Kingdom 21

RAT PACK TRIFECTA Palm Springs, LA and Vegas ANDY GARCIA Cuba, Golf and Cinema

Issue 21—Winter 2011

$20 where sold

LUKE DONALD Quietly Golf's No.1

The most important tips you’ll get at this tournament have nothing to do with your swing.

Pro golfers like Bo Van Pelt count on their caddies for advice. Amateur golfers look to the pros for pointers.

At the first Humana Challenge, an official PGA TOUR® event, both the pros and the amateurs, along with the many celebrities, volunteers, and spectators will get some important tips from Humana on how to live healthier lives. Everyone will also enjoy good healthy food and fun interactive activities for the whole family. The event lasts a week, but the benefits will last a lifetime.

Team Humana Golfer Bo Van Pelt

Humana, in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, presents the Humana Challenge Jan. 16 – 22, 2012, La Quinta, CA. Live coverage Jan. 19 – 22 on the Golf Channel®. Visit HumanaChallenge.com. Humana, Official Health Benefits Provider of the PGA TOUR. GNHH6F6HH

A R N O L D PA L M E R FO R E WO R D

What a Year!

Welcome to the 21st edition of Kingdom. As we approach the festive season, I’ve been reflecting on a most interesting year of golf around the world, particularly at the majors. At Augusta National, where I’ve been privileged to act as Honorary Starter these last few years, we had a really exciting Masters Tournament, which was won in the end by South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, for whom my great friend Gary Player has long predicted a stellar career.

The only downside to this year’s Masters was the sight of Rory McIlroy losing his way on the back nine on the final day, so I was pleased when this exciting youngster bounced back so forcefully just two months later to win the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club. To triumph at the toughest championship in the world by eight shots was an extraordinary feat and Congressional, at something approaching 7,500 yards in length, is far from a pushover.

Then we had my favorite story of the year at the [British] Open Championship where Darren Clarke pulled off a sensational victory at Royal St. George’s. The course has a soft spot in my heart due to my victory there in the British PGA Championship back in 1975. The weather then—fierce winds and plenty of rain—wasn’t much different this time round, so I can appreciate how well Darren must have played to lift the Claret Jug after 20 years of trying.

As someone who also has lost his wife to cancer long before her time, I feel a special bond with Darren. The eyes of the world were on him at the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club just a few weeks after the passing of Heather and he produced a hero’s performance. But the ravages of such an experience took their toll on his form as a golfer for several years thereafter, so to come back and prove at the age of 42 that he was still capable of scaling the game’s pinnacles was, in my book, a tremendous achievement.

Then young Keegan Bradley came along and won the first major he’d ever played in—the PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. How remarkable was that?

His aunt, Pat Bradley, a great champion for many years on the LPGA Tour, must have been very proud of her nephew’s victory. And I’m sure I’m not alone in expecting young Keegan to pick up many more of the game’s leading trophies before he finishes up.

Looking forward to 2012, I expect the game of golf at the highest level to maintain the excitement it captured in 2011. World No.1, Luke Donald, has much to live up to while Webb Simpson, who gave him such a tough time in the money race list, can be expected to continue his fine play.

In women’s golf, I have nothing but admiration for Yani Tseng, the Taiwanese lady who has taken the game by storm over the past few seasons and slipped so effortlessly into the mantle vacated by the retirements of both Lorena Ochoa and, before her, Annika Sorenstam. I would also like to congratulate my friend and fellow Bay Hill member, Suzann Pettersen, the current world No.2, on another excellent year during which she won two LPGA Tour titles, played on the winning Solheim Cup team and was named as the next R&A Working for Golf ambassador.

Finally, you might notice that the Arnie collection of golf apparel is about to be launched across the United States. It’s based on the styles of clothing I wore on course throughout my formative years as a player and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy golfing,

Arnold Palmer

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Kingdom magazine Issue 21—Winter 2011

Arnold Palmer Foreword—Reflecting on an amazing year of golf Publisher’s Letter—Looking forward to a period of unity Editor’s Letter—Meeting challenges

22 22 32 42 48 52 58 68 74 82 86 93 102 106 108 114

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Time for some Sun—Mr. Palmer prepares for a Florida winter Everyman Golfer—Profile of black professional James Walker, Jr. Palm Springs My Way—Winter playground for the Rat Pack Riviera County Club—Where the stars come out to golf Viva Las Vegas!—Turning the heat up on the Strip 18 3rd Holes—A fantasy course comprising some real beauties Black Cat—Taking the new Jaguar XKR for a spin The Untouchable—Hollywood’s Andy Garcia opens his heart Mighty Mitel and their Knight—What next for Sir Terry Matthews?

Now Hear This—The incredible sounds of Bowers & Wilkins Life in Pics—Showcasing Mr. Palmer’s fashions down the decades End Game—Royal Bank of Canada finds wisdom in Luke Donald’s form Donald Trump—Kingdom columnist pays tribute to Las Vegas Great Stadia: Lambeau Field—Home to the Green Bay Packers Ernst & Young—The business world’s changing landscape

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Kingdom magazine Issue 21—Winter 2011

118 118 126 130 134 138 142 148 154 158 163 172 180 182 188 195 202

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Mexico to a Tee—Head south for some eye-catching resort golf Style Icon Arnie—Mr. Palmer teams up with apparel innovators Quagmire He’s got it...By George—European Tour boss O’Grady talks to Kingdom Back on Course—Great work being done at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Festivals of Fife—All the latest news from St. Andrews, the Home of Golf Cornhusker Fairways—Nebraska has some seriously great golf Look at Luke—World No.1 lands PGA Tour money title in grand style Golden Gifts—Every portfolio could use a bit of golden glow Hep Chef—Get your clam bake swingin’ with this top grub Gift Guide—Ideal presents for your favorite golfer this Christmas Spirit of Tranquility—Whisky galore in the Highlands of Scotland Forward Thinking—APDC turns its attention to South America Playing the Long Game—The lowdown on how to control 200-yard irons Life Cycle—Team Mulligan prepares for its two-wheel fund-raising drive Course Directory—The white pages of courses to look out for around the globe Wake on the Up—Big-name players show up to support their alma mater

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There’s wealth in

a pairing that’s driven both on and off the course.

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Air your tunes

Zeppelin Air Zeppelin is back, and it’s better than ever.

Apple’s AirPlay technology allows music to be streamed wirelessly from your Mac or PC to Zeppelin Air. You can even bypass the computer entirely, and stream high-quality audio directly from your iPhone , iPad or iPod touch . All without the need to dock the device. If you have more than one Zeppelin Air, you can use them in a simple to set up multiroom system. Listen and you’ll see. ®

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READE TILLEY

MATTHEW SQUIRE

editor

publisher

PAUL TROW

LEON HARRIS

contributing editor

art director

designer

special thanks / contributors

Matthew Halnan

founding contributor Arnold Palmer

special contributors Cori Britt, Doc Giffin, Donald Trump

contributing photographers Ken Bennett, Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com, Getty Images, Arnold Palmer Picture Library, Evan Schiller, Meghan Tilley, Guy Wathen, Leon Harris

vp, operations Joe Velotta

head of advertising sales Jon Edwards

advertising sales Andy Fletcher Stephen Kirk Deric Piper Michael Sullivan Robert Young

executive assistants Carla Richards Lola Aina

Clive Agran Turismo do Algarve Martin Baxter Rebecca Cleaver Luke Donald Ray Easler and all his team at Bay Hill Andy Garcia Dr. Howdy Giles Neil Grant Barry Grove Randy Hernly Ree Hartwell Ron Jackson Nicola Jamieson Roger Kelly Steve Killick Maureen Kolodziej Paul Mahoney Andy MacDonald Sherry Major Shaun Marin Mark Murphy George O'Grady Bobby Pasternak Maria Pinelli Mitchell Platts Chris Rodell Cheryl Sinkinson Jonathan Sloan Sterling PR Geoff Tait Team RBC James Walker, Jr. Michael Yamaki

published by TMC USA, 323 DANIELS ROAD, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866

Founders: John Halnan, Matthew Squire and Steve Richards. Commercial Enquiries—ms@tmcusallc.com Tel: 866.486.2872 Fax: 518.691.9231 arnieskingdom.com

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LLC Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinion of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. The contents of advertisements and advertorials are entirely the responsibilty of advertisers.

No responsibility is taken for unsolicited submissions and manuscripts.

Cover image: Lynn Pelham Time Life Pictures

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Kingdom magazine was first available to friends & associates of Arnold Palmer, members & guests of his designed and managed courses, and is now available to distinguished private clubs and discerning golfers everywhere.

Printed in Canada.

The FREEDOM

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Time to Grow the Game Globally As I write this in mid-November with my wife imminently due to give birth to our second child, my mind has been as focused on family as it has on work. I’ve also been thinking about the family of golf and the responsibilities we all have as golfers—not just to the game, but in promoting its virtues of fairness, honesty and camaraderie to the wider world.

To that point: In this issue of Kingdom we continue our series of profiles of golf’s leaders by visiting with the European Tour’s George O’Grady. George has been relentless in taking his professionals to new parts of the globe to grow the game, and it was most refreshing to hear him say his global spirit was shared with Tim Finchem, George’s counterpart at the PGA Tour. Co-operation across continents is essential in times of turmoil, and it’s fair to say there’s enough of that about. In previous issues of Kingdom we have interviewed the heads of the USGA and R&A, both of whom do an excellent job in maintaining the rules, standards and heritage of the game. And they, too, believe in reinforcing golf’s positive messages. For example, a large percentage of the money The R&A raises with the British Open is redistributed to help golf grow in less developed and under-resourced parts of the world. It would be fine if this spirit could be applied to all pursuits in life.

Closer to home, the PGA of America’s research into why people either don’t take up golf or drop out of playing has resulted in their Golf 2.0 campaign, and in that spirit I have to wonder if we are doing enough to invite new friends to play or to join our clubs.

This issue also introduces us to James Walker, Jr., a man who loved the game so much he was prepared to surmount intolerable challenges to play on the Tour—and he surmounted them with grace. Today, thankfully, we have professionals of all colors and backgrounds playing and winning tournaments, but we would do well to remain vigilant and ensure that the only handicap people ever face in the sport is related to their golfing abilities.

One continent that seems to be fast-embracing the game is South America. Hot on the heels of the announcement of Brazil hosting the Olympics—and the Olympic return of golf—is news of the launch of the PGA Latin Tour. Now, the next generation of Villegases and Cabreras will be able to gain tour experience without having to leave their home continent, which can only be good for the game.

I can’t mention leadership and growing the game without reference to the Boss. Looking through some photos recently, I realized how—perhaps more than any other individual—Mr. Palmer has not only been a source of unparalleled energy for the game, but a face and a foundation of personality upon which the modern pro game is built. And here I’d like to offer a personal frustration: In 30 years’ time when my successor is looking through the photo archives of the current generation’s great golfers, will he see a group of instantly recognizable men or will he be pondering a sea of faces shadowed under baseball caps? I understand sponsors need their names out there, but golf isn’t NASCAR. Please, can we lift the Salary Caps?

Finally, a very Merry Christmas,

Matthew Squire—Publisher

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David Webb Amethyst and Diamond Cuff Bracelet, 1985

Neoclassical Settee Circa 1770

Marjorie Strider Smiling Blond, 2010

Merete Rasmussen Ceramic Sculpture, 2010

Model 1969 Mirror

by Fontana Arte, 1960s

Jocelyn Lee, Untitled pinhole (blue globe flowers flying), 2008

Paolo Buffa Important Cabinet, 1920s

Cartier Crash Watch Circa 1991

R. Nelson Parrish Untitled #42, 2011

Traina-Norell Black Satin Cocktail Dress, 1950s

Pat Steir Valentine, 2009–2011

Set of Wood Geometrical Drawing Forms, Circa 1925

Hans Wegner Original Signed Folding Chair, 1950s

Alex Katz Twilight I, 2009

Model of Aston Martin DBR1

Oscar Heyman & Brothers Ruby and Diamond Ring, Circa 1965

Georges Dambier, Simone d’Aillencourt pour Arachnée, 1959

Tiffany & Co. Art Deco Carved Emerald Pandant, 1930s

Ed Moses Nite-PI-1, 2007

Gerald Genta Octo Quattro Retro Chronograph

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS ON EARTH ARE ON

1stdibs . C O M

Challenges I met James “Junior” Walker a couple of years ago—“Jimmy,” as he was introduced to me.

I’d just moved to Los Angeles, my game needed some help, and Walker was the pro who “got” me when I signed up for a refresher lesson with anyone. After a few pokes and prods from his 5 iron (which he uses quite physically as an instructional device), and after getting into the groove of the music he often has playing from the portable radio in his teaching space at Rancho Park’s range, my drive straightened out, my irons started working again and I rediscovered my rhythm. There’s no way I could have known how accidentally privileged I was. As one of the first African Americans in the PGA, “Junior,” as he was known on Tour, is not only an incredibly talented pro, he has a strength of character and depth of knowledge born of experience and hardship that few of us can ever hope to appreciate.

I was honored indeed to sit down with him recently and to hear his story. In nearly two years on the PGA Tour, Jimmy (self-taught, like many of the early African American pros) never did better than 30th in a PGA tournament, but he faced obstacles most golfers today might consider insurmountable. Still, when we spoke, he had to be pressed to address the issue of race. As you’ll read on page 32, he rarely saw his challenges in terms of color. Rather, it was all about the golf. He didn’t play on the PGA Tour because he was winning, not for the minimal amounts of money he earned or for the attention—certainly not for the kind of attention black golfers received in the early 1960s. He played because he loved the game, and he still does.

It’s an honor to have him as my teacher, and a privilege to feature him in Kingdom.

In other news: A few of my Kingdom associates and I are cycling 100 miles this winter to raise money for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children (see p188). None of us on “Team Mulligan” (named for Mr. Palmer’s dog) is a proper cyclist, and none of us looks great in Lycra, but we believe that a little bit of effort for a good cause is worthwhile. One hundred miles on a bike is certainly a small challenge compared with what Jimmy Walker, a certain greenskeeper’s son from Latrobe, Penn., and all of the children at the hospital have faced in terms of achieving their goals. Here’s to their inspiration, and to finding our own personal bests this holiday season.

Best wishes and happy holidays to all of you,

James Walker, Jr.

Reade Tilley—Editor

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We regrow bone.

Yes, you read that right.

Same-day appointments available.

Call 1.866.281.5633. clevelandclinic.org /regrowbone

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With fall heralding winter, the leaves were turning tartan on Arnold Palmer Drive where Mr. Palmer spent the summer overseeing the progress of the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott that will allow guests membership privileges at Latrobe Country Club. Before boarding his Citation X and heading south to his winter home at Bay Hill, he had a chat with Kingdom correspondent Chris Rodell about golf, the future and life in general

T i m e for Some S u n Kingdom: You’ve always been considered a stylish athlete. When you were deciding what to wear on tournament day, were you concerned with style? Or were you more concerned with function?

Arnold Palmer: Both. I tried to be reasonably conservative in my dress and my style and practical as far as the playing ability was concerned. I never wanted my clothing to take away from my business as far as golfing was concerned.

K: Did it ever surprise you that you were considered so stylish?

AP: I never particularly worked at being stylish. I was just trying to be reasonably conservative and practical.

K: I’ve seen thousands of pictures of you, but I’ve never seen a single one of you wearing blue jeans. Do you even own a pair?

AP: I’ve certainly never worn a pair to play golf. I own numerous pairs, but I’d only wear them to ride a horse.

K: You have a new apparel line—Arnie—launching in the spring, could you tell us a bit about the collection and what your future plans are?

AP: The collection will be sporting clothing, a line for golf, of course, but a line for all activities. Sports shirts. Some of my ideas of design going back to the years when alpaca sweaters were in vogue. We liked them and wanted to bring those back. Sweaters, shorts, slacks and all the things that are in line today for people who want to look good regardless of their activity.

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K: You defined athletic style for much of your career (as GQ magazine has celebrated). As much as you are associated with the “Rat Pack” era in terms of cultural influence and defining “cool,” did you ever have any contact with the Rat Pack entertainers (Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., etc.)?

AP: I knew them well, but I didn’t spend a great deal of time with them. I played golf with Dean Martin a few times and with the others in pro-ams they were sponsoring. I enjoyed my time with them.

K: Did you ever see any of them—e.g., Sinatra or Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin—perform live? Are you a fan of any of them? What are your favorites?

AP: I didn’t spend a lot of time with Jerry Lewis. I knew him to say hello. But I watched them perform many times. I thought Dean Martin was very good. He was a very outgoing and engaging person. He was a good guy, a very engaging entertainer.

K: Did you ever see and did you like the movie The Caddy with Lewis & Martin?

AP: Yes. I had a little problem with some of the golf scenes, some of the irregular stuff that wasn’t a part of golf. But overall it was pretty good.

K: You’re quoted on the cover of Charlie Sifford’s book, Just Let MePlay, and you’re pictured with him at his 2009 World Golf Hall Of Fame induction. How well did you know Charlie on Tour, and what specific struggles do you think he faced as a professional golfer?

AP: Charlie was a good guy, a friend of mine and a fine golfer. It took a lot of courage and grace for him to overcome the racism of the time. I was proud he was my friend and enjoyed golfing with him. In fact, in the first tournament I won, the 1955 Canadian Open, Charlie Sifford was a major factor in the tournament and led after the first round.

K: There is no question the FedExCup gives the PGA Tour a real lift towards the end of the season with every putt holed or missed determining whether a player makes it through to the Tour Championship, and automatic qualification for the next year’s majors.

Do you enjoy it and, if so, why?

AP: I suppose you could say I’m a fan of it. I watch it.

It has certainly served a purpose of adding a little zest to the end of the season. This year was a very exciting conclusion with Bill Haas and the way he played and the way he won. I think he did a wonderful job. He played very well. He scrambled well and hit the ball well. He was an Arnold Palmer scholar at Wake Forest so I’m happy to give him credit for the way he played.

K: Tiger has had an injury-plagued season but is playing again. Is that a relief?

AP: I hope Tiger is getting back on the track and I wish him luck. I hope he has a good comeback. He’s a great player and it would be disappointing if he doesn’t come back pretty strong.

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The 2011 FedExCup winner Bill Haas was an Arnold Palmer scholar at Wake Forest

“Charlie [Sifford] was a good guy, a friend and a fine golfer. I was proud he was my friend and enjoyed golfing with him” K: You have long had a strong association with the Bob Hope out in the desert, so you must be pleased to see them attract such a strong sponsor in Humana.

Will you be watching your grandson Sam play again there in January?

AP: I don’t know at this point. I’ll certainly make some effort to help him get in. I plan on being there one way or the other and look forward to seeing some of the changes Humana is bringing to the tournament and their healthy lifestyle initiatives in conjunction with the Tour. Plus, the format change for the tournament should be well-received by the pros.

K: On the subject of great tournaments, how are preparations going for the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, and are significant changes envisaged?

AP: I think the golf course is going to be better than it’s ever been. And I’m pretty sure Sam will get an invitation to play there.

K: How long before your other grandson, Will Wears, earns an invitation?

AP: It’ll be a few years before Will is in that position. He’s a junior here at Latrobe High School and he’s playing very well. This year and next year are going to be key for his golf development. As far as hitting the golf ball, he can do everything you need to do. He’s very long and he can play.

It’s a question of maturity and putting it all together.

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Inspiration is what makes you achieve – in business and in your life.

-Arnold Palmer, Golf Legend & Insperity Client

For more than 25 years, Insperity™ has been inspiring business owners like you by helping them get ahead faster, with products and services tailor-made for maximizing opportunities for growth and profitability. Whether you’re ready for our most comprehensive solution – Workforce Optimization – or one of our many HR and business services and products, Insperity’s Business Performance Advisors are ready to guide you toward your ideal vision of success.

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K: The cover of artist Scott Medlock’s book features a painting of you and Jack Nicklaus walking the 10th fairway of the Riviera Country Club. While all of your LA Open victories came at Rancho Park, you played at Riviera in the 1998 U.S. Seniors Open. When is the first time you played there, and what are your memories and thoughts of it?

AP: I like Riviera. I think it’s one of the great courses in the country. I’m only sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to play there more in my competitive days. I scored pretty well there, but when I got there I was a little older and my really competitive days weren’t as strong as they’d once been.

The glorious APDC course at Stonewall Resort in West Virginia

K: How would you assess the overall performance of Tim Finchem since he became commissioner of the PGA Tour 17 years ago?

AP: Since I had something to do with Tim and his tenure as commissioner, I’m very pleased with what he’s done.

He’s really accomplished a lot for the PGA Tour and I expect he will continue to do more for a long while.

K: With such iconic figures as Greg Norman and Fred Couples captaining the sides, do you think the Presidents Cup is now rivalling the Ryder Cup as golf’s biggest team event?

AP: I suppose it was meant to rival the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is such a patriotic thing that gets rave reviews.

The Presidents Cup is much the same in that it brings in people from all over the world. Both are great competitions and I’m sure they’ll continue to thrive well into the future.

K: Do you know Sir Terry Matthews and what do you think of Celtic Manor, scene of the 2010 Ryder Cup, as a golf resort?

AP: It’s fine. Terry’s a great guy. What he’s done for golf is wonderful.

K: The instructional for this issue features golf pro Randy Hernly at your APDC course at Stonewall Resort in West Virginia. The course in 10 years has earned a considerable number of rave reviews. What are your recollections of it?

AP: I’m very pleased with how things have turned out at Stonewall. It was such a magnificent piece of wilderness and we’re proud of that fine course. They’ve done a great job of promoting it with a fine hotel and the golf course and all they have to offer. All my friends who know it tell me they really love Stonewall. They enjoy going there to play and say it’s the perfect venue for golf. Very picturesque! I wish Randy and all the people down there all the best of luck.

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K: What golf touches will be apparent at the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott just up the road here on Arnold Palmer Drive?

AP: It will be a very sporty look and we’ll use my associations with the Presidents of the United States and things I hope people will enjoy. It’s coming along very well and we’ll have it open in the spring and in full operation by the summer. Different golf courses will be used for each floor designation. Rather than be on the fourth floor, you’ll be on the Oakmont Floor or the Augusta Floor.

K: How do you plan on spreading the word to entice golfers to come to Latrobe to visit the hotel?

AP: Our Doc Giffin will be an emissary to let the media know there’s a new popular place for golfers and people who travel. Part of the deal is letting people know when they check in that they can use Latrobe Country Club as a place to have dinner, golf, tennis or swim.

It’ll be a limited membership for guests so that should work pretty well.

“All my friends that know it tell me they really love Stonewall. They enjoy going there to play and say it’s the perfect venue for golf. Very picturesque!”

K: Have you ever thought of purchasing a professional sports franchise?

AP: There was a time in my life when that was proposed to me, involving the NFL many years ago. That was the major proposal, but it didn’t go very far. I didn’t have time to really devote to something like that. At the time I was busy playing golf and promoting my businesses.

As for the town and the team, I’d rather not say.

K: Does Arnold Palmer have a bucket list?

AP: I’ve done a lot of the things I’ve wanted to do. Flying was a big part of that. I don’t fly myself any more, but I’m still very active with flying and work with aviation organizations as part of the American way of life. There are a couple of places I’ve thought about visiting with Kit, my wife. One is Alaska. I’d like to spend some time

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AP: Like golf, pre-race jitters is all part of the program.

It’s part of the mystique and energy you need to do anything worthwhile and do it well. Nothing wrong with a few nerves before climbing on board the bikes.

K: With such an inspiring mascot, what chances do you give Team Mulligan of finishing the ride?

AP: Oh, I’m confident they will. I think they’ll do very well. I’m encouraging them.

K: Do you visit Las Vegas often? If so, do you play any of the tables? What is your favourite card game?

AP: I used to play the Tournament of Champions there and had some success there with a couple victories. I enjoyed Vegas. It was always fun. I wasn’t always successful there, but I enjoyed playing some of the games—including golf! I enjoyed shooting a little craps once in a while, and I enjoy blackjack.

K: Do you have any plans to visit St. Andrews over the next couple of years, to coincide with the 600th anniversary of the university?

AP: We’re almost the same age! I may go. I was pleased to receive my degree from St. Andrews University there.

That was a great thrill. I’m very partial to St. Andrews.

The R&A and the courses there have helped St. Andrews become one of the great places in golf.

Mr. Palmer and Tom Watson celebrate their honorary St. Andrews degrees

“I enjoyed Las Vegas. It was always fun.

I wasn’t always successful there, but I enjoyed shooting a little craps once in a while, and blackjack” with her there. Having played golf my whole life, I’ve been to most of the nice warm places on earth at one time or another. I haven’t been to the French Riviera and that’s a place I’d like to visit. But I’ve traveled so much that I really enjoy just being home in Latrobe and home in Orlando at Bay Hill. I really am looking forward to spending whatever time I have left in those two places.

K: Four members of Kingdom magazine’s staff are riding bicycles 100 miles this November to showcase cycling as a good exercise for golfers and to raise money for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. They’ve named their team “Team Mulligan,” after your dog (and the fact they probably all need a second chance).

Do you think cycling is a good exercise for golfers?

AP: Oh, I do. And I think that’s great what they’re doing.

And I know the people at the hospital really appreciate it and will be rooting them on. If I were a little younger, I might join them.

K: What advice do you have for the team for the morning of the event, when they wake up and have pre-race jitters?

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K: You have played golf in Scotland many times. Have you ever been on a tour of a distillery?

AP: I have not and I really should get around to doing that. I think that would be great fun for me.

K: You may have golfed more than any man alive.

Most people are delighted to have you play their courses, but can you remember the last time you had to pay for a round?

AP: I’ve never really paid for playing golf anywhere except one time I went to golf with some friends at Bandon Dunes. I can’t forget the guy there saying, “That will be $100, Mr. Palmer.” I guess that’s become sort of a slogan there. But I paid $100! I won’t again! The course was very interesting and very tough.

K: What projects do you have on the go at APDC at present?

Anything in either the Far East or South America?

AP: We just renovated Wexford Plantation in Hilton Head through our Refresh Program that is generating a lot of interest. Overseas we are working on a number of exciting projects. There is certainly a tremendous energy coming from South America currently.

K: Have your opinions about the belly putters softened?

AP: No! They’re becoming very successful, but I’m one of those hard-line conservatives who believe that it is not a part of the game of golf. I will stick with that regardless of what anyone says. I do not believe anyone should be able to touch their body in the process of making a golf swing. I don’t think the belly putter has a place in the game of golf.

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Words and pictures: Reade Tilley

Everyman Golfer

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Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, Louis Armstrong… Their talents overwhelmed the issue of race, and so they broke barriers.

Unlike those pioneers, most of us don’t have to approach No.1 standing to follow our chosen career paths. Case in point: Golfers. Of the roughly 200 players on the PGA Tour, few will become household names—but with a number of tours, teaching jobs and other opportunities, they can make a living in golf That hasn’t always been the case. In the first part of the 20th century it was hard enough to make it as a white golfer. But African Americans were barred from PGA membership until 1961. And following that, they still weren’t admitted onto many of the tournament courses, weren’t treated well by fans, and didn’t have many options when it came to paying the bills with golf. So: no money, no accolades, and potentially a lot of abuse. If you were black in the 1960s, why would you want to be a professional golfer?

Simple: Because you loved the game.

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orn in a cold November in 1938, in the smallish town of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, there was nothing to indicate James Walker, Jr., would grow up to be a professional golfer. His family were laborers and farmers, and he was a black kid in the Deep South, after all. Like so many others, golf found him. And when it did, it was all that mattered.

“Well, the kids in my neighborhood, they were three, four, five years older than I was; we lived on the same block.

They would go to the golf course and I would tag along with ’em on the weekends; this all happened in the summer of 1945. I was too small to carry the bags, so when I first started going I was the shag boy—if the pro had a lesson, I would chase balls.”

By the time he was eight, “Junior,” as he was known, was caddying at Rocky Mount’s Benvenue Country Club.

During 12 years on the job, with borrowed equipment, he taught himself to golf.

“Oh yeah, I missed many classes. I missed many! I went to the golf course more than I went to school—shucks!

Ha ha! The truant officer stayed on my case.”

Not that his parents minded.

“Well, my family was very poor, and so my father, he didn’t have too good a job, and my mother worked hard, y’know. I would go out and caddie some school days and make money to try to put some kind of food on the table.

I would make maybe two dollars—two dollars went a long way in the ’40s, in the ’50s too. You could feed a family off of a buck.

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“I grew up working hard because my mother, by me being the oldest, my mother took me everywhere she went to work. I would do country work. My mother had 11 brothers and they were all farmers. She would go to visit her brothers and I was like a little country boy, I had to do everything a farmer had to do—but I took my golf clubs with me.

“I hated it, I hated it. See, where I grew up is a tobacco town. That’s hard work. I picked tobacco, oh my goodness!

Tobacco, cotton—I didn’t pick no cotton, though—corn, cucumbers, tomatoes... Everything a farmer would raise, I did it. I hated it, had my clubs with me, one or two clubs with me, and a few balls. In the afternoon, when the day was over, on a Saturday or Sunday, I could play, practice hitting balls in the open field, that’s how that went. But when you work, you work. You didn’t have time to be playin’ no golf.”

In addition to some cash, Benvenue offered Jimmy the chance to see the game. Amateur legend Harvie Ward grew up in Tarboro, just 17 miles away, and took lessons at the club. Jimmy shagged balls for Betsy Rawls there, and he caddied for Jackie Burke, Jr., when Burke and Tommy Bolt were in town on an exhibition.

When I asked Jimmy if anyone at the country club ever gave him a lesson, he looked at me like I was crazy.

“No! Didn’t get no lessons! Just picked it up and started hitting.”

Likewise, he looked even more incredulous when I asked if he practiced on the country club’s course.

“What? No! We didn’t play on the golf course! No, we

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made our own holes in this park across from where they hit balls, where we hit our own balls.”

But Jimmy did occasionally sneak onto the course at Benvenue, and it was during one of these covert rounds that he really found his game.

“I must have been about 13 or 14, so I went out on the golf course and I played. I didn’t start from the first hole; I started on the fourth hole, which was away from the clubhouse so they wouldn’t see me. I was skippin’ around and I got about 5 under par, and I didn’t want to stop. I would hit my drive and walk out of bounds, then run back on in bounds and play the second shot, then run out again.

So I messed around and got 7 under par, but then I got too close to the clubhouse and so I had to quit. That’s when I realized I could play the game, and I loved the game, and I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’”

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n 1959, Jimmy and a friend boarded a Greyhound bus and headed for New York City. He reckons he had about $50 in his pocket, and the bus ticket took $14 of it. There was a burgeoning black golf scene in New York at the time, though Jimmy hardly could have expected the surprise he found when he arrived on 121st Street in Harlem.

“When I got there, I saw all the guys I grew up with— must have been 10 or 15 of them, all the guys that were older than me from the block. I said, ‘Oh! This is like being home!’ I was 20 years old.

“I got me a little ol’ job working downtown in the garment section. I worked two or three weeks, maybe a month, and bought me a set of clubs. They were [Wilson] Sam Sneads. I started catching the subway to go up to Mosholu [Golf Course], up in the Bronx. I started going round there and I started playing good golf.”

People noticed.

“Word got around. They said, ‘Man, there’s this little guy from North Carolina that’s playin’ his butt off, can shoot in the 60s!’”

Jimmy’s reputation earned him an invitation to play with the Select Golf Club, a group of middle-aged black businessmen and enthusiasts in the city that took frequent weekend golf trips, usually to one of the courses in New Jersey, which were friendly to black golfers.

“We’d go to Asbury Park, there’s a few courses there.

Essex County. We’d call the course in advance and tell ’em we’ve got four groups, five foursomes, six foursomes, and we gonna play. That was mostly in Jersey. That’s how I developed my game—and I had a pretty good game already.”

The club eventually invited Jimmy to go to Florida with them to compete in the annual North–South Tournament, held at Miami Springs Golf Course. As the first midwinter tourney open to golfers of any color, the North–South was a big deal. Calvin Sinnette describes it in his book, Forbidden Fairways: “These annual tournaments were not only important golf events, they were enormously popular social affairs… Entertainers, athletes and politicians came to see and be seen, and it was not unusual for as many as 300 businessmen and professionals to attend the event.”

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From Rocky Mount, NC, to the PGA, “Junior” Walker has made a life in golf

For Jimmy, it was the first tournament of his life.

“I got a chance to meet all the top black golfers: Charlie Sifford [the first black golfer in the PGA], Pete Brown, Cliff Brown, Rafe Botts, Willie Brown… I can’t remember them all. Anyways, I was an amateur, and I must have finished about fifth in the tournament as an amateur. But before the tournament started they had a pro-am, held the day before.

So anyways, the pros had to draw an amateur name out of the hat—they had about 20 amateurs, if not more—and each pro had to draw out a name, and so Teddy Rhodes drew my name out.”

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orn in 1913, Ted Rhodes was a legend by the time Jimmy got to Miami. We’ll never know how good Rhodes was because, like Bill Spiller and other luminary black golfers of the time, Rhodes had to contend with Section 1, Article III of the PGA’s constitution. The clause, which was added in 1943, limited PGA membership to “Professional Golfers of the Caucasian Race,” relegating Rhodes and his peers to events with the black-organized United Golf Association— sometimes referred to as the “Chitlin’ Circuit.” Rhodes won something like 150 such tournaments, cementing his place as one of the greatest in the game.

In 1961, the “Caucasian only” clause was removed from the PGA’s constitution, due to the efforts of Rhodes, Spiller, boxer Joe Louis, then-California Attorney General Stanley Mosk, and others.

But all of that came after Rhodes pulled Jimmy’s name out of a hat in Miami. And for the young golfer at his first tournament, there were more pressing issues—like making a name for himself.

“Teddy drew my name out, and he asked, ‘Well, who is James Walker Junior?’ And the guys from New York that brought me there, they said ‘He’s with us.’ And Teddy said, ‘Well, if he’s with you guys he must can play a little bit,’ so we went on out.

“So Teddy shoots 68 and I shot 69, and our best ball was 65, and we won, we won the pro-am. I don’t know how much money Teddy got, and I got a trophy—my first trophy, my first tournament.

“I took it home to my mother five or six years later, and I don’t know what happened to the trophy.”

New York was hopping in the early ’60s, the Civil Rights movement was on, and the world was changing. But Jimmy’s world was all about the fairway; politics, nightlife and even girls weren’t really in the picture.

“Golf only. I didn’t have a chance to go out and try to get in politics or nothing, no. It didn’t bother me at all because I wasn’t involved in it, I wasn’t thinking about it.

All I wanted to do was play golf.”

That’s not to say the game didn’t offer a social life— with the occasional legendary twist. One such example: Althea Gibson, the first black tennis pro (of either gender), two-time Wimbledon winner, and later the first black woman on the LPGA Tour.

“In the early days before I turned pro, Althea and I would go and play a lot together. I mean, the ground was frozen, wintertime. The ground was hard as a rock. We’d drive to Jersey somewhere and play. She had just got into golf. She could hit it a long way, but she couldn’t score worth nothing, ’cause she hadn’t been around golf that long to know how to hit shots around the green.

“She was nice, real nice. She was competitive, just like she was in tennis. She didn’t lay back. We all used to go to River Vale in Jersey, that’s where I first saw Sidney Poitier and Sugar Ray Robinson; they all played over there. Anybody that was anybody that was black went over there and played.”

H

is reputation solid, it was only a matter of time before Jimmy was approached about going pro.

“A friend of mine said ‘I got some guys that wanna try to put you on the Tour,’ and it was all Jewish fellas from New York. I didn’t know any of ’em.”

At the time the PGA required prospects to play with two Class A pros for an evaluation. Jimmy played with

“The pros had to draw an amateur name out of the hat for the pro-am—they had about 20 amateurs, if not more—and so Teddy Rhodes drew my name out”

A

fter Miami, Jimmy headed back to New York and kept playing. The garment district job was long gone; he’d quit as soon as he had the money to buy his clubs. Instead, he was scratching around town for work, renting a small room on 121st Street and focusing on his game.

“I was washing cars and doing anything, odd jobs, washing cabs at night to make a paycheck to play during the day. It was all golf, everybody I knew or worked around was a golfer. Golf, golf, golf. If you’re playin’ golf you don’t get a chance to get in no trouble. I never been in any trouble in my life, ’cause it was all about golf.”

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Stan Mosel, one of the better pros out of Jersey, and Wesley Ellis, a PGA veteran at the time. After a formal application process, he was accepted to play on the PGA’s tour for the 1965 season. It was a dream come true, but challenges were coming, and they started with money.

“Had a guy was supposed to be my manager… [laughs] Did he manage? No. As soon as I got on the tour and started playing, I couldn’t get the money to go from tournament to tournament, it was just a mess. But I had a chance, and all I wanted was a chance.”

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James Walker, Jr., in fine style for the camera at Rancho Park

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he first tournament of the year was the Los Angeles Open, held at the Rancho Park Golf Club where Jimmy now works as a teaching pro (and where Arnold Palmer once infamously made a 12 on the 18th hole). It didn’t go so well.

