Northeast Golf - August/September 2023

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WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED GOLF TRAVEL NETWORK

GOLF INSPIRED DESTINATIONS

Featuring the very best of up to 60 golf regions across the world

THE GLOBAL GOLF RESORT COLLECTION

A platform devoted to showcasing the world’s best golf resorts, golf courses and its lifestyle amenities that o ers exclusive benefits to our community members.

THE WORLD’S BEST GOLF TRAVEL EXPERTS

Native to their destination or region, these experts allow our members to “see travel through the eyes of a local”

GOLF TRAVEL AMBASSADORS INSPIRED JOURNEYS

An Exclusive Travel Program available to qualified and carefully selected group travel planners that’s referred to as “That Guy or That Gal”

Join like-minded members on exciting and exotic golf travel experiences all over the world

Golf Inspired is a community based platform that showcases the very best of golf and the many passion points that complement the game.

golfinspired.com

Specializing in experiential golf travel across the world Ireland, Scotland, Los Cabos, Spain, Portugal, S. Africa, New Zealand & Beyond...

THE GOLF, EPIC.

THE TRIP, EASY. BOOKING 2024, EVEN EASIER.

BoyneGolf.com

Getting to BOYNE Golf has never been easier... Whether flying into nearby Traverse City (TVC) or our newly renovated private 5200’ airport at Boyne Mountain, our 10 magnificent courses are closer than you think. Call 855.428.7447 to plan your 2024 trip today.

35 PRO SHOP Sun Mountain Travel Bags

For the Golfer Who Needs a Getaway

Take your game to the next level at Innisbrook Resort with our Classic Golf Package. Play one round on the South or Island Course, enjoy complimentary breakfast, and take advantage of unlimited access to our practice facilities with a one-hour golf clinic!

Book Sunday - Wednesday and enjoy four bonus enhancements with the Enhanced Weekday Classic Golf Package

Golf Travel Planning

Availability Remains Thin at Prime Destinations

The days of booking last minute golf travel to prime destinations both in the U.S. and abroad have passed. Many industry observers and managers’ report that demand for rooms and tee times hasn’t been this high in more than 15 years, since before the market crash of 2008. With an increasing number of Americans and Europeans returning to recreational travel after COVID restrictions have eased or ceased, many of the top golf resorts worldwide are packed. Across the board many of the most sought-after destinations are already booked through fall of 2023, and well into 2024 as well. In places like Scotland and Ireland golf travel brokers and luxury tour operators have absconded many of the prime tee times and hotel reservations to have inventory to sell in their packages to stay afloat.

This is our annual Golf Travel Planner Issue; it could never be more relevant to our readers who are avid golf travelers. This is a time for advanced planning for golf vacations, and a time as well to rely on professional help from the experts in golf travel. These folks not only can ensure everything going well on your golf trek, but also have the relationships, inventories, and contacts to get you where you want to go in a reasonable time frame. Because of the high demand in golf travel right now

there are more golf travel scams out there than ever. It is imperative to know who you are dealing with and that they are a trusted source in the industry.

While in Scotland recently, I saw firsthand a prime example of this with a group that had been sold a certificate online for a foursome on the Old Course. They did not find out they had been duped out of $2000.00 until showing up to redeem their tee time. The team at St. Andrews Links just the same came through and found a way to get them off later that day at a reduced rate, saving the day!

Plan early — call The Pros!

“This is a time for advanced planning ... and to rely on professional help.”

FROM THE EDITOR DESTINATION PLANNING

Editor Timothy R. Branco tim@nepubinc.com

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Katrina T. Lallier

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Timothy Branco

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Leigh MacKay

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Greg Sampson

Alice Scott

Danny Scott

Ed Travis

Henry Wallmeyer

Matt Ward

Phil Werz

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CABOT CITRUS FARMS

CABOT’S NEXT CHAPTER IN LUXURY GOLF & LIVING

There are few companies in the world that have the combined vision, knowledge and unyielding commitment to create magical new locations that rival golf’s most historic courses. In the golf development world, Ben Cowan-Dewar, CEO and co-founder of The Cabot Collection has done a remarkable job creating some of the most spectacular places where golf and lifelong experiences are made every day. This collection of luxury residential, resort and golf destinations has set a new bar for worldclass golf destinations.

Since the unveiling of their first property, Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia back in 2015, the brand’s portfolio has continued to grow. They are now offering locations in British Columbia, Scotland, Saint Lucia, and most recently Florida; Cabot has created a new standard for master-planned luxury golf communities, unmatched by any other in the world today.

Exclusively Cabot

It is no surprise that Cabot’s first U.S. property, Cabot Citrus Farms, is based in one of Florida’s most historic regions in the Nature Coast. The surrounding area boasts numerous parks, natural springs and lakes; the 1,200-acre property offers a unique blend of dramatic elevation changes, sandy soil, and rolling hills canopied by towering sand pines, palmetto trees, and century-old moss-covered live oaks. Set to open in early 2024, this enchanting landscape is like no other in the state.

With a name that pays tribute to the region’s citrus-growing heritage and Brooksville’s status in the 1920s as the “Home of the Tangerine,” the prized destination will offer 57-holes of exceptional golf, a new clubhouse and wellness experience. There will be unparalleled practice facilities, luxury accommodations, a thriving Village with shopping and dining, town squares, and event spaces. Real estate offerings will include a limited collection of new homes and homesites celebrating a one-of-a-kind, modern-day rendition of Southern living.

The Golf at Cabot Citrus Farms

The 21: Golf Architect Mike Nuzzo has embarked to fit as many great golf holes as possible into 100 acres. Aptly named “The 21,” the course features 21 holes, many of which are nontraditional. A first for the industry, golfers will find a colorful variety of holes, layouts, lengths, strategies, shaping, and green complexes. Standout holes include the breathtaking fourth and fifth holes, with the fourth resembling greens and landforms in Ireland, and the fifth reminiscent of the Sandbelt in Australia. The 21 can also be played as two short courses in-between or after full rounds.

Cabot Barrens: An 18-hole dynamic and forested layout designed by Kyle Franz, Cabot Barrens will feature rugged aesthetics with wide corridors of play, multiple routes to pins, classical green contours, and unique grassing patterns. The course will include varied tee box placements to give players a fresh look at the different features each time they play the course. Thoughtfully planned, the course will reward creative short grass recovery shots around the greens.

Cabot Oaks: Co-designed by Kyle Franz and Mike Nuzzo, with Ran Morrissett as Golf Course Architecture Advisor, Cabot Oaks capitalizes on different environments: routing through the sandy, scrubby areas adjacent to Cabot Barrens, rolling meadows and even a 40-foot-deep sink hole. Cabot Oaks will be an 18-hole course encompassing broad fairways, flowering dogwood trees and groves of moss-draped live oaks. With plenty of variety, the course will provide a world-class golf experience for players of all skill levels. A rarity in Florida, the course includes repeated 50-foot elevation changes across the property. The design features elements inspired by Alister Mackenzie and his work at Augusta, in the Australian Sand Belt, and throughout California.

The Cottages at Citrus Farms

The initial collection of 36 two- and four-bedroom residences are

Experience the beauty of Cabot Oaks 17th green with a captivating 175-yard par 3. Navigate the creek hugging the green’s front. Choose wisely: play safe right or aim for the flag with confidence! Swing true and savor the game amidst nature’s beauty.

477 yards.

240 yards par 3.

rooted in comfortable, easygoing living. Designed to celebrate historic Floridian architecture, the homes feature raised scissor-truss ceilings, shiplap shingled roofs and expansive windows to draw the outside in. Situated throughout the property, the homes offer a trio of distinct orientations: along golf holes facing the wooded splendor of nature; fronting Main Street embracing the lively camaraderie of passersby; and on the edge of the rambling open space. Land planning and architecture has been thoughtfully curated by Hart Howerton. Prospective buyers should visit the website and submit their details to express interest in home ownership.

Cabot Citrus Farms: Located just 45-minutes from Tampa, and 80-minutes from Orlando, the property is easily accessible for families and couples alike. Alongside golf, Cabot Citrus Farms boasts a range of amenities including shops, restaurants, sports and wellness facilities. It all comes together in The Village, a shared space complete with a Farmers Market offering fresh produce. For those looking to experience the region, one-of-akind experiences such as exceptional hiking, biking and nature trails at neighboring Withlacoochee State Forest, spring-fed rivers and bountiful lakes at Crystal River, and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico are readily available.

