Great Golf Magazine Issue 6

Great Golf

No.2. 2013 £4.95

Magazine

THE LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Scotland Land of the brave • Malaysia • Gran Canaria • Kenya • Isle of Man • Colorado • STAG • Fashion • Property • Whisky • Win a golf break for two at Luton Hoo

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Great Golf

Magazine

Great Golf

No.2. 2013 £4.95

Magazine

THE LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Scotland Land of the brave • Malaysia • Gran Canaria • Kenya • Isle of Man • Colorado • STAG • Fashion • Property • Whisky • Win a golf break for two at Luton Hoo

Contents TRAVEL FEATURES

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20 Six desert courses 24 Golf & the city - Paris 48 Malaysia – Gateway to Asia 62 Mallorca - Mission Impossible 72 Isle of Man - The Kingdom of the Isles 88 Kenya - A walk on the wild side 108 Gran Canaria - The Vulcan isles

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Cover photo: Trump International Golf Links, Scotland

SCOTLAND

28 Coast to coast 98 East of Eden EQUIPMENT

42 STAG - Putting history to the test LUXURY

36 Fashion – Come rain or come shine 56 IWC Schaffhausen - The test of time 80 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake.

96 Garia Mansory - A Meeting of Two Concepts SPA, FOOD & WINE

112 Great Spa – Rocky Mountain High 124 Drake’s - A culinary journey 130 Famous Grouse Whisky – A perfect blend PROPERTY

136 Hamilton Grand - Living the dream 144 Golf Club guide 16 Win a golf break for two at Luton Hoo 9

Great Golf

Magazine

The Club Guide UK

SPAIN ITALY

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Great GolfMagazine

GOLF TRAVEL YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

WELCOME to the summer 2013 issue of Great Golf Magazine. With the Open having taken place and the Ryder Cup soon to appear on the horizon at the legendary Gleneagles, we have made Scotland the main focus of this issue and our journalists have travelled the length and breadth of this land of the brave to bring you the best

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Mike Kaas-Stock mike@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk EDITOR

Nils Bjornes nils@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk EXCECUTIVE EDITOR

Camilla Kaas-Stock camilla@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ART DIRECTOR

articles.

Peter Ellegard took time out from golf to visit the Famous Grouse distillery and see if a drop or two of the ancient brew would lead to an improvement in his game while the iconic property development taking place at Hamilton Grand was inspected to see

Ketil Plassgaard ketil@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Karim Ullah karim@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk MARKETING MANAGER

just what it’s like to live next to the eighteenth green of the Old Course.

There’s also quite an island thread running through this issue with both Mallorca and

Nick Edgley nedgley@nemediaworld.com

the Canary Islands featured. These locations have golf a plenty and lots of sunshine

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

to go with it. The choices abound and the hardest part in preparing both of these

Peter Ellegard peter@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

articles was to have enough time to cover all the courses available.

LUXURY PRODUCTS

Malaysia receives the undivided attention of journalist Mark Alexander with a trip to

Angus Davies angus@escapement.uk.com

this “gateway to Asia”, the emphasis being on Kuala Lumpur and East Malaysia but

PRODUCTION CONTROLLERS

expect further articles in the near future covering other areas of this fascinating country.

Angus Davies our fearless and intrepid Luxury Products man braves the roads of England to test drive the new Mercedes Shooting Break while also finding time to look into the finer workings of IWC watches.

If being the best dressed golfer on the course is your thing; read our article on Italian Golf fashion brand “Chervo” where we put their waterproof jacket through its paces.

As always, great fun has been had in bringing you this latest issue and you can rest assured that no journalists were harmed in the making of this magazine. Indeed they Happy Golfing wherever you go.

The Team GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Sophie Morrison CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

Peter Ellegard Linda Jackson Angus Davies Dena Roché Sean T Kelly Mark Alexander Camilla Kaas-Stock Mike Kaas-Stock Published by IPB Publishing Ltd Company No 6484115 Printed by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk

are already out and working on the autumn issue.

12

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A Mission in the Hills

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• Italy - The bright side of life • Darren Clarke - The Man and his passions • Six tropical golf courses • Fashion - Royal Albartross • Bentley - A regal ride • Arizona Spa’s - Pampering for the soul • England - Kent’s golden oldies • Property - Sotogrande - A Jewel in the Crown • WIN a luxury trip to Turnberry

Deep in the heart of Texas • Turnberry - A legend by the sea Magical Morocco • Bahamas - The Abaco Club • Spain - The road to La Manga Donnafugata - The Sicillian job • Property - Luxury living desert style Fashion - Designer Tony Q aja.

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Scotland Land of the brave • Malaysia • Gran Canaria • Kenya • Isle of Man • Colorado • STAG • Fashion • Property • Whisky • Win a Luton Hoo Golf Break for two

Bulgaria - Thracian treasure The Azores - The secret islands Northern Ireland - Fine Courses and Liquid Sunshine Bubba Watson - The unconventional golfer Dubai - A mirage in the desert USA and China - The highest & the lowest Hilton Head - Southern comfort Garia - Birth of the Cool WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY AT FAIRMONT St ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

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Win a golf break for two at Luton Hoo Luton Hoo Hotel is the ideal setting for the perfect golfing break. The 18 hole golf course is 7,107 yards long and par 73 off the championship tees. A serious test for all levels of golf with a choice of 4 different tees to play from. Our ladies course is 6,143 yards.

PRICE INCLUDES: • 36 holes of golf per person • A 3 course dinner in either the relaxed informality of the Adam’s Brasserie or the award winning Wernher Restaurant (The Wernher is open from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive) • One night accommodation in a Parkland or Flower Garden Deluxe room with complimentary newspaper • Traditional English Breakfast • Residential use of the Country Club facilities Terms and conditions: Stays from Sunday to Thursday, subject to availability, outside bank holidays and high season. Extension of stay is possible but will incur additional charges. Stays must be taken by 31st March 2014. No cash alternative.

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LUTON HOO HOTEL, GOLF & SPA

Package oo Golf H n o t u L People for Two E 16 SEE PAG

ROYALTY AND MOVIE STARS From Four Weddings and a Funeral to Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, Luton Hoo has been the stage for a number of movies as well as having been visited by many a famous guest. It also has a quite challenging golf course.

LUTON HOO'S REPUTATION as one of Britain's great treasure houses is

EVENTS AND WEDDINGS. In June 2009, Luton Hoo unveiled Warren

well deserved. Situated on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border, this Grade One Listed Mansion and parklands were bought by Elite Hotels in 1999, emerging towards the end of 2007 as a five star hotel, having undergone a £60 million refurbishment.

The house was built in 1767 by prominent architect Robert Adam for the 3rd Earl of Bute. After a fire in 1843, Robert Smirke took on the responsibility of rebuilding the house and adding a grand entrance portico. Later still, a mansard roof was added by Mewes and Davis, architects of the Ritz Hotel.

Luton Hoo comprises 144 bedrooms and suites, divided between the main Mansion, the Parkland Wing (which guests will enter from a landscaped courtyard) and the Flower Garden Wing. In addition, The Spa and golf Club House are housed in the Robert Adam Grade Two* listed stable building, incorporating state of the art treatment rooms, a stunning oak framed 18 metre pool, Saunarium, steam room and gym. The Spa offers a bespoke range of organic products, created only for Luton Hoo by Soil Association manufacturer ‘Circaroma’.

Weir – a meeting and events facility situated on the banks of the River Lea, in Luton Hoo’s surrounding parkland.

The purpose built venue comprises five function rooms, a hospitality lounge, 84 bedrooms and suites, and its own leisure facilities. An ideal venue for exclusive use events and weddings, Warren Weir is the culmination of a ten-year building project and a £20 million investment by Elite Hotels.

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SEVERAL RESTAURANTS. The hotel has a selection of restaurants

located in different areas of the estate. The Wernher Restaurant is positioned within The Mansion, encompassing the original State Dining Room, which is complete with original carvings by the renowned artist.

The room offers a grand and opulent setting, with The Chef revealing culinary flair through the combination of adventurous dishes and traditional British classics. Alternatively, guests can visit Adam’s Brasserie and Adam’s Bar which offers a more relaxed and contemporary dining option within the renovated Robert Adam Stable Building. In addition, The 19th Bar is a great spot to relax after a round of golf.

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

SIX

desert courses

By Nils Bjornes, photos The Resorts

CALIFORNIA - Desert Willow Golf Resort Desert Willow Golf Resort, located in Palm Desert, California, just minutes away from Palm Springs, offers two championship golf courses designed by Micheal Hurdzan and Dana Fry. Firecliff, measuring 7,056 yards and opened in 1997, is a true test of skill where golfers must negotiate their way around extensive natural areas, over 100 bunkers, and numerous water features.

Mountain View, measuring 6,913 yards, is rated just slightly less difficult than Firecliff. With more forgiving fairways, 98

well-placed bunkers, sloping greens, and seven water features, Mountain View still requires the best from golfers of all levels.

Desert Willow also features a magnificent clubhouse, personalised service, and spectacular views of the surrounding Santa Rosa Mountains. With more than 100 courses to choose from, Desert Willow has emerged as a favourite place to play in the Palm Springs area for many golfers. www.desertwillow.com

NEVADA - Wolf Creek Golf Club Some 80 miles north of Las Vegas you’ll find Wolf Creek Golf Club with a golf course that is “out of this world”. Opened in 2000, this Par 72, 7,018-yard course mesmerises and challenges players from start to finish, no matter your playing ability.

The course, tucked into the northeast corner in Mesquite, is carved beautifully out of the desert. It will test your game with its stunning layout, amaze you with its dazzling beauty and overwhelm you with its breath-taking views…all at the same

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

time. Lush green fairways wind through the rugged desert terrain and elevated tee boxes greet players with immaculate views of the course.

Step to the tee – sometimes 100 feet above lush greenstriped fairways – and be prepared for the thrill ride of a lifetime. Do you dare take on Wolf Creek? If your answer is yes, be prepared to tackle one of those rare golf experiences you’ll be talking about for years to come www.golfwolfcreek.com

ARIZONA - Troon North Golf Club Troon North in Scottsdale is truly a masterpiece of a golf course. The two 18-hole courses, Monument and Pinnacle, flow through the rugged landscape of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert like emerald green rivers, surrounded by sandstone cliffs and a multitude of shrubs and plants, with giant Saguaro cacti as guards to remind us that we are intruders in this otherwise pristine desert landscape. It's like a painting: dramatic, beautiful and filled with contrast.

Many of the holes may seem a little intimidating for the novice golfer, with a lot of desert between the tee and the fairway, but the desert is deceptive and the distances aren’t as daunting as first perceived. There are also water hazards, as on hole 14, the Spanish Dagger, and hole 18, St Andrews, on the Monument Course, as well as on the 16th, Post Card, on the Pinnacle.

Both courses are varied and entertaining with plenty of challenges. www.troonnorthgolf.com

MOROCCO - Golf Club Assoufid Marrakech Golf Club Assoufid, located just 10 minutes drive from the city centre, is set in 222 hectares of undulating countryside against a spectacular backdrop of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains. Opened in March 2012, Assoufid's 18-hole, 7,020-yard Par 72 world-class golf course has been designed by Scottish golf professional Niall Cameron. It’s named after the village of Assoufid, where an ancient waterway (known locally as a shaaba) has etched its way into the landscape over the centuries.

Morocco is among the fastest growing golf destinations in

Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Marrakech Golf Club, Assoufid, is perfectly situated to become the home club or resort for the discerning international golfer.

The Golf Academy offers cutting-edge technology, including computer studio suites and club-fitting analysis, plus a dedicated driving range with shaded tees and practice area.

PGA-qualified golf professionals are always available to provide advice and lessons and the well-appointed Club House offers indoor and outdoor dining. www.assoufid.com

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SIX DESERT COURSES

DUBAI - Emirates Golf Club The flagship championship course at Emirates Golf Club, The Majlis, is a challenging Par 72, 7,301-yard layout. Designed by Florida-based course architect Karl Litten, the original 18 holes were built in and around the dunes of a beautiful site on the edge of the city of Dubai.

The Majlis, the first grass course in the Middle East, has developed a worthy reputation worldwide as a testing layout for even the best golfers. The course features hundreds of indigenous species of flora and fauna, beautifully complemented by meandering fairways and seven fresh and

saltwater lakes.

Emirates Golf Club's second championship golf course, which opened in 1996, was named 'The Wadi', taken from the Arabic word for 'valley'. Redesigned in 2005 by golf legend and six-time major winner Nick Faldo, the course now combines a stunning visual design with the nuances and challenges of any championship course in just the right measure. The new course was re-named 'The Faldo' when it re-opened in October 2006. www.dubaigolf.com

ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi Golf Club An oasis of tranquility carved out of the desert, Abu Dhabi Golf Club offers one of the most luxurious golf resort experiences in the Middle East and is home to the PGA European Tour with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The 27-hole championship course, designed by Peter Harradine and opened in October 2000, weaves through undulating terrain that features pockets of palms, ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as seven spectacular saltwater lakes.

The Par 72, 7,334-yard course provides a tough-but-fair challenge with 18 holes of lush fairways, strategically placed

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

bunkers and generous greens. The 3,299-yard, Par 36 nine is more forgiving, making it an enjoyable experience for all players, especially those new to the game.

Situated majestically overlooking the golf course is the iconic, newly refurbished Falcon Clubhouse, built in the shape of a falcon with its wings outstretched, peering over the 9th and 18th greens. As you look across the lakes from the far end of the course, the clubhouse dominates the scene. It is a spectacular, superbly-designed building that creates an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. www.adgolfclub.com

GOLF & THE CITY If what you want is to be as close to the golf as possible, then Chateau d'Augerville might be just the ticket...

AParisian affair Paris – ah

, just the name in itself is enough to evoke images of romantic strolls along the Seine, sipping coffee at sidewalk cafes, playing art critic at the Louvre and climbing the Eiffel Towers dizzying heights. And yes, Paris has all this and more, but within striking distance you’ll also find some of Europe’s finest golf courses, so here you can truly have your cake and eat it, or perhaps make it a croissant…

By Camilla Kaas-Stock, Photo: Sébastien Urvoy-Berthelot/Chateau Golf d'Augerville-Hotel, Hotel du Jeu de Paume and L'Hotel ...But if you want to be in the heart of the city and travel out to the golf clubs. Paris has it all, from art galleries and museums to cafes and restaurants where you can eat all the delicacies French cuisine has to offer

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

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GOLF & THE CITY

Being just a short hop across the Channel, Paris has something for everyone, whether your passion is fashion, food, culture or golf.

T

he first question, when planning a trip to Paris, is where to stay.

Do you want to be in the heart of the city and travel out to the golf clubs that encircle it, or do you want to live virtually on the golf course? You will find that the best golf near Paris is concentrated in three regions, Chantilly to the north, Fontainebleau to the south-east and Versailles to the south-west – all of them within easy reach of the city.

Choosing a hotel is not an easy task though, as there are so many fantastic places, but if you want to stay as central as possible, then Hotel du Jeu de Paume is a perfect choice for those looking for something a bit special. This unique four-star hotel, which once was a royal tennis club house built under Louis XIII, lays nestled between the arms of the Seine, on the Saint Louis Island, and is within walking distance of some of the most famous areas in Paris. The interior features timbered beams throughout and offers 27 rooms and 3 suites, decorated in a style that bears reference to some of the most famous artists of the 20th century.

There is also the quaint, boutique style L'Hotel, with its intimate and opulent interior. Once frequented by authors like Oscar Wilde, it is located on the artistic Left Bank, and if you feel hungry you don’t need to go far, Le Restaurant, the hotels own restaurant offers Michelin-starred seasonal French cuisine in a dark and romantic salon.

ON COURSE. If what you want is to be as close to the golf as

possible, enjoy some beautiful tranquil surroundings and then take day trips to Paris, well then Chateau d'Augerville might be just the ticket. Situated near Fontainebleau, this beautiful 17th Century chateau, which has been converted to a 4-star luxury hotel, has its very own 18-hole golf course and is something of a hidden gem. Designed by Olivier Dongradi, the Augerville golf course blends beautifully into the rolling landscape and offers plenty of challenges. And what better than finishing off a hard day on the course with some well deserved lunch on the terrace, followed by a trip to the chateaus very own chocolate factory.

If this doesn’t tickle your fancy, then you could stay at the Chateau de Montvillargenne. Located 20 miles north of Paris, the stunning castle, which was built in 1900, offers all the 4-star luxury you could wish for. And best of all, just a golf strike away you’ll find Chantilly Vineuil, widely reckoned to be the best golf course in France and ranked as one of the top five golf courses in Europe. Designed by Tom Simpson at the beginning of the 20thCentury, the course which has several times hosted the French Open, is very challenging and of course immaculately kept.

PARIS INTERNATIONAL. There is also the Jack Nicklaus designed Paris International Golf Club. Easily reached from the city, this continues to be a popular choice for golf enthusiasts. The 26

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

enormous and elegant club house, which has the added luxury of a spa and swimming pool, is in itself worth a visit.

Golf National Albatros, now the home of the French Open, is said to be the toughest course in the Paris region and will be the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup. With its tricky fairways this championship course is set to test pros and amateurs alike, and so is truly not for the faint hearted. However, for those brave enough, there is some very memorable golf to be had. And if you’re not feeling too worn out, then pop into Versailles and visit the former home of Louis XIV. SHOPPING. As a city Paris has it all, beautiful and iconic architecture, art galleries and museums galore where you can delve into history or see the masters of the future, cafes and restaurants where you can eat all the delicacy French cuisine has to offer (who can resist the pastries??), and of course there is the haut couture.

And coming to Paris without at least doing some window shopping, would be a sin – it is after all the fashion capital of the world. Now, if you have a bit of cash burning holes in your pockets and you want to bring some of that French elegance home, head to Avenue Montaigne, which is The Rodeo Drive of Paris. Here you’ll find all the high fashion brands, like Chanel, Dior, Valentino and Ralph Lauren.

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS. Boulevard Haussman is home to

Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, the two of the best stocked department stores in the city. If you are looking for some bling, bling of the sparkly kind, then a trip to Place Vendôme is a must.

This is a hub for jewellery stores and also where you find the famous Hotel Ritz.

Rue Saint Honoré is the location for some of the most prestigious fashion brands including Escada, Gucci, John Galliano, as well as the concept store Colette, with its selection of exclusive products.

For cutting-edge designs, head to Marais, perhaps the trendiest district at the moment, so if you are a slave to fashion then this is the place for you.

Being just a short hop across the Channel, Paris has something for everyone, whether your passion is fashion, food, culture or golf. And of course, there is Disneyland Paris...

GGM

Scotland - Where a great course is never more than a short drive away!

The PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles - Host Venue of The 2014 Ryder Cup

Everyone knows that Scotland is The Home of Golf, but across the country there are still numerous courses that have the capacity to surprise and delight.

While the prospect of playing the Old Course at St Andrews is, for many, the ultimate dream, and a round at Gleneagles - Host Venue of the 2014 Ryder Cup - another massive lure, there are over 550 other exceptional venues to explore.

From championship layouts to less heralded gems, from the Highlands to the Scottish Borders,

Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf courses will reward you time and time again.

To start planning your trip to Scotland and for some of the best golfing breaks, accommodation and travel offers available, go to www.visitscotland.com/golf

SCOTLAND

Scotland

coast to coast to coast to coast

From Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rugged west coast to its beguiling east coast, you can find some of the best golf on earth at some of the most lavish resorts, as well as a multitude of other things to do and see, as Peter Ellegard discovered.

Photos: Starwood Hotels & Resorts, www.carnoustiecountry.com, Machrihanish Dunes, Kinettles Castle and Gleneagles Hotels

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

to coast to coast to coast to coast 29

SCOTLAND

S

ome golf courses make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end simply at the prospect of playing them. None more so than Scotland’s venerated Carnoustie Golf Links – dubbed “Carnasty” for its cardwrecking rough and infamous Barry Burn stream.

Who can forget the epic 1999 Open Championship when Frenchman Jean Van de Velde, leading by three, removed his shoes and socks to play his ball from the Barry Burn on the 18th hole, and lost to Scotland’s Paul Lawrie? Or the equally dramatic 2007 Open, when Irishman Padraig Harrington pipped Spain’s Sergio Garcia in a play-off after putting two balls in the burn for a double-bogey six on the last hole?

CARNOUSTIE. North of the border on a coast to coast journey, I

joined the annual Carnoustie Country Classic, a friendly tournament open to all golfers and played over four top links in Angus on Scotland’s east coast. My room at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel overlooked the 1st tee and the notorious burn snaking in front of that and the adjacent 18th green.

Adding to my anxiety, I was also the first to tee off on its hallowed turf out of the 80 golfers, who had come from as far afield as Denmark, Germany, Sierra Leone and the USA. But I held my nerve, clearing the watery chasm despite pushing my drive into light rough, and made a respectable bogey to open my account.

My golf didn’t blow Carnoustie away, but with a stiff wind whipping across its shaved fairways and ultra-slick greens I was happy with my 19 Stableford points off a three-quarters handicap allowance of 18. Even more so as the rapid rat-tat-tat sound of machine-gun fire from the neighbouring Army range seemingly coincided with almost every swing.

HARD FINISH. When the gunfire abated, the only sounds carried on the breeze were the shrill calls of skylarks, oystercatchers and other birds that inhabit this untamed coastal habitat.

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Carnoustie Championship Course

Acknowledged as one of the world’s toughest links courses, Carnoustie’s rough was thankfully less fearsome than during the Open. For those of a nervous disposition, its Burnside and Buddon Links siblings offer easier challenges.

The championship course was originally laid out in 1840 and reshaped by golf legends Old Tom Morris and James Braid. The final holes, redesigned before the 1931 Open, are regarded by many as the hardest finish in golf.

After the pot bunkers, dunes and Jockie’s Burn on the opening holes, the signature par-5 6th hole, Hogan’s Alley – rated the course’s second-hardest and named after 1953 Open Champion Ben Hogan – bites with its out-of-bounds down the left and diagonal fairway ditch.

