OTL TEXAS the 'O' Issue 2023

Seeking Seattle

Sushi by Scratch Restaurants

Destination Nemacolin

Highland Pines

Top Shelf

SEATTLE

Seattle can feel like a well-kept secret. If you’re seeking paradise, try the great Pacific Northwest. S. Laird

SUSHI BY SCRATCH

From LA to Austin, Sushi|Bar is a hard to get reservation, but well worth it. Omakase is the best way to go. R. Arebalo

SINGLE PLANE

How going to school with Graves Golf can improve your game. M. Bailey

NEMACOLIN

Nemacolin shines as one of golf’s most eclectic and essential golf destinations. C. Mickelson

HIGHLAND PINES

New public golf course north of Houston brings unique qualities. M.Bailey

Photo: Visit Seattle / Rachael Jones

Key yoga poses to improve your golf game.

Strength, flexibility, and endurance contribute to great balance. Give the graduation gift that keeps on giving. Contribute to a Roth IRA.

2023 Maserati Levante, an exceptional sport utility that stands out from the competition.with its stunning design.

Playing golf requires a combination of skill, patience, and a stylish outfit.

Drive for show, putt for dough? Chasing speed? Beware of “speed” traps.

Gary McCord. A journey into the mind of one of golf’s free spirits.

Power Tee keeps Magnolia Golf Properties ahead of the curve.

Discover the vibrant and alluring world of Spanish wines.

Recapping cigar sizes and shapes.

From the Publisher

OTL has always been about getting the most out of life. Travel to the best destinations, indulge in delicious food and wine, and tee off on the most beautiful courses. Get up, get out, and engage in activities you love so that you can be at your absolute best. You never know how much time you have to enjoy the wonders of life.

It seems like every issue we remind you to stop procrastinating and start ticking off those items on your bucket list. And yet, how many of us ever act on a spontaneous idea? Truth is we don’t know, but one thing’s for sure: Regret is a powerful motivator.

But here’s the thing: we don’t just want to scare you into action. We want to inspire you to take the leap and live your best life. What motivates you to pursue your dreams? Is it the promise of success and accomplishment, or is it the fear of missing out? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

An age-old debate over motivation; the carrot or the stick? I’ve always replaced the stick with fire. You can tolerate the stick, but fire is non-negotiable. Nothing lights a fire under you quite like a burning desire to achieve your goals.

Speaking of goals, I recently had an experience that reminded me of the importance of staying grounded and appreciating the little things in life. Not many people can go back to the place they grew up. People move far distances away from home for work or other reasons.

I went back to my hometown and I got a chance to see a lot of familiar faces and people I’ve known all my life. One morning I grabbed a cup of coffee and some donuts and set out to meet up with an old buddy of mine and his crew. It was a go-to-work-with-a- friend day.

We met just after sunrise. It was a quiet, clear morning as the sun began to rise—rays peeking over the trees. Grass slightly dewed. The temperature just right.

Simply a beautiful day to be alive.

My friend is a grave digger, and he had six graves to dig for the scheduled funerals that day. I never planned to stay long, I just wanted to see how it works. I’ve always been a fan of large machinery. You know the tractor they use to build highways and bridges.

We went over to a patch of ground that had a couple of small stakes outlined where the hole needed to be dug. Using the precision of a surgeon with a scalpel, he moved and manipulated earth to make room for someone’s final resting place. The walls of the grave were cold, and it was eerie to think that someone would be there forever in just a few hours. At the same time, it came to me that this is a fate that we all must face. (Obviously, you have other options, cremation, etc.)

I looked at my friend and I saw the dedication, care, and determination of how he went about his work. He got off his tractor, grabbed his coffee, and proceeded to eat donuts. We casually began to talk about what we usually talk about, nothing, but always finding a reason to laugh.

It was a bittersweet moment. A part of me felt guilty knowing how good it felt to just sit and talk, laugh, reminisce, and spend great time with a friend that I’d known for more than a half-century knowing that soon, a family would be arriving to say goodbye to a loved one.

It was a reminder that life is precious, and we should cherish every moment we have.

I’d like to think that grave was prepared with machinery and sprinkled with a little bit of our joy on top.

So, that’s our message to you: seize the day. Embrace every opportunity, chase your dreams, and never forget to celebrate everything, all the time.

Enjoy.

PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER

Sedric Walker

Sedric Walker

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

Tony Dean

Leticia Galarza

GOLF FEATURES EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

Carl Mickelson

Leticia Galarza

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Natalie Kalbas

FEATURES EDITOR

GOLF FEATURES EDITOR

Carl Mickelson

Richard Arebalo

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

FEATURES EDITOR

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andon Guillory, Loui Shaya

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Richard Arebalo

Buck Mayers

PHOTOGRAPHERS

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

Kevin Chin

Buck Mayers

CONTENT SPECIALIST

Joel McColl

Michelle Keller, Leslie Stevenson, Art Stricklin, Tara Lee Maloney

Allison Loots, Mike Bailey, Scott Laird, Nicole Pinter, Leslie Stevenson, Hunter Ham, Alejandra Bernard, Tomas Zilinskis

INTERNET & DIGITAL

Mario Rossi

INTERNET & DIGITAL

Alexandria Moya, Karen Kreeps

FOR ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

FOR ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

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OTL magazine is published bi-monthly by Pristine Media, Inc. Executive, editorial,and advertising offices are located in Round Rock, Texas. 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. ©2023 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.

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. ©2021 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.

SEATTLE

STORY BY SCOTT LAIRD

SEATTLE A Hidden Paradise

hile winters can trend pretty grey and misty, they’re also what makes Seattle’s oft-used Emerald City moniker so apt. The city is abundant with greenery, from tall pines to broad oaks and creeping foliage, some even in the midst of the urban core. The city seems almost built to withstand these sodden days and long, dark nights with a range of galleries, live music performances, quirky bars and restaurants serving the best northwest cuisine—mostly sourced locally.

In the summer, however, the attraction is all-natural.

Long, sunny days illuminate the fantastic scenery to be had from any vantage point. The Cascade mountains to the east, the Olympic mountains across Puget Sound to the west. Perhaps the most famous mountain view from the city is the one locals mean when they say “the mountain is out” is Mount Rainier (known in the indigenous Lushootseed language as Tahoma), a 14,000 foot dormant volcano which looms over the region to the south.

With environs like these, any hotel room in Seattle is bound to have a pleasant view, but the Four Seasons Seattle, perched just above the waterfront, has a particular embarrassment of riches. Many of the city’s hotels rooms

Sometimes Seattle feels like a well-kept secret. Known for being the home of jet airplanes, grunge rock, a certain well-known coffee brand, and lots of rain, there’s actually a great deal more to Seattle than the greatest hits the city is most famous for.

PHOTO: VISIT SEATTLE / RACHAEL JONES

Seattle Mariners

have views of Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains, right over the waterfront piers and the Seattle Great Wheel. Guest rooms here are bathed in neutral tones, allowing the views through the floor-to-ceiling windows to be the primary decorative features. That’s not to say guests won’t appreciate the marble bathrooms with roomy rainfall showers and deep soaker tubs.

Guests will also enjoy views from the year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, or from Goldfinch Tavern, where a popular chef’s tasting menu showcases fresh ingredients from around the region, like oysters, salmon, and mushrooms foraged from the foothills of the Cascades.

Even closer to the waterfront is the Edgewater Hotel, which is actually built on a pier over the waters of Elliott Bay. Built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the hotel was initial expected to be temporary, but it rocketed to fame after the Beatles stayed there in 1964 after no other hotel in the city could get enough insurance to cover the pop stars. A photo of them fishing out of the hotel’s guest rooms (fishing equipment was provided as an amenity at the time) famously appeared on the cover of Life Magazine and the hotel soon became the choice for visiting and

local music acts.

Today, the Edgewater retains the Beatles Suite, complete with Beatles-themed décor, and guests in other rooms can borrow guitars, sheet music, and record players to complete their rock-themed hotel experience. At the hotel, Six Seven Restaurant & Lounge offers diners those same waterfront views with plenty of fresh northwest seafood and other culinary delights (the clam chowder is a particular must-try).

Seattle is also a haven for sports fans, with two major stadiums clustered near each other on the south side of town. Lumen Field, home to the Seattle Seahawks football team and Seattle Sounders soccer team features skyline views of the city. The neighboring T-Mobile Park is home to the Seattle Mariners baseball team.

After a game, stop into 13 Coins Restaurant for classic-but-upscale diner fare in one of the tall tufted leather booths or large swiveling captain’s chairs at the bar of the open kitchen to watch the line cooks banter as they grill steaks, toss pasta, or steam clams. Another spot to stop into in the area is the observation deck at Smith Tower

PHOTO: VISIT SEATTLE / RACHAEL JONES

PHOTO: VISIT SEATTLE / RACHAEL JONES

PHOTO: VISIT SEATTLE / BEN VANHOUTEN

which was one of the tallest buildings outside New York City when it was completed in 1914. The elevator ride to the top winds through a small exhibit about the history of the tower and surrounding neighborhood. Having taken in the views, the bar is a prime spot for a sunset cocktail.

The stadiums also sit near Seattle’s International District. Previously known as Chinatown, the scene here now is certainly more Pan-Asian. Uwajimaya, a grocery store started by a Japanese family that now has locations across the Northwest, is a haven for seafood and all types of Asian foodstuffs—and there are popular local lunch counters and takeout kitchens just inside. Visitors can also stop into the Rem Koolhaas-designed Seattle Public Library to browse Northwest periodicals and maps on their way back north.

