Kingdom 30

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Women

As good as you, and better

Issue 30—Winter 2014

Paula Creamer A rookie no more

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a r n o l d pa l m e r f o r e wo r d

Welcome to you all T:10.875”

B:11.125”

S:9.5”

L

et me start by offering you a very warm welcome to the Winter edition of Kingdom magazine.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have, as, in addition to our regular content, we have put a special focus on the important themes of families and women in golf. These are topics that are close to my heart, because I believe golf must be as inclusive as possible, and that clubs should welcome golfers of all ages, both sexes, all religions, colors and cultural backgrounds. When a golf club excludes a certain group, I believe it also loses some integrity.

I am privileged to be an honorary member of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, at the “Home of Golf,” so I can’t tell you how pleased I was to see that the R&A membership voted in favor of admitting women members in September.

You know, that vote won’t make much difference to how the R&A operates on a day-to-day basis—golfing life carries on—but the vote marks a significant step forward in terms of how golf is perceived by millions of people around the world. It confirms to people that golf is not stuck in a mire of outdated restrictions.

winter 2014

At both clubs where I am most closely involved, at Bay Hill in Florida and at Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania, we take great pride in ensuring our memberships are diverse and that women and children can enjoy our clubs every bit as much as the men. And for other clubs to prosper in the long-term future, this is the only way to go.

I sincerely hope you all enjoy the holiday season, which is just around the corner now, and best wishes for a happy new year in 2015.

Enjoy the read,

Arnold Palmer

11

editor’s

foreword

In praise of women

C

oco Chanel once said that “Women must tell men always that they are the strong ones.

They are the big, the strong, the wonderful.

In truth, women are the strong ones.”

I know that this is what happens, that the compliments women give men aren’t always legitimate, and I believe that most men know it as well. What’s more interesting to me is that, on some level, we don’t care.

We need women to be positive towards us, need them to acknowledge our abilities, need them to praise what we drew in school today. That they oblige us (even when they’re indifferent) is a kind of charity, really, though if they didn’t I think the whole machine would grind to a halt somehow.

Beyond keeping us going, their celebrating our activities as if they were true achievements—lifting the weight, solving the puzzle, birdieing the hole—is yet another expression of women’s incredible strength, a sort of charade that is, somewhat ironically, itself evidence of sincerity, of caring, of love. Men can survive without a woman’s support, but they rarely thrive.

In this issue of Kingdom, then, we pause to celebrate women in return—legitimately, for there’s no doubting a woman’s strength. Case in point: Angie Everhart.

winter 2014

Best known for her looks, her fortitude as a single mother and cancer survivor should be applauded even more (p84). Likewise, Paula Creamer sank what was likely the putt of the year—a 75-footer at the HSBC Women’s Championship—underlining the fact that the women of the LPGA Tour are seriously amazing golfers and certainly as inspirational as the men (p66). Beyond that, we look at 50 people—not just women—who have helped to develop the women’s game (p46), the role the game plays in women’s business (p188) and the role it plays in their lives (p34). Of course, there’s plenty more as well, and we hope you enjoy reading it all. From everyone here at the magazine, happy holidays and a joyous New Year. And may God bless the women in our lives.

See you next year,

Reade Tilley

13

publisher’s foreword

A good walk

A

t this time of year I am often drawn to reflect on when we first started work on Kingdom, as this issue marks our 12th anniversary.

Over the years we have covered most aspects of the game we all love, but this is the first time we have celebrated women in golf to such a degree, and probably not before time. We have debated, argued, compromised and fallen out again, trying to fit over 70 names into our list of the 50 most important people to the women’s game, and no doubt most readers will wonder why some made the cut while others didn’t. It was not an easy task but it is certainly a worthy debate, and it has given the Kingdom office real energy in recent weeks.

Later on in this edition we take a brief look at an issue that is of equal importance to men and women: that of carts versus legs. I have long been an advocate of the walking game, believing the connection with the land on which the game is played—and the tie to golfers that have strode the fairways (or hunted in the rough) before me—is lessened by zipping along in a cart. When I hit a good shot I enjoy the extended period before reaching the ball, and the walking time allows me to visualize the next. Moreover, I like to finish a round feeling like I have earned my glass

14

of Glenmorangie in the 19th by preceding it with a hearty walk. One aspect we hadn’t considered when first discussing the rise of carts is the commensurate diminishing of caddie programs. When you think of those that were from the wrong side of the tracks, from Abe Mitchell to Lee Trevino, who came into the game through caddying, I do wonder whether golf is losing some future greats to other sports and occupations. That is not to say that carts are bad as such, as they undoubtedly bring many benefits to the sport, not least by extending the playing careers to many who are not so able bodied. It is not a simple issue, that is for sure.

However you transport yourself to and on the golf course, I wish all our readers a great finish to the year and best of luck for the 2015 golfing season.

Matthew Squire

winter 2014

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Kingdom Magazine Issue 30 Winter 2014

22

34

46

Q&A

Women & the Game

Top 50

The Ryder Cup, the strangest trophies Arnie ever won and why he leaves Latrobe in winter (hint: it’s cold)

A mother, a crusader and a referee teach us that golf is more than just a game, and that women belong on course

A well considered list of the men and women who drove (and who drive) the women’s game forward

54 66 74 84 90 96 102 108 115 122 132

No.12 Another installment of our dream course consisting solely of 12th holes Paula Creamer A rookie’s enthusiasm, a veteran’s game Arizona Paul Trow might have found his own personal golfing heaven Angie Everhart Why motherhood and skydiving don’t mix Corvette Zero to 60 in 2.95 seconds. Any questions?

Womens Majors The dynamic history of the LPGA’s big tourneys Trophy People What a naked man with a flag has to do with victory Apples & Arnold A privileged set of memories shared Life in Pics Family life for the Palmers All Away Family resorts with great golf Gift Guide Stocking stuffers and holiday treats

winter 2014

17

Reade Tilley e d i to r

Kingdom Magazine

Matthew Squire

Issue 30 Winter 2014

publisher

Matthew Halnan a r t d i r e c to r

group art director

contributing editor

Leon Harris

Robin Barwick

junior designer

special thanks & contributors

Kieron Deen Halnan

Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com, Getty Images, Howdy Giles, Leon Harris, Susanne Kindt, Meghan Tilley

Larry Antinozzi, Dominic Barham, Yvonne Condes, Paula Creamer, Ray Easler & his great team at Bay Hill, Angie Everhart, Mike Farese, Judy Furst, JoAnn Geffen, Jennifer Goldszer, Chris Jonnum, Richard Johnson, Steve Killick, Dr. Francis Mendoza, Andrea Onida, Fabrice Piard, Chris Rodell, Dave Shedloski, Joey Sprayberry, Meghan Tilley, Paul Trow

vp , operations

research

Joe Velotta

Sam Krume

head of sales

enquiry addresses

Jon Edwards

advertising

founding contributor

Arnold Palmer special contributors

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182

Cori Britt, Doc Giffin, Donald Trump contributing photographers

Vodka

Two murky arguments for the precise origins of a distinctly clear spirit leave us baffled, and ordering another glass

146 152 156 160 166 172 174 188 192 194 198

Fashion

Fine cover from the likes of Holland & Holland to get you out into the fresh air, but not frozen in time

Florida Arts A cultural road trip in the sun Cider Colonial flavors in modern styles Kitchen Now the hub of the party Pies British thoughts on savory pies Walking Game An argument for legs Trump On the women’s game Bonnie Business Yanks take the game to Scotland Corporate Golf Breaking the glass fairway Insperity Top perspective from a top company Elbows & Shoulders Talking joints with an expert Instruction What women do better on course

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As leaves swirled in the blustery fall outside his Latrobe office, Arnold Palmer looked relaxed and fit as he reflected on another season of golf, philanthropy and fun. His bags were packed in anticipation of his upcoming trip to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, where he would board his plane and head south for another beautiful winter in Orlando. As he always is for Kingdom readers, Mr. Palmer was happy to take a moment to answer a few questions. Chris Rodell was ready with a pen Portrait by Brian F. Henry

B: Let’s get the most important question out of the way first.

You’re leaving Latrobe just as the weather’s about to turn nasty.

You’re flying to Orlando to spend the winter in the warm sunshine.

The question is: Will you take me with you?

A Sure! You’re welcome to tag along!

K: When was the last time you spent a whole winter in Latrobe?

AP: Oh, gee, it’s been so long. It’s been since clear back before I turned

professional. I’m thinking the last one had to be about 1947. I’d winter in Florida because I couldn’t golf here.

K: Do you ever worry that lack of exposure to Pennsylvania’s biting winter—the snow, the ice—is going to make you soft?

AP: Ha! No, I don’t worry about that one bit.

K: You hoped the U.S. team would improve its performance level in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. What are your reflections from the 2014 Ryder Cup? AP: I’ll say this, all the negative discussion and finger pointing that is

going on in the wake of the U.S. loss is not at all warranted. The Ryder Cup is good for the game of golf and the high standard of sportsmanship it represents needs to be upheld. And that’s on and off the course. Those discussions should never be made public.

K: How would you feel if Kingdom magazine led a campaign for you to captain the U.S. team in 2016? Come on, for old times’ sake!

AP: (playfully glares at reporter) I wouldn’t like it one bit! So that campaign

ends right here, right now!

K: Augusta National allows female members, and now St Andrews allows female members. Would you ever consider making Bay Hill men-only?—but seriously, is there an argument for men-only golf clubs?

AP: I think it’s wonderful that women are allowed at what were traditionally

men’s-only clubs. Enjoying time together on the golf course is great for both men and women. Men still have plenty of places—the grille room, locker room—to enjoy camaraderie. It’s good that courses everywhere are opening to women.

22

winter 2014

The year ahead winter 2014

23

K: A former neighbor of yours in Latrobe, Dennis McIlnay, wrote a piece for this issue of Kingdom in which he describes working for your dad. He also remembers seeing golf balls under his family’s apple tree in his back yard—which is how he knew when you were in town. Apparently, you were the only one who could hit balls that far. Do you remember that to be the case?

AP: I don’t know about that, but I do remember the McIlnay’s always had

a lot of delicious apples!

K: How many of the local kids like Dennis did you get to work with?

AP: Oh, there were so many. I always had some of the area kids shagging

balls for me.

K: Dennis writes that you practiced a lot, but Latrobe CC didn’t have a driving range or any kind of sophisticated training areas.

He wrote that you just went out and hit balls from the fairway.

Do you think today’s pros might benefit from a little down-home hard work like that, just going into a field and hitting balls instead of relying on sophisticated computer training aids, pyramids of practice balls and teams of coaches?

AP: They’d all benefit from that type of practice. It helps your creativity

so much. I remember my father saying there’s no such thing as a flat golf course so it makes no sense to practice shots on a perfectly flat and well-trimmed surface. He wanted me out there in the rough and on the mounds hitting a variety of shots. It leads to much more creative shotmaking and it’s a more fun way to practice, too.

K: Likewise, today computers give ball spin rate, ball flight path, angle of trajectory, club-head angle and speed, etc… When you’re trying to improve your swing, is all that information helpful or distracting?

AP: I think there’s a place for that. The new technology can be very

helpful, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm the elemental parts of practice.

K: When you started winning frequently on the tour and particularly the majors, you became a celebrity. As your star began to rise, were you treated any differently by locals when you went home?

AP: No, I was always just Arnie. It’s one of the reasons I never left. I still

knew the same great guys who played football or wrestled. I’d see the same people in the stores and restaurants. They were the people with whom I grew up. They always made me feel like I’d always be just one of the boys.

K: And was there a point, a particular year or after a particular victory, perhaps, at which things shifted for you in terms of how you were treated wherever you went?

AP: None that I ever noticed. I think it’s always because I never stopped

treating people any different than before I started winning. It’s the way I was raised.

K: It has been a long time since men and women tour golfers have competed together in pairs in a high-profile event. What would you think if tours could come up with a new formula to bring men and women players together?

AP: I think it’s good anytime you can bring the tours closer together. It

benefits both of them.

K: The LPGA’s Michael Whan said that he’s looked into such an event, but that it’s difficult to organize because to get the best players the tournament would have to officially count on both the men’s and the ladies’ tours, and suddenly you get into sponsorship

24

winter 2014

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issues and prize issues and ranking issues. Perhaps this is something for the Olympics or for college, where those issues don’t come into play?

AP: (shrugs) Oh, I don’t know about that. I think it’d be better as an event

for the older men and women players.

K: Paula Creamer came to the Kingdom Cup two years ago and we’ve interviewed her for this issue of Kingdom. She’s in her 10th year on the LPGA Tour but seems still to have the youthful presence and energy of a rookie, even though she displays the poise of a veteran on course.

What do you think of her career and where it’s headed?

AP: Paula’s done very well. She’s packed a lot of success into a short

career and she still seems like such a fresh face on the tour. I expect she’ll continue to succeed.

K: And how difficult is it to maintain enthusiasm for golf over a lifetime on Tour? After 10 years or more, does it ever just feel like a job?

AP: It didn’t to me. I always enjoyed every time I had a chance to make it

to the golf course and come out and compete. It always kept me going.

Every time. If you don’t enjoy that, you’re in the wrong line of work.

K: We’re working with Tradition Pro Judy Furst on our instruction piece for this issue. Do you think there’s anything men can learn from the ladies’ game in terms of tempo, grip pressure or anything else? Are there some things in golf that women just do better?

AP: I think there’s a lot men can learn from women. There are many

swings on the LPGA Tour that male amateurs would be wise to copy.

They’re very fluid and effortless. As far as performance, I wouldn’t say they’re better. They’re equal in results.

K: We’re doing a story on trophies. What’s the strangest trophy you’ve ever won and what was it for—either the strangest looking or for an odd award or event?

AP: I was given a lighthouse trophy for winning the 1986 Union Mutual

Classic at the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. And there’s the Hickok Belt for athlete of the year. It’s an alligator-skin belt with a solid gold buckle and diamonds and gems. It’s like something they give to a professional wrestler, only much nicer. I guess one of the more unusual ones is a wooden carving I was given for winning the 1982 Denver Post Champions of Golf. It’s about the size of desk blotter and looks like the Rocky Mountains.

I always enjoyed it every time I could make it to the golf course—if you don’t enjoy that, you’re in the wrong line of work

The King and Paula Creamer

winter 2014

27

Walking is the way the game is supposed to be played, and energy was never an issue with me Palmer with his longtime Open Championship caddie Tip Anderson

K: You’ve spent a good deal of your life in Florida. Outside of golf, have you visited any of the state’s museums or cultural spots— like Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West or the Salvador Dali museum in St. Petersburg? Is there any place you remember as particularly nice?

AP: I went to Disney World when it was just getting started. We go to the

beach once in a while, but when I’m in Florida I really enjoy just spending time with family and friends at Bay Hill. It has everything we need.

K: What are the benefits of walking a golf course versus riding in a golf cart for the average golfer? Do you believe there is a better rhythm golfers can get into by walking?

AP: Walking is the better way to enjoy golf. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten

away from that as carts became more and more important to the game.

Walking is the way the game’s supposed to be played. And it’s so beneficial to your health, especially as you get older.

K: Do you wish golf carts had become commonplace sooner, so you could have saved a lot of energy as an aspiring player in your youth?

AP: No, energy was never an issue with me.

K: When did Latrobe first bring carts in for its golfers, and what did your father think of them?

AP: I don’t recall exactly when golf carts arrived at Latrobe, but I do

remember my father was very opposed to them. He didn’t think they belonged on the golf course. Times change.

K: Many of the game’s greatest players were introduced to golf by caddying as summer jobs, but the cart has reduced demand for caddies today. How valuable were your experiences as a caddie to the development of your own game?

AP: Caddies have always been a very important part of the game. I

learned so much from growing up being a caddie here at Latrobe. You learn how the game is played and how to behave on a golf course. And you learn a lot just from watching how older golfers perform and compete.

K: There’s a new 650hp Corvette that goes from 0 to 60 in 2.95 seconds and costs $79,000. The only other cars to manage that kind of acceleration cost nearer $300,000. Have you ever driven a Corvette? And would you be interested in the new model.

AP: I’ve never driven a Corvette or been interested in going that fast that

quick in a car. I’d get my adrenaline rush from flying my own jet.

28

winter 2014

K: How actively did you try to get your daughters interested in golf? Did they inherit any of your skills or did they have only a passing interest in the game when they were young?

AP: I tried to get them interested and gave them instruction, but I didn’t

push it on them. They both enjoyed swimming and competed on the high school teams here (both at Latrobe and later in private school).

K: What are best features you have seen or implemented to ensure a golf club or resort is family friendly? Do you support golf courses with four or five sets of tees?

AP: A pool is a great way for families to spend time at a club, as are tennis

courts. My clubs have always been very family friendly. There are lots of barbecues and family events. We put a spa in at Bay Hill because we wanted to encourage more women to come to enjoy the club. As for multiple tees, I’m a big supporter. And more golfers should consider moving up and playing from different tees. I’m a big supporter of the Tee It Forward program.

K: You’ve spoken in the past about the importance of your mother in your life. What’s one piece of advice she gave you that you found to be particularly helpful?

AP: There are so many, but there’s one that’s always stayed with me. It’s

about walking. She encouraged me to walk everywhere and walk every day. A good long walk is good for the body and really clears up the mind, too. You can do a lot of good thinking on a long walk.

There are so many pieces of good advice that my mother gave me, but one always stayed with me: walk every day Palmer enjoys a good read

K: Callaway has enjoyed great retail success with its drivers in particular in 2014. Which model do you have in your bag and what do you like about it?

AP: I’ve been with them since the first Big Bertha and I’m still here through

the present Big Bertha. I’ve always appreciated the craftsmanship and dedication Callaway puts into each club. Yes, I’m a Callaway man.

