Northeast Golf October/November 2022

The Owl’s Nest Resort, one of New England’s finest four-season resorts, is located in The White Mountains National Forest of New Hampshire. There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer such an extensive portfolio of four-season vacations, family and corporate events and resort community living opportunities.

The Home of American Golf No Resting on Laurels Around

By Brad King

Calling these “the best of times” around the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen area of North Carolina might seem like it’s saying a lot, but sometimes the shoe simply fits. Just take a look at everything that is currently happening around the Home of American Golf.

Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club recently celebrated its fourth U.S. Women’s Open and enjoyed rousing success, crowning another worthy champion in world No. 4-ranked Minjee Lee. The Australian joined her mentor, 2001 champion Karrie Webb, along with Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam and Cristie Kerr on the Pine Needles Wall of Champions.

Soon after the final putt dropped at Pine Needles, thoughts turned to the area’s next national championship, the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. It will be one of five U.S. Open Championships in the area by 2047. Oh, by the way, the USGA staged its inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open in July at Pinehurst No. 6 and the event will return next year as well.

All of which is part of the USGA’s historic move to establish its second home in Pinehurst. In an effort to expand its impact in golf and extend its mission to champion and advance the game, the USGA is in the midst of constructing “Golf House Pinehurst,” a six-acre campus that will be completed by the end of 2023

and will include a new equipment-testing facility, innovation hub, museum and visitor center, and offices housing 50 full-time USGA staff members.

The USGA Experience will present an immersive view of golf and the USGA’s work to unify, showcase, govern and advance the game. The Science of Golf and Championship galleries will feature interactive multimedia displays that incorporate augmented reality, interactive touch screens, sculptures and trophies. The USGA Golf Museum Special Exhibitions will uncover the organization’s deep collection of golf artifacts – the most comprehensive collection in the world.

The USGA’s Research and Test Center will be the only one of its kind in North America solely dedicated to testing golf balls and clubs for conformance to the Rules of Golf. At the USGA Shop, golfers will be able to purchase various products with the USGA championship logo of their choice as well as exhibit-related specialty items.

The USGA is also partnering with Pinehurst Resort to construct an outdoor testing pavilion and STEM education space near the resort’s main practice facility, including a mechanical golfer and ball launcher to demonstrate and evaluate golf ball aerodynamics.

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Then came the even-more-recent July news that the World Golf Hall of Fame will relocate its physical presence on display from St. Augustine, Florida, to Pinehurst. Building on their longstanding partnership and shared passion to elevate the stories of golf’s legends, the USGA and the World Golf Hall of Fame will create a new visitor experience at the Golf House Pinehurst campus, opening in 2024.

Additionally, World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held in Pinehurst in 2024 and 2029, to coincide with the 124th U.S. Open on Pinehurst No. 2 (2024), and the return of back-to-back U.S. Women’s Open Presented by ProMedica and U.S. Open Championships, also on Course No. 2 (2029).

Many of the most cherished items in the Hall of Fame’s existing collection will be relocated to Pinehurst for the creation of a new Hall of Fame locker room, which will come to life on the second floor of the USGA Experience building. The result will be a seamless visitor journey from the USGA Experience galleries on the first floor to the second, showcasing the incredible talents of golf’s many contributors and their lasting impact on the game.

Meanwhile, in other golf news around the Sandhills, the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Championship will be contested at The Country Club of North Carolina’s Dogwood Course. CCNC

has a long history of hosting elite golf championships, including the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Girls and Boys Junior Championships, Southern Amateur and North Carolina Amateur.

For fans of the latest in golf technology, Talamore Resort has recently debuted its Toptracer Range. Talamore guests can experience interactive golf entertainment with the transformation of the Talamore’s driving range into a facility powered by Toptracer Range technology. In addition, the entire Talamore practice range has been upgraded and a new, 15,000-squarefoot putting course is being installed between the driving range and the 10th tee boxes that is expected to open in early fall.

In other scuttlebutt, the group that owns Pines Needles, Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club and that recently renovated Southern Pines Golf Club are reportedly planning to build a similar type of large practice putting green, as well as a handful of new cottages at Southern Pines GC.

Pinehurst Resort has reportedly been planning to announce Pinehurst No. 10 at some point soon, while a new distillery and a new hotel are also on the drawing board for the area.

The best of times in the Home of American Golf? That time is now.

Head Island

THE CAPE’S ONLY NICKLAUS DESIGNED COURSE Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is more than a Cape Cod beach resort. We provide experiences as diverse as the accommodations that our guests call home. Plan your escape

and come see why guests keep coming back year after year to our little slice of paradise.

DESTINATIONS Scottsdale, Arizona

NEG Staff

Rushmore & Beyond

Scott

Great Golf Communities

FROM Footjoy

& Scott Radmor Golf

COURSE PLAYBAG MAPPING SKILLS ASSESMENT

FROM THE EDITOR GOLF LIVING

Golf is one of the most engaging sporting activities in the world. The great thing about golf is that it’s a sport you can enjoy throughout your life, and it has been found to increase your life expectancy by up to five years. It’s a wonderful choice for boosting mental and physical development in kids, and equally beneficial as a social outlet as we age and strive to stay fit and sharp. Once you play, your life changes in ways you could never have imagined. For many of us, our life choices align in and around golf with where we live, where we choose to play, and how often we play.

If there is one universal formula for joining a private or semi-private golf club, it would be proximity. The closer you are to a club to play and/or practice, the more you will enjoy the membership and the amenities. The obvious best-case scenario is to live where you play. Golf course communities today offer vast opportunities for home & living choices and unprecedented amenities to resident members. Living where you play means golf and social opportunities in your own backyard for you, your family, and your friends. Gated, secure communities with green spaces for living have caught on for not only golfers but also families and retirees. In the Northeast, most golf course communities have added full

Your

indoor golf fitness, training, and golf simulators to their amenities, providing all-season access to training and playing.

Living on a golf course in the Northeast is a great way to enjoy the game more often. For some who have acquired second homes in the Southeast and Southwest, there is no downtime in their game as they get to winter in warmer, sunnier climates and enjoy optimum playing conditions year-round. For many, this is a plan for future retirement property while still working. It’s all in the making of a great golf life.

Timothy R. Branco Editor, Northeast Golf

at:

“Once you play [golf], your life changes ...”

The Making of a Golf Life

Editor Timothy R. Branco tim@hglmedia.com

Creative Director

Katrina T. Lallier

Editorial

Bill Bales 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

Published by:

Formerly New England dot Media & New England Publishing Group

CEO/Managing Partner Richard Castiglione rich@hglmedia.com

CMO/Managing Partner Greg Sampson greg@hglmedia.com

Sales & Marketing Tony Pimentel tony@hglmedia.com

Multimedia Kat Mottram kat@hglmedia.com

Service

Jeanne Castiglione Brittany Mastroianni custserv@hglmedia.com

The

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BY KAT MOTTRAM

COVER STORY

Ocean Edge Stay & Play Packages make one of the best golf courses on Cape Cod accessible to golfers from around the Northeast region and beyond.

Experience unlimited same day play, cart rental, driving range access, complimentary bag storage, and lodging in beautifully spacious mansion rooms or fully equipped villas on the green. Couple your experience with a relaxing spa visit, delectable din ing, endless entertainment options, or a post-round dip in the indoor/outdoor pools or shoreline to round out your scenic golf escape on the Cape.

Cape Cod’s Only Nicklaus Designed Course

Tree-lined fairways, dramatic elevation changes, and dizzying doglegs are what you’ll find on Cape Cod’s only Nicklaus de signed golf course. This private 18-hole, Troon Privé course is situated on 429 pristine acres and is among the region’s most beautiful layouts.

This highly playable course in Brewster, Massachusetts has over five sets of tees with three included combos sets so there is a yardage for every player, of every ability. Interesting characteristics abound with exciting elevation changes not often seen on Cape Cod.

Dips, valleys, tee boxes that go down as well as up, generous fairways, and undulating greens make putting thought-provok ing and challenging. Guests continuously gush that Ocean Edge is unlike any other course they’ve played. And, if you’re looking to improve your game, PGA Professionals are available for ju nior and private lessons.

Stay In Style

Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club offers two unique types of ac commodations at either The Mansion or The Villas.

The Mansion

The AAA Four-Diamond Mansion offers rooms and villas ranging in size and style. Those staying here receive not only premium accommodations, but full access to the resort’s private beach.

Housing up to four guests, the Nickerson Mansion rooms range from a 480 sq. ft. Signature King guest room to a 1,200 sq. ft. Grand Corner Suite. The Presidential Bay Collection multi-level villas offer two- and three-bedrooms, housing six to eight guests. They are fully equipped with all the comforts of a homeaway-from-home.

