Northeast Golf Magazine - Spring 2024

NEWPORT COUNTRY CLUB PRIMED TO HOST THE 2024 U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The biggest challenge at Streamsong? Going home.

Streamsong is the only warm-weather destination with three masterpieces from Coore/Crenshaw, Doak and Hanse/Wagner. All in the country’s Top 30, with a new course, The Chain, now open for play. You’ve never seen, or played anything like this.

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MID

The 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club

The

by Timothy Branco

FROM THE EDITOR THE 2024 SEASON

The 2024 Golf Season — Let’s Get Golf Ready

The start of the 2024 PGA Tour season is well underway amid the ever-present LIV/ PGA Tour agreement that is still being negotiated. Let’s all hope this gets settled soon so we can unite the game and its players once again. At the start of each year, we all focus on a new set of goals for our golf game. For some, it can mean new equipment, new instruction, joining a new golf course and finding ways to maintain and improve. Indoor golf facilities are everywhere now. It is quite easy to work on our game in any weather, day or night, and enjoy time with friends competing on some of the great new simulator systems. What could be better than playing golf while watching golf or major sporting events with friends at these great indoor golf venues?

It’s golf show season and the Northeast Golf Show kicks off its third year on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 15th through the 17th, in Foxboro at Patriot Place in the Field House. It is expected to be the largest show ever. This year’s show is sponsored by the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club, held in June of this year in Newport, Rhode Island. The Northeast Golf Show will feature the best deals of the season in equipment, travel, fashion, memberships, tournaments and more. Get your VIP ticket early, they will sell out. www.northeastgolfshow.com

This issue of Northeast Golf has a strong focus on Golf Travel Planning and “The Southern Swing” featuring top destinations to get your game going

“At the start of the year, we all focus on a new set of goals of our golf game.”

early. Golf travel gives us a break from winter in the Northeast which can put a damper on our game. There is nothing better than chasing the winter golf blues away. While buddies’ trips are the norm, couples and singles have no problem getting tee times at almost all golf resort facilities, and it’s a great way to meet new players. For the ladies, Women’s Golf Day, one of the game’s fastestgrowing movements to grow the game globally, has just launched a new social connect platform to meet and play with golfers globally. Join the movement today and grow your golf network at www.womensgolfday.com/become-a-connectmember

Editor

Timothy R. Branco tim@nepubinc.com

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Katrina T. Lallier

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Timothy Branco

David DeSmith

Leigh MacKay

Paul Mignosa

John Molori

Jack Ross

Barbara Rowell

Greg Sampson

Alice Scott

Danny Scott

Ed Travis

Henry Wallmeyer

Matt Ward

Phil Werz

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FROM THE ICONIC Beaux Arts-style clubhouse designed by Whitney Warren, to being one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association and hosting the inaugural U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open in 1895, Newport (R.I.) Country Club oozes with history.

The next chapter in the club’s 129 years of existence comes in June when the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship is conducted on the links-style venue designed by legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast and later restored by Ron Forse. Originally planned for 2020, the event was rescheduled due to COVID-19 postponing all but four of the USGA’s championships in the calendar year.

This won’t be the first time the 50-andover set will test their game at Newport. From 1982-1985, Golf Digest sponsored a Senior Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) event (Merrill Lynch/Golf Digest Commemorative Pro-Am) that attracted all the stars from that era. The winners included U.S. Senior Open champions Billy Casper, Miller Barber and Roberto De Vicenzo, along with Lee Elder.

“This is going to be fun,” said longtime Newport C.C. president Barclay Douglas Jr. of the upcoming U.S. Senior Open, the fifth USGA championship to be held at the club.

“Somebody ran into [two-time U.S. Open champion] Lee Janzen at Notre Dame (2019

U.S. Senior Open) and he said, ‘Oh, it’s great going back to that [club]. [Former PGA Tour winner-turned NBC golf analyst] Brad Faxon is a member. We’re hoping to have [Rhode Island natives] Brett Quigley and Billy Andrade. Fran Quinn is from Massachusetts.

“I’m so happy Bernard Langer won last year [at SentryWorld]. He’s a good man. He should be writing a book on how he is in such good shape [at age 66]. Everyone who is collecting Social Security would buy it.”

Douglas’ passion for the game began basically at birth. His grandfather, J. Gordon Douglas, was a founding member of Seminole Golf Club in Florida, and a great uncle, deLancy Koutz, was president of

The Latest Chapter

U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club

BY DAVID SHEFTER

four-time U.S. Open venue and fellow founding USGA club Shinnecock Hills, located in Southampton, N.Y., in 1920.

A year before he ascended to the presidency of Newport’s board, then-vice president Barclay Douglas wrote a letter to P.J. Boatwright, the USGA’s former executive director of Rules and competitions, about bringing the 1995 U.S. Amateur to Newport. The club had not hosted any USGA championships since 1895. Theodore Havemeyer, the first USGA president who helped found Newport C.C., was a key figure in bringing the inaugural U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open to Rhode Island, and the Havemeyer Trophy is annually

handed out to the U.S. Amateur champion.

Havemeyer, a wealthy businessman whose family owned the American Sugar Company, first discovered golf on a trip to Pau, France, in 1889, and brought back his passion for the game to Newport. He convinced several friends, including John Jacob Astor IV, Perry Belmont and Cornelius Vanderbilt II, to purchase 140 acres of farmland in an effort to lay out a golf course. Willie Davis designed the first nine holes and later added nine more after Havemeyer unexpectedly died in 1897. Tillinghast was later hired to design what is the current routing in 1923.

But the club was conspicuously absent

from the competitions calendar ever since Charles Blair Macdonald and English-born Newport C.C. professional Horace Rawlins won those events in the nascent days of competitive golf in America. Boatwright and David B. Fay, then the USGA’s assistant executive director (he became executive director in 1989), were attending the 1987 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rhode Island Country Club, in Barrington, when they made a side visit to Newport. While chatting with Fay, he casually asked him what Boatwright thought of the course.

“He loves it,” Fay told Douglas.

The Centennial U.S. Amateur was awarded to Newport and Tiger Woods

wound up capturing the second of three consecutive Havemeyer Trophies with a 2-up win over future U.S. Senior Amateur champion George “Buddy” Marucci Jr. It was the Southern Californian’s fifth USGA title in as many years (Woods won the U.S. Junior Amateur from 1991-93).

While Woods won’t yet be old enough to play in the 2024 Senior Open (he doesn’t turn 50 until December 2025), several players from that championship are eligible, including Woods’ ex-Stanford teammate/NBC golf analyst Notah Begay III, 1994 U.S. Amateur runner-up Trip Kuehne (lost to Woods at TPC Sawgrass), Jason Gore, Chad Campbell, Massachusetts amateur stalwart Frank Vana Jr., 2023 USA Walker Cup captain Mike McCoy, longtime pro Craig Barlow and Christian Raynor, one of two amateurs to make the cut in the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.

The success of the 1995 U.S. Amateur led Douglas and Newport C.C. to pursue the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, which was won by another World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Annika Sorenstam. The Swede’s third title

came in an 18-hole playoff over Pat Hurst in a week plagued by crazy weather. Nearly 3 inches of rain fell in the days leading up to the championship and the first round was postponed due to heavy fog, forcing the competitors to play 36 holes on Sunday.

Teenager Michelle Wie, who had turned professional the previous fall, was in the mix, but shot a final-round 73 to finish two strokes out of the playoff. She tied for third with 1998 champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak and Stacy Prammanasudh, with two-time champion/ Hall of Famer Juli Inkster three strokes back. Amateur stalwarts Amanda Blumenherst and Jane Park tied for 10th. Park won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2004 and Blumenherst would hoist the Robert Cox Trophy two years later.

