Golf Vacations Magazine Spring 2008 by Golf Vacations Magazine

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GOLF VACATIONS SPRING 2008

DESTINATION: KOHLER GOLF WISCONSIN MASTERPIECE ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN

VANCOUVER’S COMEX VALLEY YEAR-ROUND FUN ON CANADIAN COAST

PLUS:

Marriott Shadow Ridge I Cabo del Sol I Westin Los Cabos

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Tee Times / Stay & Play Packages Call 1.888.727.4427 or visit us online at harrahsgolf.com For groups of 16 or more call 702.294.2010

Cut out the middleman. Reserve directly with the golf course and hotel operators. Choose to stay at Bally’s, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Paris & Rio in Las Vegas and play at Cascata, Rio Secco, or one of over 12 other fabulous golf courses.

Check availability and pricing, and reserve the entire package online at www.harrahsgolfonline.com

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contents I spring 2008

cover

stories

Marriott’s Championship Shadow Ridge

Wisconsin’s Destination Kohler

by Michael Villalpando

In designing Shadow Ridge, Nick Faldo sought to inspire golfers of all levels to raise their game and enjoy a unique golfing experience in this premier desert resort area of Southern California.

by Joel Zuckerman

One little success built on another little success, and suddenly the combination of those successes and the demand for golf becomes synergistic. Then voilà, you get Herb Kohler’s masterpiece along Lake Michigan.

Year-Round Fun On The Canadian Coast by Terry Ross

When one thinks of an all-season resort, Canada is usually not the first place that pops into your mind. But the Comox Valley in the central portion of Vancouver Island is gaining a reputation as a premier golf and recreation all-year destination.

ON THE COVER: Biltmore Resort & Spa, Coral Gables ~ Miami, Florida

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contents I spring 2008

special

section

GOLF VACATIONS: MEXICO

Westin Los Cabos: Shining Service by Chris Baldwin

Westin Los Cabos is closer to the more authentic Mexican town of San Jose del Cabo than the touristy party town of Cabo San Lucas. Could that be the secret to its perfection?

GOLF VACATIONS: MEXICO

Cabo del Sol: A Nicklaus Jewel by Chris Baldwin

How many courses - even $250 per round courses like Cabo del Sol - offer fresh fish tacos at the turn. That kind of memorable perk in the United States? I don’t think so!

departments

14 Chip Shots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

44 My Turn

by Jennifer Mario

When It Comes To Golf, Some Rules Are Meant To Be Broken

v i s i t w w w. g v l i n k s . c o m

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SUMMER From Includes accommodation in a Jacuzzi Villa, a round of golf, shared power cart and a $25 Dining Certificate (per person).

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*Valid May 1 - Aug. 30/08 Per person/night, based on double occupancy. Plus taxes, subject to availability.

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4 1/2 Star Villas Silverado Steak House Timber Room Pub Conference Facilities Fitness Centre Classic Car Museum

Crown Isle Home Sites From $160,000 with Golf Course or Mountain Views FLY DIRECT TO COMOX (YQQ) Just minutes away!

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from the editor . . .

y now I’m sure you’ve all noticed the tiny buds forming on your previously frozen flower gardens. That just the heavens above way of telling you that the golf season has begun in every corner of the country. Teetime opportunities abound while Florida, California and Arizona’s days are numbered when it comes to holding all the cards for your golf vacation. That said, you still can’t write off those pesky year-round golfer-states. They do know a little something about keeping your interest throughout the year. Take Palm Desert, CA’s Marriott Shadow Ridge. Classic Faldo golf, classic Marriott service and classic desert weather. Not a bad trifecta when emerging from your winter slumber. On a more Midwestern note, we welcome Herb Kohler’s masterpiece resort, set on the shores of Lake Michigan in that hotbed of golf nirvanas . . . Wisconsin! If there ever was a state that needed temperature relief from the “frozen tundra” its this one, especially now that Brett Favre has decided to hang up his cleats. Journeying west and hopping over the border, there is an island paradise that we found that should entice you to update your passport. No not that border. Though we’ll get to that. I’m talking the Canadian border and an enchanted isle called Vancouver Island. Ski in the morning, golf in the afternoon. Or reverse them. Whichever way you structure your day, there’s world-class accommodations awaiting you. This issue we also check in again on Mexico’s Los Cabos where winter, spring, summer or fall, the sun is always sure to shine. A reservation at the Westin Los Cabos we’ll guarantee you some of the greatest service to be found in the four corners of the world. A teetime over at Cabo del Sol will also ensure you a test of your golfing chops, while delivering mouth-watering fish tacos at the turn. Now that’s Cabo! Here’s to the start of another great golf season. Cheers to all. See you at the 19th Hole! Thanks for reading.

Jeffrey Diaz executive editor www.gvlinks.com

Hot new Celebrity. Best new Player.

Newly Opened Players Course & Famed Celebrity Course. Book your Tee-Time today at indianwellsgolfresort.com or call 1-800-505-8530 Play at one of the top ranked public access courses in the country — Golfweek Best You Can Play Guide 2008

“This is a Celebrity worth fawning over” — Golf Magazine

Home of the

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Joel Zuckerman, the Vagabond Golfer, was recently called “one of the most respected and sought-after golf writers in the Southeast” by Golfer’s Guide. Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye said, "Joel is both a great writer and a great friend." His latest book, titled Pete Dye: Golf Courses---Fifty Years Of Visionary Design, will be released in September. Visit www.petedyebook.com for more information.

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.

Michael Villalpando is a Los Angeles based travel writer. He is also publisher of the Park La Brea News and The Beverly Press, both local weekly publications covering news and events in the Los Angeles area. Michael and his wife Karen also run The Melrose Media Group, a successful L.A. based media rep firm.

Chris Baldwin carries 14 years of journalism experience, seven in the competitive New York market. He’s played more than 120 golf courses for reviews in the last year alone, been issued a personal challenge by Donald Trump on a Top 10 rankings story and landed the interview that brought out Rush Limbaugh’s first controversial comments on Michelle Wie. Chris won six national AP Sports Editors awards in six years at the Asbury Park Press. He's covered four World Series, three NBA Finals, two Stanley Cup Finals, two U.S. Opens and plenty of other golf. Chris comes to us courtesy of worldgolf.com

Jennifer Mario is a regular columnist for Triangle Golf Today, a North Carolina golf magazine, and writes features, course reviews, columns, and a blog for TravelGolf.com. Born and raised in South Korea, she brought a unique understanding of Korean culture and values in her first book, Michelle Wie: The Making of a Champion.

