Bay Street Bull Magazine GOLF 2011

VOL.8 NO.1

ROYAL GREENS Putting Fit for A King

CELTIC LINKS

THEBAYSTREETBULL.CA $7.95

1

Golfing in Cape Breton

BAY STREET BULL JUNIOR

IN THE ISSUE:

fe a t u re s

GOLFING ONTARIO STYLE 8 Discover the charm and the challenge of local courses.

departments

16

THE ROYAL TREATMENT Tee off at Barbados’Royal Westmoreland.

22

MID OCEAN CLUB

26

IN THE NEWS

Play a round at Bermuda’s private golf club.

The Canadian Tour heads to Kamloops.

UP FRONT 6 Lauren’s cars, a new Waldorf hotel, a Claret timepiece and more.

28

HILTON HEAD

32

BULL REVIEW

34

CELTIC LINKS

38

HOTEL REVIEW

Pin seeking in South Carolina.

The luxury Infiniti M56 sedan.

Cape Breton’s golden greens.

Sol Meliá’s upmarket brand, Mé.

42

GOLFER PROFILE

48

HEALTH

50

EQUIPMENT

54

IMAGE+FASHION

55

JUNIOR SECTION

64

ON THE SHELF

66

PGA TOUR LIST

TECH TOYS 44 Next generation gadgetry you’ll love.

WINE+SPIRITS 62 Whiskies to whet your whistle.

The Italian phenom Matteo Manassero.

Secrets to an injury-free golf season.

New high-tech shoes and drivers.

Chic, sporty sunglasses for men.

Child’s play: golf programs and a resort for kids.

Great books to improve your game.

Cover photo by Joe Clark/Tetra Images

Photo Credits on page 66.

THE BAY STREET BULL | 3

B AY S T R E E T P U B L I S H I N G

Vol. 8, No. 1

EDITOR Catherine Roberts ART DIRECTOR Mark Tzerelshtein CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Cara Smusiak TRAVEL EDITOR Sean Litteljohn CONTRIBUTORS Layla Amar Mike Dojc Ian McNeil Marc Phillips Liz Villegas Karen Wehrstein PHOTOGRAPHER Ruslan Sarkisian DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING SALES Bill Percy advertising@thebaystreetbull.ca ADVERTISING SALES MANAGERS Jordan Sanders Mark Waxer Bryan Dearsley (Muskoka) Julie Card (Collingwood) HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENT Mark Waxer ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christophe Boilley COMMUNICATIONS FACILITATOR David Rees The Bay Street Bull is published six times annually and is distributed directly to Toronto’s Financial and Business Executives.

Distribution by: Roltek International Inc. Subscriptions: $24 annually. To order please e-mail: service@roltek.com Bay Street Publishing, 305 Evans Ave. Etobicoke, Ontario M8Z 1K2 WWW.THEBAYSTREETBULL.CA

Photo: Ruslan Sarkisian

VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER Fred Sanders

F

ore! That one word is music to a golfer’s ears, especially this time of year when the weather’s finally warm and the greens are looking good. Golf season is already in full swing, so there’s no better time for us to bring you an issue dedicated to the sport so many Canadians love.

Canada is home to some incredible golf experiences. Ontario alone is a hotbed of exclusive clubs, renowned golf resorts, local courses and driving ranges. Writer Karen Wehrstein takes you on a tour of courses across southern and central Ontario. From the GTA’s Eagles Nest to Pinestone Resort in Haliburton, this is one tour of Ontario you won’t want to miss.

On the east coast, Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island offers up a golf experience that is as close to Scotland as you can get this side of the pond. Toss in the island’s unique Celtic culture and you may never want to leave.

South of the border, South Carolina barrier island Hilton Head is home to scores of golf courses. While Hilton Head is indisputably a golfer’s playground, there’s plenty more to do on the island—which is good news if you’re travelling with someone who doesn’t quite share your passion for tee time. If a tropical golf getaway is what your heart desires, Barbados and Bermuda boast courses that are bound to please. The Royal Westmoreland resort in Barbados is home to an incredible 18-hole course that takes golfers through an old coral stone quarry, while Bermuda’s Mid Ocean Club, a private golf club, offers a spectacular seaside golf experience.

Whether you’re golfing close to home or further a field, there’s one thing most golfers come face-to-face with: injury. The good news? Golf injuries are preventable. Physiotherapist Aly J. Chunara offers up tips on how to prevent injury through proper strength and cardiovascular training a few times a week.

While golf has long been a sport for adults, kids are picking up clubs and getting into the swing of things. In our special Bay Street Bull Junior section, we’ve brought you a roundup of programs for junior golfers, from motor-skills-based play for preschool-aged kids to programs for teens that include a social network-style tracking system. We also have the scoop on Atlantis, a kid-friendly resort in the Bahamas that is sure to please toddlers and teens alike.

We always enjoy hearing what you think about the magazine. If you’d like to send us a letter about this issue, or have an idea you think we should explore in the magazine, please address your letter to The Publisher, The Bay Street Bull, 305 Evans Avenue, Etobicoke, Ontario, M8Z 1K2, or e-mail me at publisher@thebaystreetbull.ca.

Fred Sanders, Publisher 4 | THE BAY STREET BULL

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With its hand-built AMG 518 horsepower bi-turbo V8 engine and AMG sport tuned suspension, the All-New 2012 CLS 63 AMG is quickly out of sight – though never out of mind. Step inside and revel in the hand stitched Nappa leather upholstery, exquisite wood trim and the warm glow of ambient lighting. Visit mbtoronto.ca

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UPFRONT

Ralph Lauren’s Cars Ralph Lauren’s private car collection has arrived in Paris. On view until Aug. 28 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the collection includes some of the finest examples of automotive design: a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300. In addition to those beauties, 10 more Lauren vehicles will be on display as part of the exhibit, titled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection. Visitors will also get a glimpse of two of the world’s most expensive vehicles—a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupe, each an estimated at $35 million. lesartsdecoratifs.fr

Christophe Claret Adagio Master watchmaker Christophe Claret has unveiled the Adagio, the second watch produced under his personal brand. This exceptional timepiece is equipped with Calibre SLB88 and composed of 455 parts. It features central hour and minute hands; small seconds at 9 o’clock in a window or subdial, depending on the version; a large date window at 6 o’clock; and a dual time-zone display (hours and minutes) complete with day and night indicator in a subdial at 2 o’clock. Available in three colours (18k rose gold or white gold, or platinum), the 44 mm case is water-resistant to 30 metres. claret.ch

Waldorf Astoria Seville Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts announced it will open a hotel in Spain this summer. The Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria will be the chain’s fifth property to open in Europe. It will have 133 guest rooms and suites and one of Europe’s largest hotel spa facilities. Located on 40 hectares of land, the facility will include an on-site equestrian centre with 16 thoroughbred Spanish horses, and a driving range for golf enthusiasts close to the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. waldorfastoria.com

Miami Beach Concert Hall Frank Gehry, known as one of the world’s brashest architects, has given Miami Beach an impressive new building: The New World Symphony Performance Hall. At 82, Gehry doesn’t seem to be mellowing one bit. The $160-million concert hall seats 756, has curving, draping acoustical panels that double as projection screens, and houses practice rooms and rehearsal spaces for musicians. The hall has 14 configurations and 247 of the seats can retract to create a flat floor for a cabaret or other musical entertainment. nws.edu

6 | THE BAY STREET BULL

Paris Between the Wars A brilliant new book, Paris Between the Wars, 1919-1939: Art, Life & Culture by Vincent Bouvet and Gérard Durozoi, explores the cultural forces that took shape in the City of Light during the two decades between World War I and II. It was during those years that artists and intellectuals flocked to Paris from around the world, creating what the authors call a “crucible of creativity” that resulted in great achievements in fashion, architecture, literature and theatre. Illustrated with hundreds of paintings, drawings and archival photos, the book highlights the bohemian charms of Montparnasse, which attracted artists such as Picasso, Chagall and Giacometti, and the vibrant café culture that was home to Dadaists, Surrealists and expatriate writers like Hemingway. vendomepress.com

Iwil l take my time. I will exhaust every shot in my bag. I will putt with my shoes off. I will not bother keeping score. I will lose a ball or three.

I will accept my penalty strokes with grace. I will live in the moment.

Life didn’t begin in Barbados, it was just perfected here.

Learn how at VisitBarbados.org or contact your local travel professional.

GOLFING Ontario Style Discover the charm of local courses

8 | THE BAY STREET BULL

BY KAREN WEHRSTEIN

I

deally, a golf setting should have something special about it, something that stands out, something that makes the whole experience extraordinary and the place memorable. Ontario provides plenty of such venues.

We’ll start at Hockley Valley Resort in Orangeville, about an hour northwest of the city. According to golf pro Cameron Muirhead, the course features dramatic changes in elevation with spectacular views of Orangeville’s rolling hills from the higher tees, as well as undulating greens and all-grass bunkers. “This course will force the golfer to be both creative around the greens and accurate off the tee, all the while challenging you to stay focused on your game while you take in the picturesque backdrop,” he says.

But you’ll also want to visit for the food. In the past two years, Hockley Valley has undergone a $5-million transformation, in the hopes of making the resort the ultimate culinary destination using the garden-to-table philosophy. Accordingly, a fruit and vegetable garden has been added, and 95 percent of the food served at the three new restaurants comes either from the garden or local farmers. All breads and pastas are made in-house.

Next we’ll head northeast to the Nottawasaga Resort in Alliston, which has one very striking attribute to its golf options: selection. With 45 holes spread across the resort, you’re bound to find a golf experience you like.

The 27-hole Nottawasaga course is comprised of three nine-hole courses that each present a different challenge—though they are united in water-hazard challenge by the Nottawasaga River, which winds its way through all three. The par-71 Ridge Course is designed to be playable by beginners and yet also to challenge the most advanced players. Views are spectacular, elevation changes are dramatic and power carts are required.

THE BAY STREET BULL | 9

Le Scandinave Spa Le Scandinave is a spa in the ancient Finnish tradition, featuring baths and waterfalls ranging from relaxingly hot to invigoratingly cold, nestled among trees on a 10-hectare forested property. You start with a warming phase in a hot bath, sauna or steam room to open the pores and begin the detoxifying process. You then plunge into cold water—or snow if it’s winter, as the spa is open year-round—which closes the pores, rinses away the toxins, and increases the heart-rate for stimulation of blood flow throughout the body. The third phase of relaxation—either in a solarium or outdoors around a wood fire, depending on the season—restores equilibrium and returns systems to a resting state. Repeating this sequence detoxifies the body, calms the mind and makes the spirit soar. There’s no time limit on the experience.

“It’s about connecting back with nature and being outside in the worst of elements,” says sales and marketing director Mylisa Henderson.

“You’re looking for an escape, you’re looking to retreat, for an amount of time that exceeds treatment time. “We’re a perfect après ski or après golf or après hike or après bike experience; we offer hydrotherapy that relaxes those muscles you just worked out.”

A day pass to the baths is $46, or $36 on Wednesdays; guests must be 19 or older and bring a swimsuit. You can also enjoy an hour of registered massage therapy (from $117), which includes bath access. Le Scandinave is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week—rain, shine or snow—and also features a first-class bistro and a conference room for groups.