Insider Tip: Book the Three-Bedroom Waterfront Villa to take in the sight of stunning sand dunes and nearby Cape Cod Bay from your private balcony.

OCEAN EDGE RESORT & GOLF CLUB

COVER STORY

OCEAN EDGE RESORT & GOLF CLUB

The Villages

Centrally located, the family-oriented Villages put travelers in the heart of the sprawling resort. Each unit offers separate bed room and living areas with a kitchenette, washer and dryer com bination, patio or terrace, flat screen TVs, and a pullout sofa. These spacious units are ideal for family vacations or longer stays for couples.

World-Class Local Flavor

You’ll never be hungry with all of the authentic New England cuisine options available at Ocean Edge. Featuring a mix of ca sual to elegant settings, you’ll discover extraordinary culinary experiences highlighted by seasonal selections. Each of the 7 restaurants and snack cabanas serve up a selection of dishes from the quick and easy to the fancy and sophisticated.

Enjoy fresh oysters at their signature restaurant, Ocean Terrace. Revel in the old-fashioned charm of an English tavern at Bayzo’s Pub. Treat yourself after a well-played round of golf at Linx Tav ern inside the clubhouse or on one of two patios.

For a casual afternoon, the Shark Bah offers seasonal live music,

swim-up movies, and delicious bites. In the evening, watch the sunset with a regionally inspired cocktail in hand at the Beach Bar.

In the summer, the Front Lawn transforms into an open-air, laidback hangout space with live music, a wood-fired oven, an eclectic menu of light bites, sail tents, lawn games and more. In the winter, the Mansion terrace is transformed into The Frost Bar, a pop-up culinary experience complete with private igloos, specialty cocktails and seasonal dining menus.

Endless Opportunities For Fun

Highly committed to the entertainment of their guests, Ocean Edge elevated its programming options by hiring a Director of FUN. Responsible for all of the resort entertainment, including holiday and seasonal-specific programming, you’ll never be without something to do at Ocean Edge.

Tennis

Nine courts at two tennis complexes are staffed by USPTA-cer tified professionals, each of the tennis centers touts Har-Tru and Plexipave surfaces. From introductory clinics to specific shot training, the program offers a Pro shop and workshops for play

ers of all skill levels. Private lessons and junior programming are also available.

Kayak & Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, rent a kayak or SUP and float across Bay Pines Beach or Blueberry Pond. It’s your choice: saltwater or freshwater?

Beaches

Defined by smooth sand bars and a stunning shoreline, the beach es of Cape Cod are a main attraction for locals and visitors alike. Guests staying at The Mansion and Villas get exclusive access to the resort’s 700-foot stretch of private beach. Beach Passes are also available to purchase for neighboring public beaches.

Pools

When it’s time to cool off, there are no shortage of options. Four pool areas are available to guests, catering to every family mem ber’s splash preference. Heated indoor and outdoor pools, along with hot tubs, toddler pools, locker rooms and snack ca banas offer year-round ways to take a dip.

Bikes + Trails

With easy access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Ocean Edge is a biker’s paradise. Plot a route, rent one of the resort’s Freedom Flyer cruiser bikes, and pedal across 26 miles of spectacular scenery.

Pickleball

Pickleball combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong into one, making it a fairly easy game for all ages. Ocean Edge offers six courts for singles or doubles pickleball play.

Clinics and USPTA certified instructors are available.

Fitness

Multiple fitness centers are avail able on-site. Work out solo or connect with one of the re sort’s personal trainers for a fit ness assessment and tailored exer cise program. A wide range of com plimentary group fitness classes are offered daily.

Beach House Spa

OCEAN EDGE: THE CROWN JEWEL OF CAPE COD

Nestled in Brewster on the coast of Massachusetts, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is just 89 miles southeast of Boston Logan International Airport making it easily accessible to everyone.

Enticing families, singles, couples, groups, and weddings with its multifac eted appeal, Ocean Edge Resort offers endless opportunities for memory-mak ing. This stunning resort provides Stay & Play Packages as enticing as its golf course and activity opportunities.

So, what are you waiting for? Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Course awaits you! Book your stay now and learn more at www.OceanEdge.com.

Inspired by the Cape Cod seashore, Beach House Spa offers full-body massages, HydraFacials, wraps, manicures, pedicures, waxing, hair and makeup services. Five treatment rooms are available, including a couples suite. Seasonal wellness experi ences are also offered, including meditation and acupuncture. Insider Tip: don’t forget to ask about a Porch Party for a private soirée!

Summer Experiences

Exclusively for the summer season, the resort rolls out a menu of experiences for guests to enjoy, such as archery, picnic bas kets, private dining, beach yoga and more.

Mt. Rushmore to The Broadmoor

BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT

DESTINATIONS

MT. RUSHMORE

A VISIT TO THE BROADMOOR led to checking Mt. Rushmore off our list since it was only seven hours from Colorado Springs. Country roads with vast cattle ranches evoke movie memories, leading to the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota where the 60-foot stone sculptures of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roosevelt loom large, at the park. Pictures cannot deliver the inspiring emotion of this magnificent and patriotic feat of artistry. They may also be glimpsed driving Needles Highway through Custer State Park with hairpin turns that test the nerves and with warnings of dangerous buffalo encounters. We dared not exit to photograph one that was wildly rutting a tree. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep are also resident here as well as on numerous golf courses in the region.

Redrock Golf Club, celebrating 20 years, is awarded number one course in South Dakota with a unique layout. Putting skills are challenged on the undulating greens and tall grass lines the slanted fairways where “rattlesnakes on the move.”

At Hart Ranch Golf Club, the pro shop waves a couple rattles recently absconded from snakes battling on the 16th tee box. It remains a peaceful setting with cattle lowing across the road and wide open, straight forward fairways on the front, constructed in ’85 contrasting with higher elevations of the back, designed a decade later.

Hotels, camps and B&Bs abound in the surrounding western towns which deliver endless activities, museums, and sites for any age at affordable prices. Rapid City is the largest in the area with every president and significant native Americans sculpted on street corners. This is an historic American journey.

The main event in our western golf rodeo however was the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado anchored by The Broadmoor, where vacations reach new heights, literally. The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog

Railway is back in action after $100+m investment, chugging up the 8.9-mile incline through the woods passing bighorn sheep and yellow-bellied marmots with narration by the conductor, to the top of “America’s Mountain.” All Aboard for magnificent views that inspired Bates to write “America the Beautiful.”

The Broadmoor’s Seven Falls is a natural high to behold. Walk along the cascading stream, lined with lacy pastel wildflowers, to the 224 vertical steps beside the final falls. It’s not just the altitude that takes your breath away.

The pristine courses at The Broadmoor are a true test of golf with fairways bordered by a tricky first cut of grass. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and Director, Russ Miller leads the team providing exceptional service.

He boasts the best greens in the nation with speeds of 8 uphill and 14 down. They are impeccable and a challenge to master.

In the starter shack adorned with wildlife trophies, Linda was thrilled when Hale Irwin had just given her a hug. Famous golfers, actors and international dignitaries line the Wall of Fame in The Broadmoor West Building while golf legends are displayed in the Heritage Hallway of the impressive golf clubhouse. Locker rooms, pro shop merchandise and culinary options in the grill exceed expectations.

The East Course is most famous for nine Championships including the Senior Open held every 6 years. The layout of the 18th hole with a lake before the green and iconic clubhouse behind is a culmination of pure golf

Broadmoor Camp

DESTINATIONS MT. RUSHMORE

pleasure. The Broadmoor architecture is as majestic as the mountain views throughout the holes. Beverage cart service on both courses is ever handy as well as halfway snack shacks and restrooms with historic golf murals.

We liked the character and play of the West Course as much. Between the most difficult yet short par 3 with a “Jesus’ ball” skipping four times across the lily padded pond for a par, and Moses, a groundskeeper returning missing sunglasses, and the chimes of Will Rogers’ Shrine high on a mountain above, golf at The Broadmoor was a religious experience we will never forget.

The shrine perches high above the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo which has a whole herd of engaging giraffes. Pass the zoo and the shrine to climb to The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp, for a remote luxury cabin retreat on top of the world. Hike, soak in the outdoor tubs, play pickleball or simply commune with nature.

Main accommodations below encircle The Broadmoor Lake with graceful swans. Exquisite western art catches the eye at every

turn in the longest consecutive Forbes Five-star, AAA Five Diamond Resort in the World. Many restaurants with top notch chefs are aided by local gardens and Eagles Nest Ranch’s Wagyu whisperer for extraordinary beef cuts. Lots of shops, infinity pool, tennis, fly fishing, falconry, spa, and world class fitness facilities make this an affluent western city within itself.

