Golf Vacations Magazine Summer 2008

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GOLF VACATIONS EARLY EARLY SUMMER SUMMER 2008 2008

A MAGNOLIA STATE OF MIND MISSISSIPPI’S GULF COAST PROVES THE PERFECT RECIPE

ORLANDO’S WORLD CENTER MARRIOTT HAWK’S LANDING GOLF CLUB A LUSH TROPICAL SANCTUARY

PLUS:

Historic Golf At The Broadmoor I Beachlife Rules In Maui

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Cut out the middleman.

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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

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2007, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

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contents I early summer 2008

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stories

Step Into History At The Broadmoor

by David R. Holland

All eyes will be on this venerable Colorado Springs resort this summer as the U.S. Senior Open Championship takes on some new wrinkles to complement a historic past.

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Beaches Take Center Stage On Maui

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World-Class Golf At Hawk’s Landing

by Chris Baldwin

Maui has loads of spectacular options for hitting around the little white ball. Be prepared to find your fairway time sharing equal billing with even more spectacular beach time.

by Tom LaMarre

Orlando’s World Center Marriott boasts one of those immaculate resort courses that makes you wonder why every layout can’t be groomed like this. Aquatic vegetation, native grasses, azaleas, jasmine, Chinese tallow, queen palms, oak, sand pines and magnolias.

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Flavor Of Golf On The Mississippi Gulf

by Mike Mothersbaugh

The southern hospitality that Mississippians serve up is legendary.

So too are the “flavorful fairways” offered up across the “Magnolia State”. Delta Blues, hushpuppies and golf. Yeah!

ON THE COVER: Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas

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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).

*

18 Hole, Par 72 Championship Course Driving Range Golf Academy Pro & Retail Shop

*Valid May 1 - Aug. 30/08 Per person/night, based on double occupancy.

Plus taxes, subject to availability.

Make your Vancouver Island Lifestyle Reservation Today!

1-888-338-8439 or 250-703-5050 www.crownisle.com 399 Clubhouse Drive, Courtenay, Vancouver Island, BC V9N 9G3

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!

contents I early summer 2008

featurette 42 Personal Postcard: Destination Dubai

by Leonard Finkel A desert golf adventure used to mean a long

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weekend to Palm Springs or Scottsdale. Well break out the passport cause there’s a new kid on the block where your golf cart just might resemble a camel.

departments

12 Chip Shots Updates From The World Of Golf & Travel

17 Product Update

by Terry Ross

TaylorMade Blazes A New Driver With The Tour Burner

23 Golf Vacations: Mexico

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by Chris Baldwin

Cabo Golf Is For Everyone, Not Just NFL Quarterbacks

44 My Turn

by Terry Ross

Where Have All The Celebrities Gone?

45 Destinations Your Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

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

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from the editor . . .

THE ULTIMATE GOLF EXPERIENCE • Two Ted Robinson designed,

Championship 18-hole Courses

S

ummer sure seemed to creep up quickly this year. I’m not sure if that’s a function of enjoying a busy year of traveling to some great golf destinations, or if it’s a function of something much more mundane, like growing older. Let’s keep a good thought and assume the former.

This issue we’re joined by some very talented new contributing writers who report some refreshing new angles on some venerable old golf haunts. David R. Holland leads us back into history to The Broadmoor, which in turn looks forward to this summer’s US Senior Open Championship.

Mike Mothersbaugh takes a trip into the world of Gulf Coast golf along the Magnolia State’s resilient coastline. If you love your golf mixed with good eatin’, cool blues, and truly warm southern hospitality, well, you just found the place!

A few more crisscrosses around the globe lead us this issue over to Maui’s sandy beaches, a Florida palace in Orlando that you’ll find no reason to ever leave, and then back to another sandy place called Dubai. They say that one-fifth the world’s giant cranes are hard at work in this desert playground. But then they also say that you can snow ski there! Wonders never cease.

The beginning of Summer is a classic time to break out the maps, google some place you’ve always dreamed of visiting, get a little plan going and hit the road, the skies, the sea, whatever. Some of the most memorable times and unique characters that you’ll ever meet will happen on golf trips to new or foreign lands. And though “foreign” might mean Dubai for a lot of us, it also can just as easily mean Mississippi or Maui.

As for me, I’m getting set for a trip to the “Low Country” of South Carolina to check out an area that’s always been on my personal radar screen. I welcome you to do the same thing and venture forward to parts unknown. Or known. Happy traveling!

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Thanks for reading.

Jeffrey Diaz executive editor www.gvlinks.com

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS David R. Holland is a former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, a football magazine publisher and author of The Colorado Golf Bible (coloradogolfbible.googlepages.com). Multiple careers best describes this world traveler, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, serving during the Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. His final Pentagon assignment took him to Monterey, California, where he started thinking about his next move – travel golf writing.

Mike Mothersbaugh, a single-digit-handicap player who calls Northern Virginia home, wrote about the Mississippi Gulf Coast for us. “I was amazed by the great golf and hospitality. You can tee off in the morning in May at Grand Bear – a superb Jack Nicklaus design near Biloxi – for $65. I’ve played courses costing three times as much which aren’t half as good.”

Tom LaMarre has been a sportswriter for some 40 years, including long stints with the Oakland Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He was the Tribune’s beat writer with the Oakland Raider for seven seasons in the 1970’s and has written two books, “Winning Offensive Football” with quarterback Kenny Stabler and “Stadium Stories: The Oakland Raiders.”

Tom makes his home now in the Orlando area.

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

Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor-in-chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in more than twenty publications including Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He is an alumnus of the University of Utah.

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.

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JIM MCLEAN GOLF SCHOOL Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz Contributing Writers Chris Baldwin • Leonard Finkel • David R. Holland Tom LaMarre • Mike Mothersbaugh • Terry Ross 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.

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chip shots

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 >> JW MARRIOTT DESERT RIDGE INTERACTIVE COOKING CLASS JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is offering hands-on cooking class experiences led by the resort's award-winning culinary team. The Golf, Brew and Grilling package is the perfect way to bond with dad this summer.

After a lesson with a golf pro and round of golf at the championship Wildfire Golf Club, guests will enjoy an elegant dinner with wine pairings at the savory Meritage Steakhouse, featuring prime aged steaks, wild game and fresh seafood.

The second day will feature a continental breakfast and an interactive barbecue and grilling class with Chef de Cuisine Marc Hennessy. Chef Hennessy will demonstrate using marinades and spice rubs as well as making sausages and smoking meats.

Participants will enjoy an all-American barbecue lunch paired with local beers. All guests will receive a book of recipes and a special gift from the chef.

Set on 316 acres of Sonoran desert, where Phoenix meets Scottsdale, this AAA

Four Diamond resort features the championship Wildfire Golf Club, tranquil Revive Spa, four acres of turquoise pools including a Lazy River and serpentine slide, lighted tennis courts and 10 dining experiences.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge

Offered June 21 to 22 and August 16 to 17, the Grilling and Golf package rates start at $639, including two night's accommodations, or $450 for culinary activities only.

For more information call 800-835-6206 or visit www.jwdesertridgeresort.com.

LIVE THE LIFE OF LUXURY IN A PRIVATE IN SCOTTSDALE RESIDENCE Bella Palazzo, a Scottsdale-based company that boasts a portfolio of worldwide hospitality estates, including 13 multi-million dollar residences in Scottsdale, is introducing five new packages for the most discerning travelers. Bella Woman (Femme) offers ladies the chance to combine some of their favorite indulgences – private massages and yoga, personalized shopping excursions, exclusive showings of "Taxco" silver jewelry, desert adventures, and more.

For gentlemen, Bella Palazzo offers the opportunity to sharpen their golf skills on some of the area’s 200 plus golf courses. After a round or two, guys can relax while a private chef grills up some Wagyu Beef or any food of their choice and break out the cigars and cognac for a round of billiards as part of Bella Man (Homme) package. The Gatsby Desert Driving Tours is a singular package that offers guests access to a Maserati Quattroporte for Bella’s Contemporary Hillside in Scottsdale or an Aston, Bentley GTC, Maserati, Porsche Turbo or Aston Martin

Corporate Golf School & Individual Golf Lessons Available • Schools range from 1 to 3 days

#1 – Golf Vacations Magazine – Winter 2008

• Room accommodations at one of six Harrah’s properties • Ground transportation to and from school included • Limited Availability – call today for details

Please call (702) 777-2444 or visit us online at www.butchharmon.com.

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2007, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

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SUMMER 2008

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Porto Carras, near the village of Neos Marmaras, Greece

20-passenger Le Libellule travels the River Saone through the Burgundy wine region between Lyon and Dijon.

