Northeast Golf - April/May 2023

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APRIL/MAY 2023 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 GOLFTRAININGAIDS.COM Rebrands & Grows in a Revitalized Golf Economy BETTER PLAY ONE CLICK AWAY DESTINATIONS Puerto Rico, Tennessee, New Hampshire & More +
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NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 7 ROSS’S RULES Revolutionizing Putting Green Maintenance INSIDE DESTINATIONS Tennessee’s Tellico Village
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GolfTrainingAids.com Rebrands
good-old solid
his eventual
the
COVER STORY 12 APRIL • MAY 2023 VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 55 20 SAVE THE DATE NORTHEAST GOLF SHOW March 15-17, 2024 Gillette Stadium — Foxboro, MA NortheastGolfShow.com 30
by Alice & Danny Scott
by David DeSmith
John Diulus recalls a prescient event linking
parenting to
entrance into
golf business.

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A New Beginning Once Again

Each year as the seasons evolve, we begin a new journey in the game of golf. While winter in most of the Northeast and Eastern Seaboard regions was absent this year, golf course conditions like every year, deteriorated and became dormant on almost all courses to some degree. Golf is a game best played on grass that is growing and freshly cut. I am fortunate to live in a golf course community in Florida, and the sound of greens being cut early every morning is music to my ears during my daily 6 am fitness walk. The maintenance teams that rise in the dark each day to prepare our golf courses, make it possible for all of us to enjoy this great game to the fullest. They are a prime example of the simple term, preparation.

Preparation is something most of us take shortcuts on throughout our golfing lives. We expect with great optimism to play better every season, but often fail to do the simple things necessary to make it happen. Golf is a sport that requires some level of fitness and strength to play well. No one who sets out to run a marathon skips the work needed to build up the body slowly and train for this difficult task. Yet an amateur golfer who plays 3-4 times a week, will walk 20+ miles and swing over 300 times using muscle groups throughout the body. And still, most do not follow a fitness routine to become better at the game they love so much. The average PGA Tour Player hits nearly 1000 shots weekly in training and on the course competing at the highest level. Most PGA Tour players today have fitness coaches and teams creating weekly regiments of cardio and strength training year-round; it is a must for them.

Today, there are more fitness facilities, trainers, equipment, and game improvement options than ever before. It is one of the largest growth sectors in golf today, led by some of the most qualified professionals. The road to getting better at golf begins with health, fitness, and the ability to execute the disciplines needed to perform well on a golf course. The body and the mind are your two most valuable assets to play well. Find a way to get out and walk or jog a few miles each day, do some strength training and stretching for the body and the mind as well. Get some help along the way; it’s a journey that requires direction and learning. Your game will improve, your health will improve and your life overall will be better for it.

10 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF
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“Golf is a game best played on grass that is growing and freshly cut.”
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WHEN BETTER PLAY IS ONE CLICK AWAY

John Diulus recalls a prescient event linking good-old solid parenting to his eventual entrance into the golf business. His son was a strong junior golfer sometime around 2004. But at 11 years old, he was struggling on the greens. So, Diulus bought him the Putting Arc, one of the top putting training aids on the market and it greatly helped his son’s game.

Diulus, who (after a long, successful career in the travel industry) was involved in the purchase of GolfTrainingAids.com in 2021, also happened to orchestrate the purchase of the Putting Arc product line this past December. “In a cosmic coincidence, that original training aid that I purchased for my son is still being

used today,” says Diulus, a Florida business executive who previously had been running sales for cruise ship companies.

Now, Diulus wants to help every golfer improve. “There’s a better player in everybody,” he vows. “And we are looking for things that can improve something specific in a golfer’s game. That is the theme and vision of GolfTrainingAids.com – we are in business to help golfers become better.”

Of the many training aids the company sells, the most popular ones all have some things in common: simplicity, portability and providing immediate feedback. “A lot of our recent growth has stemmed

12 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF
GOLFTRAININGAIDS.COM REBRANDS, GROWS IN REVITALIZED GOLF ECONOMY

from the pandemic,” says Diulus. “People were forced to find creative ways to do things at home so a lot of the most popular training aids are products that people could use at their home or office.”

Since taking over the brand, which started in the 1980s, Diulus and his team have structured GolfTrainingAids.com to be more game improvement focused, with tips from pros and videos to make sure consumers understand the benefits of the training aids.

GolfTrainingAids.com is really the only stop a golfer needs to find a training aid for any part of his or her game.

“Our objective as a business is to create and identify products that will help people improve their game,” says Diulus. “We’re constantly looking for products to help all aspects of the golf game – whether it is putting, short game, swing analysis, distance, fitness, speed, and any other area. We sell to golfers who have single-digit handicaps, as well as to someone who is just starting out and wants to simply learn the game. Putting accounts for roughly 40 percent of your score, so people are always looking for ways to improve there. Golfers are also always looking for ways to improve their swing. We have a lot of different products that handle different parts of the swing – regardless of if you are trying to correct a slice or trying to identify your swing path. We have a lot of different products that help you correct your swing and get on-plane. No matter what you are struggling with, we offer a product that will help you improve or

fix a problem that you have with your golf swing.”

GolfTrainingAids.com now also has a relationship with renowned golf instructor and training aid inventor Dan Frost. He will head up the company’s product development and assist in identifying products that he can help the brand create as well as those he has in the pipeline which the website will have the exclusive distributorship for in the U.S.

Diulus says it is important that GolfTrainingAids.com creates new products that will help average golfers and believes Frost is the perfect person to partner with on that. In fact, there are 10 new products coming to market this year, due to that partnership. Plus, the website is launching an entire category of junior products. “There are a lot of training aids that are already in the marketplace, and we will customize them for juniors and also create new products that will help juniors,” says Diulus.

Golftrainingaids.com sells more than 100 assorted products, but these six training aids remain the company’s top sellers.

The Putting Arc is a great tool for golfers of all skill levels. The Putting Arc has been around since the early 2000’s and has been used by tour professionals accounting for over 1600 wins on the PGA, LPGA, and Champions tour. Set this lightweight, 33-inch long slightly curved guide on the green, and then move your putter head along the aid’s edges to develop a proper inside-to-square-

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 13

to-inside putting arc. Your putter is always on plane, keeping the face square to the plane – and only square to your target line at the proper impact point. It helps you develop a smooth, consistent putting stroke by providing feedback on alignment and posture. It is easy to use indoors with the MS3D model or outdoors with the T3 travel model, a product that easily fits in your golf bag. The Tour-tested Putting Arc is a fantastic way to improve your on-the-green performance and lower your scores.

The Divot Board is a classic, timeless tool that helps you improve your swing path and low point. Named the Golf Training Aids Product of the Year for 2021, this 6”x21” mat is just ⅜” thick and has pointed nubs underneath that hold it in place on carpet, range mat or grass. An included carabiner attaches it to a golf bag. Its patented design provides instant feedback on your contact point with the ball and the ground. This allows you to identify and correct errors in your swing, leading to improved ball striking and lower scores.

Sure-Set helps you improve your backswing. This training solution allows you to experience how your swing should feel so you quickly improve. Ideally, you will create a lasting change through repetition –unlocking your true potential. It consists of a training grip and shoulder pad that rests on the inside of your shoulder. The grip can adjust to fit different arm sizes, and the shoulder pad is adjustable to fit different shoulder widths. A built-in sensor measures your swing speed and angle. It

14 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF

all helps you develop a consistent swing by providing feedback on their technique. It can be used to practice at home or at the driving range, and you can use it to track progress over time.

The Impact Bag can be filled with towels, old tee shirts or other soft material. You place it on the ground in front of you. Then you swing – striking the bag with your club. It helps to simulate the feeling of hitting a golf ball. How does it improve your swing? First, it can help you better your timing, as you need to hit the bag at the exact moment that the clubhead is square simulating when you would be in contact with the ball. This helps to improve your feel for the swing. Second, it can improve your accuracy. The bag is a small target, and you have to hit it in the center of the clubface in order to get the best results. This also helps your consistency. Finally, it can help boost your power. While the bag absorbs the impact, it helps to increase your clubhead speed and thus creating power.

Then there’s the Power SwingFan, a tool that uses air resistance to help you improve your swing. It has four fins that create resistance when you swing through impact. This resistance helps to improve your strength and speed, which can lead to longer drives and more accurate shots. It can also help any skill level. It’s easy to use and can be stored away quickly. The Power SwingFan is also a really good training tool for your fitness routine building up power in your golf swing.

Finally, the Swing Plate specifically aims to improve your swing plane. It is a thin weighted metal plate that you place on the ground in front of you. The plate has two rod holders, so you can insert two alignment sticks into it. You then swing your club through the plate and between the alignment sticks. If you swing on the correct swing plane, the plate will not move. If you swing on an incorrect swing plane, the plate will move. It instantly shows you exactly what you are doing wrong and how to correct it. It is also very portable, so you can take it with you to the range or your backyard.

When you look through the website of this 35-year-old, yet newly reborn brand, you quickly realize that there are many areas of your game that can use some help. The website curates a fun and effortless process that can provide you with quick results on the course. Think about your game’s biggest weakness and hit the site to see what they have that will address the most pressing need in your golf game. You will be amazed at the options and resources.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 15
Visit GolfTrainingAids.com to help elevate
the
your game to
next level.

The Four Senses of Golf

Golf is a game that makes use of four of our senses; feel or touch, sight, sound or hearing and even taste...we’ll ignore smell for now. It’s important to engage our senses to become better and in fact we can train ourselves to have better timing, contact and distance.

Taste is a little different, but who hasn’t had the urge to eat something on the course? We have a couple of suggestions, and they aren’t a hot dog and a beer.

Feel effects everything in the swing from grip to take away to finish and here a couple of training devices to help.

16 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF AROUND THE GAME TRAINING AIDS

AROUND THE GAME TRAINING AIDS

ORANGE WHIP DISTANCE DUO

$197.99 | www.orangewhipgolf.com

Two very flexible shafts with weighted balls on the ends with repetitive swinging improve timing and a smooth natural motion without concern for the position of the clubhead or trying to “hit” the ball. The extreme “whippy-ness” of the shafts helps keep the shaft on plane throughout and immediately increases swing speed. The regular length shaft is 47” and the other 43”, specifically to improve clubhead swing speed.

