Great Golf Magazine Autumn 2015

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No.3. 2015 Great Golf Magazine

Great Golf Europe's No.1 golf lifestyle magazine

No.3. 2015

ÂŁ4.95 Free for members

100 pages

ARIZONA

POWER AND LUXURY, IN PERFECT HARMONY

WWW.ASTONMARTIN.COM Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the Aston Martin Rapide S: urban 19.5 (14.5); extra-urban 9.1 (31); combined 12.9 (21.9). CO2 emissions 300 g/km. The mpg/fuel economy figures quoted are sourced from official regulated test results obtained through laboratory testing. They are for comparability purposes only and may not reflect your real driving experience, which may vary depending on factors including road conditions, weather, vehicle load, and driving style.

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Great Golf Europe's No.1 golf lifestyle magazine

No.3. 2015

£4.95 Free for members

Great Golf

100 pages

Golf Club of Estrella photo, Lonna Tucker

Contents

ARIZONA

TRAVEL FEATURES

16 Wish you were here 20 Golf & the City - Turin 24 Arizona – The Golf State 32 Rovos Rail – Luxury on wheels 46 Georgia - The pearl of The Golden Isles 60 New York – A Tale of two courses PRODUCTS

78 ZEPP – Shooting from the hip LUXURY

40 Patek Philippe – The time machine 54 BMW – Fast and furious 66 Cordings – A Thoroughly British Affair PROPERTY

72 St Andrews – Home comforts SPA & FOOD

82 New York – Spa in the city 88 A slice of the Big Apple 14 Win a Three Night Stay for two at Machrihanish Dunes Scotland with 2 rounds of golf.

Sea Island, Georgia

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

TOURBILLON RM 38-01 G-SENSOR BUBBA WATSON Manual winding tourbillon movement Baseplate, bridges made in grade 5 titanium G-force indicator Free sprung balance with variable inertia Fast rotating barrel Barrel pawl with progressive recoil Winding barrel teeth and thirs-wheel pinion central involute profile Spline screws for bridges and case Balance: Glucydur, 2 arms, 4 setting screws, inertia moment 11.50mg.cm2, angle of lift53° Frequency: 21’600 vph (3Hz) Case in ceramic TZP-G for the bezel and caseback Anglage and polishing by hand Satin finished surfaces Limited edition of 50 pieces

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GREAT GOLF HOLIDAYS

y a id l o H e h t k o o b w o Read the article – N ing Portal: Golf Holiday Book ct re ays.net Di e Th – s ay www.greatgolfholid th wi ct Great Golf Holid re di ok bo , Golf Holiday Take control of your

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Play Where The Pros Play, Train { and Live }

“It doesn’t feel like work to practice here.”

“What a great place to come when my game needs help.”

JONATHAN BYRD

JOE DURANT

“Practicing at a place where some of the best in the game learned to play gives you an awesome feeling inside.”

“Only place I know where you can work on your game with the best in the world and feel the spray of the ocean.”

HARRIS ENGLISH

LUCAS GLOVER

“I have been coming here since I was a kid and it has helped make me the player I am.”

“Being from Iowa, I know a little about the Field of Dreams, and this is golf ’s version.”

“It is such a special place that it is hard to say you only learn how to play golf there.”

“There are not enough words to explain it; you have to come experience it yourself.”

BRIAN HARMAN

ZACH JOHNSON

CHRIS KIRK

MATT KUCHAR

“This is where I learned the game from my father, practiced with my brother, and introduced the game to my son.”

DAVIS LOVE III

“It’s the best place in the world to work on my game and my whole family loves Sea Island.”

“Being on the PGA TOUR, it’s hard to imagine that my home facility is the best.”

BRANDT SNEDEKER

HUDSON SWAFFORD

Home of Two of the Top Ten Resorts in the Continental U.S. for Three Years in a Row Travel + Leisure 2015 World’s Best Awards

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866-920-6761

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Great GolfMagazine 30 Eridge Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8HR United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1892 544 872 www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

GOLF TRAVEL YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

MANAGING DIRECTOR

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

Colin Morrison

W

hat drives us on, here at Great Golf Media, to bring you the most informative Golf Travel & Lifestyle Publication to be found anywhere? Quite simply, a desire to provide our readers with information that is not available anywhere else.

Do you only want to read about how the golf pros are doing in the rankings, and do you need another publication espousing the benefits of changing entire sets of golf clubs every few months? I think not!

No, our criteria is very simple, where do you want to go, where do you want to play, and what else do you want to do when you get there. Add in a good mixture of other subjects of interest, and you have a publication whose purpose is to inspire, not force feed.

Now it gets even more interesting, because we have just launched Great Golf Holidays, our direct booking portal.

OK, here’s a question for you; do you really need to book your golf holiday through a tour operator? In some instances yes, but would it not be cheaper to find all options on one site and then book direct with the Golf Resort? No middle man, just book and go. Surely in this age of super-fast internet, if you can access all your choices on one site, this must be a better option.

Great Golf Holidays already have over 150 Golf Resorts/Hotels and Operators signed up and our aim is to have as many possible choices for all locations around the world, both direct bookings and if you so choose, with one of our registered tour operators. Just go to www.greatgolfmedia.com , click on holidays and start planning.

Information and access to booking, all with Great Golf Media.

Happy Golfing wherever you go.

The Team 10

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EDITOR

Nils Bjornes nils@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

Ketil Plassgaard ketil@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Karim Ullah karim@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk CONSULTANT EDITOR

Peter Ellegard peter@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk LUXURY PRODUCTS

Angus Davies angus@escapement.uk.com SUB EDITORS

Sophie Morrison Louise Candy CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

Peter Ellegard Angus Davies Dena RochĂŠ Robert Kaufman Mark Alexander Mike Kaas-Stock Published by IPB Publishing Ltd Company No 6484115 Printed by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk For advertising enquiries please contact karim@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written consent of Great Golf Magazine UK

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BC_Moroc GolfMonth 03-14_Layout 1 03/03/2014 10:57 Page 1

Marrakech Luxury Golf in Morocco at the Royal Palm Marrakech

Set on an exclusive estate just ten minutes from the centre of the city, Royal Palm Marrakech is the perfect haven from which to make the most of this amazing destination.

Comfort and relaxation are built into the DNA of this exquisite hotel.

Luxury furnishings abound and every suite has its own spacious

terrace or balcony with views towards the Atlas Mountains.

There are also 12 superb Family Villas which come with their own pools. Delicious cuisine is served in four separate restaurants, there’s a Clarins Spa, tennis courts, squash court and complimentary children’s club for 3 to12 year olds.

For golfers the superb onsite Royal Palm Golf Course is an added treat with special privileges for hotel guests. The Par 72 Golf course is a great challenge for all levels of golfer and the views up towards the Atlas Mountains and extensive practice facilities complete the excellent golf experience.

For more information or to book a holiday to Royal Palm Marrakech call Beachcomber on 01483 445 618 Mauritius • Seychelles • Marrakech • Dubai • Abu Dhabi

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COMPETITION

WIN A THREE NIGHT STAY FOR TWO AT MACHRIHANISH DUNES SCOTLAND WITH 2 ROUNDS OF GOLF. The Quintessential Scottish Seaside Resort Village. Luxurious stone cottages, the world’s most natural golf course, two lovingly restored historic hotels, a rejuvenating full-service spa, and five restaurants and pubs make Machrihanish Dunes Scotland’s

M O S T E XC I TING NEW HOLIDAY DESTINATION

THE COMPETITION INCLUDES

TO ENTER, GO TO;

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Abbey Park, St Andrews

Best Luxury Home 2015: Sumptuous five-bedroom townhouses in the home of golf.

We are delighted to offer prestigious five-bedroom townhouses in the historic town of St Andrews. Visit our showhome to view the style and sophistication of these spacious homes.

Call 0845 890 9440, visit robertsonhomes.co.uk Abbey Walk, St Andrews KY16 9LB, open Thurs - Mon, 10:30 - 17:30 We’re also offering elegant homes in Newton Mearns, Elgin, Chatelherault, Inverness, Auchterarder and, coming soon, Bothwell and Strathaven.

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GREAT COURSES

Wish you were here...

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MAZAGAN BEACH RESORT www.mazaganbeachresort.com

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GREAT COURSES

Wish you were here...

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GRAN CANARIA GOLF www.grancanariagolf.com

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GOLF & THE CITY

Tee and truffles

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T

urin is rich in history. For several centuries it was the seat of the House of Savoy, one of the oldest royal families in the world, becoming Italy’s first capital city after the country’s unification in 1861. Today it is famous for being the home of the Fiat car empire and the Turin Shroud, for its castles and cafés, and for superb cuisine that includes exquisite red wines and the rare white truffle. This culinary treasure, worth more than its weight in gold and far more expensive than the more common black truffle, is mainly found in Piedmont’s hilly Langhe area around the city of Alba, an hour’s drive south.

Turin is also passionate about sport. With the snow-capped Alps on its doorstep, it hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006. It is home to football giants Juventus and is the hub of a collection of more than 40 golf clubs located across the Piedmont region, among them some of Italy’s finest.

Nowhere do Turin’s attributes combine better with golf than at Royal Park I Roveri. It is set within the walled, forested La Mandria regional park, a former royal hunting reserve, 15km from Turin and close to the UNESCO-listed Reggia di Venaria royal palace, the largest of the Savoy residences.

WELCOMES VISITORS. Founded and still owned by the billionaire Agnelli family – synonymous with Fiat since Giovanni Agnelli established the car maker back in 1899 and still its largest shareholder – Royal Park I Roveri is an exclusive members’ club but extends a warm welcome to visiting golfers. So it would have been rude to turn down an invitation to experience its fairways and the delights of Turin and its environs.

Before joining my fellow invitees, who were coming from all over Europe, my early flight meant I was also able to play another of Piedmont’s golfing gems: the beautiful Golf Club Biella Le Betulle, around 45 minutes north of Turin. Draped over undulating slopes at the foot of the Alps, and just 20 minutes from

the town of Ivrea that gave birth to another famous Italian marque, Olivetti, the club’s name derives from the silver birch trees that hug the fairways and huddle round its greens and tees alongside chestnut trees and centuries-old oaks.

The course is noted for spectacular alpine views that include the Matterhorn. Sadly, despite being August, a rogue weather front meant that my host and playing partner, Riccardo Colombo from inbound tour operator Top Golf Holiday, and I could barely see our tee shots land through the low cloud that enveloped us, making for a very soggy round.

STUNNING COURSE. What we could see of the course looked stunning as the holes clambered up and down wooded inclines.

Designed by British architect John Morrison and opened in 1958, there is nothing overly fancy about Biella yet, at over 7,100 yards from the back tees and with a par of 73, it is an excellent test of golf. Complementing the course is an understated but wellappointed clubhouse and adjacent lodge, providing 16 rooms.

I joined the rest of the group that evening for dinner in our home for the next three nights, the lovely Relais Bella Rosina boutique hotel located within La Mandria park close to the Agnellis’ golf course. Particularly enjoyable were the hors d’oeuvres of prosciutto and Grana Padano cheese washed down by a fine, sparkling white Erbaluce di Caluso Spumante – Piedmont’s answer to Prosecco – from the Tenuta Roletto vineyard. Over the coming days we would become well acquainted with both that and Piedmont’s Barbera, Barolo and Barbaresco red wines.

Originally an 18th century farmhouse, Bella Rosina was used

by Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the unified Italy, as a holiday home and hunting base.