Three Mediterranean voyages to Turkey, the Greek Islands, southern Spain and Morocco are scheduled in 2008 on board the luxurious 34-passenger Callisto.

The elegant Corinthian PerryGolf Expands Cruising Program II, an all-suite yacht accomPerryGolf, which was among the travel modating only 114 passenindustry's first tour operators to offer golf gers, will sail South Africa's cruises, has announced a major expansion scenic Indian Ocean on a 13-night, seven-round tour beginning March 19, of its cruise offerings under the heading 2009.

"Golf & Cruising by PerryGolf."

PerryGolf's first tours in North America PerryGolf's 2008-2009 cruise schedule will be on board the all-suite 100-passenger includes tours on two intimate river barges, Clelia II. Seven-night Great Lake voyages offering the "quintessential French experiwill sail each of the five lakes and include ence - outstanding food, wine, golf and five rounds of golf. A 10-night, five-round countryside touring, all at a leisurely pace." sail of Canada's Maritime Provinces begins The 18-passenger Le Phénicien cruises the Rhône River and the Rhône-Sete canal at St. John's and concludes in Rochester, NY. IMG 08-141 GolfVacMag:Layout 4/3/08 9:32 AM Page 1 Open by Sea golf between Avignon and Aigues-Mortes.1The British PerryGolf's Vantage Roadstar for other residences.

Other packages include Bella You As You Are (LGBT) and Molina Fine Jewelers Bella Woman Bella Man and Bella Soirees.

All villas are outfitted with the guest’s choice of Anichini fine Italian linens and Gilchrist & Soames amenities as well as a variety of options for private chefs, housekeeping services and much more. Packages prices start at $3,000 per person per night.

For more information, visit www.bellapalazzo.net or call (602) 695-2054.

cruise returns in 2009 with an 8-night voyage around Scotland. Five rounds of outstanding Scottish links golf at Kingsbarns, Royal Aberdeen, Royal Dornoch, Machrihanish and David McLay Kidd's new design, Machrihanish Dunes, precede the final round of the 138th British Open at Turnberry's Ailsa Course.

Information on all PerryGolf tours is available at www.perrygolf.com or by calling 800-344-5257.

New swing. New clubs.

New attitude.

At Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, we’ve combined the luxury and comfort of a AAA Four Diamond Award Resort and Casino with the impeccable greens of a Championship Golf Course. Our Ted Robinson-

design course is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also quite challenging to play with its island fairway and fast-breaking greens.

Excitement, relaxation and everything in between – it’s all yours - all year ‘round.

Mescalero, New Mexico near Ruidoso For reservations, call (800) 545-9011 or visit www.innofthemountaingods.com.

For tee times, please call (575) 464-7941.

Please gamble responsibly.

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Designed By: The Laster Group Attn: South Central Golf Aug Ad Name: IMG 08-141 Ad Size: 7.5x4.875 4 color - 8.75x5.5 Bleed area

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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 >> “AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY ROUNDS” CHRONICLES PASSION FOR GOLF AND ADVENTURE St. Martin’s Press has published David Wood’s new book: Around the World in Eighty Rounds. Over eleven months, with 60,000 miles logged, and eighty rounds of golf, Wood golfed in every continent except Antarctica en route from Ushuaia, Argentina to Tromso, Norway – the world’s southernmost and northernmost courses.

Wood also played on some of the world’s most extreme golf courses: the highest course in La Paz, Bolivia, the driest course in Arica, Chile, at the edge of the Atacama Desert, and the world’s hottest course in Alice Springs, Australia.

His favorite golfing locals were China’s Spring City in Kunming, Royal Nepal in Katmandu, the Moscow Country Club in Russia, and Elephant Hills in Zimbabwe.

He traveled and golfed in 26 countries including Chile, Argentina, Uruguay,

Bolivia, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, India, Nepal, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, Russia, Finland and Norway.

On his quest, Wood said, “I got lost, stranded, had bouts of food poisoning, altitude sickness, and was arrested and kicked out of the Ukraine at midnight while on a train journey to Russia.

I got caught in the middle of a civil war in Nepal, trapped in violent uprisings by the peasants of Bolivia and accidentally met the notorious Carlos Menhem, the former President of Argentina, after a round of golf in Buenos Aries. My life was even threatened while traveling in southern China. It wasn’t exactly a golf weekend at Myrtle Beach!”

A former stand-up comedian with several appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Wood writes on golf and travel as well as public speaking. His hilarious and informative Adventure Keynote has become in-demand at golf and corporate functions.

SAN ANTONIO’S TWILIGHT GOLF SEASON IS IN FULL SWING Some of the best golf in San Antonio is undeniably played in the late afternoon, right up through sunset. Not only are temperatures pleasant, but there’s nearly enough time for 36 holes since golfers can play as late as 8:30 p.m. from May through July.

Twilight play also leaves ample opportunity at night to enjoy the city’s ever emerging reputation as a world-class destination for cuisine and wine, not to mention a chance to enjoy the famed River Walk, where hotels, restaurants, shopping and historic landmarks lie along two miles of meandering paths that border the San Antonio River.

Dozens of San Antonio’s award-winning golf courses are offering special afternoon rates as the twlight season begins in earnest.

For more details about San Antonio’s twilight golf season, or for planning a trip to San Antonio call 800-ALAMO-07 or visit www.visitsanantonio.com.

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

00

$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

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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. www.gvlinks.com 2/15/08 2:54:11 PM

AWARD-WINNING GOLF IN ILLINOIS AT EAGLE RIDGE RESORT & SPA Situated in the Mississippi River Valley's natural landscape of rolling hills and panoramic scenery, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is home to four separate courses all designed by renowned architect, Roger Packard.

Open year-round, the North Course was designed for the true golf enthusiast.

A technically challenging course, the South Course offers a scenic journey through some of the resort's best topography, with eleven out of the eighteen holes situated alongside a creek. The East Course is the only nine-hole course, and is a perfect destination for beginners, novices or families who want to simply experience a fun round of golf.

For guests seeking the ultimate challenge, The General, appropriately named after former President and Galena, Illinois resident Ulysses S. Grant, is just the way to do it. Two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North assisted architect Roger Packard in its award-winning design.

Located on 6,800 acres amid the rolling hills of northwestern Illinois, Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is a full-spectrum resort complex located 150 miles west of Chicago.

Other amenities include the tranquil Stonedrift Spa and three distinctive restaurants including Woodlands Restaurant, Spikes Bar & Grill and Paisanos. The property also includes miles of biking, hiking and horseback trails, as well as tennis, hot air balloon rides, boating and fishing on the picturesque 220-acre Lake Galena. For reservations or additional information, call (800) 892-2269 or visit www.eagleridge.com.

only course in the world designed jointly

by Arnold Palmer (“The King”) and Jack “The Bear” Nicklaus; and golf for two people on the resort’s Slammer & Squire championship course, named for Hall of Famers “Slammin’” Sam Snead and Gene “The Squire” Sarazen, and known for its gentle rolling fairways and challenging lakes. The package also includes two tickets to the impressive World Golf Hall of Fame, the ultimate destination for the celebration of golf’s greatest players, offering interactive exhibits and historic golf artifacts.

Based on double occupancy, the “Florida Champions Golf Package” is from $555 per person from May 12-31, 2008;

from $454 per person in June 2008; from $416 per person in July or August 2008; and from $436 per person in September 2008.

For reservations, call 1-888-740-7020 or visit www.WorldGolfRenaissance.com

The Renaissance Resort Offering “Florida Champions Golf Package” The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, is offering a new package called the “Florida Champions Golf Package.” In addition to accommodations in a newly remodeled guest room, the package includes golf on the resort’s two championship courses, and tickets to the adjacent World Golf Hall of Fame.

The “Florida Champions Golf Package” includes: accommodations for two nights in a newly remodeled guest room; golf for two people on the resort’s renowned 7,279-yard King & Bear, the www.gvlinks.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 >> PLAY GOLF AND FLY-FISH ALL IN THE SAME DAY IN SO. ARIZONA Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico and Tucson Golf Schools have partnered together to offer golf and fly fishing enthusiasts the most unique experience in southern Arizona - Golf-Fly fishing Schools!

A fun program for a family outing or getting co-workers and friends together for a weekend get-a-way, the Esplendor Resort offers a spectacular 18- hole Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed golf course which allows any golfer the opportunity to improve their golf game and learn to fly fish.

The one-day program offers 5 hours of golf instruction, lunch, one 18 hole round of golf, complimentary beverages, and 90

NEW!

minutes of fly fishing instruction on the golf course ponds.