K: How are you feeling these days?

AP: I’m feeling great. We had some challenges this summer, but the

pacemaker’s working fine and I’m eager to see my friends down at Bay Hill.

K: Last question: When was the last time you helped build a snowman?

AP: Oh, it’s been a while, all right. I’ll tell you what: I’ll be here for a week

around Christmas. If it snows, we can all get together and make a really big one. That’d be fun!

K: Thank you, Mr. Palmer. It’s always a pleasure.

AP: And thank you. Having a chance to address so many fun topics here for

the readers of a magazine I’m so proud to be a part of is always my pleasure.

30

winter 2014

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

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 pilot and the businessman The Icon

The King.

34

winter 2014

T

HE LADIES, bless the merry, meandering migratory creatures, are the delicate outer fringe of golf. So began a December 15, 1940, column by sportswriter Jack Bell that appeared in the Palm Beach Post. Bell went on to ruminate on the attractiveness of pro golfers’ wives and the various ways women like to spend money—one of their few talents, apparently, in addition to looking pretty on course and being obedient—before offering some advice to would-be Mrs. Professionals: “The woman with undue love for a cottage, flowers, children and attention to bills had best marry a man she knows can putt.” Ironically, a more modern portrait of women in golf is found in a New York Sun article from January, 1894, which noted that “a review of the athletic sports and pastimes in which women are becoming prominent is most interesting in review and most encouraging in prophecy of the new and stronger womanhood of the future... Golfing women are said to be more enthusiastic over their favorite game than half the men who play on the ‘links.’”

No kidding, and so it’s 1894 all over again. For the women on the following pages, golf is far more than just a game. It connects them as women, and it helps to define the various roles they fill in their lives. For Jae Wu, who owns her own company, Heyler Realty, the game is a family affair, a way to teach her sons valuable life lessons. For Azucena Maldonado, who founded the Latina Golfers Association, the game is a key that opens doors—doors she is now helping other women to find. And for Shalini Malik, the first Indian woman ever to referee at the [British] Open Championship, the game is a calling, a responsibility and an honor, in addition to being her career. These women and countless others demonstrate every day that golf is about more than just a low score. Beyond that, they prove that women are not meant for golf’s delicate outer fringes— no matter how merry the ladies may be.

winter 2014

35

Susanne Kindt

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winter 2014

Jae Wu F A M I LY

W

E CAME FROM KOREA IN 1976; my uncles and some of my aunts were already here. We came from Seoul to Washington, D.C., my mother, father and my sisters and me.

I was 7, and I’ve never been back. Golf was something my father came to as an adult. He always had to work and so he wasn’t able to golf until he’d already been here 20 years or so, much later in life. We all had to work. My mother and father, they were making $2.25 an hour working at 7-Eleven to save up and buy their own franchise, which they eventually did. Then they bought a grocery store. I worked there, from ages 13 to 16, after I got my worker’s permit. In my mid-teens, after my father had gotten into golf, he always tried to get me to go to the driving range with him, but I thought it was boring; I wanted to play softball instead.

Anyway, when it came to academics, they didn’t really push sports. Back when we were growing up it was all about being a doctor or lawyer. I had to take piano and violin, but I also had to get straight As. I loved volleyball and softball. I thought golf was so boring, but now I wish it was one of the things I’d liked. It was later, in the early 1990s, that I gravitated toward the sport. Picking it up at 23 is different than when you’re 5, 6 or 7. As an adult I found more patience and a love of the game that I didn’t understand when I was in my teenage years. I’d go to the driving range, go to the course at 5 in the morning to get a round in before I went to the office at 9:30.

Likewise, my husband [Larry Fernandez] didn’t really learn until his late 20s. He never really played until he met me—then he got tired of me beating him. I’m a golf fanatic.

I’m a business owner as well as a mom, as well as a golfer.

When we had our kids—Jake, now 8, and Ryan, 9— I couldn’t wait until they picked up a golf club. We took them to the driving range when they were 3 and 4 years old. If I wanted to hit a bucket of balls we’d take them out there and all take turns hitting the balls around, that’s how it started.

Now they can do junior golf programs and we can all go out together. The 8-year-old gets competitive, and then he gets frustrated because he can’t hit it as well as the 9-year-old.

The 9-year-old went to a golf camp and he’s always had a natural swing; he’s long and lanky and can really hit it. The 8-year-old has an awkward swing, but he’s stocky, he’s sturdy, and when he swings it’s like he’s trying to cream a baseball.

We’ve actually played at our local par-3. We played nine holes there, the four of us. It’s really something special to get to do that at this young age, to introduce them to the sport. Most of the lessons you need in life—socially and in business—you learn on the golf course: etiquette, manners, patience, socializing, rules and regulations and strategy as well as discipline.

All of those things are in the game. It’s also a very good metaphor: you don’t walk on somebody’s line, you wait for the other person to go, you care about your clothing and how you appear, how you present yourself. If I can introduce them to the sport now and they can have a good understanding of it as they become young adults, into college, into business life... It’s something that can serve them for the rest of their lives. They can play forever.

You know, though, they can do whatever they want.

We enjoy it as a family, as an enjoyable thing—not a forced thing, not a ‘have to be great at it’ thing. I have a cousin, she never had the passion for the sport. She got burnt out because her father drove her to do it. With us it’s just fun.

And it’s also nice because they can see that mom can kick a little butt on the golf course.

Golf can serve my kids for the rest of their lives— they can play forever

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Azucena Maldonado C O M M U N I T Y

DIDN’T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOLF, neither did my family. We didn’t grow up around golf, it wasn’t in my field of reference, I didn’t really know golfers and so it was absolutely foreign to me. I’d heard of Nancy Lopez and probably Lee Trevino, but they were all just vague names to me. I knew them as Latino leaders, but I didn’t see beyond that.

One day I needed a plumber and I asked a neighbor for a recommendation. They gave me a number, and because it was a holiday the man who owned the plumbing company came himself, it wasn’t one of his people. That’s how we met. He called me the week after! And so we went out. He was a crazy avid golfer—is a crazy avid golfer, one of those single-digit handicap golfers. He lives to golf, and this is a Latino golfer, right? And so on our second date he took me to a golf course and he bought me a putter and were just putting on the practice green. He was setting up drills for me and, you know, it was fun, and right away, immediately, I thought, ‘Wow, this is something that I can do!’ I was making some putts and it just seemed doable to me. I like it, and so he keeps taking me to the golf course, pitch-and-putt par 3s, introduces me a little bit more and a little bit more, and when I started hitting the ball I fell in love with it immediately, I connected immediately. It felt like something I could do. I’d never played sports in my life, although I felt athletic. Anything I played was never formal, baseball or football with the neighbors. I was always competitive with my brother, I could catch a ball better than him, that kind of thing, but I never participated in formal sports in school.

He would take me three times a week minimum to teach me. I think his game suffered because he was dedicating so much time to me and so he wasn’t playing the big courses, he was there with me on the little par-3s working on his short game.

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On my own I would go to the driving range and practice. I’m not going to say I got pretty good, but I got comfortable with the game right away. I wanted to get better because I wanted to be able to play the bigger courses, and he wasn’t going to take me to the bigger courses before I was ready. That’s all we would do: golf, watch the Golf Channel, everything in our relationship was golf.

Through the years I always practiced on my own.

I wanted to get better, and I liked the challenge. I wasn’t doing it for him—never was I doing it for him, it was always because I loved it. And yes, of course I got to play with him and he was like my caddie—he was fabulous, he spoiled me.

Three years into playing golf, I was a little confident with my game, somebody invited me to participate in a golf tournament. I didn’t really understand the bigger picture of golf, I didn’t know what it was. When I walked in to register I thought, ‘Wow, this is like Disneyland for a golfer.’ That’s

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Susanne Kindt

I

how it seemed to me because all of these people were having a great time with putting contests, all kinds of contests, just having fun getting to meet all kinds of people. The person that invited me introduced me to different individuals who were at the tournament—corporate executives, elected officials—and he was introducing me as a golfer. ‘Here’s Azucena, she’s a golfer.’ And they immediately welcomed me as a golfer. Immediately it was like every barrier was gone, I was just a golfer to them. I don’t think I would have ever had access to those individuals, not in that way, had it not been for golf. The other thing that occurred to me immediately is that I didn’t see any other women. Maybe there were two other women playing in the tournament, and at the end of the day I wondered why more women weren’t playing. Is this just some little secret that these guys have and they’re keeping it from us?! We’ll have to do something about that! And that’s really how the idea of the Latina Golfers Association [which Maldonado founded] was formed.

You might make a few business contacts when you go to regular networking events, but you don’t get a bonding experience. Golfers are a close-knit family, that’s what I think the difference is. It’s like a family member introducing you into their family: ‘I’m bringing you in.’ They’re immediately going to accept you into the family, and that’s a very different experience than when you meet somebody at a networking event. And because golfers are a close-knit family, well, you have better access to your family, right?

There may be more barriers for Latinas to get into golf because they probably haven’t been exposed to it as much as some women, haven’t grown up around it. Also, they might have a stereotype of what golf is, even though golf has transformed, and because of that stereotype they might be thinking, ‘It’s not for me, I wouldn’t feel welcome.’

I think they feel intimidated, they don’t think they can keep up with the men. I think they feel judged, definitely, I think that’s a big one. I’m not sure men are judging them, I’m not sure that’s the reality, but that’s the perception.

But I find the biggest barrier is that we don’t have somebody to introduce us to golf, and so the LGA is that welcoming arm, we are that introduction for them. If you’ve never been on a golf course in your life, you’re probably not going to go to a golf course—why would they go? So we host events at golf courses, golf lessons, clinics, but first and foremost we make women feel welcome. I think Latina groups in general, we cross all age barriers. We have teenagers, women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s... It’s the LGA so they feel they’re going to be among kindred spirits. We love being around each other. Everyone in our group is really supportive, we want everyone to succeed.

Basically, we create a safe environment for women to come to a golf course. Women belong there.

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Shalini Malik I N S P I R A T I O N

H

istory was made this year when Shalini Malik became the first Indian woman ever to referee at the [British] Open.

Here, the former pro golfer describes the experience.

A version of this account appeared on India’s NDTV.com Playing golf as a junior girl in the India of the (very) early nineties meant playing with the boys. It also meant little or no access to any information about women’s golf in the rest of the world. Consequently, when we’d practice putting, the mantra that would go through our collective little heads was ‘this five footer is to win The [British] Open Championship.’ Not the U.S. Open, The Masters or the PGA—always simply, The Open.

Needless to say, I never did get an opportunity to make that winning putt, but as I grew up the dream itself evolved.

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I stopped playing competitively and started refereeing. Now the Holy Grail was to be invited to referee at The Open.

Again, not the U.S. Open, The Masters or the PGA—simply, The Open.

I arrived at Hoylake on the Monday before the tournament, and as I picked up my credentials it took every bit of self control I possessed to not awaken the ghosts of the stately Thornton Hall Hotel by shrieking giddily “I’m here! I’m here!”

An hour later, en route to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the enormity of where I was suddenly hit.

I was thrilled to bits while at the same time felt like a complete interloper.

Walking through the entrance gates at the club did nothing to ease the feelings.

If anything, they were amplified. This was hallowed ground.

I made my way over to collect my uniform. We had been informed that Ralph Lauren provided uniforms for all referees, and while I’d heard stories about how special they were, nothing really prepared me for the sheer pleasure of donning the crisp white button-down shirt with the Claret Jug discretely embroidered on one cuff.

I think my nervousness may still have been pretty evident at dinner because Chris Hilton (Chairman of the Rules Committee) took pity on me and invited me to join him on his course walk the next day. This proved to be absolutely invaluable and helped calm me down a little.

As we plodded and plotted our way down the fairways of the RLGC, I went through a myriad of emotions that were to be my best friends through the week. Absolute delight, incredulity, confidence and terror—all playing in a constant loop like elevator music.

To put the scale of The Open in perspective, the biggest events I’d worked on previously were the Avantha Masters, a European Tour event in India followed closely by the Dubai Ladies Masters on the LET. There were, at most, a dozen rules officials working both. At the 143rd Open there were 83. The number of spectators through the week exceeded 200,000. The grandstand erected on the 18th green was so large that my brain could not visualize a TIO drop without the dropping zones provided.

Each group had one walking referee, one bunker raker (they are usually head greenskeepers from courses around the country), one leaderboard carrier and one scorer.

Marquee groups had a rules official walking as an observer and travelling marshals, who, as I discovered, are all from the military. More than 3,000 men and women volunteered at the event. Many, like Ben the leaderboard carrier in my

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group, came from families that have a long history of working The Open. His father was a scoring supervisor and his mother was a scorer with another group. They had been doing this as a family for many years. What a great family tradition!

On Day One, I (thankfully) went as an observer with Robby Ware from the U.S. PGA TOUR as the referee. My job was to walk ahead of the players, spot the ball and inform the referee of any potential rulings that may come up. It’s also a great opportunity to watch and learn.

On Day Two, I was flying solo.

My group consisted of Matt Jones, Chris Wood and Bernd Wiesberger.

I walked over to the first tee and introduced myself to the starter, the legendary Ivor Robson. As I waited for the players to arrive, I looked up at the crowded grandstand surrounding the tee and I’m not embarrassed to say that I had goosebumps. I introduced myself to the players, held my breath as I fervently hoped that they would find the middle of the fairway and we were off. The nerves began to calm down after a couple of holes as I remembered that I do know how to do this. It is my profession and after 25 years of association with the game, it is now in my blood. I had a couple of gentle rulings (5-3 and 12-2 for those who want to know) and before I knew it, I was shaking hands with the players at the 18th. I had just had my first experience of being an Open referee.

My role as observer on Days Three and Four gave me an unimaginable equation with the event. My learning curve soared. The opportunity to study just how the best in the world (players and officials) perform under pressure was fantastic. To stand by the 18th green watching Rory McIlroy kiss the Claret Jug was a moment no amount of money in the world can buy.

But if I were asked what my most treasured experience of the week had been, I’d say without doubt that it was meeting the most wonderful people from all over the world. Some I had had the privilege of working with in the past, but most were strangers who very quickly became friends. The fact that I’m lucky enough to be a part of this tiny community of warm, affectionate, witty, eccentric, intelligent men and women united in their love for this noble game, was never lost on me.

Members of the Rules Committee that I interacted with went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I was a rookie—simultaneously anxious and dazzled. They all said the same thing to me: soak it up, enjoy it, your first time comes only once. I took that advice to heart and I will remain forever indebted to the Indian Golf Union and the R&A for giving me an opportunity that was simply awesome.

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Women’s professional golf has met snobbery, prejudice, sexism and a host of other issues on its journey to success.

Here, Paul Trow and Kingdom salute 50 groundbreaking men and women from different eras who helped— and who are helping—to drive the women’s game forward:

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KATHARINE HEPBURN

(1907-2003)

Raised in Connecticut, the tomboyish Hepburn excelled at sport. For that reason she played all her own golf scenes in the iconic 1952 film Pat and Mike, showing women could be athletic, competitive, independent and successful. The film featured Hepburn as a pro golfer tormented by the career-love equation, Spencer Tracy as her hard-bitten agent and a delightful cameo from Babe Zaharias.

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MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS

(1542-1587) Possibly the first woman to play golf.

Reportedly, she “was seen playing golf... in the fields beside Seton [a castle near Edinburgh]” the day after the murder of her estranged husband, Lord Darnley, in December 1567.

Florence Boit (c.1868-1916) U.S. golf might never have caught on had Florence not returned home to Boston from France in the early 1890s with some golf “sticks” and balls. Her uncle and his friends were captivated and laid down a 6-hole course at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, subsequently a founder member of the USGA.

Margaret Abbott (1876-1955) The first American woman to become an Olympic champion—in the golf tournament at the Paris Games in 1900.

Competing against a small field that included her own mother, Abbott won a porcelain bowl for her 9-hole score of 47 (prizes, not medals, were presented in those days). Her elevation to gold was only confirmed by the I.O.C. after her death.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911-1956)

Perhaps the greatest all-rounder in the history of women’s sport, this double Olympic gold medalist took up golf in 1935. Supported by Wilson Sporting Goods, she turned professional in 1947, won a host of Major titles, made the cut in several men’s tournaments and attracted adoring galleries wherever she played. Her story ended sadly though when, aged just 45, colon cancer struck in 1956.

Joyce Wethered (1901-1997) Also known as Lady Heathcote-Amery, Wethered was widely regarded as the game’s outstanding female player between the two World Wars. British champion four times and English champion five times, Bobby Jones was a fan. After a 1930 exhibition at St Andrews, Jones said: “I have never played against anyone and felt so outclassed.”

Glenna Collett-Vare

Karsten Solheim (1911-2000)

Patty Berg (1918-2006)

Norway-born Solheim started at his parents’ shoe shop but later became an engineer. He took up golf at 42 but struggled on the greens, so he designed a putter with the shaft attached to the center of the blade rather than the heel. Thus the PING brand was born. Years later, he was the creative force behind the Solheim Cup.

After winning 29 titles, including the 1938 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Berg turned pro in 1940 before serving as a lieutenant in the Marines throughout WWII. An LPGA founder, she was its first president and recorded 60 Tour wins, including a record tally of 15 Majors. For 66 years, she was a member of Wilson Sporting Goods’ advisory staff.

(1903-1989)

DINAH SHORE (1916-94)

America’s first great lady golfer, once described as the “female Bobby Jones,” won the first of her six U.S. Women’s Amateur titles in 1922 and lost only one of 60 matches she contested in all competitions throughout 1924. She also played in the first five Curtis Cups (four as captain). The LPGA introduced the Vare Trophy, for the season’s lowest stroke average, in tribute to her in 1953.