Pike Place Market is one of the city’s prime visitor attractions, but it’s also still a place where locals will do their own shopping for fresh northwest produce and seafood. For visitors there are also a number of artisans selling their wares, both on the main market floor and in storefronts throughout the multiple levels of the building. Visitors will find the Athenian Seafood Restaurant & Bar right in the middle of the market, a restaurant dating back to 1909 that still notes with brass placards the bar stools occupied by Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner in the film Sleepless in Seattle.

Visitors wanting to get in on some of the fish-slinging action can, and they can take their fresh seafood home with them. Many of the seafood vendors in the market will pack fish and shellfish “to-go” – in sealed Styrofoam and cardboard boxes suited for airline travel. Fish will stay fresh and chilled for around 24 hours of travel time.

Fancy some inventive cocktails? Try Navy Strength in Belltown for tiki drinks and bearded bartenders flitting around the bar in colorful romper-style jumpsuits. For something a bit more bespoke, make reservations at Needle & Thread a menu-less speakeasy-style bar inside Tavern Law (which does have a menu, and it’s lovely) on Capitol Hill. At Needle & Thread, bartenders have conversations with guests upon arrival about their preferences, then fashion a tipple designed to suit their tastes.

The Space Needle needs no mention as Seattle’s most recognizable landmark, but the nearby Chihuly Garden & Glass has become just as popular a visitor attraction for glasswork by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly. At Seattle Center’s Climate Pledge Arena where the local NHL team the Seattle Kracken takes the ice.

Visitors may also wonder the best way to get out on the water, as the city seems almost surrounded by it. The quickest and most affordable way to take to the sound is the way thousands of Washington State residents do every day—onboard the ferry. The fare is just over $9 for a walk-on passenger. The benefit is spectacular views of the city skyline and Mt. Rainier during the crossing, plus the charming community of Bainbridge awaiting at the other end—good for a few hours walk and some shopping and dining.

However visitors to Seattle choose to spend their time—during whatever season, they’re sure to encounter the hidden bounty of the Northwest. Here’s a land that seems to do all its environs exceptionally well, from ocean to mountain to lake to river—in spite of being a region oft-written off as being rainy or cold. In fact, it’s as close to temperate paradise as one might find on any side of the North American continent.

PHOTO: VISIT SEATTLE

Strength in Balance

STORY BY LESLIE STEVENSON

Strength, flexibility, and endurance are a few terms used to measure physical fitness, but balance is often forgotten. Perhaps many of us do not consider exercises that focus on balance because we downplay the importance of its impact on our well-being, but having good balance can promote body awareness, improve coordination, and provide joint stability.

By definition, body awareness, also known as proprioception, is the unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself. Since balance partly originates in our inner ear, which we cannot control, and our core, which we can control, it is important to focus on strengthening the muscles that support balance. By having a strong core and practicing exercises that challenge your balance, your body awareness will increase, decreasing your risk for injury.

If you have played sports, it is likely that coordination drills were part of your practice. Weak balance can easily cause you to stumble or fall. By training to improve balance, your coordination will improve not only in a sport but also in everyday life.

Taking care of our joints is vital for us to con-

tinue an active and versatile lifestyle. Imagine yourself walking the cobblestone streets of Europe, taking in the sites when suddenly the already uneven surface becomes slippery. Having good balance will likely prevent you from falling but also protect your joints from injury because the appropriate muscles support your body from the unexpected path ahead. Keeping your joints protected will allow you to continue doing the things you love.

While standing on one foot might lead you to believe you have great balance, here are a few exercises to consider to strengthen the muscles that will provide better balance and strength. Plank shoulder taps (keeping your hips stable and not rocking), single-leg deadlifts using a kettlebell, push-ups with one hand on a medicine ball, and arabesque. If you want to make it more challenging, do these exercises using something unstable like a Bosu ball.

Remember, having strong abs does not equate to great balance. We must work specifically to improve our balance by challenging our bodies. Get uncomfortable, push just beyond what seems like your best, and as Jean-Jacques Rousseau put it, “A feeble body weakens the mind”.

YOGA POSES FOR A BETTER GOLF GAME

STORY BY NICOLE PINTER

Yoga for a better golf game? Yes! Here are few yoga poses that will improve your golf game—and help you to feel more relaxed and play effortlessly. Everyone knows golf is a challenging sport, but when you combine the demands of kipping movements with your normal swing,

it gets even harder. YOGA FOR GOLFERS IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME IN MANY ASPECTS. When it comes to golf, it’s not just about how much you practice. It’s also about having the right flexibility and balance to execute a better swing.

CAMEL POSE

Performing the camel yoga pose benefits the body in the following ways: Helps in stretching out the deep hip flexors, which further promotes greater hip flexibility. This can help improve your posture because it focuses on stretching out your back.

BRIDGE POSE

DOWNWARD FACING DOG

The rotation of your shoulders is essential for a golf swing. Stiff shoulders can hinder your rotation, leading to poor form and potential injury. If you’re suffering from tight or sore shoulders, open them up in DownwardFacing Dog.

REVERSE PLANK POSE

Offer your wrist some relief with Upward Plank Pose. This pose strengthens your arms, wrists, and your legs. If your day hovering over a golf club, this is the posture for you

Bridge pose yoga benefits your back muscles and strengthens them. Helps to relieve the tired back quickly after a round of golf. This pose also benefits your chest, spine and neck and helps to give a nice stretch to these parts of your body.

LOW LUNGE

If you spend a ton of time out on the green, your lower body may be feeling a little sore. This posture will stretch your thighs, hips, and groin—ensuring that you’ll be able to properly rotate through all your swings. Plus, this posture opens your chest and helps release tension throughout your upper body too.

Improve your golf game with yoga. It’s one of the best ways to relieve stress, get a boost of energy, and elevate your spirits!

Give the Graduation Gift that Keeps on Giving Contribute to a Roth IRA

STORY BY ALLISON LOOTS, FPQPTM

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 18th to contribute to your Roth IRA for the previous year. The Roth IRA contribution limit for 2022 is $6,000. The IRS limits increased to $6,500 for 2023.

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 an account for them.

Sushi BY SCRATCH RESTAURANTS

STORY BY RICHARD AREBALO

came to Austin in the early 80s to attend the University of Texas. As we are constantly reminded in one way or another, Austin has grown. Every day in the news or online, people bemoan the loss of the funky little town of the 1960s and 70s, “Austin is ruined,” etc.

Indeed, traffic is rotten. There is far less open space than in decades past, and the “weird” that once was Austin is much harder to find. But, in one unique way, Austin is better than ever. For foodies, particularly those of us that like sushi, Austin is doing amazingly well.

Favorites like Uchi, Uchiko, Fukomoto, and Soto have been in Austin for many years, but recently I came across a “top 10 best Omakase” list for Austin. While many Japanese restaurants have offered omakase in the past, having a “top ten” list means that the experience is much more common, and the level of sophistication has grown considerably.

Omakase is literally, “I leave it up to you.” At a sushi restaurant, it is a compliment to the chef and implies faith that the resulting meal will be exceptional.

A 2021 Michelin Guide feature stated, “Few formal dining experiences are as revered or as intimidating as omakase” and “The complete fate of your meal is in the hands of the chef.”

My first omakase meal was in a tiny restaurant in Tokyo many years ago, where I got the sampling of a lifetime. Though every bite was incredibly fresh and delicious, I will admit that items like squid ribbons and anglerfish liver might not have been my first choice then.

In 2020, despite the Covid pandemic, one wonderful thing happened in Austin. Chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee brought their booming business concept, Sushi | Bar, to Austin.

The two chefs started Scratch Bar in Los Angeles in 2013. Their truly “everything from scratch” breads, cheeses, butter, and charcuterie concept quickly gained notice with food fans in the area. In 2015, Chef Philip came to national attention as a contestant on Top Chef Season 13.

Sushi | Bar first opened in 2017 in Los Angeles, and 2020 was also the year Pasta Bar opened in Encino. In 2021 to the delight of their owners, both Sushi Bar in Montecito and Pasta Bar in Encino were awarded their first Michelin stars.

Sushi | Bar was a huge success in Austin partly due

to its siblings, but some powerful celebrity endorsements pushed the already hard-to-get reservations into the tens of thousands.

In 2022, Chef Lee and Sushi | Bar ATX investors decided to part ways, and the new ‘Sushi by Scratch Restaurants’ opened in Cedar Creek, about 20 miles east of town.

The current space is in the main building of the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. An unusual location, undoubtedly, but no less popular than its original incarnation.

Reservations can still be challenging for peak hours and weekends, but flexibility in your schedule can earn a great payoff.

A friend of mine recently surprised me with one of the coveted ten spots mid-week, and I made my trek out to Cedar Creek after work.

In truth, the 183 and 71 toll roads put a big dent in the time it takes to get to Lost Pines. The only glitch was the property gate for the resort looking a bit like a dead end. Once I got my (refundable) parking ticket at the odd-looking gate, it was just a matter of locating the main building. Valet parking was fast and reduced the stress of getting to the restaurant on time.

The Lost Pines Hyatt Resort has been around since 2006. Its nearly 500 rooms and vast events spaces sit on over 400 wooded acres along the Lower Colorado River. It’s long been a convenient location for quick family getaways. It features a waterpark with a 1,000-foot lazy river, pools, and water slides, and the horseback riding trails are a big hit with kids.