WHY GOLF PRESSURE PLATE & CHIPPING PLATE

$129.99 & 79.99 | www.whygolf.com

The curved base of the Pressure Plate trains the user to properly shift weight during the full swing without swaying, no need for computers or any high-tech devices. It is 24” x 13” x 1”, portable and weighs just 6 pounds. The Chipping Plate is similar though smaller and teaches how to keep weight on the lead foot for crisp impact and prevent fat or sculled chips. Also portable at 3 pounds.

It goes without saying the sense of sight is critical to making an efficient swing and the below two aids will give you the chance to see what is correct.

THE DIVOT BOARD

$139.99 | www.golftrainingaids.com

The idea of the Divot Board is to provide a visual record of the club head path and impact point on the ground while making a full iron swing. It is a convenient 6” wide by 21” long and only 3/8” thick so it doesn’t affect the swing arc. Designed for use indoors on carpet or outdoors on mats or grass, the Divot Board has nubs on the bottom to hold it in place. Replacement pads are available.

TOUR STRIKER TOOLBOX

$187 | www.tourstriker.com

Well-known instructor Martin Chuck has

developed a simple but effective way to visualize the basics needed to make a proper swing with the Toolbox. The Toolbox consists of a hollow aluminum tube with three alignment rods inside and two rotating clutches each with a hole for insertion of the rods. Sounds simple and it is, training the user in several critical swing factors including ball position and swing plane.

Sound can also be useful when training for a

better swing. Don’t discount it and often what you hear will tie in with what you feel. Check out the helpful products below.

THE ONE CLUB

$197.98 | www.theoneclub.ca

This release and speed training practice club has a five-weight slide on the shaft connected with elastic bands to the handle providing resistance on the downswing. Weights are interchangeable, as are the elastic bands. A definite click when the club releases

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 17

provides both swing timing and clubhead speed practice for pro and recreational players, plus The One Club can also be used for short game improvement.

WHY GOLF | ARMALARM

$99.99 | www.whygolf.com

Focusing on the proper position of the trail arm is a sure way to improve ball striking and distance. The ArmAlarm has wrist bands for each arm connected by an adjustable length tether so when the arms separate the tether detaches and ArmAlarm beeps giving instant feedback for the “chicken wing” swing of chronic slicers. Included in the

AROUND THE GAME TRAINING AIDS

package is the WristAlarm that beeps when hands scoop at the bottom before impact.

We like a hot dog or candy bar on the course as much as anyone but here a couple of better — read healthier — alternatives.

4ORE NUTRITION

$34.95 | www.4ore.com

Maintaining hydration level on the course is vital and 4ORE’s Infused Hydration concentrate provides multiples of the daily requirements of fruits and vegetables plus electrolytes in each package with no sugar and zero calories. Each of the packages contains 20 servings just mix with 16 to 24oz of water.

There are two flavors from which to choose: Citrus Blast or Red Raspberry.

CLIF BAR

$13.67 | www.clifbar.com

Eating sensibly is all well and good and many will opt for something healthy to carry on the course for quick energy and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t contain everyone’s favorite…chocolate. Clif Bars come in several flavors but many chocolate-loving golfers are partial to the Chocolate Brownie. Made with organic oats, each bar is high in protein and carbohydrates. A package contains 12 individual bars.

18 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF

TellicoinVillageTennessee

THE DESTINATION

Tennessee Valley Authority built Tellico Lake by damming the Little Tennessee River in Loudon, just 31 miles south of Knoxville, Tennessee. That 33-mile lake is the focal point of Tellico Village and a waterway to the world with accessibility of rivers to reach the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes in the north and the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence Seaway. The forested area is a gateway to the Smoky Mountains.

The Venue- Tellico Village (TV) spans

over 5,000 acres. It was built by Cooper of Hot Springs Villages fame and later was purchased by the property owners. The TV Property Owners Association fulfills the functions of a city government, operating the water, sewer systems and all facilities, maintaining roads and buildings, with about $21 million annual budget generated by monthly assessments from property owners.

Hundreds of clubs from fishing to kayaking, woodworking, quilting and every speed of walking, avail socialization for 10,000 villagers. Three rec centers, wellness center, outdoor and indoor pools, tennis and

pickleball complexes, plus many trails added to lake activities and three golf courses fend off any boredom. The three golf clubhouses have separate menus and the Yacht Club’s Blue Heron Restaurant on the lake delivers spectacular views with their cuisine. Thai Bistro, Little Italy and Lorenzo’s Mexican Grille in the Lakeside Plaza round out the culinary options at TV.

The New Villagers organization facilitates quickly meeting people and making friends. One member says it’s like being back in college but always on break and another says it’s double dating for

20 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF
Xxyxyxyx

seniors, although the active senior living community is open to all ages.

THE GOLF

Casey Flenniken is the new Director of Golf Operations managing the championship courses which are closed only three days a year. All three courses hold the title of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. Toqua means fish in Cherokee, so the TV Woodworkers Club hand carved fish to mark its tee boxes. Each hole was named by the 1987 pioneer members. #14 is “Troubled Waters,” situated on a cove of the lake. When the wind picks up, so do the waves where boaters often hang out to float, swim, and watch golf.

Tanasi, the Cherokee translation for Tennessee, begins with a clubhouse view of Tellico Lake and several holes skirt the shores. One such hole is #9 with a blind downhill drive and water to cross over to the green. #10 is a great beginning to the back nine as the par 4 fairway hugs the lake all the

way, another prime spot for boating hecklers. Links at Kahite opened in 2002 with stupendous views of the Great Smoky Mountains. The unusual 800-yard, par 6 #9 is a wide-open run until the green side bunkers making a great chance for birdie or eagle. Riding Finn scooters increases the fun factor when playing at Kahite where Gary Woodland holds the course record, scoring 61. The back nine’s bunker reduction renovations make it friendlier to golfers and the maintenance crew. Improvements are always in the plans at TV.

AND MORE

Great Smoky Mountain National Park is within an hour’s drive through Townsend where little black bears are like big raccoons. Don’t miss Company Distilling there, founded by Jeff Arnett, former Master Distiller at Jack Daniels. Or Knoxville offers cultural, shopping and entertainment venues with the University of Tennessee for colle-

giate sports. Then, the music capitol of Nashville is less than three hours away.

OUR TAKEAWAY

There is a too good to be true sense about TV’s friendly, fun, environment, and affordability. Current monthly assessments of $168 includes Golf and the Yacht Club membership with no initiation fees or minimums and can increase by only 5% per year. Rate structures offer many daily or unlimited golf options well below market pricing. There are no state taxes and per capita property taxes are the lowest in the country. What’s not to love?

The Journey-Tellico Village is a day’s drive to or from 70% of the US population. So, hit the road or fly into Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport, 35 minutes away.

Check TV’s Discovery Package to experience for a day, a stay or for a brochure.

www.tellicovillage.org

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 21
DESTINATIONS TENNESSEE
8th Hole 9th Hole

NEW SCOTLAND GOLF TRAVEL

NOVA SCOTIA

The newest trend in golf travel today is all about new places to take our game where we can enjoy unique opportunities to explore new courses, cultures, and cuisines and create golf experiences like no other. Golfers today are finding new undiscovered golf travel destinations that were often overlooked in the past. Nova Scotia has joined the list as one the most popular new golf travel destinations in North America and abroad for that matter. The new world-renowned courses of Ben Cowan-Dewar, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs on Cape Breton Island along with the iconic Cape Breton Highland Links may have captured the spotlight for Nova Scotia golf, but it also grew overall awareness of all the spectacular golf courses across this epic Canadian Atlantic province.

Nova Scotia Golf History

The name Nova Scotia originates from Latin, meaning “New Scotland.” In 1773, the first significant migration of Scottish set-

tlers in Nova Scotia landed on the shores of Pictou. It is estimated that more than 50,000 Gaelic settlers immigrated to Nova Scotia by 1870 and for that reason, Pictou became known as the “Birthplace of New Scotland.” From Scotland to New Scotland came the game of golf, the first written attestation to golf in Nova Scotia comes in 1873, when three bank clerks, all Scots, set up a three-hole course in the South Commons in Halifax. However, an organized game of golf wouldn’t happen in Nova Scotia until 1895. Walter Crowe, a Truro native, had seen the game played in the U.S. and brought it north to Victoria Park. Today there are over 65 golf courses in Nova Scotia from parkland to links courses, to rolling hills and mountainside designs. The landscape, vistas, and coastal regions are pristine and nothing short of magnificent. Nova Scotia is in every sense the “Pebble Beach of the East,” with literally dozens of courses that will captivate your senses, challenge your game, and leave you with incredible memories.

22 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF
Cabot Cliffs / Inverness

World Accolades

Cape Breton Island has been ranked the #1 Island in North America by Condé Nast Traveler readers, and #1 Island in Canada by Travel + Leisure readers. As Canada’s only authentic links golf course, Cabot Links is just one of the reasons golfers are flocking to Nova Scotia. Its sister course, Cabot Cliffs, hugs Cape Breton Island’s dramatic coastline and was named #11 on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses for 2021 and #1 on SCOREGolf’s 2021 Top 50 Canadian Public Courses.

Nova Scotia is made up of a mainland peninsula and Cape Breton Island, which is connected via a causeway across the Canso Strait. It is known for its huge fishing industry, picturesque lighthouses, and endless shorelines. The coastal towns, infinite seafood options, and epic viewpoints make this Atlantic province a must-see, must-play, must-stay adventure for all golfers.

Nova Scotia offers unlimited golf opportunities, great resorts, and truly unique travel experiences. There are over 8200 miles of coastlines to explore here with numerous courses offering ocean and lakeside vistas in every direction. Quite frankly, it is often difficult to focus on golf with so many amazing things to see and do in every region of Nova Scotia.

Golfing Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is almost as large as New England, not including Down East Maine. Planning more than one golf excursion to this great place is almost a certainty to fully enjoy all it has to offer.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 23
Peggy’s Cove Bay of Fundy Cabot Trail

There is the Southwest Region, Halifax Region, North Central Region, and Cape Breton Island Region. It is best when you are planning, to choose only one to two regions to play unless you can stay for a few weeks or more. Mixing regions is the most logical plan here, except for Cape Breton Island which should be a golf vacation adventure unto itself. All great golf trips begin with planning, so below we will review the regions and offer our suggestions for courses, resorts, and communities to visit. Not only will your dollar go farther in Nova Scotia, but many of the great courses here are reasonably priced as well.

