OTL April 2019 by OTL Magazine

Cypress Valley: Ziplines, Canopy Tours, Luxury Treehouses, oh my!

Pebble Creek, CC:

Family Friendly, Family First

Dell Match Play:

Fashion on the Fringe

Dining at LIN Asian Bar

Contents Volume 16, Issue 5

FEATURES 14

TAKE 3 Cypress Valley: Outdoor adventure with indoor luxury. Michelle Keller

LIN ASIAN BAR Southeast China meets West 6th Street. Richard Arebalo

GOLF FEATURE Pebble Creek Country Club is traditional in every way with modern ammenities. Carl Mickelson

32 Cypress Valley: Ziplines, Canopy Tours, Luxury Treehouses, oh my!

Pebble Creek, CC:

Family Friendly, Family First

Dell Match Play:

Fashion on the Fringe

Dining at LIN Asian Bar

ON THE COVER Cypress Valley located just outside of Austin is a perfect getaway for a few days.

O T L G O L F. C O M

Contents 58

COLUMNS 20

FITNESS Hardcore. Develop strength with a few simple moves.

PUTT FOR DOUGH Contributing to your Roth IRA is better than buying new toys.

DRIVE SHOW 2019 Lexus UX: Great value with modern day flare.

TIPS Accelerate for consistent wedge results.

MIND GAME Good Strategy: Lower scores can be boring.

WELLNESS A wrinkle in time. Minimizing the effects of aging naturally.

TRAVEL Pueblo Bonito Resorts and Quivira Golf Club. Cabo’s finest duo.

BUCK’S TIPS Discover the golfswing by doing it.

ON YOUR GAME Straight talk with legendary golf instructor Hank Haney.

WINE AND SPIRITS Legar de Cervera Alberiño 2017.

CIGARS Gems found at local cigar lounges.

THE SWEET SPOT Reno, NV. The biggest little city in the world.

O T L G O L F. C O M

From the Publisher

What a great time of the season for Texas golf. The world was watching as the top 64 players in the world came to Austin to vie for the title of match play champion. Then it was off to San Antonio for the Valero Texas Open. Austin represented and put our best foot forward as host of the WGC DELL Technologies Match Play Championship. The atmosphere was electric. All the players were there on and off the links. One key word, “hospitality’, was in effect. Food, music and great golf was the order of the day. While the final few days were a test due to weather, we saw a Tiger VS. Rory matchup that did not disappoint.

people I know. It’s something I’m working on. While golf is a game of solitude, it’s also a communal game at its core. It provides a chance to play and meet new people. All of my closest friends for life and I have shared a connection with golf. The morning of the tournament, I drive up to my friend’s house. It’s early so I text him that I had arrived at his gate. It’s at this point I receive the best golf related text ever. “Pull in and put your clubs in the Rolls Royce.” I’ve received a lot of texts in my day, but that one stands out. Best text ever.

It’s truly an honor to live in such an amazing city. The crowds were huge and conducted themselves with enthusiasm and dignity.

Needless to say, it was all downhill from there. We had a great time laughing, talking and hanging out, but my game was not spot on. That’s a consequence of not playing all winter. This is when we make the claim of needing to play more golf.

The Austin Country Club is a marvelous place to be a spectator. With only 64 players in the field, it provided an opportunity to see the best players in the world up close. My friend said that after seeing the crowds that followed Tiger, he didn’t quite know how to take it.

As for this issue, it is always a pleasure to cover things from my hometown. Our featured golf course is Pebble Creek Country Club in College Station. Pebble Creek is an incredible club with a dynamic and attentive staff. There are wonderful things going on in the club and the community.

How does it feel to be Tiger and exist in such a bubble? All the people, all the time, watching every shot and every move. It has to be a unique existence. It’s not about his fame or his fortune, but how does he maintain his sanity? I likened it to ‘The Walking Dead’. The herd would move in and out throughout the grounds. You could see it coming and watch it leave. The ‘Tiger Effect’ is real.

If you’re going to be playing more golf this season, make sure your body is adequately prepared. Leslie Awdykowytz has some helpful hints for fitness. After your body is ready, pick out some cool new clothes. Dana Delorenzo was at the DELL Match Play event scoping out what folks were wearing. She has advice on how to look your best this year.

I actually got out and played in a charity golf event in The Woodlands. It was a chance to get out and play with a good friend. I usually only play with

Spring is the best time of the year. It’s a time of hope and renewal. Call a friend and hit the links or just get out and see what happens. That’s what makes life interesting and fun.

Sedric Walker Publisher O T L G O L F. C O M

/OnTheLinks Magazine

@otl_golf

@otlgolf

otlgolf.com

PUBLISHER Sedric Walker

GOLF FEATURES EDITOR Carl Mickelson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Conrad Earnest, Andrew Ferguson

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tony Dean

FEATURES EDITOR Richard Arebalo

ART DIRECTOR Leticia Galarza

TEACHING PROFESSIONALS Brech Spradley, Buck Mayers, Dave Peltz

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michelle Keller, LeslieAwdykowyz, Kelly Vohnn, Tara Lee Maloney, Leonard Finkel, Marc Hall, Stephanie Hawley, Allison Loots, Dana Meserole Delorenzo

FOR ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

512.657.7533 pr@otlgolf.com

OTL magazine is published bi-monthly by Pristine Media, Inc. Executive, editorial,and advertising offices are located at 210 Grand Isle Drive. Round Rock, TX 78665. Advertising rates furnished upon request. Advertisers warrant and represent that the descriptions and depictions of the products or services advertised are true in all respects. All advertising is subject to approval before acceptance. OTL reserves the right to refuse any ad for anyreason whatsoever. ÂŠ2019 by OTL. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in whole or part without the express written consent of OTL is strictly prohibited. Editorial queries and manuscripts should be directed to the editor via email, editor@otlgolf.com. All letters and their contents sent to OTL are sole property of OTL and may be used, printed, and published in any matter whatsoever without limit, obligation and liability to the author thereof. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and artists and not necessarily those of OTL or its advertisers. Manuscripts should be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. OTL assumes no responsibility or liability for the return of unsolicited artwork, manuscripts or pictures. Printed in the USA.

O T L G O L F. C O M

OTL / TAKE 3 14

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Outdoor Adventure and Indoor Lux at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours STORY BY MICHELLE KELLER

O T L G O L F. C O M

Spring has sprung and we are well on our way to summer fun. It’s time to get outside, build some things, plant some flowers and have new experiences. Finding a getaway that offers adventure and luxury is standard, but discovering a spot with adventure, luxury, excitement and tranquility is divine.

e’ve uncovered such a spot at Cypress Valley Canopy tours right outside of Austin. With exclusive treehouse accommodations, five different ziplines, two sky bridges, a lake and spring fed pool for swimming, basketball courts, and picnic tables with hammocks and chairs, Cypress Valley has a well thought design with every aspect of comfort and adventure in mind. Who doesn’t want to snuggle up in a king size bed and let the sounds of the valley at night sing you to sleep? Picture waking up in absolute peace by natures only alarm clock—a bird serenade. Then you’ll greet the morning with a cup of locally roasted Cuvee coffee from your incredible two-story deck. Your treehouse comes complete with a living room overlooking the ravine through two ancient cypress trees, a small kitchenette and an amazing bathhouse and soaking tub just across the bridge. Offering both canopy and zip line tours, the Canopy Tour includes five ziplines along with two sky bridges and a rappel. A canopy tour differs from a zipline tour in that it uses natural structures for its platforms, such as trees or cliff faces. Typically, canopy tours also involve a learning aspect. General Manager Shelby Semon explained, “At Cypress Valley, we enjoy teaching interested participants about the local ecology, survival skills, and will identify plants, and animals that you may run into along the way.” When asked what sets Cypress Valley apart from other adventure-style resorts, she offered, “A spirit of innovation that stems directly from the love of the land is what truly sets Cypress Valley apart from

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other businesses. Cypress Valley was not built, it was grown, and that growth started centuries before our time.” As the first canopy tour in the continental U.S., Cypress Valley has focused on family, ecology, and respect for the natural world. “We hand pick our staff for their passion for the outdoors and we expect them to be educators and leaders for those that join us in the trees,” Co-owner with her husband David, Amy Beilharz said. “Our canopy tour was designed to allow guests to explore this incredible naturescape with minimal impact on the land, and our treehouses and event center are designed using the concept of biomimicry-reflective of the biological systems surrounding them.” The zip line tour takes an hour and a half to two hours to complete. Cypress Valley has a lake and spring fed pool for swimming, a basketball court, sand volleyball court, picnic area with picnics tables, hammocks, and chairs. If you decide to just do the tour, you are welcome to swim, play or just hang out if you like during business hours on the day of your tour. Bring a picnic lunch and cooler to the property to enjoy a meal if you like. As for what time of year is best to plan a visit, Semon said, “While Cypress Valley offers guests incredible experiences in nature year-round, one of our favorite times of the year is Bluebonnet season. The Bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas and generally starts to blanket the hillsides and rolling fields in mid to late March alongside a multitude of other Hill Country gems like Indian Paintbrush, Phlox, and Evening Primrose. To skip the Spring Break rush and see the wildflowers at the fullest, we always recommend planning a trip for early April. Although, if you like fall colors, come see us in November when the cypress trees are on full display in reds, oranges, and golds.”