10 | THE BAY STREET BULL

You can further break down your golf practice on the two driving ranges and the putting green, and shop at two golf shops that carry an extensive line of men’s and ladies’ golf equipment, clothing and accessories.

For those not golf-inclined, Nottawasaga offers all sorts of other activities, centered around a 585-square-metre Sportsplex with a 25-metre tropical pool and waterslide, an arena with two NHL-sized rinks and children’s day camps. There are four dining venues and a spa offering massage, hairstyling and skin care services.

From there we’ll again travel northeast to The Briars, located on the south shore of Lake Simcoe. The Sibbald family settled the property as a farm in the 1880s, and rented out a cottage for the first time in 1907. “In the ’20s, we really formalized it and turned it into a real resort,” says Hugh Sibbald, general manager, vice president, and son of the current owners. “The nine holes were done by

Stanley Thompson in 1922. He was Canada’s most [famous] golf architect, designing courses like Banff Springs. His style is very interesting.”

The resort has the feel of an old-style country inn, with a focus on fabulous food and a warm, comforting feeling. There are lots of things to do: get pampered at the

spa, relax in the indoor pool, whirlpool or sauna, work out in the fitness room, hike the nature trails, play tennis, skate or kayak, and enjoy a Saturday night dinner-and-dance. All this in natural surroundings just 50 minutes from the north end of Toronto, makes for a winning getaway.

Now we head around the lake and north to Gravenhurst and the Muskoka Bay Club. The first thing you’ll notice is the rugged Muskoka landscape with its elevation changes, rock outcroppings and towering white pines, through which Doug Carrick has shaped a golf course that has won multiple awards, including numerous top placings, in the mere five years it has been open. Excellence extends also to the 1,530-square-metre Clifftop Clubhouse, which was named Best New Clubhouse by Fairways Magazine in 2009.

But what may be most attractive, if you fall in love with the place, is that you can live here.

Muskoka Bay Club is a planned community, with homes, villas and lofts for sale. Designed by developer Peter Freed, it reflects his urban contemporary style—open, spare and lightfilled—but with touches of traditional Muskoka style in the form of wood and stone that blend to create stunning spaces.

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THE BAY STREET BULL | 11

Pamperme Spa

Now we’ll travel east to Pinestone Resort in the Haliburton Highlands. Haliburton’s largest full-service resort has undergone more than $3.5 millions’ worth of renovations and upgrades in all areas, including the golf course.

Set on 64 hectares of rolling hills and lush valleys, overlooking lakes and forests that make for a gorgeous backdrop, the 18-hole course was designed by Jack Davidson, and has a course rating of 68 and a slope rating of 129. It’ll challenge you with strategically placed water hazards, bunkers and multi-level greens. The signature hole is the 18th, which has a dogleg fairway and a pond right in front of the green. You’re going to have to think about this one, and choose your clubs carefully.

12 | THE BAY STREET BULL

The Fairway building, overlooking the golf course, has 103 guest rooms, many of which face directly onto the course. There are also one- and two-bedroom chalets and villas. The resort boasts a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre and sauna. Executive chef James Jennings and his team oversee Pinestone’s three restaurants, including the Heatherwood for fine dining, with prime rib on Friday and Saturday nights, and the casual Gallery on the Green, which overlooks that challenging 18th hole.

Head south and west and you’ll land at the Horseshoe Resort, near Craighurst— about an hour north of Toronto off highway 400. Golfers will love that there’s not one, but two highly rated, 18-hole courses. The Highlands course

Pamperme is the up-and-comer among Collingwood spas. Owner Sharon Culpan sought to create the epitome of spas based on her extensive experience in the field, and since opening in July 2010, she has expanded to a 279-squaremetre location with six staff. You won’t feel cramped here; the working rooms are spacious and open, and relaxation is easy in a log-homestyle building with interior stone walls and a roaring fire in the hearth. Excellence in customer service is a priority, Culpan says. “People come and pay to visit your facility, so the least you can give them is good customer service.”

A full-service day spa, Pamperme offers a wide range of massage services, including registered, Swedish-relaxation, hot stone, aromatherapy, shiatsu, reflexology, Indian Head and Spa’s signature back massage. There’s also salt and mud pack treatments, exfoliation, paraffin treatments, a full range of facials and manicure and pedicure (which you can have done while reclining). Finally, the spa offers laser treatments for hair removal, pigment removal and broken capillaries. New this year is shellac nail treatment, and future plans include the addition of an infrared sauna.

Current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, but hours will be extended to 7 p.m., seven days a week, in May. Treatments lasting an hour average around $75. First visit? You get a 10 percent discount.

The 6,024 yard, par 71 Pinestone Golf Course is both scenic and challenging, offering an invigorating experience for golfers of all skill levels. Set on 160 acres of rolling hills and lush valleys, overlooking lakes and forests where wildlife roams free, the golf course features unparalleled scenic beauty, lush landscaping and meticulously manicured tees, fairways and greens. The golf course layout includes various strategically placed bodies of water, bunkers and multilevel greens resulting in beautiful vistas in a peaceful setting while at the same time providing ample golf challenges.

One of Ontario’s best-kept golf secrets!

Pinestone Resort, Conference Centre & Golf Course….. an all-inclusive resort, offering: • A variety of accommodation types including 103 resort rooms, 1 & 2 bedroom chalets & villas

• Canoes, paddleboats & fishing in the 14 acre activity pond • Hiking & biking paths

• ‘Stay & Play’ Packages

• 3 full service restaurants offering both fine dining and lighter fare

• Conference & meeting space to accommodate groups from 10 to 250

• A challenging 18 hole, part 71 semi-private golf course

• Ballroom to accommodate up to 200 wedding guests

• Fully stocked Pro Shop with the latest in leisure wear and equipment

• Fitness Centre, spa & wellness Centre, indoor & outdoor pools

For Reservations or to book your tee time,

www.pinestone-resort.com

1-800-461-0357 Pro Shop (705) 457-3444

4252 County Road 21, Haliburton ON | 705-457-1800 | pinestone-resort.com

HAC has recognized us as a Four Key Eco-Rated Hotel

160 Acres of Meeting Space...

Spa Rosseau Located at The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Minett, Muskoka, Spa Rosseau incorporates themes of Muskoka’s natural elements— rock, wind and water—as part of its spa experience. A signature treatment is not just a treatment, it’s a ritual. This year’s Seasons of Life rituals each offer a series of body treatments with natural and herbal substances appropriate to the season: Nature’s Flowers in July, Cottage Garden in August, Autumn Leaves in September and Earth’s Elements in October.

It is becoming more trendy for men to visit the spa, and in fact, they made up 40 percent of Spa Rosseau’s guests last year, enjoying treatments such as Swedish massage and the Canadian Rescue Facial, designed to heal the ravages of our climate. As well as full spa services, Spa Rosseau provides private men’s and women’s facilities, including relaxation lounge, indoor whirlpool overlooking Lake Rosseau, eucalyptus steam bath and sauna. All guests are free to use the Fitness Centre and the private outdoor pool and hot tub, or participate in yoga, fusion or “Zumba” classes. Plus guests get a 10 percent discount on Kerstin Florian skincare products and Susan Posnicks cosmetics. The Robin Barker Salon will be open all summer, with the Yorkville legend himself making frequent working visits. The resort complex also provides guided nature hikes, art classes, hotel art tours, guided tours of the perennial gardens, astronomy tours, birding tours and more.

In summer, Spa Rosseau is open 9 am to 7 pm daily. Prices for a 75-minute treatment range around $185. Reservations are required.

14 | THE BAY STREET BULL

offers spectacular views and unique golf challenges, while the Valley course is a little more relaxing, but will still challenge you, whatever the level of your game.

There is also a four-hectare driving range.

But Horseshoe is more than a golf resort—much more—and so might be the ideal place to visit for a family or group, especially if there are kids. As well as spa facilities, pools and six different dining venues serving up everything from fine dining to quick snacks, Horseshoe offers a range of activities. The Adventure Park, opened just last July, includes ogo (that’s rolling downhill in a giant bubble), zipline flying, summer and winter tubing, mountain biking, minigolf and wall climbing, plus there’s a skate park. You can put the kids into the Kids’ Corral summer camp while you spend the week on the fairways. You can tour through the woods on horseback, Hummer, ATV, motorcycle or via the treetops on the Treetop Trekking course or even by Segway—a wheeled vehicle you stand upon.

If you want a really major departure from the serene dignity of golf, on July 9 you can even participate in the Warrior Dash event, jumping through fire, crawling through mud

pits and facing other grueling obstacles.

Heading west we hit the ski paradise of Blue Mountain, and the very popular Monterra Golf, located adjacent to the Village at Blue Mountain. Designed in 1989 by Tom McBroom, it’s a traditional links course with rolling bent-grass fairways, razorback mounding and 86 bunkers to trap the unwary. For its efforts toward combining great golf with minimal disruption to the natural environment, Monterra Golf has received certification from the Audubon Society’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program, which assists golf course designers and owners to create environmentally friendly areas near courses. Monterra even has an on-course sanctuary at the 5th and 10th tees.

The course facilities include a practice area, a full-service golf shop, a deli and a bar. If you can get away for golfing in the middle of the week, it’s well worth considering a mid-week annual pass, which gets you premium golf at a discount.

Now we will journey south to Niagara Falls and the Grand Niagara Resort. While the falls are always worth a visit, the Rees Jonesdesigned course is a big draw for golfers.

The course is a merciful 5,737 yards from the forward tees, and a merciless 7,425 yards from the championship tees.

There’s also a driving range and practice green. While the resort doesn’t have a hotel, Grand Niagara has partnered with many local hotels, inns and resorts to offer stay-and-play packages.

Finally, let’s come back to the GTA to the Eagle’s Nest Golf Club, which offers a

Doug Carrick-designed course with some wicked obstacles and capricious breezes.

Between holes 3 and 7, the course descends down into the forested valley—once home to Honey Pot Ski Centre—completely changing character.

There are two dining options: Lago, for gourmet food, an extensive wine list and gorgeous views; and the more casual Jim and Garry’s Pub, popular for private functions such as bridal showers and birthdays.

For Bay Streeters looking to bypass traffic, especially the dreaded Friday drive north, there’s a heliport at Eagle’s Nest, fully lit for nighttime landings.

For every stripe of golf enthusiast, there is a unique experience that will sharpen the golf skills and satisfy other wishes for an unforgettable getaway—and it’s all right here in Ontario. 

THE BAY STREET BULL | 15

16 | THE BAY STREET BULL

THE ROYAL Treatment Putting Fit for A King

BY LAYLA AMAR

B

arbados is a study in contrasts. Rugged cliffs along the eastern coast face the Atlantic Ocean, and waves blown by strong winds continuously pummel the rocky shore. Meanwhile, the western coast calmly looks out over the Caribbean Sea. Nicknamed the “Platinum Coast,� it features a delightful stretch of fine, white sand gently caressed by glittering turquoise waves.

Which coast to visit depends on what the traveller wants to do. But since Barbados measures only 430 square kilometres, going from coast to coast and discovering the treasures of everything in between can be reasonably managed by any traveller.

Barbados is a coral island and much of it is surrounded by coral reefs. Diving is excellent and there are many areas that are perfect for snorkelling. But for those looking for activities on land, Barbados has plenty to offer.