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JIM MCLEAN GOLF SCHOOL Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz Contributing Writers Chris Baldwin • Jennifer Mario • Terry Ross Michael Villalpando • Joel Zuckerman Design & Production Buy Design • J.D. Latorre Features Editor Larry Feldman Special Projects Editor Terry Ross Copy Editor Mary Anne Pinkston For Editorial: call: (760) 774-2655 • e-mail: info@GVLinks.com

Advertising Representatives

Since 1997 the Jim McLean Golf Schools have been developing the golf swing skills and game improvements of PGA, LPGA and Mini Tour players as well as every level of amateur at both the La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA WEST. All instructors are full-time teaching professionals, and many are experienced former PGA Tour professionals among the “Top 100” teachers in America. For more information please call 760.564.7144

Palm Springs, CA • 760-318-6214 Dan Amezcua Los Angeles, CA • 323-933-5518 Michael Villalpando - Melrose Media Group San Diego, CA • 619-709-4425 Wayne McCollum Phoenix, AZ • 612-251-5945 Jay Trapnell

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Golf Vacations Magazine is published bi-monthly and is selectively distributed throughout the entire fifty United States. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2008 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. For home or office delivery, please send your name, address, phone number and $18 to Golf Vacations Magazine at the address above. www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

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 >> NEWLY INSPIRED ROAD TRIP PACKAGE AT PAWLEYS PLANTATION Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club in Pawleys Island, S.C., is offering a new golf package, “Road Trip.” To celebrate their appearance on The Golf Channel’s new reality series, Road Trip: Myrtle Beach, the “Road Trip” package lets golfers experience four courses featured on the show, including Pawleys Plantation, which the show’s stars lauded for its “awesome” beauty. The three-night “Road Trip” package is available through September 3, 2008 (rates vary from $433 to $714 per person, according to the season) based on quad occupancy. It includes accommodations in a spacious Pawleys Plantation villa, daily plantation breakfast, and a round of golf on Pawleys Plantation’s Jack Nicklaus-designed layout, and one round each on the Tradition Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, and Willbrook Plantation Golf Club. As an added incentive, each person in the foursome who books the package before March 23, 2008 will receive a $10 voucher to

Franks, Louis’, the Pawleys Island Tavern and Quigley’s, all restaurants that will be featured on the reality series.

18h Green at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Airing on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Road Trip: Myrtle Beach is the first reality show to be based in South Carolina and Myrtle Beach is the first American golf destination to play host. Get information at www.pawleysplantation.com or by calling 800-367-9959.

WORLD CLASS DRIVING AND GOLF AT FRENCH LICK RESORT CASINO Rev up your engines and swing for the clouds with the new "World Class Driving"

THE ULTIMATE GOLF EXPERIENCE • Two Ted Robinson designed,

Championship 18-hole Courses

chip shots and Golf Package at French Lick Resort Casino. This package is a once in a lifetime driving and golf experience combining great golf on the historic Donald Ross designed course along with getting behind the wheel of some of the most glamorous and exotic automobiles in the world. This package is filling up fast and available on a limited basis from June 11-15. The cost for the package starts at $1,572.42 per person incl. all taxes (or what would be the price of a half day rental for a Ferrari F430) and you will be able to drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes and Corvette. The price includes one night lodging, "World Class Driving" session, two rounds of golf, breakfast at the Grand Colonnade Buffet, Dinner at 1875: Steakhouse, $50 free slot play, non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, and WCD gift pack - including driver's certificate and digital pictures. Does it get any better then combining world-class golf, exotic sports cars, and casino gaming? Visit www.frenchlick.com

• Golf’s largest travel portal

• Top 75 Golf Resorts in the Nation

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Desert Springs is the destination resort for tournaments, group outings, premier golf instruction and player development programs.

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Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Other restrictions may apply. Expires 7-15-08.

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NEW PROVIDENCIALES RESORT DEBUTS WITH DUFFER’S DELIGHT Making its debut July 2008, Seven Stars Resort on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands is offering diverse packages for the summer, valid through October 31, 2008. Whether guests are looking for a plan that emphasizes romance, sporting activities or friendship, most will find the perfect answer for a truly memorable holiday at this stellar new resort on Grace Bay, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. All rates at Seven Stars include full breakfast daily, transfers to and from the Providenciales airport, use of the resort’s tennis courts, fitness center and front desk business services. The Duffers Delight Golf Getaway

is a seven-night package for two and includes accommodations, three rounds of golf at the Provo Golf & Country Club, use of a golf cart and transfers to/from the hotel and the course. Also, two one-hour hot stone massages and two 50-minute sports massages; a $100 credit for use at the Club which can be applied to club rental, additional rounds of golf, the clubhouse restaurant/lounge and/or the Club gift shop; and hotel tax and service charge. The rate for two in a one-bedroom Gardenview Studio is $5,205. Luxurious accommodations and attentive, yet unobtrusive, service are the hallmarks of Seven Stars Resort. Located on 22 beachfront acres of famed Grace Bay, the 165 studio and one- to four-bedroom

and penthouse suites are housed in three buildings. Courtyards, fountains and lush tropical gardens give way to magnificent ocean views. A gourmet restaurant, swimming pool, watersports center, tennis courts and spa/fitness facility are among the resort’s distinguishing features. The hotel’s name comes from the seven stars of the Pleiades, the storied constellation seen so clearly from the Turks & Caicos Islands. In Greek mythology the stars represent the seven daughters of the god Atlas and goddess Pleione. For Seven Stars’ reservations and information, phone toll-free 1-866-5707777 or 1-649-941-7777; e-mail, reservations@sevenstarsresort.com; or log on at www.sevenstarsresort.com.

1 Night Lodging + 1 Round of Golf $138.00 Weekdays* or

$185. Weekends* Resort Amenities Include… • 100 course side guest rooms & suites • Two championship 18 hole courses • One 3-par 18 hole course Ranked • Complete practice facilities S a n D ie g o C o u n ty ’s # 1 G o lf C • Two pools & spas S ig n O n S a o u rs e b y • Spa treatments n D ie g o .c om • Fine dining • Sycuan Casino within minutes of resort

STAY Y& PLAY www.gvlinks.com Golf Vacation Mag 03-01-08 1

For reservations - Call 1-888-548-8649 • Ask for Rate Code: GV0308 View our online video at: www.sycuanresort-golfvacations.com 3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon, CA 92019 * Price per person based on double occupancy. Tax not included. Offer expires May 31, 2008. Subject to availablitiy. G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P 2/15/08 R I N G 2008 15 2:54:11 PM

KAUAI’S PRINCEVILLE GOLF COURSE PACKAGES FOR 2008 The acclaimed Princeville Golf Courses, made up of the 18-hole Prince and 27-hole Makai, have announced a variety of special values for 2008. The two courses, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., are located on Kauai’s north shore, in the Princeville Resort community. The versatile Tease For Two package is designed for two people--one who wants to enjoy a round of golf and one who would prefer to luxuriate with a massage at the Princeville Spa, situated in the Prince Clubhouse. The package can also be used by an individual who wants to enjoy both golf and a massage, or--with the purchase of two packages--a couple can

indulge in a round of golf and a massage for each of them. Price for the Tease for Two package, for one or two people, is $249, including tax and a gratuity for the massage. This package is offered through December 31, 2008. The Princeville courses also offer two Multi-Day Golf Passes for golfers who want to play the courses more than once. Three rounds in five days are offered for $306.24, and five rounds in seven days for $468.75. A two-day/two-rounds pass is also available for play only on the Prince Course—cost is $250. These Multi-Day Passes are valid through December 31, 2008. For more information or to book a teetime, call toll-free 800-826-1105, or contact the Prince Golf Course at 808-826-

Magnificent Kauai

5001 or the Makai Golf Course at 808826-3581. Visit Princeville at Hanalei’s website at www.princeville.com for more course information.