SMILING FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY SMILING FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY

At Cypress Valley, we enjoy teaching interested participants about the local ecology, survival skills, and will identify plants, and animals that you may run into along the way.â&#x20AC;?

O T L G O L F. C O M

A completely unforgettable experience awaits atop these ancient trees. Booking your stay early is advised. Beilharz offered, “The treehouses were built as an inspiration from our canopy tour guests wishing to spend more time in the trees. We realized early on, that as people spend more time outdoors-especially near these beautiful ancient trees, their sense of well-being increases. We have continued to add ways for people to experience the sense of joy that comes when we disconnect from our hectic, tech driven lives and reconnect with nature. Cypress Valley now has five treehouses and a stunning new wedding venue. We ask that guests staying at our treehouses also participate in the canopy tour, when available, to ensure that guests wishing to enjoy the full experience have priority to stay with us as our treehouse availability is limited.” The resorts newest addition, the wedding and event center, is a venue hundreds of years in the making. Imagine saying “I do” on an incredible ceremony platform nestled be-

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tween two ancient cypress trees, the springfed creek whispering below your feet, as your loved ones watch your big day from the creek ravine amphitheater. This is the place where your enchanted, fairytale wedding comes true folks. Morning weddings are serenaded with the songs of birds and weddings at dusk, are delighted by sunsets and seasonal fireflies as night falls. The venue includes a ceremony platform suspended between the trees, that can hold the bridal party–or for a small wedding, your entire guest list. As for how this incredible gem was founded, Beilharz offered, “In 1998, after successful business careers, David and I moved with our four children from an upscale West Austin neighborhood to a beautiful, undeveloped plot in the Texas Hill Country. With nothing but a travel trailer and a portable generator, we decided to live close to nature, to let it teach us as it has taught humans for thousands of years. We worked to develop this beautiful creek and surrounding land by working with

AMY DANG PHOTOGRAPHY SMILING FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY

nature instead of trying to substantially alter it.” After buying this land west of Austin, the couple looked at many ways to share its beauty with others. But doing so on any large scale would have meant making trails, removing fallen trees and branches, and cutting down some vegetation. This would have disturbed the existing habitat of the ravine, and the trail traffic would have been trampled the complex bio-diverse life on the ravine floor, further disturbing the existing inhabitants. When David experienced a canopy tour in Costa Rica, he knew he had found the answer to sharing the beauty of Cypress Valley with minimal impact on the environment and a whole new angle of enjoying nature– from a bird’s eye view. “When I experienced the ziplines in Costa Rica, I had a full body experience that opened a new doorway to my relationship with nature,” David said. “That is what we hope to bring to the people that visit Cypress Valley.” www.cypressvalleycanopytours.com

PHOTOS BY ANDREW FERGUSON

OTL / FITNESS

Hard Core STORY BY LESLIE SOSA

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When talking about stabilizing muscles, it is not uncommon to think of abdominal work; however, there are a vast variety of exercises to be explored in order to keep your routines exciting and challenging. The TRX setup may seem intimidating if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never used one, but they are considerably ambitious combination exercises to be discovered. Start in a strong plank position, engaging your core, and do a push up. After your pushup is complete, squeeze your abs a little more as you lift your hips towards the ceiling, into pike. This exercise works multiple muscle groups in a short time; abs, chest, shoulders and triceps are all strengthened during this flow. Three sets of ten is a good starting point, and take it up as you become stronger and more confident in your bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to control each movement. Another one of my favorites for working on stabilizing muscle groups is a standing lunge while keeping one foot in the strap of the TRX. After your foot is comfortably in the strap, hop forward to where your front leg will have a 90 degree bend for your lunge. Using weights is always optional, so pick what is best for you. Maintain focus to keep your balance and lunge in place, driving through the heel to target your glutes and hamstrings. 10-12 reps, then switch sides. If your balance is being tested a bit too much, prop up a foam roller and lightly place your hand on it as you execute the movement, or ask a friend to help out. Exercise routines can become mundane and not only do you get bored, but your muscles do too. Always try new things to keep it appealing to you personally, but also to keep the muscles stimulated, challenged and ever changing.

OTL / PUTT FOR DOUGH

Give the Graduation Gift that Keeps on Giving

Contribute to a Roth IRA STORY BY ALLISON LOOTS, FPQP TM WEALTH MANAGEMENT TEAM, AUSTIN ASSET Graduates will soon be showered with gift cards and cash, according to an annual survey on graduation gift spending from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Overall spending on graduation gifts in 2018 was $5.2 billion, and the average gift-giver spent $102.51. Before shelling out cash on the latest Apple accessory for your child, niece or nephew, consider a more lasting gift. Seed a child’s retirement by making a contribution to a Roth IRA. Why give the gift of a retirement account? A $100,000 gift for just $1,000 down? Deposit $1,000 in a Roth IRA for a 15-year-old today and by age 75 they could have more than $100,000, assuming an 8 percent annualized return. If a child has earned income, money received from someone else can be used to fund an IRA. It doesn’t matter if the child is a teenager with some part-time income or a graduate with a full-time job. The only stipulation is that your child must have earned income -- not investment income -- that was at least equal to the amount of the contribution. A W-2 from an employer would show proof of income. Alternatively, if the child earned income from non-W-2 sources (babysitting, shoveling snow, etc.), be sure to keep precise records of how much they made. Worried about tying up funds that a child might need for future purchases, like a house down payment

or furthering their education by attending graduate school? A Roth IRA offers the account holder a unique tool for accessing money in a pinch. You may withdraw your contributions (not earnings) from a Roth IRA at any time and any age without owing any income taxes on the money you take out. The reason: You have already paid taxes on the money you deposited. The earnings would continue to grow tax-free for retirement. Once the child sees the account grow, he may elect to leave these funds set aside for retirement and find another way to make that down payment. Applying for financial aid? Good news – the Free Financial Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) does not consider the value of a Roth IRA account as an asset the student or a parent is expected to spend to pay for education expenses. It’s important to always be mindful of the current year’s IRS contribution limit as these may change from year to year. You have until April 15th to contribute to your Roth IRA for the previous year. The Roth IRA contribution limit for 2018 is $5,500. The IRS increased the limits in 2019 to $6,000. If this appeals to you, the next step would be to open a Roth IRA with a reputable, low-fee financial services firm. If your child is 18, they will be able to open their own account. If they have not yet turned 18, you will need to open the account for them. O T L G O L F. C O M

OTL / DRIVE FOR SHOW

2019

Lexus UX

Small entry level sport utility vehicles have flooded the market during the past few years. Some have hit the mark others have faded away with little to no fanfare. 2019 marks the debut of another contender, the Lexus UX. This front or all-wheel-drive, 5 passenger, 4-door hatchback offers affordability, some luxury and the famed Lexus nameplate. There are two trims available the UX200 that puts you in the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat of a Lexus starting at around $33,025 and the UX250 that has more power and features and a starting price tag of $35,025. The Lexus UX has an interesting modern styling that helps it stand apart from its German competitors. Out front the new UX sports a massive Lexus styled spindle grille, aggressive accents along the sides and lots of well-designed LED lighting out back. Out on the road the Lexus UX handles nicely. Better than what you would expect from a smaller SUV. Acceleration could be stronger from UX200â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 169hp 2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder engine. The UX250 offers up more horse power and all-wheel-drive capability. What the UX lacks in power it makes up in estimated fuel economy which comes in at 33 to 38 mpg combined. The Lexus UX cabin brings some luxury to the package. The interior finishes are well done, seating is comfortable, and the dash layout is slick. There are also a lot of tech gadgets available. The infotainment system could be easier to use but all the necessities like navigation, WIFI hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa capabilities are present. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with lane tracing assist, lanedeparture warning with lane-keep assist and road sign assist. The 2019 Lexus UX is a viable option for the buyer looking for good value, some modern-day flare all stamped by an established nameplate like Lexus.