THE BAY STREET BULL | 17

Considered a golfer’s paradise, Barbados has warm and sunny weather year-round—perfect for the game. Numerous golf tournaments are held every year on world-class, celebritydesigned greens. Best of all, golf vacation packages make for an incomparable experience for the golf enthusiast.

Royal Westmoreland, a 300-hectare exclusive luxury golf, beach and spa resort is one such place. It’s pièce de résistance is the championship golf course that sits on an old sugar plantation and rock quarry some 90 metres above sea level. Opened in 1995, Golf Digest ranks it 31st in the world outside the United States. Designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., the par-72 course is a thing of beauty best appreciated late in the day when the lengthening shadows endow the landscape with an almost poetic feel.

Beneath its beautiful façade are many challenges that test the skills of even the most seasoned golfer. Golfers who have had the pleasure of playing on the Royal Westmoreland greens say that the course demands players to use every club in their bag. Well-placed bunkers (98 of them) are scattered throughout the course. Water hazards are not plentiful but are also strategically placed. The wind, which constantly alters its velocity, also presents an additional challenge.

Many of the holes afford an enthralling view of the Caribbean Sea, and old coral quarry pits arrest some players’ vision and concentration. In designing the course, Jones made excellent use of the natural landscape elements. For instance, the fifth and sixth holes make use of the coral stone quarry while the par-3 12th hole’s green borders a ravine.

18 | THE BAY STREET BULL

IN THE WORKS The Royal Westmoreland golf course starts off gently, with the green of the third hole perched on the edge of a cliff called the “Monkey Table,” named for the green monkeys that hang out in the area. The sixth hole is nicknamed “Hermit Hole” for a recluse discovered living in a disused cement mixer while the course was being built. Resident Ian Woosnam considers the course’s par-3 holes some of the best he’s played.

Each succeeding par 3 proves to be tougher than the one before it. Indeed, the course is much like the two faces of Barbados—the front nine being an engaging succession of holes just demanding enough to give the player the confidence necessary to overcome the challenging back nine.

When play is begun late in the day, a game on the Royal Westmoreland course ends just as the sun is setting. Around that time, a seat on the resort clubhouse terrace provides the best vantage point to enjoy the Bajan sunset.

Plans are in place for the creation of a superb new 18-hole golf course at Royal Westmoreland to accompany the highly rated existing championship course. The second course, yet to be named, will be designed by Rees Jones, the younger brother of renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., who designed the resort’s existing course.

Rees is himself no slouch. He has designed more than 30 courses, including the Nantucket Golf Club, Atlanta Golf Club and the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. And his remodelling skills have been applied to seven U.S. Open venues, six PGA Championship courses and two Walker Cup sites, earning him the nickname, “The Open Doctor.”

THE BAY STREET BULL | 19

VACATIONING IN THE VILLAS Located in St. James parish, Royal Westmoreland has a selection of beautifully-designed, Caribbeancolonial-style five-star villas and a range of penthouse apartments, many of which offer views of the sea, the fairways or the landscaped gardens. The resort offers Elite Guest Services, which include the services of a concierge and personal housekeepers that are standard for each villa or apartment. Additional services of individual chefs and childminders can also be requested. Complimentary golf is available with select luxury villas.

The villas range in size from two to seven bedrooms, and all have elegant and spacious interiors that combine different elements such as mahogany, coral stone, marble and chrome. Creature comforts have been thoughtfully considered in the design, as each villa is not only exquisitely furnished but also well-appointed. Nestled in the beautifully landscaped grounds of the resort, most of the villas have individual swimming pools so guests can enjoy a dip without ever leaving the comfort of their villas.

For those thinking of purchasing a piece of Barbados in Royal Westmoreland, one can either choose from a variety of existing custom designs or enlist the services of an architect. Land plots are available for purchase, and a dedicated team can be on hand to assist with designing and building the owner’s dream holiday home.

20 | THE BAY STREET BULL

RESORT AMENITIES The Royal Westmoreland resort is not just a golf club. The Sanctuary has swimming pools for adults and children, a Jacuzzi and a fitness centre. The resort has lighted tennis courts that are open until 9 p.m., and expert coaching as well as equipment rentals are available. A Kids Club can accommodate children aged four to 12 with varied interests: a sports camp is held in the mornings while an arts and crafts session can be enjoyed in the afternoons, and the club also has a selection of movies, video games and toys.

The calm water and fine, white sand of Mullins Beach is a short walk or a brief shuttle ride from the resort. By day, the exclusive beach club caters to the needs of guests and villa owners, and the Mullins Beach Bar and Restaurant is a cool place to unwind at night. The restaurant is open to the public and allows patrons to enjoy great music in a Caribbean atmosphere.

Right beside Mullins Beach is Indulgence Spa, featuring five multi-purpose treatment suites, a fully equipped art nail studio, an outdoor pool, a fully air-conditioned relaxation lounge and the Indulgence Spa Café. The spa is Barbados’ exclusive retailer of the British luxury brand, Elemis. Guests can enjoy luxury spa treatments such as full-body massages, body wraps or facials.

There are excellent shopping opportunities within the resort and guests can often get merchandise at tax-free prices.

Outside the resort, the West Coast of Barbados offers a variety of shopping outlets. Exploring the rest of St. James or the West Coast of Barbados for both shopping and sightseeing is easy: local transportation is fast and frequent, cars can be rented. For those looking to experience Barbados at its finest, Royal Westmoreland is the perfect place to call one’s home away from home. 

THE BAY STREET BULL | 21

MID OCEAN Club Heaven on a green

BY LIZ VILLEGAS

“Y

ou can go to heaven if you want. I’d rather stay in Bermuda,” wrote Mark Twain.

We’ll bet the golfers who’ve played the Mid Ocean Club would be hard-pressed to argue with that. Located in picturesque Tucker’s Town, the private club offers charm, history and beauty in spades—not to mention a technically challenging 18-hole golf course.

The course was designed by Charles Blair Macdonald—widely regarded as the father of American golf course architecture—in 1921, and it was modified around three decades later by Robert Trent Jones.

Respecting the design of Macdonald, Jones reworked a number of tees and bunkers, resulting in a slightly longer course, but barring Mother Nature’s wrath—hurricanes, tornadoes and the rare blighting of trees—the course has only marginally changed from it’s original 1920s layout. The same can’t be said for the clubhouse, which was demolished in 1974 and replaced with a more practical and modern design, only to be completely renovated in the ’80s.

The challenges of the course should appeal to golfers of all levels. The first, third, 17th and 18th holes border the sea and are thus subject to the prevailing winds. The rest of the course makes the most of the land’s rolling topography, with much of the game from the sixth hole onward being further inland, leading golfers through dramatic valleys and among lush pines. Even if the challenges of the course prove to be a little tougher than you can take, you still won’t leave the place disappointed—the views alone will be worth the trip.

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The Architect Charles Blair Macdonald, who built the first 18-hole golf course in United States, was himself an outstanding player, obsessed with the game long before he embraced golf course architecture. Often criticized as an “opinionated autocrat,” Macdonald was a stickler for detail, yet no one could dispute his deep understanding of design concepts or their implications. According to Macdonald, “there are only four or five good holes in golf. The local scenery supplies the variety.”

As a result, his greens were infused with an incredible amount of variety through pin positions, which allowed for his courses to be set up in an almost infinite number of ways, making the experience not only interesting but entertaining.

After he created the first full-length U.S. course for The Chicago Golf Club, Macdonald moved to New York in 1900, and became a partner in the Wall Street brokerage firm C.D. Barney (now Smith Barney). But he didn’t leave golf behind. Never a modest man, Macdonald was determined to build the most noteworthy course outside the British Isles. He searched Long Island in hopes of finding a suitable site that would emulate the classic seaside links of Scotland and eventually settled on a site in Southampton, New York, in 1906.

Three years later, with the help of 70 men each contributing $1,000, Macdonald opened the National Golf Links of America.

Many of the holes were his adaptations of famous holes found on British courses, a pattern he would repeat again and again. A perfectionist to the end, Macdonald would tweak the course for the rest of his life, altering every single hole over the next 30 years.

The course would go on to host many prestigious events, including the inaugural Walker Cup in 1922. Today, it is still considered a landmark of golf architecture.

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Caddies and rental clubs are available; carts are, too, but for those you’ll need a medical certificate. Otherwise, expect to walk a good distance—which you may find more of a pleasure than a chore, given the surroundings. There is also an in-house golf professional for those who need a little help with their technique.

When you crave some respite from your game, there’s the fullservice clubhouse, where you’ll find the bar, dining room, private function rooms and pro shop. The dining room serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; there is complimentary afternoon tea in the clubhouse as well. The cocktail bar, called the Churchill Room, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Near the clubhouse are cottage accommodations, each with a private balcony overlooking both the course and Tucker’s Town Cove. The club also has four private beaches, a swimming pool, and two all-weather tennis courts, so finding activities to fill your time here won’t be a problem. The staff members in the club have also garnered praise for their hospitality.

The only hitch: Mid Ocean Club is members-only, so nonmembers who wish to play will need an invitation or an introduction from one of the members. However, some hotels have guest privileges on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, unless it is a holiday or there is a tournament being held. If you’re staying in one of the local hotels, you may want to ask in advance if the concierge can make such arrangements for you.

DRESS CODE MATTERS Despite being known as a laid-back destination, Bermuda expects its visitors to dress conservatively. “Smart casual” is a good rule of thumb, but for fine dining and some formal night clubs, it is advisable to dress up—cocktail dresses and wraps for women, and jackets and ties for men. If you plan to dine out, ask about the dress code when you make reservations.

Bermuda shorts are accepted as smart casual and even as business attire in many cases, and are often most appropriately paired with loafers; however, these are not acceptable as formal wear, so packing a pair of dress pants would be the safest bet.

Bathing suits, as well as short shorts and tops, are acceptable only when you are right at the beach or pool. Swimwear should be covered when in public areas.

On the golf course, the rules for guests and visitors are quite straightforward: you may wear “Bermuda-length” shorts or skirts (leave those short shorts and skirts at home), and shirts must be sleeved and collared. As for golf shoes, only soft spikes are allowed.

HARROWING HOLES Several of the holes throughout the Mid Ocean Club course are remarkable—which is why it isn’t surprising that the course has been chosen more than once for the PGA Grand Slam and other prestigious events.

The standout is without a doubt the famed par-4 fifth. Called the “Cape,” this 433-yard hole places you in a commanding, elevated position from which you take a tee shot over Mangrove Lake. This signature hole is known to golf aficionados the world over, and has gained quite a reputation over the years (it’s been said that baseball player Babe Ruth lost nearly a dozen balls to the lake before finally clearing the hazard). Once you make it past the lake, the fairway falls steeply to the left. This legendary hole has inspired a good number of imitations, and is now considered almost obligatory in the design of modern golf courses.

Another noteworthy hole is the 17th, a Redan hole that is regarded as the best par 3 of the course, and which is said to be quite punishing for less-than-stellar shots. And the course starts off with the challenge of the heavily bunkered first hole, which has the greens on the highest and most exposed point on the entire course.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 25

INTHENEWS

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RIVERSHORE Host of the Western Championship he Canadian Tour’s Western Championship (June 6-12) couldn’t have a better host, as Rivershore Estates and Golf Links is truly the ‘Grande Dame’ of Kamloops golfing. Bordering sagebrush-covered hills to the north and the South Thompson River to the south, Rivershore is surrounded by natural B.C. beauty. Located just 20 minutes east from downtown Kamloops (and four hours from Vancouver), the entire complex was conceived of by Bill Bilton, a local realtor and entrepreneur, in the 1970s. Bilton chose legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design and construct the course. Playing 5,400 yards from its front tees, and just over 7,000 from its back tees, Rivershore presents an exciting challenge for golfers of all levels. Sixty sand traps and numerous water hazards dot the course. Most of the greens allow golfers to play a bump-and-run style.