VALUES HIGHLIGHT SEASONAL GOLF AT IDAHO’S SUN VALLEY An American Original, Sun Valley is currently enjoying a robust ski season, but is prepared for the warm seasons off the slopes and eagerly anticipating additions to the four-season resort destination. Sun Valley’s Spring Golf Package will be introduced on or around April 20 – depending on Mother Nature – and will run through June 1. This package offers one round of golf, a golf cart and one night’s lodging in a Sun Valley Resort accommodation for only $120 per person per night, based on double occupancy. Single occupancy is $167. On the heels of the spring package, Sun Valley will offer a June Golf Package from June 2 through June 15 and June 24 through June 26. This package offers 18 holes of golf, a golf cart and one night’s lodging in a Sun Valley Resort accommodation for $175 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. Single occupancy is available for $250 per night. To reserve any of these packages call 800-786-8259. Flush with four-season amenities, Sun Valley Resort is set to add to the already impressive list in 2008. The first nine holes of a new, 18-hole Donald Knott championship golf course will join the acclaimed 18-hole course at the resort, with the second nine scheduled to come online in 2009. For additional packages or more information about Sun Valley Resort, call 800894-9941 or visit www.sunvalley.com. 16

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GOLF TRAVEL: SWINGING FOR CUBA So Americans may be playing less golf, but that doesn't mean it's not a big, ahem, driver of tourism. And now that Fidel's on the way out–and Raul's in charge–at least a dozen golf-and-resort projects are underway around Cuba. Seems the reason golf never caught on was Castro's taste in sports, though he did once play a game with Che Guevara. Castro built a state-sponsored sports machine that produced world-famous boxers and baseball players, killer volleyball spikers and fleet-footed runners. But he was never keen on golfers, whose sport reeked of money and Yankee imperialism. Today, there's only one nine-hole course in the capital, simply called the Havana Golf Club. Thanks to a pricey greens fee of 20 Cuban convertible pesos ($18) it draws more tourists than locals, and soccer great Diego Maradona has been spotted on the links. Also worth a trip is Varadero Beach, where one 18-hole course is already open, and another resort is in the works.

The package is available until Varadero Golf Club September 30, 2008 and priced at US$251 based on twin sharing, with a third person charged at US$184, and single supplement of US$123. Nongolfers can alternatively be pampered with a half-day spa package. With rates inclusive of 2% accommodation tax and 10% VAT, the package also allows early check-in and late checkout along with upgrade to Deluxe room upon availability.

Nick Faldo says of the new course at Siem Reap: "It’s a beautiful tropical course with generous fairways for leisure golfers, but bold bunkers and subtle greens.” The golf package also allows plenty of time to visit the great temples of Angkor Wat, famed as one of the great wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Within minutes driving distance of the temple complex and just a short walk to the traditional local market, the graceful 1930’s French colonial style Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa overlooks the Royal Gardens of the King’s Residence in Siem Reap. www.victoriahotels-asia.com/eng/hotelin-cambodia/angkor-resort-spa/packages

DISCOVER CAMBODIA’S NEW NICK FALDO COURSE WITH VICTORIA ANGKOR RESORT, SIEM REAP Golfers can discover the new Nick Faldo course in Siem Reap, Cambodia in partnership with the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa, with a new three-day, twonight inclusive package. The new ‘Nick Faldo Golf Package’ offered by luxury, off-the-beaten-track Indochina hotel group Victoria Hotels & Resorts includes accommodation in a Superior room with daily breakfast, roundtrip airport transfers and a round of golf plus caddy, along with hotel transfers between the hotel and the stunning new course. www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

THE CLASSIC CLUB FEATURES WORLD-CLASS STAR-GAZING

or those that prefer to travel and mix in their golf at the same courses where the pros play, the Palm Springs desert region affords at least six courses in any given year where professional tournaments are held, probably more than any other area in the country. Of those half dozen tracks, it happens that the newest of this group—The Classic Club in Palm Desert— has already seen the most changes and alterations to a facility that has been ranked among the Best New Courses in the nation. The long-anticipated opening of the permanent clubhouse has been the most noticeable feature, and as the host course of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, hosted by George Lopez, it appears that no expense was spared in providing this 50-year old PGA Tour stop with an elegant home. The 63,000-square-foot Classic

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Clubhouse, which can be seen from Interstate Highway 10, is a Tuscan style facility that houses a full service golf shop, members only lounge, snack bar, locker rooms and the featured Rattlesnake Desert Grill and Wine Bar, created by American culinary legend Jimmy Schmidt. The views from the clubhouse overlooking the cascading waterfall and mountain vistas offer a great setting for dinner, casual drinks after a round or with the crowd during the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which became the building’s coming out party during the January tournament. In just its third year as the host of a tour event, the course itself has also seen some changes. Although the routing of the holes is changed only for the tournament, the greens on the 2nd, 11th and 16th holes have been rebuilt to better receive approach shots; and

bunkers have been modified to allow more run-up shots from the fairways. During tournament week the Classic Club becomes the top venue for star-gazing as the celebrities play two rounds at this venue and one each at the other three courses in the rotation. The Classic, as the locals call it, is one of only two events left on the regular PGA Tour where celebrities play with the pros during the actual tournament, and it is the only one that is competed over five days with four courses. This year, celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, Michael Bolton, Kevin Nealon and Huey Lewis enjoyed the new-look Classic Club, which is already gaining a reputation among the more establish courses in the golf-rich Coachella Valley. For information go to www.ClassicClubGolf.com

www.gvlinks.com

SunRidge Canyon Golf Club

ONE-STOP-SHOP SPRING GOLF PACKAGES IN SCOTTSDALE Scottsdale’s golf courses are known around the world for their great designs and lush landscapes. For those wanting to venture to warmer weather, a golf package is the perfect reason for a spring getaway. Sonoran Suites of Scottsdale, a premier golf package provider specializing in golf vacations, offers the Experience Scottsdale package which allows the golfer to choose from six nights/five rounds, five nights/four rounds or four nights/three rounds along with deluxe Sonoran Suites condo accommodations. Choice of golf includes We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Golf Club at Eagle Mountain, SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, Talking Stick Club, Legend Trail and more. The package includes accommodations, all golf fees and full-size rental car. It is based on four players in a two-bedroom condo unit and is $289 per player, per night. For more information, visit www.sonoransuites.com or call (480) 607-6665. The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa is offering the Boulders Unlimited Golf Package, which includes luxurious casita accommodations, unlimited use of the practice facilities, unlimited golf (same day replay), $25 Food & Beverage credit per person, and unlimited use of www.gvlinks.com

Golden Door Spa fitness facilities. This package starts at $659 per night and is available now through April 27. For more information, visit www.theboulders.com or call (480) 488-9009.

The Scottsdale Resort & Atheletic Club offers two great golf packages. The Stroke of Genius package combines six nights accommodations in a luxury onebedroom villa; continental breakfast each day; two-rounds of golf per person at Talking Stick and McCormick Ranch golf clubs; one round of golf per person at Scottsdale Silverado Golf Course, and a $100 food & beverage credit at OC SEVEN Restaurant & Bar. Golfers also enjoy complimentary use of the Scottsdale Athletic Club, including fitness classes and unlimited tennis court time. This package starts at $2,525. The Tee-Off Challenge package includes three nights accommodations in a luxury-one bedroom villa; oneround of golf per person at Talking Stick, McCormick Ranch and Scottsdale Silverado golf clubs; and a $50 food & beverage credit at OC SEVEN Restaurant & Bar. This package price starts at $1,294. Both packages are available now through April 30. For more information, visit www.scottsdaleresortandathleticclub.com or call (480) 344-0600.

Your Best Round Ever

Golf Digest named it “Best Place to Play”with 41/2 Stars, LA Times put it in their “Southern California Top Ten Places To Play,” Palm Springs Life says it is the “Best Public Course” And the Desert Sun designated it “Best In The Valley.” It doesn’t take a hole-in-one to make your best round ever – It only takes DESERT WILLOW GOLF RESORT.

866-621-9464 FOR TEE TIMES www.desertwillow.com Located at Desert Willow Drive off Country Club between Cook Street & Portola Avenue in Palm Desert.