“That was the championship that couldn’t start and couldn’t end,” Douglas said at the time because of the weather issues. “Going into the week, the golf course was perfect. It was starting to speed up and then the skies opened. We had to bring in

the [Newport] Fire Department to put hoses across Ocean Drive [to pump out the water]. It was a very successful week.”

Fast forward to 2017 and Douglas and the club decided the time was right to bring another USGA championship to Newport. The U.S. Senior Open would make Newport one of six clubs to have hosted the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Amateur, joining Winged Foot, Pinehurst, Cherry Hills, Oakmont and Hazeltine National.

“We thought the Senior Open would be the trifecta of all the Opens,” said Douglas. “It’s nice to say this little sleepy club in Newport, R.I., that people [often] look over. The golf course is fitting for everybody who wants to play it, whether you are a 36-handicap or a plus-4.

“It starts with the terrain. Tillinghast did a great job with it. A lot of people appreciate the design. The natural winds make it challenging. And ever since the mid-[19]80s, we’ve started to lengthen the golf course.”

Forse was brought in to help with that

restoration process, but the changes didn’t occur overnight. The membership, Douglas said, wanted to start small and see how those updates would affect the playing characteristics of the layout. Over the last two decades, more than 500 yards has been added to get the course up to modern standards. Newport can now play in excess of 7,000 yards from the championship tees (it will measure 7,070 yards, par 70 for the U.S. Senior Open). The club also installed 5 miles of ADS (Advanced Drainage System) pipe to improve drainage.

Charles Coen, who as the assistant superintendent during the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open played a major role in getting the course in acceptable playing conditions, also undertook a major green restoration project when the club decided to hire him as the superintendent in 2015. Faced with a thatch issue, Coen and his team used bristle

brushes to remove the organic debris.

“He did a great job of making the greens superb,” said Douglas, who is the longest-tenured president in Newport’s illustrious history. “One of the things my father always told me is to put things in better conditions than you found them.”

Barring any unforeseen weather issues, competitors in the 2024 U.S. Senior Open will find a course that rewards accuracy over length. Douglas said the player who succeeds at Newport will be accurate off the tee and avoid the rough. The nines have also been reversed for logistical purposes. The area around the club’s ninth green (No. 18 for the championship) has more room for hospitality and grandstands. A large area near that green, which was an old practice area, can also accommodate the Merchandise Pavilion and other facilities.

The course also features back-to-back

par-3 holes (Nos. 4 and 5 for the championship), a characteristic only found at a handful of layouts (Cypress Point, Quaker Ridge and Pacific Dunes are three known venues). Changing the nines also allows the players to finish with two par-4s (Nos. 15 and 18), a par 3 (No. 17) and a par 5 (No. 16) instead of four consecutive par 4s.

Perhaps it is also fitting that the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport will be the 1,001st championship in USGA history. The first 1,000 began at this summer hideaway for wealthy businessmen and now the next 1,000 kicks off there.

“I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” said Quigley, who tied for fourth in last year’s Senior Open and has won multiple PGA Tour Champions events. “The clubhouse, the property, I know the history behind it. And the golf course, it’s just a beautiful walk.”

The Southern Swing

The Golf Travel Planner

DESTINATIONS

GOLF TRAVEL PLANNER

THE 2024 GOLF TRAVEL SEASON is upon us and it’s planning time for golf trips to warmer destinations and longer daylight. Most overlook the fact that sunset in South Florida is 90 minutes later than in the Northeast in January because of the Earth’s axis tilt, giving us not only warmer temperatures but also extended playing time on the course and the opportunity to squeeze in a morning and afternoon round of golf. What makes golf travel so amazing is the stark transition of flying out of freezing temperatures and snow in the Northeast, and in 3-4 hours you’re teeing it up on a perfectly conditioned golf course in a warm sunny environment. It honestly does not get better than this!

2024 is starting out just the opposite of the global warming predictions as cold and severe weather has encapsulated most of the country from the north south to Georgia and out west in California, Texas, and Arizona. Even northern Florida is seeing temps in the 30s and 40s with some frost delays this winter. Just the same most of Florida, southern Georgia, and Mexico will pretty much guarantee great playing conditions and weather

from winter through to spring. There are hundreds of great choices with both resorts and regions to choose from with a vast amount of course designs and layouts for all golfers.

FLORIDA THE GOLF STATE

Golf-rich Florida is packed with great courses from Amelia Island and Jacksonville down to Miami then over to Orlando, the West Coast and the Florida Panhandle. The great thing about Florida is there are very different and diverse regions that offer unique design elements. Florida has some of the most famous designers and best-known

Hammock Beach Conservatory

Evermore Resort, Orlando

Amelia National

DESTINATIONS

GOLF TRAVEL PLANNER

resorts because of its year-round playability. There are ocean courses, parkland courses, links layouts, hillside designs, and even courses built on old quarry and mining sites. In greater Orlando, there are 250 golf courses to choose from and the selection is full spectrum with great accessibility. Mixing golf vacation with Disney fun is very popular for so many, and Orlando Intentional Airport is at the center of it all with great fares from just about everywhere. For nightlife and entertainment, there is no better destination in the Southeast that offers so much golf, and so much more!

NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Known as Florida’s First Coast, northeast Florida is home to some of the world’s finest golf courses. Take your pick from over 100 miles of coastal golf courses in scenic destinations such as Amelia Island, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the beaches, Clay County, Palm Coast and the Flagler beaches. The iconic Pete Dye, TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, tops the list in this region. Amelia Island offers spectacular choices with The River Club, Oak Marsh, Amelia National and a host of others. Just south, Hammock Beach Resort offers two championship venues, The Ocean Course and The Conservatory Course. The Ponte Vedra Inn & Golf Club offers luxury oceanfront accommodations with amazing golf at the Ocean Course and their new Lagoon Course. At World Golf Village there are The Slammer & Squire and The King & Bear Courses. In all, there are over 80 golf courses to choose from in northeast Florida with a vast array of accommodations to choose from. The northeast Florida region is along the east coast from Armilla Island,

Disney Lake Buena Vista

Champions Gate

south to Daytona Beach, which is home to the LPGA International, the home course of the LPGA Tour. The facility has two worldclass championship courses by Reese Jones and Arthur Hills and one of the very best practice facilities anywhere in the Southeast.

CENTRAL FLORIDA

The epicenter of Florida Golf is no doubt central Florida as over 300 golf courses are in the region. With over 40 golf resorts the area offers something for everyone looking for a golf vacation. The Evermore Resort (formerly Grand Cypress Resort) has recently opened on 1000 acres in Orlando. This new luxury resort brings beaches to Orlando with a 20-acre beach oasis that even features the largest man-made lake in Florida which is over 8 acres. The sand for the beach project was all trucked in from Pensacola Beach, which has the most pristine white sand in Florida. Two of Orlando’s best courses are here, Jack Nicklaus’s famed Links Course with replica

holes of St Andrews and the new Cypress Course. Some of Florida’s finest golf resorts are in greater Orlando, The Ritz Carlton, the Four Seasons, Champions Gate, Reunion Resort, Shingle Creek, Waldorf Astoria, Arnold Palmer Bay Hill, JW Marriott Grand Lakes, Marriott Grand Lakes, and Lakeshore Reserve. Just a short drive from Orlando, Streamsong Resort has set a new standard with 5 amazing course designs by the teams of Coore/Crenshaw, Doak, and Hanse/Wagner. Streamsong is on every list to play. There is no doubt that this region has more golfers visiting each year than any region in the state.

