Great golf Spring 2015 Edition

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No.1. 2015 Great Golf Magazine

Great Golf

Magazine

LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE

NEW ZEALAND Korea Detroit Scotland Rafael Nadal

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WHERE HEAVEN TOUCHES EARTH

Black Mountain Thailand Book your Black Mountain golf holiday at

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Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, New Zealand

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Great Golf

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LUXURY TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE

Great Golf

NEW ZEALAND

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Contents

Korea Detroit Scotland

Cover photo by Mark Alexsander

Rafael Nadal

TRAVEL FEATURES

18 Wish you were here 22 New Zealand – A slice of Heaven 32 Detroit – Motown Blues 46 Thailand – A golfer’s paradise 62 Mythical Morocco 70 Korea – Land of the morning calm 78 Scotland – Trump card 86 Seychelles – The Admiral’s islands 100 Veneto – The Grand Tour

www.greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

INTERVIEW

94 On course with Rafael Nadal PRODUCTS

108 Mantis Putter – A secret weapon 112 Great Golf Pro Shop LUXURY

40 Pangbourne – Charting his own course 56 BMW – The ultimate solution SPA, FOOD & WINE

118 Tahiti spa – The great escape 126 Costa Rica food – The definition of luxury 132 New Zealand wine – Vintage appeal PROPERTY

138 Algarve – Heavenly Hideaways 14 Win a two night stay for two people at Al Maaden Villa Hotel & Spa in Marrakech Morocco.

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GREAT GOLF ADVENTURES

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Now you can take the non-golfer with you!!!

INDIA TURKEY BRAZIL THAILAND SOUTH AFRICA ITALY CHINA SCOTLAND & N IRELAND PERU & BOLIVIA LISBON PORTUGAL

Book your Great Golf Adventure Go to; www.greatgolfadventures.net

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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

MANAGING DIRECTOR

YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE...

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

Spring is here again, and all across the country can be heard the cry of the native golfer as they put their swing to the test after a winter of hibernation.

Great Golf is at hand to help with those all important questions like where to

Colin Morrison EDITOR

Nils Bjornes nils@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ASSISTANT EDITOR

go, where to stay, and what to do when you get there.

Camilla Kaas-Stock camilla@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

Our journalists, you can be sure, have already left a blazing trail, and what an

ART DIRECTOR

issue we have!

Mark Alexander has travelled to New Zealand to not only play golf, but also taste some of the local wine, though not at the same time we hope. Peter

Ketil Plassgaard ketil@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Karim Ullah karim@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk MARKETING MANAGERS

Ellegard has been stateside visiting Detroit, home to Blues, Automobiles and yes, fantastic Golf. Angus Davies has as usual covered all things that happen to

Frazer Cambell frazer@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk Nick Edgley nedgley@nemediaworld.com

have an engine or a winding mechanism and Sarah Stirk has interviewed none

CONSULTANT EDITOR

other than tennis legend Rafa Nadal.

Peter Ellegard peter@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk

Great Golf ProShop is live at www.greatgolfproshop.com . Packed with all

LUXURY PRODUCTS

those things that you need to make your life perfect, you will also find a selection of them covered within the publication in the ProShop section.

We hope that we have continued to inspire you to visit new and exciting locations, remember that our Great Golf Adventures and Holiday sites have just about any golf holiday that you could want. Just go to our main website and click through to holidays to see what we have on offer.

Great Golf Magazine is available for free at many locations, but if you cannot find a copy please click on the “Order Magazine” button on the website.

Happy Golfing wherever you go.

The Team

Angus Davies angus@escapement.uk.com SUB EDITORS

Sophie Morrison Louise Candy CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE

Peter Ellegard Angus Davies Dena Roché Michael Bridge Sarah Stirk Sarah Gilbert Mark Alexander Sang Jun Oh 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 frazer@greatgolfmagazine.co.uk nedgley@nemediaworld.com All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written consent of Great Golf Magazine UK

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Enjoy Great Golf wherever you go!

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Local inspiration Hit the city’s greatest cultural and entertainment destinations, enjoy award-winning cuisine from Celebrity Chef Michael Symon at ROAST, a multiple HOUR Magazine “Best of Recipient,” and see how great it feels to stay well at a Westin. Treat yourself to a refreshing getaway and go home with a whole new outlook.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION, VISIT WESTIN.COM/BOOKCADILLAC OR CALL 313.442.1600.

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COMPETITION

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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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GREAT COURSES

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SINGAPORE Sentosa Golf Club www.sentosagolf.com

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MIAMI Turnberry Isle Miami www.turnberryislemiami.com

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NEW ZEALAND

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New­Zealand_St­Enodoc­­14.04.15­­13.53­­Side­2

By Mark Alexander, photo Mark Alexander

The Hills

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NEW ZEALAND

W

hen the first Bucket List was penned, it no doubt included a number of entries that would have been considered extravagant.

Radical even. These fanciful ideas, such as swimming with dolphins or gazing at the Northern Lights, are now happily incorporated into annual holiday jaunts, with the Bucket List being relegated to a kind of ongoing shopping inventory, rather than a must-do wish list.

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A number of destinations have benefitted from this move from the whimsical to the doable. Places like Bali and New York are now standard fare for habitual list makers. But the place that has gained most from this attitude shift happens to be one of the remotest. There are many desirable and exotic places around the world, but the one many people want to see for themselves is New Zealand.

So instead of adding New Zealand to my Bucket List, I decided

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Wairakei Golf Course and Sanctuary

to visit it – a far-off land where you are greeted with a bare tongue and an offer to rub noses. As far as my foreign adventures go, this would be the most far-reaching to date.

AROUND THE WORLD. Let’s get one thing out of the way; wherever you are reading this, the Land of the Long White Cloud, to give New Zealand its Maori name, is a long way off. The flights are tedious, require infinite patience and, if possible, a well-cus-

hioned derriere. It is a tiresome trip, but what awaits is a land of stunning beaches, tropical forests, ink-blue lakes and prehistoric landscapes punctuated by the occasional active volcano. If god doodled, this would be one of his more imaginative sketches.

New Zealand is the most beautiful place you are ever likely to visit – bar none. It was worth the debilitating jet lag and lingering fatigue (which strikes with vengeance on the return leg) to witness this stunning country. Indeed, the decision to strike it off my

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NEW ZEALAND

The Hills

Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club

Bucket List was justified as soon as I stepped off the plane at Auckland on the North Island. By the time I reached Queenstown on the South Island, my satisfied smile had grown into a broad Cheshire Cat grin.

OVER THE HILLS. I was here to photograph the ultra-exclusive venue of the 2015 New Zealand Open – The Hills, and the juxtaposition of a championship course surrounded by a glacial valley, with jaw-dropping views, filled me with joy and excitement.

To be honest, I knew little about the layout before I arrived, 26

GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

and would have known even less if I hadn’t spotted the chequebook sized nameplate on the wooden gate, modestly confirming this as the official point of entry. Once inside, the meandering road towards the clubhouse gave little away and it wasn’t until I stood on the first tee that I properly saw what this course was all about.

What lay in front of me was a deeply undulating fairway, leading up to a plateau green with an enormous mountain range providing a stunning backdrop. This was golf on a grand scale, and if that’s the kind of thing that gets your golf juices flowing then The Hills could cause a flood. This is epic golf where bare

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Wairakei Golf Course and Sanctuary

The Hills

rocks bank against smooth greens and long, flowing grasses define meticulously cut fairways. Add in the occasional sculpture, framed by the dramatic landscape, and you have a very special place indeed.

“He has very high expectations and an incredible eye for detail,” says The Hill’s director of golf, Craig Palmer. He is describing the club’s owner Sir Michael Hill, who also heads up one of the world’s leading jewellery brands. “He wants this to be as good as there is.”

PURELY PRIVATE. Palmer has been at The Hills for six years and

now manages a club that employs 25 greenkeepers and has

attracted 200 member families. He says he still accepts some nonmember bookings, but admits the goal is to become purely private at some point. My advice is to get in while you still can.

While The Hills may be at the top end of the New Zealand golf spectrum – you can expect to shell out NZ$550 for a round – it by no means defines New Zealand golf. “New Zealand is a serious golf destination which has a great range of golfing experiences,” says Palmer. “For instance, Arrowtown Golf Club gets forgotten about but it’s one of my favourite courses; it’s like it was built by hobbits. There are hollows and swales and it is always in beautiful condition.”

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NEW ZEALAND

The Hills

Bearing in mind Arrowtown Golf Club is literally across the road from The Hills, you get the impression there is a healthy dose of camaraderie between the clubs, which is refreshing. The fact the courses are within shouting distance of one another, but are separated by green fees that vary by NZ$475, also shores up Palmer’s theory that New Zealand’s greatest strength is its diversity.

MISSING LINKS. In order to test this premise, I visited Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, which is a 45-minute drive north of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. It is a world away from the extravagance of The Hills.

Here there is tradition, sandy soils and rippled fairways. With the Kapiti Coast providing sea breezes, Paraparaumu is a true links test defined by pot bunkers and uneven stances. Designed in 1949

by Alex Russell, one-time partner of Dr Alister MacKenzie, this is golf in its purest form seasoned by salty air and sandy lies. So authentic was it I had to remind myself that I was in New Zealand and not Scotland.

“I loved it instantly,” noted former New Zealand Open champion Peter Thomson. “We have nothing like it in Australia.”

While the five times Open Championship winner clearly has a soft spot for this links layout, it turns out it is also a bit of a oneoff in New Zealand as well.

“We don’t have a lot of classic links,” says general manager Leo Barber, “and links golf is a particular taste, so not everyone gets it. International visitors from the UK and Europe love it, while some Americans don’t.”

Debates around the merits of links golf reverberate around clubhouses the world over. In my opinion, Paraparaumu is a little slice of links heaven going for a song at NZ$150. For all the right reasons, it encourages you to play the ball on the ground to use the contours to get the ball close, especially when it’s windy.

“The wind is a big part of Paraparaumu,” says Barber. “It’s something we embrace, along with firm surfaces and brown grass.

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We let the course change with the seasons – it’s not springtime all year round. In the middle of summer it will bake and go golden, and in the winter it will turn green and play a little softer.

That’s golf, it changes with the seasons.”

WILD TIMES. The Nor th Island is home to not only Paraparaumu, but also the majority of the four million New Zealanders. Cities like Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo are bustling places that welcome visitors with a variety of outdoor activities – many geared towards adrenalin junkies and thrill seekers.

Opportunities to go bungee jumping, skydiving or caving are everywhere, and because the idea of ‘getting your buzz on’ is commonplace, you can’t help getting sucked in.

Much like the water rushing through our jet boat as it careered along the Waikato River’s Nga Awa Purua rapids. Propelled by a 500 hp Chevy V8 engine and Hamilton 212 jet engine, the boat blasted both up and down stream, skimming over the surface and abruptly halting in a spin of foam and water. The rush of air and blur of rocks was bracing and addictive. By the end of the 35minute dash, all the passengers on my boat were screaming for more. At the very least, it provided me with a cooling douse of clear blue mountain water, admittedly at break-neck speed. Not that I minded; I loved it!

SAFE HAVEN. Nearby, along the Volcanic Highway, is the

Wairakei Golf Course and Sanctuary, which is surrounded by an impressive and slightly intimidating five-kilometre Xcluder fence.

To get in, you first must pass through a two-metre tall automated gate, designed to keep predators like rats, stoats and weasels out.

Although it feels like you’re entering Jurassic Park, the oasis the fence creates is testimony to its effectiveness. Once through the security cordon, I was welcomed by blossoming wild flowers and colourful wild birds wandering about a course that is expertly maintained and beautifully presented. The layout follows rich and unusual volcanic contours that stem from the nearby Wairakei

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Wairakei Golf Course and Sanctuary

Geothermal Park, creating an attractive and challenging 18-hole parkland course.

David Park, operations manager at Wairakei, explains the sanctuary came about when owner, Gary Lane, bought out his partners to create a refuge for the Tui bird. “He read that unprotected, 95 per cent of the bird’s eggs are eaten in the wild.

He didn’t like the thought of chicks being eaten on his golf course, so he thought he would put a fence around it, get rid of all the predators and employ a game keeper,” Park explains. “He had the money and the facility to do it, so he did.”

The enclosure created by Lane is so impenetrable that New Zealand’s Department of Conservation now uses it as a crèche for the Western North Island Brown Kiwi bird. With the chicks flourishing, Wairakei is a success story not only for the nurturing role it fulfils, but also for the quality of the golf course it operates.

And with green fees set at NZ$185, who wouldn’t like a round of golf in a bone fide wildlife sanctuary?

people and golf made it a home from home, despite the epic trail around the globe to get there.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

HOME FROM HOME. Like its wildlife, culture in New Zealand is

revered. From Maori place names to silhouettes of Kiwi birds, traditions and folklore are prominent and respected. This could be because the country is relatively young, but more likely as a result of the diverse ancestry of those who call this place home and the desire to maintain this diversity.

Te Puia is New Zealand’s living Maori cultural centre and is located five minutes from central Rotorua, situated in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley. Here, the Maori way of life is distilled into talks, displays and performances. It also introduces you to hot pools and geysers, which can be found across the country. This, along with the prehistoric landscape and a topsy- turvy climate (the height of their summer is the depths of our winter), you could image New Zealand feeling strange and unfamiliar. But it isn’t.

Because of the culture, I have felt more isolated in parts of Europe than I did while in New Zealand. The climate, landscape, 29

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DETROIT, USA

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A

nyone reading about Detroit over the past two years might be forgiven for thinking that the wheels had come off America’s motor city. The once-mighty industrial powerhouse, and original home of the Motown (motor town) record company, hit the headlines in July 2013 when it became the largest city to declare itself bankrupt in US history.

That, coupled with the fact that its ‘Big Three’ car makers – Ford, General Motors and Chrysler (or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles subsidiary FCA US as it now is) – have significantly cut production and laid off staff led some commentators to gloomily pronounce that Detroit had reached the end of the road. However, reports of its death have, to paraphrase Mark Twain, been greatly 34

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exaggerated and there is still much to enjoy in Michigan.

SLOW COMBACK. After a court-approved plan allowing The D,

as it’s known, to restructure its finances and cut its debt by $7 billion, Detroit exited bankruptcy in December 2014. Thankfully for the city, the plan did not involve disposing of the treasured art collection housed in the venerated Detroit Institute of Arts – a plan labelled by some as akin to selling off the family silver.

Detroit’s comeback road will be long and arduous but its resilience is confounding critics. And it makes a fascinating place to visit, particularly for anyone interested in America’s automobile history, its music heritage and the arts. From this summer, new direct Heathrow-Detroit flights from Virgin

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Atlantic will make it much easier to visit, too.

I explored Detroit on a tour of Michigan that took in culture, the arts, music, automobile history and, of course, a spot of golf.

My journey took me from gateway city Chicago across to the lakeside town of St Joseph on the opposite shore of Lake Michigan. There I visited Silver Beach, not for its soft sands fronting the lake, as it was early April and still in the grips of a long winter, but for its wonderful carousel, a replica of the popular Victorian fairground rides built just five years ago.

I travelled on to Kalamazoo, made famous by a Glenn Miller song and once home to the world’s largest taxicab manufacturer, Checker Motors, whose vehicles were a familiar sight in American cities for decades. The last Checker cab to roll off the assembly

line in 1982 is one of the prize exhibits in the Gilmore Museum, which displays a fascinating collection of American vehicles.

TOP MUSEUM. One of America’s top five car museums, it houses more than 250 vehicles and motorbikes, from the earliest days of motoring up to 70s muscle cars. Star vehicles include classic Duesenberg, Cadillac and Mercury convertibles, while the collections of several partner museums are also on display.

Just outside Kalamazoo in Portage is the Air Zoo; a homage to aviation and the history of flight, guaranteed to delight young and old. An aircraft spotter in my teens, I literally had to be dragged away from the rare and historic exhibits that range from a replica of the Wright Brothers’ Flyer and World War II veterans to the 35

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fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever built – the awe-inspiring SR-71B Blackbird, which could reach speeds of Mach 3.5 and fly at 85,000 feet.

After a pit stop in the artsy, university town of Ann Arbor to stroll along its lively Main Street and enjoy a contemporary American dinner, my colleagues and I pressed on to Detroit, where we checked into the aptly named Westin Book Cadillac.