ABOUT THE CABOT COLLECTION

The Cabot Collection is the developer and operator of a diverse collection of residential, resort, golf, and masterplanned communities. Its portfolio includes the awardwinning Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida, and Cabot Highlands in Scotland. Cabot continues to build upon a legacy of excellence in golf, luxury residential offerings and boutique resort lifestyle across each unique property.

For more information, please visit www.cabotcitrusfarms.com

Indulge in the perfect blend of elegance and golfing paradise. The interior living space offers breathtaking views of the green. A golfer’s dream come true.

Welcome to luxury living. Behold the charming exterior view of our 2-bedroom cottage. Starting at $1.795M, your dream home awaits.

Golden State Golf South to North

BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT

CALIFORNIA IS THE GOLDEN STATE, the land of plenty, with Carlsbad standing out in SoCal and Napa Valley in NorCal. There is plenty of golf, plenty of beaches, plenty of tourist attractions, and plenty of wine. To top it off, the climate is sublime year-round.

Carlsbad in SoCal is lined by seven miles of cream-colored beach along Pacific Coast Highway 101 with plenty of spots to park and watch the waves. Halfway between SeaWorld and Disneyland, it is strategically positioned for day tripping to any of SoCal’s popular attractions.

Stay at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort and Spa. This boutique hotel has entertaining ocean views as surfers crash against the rushing waves with bonus performances by pelicans’ air ballets. Beach chairs and umbrellas as well as bike rentals are complimentary and inside or out, their Chandler’s Oceanfront Dining is famous for the best sunset view in Carlsbad.

Or stay at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, a luxurious California icon with stunning grounds, exquisite spa, and two championship courses. Enjoy the Bar Traza overlooking the Legends Course where the Executive Chef from Guam melds unique

flavors. For dinner, Bob’s Steak & Chophouse is one of the best in the nation.

Play at Aviara Golf Club, familiar to all who watched the LPGA compete there for 9 of the past 11 years. The Arnold Palmer design is a visual beauty throughout with par 3s especially adorned with bright gardens around ponds.

Omni La Costa’s two courses have a prestigious PGA and LPGA history. Renowned architect, Gil Hanse is currently renovating the Champions Course where the nation’s finest collegiate golfers will compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Golf Championship in 2024-2026. While

that course is closed for revamping, the Legends Course is more than satisfying members and guests of the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. Ponds and streams are nature lined along the way and the side of a lake is florally engraved with the name LACOSTA.

The Crossings Golf Club, designed by Greg Nash is named for the five bridges that cross over canyons and creeks. Every hole has a beautiful view of Pacific surf or turf with a spectacular waterfall on number 7. The ascending, descending cart path feels like a roller coaster ride, while coaster screams may be heard from LEGOLAND across the road.

More fun awaits in downtown Carlsbad, between the beach, shops, restaurants, and a Farmer’s Market every Wednesday. The foodie scene runs the full gamut from a Windmill Food Hall to Michelin Star and The Blue Water Grill featuring an abundant array of scrumptious, fresh seafood. Visit The Oyster Farm for shucking lessons, and tastings. Then select aquatic options at Agua Hedionda Lagoon or simply stroll the beach.

Fly into John Wayne or San Diego airports (www.Visitcarlsbad.com).

Napa Valley in NorCal has been cultivating grape vines since the 1800s but in the last 15 years it has achieved international acclaim as a true wine destination, sparked by the movie “Bottle Shock.” Now there over 400 wineries and 90 urban tasting rooms in a 30 mile stretch plus a bustling downtown with a trendy culinary, shopping and music scene.

Stay at Silverado Resort in the heart of wine country with two championship courses and all the amenities you might desire for a relaxing or adventuresome vacation. A signature white mansion built in 1870, is the resort focal point. Accommodations in four neighborhoods are comforting with a fireplace in the suites and private patios. Dial 0 to ask for a log and it will be lit.

Cuisine at the Mansion Bar & Terrace, The Grill, and the Market & Bakery is creatively prepared and presented in delectable fashion to pair with yes, wines or cocktails. Consumption is balanced by tennis, bocce, pickleball, a fitness center and three swimming pools, as well as a worldclass spa and golf.

Play right there at Silverado Resort. It is essentially an arboretum with 300 species of trees where Robert Trent Jones Jr. carved out 36 holes. The courses were redesigned by Johnny Miller who grew up in the house on number 11 North and bought the property in 2010. And under KSL’s recent acquisition and Troon management, improvements are constant.

The North Course has hosted the PGA, now Fortinet Championship, for ten years. The design flows around the foothills and waterways of Napa Valley like a smooth Pinot Noir.

While the North Course is PGA Tour ready, the South Course matches its exceptional condition with fairways and greens that reflect the beauty of the surrounding vineyards and homes. It is like a walk in the park with more elevation changes and gently rolling hills, habitat to deer and skunks among red headed acorn woodpeckers. On both courses a snack shack serves the famous burger dogs and libations.

More fun in Napa Valley is all about those wineries. Take an Uber or chauffeur to sip, shop, and savor. Close by Silverado Resort is Prime Solum, a wine tasting barn where artist Elana, daughter of wine grower William Hill, is passionately sharing her art, wine, and heart with virgin and expert oenophiles. Find your favorite varietals and music venues or for a bird’s eye view of the vineyards, hop in a hot air balloon.

Fly into Sacramento, or San Francisco airports (www.visitnapavalley.com).

A Golf Trek to Fife

St. Andrews, Scotland

BY TIMOTHY BRANCO

DESTINATIONS SCOTLAND

UNTIL YOU HAVE TRAVELED to St. Andrews Scotland and the “Home of Golf” you will always yearn for the experience in your golf life. Once you have been to this special place, your mind will always be captured by the sense and the smell of the history of golf, and the unique ambience of this place and its people. A not well known saying by the elderly Scotts to travelers, years ago, “You have come far, stay a bit and rest, too soon will you have to go.” And one of my simple favorites, “Be back ya will soon.” This is a place where dreams become memories, as we find ourselves standing in a place where many of the very best who ever played the game, once stood. The land is unchanged, the views remain the same, and the stern breezes off St. Andrews Bay are still unpredictable as the weather itself; it is simply as iconic as it can ever get.

St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, has quite a history for such a small place. Fife, bounded to the north by the Firth of Tay and to the south by the Firth of Forth, is a natural peninsula whose political boundaries have changed little over the ages. Known as The Kingdom of Golf, Fife is golfing Mecca, and it is widely established that here was the original birthplace of golf and therefore a gold mine for some of the best and most challenging courses in Scotland. There are seven courses alone operated by St. Andrews Links, including the oldest course in the world - The Old Course. Reaching the 18th fairway of this established course is to follow in the footsteps of golfing greats from every generation and to top it off, this worldfamous course remains open to the public despite its iconic status. The peninsula of Fife contains nearly 50 golf courses, and has the largest concentration of Links, Parkland, Inland, and Coastal golf courses in Scotland. www.scottishgolfcourses.com/fife

Unlike most golf clubs in the United States, where each club owns and operates its own course, in Scotland multiple clubs often share access to the same course. This is the case in St. Andrews, where the members of several clubs enjoy tee time privileges on the Links Trust courses and routinely hold their own club events over those famed links: The Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Balgove, Strathtyrum, and Castle, the newest Links Trust course. The clubs also play each other frequently, including during the Town Match held each September, when bragging rights are most definitely on the line.

Legend claims that the town of St. Andrews was so called because it harbored the relics of St. Andrew, which were brought here by a bishop, St. Rule, from Patras in Achaea. It is the birthplace of golf, and the Royal and Ancient Club, which was created in 1754, and has been the headquarters of golf ever since. St. Andrews also has a castle and a university, which is the oldest in Scotland, founded in 1412. Prince William is perhaps the university’s most recent famous alumnus. St. Andrews University accounts for more than half of the 18,000 + residents, so it is truly a college town.