Class programs begin Saturday, May 10th thru June 7th from 9am-7pm. The program will teach gripping, posture, set up review, full swing framework, selfcoaching, chipping and putting. A delicious lunch will be served at the Santa Rita Grill located on the golf course and then you're back on the greens to tee off with a PGA golf professional. After a day of golf it's time for fly fishing lessons with opportunities to fish for bass. There are three packages available with prices beginning at $299.00-$499.00 per person.

For further questions regarding any of the instructional programs call 520-5798548 or visit www.Tucsongolfschools.org For information about Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico Golf Course call 1-800-288-4746 or visit www.Esplendor-Resort.com

“JEWEL OF THE DESERT” GETS SET FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY La Quinta Country Club, in La Quinta, CA and known to the world’s golfing community as the “Jewel of the Desert”

chip shots celebrates its’ 50th anniversary next year.

It was on these rolling tree lined fairways where the late President Dwight Eisenhower first became devoted to golf in the desert. Even today, professionals and amateurs alike consider this course, designed by Frank and Lawrence Hughes, one of the most challenging.

La Quinta Country Club’s old clubhouse was demolished in 2006 after succumbing to irreparable damage from soil subsidence in the area. Club members recently voted to authorize $25.5 million for a new 42,800 square foot clubhouse. Completion of construction is set for Fall 2009.

The design of the new clubhouse draws its inspiration from the Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean Revival of Santa Barbara architectural styles.

For more information contact Membership Director Kris Placencia at 760.564.4151, ext. 121. www.lqcc.org

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PRODUCTUPDATE

TaylorMade’s Tour-Caliber Driver For The Everyday Golfer

W

hen TaylorMade Golf re-launched the Burner line of drivers more than a year ago, the conventional thinking was that this was going to be an every-man’s club geared more for the recreational player who just wanted to bomb away with bigger drives.

After all, TaylorMade was re-introducing a franchise that was successful for it in the 1990s and had given way to the larger-headed models that followed; include the R-7 Quad and SuperQuad series that were instrumental in making the company the top driver on tour for the last seven years.

But the latest incarnation of the Burner drivers from TaylorMade have become so popular both with the golfing public and on the professional tours that four different Burner models are now available, led by the latest edition—the Tour Burner driver.

The versatility of this club is such that it has finished as the most-used driver on the PGA Tour at times this year, yet it is a club that amateurs of many levels have put in their bag because of its technological advances that promote greater ball speed and longer distance on off-center hits.

“Tour pros hit the ball long because

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their launch conditions are comprised of fast ball speed with a high launch angle and low spin-rate,” said Sean Toulen, TaylorMade’s executive vice-president of innovation and product creation. “The Tour Burner driver is engineered to help the average golfer generate tour-caliber launch conditions in order to promote tour-caliber distance.”

The Tour Burner driver, with its 450 CC head, has been called one of the most forgiving clubs that the company has produced with its high moment of inertia that produces surprisingly solid distance, even on-off-center hits. The ultra-thin wall casting of the club’s face allows for more weight to be distributed below the center of the club. This creates a club that is extremely stable and forgiving off the tee on mis-hits. The Tour Burner driver’s large sole creates an expansive address footprint and confidence at setup.

The Super Fast technology utilized by TaylorMade in the Tour Burner driver features a light Fujikura Super-Fast 60—gram shaft that combines low torque (2.8) with a stiff .350” tip for more control. An extra light grip together with a stock club length of 45.5 inches also promotes added distance.

by Terry Ross

TaylorMade also is offering the Tour Burner driver in its “Tour Preferred” line for stronger players, with a choice of heavier shafts, a club head that is two degrees open instead of square and a heavier grip.

Anyway you look at this, this is a driver built for speed--and more speed. www.tmag.com.

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Broadmoor Dreams

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n the old days the trick-your-eye greens of The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs were challenge enough for major championships like the 1959 U.S. Amateur won by Jack Nicklaus, the 1982 U.S. Women’s Amateur taken by Juli Inkster, or the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open won by Annika Sorenstam. But in today’s world of long-hitting technology and conditioned athletes, this summer’s 2008 U.S. Senior Open Championship has decided to add another wrinkle - fairways so narrow, about 28 yards on some par fours and fives, you might want to bring a pool cue.

It wasn’t so long ago, the 1953 NCAA Tournament for example, that a famous yarn about just that was spun. Thayer Tutt, President of The Broadmoor Golf Club, and Ted Payseur, head of the NCAA, were discussing course setup. Payseur suggested to Tutt that they needed to fortify the course by making the fairways narrow and by growing thicker rough. The suggestion was disregarded. It was felt the menacing greens were enough challenge.

If you don’t record any three-putts here you are in the minority.

But 2008 is a new dawning. Narrowing the fairways started in the summer of 2007, and I can attest to the fact when you stand on the tee box of the historic 18th hole of Broadmoor East, a 417-yard par-four during resort play, that 35 percent of the fairway is gone. The gnarly, sticky bluegrass rough encroaches out of what used to be a safe fairway landing. Next shot? It has to negotiate a pond that is stationed at a point where the fairway bends right to the green some 110 yards away with the clubhouse in the background.

When the senior professionals tee it up from July 31 to August 3, historic Broadmoor East, designed by the legendary Donald Ross, should be a grumpy, irascible gut check of professional golf skills, suitable to make the best age 50-plus players in the world have to play at a high level to take home the trophy.

Ron Forse, from Forse Design, was chosen to update the historic East Course, which opened in 1918. He reshaped existing bunkers, constructed new bunkers to replace original

bunkers, lengthening back tees and adding lost mounding. The main goal of the project was to return the East Course bunkers and strategic playability of the golf course to the original classic design of Ross, who said at the time it was his best work -- part of a legendary portfolio that included Pinehurst.

The newly designed bunkers are being built the way Donald Ross designed them when the course was originally built in 1918, said Director of Golf Russ Miller. “These bunkers will add a classical look to the East Course and offer a more fun and challenging layout for both the accomplished and the average player.”

If you had booked a spring or early summer visit to the world-famous resort in 2008 you could have seen how you measure up on the East Course. The brand-new Mountain Course, a Nicklaus design, and the West Course by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., are two other reasons to bring the family to Colorado Springs for a vacation.

The renovated Mountain Course measures 7,637 yards at par 72, and includes rugged terrain, forced carries and an awesome panorama of the city below its mountainous location. It was built on the site of the old Arnold Palmer-Ed Seay design that was destroyed by erosion from an ancient water source beneath the fairways. Today’s course building technology fixed the problems.

When you are on the fairways of the Mountain Course you are reminded of why Colorado Springs is such a travel destination. Everywhere you look are those “purple mountain majesties” that Katherine Lee Bates wrote about on July 22, 1893 when she wrote a little song called “America The Beautiful”.

The beginnings of today’s resort dates back to 1916, but golfers have been returning here since 1918 and the Ross course opening. The Broadmoor has countless tales of celebrity sightings -- stories of seeing Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, President Dwight D. Eisenhower or Joe DiMaggio on the first tee.

“purple mountain majesty”

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By David R. Holland

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The 700 guest rooms and suites are located in the Main Complex and West Complex. Luxurious rooms have either a king bed or two double beds, comfortable furniture and elegant bathrooms. Many offer views of beautiful Cheyenne Mountain and the resort’s own Cheyenne Lake.

But guests rarely spend a lot of time in the rooms at The Broadmoor because there’s just too much to do. The resort surrounds Cheyenne Lake with its new swimming pool, including water slide and old-style cabanas. Have a paraffin body wrap at The Spa at The Broadmoor, go horseback riding or end a day with a movie in The Broadmoor’s own theater.

Aside from golf, dining might be the highlight of The Broadmoor. Whether you have the sea bass at Stratta’s in the golf clubhouse building or the Colorado rack of lamb at the stylish Charles Court, dining at The Broadmoor will take you back to the days when everyone dressed up for dinner in the world’s finest hotels. But you don’t have to dress up -- resort casual is fine in most restaurants. Summit, the resort’s newest, was recently honored in the Robb Report for 2006 "Best of the Best", and Esquire's "Best New Restaurants 2006", along with "Best New Design".

The world’s best wines are here, but The Broadmoor’s Craig Reed, director of food and beverage, says champagne might be even more of a favorite.

“Taittinger is the most popular champagne we sell,” Reed says. “The dinner menu is focused on Continental Cuisine so we feature French white burgundies such as Chassagne-Montrachet from Joseph Drouhin. Red wine favorites are the Bordeauxs such as Chateau Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande or the classic First Growth Chateau Mouton-Rothschild.”

If you are still ready for adventure, just outside the grounds of The Broadmoor one can take a trip uphill to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or climb the seemingly endless stairs at Seven Falls. The Zoo, at 6,800 feet, is the highest in the USA, and Seven Falls cascades 181 feet in seven distinctive steps down a solid cliff of granite.