Royal Park I Roveri is elegance personified, although strangely for a club so closely associated with Fiat – whose brands include Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia, Maserati and Chrysler marques Dodge and Jeep – the club recently signed a

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GOLF & THE CITY

sponsorship deal with VW-owned Audi and has reserved parking spaces for members with Audis.

ITALIAN OPEN. The club offers two 18-hole courses and extensive practice areas while other facilities include a sinuous outdoor pool with solarium, gym, convention centre and a restaurant serving up Piedmontese classics.

Both courses stretch to just shy of 7,200 yards and each has very different characteristics. The original track, laid out by design maestro Robert Trent Jones Sr in 1971, weaves through stands of majestic oaks and has hosted the Italian Open four times. Streams wind in front of the greens of the six opening holes and on four of the back nine.

Mountains beautifully frame several fairways, and elevated tees on a couple of holes, notably the short par-3 6th, give glorious views. The house behind the 7th green belongs to former Juventus hero, and now avid golfer, Pavel Nedved. Another one-time Juve star, Carlos Tevez, frequently played Royal Park.

The second course, Pramerica, was designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry and opened at the end of 2013. It is a much more open layout and the nearby mountains are everpresent as backdrops, spectacularly so mirrored in the early morning calm in two large lakes that skirt the 2nd and 11th holes and the 15th and 16th fairways.

ROYAL PALACE. After golf one afternoon, we visited the nearby old town of Venaria Reale to tour the magnificent Reggia di Venaria royal palace complex, standing in over 120 acres of formal gardens. The imposing early 18th century palace is one of the grandest examples of Baroque architecture and art, the highlights being its magnificent painted ceilings and the vaulted, chequerboard-floored Great Gallery.

The palace has only been open to the public since 2007, following the EU’s largest cultural restoration project that cost 235 million euros and took 10 years to complete.

We dined a few steps from the main gate in the old town in the charming Passami Il Sale osteria, where we enjoyed simple, traditional fare that included a selection of Piedmontese starters and a main course of Fassone beef, a regional delicacy. You can also stay in a studio or apartment in the heart of the old town at the restaurant’s Residence Il Frutteto B&B. Besides the courses we played, Turin’s golf offerings include the 36-hole Torino Golf Club, a former Italian Open host also in 22

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

La Mandria park and where the Molinari brothers learnt their trade, while Piedmont’s other top clubs include the 27-hole Castelconturbia and 36-hole Bogogno and Margara golf clubs.

The golf season runs from March to November.

FRIENDLY AND INTIMATE. Allow plenty of time to explore Turin.

With a slew of new hotels built for the Olympics, you might even want to base yourself there. The city is full of stately architecture but with its grand squares and tree-lined boulevards full of people perambulating, watching street musicians and performers or relaxing outside cafés, it has a friendly and intimate feel.

There are churches, museums, palaces, art galleries, theatres and libraries galore to visit. Must-sees include the city’s towering symbol, the Mole Antonelliana, which was originally built as a synagogue but now houses Italy’s National Film Museum; the Museo Egizio, the largest Egyptian art museum outside Cairo; Turin’s 15th century cathedral, housing a copy of the Turin Shroud bearing the supposed imprint of Jesus from when his body was wrapped in it after his crucifixion; the lavish Palazzo Reale (royal palace), home to the Savoy monarchy for three centuries and overlooking the Piazza Castello; and the National Automobile Museum just outside the city, displaying more than 200 cars.

To truly capture the city’s spirit, sit back with a cake and espresso coffee or Piedmontese wine outside one of its many cafés, the decorative interiors of which seem stuck in a time warp.

Plan your visit during white truffle season, from late September to November, and you can take in a truffle festival or even join a truffle-hunting expedition, through Top Golf Holiday.

And if you want a reminder of Turin, you can buy white truffle pasta and other truffle-flavoured products such as honey and risotto from specialist gourmet company Tartuflanghe to enjoy at home. One mouthful of truffle tagliatelle was enough to transport GGM me back there.

More information: Top Golf Holiday: www.topgolfholiday.com Tourismo Torino e Provincia: www.turismotorino.org Royal Park I Roveri: www.royalparkgolf.it Golf Club Biella Le Betulle: www.golfclubbiella.it Relais Bella Rosina: www.bellarosina.it Osteria Passami Il Sale: www.passamiilsale.it Tartuflanghe: www.tartuflanghe.com Tenuta Roletto: www.tenutaroletto.it

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ARIZONA

Troon North Golf Club

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Golf State 25

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“W

hat is that?” my golf partner asked me following a search for the ball. I had sliced off the tee box into Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, surrounding WeKo-Pa Golf Course. “It’s a golf ball but it’s not mine,” I replied. Clearly, that was not what he meant.

On second glance, I looked downward at my shoes only to rapidly react, “Holy jumping cholla!”

Not only did I appear with another player’s errant golf ball but I also emerged with a bonus trophy known as a Cylindropuntia fulgida (a.k.a. ‘jumping cholla’) stuck to my shoe. Apparently, this frisky Southwestern native cactus clings to clothing or exposed skin from merely the slightest brush to cause a sting far worse than hitting a ball OB. 26

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

So, desert golf rule #2 – right after the most important one to stay hydrated – is do not wander the barren landscape hunting for lost balls or you may also be the victim of rule #3 – beware of rattlesnakes!

Nature’s gifts in the desert appear in many forms to wreak havoc on your game but, if treated properly, they can contribute to one of the most beautiful and serene environments to coexist with your clubs. And that is exactly what lures golfers from around the globe to one the world’s finest golf destinations, Scottsdale, Arizona.

207 GOLF COURSES. From a drone’s perspective, the Valley of

the Sun is a foundation for 207 golf courses seeded with a puzzle of 1,223 fairways and greens linked by a magnificent desert oasis.

So, when golfers arrive in Scottsdale, there is never a shortage

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We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

We-Ko-Pa Golf Club

of options to tee it up. The dilemma is deciding where. As thrilling as they all are, 72 of those interconnecting puzzle pieces can be discovered at two of the desert’s most celebrated public facilities: We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (Cholla and Saguaro courses) and Troon North Golf Club (Monument and Pinnacle courses).

The 36-hole experience at We-Ko-Pa GC is stitched into the arid terrain of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, an Indian reservation created in 1903, bordering the eastern edge of Scottsdale and surrounded by spectacular 360-degree views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstitions.

The other noticeable visual highlight fringing upon golfers is what’s missing – not one single home or condo distraction lining the fairways. Along with the award-winning 21,000-square foot clubhouse, it is a pristine desert golf experience where the bluer-

than-blue skies and greener-than-green fairways are a striking contrast to the constant changing desert hues.

WE-KO-PA. Given the timeline of when golf first arrived in the

Scottsdale area in 1920, We-Ko-Pa has been the relatively new kid in town since the Cholla Course (designed by Scott Miller) was added to the landscape in 2001. It was immediately recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the ‘Top 10 New Golf Courses in the World’.

While both the Cholla and Saguaro layouts provide an encounter with raw golf in the desert, each confronts players with varying challenges depending upon knowledge or skill to navigate a ball around a rather wild environment.

“I think the biggest difference between courses lies in how the architects worked with the land,” explains Matthew Barr, general 27

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Troon North Golf Club

Golf Club of Estrella

manager at We-Ko-Pa. “On Cholla, Miller moved quite a bit of dirt around to form some of the changes in undulations and is more in line with what you might think of as desert golf, with pod-to-pod targets. On the other hand, Coore and Crenshaw left Saguaro the way Mother Nature had created it and established more of a traditional layout in a desert setting. They also provided forgiving fairways by making them wider, but the green complexes are a little bit smaller and more complicated than Cholla.

“So anyone intimidated by the desert will typically gravitate towards Saguaro soon after hearing about wider fairways. Cholla’s not unfair, by any stretch, with plenty of landing area but it’s just not always as visible off the tee.”

SHORT DOGLEG. The opening hole at the 6,607-metre Cholla

Course immediately sets the desert tone. It has an elevated tee 28

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Troon North Golf Club

shot onto a relatively short, 321-metre dogleg par-4 that allows players to use any club in their bag. One player was dialed in when he chose to hit driver from the purple tees at 304 metres and wound up with the only ace ever recorded here to go three under after one hole!

Probably the most talked about hole is #8. This lengthy par-5 at 553 metres from the tips starts with a forgiving tee shot, but is followed with a risky second shot to a narrowing fairway leading to a green surrounded by a sandy wash. Typically, the third shot will play 137-155 metres, which is unusual for a par-5.

At the slightly shorter 6,370-metre Saguaro, Coore and Crenshaw placed great emphasis on designing the layout to be walking-friendly, with tees and greens built close together and walking paths leading from the tee box directly to the fairway.

Weaving through the natural contours of the land adjacent to

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Cholla, Saguaro offers a much gentler feel.

“Holes number 14 and 18 are really great holes,” says Barr.

“The 14th is a par-5 with a split fairway and a fairly small green.

The 465-metre 18th is a long par-4 that has left many people wondering why it’s not a par-5. Coore suggested he was limited because the 17th green was too close to the tee area. He didn’t want to make a short par-4 by moving the 18th tee box on the other side of the wash from where it currently sits. So it’s a very difficult finishing hole.”

To ease any agony, however, after sinking the final putt, the best shot on the course takes place at the 19th hole.

ESTRELLA. If you’re a fan of post-round watering holes, the Golf Club at Estrella, situated on the Valley of the Sun’s western edge, is a very enticing stop on the desert golf menu. Fill out a short

survey after 18 holes and you’ll even receive a free drink. But first, you’ll get to enjoy a 6,528-metre layout designed by junior Golden Bear (Jack Nicklaus II). Fairways roll across the natural contours of diverse terrain and elevated tees provide dramatic vistas of the Sierra Estrella Mountains. Like his father, Nicklaus II crafted his inaugural Arizona golf course experience in the traditional sense – challenging, yet playable, for all skill levels and for players to make use of every club in their bag TROON NORTH. Within the borders of Scottsdale, two courses at

Troon North were carved out at the Pinnacle Peak foothills.

Starting with the Monument Course in 1990 (designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Moorish), followed by the Pinnacle in 1996, designed by Weiskopf.

The list of honors bestowed upon these two courses is so long 29

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Troon North Golf Club

With magnificent boulders and discriminating use of grass, the 36 holes at Troon North have long be revered as the role model for all target golf experiences that have since sprouted up in the Scottsdale desert that the Troon North website highlights those only as far back as 2008, but currently they both appear on Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses You Can Play’ at #25 (Pinnacle) and #54 (Monument).

When Monument first opened at the then-astronomical green fee of $80, Troon Golf supported the cost up by setting the standard for the ‘country club for a day’ atmosphere at many golf courses around the world. From the moment you drive up to the front entry until your golf bag is loaded back in the car after the round, the polished customer service is exceeded only by the exquisite conditions of the courses.

ROLE MODEL. With magnificent boulders and discriminating use

of grass, the 36 holes at Troon North have long be revered as the role model for all target golf experiences that have since sprouted up in the Scottsdale desert. And while there are many, one of the major advantages still with Troon North is location.

“For all the public courses that can be played in the Scottsdale area, our elevation at 790-850 metres above sea level is higher than most so it tends to be a bit cooler here, which definitely helps during the summertime,” notes Mitch Harrell, vice president and general manager at Troon North. “Also, because we’re situated on top of a hill with plenty of boulder outcroppings and cactus, that lends to some pretty dramatic vistas, not unlike what one might see at places like The Boulders or We-Ko-Pa.” In 2007, however, Troon took a huge gamble to alter two highly acclaimed courses by bringing back Weiskopf to re-route both Pinnacle and Monument, which had tended to play very differently. Originally, the routing of Monument was well thought out with plans to incorporate a sub-division whereby the course would traverse between the homes that tended to be higher up.

