Golf Vacations Magazine September 2010

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contents I september 2010

cover

stories 14

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Memories Of Kiawah Island Golf Resort

by Jason Scott Deegan and Brandon Tucker

Just 45 minutes from Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort has grown into a world-class destination - complete with a five-star hotel, five-star spa and five-star golf course - without intruding on the charms of the surrounding Lowcountry.

22 26

Inn Of The Mountain Gods Getaway

by Fred Robledo

I don’t know the criteria used by those organizations, but as one who has covered golf and major championships all over the country for more than 30 years, I would call it one of the top courses I have ever seen and played.

22

Top Honors To Angel Park . . . AGAIN!

by Terry Ross

Amid all of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, one of the hidden treasures when it comes to quality golf where families and groups are catered to is the Angel Park Golf Club in the suburb of Summerlin.

departments 10 ChipShots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

28 Sweet Stuff

26

by Terry Ross and Tom Draper

Tour Striker, Antigua, TaylorMade, TourEdge, Thumb Caddy

30 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

32 My Turn

by Randy Turner

Keeping Pace With Golf’s Global Shift

on the cover: Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed more than 400 courses and golf destinations for some of the industry's biggest publications. He is a contributing editor with Michigan Golf Magazine and a regular contributor with Athlon Sports. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. His favorite golf destination is Ireland, but a close second is his home state of Michigan, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

Brandon Tucker is a Senior Writer and Special Projects Editor for the TravelGolf Network, where he contributes not only golf and travel articles, but photo essays, videos and more. His golf travels have taken him across the U.S., including more than 50 Myrtle Beach-area golf courses, and to such destinations as Scotland, Wales, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Malaysia.

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

Regional Advertising Los Angeles • 949-279-7801 Terry Ross - terryross@cox.net

Atlanta • 770-971-1616 John Reock - reock@mindspring.com

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

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Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue.

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2010 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. www.golfvacationsmag.com

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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 >> HILTON HOTELS JOINS THAILAND GOLF MARKETING CONSORTIUM BANGKOK — The most recognized name in hospitality, Hilton Hotels, has joined the Thai marketing cooperative Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience www.golfinakingdom.com As new hotel partners, Hilton properties across Thailand — in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket — are now preferred lodging options, along side the country’s top golf courses, in variety of stay-and-play itineraries offered and executed by tour operator Golfasian www.golfasian.com “To have Hilton as a partner is another ringing endorsement of what we’re doing with Golf in a Kindgom — that is, make Thai golf holidays easier to book and formulate, while guaranteeing international standards of quality with every course and hotel on each itinerary,” said Mark Siegel, CEO of Bangkok-based Golfasian. “Hilton doesn’t throw in with just anyone, of course. Hilton welcomes guests in more countries than any other full-service hotel brand, 76 countries across six continents, if

I’m not mistaken. Their involvement is a feather in our caps, but it is also another incentive for golfers who recognize in Hilton another guarantee of quality.”

The four Hilton properties that have joined Golf in a Kingdom include: • The Hilton Pattaya, located in the heart of this coastal city, overlooking Pattaya Beach, and situated atop the new Central Festival Pattaya Beach complex, with its 200 international-caliber shops, restaurants, cinemas and recreational facilities.

• The Millennium Hilton Bangkok, standing imperiously on the banks of the

Chao Praya River, boasting sweeping city views and incomparable access to the varied delights of Thailand’s capital.

• Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, a stunning resort set on sandy Karon Beach and comprising 75 acres of lush tropical gardens. Karon Beach is the quiet, upscale alternative to raucous Patong Beach just up the coast.

• The Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, a 17-story tower in the center of this royal enclave overlooks the Gulf of Thailand and serves as home to distinctive mix of dining options, including the Hua Hin Brewery Company, a former fisherman’s shack dating from 1923.

“Thailand is equipped with 5-star hotel brands like Hilton, and Marriott, along with world-class golf, superb food, unmatched nightlife and a first-world, modern transportation infrastructure,” said Siegel. “Thailand is tropically temperate 365 days a year, and golfers can spend a week here for a fraction of what they’d pay in European or North American destinations.”

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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 >>

POCONO MTNS SELECTS ITS “MUSTSEE” FALL FOLIAGE GOLF HOLES

One of the most scenic and pleasurable times of the year to visit the Pocono Mountains is nearly upon us. Beginning later this month and running through late October, travelers heading to the region's golf courses will be treated to the vibrant colors of the fall season.

The Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau has selected these three "Fall Classics" as the "Must-See" Fall Foliage Golf Holes for 2010: Hole #7, Blue Course, The Shawnee Inn Golf and Resort: This testy par-3 is one of 24 holes of this 27-hole facility that rests on the charming Shawnee Island. It can play from 132 yards from the front tees to 177 yards from the tips, but no matter from what tee box you play, you'll have to carry the inlet of the Delaware River that gently flows in front of the sloping green.