THE SOUTHEAST COAST

Southeast Florida is one the oldest sections of the state for golf resorts and courses. It was one of Florida’s first established resort regions where people escaped cold winters up North to enjoy warm sunny weather. From Palm Beach County south through Broward County and Miami Dade County,

you will find some of the best golf in the state. From Jupiter to Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, south to Bocca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami there are some of the most exclusive resorts and private residence clubs in America. We can start a bit north at PGA Golf Club in Port St Lucie.

Championship golf courses include the Wanamaker Course, Ryder Course, and Dye Course. Each course was laid out by design legends Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. In addition, PGA Golf Club is home to the PGA 6-hole Family Short Course. In Palm Beach, PGA National has 99 holes of championship golf on 6 courses, including The Champions Course home of the PGA Tour Cognizant Classic. The Breakers is exquisite with two great courses, The Ocean Course by Reese Jones, renovated in 2018, and the newly renovated Reese Jones Course. Hyatt Banyan Cay with a Nicklausdesigned course is a great resort, the Abacoa Club just 20 minutes away is a great course to play on a visit to Palm Beach. Just south,

The Breakers

LPGA International

Streamsong Resort

Innisbrook Resort

Long Boat Key Resort

Turnberry, Miami

The Boca Ratan Club is truly magnificent with an Audubon Sanctuary golf course.

The historic Biltmore Resort in Coral Gables is home to the iconic Donald Ross masterpiece designed in 1925. The Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa sits beachside on Hollywood Beach in Ft Lauderdale. The golf course is a fun play, and the resort is home to the Bird Golf Academy. Turnberry Isle Resort & Spa is nestled into one of Miami’s most affluent neighborhoods, the 300-acre resort features 2 championship 18-hole courses, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., redesigned by Raymond Floyd, and hosts numerous PGA & LPGA events. Trump National Doral is by all measures one of the country’s most heralded resorts with the famous Blue Monster Course. Doral’s three other courses, The Red Tiger, Golden Palm, and Silver Fox, have all be redesigned by Gil Hanse. The resort is also home to the famed Rick Smith Golf Academy.

DESTINATIONS

GOLF TRAVEL PLANNER

THE GULF COAST

Many travelers prefer the West Coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. White sand beaches and laid–back coastal communities that enjoy perfect golf weather. From Tampa Bay south to Naples there are many choices for great golf resorts. In St. Petersburg, The Vinoy Resort is in the heart of the city with a Ron Garl spectacularly designed golf course. In Tampa Bay, Innisbrook Resort offers an extensive selection of courses to choose from: The Copperhead Course, The Island Course, The North Course, and The South Course.

Emerald Greens Resort offers luxury condo accommodations with 27 holes of championship golf. In Sarasota, The Resort at Longboat Key offers unapparelled luxury as part of the Opal Collection. Longboat Key offers 45 holes of seaside golf. In Naples, The Ritz Carlton Tiburon is a spectacular resort nestled among native wetlands and migratory natural preserves located within

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries. Tiburon features two spectacular legendary golf courses designed by Greg Norman. The Gold Course is ranked as one of the “Best in Florida” and is home to the LPGA Tour, CME Group Championship, and the PGA Tours QBE Shootout. The Naples Grande Resort offers 3 miles of beachfront bliss with luxury rooms and a championship newly renovated 18-hole championship golf course. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort offers incredible white beachside luxury rooms and suites and has a great 18-hole links golf course. The JW Marriott Marco Island Resort has long been a favorite of golf travelers from just about everywhere. The resort completed a 320-million-dollar full resort renovation in late 2019. The resort boasts 2 championship 18-hole golf courses, Hammock Bay Club designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy and the Rookery at Marco re-designed by Jacobsen as well. A tremendous facility with top-ranked golf.

Disney Lake Buena Vista

The Ritz Carlton, Naples

ExperienceMyrtle Beach

BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT

The Destination

Myrtle Beach is nicknamed the Grand Strand for its sixty miles of beautiful sandy shoreline along the northeast coast of South Carolina. It is a magnet for family and friend trips with more than 80 golf courses and entertainment options galore. The climate is mainly mild year-round with summer temps averaging 83-91 and winter temps 57-61.

Accommodations are abundant with home rentals and oceanfront hotels. Action lovers might prefer staying on the south side while the north side is less touristy and more peaceful.

The Venue

Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap Championship, touted as “Your Major”, has attracted nonprofessional golfers from all walks of life, for 40 years. Thousands of players annually, are slotted in flights based on gender, age, and verified handicap for fair play to compete for many prizes. Myrtle Beach Convention Center is host to the World’s Largest 19th Hole in the evenings. It is the state fair of golf with product and destination exhibitors, games, live bands, drinks, and food stations with sample plates of themed menus from 20 local restaurants, all included. Dirty Don’s Oyster Bar & Grill,

Angelo’s Steakhouse, Mike’s Soul Food, and all the rest could be capped off every night with Friendly’s Ice Cream.

The Golf

How many trips would it take to play all 80 plus courses? Some notables:

Caledonia Fish and Golf Club, with its enchanting wood lined entrance, is a coveted course among the World Am flights. Floral gardens are designated as no play zones with free drops. Bunkers are absent but as the starter says, “there is plenty of kitty litter where you may take a practice swing.” One of the most entertaining holes for golfers and the clubhouse gallery is the picturesque 18th with water along the right and in front of the hole.

Burning Ridge Golf Club, South Carolina’s Course of the Year in ’06 is still in fantastic shape. Designed by Gene Hamm, it is part of Founders Group International with another 17 of the most requested courses in Myrtle Beach, including TPC and Pawley’s Plantation.

Prestwick Country Club, a Pete and P.B. Dye masterpiece is arguably, one of the toughest tests of golf on the Grand Strand. Diabolical Dye challenges are significant on the finishing holes. A comparatively friendlier design by Rees Jones is at Arcadian Shore Golf Club with wide

fairways and greens.

Wachesaw East Golf Club in Murrells Inlet is a former LPGA event site, designed in Clyde Johnson’s Scottish link style. Also near Murrells Inlet is the epitome of lowlands golf with towering oaks draped in Spanish moss at Heritage Golf Club.

Tidewater Golf Club is a natural beauty amidst the Carolina Pines, skirting the intracoastal waterway and marshes including Cherry Grove Ocean Inlet where boaters float by. The Long Bay Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, is long on water as well, with an island green on 13 and on number 15, a creek splitting the fairway, runs all the way to the green. Water provides a Zen like backdrop for the practice green at Lockwood Folly Country Club.

Barefoot Resort and Golf Club has a foursome of courses designed by Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye with rocking chairs on the veranda for relaxion between rounds. And the granddaddy of all is Pine Lakes Country Club on Granddaddy Drive. It stands the test of time as the first Myrtle Beach course.

And More

Life is a beach here, so all ocean activities are in play with plenty of beach stores to pick up chairs, umbrellas, body boards,

whatever you need. Frolic in the waves and relax in the sand, watching the pelicans, dolphins, and kite surfers. Or go boating, fishing, or parasailing.

Broadway at the Beach is not on the ocean, but has a waterway with speedy boat rides, restaurants, bars, shops, and Wonderworks. On the tamer side is a floral and sculpture tour at Brookgreen Gardens or good old fashion performances at Alabama Theater and Carolina Opry.

Our Takeaway

Myrtle Beach has more golf courses than most destinations and no two days on the beach are ever the same. While it is ideal year-round for vacationing, the World Am the end of August is an unforgettable experience. At the World’s Largest 19th Hole, farewells echo across the Convention Center, “See you next year!”