When I arrived, I noticed the resort staff was well attuned to questions about the sushi restaurant. Several seemed to brighten up a bit when I asked for directions. I was kindly escorted to the restaurant’s waiting area through the lobby and up the stairs. We were warmly greeted by Lucie, our host, and Sake/Whisky Somm for the evening.

Each guest was presented with a small cup of ginger tea as we waited for the first sitting to begin.

When all the guests had arrived, we were ushered into a small unmarked dining room. It was dark and decorated with a Japanese sushi bar / 1930’s speak-easy vibe. The vintage 1920/30s styled music quietly added to the experience.

As we approached the bar, I noticed that each guest had a chalkboard tile with their name at one of the ten seats at the bar. The 16-course menu was presented similarly all along the back of the bar.

To me, this was when the magic started. Our two sushi chefs, Jack and Adam, greeted us again, and our meal and drink options were explained.

Drink selections were a Premium Sake / Cocktail / Beer mix or a discrete 6 Sake or 6 Whisky Pairing. Lucie neatly explained each.

The 16 items on the chalkboard behind them was to be the order of our courses.

The two chefs alternately make the courses, but Jack spent the evening at our end of the bar showing off some very skilled knife work and explaining the process.

To sushi purists, the simplest of our 16 courses would absolutely delight, perfectly made sushi rice topped with the freshest fish with just the lightest wash of Nikiri (sweet soy sauce) and the tiniest dab of wasabi. The high quality of the fish (much of it sourced from Japan) shines with the simple presentations.

But, to win a Michelin star, the items where the chefs get creative are (for me) the best part of Sushi by Scratch Restaurants.

Some of the creativity was featured with the very first course, bluefin “Tessin.” A tail portion of the bluefin had been ground with a mixture of soy, ponzu, matcha green tea salt, fresh wasabi, lemon, sushi rice, and puffed rice. Chef Jack then deftly rolled the mixture in nori (seaweed), forming the tightest of rolls. Once cut, he applied a line of avocado mousse to each piece and topped them with scallion and bright orange salmon roe.

As he placed the beautiful pieces on the small slate tiles in front of us, I knew the meal would be fantastic. As I picked up the piece (no chopsticks needed) and ate it, I knew I had to come back.

Our first sushi came with our first sake. Small cups within low bowls were sitting in front of us. Lucie poured each cup to just overflowing. We were then instructed to stand,

bend at the hip, and slurp the smallest amount from the top to keep from losing further sake to the lower bowl. (After that, drink as usual.)

The meal proceeded with Hamachi (Amberjack with “sweet corn pudding”) Toro (Tuna,) Hotate (Hokkaido Scallop, and honestly, the only scallop sushi I have ever liked.)

The following line on the menu brought us Shima Aji (Striped Jack,) Medai (Sea Bream – a uniquely flavored favorite of mine,) Botanebi (delicate shrimp with matcha tea and pickled onions,) and a beautiful, simple King Salmon with the Nikiri wash and fresh wasabi.

The pace of the meal worked well with the sake pairings. Some sakes were dry and fruity, while others were more complex, with hints of spice and licorice.

The menu proceeded with Albacore (Longfin Tuna), Akami (leanest tuna, delicious simplicity,) torched Escolar, and Kani (Snow crab with threads of fried scallion.)

The bottom rung on the menu board got progressively decadent. Torched pieces of A5 Wagyu beef followed by pieces of bone marrow on sushi rice were outstanding. The Unagi (Freshwater Eel) was the best I’ve ever had. The wonderfully seasoned eel on sushi rice (already excellent) was topped by torching/dripping marrow from a large bone. Possibly a textbook example of gilding a lilly but with undeniable results.

Our final savory was luxurious Uni (Sea Urchin.) For this course, the chefs worked together in what almost seemed like a sacrament as they gently applied the sea urchin onto nori and rice.

Our last official course was a matcha teacake looking like a lovely petit fours.

At the end of the menu, the chefs were happy to create a second bite of any of the prior courses.

As filling and wonderful as the meal was, one thing Chef Jack mentioned at the end made perfect sense. A couple staying at the resort the prior week had booked back-toback sittings!

Though pricey, the insane quality and flavor of this meal is a must repeat.

Reservations for Sushi by Scratch Restaurants are available through Tock.

Tour 18 Incorporated’s newest addition, Highland Pines Golf Club. As the first public access golf club in the Houston area to open in more than a decade, We are proud to offer Zeon Zoysia fairways, rough and tee boxes.

Highland Pines is also the first and only club in the world to offer Lazer Zoysia greens.

Highland Pines Golf Club is nestled on the banks of the San Jacinto River and winds through the river basin, then travels up through tall pines and hard woods to stunning views of lakes, meadows and valleys. The course stretches more than 7,200 yards from the back tees and has five sets of tees in all, each offering their own unique challenge. Conveniently located off the Grand Parkway, in Porter, Texas, the golf club is an easy commute from its sister courses, Augusta Pines Golf Club and Gleannloch Pines Golf Club.

The Highlands Community in which this golf course is located, developed by award winning Caldwell Communities, offers 13 premier builders with 17 model homes open daily. The Highland Pines, developed by Tour 18 Inc., offers a social membership for residents of The Highlands and a special resident initiation fee.

To learn more about The Highlands by Caldwell Communities visit TheHighlands.com!

STORY BY ALEJANDRA BERNARD

Playing golf requires a combination of skill, patience, and a stylish outfit. However, putting together an outfit that is both comfortable and fashionable can be challenging. For those who struggle with matching patterns and colors, one of the best approaches is to go for a monochromatic look, that consists of different shades and tones of a single color. This approach creates a sleek and stylish appearance that is easy to put together.

The beauty of a monochromatic look is that it can be executed in a variety of colors. For instance, all white or all black is a classic and timeless look that always works well on the golf course. Additionally, different shades of red or blue can create a cohesive and stylish outfit that’s perfect for the occasion.

Going monochromatic is a simple and effective way to achieve a fashionable and coordinated look. So, the next time you’re struggling with matching your golf attire, consider going for a monochromatic look to ensure that you look and feel your best on the course.

Single Plane, single minded

How going to school with Graves Golf can improve your game

STORY BY MIKE BAILEY

f you’ve Googled golf instruction on the internet lately, you’ve likely run across the Single Plane golf method from Graves Golf. Based on the swing of the late, great Moe Norman, this is different from most of the other instructional material you might have come across. And the method, a single plane golf swing developed and refined over the years by the Graves Brothers, makes a promise that’s hard to ignore: This is a simple swing that’s easy to learn, easy to repeat, and easy on your body.

These are claims that should appeal to most anyone -- aging single digit handicaps like me who are starting to see it all slip away or frustrated higher handicap players, especially seniors who have been playing for years and never seem to improve. Who doesn’t want simple? Who doesn’t want pain free? Who doesn’t want repeatable?

I’d like all of that please. So I decided to give it a try.

Putting is a big part of the Day 1 instruction at the Single Plane Golf School.

Single Plane coaches Clay Farnsworth

(left) and Parker Elrod teach chipping at the three-day Single Plane Golf School conducted at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando earlier this year.

Single Plane roots

I was actually pretty familiar with the method before, but really didn’t know it as well as I thought I did. Twenty-five years ago, I played golf with a fella named Jack Kuykendahl, who founded Natural Golf, the forerunner to Single Plane. In fact, Tim and Todd Graves worked with Natural Golf for a while, then bought out the company. This eventually evolved into what Single Plane is today, which has some of the same principles as Natural Golf, but doesn’t advocate Kuykendahl’s long, upright clubs with jumbo grips and a split hand grip on the club.

What it does have in common, though, is the wide stance and straight line that the trail arm and golf club form from the shoulders at address. In Single Plane, the golfer also stands farther away from the ball. The reason is this is where most golfers arrive at impact, so why not set up that way? In most other swings, the Graves Bros. will tell you, many compensations have to be made in the downswing to get to the ball. Not so in Single Plane.

I started my journey by reading Todd Graves’ beautiful hardcover book, “The Single Plane Golf Swing - Play

Better Golf the Moe Norman Way.” The book’s forward is written by NBA basketball coach Rick Carlisle, a former 7-handicap whom Todd coached to near scratch with this method. There’s also a quote from Tiger Woods: “Only two players have ever truly owned their swing -- Moe Norman and Ben Hogan.” There are lots of other accolades as well, so despite the controversy of this method, it has plenty of support.

“This used to be weird, but it’s not weird anymore,” said Tim Graves, who along with his brother, spent a couple of decades personally following and learning from Norman.

Who was this Moe guy, and why should we emulate him?

Norman, who died in 2004, was an eccentric Canadian pro/savant who has been called the “Rain Man of Golf.” He shot 59 three times in competition, won 65 events on the Canadian PGA Tour and was known as

On Day 2, the students get to hit full shots on the range at the Single Plane Golf School.

“Pipeline Moe” for his incredible accuracy and consistent ball striking. He did countless clinics well into his 60s and 70s, where he would demonstrate this prowess, calling it “the feeling of greatness.” He would use just one tee as he hit drive after drive, leaving the tee in the ground undisturbed. He would claim to use a single tee for years at a time.

