Golf Vacations Magazine October 2010

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Golf A Special Treat On Riviera Maya

by Fred Robledo

There are currently six golf courses on the Riviera Maya and more in the planning stages. I played three of them and visited two others.

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Casual, Caribbean, Curaçao

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Celtic Manor Hosts 2010 Ryder Cup

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Hollywood Says Hello To Las Vegas

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A Waterfall Of Golf At Cascata Golf Club

by David R. Holland

Curaçao is located about 35 miles off the northern coast of Venezuela and is the largest of the ABC islands that includes Aruba and Bonaire.

by JD Latorre

As the world descends on Wales for the 2010 Ryder Cup, visitors discover a country steeped in rich culture and fascinating history.

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by Terry Ross

Planet Hollywood sports a hip vibe and a celebrity feel that reverberates through its modern architecture and Hollywood theme.

by Terry Ross

Even though Las Vegas offers more than a few entertainment diversions, a day of golf at Cascata is unlike any you’ll find on green grass.

departments 30 SideTrip

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by Terry Ross

Golf Hall Of Fame At Las Vegas National Golf Club

32 Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

Try The Kettle Worx Workout

33 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

on the cover: Old Quarry Golf Course, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

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

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Cabo San Lucas, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angeles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.

Fred Robledo has been covering professional golf for more than 30 years. He wrote for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the Los Angeles Times before moving into public relations where he promoted professional tour events for Brener Zwikel & Associates.

He is now semi-retired, traveling the country and reviewing golf destinations for Golf Vacations Magazine.

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.

Associate Editor Terry Ross Features Editor Larry Feldman

Staff Writers Fred Robledo Rob Mottram For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: INFO@GolfVacationsMag.com

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Golf is a Special Treat on the Riviera Maya

By Fred Robledo

W

hat could the creative minds of such golf course architects as Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, P.B. Dye and Greg Norman come up with if presented with pristine land along a beautiful coast line in a tropical area?

Such a coast line exists along a 125--mile stretch on the Yucatan Peninsula in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

From the air you can see where the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea splash into the white sandy beaches all the way from Puerto Morelos, which is just south of the Cancun International Airport, to the small fishing village that is Punta Allen.

The white sand is all that separates the water from the green jungles of the Riviera Maya.

It was in that jungle foliage and along the jagged coast line that Jones, Nicklaus, Dye and Norman created outstanding golf courses that are offer stunning vistas and enough sets of tees to make the game challenging for all classes of players.

Maya and more in the planning stages. I played three of them and visited two others during a recent journey to the area.

To plan for a trip like this, one has to find the right resort.

The choices are endless. You can find secluded beach hotels or stay in a trendy ocean front hotel where you will mingle with guests from all over the world.

I stayed at the Iberostar Playa Paraiso, a five-star hotel which is one of five Iberostar resorts located on the same property. Part of the lure was because the Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club was part of the complex. The other part of the lure was it was an All-Inclusive resort which means the only time you reach into your wallet is to offer a tip, and even that is optional.

Big tipper than I am, I became one of the favorite guests of the friendly staff and all were asking me to ask for them whenever I needed anything.

I got to know one of the bartenders (Carlos) so well that whenever I returned from a round of golf, as soon as he spot-

Tulum

Golf hasn’t always been an option on the Riviera Maya. As recently as 30 years ago, the only reason to venture south of Cancun would be to visit the ruins of Tulum or Playa Del Carmen and the only thing one would see on the route would be a few fishing villages and maybe some thatched huts along some of the beaches.

Not anymore.

The Riviera Maya, with its cultural richness and beautiful surroundings, is now one of the fastest growing resort areas in the world with many all-inclusive hotels and ocean front bungalows dotting the landscape.

There’s one other thing that is getting attention – the golf courses. There are currently six golf courses on the Riviera 10

G O L F VA C AT I O N S • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0

ted me crossing the massive lobby on my way through the bar, he would have my favorite beverage prepared and handed to me as I passed his station on my way to my suite.

Life is good at an Iberostar resort.

Before my first round of golf, the club pro, Greg Bond, gave me the best advice about playing all of the courses on the Riviera Maya. “Fairways and fairways,” he repeated over and over. “You keep remembering those two things and you will be rewarded.”

What he was trying to emphasize was tightness of the fairways the penalty you will pay for missing them because you don’t want to wander into the jungle looking for lost balls.

Keeping the balls in the fairways takes on more difficulty

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Bahia Principe

‘

I got to know one of the bartenders so well that whenever I returned from a round of golf he would have my favorite beverage prepared as I passed his station on my way to my suite.

Life is good at an Iberostar resort.�

Iberostar WHERE TO STAY Iberostar Paraiso Maya Hotel Carretera Cheturnal-Puerto Juarez, km.309 309 77710 Playa Paraiso Quintana – Roo Mexico Phone: (011) 52-984-077-2849 Web site: www.iberostar.com Email: rplindo.maya@iberostar.com.mx Five-Star all-inclusive hotel. There are two huge statues that preside over the entrance to the impressive reception area which features furniture carved in wood, brass, bronze or limestone. From a giant harp whose strings are decorated with seashells to the huge brass vases and a lobby bar that is an exact replica of the Chichen Itza Pyramid, this hotel is an authentic masterpiece, filled with objects that wouldn’t be out of place in a museum. This hotel also features outstanding nightly entertainment, sports facilities, six restaurants to satisfy all culinary palates, five bars and an ice cream bar.

Guests may choose from one of 349 Junior Suites, all with a terrace and full range of facilities including cable television, coffee making machines, mini-bar, hair dryer and safe.

The hotel’s all-inclusive service also includes swimming at any of the many pools, sports such as aerobics, shooting, archery, basketball, cycling, beach volleyball, billiards, bocce, catamarans, football, gymnastics, kayaking, aqua gym, the scuba clinic, snorkeling, table tennis, tennis and windsurfing.