DESTINATIONS

MYRTLE BEACH

The Journey Drive time for road trippers from Boston is fourteen hours while most airlines fly into the efficient Myrtle Beach International

Airport with accessible rental or Turo cars. Major highways and connector streets make navigation easy to all the courses.

www.playgolfmyrtlebeach.com

Prestwick Country Club

Barefoot Resort

Pursue Your Passion in Paradise

As the only golf experience on the island of Anguilla, Aurora International Golf Club provides an intimate, extraordinary escape from sunrise to sunset.

The newly re-imagined 18-hole International Course and Avalon Links Short Course offer breathtaking views and challenging, dramatic holes, while a state-of-the-art instructional facility helps you hone your game.

WORLD CLASS / WORLD ACCLAIMED LOS CABOS GOLF VACATIONS

To say that Los Cabos has arrived on the international golf scene is very much understated, Los Cabos has become a global destination for luxury golf vacations. It is very rare for a golf tourism destination to climb to the ranks as one of the very best in the world, Los Cabos is the exception. Los Cabos has been the top golf travel destination for some time now in Latin America, over the last 10 years this world-class luxury golf destination has taken a world stage in international golf travel. In 2014 Jack Nicklaus’s new course design, Quivira was named “Best New International Course” by Golf Magazine. In 2017, Los Cabos won the IAGTO award for, “Destination of the Year” in Latin America. In 2022 travel agents worldwide selected Los Cabos Tourism “Best Tourism Office”. Again in 2022 Golf Digest awarded its “Editor’s Choice Award” to four Los Cabos Resorts. In December of 2023, Los Cabos received “Best Destination in Mexico” in New York by Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards. The ultimate accolade on golf’s world stage was in 2023 when the PGA Tour chose Los Cabos as the new home for the next five years of The World Technology Championship held at Tiger Woods’

first golf design, El Cardonal, at Diamante Cabo. “Hosting the PGA TOUR tournament in Los Cabos marks a significant milestone for our destination and serves as a testament to the world-class competitiveness of our golf courses on a global scale. Los Cabos is renowned as the golfing hub of Latin America, boasting an impressive array of 18 golf courses set against the stunning backdrop of the desert, mountains, and the sea.

We firmly believe that the PGA TOUR will not only help us showcase the exceptional golf experiences we offer but also highlight the extraordinary beauty and warm hospitality that Los Cabos extends to a worldwide audience. This provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to shine on the international stage, attracting a growing number of golf enthusiasts and travelers,” said Rodrigo Esponda, Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board.

The destination has become one of the most popular luxury golf destinations in North America and throughout the world. 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 subtropical sunshine, on just about every day of the year. 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. 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 as well as top-ranked golf courses, amazing tours, activities, and adventures. The growing popularity of Los Cabos has gone viral in the golf and luxury travel industry.

Nearly nine years ago Tiger Woods celebrated his first golf course design, El Cardonal at Diamante, a private resort oasis in Los Cabos. The PGA Tour Worldwide Golf Championship was held October 30th through November 5th showcasing the venue to the world. Los Cabos has been recognized as one of the

TOP 10 GOLF COURSES IN LOS CABOS

#1 Dunes Course at Diamante Cabo

#2 El Cardonal at Diamante Cabo

#3 Nicklaus II in Puerto Los Cabos

#4 Cabo Golf at Quivira

#5 Tiger Woods Oasis Short Course

#6 Chileno Bay Cabo Golf Course

#7 Cabo Real Golf Course

#8 Cabo del Sol Ocean Course

#9 Cabo del Sol Desert Course

#10 Greg Norman’s Puerto Las Cabos

top destinations for golf enthusiasts, boasting three courses that have been ranked among the world’s best by Golf Digest magazine in its 2022-2023 edition. Los Cabos has also made Golf Digest’s list of “Best Golf Resorts in Mexico” 4 times in the last two years. Topping off the list of this year’s best resorts was Cabo Del Sol, featuring a design by Jack Nicklaus which he described as, “the best golf property I’ve ever seen.” The course features 36 holes spread out along the Sea of Cortez. Embedded within a desert landscape, golfers will have a mix of challenging shots with some of the most beautiful backdrops. Guests can choose to stay on the property in one of several luxury villas and resorts with a long list of amenities.

ABOUT LOS CABOS

Los Cabos, located at the tip of the 1,000-mile-long Baja California Peninsula, is one of the world’s most diverse tourism destinations. Boasting a dramatic desert backdrop nestled between the Sierra de la Laguna Mountain range and coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is home to award-winning resorts, dynamic wellness experiences, and exquisite culinary offerings often regarded by many as some of the finest tourism offerings available anywhere. A growing list of championship golf courses, rejuvenating spas, and world-renowned sport fishing tournaments add to the destination’s unmatched appeal.

Los Cabos now offers a diverse array of options, ranging from public and resort public to semi-private and private courses. It has become a benchmark for playing award-winning designs by prolific architects such as Jack Nicklaus’ Quivira, Cabo del Sol Cove Club, Puerto Los Cabos II, Campestre San Jose, Palmilla, El Dorado, to Tom Fazio’s Querencia, Tiger Woods’ Diamante Cardonal, Davis Love’s Diamante Dunes, Greg Norman’s Solmar Golf Links, Puerto Los Cabos I, Fred Couples’ Twin Dolphin, Robert Trent Jones’ Cabo Real, Tom Weiskopf’s Cabo del Sol Desert, among a few others.

There are so many things to do in Los Cabos and you can do them safely, without concern. Los Cabos was named by Forbes

as the world’s first verified travel destination by Sharecare Digital Heath. Scattered across a 20-mile corridor connecting the touristy Cabo San Lucas to the cultural town center of San José del Cabo in the east, nearly 288,000 people call this scenic cape of Los Cabos, Mexico home. Known for its luxury hospitality, exuberant nightlife, and diverse culinary delights, Los Cabos exceeds expectations. Los Cabos boasts a mountain-desert-ocean environment unique in the western hemisphere. It is truly an incredible golf destination that continues to add new courses, new resorts and unlimited activities and amenities.

www.visitloscabos.travel

@loscabostourism

Walk the Walk

BY GREG SAMPSON in

2024

The golf footwear space is an everchange showcase of design and innovation year after year. In the end it all comes down to the golfers prefrence of style, structure and sole. Here are some of our favorites this year, but in the end its your choice so you can walk your walk in 2024.

1. FOOTJOY

Pro/Slx $190 & Carbon $220

www.footjoy.com

Incorporating the most advanced materials and construction processes, Pro/SLX and Pro/SLX Carbon will advance your game with revolutionary traction, comfort and control features. Pro/SLX will introduce a gamechanging new traction design called the PWR TRAX System, featuring a molded 3D X-Wing that is engaged by swing forces to redistribute energy to the perimeter of the shoe, inspired by the wide base found in race cars to maximize perimeter stability and traction. The Race Trak Outsole with radial disc traction harnesses and extends into the ground to increase the overall traction footprint.

2. FOOTJOY

Premiere Series - Mach6 | $240

www.footjoy.com

Introducing two new additions to the Premiere Series Field LX for men and Premiere Series Bel Air for women.