The par-5 14th, Spectacles, is ranked the toughest, as a visit to its fearsome twin bunkers underlines. Barry Burn teases repeatedly on the final three holes: skirting the par-3 16th, which Tom Watson has called golf’s hardest par-3, looping around the fairway on the par-4 17th to create an island fairway, before making a double appearance on the final hole, a par-4, including just in front of the green, where Van de Velde came to grief. As did I. Not only did I keep a respectable score, I also retrieved my ball each time. Indeed, I still had the same ball at the end of the 72hole tournament, including one day of squally showers and 50mph gusts – earning a whimsical prize of a burnt golf ball in the tournament prize-giving.

MONIFIETH AND PANMURE. Besides Carnoustie, we played the

delightful Monifieth Medal Course, with several holes alongside a railway line, and next-door Panmure Golf Club, where the clubhouse is a replica of the Calcutta Golf Club clubhouse, a throwback to the link between the Calcutta jute trade and Dundee, once the centre of the British jute industry.

Standout holes at Panmure include the par-4 6th, where the greenside bunker was suggested by Ben Hogan after practising on

Machrihanish Dunes

the course before his 1931 Open victory at Carnoustie, and the par-4 12th, laced by the Buddon Burn.

Royal Montrose Golf Club, the other Carnoustie Country Classic venue, was founded in 1810 and is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ninth oldest golf club. Its Medal Course, redesigned by Harry Colt 100 years ago, is the fifth oldest in the world; golf was first recorded at Montrose in 1562. Plaques dotted around the course depict its

history and that of the area. Montrose is a stern challenge of gorselined fairways on the windswept North Sea coast. All three have been Open final qualifying courses.

FOOD HEAVEN. Carnoustie Country has 30 courses, all within a

40-minute drive. The area also has many walking trails, while attractions include Captain Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expedition ship RSS Discovery

Kinettles Castle

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Golf has been played at St Andrews Links for six centuries and today more than 230,000 rounds are played on the seven courses run by the St Andrews Links Trust. in Dundee, Arbroath Abbey and Glamis Castle.

It is a foodie’s heaven, too; local specialities include Arbroath Smokies (smoked haddock), Forfar Bridies (meat pies), asparagus, wild garlic and Aberdeen Angus beef. The Carnoustie Golf Hotel serves up haggis in its Scottish breakfast.

Following my Carnoustie round, I dined at Kinnettles Castle, a wonderfully-ornate baronial pile with imposing towers that offers luxury accommodation for 22 guests in rolling countryside.

Scottish salmon and sticky toffee pudding were washed down by 18-year-old malt whisky in the chandeliered drawing room.

Half an hour south of Dundee across the River Tay lies the home of golf, St Andrews. The town oozes history from every stone and stately ruins tell of centuries of influence, power and strife. The relics of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, are said to have been brought there by a Greek monk.

Golf has been played at St Andrews Links for six centuries and today more than 230,000 rounds are played on the seven courses run by the St Andrews Links Trust that include the most famous of them all – the Old Course. Its revered fairways have hosted the Open 28 times.

Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course

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THE OLD COURSE. On a previous visit to Scotland I fulfilled every golfer’s dream by playing the Old Course. To get a tee time you enter the daily ballot, although you can also guarantee playing as part of a package.

Teeing up on the opening hole in front of golf’s governing body, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, is a nerve-jangling experience. But I managed a reasonable opening drive and followed it with several more good shots, including the daunting drive on the 17th – the notorious Road Hole – where you have to flirt with the old railway sheds by the iconic, five-star Old Course Hotel that overlooks the course. I also managed to avoid Hell, the cavernous bunker on the 14th.

FAIRMONT. My playing partners and I stopped for the obligatory

photos on the famous humpbacked Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway. Bring your putting A-game to the Old Course; you can easily have 100-yard putts on its huge, sloping double greens.

The luxurious Fairmont St Andrews resort has two courses: The Torrance, designed by former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance, and The Kittocks, which hugs the cliff edge, giving

Gleneagles makes a perfect mid-way stop en route to Scotland’s west coast.

The “Palace of the Glens”, set in 850 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside, celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2014. wonderful views to the town, and features several double greens.

St Andrews must-plays include the cliff top Castle Course and acclaimed Kingsbarns Golf Links, which hosts the European Tour’s annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship together with Carnoustie and the Old Course.

RYDER CUP. Gleneagles makes a perfect mid-way stop en route

to Scotland’s west coast. The “Palace of the Glens”, set in 850 acres of beautiful Perthshire countryside, celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2014. Recent refurbishments include a new wing with 59 rooms, many featuring balconies and cosy fires, and 10 new luxury suites. The pool and wellness complex, The Club, has just undergone a total makeover.

Next year’s Ryder Cup will be played on the newest of Gleneagles’ three courses, the PGA Centenary Course (formerly the Monarch’s Course), which was created by golf legend Jack Nicklaus 20 years ago and remodelled by him in 2012.

I had previously played the James Braid-designed King’s and Queen’s courses, witnessing a playing partner achieve a rare holein-one albatross on a par-4 on the latter.

On my latest visit, I played the beautifully-manicured PGA Centenary. The grandstand banking will make for great viewing when Europe’s top golfers try to retain the trophy against their American rivals, with the rolling hills adding a picturesque backdrop.

My favourite holes include the pretty par-3 6th, the long par-5 9th that doglegs around a pond and the uphill par-5 18th, where Nicklaus has dropped the green by 20 feet to create an amphitheatre for the Ryder Cup crowds.

MASSAGE AND DINNER. After my round, I enjoyed an invigorating, if painful, sports massage in the spa before eating in the Mediterranean-themed restaurant, Deseo. Having ordered a Highland cattle steak, I was invited into the kitchen to carve it, although the chef actually carves after you make a mark to show how much you want. Gleneagles’ other restaurants include Scotland’s only double Michelin-starred eatery, Andrew Fairlie.

For golfers seeking to improve, Gleneagles offers Scotland’s PGA National Academy. You can also test your off-road driving skills, go hawking on the moors, ride horses, learn to handle

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gundogs, try fly fishing or, like me, go clay target shooting. I surprised myself and my instructor with my accuracy, hitting far more targets than I missed.

TURNBERRY. On the west coast, another grand old lady,

Turnberry, has looked out to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran for over 100 years. Its courses, originally designed by James Braid, were rebuilt by Mackenzie Ross after they were turned into an airbase in World War Two. Called the best course in Britain by Gary Player, the Ailsa was where Tom Watson came heartbreakingly close to becoming the oldest ever Open champion in 2009, having beaten Jack Nicklaus in the famous “Duel in the Sun” Open there in 1977.

The dramatic, bunker-free 9th hole, with the signature lighthouse by the cliff-edge tee, is named Bruce’s Castle because the remains of Scottish king Robert the Bruce’s castle can be seen from the green.

Originally opened as a station hotel on a railway line that closed in 1942, today Turnberry is a sumptuous resort whose public rooms were transformed by a multi-million pound renovation before the 2009 Open.

It has two other courses – the Par-72 Kintyre and nine-hole Arran – and the Turnberry Performance Academy, which incorporates the TaylorMade Performance Lab. MACHRIHANISH. Having been to Turnberry twice before, my

west coast journey this time took me all the way down the Kintyre Peninsula, to play the gloriously wild fairways of historic Machrihanish Golf Club and its stunning new neighbour, Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club.

I stopped for a night in picturesque loch-side town Inveraray, staying at the charming Rudha-Na-Craige B&B overlooking Loch Fyne. It is next to the town’s nine-hole golf course if you want a quick game.

Driving down the peninsula, the sun gave way to slate-grey cloud and rain that got heavier as I began my round on Machrihanish Dunes. Opened in 2010 as part of The Village at Machrihanish Dunes resort, it is described as “the world’s most natural golf course” and designer David McLay Kidd was limited in how much earth could be moved. Just seven of the site’s 275 acres were disturbed by construction.

The result is some bunkers in odd places (many are in old hare and rabbit burrows) and long walks between greens and tees, meandering around tussocks and dunes to avoid endangered flora and fauna. Wild flowers proliferate as no pesticides are allowed.

MULL OF KINTYRE. The sideways rain soaked through my waterproofs as, in the words of Paul McCartney, the mist rolled in from the sea over the nearby Mull of Kintyre. Yet I persevered and played all 18 holes. It was one of the coldest, wettest rounds in my life, but I loved it.

I dried out overnight at the stately Ugadale Hotel, sampling local fare in its restaurant, The Kintyre Club, and trying a malt whisky from one of the four distilleries in nearby Campbeltown. A boutique hotel refurbished as part of the village development, it is next to the Machrihanish Golf Club with the churning sea beyond.

The resort also encompasses the self-catering Ugadale Cottages and the Old Clubhouse Pub, formerly the Machrihanish Golf Club clubhouse. The resort’s Royal Hotel, in the heart of Campbeltown, offers a gourmet restaurant and the Black Sheep Pub. CLASSIC MASTERPIECE. The next day, I played the 34

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Machrihanish Golf Club, created in 1876 and later extended from 12 to 18 holes by Old Tom Morris. The rain had eased off although it was still shrouded in low cloud and mist. But from its famous first drive, over the waves and beach of Machrihanish Bay, it won my heart.

Although short by today’s standards, it is truly a classic masterpiece featuring blind shots, such as the drive over the 16th green on the 3rd (not when golfers are putting!) and the approach to the 2nd and 7th greens; and fast, sloping greens, notably on the 13th.

Living in the seaside resort of Southend-on-Sea, I couldn’t resist visiting the hamlet of Southend, at the peninsula’s southern tip, before leaving. There, you can play the picturesque 18-hole Dunaverty course or stroll along the beaches watching seals basking on rocks with the brooding Mull of Kintyre headland beyond.

I am already planning my return to Scotland. I just hope Mother GGM Nature is a little kinder when I go back.

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very golf break at Machrihanish Dunes is filled with magical, memorable moments. But with golf this spectacular and package rates this low, you might just want to book two. Read the reviews of our UK Top-100 links course and four-star hotels on TripAdvisor™. Then book your visit - and prepare to be wowed.

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FASHION

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Come rain or come shine...

The storm clouds are gathering and it looks like a downpour is on the way. I need to book a tee time that guarantees rain, much to the confusion of my local club.

By Mike Kaas-Stock, Photo: Nils Bjornes and Chervo

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FASHION

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t’s a cold Saturday in June when a Chervo jacket is delivered to my door. I fully intend to put it through its paces on the golf course but today my son is playing in a football fiesta and I need to keep warm and dry. Yes, a football fiesta usually conjures up images of hot days, ice cream and irate parents on the touchline. Well, today two of these components are missing and it’s not the irate parents!

We arrive twenty minutes before kickoff and the wind is howling across the pitch. As we all know, children are immune to the cold and the teams are happily warming up wearing only their requisite football kit. Ask children if they should maybe put on a coat and you are immediately scorned.

Meanwhile I am already reaping the benefits of my Chervo jacket. I noticed that in the information they mentioned something about “Wind-Lock” technology. I have no real idea what that means, but one thing that I can say as I look across at my fellow parents in their assortment of summer and winter clothing (nobody can decide which season we are in) is that I am warm, which is more than can be said for those who decided to wear summer shorts.

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I am wearing the Medego-style jacket: lightweight, warm and – as I am soon to find out – waterproof due to its Aqua-Block properties. Yes, all the characteristics of an English summer are on hand. It’s not long before other parents notice my smugness and comments are made.

TO THE GOLF COURSE. This is the first time in my life that I am actually planning to play golf in the rain; it certainly does increase your chances of a tee time but strangely I just cannot seem to persuade anyone else to join me.

I arrive at my local club with just a drizzle coming down, but I hope for much more of a downpour soon. In fact, by the time I arrive at the first tee, the rain has increased considerably. While I cannot say that this is the perfect condition to play in, I’m not suffering too badly; the Chervo Jacket is incredibly light and more importantly, keeping me dry.

This is a quality product from the material right down to the stitching and of course the design which exudes taste and style.

This jacket is not destined only for use on the golf course and will assuredly adorn me on many outdoor events.

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FASHION

I have to say, like many of us, I have owned so-called waterproof sports jackets in the past, waterproofs that have not lived up to the hype that has accompanied them. However, I am pleased to say this jacket does, while also letting the body breathe and so stopping condensation. Add to this a lifetime waterproof guarantee and you have real value.

STYLE. It’s imperative nowadays that sports clothing is not only

practical but also stylish. Golf fashion has taken off in a big way and as golfers we want to look good, and why not? If fashion means nothing to you, then there are lots of alternatives that are going to be cheaper. But let’s face it; most of us want to look good. We will go that bit further to look stylish and own something of quality.

Chervo are not going to be your cheapest option, but with quality like this you know that it’s going to keep you warm, dry and fashionable for many years, long after a lesser jacket has let you down and succumbed to the elements.

THE HISTORY. The Chervo brand was founded in 1982 by Peter and Manfred Erlacher who soon found success through cutting edge skiwear which combined technical attributes with a more casual style. During the 90s the company applied the same approach to both technical and casual clothing and moved into the golf market with a line of clothing combining Italian style and innovative own-brand materials.

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Now more than 30 years old, the brand has a truly worldwide presence and is available in Europe, Japan, China and Korea.

THE SCIENCE. The company has its own highly tested materials under the name Chervo-Tex which guarantees that the product has been created using material for all weather conditions.

Chervo-Tex offers the wearer a product that will allow them to perform in adverse conditions in comfort and with style.

Products bearing the Eco-Safe® logo are further produced with the Ecolabel quality mark for certified fibre. This process assesses forty aspects of the production cycle with a view to guaranteeing maximum respect for the environment.

BACK ON THE COURSE. I work my way around an empty course; nobody else is brave, foolish or protected enough to tackle the weather and so I am on my own, typically, just when I am looking my best.

Yes, there are other choices of waterproof jacket on the market, all boasting their credentials, but for me it’s more than just being dry. I want to look good too. We have to face up to the fact that we live in a country where rain is just part of our environment.

Even with the best planning in the world we will be caught out.

The only question is: in what manner are you going to prepare yourself for this eventuality?

GGM For a list of stockists, visit www.chervo.com For further enquiries, phone +44 (0)20 8390 8980

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St ANDREWS GOLF COMPANY

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Putting

history to the

test

For the only surviving club-making company from St. Andrews' 19th-century glory days, â&#x20AC;&#x153;making historyâ&#x20AC;? is just another day at the office... By Sean T Kelly, photo: St Andrews Golf Co. 43

St ANDREWS GOLF COMPANY

Francis DeSales Ouimet who won the 1913 U.S. Open used clubs from St Andrews Golf Co

STAG Deluxe putter

McEwan Playclub

Hugh Philp Baffing Spoon

First decade of the 16th century: James IV makes the first recorded purchase of golf equipment, a set of golf clubs from a bow-maker in Perth along the River Tay.

E

wan Glen needs just a few minutes by phone to transport me back in time to the narrow cobblestone streets of 19th-century St. Andrews. Today this coowner of the St. Andrews Golf Co. (STAG) – the oldest continuously operating club making organization from the “home of golf” – has me envisioning the workshop on Argyle Street where renowned craftsman Hugh Philp meticulously worked and reworked designs that would shape the future of club making for 80 years.

“The Philp’s Long Nose putters were widely considered the Stradivarius of golf,” says Glen. “He was not only the first to transform crude clubs into works of art with visually pleasing lines and smooth contours; he also improved function by evenly distributing weight for the right balance.”

DIFFERENT FEEL. I’m standing in my Californian studio half a world away, taking practice strokes with an exact replica of another Philp club Glen sent me last week to examine – a wooden Baffing Spoon. Handmade by STAG from the original, authentic template, it’s an exceptional example of craftsmanship with a weight and feel I find both pleasing and surprising, considering how long ago it was designed and how dissimilar it is to modern clubs. I share this opinion with Glen and he says, “Just wait till you hit it.”

“Hit it? But won’t I break it?”

“Not likely,” says Glen. He reminds me that this “technology”

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was used routinely and without problem in the 19th century, surviving round after round of championship-level golf. “The materials in these clubs aren’t as strong as those used in modern clubs, of course,” Glen admits. “But they’re stronger than they appear and we feel playing the clubs is an invaluable part of the experience of ownership.”

USE ENCOURAGED. Nearly all the historic clubs STAG creates (or rather, “recreates”) are playable and the company encourages its customers to use them whenever they wish to experience aspects of the game of golf as it was played by the “masters” – the legendary names cemented into the annals of golf history. It’s hard for me to get my head around this but Glen reassures me that while the clubs make for nice display pieces, they aren’t just made to hang on a wall.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. Having recently celebrated its 132nd

anniversary, the St. Andrews Golf Company has outlasted companies run by many talented and famous craftsmen. Experts and collectors generally agree that the death knell sounded for most of St. Andrews’ club makers once the industrial revolution and advanced manufacturing processes made sophisticated clubs available to gamers more quickly and at less cost than their handmade equivalents.

Karsten Solheim, the Norwegian engineer and father of the Anser putter and modern Ping brand, played a significant, albeit

Factory Shop Floor

The technology for forging irons was available long before it became popular. Metal heads were evidently also more accurate and predictable than wood, too. Still, wood dominated as the material of choice.

Why? Because it was easier on the hand-sewn and extremely expensive featherie balls that were introduced in 1618 and used for more than 200 years. unintentional, role in the St. Andrews club makers’ fade to black.

For golfers, Solheim’s innovations provided the allure of performance in a shiny steel package. For store owners, production cycles moved quickly enough to keep inventory in stock just as interest in this “new” game rapidly spread across the world stage.

REPLICA VS. AUTHENTIC. The templates STAG uses for longnosed clubs aren't simply estimated redesigns but the precise forms employed to create the 19th-century originals. Take a moment to digest that: a customer who orders a Philp Baffing Spoon is getting a club made from the template or mold a golfer such as Tom Morris would have had in his bag upon walking out of the shop in the 1800s.

Holding it in your hands, the idea that these are called “replicas” feels derogatory. Sure, they’re not original 19th-century mint prototypes or “as played by” antiques up for auction for a quarter of a million pounds sterling. But they’re also not cut from the same cloth as your run-of-the-mill $30 replica club. I’ll repeat for emphasis: these aren’t merely clubs “like” the ones produced centuries prior—they are those clubs.

HERITAGE COLLECTION. Included in Glen’s package were a variety of other clubs from STAG’s “Heritage Collection”. I fell in love with the Spur Toe from the moment I unwrapped its protective packaging. Designed for hitting off hardpan and out

of rocky areas that would otherwise damage wooden-headed clubs, the iron head of the Spur Toe is such an unusual shape it reminds one of the blacksmith version of a “spork” (half spoon, half fork).

The circa-1750 club, which some historians believe was also used as a tool in the equestrian trade, is h-e-a-v-y. While modern clubs are lightweight and easily handled, the Toe has a heft to it that brings to mind what it might have been like to swing a broadsword.

Equally heavy, the Rut Iron provides a compelling example of a “single-use” club. (The 14-club limit didn’t make its way into the rulebook until 1939.) Golfers shared the grounds of St. Andrews with European footballers, archers, and even horse-andbuggy rigs that transported items such as seaweed and sand. Over time, cart wheels left ruts in the course that were considered runof-the-mill hazards. Shaped roughly to wheel width and with a significant loft, the Rut Iron performed as promised, getting the ball up and out of trouble.

Also in the box were two Sunday Sticks (tapered clubs masquerading as walking sticks, for those who preferred to sneak out the back and putt rather than pray during church on Sundays), a Giant Niblick with a head that feels the size of a frying pan, and a famous putter popularized by Bobby Jones.

WILLING TO ADAPT. The reason STAG Co. is still in play? “Well, for one, previous owners and managers of the company have been 45

St ANDREWS GOLF COMPANY

Old Course St. Andrews Scotland 1891

willing to adapt with the times,” says Glen. “An agile business is a lot like a well-fit club shaft – flexibility is an important factor in determining success.”

Having the right management and supporters who have creative ideas helped too. Relevant here is the recently retired former secretary of Prestwick Golf Club, Ian Bunch. In the 1980s, he organized the current STAG Co. by merging three separate historic companies that, while famous in many circles, were otherwise struggling to compete with the always-on gears of mass production.

The oldest of the three was originally established by blacksmith George Nicoll, who became well-known for his quality work and eventually attracted some of the most famous championshipwinning players of the day, including Henry Cotton, James Braid, Arnaud Massy, and Tommy Armour.

THE INDICATOR SERIES. Nicoll’s inventiveness would eventually

change the market for clubs in a way that still stands today. In 1926, Nicoll unveiled the first matching set of irons – the Indicator Series – which became the inspiration for today’s club numbering and lettering system. Each club in an Indicator set featured a stamp on the back that provided players an approximate “indication” of how far they could hit the ball.

Tom Stewart opened a small alley shop in 1893 on 14 Argyle Street. Had the concept of endorsements existed during his time, he would have made a killing. Stewart’s clubs found their way into the bags of some of the game’s greatest names – including Tom Morris, Francis Ouimet, and even Bobby Jones – golfers whose performance helped move his handiwork on to museums and Hall of Fame displays.

THREE DIFFERENT BRANDS. The third company – the St. Andrews Golf Co. – started making clubs in 1906. Its 46

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most famous clients were Gene Sarazen, known as the father of the modern sand wedge, and Densmore Shute, winner of two PGA Championships and the 1933 Open Championship.

Today, STAG Co. makes clubs under each of the three different brands from which it descends. George Nicoll-branded clubs come in several flavours in both modern and hickory sets. The St. Andrews Golf Co. brand is exclusively sold as a modern set, while the Tom Stewart line gives its nod to hickory. ”AYE” TO THE FUTURE. For St. Andrews Golf Company’s small staff of artisans, re-creating authentic tools of the past by hand – one wrap of whipping twine at a time – is a labour of love and a way to stay connected to the core values that defined a game and, at times, even a country. Values such as honesty, perseverance, respect, sportsmanship. Play it as it lies.

The past, however, is only a part of STAG Co.’s story.

According to Glen, there’s another side to the company that’s entirely focused on advanced engineering and innovation in order to re-establish St. Andrews’ position as a modern club-making force to be reckoned with.