The Southwest Region

Bay Ferries high-speed catamaran ferry, The CAT, departs from Bar Harbor, Maine and will drop you in Yarmouth, on Nova Scotia’s southwest tip. From the grand sea captains’ homes that line the streets and fishing boats in the harbour, to the fresh seafood served up at local restaurants, Yarmouth is a quintessential seaside town. There are numerous options for hotels and inns for a night or two. Play Yarmouth Links, one of Nova Scotia’s oldest links-style golf courses with panoramic lighthouse and ocean

views. Venture along the eastern shore of the Bay of Fundy to Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa which offers great Stay & Play golfer packages. Play the great course designed by top Canadian course designer Stanley Thompson. Churchill’s Restaurant here is phenomenal. Head west along Route 8 to White Point Beach Resort located on a mile long white sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean. This seaside getaway was originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge in 1928 with most of its guest coming from Boston via steamship. Their small golf course is a great 9-hole practice track with ocean views. Continue along the Lighthhouse Route to play the Sherwood Golf & Country Club, one of Nova Scotia’s best-kept secrets in Chester, and Osprey Ridge Golf Course near Bridgewater, a masterpiece by designer Graham Cooke.

The Halifax Region

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is an eclectic vibrant Atlantic Seacoast city with great hotels, restaurants, and plenty of things to do. Take in the province’s most visited destination, its 2.5-mile boardwalk along the city’s bustling waterfront for great day and night festivities. Halifax is blessed with the largest number of golf

24 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF
Osprey Ridge Golf Course / Bridgewater Chester Golf Club

courses in Nova Scotia which makes it a great base for a three or four-day stay. Play the links-style, Cornish and Robinson-designed, Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club, one of the most challenging courses in the province. A must-play is The Links at Brunello in Timberlea, it is truly a gem with impeccable conditioning and has been listed in the “Top 25 in Canada” by Golf Digest. For a cityside course, try the Donald Ross designed, Brightwood Golf & Country Club. The restaurants in Halifax are a seafood lover’s dream. Try 5 Fisherman, Salty’s, McKelvie’s, or The Waterfront Warehouse. For steak, hands down it’s CUT Steakhouse on Salter Street.

Northeast / Central Region

The North Central region of Nova Scotia is nestled between the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Bay of Fundy, and the Minas Basin. On the Northumberland Coast, Fox Harb’r Resort is Nova Scotia’s only 5-Star resort with spectacular facilities and some of the finest golf in Canada. The Graham Cooke golf course is simply epic by all golfing standards with a true mix of links style and parkland-designed holes. Fox Harb’r is planning an additional 9 holes along the Northumberland Strait to make it a truly authentic links

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Digby Pines Golf Resort & Spa Northumberland Links / Pugwash Fox Harb’r Resort Great seafood abounds Pubnico Golf Course

course by 2025. If you’re staying at Fox Harb’r the food is a delight at every level, outstanding service and terrific amenities abound! Play the awesome Northumberland Links course in Pugwash, just a short distance away with views that rival Pebble Beach. Be sure to get to Amherst Golf Club, this course dates back to 1909, and was designed by Henry Vardon Associate, Fred Richwood. Another great Stanley Thompson design is Truro Golf Club. If you are venturing north to the Highlands, play Abercrombie in New Glasgow along the way.

Cape Breton Island Region

Along the dramatic coast of Cape Breton Island, Cabot Cape Breton features 46 holes of exhilarating golf and is one of the best resort experiences in Canada. With two acclaimed “World Top 100 Courses,” 72 rooms of award-winning accommodations at Cabot

Links Lodge, 19 upscale Golf Villas, and exquisite dining in three on-site restaurants, Cabot Cape Breton is intended to excite and inspire at every turn. Cape Breton Highlands Links Golf Club is a historic masterpiece by Stanley Thompson and a tribute to Scottish golf. The Keltic Lodge, as a homage to Stanley Thompson, created the Stanley Thompson House with suites for guests at the resort. The resort is themed in traditional Scottish decor, and there is a wide array of accommodations at all price points here. The Highlands Links course, ranked as one of the “Best in Canada” by many, is 6500+ yards with a slope of 141, a real test in golf. The vistas are beyond extraordinary, and the golf experience is incredible. Just south of The Keltic Lodge is The Lakes Golf Club & Resort at Ben Eoin with a spectacular golf course just west of Sydney. It is an excellent resort with a truly memorable design by Graham Cooke that makes golf at The Lakes Course so wonder-

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Bluenose Golf Course / Lunenburg Highland Links / Ingonish Halifax

ful. The resort’s Founders Restaurant is a culinary delight of amazing seafood and great steaks. Other must-play courses in the Highlands are La Portage, Dundee, and Bell Bay.

Must-Do Drive from Halifax to Highlands

On your drive by car from Halifax to the Cape Breton Highlands, take the Cabot Trail which rises from the sea to the mountains along the Atlantic coastline. This 185-mile coastal route that weaves in and out of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park is considered one of the best and most scenic drives in the world. If your golf vacation is taking you to the Highlands be sure to extend your stay for both Halifax and coastal exploration.

Nova Scotia Golf Travel – Getting Here

The Canadian exchange rate stretches your dollar to $1.35+,

which is a huge economic incentive for golf trips here. For Northeast golf travelers going to Nova Scotia the CAT Ferry out of Bar Harbor Maine, at only $199.00 each way for your Car or SUV, is a bargain over flights and rental cars, and the per-passenger rate is very reasonable as well. From New England, New York, and regions south, it is a full day plus drive and the ferry will be cheaper and much more enjoyable. Direct flights are available to Halifax from several major cities in Canada, the United States, and abroad. You can get here by train from across Canada or take convenient ferries from Bar Harbor, Maine, and Saint John, New Brunswick. If you are heading to Cape Breton Island, fly direct to Sydney from Toronto or fly to Halifax and spend a few relaxing days enjoying this great Canadian city and some great golf facilities here.

Go to https://www.novascotia.com

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Links at Bunello Bell Bay Golf Course / Baddeck Cabot Cliffs / Inverness

If your idea of golf heaven is a diverse array of spectacular courses woven into a dazzling seaside landscape, Los Cabos is the destination for you. Situated at a point where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos boasts a mountain-desert-ocean environment unique in the western hemisphere. Only in Los Cabos do emerald fairways tumble down from cactus-studded foothills to meet the sea. Only in Los Cabos can golfers tee it up on worldclass layouts built by design legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

Cabo is Very Safe

In August of 2022, Las Cabos Tourism announced a new partnership with Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on hospitality excellence, to enhance the visitor experience throughout Los Cabos. The partnership includes comprehensive service training and health security verification to ensure high standards are maintained across all member hotels, restaurants, tour, and event providers. “Tourism is the heartbeat of Los Cabos, and the safety and health of our visitors and community have always been our top priority.

LOS CABOS

THE MECCA OF GOLF IN NORTH AMERICA

Featuring Forbes 5 Star Health & Safety Protocols

This partnership with Forbes Travel Guide, made possible through our Los Cabos private trust (FIPROTUR), reinforces our commitment to the highest standards of service and the confidence tourists have about Los Cabos. It also strengthens the hospitality industry by providing additional resources for our partners,” said Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board.

Cabo World Renowned Golf

Where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, bliss exists in the form of fresh mangoes and slow sunsets, unparalleled luxury golf resorts set in a subtropical climate with sunshine an average, 350 days of the year. As Mexico’s premier tourism destination, Los Cabos is home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts, outstanding spas, award-winning restaurants. Here you will find top-ranked golf courses, amazing tours, activities, and adventures. All-Inclusive resorts like Pueblo Bonito Pacifica and Pueblo Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort, Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Blanco, Secrets Puerto Los Cabos, and Grand Fiesta Americana, offer unlimited amenities and

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all-inclusive packages that include golf privileges. In Los Cabos, you will also find eight amazing public access golf facilities. If you are staying in one of the top resorts or just traveling for a stay & play golf vacation, there are plenty of great facilities to tee it up. Cabo Real, Palmilla, Puerto Los Cabos, Solmar Golf Links, Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Del Sol, Vidanta, and Club Campestre are all open to public play.

There are a host of amazing golf facilities, designed by the best of the best in the game today. Greg Norman’s Solmar Golf Links Golf Course has only been open for a few years but already has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the “Top 3 Golf Courses” in Mexico. Along the southern coast, Quivira, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is ranked among the “World’s Greatest New Courses”, and has magnificent ocean-side practice facilities. Diamante’s El Cardonal, featuring historic California design motifs, marked the architectural debut of Tiger Woods when it opened in 2014. The Dunes Course, ranked among the worlds top 100 courses by both Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine, is a splendid Davis Love III design carved into vast white sand hills set back from the ocean.

Golf course living is in high demand in Los Cabos. One of the finest communities Querencia, is a private 1,800-acre golf community set in furrowed desert foothills high above the Sea of Cortez. Tom Fazio’s aesthetic touch is evident at Querencia, with palm trees and lush vegetation artfully blended with the native desert border. Golf Digest has chosen three Cabo golf facilities in their list of “Top 100 in the World” this year: Diamante, Querencia and Quivira.

The Final Word

Incredible destination, amazing golf & beach weather, spectacular restaurants, warm friendly people, so much to do and see, and some of the best golf courses in the world. Los Cabos – Take me there!

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www.visitloscabos.travel @loscabostourism

The Golf Riches of Puerto Rico

THERE ARE OVER 700 MAJOR ISLANDS in the Caribbean. But when it comes to golf vacations, one of them stands out for me: Puerto Rico. Why? It’s not just the quantity of golf courses you’ll find there, or the quality of the courses—though those are certainly things that differentiate the “Island of Enchantment” from its neighbors. It’s also the richness and beauty of the Boricua culture.

Unlike so many other islands where your interactions with locals are likely to be limited to the service staff, when you visit Puerto Rico, you have the chance to immerse yourself in a thriving society that opens its arms to all. To “Live Boricua.” Whether you’re staying near the capital of San Juan or traveling to another corner of the island, the unique experiences offered are each made more memorable, more meaningful, by the fact that they’re not part of some orchestrated show being put on for visitors. They’re opportunities to enrich yourself in a culture that pre-dates Columbus’s arrival in 1493.