The top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s, also an actress and TV entertainer, was a huge golf fan and the first woman to become a member of Hillcrest CC in Los Angeles, a favorite haunt of showbiz stars. In 1972, she leant her name to help found the LPGA’s Colgate Dinah Shore tournament—an event that grew into the Kraft Nabisco Championship, a women’s Major since 1983.

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Betty Jameson (1919-2009) Twice winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and an LPGA founder, she turned pro in 1945. She went on to claim three Majors, including the 1947 U.S. Women’s Open, and came up with the idea of a stroke average prize for the season. For this purpose, she personally donated the trophy that was named after Glenna Collett-Vare.

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CHARLIE MECHEM (1920- )

Louise Suggs (1923- )

Marlene Hagge (1934- )

After two decades as a broadcasting mogul, Mechem served as the fourth LPGA commissioner from 1991-95.

After Ray Volpe, John D. Laupheimer and William A. Blue, Mechem built on the growth in prize money and status his predecessors had overseen and set a template for his successors—Jim Ritts, Ty Votaw, Carolyn Bivens and current commissioner Michael Whan.

After an amateur career during which she won the U.S. and British championships and played in the 1948 Curtis Cup, Suggs became a founding member of the LPGA and went on to win 58 professional titles.

Her tally of 11 Majors puts her third on the all-time list. The Rolex Rookie of the Year award, named after her, was introduced in 1962.

A child prodigy who finished eighth, aged 13, in the 1947 U.S. Women’s Open. At 15 she was the youngest person to be named AP Athlete of the Year. One of the 13 founders of the LPGA, with her sister Alice Bauer, she won eight of her 26 titles in 1956, the year after marrying Bob Hagge.

Andre Heiniger

Winner of 55 LPGA titles, including eight Majors, Rawls initially made her mark by finishing second in the 1950 U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur. LPGA President from 1961-2, she became a tournament director when she retired from playing in 1975. After recovering from breast cancer diagnosed in 1999, she said “Looking back, it was a small blip in my life.”

(1921-2000)

The mantra of this long-time (1963-92) CEO of Swiss watchmaker Rolex was: “Rolex is not in the watch business. We are in the luxury business.” In addition to developing a strong relationship with men’s golf, Heiniger introduced the Rolex awards for the LPGA player and rookie of the year.

Betsy Rawls (1928- )

“MICKEY” WRIGHT (1935- ) Second only to Kathy Whitworth as an LPGA winner with 82 titles. Coached by Harvey Penick and much admired for her swing by Ben Hogan, her tally of 13 Majors puts her second on the all-time list behind Patty Berg. While an active player, she was a prolific winner—recording double-digit tallies each year from 1961-64.

Judy Bell (1936- ) Despite an admirable playing career—she appeared in two Curtis Cups and shot 67 in the 1964 U.S. Women’s Open (a singleround record that stood for 14 years)— this dyed-in-the-wool amateur made her mark as an administrator. Helping to promote golf to youth, minorities and the disabled, she worked her way up the ladder until, in 1996, she became the first woman president of the USGA.

JoAnne Carner (1939- )

ALTHEA GIBSON

(1927-2003) This prodigious talent broke the color barrier in several sports. After winning five Grand Slam tennis titles in the late 1950s, she became the first African-American LPGA Tour member in 1964. Her best finish was a tie for second but she finished in the top-50 of the money list five times. In addition to tennis and golf, she was a good enough jazz singer to perform regularly in public.

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The only female to have won the U.S. Girls, Women’s Amateur and Women’s Open championships, Carner did not turn pro until she was 30. She won the first of her 43 LPGA titles, the Burdines Invitational at the Country Club of Miami, while still an amateur—a record that remained unequaled on Tour until 15-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko took the CN Canadian Women’s Open in 2012.

Carol Mann (1941- ) At 6ft 3in, she’s the tallest-ever female pro. She turned pro at 19 but waited four years before her first victory: the Women’s Western Open, deemed a Major at the time. A year later, she won the U.S. Women’s Open at Atlantic City CC. In just over 11 years she garnered 38 LPGA titles. Then a drought set in and she retired from competition in 1981.

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Catherine Lacoste (1945- ) In 1967, the 22-year-old daughter of seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Rene Lacoste became the first (and to date only) amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open. She later won the U.S. and British Amateurs, but never turned pro. She is president of Chantaco GC in southwest France, built by her maternal grandfather, and still serves on the Board of Lacoste, the brand her father founded.

‘CHAKO’ HIGUCHI (1945- )

KATHY WHITWORTH

(1939- ) To this very day the LPGA’s leading tournament winner with 88 titles to her name, though, surprisingly, only six Majors. But her title tally would surely have bust through the hundred barrier had she not lost 20 of her 28 playoffs.

LPGA player of the year seven times between 1966 and 1973, she captained the U.S. team at the inaugural Solheim Cup in 1990.

Japan’s first women’s Major winner (the 1977 LPGA Championship). Higuchi turned pro in 1967, won 69 LPGA of Japan Tour titles and also the Colgate European Open at Sunningdale, England in 1976. Her feats paved the way for fellow World Golf Hall of Fame member and ex-softball star Ayako Okamoto (1951- ), who won 17 LPGA titles.

Beverley Lewis (1947- ) The former Ladies’ European Tour professional and occasional BBC golf commentator took “the most amazing phone call I’ve had in my life” when British PGA chief executive Sandy Jones rang to ask whether she would like to

become the first female captain of the century-old body. The Englishwoman served in the role from 2005-06 and was acclaimed as a huge success.

Billy Payne (1947- ) The chairman since 2006 of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters and an erstwhile fortress of masculinity, succeeded where feminist activist Martha Burk failed by facilitating the admission of two lady members in 2012: former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and banker Darla Moore. Prior to running the world’s most exclusive golf club, he was the brains behind the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

CAROL SEMPLE-THOMPSON

(1948- ) In her 12th Curtis Cup as a player in 2002, aged 53, the grande dame of American ladies amateur golf secured victory over GB&I with a dramatic 27ft birdie putt. To say she was born into golf is an understatement—her father was a former USGA president and her mother was very much part of the hierarchy as well. She is one of only 11 golfers to win both the U.S. and British amateur titles.

Sandra Haynie (1943- ) Winner of 42 LPGA titles, including four Majors, Haynie joined the Tour in 1961, aged 18, and claimed her first victory just six days after her 19th birthday at the Austin Civitan Open in her native Texas.

Her playing career, which ended in 1989, is a monument to fortitude. In addition to suffering from arthritis since the age of 33, she was dogged by numerous injuries.

DONNA CAPONI (1945- ) Followed a successful playing career by brandishing a broadcaster’s microphone to telling effect, on behalf of Golf Channel. This tough-talking daughter of Detroit won 29 times on the LPGA Tour, including four Majors, the first of which, the 1969 U.S. Women’s Open at Scenic Hills, Pensacola, Florida, was also her maiden Tour victory.

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Judy Rankin (1945- )

This charming lady enjoyed two equally successful careers—first as an LPGA member since the age of 17 and later, after claiming 26 titles on Tour, as a TV analyst and on-course reporter for the Golf Channel. A breast cancer survivor, her biggest victory came perhaps in the inaugural Colgate European Open at Sunningdale in 1974. Her win tally could have been much higher as she lost 12 of her 16 playoffs.

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Pat Bradley (1951- )

Classic at Moon Valley CC in Arizona, thus unlocking a door that is now perpetually revolving.

Keegan Bradley’s aunt was a star long before he entered the game. Having turned pro in 1974, she chalked up 31 LPGA titles including six Majors, three of which—the du Maurier Classic, Nabisco Dinah Shore and LPGA Championship— came in 1986. That year she came close to the distaff version of the Grand Slam, finishing fifth in the U.S. Women’s Open, three strokes back.

Louise Richardson (1958- ) This Irish-born political scientist changed the R&A’s relationship with the fairer sex forever by the very fact that she’s a keen golfer who also happens to be the first woman principal of St Andrews University. The 250-year-old “all male” club, guardians of the [British] Open and the Rules of Golf, belatedly took a hard look at itself in 2014, and the result was a long overdue vote to admit lady members.

Betsy King (1955- ) One of the most consistent players of her generation, King joined the LPGA in 1977 and won 34 times on Tour, including six Majors. She also played in the first five Solheim Cup matches, but perhaps her greatest claim to fame is her charitable work for orphan relief agencies in former Soviet Bloc countries and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to help relieve poverty in Africa.

AMY ALCOTT (1956- ) Winner of 29 titles, including five Majors, Alcott carved niches for herself during her post-LPGA years as a course designer and an instructor. A pro at 18, her first win came one day after her 19th birthday on only her third Tour start. When she won her third Nabisco Dinah Shore in 1991, she initiated the tradition of jumping in celebration into the lake.

Beth Daniel (1956- ) Twice U.S. Women’s Amateur champion in the mid-1970s, Daniel joined the LPGA in 1979. Nine months later she won rookie of the year. Only one of her 33 Tour wins was a Major—the 1990 Mazda LPGA Championship at Bethesda CC, Maryland. Her final title, three months shy of her 47th birthday, came in 2003—24 years after her first—and made her the oldest winner in Tour history.

Patty Sheehan (1956- ) Torn in her youth between skiing and golf as her chosen sport, it was the fairways’ gain when she opted to go off piste. The last of her 35 LPGA wins over a 15-year span was her sixth Major, the

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JULI INKSTER (1960- )

Nancy Lopez (1957- )

With her ready smile and confident personality, this infectious New Mexican was the LPGA’s first pin-up girl. After a stellar amateur career during which she tied second in the 1975 U.S. Women’s Open at 18, she racked up 48 LPGA victories. It was the career highlight for England’s Alison Nicholas when she held off her heroine down the stretch in the 1997 U.S. Women’s Open at Pumpkin Ridge, Oregon.

1996 Nabisco Dinah Shore at Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage. Today, the Patty Sheehan & Friends tournament aids charities across northern Nevada.

OK-HEE KU (1956-2013) Whilst a South Korean name at the head of a leaderboard is now a common sight, it wasn’t always so. The late Ok-hee Ku, who won 23 times from 1985-2005 on the LPGA of Japan Tour where she was mainly based, was the first Korean to ring up an LPGA victory when she won the 1988 Standard Register Turquoise

This athletic Californian burst onto the scene with three consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship victories from 1980-82. With nothing more to prove in the unpaid ranks, she turned pro in 1983 and has since won 31 times, including seven Majors. She has played on nine Solheim Cup teams, losing only one singles. The next hurdle of her career will be her role as captain in the 2015 match against Europe.

Dame Laura Davies (1963- ) Despite not winning, 2014 has been a stand-out year for the larger-than-life English star. She has at long last accepted an invitation into the World Golf Hall of Fame and was dubbed a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for inspiring girls to take up golf. The small matter of 84 titles, including four Majors, not to mention a record 12 Solheim Cup appearances, might also have had something to do with these honors.

Dottie Pepper (1965- ) This feisty daughter of a Major League baseball player lived up to her maiden name in her six Solheim Cup appearances and 17 LPGA wins, which included two Majors. Her career was cut short by injury and she now works as an on-course analyst. Thinking she was off-air, she courted controversy at the 2007 Solheim Cup when Golf Channel viewers heard her dub the U.S. team “choking freaking dogs.”

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SUZY WHALEY (1967- )

KARRIE WEBB (1974- )

“First” aptly describes this teaching professional and protégé of late instructor Jim Flick: First female to win a PGA section championship (Connecticut 2002); first to qualify for a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias (2003 Greater Hartford Open); first to serve on the PGA of America’s national Board. First female PGA of America president one day, perhaps?

Her tally of 41 LPGA victories over 20 years, including seven Majors, makes her the leading current player on Tour.

Many of her successes have been in her native Australia and she has returned home each year to support the flagship events Down Under. In 2002, she passed on the chance to become the LPGA’s first $2m prize winner in one season to run with the Olympic torch prior to the Sydney Games.

Kelly Tilghman (1969- ) Following a brief career as a professional, she joined Golf Channel on its inception and became the PGA Tour’s first female lead announcer in 2007. From 2006-08 she caddied for Arnold Palmer during the pre-Masters Par-3 Contest at Augusta National. Today, more than a dozen female golf reporters and presenters, among them Stephanie Sparks and Holly Sonders, are marching in her footsteps.

Se-ri Pak (1977- ) Not the first Korean to win on Tour, but certainly the stand-bearer for her countrywomen since lifting two Majors— the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at DuPont CC, Wilmington, Delaware and the U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run, Kohler, Wisconsin—in 1998. Her total of 25 LPGA titles includes three

Annika Sorenstam (1970- ) The LPGA’s most prolific winner ever. From 1995, when she stepped out from the slipstream of fellow Swedes Helen Alfredsson and Liselotte Neuman to claim the U.S. Women’s Open in Colorado, until her retirement in 2008, aged 37, she won 72 times, including 10 Majors.

Despite having two children, she has stayed in the public eye via product endorsements, course design and her ANNIKA Academy.

other Majors, but her real legacy is the fact that up to a third of Tour fields these days are Korean.

Lorena Ochoa (1981- ) This charismatic Mexican blazed like a comet across the LPGA’s firmament, winning 27 titles, including two Majors, in a five-and-a-half-year window between May 2004 and October 2009 before calling time on her stellar career. Since then she has married, had two children, played golf only occasionally and devoted her spare time to the Lorena Ochoa Foundation, which funds a primary school in Guadalajara.

NATALIE GULBIS (1983- ) Golf’s answer to Anna Kournikova, this blonde Californian has some game as well as the stunning looks that landed her on the cover of FHM. An LPGA player since 2002, she has only won once—at the 2007 Evian Masters—but she was good enough to play on three winning U.S. Solheim Cup teams. Many contemporaries have emulated her by posing for glamor shots, most recently “Sexy” Lexi Thompson.

Michelle Wie (1989- ) Creamer, Pressel, Lewis and Kerr might beg to differ, but the No.1 attraction in women’s golf today has to be Wie. The tall, lithe Hawaiian has written her own headlines since competing on the (men’s) PGA Tour at the age of 14. Strangely, it took her nearly a decade to find her feet on the LPGA Tour, but her 2014 U.S. Women’s Open triumph at Pinehurst signaled that she’s truly come of age.

Kate Upton (1992- ) Whatever their on-course abilities (and some are quite good), golfing models like Kate Upton raise awareness of the women’s game, and we think that’s a good thing. Mr. Palmer appeared with Upton in a photo shoot this year, but there are others: the long-hitting Jodie Kidd, ever-lustrous Cindy Crawford, Dustin Johnson’s squeeze Paulina Gretzky, Angie Everhart, Kathy Ireland, and quite a few more.

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18 dozen 54

Kingdom’s series of fantasy golf courses comes to the 12th, to a composite golf course created by what we consider to be 18 of the finest 12th holes in world golf. And while these assembled holes would form one of the most exciting rounds of golf you could imagine, it might just pose one of the hardest rounds of golf as well, particularly along the closing stretch. But this comes with no apology: the closing holes of the greatest golf courses always raise the challenge, and our track is no exception, even if you’ll only play this sequence in your mind

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1.

North Course, Olympia Fields, Illinois PAR 4, 389 YARDS

Our 18 begins with an American classic, the 12th hole on the North Course at Olympia Fields. This course was originally named the No. 4 Course, and it was designed by a two-time [British] Open champ, Willie Park Junior, a Scotsman who lifted the Claret Jug in 1887 and 1889. The course opened in 1923 and Park went as far as to later write to the club to declare, “your number IV course is the equal of any golf course I have ever seen.” Park had good reason to show some bias towards his own design of course, although he has since received plenty of back-up from leading magazine rankings. The USGA and PGA of America also rate the course very highly, and champions here include Walter Hagen (1925 PGA Championship), Johnny Farrell (1928 U.S. Open), Jerry Barber (1961 PGA Championship), and Jim Furyk (2003 U.S. Open).

Olympia Fields has worked hard to maintain the original features of its North Course, as it stretches over naturally rolling parkland and brings the babbling Butterfield Creek into play wherever possible—nowhere more so than on the par-4 12th, where golfers need to be on their wits to avoid the creek from the tee and again before the green. At 389 yards from the tips this is not a long opener for our composite course of 12th holes, with a regular men’s yardage of 377, and there is enough room for most golfers to take driver off the tee before the creek cuts across ahead of a well defended, raised green.

2.

Old Course, Lahinch, County Clare, Republic of Ireland PAR 5, 577 YARDS

Herbert Warren Wind, one of the most influential British golf writers of the last century, described Lahinch as the St Andrews of Ireland, and indeed, Lahinch is blessed with some of the finest natural links terrain a golf course could hope for. The club was founded in 1892, and Old Tom Morris himself was enlisted to lay out the original 18-hole Old Course. Alister Mackenzie redesigned the course in 1927 to bring it much closer to how the course plays today, before he headed to the United States to help create Augusta National among other great courses.

The 12th hole on the Old Course was originally a par-4—and what would have served as a fiend of a second hole on our imagined layout—but with the green relocated further back and nearer to a bridge over the Inagh River—which runs parallel to the hole—it now makes for a confirmed birdie opportunity as a par-5… if played in a fair wind.

Reaching 577 yards from the back tee, but only 494 yards from the standard men’s tee, the fairway sweeps gently round to the left, following the sandy river shoreline and forming the northern boundary of the course. A small green demands an accurate approach on one of Ireland’s most memorable golf holes.

Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

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Shadow Glen, Kansas City PAR 3, 260 YARDS

Shadow Glen is an impeccable residential community nestled 30 miles south of Kansas City, with lakes and mature woodlands shaping an idyllic course designed by the accomplished trio of Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf and Tom Watson. Golf Digest named it Best New Private Golf Course in America in 1990.