“I missed the cut,” Jimmy said. “They had just aerated the greens and I didn’t know how to putt. I must have three-putted eight times. I was playing with Mike Souchak and Dutch Harrison. It wasn’t my nerves, ’cause I wasn’t scared—I knew how to play. But it was like putting on dirt.

come in this clubhouse.’ I said ‘Why not?’ He said, ‘You a caddie!’ I said, ‘I’m not no caddie, I’m a touring pro!’ He said ‘Caddies not allowed in here,’ and he wouldn’t let me in. So one of the fellas, one of the white pros, y’know, they seen me having this conflict with this guy, and they said ‘He’s one of us.’

Finally convinced this guy that I was on the tour. That was the only time I had any problems. San Francisco, and I had been down South, Mississippi, Alabama, I had been all over the country. But the other pros had problems, y’know.”

“There were a lot of places you could only look at the golf course; you couldn’t play it until you had to qualify on Monday” That was a nightmare on the greens.” From there, Jimmy was off and running. Playing at a time when you had to qualify for each tournament, Jimmy made some and he missed some, but he kept going, sharing rides to events and enjoying life as a touring pro.

Whether or not it was happening, Jimmy said he was spared a lot of the racism that Sifford, Rhodes, Spiller and the other black golfers who’d come before him had experienced.

“The only time I had any problem was 1965. I went up to San Francisco to qualify for a tournament there. I missed qualifying, but a few of my friends were in the tournament, like Pete Brown, so I stayed around watching. I go to the clubhouse just to look at some clubs or something, and this little ol’ security guard, this little kid, he was smaller than me—I was small—he said, ‘No, you can’t

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One of the problems Jimmy and the others faced was not being able to practice on tournament courses due to membership rules. The result of this indirect segregation was that the first day of a tournament qualifier was often the first time a black player had ever been on the course.

“There were a lot of places you could only look at the golf course, you couldn’t play it. Never been there, never seen it before, but you couldn’t play it until you had to qualify on Monday. So you just go out there, sight unseen, and play the best you could. The white players, they could play with members. They’d play on a Thursday or a Friday because they could play a round as a member’s guest. For the blacks, they could only play it late Sunday afternoon. Walk out there, look at it, but they couldn’t play. If you got into a tournament, you were very lucky; that’s how that went.”

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t the end of his rookie season, Jimmy lost his sponsor and his card. In 1967, he went to the PGA’s new qualifying school to get on for 1968, but missed by a shot.

In ’68, with a significant amount of leadership from Arnold Palmer, a number of pros broke away from the PGA of America and created what would eventually become known as the PGA TOUR. With the new group in place, Jimmy earned his card for the 1969 season, which started better than his first.

“My first tournament back, 1969, was the LA Open, so I go out and I shot a 67—leading the clubhouse so far, ’cause I was one of the first guys to tee off. So the 67 stood up until late in that afternoon. Charlie Sifford came in, teed off after

“That’s the best life you can have, I think, is a guy playing on the Tour. I haven’t seen any better” 12. He shot 63 and he was the leader after the first round.”

Sifford went on to win the tournament, his second PGA win. Jimmy’s putting got away from him again, but he hung in there, played his final round with Billy Casper and Tom Shaw, and ended up tied for 30th. It was his best finish, but it wasn’t his most exciting. That, he said, came at the Westchester Classic in New York.

“My first round I shot 68… And the next day I was doing pretty good ’til the 16th hole: I made a triple bogey on a par 3, couldn’t get out of the bunker. So anyway I shoot 75, then 75 the third round—the third round I played with Charlie Sifford. The final round I shoot 69 and that moved me up. I finished tied for 30th, and that was my most exciting finish.”

By the middle of ’69, the sponsorships had dried up again, things got tight and Jimmy left the Tour mid-way through the season.

“I didn’t finish my year out. That was it, I didn’t try to play no more.”

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immy didn’t quit golfing, though. He played on what was left of the UGA’s “Sauerkraut Tour,” as he calls it, and in the early 1970s, he tells me he became the Negro National Champion, winning a short-lived tournament in Michigan called the Black Masters.

“The first year they had it, I won it. It was $3,000 or $3,500. That was 1972 or ’73, one of those years. I have the big ol’ trophy at home.”

The Black Masters faded—in part due to issues over the name—but Jimmy kept going, playing tours in Florida and on the West Coast until eventually settling into a job as an assistant pro at Madden Golf Course in Dayton, Ohio, working with Pete Brown, who’s still the head pro there.

A move to Los Angeles came in 1995 on the advice of the woman who, soon after Jimmy arrived, became his wife.

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James Walker, Jr., teaches at Rancho Park GC in Los Angeles

“We didn’t plan nothing. We were going to Vegas, and said ‘We oughta get married.’”

Inducted into both the African American Golfers’ Hall of Fame and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, Jimmy returned to the site of his first professional tournament, Rancho Park Golf Club, and was hired as a teaching professional. He’s still there, in the first stall at the end of the range, teaching almost every day. “I love it,” he says.

The man who never had a lesson, who, like so many early African American golfers, figured it out for himself without practice facilities, coaches or professional support, has achieved something that today’s players who have all of the above still find challenging: He’s made a living in golf. He’s also played with the best of the best in the game’s most distinguished pro ranks, a million miles away from the tobacco fields and improvised parks of Rocky Mount.

“Everything was nice on the Tour. That’s the best life you can have, I think, is a guy playing on the Tour. I haven’t seen any better. If you can play on the tour and survive, it’s almost like going to Heaven.”

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Think big.

The US Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum®, November 9 — 13, 2011, has become a must-attend event for CEOs of high-growth companies.

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Check out what some of the world’s top business leaders have to say by going to www.ey.com/us/sgf or use the QR code.

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Palm Springs, My Way

The playground of Hollywood’s elite for decades, Palm Springs still has that lucky old sun, and a whole lotta stardust

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It’s an inevitable truth of any party that if you keep at it long enough, the sun will eventually rise on the revelry.

Which, for a party, is the same thing as the sun setting, metaphorically speaking. In the case of Palm Springs, the sun started to creep over the horizon sometime in the late 1960s, but somehow it never really rose all the way, and so the party hung on, long past the point where a graceful exit was possible.

In the last ten years, the party has started to heat up again, but nothing like it was in its heyday. Those days were gone the moment discretion became unfashionable.

Playground and hideaway for Hollywood’s Golden Age royalty in the best of times, Yesteryear’s celebrities didn’t sleep where they ate, so to speak. The work was in LA; Palm Springs was where it all got real, and when the drinks were flowing who knew what could happen? The desert was where playful stars lived by Elizabeth Taylor’s maxim that “The key to having a private life is to keep some things private.” They wanted their fun in the sun, but out of the spotlight—unlike today’s hot young things, who have no desire to hide their vices away in some desert oasis. Ironically enough, the stars of today have nothing on the parties of yesteryear. Guys like Kirk Douglas, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn and, of course, Frank Sinatra defined trouble in tuxedos long before rock ’n’ roll, drugs and blue jeans took over.

It was Sinatra, most of all, who found his place in the desert. And today, while you’re unlikely to see the latest top-of-the-charts singers entertaining current celebs in a local club on a Friday night (it’s more likely the same crowd as 40 years ago), you can still find a bit of his magic around town.

Frank is no longer with us, but many of yesterday’s stars still call the area home, still dress the part, still take their martinis up and still have no time for suckers or squares. You’re welcome to join them, but you’re not going to impress anyone. These people were there when Frank, Dino and Sammy were playing The Sands in that better-known oasis to the north, and when Marilyn Monroe was melting hearts at the bar. You’re late to the party, and they are many, many drinks ahead of you. So if you want to see what’s left of Rat Pack Palm Springs, let’s get to it…

Sinatra spent many hours by his piano-shaped pool at Twin Palms

You’ll come in from the west if you’re coming from LA, and it’s a fun drive—just look out for the odd cop or two sweating it out on the left closer to town. When the walls of Chino Canyon and the aerial tram station come into view, you’ll know you’re there. This is the way Frank would’ve come into town, and all the others before him. Palm Springs was happening since the late ’30s, when the film people from Los Angeles figured out that the area made a great Shangri La (1937’s Event Horizon), Sahara Desert (Sahara, 1943), Mexico (many films), Persian battleground (1953’s Veils of Bagdad) and so on. Later they even decided it made a great Palm Springs, as celebrated in 1963’s rompy Palm Springs Weekend, a lot of which was filmed at the Riviera Palm Springs resort, where Elvis Presley used to stay and record with his band before heading out on tour.

Shelter The Riviera should definitely be on your short list of places to hole up (psriviera.com), and finding a place to stay should be your first order of business. It doesn’t pay to hang around in the sun too long, and the better local hotels will keep you covered with those two desert staples: a cold pool and a good bar. The Riviera has both, and just finished a major renovation that was kind to businessman Irwin Schuman’s Desert Modern resort but which still managed to result in enough modern flair to satisfy the current jet set. You’ll get into a room here for something like $150 a night mid-week, closer to $350 for high season weekends, and quite a bit more than that for the room Sinatra liked: the Presidential Suite. The pool is right out of a photo shoot and the Starlite Lounge and Bikini Bar both do the job when it comes to libations. There’s a restaurant as well, so you won’t starve.

Another good option is the Viceroy Palm Springs (viceroypalmsprings.com). The four-acre property opened in 1933 as a bungalow hotel, a kind that was common at the time. Young Angelenos have been flocking here during Palm Springs’ rediscovery, and the place can attract a rather frustrating crowd of people who talk loudly about their supposed agents and upcoming film deals. But if you manage to snag a room or bungalow in the “old sections,” namely the courtyards to the left or right of the main building, it’s heavenly. Here it’s all about old-school lazy days, gazing up at the palms and relaxing poolside with a drink. The on-site spa isn’t bad either, and the Citron restaurant is one of the best in town. John or Buddy will take care of you at the bar, while manager Don will see to your every need. Highly recommended at near $200 per night, which can include a “Breathe Easy” package rate that gets you 25% off everything—and yes, that means steaks and martinis as well.

twin PalmS True Sinatra fans will eschew the hotels in favor of Twin Palms, Frank Sinatra’s first estate in Palm Springs (sinatrahouse.com). The place was built in 1947 at 1148 E Alejo Road by Mid-century Modern master E. Stewart Williams for Frank and his first wife, Nancy Barbato.

Sinatra actually ended up living here with second wife Ava Gardner, and now the four-bedroom, seven-bath gem is

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available to rent for $2,600 per night (with a three-night minimum). It should be said that Twin Palms (which, funnily enough, features two palm trees standing tall over the piano-shaped pool) isn’t just a house, it’s a part of history. Frank used to run a Jack Daniel’s flag up a pole at 5pm to let his neighbors in the Movie Colony neighborhood know they could come around for cocktails. The home hosted better parties than you’ve ever seen, and has a few personal touches that were left alone during renovations.

The most notable: A cracked sink in the bathroom, where Frank reportedly threw a champagne bottle in anger after a fight with Gardner. She’d attempted to catch him in bed with Lana Turner, he grew furious, threw all of her belongings into the driveway then hurled the bottle into the sink, where the crack remains. That’s the story, anyway.

mobster Sam Giancana was a regular sight as well. The Chi Chi Club is also where Sinatra reportedly started his affair with Gardner. As the story has it, he was dancing with Lana Turner at the time, and Gardner was dancing with Howard Hughes. The bandleader shouted, “Change partners!” and there you go.

The hub for top entertainment in the west for decades, the Chi Chi Club was torn down in 1977. Today in its place there’s a largely vacant shopping center called the Desert Fashion Plaza, which is currently slated for redevelopment. The club fell to Palm Springs’ fading fortunes in the 1970s and ’80s, and it wasn’t alone. But fans of the swingin’ set should take heart: Evidence of old-school Palm Springs endures:

MELVYN’S CHI CHI CLUB There are a lot of stories, and some are even true. One of our favorites has to do with a club that, sadly, is no longer around, and a recording that practically defined a performer.

The record is called Eartha Kitt, In Person At The Plaza, and though it likely did the most to capture the sizzle of her live shows, the title is all wrong. RCA, which released the album in 1961, was concerned that fans wouldn’t have heard of the actual venue where Kitt laid down such hits as C’est Si Bon and Champagne Taste in such startlingly sexy brilliance, and so they implied that it was recorded at the Plaza Hotel in New York, a celebrated venue at the time. The actual stage was just too hip, too off the map for average Joes, even if it was wildly popular with the “in crowd.” Anyone who was anyone knew the Chi Chi Club in Palm Springs. Another Irwin Schuman property, this hep spot was only one of many places in the desert where Sinatra, Monroe and other larger-than-life stars used to ring-a-ding-ding it till the wee hours. Desi Arnaz performed here with wife Lucille Ball in the audience.

Sammy Davis, Jr., had a show here, as did Mae West, Milton Berle, Carmen Miranda, Mel Tormé, the Andrews Sisters and a huge cast of others. Dean Martin, Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn dined here; Liberace—a startup in the club’s early days—was paid $1,500 a week to play here.

Cary Grant liked dropping in to see the entertainment and

Inglesideinn.com/melvyns_restaurant We’re not sure if Melvyn’s Restaurant and Casablanca Lounge is a living museum of the best time you never had or a monument to party-goers everywhere, but we do know that it’s a singular experience and one not to be missed.

The restaurant sits on the grounds of the historic Ingleside Inn (which hosted Salvador Dali, Howard Hughes, Spencer Tracy and others) and, though it “only” dates to 1975, manages to preserve a slice of “cocktail hour” Palm Springs not readily visible in quite such an old-school form. The food in the dining room is well reviewed, but the real action is in the Casablanca Lounge piano bar. You’ll see dinner jackets, furs and diamonds, some seriously heavy makeup and crazy suits. You’ll also see the odd celebrity from back in the day, and perhaps a young hipster checking things out. Word to the wise: The Gimlets are lethal.

LORD FLETCHER’S INN Lordfletcher.com Another desert peculiarity, this self-styled “Olde England” country-style restaurant serves up Prime Rib and Rack of Lamb, along with heavy wines and European castle-like décor. It’s actually in Rancho Mirage, just up the street from Palm Springs, so why do we care? Because Frank liked it.

He especially liked the table by the fireplace, over which an oil painting of Ol’ Blue Eyes now hangs.

RICO’S BARBER & STYLING 333 S Indian Canyon Dr. 760.322.2541 Rico doesn’t have a website, because he doesn’t need one.

This guy used to cut hair for Sinatra, Dean Martin and the rest, and for something like $18 he’ll cut yours as well. Just don’t ask him to sing.

WOLFSON PARK Sinatra’s second Palm Springs-area home—which he shared with his wife of 22 years, Barbara—was a proper compound in Rancho Mirage, with several guesthouses named after his hits, a barbershop, sauna and other amenities. In 1962 he built a helipad and installed a couple of dozen telephone lines in expectation of a visit from President John Kennedy, but the Commander-in-Chief

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Dean Martin (above, with Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx) sees the funny side as Bob Hope mimics an intravenous martini drip into Frank Sinatra (left)

didn’t like the rumors of Sinatra’s mob associations and so he chose to stay down the street with Bing Crosby instead.

Sinatra was reportedly enraged, and supposedly smashed up the helipad with a hammer before turning it into a garden. The house sits behind a huge wall and isn’t visible, but just down the street, on Frank Sinatra Drive, there’s the charming Wolfson Park, which Frank is supposed to have liked. It’s a bit of an oddity in that it features a machine with a button on it that, when pressed, emits a welcome message from Sinatra himself.

There’s also one from Dinah Shore (she also lived nearby). The message offers, “Hi, this is Frank Sinatra.

The city of Rancho Mirage, an oasis in the desert and the playground of presidents, welcomes you to Michael S. Wolfson Park.”

If you persist it mentions something about bighorn sheep in the vicinity.

GOLF Sinatra and his pals loved golf, and whenever they were in the Palm Springs area they would make sure to get out on the course. The Thunderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage was popular, and it’s still around (thunderbirdcountryclub.com). The site of the original Bob Hope Classic (now the Humana Challenge Golf Tournament; see sidebar on page 46), the Thunderbird is one of the oldest courses in the Coachella Valley, and it’s a gem. Likewise, the Arnold Palmer-designed Classic Club in Palm Desert was also the site of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and, true to its name, provides a beautiful, old-school experience (classicclubgolf.com). Lastly, the Canyon Country Club (760.327.1321) was one of Frank’s favorite places to play (though it’s said that Dean Martin was the only member of the Rat Pack who really enjoyed golf). The course opened in 1962 and is a Mid-century standard designed by William Bell.

DESERT MEMORIAL PARK Located in Cathedral City, this is where the party in Palm Springs ended for Mr. Sinatra. He was laid to rest on May 20, 1998, in section B-8 of the park, near family and friends.

His memorial is visible, and features the inscription: “The Best is Yet To Come.”

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HUMANA CHALLENGE The man who once said, “Golf is my profession, show business is just to pay the green fees,” gave his name to one of the most enjoyable tournaments on the PGA Tour.

From 1965 to 2011, some version of the Bob Hope Classic entertained golf fans with great play from top pros and the day’s biggest celebrities, including Hope himself.

The tournament’s profile had waned somewhat in recent years, but that’s set to shift with an invigorating series of changes from the new title sponsor, Humana Health Insurance. Renamed the Humana Challenge, the new tourney will be one of the most modern on Tour in both format and mission—but it’s not forgetting its past.

“We’re very mindful of the Hope legacy,” said Tom Noland, Senior Vice-President of corporate communications at Humana. “We’re absolutely going to preserve the tradition.”

In addition to the new name, changes include a new trophy, a new format and—for the first time on the PGA Tour—a tournament theme.

“A themed tournament is a departure for the PGA Tour,” Noland told Kingdom recently. “We’re still going to help charity, as the Bob Hope Classic did, but this is themed around health and well-being.”

Noland said the theme will extend to all levels of the Humana Challenge and involve players, staff and spectators. Everyone will be “challenged” to interact with Humana and its partners during a weeklong celebration of golf, healthy lifestyle options and fitness-oriented activities.

In addition to being warmly received by the host organization, Desert Classic Charities (DCC), the theme is getting a big boost from President Bill Clinton and the William J. Clinton Foundation. Clinton has partnered with Humana and with DCC to promote and support the Humana Challenge, and he’ll be giving the keynote speech at the tournament.

Noland said some specifics are still being finalized, but offered a few examples of some of the health and fitness options that will be present at the Humana Challenge.

For example, pedometers will be distributed so fans can chart the distance they walk around the tournament; there will be vendors that specialize in low-calorie and healthy foods; and there will be voluntary biometric screening opportunities, just to name a few.

Additionally, the Humana Challenge brings a new format. Where the Bob Hope Classic was played over five days on four courses in rotation, the Humana Challenge will utilize three courses over four days: PGA WEST Palmer Private, La Quinta Country Club and PGA WEST Nicklaus Private will all be retained, while the formerly included SilverRock Resort course will not. Updated in all ways, the Humana Challenge will be a four-day tournament with the first three rounds played in a new pro-am format. The pro-am teams will consist of one professional and one amateur playing in groups of four (as opposed to one pro and three amateurs that was previously the format). On each day of the three-round pro-am, the pro will have a different amateur partner. The amateurs will be competing in daily competitions as well as in an overall three-day competition.

The final round will be for the pros only with a normal

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Davis Love III, a Team Humana golfer and the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, will keep a close eye on events in the desert

70+ties cut. With 144 amateurs and 144 pros (16 more than before), it is sure to be a fantastic event. Lastly, to go along with its new name and format, there’s a new trophy as well: Fittingly, it will be called the Bob Hope Trophy.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? While fans may bemoan the name change from Bob Hope Classic to Humana Challenge, it isn’t the tournament’s first. In fact, the tourney has its origins in the Thunderbird Invitational, which was held in Palm Springs from 1954 to 1959. It was properly founded as the Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic in 1960 and won by Mr. Arnold Palmer, who came in at 20-under after five days—a score that wouldn’t be matched for a decade (and Palmer won four more before he was through).

There was a name change the following year, when “Desert” was dropped, making it simply the Palm Springs Golf Classic. Bob Hope added his moniker in 1965, and brought “Desert” back with him. From that year until 1983 fans enjoyed watching the Bob Hope Desert Classic, but in 1984 “Desert” once again fell out of favor and we were back to “Bob Hope Classic.”

Two years later a new sponsor rolled in and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was born. It was a good long road with Chrysler, but they rolled right back out again in 2009, and it was the Bob Hope Classic once again. This year, Humana arrived with a fresh burst of energy and a positive mission of health and well being, challenging us all to live better lives with the Humana Challenge. The tournament’s public area will still be known as “Bob Hope Square,” and the new trophy is the Bob Hope Trophy, so the storied past will remain readily at hand. Otherwise, welcome to the Humana Challenge. We like it.

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PHOTO BY CHRIS MILLER

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Hogan’s alley Every morning, the same light that falls on the Pacific Ocean fills the lobby of the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. The clean, gold glow hits the statue of Ben Hogan overlooking the 18th green and washes over the Clubhouse. Uninformed critics of LA might point to the city’s obsession with trends, but longtime locals know it is places like Riviera that define the essence of the West Coast: Effortlessly impeccable and absolutely timeless

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Ben Hogan prepares to tee off from beside the Riviera clubhouse

Set upon the beautiful Pacific Palisades, the Riviera Country Club opened in 1927 with one of the most lauded golf courses in the world, and it’s been ranked among the Top 100 every year since. Not least among its distinctions are the winners—and one particular non-winner—who have made the course their own. Chief among the champs is Ben Hogan, who won here so many times that they called the course “Hogan’s Alley.” At the other end of the fairway, so to speak, is Tiger Woods, who’s never won at Riviera—a fact that just adds to the club’s lore.

When it opened, the Riviera Country Club set the bar for service and standards on the West Coast, subsequently attracting a membership that included Hollywood’s best and brightest, as it continues to do today. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were among the first to join, and it wasn’t long before names like Bogart and Disney were added to the list. Dean Martin partied here (both on and off the course), Harpo Marx kept them laughing in the lounge and young Elizabeth Taylor trained here to ride horses for her role in National Velvet. Today the illustrious memberships haven’t stopped, even if the scope has broadened a bit.

“Traditionally our members have always come from entertainment, both in film and music,” says Michael Yamaki, Riviera’s chief executive, and the man to talk to regarding membership. “But now we’re combining that with the financial world—and it’s no longer just an LA affair. We have members from the UK and mainland Europe, top business leaders from Japan, Korea and China, and top execs from South America and South Africa who fly in to play golf, entertain clients or just to get away.”

The Riviera clubhouse has 30 guest rooms for members, along with a great restaurant and bar. There’s the tremendous Riviera Tennis Club here as well, built in 1963 and designed by ATP co-founder Myron McNamara.

There are quite a few amenities at Riviera, but the tradition of excellence begins, without question, on the golf course.

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The Course When George C. Thomas arrived to build the Riviera Country Club’s golf course in 1926, he had his work cut out for him. The land, it has to be said, required extensive restructuring. If there was an advantage to the property’s challenges, it’s that it inspired the best from Thomas, who arguably produced his finest work here. The current owners have gone to great lengths to improve and restore much of the course, meaning it’s playing better now than it has in decades. Tighter controls on the invitation-only membership numbers and improved course maintenance have it in amazing shape, and that can only please the privileged few who golf here.

Host to the PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open (historically called the LA Open), the course has a great history. Babe Zaharias become the first woman to play in a PGA event (1938) there and it hosted the first U.S. Open west of the Rockies in 1948. It was also the stage of one of Byron Nelson’s last tournament victories, at the 1946 LA Open. Riviera is where Jack Nicklaus earned his first professional paycheck (for $33.33, in the 1962 LA Open), where Tiger Woods made his PGA Tour debut in 1992 (as an amateur), and where Ben Hogan recorded three victories in 16 months (the 1947 and 1948 LA Opens and the 1948 U.S. Open), making Hogan’s Alley his own. During construction, Dr. Alister MacKenzie dropped by and was reported to have exclaimed that Thomas’ design was “as nearly perfect as man could make it.” We agree. Among its challenges:

No.1 (above) A tremendous opening hole, with a tee that sits 70 feet above a belt-tightening fairway. The “boomerang” green curves around a bunker, making pin location a critical part of drive strategy. Birdie is possible, but double-bogeys are as likely as Fred Couples and Tommy Armour have found.

No.4 Hogan liked this hole, telling the LA Times that it was “the greatest par-3 in America.” The first Redan hole built west of the Mississippi, it often plays into the ocean breeze and requires serious flight control and bunker awareness.

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No. 6 Aside from a bit of length (199 yards), this par-3 seems to offer little challenge—except for one thing: There’s a bunker in the middle of the green. It’s a George Thomas original, and it’s been a point of controversy since the course opened. If the pin is back-left, the challenge is even more pronounced, and should you be facing birdie on the far side of the sand, a chip shot seems mighty tempting— but it’s not advisable. Better to do like Craig Stadler, who avoided the issue completely in 1996 by making his first PGA Tour-sanctioned ace here.

No.8 Two fairways offer two distinct strategies: Trust precision down the narrow and boldly contoured left for an easy second shot if you land happy, or go for the fences on the right with a long follower across hazards.

No.10 The excellent website on course architecture, golfclubatlas. com, offers that this hole may be “the pinnacle of golf course architecture.” Padraig Harrington agrees, posting on his online diary that “There are a number of great holes on this course, but my personal favourite is the tenth hole…

I would put this hole down as one of the best holes we play all year; any course I design will have a similar type of hole on it.” Short for a par-4 (315 yards), it’s tempting to go for the green. But the majority of those who try miss, and the price they pay can be substantial—especially if they miss right. With a narrow putting surface that tilts and slopes away, it’s a difficult landing in any case. As an exercise in strategy and execution, this is one of the best anywhere.

No.18 Just as No.1 plays down the property, so No.18 returns back up the hill to the Clubhouse. The tee shot at this par-4 is a semi-blind rise up a steep 60-foot-tall embankment to the fairway. The nestled green is a fine place to finish, as Steve Elkington would surely agree. His 25-foot putt in a two-way playoff against Colin Montgomerie earned him the 1995 PGA Championship Elkington’s first and, to date, only Major.

Overall The cheerful greeting at the secure front gate, the professionally courteous reminder by a doorman to ensure that all shirts are tucked in, and the astute table service in the club’s main dining room aren’t throwbacks, they’re business as usual at the Riviera Country Club. Likewise, the décor, appointments and overall feel of the place are definitively “now” without seeming forced. The clubhouse halls are lined with an incredible array of art and photographs that tell Riviera’s story: stills of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy during the filming of Pat & Mike; faces of victory (and defeat) over decades of competition at the Northern Trust Open; and a wide array of shots of celebs and top golfers visiting over the years. But the Riviera Country Club is no museum. All of the photos, trophies and paintings actively engage the club’s present, rather than just documenting its past—and that’s because the Riviera Country Club is as happening as it always has been. The very essence of the West Coast, the Riviera is where the city’s—and the world’s—best want to be.

For more information on the Riviera Country Club, please visit therivieracountryclub.com.

The short par-4 10th hole at Riviera is a tough, strategic challenge that has been described as “the pinnacle of golf course architecture.”

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Rolls-Royce Like nothing else on earth A unique presence in every form. Effortless acceleration with power in reserve. Space to experience inner calm.

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com Telephone: 1-866-307-0769 Š Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2011. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

Visiting this high-rise monument to Mammon in August was a unique experience for Paul Trow Trow.. The planet Mars could hardly have been less familiar, though it apparently doesn’t suffer from the same degree of water shortage

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the Jersey Boys provide the rock-music history lesson. Then There can be few places on this earth where it’s easier to be there’s Donnie and Marie. For children of the 70s, what joy! led astray than Las Vegas; even fewer that churn out fun on But how Dean Martin must turn in his grave at the thought such an industrial scale. The atmosphere here is exhausting, of these age-defying, teetotal, early-to-bed Osmonds! thirsty and frenetic, just as it was when the Rat Pack and In truth, though, my heart warmed most when it fellow travelers strutted their stuff back at the Dawn of Time. ventured outdoors, and not just because of the absence of For some revelers, the countless shows, restaurants, bars and nightclubs on tap simply do not emit enough high- air conditioning. On the pavements of Las Vegas Boulevard (known universally as the Strip), the world is even more octane stimulation. Indeed, many transients are reluctant gloriously fake than it is indoors. Paradoxically, it’s also as to snatch even a solitary hour’s sleep during their all-night authentic as it gets, because this is where the soul of this tours of the slot machines and roulette tables that stretch weird and wonderful location can best be identified. relentlessly across the casino floors. For those actually The pancake on the face of the dame in the brilliant, awake during daylight hours, and keen to sniff some fresh billowing white mini-dress surely predates Norma-Jean air—maybe to golf, shop, swim or simply stroll around, Baker’s birthdate—June 1, as one does at a normal 1926. That juggler with a destination—Phil Spector’s monkey on his shoulder has Wall of Sound has nothing on never learned that you win Vegas’s most filling specter, nothing with a monkey on its ubiquitous Wall of Heat. your shoulder. And as for As chance would have it, those Elvis lookalikes, with this is the hottest week of their bouffanted quiffs and the year: Think 110 degrees cheap shades—why, they Fahrenheit by midday, and all look like Roy Orbison! rising. Humidity is not an No question, issue: Less than 10 percent, Orbison’s anthem Pretty apparently. However, water, Woman could have been or rather water shortage, written with Las Vegas in definitely is an issue, one mind (possibly was). There that city fathers are are so many of them (pretty constantly addressing women) here—flimsily I can cope for about attired, naturally—that a 10 minutes (the time it takes middle-aged man’s heart to walk from my hotel, the skips numerous beats Palazzo, to the one over trying to keep up, before the road, the Wynn), then going irregular.

I’m gasping. The hung-over So what on earth was bachelor and bachelorette a glutton for temptation parties are having none of like me doing in this it as long as that quenchless emporium of excess? The furnace otherwise known primary reason was the as the sun hovers above 27th PGA Expo, an oasis sea level. They’re more than of creativity closeted from happy to confine themselves the sweltering intensity of to their coops—whilst The Grand Canyon is an hour’s helicopter ride east of Las Vegas the Nevada desert in the taking on plenty of fluids, ballroom of the Venetian, of course—before coming one of the cluster of iconic out to renew their partying hotels strewn around the at dusk. core of the Strip like a It thus goes without latter-day Stonehenge. No saying that when the Devil is druids were in attendance, just 200 or so golf industry really cooking, when he’s charging up his after-burners out companies and around a thousand buyers, retailers and here on this most diabolical of man-made anvils, America’s PGA pros. But, in contrast to the heat outside, the emphasis self-styled Sin City is predominantly a night-time experience. was on coolness of style and looking good, befitting the It’s also the ultimate kiddies’ store of light entertainment. show’s status as part of Las Vegas Fashion Week.

The warblers-in-residence are Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Leading the way at this annual showcase of golf’s Barry Manilow and Matt Goss, with Elton John as a morelatest products and trends was the new Arnie collection, than-able back-up. David Copperfield keeps working his launched in conjunction with Quagmire Golf, which we magic; the visual delights come courtesy of Cirque de Soleil, showcase on pages 126-129. Once again, Mr. Palmer is Blue Man Group and the Chippendales; the gags click over at cutting edge. So, as ever, is this extraordinary city… machine-gun pace from Ray Romano and David Spade; and

Those Elvis lookalikes, with bouffanted quiffs and cheap shades, looked like Roy Orbison

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Las Vegas, originally home to a colony of Paiute Indians, was established as a railroad town on the pioneer trail to the west coast during the late 19th century and became an incorporated city in 1911. But it wasn’t until the completion of the Hoover Dam in 1935, and the concomitant creation of Lake Mead (the largest man-made reservoir in the United States), some 30 miles southeast of the city, that it really grew—both in terms of residents and visitors.

Nowadays, the helicopter rides from McCarran Airport (just off the Strip) to the Grand Canyon, provided by the likes of Maverick (flymaverick.com), pass respectfully over these masterful constructions before landing on one of the numerous flattened ledges of scrubland to be found a hundred feet or so above the Colorado River. Here, the summer temperatures can push 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but Maverick kindly provide a pleasing mixture of Champagne and mineral water upon landing to lubricate and hydrate what might otherwise be an uncomfortably dry experience.

The legalization of gambling in 1931 led to the advent of the casino hotels. Organized crime figures like ‘Bugsy’ Siegel and Meyer Lansky were involved in the management and funding of many of the original casinos, but it was the Rat Pack that really put Las Vegas on the map.

The sign above the Sands Hotel—demolished in 1996 to make way for the Venetian—read ‘Dean Martin, maybe Frank, maybe Sammy.’ Rooms in town were at a premium when the Rat Pack appeared, so visitors often slept in hotel lobbies or cars to get a chance to see the three stars together.

Their act (always in tuxedos) consisted of individual numbers, duets, trios and improvised chatter. Their jokes revolved around adult themes—Frank Sinatra’s infamous womanizing, Martin’s legendary drinking, and the race and religion of Sammy Davis Jr. (a self-proclaimed ‘one-eyed, black Jew’).

It was all good-natured male banter between three radically different entertainers who, famously, hung out together. Sinatra appeared at the Desert Inn (now home to the Wynn hotel and golf course) many times from 1951.

In 1954, Sinatra obtained his own Nevada gaming license and bought a 2 percent interest in the Sands Hotel. In January 1974, Sinatra returned to Las Vegas, performing at Caesar’s Palace. He’d vowed in 1970 never to play there again after the resort manager, Sanford Waterman, pulled a gun on him during a heated argument. However, he did return once Waterman was out of the picture, having been arrested on racketeering charges. His loyalty to Vegas was rewarded in 1979 when he celebrated 40 years in show business, and his 64th birthday, at Caesar’s Palace.

In the 1950s, Davis headlined at the Frontier Hotel & Casino (demolished four years ago and still awaiting reconstruction as the Las Vegas Plaza), but he was required to lodge at a rooming house instead of the hotels where his white colleagues stayed. No dressing rooms were provided for black performers either, and they had to wait outside by the swimming pool between acts. Needless to say, Davis’s Rat Pack pals ensured this practice was curtailed.

For three decades, Martin was among the most popular acts in Las Vegas. Not only did he sing, he was one of the most engaging comics in the business following years of association with Jerry Lewis. Despite his hard-drinking

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image, his second wife Jeanne insisted around the time of the couple’s divorce that “he was home every night for dinner.” Perhaps she wasn’t home that much in the evening herself because it sure seemed Martin was out a lot. But the ‘Rat Pack’ jaunt around Las Vegas half a century ago wasn’t all about Sinatra, Martin and Davis. Not by a long chalk.

Step forward Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, the other two ‘official’ ‘Packers.’ Bishop was a long-faced comedian who largely eschewed his consorts’ immoderate habits while Lawford was a bit-part actor with an aristocratic British background and marital links with the Kennedy clan.

Ocean’s Eleven (1960) was the five collaborators’ most famous production with Angie Dickinson, Cesar Romero, Richard Conte, Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton and George Raft also aboard. The plot revolves around a gang of World War II veterans recruited by Danny Ocean (Sinatra) and Jimmy Foster (Lawford) to rob five different Las Vegas casinos (Sahara [now closed], Riviera [bankrupt], Desert Inn [now Wynn], Sands [now Venetian] and Flamingo [still flying high]) for a New Year’s Eve heist conducted with military precision. Another link with this issue of Kingdom is George Clooney’s remake, 40 years later, in which Andy Garcia (see pages 74-80) plays the role of the duped casino manager.

There aren’t many places that try to be all things to all people, but this city gives it a better shot than most The Rat Packers outside the Sands and (above) on the Ocean’s Eleven set

So, where to dine, where to stay and what else to do in this beguiling, dollar-sapping metropolis?

The Eiffel Tower above Paris hotel only goes halfway up, while Broadway, in New York, New York, is a lot cleaner than the street it’s named for. There’s no pharaoh buried in Luxor, nor a Long John Silver hobbling around Treasure Island, but the gondolas in the shopping mall at the Venetian are real enough. I stayed for three nights each in the Palazzo and (further down the Strip) Planet Hollywood. My room at the Palazzo was pure class—every conceivable sybaritic comfort was on offer. At Planet Hollywood, it was even better, and the view of the Strip from 34 floors up was sensational.

Everyone’s heard of MGM Grand with its offering of more bedrooms—30,000-plus at the last count—than any other hotel in the world. Everyone’s also heard of Caesar’s Palace, one of the few old stagers not yet demolished for a sprightlier version; also the Bellagio, with its fountain out front; the Mirage, with its hologram volcano; and the Wynn, where the motto runs, “Michelangelo took four years to complete the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Your room took five.”

There are about 50 luxury hotels in Las Vegas, including a handful downtown where some of the limelight will be deflected from the Strip early in 2012 with the opening of a Mob Museum and a new city hall. Of course, each hotel is a self-contained town in its own right, complete with shops, restaurants, bars, casinos and theaters.

If you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting a hotel, then picking a restaurant each evening is a conundrum even Rubik would fail to cube. Wolfgang Puck, the celebrated Austrian chef, wouldn’t have a clue either, as he’s given his name to no fewer than six establishments along the Strip.

Mario Batali, who like Puck has a restaurant in the ‘miniStrip’ that links the Palazzo and Venetian, is almost as visible.

Personal tastes aside, it should be noted that the only Michelin 3-starred restaurant in Vegas is Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand.