And bunkers (77 of them) are liberally used throughout the 18-hole, semi-private course, creating the right mix of risk and reward. Beware of the par-4 ninth hole as it often plays to the wind, and it has a sloping fairway and a deceptive, bunkered green. Whether you come to Rivershore for a tournament or to enjoy the well-maintained, easily walked links, we’re sure this course will be added to your “must-play” list. 

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HILTON

Head Pin Seeking in Low Country Paradise

BY MIKE DOJC hile it wasn’t developed into a resort until the 1950s, it’s almost as if Hilton Head’s destiny was preordained.

From an aerial perspective, the verdant South Carolinian barrier island resembles a tennis shoe even more closely than the Italian Peninsula does a stiletto boot.

If you are intent on working on your backhand or taking your volley game to the next level, all Grand Slam surfaces are well represented on the island’s 350 courts.

Clinics and one-on-one instruction are served up daily at most of the resort’s tennis centres. But tennis isn’t the only sport that defines the landscape; the island is also home to world-class golf courses.

On an award-winning venues per capita basis, there may need to be a tiebreaker between courts and courses. Ultimately, the island’s golf aura would win out over its racket pedigree thanks to the stunning architecture of legends George and Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones and Rees Jones and many other notable names that make golfers giddy with awe when they have the pleasure of stepping foot on their handiwork.

Whether you tee it up from the tips or feel more comfortable hitting from the white markers, Hilton Head’s breadth of exquisite resort courses are designed to tickle duffers of all calibres, from scratch studs to casual high-handicappers more concerned with enjoying their round than breaking par.

It goes without saying that when golfers’ daydreams turn to Hilton Head, Harbour Town, the marquee Pete Dye masterpiece for which Jack Nicklaus served as a design consultant, immediately comes into focus.

Christened in 1969, the annual PGA tour stop (where the man atop the leaderboard takes home a spiffy tartan jacket along with his winnings) boasts one of the most memorable layouts in all of golf.

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The crown jewel of the Sea Pines Resort, Harbour Town has been dubbed “nothing short of a work of art” by Sports Illustrated, and the course puts a hefty premium on ball placement and finesse over pure ball-striking brawn, earning the Godfather of target golf his stripes.

The breathtaking backdrop of the course’s landmark candy-cane-striped lighthouse on the par4 18th, with majestic salt marsh blowing in the breeze off Calibogue Sound, is a muse that has inspired countless artists.

Ever considered acquiring a collection of fine art golf landscapes? The Linda Hartough Gallery on Lighthouse Road, less than a kilometre from Harbour Town Golf Links, is a great place to get the ball rolling. Anointed the “Rembrandt of the Back Nine” by the New York Times, Hartough pays homage to the world’s most renowned courses, from Harbour Town and Augusta National to St. Andrews and Turnberry. While her naturalistic paintings can fetch as much as six figures, her prints are a much more affordable entry point into her oeuvre.

Golf Ball Cure-All After dutifully following dimpled spheres down the fairway, hunting down errant shots in the rough, and firmly yet gently coaxing putts cup-ward on the green, wouldn’t it be karmically apropos if your golf balls returned all that TLC you paid them on the course?

At the Westin’s Heavenly Spa the role of caretaker is reversed in their Royal Tee Golf Ball Massage. As if paying reparations for any bad bounces or inopportune lies that their cousins in your golf bag may have caused during your last round together, heated Pro V1s knead away the tension and stress remaining in your back, neck, shoulders and other tired-out muscle groups.

A unique variant of hot stone massage and Rollersage, the therapist intersperses Swedish technique with invigorating strokes of muscle-smoothing pressure applied by golf balls. While getting a taste of what it must feel like to be a golf course takes a few minutes to sink in, you’ll soon find your tension and stress melting away along with any lingering memories of bygone double bogeys. Try a mock golf swing in the room afterwards or hit the driving range and you find the restorative treatment has really loosened you up, so you’re refreshed for tomorrow’s round. Plus, at the end of the massage you’ll be presented with a gift-bagged keepsake ball to take home.

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Home of The Heritage The island’s population quadruples during The Heritage, the most laid-back PGA tour stop owing to its coveted spot on the schedule as a post-Masters after-party coupled with ample resort amenities. While South Carolina’s sole PGA stop has been bumped from the week after the Masters to the following week, hopefully Augusta’s glow will still be felt.

The Heritage was the site of last year’s most noble display of sportsmanship. Brian Davis, who had sunk an 18-footer on his final hole to force a playoff with Jim Furyk, felt honour-bound to call over the rules official after his club errantly clipped a reed on his backswing while playing a shot from a hazard on the first extra hole. No one had noticed the violation in real time and the infringement would have been missed had he not called attention to it. When reviewed in slow-mo at Davis’ request, it was apparent that he had moved a loose impediment on his takeaway. He incurred a two-stroke penalty for the admitted infraction, gift-wrapping Furyk a $1,026,000 victory cheque.

After losing their title sponsor The Heritage’s future beyond 2011 is in limbo, but a white knight may very well step in to back the event at the 11th hour.

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If you still have some energy left after playing 18 in the morning, there’s nothing like biking on Hilton Head’s 19 kilometres of pristine white sand beaches. At low tide the hard-packed sand affords carefree, leisurely pedalling. This is an island that has more bicycles than people, and with bicycle rental companies as abundant as leafy Palmetto trees, finding one is a cinch. If inland trail riding is more your speed, the island boasts miles of paved, interconnected scenic pathways.

Next grab a few quality brewskis to savour back in the hotel at Growlers Craft Beer & Ales at the Plaza at Shelter Cove. Easy to overlook (it’s in a strip mall next to a Piggly Wiggly supermarket), this sudsy gem stocks more than 400 varieties of rare ales, highgravity brews and seasonal offerings from microbreweries all across America. Sixteen rotating taps are set up in the back so you can sample unfamiliar beers before committing to a selection. It’s a must-visit for the beer aficionado in your foursome.

If you’re craving bold flavours and a swanky lounge ambience for dinner, stop in at Robert Irvine’s Eat at the Village at Wexford. The host of the Food Network’s Dinner: Impossible always has some daring yet delectable treats on an eclectic menu that’s sure to fire up your appetite. Save room for the sweet potato bread pudding topped with Tabasco ice cream—the adventurous twist on the Southern dessert is not to be missed. For a more casual atmosphere and a chance to carouse with some locals, head to Skull Creek Boatyard. The seafood hotspot has a great view of the intracoastal waterway and is a fine spot to indulge in local favourites like a low country broil or she-crab soup. There’s also a raw bar for those craving oysters and sushi, and they also serve up a selection of ceviche.

If you have an early-morning tee time the next day you may want to call it a night after dinner, but if not, there’s live music playing every night of the week in Hilton Head. The Big Bamboo gets jamming Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on their Reggae night, and if you’re looking to bebop, The Jazz Corner has local and national acts taking the stage every night of the week. For a nightcap, the Hilton Oceanfront Resort’s XO Lounge is a trendy spot to sip a cocktail. 

Sports Medicine Physicians

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Maximizing your performance, from the

inside out.

Our multi-disciplinary Sports Health program can improve more than just your golf game. Our clinical team will look at your health from the inside out to better understand how to treat your injuries and maximize your physical performance.

Regardless of the sport or the injury, you and your family will benefit from our clinical expertise, on-site imaging and convenient downtown location.

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Physician consultations and imaging are covered by OHIP. Contact us at 416.507.6673 to find out more.

181 Bay Street, 30th floor Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3

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BULLREVIEW

INFINITI

M56 Luxury & Performance

Weight: 1,827 kg Engine Size: V8 Maximum Power: 420 hp Acceleration 0-100: 5 seconds

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When it comes to luxury, outside the German box, the go-to company is Nissan, and the brand is Infiniti. So consistent has Nissan’s luxury division been since its 1989 debut, it is now known in North America as the “Japanese BMW.” Always an innovative automaker, Nissan continues to roll out some of the most technologically advanced vehicles to grace this side of the Atlantic. The new M56 is no exception. The platform is the same as the Infiniti G37 or FX50 but the exterior is wider, giving it a sporty look. The wider stance is a styling-plus for sure, but it also improves the car’s handling thanks to the slight increase in the front and rear tracking widths. You can choose a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configuration. All models have the new 5.6-litre engine, which is 1.1 litres larger than its predecessor; it’s also 10 percent more efficient and has 100 more horsepower. The new cruise control system—an industry-first says Infiniti— helps you keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Using lasers embedded in the bumper, it slows the car when approaching another vehicle, then, when there’s a sufficient safe distance, accelerates to the preset speed as the traffic flow increases. Frequent highway drivers will love the Blind Spot warning system which first sounds an audible warning signal, and then if you drift out of your lane, the lane departure control system kicks in and will use the brakes to help ease you back to your lane. Infiniti’s mission has always been to build cars that inspire. We’re glad this is one car company that hasn’t lost its way.

— MARC PHILLIPS

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CELTIC

Links

Cape Breton’s Golden Greens

BY IAN MCNEIL

t’s easy to see why people sometimes compare Cape Breton Island to Scotland. There’s the mountainous terrain of the Cape Breton Highlands. There’s the ocean that, at different times, crashes ashore and sits utterly still in inlets. There are the ceilidhs and Celtic music. There’s the Gaelic that is still spoken by a few. And there’s the golf.

Home to several courses, Cape Breton is a golfer’s playground, and it’s only going to get better with the opening of Cabot Links, an 18-hole course that will be the sixth member

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course of Golf Cape Breton, a partnership aimed at driving golf tourism to the island.

Set in the rugged landscape of the seaside community of Inverness, the much-anticipated Cabot Links was designed

by Rod Whitman and is being developed by Ben CowanDewar and Mike Keiser. On this classic links course, every hole will offer an ocean view and five holes will play directly adjacent to the beach. “Cabot Links is a very special piece of land, not unlike the coast of Scotland,” says Joe Robinson, Cabot Links’ director of golf. While 10 holes will be opening this season on Canada Day, golfers will have to wait until next summer to play all 18 holes.

But Golf Cape Breton’s other member courses have plenty to offer golfers right now. With incredible views and courses designed by big-name golf course architects, these links provide a challenge you won’t soon forget.

Highlands Links is on track for its traditional May opening as restoration continues following late-fall storms that ravaged the grounds. Located in the heart of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, this Stanley Thompson masterpiece has become a Canadian treasure. Using nature as his model, Thompson’s 18-hole, par-72 course winds its way seamlessly through rocky headlands and wooded glens, offering spectacular mountain views and ocean vistas.

Entering its second season, The Lakes Golf Club at Ben Eoin is Golf Cape Breton’s anchor attraction on the east side of the island. Designer Graham Cooke, a 2010 inductee to the Canadian Professional Golf Hall of Fame, capitalized on the lush landscape and outstanding views of Bras d’Or Lakes in constructing this world-class layout. “Each golf hole offers golfers an unforgettable and entertaining experience,” says Cooke of his 6,970-yard course. Just 20 minutes from Sydney, the third largest city in Nova Scotia, the club is also a gateway to the island’s cultural life.