If history and golf interest you, then The Broadmoor is my pick. The most influential people in the world find the way here at least once in a lifetime. For me once is not enough.

The Broadmoor One Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO (800) 634-7711 • www.broadmoor.com

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MEXICO

GOLF VACATIONS GOLF IN CABO: IT’S FOR MORE THAN JUST SPOILED MILLIONAIRE NFL QUARTERBACKS Eli Manning deserves your respect. Not for something as pedestrian as leading the New York Giants to one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. Or doing with aw-shucks nonchalance what it took his older brother Peyton years of seething intensity and burning disappointment to accomplish.

But you'll never forget Cabo.

It's completely different from any other spot in Mexico. Cabo is a 19-mile seaside corridor between the town everyone hears about and often mistakes as the only Cabo (tourist party central Cabo San Lucas), and the more authentic town of San Jose del Cabo. Anyone over the age of 25 with an IQ higher than a Will Ferrell movie character will enjoy San Jose del Cabo more.

There's a reason Cabo's becoming the vacation destination of NFL quarterbacks.

It doesn't matter if you're a Super Bowl MVP or an overrated Cowboys celebrity who cannot win a single playoff game (see Tony Romo's infamous trip with Jessica

Simpson), the preferred getaway is one and the same.

You don't have to have NFL quarterback money and stay at the One & Only Palmilla (where standard rooms start at $650 a night) like Eli and his new bride to enjoy Cabo, however. There are excellent resorts like Sheraton Hacienda Del Mar and Westin Los Cabos that will make you forget anything you know about staying at those chains in the U.S. Eli, Peyton and their crew reportedly played all 27 Jack Nicklaus-designed holes at Palmilla Golf Club one day. You can one-up them by playing the even better Cabo del Sol Ocean Course, also by Nicklaus, or the tough Robert Trent Jones Jr. Cabo Real.

Who said NFL QBs are smarter than you? Not in Cabo.

- Chris Baldwin

Palmilla GC Arroyo Course

No, Eli merits admiration because he chose Cabo as the site for his wedding last Saturday. Now, that's showing real knowledge.

Regular travelers on the West Coast adore this Mexican resort getaway, but as you move farther east ignorance reigns about the true extent of Cabo's wonders.

Recently a friend from New York asked in earnestness why he should go to Cabo with the Riviera Maya - a luxury offshoot of Cancun - so much closer.

Which is like asking why you should get to a Major League Baseball game if there's Double A ball in your town. No offense to the Riviera Maya - which boasts some fine resorts like Iberostar Paraiso Maya and an extremely underrated P.B. Dye course, Playa Paraiso - but comparing it to Cabo is akin to comparing UrbanaChampaign, Ill. to Chicago.

You can really like the Riviera Maya. www.gvlinks.com

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NOT H I NG L I K E A N A L L - I NC LUSI V E BE AC H R E SORT TO R E L A X YOU R S W I NG .

Welcome to a golfer’s paradise. As well as a beach lover’s and gourmet food lover’s paradise. The Presidente InterContinental® Los Cabos is an all-inclusive luxury resort with six restaurants, three pools and access to the finest signature courses in Los Cabos. Let us help you plan the ultimate golf getaway.

Do you live an InterContinental life?

Call +1 800 344 0548 or visit www.loscabos.intercontinental.com ©2008 InterContinental Hotels Group.

All rights reserved Most hotels are independently owned and/or operated.

Maui

By Chris Baldwin

A sandy surf lover's best friend

B

eaches come first in Hawaii the way Mickey Mouse comes first in Orlando and bad waiter service comes first in Paris. You cannot think of one without the other.

People dream about the beaches of Hawaii and obsess over finding the perfect one to lounge away a vacation on. Even golfers. It doesn't matter how crazed you are about chasing that little white ball around the fairways, how determined you are to squeeze in as much Hawaii golf as possible, you're going to have to factor in beach time.

It doesn't matter if you despise the beach the way Bill Belichick apparently despises tailors. You may not especially care for sand in your toes, but someone in your party (probably several someones) will.

"Non-beach people don't come to Hawaii, man," a local told me when I innocently asked for some nonbeach activities. "They go to places like Wyoming."

It's true, too. You eat brunch on a restaurant on the beach. You golf on courses that skirt or hug the beach.

You return to a resort hotel on the beach. You go out and see a luau on the beach. All while everyone's lying out on the beach.

Yes, the beach is going to be pretty important on your Hawaii golf trip. Just slightly behind oxygen. So you'd better get it right.

For golfers that means finding the best beaches close to the best golf. Which means you need to speak up before your annoying save-the-whales sister-in-law or exsurfer dude friend pipe up about some hidden secret sand near a tucked-away waterfall on The Road to Hanna (i.e. the middle of nowhere, where there's no chance Jack Nicklaus ever roamed).

Luckily, it's not that hard to find primo Hawaii beach near the golf courses you want to play. Especially in Maui - the hot Hawaiian island of the moment, which is not as congested and commercial as the Big Island, and not as isolated and possibly boring as the smaller ones.

The trick is coming up with the best possible combination of beach and golf, though. It doesn't do you much

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Haku leis on beach

Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority / Sri Maiava Rusden

Aerial view of a Wailea Golf Course on the ocean. Wailea Resort, Wailea, Maui.

Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority / Kirk Lee Aeder

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good if you're on beautiful sand with pristine water if the nearby golf is horrid, or if the beach is cluttered, dirty and choppy while the par-5s sing.

In fact, try that second combination with a non-golfing spouse and see how quickly the trip goes downhill. Your marriage will look like Flavor Flav's career almost before the towels hit the sand.

To avoid that, here are the best beach and golf combinations in Maui:

Kapalua:

This West Maui town, which was created by a resort company, carries the rep of being a little bit off the beaten path. In reality, it's actually a pretty convenient spot that makes you feel like you're far from the hustle and bustle while being within a quick drive of it.

Tourist trap Kaanapali is a 15-minute trip, tops (and that's if you obey Hawaii's often ridiculously low speed limits).

Thankfully, when you're in your rented Kapalua villa, condo or just-renovated Ritz Carlton room, it seems like you're three galaxies away from that glorified mall zone, though.

Kapalua's beach and golf are as satisfying a combination as strawberries and cream, too. Make that one-of-a-kind strawberries plucked from a nearly deserted wonderland island and a rare vintage of Dom Perignon.

Kapalua Bay was deemed the "Best Beach In the World" by readers of Conde Nast magazine, and the other four beaches all within a two-mile radius at Kapalua are nobody's sand slouches either. These beaches are beautiful with clear blue water and great snorkeling conditions.

For the golf, you only get The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, a bold, showy course out in its own world that makes you feel like you're playing a PGA Tour course every hole (it is host to the Mercedes-Benz Championship) and The Bay Course at the resort, which has two holes right on the ocean - and, well, two holes right on the ocean.

Plantation is the play here - on a recent two-week trip through Hawaii, it was the best-conditioned course on Maui, and it

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wasn't that close - with Bay as a decent sidekick and the beaches king of all.

Wailea:

The white sand beaches of Wailea Bay are great for walking or lounging, but the surf is often so violent that it's hard to enjoy swimming or snorkeling (but primo for surfing). It's look but don't participate. The golf at Wailea Golf Club's Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, measures up as a worthy high-end play, but the other Wailea courses (particularly Emerald Course) are largely overpriced. It's play well, but don't expect to fall in love with any courses.

It all adds up to a good location (South Maui is supposed to mean more sunshine, and Wailea is its 90210 zip code with a plethora of luxury resorts and shopping).

You can have a great vacation here. Yet it's clearly a step or two below Kapalua.

O

n Maui, there are loads of options for great golf with beaches nearby, including: The Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort, home of the MercedesBenz Championship on the PGA Tour, Wailea Golf Club's Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, and Ka'anapali Beach Resort's Kai Course.

The Bay Course in Kapalua

Ka'anapali:

This is certainly the most Disney-like section of Maui. It's resort town USA with most of the familiar sights and ice cream shops of home (Stone Cold Creamery anyone?)

This can be either reassuring or annoying depending on your vacation philosophy.

The biggest problem with both Ka'anapali's beaches and golf courses, though, is finding elbow room.

You come here to mingle (which isn't necessarily a bad thing as far as beach scenery). Ka'anapali also tends to draw a younger crowd.

It can be fun to play Ka'anapali Beach Resort's Kai Course and see the touristattraction Sugar Cane Train go steaming by right below your green, though. You'll also be playing some holes near a major road. Does the ocean look as impressive when a truck's rumbling by as you tee off?