DRIVERSIDE VEHICLE REVIEWS

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OTL / TIPS

Accelerate For Consistent Wedge Results STORY BY DAVE PELZ Deceleration is a major killer of short game shots. Faced with a short pitch to the green, we’ve all seen someone try to “help” the ball up with a miracle move at impact and others “chop” at the ball rather than swinging through the shot smoothly. The simple act of decelerating at impact is not only a poor technique for controlling distance. It can also hurt the accuracy (direction) of your wedge shots. When you accelerate, your club head through impact, your swing remains much more stable (and produces more consistent results) than when you decelerate. This applies to all swings, but especially short pitches and chips, where deceleration can mean fluffed shots and extra strokes. Understand, I’m not suggesting try to speed up a lot at impact or “hit” with your hands to create acceleration. These efforts will ruin your rhythm and produce bad shots. To understand how this acceleration works in pitch shots, let’s go over the basic of this shot. First of all, play this shot with the ball in the center of your stance and start the swing moving your shoulders, arms, hands and club in a synchronized rhythm away from the target. Your arms move with the rest of your body (neither initiating the backswing motion or adding any “unnecessary” power to the swing). Begin your wrist cock as soon as you start your takeaway; accomplishing the full wrist cock gradually until you reach the end of your backswing. During your through-swing, keep everything synchronized as you swing through the ball. The smooth, subtle acceleration will help keep your swing stable through the shot. Your body rotation and short-to-long swing will also help keep you stable, promoting a repeatable and efficient pitching motion. To achieve the kind of smooth acceleration needed for good consistency around the greens, follow this simple principle: Imagine producing maximum club head speed (and maximum extension) two feet past the ball’s address position. This will give you a backswing that is shorter than your follow-through, and automatically produce smooth acceleration through impact. Now, consider a totally different shot to the same

flagstick position. To produce a high-lofted “Cut Lob” shot that will fly to the hole and stop, use a three-quarter backswing and a full finish (with an open stance and clubface). For any open-face shot like this, it’s absolutely essential for the clubhead to accelerate through impact. A shorter backswing and longer follow-through will guarantee that happens. Try this and reach out to me at askpelz@pelzgolf. com to let me know how it works for you!

O T L G O L F. C O M

OTL / MIND GAME

Good Strategy =

Lower Scores, but can be boring STORY BY BRECH SPRADLEY, PGA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION BARTON CREEK GOLF ACADEMY

Let’s discuss some strategies to improve your scoring. We will describe a strategy as the plan you decide to use to overcome situations in the game. I had the fortunate opportunity from 20022009 to teach under Golf Digest Top 5 teacher, Chuck Cook at his Academy. Chuck has not only taught multiple Major Championship winners, but also was a staff instructor with Golf Digest Schools many years before. Chuck had already accumulated a great deal of strategy data over his long tenure and we collected more at the Chuck Cook Golf Academy. I continue to carry on much of the same player data collection for developing playing strategies at the Barton Creek Golf Academy and the statistics haven’t really changed. His early research broke down the game in four different situations: 1. Tee shots on par 4 and par 5s; 2. Advancement shots (shots that can’t reach the green); 3. Target shot (shots expected to reach the green); and 4. Short game shots. The tee shot testing was to determine what club was hit in the fairway with each handicap group over 50% of the time. Each club was tested with 20 shots each, which were the driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, and next longest iron. This was also done for advancement shots hitting 20 balls with the 3 wood, 5 wood, and next longest club. To pass advancement shots they needed to get it airborne and keep it in the fairway over 50% of the time. The way the target shots were tested was to hit 20 shots from different distances starting at 50 yards and move back out in 25-yard increments. We also tested all short game skills, short putts, long putts, chips, pitches, and bunker play. Over the years our Academy we have tested many players men and women in our golf schools and private coaching in our initial player assessment. This testing is very valuable to help build a long-

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term development program for improvement. These days we have radars, such as Trackman and Flightscope and other technologies which make it easier to test. The results have been quite interesting. The data discussed here is male players, but the female numbers are not that different. In tee shots the data shows that players over a 14 handicap have a very hard time hitting the driver in play (fairway) 50% of the time. So, this means that unless you’re under a 14 handicap you need to think twice about teeing off with your Driver especially if you want to hit the fairway. The findings also showed that a handicap of 29 or higher could not pass the fairway test with a driver or a 3 wood. So basically, if you are over a 29 handicap you should think of using a 5 wood or less to hit more fairways on your tee shots. One of the main reasons for this is due to the slower clubhead speed of the higher handicap golfer generally. In many cases slower clubhead speed golfers hit the 3 wood not only higher, but also straighter. This is because the more loft a club creates more backspin, and this can help hit it straighter. On advancement shots the research showed that players with a handicap of 15 or higher could not pass the test with a 3 wood. 28 handicaps could not pass it with a 3 wood or 5 wood. The main factor for this is that when the ball is played off the ground with a 3 wood this is very little room for error based on the amount of loft the club need to catch the ball perfectly below the equator which is needed to hit a good shot in the air. 5 woods are quite a bit easier to get airborne and hit straighter, yet still difficult for the higher handicap. On target shots the research showed that players with a handicap of 8 or higher could not hit the green over half the time from 150 yards. If

the players handicap was 15 or higher, they struggled hitting the green over half the time from 125 yards. And the 30+ handicappers could not hit the green over half the time from 75 yards. Our short game skills testing is very in depth with the study, and basically and obviously the lower the handicap the better the short game most every time. The details of this research can be for another time. So, what does all the mean? Well it means that there is a strategy of tactics you can use based on your handicap to help you lower your scores on the course. Players with handicap levels of 36 or more should generally tee off with no more than a 5 wood. Then the longest club that should played from the ground for consistency would be a five iron or hybrid to the advance the ball in the fairway. Until you are within 50 yards of the green you should play towards the safe part of the green. If you miss the green from there, use your sand wedge (one club) for short game shots and putt from the fringe and green. Players with handicaps of 15-35 should use no more than a 3 wood off the tee, then use nothing longer than a 5-wood from the ground. Then play towards the center of the green until inside 100 yards. Around the greens add the low running chip for longer short game shots and the sand wedge for higher shots. For handicaps under 15 there certainly becomes more customization to the game. To summarize, obviously there are exceptions to the rule in all these cases. This is not to say, you should not take advantage of the Driver and the great technology these days. But, through the extensive research, I think this a good starting point of strategy based on handicap to help your scoring while playing. Everyone wants to go out and swing away and â&#x20AC;&#x153;bombâ&#x20AC;? the driver. It can be fun and certainly distance has become a premium at the highest level of the game. But, give this more conservative strategy a try for a while and you will start to see lower scores. Also, get with a good coach and start of game plan of improvement based on your practice and play schedule. You need to become more proficient with all the different clubs and shots in the practice area first. There is so much to learn in the game. Good luck!

O T L G O L F. C O M

Premium Club Fitting = Instant Success Aging Golfers Recover Lost Distance Overcome Injuries Through Custom Club Fitting STORY BY LEONARD FINKEL

It’s no secret that age and injury can drastically affect a golfer’s game, making for less enjoyable rounds. The good news - with a professional club fitting, most golfers can hit farther and more accurately so they can once again enjoy the game.

Golf Magazine study found that 90% of US golfers may be playing with improperly fit clubs. Many players buy off the rack or think a grip change constitutes a customization when in reality, the entire club should be adjusted to fit an individual’s swing. World-renowned instructor David Leadbetter says, “It never ceases to amaze me that golfers buy clubs off the shelf and assume they’re right for them. Whether you’re a great golfer or a

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casual one, getting a custom club fitting is one of the quickest ways to improve your game.” The discrepancy between potential and actual performance is much greater for older golfers. Similarly, those recovering from injuries may have movement restrictions hindering their swing. Both groups can uniquely benefit from a fitting. By working with their exact swing mechanics, a master club fitter can maximize what’s working without putting pressure on injuries or areas of the swing that may be declining. One fitter, Club Champion, has a proven history of success.

After recovering from a stroke and two major surgeries, 84-year-old former Navy pilot and Olympic athlete Sherwood Schoch (Topton, PA) shot 74 with his custom clubs. “It’s been a game-saving experience,” Sherwood shared. “Between health and age, I was on the brink of throwing in the towel, but no more. Now it’s a rare round if I don’t shoot my age. The fitting changed my world!” Sherwood’s fitter Brett Castleberry said, “We went with a lighter shaft, but needed a heavier swing weight to create more lag. It increased his clubhead speed by 3 mph and helped him make more consistent contact. As a result, he gained 15 yards on his irons.” As for overcoming Sherwood’s physical problems, Brett continued, “We went with graphite shafts for two reasons - they are lighter and they can dampen vibrations which helped us address the problems with his hands.”

Anyone will benefit from premium club fitting, especially golfers who want to optimize performance. Bill Rees (68) from Poland, OH was playing poorly. Age was robbing him of distance, and he thought his equipment might be partially to blame. After playing his custom-fit clubs, Bill stated, “My investment in equipment paid off. I’m playing far better and much more consistent. My average drive went from around 225 yards to 240 yards, which was the distance I hit it when I was younger. For someone who is serious about golf, this is the way to go.”

