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Enjoy three nights lodging and three rounds of golf at Missouri’s # 1 course and we’ll add the
fourth night free! Play Porto Cima by Jack Nicklaus - The Cove by Robert Trent Jones Sr. - The Ridge by Ken Kavanaugh
porto cima DESIGNED BY JACK NICKLAUS
Congratulations to The Club at Porto Cima - MGA’s #1 Golf Course for 2010! Have fun and feel special, with this exclusive offer to play Porto Cima, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Only Club members, and guest of The Lodge of Four Seasons, have exclusive privileges to play the #1 golf course in Missouri as voted by the members of the Missouri Golf Association. Also included in your golf vacation, the legendary signature course at The COVE, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and The RIDGE course designed by Ken Kavanaugh. These are the three courses of THE LODGE – membership and guests have privileges. This three course package turns into a fourth night of free accommodations at THE LODGE…to rest, relax and celebrate.
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contents I january 2012
cover
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stories
A Scottish Golf Journey
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by Andrew Marshall
It’s a claim that’s often made – Machrihanish Golf Club situated miles from anywhere on the craggy west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula has the best opening hole in Scottish golf.
Frugal Fairways Of Montana by James McAfee
While golf might not be your first choice when planning a trip to Great Falls and North Central Montana, known in some circles as Russell Country, named for cowboy artist Charlie Russell, I found on a recent trip that you do some have viable options to get out on the links if you find the time.
Quail Lodge: Golden Golf Destination
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by Andy Reistetter
After spending some time in the Monterrey Peninsula area, what could be more relaxing or fun? Taking a short drive down Carmel Valley Road to Quail Lodge.
departments 9 ChipShots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel
13 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales
28 Sweet Stuff
24
by Terry Ross
Everyday Golfer Guide, Tour Edge XCG5, Fourteen Golf
30 World Beat
by Lyndsie Bourgnon
Cuba Gearing Up For Golf In Its Future
on the cover: The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples, Florida 6
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Spotter, Research and Broadcast Assistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. He spends time on all four major American golf tours and resides near the PGA TOUR headquarters and TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. Andy is a lifetime golfer and enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf. He can be reached by e-mailing him at AndyReistetter@gmail.com.
Associate Editor Terry Ross Features Editor Larry Feldman
Andy Marshall Born in England, Andy has been a professional freelance travel writer for the past 20 years. During that time, he has travelled to over 50 countries including Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Barbados, Panama and Indonesia to cover a diverse range of travel-related features for various magazines around the world. He regularly works with his professional photographer brother Paul on different projects particularly golf, food and drinks features. Visit his work at www.bogey.se James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was executive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 17 years and executive director of the Dallas District Golf Association for eight years. With editor stints at Golf Shop Operations, Golf Digest and Texas Golfer Magzaine he is currently the director of communications for GolfDFW.com. He has been a member of the Golf Writers of America for 37 years and was one of the founders for the Texas Golf Writers Association. Playing the game for 56 years he was recently named to the U.S. Amateur Golf Hall of Fame.
For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: INFO@GolfVacationsMag.com
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“A must read for every gonzo golf adventurer.” JD Latorre, Golf Vacations Magazine
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 2012 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. www.golfvacationsmag.com
U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> WESTIN LAUNCHES 172-ROOM ABU DHABI GOLF RESORT & SPA ABU DHABI, UAE - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the debut of The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa. Owned by the Tourism Development & Investment Company – the leading developer of cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi – The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa marks the launch of the Westin brand in the emirate. The hotel features 172 premium guest rooms, several restaurants and lounges, a Heavenly Spa® by Westin and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa boasts a prime location along the fairways of the championship Abu Dhabi Golf Course, which underwent extensive upgrades in January 2011 and is managed by Troon Golf. Additionally, the Westin is the only hotel in Abu Dhabi to offer sweeping views of the putting green from all guest rooms. Close to the heart of down town, the newly constructed hotel is just a ten-minute drive from the exhibition center and 20 minutes from the Corniche. Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and Middle East comments: “We are excited to introduce the Westin brand in Abu Dhabi in association with the Tourism Development & Investment Company and with this opening, we hope to elevate the
emirate’s position as a leading tourism destination in the region. We believe that the hotel will be a leading wellness retreat in Abu Dhabi’s emerging centre.” “Westin is enjoying phenomenal international growth, fueled by the success of our distinctive positioning,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “We are proud to open this new hotel in Abu Dhabi, where we offer a respite from the rigors of travel with the help of our signature brand amenities, designed to send travelers home feeling better than when they arrived.” “This is a momentous year for TDIC as we are achieving a number of significant delivery milestones, of which the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa is one,” said Ali Al Hammadi, Executive Director of Project Services at TDIC. “We are delighted to collaborate with Starwood, with whom we are working very closely to build this landmark destination, and we are looking forward to a successful launch.” Upon entering the lobby, guests will begin to breathe more easily as they are greeted with soothing elements like relaxed lighting, natural botanical beauty and stimulating music. The Westin Heavenly Spa consists of six treatment rooms and an outdoor relaxation area in a tranquil garden setting. Guests can experience a range of Heavenly packages and specially-developed treatments targeted at
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa recently welcomed golfing legend Colin Montgomerie. The Ryder Cup winning captain was spotted teeing off one of Westin's signature Heavenly Beds
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chip shots golfers such as the “Golfer’s Recovery.” Other signature Westin amenities include the brand’s SuperfoodsRX menu designed to treat guests to exceptional food combinations rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Guests can also choose from 10 varieties of JING tea with recommendations from a tea sommelier at “The Lounge,” where they can enjoy sweeping views of the golf course. Other dining options include an all-day dining restaurant “Fairways,” a Moroccan restaurant “Agadir,” as well as an English-style bar, poolside restaurant and bar and cocktail lounge. The hotel also offers extensive meeting facilities comprised of three ballrooms, a conference center, board rooms, and a business center, as well as and catering for up to 400 people.