Norman addressed the ball with the club several inches behind the ball, and he would pre-set his body for impact. He also kept his right heel on the ground through impact. But maybe the most overlooked trait of his swing is that he kept his lead knee flexed as he turned through impact. I didn’t understand that part until later. So in the beginning of my Single Plane journey, watching YouTube videos and reading the book, my success was limited. So I decided to take a deeper dive, and I managed to get myself signed up for one of Graves Golf’s three-day Single Plane golf schools. (There are also one-day and fiveday schools.)

More than 130,000 students have participated in various levels of the Graves Golf Academy, most of them online. Many of them also subscribe to online personal coaching where they can send in videos and certified instructors can get back with analysis (which some other online instruction sites do as well). It’s a wonderful way to learn and teach these days, but it’s still no substitute for live inperson coaching.

Class is in session

The school I attended was at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, not far from the Orlando International Airport. A fine club with terrific practice facilities, Graves Golf Academy has been conducting classes there as well as in Phoenix and other locations for years.

We had perfect weather, but much of this school took place in a classroom in the clubhouse. That’s where we started each day, and that’s where we learned many of the fundamentals of our new swings. There were about 20 students in the class, most of them older and from all over the country. All of them were online students already, hoping to get a deeper understanding by being coached in person by the more than half dozen coaches who would guide us.

The first day we didn’t really get to hit balls. There was a lot of talk about the process of learning, setup fundamentals, swing models, and drills using training aids. We did get putting instruction on Day 1, and we did that on the putting green. I was pleasantly surprised how good the putting instruction was. I’m not sure how much it modeled Moe Norman, but the Graves Brothers come from PGA Pro backgrounds, so this was solid. In fact, Tim Graves was actually one of the instructors on Day 1, filling in for one of the scheduled instructors who had difficulty with flights getting out to Orlando. Tim is passionate to say the least, ending almost all his animated explanations with an emphatic, “Do you follow me here?”

The putting instruction emphasized straight back and through, leading the clubhead with the hands in the stroke, eyes over the ball, and using a face-balanced putter. Nothing super revolutionary here, but it was a solid way of putting, to be sure. I felt like that part of my game improved immediately.

Day 2 we got into chipping. It was simplified using a special alignment aid. Play the ball back, lead with the hands (which is preached in every part of the Single Plane swing), left knee flex and stable base. Again, I felt like even if I didn’t get the full swing, the short-game instruction alone was worth the price of admission, and it does set you up for the full swing. We also started to get into bigger swings on Day 2, going through rotation drills and learning the positions of the Moe Norman model. Was it simple? Seemed to be? Was it easy? Not exactly. You still had to put in the work.

The grip is a key foundational element in Single Plane and nonnegotiable.

On Day 3, there was more chipping, pitching, and full swings, all the way up to the driver. This was where we got to put it all together. And this was where it was all starting to make sense for me. At least that’s what I thought.

I was hitting it well, until one of the instructors videoed my swing. I wasn’t getting it, at least not all of it. Suddenly I had trouble finding the ball. Not until my very last swing of Day 3, did the light bulb sort of come on. Driving away from the school, I understood what they were telling me about that lead knee flex. On my way home, I found a range, and voilà.

In Single Plane, there’s certainly hip rotation in the downswing, but not as much as you see on tour certainly. The flexed lead knee limits that. Many mainstream instructors are very critical of this move. They say it puts stress on the knee. GravesGolf will tell you it’s just the opposite. By keeping that left knee flexed, it’s difficult to spin out. You simply turn your core around a braced, stable lead side. At least that’s how I think of it.

“What Moe figured out, intuitively probably, is that with his mission in mind to become great at hitting the ball straight, was how the body can actually limit itself and restrict movement if you put it in certain positions,” said Todd Graves. “I tell people to actually rotate their hips as much as they can, but if you keep your trail foot on the ground and your lead knee flexed, you never have to worry how much to turn it. Do those two things, and turn as much as you can. So that’s kind of what Moe figured out. Positioning the body correctly allows you to move freely as much as you can but still limits you. I call it kind of a mistake-proof golf swing.”

Indeed, it’s hard to pull shots in the Single Plane method, when done correctly. Of course, there other ways to mess this up, but I did find this to be a key move.

Single Plane success

Some will tell you it’s hard to generate clubbed speed this way. I didn’t find that to be true at all. In my first three rounds following the school this spring, I had six putts for eagle, five on par 5s, and one on a par 4 that I drove. I wasn’t putting for eagle very often prior to attending the school.

I’ve also started to play some of my best golf in years since graduating. I don’t think I look exactly like Moe Norman when I swing, but I am implementing the method for the most part, and it’s producing better scores. One of my rounds included a back-nine 3-under-par 33 in which I actually had two bogeys. I’m encouraged. It’s been years since I broke par on a nine. Now my goal is to break par for 18 holes.

Do I recommend Single Plane for everyone? Of course not. But I think it’s worth looking into if you’re struggling like I was or if you’ve struggled all your adult life with your golf game. It just might be the change you need. I think it was for me.

Co-founder Tim Graves demonstrates the principles of the Single Plane swing.

Tim Graves helps a student with putting technique.

Nemacolin Shines as One of Golf’s Most Eclectic and Essential Golf Destinations

STORY BY MARC HALL

Nemacolin, in the picturesque Laurel Highlands (about one hour west of Pittsburgh), is a resort destination that exceeds just about every expectation you can set. Even if you’re welltraveled. Even if you’re a golf snob. Even if you’re a food and wine aficionado, an art lover, adventure junkie, buddies’ trip captain or family vacation czar. This place has it all. And, then some.

his larger-than-life resort nestled in the Allegheny Mountains is home to Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock, two imaginative championship courses designed by the legendary Pete Dye that take full advantage of the area’s vast, rugged topography, lush terrain and majestic sweeping vistas. Just down the road from architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s acclaimed masterpiece Fallingwater and Fort Necessity National Battlefield (site of the opening action of the French and Indian War in 1754), Nemacolin is making its own distinctive brand of history in those nature-rich Laurel Highlands.

PHOTO: EVAN SCHILLER

PHOTO: EVAN SCHILLER

Owned by the visionary Hardy family who founded and operate 84 Lumber, Nemacolin has amenities and attractions to indulge every taste and most every whim, including a diverse and internationally acclaimed art collection, the Cigar Bar, Tea Room, elite-caliber dining, the superb and satisfying Rockwell’s steakhouse, Italian (at the family-style Barattolo) and luxe seafood (the chic Aqueous) restaurants, luxury shopping boutiques, a cozy tavern and even a 1950s-style ice cream parlor. Beyond golf, outdoor adventurers can enjoy The Nemacolin Field Club; impressive wildlife attractions; The Peak Adventure Center (complete with expansive pool areas, zip lines and climbing wall, paintball field and cosmic bowling); and Jeep Off-Road Driving Academy, fly fishing as well as antique auto and aircraft collections.

You’ll find artwork and sculptures at almost every turn at Nemacolin. It’s a feast for the senses that somehow fits seamlessly along with the 2,000-acre resort’s breathtaking natural surroundings. Nemacolin offers guests 320 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, suites, townhouses and private upscale homes, including Falling Rock, a AAA Five Diamond boutique hotel with rooms overlooking the Mystic Rock course.

The first sight that captivates your attention once you enter the resort property is the Chateau, a stunning, palatial structure inspired by The Ritz in Paris, France. It’s fun to roam its hallways and enjoy the art, shopping and numerous places to sit and enjoy the setting. The Lodge, a classic English Tudor-style hotel and townhomes and luxury vacation homes are also available, giving Nemacolin one of the most versatile overnight accommodation offerings in the region.

Our foursome came to Nemacolin for the golf we had heard so much about and now we’re the ones telling everyone about all the transcendent experiences on Mystic Rock, Shepherd’s Rock and all the state-of-the-art toys inside The Nemacolin Golf Academy. The 4,000-square-foot, all-season entertainment and game improvement space is one of the premier, luxury golf training facilities in the country. With a renovated building design, all new furnishings, seven flatscreen TVs, and dazzling new décor, the luxe learning, practice, and entertainment space has also been outfitted with the most sought-after simulator, launch monitor, and biomechanical feedback technology in the golf industry. This includes cutting-edge hardware like TrackMan launch monitors and simulators, Foresight Sports’ GCQuad launch monitor, and Swing Catalyst’s Balance and Dual Force Plates.

The Golf Academy’s four, spacious, customized hitting bays can open up to the 25-station driving range that sits adjacent to two short-game practice areas and a large putting green. The Nemacolin Golf Academy, which also features a dedicated, 1,000-square-foot putting room, is optimized for expert golf training and club fitting from Director of Instruction Michael LaBella and his team.

INTO THE MYSTIC

Teeing it up at Nemacolin means being ready to tackle the crafty Pete Dye and walk in the footsteps of the PGA Tour players who competed in the 84 Lumber Classic from 2003 to 2006, including champions like Vijay Singh Open Champion-

ship winner Ben Curtis.

Mystic Rock is a sterling example of a more subtle and cerebral side of Dye. He lets the rolling land dictate the routing and shot values here with ample landing areas, walkability and serene sight lines. There are very few daunting forced carries, but endless risk-reward scenarios and plenty of ways to make the round more complicated than it needs to be. Positioning off the tee and hitting to the correct parts of the green comes into play routinely as Dye plays with angles, misdirection, false fronts and greens that run off the sides or back if you mis-club.