The beautiful Bell Bay Golf Club, located in the sailing community of Baddeck, sits high above its namesake, Bell Bay, offering golfers panoramic views from virtually every hole. The Thomas McBroom-designed course is distinguished by its final four holes, which have been called “one of the best finishing sequences anywhere.” Bell Bay has made a strong commitment to golf education through its academy and is one of the largest and finest practice facilities in Atlantic Canada. It offers a variety of programs for golfers of all ages

Ingonish The area known as Ingonish is a cluster of five small communities covering just 16 kilometres along the famous Cabot Trail. At the north end of the cluster is the town of Ingonish, south of which lay Ingonish Centre, Ingonish Beach, South Ingonish Harbour and, finally, Ingonish Ferry. Much of the region borders Cape Breton Highlands, a 950-square-kilometre national park containing campgrounds, hiking trails and lookouts. Time and Mother Nature have conspired to produce sandy beaches and freshwater lakes—and in the case of Ingonish Beach, the chance to swim in both fresh and salt water. During spring and summer, marine wildlife is on full display: whale and dolphin sightings are so frequent they have spawned a number of scenic cruises and whale-watching tours. For the real adventurer, however, Ingonish offers some of the best surfing in Canada.

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Ceilidh Trail Cape Breton’s strong Celtic heritage can be traced back to the 1700s when thousands of Gaelic-speaking Scots and Irish immigrants began settling on the island to escape famine and the Highland Clearances.

The settlers clung to their culture, passing on their music, language and spirituality to their children.

Today, Cape Breton remains the largest Gaelic community outside of Europe. And the best way to discover its Celtic roots is by taking a leisurely drive on the Ceilidh Trail. The journey starts at Port Hasting and ends at Margaree Harbour. Along the way, visitors can tour a distillery, explore a museum or spend a warm summer evening square dancing or listening to fiddle music in communities like Judique and Inverness, where ceilidhs (parties or social gatherings) and concerts are held regularly at the local town hall.

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and skill levels. Sessions focus on ball striking, the short game, the mental game and course management. The instructors are all certified Canadian PGA Professionals and are led by Ted Stonehouse, the Canadian PGA’s 2007 Junior Leader of the Year.

Like Bell Bay and The Lakes golf clubs, Dundee Golf Club offers stunning views of Bras d’Or Lakes. The Robert Moote-designed course ascends on the south side of South Mountain and offers stunning views of the nearby marina. The club’s affiliation with Cape Breton Resorts means golfers enjoy a variety of golf packages that can include opportunities for sailing and other recreation, along with a range of accommodations for families and groups.

Perhaps the most challenging but certainly among the most welcoming courses in the Golf Cape Breton family is Le Portage Golf Club, located in the Acadian community of Chéticamp, on the Cabot Trail. The traditional hospitality permeates the vibrant seaside community surrounded by the Cape Breton Highlands, where Acadian folk art is produced and live local music is prominent. Acadian heritage is also celebrated on the

course: each hole is named—in French—for local landmarks, geographical features and traditions. With tree-lined fairways, stunning views of the Highlands and winds that play havoc with your game, the 6,777-yard, par-72 course is not to be missed.

When you’re not on the golf course, there’s plenty to see and do throughout Cape Breton. The Fortress of Louisbourg offers a glimpse of life in 1744, and it’s the largest historical reconstruction in North America. At Glenville, stop by the Glenora Distillery, the only single malt whisky distillery in North America.

Superb dining, arts and crafts, sailing and hiking are at every turn.

And sandy beaches feature the warmest waters north of the Carolinas. Gaelic culture lives on in the region’s stirring Celtic music, and festivals and museums celebrate the thriving Acadian and Mi’kmaq cultures. Summer festivals pay tribute to heritage, music, seafood and strawberries. The new momentum and growth in Cape Breton golf is powered by a renaissance in Cape Breton’s cultural life. You are hours away from the experience.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 37

HOTELREVIEW

SOL

Meliá

Stylish Spanish Lodging

BY CATHERINE ROBERTS

s the taxi stops to let me out, the cabbie double checks the address, then looks bewildered. The building, hotel Mé, part of the Sol Meliá group’s luxury brand, sits on the outskirts of Barcelona in the Diagonal Mar neighbourhood, and is, well, a bit odd. In a city as densely populated as Barcelona, where architects effortlessly fuse the old and new, and where Antoni Gaudi’s neo-Gothic masterpiece, Sagrada Familia, is still one of the tallest structures, the ultra-modern glass tower seems a tad out of place. But then again, its designer, French architect Dominique Perrault, isn’t known for his subtlety.

The hotel has 259 rooms spread over 29 floors with a choice of impressive views, either of the Mediterranean or of the city.

The rooms have been decorated in bold red, blue and purple textiles, with lacquered floors and surfaces, and they have all the expected extras like iPod docks and plasma TVs (two in some of “The Level” suites). The spacious bathrooms have both rain showers and tubs, and a nice selection of Aveda products. The exclusive suites, located on floors 20 through 28, come with a special 24-hour service that includes free newspaper delivery, free local calls, laundry service, twice-a-day room cleaning and pet care.

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Sergio and Javier Torres, dubbed “Los Torres Gemelos” (the twin towers) by the Spanish media, have their restaurant, Dos Cielos, on the 24th floor. The brothers, who spent more than a decade honing their skills in the kitchens of such star chefs as Santi Santamaria and Alain Ducasse, are known for their avantgarde style.

Their eight-course tasting menu (€85, or $118, per person) begins with periwinkle prawns, gazpache (vegetable soup), herbs and algae, followed by scallops, mandoquiña and parsley plants, warm asparagus with anchovies, a creamy rice dish with wild mushrooms and fresh fruit. A cheese course (€14, or $19) can be added; wine pairings are an additional €36 or $50. Reservations aren’t required but are strongly encouraged.

Dinner tends to be eaten late in Barcelona, at least compared to North American standards, so evening cocktails are a great opportunity to check out the

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MÉ Cabo Mé Cabo became the third property in Meliá’s Mé portfolio when it opened in 2007. Located on the finest stretch of beach in Cabos San Lucas, this contemporary-style, intimate, beachfront Mexican hotel features: 155 guest rooms and suites, The Passion Club, an exclusive VIP floor called “The Level,” the Nikki Beach Club and the Meliá’s signature YHI Spa, a 654-square-metre boutique spa that includes a fitness centre, hydrotherapy and a native Temazcal sweat lodge. All rooms have a private balcony offering magnificent views, LCD satellite TV, iPod connectivity and modern bathrooms stocked with Aveda products and fitted with a rain shower and bathtub. Plus it’s just minutes from downtown shopping.

Sky Food Bar. Located on the ground floor, this white-on-white chic spot is a great place to meet people and try traditional Catalonian appetizers. At night, internationally renowned DJs take over, and the bar becomes a nightclub.

The hotel’s YHI Spa has an extensive treatment menu partially derived from Mayan and Aztec rituals. Many products are mixed locally (or on the premises) using organic and indigenous ingredients such as blue corn, Caribbean ginger and citrus honey. There are a number of massages including the Sports Massage (ideal for relieving muscular tension), facials and ‘rituals’ or body treatments. Most sessions are between 60 and 90 minutes long and cost €118 to €177 ($163 to $245). The 18 percent VAT is included.

For those who don’t mind the location (or shelling out for cab fare), this hotel contains fabulous amenities and the opportunity to meet Barcelona’s most interesting nighthawks.  40 | THE BAY STREET BULL

The world has some catching up to do.

The all-new Audi A7 is now at Audi Uptown.

Starting at just $70,890*

Winner of the Design Summit Award for the best new car design of 2011 The Audi A7 has scored a big victory: the five-door coupé has been selected the winner of the “Auto Bild” Design Summit. A distinguished jury panel evaluated the design of a total of ten new cars. The result: the Audi A7 5-door coupé was voted number one by a wide margin for its outstanding design.

Audi Uptown The Finest Cars. The Finest Service.

*Starting at MSRP including Freight & PDI - $1995 and $295 Admin fee. HST and licensing extra.

GOLFERPROFILE

Matteo Manassero The Italian phenom

Two days before his 18th birthday, Matteo Manassero captured his second European Tour victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open on April 17, beating out Irish golfer Rory McIlroy and 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel. Not bad for a teenager who, before he could open his own bank account or legally drink, became the youngest ever to win a European Tour, ranked 33rd in the world, was named European Tour’s rookie of the year after finishing 31st in the Race to Dubai standings, became the youngest golfer to qualify for the Masters, and earned a cool million. One wonders if Manny (as he’s affectionately known to his friends) ever marvels at the twist of fate that had him swap skis for clubs. 

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TECHTOYS

A CUT ABOVE Pushing the Darwinian Up Button

BY MIKE DOJC

hen chasing glory, track stars and tech titans face similar hurdles. After Usain Bolt’s record-breaking 9.69-second dash that made the Jamaican sprinter a household name, all the chatter was on how much faster he could have gone. Mere minutes after iPad 2 was unveiled in March, pundits were atwitter about this lighter and more nimble ingénue, which quelled much of the interest in the market’s soon-to-debut competitors, while at the same time bemoaning what performance enhancing features they’ll have to wait on till the arrival of the next iteration. At the 2009 IAAF World Championships Bolt shaved 0.11 seconds off his time, the most incrementally significant improvement in the 100-metre event’s history since track and field instituted electronic timing back in the late ’60s. While the next fastest processor is always right around the corner, we promise the expiration dates on the digital delights below are at least a winter away.

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 THE NEW PROV1 & PRO V1X The most-struck ball on tour underwent dimplereduction surgery, with the V1 going from 392 craters to 352 and the X losing four dimples to end up with 328. The redesigned ProV1 features a solid polybutadiene uniform core with an ionomeric spin-controlling casing, a durable urethane elastomer cover and a tetrahedral dimple tile pattern offering three axes of symmetry. The tweaked aerodynamic profile on these spheres offers more consistent ball flight than its predecessors, increasing spin without sacrificing distance.

Meanwhile, the soft-centered dual core Pro V1X balls have a new tile pattern with seven varying dimple sizes and are built to minimize spin with an emphasis on exceptional distance off the tee. Golf balls, once rudimentary sacks of feathers stuffed into leather pouches, are now aerodynamic marvels of modern materials science. titleist.com

 2012 FISKER KARMA On looks alone, the Fisker Karma should woo at least as many motorists as the Tesla Roadster. From the auto designers that rolled out the Aston Martin DB9 and the BMW Z8 Roadster comes another stunning machine destined to inspire driveway envy. The rear-wheel drive EVer (electric vehicle with an extended range) Karma is in the same plug-in hybrid category as the Chevy Volt, with a mid-mounted battery pack powerful enough for an 80-kilometre sojourn per charge and 480 kilometres of total range when you factor in the gas mode.