WHERE TO PLAY Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club Par 72, rating 67.4 to 72.4, slope 120 to 136 Yardage: from 4,680 yards to 6,683 yards Phone: (011) 52-984-877-2800 Web site: www.iberostar.com Email: golfparaiso@iberostar.com.mx Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Golf Club Par 72, rating 68.7 to 75.0, slope 120 to 137 Yardage: from 5,259 yards to 7,272 yards Phone: (011) 52-984-875-5048 Web site: www.rivieramaya-golfclub.com El Camaleon Mayakoba Par 72, rating 69.0 to 73.8, slope 119 to 137 Yardage: from 5,078 yards to 7,044 yards 12

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Phone: (011) 52-984-206-3088 Web site: www.mayakobagolf.com El Manglar Vidanta Golf Riviera Maya 2,923 yards, par 54 Phone: (800-506-8171) Web Site: www.vidantagolf.com Playacar Spa and Golf Course Par 72, rating 72.8 to 76.1, slope 134 to 148 Yardage: from 5,698 yards to 7,144 yards Phone: (011) 52-984-873-4990 Tee times: teetimes@palaceresorts.com Web site: www.palaceresorts.com THINGS TO DO Tulum Archeological Site This is the most beautiful archeological site on the Riviera Maya. Tulum, which means Fortified City in Maya, is the only walled city along the coast, built in a way to defend itself against attacks. Most of the buildings were built between 1200 and 1450 AD. Playa Del Carmen This is a port where cruise ships stop to give its passengers a taste of the Riviera Maya. The city has experienced a development boom recently and the population, once made up of people from the surrounding area, has quickly turned into a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world.

La Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) This is where Europe meets Mexico over several square blocks featuring handicraft shops, jewelry stores, exclusive boutiques, bars and restaurants. In the evening, the nightclubs come alive raising the spirit and energy of the people to create a unique party atmosphere.

Festivals, Events There are things to do throughout the year throughout the Riviera Maya. In February there is the Mayakoba Golf Classic and a carnival at Playa Del Carmen. The Expo Tequila, which features tequila producers from all over Mexico, is in July Other events during the year include film festivals, a sea turtle festival and the Playa Del Carmen fishing tournament.

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because of the wind, and even reading the wind is tough because the trees are so short on the peninsula. Once a ball gets above the tree line, it’s at the mercy of the wind.

With all of the information rattling around in my brain, the first course I played was the Dye-designed Iberostar Playa Paraiso.

If you know anything about the Dye family of golf course architects, you know to expect anything. P.T. Dye did not disappoint. How about trees in the middle of bunkers? Or cenotes (deep sink holes) in the middle of fairways? There is always a fair amount of water on a Dye course and this one also has narrow fairways carved from a Mayan jungle, deep bunkers, rock riverbeds, and vertical movements of land to create side hill, downhill and uphill lies.

“The first few holes are relatively easy,” Bond said, “but the course gets your attention beginning at the seventh hole.”

The stretch of holes, from 7 through 11, are what Dye liked to refer to as his Amen Corner. I would have called it Tapped Out Corner because it can make you feel like tapping out.

The 547-yard 7th hole plays directly into the wind. Once you traverse the bunker-strewn, heavily contoured fairway, you must deal with a three-tiered green that isn’t very deep, but is about 80 yards wide. Land on the wrong side of this green and you will be proud to three-putt it.

The 8th hole is a 463-yard par-4 that is uphill. You can’t miss the green left, right or long or you will wind up in the jungle. Come up short and you will be hitting from a cenote.

The 9th hole is one of the most scenic with a view of the pyramid from the Iberostar Paraiso Maya resort. Although it is a relatively short (364 yards) par-4, the wind plays trick with your shot to the green.

The 10th hole is the one with a tree standing along in the middle of a waste bunker in the middle of the fairway. The

tree really doesn’t come into play as your tee shot should easily carry the waste bunker, but still, it makes one want to hit either left or right of the tree.

The 11th hole is a 405-yard par-4 with a sharp left dogleg.

You have to carry a leg to cut the dogleg or risk going into one of several bunkers if you play right of the water. This is a target hole and you better not miss your target.

Despite the Dyeabolical trappings, the course is fun to play if you play it from the correct set of tees. The course is all-inclusive which means you pay one price which covers greens fees, driving range, a shared cart, food and beverage.

The next stop on my three-day excursion was the Jonesdesigned Gran Bahia Principie Riviera Maya Golf Club.

This is the newest course on the Riviera Maya having opened just under a year ago. There are two golf courses on the property, a full-length 18-hole, par-72 course and a 9-hole par-36 layout.

Jones took a piece of land that was 717 acres of tropical rain forest and used 223 acres to route his courses.

Because the course is so close to the Caribbean Sea, it gets pretty windy so you always have to be careful with your club selection, particularly on the par-3 holes.

I played the 18-hole course which was one of the most beautiful courses I have ever played. Jones had to cut through an ancient limestone quarry to create fairways for some of the holes. Others flowed naturally through the contours of the Mayan jungle that was thick with mangroves and gum trees.

This was my favorite stop on this trip. The course had a more traditional look than the others because of the way Jones used the natural terrain of the land and the holes that were surrounded by a wide variety of plant species and animals.

Jones is a genius as using natural rock formations and cenotes in routing the course. The fairways were wide enough to be fair, yet bordered by natural hazards to be challenging.

Bahia Principe

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G O L F V A C A T I O N S • O C T O B E R 2010

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Mayakoba There is no need to trick up anything on this course. The course can stretch to as long as 7,272 yards for top players to as little as 5,259 yards from the forward tees. I played it from the white tees at 6,006 yards which was plenty for me.

The Riviera Maya is also an all-inclusive course where the price to play golf covers food and beverage as well.

The third course on the trip was Norman’s El Camaleon Mayakoba, home of the PGA Tour’s Mayakoba Classic.

This course, one of Norman’s favorites, bends through three distinctive landscapes – mangrove jungles, limestone canals and the coast line of the Caribbean Sea. Located on the luxury resort the Fairmont Mayakoba, residents can actually step out of their rooms and get into a boat that will take them through one of the channels directly to the first tee. Once on the tee, the course demands your atten-

tion immediately because right in the middle of the fairway (in the landing area) is a massive cenote and leads into an underground cavern. If you hit your ball long enough, you might have to rake the ball out of the cavern and take an unplayable!