It’s a difference you feel wherever you go. In the warm way you’re welcomed at the island’s charming hotels and resorts. In the delicious flavors of the tostones (deep-fried plantains) and other local specialties you enjoy at the roadside chinchorros. In the variety of creative ways your piña coladas are expertly prepared when you’re out enjoying the island’s bustling nightlife. All of these experiences and others confirm that while you may still technically be on U.S. soil, you’ve come to a place with its own unique and authentic culture—and not some Disney version of paradise.

It all makes for the perfect backdrop for any vacation, but especially a golf vacation. Within an hour’s drive of San Juan on the island’s north shore you’ll find a host of stellar courses that rival any in the Caribbean, each with its own special character.

We’ll begin our tour at the El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, a short drive west of San Juan. There, in the shadow of the famous El Yunque Rainforest, this lavish resort caters to every desire, with luxurious guest rooms sprinkled over five village areas, a choice of first-rate restaurants and bars (including a swim-up bar in the extensive pool complex), a water park, a private island with its own pristine beach, and an Arthur Hills-designed course that’s an 18-hole thrill ride. Every hole here feels like a present waiting to be unwrapped. And wait ‘til you see the panoramic view from the 15th tee. Wow.

Closer to San Juan in Rio Grande, the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Resort is an expansive beach playground with a giant, lagoon-style pool, Rainforest spa, superb dining, and great golf—both indoors in the

Top Swing Suite and on the Grand Reserve GC course, home to the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open. This is a thoroughly engaging layout that plays firm and fast and will test every aspect of your game, especially when the wind is up.

Also in Rio Grande, you’ll find two outstanding courses at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Golf & Beach Resort, which in

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DESTINATIONS PUERTO RICO
Royal Isabella Resort El Conquistador Resort

addition to its dazzling accommodations offers nine restaurants and lounges, the Mandara spa, a lively casino, and swimming in the ocean or three freshwater pools. The resort’s Ocean Course, from Tom and George Fazio, is home to a large population of iguanas and a host of challenging holes, including the signature par-3 16th, whose green adjoins the beach. The resort’s River Course, a testing Greg Norman design, winds along the banks of the Mameyes River, which comes into play on several holes.

Next up is the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, scenically located between the El Yunque Rainforest and the Espíritu Santo River State Preserve. Along with its two miles of beachfront and luxe rooms, suites and other amenities, the Robert Trent Jones II golf course here is a stunner that makes the most of its natural tropical setting. You’ll enjoy threading your way through water hazards and bunkers galore, and the course’s memorable closing stretch brings you right to the edge of the sparkling Caribbean.

While these resorts attract most of the golf visitors, I highly recommend you consider bivouacking for at least a couple

nights in San Juan, where you’re steps from many historic sites and can experience the pulse of San Juan’s nightlife. My recommendation: the oceanfront Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, an art deco masterpiece whose every inch exudes grandeur. Its rooms and suites are luxury personified. Chef Juan José Cuevas’ brilliant culinary creations in the 1919 restaurant are not to be missed. And cigar enthusiasts will want to end the day in the hotel’s Avo Lounge, with its extensive cigar and whiskey menus.

You’ll find more outstanding golf at the TPC Dorado Beach to the west of San Juan,

where guests of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve can take on the outstanding RTJ II-designed East and Sugarcane Courses. The East is widely considered one of Puerto Rico’s strongest courses. Farther to the west, the Royal Isabella Resort offers spectacular headland golf in a clifftop setting that’s its own eco-centric sanctuary. And finally, there’s the Palmas Athletic Club’s two courses, located on the northwest coast in Humacao. The Rees Jones-designed Flamboyán Course is the stronger of the two, but Gary Player’s Palm Course is a ton of fun, too.

Live Boricua!—play them all.

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Dorato Beach Rio Mar Country Club
TO THE WHEN YOU TRAVEL THE GRASS IS TRULY GREENER RIGHT PLACES. Named New Hampshire’s “#1 Public Course” since 2009 by Golfweek magazine, Omni Mount Washington Resort offers a beautiful setting to test even the most experienced golfer. After your round, enjoy world-class dining, an award-winning spa and endless views from your private balcony in the new Presidential Wing guest rooms. OmniHotels.com/MountWashington Tee-Times: 603-278-GOLF [4653] Lodging: 800-843-6664
The New SPEED BOLD have arrived – Get Yours Today www.sqairz.com

Drivetime Golf Destinations

THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION consists in broad terms as the states between the Northeastern and Southeastern coastlines of our country. It is one of the most populated sections in the United States including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is blessed with some of the oldest and most prestigious golf courses and resorts in the

country and the highest concentration of golf course facilities. It is a region that spans along the Appalachian Mountains north to south and east to some of the most pristine coastal communities in North America. The Mid-Atlantic is home to many of the early historic classic golf courses and resorts as well as a multitude of iconic designs by many of the greatest architects in the world.

It is where golf began in our country and where it has grown and thrived for well over 100 years.

The climate in the region is generally mild, and although snowfalls are common in many states in this sector, snow coverage for any length of time is very rare. For the most part, winters are mild and both spring and fall have extended playing seasons beyond

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 35
RESORTS BY REGION MID-ATLANTIC Shepherd’s Rock Course at Nemacolin

their prime summer months. For golf vacations, many of the courses and resorts are open year-round and great rates abound in shoulder seasons. There is a wide array of choices for golf both inland and along the coastlines with woodland courses, parkland courses, and seaside links golf as well. From New York to the Virginias there is an abundance of golf resorts and golf courses to play, making for great road trips from the Northeast and the upper Midwest.

The best advantage of “Drive Time” golf vacations is that your group has complete flexibility in schedules and destinations. Combining multiple stay-and-play locations in one trip is easy and makes sense. For example, you could play Atlantic City Golf and the Valley Forge area or Crystal Springs Resort in New Jersey for a few days or even combine all three. The same is true for Ocean City and Rehoboth Beach, Maryland. In Virginia, Kingsmill, Williamsburg, Keswick Hall, Primland and Omni Homestead all work together well in one

trip. For couples, foursomes, or larger groups the possibilities are endless. The great thing about drive-time golf vacations is the ability to alter locations, timelines, and overall plans. This provides unlimited choices not restricted by flight schedules and airport delays.

Here are a few of our favorite locations that offer some of the very best golf in the Mid-Atlantic. Now is the time to plan your next great golf adventure. Every journey begins with the first step, begin your plan today.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City’s attractions for gamblers and nightlife lovers need no introduction, and there’s plenty of golf down the Jersey Shore. Atlantic City Country Club, one of America’s oldest and most prolific golf clubs which opened in 1897, is a must-play. Play Blue Heron Pines, Twisted Dunes, and Brigantine for some of the best golf along the Jersey Shore. Vineyard National Golf Course at the 150-year-old Renault Winery is a solid

option with a boutique hotel on site.  Ballamor Golf Club and McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links are fantastic as well. www.atlanticcitynj.com

Seaview Galloway, New Jersey

Eight miles north of Atlantic City, an hour east of Philadelphia, and situated on 670 pine-covered and coastal acres in southern New Jersey is the historic Seaview Resort and Golf Club which opened as a private golf club in 1914. Financier and Utilities

Executive, Clarence Geist, built a huge and lavish clubhouse with 296 rooms and 16 suites. Home of the 1942 PGA Championship, won by Sam Snead, and the home of the LPGA ShopRite Classic, both their Bay Course and Pines Course are spectacular. www.seaviewgolf.com

Crystal Springs, New Jersey

As the Northeast’s leading golf destination, the lush fairways and pristine greens of Crystal Springs Resort are an undeniable

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Philly Cricket Club

golfers’ paradise. Designed by such notable links luminaries as Robert von Hagge, Robert Trent Jones, George Fazio, and Roger Rulewich, the resort’s six impressive championship-caliber courses wind through the picturesque Appalachian Mountains. The Celtic links-style Ballyowen Course is rated the #1 public golf course in the state. The 250-room Grand Cascades Lodge and the 175-room Minerals Hotel offer great golf packages. www.crystalgolfresort.com

Montco Golf

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Northwest of Philadelphia you will find one of the most golf-rich regions in the Northeast, Valley Forge with over 50 public and private golf courses, luxurious amenities, and great dining options. as well. Play Ravens Claw, Jeffersonville Golf Course, Westover, Bluestone, and Gulph Mills. There are a multitude of great courses here, both historic and new designs. There are unlimit-

RESORTS BY REGION MID-ATLANTIC

ed packages available. In the fall, find great options for NFL games & golf. www.valleyforge.org

Nemacolin Resort Farmington,Pennsylvania

Located about 65 miles southwest of Pittsburg, Nemacolin is a full-service 2,200-acre resort that has hosted PGA Tour Events. There are 36 holes of Championship golf here by Pete Dye. The 15-year-old Mystic Rock 18 and the recently opened Shepherd’s Rock course were both designed by the legendary Pete Dye and his longtime associate Tim Liddy. The Pennsylvania resort, established on an old hunting/fishing ground in 1987 by 84 Lumber Company founder, Joe Hardy, is a more family-friendly, relaxed, and refined facility with a small casino for the gaming golfers. www.nemacolin.com

Hershey Lodge Golf Resort Hershey, Pennsylvania

Chocolate baron Milton Hershey opened Hershey Lodge in 1930 in a legendary setting that Ben Hogan and Henry Picard called home. The facility is ranked in the “Top 50 Golf Resorts” by many. The West Course designed by Maurice McCarthy opened in 1930 and the East Course designed by George Fazio in 1969 are a great test of the game. The East Course plays over 7000 yards with a slope of 141 and is fabulous. There is also an excellent 9-hole junior course at the resort. There are over 600 rooms & suites with great golf packages. www.hersheylodge.com

Omni Bedford Springs Bedford, Pennsylvania

The resort’s Old Course, built in 1895, had separate remodels done by A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross. Ron Forse, who specializes in renovations, restored many Ross

features in a redesign about 10 years ago. Omni Bedford Springs is located a few hours from Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. in the Cumberland Valley of the Allegheny Mountains, the 225-year-old resort was purchased by the Omni group and redesigned over 10 years ago. The Old Course has been ranked #2 in Pennsylvania and the resort offers spectacular facilities and amenities in the heart of the Alleghenies. www.omnihotels.com