Hole #11, Split Rock Golf Club: Standing atop the tee box of this 555-yard,

downhill par-5, golfers are treated to one of the most gorgeous views in all of the Pocono Mountains and can stare miles away. It is one of the many holes at Split Rock surrounded by the kind of trees indigenous to the area that positively burst with color in the fall.

Hole #16, Woodloch Springs Golf Course and Country Club: Don't get caught gazing at the scenic view here too long because this is the most difficult par-4 on the course. The elevated four-tiered green makes par feel like a birdie on this 386-yard beauty that has two different hazards running across the width of the hole.

END OF SEASON GOLF PACKAGES AT STOWE MOUNTAIN LODGE

Stowe Mountain Golf Club presents one of the most stunning and breathtaking courses in the world, featuring unique mountain terrain, luminous lake, incomparable views and meticulously manicured greens.

chip shots

Legendary golf course designer Bob Cupp created this stunning 18-hole, par 72 course that spans a massive 6,400 yards and literally climbs up the side of the mountain with a dramatic 400-feet elevation gain.

With the golf season closing in midOctober, Stowe Mountain Lodge is offering three fantastic packages to entice guests to take advantage of the award-winning golf options in Stowe this year.

Tee It Up Package – rates start at $280 per night based on availability, a two night minimum and double occupancy. Guests can upgrade to play at Stowe Mountain Golf Club for $75 per round.

He Said She Said—rates start at $369 per night based on availability, a two night minimum and double occupancy.

Grass is Greener—rates start at $329 per night based on availability, a two night minimum and double occupancy. Guests have the option of adding an additional round of golf at Stowe Country Club for $65-$105 per round.

Visit StoweMountainLodge.com or call 1-888-4STOWE-VT

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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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 >> MYSTICAL GOLF ANNOUNCES ‘OCTOBER FEST’ STAY-AND-PLAY Mystical Golf -- owner and operator of the award-winning The Witch, Man-OWar and The Wizard golf courses in Myrtle Beach -- announces its “October Fest” stay-and-play package available from October 3-31 for the special rate of $297 per person, double occupancy.

The offer features three rounds of golf (one per course) with cart and lunch included, plus two nights accommodations with breakfast at the Patricia Grand Ocean Front Resort in efficiency and two-room suites with complimentary highspeed Internet access and furnished private balconies. A same day second round “instant replay” is available for cart fee only ($23).

All rated from 4 to 4-1/2 stars from Golf Digest and named “The Best Value in America” by GOLF Magazine, the Mystical Golf trio are designed by celebrated architect Dan Maples.

The Witch sits on 500 acres of tranquil cypress groves and wetlands teeming

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with flora and fauna. Tactical play is rewarded on the par-71, 6,702-yard layout. With 4,000 feet of bridges wending through swamps (front nine) and rolling hills (back nine), golfers may spy cranes, bald eagles, alligators and black bears.

Man-O-War is revered for its back-toback island greens and water features touching every hole. With a commanding 141 slope rating, the par-72, 6,967-yard layout is offset by straight-forward shots and excellent, bent-grass greens.

Reminiscent of classic, wind-swept links courses in Scotland and Ireland, The Wizard presents deep bunkers, mound-framed fairways and dramatic elevation changes. Trademark stone bridges and an Old-World, castle-style clubhouse add character to the par-72, 6,721-yard shotmaker’s course.

For “October Fest” stay-and-play package information: www.mysticalgolf.com or call 843.282.2977.

HAWAII RESORTS OFFER PLANS TO GET DUFFERS TO PACK UP • Through Dec. 24, Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu is offering a Daily Unlimited Golf package starting at $159.50 per person or $319 a night.

Golfers can take advantage of a day of unlimited golf, including cart, on the Arnold Palmer and/or George Fazio

chip shots courses, while nongolfers are free to make use of an $80 credit per day for other activities, including spa treatments, horseback riding, tennis and helicopter rides.

• Waikiki's Outrigger Reef on the Beach is giving duffers a choice of 18 holes at the Kapolei Golf Course or the Ewa Beach Golf Course on Oahu for $289 for one golfer or $389 for two.

• The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui is offering a Wailea Golf and Spa package for couples, featuring four nights in a onebedroom suite or villa; two rounds of golf, including cart, at any of Wailea's three courses; two 50-minute spa treatments; daily buffet breakfast; and one dinner at the property's Ko restaurant.

• Golfers looking for flexibility in their vacation might consider the Pick Your Passion package from the Big Island's Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. Nightly package rates begin at $680 for a standard room through Dec. 23. See www.maunalani.com.

• Juniors under age 15 play free of charge without restriction at the Makai Golf Club at Kauai's St. Regis Princeville Resort. Those ages 16 and 17 play for 50% off. Visit www.stregisprinceville.com.

• For $679 a person, the Hotel Lanai on Pineapple Isle offers golfers three nights' accommodations, three rounds of golf on the Manele and Koele courses, transportation and daily breakfasts.

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Kiawah Island

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K

IAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Perhaps no other golf resort in the country has grown more spectacular in the past five years, and done it more thoughtfully, than the Kiawah Island Golf Resort off the coast of South Carolina.