Using a dark green tone of Paspalum grass, Norman guards his wide fairways with white sand dunes, mangroves, cenotes and lagoons.

Two of the great holes on the course are par-3s that play directly toward the blue hued waters of the Caribbean Sea. The 8th hole measured only 110 yards into the teeth of a strong wind and when my playing companions all came up more than 20 yards short, I went from a 9-iron (my 110-yard club) to a 6-iron (my 150-yard club), hit it well and barely reached the front edge of the green.

Mayakoba 14

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orre T When I got to the 15th, a 144-yard hole into the same wind, I went with a 5-wood (175 yards for me) and knocked it over the green. So much for knowing how to play the wind.

Although the fairways leave ample room to drive the ball, you have to be careful with your distance because trouble lurks in many areas if you hit too long (into lagoons) or into cenotes if you are too short.

The greens are massive and heavily contoured which brings precise irons into play. It’s a PGA Tour course so it’s not meant to be easy, but it has enough tees to make it fun and challenging for all levels of players.

A course I didn’t play, but got to see was El Manglar Golf Course, an 18-hole, par-54 designed by Nicklaus.

As far as par-3 courses go, this one is right up there alongside the par-3 course at Augusta National. This course is a masterpiece which includes several holes that are replicas other famous par-3 holes around the world.

Augusta National’s 12th hole is replicated in detail including a bridge at the 7th hole much like the Ben Hogan Bridge that crosses the pond in front of the green. Rivera’s 6th hole which features a bunker in the middle of the green shows up as the 17th hole.

But it’s not just the replications of holes that makes the course special. It’s holes like the 276th 13th and the closing 195-yard 18th to an island green that make this course a “must play” course for every golfer who visits the

Riviera Maya.

All of the course I played are truly spectacular and it’s easy to understand why more and more courses are being planned for the Riviera Maya. The area has stunning beauty, grandiose resorts and the weather is gorgeous.

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.

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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

CasuallyCarib

By David R. Holland Courtesy of WorldGolf.com

bbean

Curaรงao Old Quarry Golf Course

C

URAÇAO, Netherlands Antilles – Mount Tafelberg looms over Pete Dye’s Old Quarry Golf Course like President Hugo Chávez rules Venezuela and eccentrically imagines he owns this Caribbean island. He doesn’t own it — the Dutch do.

Curaçao, home to Santa Barbara Plantation, a 1,500-acre gated community, with two marinas, a brand-new Hyatt Regency and golf course, is located about 35 miles off the northern coast of Venezuela and is the largest of the ABC islands that includes Aruba and Bonaire.

Remember the pretext to William Shakespeare's 1610-11 play, The Tempest -- “What would you do if you were stranded on a desert island?” Well, Curaçao, certainly fits the description. But you can play golf here.

“With rainfall at only 20 inches a year and evaporation at 92 inches per year, water conservation and accurate delivery of irrigation was key,” said Jim Bolinger, golf manager and headed the construction. “Another was the need to blend it into surroundings that are desert like with various forms of cactus, and combine it with the influence of the Caribbean. Where else in the world can you find cactus growing just adjacent to salt water? It is a striking contrast.”

The “quarry” is that craggy expanse of limestone, Mount Tafelberg, a center point of the development, and where on your journey around the 6,970-yard par-72 golf course, you might even see explosions – they are still mining marble.

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The building of The Old Quarry Golf Course So you are going to build a championship golf course more than a thousand miles from the USA and there are no skilled workers. What do you do?

“When Pete Dye built Teeth of the Dog (Dominican Republic) back in 1969 they had similar challenges with the workers not knowing about golf,” Bolinger recalled. “It was a steady job and the workers learned as we progressed – they learned from two experienced shapers and slowly gained experience. It was the same here in Curaçao. I know the workers have a great sense of pride in how they participated and learned.

“Two additional technicians from Mexico came and spent a year installing the irrigation system and trained two locals on how to fix any problems after the system was operating.”

So once the irrigation system was operational Bolinger and crew had a pick of three water sources: effluent water from an onsite water treatment plant, fresh and salt water, and reverse osmosis water that was purchased. All of these sources were mixed to produce irrigation water for the wall to wall Paspalum.

Old Quarry Golf Course: the routing The holes are as close to natural as possible, Bolinger said, with minimal shaping just to make it playable and not to destroy important surrounding vegetation.

“People tell me they enjoy the challenge and diversity of the course,” Bolinger said. “During your round you will experience ocean holes, bay side holes, marsh views of a rookery, mountain www.golfvacationsmag.com

and valley view holes. The par 3s are all a test in itself sometimes appearing to be more difficult than they really are. And the very constant trade winds blow and gust around the mountain that frames most of the course.”

Most likely you won’t get wet during your round, but the wind is constant, especially on the two opening holes along the ocean – a par 4 and 5 where the wind pushes your ball toward the Caribbean.

Mount Tafelberg is in view on the tee shot at No. 4, a 380yard, par 4, and then more fun begins. The par 5s are reachable in two and there is a marina par 3 before climbing to the base of the mountain for more rugged scenery.

Eight months out of the year you can bank on temperatures in the 90s, “but people should come to Curaçao not only to golf but enjoy scuba in crystal water, fishing, sailing, tennis or just venturing out into the various beaches throughout the island,” Bolinger said.

Santa Barbara Plantation’s amenities If you are going to make the effort to fly almost all the way to South America, most Americans have picked Aruba in the past, but Curaçao is a worthy opponent. The golf course is fun and challenging, but there’s much more to do. The Dutch love tennis and will probably gravitate to golf as another recreational opportunity.

The Hyatt Regency Curaçao offers ocean views from its seaside rooms, and is a full-service Dutch Caribbean resort with 350 20

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rooms, situated on 27 acres of pristine property between the Caribbean Sea and the Spanish Waters Bay. The resort features three restaurants, with indigenous menu creations that focus on the freshest seafood and farm-to-table ingredients. Recreation includes three pools, four clay, lighted tennis courts, the 4,500-square foot Atabei Spa, a full service salon, 24-hour Hyatt StayFit™ fitness center, and the golf course with complete practice facilities. The resort is the centerpiece of the

exclusive Santa Barbara Plantation. For more information, visit santabarbarplantation.com.