Sherwood and Rees’s experiences weren’t anomalies. A Golf Digest study found that eight out of nine Club Champion custom fit golfers lowered their scores by as much as six strokes per round and added an average of 21 yards off the tee. Legendary instructor Hank Haney believes, “There isn’t anyone who can’t benefit from club fitting. At Club Champion, you get a truly professional fitting. For somebody not to take advantage of Club Champion’s expertise, they’re wasting a tremendous opportunity.” Club Champion delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate. Their approach is unbiased; no specific vendor is promoted. The only goal is to find the best combination of components to lower your scores. Leadbetter adds, “Club Champion is the

#1 premium club fitter, builder and retailer of the best brands in golf. Their master fitters and builders are unrivaled experts. With over 35,000 combinations, Club Champion will build the perfect clubs for you.” Ranked by Golf Digest among the 100 best club fitters nine years in a row, Club Champion’s unique coupling system allows them to combine any head and shaft together. Golfers hit the precise combination to be custom-built for them. Club Champion stands out because they build clubs in-house, to exacting, unrivaled tolerances. Variables such as swing weight, length, lie and flex DO alter performance. Experience and in-depth understanding of golf equipment is what separates Club Champion from its competition. There are more than 50 Club Champion studios across the country including six locations in Texas. The Austin studio is located at 3801 N. capital of Texas Highway. At Club Champion, you don’t just buy clubs, you buy guaranteed improvement! More information at clubchampiongolf.com or 888-842-1370. O T L G O L F. C O M

Lin ASIAN BAR + DIM SUM

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PHOTO COURTESY OF LIN ASIAN BAR

STORY BY RICHARD AREBALO FEATURES EDITOR / OTL MAGAZINE

pen only since June of 2018, Lin Asian Bar on west 6th street in Austin has garnered so much positive buzz that the wait for Dim Sum on Saturday mornings regularly looks like the line for an amusement park roller coaster. Adding to the draw is the fact that the food and experience make the wait completely worth it. Lin’s Chef and co-owner Wu Ling Qi has been cooking in Austin for a few decades; fifteen years at Chinatown on Graystone, then briefly at Chinatown on Bee Caves road, eventually becoming the ‘Wu’ in Wu Chow; but now along with husband Jimmy Ng, she is able to express her passion and skill the way she has always wanted. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with Chef Ling on a recent Saturday and became as much a fan of the lady as I was of her cooking. A repeating theme in talking with Chef Ling is her love of learning; from cooking techniques, new spice combinations, playing with meat textures, to tweaking already good recipes for the best possible result. The Asian chef community in Austin she says is very interconnected with many having worked alongside each other at various restaurants for years. “We all have the same

recipes”; however, at Lin, I believe how those recipes are executed and evolve make all the difference. Chef Ling is originally from Fujian Province in southeast China which has the reputation of being the most diverse when it comes to cooking styles. Fujian lies on the coast across from the Island of Taiwan. It is northeast of Hong Kong and the epicenter of Cantonese cooking (and Dim Sum), and southwest of Shanghai, known for its Hu style of cooking and famous for Xiaolongbao or ‘soup dumplings’ which are a featured item at Lin. Chef Ling uses techniques and recipes learned from her beloved grandmother Zi-Ying, along with Cantonese favorites learned over the years in restaurants and even tastes from Malaysian street food (husband Jimmy’s origins). She stresses that freshness and farm to market concepts have always been a part of good Chinese food though some unique, authentic ingredients could sometimes be hard to find. One welcomed change with Austin’s growth has been the ability to get a wider variety of Asian vegetables, mushrooms, and other ingredients more readily. A strong part of Chef Ling’s philosophy is indeed the long tradition of Chinese dishes and their connection to health. She is proud of the many vegetable dishes

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she is now able to provide. Supporting all the good proteins and vegetables are the wonderful spices throughout Chef Ling’s dishes. Traditional Chinese “five spice” (equal parts cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns) and “thirteen spice” (further adding ginger, nutmeg, tangerine peel, black peppercorns, sesame, chili, cardamom, and amomum fruit) are common in Chinese cuisine with many of these also having been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for their digestive, anti-inflammatory and even anti-microbial properties. Dim Sum, the weekend speciality at Lin, is essentially Cantonese brunch – an early meal, always incorporating hot tea and a variety of small bite-sized portions of food. Most items are served in small, stackable bamboo steamer baskets or on small plates. Ever important are fresh pots of hot tea. As Fujian Provence is famous for Jasmin scented tea – it is represented well at Lin. Featuring one of the first open (Chinese) kitchens in Austin, Lin’s kitchen is the primary feature of the modest-sized house on west 6th street. A mad buzz of activity supports the 100s of steamer boxes being prepared and sent to the tables. We put ourselves at Chef Ling’s hands and were treated to a dozen or so of some of the most popular dishes , but tried some unique items as well. Our meal started with a trio of Dou Sha Bao, steamed buns filled with red bean paste, decorated to look like three little pigs in a small basket. The wheat dough was tender with just a bit of pull, and the madein-house red adzuki bean paste inside was

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savory and sweet at the same time. Chef Ling explained that the traditional order of appetizer, entrée, and dessert is not as strict in Chinese meals – comfortably allowing for “eat dessert first” types. Next, Chef sent out a bowl of Dan Dan noodles. These were spaghetti-like noodles in a bowl of peanut sauce and chilies with a chiffonade of scallion. It was light and very flavorful with a nice balance of spicy and savory. What followed was like Christmas morning, with box after box of wonderful surprises. In addition to outstanding Salt and Pepper (fried) Shrimp and Panfried Beef Buns on little plates, we got beautiful boxes of Shrimp Har Gow, traditional pork and Shrimp Siu Mai, and less common, but delicious chicken, cashew and mushroom dumplings. Interestingly the dough for the Har Gow is made from a combination of wheat and tapioca starches making them a little translucent and slightly chewy. The quality of the shrimp is supreme in this dish as it is by far the bulk of the filling. The more familiar Siu Mai are crinkly yellow wonton wrapper cups filled with ground pork, chopped shrimp, Chinese black mushroom, green onion. The unusual “three-eye” shape of the chicken and cashew dumplings was new to me and is one of several different visual treatments Chef Ling makes herself. For something a little farther afield for non-Chinese diners, Chef invited us to try braised chicken feet. They were a little shocking in their straight forward presentation, but the very tender texture and complex five spice seasoning allowed us to enjoy them equally as the many tables around us. Next came something that Chef Ling has helped put on the map in Austin; Xiaolongbao or ‘soup dumplings,’ are small tangerine sized balls of wheat dough filled with a delicate broth and seasoned pork. Served with just a bit of black vinegar and fresh slivered ginger on the side, these have become a must have item at the restaurant. The trick Chef Ling manages to pull-off is keeping the dough very thin and tender allowing the rich broth and flavorful pork to shine underneath. Word to the wise – the broth is very hot when the dumplings come to the table, a little time and patience will prevent a painful soup accident. Chef followed the standard soup dumpling with a single ‘Shanghai’ Jumbo Sea-

PHOTOS BY ANDREW FERGUSON

food Soup Dumpling. Baseball-sized, and filled with broth, shrimp, and lobster, it was virtually a meal on its own. As we wound down our visit, sure that we would not be able to eat a single bite more, three beautiful desserts arrived at the table. Chef Ling sent out a honeycomb cheesecake which was light and far less sweet than expected, a plate with a tiny bear and block made from passion fruit mousse which was almost too pretty to eat, and a small art piece of nested, dark chocolate and tea scented chocolate balls echoing the complex jade sculptures. Following tradition, our entire meal was accompanied by some of the most delicately flavored jasmine tea I have ever had. Lin offers Lunch weekdays and a very lush Dinner menu including many dishes incorporating Angus Beef, tender Pork shanks, steamed whole fish, duck, and beautifully spiced lobster dishes along with a smaller variety of Dim Sum items. A full (and busy) bar allows waiting patrons to enjoy themselves before dinner and thanks to Jimmy a hundred and fifty label (mostly California) wine

menu allows for some very nice pairings for those wanting something stronger than hot tea. Though the space is modest in size, a few design features are too good not to mention. What appears to be framed paintings on several of the walls are in fact made of silk embroidery on an extraordinary scale. Some items, like a colorful standing Buddha, appear photorealistic until seen very close up. To me, the large wood sculpture at the entrance of the restaurant representing a young Ling and her grandmother at their home (a gift from Jimmy), is one of the most touching pieces of art. Chef fondly points out the details of the fire burning stove ‘that used an actual bellows,’ the baskets, brooms, and woven armor all executed in beautiful detail. When I first started going to dim sum for brunch decades ago, I made the mistake of usually being in a small party, ordering quickly and finishing the same way. Chef Ling helped me understand that Dim Sum is best done as a family or larger group of friends and should be enjoyed at a slower pace…. over some very nice hot tea.

1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703 (512) 474-5107 Mon. - Fri. 11AM–2PM, 5–11PM Sat. 11AM–3PM, 5–11PM Sun.11AM–3PM, 5–10PM

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OTL / WELLNESS 36

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A Wrinkle in Time

Minimizing the Effects of Aging Naturally STORY BY STEPHANIE HAWLEY BEAUTYSTEPHANIE.COM The only two things we know for certain in life is that first we age, then we die. What we do in the interim is our decision. We can prolong life by leading a healthy life, however, the evolution of aging is inevitable and should be celebrated as we become wiser and experienced. My goal has always been to age beautifully, without getting worn down by a damaging lifestyle. In hopes of gaining more complexity and character in the way I look and feel healthy from the inside out. After speaking to one of my best friends who has been in the medical industry for 25 years, she suggested I try a gel that she has been recently using. It evened out and tightened her skin diminishing sun and age spots dramatically in the first 2 weeks. I tried it and the effects were astronomical in just the first 2 applications. I am a fan, to say the least. My benefits included: • Youthful looking skin

• Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles • Increased skin hydration • Increased smoothness of skin The name of the gel is RENU 28, it encourages the strength and efficiency of your skin cell reproduction in partnership with your body’s natural efforts to keep your skin healthy. The powerful science behind this gel is simply amazing as it delivers gentle, effective support for healthy skin. Through Redox Signaling technology, this unique gel provides essential support to the cellular mechanisms that are the foundation of your skin’s structure. Providing critical communication between cells to ensure optimum renewal and replenishment. RENU 28 supports your skin and supplements the body’s natural renewal process.