Scotland is home to over 550 golf courses. Many of the most famous golf courses in Scotland are found on the East and West Coast, along seaside communities that boarder the North Sea, The North Channel, and the Irish Sea. There are so many ways to package golf trips to Scotland, it really comes down to time and preferences. If you have never been to St. Andrews, then it will most likely be your first trip, but certainly not your last.

The single most important piece of advice here is trust a seasoned professional with deep experience in Scotland. There are just some things in life better left to those who are in the know! Working with a trusted Golf Travel concierge, it is a must-do for all your bucket list golf vacations. Leave it to the folks who do this every day; they know the traditions, understand the procedures, have the contacts and experience to ensure things are right. And most importantly, they will take care of all the details that will allow your experience to be an unforgettable memory. Our choice of team on a trip is Distincte Travel / Golf Inspired. It is what they do, they do it well. As consummate professionals, they create brilliant travel experiences.

Here is our planned itinerary for the 2023 Golf Trek to Scotland by Distincte Travel / Golf Inspired. We arrived in St. Andrews on the 12th of May. Our journey began in the “Home of Golf” for the first four nights and days. Then, we traveled to the West Coast of Scotland for a few rounds in Ayshire, which is just 40 miles west of Glasgow. The courses we visited are below.

St. Andrews - Today there are seven public golf courses: the Balgove, Eden, Jubilee, Strathtyrum, New, and the Old Course all on the links, and The Castle Course, a mile to the east of the town. The Old Course is widely considered one of the finest, and certainly the most famous and traditional course in the world.

St. Andrews The Old Course

It is the gracious lady, the one and only Old Course at St. Andrews, unquestionably the

most sought-after tee time on the planet. The course has hosted 29 British Open Championships at “The Home of Golf” in St. Andrews Scotland, more than any other course in rotation. Mother Nature was largely the architect here at the Old Course, but some credit must be given to Allan Robertson for his memorable work in 1848 on the course. The greens here are extraordinary and some of the most interesting in the world. Often you cannot determine where the green starts and the fairways ends, but this makes little difference as many of the fairways are as fast as most of the greens. There is no explaining it all here, like Yoda says, “Just Do.”

St. Andrews The New Course

Designed by the legendary Old Tom Morris, St. Andrews New Course dates back to 1895. Despite sitting immediately beside the Old Course, the most famous course in the world, it is very much a leading links in its

own right and is one of the best golf courses in Scotland. The Links Trust describes this as “The oldest ‘new’ course in the world.” The New Course at St. Andrews is arguably more difficult than the Old with gorse lining the tight fairways. The course is just under 6,400 from the yellow tees with a good range of hole lengths so you will find plenty to test the whole bag here.

St. Andrews The Jubilee Course

The third championship golf course at the Home of Golf is considered by many to be the most challenging of all the famed links at St. Andrews. Built in 1897, it was originally intended for use by ladies and beginner golfers learning the game. After the Links Group saw how beautifully it aligned along the New Course and the North Sea, they changed it to a championship layout in 1888. Often considered the most challenging of the courses at St. Andrews Links, the

The Old Course Kingsbarns Golf Links

The Jubilee Course

par-72, 6742-yard Jubilee Course (from the tips) has a reputation amongst the locals of being a stern test of golf and is a favorite of the St. Andrews University Golf Club for their team matches.

https://standrews.com/homepage/

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Kingsbarns is a village and parish in Scotland on the eastern coast of Scotland in the village of Neuk. It is just 6.5 miles southeast of St. Andrews and a very popular add on course to St. Andrews Golf vacations, as it is one of Fife’s most memorable Scottish Links golf courses. Situated along the North Sea coastline, Kingsbarns is simply magnificent.

Kingsbarns co-hosts the annual European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (October 1-8, 2023) together with the Old Course at St. Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links. In 2017, Kingsbarns hosted The

Ricoh Women’s British Open and has played host to several major event qualifiers as well.

https://www.kingsbarns.com

THE AYRSHIRE GOLF COAST WESTERN SCOTLAND

Dundonald Links Golf Course & Resort

Quickly becoming one of the most soughtafter golf resorts in Scotland Dundonald Links is pushing to the top of all Must Play / Must Stay, best of the best list everywhere. Willie Fernie, the 1883 Open Champion designed the original course; in 2003 Kyle Phillips redesigned the layout to play as a par 72, and over 7300 yards from the tips. The luxury golf resort opened at Dundonald Links in 2021 and offers guests the chance to book a truly memorable Scotland golf package by combining golf with a luxurious stay in one of their bespoke golf lodges or hotel suites. This is one of Scotland’s finest

new golf resort facilities.

https://dundonaldlinks.com

Trump Turnberry The Ailisa Course

Home of four Open Championships, the legendary Ailsa course has hosted some of the most iconic names in golf. Reborn in June 2016 at the hands of renowned architect, Martin Ebert, the transformation makes the Ailsa the number one ranked golf course in the UK & Ireland. Set alongside the glorious Ayrshire coastline, with Arran and Ailsa Craig as a stunning backdrop, it is one of the finest golfing destinations in the world. Named after the third Marquess of Ailsa, who owned the land on which it was built, this par-71, 6,474-yard Championship course is one of golf’s storied places. Set alongside the glorious Ayrshire coastline, with Arran and Ailsa Craig as a stunning backdrop, it is one of the finest golfing destinations in the world.

www.turnberry.co.uk

Dundonald Links

BOYNE GOLF

THE SUMMERTIME GOLF ADVENTURE

By Scott Kramer

As a golf writer, I get to play at a lot of great golf resorts around the world. The one I keep coming back to: BOYNE Golf. Over the past 50 years, this renowned Northern Michigan golf destination has grown to become one of the largest golf destinations in North America – now encompassing 10 courses and three resort properties, including Bay Harbor, The Highlands at Harbor Springs, and Boyne Mountain. Yet it still has elements of the feel and ambience I remember when visiting as a young child.

The region’s Norman Rockwell-like lakeside resort towns of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City and Traverse City have long been summertime playgrounds for those in the know – attracting people from all over the world, including golf-

ers. It’s no wonder, as the area offers outstanding golf and is the perfect buddy trip destination.

Nowhere else in the country can you find so many world-class resort destinations, with first-rate golf and amenities within such close proximity to each other. With its 10 golf courses, BOYNE Golf is the dominant player in the Midwest with a growing fan base nationwide.

At BOYNE Golf’s flagship property, located along the shores of Lake Michigan west of Petoskey, the nationally esteemed Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Golf Club are high-end luxurious properties situated on the site of an old limestone quarry and cement factory. The Bay Harbor Golf Club, designed by Arthur Hills, offers 27 holes with the award-winning Links/Quarry and

The Quarry #5

Preserve courses. It features a unique combination of open links along the Lake Michigan bluffs, holes flowing in and out of a rock quarry, and through the area’s hardwoods. Within five minutes lies BOYNE’s Crooked Tree Golf Club that is carved through stands of centuries-old hardwoods and apple orchards, while perched on bluffs overlooking Little Traverse Bay.

Across that bay, in the historic and charming waterfront community of Harbor Springs, The Highlands (formerly Boyne Highlands) has undergone an elegant transformation fitting to its Scottish Highlands charm. The second of four phases of this reimagination includes remodeling and significantly upgrading 87 guest rooms into refined and elegant luxury accommodations fitting for golf buddy trips for men and women alike.

The Highlands’ 72 holes of championship golf collectively offer a perfect golf experience where groups can check into the lodge and never get back into their car during their stay. The courses are led by the classic Robert Trent Jones Sr. Heather course, which started BOYNE Golf’s boom back in 1966. The National Course of the Year in 2019, The Heather is a classic parkland experience. The popular Arthur Hills course takes golfers through a variety of landscapes including the hills of Northern Michigan reaching a pinnacle on the 13th tee with a 50-mile view of the region. Last year, BOYNE began renovation work on its Donald Ross Memorial course, a classic rendition of great golf holes designed by the Hall of Fame architect. The fourth course, The Moor, is also undergoing renovations that include widening fairways, expanding collection areas around the greens with tree removal, all to create a variety of more fun and playable shot options for golfers.