In the race to add amenities, some resorts lose touch with their surroundings, looking like manufactured playgrounds.

Thoughtful, cautious development has always set Kiawah Island apart. Just 45 minutes from Charleston, the barrier island's unique topography of towering trees, sand dunes, salt marshes, miles of beaches and the crashing ocean surf make for a photographer's dream. Kiawah Island Golf Resort has grown into a worldclass destination - complete with a five-star hotel, five-star spa and five-star golf course - without intruding on the charms of the surrounding Lowcountry.

The seaside mansion, a Mobile 5-Star award-winner two straight years, seems to kiss the surf without trespassing upon the beach.

The first floor was raised 20 feet to provide unobstructed ocean views, a concept legendary architect Pete Dye used in building Kiawah Island's famed Ocean course as well. Two grand staircases on either side of the lobby are complimented by three-story murals of the marshes. Most of the rooms, decorated with four-poster beds and ample space, offer balconies that open to a courtyard and the ocean.

The resort continues to be among the country's leaders in the "green" movement with its environmental practices. Kiawah's other green movement, its five golf courses, are similarly lauded. The Ocean course, site of the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches (known as the 'War by the Shore') and the 2012 PGA Championship, is one of the miracles of modern design. The completion of the $22-million Ocean course clubhouse in late 2007 greatly enhanced one of the purest golf experiences in America. There are spots inside the Ryder Cup bar where guests can watch the sun come up and the

The Golf Resort Where Memories Last A Lifetime

Change never comes that quickly at Kiawah. After all, the 255-room Sanctuary Hotel opened in 2004 after more than a decade of planning.

By Jason Scott Deegan

www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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sunset on the horizon without moving.

The 24,000-square-foot clubhouse provides the perfect place to unwind after battling the ferocious 8,000-yard beast.

Caddies warn players that the Ocean course plays at least 10 shots harder than their home track.

Dye's Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort Golf Digest rated it the toughest golf course in America in 2007, but that should come with a caveat. The Ocean course will only feel cruelly unfair if you make two deadly mistakes: playing from the wrong tees or teeing it up without a caddie (there is no extra charge for a caddie after your greens fee, just a $65 recommended tip).

Dicey weather - and howling winds - can also change your fortunes for the worse.

The Ocean course has certain elements of links golf, like stiff winds and long putts.

But the layout plays more like a links hybrid, with difficult-to-hold elevated greens, massive waste bunkers and a harrowing carry over water to the 17th green all characteristics of American resort golf.

Some players in the 2007 Senior PGA Championship complained about the course's steep bunker faces, so they might be revamped in time for the 2012 PGA Championship, according to resort spokesman Michael Vegis. No matter what changes occur between now and then, the course will be a fearsome test for the world's best golfers.

Kiawah's Other Golf Courses The other four courses at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, including Jack Nicklaus' Turtle Point, Gary Player's Cougar Point and Tom Fazio's Osprey Point, are so dramatically normal they provide quite a contrast. All are rated at least 4 stars by Golf Digest. Osprey Point delivers some of the most picturesque holes on the island, notably the par-3 third and 11th holes and the monstrous par-4 ninth. The latter is forgiving off the tee, making it a local favorite.

Turtle Point, designed in 1991 after Nicklaus finished working with Dye at Harbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., wanders through forest before climaxing with three beachfront holes. The green on the par-3 14th sits wedged between resort villas on the left and dunes 16

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

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on the right. Hooked tee shots on the 385yard No. 14 will fly the fence along the dunes, ending up on the beach. The 179yard 16th is the strongest hole of the three, demanding a confident swing to avoid the natural scrub and a front bunker.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Southern Hospitality Away from the courses, resort guests are pampered with service that lives up to the highest standards of Southern hospitality.

The restaurant scene at the resort has been revamped, adding even more variety.

The clubhouse at Turtle Point now houses Tomasso, an Italian-themed eatery serving family favorites like pizza and spaghetti.

With the addition of the Atlantic Room inside the Ocean course clubhouse two years ago, Kiawah Island is transforming the Sanctuary's Ocean Room into a high-end steakhouse along the lines of Ruth's Chris.

Golfers are sure to welcome the change.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort's luxurious spa continues to add treatments that highlight a connection to Mother Nature. The "signature massage" mixes heated grainand herb-filled wraps, used to relax the muscles, with traditional massage. Be sure to arrive early (and stay late) to take advantage of a soothing mineral hot tub inside the locker room.

Guests almost always feel much better afterward, refreshed and ready to return to the real world. Or better yet, they are replenished enough to seek revenge against that fickle Ocean course 18

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

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After Ocean Course Beats You Up, Head For Kiawah Resort's More Peaceful Osprey Point

By Brandon Tucker KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Once you've experienced the famed and daunting Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, you'll probably be in need of a friendlier kind of golf course, and Kiawah's Osprey Point course just down the road is your haven.