This historic, Italian Renaissance-style landmark – the tallest hotel in the world when it opened in 1924 – has been restored to its original splendour, reclaiming its position as Detroit’s premier hotel. It offers 453 guest rooms including 35 suites, giving sweeping views of the Detroit River or the city skyline.

Alternatively, the MotorCity Casino Hotel is a more vibrant experience, with a theatre, neon-lit casino and restaurants including the top-floor Iridescence giving grandstand views.

SPLIT CITY. Detroit is a city with a split personality. Areas of

urban decay and run-down buildings underline its financial plight. Yet its centre has some glorious architecture, with historic art deco and post-modern neo-Gothic skyscrapers, such as the over-the-the-top interior of the Guardian Building and the ornate exterior of the Fisher Building, juxtaposed with gleaming new glass and steel towers that soar above its revitalised riverfront.

The jewel in Detroit’s crown, the Detroit Institute of Arts, is the fifth largest fine arts museum in the US. Its collection spans 100 galleries, with art from around the world from ancient civilisations right up to modern times. Among significant works are the famous Detroit Industry fresco cycle by Mexican artist Diego Rivera and Vincent van Gogh’s Self Portrait, the first work by the artist to enter a US museum collection.

HITSVILLE USA. The highlight of Detroit was the Motown Museum. Located in an unassuming two-storey white house with a trim lawn and a sign reading Hitsville USA, it was the epicentre of America’s soul music scene from when impresario Berry Gordy founded it in 1959 until he relocated to Los Angeles in 1972.

This was the music I grew up with. It seems incredible that the careers of so many famous names were launched at such a small building, although Motown eventually occupied seven other neighbouring houses.

The list of artists with the Motown and Tamla record labels

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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

reads like a Who’s Who of 60s and 70s pop giants: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Martha and the Vandellas, and many more besides.

Converted into a museum in 1985, with everything left as it was in its heyday, a guide talks about its history and takes you through the house to see displays of memorabilia culminating in its legendary Studio A, where you can sing along to familiar Motown songs.

The city is still a music hub today. It hosts the world’s largest free jazz festival – the Detroit Jazz Festival – each July as well as the three-day Movement Electronic Music Festival every May. THE MODEL T. But no visit to Detroit is complete without

exploring its motoring history. The redbrick Ford Piquette Plant building, completed in 1904, was the Ford Motor Company’s first factory. This was where the legendary Model T was designed in 1908 and built until 1910 when Ford moved to larger premises and another famous motoring name, Studebaker, took it over.

Century-old cars are displayed on the original wooden factory floor, with paint peeling off concrete pillars, ceiling joists and brick walls. Guided tours also take in the third-floor Experimental Room where the Model T was developed.

However, Detroit’s main motoring attraction is The Henry Ford, in Dearborn. Named after Ford’s founder, it comprises several experiences across 200 acres that need at least half a day to fully appreciate.

The Ford Rouge Factory Tour visits Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in the River Rouge factory (once the world’s biggest), where its 10-acre sedum-covered roof is North America’s largest ‘living roof’. There, you look down from an observation deck onto the production line for Ford’s F-150 truck before visiting the Legacy Gallery to see some of the company’s most famous products.

These include the Ford Mustang, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.

THE HENRY FORD. Next stop was the nearby Greenfield Village

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and adjacent Henry Ford Museum. First up was a ride past the Greenfield Village’s 90 historic buildings in a fleet of vintage Model Ts. I was in a 1914 model, leading the pack. All went well until it spluttered to a halt, requiring assistance from a quaint breakdown truck and a vehicle switch to complete the tour.

The Henry Ford Museum features many iconic cars as well as a display of presidential limousines, which includes the limo in which John F Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.

Other galleries celebrate American innovators and aviation pioneers and chart its liberty struggles, with the bus that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on for a white passenger in 1955, sparking the US civil rights movement, among exhibits.

GOOD-VALUE GOLF. For golfers, Michigan has more than 600

public golf courses, with the highest concentration of them in the Detroit area and the state’s southeastern corner. They are playable from spring right through until late autumn.

Golf in Detroit is good value, thanks to the tough times that Motor City has endured which have kept green fees low. You can play many good courses for around $50 or less, while the most expensive ones won’t break the bank; a round on the top-rated 27-hole Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club, between Detroit and Flint, maxes out at just $85 on summer weekends, including golf buggy.

Among the offerings are several layouts by the legendary Donald Ross, two of them at the private Detroit Golf Club. TPC of Michigan, a challenging Jack Nicklaus course in Dearborn, is also private but can be played if you stay at the Adoba Hotel Dearborn or MGM Grand Detroit.

Other top-notch facilities around Detroit include the Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Centre’s 63 holes in Plymouth, Robert Trent Jones Jr’s The Orchards (20 miles north in Washington) and the Arnold Palmer-designed Coyote Preserve Golf Club in Fenton, with its tough par-5, par-3, par-5 finish, aka the Coyote Trap.

Buicks and Chevrolets; hands-on science and technology exhibits in the Alfred P Sloan Museum; and various art exhibitions in the Flint Institute of Arts.

German-flavoured Frankenmuth could have been lifted straight from Bavaria and plonked in the heart of Michigan.

Besides its atmospheric Bavarian Inn Lodge, covered bridge, horse-drawn carriage rides and glockenspiel, there are also quirky shops such as the Cheese Haus and Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland – the world’s largest Christmas store with more than 50,000 festive items for sale, all year round.

Zenders, where we had our farewell dinner, is in the record books as America’s largest family restaurant; seating 1,500 diners in nine German-themed dining rooms and serving one million guests every year.

From motor museums to Motown, not forgetting a little bit of Christmas, my Michigan tour was a real journey of discovery.

GGM

FROM ITALY TO BAVARIA. Before leaving Detroit, we enjoyed

northern Italian cuisine at the Andiemo Detroit Riverfront restaurant, in the GM Renaissance Centre Wintergarden, with a unique view across the Detroit River to the Canadian city of Windsor – Detroit being the only American city where you look due south to Canada.

At Flint, we stopped off at the Durant-Dupont Carriage Company office, the birthplace of General Motors, before going on to the Flint Cultural Centre campus. There, you can visit the Buick Automotive Gallery, which contains classic and concept

GOOD TO KNOW ­

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Detroit Detr oit

… A GREAT GREA AT AMERICAN AMERICAN CITY! EA ATT HISTOR Y! … A GREAT HISTORY! GREA … TWO GREA GREAT ATT MUSEUMS! A

Kid Rock Music Lab

The Streets of Old Detroit

The Gothic Room at the Dossin

The Detroit Historical Society invites you to enjoy enjoy more more than three three centuries of our city’s city’s history, history, from its founding by by the French French to the flying of the Union Jack Jack — to its emergence emergence as America’s America’s Motor City in the 20th centur centuryy and muc muchh mor more! e! It’ It’ss all her here: e: the people people,, the products, the music and the events that mak makee Detroit unique and w world-class. orld-class.

5401 Woodward Woodward Avenue Avenue venu in Midtown Midtown 313.833.1805

detroithistorical.org

100 Strand Strand Drive Belle Isle 313.833.5538

Prosjekt2_Layout 1 14.04.15 13.25 Side 1

Experience the Original The birthplace of the Model T The car that revolutionized manufacturing

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant National Historic Landmark 461 Piquette Ave., Detroit Mi www.fordpiquetteplant.org Wednesday - Sunday 10 to 4 313 872-8759

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Charting his own course

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s spring arrives, legions of avid racers will don overalls, gloves and helmets in order to compete in one of the numerous motorsport events around the globe. Wheel to wheel action provides the thrill-seekers with the adrenaline fix they desperately crave and, for the fortunate, the prospect of podium glory awaits.

Leaving the comparative safety of terra firma, air racing takes the notion of high-speed competition to new heights. Daniel Pangbourne is passionate about racing his Grumman Tiger plane with David, his father and navigator, by his side.

Daniel has enjoyed much success as an air race pilot.

He has won the Royal Aero Club European Air Racing Championship, the Schneider Trophy and currently holds four FAI Aviation World Records.

The race course resembles a large rectangle on the ground, with the four corners providing the turning points. Each lap is approximately 25 miles and the total race distance is 125 miles. Planes fly between 100 and 220 miles per hour at a minimum altitude of 500 feet.

Precision flying is critical to success; the plane must not infringe the turning points and the watchful eye of GPS monitoring ensures no unfair advantage is gained.

The ‘handicap’ races take into account the maximum speed of each plane, with the slowest plane starting the race first. In theory, all planes, if flown to their full potential, should cross the finish line at the same time.

However, in reality it is the expertise of the pilot in flying straight, making allowances for any prevailing wind and exercising turns with absolute precision which determine success or failure.

THE DREAM WATCH. Typical of many competitive souls,

The first watch produced by Daniel graced his wrist six years ago. Soon, fellow pilots asked if he could supply them with similarly equipped watches.

Daniel was keen to ensure he had the best equipment at his disposal. Despite there being numerous pilots’ watches available for sale, he simply could not find a timepiece that he felt adequately fulfilled his precise requirements.

For most individuals, the difficulty in obtaining a specific piece of equipment may lead to a bout of frustration but, invariably, a degree of compromise ensues.

However, the word ‘compromise’ does not seem to be part of this pilot’s lexicon.

Daniel embarked on a brave journey to produce a watch ideally equipped to fulfill his desires. His passion for collecting Second World War watches used by RAF fighter and bomber pilots provided a rich source of inspiration. Several watches had the specifications he craved, but none offered everything.

The first watch produced by Daniel graced his wrist six years ago. Soon, fellow pilots asked if he could supply them with similarly equipped watches. Over the years, Daniel refined the design and today, Pangbourne London offers its range of pilots’ watches to a global audience.

Designed and constructed in a London studio, each timepiece is hand assembled to order, in total contrast to the mass production so common in today's market.

THE DP-01. Pangbourne London produce two models: the DP-01 and DP-02, each offered in a choice of PNP nickel or black PVD finish. The company kindly sent a sample of its DP-01 model in the silvery-coloured PNP nickel for a few days of temporary stewardship and I took

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the opportunity to familiarise myself with the controls.

The DP-01 is a horological leviathan, measuring 50mm in diameter with a case height of 18mm. However, the scale of this watch is justified since legibility is of critical importance when experiencing extreme g-force whilst three feet away from another plane. Clearly, Pangbourne subscribes to the design doctrine of form following function.

Besides displaying hours and minutes, the DP-01 is equipped with a long inventory of features. The date is positioned at 3 o’clock and a small seconds display is located opposite, at 9 o’clock. An additional red-tipped UTC hand, used in conjunction with a 24 hour scale, proves useful when landing in a different time zone.

The watch is equipped with an automatic Swiss chronograph movement, providing a useful stop watch function when performing timed turns. The pilot calculates the point at which the turn sequence will be initiated, making allowance for the motion of the wind and, most importantly, not shortcutting the corner and receiving a penalty. Daniel informed me that, “when you have calculated that you need to time a 20-second turn, it has to be 20 seconds, not 19 or 21.”

NO ELECTRONICS. When seeking a private pilot’s licence, the

trainee pilot must use a circular slide rule to make various calculations. No electronic devices are allowed in the cockpit.

The DP-01 is fitted with a bidirectional rotational bezel and integrated circular slide rule to perform various calculations, including fuel burn and distance travelled. Again, the specification makes perfect sense.

Placing the DP-01 upon the wrist, the significant mass of the watch becomes immediately apparent. All Pangbourne watches are constructed of antimagnetic brass and subsequently coated to prevent oxidisation. Conventional stainless steel watches can become magnetised which can adversely affect the compass and some of the avionic systems found in the cockpit.

With increased familiarity, the weight of the DP-01 seemed to confer a reassuring sense of solidity.

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WATER RESISTANCE. Unlike some commercially available

pilot’s watches which have no specified water resistance, the DP-01 has a maximum water resistance of 10 ATM (approximately 100 metres). Daniel proffered that this aspect of the specification should prove sufficient for surviving “aviation ditching”. I must confess that I experienced an overwhelming sense of alarm on hearing this remark and suddenly lost any modicum of desire to fly at 200mph, a mere 500 feet above the ground. Nevertheless, it is evident that the robust inventory of properties makes this the ideal flight companion for serious aviators.

The brown leather strap affixes to the wrist with a pin buckle, equipped with a broad, rectangular-tipped pin. The watch is also supplied with a matching leather extension piece allowing the watch to be worn on the outside of the flying suit or jacket, aiding visibility in the cockpit. This is reminiscent of when pilots wore watches in the 1930s and 40s, which were viewed as an additional cockpit instrument.

TACHYMETER. The DP-02 shares similar design codes to the

DP-01 but supplants the UTC hand in favour of a day display and tachymeter scale. This latter detail is a useful speed calculation device. By using the chronograph function to measure the time it takes the plane to cover a mile, the speed can be determined by reading the value indicated by the halted stop watch hand. No batteries or electronics are employed; all indications are provided by the self-winding Swiss movement.

Often, watches are conceived by marketing professionals who seek to satisfy the wants of an identified niche.

Pangbourne London was born from a man’s passion for air racing and his desire to create a watch which would be both functional and iconic.

The unconventional approach to creating the aeronautical timepieces made by Pangbourne London is charming.

Moreover, the motives of the brand’s founder and the rationale for the creation of this watch bestow an endearing honesty which is clear to see.

GGM

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Golf and History, 100 years Commemoration.

‘Set amidst the scenic beauty of the Flemish countryside near the historic old town of Ypres, our gently rolling parkland course offers a wide range of challenges to players of all abilities. The elegant clubhouse and terrace are located in what was once the chateau of Voormezele and provide a pleasant and informal setting in which golfers can sample the excellence of our kitchen and wine cellar.’

The Great War of 1914 raged across what is now the golf course with historic relicts a reminder to the battles which took place.

* Luxurious dressing-rooms * Pro Shop * Large and cosy clubhouse * Beautiful outside terrace with a great view on holes 9 and 18

GOLF & COUNTRYCLUB DE PALINGBEEK, BELGIUM Eekhofstraat 14 • 8902 Hollebeke-leper, Belgium Tel. +32 57 20 04 36 • Fax +32 57 21 89 58.

E-mail: golfpalingbeek@skynet.be • www.golfpalingbeek.be

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A golfer’s PARADISE

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f you live in the colder climes of Europe then playing golf in Thailand, especially between November and April, is a welcome change. In fact, the climate in Hua Hin allows for golf to be enjoyed 365 days of the year. I decided to avoid the bustle of Bangkok and the Russians on Phuket Island, driving two and half hours from the capital to Hua Hin. The seaside home to the King of Thailand, who has his summer palace here, Hua Hin offers several kilometres of sandy beaches.

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Originally a sleepy seaside fishing town, Hua Hin is now popular with Bangkok-based Thais, especially at the weekends.

During the week, however, the resort is fairly empty. Not as brash as Pattaya or Phuket, but still offering the usual night markets and of course superb cuisine, with fresh fish high on the list.

Hua Hin also has many international hotels including the Hyatt Regency, the Hilton and the Centara Grand, plus several unusual boutique hotels, so you are spoilt for choice.

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Home to Thailand's oldest golf course, The Royal Hua Hin, the town and its neighbour Cha Am actually boast over 11 courses, including the award-winning Banyan Golf Resort, Springfield and Majestic Creek. However, the one course everyone always wants to play here is Black Mountain.

OOZING STYLE. In fact, as I turned the corner and saw the set-

up of this resort for the first time, I knew I was in for a treat.

Everything about Black Mountain oozes style; from the caddies uniforms to the club’s award-winning restaurant… here even the cleaners wear high heels!

The course was designed and crafted by Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design and offers an 18-hole, Par 72 (7,587 yards) championship golf course. Although it has hosted many major tournaments with the likes of Stenson, Jaidee and Montgomerie conquering the 18 holes, it is also designed to appeal to the

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average golf vacationer with a series of seven different tee boxes on each hole. They are numbered from 76 down to 57, depicting the actual total yards you can play. I chose tee number 61 giving me a chance at 6,100 yards.

Once I teamed up with my smiling Thai caddie Nong, kitted out in chic black trousers, a yellow top and a cute Black Mountain cap, everything then clicked into action.

If you wish to warm up they have a superb driving range and there is also a putting green close to the clubhouse. Another clever

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touch was their mini supermarket under the clubhouse, where you can stock up before your round. Thongchai Jaidee , Simon Yates and Johan Edfors are just a few pros who all own property here, so you may spot them as you go round the course.