Influenced by players with a discerning sense of style, the Premiere Series uses hand-selected, full grain leathers with refined detailing that delivers distinctly modern classic styling. The Field LX is highlighted by a premium folded-edge constructed leather rand detail around the upper, while the Bel Air features a modern reimagining of an iconic saddle. The Premiere Series is packed with performance innovation, led by the Tour-proven VersaTrax+ outsole. This revolutionary outsole technology delivers superior traction and stability in every playing condition and surface.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SHOES

ASICS

GEL-KAYANO ACE 2 | $170 us.dunlopsports.com/asics

The GEL-KAYANO ACE 2 is a spikeless golf shoe designed to deliver unparalleled comfort on the golf course. Featuring ASICS FlyteFoam® Technology, this model offers lightweight shock absorption and support, for a smooth and comfortable stride. The incorporation of Flex Grooves enhances rotation during the swing, while also creating an effortless walking experience from the first tee to the final green. Available in four-colorways.

NEW BALANCE

Heritage | $140

www.newblance.com/golf-collection

Inspired by the New Balance Classic silhouettes, The Heritage features a new Dynasoft midsole that provides comfort and performance on all terrains. A waterproof microfiber leather /performance mesh upper is backed by a two-year warranty. The DynaSoft Midsole delivers lightweight cushioning and an ultraresponsive ride combined for a better performance experience while the NDurance rubber outsole is designed to move with the natural motion of your foot. The Heritage features six FastTwist® 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats providing traction on all terrains. Available in two colorways. As with all New Balance golf shoes, comfort begins right out of the box with the Heritage golf shoe. New Balance backs this up with a 45-day comfort warranty.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SHOES

1. PAYNTR

X001 MESH | $160 www.payntrgolf.com

The X001 Mesh features an engineered jacquard upper that delivers lightweight support and flexibility while the TPU outsole delivers traction in three dimension for the life of the shoe. The X001 Mesh has a dual density PMX Foam™️ midsole that provides maximum energy return and ultimate under foot support. Unique to a mesh show is the Neverwet™️ superhydrophobic solution offering non-wicking and water-resistant protection. The Ariaprene® tongue offers supreme foot lockdown to provide maximum stability and lightweight, breathable support plus the Ortholite™️ footbed, compresses less than 5%, so the cushioning, fit, and comfort never change.

2. PAYNTR X TOUR PROTO RS | $220 www.payntrgolf.com

The new X Tour Proto RS features a full grain leather upper which provides all-day comfort, water resistance, and durable support while the TPU outsole, with fast twist insert system, delivers traction in three dimensions for the life of the shoe. The Proto RS has a new Tour Flex Pro spike with three degrees of traction & ten points of contact for course-proven grip. This breakthrough golf shoe has a ventilated dual-density PMX Foam™️ midsole that provides maximum energy return and ultimate underfoot support. The graphite propulsion plate allows golfers to harness ground reaction forces more effectively and the show has a fully waterproof breathable membrane. The ariaprene® tongue offers supreme foot lockdown to provide maximum stability and the PMX Nitro+ footbed delivers lightweight responsive cushioning for the life of the shoe.

3. PAYNTR TRAINER X | $180 www.payntrgolf.com

The Trainer X features a Carbitex™️ MonoFlex propulsion plate that is stiff in one direction providing underfoot protection that enhances stability. It is highly flexible in the opposite direction, flexing with your natural gait to maximize the efficiency of your movements. MonoFlex works to protect your feet and minimize over-bending to reduce fatigue. The Engineered woven jacquard upper weaves TPU thread for lateral support and nylon thread for lightweight flexibility. It also combats abrasion and holds up for years of aggressive golf workouts.

The Trainer X also features a PMX Nitro+ infused PMX Foam™️ midsole & footbed provide maximum energy return & ultimate underfoot comfort. The upper design includes a padded heel & collar for comfort, a perforated microsuede tongue for breathability, reflective branding for visibility, and two sets of reflective laces for personalization.

4. PAYNTR

SLIDE LE | $50

www.payntrgolf.com

The Slide LE provides unmatched definitive comfort for off-course recovery. The slides feature a light weight and flexible full-grain leather upper along with a Dual Layer, PMX Foam™️ construction. The Soft EVA foam footbed and ground contact EVA outsole make the Slide LE the perfect after golf go to.

TRUE LINKSWEAR LUX G | $175

www.truelinkswear.com

The first new model of 2024 combines TOUR-level performance with a new fit and feel. LUX G is a fully waterproof (2-year warranty) construction with the signature TRUE easy-on collar and cushioned ride.

Designed with style and performance in mind, it offers a comfortable fit and feel unlike anything on the market. The LUX G also features a multi-material construction to ensure comfort, durability and waterproofing. Available in three colorways.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SHOES

UNDER ARMOUR

PHANTOM | $140

www.underarmour.com

Sleek and comfortable like a training shoe, UA Phantom Golf Shoes include waterproof uppers and ground-hugging traction to help you play through any course conditions. The Phantom is lightweight that has a breathable knit upper with strategic reinforcements to support the golf swing. The show features a knit collar for ease of entry and a plush feel with an external heel counter for stable support while the responsive UA HOVR™️ cushioning reduces impact, returns energy and helps propel you forward. Available in four colorways.

SQAIRZ SPEED2 | $180 www.sqairz.com

The newest evolution of our award-winning SPEED line. Performance and stability, now lighter and tuned for the modern golfer. The new SPEED features lateral and medial side “gear effect” embossing for enhanced structural integrity. There is an external TPU carbon film that extends from the heel to the arch for stability and prevents roll over. Golfers’ will benefit from the NEW lightweight-responsive SQAIRZ NRG-Foam™️ midsole which delivers walking comfort and energy return. Patented AI generated “smart-traction” system has traction nubs positioned in a rotational pattern at varying heights coupled with strategically placed removable PIVIX fast twist Softspikes. Over 290 points of penetrating ground contact for optimal ground force production and unparalleled traction on all terrains. SPEED is 100% waterproof, reactive synthetic leather upper material.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SHOES

SQAIRZ PROS2 | $200

The refined performance of the new ProS2 is lightweight, breathable, 100% waterproof and has a ComfortFlex microfiber upper material. The shoe features a lateral and medial side embossing for enhanced structural integrity. The ProS2 has a NEW lightweight-responsive SQAIRZ NRG-Foam™️ midsole which delivers walking comfort and energy return. Patented AI generated “smart-traction” system has traction nubs positioned in a rotational pattern at varying heights coupled with strategically placed removable PIVIX fast twist Softspikes. Over 290 points of penetrating ground contact for optimal ground force production and unparallelled traction on all terrains.

SQAIRZ VELO | $220

Introducing the first-ever speed-rated design for Pro performance and for power hitters. Proprietary SQAIRZ NRG-Direct™️ Technology is a lightweight film that reduces energy loss in the high stress-lateral side of the shoe, redirecting and funneling power upwards. This film provides weightless lateral and rotational support. Average increase of 12 yards of distance, 3.9mph in swing speed, and dispersion tightened by 30 percent. The LaceLock™️ system provides supplemental lace security and performance for elevated swing speed along with the new lightweight-responsive SQAIRZ NRG-Foam™️ midsole which delivers walking comfort and energy return. The patented AI generated “smart-traction” system has traction nubs positioned in a rotational pattern at varying heights coupled with strategically placed removable PIVIX fast twist Softspikes. The VELO is 100% waterproof, reactive synthetic leather upper material.

1764

Stroll’s Promenade Derby www.1764golf.com

Introducing Stroll’s Promenade Derby, a new interpretation of classic performance on the greens. This all-leather designed golf shoe is beautifully crafted with attention to detail, seamlessly merging tradition with all-day comfort. Its sleek silhouette pays homage to the timeless allure of the sport, while modern technical features ensure optimal comfort and support with every swing. The plush interior lining provides a snug fit, comfortably wrapping your feet from tee-off to the final putt. Engineered for stability and traction, the midsole and outsole unit empowers golfers to navigate the course with confidence and finesse. Elevate your on-course experience with Stroll’s Promenade Derby golf shoe, where crafted performance meets style and comfort. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a weekend enthusiast, step onto the fairways in confidence with this exceptional blend of tradition and innovation. The Promenade Derby by Stroll - A good walk perfected.