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Proclaimed “chef of the century” more than two decades ago by Gault Millau in his native France, it doesn’t get any better than this. Kingdom editor Reade Tilley once wrote of Robuchon’s eatery: “Sure, dinner will set you back about $1,000 for two with modest wines and a tip, but this is one of the world’s greatest—maybe the greatest—dining experiences.” Alain Ducasse’s Mix restaurant at THEhotel of Mandalay Bay, Guy Savoy at Caesar’s Palace, Twist by Pierre Gagniare at the Mandarin Oriental, and Nobu in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino are also high on the well-heeled visitor’s list of dinner desires. For tourists working to a budget, though, it needn’t be this way as most of the 300-plus restaurants scattered around the Strip are priced pretty competitively.

A quieter vacation can be enjoyed a few miles southeast at Lake Las Vegas. This ambitious development was once schemed to accommodate five 5-star hotels, five golf courses and more than 9,000 residential properties, but to date only 1,700 properties have been sold. Only one golf course and two hotels—the Ravella, which opened in February, and the Loews—are open. Despite this sluggishness, the shopping experience in the MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas— where cobblestone promenades and piazzas are lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants—is highly recommended.

One thing certain about ‘Lost Wages’ is you’ll leave with less money in your pocket than when you arrived.

Still, there aren’t many places that try to be all things to all people, but to its credit this city, a $37bn contributor to the annual U.S. economy, gives it a better shot than most.

The Eiffel Tower in Vegas is half the height of the one in Paris

The Palazzo, sister hotel of the Venetian, opened just under four years ago and cuts a spectacular dash on the Las Vegas skyline

Then there’s golf… half a dozen courses within a mile or so of the Strip, and 50 more in the overall vicinity.

Nearest to the Strip is the Wynn Golf and Country Club, a reworking by Tom Fazio of the old Desert Inn course that opened for play back in 1953, the days when the Rat Pack claimed preferential tee times. The old version had holes that trekked east to west, or vice versa. With the glaring sun a huge issue for most visitors, Fazio re-routed the layout so it now plays largely north-to-south. Over the road from the airport is Bali Hai—a club for which the word ‘oasis’ could have been coined. Forget the bustle of the casino floors, this tropical paradise evokes the tranquility and beauty of a South Pacific resort.

A mile or so west of the Strip are Las Vegas National Golf Club and Las Vegas Country Club. On the former’s website, the emphasis is on fun. “Whether you top it off the tee, yank it left, hit it right, or stripe it down the middle, you are playing on grass,” it declares. “The only rocks to contend with at Las Vegas National are in the clubhouse bar, in a cocktail glass.” The latter, once a regular stop on both the PGA and LPGA Tours, underwent a facelift a couple of years ago and is definitely a ‘must play’ on any visiting golfer’s schedule.

With a civilian population of around 600,000 and growing, Las Vegas has several quality clubs on its outskirts. These include TPC Summerlin, home to the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA Tour; Las Vegas Paiute Resort, 54 holes of Pete Dye brilliance; the Golf Club at South Shore, a Jack Nicklaus design alongside Lake Las Vegas; Rio Secco and Cascata, two Rees Jones gems; and Boulder Creek, a 27-hole layout set amongst the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains.

Students of golf history should enjoy Royal Links Golf Club, to the east of town, which pays tribute to 11 [British] Open courses. This links-style construction faithfully recreates legends like the (Road Hole) 17th on the Old Course at St. Andrews and the (Postage Stamp) 8th at Royal Troon.

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The only rocks to contend with at Las Vegas National Golf Club are in the clubhouse bar, in a cocktail glass Angel Park Golf Club, near TPC Summerlin, has two Palmer-designed championship courses (Palm and Mountain), and a few miles further west is another Palmer creation—Arroyo Golf Club at Red Rock—that debuted in 2003 and has been drawing rave reviews ever since.

An hour north of Las Vegas is The Chase at Coyote Springs, a Nicklaus signature design that’s well worth the drive. Brilliant bunkering, deep-blue ponds, rolling fairways and true-rolling greens will test players at every turn.

About 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas lies The Oasis Golf Club in the town of Mesquite where Mr. Palmer designed one of the two 18-hole courses on offer, a layout that he includes in his personal top-10 of favorite designs.

For more, see LasVegasGolf.com Angel Park, only a short distance from the Strip, is home to two Palmer layouts

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By the time golfers reach the 3rd hole on a golf course, they should, in theory, have loosened up sufficiently to be swinging properly and, hopefully, thinking clearly. The card might already be a writeoff, but in truth more than 90 percent of players are still afloat and gradually settling into the challenge they are facing. Usually, designers are looking to provide either a birdie opportunity at the 3rd or a wake-up call after creating a false sense of security. In the fifth of our fantasy 18-hole layouts, Kingdom salutes some of the world’s most memorable No.3s

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HOLE NO.1

HOLE NO.2

Known as Flowering Peach after a deciduous tree that blooms in time for the Masters, this short par-4 appears to offer the gentlest of starts. But its appearance is dangerously deceptive. Apart from the biggest hitters who might chance their arm by taking driver, most players will opt for position short of the fairway bunker complex (built in 1982) that famously put paid to Jeff Maggert’s challenge in 2003. A smooth wedge should follow, but designer Alister Mackenzie warned: “The left side of the green is very narrow, whereas the right side is broad. It’s easy for anyone to reach the wide portion of the green with their second shot but difficult to reach the narrow end where the pin will usually be placed.” This shallow green also has a raised front to devour shots hit with too much backspin and a run-off behind for which the words ‘short-sided’ could have been coined.

The Church Pews bunker occupies two acres of real estate down the left side of the fairway (it poses a similar threat on the adjoining 4th). For many golfers this is a place of worship, though Mr. Palmer might have dissented just after the photograph of him playing from the Church Pews during his final U.S. Open appearance in 1994 was taken. The Church Pews is made up of 12 grass-covered ridges filled with sand in between, and often a sideways or backward chip is the only means of escape. A line of five traps down the right make this one of golf’s hardest driving holes, though a straight blow usually sets up a short iron to an elevated green sloping slightly away but fairly flat by Oakmont standards. However, a cluster of bunkers in front of the green—three right and two left—lie in wait for anything misdirected or mishit.

Par-4, 428 yards Oakmont CC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

Par-4, 350 yards Augusta National, Georgia

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HOLE NO.3

Par-3, 198 yards Torrey Pines Golf Course (South), La Jolla, California The South Course, a natural masterpiece with a little human design thrown in for good measure, is an early stop-off on the PGA Tour’s annual schedule. The view from this tee is among the most breathtaking in golf as this hole slopes sharply downhill toward a green that rests on a large cliff directly above the Pacific Ocean. The wind is a huge factor when it comes to playing this hole because even though it’s usually pretty brisk from off the ocean it tends to swirl unpredictably. Sometimes the best way to judge its direction is to watch the paragliders that invariably hover over the beach below—visually right above the green. The bunker intruding into the left front of the putting surface and the thick scrub beyond mean that the safe play is to aim at the right half of the green. Another error to guard against is hitting long and over the cliff-edge.

HOLE NO.4

Par-5, 516 yards Kingsbarns Golf Links, Fife, Scotland

This Kyle Phillips design just south of St. Andrews opened in 2000 and is perhaps the outstanding links of the modern era. Set on a beguiling stretch of coastal headland, Kingsbarns offers a view of the North Sea from all 18 holes.

On a calm day, this fast-draining, sandy-soiled masterpiece offers plenty of birdie opportunities. None more so than at this risk-reward par-5 that invariably tempts players into an aggressive approach. With the prevailing wind, a drive aimed to the left will feed down the slope onto a fairway that runs like a chute between the dunes and a similar line is needed for the second shot to reach a slightly raised green. But when the wind blows out to sea, the slightest cut will likely result in a visit to the beach. Otherwise, the biggest threat is the serpentine bunker that stretches almost 50 yards up toward the right front of the green.

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Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

HOLE NO.5

HOLE NO.6

The ideal tee shot on this straight but treacherous par-4, the longest hole on the front nine, should finish on the right side of the fairway, just left of the scrub and the out-of-bounds (a rail track) that lurk menacingly further right. With a ditch and a procession of bunkers flanking the left side of the fairway between 180 and 280 yards, many players at the 2012 [British] Open Championship will aim to fade a long iron or fairway wood off the tee with the prevailing easterly crosswind and then fire a mid-iron at the middle-front of a slightly raised, well-bunkered green that is better missed on the right than the left. The main objective for the second shot is to pull up short of the bunker that eats into the back left of the putting surface. However, the green, fairly flat in a hummock-sheltered bowl, also has a couple of right-hand bunkers that must be avoided.

This Arnold Palmer design in the rural heartland of Guangdong Province in southern China became the country’s first new golf course for more than half a century when it opened in 1984. The brainchild of the late Hong Kong tycoon Henry Fok, the rolling Palmer Course at Chung Shan Hot Springs meanders through groves of gum trees, ivy-covered hills and lily-padded ponds. Unlike most modern Chinese layouts (it has small greens and tree-lined fairways as opposed to oceans of sand and water), the course was built without the aid of a single piece of machinery—400,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved entirely by hand.

Hole No.3 is a classic dogleg-left par-4 where the green is hidden from the tee. Flat and slightly elevated, the green is guarded by a canal, a deep, front-left bunker and out-of-bounds to the left. The ideal line for both the drive and approach is to err slightly to the right.

Par-4, 477 yards Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Lancashire, England

Par-4, 405 yards Chung Shan Hot Springs (Palmer), Zhongshan City, China

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HOLE NO.7

HOLE NO.10

Mr. Palmer is especially proud of this semi-private facility that he laid out with Ed Seay for the city of Conyers back in 1995—so much so that it bears the hallmark of an Arnold Palmer Signature Course. This visually attractive, downhill par-3 has four sets of tees, ranging from 196 yards (black) to 110 yards (burgundy). The further back the tee is positioned, the higher the elevation from which the shot is played and the more engaging the view. From the back tee, a carry of at least 190 yards is required, largely due to the presence of a cavernous bunker that eats into the front and right half of the green. The usually slick putting surface slopes from front to back toward a pair of traps that sweep round behind. These have been carved out of the rock face and are backed by an eye-catching fieldstone wall that abuts the sand.

This Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten collaboration across 652 acres of glacial terrain 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee is already seen as one of America’s foremost golf properties despite only opening in 2006. Kelly Kraft won the 111th U.S. Amateur Championship here this summer and the U.S. Open comes calling in 2017. With no cart paths, this ‘walking only’ course is a celebration of ‘natural golf’. One shining example of this is the long par-4 3rd. From the left-hand tees, it’s a case of ‘carry what you dare’ over the corner of the tamarack wetlands by aiming at the bunker on the far right hillside. From the right-hand tees, it’s best to favor the right center of the fairway to avoid kicking down toward the traps on the left. The green has three distinct levels—low on the right, high front left and higher still back left. The safe approach is short or right.

Par-3, 196 yards Cherokee Run, Conyers, Georgia

HOLE NO.8

Par-4, 498 yards Erin Hills, Hartford, Wisconsin

Par-5, 560 yards Oceanico Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal

The Palmer-designed Oceanico Victoria course has matured considerably since it opened in 2005 and within a matter of weeks it found itself hosting the World Cup of Golf team event, albeit in distinctly inclement weather.

This long, tough par-5 requires a straight tee shot though a big tree guards the left side of the landing area. For the second shot, a group of three bunkers spreads across the fairway at around 450 yards so a decision has to be made whether to go for the carry or lay up with a view to playing a comfortable wedge, ideally from the left side, into an elevated green that is especially visible with the flag standing out and fluttering on the skyline. Long hitters can reach the green in two with a favorable breeze, but the second shot must be accurate as the entrance is narrow and surrounded by trouble, including more traps front left.

HOLE NO.9

Par-4, 466 yards Baltusrol (Lower), Springfield, New Jersey

There’s a reason Baltusrol has staged seven U.S. Opens (the first in 1903), eight other USGA events and the 2005 PGA Championship—and the clue is in the enduring course designs of A.W. Tillinghast. As with all great clubs, though, Baltusrol has made a point of moving with the times and several of its holes have been lengthened and tightened to accommodate modern equipment. In 2016, the PGA Championship will return to the Lower Course and the 3rd, a long, right-to-left dogleg, is again likely to pose one of its stiffer challenges even though it plays slightly downhill.

A long drive is required to a fairway that is relatively open despite being tree-lined, but more demanding is the approach to a green guarded by a creek in front, two deep bunkers to the right and another trap left. When it comes to putting, a spine through the green from front to back creates sharp breaks on both sides.

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HOLE NO.11

HOLE NO.12

After two tricky opening holes that require both length and precision, this sumptuous par-4, doglegging left at right-angles round the largest of the five lakes on Bay Hill’s main course, completes a challenging start to the round. It goes without saying that extreme care needs to be exercised with the tee shot, whether struck from the tips the Tour pros use during the Arnold Palmer Invitational or from further forward. Players who fail to take note of the breeze can easily fall foul of a crosswind that will force the ball further left than intended, toward the expanse of water that hugs the left side of the fairway. However, an extensive bunker eating into the right elbow of the dogleg awaits any drive that flies too far down the conservative line. The approach to the well-bunkered and relatively small green must carry over the rock wall that sits at the water’s edge.

Located just north of San Diego, this Palmer-designed coastal layout stretches beyond 7,000 yards and offers subtle glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. It is sculpted around rolling hillsides and native wildflowers as well as numerous water hazards, including cascading waterfalls and streams that are visual extensions of the Batiquitos Lagoon. Home to more than 130 species of shorebirds and waterfowl, Aviara took nearly a decade to develop before its opening in 1991 because of the need to preserve its environmentally sensitive wetlands. This delightful short hole is not usually a scorecard wrecker but it demonstrates why Aviara is considered one of America’s most scenic courses. With what is in effect an island green—two waterfalls, front left and back right, feed into lakes that fold round 75 percent of the putting surface—care must also be taken to avoid two back bunkers that catch anything hit long by players wary of falling short and drowning.

Par-3, 149 yards Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Carlsbad, California

Paul Hundley

Par-4, 434 yards Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida

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A Drive For Innovation.

High Performance— On And Off The Green.

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A. O. Smith Is Taking High Efficiency To New Heights.

When it comes to designing high efficiency water heaters, we always give it our best shot. From hybrid gas and electric water heaters to solar water heating systems, A. O. Smith has a high efficiency water heater to fit the needs of any lifestyle.

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HOLE NO.13

Par-4, 474 yards Royal County Down (Championship), Newcastle, Northern Ireland This beautiful links, stretching alongside Dundrum Bay with the Mountains of Mourne as a glorious backdrop, was first built by ‘Old’ Tom Morris in 1889 for the sum of four guineas ($7 at today’s exchange rates). Narrow ribbons of fairway, flanked by purple heather and golden gorse, thread their way through mighty sand dunes while the ‘bearded’ bunkers feature overhanging lips of marram, red fescue and heather, and the greens are fast and mainly domed. This spectacular par-4 overlooks the bay from an elevated tee.

Shorter hitters aim between two fairway bunkers, allowing for a bounce right, while longer hitters can fly the left-hand trap onto a plateau that delivers a superb line into a flat, slick green. The approach is awkward due to the knuckle guarding the front left of the putting surface, which throws underhit shots right and short, and a deep bunker, also front left, from which the only bail-out is pin-high right.

Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

HOLE NO.14

HOLE NO.15

Par-4, 390 yards Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, California

Par-5, 511 yards St. Andrews (New), Fife, Scotland

Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and unique challenge of Pebble Beach Golf Links have thrilled golfers and spectators alike.

Designed by enthusiastic amateurs Jack Neville and Douglas Grant for founding owner Samuel F.B. Morse, the course hugs the rugged coastline of Carmel Bay with its sweeping vistas, cliff-top fairways and sloping greens. In addition to being the venue for the annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, this iconic links will stage its sixth U.S. Open Championship in 2019. On the face of it, the 3rd hole represents an early birdie opportunity, though plenty can go wrong! A gentle draw round the corner of this right-to-left dogleg should find the heart of the fairway and leave a short pitch into a tightly-bunkered green. But those who play safe to the far right of the barranca in front of the tee will find themselves flirting with three diagonal bunkers just off the right side of the fairway.

Before a second course was built in St. Andrews in 1895, the first layout was known simply as the Links. But with its sibling’s arrival it was rebranded as the Old Course and the second, predictably, was named the New Course. This classic links, with undulating fairways and challenging greens, was initially designed by ‘Old’ Tom Morris, and to this day remains one of his finest achievements. Using modern equipment, the ‘long’ 3rd is often reachable in two shots by good players. The line off the tee is to aim for the right half of the fairway, making sure not to stray toward the line of three pot bunkers in the light rough. From the middle, the only real impediment in front of a wide double-green (shared with the 15th) is a large depression that deflects run-up shots to the left. The shallowness of the green, though, makes it hard to hold, even with a pitch.

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Hole No.16

Hole No.18

The venue for next year’s U.S. Open has no water hazards and instead owes its name to nearby Lake Merced. Even though the final four holes usually take their toll, the stretch between the 2nd and 5th, known as Earthquake Corner, is equally exacting. The terrain on this slightly downhill hole slopes away to the right while, confusingly, the green tilts in the opposite direction and uphill. Protected by bunkers right and left, not to mention a firmness that often causes an exaggerated bounce, the green can only be hit by a long-iron or hybrid, though holding it is no ‘given.’ Indeed, the penalty for overshooting the target and scurrying down the hill beyond is a short-sided second shot, and almost certain bogey. However, the apron in front of the green provides a lay-up option. In 1955, Jack Fleck holed a 20-foot putt from here during his shock playoff victory over Ben Hogan in Olympic’s first U.S. Open.

History abounds at this most traditional club that dates back to 1893 and boasts an 18-hole design that took Donald Ross nearly a decade (1908-17) to complete.

Essex County Club was also the home of sisters Harriot and Margaret Curtis, founders of the biennial ladies’ amateur team match between the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland that bears their name. When the 2010 Curtis Cup took place at Essex County Club, the players only had to tackle the massive 3rd from 556 yards rather than its full, unexpurgated length. But this rugged three-shotter’s difficulties aren’t confined to distance. Firstly, the drive must skirt a ‘transition area’ that contains sand, rocks and thick fauna; then, the second shot must avoid a stream to the left and a giant bunker up the right; finally, a strong approach is usually required to a ‘bathtub’ green protected by a deep hollow front left and a pot bunker back right.

Par-3, 223 yards The Olympic Club (Lake), San Francisco, California

Par-5, 625 yards Essex County Club, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Hole No.17

Par-4, 296 yards Kingston Heath, Victoria, Australia Well-connected visitors to the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne might have been lucky enough to play the other world-class, sandbelt course in the city’s southern suburbs. After moving to its current site in 1925, Kingston Heath benefited from Alister Mackenzie’s design input and this short par-4 is one of the good doctor’s signature holes. Five-time [British] Open champion Peter Thomson regrets in the club’s history that “holes of this length are not built any more” and describes the 3rd as a “gem.” A slight dogleg right, it can be driven with a power fade but any sacrifice of accuracy guarantees a dropped shot. Therefore, most tee shots are played with a long-iron or rescue club, followed by a pitch to a small, raised green surrounded by five bunkers to the right, two more to the left and a deep depression over the back. The green, often firm and fast, is difficult to hold from any of these hazards.

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Take your game on The road. When it’s time to get out and play, Nebraska is the place to do it. Throughout the state you’ll find hundreds of courses, including several national award winners, that deliver round after round of golfing enjoyment. So hit the road—and the greens—in Nebraska.

Visitnebraska.gov/golf

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There’s a school of Zen Buddhism in which students meditating in peace might suddenly be struck over the head by their teacher. The idea is that a violently abrupt awakening can shock one into enlightenment. As it turns out, the idea isn’t so crazy.

I picked up the 2012 Jaguar XKR on an otherwise uneventful Monday in Los Angeles. The sun was shining, the air was warm and my head was somewhere closer to the beach than to the job at hand, namely: reviewing the latest incarnation of Jaguar’s supercharged sports coupe.

Even the roar of the formidable engine coming to life didn’t help me focus. I was thinking of the coming week in the desert, trying to remember if I’d packed all my camera gear and considering if I needed anything else. In short, I was distracted. But how quickly my state of mind changed when I hit the accelerator.

Anyone who’s pushed himself on a cross-country trip has experienced the riveting horror of momentarily losing touch while driving and then suddenly “awakening” and snapping back to attention at speed. The experience of leaving the parking lot in the XKR was not dissimilar. I’ve had the privilege of driving some excellent automobiles for Kingdom magazine, so I’m no stranger to powerful cars, but I almost caught a wheel out of my parking space and only just got things under control by the edge of the lot. Like getting whacked over the head with a cane, the XKR’s acceleration and power shocked me awake—I don’t know that I achieved enlightenment, exactly, but I did find utter bliss with a jolt of adrenaline, and that’s good enough for a Monday.

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F i rst impre ssi on The XKR looks positively aggressive: low, lean, hungry and mean. Crouched in the corner of the lot before I fired it up, it looked downright angry. Unleashed on the road, it changed my day—and that’s a good thing.

Let’s start with the paint.The XKR I was given to test came in black, but it was so much more than just black.

Upon close inspection, flecks of red and green in the paint shimmered under the desert sun outside of Palm Springs, while after sundown the car seemed darker than the unlit world around it—more black than black at night, radiant like a dark diamond during the day. Unusual, and beautiful.

The interior aesthetics make a nice first impression as well, with hand-stitched leather seating and a sumptuous headliner, plus elegantly intense touches throughout.

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Soul

D ri v e r’ S vi e w

Likewise, the power is real. Holding the third generation of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre Supercharged AJ-V8, the “R” trim of the XK pushes the output to a fantastic 510hp with 461 lb.ft. of torque— one of only a few cars to best the 500hp mark at anything near this price point. The engine is constructed from high-grade, lightweight aluminum, which in the cylinder heads is recycled.

Weight-wise, the whole package comes in at a relatively trim 3,770 pounds (curb weight), all of which is rocketed forward thanks to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift™. Whether you let the computer do its thing or take over manually via the well-placed paddle shifters, the dance through the gears is fast and seamless throughout the range.

The car’s 52-inch height means the XKR wouldn’t be allowed on many of the rides at most theme parks, but with a 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 174mph (as tested, with the optional Speed Pack) it holds thrills enough on its own. The “Dynamic” mode, engaged via a quick turn of the JaguarDrive Selector on the center console, takes those thrills to another level. Sophisticated electronics sharpen the focus of most driving dynamics, increasing reaction from the already crisp accelerator, quickening shifts and tightening handling and overall feel, which makes you appreciate the supportive, race-inspired seats all the more. An Adaptive Dynamics System keeps things on the ground with continuous adjustments to suspension dampening, while the Dynamic Stability Control system will help overly enthusiastic drivers save face (and perhaps more) by ensuring traction and power are being laid down where needed. Everything is brought to a halt thanks to Jaguar’s High Performance Braking System, which we found to be more than a little effective.

Impressively, all of this power is relatively efficient when it comes to thirst, claiming a 22mpg EPA Highway estimate.

Despite its assertive nature this cat can be quite comfortable thanks to 16-way adjustable heated seats with driver memory. One adjustment we particularly liked: A little wheel that stiffens or reduces side support. If you want to throw the XKR around in the twisties, you’ll be bolstered in racecar fashion. For more casual driving, the seat relaxes its grip. The soft grain leather in the car—which extends throughout—is sumptuous and tight, as it should be in a sports car. Visibility is surprisingly good for such a low and lean monster, the front windshield giving a broad view of what’s ahead while an ample ramp of glass in back gives you plenty of rearview to work with. We found the backseats unusable for all but the smallest of children (there’s a baby seat hookup, in case you have to get your infant to daycare really, really fast) but they did provide a nice place to stow some overnight bags. The proper rear storage area (we hesitate to call it a trunk) is a broad mini cabin of sorts, certainly big enough to hold enough luggage for a decent road trip, with room for a few souvenirs along the way. For a performance car, it really is an impressive amount of storage space.

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F i nally The now-expected-as-standard in-dash touchscreen computer is here to handle navigation, climate control and other car functions. Audiophiles (count the editor in) will delight in the excellent sound system from Bowers & Wilkins, which wraps you in crisp highs, well-defined mids and wholesome lows. Whether you’re blasting Mahler or Hendrix, you’ll be thrilled. Accordingly, satellite and HD radio are here, along with a USB hookup for charging an array of toys and devices, and there’s iPod/iPhone connectivity. Your Bluetooth phone will pair nicely with the car for hands-free calling, with a well-placed microphone and quiet cabin ensuring conversations can be held at normal speaking volume. Climate controls are quick to respond and more than effective. Things cool down or heat up in a hurry, and both front-seat passengers can set their own preferences.

All of these conveniences and comfort-ensuring electronics are great, but they’re really just the icing on the cake. You don’t buy a sports car for the heated seats, after all. With the XKR, Jaguar continues its legacy of speed and performance, reminding us that for all of the incredible luxury found across the brand’s various models, the heart of the marque beats to the sound of big engines and the rush of tires heating up the pavement.

2012 Jaguar XKr Engine: Supercharged 5.0 Liter Gen III AJ-V8 Horsepower: 510 0-60: 4.6 seconds Top Speed (limited, with optional Speed Pack): 174mph approx. Price (as tested): $103,000

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A little like his character in Ocean’s Eleven, casino owner Terry Benedict, Andy Garcia has an acute sense of everything going on around him whilst maintaining a serene detachment. He may not be entirely in control of what’s happening, but nothing escapes the attention of his piercing, olive eyes.

And so it was when the 55-year-old star of other blockbusters like The Untouchables, Internal Affairs, When a Man Loves a Woman and The Lost City sat down with Kingdom in the fabled Jigger Inn beside the Road Hole 17th following a round over the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Even on a bustling, balmy September night, the Jigger Inn is as far removed from a Las Vegas gambling floor in style and atmosphere as can be. The mingling troops—celebrities, caddies, agents and hangers-on— are enjoying a rustic, al fresco cocktail hour against the backdrop of the setting sun.

Garcia was relaxed—he’d just completed a most enjoyable second round in the 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in the company of bubbly Spanish professional Pablo Larrazabal—but he remained completely dialed into his surroundings. Dinner with the rock star Huey Lewis was on the agenda, but first he was happy to puff on a cigar, sip a mineral water, exchange pleasantries with fellow (rival) celebrities as they passed by our table, and chew the fat—big time!

Hollywood ‘A-lister’ Andy Garcia took a break from the important business of playing golf at St. Andrews to talk to Kingdom about his career in films, his childhood in Cuba and Miami Beach, and his plans for the future Words: Paul Trow Pictures: Leon Harris

Andrés Arturo García Menéndez was born on April 12, 1956 in Havana, the capital of Cuba, yet by the age of five he had already had an unusually eventful life, packed with incidents and, as it turns out, colorful memories.

His mother, Amelie Menéndez, was an English teacher, and his father, René García Núñez, an attorney but also, following in the footsteps of previous generations in his family, an avocado farmer. Life was grand, to say the least.

Alas, this idyll was rudely shattered in 1961 when well-to-do families like the Garcias were forced to flee their homes and possessions, almost overnight, for fear of falling foul of the new communist regime headed up

by Fidel Castro.

They completed the short journey to Florida and settled in Miami Beach. As he was a small child at the time, Garcia could be forgiven for having only hazy recollections of this time in his life. Au contraire!

“Even though I left Cuba at such a young age, my memories of my childhood there are specific and vivid to this day,” he told us with detectable emotion in his voice.

“When you know you’re not going back you hold on to what you have. It can never be taken away from you.

“The Cuba I lived in is not the Cuba of today. It’s a different country. We left Cuba because our freedoms were taken away from us, and so we came to America, the land of the free. America is completely different to Cuba in almost every way. Any place where you can criticize the government and nothing happens to you is a good place. That is America.

“We left everything—everything was taken away from us. Whatever you had was gone. A million exiles left Cuba in the first two years after 1961.”

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Garcia was playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship for a second successive year and reveled in the privilege of the experience

Such passion almost half a century down the line, long after acceptance of the Castro regime became an international fact of life, prompted the thought that Garcia might be entertaining political ambitions, but he’s adamant he has no such inclinations. “Absolutely not,” he snorted. “No way!”

He’s also adamant that he’s never had any feelings of deprivation about the rest of his childhood.

“Miami Beach was a paradise for a young boy to grow up in,” he says. “I was very fortunate. To this day there are a lot of Cuban exiles there, and it has a great atmosphere.

“When he came to the States, my father never practiced law any more. He worked for a catering company, delivering meals to people from his home. Eventually he bought the business, then sold it, then started a fragrance company.

“My mother, who’s still alive, got the first job she could as an English teacher. I have two older siblings and two first cousins. Rene, my brother, runs the family fragrance business to this day and my sister, Tessi, is an interior designer.”

Certainly, the young Garcia thrived in his adoptive environment. “I was happy and very sporty. I played basketball and baseball` at Miami Beach High School— but in the end I had to specialize in basketball as the coaches wouldn’t allow me to play both. I played point guard. I was only 5ft 7in at the time so I was a ducker and diver. On reflection, I’d have probably been better off playing baseball because during my time there the head coach was Skip Bertman, who later achieved so much at the University of Miami and then won the college version of the Super Bowl five times with LSU.”

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“Golf is what it is—one day you feel great and the next you just don’t have the feel.

You play with what you’ve got on the day” Not surprisingly for a Florida resident, it wasn’t long before golf appeared on the youthful Garcia’s radar.

“I’ve played golf since I was about 12. Back then, it was a very casual pursuit. I got some clubs and we’d play in the park or sneak out on the course in the evening. Today, I play off a handicap of 9 at the Lakeside Golf Club, a course that was built in the 1920s, in Toluca Lake, near Burbank in northern Los Angeles. [The late] Bob and Dolores Hope were members there. It has a lot of members from our profession but I’m happy to play with anybody, a lot of the guys are neighbors of mine and don’t work at all in our industry, though I do play a bit with George Lopez.

“My first time in Scotland was when I came to play in the Dunhill last year. Playing in this event on these courses [Carnoustie and Kingsbarns as well as the Old Course] is such a privilege. I’d been to England once before—in 2001 to make The Lazarus Child. We were based at Rye, so I played Royal St. George’s [venue for this year’s Open Championship, won by Darren Clarke, who was sitting not 10 yards from us at the time of this interview].

“Golf is what it is—one day you feel great and the next you just don’t have the feel. Lee Trevino says you play with what you’ve got on the day and he’s right.”

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“I’ve always been interested in films all my life,” he says. “I was always attracted to them and I’d lose myself in them. I was fascinated by the big film heroes while growing up in the 60s—Sean Connery in the James Bond series, Steve McQueen, James Coburn. Imagine how cool it was for me when I ended up acting with Sean in The Untouchables—it was like you’re playing golf with one of your heroes. And in the case of [the late] James Coburn, not only did I act with him in The Man from Elysian Fields but I was his producer. I was signing his pay checks. Incredible!”

In 1989, Garcia teamed up with director Ridley Scott to make Black Rain, a detective thriller with Michael Douglas, a After their round together over the Old Course, Garcia felt he had made a friend for life in his pro, Pablo Larrazabal fellow competitor at St. Andrews. “Michael and An illness during his last year in high school persuaded I were cast as police officers working in Japan.

Garcia to consider a career in acting and he went on to That’s the only film I’ve ever done with him though I study the subject at Florida International University in know him well. Michael is a genius both as a man and Miami. Shortly afterwards, he crossed the country to an actor. If I ever had to be in a fox hole with somebody live in Hollywood and started to take small roles and there are only a couple of guys I’d pick and Michael is bit parts. These included portraying a gang member in one of those guys. the first episode of the long-running police TV series “Movies are an intense experience and you can Hill Street Blues. Supporting roles in The Mean Season form a strong lifetime relationship with people you alongside Kurt Russell in 1985 and 8 Million Ways to work with over a relatively short time. Playing golf Die with Jeff Bridges the following year brought him to with someone for four or five hours is similar. Pablo the attention of director Brian De Palma who gave him [Larrazabal, who was European Tour rookie of the year his big break in The Untouchables. in 2008] and I will be friends for life after partnering each other over the first three days of this tournament.”

Also in 1989, Francis Ford Coppola was casting The Godfather Part III. The character of Vincent Mancini, the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone, was an exceptional part in a highly anticipated film. García was one of many candidates for the role, but he also bore a striking resemblance to the young Al Pacino.

He won the part, earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor for his performance and never looked back.

Critics are divided about the merits of The Godfather Part III, particularly after its stellar predecessors, but Garcia will not hear a bad word about the film. “It was a great honor for me to be nominated for those awards. The original, more than any other movie, is what motivated me when I decided to pursue my acting studies. Being able to act alongside Al Pacino, my hero, was an incredible experience.

“It was a great honor to be nominated for those awards [in The Godfather Part III] and to act alongside Al Pacino”

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“Also, playing alongside such a stellar cast in Ocean’s Eleven [a remake of a 1960 Rat Pack movie] was pretty special.

It never crossed my mind that they’d call me when they said they’d make a sequel as I felt my character, as the main antagonist, had pretty much run his course. So that was an honor too when they cast me in Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen.

“Yes they were smaller parts, but I always say there are no small parts, only small actors!”

Other notable Garcia parts, small and not so small, were as an honest police officer up against the incurably corrupt Richard

Garcia, pictured with fellow actor Carl Reiner (right), was a picture of neurotic intensity in Ocean’s Eleven

“When it comes to work, I do whatever stimulates me.

I’m always working on something personally” Gere in Internal Affairs (1990), a good Samaritan in Hero (1992), the husband of an alcoholic in When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), a doomed criminal in Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995), a crusading lawyer in the drama Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) and a cop trying to save his gravely-ill son in Desperate Measures (1998).

Returning to his Cuban roots in 2005, he released The Lost City, which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray. Upon its release, The Lost City sparked controversy due to its negative portrayal of the Castro regime and Che Guevara. No doubt that suited Garcia just fine.

“I’m starting a new film soon, The Truth, a thriller with Forest Whitaker,” he reveals, “but I can’t tell you any more about the plot at this stage. When it comes to work, I do whatever stimulates me. I’m always working on something personally. I do quite a bit of producing and directing, but I act in most of them as well, like The Lost City.

“I don’t want to depend purely on things from the outside, hence my involvement with the Hemingway project.”

The Hemingway project? “I’m going to do a movie with Hilary Hemingway, daughter of Ernest’s brother Leicester. In 2009, we co-wrote a screenplay called Hemingway & Fuentes—it follows Hemingway’s friendship with Cuban captain Gregorio Fuentes during the 20 years Ernest spent on Cuba.”

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Andy Garcia is a serious man, no question, but in harmony with his earnest (no pun intended) demeanor is the sparkly, lighter side to his personality. In 2010, he appeared on British television in the BBC’s Top Gear motoring program to take part in the ‘star in a reasonably priced car’ segment, recording a time of 1min 46.1secs in a Kia Cee’d. “That wasn’t a bad time, considering the car was a pile of junk—I think the third best they’d ever had. It was a crazy day—I almost killed a cameraman along the way.”

So is he a budding Paul Newman with a potential career in the wings as a celebrity Nascar driver?

“Forget it! I only did the stunt because we were in the U.K. promoting our film, City Island, which had just been released over there.”

Ah yes, City Island. This is the 2009 New York family comedy in which he acts alongside his eldest daughter Dominik Garcia-Lorido, 28. Her 23-year-old sister Daniella is also an aspiring actress while a third daughter, 20-year-old Alessandra, is currently at college in New York. Son Andres, still only 9, has a way to go, but watch this space. The mother to this brood of budding thespians is María Victoria Lorido, who married her husband in 1982. She’s from a similar Cuban-exile background, but there was no prior relationship between the families, pre-Castro.

“I met my wife in Florida and I actually proposed to her that very same night,” confesses Garcia. “But it took a while for her to accept!” Not one to take ‘no’ for an answer, Garcia was persistent in his pursuit. Like Terry Benedict, he clearly knew a good thing when his olive eyes alighted on it, but unlike his Ocean’s Eleven character he didn’t panic. He kept his nerve and, more importantly, he kept the girl.

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Mighty Mitel and their Welsh Knight 82

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Long before building his own golf course and bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales, Sir Terry Matthews had proved his ability to turn dreams into reality by becoming one of the biggest players on the global telecommunications stage words: Clive Agran At first sight, golf and technology would appear to make strange bedfellows. Steeped in tradition and old-fashioned virtues with a rich history stretching back to hickory shafts and featherie balls, golf is a game that seems about as far removed from the modern world as ‘Old’ Tom Morris is from Bill Gates. But despite its unfair image as the leisurely pursuit of the middle-aged and middle-class wearing hideously unfashionable clothes, the Royal and Ancient game has shown itself to be remarkably adept at embracing change. Nowhere is this more dramatically demonstrated than in the equipment used today. New materials and modern technology have combined to revolutionize clubs and balls, enabling players at all levels to hit it further and more accurately than their forefathers could ever have dreamed… well, further anyway. GPS satellites, computerized handicaps and state-of-the-art irrigation equipment are among many advances that have helped change the face of golf.

Even though mobile phones are probably best switched off on the course and in the clubhouse, at least for the time being, the spectacular advances in telecommunications have been of huge benefit to those running the sport. The PGA in the U.S. and Europe both use the most sophisticated equipment to help with everything from real-time scoring to calculating player statistics such as driving distances.

