courage and pinpoint accuracy can hit the green in two. However, the risk/reward

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by ChuckMiller “The Traveling Guy”

factor raises its ugly head as the green is tucked away on a peninsula with water on three sides. As a short hitter, I had no problem realizing going for the green in two was not an option. When my second shot arrived about 60 yards short of the water and 100 yards from the pin, I felt comfortable. With the pin tucked delicately near the back of the green with water in front, on the side and in back of the green, I knew why I liked water holes... the challenge of picking the right club and the executing the proper shot to the correct location on the green.

Unfortunately I wasn’t up to the challenge. I hit into the water and took a double bogey seven. However, as I headed to the “modern Mayan” shaped clubhouse for a frosty thirst quenching blended margarita, I knew I’d had a most enjoyable day playing one of Acapulco’s finest golf courses.

The Mayan Palace golf course is located in the Diamante district of Acapulco about 10 miles southeast of Acapulco Bay, 10 minutes from the Acapulco airport, and 45 minutes from the cruise terminal. The district is

made up of mostly luxury homes and condos for wealthy Mexican families who spend their holidays and winter weekends there, and for tourists enjoying the fine weather, white sandy beaches, elegant shopping and golf that make a vacation in the district so enjoyable. The course is open to owners of the resort’s condominiums and time-share units, to guests of its Gran Mayan Hotel, and to the general public.

Next time you head for Acapulco, consider a round of golf at the Mayan Palace. You’ll enjoy your day at one of Acapulco’s most beautiful golf courses and you won’t have to climb any ruins.

TRAVEL GUIDE For more information and a tour of Acapulco’s Mayan Palace golf course, visit www.mayanresortsgolf.com.

For information on the various Mayan Resorts in Mexico, visit www.mayanpalace.com.

www.gvlinks.com

DESTINATIONS

www.gvlinks.com

WHERE TO STAY • WHERE TO PLAY

Southern California

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • H O L I D A Y 2009

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