The Broadmoor concierge arranges activities on property and off. Tour the Garden of the Gods and Trading Post over spiritual red rock terrain or drive to Royal Gorge to conquer your fear of heights above the 955-foot-deep canyon. Ride the gondola or walk the pedestrian bridge across the 1260-foot span. Grab a bite overlooking the edge with sounds from the rapids on the Arkansas River running far below or ride them with Echo Canyon River Expeditions.

Owner Andy Neimus has made a living as a self-proclaimed river dirtball for 30 years. From family floats with up to class 3 rapids or the extreme gorge run with class 5s, Andy’s guides deliver a splashing good time. Across from Echo Canyon Rafting, Andy also owns Royal Gorge Cabins, freshly built, and furnished with

glamping tent alternatives for full immersion in canyon life with brilliant night stars.

To or from the Royal Gorge, the May Museum, is a seemingly strange recommendation. Featured in a Strange Inheritance episode, it is the largest bug collection, surprisingly fascinating and beautiful. One of the best trip planning websites is www.pikes-peak.com with complete descriptions, videos, and details to help solve the conundrum of which adventures and sites to choose. From calm forest bathing hikes to the adrenalin rush of the Terror

Dactyl ride dropping you 100 miles per hour over a deep canyon at Cave of the Winds, the Pikes Peak region has something for all.

Colorado Springs airport is small and efficient to maneuver with antelope grazing nearby, foretelling the nature to come, while The Broadmoor is where unmatched elegance meets western wilderness adventure and supreme Donald Ross golf. See www. broadmoor.com for the historic timeline, unlimited golf packages and all that America’s Resort has to offer.

The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp

Experience Scottsdale Golf

The Desert Valley of The Sun

BY NEG STAFF

THE WORDS, GOLF VACATION, bring excitement to anyone who plays the game. After all, travel is an extension of our lives, and golf travel is something everyone in the game dreams about. There is a Bucket List for all who play the game. For great golf, there are few places in the world like the Southwest where the sun shines 325 days a year. “The Valley of the Sun” could well be the most perfect place for a golf vacation.

Scottsdale is the center of Desert Southwest golf with more than 200 premier courses, 51 top-rated golf resorts, and some of the most spectacular course designs anywhere. It’s simply hard to beat.

What makes Scottsdale one of the fastest-growing choices for golf travelers starts with the airport. Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix has ranked #1 again in the J.D.

BEST IN GOLF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

Power Survey of Best U.S. International Airports, and with one of the best rental car terminals in the country as well; the arrival part is seamless. The Annual WM Phoenix Open each year at TPC Scottsdale, the “Greatest Show on Turf,” is amazing. Add to that Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals, the same week as a PGA Tour Waste Management and you got the whole enchilada here in one week! While prime golf season is pretty much November through April each year in the Southwest, many choose the shoulder seasons of May and late September before and after the heat, which are perfect as well.

In a region where 10 of the Top 25 U.S. Golf Resorts reside, it’s never an issue to find top golf resort facilities that have it all. The Sonoran Desert offers a dry climate with

great weather and good ball carry on hundreds of majestic emerald green fairways. There is so much to choose from in golf, it’s easy to forget the amazing restaurants, shopping and activities that make the region such a diverse and fantastic destination. With resorts like the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess at TPC, The Hyatt at Gainey Ranch, The Four Seasons at Troon North, The Boulders Resort, The Phoenician, Orange Tree Resort, The Westin Kierland, Talking Stick Resort, Marriott Camelback, and many more, there is no shortage of luxury here in Scottsdale. All the Troon courses are amazing as well as We-Ko-Pa, Grayhawk, TPC Scottsdale, Eagle Mountain, Legend Mountain, McCormick Ranch, Papago, Rancho Manana, and so many more.

TPC Scottsdale

We-Ko-Pa

Troon North

BEST IN GOLF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

TPC Scottsdale

Home of The Waste Management Open the TPC Scottsdale is one of the most viewed golf courses in the world and on all our bucket lists. Home of both The Stadium Course, The Champions Course, and today, home to Draftkings first Sportsbooks courses. www.tpc.com/scottsdale

We-Ko-Pa

With two award-winning golf courses set in the thriving Sonoran Desert, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club delivers one of the best golf experiences in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. Scott Miller designed the Cholla Course, while Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw teamed up to create Saguaro. The results have captivated the golf world ever since. www.wekopa.com

Troon North Troon North sets the standard in desert golf in Scottsdale with two remarkable designs in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak. Troon North is on every list to play, designer Tom Weiskopf has made even more dramatic layouts on the Monument and Pinnacle courses. The facilities, the service, and the amenities are truly epic here. www.troonnorthgolf.com

Grayhawk GC

A truly unforgettable golf experience on two spectacular courses, The Raptor and The Talon, Grayhawk is one of the leading daily fee public facilities in the Valley. Home to NCAA championships and a local favorite for charity tournaments, it has a capacity for 288 players in one event. www.grayhawkgolf.com

Eagle Mountain

Nestled alongside McDowell Mountains, Eagle Mountain is one of the region’s most dramatic course designs. In 1996 the facility designed by Scott Miller opened to rave reviews for its contoured fairways and steep elevation layout. It’s a great spot for a sunset round in the desert. www.eaglemtn.com

The beauty of Scottsdale Golf is there are so many choices for premier golf facilities. The valley offers so much more than just golf with great nightlife, restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, and enough diversity to make you come back year after year. www.experiencescottsdale.com

Grayhawk

Eagle Mountain

INDOOR GOLF CLARITY GOLF

All I Want for Christmas is ... A Golf Simulator

BY BILL BALES

“There are many sensible and arguably exciting options to get started.”

I recall a number of holiday seasons in the past where one of my prior companies made a last-minute rush to deliver a simulator for the holidays. At least a couple super-rush jobs involved celebrities–via a game show host’s third wife and a very big (yet quite short) action film star.

An exponentially growing number of gift-givers are taking advantage of everincreasing gift options to introduce their special other to the indoor golf culture. You can get a pretty darn cool radar device or a mediocre but cheap simulator starter kit for as little as a few hundred dollars. Or you could go crazy (certifiably–seek help) and spend over $100k on massive simulator overkill.

There are many sensible and arguably exciting options to get started in indoor golf. The starting point in any system should be the “launch monitor” which is what tracks the ball, and sometimes the club. They can be used as-is–in your garage, backyard, or the range–but they can also be the primary building block of a home simulator.

Bill Bales works with Home Golf Lifestyle Media and provides free expertise to readers. His team can assist any homeowner on how to optimize their simulator plan — and how to avoid the egregious mistakes they see every day.

Email anytime: BillBales@Clarity.Golf

The Academy

Many golf resorts provide golf travelers and local members with great amenities to enjoy at their facilities. What stands out with the very best resort companies, is their ability to transcend from the norm, and elevate their services and customer experiences by incorporating a higher level of attention to detail in everything. This is BOYNE Golf.

BOYNE Golf provides the ultimate world-class golf destination with 10 championship caliber courses spanning three resorts in Michigan. The courses include the works of some of golf’s leg endary designers, including Robert Trent Jones Sr., Arthur Hills, and Donald Ross, and provide an unrivaled golf experience. From management to staff to the people that represent the BOYNE brand, it is apparent from the top down-this company is all about hospitality.

How We Learn and Improve at Golf is Changing Golf technology has evolved tremendously, especially in the last 15 years. In years past, the experienced eye of a PGA Professional was the most important and most prominent tool in teaching and instruction. The problem was translation. Whether in-person in struction, game improvement programs on TV, or even magazine articles, most golfers invariably were unable to take what they had learned to the course. Today, the advancement in technology al lows us to track, record, review, and analyze every aspect of a golfer’s game.

Knowing how far your clubs go in every possible weather condi tion, elevation, rough length, and grass type can help shave strokes off anyone’s game. In reality, this knowledge is only gained with long hours on the practice range. All things equal, whereas it may have taken years for a player to gain that particular insight in the past, with the judicious use of a simulator system, such knowledge and accurate insight can be gained in a much shorter time. When the player has the ability to play smart shot shapes at smart targets with proper distance control, mistakes can be greatly reduced, which in itself helps reduce scores and boost player confidence.

Taking Teaching, Fitting and Instruction to a New Level

The Highlands has four championship golf courses: The Heather by Robert Trent Jones, The Donald Ross Memorial, The Moor, and Arthur Hills course. It is also home to The BOYNE Golf Acad emy one of the most advanced technology learning centers and golf teaching facilities in the country. As with all things, the BOYNE Golf management team set out to find the most qualified director for their Academy. In 2020, Joseph Charles joined the BOYNE family as Director of Instruction at the Academy. Joe previously worked for the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, a training ground for many PGA Tour players.