Curaçao’s adventures “Choose your own adventure” describes life on Curaçao, where The Dutch first occupied the island in 1634 and have controlled it since 1815. Its ruggedly beautiful landscape provides plenty of fun diversions. Aside from golf go hiking, biking, and take ATV tours. Scuba divers can pick from 60 locations. Relax on beaches both intimate and secluded. Unlike those on other Caribbean islands, Curaçao’s beaches allow you to work on your tan, not on hunting for an available spot.

Explore Curaçao’s capital city, Willemstad – a lively port of high-end retailers, restaurants, colonial architecture with lots of color, nightlife spots and be treated to a diverse cuisine that includes foods from all over the world. www.golfvacationsmag.com

FROM AVOCADO QUESADILLAS TO GRILLED OSTRICH HYATT REGENCY CURAÇAO’S CULINARY TEAM’S UNIQUE DINING CONCEPTS Brand New Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina Opens Three Restaurants; Introduces Farm-to-Table Program and Launches Community Outreach Initiatives

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao – Whether serving indigenous fare such as grilled ostrich or presenting dishes on hand-carved tableware created by locals, the Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is making sure to provide guests with an unforgettable dining experience. The resort’s award-winning culinary team has rolled out three unique restaurant concepts, partnered with local farmers and reached out to community organizations to make this 350-room resort a unique Caribbean foodie destination.

In order to boost Curaçao’s agriculture industry, the resort is leveraging relationships with local farmers and, on some level, introducing indigenous ingredients that guests may not have the chance to otherwise experience. In order to provide menus with fresh, local items, Hyatt Regency Curaçao has partnered with Finca de Sol, a local organic farm, to develop its farm-to-table program and will soon cultivate an onsite farm to grow produce that will be incorporated into the menus at all three restaurants. “The goal of this program is to use low impact techniques, preserve biodiversity and keep farming healthy for generations to come,” said Food and Beverage Director Maurice Fahey.

The resort also practices social responsibility by partnering with local foundations to help mentally and physically disabled Curaçaoans put their creative skills to use. The resort’s three restaurants, SHOR, MEDI and SWIM, feature ceramic bowls and wooden plates that have been carved and shaped by those in the program along with Braille menus created by students from a local blind school. One especially unique food presentation is the “Y” shaped Pinchos Grill. Carved from local Calabash wood, the Pinchos Grill is dressed with skewers of chicken, beef, shrimp and vegetables and artistically positioned into the sand providing a memorable dining experience for guests lounging on the beach.

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“Our three distinct restaurants operate independently and we make sure to keep dishes authentic to the genre of each venue,” said Executive Chef Pivar. “SWIM, MEDI and SHOR all feature simple yet versatile menu selections that will satisfy any palate – one of our most popular indigenous dishes at SHOR is the stuffed ostrich tenderloin with spinach, tomato and goat cheese.”

Sun bathers can dive into Pan-Latino fare at SWIM, the resort’s trendy pool bar and grill. Favorites include grilled mahi mahi fish tacos in soft corn tortillas with fresh pico de gallo and flavored with cilantro-lime mayo, or the Chorizo Chicken Queso Fundido served with crispy tortilla chips. For poolside refreshments, SWIM offers a variety of signature cocktails including “The New Mambo” with dark rum, triple sec, mango and strawberry puree with fresh lime.

To satisfy Mediterranean food cravings, MEDI restaurant offers a tapas-style menu with dishes that include whitefish carpaccio, hummus and baba ghanoush and lollipop chicken legs.

Romantic and elegant in design, MEDI features an expansive outdoor space overlooking the water with an exhibition kitchen and wood fired oven as a dramatic centerpiece. The restaurant features an impressive wine list with spirits from around the globe including reds such as Finca Flichman, an Argentinian Malbec with a dry medium taste, or Louis Jadot Grand Cru, a rare Chambertin Clos de Beze from France. Notable whites include Domaine de Pré Semelé, Sancerre, a crisp white produced in the Loire Valley of France, or Finca La Linda, a fresh and lively unoaked Chardonnay from Mendoza, Argentina with fresh aromas of peach, pear and passion fruit.

SHOR, located oceanfront on the resort’s Pete Dye championship golf course, features American cuisine presented in a contemporary style. Classic dishes include prime aged rib eye and blue crab cakes, but diners can also sample indigenous cuisine such as grilled ostrich and wild tuna and snapper.

For more information or for reservations, please visit www.Curaçao.hyatt.com or call 800.55.HYATT

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Celtic Manor – The 2010 Ryd hile it’s a fallacy that coal can be turned into glittering diamonds, it’s nonetheless true that shining stars can blossom from the fertile soil surrounding former Welsh coal country.

Case in point, the five glowing stars awarded to Celtic Manor Resort (www.celtic-manor.com) – a luxury destination lauded as the best in the UK and situated less than two hours from London. With pampered service from the wonderfully attentive staff, sterling amenities fit for royalty and world-class golf to boot, Celtic Manor sparkles as brilliantly as the Hope Diamond.

bumps and hollows, and level lies as rare as tap-in eagles. Framing the well-manicured fairways are gnarly industrial strength rough and greenside swales to gobble up shots lacking accuracy or authority.

In October 2010, even more stars – those of exceptional golfing variety – will shine at acclaimed Celtic Manor as the opulent retreat will host the best in the game for the Ryder Cup. In the lovely Wales autumn, the U.S. and Europe will clash in the world’s ultimate team tournament. The drama will unfold over 7,493 yards of spectacular tension that is The Twenty Ten Course – the first in history designed solely to host the Ryder Cup.

The final act is a dramatic clash of cymbals as holes 14-18 bare the sharp teeth of Ross McMurray’s course redesign. Two holes will demonstrate classic Ryder Cup match play dilemmas. The 413-yard 14th tests golfers’ mettle: Take on a long carry with a drive down the right hand side of the fairway for a better look at the putting surface?

Or choose the safer route and face a sinister lake cutting in off the left with their second?