Then again, third best in Maui beach golf does not qualify as anyone's also ran.

"I laugh when tourists ask me what the best beach in Hawaii is," local Zan Brock said. "I tell them that the worst beaches in Hawaii are better than the best beach they've ever been to back in the mainland.

"Don't even get me started on Florida.

You only think those are beaches if you haven't been to Hawaii."

Photo: Hawaii Tourism Japan

Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority / Sri Maiava Rusden

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maui-style Luxury living

L

ooking for something different from the usual big-brand resort accommodations for your next Maui golf vacation? If you find yourself lingering at the 19th hole because you dread having to navigate your way through acres of cabanas, crowds, and corridors to get back to your hotel room, consider renting a luxury home or villa—a more private, personalized alternative to the mega-resort experience.

Maui-based Tropical Villa Vacations specializes in luxury vacation rentals, offering approximately 60 hand-picked properties across the state of Hawaii, including premium beachfront estates, secluded retreats, and resort villas. In addition to properties in Maui’s prime golf resort areas—Kapalua, Kaanapali, Wailea, and Makena—Tropical Villa Vacations also offers properties on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast, including such famed golf communities as Mauna Kea, Hualalai, and Mauna Lani, and the Poipu area on the island of Kauai.

Tropical Villa Vacations was founded in 1995

by Irene Ann Aroner, who served for many years as Chief Concierge and Consulting Concierge with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Beverly Hills, Seattle, Maui, Tokyo and other cities in Asia.

“After leaving Four Seasons, I made my home on Maui,” says Aroner, “but I started getting phone calls from friends and past clients asking if I could assist them in arranging luxury accommodations and

other travel services in Hawaii. I soon realized there was a need for someone to provide custom travel planning and personal concierge service specifically for the luxury traveler.”

What started as a onewoman operation has grown over the years into a thriving company that now employs a staff of nearly two dozen professionals. The travel world has begun to take notice, as well: in the past two years, Tropical Villa Vacations has been named “One of the Premier Agencies for Hawaiian Villas” by Travel & Leisure magazine, and Aroner has been recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top villa rental agents in the world.

The company is unique in that it was the first vacation rental agency in Hawaii to provide complimentary, in-house, “hotel-style” concierge services.

The personalized concierge service might include assistance with such arrangements as island dining or activities (including customized private tours and excursions), childcare services or equipment, limousine or chauffeur service, luxury or sports car rentals, personal fitness and spa services, yoga, surfing or scuba instruction, pre-arrival provisions and shopping service, a private housekeeper, a

Photos Courtesy of Tropical Villa Vacations

catered in-villa dinner, or the services of a personal chef. And, oh yes, advance tee times, of course.

“As soon as a guest starts a question with ‘Can you...?’” notes Chief Concierge Yvonne Nitta, “I already know the answer is ‘Yes, we can do it!’”

In addition to its private homes and estates, the agency’s offerings include an exclusive collection of more than a dozen beachfront Wailea Beach Villas, one of the newest luxury developments on Maui’s south shore, available only through Tropical Villa Vacations. These spacious three- and four-bedroom villas make it possible to reserve as many as seven bedrooms for up to 14 guests in two adjacent villas—ideal for families or friends traveling together.

For more info call 888-875-2818 ext. 206, email info@TropicalVillaVacations.com or visit www.TropicalVillaVacations.com.

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.

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C

onventional wisdom has it that Disney dwarfs every other resort experience in Central Florida.

While that may or may not be true, consider that the World Center Marriott is the largest property in that corporation’s portfolio.

And as part of Marriott’s golf initiative to become a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by the end of this year, course officials tend dutifully to the native vegetation to protect the plentiful wildlife, though none are named Mickey or Donald.

Focal point of this other resort in Orlando, Fl., is Hawk’s Landing Golf Club, which circumvents the hotel, situated on 220 lush tropical acres alongside Interstate 4—which bisects Florida between Tampa to Daytona Beach.

And in this business, it’s all about location, location, location.

“Many of our guests do come here to spend a day or two at Disney and the other theme parks in Central Florida, and we do have those packages for them because they are close by,” said Christine Peters, director of leisure accounts at the World Center Marriott.

“But there are so many activities and dining opportunities at our resort that you don’t have to leave the property to have a great experience. And we feel our resort is a real value when compared to Disney and the other resorts in the area.”

by

TomLaMarre

The World Center Marriott offers guests with active lifestyles six heated swimming pools (one indoors) and six whirlpools, four lighted tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, a basketball court and a 24-hour fitness center.

And right outside the lobby is Hawk’s Landing Golf Club, one of the best resort courses in Florida and home to the Bill Madonna Golf Academy. Madonna has been rated a Top 100 Instructor by Golf magazine.

“I played Hawk’s Landing with a group of friends that I went to high school with in California,” said Clare Simpson, who lives in Reno, Nev. “It’s a beautiful course with a variety of interesting holes, particularly the first par-five (No. 4).

“Even though the holes were very attractive and challenging, they were very forgiving for women, but not too short. The fairways were very lush and the greens were large and well-maintained. Everyone in our group really enjoyed the course, and I would go back and play it again.”

The Hawk’s Landing course opened in 1986 and was designed

by Joe Lee, who also created the Magnolia, Palm and Lake Buena Vista courses a few miles away at Walt Disney World, among several others in Central Florida.

However, the layout was redesigned in 2001 by Robert Cupp III and is much different than the original course. Four sets of tees, modern architectural techniques and water on 15 of the 18 holes provide a fun and challenging round for players of all abilities.

This is one of those immaculate resort courses that makes you wonder why every layout cannot be groomed like this, with aquatic vegetation, native grasses, azaleas, jasmine, Chinese tallow, queen palms, oak, sand pines and magnolias adding to the landscape.

The 6,602-yard course is relatively flat and plays to a par of 71, with a USGA rating of 72.6 and a slope of 131. However, it is a true resort experience because from the middle tees Hawk’s Landing plays to a manageable 6,165 yards and the first three holes are straightforward, allowing the high-handicapper to get comfortable before the real challenges begin.

“That’s one of the things I really like about our golf course, that it’s challenging enough from the tips for the single-digit handicapper, but friendly enough for everyone to play,” said Mike Hodgins, director of golf at Hawk’s Landing. “That’s what makes a truly great resort course.

“Water is strategically placed on 15 holes, but there is none on the first two holes, which are not long. No. 3 is a par-three that can play from 113 to 182 yards with water on the right. So you can get warmed up on the first three holes before reaching the challenging holes.”

Then suddenly, at No. 4, it’s welcome to Hawk’s Landing.

The first of a fine set of par-fives is not overly long at 535 yards from the back tee, but it is a double dogleg where water comes into play on every shot en route to the green. The tee ball must stay away from water all the way down the right side, the lay-up must be hit across the same lake to a narrowish landing area and the approach is across another lake to a relatively small green.

Only on rare occasions can long hitters go for the green in two, but it’s a risky shot, although there is a bailout area to the right of the green.

“That’s probably our best hole from a challenge standpoint, even though it’s not long,” Hodgins said. “It’s usually a three-shot hole for everybody because it’s such a high risk/reward to go for the green in two, but the water is a consideration on all three shots.

“The lay-up is a challenge, too, but there is room to the right, and the third shot generally is from 40-to-170 yards depending on how aggressive you want to be, but that lake consumes a lot of balls. The green is not large, so if you get there you have a real shot at par or birdie.

“But you really have to earn it with three good shots, the way it’s supposed to be on a tough par five.”

There’s nothing fancy about No. 7, but it’s probably the most difficult of the par-three holes because it measures 229 yards from the tips into the prevailing breeze. Don’t be fooled by the three bunkers to the left because they are 35 yards short of the green, but you can’t see that from the tee.

If you can’t reach the green with your tee shot, play out to the right because there is room to salvage a par with a pitch and a putt if you don’t stray too far into the flowerbeds lining the hole.

“You have to hit a hit long iron or a wood off the tee there and sometimes you can roll the ball up onto the green, but most of the time if you hit short it stays there because it’s an elevated green,” Hodgins said.

If you do come up short or barely miss the green there or on most of the other holes, the chipping areas are mowed close, giving the golfer several options including the putter—and there is very little rough on the course.

The ninth hole, a tree-lined 407-yard beauty of a par-four, is another one where water stares the golfer in the face on every shot, although the pond in front of the tee should not come into play. But be careful on the long approach shot because there is water left and behind the green.

“It’s a good finishing hole to the front side and you don’t have to be afraid to hit driver there because it’s a generous landing area,” Hodgins said. “The second shot should favor the right half of the green because of the water and sand to the left. www.gvlinks.com

“No matter where the flag is, that gives you a little margin for error. Even if you don’t reach the green in two, there is room in the front to pitch and putt to save par.”