“We’re working with the University of Dundee’s Mechanical Engineering Faculty on concepts that employ very high-precision tools and advanced materials to make clubs of the highest quality and consistency,” he says. “We hope to be as much about the future as the past and it won’t be long before you see the beginning of the next stage in the evolution of St. Andrews’ club making.”

That’s a tall order in a competitive industry, to be sure. But the company has more than 130 years of research, experience, brand value, and survival on its side. If the modern entries rival the quality and aesthetic values of STAG’s historic clubs, I’d say the chances of newfound success for this historically important GGM company are almost a gimme. www.standrewsgolfco.com.

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MALAYSIA

r and Shan k Alexande r, photo Mar de an ex Al k

By Mar

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rt sa Ria Reso gri-La’s Ra

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I

didn’t know what to expect from Malaysia. In my imagination, I thought it would be hot, wild and exotic. A quick glance at a guide book confirmed my suspicions with images of jungles and rare beasts aplenty. And while Malaysia didn’t disappoint, what came as a total surprise was the sheer diversity of the place.

From the gleaming Petronas Twin Towers which soar to 450

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metres above the buzzing metropolis of Kuala Lumpur to the dense, impenetrable jungle and all its inhabitants, Malaysia is a country of extremes, and everything in between. What surprised me was that both were accessible within a 40-minute drive of each other.

From my city centre retreat at The Sheraton Imperial, I could easily see that the country’s geographical diversity was more than

matched by the bubbling broth of races and religions that blend Malays, Indians and Chinese into one nationwide mix. This mesh comes to the boil in the city’s coffee shops where locals eat daily thanks to the cheap food on offer, but more importantly because of the variety. Most of these corner-shop diners have at least twelve stalls serving up everything from succulent pork to fresh sushi.

For less than €2 you can eat yourself silly.

While opting for a more conventional food outlet might be a more prudent way of sampling the local delicacies, I wouldn’t have seen for myself the importance Malaysians place on food and more significantly their appreciation of choice.

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME. Without doubt, the most impressive venue in Kuala Lumpur, if not Malaysia, is the immaculate Kuala 51

MALAYSIA

Lumpur Golf and Country Club, where two equally jaw-dropping courses vie for top billing.

The shorter East Course is laid out in a parkland setting which has been snipped and pruned to such a degree that you feel as if you’re playing a round at the Chelsea Flower Show. Its longer brother, the West Course, is similarly coiffed but slightly wider off the tee.

During my visit, Farroul Abdullah, the club’s golf and sports manager, kindly gave me access to the West Course despite it being closed in preparation for the 2013 CIMB Classic – the first official PGA TOUR FedExCup event in Asia. It will be the high point in a trio of headline events to be held at the club. “We have three tournaments this year,” Abdullah explains, “with two 10 days apart. I get nervous just thinking about it. There is a crazy amount of work to do.”

The 100-strong team of greenkeepers – and another 100 who look after the gardens and flower beds – earn their keep by refining the fairways and perfecting the greens (they start at 4am and are finished by 7). In terms of manicured golf, this is a cut above the rest and despite being closed for crucial repairs, the condition of the West Course was enough to make me drool.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES. With Kuala Lumpur Golf and 52

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Country Club setting the pace, newer courses like the impressive Palm Garden Golf Club are following suit with a similar attention to detail. Here, you get the feeling that no leaf or grass stem has been left out of place despite the course only being open for a couple of years.

As a photographer, I particularly enjoyed the changes in elevation which were created by moving vast amounts of earth during the construction process. Goodness knows how good it will be in a couple of years’ time.

Not too far away, the Mines Resort & Golf Club is keeping up with the newcomers by continuing to focus on quality. Here the emphasis is on golf and business, rather than golf and family, with the club geared up to the limited number of corporate clients happy to pay the £50,000 joining fee. The result is a club which is located close to the city centre but is almost empty.

During my round I was aggrieved to notice a pair of fellow golfers playing the eleventh while I tackled the tempting par four fifteenth. The peace around the course had been shattered.

NASTY STING. But don’t let the tranquil appearance of this Robert Trent Jones Jr layout fool you; there is a nasty sting in the tail for those foolish enough to take it on. “When I first arrived here, I thought it was an easy course,” recalls Mahfuz Omar, sales

manager at the resort. “It is easy to start playing aggressively but you have to be careful.”

No-one knows that more than Tiger Woods who found out the hard way at the seemingly innocuous par three fourteenth during the 1999 World Cup Golf. His infamous double bogey is commemorated with a placard next to the green should he ever need reminding.

Since then Mines has hosted a series of big ticket events, the latest being the 2012 CIMB Classic when Nick Watney triumphed. But what surprised me most about this clever design is that it was developed on a site that was once the world’s largest open cast tin mine, the remnants of which now lie at the bottom of a placid lake. It’s an achievement not only in remedial planning but also in golfing terms as well.

This is, after all, a course that lures you into making mistakes.

It teases and taunts you so that a seemingly harmless-looking par three (the downhill seventh springs to mind) can easily become a card wrecker. My advice is simple: enlist the help of one of the club’s well-versed caddies, all of whom are golfers with five playing regularly on the Malaysian Tour.

ADVENTURE GAME. If you make it to the top of the Petronas

Twin Towers, your efforts will be rewarded with an astonishing

view of the city – 88 stories have that effect. Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club should be down there somewhere, as should the Mines Resort and the Palm Garden, but if you look towards the horizon you might be able to pick out the heavily vegetated hilltops that surround the unforgettable Bukit Unggul Country Club.

Like a scene out of Jurassic Park, this rugged valley course has a wild, untamed feel that is a million miles away from the manicured fairways of the polished city courses. Here, wild boars create fresh new hazards nightly and macaques roam in packs during the day.

The place is teaming with wildlife that freely spills out onto the fairways and greens. It’s rough and ready but for me it was the exotic side of Malaysia I had been looking for.

Designed by Ron Fream, the course sits in a land of giants where steep-sided jungle hills provide impressive backdrops and amphitheatres on a huge scale. The sense of feeling small is overwhelming. And if the scenery doesn’t distract you, the wildlife surely will. I am sure the play fights carried out by the ridiculously cute baby monkeys were merely decoys to allow their older siblings to nip round the back of my buggy and run off with my camera bag; their sticky fingers are legendary.

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MALAYSIA FLORA AND FAUNA. If there is one thing Malaysia has plenty of,

it is wildlife. From the Indochinese tiger to the Sumatran rhinoceros, the country is teaming with flora and fauna. In fact, Malaysia is recognised as one of the world’s 12 mega-biodiversity countries, and conveniently much of its variety can be experienced within easy reach of cities at parks such as the Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s Botanic Gardens.

But for a true adventure, I left the urban sprawl of Kuala Lumpur and crossed the South China Sea to East Malaysia and the fantastically exotic island of Borneo. Here, to the northerly extremities of the state of Sabah, Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort offers all the glamour of a jungle holiday but in the lavish surroundings of a five-star hotel.

I stayed in the Ocean Wing and indulged in the outrageous decadence of a room with a private outdoor bathtub. Add to that one of the most underused beaches I have ever seen with 3km of untouched golden sands sweeping round to a rugged headland, and you have all you need to leave the rest of the world behind.

The resort’s nine restaurants and bars are of the highest order and the 64-acre nature reserve, which the hotel runs in conjunction with Sabah’s Wildlife Department, offers you the chance to meet wild orangutans where they feel most at home – in the trees. Coming face to face with these mischievous creatures will bring out the Sir David Attenborough in you, and I dare you not to provide a whispered commentary.

DALIT BAY. For me, however, the icing on the cake was Dalit Bay: an 18-hole championship course that weaves its way through the Tambalang and Mengkabong rivers. With the course just a twominute shuttle bus commute from my room, I could luxuriate in my ocean-view bath one minute and be warming up for the first swipe of the day the next. Golfing holidays don’t get easier than this!

The course is a fair test, especially on the front nine where only one hole is free from the dangers of water hazards. Saying that, Dalit Bay’s undoubted crowd pleaser is the beautiful par three eleventh which is attacked from a tee box banked by a slow-moving river that flows directly into the sea from across a deserted beach.

It is worth getting up early to play this one, not only to witness the ethereal dawn sunlight but also to ensure you complete your round before the full heat and humidity of the day kicks in. I made the mistake of staying out a little longer than I should and felt as if I was being both burned and boiled alive.

SAFE HARBOUR. To regain my composure, I made the last stop

of my whirlwind tour of Malaysia at Sutera Harbour – a bustling resort with a marina, two hotels, a country club and 27 holes of championship golf. This popular venue has a lot going for it, but the recently appointed general manager, Howie Roberts, says its location, close to Eastern Malaysia’s main city of Kota Kinabalu, is its real draw. “We are five minutes to the airport and five minutes to town – that doesn’t happen that often,” says the Welshman.

The beauty of Sutera Harbour is that it packs a lot into its city centre location but rather than feeling cluttered or claustrophobic, I felt it was a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle that was occurring outside the gates. Roberts says Malaysia is like that. It has eco-tourism, the orangutans, the mountains, the islands, diving, food and golf all within easy reach, and all without feeling on top of each other. In many ways, Malaysia is a cultural melting pot that people from across Asia call home, but it also has a lot to offer that you simply can’t find elsewhere.

When I arrived in Malaysia, I had only limited knowledge of the country, its people and its golf. After a whistle-stop tour, I feel I have only scratched the surface of this fascinating country. GGM 54

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GOOD TO KNOW

GREAT WATCHES

Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil Mood

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t s e t e h T f time o

and atch n o i ovat Swiss w has n n i for ess, the hausen te n o i s pas ventiven Schaff s of hau s t i h Wit nical in urer IWCsterpiece recision tech nufact ing ma bine p design ma n creat at com xclusive ement.uk.cuosmen bee log y th with e s, www.escIaWpC Schaf fha horo neering By Angus Davie Images engi 1868. since

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IWC Ingenieur Constant Force Tourbillon IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back

IWC Ingenieur Double Chronograph Titanium Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are IWC-Ambassadors

IWC Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back

I

have met several ex-Formula One drivers and one thing that always strikes me is that they invariably adore wristwatches. It seems they are fascinated with the micromechanical components which reside within the watches they proudly wear.

Watches and cars, especially those cars which circumnavigate race tracks, have a close relationship. They appeal to similar individuals. Performance is alluring, whether one is behind the wheel, living vicariously through the camera lens of a Formula

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Mechanics at work

One broadcast or indeed, looking at the high performance horology which resides on the wrist, imparting time.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. IWC Schaffhausen has not failed to see this link and has enjoyed a relationship with Mercedes-Benz since 2004. More recently, IWC signed a three-year agreement with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team and the watch manufacturer is now the Official Engineering Partner of the Mercedes-Benz works team. However, this is not

mere marketing prose interwoven with grandiose hyperbole; there is actually a technology transfer between the two companies.

Both companies share the common goals of seeking minimal mass and superior strength with various components. Materials such as carbon fibre, ceramic and titanium are common to both the cars adorned with the three-pointed star and the latest models to wear the IWC nomenclature, the Ingenieur.

BACK TO THE FUTURE. The Ingenieur is a model which can trace

its lineage back to 1955, when the first model to bear this name on its dial was launched. The original watch had a self-winding movement, a feature which has remained a constant through the years.

The inner case of the original model was made of a special metal to provide anti-magnetic protection. It prevented damage to the components of the movement or negative influence on the rate keeping of the watch. Moreover, a design aspect of the watches which has remained consistent until recent times is the use of batons to convey hours rather than Arabic or Roman numerals.

In January 2013, IWC revealed a new collection of Ingenieur models to the assembled press at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, a trade show in Geneva. The new models did not disappoint, with masculine aesthetics and bold design elements. Whilst they are neoteric in appearance, reference is still made to the design details of the original models harking back to the 1950s.

A KING’S RANSOM. The available

timepieces range from the relatively simple Ingenieur Automatic to the über-complicated and highly desirable Constant-Force Tourbillon which even compensates for the negative effect gravity has on the accuracy of the movement. Accordingly, the prices range from an accessible four-figure sum to what is for many a financially elusive six-figure king’s ransom for the latter timepiece.

However, this is a tour-de-force worthy of any world champion’s wrist.

To the uninformed, a watch is a watch. But for those of us who have succumbed to the coquettish allure of haute horology and been seduced by the beguiling appeal of a finely finished mechanical movement, the attraction of these models is obvious.

Moreover, a watch does not merely inform the wearer of hours and minutes. It can impart more information and possess additional features which enhance its appeal. In watch-making parlance we refer to these additional features as “complications” and they necessitate greater skill to bring to fruition. There are few artisans who can work on a Tourbillon or Perpetual Calendar, and their conception and realisation involves greater work.

STOPWATCH. The Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-

Month not only displays the hours and minutes, but also has a stop-watch function often referred to as a “chronograph”.

Furthermore, it displays the date and the month in digital form, employing a series of mechanically revolving discs.

This watch would never utilise a battery, like some inert quartz offerings. Above 6 o’clock, a leap year indication features. Indeed, providing you keep the watch wound, it will only require adjustment every one hundred years. The differing numbers of days in each month, including leap years, are factored into the operation of the watch.

The complexity of such a watch should not be underestimated.

IWC has mastered the perpetual calendar and has a respected prowess with these types of watches, exemplified in similarly complex models within their iconic “Portuguese” and “Pilot” ranges.

MUSCULAR. Those seeking cutting-edge materials are well served with the Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance. It has a hightech carbon case and dial, with carbon-fibre webbing presented in a twill weave. It is wonderfully muscular and the case back of the watch reveals a sublime view of the movement with the winding rotor, which captures energy from the movement of the wearer, resembling three conjoined pistons.

Alternatively, some may prefer the look of the Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic. The name pays due reverence to the powerful brakes which feature on the awesomely quick AMG “Black Series” cars. The ceramic bestows a stealthy appearance and the contrasting black rubber strap completes a wonderful, contemporary union.

DIVERSE RANGE. IWC has not forgotten about

the illustrious Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows of the 1930s. The Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil features a delightful dial. A circular motif, reminiscent of the turned dashboard found on high-end classic cars, is often used to decorate some surfaces of a watch movement. The pattern, referred to as “perlage”, normally adorns the mainplate, the chassis of the watch movement. In this instance, it features centre stage on the dial and the result is gorgeous. The overlapping circles dance with light and shade wonderfully and provide a charming connection with the engine associated with the watch.

The IWC Ingenieur collection provides a diverse range of models to sate the majority of tastes. But there are two models which appeal to me the most.

ALL TIME ZONES. Frequent overseas trips make managing local time and home time a chore. Whilst fatigued, I have been caught out on occasion, waking my wife at an inappropriate hour with an ill-timed phone call. The Ingenieur Dual Time can display the local time and, courtesy of an additional hand on the dial, the home time. A 24-hour hour ring surrounding the dial ensures all time zones can be adequately managed.

However, in my opinion, the model which probably takes the top step of the podium is the Ingenieur Double Chronograph. It features a “split-seconds” chronograph, sometimes referred to as a “rattrapante”.

The stop watch function is activated by pressing the pusher at 2 o’clock. Pressing the pusher once more will cause the stop watch function to cease and the wearer can read off the elapsed time as imparted by the central seconds hand and chronograph counters.

The pusher at 4 o’clock resets the stop watch function. This is typical of many chronograph watches. But the Double Chronograph has a further pusher at 10 o’clock. This allows the wearer to measure intermediate times whilst the stop watch hand continues to run.

This has to be the perfect tool for the racing team members who stand on the pitwall watching Rosberg and Hamilton trade positions at the front of the grid. But most of all it would suit this self-confessed lover of Formula One and haute horology. GGM www.iwc.com 59

MALLORCA

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Mission

Impossible

The Golf Association in Mallorca have invited me to visit all of their courses. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only one problem: I have three days in which to do it and there are 18 courses on my list. So, my mission, should I accept, is to see how many I can cover. Oh and by the way, this message will self destruct in ten seconds...

By Mike Kaas-Stock, pictures: Golf Association of Mallorca and Port Adriano Golf & Spa Hotel

SON GUAL

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MALLORCA

GOLF PARK MALLORCA PUNTIRO

SON GUAL

BENDINAT

SANTA PONSA

W

ell I do like a challenge, so I fly out courtesy of British Airways from London City Airport.

I am bringing a limited number of clubs with me, as with the volume of courses I have to cover I do not expect to play a full round anywhere! We take off, passing over the Millennium Dome and then head south to what I hope will be better weather.

The flight is roughly 2 ½ hours which gives me time to ascertain the purpose of this trip for my fellow passengers. Most seem to be heading out on holiday but as you would expect from an airport located near a financial district, there are a smattering of business travellers on board.

I happen to find myself sitting next to a very nice elderly lady and her friends who have been on a fair amount of golfing holidays in their time. A copy of the latest issue of Great Golf begins to circulate and several of the party are soon planning future trips.

We land in Mallorca under a clear blue sky and, though the 64

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weather report is not so good for the duration of my visit, today the sun is shining. Avis are kindly lending me a car and it’s not long before I am heading on towards my first golf location.

FOUR COURSES IN ONE. Mallorca, due to its abundance of

courses, is a golfer’s paradise. You can drive from the north to the south in 45 minutes and it’s pretty much the same time going east to west – everything is reachable. I don’t recall any other island with such a proliferation of choice and Mallorca does truly deserve the title ‘The Island of Golf’.

To the west of Palma is Arabella Golf Resort which consists of four courses: Son Muntaner, Son Vida, Son Quint and also the Son Quint Executive nine hole Pitch & Putt. Each provides a different flavour along with varying challenges.

Son Muntaner is an open course with wide fairways lined with Mediterranean pine trees. It’s good for long hitters and has some excellent distances. The fifteenth, for example, is a par-5

SON VIDA

measuring 525 metres from the back tee. There are also some excellent par-3 holes to keep all players happy.

URBAN SETTING. Son Vida claims to be the oldest course on the island. While it’s certainly the oldest extant course, it was not the first to be built (more on that later). Placed in a truly urban setting with residential properties lining some of the fairways, you get the feeling that each hole is going to be a surprise.

I particularly like the sixth, a par-5 from a raised tee into a narrow valley. Water comes into play on the fourteenth, sixteenth and eighteenth holes. The eighteenth in particular is not for the faint hearted with water both to the left and right of the green at varying points.

Son Quint is the newest of the resort’s courses. With wide and long fairways, this is one to relax on after the more complex Son Vida and Son Muntaner. Situated on a hillside, the views to the Bay of Palma are an excellent addition to the joy of the game.

SHERATON MALLORCA ARABELLA GOLF HOTEL. Opening its

doors this September after a major makeover, the Five Star Sheraton Mallorca is the first and only European Resort Hotel to offer a booking rate that includes tee times at all of its courses.

Located next to the eighteenth hole of Son Vida and with a shuttle service to all of the courses, this is the only place to stay and enjoy the amenities this resort has to offer.

PORT ADRIANO GOLF & SPA HOTEL. That evening I arrive at my centre of operations: the Port Adriano Golf & Spa Hotel.

Perched on a cliff with stunning views over the Port Adriano Marina it is, as the name suggests, well situated for golf – namely the courses of Santa Ponsa and Poniente. I check in to my very plush room and then retire to the terrace with a glass of excellent red wine to watch the sun set after what has been a busy day.

Tomorrow I will visit both courses near the hotel and also drive the 45 minutes north to Golf Alcanada, and then east to Golf 65

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CAPDEPER A

Capdepera. With two very busy days ahead, it’s good to know that at the end of each, I will be able to return to this luxurious hotel to recuperate.

ALCANADA. I am up early the next day and, after breakfast on

the restaurant balcony, head off for Club de Golf Alcanada.

Located on the north coast in the bay of Alcudia, it’s a straightforward journey. Soon I am sitting outside the clubhouse with the director, Kristoff Both. It’s going to be a day of intermittent rain so we decide to take a golf cart out while the sun is still shining.

From the first tee, the course winds its way up into the hills surrounding the bay. The fairways and greens are in excellent condition and the surrounding hills, which are populated by Mediterranean pine, make for a scenic backdrop. This is a fantastic course for the expert and beginner alike, and not one to be missed when visiting the island. The iconic lighthouse located on an 66

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outcrop a few metres offshore makes for a good landmark as you work your way around the course.

THE FIRST COURSE. And here we come to my earlier comment about Son Vida not being the first golf course in Mallorca. The first course was in fact opened in 1934, not far from the present Alcanada. It was the brainchild of local businessman Jaime Enseñat who built a clubhouse and hotel next to a 9-hole course.

Unfortunately, it was flattened during the Spanish civil war and used as a runway for military aircraft, and so the first golf course in Mallorca was consigned to history.

CAPDEPERA GOLF. Onwards to Capdepera, located on the eastern part of the island and roughly 30 minutes from Alcanada.

Capdepera is a pleasant course surrounded by the Serra de Llevant mountains. The first twelve holes span out across the plain to the

ALCANADA

front of the clubhouse, while the remaining six take you into the hills.

The course has a natural feel to it, with many raised tees built of local stone, and the fifteenth hole gives you spectacular views over the surrounding area.

Santa Ponsa is a 5-minute drive from my hotel, where I am met by Vicky Pertierra. Vicky has been here for many years and while we view the course she fondly tells me of the two times that Severiano Ballesteros won the Balearic Open here.

The course was opened in 1977 and, even though the buildings have that 70s feel to them, this is a wonderful championship course and one not to be missed if you want to play in the footsteps of the great man himself. You have to come here even if it is only to play the famous 590 metre par-5 tenth hole.

GOLF DE PONIENTE. This beautiful course is set over rolling parkland with a myriad of palm, olive and pine trees. It’s hard to

believe that the course is only a short distance from the bustle of the popular resort of Magaluf. The sixth hole caught my attention – a par-3 with a proliferation of bunkers to catch the unwary or overambitious. The tenth hole is also one to look out for, a par-4 with a dogleg right and water protecting both fairway and green.

This is one to keep your cool on.