The Twenty Ten evolves in three acts. The opening features beguiling holes with a links-like ambiance as fairways weave to and fro with

Crucial Ryder Cup matches might well turn at the driveable par-4 15th, where the aggressive play off the tee requires clearing mature

W

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The second act – the middle of the stout eighteen with holes originally laid out by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. – is a study in water management as insidious lakes stand sentinel, threatening the golfer with penalty strokes at every turn. Thankfully, the bucolic setting of the panoramic parkland serves to soothe the mind and nerves.

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der Cup Host is Ready to Shine trees. Eagles are a possibility for the brave of heart. Like Augusta National, The Twenty Ten is risk/reward golf with danger and heartbreak facing off against possible glory. It’s the perfect Ryder Cup venue.

As The Twenty Ten was designed solely with the Ryder Cup in mind, spectators will have excellent vantage points to watch the action unfold. Three large viewing platforms were constructed for hospitality above the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

Galleries are also able to gather on the huge natural mounds and hillsides to view not only the drama of the closing holes, but also the earlier action as it plays across the course below.

The Resort has invested $26 million to develop the new course, clubhouse (which opened in autumn 2007) and surrounding infrastructure like a pristine Ryder Cup practice ground for the elite of the game (and visitors) to hone their skills.

In addition to The Twenty Ten, Celtic Manor’s 1,400-plus acres of scenic beauty boasts two other championship courses.

The Roman Road, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., opened

by JD Latorre

Wales – Land of Wonderful Tales As the world descends on Wales for the spectacle of the 2010 Ryder Cup, visitors will discover a country steeped in rich culture and fascinating history. With over 600 medieval ruins throughout this lush land, Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Most notable are the castles built during the reign of warrior King Edward I (1272-1307) with magnificent walled cities in Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. Each is well preserved and comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With their mellifluous lilt, Wales is also known as “The Land of Song” as its people are renowned for their affinity for music.

Whether you hear the eerily beautiful traditional hymn singing called Cymanfa Ganu, Welsh folk songs triumphing tales of unrequited love or ancient kingdoms or simply a jovial sing-along in one of Cardiff’s welcoming 350 pubs, you won’t travel far in Wales without hearing a song. Best advice in a pub when song breaks out (as it surely will!), is to grab a pint and join right in.

The Welsh have the gift of gab. With a long tradition of storytelling extolling the deeds of King Arthur, Merlin the Magician and tragic battles between dragons, it’s little wonder that Wales has given the world an inordinate number of famous writers and poets. Dylan Thomas, Roald Dahl, Dick Francis, Martin Amis, George Eliot and Ken Follett (to name but a few), all have roots there. Hay-on-Wye – a lively river town on the English border is often described as “the town of books” and hosts a literary festival each June that attracts over 80,000 bibliophiles.

To truly discover Wales, all one needs to do is simply venture outside. In addition to the bucolic farmland (the home of over 11 million sheep!), Wales possesses some of the world’s most wonderous seascapes with 750 miles of coastline – much of it jawdropping. The glorious Gower Peninsula on the north side of the Bristol Channel in southwest Wales was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated an “Area of Outstanding Beauty” in 1956. As the country is only 170 miles from north to south and 60 miles east to west, you’re never far from soaring mountains or idyllic sea. Wales is choc-a-bloc with hikers, walkers, cyclists and surfers.

Wales has more than enough delights for every traveler. Sure, you’ll come for the world-class golf, but also discover a land of enchantment, wonder and awe. Then, in that long Welsh tradition, you’ll too have wonderful tales to tell.

www.golfvacationsmag.com

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in 1995 as the resort’s first course. Overlooking the Severn Estuary with marvelous views across to Somerset and Devon, Roman Road takes its moniker from the ancient East to West highway of Roman Britain crossing its fairways on the way to the nearby Roman fortress town of Caerleon.

Not to be missed is The Montgomerie, a spectacular par-69 challenge with dramatic tee shots over broad valleys and breathtaking downhill approaches. Course designer and 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie has drawn on his Scottish roots to develop an “inland links” golf experience with deep and penal pot bunkers lurking throughout. The Montgomerie offers stunning vistas of the Usk Valley and the Severn Estuary.

Belying its current grandeur, Celtic Manor possesses a humble, but noble pedigree. On trips home to South Wales from Canada, Sir Terry Matthews --– the Ottawa, Canada-based entrepreneur and first billionaire from Wales – kept noticing a dilapidated old mansion for sale on a parcel of land resplendent with lovely rolling vistas and wooded hills. Proving that life is indeed a circle, the old manse was the very building where he was born during its former life as a maternity hospital. For a modest investment, Sir Terry bought the land and Celtic Manor’s journey to the pinnacle of UK destination resorts was launched.

Though the golf alone merits a visit to Celtic Manor, the destination Sir Terry created is heralded as the one of the finest in the world. Visitors will discover two lavish hotels – the 24

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majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House. Also on the grounds are five savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails. A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events. Celtic Manor is a special spot on the globe.

In 2010, the resort is ready to sparkle for the entire world to admire. Well, perhaps it is true that glittering diamonds do rise out of coal country. Celtic Manor in the lush Wales countryside is as brilliant as they come.

For more information, email Reservations at bookings@celticmanor.com; call 866.789.5779 (U.S.) / 877.354.2003 (Canada) and ask for Golf Sales Manager Sean Clancy; or visit www.celticmanor.com.

Getting There: Celtic Manor is 45 minutes from Bristol International Airport (BRS) and Cardiff International Airport (CWL). Daily, non-stop flights are available from Newark, New Jersey (EWR) to Bristol on Continental. Daily, one-stop flights are available from New York to Cardiff on KLM via Amsterdam; and from New York, Chicago, Boston and Orlando on Aer Lingus via Dublin. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour shuttle drive, with rail service from Paddington Station (London) to Newport, Wales also available. www.golfvacationsmag.com

PENDERYN RELEASES CELTIC MANOR LIMITED EDITION WHISKY

10 Facts About Wales 1. Wales is one of four countries of the United Kingdom along with England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

2. Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George's Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north.