Shielded from the fierce, ocean winds and playing through a scenic and wild maritime forest filled with oaks and magnolias on Kiawah Island, architect Tom Fazio has built a course that is easy on the eyes - and your scorecard compared to its sterner Pete Dye neighbor.

Osprey Point isn't necessarily easy - no course with the threat of water or out-of-bounds on every shot can be to the wandering mid or high handicapper. The first hole is an uncomfortable drive that requires shaking off a small tree that sits in front of the tee. But good shots here are rewarded, and slightly off-line shots won't find trouble in most cases. In typical Fazio fashion, fairways are, for the most part, wide and welcoming. Green complexes feature heavy

www.golfvacationsmag.com

bunkering but usually safer bail-out zones as well.

Wildlife is especially abundant here. The starter warns to be on the lookout for alligators at every turn, but plenty of other species serve as your gallery here. Swooping birds fly overhead, families of turtles lounge in the rough alongside alligators and on the par-3 11th hole for instance, jumping fish with seemingly no regard for your stroke splash away as you line up your putt.

You have the option to hit your driver on every tee. The par-4 ninth is a wildly fun driving hole. The course's longest par 4 at 468 yards from the championship tees, it plays well over water before allowing you to cut off as much as you can for your second shot. For big hitters, the hole that will have you licking your chops the most is the short par-4 seventh hole. It's only 300 yards from the white tees and features a heavily mounded fairway that shields the green from view. A penal bunker to the left of the green corrals aggressive tee shots, while another short and right makes lay-ups uncomfortable.

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

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The most difficult aspect of Osprey Point is that each hole is generally framed by woods or water, so sprayed tee shots will likely be lost among the marsh.

There are a handful of strategic, short par 4s that add a great deal of excitement to the round. The par-4 seventh hole is a little more than 300 yards, and a giant mound online between the tee and the green can infuse some indecision from the tee. But bunkering well short of the green makes it an uncomfortable lay-up. You've paid a lot of dough to play this course, though; unleash the big dog over the mound and see what happens. The worst that can happen is you'll find yourself in a green-side bunker.

The par-5 18th offers up a chance at birdie with a good drive, as the green - while guarded on the left by water - can be reached in two and has some run-up space in front of the green.

The Verdict on Kiawah's Osprey Point course Osprey Point is another feather in the cap for the renowned Kiawah Island Golf Resort. It's an exciting play on beautiful lowcountry marshland. Fazio's design caters more to the resort

golfer than the tour pro, with a championship yardage topping out at just under 7,000 yards and numerous holes where pars and birdies are a possibility for the amateur player.

Ocean views at Turtle Point and The Ocean Course are substituted for more peaceful, lowcountry marshland on Kiawah Island. There is no need to keep an eye out for wildlife. The many birds, jumping fish, turtles and alligators will surely find you.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort is Pet Friendly The only pet-friendly lodging location in Kiawah Island is the Kiawah Island Golf Resort that is comprised of a hotel and the resort villas. Pets are allowed in the villas at a $25 per day pet fee with no weight restrictions, and leashed pets are allowed anywhere on the property. The two categories of villas that allow pets are the Resort and Deluxe class. Both come with kitchens complete with modern appliances, balconies, patios, and adjoining living and dining rooms. The Deluxe villas are the more expensive of the two. All guests of the resort also enjoy preferred tee times and 25 percent off at any of the five world-renowned golf courses on the property.

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

21

MOUNTA

CREATE A FOR ALL S

By Fred

I

t took them a couple of centuries to figure it out, but once the idea of casino resorts on Indian reservations kicked in, native American tribes have cashed in on the phenomenon.

In New Mexico, the Mescalero Apaches have taken the idea to new heights – literally and figuratively. Their reservation covers about 72 square miles of land at elevations that range from 5,500 feet in the valleys of the Sacramento Mountain range to the 12,000-foot peak of the Sierra Blanca Mountain.

The crowning jewel on the reservation is situated in the east portion of the reservation – the majestic Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino – and it provides visitors with fine dining, gambling, shows and recreational activities for all seasons.

It takes a little planning to get there. Located just a few miles from Ruidoso, one of the fastest-growing resort areas in the country, most visitors fly into Roswell, El Paso or Albuquerque, rent a car and drive to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.

There is a bonus for golfers. The Inn overlooks a spectacular championship course designed by golf architect Ted Robinson. Builder of over 170 golf courses throughout the world, including some which have been the sites for major championships, Robinson likes to use the natural habitat in the area as much as possible.

The majority of the land is covered with timber pine, fir, spruce, aspen, white oak and juniper. Add Mescalero Lake, some dramatic elevation changes and the stunning view of the snow-capped Ski Apache slope and you have the recipe for an extraordinary golf course.

The course has been as one of the Top 40 Casino Golf Courses by Golf Digest and Golfweek, and No. 12 among the Top 20 Tribal Golf Courses in North America by Native American Casino Magazine.

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AIN GODS

GETAWAY SEASONS Robledo

I don’t know the criteria used by those organizations, but as one who has covered golf and major championships all over the country for more than 30 years, I would call it one of the top courses I have ever seen and played.