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

MEXICO

GOLF VACATIONS SPECIAL SECTION

VILLA GROUP CABO PROPERTIES HONORED BY TRAVELAGE WEST Villa Group Resorts has announced that a pair of its beachfront properties in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico have been selected as “Editors Picks” by TravelAge West in the publication’s 2008 WAVE Awards program. The new Villa del Arco Beach Resort & Spa has been recognized for excellence in the category of “Best New Property or Major Renovation, Mexico”, while Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa has been honored in the category of “Best Resort for Families, Mexico.” Situated on El Médano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, the family-oriented Villa del Palmar offers an ideal blend of location, intimacy and recreational activities. Fresh from a multimillion renovation, the 463 suite property features spacious one, two and three-bedroom options with private balconies. Opening just last summer, the adjacent Villa del Arco features 217 deluxe suites. Each one, two and three-bedroom unit features stylish contemporary decor with marble floors, whirlpool tub, walk-in shower and spacious balcony. Two large outdoor pools are designed with waterfalls, spa tubs, children’s areas, and views of the sea and offshore rock formations. One pool contains a full-sized replica of a pirate ship “anchored” for casual snacks, lunch and cocktails. Other activities include tennis courts, a year-round Kids Club, a complimentary activities program for all ages and the 31,000-sq.-ft. Desert Spa – the largest and most elaborate spa facility in the entire state of Baja California and the Cabo San Lucas destination. For more information call 877-845-5247 or visit www.VillaGroupResorts.com. 20

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WESTIN LOS CABOS

SHINING SEASIDE SERVICE page 22

CABO DEL SOL

NICKLAUS COURSE TEASES AND TESTS page 28

This 18-Hole, Par-72 Championship golf course is set within 150 acres of tropical paradise with lush fairways meandering through ancient Mayan Ruins, El Rey (circa 500 A.D.) and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Nichupte Lagoon and its teeming wildlife. Feel free to leave your gear at home as the club has everything you need from clubs and shoes, to balls and tees for sale or rent. The world class golf course is open to Hilton hotel guests and Cancun visitors and groups.

Restaurant; One specialty dinner at Spices Restaurant per adult (alcohol drinks not included); Minimum stay 7 nights. Golf Packages begin at US$ 245.00 per night double occupancy. www.hiltonworldresorts.com/ resorts/cancun/index.html

CASA MAGNA “TEE FOR TWO” GOLF Marriott International Inc.'s Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta hotel is

offering a "Tee for Two" golf package for couples hoping to work on their swing while enjoying coastal Mexico. The deal includes a deluxe ocean-view room, daily full-breakfast buffet for two at either La Estancia or Las Casitas restaurants, 18 holes of golf for two people per day at the Vista Vallerta Golf Club, and more. Available through Oct. 31, the package starts at $315 per person, per night. Visit www.casamagnapuertovallarta.com.

The Ultimate Golf Getaway, Accommodations in an ocean view room; Two rounds of golf per adult; Golf cart; Driving range access; Daily Hilton Breakfast Buffet per adults at Spices Restaurant; One specialty dinner at Spices Restaurant per adult; Minimum stay 3 nights. The Golf Premium Escape Accommodations in an ocean view room; Three rounds of golf per adult; Golf cart; Driving range access; Daily Hilton Breakfast Buffet per adults at Spices www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

MEXICO’S WESTIN LOS CABOS By Chris Baldwin

Impeccable Service Outshines Even The Sea

ABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico - Golfers know "check-in" and "pleasurable" are words rarely used in the same sentence. OK, maybe never. A hotel check-in can be efficient, speedy and problem-free â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sadly a rarity in itself these days. But actually enjoyable?

Unless you're in Amsterdam and you've visited one of those "coffee shops" first or you're just a weird John Mark Karr-like dude who loves fake plants, no one sees hanging in the lobby, getting your room, as fun. But the Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos challenges those truths. It's not just that this is unlike any other lobby you've ever seen before: It's in the open air, with a tall roof overhead, but no walls on all sides â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and it's pink. It's not even the free fruity-butnot-too-fruity alcoholic drink placed in your hand.

OK, it's a little bit that — what hotel in America is encouraging its guests to have a drink at 11 a.m.? A free cocktail, no less. But this is more of a sense of relaxation brought about by a staff that just exudes don't-worry charm. Even when you realize you left a bag in the backseat of the car service's SUV, Francisco, the bell captain, is so calm and certain in tracking it down that any of that usual stateside worry evaporates before it can even materialize.

Francisco helped out so much — from hailing taxis that wouldn't overcharge, to offering advice on local spots, to tracking down drink recipes that a gringo could understand (those welcome drinks are good), to just being a generally happy spirit — that by the end of the week, I considered sending him a Christmas card. I sometimes forget to send my mom and dad a Christmas card.

This is where the Westin Los Cabos sticks out from the horde of resorts in this corridor of golf, fishing and good times.

Characters abound at the Westin Los Cabos. Most chain hotels seem to possess a staff of near robots, capable of only repeating a few rote lines. Not here. You're never going to mistake Shawn Capadouca, the personal trainer at the resort's state-of-the-art Reebox gym, for a robot.

Westin in general — and this hotel in particular — has spent a lot of money on making sure the lobby has just the right pleasing smell. And the guy in charge of this olfactory campaign on site is nice enough.

Capadouca is a Vancouver native who came to Cabo for a twoweek vacation 13 years ago and ended up going back home after one week, to pick up his possessions and drive back, never to return home to live again.

The rooms themselves are more than comfortable, with ocean views befitting the $400 standard room high season winter rates. And the unique look of Westin Los Cabos extends far beyond the lobby. The guests rooms are set up in big opposite wings, modeling the tourist-attraction arch in Cabo San Lucas, complete with the great view of the almost cartoon-blue Sea of Cortez and its lapping waves in the opening. Only these buildings in the arch are pink, too. But it's the people you're likely to remember most from a Westin Los Cabos stay. 24

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This guy's been here since before Costco moved in. "We get 342 days of complete sunshine a year," Capadouca said. You're probably going to want to enjoy that sunshine at a pool or the beach. Westin Los Cabos has seven sprawling pools and they're almost all right along or overlooking the big beach that's at the base of that arch design. The swim-up pool bar offers an especially arresting visual — a view that makes you feel like you're eyeto-eye with the ocean. www.gvlinks.com

The banter comes easy here too with the bartender engaging guests and encouraging new friends. Yes, sometimes a bartender can be a great wingman. A Sunshine Sprawl George Bush Sr. stayed here during his presidency and it's easy to see why the Secret Service endorsed this place. Westin Los Cabos is a world all of its own. Spend any time here and you will not believe there are only 243 rooms. This place is mammoth. On a really hot day just the walk from the room wings to the separated lobby building can be a long hike. Start wandering the grounds — the seven full restaurants, including two in the un-Westin-owned but connected timeshare section, the complete nine-hole putting course right on the beach, the remolded plush pampering spa — and you can lose a day before you know it. Just make sure part of that day includes a meal at Arrecifes — a seafood restaurant with a German chef that's right over the rocks on the ocean. The connected On The Rocks bar even has its own telescope for star-gazing. The manager at Arrecifes is also liable to know everyone in your party's name by the end of the night. It's Westin Los Cabos. The people can even outshine the top gourmet food. The average age of guests in this resort is between 35 and 45. The atmosphere is much more refined than some of the spring break hangouts you can find. It fits that Westin Los Cabos is closer to the more authentic Mexican town of San Jose del Cabo than the touristy party town of Cabo San Lucas (the two towns are separated by 19 miles of straight road). Los Cabos Golf Cabo's top golf courses — from the seaside wonder of Jack Nicklaus' famous Cabo del Sol Ocean Course to Robert Trent Jones II's dauntingly picturesque Cabo Real — are found all along the corridor, making Westin Resort's golf location just fine. "We're happy to be closer to San Jose," said Brian Quinn, Westin Los Cabos' director of sales and marketing. "It gives our guests a more unique experience, what many of them are looking for." Just don't expect everyone in town to treat you like they do at Westin Los Cabos. It's a friendly enough town. But this resort could out friendly June Cleaver's home.

Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos Carretera Transpeninsular KM 22.5 Los Cabos, Mexico Phone: 1-888-625-5144 www.westinloscabos.com www.gvlinks.com

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

CABO Del Sol

by Chris Baldwin

On how many golf courses can you step right off the green and into the ocean? This scenario is very much in play on the fifth at Cabo del Sol's aptly named Ocean Course. One hundred feet of sand is all that separates the raised green from the surf. Drop the putter, head down the ridge and you're there. Did you bring your trunks for a quick dip? Not that you'd want to leave the Ocean

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Course mid-round. This is one of those rare tracks where you're going to feel the wonder, where you'll enjoy yourself no matter what you shoot. And Jack Nicklaus can make that number high. This is a Nicklaus that leans toward his demanding, challenge-and-challenge-somemore designing days. Still, the setting and the

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genuinely friendly staff make it seem like Nicklaus is tweaking or teasing rather than tormenting. It's hard to rue your round too much when there's fresh, free fish tacos cooking up in a booth at the turn. How many courses - even $250 per round courses like Cabo del Sol offer that kind of memorable perk in the United States? And believe me, they're memorable. "We have people coming back every few years and asking us if we saved them some fish tacos,'' pro Fernando Ortiz said. There's a real joy in golf at Cabo del Sol Ocean Course. A round here is stress relief like golf is supposed to be and seldom really is. It's just hard to stay agitated when the ocean breezes are making this spot 10 degrees cooler than anywhere else in Cabo and the surf's sometimes serving as the soundtrack to your putts. Forget Guns N' Roses' head-banging "Welcome to the Jungle." How about welcome to the seaside? When you're navigating the 430-yard par 4 18th and Jack's squeezed-in dogleg approach, you might see what looks like an old school English Empire ship charging ahead in the near

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distance. It's tempting to get a bullhorn and shout out to the history buffs for their read on the putt. This is the close to one of the most dramatic runs in golf. Ever since Cabo del Sol opened in 1994 - transforming this area's golf scene forever - it's been touted for its 16 through 18 finishing stretch. It's equal to the press clippings too with the par-3 17th jutting out so far its green is almost hanging over the ocean. And the balls are collecting like seashells in the bushy, rocky desert region on the opposite side as golfer after golfer overcompensates. No. 17 is a hole that's hard to wrap your mind around. So most golfers just take a picture of themselves on it. It's hard to reduce Cabo del Sol to one snapshot though. For even on 17, the frame is unlikely to be wide enough to include both the sea and the rock surrounded cacti. That's what makes Cabo del Sol so unique, having the ocean and the desert side by side. "People mostly say this place reminds them of Pebble Beach," assistant pro Rodrigo Uribe said. "But Pebble Beach doesn't have the desert. The desert and ocean combined? No one else has it."

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The Ocean Ccourse's desert fangs can catch you off guard. One minute you're putting on the par-3 sixth with a small yacht floating by over your shoulder; the next you're negotiating a fairway (on the 438-yard eighth) neatly dissected by enough sand to host Lawrence of Arabia reshoots. The 50-something lady I played with pointed out the dazzling vegetation - purple, pink, aqua - growing around and on the ancient cacti. I just tried to steady my six-iron after No. 12 - a fiendishly deceiving short par-5 (515 yards) that curves up to a raised green as sheltered as Madonna's kids, with six huge bunkers stacked like hotcakes standing guard. Right about then that dip in the ocean off No. 5 looked like a sweet option. The Verdict Cabo del Sol Ocean Course is a more-than-worthy vacation splurge, almost guaranteed to be one of your most memorable rounds ever. This Nicklaus doesn't do cookie-cutter in any way. Whether it's the ocean-desert double team, the staff hospitality, the fish tacos or, heck, the desert flowers, something is going to stick with you. Probably a number of somethings. With a 147 slope rating from the back tees (and a 136 from the third set where most golfers play it), Nicklaus isn't lulling anybody to sleep here. Yet there are fewer forced car30

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ries than you'll find on many Cabo tracks, a little more allowance for futility than you'd first expect. "It's very fair to the ladies," my playing partner, Theola Kirschbaum, said. "I only lost one ball." Her husband, Norm, shook his head and smiled. Cabo del Sol's so relaxed it's even hard to get mad over your spouse outplaying you. Stay and Play The courtyard at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa gives the illusion that you could walk right over the edge into the sea. The resort itself has a great setup - it's easy to walk from your room to any pool or restaurant. You really feel like you're right on the ocean, even when you're in the pool with a beach between it and the sea. Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos has just about everything you could want on its sprawling property, down to a spa massage right on the beach with the ocean waves crashing. The resort's location - close to the more authentic Mexican town of San Jose rather than Americanized party town Cabo San Lucas - is a great plus.

Cabo del Sol Ocean Course Carretera Transpeninsular KM 10.3 Cabo San Lucas â&#x20AC;˘ Baja California Sur, Mexico

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M A R R I O T T ’ S

Nick Faldo Championship Golf in Palm Desert...

www.MarriottsShadowRidge.com

by Michael Villalpando

ocated in the heart of Southern California’s premiere desert resort area, Marriott’s Shadow Ridge is just two hours from the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and Orange County. The country club-type resort, situated on 312 acres, has been designed to create a relaxing and entertaining vacation experience for its guests. Palm Desert, a preferred vacation location for world travelers, celebrities and sports figures, offers visitors many world class restaurants, elegant shopping, relaxing spas, diverse nightlife, cultural events and a variety of world-renowned professional golf and tennis tournaments. Golf plays a prominent part at the resort. The 7,006-yard, par-71 golf course was designed by Nick Faldo, three-time winner of the Masters and British Open tourneys and all-time leading Ryder Cup points scorer. Set against the stunning backdrop of snow-covered mountain peaks, the course at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge is Faldo’s first championship design in the United States. In designing the course, Faldo wanted to inspire golfers of all levels to raise their game www.gvlinks.com

and enjoy a unique golfing experience. He desired to create a golf course that looks and plays differently from all other courses in the desert. And he succeeded. Marriott’s Shadow Ridge features a strategic design with pronounced bunkering reminiscent of the great sand-belt courses of Australia, which makes it unique among the area’s more than 100 golf links. The fairways of Marriott’s Shadow Ridge are typically generous but the bunkering style is bold. The greens have subtle undulations and they reward and encourage a variety of approach shots. Shadow Ridge is also home to The Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott, a golf instruction school set on a world class 20-acre practice facility. A variety of programs are offered to meet the needs of students at every skill level. The Institute offers 3-day and 2-day Golf Schools, 3-hour Sessions, private lessons, video swing analysis as well as equipment evaluation by a Master Club Fitter. For more information on the Faldo Golf Institute visit www.gofaldo.com

or call 1-888-GOFALDO. But golf isn’t everything at Shadow Ridge. The luxurious resort features many amenities including infinity pools and spas, a children’s activity center, tennis courts and a fitness center with saunas and steam rooms. The luxurious two-bedroom villas tucked among the fairways offer full kitchens, living and dining room and two private patios with lake, mountain or fairway views. Resort dining options include Nick Faldo’s Bar & Grill, an American bistro-style restaurant, The Bunker and a Chuckwalla Poolside Bar and Grill. They are joined by The MarketPlace, a deli and specialty store. The villas are a luxurious home-awayfrom-home in spectacular Palm Desert with room to relax and enjoy a respite from the demands of daily life. This unique resort and golf destination is sure to please the most discriminating vacationer. To take advantage of special golf offers, call (866) 518-6488. For general information, call (760) 674-2600. For golf institute and tee time information, call (760) 674-2700. G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

DESTINATION

erhaps couples golf trips are on the rise. Maybe more wives are accompanying their husbands on what were formerly guys-only golf junkets. Possibly the aging Baby Boomer population needs to work out the kinks caused by the 36-holes-a-day golf regimen, in concert with ever-increasing travel hassles.