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES SHOES

DUCA DEL COSMA

Davanti | $250 www.ducadelcosma.us

New from the award-winning Italian lifestyle brand, and golf shoe trendsetter, Duca del Cosma is the sporty Davanti golf shoe. A men’s handcrafted golf shoe made from the finest Italian Nappa leather and features the performance-driven Airplay 15 smart outsole. A sole that is made from a compression-molded EVA; an innovative, soft, and flexible form which is shaped to provide stability in the heel. Duca del Cosma staffers say this feature is so important for walking but even more important for stability at impact. For the ultimate in comfort, the Davanti is equipped with a memory foam inner sole that features a recycled cork. The ecofriendly, lightweight, comfortable but stable Davanti

BE SEEN ON THE GREEN

DESIGNER QUALITY

Kohv Eyewear offers high-quality, fashion-forward eyewear at affordable prices — all designed in NH. We are family owned and operated and our styles reflect our love of adventure, travel, and experiences.

HEMP TOPICAL GEL

ALL THE BEST INGREDIENTS OF ELEBLEND’S PRO-ATHLETE GEL WITH DOUBLE THE CBD.

CONVENIENTLY PACKAGED IN A COMPACT PUMP FOR ON-THEGO ACTIVITY.

BEST APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE SITE OF DISCOMFORT BEFORE OR AFTER EXERCISE.

AVAILABLE ONLINE OR AT SELECT PRO SHOPS

ELEBLEND.COM

CBD

The all-new HALO XL Hy-Wood is both radically new, and yet incredibly familiar.

Maybe your Fairway Woods don’t cooperate on shots off the deck. Or, maybe you just prefer the feel of a Hybrid. Either way, the HALO XL Hy-Wood is uniquely designed to fill the space between by coupling Hybrid swing feel with Fairway Wood distance, plus all our latest distance and forgiveness tech. Now, you can ditch your duff-prone Fairway Woods while still maintaining proper gapping at the top of your bag.

www.clevelandgolf.com

Tour Edge Launches Hot 524 Series

A game-changer for every golfer

Hey, golf enthusiasts! Get ready to elevate your game because Tour Edge is shaking things up in the golf world with their newest creation: the Hot Launch 524 Series. The 524 Series is all about bringing the best tech from the pros to the rest of us, without the need for a tour card or a hefty bank balance.

What’s New and Exciting?

Tour Edge is throwing some serious tech into the mix with innovations like Ridgeback, Diamond Face VFT, RyzerSole, and VIBRCOR technology straight from their top-tier Exotics line. It’s like having a supercar engine in your family sedan – power and performance, but with the comfort and handling for everyday players. David Glod, the mastermind behind Tour Edge, is pretty stoked about it. He’s all about pushing the Hot Launch series to new heights with designs that are all about game improvement and making golf more accessible and enjoyable for the average Joe and Jane.

Fitting Like a Glove

One of the coolest things about the 524 series? Custom fitting. Tour Edge is going all out to make sure these clubs fit you like a glove, with over 1500 fitting locations equipped with mobile fitting bags. It’s about getting that tailor-made experience, ensur-

ing your clubs are just right for your game. And get this – place a custom order, and they’ll have it built and out the door within 48 hours. That’s right, from their HQ in Batavia, Illinois, straight to your bag in two days flat. Talk about speedy service!

The Clubs: E524 & C524

The series breaks down into two ranges, the E524 and C524, each tailored for different game improvement needs. Whether you’re all about super game improvement or looking for that competitive edge, there’s something here for you.

Wrap Up

Tour Edge’s Hot Launch 524 series is a game-changer, offering high-tech, custom-fit golf clubs at an unbeatable value. Whether you’re teeing off, navigating the fairways, or finessing your way around the greens, this series has something for every golfer looking to improve their game without breaking the bank. Get ready to experience the difference with Tour Edge’s latest innovation!

To Purchase or Find a Location to Get Custom Fit visit www.TourEdge.com

2024 MEN’S STYLES OUT IN MARCH

2024 WOMEN’S STYLES FREEDOM LINE

#1 Most Stable Golf Shoe of 2022 and 2023

Named among Best Golf Shoes 4 years in a row

Most Technologically Advanced Golf Shoe of 2023

Worn by elite instructors like Jim McLean, Rick Smith, and David Leadbetter

Endorsed by golf legends Sir Nick Faldo and David Duval

AI POWERED PUTTING

EXPERIENCE THE FUTURE OF PUTTING

Indoor Golf AMPLIFIED

Your destination for virtual golf and REAL FUN. Our experiential entertainment brand boasts 8 locations spanning across the Northeast from Westchester, NY to the Northshore, MA. Delivering precise club data with Trackman’s state of the art swing radars, our facilities are equipped with full bars and kitchens to host all of your event expectations.

Walk through the doors you get the vibe that you have come to the right spot! With music playing and families having fun, there is a lot to see. Challenge over 250 digitally mapped courses, multiple target practice ranges and putting games, your experience will never be the same with so much to play!

THE GAME GET IN

860 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI

Russel Johnson is one of the finest golf coaches in New England with over 30 years of experience, and learning from the best coaches in America

State of the art equipment to help your game reach its highest potential, such as RoboGolf Pro, MEGSA, Trackman, Swing Catalyst, Sportsbox AI,and Smart2Move

www.OSGA.golf

(480) 757-5575

rus@osga.golf

860 Waterman Avenue

East

Come Play

CLUB9 is a Golfcentric Lifestyle and Happiness Brand for players that love golf…have found golf…and love being around the golfing/sporting lifestyle. CLUB9ers believe that time is sensitive, friendships are all important, golf is social and enjoyed most in a low-pressure environment. The vibe is driven by… fun golf, friends, brew, wine, whiskey, music, and life’s comforts.

CLUB9 is an invitation to a golfing lifestyle that is your own!

Join CLUB9 and enjoy our multiple course membership, a sip of CLUB9 Seltzer and a go on the CLUB9 Tour. Play our courses: Kings Crossing, Bristol Golf Park, Orchards Golf Course, and Met Links...and more!

DEFY CANCER THROUGH GOLF

Get involved with Jimmy Fund Golf presented by Mohegan Sun to give back, have fun, and defy cancer for patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Start a traditional or mini golf event

Play in an existing event near you

Become a sponsor to showcase your brand and support our mission

Get started at JimmyFundGolf.org

NEW ENGLAND MOUNTAIN GOLF AT ITS BEST

9 GREAT COURSES TO STAY & PLAY

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are the perfect backdrop for Mt. Washington Valley’s nine golf courses. These are some of the most prestigious and scenic courses in all of New England! With well over 100 holes of golf to play, they offer acres and acres of green that showcase technical courses designed by giants in the industry.

From challenging 9-hole family courses to 18-hole championship venues each beautifully designed course is distinctly different, “one of a kind”, offering a true test of golf skills at every level. From courses set at historic grand hotels, others that cross covered bridges and vintage train tracks, and all with stunning mountain views, the biggest challenge just may be keeping your eye on the ball when surrounded by some of the

most beautiful scenery in the world!

