Golf Vacations Magazine June 2010

TALKING WITH PRAIRIE CLUB FOUNDER PAUL SCHOCK

Our

8th

Year!

GOLF VACATIONS JUNE 2010

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ORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA MIAMI’S BLUE MONSTER MASH

COOL OFF IN THE CARIBBEAN ST. KITTS PARADISE PLUS:

Bluesy Mississippi Offers More I Woodstock Inn & Resort

contents I june 2010

cover

stories 10

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Doral’s Big Blue Monster Mash

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Caribbean Cool In St. Kitts

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Mississippi: Birthplace Of Blues

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Walking And Talking With Paul Schock

by David R. Holland

Doral has come a long way since its 2,400 acres, just seven miles from Miami International Airport, were purchased from what was Everglades swampland.

by David R. Holland

Where on earth can you play two holes on the Atlantic Ocean (holes 3 and 4) then a short time later tee off on four Caribbean Sea holes (holes 14-17)?

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by Steve Donahue

Mississippi might not be the first place many of the nation’s golfers think of when they get a hankering for great golf and gaming. But savvy golfers have long known more golfers should put the Magnolia State on their radar.

by Terry Ross

An avid golfer establishes this amazing relationship between the course, his game, the ball, and the elements, while enjoying a walk in the great outdoors.

departments

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7 ChipShots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

29 World Beat

by Mark Walters

Do’s And Dont’s When Golfing In Thailand

30 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

on the cover: Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Florida

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J U N E 2 0 1 0

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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.

James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was executive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 27 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.

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.

Steve Donahue has been an award-winning editor and writer in the golf-magazine industry since 1991, following more than 15 years as Assistant Sports Editor at one of Connecticut’s largest daily newspapers. Currently a freelance writer/editor and Golf Digest Course Ranking Panelist, he has enjoyed lengthy full-time stints at several publications, including Golf Digest and Senior Golfer. He has played 700-plus courses in all 50 states and 10 countries.

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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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 >>

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Woodstock Inn & Resort “FORE”CASTING AN IDYLLIC START TO 2010 SEASON

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oodstock, VT – The Woodstock Inn & Resort is kicking off the 2010 golf season with a selection of golf packages to suit every skill level on its top-rated Robert Trent Jones designed course, named one of the world’s “Top 100 Golf Resorts” (Golf Magazine).

The Heritage Unlimited Golf Package provides guests with the opportunity to play as much golf as they want during their stay.

In addition to unlimited golf at The Resort’s Golf Club, the package includes two-night luxury accommodations, golf cart, complimentary use of driving range and breakfast each morning to fuel up before hitting the course. Priced starting at $219 per night, double occupancy with a two-night minimum, the package is available through October 31, 2010.

Learn to Golf at Woodstock with private lessons and plenty of time to practice. Take advantage of the Learn to Golf package one hour private lessons for two for each day of the stay, in addition to unlimited golf, golf cart, complimentary use of the driving range, a yardage booklet and two sleeves of golf balls. The package starts at $330 per night, double occupancy, minimum of two-night stay, including breakfast each morning and two nights of luxury accommodations available through September 30, 2010.

The Family Golf- Learn to Play package provides the whole family a chance to learn a new skill while spending quality time together. Catering to all skill sets, the package includes a one hour family golf clinic with a Woodstock Golf Club pro, unlimited golf for everyone and use of a golf cart. To keep the memories going off the course, a S’mores Kit will be provided to use at Woodstock’s

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fire pit as well as complimentary passes to nearby Billing Farm & Museum to learn about the rural history of Woodstock and experience a working dairy farm firsthand. The package is good through September 30, 2010 starting at $320 per room, with the option of $120 for the second room available per night midweek, minimum two-night stay with complimentary breakfast provided daily.

All packages can be booked at www.woodstockinn.com or by calling 1-877-350-3428.

Set in the unspoiled Kedron Valley, Woodstock’s 18-hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr. golf course emphasizes shot selection over distance, also known as “target golf.” The 6,000-yard, par-70 course is a challenging sequence of fairways, sandtraps and water hazards guaranteed to test even the most seasoned golfer. The Woodstock Inn & Resort Golf Club offers a pro shop, practice range, putting green, private lessons and clinics, restaurant, and lounge. The Fairway at The Golf Club offers seasonal dining overlooking the golf course and surrounding scenic vistas.

Guests can also dine at The Red Rooster. Open for lunch and dinner the menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, including specialty cheeses, shellfish and heirloom fruits and vegetables, sourced from the best purveyors in New England. Other activities include the resort’s 41,000 square foot Racquet & Fitness Club, which includes indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor racquetball courts, a 30-by-60 foot indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equipment and a steam room and sauna. Guests can also enjoy downtown Woodstock filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food markets and more.

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orre T 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 >>

CALLAWAY GARDENS GETAWAY GOLF STARTING AT $320/NIGHT

Golfers…escape to Callaway Gardens, a 13,000 acre resort one hour south of Atlanta, to hit the links at the scenic Lake View and championship Mountain View golf courses for an unlimited golf getaway starting at only $320/night.

The superbly designed and meticulously maintained golf courses at Callaway Gardens feature woodland borders and mountain lakes accented by the dramatic beauty of the Gardens. No other golf course in Georgia delivers this combination of a magnificent natural setting and rich golf tradition.

The $320/night rate includes: • Two-bedroom Southern Pine Cottage

with kitchen and living area.

• Unlimited Golf on our Lake View and Mountain View courses.

• Use of the Twin Oaks Golf Practice Facility, which offers more than 26-acres to test every club in your bag and ranked as one of the top in the South.

• Admission to world-class Callaway Gardens featuring the Day Butterfly Center, Sibley Horticultural Center, Callaway Discovery Center, live Birds of Prey Shows, seven miles of nature trails and our 10-mile bicycle trail. For more information visit http://www.callawaygardens.com/callaway/summeradventure/sfa-package.aspx

TEE FOR TWO THIS SUMMER AT FOUR SEASONS SCOTTSDALE

Scottsdale, AZ - This Father's Day, forgo the trite necktie and tacky baubles and give dad what he really wants - quality time

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with his family. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and Troon North Golf Club are teaming up to offer the Tee for Two summer golf package, providing dad the chance to share his love of the links with those that matter most.