3. The unit of currency is the British Pound Sterling (GBP).

4. Wales is renowned for its great writers including poet Dylan Thomas, author Roald Dahl, and mystery writer Dick Francis.

5. Cardiff is the capital and largest city with a population of 325,000.

6. The official animal is the dragon.

7. English is the day to day language for most people although the Welsh language still flourishes.

8. Tourism is a key employer and industry in Wales.

9. St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales 10. Famous actors Richard Burton, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Dalton, and Anthony Hopkins were all born in Wales.

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(NEWPORT, Wales) -- Penderyn, the award-winning Welsh whisky distiller, released a special edition whisky to celebrate The Celtic Manor Resort, the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, one of the world's biggest sporting events.

The Penderyn Celtic Manor 2010 whisky is strictly limited to 200 bottles and was commissioned by The Celtic Manor Resort to commemorate what is a very historic year for not only the Resort, but also for Wales.

The whisky is a unique Welsh single malt matured in a single Oloroso Sherry cask. The single cask used for this expression was selected by Penderyn's head distiller, Gillian Macdonald, and is bottled at 50% ABV. Each bottle is presented in a hand-made tulip wood box, crafted in South Wales by the fine furniture maker Giancarlo Bianchi.

Tasting Notes "A rich whisky from an Oloroso sherry cask drenched with sherry from years in a bodega. Fresh and clean to the palate and brimming with sultana raisins and creamy toffee.

Hints of oak from the Spanish oak cask. Long finish with the aftertaste of creamy fudge tablet."

The expression is priced at ÂŁ150 per bottle including VAT. Bottles of the whisky will be available to purchase from the Celtic Manor's online shop, the retail outlets at Celtic Manor and from the Penderyn website and Distillery.

Stephen Davies, managing director of Penderyn commented, "This specially selected single malt is an example of Penderyn at its very best and we are delighted to be able to celebrate this important year with the Celtic Manor Resort."

Gareth Rees Jones, Marketing Director at Celtic Manor said, "This is a very exciting and important year for Celtic Manor and we wanted to mark the occasion by producing something special that our members and guests could enjoy.

We are delighted to be working with Penderyn, another quality Welsh brand that is at the forefront of promoting Wales around the world, to offer this limited edition whisky."

This release comes as Penderyn prepares to celebrate 10 years of distilling at its unique distillery in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

About Penderyn Penderyn is the award winning single malt whisky, launched in 2004 to revive the Welsh whisky distillation tradition after an absence of more than 100 years. Produced on the southern reaches of the Brecon Beacons, only two barrels of the single malt whisky are produced per day.

Since its launch, Penderyn has become one of the most recognised brands to emanate from Wales and is now sold extensively throughout the UK and worldwide. It has gained the highest praise of the whisky industry and won numerous international awards, including honours at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competitions.

It is available throughout the UK in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Threshers, Victoria Wine, Harrods, Berry Brothers, leading independent wine spirit merchants, whisky websites and online at www.welsh-whisky.co.uk G O L F V A C A T I O N S • O C T O B E R 2010

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as Vegas is known as a city of themed hotels. It has it all—the Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Pirate ships in Treasure Island, the pyramid of the Luxor, the canals of the Venetian, the skyscrapers of New York— and the list goes on.

But it is doubtful that any of them live up to their name as well as the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. With a hip vibe and a celebrity feel that reverberates through its modern architecture and Hollywood theme, it features a three-acre casino floor adorned with 33 plasma screens, two jumbo screens and a VIP section. It is the first Las Vegas resort to offer table games dealt by young ladies in “chic lingerie” and the Pleasure Pit section of the table games features go-go dancers entertaining as you gamble.

While the current day Planet Hollywood certainly lives up to its celebrity billing, the history of the hotel and casino over almost 50-years certainly lends itself to the Hollywood name. Opened originally in 1963 as the Tally-Ho, the original hotel at this site reopened in 1966 as the Aladdin in 1966 and less than a year later hosted the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Through the next three decades the Aladdin was host to some of the top names in show business and entertainment as guests and entertainers alike before closing in 1997.

The original Aladdin was imploded in 1998, rebuilt and opened as the new Aladdin in 2000. Even in its destruction the old building gained fame as footage of the implosion was used in the movie The Cooler.

In 2003 the Aladdin was sold and became a Planet Hollywood resort with a makeover.

Harrah’s officially became the owner earlier this year and has revitalized the property again, strengthening the Hollywood connection and giving it a fresh makeover.

Planet Hollywood features rooms that meet its Hollywood theme. The resort has 52 floors (with the final two being VIP) and each room is dedicated to a certain movie such as Backdraft. Rooms feature actual props and memorabilia from the film. The rooms range from standard to luxurious "Panorama" suites with a view of the whole Las Vegas Strip.

The swimming pool in this resort is can be accessed through the sixth floor. The area overlooks the Strip with a view of the north and south. It features two pools and two hot spa one of each in both the South and North

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HOLLYWOOD S

Strip. The one in the North Strip section features VIP cabanas for renting. In between is a bar/grill/snack-bar with a patch of grass lined with pool chairs for guests to sit and eat. On Fridays and Saturdays, DJ's spin popular music from noon to 4:00 p.m.

Adjoining the resort in what used to be known as "The Desert Passage” mall is the new, Hollywood-themed "Miracle Mile

Shops,” an endless circle that will keep even the most ardent shoppers busy with 170 shops and 15 restaurants.

In the resort, the 7,500-seat Theatre for the Performing Arts hosts annual extravaganzas including the Miss America Pageant; it’s also a regular Las Vegas stop for some of the biggest names in music and live performance. www.golfvacationsmag.com

AYS HELLO TO VEGAS SAYS

by Terry Ross

More than a dozen movies or television shows have used Planet Hollywood for locations, including Transporter 3, which held its world premier at the resort in 2008, and the hotel was prominently featured in the movie What Happens in Vegas. The movie The Expendables premiered at Planet Hollywood in August and was announced by a chopper on the casino www.golfvacationsmag.com

floor. Only in Las Vegas.