Before

Results of independent clinical study. Images taken before and after 12 weeks of using RENU Advanced System.

After Before

After

Now that you know my anti-aging secrets, I would love to hear your natural remedies. Please contact me if you would like more information on RENU 28 and/or to submit story ideas. O T L G O L F. C O M

Fashion on the fringe at the WGC STORY BY DANA MESEROLE DELORENZO

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On most given days, Austin, Texas is a sleepy “little town” filled with two million plus people who are busy working for a living and having fun while they do it. But during March, it means the start of better weather (maybe), Spring Break, March Madness, South by Southwest (Film, IT, Gaming and Music), Texas Relays, WGC Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament and occasionally if the timing is right, the Austin Kite Festival. For three solid weeks, Austin is buzzing with events all around town. You can find anything from new music and movies to ingenious technology, creative golf fashion, wandering out-of-town visitors, and let’s not forget, the absurd traffic. The whole town goes nuts.

So much to see, so much to do. But within the madness of the month, there is one week where everyone (well about 10,000 lucky ticket holders) heads to Austin Country Club for the city’s adult version of Spring Break, the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play golf tournament. The tournament features the top 64 golf professionals from around the globe battling it out for the coveted Dell Match Play championship trophy. For the players it is all about the golf course, and the competition. But for the fans and spectators, it is a little about the golf but more about networking, the social scene, drink of the day in a limitededition Yeti tumbler and of course, the fashion.

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Predicting the weather in Austin is as easy as predicting the perfect bracket for the NCAA March Madness tournament, which is next to impossible. The week was filled with champions of fashion. Just like March Madness, there were definite bracket busters and Cinderella stories of fashion along with the usual heavy favorites. With white jeans (frayed or not frayed), crossbody bags, belt bags, flowy dresses (long or short), fashionable hats (trucker or

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straw) and expensive sneakers, there was truly no competition that this group of ladies couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle. Their fashion game was definitely way under par and deserving of the championship trophy. Well done WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, well done. This was truly an event to remember. Golf-clap here. Now, I must go shopping because â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most important shot in golf (fashion) is the next one. (Ben Hogan.)

PEBBLE CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

Has Evolved into a Prototypical Family Club STORY BY CARL MICKELSON PHOTOS BY CONRAD EARNEST

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The energy is contagious in this breezy, limestone-accented outdoor cantina. The space fills with the sounds of laughter, conversation and margarita glasses clinking while kids sit wide-eyed in anticipation of Pizza Night and dads relax with the hearth-like comfort of sports on the big screens. t’s the best of resort-style living with the comfort and familiarity of your favorite local restaurant. Better still? Creekside Cantina sits just a knockdown wedge away from Pebble Creek Country Club’s 18th well-guarded and welllandscaped green. Members at this 26-year old College Station Club have made this space the new “heartbeat” of the club.

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Today, if you want your private club to thrive, it helps if you’re providing your members a place they never want to leave. The best club experiences give members the sensation of a minivacation on every visit. Pebble Creek has embraced that reality and today’s club experience there has evolved into a model many clubs across the country should strive to catch up to. “Our ownership (Triumph Golf, who purchased Pebble Creek in 2012) anticipated the shift in private club marketplace that in order to thrive, clubs must be family-oriented and offer something enticing for every member of the family,” says director of golf Chad Barrum. “You know you’re in a new era when you walk through the clubhouse and see large workout area, yoga studio and kids club and find a resort-style zero-entry pool with splash pad and swim-up bar and cabanas outside.”

The way College station is booming combined with Houston’s growth toward this area means South College Station is one of the hottest real estate sections in this region.” Barrum says.

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PHOTOS BY CONRAD EARNEST

When the club opened in the early 1990s, College Station was a quiet, largely-rural but developing university town. Today, Bryan-College Station is one of the state’s fastest-growing communities and is taking on the complexion of a young city driven by biomedical and education careers and the enlightening discovery that the Brazos River Valley is a beautiful place to live. Pebble Creek sits in South College Station, one of the area’s most desirable zip codes. “The way Bryan-College station is booming combined with Houston’s growth toward this area means South College Station is one of the hottest real estate sections in this region. The schools are excellent and the community infrastructure is outstanding,” Barrum says. “Our club benefits from the vibrant young families who want to live and work in a place that feels like a mix of home and a vacation getaway.” Pebble Creek is known for its attractive stone-accented water hazards that guard many of the greens but, increasingly, the club is becoming known as the place to be on special occasions. “It’s a cliché to say we strive to be our members’ home away from home but if you came here and saw the Easter or

Halloween or Fourth of July celebrations we put on, you’d see that we have so many families making incredible memories with the people they care about,” says Barrum. Innovative junior golf programming includes the Operation 36 initiative which starts kids on a 25yard hole and uses a unique curriculum to guide them through a step-by-step path to improvement with fun measurables and targeted instruction. Once home to the Texas A&M men’s and women’s golf teams, Pebble Creek is known is a strong championship layout with a par of 72 and a length of 6,870 from the back tees, but the members love how fun and strategic the course plays. The beauty of this design, originally routed by the once-ubiquitous Houston-based design firm of Finger-Dye-Spann, is that all of the challenges and shot values are right in front of the golfer, including the many appearances of the naturally-flowing and meandering Lick Creek. This gently rolling and rising parkland layout has a terrific balance of manageable, “gettable” holes along with very challenging holes the demand sharp ball striking. O T L G O L F. C O M

“The beauty of this golf course is that it’s truly playable for all skill levels. We’ve hosted professionals and top amateurs and the course holds up extremely well. At the same time, from the proper set of tees, our members and developing golfers (juniors, especially) can enjoy a fair test of golf. When we’ve renovated, we’ve taken care to position bunkers strategically, directionally and not in a penal or unfair manner.” With a simple stroke of brilliance, this design starts opens with a short par five, a feature that aids pace of play and settles golfers comfortably into the round. A handsome 380-yard par four follows before the challenge ratchets up with the 445-yard, par-4 third. Barrum points out that all of the perils and hazards on this course are visible from the tee but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some intimidating-looking shots you’ll face. The toughest holes on the front nine are the winding, scary 520-yard fifth hole and the uphill ninth, where wind is always a factor and out-of-bounds lurks right with water hugging the left perimeter. The 12th is a classic short par 4 at only 336 yards. “You can challenge this hole with driver or lay back smartly with a 5-iron. Every golf course should have a hole this fun,” says Barrum. Don’t let the pleasing, somewhat benign stretch of holes that open the back nine fool you. Pebble Creek brings Big League challenges on its closing four holes. To finish with a desirable 18-hole score,

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you’ll need to survive an intimidating closing stretch starting at the 424-yard, par-4 15th (a tough left-toright dogleg hole) and the unrelenting 600-yard 16th. The final hole is an uphill 455-yard par 4 where a quartering wind adds to the formidable challenge. This being Aggieland and the Southern soul of agronomic innovation, Pebble Creek’s superintendent has been given the freedom to use creative turf solutions, like placing Seashore Paspalum and Zoysia grasses in areas vulnerable to a high salt content in the soil and water. The result is a lush playable surfaces throughout this 6,870-yard layout, and no washed-out “trouble” areas. Any club that has challenges growing or retaining its membership should look to a Pebble Creek and note out of the club’s evolution from refined golf club to a dynamic family environment where fun is the main objective, the last objective and all the objectives in-between. “To attract the kinds of families who want to take advantage of this resort-caliber lifestyle, we’ve had to broaden our market appeal, but in that process we’ve learned what active families want. We’ve listened so we can make this club the kind of place our members use and really don’t want to leave,” Barrum says. “It’s a joy to see our members embracing the Pebble Creek lifestyle.” Learn more about pebble Creek Country Club at www.pebblecreek.cc

OTL / TRAVEL

Pueblo Bonito Resorts & Quivira Golf Club: Caboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Duo STORY BY MARC HALL

Every golf getaway is special but the truly great destinations, their windswept views and their unforgettable vistas, stay a part of your forever. Not to wax too sentimental, but once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve walked the oceanside cliffs at Quivira Golf Club, the experience gets stamped into your golfing and adventuring DNA.