PRINCEVILLE'S PRINCE GOLF COURSE SET TO REOPEN MARCH 1 PRINCEVILLE, KAUAI, HAWAII – Princeville’s Prince Golf Course has announced a new reopening date of March 1, 2012—an adjustment from the previously announced December date--to complete some additional refurbishments to the course and clubhouse. The Prince, ranked as one of the Top 100 courses in the United States, has been closed since last January for this extensive facelift. “We are excited about the refined improvements to the entire facility, which will elevate the golf experience for our guests,” says Mark Scheibach, Vice President of Golf Development for Heritage Links. “We have decided to allow more time to undertake a more thorough renovation of the clubhouse, develop a new ultimate driving range, extend the new turf grow-in period, and provide uptraining for staff to deliver a higher level of customer service. We look forward to unveiling the Prince on March 1 as a world-class course with five-star service.” The Prince has been closed for an extensive renovation project, including complete reconstruction of putting greens with SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum turf and sub-surface material to meet modern USGA specifications; remodeling of bunkers to improve drainage, playability, visibility, and strategic value; clearing of fairways, stream edges, and visual impediments surrounding holes that have encroached upon the design intent of the course over the years; widening of fairG O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
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U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> ways; reshaping of greens while recapturing hole locations that were lost due to green surfaces shrinking; tee leveling and addition of new tees for added shot value and variety; and improvements to ensure the course will be consistently maintained in superb condition. The 13-acre driving range and practice facility is also undergoing a creative renovation and expansion. The entrance to the course will be updated with new features and landscaping, and the spectacular 60,000-square-foot Prince clubhouse will be refurbished, including creation of golfspecific locker rooms and a newly designed golf shop. Heritage Links is managing the course renovation work and will manage golf and club operations when the course reopens. The award-winning firm of Robert Trent Jones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II) is serving as lead architect on the project under the direction of Chairman and Master Architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who designed the Prince Course, which was completed in 1990. “We are very excited about the ongoing improvements at the course that will further elevate the Prince’s continual position
in America’s Top 100 golf courses,” notes Jones. “We trust all golfers will appreciate these adjustments, and we invite you in March to come experience for yourselves what happens when Mother Nature and great golf coexist so beautifully.” For more information on the Prince Course, call toll-free 1-800-826-1105, direct (808) 826-5001, or visit www.princeville.com.
THE GOLFER’S DIET: A DAILY PLAN FOR PAR PERFORMANCE NEW YORK, NY - For golfers struggling to figure out how to improve their game, the answer might be a new diet rather than a new set of clubs. In his new book, The Golfer’s Diet (Diversion Books; $4.99; ebook), sports writer Scott Kramer shares his expert knowledge of how nutrition can greatly affect a player's performance on the golf course. This how-to nutrition guide will help players learn in general terms what kinds of foods to eat before, during and after a round of golf to help achieve their peak performance. Kramer explains why the most popular food items at golf courses are often the
chip shots worst ones for your golf game, and outlines what healthier choices to substitute in their place. PGA and LPGA Tour pros tell firsthand what they eat, when they eat it, and what foods they avoid to help take their game to the next level. After reading this book, players will know how to fuel their bodies, have more energy, less sluggishness, and fewer jitters throughout their golf round. About Scott Kramer Scott Kramer is a veteran golf writer based in the golf equipment capital of Carlsbad, California. In his 20-plus years covering the golf industry, the former senior editor of Golf Magazine has lowered his playing index to 5.1, raised his IQ on the sophisticated technology used to make golf equipment, and stayed even keel on his propensity to miss short putts. But he always brings game to his columns, which appear in various national and international consumer and trade magazines, as well as in countless websites. His expert knowledge on the science behind the sport will help players at all levels improve their game through proper nutrition.
Princeville’s Prince Course
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U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> 'BUNKERS AND BEACHES' AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND AMELIA ISLAND, FL – With an 18hole golf course renowned for its immaculate year-round condition, and with a location on a grand 13-mile stretch of pristine coastline in northeast Florida, The RitzCarlton, Amelia Island is beckoning golfers with an attractive stay-and-play package that is available for booking now. Starting at $499 per room per night and available through Aug. 30, 2012, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island’s “Beaches and Bunkers” package includes: • Up to two rounds of golf at the Golf Club of Amelia Island (either two rounds for one person or one round each for two people; green fees and shared golf cart) • Overnight accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, recently ranked among Forbes Travel Guide’s four-star hotels • Breakfast for two in Cafe 4750, or in-room dining • Complimentary beach umbrella service
Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
chip shots Top 100 Teacher, whose innovative techniques lead to rapid improvement. To book the Beaches and Bunkers package, or for more information call (904) 277-1100 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.