WIND FACTOR. Playing in January the wind plays a big factor

here, so after a few tips from Khun Nong, I teed off on the first hole and my adventure began. A par-4, No 1 looks fairly easy with a relatively wide fairway. However, it is vital to try and pass the

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ridge down the fairway, so you have a clear view for your second shot of the valley up to a raised green.

The second hole is a great par-5 with the possibility for the long hitters to almost go for the green with their second shot. As some deep bunkers and water guard this green, I decided to lay up and got to the green in three.

Holes number four and six both have tricky island greens. Both are elevated so your drive needs to handle the wind. Hole six is in fact the longest at 598 yards.

On the front nine you need to position yourself on every drive, so your second shot has a chance to land on the greens, some being islands surrounded by water and some cheekily placed bunkers.

WATER WORKS. Turning to the back nine, apparently they have recently altered the 10th, which now has some strategically placed water hazards. I was told that by adding the water it actually cools you as you tee off.

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Many say the par-3 11th is the hardest on the course, as you tee off downhill over water to a relatively small green. My caddie said the guys who fish out the lost balls fight for the right to swim here, so be warned.

The 12th starts your climb up the mountain and the highest tee box is the mighty 13th, a 614-yard, par-5 downhill to a green again with water. Good idea to try to reach the ridge here, otherwise your second shot is going to be blind.

The finishing four holes are very cool with bunkers, boulders and more bunkers to contend with. In fact, by the time I reached the 18th, I definitely felt I had been on a roller coaster of a course.

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It didn’t really matter what my score was, it was just so much fun.

As you leave the course the only way out is through the club’s gigantic pro shop, selling everything from Puma to real estate. It was one of the busiest pro shops I have seen, as everyone wanted some souvenir with the famous Black Mountain logo to show off back home. I liked the club’s caps and visors in white or black available for just THB100 (£2). Clever idea, as it is a great way to have satisfied golfers promote your course globally.

THE VILLAS. On this trip I was lucky enough to stay at one of the

Black Mountain pool villas. Large living area, small pool and very

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comfortable bedrooms – perfect for a short stay. The 57 villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms, have been built surrounding the par-3 course, and you can book them by the night or by the week.

As well as golf, the resort has several other distractions to enjoy – including paddle tennis, swimming, spa massages, cocktails and a first-class restaurant overlooking the 18th hole.

If you still want to carry on playing, but don’t necessarily have the energy to handle another 7,500 yards, then they have perhaps one of the best par three courses in the world.

Designed again by Phil Ryan, he has created this course in a natural valley. Each hole requires a precise tee shot to find the

green and to avoid going into the water or the bunkers. From the black tees the nine holes run at 1,357 yards and from the ladies tees a shorter 969 yards. Longest hole is number six at 182 yards.

Apparently, several leading European tour players all enjoyed testing their own skills around these nine holes. Johan Edfor is quoting saying, after his round here, “You could take every hole, put it on a championship layout and it would fit fine. It’s a great course to sharpen up your short and mid irons and the greens are big enough to hit. For me I can learn more in an hour playing one round here than from a day on the range.”

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GOOD TO KNOW ­

offered, and I actually forgot I was only playing par threes. Concentration is vital here, but it definitely is a great way to practice your short game.

THE SWEDISH CHEF. Black Mountain’s awards do not stop just on the golf course, as their clubhouse restaurant has also made its own headlines. Swedish executive chef Mårten Karlsson, who came to Thailand and joined the club four years ago, has created a superb menu.

Breakfast is served from early morning with a choice of a Fitness Breakfast of Yogurt and fresh Hua Hin fruits or the full American Breakfast.

“As the club has people from many countries, we have a very wide menu. I think the signature dish here would be the Toast Skagen, which is a typical Danish dish of boiled shrimps and chopped onions in dill and lemon mayonnaise, served on bread. It’s one of the bestsellers,” says Karlsson.

“All Europeans know what it is and really like it, the Thais like it as well. Of course, we get many Thai golfers and visitors, and the most popular dishes for them are the Phat Kra Pao Moo (pork stir-fried with basil) and the Phat Met Mamuang Himmapan (stir-fried pork, beef or chicken with cashew nuts), which our western guests really like as well.”

WATER PARK. As well as the superb clubhouse

restaurant, luxury spa, bakery and handy supermarket, the owners have recently launched a new state of the art Black Mountain Water Park, close to the par-3 course.

The focal point of the 55,000 square metre facility is a 17-metre tower, from which nine water slides ‘empty’ their riders into a series of pools. There is also a giant wave pool, a 60-metre long beach pool, overlooking the adjacent wakeboard park, a kiddies pool, food outlets and locker rooms. And if that’s not enough, you can enjoy the Black Mountain gourmet restaurant down in the town opposite the Hilton Hua Hin. This golfing destination ticks all the boxes and is well worth checking out – it will not disappoint.

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In support of

Time for life—with two limited edition timepieces in support of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. Each watch raises £100 for the Nobel Peace Prize winning humanitarian organization. And still these handcrafted mechanical watches with the red 12 cost the same as the classic Tangente models from NOMOS Glashütte. Help now, wear forever. £100 from every product sold is paid to Médecins Sans Frontières UK, a UK registered charity no. 1026588. NOMOS retailers helping to help include CS Bedford, CW Sellors, Catherine Jones, Fraser Hart, Hamilton & Inches, Mappin & Webb, Orro, Perfect Timing, Stewart's Watches, Stuart Thexton, Watches of Switzerland. Find these and other authorized NOMOS retailers at nomos-watches.com, or order online at nomos-store.com

NOMOS_MSF_UK_GreatGolfMagazin_150315.indd 1

19.03.15 10:48

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The ultimate solution

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I

t seems de rigueur that, as men reach their forties, a midlife crisis appears on the agenda. The advent of middle age makes many men question the meaning of life and contemplate what might have been.

Everything is brought into question, with careers, relationships, health and self-image all potential areas of dissonance. Some men feel an overwhelming need to reinvent themselves in a belated attempt to self-actualise.

A younger partner, a change of wardrobe or a trendy new hairstyle are just some of the tell-tale signs that a midlife crisis has reared its ugly head. However, perhaps the most obvious illustration of middleaged reinvention is the purchase of a two-seater sports car.

The problem is that after said sports car arrives, there is a distinct lack of opportunity to get behind the wheel. Indeed, career and family commitments consume virtually all available time. As any parent will attest, teenage children perpetually need to be transported to a myriad of social events, resigning any two seater

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to a life beneath a dust sheet in the garage.

BMW may have come up with the perfect solution. The 6 Series Gran Coupé is sexy and stylish yet it is accompanied with four doors so is easily able to accommodate four adults in sumptuous comfort.

The frameless doors, typical of a two seater, exude a welcome note of sportiness and the flowing profile of the car seems destined to tackle country lanes with smile-inducing ease.

As a suitably qualified forty something, I climbed into the luxurious cabin of a silver-hued 640d M Sport Gran Coupé in order to appraise itover a number of days.

FEELING THE POWER. The 6 Series Gran Coupé is available in a broad choice of diesel and petrol engines. The ultimate high-performance option, the M6 Gran Coupé, employs a 4.4 litre eightcylinder turbocharged engine, producing 560 horsepower, catapulting the car from rest to 62mph in a claimed 4.2 seconds

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The diesel-powered 640d M Sport Gran Coupé may not share the same fire-breathing character of the M6 but, rest assured, it is no slouch. The 313 horsepower engine will still reach 62mph in 5.4 seconds while sipping fuel with a parsimonious thirst, delivering an impressive 49.6 mpg on the combined cycle.

In the real world of congested roads, highway hazards, roadworks and speed cameras, the 640d M Sport Gran Coupé seems to make a lot more financial sense than the M6.

current speed, satellite navigation instructions and even the radio channel without taking their eyes off the road ahead. This may sound like mere gimmickry but it proves to be highly useful and is definitely worthy of consideration.

The electric memory driver’s seat offers an array of adjustments and delivers much lateral support, holding the driver in position when enthusiastically entering bends. The seat squab can be extended, providing additional support both under the thighs and behind the knees.

MANY OPTIONS. My 640d M Sport Gran Coupé test car was

equipped with an array of options including the ‘M Sport Plus Package’. Ticking this option on the order form adds larger 20” alloy wheels, an upgraded surround sound system, extra features on the instrument panel and the must have ‘Head-up Display’.

This latter option projects various information on the inside of the windscreen as if it were floating above the road. The driver can focus on the twists and turns of a country lane whilst viewing the

BLUETOOTH. Communication is key in today’s era and BMW has evidently recognised this by equipping the 6-series with ‘Bluetooth telephone preparation’. Using my iPhone, I found the task of connecting to the system to be very simple and appreciated the optimally placed colour display.

However, connectivity goes beyond mere phone and navigation functions, with the optional internet access on my test car proving

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most convenient. While using my desktop computer, I was able to find a restaurant and, using Google Maps, send the location to my car where it was easily retrievable with the navigation system.

Looking back into the rear passenger compartment, the transmission tunnel does impact on leg room. On an occasional basis, a fifth adult could sit on the middle part of the rear seat bench as a seat belt is provided. However, the ‘four plus one’ seating arrangement does mean a fifth person may find the rear of the cockpit tiresome over a long distance. Nevertheless, contrasting the 6-series Gran Coupé with a conventional two seater, greater functionality is clearly provided with this stylish four door model.

ON THE ROAD. While the 640d M Sport Gran Coupé is brimming with gadgets, the raison d’être of this car is its ability to place a smile on the driver’s face.

Despite an overall length of more than five metres, the 640d M Sport Gran Coupé felt much smaller on the road. Its handling was taut and threading it through bends was a joy.

The centrally mounted ‘iDrive Touch Controller’ allows the driver to adjust various settings, including the eagerness of the gearbox to swap ratios, the reaction of the throttle to driver input and the behaviour of the steering. In reality, I found the default setting delivered everything I asked of it.

A characteristic of the diesel engine is its abundance of torque.

There was never any hint of lag from the ‘BMW TwinPower Turbo’, with colossal acceleration available on demand. It was only at tick over that the engine revealed its diesel character. Driving the car at any other speed was accompanied by the rich timbre synonymous with a high-powered petrol engine.

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THE BRAKES. Clearly, with the ability to attain high speeds, it is equally important to be able to rein in a high performance car.

The brakes on the 640d M Sport Gran Coupé fulfilled their role admirably. On several occasions I enthusiastically approached a bend, safe in the knowledge that the anchors of this car would progressively shed speed with confidence.

With a multitude of driver aids such as ABS, DSC+ and DTC, the numerous abbreviations can prove bewildering, but rest assured they all collaborate to mitigate driver error and help keep the car on the road.

The ride was firm on the BMW 640d M Sport Gran Coupé and my rear seat passengers seemed to be the most critical of this. Perhaps the standard 19” alloys may offer a more comfortable ride, but with a satisfactory experience in the front of the car, any criticisms that were proffered from behind fell on deaf ears.

YOUTHFUL EXCITEMENT. BMW has clearly identified a niche which many car brands have overlooked. The middle-aged man may well have grown tired of the customary 4 door saloon and seek the excitement of a sleek and exciting vehicle.

The BMW 640d M Sport Gran Coupé can transport children admirably and the boot will accommodate a couple of golf bags, satisfying any remit for practicality. However, most importantly, this car delivers enjoyment, helping you rediscover some youthful excitement and put a smile on your face.

Indeed, with an array of attributes, the BMW 640d M Sport Gran Coupé may well prove to be the perfect antidote for middleaged boredom.

GGM

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ou may not know much about this city, but I predict that Rabat is about to make an entrance stage left.

With its stunning architecture and considerably more laid-back attitude than its contemporaries, it may be time to visit this capital by the sea.

I arrive at Rabat Airport on a flight from Stanstead and I am shocked by what I find… peace and quiet. There are plenty of people around but everything just seems very well organised and very civilised. True, you still have the rather odd custom of having your passport checked several times, even after leaving passport control, but that’s just part and parcel of a trip to Morocco.

A well-dressed driver from my hotel Sofitel Jardin Des Roses awaits me in the airport concourse. Within minutes I am seated 64

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in the back of a rather nice Mercedes and driven through the streets of the city. The roads are lined with palm trees as we pass the ancient red walls that surround the old city. The name Rabat literally means ‘fortified place’, and going by the size of these beautiful clay walls, I can see why.

On this all too short visit I am staying at two Accor hotels; the Sofitel, here in the capital, and the Pullman Mazagan Royal Golf & Spa, located about 90 minutes south near El Jadida.

WARM WELCOME. On arrival at the hotel, I am guided into the palatial foyer and greeted at reception like a returning friend. My bags are already on their way to my room before I even know it, and after a chat with my hosts I follow. And what a room I have.

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Overlooking the picturesque hotel gardens, I see tall palms line the paths and brightly coloured oranges in trees, ripe and ready to be picked. It’s all very pretty.

That evening I am booked into one of the hotel’s choice of restaurants, the Al Warda (which means rose in Arabic). This seems fitting as the restaurant faces out towards the gardens, which have beautiful rose bushes. An ornate carved ceiling gives the restaurant a feeling of authenticity, which complements the excellent food on offer. I begin the evening with a glass of traditional Moroccan mint tea, something that I look forward to when dining in Morocco. It is certainly a good way to refresh the palate before a meal.

The waiters are, as always, pleasant and keen to make your evening perfect. To start with I enjoy a bowl of Harira, a

traditional soup made with lentils, tomatoes, ginger, cinnamon and plenty of herbs. For my main course it has to be a seafood tagine. This slow-cooked stew is baked within a distinctively shaped clay pot (tagine) and is delicious.

SO SPA The next day, after a traditional Moroccan breakfast, I explore the hotel and grounds. My first port of call is the Sofitel So Spa. Unfortunately, I do not have time for a treatment today as I have to be at Dar es Salam Golf Course later in the morning, but plenty of guests are making good use of what is on offer.

As befits the exotic location, there is a Hammam steam room, which I know from personal experience is the perfect sauna. Other treatments include an Aromatic Scrub with Spices, said to energise the body; a White Clay Purifying Wrap, for detoxing; and an 65

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Aromatic Bath, which uses essential oils and delicate fragrances such as orange blossom, rose, eucalyptus and cinnamon. There is also an excellent gym for those looking to keep trim as well as stay relaxed and smell good.

LE DIWAN RABAT. Rabat, often overlooked and waiting to be discovered, has so much to offer. The thriving medina (the old city district), is distinctly different from what you would find in other Moroccan cities due to the architectural influence of the Moors who arrived here from Spain in the 17th century. The Perfect place to stay and explore the capital is the Diwan Hotel.

Located in the heart of the imperial city, the Diwan Hotel is only a short walk away from the historical quarters and important monuments. The hotel boasts 94 rooms of varying combinations 66

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to suit all requirements.Also being part of the Accor group, the option of splitting your time between the SOFITEL and here would be the perfect combination. With its elegant yet understated facade, the Diwan, combines modern features and Moroccan touches to create a refined, chic and urban stay.

From the hotel there is a shuttle service to my next port of call, the Dar Es Salam golf club.

TIME FOR GOLF. I’m looking forward to visiting the famous Dar

Es Salam Golf Course, just a short drive from the hotel, and I’m not disappointed. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, there are three stunning courses here spread out over 440 hectares of cork forest.

Sadly, my time is short and there are 45 holes to cover so it will be a case of driving around and picking some choice holes to play. This

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is hard to do as I quickly see that there are many good holes here.

The Red Course (Par 73) is a true joy. I tee off on the first, a par-4 with a dogleg right and some interestingly placed bunkers, to its signature ninth hole, which is always one to inspire and enjoy. This par-3 has the green on an island, with a carry of in excess 150 metres over water.

The Blue Course (Par 72) is slightly shorter but by no means any easier. The fairways on average may not be such a distance, but the hidden greens and myriad doglegs make this a challenge for anyone.

The 11th is a captivating long par-4 at 405 metres. Water to one side and a narrowing fairway can lead many a golfer astray.

The Green Course (Par 32) may be the easier option but by no means is it boring. This nine-hole course is a match in terms of quality to its larger siblings.