The Tee for Two package includes: • One-night stay for two at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North • Breakfast for two in Crescent Moon or through In-Casita Dining • One hour of personalized instruction for dad and his son or daughter at Troon North Golf Club • Unlimited golf for the day at Troon North Golf Club for dad and his son or daughter • Callaway rental clubs for dad and his son or daughter for day-use Valid June 1 - Sept. 12, 2010 • Rates start at $355 per night, double occupancy For additional information and reservations, please call (888) 207-9696 or book online at www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

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

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 >> MARYLAND’S LODESTONE GOLF CLUB SET TO OPEN JUNE 5th McHenry, MD – Lodestone Golf Club, in Western Maryland, recently announced they will open all 18 holes of the new layout on Saturday June 5, 2010. Lodestone boasts a stunning Hale Irwin Signature design with

Club is a truly natural mountain golf course highlighted by bold, tree-lined fairways, eyecatching bunker complexes and dramatic rock outcroppings. Not only does Lodestone have the highest elevation of any course in Maryland at 2,973 feet above sea level, but this premier club boasts numerous jaw drop-

golf architect Todd Schoeder, that sits in the mountainous region above Deep Creek Lake and the well known Wisp Resort.

The par-72 Lodestone plays 7,507 yards from the ‘Irwin Tees’ and features bent grass greens, tees and fairways. Lodestone Golf

ping elevation changes and sweeping views of the mountainous region that sits above Deep Creek Lake.

“Lodestone Golf Club will certainly be one of the more celebrated openings this summer,” stated Dave Goff, vice president of

NEW!

chip shots OB Sports (management company at Lodestone Golf Club). “This highly anticipated opening will certainly make a splash not only in the Mid Atlantic region but also throughout the United States as the layout, views and course design will be unparalleled and unlike any other in the area,” added Goff.

While the club will be private, Lodestone Golf Club will be accessible starting June 11, 2010 via 'discovery golf packages' and via access from preferred lodging partners in the Deep Creek Lake region. In addition, Lodestone recently unveiled a new trial use privilege opportunity that allow for interested parties to preview a membership at Lodestone Golf Club. Lodestone’s 2010 Trial Use Privilege program offers a host of benefits including playing privileges, complimentary use of the practice facility, guest privileges, travel benefits at other OB Sportsmanaged facilities, among other value added benefits. The 2010 Trial Use offering starts at $2000 for a single, $3000 for a single plus a spouse/partner and $3600 for a family.

For more information on Lodestone Golf Club, call (301) 616-0508 email info@lodestonegolf.com, visit www.lodestonegolf.com

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J U N E 2010

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DORAL GOLF RESORT & SPA A BIG BLUE MONSTER

By David R. Holland courtesy TravelGolf.com

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ORAL, Fla. – The forecaddie was running his legs off during a marathon dash around Doral Golf Resort & Spa’s (Marriott) TPC Blue Monster at Doral but paused to say, just a smidgen out of breath: “Heck this is nothing, try keeping up with Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor when they play here. I’m worn out by the end of 18.”

But “keeping up” has been no problem for the venerable Miami-area resort since it opened in 1962 and became a favorite of PGA Tour families with the initial Doral Open Invitational, Florida’s first PGA event.

Today’s TPC Blue Monster: The Verdict Ranked No. 29 on Golfweek’s List of Top Tour Courses You Can Play -- in the end TPC Blue Monster at Doral is tougher than the back end of a shooting gallery for the average hack.

One first thinks of No. 18, that 467-yard, par 4 that has been named by Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Holes in the World”. You must thread a perfect drive between water on the left and palms on the right. Then the approach must sneak past another finger of water to a long, narrow green that slopes from back quickly toward the water. Many balls hit left of the green end up in the water and it takes bravery for a player to fire at the back left-hand Sunday pin.

Doral has come a long way since its 2,400 acres, just seven miles from Miami International Airport, were purchased from what was Everglades swampland. One thing is for sure – every golf-loving celebrity and every PGA Tour player legend of the modern era has walked these verdant fairways and tried to avoid its watery hazards, and knocked down shots under its blustery winds and swaying palms.

When Ernie Els won the 2010 CA Championship this March 7-13 it was almost like going back in time – a 40-year-old veteran, loved by many fans, was again a champion (first win in two years) on a course that ranks in PGA lore – only two other PGA stops have hosted continuously run tournaments longer -- The Masters since 1934 and Colonial in Fort Worth since 1946.

And now Doral sits at 49 years in a row but is losing its sponsor for 2011. Most are confident for No. 50 next year.

Doral Golf Resort & Spa’s: The History Owner’s Doris and Alfred Kaskel combined their names for “Doral” and not only did it spawn a world-class resort it gave birth to the city of Doral.

Doral Golf Resort & Spa was renamed in 1993 and the original Dick Wilson layout (with an assist from Joe Lee), got $30 million dollar redesign by Raymond Floyd, who at one time in his career said the Blue Monster was the toughest course he’d ever played, and renowned golf instructor Jim McLean.

“I think what really endeared the PGA Tour pros to Doral,” said Ryan Hershberger, Group Golf Sales Manager and club historian, “was the fact back in the ‘60s and ‘70s travel to a tour event was different, but here was a place the pros could bring their families and the wife and kids had a multitude of other things to enjoy.”

"Dick Wilson designed a golf course with great balance," says Floyd. "There are as many holes where you have to play a draw as a fade. There are long par 4s and short par 4s. There are long par 3s and short par 3s. There are par 5s you can reach in two shots, and the 12th (603 yards) is just about unreachable -- even by Tiger Woods or John Daly."

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At 7,288 yards from the tournament tees, par 72, it has a gauntlet of strategically placed bunkers, and length – then one must know how to play out of Bermuda rough to score well on this historic course. Also, just try and throw darts into par 3s that are surrounded by water. No. 4 is 236 yards with water front and bailout left. No. 9 is 169 yards of all water carry to the pin.

The charm that comes from Doral is the fact all the legends of the game have played here.

“I remember hearing Tiger Woods in a press conference saying he loved the Blue Monster because it was such a traditional golf course,” said Darrin Helfrick, Doral general manager. “And he appreciated that it hadn’t been tricked up and made harder just for the guys on the tour.”

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J U N E 2010

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Much More At Doral Golf Resort & Spa One should never tire of your days at Doral. There are five 18-hole championship golf courses. The par-70 Jim McLean Signature Course debuted in November 2009 as the first full-course design project for the famed golf instructor. The Great White (Greg Norman) and Gold courses were also recently renovated with TifEagle greens. The Red Course forces golfers to use strategy and placement.