‘BLACK DIAMOND EXPERIENCE” TEES UP STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGES Honored by Condé Nast Traveler among its Top 100 Golf Resorts, the Golf Club of Amelia Island is directly adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, which is located on a barrier island off Florida’s northeast coast. The 18-hole course, designed by PGA Tour legends Mark McCumber and Gene Littler, is challenging, yet forgiving, and with evershifting ocean breezes no two rounds seem the same. The Golf Club of Amelia Island also is home to the Anne Cain Golf Academy, renowned for its personal attention from LPGA instructor Cain, a Golf Magazine
LECANTO, FL – Black Diamond Ranch – Florida’s No. 1 residential golf community featuring 45 holes designed by Tom Fazio – announced its “Black Diamond Experience” stay-and-play packages, granting golfers unprecedented access to one of the U.S.’s premier private clubs. For golfers who collect prestigious courses, the Pure Golf Getaway includes two nights’ accommodations in one of Black Diamond Ranch’s homes and two rounds of golf on its celebrated trinity of Fazio layouts; The Quarry, The Ranch and The Highlands. The package begins at $399 per person, based on quad-occupancy.
U p d a t e s f r o m t h e Wo r l d o f G o l f & Tr a v e l >> The Couples Golf Getaway, for those who want to experience the Black Diamond Ranch lifestyle, begins at $699 per couple. It also includes two nights’ accommodations and two rounds of golf. “The Black Diamond Experience stayand-play packages are a unique opportunity for golf lovers to sample the quality of life and membership programs the community offers its residents,” says David McDonald, president of Escalante Golf, owner and operator of Black Diamond Ranch. Opened in 1987, The Quarry has been ranked one of “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” by Golf Digest and among the “Top 100 Courses in the U.S.” by Golf Magazine. Forged through the cliffs and lakes of retired limestone quarries, it remains one of Fazio’s seminal works. The Ranch, which members often cite as their favorite, places a premium on strategy and has drawn comparisons to Pine Valley. The Highlands is a stout 9hole par-36 playing to almost 3,500 yards. It can be played in tandem with either of The Ranch’s nines. Rates for both packages depend on season and day of the week. Additional nights’
accommodations and golf can be purchased. Those interested can request a Community Specialist guided tour of Black Diamond Ranch and meeting at its state-ofthe-art Welcome Center (opening soon). Located in bucolic Citrus County, Black Diamond Ranch is a 1.5 hour drive from Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO), both of which feature direct service from myriad markets in the U.S. and abroad. For more information: www.blackdiamondranch.com and www.escalantegolf.com
SECOND ANNUAL ARCHIE GRIFFIN CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC SET SARASOTA, FL – Concession Charities, the charitable-giving organization of the renowned Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL, will be hosting the second Archie Griffin Celebrity Golf Classic on March. 5-6, 2012. Proceeds will benefit The Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County. Golfers of all skill levels can join the fun. While mingling with two-time Heisman Trophy-winner Archie Griffin and other sports celebrities, your foursome will experience an unforgettable 18
chip shots holes of golf on one of the most magnificent private golf courses in the U.S. Among the celebrities participating are familiar Buckeyes such as Jim Jackson, Robert Smith and Eddie George. Other football players such as Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions will also play in the tournament. Three-time Grammy-nominated and #1 Billboard Jazz Artist Ski Johnson will perform at The Pairings Party, Monday March 5. Designed by Ohio State legend Jack Nicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin, the world-class Concession Golf Course snakes through 520 acres of ruggedly pristine land dotted with massive oaks and majestic pines. With only a few rooflines visible from the course, the 7,470-yard Concession Golf Course offers firm and fast playing conditions yet peaceful and natural surroundings. This 18-hole par 72 course was named “Best New Private Course of 2006” by Golf Digest Magazine. In addition to meeting Archie Griffin and other celebrities at the Golf Classic Tuesday, March 6, you can join them at the Pairings Party, silent auction, dinner, and live auction that will be held at the
Black Diamond Ranch
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elegant Concession Golf Club on Monday evening, March 5. Archie Griffin, President and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni Association and Sr. Vice President for Alumni Relations at Ohio State, says, “I encourage OSU alumni and golf enthusiasts everywhere to join me for what promises to be another exciting two days of golf and camaraderie on one of the most spectacular courses I have ever played. The money raised during this event will help
provide daily programs and services that promote positive and healthy development to hundreds of young people in need.” Visit The Concession Charities website at www.concessioncharities.org for full details on the schedule of events, other sponsors and sponsorship opportunities, and an updated list of sports celebrities you will meet at The Archie Griffin Celebrity Sports Classic. For more information, visit www.theconcession.com or call 941-322-1922.
KIAWAH ISLAND ANNOUNCES “GOLF OR GOURMET ESCAPE” KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – Kiawah Island Golf Resort announced incredible savings on its special “Golf or Gourmet Escape” packages from Jan. 2 to Feb.26, 2012. These packages include accommoda-
DESTINATIONS
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chip shots tions in either its Forbes Five Star/AAA Five Diamond oceanfront hotel, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, or the resort’s villa accommodations and two rounds of golf or two dinners for non-golfers (or a round of golf and a dinner) for savings up to 45%. A one-night stay in the Sanctuary plus two rounds of golf on The Ocean Course or two dinners at The Ocean Room or The Atlantic Room is just $400. Villa accommodations and two rounds on The Ocean Course is just $300. For nongolfers, the package includes accommodations and dinner in one of the resort’s award-winning restaurants at the same astonishing low price. The resort is offering four options, two with golf on The Ocean Course or dining in The Ocean Room or Atlantic Room and two with golf on one of the resort’s other championship courses or dining options. For more information on the resort, visit www.kiawahresort.com
WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO PLAY
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We drove north up the coast to Oban to catch the 3:50 pm ferry departure of ‘Lord of the Isles’ – bound for Lochboisdale on the remote and beautiful Outer Hebridean island of South Uist”.