The 12th hole measures 260 yards from the back tee—as long as some shorter par-fours—although the vast majority of golfers will play from one of three other tees, with more approachable yardages of 228, 197 and 146.

These also seem long until you take into account that this hole, which is called “Hangtime,” features a dramatic drop of 72 feet from tee to green. Dense woodland surrounds the hole but with a stretch of fairway short of the target, a straight tee shot is the golfer’s first priority.

4.

Dye’s Valley Course, TPC Sawgrass PAR 4, 362 YARDS

After the stern challenges of the first three holes of our handpicked number 12s, we turn to Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass for a hole that is begging to be birdied.

Designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, in consultation with Jerry Pate, Dye’s Valley Courses opened in 1987, seven years after the famous Players Stadium Course, and it has been designed as the antidote to the Players, offering a

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more generous golfing proposition with greater width on the fairways and larger greens, although true to the spirit of Floridian golf, water comes into play on all 18 holes.

The 12th on Dye’s Valley Course is a par-4 reading 362 yards from the very back, but only 326 from the men’s white tees. Like the 12th at Lahinch (our second hole), a watery grave awaits the right-handed hook off the tee, although if golfers can find the fairway, with little need for the driver for many players, then it should only be a short or mid-iron approach to the green.

5.

Thousand Oaks, Michigan PAR 5, 505 YARDS

Thousand Oaks Golf Club is found just outside Grand Rapids in northern Michigan, and the club boasts an excellent Rees Jones course that opened in 1999. This parkland layout is decorated by ancient woodland, while many changes in elevation embellish the beauty, variety and challenge of the golf course.

The rich woodland and changing elevation are both in evidence on the par-5 12th, which actually plays longer than its 505 yards as golfers have to make their way uphill to a raised green that is well protected by bunkering on the left and right. It might not be a three-shot hole for the longer hitters, particularly off the regular men’s yardage of 461 yards, but hitting up to the wide yet shallow green provides a real test in club selection.

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Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

3.

Scott Avra

6.

Stone Eagle, Palm Desert, California PAR 3, 153 YARDS

Stone Eagle Golf Club appears like an oasis in California’s rugged Santa Rosa Mountains. Located in San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, with its thousands of acres of protected land, the Tom Doak design is one of the most visually appealing desert courses in the United States.

“Stone Eagle is often subtle in its challenges,” says Doak. “The effect of elevation changes and tilted stances make it hard to get your approach close to the hole. Likewise, being on the green in regulation is no guarantee of par. But the design tempts you to take chances... where one slip will remind you of the rugged nature of this place.”

On the par-3 No.12—our sixth hole—golfers are left with little alternative other than to find the green. Featuring what Doak describes as a “postage stamp target stuck onto the side of the mountain,” there is something of a bailout area short and right of the green, but any tee shots heading short-left or over the green, well, then it is time to pray.

7.

Royal Cinque Ports, Kent, England PAR 4, 449 YARDS

Established in 1892 on the Kent Coast, and less then three miles around the coastline from Royal St. George’s, Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club—or “Deal” as it is often referred to, after the town it adjoins—is one of the truly great British links courses. A [British] Open venue in 1909 and again in 1920, the original course was improved under the direction of James Braid after the First World War, in 1919.

The 449-yard 12th hole has a stroke index of one on the Royal Cinque Ports scorecard and it does on ours too. Played into a headwind this hole effectively becomes

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a par five, although even with a favorable breeze it will take two fantastic strikes to reach the green in regulation.

The only break golfers can sometimes receive are from the banks that rise up from either side of the green, often supplying corrective bounces to wayward approaches.

By the way, it was at Deal where Walter Hagen made his Open debut in 1920, although despite arriving in a chauffeur-driven car and with a footman in attendance, the “Haig” was denied entry into the clubhouse as he was a professional.

8.

Augusta National, Georgia PAR 3, 155 YARDS

Our eighth hole is probably the most famous par-3 in the world, the 12th hole at Augusta National, Golden Bell. This may be the shortest hole at the home of the Masters—on the course designed by club founder Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie—but many believe it to be the heart of this remarkable golf course. It provides the central attraction to Augusta’s Amen Corner, with the 11th green to the left, the 13th tee to the right, and behind the 12th tee is often assembled the biggest crowd at the Masters.

Golden bell is only 155 yards long, yet deceptive breezes whip and swirl around this corner of the golf course, usually making club selection uncertain. With Rae’s Creek running in front of only a narrow green, and with three bunkers jealously hugging the putting surface, this is one of the toughest mid-iron shots in golf. Just ask Tom Weiskopf: the American carded a 13 at Augusta’s 12th in the first round of the 1980 Masters—a record that stands to this day—after he sank five balls into Rae’s Creek, one from the tee and four from the drop zone.

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Trump National, Charlotte PAR 5, 580 YARDS

Located in tranquil Mooresville, outside Charlotte, Trump National features an 18-hole course designed

by Greg Norman, with water from a lake and adjoining streams coming into play on most holes.

The 12th hole here provides a fitting finale to our front nine, as it is a majestic par-5 that at first doglegs to the left, and then to the right and partly over water to the green. The hole is a monster from the back tee at 580 yards, but with five tees available, the regular men’s distance of 520 yards makes this hole a two-shotter for a lot more players. Still, golfers trying for the green in two take a much greater risk of bringing water into play, which banks the green from the right-hand side and edges towards the center of the fairway. Playing to the green in three minimizes the risk of getting wet, making this a riskand-reward hole for designer Norman to cherish.

10.

Chambers Bay, Washington PAR 4, 304 YARDS

Chambers Bay, on the shores of Puget Sound, to the south of Seattle, is so good it has attracted the U.S. Open to the Pacific North West for the first time—in 2015. A public golf course designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones II, Chambers Bay is a genuine links layout, developed with the age-old Scottish links courses as role models, and adopting the fescue grass of British links.

The 12th hole at Chambers Bay is a great way to get our back nine underway, as it gives the biggest hitters a chance to drive the green. The hole measures 304 yards from the back tee, and 262 from the regular men’s tee, although golfers must beware, as this hole is called “The Narrows” for a good reason: its fairway is the slimmest

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on the golf course. Just the one bunker protects the green, collecting shots that are short and left, while punchbowl banking around the green might encourage more golfers to take their driver from the tee in the U.S. Open next June.

11.

Straits Course, Whistling Straits PAR 3, 163 YARDS

There will be an enduring links feel to the majors next year, as the U.S. Open visits Chambers Bay in June (see our 10th hole, above), the [British] Open returns to the Home of Golf, St Andrews, in July, before the PGA Championship arrives at Pete Dye and Herb Kohler’s tribute to British links, the Straits Course at Whistling Straits.

Flanked by Lake Michigan, the Straits Course opened in 1998 to immediate acclaim, and after Kohler had signed off on trucking in 800,000 cubic yards of dirt and sand to bolster the land into a dramatic links landscape. So the Straits Course boasts pot bunkers, vast sand dunes, rolling greens, exposure to the elements and even a flock of Scottish Blackface sheep, to add Scottish authenticity (and to keep the grass down). Did you know that the original pot bunkers on the Old Course at St Andrews were not man-made, but in fact created by huddling sheep seeking shelter from the bitter North Sea winter weather?

The par-3 12th on the Straits Course is called “Pop up,” and it is an inviting, downhill shot to a large yet undulating green. The hole runs at 163 yards from the back yet only 118 from the middle of five tees, but with mounding and bunkering inviting to the left, and a steep, well-bunkered bank sliding down towards the lake on the right, it is critical that golfers find the green. Even then, this is only a birdie hole if golfers can stop their ball in the right portion of green.

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Dan Murphy / stonehousegolf.com

9.

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12.

Fossil Trace, Denver, Colorado PAR 5, 585 YARDS

Embedded among the foothills of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, Jim Engh’s design at Fossil Trace is a course that played once, it is never forgotten. Built on land that was once a working farm, this golf course has been created around significant fossil discoveries dating right back to when dinosaurs roamed these parts, before even the Rocky Mountains had formed.

The par-5 12th at Fossil Trace is a perfect illustration of the unique nature of this golf course.

Reaching 585 yards from the back, and 545 from the regular men’s tee, the fairway is flanked on the left by an ancient sandstone wall, and before golfers reach the green there are sandstone pillars in the middle of the fairway to be negotiated. Towering sandstone walls and outcrops surround the green on three sides, and on one of the walls, to the left of the green, fossilized triceratops footprints can be seen.

13.

Conway Farms, Illinois PAR 4, 419 YARDS

Conway farms is home to the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour, the tournament previously known as the Western Open, which is the second oldest tournament in the United States. Names on its JK Wadley Trophy include the great players through the ages, from Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, to Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

The celebrated Tom Fazio course opened in 1991, on a 200-acre property in Lake Forest, Illinois. Its 12th hole is a classic par-4 challenge laid out in front of golfers. It runs 419 from the tips, but 393 yards from the middle tee of five, and water on the right will only trouble the most determined of right-handed slices off the tee. Two excellent strikes will deliver the ball onto the green, but golfers must not be short with their approach, as bunkers await on both the left and right sides.

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14.

Summit course, The Club at Cordillera, Colorado PAR 4, 504 YARDS

The exclusive Club at Cordillera opened in 1987 in the stunning Vail Valley and offers golfers three courses: the Valley, Mountain and Summit courses.

The 7,596-yard, par-72 Summit Course lives true to its name, and is the highest of the three layouts in terms of altitude, at 9,200 feet above sea level.

Designed by Jack Nicklaus, golfers can take in what must be some of the most far-reaching views in world golf from the Summit’s hillside location, giving visitors an appreciation of the vast expanse of the Rocky Mountains and the nearby White River National Forest.

The Summit Course itself wends around hillsides covered with sage, aspen and spruce, and its 12th hole is a challenging par-4 of 504 yards from the back, or 427 from the middle of five tees. It is the only hole on the course that brings water into play, with a lake to the left of the green, but of immediate concern to golfers on the tee is clearing the rocky outcrop that stretches across the fairway.

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Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

15.

Valhalla, Kentucky PAR 4, 470 YARDS

16.

Palmer Private course, PGA West, California Par 3, 207 yards

Valhalla is the great hall in Norse mythology where the souls of The Palmer Private Course opened at PGA West in La slayed vikings would feast with the gods—a great name that’s Quinta in 1986, the second of the five championship courses been borrowed by the club that rapidly has become the heart here. Designed by Palmer, the course has since become the of golf in Kentucky. Louisville businessman Dwight Gahm got stage for the Humana Challenge on the PGA Tour, the Jack Nicklaus to design this mighty golf course, which occupies tournament formally known as the Bob Hope Classic. In 486 acres without a single house or condo in sight. Valhalla fact, Palmer holds the record for winning the Bob Hope title opened in 1986, and once Gahm had agreed shared ownership five times, between 1960 and 1973, so little wonder he has with the PGA of America, the PGA Championships of 1996, a special affection for this West Coast resort. It was also on 2000 and 2014 came here, as well as the Ryder Cup in 2008, this golf course that David Duval shot 59, 13 under par, in the last time the U.S. managed to take the event. the 1999 Bob Hope Classic.

Valhalla’s par-4 12th is one of the standout holes The 12th hole here is a 207-yard par-3 called on a golf course with many unforgettable challenges. “Stretch,” and with several well-positioned bunkers Called Odin’s Revenge, golfers need a clean strike surrounding the green it offers a stiff challenge to players off the tee to put themselves in a position to play an of all levels. As for Duval in that final round in 1999, approach around the dogleg (to the right) of 160 to he made it look easy by stroking a 6-iron that came to a stop 180 yards over a grassy valley and up to an elevated just two feet from the hole to set up a tap-in birdie. Don’t be green. With the one of the course’s deepest bunkers short fooled—this is the toughest par-3 on our composite course. and right, and stubborn bluegrass rough surrounding the green, a four here is an excellent score for anyone.

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17.

Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork, Republic of Ireland PAR 5, 564 YARDS

A contemporary classic, Old Head of Kinsale, on the southwest coastline of Ireland, simply boasts one of the most spectacular locations in world golf.

It’s like the Monterey Peninsula’s big brother. Lying south of the historic town of Kinsale, Old Head occupies a diamond of land that juts three miles into the Atlantic. The 220-acre resort boasts an array of ancient Celtic ruins and landmarks, some of which date back to the Iron Age, while the lighthouse behind 18th tee is just a baby, dating back to 1853.

It is hard to believe, but in fact the Old Head links only opened in 1997.

It offers golfers ocean views from all 18 holes, with nine holes running along the cliff top, including its forbidding 12th. They say there is no rest for the wicked, and this thought might reach golfers’ minds when they walk up to the tee of the hole known as Courcean Stage. It is a par-5 with the looks of Aphrodite, yet bearing the teeth of a dragon. The course guide describes it as “one of the most intimidating holes in golf,” with good reason. The drive must be played over a jagged cliff, with the Atlantic pressing in from the left, and across to a narrow fairway. A hooker’s misery, the narrow fairway runs up to a green that is perched 300 feet above the breaking waves. This is a mighty penultimate hole.

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Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina PAR 4, 484 YARDS

Pinehurst No. 2 was widely acknowledged as one of the world’s very finest championship golf courses long before it staged the 2014 U. S. Open. But since the triumphant return of the U.S. Open to this North Carolina resort— you can’t forget it, when Martin Kaymer shot 65-65 over the first two rounds to pave the way for an astonishing eight-shot victory—the reputation of this golf course has soared even higher.

Restored under the careful direction of Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore in 2010, the golf course has returned to the more natural and less manicured state that it featured originally, when Donald Ross designed this golfing masterpiece in 1907.

“The course is now what it was like in the early days, and when I first came here, and I like it a lot,” says Palmer.

The 12th hole on Pinehurst No. 2 is a par-4 reaching 484 yards from the back for the U.S. Open, although the yardage shoots down to 360 yards from the middle of five tees. Accuracy off the tee is critical as hardpan sand and wire-grass await on either side of the fairway, which is a typical feature of the restored course, and if golfers can deliver their ball to left-of-center on the fairway it opens up the approach to the raised green. A great closer.

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Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

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Perfectly

Paula Her energy and enthusiasm are those of a rookie, but Paula Creamer is entering her 10th year in the game (if you can believe it). Here, the Pink Panther tells Dave Shedloski what it takes to be a driving force in the LPGA

T

he 75-foot eagle putt that Paula Creamer sank on the second playoff hole at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore has to be considered among the greatest golf shots of 2014—on any tour, male or female.

For Creamer, it might have been one of the most important of her career.

The victory over Spain’s Azahara Munoz at Sentosa Golf Club was Creamer’s first since her biggest victory, the 2010 U.S. Open that she captured at famed and fearsome Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh. Clearly, Creamer had fulfilled the promise that she had shown since her rookie season in 2005, when she won twice, and it was expected that more wins and more majors would soon follow.

That it hasn’t happened isn’t a reflection of Creamer’s game falling off or any lack of enthusiasm for or dedication to her golf. Instead, it underscores the depth of the women’s game and the talent at the very top of the pyramid, which is why the women’s professional game appears to be growing again under the guidance of LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.

“The competition was tough when I joined the Tour in 2005, and it’s gotten tougher every year,” says Creamer,

“I probably couldn’t make that putt again in 100 tries” 28, a California native who turned professional the same time as a more celebrated American player, the precocious and peripatetic Michelle Wie. “Players are better, and there is considerably more depth to the number of quality players. But that’s good, as it forces all of us to raise the level

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Immediately after her epic putt in Singapore (left) and with her U.S. Women’s Open trophy

of our games, which is what we as a Tour need to do, as we want to showcase our talent.

“Golf is an incredibly difficult sport, as anyone who plays would agree. It’s a joy to play at the highest level, and I expect the strength and depth of the Tour to only continue in the future.”

If anyone is equipped to discuss the arc of the LPGA and women’s golf overall, it’s Creamer, who was LPGA Rookie of the Year in 2005, has competed against dominant players like Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa and Inbee Park (the current world No. 1), and was among the top players to voice concerns when the LPGA began to lose sponsors and tournaments under the disastrous reign of former media executive Carolyn Bivens.

Bivens was named commissioner in late 2005, when the LPGA had 34 events. There were as many as 37 tournaments in 2008, but she resigned under pressure in ’09 after the LPGA had contracted significantly, offering a schedule of just 28 tournaments. But under the capable guidance of Whan, a former marketing executive in golf and hockey equipment, the LPGA profile has been elevated significantly. In 2014, there were 33 events on the LPGA schedule offering total prize money in excess of $56 million, a record.

“I trust the LPGA leadership under the direction of Mike Whan,” Creamer said via email in a wide-ranging interview. “His passion and love for us is so transparent. He has done so many good things with us and for us since

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becoming commissioner in 2010. We’re so glad to have him at the helm.”

The international presence on the LPGA Tour is significant, and even though the LPGA is an Americanbased tour, Whan has embraced a strategy that he himself refers to as “pouring gas on the fire.” Thus, he has courted international sponsors like Kia and Sime Darby, and increased overseas events from 11 to 15. Eight are in Asia, the most in LPGA history in that region.

“Golf is global now,” Whan said earlier this year.

Creamer has seen it first-hand.

“I think there are already American women who have become household names in Asia,” she said. “It’s unbelievable how the LPGA is treated in Asia. We are like rock stars!! Not totally sure why that is, but when I’m in Japan and other countries in Asia, for example, and leave the scoring area to go to the clubhouse, I need 3-4 security guards to surround me. It is not because of security threats or concerns as much as it is for crowd control. That isn’t necessary to that degree when I’m in the U.S.” It was in Asia that Creamer broke her long victory drought with that amazing eagle putt, one that had eight to 10 feet of break in it. When the putt found the hole, Creamer dropped to her knees beside the green and cried with a mixture of joy and relief. She knew it was a big putt for her. She didn’t realize until later how much other people appreciated the magical stroke.