Choose the electric-only “Stealth” mode and you’ll go from zero to 100 in just under eight seconds and reach a top speed of 150 km/h. In engine-assisted “sport” mode, sprint to 100 in 5.9 seconds and climb to a max speed of 200 km/h. The wheels and solar-panelled roof add mega style points, and unlike with the Prius, the solar energy doesn’t just cool the interior but also feeds the battery reserves, adding an estimated five to six kilometres of range per week, provided its not overcast outside. fiskerautomotive.com

 CALLAWAY UPRO GPS & SKYCADDIE SGX Golf may be a game of inches, but it is also highly visual and cold, analytical yardage in and of itself isn’t enough assurance to give the bravest of pin-seekers absolute trust in their club selection.

The Upro will solve back-and-forth head games— whether you should hit a six or club up to a five iron to clear a pond—by offering actual aerial high-resolution flyover photography of each hole, just as you’d see while watching a PGA tournament on television.

Rangefinder stalwart SkyCaddie includes their handy IntelliGreen Pro feature, which aids in shot preparation by pointing out a potentially crucial false front that may spin a ball back into a bunker or a fortuitous ridge that, if hit could feed your ball toward the flag. uprogps.com, skygolf.com  NINTENDO 3DS Nintendo’s first attempt at bringing the third dimension to home gamers was back in 1995 with their Virtual Boy console that required viewers to squeeze into a snorkelling mask that immersed them in a 32-bit world drawn in just two colours: black and red. If the VB fails to trigger any pangs of nostalgia that’s because it was a major flop. The ability to offer a new frontier of game play without having to wear special glasses is a game changer that should allow this hand-held baby to succeed where its pioneering predecessor failed. While adding depth to games definitely takes them to a new level, a slider allows you to adjust the effect for optimal viewing and prevents you from seeing double images or going bleary-eyed. The 3DS also features a pair of 3D cameras, which you can use to take snazzy snapshots or put your own mug in games like Face Raiders. nintendo.com

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 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP700-4 You didn’t have to be a lip reader to know that viewer’s first impression at the Geneva Motor Show, where this beauty was unveiled, was “wow.”

Aggressively styled with sharp, striking angles that manage to keep their cool in a motion-induced blur, the freshly ensconced-in-the-moment design manages to retain an avuncular affection for the speed beast’s storied lineage. The $379,700 dream machine packs 700hp under the hood.

The Aventador’s 6.5-litre V12 produces 690Nm of torque and can hit 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and peaks at 350 km/h. aventador.com

 iPAD 2 The sophomore edition’s form factor is very similar to the first-generation iPad, but the subtle refinements are still perceptible, and for the better. The second go-around is markedly thinner and also a tad lighter.

Outwardly, the addition of cameras on the front and rear add video chat and photography capabilities. Inwardly, with Apple’s mighty new A5 chip running the show, the device is much zippier, with the performance boost most evident when multitasking. Quibblers note that there is no change in screen resolution and that there still isn’t any Adobe Flash compatibility. apple.com

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 CISCO UMI Cute and memorable commercials with Ellen Page (Juno, Inception) and a classroom of children taking a virtual field trip with counterparts in China notwithstanding, Umi was initially a bust for Cisco due to steep pricing for the highend HD video conferencing product in the era of Skype and Facetime. The initial sky-high pricing foible has since been rectified and there is also the addition of an even more walletfriendly 720p system (available this summer) for those with slower broadband connections. Unlike their competitors in the video chat arena, Umi’s tele-presence niche was designed with the living room or boardroom in mind, with their camera sitting on top of your television set making it perfectly suited for group-to-group conversing. home.cisco.com

 MISA KITARA Guitar Hero took virtual strumming to new heights, making anybody who could mash buttons in a sequence feel like Eddie Van Halen. As the music game fad fades Misa brings us Guitar 3.0, merging traditional axe-shredding technique with touch screen technology to create a newfangled instrument for living out rock ’n’ roll fantasies. No more calluses with this stringless guitar that rocks an eight-inch touch screen in place of a bridge, and a fretboard strewn with rows of buttons running down its neck so pressing down on your favourite power chord is a cinch. Pedals are also rendered obsolete as players can tap to create distortion, modulation and a variety of other digital effects on the multi-touch screen. misadigital.com

 ALTEC LANSING inMOTION AIR Altec Lansing has just unveiled its latest speaker solution, the inMotion Air. With no cables or docks, this wireless lightweight system can stream tunes from up to 90 metres away. The Bluetooth technology connects to a number of devices, including iPhones, Blackberries, Symbian phones, Smartphones and, of course, your computer. The internal battery will keep for seven straight hours, and the handle at the back makes carrying a breeze. It comes in two colours (slate black and gunmetal grey), weighs a mere half a kilogram, and retails for $200. alteclansing.com   PGA TOUR SIMULATOR Air hockey tables and billiard tables are pedestrian basement diversions. If you really want to luxe out your man cave, bring inside the world’s greatest golf courses. If you frequent golf retailers, you’ve probably seen one of these puppies (they start at $49,500) in action while testing out a new club, but there’s nothing like playing round after round in the privacy and comfort of your own home. 3Trak, aboutGolf’s proprietary highspeed photography tracking engine measures spin, velocity and trajectory to accurately display your ball flight and eventual lie, whether you’re virtually playing Pebble Beach or The Preserve at Bay Harbour. With more than 50 meticulously rendered courses always presented in pristine tournament condition, duffing on this simulator is the next best thing to being out on tour. aboutGolf.com THE BAY STREET BULL | 47

HEALTHTALK

SMART STRATEGIES Secrets to an injury-free golf season

BY ALY J. CHUNARA f you’re one of the 1.8 million Canadians who play golf, there’s a 50-50 chance you could be swinging into an injury this year. While golf may not be a contact sport like hockey or football, experts say nearly half of all golfers experience an injury each season. The good news? You don’t have to be one of them.

A golf swing can be a thing of beauty. A complex suite of movements, it involves the whole body, and especially the arms. The club and arm act as one in a well-executed swing, so it should be no surprise that most golf injuries are arm injuries.

When you hit the ball, the impact travels up through the club and strains the muscles of the arm. When your swing is off, you can do a lot of damage. Striking the ground with the club head can produce stress fractures and a strained wrist.

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The older you are and the more you play, the more likely you are to be injured. Weakness in the core muscle group (torso), shoulders or legs decreases the power of your swing, and stiff shoulders, hips and forearms disrupt the optimum mechanics. Players who have these problems tend to adapt and overcompensate, ironically increasing the risk of injury.

Every group of golfers has its own typical class of injuries. Male professional golfers are more prone to lower back injuries, while female professionals are more likely to injure the wrist and shoulder first, and then the lower back. Amateur males commonly injure the lower back, followed by the arm and knee, while female amateurs suffer from elbow injuries, followed by lower back, arm and knee injuries.

Many professionals and serious amateurs undertake off-season strength and conditioning programs to prevent injuries. Off-season training should be geared toward developing a good strength base and minimizing muscle imbalances or weakness. General training should include a proper warm-up, flexibility exercises, strengthening for endurance and cardiovascular conditioning three times per week.

Six to eight weeks before the season begins, you should introduce training techniques that are mechanically relevant to the swing, and step up general aerobic and anaerobic exercises for strength and endurance.

Overload training (swinging a weighted club) and overspeed training (using a lighter club) can help you achieve peak physical performance by the start of golf season. You might also consider medicine ball throws and trunk rotation with weighted bars to strengthen your arms and core. Alternate arm dumbbell press, dumbbell bench press, back extensions, medicine ball trunk rotation, and resistance-band simulated golf swing exercises to increase the power of your swing can also be added into the mix.

Your aerobics program should include a combination of stationary bike, treadmill and stairclimbing. Together, these exercises will maximize your performance and minimize your risk of injury.

There’s no substitute for physical training, but expert advice can also help you avoid injury. A physiotherapist trained in the finer points of golf can analyze your swing for maladaptive techniques and suggest modifications. Plus, if you are or become injured, your physiotherapist can provide advice on how to safely play with your injury to get the most out of your favorite sport.

There are many roads to injury in golf: overplaying, poor swing mechanics, deconditioning, failure to warm up before practice or play. But if you stick to the straight and narrow path of regular warm-ups, strength training and conditioning, you can avoid injury altogether.  Aly J. Chunara, PT, is a senior physiotherapist at Cleveland Clinic Canada.

GOLFEQUIPMENT

Drivers ALPHA V5 LX The all-black V5 LX titanium driver was designed with one goal in mind: to maximize the “smash factor” for explosive speed off the ball face. To achieve this, designer Dr. Jim Yeh increased the thickness of the frame and crown, making the head 22 percent more rigid. The body is a dense, lightweight and highly rigid titanium shell. The wider face gives the golfer a larger range on the X-axis.

Movable weights allow golfers to customize the centre of gravity, which helps optimize desired trajectory, and two weight ports offer that customized look, feel and performance.

Cobra S2 Offset

Ping K15

TaylorMade Burner

AdamsGolf SpeedLine 9064LS

If you have a mid-to-high handicap and tend to slice your shots, then this Cobra’s for you. Based on the Cobra S2 Driver, this model utilizes Fujikura’s SwingSync Design Technology, which is perfect for delivering a satisfying launch angle and spin on impact. The shaft is available in regular, stiff and lite, each offering varying degrees of flexibility to suit your style. The head has been designed with a thin face for a higher ball speed, which will achieve longer drives without losing accuracy. Clearly intended for the golfer with average ability.

The latest driver from PING is all about power. The K15 has the shape and geometry for bigger drives, and for straighter ones too. If you want straighter drive of the golf ball, you may want to consider this driver for its Straight Flight Technology. It is also designed with the centre of gravity lower and further back, which will help to reduce spin and allow for a higher launch angle. This means you won’t have to think about the slice or hook as much, and you will definitely be able to maximize your distance off the tee. A forgiving and accurate driver, perfect for the newbie right up to average golfer.

The Burner Draw may not be the latest model in the line, but we think it is one darn good driver. It incorporates two of the most effective performance technologies that the company has ever developed: SuperFast Technology and DrawWeight Technology. These technologies increase speed and a right-to-left ball flight that helps every type of player hit longer drives. The shaping also helps make it easy to align for straighter drives. The next generation, Superfast 2.0 is, well, super fast. It’s made with improved SuperFast Technology, an advanced aerodynamic clubhead, and at 279 grams, it is light and faster than any TaylorMade driver ever created.

A favourite among Tour players because it is both fast and (with a big face) forgiving. The graphite shafts come in two options— Aldila RIP Alpha for low trajectory and Gamma for high trajectory—and the clubface is available in 8.5-, 9.5- and 10.5inch lofts. AdamsGolf engineers have made dynamic improvements in this fourth-generation model, which they claim gives golfers 15 yards more distance (because of the increased clubhead speed) and 15 percent less spin. Last year, AdamsGolf made a big impact on the professional long-drive competitions, and this year will be no different.

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GOLFEQUIPMENT

Shoes PUMA Cell Fusion 2 Puma fused the finest technologies and a cutting-edge style to create this beauty. An updated version of their Cell Fusion shoe, this new incarnation has high frequency welded quarter panels in the saddle and heel for support.

For better cushioning and stability, the forefoot and heel is embedded with iCell technology.

Additional TPU teeth have been placed in critical areas, like the heel, for better grip. And for comfort and utmost breathability, there’s a treated lining at the footbed cover that moderates the temperature and helps fight bacteria.