Because it’s a globetrotter, the European Tour in particular

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identified a vital need to provide their on-site teams with a mobile communications solution.

Its chief information officer Mark Lichtenhein explained: “Basically, we wanted to take our own telephone and communications system on tour. It’s important for our staff to have seamless access to the same technology, ideally using the same telephone numbers, to improve call efficiencies and streamline communications. It had been a challenge for us to rely on temporary lines. Mitel’s Teleworker solution enables our employees to travel around and work from any location while having access to their desktop as though they were in the main office. The Mitel Communications Director (MCD) platform allows us to add applications as and when we wish, with the ability to build on a platform that is not only very flexible but also scalable.”

In turning to Mitel, the European Tour established a close relationship between the global telecommunications giant and golf that was further strengthened in 2010 when a thrilling Ryder Cup was staged at Celtic Manor in Wales. Mitel provided the communications infrastructure for the event and ensured the optimum performance of an extremely complex installation. This included developing a customized application for the in-house and on-course telephones which allowed the attendees to obtain up-tothe-minute details of the leaderboard and other relevant information about the venue (including the weather forecast!).

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The vital link between Mitel and the game of golf that made that great event possible was its chairman, Sir Terry Matthews. Born in Newport in 1943, Sir Terry emigrated to Canada after serving an apprenticeship with British Telecom but never lost his love of Wales. And it was his determination to give something back to the country of his birth that eventually resulted in Wales hosting one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions.

But just as bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales was an often-fraught process, so Matthews’ early career in Canada was far from straightforward and the future billionaire’s first enterprise in his adopted country certainly had its challenges. With the intention of raising seed money to finance other enterprises, Matthews and fellow Brit Mike Cowpland imported a consignment of electric lawnmowers from the UK. But the container was lost in transit and by the time it was found, snow lay on the ground and the mowing season was well and truly over. As well as learning the importance of timing, the other significant legacy from that doomed enterprise was the birth of Mitel (Mike and Terry’s Electric Lawnmowers).

The company subsequently evolved into a technology consultancy servicing numerous businesses around Ottawa’s emerging high-tech district. Unlike the earlier lawnmower project, this enterprise flourished and Mitel became one of the most successful manufacturers of small PBX systems and telecom semiconductors in the world. Floated on the New York Stock Exchange in 1979, it was sold in 1985 to Sir Terry’s former employer, British Telecom.

A year after disposing of one, Matthews started another communications company and named it after his home town in Wales. The Newbridge Networks Corporation rapidly rose to become a leader in the worldwide data networking industry. By 2000 when it was bought by French

firm Alcatel for around US$7 billion, it employed nearly 7,000 people and generated $1.8 billion of revenue annually.

In that same year, Sir Terry founded March Networks and the year after he bought the Mitel name back along with the systems division that went with it and turned it into a leading Voice Over IP (VOIP) Communications Company.

Today Mitel is only one of dozens of companies that Sir Terry chairs, but it still occupies a special place in his affections. “When you stop to think about all the technology and business user advancements we have brought to companies large and small all over the world,” he reflected, “it truly does bring a sense of pride.”

“Even now, after 35 years in business, we continue to adapt and innovate. For example, through our recent partnership with VMware we have combined business voice with data center virtualization, something that everyone wants but didn’t think could be achieved. Only Mitel and VMware together were able to solve this puzzle.

As a result, companies are more productive and using fewer resources than ever before with a Mitel infrastructure.”

“Another significant aspect of Mitel is that it provides the cornerstone of many of the other technology companies I have built. Wesley Clover International has a portfolio of companies that support and enhance the Mitel offering by extending the Mitel solution to encompass such things as intelligent notification, network monitoring and other mission critical applications that customers are looking for and can’t always get from a single vendor.”

Bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales provided a mostly different set of challenges to those Sir Terry encountered whilst building up his mighty powerful, hi-tech empire.

However, there were some similarities. “Once it became clear that the Ryder Cup we were bidding for was going to be a proper tender process for the first time—like bidding

Sir Terry Matthews plans the 2010 Ryder Cup with European Tour boss George O’Grady (left) and Wales’s First Minister Rhodri Morgan

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for the Olympics—I knew we had a good chance. I’m used to submitting tenders in business and the European Tour conducted the whole bidding process in a very professional manner. So I was confident we could come up with an attractive package from the Celtic Manor and Wales. Even so, people thought we had next to no chance bidding against Scotland—a two per cent chance, I remember someone saying. Scotland had all its history in the game but that was something we used to our advantage by stating how much more Wales stood to gain from hosting the Ryder Cup for the first time.”

Although the biennial intercontinental golfing battle wasn’t anywhere on the agenda at the time, it all began in 1980 when Sir Terry bought the Lydia Beynon Maternity Hospital near Newport where he was born 37 years previously. He then set about developing it into Celtic Manor Resort. A chance meeting with a legendary golf architect turned a vague notion of adding a course to his new hotel into reality and eventually led to the Ryder Cup. Whilst lunching in a golf clubhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sir Terry became increasingly curious when he heard a diner at a neighboring table being addressed as Mr. Jones.

When asked about any Welsh ancestry, the man introduced himself as Robert Trent Jones and explained that his family hailed from Aberystwyth before emigrating to the U.S. when he was a small boy. It wasn’t long before Sir Terry had persuaded one of the finest living golf course architects to return to Wales and take a look at the land he had earmarked for golf at Celtic Manor. This was to become the Roman Road course to which the ‘2010’ Ryder Cup course, as well as the Montgomery course, was subsequently added.

Was the man responsible able to enjoy the event itself?

“The Ryder Cup was great and I enjoyed it a lot,” recalled Sir Terry. “Not just because of the golf but also for the time I could spend with clients. Remember the 2010 Ryder Cup was extended by one day because of the weather and that meant I could spend even more time with clients! It was a great event though—over 50,000 people attended on the first three days and only slightly fewer on the final Monday.”

The ordinary man in the street and on the fairway finds the pace of technological change quite bewildering, but not Sir Terry. “I am not fazed by it as I keep my ears to the ground and have many contacts and partners around the world that can keep me informed. I want early information on new upcoming technologies so I can capitalize on it. I am amazed at the pace of change. Look at the products that Apple has launched over the past ten years. It was only a little over seven years ago that Facebook was launched and now they have three quarters of a billion users and an $80 billion valuation!”

So does Sir Terry know where the communications industry will be in, say, ten years time? “Given the pace of change it’s difficult to make predictions two years out let alone ten. I do believe that mobile devices and the adoption of cloud-based solutions will have a dramatic effect on the communications industry. The use of the Public Switched Telephone network that businesses and consumers have been using for the last 100 years will decline rapidly over the next ten years as the power of Internet-based communications and mobile devices dominate. This is already happening and I believe it will accelerate quickly.”

Mitel is now heavily involved in providing leading edge communication solutions in golf. So has its chairman yet taken up the game? “No time! I’m too busy to take out four or five hours for a round of golf. Business is the sport I like to play and win at.”

The hotel and golf courses at Celtic Manor are testament to Sir Terry Matthews’ vision and success

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NOW HEAR THIS

Born during a beautiful time in the world of music, Bowers & Wilkins is as important to the audio landscape as the songs it delivers to your ears

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By any measure, 1966 was a good year for music.

The Beatles gave us Revolver, Sam and Dave dropped Hold On, I’m Comin’, and The Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, one of the most influential albums in history. Simon & Garfunkel released two records: Sounds of Silence and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, and we heard first efforts from The Jefferson Airplane and The Young Rascals. Frank Sinatra made a comeback with Strangers in the Night, The Rolling Stones explored new territory on Aftermath, and Bob Dylan completed his trilogy with one of the first double albums in rock history, Blonde on Blonde.

While all this was happening, a company named B&W Electronics, Ltd., was founded on the south coast of England. And for all of the great songs released in 1966, the musical importance of this last bit can’t be overstated.

Since its earliest beginnings, Bowers & Wilkins has manufactured high-end speakers. Today the company is still headquartered in the same town of Worthing, West Sussex, where it started, but its offerings have progressed miles since 1966 and brought it right to the cutting edge of the digital music world.

When all of the albums listed above were released— on vinyl—audiophiles hungry for the latest gear might have listened to their records through a set of P1 speakers, the first loudspeakers released from Bowers & Wilkins. By 1982, when the first album was released on compact disc (Billy Joel’s 52nd Street), Bowers & Wilkins had established itself at the top of the game, with its own dedicated research facility and a resumé that would soon include monitor installations at the famed Abbey Road Studios.

Today, rather than submerge itself in the argument over the quality of digitally encoded music vs more traditional offerings, Bowers & Wilkins is staying focused on making music sound better—no matter the format.

The finest facilities use Bowers & Wilkins products for audio referencing, including the famed Abbey Road Studios

Vinyl records are hardly the preferred method of music distribution today, with the iPod and other digital music players a ubiquitous sight. Within digital music itself there’s an ever-increasing number of available formats, the most common of which has been the mp3.

But even among mp3s there’s a wide range of audio possibilities, with some delivering respectable sound and others offering sad, crunchy noise, depending on how the digital file is created. Whatever the case, digital music is here to stay, primarily evidenced in the success of Apple’s iTunes Store, which has sold more than 10 billion songs and is currently the biggest, most popular music retailer in the world.

Accordingly, in addition to building what are perhaps the finest loudspeakers in existence, the Nautilus, Bowers & Wilkins has responded to the market with products to enhance and deliver the best digital music can offer.

One of Bowers & Wilkins’ more recognizable products might be the Zeppelin Air, which could be said to resemble a stretched football (the UK-based B&W might say a stretched rugby ball) or a cockpit component from the Starship Enterprise. As a design element it’s certainly modern, and benefits from a lack of obvious wires or connections. Instead, it delivers music wirelessly, with no decrease in audio quality, from an entirely external source that could be a computer or even an iPhone. The Zeppelin Air uses Apple’s AirPlay technology to ensure that you don’t need to “dock” your device to listen to music. It packs a punch, too, using five drive units to achieve its wide sound, along with its unusual shape, which maximizes the drivers’ potential.

As functional and desirable as it is, the Zeppelin Air isn’t the only device Bowers & Wilkins has manufactured with digital music in mind.

So-called purist audiophiles might discard the idea of listening to great music through computer speakers, but Bowers & Wilkins have a different take: they accept that it’s convenient to hear songs played on a PC, so they set about making the finest computer speakers $500 could buy. They’re called MM-1 and they use both tube-loaded tweeter technology from larger speakers in Bowers & Wilkins’ range and digital signal processing Abbey Road Studios

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C5

(adjusting sound balance in relation to signal) to achieve their great sound. In effect, the MM-1 instantly lay to rest the notion that your computer can’t be the hub of an incredible sound system, but don’t take our word for it: Their brilliance has been recognized at the respected British What Hi-Fi? Awards, where they’ve been winners in their class for two years in a row.

Bowers & Wilkins’ headphones, too, are designed to get the best sound possible out of a digital file. The company calls the gorgeous, over-ear P5 headphone “mobile hi-fi” and it’s easy to understand why: they work to a noise-isolation ideal and come with an Appleapproved cable and attached remote. So do their C5 in-ear headphones, which also feature a cushioned loop that fixes comfortably in the inner ridge of your ear.

Bowers & Wilkins’ Brand manager Shaun Marin talks of a “consistency” to B&W that manifests itself in a dedication to quality but also in the atmosphere of the business. Many employees, he tells us, particularly those working at their R&D department in Steyning, seven miles from Worthing and commonly called the University of Sound, have been with Bowers & Wilkins for more than 25 years.

In addition to the above products, the group is responsible for the flagship $60,000 Nautilus speaker, the result of decades of extensive research into audio perfection. And while most living rooms might not sport a pair of such audio masterworks, Bowers & Wilkins’ philosophy is to apply their expertise to every product in their catalog. That means everyone hearing music through a Bowers & Wilkins speaker—and that includes people riding in premium Jaguar automobiles, which feature B&W audio systems—is benefiting from the best audio tech in existence.

Marin explains: “This consistency of approach is backed-up by the technology that we put in products, so once we have enhanced a high-end range with a new technology, we attempt to then bring that technology through our other loudspeakers. Obviously that’s not

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always possible—diamond tweeters being the perfect example—but proprietary technology such as Nautilus Tubes are now found in almost everything we manufacture.”

Bowers & Wilkins also keep close ties to the recorded music industry itself, and ran their own record label from 1988 to 1996. After launching an online community called the Society of Sound dedicated to discussions relating to audio in 2007, they came up with the idea of the Bowers & Wilkins Music Club a year later (now called Society of Sound). Subscribers to the service receive two albums a month to download in what B&W calls “stunning high-quality lossless audio.”

Curators of the project? Contemporary music icon Peter Gabriel and the London Symphony Orchestra.

The point is clear: to be in a position to make the best speakers, you need to be at the heart of all aspects of music-making, including the writing, recording and manufacturing of albums. And regarding the actual recording of sound, it’s long been a given that Britain’s most prestigious studios, including Abbey Road and, naturally, Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios use Bowers & Wilkins monitors. Indeed, all records produced at Abbey Road since they installed Matrix 801 speakers there in 1988, including albums by U2 and Coldplay, have been mastered with engineers using Bowers & Wilkins equipment.

Bowers & Wilkins founder John Bowers died of cancer the year before Abbey Road commissioned the company to install monitors, but his legacy lives on in every product manufactured today—particularly the Nautilus, which uses the research into “perfect dipoles” that Bowers began.

Once we have enhanced a high-end range with a new technology, we attempt to bring the tech to all of our products John Bowers

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The earliest beginnings of Bowers & Wilkins saw it established as an electronics shop run by Bowers and Roy Wilkins, whom John had met while serving in the British army during WWII. The two mostly dealt with private rentals before eventually creating a department that set up PA systems for churches and schools across Sussex. Bowers was acutely aware of the shortcomings of loudspeakers, and spent long hours in the back of his shop researching sound. By 1966, a separate business, B&W Loudspeakers Ltd., was founded and the P1 was soon made available. By then, he’d handed over control of the electronics shop to Wilkins—which is still in existence today, run by Roy’s son Paul on exactly the same premises.

The success of P1 and its successors—the P2, which was licensed by Sony, and the award-winning DM70, Bowers & Wilkins’ first wholly in-house built speaker— forced Bowers to open up his first specific production facility away from the shop in 1972. There, with a small team, he created the DM2, which led to the company

The contemporary Nautilus, with its long, tapering pipes protruding from the back and snail-like spiral body, is an entirely unique masterpiece of design. It’s the culmination of the most extensive research project that Bowers & Wilkins has ever undertaken and, as Dr Peter Fryer, a chief architect of the Nautilus, says, it’s also something of an ode to John Bowers himself.

“You have to understand that John was totally obsessed with perfecting loudspeakers,” Fryer offers. “I won’t say that it’s all he lived for, but it came pretty close.

He hated to be bested by the competition and wanted to make a big leap forward in the art. At the time, he knew his cancer would probably prevent him from seeing the fruits of the project and, sadly, this proved true.

John Bowers was totally obsessed with perfecting loudspeakers; it just had to be done—a bit like climbing Everest But that didn’t matter. He wanted his company to start digging thoroughly into all aspects of speaker design and come up with something very special. It didn’t have to make money or sell in great numbers. It just had to be done—a bit like climbing Everest.”

Even if the Nautilus is out of your price range, Bowers & Wilkins’ technologies factor into all of the company’s products, into the Zeppelin Air, their headphones and products now in development. “It’s a tribute to John’s original foresight,” says Fryer, “that, aside from wanting to create an icon, he appreciated how that knowledge base could benefit other products.”

Whether you’re listening to your old Stones records on vinyl or rocking the latest dance track downloaded from the iTunes store, it will sound better through Bowers & Wilkins, just as it has since 1966.

The Zeppelin Air

Bowers & Wilkins original electronics shop, still going

being awarded the Queen’s Award for Export in 1973.

Astonishingly, by 1978 trade had increased tenfold and the company was again presented with the Queen’s Award.

So what were the technological developments that helped B&W Loudspeakers Ltd. become such a success?

To minimize internal damping distortion, Bowers patented use of Kevlar fibres impregnated with stiffening resin, in 1974. By 1977, the DM7 introduced a tweeter separate from the main cabinet and, soon after, Bowers & Wilkins scientist Laurence Dickie invented the “Matrix” enclosure, which reduces sound coloration. It was Dickie, too, who was instrumental in creating the Nautilus, based on Bowers’ research. The revolutionary development of that speaker was the introduction of drivers loaded by “reversetapered horns,” or exponentially diminishing tubes rather than traditional opened-back drivers. In doing so, B&W created a speaker that absorbs rear radiation and offers the listener near-zero enclosure coloration.

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s r e ’ m l a P d l Arno

LIFE IN PICTURES

The classic sportsman as a young man

PART 21

Arnold Palmer, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, limbers up before the 1955 Masters

Mr. Palmer selects a blade to match the cut of his crease

It might be a misty morning, but Mr. Palmer’s quiff still stands out

Two-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer wows female golf fans at Augusta National in 1961

Mr. Palmer inspects the face of his driver during the 1961 Masters

Following a drive down the middle on a day when umbrellas were only seen on shirts

Rock me baby! Daughter Peggy has Winnie and Arnold Palmer’s undivided attention during the 1958 U.S. Open at Oak Hill

End GamE “For this game you need, above all things, to be in a tranquil frame of mind.”

—Harry Vardon

Give them a chance and listen long enough, and at some point golfers will start waxing loquacious on the parallels of the game to life itself. From Harvey Penick to Mark Twain, members of the club-and-ball set have long enjoyed studying the impact of one on the other, and vice-versa. But far from some novelty pastime, there are real lessons to be learned on the golf course. And if some of those apply to life in general, we at RBC Wealth Management believe they might apply doubly when it comes to investing.

Consider Luke Donald. Luke plays for Team RBC, a group of world-class golfers and emerging professionals who carry RBC-branded golf bags and compete on the PGA, LPGA and Champions Tours. As the official banking and financial services partner of touring professionals on Team RBC, RBC Wealth Management looks to Luke and the other players for inspiration when it comes to the lessons of discipline, persistence and performance.

And as the winner of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship while at Northwestern University, holder of numerous other titles, and the top-ranked golfer in the world for much of 2011, Luke has a lot of inspiration to give. Some of the same traits that keep him on top can help you become a world-class investor—no matter how well you play on course.

Focus—Like all professional golfers, Luke possesses a heightened ability to focus on his game, allowing him to block out crowd noise, weather conditions and even physical ailments.

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As an investor, you, too, will face many distractions.

For some time now, we’ve seen the headlines dominated by the financial crisis affecting many European countries and the protracted debt-ceiling and deficit debates in Washington. Yet these events, while certainly serious, may actually have a less lasting impact on the financial markets than other, less-publicized factors— factors such as corporate profits. In fact, corporate profitability is usually considered to be one of the key drivers of stock prices, so if you can focus on investing in profitable companies (and many companies maintain their profitability even in a difficult economic environment), you can achieve better results than if you were constantly reacting to the “news of the day.” control oF emotions—Sometimes, Luke’s putts don’t drop and his drives end up in the rough. But he shrugs off these momentary setbacks, remains calm and concentrates on the next shot.

When you invest, you also need to rein-in your emotions. Too many investors are driven by either fear or greed. If the market drops sharply, they sell their investments—ignoring the classic advice to “buy low and sell high”—because they apparently fear the market will continue falling and they will sustain huge losses. Conversely, some investors get greedy and chase after “hot” stocks—even though these stocks may already be cooling off and, in any case, may not even be appropriate for their needs. If you can gradually build a diversified portfolio based on your risk tolerance and time horizon, you’ll have a better chance of achieving your objectives than if you make decisions based on fleeting emotions. consistency oF eFFort—Luke has succeeded in the golf world by consistently working hard to improve his game. Instead of taking a few months off here and there, he plays a full schedule of tournaments and, when he’s not playing, he’s practicing rigorously.

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To be a serious investor, you, too, have to consistently apply your best efforts. Instead of taking a “time out” from investing when the markets are down, consider following a strategy of dollar-cost averaging— that is, putting the same amount of money in the same investments at regular intervals. When prices are down, your constant investment will buy more shares, and when prices rise, you’ll automatically be a savvy enough investor to buy fewer shares—just as you’d probably buy less of anything when the price is high. Over time, this strategy should result in a lower per-share cost than if you simply made lump-sum investments from time to time. Just as importantly, it will encourage discipline in your investing.

RECOGNITION OF OPPORTUNITIES—While playing a round, Luke may see an opportunity to skirt the rough, drive over a water hazard or make another shot that, while not originally anticipated, could help him lower his score.

As an investor, you also need to look beyond traditional boundaries for opportunities.

For instance, you may want to add some international investments. In any given year, the U.S. markets may be down, but global markets might be doing significantly better. And you can find considerable growth potential in emerging markets—countries such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico that are characterized by younger, less mature economies. Keep in mind, though, that foreign investments carry their own set of risks—such as currency risk and political instability.

As the official banking and financial services partner of touring professionals on Team RBC, which includes Luke Donald and others, RBC Wealth Management is at the top of the game when it comes to golf. No surprise it is also a leader in financial services and community stewardship. Consider, RBC Wealth Management: * Is the sixth-largest global wealth manager, as measured by number of registered representatives, according to the Scorpio Partnership Global Private Banking KPI Benchmark 2011 * RBC ranked among the top 15 global private banks in this year’s Euromoney Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey * In the U.S., RBC Wealth Management earned a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for 2010-2011 * Has a combined total of more than C$525 billion in assets under administration worldwide * RBC Wealth Management companies are subsidiaries of RBC, which was named the safest bank in North America by Global Finance magazine in 2009, 2010 and 2011 With a legacy of informed and steady decision-making in financial dealings and a longstanding commitment to community service, RBC Wealth Management can help elevate your game.

Find out more at www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/usa

WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE—Like all worldclass athletes, Luke is gifted with innate skills. But he still attributes some of his success to the excellent coaching he received along the way, both from his Northwestern coach and other teaching professionals.

Investing isn’t a “do-it-yourself” activity. To navigate the ever-changing financial markets and achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you’ll need help from an experienced professional—someone who knows your investment preferences, family situation, tolerance for risk and ideas for leaving a legacy. To get the guidance you need, contact an RBC Wealth Management Financial Advisor soon.

Luke Donald rose to the top of the golf world through hard work, discipline and the ability to take advantage of opportunities. By following his formula, you can succeed in the investment world.

RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of, and separate legal entity from, Royal Bank of Canada. Royal Bank of Canada does not guarantee any debts or obligations of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets. Such a plan involves continuous investment in securities regardless of fluctuating price levels and an investor should consider their financial ability to continue their purchases through periods of low price levels.

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Ve g a s Las Vegas has a double allure in that it’s a place to do business and a place to play. There are ample venues for both, and that makes it a destination point of double merit.

Trump International Hotel & Tower has added elegance to the city, and it’s a wonderful place to stay—a bit of an oasis in the midst of all the casino hotels. Las Vegas offers a lot to a big cross section of society, and that’s one reason I think it has lasted so long as a city and playground.

When I visit Las Vegas, I find it energizing as well as amazing. There’s always something new there, and it’s usually surprising. The shows and performers have been elevated to a level that rivals Broadway, and the technology is incredible. There’s nothing mundane about Las Vegas, and I see it continuing to be that way.

Historically, Las Vegas had a checkered past, but it has come out being a very viable outlet for business and entertainment. It may have seemed like a ridiculous idea when Bugsy Siegel first envisioned this city in the desert, but time has proven his idea wasn’t so crazy after all. I’m a New Yorker, but I enjoy my visits to Las Vegas. The city adds to the landscape of this country in a very colorful way.

As a golfer, Las Vegas has some excellent courses and they are well maintained. Palm Springs may have the edge on this subject, but that golf is available is a big plus for a vacation Mecca. There truly is something for everyone in Las Vegas, whether you’re a businessman, an entertainer or a visitor. The allure is definitely there.

Donald J. Trump

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New Year’s Eve, 1967. Willie Wood, a safety for the Green Bay Packers, left the warmth of his Wisconsin home and stepped into a cold Sunday morning. With the air temperature at -15ºF and the wind chill closer to -50ºF, he wasn’t surprised to learn that his car wouldn’t start. “It’s too cold,” he told a service station attendant.

“They’re going to call this game off.”

Hours later, facing the Dallas Cowboys, Wood and the rest of the Packers made history by winning the 1967 NFL Championship, also known as the “Ice Bowl.” The coldest game in NFL history, it was also one of the best, overshadowing Green Bay’s subsequent Super Bowl II

victory with down-to-the-wire action in one of the most storied venues anywhere. With whistles freezing to referees’ lips, several players suffering from post-game frostbite (linebacker Ray Nitschke’s toenails all fell off), and an elderly spectator in the stands actually dying of exposure during play, there’s only one stadium in the country where this game could have happened: Lambeau Field.

“Best place on Earth.”

“A must-see for all football fans.”

“Bucket-list material.”

“If the NFL has a Mecca, this is it.”

“I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious.”

VINCE LOMBARDI

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And those are the reviews from non-Green Bay fans, posting tributes online. For the home crowd, “Mecca” may not be enough to describe Lambeau, which is more like heaven itself with everyone wanting to get in. The field— famously called “the frozen tundra” in a legendary Ice Bowl documentary—has been sold out every season since 1960, and the wait for season tickets is one of the longest in professional sports. There are nearly 80,000 names on the list, which could amount to hundreds of years of waiting.

As only 90 or so season tickets become available each year it’s not uncommon for places in line to appear in last wills, offering the newly departed the consolation that at least someone in the family, in some future generation, will get season tickets. Part of the enthusiasm no doubt comes from the fact that the fans own the team, making the Packers the only technically non-profit, community-owned franchise in U.S. professional sport. With a population of just over 300,000—and considering that Lambeau seats roughly 74,000—it’s safe to say that Green Bay is a football town.

DeDicateD Following Lambeau Field opened in 1957 and was originally called “New City Stadium,” after the facility the Packers had been using. The name change came in 1965 following the death of Earl “Curly” Lambeau, who founded the team in 1919 with $500 from the Indian Packing Company (hence the team name). Lambeau is the first stadium built specifically for an NFL franchise—in the early days, NFL teams often shared fields with baseball teams—and it’s the longest tenured by a single NFL team. Only the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park have longer residencies.

Over the years, seating has been increased from near 32,000 to more than double that. A 2003 renovation also saw expansion of interior facilities, including the addition

of five eateries (“Curly’s Pub” is one of the most popular), plus retail outlets and entertainment. Additionally that year, synthetic turf was woven into the real grass on the field to bolster its strength, and a new field heating system was installed. Box seating has been expanded, and there are plans for more this year, along with an improved audiovisual system and heated bleacher areas among the highest seats, which should prove popular—but not necessarily for the reason one might think.

Snow that accumulates in the upper decks is cleared by community volunteers, who shovel it out of the rows and into long chutes placed in the aisles. The snow runs down to the field and is carted away. The hope is that heated bleachers on the upper decks will simply melt the snow, saving hours of cold labor. As for Green Bay’s notorious winters affecting the fans, there’s beer and camaraderie to help weather the cold at Lambeau—all of which is in good supply, as a fan named Jen.S from San Diego found during a stay with the Cheeseheads (as Packers fans are often called).

“Being originally from California, I didn’t know how to dress for a winter game,” she posted on yelp.com, a popular website. “I wore my ski pants, a jacket, and tennis shoes.

BIG MISTAKE. The fans seated around me laughed and called me ‘California’ (in a friendly, joking way) because I was way too under-dressed. Soon enough I was FREEZING. One nice man gave me sheets of cardboard to put on the cement under my feet to prevent the ice from freezing my feet through my shoes. Another fan gave me some little bags that you shake and they create instant heat for the hands. Someone also let me use their scarf. I was amazed to see how friendly everyone was in pulling together to help a stranger. When I told them it was my first Packers game they each bought me a beer, and one group invited me to party with them afterwards in the parking lot.”

Bart Starr, Packers’ Hall of Fame quarterback, dominates the action during a 21-17 victory over Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field in 1967

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A Defining ArenA The third-oldest franchise in the NFL (after the Cardinals and the Bears, though neither is in its original city), the Green Bay Packers hold the record for the most league championships with 13, nine before the Super Bowl era.

Accordingly, many Packers players and coaches have become stars of the game, not just the team. Founder and first coach Curly Lambeau; Ice Bowl quarterback Bart Starr; modern hero-turned-enigma Brett Favre; and perhaps—following last year’s Super Bowl XLV win—even current quarterback Aaron Rodgers are all bigger than Green Bay. But there’s one Packer who not only eclipsed the town and the team in terms of notoriety, but even the game and perhaps sports itself. We’re talking, of course, about Vince Lombardi.

Hired as Packers head coach in 1959, Lombardi took the team to five world championships in seven years, including victories in the first two Super Bowls. His toughas-nails leadership, combined with his incredible ability to motivate players, defined the Packers as the team of the 1960s and Lambeau as the toughest arena in the NFL. In addition to winning the Ice Bowl on home turf, Lombardi edited the script for the Packers’ version of the documentary film covering the game, originally written

by Steve Sabol. The coach hated the redundancy of a “frozen tundra” reference Sabol had written to describe the playing surface, which had turned to ice following the failure of a newly installed field heating system. In fact, the expensive system had frozen and it’s likely Lombardi didn’t want the malfunction underlined to investors who would later watch the film. In any case, the Cowboys kept the “frozen tundra” reference in their version of the film, and the term is still a popular way to describe Lambeau.

Maxims like “If you can accept losing, you can’t win,” and “If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?” today drive business meetings as well as sports teams, and explain why a life-size statue of Coach Lombardi now stands in front of Lambeau Field, not far from the Packers Hall of Fame (the first built for a specific team).

The reAl DeAl Lambeau was built as the first NFL-specific stadium in the country, and it has defined the best parts of the game, perhaps most notably in the 1967 Championship. In that contest, Lambeau set limits that have yet to be approached, showing us all what’s possible at the edges of human performance. Perhaps singularly, no matter how much the world has changed, Green Bay has stayed true to those lessons and to the straightforward nature of football itself.

Also veterans of the Ice Bowl, the Dallas Cowboys now play in the most expensive NFL stadium ever built: owner Jerry Jones’ $1.2 billion homage to sports commercialism, which includes, among other things, the world’s largest retractable roof—937 miles south of Green Bay, where it neither snows nor rains that often. The Cheeseheads are fine with that. They’ll keep their open-air Lambeau Field with its hard bleachers, some of the worst winters in the NFL, and the current world champion Green Bay Packers.

A game at Lambeau is indeed “bucket-list material,” as a fan of the stadium wrote. Just don’t forget the cardboard for under your feet.

Vince Lombardi (far right). Below: Cheeseheads at Lambeau Field

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YOU ELEVATED THE GAME TO

A HIGHER CALLING.

Thank you for making the 2011 Patriot Golf Day our most successful yet.

On Labor Day weekend, golfers, facilities, PGA Professionals and USGA members across America helped raise more than $3.2 million dollars in support of Patriot Golf Day. It’s the flagship fundraiser for the Folds of Honor Foundation – whose mission is giving the children of our fallen military heroes the chance at a higher education. Thanks to everyone who gave back to those who have given so much for America. Learn more at patriotgolfday.com

Informed PersPectIve

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European debt crisis, Eurozone questions, emotional markets at home... Is the business world coming to a halt? Ernst & Young’s Maria Pinelli confidently answers “No,” and offers Kingdom some perspective on the financial world at large.

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To describe the tone of the world’s current financial landscape as “dynamic” is understatement indeed. But those in business know that beneath the frenetic headlines dominating today’s media, the world is still turning. New companies are being created, emerging markets are developing quickly and there are opportunities being born on an almost hourly basis. No question there’s business to be done, and no company is better poised to help make it happen than Ernst & Young, the global leader in IPOs. “The pipeline is full, we’re tracking over 3,000 companies around the world, and that’s the highest it’s ever been,” says Maria Pinelli, Ernst & Young’s new Global Vice Chair for Strategic Growth Markets, discussing the outlook for the planet’s up-and-coming enterprises. Pinelli says that despite the emotional tone struck by certain media outlets, there are markets where business is moving forward at a serious pace—and she knows what she’s talking about.

With more than 20 years of experience, Pinelli is an expert in companies undergoing rapid growth. She’s supported clients with acquisitions, due diligence, financing and IPOs, and she personally has led more than 20 IPOs in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Formerly in charge of the Americas, she’s now heading Ernst & Young’s practice dedicated to entrepreneurial and high growth companies worldwide, and she’s a busy woman.

“My role is to focus on market leaders of tomorrow,” she says, immediately pointing out that there are plenty of those leaders emerging. Case in point: Brazil.

“South America is so hot… We can’t invest enough in Brazil, can’t hire enough, can’t keep up with the demand that’s there. The middle class is growing unbelievably, they’re making huge headway in building out their infrastructure, and their capital markets, although volatile, have done extremely well.” She also cites Brazil’s substantial oil reserves, the 2016 Olympics scheduled to take place in Rio, and the fact that China has invested more than $10 billion in the country as other factors pointing to growth.

“Fast-growth markets are a key priority for us,” she explains. “They represent 70 percent of all global growth, and they’re going to be 65 percent of the global economy by 2015.”

Of course, no market is immune from the current European debt crisis, which can’t be ignored. As of press

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time there were huge questions remaining over the fate of Greece, and the issues of Italy, Spain and other potential liabilities hadn’t yet been publicly addressed to any great degree. The effect that the crisis is having is as much one of perception as it is actual business mechanics, Pinelli says.

“Unfortunately, the debt crisis is playing havoc with investor confidence,” she explains. “Clearly this is a problem, so governments need to act quickly to restore confidence. I think the longer they delay the harder it is—not just on the macro side, but for true entrepreneurs, goods and services companies, those driving job growth.

“In terms of that growth, we just put 700 companies through the Entrepreneur of the Year program. In the last two years, they had 24 percent compounded job growth!

It’s unbelievable, it truly is.”

Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year program is where the firm might be said to be doing some driving of its own. The program is in its 25th year, and it’s possible to argue that this single effort is one of the most significant programs going in terms of identifying people and industries of note. In the world of business, there is no more prestigious awards program.

Ernst & Young works with businesses in all stages of development, from those receiving their initial venture funding to those whose values are measured in billions.

The Entrepreneur of the Year program seeks to identify and celebrate the true visionaries working among that full range.

The program started in 1986 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Today it’s in more than 140 cities in 50 countries, collectively representing more than 90 percent of the global economy.

Not surprisingly, Ernst & Young’s evaluative abilities are excellent: Over half of today’s top 100 NASDAQ companies have won Entrepreneur of the Year—most of them before they entered the top 100. Michael Dell was the very first winner, while the most recent—Olivia Lum, who started desalination company Hyflux in 1989 with two staff and $15,000 (it now trades with revenues of $450 million)— qualified as the 2011 World Entrepreneur Of The Year, beating 48 others who’d already won as Entrepreneurs of the Year in their home countries.

The individuals and companies represented in the program are, in large part, the engine driving growth at any given moment in business. Pinelli, who attended this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards and who recently moved to London from New York, says that along with the 24 percent compounded job growth referenced before, the award-winners in the UK alone had more than 30 percent job growth in recent years. Of course, there is some drag effect by the happenings in Europe, and Pinelli says it will primarily be in the region’s IPO funnel.

“The only IPO activity we’ll see out of Europe in the next little while will be state-owned enterprises going to market, which is a clever way to raise money as some of those need to be capitalized.”

That kind of activity has been popular in Asia as well, she says, with financial enterprises, natural resources, transportation and the like all moving from state hands to the private sector. But there are as many questions here as there are opportunities, she says.

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“Many of the developed nations have already capitalized those markets, so once that’s done the question is ‘Where are the private companies? Are they going to use the capital markets? How broad are they? Are they going to go abroad?”

The intricacies of world markets make for complex assessments, especially in times like these, but Pinelli and the team at Ernst & Young are able to keep perspective through all of the changes. In fact, Pinelli says her parents were entrepreneurs in their own right, and she grew up thriving on meeting business challenges.

“I joined Ernst & Young out of university, and I’ve really enjoyed my time. It’s been a 25-year career, and I’ve been on some interesting projects. These IPOs, I’ve had so much fun with them, working around strategy and growth, working with the boards and terrific groups of people. It’s been a lot of fun.”

To find out what Ernst & Young can do for your business or to learn more about the Entrepreneur of the Year program or any other aspect of Ernst & Young’s services, visit www.ey.com.

Michael Dell and Olivia Lum, both Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award-winners

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What Ernst & Young Can Do For You Ernst & Young provides global services in four primary areas: Assurance, Tax, Transactions and Advisory. As the company has it, “We are 152,000 talented people with a shared way of working and commitment to quality.” That kind of dedication can work for your business in a number of ways. In the briefest of explanations:

assuranCE Anyone doing business globally faces an increasingly complex and ever-changing set of regulatory requirements and stakeholder demands. Ernst & Young can provide a strong, independent assurance offering critical information for investors, a lucid perspective to audit committees and timely and constructive input to management.

tax A successful tax function is essential to delivering a strong reporting foundation and sustainable planning to help any business achieve its growth potential. It’s crucial to have tax strategies aligned with business drivers, built on effective compliance and transparent reporting. Ernst & Young builds highly networked teams to advise on planning, compliance and reporting, resulting in positive relationships with tax authorities.

transaCtions Ernst & Young offers integrated, objective advisory services designed to help your business evaluate opportunities and execute transactions efficiently, helping you to achieve your strategic goals.

aDvisorY The better your performance, the higher the performance expectations. With increased targets come increased risks, Ernst & Young is there to help businesses create and sustain improvements while responding quickly to change as well.