No. 12 is a par-four that features a challenging tee shot to a tight fairway with a lake on the left and out of bounds to the right. The 412-yarde hole doglegs left around the lake, but the number is deceiving because a good tee shot can leave an approach shot across the lake with only an eight or nine iron— but it’s all carry.

The second shot must stay a little right because of the lake and there is some bailout area.

“I’ve always thought it was one of the most difficult holes on the course, especially when it plays into the wind,” Hodgins said.

“That makes for two difficult, exact shots to get it on the green, but if you get there you will have a chance for a terrific par or birdie.”

No. 15 is a deceptive beauty, only 142 yards from the back tee, with a landscape of palm trees and flower beds and a lake on the left that runs to the edge of the deep green, which angles right-to-left alongside the water.

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Although it’s not a long shot, accuracy is required. If you bail out to the right because of the lake, you will have a dicey chip toward the water if you want to save par.

“Aesthetically, it might be our best hole,” Hodgins said.

Hawk’s Landing saves another one of the best for last, a 565-yard monster of a par-five that rates No. 1 on the card, with water again looking the golfer in the eye on all three shots.

After a tee shot over a large body of water, the second shot must be squeezed between bunkers on the left and a lake that begins at 125 yards out and protects a wide, shallow and undulating green.

“You can grip-it-and-rip-it off the tee, because there is plenty of room out there,” Hodgins advised. “The second shot is challenging because you run out of room up there between the bunkers and the lake, but you want to be within 120 yards to hit a short-iron to the green.

“The right three-quarters of the green is covered by water and it’s wide, but not deep, with more water in the back. The most difficult hole location is on the right, so you just want to hit the middle of the green to make sure your putt is no longer than about 30 feet.

“We think it’s a great finishing hole.”

Afterward, check out the award-winning pro shop, which features Callaway Golf rental equipment, and you might want to eat dinner at Hawk’s Landing Steakhouse and Grille, which is located in the clubhouse.

Or simply walk a few steps back to the hotel to enjoy all of the other resort amenities.

“I really liked the pro shop, one of the better ones I’ve seen, and I bought several nice items in there,” Simpson said.

“They had a large women’s selection, which was nice, because you don’t see that everywhere. And the staff was great, very informative and helpful, from the cart girls to the pros.

“Afterward, we went over to the sports bar (High Velocity) in the hotel and had a great time. They had different sports on televisions all over the room, and they had these huge liters of beer. We just had a wonderful time there.”

In addition to the Hawk’s Landing Steakhouse, which features the finest cuts of USDA prime beef and the freshest seafood, there are several other dining experiences at the World Center Marriott.

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Ristorante Tuscany is staffed by chefs trained at Ristorante Antica Posta in San Casciano, Italy, in the Tuscan Hills near Florence. Enjoy true Tuscan cooking, a delicate blend of meats, fish, vegetables, spices and condiments—plus the finest Tuscan wines—enjoyed by Florentines for centuries.

Mikado Japanese Steakhouse offers authentic Japanese food prepared right at your table by skilled teppan yaki chefs. Enjoy fresh sushi combinations and specialty drinks along with live entertainment.

The Solaris Restaurant in the hotel lobby is open all day, every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering home-style cooking using only fresh ingredients. Don’t miss the world-class breakfast buffet and the spectacular Friday night seafood buffet. Be sure to try the signature cornflake crusted French toast and the classic rock shrimp clam chowder.

The Mangrove Emporium Food Court is a real favorite for active people who want to grab a quick bite in between all the activities available at the World Center Marriott.

Among the offerings are brick-oven pizza, philly cheese steak, burgers, grilled chicken, salads and Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Guests can eat in or take their food to go.

Shoppers can browse the on-site Mangrove Emporium Retail Shops, which feature Tommy Bahama, Brighton, Fossil and other name brands, the Hawk’s Landing Golf Shop (Callaway, Cutter & Buck, Slazenger, Nike), the News Network and Starbucks.

Within a short drive are the Mall of Millenia, Downtown Disney Marketplace, the Florida Mall, Belz Factory Outlet, Orlando Premium Outlets and Park Avenue in nearly Winter Park, where you can shop-untilyou-drop.

After that, it would be a good time to slow down and pamper yourself in the World Center Marriott’s full-service spa, which features a wide assortment of massage, body, skin and nail treatments.

With or without a trip to Disney, it’s plain to see this Marriott is World-class.

www.gvlinks.com

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Mississippi River Bridge in Natchez

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST Blue Front Cafe , Bentonia

Dunleith, Natchez

I

By Mike Mothersbaugh

Mississippi is famous for its rich and varied cuisine, including fried catfish and hushpuppies

T

he best way to describe Mississippi golf to the uninitiated is best summed up by the word “flavorful”.

This due to the diversity – there are five distinct regions in Mississippi. And it’s not just high-quality golf and unique terrain which is distinct to each region.

The regional cultures and related attractions are abundant as well. For instance, the Delta Region in northern Mississippi is marked by miles of cotton fields and the Mississippi River in Tunica, which is less than 30 minutes from Memphis, while the Coastal Region is a beach and fresh seafood lover’s paradise.

Fortunately, the southern hospitality Mississippians extend is everywhere.

I visited the Gulf Coast recently and can eagerly report that the Magnolia State is home to some of the finest, most underrated golf and resort casinos that I’ve had the pleasure to encounter in North America.

Here are some places you won’t want to miss when visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Photos courtesy of the Mississippi Development Authority/Division of Tourism

Blues Music Marina, Beau Rivage, Biloxi

Harrah’s Grand Bear Golf Course

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www.gvlinks.com

The newest course is Fallen Oak Golf Club. Designed by course architect Tom Fazio, it is an amenity exclusively for guests of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. Fallen Oak raises the bar for luxury resort golf. The 18-hole, par-72 championship layout unfolds in a majestic, almost cinematic, invitation to all who love the game.

Opened in November 2006 it was instantly crowned one of the finest courses in the nation. Golfweek Magazine recently named it the second-best casino course in the nation – right after Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, which also happens to be an MGM Mirage Resorts property. Talk about brand integrity!

Fallen Oak is more than “just” brilliant golf, however, it is an experience enveloped with deluxe pampering. The only way to get to the course is by the complimentary limo service from the “Beau”. Upon arrival you are greeted by an eager staff which whisks your clubs and golf shoes to the sublime locker room where a personal locker and engraved gold nameplate awaits you. By the time you get settled in your golf shoes will have already been buffed by the staff and sit gleaming next to your locker ready to play.

The course weaves and bobs through a 510-acre tract at the edge of the DeSoto National Forest. Despite being only about one year old, it looks like it has been there forever. This is stunning considering the amount of work which went into it.

Fazio and crew transplanted more than 1,000 oaks, pines, magnolias, and other hardwoods some 60 feet or taller and moved 580,000 cubic yards of soil – they laid enough sod “to cover 96 football fields and give the course a mature feeling from Day One,” said Fallen Oak General Manager David Stinson.

The course has five sets of tee boxes and plays a heroic 7,487 yards from the tips. The challenge is so stiff from the rear tees, and so few players attempt it, that there aren’t even tee markers on them.

Speaking of few players, GM Stinson say fewer than two dozen golfers will tee it up at Fallen Oak on many days. This is because one must stay at the Beau to play Fallen Oak and because it costs $200 a round (which would be roughly $500 in Vegas). The Beau intentionally set the bar high as the course is an amenity for its high rollers and others who prefer a penultimate golf and casino resort experience.

Fallen Oak’s greens are equipped with a SubAir System which allows the course to control air circulation and moisture content by vacuuming the water out of the greens. You may have heard of other courses with this feature – like the little one down in Augusta, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Shadow Creek in Vegas.

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino opened one year to the day after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the coast. It was not only a symbolic achievement meant to inspire hope and others to follow suit rebuilding but also grand in its scope and execution.

The Beau offers 1,740 guest rooms and suites with contemporary décor including original artwork, cherry-wood furniture and stunning views of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Beau’s 85,000-square-foot casino brings the excitement of Vegas without the overpowering glitz. The resort’s top-notch restaurants are on par with the world’s finest including “Olives” by highly acclaimed super chef Todd English. And The Beau’s expansive, luxurious Spa and Salon is heralded for its unique architectural design and vast menu of treatments.

For those who prefer a little Rock ‘n Roll to liven up their lives, the brand new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi opened last sumwww.gvlinks.com

TUNICA COURSE RETURNS TO ITS DELTA ROOTS ississippi is increasingly becoming known as the nation’s best golf-and-gaming destination. It’s the third-largest gaming destination in the U.S. after Vegas and Atlantic City and it has the best combination of golf courses and value to complement the dozens of casino resorts throughout the state.