Through this exposure to elite golfers and coaches, Charles gained valuable experience in cultivating a productive player/ teacher relationship; skills he took with him as he launched into his next career move as the Head Professional at The Dye Pre serve Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Following his passion for teaching, Charles has most recently held Director of Instruction roles at GolfTEC in Atlanta and Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan developing workshops for couples, women, and ju niors.

Joe spoke to us recently regarding the Golf Academy at BOYNE. Joe said, “The facility here is one of the top centers in the coun try. We are equipped with Trackman TM4’s which give our coach es the ability to assess both ball flight and club measurements making the diagnosis and student understanding of concepts much easier. In addition, at the Academy, we have one of the best outdoor range facilities with over 30 acres, 1/3 of it covered by Trackman Range Systems. All of this paired with a state-ofthe-art indoor studio equipped with a GEARS system that helps us take 3D biomechanical and club measurements to the next level. This means we can integrate indoor and outdoor training while capturing data from both, creating a much more efficient and all-inclusive learning experience.”

BOYNE Golf offers members, resort guests, and groups full Golf Academy services. They can even design golf group instruction programs into any BOYNE Golf travel package. They provide full custom fittings for drivers, irons, putters, and even grip fitting. The BOYNE Golf mission is simple. Provide the finest possible services to members and guests at their clubs, resorts, and all recreational facilities in every season and every activity. It’s the BOYNE Way!

Boyne Resorts is a collection of mountain and lakeside resorts, ski areas, and attractions spanning from British Columbia to Maine. The company owns and operates eleven properties and an outdoor lifestyle equipment/apparel retail division with stores at each resort and throughout Michigan. An industry leader in multiple U.S. regions, operations include snow sports and yearround mountain recreation, golf, an indoor waterpark, spas, food and beverage, lodging, and real estate development.

Boyne Resorts’ geographically diverse locations include Big Sky Resort in Montana; Sugarloaf, Sunday River Resort, and Shaw nee Peak in Maine; The Highlands, Boyne Mountain Resort and Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, Inn at Bay Harbor - Autograph Collection, and Boyne Country Sports in Michigan; Loon Moun tain Resort in New Hampshire; Gatlinburg Sky Lift Park in Tennes see; Brighton Resort in Utah; The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington; and Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

2023 is just around the corner.

FASHION FEATURED BRANDS

COLD-WEATHER LOOKS

BY GREG SAMPSON

Footjoy

Footjoy’s most advanced apparel layering system ever, is a versatile collection of layering items designed specifically for golf to enable the golfer to effortlessly adapt as weather conditions evolve. This collection of base layers, mid-layers, outer layers and pants is made with materials that move with the golfer without any restriction, are lightweight to reduce bulk and are temperature regulated to ensure maximum comfort no matter how many layers are required. The fabrics are selected for their thermal properties, but also with the golfer in mind, providing warmth without restriction in cooler conditions. These hand-selected textured fabrics feature subtle patterns that offer a distinct richness to the line.

The foundation to the ThermoSeries system is the Base Layer, which feels great

against your skin and provides insulation while allowing full range of motion. The textured hex pattern featured allows your body to breath and stay dry.

Next is the Mid-Layer, featuring a rich, two-tone jacquard fabric available in three colors. The mid-layer is lightweight for optimal layering, packed with performance stretch materials designed for the golf swing.

The Vest and the Jacket are two available options to layer over the mid-layer for added warmth. The Vest, available in two colorways, features a simple, lightweight design with an insulated body. The Jacket offers a combination of knit and woven fabric, available in two colors. The knit fabric provides warmth and comfort, while the woven material on the front of the body and outside of the collar blocks away

any wind and rain.

Rounding out the ThermoSeries collection is the Pant, which performs like an insulated rain pant but is designed to be worn as a stand-alone golf pant with features like a button closure, zip fly and belt loops. Available in Navy and Charcoal, the pant uses a thermal fabric that is slightly heavier than a normal golf pant while offering great stretch properties. The pant uses a DWR finish to repel a light rain or mist.

The color palette of the complete collection is neutral for a reason – it allows golfers to interchange all of the pieces from the collection to create many different outfit and layering options.

FOOTJOY | www.footjoy.com

ThermoSeries | $68-175

Lyle & Scott

The Lyle & Scott High Summer 22 Golf collection embraces the distinction between timeless classics and fashion forward to bring playful and daring pieces focusing just as much on life off-course as it does on on-course.

The idea of supercharged simplicity rooted in the natural landscapes of the golf courses runs across the Collection, with contouring prints and jacquard constructions inspired by golf courses seen

FASHION FEATURED BRANDS

from above. We have re-energised the classics with modern details, trims, logos and unexpected colour pops to create a sense of retro sportswear feel that fits with the modern, fashion conscious customer.

Technical introductions in the range include the re-launch of the windjammer story, first launched by Lyle & Scott in the 90s as an independent membrane, the fabric has now been re-interpreted as a bonded material with a fleece backing, it is both windproof and

LYLE & SCOTT | www.lyleandscott.com Golf Clothing | $25-160

water-repellent and has been made into a hooded jacket, Midlayers and trousers.

New introductions also see the contour jacquard knitted crew and our statement polo shirt, which has been given a new fabric base made from recycled polyester and bamboo charcoal. A true soft and lightweight and performance fabric that wicks away sweat whilst also acting as anti-odor (keeping the wearer fresh for longer). A wardrobe staple.

FASHION FEATURED BRANDS

RADMOR GOLF | www.radmorgolf.com

Clothing | $56-128

Radmor Golf Golf hoodie season is officially here for many parts of the country. In other words, it’s prime time to shine for Seattle-based Radmor Golf. Founded by two college golf teammates in 2021, RADMOR is the first golf lifestyle brand making all its apparel from meticulously-curated, sustainable materials.

Radmor’s autumn offerings are rich with sepia, earth and powerful blue and red tones to usher in the cooler climes of the fall golf season. Stylistically, Radmor isn’t deviating from its core ensemble, adds Morrison. For instance, the Peruvian Pima Cotton Taylor PIMAformance Stretch Polo and Colby Stretch Jersey return to action boasting fresh cap, city block and varsity striping. They’re joined by two newcomers, the Douglas PIMAformance YD Stretch

Pique Polo and the Hudson Recycled PIMALITE Polo made from an organic “RADCycled” stretch blend.

And it just wouldn’t be a Radmor drop without toasty warm, performance-based, all-cotton hoodies and sweatshirts. The ever-popular Higgins Player Hoodie and Perkins Player Crew are spun-up in crisp blue graphite and birch to pair perfectly with a set of Five-O Knit or Vincent pants. And for those who prefer a more traditional fall look, there’s the brand-new Colton Cap Stripe Quarter Zip.

The full fall line of tops, bottoms, outerwear and accessories is available as of mid-October at its website, a growing number of golf shops throughout the U.S., Nordstrom stores nationwide, and affiliate sites like Golf.com, Huckberry.com, TrendyGolf.com, FairwayStyles.com and Saksfifthavenue.com.

New Year, New Gear

The Latest in New Releases

BY GREG SAMPSON

TECTECTEC! ULT-S PRO

$350 with Custom Magnetic Case |

us.tectectec.com

Locking in on the target and reading the yardage display has never been this easy.

The ULT-S Pro even has fog mode that emits a more powerful laser. Slope mode can be turned on and off for tournament conditions. The complimentary magnetic leather case makes this TecTecTec!

Rangefinder truly yours!

PXG 0317 ST BLADES

$160/stick with 5 or more | www.pxg.com

With striking looks and cutting-edge manufacturing, milled PXG 0317 ST Blades give skilled golfers complete control over every shot. These milled irons feature minimal offset, a tour-inspired blended set design, and our proprietary Precision Weighting Technology for ultimate shot shaping, high spin performance, and distance control. The intricate detailing and enhanced sound and feel is accomplished through triple forging the clubhead and utilizing precision CNC milling on the face and back. Named for the 0317 U.S. Marine Scout Sniper, these blades support long-range accuracy to any target. Available in a Chrome or Xtreme Dark finish.

SUN MOUNTAIN WEATHERMAX STAND BAG

$360 | www.sunmountain.com

New for 2023, the WeathMax stand bag offers the ultimate in durability. Over time, fabrics exposed to the sun and UV rays fade and get weaker. WeatherMax fabrics offer greater resistance to UV damage keeping its strength and color longer. WeatherMax features a 9” top with four, full-length club dividers and nine pockets. Among the nine pockets are a full-length clothing pocket, velour-lined valuables pocket, drink pouch and multiple accessory pockets. Available in four color ways.

PRO SHOP NEW RELEASES

WILSON STAFF MODEL COLLECTION PUTTERS

$350 | www.wilsongolf.com

The all new Staff Model® collection of putters are 100% milled from Wilson’s exceptional standards using the ultra-soft 304 Stainless Steel, delivering the ultimate swing control through performance-balanced weighting, and providing a softer feel on the green. The collection has four styles including the original 8802 available in 33, 34 and 35 inche lengths, with a loft of 3.0 degrees and a lie of 71 degrees.