FERTILE OASIS. I have a bit of a drive ahead of me; or rather my driver has, as I am sitting again in the back of that rather plush Mercedes. We are heading south of Rabat to my next destination, the Pullman Mazagan Royal Golf & Spa, located in the bay of El Jadida and not too far from Casablanca.

Nestled into its surroundings with a forest of pines and eucalyptus hugging the hotel and golf course, and the Atlantic Ocean in front, this is a part of Morocco that many do not know even exists. Green and fertile, it is a true oasis.

From my plush hotel room with its large balcony, I can sit and drink in the views over the golf course and out to the Bay of Al Jadida. The rich green lushness of the course and forest, the azure of the mighty Atlantic and the crystal clear blue Moroccan sky, all combine to make this a truly inspirational setting.

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According to Sales Executive Nadia El Bachiri, the hotel’s guests mainly come from France but she says that they are looking to attract more visitors from the UK. And given how awful British winters are, and how pleasant the winter climate is in Morocco, I think they might be on to something!

As well as the Royal El Jadida Golf Course, which I plan to investigate tomorrow, there is also the opportunity here to go riding, quad biking and paintballing, or you could just lounge by the pool.

THE PORTUGUESE CITY. Within the city of El Jadida is the old

Portuguese fortified city of Mazagan, which was granted the status of a protected UNESCO site in 2004. Built as a fortified colony in the 16th century, it was taken over by the Moroccans in 1769.

This was one of the earliest settlements of the Portuguese explorers on route to West Africa and India, and is a fantastic blend of European and Moroccan cultures.

ROYAL EL JADIDA. After breakfast I head off to the golf course, my plan is to view first and then play in the afternoon. My guide, Ali Essrout, has impeccable English and has worked at Royal El Jadida Golf Course for 20 years. As the caddie master, he knows the course inside out. “I consider myself very lucky,” says Ali. “To be here on the course every day is the most wonderful thing that I can imagine.”

The course starts with a nice par-5 with a dogleg right about 150 metres from the yellow tee. I can already see from my surroundings that this is a place for strategy rather than smashing it down the fairway, although I soon find that there are opportunities for that also.

The 4th hole is a charming par-3 over a lake. At 122 metres from the yellow, it’s a reasonably safe hole to relax on and enjoy your surroundings. At this time of the day the sunlight is permeating through the large eucalyptus trees to create a wonderful dappled landscape.

Ali has an interesting story for me at the par-5 8th hole. “I was caddying for a French amateur player in a tournament here a few 68

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years back,” he says. “This player hit a wonderful drive to just left of the lake. For his second shot he used a 3-iron. The ball disappeared over towards the green and off we went to see where it had landed. After searching all around the green, we all assumed it must have disappeared over the back and into the bushes. Out of desperation I checked in the hole, sure enough the ball was there and the player had shot an Eagle!”

DOGLEG RIGHT. One thing that I have noticed here is that all the doglegs seem to be right, for me as a dyed-in-the-wool-lefty with a slice I make a note not to hit too hard. The eucalyptus forest looks wonderful but I do not want to spend my limited time here looking for lost balls.

From the 16th onwards the course stays close to the coast. The 17th hole is a lovely par-4 up to a green that’s surrounded by gnarled trees weathered by storms off the Atlantic.

My time is just too short for everything on offer on this trip. I fly back to England the next day with a different view of Morocco.

Rabat offers a new side to this exotic land that is only three hours from London. Would I recommend Rabat and El Jadida as a holiday destination? It has to be a resounding yes. Will I be back?

Absolutely.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

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KOREA

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he interpretation of the Chinese symbols for the country's name have long been an area for debate, but “The Land of the Morning Calm”, though considered slightly fanciful, is generally thought to be a close enough translation. So you have Korea’s “Land of the Morning Calm” in the west and Japan’s “Land of the Rising Sun” in the east.

But this is a country of contrasts. The cities, especially the capital Seoul, are modern, dynamic and vibrant hubs of commercialism. Then there is the other side to Korea, where a land of calmness still holds so true. The country's compact size and good transport infrastructure mean that an older and more traditional Korea is reachable within only a short space of time from any urban location. Mountains surrounded by forests and an altogether simpler way of life exist to this day.

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with Japan to the east, it has become accustomed to the presence of strong, ambitious neighbours.

From the early fourth- to mid-seventh centuries, the region was divided into three kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. These regional powers covered territory spanning the Korean Peninsula and parts of north-eastern Asia. The three were eventually unified under the Kingdom of Silla, which in turn was superseded in 935 AD by Goryeo. This is considered to be the origin of the name Korea that we know today.

During the 13th Century, like China, the kingdom was invaded by the Mongolians and became a vassal for their vast empire, eventually regaining independence on its collapse later that same century. Recent history has seen the country invaded

by Japan and divided by a war that has created the separate states of North and South Korea.

COLOURFUL HISTORY. The history of Korea is eventful, colourful and, like many others, not without turmoil. Bordering China and

THE CAPITAL. Seoul is one of Asia’s cultural and economic powerhouses, straddling both sides of the Han River and

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surrounded by mountains. The northern side of the river is known as Gangbuk and is the original, more historic area; the hilly neighbourhoods seem frozen in time and have retained that ‘old city charm’.

The main historic area is the Jogno District. Close by is the residential area of Bukchon, filled with traditional houses, some of which date back to the dynastic era.

Gangnam on the southern side is known for its concentration of wealth and high standard of living, and thus has a more modern feel to it. The area is dominated by luxury residences, commercial buildings and expensive restaurants. The district has now been immortalised by the hit song “Gangnam Style”, which emphasises the area as a hangout for the trendy and super-rich.

This is a vast city of roughly 10 million people. Once you include the surrounding metropolitan provinces of Incheon and Gyeonggi, the total population is in excess of 25 million, over half the population of the country.

Seoul has been in existence for over two thousand years and

was originally founded by the kingdom of Baekje. Once the three kingdoms were united, it became the capital of the new Korea.

The city of Seoul today is a mixture of ancient buildings and traditions, along with modern high rises and cutting-edge technology. It is doubtless a marvel of the modern age.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES. It’s important to have some ideas

about where to visit as there is just so much to do and see. Within the capital alone there are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites which includes Changdeokgung Palace, one of the five Grand Palaces that were built during the Joseon Dynasty. Nearby is the Confucian Jongmyo shrine, dedicated to the country's past kings and queens. This is the oldest Royal Confucian shrine in the world. It was built in 1394 and the ceremonies still follow ageold traditions.

TOP FEMALE GOLFERS. A recent article in The Economist pointed out that for a country that has only 0.7% of the 73

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world’s population, four of the top ten female golfers are Korean, with 38 in the top 100 and 144 in the top 500.We have all heard how seriously the Koreans take their golf, and with the new Jack Nicklaus golf club they have yet another to add to their impressive roster.

The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club is a key part of the Songdo Green project, a sustainable city hub, built just 40 miles from Seoul and seven miles from Incheon International Airport.

Amazingly, those living in this new city are a mere three and a half hour flight away from a third of the world's population. This new, gleaming metropolis has been built on 1500 acres of reclaimed land by the Yellow Sea 74

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Consisting of an 18-hole championship golf course, driving range, clubhouse and private villas, this Jack Nicklaus-designed course offers the best of both worlds – city elegance and convenience combined with stunning views of the ocean and the surrounding nature reserve.

The ultra-modern and emerging skyline of Songdo makes a stark contrast to the surrounding sea and nature. This is a course that blends perfectly into its environment, the tall towers of Songdo reminiscent of a Dubai skyline, but with greener and much more luxuriant surroundings.

ON THE COURSE. From the very first hole, a par-4 with a rather

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large lake on the left hand side, you know that you are in for something special. The undulating fairway slopes from right to left, with some well-placed bunkers to add to the fun.

From the tee on the third par-5 you get the distinct feeling that the fairway is going to continue all the way to the towers in the distance. Again, the fairway may be reasonably straight, but the lie of the land and the placement of the bunkers connive to create quite a test. The par-4 hole number 10 is a challenge with water, cliffs and countless other obstacles in play. Every hole has a story to tell and it’s worth just taking your time to enjoy the views.

Once you finish your round, the clubhouse, designed by Mehrdad Yazdani, a world-famous architect from California,

awaits you. Already a landmark, it is truly a beautiful piece of modern architecture with a total area of 17,716m2.

ANYANG COUNTRY CLUB. Founded in 1968 and built to rival courses in Europe and America, Anyang is often referred to as the home of Korean golf. For a short period of time, the club changed its name to Anyang Benest Golf Club -- a play on the words 'best' and 'nest'. The name did not stick and the club reverted to its original name in 2013.

The course was revitalised in 1997 when Robert Trent Jones Jr. was called in to add a more challenging aspect. It is now sown with a unique grass known as Anyang Jungji, which is dense and 75

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stands upright -- a bonus for golfers as the ball tends to sit on top rather than sink in. The idea behind the course, according to Lee Byung-chul, the club owner and founder of the Samsung Group, was to create something that would appeal to ordinary players rather than attend to the whims of tournament play.

ISLAND OF THE GODS. Pinx Golf Club is located on Jeju, the largest Korean island, which is situated roughly sixty miles to the south-west in the Korea Strait. Also known as the “Island of the Gods”, this is a popular tourist destination for locals and foreigners alike due to its sub-tropical climate.

The entire area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its unique lava formations and bio-diversity. Views are dominated by the impressive Mount Hallasan, a dormant volcano that soars to the height of 1950 metres.

AWARD WINNING HOTEL. The golf club is part of the award winning Podo Hotel complex, the architecture of which is based on the concept of the mountains and traditional cottages that are found on the island. The hotel was designed by the worldrenowned Jun Itami. Each room in the building is linked to others, looking from the air distinctly like a bunch of grapes. In fact, the word for grapes in Korean is Podo.

The hotel accommodation features one- and two-bedroom apartments, reflecting both Korean and Western influences and finished in traditional materials. All apartments have large windows to maximise the view and private terraces.

The hotel restaurant offers locally grown produce and freshly caught seafood which is complemented by the best wines from around the world. There is also an indoor pool with glass walls opening onto the surrounding landscape.

NATURE’S BEAUTY. Consisting of 27 holes that were designed in

1999 by Ted Robinson, the golf course seamlessly blends 76

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traditional ideas with new concepts. With a combination of sea and volcanic mountains, you really do get a feeling of being surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Players have the choice of combining the nine holes from the north course, west course and east course to make up the perfect round of golf. Kentucky bluegrass has been used on both fairways and rough, giving the course a year-round green lushness.

Accuracy is the name of the game here and you can expect to put all your clubs to use at some point.

The clubhouse, oval in construction to reflect the shape of the island and with large glass areas to maximise the views, fits perfectly into its surroundings.

As a place to visit, Korea really has it all: culture, history, stunning scenery and wonderful cuisine. And with around 200 courses, the question is, could you really visit and not play a round of golf in the Land of the Morning Calm?

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

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Korea Golf & Culture Holiday offer.

“Land of Morning Calm”

www.greatgolfholidays.net

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SCOTLAND

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round its lochs and glens and in between its castles and crofts, Scotland is home to arguably the finest collection of golf courses anywhere. At the last count there were 597, each with a story to tell.

There are nine-holers with honesty boxes, remote gems mown by sheep and little-known tracks laid out by bearded men in tweed jackets. And then there are the headline grabbers; the kind of courses you know like the back of your hand because you’ve seen them so many times on television. These trophy courses have become ingrained into our collective consciousness, establishing Scotland as the place where golfing history walks hand in hand with stunning vistas and a brisk breeze.

Ayrshire is home to over 40 of these treasures, three of which are Open Championship venues. No other part of Scotland has

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so many trophy courses; they litter this westerly stretch of land like confetti outside a church. As a consequence, this is one of my favourite places to photograph golf courses, and not merely because of the number of places to play. On a drawn-out summer’s evening when the sun seems reluctant to call it a day, there is nowhere better to soak up a solar descent than on an Ayrshire golf course.

TURNING HEADS. My first visit to this magical stretch was to the Open Championship venue at Turnberry, with its iconic white hotel and dramatic course. As introductions go, it wasn’t a bad one. After all, this is where the triumphant Tom Watson overcame the gracious Jack Nicklaus in the fabled ‘Duel in the Sun’. And, 32 years later, it was here that the five times Open winner came close to becoming the oldest player ever to lift the Claret Jug. This

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is where legends are made.

This visit to Turnberry was a few months ahead of Stewart Cink’s 2009 victory. It was the day before the championship grandstands were to be built and there was a potential window of good weather during a dreary April. I arrived in the afternoon, just as the sun broke and enjoyed a 24-hour spell of wondrous light.

I took my last photographs at 9pm, just as the sun began to dip over the horizon and the ripples in the links were appearing like stripes across a tiger’s back. On any given day, Turnberry is spectacular, but on that golden, saturated night, it was simply breath-taking.

Since that first, spectacular visit, I have made numerous trips to Turnberry and on each occasion the resort has impressed me in a new way. To begin with, it was the course that stood out – the

dunes, the sweeping approaches and the ragged coastline conspiring to create a round filled with fun, challenge and outstanding beauty.

Later I was impressed with the hotel and its grand entrance lobby, ornate dining room and slick sports bar looking down on to Ailsa Craig. In particular, I remember treating myself in the cool 1906 restaurant to the signature Burns breakfast with haggis and hollandaise sauce. If that doesn’t set you up for the day, nothing will.

PITCH AND PUTT. My latest visit was a week-long family holiday

last summer. This introduced me to another feature of the resort, one that I had driven past on numerous occasions and not thought twice about. Now it is unquestionably my favourite piece of the Turnberry jigsaw. In fact, I feel so strongly about it, I believe 81

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every five-star rated golf resort should have one: a 12-hole pitch and putt course.

We played this challenging little layout every day and never got bored. My two boys, my wife and her aunt and uncle all happily participated. We embraced the ideals of the game, the challenges it presented and the rewards it offered. A round took less than hour and as we were guests staying in a self-catering apartment, we didn’t pay a penny. Joy. If ever there was a cure for golf’s dwindling participation rates, this is it.

What’s more, Turnberry has received a massive boost under the new ownership of Donald Trump, who seems hell-bent on giving the place a metaphorical new lick of paint. He announced that he intends to lavish £100 million on the resort (which he bought for £35 million) and I see no reason to doubt him – even the pitch and putt course is getting a makeover. I can’t wait to get back.

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PRESSING THE POINT. Half an hour’s drive north of Turnberry

is one of the cornerstones of the modern game and the birthplace of the Open Championship; Prestwick Golf Club. This is a track every golfer has to play, not simply for the twists and turns that await in the wildly quirky 18-hole layout, and certainly not because of the springy links turf into which the course has been etched. Golfers shouldn’t even make a beeline to Prestwick for the warm welcome they will receive in the clubhouse. The reason why every golfer should add Prestwick to their must-play list is to sample the profound sense of history that wafts through every locker and surrounds every green.

Prestwick is ingrained in the fabric of golf because 57 enthusiastic golfers decided to form a club here more than 160 years ago. They followed up this momentous decision with another cracking idea, which involved persuading Old Tom Morris to uproot his family

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from St Andrews and move to Scotland’s west coast to lay out a 12-hole routing. They completed the holy trinity of fine decisions by opting to host the first Open Championship in 1860, and by doing so secured Prestwick’s place in golf’s history.

But as much as Prestwick is the place where the Open Championship was born, what’s impressive is the relevance and quality of the course. The funky fairways and undulating greens don’t appear out-of-date or old-fashioned. If anything, they are more exciting than many modern courses. From the first tee to the 18th green, both of which are overlooked by the clubhouse, Prestwick continues to be full of surprises.

STAMP OF APPROVAL. Further up the coast, Troon is preparing for its turn in the spotlight when it hosts the Open Championship in 2016. The course is being adjusted, tweaked and rejigged to

meet the R&A’s exacting standards. Elsewhere, the Marine Hotel, which overlooks the 1st and 18th holes, is on sale for £7 million. This will no doubt result in a spring clean by the new owners ahead of the much-anticipated festivities.

The 89-room hotel isn’t the only institution considering change. The club itself is launching a review into its membership policy, which will in all probability see women being invited to join before next year’s fun. Plans, preparations and provisions are being made for the return of the Open Championship to Troon for the first time in 12 years, and it appears the town is going to make the most of it.