How does the Magnolia State keep its edge and remain the leading golf-and-gaming destination in the United States, perhaps the world?

By refusing to rest on its laurels.

The latest demonstration of this statewide mission is found at the Grand Casino Resort Tunica in Northern Mississippi, about 30 minutes south of Memphis.

In this its 10 anniversary season, the casino resort has “quietly” undertaken several upgrades designed to add more challenge and optimized course conditions at Links at Cottonwoods, a Hale Irwin Signature Design which was voted a Top-40 Casino Course in the U.S. by Golf Digest Magazine.

The course was designed as a true links layout with extremely minimal tree plantings. Before completion of the course project, the owner of the Grand Casino insisted on trees and consequently 2,500 trees were planted throughout the layout. Over the past 1.5 years Links at Cottonwoods has been selectively removing trees and planting additional native areas consistent with the original links design.

The ever-present and often stout wind which rolls over the vast flatlands of the unprotected Delta make pars a premium.

Measuring 7,000 yards from the back tees – but frequently playing longer thanks to the often balmy and blustery breezes – the par-72 course is defended additionally by multiple sand bunkers and water hazards.

Two other championship courses and eight casino resorts are located within minutes of Links at Cottonwoods and Grand Casino Resort Tunica. The other courses are Riverbend Links and Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club. Hence, the destination is an extremely popular golf-and-gaming hub.

M

Links at Cottonwoods Golf Rates and Packages Individuals, couples, foursomes and group packages at the course include 18 holes each day, range balls prior to each round, accommodations, and all taxes and gratuities. For pricing information call 877-307-PLAY (7529); Groups of 12 or more 800-WIN-4-WIN ext. 3112.

Call 888-4TUNICA to request a value-packed Winner’s Guide, or visit www.tunicamiss.com for travel information.

Grand Casino Resort Tunica

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • E A R L Y S U M M E R 2008

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The Preserve Golf Club • Hole 16

The Bridges Golf Club • Bay St. Louis 40

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mer and has all the spice one desires.

Beginning at the front desk, one is mesmerized by all the memorabilia from the Beatles and the “Boss” to ZZ Top. A hip room key and carry case is accompanied by a free CD that contains a genre of music based on the floor on which you are staying.

Each floor is designed with a different Hard Rock theme.

The ultra modern, immaculate rooms are the perfect place to chill before you rock on. Catch a flick on the 42-inch plasma TVs or crank up your favorite CDs on the Bose Music System with iPod Docking Station.

As expected you can’t go anywhere in the Hard Rock without hearing great tunes and feeling the pulse of the place. This is particularly true in the Rise Lounge, which offers sizzling club nightlife as it hovers above the Gulf of Mexico on the top floor of the towering resort.

Don’t fret if you stay too late in the lounge or gambling in the casino and have an early morning tee time. The threeheaded showers in each Hard Rock room are guaranteed to rejuvenate. Need a lift to one of the local attractions, just ask the concierge to secure a ride in one of their giant, purple-hued SUVs appropriately named Purple Haze I & II. While the Beau Rivage and the Hard Rock offer great food experiences, one must make time to dine at historic Mary Mahoney’s Old French Restaurant while on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Approaching the restaurant you are met by a 2,000 year old Live Oak tree named “The Patriarch.” Try the Seafood Gumbo to warm up your palate. Mary Mahoney’s is known for this signature dish and frequently ships gallons of it via air to past visitors who relish it.

Established in 1964, the restaurant was built around one of the oldest homes in America so it has a unique vibe, and it specializes in hyper fresh seafood from the Gulf Coast. Many Presidents, celebrities and others have eaten at Mary Mahoney’s and for good reason.

Like Fallen Oak, The Preserve is a virtually brand new golf course. It debuted in 2006 and is designed by Jerry Pate. An amenity of the Palace Casino, another fine casino resort option, it’s all the golf anybody wants with lightning fast, sloped greens and an inspired course routing which knifes through thousands of acres of adjacent forest preserve.

The No. 1 handicap hole is rare – it’s a www.gvlinks.com

par-3 (No. 16) – and making par on this 225-yard devil is like making birdie on other holes. It’s not just that the tee shot has to avoid the deep bunkers guarding the left side of the huge green, but it must also stay on the proper tier. A huge vertical slope separates the two (think of a roller coaster). As pretty as it is difficult, The Preserve is unforgettable and leaves the golfer pining for repeat plays.

Don’t miss playing Grand Bear Golf Course (Jack Nicklaus design), Shell Landing (Davis Love III) or The Bridges (Arnold Palmer) while on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

All three are terrific daily fee courses with highly affordable green fees and available to the golfing public. Grand Bear (Harrah’s Grand Biloxi) can be played for $50 midweek! Both it and The Bridges (Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis) are amenities of casino resorts.

These three courses couldn’t be more different – The Bridges with its pristine landscape and Audubon Sanctuary status, Shell Landing with its mix of wetlands and sandy terrain, and Grand Bear, a muscular track which carves its way through towering pines and forest solitude. There’s not a bad course in the bunch and virtually all are rated among the best in the state by national golf and travel outlets such as ZAGAT Survey, Golf Digest, Golfweek and GOLF Magazine.

Shell Landing Golf Course • Hole 6

Where to Stay Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (www.beaurivage.com) Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi (www.hardrockbiloxi.com/)

Where to Play Fallen Oak Golf Club (www.beaurivage.com/amenities/ amenities_golf.aspx) The Preserve Golf Club (www.preservegc.com) Grand Bear Golf Course (www.harrahs.com/golf/GrandBear) The Bridges Golf Club (www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com/golf/) Shell Landing Golf Course (www.shelllanding.com) For more information or to schedule a visit to Mississippi, call 866-801-8551 or go to www.visitmississippi.org/golf and receive a free Golf Travel Guide and suggested play-and-stay itineraries. www.gvlinks.com

Beaurivage Resort and Casino Atrium

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • E A R L Y S U M M E R 2008

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PERSONALPOSTCARD

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suppose when money is no object, you can have anything you want. That seems to be the goal in Dubai, creating a hybrid combination of Disney World, Hong Kong and Pinehurst in the Middle East. With oil revenue expected to run dry in less than 10 years, the Emirates is looking to diversify. Construction is everywhere.

New cities are rising as far as the eye can see, as rapidly as humanly possible. It’s estimated that 20% of all the giant cranes in the world are in Dubai, creating quite a contrast between modern skyscrapers and old world Arabic culture. I have to admit I can't recall seeing such architectural variety and creativity.

There are currently more than a dozen golf courses in Dubai and more under construction.

During our trip, we played four courses; the Emirates Golf Club, The Montgomerie Dubai, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and the Four Seasons Golf Club.

The first thing that struck me about the courses was their condition. I know how difficult it is to maintain adequate playing conditions through the heat of the summer in places like Florida or Arizona, and here in Dubai, temperatures can soar past 130°.

Though the speed of the greens varied from course to course, these courses were in beautiful shape. While the courses were strewn with palm trees, I wouldn't call them desert courses at all. All provided ample fairway landing areas and unlike true desert courses, if you missed the fairway you were not dead. They were very user friendly.

The clubhouses at the Dubai golf courses were in a word, magnificent. The facilities were awesome, the architecture unique, each with their own individual character. Pulling up to the Four Seasons Golf Club, it looked like a hotel, but it was just the clubhouse. I found it amusing to see the signs stating, men's room, ladies room, prayer room. You just don't see that in America.

Located in the largest shopping mall in the world, Ski Dubai is an indoor, climate controlled mountain comprised of two runs 400 meters long featuring a fairly significant vertical drop. I was hoping to find spring skiing conditions but it was pretty chilly inside. I suppose when it's hot outside, this climate can be very appealing.

It's been quite a while since I last skied so I planned on taking only one or two runs. But I had so much fun; I kept on going until we had to leave.

All the equipment necessary is available on site and far superior to the equipment I remember skiing on. The property also offers a family play area, 42

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toboggan hills and twin-track bobsled racing.

Our desert adventure incorporated two distinct activities: dune driving then dinner and entertainment at a Bedouin camp. I assumed that we would be in individual dune buggies but we wound up in four-wheel-drive vehicles as a group. After a few turns and slides over and across monstrous red sand dunes, I understood why. Drivers must train for a minimum of a year for a license. I got this queasy feeling in my stomach as we would rise and drop over and around taller and taller dunes while at the same time experiencing a thrilling rush of adrenaline.