Ocean City, Maryland & Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Home to countless golf packages along the bayfront links will leave you wanting more. Eagles Landing, River Run, Rum Pointe, Nutters Crossing, Glen Riddle, Newport Bay, and Links at Lighthouse Sound are just a few. Endless choices for great accommodations, restaurants, and lots of things to do besides golf. Ocean City golf offers unmatched scenery, great courses and conditions as well. The Links at Lighthouse Sound, opened in 2000, is home to the longest golf cart bridge in the country stretching nearly 1500 feet. Visit Rehoboth Beach and play King’s Creek, Rehoboth Beach Country Club, and Old Landing Golf Course.

www.visitmaryland.org/list/golf

The Greenbrier White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia

Considered to be America’s Resort, it has welcomed guests since 1778 and has hosted 27 of 45 U.S. Presidents. The Greenbrier course was designed by Seth Raynor, a close associate of Charles Blair Macdonald and one of the great architects of early American golf; it opened for play in 1924. It was later redesigned in 1977 by Jack Nicklaus for the 1979 Ryder Cup. In 1994, The Greenbrier would also play host to the Solheim Cup. The course was also home to the Greenbrier American Express Championship, a PGA

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Greenbrier Meadows West Course Atlantic City Country Club

TOUR Champions event, from 1985 through 1987. Visit the Vault under the resort where government bunkers were constructed. www.greenbrier.com

Primland

Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Primland is a 12,000-acre resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia offering world-class golf showcasing breathtaking mountain views at every turn. The Highland Course at Primland melds seamlessly with the natural landscape to offer players of all skill levels the challenge they desire. Opened in 2006 by renowned golf course architect, Donald Steel, the 18-hole course recently ranked No. 4 in Virginia (Golf Digest) and No. 2 in Virginia (Golfweek). With the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, Primland Resort offers world-class golf and vast amenities as the number one rated resort in the southeast by Conde Nast Traveler.

aubergeresorts.com/primland/

RESORTS BY REGION MID-ATLANTIC

Omni Homestead

Hot Springs, Virginia

Experience the southern hospitality and elegant charm that have made this Virginia mountain resort a premier destination for 23 U.S. presidents. Located across more than 2,000 acres of scenic Virginia landscape and two of the best golf courses in Virginia. The Old Course and the Cascades Course are consistently ranked among the finest Virginia golf courses. The Old Course, which opened in 1892 as a six-hole course was later expanded to nine holes in 1898. The famed golf course designer, Donald Ross, expanded the course to 18 holes in 1913. The Cascades Course designed by legendary architect William S. Flynn is rated one of the top 100 golf courses in America. www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead

Kingsmill Resort

Williamsburg, Virginia

Kingsmill offers stays in guest rooms, condo cottages, and estate homes. There are two

renowned 18-hole golf courses, the River Course designed by Pete Dye in 1974, and The Plantation Course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. Top nearby courses include the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Stonehouse Golf Club, Kiskiac Golf Club and Williamsburg National. Numerous golf packages are offered in this historic region of our country. www.kingsmill.com

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Not only is Williamsburg a magnet for American history buffs, but it also holds great appeal for golfers as well. Kingsmill Resort’s Pete Dye-designed River Course is a former PGA and current LPGA Tour stop, and its Arnold Palmer-designed Plantation Course is amazing as well. Another strong resort property in town is Golden Horseshoe, whose Green and Gold courses were originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Play Royal New Kent Golf Club and Stonehouse Golf Club, The Club at Viniterra.

www.colonialwilliamsburg.org

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Williamsburg National Golf Course

Montgomery County, PA is proud to welcome the ING to the Valley Forge Casino Resort & Raven’s Claw Golf Club this spring! Home to 50 of the most historic and topranked courses in the country, 80 hotels, incredible attractions, and delicious dining, Montco is a true golf destination.

50+ Golf Courses

80+ Hotels

1,600 Restaurants

30+ Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries

Raven’s Claw Golf Club - Pottstown, PA
montcogolf.com
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or Contact responsibleplay.pa.gov
for 2023!
From bold prints to traditional colors, here are some looks to consider
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SPRING & SUMMER The Key West Collection is one of four seasonal color collections from FootJoy, featuring distinct moods and color pallets, offering updated designs, prints and patterns of different size and scale.
Spring& Summer LOOKBOOK

FOOTJOY

1 Light Lisle Stripe Collar Shirt $85

2 Navy Performance Lightweight Short $75

3 Tech D.R.Y. Roll Tab Sock $15

4 Navy Woven Golf Belt $50 www.footjoy.com

Features a Light Stripe Lisle golf shirt from the Key West Collection. The collection gives a nod to timeless menswear such as chambray shirts and chinos, utilizing the modern classic look of True Blue, Navy, White, and Almond as an accent. The shirt is paired with a Navy Performance Lightweight Short. These shorts come in a number of different colors and patterns in a variety of styles and performance fabrics. Rounding out the outfit is our new Tech D.R.Y. Roll Tab Sock and Navy Woven Golf Belt. Tech D.R.Y. socks are made from dynamic recycled yarns, designed to provide advanced comfort and compressions for both on and off the course.

FOOTJOY

1 Black Half-Zip Jersey Vest $85

2 Inseam Knit Shorts 9” Inseam $75

3 Solid Lisle Set on Placket Shirt $69

4 Tech D.R.Y. Roll Tab Sock $15

5 Black Woven Golf Belt $50 www.footjoy.com

The complete outfit comes from the Essentials line, which offers a range of shirts and bottoms that complement our fashion collections with a variety of new styles, construction and color options in Traditional and Athletic Fits. Prints and patterns continue to be a trend, the lisle golf shirt features a fun painted floral pattern, paired with a Black Half-Zip Jersey Vest and a 9” Inseam Knit Short. Rounding out the outfit is our new Tech D.R.Y. Roll Tab Sock and Black Woven Golf Belt. Tech D.R.Y. socks are made from dynamic recycled yarns, designed to provide advanced comfort and compressions for both on and off the course.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 41
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SPRING & SUMMER
2 4 3 1 1 4 5 2 3

CON.STRUCT

1 Tropical Leaf Performance Polo $78

2 Solid Performance Drawstring Shorts $78 www.conxstruct.com

This standout performance polo is designed in a recycled 4-way stretch fabric - added comfort without compromising the planet! Hit the greens in this highperformance polo enhanced with quick-dry wicking and UV 50+ protection properties. With CON.STRUCT’s affinity for mixing and matching prints, the tropical leaf print is perfect for the spring, summer and all your vacation moves! Pair the polo with these navy drawstring shorts, also made with 4-way stretch fabric, quick-dry and UV 50+ protection properties.

RADMOR

New Beginnings Collection: Taylor Recycled Floral DripSnow White $115 | Colton 1/4 Zip Block PiqueSnow White/Cloudy Blue $135 | www.radmor. com

The Spring 2023 New Beginnings Collection features new colors, styles, patterns and materials with the same unwavering commitment to sustainability in golf fashion. New Beginnings, available in men’s and women’s capsules, leans hard into the new golf season with vibrant color pops of True Blue, Wisteria, Glacier and Cloudy Blue. The men’s line is highlighted by a host of new polos, including the Taylor Recycled Floral Drip and Colton ¼ Zips in an array of new colors and patterns. They’re ready for crisp mornings and late afternoons on the course.

CON.STRUCT

3 Solid Performance Polo $78

4 Flight Performance Shorts $88 www.conxstruct.com

This coral performance polo is your perfect spring & summer polo! The printed inner placket is a beautiful, subtle nod to CON.STRUCT’s love for play and prints. The polo is designed in recycled 4-way stretch fabric with quick-dry wicking and UV 50+ protection properties for high performance, ease of movement and added comfort. The slim fit shorts are made with 4-way stretch fabric to merge form with function.

PXG Comfort Fit Saguaro Polo $125 | Slim Trouser Pants $165 | www.pxg.com

The PXG Spring 2023 Collection is centered around reimagined golf essentials. The collection features three new technical fabrics, updated silhouettes and the introduction of bold, neon colors.

Featured is an intricately designed print with unparalleled comfort and performance-ready features. The Men’s Comfort Fit Saguaro Polo checks all the boxes, and then some. The moisturewicking fabric offers quick-dry and UV protection functionality, with perforated color block sleeves for enhanced air flow. It features a Sharp Cactus print in a unique pattern with a large PXG logo “hidden” on the body. You can’t play without pants, guys. Therefore, a top choice should be the very sharp, slightly tapered Men’s Slim Trouser Pants by PXG. They look great and with moisture-wicking and UV protection, they’re perfect for the golf course or anywhere else you play.

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APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SPRING & SUMMER
1 2 3 4

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SPRING & SUMMER

UNTUCKIT

Wrinkle-Free Damaschino PoloBright Red $78

Traveler Shorts - Black $78 www.untuckit.com

You won’t find an easier shirt to wear on or off the course then the UNTUCKit Wrinkle-Free Polo. Made from 100% breathable cotton, this style comes out of the dryer fresh and ready to wear—perfect for your busy schedule. It’s soft knit construction, breezy short sleeves, and ribbed collar make it an essential style for warm, sunny days. Pair it with anything from our laid-back Travelers Shorts to dressier Chino Pants for an instantly polished look. The Traveler Shorts are made with a quick-drying, wrinkle-fighting fabric. Rain or shine, the waterrepellent finish and two-way stretch will help you look sharp and feel comfortable all day long.

NATHAN

Summit Polarized Running Sunglasses $60 www.nathansports.com

Nathan’s polarized sunglasses offer performance features that are great for everything from travel to running a marathon to hitting the links. They’re built with injection-molded polycarbonate lenses, meaning that the polarization film is embedded inside the lens, as opposed to on top where it’s easily scratched off. Complete with grip technology and a durable frame, these glasses can keep up with you on all your adventures. The Summit features a Clear-Gray Frame with Gray Smoke Lens.

TIFOSI

Track - Tortoise Polarized $25-60

www.tifosi.com

Track polarized is the newest edition to the Track series! The polarized polycarbonate lenses are both shatterproof and glarereducing. Available in seven colorways they all feature the never-slip grip from the hydrophilic rubber ear and nose pieces that provide comfort and an anti-bounce fit that stays on no matter what track you choose in life. Perfect for those extra sunny days on the green.