“We are pretty proud of this course,” said head golf pro Daniel Nunez. “We have been the host for the New Mexico Open and have also had several sectional events held here.”

Robinson carved the course from the canyons at the base of the Sacramento Mountains and used bluegrass for the fairways and bent grass for the greens.

The course is at an elevation of 7,000 feet which means you will hit balls about 10 percent farther in the thin air.

For me, it led to some guesswork in the beginning, but once I understood a well-struck ball would get extra distance, I stopped trying to swing too hard and allowed the elevation to do its job.

The first day I was to play the course was rained out, but that proved to be a blessing in disguise because it left me free to enjoy the wonders of the Inn. (More on that experience later).

The sunshine returned on day two and I finally experienced the joy of playing the course with a couple I had met the day before at the Inn – Dr. Ron Avis and his daughter Sue, both avid golfers from Florida.

We enjoyed the round so much, we had lunch at the Apache Tee Restaurant, then tackled the front nine again.

“This day is a definite 10,” Dr. Avis said. “And the course is an 11. I can’t remember when I have enjoyed a course so much, and I have played courses all around the world.” www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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The course features four sets of tees ranging from 5,522 from the forward tees to 7,206 from the tips and the slope rating goes from 124 to 132. The fairways over ample landing areas but get narrower closer to the greens which are well bunkered.

There is not one signature hole on the course, but there are four holes where you automatically reach for your camera. The Kodak moments came at the 8th, 10th, 16th and 18th tees.

The eighth hole is a par-3 that ranges from 173 to 235 yards. The green looks like a welcome target at an elevation 150 feet below the tee boxes. With the wind swirling, it makes club selection a guessing contest.

We played the hole at 205 yards and I guessed a 185yard club would be about right. Although I pushed my 4-metal, the ball landed pin-high in the right bunker, so Dr. Avis was confident with his club selection and hit his shot to 10 feet below the pin.

The 10th hole features an island fairway and we learned that a driver was not necessary on the hole that measures from 283 yards to 354 yards. We played it from 300 and needed to hit the ball only 170 to reach the back end of the fairway. To hit it any farther would be to risk seeing the ball splash into the lake.

After a good tee shot, you are left with a short iron to a large green.

The 16th hole is the easiest on the course, a straight-forward par 4 that goes from 310 to 380 yards, but what makes it special is the jaw-dropping view of Sierra Blanco’s snow-capped Ski Apache peak rising above the tall green forest pines.

The 18th hole is a risk-reward par three over a lake. It can play as short as 130 yards or as long as 272 yards to a green that angles away from you.

The greens on the course were a little soft from the rain the previous day, but firmed up later in the day. They were large with some undulation and were very quick on downhill putts.

“We like to keep the greens at 8 or 9 (on the Stimpmeter) for resort play, but we can get them up to 11-13 for tournament play,” Nunez said.

After the round and a half of golf, it was a short walk back to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, a place that is designed for families, business travelers, gamblers, outdoor enthusiasts or anybody looking for a retreat from a hectic city.

Guests will be treated to a AAA Four-Diamond rated luxury resort that features 273 rooms and suites with Southwestern décor. Business travelers will note it has more than 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space, a business center, heated indoor pool and hot tubs, a fully24

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equipped fitness center and a variety of restaurants to satisfy any palate.

The signature dining establishment is Wendell’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant, named after Wendell Chino, the president of the Mescalero Apaches for 43 years until his death in 1998. It is open nightly for dinner and offers an impressive wine list, an array of fresh seafood, steaks and wonderful desserts.

Adjacent to the restaurant is Wendell’s Lounge which offers appetizers, cocktails and cozy fireside seating. I preferred to sit outside on the patio to enjoy the view of the Sierra Blanca and Sacramento Mountains.

Other dining options are the Apache Tee Restaurant overlooking the first and 10th tees of the golf course, the Gathering of Nations Buffet, the Big Game Sports Bar and Club 49 next to the casino and Smokey B’s Grill at the Casino Apache Travel Center.

The casino offers everything Las Vegas has including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, slot machines and video poker. While my luck as the casino was not good, I did witness a lady taking away $1,000 from the Wheel of Fortune machine. What made that a mixed experience for me was that I had been playing that machine earlier in the evening and decided it wasn’t going to pay off that night.

The real attractions to the resort are the many activities offered for families and outdoors people, depending on the season.

There is horseback riding, a sporting clay range, and fishing on the 100-acre Lake Mescalero. They have a Just for Kids Summertime Activities Program designed for children 5-12 years old. The activities include arts and crafts, games, movies and special themes and all are fully supervised. There is also bird watching, hiking, camping and mountain biking.

But the big ticket items are golf, skiing and big game hunting where you go after bears, cow elk, wild birds and turkeys depending on the season.

I will confess. I am not a hunter. But I don’t feel guilty if I get a birdie on the Championship Course at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.