AND ON THE THIRD DAY. Ok, my mission today is to visit five courses! I start off at Golf Park Mallorca Puntiró which is roughly 20 kilometres east of Palma. This is a course of beautiful wide and undulating fairways with the odd surprise to keep you on your toes.

I particularly liked the tenth, a par-4 of 340 metres from the back tee and with a slight downhill dogleg left. Watch out for the bunker on the right midway down the fairway. The sixteenth is a par-3 dogleg right with water to the right of the fairway just to keep you vigilant.

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SON MONTANER

GOLF PONIENTE

Son Gual, which opened in 2007, lays only a few kilometres south of Puntiró. It’s immediately apparent that a lot of thought has been put into its creation.

The front nine holes are closed at the moment, which is a shame as the first hole instantly gets my attention. This is a par-4 where you tee off from an extremely elevated position down onto the fairway below – what a lovely way to begin a round. The surprises continue at the second and third holes where you will find the longest bunker in Europe at a staggering 150 metres.

It seems that every hole has something to make you stop and think before playing your shot. The fifteenth, which is a par-3, has yet another seriously large bunker to either overcome or get yourself out of. If water is your hazard of choice, then look no further than the eighteenth with several shots over various water features.

SON ANTEM. Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa is located south of Palma and consists of what was until recently a Marriott hotel but has now been taken over by Iberostar. There are two golf courses, 68

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SON ANTEM EAST

HOTELL CASILLO SON VIDA

the east course and the west course, making it a fantastic location to just relax, play some golf and have a good time.

The west course offers views towards the mountains, with narrow fairways and plenty of trees to thwart careless shots. The east course is the easier of the two, with wide fairways and flat greens.

REAL GOLF BENDINAT. I must say that I had a real surprise when I arrived at Bendinat. The clubhouse has an old charm about it that is instantly appealing and the first view of the course immediately piqued my interest. Set over hills and valleys, it has some fabulous holes and amazing views.

The first hole is an almost blind shot into the valley below.

Every hole seems to be nestled into its very own landscape, with various groups of holes accessed via bridges over, or tunnels under roads. The landscape is picturesque; this is a course on which to take your time and enjoy the scenery.

THE RETURN TRIP. On my final night, I wander down to the Port

MALLORCA

POR T ADRIANO HOTEL

Adriano harbour. The restaurants are quiet due to the unseasonably cold weather, but I sit outside and watch the yachts gently moving in the breeze. It’s been a rather manic trip and I would dearly have loved to have had more time to test my mettle, but my knowledge of Mallorca is now extensive and I will put it to good use in the future.

I suppose that I have failed in my mission as I have only managed to visit twelve of the eighteen courses. But to be honest, to have covered so much within three days is still quite an achievement, I feel.

The following morning, I drop off the Avis hire car and I’m soon relaxing in my seat on the return flight with British Airways back to London City Airport. By the time we cross the English Channel the clouds have built up and I am already missing the GGM ‘Island of Golf’.

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GOOD TO KNOW

ISLE OF MAN

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ISLE OF MAN

L

iving in the UK, it’s not as though I’m thousands of miles away from the Isle of Man. Yet I’ve never even thought of visiting it before, and certainly not for a golf holiday. Sitting in the middle of the Irish Sea, this lush little island, which confusingly is part of the British Isles yet not part of the United Kingdom, is just a short hop or ferry ride away. Never in my wildest dreams did I realise that this pocket-sized journey would make me a millionaire within an hour of landing at the Isle of Man Airport.

Sadly, I’m not referring here to the seven-figure status of my bank balance. I am about to become, however, a very happy golfer, with ‘millionaire’s golf’ at my fingertips.

TRAVELLING LIGHT. No airport parking problems or golf clubs to drag to the airport, just a train to London then the

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underground to City Airport to catch a BA flight to Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man. It’s a bit weird, travelling without golf clubs and going on a golf holiday, but the Isle of Man Golf Tours, who have arranged the trip, have organised the whole shebang from car rental to excursions.

We – my husband and I – collect our rental car at the airport and follow Martin and Ged, the charismatic owners of the Isle of Man Golf Tours, to Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club just 5½ miles from the airport. Not only do they meet us at the airport, which only takes five minutes to clear, they also arrive with a sparkling set of hire clubs for us both – the latest TaylorMade RocketBallz.

Club hire costs around £55 per set per week, cheaper than the short-haul charges made by most airlines to transport clubs. With hire clubs of this quality, there is no need to bring your own. It’s

Great Laxey Wheel, one of the island’s most important historic sites and a great piece of industrial architecture. It’s the largest working water wheel in the world. a great opportunity to try out the latest TaylorMade clubs, especially as mine are getting tired and don’t always work properly!

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD. Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club is a 90-room 4-star golf resort set in 200 acres of rolling Manx countryside. We have checked into the hotel, donned golf gear and are walking to the first tee in less than an hour from landing. Martin and Ged, both bordering on professional golf standard, join us on our round.

On the golf course we can see a two-ball in the distance, another a few holes ahead, and that’s about as crowded a course as we play during our stay. This ‘millionaire’s golf’ malarkey is great.

MOUNT MURRAY. The newest course – 20 years old and quite long at 6,356 yards – is the 18-hole moorland championship

Mount Murray golf course, which features a few streams, water hazards, gorse bushes, and natural Manx hedges. The course is a pleasure to walk with far-reaching views from many holes, especially from the 4th and 5th which take in the Mount Murray resort and beyond.

What a great opening hole – a long par-5, all of 572 yards. But two par-5s in the first three holes is a bit tough, especially when one features gorse bushes and hedges threatening play all the way down to its multi-tiered green. The other has trees lining the right side and a strategically placed stream to catch wayward shots.

The 7th hole has an unusual claim to fame. In 2007, Channel 4’s Time Team excavated its fairway and discovered the only known early-medieval keeill (Manx for chapel) remaining on the Isle of Man. A slate tablet scripted with early Celtic language and a 6th century female skeleton (with a lock of hair) were also unearthed.

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ISLE OF MAN

RISK AND REWARD. From the 13th, the course climbs steadily

upwards to the highest point at the17th, with the 16th being a short par-4 with almost a 90° dogleg right, which for long hitters (if they can miss the long rough, bunkers and out of bounds) is a tempting cut-the-corner ‘risk and reward’ hole.

We linger on the 16th green to enjoy magnificent views down to the sea. In the far distance, hugging the coast, lies Castletown Golf Links, another of the island’s nine golf courses. As for the view from Mount Murray’s 18th tee, it has to be one of the best on the island, stretching from Port St Mary in the southwest corner to Onchan in the east.

THE “MANX QUEENIES”. After our game we headed for the

capital, Douglas, to the 2 AA Rosette restaurant at the Sefton 76

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Hotel, to be introduced to the ‘Manx Queenies’. This turned out not to be an introduction to the island’s drag queens, incidentally, but to the small, delectable queen scallop for which the Isle of Man is famous.

After an aperitif in Sir Norman’s, the Sefton Hotel’s bar named after Sir Norman Wisdom who spent much of his later life on the Isle of Man, we move into the Gallery Restaurant for a mouthwatering meal. I just have to try the ‘Manx Queenies’. They are pan fried in garlic butter and served with butternut squash and lime puree, and a wild mushroom and endive salad, followed by a Manx filet of beef and mushroom stroganoff.

I am relieved we are not staying at the Sefton Hotel as recommended (the hotel was fully booked, actually) as the rounds of golf I play during my stay will in no way offset the number of

calories I would gain from Sefton’s scrummy cuisine.

I jest of course. The Sefton is in an ideal seafront location, the rooms have been restored with elegance, and there is a modern extension centred round an indoor water garden. Another accommodation option I will also consider for my next visit is a contemporary boutique B&B which has fairly recently come onto the scene, from which there are fantastic coastal views.

The present-day 18-hole course was designed by James Braid in 1929, although it was first established in 1891. Again, a tricky opening hole from an elevated tee with out-of-bounds on the left, a water hazard to the right and a ditch that crosses the fairway just where most tee shots will land. The Par 70 course of 5,982 yards has, unusually, two consecutive par-3 finishing holes, as well as many undulating greens and a lot of hedges, streams, ditches and out-of-bounds. Quite a challenge.

CHALLENGING COURSE. The fresh clean air takes its toll, but

after a good night sleep we set off the following morning to Ramsey Golf Club in the north of the island. The first view of the course grabs your attention the minute you walk around the clubhouse and set eyes on the first fairway, a par-5 stretching down the lush valley with trees in abundance.

THE 14 NORTH. Over dinner we discuss what a surprise the Isle

of Man has turned out to be, but our chat soon stops. The picturesque setting and the outstanding cuisine has got our full attention. We are dining at 14 North, formerly a 19th century timber merchant’s dwelling on Douglas’ North Quay. Today, the 77

ISLE OF MAN restaurant décor is organic, using brick, zinc, and wood, which contrast nicely with a contemporary glass staircase and unusual lighting.

‘Queenies’ again for me. They are delicious, like no other scallop I’ve tasted before, served with pesto and parmesan. The Manx Loaghtan lamb (a breed of sheep native to the Isle of Man) is also too tempting to resist. It comes served with a rosemary caper jus and a selection of local vegetables. It’s superlative.

CASTLETOWN GOLF LINKS. Our morning round of golf at

Castletown Golf Links on the Langness Peninsula on the southeastern tip of the island is the icing on the cake. The weather is splendid, the views more so. The links course is superb, boasting two fabulous finishing holes and even their own ‘Road Hole’.

There are views of the Irish Sea from every single tee and fairway. Basking sharks, seals and dolphins have been sighted from the course, and yellow gorse and purple heather add splashes of colour at different times of the year. The challenging 17th is a visually stunning hole. We LOVE this course. Tired after hours of fantastic links golf and sea breezes, and already satiated by lunch plus afternoon tea, we forego a full-blown dinner and decide to just snack at the Mount Murray Hotel’s Lake View Bar. This is the first time we eat at the slightly outmoded hotel where we are staying.

We find our co-guests an odd mix: a coachload of women-ofa-certain-age from Doncaster, as well as small groups of male golfers enjoying a men-only getaway, who obviously appreciate staying just minutes from the course.

DIVERSE ISLAND. Far more scenic than I would ever have imagined, the Isle of Man is a place of amazing diversity. Heritage, nature, beaches, adventure, plus great golf courses – it’s all here.

From personal experience, we know the Isle of Man Golf Tours can arrange anything, from pampering pedicures to flights to the moon (or nearly, anyway).

I am impressed, really impressed. Being a millionaire might be out of reach for many, but being treated like one and being able to play ‘millionaire’s golf’ is not. It’s just a short hop, skip and a set of golf clubs away.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW

PEEL GOLF COURSE. Our final day dawns and our last game of golf is played on Peel Golf Course. It’s not too difficult, with its springy turf and ‘billiard table’ greens during the summer months.

Several holes have been cut through the pine tree plantations and the course has varied natural hazards such as turf banks, gorse and streams.

There are two notable holes, the 10th, a pretty par-3 surrounded by trees, and the 11th, a challenging par-4 dogleg right with a mass of gorse and a steep drop to the right – features you’ll find difficult to ignore when standing on the tee. And another thing you won’t want to miss out on are the steak sandwiches in the club house, reputedly the best on the island.

To say we are impressed with the Isle of Man – the quality golf courses, the ‘Cumbrian-esque’ scenery, and the variety of things to do – is putting it mildly. Especially as the island is only around 33 miles long and less than half that wide.

How we fit in as much as we do during our three-night stay is hard to imagine. Somehow, with the combination of our hire car and being dropped off and picked up at various points by the golf tour operators, we manage to do quite a bit of sightseeing as well.

WATER AND STEAM. We take the electric tram to see the Great Laxey Wheel, one of the island’s most important historic sites and a great piece of industrial architecture. It’s the largest working water wheel in the world. We journey through beautiful countryside on the Victorian steam train to Port Erin, the oldest narrow-gauge railway in continuous operation in the British Isles, still using original locos and rolling stock.

We also gear up for a thrilling trike tour around the worldfamous TT motorcycle race course. We discover the strange Manx brown Loaghtan sheep which have four and sometimes six horns, relish lunch at The Garrison wine and tapas bar in quaint Castletown, and take afternoon tea at the Sound Café with its fantastic views of the Calf of Man – a small island off the main Isle.

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ined, er have imag an I would ev azing diversity th ic en sc e of am Far mor an is a place the Isle of M

GREAT CARS

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On the

ROAD

A self-confessed middle-aged alpha male, our reporter Angus Davies may well have found the perfect car for those who want the usual sports car associated with a mid-life crisis, but still have practical considerations to make. He waxes lyrical about life behind the wheel of this remarkable car as he drives to Close House Hotel and Golf in Heddon-on-the-Wall.

By Angus Davies, www.escapement.uk.com, photos by Mercedes-Benz

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Michael Schumacher Peter Dawson and Darren Clarke

M

y wife often talks about her flat sandals being comfortable. They offer little enchantment. I see no merit in her choice, as to me they exude as much sex-appeal as taking a cold shower whilst sipping a cup of bromide-laced tea. On the other hand, for me a lady wearing a pair of high heels exudes a sensuous elegance.

The reason for revealing this insight is that in many aspects of life, we compromise between comfort and fun. In some instances we make two purchases to satisfy both wants. However, a recent journey to Close House Hotel and Golf in Heddon-on-the-Wall may have provided a third way.

THE PLEASURES OF DRIVING. Like many men, I had my pre-

child phase of fun, driving sports cars absent of practical considerations. My salad days did not embrace fuel consumption, passenger room or NCAP safety ratings. Mortgage payments and 82

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Marcel Siem The Interior offers luxury and comfort

school fees were not on the agenda. I remember enjoying the pleasure of driving, looking for apexes on twisting country roads, deftly judging the camber of bends as I drove with a face exhibiting a beaming grin.

Meanwhile, a youthful Mrs Davies sat in the front passenger seat with nervous apprehension as we traversed bends at breakneck speed. I still recall her sitting on a cushion to mitigate the jarring action of the ride on her vertebrae as we drove to Lugano on one spirited trip to the land of cheese and clocks.

Today, I drive a German luxo-barge. It is spacious, utterly reliable and has sufficient room to house my over-sized offspring.

The ride is exceptionally comfortable, the seats accommodate my overweight middle-aged girth and the engine returns sensible fuel consumption. However, I don’t smile with unbridled joy. It is the automotive equivalent of my wife’s sandals.

NO JARRING. The “third way” made its presence known recently,

Adam Scott, the winner of the 2013 Masters tournament in Augusta, is the international golf brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz

as the warbling V8 5.5 litre bi-turbo power plant resonated around the narrow lane where I live.

My transport for the weekend was the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake. The press car arrived from Mercedes-Benz in resplendent “diamond white metallic paint”. It had the uprated, 19 inch AMG forged alloy wheels.

Experience has shown me that wheels this wide, shod in lowprofile rubber often look good and wonderfully grip tarmac, yet transmit every nuance of the road to the point of rattling teeth free of their fillings. However, the chassis engineers at AMG have somehow imparted a ride comfort to this model which is superb.

There is no jarring, no excessive road noise and quiet conversation is easily made.

WARP SPEED. With a weather forecast of looming rain scheduled for my native Lancashire, I departed to the sunnier climes of the north-east with the Davies clan on board. Driving along the M6

heading north, it did not take long to establish that residing within the Shooting Brake is a very pleasant place to be.

The potency of the engine is apparent the first time you recklessly stab the throttle and lurch towards the horizon at warp speed. However, treat the throttle with due reverence and progress can be made swiftly but in serene splendour. There is no need to converse with raised voices; civility is assured.

LUXURIOUS SEATS. The black AMG seats were trimmed in the wonderfully named “passion leather”. They support the body very well. I often find a short seat squab leaves my legs feeling a lack of abutment behind my knees. No such criticism could be directed at these luxurious chairs. Moreover, my car had the “Dynamic Multi-Contour Seat Package” which included pneumatic seat supports which grip the sides of the torso.

Some may like the intelligent gripping of the body offered by the system when it senses the car is cresting a bend. They hold the 83

GREAT CARS

This is a substantial vehicle, 5 metres in length with a kerb weight of 1,955 kg, yet somehow it feels as “chuckable” as a small hot-hatch.

body in position. My son loved having the dynamic function enabled on his passenger seat, whereas I must admit I found it a little disconcerting. The beauty of the option is that you have a choice to switch it on or off.

LIKE A BALLERINA. Approaching Penrith, we left the M6 and headed to The Village Bakery, Melmerby. This is a favourite haunt and the usual fare of organic bread sampler and cooked breakfasts were gutsily consumed by all of the family. It was leaving the eatery and heading along twisting roads to Close House that the car showed its playful side.

The car had four adults on board, with luggage and photographic equipment in the load compartment, yet nimbly moved round corners like a prima ballerina. The steering had a wonderful weight to it. Turning the alcantara-trimmed steering 84

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wheel, with its peerless tactility, I was able to thread it through a series of corners with laser-like precision This is a substantial vehicle, 5 metres in length with a kerb weight of 1,955 kg, yet somehow it feels as “chuckable” as a small hot-hatch. I remember studying physics at school and it left me questioning Newton’s laws.

SANDSTONE BUILDING. As we arrived at Heddon-on-the-Wall,

we looked for our accommodation for the evening and were impressed by the sight of the tree-lined route to the 18th-century mansion. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching period dramas on television over the years and the view of the sandstone building engendered thoughts of a Jane Austen novel. Whilst the house offers traditional luxury, the adjacent golf facilities are cutting-edge, with two Lee Westwood courses to sate the desires of the keenest golfer.

The backdrop provided the opportunity to capture some images of the sinuous lines of the Shooting Brake before the now looming dark skies overshadowed the immaculate white paintwork. Practicality often blights a beautiful saloon car’s shape, as the hearse-like rear is grafted on to increase load capacity.

However, from any angle this car is gorgeous. My test car had the “AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre Trim Package”. It costs a not inconsequential £3,950.00. However, the resultant aesthetic allure of this option would prove very tempting, assuming Mrs Davies should be kind enough to allow me to squander the children’s inheritance.

REVERSING CAMERA. The standard specification of the car is very long. It would challenge the word count of War and Peace.

Nevertheless, those kind people at Mercedes clearly wanted to ensure I enjoyed the full AMG experience, with an inventory of options that would fulfil the whim of the most demanding oligarch.

The reversing camera is a must have. It makes parking child’s play thanks to superimposed guide lines projected onto a live video image of the area behind. The “Night View Assist” provides a monochrome infrared image of the road ahead, revealing otherwise invisible hazards.

My favourite option was the “Bang & Olufsen BeoSound highend surround sound system”. Fourteen speakers provided an elevated aural appeal that exceeds anything I have ever heard in a car, or indeed at home. Whilst the interior of any car is less than ideal for listening to music, Bang & Olufsen have somehow created something very special indeed. The distilled sound emanating from the unusual illuminated tweeters adjacent to the door mirrors was quite exceptional.

COMFORT AND FUN. Sadly, as the IWC Schaffhausen-branded dashboard clock kept reminding me, my temporary tenure of the 557 bhp Mercedes would sadly come to an end.

A delicious evening meal at Close House and a restful night sleep in the calm and comfortable suite set me up for the journey home the following morning. I enjoyed my short sojourn to the north-east. The scenery was spectacular, the roads enjoyable and the locals friendly.

However, despite the comprehensive pleasure provided by the hospitality of the region, it was the pleasure imparted by this son of Affalterbach which will forever be indelibly etched on my soul.

It offers the practicality and comfort of sandals but with the elegance of a pair of high heels.

GGM

Adam Scott 85

BRITISH PAR 3 CHAMPIONSHIP 6TH - 9TH AUGUST, 2013 Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire

British Par 3 Host, Tony Jacklin CBE The Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is one of the most iconic golfing tournaments on the annual English sporting calendar. As part of its 80th Anniversary celebration, we take a look at its exciting journey from a local Torquay tournament to the third largest annual golfing event in England. Remastered by present day golfing pioneers Rick Cressman and Sid Mouland, the Championship is now one of the most hotly anticipated tournaments of the year and firm favourite of professionals and celebrities alike.

The Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is steeped in history. It was first held at the Palace Hotel in Torquay as the Short Course Professional Championship. The tournament continued for forty years, until its close in 1973.

Sid Mouland and Rick Cressman were instrumental in resurrecting the tournament and recreated the original short course concept for the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship, holding it at Warwickshire’s Nailcote Hall.

The Championship has drawn a huge professional and celebrity following and has been hosted for the past five years by Ryder Cup legend and godfather of European golf, Tony Jacklin CBE. Today, the prestigious Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship is played out on Nailcote Hall’s Cromwell Course, arguably the best par 3 course in the world.

Attracting a field of Major winners, Ryder Cup heroes and European Tour stars, this year’s line-up includes Masters champions Ian Woosnam OBE, Ryder Cup winner Sam Torrance OBE, as well as current European Tour winners Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren to name only a few.

The innovative Championship includes two fantastic Celeb-Am days that continue to draw some of the country’s biggest celebrity names including Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ballroom aficionado Len Goodman, the most capped England player of all time, Peter Shilton OBE, legendary Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, comedian Jasper Carrott OBE and F1 star, commentator and pundit, Johnny Herbert.

Par 3 golf has long been a popular way to hone and develop golfing skill; a reduced course gives a player the focus and time needed to vastly improve their all-important short course game, as well as providing exciting match-play for spectators. The Farmfoods British Par 3 concept is unique and has proved to be a worthy successor to the historic Short Course Championship, tying together the heritage of the par 3 course and the need for a modern and interesting short course game.

Celebrated golfers Alex Herd, Harry Vardon, JH Taylor and Bernard Hunt all took part in the original Short Course Championship with Sir Henry Cotton and Percy Allis joined the tournament in later years.

Seasoned golfing greats continue to populate the Championship in its new incarnation at Nailcote Hall and Ryder Cup star Peter Baker was the very first winner of the professional tournament. Just one year later the British Par 3 was honoured by 1951 Open Champion Max Faulkner and twice Ryder Cup captain Bernard Hunt and was ultimately won by European Tour star Carl Mason.