Stay & Play in Mt. Washington Valley

From spring greens to brilliant fall foliage, golfers have three seasons to enjoy their favorite pastime. Add in first-class lodging, amazing casual to fine dining, family attractions, a cool arts scene, and much more for a Stay & Play experience to elevate your game. Wherever you are you’ll be minutes to a spectacular course. With all nine courses 5 to 45 minutes of North Conway Village you can easily play one, two, or more during your stay.

For more information visit GolfMWV.com or call the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce at 603-356-5701

Androscoggin Valley Country Club

Gorham, NH

In the “Great North Woods,” one of the most invigorating and scenic golf courses in New Hampshire. Endless mountain views and forest. avccgolf.com

Hale’s Location Golf Course North Conway, NH

A spectacular 9-hole, par 36 course. Golfers will find long fairways, several water hazards and carefully placed sand traps. Great views and meticulous ground. haleslocationgolf.com

Wentworth Golf Club Jackson, NH

In Jackson Village with views of the Presidential Range along the Wildcat and Ellis Rivers. Enjoy Madeline’s Deli at the club, visit Red Fox Bar and Grille down the road. wentworthgolf.com

Eagle Mountain House & Golf Club Jackson, NH

One of New Hampshire’s oldest and historic hotels overlooking Jackson Village along the Wildcat River. One of the prettiest 9-hole courses. A step back in time. eaglemt.com

Mountain View Grand Resort Golf Course Whitefield, NH

One of New Hampshire’s few remaining grand hotels. The 18-hole golf course offers spectacular views of the surrounding White Mountains. mountainviewgrand.com

Bridgton Highlands Country Club

Bridgton, ME

Views of Pleasant Mountain, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and Mount Washington. Great family facility with multiple tee choices.

bridgtonhighlands.com

Indian Mound Golf Club Ossipee, NH

One of Mt. Washington

Valley’s most popular golf courses. This par 70 course features gentle rolling terrain; a “good walk,” they say. Located in Center Ossipee. indianmoundgc.com

Province Lake Golf Club Parsonsfield, ME

“One Scenic 18” classic golf with outstanding modern design. Throughout the course’s 18 holes you’ll be treated to spectacular views; great practice facility. provincelakegolf.com

Omni Mount

Washington Golf Course Bretton Woods, NH

18 holes, par 72, 7,004 yards. It has been regularly voted as “One of the Best Courses You Can Play” in NH. Designed by legendary Scottish Architect Donald Ross, a must play! omnihotels.com

visitMWV.com

By John Molori

Pickleball Phenomenon Fosters Sports and Social Interaction

It has captured the interest of people young and old and is sweeping the country with a growing wave of popularity. No, it is not the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce romance.

I am talking about pickleball, a sport that is permeating all demographics and sports enthusiasts. Heck, it even has its own professional tours and leagues. In the northeast, there are several indoor pickleball facilities increasing their space and customer base.

Pickleball is a paddle sport akin to tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It employs a paddle and plastic ball with holes much like a whiffle ball. The game can be played by all ages

and skill levels and the rules are relatively easy to learn. As with any sport, there are differing levels of play and skill in competitors.

Southcoast Pickleball in Fairhaven, MA offers all things pickleball including open play where large groups of people come together and share a preset number of courts. They also offer private court rentals, clinics and instruction, as well as competitive games and tournaments.

Owner/operator Adam Rogers talks about the rise in popularity of the sport. “First, the game is easy to learn, so it is easily accessible to people interested in starting.

MOLORI UNPLUGGED PICKLEBALL

“Second and perhaps the biggest factor, it’s a social sport that people of all ages can enjoy together. We often see families come in, and parents in their 50s and 60s can still compete with their children in their 20s and 30s. There aren’t many sports where you can do that.”

Similarly, Lil’ Rhody Pickleball in North Kingstown, RI has become a destination point for pickleball players. It offers five full-size indoor courts soon to be adding two additional outdoor courts.

Their Bootcamp Pickleball program gets beginners up to speed on the sport. Lil’ Rhody also provides lessons and clinics as well as opportunities for players to drop into an open session and play with other players separated into different skill levels. They also have a full pro shop, leagues, and tournaments.

“Pickleball gives you an excellent and enjoyable workout without struggling on a treadmill,” says Richard Storti who owns Lil’ Rhody with partner Kevin O’Brien. “The whole time, you are laughing and enjoying it.

“The game is very social. You get to interact with a lot of different people, and physically, you feel great after you play. The game provides us all with a better feeling of wellness, and you can improve quickly.

“You just have to be in position, practice, and have some of the basic shots to become proficient. It’s not terribly taxing

on your upper body and you don’t need a lot of muscle to do it. It’s just more about finesse and footwork.”

In Rye, NH, the New England Pickleball Club (NEPC) is a seacoast pickleball paradise. It provides an array of services for both members and non-members including skill-based social play, competitive ladders, elite coaching in the form of clinics, classes, private lessons, video coaching, and private court bookings.

NEPC has six dedicated fenced in courts, climatecontrolled environments, and amenities like showers and lockers. It is open to players of all skill levels.

Owner and head pro David Velardo talks about his entrance into the game and the demographics of the sport. “I discovered pickleball during my ten-year stint in California where my passion for the game quickly evolved from a casual interest to a full-fledged pursuit of excellence. My dedication to mastering the sport propelled me to achieve the rank of #27 in the world in the 2020 rankings.

“Our customer base spans a wide range of demographics, welcoming players of all ages and backgrounds united by their passion for pickleball. We cater to every level of play, from true beginners to top amateur and professional players.

“This diversity creates a vibrant community where lower and mid-level players have ample opportunity to interact with, learn from, and aspire to the higher levels of play. Pickleball

MOLORI UNPLUGGED PICKLEBALL

just works extremely well as both a social activity and competitive sport for all ages and ability levels. Those are the two areas that we focus a lot on at NEPC.”

There seems to be a common philosophy of physical fitness and social interaction among these pickleball havens. In Hanover, MA, Pickles Indoor Pickleball Club offers a state-ofthe-art, climate-controlled indoor complex dedicated to ensuring an optimal playing environment all year round.

With six tournament-sized courts and two practice courts, the facility caters to all levels of play, from beginners to seasoned competitors. Pickles provides Performance Coaching programs, competitive play in leagues and tournaments, and skill advancement with clinics for all skill levels. Their DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) has allowed the player community to track progress and set new targets.

“Pickles is more than just a pickleball facility. It’s a community-centric hub where the essence of the sport’s inclusivity and joy is palpable,” says Dustin DeMeritt who owns Pickles with wife Lisa. “Our commitment is to provide a

“[Pickles is] a communitycentric hub where the essence of the sport’s inclusivity and joy is palable.”

Dustin DeMeritt, Pickles owner

comprehensive pickleball experience.

“Our Player’s Lounge and The Kitchen offer a place for our members to relax and socialize, capturing the essence of community that is central to Pickles’ ethos. It’s a place to unwind, share stories, and enjoy refreshments after a great game. We’ve aimed to create not just a place to play, but a place to belong.”

While all of these pickleball facilities are thriving amid the sport’s increased popularity, they are not standing pat. Southcoast Pickleball plans to add additional courts and kitchen offerings while forming partnerships with area school systems. Rogers is also hosting the 2nd annual Southcoast Championships March 9 & 10 with top players from across

MOLORI UNPLUGGED PICKLEBALL

New England competing.

Lil’ Rhody aims to identify other locations to expand its brand, while New England Pickleball will be opening a second location in Middleton, MA later this year.

Pickles plans on integrating physical therapy and rehabilitation services. The facility is also starting 4-Player Team Leagues using the MLPlay format incorporating men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles into a cohesive league format.