REVO

Sonic 2 Revo Black $380 | www.revo.com

The cutting edge Revo Black Sonic series expands with a signature sport wrap frame. Immerse yourself in sight and sound while tracking your health and fitness with Sonic 2. Equipped with state of the art RevoWhisper™ technology that cancels out ambient noise while enhancing your speech and our industryleading Light Management System™, the Sonic 2 frame allows you to listen to music, take calls on the go and track your health with the Revo app (optional add-on) all while enjoying the Best Lens on Earth. Directional stereo speakers also allow you to enjoy music on the move without interruption. Sonic 2’s unrivaled battery life gives you 11 hours’ worth of nonstop music or 8 hours of phone calls. This lightweight frame features easy magnetic chargingperfect for people on the go; temples with retainer cord capability, and adjustable end tips that can straighten or bend for optimal comfort. The ultimate in glare reduction, the Blue Water lens features the Revo signature polarized gray-based, blue mirror coated lens. Ideal for bright, sunny days on the course.

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America We o er all th e t o p n a m e s i n c lu b h e ad s, s ha fts, a n d grips : from in du stry l e a de rs t o ha r d -t o - nd, high- e n d b ou tique bra nd s . Swing by our shop, Give us a call or visit our website to book your next appointment! P: (401) 946-4653 | E: tter@spargogolf.com One Button Hole Drive, Suite One, Providence, RI 02909 www.spargogolf.com Make sure you follow us on social media: @spargogolf
Top 100 in

Score Reducers & Fun Improvers

BETTINARDI

2023-2024 Studio Stock Series - $450

www.bettinardi.com

For the past twenty-five years, Robert Bettinardi has drawn his inspiration directly from the Tour by working with and analyzing the game’s best golfers. Having amassed over 100 professional Tour wins since 1998, Robert has perfectly re-engineered the 2023-2024 Studio Stock Series with ultimate performance in mind. Precision milled from a single block of 303 Stainless Steel, the Studio Stock Series includes five expertly crafted models that give Tour-inspiring confidence to any level of golfer. Each new model features our Roll Control Face milling, a scientifically engineered groove profile designed to get the ball into a true roll faster, while still maintaining an exceptionally soft feel and audible feedback in every putt. The Studio Stock series is completed with our Diamond Blast finish on the topline and body to provide a glare-resistant view from address, while the face and sole are polished giving it a luxurious presence on the greens. Each of the five putter models is complemented by a Castleton green and jet black paint scheme, discover the complete lineup of Studio Stock putters today!

BETTINARDI

HLX 5.0 Forged Chrome & Graphite PVD Wedges - $220 www.bettinardi.com

The Latest Putters, Wedges, Distance Measuring Devices and Bluetooth Speakers

When it comes to the great game of golf there are no perfect answers or solutions that will guarantee you shoot lower scores and have more fun in the sun. However, there are some amazing products out there that you can add to your bag to hopefully point you toward the holy grail of great golf no matter the day!

Robert J. Bettinardi has taken his wedge line to a new level of performance with a perfected redesign of technology and appearance in his all-new Bettinardi HLX 5.0 Forged Wedges. The HLX 5.0 Forged Wedges aim to provide a greater focus on player performance and versatility for any wedge shot, in all conditions. The all-new face of the HLX 5.0 utilizes our patented High Helix Cut machining process, allowing Robert to engineer and craft his softest forged wedge face to date. By using this process, the machine cuts the metal at such a rate that generates a more pronounced groove depth, creating maximum spin on the golf ball, which pushes USGA groove limits and makes the HLX 5.0 the ultimate wedge for controlling your spin. The 2023-2024 HLX 5.0 wedge features a ladder milling on the back flange and sole, which is a re-engineer of the Honeycomb milling on the HLX 3.0. By re-engineering the HLX 5.0 with a finer ladder milling, the center of gravity in each head was pushed up by 5%. By utilizing this finer milling technique, we were able to keep more weight on the flange, which raises the CG and helps golfers promote a lower trajectory wedge shot and ultimately improve their short game. This mastercrafted enhancement allows for Tour quality shot flighting and uncontested control around the greens.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 45

All golfers have had those days when their putting stroke feels completely off. What they’re feeling is torque — the twisting of the putter head — and it’s the enemy of consistent putting. Lie Angle Balance

(L.A.B.) is a patented technology we developed that simplifies putting. It eliminates torque from the design of a putter, giving all golfers the ability to consistently repeat their stroke — especially when the pressure is on. Whether you’re a great putter or a golfer who frets every 5-footer, our putters and grips will help you become a better putter. That means lower scores… and more bragging rights.

L.A.B. GOLF

LINK.1 Stock - $480 | Custom

This putter is where the past will meet the future for any golfer that puts this putter in play. So many golfers love the look of blade-style putters. Yes, they’re beautiful, but they’re not always the best for making putts. The LINK.1 honors the shape of these legendary putters but makes them dramatically easier to use by adding Lie Angle Balance. Like all L.A.B. Golf putters, LINK.1 is designed to stay square to your path during the stroke. That means there’s no need to try to keep the face square like there is with other putters. All you have to do is allow the face to stay square. To bring Lie Angle Balance to LINK.1, they hyper-engineered it from 303 Stainless Steel. The putter head is 100% CNC Milled in the USA, and there are four screws on the heel side and six on the toe side so we can offer a wide range of length and lie angle options. Go custom with the many options offered such as shafts, weight, grip, lie, loft and more!

L.A.B. GOLF

MEZZ.1 Stock - $450 | Custom - $550

www.labgolf.com

Zero Torque. Zero Compromise. MEZZ.1 Stock makes it easy for any golfer to benefit from Lie Angle Balance. It looks pretty much like a normal putter. But it actually helps you make putts. MEZZ.1 Custom is for standardlength builds only and comes in 6 colorways along with various shaft, grip and headcover options. The MEZZ.1 MAX is available in ArmLock & Broomstick builds.

46 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF PRO SHOP PUTTERS & WEDGES
L.A.B. GOLF - $559 www.labgolf.com

EDISON

2.0 Forged Wedges | From $200 www.edisonwedges.com

The new EDISON 2.0 Wedges are the only wedges on the market specifically designed around a multi-year study of the way recreational golfers hit their wedges, in contrast to most wedges on the market today which are specifically designed only the skills of elite tour players. Improving on the revolutionary EDISON FORGED wedges, an additional 14-17 grams have been positioned even higher in the clubhead, achieved by a multi-level back design that optimizes smash factor across the entire face. In addition to enhanced weighting technologies, the EDISON 2.0 Wedges feature an improved version of the renowned and proven “Koehler Sole.”

Patented over 30 years ago, each wedge combines both a high and low bounce into each wedge to deliver an unmatched level of sole versatility to handle different lies and different swing paths. All EDISON 2.0 wedges are custom-crafted one at a time and all are backed by Edison’s exclusive 100% Risk Free Trial.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 47 PRO SHOP PUTTERS & WEDGES

Distance Devices & Turn Up the Tunes

Dial in your yardages and swing to a new beat in 2023 with our favorite finds for the season!

BLUE TEES GOLF

Series 3 MAX $320 | www.blueteesgolf.com

The Series 3 Max rangefinder offers the Blue Tees most advanced software, next-generation design, ultrapremium materials, and a custom weather-proof case. Bringing Active Slope Switch Technology, Crystal Clear Display, Built-in Magnetic Strip, Advanced Flag Lock + Pulse Vibration, Auto-Ambient Tech, and more - all for a fraction of the cost compared to the competition. The Series 3 Max is available in blue, black, white and rose.

BLUE TEES GOLF

The Player $129 | www.blueteesgolf.com

Blue Tees Golf is an award-winning producer of golf rangefinders and accessories, which includes the all new Player, a portable, magnetic, and wireless speaker engineered to deliver a deep rich audio experience on and off the course. Blue Tees has developed the best sounding speaker with amazing acoustics. The Player features smart audio technology which delivers premium audio, powerful connectivity, and an immersive sound experience on and off the course. An innovative 360 sound element provides the same sound quality from any angle. The Player can also be paired with multiple speakers at the same time, including home devices like Echo or Alexa. In addition to exceptional sound quality and connectivity, the Player features an ultra-strong magnet that attaches to any golf cart, built-in USB-C power bank, and is fully waterproof. The Player will be available at Dick’s Sports Goods / Golf Galaxy, PGA Superstores, and at over 1,000 green grass locations before Father’s Day. The Player can also be bundled with a Series 3 Max, and magnetic hub which keeps device togethers and retails for $389.

BLUE TEES GOLF

The Player+ & The Ringer ($199ea Pre-Order)

www.blueteesgolf.com

In a world where precision is paramount and accuracy is everything, only the best can rise to the top. Welcome to the future of golf. The Player+ is a revolutionary GPS Touch Screen Golf Speaker powered by the Blue Tees Game App. A powerful speaker unlike anything you’ve seen before, get access to over 40,000 courses at your fingertips with an outof-this-world sound experience. Like its predecessor, it features a magnetic strip and amazing sound. The Ringer is a handheld GPS with all the same features of the Player+ except the speaker.

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PRO SHOP DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES & SOUND

CADDYTALK

Cube Laser Rangefinder $350 | www. caddytalkusa.com

After becoming the #1 selling Golf Laser Rangefinder in Korea, CaddyTalk is hitting the US market bringing World’s First, Patented Technology that has never been seen before in laser rangefinders. They deliver the most advanced technology in laser rangefinders with features such as magic slope that uses ballistic technology to measure distance with height and ball trajectory; and environmental slope, which integrates temperature, altitude, and humidity. In 2023, they released their newtro-inspired laser rangefinder: The CUBE. Awarded 2023 PGA Show’s Best of Show Awards by MYGOLFSPY, this pocket-sized, rechargeable laser rangefinder features Caddy Mode, a patented technology that triangulates the distance between your ball (or first target) and the flag from a different standing point.

SHOT SCOPE

Pro L2 Laser Rangefinder $150 | www.shotscope.com

Shot Scope’s PRO L2 Laser Rangefinder is a multi-function, high performance distance measuring device (DMD) at an unmatched price point. The lightweight, easy-to-use PRO L2 offers a breadth of advanced innovation that cannot be equaled by any in its price range, including rapid fire technology and target-lock vibration. It also offers Advanced Slope Technology, as well as 6-times magnification and a 700-yard target range that gives golfers accurate readings within 1 yard, enough to hit everything, even on long Par 5s. The PRO L2, which conforms to the rules of golf, comes in two models, either blue or gray, and is available for purchase at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, PGA TOUR Superstores, golf specialty stores and on the Shot Scope website.