But after Pinnacle joined the landscape, the two nines of each course didn’t seem to flow contiguously with the land so Weiskopf combined the front nine of both courses and likewise with the back nine.

WEISKOPF PERSONALITY. “Pre-renovation, the two courses were pretty different,” says Harell. “Post-renovation, they meld together pretty well and since Weiskopf was involved both times, there’s enough of his personality in both golf courses that made for an easy marriage.”

As far as playability, the 6,424-metre Pinnacle course, which 30

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

became better suited for walking and, perhaps, a bit tougher than its sister course, starts out with several target holes forcing golfers to hit the ball in the right spot, after which the course loosens up.

On the flip side, once getting past the very intimidating and difficult first hole (par-4, 444 yards) with a code name of ‘Hidden Green’, the 6,465-metre Monument course is the more dramatic of the two with its hypnotizing views.

Both courses maintain a notch on Scottsdale’s golf bucket list, but when it comes to which may have the edge on the number of rounds played, according to Harrell, it lies in the alphabet. “When people book golf online, ‘M’ comes before ‘P’ so, Monument is the first one seen.”

Whichever course you chose, you can’t go wrong – with views to die for and top-rated, challenging courses to play, Arizona really is the golf state.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

H IM M E R L A N D GO L F & S PA R E S O R T 2 0 . -2 3 . A U GU S T 2 0 1 5

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Garia Roadster - with lithium batteries

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LUXURY on wheels Photos: Rovos Rail and Peter Ellegard.

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H

aving endured a daily four-hour rail commute for 17 years on the then worst train line in Britain (nicknamed the ‘Cattle Truck Line’), I have always hankered after a more luxurious train experience.

Despite my commuting hell I enjoy rail travel, watching the scenery pass like an ever-changing kaleidoscope. So I jumped at the offer of a trip aboard the Rovos Rail train from Durban to Pretoria, with two nights in my own deluxe cabin and a huge bed.

Luxury rail journeys operate all over the world. Named after

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the visionary who founded it 30 years ago and who still greets passengers at its terminus in South Africa’s capital, Rovos Rail is a cut above the rest.

The company styles itself as the world’s most luxurious train and its Bentley-green carriages are emblazoned with the slogan, Pride of Africa. Neither is an idle boast. Everything about the train, from the elegant carriages to its attentive staff and fine cuisine, is exquisite.

There are four full train sets, each comprising up to 22 carriages and carrying 72 passengers. Mart Marais, the train manager on

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my journey, talks me through the layout as we chat at the sumptuously furnished bar, gently clattering through the KwaZulu-Natal countryside. Trains can be shortened so that five rail journeys can operate at any one time. On mine, there are just 27 of us in 11 carriages, pampered by 15 staff.

THE HISTORY. The Rovos Rail story began when entrepreneur Rohan Vos bought several carriages at an auction of old railway stock in 1985. The original intention to restore them as a private family rail caravan ran out of steam because of high costs.

However, when South African Railways gave Vos permission to run a train and sell tickets, the plan to operate vintage train tours for fare-paying passengers was born.

The first journey, with just four fare-paying passengers, family and press, took place in 1989. After nearly hitting the buffers in 1993 when bankruptcy was narrowly averted, the operation has gone from strength to strength – save for a devastating tragedy in 2010, when 17 carriages of one train derailed just outside Pretoria, leaving three dead and many injured.

Over the years, Vos has collected and restored old railway 35

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Lost City Golf Course, Sun City

carriages and steam locomotives like a model railway enthusiast reliving his youth. Except that his collection is no miniature attic train set. These are beautiful, full-size works of art, with wonderful hard-wood panelling and the attention of a stately cruise liner from yesteryear.

The steam locomotives, named after his four children, mother, wife and dog, sadly no longer pull the carriages on the state-run railway lines, because water and coaling facilities have disappeared.

Instead, SAR-provided diesel or electric locos haul the trains beyond Rovos Rail’s colonial-style Pretoria station, where they are swapped to or from one of the historic steam engines. On my trip, Marjorie – built in Scotland in 1953 and named after Rohan’s mother – was to pull our train in to its final stop, although sadly I didn’t get to experience that due to a tight travel schedule.

The next stage of my trip was the three-day Durban Safari, which can also begin in Pretoria. Other journeys include another three-day tour, from Pretoria to Cape Town, a three-night journey between Pretoria and Victoria Falls or a longer six-day Cape Town-Victoria Falls option. Venturing beyond South Africa, a 36

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

nine-day Namibia Safari trip operates between Pretoria and Swakopmund, while an epic 15-day Cape Town-Dar es Salaam tour travels through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. All can be taken in either direction.

GOLF TOUR. For golfers, there are two dedicated, nine-day golf

rail journeys that also cater for non-players. The Golf Safari starts and ends in Pretoria, while the African Golf Collage operates both ways between Cape Town and Pretoria.

On the Golf Safari, five rounds are played as the train heads to Sun City and on to Durban before looping through KwaZuluNatal via the coast to the southern edge of the Kruger National Park and back to Pretoria, with golf bags transported to the different courses.

First stop is the sprawling Sun City resort. There, golfers tee off on either the desert-style Lost City Course, where the 13th green is edged by a crocodile pit filled with alarmingly large Nile crocodiles (I resisted the temptation to retrieve my lost tee shot when I played there once), or the parkland Gary Player Country

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For golfers, there are two dedicated, nine-day golf rail journeys that also cater for non-players. The Golf Safari starts and ends in Pretoria, while the African Golf Collage operates both ways between Cape Town and Pretoria.

Champagne Sports Resort

Leopard Creek

Club layout, home to the European Tour and Sunshine Toursanctioned Nedbank Golf Challenge. Non-golfers enjoy a game drive in the neighbouring Pilanesberg Game Reserve and time in Sun City.

Day four takes golfers to Champagne Sports Resort, in the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg Mountains. The course, which I have previously played, serves up breath-taking views of the towering peaks. Non-golfers tour the Boer War battlefields close by. Golf at Durban Country Club follows the next day, with a city tour as the alternative.

Crossing into Swaziland, golfers play the scenic Royal Swazi Sun course, while non-golfers enjoy another game drive followed by shopping. Final golfing stop is Leopard Creek, bordering Kruger Park; where resident buck, giraffe and hippo are among the wildlife on the course. Other passengers take a game drive in the Kruger.

The African Golf Collage journey follows the same route in reverse, from Pretoria to Durban with golf at Leopard Creek and Durban Country Club’s Beachwood course, skirting Lesotho after

traversing a pass through the Drakensbergs. It then continues on to Durban via Port Elizabeth for golf at Humewood Golf Club, and Garden Route gateway George, where golfers tee off at Ernie Els’ Oubaai course and a course at the top-rated Fancourt resort.

There was no golf on this part of my journey, but I was playing courses along the KwaZulu-Natal coast beforehand and afterwards, so I was content to enjoy the train and excursions.

ALL-INCLUSIVE. After boarding in Durban, I quickly slipped into the train’s routine. Once I had unpacked in my spacious, airconditioned suite – complete with en-suite bathroom including full-size shower – I joined my fellow travellers for sandwiches, canapés and a huge choice of drinks if you didn’t want the proffered Champagne.

Rovos trains are all-inclusive, so you can have whatever you want, whenever you want; a dedicated host is on-hand 24 hours a day, summoned by the telephone in your suite.

The open-air balcony at the back of the intimate observation car gives wonderful views and makes for convivial chat. The 37

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other passengers included a young South African Airways pilot and her husband, a group of English golfers heading to Victoria Falls and another English group en route to join the Queen Mary in Cape Town.

Almost immediately after leaving Durban, the train snakes along sinuous tracks through the gloriously scenic Valley of 1000 Hills, locals grinning and waving at you as it passes under bridges or through stations.

Meals are announced by a gong, and everyone heads to the ornate dining car, where seating is open at tables of two or four. Lunch and dinner are both four-course affairs, each course served with selected South African red or white wines or one of your own choice.

The food was divine. Favourite dishes include the sweet potato and lychee soup with peanut butter cream; grilled Cape rock lobster tails; a seafood papardelle of salmon, calamari, prawns and green lip mussels; and sweets of panna cotta with butterscotch sauce and cinnamon-flavoured pineapple carpaccio. Not forgetting the superb assortment of cheeses.

Before dinner one day, I visit the kitchen and marvel at how the two female chefs and two ‘vegetable ladies’ can produce such amazing creations in such a cramped, constantly-rocking space.

Head chef Sarah Serumula, a 20-year Rovos veteran who started as a vegetable lady, says dishes cover traditional South African plates such as bobotie (curried mince pie), ostrich and kudu, and international fare like lamb shank.

Excursions are the highlights of the journey. We did three: Lions River Station to visit the Ardmore Ceramics Gallery and watch local Zulu artists hard at work; a battlefields tour at Spionkop (the site of one of the most futile and bloody battles of the Boer Wars); and a game drive at the Nambiti Reserve .

TALES OF THE LAND. The Spionkop battle involved three giants

of history – Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi and General Louis Botha, later South Africa’s first prime minister. Looking out across the Tugela River and plains, historian Raymond Heron chillingly retold the dramatic events that unfolded on the slopes of Spionkop in January 1900.

In fact, the Kop end of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium is named after 38

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

Spionkop, in tribute to the many soldiers from Lancashire regiments who died in the battle.

The game drive was also impressive. I enjoyed an afternoon tour in the Nambiti reserve, which yielded close-up encounters with kudu, buffalo, lions, giraffe and white rhino; a fitting finale to the trip.

After each excursion, the staff welcomed us back with cold towels and glasses of Champagne and wine. As for the nights on the train, I slept like a baby. Each night it pulled up at a quiet station or in a rural siding at around 11pm, so by the time I got to bed after the obligatory nightcap it had stopped moving. It only travels at night to make up for delays and our train kept good time.

I still take the Fenchurch Street line from time to time to attend functions and meetings in London. If only I could have my Rovos Rail bed whenever I do.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

TEST Annonser_Layout 1 02.07.15 16.15 Side 2

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Klokker_St Enodoc 14.10.2015 13.57 Side 1

GREAT WATCHES

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MACHINE

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GREAT WATCHES atek Philippe timepieces are renowned for their no-compromise construction, where cutting edge know-how is paired with traditional craftsmanship in order to create impressive horological creations.

The Swiss company’s timepieces represent the epitome of watchmaking and are the darlings of the auction world, often commanding dizzyingly high prices. In 2014, the ‘Henry Graves Supercomplication Pocket Watch’ (1933), equipped with 24 complications, set a new all-time world record, selling for CHF 23,237,000 (circa £15.8m at the time of writing). However, when a company infuses its timepieces with magnificent artistic flair, perhaps discussions of fiscal matters appear rather unseemly.

To understand the cachet of Patek Philippe, a journey into the past is necessary. It is only with greater understanding of this historical watch company that one can truly appreciate why the cognoscenti revere these watches.

P

HISTORY LESSON. Huguenots fleeing persecution in

catholic France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, settled in Geneva. Bringing many skills with them, they joined other refugees from France who were already established in the jewellery and watchmaking industry. This profusion of talent led to the Swiss city becoming a centre of watchmaking expertise.