Find out more about Ernst & Young’s services at www.ey.com.

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Palmilla, near San Jose del Cabo, is an idyllic setting for golf

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Robert Trent Jones, Jr., has said that the critical components of a great golf course are great land and water. South of the border there’s plenty of both, so it’s not surprising that Mexico offers some stunning golf. But in a country three times the size of Texas, the problem is deciding which courses to play. With more than 200 to choose from, the line has to be drawn somewhere, writes Steve Killick, so we’ll draw it in the sand at these resort courses...

Just over the border We start our journey on the Pacific coast in one of Mexico’s most visited regions: Baja California. It was here in Los Cabos, on the Baja peninsula’s southernmost tip, that the Mexican luxury tourist story first unfolded back in 1956.

The resort was founded by Abelardo Luis Rodriguez, son of a Mexican President, in an area that then comprised nothing more than a cluster of small fishing villages.

The insightful Rodriguez saw the potential lure of big game fishing in conjunction with a luxury resort, but golf was not yet on the agenda despite his aquiring 400 acres at nearby Palmilla, close to San Jose del Cabo.

Indeed, it was not until 1991 when Californian property developer (and all-round golf nut) Don Koll started building luxury homes here that golf arrived with a loud fanfare on Baja. Today if you want to sample some of the best the area has to offer, check in at the One & Only Palmilla resort, where every guest room faces towards the water, giving sensational views of the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortez.

Not all of the 27 holes available on the Jack Nicklausdesigned golf course are that memorable, but make sure that at least the Ocean Nine are on your itinerary as these holes have done most to earn the course its

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epithet: “Mexico’s answer to Pebble Beach.” The other two loops, Arroyo and Mountain, are equally testing, with vast areas of sandy waste, dry gulches with flowering shrubs and cacti, and even a reservoir or two to negotiate, but they just don’t come near the sheer standout beauty of the ocean holes.

If you are looking to play a number of courses, then resort owner Questro Golf is well worth giving a call as the company can provide three excellent holiday tracks at Cabo San Lucas, including Cabo Real, a Robert Trent Jones, Jr., design that has hosted two Senior Slam tournaments and where every hole has views over the Pacific. Add on Puerto Los Cabos and Club Campestre and you have three stunning courses, all in great shape, that are challenging rather than overwhelming.

One small non-golfing tip before you set off is to prepare yourself for Los Cabos International Airport.

Having filled-in lots of paperwork you will finally reach the small public area in arrivals where you will be confronted with locals offering you everything from a timeshare apartment to a taxi ride. Check that your hotel provides a shuttle, otherwise order your cab prior to arrival and then simply say no, politely of course, to everyone who is trying to part you from your hard-earned dollars.

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Down the Pacific highway In the first eight months of last year, more than 4 million tourists safely traveled from the U.S. to Mexico despite the increasingly lurid headlines about drug-related violence and kidnappings. This negative publicity trend is actually helping to increase the attractions of designated “safe resorts.” One that is consistently popular with golfing visitors is Puerto Vallarta. Set on the coastal plain at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range on the Pacific coast, “Vallarta,” as it is more simply known, boasts a number of courses, although their condition varies according to the volume of golfers pounding their greens and fairways.

Do take time out to enjoy El Tigre, though.

It may not be the most difficult course you have ever played, save one hole, but this Robert von Hagge design is perfect for a relaxing holiday round yet tough enough off the black tees to keep single-figure handicappers honest, especially when they get to the par-5 18th.

There is a profusion of water right from the 1st tee where a lake beside the tee box connects to another by the peninsula green via a meandering brook that runs all the way down the left side to a waterfall. Just ignore all that beauty and aim right!

Although 12 of the holes involve a water hazard, the 6th is the hole where it surrounds you. This 171-yard par-3 plays across a lake to an island green. Not content with this being difficult enough anyway, Von Hagge and his team stuck an insidious little pot bunker front left to tempt golfers into over-clubbing. And before climbing the steps to the huge clubhouse and that cold beer to which we have been so looking forward to, we have to negotiate the daunting 18th. At 621 yards off the tips, there are few more challenging holes in the whole of Mexico.

From the back tee it looks miles even to reach the fairway, which has water—lots of it—all the way down the left. In the far distance, there’s a green surrounded by what Von Hagge called a “beach bunker,” though it looks more beach than bunker. Prepare to be happy with bogey.

“The green is surrounded by what the designer calls a ‘beach bunker,’ though it looks to be more beach than bunker”

onto the Mayan RivieRa Having taken an all-too-brief peek at the Pacific coastline, our next stop is on the other side of the country and the Gulf of Mexico. Cancun has long had the reputation of being party central. Situated on the east coast of Mexico, what was once just small villages amidst mangrove swamps is now a high-rise, go-for-broke metropolis catering mainly to the young. To fuel the 24-hour fiesta, many of Cancun’s hotels offer packages that provide as much as you can eat and drink—and are subsequently replete with customers only too keen to accept the challenge.

Some resort hotels are more like small towns, providing everything their guests want without ever having to move off campus. Fortunately for those golfers seeking something less like the modern-day equivalent of a Roman

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orgy, there are discreet venues to check into, not to mention some wonderful courses to play at sensational locations.

Our starting point is somewhere we may not necessarily want to spend our entire holiday, The Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. Situated on the crescent-shaped isthmus that is Cancun’s premier hotel location, Moon Palace is huge with 2,457 rooms spread over 123 acres.

The beach is sparkling white, the sea is limpid turquoise but the downside is that it’s not unusual to see youthful party-goers carrying on without sleep until dawn and then forming a queue for breakfast that can resemble a crowd scene from Ben Hur. El Tigre (below) and Questro Golf (above) are perfect resort courses

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So before we check out let’s enjoy our discounted green fees and play the golf course, a solid 27-hole Nicklaus signature design with plenty of what Jack likes on a golf course: bucket-loads of water, sandy waste run-offs and a plethora of bunkers.

The course runs through thick jungle vegetation—so be sure to take plenty of insect repellent as the mosquitoes can come out in force here. Their favorite haunt is around the 8th, a 150-yard par-3 on the Lakes nine that plays over water to an island green. If you’re short, or go too far left or right, then simply re-load.

Ironically, our four-ball had most trouble with the jungle on the Lakes nine and the lakes on the Jungle nine.

provide good food and a welcoming atmosphere, but the fairways and bunkers have a tired look, having taken a severe pounding since golf first came to Cancun. And at a rack rate of $175 for a round, there are certainly bettervalue courses in the region.

It did appear that there would be an upturn in the club’s fortunes when it was acquired by the Puerto Cancun group that has undertaken the new seafront development jointly with the Mexican tourist board on 800 acres nearby where the 18-hole, Tom Weiskopf-designed Caiman was due to be up and running by 2009. However, the arrest of the Puerto Cancun Group’s president in connection with an alleged $419m fraud put the brakes on the project.

Staying dry is essential on the treacherous, 150-yard, par-3 8th hole on the Lakes nine at The Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort

However, the Dunes nine is by far the best of the three, with raised tee boxes and greens and some really tight drives and approaches to execute. It’s as if someone saw the Lakes and Jungle nines and then told Jack and his team to make more of an effort on the final nine.

Fortunately, there are four tee positions to choose from, and provided you play straight and sensibly you should be competitive off your handicap—you certainly don’t have to reach for your driver every time. But veer a fraction off line and that margarita you were so looking forward to in the clubhouse may not taste nearly as good.

The antidote to the Moon Palace experience, should one wish to escape the partying hordes surrounding the bars each evening, is to check into Cancun’s Westin Resort & Spa, a haven of relaxation with a breathtaking beachside setting.

Having admired the sea view, head for the grill room down on the beach where you can select your own seafood or delicious steaks and cook them yourself on a red hot stone set before you. If it doesn’t come up the way you like it, there’s no one to blame but yourself.

Having settled into this idyllic hotel, we don’t want to journey too far for our next round so we could head downtown for Cancun Golf Club at Pok-ta-Pok, the city’s oldest course, designed in 1976 by Trent Jones, Jr. Sadly, despite some glorious views along the coast, this course has seen better days. The clubhouse does

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Instead, it may make more sense to play one of the better tracks in this part of Mexico: Playa Mujeres.

Just five miles or so north of town, this Greg Norman course is a feast of golf and has been sensitively designed to ensure that most of the natural vegetation has remained refreshingly undisturbed. This allows the course to teem with animal and birdlife as it snakes its way through mangroves out onto a peninsula facing the Caribbean.

And if those Day-Glo colors of lemon, pink and blue on the clubhouse walls strike a chord it’s because architect Ricardo Legoretta designed the Westin resort hotel as well.

Right from the start, precision is of the essence here as we find ourselves shooting from island fairway to island fairway over thick bush and around huge, ravenous golden bunkers. The last three holes are absolute crackers: the par-4 16th doglegging right all the way down to the ocean; 17 is the ultimate penultimate at 597 yards with water, wasteland and trees hugging the fairway from tee to green; and the 460-yard 18th again has water down the right and only a tiny window to play through between two gigantic bunkers toward a sloping green. After that lot, while you may be ready for the refreshments, we were rather disappointed by the clubhouse bar. A better option is to treat yourself to a lively evening at La Parilla, a terrific Mexican grill in downtown Cancun; great cocktails, a wild Mexican band, delicious grills, prawns and a riot of Mexican staples like tortillas, nachos, fajitas and burritos.

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“Great cocktails, grilled prawns, tortillas, burritos and fajitas are just some of the post-round rewards Mexico has to offer”

Boo Weekley hits a shot from near the cenote on the 1st hole of El Camaleón Golf Club (also below) during the 2011 Mayakoba Golf Classic

South of CanCun Our next trip takes us south of Cancun, some 40 miles down to what is known as the Mayan Riviera, to Playacar Spa & Golf Club. Like Moon Palace it is owned by Palace Resorts, but the hotel and it’s golf course are designed for a more discerning clientele. In fact, the par-72 Von Hagge course is a beauty. It winds its way round the perimeter of the jungle before presenting lots of water at the 9th and the finish. There are four tee boxes with the course playing from 7,144 yards off the back down to 5,697 for ladies. More significantly, this is another really tight driving course; if your ball goes into the trees it has gone.

One of the real treats at Playacar is the wildlife, with coatimundi (gold-colored relatives of the raccoon family) ready to burst out of the bush the moment you drop any food, and agouti (large brown rodents) scuttling through the undergrowth. There’s much to admire at Playacar even if at peak times it can get a little busy.

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Also south of Cancun is Playa Paraiso, a fiendish design by P.B. Dye described by one commentator as “a mountain bike course recast in green.” Here we have lush hillside, extravagantly sloping greens with spectacular shots into holes over towering mounds and deep bunkers, all framed by the seemingly impenetrable Mayan jungle.

On the way round, the fairways seem to get narrower although fortunately that jungle is not as thick as it looks and there’s a good chance you’ll find your errant tee shots.

As good as Playa Paraiso is, we at Kingdom firmly suggest every golfer visiting Mexico follow in the footsteps of the PGA Tour and play the immaculately maintained Greg Norman El Camaleón design at the exclusive Mayakoba resort on the Riviera Maya. Home each February to the Mayakoba Golf Classic. The only PGA Tour event played outside of America, this track epitomizes Norman’s belief that a course should be playable for tournament pros and high-handicappers alike, offering a fair and honest challenge to all.

The 7,272-yard layout has an ever-changing appearance, winding through three distinct landscapes: mangrove jungles, limestone canals and picture-perfect oceanfront sand. Even a huge underground canyon (cenote) features on the opening fairway. This is certainly a course that needs to be played more than once and the nearby Fairmont Hotel makes this a superb destination for enjoying both a relaxing week and some of the most testing and pleasureable golf that can be found anywhere.

Overall, Mexico is a superb destination for the traveling golfer—and it’s getting better every day, with new ideas on the drawing boards of some of the world’s best course designers. The King’s eye has been on the country for some time, and there’s no telling what design dreams the warm shores and broad landscapes might have inspired at Arnold Palmer Design Company—so keep your eyes peeled, it could be that the best in Mexican golf is yet to come. In any case, with great land meeting spectacular water and plenty of golden sunshine everywhere, there can be no doubt that the future of Mexican golf is bright indeed.

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For the sixth consecutive year the Mayakoba Resort will open its doors to the PGA TOUR, 132 top professional golfers and a worldwide television viewing audience, when it plays host once again to Mexico’s Only PGA TOUR Event – the Mayakoba Golf Classic, February 22-26, 2012.

T

he Mayakoba Golf Classic following tremendous success in its first five years, looks to further establish itself as one of the PGA TOUR’s most entertaining and exciting stops for PGA TOUR players and sports fans alike,” said Larson Segerdahl, Tournament Director.

The event week features a one-day Pro-Am competition followed by four days of professional competition.

There are a variety of spectator experiences including: the popular El Camino ($75 USD per day) and Fiesta Club ($150 USD per day) passes which include food and beverage and access to premier hospitality facilities around the golf course.

“Having drawn in the past World Golf Hall of Fame Members –Greg Norman and Nick Price; Major Champions – John Daly, David Toms, David Duval, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin and Graeme McDowell; and fan favorites – Fred Funk, Boo Weekley, Rory Sabbatini, Jhonattan Vegas and Charles Howell III to name only a few, the Mayakoba Golf Classic creates moments and memories that will forever be a part of golf history and the Mayakoba story,” continues Segerdahl.

Mayakoba, ancient Mayan for ‘City over the Water’ is an inspirational combination of ecological elegance and archeological awe. It is a place where lagoons, waterways and cenotes weave magically through tropical mangroves, leading to one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular beaches.

Set on 640 acres of tropical mangroves bordering the white sand beaches of the Mexican Caribbean, Mayakoba’s natural beauty is the inspiration for the most exclusive and private resort destination on the coveted coast of the Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Easily accessed via the Cancun International Airport, the resort’s collection of luxury hotels and vacation residences – the Fairmont Mayakoba, Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree Mayakoba – each present a unique experience for resort guests and residents.

The development, which features an array of amenities within the various resorts such as fine dining, spas, beach clubs, a state-of-the-art Jim McLean Golf School and the picturesque Greg Norman designed championship golf course, El Camaleón, shines brightest during the week of the Mayakoba Golf Classic and showcases the best that Mayakoba has to offer. •

COME EXPERIENCE MAYAKOBA AND THE MAYAKOBA GOLF CLASSIC FOR YOURSELF! El Camino

Fiesta Club

$75 USD per person per day Provides access to three hospitality venues strategically located around the course. Includes complimentary appetizers, soft drinks, beer and wine.

$150 USD per person per day Provides access to the three El Camino venues and the exclusive Fiesta Club located on the 18th green. Includes complimentary breakfast, lunch and appetizers and complete bar service.

“Monday After” Golf Outing

Pro-Am Competition

$1,500 USD + 11% VAT per playing position Play El Camaleon one day after the exciting final round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Test your mettle by taking on the course as its been prepared for PGA TOUR play – final round pin placements, green speeds, etc. – and see what it feels like to compete as a PGA TOUR professional. Four PGA TOUR professionals will be on hand to play a few holes with you and provide tips along the way.

$4,500 USD + 11% VAT per playing position Nothing puts the Mayakoba Golf Classic’s guests closer to the action than participating in the Pro-Am competition. Live out your golf fantasy by teaming up with one of the world’s premier PGA TOUR professionals during this exciting and engaging event. Pro-Am participants will get a glimpse of what it is like to be a PGA TOUR professional for a day while competing inside the ropes at El Camaleón. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime experience.

Please contact us today for more information:

(888) 66-SHARK • info@MayakobaGolfClassic.com www.MayakobaGolfClassic.com

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Kingdom caught up recently with Geoff Tait and Bobby Pasternak, the creative brains behind an exciting new range of golf apparel honoring Mr. Palmer’s heyday as the game’s most popular and charismatic player Words: Paul Trow

A collection of clothing styles that originated up to 60 years ago and were made fashionable by Arnold Palmer is set to sweep through the golf market like a new broom in 2012.

“Arnie,” a golf and lifestyle apparel line directly inspired by the looks and fabrics worn by Mr. Palmer during the peak decades of his playing career, will be officially launched by Canadian company Quagmire Golf at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL, in January.

In keeping with the casual aesthetic that distinguished Mr. Palmer as a trendsetter and style icon both on and off the course, each piece is designed, crafted and detailed to meet the highest standards. The collection will feature a whole wardrobe of garments from each of three specific decades—the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s—along with a range that will be known simply as Timeless, like the man himself.

Geoff Tait and Bobby Pasternak, the Toronto-based owners of Quagmire Golf, had a soft launch for the Arnie range during the PGA Expo trade show in Las Vegas, NV, in August and went away highly encouraged by the initial response from retailers, golf pros, buyers and the media.

“Everyone who came up to our stand loved the pieces from all the new collections, and we can’t wait to share them with even more folks from throughout the golf and fashion industries,” Tait, who is Quagmire’s creative director, says. “The show here [in Las Vegas] is more about Quagmire Golf’s Geoff Tait (left) and Bobby Pasternak team up with Mr. Palmer

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marketing and networking for us than taking orders at this stage. We need people to know what the Arnie brand is all about. Sales in the first year aren’t going to be huge, but the second and third years will be the development years.”

So backtracking to the start of the project, the obvious questions were… how did a company that specializes in making lifestyle and golf clothes for youngsters link up with such a pillar of the establishment, and what steps did they need to take to bring the collection to fruition?

“This all came out of the blue just over a year or so ago when IMG [Mr. Palmer’s management company] called up on behalf of Arnold Palmer Enterprises,” Tait explains.

“They said they liked what Quagmire had been doing in the golf apparel business and started talking about an Arnold Palmer license. So we went and had a meeting with Jim Neish, IMG’s head man in Toronto, and that’s where we began. I was nervous because it was a true honor to be approached about doing the Arnie collection but I didn‘t want it to turn into a corporate brand.

“The next stage was a meeting at the TPC resort at Ponte Vedra in Florida and Mr. Palmer’s colleague Cori Britt was there as well as representatives from IMG. We took some samples along but we didn’t have any bags to present them in, so we used the hotel’s plastic bags. The next meeting after that was when we invited them to our facilities in Toronto—to show them we weren’t just selling clothes out of the back of our car. Our business partners are the Jaytex Group who distribute at least a dozen wellknown brands across Canada, names like Tommy Bahama, Ben Sherman and Kenneth Cole as well as Quagmire.

“This meant Mr. Palmer’s people could see where we operated from. We also have a 25-man team in Hong Kong where we coordinate our production in Shanghai so we get our orders completed on time. This visit proved we were for real and that we could get this project together.

“Next we made a trip to Latrobe, PA, to meet Amy [Saunders, Mr. Palmer’s daughter], Jerry Palmer [Mr. Palmer’s brother] and Doc [Giffin]. When we were there, we went through the closets in the house and the items in his museum/workshop. We got to take home some sweaters and pants from the old days from his trunk. We also went through Mr. Palmer’s library of photographs from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and his archive of historical garments, and photocopied a bunch of pictures. It’s remarkable how many items he’s saved over the years, including some totally amazing clothes that are just as trendy now as they were back in the day.

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“From there we made drawings and we took them to Orlando at the time of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March. Amy, Sam Saunders [Amy’s son and Mr. Palmer’s grandson] and Mr. Palmer himself were there and Sam suggested a few things. We then made the samples and put together the catalogue [entitled ‘Arnie—Spring, Summer & Fall Deliveries 2012’].

“Now we’re in position to start shipping the 1950s and Timeless ranges on January 15 [2012] and the big launch will be later the same month at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Mr. Palmer hopes to be there, and Amy and Cori too. The 1960s range will be ready for shipping by March 15 and the 1970s range on June 15.

“Initially we’ll be retailing in the United States only and are aiming to sell the Arnie collection through major department stores and high-end green-grass outlets, including courses like Pebble Beach and Doral. The retail price spectrum for everything—shirts, shorts, cardigans, etc—will be between $59-89.”

Each collection consists of fits based on the looks that were popular during a particular decade.

1960s The 60s were all about self-expression, and Mr. Palmer effortlessly achieved that. His style was a bit more relaxed than in the 50s, with wider-legged pants, bigger shirt collars and longer plackets (four buttons). “No golfer of the era looked cooler than he did, and these pieces were more retro, if you like, but great fun to design,” Tait says. That’s especially true for the super-stylish cardigans and mock turtleneck tops that were among Mr. Palmer’s trademarks on the course.

1970s During what was certainly a fashionable decade, Mr. Palmer favored performance fabrics, some all-cotton pieces and a cool yet subdued color palette (hence grey being the signature color exclusive to the 70s collection). During this time he also popularized the diamond-patterned Argyle pullovers that he wore when visiting the windswept links of the British Isles. His shirts had slightly wider collars and three-button plackets, but the fit of his pants more closely resembled a modern boot cut. “Overall, the looks translate incredibly well to the fits and fashions we see today,” Tait adds.

1950s With a clean, straight, comfortable fit, this collection can be worn on the course or even to the office. Tops feature short plackets (button lines from the neck down), small collars and shorter sleeves while the pants are defined by a straight leg. At the time, Mr. Palmer wore a lot of red clothes—which is why the color is exclusively found in the 50s collection.

TIMELESS This small collection contains some pieces that were in fashion throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, and remain just as popular today, like plaid pants and shorts.

The shirts have a modern fit and go well with anything and everything, so golf clubs and shops can use them as core polos. The Timeless range also features the collectible T-shirts and belts that every true Arnie fan should have.

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Pasternak, who is Quagmire’s sales director, sums up: “It’s rare that the term ‘icon’ is an understatement, but that’s certainly true when it comes to Arnold Palmer.

As a sportsman, businessman and philanthropist, his accomplishments are legendary.

“He won seven major championships and 94 professional titles, which is astounding, but he was a cultural force way beyond the golf course. The lifestyle he led is what’s behind each piece we’ve designed and the result is a collection that’s clean, classic and cool.

“For Arnie and his team to select us to bring his apparel line back to market—and work so closely with us on the collection development—has been an amazing experience. Everything, from the new two-color variation of the Arnold Palmer umbrella to the fits and details, was a collaborative process.”

As for the logos that appear on the clothing, the vast majority of items carry the umbrella, signifying the highest quality and finest technical fabrics. But as Tait points out: “Some of the pieces Mr. Palmer wore back in the day were impossible to improve on so we made exact replicas. For us, these are the signature garments and they deserve extra special treatment. That’s why we’ve identified one shirt from each collection and given it a silhouette of Mr. Palmer’s distinctive follow-through.”

For his part, Mr. Palmer seems more than pleased with the Arnie collection’s progress to date.

“The Arnie line of apparel represents the styles of clothing that are as popular today as they were in the earlier part of my career,” he says. “It’s been a real thrill to see some of my signature pieces come back to life, and experience the enthusiasm Geoff and Bobby have for introducing them to the next generation.”

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Tait and Pasternak founded Quagmire in 2005 soon after meeting on a golf trip. “A few years earlier, I wanted to be a head pro and I took a teaching job on a cruise. I went to university in Australia and started selling kneelength beach pants and slacks in surf shops on Bondi Beach in Sydney,” Tait recalls. “When I met Bob he was a tour guide and we were going round Florida playing all the courses they play on Tour, including Bay Hill and the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. We hit it off right away and I said to Bob, ‘let’s start a good young sports clothing company for golfers because these kids are all wearing labels like Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister.’

“It looked like a good way to enter the golf business but we were pioneers and it was a hard sell to start with.

We were selling out of 10 shops in Canada at the end of our first year, but after the second year we had 100 shops. We branched out into the U.S. about three years ago.

“One of our biggest sources of revenue at the moment is non-golf clothing for kids—things like hoodies and T-shirts that change color according to temperature or moisture.”

Mr. Palmer is probably not planning to add a hoodie to the Arnie collection, but it should be remembered that in his time he set the trends every bit as much as the leading pop stars of today. GQ has dubbed him one of “The 25 Coolest Athletes of All Time” and one of the “50 Most Stylish Men of the Past 50 Years,” while rival magazine Esquire included him in their roll call of “The 75 Best Dressed Men of All Time.” With a pedigree like this, Arnie, like the man it’s named for, looks a surefire winner.

For more, arniewear.com

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HE’S GOT IT,

By y George!

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Despite the economic crisis, the European Tour has never been in ruder health. Even in its halcyon days around two decades ago, when Ballesteros, Faldo and Langer ruled the roost, threats to its viability were rarely far from the surface. Now it’s a global brand and much of the credit must go to the man about to start his eighth year at the helm. Continuing our series profiling golf’s movers and shapers, George O’Grady tells Paul Trow about the many phases of his career

In life, there are bosses born with the proverbial silver spoon and there are bosses who work their way up from the ground floor. Even more pertinently, there are bosses who are born to be bosses.

George O’Grady, uniquely perhaps in the golf industry, falls into all three categories. The boyish-looking chief executive of the European Tour, who wouldn’t have looked out of place as one of Harry Potter’s prefects at Hogwarts, had already worked for the organization in various roles for more than 30 years before becoming head boy in 2005.

The European Tour, buoyant on the back of several Ryder Cup and major championship triumphs during the 1980s and ’90s though still coming to terms with its rapid expansion into other continents, has since gone from strength to strength. Indeed, O’Grady’s seven-year reign has seen two further successes in the Ryder Cup, 14 victories in the majors by Tour members past and present, and the same number of wins in WGC events.

It’s all a far cry from the days when the fledgling European Tour was set up by the [British and Irish] PGA in 1972 in response to increasing TV interest in professional tournaments.

Prior to joining the European Tour as a tournament director and referee in 1974, O’Grady had worked as an investment analyst with Esso Petroleum and then briefly as a stockbroker. “I’d seen a golf job advertised and I was interviewed by Colin Snape, who was chief executive of the PGA at the time,” he recalls. “John Jacobs, Bernard Hunt and several other leading players of the time were on the Board. We were then based in an office at The Oval [a famous cricket ground in south London].

“Tony Gray [now retired] and I started at the same time in the same role, alternating from tournament to tournament.

Ken Schofield [O’Grady’s predecessor as chief executive] joined a year later and John Paramor [the Tour’s long-serving chief referee] about a year after that. At that point, we were pretty much the only full-time members of staff. The rules’ part of my job at the time probably represented 5 percent of my total duties. The other 95 percent was all about running the tournaments and attracting publicity for them.”

“It was wonderful for a young man making his way in the game to spend time with Mr. Palmer and Gary Player”

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O’Grady, now 62, was born in Singapore and educated at a boarding school in the west of England county of Somerset. “My father was a doctor in the RAF so we travelled a lot when I was growing up,” he explains.

“My home club is Royal Lytham & St. Annes [in northwest England where the 2012 British Open will be staged] and I got down to a handicap of 6 in my youth.”

Today he rarely plays more than once a month and, not surprisingly, his handicap has drifted up to 15.

When he does play it’s usually at Wentworth (whence the European Tour moved its HQ in 1981), its west-of-London neighbor Sunningdale, and Lytham, though he is also a member of the R&A. “In the early days, when we took it in turns to run tournaments, Tony [Gray] and myself did everything— enforcing the rules, overseeing the pace of play, collecting the scores, liaising with the sponsors and promoters, calculating the prizemoney, writing the checks and posting them out. These are all separate jobs now, with specific individuals in charge, but in those days it was a ‘belts and braces’ operation. We were also responsible for organizing the Wednesday pro-ams, so you could say that it was a flatout, seven-day-a-week job during the tournament season.

“The first tournament Tony and I worked together on was the PGA Championship in 1975 at Royal St. George’s [in Sandwich, southeast England], which was sponsored

by Penfold and won by Arnold Palmer. He was always very amenable to me—even back in those days. It was wonderful for a young man making his way in the game to spend time with him. He and Gary Player were a constant source of help and advice, and had a huge interest in golf in the U.K. We helped with the outset of the Golf Channel around 20 years ago—and both Joe Gibbs, its founder, and Mr. Palmer were terrific people to be around.

“I remember refereeing the great match between Arnold and Seve [Ballesteros] in the 1983 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth. Arnold [nearly 54 at the time] was 1-up at the time and looked certain to win. His ball was on the 18th green in two while Seve was some way short and right. Then, of course, Seve chipped in, the match went to extra holes and Seve won. I remember accompanying Arnold in the cart for the start of the playoff and he was chuckling. ‘That reminds me of the time I used to do that to everyone else,’ he said.”

In O’Grady’s early years at the European Tour, the

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“As long as the Olympics and the Ryder Cup keep going, the game will have plenty of chances to grow”

Quite a team: O’Grady and his predecessor Ken Schofield (seated)

tournament season ran for six months from April to October, and was based mainly in Great Britain and Ireland with a few continental slots on the schedule for events like the Dutch, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Swiss Opens.

Over the next decade, the Tour gradually widened its scope with many more events in Europe following the emergence of Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. It even went inter-continental in 1982 when the Tunisian Open was included on the schedule. That year, the season stretched into November for the first time. Thus the Tour was getting busier and the demand for more sponsors, prizemoney and infrastructure for tournaments was growing.

“In 1983, I stopped refereeing,” O’Grady says. “Unless you’re constantly in touch with the rules, it’s not fair to pass judgment on the players who by then were playing for much larger purses. It was a lot of money then, even though, obviously, it’s a lot more now. Officiating at a tournament is a specialist job.

“The tipping point came when I was running the Swiss Open at Crans-sur-Sierre and I was on the phone negotiating with a prospective sponsor about a future event.

The conversation had got to a delicate stage when I was called out onto the course to give an urgent ruling. I had to hang up on the sponsor and call him back later.”

In 1984, the European Tour was made a limited company and that same year PGA European Tour Enterprises was formed with O’Grady as managing director.

The PGA Tour, had gone down a similar path a decade and a half earlier—a process over which Mr. Palmer exercised some influence.

“European Tour Enterprises, our commercial arm,

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came into being in 1984 and I was in charge of that. It involved a bit of everything—in addition to running golf tournaments we provided a consulting service. Our first major agreement was with Epson, a computer company, with whom we formed an Order of Merit bonus pool and a match play championship. This led to a much bigger agreement with Volvo when, for a spell, we renamed the Tour as the Volvo Tour. Volvo was the biggest sponsor we’d ever had at that time and it became important for us to put our own international TV footage together, so that led to the formation of European Tour Productions in 1991.

There were no satellite or cable channels in those days, so we always had to go cap in hand to the BBC and ITV [the monopolistic British broadcasters].

“From that point onwards, perhaps the biggest achievement of the Schofield era [over the next 15 years] was getting access for more of our players into the major championships, the World Golf Championships, PGA Tour and other Tours around the world. Nothing matters more than hanging on to your own players and keeping them happy. But you need partnerships to survive.”

Nowadays, the European Tour enjoys a variety of multi-year business partnerships, particularly with oil-rich countries in the Middle East like Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai, and the Asian economic powerhouses of China, Korea and India. South Africa and Australia are also regular stop-offs, much to the benefit of local tournaments in terms of prizemoney and quality of field. Perhaps O’Grady’s single biggest achievement in this respect, though, came in 2009 with the successful introduction of the Race to Dubai, with a season-ending finale worth more than $150m over its first five years.

There is unquestionably an international emphasis O’Grady takes center stage (below) as he announces that Le Golf National in Paris, France has been named as the host course for the 2018 Ryder Cup

Commander O’Grady: After receiving his CBE from the Queen

to O’Grady’s approach to his duties. “I’m on the executive committee of the International Golf Federation, which includes all the main tours around the world, and the World Golf Foundation. Peter Dawson [chief executive of the R&A] and I represent the interests of the rest of the world in these arenas.

“Golf is struggling to grow in its established markets so we have to develop the sport around the world, improve its image and spread it into different regions. As long as the Olympics and Ryder Cup keep going, the game will have plenty of chances to grow. And as long as the local governing bodies are growing the sport for their country’s youngsters they will be eligible for grants. We’re obviously looking at places like China, India, Russia and South America for golf to make huge strides in terms of getting people to take up the game.

“For its part, the European Tour is now a truly global project. Air travel has made everywhere much closer, so the world tour does exist unofficially. It’s tough to put together a European Tour schedule in Europe only, so we’ve had to adapt. For instance, England has no God-given right to have tournaments if there’s a better offer on the table from somewhere else. Our Tour is virtually a 12-monthsof-the-year show and there are players of high quality in all the markets we visit. Playing standards are unbelievably high. Make one mistake at a tournament now and you’re off the leader-board.

“I’m upbeat about the game’s future prospects, not least because places like Dubai, Ireland and Spain—where there have been serious economic problems linked to the collapsing value of real estate—are still very much on board and active contributors.

“These are certainly the best days for the Tour since Seve, Langer and Faldo were in their prime. In Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, Europe now has the top four in the world. But what we’ve got now is a Tour with many, many players who can win

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on any given week. Paul Casey has lost his PGA Tour card, which might mean we’ll see more of him next year—after all, he’s still a world top-25 player. The Italians have come on a lot recently, as have the French, and Francesco Molinari has won a World Golf Championship title. Both countries have tremendous younger players and, though none has yet won a major, it will happen, given time.

“The European Tour is a serious alternative to America—not a rival, an alternative. There are plenty of areas where the European Tour and the PGA Tour can unite. We know it makes sense for us to come together.

The combined strength of our two Tours is huge. True, the bulk of the World Golf Championships have been played in the States. There was hostility about that over here early on, but the sponsors’ needs could only be met by the U.S. TV networks.

“Tim Finchem [the PGA Tour commissioner] and I work together and have been doing so even more closely since we became involved in the drive to get golf in the Olympics. We have regular telephone conversations. I feel the two of us are on the same wavelength.”

O’Grady, who is married to Barbara and has two children, became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to sport in 2010. Modest as ever, he said at the time: “This is a tremendous honor. I feel I’m accepting it on behalf of so many people who have contributed to the growth and influence of the European Tour.”

But without judicious leadership, the Tour’s remarkable transformation over the past 38 years would simply not have happened. Every pro who tees up at every tournament today, even on the Challenge and Senior Tours, should know where the bulk of the credit is due.

Say no more.

O’Grady appreciates the value of young stars like Rory McIlroy

Back on Course The 1960s and ’70s were good for golf. Arnold Palmer and a cast of others popularized the game and took it mainstream, with the result being that millions of people picked up some clubs. By 1980 there were nearly 23 million golfers in the U.S.—and today a lot of them are still swinging, much to the chagrin of their backs. Here, an expert from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation offers a few tips on how to keep golfing, and how to keep your back in the game. text by A.J. Cianflooco, MD Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Primary Care Physician, Cleveland Cavaliers

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Compared to other sports, golf is considered “low risk.”

However, with the average golfer playing 37 rounds per year and spending additional time practicing, injuries are possible. Among professionals and the seriously competitive, the most common problems come from overuse. Among recreational golfers and true amateurs, most injuries are due to poor mechanics.

Whether the injuries come from poor body mechanics, poor swing mechanics, excessive practice or overuse, inadequate warm-up, lack of a customized exercise program, poor nutrition, or improper club fit, estimates suggest that 50 percent of injuries will become chronic. And getting older doesn’t help.

The most common site of injury and complaint in golfers of all abilities is the low back, which represents 23 to 35 percent of all problems. A prior history of low back injury, especially that which is chronic in nature, is a predisposing factor. During the golf swing, the back undergoes significant muscular activity and movement in a very short period of time, approximately .95 to 1.25 seconds in a PGA professional and 2 seconds in an amateur, generating considerable force on the back. Compressive forces on the spine can reach eight times body weight and are similar to that of a football lineman hitting a sled.

This activity and force, compounded by repetitive golf swings, contribute to the high rate of back injury in golfers.

Amateurs compensate for poor mechanics by swinging harder, further increasing forces on the low back.

Swing faults contributing to low back injury include S-posture, reverse spine angle, early extension, restricted right leg follow-through, and reverse C finish. Studies suggest that the injury may occur in the follow-through phase (impact through completion of the swing). A comparison analysis of the “modern golf swing” and the “classic golf swing” describes less force on the low back with the “classic swing.” With the “classic swing,” hips and shoulders rotate together creating less stress on the spine.

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The “modern swing,” with more hip-shoulder separation (X-Factor), creates more stress on the spine. Golfers with limited mobility of their lead hip (left hip in a right-handed golfer) may have an increased incidence of low back pain.

Golfers who carry their own bag also have an increased incidence of low back injuries.

Common back injuries in golfers include sprains and strains of the paraspinal muscles and the sacroiliac joints, facet syndrome or irritation of the small joints of the back of the spine, lumbar disc injury, and aggravation of underlying degenerative disease of the spine including degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis. Treatment of these injuries includes rest or activity modification, anti-inflammatory agents, physical therapy with a rehabilitative program focusing on flexibility and core strength to rectify deficiencies, and correction of swing faults and practice routine. Adjuncts to the physical therapy may include modalities, such as ultrasound, and manipulative therapy. As you can see, the treatment plan consists of a triad of professionals including a physician, physical therapist and professional golf instructor. Following guidelines set by each will allow for a safe and timely return to golf.