The 2006 Championship celebrated the 60th year of

PENSIONS & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

INSPIRATIONAL magazine

CATCH

the two time Ryder Cup captain Bernard Hunt’s professional career. With the strongest field ever, including 18 European Tour professionals such as Jarrod Moseley from Australia and Steve Scahill from New Zealand, the competition was fierce.

After 36 holes, rising European Tour Stars Tom Whitehouse and Shaun Webster tied at 7 under par and after a birdie 2 on the 7th hole, Shaun Webster was named the winner.

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel MBE

Strictly Star Len Goodman

2007’s Championship was the most high profile tournament to date. Television and media exposure included coverage on Sky Sports and the highest recorded spectator numbers in the Championship’s history. Celebrities also took to the course for the first time and the player list included large numbers of European Tour professionals. It was Steve Cowle who took the title of British Par 3 Champion finishing- 6 under par, 4 shots ahead of second placed Sam Walker. In doing so he became the first non-European Tour professional to win the title.

The 75th Anniversary of the Numark British Par 3 Championship 2008 was celebrated in style at Nailcote Hall from the 4th-7th August. With Tony Jacklin CBE hosting and playing in all 4 days, the stars certainly came out in record numbers to join in with the historic golf tournament. The hotly contested Pro-Am competition was won by European Tour legend Mark Mouland, with fellow European Tour professional, Lee Slettery picking up 2nd place.

Masters Champion Ian Woosnam OBE

Two time European Tour winner Marc Warren

2013’s tournament will be equally as thrilling, hosted again by Tony Jacklin CBE, seeing the 80th anniversary of the game celebrated in style.

Highlighting how far the par 3 game has come and the prestige that playing in the tournament brings is highlighted in the huge increase in the 2013 British Par 3 prize fund. The championship is Europe’s biggest par 3 tournament and organisers Champions (UK) plc, event host Nailcote Hall and sponsor Farmfoods have doubled the prize fund available to professionals who are competing on the course to an incredible £100,000.

Televised on Sky Sports and Challenge TV and covered extensively in national media including The Daily Telegraph, Talk Sport, Inspirational Magazine and Golf Monthly, the 80th anniversary championship will be available for all to watch and will provide great sporting entertainment for spectators and home viewers alike.

With the 2013 British Par 3 Championship featuring three Ryder Cup captains and showcasing the most prestigious list of golfers to date, the 80th anniversary is testament to its huge increase in popularity and prestige, as well as its high level of impact on a national and international scale.

80 years of exceptional golf, thrilling championship play-offs and a star studded professional and celebrity guest list have made the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship an incredible outdoor spectacle and one of the UK’s finest displays of golfing talent.

To sponsor or play in the event please call:

08453 31 30 31 or visit

Peter Baker, first winner of the revamped Championship

www.britishpar3.com @BritishPar3

KENYA

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By Peter Ellegard. Photos: Peter Ellegard, Heritage Hotels, Vipingo Ridge, Nyali Golf & Country Club and Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club

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I felt absolutely no fear, even as it stared down directly at me while I photographed it.

I

’m a marked man. If I ever return to the Maasai Mara, there’s a male cheetah waiting for me – and it will sniff me out straight away. We were close. So close, the razor-sharp claws of its blood-stained front paws were just inches from my face as it sat on the back of our open-top Land Rover.

Moments earlier, it had jumped up onto the vehicle to use it as a vantage point over the surrounding grasslands, having gorged itself on a gazelle its mother was still feasting on.

I have never been so close to a killer, nor as spellbound by such a graceful and beautiful wild animal. Having been on at least a dozen safaris, I had never seen a cheetah before, let alone had one right above my head.

Although a young adult, it could have easily dispatched me or any of my travelling colleagues with a swipe of its lethal paws. Yet I felt absolutely no fear, even as it stared down directly at me while I photographed it.

POWERFUL ODOUR. Mesmerised, I was rooted to my seat…until

it decided to mark its territory, spraying urine directly over me 90

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

and my camera equipment, before jumping back down to rejoin its mother.

Despite leaping out of the way, I got showered, much to the amusement of everyone else. And, as the cheetahs nonchalantly ambled away, leaving their kill to a throng of circling vultures that then proceeded to rip the carcass apart in a raucous mass of flapping wings, laughs erupted when the guide said the odour was so powerful it would be almost impossible to remove.

THE LEOPARDS. The cheetah experience was the highlight of a

very memorable stay in the sprawling Mara park, although far from the only one. On the drive from the park entrance to the Mara Explorer Camp, accessed by a precarious Indiana Jones-style rope bridge across a rock-flanked river, we saw a leopard – another first for me.

Then on one of two safari drives next morning, having enjoyed a camp dinner and been entertained with traditional Maasai dancing by local villagers the night before, we got an even closer view of another leopard. This one, a star from the BBC’s Big Cat

Diary series called Olive, serenely posed for all of us in our attendant safari vehicles as we happily snapped away, before sauntering past our vehicle so close I could have reached out and stroked her.

BREAKFAST WITH HIPPOS. We also watched a challenger take on and beat the alpha male impala to be master of his herd of females, the bloody clash of antlers watched by skulking hyenas.

Later we came across, among others, elephants, giraffes, ostriches, a pack of sleepy lions, baboons, buffalo and hippos, wallowing in a river just steps from where we enjoyed an al fresco bush breakfast prepared by chefs sporting white hats.

All that plus luxury tented accommodation that would put many a top hotel to shame. The eight-hour drive from the Great

Rift Valley in a non-air conditioned minibus might have been tortuous, but the flight back to Nairobi in a twin-engine puddle jumper was sublime. I was completely captivated by the contrasting landscape below: the green grass of the veldt, the bright red soil, the sculpted mountain and valley scenery that was unfurling like a never-ending canvas, speckled by myriad tracks and tiny dots – the Mara’s animal inhabitants.

GRAZING ZEBRAS. This wasn’t just a safari trip. I was in Kenya to sample its golf, too. Boasting some glorious courses, it is fast gaining recognition as a superb golf destination, with non-golf options including stunning beaches along its 480km of coastline.

You don’t even have to leave some of the golf courses to enjoy the wildlife. At the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort, which

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lays at 7,000 feet, zebras were grazing the fairways of a couple of holes as I played early on a misty morning. Five zebras live on the course, along with several warthogs and a herd of impala, besides many exotic birds.

I had been told the warthogs were often seen by the 3rd hole, which has an amazing scenic view over the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha and the mountains beyond. Sadly, they weren’t there, although I did see the impala crash through bushes and race across the 14th fairway before disappearing the other side.

UPSIDE AND DOWNSIDE. The animals are an experiment which

the resort and golf club members, whose homes are dotted around the estate, are still assessing. They are an undoubted and unusual attraction, but the downside is that they often trample the greens, leaving trails of hoof prints – with two green-keeping staff permanently employed to repair the ensuing damage.

Buffalo had also been part of the experiment but proved several hoof prints too far. I was very grateful for a local rule allowing golfers to lift and replace balls from animal footprints without

penalty when one of my pitches ended up in a zebra hoof indentation on one green.

FEW GOLFERS. On the Great Rift Valley golf course, where the

par-5 17th is one of the stars with its blind approach to the green over a scrub-filled “valley of death”, you are actually more likely to see animals than other golfers. The club has only 40 active playing members and the lodge has just over 100 rooms and suites.

Activities besides golf include guided horse riding and mountain biking, plus game and wildlife walks through the Eburu Forest.

You can even see wildlife on courses close to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. As I played the magnificent 7,277-yard course at Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, troops of curious Sykes’ monkeys scampered across fairways and took to the soaring trees that frame many of the holes when I got close.

Laid out through a coffee plantation and bird-filled indigenous forest, lorded over by a palatial, colonial-style clubhouse, and with elegant lodge-style accommodation buildings mirrored in lakes by the 9th and 18th greens, you can easily imagine you are in the

Straddling the equator, Kenya offers year-round golfing weather but is also hot, particularly by the coast which is generally a few degrees warmer than Nairobi and the Rift Valley.

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middle of the African jungle instead of just 25 minutes from the bustling metropolis.

MUTHAIGA. Closer to the city centre is the challenging Muthaiga Golf Club course, although once again you could be in a tropical wilderness of lush woodland, lakes and ponds – save for a few holes alongside the highway that splits the two nines, linked to each other by a bridge.

Monkeys are also a common feature on the 4th and 5th holes of this lovely course, which is host to the annual Kenya open, although my wayward shots must have scared them off when I played.

Golf in Kenya is far more than merely sharing fairways with the local wildlife, though. The country has more than 40 courses, nine of which are international-standard, mostly clustered around Nairobi and along the coast, with plans for several more.

WATER AND SUN BLOCK. Straddling the equator, Kenya offers year-round golfing weather but is also hot, particularly by the coast which is generally a few degrees warmer than Nairobi and

the Rift Valley. Take lots of water when you play, as most courses are walking courses. Slap on plenty of sun block too, as the sun is strong even early in the morning.

The rainy seasons are March-May and November-December, but you can still play golf then – and even avoid the downpours, as we did. Another strong selling point is its value for money.

Green fees typically range from just $30-$45 for a round, with caddy fees less than $10, plus optional tip.

MOST SPECTACULAR. At Vipingo Ridge, a celebrated new kid

on the block by Kenya’s coast that opened in 2009, you might even have a former street kid as your caddy.

The resort, set on rolling hills just behind the coastal strip 35km north of beach holiday favourite Mombasa, has teamed up with UK charity Glad’s House to take young men and women from the streets, as well as from local communities and sports clubs, and train them as caddies.

With the manicured fairways and greens of its David Jonesdesigned Baobab Course commanding extensive views to the Indian

Boasting some glorious courses, Kenya is fast gaining recognition as a superb golf destination.

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Ocean and punctuated by lakes and cascading streams crossed by arched stone bridges, the course is arguably Kenya’s most spectacular.

DEMANDING FINISH. The streams and lakes alongside the dogleg

par-4 16th, and par-3 8th and 17th holes, together with those edging the par-4 9th and 18th holes as they climb up towards the striking clubhouse, make for memorable and demanding finishes to both nines. Sloping greens on most holes add to the test.

After your round, dine in style on the clubhouse terrace, enjoying the sweeping vista over the 9th and 18th holes from atop the ridge.

Vipingo offers luxury villa accommodation looking out over the resort’s own paved airstrip and the coastline, where it has a private beach club with bar and restaurant. The 2,500-acre gated estate, sprinkled with stately baobab trees that lend their name to its existing course, has plans for a second championship course.

NYALI GOLF. Close to Mombasa, Nyali Golf & Country Club is

one of the country’s longest-established clubs, with a history going back some 80 years. A friendlier challenge than more recent developments, its pretty parkland design features native trees including palms, casuarinas and flame trees, resplendent in bright red blossom in spring.

The welcome sight of the grand clubhouse and the prospect of a cold post-game Tusker beer on the veranda revitalise your swing for the uphill par-3 18th hole.

Stay just minutes away at the all-inclusive Voyager Beach Resort, a ship-themed hotel that appeals to families and has a white-sand beach and evening entertainment. Nearby attractions include Africa’s largest crocodile farm and Haller Park, a former quarry wasteland turned nature park.

If you want a change from the themed buffet restaurant evenings, you can dine at the Captain’s Table – we dined with the cruise captain, aka the general manager – or savour freshly-caught seafood at a la carte seafood restaurant, the Smugglers’ Cove.

KAREN BLIXEN’S ESTATE. Further down the coast is Leisure

Lodge Beach & Golf Resort, with a 15-year-old course featuring 88 bunkers and fruit trees that attract monkeys and birds.

Another notable Nairobi course, Karen Golf Club, is situated on the site of author Karen Blixen’s famous coffee estate near the city’s Wilson Airport, where flights from the Maasai Mara land.

Right on the airport doorstep, the indoor/outdoor Carnivore restaurant is an institution that has been serving guests since 1980 and is an absolute must try. Whole joints of meat from legs of lamb and pork to exotic fare such as ostrich and crocodile are roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a huge charcoal pit.

ALL YOU CAN EAT. There are no menus to choose from. Once

diners take their seats on the zebra-striped chairs, waiters bring all the meat dishes in a constant procession, continually carving until diners admit defeat. Carnivore is known as the “Ultimate Beast of a Feast” – and you certainly don’t go hungry!

The five-star Sankara Nairobi hotel offers a serene escape from the frenetic capital. Here, at the rooftop Sarabi Supper Club, you can enjoy tapas-style dishes and sip cocktails while gazing out at the city skyline.

Nairobi’s relentless traffic is a nightmare, often stationary from dawn to dusk. Even short journeys can take hours. However, a carefully-planned itinerary flying directly between the main golf centres (the Great Rift Valley Lodge also has its own airstrip), can avoid much of that hassle – allowing more time to savour Kenya’s golf courses, its beaches and its wildlife. And, like me, you may be lucky enough to enjoy a close encounter of the furred kind. GGM 94

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

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A Meeting of

TWO Concepts

What do you get when a company famous for modifying high-end luxury cars takes on the task of upgrading the world’s coolest golf cart? The answer is obvious: the Garia Mansory Edition, a veritable golf super cart that will put anything else to shame. Fast, sleek and street legal, it would be a disappointment just to keep it on the golf course.

By Mike Kaas-Stock, photos: Garia and Mansory Design & Holding GmbH

M

ansory’s concept and design is the passion of its founder and owner Kourosh Mansory. British luxury cars and their unique style have always been a passion of his, which in turn resulted in Kourosh spending several years in England working in the industry and immersing himself in the automotive values of tradition and craftsmanship.

Right from Mansory’s humble beginnings in 1989, special attention was given to British brands such as Rolls Royce, Bentley and Aston Martin. In 2001, the company relocated to its present base in Germany where it has expanded in both size and reputation.

Known primarily for cosmetic works to such highbrow brands as Ferrari, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz and Lamborghini to name but a few, the company is now also involved in the fine tuning of performance engines.

Mansory always works to the highest technical specifications and craftsmanship. Ultra-light body materials are combined with powerful engine performance enhancements, and supreme quality interiors are the standard. A good example for this is the work that Mansory has performed on the legendary Bugatti Veyron 16.4. This iconic car has been transformed into two Mansory models: the Veyron Lina Vincerò d’Oro and the Veyron Lina Vincerò, both of which involve performance upgrades and a major body facelift to give them a truly individual style.

Kourosh says of the partnership with Garia, “Luxurious, upperclass sedans and lightning-fast super sports cars are our passion, so the Garia is a logical addition to our portfolio because, like the rest of our products, the Garia sets the benchmark in its industry.”

THE GARIA MANSORY EDITION. The unique partnership between

Garia and Mansory can be seen in the ultimate luxury supercar customization for a golf cart, embodying the style and quality of its automobile lineage, thus meaning that you travel in style 96

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both on and off the golf course.

The specially designed carbon fibre body panels and supercar inspired modifications on the exterior convey superior quality in every single detail. Waterproof, high-quality leather covers the dashboard, seat and headliner while the cabin floor is lined with genuine teak. Headlights are an obvious addition for the road legal version.

GARIA MANSORY CURRUS. If speed is your thing then the Mansory Currus model is the one for you. This is like no other golf cart on the market. With a street legal top speed of 60 km/h, this is possibly the fastest golf cart around. Add to that a range of up to 60 kilometres which should get you to your local course and back home.

An adjustable setting gives you maximum braking and battery regeneration. As with any high-powered vehicle, there are three different driving settings for varying conditions and situations: “Golf ” for regular on-course usage, “Street” for about town driving and “Race” for when you want to really move and leave those regular golf carts in the dust. This beauty comes with signature luxury Mansory features such as leather dashboard, custom seats, carbon fibre rear body panels and so much more.

But if you want to own a Garia Mansory Cirrus you had better be quick; only seven are being made. What better way to impress friends and also arrive on time for your game?

A WORD FROM GARIA. Says Garia’s Anders Lynne, “We will continue

to launch new, exciting Mansory options to fit all our golf carts and have some new parts specific for the roadster coming up within the next month or so.”

So, if you are looking to spend an eye-watering amount on a car, then why not go the distance and improve it with a body and engine upgrade? Equally, if you are going to buy a golf cart, why GGM not follow the same advice?

Miguel Angel Jimenez

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Eastof

Eden

Trump International Golf Links 99

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he east coast of Scotland is a remarkable place. I should know; I was brought up in St Andrews and learned to play golf on the famed links at the “home of golf”. This ancient landscape is famed for its towering cliffs and sandy inlets, extraordinary views and fascinating history. It is also home to a collection of golf courses that are among the finest on the planet.

Although my earliest golfing memories are of the intricacies of

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the Eden Course, this long and often rugged coastline is littered with evocative names like Montrose, Carnoustie and Musselburgh. The choice is so varied that selecting a venue can be as awkward as pulling hen’s teeth.

Take Cruden Bay, for instance. Found on the north-east tip of Scotland, this remote golfing outpost may be at the extremities of many people’s golfing radar but the quality of the golf on offer will stop you in your tracks. And if the jaw-dropping view from

Trump International Golf Links

the clubhouse over pristine duneland doesn’t kickstart your golfing juices then I’d argue that nothing will.

DRACULA’S CASTLE. This is a sublime piece of coastline where, thankfully, beauty isn’t only skin deep. Like the shorter nine-hole St Olaf course, Cruden Bay’s Championship course was laid out

by Old Tom Morris and Archie Simpson and then redesigned by Tom Simpson in 1926. It follows a figure of eight around a

magnificent bay which at one end harbours a colourful collection of fishermen’s cottages while at the other golden stretches of sand are home to hundreds of seabirds. High above it all on a northerly headland is the sinister silhouette of Slains Castle, reportedly the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The buzz of playing a links course that weaves its way through towering dunes is reason enough to love Cruden Bay, but a run of holes on the back nine add something special to your round.

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“I consider myself to be a great environmentalist and I believe this is the best thing I’ve done environmentally” Donald Trump

The 14th, for instance, is officially described as “a great driving hole, with the North Sea on the right as a lateral water hazard… the second shot to the sunken green is completely blind.” The depiction is unnervingly accurate, meaning when you play the course for the first time, the option to hit-andh o p e h a s n e v e r b e e n m o re appropriate.

STRATEGIC COURSE. Elsewhere

smooth, undulating fairways carved through deep gullies wedged between high dunes create an engrossing golfing experience. “It’s not the longest course, so placement and accuracy are key,” says Cruden’s former pro Robbie Stewart. “The seventh hole is the first time you’d take the driver out, so it’s very much a strategic course.”

He should know. Stewart’s best knock around Cruden was one off the club’s record of 64. He has since left Cruden Bay to become director of golf at Paul Lawrie’s Golf Centre in Aberdeen but he still has place in his heart for the north-eastern layout.

“I think it is a fantastic golf course,” he says. “It has great character and a little bit of eccentricity which makes it different from many of the classic links courses. There are two or three holes out there that if they were designed today, the architect would have his head looked at, but ultimately it is fun. For the 20 years I was there, we saw nothing but golfers walking off the 18th green with smiles on their faces.”

TOP TRUMPS. A few miles down the coast, golfers are indulging their passions at one of the most talked about golf course developments in recent times. Created on another outstanding duneland area, very like that at Cruden Bay, Trump International Golf Links attracts praise and controversy in equal measure.

Indeed, standing on the elevated first tee at Donald Trump’s multi-million pound championship course just outside Aberdeen, you can’t help but wonder if the course you are about to play is – as the developer would have you believe – the best in the world.

As first tee experiences go, it certainly adds to the anticipation.

As you tee the ball up and take in the fabulous views of the manicured links laid out by the esteemed architect Martin Hawtree, you can’t help but think that he might be right. The course is iconic and testing. The high tee positions give you unobstructed views of the North Sea and of the challenge that 102

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awaits. The greens are positioned at the base of huge dune structures creating enclosed amphitheatres of wispy grass and towering sand.

It is, without doubt, an impressive place to play golf.

WIND FARM. It is therefore unfortunate that thoughts of the controversy surrounding the development readily creep in, because the mêlée between the American billionaire and the entrenched inhabitants of the Menie Estate continues.

If the course had been celebrating its 50th year, I am sure the discussions would have centred around the remarkable green sites carved out of the dunes and the devilishly deep pot bunkers.

Instead, there are environmental impacts to consider and the possible repercussions of government plans for a wind farm to debate.

“I consider myself to be a great environmentalist and I believe this is the best thing I’ve done environmentally,” Trump said at a recent press conference. “We are looking to build one of the great hotels of the world – but I cannot have windows looking out onto industrial turbines. We will not build until that ridiculous and ugly product is terminated.”

Animated and fervent, Trump argued his case standing on a hand-cut tee overlooking the 18th hole of his championship course. The official reason for the press conference was to discuss plans for a second course, once again to be designed by Hawtree.

What adds to the unease is the undeniable fact that the first 18 holes are breath-taking. Spectacular, fun and painstakingly presented, this is a course destined for greatness (it was recently included in the Robb Report’s 25th annual Best of the Best Awards). If only some resolution could be found to those nagging controversies, perhaps we could concentrate on the golf at Trump International rather than the drama surrounding it.

EAST LOTHIAN. Scotland’s east coast is unquestionably one of the

world’s richest pastures for golf. As you travel south, the landscape

Cruden Bay Golf Club

Muirfield

Muirfield â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers The North Berwick Golf Club

The North Berwick Golf Club

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SCOTLAND becomes more subdued but no less dramatic, especially when you reach Scotland’s Golf Coast along the picturesque shoreline of East Lothian. With 22 courses to choose from, many sporting illustrious names such as Gullane and Dunbar, this remarkable stretch of land has something for everyone.

For instance, those with a penchant for quirky courses could do a lot worse than pay homage to the remarkable West Links at North Berwick. Rather than being laid out by a designer, the course gradually emerged from the East Lothian coastline adapting to the humps and hollows that were already there.

The result is an idiosyncratic course with unexpected twists and unconventional holes that surprise and challenge, which in my book means fun. Few people finish their round at North Berwick without their golfing soul suitably topped up with the sheer pleasure of the game coarsing through their veins.

MESMERIZING HOLES. The short and teasing closing hole certainly plays its part, but by then the real work has been done.