Polish born, Antoine Norbert de Patek initially joined forces with his compatriot, François Czapek. The duo formed the watchmaking firm Patek, Czapek & Cie in 1839.

However, Patek subsequently heard of a young French watchmaker, Jean-Adrien Philippe, who had ingeniously conceived a keyless winding stem and setting system for pocket watches. The crown, positioned at noon, was revolutionary at the time and Patek invited Philippe to join him, dissolving his partnership with Czapek.

Initially, Philippe was employed as a technical director, but was later made a partner in the company and the maison was renamed Patek, Philippe & Cie - Fabricants à Genève in 1851.

In 1932, Charles and Jean Stern acquired The Patek Philippe Watchmaking Company and their descendants continue to own and operate the company to this day, now led by its president, Thierry Stern.

DIVERSE MODELS. One of the many attributes of Patek Philippe, and a key contributory factor to its success, is the diversity of its product offering. Whilst some watch companies have become synonymous with one or two collections, Patek Philippe has avoided becoming typecast, proffering a diverse array of models.

In 1902, the Genevan watch brand created a series of timepieces for an upscale jeweller in Rio de Janeiro, Gondolo & Labouriau. These watches were aptly named Chronometro Gondolo and Patek continued to supply them up to 1927.

Arguably, the most striking models were produced in the 1920s, capturing the beauty of the Art Deco movement.

Today’s versions, now simply named Gondolo, continue to harness the beauty of this period. Rectangular forms and tonneau-shaped cases vie for the prospective purchaser’s attention, while other models feature more curvaceous lines and brilliant gems.

The Calatrava remains a popular choice with its simple lines and graceful mien. Its origin can be traced to its first incarnation, the Reference 96, released in 1932. This watch

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adopted the minimalist design codes of the Bauhaus movement, with dauphine-shaped hands elegantly interfacing with faceted batons to tell the time. Indeed, such was the appeal of the original model that the current Reference 5123R appears very similar.

Grandmaster Chime. This timepiece is equipped with 20 complications and contains 1,366 movement parts. Few other watch companies are able to surpass this degree of mind-blowing complexity and invention.

GÈRALD GENTA. Arguably the greatest watch designer of the 20th

MÉTIERS D’ART. Beyond the mechanical creativity of Patek Philippe’s timepieces are the numerous artistic crafts practised by the company, often grouped under the umbrella of Métiers d'Art. Engraved cases and dials exploit depth to create pockets of light and shade. Elaborate motifs are the skillful conclusion of deft use of hand tools, which delight loyal clientele. For example, the Reference 5160, a perpetual calendar watch, presented in rose gold, has a delightfully engraved case and lugs. It clearly capitalises over a century of horology expertise. Gem-set cases are another speciality, expertly mounting various precious stones of differing types and various sizes to stunning effect.

To mark its 175th anniversary, Patek Philippe has created a limited series of watches featuring ‘lakeside scenes’ of Lake Geneva, incorporating wood marquetry dials. These intricately patterned dials are staggeringly complex, with the construction comprising many pieces, each meticulously cut from various types of wood.

Lastly, there are enamel dials, which may incorporate one of several techniques. The most challenging to perform is miniature painting where a fine brush, sometimes featuring only one sable hair, is used to impart one shade to a dial. This colour will consist of one or several dots applied to the dial and subject to firing in a kiln at circa 800°C, a technique referred to as ‘grand feu’ enamelling. Enamels do not behave uniformly, so the enameller has to develop empathy for the dial surface.

The process is repeated numerous times as further colours are imparted to the dial, sometimes taking many hours to complete.

It is not unknown for a dial to bubble or crack near the closing stages of realisation, necessitating the enameller to start the timeconsuming process from the beginning.

century was Swiss-born, Gérald Genta. He imaginatively penned several masterpieces for different watch companies, including the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, IWC Ingenieur SL and the Patek Philippe Nautilus.

The Nautilus was released in 1976. Produced in stainless steel, it was contemporary in character, eschewing the customary noble metals typically employed by the maison. The styling was sporty and yet still very elegant. Over the years, the Nautilus collection evolved with various ‘complications’ and colourways being released. However, some design traits are common to all Nautilus models. Parallel, horizontal lines adorn the dials and the cases sport ‘ears’ on their westerly and easterly flanks.

COMPLEXITIES EXPLAINED. To understand the added value

inherent with some of the costlier Patek models, the matter of complications needs to be explained. A complication is any function other than the display of hours, minutes and seconds, for example, some watches feature a ‘world time function’; simultaneously displaying the prevailing time in key cities around the globe.

Alternatively, a ‘chronograph’ is a watch equipped with a stopwatch function. While this is a popular genre of watch, Patek Philippe is known for producing some of the finest examples, as the push-pieces are silky-smooth in movement.

Another complication is an annual calendar that displays the day, date and month on its dial. It mechanically computes, for example, that September consists of 30 days and on reaching the midnight hour of the final day of this month, it automatically calculates that the next day is 1st October. The user needs only to manually adjust the date once per annum, on 1st March.

This degree of complexity is incredible. The perpetual calendar mechanically compensates for February’s fewer days, even making allowance for leap years. With a perpetual calendar, the date only requires adjustment in 2100, 2200, 2300 etc.

In the latter part of 2014, Patek Philippe commenced a year of celebrations, marking its 175th anniversary with the release of the 44

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TIME SERVED TRADITION. When it comes to discussing Patek Philippe, there is much to convey. The movements are finished in time-served tradition to exacting standards. Precision and quality are words that are entwined with the brand’s nomenclature. These high-end watches are steeped in history and they exude excellence.

GGM

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SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA

The pearl of The Golden Isles When it comes to golf tradition in Georgia, there is nothing greater than The Masters at Augusta National. But the quality of golf at Sea Island’s three courses are also tough to surpass. By Robert Kaufman, photos Sea Island

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B

eing a geography buff, I recently learned a bemusing fact that had me eager to locate a map of the United States. Apparently, when Mother Nature was carving the eastern border along the Atlantic Ocean, she took a huge chunk from a southern portion of the coast where the state of Georgia now lies.

That section eventually came to be known as the ‘Georgia bight’ and is physically the westernmost point on the east coast.

But more importantly, it is home to the one of the grande dames of American resorts, Sea Island.

Situated halfway between Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA on the peaceful Golden Isles of Sea Island and St. Simons Island, this is a Georgian peach of a retreat. The Cloister opened as a ‘friendly little inn’ in 1928, and with 8km of private beach it has been benefitting from its location and a feast of nature and recreational activities ever since.

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With its sister resort, The Lodge, having joined the landscape in 2001, Sea Island showcases a boatload of southern hospitality that has helped crown the luxury resort as the only one in the world to have earned four Forbes Five-Star ratings (The Cloister, The Lodge, the Georgian Room restaurant and The Spa at Sea Island) seven years in a row. With those starry accolades, it’s absolutely no surprise this rich nugget continues to glow.

ENGLISH STYLE. Even my coast-to-coast, red-eye flight could not

prevent my eyes from lighting up the instant I entered The Lodge.

An English-style manor with 40 guest rooms, I was warmly received and escorted by an around-the-clock butler to my large room, accentuated by ocean and fairway views. Not to mention every conceivable comfort; ranging from overstuffed chairs and hand-crafted Oriental rugs to spacious marble baths with deepsoaking tubs to a guest request card for me to indicate whether

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I’d prefer nighttime cookies and milk – or just the cookies – delivered to the room.

Day and night, the treats keep coming at Sea Island but it’s up to the guests to decide on the pace of things. Akin to the laid-back style of the Adirondack chairs adorning the manicured lawn at The Lodge, Sea Island provides more than enough casual ambience to restrain any guest from rushing into action. Unless, one takes a peak at the overflowing slate of recreational activities listed in the 10-page, double-sided Planning Guide in the guest rooms.

SO MUCH TO DO. At first glance, even with the marathon agenda arranged during my three-day visit, there was no question I’d merely be scratching the surface of the full experience here.

Boating and fishing? Unfortunately, no time. Tennis at the centre run by French Open doubles winner Luke Jensen? Not on my racket. Shooting school? Probably best I skip that maneuver! Sea

Turtle Dawn Patrol? Seems I just missed the nesting season. Camp Cloister? Sadly, I’m beyond the age limit.

The remaining menu of pursuits I didn’t sample was exhausting to think about but what I did manage to accomplish – golf, kayaking, horseback riding plus golf instruction – kept my adrenaline flowing up to the moment I departed.

EXPANSIVE RESORT. Considering the setting of Sea Island, where

the 175-room, Mediterranean-style Cloister sits surrounded by five miles of private beach on the Atlantic Ocean, is separated from St. Simons Island to the west by part of the largest salt marsh on the eastern seaboard, the size of the resort is expansive.

Shuttles are available throughout the day to transport guests on the 10-minute ride between properties or hop on a complimentary cruiser bicycle for a 30-45 minute leisurely ride along the wide-open bike paths to Sea Island’s gated entrance.

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Here guests are welcomed with a line-up of flags representing all the nations that participated in the 2004 G8 Summit, plus a row of commemorative oaks, initiated with a 12 feet high tree, planted

by President Calvin Coolidge when he visited the property in 1928.

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THE SPA. Following my pedal exercise, I switched gears to

pressed to find another resort that offers the amount of activities as here,” says Kennedy.

“We leverage what we have, that other resorts don’t have, like the marsh and our natural setting. Plus, there are so many southern family traditions carried over from past generations that we hold onto and won’t be found elsewhere.”

more heart-pumping activity with state-of-the-art training equipment in the Cloister Spa. I was afforded just enough time to justify my dinner at Tavola, a rustic Italian eatery inside The Cloister, with Mike Kennedy, director of activities at Sea Island.

“When you add up all the golf, shooting, water sports, the spa, kids’ camps, nature programs and everything else, I would be hard

THE BEGINNING. When it comes to golf in Georgia, there is nothing greater than The Masters but for courses accessible to the general public (at least for guests at Sea Island), the quality of golf at the resort’s three courses is exceptional. Which is somewhat ironic given the game’s origin at Sea Island.

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

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When Howard Coffin, founder of Hudson Motor Company in 1908, and his cousin, A W Jones, began developing the seaside nirvana, both considered golf a complete waste of time. However, it didn’t take long to figure out that golf is what guests wanted to play.

With that admission, well-known golf course architect, Walter Travis, was hired to lay the foundation for the Plantation course that opened in 1928 on St Simons Island, several months before The Cloister was ready for guests.

Some 70 years later, the Plantation, divided by the Avenue of Oaks leading up to The Lodge, underwent an extensive renovation

by Rees Jones to transform it into a ‘true parkland-by-the-sea’ layout with Bermuda fairways, roughs and greens. The course

provides a bit of challenge with lakes, ponds and tidal creeks at seven of the front-side, tree-lined holes while frequent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, St Simons Sound and The Lodge highlight the back nine.

THE SEASIDE. On the opposite side of The Lodge lies the resort’s marquee golf course, Seaside. Originally designed in 1929 at the southern tip of St Simons Island, the ocean-side links course got a complete makeover by Tom Fazio in 1999 and earned a spot on Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses in the United States.

Since 2010, it has been home to the PGA TOUR´s McGladrey Classic, now called The RSM Classic, hosted by Sea Island touring 51

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to experience at least once, he also said, “I wouldn’t want to be standing at the No. 18 tee box on Sunday afternoon of the RSM Classic with a first-place cheque hanging in the balance.”