Practice and game improvement includes the Jim McLean Golf Center. Dinner is tasty at the Latininspired Mesazul Steakhouse or the new Bossa Nova lobby bar. Lunch is served at The Champions Sports Bar & Grill or Bungalou's Bar & Grill.

Then there’s the Spa at Doral with the Pritikin Longevity Center.

Recreation? The Blue Lagoon aquatic recreation area stands out. There are also nine retail shops.

This “Marriott” resort has 693 rooms, including 96 suites, with balconies or patios and many with views of the course. My view was of the Blue Monster’s 18th. And for its 50th anniversary in 2012 the resort is undergoing a renewal for the celebration.

David R. Holland, Colorado Golf Bible http://drholland77.googlepages.com http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/authorarchives/holland.htm http://www.twitter.com/ David_R_Holland

CARIBBE

by David R. Holland

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ASSETERRE, St. Kitts, West Indies -- It's a tiny slice of the West

Indies, this island where Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, pirates lurked and stowed treasure in a hidden lair, where you drive on the left side of the road, and golf tee shots soar high enough to view countless scenes of ocean beauty at Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.

EAN

Clubhouse can been seen in the distance of No. 18's flag.

COOL

Hole 15 - A beautiful par 3 from the highest point of the golf course. 163 yard downhill.

For that matter, where on earth can you play two holes on the Atlantic Ocean (holes 3 and 4) then a short time later tee off on four Caribbean Sea holes (holes 14-17)?

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club opened in 1976 and was designed by Peter Thomson, taking over land that was once a cotton field. But in 2003 the course blossomed when Canadian Thomas McBroom remodeled the 6,859-yard, par-71 layout to include 83 bunkers, 12 lakes, wide fairways, large greens and irrigated seashore paspalum grass that tolerates sea water and is an advanced hybrid turf grass that helps keep the course lush and green all year.

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club: Entering A New Era "Aside from the introduction of paspalum grass, I think McBroom's reshaping of the bunkers made the biggest hit," said Scott Lien, golf professional of the Marriott-run golf course. "Ask just about anyone what they like about it and they start thinking about the 14th hole followed by the next three."

The 15th, Lien says, sits on the highest point with a stunning panorama of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring islands of Saba, St. Maarten and Nevis. This 163-yard par 3 is all downhill and depending on the wind it can be conquered or doubled.

Sixteen, a 390-yard par 4 with the sea left, makes many a golfer push it right demanding a negotiation of palm trees on the second shot. No. 17 can be a bear. It is a 405-yard par 4 with the Caribbean left and a pond right. Thread the needle here before tackling the finale, a 451-yard par 4 that heads back inland with a 16

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J U N E 2 0 1 0

lake right. When you finish, your numb brain will think it was a par 5, not a 4 if it is against the wind.

"We have people come play every day for a week and they tell me it is different each day because of the wind changing," Lien said.

"You are just not going to get bored."

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club: The Verdict Needless to say, this is a place you should visit - the golf course first, but the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Casino with its Emerald Mist Spa is not to be missed either.

This is a golf experience you won't soon forget. The bunkers are outstanding and the variety the course presents is fun for all levels of player.

The Royal Golf Academy specializes in all levels of golf instruction and offers short-game lessons by the PGA Certified Golf Professionals including Lien and Sean Gradomski. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is managed by Marriott Golf. Through its "rounds and rooms" feature at www.marriottgolf.com guests can pre-book tee times at the same time they book rooms.

Legends Celebrity Golf Weekend This would have been a fun outing even if we hadn't participated in the Legends Celebrity Golf Weekend, where every golfer was on a team with a sports legend. My partner was NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson of the New York Giants, and other headliners were Giants' LB Lawrence Taylor, boxer Gerry Cooney www.golfvacationsmag.com

- even a couple of actors, Shaft's Richard Roundtree and Glynn Turman of A Different World and HBO's The Wire.

Bruce Smith, a Buffalo Bills defensive lineman legend, and Dave Henderson, an outfielder with the Oakland Athletics, hosted the event, but it was chatterbox Buffalo Bills' running back Thurman Thomas who stole the awards ceremony. Thomas quipped, "Heck, Eric Dickerson (LA Rams Hall of Fame running back) made more money at SMU than he did playing pro football."

All of the proceeds from the golf tournament and the silent and live auctions went to Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that works to surgically repair facial deformities in young children around the world. The event raised more than $20,000, and, with each of these surgical procedures costing only $240, more than 80 children will be able to have their facial deformities repaired for free thanks to the generosity of these stars and others who participated in all of the events.

of St. Kitts' sugar-producing history. All of the coins tossed into the fountain by Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino's guests and staff will continue to be donated to the local Children's Home.

What To Do On St. Kitts First, you probably came here for golf and to enjoy the beach, but St. Kitts is steeped in history and boasts plenty of sites -- prehistoric Carib Indian grounds - plantation houses turned into hotels and guest houses, remnants of working sugar estates featuring sugar mills bases and even a narrow-gauge railway you can ride.

Ocean adventures include underwater caves and ancient wrecks.

The sand can be black or tan and there are botanical gardens and mountain trails to hike. There are also plans for a thoroughbred racetrack that will also feature greyhound racing at the north end of the island. South Friars Bay wants to develop a place to swim with dolphins.

Stay and Play: Marriott's Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino The Marriott resort is a huge, 648 rooms, located on the Frigate Bay, windward side of the island. Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino strives to deliver an authentic island experience and aims to promote the Kittitian culture. There were plenty of restaurants, but my favorite was the Royal Grille Steakhouse.

Perhaps the most well known attraction on St. Kitts is Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in October 2000. It was built over a period of 104 years beginning in 1690, and British authorities consider the fortress to be one of the finest examples of British military architecture in the world. The views of St. Eustatius and Saba from this high point are worth the admission.

St. Kitts was once ruled by the sugar cane business, now defunct, but the hotel has a unique fountain at its entrance made out of a sugar-boiling cauldron known as a "copper". It stands as a symbol

A gory battle happened at Bloody Point and Bloody River, named for the massacre of 2,000 indigenous Carib Indians by the English and French militia in 1626.