There’s a great mix of short par 4s like the first hole, the sneaky-long, uphill fourth - which is one of the few holes that asks for a tee shot to carry water – and more humbling long holes like the daunting 476-yard ninth with water left off the tee and a narrow, sloping green. You can gain momentum early in the round with manageable par 5s at the fifth and eighth holes and a wedge-shot par 3 at number seven, but the geometry Dye throws at you on holes like nine, the winding, 439-yard par-4 10th and the long, dogleg-right uphill par-five 11th. After a satisfying stretch of par fours at 13, 14 and 15. Nemacolin closes with a fun risk-reward par 5, a long, challenging par 3, with water lurking left, and uphill par 4 that demands solid strikes and respect of the angles of play. Mystic belongs in the conversation with some of Dye’s best work.

MYSTIC ROCK RENOVATION - HOW THE BEST GET BETTER

Nemacolin is the type of property that listens closely to its clientele, so when an opportunity came up in 2021 to make the famed Mystic Rock Course more fun and playable under the supervision of Tim Liddy, that’s exactly what happened. By strategically removing several waste areas and sand bunkers (40,000 square feet of bunker coverage, in all).

“There were a number of instances where the fairways were pinched on both sides and recreational players just had a challenging time finding their landing areas,” O’Donnell says. “The golf course has become much simpler to navigate with more interesting angles into greens and even a few improved pin placements that just weren’t viable previously.”

Liddy also made two of Mystic’s par fives better and more scorable. “The 16th hole is the one instance in which we removed a greenside bunker from the right side of the green,” O’Donnell says. “With water all down the left, it didn’t make sense to guard the green so tightly. It’s a more fun hole now and we opened up pin placements on the whole rear third of the green where it just wasn’t fair to pin it before. By opening up the right side of the fairway on the par-five fifth hole, we gave players more room to shape their shots and lay up their second shots now that the landing area isn’t squeezed by the fairway bunker on the right and the lake that remains on the left side.”

The fairways on holes 8 and 10 are also more generous now that waste areas to the left of each fairway have been removed in favor of more manageable fescue. The holes move more quickly and allow for more strategy and forgiveness off the tee.

A WILD RIDE ON SHEPHERD’S ROCK

At Shepherd’s Rock, the mischievous side of Pete Dye and his associate Tim Liddy come out to play. You’ll find yourself playing shots 40 feet from the hole to allow Dye’s slopes to (hopefully) do their work and you’ll come to respect false fronts that can send even well struck shots that look pin high back down the front edge of the green and toward the man who hit it. What you probably won’t figure out on the first try is the wildly sloping greens or the ideal angles into those greens. Our group saw putts roll 15 feet by the hole and on to the fringe, down the wrong side of slopes and farther from the hole than they began and, most often, sliding past the hole due to sneaky-swift speed.

That said, there’s a great collection of beautiful holes that rise up hills and plunge down valleys. The crafty and postcard-worthy 11th is one of the handsomest holes on the property while views from fifth, seventh, 16th and 17th holes are extraordinary places to enjoy the nature around you. The 18th hole is a terrific and memorable par 4 that demands a strong drive that is safe from ponds and marshes right and trees left. The waterfalls and majestic setting near the green while inspire to return for another challenge.

AFTER GOLF, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE

Every visit to Nemacolin is an opportunity for individuals, couples, or families to enjoy a bucket list day. Starting with world-class golf on Mystic Rock or Shepherd’s Rock while the rest of the family enjoys the water park, ziplining or cosmic bowling at The Peak, whether you continue your day with spa treatments, Safari Tours, or fly fishing then have an extraordinary meal at one of our six acclaimed restaurants. The resort’s entertainment and adventure offerings are so creative, you can’t help but feel the Hardy family’s personal touches all over the grounds. It’s like they’ve invited you to hang out at their estate and let your hair down for as long as you like.

SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO NEVER LEAVE…

Nemacolin recently debuted one of the country’s most exclusive, amenities- and service-laden membership opportunities with the freshly curated private club offering called The Woodlands Club.

The Woodlands Club membership takes superb advantage of the award-winning 2,200-acre, four-season resort’s unparalleled recreational, dining, adventure, and leisure amenities plus around-the-clock concierge service and access to private aviation. Learn more at Nemacolin.com.

PHOTO: EVAN SCHILLER

Chasing Speed

STORY BY BUCK MAYERS

Drive for show, putt for dough? Here are some fun facts from the PGA Tour. In 2020, the PGA Tour driving distance average was 296 yards. 29 of the 36 events (81%) were won by players who averaged more than 296 yards. In the last two full PGA seasons, only 11 of 81 events (14%), were won by golfers who averaged less than 290 yards off the tee. No one won who averaged less than 283 yards for the season. The top 5 driving distances won 19 times and $27 million in 2018 on the PGA Tour. The top 5 driving accuracy players over that same period won zero times and only $4 million. Speed and distance matters!

Let’s leave the professionals out for the moment and discuss the amateur golfer. Higher handicaps have the slowest average swing speeds and the lower handicaps have the highest average swing speeds. When you follow the best players’ habits, they are more fit and they train like an athlete. The data indicates that all tournament golfers are chasing speed and increasing their distance.

The debate now is, will it help you play

and score better? Our professionals who are trained properly to teach and coach speed will overwhelmingly say absolutely yes! Increasing speed improves efficiency, contact, accuracy and sequence patterns. Speed training benefits mobility, stability, and strength. Are there wrong ways to chase speed? Yes! A great example is trying to add 30 pounds to a 5’9” 155 pound frame, versus a 6’1” 185 pound frame. Should a golfer a train like a Navy Seal or Olympic athlete or weight lifter or bodybuilder? No! But we can take components from each of therm.

There are coaches who have trained and focused on two very simple points that can help you get more speed, score better and improve your game regardless of age, fitness or talent. Golf speed training is non-technical. You will avoid being bogged down in the intricacies of swing techniques. The intention of creating your speed on the follow through, spawns the technique, not vice versa. If you are looking to CHASE SPEED, do it with proper supervision and a simplistic approach. BOMBS AWAY!

Gary McCord, Of His Own Accord A Journey into the Mind of One of Golf’s Great Free Spirits

STORY BY CARL MICKELSON

Gary McCord’s mind never stops churning. Picture the Energizer Bunny on six shots of espresso. That’s what it’s like as the former PGA Tour player and longtime golf broadcasting legend goes through his day, part court jester, constant tinkerer, and consummate raconteur.

The thing is, his body has to keep pace, too. So, he plays golf more days than he doesn’t, he hikes just as much, he performs magic tricks, and he’s always in some level of conversation with somebody at his beloved Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scottsdale. Lately, he’s found a couple of new hobbies to keep him occupied and to put that gargantuan brain-energy to good use. He’s podcasting and metal detecting and seriously considering combining the two.

The Southern California native was a two-time Division II All-American for the UC Riverside Highlanders of the University of California, Riverside. He won the NCAA Division II individual championship in 1970 and turned professional in 1971. McCord played in over 400 PGA Tour events but never won. Underrated as a player, because of his nearly four decades of broadcasting prowess, let’s not forget he won twice on the PGA Tour Champions and is a tough draw in matches with his fellow Whisper Rock members, which include more than three dozen touring professionals.

McCord is co-hosting an irreverent but sharply produced video podcast with his longtime broadcast partner and golf teaching legend Peter Kostis. Kostis and McCord: Off Their Rockers is only about a half dozen episodes into its run, but the level of storytelling and dishy behind-the-scenes goodness found on the show has already caused the program to go viral on golf sites and social media multiple times.

After all these years, people are still fascinated by the backstory of why McCord was banned from broadcasting

at The Masters. Everyone knows the now-verboten line included “bikini wax,” but McCord, who turns 75 in May, is recently freed up to tell more of the origins of how that line turned into one of golf’s most memorable controversies. And, the real story is a must-hear tale involving Green Coats, TV execs and a mercurial World Golf Hall of Famer.

Now, Kostis and McCord are completely unleashed and able to use the podcasting medium to say everything they couldn’t say on CBS broadcasts. The result is a delightfully easy and fun listen and a trip into the minds of two of golf’s brightest bulbs.

We sat down recently with McCord to catch up on his life and his uncommonly droll perspective on what’s happening in the game today. Enjoy the conversation here.

What has it been like for you and Peter Kostis to do a podcast with absolutely no restraints on what you can say?

It’s probably a lot like taking your clothes off in public. Like, okay, now I can do all the stuff we wanted to do but under the guise of CBS, you couldn’t do it. Toward the end of our careers, as things get tighter, I saw myself editing my own words before I said them, and I had never done that before my career. It just got worse and worse. It became kind of a collision between the network and the ability to paint a picture as we had done in the past, which I couldn’t do now in the future because I just winged it at first and we just, I didn’t care what came out or anything else. That being said, I did it for 34 years, or something like that. It was a ball.

I really like doing this podcast now because I can do any fricking thing I want along with Peter and our producer, Mike Abram.

So many golfers feel like they know you guys from TV, so to be able to go behind the curtain with you and laugh at all the behind-the-scenes stories and hijinks is a real treasure for golf nuts.

Yeah, you know, you’ve got your easel there and you can paint anything you want on it, doing any any way, shape, form, or any medium you want. So, to me that’s tantalizing. Because I want to do things totally differently.

Differently, how?

I’ve got a very nice club here in Scottsdale and we’re there’s a lot of really good players, 37 different tour pros here. So, the other day I just walked out with my metal detector and started metal detecting all up and down the range. Seeing if I could find any gold watches, rings, anything else in the ground and I also go up in the mountains here, around the golf course.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve found so far?