The first hole sets the scene with a tantalising cliff-top green providing a tempting target at which to aim. The second follows suite with a testing drive that can easily end up on the golden sands of the Firth of Forth.

By the time you reach the short 13th (known as Pit) you’re hooked. In fact, this curious par-4, with its sunken green guarded by a wall running the entire width of the approach, begins a stretch of mesmerizing holes that includes the famous par-3 15th (Redan) which is one of the most copied layouts in golf.

North Berwick is certainly unconventional but it is also fabulously intriguing with no two holes alike. “Once a golfer gets on the ground,” noted Mark Rowlinson in his book, World Atlas of Golf, “all preconceptions become misconceptions, and all certainties become ambiguities.”

There is no doubt North Berwick is special, but there is more to this East Lothian course than eccentric greens and a curious design. Ultimately, the course is great fun which makes it one of Scotland’s most prized golfing jewels.

FOURSOME. Striking a balance between old and new has never

been an issue at the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers.

Tradition has always played a pivotal role at the club where members invariably play foursomes rather than their own ball.

“If you really want the Muirfield experience, you play foursomes quickly, take your time over lunch and play some more foursomes until it’s safe to drive home,” says Muirfield’s outgoing secretary Alastair Brown. “When you come to Muirfield, you come here for something unique – you can play fourballs anywhere. Here, we play foursomes.”

Alternate shots certainly speed things up and can free up time for a bottle of your favourite tipple, but if you’ve stumped up £195 for the pleasure of playing one of the most revered layouts on the Open Championship rota, you might feel entitled to hit your own ball. For this reason, visitors are permitted to play fourballs on dedicated visitor days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) with the remaining tee times reserved exclusively for members and their guests.

QUIET COURSE. While this arrangement opens up the club to the average golfer, it dissuades members from playing on these allocated days. The knock-on effect is that if you visit the club on a dedicated visitor day (rather than being invited by a member) you will share the facilities with other newbies, missing out on the lively banter generated by the club’s cheery patrons.

Of Muirfield’s 700 members, 75 live overseas and only 125 play regularly meaning out on the course, things are quiet. Which is no bad thing bearing in mind the test that awaits.

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The North Berwick Golf Club

The course is set out in two opposing loops with the front nine configured in clockwise rotation and the back nine circling in the other direction. This unusual set-up means no two holes play the same, so getting to grips with the conditions can be as difficult as mastering the golfing challenge presented by each hole.

All in all, Muirfield is a test that gives you goosebumps. Only the world’s great golf courses give you that feeling. As the aura of the place takes hold, your heart starts to pump eagerly and your eyes widen. This is golf at its best, and a great example of the joys of playing golf on Scotland’s east coast.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW

pure perfection since 1672

Š Mark Alexander

golfeastlothian.com Host to the Open Championship at Muirfield 14-21 July 2013.

East Lothian has been golfing since 1672, is home to many of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest links and has 22 must-play courses along 30 miles of stunning coastline. Experience the best.

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GRAN CANARIA

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The Vulcan

isles

Kaas-Stock, Photos: Gran Canaria Golf Association and The Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa

Bandama Golf Hotel

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Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa

I

t’s hard to believe that it’s June and I have yet to feel the sun on my pale and translucent skin. A severe lack of vitamin D seems to be on the horizon. So when a trip to Gran Canaria presents itself, I quickly decide that this is not one to pass over.

The Canary Islands are located roughly a hundred miles off the coast of North Africa, and barring any strange freak weather I think that I may actually be able to get myself removed from the critical list and at least come back with something resembling a suntan.

I arrive late at night and pick up my rental car. The journey to my first golf resort could not be easier, located a 30 minute drive south on the main motorway and onwards 3 kilometres into the mountains, all adequately signposted to the point that I don’t even bother with my sat nav.

MODERN DESIGN. It’s almost 1am when I get to the hotel, a

modern building seemingly set into the very hillside. The Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa is well suited to its surroundings. It’s deceptive in terms of its actual size due to a staggered construction that creates open spaces on several levels.

Natural stone has been used on the facade and roofs along with black basalt from nearby Tenerife for the walkways.

The concierge who has been given the task of awaiting my arrival welcomes me to the hotel and helps me to my room. From my apartment balcony on the 8th floor I have views over the golf courses and on to the coast. The room is comfortable with a modern design that fits into the hotel scheme.

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I awake early the next day, have breakfast and then explore the facilities. The first thing that strikes me is the feeling of calm that this resort exudes. Open space is a key feature along with ample nooks and crannies so there is always somewhere private to sit and relax.

THE SOUTH COURSE. There are two excellent golf courses here:

the easier South Course and the much more challenging North Course. When I say that the North Course is more challenging, that’s not to say that the South Course is a walk in the park.

Hole number one is a nice way to start, a par-4 and reasonably straightforward and followed by an equally nice par-3, but it’s the thrill of the eighth that particularly attracts me. This is a par-3 from an elevated position across water to the green. What is it about water that makes me see a challenge?

There are par-4s and 5s aplenty but it’s the par-3s that I particularly like. The par-3 eleventh is again from an elevated tee down to the green which is surrounded by rocks on two sides.

THE NORTH COURSE. That afternoon I take on the North

Course. Only the front nine are open as the course is undergoing major improvements (this could save me some embarrassment).

Whereas the South course, designed by Ronald Favré, is perfectly in keeping with the valleys to be found in its location, the North, designed by Ron Kirby, is also in keeping with its volcanic surroundings. Lots of shots over gullies and canyons mean that I have probably not brought enough golf balls!

The first hole is a par-5 with a dog leg right. As long as you

Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa

don’t go in for heroics and opt for an iron for your first shot everything is fine. For once I actually listen to my own advice.

By the time I finish the fourth I am feeling supremely confident and with a par to my credit, but all is about to change. The fifth is a par-5 across a canyon gouged out of the earth by molten lava.

Oh, how I like a challenge! But why is it that when we golfers are faced with a large hole in the ground we go to pieces? I watch as my ball disappears and resign myself to considering my options.

I wonder if there are snakes down there?

It’s not just the odd lava-induced canyon on various holes that helps me on my journey towards a world record in losing the most golf balls in one game. There are rocky outcrops everywhere and a golf ball travelling at speed when hitting one of these formations tends to bounce off at quite a pace.

I reach the ninth hole and the end of my game, disappointed that I cannot play the back nine as well. Ok, I may have to talk to

my bank manager about a loan to cover the cost of the lost balls, but I have found this course to be both exhilarating and challenging.

I will return if only to be able to say, “I played and overcame the obstacles.” Or at least finished with a few balls left.

MELONERAS. Within 5 minutes drive of the Sheraton is the Meloneras golf course. The greens and fairways here are lovingly cared for, and it shows. A vibrant course, for me it’s the back nine that I find most appealing. With stunning sea views on almost all nine holes, this really is one to savour – particularly the twelfth, a par-3 to a green on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic, which makes a stunning backdrop.

ANFI TAURO GOLF. From the Sheraton it’s a twenty minute drive

south to Anfi Tauro Golf. This desert-style course opened in 2006 and a lot of thought has been put into creating something both 109

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aesthetically pleasing and challenging. Of particular interest is the eighth hole, a par-4 with the green cut into the mountain.

With a cliff face on three sides, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty spectacular. The thirteenth also caught my attention, a par-3 built into the side of a cliff so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tight shot to the green.

To finish off you have an excellent par-5 from a raised tee and a green that doglegs left and curves around a lake. You can make the green in two shots but you have a fair distance over the water. Not an easy shot, as evidenced by the number of golf balls in the lake.

BY THE BEACH. On to my next hotel. The five star Seaside Palm Beach Maspalomas is, as its name suggests, by the beach and with a garden full of beautiful old palm trees that dates

Anfi Tauro Golf

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back to when an oasis covered this area. These trees are protected and the hotel gardens, along with the swimming pools, are idyllic. Just a short distance away is the Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve, an area of undulating dunes that resembles a mini Sahara.

With the Maspalomas golf course only a short distance away from the hotel, many golfers stay here, leaving their golf clubs in storage, which is a very good idea if you are planning to return on a regular basis.

For those who want to take luxury to another level, Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia, the smaller and more intimate sister hotel, is perfect. The attention to detail and quality is everywhere, with 94 colonial-style rooms, all finished to a high standard.

MASPALOMAS. This is an island and so all courses are

OLDEST IN SPAIN. It’s my last day and I have arranged to visit

reachable from most locations, but Maspalomas Golf Club is very close to the Seaside hotel. Bordering onto the sand dunes and close to the sea, this is a very popular course for locals and tourists alike. Flat and with wide fairways, it may not tax you to the extent of Salobre or Anfi, but you can expect a good game in picturesque surroundings.

two more golf clubs, the first having the enviable title of the oldest golf club in Spain. The Real Club de Golf de Las Palmas is located just south of the capital. As with all the courses here on Gran Canaria, it’s easy to find thanks to thoughtful signposting. It’s a drive up into the hills and through quaint villages to reach the club.

Perched next to the crater of an extinct volcano, I can instantly see why in 1891 a group of intrepid British nationals decided this was the place to play golf (the phrase about mad dogs and Englishmen comes to mind). It’s an absolutely stunning location.

I am met by Daniel Neuber who owns the Bandama Golf Hotel located next to the course. I jokingly mention that

BOHEMIA SUITES. A short distance away on the northern side

of the dunes can be found the Bohemia Suites and Spa. If you are looking for a state of the art, luxury hotel, this is for you.

The 360-degree restaurant situated on the eighth floor affords superb views. All rooms are finished to the highest standard and the Thai spa is well worth a visit.

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Anfi Beach

perhaps they should turn the volcano crater into a hole to give even bad golfers a chance of scoring a hole in one, although I doubt if many people would want to trek down to the bottom to retrieve their balls.

BODEGON VANDAMA. This is a beautiful course with the holes spaced out over the valley and views of the volcano, coast and inland hills making a perfect backdrop. A mature and well kept course, I am disappointed that I do not have another night to stay at the hotel and really experience all that there is here.

I particularly like the second hole, a par-4 with the green perched on the edge of the volcano. For me this is the signature hole: sun, golf and a volcano (inactive), what could be better?

Before I head off to my final golf course, Daniel invites me to visit the Bodegón Vandama, located nearby. This authentic restaurant, which is surrounded by grape vines and accessible via a dirt track, is a real surprise. Situated in an old farmhouse, it serves chargrilled meats cooked over a wooden fire and wine from its own winery. I now know that on my next trip a stay at the Bandama Hotel and a trip to this restaurant are going to be essential.

EL CORTIJO CLUB DE CAMPO. I arrive at El Cortijo Golf Club

slightly flustered. I’ve only got a few hours before I have to check in at the airport for my return flight to the UK, but there is still time to play a few holes. This is a very long course and runs along three valleys with a total of six lakes. There are six tees per hole, giving players of all abilities an opportunity to play within their level.

It was here that Sergio Garcia won the Spanish Open in 2002.

The first thing that I notice about this course is the way that the fairways seem to emulate sand dunes. They have a rolling feature to them that is very distinct. Many of the fairways have large hillocks on either side; all give me the feeling of being in a green desert. This is a great course for the big hitters but not overly worrying for the mere mortals among us.

UK golfers too readily assume that the only choices for the

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Canary Islands are Lanzarote or Tenerife. What I can say for anyone looking for a golfing holiday is that Gran Canaria is definitely one to consider. If you want to play on courses that vary from parkland to desert, mountain to sea, there are many GGM opportunities here on this island in the sun.

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Beaver Creek

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By: Dena RochĂŠ, Photos: The Westin Riverfront, Red Sky Beaver Creek, Ritz Carlton and Red Rocks

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W

hen Mother Nature was passing out genes, Colorado was blessed many times over. This Rocky Mountain paradise is truly nature’s playground and consequently it boasts the fittest population in the United States. Its emphasis on wellness makes it an ideal choice for a spa vacation packed with outdoor activities, locavore cuisine and, surprisingly, one of the hippest cities in the States.

THE MILE HIGH CLUB. Denver is the gateway to the Rocky

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Mountains, but the Mile-High city is a destination in its own right. The city exudes a laid-back, positive energy that resonates throughout its eclectic neighbourhoods. From the young urbanites in LoDo and the Highlands, to the artsy River North and the upscale Cherry Creek North, Denver is a city that is alive.

The unique neighbourhoods give the city a New York vibe, and the prominence of patio dining in the summer reminds one of European café culture. (Try the Market Café on Larimer; Prince Harry did when he was in the city in May).

Make the downtown Ritz Carlton, the only Denver hotel to

ever earn five diamonds, your home base to explore the city and to wind down when you’re done. Don’t miss the Golden Triangle Museum District with the famous Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum filled with the artist’s abstract works, and the many galleries in the area.

While Denver is known for beer, it also has one of only two American urban wineries. The Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery is a working winery with a wine bar and outdoor patio offering a variety of quality wines including wines on tap and in a can. (Yes, a can!) If Ben, the winemaker, is in the house, strike up a

conversation and learn about the name and how the winery has scored the top Wine Spectator score for a Colorado wine.

SHOWER AND A BEER. After a day of sightseeing it’s time to rejuvenate at the Ritz Carlton’s spa. Featuring eight treatment rooms, a couples’ VIP suite, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, the spa’s signature services are its Vichy Shower Waterfall Journeys.

If you opted during the day to golf at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton or the Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden, work out the kinks with the Mile High Malt Scrub and Microbrew

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The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort, Vail, Colorado - Spa Entrance

The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort, Vail, Colorado - Spa

Beaver Creek

Ritz Carlton / Scott Dressel Martin

Westin Eagle River Fall

Bob Ash

Massage, featuring local beer in the treatment, the signature Vichy shower and a beer to enjoy afterwards.

The Herbal Peaks Poultice Massage is a top choice for a deep tissue massage that uses heat and a variety of anti-inflammatory herbs to loosen tight muscles from golf or travel.

Denverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dining scene is robust and heavily focused on local, organic and sustainable fare. Head to Mizuna, where the chefs hand-make everything from the bread to the ice cream and use local vendors to craft a fine dining menu with a Colorado flair, or

try the Mediterranean Cuisine at Rioja, where chef/owner Jennifer Jasinski was just named Best Chef in the Southwest by the James Beard Foundation.

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

VAIL UNVEILED. No trip to Colorado would be complete without

visiting some of the iconic mountain resorts. While known for their skiing, the resorts also offer great golf, hiking, biking and rafting during the summer making them ideal year-round destinations.

Arguably the top mountain town, Vail is situated on the second largest ski mountain in the United States and is the perfect location, only two hours out of Denver, for a mountain respite.

Check into the luxury boutique Arrabelle at Vail Square, ideally situated steps away from the Eagle Bahn Gondola and near boutiques, restaurants, summer outdoor concerts and a winter ice rink. The hotel oozes romance with its large Biedermeir designed rooms featuring canopy beds, fireplace and balcony.

Golfers will enjoy the Vail Golf Club, an 18-hole course rated a Top 100 Resort Course by Golf Digest, featuring a scenic layout within the White River National Forest or the Red Sky Golf Club with Tom Fazio and Greg Norman courses ranked as the top two courses in Colorado.

Adventure seekers should take the gondola to the top of Vail Mountain to experience Adventure Ridge, a thrill-seekers paradise with four zip lines, aerial rope courses, climbing walls, tubing and boulder climbing. In winter, all sorts of snow sports reign.

ARABELLA SPA. After your outdoor pursuits, pamper yourself at the Arrabelle Spa, rated in the Top 20 Spas in the World in 2012

by Condé Nast Traveler. Done in warm neutrals with pops of orange, the soothing spa features 11 treatment rooms and a couples’ suite with a soaking tub. A highlight is a massive Jacuzzi and relaxation area found in each locker room.

For something different, try the Gemstone Fusion Aromatherapy Massage. The 80-minute service works on balancing your energy using different gemstones and oils to work on the body’s chakras. Using a Colorado-based, all-organic product line, the therapist uses the stones and her hands to manipulate energy, soothe sore muscles and relax the body. The calming treatment also oxygenates the body which helps people acclimate better to the mountain altitude which is about 8,000 feet above sea level.

There is no shortage of fine dining in Vail, but to experience local organic ingredients combined to create exotic and unexpected flavor profiles, head to Kelly Liken. Chef/owner Liken was a contestant on the American Top Chef show, and her restaurant highlights seasonal American cuisine. If the blackberry basil gelato is on the menu, don’t pass it up.

OUT TO PLAY. Beaver Creek’s natural beauty beckons you to get

out and play. From a simple walk alongside the Eagle River just steps from the hotel, to joining a guided mountain hike (maybe climb one of Colorado’s famous Fourteeners) or mountain bike tour put on by the Beaver Creek Hiking Center, there is something for everyone. Rafting, stand-up paddle boarding and fishing will get you on the water, and of course there is the Beaver Creek Golf Club featuring a Robert Trent Jones Jr. course.

To satisfy the appetite you worked up during the day, plan to dine at the Park Hyatt’s 8100 Mountainside Grill in the heart of Beaver Creek Village. While hotel restaurants are a necessary amenity, Executive Chef Christian Apetz boldly declares that 8100 is a “luxury”.

“We hang our hat on our wood-fire grill,” he said. “Everything we do comes off this grill.” Guests can watch the action in the open kitchen and experience local, organic dishes that change seasonally and are inspired by the best Colorado has to offer at the time.

The Park Hyatt is known for its daily s’more gathering, when locals and tourists alike descend on the fire pits to create this delectable comfort food. And lest you think you’re too old for s’mores, the liquor-infused marshmallows will help you change your mind!

TOTAL ZEN. For a wellness vacation, Colorado is hard to beat.

The state offers some of the top spas in the country and the area’s opportunities to play in nature and enjoy majestic scenery also help quiet the mind and bring you back into balance.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW

EAGER BEAVER. While Vail is beautiful, you’d be remiss not to

head 15 minutes down the road to check out the Beaver Creek Resort area. While the scene at Vail is “see and be seen,” Beaver Creek is more family-friendly.

Stay at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, which has been Condé Nast Traveler’s top ski hotel in North America for the past three years. The first LEED silver-certified property in Colorado, the Westin is the perfect choice for a spa getaway, while being centrally located for all Beaver Creek has to offer.

Spa Anjali’s treatment menu uses only organic lines to craft mountain-inspired treatments. It was ranked number four in American resort spas by Condé Nast and boasts 14 rooms, an extensive fitness club, an outdoor saline pool and three infinity hot tubs that overlook the Eagle River and mountains. The spa’s signature services follow the theme of Rocky Mountain journeys, alpine journeys or Himalayan journeys.

With the dry mountain air, it’s time to hydrate the skin with the Ayurvedic Facial which incorporates a bit of Rocky Mountain and Himalayan aspects into a facial designed for your dosha and skin type. Ingredients like local honey, neem, goji berries, cucumber and aloe are used to exfoliate, hydrate and repair the skin. Like all good facials, you’re also treated to face, neck and foot massages.

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Great Food

After great golf comes good food...

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DRAKE´S RESTAURANT

Steve Drake

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A culinary journey

( I

n the quaint little village of Ripley in Surrey, just south of the M25, lies Drakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, a Michelin-starred restaurant that is steadily climbing the list of the 100 best restaurants in the country. And as there are plenty of golf courses nearby, you can work up an appetite before treating your taste buds to a culinary adventureâ&#x20AC;Ś

By Camilla Kaas-Stock, photos: Camilla Kaas-Stock and Drake's

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t is a beautiful day in June when my husband and I make our way to the charming Surrey village of Ripley, just off the A3. We have booked a table at Drake’s where we will enjoy some lunch and delve into this Michelinstarred restaurant’s culinary delights.

As soon as we step into the doublefronted building, which is part Victorian and part Georgian, we are warmly welcomed. As the sun has for once decided to grace us with its presence, we choose to start out with a glass of Champagne in the beautiful walled garden at the back. Ah – life is hard!

As soon as we have finished our bubbly, we are led to our table and I get my first chance to take in the interior. On the left of the entrance lies the dining room with its muted colours, exposed beams and timber frames, and a dozen tables with white tablecloths. To the right lies an inviting bar with dark panelled walls where you can enjoy a drink on cooler days. We sit down and study the menu and my mouth is watering in anticipation.

ROUX SCHOLAR. It was in 2004 that Chef Steve Drake and his wife Serina first opened the doors at Drake’s and since then they have gone from strength to strength, being awarded a Michelin star for nine consecutive years.

Steve started learning his trade at Southend Technical College and from there went on to work at The Ritz Hotel. Then followed a stint working with celebrity chef Marco Pierre White and latterly the legendary Nico Ladenis at Chez Nico in Park Lane, whom he cites as one of the chefs that has given him the greatest inspiration.

In 2001 Steve became a Roux Scholar and his main prize was a stage with Marc Veyrat in the kitchens of his triple Michelinstarred restaurant in Lake Annecy. Since then he has also enjoyed educational trips to Italy, Dubai and Japan with other scholars.

All these influences have added rigour to his culinary armoury and since opening Drake’s he has developed his own repertoire, taking inspiration from his own personal exploration of flavour – hence the names of the restaurant’s two tasting menus: Flavour Journey and Flavour Discovery. Today we will sample the latter.

NINE COURSES. To get our taste buds going, we are first served blue cheese and cauliflower puffs, followed by asparagus cream with soy and beetroot ice – delicious. Louise, our very friendly and chatty waitress, then brings us our first of nine courses, which is cured mackerel with seaweed, nasturtium and dashi, a cooking stock used in Japanese cuisine.

As there is an apparent Japanese influence, the sommelier recommends Sho Chiku Bai Sake to go with it, which perfectly complements the dish with its mellow flavour.

Next up is scallops with celeriac, leeks and burnt onion juice.

What is onion juice? Well apparently, Louise tells us, it is made by caramelising onions in a bag for 96 hours, and it is well worth all the time and effort. The taste is absolutely incredible; so rich and sweet, it makes my feeble attempts at caramelizing onions at home seem pretty pathetic.