Whatever the reasons might be, the concept of a combination golf-and-spa vacation has gained traction in the last decade. And no resort does this complimentary combo better than Destination Kohler, in the unlikely blue-collar locale of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Sheboygan? What about Hawaii, one might argue? How about southern California, or Florida? Vegas or Pinehurst or Kiawah or Scottsdale? All fine choices. But at Herb Kohler’s personal fiefdom, the golf is literally unbeatable—four fabulous Pete Dye

designs with an unmistakable championship pedigree, having hosted the U.S. Women’s and Senior Opens, PGA Championship, and in 2020, the crowning achievement, the Ryder Cup Matches. Because Kohler is a plumbing-fixture magnate, the Kohler Waters Spa has some of the finest equipment in the business. Add in the ultra-luxe accommodations, panoply of excellent restaurants and other activities, and it’s not hard to see how Destination Kohler is the only AAA Five-Diamond Resort in the Midwest.

KO H L E R by Joel Zuckerman

“littleWesuccess had one built on another little success. And suddenly the combination of those successes and the demand for golf became synergistic.”

Herb Kohler (below)

So how did the Grand Poobah of plumbing get in the hospitality business to begin with? The genesis of the project was Kohler’s decision to renovate The American Club, an out-of-use worker’s dormitory, three stories high, located across from his company’s factory. Though outside consultants didn’t endorse his decision, rather than raze the historic 1918 structure which was in disrepair, Kohler instead opted for a comprehensive renovation. Three years later, in 1981, the former dorm had been reborn as a luxury inn. Further additions followed, and now this handsome hotel, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, boasts 237 guest rooms and suites, with more than 20,000 square feet of conference space. “I built the hospitality business with zero vision,” admits Kohler. “We had one little success built on another little success. And suddenly the combination of those successes and the demand for golf became synergistic.” The initial course designed by the legendary Pete Dye was named Blackwolf Run, after a prominent Winnebago Indian chief from the 1800s. Shortly after opening for play in the summer of 1988, there were lines outside the pro shop door. Golf-loving Wisconsinites and guests of the American Club, which had until then been shuttled off to public courses, had never before had nearby access to such a beguiling venue, with its rolling terrain, woodlands, wetlands, abounding creeks and streams. But despite the serene setting, with native grasses, unusual mounding and color palette of dazzling flowers, it was the strategic element of the routing, the go-for-broke mentality, that golfers found irresistible, making the course an instantaneous hit. So it’s not hard to envision Herb Kohler, triumphing at the sight of a perpetuallyfilled tee sheet, summoning Dye again, and commanding, “Build me another.” The third nine opened in the summer of 1989, and an additional nine the summer after that. The now-36 holes were reconfigured, and were renamed Meadow Valleys and the River Course.

The latter is the real stunner. It features the daunting influence of the Sheboygan River on twelve holes, and is an extremely scenic parkland experience, heavily wooded, and with abundant wildlife. It’s a bit more target oriented, with accuracy more of an imperative in comparison to its adjacent neighbor. In autumn, golfers get more to remember than just the changing colors of the trees. There’s also a salmon run in the Sheboygan River, and anglers vie for prime position on its banks with the same sense of urgency as do the avid golfers lining up for tee times. With his 36-hole complex doing brisk business close by the American Club, some years later Kohler decided to expand his horizons and his burgeoning golf empire concurrently. He found 560 lakeside acres about ten miles northeast of the resort itself. The land was a former army base, which had operated as an antiaircraft weapons firing range during World War II. While the property was an ecological ruin, filled with asbestos, toxic waste, concrete bunkers and fuel storage tanks, it also featured 70-foot bluffs rising above the adjacent waters of Lake Michigan. Though he didn’t start playing until he got into the golf business himself, Kohler had quickly developed an affinity for the

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links courses of Ireland. “I want the course to look like it’s in Ireland,” was the directive handed down. By the time Pete Dye was done conjuring the flat landscape, having employed 40 years of cunning and experience, an armada of earth-movers, and 13,000 truckloads of sand imported from area farms, the wondrous creation was still hard by the shores of Lake Michigan. But it looked like it was sitting on top of the Irish Sea. To heighten the Eire illusion, Kohler imported a flock of blackface sheep, which roam the golf grounds along the lakeshore unencumbered, offering a uniquely appealing ambience. He also decreed the course would be walking-only—carts would be about as welcome on property as waterfalls, spurting fountains and lovingly-tended flowerbeds. This was meant to be the antithesis of a typically cushy resort course. “He told me he wanted a walking course, and I thought he was crazy,” says Dye. “I enjoy walking, and thought I’d be the only one who ever played this course, but I was wrong. He set a trend.” This marquee course was named, as it should have been, by its founder. Herb Kohler was walking the lakeside landscape in ultrablustery conditions during construction. He noted that the wind

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was whistling through the bluffs, with whitecaps breaking on the rocky shoreline, or straits, of adjacent Lake Michigan. Hence the name Whistling Straits. The entire course, but the shoreline holes especially, are subject to the vagaries of the weather. Locals swear the temperature can drop 20 degrees in a matter of minutes, and that the galeforce winds rumbling along the two-mile stretch of lakeshore can sound like a midnight train. Shell-shocked golfers will be more concerned with the bogey train. Trouble, like the wind, comes quickly and from all directions. Not the least of which from a dizzying and virtually uncountable series of bunkers in all shapes, sizes and depths, as many as there are dimples on a golf ball. Noted architecture critic Ron Whitten painted the picture vividly when he commented that the bunkers are “scattered about like laundry in the aftermath of a tornado.” The Irish Course is the baby of the bunch, dating from the summer of 2000. It lies directly west of Whistling Straits, and differs from its Lake Michigan-hugging neighbor in one major respect. Put it this way: Early on, the Creeks Course was the name taken under serious consideration. There’s more calculation involved playing the Irish, as a cerebral golfer must continually decide whether to go up and over, or lay safely back from the numerous creeks bifurcating the fairways. Seven Mile Creek comes into play on a half-dozen holes, and in concert with the other assorted ponds, about half of the holes have a watery mien. But it’s the spa waters, not the insidious golf course waters, that elevate Destination Kohler to the upper echelon of vacation spots. More than fifty different treatments and finishing services are offered, with particular emphasis on water treatments. A wide