Because the resort is now part of the Harrah’s family, two of the finer golf courses in the area are now available for guests at Planet Hollywood. Cascata is one of the “must-play” courses while in town and an experience that most golfers will look back on for a long time, while Rio Seco is among the top-rated tracks in Las Vegas

and will not disappoint.

For more information on Planet Hollywood and Harrah’s Stay and Play Wright packages, contact: Todd Twright2@harrahs.com (702) 777-2402; or go to www.planethollywood.com. For information on Cascata visit www.harrahs.com/golf/cascata-golf/; or for Rio Seco go to: www.riosecco.net G O L F V A C A T I O N S • O C T O B E R 2010

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A Waterfall of Golf at Cascata Luxury, Scenic Beauty and Tour Caliber Caddies!

By Terry Ross

E

ven though a Las Vegas golf vacation offers more than a few entertainment diversions—most of them away from the links in fact—a day of golf at Cascata (the Italian word for waterfall) is unlike very many you will find on green grass.

Owned and managed by Harrah’s Entertainment, a tee time here is usually packaged with stays at their hotel properties such at Planet Hollywood, Cesar’s Palace, the Rio, Paris, Harrah’s Las Vegas and the Flamingo and others, a round of golf at this exclusive club is very much an experience rather than just another 18-holes of golf.

From the time you drive into the gate-guarded facility located less than 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip along Interstate 93, have your car valet parked and settle in at your personalized locker in the clubhouse with a flat screen television just above it, you quickly understand that this is a special place.

The Tuscan-style, 37,000-square-foot clubhouse offers an Old World ambiance of understated luxury with attentive staff members who oblige your every need. The dining room features an appetizing menu in a comfortable atmosphere. An

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excellent collection of rare and fine tobaccos is stocked in the cigar lounge’s custom-designed humidor. The golf shop carries an array of equipment, stylish apparel, accessories and complimentary fruit, pastries and bottled water.

A 418-foot waterfall flows softly from the steep mountainside behind the clubhouse, tumbling over mammoth boulders, cascading into a river that roars through the clubhouse, eventually culminating in a tranquil stream. It’s no wonder Sports Illustrated called Cascata "golf’s hidden treasure."

The staging area below the clubhouse even has a luxury locker room feel as you walk downstairs to find your clubs on your power cart and your caddie waiting in an air conditioned room as you ready for your round. Automatic double doors lead the way out to the pristine practice tee while your caddie makes sure you have your favorite food and beverage on-cart for the upcoming round.

The caddies at Cascata are tour-quality—and some of them even make it to the PGA TOUR. For example, Bill Lunde, who won the Turning Stone Resort Championship in August, was a caddie at Cascata last year.

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Opened in 2000, Cascata was designed by Reese Jones and sports wide, generous fairways that wind through the hills, including the 3,600foot peak at Red Mountain with some tremendous views of the valley below.

Driver is a good play on just about every Par 4 or 5, and this is a very fair test of golf on one of the best-groomed courses you will find-- but it can be challenging in spots, especially with the many uphill and downhill lies. The caddies are probably worth several strokes for the first-time player because their local knowledge, especially on greens that run 11 or 12 on the stimp meter.

The variety of the holes at Cascata and their scenic beauty is much of the reason that the course has been named the No. 1 facility in the country by Zagat and annually makes the Top 100 Golf Course rankings by most of the major publications.

One of the most picturesque holes is the downhill Par 3 seventh that enjoys one of the dramatic waterfalls as a backdrop. An accurate tee shot is a must, with water short and left and a canyon wall and bunker on the right.

Anything left above the hole is likely to be extremely fast. Par is a good score on this short hole.

Another interesting challenge is the 14th hole, a dogleg right Par 4 where water is always in play. A driver down the right side leaves a short approach shot, but anything missed to the right will end up wet. The percentage play is a fairway wood or long iron to the middle of the fairway, leaving a mid-iron shot into this wide green protected by water, bunkers and the desert.

The finishing 18th hole features a risk-reward option with the opportunity for a birdie finish on the Par 5, but players must successfully navigate the water hazard running the length of the hole as well as across the desert.

Depending on the winds, it can be reached in two with a long-carrying drive over the large rock formation on the left that avoids the creek and the desert. The safe play is a modest drive with a three-wood left of the sand trap and a middle iron second shot, depending on where your tee shot ends up. The fairway slopes toward the www.golfvacationsmag.com

water, so the second shot must be played well left. The undulating green will leave players with a challenging finish to their round.

Celebrities and tour pros - Cascata

has played host to many of them - and it is an experience where you understand why.

For more information visit: www.harrahs.com/golf/cascata-golf/ G O L F V A C A T I O N S • O C T O B E R 2010

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SIDETRIP

GOLF HALL OF FAME

Las Vegas National Golf Club A golf destination with a vibrant history always has a different feel to it, and as most golfers will tell you, Las Vegas is definitely one of those vacation spots that roll out the red carpet for those that enjoy playing the links and the tables.

In the Western United States, Las Vegas is one of those destinations where golf has ingrained itself in the fabric of the community over time, and with more than 60 golf courses, a rich history of professional and amateur events, home of one of the top collegiate golf programs in the nation in addition to being the address to some of the top players, instructors and movers and shakers in the sport.

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Butch Harmon—Tiger Woods’ long-time instructor early in his career and one of the top names in golf instruction—has his Golf School in Las Vegas, and the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open, an official PGA Tour event this month as part of the Fall Series, are just two of the modern-day reasons that the golf community in this city has banned together to establish the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame.

Opened in 2009 at the historic Las Vegas National Golf Club, a golf course that has hosted events on the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, the HOF exhibit features a museum-quality display designed

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By TerryRoss

by Las Vegas’ Cypress Architecture with input from current Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame committee members and other golf community leaders. The exhibit is the first all-encompassing tribute to the long history and tradition of Las Vegas golf ever created and is open, free of charge, to the public during Las Vegas National Golf Club’s regular hours of operation.

The exhibit area features an extensive Las Vegas golf timeline that brings to life such important golf dates and events as the PGA Tour’s inaugural Tournament of Champions that was played at Las Vegas’ Desert Inn Golf Club in 1953; the 1983 Panasonic Las Vegas Pro-Celebrity Classic, the PGA Tour’s first-ever tournament with a million-dollar prize purse; professional victories at Las Vegas golf events by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Woods, Mickey Wright, Annika Sorenstam, Greg Norman and Karrie Webb; and the 1998 UNLV NCAA Men’s Golf Championship.