One aspect of the Troon experience that won’t change is the 8th hole, which according to the scorecard is the easiest on the course. Slightly downhill and at only 123 yards, you wouldn’t argue with the stroke 18 rating. What the guide doesn’t tell you

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is that this innocuous par-3 also happens to be one of the most feared in golf.

At least on paper, the Postage Stamp appears to be a cheery knock amid the fiery links of Royal Troon. It is anything but that.

This seemingly harmless hole, the shortest on the Open Championship rota, is a card-wrecker on an intimidating scale.

In 1997, Tiger Woods arrived at the 8th, during the final round of the Open Championship, biting at the heels of the leaders. At 21, he had recently become the youngest winner of the Masters and had been crowned the world’s Number One. Scotland’s west coast air was thick with anticipation.

When he eventually limped off the 8th, Tiger’s fallibility had been exposed. He came unstuck when he pitched his tee shot into one of five greenside bunkers. Failing to escape from the deep trap on his first attempt, he scrambled an escape and then three-putted from 15 feet. His triple-bogey six was confirmation that despite its length, Royal Troon’s Postage Stamp could tame the fiercest competitors.

When I played it, a stiff on-shore breeze added to the drama of the occasion, and also cut short my ball flight. My shot landed short, right of the green, and a nervy chip then ensued. I followed this up with two putts to escape with a bogey. I had survived, but only just.

Ayrshire is one of those rare places where iconic venues seem to be stacked up like dominoes on a kitchen table. The temptation is to rush through them, chasing on as one domino falls after 84

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another. This would be a mistake. Take time to enjoy the clubhouses, the history and the atmosphere that surrounds these famous venues. Indulge yourself in the moment as you walk where legends strode. Ayrshire, after all, is a golfing treasure to be savoured.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

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SEYCHELLES

ADMIRAL’S

ISLANDS

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s my plane flies low over the Seychelles, I gaze down onto an expanse of dazzling blues – azure, cobalt, aquamarine – strung with tiny, jewel-like islands, verdant oases fringed with blindingly white sand and dotted with dramatic granite boulders.

The islands have had a long and varied history – the granitic Inner Islands were formed from the leftovers of a prehistoric supercontinent, Gondwana. In 1502, the Portuguese admiral, Vasco da Gama, passed through the coralline Outer Islands, and while he named them after himself – the Amirantes, or the Admiral’s Islands – he didn’t land.

They were a pit stop for pirates until the French, realising that they were a useful transit point for African and Asian trade, staked their claim in 1756, bringing with them slaves from Africa. But by 1810, the islands had fallen under British control and didn’t 88

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gain full independence until 1976. It’s all created a genuine melting pot of European, African and Asian influences, mirrored in the three native languages: Creole, English and French.

LUXURY RESORTS. Today this island nation is synonymous with luxury resorts and beautiful beaches. What you might not know is that it’s home to one of the world’s most scenic golf courses.

A twenty-minute plane hop – or an hour on a high-speed ferry – from the main island of Mahé, and you’ll reach the secondlargest island, Praslin, just seven miles by two. From the airport, the Constance Lemuria Resort – winner of the Indian Ocean’s Leading Golf Resort at the World Travel Awards – is just a fiveminute drive.

As I passed through the gates, the palm tree-lined front nine is on my left-hand side, and after checking in to my beachfront

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The Par 70 championship golf course – the only one in the Seychelles – was designed by course architect Rodney Wright and champion Marc Farry, with sweeping greens and inspired landscaping making full use of the dramatic scenery.

suite, I head straight to the plantation-style clubhouse, where there’s no green fee for guests.

DRAMATIC SCENERY. The Par 70 championship golf course –

the only one in the Seychelles – was designed by course architect Rodney Wright and champion Marc Farry, with sweeping greens and inspired landscaping making full use of the dramatic scenery.

The first 12 holes are set over relatively flat terrain but don’t be fooled into thinking you don’t need a buggy – the tropical climate and steep hills on the back nine make it compulsory.

There are lots of water features to contend with too. The second hole is the longest par-3 of the course, sharing a unique double green with the 4th, which is the second trickiest of the first nine, requiring a balance of power and accuracy to reach the forest-flanked fairway while avoiding the large lake.

The par-4 7th is also challenging, with water on all sides and a smallish green, protected by a marsh to the front and left and a bunker to the right. But the par-4 11th is the most difficult of the whole course, with a tree-lined fairway that appears deceptively narrow and a trio of bunkers backing the green.

CHALLENGING COURSE. From the 13th onwards it’s like a different course, rising and falling over steep slopes of densely forested hills punctuated with granite outcrops which provide a stunning backdrop.

The 14th is carved high into a ridgeline and plays uphill. But it’s the signature 15th where the spectacular vista proves the most distracting, overlooking a white-sand beach – one of three at the resort – to the sparkling blues of the ocean. A deceptively short par-3, the ball drops over 150 feet from the tee to the green below.

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Miss the green and you may spend some time searching for it.

The 16th is the most challenging of the back nine, a slightly upward par-5 with a narrow dog leg left along a two-tiered green squeezed between granite boulders. The 18th is the course’s second signature hole, with a gentle dogleg right around a large lake and a view of the island-dotted ocean beyond.

ALFRESCO DINING. Afterwards, I cool off by jumping into the tiered swimming pool and sip on an obligatory sundowner. Then it's back to the clubhouse to dine alfresco on a gourmet fusion of Creole and Mediterranean flavours at Seahorse, and a postprandial of the islands’ own aged Takamaka rum.

After a morning trying out the water sports on offer, I head inland to the UNESCO-protected Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve.

This veritable Garden of Eden, dense with luxuriant foliage and 90

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towering palms, is home to the rare coco de mer, with an iconic nut erotically shaped like a woman’s bottom.

Another morning, I take the fifteen-minute ferry ride from Praslin to the diminutive La Digue, the smallest of the Seychelles’ three main islands and the most laid-back. The locals greet me as I traverse the sandy, car-free streets by bicycle, passing brightly painted wooden ox carts and fishermen selling their catch by the roadside.

I cycle to L’Union Estate, a historic plantation where the air is scented with vanilla and the tranquility is only shattered by the occasional thud from a falling coconut.

THE BOULDERS. I lunch on Seychellois staples: smoked fish salad,

chicken curry and banana pancake, washed down with an ice-cold bottle or two of the easy-drinking local beer Seybrew, at feet-inthe-sand restaurant, Lanbousir. I then take the path that leads to

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Anse Source d’Argent, the first in a string of heart-stoppingly beautiful bays where enormous granite boulders spill into the crystal-clear water.

Praslin also has its share of famous beaches. On the northwest of the island, the stunning, jungle-backed crescent of sand known as Anse Lazio makes a regular appearance on lists of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

But the beach that tops my list is at the Constance Lemuria. I got my first tantalising glimpse of Anse Georgette from the 15th hole on the golf course, but up close it’s even more spectacular -dazzlingly white sand so powder-fine it squeaks, turquoise water lapping the shore, lofty palms to shade you from the sun, fresh coconut juice to quench your thirst and hardly another soul in sight.

GREEN GLOBE. The Constance hotels are committed to

protecting the environment and they’ve just become the first hotel in the Seychelles to be Green Globe certified. Endangered hawksbill turtles use another of Lemuria’s beaches to lay hundreds of their ping pong ball-sized eggs. The nests are protected and the hatchlings collected at night and released the following day, when children – and adults – squeal with delight as the tiny creatures scramble towards the sea.

To meet more of the islands’ wild inhabitants, I take a tour with Mason’s Travel, sailing by catamaran to Cousin Island, a nature reserve with a impressive number of bird species, then on to Curieuse Island, a former leper colony now home to a population of Aldabra giant tortoises, some around 150 years old and weighing in at a hefty 550 pounds.

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of St Pierre and float above a seemingly infinite array of vibrant coral – flat-topped table, forests of staghorn, clusters of mushroom – and a steady stream of evocatively named, extravagantly coloured fish – parrotfish, sweetlips, butterflyfish.

EPHELIA. Back on Mahé – just 17 miles long and four miles wide – I head to the Constance Ephelia. This extensive resort is surrounded by a diverse natural environment, from the Port Launay Marine National Park, to a protected mangrove forest and the mountains of the Morne Seychellois National Park, and spacious contemporary suites and villas line its beaches and hillsides.

What the Ephelia lacks in a golf course – although it’s just twenty minutes away by helicopter – it makes up for with a wealth of other activities. Kayaking, diving, sailing, big-game fishing and stand-up paddleboarding are all on offer, and back on dry land there’s tennis, squash and yoga.

You can even try your hand at rock climbing and zip line at high speed over the dense vegetation. Or simply lounge on the beach, take a lazy sunset cruise and be pampered at the spa.

There’s no shortage of dining options either. Buffet-style Corossol serves everything from Italian to Indian cuisine, there’s Mediterranean fare at Helios, pan-Asian at Adam & Eve, contemporary Creole at Seselwa and fine dining at Cyann. And you can bar hop from pool to beachside and back.

THE CAPITAL. It’s worth exploring outside the resort too. Trails

in the jungle-cloaked mountains towering over the resort range from short rambles to more strenuous hikes, all with stunning views over the island. But I opt for the charming capital, Victoria, where I find traces of the islands’ British colonial past in the mini take on Big Ben. At the colourful Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, I join the locals watching the catch-of-the-day being expertly gutted and cleaned, while stallholders shout to each other in sing-song Creole.

And it’s not just fish; other stalls are piled high with red-hot chillies, giant breadfruit and vibrant tropical blooms.

Away from Victoria, the road winds along the coast and into the mountainous interior where the lush forest seems barely constrained. High in the hills, Le Jardin du Roi Spice Garden is an old wooden plantation house overlooking terraced gardens filled 92

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with exotic trees and shrubs from around the globe, and I get a taste of Seychellois history as I explore the spice-scented trails.

Uncovering the secrets of the Seychelles is a joy and the chance to play challenging golf among its spectacular natural beauty makes it all the more memorable.

GGM

GOOD TO KNOW ­

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Q & A WITH RAFAEL NADAL

©RenaudCorlouer

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On Course with Rafa WORLD’S BEST TENNIS PLAYERS

FANATICAL GOLFER,

By Sarah Stirk, photos Richard Mille

I

’m sitting outside the clubhouse at Terre Blanche Golf Resort in the heart of Provence to talk with 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal about tennis and golf. It’s time to find out a bit more about this talented sportsman…

When did you begin playing golf?

I really started playing golf at the age of 17, mostly for fun, which it still is. It helps me to relax away from tennis, plus I don’t want to take any risks on sports where you can get injured.

What do you enjoy about the game?

I a m a c o m p e t i t o r. I t r y t o p l a y w i t h concentration but being here in the middle of a nice golf resort like Terre Blanche is heaven. It’s the perfect place to be and relax at the same time, and when you play golf normally you are spending time in a beautiful place.

So what is current handicap?

I think it’s 3.6.

Very good! Do you play often?

Not so much at the moment. I injured my wrist last summer so I didn’t play golf for four months.

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A lot of tennis players enjoy golf, why is that? Do you think golf and tennis share similarities?

Being a sportsman can help when playing other sports and make them a bit less difficult. The golf swing and tennis swing are different but learning skills in other sports definitely help me. Golf is the only sport that is not a big risk. I can have fun and it is a very competitive game so I enjoy it a lot.

I think in golf you can start later, and you can play till you are much older. In tennis, if you are not there by the age of 21 or 22, you are in trouble if you want to become a professional. That’s not the case in golf; you have more time.

Which other golfers do you know?

I know Rory Mcllroy, Olazabal, Gonzalo-Fernandez Castano, Quiros and I’ve met Tiger. It’s good to have contact with these unbelievable sportsmen.

I know you are good friends with Sergio Garcia. How did that come about?

We met a long time ago and we’ve kept in touch for the last 11 years or so. We’ve played in some Pro-Ams together – it’s always a pleasure to play with him and it’s very special.

Did you watch the Ryder Cup? I watched it. I was in Beijing so I didn’t have the chance to see everything but I saw most of it. The European team were fantastic, I felt proud watching as a European. I love watching golf, playing golf and when I’m at home I follow the tours.

What do you think of Rory Mcllroy’s success last year?

It’s really amazing the way he played and I admire him a lot. He’s a very good guy, humble, a really normal person. The year before was probably tough for him and coming back last year, winning two majors in a row, and the way he finished, it was just unbelievable and I’m so happy for him.

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©Getty Image

on the court... on the course... and with me

Like the Davis Cup in tennis, how special is it when in such an individual sport you become a team for that week?

It’s great you come together for a goal in a great atmosphere. It’s an amazing competition. The Ryder Cup at Medinah was one of the most memorable moments in sports that I’ve ever seen.

If you could choose a dream four ball, who would it be?

Tiger, Rory, Mickelson and Sergio [plus Rafa that makes an impressive five ball!].

Did you ever meet Seve Ballesteros?

I played golf with him, yes. It was a very special moment and an unforgettable memory for me. It was very sad what happened to him [he died of brain cancer in 2011, aged 54], but Seve will always be in the hearts and memories of all athletes and golfers.

Looking ahead, what do you have to do health wise to prevent injuries and ensure career longevity?

I do as much as I can to help my body and I am taking care of my calendar. I am doing the right things, but sometimes an injury, like my wrist, was not due to playing too much, it was about movement – just an unlucky injury.

How big are the demands on your body? There’s not much of an off-season now in tennis?

We have talked a lot about that in the media, it’s enough I think.

We have a great sport, everything can always be better in any sport, or anything in life, but it can be much worse. We have a fantastic tour, great players and a great organisation, so we can’t ask for more.

What are you goals and aspirations for 2015 and how do you go about catching Roger Federer in terms of Grand Slam titles?

We’ll see! That’s not my goal – I just want to keep being happy playing tennis. I’ve already done much more than I ever dreamed of in tennis. For sure, I am working hard to try and recover my top level and be ready to compete at my best against all the top players. For me, the most important thing is to be as competitive as long as I can.

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How big is the drive and ambition still, after everything you’ve achieved in the game?

It’s very high. I’m really excited about the new season and I am excited to work hard again. When you get injured you feel you were unlucky, but the motivation and inspiration to be back is very high. I hope to manage that well and to play with the right energy and confidence again.

Going back to last May to Roland Garros… to win there a record nine times, it’s like your spiritual home. What did that achievement mean?

For me, Roland Garros is the most important tournament in the world; the tournament I feel most pressure playing and the tournament I feel most happy when I win. It’s where I really feel I have more chances than the rest. It’s going to be difficult for anybody to win there nine times, but I’m sure in the future somebody will do it, but to be at my best for two weeks for nine years was very special. It’s something difficult to achieve.

What does your relationship with Richard Mille mean?

It’s one of the associations I am most proud about. Richard is a phenomenal person, an unbelievable guy, our professional relationship is important but our personal relationship more so.

It’s a pleasure and honour being an ambassador for Richard Mille alongside the likes of Bubba Watson, Christie Kerr, Diana Luna and Yohan Blake.

The RM 27-01 watch weighs just 19 grams, what’s it like to wear when competing?

I forget I’m wearing one, which is pretty unbelievable. Richard made the perfect watch to wear when playing sport because you don’t feel anything on your wrist. Seriously, when I go on court and I’m not wearing it I feel like there’s something missing.

Rafa, it’s been a pleasure talking to you, best of luck for the coming season on the tennis court and the golf course!

Thanks, I will try my best!

GGM

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The GRAND

TOUR

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Golf Club Villa Condulmer

Golf Ca' della Nave

Circolo Golf Venezia

Golf Club Frassanelle

Palazzo Arzaga

Venice

T

here are many reasons to visit Venice. The romance of its canals and gondolas, drop-dead gorgeous architecture, iconic sights, centuries of history around every corner, traffic-free streets, golf…

Hang on a minute – golf? In a city built on water?

Yes, that’s right. Just a 10-minute ride on a vaporetto water bus from right next to the Doge’s Palace in the heart of the city takes you to the Lido, not an outdoor swimming pool but the barrier island separating the Venice Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. At the southern tip of the island, the only lagoon island with roads and vehicles, lies the venerable Circolo Golf Venezia, or Venice Golf Club.

The club’s beginnings are the stuff of legend. Henry Ford, president of the mighty Ford Motor Company, is said to have been holidaying in Venice in 1926 and taken his golf clubs, only to be disappointed when his host, Italian hotel baron Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, told him that Venice had no golf courses. The mortified count then set about finding a suitable place to build one, employing a Scottish architect to design a ninehole layout around a Napoleonic fort which opened in 1928 before being extended to 18 holes in 1951.