Donald Ross Memorial #5

The Links #6

Complementing the world-class golf, The Highlands is also home to the BOYNE Golf Academy (also located at Boyne Mountain) featuring nationally recognized professional instructors who have developed a variety of game-improvement programs for all levels. Technology is the highlight for golfers who can experience the GEARS Golf system that can analyze your golf swing and fit you into the best-possible equipment for your game through BOYNE’s Fitting Center. At their 34-acre, 360-degree training facility they have added a TrackMan Range Experience, which marries incredible state-of-the-art technology with a classic practice facility. Golfers can see swing data on every shot they hit instantly, as well as play many of the world’s top courses virtually while physically hitting golf balls.

The third BOYNE Golf property, the quaint Boyne Mountain Resort, is located 30 minutes south of The Highlands. The Mountain Grand Lodge & Spa at “the Mountain” features two 18-hole layouts, The Monument and Alpine courses, which offer outstanding golf that appeals to golfers of all skill levels and the most spectacular panoramas in the state. The hotel was the first ski in/ski out lodge in America with an indoor waterpark. The all-suites lodge features the Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark (one of the largest in the Midwest) - as well as the Solace Spa, an 18,000 square foot luxury spa that offers the best seasonal treatments. The latest addition is SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s highest and longest timber suspension bridge that is over 1100 feet long and sits 120 off the valley floor offering

The Quarry #9 and Bay Harbor Golf Club Inn at Bay Harbor and Bay Harbor Village

The Quarry - Overview

The Monument #11

Donald Ross Memorial #13

panoramic views of the Boyne Valley.

It’s no wonder that the accolades keep coming in on BOYNE Golf. Publications like Forbes, Golf Digest and Golfweek continuously rank BOYNE and its courses among the best in America. The variety of golf here is collectively refreshing, the scenery amazing, and the staff always welcoming. If you visit in the summer, you can easily fit in 36 holes every day. During the long Northern Michigan days that time of year, golfers play well into the evening hours -- sometimes close to 10 p.m. Or go in the fall, when the leaves start changing color — you will thank me later.

BOYNE Golf is located near Petoskey, MI, just south of the Mackinac Bridge and historic Mackinac Island, USA Today’s #1 Summer Destination for 2024. Getting there has never been easier. Nearby Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport offers non-stop flights from 17 major U.S. cities during the summer months. For private jets, Boyne Mountain features a 5,200-foot landing strip.

To score a great golf package – or to find out more information – visit www.boynegolf.com or contact a BOYNE Golf Experience Agent at 855.428.7447. They will assist you in planning your golf vacation of a lifetime.

The Heather #4

Arthur Hills #13

The Highlands Main Lodge

The Quarry #9

THE AMAZING FRENCH LICK RESORT

Nestled in the Hoosier National Forest of Southern Indiana, French Lick Resort has a long history and promising future. Once a French trading post, the valley attracted visitors for the mineral springs which left a residue of salt, licked by the deer and buffalo, hence the name French Lick. In 1845, French Lick Springs Hotel was first built with peculiar architecture inviting guests to the “miracle waters.” Fast forward through the decades with several owners and today, French Lick Resort presents three hotels with 748 rooms and suites, a dozen fine dining restaurants, three grab and go options and room service. Guests may enjoy two full-service spas, a 24/7 Casino, six lanes of bowling at Pluto’s Alley, horseback riding and more activities, especially golf on three championship and one nine-hole courses. The West Baden Springs Hotel is considered the eighth wonder of the world for its enormous atrium dome. Bedroom balconies instill a sense of royalty overlooking the circular expanse below and the intricacies above.

The Pete Dye Course might be one of the late Hall of Famer’s most diabolical designs and one of his most spectacular settings. It is visually stunning atop one of the highest points in Indiana with panoramic views extending 40 miles. The Donald Ross Course was built in 1917 and has been restored to its original glory where the 1924 PGA Championships were held. Golf purists will enjoy the quality layout that is synonymous with Donald Ross.

The Valley Links Course is a short walkable nine converted from the original 18 with Scottish fescue and the addition of church pew bunkering. French Lick Resort’s Pete Dye and Donald Ross Courses have been ranked #1 & #2 in Indiana for 12 straight years in Golfweek’s “Best You Can Play,” and top 100 nationally for 10 straight years in Golfweek’s “Best Resort Courses.”

Meriting the Best Historic Resort award by USA Today readers, French Lick Resort is an hour and a half from the airport in Louisville, a great city to explore.

The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort

French Lick West Baden Springs Hotel

LOS CABOS

THE ULTIMATE GOLF DESTINATION

Spectacular Golf, World Class Resort Hotels, and More

Los Cabos is located at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, in the state of Baja California Sur. It’s where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. The region has long since been a favorite destination place for American travelers, so it’s not surprising that the destination has quickly recovered post-COVID pandemic. Despite the ongoing issues in other parts of Mexico, Los Cabos remains a popular destination for travelers from around the world. It is home to beautiful beaches, luxurious resorts, and an almost endless range of activities, making it an ideal vacation spot for families, couples, and individuals.

Los Cabos Safety VERIFIED

In 2022 Los Cabos partnered with Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on hospitality excellence, to elevate visitor experience throughout Los Cabos. This partnership includes comprehensive service training and health security verification to ensure high standards are maintained across all member hotels, restaurants, tour, and event providers. In Los Cabos, all hotels and resorts have completed and maintained verification on

more than 360 global health security standards, including health and hygiene protocols, cleaning products and procedures, ventilation and health safety communication for guests and employees. Forbes Travel Guide helped to develop the VERIFIED platform.

A Growing Professional Golf Tournament Destination

Los Cabos is a popular destination for golf enthusiasts. The region offers world-class golf courses, breathtaking views, and a perfect climate for year-round play. As a result, Los Cabos has become a hotspot for golf events, attracting both amateur and professional players from around the world. One of the most prominent golf events in Los Cabos is the Los Cabos Golf Classic, held annually in December. This event brings together some of the top golfers from around the world to compete on the region’s most prestigious courses, including the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol and the Dunes Course at Diamante. The tournament offers a prize purse of over $700,000, making it one of the most lucrative golf events in the region. Another popular golf

event in Los Cabos is the Los Cabos Pro-Am, held in January each year.

A True Haven for Golf Enthusiasts

Los Cabos boasts a mountain-desert-ocean environment unique in the western hemisphere. Only in Los Cabos do emerald, green fairways tumble down from cactus-studded foothills to meet the sea. Only in Los Cabos can golfers tee it up on world-class layouts built by design legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Only in Los Cabos can players enjoy great golf and perfect weather: blue skies, brilliant sunshine and cooling sea breezes prevail year-round. Los Cabos is home to some of the top luxury Golf Resorts in the world. 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 all-inclusive packages that include golf privileges, luxury golf resorts, include Four Seasons, Montage, Chileno Bay, One & Only Palmilla and many new openings as well.

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 has only been open for a couple of 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 “World’s Greatest New Courses” and has magnificent ocean side practice facilities. Diamante’s El Cardonal, featuring an “Old California” design motif, marked the architectural debut of Tiger Woods when it opened in 2014. Defined by flashed-faced bunkers, this intriguing layout transitions from sand dunes to rolling foothills edged by desert vegetation and winding arroyos. With its wide fairways and open-entry greens, El Cardonal was designed to appeal to golfers at all skill levels.

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.

www.visitloscabos.travel

ABOUT LOS CABOS

Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000-mile-long Baja Peninsula, is one of the world’s most diverse tourism destinations. Boasting a dramatic desert backdrop nestled by coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is home to award-winning resorts and culinary offerings considered some of the finest available anywhere. A growing list of championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas, world-renowned sport fishing tournaments, and state of the art convention facilities add to the destination’s unmatched appeal. For more information, images and videos from Los Cabos, please visit visitloscabos.travel, follow us on Twitter @LOSCABOSTOURISM and visit us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Over 400 fairways closer than you can imagine...

Experience for yourself our countless miles of beaches, genuine welcoming people, world famous seafood and more golf courses per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Unforgettable golf vacations, accommodation & course profiles, online tee time booking and all things golf on PEI await you.

ONE DESTINATION . . .

ONE DESTINATION . . .

ONE WEBSITE!

ONE WEBSITE!

IT’S HERE! ONE DESTINATION . . . ONE WEBSITE!

From the most reliable and trusted source for Florida Golf Information

From the most reliable and trusted source for Florida Golf Information comes the Official Website of the Florida Golf Alliance.