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PERFECTLY PLANNED. Our third dish is duck, cherry, spiced liver and broccoli couscous, followed by grey mullet, oyster mayonnaise, miso and sea vegetables – beautifully presented on a plate, and the best bit is I get to eat it.

When I first sat down and studied the menu I was slightly concerned about how my stomach would cope with all the courses, but every picturesque dish is perfectly planned out: not too much, just enough to leave you longing for another mouthful. And there is no rush; there is time to sit and chat and enjoy the ambiance between the dishes.

Despite it being a Wednesday, the restaurant has filled up while we have been absorbed by our food, and I notice how people seem to dress up in their finery to dine here. But then this is an affluent part of the country, and it shows.

INTERESTING FLAVOUR. Clay-baked cauli flower is followed by tender, melt-in-your-mouth loin of lamb, borlotti beans and asparagus, with burnt aubergine adding a very interesting flavour.

By now we have happily worked our way through six courses and two aperitifs. But there is no need to worry; we still have room for more. Yorkshire Blue, candid beetroot, rose and raspberry arrives next.

The cheese is frozen, like little crumbs of ice-cream that melt in your mouth and the sweetness of the beetroot and the sharpness of the raspberry compliment it wonderfully. This is the perfect transition from savoury dishes to dessert, which is next on the list.

‘Chocolate Breakfast’ sounds tantalizing and the very friendly and knowledgeable sommelier suggests a sweet wine to go with it: Chateau de Ricaud Loupiac 2006, which we sip while waiting.

CHOCOLATE WITH MILK JAM. When the dessert arrives I eye it

up greedily. Louise tells us that the chocolate has been aerated and it is served with milk jam, yogurt sorbet and puffed rice. I don’t hang around, but dive straight in.

The chocolate is rich but not too sweet and the lightness of the sorbet compliments it perfectly. It’s nothing like the chocolate mousse you get at Sainsbury’s, that’s for sure. Last but not least, pickled blueberries with blueberry ice-cream, lavender jelly and white chocolate powder await us. I love blueberries, so for me this is a fabulous way to end a wonderful meal.

Taking full advantage of the fine weather, we decide to take our coffee in the garden, feeling very satisfied. The meal has been a feast for the eyes and for the taste buds alike, with lots of new and interesting flavour combinations. It makes me want to go home and experiment in the kitchen – perhaps I can tempt the kids away from pasta and pesto? Well, that might be a bit ambitious, but this meal has really opened my eyes and the name of the menu says it all – it has truly been a Flavour Discovery…

GGM Drake’s Restaurant The Clock House, High Street, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6AQ Tel: 01483 224 777, www.drakesrestaurant.co.uk

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Great Whisky

A good round is worth celebrating

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WHISKY

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

A Perfect Blend

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WHISKY

G

o r d o n M o t i o n follows his nose. Indeed, his very job and the fortunes of a huge multinational company depend on his ultra-keen sense of smell. For Gordon is Master Blender for one of Britain’s most iconic brands, the Famous Grouse. As such, he is responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of the best-selling whisky in Scotland and nine other countries worldwide is maintained. And a highly-tuned olfactory sense is essential to the job.

So sensitive and highly-prized is his nose that he cannot eat onions or garlic, wearing aftershave is a no-no and he can’t even use scented deodorant.

On a good day, Gordon can “nose” – as the process of smelling whisky samples is called – as many as 600 blended samples. He can still “nose” 200-250 on a poor day and his sense of smell is so acute that he can even detect the lingering trace of perfume or cologne hours after visitors have been in the blending room.

THE PROCESS. The BAFTA award-winning tour, which I did on

a recent Scotland trip, takes you through the various whiskymaking processes including huge copper stills that are some of the tallest in Scotland.

Tall stills produce a lighter and smoother whisky because they create many mini-distillations. The smaller and squatter the stills are, the oilier and creamier the spirit will be.

You also see the 500-litre casks in which the whisky matures.

Edrington only uses top-quality ex-Spanish sherry and exAmerican bourbon casks for the process, discarding them when the wood no longer imparts any colour or flavour, typically after three or four uses.

You don’t see the bottling, however; that is done at the main Glasgow plant.

The tour culminates in an interactive show, visitors joining the grouse on a 3D flight over Scotland and helping it collect musical notes in the sky to complete the familiar, if annoyingly repetitive, theme tune from the Famous Grouse TV adverts.

SCOTLAND’S OLDEST. Gordon has been Master Blender since

2009, having served his apprenticeship under predecessor John Ramsay after stints as Whisky Quality Manager and Technologist following a degree in brewing and distilling then working with several other brewing companies.

The Famous Grouse is part of the Edrington drinks group, whose other brands include blended whisky Cutty Sark and single malts The Macallan, Highland Park, Gl e n r o t h e s , Gl e n t u r re t a n d Tamdhu.

While he is based in Edrington’s main Glasgow headquarters, the official home of the Famous Grouse is a small distillery nestled alongside a tumbling stream in the rolling Perthshire countryside near Crieff. A large metal sculpture of the eponymous grouse stands outside.

The distillery actually produces Glenturret malt whisky, just one of the many blends that go into making the Famous Grouse.

Being Scotland’s oldest working distillery, established in 1775, it produces just 160,000 litres of whisky a year, less than what is produced in a week by Macallan.

It is located half an hour from Perth, where former wine merchant Matthew Gloag created the Grouse Brand in 1896, renaming it with its current moniker a few years later because it had become so popular.

Gordon Motion

SECRET RECIPE. As a blend of several different single malt

whiskies – the exact recipe is a secret – the Famous Grouse had no home until Edrington’s executives decided in 2001 to designate the Glenturret distillery as its official base.

The Famous Grouse Experience opened at the distillery in 2002 as a visitor attraction with an interactive show coupled with a guided distillery tour and tastings. Eleven years on, it is the most-visited of Scotland’s 100 or so distilleries, attracting an average 90,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

Famous Grouse brand ambassador Lucy Whitehall explained, “A blended whisky doesn’t come from one distillery; there are many different distilleries as it is a blend of single malts and grain.

What we wanted to do was create a spiritual home, and it was decided because of the connections between the brand and Glenturret that we would create the home there. Since we opened, we are very close to having one million visitors.”

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THE BIGGEST BOTTLE. You also enjoy tastings next to the world’s biggest whisky bottle, measuring 5ft 5in (under-age visitors get Irn-Bru).

On my tour, we tried the Famous Grouse along with sister brands the Snow Grouse, which is served freezer-chilled, and the peaty Black Grouse, as well as new premium offerings the Naked Grouse and the Famous Grouse Finest Alpha Edition.

In the obligatory shop you can buy all of the products, and have someone’s name put on labels for a special occasion.

You can also try to match the experts by identifying some of the scent flavours in the whiskies, which range from citrus fruit to cinnamon and vanilla. I did appallingly – so I won’t be challenging Gordon Motion for his job any time soon.

THE CATWALK. Visitors may notice a statue of a cat and a feline walkway with a dedicated cat entrance in the distillery wall. The statue commemorates Towser, acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the world’s greatest mouser.

The barley used in distilleries attracts mice so cats help cut the numbers down. By the time Towser died in 1987, at nearly 24, she had caught an astonishing 20,899 mice.

The catwalk ramp was built for current mouser, Barley – a long-haired ginger tom who, at just a year old, is still a novice – to replace a catflap in the old wooden distillery doors. After my tour, I came across Barley sunning himself on his back by the picnic area, contentedly letting visitors stroke his tummy.

WHISKY & GOLF. Many other distilleries offer tours and tastings for visitors. The majority of Scotland’s distilleries are located in Speyside, where you can follow the Malt Whisky Trail to visit seven distilleries, including those of Glenfiddich and the Glenlivet, as well as the UK’s only working cooperage.

Drinks conglomerate Diageo offers tours of twelve of its Scottish distilleries, ranging from the Highland mountains and glens to sites in the Lowlands and Western Isles.

Distilleries are often sited close to golf courses, so you can combine a whisky tour with a few rounds. On the Kintyre Peninsula, Campbeltown has four distilleries and three nearby golf courses, among them Machrihanish Dunes and the historic Machrihanish Golf Club.

If you fancy becoming an expert, make sure you have a nose for it and are prepared to give up some luxuries. “My nose is integral to my job and I’ve had to make some sacrifices along the way to ensure it’s not compromised,” says Gordon Motion.

GGM

WHISKY The Famous Grouse Family of Whiskies

The Black Grouse The Black Grouse combines the famous blend with specially-selected peated malts to create a rich, dark, russet whisky with a rich, soft, smoky nose. On the palate, the peaty character comes through in spice and dried fruit flavours, and smoky oak that leaves a long, aromatic finish.

Appearance: Dark, russet golden, clear and bright Aroma: Smoky, soft, musky, rich and full Taste: Full flavour, spice and dried fruits, smoke through the oak, with all the Famous Grouse smoothness Finish: Long, smoky and aromatic

The Famous Grouse Finest Blend Scotlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite whisky is a blend crafted from malt whiskies such as The Macallan and Highland Park, married with grain whiskies for a smooth taste. It is characterised by a full, golden, bright appearance and its balance of flavours, with a hint of citrus fruit, provides the distinctively long and clean finish.

Appearance: Full golden, clear and bright Aroma: Well-balanced oak, sherry with a citrus hint Taste: Medium full flavour, mature, Speyside fruitiness Finish: Good length, clean and medium dry

The Snow Grouse The Snow Grouse whisky is unlike any other, being matured in oak casks and gently chill filtered in a unique filtration process. The Snow Grouse is the first Scotch whisky that is at home in severely cold conditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a cool taste explosion served seriously chilled straight from the freezer.

Appearance: Straw, clear and bright Aroma: Soft, creamy vanilla, cloudy honey, nutmeg and lightly oaky Taste: Smooth and sweet vanilla fudge Finish: Sweet and lingering

Among other brands are the Famous Grouse Malt, the Famous Grouse 12 Year Old Malt, the Famous Grouse 15 Year Old, the Famous Grouse 18 Year Old Malt and the Naked Grouse.

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www.thefamousgrouse.com

Great Property

because you need a place to put your clubs

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SCOTLAND GOLF PROPERTY

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g n i v Li e th

m a e dr

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W

ith its distinctive, bell-shaped dome, Hamilton Grand is the second most photographed building in the world of golf and is one of the most famous landmarks in St Andrews, having featured in the film Chariots of Fire.

Kohler Company is dedicated to sensitively restoring this historic icon to its traditional Victorian grandeur as it is transformed into a collection of 26 homes of distinction – two, three and four bedroom apartments ranging in size from 1,133 to 2,780 square feet. Additionally, this magnificent building will feature a private lounge for residents, a stylish restaurant and bar and a private function suite.

A GOLFER’S DREAM. With an unparalleled location that is

utterly unique, Hamilton Grand is set to be the ultimate residential experience and a golfer’s dream.

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Over a century ago, having been rejected membership at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Thomas Hamilton is said to have commissioned a masterpiece by constructing a larger, more extravagant building adjacent to it – who said revenge couldn’t be sweet?

Built of red sandstone, the Grand Hotel created something of a sensation, bringing a splash of colour to “The Auld Grey Toon”.

During this time, the Old Course was sorely pressed for tee times and the size and scale of St Andrews’ newest building prompted the R&A to build the New Course, and thereby ensure unparalleled access to world-class golf for all.

FAMOUS PEOPLE. From its opening, the hotel quickly rose to

stardom. It was the first building in Scotland to have a pneumatic elevator running between the seven floors and hot and cold water in every room, setting the benchmark for the ultimate in luxurious hospitality.

It played host to royalty as well as many famous names such as Mary Astor, Douglas Fairbanks, Rudyard Kipling and Bing Crosby.

It also housed the US Walker and Curtis Cup teams, as well as every major player competing in The Open Championship.

Shortly after the Second World War, the University of St Andrews acquired the building and opened it as a dormitory under the name Hamilton Hall. Following the Hall’s closure in 2005, the building was acquired in 2009 by Kohler Co., the owner of the neighbouring Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, and was renamed “Hamilton Grand” in memory of its rich history.

THE DEVELOPER. Founded in 1873, Kohler Co. is currently one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States. The company has built its success across a broad base of business interests including kitchen and bathroom fitments, furniture and tiling, engines and generator systems, plus

hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

John Haley, the lead interior designer, has more than 30 years of experience in the professional design industry. He is renowned for his work on award-winning luxury golf resorts as well as other commercial projects in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.

With an appreciation for the history of the site, Haley’s design approach is to honour without appearing dated. Signature details of his work include natural materials, and reclaimed or reconstructed period mouldings.

Hamilton Grand will be transformed into 26 luxury apartments, including a penthouse with a private balcony that boasts a 360-degree view, and all apartments will feature individual characteristics that have been painstakingly preserved from the original building.

Prices start at £1.2 million.

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FACILITIES. The Grill Restaurant and Bar is a lively venue offering outstanding Scottish cuisine that showcases local, fresh ingredients. The restaurant will be open to locals as well as residents, and the Bar will offer beautiful views of St Andrews – simply the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine, a rare malt whisky or a pint of local beer.

There is also The Snug – a beautiful room that offers an intimate space for small groups to gather for business meetings or special events. This room will be equipped with the latest business conferencing facilities, presentation boards and screens, and has a concierge on hand to ensure the slickest of affairs.

The Members’ Library, located on the ground floor, is a private space and relaxing haven for residents. The parlour will be filled with historic gems including books and references to days gone by in St Andrews. A private butler will personally assist to all needs and concierge services can be arranged from the parlour.

The beautiful, landscaped courtyard garden will be a peaceful haven for guests to enjoy a fine malt and a cigar at dusk or a chilled glass of wine basking in the summer sunshine.

SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY. All services provided at Hamilton

Grand will be managed by the Old Course Hotel, and it goes without saying that residents will experience the very best of Scottish hospitality, including a golf concierge and complimentary butler service.

There will also be access to the amenities at the award-winning Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, including The Duke’s, Kohler Waters Spa and four diverse dining experiences.

For those wishing to earn an income from their properties, there is a rental program available through the Management Company.

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ABOUT ST ANDREWS. St Andrews is rightly known as the “home

of golf” with players descending on the town from as early as 1400 AD. Despite the varying accounts of how golf became the game we know today, the most widely accepted is that it originated in Scotland around the 12th century, specifically on the current site of the Old Course.

It is thought that shepherds used their crooks to knock stones into rabbit holes, creating a game that evolved into what we know as golf.

The historic town is now home to eleven courses in total – seven of championship class – and a world-class golf academy, as well as the Royal and Ancient which sets the rules of golf worldwide.

ACCESSIBLE. There are more courses per capita in Scotland than anywhere else in the world and St Andrews is perfectly located for access to a clutch of world-famous courses throughout the Kingdom of Fife as well as other well-known Scottish gems such as Carnoustie, Muirfield and Gullane. Within the town itself, the tough tests of the Old, New and Jubilee courses are within walking distance of Hamilton Grand.

This world-class town is just over an hour’s drive from Scotland’s capital city, with Edinburgh International Airport just 60 minutes away, while a drive to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, with its Victorian architecture and traditional welcoming embrace, will take an hour and a half. Dundee Airport, situated only 20 minutes from St Andrews, is connected with major airports in the UK including London City, and of course helicopter access is also available.

GGM www.HamiltonGrand.co.uk

It sits overlooking the 18th green of Cooden Beach Golf Club

DORMY HOUSE, 208 COODEN SEA ROAD, COODEN, EAST SUSSEX, TN39 4TR This unique, versatile two storey first and second floor duplex apartment has uninterrupted, panoramic sea views towards Eastbourne and Beachy Head. It sits overlooking the 18th green of Cooden Beach Golf Club and is just 1 hour 45 minutes from London Victoria!

FEATURES:

LOCATION:

South West facing 26â&#x20AC;&#x2122; lounge with balcony 3/4 double bedrooms with new en suite to the master bedroom 2/3 reception rooms 5 piece family bathroom with power shower Fully fitted kitchen 1517 square feet Ample storage and parking facilities Communal gardens, bordering the golf course

Within the grounds of The Cooden Beach Golf Club 500 yards from Cooden Beach 500 yards from Cooden Beach station, which provides direct rail links into Gatwick Airport and Central London 500 yards to The Cooden Beach Hotel, which provides Spa, fitness and leisure facilities 2 miles to Bexhill on Sea town centre 900 yards to Little Common Village

This multipurpose property would be perfect as a golfers retreat, holiday home or could provide rental opportunities. It is a fantastic investment.

Price: ÂŁ299,950 Contact: John Davey Email: johndavey02@hotmail.com Contact Telephone number: +44 (0) 1424 842758

KENYA GOLF PROPERTY

Alfajiri Villa:

• Sitting on the gorgeous white sands of Diani Beach, Alfajiri Resort in Kenya is ideal for a golfing holiday with a difference. Located half a mile from the villa, the Leisure Golf Club is often frequented by celebrities looking for a golfing escape in the most beautiful of settings. The 18-hole championship course, home to the Diani Beach Masters, is recognized as one of the most exciting golf courses in East Africa.

Consisting of three private properties, The Cliff Villa, The Garden Villa and The Beach Villa, each with a private pool, Alfajiri Resort delivers the perfect setting to relax after a long hard round. A large veranda provides stunning views over the white sand beach and across the Indian Ocean, with direct access to a private beach. Designed to reflect the regions link with Asia, Alfajiri Villas are bright and breezy with flowing fabrics, East African artefacts, wooden beams and carved Lanu doors. Each villa has its own personality and unique design yet all maintain the same award winning service. Each villa can accomodate up to eight guests with 4 en-suite bedrooms, a dining veranda and a lounge which dominates the front of the villa and overlooks the swimming pool and ocean.

A host of other activities are available, including deep sea fishing and diving, kite surfing, quad biking, and day safaris.

Alfajiri is an all inclusive resort, offering you a private chef to conjure up a menu to your taste.

Seafood is caught daily and includes some of the freshest crabs, prawns and lobsters available. To compliment, a choice of good quality South African wines are provided to help guests unwind after an action packed day.

Having won awards including ‘Best undiscovered golf location 2008’, Alfajiri Resort has built a reputation of delivering an impeccable service. Golf club hire, along with transfers to and from the Club are included in the rental price and the welcoming staff are committed to making your stay a memorable one.

Alfajiri villas are always rented on exclusive use and our rates are based on the number of guests occupying the villa. The villa and can be rented on a per day basis.

The 18-hole championship course, home to the Diani Beach Masters, is recognized as one of the most exciting golf courses in East Africa.

Rates from just $7,000 per week.

Please quote‘Great Golf’.

Contact: Quintessentially Villas www.quintessentiallyvillas.com Email: info@quintessentiallyvillas.com Contact Telephone Number: +44 (0)845 269 6673 Property link: www.quintessentiallyvillas.com/villas/17294

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A selection of outstanding courses - at home and abroad...

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TURNBERRY RESORT

V VERVIEW: E R V I E W Turnberry, an icon of Scottish hospitality and home of four Open Championships, has been treasured for more than a hundred years. Turnberry Resort is part of Starwood’s acclaimed Luxury Collection portfolio following a multi-million pound restoration in 2009.

LOCATION: West coast of Scotland. Approximately 55 miles (one hour) from Glasgow Airport, 25 miles (30 minutes) from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, and 100 miles from Edinburgh Airport.

ROOMS: A total of 150 rooms, including four Specialty Suites and four eight-bedroom lodges. Eight newly renovated Lands of Turnberry self-catering apartments are also located in the heart of the resort.

GOLF: Turnberry offers some of the best golf facilities in the world, with 45 holes of magnificent golf, the world’s first links golf academy and a sociable Clubhouse.

The 18-hole Ailsa championship course – venue for The Open Championship in 1977, 1986, 1994 and 2009 and consistently ranked as the UK and Ireland’s top golf course.

The 18-hole Kintyre championship course – a final qualifying course for The Open Championship in 2004.

The 9-hole Arran course – used as a teaching course by Turnberry’s Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy.

Scotland’s first and only TaylorMade Performance Lab. THE SPA AT TURNBERRY: Featuring an inviting 20-metre indoor pool, eleven individual treatment rooms, fitness studio, heat experiences and pool-side Jacuzzi and offering a range of treatments by ESPA including reflexology and hot stone massage.

CUISINE: Turnberry has six restaurants, bars and lounges – the signature restaurant 1906, Duel in the Sun bar, The Ailsa Bar & Lounge, James Miller and The Grand Tea Lounge. In the heart of the Turnberry kitchens is the ultimate dining experience, The Turnberry Chefs Table. Turnberry also boasts the Tappie Toorie restaurant, which is situated in the Clubhouse.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS: Rifle target shooting, clay target shooting, 4x4 off-road driving, trout fishing, archery, quad biking, falconry, horse riding, all-terrain carting, mountain biking and children’s activities.

CONTACT

TURNBERRY, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT, Maidens Road, Ayrshire, KA26 9LT, (0)1655 331 991 www.luxurycollection.com/turnberry • turnberry@luxurycollection.com

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KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS

ocated just seven miles south-east of St Andrews Kingsbarns is a must-play seaside links course which regularly features in top 100 golf course rankings in the world. Designed by Kyle Phillips, the golf course opened in 2000 and is set in an amphitheatre along the coast line, so nearly every hole boasts spectacular views of the sea. At 7,181 yards from the championship tees, Kingsbarns is a formidable enough test to be included in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship rota each autumn alongside the Old Course, St. Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Kingsbarns prides itself on excellent customer service and great accessibility of tee times. As Kingsbarns does not operate a membership programme, visiting golfers are each treated like members for the day, with staff on hand to ensure that they each enjoy the golfing experience which the team at Kingsbarns are so proud of.

Kingsbarns Golf Links offers an unforgettable golfing experience, which is proving increasingly popular with the corporate market. Companies are using it as a venue for both large and small groups when they really want to make a favourable impression with clients or show their appreciation to valued members of staff.

Our proximity to St Andrews and a wide range of accommodation providers makes us a no hassle venue to book.

With two five star hotels, The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa and The Fairmont, St Andrews on our doorstep along with a choice of 4 and 3 star hotels, there are accommodation offerings for every budget.