SHOT SCOPE

X5 GPS Golf Watch $300 | www.shotscope.com Shot Scope’s X5 GPS Golf Watch is the next generation in the Company’s awardwinning performance tracking and distance measuring smart watch technology. Designed to be worn both on and off the course, the stylish X5 offers AI-powered performance tracking of over 100 statistics with a built-in step counter and accurate, real-time front, middle and back distances to all greens, hazards and doglegs on over 36,000 preloaded golf courses worldwide. The X5 is completely customizable allowing golfers to choose from 5 different watch face designs, as well as interchange the color of their strap, for a variety of stylish looks. At an unbeatable price point, the X5 is available at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, PGA Superstores, golf specialty stores or on the Shot Scope website.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 49
DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES & SOUND
PRO SHOP

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Northeast Golf Show Brings Golf Paradise to Gillette Stadium

The Northeast Golf Show at Gillette Stadium, March 17-19, 2023, was a treasure trove of happiness for golfers of all levels. Numerous golf related businesses lined the aisles at the Socios.com Fieldhouse offering a wide spectrum of merchandise, equipment, and just plain golfing fun.

The event included a 2023 Boyne Golf VIP Experience Menu par excellence. For $125, VIPs received a marvelous scorecard of gifts. Invited Clubs offered a Member for a Day Experience while Vermont’s Brattleboro Country Club and Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville, MA each provided a coupon for a free round of golf with cart.

These are two of the must-experience courses in New England. Wentworth Hills offers a really challenging course in a unique natural setting while Brattleboro was home to the 2022 Vermont Amateur Championship and will host the 2023

Vermont Senior Amateur Championship. The venue is one of the best public courses in the region.

SwingJuice, one of the fast-rising and premiere golf apparel companies in the country, was on-hand and offered VIPs a free t-shirt, while OnCore handed out sleeves of their well-designed Vero X1 golf balls.

Also on the goodies list was 50% off an Amateur Tour Membership New England, 40% off at Omada Golf, and 30% off at Palm Golf. Rhode Island Indoor Golf, Pinned Golf, and Alignment Ball Mark also joined the VIP sponsor roster.

Beyond the brands and booths, the show was a true hit because of the interactive element. There were contests galore including Closest to the Pin, Long Putt, and Break the Glass accuracy. There was even a chance to chip a golf ball into a hot tub to be eligible to win that prize.

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MOLORI UNPLUGGED
Northeast Golf Show

Fans young and old stepped up to the many challenges and showcased their skills for all to see. One of those fans, Chuck Antoniou of Peabody, MA, stated, “This was such a fun show. The amount of vendors, contests, and merchandise was more than I expected.”

VIPs received a sleeve of tickets to try out all of the skills challenges and contests. There was even a St. Germaine’s Turf and Sims pickle ball court for fans to try their hands at that growing sport.

Northeast Golf offered patrons a Pass 2023 Guide chock full of coupons, rebates, and deals for courses throughout the Northeast, an awesome gift that keeps on giving throughout the golf season. From simulators to socks, the show ran the gamut of golf greatness.

Visitors stopped at the many vendor booths featuring brands such as Callaway, Cleveland, Mizuno, PING, Srixon, TaylorMade, TourEdge, Wilson, and more. Options for golf resorts, travel destinations, and public and private courses helped patrons with their plans of attack for those golf bucket

lists. Owl’s Nest, Los Cabos, and Florida Golf Alliance were among the possible winning locales.

Some of the more interesting interactive offers for golfers included a 10-minute Quick Tune-up and analysis from a New England PGA professional for just $10.

52 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF MOLORI UNPLUGGED NORTHEAST GOLF SHOW
MASS GOLF, a major sponsor of the Northeast Golf Show

John Panneton, a recreational golfer from Salem, MA, was amazed at the results. He related, “The pro changed my grip to an overlapping grip. After that, I took some swings and every one of them went straight. That’s not normal for me. I usually hit the ball left or slice.”

Attendees could also unlock their bodies’ flexibility at the Stretch Zone and work on strength and speed at the Orange Whip Fitness Zone.

The Boyne Golf VIP Experience Menu also had a drink list, yes, a drink list. At the show’s version of the 19th Hole, representatives from Links Drinks, On the Rocks, Transfusion, Fabrizia, Fishers Island, and Par Tee offered tastings for those who wished to combine links with libations.

Show visitors could start their spring and summer golf seasons by signing up to get custom fit for new clubs with representatives from all major brands. The show also featured some tremendous clothing options for golfers.

Official retailer Golf Fore Less had a large footprint at the show with some amazing deals on clubs, bags, equipment, and apparel. Golf Is Good offered some unique Boston Sports team golf hats and shirts. SolarX had a large sunglass display, and Gear Up featured a veritable rainbow of golf shirts.

A highlight of the event was the presence of booths to benefit community organizations such as The Jimmy Fund and Golf Fights Cancer, an organization that raises funds to make tangible improvements in the cancer-care experience for patients and their families.

“There are so many people here at the show that are drawn to us,” said Cheryl McGuire, Executive Director of Golf Fights Cancer. “Whether they or someone close to them had cancer, they come up to our booth, talk to us, and are very excited to get involved.”.

One of the best things about the Northeast Golf Show was the variety of golfers in attendance. From cherubic children to diehard duffers, the event attracted the total spectrum of golfing fans. And of course, there was plenty of show swag - from stress balls to tees to pens, cups, candy, water bottles, hats, and ball markers.

Patrons could grab some popcorn or a burger, learn about the intricacies of the game, take their shots at prizes, and leave with plastic bags and happy hearts - both filled with golfing joy.

John Molori is an author and columnist for numerous publications. Like him on Facebook at John Molori, Twitter @MoloriMedia. Email molorimedia@gmail.com.

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MOLORI UNPLUGGED NORTHEAST GOLF SHOW

ROSS’S RULES

USGA’s Novel GS3 Sytem Could Revolutionize Putting Green Maintenance

THEY MIGHT HAVE NAMED IT STIMPMETER PLUS. Or Stimpmeter 2.0. Or Beyond Stimpmeter. But when the USGA Green Section developed a device to measure the speed, firmness, smoothness, and trueness of putting greens, they dubbed it “GS3” -- a techy name for the revolutionary technology that the USGA hopes will help course superintendents better maintain their greens to achieve consistent characteristics.

The fabled Stimpmeter was developed in the 1930s by Edward Stimpson, an accomplished amateur golfer at The Country Club in Brookline who won the Massachusetts Amateur championship in 1935. After decades of persistent lobbying by Stimpson (who never patented his invention), the USGA formally adopted the Stimpmeter in 1977 as the approved method of measuring green speed. Stimpson achieved fame if not fortune; his name became synonymous with green speed.

There is nothing technologically advanced about the Stimpmeter. Green speeds are calculated by rolling balls down a chute on a flat portion of a green and measuring how far they go. Your local muni course might roll from 7-8. The greens at the Masters can approach 13.

GS3 takes green analysis to a new level – a bit like moving from the Model T to the Tesla Autopilot. The system employs a rechargeable smart ball that is the same size and weight as a standard golf ball. The USGA explains that GS3 “creates accurate, measurable, first-of-their-kind agronomic benchmarks” that superintendents can use to make analytics-driven course maintenance decisions. The GS3 ball has sensors that collect over 15,000 data points. Not quite the dimple pattern on the Titleist Pro V most of us tee up.

“We are excited to provide a tool that enables the industry to objectively quantify putting green metrics, besides just green speed,” said Matt Pringle, managing director of the USGA Green Section. “GS3 can clarify the impact of different maintenance practices, provide benchmarks, and communicate how the course is performing.” In short, the idea is to provide the data and metrics that will help superintendents and course managers understand how maintenance practices affect surface performance.

GS3 will be incorporated into the DEACON course management platform (a USGA app) through a Bluetooth

connection. This will permit superintendents to manage weather factors, mowing practices, resource application, and course setup through an integrated platform.

Initial feedback from pilot testing of GS3 is positive. “I love being able to compile all of the information it provides in one spot,” said Justin DePippo of Bel-Air Country Club. “We are using the numbers to chart our green conditions and create benchmarks, which allows me to make course care decisions based on the data.”

But Edward Stimpson (who passed away in 1985) would be pleased to know that the advent of GS3 has not rendered the Stimpmeter obsolete. To operate the system, you must roll the smart GS3 ball down a Stimpmeter. But you won’t need that tape measure. The ball does the rest, computing not only speed but trueness and smoothness data. You’ll need a separate drop device to measure green firmness.

The USGA hopes to use GS3 at every major championship in 2023, and will start to distribute the system to golf courses this spring. But don’t look for a GS3 ball at Dick’s Sporting Goods. It will not be sold to golfers. And it’s not designed to be hit with a golf club. You might still have to gauge green speed during your rounds by feel. If you’re looking for personal swing performance data, stick with Trackman.

Jack Ross, who resides in Holden, MA, has been a columnist for Northeast Golf for more than a decade with a focus on the rules of golf, the USGA, and regional golf topics.

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 55
The new USGA GS3 Stimpmeter System

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Luxurious Atlantic Coast Florida Golf Communities

Boca West

Boca Raton, Florida

When it comes to private club living, Boca West sets the standard of excellence, this award-winning private club has been ranked as one of the top 15 country clubs in the world. There are 55 private residential villages with over 6000 residents, four championship golf courses, 7 dining venues, and more than 400,000 sq. ft. of private club amenities to provide the ultimate member experience. Boca West offers options from single-family homes and maintenance-free villas to luxury condominiums with a Palm Beach lifestyle of arts, culture, sports, and natural beauty.