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GLOBAL FIGURES. During its near 80 years of existence, Circolo Golf Venezia has played host to influential global figures – among them no less than Hitler, Mussolini and the Duke of Windsor – besides staging numerous championship events such as the Italian Open (three times) and welcoming golf legends including Henry Cotton, Arnold Palmer, Tony Jacklin, Seve Ballesteros, Johnny Miller and Lee Trevino as well as Italy’s own Costantino Rocca, Molinari brothers Edoardo and Francesco and Matteo Manassero.

I was visiting Venice for three days as part of a week-long Grand Tour across the Veneto region, taking my cue from 17thand 18th-century aristocrats. Only mine was golf-based, so I couldn’t pass up a day’s golf while in Venice.

Although I was staying a five-minute stroll across St Mark’s Square from where the vaporetti left for the Lido, I had rented a car at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport and parked it in the Tronchetto public car park just across the causeway from the mainland and left my clubs in the boot. So on the day my round was booked for, I hopped on a vaporetto back to the car park and took a car ferry for the 35-minute journey to the Lido from the adjacent ferry terminal.

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Malcesine, Lake Garda

Verona

Palazzo Arzaga Hotel

Palazzo Arzaga Hotel

Golf della Montecchia

Juliet's balcony, Casa di Giulietta, Verona

In hindsight, I should have just grabbed my clubs and taken a vaporetto over to the Lido instead and got a taxi to the course from the water bus stop, especially as I already had a three-day tourist card that included all water bus travel. As it was, it cost me 70 euros return and I had to queue for an hour on the way back because my intended ferry was full.

WARNING LIGHT. The course itself was a delight. Built on sand

dunes and with well-bunkered greens, it has a linksy feel, albeit the fairways being lined by pines, poplars, weeping willows and mulberry trees. Uniquely, not only does its clubhouse sit within the old fortifications but five holes either start or finish in them as well.

After driving across the moat from high on the rampart walls for your opening shot, you return to the fort on the quirky par-3 9th, which features a blind tee shot over the ramparts to a green inside the walls. A warning light flashes orange if golfers are on the green and, as you make your way back up to the top of the ramparts for the 10th tee having putted out, you press a button to switch off the light for the next group.

After teeing off from atop the ramparts once again on the par-4 16th, the 18th doglegs through a gap in the fortress walls to finish just in front of the clubhouse.

Back in Venice, I became a tourist and explored its fascinating waterways, including the evocative Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge, took a tour of the Doge’s Palace and crossed the Bridge of Sighs, discovered hidden gems while walking aimlessly through quaint alleys bisected by canals, enjoyed coffee and pastries at delightful little cafes, people-watched while relaxing over beers and gelatos, window-shopped stores full of masks and Murano glass, found wonderful little hideaway restaurants and joined the throng listening to the traditional bands playing on stage at night outside restaurants in St Mark’s Square. I also took a gondola ride, my gondolier, Julian, pointing out many architectural treasures as we glided through the canals for almost an hour at dusk.

FOURTY GOLF CLUBS. Each evening, I relaxed on the balcony of my hotel, the canalside Corte Barozzi Venice Suites, glass of Prosecco in hand while waving to passengers in passing gondolas. I could have happily stayed in Venice for weeks, but with 40 golf clubs in the 103

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Palazzo Arzaga

Veneto region, it was time to press on and play some others.

My next base was the spa town of Abano Terme, just west of historic Padua. En route, I stopped off to play two courses: Golf Club Villa Condulmer and Golf Ca’ della Nave.

If there is one thing that sets golf clubs in Italy apart from anywhere else, it is the grandiose settings and palatial clubhouses of many of them, often in old castles or manor houses. True to its name, the Villa Condulmer course is set partly within the estate of an 18th-century Venetian villa, now a five-star hotel, and located 25 minutes from Venice close to the left bank of the Piave river where Prosecco is produced.

The 2nd hole is a short par-4 that doglegs around a section of the estate perimeter wall, the green just beyond arched iron gates flanked by brick pillars surmounted by Romanesque statues.

The Par 71 course opened in two stages, the original nine holes featuring magnificent mature trees, later augmented by the longer back nine on the other side of a country lane.

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from the elegant parkland grounds of a stately villa, in this instance a privately-owned pile that dates back to the 16th century. Stretching to almost 6,950 yards, it bears a rather special hallmark, too, being the handiwork of Arnold Palmer as is its nine-hole executive sibling layout.

The course is characterised by huge bunkers and water, with artificial lakes asking searching questions of golfers on 12 holes, as well as wide and fast greens. My favourite hole is the pretty par-4 14th, which demands a tee shot onto an island fairway followed by an approach to a green on the other side of the lake.

The 9th, another par-4, has a lovely finish with an ancient leaning tower just beyond.

Set amidst volcanic hills, Abano Terme has been famous for its hot springs since Roman times. My top-floor room at the four-star downtown Hotel Plaza offered glorious vistas of the surrounding mountains and countryside, but its star asset was its wonderful indoor-outdoor thermal pool complex. Just the job to ease those aching muscles before tackling the nearby courses at sister venues Golf della Montecchia and Golf Club Frassanelle.

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The 27 holes of Montecchia Golf Club are gloriously situated in hilly landscape alongside a classically designed clubhouse and the imposing castle of Conte Emo Capodilista. To get there, I relied on the satnav of my trusty Nissan Juke – and realised too late that it had taken me straight through a residents-only street, landing me with a hefty 80 euro fine. I watched out for road signs like a hawk after that.

I played Montecchia’s white and red nines, giving the longest combination at a touch over 6,900 yards with ponds and streams coming into play on more than half the holes. A pretty course, it is also technically challenging yet not unduly unfair. The clubhouse is noted for its Michelin-starred restaurant, Alaimo, but sadly I had no time to try it.

COUNTRY PARK. Leaving Abano Terme, I headed to Golf Club Frassanelle, laid out in 1990 in the grounds of a 500-acre, 19thcentury country park and serving up wonderful views of mature trees and woodland framed by nearby mountains.

Mist hung in the air as I teed off in the surprisingly warm late

October sunshine, the low rays producing a vibrant rainbow effect through the spray of a fountain on a lake separating the 9th and 18th fairways and lighting up the vivid autumnal colours of trees throughout the course.

Water is used to good effect at Frassanelle, making you think about shots without being too penalising – for the most part. A lovely old boathouse stands across a lake from the 11th green, but you might be cursing the designer come the par-3 15th hole, a stunning little hole with island tee boxes, water all the way to the green and tall trees either side to afford no bail-out option. You’re either dead straight and long enough, or you’re dead. I finally managed to hole out with my third ball.

Allow time after your round to enjoy a coffee or meal on the terrace of the grand clubhouse, situated inside a 17th-century country house, and just drink in the wonderful scenery. Life truly doesn’t get much better than this.

VERONA. My final stop was on the far side of Lake Garda at the sumptuous Palazzo Arzaga Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, actually just 105

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Palazzo Arzaga Hotel

outside the Veneto region. The drive took me past beautiful towns and villages, and the vineyards of some of my favourite wines, Bardolino and Valpolicella among them. I passed those up to spend the afternoon revisiting one of my favourite Italian cities: Verona.

Just like Venice, Verona has the wow factor with its beautiful central square, dominated by its tall Lamberti Tower, and its magnificent colosseum. The Verona Arena is the third-largest Roman amphitheatre in Italy after those of Rome and Capua and much of it still survives despite several earthquakes. Operas and other musical events take place there almost daily from June to August.

Verona’s other claim to fame is the 14th-century Juliet’s House – Casa di Giulietta – immortalised by Shakespeare and now a magnet for tourists eager to see and even stand on its famous balcony. Love notes left by innumerable visitors plaster walls of the archway leading to the cobbled courtyard, testament to the power of the Bard’s storytelling.

REGAL OPULENCE. Palazzo Arzaga made a fitting finale to my Grand Tour from Venice. I stayed in regal opulence in the 15th-century Renaissance mansion that forms the Palazzo Arzaga Hotel, with its chestnut tree-framed entrance, wooden ceilings, frescoes, marbles and stuccoes, sitting out on the terrace to watch the dying embers of the sun with a farewell glass of Prosecco.

Next morning, I was up early to play golf on the adjacent courses, mixing nine holes of the 18-hole parkland Championship Jack Nicklaus II course with the challenging nine-hole Inland Links course by Gary Player and revelling in the natural splendour of the 450-acre estate with the Alps as a spectacular backdrop.

The two courses are very different in feel but both offer testing challenges on immaculately maintained fairways and greens that loop away from and return to the lovely old mansion. I was just nine inches away from my first-ever hole in one on the par-2 9th of the Player course, but on balance my favourite layout was the Nicklaus, the highlight being the panoramic views from the 18th tee as it curves around a lake to a green below the clubhouse.

Before leaving to drive on to Lake Como for a business event, I took a short detour along the shoreline of Lake Garda and stopped for lunch to watch a lone paddleboarder just offshore and racing yachts vying to catch the wind in billowing sails.

I have fallen under the spell of this enchanting region of Italy and can’t wait to return for another Grand Tour.

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GOOD TO KNOW ­

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MANTIS PUTTER

A

praying mantis by definition is a predatory insect that catches its prey by stealth and ambush. And one look at the Mantis Putter instantly makes me want to apply this same logic. This is a putter that just oozes stealth. I imagine myself sneaking up on the hole and before you can say birdie, I have sprung my ambush, sunk the putt and the prize is mine to feast on.

GREAT GREEN. I have been waiting all week for my Mantis Putter to arrive, it’s like having a shiny new car delivered that no one else has yet. And the first thing that anyone says to me when I finally get a chance to show it off is, “It’s green”. Yes, it is. Green like the grass on the green!

And that is just the point. We all do it, we buy a shiny silver, gold, or dare I say it, red putter, with lots of symbols and important writing on it. We line up our shot and try to concentrate on the ball, but our shiny putter is shouting up at us, “Look at me, look at me!” And we do, we don’t concentrate on that boring little white ball, oh no, our eyes are drawn to our lovely shiny putter, glinting in the morning sun.

If someone did a survey of which golf clubs most often end up twisted out of recognition and thrown in the bin, then I predict that it would be the putter. We have all been there, you are on the green and all you have to do is get the ball close enough to at least ensure a par. “Maybe I can get a birdie,” you tell yourself while trying to remain calm. Countless shots later, you have stood in most areas of the green enough to call them home and you are convinced that there is a force field around the hole that is stopping your ball entering. Result? Another putter ends up in the nearest bin.

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL. Will the Mantis Putter miraculously make you sink every putt? I think not, but without even realising it, you will start looking at the ball, and that has got to be the point (unless you want to put the putter in the hole).

As Michael Dill, from Mantis Putters, aptly puts it, “Golf instructors tell you to keep your eye on the ball, yet most putter designs compete with it for attention. Mantis lets the ball be the hero. The green finish is not a design element, but rather a functional benefit helping the putter head blend into the turf beneath.

“What is the measure of success? To golfers, it may vary with each round played. A smoother swing, another fairway found, fewer putts… we treasure our small victories. While every aspect of the game proves elusive, often it is putting – that pure and perfect roll to the hole – that confounds us most.”

A BIT OF HISTORY. Long-time business associates, friends and golf

partners Michael Dill and Chris Maher set up Mantis Putters. Both fine golfers, they found themselves, along with many others, bemoaning their putting ability. Surely it was a matter of mental focus, tuning out extraneous thoughts, visualizing and seeing the hole? It wasn’t for lack of practice or concentration, and they had tried a variety of putters through the years, with inconsistent results.

Could it be that the putters themselves were the distracting factor?

Dill, a marketing professional with an entrepreneurial spirit, began to formulate an idea. Could something be done to draw a golfer’s eye away from the putter and onto the ball instead? Could a new putter be developed to enable that subtle, yet significant shift in attention? The putter would have to be simple and sleek in design, but with something special to help golfers make that imperceptible, but important adjustment.

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This dilemma was the catalyst for Dill to form the Mantis Golf Company, in 2012. Retro in its simplicity, yet revolutionary in its concept, the Mantis Putter, with its patented green finish, is designed to minimise the visual attention a golfer gives to the putter and maximise attention to the golf ball.

IT WORKS. On a sunny morning in March I take a trip

up to my local course for the purpose of testing the Mantis. Being a man who really has a problem concentrating when it comes to putting, I find that something is definitely causing me to aim better. Could it just be a placebo? Could it be that I expect to play better and so somehow I do? Do I care as long as I sink that putt? I suppose only time will tell, but I for one will be keen to bring out my new secret weapon next time I am playing a round of golf.

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GREAT GOLF PRO SHOP www.greatgolfproshop.com

Durante Design, Inc.

The MacWet Mesh Golf Rain Glove The ‘all grip, no slip’ glove for wet weather conditions! The MacWet Mesh Golf Rain Glove is designed using MacWet's unique Aquatec ® fabric, which responds to moisture and climate change, giving maximum grip, sensitivity, feel and comfort in wet weather conditions. The stylishlooking mesh back aids circulation of airflow around the hand in warmer weather, while the Aquatec ® fabric’s inherent wicking abilities improve comfort in wet conditions. With a very natural suede feel, these gloves are actually fully synthetic and machine washable. These MacWet Mesh Sports Gloves have a shorter cuff, with Velcro panel fastening on the back of the hand. A longer style, fastening at the wrist.

Price £26.50 You will find them in Fashion Accessories at www.greatgolproshop.com

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Kim Durante is an independent fashion designer residing in Chicago. She combines her love of golf with a passion for fashion in designing beautifully crafted, yet functional women’s golf clothing under the label, Durante Design. Golfing since the age of four, Kim has an eye for functionality in her designs and mixes street sensibility with a contemporary angle which results in beautifully crafted cutting edge attire.

Launched in 2013, each Durante Design fashion was created with functionality and performance in mind with a style that will make you look fabulous whether on or off the course. The fit is comfortable and moves well with your every step and swing. If you are intrigued with being on the edge of design and not look like every other player, Durante Design will be right for you.

Multi Color Zip-Up Sweater: Keep warm on those chilly days on the course. You’ll get a lot of style mileage out of this elegant cover-up. It has a flattering fit and feminine design that will have you reaching for it again and again. The sweater has a shimmering beauty in the top woven design. The contrasting ribbed bottom fabric fits snug so it doesn’t interfere with your swing. The top is 100% polyester; bottom is 95% cotton, 5% spandex. Price £76.00 Plaid Pleated Skort: The pleated skort is not only fashionable, but feels like you’re wearing a pair of comfortable athletic shorts, so it’s very functional on the course. Even on windy days, there is no concern that it will get in the way of your swing, since the design does not allow that to happen. It has deep, invisible pockets and perfectly matched pleated plaid panels front to back. Select from Green/Blue Plaid or Blue/Grey Plaid, featuring 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton. Price £188.00 To find out more go to www.greatgolfproshop.com

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HIRZL HYBRID The perfect combination of Kangaroo & synthetic leather.

The HIRZL HYBRID lightweight golf glove combines in a unique way the advantages of high performance materials - kangaroo leather with the HIRZL GRIPPP™ technology, white digital synthetic leather and breathable airtech mesh.

The result is an ultimate grip – whether the conditions on the green are dry or wet – an ergonomic fit and a unique wearing comfort.

- HIRZL GRIPPP™ TECHNOLOGY - 45° PRE-CURVED FINGER SYSTEM - LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION Material: Palm: Textured kangaroo leather / white digital synthetic leather / airtech mesh Backhand: White plain synthetic leather / airtech mesh Colour: black / white / grey Price £14.99

Criquet Established in 2010, American clothing brand, Criquet, design vintage-inspired shirts and sweaters, combining old-school preppy with today’s more sustainable environmentally friendly lifestyle. Using certified organic cotton, their clothing is made to last.

Organic Cotton / Cashmere Cardigan Sweater It doesn’t get more classic prep than this. The organic cotton / cashmere blend takes it to the next level of comfort. Featuring the understated Grassy C logo embroidered on one of the 2 welt pockets.