THE RETREAT. The trio of courses at Sea Island rounds out

with the friendly Retreat Course (6,498 metres) that was originally designed by Joe Lee but had an extensive makeover by Love III and his brother Mark in 2001.

“It’s so much fun for golfers of any level to play,” says Wade. “The par 5s are reachable, the fairways are a bit wider, you can run shots up onto just about every green and it’s typically not as busy as the other courses. Plus, with our newly installed family tees, it’s an excellent place for families to go and not feel like they’re holding people up.”

Undeniably, Sea Island embraces its rich heritage and honours the traditions and spirit of golf but is also not adverse to keeping pace with the modern-day traveller, placing a high commodity on time. ‘Speed-slot’ golf has been introduced to encourage singles or twosomes to tee off weekdays between 7.30am–8.30am and complete their round in three hours or less.

PERFORMANCE CENTRE. For golfers open to stretching

Avenue of Oaks professional and 2016 US Ryder Cup Captain, Davis Love III. “Seaside is clearly the most requested course to play at Sea Island and that has as much to do with the historical factor as anything else and the design is pretty special,” noted John Wade, head golf professional at Sea Island.

What Seaside lacks in length (6,405 metres) to the slightly longer Plantation (6,454 metres) is compensated by the higher difficulty factor. There are no homes on the links-style course, but with Seaside being surrounded by mesmerizing marsh and the exposing winds off the ocean, there is a major premium placed on shot selection, recovery and putting.

VISUAL HOLES. The first major test occurs at the 421-yard, par-4, 4th hole with marsh on the left and a pond on the right, forcing players to drive the ball down the centre of the fairway. The second shot allows plenty of bailout room but it’s more of a visual intimidation than a physical one. The par-4 5th hole is especially tough due to the angle and temptation to bite off more length than you can manage.

It’s hard to imagine the par-4, 407-yard 14th not rated the toughest on the card but with St Simons Sound and Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, it is one of the premier visual holes. The tee shot sets up for a wide-open landing zone but the constant changing coastal winds make it challenging to land the ball on the correct side of the fairway for a clear shot to the red wicker basket (used at a handful of courses in the US) on the green.

While my playing partner, Daniel Wooten, a PGA golf management intern at Sea Island, asserted Seaside is a great place 52

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their golf time to enhance skills, Sea Island’s Golf Performance Centre offers one of the most advanced training grounds in the country, with an all-star staff of Golf Digest’s America’s Greatest Teachers.

From long or short game, putting, club fitting, golf fitness and sports psychology, you’ll get the same instructors that work with Love III and other Sea Island resident PGA Tour players like Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Jonathan Byrd.

It was only a two-minute walk from The Lodge to the practice facility so I really had no excuse not to take full advantage of the opportunity. I surrendered my game to one-on-one sessions with various golf experts. Yes, they all exposed a plethora of flaws in my ability to hit a golf ball, but the true test is whether I’m a good enough student to follow instruction on my next round of golf…

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

O F F I C I A L AC C E S S O R I E S S U P P L I E R TO T H E P G A E U R O P R O T O U R 2 0 1 4

BUILD BRAND VALUE EVENTS • CLUBS • SOCIETIES

10 0 % B r iti s h M a d e • L i f e ti m e g ua r a nte e w w w.g ro ov e f i x .co m • 0 2 0 8 24 0 0 527

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Fast and furious

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H

ow many times have you watched a Formula 1 or Touring Car race and dreamed about racing a high-octane mean machine around a track?

For the past 15 years, BMW has been giving people the chance to do just that at its BMW Performance Centre in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier this year, the motor giant opened the BMW Performance Centre West in the desert in California’s Coachella Valley – and I got the opportunity to try out some of its most potent motors in a twohour driving session.

I had been attending the North America Golf Tourism Convention in nearby Palm Springs and fancied a change of pace.

And, boy, did I get a change of pace…

HOT SPOT. The centre is located close to a place called Thermal – aptly named, as the thermometer had reached a furnace-like 119°F (48°C) two days earlier and was barely cooler when I visited. It is set within The Thermal Club, a motorsports country club that also encompasses two racing circuits, a central motorsports village, paddock with go-karts, plots for members’ trackside villas and a planned clubhouse complete with spa, pool, tennis and kid’s club.

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courses and villas (plots start at $250,000 and buildings average over $1 million – plus the $85,000 entry fee) featuring huge ground-floor garages and first-floor balconies to watch your neighbours race round in their expensive cars.

The BMW centre itself takes up a 32-acre corner with a 1.3mile road course, multipurpose asphalt driving area and skidpan.

A permanent base will open alongside the facility next year but we gathered in a temporary building in the main paddock.

The session began with a 20-minute orientation and safety briefing from our instructor Christopher, a racing veteran with twenty years in motorsports, with a rundown of all the cars we would be driving.

“This is Disneyland on wheels – you get to go out and drive some really fun cars at your limits and have a lot of fun,” he said, whetting our appetites, while warning us to use common sense.

Grabbing a helmet each, we walked to the first line-up of cars – the centre has 120 brand new BMWs for participants to play with. At the front was a two-door M235i coupe; like a fun little go-kart, according to Christopher, but with a powerful 325hp engine. Behind it was a red, two-door M3, and then its four-door sibling, a silver M4, both packing 431hp and both kitted out with carbon ceramic brakes, a $9,000 upgrade.

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Next up was a blue M5, nicknamed ‘The Beast’ by the centre’s staff and boasting the competition package engine option to give 575hp, compared with the standard 563hp. Completing the line were two SUVs, the compact X3 and a white 440hp X6.

DRIVING POSITION. Christopher demonstrated the optimal

driving position and how to hold the steering wheel – nine o’clock and three o’clock, as opposed to the ten-two position I recall from my driving lessons eons ago. He then went through some technical stuff about DSC (Dynamic Stability Control – apparently an electronic aid to help keep you pointing in the right direction), M1 button (a memory setting for suspension, steering, throttle and traction control settings) and M Dynamic Mode (something even more technical).

By now, my brain had started going into information overload mode, and as cars roared past us on the nearby racing circuit my concentration began meandering. So I didn’t take in the rather important point about gearshift modes and the dual clutch transmissions on the M3s, with gearshift paddles either side of the steering wheel.

I found out later that Christopher was telling us if the manual mode button was pressed, which we would be told to do for the

timed laps in the M3s, we had to pull the paddles each time we wanted to change gear as it would not shift gear itself. I would rue missing that vital instruction…

CAR SELECTION. We were then invited to select a car each and follow Christopher round to the BMW performance course, where we would drive along a track marked out by a series of coloured cones for a couple of fast laps behind him before swapping to the next vehicle. I wanted to finish in an M3, so I chose the baby of the bunch, the M235i.

As Christopher set off and explained the different coloured cones that represented braking and turning-in zones over the twoway radios tucked in the doors, we began picking up the pace. I really enjoyed accelerating hard and then stamping on the brakes before flicking the car through the tight corners.

Jumping in the X6 next, I found it rolled disconcertingly but had plenty of oomph and a wonderfully deep, throaty roar when you put your foot down. The X3 had less power and rolled even more, while the M5 was more monster than beast. It had so much power that no sooner did I accelerate than I had to brake hard to avoid going off the course – we had been told one off-course transgression would result in a warning while two would mean sitting 57

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GREAT CARS

Peter Ell egard

out the session. Both the M4 and M3 were a joy to drive, handling responsively and with plenty of muscle in reserve.

all six laps in first gear instead of shifting gear from the first corner!

No wonder my car’s engine was screaming so loudly. He also admitted to having previous racing experience.

FULL THROTTLE. After a formation drive back to the paddock, we

swapped to numbered M3s, my steed being the natty gold number five. Returning to the coned circuit, Christopher told us to “take off in anger” this time, using full throttle. He also mentioned about changing gears, but as I hadn’t heard his previous explanation about the paddles, it meant nothing to me. I thought the gears would just shift automatically. After all, nobody uses stick-shift cars in America.

When my name was called, I gunned it to the first corner, wildly braking, jerking the wheel and repeating for each subsequent turn before slamming on the anchors to stop inside a box marked by red cones. My time of 30.413 seconds was only good enough for third place, though.

I managed to lower it to 29.250 seconds before overcooking it on the last flying lap and incurring a two-second penalty overshooting the box. By then I had edged up to second place, but my colleague Guillaume had streaked round in a best time of 27.749 seconds – 1.5 seconds quicker.

I asked him how he managed that… and realised I had done 58

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SIDEWAYS. Before the prize giving, Christopher took us on exhilarating ‘hot laps’ in an M5, sending the car sideways into every corner and producing clouds of blue smoke from the squealing Continental tyres.

In addition to the two-hour session that we did, which costs $299, BMW offers one-day or two-day car control schools, at $775 and $1,550 respectively. It also provides an M School programme, aimed at teaching teen drivers road skills, and corporate programmes.

The BMW Spartanburg centre offers similar programmes, as well as off-road driving and a BMW factory tour.

As I drove, at a sedate pace, to Palm Springs Airport to fly home that afternoon I was grinning like a Cheshire cat while recalling the morning’s excitement. But I was furious with myself – if only I had thought to shift out of first gear.

GGM

• BMW Performance Centre West: www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Explore/Experience/PDS

Scotland on Steroids

S

cotland is blessed with many famous links courses—but few can match the raw beauty and challenge presented by Machrihanish Dunes. This GB&I Top100 thrill ride has beguiled and bedeviled golfers since the day it opened, while off-course, the resort’s beautifully restored historic hotels, lively pubs, and highly acclaimed restaurants have earned their own fervent followers.

Discover why The Village at Machrihanish Dunes was named Scotland’s Best Resort three times in the past two years. Call +44 1586 810000 or within the UK 0800 151 3701.

GROUP SPECIAL OFFER:

Groups of 8 or more enjoy special pricing from tel:guest +44 (0)1586 000 | e-mail: info@machdunes.com £69 pp to £129 pp & every 8th stays810 free!

The Village at Machrihanish Dunes | Machrihanish, Scotland

www.MachDunes.com

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NEW YORK

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ocated in the Bronx, the luxury golf course which opened in May 2015 is a study in contrasts, from the spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River and Whitestone Bridge, to the less inviting views of nearby neighbourhood housing projects and a cemetery. It is ironic that the city’s most upscale course is located in its most impoverished borough. That being said, Ferry Point made it a priority to hire locally, with 85% New Yorkers, and 90% of those from the Bronx. They also have a program to train local kids to become caddies.

But politics and societal inequalities aside, there is no denying that the Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course will delight top golfers and maybe lure over a major PGA event in the near future.

The public course, built on a former landfill, has been in the works for years, but the project had stalled until Trump stepped in four years ago.

“It’s a great property, with great bones and great location,” said Ron Lieberman Executive Vice President at Trump Tower.

“Donald took a dump, literally, and made it the most spectacular public course in the U.S.”

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CHALLENGING COURSE. The 7,407-yard links-style Ferry Point is

set on almost 200 acres. The course was designed to accommodate all levels from five teeing stations, but the accomplished golfer will truly appreciate it. With its wide fairways, immaculate greens, many landing areas and bunkers and some serious wind to contend with, it certainly provides a challenge. It also plays longer than most, taking on average 4.5 hours to finish a round.

Playing the course, several holes really stand out and are sure to become signatures. Number seven, a boomerang-shaped par-4, is a risk/reward shot with the largest body of water on the course to contend with, not to mention a tight fairway with sand on the other side. This hole might appear easy, but good luck if it's windy!