Hole 14 - This is an uphill 332-yard par 4 with an elevated green and the Caribbean Sea to the right.

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J U N E 2010

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MISSISSIPPI

By Steve Donahue

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G O L F VA C AT I O N S • J U N E 2 0 1 0

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The Birthplace Of America’s Music Offers Golfers A Lot More Than Just Great Courses And Gaming Action

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ississippi might not be the first place many of the nation’s golfers think of when they get a hankering for great golf and gaming. But savvy golfers have long known more golfers should put the Magnolia State on their radar.

In fact, not only does Mississippi combine some of the nation’s top public-access golf courses and gaming destinations (the state’s collection of casino resorts makes it America’s third-largest gaming destination after Las Vegas and Atlantic City), it throws in an endless supply of the Blues—and great BBQ—for good measure.

Mississippi bills itself as “The Birthplace of America’s Music.”

Indeed, from blues legends Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and B.B. King, to the king of rock ’n’ roll, Elvis Presley, to the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, Mississippi is the only place you’ll find the history, heritage, legends and folklore that surround the sounds of America’s music.

Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club

Visitors can now follow the paths of the world’s greatest blues musicians on Highway 61, America’s Blues Highway, thanks to the Mississippi Blues Trail, which honors blues musicians with 100-plus historical markers placed at key Mississippi sites.

From these legends’ birthplaces, to performance sites, to gravesites, you’ll see how the blues began and changed American music.

Nowhere can you learn more about and experience more blues history than in Clarksdale—located at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49 (“the crossroads”)— which, along with the surrounding Delta region, is known as ”the land where the blues began.”

Many of historic downtown Clarksdale’s businesses have been shuttered, but a recent renaissance, of sorts, has seen the fascinating, must-visit Delta Blues Museum (housed in the historic www.golfvacationsmag.com

Clarksdale freight depot), and a host of restaurants and clubs open. Located at adjacent Blues Alley is the famous Ground Zero Blues Club—partly owned by Academy Award-winning actor and Mississippi Delta resident Morgan Freeman—which celebrates the area’s rich blues heritage and showcases today’s premier Delta Blues musicians, while serving great “down home” food and drink. Our group spent the night dancing up a storm to the blues riffs of a superb local group, Stan Street and the Hambone Band.

Incidentally, Stan’s an artist by day. He showcases his outstanding artwork in the popular downtown Clarksdale Hambone Gallery he owns with his wife, who is the band’s drummer. Prior to our night at Ground Zero we dined on delicious BBQ at the Hopson Plantation Commissary, which is filled with antique and historical items that create a nostalgic, Deep South Delta atmosphere. The Commissary is in much the same condition as in its glory days more than 50 years ago. In 1935 the Hopson Plantation began a huge changeover to become one of the world’s first completely mechanized cotton operations. Nine years later, International Harvester debuted the first cotton picker on the Hopson farm, making it the world’s first to grow and harvest a commercial acreage of cotton produced completely by mechanical methods.

Also on the plantation’s grounds is the Shack Up Inn (shackupinn.com), 10 former sharecropper shacks converted into unique hotel rooms whose interiors and exteriors still exude their original rustic feel, but with restored porches, kitchenettes, indoor plumbing, air conditioning and funky decor.

For those preferring the sights and sounds of glittering casino hotels and superb golf courses, Clarksdale is located just 35 miles south of Tunica, which is 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tenn.

Tunica boasts nine world-class casino resorts, more than 6,000 luxG O L F V A C A T I O N S • J U N E 2010

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Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

urious hotel rooms and suites, fine dining restaurants and buffets, headline entertainers, championship golf and tennis, award-winning museums, lavish spas and outlet/antique shopping.

And, of course, let’s not forget Tunica’s outstanding golf scene, led by the spectacular Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club, which is located in the heart of casino country and the Delta Region. Tunica National is built on pancake-flat land, and, not surprisingly, wind is a major factor. There is water everywhere, but fortunately the fairways are wide and the greens large, albeit lightning-quick. A 360-degree driving range features a golf academy.

Designed by Mark McCumber and Associates, this $12 million club features a tournament-level, 18-hole championship course playable for all skill levels. There also is a six-hole short practice course and a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse, which houses four indoor clay tennis courts.

River Bend Links at Casino Strip Resorts—a wonderful links-style layout—is nestled between Sam’s Town, Hollywood Casino and Resorts Tunica. This 6,900-yard, par-72 Clyde Johnston-designed masterpiece traverses a former cotton field and features lakes, sand and grass bunkers, and strategically placed mounds. And with five tee-box options, the course is challenging and fun for players of all abilities.

Rounding out Tunica’s golf offerings is The Links at Cottonwoods, affiliated with Harrah’s Casino Tunica. The 7,200-yard, par-72 Hale Irwin-designed links-style course has gently rolling fairways and three sparkling lakes that can put a damper on one’s score.

The rooms and suites in the Gold Strike Casino Resort, where our group stayed, are amazing, as are the hotel’s restaurants, including

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PLANNING YOUR TRIP WHERE TO PLAY Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Azaleas) Choctaw: 601-663-0011, dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.com Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Oaks) Choctaw: 601-663-0011, dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.com River Bend Links Tunica: 888-539-9990, riverbendlinks.com The Links at Cottonwoods Tunica: 800-946-4946, harrahstunica.com Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club 866-TEEOFF1 (833-6331), tunicanational.com WHERE TO STAY Dancing Rabbit Golf Club Clubhouse Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.com Golden Moon Hotel & Casino Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.com Gold Strike Casino Resort Tunica: 888-245-7829, goldstrikemississippi.com Silver Star Hotel & Casino Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.com WHERE TO EAT Miko (Silver Star Hotel & Casino) Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.com Hopson Commissary Clarksdale: 662-624-5756, hopsonplantation.com ’37 (Harrah’s Tunica) Tunica: 800-WIN4WIN (946-4946), harrahstunica.com WHAT TO DO Delta Blues Museum Clarksdale: 800-626-3764, deltabluesmuseum.org Ground Zero Blues Club Clarksdale: 662-621-9009, groundzerobluesclub.com Hopson Plantation Clarksdale: 662-624-5756, hopsonplantation.com Tunica RiverPark 866-51RIVER (517-4837), tunicariverpark.com WHO TO CONTACT Mississippi Development Authority/Tourism Division 601-359-3449, mississippi.org Mississippi Tourism Association 866-SEEMISS (733-6477), VisitMississippi,org Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau 888-4TUNICA (488-6422), tunicatravel.com, tunicamiss.com Visit Clarksdale 800-626-3764, visitclarksdale.com

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The Courtyard Buffet. I also highly recommend setting aside an evening for fine dining at Harrah’s Casino Tunica’s ’37 Steakhouse, where the food and service are absolutely incredible. And if you’re a fan of Food Network star Paula Deen, her Paula Deen Buffet restaurant at Harrah’s is a huge hit with visitors, who always make time to pose for a photo with a cardboard Paul cutout outside the eatery’s front door and play the slots of the adjacent Paula Deen machines.