Architects Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer and Jim Fazio used their legendary talents to create four distinct golf courses with strategically placed bunkers, and rolling fairways that wind their way through the natural Florida landscape. Boca West Country Club has been rated one of the top residential country clubs in the United States. It is a premier luxury resort-style country club with six restaurants, four championship golf courses, 30 hydro tennis courts, a worldclass spa & fitness center, an activities desk, and plush activity rooms. Membership privileges also include Toon Privé member benefits and preferred pricing at Troon’s world-class facilities in the States and across

the globe. Boca West is located in prime Boca Raton real estate, close to some of the best natural and cultural treasures of the city, as well as ample shopping and dining options. From $125,000 to Millions

www.bocawestcc.org

Ballenisles

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Adjacent and once a part of PGA National Golf Club, the community of Ballenisles is made up of 1575 residences in 33 intimate neighborhoods in Palm Beach Gardens. It is an exceptional private club community in the heart of the Palm Beaches offering a superior member experience honored by the Platinum

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 57
RESORT-STYLE LIVING FLORIDA COMMUNITIES
Ballenisles

Clubs of America, Distinguished Club Award and 2022 Best Country Club, Golf Course, Fitness Center and Sports Attraction by the Palm Beach Post. In 1971 Ballenisles was named PGA National, it was home to the PGA of America. The East Course was a well-regarded nationally recognized championship course at the time ranked in the Top 100 in the country. In 1988, the three golf courses and surrounding property were sold by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and renamed Ballenisles Country Club. A multiyear and multimillion-dollar plan to develop a private country club community was unveiled. Since the early 2000s, Ballenisles Country Club has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Clubs in America. The three championship golf courses at Ballenisles, East and North, were designed by two of the most highly acclaimed golf course architects of the era: Dick Wilson and Joe Lee. Famed golf course architect Rees Jones redesigned the South Course which opened in January 2020 with a $7.5 million renovation. In January 2023, Ballenisles unveiled its newly renovated East Course. Led by Nicklaus Design, the 9-month, multi-million-dollar renovation project has modernized the club’s famed East Course as well as its Practice Grounds.

Homes From $750,000 – 3.5 million www.ballenisles.org

The Tesoro Club Port St. Lucie Florida

Tesoro Club along the St Lucie River offers a golf experience and club living like no other on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Sweeping panoramic vistas provide a luxurious community experience at every turn from the classic architectural design to the community’s lush landscaping. This is a community of unspoiled natural wonders throughout with exceptional neighborhoods that offer spectacular views of the preserve, golf course, and lake. The stately clubhouse facilities are some of the finest in Florida. The two 18-hole championship courses were designed by Arnold Palmer and Tom

Watson and provide memorable golf experiences for players of all skill levels. Tesoro Club Golf exceeds expectations with top professional service, pristine course conditions, and great teaching and practice facilities. Golf cart living is a south Florida staple. Tesoro links this private, gated community to all neighborhoods easily connecting residents to Tesoro Club’s unparalleled amenities. The community’s 22,000-square-foot Swim and Racquet Club ensures the finest in sporting and leisure lifestyle and features the Cabanas, offering a casual poolside dining menu. The clubhouse also boasts a Junior Olympic swimming pool, nine tennis courts and 11 pickleball

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Harbor Ridge Course Harbor Ridge Course

courts, two bocce ball courts, men’s and women’s locker rooms and club space for social gatherings.

Homes from $450,000 to 2 million www.tesoroclub.com

Harbor Ridge

Palm City, Florida

Nestled along the shoreline on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, Harbour Ridge is just 40 minutes north of the Palm Beaches. It’s a hidden jewel community on the Treasure Coast. This private waterfront country club community offers just 695 residences set in 28 Villages. Built into the south Florida landscape, residences are

amidst unspoiled native vegetation and natural wetlands. Members enjoy a level of privacy and a connection with nature that is unmatched anywhere else in Florida. Located on the wide St. Lucie River in Palm City, Harbour Ridge is both a yachting club and golf club and offers an expansive portfolio of great amenities for active living.

Private recreational amenities include two world-class golf courses, an active yacht club and marina, a robust tennis program, a new lifestyle center, and a dog park all within the community’s 885 acres. The exceptional location of Harbour Ridge allows for an abundance of open green spaces and a low density of just one home for every 1.25 acres. The two championship golf courses, Golden Marsh and River Ridge were designed by Joe Lee and Pete Dye. For offshore boating access, Harbour Ridge offers direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and the locks leading to Florida’s west coast. The community is close to the Atlantic beaches, major shopping malls, and fine dining along Florida’s scenic Treasure Coast and is convenient to multiple private, national, and international airports.

Homes From $250,000 to 3.75 million. www.harbourridge.com

NORTHEAST.GOLF | APRIL / MAY 2023 59
The Tesoro Club The Tesoro Club

THE NEW OWL’S NEST RESORT

THE VACATION & LIVING EPICENTER IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer unprecedented Jack Nicklaus-designed golf, four-season vacationing and living, and extensive amenities and recreational opportunities in every month of the year. Surrounded by the White Mountains, The Owl’s Nest Resort provides four seasons of amazing vacation experiences, and an epic second home living in the heart of it all in the Northeast. Not only is The Owl’s Nest the fastest-growing resort in New England, it is also the perfect serene setting with proximity to all major attractions in the region. The White Mountain National Forest is the largest state forest in the Northeast with over 800,000 acres of protected lands. This is your home away from home, The Owl’s Nest Resort and Community.

60 APRIL / MAY 2023 | NORTHEAST.GOLF

The White Mountain National Forest encompasses 1200 square miles of some of the most majestic and scenic lands in America for vacationing and living. The region is home to dozens of small New England villages and towns and to the top-rated Northeast ski resorts with endless outdoor activities, making it one of the top tourist destinations in the East. The Owl’s Nest expansion and extensive ongoing development and growth have now made the facility the largest four-season destination resort in the Northeast. “The Place to be in Every Season.”

Owl’s Nest Growth & Expansion

The resort redevelopment which began over two years ago includes Lake Harold, the largest man-made recreational lake in NH. The newly completed Lakehouse can host large events for up to 400 and is equipped with a full-size catering kitchen, bar, and two-story event space. The new Lafayette Lodge is underway, and will feature 24 double queen and 9 king rooms. Owl’s Nest Resort recently celebrated the grand opening of its extensive racquet sports complex and includes eight red clay tennis courts, 13 pickleball courts, and four paddle tennis courts. The four paddle courts are heated for year-round use. The new pavilion will host concerts, and a 500-person amphitheater to be added in the future. The existing banquet facilities were expanded and the on-site restaurant, Panorama Six82, turned into a premier, year-round dining establishment with new chef Morgana Vesey from Hell’s Kitchen Season 20 with host Gordon Ramsay. Another new restaurant, Slice Wood Fired Pizzeria, will have 2 indoor golf simulators.

The resort’s extensive lodging facilities include 18, 4-bedroom, 4 1/2 bath gambrel units, three 6-bedroom, 6 ½ bath gambrel units, 13 brand new 2-bedroom units, 26 new expansive guest rooms, and 12, 1-bedroom, 1 bath Nano cottages, all with spacious living rooms, private decks, fireplaces, and 3 with a full kitchen and laundry facilities. Phase 2 is already underway and includes the addition of The Boathouse which will contain a seafood restaurant and bar, additional event space for up to 150 people, an outdoor year-round swimming pool, 30-person hot tub, radiant heated decks, boat rentals, indoor and outdoor showers, locker room facilities and beach access. Groundbreaking for a 33-room hotel called the Lafayette Lodge has begun. This summer the resort will be adding Butches Brooklyn Deli, with charging stations for 8 Tesla and 6 EV Electrify America Superchargers which will provide all types of electric vehicles with full charges in less than an hour.

Owl’s Nest Golf Facilities & Clubs

Owl’s Nest Resort’s golf course was ranked #6 best Nicklaus-Designed course by value worldwide by NBC Golf Pass. The course is the only Nicklaus Design in New Hampshire. This

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eighteen-hole course boasts the ultimate golf experience with extraordinary scenic views of the White Mountains. The resort will add a 9-hole Executive Par-3 as part of the resort redevelopment plan. The newly acquired White Mountain Country Club, has been rebranded as The Owl’s Nest Vineyard Course and is undergoing a complete renovation by golf course designer Robert McNeil. Once completed, the Owl’s Nest will have 45-holes of golf and two championship courses for their guests, tournaments, weddings, and outings. The White Mountain Country Club’s old airstrip with be converted into a vineyard with a large event venue along the banks of the Pemigewasset River, now making it the Owl’s Nest Vineyard Course.

The Owl’s Nest Living Community Resort Living is one of the fastest-growing trends in the country today. The opportunity to have a home with full year-round activities and amenities is the best of all worlds in all seasons. Over 6 million visitors are drawn to this amazing place yearly; having your own personal enclave family residence here is just perfect. The Owl’s Nest master plan organizes the homes around communal outdoor spaces all connected by multi-use trails. Each house is nestled perfectly throughout the resort, giving you spectacular views of the White Mountains. You will be secluded in your own little sanctuary without being reclusive and still being able to enjoy all the amenities of resort life. Homes range from cozy one-bedroom cottages to custom-built larger seasonal or year-round residences within the community.

Living in the White Mountains is always spectacular, but the

proximity of the Owl’s Nest gives you full access to all White Mountain’s major attractions and tourist areas with a quiet private resort community of your own at your front door. The area is simply one of the most pristine regions in the Northeast. Stay in one of Owl’s Nest Resort’s four-bedroom vacation homes on your visit here to get a taste of life at The Owl’s Nest. Take the kids to the White Mountains, regardless of the season! Owl’s Nest Resort is the premier location for a four-season adventure. Take the whole gang skiing and snowboarding in the winter;

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golfing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, tubing, and swimming in the spring and summer; and sightseeing in the spring and fall.

Living in the White Mountains is always spectacular, but the proximity of the Owl’s Nest gives you full access to all White Mountain’s major attractions and tourist areas with a quiet private resort community of your own at your front door. We will see you this summer on the course, at the lake, on the courts, at the restaurant, or wherever you find your home at Owl’s Nest Resort. Owl’s Nest is an ideal venue for weddings and events, offering on-site catering and accommodations. Here, visitors can enjoy scenic-inspired living that can only be found in the White Mountains. The Owl’s Nest Resort is in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, less than two hours north of Boston and one hour from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The Nest is situated on 600+ acres with spectacular panoramic mountain and forest views.

For more information on Owl’s Nest Resort, please visit www.owlsnestresort.com

REAL ESTATE OFFERINGS

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The historic 18-hole course packs a challenge as it winds along the sparkling waters and around scenic hillsides. Complete with everything you’d expect from a top golf resort including ample practice facilities, PGA professionals, fully stocked golf shop, and a classic clubhouse with delicious bites and locally crafted brews. Stay and play with Golf Packages and luxurious accommodations at the Woodstock Inn & Resort.

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