The treating health care professional, physician and physical therapist should understand the golf swing and factors associated with low back injuries in golfers. By doing so, not only can a treatment and rehabilitation program to facilitate a safe, expeditious recovery and return to the golf course be instituted, but also a program to reduce the likelihood of low back injury with golf in the future.

A low back injury prevention programs focus on exercises for strength, flexibility and posture, aerobic conditioning, correction of training errors, improving swing mechanics, and proper nutrition. Correction of swing mechanics and training errors require the involvement of a PGA teaching professional. An appropriate off-course exercise program must be complemented by an appropriate warm-up and practice routine on the range and course.

Adjustments to the swing can help reduce stress on the

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Rory McIlroy and other pros stay in good shape and stretch often to avoid injuries on Tour

lumbar spine; these include minimizing the difference between hip and shoulder rotation, flow-though with the spine perpendicular to the ground (less reverse “C”), and maintaining the appropriate spine angle.

A preventive exercise program for the low back consists of both stretching exercises for flexibility and core strengthening exercises to maintain proper posture.

Stretching focuses not only on the core and lower back, but also the hamstring and gluteal muscles, and the hip joints.

Strengthening focuses on core muscles including lumbar, abdominal, and gluteal muscles. Power is governed by soft tissue tension. The more flexible you are, the more “tension” you can transmit into energy. Increased flexibility allows you to get the club into proper position at impact. The result can be greater distance and accuracy. Core strength contributes to better posture, even spinal pressure, and a more efficient swing with less pressure on the low back.

Aerobic conditioning is important for endurance to help with better shots late in the round as well as reducing the risk of injury from fatigue. In general, individuals who participate in a regular aerobic exercise program have fewer low back problems. Despite what its detractors may say golf is an aerobic sport. Exercise three times per week for at least 20 minutes maintaining a level of intensity that still allows you to carry on a conversation. Always consult your physician before starting such a program. Jogging, cycling, swimming and using a StairMaster are examples of aerobic exercise. Walking the golf course requires a walk of four to five miles for 18 holes.

The key to prevention of low back problems is to stay active year-round with an appropriate stretching, strengthening and aerobic conditioning program. Consult a physician early to prevent an injury from becoming a chronic condition and prior to starting an exercise regimen. Your physician can refer you to a physical therapist for rehabilitation of an injury, as well as for a

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year round exercise and conditioning program. Consult a PGA teaching professional for help with your swing and practice routine. Prep like a pro—arrive early and do not rush; stretch before swinging, warming up the entire body; progress from stretching to slow swings; continue stretching throughout the round; and minimize fatigue with proper nutrition and hydration. Following these tips will help minimize the risk of injury, increase your playing time and improve your performance.

Golf Smart Cleveland Clinic Sports Health recognizes the difference sport-specific rehabilitation makes. Golf Smart offers techniques and strategies for success, whether you’re currently injured or looking to prevent injury. Our physical therapists specialize in therapeutic techniques designed not only for the sport but also for the individual athlete.

During your initial session, a licensed physical therapist will: • Assess your golf posture and alignment • Screen your spine and extremity joints • Review your golf swing for flexibility, strength, stability and balance A golf swing evaluation by a PGA Professional is also available. After the evaluation, we work on your mechanics.

We focus on the motions a golfer repeats. Golf Smart is just the beginning. We also offer Performance Training Systems for those interested in a full performance regimen.

Golfers of all ages and ability come to Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. You’ll appreciate a program guided by golf professionals and tailored to your needs. Several staff members are certified through the Titleist Performance Institute. We take your recovery personally. Whether you golf recreationally or competitively, we treat you like an athlete, not a patient.

To schedule your golf assessment, call 1.877.440.TEAM (8326)

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FESTIVALS OF FIFE St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland is revered throughout the sporting world as the Home of Golf. But this iconic town has many other claims to fame—historical, academic, cultural and royal—and is preparing itself for a prolonged period of celebrations over the next few years Words: Paul Trow

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The half-decade that spans the [British] Open Championships of 2010 and 2015 could prove to be one of the liveliest and most colourful periods in the Auld Grey Toun’s illustrious history.

The build-up to last year’s Open over the Old Course began promisingly enough with Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington bathed in sunlight as they received honorary degrees from the University of St. Andrews, though the cold, damp, sometimes windy week that followed was compounded by a hint of anticlimax as South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen strolled to a bloodless, seven-shot victory.

Things hotted up thereafter with the university unveiling exciting plans for a rolling two-year program of activities leading up to its 600th anniversary in 2013. Of course, this initiative gained early momentum when, in April this year, two of its most famous alumni, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Will and Kate), were married before the eyes of the world in London’s Westminster Abbey.

The university’s celebrations embrace the whole of St. Andrews and its civilian community, but there will be precious little time for the dust to settle on this “town and gown” jamboree before the world’s oldest golf tournament tees up on the world’s oldest golf course for a record 29th time.

Meanwhile, 2012 also looks certain to be a pivotal year at the Home of Golf, starting with the very first St. Andrews Golf Festival from March 28 to April 1. Golf in the town predates the university by a few years and the overriding theme of this project is the celebration of the birthplace of the game.

The brainchild of Richard Wax, one of Europe’s leading golf-design consultants, and managed locally by CEO Roger McStravick, the festival is expected to attract Kyle Phillips (below) is the designer of Kingsbarns Golf Links

thousands of enthusiasts from across the globe as well as rekindle the Spirit of St. Andrews.

“We wanted to create an entertaining program of events, presentations, displays and demonstrations to showcase so many dynamic aspects of the sport,” Wax explains. “We aim to attract visitors who want to experience the rich history, traditions and innovations that have taken place since golf was first played here.”

The festival will feature golf photography, literature, film, guided walks, humor, entertainment, technology, course architecture, fashion and personalities. Specific exhibitions will be devoted to ladies golf, the Ryder Cup and legends of the game like “Old” Tom Morris, Bobby Jones and the late Seve Ballesteros, while offbeat entertainment will include the “playing” of classic courses with antique hickory-shafted clubs on state-of-the-art golf simulators and portrayals of some of the game’s historic characters by local actor David Joy. Mungo Park, the great-grandson of Willie Park Sr., who won the very first Open in 1860 at Prestwick, will give a talk on his family history while the Dunvegan Hotel, just round the corner from the Old Course and a favorite watering-hole of Mr. Palmer’s, will host an exhibition of portraits of every single “champion golfer.” Other local establishments committed to participating in the festival are the St. Andrews Museum, St. Andrews Preservation Trust, the Openview Gallery and the Happy Hacker Golf Shop.

Glenmuir and Sunderland, two of Scotland’s foremost golf apparel companies, are to support the festival which was officially launched at the inaugural St. Andrews World Golf Forum in October. The forum was a gathering of many of the game’s leading figures and thinkers with the purpose of generating new ideas to help grow the game worldwide.

Keynote speakers at the forum included Kyle Phillips, who designed the majestic Kingsbarns Golf Links just six miles south of St. Andrews, Planet Golf and Planet Golf USA author Darius Oliver, and Jack Peter, CEO of the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.

Joe Austen’s paintings of Bobby Jones and “Old” Tom Morris will be on display during the St. Andrews Golf Festival

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The next significant occasion is scheduled for June when Hamilton Grand (the Victorian redbrick building next to the R&A clubhouse) is due to reopen. A previous development attempt left it near-derelict so, while this new work may not be to everyone’s taste, the restoration of this historic landmark is most surely welcome.

The last week in September, as it has done every year since 1985, will see the annual influx of celebrities, tycoons and European Tour professionals for Alfred Dunhill’s flagship golf tournament that is played over the Old Course, Kingsbarns and the Championship Course at Carnoustie on the north side of the bay. The organizers of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as this prestigious, 72-hole Pro-Am has been known since 2001, are contracted to stage the tournament up to and including the fall of 2014, which will mark an unbroken run of 30 years at the Home of Golf.

All through next year, the wheels of the university anniversary will continue to turn with Geoff Morris, director of special projects and corporate relations, driving the engine. “I was recruited from Cambridge University where I was in charge of the 800th anniversary celebrations [during 2009-10],” he says.

“So you could say I’m a birthday party coordinator!”

He admits he’s a hard-nosed fund-raiser, but he’s well aware that “you have to balance celebration with the academic pursuit of excellence. You mustn’t waste money but it’s still important to celebrate even if we’re in an economic downturn. The university’s goal is to become as self-sufficient and as independent as it can be.

“On the other hand, this town has a population of 20,000 people, 7,000 of whom are students and 2,000 of whom, in term-time, are employees of the university, so our need to be successful is the town’s need. Everything we do will take place in harmony with the town, to benefit the town.

“St. Andrews is a much smaller university than Cambridge but it punches well above its weight. The breakdown of its personnel is one-third Scottish, one-third from elsewhere in the EU and one-third from outside the EU, so international relations are very important. For instance, we have more than a 1,000 students here from the United States alone.”

When he arrived from Cambridge, Morris set up a golf committee involving the university, the St. Andrews Links Trust, which administers the Old Course and the town’s six other layouts, and the R&A, organizers of the Open.

“To help us with our celebrations, the Links Trust has given us the use of the Old Course for an entire Sunday in June 2013 to stage a big golf event—an exceptional gesture bearing in mind that the Old Course is always closed on Sundays. Obviously we’d like the day to be a big income generator, but it also has to be a memorable occasion that involves local people and students as well as celebrities and donors.”

Home, they say, is where the heart is, and the “heart” appears to be beating as strongly and passionately as ever in and around the Home of Golf.

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WHERE TO PLAY IN THE KINGDOM OF FIFE Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum, Balgove and Castle Courses standrews.org.uk Kingsbarns Golf Links kingsbarns.com Torrance and Kittocks Courses fairmont.com/standrews Duke’s Course oldcoursehotel.co.uk Balcomie and Craighead Links crailgolfingsociety.co.uk Scotscraig Golf Club scotscraiggolfclub.com Lundin Links lundingolfclub.co.uk Ladybank Golf Club ladybankgolf.co.uk Leven Links leven-links.com The Golf House Club, Elie golfhouseclub.co.uk Balbirnie Park Golf Club balbirniegolf.com

WHERE TO STAY, DRINK OR EAT IN ST. ANDREWS Ardgowan Hotel and Playfair’s Restaurant ardgowanhotel.co.uk Best Western Scores Hotel, Scorecards Bar and Chariots Bar scoreshotel.co.uk Dunvegan Hotel dunvegan-hotel.com Fairmont St. Andrews Resort fairmont.com/standrews

Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, Rocca Bar & Grill and One Under (gastro pub) macdonaldhotels.co.uk/rusacks Ogston’s Pilmour Sports Bar ogstonsonpilmour.com Old Course Hotel and Jigger Inn (pub) oldcoursehotel.co.uk 1 Golf Place 1golfplace.com St. Andrews Golf Hotel and Ma Bells (pub) standrews-golf.co.uk The Seafood Restaurant theseafoodrestaurant.com/st-andrews

GENERAL INFORMATION Visit Scotland visitscotland.com St. Andrews Golf Festival standrewsgolffestival.co.uk Geoff Morris, who is in charge of the University’s 600th anniversary preparations

THE MANHATTAN ART & ANTIQUES CENTER WWW.THE-MAAC.COM

Genet et Michon, Art Deco golf ball shaped wall sconces, gilded bronze, c.1930. H. 19.5".

PAUL STAMATI GALLERY TEL :

212.754.4533

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Tiffany & Co., sterling golf ball letter opener.

Pair of sterling golf club cocktail stirrers.

ESTATE SILVER CO. TEL :

212.758.4858

www.EstateSilver.com

Russian cigar box, silver 84, St. Petersburg, c. 1885.

H. 4"; L. 9"; D. 7 1/4".

GREGORY KHUTORSKY ANTIQUES TEL :

EMAIL :

212.308.3636

gkantiques@yahoo.com

French gilt and silvered bronze sailing compendium on an onyx base, c. 1895. H. 13 1/2".

Georg Jensen vintage 18k gold double - sided golf ball cufflinks, hallmarked.

BOTIER INC.

TEL :

EMAIL :

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Gucci plated frame with a golf ball decoration.

Signed, Gucci, Italy. H. 12 ½"; W. 10".

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1050 SECOND AVENUE, AT 55TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10022 TEL: 212.355.4400 | FAX: 212.355.4403 | E-MAIL: info@the-maac.com

Cornhu nh sker nhu Fairways

Long known as a place for cowboys and railroad fans (this is where the Golden Spike united the East and West, after all) Nebraska is developing a fine reputation among golfers as well. Its fertile land and vast open spaces have inspired course designers, while its central location puts it within easy reach.

If you haven’t already, it’s time you found Nebraska.

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The state holds more miles of rivers than any other state, the largest indoor rain forest (The Lied Jungle in Omaha) and the site of Buffalo Bill Cody’s first rodeo, but it’s Nebraska’s natural beauty that makes it such a perfect place for golf. The state has more than 200 public and semiprivate courses, and many of them hold their own among the best in the country. In fact, Golf Digest has ranked it among the Top 10 Best Golf States, and we’re not surprised. Credit the amazing amount of space and the quality of the land—along with some visionary developers and course designers.

With rich, fertile soil and a broadly diverse landscape, Nebraska is nothing if not a perfect canvas for golf course architects. There are thick forests and tree-lined river valleys, windswept prairies with pioneer wagon tracks still cut into the ground, and vast, rolling sandhills to build on—and build they have. Every corner of the state where President Gerald Ford was born features top-quality golf. Precision courses, links-style tracks and top-drawer challenges are all here, satisfying a range of tastes from luxury to rugged beauty, many of them at fantastic value.

The state’s Division of Tourism encourages people to “Rediscover the Road Trip” with a tour of Nebraska, and we think that’s a fine idea—as long as you pack your clubs.

Here are just a few of the reasons why you should make the Cornhusker State your next golf vacation: DISMAL RIVER, Mullen dismalriver.com In the western part of the state, isolated and proud runs the Dismal River. Despite its rather dire name, it’s actually a place of sublime beauty. Beavers, deer, turkey, coyotes and rattlesnakes have long been found asides its meandering banks, but the latest arrival comes in the form of a Golden Bear. The Jack Nicklaus signature Dismal River Golf Club is new, bold and stunning, and if you want to join a club to get away from it all then we at Kingdom are hard pressed to think of anywhere better to escape the shrill commotion of modern life; the golf is superb, the amenities rustic-luxurious, and the service first class. Situated near Mullen, population 551, when Nicklaus first set eyes on the land having driven the 17 single-lane miles to get there he proclaimed: “The experience arriving at the Dismal River site was like stepping back in time and seeing what the dunes of Northeast Scotland must have looked like a hundred years ago. In every direction I looked I saw great golf holes.” And today great golf holes there are. Yes there are the raised tees and greens that Nicklaus loves (some would say too much), but in construction it is said only one hole was touched by a bulldozer. The Sand Hills give lie to natural bunkering and unforced positioning. In fact, despite being about as far from the ocean as it’s possible to get, the whole feel is one of classic links—golf in windswept tune with nature. Perhaps the best hole is the last: almost in summary of your round, the elevated 18th tee provides tremendous views of the course. If you play your second shot on this 560-yard par-5 short of the narrow neck it still leaves at least 160 yards.But go long, find the 80 yard-wide landing area beyond, and a birdie is in reach, designed by a Bear.

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INDIAN CREEK, Omaha golfatindiancreek.com Like the western part of the state, Eastern Nebraska has no shortage of great golf. One of the best examples is Indian Creek in Omaha, a beautiful course with a more lush, softer landscape than its Sand Hills cousins. Consisting of three 9-hole options, Indian Creek is easy to get to, challenging to master and certainly among the best in the region.

Altogether, the 27 holes of golf hold 37 acres of fairways, 65 bunkers and 15 holes that could get you wet. Black Bird might be the most difficult, with holes that are at once long and precision-oriented. The 557-yard No.4 plays into the prevailing wind and over a lake before demanding your best from a tough green. Red Feather (set to re-open next June after renovations) likes the water, especially on No.8 where it presents swimming opportunities on both sides of the green. Grey Hawk is seemingly the kinder, gentler side of Indian Creek, with wider fairways and a bit more latitude for the non-precision crowd off the tee.

However, iron ability is crucial due to well-bunkered greens, yet more water and a few surprises. The par-5 No.6, for example, presents a nasty pair of fairway bunkers off the tee, then leaves your lay-up shot to the green facing a narrow chute through 80-foot-tall cottonwood trees.

The course motto is apt indeed: “Awaken the Spirit.” If Indian Creek catches you sleeping, prepare to pick up more balls on your way home.

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ARBORLINKS, Nebraska City arborlinks.com Not too far south of Omaha in Nebraska City, the excellent ArborLinks private golf club features an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Course, along with a modern practice facility and quality pro shop. While ArborLinks is private, golf packages are available for non-members (contact the club for information). The course sits on a 330-acre parcel adjacent to the Arbor Day Farm, a popular resort destination. Absolutely classic Palmer, ArborLinks is a feast for the eyes. Thick, lush native grasses, rolling hills with well-placed hazards, and a variety of shot options make for challenging and rewarding rounds.

Ranked among the Top 5 in the state by Golfweek, the course hosted a 2009 US Open qualifier, and US Amateur qualifiers in both 2010 and 2011. Added to the fantastic course are ArborLinks’ world class lodging and dining, available activities (hunting, for example) and a strong commitment to customer service. This club should absolutely be a stop on anyone’s Nebraska road trip.

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THE PRAIRIE CLUB, Valentine theprairieclub.com If you’re looking for definitive Nebraska golf—and one of the purest golf experiences anywhere—look no further than The Prairie Club, just outside of Valentine near the South Dakota border. Course founder Paul Schock is an area native, and his love for both the land and the game is evident in this amazing property. His approach, as he told Kingdom last year, was to build a superlative golf experience with minimal impact. As for the location in a somewhat remote corner of the state, Schock said he believes that “if you make great golf available to people, they will come—but it has to be great.”

Mission accomplished, as far as Kingdom is concerned. Two world-class courses, plus a third course that’s as delightful in concept as it is to play, make a trip to Valentine well worth your time.

The Dunes Course offers seven sets of tees that stretch it from 5,752 to 8,058 yards, plus plenty of wide open space, big greens, rolling fairways and—usually— wind you can’t ignore.The elevation changes are dramatic, as are the views of Nebraska’s famous Sand Hills. Linksstyle players will love it here, and first-timers to the region will understand why the pioneers compared crossing the region to being at sea. On the other hand, The Pines Course meanders along the edge of a canyon rim, semi-protected by the canyon walls and trees. Quiet and reserved, it’s a silent killer with tight fairways threaded among hard Ponderosa Pines and rough you don’t want to find. The Prairie Club’s final course (for the moment), The Horse Course is an inspired bit of fun. No tee boxes, just good times. All of this and a top clubhouse as well.

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WILD HORSE GOLF CLUB, Gothenburg playwildhorse.com A couple of hours due south of Valentine, Wild Horse Golf Club is an absolute gem. Set right along I-80. it has been rated among the top courses in the country. Golf magazine dubbed it the “Carnoustie of the Corn Belt” due to its harsh but beautiful temperament. Fast greens—flanked by bunkers that would look right at home in Scotland—are only part of the challenge when the wind is up, and it often is. The natural blowouts don’t help, either, nor does the two-foot-tall rough. Still, with 300 acres of rolling beauty on the edge of the Sand Hills, it’s tough to complain, no matter how the round is going. The sophisticated design is due in part to architects Dave Proctor and Dave Axland, who were also involved with the nearby (and private) Sand Hills. But Wild Horse has a character all its own, and at a price you can’t believe. A must-play in South Central Nebraska.

WILDERNESS RIDGE GOLF CLUB, Lincoln wildernessridgegolf.com Wilderness Ridge’s Championship Course stretches to 7,100 yards and has hosted some of the most prestigious events in Nebraska golf, including US Open qualifiers and the Nebraska Section PGA Championship. As with most courses in Nebraska, the wind comes into play. While shorter hitters will at first delight in having the wind at their backs on No.1, they’ll soon realize that it’s only there to help them reach a fairway bunker on the left. Likewise, the par-5 No.6 almost looks as if it would be easier to reach the green in a boat, with water along the entire right side. If you like water, you’ll love the par-3 No.15, which has water actually running underneath the green. Surprises and challenges factor heavily into this design, but it’s absolutely navigable and richly rewarding for those who step up.

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While Tiger Woods sat mainly on the sidelines during 2011, his crown as world No.1 bounced from pillar to post.

It eventually landed in the lap of an unsung Englishman who seemed an unlikely candidate for the title of ‘best player on the planet.’ But when Paul Mahoney caught up with Luke Donald for Kingdom, he discovered a man who was happy to have shed his mantle as a reluctant star, if not his innate humility; a man more than comfortable in his new skin

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There’s a sign by the entrance to Disney World in Orlando, Florida that promises: “Where Dreams Come True.” Luke Donald drove past it every day on his way to play in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic during the third week of October, and it certainly didn’t escape his notice. He knew he needed to win the tournament to become the first European to finish top of the money list— and he did exactly that, living up in style to his season-long billing as official world No.1.

Webb Simpson, enjoying the year of his young golfing life, had overtaken Donald on the money list the week before the Disney tournament, narrowly failing to win the McGladrey Classic on St. Simons Island, Georgia in a playoff with Ben Crane. Thus Chicago resident Donald was persuaded to file a last-minute entry to the Lake Buena Vista tournament, even though only out-and-out victory could restore him to his long-held position at the top of the PGA Tour tree.

Seemingly by accident, though most appropriately in the circumstances, the two rivals played all four rounds together, shadowing each other’s moves—shot for shot, putt for putt, day by day. And with just nine holes to play, the top dollar, not to mention all the attendant bragging rights, looked to be heading the 26-year-old American’s way. At that point, Simpson was beautifully positioned in the top-10 on the ubiquitous Disney leader-boards while Donald was a shot or two further back. As far as the bookmakers were concerned, it was ‘game over,’ and as far as Simpson was concerned, everything was just fine and dandy.

Then Donald pressed the overdrive button and fired off six straight birdies en route to a back nine of just 30 strokes

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that left Simpson, along with the rest of the field, trailing in his slipstream. He holed four straight birdie putts inside 8ft, took the lead with an 18ft birdie on the par-5 14th, then sealed his stunning rally with a 45ft putt on 15. “Everything was on the line,” Donald said afterwards. “I’m thrilled and over the moon.” His final round of 64 was good enough by two shots to earn him the right to receive the trophy of his dreams… presented in person by Donald Duck himself.

Admittedly, the victory was Donald’s first in strokeplay on the PGA Tour in more than five years but it had the same mano-a-mano feel as his win over Martin Kaymer at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona in February. He was tied with Simpson through 12 holes but kept pouring in those birdie putts, as he had all year, and in the end his younger adversary just couldn’t keep pace.

“We both had our moments playing great golf this week,” said Simpson, who began the final round one shot ahead in their personal duel and ended in a tie for sixth. “He did his thing at the end when it counts. We had a blast out there. It was a tiring week playing together every day and thinking about all that was going on. I’m glad it’s over. He played great. We gave ourselves a chance. The fact is, the best player in the world is going to do something great like that most of the time, and he did—tough to compete against.”

Without question, it was a stunning performance reminiscent of the golfer formerly known as the undisputed world No.1, Tiger Woods. “Creating history is important to me. That’s why I added Disney to my schedule—to give myself that chance of making history,” was Donald’s verdict. His peers were quick to pay tribute to yet another extraordinary display of precision off the tee and deadly accuracy with wedge and putter. Graeme McDowell called Donald “The Machine” and added: “Ball-striking machine?

Putting machine? Definitely a money-printing machine!”

This was the 33-year-old Englishman’s fourth victory of the season—he also won the Barclays Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship in Europe. Strangely, it was only the ninth title of a professional career that began in 2001, but it sure proved an important point about himself to a player who had become renowned as a serial top-10 finisher rather than as an habitual winner.

“This is one of the most satisfying wins of my career just because it was do or die,” Donald told Kingdom.

“To do it when I needed to, to know that under pressure I was able to pull off the shots when I needed to—to hole the putts and get ahead of Webb on the money list and win the event was very, very special. Knowing I had to do it and being able to do it. It was kind of do or die. Having this amount on the line this week and coming up and shooting 30 on the back nine on Sunday, finding the shots when I needed to, really meant a lot to me and to all the people that I work with. I’m very, very excited about my golf right now.

“Obviously it wasn’t looking great after the 8th hole, but I knew I was going to get on a run. I didn’t play my best golf throughout the week. I knew that something good was going to happen. I just kept plugging away. To birdie the first six holes on the back nine was the difference this week.

“I think I’ve answered everyone’s questions. Obviously, coming into this week, I felt like Webb was probably

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Donald double: A triumphant Luke receives the trophy from an admiring Duck after winning the final event of the 2011 season

favorite, based on [the fact] he was ahead of me on the money list and he was ahead of me in [PGA Tour] wins this year [two to one]. Obviously, I’ve drawn level on wins and I’ve gotten ahead on money. It feels like I’ve answered all the questions thrown at me.”

Challenging for the money title on both sides of the Atlantic was a driving force for the Royal Bank of Canada representative as both Tours neared their climax. One sensed that because he is yet to make his breakthrough at the majors, Donald wanted to prove to followers of the game on both continents that he really did deserve his ranking as the best player in the world. Well, even his harshest critic would declare this as ‘mission accomplished.’ In Europe, he was still leading the Race to Dubai at the beginning of November by more than $1.5m. “It would mean a big deal to win both money lists,” he says. But, typically cautious, he wasn’t writing off the possibility, even at that late stage, of being overhauled by one of his hawkish rivals.

All Donald has to do now is translate his stellar form of 2011 into a major championship victory in 2012.

He knows it, too, and admits that from now on he would rather win a major than continue to be ranked No.1.

“Being ranked World No.1 is self-satisfying. Winning a major makes you seem more accepted as a great player by your peers,” he reflects. “Would I swap being No.1 for Phil Mickelson’s four majors? Yes! As a kid you dream about winning them. For the bulk of my career, Tiger was so far ahead that being No.1 never crept into my mind. But his personal issues and injuries have given us all a chance.”

Donald is honest enough to acknowledge that he

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should have turned some of those chances into trophies and won a major by now. “I probably should have, but I’m getting closer. Since I come from the United Kingdom, I would obviously love to win the Open Championship. It’s the home major for me. But I would take any of them,” he says, smiling. “I’m trying to peak for the majors. But if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I’ve never seen a champion who hasn’t lost. You have to lose to find out what you have to do to improve. I’ve learned that from some of my top-10s. I’ll keep fighting.” In this respect, he takes inspiration from the way Padraig Harrington kept grinding away until he made his breakthrough. “You need one guy to inspire a generation. For me that was Padraig when he won his two Opens in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship in 2008,” Donald says. “If he can do it, so can I.” Like Harrington before him, Donald was seen as too nice to be a major champion. Not ruthless enough. It’s nonsense, of course. Harrington and many others have proved that nice guys can win. But there’s now a steelier edge to Donald. For years, he kept hearing why he would never be truly great. He refused to believe it. So he hit the gym last winter as well as working on his game and came out in February fitter, leaner and meaner. He was more confident and feistier without losing his gentleman’s touch.

He looked and sounded like a welterweight fixing for a fight.

He thrashed six opponents in the Match Play event and tied fourth at the Masters. Then at the BMW PGA Championship, he beat fellow Englishman Lee Westwood in a playoff

that was about so much more than that week’s crown at Wentworth—they were jousting to become the new world No. 1. “In a way, there was a bit more on the line. Obviously, I felt like if I hadn’t won at Wentworth, I was playing well enough that I would have got to No.1 in the world at some point.

“Maybe I’ve found the right formula. I can’t put my finger on a specific point,” Donald says. “It’s been a natural and gradual progression. But confidence breeds confidence, and that win at the Match Play was a big deal.” It set the tone for his history-making season and a string of top-10s (to go with his four victories) that would have been the envy of The Beatles.

It’s the kind of dominant form that draws comparisons with Tiger, the man who once famously dismissed Donald as a ‘plodder.’ However, Donald’s 2011 season has given him an insight into what it was like for Woods when he was at his jaw-dropping best. “It certainly raises your confidence, but I have a long way to go to match Tiger. Winning 80-plus tournaments and 14 majors is pretty amazing. But being in contention week in, week out, you start to expect it a little more, which I’m sure Tiger did in his prime, too.”

Donald has the biggest lead at the top of the world rankings since Woods and, like everyone else, has watched aghast as Woods tumbled down the ladder due to injuries and problems in his private life. “Golf is very mental as well as physical,” Donald says. “When one of those goes, it becomes tough. He has obviously struggled with some personal issues and it’s hard to get that out of your mind at times. He took a long break from the game to try to change a few things and

“I have a long way to go to match Tiger. Winning 80-plus tournaments and 14 majors is pretty amazing”

Donald celebrates his victory in the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship with his wife Diane and daughter Elle

it hasn’t worked out for him. But he still has plenty of talent and I wouldn’t write him off yet.”

Because Woods had set the bar so high, Donald still attracts criticism for not converting more of his almost guaranteed top-10s into top-1s. One critic wrote that Donald was part of a generation that was happy to coast along cashing checks without ever having to win. He even coined

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Donald finds himself on a high after chipping in for a birdie-3 on his 72nd and final hole at the 2011 Masters in which he tied for fourth

a phrase for it—Luke Donald Disease. Donald bristles when reminded of this. “That upset me. That was a terribly written article by a journalist who had never met me. Fair enough if you want to criticize that I haven’t won enough. I’m the first to criticize myself. But to say it’s down to not having the desire or work ethic, that I’m someone who’s happy to pick up checks but who doesn’t really care about winning, is ridiculous. He should come and watch me practice.”

PGA Tour veteran Joe Ogilvie defended Donald recently, asking if anyone could show him how to catch Luke Donald Disease. “He saw the funny side of it,” Donald says. “People want to be in contention every week. And I’ve been doing that. If it was me just chasing the money, you get a lot more for coming first than you do for eighth.”

Donald seems to have spent his entire career defending himself and fighting to prove his doubters wrong.

He’s the underdog that has become top dog. He reached the pinnacle of his sport by bucking the trend. He’s a grinder— an old-fashioned golfer with a mercurial short game and a deadeye putter, battling to stay ahead of a generation of big-hitters. “I’m not a bomber. I’m more about precision,” he admits. “I have to rely on all parts of my game firing if I’m going to win. It’s not easy, because fields seem to be getting deeper and a lot of the guys hit it 40 yards past me.

But there is more to the game than hitting it far. There are ways to make birdies other than hitting 350-yard drives. I pride myself on a good short game; I work very hard at it.”

He’s long had to deal with not receiving the recognition he feels he deserves. But he’s smart enough to understand why, and it inspires him. He’s aware of his public persona, too. “I’m sure people see me as quiet, as someone who keeps things to himself. I might be quiet, but there’s a lot of fire inside me, and hopefully people see that sometimes.

There’s a determination to succeed. Just ask my wife [Diane, a Chicago native he met while studying art at Northwestern].

Even if it’s a game of tiddlywinks, I still don’t like losing.”

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“It’s similar to the generation back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. It’s a great time for European golf, and for English golf” Donald knows he doesn’t have the star quality of Woods or Mickelson. He accepts his diminished place in the celebrity food chain with good grace. “Some personalities attract more attention. I’m not one of those. And that’s just the way it’s going to be. I get great support in the UK and in Europe but I understand that when I’m in the U.S., being a player from England, I’m not going to get as much.” Yet Donald receives respect, if not hysterical support, from galleries on both sides of the Atlantic, and ‘Luuuuuuke’ is an oft-heard chant on golf courses around the world these days.

“It’s pretty cool to have your own chant,” he says, grinning.

Growing up in leafy Buckinghamshire in southeast England, Donald’s heroes were Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo. “I watched Seve a lot on TV winning his Opens and the Masters, but I’ve modeled my game a little bit more on Faldo’s. I tried to stay away from Seve’s,” he laughs.

Donald, who had a bitter-sweet end to 2011 when his father Colin died suddently just days before his second daughter was due to be born, is now at the forefront of a resurgent group of Europeans that includes Westwood and three recent major champions—Rory McIlroy, Kaymer and McDowell. Donald believes they have a chance to create another great era for British and European golf. “It’s similar to the generation back in the late 1980s and early ’90s with Faldo, Seve, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal,” Donald says. “It’s a great time for European golf, and especially for English golf.”

England’s No.1 certainly enjoys being world No.1.

“It’s an honor and achievement,” Donald says. “It will be a great story when I’m an old man telling my grandkids that I was once the best player in the world.”

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Good as

Gold as the holidays approach, many of us will once again face the impossible task of deciding what gifts to get family and friends. Rather than going with the old standards of cash or jewelry for those closest to you, why not give a gift that appreciates—and which manages to add a bit of sparkle to your holiday season as well? This year, the best presents will be colored gold.

It’s been used to crown kings, reward the highest achievements and pledge true love. Gold, it is said, is one thing that never goes out of style. For the last ten years or so, it’s also one of the few investments that’s not only held its value, but has actually appreciated. Understanding why—and understanding how the gold market can change—is something to which the people at state street Global advisors (ssga) are committed. Here, in text adapted from a paper by ssga’s senior Portfolio Manager Chris Goolgasian, we offer a bit of their knowledge on the weighty subject, and suggest a few good reasons why you might consider adding a bit of glitter to your holiday season.

Getting a handle on how gold is valued isn’t easy, and ssga’s position is that it’s almost impossible to connect the price of the precious metal to any live piece of economic data. Unlike a stock market guess, which can be grounded in a valuation approach—make a guess on earnings, guess what investors will pay for the earnings, and there you are— establishing a value for gold is a bit more tricky.

Making it harder is the fact that gold provides no immediate earnings, no cash flow, no dividends or interest and no prospects for any, ever. additionally, it actually costs money to own gold: storage and security aren’t free. so how does one “value” gold?

There are a number of ways that people try, using various valuation constructs, but they’re problematic. Three such constructs that are somewhat well received in the U.s. marketplace include the inflation-adjusted price of gold, the value of the total gold stock relative to the U.s. monetary base, and the value of the total gold stock relative to the U.s. equity market cap. Here’s a quick look at them, followed by a better solution for assessing gold investment.

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InflatIon

other ValuatIons

Gold can be called a “defensive” asset because, in an inflationary world, paper dollars lose value every day while “hard assets,” such as metals, land, energy and agriculture do not. They cannot be created, conjured or otherwise diluted, thus they won’t ever lose value. The value of gold in this instance is bid up because it will “lose less” than paper assets, and thus its price rises purely because it’s defensive.

In terms of tying its value to inflation, there are several scenarios that make it understandable. For one, the people buying gold are presumably always earning more, keeping their income in line with inflation. It makes sense that premium items, such as jewelry, will keep pace with that income. On the industrial side, mining operations are compelled to deal with inflationary costs of labor and equipment, and so here, too, it makes sense that the price of the metal they’re mining would increase accordingly.

Ultimately, even within these examples, the price of gold rises with inflation because it is desired. Is it needed? Not really, but that’s irrelevant. Its appeal is longstanding and well established. As a medium of exchange there’s merit to gold keeping pace with inflation as well. Governments may print money all they like, adjusting the value of individual notes in dramatic fashion. But because gold cannot be created and because there is a relatively fixed supply, gold’s value sensibly rises with inflation.

One might try to arrive at a value for gold via other routes as well, two of them being the relation of the U.S. monetary base to the value of the gold held by the U.S. Government, and the valuation of gold relative to the value of the U.S. equities, via the Wilshire 5000. Both of these valuation models have issues. The latter method is based on work (verified by SSgA) that has shown that gold has peaked at 160% of the value of the Wilshire, while more recently it has traded at near 60% of it. Does the prior peak have any significance? Not really. There’s no indications the peak will or should occur again in the future.

As for tying the value of gold to the U.S. monetary base, previous research has found that value of gold peaked at over one times the monetary base. Why this matters is again problematic. Why the U.S. holdings relative to the U.S. monetary base? Why not other holdings? And why should gold achieve the same peak relative to the base that it has in the past? There’s no good reason why it should.

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Time BeTTer SpenT At the end of the day, gold is worth what it is because others are willing to pay for it. SSgA’s position is that trying to find a magic formula to value gold is as useful as trying to create a similar system for valuing a painting.

It’s impossible. The time is much better spent trying to understand the mood of the people who are willing to pay for gold, and that’s exactly what SSgA’s team does. Each month the team produces an internal research note based on assessments of what they call “observables,” factors that SSgA believes effect the market’s mood on gold. They count nearly three dozen such factors, and they believe their system of assessing these observables is infinitely better than constructing questionable valuation models. So far, they’ve been right.

AS An inveSTmenT There are a number of reasons why keeping gold in your portfolio is a good idea. First off, it’s likely that we’ll eventually see some advances in products and portfolio protection that involve gold. It might come to pass that your brokerage account may be translated into gold instead of U.S. dollars. There are hedge fund managers who do this already, including John Paulson, offering share classes of their funds denominated in gold. It’s said that Paulson, specifically, keeps almost all of his personal holdings in this share class, disliking holding dollars as they are.