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t’s a claim that’s often made – Machrihanish Golf Club situated miles from anywhere on the craggy west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula has the best opening hole in Scottish golf. With the Atlantic Ocean pounding away to the left, ever-present cross winds and a long beach carry, this 436-yard par-4 was a nerve-jangling start to our Scottish golf journey - travelling through spectacular and remote island and mountain landscapes while playing an old classic, a couple of new designs and a recently discovered gem. Four-time British Open champion Old Tom Morris described the quirky duneland of Machrihanish as “Created by the Almighty to play golf on” and little has changed since he marked out his traditional links using seagull feathers during one weekend in 1876. Although it’s a devil to get to, it’s surprising how many golfers like ourselves find their way to Machrihanish, and professional golfer Brad Faxon, who’s passionate about golf course design once drove the 189 miles from Turnberry to Machrihanish Golf Club, just to check it out and play a round during the build-up to the Open. Now there’s another reason to make the trip to the Kintyre Peninsula, because sharing the same breathtaking ocean views with the adjacent “Old Tom Morris” layout, is Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club - the first 18-hole golf course to be built on the west coast of Scotland in 100 years. Scotsman and course architect David McLay Kidd, who is internationally acclaimed for his design of Bandon Dunes in Oregon and the Castle Course at St Andrews has created a real throwback of a links, and this “new kid on the block” featuring six greens and five tees at the ocean’s edge looks set for stardom.
“We followed the lie of the land and unlike most courses around the world, we did not lay out the course and make the land change with it, we designed each hole around the natural terrain,” said McLay Kidd. “We are returning golf to how it should be played.” Because Machrihanish Dunes has been built on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi) the course’s routing in addition
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to the positioning of tees and greens was also dictated by several endangered species of flora and fauna. Tee blocks had to be excavated and flattened but virtually the rest of the course is natural. Realistically you are not going to score well on your first visit to Machrihanish Dunes and course strategy requires a links mentality. Expect severely undulating greens, blind shots, straight shots that disappear over the hill and fairway maintenance by sheep (even the odd black one). And although markers on each tee clearly indicate the direction of the hole, its good to realise you might get lost here and there. Directional markers help on several blind second shots, but the distances to the green can be deceptive if you are not familiar with the course.
In addition to Machrihanish Golf Club and Machrihanish Dunes, another track worth playing is the shorter but equally delightful seaside links of Dunaverty Golf Club a few miles away near the pretty port of Campbeltown, a good base for playing this trio of courses. Often refered to as Scotland’s only mainland island, the Kintyre Peninsula is also the gateway to islands of the Southern Hebrides – such as the mountain wilderness of Jura, home to five thousand deer, a whisky distillery and a pub, and Arran also known as “Scotland in miniature” that has seven golf courses despite its small size. The pick of the bunch is Shiskine Golf Club’s idiosyncratic 12-hole layout nestled below Drumadoon Cliffs at Blackwaterfoot. And then there is Islay, famous for its whisky distilleries and home to the Machrie Golf Links – one of Scotland’s best island courses.
Askernish Old Course
Eilean Donan Castle
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After a bracing round at Machrihanish Dunes we headed to the rustic clubhouse and ordered tasty sandwiches and mugs of hot tea. I chose ‘The Old Tom’ (grilled chicken, smoked bacon and lemon mayonnaise on wholegrain), while Paul went for ‘The New Kidd’ (ham, Kintyre cheddar and chutney on white). Refuelled and ready to go, we drove north up the coast to Oban to catch the 3.50pm ferry departure of Lord of the Isles – bound for Lochboisdale on the remote and beautiful Outer Hebridean island of South Uist. It was 7.30 the following morning inside the breakfast room of the Polochar Inn just outside Lochboisdale. “Going by the gannets that are heading south I don’t think the rain is too far away lads,” said local Neil Campbell, as we gazed out on a wild and wonderful scene of desolate islets punctuated by a lichen-encrusted standing stone from the early Bronze Age. “The wind looks strong too. You’ll need a six-inch nail to keep your golf cap on today at Askernish.”