So, they used to shoot movies here, back in the 1940s and ‘50s, cowboy movies. So, I found a couple of those sites. I found some old cartridges in the ‘50s that were that were blanks. We looked them up and found the era they’re from. So, I’m looking for gold out here in all the reservoirs and stuff. It’s kind of funny. So, that’s basically how I’m going do my interviews with guys that play golf.

I’ve got another metal detector and we’re going take golfers metal detecting. You know, try not to get bit by rattlesnakes, and we’ll talk as we metal detect.

I love that! The late, genius comedian Norm MacDonald used to wonder why, with every single talk show, the set was always a desk, a chair and a couple of other chairs. Same set. Every time. Then another comedian, Kevin Nealon started doing his podcasts where they hike, and they talk as they walk the canyons.

I’m pretty sure none of these guys at this club have ever done it, either. Given their socioeconomic status, I don’t think one of them

has ever put headsets on and metal detected. These new metal detectors will ring differently when they hit metal, gold, silver, zinc, all those things. I will be quite an education for them.

You touched on something interesting, your unique perspective on things… you’re a little bit North by Northwest, if you will and that has been magnificent for your career and has taken you to amazing places. You started, though, in the same place the legendary comedian Steve Martin did. You guys went to the same high school, and you knew each other. You’re both funny. You both do magic acts. How intertwined is the Steve Martin thing with you?

Nothing other than the fact that we went to high school at the same time. He was the head cheerleader at Garden Grove High School and head of the drama class. We’re talking about 1963. Everybody was fairly naive back in the early 60s. It was the era of picket fences, Mom having the nice dress on when dad came home from work. Pure Ozzie and Harriet. Then I saw crazy, and I didn’t know what crazy was, but this guy was different. This guy was really different. I kept watching him, but I was on the freshman basketball team. I kept watching him, then he was at Disneyland.

He did the magic shows, right?

He worked in the magic shop on the weekends. There’s a bridge that goes over to Fantasyland and there’s a magic shop right around the corner there in the back. He would get his tray out in the middle of that bridge and do the balloon animals on his head with the arrow through his head and start going to town. I would just sit there, and watch and I became very infatuated with it. And that was it. He doesn’t remember me, but he was brilliant.

So, you were inspired by him?

I probably was, yes. He was the first guy that I saw that was a deviant, and I liked it.

Let’s dive back into your broadcasting career. I learned it was at The Memorial tournament back in the 80s where you got your start, and if not for a wayward putt by Bob Eastwood, your career might have gone a different way.

Yeah, that was how I got the job. CBS totally happened by chance. I was at Colonial and was flying Monday to Muirfield Village for Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, The Memorial, which was a designated event I was not qualified to play in. I was, though, one of the three player directors chosen by the PGA Tour, which, in itself, is a frightening concept.

So, I was in an airplane going into the tournament. All the CBS boys – Pat Sumrall, Ken Venturi, Ben Wright and Frank Chirkinian - were in first class, and I’m in 37 C, way in the back. Halfway through the flight, they send me back a glass of wine. So, I go

to thank them and while I’m walking up towards the first class, I’m thinking Wednesday is the last time I’m on the PGA Tour’s bill because our policy board meetings are over, then I’ve got to travel to Washington DC, which is very expensive. And I was under a very tight budget from shooting 76 every day.

So, I said, ‘Let me ask you a question. I’m on the policy board members, I’m making decisions as to contracts for CBS, ABC, ESPN, in other networks and I know nothing about televised golf. Is there a chance I could come and sit and watch you this weekend and see how it works? It might help me better prepare for the next vote.’ Chirkinian tells me to come out Friday I just assume I’ll be a fly on the wall, watching the production happen. Well, I get there and sends me straight out to the 16th hole where I assume I’ll be a spotter, getting the club Freddie Couples is hitting from Joe LaCava and relaying it to the tower. I get there and Verne Lundquist calls me up to join me in the tower to call the action with him.

Frank wanted to try me out as an announcer. I had a lot of fun. I had no clue what was going on. I don’t know who was talking to me. It’s really confusing when you’re saying something and there’s other voices. Now, I’ve got enough voices anyway in my head and now I’ve got all these voices going nuts. And to try to figure that out in one weekend was fantastic. Toward the end of the round, Verne and I are watching the green at 16 which slopes severely from back to front and player has gone over and has to pitch back to this lightning fast green. Verne goes, ‘Gary what’s he got?’ I said ‘Well, all you people out there, here’s what he’s got. I want you to go get a ball and a wedge and go out to your front lawn. Chip on to your driveway and start hollering for it to bite. That’s what he’s got.’ Verne started laughing and after the tournament was over, Frank calls me back to the trucks and sits me down to ask what I’m doing next week. I go, ‘I’m playing Kemper in Washington D.C.’ He says, ‘Great. You’ll miss the cut. Come on up in the tower again.’ Really nice. Thank you. So, I did that for three years. They paid me $500 a weekend for three years. I played golf and, if I missed the cut, I went up and did television and then, finally, I went full time in 1990.

Something else about you is your eye for talent. You singled out David Feherty as a great fit for CBS and I’ve heard you were also influential in encouraging Colt Knost to get into broadcasting. One of the things I didn’t realize, or remember, until recently was the depth of your involvement in the movie Tin Cup. You were an actor in the film, you were a technical consultant, you recruited talent and you were deeply involved in the production, not only getting Kevin Costner to actually look like a golfer and getting some of the PGA Tour talent out there. You were integral to telling the story and some of the lead character’s stories were based on your exploits.

I was hired as the technical director at a time when I was already plenty busy with broadcasting and doing a bunch of corporate outings. I got this script from Warner Brothers from my agents, work-

ing title is Tin Cup, starring Kevin Costner, written and directed by Ron Shelton. What? So, the first time you ever get a movie script, and they say you’re in it, you go really fast and see how many times you see your name. But, then I read the damn thing afterwards, and a lot of the stories in there, I did. Me.

Right, multiple things the character Roy McAvoy did were pulled from of your life and career, like knocking the pelican off of his roost and the blow up where you go thermonuclear in a tournament and card a 15 on a hole…

Right, I went nuclear on the 16th hole at Memphis, so I read that, and I call Ron Shelton, who I didn’t know, but I knew who he was, and the first question was ‘Ron, where the hell did you get these stories?’ He goes ‘Which ones?’ I said, ‘Okay, what about the end when he hits the ball in the water?’ He says, ‘I read you did that.’ No one knows I did that. No one’s following me. No one’s following my career.

He read that in a magazine, he says, but the pelican story, there was no chance anyone knew this story. There were only four guys who were staying in this condo that we’d rented. Were in a rainout.

We’re playing gin as it’s pouring down rain. I look out the window, we’re in Pensacola, Florida, right on a canal and there’s a wharf out there that we’re a right by the house we rented. Well, a pelican landed about 150 yards away, and we’re gambling anyway and I’m in the back of the house and my clubs right there. I say, ‘Hey, boys. I got a bet for you. If we open the doors and move some furniture, I bet I can knock this pelican off his perch in 10 shots. I don’t know how much money we had up, but it was enough to pay attention. We’re talking a four-iron out of the back bedroom, down the hallway, over the couch, through the sliding glass doors over the wooden railing right at the pelican. It went about a foot over his head and the pelican took off! Literally, the best shot I’ve hit in my life and it had to happen at a condo in Pensacola. Only four guys witnessed this.

Could you ever have imagined that making it into the plot of a motion picture?

No. It’s still frightening to me that Ron then goes and shoots the scene. It took three days in a bar that they built specially for the scene, and they used three trained pelicans to try to pull this

off. I didn’t know they had trained pelicans. To watch all the effort that was made and and the dollar amount to build these things to bring this stupid scene to life was unbelievable.

So, are we seeing camera tricks or could Kevin Costner actually pull off a shot similar to the one you hit in Pensacola?

Let me answer it this way. Kevin was having a tough time getting a wiffle ball out the door because you’re talking about a room full of people sitting everywhere and getting the ball out the two doors.

I suggested to Ron that we can do a two shot and combine with the master shot. I said can we just cut to Kevin taking a swing and hit it, but then I’ll give it a whack and I get it through the door without killing anyone and make the pelican fly. That’s easy enough. Then, we can go back to Kevin and shoot his follow through. Well, the deal is that movie stars like to do it themselves. They will act according to how they hit the shot.

I’m starting to see how this took three days. He didn’t play golf before this shoot. He told me he has played like 12 times with his father. That’s it. So he wasn’t used to hitting golf shots or doing anything with a golf club. And, honest to God, if you look at him on the film and how good he was, and he’s only played 12 times? We played nine holes once and he shot even par. It’s unbelievable what an athlete he was. And I learned quickly that they only act after they do the motion correctly, so that master shot was him getting the ball through those doors.

Unbelievable. Let’s switch gears The Masters, the dominance of Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. What’s your feeling on the state of the game today and its stars?

Well, I think honestly the star of the show at The Masters was LIV, if you look at how their players performed. For the first time in our existence, we’ve got a rival tour. The monopoly is gone, and we’ve got something to gauge it against. Look what’s happened to the DP World Tour and to the PGA Tour. The prize money has rocketed skyward in a year. A lot of that was due to the $736 million per year the PGA Tour is getting through 2030 right media rights. All of a sudden, the tour has taken on a whole different look. It

has gone from the all-exempt tour, with 125 guys now it’s shrunk back to the old days to where 50 to 65 guys have the best playing opportunities. So, there’s shrinkage situation. There’s also shrinkage as far as the title sponsors who have tournaments.