Tunica also became a more convenient destination on May 6, 2010, when AirTran Airways began making regular scheduled, non-stop jet service between the newly expanded Tunica Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The best place to better see and understand the Mississippi River and its history is at the state-of-the-art Tunica RiverPark. You’ll enjoy exhibits on the Mississippi Delta, its wildlife, the levee system and the region’s history; a threestory outdoor observation platform; four large aquariums with native aquatic life; and 130 acres of Delta-wetlands forest with 1.9 miles of boardwalk trails. You can also relax and experience the Mighty Mississippi up close on the all-new Tunica Queen riverboat, docked at the museum.

It has space for 300 passengers, two openair decks, dining and sightseeing cruises.

Some four hours southeast of Tunica—and an hour-and-a-half’s drive from Jackson, the state capital—is the spectacular Pearl River Resort, which includes the world-class, 36-hole Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, Silver Star Hotel & Casino, Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, new Hilton Garden Inn, Geyser Falls Water Theme Park and Clearwater Key. Golfers also have the option of staying in one of the eight guestrooms on the second floor of the gorgeous Southern Plantationstyle Dancing Rabbit Clubhouse.

Our group stayed in the comfortable, well-appointed rooms (with 12-foot ceilings), which come with keys to private golf carts (complete with headlights) you navi-

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gate along a lighted cart path through the woods from the clubhouse to the Silver Star Hotel & Casino, where you absolutely need to set aside an evening of fine dining at Miko. Dancing Rabbit’s Clubhouse accommodations couldn’t be more convenient for small golf groups or golfers flying solo, especially since you’ll finish your round mere steps from your room, the award-winning golf shop and the Clubhouse Grill, which serves up a hearty breakfast buffet and lunch.

Dancing Rabbit—built on the ancestral lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians—offers a variety of Stay & Play Golf Packages at any of the resort’s hotels, its Clubhouse accommodations and a recently renovated, three-bedroom, twobathroom house hidden off the third hole of its Azaleas Course.

Southern hospitality rules at Dancing Rabbit, whose service is superb, and the golf at its Azaleas and Oaks courses is spectacular.

The design team of Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate carved Azaleas, which opened in July 1997, out of the region’s dramatic valleys, ancient pines and hardwoods. The Azaleas course is reserved

exclusively for resort guests. The 7,172-yard, par-72 Azaleas, during our late-April visit, conjured up images of Augusta National as the azaleas were exploding in full bloom throughout the immaculately manicured layout. The thrill ride through the enchanting forest’s peaks and valleys has earned Azaleas countless welldeserved awards.

The 7,076-yard, par-72 Oaks—which also has received numerous accolades from golf publications since its 1999 opening—features many elevation changes and large, undulating greens. While Oaks was built through the same rustic landscape as its sister, it offers golfers a different look, with several holes requiring carries over water. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina flattened more than 1,000 trees on the Oaks (amazingly, the adjacent Azaleas only sustained minor damage), giving a number of holes an unplanned, moreopen feel, which actually makes it a perfect complement to Azaleas’ forested design.

The bottom line is Mississippi is the world’s only golf/gaming destination where you will actually enjoy feeling the blues.

The Links At Cottonwoods

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Walking and Talking With Paul Schock

How did you get into golfing?

My older brother Bernie, who is ten years older than me, was an avid golfer during the days when there weren't any driving ranges around where we grew up in South Dakota. So, everyone had their own "shag bag" and you would go to a fairway and hit your own balls, pick them up and start over.

I would "shag" for Bernie, and the deal was that every time I shagged a bag, he would let me hit a few balls on my own. I think what this instilled in me was that hitting golf balls was a great privilege, something to cherish, and to this day, I cherish my time on the range.

As I got older, at about age 13, I started playing in junior tournaments, and had some success, which just fueled my passion.

My parents were members of a fairly quiet private club, The Minnehaha Country Club (still one of South Dakota’s finest courses) and I spent literally sun up to sun down out there from about age 12 to 18. There were several of us who played together, and this established golf as the foundation and one 24

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of the key relationships in my life, something that is still true today, and something I have tried to pass along to my children.

What attracts you to golfing? Why are you passionate about it?

I feel it’s a game between you and the course, period.

An avid golfer establishes this amazing relationship between the course, his game, the ball, and the elements, while enjoying a walk in the great outdoors. I have always loved the outdoors. I love to watch birds, listen to the wind, watch the sky, and with golf I get to do all of these things while also enjoying this amazing competition between myself and what I can do against the course on a given day.

Golf is ever changing, both with me and my skills, and the courses, which are each so different, and the elements, which are never quite the same. In many ways, each experience is like your first. It’s a game no one owns, you just get to borrow it for a little bit, and then it's gone. But you feel deep

down those moments when you own it, and they keep you going -- trying to find that bliss again.

As you mature, it dawns on you what a simple, yet utterly complicated game golf is.

You realize what a gift a great golf shot is -the satisfaction of pulling one off stirs you down deep. You learn that mistakes and bad breaks are just part of life, and you learn to overcome them, at least in your spirit, and then there are those times when you think you'll never find it again, and then all of a sudden you hit a screaming two iron into the wind that drops with cat's feet five feet from the hole, and you are back where you started, thinking that someday you'll master it for good.

Golfers don't let piles of defeat tear down their hope, there is almost always that one shot in a round that is struck as good as anyone can, and what sport offers this? I will never hang on the rim after a thundering dunk, but I can drain a 40-foot putt or stiff a wedge just as well as Tiger can, at least once in a while.

Golf builds relationships. I've established and developed many of my best friendships on the golf course, walking up a fairway with a friend talking about life. There's something about the game and where it's played that draws one to the deeper issues of life, and for most golfers their favorite memories are those that are shared. But it's also about solitude, just me and my Maker. Even when the course is busy, it's still a quiet place suited for reflection.