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ituated at the tip of the Baja Peninsula along a dazzling 2.5-mile stretch of beach fronting the Sea of Cortez, the Pueblo Bonito family of resorts (artfully set within the upscale residential community of Quivira Los Cabos) reigns as one of the premier luxury vacation getaway in Mexico. For golf travel aficionados, the main attraction at this exclusive 1,850-acre hideaway, tucked in a mountain valley 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, is Quivira Golf Club. Built by golf legend Jack Nicklaus on one of the most stunning sites in the world, Quivira’s spectacular 7,085-yard, par-72 layout is marked by sheer granite cliffs, huge windswept dunes, and rolling desert foothills. From start to finish, players are treated to breathtaking views and one-of-a-kind challenges. In a destination revered for its unique mountain-desert-ocean ecosystem, Quivira offers more oceanfront exposure— and more unforgettable thrills—than any other course in Los Cabos. Little wonder it has been voted to Golf Digest’s roster of the “World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.”

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According to Taber Anderson, Quivira’s Managing Director, “The land where our course is located is very raw, rugged, and wild, with spectacular cliffs high above the Pacific. No other course I can think of boasts its terrain or its incredibly close relationship with the ocean. And while we consistently maintain high-level course conditions, Quivira was purposefully designed to celebrate an incredibly wild and natural setting that is truly at Land’s End, kilometer zero. It is a feast for all the senses.” Created as an exclusive amenity for guests of Pueblo Bonito Golf & Spa Resorts and Quivira residents, the golf club offers complimentary food and refreshments (including regional Mexican specialties) at four comfort stations spread around the course. After the round, players can relax at the thatched-roof, open-air beachfront clubhouse or fine-tune their games at a double-ended practice facility located steps from the rolling surf. Where to stay? Golfers gravitate to the adults-only, all-inclusive Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort located five minutes from the course. This lovely beachfront hotel ascended into the ultraluxe category in 2016 with the debut of The Towers at Pacifica, a sumptuous “resort within a resort” that features beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites with private terraces and personalized 24-hour butler service. The hotel’s culinary jewel is Peninsula, a sophisticated restaurant and lounge specializing in regional Baja cuisine. Golfers traveling with families can opt for the nearby Sunset Beach Golf & Spa Resort, a magnificent all-inclusive property terraced down the face of an ocean bluff. The largest hotel in the Pueblo Bonito portfolio, Sunset Beach offers an array of spacious, well-appointed suites, all with ocean views. Its signature restaurant is LaFrida, which offers a gourmet dining experience in a candlelit room dedicated to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

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More dining options? The Market at Quivira, a bustling food hall attached to Sunset Beach, welcomes diners to an enticing array of eateries, from Asian to Italian. The Market’s newest outlet is The After at Quivira, a stylish sports bar with an oceanview terrace that features a dozen oversize flat-screen TV’s, 16 different artisanal beers on draft, and superb hand-crafted cocktails. For those who don’t wish to leave, the real estate offerings at Quivira Los Ca-

bos continue to outpace the competition. Fanned out along desert bluffs is Copala, a full-ownership home and condominium community with hacienda-style charm that honors the region’s colonial Mexican heritage. Also available is Coronado, a premier community set on a desert ridge high above the sea, its richly appointed fourand five-bedroom homes overlooking the ocean and the rolling fairways at Quivira Golf Club.

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OTL / SPECIAL TIPS 56

Golf made simple from discovery and doing

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STORY BY BUCK MAYERS

In today’s world we have 3-D, radar machines, force plates, video, and so many other tools that measure the what, when, where, and how. The equipment, balls and clubs, has helped all golfers improve their distance and direction. The education and knowledge on health and nutrition has been expanded to new heights to help you play this great game better and longer. However, progress in golf must first start with the understanding that the mind controls the body, the body controls the swing, and the swing controls the ball. Golf is a motor skill that is learned from self-discovery by doing. The goal of educators in any field is to find different ways to help their students learn. Suggestions that benefit one student may not work for another. “We must recognize the golf swing maybe simple in theory, but the machine that performs it is very complicated”, writes Dr. Gary Wiren. We have all heard How to Hold it, How to Aim it, Where to Place it, and How to Stand to it as the building blocks of a sound golf swing. There is no question that these fundamentals are very important and all too often are neglected. However, fundamentals do have differences and acceptable positions that have produced great results, including every major champion. Now let’s tackle the mechanical sequence patterns to swing patterns of great ball strikers. Tempo, rhythm, balance are remarkable

traits that we admire in so many champions. But how do we learn and train a better club face, path, angle of attack, solidity, and speed without all the clutter? It’s a very short answer, Speed Training. Why? Results! Speed Training is immediate and non-technical. Speed training benefits mobility, stability, and strength. Speed training sharpens cardio health, Speed training delivers very high proprioceptive feedback. Speed training has very short training sets and can be done anywhere in a short period of time. This intention spawns the technique not vice versa. If you are trying to put the golf club in all those perfect positions, you will experience the dreaded paralysis by analysis. By improving your setup and destination mindset, the face alignment, swing path, angle of attack, solidity, and speed all get better from sequence patterns that are intuitive and instinctive. Speed training helps you play better golf and eliminates the clutter of positional thinking. The bottom line is…. Faster is more efficient and efficient is straighter & more solid. A very simple and tested concept. Golf made simple from discovery and doing.

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OTL / ON YOUR GAME

Straight talk with Hank Haney STORY BY LEONARD FINKEL

Leonard Finkel: Hank, you’re one of the top golf instructors in the world. Why do you think you’re so successful? Hank Haney: I think the reason I’ve been successful at golf instruction is because I’m just a hard tryer. I’ve always tried really hard. I’ve tried to learn. I’ve tried to understand everything I could about coaching the golf swing. I’ve been very good at making a plan. If you’re going to get better at anything, you have to have a plan. A step-by-step roadmap that takes you from where you are to where you want to be, or where you possibly could be. I’ve always been plan oriented; have a step-bystep plan and stick to that plan. Those would be my two keys to success. I started off with Mark O’Meara and he was my first student. He’s a perfect example of executing a plan. This was his second year on Tour. He was 124th on the money list and as I stood there, he asked if I was going to say anything. This was at Pinehurst Hotel and Country Club and finally I said let’s go inside. We’ll sit down and we’ll talk about what your plan should be. He said Hank, I don’t have time for that. He said he was going to lose his Tour card so could I just give him some advice. I said no, let’s talk about what your plan should be and see if you want to commit to it. We went inside and talked. It made sense to him. He started to follow my plan and two years later he finished second on the money list. It’s a perfect example of making sure you have a plan and then working it. Finkel: You worked with what a lot of people consider the most talented golfer of all time, Tiger Woods. What was that like and what did that experience mean to you? Haney: First, as a coach of anything, if you have an opportunity to work with a player like Tiger Woods, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime. It

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meant so much to me. It really validated my whole career. To be honest with you, just to get that opportunity to coach him was a highlight, as was being able to watch him have great success while I was helping him. He won 45 percent of his tournaments. He was top 10, 85 percent of the time. So, to see that kind of success was just further validation of what I had done my whole career. It was an incredible opportunity, a great learning experience because with Tiger there was an opportunity to look up close and personal at someone that was arguably the greatest player ever. I mean, it’s Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Finkel: How would you assess his comeback now? Haney: I feel like Tiger is playing very, very well. He’s out there playing without pain, at least relatively speaking, and he can swing again. And I think he is going to win more golf tournaments. I think he is going to win another Major. For a 42-year-old professional athlete who’s had four knee operations and five or six back operations, he’s doing pretty darn good. Finkel: You’ve had many students on Tour. What was your favorite win for one of your students? Haney: Mark O’Meara. Mark was my first student on Tour. I would say everything that’s great that happened to me in golf, and really in my life, happened because I met Mark O’Meara. When I met Mark at Pinehurst in 1982 at the Hall of Fame Classic, he was 124th on the money list on the PGA Tour. Two years later he was second on the money list. All of a sudden Hank Haney must know something and I’m teaching touring pros. But Mark is my guy that got me started. I’ve taught over 200 touring pros during my career but my highlight moment for sure was Mark O’Meara winning the 1998 Masters. And he followed it up that summer

by winning the Open Championship. He won two Majors in the same year and was “Player of the Year” that year. Finkel: And he beat Tiger heads up in that Open. Haney: He beat Tiger at Royal Birkdale. And of course, when Mark got inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame a couple of years ago, that was another highlight. Mark always said, “I’m not a great player, I’m a really good player.” I texted Mark when he got into the Hall of Fame. I said Mark, they don’t have any good players in the Hall of Fame. Finkel: Do you believe custom club fitting is important? Haney: It’s always been important but today, the advantages of custom fitting are even more prevalent than ever. You really have an opportunity to optimize your equipment for you. Distance is so important and everybody can achieve more distance with better equipment. We see it with the touring pros. And the opportunity is there with Club Champion Golf. You can get a professional fitting, I mean, a real professional fitting. The advancements we’ve had in equipment and in club fitting are just so incredible, that for somebody not to take advantage of it is a wasted opportunity. Finkel: What about custom fitting on Tour? Haney: You custom fit both clubs and balls. When I was with Tiger, he was reluctant to try the newest things. Even when they would bring the TrackMan out and show him the difference. The only thing he would experiment with would be the golf club, but he only would do it around the greens. And we would look to see if the ball would spin more or spin less. That’s where he would start off. Even if they told him how much farther the ball went, he didn’t care. He wanted it to react around the greens. For every player who plays, they have to have a hot button. Maybe it’s greater distance, maybe it’s a better trajectory, maybe it’s more accuracy or maybe it’s more spin or less spin. But you have to hit that spot for that player, and nowhere does it happen more than with touring pros. Finkel: What kind of players do you think benefit from custom club fitting? Haney: Everybody benefits from custom club fitting. Whether it’s getting clubs that fit you so that you can have a good set up and a chance to swing a golf club to the best of your ability, or it’s optimizing the equipment you have, a fitting can only help your game. Maybe you have a club that fits you, but are you using the optimal clubs for your distance, accuracy or consistency? There isn’t anyone who can’t benefit from club fitting. It’s one thing that is really hard to understand in golf. People just don’t pay enough attention to their equipment. I guess they just think it’s all the same. But it’s not. If you get the right club for you, it can make a tremendous difference in your golf game.