GREAT GOLF FOR EVERYONE – From some of the finest municipal and daily fee courses in the country to world renowned golf resorts, with more than 1,100 courses in our state, it’s easy to see how Florida is the World’s Leading Golf Destination! From the Florida Keys to the Panhandle you can play tracks designed by some of the best known architects and the very same courses the pros play on the tour. Whether this is your first time playing in Florida or you're returning for more exciting golf, use this website to plan your vacation to the World’s Leading Golf Destination!

HORSESHOE BAY RESORT A GOLF VACATION THAT NEVER QUITS

If you’re the type to take in every single amenity and attraction a resort destination has to offer and you love to be on the go all day and into the night, Horseshoe Bay Resort in the scenic Central Texas Hill Country is the place for you. By the same token, if you prefer to lounge quietly and undisturbed on the lakeshore with a cool drink or to take a private evening boat cruise after a round of golf, you’ll also be beyond content at this underrated 7,000-acre golf and lakefront oasis.

After a mostly pre-pandemic, four-year, $110-plus-million renovation, Horseshoe Bay Resort has never looked better or offered guests more unique amenities. Completely revitalized guests rooms, a renovated yacht club that now boasts a 100seat waterfront beach bar and an in-pool bar and complete makeovers of the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed Apple Rock, Slick Rock and Ram Rock golf courses have brought this be-

loved luxury retreat into an exciting new era.

The fast-growing Texas Hill Country surrounding Horseshoe Bay has become home to world-class home winery tours and barbecue aficionados are now making pilgrimages to the Highland Lakes area for smoked-meat nirvana. Add, too, the allure of the constantly full 6,500-acre Lake LBJ into the mix and you see why this resort area has become a prime vacation choice for so many sun and fun seekers.

Only an hour northwest of Austin, Horseshoe Bay is an easy reach, deep in the heart of ruggedly beautiful Central Texas, by air or land. Much to your surprise and any expectations you might have had about Texas landscapes, you’ll find a lush, tropical and inviting outdoor paradise. The three courses always open to resort guests – Ram Rock, Slick Rock and Apple Rock

– were all creations of the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr., and have undergone upgrades and improvements in recent years.

The opportunity to challenge the three RTJ courses in one setting is a unique thrill of its own. Ram Rock, with its rock gardens, granite outcroppings and blind tee shots, was designed to be one of the most difficult courses in the state. However, the recent renovation has softened some design aspects, increased green size, reduced bunker acreage by 40 percent, and expanded landing areas. It’s still plenty tough from the tips but more playable for guests and members as shown by increased play. Slick Rock is the mildest of the three, while Apple Rock is the middle son, more mature but with a bit of a wild streak. It offers great elevated views of the lake but also uses the elevation and folds of the land to wind its way around with a series of challenging, thought-provoking holes that will test your shot-making skills.

Horseshoe Bay is a great destination for a golf buddy trip or a company retreat. It has a unique 18-hole grass putting course unlike any we’ve seen elsewhere surrounding the electric Whitewater 360 Sports Club.

In addition to golf, the resort has pools, hot tubs, a marina with all manner of boats for rent, clay tennis courts, video arcade, bikes and trails and a very nice series of elevated walkways through a wet-lands area. Foodies will love the varied offerings at the Waterfront and the decidedly Southern restaurant, J’s. For those who may be interested in more than a vacation, Horseshoe Bay is also a community where thousands live and work or have second homes.

When It Come to Golf Travel Bags, Sun Mountain Has You Covered

New golf travel bags from Sun Mountain offer a blast of flashy new colors and patterns. Golf travel covers by Sun Mountain include ClubGlider, the golf travel bag with extendable legs and wheels that support 100% of the weight, and Kube, a minimalist golf travel bag that folds up small for easy storage. ClubGlider Meridian and Kube colors and patterns include the standard black, navy, red but also the unique spruce-harbor-ochre and the stand-out tropic-spruce pattern.

ClubGlider literally glides from parking lot to luggage counter thanks to legs that extend and support 100% of the weight and pivoting caster wheels that handle corners and curbs with ease. Once checked-in, the legs easily tuck away securely for carefree travel. ClubGlider offers all the protection and storage space of a traditional golf travel bag while eliminating the heavy lifting and the need to bend over to pick up and set down every time the check-in line moves three feet. ClubGlider is available in four different models – Pro, Tour Series, Meridian, and Journey – offering protection for golfers ranging from weekend warriors to touring professionals. Retail prices are $389, $369, $339, and $289, respectively.

Kube golf travel bag looks like an ordinary, small, plastic suitcase but unbuckled it opens into a full-sized golf travel bag. Kube is constructed from durable, ballistic style fabric in combination with plastic half-shells and dense foam padding to protect golf clubs. When not in use, Kube folds down to 9” x 13” x 14.5” for storage. When unfolded for use, Kube has internal dimensions of 52” x 14” x 14” offering room for a full-size golf bag. Kube is available in ten colors ranging from black to java-sand camo and tropic-spruce with a retail price of $269.99.

“With golf travel predicted to grow over 10% per year for the next 5+ years, now is the perfect time to invest in a durable, purpose-built golf travel bag to take the hassles out of traveling with your golf clubs and protect them along the way,” said Sun Mountain Sports CEO, Ed Kowachek.

For the retailer nearest call 800-227-9224 or visit www.sunmountain.com.

Kube: $270

Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene, luxurious resorts, and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the Mountain Lakes to the Gulf Coast, you can take it all in.

www.GolfAlabama.org

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham

What are you waiting for? Polo shirts. Hats. Belts. Towels. Travel bags. Yardage books. Custom Jordans and handmade golf shoes. All this and more.

PGA Pros including Kevin Kisner, Sepp Straka and Hudson Swafford wear Fresco Golf accessories. Isn’t it time you raised your style game? Fresco Golf. We complete you.

Boutique Brands from Around the Game

BY GREG SAMPSON

BOGEY BROS www.bogeybros.co ASSMAN POLO

AGONY GOLF

www.agonygolf.com

Agony Golf is a passion project born from a life-long golf lover turning what most people think of golf apparel on its head. Never one to shy away from a good pun while keeping it close to the pin, Agony Golf breaks the mold for traditional attire by melding humour, double-entendres and iconic nicknames for some of the sport’s most notable players. Perfect for everyone from novice to pro, Agony makes their apparel accessible for all. This brand strives to have creative, thoughtful designs for wear both on and off the course. Products range from polos and hats for the course, to t-shirts and hoodies to carry you to the 19th hole and beyond. As a Canadian brand, they know golf can’t be a four season sport for most- Agony Golf has everything from the hoodie to the toque to take you to the very last tee time of the year.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES

BOUTIQUE BRANDS

AFIRE GOLF

www.afiregolfco.com

Afire Golf’s mission is to provide innovative golf headgear and graphic tees to young people who adore the game, its history, and all the fun that comes with it. When the creators daughter first started playing the game, hats like this were difficult to come across - caps that fit properly while still capturing the game’s young enthusiasm. But, because they didn’t want to leave out the big kids (adults like us), they’ve included amazing designs for grownups as well.

BOGEY BROS

www.bogeybros.co

Here is a story of a couple of guys who spent too much time playing bad golf and felt it was time they looked the part. One day they were playing a particularly bad round and realized how misfit their clothes were for their game. Their attire and bags looked like they were sponsored on the PGA tour, this just didn’t look right. So they started Bogey Bros as a way to be true to themselves and the brand. At Bogey Bros the hats, polos and other accessories are designed with the bogey golfer in mind. They use self deprecation as a marketing tool to connect with other players from around the game. They work continually to grow the game while not taking themselves too seriously. Their motto: “If you can joke with yourself, your abilities on the course and find others that feel the same, then you’ll enjoy the great game of golf much more!”

www.TRUElinkswear.com

TRUE linkswear, one of the game’s ascending brands, is a story of family, passion and a commitment to producing comfortable, sustainably sourced golf shoes.

Golf was an integral part of life for brothers Jason and Ryan Moore growing up in the Pacific Northwest. They worked around a family driving range and competed at nearly every level but one thing never changed.