What have been your most memorable golfing experiences?

I have been playing competitive golf for about 40 years. Last year, at age 51, I made it to the quarterfinals of our State Amateur Championship, and Tom Watson, at age 57, almost won the British Open -- what other sport offers this opportunity? Curling?

Over those years, I have lots of precious memories of famous defeats and a few famous victories.

My most favorite competitive memory is that of winning both of South Dakota's key amateur events at age 44, with my 13year-old son, Kyle, caddying for me. He had been caddying for me since age 7, and we www.golfvacationsmag.com

VALENTINE, NE

By TerryROSS

Founder and CEO, The Prairie Club have had lots of ups and downs. Kyle shared my pain in that I was South Dakota's most accomplished player who had NOT won a state championship. And then with him on the bag, I broke through and won both the state stroke play and match play in the same year, something only three other golfers had done. I would not have been able to handle the pressure of all the close calls without Kyle's support and encouragement.

What are your favorite places to golf in the world?

I've been fortunate to play a lot of the great golf courses in America, and some of them in Scotland and Ireland, but my most favorite are those that are away from the busy pace of modern life. Probably my most favorite place to play golf is Sand Hills Golf Club. I love the prairie, and there is something incredibly special about the quiet of the prairie in western Nebraska. Each time I've been on a trip to the Sand Hills, or similar places like Sutton Bay or Bandon Dunes, I've been with people that I care about, and we have had the chance to share our lives in ways that just don't seem to happen in the day-to-day rush of modern existence.

What do you admire about golf course design?

I have an extensive background with the

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game of golf, and have been an amateur fan and student of golf course architecture for at least the 30 years. I’ve had the opportunity to play about half of the top 100 courses, and over time because a student of Alister Mackenzie, who designed Augusta. His book, “The Spirit of St. Andrews” is by far my favorite writing on the subject.

Over the years, I have paid a lot of attention to what I like and don’t like about golf course design. I think the game is meant to be this amazing combination between fun and challenging, and I have developed very specific feelings about what type of design makes the game the most fun and challenging.

Like MacKenzie, I believe the golf ball is round, and was meant to roll. And, that what makes golf shots the most interesting is terrain that you can roll the ball along toward the target. The ground should be fast, with natural undulations that call for a low, run up shot that slows down, speeds up, turns the right or wrong way.

In your mind, what features make for excellent course design?

To me, the ideal golf hole allows you to find your ball almost no matter where you hit it, and play it toward the green. The further you are off the target, the harder it should be to recover, but the recovery shot

is one of the greatest aspects of the game, and water hazards are hard to recover from.

Fairways should be wide, greens should be big with natural and fun undulations, and bunkers should be mostly off to the side, not in the way of the run up shot. The course should be very walkable, and possibly one of the great delights of the game is the tee box that is almost adjacent to the previous hole. I don't mind walking a long hole, but I hate long walks between tees and greens, and so do most golfers.

And what don’t you like about more recent golf course design?

I believe golf is meant to be a walk in the park, not a walk through a housing development. These types of courses by their requirements cannot be as walkable, and cannot have the variety of shot values and scenic values that are so important to the experience for the golfer. Some of the problems with modern design are the fault of the architects. Water hazards everywhere and bunkers all over the place.

The average golfer fears playing out of a bunker worse than the fear of death itself, and hitting a shot over water is a close second. It just isn't fun and causes embarrassment to plunk a bunch of balls in the water, or hit four shots out of a bunker before you get out of it. This modern idea of forcing

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golfers to hit high, soft shots over water or other hazards puts unrealistic strain on the golfer, and asks him to hit shots that are extremely difficult to hit, with often the result of a lost ball, which should not be a big part of the game.

From a design perspective, what courses have most influenced you?

The courses that have inspired me the most are St Andrews, Sand Hills Golf Club, Ballyneal, Sutton Bay, and the Bandon courses. I love Pine Valley

immensely, especially the fact that almost every hole is unique. It’s in that regard that I have been most influenced in shaping the direction of The Prairie Club.

Which golf course architects do you most admire?

I love Alister MacKenzie's work. I very much admire Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's work, and would probably call them my favorite modern architect team. I also admire Tom Doak's work, and of course I feel strongly about the work done by our architects at The Prairie Club or I wouldn't have picked them.

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In general, I think golfers in the United States have been under-served by most of the modern architects for a number of reasons, some of which aren't the fault of the architects. For example, so many of the courses built in the past few decades are part of real estate developments, and you have golf holes lined by houses, which is such a detriment in my view.

ards and out of bounds shots). Playability also implies walkability in my opinion. The game was meant to be walked.

What do you consider the most critical factors of good golf course design?

One, is a great setting -- great land. I

What drew you to the land that would eventually become The Prairie Club?

There is something incredibly captivating about the Sandhills region generally, and this ranch specifically. The Sandhills region features land that has not been disturbed by development, ranching or agriculture in any way. The soil is too fragile to be farmed or over grazed, so it

cannot think of a great golf course that didn't include these. Great setting means that you get to go for a walk in an incredible place, and great land (for golf) means that there is a lot of character, roll, shapes that make for a variety of interesting golf shots.

Second would best be called playability. It means different things to different people, but to me it means a wonderful combination of: interesting, variable golf shots; generous landing areas and large greens (fewer lost balls, more experience of the ball rolling over this and around that); and the opportunity to find your ball and play it (as opposed to lots of water haz-

looks almost exactly like it did 500 years ago. Mile after mile of grass covered dunes -- sparse, natural and pure.

Then there’s the QUIET! It’s almost deafening how quiet it is. And the dark – at night, it is one of the darkest places in the United States. Through the middle of our property runs the Snake River canyon.

It shocks you to see it for the first time because it is so surprising.

Along the edge the 200- to 300-foot canyon walls are thousands of ponderosa pines opening up to a completely undisturbed world with its waterfalls, a worldclass trout stream, eagles, osprey and www.golfvacationsmag.com

VALENTINE, NE turkey, and deer -- all in the middle of the prairie. It’s offers such a stunning contrast.

There’s also the character of the people who live here. Lots of third and fourth generation ranchers, who are very interesting, engaging folks.

Why do you love this land and why do you think it’s perfect for The Prairie Club?