Other highlights include an area with photos and bios of Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame members including PGA Tour players Tommy Armour III, Chris Riley and Robert Gamez, former Champions Tour Player of the Year Jim Colbert, standout amateur player and current Southern Nevada Golf Association President Brady Exber and community leader and amateur player Helen Cannon.

Also, the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Wall of Champions features photos and information from the more than 80 PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Champions Tour events that have been played in the Las Vegas area. A special tribute to local amateur champions, junior golf and area professionals is also included. Plus, Tiger Woods’ first PGA Tour victory at the 1996 Las Vegas Golf Invitational is commemorated. Vintage Las Vegas golf memorabilia is also placed throughout the new exhibit.

“It is a thrill for the committee to now have the new home exhibit that lives up to the excellence of the Las Vegas golfers who www.golfvacationsmag.com

Las Vegas, NV

are members of this prestigious hall of fame, and to honor the tremendous history of golf in the Las Vegas area,” says Brian Hurlburt, President of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame committee.

“Las Vegas National Golf Club is a great choice as the home of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame exhibit because of the deep history of the course, combined with the convenient location that is minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and in the heart of the Las Vegas Valley.”

The Hall of Fame was formerly known as the Southern Nevada Golf Hall of Fame, but committee members voted to change the name to best capture the essence and passion of the Las Vegas golf community.

An additional aspect of the mission is to promote Las Vegas as a great golf destination. A 16-person committee made up of Las Vegas golf professionals, media, amateur association leaders and Hall of Fame members oversees the voting process. The annual induction ceremony takes place during the week of the PGA Tour’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

The Class of 2010 will be inducted during a ceremony that coincides with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, on October 19 at the state-of-the-art Pearl Theatre at the Palms Hotel. The 2010 inductees will include Charlie Baron, Tournament Director of the Las Vegas PGA Tour stop for 22 years; Joe Kelly, PGA of America Golf Professional who has opened and run more than a dozen Las Vegas courses; and the Tournament of Champions will be honored at the event. A who’s who of the golf community will be on hand to celebrate and recognize the achievements of the new inductees.

If you want to see how one of the best golf destinations in the west got there, it is worthwhile to visit the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame while in town.

For more information, visit: www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com.

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SWEETSTUFF A

s golfers look for that elusive elixir to improve their game—be it the newest driver or putter to hit the market—many recreational players are looking into the mirror and working to improve their physical conditioning and strength in order to achieve a better game.

Golf fitness is one of those areas that has increased in awareness and popularity over the last decade plus, driven in large part by the role that the improved fitness level on the professional tours has played in those players ability to hit it longer, shoot lower scores and competes at an increasingly high level for longer periods of time.

For recreational players, the ability to play better and play more, avoid injury and feel better at the end of a day on the course is being driven by an increased awareness of the need to not only practice on the driving range, but to spend time in the gym as well.

Given the time constraints of today’s fast-pace world, the ability to achieve the necessary cardiovascular and strengthening workout in as little time as possible is of paramount importance as never before.

Now, a simple centuries- old training device combined with some 21st century techniques are coming together to form one of the best golf workouts available— and you can see some dramatic results in as little as 20 minutes, three times a week. It is a complete golf workout program as it builds stability and the strength to move functionally in more than one dimension as is the case with machines.

Kettle Worx™, is a Minnesota-based company that is making some serious in roads into the fitness arena and has built an 32

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excellent program around the cannon-ballshaped iron weight with a handle attached called a kettlebell that has been used in many gyms and by personal trainers over the past few years with increasing popularity. The kettlebell was first developed by Russian strongmen in the early 1700’s as a way to build strength, balance, flexibility

and endurance. If this sounds familiar, that is what most golf-specific training programs are out to achieve today.

These days, many kettlebell themed fitness classes are popping up across the country to promote all body workouts that are one of the most efficient and effective workouts available. Professional athletes such as Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and cyclist Lance Armstrong are now using kettlebell workouts “It’s great because it brings cardio and strength training together in one quick exercise,” said Michael Shade, kettlebell instructor at Sports Club/LA in Miami.

“Instead of lifting weights for half an hour and doing the treadmill for another half hour, you can get everything done with kettlebells in 20 minutes.”

The Kettle Worx program accomplishes this in spades. With as little as one weight and several of their DVD training programs, you pretty much have a complete, versatile workout regimen that can be performed in front of your TV or computer in your own home.

These expertly produced videos by Jimmy Clark at Kettle Worx are about as

close as you can get to having a class taught by a world-class instructor at your disposal.

They are filmed at an easy one-on-one pace even for beginners, but more advanced exercisers will find these workouts challenging as the six-week program ramps it up each week as you improve your level of fitness.

These DVD’s feature Toronto-based fitness trainer Ryan Shanahan, a former hockey player, who has established a reputation as one of the top trainers for celebrities who want to get in shape quickly and efficiently. His enthusiasm for the workouts and the results is evident, but he is just as adept at explaining the details of each of the 200 exercises and 36 individual workouts in the 12 hours available in the Kettle Worx DVD catalogue.

Even though much of the emphasis in the program is about weight loss and losing inches—the exercises in the three basic DVD’s—Cardio, Resistance and Core--are some of the best methods for building greater strength in those muscles groups that are key to the golf game. Another outstanding feature is the 64-page e-book healthy eating guide that is included on the introduction DVD that features some outstanding nutritional information, recipes, meal plans, suggestions and work sheets to go along with the 42-day, six week body transformation program.

In addition to the basic three DVD’s, Kettle Worx also offers some excellent 10minute mini-workouts that accent certain muscle groups such as arms and shoulders, legs and thighs and chest and back. The kettlebells themselves can be ordered in four different weights—5, 10, 15 and 20-pounds. information: For more www.KettleWorx.com

by Terry Ross

www.golfvacationsmag.com

DESTINATIONS

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WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO PLAY

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