Finkel: Do you see custom club fitting working hand-in-hand with golf instruction? Haney: You have to start with a student that has clubs that fit him, at least from a static measurement perspective. If your clubs don’t fit you with length and lie, then you have no starting point because you can’t get a student to set up to the ball correctly. To me, instruction starts with fixing the person’s big miss and the first thing I want to do is make sure I’m not fighting that player’s equipment. If somebody’s slicing it or hooking or pulling or pushing it, I want to make sure there’s not something in their equipment contributing to that. Then secondly, is there something with equipment that could help to correct those ball flight mistakes? If you don’t get the equipment right first, then you’re going to have to over-correct in order to get a ball flight change and you don’t want to do that. So definitely, to me the starting point is the club fitting. Finkel: How can you help golfers as they’re getting older? Is there a way instruction can help get back some of that lost distance?

O T L G O L F. C O M

Haney: A lot of times with older players, their lost distance has to do with a lack of flexibility. As we get older, we tend to lose flexibility. And if you lose flexibility, you lose length to your swing which reduces clubhead speed. We try to get people motivated to do some stretching, do some yoga to get the length back in their swing. But we also do things instruction-wise that can help make it easier for them to turn. It may be adjusting their foot position or getting them to turn their hips a little bit more or focusing on their hand and arm swing. We might try to get their wrist to hinge more and get the club to swing back. But that’s the one place where players that lose distance could get at least some or even most of it back - if they can regain the length of their swing. Obviously, as we get older, we tend to get slower but there’s not much you can do about that. But you certainly can do something about the length of your swing. That you can recapture. Finkel: Do you see any trends in instruction today and if so, how do you feel about them? Haney: Probably the biggest trends are towards technology. TrackMan, the various launch monitors, force plates, all the bio-mechanical stuff. We can hook everything up to your body and see exactly what’s going on. There’s definitely a trend in instruction and has been for quite a few years where more information is what’s driving the bus. I think to a certain extent it’s good because it helps people with their diagnosis and helps them figure out exactly what the problem is. One of the tough things though, when you have a lot of information, is how can I apply it and what do I do first? You can only think about so many things when you’re swinging a golf club. You can only think about so many things when you’re giving advice and it has to be a step-by-step process. Sometimes when you get more information, it makes things more complicated. But sometimes when you get more information, it makes things simpler. My goal with instruction is always to make it easier to understand, simpler. So, I try to take technology and turn that into a real positive by simplifying things; just getting down to one or two things somebody needs to think about to fix their ball flight. Because all that really matters at the end of the day is ball flight. Finkel: You’ve been involved in the industry for a long time. What are you working on these days besides one-on-one teaching? Any projects we should be aware of? Haney: My main company is called The VooDoo Lab, and my product is a pain relief cream called VooDoo Pain Relief Cream. Actually, I have two products, VooDoo Pain Relief Cream and VooDoo Sports Cream. It’s a company I started at 63 years old. I’ve had a couple knee operations and two shoulder operations. As you get older, something’s always hurting, and I was always enamored by pain relief creams and the fact that they don’t do much. So, I found an incredible chemist, with a great lab in Oklahoma, and she helped me formulate a product. I call it VooDoo Pain Relief Cream because it’s like a magic formula and that’s been a big passion of mine. It’s something I’ve been work-

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ing on for the last year and we just launched it about six months ago. We’re off to a great start and getting a lot of great feedback from people, people that it’s helping tremendously. It’s a bit of an extension from golf instruction, because as a golf instructor you feel so good helping people. But when you can help somebody feel better, that feeling is multiplied. It’s been one of the most fun projects I have ever done. That’s a big part of where my time is spent, when I’m not talking golf on SiriusXM PGA Tour radio, which I do every morning. When I’m not talking golf, I’m working on this project. Finkel: Do you have other golf-related projects? Haney: I do a lot of different things in golf. I have golf schools in Texas and three different academies in Dallas. I’ve got a public golf course in East Texas. I do a whole video series for Hank Haney University. People get my videos and I do a lot of clinics for club fitting. I did clinics last year for over 15,000 people. I’m active on Twitter where I have 150,000 followers. I’ve got a couple hundred thousand people a week that listen to my radio show. I don’t teach individual lessons anymore, but I probably teach more golf now than I ever have in terms of the reach that I have. Golf’s been so great to me. I feel so incredibly blessed by the events that have happened to me in golf and it’s fun to feel like you’re giving back a little bit. Finkel: What are your passions outside of golf? Haney: I’m a passionate sports fan. I like watching all sports. I’ve spent a lot of time the past couple of years playing Pickleball. I’m obsessed with Pickleball. In the summer, I played Pickleball three or four hours a day in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Then I play in Scottsdale the rest of the year. I play Pickleball all the time. I love Pickleball and I’m trying to get better. I have played in tournaments and I’ve got a big one coming up. I won a few of them, and I’m getting better, improving. I study it like golf. I watch videos, I watch all the tournaments online. I took lessons this summer from Tyson McGuffin, the U.S. Open Pickleball champion.

OTL / WINE & SPIRITS 62

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STORY BY RICHARD AREBALO FEATURES EDITOR / OTL MAGAZINE

The Rías Baixas region in the northwest corner of Spain just above Portugal benefits from a maritime climate – moist springtimes, hot and fairly dry summers, and relatively mild winters. It also boasts a hilly terrain with rocky granite soil. These features are common in many prominent wine-making areas as they tend to be ideal for grape production, but not as much for other crops.

PHOTO BY BRANDY BEHR

The vineyard of Lagar de Cervera founded in 1982 is in the O Rosal subzone, the inlet farthest south in Rías Baixas, and their vineyards actually cover the northern slopes of the Miño River, across from the popular Vinho Verde region of Portugal. In 1988, famed Rioja wine producers La Rioja Alta purchased Lagar de Cervera and brought their facilities to state of the art. To date, the winery has become one of the star names of the Rías Baixas. Albariño has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the last couple of decades with sommeliers recommending it as a fresh alternative to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc for pairings with seafood. Their relatively good price points also make them popular with diners. Galicia (where Rias Baixas is located) is known for a wide variety of delicious seafood; from classic cod and hake to octopus, spider crabs, and clams. It follows that wines that would complement these dished would develop right alongside.

The Lagar de Cervera 2017 is considered a very solid wine from an excellent vintage for Spanish wines averaging 89 to 91 ratings on various wines sites. The wine is a pale-yellow and brilliantly clear. It has an intense aroma with tropical notes of citrus, pineapple, and ripe melon. The taste carries through the tropical notes plus ripe green apple and hints of dry grass. The wine has a pleasant buttery mouth-feel from a large portion having undergone malolactic fermentation. True to its varietal, the wine has medium-high acidity with a long persistent finish. Though quite nice on its own, we recently served this wine with both Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo and with traditional Seafood Gumbo and found that it enhanced both dishes beautifully. The Lagar de Cervera like most Albariños is at a very modest price point of about $20, making it an ideal wine for large celebrations or for just having more frequently.