TOUR EDGE HOT LAUNCH 523 SERIES $270 to $80 per club | www.touredge.com

The 523 Series offers two distinct ranges, the E523 and C523. They are designed to cover both ends of the Super-Game-Improvement and Game-Improvement club categories in separate driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, and wedge designs. The 523 series is the 7th iteration of the best-selling Hot Launch line. The entire Hot Launch 523 Series mobile fitting bags will be available in over 1000 authorized fitting locations and any custom order will arrive at your door in 48 hours.

ONCORE VERO X2

$50 / dozen | www.oncoregolf.com

The all-new VERO X2 delivers distance-enhancing low driver spin and wind-penetrating trajectory for greater distance and pinpoint accuracy on tee shots. Designed for players with high swing speeds, its four-piece, 95-compression construction delivers optimized spin and accuracy with irons and supreme stopping power on greens with wedge shots. Proprietary perimeterweighting significantly reduces sidespin and bores through headwinds and crosswinds.

Top 100 Clubfitter in America

I Feel the Need for SPEED

So, you want to hit the ball farther especially from the tee but before dealing with how, let’s talk about why.

BY ED TRAVIS

THE EASY ANSWER IS to be able to shoot lower scores. Longer drives mean shorter approach shots with the added benefit that a higher driver swing speed carries over so irons will be hit farther as well.

But let’s be frank. While posting lower scores is satisfying there is also another fine motivator, pride. Truth time also compels us to fess up to hitting it past the others in our Saturday foursome may a big deal, a macho thing but not just for men, some women have also confessed similar feelings.

This is all fine but to hit the ball for more yardage you must be prepared to make a serious commitment and yes, here is where we bring in the word — dedication. This isn’t something you can do once and forever reap the yardage. Plus, remember ball speed not clubhead speed is really the most important distance metric and often simply improving the quality of ball-club impact will add distance without necessarily more clubhead speed.

We are talking about having the proper driver with the correct shaft to fit your swing to maximize the smash factor or ratio of ball speed to clubhead speed. Weekend golfers typically have a smash factor around 1.42 while and PGA Tour players are close to 1.50 and a lot of that difference is the quality of the ball-clubface impact. Put another way the distance difference with a 100-mph swing

3 | www.mach3speedtraining.com

$159-$165

speed and a smash factor of 1.4 and one of 1.45 is about ten yards. So having the best driver for your swing is a great start and a professional driver fitting puts you well on the road to longer tee shots.

It would be nice though not strictly necessary to have a launch monitor to track your progress. It doesn’t need to be expensive since there are several good ones selling for about the same price as a new top of the line driver.

To swing faster requires rotating the body more quickly not just the arms, in fact speeding up the arms without a coordinating move by the body and legs produces mishits, wildly offline drives or both.

The need for speed is fulfilled with strength and balance training, increased flexibility and practice and it helps to pick a goal when getting started. It could be a gain in swing speed (approximately 2-3 additional yards for each additional mile per

hour clubhead speed) or something straightforward such as being able to fly a drive over that bunker on the tenth hole which in the past you could only fly in your dreams. Finally, should you have any physical issues talk to a doctor before undertaking what can be intensive training needed to create more speed.

Training with the appropriate equipment is key and here are some products the staff at Northeast Golf likes and believe will help you in your quest for more speed and more yards.

Mach 3 Velociraptor

Mach 3 has a variety of speed training devices but the most unique is the Velociraptor which retails for $165 and they offer a package for high school and college coaches inlcuding other speed training tools.

The Velociraptor is a flexible handle attached to a 50-foot-long rope that to be used correctly must be tied to an immovable object or anchor. Training is done through a series of single arm and double arm drills swinging the handle and causing the rope to whip back and forth with, especially used with two arms, a level of high exertion. This makes Velociraptor good for improving flexibility, strengthening the body core and

MOST

overall fitness conditioning. A library of instruction videos is available with purchase.

Most Important Stretch in Golf MISG addresses the need to improve the amount of back swing turn of the shoulders while stretching the back and hips. It consists of a 41-inch shaft with an 8-ounce ball on the end and a sliding handle which attaches to a cuff wrapped around the left arm using one of three stretch cords. To use, from the address position make a back swing by sliding the handle up towards the end of the shaft with the ball. This action stretches the cord while pulling the left arm around stretching and strengthening the back, shoulders, and hips. To complete the exercise simply return to address allowing the handle to slide back up the shaft. The $119 MISG package includes light, medium and strong cords.

GOLFFOREVER Swing Trainer

Endorsed by World Number One Scottie Scheffler the GOLFFOREVER is 44.5-inch bar with grips at each end that combines resistance band bar training with a weighted club swinging. The $199 price package includes the bar, a resistance band and two weighted balls plus two handles plus a door anchor which allows several exercises to improve strength, range of motion, balance, and overall conditioning. The GOLFFOREVER app comes with purchase at no charge with

30-day access to a customized improvement program and 500 instruction videos.

Continued use of the app is $24.99 per month or $16.58 monthly when billed annually.

Orange Whip Swing Trainer

The Orange Whip trainer has been popular for several years and continues to provide a way for average golfers to learn how to swing a driver faster. The standard model (there are three shorter length models) has a very flexible shaft 47 inches long with a grip and counterweight at one end and an orange ball replacing the clubhead at the other. Overall, the weight is 1.75 lbs. The Orange Whip ($109) works great for a preround warmup however its real value is making full swings as part of a program to improve balance and speed. The website has instructional videos, and an annual membership with more in-depth video training plus a special lightweight speed trainer.is available.

Rypstick from RYP Golf

The Rystick trainer is available in four lengths—45 inches men, 44 inches seniors and women, 41 inches juniors and 38 inches indoor—and they suggest

270 grams but adding to the head one or more of the included three 30-gram weights total weight can be increased in increments to 360 grams. There is also a 60 gram counterweigh which may be screwed into the butt end of the grip taking the total to 420 grams. Priced at $199 including a headcover the company also offers several videos on their website for proper use and fixing common swing faults.

GOLFFOREVER

www.golfforever.com

Swing Trainer

RYP GOLF | www.rypstick.com

Rypstick | $199

ORANGE WHIP | www.orangewhipgolf.com

Orange Whip Trainer | $109

The Cart Bag

A Place for Everything

BY NEG STAFF

IN THE LAST 25 YEARS personal golf carts sales have boomed across the U.S. Driving it all, is a tremendous increase in residential planned communities and golf course community development, where golf carts are the preferred mode for transportation. If you live in a golf community or very near one and have a golf cart, then your choice of a golf bag will most likely be a cart bag. Putting it simply, having to deal with straps and stands is a bit of a

pain when your clubs are always on a cart. In addition, cart bags are designed to offer unlimited storage options for just about anything you will need for your game.

Having said that, most cart bags can be very heavy fully loaded, so choosing a bag which is lighter makes putting it on, and taking off your cart easier, and for occasional travel, lighter is always better.

Sun Mountain has been making golf bags for 40 years and produces the top-rated

golf bags in the country. The reason is simple: well thought out designs, ongoing innovations, the best in technology and materials, and over the top performance and durability. The team of craftsman in Missoula, Montana carry the vision of being the best by making the best even better, year after year. The name Sun Mountain is synonymous with the very best in quality and performance in golf bags, travel gear, outerwear for golfers all over the world.

EQUIPMENT

SUN MOUNTAIN

Choosing the Right Cart Bag

Sun Mountain make a vast amount of golf bags that suit the needs of any golfer from Antarctica to the Equator and beyond. They offer hundreds of color combinations, styles weights and options for every type of player in the game. Our focus here is the Cart Bag, and what you should look for that’s important. Even though you are riding, you will be handling the bag and putting it on and off your cart. You want to consider weight of bag, empty / full, storage capacity, functions, dividers and one of the most important items, number of storage pockets.

Our Choice: Sun Mountain Maverick Cart Bag

The word Maverick alone instill visions of a Fighter Pilot traveling at Mach 2-3 with guns blazing. Not sure it describes our golf game, but just the same it is very cool! The 2022 Maverick cart bag offers one of the lightest cart bags ever, just 5.6 pounds, which rivals the weight of most carry bags out there today. There are 14 full length dividers for perfect club organization and ultimate club protection. There are also 11 pockets for over-the-top storage option for all your golf accessories. The sizable apparel pocket not only holds weather gear and more but will provide easy storage for golf shoes as well. The cart strap pass through runs behind the pockets on this bag, making it easy to access all pockets while strapped in.