Whether they were walking the fairways of a major championship - Ryan is a 5-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Jason was his caddie for years - or playing a Saturday morning round with friends, the brothers were always in search of a golf shoe they liked to wear. Something that offered comfort and style.

Born out of what they call a selfish ideation, the brothers Moore took matters into their own hands, and TRUE linkswear was born.

With Jason working as the company’s CEO, TRUE’s mission is simple: create comfortable, game-changing golf shoes that are stylish enough to wear on and off the course. Driven by that thought, TRUE has grown into one of golf’s hippest companies, anchored by core golf shoe designs focused on sustainability, performance and comfort with a modern, minimalist aesthetic appealing to TOUR players and new golfers alike.

One of the TRUE’s most popular offerings is the All Day Ripstop V2 ($160), an all-season shoe that provides a luxury fit and style. The Ripstop is water resistant and windproof, making it ideal for fall golf in the Northeast, and best of all, the athleisure shoe is versatile enough to wear anywhere from the boardroom to the bar.

TRUE’s newest offering, the FS-Slide ($95), is part of the company’s popular Golf

& Leisure Club line. Providing slip-on convenience and multiple colors to choose from, the FS-Slide will be a golfer’s go-to shoe for relaxation. TRUE’s latest line is perfect for everything from an emergency 9 to having friends over for a backyard barbeque, highlighting the versatility at the heart of TRUE’s increasing appeal to golfers.

TRUE, which also offers an assortment of apparel, is the ideal modern brand with its emphasis on golfer comfort, style and the use of recycled and sustainable materials.

All New Srixon ZX Mk II Irons

New ZX Mk II Irons are a culmination of fast and pure. A pure feeling at impact, for purer strikes, and a pure sound. With tech-driven ball speed in every number, energizing every shot.

Get forged feel enhanced by PureFrame in the ZX7 Mk II Irons. Or get boosted ball speed heightened by MainFrame in the ZX5 Mk II Irons. Choose the model that suits your game, or play a combination of both, and carve up the course with great feel, or powerful distance in every shot.

An all-new design characteristic exclusive to ZX7 Mk II Irons, PureFrame enhances feel by reducing unwanted vibrations. The PureFrame ridge is forged into body of the Iron—just behind

the sweet spot—as an 80% thicker portion of 1020 Carbon Steel. Strategically placed right where you strike the ball, the result is a remarkably soft yet solid feeling at impact that doesn’t sacrifice any of ZX7’s famous tour-caliber workability.

MainFrame is a variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of ZX4, ZX5, and ZX Mk II Utility Iron faces that maximize flex at impact. Our unique Automated Intelligence process utilized simulations to meticulously iterate the dimensions of these features until we achieved our highest ball speeds yet.

The ZX Mk II Irons are a no brainer.

Cleveland Golf RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges

THAT’S HOW YOU SPIN IT

New RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges do what every Wedge does: they give golfers short-game spin around the greens.

But what sets these apart is a unique ability to consistently hit high-spin shots regardless of lie. Thanks to RTX 6 ZipCore’s proprietary UltiZip groove geometry, improved ZipCore tech, and the new HydraZip face, players can enjoy supreme greenside spin from the fairway, the rough, sand, and even in wet conditions.

HydraZip technology features a dynamic blast and laser-milled line system designed to maximize spin in wet or dry conditions, and from anywhere around the green. The striking areas of RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges also include lasered micro milling feature lines across and angled toward its grooves, adding further roughness for even more friction at impact.

Thanks to our exclusive ZipCore technology, we’re able to set the Center of Gravity right where you strike the ball, giving you more consistent performance and enhanced forgiveness; meanwhile, by adding an abundance of high/low and heel/toe MOI into every loft in the line, you’ll enjoy increased spin, distance, feel, and control.

Add spin to your shot with UltiZip. Sharper grooves let you slice through grass and debris at contact, and UltiZip equips RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges with our sharpest groove radii ever, imparting more spin and more control into all your shots. Deeper grooves create space for grass, sand, dirt, or water to evacuate the impact zone. So, with UltiZip, all that debris channels away, making every lie a great lie, and making greenside shots from the fairway, rough, or bunker more consistent.

With the RTX 6 ZipCore Wedges…It’s all Lies.

us.dunlopsports.com

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MOLORI UNPLUGGED

By John Molori

2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship coming to Newport

Historic Newport Country Club will add another chapter to its illustrious lore in 2024. In April, the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced that Newport will be the site for the 2024 U.S. Senior Open. This will be the first USGA championship Newport has hosted since 2006.

Newport was originally scheduled to be the host site of the 2020 championship, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be the fifth USGA championship to be held at Newport Country Club.

In fact, Newport was the home of the inaugural U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur championships in 1895. The dates of the U.S. Senior Open are June 27-30, 2024.

“This championship will add another chapter to the storied 130-year history between the USGA and Newport Country Club,” says Eric Mills, Senior Manager, 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship. “It is in our USGA DNA to conduct championships at historical golf landmarks like Newport Country Club.

“Newport is a bucket-list destination for many Americans. Founded in 1703, as a waterfront city Newport presents a beautiful array of summertime festivities ranging from sailing, beaches, cuisine, golf and more. Off the course,

we anticipate the players enjoying the opportunity to explore everything the city has to offer.”

Newport will become the sixth club to have held a U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Senior Open. The other clubs to have hosted those four USGA championships are Cherry Hills, Hazeltine National, Oakmont, Pinehurst, and Winged Foot.

Newport club president Barclay Douglas, Jr. relates, “We are excited to have the opportunity to host the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship. The state of Rhode Island, the city of Newport, and the club are enthusiastic to support this USGA championship.

“Our ‘City by the Sea’ will be enhanced by having the world’s best senior players compete for the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy on our historic Tillinghast course.”

Historic is a fitting moniker for Newport Country Club. William F. Davis designed the course as a nine-hole layout in 1894. It was expanded to 18 holes in 1899, remodeled in 1923, and underwent a restoration in 2005.

Golf historians will note that Newport co-founder Theodore A. Havemeyer was the USGA’s first president. The Havemeyer Trophy is still presented annually to the U.S. Amateur champion. In that first U.S. Open back in 1895,

Englishman Horace Rawlins scored a two-stroke victory over Willie Dunn to claim the championship covering 36 holesfour trips around the original 9 hole Newport course.

100 years later, the U.S. Amateur returned to Newport part of the USGA’s centennial celebration. Tiger Woods won the second of his three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles by defeating Buddy Marucci.

No one will forget the epic 18-hole playoff in the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Newport. Annika Sorenstam shot a 1-under-par 70 to defeat Pat Hurst by four strokes. The two players were tied at even-par 284 after 72 holes. Sorenstam recorded her third U.S. Women’s Open victory, tying her for third for most wins behind Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright.

Mills talks about the challenges that Newport presents to golfers. “It is virtually uncharted territory for a vast majority of the 156-player field competing for the U.S. Senior Open title.

“The wind prevails out of the south and has a tendency to switch directions from sunup to sundown. With parts of the golf course just feet away from the Atlantic Ocean, the severity of the wind will inevitably be part of the storyline.”

He continues, “The Tillinghast course layout will keep the players busy, especially around the green complexes. In order to win, each part of the player’s game needs to be on point and they will have to use all 14 clubs in their bag.

“The course provides an exemplary balance of golf holes where both risk and conservative play will be rewarded. Finding that balance will be the key.”

In 2017, noted golf architect Gil Hanse was hired to examine the course. The next year, based on Hanse’s

suggestions, changes were made to five fairway bunkers - three on the 2nd hole and two on the 6th hole. Hanse also advised that Newport’s greens be reverted to their original size.

Bernhard Langer won this year’s 2023 U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld. Langer, who turns 66 on August 27, became the oldest champion in history and the winningest PGA Tour Champions golfer ever with 46 titles, besting Hale Irwin.

Langer won the Masters in 1985 and 1993. His win at SentryWorld marked his second U.S. Senior Open victory. The 2024 gives Langer an opportunity for a third title and brings a major golf tournament to a sports-loving region.

“New England is one of the best sports markets in the world,” says Mills. “Newport is 40 miles from Gillette Stadium, 59 miles from Fenway Park, 61 miles from TD Garden, and 60 miles south of The Country Club in Brookline. This is a region of champions.