“When I saw the ball disappear into the cup, I was totally amazed and overwhelmed with emotion. I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or apologize,” says Creamer, who was wearing her trademark pink ensemble at the time, as much of an iconic fashion statement as the red shirt Tiger Woods wears every Sunday. “I probably couldn’t make that putt again in 100 tries.

“At the time, I just thought it was Celebrating what might have been the putt of the year on any tour a good putt with a fantastic result,” she adds. “It wasn’t until the next few “Great young golfers are growing up in every corner of the days, that I realized it was indeed, ‘the putt heard around world so now they’re generating interest in every corner of the world.’ The video of that putt has been viewed over 110 the world.” million times, which must be some kind of record. When Creamer speaks for many of her peers in approving of I later found out that it was … talked about on the ABC Whan’s approach, though she notes that most players would Nightly News, I knew it was something that would not be enjoy taking more swings on home soil. “I would say there forgotten. It was fun to be a part of all that.” is a little bit of a mixed bag,” she said. “There are many, Although winning inexplicably escaped Creamer’s and I am one of them, that thinks we should focus heavily grasp following her U.S. Open victory, the appropriately on increasing playing opportunities here in the U.S. Many named “Pink Panther”—forget it, there isn’t a close second International players share that view and have come here to for color choice, except maybe black—hasn’t gotten the play on the strongest women’s tour in the world. They have blues over her golf game or the dearth of trophies. Golf is bought homes and are raising kids here in the U.S. So they, still fun. too, want more U.S. events. The membership is very global “I love to play golf, and I love to compete,” she says. in its makeup, but the schedule is a very different issue.”

“At pro-ams, and friendly games of golf, I can be relaxed, as Of course, the influx of successful Asian players is I realize that while it’s my job, it’s a recreational activity that one reason for the concentration of events in the Pacific millions of people do for fun. So why not make it fun for Rim, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities me, too? I’ve loved golf since age 10 when I started. I think for American players to take advantage of that exposure. I’ll still love it when I’m 100.”

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While she says that the time. Obviously it would require a feeling of winning “is like no 36-hole venue until the cut would other,” Creamer enjoys the process be made. I think it would be very as much as the results. She has special to have alternating groups worked hard on swing changes of men and women on the weekend and brought more consistency to for everyone to watch. It would her game. Earlier this year at the be a huge event and the first of a Kingsmill Championship she saw new era.” her streak of cuts made end at 82.

How does Creamer see the On the flipside, at least her women’s game stack up against winless streak ended in Singapore. the men? Very favorably, especially It was her 10th career title. with more young talent entering “Although I may have only the fray. won once since the U.S. Women’s And under Whan, the LPGA Open, I have consistently put has embraced its heritage much myself in contention to win many more strongly, in a manner similar times during this period,” she to the men’s game in celebrating notes. “I don’t personally know Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Sam how many top 10’s I’ve had in Snead, Ben Hogan and other the past few years, but I know icons of the past. Younger players there have been more than just appreciate what Louise Suggs and Red carpet at the 17th annual ESPY a few. Since 2010, I think I have Patty Berg have done for them in Awards in Los Angeles, 2009 improved in most areas of my starting the LPGA in 1950 thanks game (length, short game, putting to the Founders Cup, established specifically). The swing changes I have made have actually to honor the 13 founders of the LPGA. taken longer to become consistent than I had hoped. I am “One event that I am so thankful for is the Founders seeing progress and I think I am becoming more willing to Cup,” Creamer says. “I had read about and tried to learn trust them and not have to think about it as much.” as much as I could about the history of the LPGA as I For the record, Creamer has 94 top-10 finishes as was growing up, but it really wasn’t until this event was of this writing and has earned more than $11 million, conceived and I was in the presence of these wonderful including $676,584 thus far in 2014. women, that I truly learned what we are all about. I gained The women’s game has gained more focus this year a strong sense of appreciation of the Tour (as did many in other ways. The LPGA has teamed with the PGA of other players) as to all that our founders did. Because of America to present the LPGA Championship. And the U.S. them, it allows us to do what we do today.”

Golf Association held the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Speaking of comparisons to the men, Creamer was Open in back-to-back weeks at Pinehurst Resort’s famed asked if she thought there were any on the PGA Tour she No. 2 Course in Pinehurst, N.C. Germany’s Martin Kaymer thought she could beat. Her reply: “On any given day, I could won the men’s title before Michelle Wie broke through for beat any of them!” She then added a “ha ha” to her answer. her first major.

At this point, she’ll settle Creamer recognized the for the last laugh against her inherent positives in the move. peers. Creamer is getting married And she had a idea for taking it a to Derek Heath, an Air Force step further.

Academy graduate, and she expects “I applaud Mike Davis and married life to only be a boon for his team for stepping outside her game. She is determined to the box and conducting our work just as hard and remain just national championships back to as focused. back. Something like this can’t be “Although I am generally done at just any venue, but Pinehurst was the perfect choice. pleased with my results in my first 10 years on Tour, I “I would love to see that happen again at some point. honestly feel my best days are yet to come,” Creamer Looking back, I think the experiment was a complete success says. “Certainly, my U.S. Women’s Open win at Oakmont in every way. More so, I think golf has to change and look at has been my highlight of highlights, but my goal is to win an event where the men and women are playing at the same multiple majors, so I have no time to rest on my laurels.”

I have no time to rest on my laurels, I want to win more majors

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When conversation turns to the question of where the world’s leading golf destination might be located, several hats large and small are invariably thrown into the ring. Of them all, I’m convinced that Arizona has inched ahead of the field.

By Paul Trow

T

he Valley of the Sun, home to the City of Phoenix, offers 330-plus days of sunshine each year, just 7.7 inches of annual rainfall, way below-par humidity and average daily temperatures of 70 degrees from September to May. From June through August, the dial exceeds the three-digit barrier, hotel charges plummet and re-seeding gets underway, so golf is not advisable during that window.

But for the other nine months, nothing could be more golf-friendly and, not surprisingly, the number of courses in the valley now exceeds 200. Complementing this temperate, sunny climate are glorious mountain backdrops that are visible from almost everywhere.

DAYS Scottsdale, to the east of Phoenix, half an hour’s drive from Sky Harbor International Airport, has more than 50 courses alone, mostly aimed at winter visitors and snow birds. Carved into the southern outskirts of the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale’s green fairways stretch seductively across a starkly beautiful landscape brimming with elaborate rock formations, cavernous arroyos and towering Saguaro cacti. It’s a sweeping, sun-drenched setting populated with coyotes, roadrunners, rattlesnakes and the occasional beer cart. No wonder more than 12 million rounds of golf are played here each year.

Many of the courses elsewhere in the valley are private and devoted to the ever-expanding cadre of resident golfers, notably the four Jack Nicklaus-designed layouts at Desert Mountain just north of the Valley and the exclusive 36-hole community at near neighbors Whisper Rock. With the local population doubling to 4.3 million in less than 25 years and people continuing to move into the area to work or retire, the growth of members’ courses has been a necessity.

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Yet it’s arguable the valley is still under-developed.

A 10-mile drive in almost any direction will reveal shopping malls, apartments, offices, gated communities and houses in random clusters. But between those pockets of habitation lie large tracts of sand, dust and wasteland. Lizard territory for the moment, but the tell-tale real estate signs denote that every inch of land is already spoken for.

Accommodating vast influxes of people has never been rocket science for the valley—well over 550,000, at least half of whom are visitors, routinely attend the region’s flagship PGA Tour event—the Waste Management Phoenix Open—over the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale during the last week of January. The migration that weekend in 2015 will be even greater than normal due to the presence of Super Bowl XLIX in town, but with the country’s second greatest concentration of hotel bedrooms on offer after Las Vegas no overspill problems are anticipated.

Original co-designer Tom Weiskopf (with Jay Morrish) has overseen an extensive renovation to toughen up the Stadium Course. Just completed, the project involved relocating four greens, reshaping all the tee and bunker complexes, replacing cart paths and re-landscaping the desert areas. He’s made no changes, though, to the iconic par-3 16th, scene of a Tiger Woods hole-in-one in 1997 that triggered much alcohol-fueled revelry. Each year, the gallery around the hole seems to grow bigger and noisier, and many of them carry on into the evening in the Birds Nest nightclub over the road from the clubhouse once play has concluded.

But there’s more to TPC Scottsdale than the Stadium Course. The equally scenic Champions Course is another gem, and a stiff enough test to host the Champions Tour Q-School every other year.

Weiskopf’s influence is evident throughout the valley, most notably at the Four Seasons resort at Troon North, named after the scene of his 1973 [British] Open Championship triumph and again designed with Morrish.

The Monument and Pinnacle courses, dating back to the 1990s, are carved out of Saguaro forests and surrounded by an extensive complex of properties. In quite a revolutionary move seven years ago, Weiskopf oversaw the rerouting of both courses with a few holes swapping from one layout to the other.

Morrish was the brains behind the two outstanding courses at Waldorf Astoria’s Boulders Resort in Carefree, a few miles north of Scottsdale. No one knows why boulders weighing hundreds of tons and smoothed almost to pumice by eons of desert mountain winds remain perched precariously on top of each other. Certainly no human hand could have created such perverse geometry. Guests do not stay in a central hotel complex. Instead they are dotted about the estate in camouflaged, boulder-shaped, bombardment-proof casitas—Apache-style homes which resemble igloos for squatness and efficiency yet interfere not at all with the rugged beauty of the cacti, Mesquite and Palo Verde trees, and rocky outcrops.

On my recent visit, I stayed at two 5-star hotels—the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, which adjoins the Stadium Course, and The Phoenician, an older property but still the acme of style and luxury.

One of the highlights of the Princess is its Tequila Bar at La Hacienda which offers more than 200 labels with free tastings at weekends. The hotel also has a Posh Paws pet program at $25 a night to provide pampering for guests’ dogs, or even cats.

A look at why TPC Scottsdale’s 16th is “the loudest hole in golf”

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Guests do not stay in a central hotel but instead are scattered in a series of lovely desert casitas Likewise, the Phoenician offers many treats beyond the norm—a $25 million dollar art collection, two-acre Cactus Garden, 11 majestic Steinway pianos and personal butler service.

Homer Flint and Ted Robinson were responsible for the design (and redesign) of The Phoenician’s three 9-hole loops—Canyon, Oasis and Desert—at the base of the Camelback Mountain which dominates the skyline in western Scottsdale.

The Camelback Inn, which ironically is closer to the base of Mummy Mountain, opened in 1936 and has been managed by JW Marriott since 1967. The first of its two 18-hole courses, the Padre, opened in 1971 and was followed by the longer Indian Bend in 1978.

One of Scottsdale’s most stylish golf clubs is Grayhawk, a few miles north of the center of Scottsdale. In their relatively short lifespan (20 years), the Talon and Raptor courses (designed respectively by David Graham and

by Tom Fazio) have hosted between them a variety of high-profile tournaments, including the Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf, Williams World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods, Tommy Bahama Challenge and Frys.com Open.

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TPC Scottsdale No.2 (top) and the beautiful Grayhawk

The Rees Jones-designed Legend Trail opened around the same time as Grayhawk, as did the 27-hole Kierland Golf Club, created by Scott Miller, a former Nicklaus staff designer. Kierland, the focal point of the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, offers three picturesque but quite different 9-hole loops.

Paying homage to the Scottish immigrants who helped build Arizona’s railroads, mines and towns more than a century ago, Westin Kierland offers Scottish cuisine, and the resort’s own micro-brewed beer, “Piper’s Pale Ale,” in the Brittlebush Bar & Grill, named after a Sonoran Desert plant that explodes with brilliant yellow springtime blooms.

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A rock solid opportunity to play mountains of golf

“The background of the mountain is spectacular and unlike anything I’ve ever worked with before. The other attraction is the absence of housing. Once you get to the first tee, there’s nothing to distract you from the golf ” tom doak The spectacular backdrops and majestic views from the course were an integral part of Doak’s vision for the design and flow of Stone Eagle. This vision has resulted in one of the most pleasurable and perpetually interesting courses to play in America. And after golf, The Aerie,

located on a bluff overlooking a stunning par three 19th hole, offers a culinary spectacle complete with sweeping views, a truly world class dining experience. With this exclusive membership nearing capacity, now is the perfect opportunity to secure one of the remaining spots.

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Palm Desert, California

SUPER BOWL AND ALL THAT For the second time in seven years, the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, just west of downtown Phoenix, will play host to the Super Bowl. The 49th match in the series will take place on Sunday, February 1st in front of nearly 80,000 NFL fans inside the ground and a national television audience approaching 120 million.

In 2008, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in a 17-14 thriller, but since then the Valley of the Sun has acquired a host of new facilities. Not having a ticket to the hottest game of the year is no barrier to spending a weekend to remember in Scottsdale. But where can you catch coverage and highlights while avoiding the lines and traffic surrounding the stadium?

The Venue Scottsdale can hold up to 1,200 people in its main reception area, making it the perfect setting for a Super Bowl party. Failing that, there’s Maya Day & Nightclub, a high-end beach club that merges entertainment, music and food. Imagine watching the game-winning touchdown, or Katy Perry’s halftime show, on Maya’s LED video screen— Arizona’s largest outside a major sports or concert venue.

After the game, many fans will head to the bustling nightlife district and dance the night away at Dierks Bentleys’ Whiskey Row, The Mint or dozens of other bars and lounges.

Cowboy hangouts like The Western Bar and Restaurant, Rusty Spur Saloon and Handlebar J are also sure to be buzzing, just as they were when Hopalong Cassidy and John Wayne came to town.

Since 2008, downtown Scottsdale has also experienced a cultural renaissance with new independent restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Recently opened local eateries include Barrio Queen, Citizen Public House, FnB, Pig & Pickle, Brat Haüs and Virtú.

At Bottled Blonde Pizzeria and Beer Garden, you can enjoy contemporary Italian cuisine and a variety of craft beers. You can also stop by Salty Senorita which serves 21 different hand-crafted margaritas and executive chef Brian Feirstein’s beach-inspired cuisine.

Or you can try the Southern-inspired food and handcrafted cocktails that mimic dime-store soda fountains at Derby Public House.

Those seeking a more sedate evening with the emphasis on fine dining should look no further than El Chorro, a Scottsdale culinary landmark since 1937. Other high-end options include AZ88, T. Cook’s at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, The Henry, Fogon Mexican Eatery, Hula’s Modern Tiki and Second Story Liquor Bar. Visitors in need of a cerebral, morning-after escape from all this sporting and venal indulgence could head to one or more of Scottsdale’s museums. The Musical Instrument Museum has more than 5,000 items from around the world while the Heard Museum charts Native American history and the collections on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art include James Turrell’s SkySpace.

No visit to Scottsdale, though, is complete without paying homage to the architectural genius of Frank Lloyd Wright—from the campus auditorium he designed 50 years ago for Arizona State University (Phil Mickelson’s alma mater) to his own winter home at Taliesin West on the edge of the desert.

One final thought: it’s a little known fact that Irving Berlin penned White Christmas while lying poolside in Arizona. Whatever inspired him, it certainly wasn’t sleigh bells in the snow.

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Everywhere you turn, there’s great golf to be had Also on offer in the clubhouse’s Scotch Library are more than 100 single malts and 25 blends from Scotland’s six whisky regions.

For golfers wishing to travel further afield, there are dozens of eligible courses over in Phoenix and beyond.

Going a similar distance east, though, takes you into Fountain Hills, the setting for three popular clubs: Eagle Mountain, Sunridge Canyon and We-Ko-Pa. Eagle Mountain, designed by Scott Miller, combines rolling hills, ridge lines, box canyons and lush valleys with breathtaking panoramic views while Sunridge Canyon, at the foot of an extensive hillside residential development, blends easily into the terrain with its elevated tees and secluded fairways.

The much newer We-Ko-Pa, a Radisson property, has two courses—the Cholla, another Scott Miller design, and the Saguaro, laid out by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.

Hand-stitched into the grounds of the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino, We-Ko-Pa offers a unique desert golf experience with no dwellings, roads or even out-of-bounds markers.

Westin Kierland (above), the Phoenician’s Desert course (below)

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We-Ko-Pa

THE RESIDENCES AT DOVE MOUNTAIN Crenshaw and Coore’s first foray into course design in Scottsdale came in 1998 with the opening of the 36-hole Talking Stick hotel and casino facility within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The two courses, the North and South, could not be more different in concept.

The North is reminiscent of a Scottish links, treeless with gently rolling terrain, adjacent fairways and thick native grasses, while the South is a traditional American design featuring streams and ponds often framed by cottonwood and sycamore trees.

The final course I visited during my stay was McCormick Ranch, a 36-hole public facility just off the main drag. The Palm and Pine courses, laid out in 1971

by Desmond Muirhead, have all the accoutrements of modern American golf—doglegs shaped by palm trees, labyrinthine cart paths, a plethora of bunkers, an even greater abundance of water—and yet, unusually for Arizona, they are unmistakably parkland layouts.

McCormick Ranch, one of Scottsdale’s older golf complexes, was initially in danger of being left behind by the well-funded desert layouts, but it has unquestionably established a niche catering for players who prefer a more traditional style of golf.

After a week, though, I felt I’d merely scratched the surface of golf in the valley. Unvisited but also on my bucket list in the Scottsdale area were Gainey Ranch, Tatum Ranch, Ocotillo, Rancho Mañana, Quintero, Desert Canyon, Longbow, McDowell Mountain and the Ken Kavanaugh-designed Tegavah, which opened earlier this year. And I was keen to cast my eye over a couple of Phoenix layouts—Raven, a charming, friendly club with an excellent course I was told, and Wildfire, part of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge resort where the LPGA staged the JTBC Founders Cup in March—but it wasn’t to be.