Number nine, another par-4, delights with gorgeous views of the Whitestone Bridge, and number thirteen is the money shot with the iconic Manhattan Skyline in the background. Don’t let the postcard views take your focus though or there are bogeys waiting to happen.

Number sixteen, the longest par-4 on the course, will turn towards the East River and you’ll have to contend with a marsh, mounds and bunkers making it a thread-the-needle fairway.

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Number seventeen is a fun, 193-yard par-3 that throws bunkers and uphill shots at the golfer. The course ends on a beautiful note with the 576-yard, par-5 number eighteen featuring a water hazard and views of the bridge and river. That's a lot of eye candy all at once.

A $10 million clubhouse is scheduled to open in 2016. If you’re looking to work on your skills, take a lesson from the onsite Michael Breed Academy. Breed was the PGA National Teacher of the Year in 2012.

PELHAM BAY. If Trump is the fancy new kid on the block, Pelham

Bay is the stalwart, with the Pelham Bay course dating to 1901 and the Split Rock course to 1936. Both courses are located just six miles from Ferry Point, in Pelham Bay Park, New York City’s largest green space. The landscapes are so different, though, you’d think they were hours apart.

“Even though you’re in New York City, you feel like you’re upstate in the woods,” said general manager, Monica Davis.

For beginners and those who like to play down the middle, the Pelham Bay course, with its wide fairways, is a delight. The course

is not undulated and there are no significant breaks, but there are plenty of bunkers scattered throughout that force you to play shrewdly. Number fifteen is the only hole where you’ll have to contend with water. The clubhouse at number nine is one of the prettiest holes and the back nine is framed with large weeping willows that add a lot of character to the course.

SPLIT ROCK. The Split Rock course is definitely the more difficult

of the two on the property and will challenge even the most experienced golfer. A good example is number five, a par-5, 515yard whopper that is awkwardly narrow with no room to the right and very little to the left. The green is elevated and hard to hit.

Sure enough, none of the four guys in front of me hit it in two.

Number seven is a visually intimidating hole because all you see are trees, and according to Davis, that psychs many a golfer out.

The addition of tall reeds and bunkers makes you feel like you have to hit the perfect drive or it's game over. And it doesn’t let up, because on number eight you can’t see the landing area on the fairway and there is a bunker on the left. Put too much of a fade or cut on the shot and you’re in the bunker or the woods. The par-4 63

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NEW YORK

number seventeen is the second-largest handicap hole, but there is more room to play with here. The rub is that it’s long, at 448 yards.

It could easily be three shots before you even sniff the green.

The Pelham Bay/Split Rock courses and the Trump Ferry Point course are very different in many ways. Trump is like the special occasion restaurant, whereas the other two are like the pub down the street. Trump’s course has better views, but Pelham’s courses are much more like a traditional north-eastern course. And of course, it costs a lot more to play Ferry Point.

If golfing has left your muscles screaming for relief, before you explore the city, hit my favourite spa at the Peninsula hotel.

Between the treatment and one of the best relaxation rooms of any spa anywhere, you’ll be fully revived and able to take in all the iconic New York experiences waiting out of the door. GGM

GOLF & THE CITY. You don’t think golf when you think New

­

York City, but both properties are only a short drive from Manhattan. (Trump is hoping to have a ferry service at some point.) I don’t think anyone would make the trip across the pond and fail to experience everything else the city has to offer, so definitely base yourself in Manhattan.

If you like the hustle and bustle of Times Square, make the newly renovated Knickerbocker hotel your base, or if you prefer a quieter neighbourhood the boutique Ink48 in Hell’s Kitchen is ideal. And you can never go wrong at iconic New York hotels like The Peninsula or The Plaza.

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GOOD TO KNOW

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FASHION

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Take a clothing company with 176 years of experience, add to the mix a world famous musician as co-owner, and what do you get? A great British institution with a very cool image...

By Mike Kaas-Stock, photos by Cordi ngs

y l h g u o r o h T A

r i a f f A h Britis 67

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veryone knows that it’s in to be a British brand these days. The Chinese know it, the Americans know it, hell, even we know it. So what exactly makes a particular brand famously British?

Not every product that has its roots upon the shores of Albion meets the criteria. Some, by the incorporation of the Union Jack on the label make a bold statement. But then there are others that are just so British that it’s unthinkable to imagine them as anything else. Cordings is in this exclusive group, and then some.

E

Wales and future King George V. An advertisement from 1860 refers to the company as "nautical and sporting waterproofers and tailors" and goes on to list such items as "the new dreadnought coat—warranted to resist the effects of any climate" and "sheet India rubber fishing boots".

It’s no surprise then that in 1871, Sir Henry Morton Stanley was kitted out by Cordings in preparation for his famous journey to find Dr Livingstone. Cordings was synonymous with outdoor living and became an important port of call for gentlemen prior to venturing into the countryside. In 1877, the business transferred to its present location at 19 Piccadilly.

SINCE 1839. Mr John Charles Cording, founder and namesake,

opened for business at 231 the Strand in 1839. That same year, William Fox Talbot invented modern photography and Charles Dickens published Nicholas Nickleby. His company would go on to receive the royal warrant, as waterproofers to the Prince of 68

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19 PICCADILLY. I arrive at Cordings at 1pm prompt on a rather chilly day in September -- exactly the weather in which to wear one of their tweeds and a waterproof. The location and entrance really say it all: this is a store with pedigree and heritage but also,

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as I am soon to find out, a welcoming and guiding hand for those of us unfamiliar with the clothing and brand.

While I wait for my meeting, I peruse the garments on display and I am instantly drawn to an array of rather nice looking tweed jackets. You don’t have to be an expert on fabrics to recognise quality, and you only have to feel any of the garments to know instantly that they are special. There is a reason why a Cordings jacket or coat may end up being passed down a generation or two: they are made to last!

Managing Director Noll Uloth appears from his office and greets me warmly, a well-spoken and thoroughly English gentleman wearing a Cordings shirt and trousers, naturally. I have to say that I am slightly thrown by his name; I had expected someone of German origin. “No, not German at all,” says Noll.

“The name Uloth is Old Saxon, and apparently means Son of Wolf.” Well, you cannot get more British than that!

We settle ourselves down in his office and it’s apparent after only a few minutes that this is a man with a story to tell, one that is intrinsically tied up with Cordings. In fact, you may say that his life was on a direct trajectory toward this place. Fate, destiny, call it what you will, but in all honesty there probably would be no Cordings today if it had not been for Noll.

LIFE OF NOLL. Noll has had a varied and interesting career, starting his journey through life by enrolling at Sandhurst Military Academy and joining the army for six years.

“These were the days of full-page adverts enticing young people in, and being someone who had no idea what I wanted to do, it seemed a good option, at least to defer any real decision for a little longer.

“After leaving the military, I joined a manufacturing company in the Midlands as Production Director, making products allied 69

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to the building industry. I thoroughly enjoyed this until the recession of the 80’s came along. I was forced to make people redundant, not something that anyone enjoys. From there I progressed on to a mail-order clothing business until it eventually closed and I was given my marching orders. But then one of our suppliers told me that Cordings was on the lookout for someone with my experience and background..”

HARD TIMES. By that time, the company was no longer owned by the Cordings, who had sold out in the 1950’s. The business was struggling and had fallen on stony ground. The owners were not particularly involved, there was no one to answer the phone and the shop was in a state of disrepair. In fact, the company was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. “I went to the owners and told them that if they did not do something soon, the company was going to fold. They took my advice and agreed to look for a buyer,” says Noll.

“Initially, there was a lot of interest from some big players, including Ralph Lauren. Every time a deal looked to be in the offing, the skeletons would fall out of the cupboard, namely no rent paid for over a year and no money in the bank. By the time Christmas came around, no buyer had materialised and things were looking decidedly bleak. So, after a great deal of deliberation and many long conversations with my wife, I announced that I would buy the company -- but I needed to, as they say, phone a friend first. I was given a week to come up with a way to move forward.”

ERIC “SLOWHAND” CLAPTON. Noll’s planned phone call was to one of Cordings' best customers, none other than the musician Eric Clapton. Eric had been aware of Cordings since his teenage years, and he would often pass the shop late at night after leaving a music club and peer in through the window.

Many years later, he was walking past the shop and a particular garment caught his eye: a three piece, moss green, herringbone tweed suit. “The jacket seemed to be just the most exquisitely cut that I had ever seen,” says Eric. “I plucked up the nerve to go in and tried it on. The suit was immaculate. It was stormproof, and it was just the most wellmade suit that I had ever worn, and I had to have it.

Before I knew it, I was coming in to the shop every week.”

THE MEETING. Noll rang

Eric’s office and (after an initial response from his secretary of, “What do you want, money?”) he managed to get his intentions across. Eric would come to see him at 10am the next morning.

“Eric is a busy man and constantly touring the world,” says Noll, “so it was fortuitous that he was available. As it turned out, all his children went down with flu that day and the meeting was postponed until the following Monday. When Eric turned up, I had my speech prepared with all my points about why it would

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be good for him to be involved and so forth. About two minutes into my presentation, he stopped me. My heart sank, but to my relief he announced that he would do it. He never did hear the other 17 minutes of my pitch! So, Eric came in and gave us the funding to put the company back on its feet and move forwards.

We both had the same vision, which was to concentrate on its strengths, the areas and products on which Cordings built its reputation, to rebuild the brand.

RE-ESTABLISH PRODUCTS. The true Cordings had a very

unique place in the market. It knew what it did, and it did it well. The most important job for Noll and his new partner was to re-establish the products which the brand was known for.

During previous years, various owners had tried to change the model, and in so doing, they had removed the essence of what Cordings was.

“Our clothes are functional,” says Noll, “and it’s important that we are making things properly. Our fabric is of the highest quality, for example. All our tweed comes from England and the borders. It has a certain feel you just cannot find anywhere else, and this is our approach to all of our garments. Our clothing has functionality. Whether it’s jackets with buttons for keeping a pocket open or shirts that are made longer so they stay tucked in, it’s all about functionality.

“Our range is based on the five Cordings core products: fitted tweed jackets, covert coats, rubberised mackintoshes, corduroy and moleskins, and tattersall shirts. Everything else comes from this. We have overcoats because we sell covert coats, we sell cotton raincoats because we sell rubberised mackintoshes, and because we sell tattersall shirts, we also sell checked shirts. From within those core products we build our range. If demand calls for a particular pattern or colour, we work within these boundaries.”

OVERSEAS MARKET. But it’s not just the British who buy from Cordings, they have built up a following in America, Scandinavia, France, and Italy to name just a few.

40% of their stock now goes overseas, and who can blame anyone for wanting a truly authentic British product?

“We now have a solid women's collection,” says Noll. “This was born out of the demand from women who came into the store with their husbands and partners.

They saw the huge array of tweed on offer for men and started requesting clothing made for women as well.”

Ten years ago, Cordings was a flickering flame of past glory and forgotten quality, close to being extinguished forever. But given a chance, quality will always survive and it seems certain that this is the level to which many others shall now aspire. Noll and Eric's achievement has been driven by a true love for and belief in the brand's core values. I have a distinct feeling that Cordings could very well still be here in another 176 years. GGM www.cordings.co.uk

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comforts HOME

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not often that a property development

takes place within a wedge shot of the historic town centre of St Andrews. Not one to miss an opportunity, Mark Alexander took a look.

Photos by Robertson Homes

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SCOTLAND GOLF PROPERTY

hen the people of St Andrews heard about a new property development in the former playing fields of St Leonards school, they couldn’t help but sneak a peek. The interest surrounding the Georgian-styled townhouses grew to such a level that onlookers would seek out vantage points, peering over the wooden fence erected to shield the building work.