There is an extensive range of flight options from London to Edinburgh (1hr 20 minutes from St Andrews) and CityJet fly from London City to Dundee (20 minutes from St Andrews) offering a no charge for your clubs option.

CONTACT

KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS, Kingsbarns, St. Andrews, Scotland, +44 (0)1334 460861 E-mail: info@kingsbarns.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.kingsbarns.com

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T H E D U K ES S t A N D R E W S

he Duke’s is the only heathland course in St Andrews daring to be different amongst the famous list of links courses, including of course the Old Course, in the Home of Golf. The Duke’s rolling terrain and elevated position above St Andrews provides spectacular panoramas of the surrounding countryside, The Grampians, the West Sands and the “Auld Grey Toon”. Moreover the sheltered inland location of the course offers a welcome respite from the blustery, sometimes brutal linksexperience elsewhere in the location.

Owned like the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa by the Kohler Co., The Duke’s was originally designed by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson and was officially opened by HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in 1995. However American Tim Liddy, a protégé of distinguished golf course designer Pete Dye, remodeled The Duke’s in June 2006 transforming it into a majestic layout reminiscent of the true heathland courses of the 1920s.

It now boasts five completely new holes and the addition of 118 natural, rough-edged bunkers. The championship course now measures 7512 yards and is a Par 71 that offers a set of five tees on each hole, making it a challenge for golfers of every standard.

The Duke’s Clubhouse offers five-star service and a warm Scottish welcome in relaxed surroundings. Amenities include The Duke’s Bar & Grill, a traditional wood-panelled bar and restaurant with a terrace overlooking the course for al fresco dining on warm days, The Captains’ Room for private dining or meetings, a well stocked Pro Shop and equipment hire.

It also boasts comprehensive practice facilities that include a large practice range, extensive putting green, two practice par-3 holes and a chipping/bunker area. The Duke’s was recently voted the ‘Best Club in the UK’ by the Golf Club of the Year Awards and in 2008 & 2010, Golf World magazine included The Duke’s course in its Top 100 Courses in the UK. Today the course is very much on many players “must-play” list.

CONTACT

THE DUKE’S ST ANDREWS, Craigtoun, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 8NS. Contact: Alan McColm, Golf Coordinator T: 01334 470214, Green Fee Summer £115/Winter £55 www.playthedukes.co.uk • alan.mccolm@oldcoursehotel.co.uk

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THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL

et in its own magnificent 850-acre estate, The Gleneagles® Hotel 5 Red Star resort is only one hour’s drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh and is a byword for style, elegance and comfort. Gleneagles offers 3 championship golf courses set in the heart of the stunning Perthshire countryside. The King’s and the Queen’s are both top Scottish Championship courses, whilst The PGA Centenary has been chosen to host the 2014 Ryder Cup Matches.

The golf courses were the inspiration of two of the world's most famous golfers, James Braid, five times winner of the Open Championship who designed the King's and Queen's, and Jack Nicklaus, Golfer of the 20th Century, who created the PGA Centenary Course.

As well as playing great courses at Gleneagles golfers can also brush up their skills at The PGA National Golf Academy that offers tuition for all abilities, beginner to scratch player, and a 320-yard double ended driving range. For those who want to

practice what they have learnt but are not quite ready to take on an 18-hole championship course, they can make the progression to the testing but fun 9-hole par 3 PGA National Academy Course.

Once golf is over you can retire to the newly refurbished Dormy Clubhouse facilities, and rue the lipped putts and toast the holed chips while enjoying food and drink of a quality that no-one can argue with, all while looking out over the 18th greens of the King’s and Queen’s courses.

As well as golf, there are a host of outdoor activities including riding, fishing, off road driving, falconry, shooting, archery and gun dog lessons.

To relax further there’s an award-winning destination spa

by ESPA with all the latest therapeutic treatments, as well as a range of bars and restaurants, including the Two Michelin starred Andrew Fairlie. Gleneagles is a sanctuary from the modern world, offering the best of Scotland every day of the year.

CONTACT

THE GLENE AGLE S HOTEL, Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1NF, Tel +44 (0) 1764 662231 www.gleneagles.com • resort.sales@gleneagles.com

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DUNDONALD LINKS

he West coast of Scotland is famous for its stunning championship links and Dundonald sits right up there alongside the very best of them.

Opened in 2003, this modern day classic links was inspired by the timeless architecture of the great Ayrshire links courses of Royal Troon, Prestwick and Western Gailes, all connected by the historic rail line. Acclaimed architect, Kyle Phillips, also known for Kingsbarns and The Grove, intimated from the outset that it was his intention “to create a championship Ayrshire links that felt and played as though it was an old, rediscovered course.” The course is featured in the Top 100 in UK and Ireland.

Dundonald Links is now recognized as one of Europe’s “must play” links having played host to a number of professional and amateur tournaments, including pre-qualifying for the European Tour for four consecutive years and the Senior British Open Championship.

The course is located at the very heart of Ayrshire’s golf coast, just 10 minutes from Prestwick Airport, half an hour from Glasgow, and an hour and a half from Edinburgh Airport, A wide selection of accommodation to suit all budgets can be recommended within easy reach, including the 4 star Gailes Hotel on its doorstep, and the 5 star Turnberry Resort.

Players can benefit from good accessibility to weekend teetimes and a new online booking system now ensures you can book in advance and guarantee the best rates and availability.

Owned by Loch Lomond Golf Club, the course is renowned for its exceptional standards of service and a warm welcome awaits. A team of PGA Professionals will co-ordinate group golf days to suit your individual requirements whether it’s to impress clients or simply for pleasure.

The course is proud to be recognized for its best environmental practices and recently achieved its goal of zero waste to landfill, the first in the country to achieve this status.

CONTACT

DUNDONALD LINKS, Ayrshire, Scotland T: +44 (0)1294 314000 E: reservations@dundonaldlinks.com • www.dundonaldlinks.com

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MURRAYSHALL HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF COURSES

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urrayshall Hotel is the home to both the Murrayshall and the Lynedoch Golf Courses, two prestigious but very different eighteen hole courses, providing a hugely enjoyable challenge for all golfers.

The Murrayshall course meanders through tree lined fairways, undulated parkland and has several natural burns which have been used to protect the large greens. The introduction of the white sand bunkers which are a feature of the Murrayshall course lie in waiting for errant shots. In creating Lynedoch the course designer made great use of the existing Scots pine woodland, utilising the wild flower meadows and carved a real wee gem of a course.

Both courses are a real contrast to one another - Murrayshall the wider, longer course requires length and accuracy from the tee shot, this will allow golfers the opportunity to approach greens from the correct angle, widening the view of the pin. Lynedoch

however is shorter but no less a challenge, tighter fairways, bracken filled gullies and tall Scots Pine trees narrow the golfer’s view of fairways and greens.

With two different golf courses, both set out to a fabulous standard of play, the courses have attracted national and international events over the years. Currently the home to the Paul Lawrie Scottish Schools Championship Murrayshall and Lynedoch have also hosted PGA events along with SGU National Finals and most recently was the Inaugural Scottish venue for the Sky Sports Trilby Tour.

Murrayshall also gives our resident golfers the chance to visit the famous courses of St Andrews, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and Gleneagles, which are all within short driving distance of the hotel.

With so much on offer to keen golfers of all levels, it’s no surprise that Murrayshall House Hotel has become renowned as a provider of top quality golfing breaks and golf days out in the historic home of golf.

CONTACT

MURRAYSHALL HOUSE HOTEL & GOLF COURSES, Scone, Perth, Scotland, PH2 7PH, +44 (0)1738 551171 sales@murrayshall.co.uk • www.murrayshall.co.uk

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Golfclub Vechta-Welpe e.V.: one out of over 40 Partners of the "Golfland Niedersachsen"

GOLFLAND NIEDERSACHSEN ”ARE YOU READY TO ”TEE-OFF“ IN NIEDERSACHSEN – THE LAND OF GOLF?“ GOLFLAND NIEDERSACHSEN – GOLF BETWEEN NORTH SEA AND HARZ MOUNTAINS

golf guide 2012 Hole in One im Golfland Niedersachsen.

GET INSPIRED BY OUR GOLF- AND HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS 2013 ORDER YOUR FREE COPY OF OUR “GOLF GUIDE 2013”.

Simply send an email with your address to: info@deutsche-golfstrasse.de or order your copy online at www.golfland-niedersachsen.com Choose Niedersachsen for your next golf vacation: over 80 golf courses of the highest standard are waiting for you between the North Sea Coast and the Harz Mountains.

“Golfland Niedersachsen” is a golf marketing cooperation managed by “Golf Tourism Development & Services” – D-21335 Lüneburg/Germany, (www.golftourismusdeutschland.de) under the Patron of TourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbH (www.reiseland-niedersachsen.de)

England

T

SAUNTON GOLF CLUB

wo of links golf’s most precious gems are set in the remote shadows of the towering sand dunes of Braunton Burrows at Saunton Golf Club in North Devon, less than half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. When the club was inaugurated in 1897 its clubhouse doubled up as the local post office, yet now its two championship courses, East and West, are considered among the greatest links in the world.

The basis for the present East Course was laid out under the direction of the renowned course architect W. Herbert Fowler in the 1920’s. A completely natural layout set amid the spectacular sand hills, the East Course provides a peaceful environment with only the sound of the sea for company as well as a great test of golf for players of all standards.

The West course is also an exceptional challenge in its own right and it was here in 1997 that a 17-year-old Sergio Garcia

won the British Boys Championship, just two years before making his Ryder Cup debut. Indeed over the years Saunton has played host to many major national and international championships during its 113- year history.

The East Course will host the South West Amateur Championships and West of England Championships in 2011 whilst the West course will be used in 2012 by the English Golf Union for the Mid Amateur Championships, Logan Trophy.

England’s most successful modern day golfer, Nick Faldo, has been one of Saunton’s many fans since playing here as a boy. The multiple major winner once said of Saunton’s East Course, "I've no doubt if the East Course were located on the coast of Lancashire or Kent it would have hosted an Open Championship by now." Saunton, a member of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network, is easily accessible via the M5 and A361.

CONTACT

SAUNTON GOLF CLUB, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LG Contact: Peter McMullen T: 01271 812436. Green fee £74 weekdays/£79 weekends www.sauntongolf.co.uk • gm4@sauntongolf.co.uk

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England

TREVOSE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

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heltered by the majestic Trevose Head, the experience of playing the Championship Course at Trevose Golf & Country Club is enhanced by the spectacular views of the North Atlantic Ocean, wide sandy beaches and dramatic North Cornish coastline. A true test of links golf, the course was designed by Harry Colt in 1925 and will test all aspects of your game. As with all of Colt’s designs, the course is in two loops of nine holes with the front nine holes hugging the sand dunes and coastline and back nine forming inland links, although the sea can be seen from every single hole.

Like all great links courses the difficulty lies in the wind – so beware when the wind blows! No two days are ever the same, and those who are prepared to be more creative with their shot making will be well rewarded. The greens are quick all year round and due to the temperate micro climate the area enjoys, the course condition is excellent 365 days a year. Come rain or shine, wind or calm, Trevose

will test every shot in your armoury and every club in your bag!

As one of the top championship links golf courses in the British Isles, Trevose hosted the 2008 Brabazon Trophy (English Men’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship) and The McGregor Trophy in 2012 and it regularly plays home to touring professionals and top amateurs alike. Indeed Paul Way, exEuropean Tour and Ryder Cup player, has said of Trevose, “I have played lots of Harry Colt courses and Trevose is up there with his best. The setting is fantastic and you need every shot on this course.”

With a range of 3 to 5 star on-site (self catering) accommodation, as well as first-class dining, three tennis courts, a beauty/therapy salon, swimming pool, children’s play area, seven nearby beaches and three courses to choose from, Trevose offers the ideal golf destination with a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Trevose, a member of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network, is easily accessible via the M5.

CONTACT

TREVOSE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, Constantine Bay, Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8JB Contact: Nick Gammon T: 01841 520208. Green Fee £65 Summer/Winter £40 www.trevose-gc.co.uk • ngammon@trevose-gc.co.uk

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St ENODOC GOLF CLUB

ornwall’s St Enodoc, designed by celebrated golf course architect James Braid, is a sparkling jewel of links golf in South West England that once trodden, is never forgotten. Founded in 1890, it boasts a magnificent setting amongst the rolling sand dunes and exposed cliff tops that overlook the Camel Estuary and the dramatic coastline of the North Atlantic ocean giving it some of the greatest sea and estuary views of any course in the world. Indeed St Enodoc prides itself on its stunning panoramas over the water that can be seen from every single hole.

St Enodoc’s Church Course is so called because of the 11th century Norman Church that was uncovered from amongst the sand dunes in Victorian times in the middle of the course at the bottom of the winding 10th hole. This is where the Poet Laureate John Betjeman lies following a lifelong love of Cornwall and the golf course. The undulating track that trails the natural contours

of the landscape has no two holes the same and is world renowned for its towering Himalaya bunker - reputedly the tallest bunker in Europe - that entirely blocks golfers’ view of the 6th green from all but a slither of fairway.

Testament to the quality of the course St Enodoc, one of the most charming championship links courses in England, has played host to top amateur events including the English Ladies Amateur Championship in 1993 & 2002 and the English Counties Championship in 1989 & 2005. Over the years, the charm of St Enodoc and its history has lured a host of legendary Open Champions to its fairways including James Braid of course, Henry Cotton, Jim Barnes and Tom Watson which has added to the prestige of this exceptional course. The club offers excellent practice facilities complete with driving range, two putting greens and two PGA coaching professionals and recently invested heavily in a new short game practice area, a new target green on the range and a new covered bay facility.

CONTACT

ST ENODOC GOLF CLUB, Rock, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6LD Contact: Tuck Clagett T: 01208 863216. Green Fee £67 www.st-enodoc.co.uk • tuck.clagett@st-enodoc.co.uk

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ALIGN

IMPRESS

Golf ball marker and putt alignment tool.

Confidently putt through your chosen line and watch your one putt percentage improve.

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Add a permanent personal laser-engraved message, logo, or club badge to any GrooveFix product.

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England

BURNHAM & BERROW GOLF CLUB

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omerset’s Burnham & Berrow Golf Club is a fine example of a classic English links course that offers a superb challenge to golfers of all abilities. Founded in 1890, the championship layout is particularly noted for its distinct sand hills that form stubborn, natural obstacles along with the buckthorn and even a marsh mid-way through a round that golfers are advised to avoid.

As with all links golf the challenging factor is the wind and its unpredictability, which means that the course can play differently almost every day. The prevailing south westerly winds that whip in from the dramatic backdrop of the North Atlantic Coast and along the Bristol Channel ensure that golfers are treated to a links challenge that is not for the faint hearted. The greens are renowned as true and quick and the temperate coastal location means that the course is guaranteed to be in good condition all year round. Excellent drainage due to the sandy subsoil ensures that the course is rarely, if ever, closed.

The nature of the course demands that you use almost every club in the bag, ensuring that the experience is both memorable and challenging.The course has evolved over the decades but today’s layout is largely the work of Harry Colt. The club’s first professional was the legendary JH Taylor, five times an Open champion, who played an important part in development of the playing side of the club and once described the course as “one of the most sporting courses conceivable”.

Burnham & Berrow has hosted a string of prestigious amateur tournaments from as early as 1906 when it staged the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship. More recently it has been proud to be chosen as the venue for the 2006 English Amateur Championship and the 2009 Tillman Trophy. In 2011 it will be the host venue for The Brabazon Trophy as well as the British Boys Championship. Conveniently located just off the M5 in Burnham-on-Sea, Burnham & Berrow is part of the England’s Atlantic Links golf network.

CONTACT

BURNHAM & BERROW GOLF CLUB, St Christopher’s Way, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset TA8 2PE Michael Blight T: 01278 785760. Green fee £70 www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk • secretary.bbgc@btconnect.com

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England

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E A S T S U S S E X N AT I O N A L

et in 1100 acres of quintessentially English countryside, yet only 40 minutes from Gatwick Airport and close enough to several major transport routes to make travelling a breeze, we can’t think of anywhere more conducive to a relaxing, awe-inspiring golf break than right here in this glorious setting.

Boasting two world class 18 hole Championship Golf Courses as well as 104 bedroom hotel, a fully equipped health club, 20 metre pool and a nine treatment room spa, East Sussex National has it all.

From the moment you tee off, to the first drink back at the clubhouse, we’re confident it’s an experience you will want to repeat time and again. We welcome everyone who wishes to spend time on our spectacular courses; we just want to give those who enjoy the game a chance to live the experience. Today, it represents the nearest you can get to perfection in the design and condition of the golf courses. Our meticulous attention to detail and clubhouse facilities among the finest in Europe,

make the game even more enjoyable.

SUPERIOR COURSES, UNRIVALLED APPEAL Both our championship courses were designed by Robert E Cupp, one of Jack Nicklaus’s course architects, with major championship golf in mind. It’s no wonder that the club staged two European Opens and played host to some of the world’s leading players including Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Vijah Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam.

GOLF ACADEMY The East Sussex National Golf Academy boasts some of the finest practise facilities in Europe: a 13 acre driving range, with open grass tee and covered bays, greenside and fairway bunkers, pitching and chipping areas, three putting greens and a championship three hole academy course featuring a par 3, par 4 and par 5 holes.

CONTACT

EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL, Little Horsted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5ES. 01825 880088 www.eastsussexnational.co.uk

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Spain - Cadiz

D

SHERRY GOLF JEREZ

esigned by Stirling & Martin from Global Golf Company, Sherry Golf appears like an accessible course for amateurs and challenging for professionals. Proof of this are the many important tournaments we have had the honour to host, like the Spanish Open Amateur Championship, two years in a row, and the Seniors International Championship. We are also the official venue of the 2nd Stage of the PGA Qualifying School.

The layout is characterized as being one of the most pleasant walkthroughs in Spain: - 18 holes Championship course: 6572 meters, Par 72 - Pitch & Putt course: 911 meters, Par 3 Sherry Golf is within the new concepts of American golf course design: fun but safe in the game with undulations and well placed hazards, without making it too hilly, in order to ensure a pleasant

walkthrough. Wide fairways and ample greens, puts Sherry Golf into the category of a luxury course.

The Clubhouse counts more than 2,800 sq metres designed under the Sherry flair, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere just like the city of Jerez. Its facilities caters to every single aspect of the sport as well as tournaments, including pro-shop, club storage room, locker rooms, restaurant, terrace grill, cafeteria, spike bar, lounges, golf academy, and much more.

The exceptional geographic location of Jerez and its surroundings make this area the perfect destination for the visitor.

3,200 hours of sun light per year, gives this area of the coast its name, Costa de la Luz (Coast of light).

Sherry Golf is located only 5 minutes from the international airport of Jerez, 50 minutes from Seville airport and 1 hour from Malaga International, thanks to the new motorway from Jerez to Los Barrios.

CONTACT

SHERRY GOLF JERE Z , 11407 Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz Telephone +34 956 088 330. Fax +34 956 088 331 Email info@sherrygolf.com â&#x20AC;˘ www.sherrygolf.com

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Italy

B ELLO S G UA RD O V I N C I G O L F CO U RS E A TRULY TUSCANY GOLFING EXPERIENCE

B

ellosguardo Vinci Golf Course, the Tuscan Golf destination. Known for its Wine and Oil production, Bellosguardo Vinci as its name suggest is located close to the birthplace of the great Leonardo Da Vinci. Nestled in the undulating hills of Tuscany, the golf course consists of 9 plus 9 holes with an overall length of 6322 m playing two rounds.

The fairways can all be viewed from the vantage point of the club-house, a perfect place to sit and taste the local wine.

Immaculate greens follow a wide valley as it winds its way through a picture perfect Tuscan landscape that will capture the imagination of any golfer.

Our team of attentive staff will consider it their mission to make your visit something to remember whether in the clubhouse or on the golf course. Make use of our well stocked pro-shop to purchase or hire anything that you may need to make your round of golf complete.

Our exquisite restaurant where chef Marco Pagni creates food to match the charming view over the Tuscan landscape is a must for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the ambience of to location.

We offer our guests who want to stay and truly experience all we have to offer excellent accommodation with the choice of four comfortable and tastefully furnished rooms, all with views of the breathtaking countryside and with views directly to the golf course.

CONTACT

BELLOSGUARDO VINCI GOLF COURSE. Via Provinciale di Mercatale, 25 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50059 VINCI (Firenze) Phone +39 0571. 902035. Fax + 39 0571. 901015 www.golfbellosguardovinci.it

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LE TOUQUET - FRANCE Manoir Hotel and Golf Resort

From â&#x201A;Ź290*

Punch Communication 03 21 32 69 69

Enter a World Apart and let us Care for You.

TTEL. EL. 0 0 3333 ( 3 ) 2 1 0 00 066 2288 2288 FFAX AX 0 0 33 33 ( 3 ) 2 1 0 066 2288 2299 00

EEMAIL MAIL m manoirhotel@opengolfclub.com anoirhotel@opengolfclub.com

* Price per person sharing a double inclusive of 2 nights, buffet breakfast, one welcoming dinner excl. drinks and 3 rounds of golf at Le Touquet G.C. Valid midweek from 12th April to 26th October 2013. Subject to availability.

THE NEXT ISSUE

Great Golf

Magazine

... and the journey continues Up, up, and away, the autumn issue is already at hand. Expect more exciting locations covering Asia, the US, Europe and closer to home. As always there will be features on those must have products along with spa, food & wine.

As well as making sure that we are available at all ABC1 locations in the UK, Great Golf Magazine is now also on hand to our fellow Scandinavians through SAS, and we will be expanding further into the Nordic countries over the coming issues.

We have a new website going live and we are encouraging readers to leave feedback and comments for any resorts and courses that they may visit. Along with this, there will be blogs from our roving journalists so that you can keep track of where they are in the world.

We are also introducing a GGM members club where people can sign up and receive exclusive deals and, as always, online versions of all issues are available to be read or downloaded so there is no reason to not stay informed.

Why not subscribe to Great Golf Magazine and make sure that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss an issue. Just visit our website to be redirected to Unique Magazines who will be happy to take your order. www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

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