Seventeen years is a long time in golf and much has happened in the valley since my initial visit, but I saw enough to convince myself that, in General Douglas MacArthur’s immortal words, “I shall return.”

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Not two hours from Scottsdale—but a world away in terms of attitude and feel—the Tucson area is a locals’ secret of sorts when it comes to fantastic living and superlative golf. The best of both are sure to be found at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, just outside of the City of Tucson. The Dove Mountain community sits in a breathtaking natural setting, with thousands of giant saguaro cacti dominating nearly one-third of the property’s 6,200 acres.

Furthermore, more than 10 miles of Dove Mountain’s boundary are adjacent to formal preserves or Arizona State Trust-owned mountains. For those who decide to take advantage of Arizona’s high quality (and reasonable cost) of living, The Residences occupies a prime 800 acres within the neighborhood and offers 16 exclusive custom homesites and 110 customizable residences in the first phase. The homes, which range from $700,000 to $2 million, with estate homesites from $450,000 to more than $1 million, integrate seamlessly into the environment, providing a welcome setting for both residents and for the area’s Inca Doves, a quiet if hallmark sound in the evenings. Available homes are simply stunning, and with 27 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf and the Golf Club at Dove Mountain’s 45,000-square foot clubhouse, your game will stay in fine shape. A large practice facility is also here, more than 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, lighted tennis courts and, of course, the best of all that Arizona living offers. To find out more about this incredible property, visit theresidencesdovemountain.com

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So much more than just her red hair, the editor confirms that Angie Everhart doesn’t need anyone’s permission to be exceptional

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Lucille Ball said that “once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead.” For more than a few men, that redhead has been Angie Everhart. Model, actress, spokeswoman and more, the naturally red-haired stunner has been a fixture of popular culture for more than two decades, gracing magazine covers, films and television shows with a presence that is at once inviting and daring. As someone who’s lived life in front of a lens—and sometimes under one—it perhaps shouldn’t be surprising that she’s been labeled with her share of clichés over the years, including “red hot,” “crimson-crowned vixen,” and that adjective which always seems to precede redhead, “fiery.”

The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model might be all of those and more, but there’s another word that should be added to the list: “strong.” Cancer survivor, devoted mother and entrepreneur, Angie Everhart endures. And if you didn’t know it, she’ll kick your butt on a golf course.

“My dad’s a golfer, my mom’s a golfer, so it was inevitable,” she says, explaining that she and her brothers all learned the game early, with her first lessons coming at the age of five.

“My mother is a better golf teacher than my father. My father just expected us to know how to play—‘Just do it, like this!’ He shoots his age and at one point was a scratch golfer.”

Everhart says her father was named after golf great Bobby Jones, pointing out that Jones’ first name was actually “Robert.”

“My grandparents didn’t care. It was Bobby Jones, and so they went with Bobby,” she says. “We are an intense golf family.”

No question. Everhart says she won a junior golf championship as a kid in Ohio and she’s logged numerous appearances on the celebrity golf circuit as an adult, tying for the win at Michael Jordan’s tournament in 2004 with her playing partner, pitcher Jon Smoltz. More recently she made a strong showing on the Golf Channel show The Haney Project under the tutelage of one-time Tiger Woods coach Hank Haney, who noted her competitive nature along with her solid swing.

“Competitive? Definitely,” she says. “At [Jordan’s] tournament, [actor] Judd Nelson started talking. He was making fun of my swagger when I stand up to the ball, my little wiggle. And he was saying things like, ‘I’m gonna get you!’ And I thought, ‘I’m gonna beat this guy.’ And we tied [for first place]! And the only reason we tied was because [Nelson’s playing partner, pitcher] Rollie Fingers made a 65-foot putt or something. The guy is unbelievable.”

The tied victory isn’t the only success she’s found on course, and the chatter she heard—as good-natured as it might have been—was hardly the last of its kind.

“I won the longest drive at Wayne Gretzky’s tournament one year, and [a musician] came up to me and said ‘it’s not fair that you won the longest drive; you should play off the men’s tee.’ I told him, ‘When I don’t have boobs, I’ll play off the men’s tee!’”

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For a long time, golf tournaments were a regular part of Everhart’s life, but life changed when she had her son, Kayden.

“I was doing so many celebrity golf tournaments that I used to tell Kayden that I was going to work,” Everhart says.

“At one point I played six in a row, and when I left for one he asked me, ‘do you have to go to work, mommy?’”

Everhart’s now five-year-old son Kayden is, she says, “awesome. Becoming a mom is the best thing I ever did. That kid is the light of my life.”

Unsurprisingly, motherhood made for a few other adjustments as well, and not just to her golf schedule.

“I sold my Harleys, I had three or four of them,” Everhart says. “I sold them when I had my son. I stopped skydiving, stopped riding motorcycles, pretty much all the extreme sports got taken away. I’ve been a single mom, and if I get hurt Kayden doesn’t have anybody. And anyway, even if he did, nobody’s as good as mom.”

A friend of mine used to ride motorcycles with Everhart and told me that she was “really hard to keep up with” on her Harley. She was serious about skydiving as well, logging roughly 300 jumps. Her cessation of those kinds of activities is just another reminder that her life has always moved forward at an incredible pace—a pace that began when she was noticed at a fashion show in her hometown of Akron, Ohio, at the age of 16.

Within weeks of being discovered she was in New York City and by the age of 17 she was living alone in Paris, where she stayed for nearly 10 years modeling for top designers. Work for the likes of Chanel, Gianfranco Ferre, Dior, Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent led to numerous cover appearances for magazines such as Elle and Glamour.

Later, she was the face of L’Oreal, a regular fixture in Sports Illustrated’s illustrious Swimsuit Issue and, eventually, a big-screen presence, appearing in 1993’s The Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarzenegger and in cult classic Bordello of Blood, to name but two films. In testament to her independent nature (and beauty) she appeared in Playboy in 2000 and in a few highly sexualized movie roles, which increased the media’s fascination with her. For a few years, her activities and relationships were regularly put under the tabloids’ microscopes, with the attention reaching its crescendo following her 1997 divorce from actor Ashley Hamilton after a marriage that lasted roughly six months.

Not the shortest Hollywood union, it nonetheless made for some rather harsh coverage and difficult days.

“I was having heartache, I was in pain, I was suffering.

I felt like I’d failed,” Everhart told talk show host Dr. Keith Ablow after the breakup. “Normal people, when they’re going through a divorce, they have it and it’s between them and their family and friends. But me… it was known by whoever read about it or saw it on television. When you’re going through a heartache and then you walk into a restaurant and [you hear], ‘Oh she just got divorced!’ It’s so hard when you are being watched every step that you take and everything that you do… Your heart is already laid out on the table and you’re suffering and it just multiplies it.”

Everhart is the first to agree that negative media attention is just part of the consequence of being a celebrity, as she told Ablow: “It’s a choice that actors and actresses and models, musicians… It’s a choice that I made to be in the public eye, so I have to suck it up a little bit and accept it. But it doesn’t take away the pain when you’re hurting.”

However expected intense media Angie at just one of scrutiny might be for celebrities, its the many celebrity damaging potential produced a hearttournaments in which she’s played wrenching response in Everhart in

I stopped skydiving, stopped riding motorcycles...

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May of 2013, years after the divorce, when she received the very tough, very personal news that she’d been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

“I was ashamed,” she says. “I was embarrassed, because I’ve had enough bad press in my life and I certainly didn’t want any more. Cancer was not something… It was not a time in my life that I wanted to have bad press.”

At the age of 19 Everhart seriously injured her back in an equestrian accident and required extensive physical therapy to recover. While skydiving in early 2013, she sustained injuries serious enough to require surgery. But cancer posed the biggest health challenge of her life.

“When someone tells you that you have cancer, you don’t ‘take it in stride,’” she says. “Unfortunately my fiancé was out of town, so I called my girlfriend and she came over.

I had a few cocktails and I proceeded to tell her everything I needed her to know in case everything went wrong. I wrote down everything my son needed to hear—there are so many things I want him to hear from me… I let myself really think the worst, because if I don’t think the worst then I can’t prepare for the worst, but I don’t want to prepare for the worst because I have to fight. So I gave myself the one pity party, then I closed it up, and thought, ‘tomorrow morning when I get up, it’s f**k cancer.’”

Everhart had planned to make her diagnosis public the following morning, but someone beat her to it. Happily, the results weren’t at all what she was expecting.

“I got up the next morning and went to tweet the news but someone had already found out. I thought it was going to be a bad thing… But I was very surprised that it didn’t come out as bad press. People on my Twitter page, literally pages and pages of well-wishers every day. Wow! I couldn’t believe it, pages… I just kept scrolling and scrolling. People I didn’t know were wishing me well. It was awesome. It made me cry and it gave me hope and a newfound love of mankind. Being [a celebrity] can really destroy that.”

If Everhart ever suffered from cynicism, she hasn’t shown it in an overly obvious way—though one could forgive her if she did. For much of her career, the media seems mostly to have settled for presenting her as a version of “tough/sexy.” As accurate as that might be in part, and as much as she might have invited the characterization, it’s certainly not a complete picture of the woman—not by a longshot. Appearing on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn in July of 2000, she was played in on the song “Do Me Baby,” by Prince. Four years later, standing next to Donald Trump, Everhart introduced the teams at the 2004 Ryder Cup opening ceremonies. She speaks French and Italian, the celebrity golf tournaments she’s played in over the years have raised millions for charity, and even before her very tough year was coming to an end she was already making appearances at events, speaking as an advocate for women who might face similar health struggles.

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With Donald Trump, prior to introducing the teams at the 2004 Ryder Cup

People I didn’t know were wishing me well. It gave me hope and a newfound love “I try to get out as much as I can,” she says. “To pay it forward to those who need it. I just spoke to a women’s group at a community center, gave a speech.”

It’s somewhat of a new role for the woman who once climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of environmental change, but it fits. Likewise, life is about to shift again as she readies to launch her own line of hair products, called “Ever.”

“I’ve always been the hair girl,” she says, “and I was thinking that I was tired of doing it for everybody else. Why don’t I build my own line? Make something for myself and something for Kayden, something that didn’t hurt your eyes, didn’t strip your hair color. I’m a natural redhead but people always ask me what my ‘real’ hair color is. It’s a concern for women because many women do dye their hair. So I made an exceptional line that’s great for the health of women’s hair. It took me a long time to get there, but we got there.”

So a bright future with a great kid, a great fiancé, and plenty of work ahead—but no more Harleys, no more skydiving, no more extreme sports… How does the extreme supermodel plan to blow off steam?

“Golf,” Everhart says. “No matter what, even if you’re playing bad, you just look around at where you are. It’s such a great escape, so beautiful. I always say you’re doing something right if you’re on the golf course.”

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ou would’ve heard the car a mile away, the sound of its racetuned motor cracking through the otherwise quiet morning, echoing down Berlin’s streets, off closed cabaret doors and large signs advertising art exhibitions. What you couldn’t have heard then, in the Germany of the late 1920s, before Hitler and the war and everything else, was the sound of the greatest American sports car ever to be built—but it was there, buried in the roar of a young man’s car in Berlin.

Somewhere deep in that noise and rumble was a soul looking for its match—a match that it found years later, in 1953, when Zora Arkus-Duntov walked into New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel and first laid eyes on a Corvette.

The car he saw bore almost no resemblance to the Corvettes he’d later build for GM as an engineer and then as chief of the Corvette program. The new car on display at GM’s “Motorama” was a pretty little runabout; his cars were monsters, performance-driven street terrors that were as tough as they were sexy, and as fast as he could make them.

Zora, who was also a record-setting race driver, died in 1996, but were he alive today he’d likely be thrilled at what’s about to drive out of GM’s garage. In true Zora fashion, the top end 2015 Corvette Z06 is frighteningly impressive: 650 horsepower with 650 lb-ft of torque.

Zero-60 in 2.95 seconds. The quarter mile in 10.95 seconds at 127mph. Braking from 60-zero in 99.6 feet. Lateral acceleration of 1.20g. And we could go on, but do we really need to? If your head’s spinning from all the numbers, here’s how they add up: The 2015 Corvette Z06 is the most powerful performance car that General Motors has ever built, and it costs less than $80,000.

Eighty grand isn’t cheap for a car, but it’s not $182,000, which is roughly the cost of an equivalent Porsche, the Turbo S. And it’s not $300,000, which gets you a numbers-comparable Ferrari. There are others: the Dodge Viper SRT, the Nissan GT-R, a higher performance Audi R8 and a few more, but they all check out at more than $100,000, some at much more.

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GM achieved the performance/cost balance by sharing a number of components with its other performance vehicles, including the lower-spec’d (but still formidable) Corvette Stingray. As GM’s Corvette spokesman Monte Doran told Autoblog.com, “Chevrolet has developed a successful model for sharing components with Corvette and other models in the portfolio. For example, the eightspeed transmission was designed for Z06, and will also be used in full-size trucks with the 6.2L; the carbon-ceramic brakes are shared between the Camaro Z/28 and Corvette Z06. This enables Chevrolet to offer stratospheric-levels of performance without stratospheric prices.”

About those brakes: At the top spec of the new Corvette, the Z07 Performance Package adds carbon fiber rocker panels, larger end plates on the front splitter and an adjustable, transparent wickerbill (or “Gurney Flap”) on the rear spoiler to increase downforce for track use, and it also includes rather large Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2ZP summer-only tires and some significant Brembo carbon ceramic brakes (394mm front discs and 390mm rear discs), which Brembo designed specially to work with the new car. Getting the car to 0 in less than 100 feet is remarkable, especially as the new Corvette is shaping up to be a bit on the weighty side.

The final numbers hadn’t been released at press time, but it looks as if the Z06 will be one of the heavier Corvettes to come along in recent times, certainly due in part to the now-standard Magnetic Selective Ride Control system, which was optional in the past and only came with the Z07 package. Corvette’s top engineer Tadge Juechter told Car and Driver that a single suspension option means more time to fine tune and to get it right, as opposed to having engineers fiddle with trying to match two systems (the Magnetic and the formerly standard past option).

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Zero to 60 in 2.95 seconds. Any questions?

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The suspension is just part of a larger system that changes in response to drivers selecting their driving experience via a Driver Mode Selector dial. Five modes are available— Weather, Eco, Tour, Sport and Track—and each automatically adjusts the suspension, traction management and electronic limited-slip differential performance accordingly.

Also contributing to the weight, a stiffer new design that, despite all the carbon fiber, will still add pounds— though from the numbers it hardly seems they’ll be noticed.

The surprises go both ways with this car, however, as it will feature a removable [carbon fiber] roof panel as standard.

Even with the panel out the new Z06 is 20 percent stiffer than the previous full hard-top.

The transmission is another innovation. In addition to a 7-speed manual that features “Rev Match,” which GM claims enhances the driving experience by helping to match shifts (though the manual offers lower performance figures), the top performance numbers are achieved with a paddle-shifting 8-speed automatic of GM’s own design.

Again, Juechter told Car and Driver that they couldn’t fit an existing dual-clutch design in the rear of the Z06, and so they designed their own system that managed to match a dual-clutch transmission’s performance.

The engine driving the whole thing is a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 that puts out the aforementioned 650hp and 650lb-ft of torque. The engine is based on the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter 455hp LT1 V8 in the Stingray, which makes 460lb-ft of torque, but the base engine was significantly tweaked both in terms of materials and design to achieve the higher numbers, adding just an inch in height to the rear of the engine and a bit of length. In the end, it’s incredibly compact for its power.

So many of the Z06’s components and design ideas were borrowed from (or at least inspired by) Corvette’s C7.R race car: the carbon fiber roof and hood, a dry sump oil system, titanium intake valves and connecting rods, composite floor panels, the hydroformed aluminum frame and more. That’s fine and dandy for a track car, but how is the Z06 as a daily driver? We won’t know until the car is released next year, but in the meantime GM have let loose a few indicators that they’ve not forgotten about the streets.

The Z06 is available as a convertible—which was designed as such, which the performance numbers should bear out—and the Stingray’s GT seats will be available (i.e., they’re not limiting buyers to the Competition Sport seats, which, while supportive during performance driving, aren’t as forgiving to posteriors stuck in traffic).

Even with the standard carbonfiber roof panel removed, the Z06 is 20 percent stiffer than the previous Corvette hardtop

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We suggest Corvette’s official driving school, which could save your paint—among other things

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Likewise, GM is promising a fully comprehensive navigation and entertainment MyLink system with an 8-inch diagonal HD touch screen, satellite radio and all the electronic amenities one expects in top cars these days.

A fun option that might even prove useful to track-day enthusiasts is a Performance Data Recorder, which will log video of drives along with real-time performance data, all stored on an SD card in the glove box. A windshieldmounted HD camera will record video and audio while a performance processor, internal accelerometers and a GPS system will track other data, all of which can be played back later and analyzed with Cosworth Toolbox software similar to that used by the Corvette Racing team.

Still, of all the available options, we’re thinking the most useful might be a trip to Pahrump, Nevada, and the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, which hosts Corvette’s official driving school. A special, discounted two-day program is available only to purchasers of a new Corvette, and we have to believe it’s worth it. Of course it will help you get the most out of your car, but more than that, with 650hp under your foot, it might just save your paint—and then some.