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range of massage therapies, facials, manicures and pedicures are standard fare in the spa world. But Kohler also offers body wraps, hair and makeup services, couples’ massages, and even prenatal treatments, like the popular Mom-To-Be Milk Bath. Even if guests choose not to avail themselves of individual spa services, the entire setting is both soothing and rejuvenating. The centerpiece of the spa is the charming lap pool and waterfall. And amidst the black and white marbled tile and tumbled stone are saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, cold plunges, all accessorized with classic Kohler fixtures. While not everyone is a spa person, everybody loves to, or at least has to, eat. Destination Kohler doesn’t disappoint. The showcase restaurant is the white-linen Immigrant Room, formal dining at its finest, with bold, contemporary cuisine in a romantic atmosphere. The restaurant is arranged in a series of six rooms decorated in the European style of early Wisconsin settlers: French, Dutch, German, Norman, Danish and English. Quite nearby, but on the other end of the spectrum is the rustic Horse & Plow, for hearty pub fare. Handsomely decorated in rich wood, brass and stained glass, this casual historic tavern was once the tap room for Kohler Company factory workers who lived at the American Club. In between the two extremes are no less than eight other eateries on property, or at the nearby golf courses—wine bars, bountiful breakfast buffets, authentic Italian, pastry-and-ice cream spots and smoothie bars—running the gamut in terms of price, location and ambience. Dining at Destination Kohler mirrors the golf, the spa, the sports and the other activities----there are an incredible array of choices, and all of them are eminently worthwhile.

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DYE vs. KOHLER Compromise Equals Great Golf Design

he question to ask isn’t: How did Pete Dye and Herb Kohler collaborate repeatedly over a dozen-odd years, building a series of superb courses that now comprise one of the most desirable golf and resort destinations in the United States. Rather the question to ask is: How did they collaborate at all. The owner and architect have managed to stick together through thick and thin, even when the tension was thick and the patience worn thin. “He’s demanding,” offers Pete Dye, speaking of Herb Kohler. “He pays close attention, and he’s a bulldog. Once in awhile he gets his nose in a little too far, and I don’t listen.” It was just such an incident that nearly precipitated the demise of their relationship in the early stages, as Kohler explains. “One day Pete said to me, ‘I’ve planted 17 holes, but we need to finish this golf course.’ I told him to come down, and we’d locate the final par-3 on Blackwolf Run, which was our first course. By the time I got down there, there were four large piles of smoldering logs, each perhaps 25 feet tall. Then I saw that the nearby grove of 70-foot tall Dutch Elm trees, some of the last remaining species in Wisconsin, which had been ravaged by Dutch elm disease, was gone. And behind the 16th green I was shocked to see a brand new tee box that must have been eighty yards long, an adjacent four-acre lake that appeared twenty feet deep, and above it was a roughed-out green exactly where the grove of Elms had been.” The owner had been lobbying to have the green nestled by a series of river rapids, but the architect knew that the ensuing 200-yard walk to the 18th tee was untenable. “I reached Pete that evening back in Indianapolis. I told him we needed to come to a real understanding of how we were going to communicate, and build golf courses together. And if we couldn’t do so quickly, then someone else was going to finish the job, and that person would be credited for the design. Pete was back within 24 hours, we had a long discussion, and it hasn’t been an issue since.” Kohler admits that the par-3 17th hole Dye freelanced is wonderful, and despite his own desire to save the trees and have the green hard by the river, it was somewhat impractical. “We would never have hosted the U.S. Women’s Open if I had gotten my way,” he admits.

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Lintons Loop at Mt. Washington

Vancouver’s Comex Valley: Year-Round Fun on a Canadian Treasure Island

hen one thinks of an all-season resort, Canada is usually not the first place that pops into your mind. But the Comox Valley in the central portion of Vancouver Island is gaining a reputation as a golf and recreation destination year-round. With the golf courses normally open for play any time of year—this quaint area is nestled between the Beaufort Mountains and the Strait of Georgia along the eastern side of the island. For the eighth consecutive year, Vancouver Island has been rated as the top North American Island by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler. The Comox Valley is also less than 40 minutes from Mount Washington, one of the most popular recreation areas in Western Canada that sports 60 runs for skiers and snowboarders, nine chairlifts and an internationally recognized snow school. It’s not too difficult to hit the slopes in the morning and play golf in the afternoon at one of the seven courses in the valley below. In the warmer months, Mt. Washington is home to mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts.

By Terry Ross

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C r o w n

I s l e

R e s o r t

The 30-mile long Comox Valley encompasses three cities—Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland—along with a Regional District each with its own special flavor-and an array of vacation possibilities year-around. In addition to the boating, hunting, hiking, fishing, diving, camping and horseback riding opportunities, the region is host to more than 50 festivals a year and celebrations of music, art, theater and history. During the summer there is at least one festival or special event each week, including, the Vancouver Island Music Fest in July and the Filberg Festival in August. Nature lovers will enjoy the Horne Lake Outdoor Center and Provincial Park where you can camp, go cave exploring as well as rent canoes and kayaks. The Puntledge Hatchery offers a great opportunity to view Chinook, Pink, Coho and Chum Salmon, as well as Steelhead and Cutthroat Trout in their natural setting in the underwater viewing areas. The scenic and nature adventures also continue onto the golf and resort areas of the Comox Valley. Crown Isle, which is one of less than 20 golf resorts in all of Canada to have lodging accommodations on-site, is the crown jewel of the Comox Valley and of this area of the

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G o l f

C o m m u n i t y

island. It is part of an 831-acre resort and residential community located in Courtney. Along with its stunning 48,000-square-foot clubhouse, this Graham Cook-designed course opened in 1993 and continues to get better with age. Under the Direction of Jason Andrew, the director of golf at Crown Isle, more than 450 new trees have been recently planted along the course, 400 new gardens and additional bunkering have made this enjoyable country clubstyle facility even better. Lodging is available along the course in the beautifully appointed villas, of which there are more than 90 adjacent to the clubhouse, complete with full kitchens, breathtaking views and spa tubs for soaking after the round. At par-72, the course at Crown Isle is a challenging, yet enjoyable layout that tests every club in your bag and can be played from 7,024 yards from the tips to 5,169 for the ladies’ red tees, with five choices to match just about any skill level. The playing conditions are excellent and the greens have good pace, making this a “must play” when visiting the Comox area. Among Canadian golfers, Crown Isle is very popular, with many visitors from the other

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K i n g f i s h e r

R e s o r t

S p a

S k i , G o l f, a n d Fi s h Fro m a Wide Choice of Accommodations

C r o w n

I s l e

R e s o r t

K i n g

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provinces. With the Comox Airport just five minutes away, once direct flights begin to arrive from the United States, look for this unknown jewel to get a whole lot more popular. From a country club setting to woodland is the best way to compare Crown isle with Storey Creek Golf Course in Campbell River, just 45 minutes north of Courtenay and a great contrast in styles and required skills. Storey Creek is a rustic course carved out of the tall pine trees, and although one of the most scenic courses you will find on the island, definitely requires one’s “A” game with its tight fairways intertwined with flowing streams and natural ponds. Even though it plays only 6,669 yards from the tips, long irons and fairway woods are the best options for scoring on this course that has hosted many top Canadian amateur events. While in the area, the Museum at Campbell River boasts a spectacular view of the Discovery Passage, and the opportunity to whale watch and take photos. The fishing here is second to none, and has made this island community famous for its salmon. Sunnydale Golf and Country Club, which is located 15 minutes from Courtney along the North Island Highway has a definite local flavor with scenic surroundings and friendly patrons if you are looking for a relaxing game. Built over an old farm, Sunnydale has a long history dating back to its original nine holes constructed in 1913. Although it plays only 6,000 yards from the back tees, this course features small, tricky greens and enough trouble to keep you on your toes. It’s a great course to walk, and if you are looking for some friendly competition on your trip, try playing with a group called “The Rat Pack” that