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So how much gold should an individual keep? SSgA turns to industry data for direction, such as that provided by this year’s World Gold Council report “The Strategic Case for Gold,” which found that gold comprised just one percent of the world’s total global assets. From a practical standpoint, when SSgA is working with an institutional client they also consider investment policy constraints and tracking error goals. In those portfolios that are tactically able to hold gold, they hold in the low- to mid-single digits.

But how to fund the gold: fixed income or equities? In fact, SSgA recommends dynamic funding from both portfolios, with other tactical views dictating the allocations.

It’s a complicated subject, gold. Valuation methods are difficult to find and perhaps often irrelevant, strategies abound as to how best to implement it into a portfolio and understanding its effect on a portfolio—even as an inflation hedging vehicle or as a safe haven of sorts—requires serious study. Thankfully, the team at SSgA is best equipped to answer any questions on the subject, and we at Kingdom recommend them on the subject. If you haven’t already incorporated gold into your or your family’s portfolio, we believe the holidays offer the perfect opportunity to add a golden glow to your assets.

Find out more at www.spdrs.com and www.spdrgoldshares.com

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Hep CHef Ah, the early 1960s... frank Sinatra was on the radio, Arnold palmer was tearing up the golf course, and mom was in the kitchen making something that was high in calories and which probably contained booze. Tiki parties were all the rage, as were buffet-style dinners. for a reason that we can’t be bothered to investigate, Beef Wellington was hugely popular. Whatever they were serving, big-leaguers knew the spread had to be 18 karat. Otherwise: bombsville. Here, in an attempt to make sure your next clam bake is a real gas, we offer updated takes on a few Mid-Century Modern staples. pull ‘em off, and your guests will be saying “Wowee wow wow!” until it’s good night all

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NOT THE SAME OLD Serves 6 Cool, crisp and clean, the Wedge Salad is an American classic.

The salad: 3 hearts of Romaine lettuce 6 slices pancetta 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced Blue cheese dressing (see below) In a cast iron skillet, cook the pancetta as you would bacon, until crispy, and lay on a paper towel to drain.

When cool, crumble into medium-to-large pieces and set aside.

Cut the Romaine hearts into quarters and set two quarters on each plate. Top the lettuce with blue cheese dressing, onion and pancetta.

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The blue cheese dressing: 4oz high quality blue cheese, crumbled 3 tablespoons buttermilk ½ cup crème fraiche or sour cream 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar ½ teaspoon garlic powder pinch of sugar few sprigs flat leaf parsley—finely chopped ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper In a bowl, combine the blue cheese, salt, pepper, sugar, garlic and parsley and gently mash with a fork to combine. Next add the buttermilk, crème fraiche, mayonnaise and white wine vinegar and stir until smooth.

Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. If it’s too thick, add more buttermilk. Dressing can be made up to three days ahead of time.

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surF & turF My Way Serves 6 Pair a nice filet mignon with a lobster mashed potato gratin, and you’ll be singing Blue Hawaii on the range.

The lobster mashed potato gratin: 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes 1 pound lobster meat 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 small shallot, finely chopped ½ cup crème fraiche ¼ cup half and half ¼ cup finely chopped chives 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (lobster), plus 1 stick unsalted butter (potatoes) ¾ cup gruyere cheese, plus ½ cup gruyere cheese, shredded Salt and white pepper Preheat oven to 400 degrees Peel potatoes and boil until easily pierced with a fork.

While they cook, sauté the shallots and garlic in the butter until translucent. Add lobster to pan and sauté until it’s no longer translucent, then set aside.

Drain the potatoes and, in a large bowl, combine the cooked potatoes, half and half, butter, crème fraiche and chives.

Using a beater, mix until smooth. If too thick, add more half and half. Fold-in the lobster meat and ¾ cup of the gruyere cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Lightly grease a 2 quart gratin dish and spread mashed potato mixture in pan. Smooth and top with remaining ½ cup gruyere cheese. Bake until cheese is bubbly and beginning to brown, 20-30 minutes.

The filet mignon: Six 4oz pieces filet mignon Small amount of high-heat vegetable oil Salt and freshly ground pepper While the potatoes are in the 400-degree oven, rub a generous amount of salt and pepper onto the filets and allow them to rest at room temperature for 15-30 minutes.

Coat the bottom of a large, heavy cast iron skillet with a small amount of oil. Heat the pan on a stovetop set to medium-high heat until quite hot. When the oil is shimmering and the pan is hot, add the filets and allow to sear—undisturbed—for two minutes. Turn the filets and sear two minutes on the second side.

Transfer pan of filets to the already heated oven and cook 6 to 8 more minutes for medium rare. When the steaks are done, remove from oven, transfer to plate, cover with tin foil and let them rest for 10 minutes.

Serve with lobster mashed potato gratin.

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Bananas Foster Serves 6 While your guests are marveling at their flaming bananas, you can tell them that this dish was named for Richard Foster, a friend of Owen Brennan’s, the owner of Brennan’s Restaurant in New Orleans (above)—where Chef Paul Blangé was inspired one day to light his bananas on fire, inventing this dish and adding some pizzazz to dessert tables everywhere.

6 tablespoons unsalted butter ¾ cup dark brown sugar ¾ teaspoon ground allspice 1 ½ teaspoons nutmeg ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ cup banana liqueur ¾ cup dark rum 6 bananas, not yet fully ripe, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise 6 scoops vanilla ice cream In a heavy saucepan melt butter. Add sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cook until sugar dissolves. Add banana liqueur and cook until warmed and beginning to simmer.

Add bananas and cook until softened and beginning to brown. As they cook, use a spoon to continuously coat them with the sauce. Flip bananas and carefully add rum.

If the pan is hot enough the rum will ignite on its own, if it doesn’t you can light it using a long lighter.

Continue to cook until flame goes out. Remove the bananas and place over ice cream. Spoon the warm sauce on top and serve immediately.

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Luxury Living The season of giving is upon us and Kingdom’s latest gift guide is bulging with those exquisite products that every self-respecting golfer would love to possess and cherish

BARRINGTON GIFTS OF DISTINCTION

Captain’s Bag Barrington`s quintessential overnight bag continues its tradition of serving the traveler with its lightweight body, its handy inside, outside pockets and solid brass components. It’s a favorite golf tournament gift when a custom fabric lining is sewn in, featuring the club or tournament logo in a step n’ repeat design. In fact, it is the preferred choice of the 2012 Kingdom Cup. Approximate size: 14 in. x 21 in. x 12 in.

barringtongifts.com/pcf *15% of all transactions are donated, on your behalf, to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation

RALPH LAUREN

Tweed Vest From the leading name in golf apparel comes this tweed vest (left) made from dyed lambswool yarn with a waterresistant finish and a quilted leather patch on the right shoulder.

Herringbone Vest This Jacquard black and cream herringbone vest (center) has an expander knit lining and on-seam self-welt pocket.

Full-Zip Quilted Vest This full-zip quilted vest (right) is structured as a Modal/Tencel lightweight quilted jersey. It has a self-storm flap with detailed stitching around a rib collar with Polyfill layers sandwiched between self layers.

ralphlauren.com

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ARNOLD PALMER SIGNATURE UMBRELLA The Arnold Palmer Signature Hurricane 345 is a superior wind-vented umbrella that makes a prestigious statement.

We have designed an innovative umbrella with a classic look.

The Hurricane 345 Tour Plus comes with a unique golf towel bar, burled walnut fiberglass shaft and non-pinching frame.

For the Golf traveler, the Signature Arnold Palmer 58” Folding Golf Umbrella provides generous coverage with the convenience of a folder. The wood handle features a braided wrist strap. Includes nylon carry case with shoulder strap.

haas-jordan.com

OPEN AIR CINEMA Indoor home media centers are all well and good, but if you want a transformational experience—for personal enjoyment or for a special event—Open Air Cinema can turn your patio or entire backyard into a full-on theater with their large inflatable screens and complete audio/video systems. The screens inflate in minutes with hardly any setup required, and the picture is amazing. If you just want a screen, say for a golf-club function, they’ve got the best. And if you’re looking for a complete theater including a screen and all the audio/ video gear you’ll need, Open Air Cinema’s CineBox systems are perfect. A variety of configurations are available, with varying electronics packages and screens sized from 9’x5’ all the way up to 40’x22.5’. Whether you’re looking for movie night by the pool or a full-on outdoor cinema event, Open Air Cinema has the ticket.

openaircinema.us

SQRD UP

Alignment Made Simple Proper alignment, along with the correct ball and clubface position at address are fundamental questions that golfers face each and every time a stroke is made. The SQRD UP alignment tool enables players to fulfill each one of these requirements.

Instead of guessing, or just hoping, your alignment is correct, quickly view your alignment in comparison to SQRD UP’s 100% laser-accurate lines. SQRD UP is excellent for driving range use. “Research has proven that 85 percent of golf swing learning is visual. This being the case, the SQRD UP alignment tool does a better job giving feedback on your alignment than any tool I have used in my last 40 years of teaching,” says Dr. Jim Suttie, 2000 National PGA Teacher of the Year.

We at Kingdom have also been thoroughly impressed by this innovative device. It is easy to use and exceptionally helpful to low- and high-handicappers alike.

sqrdup.com

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DAPHNE’S HEADCOVERS Daphne’s Headcovers’ fetching new design features this Weimaraner club cover that comes with a lifetime guarantee and the exceptional quality always associated with the company. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds benefits Gabriel’s Angels.

daphnesheadcovers.com gabrielsangels.org

CALLAWAY RAZR XF IRONS RAZR XF is a premium set of Callaway irons designed with the highest levels of forgiveness and appearance. Featuring a multi-material club construction, these irons and hybrids offer the ultimate in playability, feel and presentation. RAZR XF is the ideal choice for golfers seeking greater distance and accuracy along with super-soft feel and impressive styling.

Arnold Palmer used a 5-iron from his new set of RAZR XF irons to record the 20th hole-in-one of his life at Bay Hill in November.

callawaygolf.com

BRIDGESTONE J40 WOODS Bridgestone Golf is offering new woods for better players to help reduce spin and maximize distance. The J40 445 driver enhances the brand’s welldeserved reputation as a creator of low-spin machines, while its fairway woods offer both exceptional length and unparalleled accuracy. The J40 445 driver promotes a mid-to-high launch trajectory with low spin. Its key design features include: 445cc round clubhead shape designed for Tour-level stability; short hosel for maximum control; deep face for increasing vertical gear effect; 6-4 titanium, 4-piece head construction that distributes weight to the perimeter of the clubhead for increased MOI and less twisting at impact. Bridgestone’s proprietary Variable Face Thickness Design provides increased mass on the face towards the heel and toe for faster ball speed from off-center hits.

bridgestonegolf.com

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1STDIBS 1stdibs.com is the premier online marketplace for purveyors of the finest luxury goods, including antiques, design, fine art, estate jewelry, couture fashion and fine homes. Over the past 10 years, 1stdibs has become the ultimate destination for collectors and affluent clients to purchase one-of-a-kind items through a virtual experience that encourages exploration and research as they immerse themselves in a world of luxury. 1stdibs offers a curated selection of coveted items, including a vintage Goyard travel drinking set, limited-edition Panerai watches, Van Cleef & Arpels yellow sapphire diamond ring and a pair of lounge chairs designed by Jacques Adnet. With more than 2,000 superior quality items added each week, loyal customers return to view and shop over and over again.

1stdibs.com

KRU 82 VODKA Made from the finest wheat and distilled in Holland, KRU 82 is a crisp, clean and exceptionally well-balanced vodka. Along with its smooth taste, these qualities make KRU 82 equally desirable as a strong martini or for mixing in a fruit-based cocktail. KRU 82 comes in a variety of sizes from 1.75L down to a handy 200ml and its innovative stainless steel container not only looks great but is sturdy, recyclable, reusable and, best of all, you can clip it onto your golf bag. KRU 82 is our new favorite vodka here at Kingdom. Look for it to be stocked in your golf club soon.

WORLD’S FINEST MODEL SAILBOAT

kru82.com

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Made from the same materials as a full-scale International America’s Cup Class yacht, including a carbon-fiber hull manufactured in Germany by the makers of Mercedes and BMW race-car parts and fittings in titanium, chromed brass and stainless steel, these are the ultimate in radio-controlled sail model yachts. A novice can sail it right out of the box and will learn the principles of sailing by observing the boat, water and wind at a distance, while expert sailors can enjoy the full range of racing tactics. It comes completely built in an aluminum carry/shipping case.

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THE MANHATTAN ART & ANTIQUES CENTER Opened in 1975, the Manhattan Art & Antiques Center (MAAC) is New York’s oldest established emporium for antiques. It houses 100 galleries on three levels, linked by elevators and a dramatic spiral staircase. The dealers offer a variety of silver, jewelry, porcelain, tapestries, furniture, clocks and paintings, along with many other objets d’art from around the world. The MAAC is an important resource for collectors, interior designers and architects, and over the years has become a destination for celebrities and visitors alike. From antique dealers to tourists looking for the perfect gift, the MAAC is the perfect destination for a quick purchase or a full day of browsing and shopping. Featured from Sooky Goodfriend, Gallery #10, is a rare pewter and silver plate golf cocktail set, circa 1920. This is just one of many unique golf-themed items available at The MAAC.

the-maac.com

SHEAFFER PENS Sheaffer’s collection of fine writing instruments offers a wide variety of finishes, modes and styles. The 100 Special Edition 3 Friends of Winter Collection showcases designs of Bamboo, Pine and Plum. Bamboo is flexible, yet strong and solid. Pine is evergreen, praised for its endurance and considered the ultimate test of time. Plum flowers, valued for longevity and character, reveal elegance and transmit subtle fragrance. These plants all thrive during the difficult winter months, symbolizing fortitude while inspiring people to persevere and flourish under adversity. The 100 Friends of Winter Collection features three finishes: Fountain pen, roller ball and ballpoint.

sheaffer.com

STONEHOUSE DESK CADDIE Why not bring the beauty of the golf course to your desk with the Stonehouse Desk Caddie keepsake box? Perfect for storing your personal belongings, or even the remote controls in your TV room. Each caddie box features a rich mahogany finish, is velvet lined and showcases a miniedition from the Stonehouse Golf Collection.

stonehousegolf.com

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SUNBRITE TV All-year-round home theater enjoyment in the great outdoors comes courtesy of SunBriteTV’s Model 4660HD outdoor LCD TV. This streamlined 46-inch fullHD 1080p all-weather TV is built from the ground up to withstand rain, dust, insects and extreme temperatures. Go online to find out more about Model 4660HD and SunBrite’s entire line of all-weather outdoor TVs.

sunbritetv.com

L.V. HARKNESS

Grainger Gold Pin with Pearl The Feather Wreath is Grainger’s first use of a pearl in his jewelry. There is a saying at L.V. Harkness: Grainger knows what looks beautiful on women—this pin is no exception. With both a bail and pin on the back, and measuring at an inch and a half wide, this pin can also be worn as a pendant.

lvharkness.com

KITCHENAID Whether the cook or baker on your gift list has an appetite for the latest kitchen gadgets or hungers for time-tested essentials, three new appliances from KitchenAid should fit the bill. The 13-Cup Food Processor is the first and only model to feature an externally adjustable slicing disc, thus eliminating the need to stop the machine, remove the lid and swap blades between tasks. Instead, slicing is adjusted from thin to thick simply by sliding a lever from left to right.

The 7-Quart Stand Mixer is the new flagship in a line that first revolutionized home cooking back in 1919. It comes with a 1.3HP motor and over a dozen attachments for making everything from pasta to ice cream to sausages. The 5-Speed Hand Blender, with a variety of accessories, is a multi-purpose tool that can tackle every task: Blending, pureeing, crushing, chopping, frothing, beating and mincing.

KitchenAid.com

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*offer ends Jan 31 2012. Calendar ships seperately.

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HIRZL. THE ULTIMATE GLOVE EXPERIENCE.

Kingdom has always placed an appreciative value on life’s finer luxuries, as Paul Trow, Leon Harris and Jon Edwards can confirm. The trio found that when it comes to a glass or two of whisky, there’s no finer stimulation to the palate than Glenmorangie

They say it’s impossible to have too much of a good thing, but our cups were perilously close to running over during a two-day visit to the historic Glenmorangie distillery in the Scottish Highlands this fall, especially as the sun had got his hat on and a round of golf over one of the world’s outstanding links courses was also on the menu.

The Glenmorangie distillery was founded in 1843

by William Matheson in Tain, a millennium-old royal burgh on the south shores of Dornoch Firth. However, the role played in its gradual yet inexorable evolution into Scotland’s leading malt whisky name by countries like Spain, Portugal, France, and the United States in particular, cannot be overstated.

Today, Glenmorangie, Gaelic for Valley of Tranquility and rhyming with “orangey,” offers its discerning aficionados 11 different whiskies with approximately 140 different aromas. Not surprisingly, its global popularity, fed by an annual output of four million liters (more than one million gallons), is growing at a breakneck pace.

To the previously uninitiated, the information gleaned from a morning spent at the Glenmorangie distillery is on a par with a whole year of high-school chemistry studies.

And an evening spent sampling its stellar products— matured in a variety of casks that originally nurtured Bourbon, Sherry, Port, Sauternes or Burgundy—eclipses several lifetimes spent in the company of inferior tinctures.

Naturally, we were in our element when we resided for two nights at the exclusive, six-bedroom Glenmorangie House beside the hamlet of Cadboll overlooking the Moray Firth (about five miles south of the distillery). This secluded retreat, proud possessor of the prestigious Michelin Hotel Guide single “Red House” symbol (one of only nine in Scotland), offered us a warm welcome, superbly appointed accommodation, sumptuous local cuisine and, most importantly, a shrine dedicated to that most spiritual of drinks—Glenmorangie whisky in all its hallowed variety of flavors, and ages.

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created by local sculptor Barry Grove. Parts of the original, shamefully vandalized during the 19th century, have been reconstructed and are on display at the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Appropriately, the kaleidoscopic engraving on the lower panel of the Stone—a network of interlocking spirals and mesmerizing twirls—has been adopted as its official emblem by Glenmorangie, and nowhere is it better displayed than on the recently installed main window in the distillery’s still room.

Our Glenmorangie whisky trail began in earnest with an introduction to the “18 Years Old” single malt. This honey-gold-colored confection is matured for 15 years in former Bourbon casks made of American white oak from the Ozark Mountains in southern Missouri before being transferred into Oloroso sherry barrels from Spain for its final three years of maturation. Once it celebrates its 18th birthday and is introduced to the market, this whisky has a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavor that combines the raisin-like, sherry sweetness with a complex floral fragrance, oaky nuttiness and a hint of woody smoke.

Glenmorangie House earned a coveted “Red House” symbol from Michelin

Around 1,500 years ago, the Picts—swarthy, painted folk who famously thwarted the Romans and, legend suggests, might have originated from Egypt (certainly not Ireland whence the red-headed Scots came)—started growing barley, the crop used to make malt for whisky.

Ever since, it seems, the area has been devoted to this one purpose above all others.

Glenmorangie House is a mid-17th-century property, though its current incarnation—a tastefully restored country home abutted by two walled gardens and a private beach—dates from around 200 years later. Among the activities it was born to host are fishing in the well-stocked local lochs and nearby rivers, clay-target shooting in the adjoining field, and chess on a giant outdoor board beside the entrance with pieces bigger than traffic cones.

A couple of miles south on the Tarbat Peninsula in Easter Ross is a replica (floodlit at night) of an 8th century Pictish slab known as the Hilton of Cadboll Stone and

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Sculptor Barry Grove with his replica of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone

Our next Glenmorangie encounter, the delightful “Signet,” was, to say the least, different—not only its flavor but the way in which we were introduced to it.

Signet’s melting sweetness and explosive spiciness derives from roasted “chocolate” barley malt, again matured in American white-oak casks, this time for 30 years. Its aromas range from chocolate, orange and coffee to pecan pie and plum pudding, with a dash of mint and lemonygreen citrus thrown in for good measure.

This pot-pourri of flavors came to us via a modern technique in the stimulation of taste buds known as sonic tasting. We sat with some visitors from Belgium (one of whom was wearing a kilt in an attempt to empathize with his surroundings), headphones clasped to our ears and listening to a syrupy male voice reminiscent of the late Vincent Price.

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As far as the entire sonic-tasting experience was concerned, though, we couldn’t believe what had happened especially as, when we heard what changes in taste to expect, they duly took effect. Alas, we never discovered the identity of the owners of these smoothly-lubricated vocal cords, but we can report with reasonable certainty it wasn’t George Clooney and Cameron Diaz.

They were, however, the timeless echoes of the voices of the original men of Tain who were always the backbone of the business and the only people allowed to take the distillery, and its warehouses, forward from generation to generation.

“Throughout our history we have only ever entrusted a select group of local craftsmen with the secret of our distillery,” says the Glenmorangie website (glenmorangie.com).

Add water, says Andy MacDonald (below),and release the serpent

The speaker must have been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, so evocative and expressive were his words and enunciations, but almost more intriguing was the mysteriously atonal female voice that kept repeating buzz phrases like “dark and creamy” in seemingly random places, almost like a Greek chorus. Yet her prompts, as it turned out, were actually far from random.

The Kingdom trio was understandably skeptical when this exercise began, but as we followed the voices’ instructions, we stumbled upon an astonishing discovery— well, it was definitely astonishing to unseasoned whisky tasters such as ourselves.

Halfway through our sonic tasting, we were enjoined to add water to our glasses of Signet and, to our amazement, the resultant change of taste, and eruption of smoothness at the back of the tongue, took place at precisely the time the commentary said it would. Andy MacDonald, the distillery manager, told us later that the effect of adding water to Glenmorangie’s whiskies was known locally as “releasing the serpent.” There’s no doubt that a smoother sensation was indeed released, but as for a serpent—well, to me it seemed a lot less diabolical than that.

Eight of the 16 Men of Tain are pictured outside the distillery in 1910

It all started back in the 19th century with 16 Men of Tain (the initial workforce—and to this day only local people work in the distillery), the local Tarlogie springs from which Glenmorangie draws its supply, and a couple of gin stills (far taller than the usual whisky stills) that its founder Matheson bought in London to kick things off back in 1843.

The gin stills, a pronounced success according to every connoisseur we encountered, remain in operation. The rest of the distillery, where all stages of the whisky-making process, from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturing, can be viewed, has been built around them. The distillery is open to the public all year and expert guides are available seven days a week apart from over the Christmas period, though it is advisable to pre-book your tour.

As well as the “18 Years Old” and “Signet,” the nine other Glenmorangie whiskies on the market are all matured for a minimum of 10 years in the American white oak ex-Bourbon casks at a temperature of between 7-9 degrees Celsius. The “Original,” the Glenmorangie brand most commonly available in a regular bar, is the only 10-year-old while the four 12-year-olds—Lasanta, Quinta Rubin, Sonnalta PX and Nectar D’Or—are topped off by a further two years of maturation in, respectively, Oloroso (sherry), ruby port, Pedro Ximenez (sherry) and Sauternes

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JUST FOR THE RECORD Glenmorangie Whisky Original Quinta Ruban Lasanta Nectar D’Or Astar Sonnalta PX Finealta 18 Years Old Signet Quarter Century Pride 1981

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Age 10 years 12 years 12 years 12 years Unrevealed 12 years 11-13 years 18 years 30 years 25 years 28 years

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ABV Cask (oak+) 40% Just oak 46% Ruby Port 46% Oloroso 46% Sauternes 57.1% Unrevealed 46% P. Ximenez 46% Oloroso 43% Oloroso 46% Just oak 43% Oloroso/Burgundy 56.7% Sauternes

Aroma hints Citrus, peaches, vanilla Mint, chocolate, tangerines Lime, sultanas, butterscotch Ginger, nutmeg, almonds Toffee, menthol, cinnamon Raisins, demerera, ginger Caramel, marmalade, meringue Honey, dates, figs Espresso, plum, mocha Blackberries, cherries, currants Pears, pineapple, aniseed

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The tall gin stills brought from London in 1843 are still in use

(white wine) casks. Another sherry-matured whisky, the Finealta, might spend more or less than two years in the casks, depending on how well this blends with the light touch of peatiness with which it’s prepared. And as for the Astar, which weighs in at a mighty 57.1% proof without losing its velvety flavor, suffice to say that the process of maturation seems to be a closely guarded secret, apart from the admission that at some stage it is chill-filtered (cooled to between -10 and 4 degrees Celsius to remove the cloudiness that neater alcohol always seems to induce).

The Quarter Century is matured in a range of casks, including Oloroso and Burgundy, and then finally there’s the Pride 1981. This deep-gold, limited-edition malt—only 1,000 bottles, each costing more than $4,000, have been produced— is the culmination of 28 years of passion, patience and artistry.

As its name implies, the original liquid for the Pride 1981 was distilled and laid down for maturation 30 years ago. After 18 years, it was transferred for a further decade to a limited number of Sauternes barriques from the fabled vineyards of Chateau d’Yquem.

At the end of a recent guided tour of the distillery, a Chinese nightclub owner from Shanghai asked if he could buy two bottles of Pride 1981, but he was allowed only to take one away as Glenmorangie carefully controls the number of bottles that enter each geographical region around the world.

He must have been disappointed at the time, but if he adds an equal measure of water to every glass of Pride 1981 he pours for himself then we’re sure he’ll soon get over it.

And while we were there… …we had a round of golf at Royal Dornoch It was a glorious afternoon (not always the case in this part of the world), so we took on one of golf’s oldest gems—on the north shores of the Dornoch Firth, 10 miles or so from Glenmorangie House. The earliest recorded instance of golf being played at the town of Dornoch was 1616, though the first thrashings along this evocative piece of coastline may well have taken place much earlier. What’s known for certain is that a formal course was designed by “Old” Tom Morris in 1886 and his classic links, where fine, grassy turf covers the undulating, sandy terrain, forms the basis today of one of golf’s most natural experiences.

The gorse that flanks so many of the holes here is a riot of yellow in the spring while in the fall the purples and mauves in the heather stand out in equal measure. All year round, the sand on the beaches is as white as snow. Today, there are two 18-hole courses at Dornoch—the Championship layout, a classic out-and-back links, and the Struie, aimed at family golfers and beginners. Ostensibly, the Championship course is straightforward, although there are a few elevation changes and the wind is obviously a huge factor. Many of the greens, though, are built on raised plateaux, making approach play especially challenging.

Dornoch’s links with the U.S. were established in 1901 when Andrew Carnegie, the American industrialist, presented the club with a huge silver shield for use as an annual trophy. Carnegie, from the east coast of Scotland, had moved to Dornoch a few years earlier and lived at Skibo Castle, a nearby stately home.

Cutting to the chase, we’ve no doubt you, dear reader, would like to know the result of the fullhandicap match between Kingdom writer Trow and Sales VP Edwards on this most perfect of days at this most perfect of courses—a day when our mutual caddie, a gentleman called Stan who is a retired highschool principal from southern California, ran out of ways to raise his eyebrows at our collective ineptitudes.

Alas, Trow is obliged to admit that Edwards prevailed 3&2. A small wager was exchanged, but Edwards is on notice that it won’t be so easy again.

Would-be visitors wishing to stay at Glenmorangie House and experience the golfing delights of Royal Dornoch should log on to theglenmorangiehouse.com

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His name is on tHe course, as well as His signature.

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2011. Now is the perfect time to discover for yourself what makes Bay Hill a truly unforgettable experience. The legendary Championship course now bears the distinction of being an Arnold Palmer Signature course, making it one of the most challenging tracks on the PGA Tour.

Visit our website today and uncover all the new offerings in celebration of 50 historic years.

1.888.422.9445 • bayhill.com/km

PEBBLE BEACH #6—REMODELED BY APDC 2009 PEBBLE BEACH®, PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS® AND DISTINCTIVE IMAGES OF THE COURSE ARE TRADEMARKS, SERVICE MARKS AND TRADE DRESS OF PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY. USED BY PERMISSION.

THERE IS SO MUCH THAT CAN

BE ATTACHED TO THE NAME

ARNOLD PALMER

Designers of Arnold Palmer Signature courses and architects of Palmer Refresh www.arnoldpalmerdesign.com (407) 876–1068

Photo Š Joanne Dost

An easy smile and a wicked swing A true sportsman’s style and sophistication A genuine approachability A trendsetter and a traditionalist A man of his word The gentleman athlete The father and the friend The golf course architect The pilot and the businessman The Icon

The King.

Forward Thinking The team at the Arnold Palmer Design Company has been busy building the courses we can’t wait to play The world is changing fast, and the excellent team at the Arnold Palmer Design Company is right on pace with new course projects under way in all corners of the globe. Without further ado, here’s a look at how APDC’s architects earn their frequent flier miles: “Punta del Este in Uruguay, as far as South America is concerned, is one of the hot spots,” says APDC’s Thad Layton, golf course architect. “It’s where many Brazilians and Argentines go to summer, and it’s beautiful.”

Layton and his APDC cohorts are working on a 9-hole course at a development called Las Piedras—“rocks” in

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English, which should give you some idea of the landscape.

In fact, Layton says the property is primarily open farmland with only a few rocky outcroppings, and it’s all remaining relatively untouched.

“We wanted to build something that was really light on the property, with very little earth moving; building greens and tees and trying to almost conceal it all so that it doesn’t necessarily look like a golf course, especially from the hotel.”

APDC’s clever design has resulted in a course that feels like it’s been discovered, rather than created, Layton says.

“It’s the least-invasive project I’ve been involved in,

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and oranges growing in view of—but far enough away from— the city skyline. Some dirt will be moved, but this is essentially a core golf experience, set back far enough from the on-site residential development that the homes don’t negatively impact play. With another top hotel from Fasano on the property and five-star dining, “this will be a great place for people in the urban setting to get away from the city,” says Layton.

Homeward Bound

mr. Palmer (left) prepares to hit the opening tee shot following aPdC‘s renovation of wexford Plantation. above: The rocks of Las Piedras in Punta del este, uruguay

and it’s really pushing the envelope.”

Some of the techniques APDC used to achieve this “hidden” course include using and replicating natural erosion features. In places where natural erosion might be occurring or could have occurred, the architects have simply shaped the feature, bolstered it and added sand to create bunkers that aren’t typical bunkers but might more resemble something you’d actually see in the landscape.

Likewise, Layton says the dramatic rolling hills are hazard enough. Some fairways approach 70 yards in width, but they also feature areas with 10 percent slope, meaning you might often find yourself with your front foot a bit higher (or lower) than your ball.

The Las Piedras development is a project from JHSF, a top end developer, and is supported by a hotel from luxury hoteliers Fasano. Fine dining and tremendous accommodations overlook the course, some 500 feet above the sea and just 10 minutes’ drive from the beach. The on-site architecture is spectacular, a not-too-subtle splash of mid-century modern updated with a most contemporary and rugged flavor, complementing the landscape quite beautifully. Guest rooms are absolutely top-drawer, and the hotel pool must be seen to be believed.

With another nine holes scheduled, we’re looking forward to visiting when APDC’s effort opens in a year or so.

Another JHSF/Fasano project with the crew at APDC— and just up the street, relatively speaking, in Brazil—is Fazenda Boa Vista. This course, on which APDC has been working for some time, will see construction under way by March. Just 30 miles from Sao Paolo, Fazenda Boa Vista’s 18 holes curve around rolling countryside with sugarcane, coffee

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Closer to home, on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, APDC recently celebrated the debut of the renovated course at Wexford Plantation, which reopened October 20th.

“This summer we were really busy working on the Wexford renovation,” said APDC architect Brandon Johnson.

“We wanted to give the club a modern golf course, but do that with a kind of classic, traditional architecture. We hope we created a little more of a timeless feel and character to the place.”

Johnson says APDC restructured all of the greens and bunkers, reducing, repositioning and reorienting the bunkers to help open play.

“One of the physical assessments was that it was a really narrow course, with huge bunkers not visible from the tee, constricting landing areas.”

Addressing that issue, along with opening things up a bit to facilitate grass growing and to create shot options around the greens, were sincere improvements.

Johnson and the team also renovated the on-site driving range and practice areas, meaning the members at Wexford Plantation now have one of the finest courses on the island.

Just north of Wexford Plantation, APDC is actively working with the members at Spring Island on a potential remodel to their course as well. The work would involve a full makeover, with an irrigation upgrade, new greens, some adjustments to the bunkers and other touches.

“We’d like to give it some pizzazz, really put something back that has the character of the island, which is a rough, natural, rugged kind of look,” says Johnson. “It’s what’s in vogue now, this minimalist look, but Spring Island predates the push, and maybe it never got the recognition it deserves for its rough, rugged aesthetic and environmental sensibilities. We’d like to restore and refresh it.”

The recently reconstructed bunker on the 13th at wexford Plantation

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PLAYING THE LONG GAME It’s one of APDC’s most beguiling wilderness designs. Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains near Roanoke, West Virginia, along the shores of Stonewall Jackson Lake, the Arnold Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort with its glorious views and abundant wildlife has elements that range from tender to treacherous. That’s apparent in each of the challenging par-3s. The four shorties test golfers with accuracy, elevation changes and lengthy carries that require soft landings and mental toughness. The par-3s encapsulate the sylvan splendor that in just 10 years has enabled Stonewall Resort to become one of the best-regarded thoroughbreds in Arnold Palmer’s design stable. It consistently ranks among the top-100 resort and public courses in America.

Golf professional Randy Hernly, a one-time CPA and banker who manages Stonewall’s golf operations, tells Chris Rodell how to hit one of the most difficult shots in golf: the long-iron on par-3s.

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Hernly says the descending blow that results from playing the ball back in the stance will launch it off the clubface at a lower angle

Change your mindset... A golfer’s golfers conditioned to going for the Long iron, with the wind… “Wind swing strategy should evolve with each pin. But with a long iron it is essential behind the ball may have a tendency additional club and each additional to sound scoring. to decrease the natural spin on the yard. Few golfers can stand on the tee ball and knock it down,” he says. of a 200-yard par-3 and legitimately Long iron, into strong winds… “While a medium breeze may carry the think “attack” when they’re holding Even ‘ordinary mortal’ golfers are ball a longer distance downwind, a a long iron. Hernly says you must sometimes imbued with a seemingly strong wind may actually knock down think more strategically by making divine ability to tame the elements. a higher trajectory shot. So be mindful the ‘bucket’ you’re aiming at bigger. However, a strong wind should not of how strong the wind actually is at “When you’re standing on a short deter golfers from adapting their ball-flight level. To ensure this, check par-3 and holding an 8- or 9-iron, mental approach on a long par-3. how much the leaves and branches you can concentrate on going after Hernly says a long-iron shot into the are moving up top in the trees and the pin,” he says. “But when you’re wind on a par-3 can be handled by not just at the level of the flag or grass holding a 3- or a 4-iron, you need trying to get the ball to travel on a you toss.” to think about getting the tee shot lower trajectory. “You need to play somewhere between 20 and 50 feet the shot back in the stance and close Proper club selection… The tendency of the hole. You want to think about down the clubface a little,” he advises. when having to carry a longer securing a par with maybe a long “Play the ball back in your stance. distance is to swing harder. According two-putt or a chip-and-putt. With The descending blow will cause the to Hernly, such thinking is “Wrong! a 7-iron you want a birdie or that ball to launch off the clubface at a Wrong! Wrong!” It is essential to last shot to be a 2-inch putt. But lower angle. This helps take strong, keep those Herculean swing thoughts you’re likely to need all three shots gusty winds out of play. And it helps buried in the bag. In fact, standing to match the card on a long par-3.” to shorten the backswing just a bit— on the tee with a long iron is the last Hernly believes that change in mindset maybe to three-quarters—so you can place you want to be thinking about is a difficult adjustment for many be sure of a more solid contact.” ‘going gorilla.’ “The margin for error

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Hernly insists a smooth-flowing, controlled golf swing is essential for successful long-iron play, not “going gorilla” and hitting hard

is too small,” Hernly says. “The swing always needs to be controlled to let the club do the work. If you find yourself thinking you need to swing the club really, really hard to achieve a good result, then it’s time to think about using more club.”

Always use a tee… It’s becoming popular to challenge conventional golf wisdom and forsake the little wooden peg when using an iron off the tee.

Don’t believe it, is Hernly’s advice.

“It’s to your advantage to hit every shot from the best lie you can legally find,” he says. “The tee ensures this. You never want to hit off the grass when you can hit off a tee. This is especially true when you’re hitting a long iron where the chance of finding turf resistance increases. The tee helps you get the ball airborne.”

Hernly advocates using a tee peg for every long-iron shot at a par-3, in order to give yourself “the best lie you can legally find”

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Long iron, soft landing… “This is among the most difficult shots in golf,”

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Hernly says. “The mis-hit shot to a green tucked behind a steep bunker or a water hazard can wind up ruining an otherwise solid round. The key to succeeding here is the cut shot. You want to have the ball come in high and soft. A little cut shot will do the trick.

To do this, just open up the face ever so slightly and use the same swing.

Same swing, same grip—just open up the clubface. I’m not an advocate of amateur golfers doing anything physical to alter their swings. If an amateur golfer has a well-grooved swing, you want to maintain that.

That’s why opening the face slightly leads to such a good result. You’re not doing anything to your swing and you can still move the ball as much as 15 to 20 yards without doing anything different to your natural swing. So use your normal ball position, but aim a little left. Try it on the practice range.