“Fans who attend the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport will see 156 of the world’s best professional and amateur golfers over the age of 50 and the grand stage of a beautiful Tillinghast golf course right on the ocean.

“Seldom do we see golf courses with back-to-back par 3s, but Newport Country Club has it. Holes 4 and 5 will be incredibly fun to watch during the championship. The golf season in most of New England is short due to winter, but New England sports and golf fans show up and are extremely loyal and embracive.”

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

Presented by Ace Sponsors

The 19th Hole Point of View

SO, YOU WANT TO PLAY Augusta or Pine Valley or any of the other so-called “untouchable” courses that it’s “impossible” to get on?

It’s tough to do, no question, but not necessarily beyond possibility. There are a few tried and true ways of fulfilling this mission impossible.

You could cultivate a friendship with a member and hopefully he will like you enough to spring for 18. The problem may come with reciprocating, especially if most of your golf is at the Leaking Sprinkler Golf and Tennis Resort course.

A charity event on the course is a perfect way to get on. However, a potential drawback is the fee, which in the case of a pro-am can amount to several thousand dollars. Another possibility is becoming a

BY ED TRAVIS

volunteer worker for an event held on the “untouchable” since many offer a round of golf as appreciation.

How about a career change? Get a job at one of the “impossible” clubs or a job with a company that is a vendor to the club. Club employees often can play when the course is otherwise closed, and vendors sometimes can get on as part of the business relationship. This may sound a bit extreme, but your significant-other will understand, right?

We all know however, the most direct way to get on an “untouchable” course is to choose your parents carefully.

Is it a Merger or a Partnership or a Buyout?

The topic even non-golfers have been talking about is the deal between the PGA Tour, the

DP World Tour, and LIV Golf. LIV is funded by the billions of dollars in the Saudi royal family’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) from selling their oil to the West. When first announced it was tagged a “merger,” then after a couple of weeks the description became a “partnership,” but many wonder despite the supposed framework agreement if it isn’t really a buyout by the Saudi’s.

In business, there is almost never a true merger—one of the entities always comes out on top. This “merger” calls for the formation of a new “for-profit” company with the PIF providing the initial cash investment and possibly future investments. The PGAT will run the golf events, scheduling, rules, etc. for the PGAT, DPWT, and LIV while keeping its not-for-profit status.

AROUND THE GAME THE 19TH

In any organization from General Motors to the corner coffee shop, the guy with the money calls the shots. So, who has the money in this deal? You know the answer. We’re told PGAT Commissioner Jay Monahan will be CEO of the for-profit entity while the PIF’s Yasir al-Rumayyan will be chairman of the board. The preliminary agreement specifies the PGAT will always have a controlling voting interest in the new company.

Monahan said after the PGAT spent $50 million in legal fees and $100 million purse increases to keep top names from leaving, these large payouts could not be sustained. The PIF has a reported $650 billion in assets so the PGAT could never continue a head-to-head fight.

Will this deal in whatever shape come to pass? Will the players who remained loyal to the PGAT forsaking the LIV millions revolt or be given part ownership in the new company? Will the LIV series survive at all and if not, how will LIV players integrate back into the PGAT? Will the U.S. Congress or Department of Justice demand their say? Stay tuned. This is far from over.

Adams Golf DTC

A lot of us have fond memories of Adams Golf and founder Barney Adams inventor of the famous Tight Lies hybrids. The company was purchased by TaylorMade Golf in 2012 but since then, the company has all but disappeared from the golfing landscape.

Speculation at the time was TaylorMade had been looking to gain access to the Adams innovative Velocity Slot technology which TaylorMade now uses and calls a Speed Pocket.

TaylorMade has now announced a unique strategy for a major club company; Adams will sell directly to consumers, no big box or green grass retail.

The new idea family of woods and irons is built from what are now more or less standard design components and sold only over the Internet on the Adams website. Clubs are constructed with lots of forgiveness and “easy launch” to target the growing number of new players and pricing is “golfer-friendly” with drivers listing for $300 and an iron set for $599.

(KPMG PGA Championship), Pebble Beach Golf Links (Women’s U.S. Open), and Walton Heath Golf Club (AIG Women’s Open).

Block Party at Oak Hill

Oak Hill Country Club scene of the PGA Championship and we were treated to the remarkable story of a club pro from Misson Viejo, Calif., Michael Block. The 46-yearold not only made the cut, a club pro rarity, but finished in a tie for 15th earning a cool $288,333 and the right to play in next year’s Championship.

The big story though was Block’s slam dunk hole-in-one in Sunday’s final round playing with Rory McIlroy. To say the fans in the stands went wild is a gross understatement and doesn’t approach the frenzy on social media. Block became the talk of golfers and non-golfers but unfortunately, it didn’t last long. After receiving a sponsor’s exemption into the RBC Canadian Open, he missed the cut and then failed to qualify for the U.S. Open. Oh, well. At least he had his 15 minutes of fame.

Women’s Golf Phenom

Aside from the seemingly endless discussion of the PGA Tour’s deal with LIV Golf, the LPGA Tour has had some excitement of its own. Rose Zhang, coming off a stellar amateur career at Stanford, including consecutive NCAA Individual Championships, turned professional and won her first pro-outing, the Mizuho Americas Open. Zhang is the first to accomplish this since Beverly Hanson in 1951.

The 20-year-old Californian had a tie for 8th in her first major, the KPMG Women’s PGA, and a very credible T-9 at Pebble Beach in the U.S. Women’s Open.

By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, the LPGA is worth paying attention to. The fields are international in scope, and they play on top tier courses such as Baltusrol Golf Club

It Took 69 Years

Nick Taylor won the Canadian Open on the fourth playoff hole over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood. Taylor is the first native to win his National Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, an unlikely span of 69 years, unless you consider the last Canadian winner before Fletcher was 40 years previous. Fans will also remember in 1955 the Championship was won by a young Pennsylvanian for his inaugural Tour victory…Arnold Palmer.

The event has a rich history and is the first of the three so-called triple crown opens—the Canadian Open, the United States Open, and what we Americans call the British Open. All three have only been won in the same year twice: in 1971 by Lee Trevino and in 2000 by Tiger Woods.

Freebird Motor Lodge is esigned with the soul of a rebel spirit, our newly renovated, vintage inspired motel boasts all of the modern amenities of today, with a laid back, energy of days gone by (plus a little more). Our designer interiors, great music, and unique spaces are ripe for year round enjoyment for golf groups and/or couples.

The Rooms

Our cozy guest rooms will give you the feel of an ocean inspired motel without the anchors and lighthouses. Comfy beds, luxury linens and perfectly plush pillows provide the perfect sanctuary for today’s inspired traveler. Newly appointed bathrooms boast modern finishes with all the convenience of home. AC units and in room refrigerators make our guest suites the ideal place to chill and be chilled.

The Amenities

After your round, hit up The Garage, a half indoor and half outdoor unique pool scene that offers the best of both worlds. If you’re looking to unwind and recharge, the full size hot tub offers the perfect spot for an invigorating soak. Onsite craft cocktails and local lagers can be found at The Dirty Birdie poolside bar and kitchen. From there sit by the firepits or on the patio for great music and good vibes.

Southeast Coastal Golf & Boating Communities

BY TIMOTHY BRANCO

IF THERE IS A BEST OF BOTH WORLDS in community living, it may just be seaside gated communities that offer great golf along with full water access for boating and recreation. If you are looking for the best location to live, boat, and golf, there are numerous places you can live while enjoying golfing and boating together. Many boating communities provide waterfront property with multiple golf courses along with private or communal boat docks, yacht clubs, marinas. Golf cart manufactures have discovered the personal golf cart market in a big way. Golf carts once only used for course use have evolved to full multi-purpose family recreation, shopping, dining, and a great utility

vehicle for boaters for a day on the water. Gated living communities in most cases have more golf cart paths connecting all amenities than roads, making it easier to get around for families. Seaside living on a golf course is a dream for many. A round of golf followed by some time on the water just makes for a perfect day. Here are a few of our Favorites.