Are there specific PGA Tour events you worry about in a sponsorship scenario where there seems to be Haves and Have-Nots?

That’s going to be interesting because that’s all due to competition and how bad they want to stay there. But, when you start dividing this tour into the haves and the have nots from the player standpoint, and from the title sponsors, you can imagine that if one tournament, we’ll take Honda this year, for example. Honda pulled out the event and has a designated $20 million tournament in front of it and after it. All of a sudden, you’ve got no field and no money, so how long can you support that? We found Honda wasn’t going to support it for very long, they got out, and they were one of the tour’s longest sponsors. That’s a pretty good indicator of the cost effectiveness of what’s going on, and who’s going to dominate this. The tour is getting smaller with the number of players who are exempt and maybe the tour is going to get smaller as we look at the title sponsors.

Have you had an offer from LIV Golf to join David Feherty and do their broadcasts?

I talked to Greg Norman two or three times. The last time he was going to call me was December of last year, and they still had no television network.

He never called back, but my position was I’m too old to get in an airplane to go to Riyadh, to go to Adelaide, to go to Bangkok, to go all over the freakin’ place. Now, if you did a studio in the United States and David and I got in there with the host, that would work. Golf is going to be done like that in the future. I can’t believe they’re still putting people on site. If you put us in a studio, let’s Scottsdale or Dallas, or wherever, you can never tell we’re not at the tournament. All I need is somebody on the ground that tell me what the lie looks like and where the wind is blowing, and just get somebody else to do the interviews. Everything else can be done in a studio and you save all the travel and logistical costs.

I didn’t tell that to Greg, but that was my feeling if he was going to call. I’m not getting an airplane like David. I talked to David three days ago. You know, ‘How are you doing? Where are you going next?’ Adelaide, Bangkok... Whoa, man. I don’t want to do that. That would be the reason if they ever called back and made an offer.

Fair enough. We’re not going to have you on the CW for LIV broadcasts, but we look forward to more content where people can find you and your good friend Peter Kostis, on Kostis & McCord: Off Their Rockers on YouTube and anywhere podcasts are available.

Thank you. I’ll see you later. You take care.

Highland Pines top shelf

New public golf course north of Houston brings unique qualities

STORY BY MIKE BAILEY

From the first tee at the new Highland Pines Golf Club north of Houston, you get a new perspective on Houston area public golf. It’s an elevated tee, some 60 feet above the fairway, offering a panoramic view of the generous fairway left of the lake below, as well as the thick groves of pine trees that line most of the holes.

Hole 2.

ut it doesn’t end there. Get to these perfect fairways, and you can’t help but notice how well the ball sits up. Make it to the green, and there’s another surprise. Perfect, fast greens with plenty of undulation. This is where the fun starts. This is where you need to pay attention.

Highland Pines Golf Club is the latest from Dennis Wilkerson, who along with his partners at the time, pioneered the concept of replica courses when they opened up Tour 18 in Humble in 1992. That course was a collection of copies of the best and most iconic holes in America, most notably Amen Corner from Augusta National and the island green 17th from

the TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course. Since then Wilkerson’s group has introduced more venues, including Augusta Pines, a former PGA Tour Champions site inspired by the looks of Pinehurst and Augusta.

But Highland Pines is an original. The hilly course (hills like this are not common in the Houston area) was designed by the same architect who created Augusta Pines, Dave Relford. One of the most groundbreaking aspects, however, is the choice of grasses -- zoysia tees and fairways and zoysia greens. That’s right the greens are grassed with a new greens grade type called Lazer Zoysia, developed in conjunction with the turfgrass experts at Texas A&M University.

Hole 8.

“We spent three years doing this, and I met this grass guy,” said Wilkerson, referring to David Douget, founder of Bladerunner Farms in Poteet, near San Antonio. “I was going to do zoysia fairways like Carlton Woods and Bluejack (National), but he said, ‘You’ve got to see this grass.’”

Highland Pines is currently the only course in the world with this strain of zoysia on its greens, but it most assuredly will not be the last. Other suitors have already visited and are planning to either switch their greens or build new courses with them. And zoysia is already used extensively on greens in Asia, though they are different varieties. Douget said they bred “hundreds and hundreds” of varieties until they found the right one. It has no grain, unlike Bermuda, so it putts as true as bentgrass.

“I was the guinea pig, and I was scared to death, to be honest,” Wilkerson said, “He’s going to sell the (heck) out of this now.”

Aside from the quick green speeds and smoothness of Lazer Zoysia, it’s also saltwater resistant. Unlike paspalum, the salt is absorbed into the leaves, though, not the roots, so you don’t have to flush them out once they are exposed to saltwater. It comes out in the clippings.

Of course, saltwater won’t be an issue in Porter, where Wilkinson had been sitting on 23 acres for years until he decided to build a golf course among the new Highland Pines development, which is just off the Grand Parkway toll road.

As for the course itself, it’s very player friendly. Fairways are overly generous, but once you get to the greens, you have to pay attention. Getting above the hole is an easy recipe for bogey, but there are plenty of birdie opportunities out there.

“Some of the holes designed themselves,” Relford said. “Like the par-4 11th. It was there from the get-go. We just took advantage of these big hills and undulations.”

Hole 9.

Hole 13.

From the tips -- there are five sets of tees -- it’s a healthy 7,307 yards. The “Members” tees are just over 6,100 yards, while the “First” first set of tees is just under 5,000 yards. Water comes into play on about half the holes, and there are some nice riskreward opportunities.

For example, the par-4 seventh is just 304 yards from the Members tees. A large lake looms right, but if you keep it left, the firm fairways definitely provide a path to run it up on the green with a wellplaced drive.

The par 5s are also good birdie opportunities. The 530-yard 15th, for example, has a split fairway with a line of trees in the middle. The right side appears to be a bit shorter, but there is a lake right, so it might be a bit riskier. As to the preferred line, Relford admitted that he’s “still trying to figure that out.”

“I always aim in the middle because I figure I’m not going to hit it straight,” Relford, who worked for Arthur Hills for a few years, said with a chuckle.

The par-5 ninth and 18th are also great fun. Tee shots that make it to the downslope on the ninth can

run an extra 50 years and set up a very reasonable approach to the green for anyone wanting to go for it in two. There is however a lake that fronts the green for those who try to get there in two. A safer three-shot route can be had by playing to the right of the green.

On the 555-yard finishing hole, the tee shot is a fairly short carry over a lake with another good opportunity to hit the large undulating green in two for long hitters. The approach shot is uphill, which makes it somewhat blind, but most interesting.

Highland Pines also has a nice variety of par 3s, with carries over water on a couple of them. The green on the eighth, which is fronted by bunkers, is particularly challenging, especially when the hole location is front right.

Bottom line is Highland Pines provides the Houston area with a great, new public golf option. Memberships are also available, and Wilkerson says he doesn’t anticipate that the course, much like Augusta Pines, will go fully private anytime soon.

“I want the public to see it,” he said.

Power Tee Keeps Magnolia Golf Properties Ahead of the Curve

STORY BY MARC HALL

As golf participation continues to boom in this post-pandemic economy, golf course operators are looking to add infrastructure and programming that creates sustainable revenue from loyal, happy customers. In short, if they can make the golf course an even more engaging place to spend their time and money, operators won’t have to wait until the next global panic to effectively grow and maintain their businesses.

So, that’s why you’re seeing properties add simulator rooms, better dining and bar venues and practice areas that are more fun and useful to a broad range of customers. TrackMan Range and Toptracer Range or feeding golfers of all ages data

and gamified practice on driving ranges all over the country and even the process of teeing the golf ball has been automated by an innovative company called Power Tee.

It might sound simple, but the benefits of Power Tee’s technology yields unexpected benefits for golfers as well as the owners and operators who are installing the practice stations on their ranges in lieu of traditional – and higher-maintenance –grass tee stations. Every shot hit from a Power Tee station is from a perfect lie because it’s automatically teed at the height you chose and set (from 40 different options). Power Tee solves the “hitting off of crappy mats” dilemma by dialing in the lie and

turf interaction the player chooses. Practice sessions are more productive, golfers get in the groove more quickly and hit better shots during each Power Tee range session. Lessons resonate more easily, too. And, on the business side, courses and ranges see customers hit more balls, stay longer, spend more and in pro shop and snack shop and bring more people with them to try Power Tee.

One such owner/operator that has tapped into the magic of Power in Texas is Magnolia Golf, owners of three high-profile, upscale daily fee courses in the Austin area – Falconhead Golf Club, Teravista Golf Club and Avery Ranch Golf Club.

“We’re really fortunate to own the only venues in the Austin area with Power Tee technology on our driving ranges. Since our ranges were all equipped with both Power Tee range stations and Toptracer Range, the volume of individuals coming out and hitting range balls has grown,” says Magnolia Golf’s PGA Owner and General Manager Adam Owen. “We’ve also had growth in monthly memberships because really practicing and learning the game with technologies like this is a game changer compared to what you’ll find at other golf practice areas. Just being on our range gives everybody the feeling of an upgraded golfing experience.”

At the three Magnolia Golf properties, Power Tee has upgraded the tee line with incredible mats and the ability to automate the teeing process of each golf ball. It makes for a very enjoyable, relaxing and unique experience. Once a golfer hits balls on the artificial tee that’s part of Power Tee, they realize how incredibly lifelike it is, compared to the grass. Owen also thinks that helps beginners and developing golfers advance and improve faster because there’s a very big barrier for golf – a lot of beginners are still intimidated to come out and learn how to play golf or improve their game.