The land is perfect for The Prairie Club because it's perfect for golf. It has rolling terrain, lots of different shapes (natural, distinct blow-outs), and incredible variety of landforms and scenery. It’s sand based, which makes for perfect playing conditions -- bouncy, firm, fast, great turf, no standing water or squishy parts, and it offers three different environments – prairie, forest and river canyon in the same place.

There’s nature everywhere: an incredible variety of birds, plants, flowers, big sky and great breezes. It’s a sacred place with a legendary amount of history that’s a off the beaten path. In a way, it’s a retreat, a place where the lid tends to come off and you can get back in touch with your real self.

How did you select Tom Lehman, Graham Marsh and Gil Hanse to design the courses at The Prairie Club?

As Grounds Committee Chairman at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls (one of South Dakota’s finest courses) I led a process of completing a new master plan and some major changes to our golf course, which included an extensive search and interview process with architects. I’m also one of the founding members of Sutton Bay and became very intimate with Graham Marsh, whom was selected to design Sutton Bay. Also, I spent about two years helping the former owner of much of the land that is now The Prairie Club, Cleve Trimble, with his plans for a golf project. It was alongside Cleve as he went through the architect selection process that culminated with the selection of Gil Hanse, and I became very intimate with Gil’s work.

From all of the golf I’ve played and all of the study I’ve done and the experience with architects, I knew pretty much what I wanted in an architect. I knew that Gil and Graham shared my vision, but Tom was sort of unknown. I had been a fan of www.golfvacationsmag.com

his for a long time.

Tom is from Minnesota and is active in many volunteer and church causes -- things that are important to me. I sent his design firm an email on December 1, 2006 and about ten days later he was on site at The Prairie Club. We hit it off on design philosophy and in many other ways and it was easy to invite him to join the team.

Why did you decide to go with three golf course designers rather than four?

The main reason is Gil Hanse (and his team, Geoff Shackelford and Jim Wagner).

I became acquainted with Gil Hanse when he was working on a golf course project for neighboring landowner Cleve Trimble, and through that, got to know Gil quite well, and came to appreciate his work and approach to golf course architecture.

For a variety of reasons (mostly because we chose to put our first two 18hole courses on different land than the land on which Gil Hanse had been focusing) we chose Gil to design the Horse Course as a way of him and his team be a part of the project from the start and to give our guests a chance to see his work.

For a designer, an 18-hole course is really what it’s about, so there wasn’t a question about who would do our third course.

When you were working with Lehman, Marsh and Hanse, were there some particular aspects or components that you insisted upon for The Prairie Club?

I started with this mantra: golf should first of all be fun. What makes golf the most fun? Well, in my mind, it is a ball, and it was meant to roll. At its best, golf requires shots that move along the ground, around and over natural features that challenge the golfer eye and skill, but do not require him (or her) to hit shots they aren’t capable of hitting, such as a 200-yard carry over water.

So fairways should be undulating (in natural, wind-blown, dunesy ways), but wide and generous.

The main strategy should mean that a hole gives you the best chance for birdie if you challenge the trouble, but if you bail out, you still have a chance for recovery (as opposed to the ball being lost, out of bounds, or in the water). The recovery shot is one of the most fun aspects of the game.

Lost balls should be a rarity.

Golfers love to putt, and hate to hit out of greenside bunkers, so greens should be big, and bunkers should mostly be off to the side. There must always be a run-up option, and lots of green grass around the greens to give folks the chance to hit shots that are fun (but challenging) around the greens, maybe putt from 30 yards away.

These are the types of shots that are played on courses in Scotland and Ireland – they’re the type of shots that have been hit for many centuries, until modern designers changed the game to island greens and house-lined fairways.

The course must be walkable, greento-tee throughout. There should be a variety of tee boxes to make sure all golfers can enjoy the course, and to account for variable wind conditions. The ground must be fast, so the ball can roll. The architect must use the natural landforms, the ones God made, because I think He is the best architect of all. Man-made shapes are usually obvious and annoying. There should be a variety of hole strategies, left to right, right to left, short fours, long fours, short fives, long fives, short and long threes.

As a serious golfer who has golfed all over the world, what kind of an experience did you want to create for members and visitors to The Prairie Club both on and off the greens?

On the course, I want our guests to have fun, no matter what their level of skill. I believe our courses will play very similarly to those in Scotland and Ireland, with fast ground, run-up shots; big fairways and greens; lots of grass around greens; and a number of tee boxes to accommodate different skill levels. And they’ll be very walkable, because it is in walking that we enjoy the game and the fellowship the most.

Off the course, I want our guests to feel like they are at their second home, where they are loved and cared for by people who care about them, and who seek to give them a respite from the cares and busy-ness of modern life.

In addition, we will offer great but unpretentious food and service, and a comfortable, relaxing retreat in the finest sense of the word. Our place out on the great prairie tends to change people for the better, and I want us mostly to enhance this experience, not get in its way.

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Many of the greatest golf courses in the world are private courses — avid golfers will never have the chance to experience them. Is that why you chose to make The Prairie Club accessible to the public?

Yes. I know what it is like to experience both ends of that spectrum. I have tried to get on courses and failed, and there is something not quite right about that, given that most of them could easily accommodate more players. Conversely, I’ve been able to have someone’s brother’s friend’s uncle get me on this or that great private course, and it is such a joy to play the great golf courses.

So while The Prairie Club will be member oriented, we will always find a way to receive the avid golfer who just can’t afford to join or for whom joining just doesn’t make sense. They may have to come when it works for us, but they can come.

In designing The Prairie Club’s courses, did you base playability on the average player or professionals? Would you characterize the playability of The Prairie Club’s courses as: easy bogey or tough par?

We designed The Prairie Club’s courses with every golfer in mind. The key is the number of tee boxes, which vary from a minimum of four to as many as six per hole.

It is sometimes a challenge to get folks to play the right set of tees, but if they do, they can decide if they want to play a course that is relatively easy or really, really hard.

I remember a couple of years ago playing Sutton Bay with my 12-year-old son, and the wind was howling. We were both not playing very well, and were playing the tougher tees for our skill level. For fun, we decided to play the most forward tee, and we both had a great time. We will work with our guests to help them play the tee that fits their wish for a great golf experience.

Will the design of The Prairie Club’s courses allow a golfer to use all or nearly all of the clubs in his golf bag?