DeMeritt puts the pickleball mentality into full focus stating, “In the larger picture, we see pickleball’s popularity continuing to surge, with more people of all ages discovering the sport each day. As it grows, we anticipate further innovations in gameplay, equipment, and facilities.

“Pickleball fosters a community that values health, wellness, and the pure enjoyment of the sport. We are continually inspired by the stories of connection and transformation that unfold here every day. We believe pickleball is more than a sport. It’s a way of life.”

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

THE PICKLEBALL PRO SHOP

SELKIRK

Vanguard Power Air - Invikta | $250 www.selkirk.com

The Vanguard Power Air Invikta pickleball paddle is the top choice for power players. For players who are looking for maximum spin for controlled, aggressive drives, it features a larger sweet spot than traditional power paddles, allowing for difficult to return shots and superior ball spin. Unquestionably the Invikta most aerodynamic of all Selkirk paddles and is the ideal paddle for singles and tennis players. Available in five colorways.

SELKIRK

Pro S1 Pickleball - 12 Pack | $35

www.selkirk.com

The Selkirk Pro S1 Pickleball Ball is the new standard for consistency and durability. This remarkable creation embodies the very essence of nextgeneration Pickleball ball technology and is a culmination of our tireless dedication to elevating every player’s experience. The Pro S1 Ball features a new, patented design, developed to create a ball with consistent flight, consistent bounce, and superior durability. It also uses seamless rotomolding technology that delivers a perfectly round and balanced ball that plays faster, spins with precision, and has an extended play life. The Pro S1 maintains its shape during indoor and outdoor play, delivering a more enjoyable playing experience.

SELKIRK

Vanguard 2.0 - Mach6 | $200 www.selkirk.com

Designed for women seeking consistency without compromising power, the Avalee Vanguard 2.0 guarantees reliable paddle response for consistent dinking, making it the ultimate choice for women who demand excellence in every game. The Vanguard 2.0, pairs the unparalleled attributes of speed and consistency with more spin and face durability, making one of the most preferred paddles in Pickleball, even better. The proprietary bi-directional, cross-weave carbon fiber technology achieves a larger sweet spot and longer swell time. The Gen2 Durable Surface offers wear-resistance that outperforms previous generations. Available in three colorways.

THE NEW OWL’S NEST RESORT

MORE GOLF, NEW HOMES & NEW AMENITIES FOR 2024

Spring 2024 Golf Vacations

As spring approaches once again, we are preparing for another great season of golf at the Owl’s Nest. Our Jack Nicklaus Resort Course is the only Nicklaus course in New Hampshire and one of only four in New England. The course was named #6 best Nicklaus-Designed course by value worldwide by NBC Golf Pass which considered 400+ design courses in 40 states and 45 countries throughout the world. The course at Owl’s Nest sits among the magnificent White Mountains, giving golfers the ultimate scenic vistas throughout the season. From the serious to the casual golfer, elevation changes and pristine conditions show off Owl’s Nest’s charm and challenge. The newly branded Owl’s Nest Vineyard Course (formerly White Mountain Country Club) is currently undergoing a course redesign under the supervision of Robert McNeil and Northeast Golf Company. The Vineyard Course will also have a 10-acre vineyard, a new restaurant, function facilities, and new townhomes are also planned at the property. Also underway is The Hoot, a new 9-hole championship course. There will be 45 holes for golf enthusiasts at the resort when completed, the most at any resort in New England.

New Indoor aboutGolf Simulators

The Owl’s Nest has just opened Slice Woodfire Pizzeria & Sports Bar, featuring 10 wide-screen televisions, and two new aboutGOLF Golf Simulators. aboutGOLF offers the very best in indoor golf technology. Watch your favorite sporting events while playing some of the best golf courses in the world with friends and family. The new sports bar is located adjacent to the resort’s main restaurant Panorama Six82, it is rated #1 in the White Mountains by the NH Lodging and Hospitality Association. The vision that has em-

powered the redevelopment of this truly beautiful location has been carefully conceived to create the ultimate vacation and living experience in the Northeast for all seasons and all celebrations of life and family, it is a very special place. The Owl’s Nest Resort provides four seasons of amazing vacation experiences and epic second home living in the heart of it all, the White Mountains. Not only is The Owl’s Nest the fastest-growing resort in New England, but it is also the perfect serene setting with proximity to all major attractions in the region. 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 resort and living community offer a vast array of amenities for every season and unparalleled choices of rental homes, cottages, condos, hotel rooms, and suites to choose from for couples, groups, and families. There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer unprecedented choices for golf, four-season vacationing and living, and extensive amenities and recreational opportunities every month of the year. The new Lafayette Lodge has now opened at the resort offering 9 king rooms and 24 double queen-sized rooms.

Four Season Fun and Resort Amenities

The Owl’s Nest is truly a full four-season resort so there is never an offseason here at the Nest. The Owl’s Nest is home to 25 racquet courts including 8 clay tennis courts, 13 pickleball courts, and 4 radiant heated platform tennis courts. The resort’s Lake Harold is the largest man-made recreational lake in New Hampshire. Fishing, boating, swimming, paddleboarding, and other watersports are all offered at the facility. In addition, the resort has added a new Olympic-sized pool and Jacuzzi complex adjacent to the newly completed Boathouse. It currently features an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, boat rentals, indoor and outdoor showers, radiated heat decks, locker room facilities, and beach access, with plans to open a poolside bar and seafood restaurant. The resort’s main restaurant, Panorama Six82, is open daily for lunch and dinner, Slice Sports Bar & Pizzeria with games and golf simulators, and Butch’s Deli & Provisions for snacks, supplies and lighter fare. If you have gone electric with your ride, there are 10 Tesla superchargers at the resort for quick charging.

The Owl’s Nest Living Community

The Owl’s Nest master plan organizes the homes around communal outdoor spaces all connected by multi-use trails. At Waterscapes each home is nestled perfectly throughout the resort, giving you spectacular views of the White Mountains. The proximity of the Owl’s Nest gives you full access to all the White Mountain’s major attractions and tourist areas while living in a quiet private resort community. These new mountain homes offer open floor plans, light-filled homes, designed with luxury features, and modern conveniences for perfect four-season mountain living. www.waterscapesnh.com

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 or call us @603.726.3076

South Tiverton, Rhode Island: The Secret Coast Modern Luxury / Sakonnet River East Passage

New Construction | Over 8,000 square feet of living in this authentic slate shingle-sided home is an immersion of modern design, style, and functionality. This is a dream come true for lovers of modern architecture. Enjoy expansive westerly water views from every room of the Sakonnet East Passage and Seapowet marshes and farmland. Every detail of this 3-story, 4 bed, 6.5 bath home has been carefully designed and no expense has been spared, down to the teak elevator. Clean simple lines, custom craftsmanship, luxurious finishes and every element within, both natural and durable, further enhance the home’s appeal. Open concept living with soaring ceilings, floating staircases, and floor-to-ceiling windows, allows the natural light to flow through and brings the beauty of the surroundings inward. The chef’s kitchen & butler’s pantry are all outfitted with high-end appliances, stainless counters, and smart built-ins. Additional 1st floor rooms include a study, foyer, and east wing with 2 ensuite bedrooms and a sitting room. The primary suite is accented with soaring ceilings, fireplace, balcony, custom dressing room, and 2 ensuite baths. Additional rooms include a guest bedroom, spa bathroom, and laundry room. The finished ground level was built for activity and entertainment with access to the patio. This home is fully automated from your phone or tablet. The Farm Coast area comprises quaint coastal villages with charming cafes, art galleries, eateries, boutique shops, and is just minutes away from pristine beaches and marinas.