The Sun Mountain Maverick bag completely checks all the boxes for the perfect golf cart bag. It provides the very best in quality, workmanship with the most technology advanced materials. The access pockets with reinforced zippers are sturdy and perform well. Quality cart bags run from $200.00 to $500.00 and sometimes much more for elite brands. The Sun Mountain Maverick runs very high on the quality side and low on the price side at $249.00, a great price for a Top Gun.

SUNMOUNTAIN

Cart

By John MoloriMOLORI UNPLUGGED

Golf stars LIV-ing it up at the International

THE LIV GOLF TOUR has burst onto the links scene this year with much fanfare and even more controversy. This debate-inspiring road show pulled into the International in Bolton, MA over Labor Day weekend featuring a heretofore unseen golf spectacle.

The pre-tournament news featured the LIV debut of Cameron Smith. As the reigning Open Champion, Smith became the first LIV golfer to actively hold one of the four major titles.

Stirring up the competition on the Oaks Course over the weekend were seven players ranked No. 1 in their respective countries including Smith (Australia), Joaquin Niemann

(Chile), Anirban Lahiri (India), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Sadom Kaewkanjana (Thailand), and Scott Vincent (Zimbabwe).

LIV also featured its unique team format in Bolton with twelve foursomes. The consensus was that the 4 ACES were the team to beat with Captain Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch, and Pat Perez.

In its efforts to garner favor amid the furor, LIV supported nine Massachusetts charitable organizations as part of their tournament outreach. “LIV Golf is committed to giving back and investing in organizations that build stronger communities,” said Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of

MOLORI UNPLUGGED LIV GOLF

LIV Golf. “We are proud to support so many deserving charities that deliver much-needed services throughout this region.”

Beneficiaries included Bolton Conservation Trust, Coaching4Change, Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Friends of Bolton Seniors, WHEAT, The Joseph and Leslie Carr Foundation, and Nashoba Neighbors.

The tournament itself featured some memorable moments for the curious and golf-hungry crowd in attendance. Matthew Wolff grabbed the first round lead and made history as the first golfer to make a hole-in-one at a LIV Golf event. Wolff’s ace came at the 178-yard No. 2.

Round 2 was all about the 4 ACES team and the individual players who encompass it. While the foursome had enjoyed LIV group success, the ACES had yet to produce an individual champion.

After round 2, however, Talor Gooch led the field with a one-stroke lead and Dustin Johnson was in solo third. As a team, the 4 ACES held a 3-stroke lead over the Phil Mickelsoncaptained Hy Flyers.

“They’re playing some good golf,” said Mickelson of the ACES after round 2. “They have a very deep team. It’s going to be an exciting day tomorrow.”

Another exciting development was the LIV announcement that players would be allowed to wear shorts during

Anirban Lahiri

Joaquin Niemann

competition rounds, but while the pants were short, the final round of the tournament was long on drama.

Dustin Johnson sank a 60-foot eagle putt to win a three-man playoff over Anirban Lahiri and Joaquin Niemann. All three players had finished regulation play at 15 under. The playoff was the first in either the individual or team competition in this inaugural LIV season.

Following the victory, Johnson stated, “I wanted to finally get my first victory out here. I feel like I’ve had a really good chance to win every single week, just haven’t played as well on Sunday as I’d like to. But played really nicely today.”

LIV has made headlines for its bountiful and guaranteed pay days for golfers. With his win on the Oaks Course, Johnson earned $4 million. His 4 ACES also won the team competition giving Johnson an additional $750,000 for his quarter share of the $3 million team prize.

LIV’s stated mission is to “modernize and supercharge the game of professional golf through expanded opportunities for both players and fans alike.” If the golf gala that occurred on the Oaks Course in September is any indication, that mission is well on the way to being accomplished.

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

Dustin Johnson

By Jack RossROSS’S RULES

Five Takeaways From the Presidents Cup

FIRST, AN ADMISSION. I wasn’t at Quail Hollow, so I couldn’t drink a few beers at the bar of the media hotel to celebrate the U.S. team’s win (I don’t drink anymore, anyway). And during Sunday’s singles matches, I was on a marathon drive from northern Michigan (where I played some remarkable Upper Peninsula courses with fellow writers) back to New England, following the play-by-play on Sirius radio. (I don’t recommend spending 17 hours in a car – even with Sirius.)

That said, here are some takeaways from the Presidents Cup competition at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., where the U.S. team prevailed 17 ½ to 12 ½ over four days of matches.

1. A Somewhat Surprisingly, Entertaining and Riveting Competition

Presidents Cup

The U.S. team came into the matches with a 12-1-1 record, and with an International team missing some key players who defected to LIV Golf, this had all the markings of a snoozy blowout. It was anything but. After going 2-8 in the foursomes and fourball matches on Thursday and Friday, captain Trevor Immelman’s inexperienced (eight of the twelve members were rookies) but plucky International team won 10 ½ of the 20 points at stake on the weekend and briefly made things tense on Sunday. “We were in a tough spot on Friday,” said Immelman. “We showed a lot of guts to fight back.”

Heading into Quail Hollow, eight of the U.S. team members were ranked higher than the International team’s top-ranked player, Hideki Matsuyama (17th). (In all, 15 of the top 25 ranked players competed.) But on the strength of solid performances by Si Woo Kim, Sungjae Im, K.H. Lee, and Tom Kim, the International team went 5-3 on Saturday, trimming the U.S. lead to 11-7 going into the Sunday singles matches.

When Si Woo Kim knocked off Justin Thomas in the first singles match, it got interesting. For a bit. But captain Davis Love’s gang stiffened, and Xander Shauffele’s 1-up win over Corey Conners

clinched the Cup. “There were multiple goals that we had,” observed Immelman. “I would say we checked off all of them except leaving here with a trophy.” But it’s all about the trophy, Trevor.

2. Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas Anchor the U.S. Team

It wasn’t that long ago that we were wondering what had happened to the once-dominant Jordan Spieth. He’s back. Paired with his good friend Justin Thomas, Spieth finally overcame his Sunday singles jinx to become only the sixth player in history to finish 5-0 in Presidents Cup matches.

Thomas lost a dramatic singles match to Si Woo Kim (Kim made his 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole, while Thomas missed his), but still finished 4-1.

This is a formidable duo, both in terms of talent and chemistry, who along with the pairing of Patrick Cantley and Schauffele should provide firepower for the Americans in both Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup matches in the coming years.

3. New Stars Max Homa and Tom Kim Shake Things Up

While the Presidents Cup might lack the pedigree and cutthroat spirit of the Ryder Cup, rookies Max Homa (U.S.) and Tom Kim (International) must have missed that memo in their

lockers at Quail Hollow. These star newcomers pumped up their teams with their stellar play and enthusiasm as they fist-bumped their way through the weekend. Homa went 4-0 with a rousing comeback win against Kim on Sunday. One veteran golf observer called the 20-year old Kim “Rory revisited.”

4. Does the Presidents Cup Format Need to Change?

We’ve been hearing this for years. The U.S. has dominated the competition. The International team lacks the depth of talent to compete. The PGA Tour needs to change the format to make the Presidents Cup more competitive. After the great golf, energy, and resilience displayed by the International team at Quail Hollow, the consensus is that the Presidents Cup is not on life support and needs no fundamental changes. Perhaps a bit of tweaking, such as trimming a couple matches on Friday and Saturday.

5. Did LIV Golf Influence the Presidents Cup Competition?

Probably, although no one at Quail Hollow wanted to dwell on the topic. Several of the top International players -- Cameron Smith, Joaquin Niemann, and Abraham Ancer -- were ineligible to play because of their affiliation with LIV Golf. On the other hand, the loss of Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed was arguably less impactful to the U.S. team given their unimpressive play recently. While perhaps not pivotal, LIV Golf didn’t help the Internationals.

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

LOWE

Fenway to Fairways

Celebrity Golf: Derek Lowe on the Links

BY TIMOTHY BRANCO

DEREK LOWE GREW UP just west of Detroit in Dearborn, Michigan. In high school, he played every team sport he could, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and golf. At 6’6” in his senior year, his first love was basketball, so much so that Eastern Michigan offered him a full basketball scholarship. He had won only two games in high school as a pitcher, but in 1991 the Seattle Mariners drafted him in the 8th round to play baseball. It was the beginning of a 17-year career in major league baseball.

He got his first major league win in his Detroit in front of a hometown crowd in June of 1997, ironically Jason Varitek was his battery mate at the time.

You would have had to be living under a rock to not get wrapped up in the amazing Boston Red Sox World Series win in 2004.

For 86 years the so-called “Curse,” had plagued this team and left fans in despair year after year. While there were so many great players on the 2004 Sox team of “idiots,” there was one player that no one

expected to deliver in such a remarkable way. Not once, or even twice, but four times under the most pressure-packed circumstances any player had faced at any time in Red Sox history, Derek Lowe delivered. Former Red Sox All-Star pitcher Derek Lowe was the winning pitcher in the 2004 series-clinching victories over the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, the New York Yankees in the ALCS, and the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Lowe is the only pitcher in MLB history to be credited

AROUND THE GAME DEREK LOWE

with the victory in three consecutive postseason series. Lowe was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2017.