We have very purposefully designed great variety in our courses, and yes, we want each guest to have an amazing variety of shot types to encourage them to really think their way around the course. I think so many of us golfers are a tired of the 450yard par four dog leg left with a bunker guarding the corner and three or four 28

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bunkers guarding the greens. It’s driver, then wedge to five iron on every hole. Not us – we’re going to mix it up. It’s all about having fun.

Considering the lack of trees and the potential for above average wind on the prairies at The Prairie Club, do you think the design of The Prairie Club’s courses will favor those who are students of the American-style of golf (high trajectories) or the British/European links-style (keeping the trajectories of your shots closer to the greens)?

I think American-style golf (high trajectories) is a gift we’ve given to about 5 percent of the golfing public. The reality is that 95 percent golfers can’t hit a four iron high and soft over a bunker to a tight pin or small green. We believe The Prairie Club will offer its guests a more fun game, but different type of game -- more akin to how it’s played on the courses in the British Isles.

We plan to work with our guests and members both on and off the course on teaching them how easy and fun it is to hit a good run-up shot.

A lot of the newer courses that are built to challenge the longer hitters and their new equipment have plenty of room for a couple sets of forward tees yet it seems strategies and playability from there are barely considered.

How much consideration do you put into how

a course will play from the forward tees?

We have placed a tremendous amount of effort on how our courses play from all of our tees. We have done this for two very important reasons. One, we want to change up the course even for the average to pretty good golfer. One day we want to play a par four as a two shotter, but the next day as a driveable four.

Our forward tees are not just a little push up fairway spot, they are well thought out golf holes. The second reason is the obvious one: to allow for folks who don’t hit the ball very far to still have fun. After all, we all get there eventually, that point that Gary Player described as “Now I hit it so short I can hear my ball land.”

What’s your biggest peeve about modern golf courses? Any peeves with the classics?

Modern: Narrow fairways, too much out of bounds and hazards, too many bunkers, too many houses, too far between holes (can’t walk it if you want to), too many trees (they’ve taken away the recovery shot), too many similar holes, and too much manmade structure.

Classic: Many have been allowed to remain too short in terms of the advancements with ball and equipment technology (which isn’t the courses’ fault obviously).

And, they’ve grown way too many trees and in some cases put in way too many bunkers.

I admire the classic courses that are returning to their roots (i.e., taking out trees, removing bunkers, etc.).

What’s next after you open The Prairie Club? Is there room to add another course at The Prairie Club? Are exploring other courses in other parts of the country?

We’ve announced the pre-development of our fourth course at The Prairie Club, “Old School.” We hope to begin the design process later this year, and may begin construction as early as next year or the year after, depending upon our financial success.

We believe our business model of providing great golf and service at a reasonable price is a sweet spot that isn’t being met enough in our country, so we have a longterm goal of being an organization that has sites throughout the country. We will be very picky though. Great land in a great setting isn’t easy to come by, but it’s what makes The Prairie Club so special. www.golfvacationsmag.com

WORLDBEAT

THAILAND

by Mark Walters, www.thailandgolfzone.com

DO’S AND DONT’S WHEN GOLFING IN THAILAND 1. Given that you’ll be out on the course for at least four hours do make sure you put plenty of sunscreen on. It’s also advisable to wear a hat or cap. The sun when golfing in Phuket can be the strongest compared to all other Thailand golf destinations.

2. Although golfing in Thailand is relaxed, don’t expect to be allowed onto the course wearing inappropriate clothing.

Do wear a collared shirt with slacks, Bermuda shorts, or a skirt (provided you are a lady). Mock collars (aka Tiger Woods) are also accepted at all Thailand golf courses.

3. Do listen to your caddie-and listen very carefully! Thailand boasts some of the best trained and most savvy caddies in Asia. Find a knowledgeable one and reserve her for perhaps a repeat round (though it may be a privilege only afforded

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to rounds booked by members or through golf tour operators).

4. Don’t be alarmed to see a flight in front of you turn into a parade of 20 bodies! ----Extra caddies are often required to carry the umbrella, chair or beer! ---and don’t forget the cart driver and ball diver at Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

5. While it is acceptable on many courses for golfers to play without presenting a handicap certificate, this is not an excuse for clogging up the course and being slow. Do abide by the marshals’ gentle requests regarding the speed of play.

Slow play at Bangkok Golf Club and Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Golf Club could easily be avoided if these suggestions were adhered to.

6. Ladies, don’t be overwhelmed by the caddies, an almost exclusively female domain. Their natural grace and charming

‘mai pen rai’ light –heartedness will make you feel at ease and just as welcome as your male flight partners. Some lady golfers in Thailand that I know even have gone so far as to become friends with their caddies.

7. Do stop at the frequent ‘half-way refreshment houses’, usually found every three holes on Thailand golf courses to allow you to re-hydrate….and call through groups that are playing at a quicker pace. I let a three-some pass me last time I was at Alpine Chiang Mai, and my, what a more peaceful round I had after that!

8. Don’t skip the post-game Thai massage or foot reflexology offered at many clubhouses. If you can’t find one at the golf course try one of the many small Thai massage shops around your hotel or around downtown Hua Hin. You will be glad you did and know why some equate Thailand golf to heaven-on-earth!

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WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO PLAY

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WHERE TO STAY

DESTINATIONS

WHERE TO PLAY

RANKED - TOP 5 PUBLIC COURSES

$4

0/ $45

Weekd ay

For Tee Times Call

$3

Weeke nd

0 / $35 Twiligh t

866-GO-1-GOLF

*SEE WEBSITE SPECIALS* www.IndianSpringsGC.com

Rated Best Course Under $100 - The Desert Sun Turbo’s Tavern & Grille (760) 200-9844

RATES THROUGH OCT 2 www.golfvacationsmag.com

• Golf Digest - Places To Play • Public Welcome • Corporate & Group Events Welcome • GPS Yardage System On Every Golf Cart • Premium Club Rentals • 18 Hole Championship Course G O L F V A C A T I O N S • J U N E 2010

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• All Suite Hotel • Just Minutes Away From World Class Golf Courses • Complimentary Full Breakfast Every Morning • Sunday through Thursday Complimentary Hosted Reception • Stay & Play Golf Packages

Ask for th e

Golf Vaca tions Magazine Special Ra te

36999 Cook Street • Palm Desert

760-568-1600

www.palmdesert.homewoodsuites.com