• • • • Inn at the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino 287 Carrizo Canyon Road Mescalero, New Mexico Reservations: 1-800-545-9011 You can also make reservations to play the golf course by going to the resort’s website at www.innofthemountaingods.com www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

25

SPOTLIGHT

ANGEL PARK GOLF CLUB Taking Top Honors . . . AGAIN!

Amid all of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, one of the hidden treasures when it comes to quality golf where families and groups are catered to is the Angel Park Golf Club in the suburb of Summerlin.

Although perhaps flying under the radar--and it isn’t operated by one of the big-name casinos in town-- Angel Park offers an array of Stay and Play Packages with local hotels and in itself is an outstanding 36-hole facility that offers two Arnold-Palmer designed 18-hole tracks—the Palms and the Mountain Courses—plus a 12hole short course that is excellent for beginners, families or shortgame tune-ups, plus an expansive, lighted practice tee and a natural grass putting course that rivals anything in the area.

Angel Park was named “Best Golf Course” in Las Vegas in the 29th annual Best of Las Vegas ® Reader’s Poll conducted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Taking top honors for the 13th consecutive year and 15 of the past 16 years, Angel Park maintained its popularity with the readers of Las Vegas’ largest daily newspaper.

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“This award really means a lot to us,” said David Stead, Director of Golf for Angel Park Golf Club. “We work very hard to ensure that our guests thoroughly enjoy their golf experience.”

Although the lion’s share of votes came from the Las Vegas area, thanks to the Internet, they also received votes from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Cayman Islands, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom, to name a few.

Angel Park also was named one of the “Top 50 Courses in America for Women” by Golf Digest this year, an award that the operators of the course are very proud of.

“When one takes a look at the demographic profile of golfers, they’ll see that the female contingent is the fastest growing group,” said Phil Green, President of OB Sports, management firm for Angel Park Golf Club. “And that makes perfect sense. Golf is a game for a lifetime that requires skill, integrity and coordination, not a lot of physical strength. The handicap system and multiple

www.golfvacationsmag.com

By TerryRoss

teeing areas allow players of all levels to enjoy the game together.

It’s an ideal family-oriented activity with a ton of inspiring role models at the LPGA club level and tour level.”

Each of the 18-hole layouts offer four sets of tees—with the Palms ranging from 6,525 yards (Par 70) to its forward tees at 4,570 yards. The tougher Mountain Course goes 6,722 from the tips (Par 71) to the forward markers at 5,150 yards. This course takes its inspiration from the striking views of the nearby Red Rock and Spring Mountain ranges, and meanders through relatively flat, rolling terrain and high-desert vegetation.

Playing in the shadow of the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, the Mountain Course seems to be popular with both locals and visitors to the Las Vegas area and features some tricky greens that can use some of that local knowledge. It is a fun track where driver is a good-bet on just about every Par 4 or Par 5, with five of the Par 4’s stretching to more than 400-yards in length from the back tees.

You don’t have to be a long hitter to score from the back tees, how-

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Las Vegas, NV

ever, but a good short game is critical.

The Par 5 17th-hole is intriguing with a native area that cuts across the fairway, so a solid drive is imperative to get a par here, while the 18th-finishing hole features water all down the right side and is one of the more scenic on the course.

The Palms Course is known for its long Par 3 holes—three of the five stretch more than 200 yards—with carries over water or desert on most of them. The Par 4’s present golfers with differing yardages and intriguing hazards that place a premium on club selection, distance control and creative shot-making.

For those looking to vacation on a budget, you can stay at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino next door for one night AND play Angel Park all for $49 per-person (double occupancy). This summer special runs through the end of September, 2010. There probably isn’t a better vacation value than this in Las Vegas, especially for a golf facility that is so well regarded.

For more information, visit: www.angelpark.com

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

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SWEETSTUFF O

ne of the more unique training aids to come along in recent years that promotes a downward “prostyle” stroke on the golf ball--and has caught on with teachers and players alike-is the Tour Striker practice club.

Developed by teaching professional Martin Chuck, PGA, director of golf at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, the Tour Striker was launched on a regional basis over a year and a half ago, but since its national launch in May has enjoyed overwhelming sales success, with thousands of training clubs already sold.

The original Tour Striker 8 iron, Tour Striker Pro 7 iron and Tour Striker 56degree wedge training clubs feature distinctive designs that have little clubface below the "sweet spot" unlike a traditional club. The clubs have been designed so golfers intuitively teach themselves how to deliver the "sweet spot" of the club to the ball like an expert ball striker.

In developing the club, Chuck took off the bottom three grooves of the iron so that players were forced to hit down on the ball during their practice sessions and developed the “Tour-like” stroke that professionals have developed to ascend to the highest levels of the game.

For the high handicapper the benefits of the Tour Striker are obvious, but for better players, it has also been found to be an excellent tool to improve timing and rhythm.

Players that practice with the Tour Striker will quickly see a change in their swing and ball striking--learning to apply forward shaft lean which will increase lag, add club head speed and improve impact position naturally.