Sea Pines Resort Community

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Sea Pines Resort was the first master planned resort community built in the early 1960s. Since its inception, it has spawned a whole new kind of living where resort-style amenities and luxury homes combine to

create the country club lifestyle. Sea Pines is a diverse community comprised of nearly 2,700 homes and over 1,000 villas. Sea Pines has access to both Calibogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean with their array of coastal wildlife, fishing, sailing and other water pursuits. On land, it’s easy to get everywhere on a bike as almost the entire resort is paved with paths for golf carts, walking and biking trails. Sea Pines Resort is a 5,200-acre, master-planned golf and boating community in the Carolina Lowcountry and is home to the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, four golf courses, and the deep-water Harbour Town Yacht Basin.

www.seapines.com

RESORT-STYLE LIVING

SOUTHEAST COASTAL

Dataw Island

Beaufort, South Carolina

Dataw Island, in Beaufort, is located between Savannah and Charleston. This serene island seems made for Lowcountry living with amazing golf course designs by Tom Fazio and Arthur Hills, both courses are southern standouts in national rankings. The historic coastal region is the backdrop for numerous movies, “The Big Chill,” “Prince of Tides,” “Forest Gump,” “The Great Santini,” and more. The region is famous for century old live oaks draped in Spanish Moss and pure southern Lowcountry coastal living. Accolades abound here as “Best Southern City for Living,” “Top 20 in U.S. Fishing,” “Best Island Golf Community,” and Best Tennis Facility in U.S. The community has unparcelled amenities, beautiful neighborhood planning along the river, community, and golf courses. Dataw has it all as one of the country’s top retirement locations nationwide. www.dataw.com

The Landings

Savannah, Georgia

The Landing is a private golf community with deep water marinas and impeccable club amenities set on an island of unmatched beauty. The Landings blends the gentle culture of the South with pristine tidal marshes, moss-draped maritime forests, and breathtaking coastal environment. Named as

an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community, this private gated neighborhood offers a variety of home designs that span across 4,596 acres yet provides a small-town charm. The world-class amenities and six championship golf courses offer a multitude of recreational opportunities for homeowners to enjoy. Residents also have more than 100 clubs, activities, and groups that they can join for the ultimate social lifestyle just minutes from Savannah. Landings Harbor Marina offers easy access to historic downtown Savannah, local restaurants, and the beautiful beaches of Wassaw and Tybee Island.

www.thelandings.com

Sailfish Point

Stuart, Florida

Sailfish Point is a 532-acre island community of 520 residences located at the

southernmost tip of Hutchinson Island on southeast Florida’s Atlantic coast. Sailfish residents live in spacious beachfront homes and intimate oceanfront condos, golf-view villas, and townhomes with private docks. Stretching along ocean and river, the community’s Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course sets a tone of sporting excellence. Sailfish Point is unique among golf communities in Florida, offering access from its private marina to open water in just five minutes. The Indian River, the Atlantic and the St. Lucie Inlet all await, offering a vast variety of fishing and boating experiences from a luxurious sea island base. Often homeowners take their boats over to the city of Stuart for lunch and a little shopping. Day cruises to the Bahamas are common as well as it is just 75 miles east.

www.sailfishpoint.com

THE NEW OWL’S NEST RESORT

THE VACATION & LIVING EPICENTER IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer an unprecedented Nicklaus Design course, 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.

The White Mountain National Forest encompasses 1,200 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 newly completed Sunset Pavilion is Owl’s Nest’s newest signature event venue, replacing the previous Sperry Tent directly next to Panorama Six82. The Sunset Pavilion features a beautiful, open-air design with rustic timber beams and unparalleled views

looking north into Franconia Notch. Additionally, the Sunset Pavilion can host events, weddings, and concerts for up to 200 guests and currently has availability for the coming winter season for both corporate events and weddings. The new pavilion will host concerts, and a 500-person amphitheater to be added in the future.

Now rated the #2 Pickleball Resort in the World by Tennis Resorts Online, Owl’s Nest is home to the only racquet complex in New Hampshire to feature all three racquet sports: pickleball, tennis, and paddle tennis. With the addition of Cos Chiujdea, Director of Racquet Sports, the racquet community at Owl’s Nest has bloomed. The resort currently offers a consistent selection of children’s camps, all-level clinics, custom lessons, and exciting tournaments and events. The four paddle courts are heated for year-round use.

Dining at Panorama Six82 has gotten more scenic than ever this summer, as the resort has added an additional 4,000 square feet of outdoor dining space overlooking the 10th hole and surrounding mountains. Slice Pizzeria is progressing well with construction as the exterior of the building is nearly complete and interior infrastructure work has begun. Butch’s Deli is in the finishing stages of development, with all exterior and interior designs completed. Tesla chargers have been installed and are now operational, located behind Butch’s.

The new Lafayette Lodge is underway, and will feature 24 double queen and 9 king rooms. It has seen significant progress since breaking ground in February. Exterior design is nearly complete and the interior infrastructure is continuing to quickly come along.

Owl’s Nest Golf Facilities & Clubs

Owl’s Nest Resort’s golf course was ranked #6 best Nicklaus Design course by value worldwide by NBC Golf Pass. The course is the only Nicklaus Design in New Hampshire. This 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 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 guest, tournaments, weddings, and outings. The White Mountain Country Club’s old airstrip with be converted into a vineyard and is expected to yield growth in three years.

Other Activities At Owl’s Nest Resort

Aside from Golf and Racquets, resort life at Owl’s Nest contin-

ues to get better. Find your Zen with weekly yoga classes indoors and outdoors at the LakeHouse venue with local yoga studio, Satya Yoga. Explore the surrounding hills on horseback with rides available through the local Abenaki Farms, located just 5 minutes from the resort. Book online through Owl’s Nest and go on a wonderful adventure through 120 acres of scenic trails.

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

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. 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

FOUR-SEASON LIVING AT OWL’S NEST

Springscapes. Summerscapes. Autumnscapes. Winterscapes. Fun escapes no matter the season. Access to endless amenities including New Hampshire’s only 18-hole Nicklaus Design golf course and 25 court racquet complex featuring 8 red clay tennis courts, 13 pickleball and 4 paddle courts. The Boathouse, our new lakefront clubhouse with restaurant/bar and locker rooms adjacent to an outdoor, heated pool and jacuzzi and 15,000 square foot beach, and docks featuring multiple watercraft. Snowshoeing and hiking along the Pemi River. Skiing in The White Mountains. Delicious food and drinks at Panorama Six82, rated #1 in The White Mountains by NH Lodging and Hospitality Association.

YOUR TRUE NEW ENGLAND PLAYGROUND

• #6 Rated Nicklaus Course worldwide for design and value by Golf Channel

• The SportsNest featuring golf and racquet merchandise and simulator

• Pemi River – kayak, tubing, fishing

• Outdoor jacuzzi, fitness room

• Tennis, Pickleball, & Platform Tennis

• Nearby skiing and snowboarding, access to snowmobiling trails

WE’RE REIMAGINING MOUNTAIN LIFE

• 25 court racquet complex

• 10 acre Lake Harold

• Hook Seafood Restaurant and Bar

• Restaurant and Bar – Panorama Six82

• Beach and Nest Marina

• The Boathouse

AND MORE TO COME

• The Spa and Hotel at Waterscapes

• Slice, a Sports Bar and Pizzeria

• The Vault Private Function Room

• Game Den, with comfy seating, huge TVs, and games

• Butch’s Brooklyn Deli and Grocery

• Tesla and Rivian Charging stations

• The Hoot, our new 9 hole short course

• Burrito Bowl, with indoor shuffle board courts and 4 bowling lanes

• Lafayette Lodge, a 33 room boutique hotel

NORTH LAKE HOMES

• Single Family Residences

• Open Concept Floor Plans with 3-4 Bedrooms

• First Floor Primary Bedroom Options

• 2 Car Garage

• Lakeside and Fairway Views

SOUTH LAKE TOWNHOMES

• Attached Town Home Residences

• Cathedral Ceilings

• Open Concept Attached Floor Plans with 2-3 Bedrooms

• Oversized 1 Car Garage

• Patios and Decks with Fairway and Lakeside Views From the $700s

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR OF OUR HOMES AT THE OWL’S NEST

SOUTHERN PINES GOLF CLUB

APPLE ROCK | RAM ROCK | SLICK ROCK | DESIGNED BY Robert Trent Jones, Sr.