• 90% Organic Cotton / 10% Cashmere Fine Gauge Jersey • Two welt front pockets • Rib cuffs and sweep • Designed in Austin, TX • Imported Criquet Chambray Button Down Shirt A great chambray shirt should be a staple in every guy's wardrobe. We've raised the bar with the softest 100% organic cotton plus a deep pocket with a slot for holding your glasses or pen. Our classic washed colours look great with khakis, jeans, or cords.

• 100% Organic Cotton Chambray • Deep pocket with a slot for your pen or glasses • Grassy C embroidery on right sleeve • Designed in Austin, TX • Imported Cardigan £118.00 Shirt £85.00 To find out more go to www.greatgolfproshop.com

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GREAT GOLF PRO SHOP www.greatgolfproshop.com

Glenmuir Since the beginnings in 1891, when the very first piece of knitwear came off the looms in Lanark, Scotland, Glenmuir has committed itself to creating golfwear with impeccable care, skill and dedication to the craft. Their inspiration, both then and today, is to instil each piece of their expertly crafted golfwear with something of the essence of golf; traditional but forward-thinking, perfectly balanced, elegant and of course, Scottish to the core.

To this day, Glenmuir remains a family-run business dedicated to producing the finest golfwear. They are proud to say that their clothing has been worn by champions at Augusta, winners of the Claret Jug, gladiators of the Ryder Cup and on the world’s leading courses; but they are equally proud to see Glenmuir clothing at local clubs, dressing beginners and professionals alike, of every level and generation, all coming together for the love of the game.

Ladies Zip Neck Performance Sleeveless Tipped Polo Shirt 100% performance polyester.

Golf pique stretch sleeveless polo shirt with tipping detail at collar and armholes.

Moisture wicking, breathable and quick dry ladies performance golf shirt with stretch for comfort.

Elegant Glenmuir lady icon embroidery above right hem and high shine zip with Glenmuir signature golf club zip puller. Comes in 3 different colours.

Price £38.95 Glenmuir - Ladies V Neck Cotton Golf Sweater 100% machine washable supersoft cotton.

Classic shaped shoulder, deep waistband and cuffs and features a sophisticated full needle rib neck.

Ideal combination of comfort, style and performance.

Glenmuir 1891 script/icon embroidery on right sleeve and above right welt. Comes in 15 different colours.

Price £48.50 Go to www.greatgolfproshop.com

The DAGWOOD BRAID golf bag The Dagwood Braid golf bag is for those golfers who want quality, but don’t want to cart around a huge box on wheels...

The names of all DAGWOOD products pay homage to historic golfers, both those that are world famous and those that are largely unknown. In this case the golf bag is named after the 5 time British Open winner James Braid.

The Braid is a modern re-design that is heavily inspired by old-school traditions, while still managing to keep its own unique identity.

The bag comfortably fits 8-10 clubs. It has YKK zippers, brass fittings, and a water-repellent canvas. The double-strap design includes a removable hood.

Colours: black/black, navy/saffron, navy/tan brown, golf green/tan brown, khaki/tan brown, camel/tan brown.

Made in Portugal, using Portuguese bovine leather.

Price: £295,To find out more, go to www.greatgolfproshop.com

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GAME GOLF

Golfers Wine

From tee to green, GAME GOLF tracks your entire round of golf.

Track, Share, & Compare stats to IMPROVE YOUR GAME. The GAME GOLF Digital Tracking System is a small wearable GPS system designed to seamlessly capture and display your golf game in a comprehensive, dynamic interface with stats, trends and information you can actually use. GAME GOLF captures real game data from the rounds you play, not your shots on the range.

You will learn what you’re really doing on the course and quickly see where you can improve. All of your round data is displayed shot-by-shot, hole-by-hole over satellite imagery of the course.

The Game Golf system utilises a combination of the latest sensor technology such as GPS, NFC, compass, accelerometer, and a gyrometer to capture all the important data from your game which can be uploaded to the Game Golf platform for analysis. See how far you hit each shot with the Club Performance analytics engine and compare your game stats against PGA pros or your weekend golf buddies. GAME GOLF is the perfect companion for any golfer who wants to know where they can improve their game.

PLAY: During your round, simply tap the tags you installed into the grips of your clubs against a wearable device before each shot. That’s it. Everything else is done automatically.

SEE: Observe your entire golf game on our web and mobile interfaces, which displays your game like never before, using a map view of the golf course showing your shot locations and distances.

SHARE: Share your rounds, stats, records and more with the GAME community and your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Now your game can leave the course.

COMPARE: All statistical parts of your game are recorded, calculated and displayed as trends over time, so learning about and improving your game is based on facts.

Price £159.99 You will find Game Golf under Golf Equipment at www.greatgolfproshop.com

If you are as passionate about wine as you are about golf, then you are not alone. It appears that many Golf Champions feel the same way and so we bring you Golfers Wine.

You will know all of our featured wine producers from the TV coverage of their on-course expertise. We are now pleased to invite you to enjoy their wine expertise.

There is no better way to be close to your golfing hero than to taste, share and saviour the wines they have created.

Whether you are a golf club looking for that perfect 19th hole drink to delight your members, a golf society looking for that perfect prize, or looking for a gift for that loved golfer in your life, Golfers Wines is here for you.

If you would like to enjoy an Arnold Palmer Cabernet Sauvignon, or an Ernie Els Sauvignon Blanc, Retief Goosen Shiraz, or a Jack Nicklaus Private Reserve, then go to the 19th Hole in the Great Golf ProShop. www.greatgolfproshop.com

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GREAT GOLF PRO SHOP www.greatgolfproshop.com

Old St. Andrews Whisky The popularity of the uniquely packaged Clubhouse blend created demand for the subtle flavours that only Malt Scotch Whisky can provide. Each of the Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies are each very different: carefully balanced with between 12 to18 single malts, which gives the widest appeal to those interested in well aged whiskies.

Twilight 10 Years Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Fresh And Delicate Our superstar Twilight 10 years old blended malt Scotch Whisky has a light floral nose that invites appreciation of the delicate flavours, citrus and apples with a hint of ginger, leaving a satisfying, light and fresh finish.

Twilight £37.50 Fireside 12 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Slightly smokey and heart-warming ‘Fireside’ has light peat smokey flavours, as a result of the ancient process of drying the malted barley in kilns using peat as fuel, with the additional hints of grass and moss resulting from the reactions of the spirit for over 12 years in oak casks. The result is a powerfully heart-warming feeling and a complex dry finish.

Fireside £35.00 Nightcap Rich Honeyed Oak 15 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky ‘Nightcap’ offers a rich and fruity nose that invites discovery of the honeyed oak flavours. Maturing for over 15 years in European oaks casks has given ‘Nightcap’ a full bodied complexity of flavours, that is well balanced, rounded and smooth leaving a finish that is long, sweet and satisfying.

Nightcap £35.00 Clubhouse Young, clean and fresh Old St Andrews Clubhouse is a premium blended Scotch Whisky crafted specially from carefully selected malt and grain whiskies. It is uniquely packaged to focus on the buying trinity of whisky, golfing and gifts and the Old St. Andrews name gives a high level of recognition.

Clubhouse £26.00 You will find these whiskies in the 19th Hole at www.greatgolfproshop.com

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TAHITI

The great ESCAPE

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rom the time Captain Cook sailed to Tahiti in 1769, the South Pacific has been inspiring artists such as Paul Gauguin, writers like James Michener and honeymoon couples worldwide with its impossibly clear blue-green water, lush foliage, overwater bungalows and Tahitian fa’ari’i (hospitality).

French Polynesia comprises over 118 islands, but for adventure seekers, Moorea is your slice of heaven. Blessed with volcanic mountains, rich valleys and stunning seas, Moorea was made for outdoor activities.

Every major hotel on the island offers overwater bungalows and complimentary water activities, and boy does that water beckon.

On our first day at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa my friend and I take the paddle boards out for a spin and then do a tandem

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kayak along the coastline. With no gym on the property, I’m glad for the core and arm workout! Afterwards we relax in the infinity pool and drink in the view.

PERFECT PINEAPPLES. The following morning it’s time for the

4x4 adventure. Because of the mountainous terrain, this is an excellent way to see the whole island. Our guide Tom navigates through the flora and fauna, and soon we stop at one of the many pineapple plantations.

Moorea is famous for its pineapples, which are the sweetest in the world, and are the top agricultural product of the island. We sample some at a local stand and later in the form of juice and alcoholic beverages. Pineapple champagne, anyone?

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It’s on this tour that my friend and I become obsessed with procuring noni. Tom shows us the noni fruit and tells us stories about how the local islanders use it for healing and achieve profound results. The downside to this ‘miracle’ fruit? It smells and tastes like blue cheese, which is why noni juice is often mixed with something more palatable. While noni is sold internationally, we are convinced the Tahitian noni is better and the quest begins.

More on that later…

In the afternoon I head to the Moorea Green Pearl Golf Course, a par 70 Jack Nicklaus designed course that opened in 2007, and one of just two courses in all of French Polynesia.

The course features both oceanside and mountainside holes, with the front nine on flat terrain and five challenging holes in the middle of the back nine. The course is peppered with 60 sand bunkers, seven water features and native vegetation. It’s ideal for both the recreational and serious golfer, and plays best during the dry months of October to December.

GREEN PEARL. The tour takes us to the Belvedere Panoramic,

the most famous viewpoint overlooking two stunning bays, and then on a precarious drive to the top of Magic Mountain for more jaw-dropping views.

BORA BORA. If Moorea is about physical activity, Bora Bora is about getting the mind back in shape through a healthy dose of relaxation.

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Seasons. Everything about the resort is five-star, with a level of service that is over-the-top. Throughout my stay every employee I passed greeted me with a singsong “Ia Orana” – which is used for hello but literally translates to ‘Let your life be’.

My home away from home that I never want to leave is bungalow 120; a 1,000 square-foot space with a living room, bedroom and bathroom, whose crowning feature is a huge bathtub. I’m a sucker for a good tub. However, it’s the outdoor deck and direct access to the sea that is the true standout feature.

As soon as the bellman leaves, we change into bikinis and dive in, swimming to the slip of an island in the distance. We later laugh when we realise you can actually walk out to the island if you start from the beach. That’s ok, we enjoyed our swim.

snorkeling. The lagoon is fed by the ocean and has coral and over 100 types of fish including unicorn fish, clownfish and sea urchins.

The water is so clear that for the first time I realise how distinct, colourful and pretty the different fish really are. The lagoon was a good practice run before we snorkeled with sharks and stingrays, Bora Bora’s most popular must-do attraction, the next day.

The 40-metre pool set beneath swaying palm trees is yet another water experience to have on property. I love that the large cabanas, complete with oversized memory foam mattress to lounge on, are complimentary on a first-come, first-served basis.

Frolicking in the pool, sipping coconut water straight from the coconut and reading some mindless chick lit… ah, I could get used to this!

THE LAGOON. While it’s hard to pass up the ocean that’s just a

SPA TIME. But lest I get too comfortable by the pool, it’s time to

jump away, we head to the property’s lagoon sanctuary for some

head to the spa for even more relaxation. As I fill out some paperwork,

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I sip on an herbal infused tea and choose what scent of Monoi oil I’d like for my Polynesian massage. Tahitians have used Monoi oil, which is derived from coconut and Tiare flowers, the national flower of Tahiti, for thousands of years to moisturize skin and hair.

The Polynesian massage is a Taurumi massage, meaning it focuses on the energy lines of the body. This style of massage has been passed down throughout generations in Polynesia. The service starts with the Tahu’a (masseuse) working the ‘nini’ point at the base of my skull. According to Polynesian beliefs, this is the entry point to the soul.

Throughout the massage the therapist uses her hands, forearms and elbows in long fluid movements designed to extract negative energy from my body. The result is a feeling of even deeper relaxation than I had before.

After the service I enjoy the outdoor jacuzzis. One overlooks the lagoon and the other the ocean. Both have built-in loungers and waterfalls that provide one heck of a shoulder massage. Unlike most luxury resorts, any guest can use the spa facilities, regardless of whether a treatment is booked or not.

SEAFOOD REIGNS. One of the joys of travel is experiencing the

local cuisine. Tahiti makes it easy to do that and still eat healthily.

The most iconic dish is Poisson Cru, a ceviche dish made with red tuna, coconut milk and spices. It is offered everywhere we ate, but at the Four Seasons’ signature restaurant, Arii Moana, chef Frederic Angevin, gives the classic dish a gourmet spin offering a deconstructed version.

Being an island, it’s no surprise that seafood reigns supreme, so as a pescatarian I’m in heaven. Angevin’s favourite dish throughout his four restaurants is the Mahi Mahi Carpaccio, served at Arii Moana, and it’s easy to see why.

“It’s healthy and the beauty here is that the flavor all comes from the fish,” Angevin says. “I don’t need to add a crème sauce; I can use it as is with a little citrus and lemon granita.”

DINNER ON THE BEACH. Several times a week the Fare Hoa Beach

Bar hosts Barefoot in the Sand. This is an open-air dinner on the beach, with music and great grilled seafood and meat. It was during this night that the noni quest returns. Despite the supposed popularity of noni, my friend and I had seen none for purchase.

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We quiz the young waiter about this and he suggests the local market may have some. Unfortunately, we have no time to get there as our holiday is nearly over. So that was the end of our quest… or so we thought.

One of the most authentic meals we have is actually the picnic lunch during the stingray and shark snorkel tour. Fear is apparently a great appetite trigger, so by the time we arrive at the island for lunch I am ready to feast! The fish and meats are prepared in the traditional method using an ahima’a (clay oven).

Side plates include a variety of po’e (a fruit-based dish), but my favorite dish is the Poisson Cru, served with sweet potato, rice and coconut bread. Delicious.

THE NONI. The only downside of such an amazing holiday is that eventually it’s time to return to reality. As we are getting ready to board the Four Seasons boat to the airport, Andrew, the concierge, comes running up to me holding a plastic bag. He informs me that he and the waiter from the beachside barbeque went to the market that morning and bought us an assortment of noni!

Now this is taking customer service to another level entirely and just another example of the ‘fa’ari’i’ we experienced throughout our stay in the magical Tahitian islands.

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THE DEFINITION

of

luxury

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W

hether a place is known for its food, like France, or is an undiscovered gem, like Costa Rica, each destination brings something to the table. During a recent stay at the private Villa Manzu, I had the opportunity to delve into Costa Rican cuisine in a way that staying at a luxury hotel simply wouldn’t have provided.

Villa Manzu is a spectacular30,000 sq. ft. residence perched on five acres of rocky cliff, affording 180 degree views of the Gulf of Papagayo on Costa Rica’s northern tip. The house is the 128

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epitome of luxury, though it has a relaxed, unpretentious vibe.

Within a day of being on the property, the house already felt like home and the banter with the chefs, butlers David and Luis, and general manager Jenifer flowed as if we were old friends.

Having recently been hit with a food allergy, the minute I took a bite of pastry chef Sabrina’s gluten-free brownie, I made a beeline for the kitchen to hit her up for the recipe. Not only was it the best gluten-free treat I’ve ever tasted, it was also the best brownie, full stop. I wasn’t surprised to learn that prior to coming to the Villa, she had worked at the nearby Four Seasons resort.

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SPANISH INFLUENCE. Executive Chef Mariano Fernandez also

recently left the hotel world for Villa Manzu. The 31-year-old Argentine came from the El Mangroove hotel in Costa Rica, following a stint at a Michelin-recommended vegetarian restaurant in London. His culinary influences also come from working in Argentina and Mallorca.

“Spain influenced me a lot. My father was Spanish and you can see a lot of the Mediterranean going on in my kitchen, along with some strong French bases,” he said.

A young chef stepping away from corporate hospitality might

seem unusual, but Fernandez saw the opportunity at Manzu.

“It is my dream to be a restaurant owner and at Villa Manzu I get to evolve menus from one group to the other and that's very attractive to me,” he said.

CUSTOMIZED MENU. Because Villa Manzu caters to whoever is staying at the Villa, menus are completely customized for each group. Have a person like me with dietary restrictions? No problem. The team even had the kitchen certified Kosher for one group! It seems that no culinary request, big or small, can’t be met.

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COSTA RICA

Regardless of a guest's requests, Chef Fernandez works to craft a localized menu so visitors really get a sense of Costa Rican food, which is a blend of native ingredients with European, Creole and Caribbean influences.

“I use seasonal products and whatever rare item I can find at the market,” he said. “We use 85% local products, even local salt produced in the Nicoya Blue Zone.”