O T L G O L F. C O M

OTL / CIGARS 64

Gems found at local cigar lounges STORY BY TARA LEE MALONEY I love to travel. I make lists and watch shows about the places I want to go. I ask people around me about places they have been or are from. I dream of a time I can visit all of these places. Where should I go next? At this point you might be asking “I thought this was a cigar article”? Well, it is. Let’s go. As soon as I get settled at my hotel, I go online and find the local cigar shops. You may think I am a little obsessed. You might want to tell me there are a lot more things to do in any city than go to a cigar shop. You are right of course, until you realize it is the best place to go to find out about the true gems of any city. I don’t mind going to tourist places. However, I really want to go where the locals go for great food, drinks, to socialize or to visit. I don’t want to eat at a chain restaurant; I want to eat at a place very few people go unless they are from there. When I went to New York, the first place I stopped was the Nat Sherman cigar lounge. I met a wonderful brother of the leaf, Jeff. He told me several things to see and how to see them. He took me to a little secret garden tucked away in the middle of downtown where you can have a cigar and a meal. It was made by a lover of the leaf who could not find a spot to smoke his cigars. I tell anyone going to New York to go to Paley Park. A gem I will never forget. While in Washington, D.C. my friend and I found a hip bar and cigar lounge. The people there invited us in to watch the NFL playoff games. We spent rest of the night having some great banter, drinks and food with the regulars. Oh, and delicious cigars, of course. My sister and I went to Palm Springs last year. One evening after we finished dinner, we went for a walk. Within a few steps I noticed a lounge. We went in and I recognized the manager from Facebook. We met up with him the next day and spent hours talking with him. He told us of great places to shop and to eat. I had the best bowl of Pho the next day. Recently, I went to Nashville for a business trip. One of the regulars at my lounge told me of a couple of lounges to visit while there. The first night I went to Primings Cigar Lounge and Bar. It was like a speak easy; comfortable, relaxing and great drinks. The manager treated me so well. One of the regulars was into soccer, so I spent a couple of hours talking

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about the English Premiere League. Later that week, I went to another one he told me about. I needed to stop for dinner but could not find anything that interested me. I decided just to go to Casa de Montecristo. I parked and there was this hole in the wall BBQ restaurant. I stopped in and had the best ribs. A few days later a friend and I drove out to a small town to visit and found a nice little lounge called Screaming Eagle Lounge. We went in and had a lot of great conversations and got to know more about the town. It was getting late and I needed to get dinner and one of the gentlemen there told me about a Cajun restaurant that I had to go to. I was skeptical. A good Cajun restaurant in Tennessee? He was right. It was so very good. I had Shrimp and Grits, lemon drop martini, a Grasshopper and bread pudding. People tell me all the time that they can get a cigar for a couple of dollars cheaper online. I tell them that may be so, but you cannot get online what you can get at your local lounge. They are missing the best part of smoking a cigar: the people you meet. I have had some of the best food and visited some of the best places because I go to a local lounge and talk. The extra dollar or two I pay for the cigar is worth it. I have made friends all over the US and can’t wait to meet more people across the world. Support your local cigar lounge; it really is worth it.

OTL / THE SWEET SPOT

RENO “The Biggest Little City In The World” STORY BY KELLY VOHNN

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What a time to be in Reno! The economy is booming. The housing market is prosperous. The scenery is breathtaking and the outdoor activities are endless. You literally have the best of all worlds.

eno is approximately 22 miles from Tahoe where hiking, camping, snowboarding, skiing, swimming and boating is just a normal part of life. Reno was originally known for one of the few places in the United States that allowed divorces, gambling, low taxes and easy access into California. Before the 1950’s it was known aWhat a time to be in Reno! The economy is booming. The housing market is prosperous. The scenery is breathtaking and the outdoor activities are endless. You literally have the best of all worlds. s the gambling capital of the US. Reno was quite the flourishing little town until the 1980’s when Indian gaming laws eased off and really started to affect casino revenue a few short years later. Then the “Great Recession” hit and the town just took a nose dive. Casinos were closing down with “Good Luck” signs posted on their chained doors. My daughter was going to UNR at the time (University of Nevada, Reno). I felt horrible for her attending school there at such a devastating time. She managed just fine. Several companies started to notice Reno and its vast empty surrounding areas and its inexpensive real estate. Tesla’s Gigafactory is the largest building in the world at 5.8 million square feet located in Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRI) which is the largest industrial center in the world. Companies like Apple,

Google, Switch and Backspace who is building a $422 million data center right beside Apple are quickly buying up real estate with some handsome incentives. With this huge growth, Reno may have to change their slogan. I really don’t know how much longer remains for them to be known as a “Little City”. A few years ago the city started to aggressively market themselves as Tahoe Reno and people from all walks of life are taking notice. I was a little worried about their water when it came to my daughter’s and son in law’s health who love residing in Reno. I was very happy to find out their water supply comes from the Truckee River which is fed by Lake Tahoe, one of the cleanest lakes in the world. Not only is it great drinking water, the Truckee River runs right into the downtown area making the city picturesque. The city invested $1.5 million into the river water park making it easily accessible for kayaks, tubing and all sorts of fun water sports bringing life to the downtown area. So whether you’re looking for a new vacation destination or a new home, Tahoe Reno should definitely be on your list. The activities around the city are endless including the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West” celebrating their 100th anniversary this year from June 20-29. If you’ve never been to a rodeo, you have to add this to your bucket list! They’re so much fun. Drop into Pizza Reno and say hi to Bob on your next visit and tell him Kelly sent you. O T L G O L F. C O M

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183A

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Pflugerville 1

12 4

Steiner Ranch

360

130

183

Round Rock

183

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9 7 23

Austin

360

17 5

2 14 183

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24 35

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30 27

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410

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410 35

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Bluff Springs

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OTL / DIRECTORY

1 Avery Ranch Golf Club 512-248-2442 www.averyranchgolf.com 2 Harvey Penick Golf Campus www.harveypenickgc.com 512-926-1100 3 River Place Country Club www.riverplaceclub.com 512-346-1114 4 The University of Texas Golf Club www.utgolfclub.com 512-266-6464 5 Barton Creek Country Club 512-329-7999 www.omnihotels.com/hotels/ austin-barton-creek/golf 6 The Hills of Lakeway 512-261-7200 www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/ The-Hills-of-Lakeway 7 Falconhead Golf Course 512-402-1558 www.falconheadaustin.com 8 Grey Rock Golf Club 512-288-4297 www.greyrockgolfandtennis.com 9 Austin Country Club 512-328-0090 www.austincountryclub.com 10 Onion Creek Club 512-282-2150 www.onioncreekclub.com

13 Jimmy Clay & Roy Kizer Golf Course 512-974-4653 www.austintexas.gov/golfatx 14 Morris Williams Golf Course 512- 974-8333 www.austintexas.gov/golfatx 15 Lions Municipal Golf Course 512- 477-6963 www.austintexas.gov/golfatx 16 Great Hills Country Club 512-345-6940 www.greathillscc.org 17 Spanish Oaks Golf Club 512-421-8530 www.spanishoaksgc.com 18 Blackhawk Golf Club 512-251-9000 www.blackhawkgolf.com 19 Forest Creek Golf Club 512-388-2874 www.forestcreek.com 20 Teravista Golf Club 512-651-9850 www.teravistagolf.com 21 Twin Creeks Country Club 512-331-5900 www.twincreeksclub.com 22 Georgetown Country Club 512-930-4577 www.georgetowncountryclub. net

11 Cimarron Hills 512-763-8700 www.cimarronhills.com/golfcourse

23 Lake Cliff Golf Club 830-798-0695 www.lakecliff.com

12 Balcones Country Club 512-258-1621 www.balconescountryclub.com

24 Boot Ranch Golf Club 830-997-6200 www.bootranch.com/golf

25 Wolfdancer Golf Club 512-308-4770 www.wolfdancergolfclub.com 26. Landa Park Golf Course 830-221-4350 landaparkgolfcourse.com 27 La Cantera Golf Club www.lacanteragolfclub.com 210-558-4653 28 The Quarry Golf Club 210-824-4500 www.quarrygolf.com 29 Golf Club at Briggs Ranch 210-670-9400 www.briggsgolf.com 30 Dominion Country Club 210-698-3364 www.the-dominion.com 31 Canyon Springs Golf Club 210-497-1770 www.canyonspringsgc.com 32 TPC San Antonio 210-491-5800 www.tpc.com/sanantonio 33 Cordillera Ranch Golf Club 830-336-3571 www.cordilleraranch.com/ cordillera-golf-club 34 Tapatio Springs Resort & Conference Center 830-443-9681 www.tapatioresort.com 35 Escondido Golf & Lake Club 830-598-7800 www.escondidotexas.com 36 Horseshoe Bay Resort 877-611-0112 www.hsbresort.com/activities/ golf

O T L G O L F. C O M

OTL / ADVERTIZER INDEX

4 Leaf Limo 512.633.0004 4leaflimo.com Austin Asset 512.453.6622 austinasset.com

Horseshoe Bay 844.236.6136 horseshoebay.com

Austin Infiniti 512.220.0920 austininfiniti.com

La Cantera 210.558.6500 lacanteraresort.com

Austin Subaru 512.323.2837 austinsubaru.co

Lexus of Austin (512) 343-3400 lexusofaustin.com

Cascata 702.294.2005 golfcascata.com

Mercedes-Benz of Austin 512.454.6821 mercedesbenzofaustin.com

Club Champion 888.842.1370 clubchampiongolf.com City of Bryan 979-776-0133 bryantx.gov/visit Covert Cadillac 512.583.3000 covertcadillac.com Dave Pelz Scoring Game School 800.833.7370 pelzgolf.com Escondido Golf & Lake Club 830.598.7800 escondidotexas.com

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Garrison Brothers garrisonbros.com

Rio Secco 702.777.2400 riosecco.net Schlitterbahn 830.625.2351 schlitterbahn.com The George 979.485.5590 thegeorgetexas.com Zoltan David 512.372.8888 zoltandavid.com