in understated fashion, but from seven through to seventeen it’s a roller coaster ride through terrain as violent as a storm-tossed sea. The par-4 7th runs south along the shore from a dune-top tee to a green sheltered by even taller dunes and the green at the eleventh, a long and spectacular par-3 played directly into a sea wind, looks as if it could only be reached using rock climbing gear. Perhaps the star of the Askernish Old Course is the sixteenth called Old Tom’s Pulpit, a memorable short par-4 with a twolevel green, the back half of which forms a punchbowl, where most approach shots including ours seem to end up. From Askernish at the bottom of South Uist, we drove along the distinctive onetrack road (with passing bays) through the middle island of Benbecula to the top of
North Uist all linked by causeways. It was an absorbing journey – through a wild and unique landscape covered with a patchwork of peat bogs, low hills and lochans, with more than half the land being covered by water. Some of the lochs contain a mixture of fresh and tidal salt water, giving rise to some complex and unusual habitats - the haunt of dolphins, otters and numerous bird species including waders and the rare white-tailed eagle. Beyond North Uist, on the dramatic and rugged island of Harris is another far-flung gem – the Isle of Harris Golf Club’s gorgeous 9-holer bordered on one side by the Sound of Taransay, leading onto the Atlantic Ocean, and all down the west side of the course stretch the white sands and turquoise waters typical of this part of the Hebrides. The par-3 4th hole at Castle Stuart Golf Links
If Machrihanish is remote, then Askernish Old Course is at the end of the world. First laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891, in recent years it has been unearthed and restored to its former glory by Gordon Irvine (Master Greensman) and Martin Ebert (Canadian course architect) using entirely traditional design principles. Enviromental experts have hailed Askernish Old Course as “the most natural links course in the world.” The dunes’ natural contours form the fairways, no artificial chemicals are used in maintenance, and during winter months sheep and cattle graze the course. Irvine, who worked for free on the project, believes that based on his ability to distinguish natural landforms from man-made ones, he has correctly exposed and re-created the original layout. (Only the eighteenth green had to be relocated; the original now serves as a practice green.) “We’ll never know for sure,” he said. “We can’t bring Old Tom back. But this course is as close as you’ll get to an original Old Tom Morris layout.” The result is a course right out of a time capsule that will appeal to purists and aficionados of links golf. Officially opened by Kenny Dalglish MBE, on the 22nd August 2008, the 6164-yard layout begins and ends www.golfvacationsmag.com
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When Nick Faldo visited the course in the early nineties prior to flying out to the US Masters, he described it as “one of the most beautiful settings for golf.” Back then, the green fee for a day’s golf was £5 (these days it’s still only £10), paid into an ‘honesty box’, a quirky arrangement that adds to the magic of the place. Faldo signed his £5 note, and ever since, the club members have competed annually for the ‘Faldo Fiver’.
Alas, on this trip we didn’t have enough time to drop our tenners into the honesty box at the Isle of Harris Golf Club. After spending a comfortable night at the Langass Lodge in Locheport on North Uist, the following morning we trundled aboard the M.V Hebrides vehicle ferry at Lochmaddy, dined on hearty Scottish breakfasts during the crossing and rolled off the ramp at Uig on the Isle of Skye a few hours later.
Skye is a 50-mile-long smorgasbord of velvet moors, jagged mountain ranges, sparkling lochs and towering sea cliffs. The stunning scenery is the main drawcard, but when the mist closes in there’s plenty of other attractions including picturesque villages, castles, cosy pubs, crofting museums, fine local produce and a 9hole seaside course at Sconser Golf Club with spectacular views of the Isle of Raasay and North Skye.
Machrihanish Dunes
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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
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After travelling over the Skye Bridge we were back on the mainland and soon headed past Eilean Donan Castle, standing bold and upright on the shores of Loch Duich, on a site that has been fortified for well over 800 years. The castle is somewhat of a filmstar and has been used in many productions over the years including the James Bond movie The World is Not Enough and Highlander starring Sean Connery and Christopher Lambert.
Crofters cottage - Isle of Skye
An hour or so later we experienced another iconic Scottish image, driving alongside the mysterious waters of Loch Ness where more ancient castles perched on heather-clad hillsides, home of golden eagle and red deer. At 22 miles long and up to 1.5 miles wide, no one knows for certain if monsters inhabit the near 1000-ft depths, but certainly its peat-darkened waters would be the perfect place for such a legend to hide. We joked to ourselves that
there was probably a better chance of spotting ‘Nessie’ than shooting under our handicaps at the final course of our Islands & Highlands trip - the testing Castle Stuart Golf Links just east of Inverness. The brainchild of Mark Parsinen, the American who gifted the world Kingsbarns Golf Links, his latest championship links course overlooks the Moray Firth and wellknown landmarks that are synonymous with Inverness – the Kessock Bridge, Chanonry Lighthouse, Fort George and Castle Stuart itself - and enjoys similar topography to Royal Dornoch Golf Club further north, with an old sea cliff creating two tiered plateaus with six holes running alongside the inner Moray Firth. The course has been designed with wide fairways to offer plenty of lines of play on ground that is perfect for links golf. We discovered that one of the great things about Castle Stuart is that you get a real sense of seclusion and most of the time you are not aware of other golfers out on the course. The views all around are fabulous, and from some tees and greens, the white 1930s Art Deco-style clubhouse can be seen sitting prominently atop its viewing perch. As Turnberry is to Ayrshire, Gleneagles is to Perthshire, and St Andrews is to Fife, Castle Stuart Golf Links has been conceived to be for the Highlands region and destined to be a future classic. The addition of new courses such as Castle Stuart Golf Links, Machrihanish Dunes and the unearthed gem of Askernish Old Course along with the other over 550 members of the Scottish golfing arena give travelling golfers like ourselves a fantastic platform on which to design their own perfect golf trip in Scotland. The Marshall brothers, travel writer Andy and photographer Paul, have travelled to 13 countries and played 65 golf courses during an 8-year period. Read more about their fantastic adventures on their blog at www.bogey.se and in their newly released E-book and audio book available at www.golfjourneys.net