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The Original Tour Striker is targeted for mid-to-high handicap golfers and those with slower swing speeds (under 90 mph with driver), while the Tour Striker Pro is geared for dedicated players with higher swing speeds and a handicap of 10 or less. Also available is a Tour Striker for women and younger players who wish to improve their game. The ladies/junior model is slightly shorter than the regular Tour Striker (35 inches vs. 36 inches) and has a graphite shaft appropriate for women and juniors.

The Tour Striker training clubs are cast of 433 stainless steel. The vibration dampening logo affixed within the back cavity helps reduce shock on miss-hit shots while developing ball striking skills.

For more information on the Tour Striker, visit: www.tourstriker.com

palette, easy-to-merchandise color stories, classic styling with subtle feminine details, and an expanded selection of lightweight and silky fabrics, excellent drape regardless of body type and a modern approach to traditional golf wear.

A

n updated look with an eye towards sophisticated styling and new colors, together with the sheer feel of its new DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE moisture wicking performance fabrics is making Antiqua golf apparel one of the hot new looks this year and moving forward into the 2011 season.

Featuring their soft textures and lightweight athletic drape, Antigua is taking its high-performance collection in a new direction by introducing what the company has coined “contemporary performance” with the Mosaic, Mogul and Metropolitan collections.

The collection utilizes its highly effective DESERT DRY™ and XTRA-LITE fabrics that give the shirts and tops such a light, cool feel in even the most extreme temperatures. Constructed with ultra-light fabrics for maximum wicking performance and optimum comfort, the additional benefits of DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE are increased moisture wicking, lighter weight and less heat trapped on the body and less restrictive movement. It is an extremely light fabric without being sheer and its three-dimensional construction is what makes the fabric extremely light without being see-through.

On the women’s side, the new collection focuses on a sophisticated color

The Spring 2011 Antigua Women’s collection is merchandised as three innovative, opulent product groups—Dashing, Mischief and Dynamic.

For more information on Antiqua apparel: www.antigua.com

T

ravel and golf seem to go together like wine and cheese. The sport was seemingly made for those that enjoy some leisure time away from home and love to find interesting ways to combine all sorts of travel adventures with their passion for a game that is enjoyed all around the world in an endless array of settings and climates.

One of the most popular pieces of vacation luggage offered by TaylorMade is the Players’ 27-inch Rolling Duffle that has enough room to pack for five days or more and has been used by TM Staff Players when on tour.

This all-in-one luggage piece offers the ultimate in intuitive organization and smartly maximized storage, featuring dual external compression straps and 1680 denier ballistic material with synthetic leather panels. This piece is durable and

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SWEETSTUFF adaptable; and its sturdy build--but light weight--make it a great addition to any golf trip. It also features bi-fold construction for maximum storage, removable internal divider and organizer, dual large front pockets and custom TaylorMade zipper pulls with heavy gauge easy action zippers. It is accented with custom urethane wheels and black gunmetal telescoping pull handle.

For carrying the all-important golf clubs, the TaylorMade Players’ Travel Cover - available in a standard size and a staff bag size - is loaded with features and extras that discerning professionals look for and will keep clubs safe when traveling by airplane.

Made out of heavy 1680 denier ballistic material with synthetic leather panels, some handy extra features included in this deluxe cover are Internal mesh pockets and Internal compression straps; custom TaylorMade zipper pulls with heavy gauge easy action zippers and custom urethane wheels and skid bars.

For transporting your shoes to the c o u r s e , TaylorMade has a stylish and very functional solution in the Players’ Shoe Bag that provides extra storage, rigid protective construction, full internal velour-lining, easy access zipper opening, an Internal sock pocket, six ventilated exhaust ports, Internal divider to keep shoes separated, custom TaylorMade zipper pulls with heavy gauge easy action zippers—all wrapped in a sharp 1680 denier ballistic material with synthetic leather panels.

For more information on TaylorMade travel accessories visit their website at: www.taylormadegolfgear.com

by Terry Ross

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T

he New Exotics XCG3 Irons integrate a forgiving game improvement technology combined with a classic look. But more importantly they are so beautifully balanced that with a nice controlled swing the player is sure to enjoy an additional ten years per club, easily.

The striking c l u b design immedia t e l y instills confidence at t h e address position.

A slightly larger version of the award winning XCG design, the XCG-3 features Tour Edge’s original Dual Density Dampening System (3DS) and makes it even better by covering the entire cavity with an ultra-light carbon and thermal plastic elastomer (TPE). This new dampening system is lighter in weight, enabling a thinner face design for improved feel and forgiveness and longer shots.

The key to the 3DS system is the use of two different TPE inserts with varying firmness. The system sits elegantly in the rear of the cavity punctuating the classic design while delivering unrivaled feel. The inserts are softer in the scoring irons (7-SW) to produce a more responsive feel and greater spin. In the mid and long irons a denser insert promotes greater rebound, added distance, and a firmer feel.