Topgolf has had an unbelievable breakthrough in allowing anybody to have fun at the range. And that’s what Power Tee and Toptracer Range Technology have brought to all three of Magnolia Golf courses. “New golfers are attracted to a friendly environment, and when you have all the technology that we do, you can play so many games on Toptracer and Power Tee. It’s a really nice, cool scene that keeps people coming back,” Owen adds.

Power Tee has two different mat types so golfers can chip off a very firm lie that represents a true clean grass hitting surface. Then there is another mat that is less dense and a little softer. The problem with people who hit a lot of balls is that it causes wear-and-tear on their bodies, so having two different mat situations is very advantageous.

“Two of our instructors initially thought that it would be disadvantageous teaching on Power Tee and the mats because they thought their students would want true grass

lies. But they’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many students really want to take a lesson on the uniquely designed Power Tee mats,” Owen says. “Don’t get me wrong – some purists will always want true grass lies and we can accommodate that through a lesson on the back part of our range. But when people try the Power Tee mats and see how great hitting off them really is, they’re sold.”

Owen says Power Tee’s benefits far outweigh the expenses. “For every golf operator, you’ve got to get creative and see that you can grow the sport at each one of your facilities with Power Tee – not only at a standalone range, but at a golf course as well,” Owen says. “This technology has boosted our business so much that we’ve come up with programming to make food and beverage more readily available at our ranges. In better weather months, we’re going to start setting up individual bars and barbecues at our Power Tee and Toptracer booths. Each booth has seating, so we’re going to do more personalized food and beverage in golf season that will boost revenue even more. It’s a bright future.”

To learn more, visit PowerTee.com.

Discover the Vibrant and Alluring World of Spanish Wines

STORY BY HUNTER HAM

Introduction

Embark on a thrilling journey to the sun-soaked vineyards of Spain, where a treasure trove of outstanding wines awaits! With its rich history, varied terroir, and plethora of indigenous grape varieties, Spain offers a delightful world of flavors and aromas for every wine enthusiast. In this column, we will traverse the breathtaking landscapes of Spain’s famed wine regions, uncover the secrets of its renowned grape varieties, and share mouthwatering food pairings to elevate your next wine experience.

A Toast to Spanish Wine History

Spanish winemaking boasts a captivating heritage that dates back more than 3,000 years. The Phoenicians, Romans, and Moors each left their mark on the land and its viticultural practices, ultimately shaping the Spanish wine industry into the powerhouse it is today. Their legacy lives on through the innovative techniques and traditional customs that Spanish winemakers continue to cherish and uphold.

A Kaleidoscope of Wine

Regions Spain’s diverse wine regions each impart their unique touch to the nation’s vinous offerings. From the lush, rolling hills of Rioja to the arid, rugged terrain of Priorat, these distinct areas showcase the remarkable versatility of Spanish terroir. Other notable regions include the sun-drenched Ribera del Duero, the coastal paradise of Rías Baixas, and the enigmatic Sherry Triangle, each contributing their own flair to the Spanish wine scene.

A Symphony of Grape Varieties and Styles

Spain’s fascinating range of indigenous grape varieties offers a veritable playground for oenophiles. Tempranillo, the country’s flagship grape, seduces with its opulent red fruit and velvety tannins, while Garnacha enchants with its spicy, berry-driven profile. For white wine aficionados, Albariño and Verdejo present a refreshing medley of citrus, stone fruit, and floral notes. And let’s not forget the versatile Palomino, the backbone of Spain’s beloved fortified wines—Sherry!

Spanish wines span an incredible array of styles, including bold reds, crisp whites, delicate rosés, and effer-

vescent Cavas. Even fortified wines like Sherry and Montilla-Moriles dazzle with their diverse expressions, from the bone-dry Fino to the lusciously sweet Pedro Ximénez.

A Tribute to Iconic Wineries

Spain’s illustrious wineries have been instrumental in shaping the nation’s vinous identity. Marqués de Riscal, a trailblazer in Rioja, helped to revolutionize the region’s winemaking, while Vega Sicilia’s legendary Unico has set the benchmark for Ribera del Duero’s finest. Torres, López de Heredia, and Alvaro Palacios are just a few of the visionary producers who have further elevated Spanish wine to new heights.

A Culinary Celebration

One cannot truly appreciate the allure of Spanish wines without indulging in the country’s delectable cuisine. Classic pairings, such as Rioja with succulent lamb or Albariño with fresh seafood, showcase the harmony of regional flavors. A common trend in wine regions is the fact that the wine develops around what the people who colutivated it had available to eat, such as the area where Albariño originates being in close proximity to the ocean. But don’t be afraid to get creative—Garnacha’s juicy fruitiness makes it a delightful companion for spicy dishes, while the zesty acidity of Cava brings a welcome lift to rich, savory tapas.

Deciphering Spanish Wine Labels

Navigating Spanish wine labels can be a breeze with a few helpful tips. Key terms like “Denominación de Origen” (DO) or “Denominación de Origen Calificada” (DOCa) indicate the wine’s regional origin and quality level, while terms like “Crianza,” “Reserva,” and “Gran Reserva” signify the wine’s aging period. By understanding these essential classifications, you can confidently select high-quality Spanish wines to suit your preferences and elevate your wine experience.

Conclusion

The vibrant and alluring world of Spanish wines is truly a sensory adventure worth embarking on. With its diverse regions, captivating grape varieties, and wide-ranging styles, Spain offers something for every wine lover to enjoy. As you continue to explore the enchanting universe of Spanish wines, you’ll uncover a cornucopia of stories, traditions, and flavors that are sure to leave a lasting impression. So, uncork a bottle, raise your glass, and toast to the unforgettable journey that is Spanish wine!

Recapping Cigar sizes and shapes

STORY BY TOMAS ZILINSKIS

Cigar shapes, also known as vitolas, play an important role in the smoking experience. From tiny cigarillos to massive double coronas, there is a vitola to suit every smoker’s preference. In this article, we will discuss the history, construction, and impact of different cigar sizes and vitolas. So sit back, light up your favorite cigar, and let’s dive into the world of cigar sizes.

Corona: It’s a great choice for beginners as it has a balanced flavor and moderate strength. The history of the corona cigar size dates back to the 19th century, when cigars first became popular in Europe and North America. The corona size is believed to

have originated in Cuba, where it quickly became a popular choice among cigar smokers. Cohiba Black Corona is a premium cigar out of Dominican Republic with rich and spicy medium-to-full bodied blend.

Robusto: The robusto is a favorite among many cigar enthusiasts due to its compact size and full flavor. This size was creation that dates back to Cuba’s 40s where it was initially developed as a shorter yet thicker version of Corona size and

until this day remains most popular choice for any cigar smoker. Stolen Throne Crook of the Crown Robusto is an exquisite blend with big notes of espresso, caramel, leather and cocoa.

Lancero: These slim cigars are known for their complex and concentrated flavor profiles, often featuring notes of wood, coffee, leather, and spice. Due to the small ring gauge, the flavor of the tobacco is amplified, providing a unique smoking experience that is favored by many connoisseurs.The

lancero vitola can be challenging to roll, which is why it is typically only made by experienced cigar rollers and requires a high level of skill. Villa Casdagli Lancero is sitting at a top of my list with very complex notes of coffee, caramel, spice and vanilla.

Culebras: This unique vitola consists of three thin cigars twisted together to form a braided look. Smoking a culebra provides a complex flavor experience, as

the three cigars each have their own distinct taste. Caldwell Antionette Culebra is a definite conversation starter.

Pyramid (Bellicoso): Also known as a torpedo, this vitola has a pointed head and a wider foot. Pyramid provides an unique smoking experience as the flavors change as you smoke from the pointed head to the wider foot. Caldwell

Midnight Express Pyramide that uses Arapiraca Maduro wrapper, giving it that distinctive creamy flavor.

Chisel: The chisel vitola has a flat head that tapers to a point, making it easier to cut and light. The chisel cigar was originally created by pressing a traditional round cigar into a chisel shape, using a special tool designed by Litto Gomez (La Flor Do-

minicana) himself. Thus resulting in a cigar that had a unique shape allowing smoker to vary the draw and flavor of the smoke by changing the angle of the cut. La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel with bold and meaty flavors is not to be missed.

Perfecto: This vitola has a tapered head and foot, with a bulge in the middle.Perfecto provides a unique flavor experience as the flavors change as you smoke from the

tapered head to the wider middle and then back to the tapered foot. Davidoff Colorado Claro Short Perfecto is a masterpiece blend designed to be perfect at every draw.

Flying Pig: This whimsical vitola has a pigtail cap and a short, fat body with a curly tail. The flying pig provides a fun and flavorful smoking experience. Drew Estate Liga

Privada No. 9 Flying Pig is a unique smoking experience with rare tobaccos and wrapper fermented for over 18 months.

Salomon: This impressive vitola has a tapered head and foot, with a wide bulge in the middle first introduced by Davidoff as its limited edition cigar line. Its’ shape allows

for a slow burn and rich and complex flavors. Cavalier Genève White Series Salomon has a mild yet complex profile with cream, stone fruit and flawless construction.

The history of cigar sizes is a testament to the artistry and skill of cigar makers, who have perfected their craft over centuries. Each vitola provides a unique smoking experience, so be sure to experiment with different sizes and shapes to find your perfect cigar.