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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
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By James McAfee
W
hile golf might not be your first choice when planning a trip to Great Falls and North Central Montana, known in some circles as Russell Country, named for cowboy artist Charlie Russell, I found on a recent trip that you do some have viable options to get out on the links if you find the time. Getting there from my home state of Texas requires a stop in Salt Lake City. The Delta Connection flights on smaller aircraft were full. They are a little pricey, more than $500. The good news is that the green fees are very reasonable, ranging from $20 to $30, bargains in today’s times. Meals are as pricey as the ones in Texas, but the portions are equally huge, like an 18-ounce end cut prime rib that I could barely finish eating. Our port of entry was Great Falls, named for a series of waterfalls on the Missouri River that generate hydro electrical power. The third largest city in the state has a pair of 18-hole public courses—Anaconda Hills Golf Course and Eagle Falls— that were on my 90-hole circuit with a pair of writers and our hostess Gayle Fisher. There’s also a private club, Meadowlark coun try Club, that I heard was “awesome” and worth playing if you know a member. The front 9 at Anaconda Hills was built in the 1920s as a place for employees of the Anaconda Mining/Shelter Co and shows its age a little. It’s on the short side, especially for the par 4s that are drivable for long hitters, but does require accuracy with all the tall Cottonwoods bordering the fairways. A back pin placement on the par 9th even had the superintendent wondering who cut the cup there. The back 9, built in the early 1990s, was probably my favorite 9 of the trip. It traverses a rugged ravine with a great variety of interesting holes and larger greens than the ones on the front. We played with 83-year-old Mel Krebs, who plays nearly every day, bettering his age on a regular basis from the red tees. Eagle Falls is a better overall test at 6,571 yards from the tips with some interesting holes where bunkers put the premium on accurate tee shots unless you are Ryan Fritz, a young long-hitting banker who could easily fly these hazards en route to a round in the mid-60. The sand in the bunkers was as good as I’ve seen on a muny and I was able to get up and down two of three times. Moving up a set of tees certainly make the last 12 holes of my round more enjoyable as I seemed to lose some distance with the steel-shafted rental clubs. The Signal Point Golf Course in historic Fort Benton deserves its reputation as perhaps the hardest 9-hole layout in the state. The trees are strategically placed to affect stray tee shots as I quickly found out. The elevated greens put the premium on accurate approach shots; miss long or to the right or left and getting up and down is almost impossible, even for our local host, Bill Widaman, who plays there regularly. Just a few yards off the course is a cemetery plus magnificent views of the Missouri River that used to carry river boats. 20
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Frugal Fai
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irways of Montana Marias Valley Golf Course
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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
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Anaconda Hills Golf Course
Choteau Country Club
Harvest Hills
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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
Harvest Hills in Montana Two of the other 9-holers—Harvest Hills in Fairfield and Pondera Golf & Country Club in Conrad—are surrounded by grain fields, providing local golfers with places to enjoy the game rather than getting lots of visitors. For a flat course, I’m not sure how hills got into the Fairfield course’s name. The course was a labor of love for the local residents, taking almost four years to complete. My only two birdies of the trip came on chip ins on the two par 5s at Pondera. I did have a run in with the Bull Winkle bush that guards the right side of a par 3. Both courses did have water hazards that came into play, adding to the challenges. The Choteau Country Club is also a great place for the locals. Its 9 holes were built in 1929, but have been renovated twice in 1974 and 1997. With a shotgun start planned for Sunday morning, we played it in 75 minutes, practicing ready golf. One interesting feature was what has to play as one dogleg par 3 for some golfers, unless you can carry some tall trees. The 18-hole Marias Valley Golf Course, built along the banks of the Marius River less than 30 minutes from the Canadian border in Shelby, was my favorite track. From the back tees at 6,784 yards, I’m sure it has to be on the Montana Golf Association annual schedule. We didn’t go all back there either. There were some interesting holes, including a 600-yard par 5 that I could not even reach with a driver and a pair of hybrids. You could hear the sounds of balls bouncing off the tree-lined fairways all over the course. As was the case at all the courses we played, the bent grass greens were very good. The young pro we played with seemed to be having a case of the yips, but didn’t want to listen to my advice to try the belly or long putter. We had perfect golfing conditions on our September visit, cool mornings where a windbreaker might be needed and afternoons warming up to 80—a nice change from the 70+ days of 100 degrees in Texas. While I was limited because of another tournament back in Texas, Wes Bolyard stayed on five more days to play an additional 99 holes, doubling up on the Great Falls munis. I’ll try to get him to share information about some of the other frugul fairways of Montana that he visited. www.golfvacationsmag.com
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RESORTREPORT
CARMEL, CALIFORNIA
By Andy REISTETTER
Quail Lodge: California’s
Golfing Destination am not a hunter, though Quail Lodge
I topped my drive and lost the hole to
was the perfect setting to bring a
fall behind in the match by one hole.
I
pigeon friend of mine to play golf
and dislodge a few bucks from his tight wallet.
My pigeon was youthful and overconfident, right where I wanted him. The character of Quail Lodge con-
After spending some time in the
tinues to develop with the downhill
Monterrey Peninsula area, what could
198-yard par-3 fifth hole with the
be more relaxing or fun?
green protected with bunker left and
Taking a short drive down Carmel Valley Road to Quail Lodge. The spectacular scenery will take
water right. After a nice up-and-down for par, our match was all square.
you another notch down on the relax-
My birdie at the dog-leg-right 367-
ation scale and put you in "the zone"
yard par-4 seventh hole from the right
before you put the peg in the ground
fairway bunker was my third winning
on the first tee.
hole in a row and put me 2-up in the
Don't forget to bring along your own pigeon.
match. This score would stand through the front nine.