Derek remembers growing up playing golf in Michigan with friends at a very young age. It was no surprise that he played on his high school golf team. He continued to play golf as often as he could in both the minor leagues and his major league career. He noted, “Being a pitcher meant I worked every 4 days so, there was a lot of time to play golf between starts. He said, “Golf was the most difficult sport he had ever played and has always had a huge amount of respect for professional golfers who play week in and week out traveling with no guarantees unless they make the cut.”

Naturally, with his love for the game, he began to focus more on golf once he retired from baseball in July of 2013.

Like many professional athletes today who play the game of golf, it’s competition and pressure that draws them to events. With so many celebrity events held today throughout the country, you can play as many as your schedule allows. For Derek, who has played at or below scratch for some years now, it was a natural transition and a great opportunity to compete at a high level.

In 2017 at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, CA, Lowe had the tournament lead after one round. But Mark Mulder, who has made a career out of winning celebrity events came back to win. Lowe finished tied for second in the event but was gaining great experience under pressure by playing in the events.

In 2022 at the Hilton Grand Vacations LPGA Tournament of Champions he carried a strong fourth round finish to a tie, with Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. On the first playoff hole, Derek pulled out the win for the $100,000 first-place purse. He will defend that championship next January at the 2023 Tournament of Champions, once

again at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. Later this month Derek will be playing in a new Pro-Am event in Las Vegas, hosted by LPGA Golfer Blair O’Neal. Life on the links seems to suit Derek well for the time being, and there is no doubt golf has become his passion after baseball.

While in Boston, Derek Lowe often played at Thorney Lee in Brockton,

Massachusetts, and at member-guest events at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. He also spoke highly of the Old Sandwich Club, The International, The Boston Club, and other courses in the region. He currently plays out of The Club at Renaissance in Ft. Meyers Florida where he resides. In the summers he returns to his native Michigan.

Derek Lowe Handicap +2 * Fit at Club Champion

• Driver TaylorMade Stealth

• 3 Wood Titleist

• 2 Iron Callaway

• Irons EPON Forged

• Wedges Dell

• Putter Matt Kuchar Bettinardi

• Ball Titleist PRO V1

Red Sox Cacther Jason Varitek and Lowe

Stephann L. Cotton, Licensed Real Estate Broker.

SCAN FOR LISTINGS

RESORT-STYLE LIVING THE BEST IN GOLF COURSE LIVING

Coastal Golf Course Living The Long History of Golf Community Living

TEMPLE TERRACE, in the Tampa region of Florida, was the country’s first planned golf course living community. It was conceived as a winter golf escape for the wealthy during the “Roaring 20s.” Most occupants in the community only spent 2-3 months a year in their winter homes. Golf was still the sport of kings at the time and had not been discovered by many. Bobby Jones’s immense popularity brought the game to the spotlight with over 250,000 people playing golf by 1930. It was not until the 1950s that the first real golf boom

happened, with Arnold Palmer emerging on the scene as one of the game’s greatest ambassadors. It is often said that no person ever had, or will have, the impact that Arnold Palmer had upon the game.

In 1965 Arnold Palmer played in a charity exhibition at The Bay Hill Golf Club and fell in love with the facility. Palmer signed a 5-year lease in 1970 with the option to buy Bay Hill, which he did in 1975. He envisioned the Bay Hill property as a top-ranked golf club with vast amenities for members and residents. He successfully

negotiated a PGA Tour event at the facility that began in 1979 and is known today as the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bay Hill soon became one of the most popular golf living communities in Florida with its quaint 70-room lodge and vast amenities. Arnold Palmer loved Bay Hill; it was his sanctuary and he loved being on the property. His daily routine was to wake each day at 5 am, go for a jog or walk with his dog, then work out in the gym and have breakfast. He would get to his office daily above the pro shop by 8 am.

Doc Griffin, Palmer’s right-hand man, said,

Lakewood Ranch

“It was always difficult to get Mr. Palmer to leave Bay Hill, he truly loved the community, the people, the facilities, and his life here. It was Arnold Palmer’s personal golf living place most of the year.”

By 2010 there were nearly 16,000 golf courses in America of which 3200 or 20% were developed golf course communities. Demand has boomed tremendously over the last 5 years, with increased demand for secure gated, amenity-rich developments where both retirees and families can enjoy more activities and a better-quality life. While golf is a major drawing card for buyers, green open spaces, and protected and well-maintained facilities with endless amenities and activities make these communities top of the list for many others.

Florida leads the way with total golf communities at over 850, but development in many other states is on the rise, including northern and central U.S. regions. The largest golf course community in the country is the Villages in Florida with over 57,000 homes, over 130,000 residents, and over 711 golf holes, on 50 golf courses, all on 33,000 Acres. Lakewood Ranch near Sarasota, Florida, is also 33,000 acres, with 55,000 residents living in 25 distinct villages in 21,000 homes. In 2020, Best Health &

RESORT-STYLE LIVING THE BEST IN GOLF COURSE LIVING

10 GREAT GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES

Quechee, Vermont

Quechee Lakes Club

Fitness named Lakewood Ranch the “Best Wellness Community.”

In every region in the country, there are wonderful golf-living communities that offer an array of amenities and living choices for all seasons. It really comes down to personal preference of proximity, seasons, and terrain. If you are fortunate enough to have the resources, having a summer home in a beautiful 4-season golf community in the North and a winter golf home in Florida or the Southwest is the perfect mix. It means optimum playing conditions year-round and great options for winter getaways for your entire family.

In this issue, we take a peek at some great facilities north to south along the east coast, from New England to Florida. Some along the coast and others inland in more rural areas as well. Many people prefer to see the seasons change and that can be found as far south as Tennessee and Georgia. For many, Florida is the ultimate destination for warm rounds all winter long and great shoulder seasons in spring and fall. Golf course living communities offer unlimited active lifestyles with not only golf but racquet sports, walking, biking, boating, and a plethora of social activities. The best way to find what’s best for you and your life is to go visit, stay, play and participate. You won’t know unless you go!

The Quechee Club is one of those special places that connect us back with family, nature, and the seasons of life. The resort and community sit on 5200 acres of mountains, lakes, and picturesque valley forested land. This living playground has two world-class championship golf courses, tennis facilities, downhill and cross-country skiing, an indoor/outdoor aquatics fitness center, and more. The quiet and pristine stature of Vermont’s majestic Green Mountains offers an unprecedented backdrop for a rich and rewarding living experience in every season of the year. www.quecheeclub.com

Mattapoisett, Massachusetts

The Bay Club Mattapoisett

The Bay Club at Mattapoisett is a private golf and lifestyle community on 625 rolling wooded acres near the shores of Buzzard’s Bay (close to Cape Cod). Member-owned, the club is built around a Brad Faxon-Brad Booth championship golf course and also features racquet sports, gourmet dining, and many other athletic and cultural pursuits all within its gates. It has a Silver Sanctuary

Rating from Audubon International, one of just 66 communities worldwide. www.bayclubmatt.com

East Haddam, Connecticut

The Fox Hopyard Community

Situated in the heart of the Devils Hopyard State Park in Central Connecticut, the Fox Hopyard Community is one of the Northeast’s most unique offerings. Fox Hopyard is another Audubon Sanctuary in the making, and with 1000 recreational acres

Arnold Palmer, 1984

RESORT-STYLE LIVING

THE BEST IN GOLF COURSE LIVING

of forest, waterfalls, lakes, streams, and hiking trails, it’s a naturalist dream. Spectacular golf in the picturesque Connecticut hills offers custom home opportunities throughout. www.foxhopyard.com

Middleburg, Northern Virginia

Creighton Farms Community

Creighton Farms is a majestic 900-acre sanctuary situated between the quaint, historic towns of Middleburg and Leesburg in picturesque Northern Virginia horse country, with the idyllic Blue Ridge and Bull Run Mountains as its backdrop. It is a spectacular club with rich amenities and stately homes in Virginia horse country. www.creightonfarms.com

Cape Charles, Coastal Virginia Bay Creek Community

Bay Creek, a Chesapeake Bay Cape Charles community of extraordinary beauty and unparalleled coastal lifestyle, is home to signature golf courses by Palmer and Nicklaus. Bay Creek offers vast amenities including restaurants, walking and biking trails, and a delightfully diverse selection of new homes and custom homesites. Choose from a collection of new custom–designed coastal cottages just steps from private sandy beaches. www.baycreek.net