For Mary Grant, sales and marketing manager at Robertson Homes, the developer behind Abbey Park, something had to be done. “When I came out of the sales office, I would find people climbing up the railings to have a look. If nothing else, it was dangerous, so we drilled a couple of holes in the fence so people could see what was going on.”

What they saw was an impressive row of elegant townhouses set over three floors facing the grounds of Abbey Park, which is

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complete with an apple orchard and mature trees. Located just a few minutes' walk from St Andrews harbour, East Sands beach and the historic town centre, this was a development rarely seen in the Auld Grey Toon. No wonder the locals were curious.

PLAYING FIELDS. “These were the grounds of the school – the playing fields, the tennis courts and the orchard,” explains Grant.

“It’s not often you come across a new property where you drive down a lovely avenue and it is so well established. It feels as if the properties have always been here because of the mature trees and landscaping.”

There is certainly a refined air about the place. The thirteen five-bedroom town houses and forty-nine apartments sit at the bottom of a gentle incline that is lined by established trees. Clearly, time has been spent creating an entrance that will impress both

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visitors and buyers, and the occasional inquisitive neighbour.

This is St Andrews after all – the Home of Golf and the setting of the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. This is a place full of history and beauty. The cathedral, which is a fiveminute walk from Abbey Park, was built in 1158 and became the centre of the Medieval Catholic Church in Scotland. “St Andrews is unique,” says Grant simply.

PRIVATE GARDEN. The townhouses take this refined air and embellish it. The five-bedroom properties have a private, southfacing garden with a mews double garage which adds to the sophisticated feel. Inside, a chic layout creates a luxurious flow from reception room to snug and through to the enormous kitchendining room which boasts three ovens (including a steam oven) and a Quooker Fusion tap that delivers boiling water instantly.

You get the sense that this room has been carefully designed for both dinner parties and lazing around on a Sunday morning, catching up with the papers. You could imagine the three double doors, which open to the garden, letting in a gentle summer’s breeze and slightly ruffling the curtains as lunch is being prepared.

On the first floor, the space has been split between a capacious drawing room (21’11’’ x 17’1’’) echoing the kitchen below, two bedrooms and a shower room. Once again, there is a real sense of extravagance and purpose – the drawing room is equally suited for an evening drinks reception or lounging in front of the TV. Throughout, opportunities for dual-purpose usage are evident.

Finally, on the second floor, two further bedrooms share the space with a master bedroom that boasts a partitioned dressing room and an en-suite. A further bathroom completes the top floor which is connected to the lower levels via a wide staircase.

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SCOTLAND GOLF PROPERTY

While the townhouses are certainly spacious, they have also been finished with care. The Leicht kitchen, complete with quartz worktops and integrated Siemens appliances, sets the tone.

Underfloor heating in all four bathrooms, Villeroy & Boch sanitaryware and Hansgrohe taps provide a polished finish. An integrated alarm system and CCTV are provided for peace of mind.

DESIGNED TO ENJOY. Walking around the Abbey Park townhouses on Orchard Row, you get the sense that these properties have been specifically designed for people to enjoy.

There is plenty of light and more than enough space to invite friends over for the weekend, and the public rooms are laid out for gatherings and conversation. It’s no wonder the neighbouring apartments were all but sold off-plan.

Positioning elegant townhouses and apartments close to the town centre of St Andrews was always going to be an attractive 76

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

proposition for those seeking a base at the Home of Golf. What Robertson Homes has done is to take that concept and deliver it in a considered package that appeals to a wide and varied audience. So successful has the model been that at the recent Herald newspaper Property Awards, Orchard Row at Abbey Park picked up the best luxury home award, and was shortlisted for the Development of the Year.

With awards piling up, Grant believes there will be some early viewers who may be ruing the chance to buy in St Andrews. “Once the townhouses are sold,” she says, “I think there might be some people who came at the very start and didn’t want to live on a building site who are filled with regret about why they didn’t buy when they had the opportunity. You often get that, but particularly in a development like this because it is a one off. We won’t be building in St Andrews on this scale again.”

GGM

five-star luxury boutique hotel and formerly the baronial home of the scotsman newspaper located just off the historic royal mile in the heart of edinburgh

www.thescotsmanhotel.co.uk

tel: +44 (0)131 556 5565 | fax: +44 (0)131 652 3652 20 north bridge | edinburgh | eh1 1tr | uk reservations@thescotsmanshotel.co.uk

Zepp_St Enodoc 14.10.2015 15.55 Side 1

GREAT PRODUCT

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Zepp_St Enodoc 14.10.2015 15.55 Side 2

Shooting from the Hip

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don’t profess to be a good golfer. In fact, some friends have pointed out that I should include protective headgear in my golf bag, not for me, but for my fellow players! That and the odd joke about perhaps taking a machete to cut my way through the undergrowth while searching for yet another lost ball just wash over me. So when Zepp invited me to a product demonstration day at Wentworth, I was not particularly keen. Surely this would be just another piece of technology to point out my flaws and cramp my unique style.

I made my way down to the driving range where the Zepp guys (I shall henceforth refer to them as Zeppsters) had set up several of the systems for us journalists to try. Now, I am not a technical golfer -- give me too much information and I will probably go into thermal meltdown -- so it was with trepidation that I allowed myself to be lured into one of the bays.

The Zeppsters took me through the workings of the system which turned out, to my great joy, to be surprisingly straightforward. A small sensor is attached to your glove which then links up with an app that you download onto your phone or tablet.

The app is free but totally useless without the sensor.

Initial setting up of the system involves inputting your data, such as whether you are left or right handed, your golfing ability, type of golf clubs and so on. Once set up, you have a computergenerated image of a golfer -- your own personal avatar. You then select which club you are about to use from a list at the bottom of the screen.

OK, it’s time to take a swing. No pressure. I’m just surrounded by the Zeppsters and fellow journalists who all seem to be rather better than myself.

I

IMPRESSIVE. Now I have to say, it takes a lot to impress me, but

when the guys showed me how I could replay my swings to bring up both visual and technical data relative to my performance, I was, to put it mildly, blown away. You cannot argue with the stark truth presented to you in full colour on this system, and more importantly, you don’t need a degree in mathematics to understand it. You can watch a replay in several modes: club, hand and plane. You can swivel the view around so that you can see your 80

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

swing from multiple positions, for example, from above, behind or from the front.

Once you have seen your swing, you can click through to the stats screen that gives you your readings. But it gets better. From there you can click through to videos that show you how to correct your mistakes. Hell, you can even record yourself and compare your swing to well-known professionals. (Not that any would have a swing remotely like my frenzied attack on the poor, hapless golf ball!) Perhaps there is hope for me yet!

THE ZEPP NEVER LIES. The most obvious piece of information the system picked up, and that I could not dispute owing to the surfeit of incriminating evidence, was the fact that I swing the club in and then out rather than out and then in. So, I click through to my stats that inform me of the severity of this error.

For this part of your technique to be correct, your club plane needs to be close to or below zero. Mine is not -- far from it, actually. Thanks to Zepp, I can click through to a selection of videos with professionals who tell me what I am doing wrong and how to correct it. It’s like having my very own coach whenever I want and wherever I go.

I now have my own Zepp Golf System and I have to say that my shots have improved drastically. Yes, I will still hit the odd curve ball, but they are in the minority. The ball goes straighter and further and I have now moved on to other areas of my swing that need adjusting. But the great thing for me is that I have made measurable progress, and more importantly, I have not spent a small fortune on lessons in doing so.

My Zepp system regularly accompanies me to the driving range now. Whenever a problem arises or I feel that there is something I can improve on, it’s there for me, whether I'm practising in the garden or at the driving range.

OK, this may not solve every conceivable problem that you could encounter, but it will solve an awful lot of them. Maybe some questions need to go unanswered, so that we can keep some mystery to this frustrating but enjoyable game. But for me, gone are the days of the incurable slice and, more importantly, the comments about helmets and machetes.

GGM

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SPA, NEW YORK

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SPA

ula, The Penins ché, photo s on By: Dena Ro as Se ur and Fo Ling Loewes

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SPA, NEW YORK

M

adonna, Alexander Wang, Barbara Streisand and New Yorkers in the know love Ling. With two day spas tucked away in the city, the skincare maker combines its irritant-free products with facial treatments focused on the Asian principles of exfoliation and hydration through Energy Lift Infusion Therapies.

I opt for the mother of all facials: the Energy Lift Advanced Facial with Body Wellness. At two hours, it’s the longest facial service I’ve ever had. The treatment starts with a 20-minute energy

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infusion on my back provided through a far-infrared ray device.

The idea is to provide the healing rays of the sun without harmful radiation. A nice by product is that it helps my tense muscles relax into the treatment.

The focal point of the facial is a triple peel using glycolic sugar cane, papaya enzymes and an acid-rescue skin peel. Normally, when a peel or mask is working its magic, the therapist does a foot or hand rub, so I must say I was surprised when mine left the room.

Thankfully, she came back and the facial continued with extractions, a mask and a facial massage using the same far-infrared

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ray machine on specific acupressure points. My skin was glowing after the service but the day after I had two pimples, a sign that the treatment really went deep and brought things to the surface.

OXYGEN OOMPH. Normally, doing two facial treatments in two days is something I shy away from, but the Oxy-Peel Treatment at the L.RAPHAEL spa at the Four Seasons is actually a service that works even better if you’ve already had a traditional facial, so I’m in luck.

This is one high-tech approach to skincare, but priced at $890 for 50 minutes it had better stand out. The treatment is centred

around a few proprietary elements, including a LEC 40 complex and an Oxy-Tech II machine. The LEC 40 is an anti-aging product made from a highly potent mix of purified lecithin, vitamin C, retinol, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. The compound can’t be infused into the skin topically which is where the special machine comes into play.

The LEC 40 is combined with physiological water in the oxygen machine. Before we start, the therapist tests the pressure (75 psi!) on my arm so I know what to expect before she goes to town on my face. If my face was a house in need of a pressure 85

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SPA, NEW YORK decide to focus on my nails instead with a pedicure and manicure.

As I’m waiting, I’m offered a dizzying array of beverage choices.

While I’m not normally one to pass up wine, 10 am is a bit early for me to sip vino, especially when I need the caffeine jolt that coffee can serve up.

I decide on a summery green Deborah Lippmann polish for my toes and lean back in the pedicure chair and relax while Patricia fixes up my tootsies and gives my legs a much needed massage after two weeks of walking in the city.

Each autumn, the team at Farel takes its show on the road with a pop-up salon for players at the US Open tennis tournament, offering the players hairstyles and mani-pedis for the court. wash (and apparently it is) this is what I imagine it would feel like.

Not unpleasant, just different. The pressure actually creates a controlled peeling of the upper layers of the epidermis while driving the ingredients deep into the skin.

After two passes with the pressure wand and a special facial massage with a boosting serum, my skin is downright sparkling.

The service kick starts the rejuvenation of cells so hopefully the sparkle will last throughout my stay in the city.

PRETTY IN PENINSULA. The spa at the Peninsula in New York

has always been one of my favourites in the city. The customer service and treatments notwithstanding, it has one of the best relaxation rooms of any spa anywhere. The 4-bed tranquillity lounge has adjustable beds topped with the most billowy duvets I’ve ever had the pleasure to slip beneath. Between the linens and the custom music, I’m in bliss.