After a relatively easy 540-yard par-
Quail Lodge Golf Club is the type of
5 opening hole, the 203-yard par-3 sec-
golf course which gradually embraces
ond brings one back to reality, as the
you, and before you know it you are
challenge of this golf course is endless.
completely in love with the place
One of the most beautiful holes on the golf course is the natural uphill 403-yard par- 4 fourth hole.
whether you have a bad hole or not. Once you come to the 10th tee you realize the back nine is going to be a
After letting a negative thought
different experience than the front
enter my head as I took my driver back,
nine. While still along the Carmel
G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
25
RESORTREPORT River one now finds themselves looking down a canyon on the tenth tee. It is a beautiful canyon and frames the drive on the relatively short 345-yard par- 4 tenth hole. The tenth green is well bunkered, and my approach shot found the bunker short right of the green.
The resultant bogey diminished my lead over the young video producer to one hole. The young pigeon finds great difficulty on the 221-yard par-3 12th hole and allows me to win it with a bogey. Perhaps the dramatic vistas amongst the canyons and streams of Quail Lodge have distracted my opponent? Another birdie 4 at the short 502-yard 14th from the front bunker in two strokes increases my margin to the largest in the match- 3 holes with only four holes remaining. It is there approaching the 14th green where one can see the tranquil Quail Lodge. Though the 94-room hotel closed in November 2009, Edgar's restaurant remains open, and there is hope that the lodge will reopen soon. On the golf course side of the Lodge is a putting course that nears the grandeur of the Himalayas at the Old Course in St. Andrews or the one at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida adjacent to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Oh what fun it would be to stay at the Lodge, have putting games there in the morning and evening and play the Quail Lodge Golf Course. As the golf course traverses back towards the clubhouse, one finds the lakes amidst the golf holes. There is water left and right off the tee on No. 15, water right on No. 16 and water left on No.17. This must be where the quail came to find the water. Another appropriate name for the club would certainly be Quail Lakes. My opponent could only match my pars on Nos. 15 and 16, and therefore went down in defeat with a final loss rendering of 3&2. Though with some life in him, he did manage a deuce on the 146-yard par-3 17th hole. Good strategy, give them hope for the next match. Quail Lodge Golf Club- a truly relaxing and enjoyable round of golf. Bring your own pigeon to make it an even more memorable and fun experience.
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CARMEL, CALIFORNIA
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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
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SWEETSTUFF W
ith fairway woods substituting for drivers these days on many holes in the name of accuracy, more golfers are looking at these clubs with an eye for greater distance to combine with a club that they can keep in the fairway. Tour Edge, with its Exotics XCG5 line of fairway woods, is catering to just that line of thinking and touting these fairways woods as “having the power of a driver.”
The regulation three wood at 15 degrees is long also, and, and the four (16.5 degree), five (18.0 degree) and seven woods (21.0 degree) also offer a solid array of choices for those that want to ditch their long irons. All of Tour Edge’s fairways are offered with an excellent choice of shaft selections. The Fujikura Blur 65 and the Aldila RIP 70 Sigma are the two standard choices in the super-light model of the XCG5, while the 40-gram Graphite Design Tour AD is standard for the ultra-super-light configuration. For more information on the Tour Edge fairway woods: www.touredge.com
T
The company has accomplished several design firsts including an innovative titanium cup face and crown, a beta titanium face insert and a heavy tungsten sole plate to increase distance, becoming the only fairway wood on the market to offer a titanium face and tungsten sole. The new v-shaped boomerang face design allows for thinner and thicker areas on the face that produce a hotter launch and more distance than many of the comparable fairway woods on the market. Better distance on off-center hits is something this club accomplishes well with its light but powerful feel. As a driver replacement, Tour Edge has also gone the extra mile of offering an 11.5 degree and 13 degreed three wood-plus models for lower launch and even more distance. With an 185cc head, these clubs offer a greater amount of control. 28
G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
he Everyday Golfer's Guide to Shooting Lower Scores by Mick Gyure is a new book designed to help players who struggle with their game create their own practical approach through a series of specific objectives. You will learn why you haven't made progress in the past, how to make true improvements in your game, and how to overcome common barriers to achieve lasting results. Written by someone who has been there, Everyday Golfer's Guide to Shooting Lower Scores gives you an action plan to avoid pitfalls that slow your progress; make your practice time count; think effectively on the course; prioritize goals for each level of your game and to relax and actually enjoy the game of golf. If you're a beginning golfer, this book will help you avoid many of the common mistakes people make when starting out. It will help get you on the right track toward making real progress as well as provide you with an overall plan for improvement. Second, this book is for golfers who have been playing for a while—those who play regularly but continually shoot high scores never making any real progress. If you fall into this category, you probably spend a good deal of time practicing, yet can't understand why you're not improving. This book will help you identify realistic goals and expectations for each level of your game and formulate a plan of action so you can achieve those goals. It will help put the golf learning process into perspective so you can learn effectively while minimizing frustration. This is not a book on mechanical golf instruction. Rather, this book discusses how to best acquire the knowledge necessary to improve your game, how to properly apply that knowledge, and how to practice correctly. It explains what you should be doing on the course, offers guidelines to help you define a plan for improvement, and shows how to commit to that plan so you can realize your goals. Mick Gyure was an everyday guy who started playing golf in his mid-thirties. Like most novices, initially he struggled to improve his game. Ultimately, he found a number of things that allowed him to achieve his goals quickly—specifically, breaking 80! Like many golfers who can't seem to improve their game no matter what they try, Mick has been there and understands the challenges they face. He offers this book as a template to his fellow golfers, who may be struggling as he once did, to improve their game. For more information visit www.everydaygolfersguide.com
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SWEETSTUFF The RM-11 Series of Wedges feature a different sole shape according to a specific loft. The 48-degree loft is designed for optimum performance and control with a full shot. Where the 56 and 58-degree lofts are engineered to employ or take advantage of the bounce with an approach shot. The 60-degree wedge is designed to assist with a high lob shot. The leading edge on this totally new wedge is relatively straight but slightly rounded to give the impression of wrapping the ball on each shot. Engineers designed the lie angle to be slightly upright and made it 64 degrees (for 56-60 degree models). In deference to touring professionals, the original “reverse taper design” was retained so the engineers used it as a platform on the RM-11 wedge, but they increased the weight distribution on the upper blade to create a signature “reverse muscle design.” The weight is perfectly proportioned on the blade and club head which creates stability through impact.