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DUNTOV’S LEGACY Some call Zora Arkus-Duntov “the father of the Corvette,” but as others point out he’s more like its patron saint. As a young driving enthusiast in Germany, Duntov gave up motorcycles at his mother’s request and purchased an oval track racing car with no front brakes. Belgian-born, his family moved to Berlin in 1928 and fled to France when the Nazis came to power. Zora and his brother joined the French Air Force, but France soon surrendered and so the duo headed to America, where they started building military engine components and developing engine modifications for racing cars. In 1953 at a General Motors “Motorama” in New York, Zora saw the new Corvette and was reportedly enchanted with its looks but not its power. The engineer, who was also a great race driver, wrote a letter to GM suggesting a few changes, some time later he was hired as an engineer, he eventually lead the Corvette program, and that was that. The man who wrote the blueprint for all of GM’s performance vehicles, his legacy is America’s greatest sports car, recently evidenced in the 2015 Corvette Z06. Here are a few of that car’s Duntov-led forebears:

1955 Corvette If Duntov had done nothing but introduce the small-block V8 to the Corvette, it still would have been a notable contribution.

It immediately gave the car the power it was lacking, and it set the tone for the future of both Corvette and GM as a whole. Some version of this engine has been used in every Corvette since 1955, making this car ground zero for the marque’s future.

1957 Corvette with fuel injection With 1hp per cubic inch, the Corvette’s new 283ci/283hp V8 had been thought to be something of a unicorn when it debuted (other manufacturers were only managing half that performance at the time). Duntov also added fuel injection this year.

1963 Corvette Fuel-injected Coupe A new chassis, all-new independent suspension, a fuel-injected 360hp L84 327ci small-block V8 that ran smoothly and was customizable and a dramatic split rear window all added to the car’s allure. A Z06 option improved performance and handling and added a 36-gallon fuel tank. As competitive as it was beautiful.

From its 1953 debut at the Motorama in New York (top) through more than 60 years of changes, the Corvette is America’s sports car

1968 C3 Corvette The first of the “shark” Corvettes, this icon was available as an L88 high-performance version (limited to 80 produced) that ditched the radio, air conditioning and even the heater (!) but mated a stiffer suspension and heavy duty brakes to an aluminum-headed 427ci V8 that probably produced close to 500hp (official numbers tended to under-report performance figures at the time due to high insurance rates). A great vehicle in race or street trim, this set much of the design tone for the 1970s and early 1980s.

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Women’s Majors There have been as few as two and as many as five in a single season. The first woman to win one did so 20 years before they formally existed. And, befitting a global game, the events have been played across four different countries.

No question: the majors of women’s golf are dynamic—and not just for the level of play

Babe Didrikson Zaharias with the U.S. Women’s Open trophy in 1954

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ext time you get together with your know-it-all sports trivia friend, ask him this: How many female major winners were there by the end of the LPGA’s inaugural year? It was 1950 and there were three majors on the calendar, so the answer would seem to be one, two or three. But the correct answer is 14.

That’s because two of the three majors had been retroactively designated as such (the Western Women’s Open, which debuted in 1930, and the Titleholders Championship, which launched in 1937). This immediately established the likes of Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Helen Dettweiler and others as major winners, despite the fact that none of them won a major in 1950.

That year, the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias took all three majors, adding the U.S. Women’s Open to victories at the Western and Titleholders events and becoming the first female player to win the closest thing to a Grand Slam in women’s golf at the time. Only one other player would come close, Sandra Haynie, who won both majors in 1974, one of 10 years during which there were only two: the U.S. Women’s Open and the LPGA Championship.

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British golfers Cecil Leitch (left) and Beryl Brown at Royal Troon for the 1925 Ladies’ British Amateur Championship

At various points since 1950, there have been two majors per year (1968-1978), three majors per year (19501954; 1967; 1972; 1979-1982), four majors per year (19551966; 1983-2012) and five majors per year (2013-present).

The Western and Titleholders events were gone by the late 1970s, eventually replaced by the du Maurier Classic and the Kraft Nabisco Championship. But the du Maurier lost its sponsor in 2001 and was itself replaced by the Women’s British Open, now a Ricoh event, formerly sponsored by Weetabix. In 2013, France’s Evian Championship joined the club and became the fifth major on the LPGA Tour. That event, formerly known as the Evian Masters, is now one of two supported by both the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour (the other is the Women’s British Open).

In all, eight different events have been regarded as LPGA majors, and, in contrast to the men’s game, all but one of them have had title sponsors. The U.S. Women’s Open remains the sole exception, with the USGA event providing a kind of consistency throughout the LPGA’s history (and even making some history of its own this year, hosting the event at Pinehurst the week after the men’s U.S. Open was played there).

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CURRENT LPGA MAJORS, IN ORDER OF SCHEDULED PLAY Kraft Nabisco Championship U.S. Women’s Open RICOH Women’s British Open Wegmans LPGA Championship The Evian Championship

Patty Berg plays out of trouble at Wentworth in 1951

The more majors there are in a given year, the greater the chance of players amassing majors victories—but with the addition of the Evian, the prospect of a third Grand Slam occurring—a five-way triumph—becomes increasingly unlikely.

Kathy Whitworth came close to being the third in 1967, a “three major” year, when she took both the PGA Championship and Western Open but missed out on the U.S. Women’s Open. Similarly, two more came close in “four major” years: LPGA Hall-of-Famer Mickey Wright in 1961 and Pat Bradley in 1986, each missing by one victory.

But what of the “majors victories” total, a standard by which the greatest in the game are often measured? In the case of women’s golf, trying to establish a “best ever” ranking is mind-twisting indeed.

Consider: Patty Berg currently leads the LPGA’s list of all-time major wins with 15, but eight of those are retroactively counted among Women’s Western Open and

Titleholders victories prior to 1950. Subtract the retroactive tournaments from her (and from Louise Suggs’ 11 wins) majors totals, and suddenly Mickey Wright becomes the all-time women’s majors leader with 13 and Annika Sorenstam, currently tied for fourth with Babe Zaharias at 10 major victories, moves into second place.

Further complicating matters is how various tournaments have been regarded as they transformed into majors.

The Women’s British Open was long considered a major before its official LPGA designation as such in 2001. Likewise, entertainer Dinah Shore helped to launch the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 1972 as the ColgateDinah Shore Classic. Its large purse and high profile had many immediately considering it as a major, but it didn’t receive major status until 1983. On the other hand, the du Maurier (then the Peter Jackson Classic, now the Canadian Open) was added to the LPGA’s schedule in 1973 but didn’t

Patty Berg currently leads the LPGA’s list of all-time major wins with 15

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Hyo Joo Kim (far left) celebrates victory in the 2014 Evian Championship; Nancy Lopez (left) in her peerless prime; Lorena Ochoa (below) keeps up the Kraft Nabisco Championship winners’ tradition in 2008 by jumping in Champions Lake with her family

seem to hold a particularly elevated status with the public.

Despite that, it was designated a major in 1979, four years before Dinah Shore’s tournament.

To consider just the Kraft Nabisco, had its victors prior to 1983 been awarded retroactive major victories, the record books would look quite different: Judy Rankin, Jane Blalock and Jo Ann Prentice all won the tournament, but have no major wins on their records. Sandra Post, the first Canadian on the LPGA Tour, won back-to-back titles there in 1978 and ’79, which would have put her majors total at three (she won the LPGA Championship in her rookie year, 1968). Likewise, World Golf Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lopez is only considered to have won one major, the LPGA Championship, albeit three times: 1978, ’85 and ’89. But she took the Kraft Nabisco in 1981, shortly before it became a major. Sally Little, the last woman to win the tourney as a non-major, has two other major victories on her record (1980 LPGA Championship and the ’88 du Maurier Classic), but would have added a third. Lastly, a semi-retired Mickey Wright took it in 1973, a fantastic victory in any case, which would have put her all-time majors total at 14.

As for the future of LPGA majors, could even more be added to the schedule? With Asian players holding at least five of the top 10 spots on the money list over the last five years (and as many as seven spots) and at least three of the top five spots on the scoring average list during that period, it seems only a matter of time before China or South Korea hosts a major, which would make that clean sweep an even more elusive prize—but what a prize it would be!

So, changing schedules and sponsors, wildly varying numbers and a history of organizational dynamism. Who’s the LPGA’s greatest of all time? If major wins are anything to go by, we have no idea.

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THE LPGA’S GREEN JACKET Founded by entertainer Dinah Shore in 1972, the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April kicks off the LPGA’s major season and is accompanied by a series of parties and celebrations in the Rancho Mirage area, which certainly add to its festive reputation. That reputation was further cemented in 1988 when the tournament acquired its own winner’s tradition: a jump into a lake. Amy Alcott was the first to dive into Champions Lake (aka “Poppie’s Pond,” named for former tournament director Terry “Poppie” Wilcox), which surrounds the 18th green at Mission Hills Country Club, the tournament’s venue. Alcott added two more jumps to her résumé, the last coming with her third victory here in 1991 and being all the more memorable because she took the then-75-year-old tournament host Dinah Shore with her into the drink. Somewhat less dynamically, 1998 winner Pat Hurst jumped in only up to her knees as she could not swim. While perhaps not as grand a tradition as offered at Augusta, the pond jump has been called “the Green Jacket of the LPGA” and it’s indicative of the enthusiastic spirit of the event.

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Winner of The Preakness Stakes

Often overshadowed by the luster of their events, the figures atop awards are there for a reason

mong the many gilded personalities one might encounter in the course of a life, it is hoped that a few might be those atop awards. Victory in competition is sweet indeed, and more’s the pleasure when a shining trophy is firmly in hand, raised high for all to see. But who is it, exactly, that winners are hoisting aloft? As it turns out, in golf, horse racing, auto racing and more, the figures memorialized on awards are rarely chosen at random. Many earned their perches, and not easily. Here, then, are just a few of their stories…

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CHRIS BRASHER SPORTING LIFE TROPHY Male/Female winners of the London Marathon

19 27

09 19

61 18

Trophy Men (and a horse)

WOODLAWN VASE

RYDER CUP Winning team of golf’s biennial Ryder Cup

Borg-Warner Trophy

Winner of the Indianapolis 500 Of singular design—some would say peculiar—the BorgWarner Trophy is one of the most coveted awards in motorsports. Since its introduction by Eddie Rickenbacker in 1936 it has been awarded to winners of the Indianapolis 500, and since it was first awarded each winner has had his face sculpted in bas-relief on the trophy’s side. This presents an obvious problem as the trophy’s original size accommodated only 70 winners. Hence, in 1986 a larger base was added to accommodate more, and in 2004 the same operation was performed again. Currently there’s enough room to hold winners through 2033, at which point the trophy presumably will grow even taller and heftier than its current size of 5’ 4” and 153 pounds. While the trophy is displayed trackside during the race and then placed on the rear of the winner’s car after it pulls into Victory Lane (a tradition that dates to the 1911 debut of the race), winners don’t get to take the actual Borg-Warner home. More conveniently, they receive a “Baby Borg,” 18 inches tall and significantly less adorned. Lacking the winners’ faces, it does bear the same figure on top of a man waving a checkered flag. And if you’re wondering why the trophy is most often photographed head-on with the flagman’s arm covering his business, it’s because he was sculpted in the tradition of Greek athletes. That is to say, he’s naked.

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81 19

19 69

19 36

19 35 HEISMAN TROPHY

BORG-WARNER TROPHY

THE WALLY

HOBEY BAKER AWARD

Most outstanding player in U.S. college football

Winner of the Indianapolis 500

Winners of NHRA national events

Top NCAA men’s ice hockey player

Mauri Rose won the BorgWarner Trophy three times: in 1941, 1947 and 1948

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Ryder Cup

Winning team at the Ryder Cup golf tournament Many have gazed upon his face, but few will know his name. Legend has it that gardner, chauffeur, golfer and golf instructor, Samuel Ryder’s friend Abe Mitchell has the honor of topping one of golf’s most iconic trophies: the Ryder Cup. Harold Abraham Mitchell (known as “Abe”) was born in 1907 to an unwed mother, who was a caddie at England’s Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club. Mitchell spent much of his childhood there, learning golf partly by watching expert club-maker and club pro Jack Rowe.

Decidedly among the lower classes, Mitchell wasn’t able to play Royal Ashdown Forest proper, but he was able to join an auxiliary club that allowed access for those who lived in the club’s vicinity. While there, serving in a variety of odd job positions, he secured the financial backing necessary to compete in amateur tournaments, which he did until turning pro in 1913. Finishing fourth behind Harry Vardon at the 1914 Open Championship, Mitchell’s burgeoning career was interrupted by the first World War, in which he served as a gunner. When the war ended, Mitchell returned to golf and quickly won the 1919 News of the World Matchplay Tournament. Despite never securing an Open Championship victory, Mitchell became somewhat of a crowd favorite. His popularity led to exhibition matches in the United States and appearances in the U.S. Open, all of which contributed to earnings that were likely far beyond his boyhood dreams. In 1923 Mitchell took a job as personal golf tutor

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for wealthy seed merchant Samuel Ryder, who eventually proposed a golf tournament between Great Britain and America. In 1926, the year before the first official Ryder Cup was played, Americans Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Jim Barnes and Fred McLeod faced off against Ted Ray, Abe Mitchell and two English players at Wentworth in the week prior to the Open Championship. Hagen was four down to Mitchell at the end of the first day and, it’s reported, intentionally arrived 30 minutes late on the second day to throw the notoriously high-strung Mitchell off his game. It worked, Mitchell’s game fell apart and Ryder, reportedly shocked at the American’s gamesmanship, decided Mitchell would adorn the trophy he was creating for the transatlantic matches. The following year, after the first official Ryder Cup matches, Ryder’s trophy was presented and Mitchell, having began life as low as one could be, was elevated to the greatest heights of golf glory.

Abe Mitchell tees off in the 1929 Ryder Cup at Moortown, West Yorkshire

Chris Brasher Sporting Life Trophy

Male/female winners of the London Marathon It’s one of the most coveted awards (and likely the most beautiful) in the sport of long-distance running. It’s also among the few trophies to be created for one event and now awarded for another. Commissioned in 1909 by English publication The Sporting Life to serve as an award for London’s Polytechnic Marathon, it cost £500 to make, more than $80,000 in today’s money. “The Poly,” as the race became known, ran from 1909 to 1996 and was the first marathon to be routinely run over 26 miles, 385 yards, which is now the global standard. The figure atop the trophy is Pheidippides, the heroic Ancient Greek courier who, as it is held, ran roughly 26 miles to Athens from a battlefield near the town of Marathon to deliver news of a victory over the Persians. He’d run more than 175 miles

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in two days, coordinating military assistance from Sparta, and after covering the last stretch he supposedly collapsed and died, inspiring the modern marathon race. The trophy’s history gets a bit muddled in the decades after 1961, the year The Sporting Life pulled its sponsorship, with ownership questions arising among the race’s organizing Polytechnic Harriers club and the Mirror Group, which purchased The Sporting Life. After being stored alternately at the Harriers’ clubhouse, the Victoria and Albert Museum and, unfittingly, in someone’s basement following a post-race disappearance in the 1980s, in 1994 the trophy was formally claimed by the Mirror Group as an item on permanent loan by them to the London Marathon, a separate event that began in 1981 and which quickly replaced The Poly as the capital city’s preeminent foot race. At the time of its demise in 1996, The Poly had seen more world records and had been run over 26.2 miles more often than any other marathon in the world.

If nothing else, its legacy is preserved in the magnificent Sporting Life Trophy, to which Olympian and London Marathon founder Chris Brasher’s name was added in 2003.

The Wally

Winners of NHRA national events Drag racing reached its peak of popularity in the 1960s, when The Wally Parks Trophy first emerged. Parks founded the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) in 1951 in an effort to keep kids from racing on local roads. The trophy that bears his name didn’t appear until the end of the 1960s, with “The Wally” first being awarded in 1969 to winners of NHRA national events. Still the most coveted and prestigious NHRA award, the trophy depicts not Parks but Top Gas racer Jack Jones. In the June 30 edition of National Dragster magazine, Jones said, “Believe it or not, Wally Parks called me and asked if I’d do him a favor, pose for pictures that would be used as models for the trophy.” The photo shoot was handled at California’s Pomona Raceway in 1969. Speaking to the Associated Press in August of 1970 at the age of 29, Jones hinted at the grueling life of a professional drag racer: “There are things that tear your soul,” he was quoted as saying in South Carolina’s Spartanburg Herald-Journal, “like when something goes wrong with the car at the starting line. Or when you get caught napping in a situation you’ve gone through 1,000 times. Or when a good friend wrecks and his life’s savings go down the drain with his car. Sometimes you wonder…”

Heisman Trophy

Most outstanding player in U.S. college football John Heisman was a lot more than a football player. Also a head coach in football, basketball and baseball, Heisman ultimately served as Athletic Director of New York’s iconic Downtown Athletic Club, which was open from 1929 until 2001, when it suffered bankruptcy in the wake of the

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The “Miracle on ice” in 1980 (left) and 19th century racing at Jerome Park, New York (below)

September 11 attacks (it was less than half a mile from the World Trade Center and suffered damage and extended closure). From 1937 through 2000, the Club was where the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award was presented to the country’s most outstanding college football player, but the statue that bears Heisman’s name does not bear his likeness.

That honor goes to Ed Smith, who was a friend of sculptor Frank Eliscu. Smith played on the now-defunct New York University football team in 1934 before turning pro, and posed for the statue in 1935. As the story goes, he brought his cleats, uniform and a football to Eliscu’s studio before casually striking one of the most iconic (and imitated) poses in sports. Smith’s place in history remained a mystery—even to him—until 1982, when a documentary filmmaker learned the truth. Ultimately, Smith was honored with a Heisman of his own. “I was just doing a favor for a friend,” he later said.

Hobey Baker Award

Top NCAA men’s ice hockey player Presented to the top men’s college ice hockey player, the Hobey Baker Award is named for a WWI veteran who many consider to be the first American ice hockey star.

Since the award’s inception in 1981 it has also indirectly memorialized one of the greatest hockey victories: the 1980 U.S. Olympic “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union.