The XCG-3 set starts at $499 and comes with Tour Edge’s lifetime warranty. For more information, call (800) 515-3343 or visit www.exoticsgolf.com.

tic aid that is small enough to fit in a pocket and is a must-have for any golfer who wants a more accurate swing and a secure grip. Easy to use, individuals simply snap it on the grip, fit it to align properly, grip the club and rip it down the fairway.

Designed for all ages and all levels of golf, the Thumb Caddy is a simple solution to one of golf’s most challenging facets, the grip. The first instruction given to golfers is how to properly hold the club. Whether you use the Vardon overlapping grip, ten finger baseball grip, or interlocking grip, your hands connect you to the club, a vital component of the golf swing. A right-handed golfer simply rests his or her left thumb in the cradle of the Thumb Caddy and swings away.

Thumb Caddy is used by a wide range of golf participants. Teaching professionals use Thumb Caddy in their lessons to reinforce a proper grip technique with beginners and children. Low handicappers practice with the Thumb Caddy to build proper muscle memory for a perfect draw or fade and then slip it off their grip to play a competitive round. Recreational golfers can put one on all of their clubs and use it as a full time playing aid.

The Thumb Caddy is available as a single unit for $7.99, or it can be purchased in a package of three accompanied by an instructional DVD for $19.95. To purchase, visit t www.thumbcaddy.net or call (781)828-7747 for a dealer near you.

by Tom Draper

T

he Thumb Caddy is a training aide that helps players improve their golf game by perfecting the grip. The device is a comfortable, rubber-coated plas-

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

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

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

31

MYTURN

by RANDYTURNER courtesy Winnipeg Free Press

KEEPING PACE WITH GOLF’S GLOBAL SHIFT Language Tutors As Important As Swing Coaches

T

here was a time not long ago when Kyeong Bae's English tutor was an animated character who lived under the sea. Or a mouse who wears pants.

"Cartoons," she said, "like Spongie Bob." To the connoisseur, that would be SpongeBob SquarePants. Bae also found a language mentor in Disney movies, while she sat in hotel rooms on her idle hours during her early days as an LPGA regular.

That was five years ago, when Bae, now 25, was a young South Korean on the Tour, which in the last few years has gone from reactionary to proactive in response to the dramatic shift in player demographics.

A faction of the old LPGA feared the influx of Korean players at the turn of the century, prompting the infamous quote from 16-time winner Jan Stephenson in 2003 that "Asians are killing the Tour."

How times have changed. These days, language instructors hired in May travel with the Tour, offering one-on-one instruction for all players, including North Americans who might be interested in learning Japanese and Korean given the global direction of the LPGA's brave new world.

Indeed, that might be the future LPGA, which now has 45 South Korean players and events in Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.

For now, however, around 15 Tour regulars meet once a week with language instructors from the Indianapolis-based Language Training Center. The goal is rather simple: Without English skills, players can not communicate with sponsors, media, fans -- even their own caddies. That's a hazard waiting to happen.

"I think they see that their clubs do the talking when they're playing," LTC president Martin George said yesterday.

"But they want to be able to talk to fans. They want to be able to talk to the media. They want to talk to sponsors.... We have to have them get more confident and more excited about being outgoing."

Bae thinks language instructors are almost as important as swing coaches on the practice range. The LPGA provides interpreters, but she thinks using them is spinning wheels.

"It's not helping myself," Bae said. "I wanted to speak more specific English, more difficult parts. I need to study.

"To hit the ball is really important. But I have to

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communicate better with the caddy."

The bottom line is that professional golf is a business, and a shrinking one in a recession-ravaged economy. The LPGA relies heavily on pro-am revenue, such as the $10,000-per-foursome event today at St. Charles. So communication is paramount.

As one Tour official noted, "Football players don't have to charm sponsors."

Korean-born Sean Pyun, the LPGA's manager of international development, had to interpret for certain players up to 15 times two years ago. Now there is little need.

"Certainly, the LPGA is quite different from when I started two years ago," Pyun said. "When [Asian players] first got here, they were shy. They couldn't say anything.

Now you see them and they're joking around with their pro-am partners, giving them lessons. Is their English perfect? No, it's not, but progress has been made.

"A lot more people understand that the nature of women's golf has changed over time. Whether we like it or not, we're going to go to many different countries in the future. We'll be more global."

Pyun said one American player has already expressed interest in learning Japanese or Korean.

"The word is getting out [about the language training]," Pyun said. "Now they're asking about it. There's a lot of incentives from an individual standpoint to relate to a different culture to speak another language. Maybe get a Japanese sponsor interested."

Stephenson might never have envisioned a day where Asian-born players would not require interpreters, and where North Americans consider learning Korean. Or that a tournament played in Winnipeg, as LPGA commissioner Mike Whan noted, would be broadcast "and somebody in Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Japan is going to watch it on TV." With the global shift, North Americans could feel the pressure to do exactly what Stephenson once demanded of Asian players.

Still, Bae insists that "this is the American LPGA Tour, not the KLPGA [Korean Tour]. When I go Roma, follow Roma rules."

A Korean sitting in Canada summoning an ancient Italian adage in a discussion about Asian golfers coming to America.

Sounds about right.

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