Lenoir City, East Tennessee

Wind River Community

Wind River is an awe-inspiring, yet charming master-planned community positioned alongside the beautiful, blue waters of Lake Tellico, with views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Golf was designed by Jack Nicklaus’s protege, Bob Cupp, with expansive practice facilities. This is the first Audubon Course in Tennessee with spectacular shoreline homes and villas. www.windriverliving.com

The Bay Club Mattapoisett

Quechee Lakes Club

Creighton Farms Community

Bay Creek Community

The Bay Club Mattapoisett

Quechee Lakes Club

Creighton Farms Community

Bay Creek Community

The Fox Hopyard Community

The Fox Hopyard Community

Aiken, South Carolina Woodside Community

Woodside is located in rural Aiken, Georgia just 20 miles from Augusta National Golf Club. There are a full array of amenities including 3 championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Clyde Johnson and a 9-hole course as well. There are both lakeside and golf course home options with stunning vistas of this southern historic region. www.woodsidecommunities.com

Savannah, Georgia

The Landings Club

The Landings Golf & Athletic Club on Skidaway Island is a private, residential golf and athletic club located 12 miles from historic Savannah, Georgia. The Club offers members access to six championship golf courses, two of which were designed by Arnold Palmer within a 6100-acre gated community with vast amenities and four clubhouses. www.landingsclub.com

St Augustine, Florida

World Golf Village

World Golf Village in historic St. Augustine offers championship golf courses, excellent dining, beautiful accommodations, and several communities to choose from. Home and neighborhoods are tucked away on treed homesites and streets that intertwine with thousands of acres of nature preserves and unspoiled uplands. www.worldgolfrealestate.com

Lecanto, Florida

Black Diamond Ranch

Set within a majestic Florida landscape, Black Diamond Ranch beckons with the quiet beauty of rolling sand hills, and an abundance of oaks in a spectacular designed quarry property nestled into Florida’s Nature Coast. This backdrop spans 1200 lush acres and provides the setting for 750 home sites. www.blackdiamondranch.com

RESORT-STYLE LIVING THE BEST IN GOLF COURSE LIVING

Woodside Community

Wind River Community

World Golf Village

Black Diamond Ranch

Woodside Community

Wind River Community

World Golf Village

Black Diamond Ranch

The Landings Club

The Landings Club

THE NEW OWL’S NEST RESORT COMMUNITY

The Owl’s Nest Resort, one of New England’s finest four-season resorts, is located in The White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer such an extensive portfolio of four-season vacations, family and corporate events, and resort community living opportunities.

The Owl’s Nest Resort is the place to be for White Mountain ad ventures in all seasons, whether you are just looking for a great getaway or looking for that special place for your mountain dream home. The resort offers vacationers and residents the ul timate experience in a spectacular resort that has it all.

The White Mountain forest makes up 800,000 acres 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 exten sive development plans have now made the facility one of the largest destination four-season resorts in the Northeast — “The Place to be in Every Season.”

The multimillion-dollar expansion, which began two years ago, in

NEW ENGLAND’S TOP STAY, PLAY & LIVE DESTINATION JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

cludes a recently completed Lake Harold, (the largest man-made recreational lake in NH). The newly completed Lakehouse can host events up to 500 and is equipped with a full-size catering kitchen, bar, and two-story event space with a large deck reaching over and wrapping around the waterfront of Lake Harold. The resort has an nounced the lake is full and will be sporting kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and more. The nearly completed Boathouse Complex

is about ready to open, and the lakeside eatery, HOOK, will be serving waterfront seafood and drinks for guests and residents.

The Lafayette Lodge is under construction, the Lodge will feature 24 double queen and 9 king rooms. Three deluxe nanos are fin ished on Lafayette Road and are ready for occupancy.

The Owl’s Nest also has eight European red-clay tennis courts, two of which are championship courts, four heated/lighted paddle courts, and 13 pickleball courts, including two championship courts with bleacher seating for 200 people. Other amenities scheduled to open include an Italian pizzeria called, Slice, an ex ecutive 9-hole golf course, a 10-mile paved loop for jogging, bik ing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. A year-round pool with Jacuzzis is under construction with a new food and beverage pavilion. The pavilion will host concerts, and there are plans to build a 500-person amphitheater in the future.

The Owl’s Nest 18-hole championship is the only Nicklaus-de signed course in New Hampshire. A Jack Nicklaus experience typically comes with a high premium, and a green fee under $100 is rare. Recently Jack’s course at the Owl’s Nest received accolades as one of the “Top Ten Best Value Nicklaus Golf Courses” in the world coming in at number 6 by Golf Pass. It is a magnificent layout with lots of elevation changes and fantastic hole designs. The real challenge here for golfers is focusing on their game while spectacular views abound in every direction. Fall is a spectacular season to visit and play golf.

The North Lake Villas and South Lake Villas are now being of fered at the Owl’s Nest Community Waterscapes, along the shores of Lake Harold. Two carefree neighborhoods offering a full resort living experience, designed with luxury features and modern conveniences for new home buyers. Four new model homes will be open for tours at the Owl’s Nest in the new North

Lake development. There are various models and designs avail able and custom home designs as well. There is also an option to be included in a rental program for your home here.

When completed, the Lodge will have 36 suites with private bal conies. Two luxury apartment buildings are also in the plan for 2022 if you would like to rent before buying. A lot is happening at the Owl’s Nest as it has become the place to be for all seasons, all sports, and all activities in New Hampshire. Find your way to the Nest, “Your first time will never be your Last.”

THE NEW OWL’S NEST LIVING

A RESORT LIFE CAN BE YOURS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS

The Owl’s Nest Resort offers the ultimate golf experience, gorgeous scenic views, and an award-winning restaurant, all at a luxury resort community. Today having it all right in your backyard is the ultimate living experience. What better place to have that experience than in the White Mountains National Forest at one of New England’s top resorts? The new trend in resort living has become one of the most popular choices in real estate today.

The Owl’s Nest offers full four-season liv ing with expansive amenities in a beauti ful mountain setting. For winter activities, close proximity to all the major ski areas, unappareled cross country and snowmo bile trails, skating, and much more make it a winter wonderland. The fall foliage is amazing for hiking, mountain biking, plat

form tennis or lakeside fun at the resorts, extensive sports facilities, or great restau rants. There literally is nothing better than having a resort-side second home that you can enjoy in any season.

The expansion of Owl’s Nest will not only allow people to experience the getaway of a lifetime but will also provide various real estate opportunities to own a vacation home in such an exciting and up-

Kristen Phelps Photography

and-coming location. The Owl’s Nest’s expansion is planned to continue into 2023, and will include 2 luxury apartment buildings along Lake Harold and Phase 2 of the Hotel Village which will include standalone units and boutique hotels with a brand-new spa and fitness facility as well as lifestyle-inspired upscale restau rant, and more.

Exceptional Golf Living

The Owl’s Nest 18-hole championship is the only Nicklaus designed course in New Hampshire. A Jack Nicklaus experience typically comes with a high premium, and a green fee under $100 is rare. Recently, Jack’s course at the Owls Nest received accolades at one of the “Top Ten Best Val ue Nicklaus Golf Courses” in the world coming in at number #6 by Golf Pass. When conditions are less than perfect out side, the resort also features a SkyTrak in door golf simulator which is conveniently located in the SportsNest.

Four Season Homes

The Owl’s Nest offers various choices for both accommodations and custom de sign/build residences. The choices are endless. Southlake Townhomes offer 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 1250 square foot residences with oversized garages. The

Northlake Villas offer mountain views, 2320 square foot single-family homes with 3-bedrooms and 2.5-baths with lofts, studies, and two-car garages. There are magnificent choices at the resort for beautiful mountain view lots for larger custom-designed homes as well.

Living Here

There are few places anywhere in the Northeast that offer this location’s vast amenities and uncompromised beauty. A home at the Owl’s Nest will become your go-to place in any season for your family and friends for generations to come. Come to The Owl’s Nest and make mem ories for a lifetime.

www.owlsnestresort.com/ buy-a-home

OUR COMMUNITY

STEP INTO YOUR SANCTUARY

Cradled by the majestic White Mountains and surrounded by hardwood forest that put each seasons beauty on display make The Owl’s Nest a premier vacation and living destination. Experience the very best in indoor and outdoor mountain activities with restaurants, vast amenities at a community that offers a life well lived. A place for every season in a community for every family. Live life to its fullest at the Owl’s Nest.

Resort: www.owlsnestresort.com 603.726.3076

Real Estate: www.owlsnestresort.com/buy-a-home Broker: Tom DeMatteo 401.648.5308

Kristen Phelps Photography

The Owl’s Nest Resort Your Entrance to The White Mountains

TOGETHER WE ARE REIMAGING MOUNTAIN LIVING

more of those moments where you stop and think, what life is all about”

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