You might find using one more club helpful, too.”

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Hernly believes that golfers should relish the challenge of adopting a bold, confident approach when taking on a long par-3

If you haven’t already done so, buy yourself a hybrid… Hernly says he’s seeing fewer and fewer mainstay golfers clinging to the difficult-to-master long iron. “Golfers who haven’t tried one really need to consider switching to the hybrid. It’s a fantastic and versatile club, especially for the long par-3s.

The hybrids help launch the ball on a better trajectory for long par-3s without sacrificing necessary distance. They’re easier to hit and more forgiving.”

Be confident!... Many amateur golfers feel dread when confronted with a long par-3. Hernly says they should flip that on its head and relish the challenge. “Hitting a strong shot at a long par-3 can set the tone for the rest of the round,” he says. “Master hitting the long iron or hybrid at a small target and the confidence it breeds will influence every single shot you hit the whole rest of the day. It will strengthen every part of your approach game and you will score better.”

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STICK WITH IT...

Time spent on the practice range by golfers of all abilities is usually time well spent.

And at Kingdom, we have recently come to the conclusion that it’s particularly well spent in the company of Tour Sticks.

Tour Sticks are a pair of innovative and lightweight fiberglass rods that golfers use as a portable, multifunctional training tool to reinforce the fundamentals of the golf swing. Due to their versatility, and the aid they provide to a golfer’s alignment, Tour Sticks are suitable for players of all levels and ages, including five-time PGA Tour winner Billy Mayfair. Available in 10 colors, each stick is UV-coated to prevent fading.

In this picture, we show how Tour Sticks can help a golfer when trying to hit a controlled fade with a long-iron and the reverse is also applicable when practicing hitting a draw. But there are many more applications to Tour Sticks—from putting to bunker play, from driving to hitting lob wedges. For full details on the many ways how Tour Sticks can improve your game visit toursticks.com

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TARGET ACQUIRED Range the course faster with Callaway’s new Diablo Octane Laser Rangefinder.

Fueled by high performance Nikon technology, Octane is engineered for performance and maximum accuracy.

MORE POWER. MORE PRECISION. MORE WINS. Learn more about Octane at callawaygolf.com.

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©2011 Callaway Golf Company. Callaway, the Chevron device, Tour Tested, Caddie Approved and Diablo Octane are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Callaway Golf Company. Nikon is an official licensee of Callaway Golf Company. All Nikon trademarks are the property of Nikon Company. Users should review USGA rule 14-3 and consult with their local golf course(s).

Team Spirit Team Mulligan rides for fitness and for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Why do we climb mountains, sail around the world or walk to the North Pole? The answer is often as simple as, “because we can.” Challenging ourselves is as much a part of being human as helping each other, and in that spirit did a handful of friends (some of us from Kingdom magazine) decide to ride bicycles 100 miles this fall. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is our charity of choice, and the 100-mile ride, well... We chose an event in Miami because, let’s face it, as amateurs who hadn’t ridden bikes any distance in years, the mileage alone is challenge enough; no reason to throw a bunch of hills in there.

We were considering the best ways for golfers to get (and to stay) fit, and cycling was mentioned. It’s easy on the joints, great for the heart, great for the muscular and skeletal systems, and can be done at any age, so it’s an obvious story for the magazine. But how to cover it? A one-time article didn’t really do enough, in our minds, and so Team Mulligan (named for Mr. Palmer’s dog) was born.

Once we’d decided to cycle 100 miles to raise awareness of cycling’s benefits, adding a worthwhile charity to the mix was a no-brainer, and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was a natural fit. They do great work, and everyone there—the staff, the patients and their families—are an inspiration.

Support

Cannondale SynapSe Carbon

Cannondale was the first to offer assistance. They provided Team Mulligan with new Synapse Carbon bicycles, which are absolutely incredible (see more on Cannondale on page 190). Next came Lake shoes, which make some of the finest cycling shoes in the world. Lake’s Chris Dimmick introduced us to Richard Bryne at Speedplay pedals, and that company, too, offered to help. jetBlue sorted us with flights to the event, GU Energy is keeping us going, we’re recording the action on GoPro HERO HD cameras, and keeping our vision clear with Julbo glasses. Here, over the next few pages, we offer a look at these fine products and at the benefits of cycling in terms of general health.

To lend your support, visit Team-Mulligan.com

Ridiculously light, beyond competent for handling long miles in the saddle and stunningly beautiful (as far as we’re concerned), the Cannondale Synapse is the premier cyclo sportive bike on the market. With its SAVE road-dampening technologies and years of tech innovations behind it, the Synapse should be considered by anyone looking for a comfortable ride, whether you’re tackling the cobbled roads of Paris-Roubaix or just going for a weekend ride.

Cannondale.com

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LAKE CX401 The Kangaroo leather and BOA Closure system are great, but the real attraction of the Lake CX401 is its Custom Fit Carbon Fiber sole. With a few minutes and an oven, the carbon sole can be heat molded to fit your foot perfectly.

LakeCycling.com

SPEEDPLAY ZERO The most technically advanced pedal system ever, Speedplay Zero pedals offer up to 15 degrees of micro-adjustable float, meaning they’re kind to knees. The pedals’ “lollipop” design means it can be clipped-into from either side, and the stack height is insanely low, meaning power transfer and control are fantastic. Available in a range of colors. SpeedPlay.com

GOPRO HD HERO Waterproof to 197 feet, shooting at 1080p HD quality, GoPro’s HD HERO cameras are the absolute zenith when it comes to action photography. With the new HD HERO2, the company continues to push the boundaries of action video. Perfect for recording your favorite activities—even your golf swing. GoPro.com

JULBO RACE Good eyewear is critical for cycling, and Julbo’s Race sunglasses are great. The Zebra high-contrast photochromic lens with anti-fog coating is sharp in grey conditions and darkens quickly in the sun, while GripTech templates and nose inserts keep the glasses in place. JulboUSA.com

GU ENERGY GU Energy Labs offers a wide portfolio of performance energy products. Bikers, runners and even golfers in need of a pick-up benefit from the original GU Energy Gels, the gummy candy-like GU Chomps, Electrolyte and Recovery Brews and Electrolyte drink Tablets. Featuring fast-acting natural ingredients and recovery-specific components as well, GU products are efficient, easily digested, and available in a wide range of flavors. GuEnergy.com

JETBLUE With more than 50 destinations in the U.S. and abroad, Oh the places you’ll go with jetBlue. The seats are leather, the planes are clean and fast, there’s DIRECTV and SiriusXM Radio in flight, and the customer service is unparalleled.

Add to that the ease of booking online, and you have the absolute best way to jet around. JetBlue.com

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A supporter today of the luminary Team Liquigas-Cannondale (and the somewhat less luminary Team Mulligan—see the next page for more on that), one of the world’s premier bicycle companies started in a crowded loft above a pickle factory. An American firm in a sport with deep European roots, Cannondale raised more than a few eyebrows when it entered the fray.

But with victories in some of cycling’s biggest competitions, it wasn’t long before they silenced the doubters. Today, with a catalog of bikes that ranges from apartment-sized commuters to cutting-edge racers, it’s more than likely that your next twowheeler will be a Cannondale

Canno 190

Cannondale first got rolling in 1971 in a crowded loft above a pickle factory in Connecticut, but it wasn’t a bicycle company. Joe Montgomery, Jim Catrambone and Ron Davis were in the business of making backpacks and bags, later adding bicycle trailers to the mix. The first bike-related product was the “Bugger,” a small trailer meant to carry a child, some of which were exported to the U.K., hilariously without regard for the name.

Named for the Cannondale Metro North train station in Wilton, Connecticut, Cannondale’s first bicycle came in 1983 and sold for $350 (frame and fork). A touring model, it was innovative for the time in that it utlized a hand-built, oversized aluminum frame, both lighter and less flexible than the steel bikes common at the time. The next year saw the introduction of both a racing bike and a mountain bike, the latter of which was just coming into vogue. Initially doubted for its new approach to bike-building, and for what became known as the Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design (CAAD), Cannondale was nevertheless quickly embraced by dealers, and by the 1990s the company’s reputation was well established, with Cannondales being a common sight. The marque’s first big competitive statement came in 1997, when Cannondale became the first bike-maker to have a large, oversized aluminum frame on the Tour de France. Within a few years, more than just making an appearance, Cannondale was making an impact, with the Saeco team’s Mario Cipollini powering a Cannondale to four stage victories on the 1999 Tour. Additionally, Cannondales have taken five Giro d’Italias, three with Saeco and two with the Liquigas team.

In 2004 the company premiered the Six13 model, which utilized carbon tube sections along with an aluminum rear triangle. Marketing at the time included a “Legalize my Cannondale” campaign, which alluded to the bike’s incredibly low weight, which approached the Union Cycliste Internationale’s minimum weight limit for competition bikes.

Today the company is still pushing the envelope, delivering the latest technologies at competitive prices. Cannondale’s carbon offerings (it was a pioneer in this department as well) are among the best available, even while it continues to drive aluminum tech forward. Whether you’re looking to win events at the highest level, hang with your friends on weekend rides or just to get more enjoyment out of your cycling, Cannondale is well worth your time.

Find out more about Cannondale bicycles at cannondale.com.

Current Offerings

SUPERSIX EVO ULTIMATE The absolute pinnacle of bicycle design, the SuperSix EVO (pictured) is the latest example of Cannondale pushing the technological envelope. If 2004’s Six13 was controversially low-weight at nearly 15 lbs, the SuperSix EVO Ultimate’s frame is positively criminal at 695 grams. Despite the low weight, the frame is incredibly strong and stiff. The tubes are mostly round, which is more efficient weight-wise than other designs. Additionally, they’re not curved, bucking some trends among high-end bikes at the moment. The frame is made in three sections. The head tube, top tube and down tube are fabricated together as a monocoque.

Same with the seat tube and bottom bracket. In a bit of innovative construction, the chainstay section is created as a monocoque with the seatstays. The downtube is almost completely round, offering great torsional and lateral strength and aerodynamics. Utlizing a host of carbon fiber technologies and gemoetric tweaks to achieve max performance with minimal weight, this is the absolute top of the line when it comes to modern bicycles.

features SAVE PLUS technology, which smooths the road.

Basically, rather than offering straight post designs, the SAVE PLUS technology uses a combination of carbon tech and shaping to create a micro-suspension system. In the rear stays, a flattened area deflects vertically to absorb road buzz and shock while the increased width handles a side-to-side torsional flex. Up front in the fork, offset dropouts and shaping increase vertical deflection and vibration absorption with no loss of steering precision. The SAVE PLUS tech, combined with a more upright seating position, helps with fatigue and makes this a supreme offering for the long-ride set, or for weekenders who don’t need the full tuck of a racing frame.

ondale SYNAPSE CARBON

If you’re looking for something to ride over the long haul, Cannondale’s Synapse offers all of the technological proficiencies of the company’s racers, but with a cyclo sportive design that’s more comfortable. In fact, LiquigasCannondale riders use the Synapse on the famed cobbled route of the Paris-Roubaix race, and it’s perfect for average Joes on weekend Gran Fondos as well. This is the choice of Kingdom magazine’s Team Mulligan, which is riding 100 miles to support the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and it’s no wonder: A masterpiece of carbon fiber, the Synapse

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CAAD10

Just because carbon frames are all the rage doesn’t mean they’re the only option or even the best, depending on your needs. The original pioneer of aluminum frames, Cannondale’s CAAD (Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design) offerings are still in full effect, and most recently with the CAAD10. At just 1,150 grams, the CAAD10 is both stiff and smooth, outperforming many elite carbon frames.

The top tube is absolutely stiff, increasing steering response and overall stability. Likewise, the SPEED SAVE carbon fork is both precise and shock-absorbing, thanks to the offset dropouts. Also, the SPEED SAVE features in the rear help with vibration dampening, but also deliver faster rolling speed, better acceleration and fast cornering. With low weight, great stiffness and a friendly price compared to many carbon bikes, the CAAD10 should absolutely be considered by anyone looking for a top-end performance bicycle. As Peloton magazine (USA) wrote, “The reality is a CAAD10-1—with an extra $2,000 budget for high-end race wheels—will deliver more performance than any $5,000 carbon bike.

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From Arnold Palmer’s biceps to Tiger Woods’ abs to Annika Sorenstam’s supreme overall fitness, if you don’t know that being in shape is good for your game, you haven’t been paying attention. Long, long gone are the days of the portly old gent with pipe in mouth swatting away at the ball and claiming the cup.

Today’s pros are as apt to be spotted lifting weights in a gym or running on a treadmill as they are hitting balls at the range. And while there are myriad ways to achieve fitness, one of the most recently popular is also one of the most traditional: on a bicycle

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Cycling offers more than a few advantages over other sports where golfers are concerned. First and foremost it’s easy on the joints, which is a key plus for anyone who spends time swinging a club. Additionally, it works the whole body— muscles and cardio—at the same time. It’s also easy, relatively inexpensive, widely available and can be enjoyed at any age, as evidenced by the fact that Mr. Palmer and Camilo Villegas both spend some time on two wheels, albeit at different speeds.

Villegas was one of the first Tour pros to adopt cycling as a serious means to fitness. In addition to a severely intense workout schedule in his über-equipped home gym, Camilo spends long hours on his road bike, racking up miles. He’s even won several 100km cycling events.

Chris Noss, Villegas’s strength and training coach, told Golf magazine’s Josh Sens that the golfer once cycled 80 miles from his home in Jupiter, Florida, to catch a flight in Miami.

And when Villegas is back in his home country of Colombia, he trains with Santiago Botero, a world champ cyclist.

“It’s something that lets me get away,” Villegas said in the same Golf magazine article. “I just lock onto the wheel in front of me and don’t lose it. That’s the only thought going through my head.”

In fact, Villegas likes cycling so much, he’s admitted that it negatively impacted his golf in the past.

“It’s about balance,” he said. “Too much of anything can get in the way of you achieving your goals.”

We don’t all need to be like Camilo (and it’s unlikely that we could, anyway; he’s a three-time Tour winner with more than $13 million in prize money over four years). But dusting off the two-wheeler in your garage isn’t a bad idea. Here’s why: Camilo Villegas (left and below) is a seriously competitive cyclist

Does a BoDy GooD Unlike running, which compresses the knees and spine with every plunge forward, cycling is fluid. If a bike is properly fitted, there shouldn’t be much stress at all on your knees, shoulders or spine—but a good fitting is key. Additionally, bikes with multiple gears will ensure that the pressure on your knees stays constantly light as you can adjust the resistance relative to speed and road conditions. From a hearthealth standpoint, cycling gradually increases the heart rate relative to effort, working your cardio-vascular system in a non-dramatic fashion. If you want to push yourself for a good workout, pedal a bit faster or harder. If you want to slow things down a bit, lower the resistance or decrease your cadence.

Increased resistance will also work your legs, maintaining or gradually building muscle, which can be important if you’re rehabilitating from an illness or injury. The full range of motion means that both front and rear leg muscles are getting worked. Other benefits, according to studies by the British and German governments: Immune System: Cycling has been shown to boost the immune system’s strength.

Skeletal System: Cycling has a positive effect on bone density and strength. Additionally, cycling benefits the muscular system, which also helps with skeletal support.

Spinal Health: Leg movements in cycling stimulate and strengthen lower back muscles, also small muscles of the vertebrae that are difficult to work through other exercises.

Balance: Cycling counters stress, both in providing a means of physical activity and a means of relieving both mental and emotional strain. The repeated motion of cycling has been shown to stabilize emotional functions, counteracting anxiety, depression and hormonal imbalance.

Heat Health: In helping with cardiovascular health, reducing stress and improving other functions, cycling greatly reduces the risk factors for heart attack. In fact, cycling regularly has been shown to decrease the likelihood of a heart attack by more than 50 percent.

Weight Issues: With the majority of a cyclist’s weight being borne by the bicycle’s saddle, cycling makes exercise possible for people who otherwise find it difficult to move easily.

Overall Well-being: With its overall positive effects on health, cycling reduces tiredness and fatigue, and produces an overall positive sense of well-being.

There are no “magic bullets” when it comes to getting or staying fit, but with its low impact on joints, relative ease, widespread availability and numerous positive effects, cycling should absolutely be considered by golfers of any age as one of the activities in your overall health plan. It may not produce Villegas-like results, but there’s no doubt it will improve your overall quality of life. Moreover, it’s fun. So as an old British campaign had it, “Get on yer bike!”

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Course Directory

Courses around the world designed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company KEY: + Remodel

@ Certified Audubon Sanctuary @* Certified Audubon Signature Sanctuary

ALABAMA Craft Farms

Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend Gulf Shores, Alabama

www.craftfarms.com

ARIZONA Arrowhead Country Club

Glendale, Arizona

www.arrowheadccaz.com

Mesa del Sol

Yuma, Arizona

www.mesadelsolgolf.com

Starfire at Scottsdale Country Club

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.starfiregolfclub.com

Starr Pass Resort

Tucson, Arizona

Indian Ridge Country Club

Cherry Hills Country Club +

Arroyo and Grove Courses Palm Desert, California

Englewood, Colorado

www.chcc.com

Mission Hills Country Club

Eagle, Colorado

www.indianridgecc.com

The Arnold Palmer Course Rancho Mirage, California www.missionhills.com

Mountain View Country Club

La Quinta, California

Pebble Beach Golf Links +

Monterey, California

www.pebblebeach.com

PGA West

The Palmer Private Course La Quinta, California www.pgawest.com

www.presidiogolfclub.com

San Francisco, California

Rancho Murieta Country Club

Rancho Murieta, California

CALIFORNIA

www.ranchomurietacc.com

Aviara at Park Hyatt Resort

Rolling Hills Golf Club

Palos Verdes Estates, California

www.parkaviara.hyatt.com

www.rollinghillscc.com

The Classic Club

SilverRock Resort

Palm Desert, California

La Quinta, California

www.classicclubgolf.com

www.silverrock.org

Empire Lake Golf Course

The Tradition Golf Club

Rancho Cucamonga, California

La Quinta, California

www.empirelakes.com

www.traditiongolfclub.net

Hiddenbrooke Golf Club

COLORADO

Vallejo, California

www.hiddenbrookegolf.com

www.golfcolorado.com/lonetree

CONNECTICUT

Wildfire at Desert Ridge

Carlsbad, California

Lone Tree Golf Club

Littleton, Colorado

Gillette Ridge Golf Club

The Presidio Golf Course +@

Phoenix, Arizona

www.eagleranchgolf.com

www.mountainviewatlaquinta.com

www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com

www.wildfiregolf.com

Eagle Ranch Golf Course @

Bear Creek Golf Course

Denver, Colorado

Bloomfield, Connecticut

www.gilletteridgegolf.com

FLORIDA Adios Golf Club

Coconut Creek, Florida

www.adiosgolfclub.org

Bay Hill Club and Lodge +

Orlando, Florida

www.bayhill.com

Boca West #1 and Boca West #3

Boca Raton, Florida

www.bocawestcc.org

Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club

Coral Gables, Florida

www.dbycc.com

Frenchman's Reserve

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

www.frenchmansreserve.com

The Golf Club at North Hampton

Fernandina Beach, Florida

www.northhampton.com/golfclub.asp

Hidden Hills Country Club +

Jacksonville, Florida www.hiddenhillscc.com

www.bearcreekgolfclub.net

THE CLASSIC CLUB, CA

Photo by Avra Photography

Isleworth Golf and Country Club

Windermere, Florida www.isleworth.com

The King and The Bear

St. Augustine, Florida

www.kingandbear.com

Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club

Cypress Links and King's Dunes Bradenton, Florida

Matanzas Woods at Palm Coast Resort

PGA National

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Palm Coast, Florida

www.pgaresort.com

Mill Cove Golf Club

Palm Coast, Florida

www.palmcoastresort.com

Jacksonville, Florida

www.millcovegolfcourse.com

Mizner Golf and Country Club @

Pine Lakes at Palm Coast Resort www.palmcoastresort.com/golf.html

The Plantation at Ponte Vedra

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida

www.theplantationpv.com

www.lakewoodranchgolf.com

www.miznercountryclub.com

Legacy Golf Club

Monarch Country Club

Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club at Sawgrass +

Bradenton, Florida

www.legacygolfclub.com

Legends at Orange Lake

Kissimmee, Florida

Palm City, Florida

www.monarchclub.com

Naples Lakes Country Club @

Reunion Resort & Club

Naples, Florida

The Legacy Course Orlando, Florida

www.orangelake.com

www.napleslakesfl.com

Lost Key Golf Course @*

Orchid Island Golf Club

Perdido Key, Florida

Vero Beach, Florida

www.lostkey.com

www.orchidislandgolfandbeachclub.com

Majors Golf Club at Palm Bay

Palmer Legends Country Club

Palm Bay, Florida

The Villages, Florida

www.majorsgolfclub.com

www.thevillages.com

Marsh Landing Country Club

Pasadena Yacht and Country Club +

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

www.marshlandingcc.com

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

www.pontevedragolfandcc.com

St. Petersburg, Florida

www.pyccgolf.com

www.reunionresort.com

Saddlebrook Resort

Wesley Chapel, Florida www.saddlebrook.com

Sawgrass Country Club +

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

www.sawgrasscountryclub.com

Spessard Holland Golf Park

Melbourne, Florida

www.golfspessardholland.com

St. Andrews Country Club +

Boca Raton, Florida

www.standrewscc.com

Suntree Country Club

Melbourne, Florida

www.suntree.com

Tesoro—The Palmer Course

Port St. Lucie, Florida

www.tesoroclub.com

Wildcat Run Country Club @

Estero, Florida

www.wildcatruncc.com

Frenchman’s reserve, fl, hole 5

GEORGIA Augusta First Tee

Augusta, Georgia

www.thefirstteeaugusta.org

Turtle Bay Resort

The Palmer Course Kakuku, Hawaii

www.turtlebayresort.com

Champions Retreat

ILLINOIS

Augusta, Georgia

The Den at Fox Creek Golf Club @

www.championsretreat.net

Cherokee Run Golf Club

Conyers, Georgia

www.cherokeerungolfclub.com

Eagle Watch

Woodstock, Georgia

www.eaglewatchgolf.com

MICHIGAN Coyote Preserve Golf Club

Fenton, Michigan

www.coyotepreserve.com

The Legend at Shanty Creek

Bellaire, Michigan

Bloomington, Illinois

www.shantycreek.com/golf

Hawthorn Woods Country Club

Cedar, Michigan

www.thedengc.com

Manitou Passage Golf Club

Hawthorn Township, Illinois

www.manitoupassagegolfclub.com

Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course

Northville, Michigan

www.hwccgolf.com

Alton, Illinois

Northville Hills Country Club @ www.northvillehills.com

www.spencertolingolf.com

Ravines Golf Club

www.theforesthillsgolfcourse.com

White Eagle Golf Club

www.ravinesgolfclub.com

Landings on Skidaway Island @

www.whiteeaglegc.com

Forest Hills Golf Club +

Augusta, Georgia

Magnolia Course Savannah, Georgia

www.thelandings.com

Stouffers Pine Isle +

Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia Whitewater Country Club

Fayetteville, Georgia

www.whitewatercc.com

HAwAII The Hapuna Golf Course

Kamuela, Hawaii

Naperville, Illinois

IOwA Tournament Club of Iowa

Polk City, Iowa

www.tcofiowa.com

KENTUCKY Lake Forest Country Club

Louisville, Kentucky

www.lakeforestgolf.com

LOUISIANA

Saugatuck, Michigan

MINNESOTA Deacon's Lodge

Nisswa, Minnesota

www.deaconslodge.com

Minnesota Valley Golf Club +@

Bloomington, Minnesota TPC of the Twin Cities @

Blaine, Minnesota

www.tpctwincities.com

MISSISSIPPI The Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino @*

www.princeresortshawaii.com

The Bluffs on Thompson Creek

Hawaii Prince Golf Club

www.thebluffs.com

www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com/golf

MARYLAND

MISSOURI

Ewa Beach, Hawaii

www.princeresortshawaii.com

Kapalua Golf Club @

The Bay Course Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

www.hawaiigolfacademy.com

St. Francesville, Louisiana

Country Club at Woodmore

Mitchellville, Maryland

www.ccwoodmore.com

MASSACHUSETTS TPC of Boston at Great Woods

Norton, Massachusetts www.tpcboston.com

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Big Cedar

Arnold Palmer Practice Facility* Ridgedale, Missouri www.big-cedar.com

Osage National Golf Club

Regency at Monroe

Lake Ozark, Missouri

Freehold, New Jersey

www.osagenational.com

www.regencyatmonroe.com

Montana

noRtH CaRoLIna

Big Sky Golf Club

Balsam Mountain Preserve

Big Sky, Montana

www.bigskyresort.com

nEBRaSKa Arbor Links Golf Course

Nebraska City, Nebraska

www.arborlinks.com

The Players Club at Deer Creek

Omaha, Nebraska

www.playersclubomaha.com

Sylva, North Carolina

www.balsammountain.com

Birkdale Golf Club

Huntersville, North Carolina

www.birkdale.com

Brier Creek Country Club @

Raleigh, North Carolina

www.briercreekcountryclub.com

The Carolina Golf Club

Pinehurst, North Carolina

nEVaDa

www.thecarolina.com

Angel Park Golf Club

Cullasaja Club

Highlands, North Carolina

White Oak Golf & Equestrian Community

Tryon, North Carolina www.whiteoaktryon.com

noRtH DaKota King’s Walk Golf Course

Grand Forks, North Dakota

www.kingswalk.org

oHIo Oasis Golf Club

Loveland, Ohio

www.oasisclub.com

TPC River’s Bend

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.tpcatriversbend.com

Tartan Fields Golf Club

Dublin, Ohio

Palm Course and Mountain Course Las Vegas, Nevada

www.cullasajaclub.org

Mid South Club

oREGon

ArrowCreek Country Club

Southern Pines, North Carolina

Running Y Ranch Resort @

www.angelparkgolfclub.com

The Legend Course Reno, Nevada

www.arrowcreekcc.com

Dayton Valley Country Club

Dayton, Nevada

www.daytonvalley.com

www.talamore.com

NCSU—Lonnie Poole Golf Course

Raleigh, North Carolina

www.lonniepoolegolfcourse.com

Oak Valley Golf Club

Advance, North Carolina

Oasis Golf Club

www.oakvalleygolfclub.com

Mesquite, Nevada

TPC at Piper Glen @

www.theoasisgolfclub.com

Charlotte, North Carolina

Red Rock Country Club

www.tpcpiperglen.com

Arroyo Course and Mountain Course Las Vegas, Nevada

Quail Hollow Country Club +

www.redrockcountryclub.com

nEW HaMPSHIRE Golf Club of New England

Greenland, New Hampshire

www.golfclubne.com

nEW JERSEY Laurel Creek Country Club @

Mt. Laurel, New Jersey

www.laurelcreekcc.org

Charlotte, North Carolina Rivers Edge Golf Club

www.tartanfields.com

Klamath Falls, Oregon

www.runningy.com

PEnnSYLVanIa Blue Bell Country Club

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

www.bluebellcc.com

The Club at Blackthorne

Penn Township, Pennsylvania

www.theclubatblackthorne.com

Commonwealth National Golf Club @

Horsham, Pennsylvania

www.commonwealthgolfclub.com

Laurel Valley Golf Club +

Shallotte, North Carolina

Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Scotch Hall Preserve

Oakmont, Pennsylvania

www.river18.com

Merry Hill, North Carolina

www.scotchhallpreserve.com

Woodlake Resort & Golf Club

Vass, North Carolina www.woodlakecc.com

OceanicO VictOria, PORTUGAL, hOLe 15

Oakmont Country Club + www.oakmont-countryclub.org

Treesdale Golf and Country Club @

Gibsonia, Pennsylvania

www.treesdalegolf.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

TEXAS

Fawn Lake @

Crescent Pointe Golf Club

Barton Creek Resort @

Bluffton, South Carolina

Palmer Lakeside Course Spicewood, Texas

www.fawnlakevirginia.com

Musgrove Mill Golf Club

Clinton, South Carolina

www.musgrovemill.com

Myrtle Beach National

King’s North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

www.bartoncreek.com

Twin Creeks Golf Course

Allen, Texas

www.twincreeksgolf.com

The Golf Club at Fossil Creek

Fort Worth, Texas

www.mbn.com

www.thegolfclubatfossilcreek.com

Old Tabby Links @

Lakecliff on Lake Travis

Okatie, South Carolina

Spicewood, Texas

Keswick Golf Club @

Keswick, Virginia

www.keswickclub.com

Kingsmill on the James @

The Plantation Course Williamsburg, Virginia www.kingsmill.com

Signature at West Neck

Virginia Beach, Virginia

www.signatureatwestneck.com

www.springisland-sc.com

www.lakecliff.net

WASHINGTON

The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Newport Dunes

Seattle Golf Club + Seattle, Washington

Sunset, South Carolina

Port Aransas, Texas

www.reserveatlakekeowee.com

www.newportdunesgolf.com

www.seattlegolfclub.com

RiverTowne Country Club

La Cantera Resort @ The Palmer Course

Blaine, Washington

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

www.rivertownecountryclub.com

Wexford Golf Club

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

www.wexfordhiltonhead.com

SOUTH DAKOTA Dakota Dunes Country Club

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota

www.dakotadunescountryclub.com

San Antonio, Texas

www.semiahmoo.com

The Woodlands

Roslyn, Washington

www.lacanteragolfclub.com

The Palmer Course The Woodlands, Texas www.thewoodlands.com

UTAH Jeremy Golf and Country Club

Park City, Utah

TENNESSEE

www.thejeremy.com

The Governors Golf Club

VIRGINIA

Brentwood, Tennessee

www.thegovernorsclub.com

King’s Creek

Spring Hill, Tennessee

www.kingscreekgolf.com

Ridgeway Country Club

Colliersville, Tennessee

www.ridgewaycountryclub.com

Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club @

Bay Creek Golf Club @*

Cape Charles, Virginia

Suncadia Resort—The Prospector Course www.suncadia.com

WEST VIRGINIA Speidel Golf Club, Palmer Course

Wheeling, West Virginia

www.oglebay-resort.com/golf/index.cfm

Stonewall Jackson Lake Resort

Walkersville, West Virginia www.stonewallresort.com

WISCONSIN

www.baycreekgolfclub.com

The Bog

Belmont Country Club @

www.golfthebog.com

Ashburn, Virginia

www.belmontcountryclub.com

Dominion Valley Country Club and Executive Course

Haymarket, Virginia www.dominionvalley.com

Saukville, Wisconsin

Geneva National Golf Club

The Palmer Course Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

www.genevanationalresort.com

WYOMING Teton Pines Resort and Country Club @

Jackson, Wyoming www.tetonpines.com

© Turismo do Algarve

www.crescentpointegolf.com

Spotsylvania, Virginia

INTERNATIONAL

AUSTRALIA

FRANCe

ITALy

Crecy Golf Club (Domain de la Brie)

Ca’della Nave Golf Club

Crecy–la–Chapelle

Martellago

www.domainedelabrie.com

www.cadellanave.com

www.sanctuarycove.com

GeRmANy

Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club

BAhAmAS

Hannover

Ginn Sur Mer (formerly West End)

www.rethmar-golf-links.de

www.golftolcinasco.it

West End, Grand Bahama Island

Sporting Club Berlin

Prato

CANADA

www.sporting-club-berlin.de

Sanctuary Cove—Pines Golf Course

Sanctuary Cove, Queensland

Northview Golf and Country Club

Ridge Course and Canal Course Cloverdale, British Columbia

Rethmar Golf Links

Bad Saarow

GUAm

www.northviewgolf.com

LeoPalace Resort The Palmer Course

Whistler Golf Club

Yona

Whistler, British Columbia www.whistlergolf.com

ChINA Beijing Cascades Golf Course

Beijing

www.cascadesgolf.cn/index_2.html

Chung Shan Hot Springs Golf Course

Guangdong Province

www.cshsgc.com.cn

Pure Scene Golf Club & Resort

Kunming

CoSTA RICA Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo

Papagayo, Guanacaste

www.fourseasons.com/costarica/golf/

Milano

Golf Club Le Pavoniere www.golfclublepavoniere.com

JApAN Adonis Garden Club

Gifu Prefecture Ajigasawa Kogen Golf Course

www.leopalaceresort.com

Aomori Prefecture

INDIA

Asahi Miki

DLF Golf Club

Osaka

New Delhi

Aso Prince Hotel Golf Course

www.dlfgolfresort.com

Kumamoto Prefecture

INDoNeSIA

Hyogo Prefecture

Emeralda Golf and Country Club

Desa Tapos, Cimanggis (Jakarta)

www.emeraldagolfclub.com

IReLAND Kildare Hotel & Country Club

The Palmer Course & Smurfit Course Straffan, County Kildare www.kclub.ie

Tralee Golf Club

Ardfert, County Kerry www.traleegolfclub.com

LA mANgA cLub, spain, south course hole 11

Forest Miki Golf Club Fuji Excellent Ono Club

Hyogo Prefecture Furano Golf Course

The King & Palmer Courses Hokkaido Prefecture Japan Classic Country Club

Iga Ueno Kanegasaki Golf Course

Iwate Prefecture

Manago Country Club

Tochigi Prefecture Minakami-Kogen Golf Course

PHILIPPINES

SOUTH KOREA

Caliraya Springs Golf & Country Club

Eunhwasam Country Club

Gunma Prefecture

www.calirayasprings.com

Barangay Cavinti, Laguna

Seoul

Misawa Adonis Golf Club

Gifu Prefecture

Imperial Golf & Country Club (formerly Cebu Mactan)

Muju-Gun

Niseko Golf Course

www.theorchardgolf.com

SINGAPORE

Evercrest Golf Club and Resort

The Legends Fort Canning Park

Hokkaido Prefecture Shimotsuke Country Club

Tochigi Prefecture Shin-Foresta Country Club

Cebu

Nasugbu, Batangas

www.legendsfortcanning.com

Forest Hills Golf & Country Club

SPAIN

Antipolo, Luzon

Shin-Yubari Golf Club

Orchard Golf and Country Club The Legacy

Tsugaru Kogen Golf Course

Aomori Prefecture Wakasa Country Club Suigetsuko Course

Fukui Prefecture Wakasa Country Club Hyugako Course

Dasmarinas, Cavite

www.theorchardgolf.com

Sun Valley

Kingsville Sun Valley Golf Course

Antipolo City, Luzon

www.sunvalleyphilippines.com

Kukui Prefecture

PORTUGAL

MALAYSIA

Oceanico Victoria

Damai Golf & Country Club

Sarawak

www.damaigolf.com

The Legends Golf & Country Resort

Sedenak, Johor

www.legends-resort.com

www.mujuresort.com

www.evercrestgolfclubresort.com

Mie Prefecture Hokkaido Prefecture

Muju Resort

La Manga Club Resort

Cartagena, Murcia

www.lamangaclub.com

TAIWAN Formosa First Country Club

Taoyuan County Formosa Yangmei Country Club

Taoyuan County

THAILAND Bangpoo Country Club

Bangkok

Vilamoura

www.bangpoogolf.com

REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Las Piedras

www.oceanicogolf.com

Zhailjau Golf Resort

Almaty

www.zgr.kz

URUGUAY Punte del Este

Ken Bennett / Wake Forest University Photographer

Wake on the Up

Any ambitious youngster pursuing a golf scholarship is bound to cast eager eyes over the program available at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, if only because of the legacy that’s grown there since those hallowed days more than 60 years ago when Arnold Palmer was a freshman In October this year, Mr. Palmer’s alma mater enjoyed three fundraising days of celebration as its new practice facility was officially named for its most famous former student.

The ceremonies concluded with a star-studded Monday pro-am featuring a galaxy of Wake Forest’s Tour-pro alumni, including Jay and Bill Haas, Scott Hoch, Billy Andrade, Jay Sigel, Laura Diaz and, last but far from least, the 2011 PGA Tour’s No.2 money winner Webb Simpson.

Basketball star Chris Paul was also in attendance, but the pro-am honors went to Simpson’s team—he was paired with amateurs John Spanos, Todd Goergen, and Pete and Burney Jennings.

The event capped a weekend that saw Bill Haas, fresh from his $10 million bonus for winning the Tour Championship, open the gate for the Saturday football game.

When it comes to separating Simpson and Haas in terms of their achievements on the PGA Tour this year, Mr. Palmer is happy to sit on the fence. “I’d make Bill and

202

Webb co-players of the year,” he said. “Of course, I’m a little biased toward them. But they’re both great guys, and I’m so happy to see them doing so well. It’s a tough pick with the closeness of the race—but at least there are two Wake Forest guys in the conversation, and that’s great to see.”

“To have the only two Wake Forest guys [on Tour] finishing first and second in the FedEx Cup, it just makes Webb and I very proud to be Demon Deacons,” Haas said.

Parts of the practice facility are specifically dedicated to coaches Jesse Haddock and Dianne Dailey, but the entire complex was named for Mr. Palmer on the Sunday night at a dinner in Old Town.

Athletics director Ron Wellman said: “The name of Arnold Palmer and Wake Forest golf are synonymous.

He was the person who started the great golf tradition at Wake Forest. Naming the facility that he designed the ‘Arnold Palmer Golf Complex’ is the perfect way to honor him and all that he has done for our golf program, athletic department and university.”

WINTER

2011

KINGDOM

21

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