Adidas Adipure Z

Nike Zoom Advance

Allen Edmonds 1 Ups

Callaway FT Chev Blucher

A comfortable and classy premium shoe, adiPURE Z features a hand-finished, full-grain leather upper that adds to its overall great looks and provides enhanced stability. Thanks to THiNTech, it’s a third lower to the ground than most conventional cleat systems, giving you better overall footwork and more consistent ball-striking. And a FitFoam polyurethane sock liner provides support, cushioning and comfort from heel to toe. Characterized by clean lines, quality materials and exquisite detailing, this shoe earns Adidas a gold medal.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Nike continues to turn out high-tech shoes each and every season. With the Zoom Advance, Nike utilizes its Power Platform, which stabilizes the foot for better balance, and offers easier transfer of weight and more power for greater impact. Fullgrain leather with hydrophobic treatment means your feet will be dry and comfortable. Nike is so sure of the shoe’s waterproof status that they offer a two-year warranty. The mid-foot harness, made from a composite nylon and TPU construction, adds even more stability, and the visible Nike Zoom Unit in the heel gives exceptional underfoot cushioning.

This shoe was inspired by legendary U.S. golfer Byron Nelson Jr., who won 18 PGA tournaments in one year—a record set in 1945 that has yet to be broken. The 1 Up is for the man who not only wants to keep his cool on the course, but also look cool on the course. This classy, wingtip-style shoe features balmoral lacing, full-leather lining and 11 cheats. It combines all the stability of 360° Goodyear welt construction with a sturdy ballistic nylon mesh upper, which makes it extremely lightweight and perfect for a round of golf.

Don’t let its classic look fool you—this is one high-tech shoe.

The Outlast Technology moderates your foot temperature, while the OrthoLite open-cell foam insoles provide breathability, anti-microbial properties and long-term cushioning. Xtra Width Technology allows golfers to adjust and customize the fit of the shoe from medium to wide by simply removing the XWT forefoot pads from the insole. And if that weren’t enough, Callaway’s Comfort Tech Gel Pods under the ball, heel and midsole relieve pressure and add comfort. Callaway never fails to produce stylish footwear to bolster your wardrobe.

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IMAGE+FASHION

LENS

DIOR: The oversized line, Striking, has a sports-chic spirit with a touch of a street-style vibe. The colour effects and transparence are the sophisticated details that are the essence of Dior’s true savoir-faire.

Crafters

Fashionable eyewear for men

RAY-BAN: This classic aviator eyepiece has been updated with nylon arms, features polarized lenses and a wraparound silhouette, and is the epitome of cool.

BOLLÉ: Modern and edgy, Phantom is a sportsman’s dream—light as a feather and strong as steel. Comes in satin black, silver wicker and dark tortoise shell frames.

GUCCI: Whether you choose the aviator, round or square frame, all of these Gucci products have UVA/UVB protection, an interlocking G or a G logo at the temple, and reflect true Italian design.

HUGO BOSS: The official sunglasses worn by the Hugo Boss yacht crew, the Alex 99 has a contemporary rectangular shape, an injection-moulded frame with a metal logo, and comes in several colours, including glossy black, blue and aluminum.

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Junior From toddlers to teens, and every age in between, kids are taking up golf with gusto. Check out our roundup of junior golf programs to get your kids in the swing of things. And, if you’re planning your next vacation, we’ve discovered the getaway destination that’s sure to keep the whole family happy. >>

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JUNIORGOLF

CHILD’S

Play

Golf camps to get kids swinging

BY BRYAN DEARSLEY

anada is, without doubt, a nation of golfers. According to a 2006 survey conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Golf Canada, we Canadians lead the world in our passion for the sport, with close to six million of us claiming to be golfers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, golf has become increasingly popular amongst our under-18 population, too.

Visit almost any public course during the summer months and you’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders with numerous tweens and teens, some with handicaps to drool over. Once school’s out, young Canadians swell the ranks of golfers eager to enjoy what is, let’s face it, a relatively short season.

Most courses offer programs geared specifically to younger golfers—everything from daylong junior clinics to weeklong camps—and a number of well-established national programs have been designed to encourage kids to get involved in the game.

One of the longest running programs is CN Future Links. Started in 1996 by Golf Canada, CN Future Links has introduced thousands of children ages six and up to the sport. In 2010 alone, the program saw close to 111,000 junior golfers take part in a variety of events at participating courses, ranges and schools around the country. To date, almost 910,000 kids coast-to-coast have benefited from some aspect of this program.

Endorsed by Sport Canada and run in partnership with the Canadian PGA and Canada’s provincial golf associations, the program gives children a chance to enjoy and learn the game of golf via easily accessible programs.

“Future Links has evolved tremendously over the years,” says Jeff Thompson, chief sport development officer with Golf Canada. “We gave it a complete overhaul in 2007 to ensure every single aspect of the program adheres to our long-term player development guide.

Teaching kids to play is the program’s backbone, and we’re now able to offer more tools than ever to ensure a healthy future for golf in Canada as these kids grow into the sport.”

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Golf Simulators Increasing numbers of junior golfers are turning to the same technology used by their parents to get an edge. It’s all part of the old adage, “practice makes perfect,” and given our sometimes uncooperative weather, golf simulators have found fans amongst the young.

Golf simulators come in a variety of styles and prices, ranging from relatively inexpensive models suitable for home use to über-expensive varieties you’ll need to visit a practice facility to enjoy. Of the in-home and accessible variety, one of the best is Golf Launchpad Tour

by Electric Spin ($199, plus accessories). A state-of-the-art golf simulator for Windows, Mac and PlayStation3, Golf Launchpad Tour offers world-class golf simulation, swing analysis and play on some of the world’s greatest courses. Kids can even use their own clubs as they play the Tiger Woods PGA Tour, ensuring the ultimate in feel and precision.

Built with high-speed optical sensors, a regulation DuPont Surlyn golf ball and an ingenious micro capture net, Golf Launchpad Tour also includes a variety of other unique features designed to help your junior golfer’s game. Included with the simulator is Graph, an advanced swing-analysis module that helps users visualize their shots with a dual-graph showing a waterfall view for carry and roll and a top view for sidespin. The program shows the player’s last 25 shots, with the latest show highlighted, and sessions can be saved and retrieved for later review. In addition, Graph also shows club speed, angle, carry and roll, in a large digital display font that’s easy to read from a distance.

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Junior Gear There’s no end to the tremendous variety of golf gear options available for kids of all ages. From colourful club sets with oversized drivers (yes, they come in pink and blue) to balls with flashing LED lights, it’s enough to make you wish you were a child all over again.

Golf Canada’s CN Future Links program even has its own line of junior golf clubs for boys and girls in the five-to-eight and nine-to-12 age groups. Each set comes with graphite-shafted titanium woods, oversized stainless steel irons, a polymer-coated mallet-style putter and a lightweight stand bag. Sets can be purchased from a participating pro shop or your local Wal-Mart. A nice touch is the fact that manufacturer One World Golf will donate a portion of proceeds to the CN Future Links program. Other Future Links merchandise includes bag tags, embroidered ball caps, golf shirts and tee packs.

Providing great, kid-friendly products is a natural fit for Callaway. The company’s kids’ golf clubs not only have the feel of adult clubs, they look the same, too. Callaway’s XJ Junior sets are ideal for beginner junior golfers, offering good control on the irons, longer distance with the drivers and better putting thanks to the two-ball putter that comes with the set. Designed for kids ages five to 12 (or between 104 and 127 centimetres tall), each club boasts the same innovative advancements Callaway Golf has put into its X Series Clubs for adults.

Tailored for kids, they provide a perfect combination of performance and forgiveness so junior golfers can play confidently.

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One of the results of the overhaul Thompson refers to was the launch last year of the National Golf in Schools program run in conjunction with Physical and Health Education Canada. This first-of-its-kind program features an educationaccredited golf learning resource directed specifically at elementary schools (a high school component being launched this fall). Targeted at grades 1 to 6, the program acts as a learning resource that aligns with provincial elementary curriculum standards to provide a child-friendly, safety-first learning environment.

“We’ve already got 1,100 schools across the country onboard,” says Thompson. “For parents who golf, having their kids introduced to the sport in a classroom environment with their friends is priceless. They’ll have a golf partner for life.”

Another Future Links initiative is its Junior Skills Challenge program. Comparable to football’s successful Punt, Pass and Kick program, the Junior Skills Program focuses on the four key skills of driving, iron play, chipping and putting. And, of course, it’s fun.

The program has proven to be very popular: last year alone more than 2,000 kids (and 75 official Junior Skills Challenge sites) across Canada took part at driving ranges and golf courses, as well as online via the program’s interactive component. Parents sign their children up for the program through the CN Future Links website, and once registered, kids can check their scores and rankings on the National Leaderboard to see how they fare against others across the country, and they can monitor their progress in the four skills with a personal practice scorecard.

Programs like Future Links have even been credited with helping kids develop in other important areas, too. A survey of parents whose kids participated in a similar program south of the border showed that a substantial number of them (74 percent) saw an improvement in their child’s communication skills, as well as corresponding improvements in confidence levels, grades and social skills.

The golf industry, too, is playing an increasingly important role in nurturing the love of the game amongst young players.

Callaway’s Golf for Kids, a program developed by the Golf Association of Ontario, was conceived with fun and safety in mind while providing kids a chance to learn a game that helps promote lifelong activity. The program’s components—designed to complement Golf Canada’s National Golf in Schools program—also includes programming for municipalities to include in their community programs.

The various elements of Callaway’s program are geared toward providing an introduction to the game. The first of these elements, Mr. Knickers & Friends, is an interactive presentation for primary grades that uses child-friendly equipment (oversized plastic clubs and tennis balls) to show kids the fun side of golf while also focusing on safety and sportsmanship.

Another element, Learn to Swing, provides a real-life feel for the game as teachers introduce the fundamentals of stance, posture, alignment and grip, along with safety awareness and golf-specific exercises. Students then put what they’ve learned into practice using real golf clubs in a driving range-like schoolyard set up, before graduating to the Transition phase and a real course.

As with the CN Future Links program, the ultimate aim of Callaway’s Golf for Kids is to foster strong communities and a lifelong love of sport through the inherent values and life skills that form the very essence of this wonderful game we call golf. With a little encouragement from parents, it’s a very achievable goal.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 59

JUNIORTRAVEL

ATLANTIS

Adventures Fantasy Camps for Tots and Teens

BY CATHERINE ROBERTS

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hen it comes to the family vacation, ask any parent, I mean any parent, and they’ll agree on one thing: “no family holiday, no matter where you go, works unless your kids are happy.” If March Break was an unmitigated disaster, and if the thought of this summer’s family getaway is giving you nightmares, maybe you should try Atlantis. No resort, with the exception of Disney, has been as innovative in its quest to entertain kids. Located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Atlantis has just about everything parents could want too: a spa, a casino, beaches and the world’s largest open-air marine habitat.

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The 1,260-square-metre space boasts a high-tech, interactive Internet Lounge, complete with multi-touch computers and surface tables with photo editing and publishing interfaced to Facebook. A gaming room is stocked with everything from the new Microsoft flagship motion sensor product, Kinect for Xbox 360, to a 6.6-metre floor-to-ceiling installation constructed with polished chrome and colourchanging LED rods, 32 flat screen televisions, 24 gaming consoles and

This summer Atlantis is offering a lineup of one-of-a-kind experiences for kids. In the Lego Fantasy Camp, budding builders will learn tips and tricks from the masters on interlocking, sideways building and hidden-lock building, as they create their dreamscapes with Lego. The Marine Adventure Camp lets aspiring aquarists and animal lovers get a behind-the-scenes look at the marine habitat.