I’m fortunate to try out the new Sattva Vedic Aromatherapy Massage. The Sattva treatments were created exclusively for Peninsula hotels and combine lymphatic massage with classic Ayurvedic techniques, including Marma point therapy.

My therapist, Jody, starts by having me smell certain oils to choose what to use for the service while he gives my feet a bath and massage. When I mention I have tight shoulders and neck he decides to use the Kunzea Intensive blend oil in that spot. For the rest of the body, my nose chose the Tulsi Detox blend, designed - obviously -- to eliminate toxins, but also to aid in stimulating circulation and improving digestion.

While many massages incorporate trigger point therapy, the Marma points seem more specific. There are 107 Marma points on the body that can be thought of as switches to turn on and off energy, or prana. When Jody presses on points in my low back and neck I can feel the prana screaming.

At 35,000 square feet, the spa is one of the largest in the city and has saunas, steam rooms and an indoor glass-enclosed pool with great views of the city. Enjoy lunch on the wrap-around sun terrace during the summer or grab some tea or coconut water in the Asian Tea lounge.

CELEBRITY STYLE. The Loews Regency just finished a $100 million renovation, as befits its Park Avenue location. Part of the revamp was the opening of the Julien Farel Restore Spa. Farel is a celebrity hairstylist and a haircut with him will set you back $1,000. I hope a no-bad-hair-day guarantee comes with it! I 86

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TRUMP THIS. With his controversial bid for the US presidency, Donald Trump, and by extension his hotels, are front and centre right now. The flagship Trump International spa is only open to hotel guests, but anyone can check out the Trump SoHo spa. While I had my massage at the Trump International, the SoHo spa, offering the only spa-based Hammam in the city, offers more amenities to choose from, including indoor and outdoor relaxation areas.

The International location has a wide selection of massages to choose from. I decide to end my spa tour of the Big Apple with my favourite, albeit simple, type of massage: the deep tissue.

With muscles suitably dekinked, I may be the most relaxed person strolling the streets.

I love the energy and non-stop action in New York, but being able to step away from it and decompress in one of these top sanctuaries is imperative so that I can pack as much of the New York experience into my trip as possible.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

Project1_Layout 1 03/07/2015 11:27 Page 1

THREE STARTERS THREE MAIN COURSES With three of the finest championship golf courses in Scotland, we generate a lot of arguments.

Which is the best course? Which is the most beautiful? Which one should we play now?

You could ask our Starters for their professional opinion. With over sixty years experience between them, they know Gleneagles inside out, and will happily pick the right course for you.

Just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect them all to pick the same one.

"BEST GOLF RESORT IN THE WORLD" DAILY TELEGRAPH ULTRA TRAVEL AWARDS 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 To plan your visit please call +44 (0)1764 662231

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The GLENEAGLES word and the EAGLE Device are trade marks.

Food N.Y.Z.e$S_Layout 1 14.10.2015 16.22 Side 1

FOOD, NEW YORK

Marta 88

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Food N.Y.Z.e$S_Layout 1 14.10.2015 16.22 Side 2

A SLICE OF THE

BigApple

By: Dena RochĂŠ, photos courtesy the hotels and restaurants

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FOOD, NEW YORK

rass

eng Barney Gre Brooklyn’s

Bagel

Milk Bar

ker

Knickerboc

Di Fara Pizza

W

hen it comes to American eats it starts with burgers and ends with molecular gastronomy, with so much in between. On a recent trip to the city, I explored what’s hot in American food at the moment, so bring your appetite and join me for a whirlwind tour of some of the hottest tables in town.

BRUNCH MUNCH. New Yorkers love their brunch. On Saturday

and Sunday you’ll see them spilling out of cafés all across the city.

From Michelin-starred ABC Kitchen, to Friend of a Farmer, where you'd better get there before 11 am to avoid standing in 90

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

line, savoury and sweet breakfast foods are hot.

While Manhattan is always a food hub, the trendiest part of town for foodies is Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Known for its hipsters, the area has morphed into a culinary powerhouse and I’m getting my brunch on at the newly Michelin star anointed Delaware & Hudson. Open for less than a year, this 38-seat eatery is playing with the big boys.

“No one was more surprised than me when I got the call about the star,” said chef/owner Patti Jackson. “I still want to cry tears of joy thinking about it.”

Though Jackson has over 30 years in the kitchen, Delaware &

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Katz´s Delicatessen

Ess-a-Ba

gel

Mikes Deli

olitano

Totonno’s Pizzeria Nap

Carnegie Deli

Hudson is her first solo venture. Clearly, she’s off to a good start.

Named for the railroad company her grandfather worked for, Jackson is focused on Mid-Atlantic American food, from Long Island oysters to New Jersey asparagus. The brunch menu definitely pays homage to that area of the country with dishes like house-smoked Pennsylvania trout, Baltimore crab cakes and an Amish-style chicken pot-pie that New York Magazine called this year’s best comfort food in the city.

Her recipes also include regional specialties like Pennsylvania Dutch Scrapple, a mixture of pork scraps combined with flour and spices and pan-fried.

I opt for the lox, eggs and onions that arrive looking like giant frittata topped with spring greens Jackson picked up from the local farmers market that morning. The dish is so filling it could have counted as breakfast, lunch and dinner, but alas, a journalist’s work is never done and we have plans for the night.

PIZZA PERFECTION. If brunch is the trend of the moment, New York pizza is the tradition that is still as fresh today as it was back when Gennaro Lombardi started America’s first pizzeria in the Little Italy part of town in 1905.

Italian immigrants brought this tasty treat to the States and 91

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FOOD, NEW YORK traditional New York-style pizza is thin crusted, light on tomato sauce and sold by the slice. Locals fold it to make it easy to eat on the go.

What makes the pizza special is the mineral content of the New York water and high-gluten flour (not good for someone like me who is supposed to avoid gluten!). There are over 400 restaurants in the city where you can get this slice of heaven, some of the best being Joe’s Pizza, Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano and Di Fara Pizza.

While you can get a traditional slice almost anywhere, the yearold Marta restaurant, owned by Danny Meyer and Nick Anderer and located in the kitschy Martha Washington boutique hotel, elevates and evolves the New York pizza. The pizza crust is thinner and crispier than a typical New York slice and the toppings a bit more upper crust. There is the patate alla carbonara topped with potatoes, guanciale, black pepper, pecorino and egg or the Fiore di Zucca with sq uash b l o s s o m s , m o z z a re l l a a n d anchovies. I decide gluten be damned and pick the funghi t o p p e d w i t h Fo n t a n a , mozzarella, hen-of-the-woods, chanterelles, red onion and thyme.

Try and save some room to savour some unique gelati like the brandy beer cherry I tried, or the Arnold Palmer sorbetti.

PROGRESSIVE

AMERICAN.

The Knickerbocker Hotel first opened in 1906 and was the hotel until prohibition closed its doors in 1921. For 94 years it was an office building until it reopened this year. It’s a classic reinvented, so the choice of Charlie Palmer, a Michelinstarred chef known for putting sophisticated spins on American favourites, as its restaurant name makes perfect sense.

“Cooking in the U.S. has changed dramatically since The Knickerbocker Hotel opened at the dawn of Manhattan’s Golden Era. While drawing inspiration from the history of The Knickerbocker Hotel, fused with the melting-pot culture of New York, we developed unique menus that cater to today’s discerning palates,” said Charlie Palmer. “The various dining establishments will offer hotel guests and New York locals a contemporary take on classic American cocktails and dishes, complemented by my progressive American cooking style.”

I’m there to check out the signature restaurant: Charlie Palmer at the Knick. The décor is contemporary and upscale, but with a comfortable vibe. This is definitely a common theme dining out in the U.S.; no matter how gourmet a restaurant is, it’s not stuffy or formal. As Jackson said to me, “Who wants to go out and be uncomfortable?”

Proof of the casual friendliness is that my namesake waitress Dina, talks to me throughout the meal (I’m dining solo) about theatre, dating, writing and more. By the end of the meal, we even exchange cards.

One of the most popular items on the menu is Palmer’s take on fried chicken. This small plate of chicken seasoned with chipotle and paprika is a far cry from KFC! Being a pescatarian,

Knickerbocker

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I opt for the grilled octopus. This complex dish weaves flavours of chimichurri, tomatoes and popcorn purée to create singular bites of squidlike perfection. For my main, I remain in the ocean with jumbo sea scallops cooked to perfection in a miso glaze and accented with corn relish.

Dessert is liquid at St. Cloud, the 7,500 square foot rooftop bar offering an unobstructed view of the famous ball in Times Square and jaw-dropping views of Manhattan at large. Enjoy a craft cocktail or après dinner drink and savour the view.

BAGELS AND PIZZA. When you’re out and about exploring

the city and getting hungry, it’s the perfect time to try out some quintessential New York eats.

Bagels and New York are synonymous and there is no doubt that the best bagels in the country are from here. Perhaps it’s the same water that makes the pizza so good, but New York bagels have a malty sweetness and just the right amount of crust. And when they’re fresh out of the oven, the result is nirvana. Try Ess-a-Bagel or Brooklyn’s Bagel Hole for some of the best.

A great lunch treat for the carnivores is a classic New York deli. What they lack in atmosphere they make up for in sandwiches piled high with corned beef or pastrami.

Katz’s Delicatessen, made famous in When Harry Met Sally, or the cash-only Carnegie Deli are tops in the city.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, Milk Bar is a must try. It’s part of the Momofuku empire started by David Chang, a restaurateur with James Beard awards and Michelin stars to his credit, in collaboration with Christina Tosi, this year’s James Beard best pastry chef .

Several of the treats have developed a cult-like following, including the cereal milk ice cream I order. It literally tastes like the milk leftover in your cereal bowl and is addictive. Another favourite is the compost cookie, which packs pretzels, crisps, oats, butterscotch, and chocolate chips into an unlikely cookie powerhouse.

It’s hard to go wrong dining in New York. The city has something for everyone and a foodie tour highlights just how much America and its cuisine really is a melting pot.

GGM Delaware & Hudson: www.delawareandhudson.com Charlie Palmer @ The Knick: www.theknickerbocker.com Marta: www.martamanhattan.com Katz’s Delicatessen: www.katzsdelicatessen.com Carnegie Deli: www.carnegiedeli.com Milk Bar: www.milkbarstore.com Ess-a-Bagel: www.www.ess-a-bagel.com Brooklyn’s Bagel: www.bagelhole.net Joe’s Pizza: www.joespizzanyc.com Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano: www.totonnosconeyisland.com Di Fara Pizza: www.difara.com

Dundee and Angus. Where we’ve got discovery down to a tee

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TO DUNDEE

£74

FROM

.99 EACH WAY

The Old Course, St Andrews - 30 min drive

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Sherry Golf_Layout 1 19.10.2015 14.50 Side 1

Spain - Cadiz

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

D

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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Korea Golf & Culture Holiday offer.

“Land of Morning Calm”

www.greatgolfholidays.net

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GOLF AS NEVER ENJOYED BEFORE Welcome to Meliá Marbella La Quinta Golf & Spa, a place designed to make you feel the real spanish essence. In our Resort, we are delighted to offer you the most exclusive service and Suites at “The Level”, the relaxing experience of YHI Spa, the best spanish and international cuisine and a unique Golf course. For holidays or business or even for your personal events. Welcome to Meliá.

Información y Reservas

+34 971 28 14 00 melia.palas.atenea@melia.com facebook.com/Melia-Hotels

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YOU SUPPLY THE DRIVER. WE’LL SUPPLY THE IRON.

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