Throughout my stay, native Costa Rican produce appeared on the menu, from papaya at breakfast, to guanabana and passion fruit as part of a dessert following a lunch of local fish tacos. Yucca, camote (local sweet potato), tiquisque and plantains all made their way onto the plate as well.

It’s hard to pick a favourite dish (besides the brownie!) that I enjoyed during my stay but a few stand-outs were a lunch of cold noodles with cardamom, marinated grilled shrimp in a citrus teriyaki dressing; and a dinner of orange and cinnamon-caramelized lobster tiradito, followed by local sea bass with beet, mashed potatoes and ginger-grilled wild carrots in a yellow curry sauce.

The wine pairings, selected each night by Luis from the Villa’s extensive cellar, were also a highlight. I particularly enjoyed the Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon. One evening, Luis led our group in a wine tasting of some top bottles from the collection. I must say this was one of my favourite evenings!

A LESSON IN COFFEE. Luis is also the resident coffee expert and he schooled me in how deeply java is ingrained into Costa Rican culture. After tourism, it is the largest economic driver for the country. It’s been produced since the 1700s and Costa Rican coffee, particularly from the Dota Tarrazu region, is legendary. Its uniqueness comes from a combination of soil and altitude that are just right for producing extraordinary coffee.

As the bean became economically important to the country, it also became a part of the social fabric. So much of the country was involved in the industry that a coffee culture quickly grew.

Luis showed me how coffee was traditionally made and served using the traditional chorreador. This consists of a stand that holds a cloth coffee sock. The coffee grounds are put in the sock and near-boiling water is poured over it so that the brew is slowly filtered into a cup below. The result is one strong cup of coffee!

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Villa Manzu also uses a traditional blue and white tin cup to serve the revitalising beverage.

I love doing a cooking class when I travel to really get into the cuisine of a country, so I was thrilled when the Villa arranged a class for our group. We worked on a traditional dish of fried rice and shrimp, but -- this being Villa Manzu -- we substituted lobster for the shrimp! I was happy to serve as sous chef to create the dish.

That being said, I think I’ll leave the cooking to the professionals like Chef Fernandez and his team of six and simply enjoy the fruits of their labour, as you will when you spend a holiday at Villa Manzu.

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Fife’s great golf courses have a new 19th hole. Enjoy a visit to Fife’s newest whisky distillery near St Andrews.

TOURS CAFÉ SHOP Call 01333 451300 to book or visit www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com East Newhall Farm, Kingsbarns, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8QE

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WINE

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ike the next man, I am partial to a glass of fine wine. A cork may be pulled over dinner, with friends or quite often after a game of golf. I like to think I have honed my pallet to successfully distinguish the difference between the deep, rich flavours of a vintage and the insipid, face-squinting torment of a bargain-bucket dud.

I like the flavours, colours and subtleties of wine. It delivers much more than a gulp of thirst-quenching booze. But as much as I enjoy it, my relationship with wine starts and finishes on an amateur footing. The chaps at Mills Reef in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, on the other hand, have taken the skills I would purport to have, and many I have yet to imagine, and dissected, refined and polished them to make wines that are very special indeed.

I know this because when I visited the winery in Tauranga on Christmas Eve, the team was gently swilling their glasses and

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toasting their success after three of their wines were included in Winestate magazine’s Top 40 wine list. As I found out, this was no mean feat.

“Considering they taste thousands and thousands of wines every year, to have one wine in the Winestate Top 40 is a significant achievement,” says Nick Aleksich, general manager and director at Mills Reef. “To have three out of 40 is massive. We’ve been in the Top 40 before, but to have three in there; that’s a first.”

STYLISH ATMOSPHERE. The winery, with its art-deco design,

150-seat restaurant, stylish tasting areas and atmospheric cellars, has all the hallmarks of a slick, professional operation. It is the kind of place where you could easily loose an afternoon by surrounding yourself with delicious foods and quality wines. This is a place shaped around indulging your taste buds, although you

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might not immediately associate it with such an impressive clutch of trophies.

After all, the chaps at Winestate blind taste over a thousand top-scoring antipodean wines before making their final selection.

As Aleksich suggests, achieving just one entry is noteworthy, never mind three. In a rare lapse of modesty, however, he divulges that the awards might not have been such a shock to the system. “We were excited to have that accolade and recognition,” he admits, “but we knew 2013 was a great vintage, so perhaps it didn’t come as a surprise.”

TOP QUALITY. It turns out that throughout the 2013 season, the Mills Reef team had been carefully watching the fruit develop at their vineyards in Hawkes Bay. By harvest time, they knew they were onto a winner. In fact, the fruit had matured so well that the

team had very few doubts it would produce a crop of outstanding quality. It w as what the trade refer to as a ‘vintage of a lifetime’ – that rare occasion when the stars align and fate sprinkles its magic dust to create perfection.

“We knew when we bringing the grapes in that it was going to be a sensational vintage,” says Aleksich. “When we were making picking decisions, we were not only looking at what the weather was doing, but we were looking at the balance in the fruits; the flavour or fruit profile, the sugar and acid levels, the pH and the seed ripeness. Sometimes these things can be slightly out of balance, but in 2013 all of those factors were perfectly in balance.”

He continues: “We’ve had a run of very good vintages. If I had to pick one it would be 2007, but 2013 will eclipse it. 2013 is the best in living memory.”

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PERFECT CONDITIONS. And it’s not just Aleksich making these claims. The chief winemaker at Constellation New Zealand, the parent company of several of New Zealand’s best-known wines, is also cock-a-hoop about the 2013 vintage.

“We had a perfect mix of warm, but not hot days and cool nights. Rain fell at the right part of the growing cycle and, more importantly, did not fall during the critical period leading up to harvest,” explains Darryl Woolley, winemaking senior vicepresident at Constellation. “This resulted in a medium-sized crop of exceptionally high-quality grapes.”

It is clear that Kiwis know their wine and, more importantly, can spot a good one from a mile off.

What makes these acquired skills all the more impressive is that wine making never got going in New Zealand until 1851 with the oldest existing vineyard being established by missionaries in the Hawkes Bay. SLOW TO GROW. New Zealand was a late bloomer and to make

matters worse, a deadly outbreak of phylloxera (an insect that attacks the roots of grapevines) devastated the country’s vines towards the end of the 19th century. If that wasn’t bad enough, the government actively discouraged the consumption of alcohol – the sale of wine in shops and restaurants was prohibited throughout the 1950s. Prohibition wasn’t enacted in full, but it came close and it wasn’t until 1990 that supermarkets were finally able to stock the good grape.

Blighted by disease and constrained by regulation, the industry eventually flourished in more liberal times. Today strong sales have made wine a star performer, with exports now earning more foreign exchange for New Zealand than butter, fish or kiwifruit.

PERFECT PROGRESS. Back in Hawkes Bay, while Aleksich and

his team monitored the fruit’s progress, the main contributing factor to the wonder season of 2013 was the weather. “What it boils down to is the quality of the weather over the season,” Aleksich explains.

“Site selection and location is important, but you need Mother Nature to play the game as well, and 2013 at Hawkes Bay was climatically perfect. It was a long, even season with plenty of sunshine. We didn’t have any excessively cold spells while at the same time we didn’t have any excessively hot spells. As far as 136

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rainfall, we didn’t get any deluges, just a nice dappling of rain throughout.”

EL NIÑO. One of the most important

factors influencing the climate around the Pacific Rim is the weather patterns know as El Niño and La Niña. These are opposite phases of a cycle of temperature fluctuations between the ocean and the atmosphere. By measuring pressure differentials between Darwin and Tahiti, as well as sea-surface temperatures, forecasters are able to predict the strength of these factors. Towards the end of 2012, all the readings were suggesting 2013 would be a corker.

“As we got closer to harvest, we were tasting the fruit and inspecting its physiological profile, but we knew early on how the weather patterns were setting up. There are varying degrees of El Niño and La Niña, so from the measurements the forecasters made, 2013 wasn’t going to be a particularly strong El Niño.

With the prevailing weather coming from the west hitting the high ridge that runs down New Zealand’s north-south axis, the weathermen predicted it would be a warm and relatively dry season.

More importantly for Aleksich, there wouldn’t be too many surprises. “What we’re trying to achieve is a nice, long, slow, even cook,” he explains. “If you think of it in terms of meat, a long, slow cook gives you a more succulent, more flavoursome, more tender meat. We’re trying to achieve the same effect in the vineyard.”

AWARD-WINNING. The New Zealand growing season in 2013 was remarkable, and Aleksich and his team knew it. The three wines that made Winestate magazine’s list – the Reserve Merlot Malbec, Reserve Syrah and Reserve Chardonnay – all came from that magical batch grown on the Gimblett Gravels area of Hawke’s Bay. It was a remarkable harvest of fruit that prompted an equally impressive haul of awards.

To celebrate their success, I opened a bottle of Merlot Malbec to savour its silky smooth character on Christmas Day with a beautiful New Zealand lamb lunch. How else would you celebrate a vintage of a lifetime?

GGM

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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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Y L N E V HEAEAWAYS HID

without n holiday o fe li h ig cond Live the h ining a se ta in a m f o g into The the worry s by buyin a e rs e v o lusive hom e b, an exc lu C y a w a Hide rldwide with a wo b lu c ' rs ludes membe s that inc ie rt e p ro p f ith portfolio o Algarve w io on the tr g in n n p‌ a stu eir doorste golf on th , gard le

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ancy a luxury home away from home in an exotic tropical location, under sunny Southern European skies or in the heart of an iconic city, but don’t want the expense and hassle of owning?

You could spend hours scanning small ads and researching online to try renting or take pot luck and invest in a timeshare property. Alternatively, you could join The Hideaways Club, an exclusive shared ownership club that allows its members to invest and take holidays in exquisite luxury homes in amazing locations across the globe.

FLEXIBILITY. Established in 2007 and headquartered in Gibraltar

with offices in London and Hong Kong, the club opens the door for those keen to invest in a holiday home but who want the flexibility of travelling to different locations.

Investors have a choice of two funds: the Classic Collection, offering 42 villas and chalets owned or leased by The Hideaways Club in locations as far flung as South Africa, South East Asia and Mauritius as well as in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal; and the

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City Collection, featuring 13 city-centre apartments, most of them owned by the club, in cities including New York, Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, Bangkok, Dubai and Prague.

CONCIERGE SERVICE. All properties are worth over ÂŁ1 million

and are sumptuously furnished. The Classic Collection villas typically accommodate eight to 10 guests, perfect for a golfer and family, several couples or golfing groups.

Members also have access to a further 250 luxury villas through reciprocal agreements with other destination clubs, while the City Collection apartments, which typically accommodate up to six guests, are augmented by another seven city homes under reciprocal deals.

A concierge service, both in the UK and at the destination, helps to organise transfers, holiday itineraries, dining reservations and sightseeing, while exclusive member offers include bespoke golf or skiing trips and tickets to lifestyle events and exhibitions.

DIVERSE. The club continues to grow and aims to own 100

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luxury properties in both the Classic Collection and City Collection portfolios. They offer diverse experiences ranging from a 12th-century Tuscan farmhouse set amidst olive groves to Swiss mountain chalets, beachfront villas on tropical paradise islands and penthouses overlooking New York’s Times Square.

The three gated, air-conditioned villas on Portugal’s Algarve – soon to be joined by a fourth – mirror that diversity. The smallest of the three, Villa Palmeira lies in the exclusive Dunas Douradas resort about 25 minutes from Faro’s airport and a five-minute walk to one of the Algarve’s prettiest beaches.

SPACIOUS. For “small”, however, read cosy but surprisingly spacious. Boasting a traditional Algarve design with whitewashed walls, windows and doors framed by green shutters, a terracotta tiled roof and tall fretwork-topped chimneys, the three-floor villa has five bedrooms with the top-floor master bedroom and adjoining bedroom sharing a large terrace and terraces off the others.

The main terrace offers a heated pool flanked by sun loungers

and parasols and a bougainvillea-swathed, covered outside seating and dining area with a built-in barbecue. If you enjoy al fresco cooking, Uruguayan restaurant Parrilla Natural in nearby Almancil not only serves up some of the region’s finest steaks but also has its own butcher in the town which will deliver delicious cuts of meat to your door. Below the terrace, a compact private garden leads out to a landscaped communal area shaded by African pines, citrus trees and palms.

WOW FACTOR. The wow factor comes as soon as the concierge, who meets you on arrival, shows you inside the villa. The lobby area, featuring an alcove housing a Romanesque bust, leads off to the large open-plan dining and sitting room with comfortable, contemporary sofas.

Entertainment is provided by a large, flat-screen TV showing all your favourite UK channels including sports channels, a portable Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth speaker complete with iPod, and a Nintendo Wii games console in the downstairs play

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room where there is also a DVD player, pool table and table football. But if you need to work, there is a desk with a laptop and printer. There is also an iPad, loaded with a guide detailing the many things to do and see in the area, and Wi-Fi access.

MAID SERVICE. The fully-fitted kitchen is stocked with necessities and a welcome grocery basket with items such as coffee, milk, bread, eggs, butter, mineral water, wine and orange juice, so you don’t have to hit the nearby shops straight away.

Each of the five bedrooms has its own bathroom complete with hairdryer, luxury bathrobes, Molton Brown toiletries and heated floors for chilly mornings. A daily maid service keeps everything spick and span. The concierge can also arrange extra services, such as baby sitting, a private chef, ironing and dry cleaning.

SECLUDED. For those who prefer more of an away-from-it-all

holiday, the five-bedroom Quinta Algarvia villa sits in a large secluded plot in a rural pine woodland location, although just 5km from the beach and close to all amenities. It offers all the same facilities as Villa Palmeira but also has a self-contained private gym with exercise equipment, a steam room and outdoor hot tub, large shaded pool and a mini-golf putting area.

Villa Infinity is a grand, six-bedroom modernist edifice on the Vilamoura estate that features floor-to-ceiling windows, a cantilevered roof, a cavernous open-plan living, kitchen and dining area with designer chairs and home cinema, a large basement games area and an extensive terrace with an infinity pool. The club’s soon-to-open fourth Algarve villa is close by.

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GOLF. With well over a dozen golf courses within a short distance, The Hideaways Club’s Algarve villas make ideal golfers’ getaways.

Both Villa Palmeira and Quinta Algarvia are close to the awardwinning Quinta do Lago golf resort.

Opened by Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning captain, Paul McGinley, last October after a €9.6 million development, its North Course was named Europe’s Best New Golf Course and its South Course given the accolade of Best Golf Course in Portugal when the resort hosted the inaugural World Golf Awards in November. Quinta do Lago has also opened a new short game area to add to facilities that include the world’s only Paul McGinley Golf Academy and a state-of-the-art TaylorMade Performance Centre.

Villa Palmeira is also close to Vale do Lobo, where the Royal Golf Course is famous for its spectacular clifftop, par-3 16th hole.

Villa Infinity guests have a choice of seven courses on the Vilamoura estate, the closest being the Arnold Palmer-designed Oceanico Victoria.

MEMBERSHIP. To join The Hideaways Club, the entry-level price for the Classic Collection starts with Lifestyle Associate membership at £88,000, while Associate membership of the City Collection starts at £69,500. With a host of millionaire mansions to choose from around the world, what are you waiting for?

GGM

For more information about The Hideaways Club, go to www.thehideawaysclub.com

18 − 24 October 2015

Celebrate the Perfect Golf Experience Join us for a week-long series of events, where you can enjoy some of the world’s finest links courses, embrace the challenge of picturesque parkland courses and experience the heritage of a golf destination we have been perfecting since 1672.

Book any of the events before 1 August 2015 and receive a 10% discount by entering code GreatGolf10.

visit

For a full listing of events

golfeastlothian.com/festival

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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

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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 • www.sherrygolf.com

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Al’Maaden VillaHotel & Spa

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Scotland

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

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

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

S

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

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

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

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

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

CONTACT

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

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Korea Golf & Culture Holiday offer.

“Land of Morning Calm”

www.greatgolfholidays.net

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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THE NEXT ISSUE

Great Golf

Magazine

We hope that you have enjoyed this spring issue of Great Golf Magazine.

See you soon!

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mail@pangbournelondon.co.uk

www.pangbournelondon.co.uk instrument shown, DP-01

+44(0)20 7498 6888