Campers learn to feed the animals, hang out with sea lions, experience the thrill of snorkelling and develop a better understanding of coral reefs. Kids with an interest in the performing arts will love Second City Fantasy Camp. Atlantis has partnered with Chicago’s famed comedy theatre, Second City—which, since 1959, has been the launching pad of North America’s most influential comics, including Mike Myers, Tina Fey and Steve Carell—to create a camp that aims to teach kids the basics of improvisation and comedy. For those looking for an inside scoop on the inner workings of the beauty, fashion and fitness worlds, there’s a fantasy camp for them too.

Marine lovers of all ages can enjoy dolphin interaction programs at Dolphin Cay. The shallow-water interaction program takes place in waist-deep water with one

dolphin, two trainers and a maximum of 10 guests. Those interested in the deep-water swim program will get the opportunity to interact with the dolphins in the centre and in the deeper part of the cove for closer, more natural contact. The programs typically run 90 minutes. A six-hour Ultimate Trainer for a Day program is available for those wanting a full day of fun, and includes working with a laboratory technician in the Dolphin Cay veterinary hospital.

For the eye-rolling, I’d-rather-be-texting teen, there’s Crush—an $11-million teensonly nightclub created by Jeffrey Beers.

24 customized pod chairs with built-in surround sound. There are 10 private gaming cabanas, a selection of iPads for Internet browsing, a 135-square-metre dance club with multi-purpose video walls, and a concert stage. Mocktails and light fare such as pizzas and smoothies can be purchased from the café. Crush is open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for teens ages 13 to 17, and costs $25 per person.

The truly great thing about Atlantis is it works for all families, whether you have a toddler or a teenager in tow. And that’s no small feat.  THE BAY STREET BULL | 61

WINE+SPIRITS

SCOTCH Time Whiskies to whet your whistle

There’s an old saying in Scotland: “There’s no bad whisky, just good whisky and better whisky.” Perhaps that’s true. Great whisky combines the simplest ingredients—yeast, cereal grains and water—and painstaking craftsmanship—patience, knowledge and a sophisticated palate. Whisky is now being made and enjoyed around the world. In China they like it with ice tea. In Brazil they combine it with coconut water. How you chose to enjoy your whisky—on ice, with or without water, with soda or lemonade—is, of course, up to you. But to truly experience the nuances of this complex spirit, it’s best to enjoy it alone or with a dash of water. We’ve chosen five whiskies that won’t disappoint, no matter how you chose to enjoy them.

GLENDRONACH 12 YEAR OLD SINGLE HIGHLAND MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 43.0% | $59.25

THE GLENLIVET 12 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 40.0% | $45.95

HIGHLAND PARK 12 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 43.0% | $59.95

TALISKER 10 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 45.8% | $69.95

GLENMORANGIE NECTAR D'OR SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY 46.0% | $92.95

Tasting Note A perfectly balanced, full-bodied single malt scotch whisky, double matured in Spanish casks, with vanilla and mulled wine aromas.

Tasting Note One of the most famous malts in the world, it elegantly combines floral fragrances and fruitiness. Has a rich, long finish.

Tasting Note This medium-goldcoloured spirit has caramel, ginger and spice aromas, with a creamy texture and a long, spicy finish.

Tasting Note A brilliant goldcoloured, full-bodied malt, with a powerful peat-smoke aroma and a long, warm, peppery finish.

Tasting Note Aged for 10 years in American oak, then in French Sauternes casks for two, this honey-sweet malt has a warm finish.

Serving Suggestion Pair with smoked salmon, or neat after dinner.

Serving Suggestion Enjoy as an aperitif with water.

Serving Suggestion Neat, or with spring water.

Serving Suggestion Neat, or with a dash of spring water.

Serving Suggestion Enjoy with nuts and dried fruit.

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ONTHESHELF

Golf Anatomy by Craig Davies and Vince DiSaia (Human Kinetics) includes 72 of the most effective exercises, with step-bystep descriptions and full-colour illustrations, to help you increase your strength, power and range of motion so you can improve your game.

PRO CLINIC

Everyone wants a fast track to a lower handicap. The Complete Golf Manual (Dorling Kindersley) covers just about everything a newcomer to the game needs to know. Writer Steve Newell—who was the instruction editor for Golf World, Europe’s premier golf magazine, and author of several books, including How to Build a Classic Golf Swing—has puts his years of experience to use as he runs through the fundamentals of the game in clear, concise prose. With the aid of easy-to-follow photographs, and by consciously keeping technical jargon to a minimum, Newell is able to explain the latest and best techniques. The book begins by having you take a test to discover your level of ability, then follows with progressive exercises designed to develop your golfing technique. From tee shots and iron play to coping with bunkers and putting, you’ll learn to improve your golf swing immeasurably. There are more than 160 practice drills (each broken down into skill level) that will give you the winning edge. Plus, there’s a section on how to fix the “top 10 most common faults that can creep into any golfers game,” as well as routines to improve your decision-making skills on the course.

Expert tips on how to buy your golfing equipment are a nice inclusion, and the chapter on golf etiquette is a must-read for newbies and veterans alike. 

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Let There Be Pebble by Zachary Michael Jack (University of Nebraska Press) is a love letter to America’s most respected and beloved course. Jack, who spent a year immersed in the “moneyed milieu” of Carmel, California, while covering four tournaments at Pebble Beach, gives us an entertaining look at the idiosyncrasies that make up Carmel and the famed course.

The Open: Golf’s Oldest Major by Donald Steel (Rizzoli), published to coincide with the 150th Open Championship, is a celebration of the venerable tournament that has hosted every icon of the sport, from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods. Combining classic images of unforgettable moments with new photos by David Cannon, it captures the excitement and grandeur of The Open.

Moment of Glory by John Feinstein (Little, Brown and Co.) chronicles the ups and downs of four little-known players (Ben Curtis, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk and Shaun Micheel) who became champions during the 2003 golf season.

PGASCHEDULE

2011 PGA TOUR REGULAR SEASON DATE

TOURNAMENTS

May 12 - 15

THE PLAYERS Championship TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Purse: $9,500,000

May 19 - 22

NETWORK

DEFENDING CHAMPION

SIRIUS-XM GOLF NBC, LIVE@

Tim Clark (D) $1,710,000

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Colonial CC, Ft. Worth, Texas Purse: $6,200,000

GOLF CBS

Zach Johnson (D) $1,116,000

May 26 - 29

HP Byron Nelson Championship TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, Texas Purse: $6,500,000

GOLF CBS

Jason Day (D) $1,170,000

June 02 - 05

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance Muirfield Village GC, Dublin, Ohio Purse: $6,200,000

GOLF CBS LIVE@

Justin Rose (D) $1,080,000

June 09 - 12

FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee Purse: $5,600,000

GOLF CBS

Lee Westwood (D) $1,008,000

June 16 - 19

U.S. Open Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland Purse: $7,500,000

ESPN NBC

Graeme McDowell (D) $1,350,000

June 20 - 21

CVS Caremark Charity Classic Rhode Island CC, Barrington, Rhode Island Purse: $1,550,000

June 23 - 26

Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut Purse: $6,000,000

GOLF CBS

Bubba Watson (D) $1,080,000

AT&T National Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Purse: $6,200,000

GOLF CBS

Justin Rose (D) $1,116,000

July 07 - 10

John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois Purse: $4,500,000

GOLF CBS

Steve Stricker (D) $792,000

July 14 - 17

Viking Classic Annandale GC, Madison, Mississippi Purse: $3,600,000

GOLF

Bill Haas (D) $648,000

July 14 - 17

British Open Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, ENG Purse: $7,300,000

ESPN

Louis Oosthuizen (D) $1,305,593

July 21 - 24

RBC Canadian Open Shaughnessy G&CC, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, Can Purse: $5,200,000

GOLF CBS

Carl Pettersson (D) $918,000

July 28 - 31

The Greenbrier Classic The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia Purse: $6,000,000

GOLF CBS

Stuart Appleby (D) $1,080,000

Aug. 04 - 07

Reno-Tahoe Open Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada Purse: $3,000,000

GOLF

Matt Bettencourt (D) $540,000

Aug. 04 - 07

World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational Firestone CC (South Course), Akron, Ohio Purse: $8,500,000

GOLF CBS LIVE@

Hunter Mahan (D) $1,400,000

June 30 - July 03

Photo Credits

Ricky Barnes, J.B. Holmes (D) $150,000

Page 8. Nottwasaga Golf Resort and Spa. 9. The Briars’ Manor House, Photo: Peter Sibbald. 10. The Rosseau (top). Fall colours at The Briars (bottom). 11. The Briars’ Birdie Cottage Living Room, Photo: Peter Sibbad. 12. Montera Golf Course.

14. Montera Golf Course (top). Summer dessert at The Briars (bottom), Photo: Chris Campbell. 15. Pinestone Golf Resort.

16-17. Royal Westmoreland: 18th fairway looking toward the clubhouse. 18. Royal Westmoreland: restaurant terrace (top) and golf course (bottom).

20. Royal Westmoreland: golf course (top, bottom) and villa pool deck (middle). 21. Royal Westmoreland: Indulgence Spa massage (top) and The Sanctuary (bottom). 22-23. Trevor Immelman at the Mid Ocean Club on Oct. 15, 2008 in Tucker’s Town, Bermuda, Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

24. Charles Blair Macdonald by Gari Melchers, after 1910 (left). Castle Harbour Bermuda (right). 25. Mid Ocean Club: clubhouse (bottom) and course (right).

26-27. Rivershore golf course and estate, Photos: Huxtable Productions. 28. Jones course Hole 10 (top), and Hills course Hole 3 (bottom), Photos: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. 29. Kayaking (top), Photo: Hilton Head Outfitters. Westin’s spa (bottom). 30. Jones course Hole 9 (top), Photo: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Harbour Town Golf Links’ Hole 18 (middle). Shelter Cove Marina (bottom). 31. Fazio course Hole 11 (top), Photo: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Shelter Cove dining. 34. Cape Breton golf course. 35. Ingonish. 36. Golfer on Cape Breton golf course. 37. Cape Breton landscapes. 38. ME Madrid’s penthouse at night (left). ME Barcelona Hotel and urban room (right). 39. ME Barcelona’s swimming pool (top) and reception (bottom). 40. ME Madrid’s Midnight Rose restaurant (top) and tower suite living room (bottom). ME Cabo’s pool (left). 42. Matteo Manassero, Photo: Richard Castka/Volvo. 55. Photo: Randy Plett/iStockphoto. 56. Junior lesson, Photo: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. 58. Photos: Dmitriy Filippov (top) and Sven Klaschik (bottom) 60. Photos courtesy: Atlantis Adventure.

66 | THE BAY STREET BULL

is for ample room, even if you’re

Eight Feet Tall The long-wheelbase A8 L. Outside, the extra 130 mm of length blends seamlessly into the sleek, aggressive profile. Inside, however, the extra length is transformative.

The rear cabin gains so much space, it almost echoes.

Legroom is generous even with the seats reclined.

Meanwhile, an extended sunroof floods the interior with natural light, providing the perfect environment to work, relax, or rest.

The all-new Audi A8 L

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