As we pulled into camp, camels were waiting. The camel rides were pretty tame but for the adventurous soul, dune surfing was available.

It's considered poor taste and insulting for nonArabs to dress in traditional Arabic garb but at the camp, it was encouraged.

During a barbecue dinner we were treated to a traditional local music performance. For those that wish to partake, Arabic henna tattoos and long drags off hookah’s (tobacco water pipes) are part of the evening festivities. :WWcaacXUh]cb =Y`ilY Situated on a man-made island more than 900 feet offshore, Burj Al Arab, a unique building designed in the shape of a billowing Arabian dhow sail is a testament to extravagance and opulence. Fireballs 8 feet in diameter are propelled skyward at the entrance. A cornucopia of vibrant colors along with 17,000-plus feet of 24karat gold leaf embellish the interior. A cascading waterfall surges between towering escalators leading up from a lobby that combines finely atomized water with fiber optics to produce a kaleidoscope effect.

At over 590 feet in height, this hotel is home to the world's tallest atrium, providing panoramic but dizzying views from the upper floors. The rooms in this all suite (each of which is a multilevel) hotel range in size from 1,830 to 8,400 square feet and provide every possible amenity including an extensive selection of complementary Hermes products. Towering almost 700 feet above ground, the Al Muntaha (Skyview) restaurant features contemporary European cuisine and breathtaking views.

The Madinat Jumeirah Resort is a sprawling luxury beachfront complex featuring two boutique hotels and 29 traditional Arabic summer houses nestled among tropical gardens.

Each component of the property is reachable via water taxi through a series of canals. www.gvlinks.com

=N;:B7 DESERT OASIS

by Leonard Finkel

The property is constructed around Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a re-creation of the ancient Arabic marketplace, featuring 75 boutique-style, open-shuttered shops and intimate galleries. A diverse array of more than two dozen restaurants and lounges are positioned throughout the property. With its unique shape and omnipresent wind towers, this sand colored property aims to deliver old world charm while providing modern facilities and luxurious interiors.

Park Hyatt Dubai is nestled between the Dubai Creek golf course and marina and is positioned around a beautifully landscaped pool area with a series of palm islands built into the pool. I found the setting very peaceful and refreshing as I strolled through the grounds pre-dawn.

The property features 225 rooms and suites, many with private terraces that provide stunning views of Dubai Creek with separate living and work areas. Elegant decor complements cozy furnishings, including a full bar and a bath with separate tub and walk-in rain shower.

An assortment of fine dining options is available on site; my favorite, Café Arabesque, I will discuss later. Award winning spa, Amara, is a sanctuary of luxury and tranquility, where exotic rituals

www.gvlinks.com

have been created to stimulate the senses, soothe and rejuvenate both body and soul.

The facility features eight spacious luxury suites, each with its own private outdoor terrace, lounge area, indoor and outdoor rain showers. Amara also boasts a fully equipped 24-hour gym. With its adjoining private courtyards and cascading water features, Amara is in perfect harmony with the sophisticated retreat atmosphere of the hotel.

Dining in Dubai runs the gamut from typical American fast food outlets to gourmet European dining options such as Traiteur (Park Hyatt). Exotic and ethnic cuisines abound. My favorites were the Café Arabesque and lunch at the Spike Bar at the Emirates Golf Club. The day we were at the Spike, a lunch buffet featured an assortment of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes plus a great dessert and fruit bar. The chocolate mousse cake was extremely rich. I had two pieces. A regular menu is also available.

I didn't have an opportunity for dinner at the Café Arabesque, but they offered up a great breakfast and lunch. Hot dishes and main courses were ordered off the menu, but for all meals there is an extensive buffet-style selection of Middle Eastern dishes.

In the morning there was a vast assortment of meats, cheeses and fruits as well as two Middle Eastern bread and pastry stations. Lunch at the café was my favorite meal.

As with breakfast, main courses were ordered from the menu, which I actually passed on.

I went right to the buffet which featured three stations divided into Lebanese, Jordanian and Syrian cuisines. Each station consisted of 15 to 20 different dishes, most of which were vegetarian. Two additional stations featured a wide variety of European style and Middle Eastern deserts. I could have eaten here every meal.

The best time to travel to Dubai is between October and April. We went the first week in October and the weather was beautiful. Though a Moslem country, most people dress in casual Western attire.

Alcohol is readily available at the golf courses and in hotels and nightclubs.

Delta Airlines now offers direct service to Dubai from Atlanta. International BusinessElite customers can sit back and relax in newly enhanced, all-leather sleeper seats, sip one of Delta’s award-winning wines and savor creative dishes – all while watching first-run films on personal in-seat video monitors. In 2008 Delta will add fully-horizontal personal sleeper suites in BusinessElite.

G O L F V A C A T I O N S • E A R L Y S U M M E R 2008

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MYTURN

Where Have All The Celebrities Gone?

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harity fundraising golf tournaments on the local and regional level are using celebrities more than ever to draw players into their events. At the highest level—the PGA Tour—the trend has been just the opposite as the pros have slowly shed this format in favor of smaller field tournaments with more money and a more serious outlook.

Celebrities from the world of entertainment and sports are playing more charity golf than ever before and raising more money for worthy causes by lending their names to events. They’re just not doing it as much with the pros.

Of the 50-some official events that comprise the PGA Tour season that counts towards the money list, the only two that feature celebrities, amateurs and professionals all playing together during, at least four days of competition, are the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. While the Hope has celebrities and amateurs playing together with professionals for the first four days of the 90-hole event, the AT&T has celebrities and amateurs (usually corporate heads) playing with the pros for all four days, although the field is cut after the first three.

Both of these events began as small get-togethers featuring the top show business names of the era (the 1940’s to the 1960s) and professional golfers joining forces to have some fun and raise some money for charity.

The AT&T began as the Bing Crosby Clambake in Rancho Santa Fe, CA in the years before World War II and moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1947. The Hope began as the Palm Springs Golf Classic in 1960 and became the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1965. In the early days such names at Crosby, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Jackie Gleason and Hope played one or both of these events. They were noted as much for the good times and laughs as for the golf that was played.

That was then. Both of these tournaments got their beginnings from the World War II and post war brand of stars who were multidimensional entertainers as come-

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by

TerryRoss

dians, actors, singers and night club entertainers all rolled into one. It was a black and white television era where you could count all the channels on two hands, no internet and drive-in theaters rather than DVDs. The professional golf tour was about winning checks that had two zeros instead of six. About Tour players who had part time jobs as teachers. Typical travel was three or four players piling into a car and hitting the road for the next tournament. No private jets and a season that ended in the fall instead of the week before Christmas.

Just like 78 RPM records evolved into 45’s and eventually to CD’s and iPods, tournaments evolve and change. Celebrities like Hope, Crosby, Martin and Sinatra are gone and those that have replaced them are not the same. Some of today’s biggest celebrities are athletes and not entertainers.

And, just like the celebrities, the PGA Tour players are miles from where they were when these events began. With most of today’s top professional golfers it is more of a corporate mentality because of the huge increases in the money they are playing for as compared to the day when Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer dominated the Tour. They have many more choices when it comes to playing and there is a much greater emphasis on the majors and several other key events that have been created over the past 25 years by the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour golf used to be a much more casual affair 30 to 40 years ago when players would socialize after a round with Pro-Am partners or even sportswriters.

Today it is off to the fitness trailer for a workout and then a meeting with a business manager or maybe a sponsor meeting.

The world has changed dramatically from the days when the Crosby Clambake and the Bob Hope Desert Classic were relatively new on the scene, and they are not the same. They are really a reflection of the world of entertainment and sports as they are today—no more, no less.

www.gvlinks.com

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

C A S I N O

Twiligh t

$30 $35

Weekd ay

n Weeke

Weeke nd

SUMMER RATES

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

www.gvlinks.com

&

B A R O N A . C O M

DESERT RESORTS

$40ay Weekd $45 d

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

R E S O R T •

$595

May 27 - Sept 26

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 • E A R L Y S U M M E R 2008

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Reinventing the diver’s watch.

The KonTiki Diver Eterna has redefined the functional requirements of a diving watch from the bottom up. The result is the KonTiki Diver, with its innovative hinged mechanism.

The movement is housed in a case which can be raised and lowered. When the case is raised, the diving time is set using a bezel which can be rotated in either direction. With the case in the lowered position, the bezel is protected against accidental movements, and the display of the correct diving time is guaranteed. Both the time and the power reserve are clearly legible from the well-structured dial.

With its revolutionary sealing system, the KonTiki Diver dispenses with a screw-in crown, and is water-resistant to 1’000 metres. A new class of diving watch.

Tel. 866-425-9882, www.eterna.ch