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Getting There

B e a u t i f u l

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assembles four mornings a week for regular mini-tournaments. One of the enjoyable features of the Comox Valley is the variety of accommodations available. The Kingfisher Resort and Spa on the southern end of Courtenay is situated along the beach with rooms and suites that feature private balconies and patios sitting on the ocean’s edge. Even though these nicely appointed rooms have Jacuzzi tubs, taking advantage of the resorts’ Pacific Mist Hydropath spa is truly a unique experience and is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. Waking up to a cool breeze, the sounds of the ocean’s waves crashing on the rocks and watching spectacular sunrises makes the Kingfisher a refreshing experience and one of the more scenic places you will find in the area. For a more in-town experience, the Old House Village and Suites in downtown Courtenay are within walking distance of

many shops and restaurants and centrally located to many of the attractions of the Comox Valley. Beautifully furnished, this property is less than two years old and features full kitchens in the suites, flat screen TV’s and DVD players. The Comox area of Vancouver Island is probably going to be a lot more well known in the next few years as a sports and recreation destination as it is slated to become the site of only the second IMG Academy in North America, where young athletes go to school and train in the sports of hockey, skating, golf, tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball and mountain sports. A $1.5 billion development is under way that will include two golf courses, hotel, village and housing on a 2,080-acre site 10 minutes south of Courtenay. For more information: www.vancouverisland.com or www.comox-valleytourism.ca

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I s l a n d

I s l e

Traveling to Vancouver Island and the Comox Valley can be accomplished by both air and sea. The Comox Valley Airport has flights in and out from both Vancouver and Calgary. The mainland city of Vancouver is really the gateway to Vancouver Island, and probably the best way to get there is via Air Canada, which offers flights from most major Canadian and U.S cities and is the largest air carrier in Canada. www.aircanada.ca Air Canada is in the midst of a major fleet-wide refurbishment designed to maximize in-flight experience with the latest onboard comforts and entertainment. During a trip to Vancouver Island, stopping off in the City of Vancouver can be a great experience with its fabulous scenery, cultural, golf, shopping and entertainment possibilities. The Vancouver Airport Marriott is centrally located and offers easy access to not only the international airport, but the BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen--and a scenic and relaxing two-hour cruise to Vancouver Island.

R e s o r t G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008

MYTURN

When It Comes To Golf . . .

. . . some rules are meant to be broken

'm no rules expert, nor do I carry around a USGAapproved copy of The Rules of Golf in my carry bag, even though they keep appearing in my mailbox every spring, regular as robins. But I've been playing golf for a number of years now, and if there's one thing I've learned during my tenure, it's that those who do claim to be rules experts are no fun. Why? Let me put it this way: Remember the guy who phoned NBC and tattled on Craig Stadler for "building a stance" by putting a towel down on the muddy ground before kneeling on it? Yeah, I really want to hang out with that guy. Seriously - while he technically may have been correct, he got Stadler DQ'd and cost him $37,000 in prize money. You think chuckle-head lets his golf buddies get away with the occasional mulligan? I can credit much of my education in golf rules, those that are broken and otherwise, to my husband and his friends, the original weekend warriors. Back when I was first picking up the game, I played with them every chance I got, absorbing everything I could about this new and exciting game, including the rules. Once, as I hit a ball so deep into the woods that it was surely a sacrifice to the golf gods, I said, "I'm going back to the tee-stroke and distance!" To my surprise, this declaration was met with derisive laughter. "Stroke and distance? What're you thinking? Just drop another one and let's move on!" It took a while but I finally learned that regardless of what the books say, there are in fact two sets of rules: those to follow and those to ignore. If you're playing a friendly game, and the key word is friendly, you know that when it comes to golf, some rules simply don't apply. Stroke and distance is just one of them. But you can't just go around breaking rules willynilly, or you'll find your supply of golf partners begin to dwindle. That's why it's so important to know which rules are the breakable kind. The round begins when you hit your drive off the first tee. Not so, my friends. Everyone knows the round begins when you've hit a drive you're satisfied with on the first tee. The only exceptions are tournaments, or perhaps rounds with money on the line. But in a friendly game, breakfast balls are the rule.

G O L F VA C AT I O N S 窶｢ S P R I N G 2 0 0 8

JenniferMario

The ball farthest from the hole shall be played first. This is one of several rules trumped by Pace of Play. So let me just rewrite it right now. The ball farthest from the hole shall be played first if the player is ready first. Otherwise, the ball owned by the player who is ready first shall be played first. And the corollary is, of course, if your ball is farthest from the hole, then get your ass ready because time's a-wasting and no one wants to be out here more than four hours. A ball lying past the white stakes is OB. Sure, if it's way past the white stakes. But there are degrees to OB, aren't there? I mean, is it really OB if you'd need Michael Bamberger, two rules officials and a length of string to determine if it's past the white stakes? Whiffs count as strokes. I've played many a round with many a whiffer, and it's funny窶馬ot once has a whiff been counted on the scorecard. Never. Nada. Zip. This might be merely a coincidence. Or it might be a sign that this is a rule universally disregarded by all. Yes, I know that doesn't make breaking this rule a good thing, but in this case, perhaps all that collective wisdom should tell us something. And the last and perhaps most important rule to break: No tipping at private clubs. They probably won't accept the cash, but if you're a guest at a private club, and you don't want to be a jerk, you should offer. Always. No exceptions. If you're not sure how much, ask. Not: Do you accept tips? But: What's the standard tip? Whatever they quote you, add a few bucks. If you're a guest at a private club, you just got to play a round for free, so pony up and tip with a smile. Your host, your caddie, and your bag boys will appreciate it. Every rule has an exception, and even the exceptions have exceptions. While it's true that some rules are clearly designed for a certain amount of bending, if not outright breakage, then the opposite is true as well. Some rules are sacrosanct, and under no circumstances should you take them lightly. The one I'm thinking of is: Play it as it lies. Unless winter rules are in effect, this one, as draconian as it may be, still holds. No one wants to see their opponent rolling their ball around on the fairway. That would be cheating. Oh, one caveat: If money's on the line, you'd better get permission before breaking any rules. Else that friendly game could turn not so friendly, real fast.

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WHERE TO STAY • WHERE TO PLAY

DESTINATIONS

Southern California SAN DIEGO THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF GOLFERS. Those who can’t wait to play Barona Creek, and those who can’t wait to play it again.

a t B A R O N A S A N

DESERT RESORTS

V A L L E Y

D I E G O

R A N C H

C O U N T Y

only

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C A S I N O

B A R O N A . C O M

DESERT RESORTS

Premier Fishing Charter and Round of Golf in Beautiful Cabo San Lucas

Info/Reservations call John 877-FISH-RAP (347-4727) or email john@ReelFunAdventures.com

R E S O R T •

$595

www.redrumcabo.com

per person (based on a foursome)

• 4 nights lodging in a deluxe downtown Cabo San Lucas condo (view pics at http://fishrapradio.com/cabo.htm) • 1 round of golf at Cabo San Lucas Country Club • 1 day of Bluewater fishing with Redrum Charters • 1 free day to explore and enjoy Cabo at your leisure – snorkel, swim, shop, sightsee – No taxis required (call for rates for 2-3 people) G O L F V A C A T I O N S • S P R I N G 2008