T
he new RM-11 wedge by Fourteen Golf features larger grooves to create more spin that still comply with the tougher USGA rules that went in effect in 2010. With 38 professional tour victories in 2010 and 2011, this small but emerging club company is starting to make a name for itself with a greater presence at retail, backed with the validity of its performance on the professional tours. The larger grooves translate to maximum spin with exceptional control. The new USGA conforming Fourteen Golf trapezoidal grooves have been enlarged by 15% as compared to its predecessor. This increase in overall groove volume enhances spin retention particularly on partial shots and provides extraordinary control, increased spin and precision like accuracy. To ensure optimal spin with precision and tighter tolerances, Fourteen Golf mirror mills each larger groove on the RM-11 Wedge. This additional procedure takes an enormous amount of time but it is done to achieve and attain the highest spin performance possible.
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Fourteen Golf utilized nickel chrome molybdenum steel for the RM-11 Wedges because of its durability and resistance to wear. This specialized material allows the high quality – high performance trapezoidal grooves to stay in perfect condition which ensures optimum performance. It available in a non-glare nickel chrome plated half matte finish and a dramatic non-glare black finish that gives the club head a distinctive appearance. To find a FOURTEEN GOLF retailer, visit the company website at www.fourteengolf.com by Terry Ross G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2012
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WORLDBEAT
by LYNDSIEBourgnon courtesy www.Macleans.com
WHY CUBA IS EMBRACING GOLF
I
n a famous picture, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are playing a round of golf. Guevara, in military fatigues, is studiously preparing a putt, and Castro stands aside, scrutinizing his position. They both look serious, but the context is hotly contested among historians—were they practising for an upcoming meeting with U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower? Or were they actually taunting him? Cuba experts tend to agree it was a taunt. In post-revolutionary Cuba, golf was a sport for the rich, the bourgeois. And for 50-odd years, it all but disappeared from the island. (There’s currently only one 18-hole course.) But now Cuban authorities have given preliminary approval to develop four luxury golf resorts. Two of those contracts have been handed to Canadian developers. Of the four, Ottawa-based Standing Feather International is the closest to breaking ground. Their joint venture with a division of the Cuban tourism ministry has been approved, and they’re waiting for a final sign-off from Havana to begin building. Plans for the Loma Linda Golf Estates, in the eastern Holguin region, cover 520 acres and include two golf courses, a five-star hotel, and 1,200 townhouse-style condos. Standing Feather, which represents First Nations in Quebec and Ontario and which already had business ties in Cuba, was first asked by Cuban officials to consider a golf development in 2002. “They said the all-inclusive, sun-and-sand model was getting a bit tired, and they wanted to keep it rising,” says Standing Feather managing director Chris Nicolas. “This type of value-added tourism offers more variety and certainly caters to a higher level of tourist. It’s a completely different model for Cuba.” The company expects the deal to be finalized before the end of the year. After incorporating the joint venture, it will set up offices in Cuba, form a board of directors and begin the two-year building process. Once the resort is fully completed, the total investment will top $530 million. Montreal-based 360 VOX is also planning a golf resort in Jibacoa, near Havana. It will include a marina and two 18-hole courses, along with a nine-hole training course. The company is also hoping for a 2012 start date. At a conference in Europe this spring, Cuba’s tourism minister, Manuel Marrero, said the government has plans to eventually build up to 16 courses. Nicolas admits to being surprised when he first heard about Cuba’s golf ambitions. “I told them it was a waste of good farmland,” he says. Which is exactly how Cuba treat-
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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 2
ed this type of development after Castro took power— golf courses in the Havana region were promptly turned into schools and hospitals. But today, outside investment is critical, Nicolas adds. “Cuba’s economy is razor-thin right now, and they could not have come up with something that’s going to give them as much capital as quickly as the sale of real estate.” John Kirk, a Cuba expert at Dalhousie University, has noted a “massive shift” in Cuban policy over the five years since Raul Castro took over from his brother. “The golf course is part of a larger strategy to make the Cuban socialist system more efficient,” he says. “It’s retaining the socialist revolutionary basis, but to make it more productive for the state there need to be significant compromises.”
These compromises include opening the doors to foreign ownership, which is bound to take off now that Cuba has announced its citizens can buy and sell their own homes and vehicles. Foreign ownership of vacation rentals (which Standing Feather and 360 VOX plan to offer) is expected to boost the nearly bankrupt country’s critical tourism industry. Completing the resorts won’t be easy. The U.S. trade embargo means locating suppliers of high-quality goods has been difficult. Navigating the negotiation process was itself a challenge. “Think about the nuances of the contracts themselves,” says Standing Feather director Stephen Reynolds. “Can you imagine negotiating, for days on end, the capitalist components to a socialist legal system? It’s fascinating.” And, like a good golf swing, a lot harder to execute than it might appear.
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