The model for the trophy is Steve Christoff, who played on the “miracle” team and for the University of Minnesota before eventually joining the NHL. More than 50 different skating poses were captured in photos, from which one was chosen and sculpted by Bill Mack, who also sculpted the “Walking Man” statue at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

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Woodlawn Vase

Winner of The Preakness Stakes From his perch atop the Woodlawn Vase, Lexington the horse has seen a lot of history. Sire to Preakness, for which the second leg of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown is named, the real Lexington belonged to Capt. T.G. Moore, who’s mare, Mollie Jackson, was the first to win the trophy in 1861.

The year before, the now defunct Woodlawn Racing Association commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft the award, a stunning prize made of nearly 30 pounds of sterling silver, roughly 36 inches high and now reportedly worth as much as $4 million.

Today it spends most of the year at the Baltimore Museum of Art, with white-gloved members of the Maryland National Guard delivering it to Pimlico Racecourse for the annual running of The Preakness Stakes.

That it survived so long is a credit to the numerous families and organizations that have sponsored it—it was the award for races in Kentucky, suburban New York, New Jersey and Coney Island before finding a home with the Maryland Jockey Club in 1917.

Moore, perhaps, deserves credit as well: during the Civil War, he buried it in the dirt at Woodlawn Farm in Kentucky to save it from Union Soldiers, who he feared would melt it down. A staunch Southerner, Moore also hid his horse Lexington (which ironically had sired General Ulysses S. Grant’s favorite horse, Cincinnati) to prevent him from being commissioned for battle. Lexington—named North America’s leading sire 16 times—died of natural causes in 1875 and was buried in a coffin at Woodlawn Farm. Three years later he was dug up and donated to the Smithsonian, but after a time the organization simply put him in storage.

In 2010 his bones were rediscovered and shipped to the International Museum of the Horse at Kentucky Horse Park, which reassembled him and which now displays his skeleton.

Perhaps his best-known progeny, Preakness, had a similarly dark end: he was sold to the English Duke of Hamilton, who later shot and killed the horse in a rage.

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ass Pro Shops Founder and conservationist Johnny Morris teamed with golf legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson and spent the past seven years creating one of the most amazing golf experiences ever developed. Top of the Rock features nature and golf at its finest. The experience includes a Jack Nicklaus Signature Par-3 Course, an incredible Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole Practice Facility, Tom Watson’s 43,000 square foot putting course called the “Himalayas” and Tom Fazio’s Championship 18-hole Buffalo Ridge Golf Course.

Arnie’s Barn is a 150-year-old wooden barn that was brought from Arnold Palmer’s hometown in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and reconstructed at Top of the Rock by a local Amish family. This magnificent structure houses a restaurant that features soaring, vaulted ceilings, two lofts and is also home to the Top of the Rock Pro Shop.

In addition to world-class golf, Johnny Morris’ Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve hosts the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, End of the Trail All-American Wine Cellar, three dining options including Arnie’s Barn Restaurant and Pro Shop, and the spectacular Chapel of the Ozarks and Civil War Era Cabin.

KMAD

Apples and Arnold Many know Palmer as the King, a legend, perhaps the greatest of all time. Dennis P. McIlnay was proud to call him a neighbor.

Here, a privileged view of history from the current professor, former caddie and fellow Latrobe native

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H

is first name was Milfred, but hardly soaked my sneakers, and in the evening when the dew and anyone ever called him that. Instead, I returned, he would still be there. most people called him “Deke,” short That was in the 1960s when I was in high school for Deacon, a deferential nickname given and college. During those summers, I worked for Deke as by members of Latrobe Country Club in a caddie, “shag boy,” and member of his grounds crew, led western Pennsylvania where he was golf professional from by the expert greenskeeper Bill Adams. I grew up next to 1921 to his death in 1976. the eleventh hole at Latrobe Country Club, a par four that Other people might have called him by his nickname, paralleled one side of my family’s long sliver of a backyard, but I never called him anything but a respectful Mr. Palmer. with the practice range, added after the back nine was built Milfred Palmer was the father of Arnold Palmer, who was in the early 1960s, bordering the other side of our yard. the best golfer in the world in the 1960s when he won seven From the tee at the end of the range, members routinely major championships, including four Masters, two British sliced the club’s yellow practice balls into our yard. My Opens, and the U.S. Open. In 1960, Sports Illustrated parents wouldn’t let my brother, sister, or me keep them, named Arnold “Sportsman of the Year,” and the Associated despite our plebeian plea that possession was nine-tenths of Press honored him as “Athlete of the Decade.” the law. We three scruffians imagined trading the balls for Arnold and his late wife, Winnie, raised their daughters, membership in the club. Not that we would have known Peg and Amy, in a home across the road from Latrobe what to have done with such an asset; back then, we didn’t Country Club’s third hole. To my family, who lived nearby, play golf, so we threw the balls back into the “driving he was never “Arn,” “Arnie,” or “A.P.”, as others called him, range,” as we called it. but always Arnold. When he returned from a tournament, My first job was as a skinny 13-year-old caddie at he sometimes flew so low over our house that my brother, Latrobe Country Club, barely able to carry a so-called Tom, and sister, Patty, and I could see the letters, AP, on the “double,” two bags for eighteen holes. The pay: $4.50 per sides of his plane. We never said, “Arnold’s returned from a bag to “show up, keep up, and shut up,” as Deke demanded. tournament,” but just, “Arnold’s home.”

Thankfully, I became the favorite caddie of several member When he was home, he often practiced all day in quiet couples, relieving me of the boredom and some (but not all) corners of the golf course or on holes that required specific the bad habits of the caddie yard. shots such as drives that fade or draw. Before a U.S. Open I often caddied for Deke, who sometimes invited in the mid–1960s, I watched him hit countless drives on the couples to join him for a round, especially new members seventh hole, a tight par four that rewards a fade between who were beginners at golf. Once, a young husband and tall oaks lining both sides of the fairway. wife, their caddie, and I waited for Deke on the first tee, Despite my mother’s repeated warnings to “stay a few steps from the pro shop. The lady in the twosome, offa Deke’s golf course,” I frequently sneaked on to watch surmising that I was Deke’s caddie, worked her way Arnold practice. If he saw me, he never let on or chased me over to me and asked, “Does Deacon allow ‘gimmies’”? away, accustomed as he must have been to always being referring to short putts that players are likely to make. watched. He started so early in the morning that the dew “Yes,” I said. “Mr. Palmer gives alot of ‘gimmies.’”

Palmer would fly so low over the McIlnay’s home the kids could see the letters “AP” on the side of the plane

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Arnie and his father worked the course almost as much as they played it

Deke once told a member to pick up a three-footer: “We let Arnold worry about those” “Oh, thank God,” she sighed.

And Deke did give “gimmies.” He once told a member to pick up a three-footer. “We let Arnold worry about those,” he said.

One of Deke’s legs was shorter than his other one from infantile paralysis, causing him to limp noticeably.

He was short, buttoned his golf shirts all the way up, and wore freshly polished white spikeless golf shoes. Deke wore spikeless golf shoes before such shoes became popular, and the sole of one of his shoes was built up to compensate for his handicap. His thin hair was as white as his shoes, and he had the deepest tan I have ever seen.

At 7 a.m. every day, Deke met the grounds crew at a small, round practice green near the maintenance shed and the third hole. Each worker cut a stripe on the green with his narrow, self-propelled, walk-behind mower. Deke then bent over each mower with a screwdriver and set the mower to avoid cutting the grass too short, called “scalping,” or too long, causing the greens to be “slow.” He and his family lived right on the golf course in a gray frame house. For decades in the golf season, Deke adjusted the mowers every morning, and I can still see his white hair and tanned head as he knelt over my mower.

Near the end of the summer each year, Latrobe Country Club held a golf championship for the caddies.

During the golf season, caddies could play at the club on Monday mornings, and I had begun playing the game with a few clubs best described as orphans. To play in the championship, a caddie had to ask a member to be his partner, and the caddie carried the member’s clubs (and played with the member’s clubs, too). I worked up the nerve

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to ask Deke to be my partner, and he agreed. On the first tee, Deke noticed that I had put my driver and putter in his beautiful leather bag, along with his clubs, thus avoiding the awkward (and annoying) need to pass those frequently used clubs between players. “Somebody’s thinking,” he said. That day, I won the caddie championship with a blistering 81, my sole career victory. When Deke gave me the winner’s cup at the dinner that evening, he stared at me for more than a few seconds, as was his habit, and said, “Nice going, boy.” (Deke called every caddie “boy.”) Those three words meant a great deal to me, coming as they did from Arnold Palmer’s father.

On a Friday evening, I caddied nine holes for a member who was trying a new set of Wilson “Sam Snead Signature” clubs. When we finished the ninth hole, I asked the member if I should put the clubs in the storage room behind the pro shop.

“No,” he said. “I can’t hit them. Ask Deke to sell them.”

When I told this to Deke, he asked, “You want ‘em?

Hundred bucks.”

The next day, I paid Deke for my first matched set of clubs, which I used for the next 20 years.

On another evening, I was alone in the caddie yard when Deke appeared in the door between the yard and his pro shop. “Arnold wants to hit some balls,” he said. “Down by the shed.” Deke was too gruff for a warmer like, “Would you like to shag some balls?” (I once overheard a testy exchange between him and a member of Latrobe Country Club who thought that Arnold’s businesses were hurting his golf. Deke became irritated and said, “If you had what he has. Hell, if I had what he has.”)

Behind Deke in the door stood Arnold Palmer, not

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three feet from me. I had never been that close to him. He was shorter than he looked on television, and his fingers and forearms were thick and tanned.

“See you down there,” he said over Deke’s shoulder, referring to the fifth tee down the hill from the clubhouse.

I ran to the tee and waited as Arnold parked his car by the maintenance shed. From the trunk, which was full of loose golf balls, I lifted his clubs (surprisingly banged up) and a shag bag, about the size of an oversized bowling bag.

I filled the bag with balls and dumped some on the tee.

“Some seven irons,” Arnold said, pointing to the nearby third fairway.

I grabbed the shag bag and ran into the fairway about a hundred yards, then my seven iron distance. When I turned around, Arnold waved me further out with a friendly shake of his head. At about 150 yards, I turned around again, and Arnold lifted his hand to say, “Far enough.”

Today, most golfers practice at commercial driving ranges or practice areas at golf clubs. They hit shot after shot, and after a while the ground is covered with balls. Then, a worker in a golf cart or similar vehicle (caged to protect the driver) pulls a wheeled device that rolls over the balls, grabs them, and drops them into an attached bin. In the early 1960s, Latrobe Country Club had no practice range, so members practiced in isolated parts of the course, hitting balls to “shag boys” who served as targets and chased down each ball, running back to their spots to drop the balls in shag bags. Shagging balls for average golfers is exhausting because they hit them all over the place (although the job is quite safe because most players don’t hit their shots anywhere near you).

Shagging balls for Arnold Palmer, though, was unlike any “shag job” I ever had. That evening, he hit a couple seven irons to warm up—with a much lower trajectory than I expected—right at the shag bag a few steps in front of me.

Then, he moved down through his irons, hitting each shot with the same low, line-drive flight, so straight that I barely had to move to retrieve the balls. In fact, I caught most of them on their second bounces. As Arnold reached his long irons, I moved the shag bag further away and still hardly had to take a step left or right to catch the balls. I cupped my hands as I caught them, and they spun in my hands from the backspin as though I had trapped a bee.

In an hour, Arnold waved me in. “You don’t move around,” he said. “That’s good.”

“Thank you,” I said.

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As I put his clubs and shag bag in the trunk, he handed me a $20 bill for an hour’s work. At the time, shagging balls at Latrobe Country Club paid $2 an hour.

“Good luck,” I said.

“Likewise,” he said.

That night after I walked home, my father asked where I had been.

“Shagging balls for Arnold,” I said, as though I was his exclusive shag boy.

“What’d you learn?” he asked.

“I learned I’ll never be that good,” I said and privately resolved to return to school that fall with newfound enthusiasm.

At the far end of Latrobe Country Club’s practice range stands an apple tree, 250 yards from the tee and across the kitchen window from my family’s home. Every

couple weeks or so, a scattering of golf balls appeared among the apples under the tree. The first time my father saw the balls, he said, “I see Arnold’s home,” explaining that no one else at the club could have hit them that far—or that straight.

To this day, every time I see apples under an apple tree, I think of Arnold and Milfred Palmer.

Last year after my mother and father died, Arnold Palmer bought our home. The day my brother, sister, and I cleaned out the house, I stood at the kitchen window for the last time and looked at the apple tree at the end of the range. There were no balls under the tree, only apples.

Arnold wasn’t home.

Dr. Dennis P. McIlnay of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania is professor emeritus of management at Saint Francis University and the author of two books on foundation philanthropy and three books about the Keystone State: Juniata, River of Sorrows; The Wreck of the Red Arrow; and The Horseshoe Curve.

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Life In Pictures Along with being a golf legend Arnold Palmer has always been a family man. Here, we’re allowed a privileged view of the Palmer family over the years, shared from the family’s private albums

Whether assembling for a family photo or getting together to celebrate, the Palmer clan has always been close

An active family, the Palmers will use any means of transportation to get where they’re going—a luxury car, a private plane or something more modestly powered for the snow!

A longstanding family, the Palmers have sustained for many generations— as have their loyal pets, of course!

Well acquainted with U.S. presidents and with other luminaries, at heart the Palmers are still the same downto-earth people beloved by their hometown friends for so many years

The Palmers have long loved travel and the great outdoors—whether that means getting away from it all or simply getting onto the golf course.

This is a family that sticks together!

Al l Aw a y You can be forgiven if the word “vacation� immediately has you pondering which course to visit rather than which spa, but there will be times when getting away from it all will be less a solo adventure and more a family affair. Fret not, for there are destinations far and near that possess both exquisite golf and family-friendly diversions, meaning guilt-free afternoons on course for you while the rest of your clan enjoys shopping, spa treatments, waterslides, archery or whatever it is that nongolfers do with their sunny days. The following resorts offer something for everyone, meaning they’re perfect for both foursomes and families.

Just make sure your wife leaves you enough room to pack your golf shoes.

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R ANCH AT EMER ALD VALLEY Colorado

FOUR SEASONS DISNEY Florida

The legendary Broadmoor Hotel has extended its luxurious reach into the pristine Colorado wilderness with its addition of the Ranch at Emerald Valley. Surrounded by 100,000 acres of the Pike National Forest, the all-inclusive Ranch at Emerald Valley offers natural splendor and seclusion, while being just a short drive down the mountain to everything the Broadmoor has to offer. Settle into one of the 10 elegantly rustic cabins and let the adventure begin.

Golf: As a guest of the Ranch at Emerald Valley, you’ll have access to the Broadmoor’s three world-class golf courses. Designed in 1918 by Donald Ross and later updated in 1952 by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., The East Course is the resort’s original and one of the most beautiful courses in North America. This award-winning course is where Annika Sorenstam won her first major title at the 1995 Women’s Open and it hosted the 2011 U.S. Women’s

Four Seasons luxury in the heart of one of the most familyfriendly cities on Earth can only mean one thing: one of the best family vacations ever. The Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort combines everything parents want on a vacation with everything kids want, meaning everyone gets what he or she wants. The hotel is actually located within the gates of Walt Disney World Resort, meaning you’re close to all of the magic in the Magic Kingdom—so be prepared. Comfortable shoes are a must, as is a nice camera with plenty of memory.

Golf: The Fazio-designed Tranquilo Golf Club is as relaxing as its name suggests, making the most of Central Florida’s Live Oak trees and relaxing views. Built to reflect the Spanish revival style of the resort, the course is the perfect place to get away, slow down and enjoy the Orlando area, which can run any parent ragged.

Open Championship. The West Course rewards with rolling fairways and multi-level greens at 6,800 feet above sea level, while the Nicklaus-designed Mountain Course offers a beautiful, playable course suitable for all skill levels and handicaps. It’s the perfect family course for kids who are just getting the hang of this amazing game.

Family: Immerse yourself and your family in an authentic ranch experience with fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, canoeing and archery with each day ending in a campfire gathering at the fire pit. The Ranch at Emerald Valley can also arrange off-site activities ranging from hot air balloon rides and river rafting to a trip on the Broadmoor’s Pike Peak Cog Railway—the highest railway of its kind in the world—as it climbs to the summit of Pike’s Peak.

Family: Where do we begin? You’re within the Walt Disney World Resort, so it’s a sure bet you’ll be visiting a certain famous mouse and his friends at some point.

Likewise, there’s Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Broadway-style shows, clubs, restaurants, and so much more. Honestly, it’s a family feast of Disney mania. And at the end of it all, for mom and dad, there’s Kids For All Seasons: a complimentary day camp that allows you to drop the kids off for a few hours, hit spa or the adults-only pool, or simply grab a nap in your room. Bliss.

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PGA NATIONAL Florida Forget what you think you know about PGA National Resort and Spa and prepare to be blown away by their gorgeous multi-million dollar renovation. From the brand-new pool to the Wine Spectator-awarded signature restaurant to the luxuriously updated guestrooms, there has never been a better time to grab the family and discover this iconic resort.

Golf: It doesn’t get better than this: five legendary courses ready to be played. The Champion Course (with Nicklaus’ infamous Bear Trap) hosts the Honda Classic and is one of the best golf courses in Florida, if not the country.

The Palmer Course is, like its designer, a classic. The resort’s original Haig Course is as great as ever, as is The Squire Course, aka “the thinking man’s course” due to its true test of accuracy and precision.

With generous fairways and inviting greens, The Estates Course is also a great option.

Family: Stay on property for tennis, a spa treatment or a day at the PGA National Resort and Spa’s gorgeous pool, or venture out into beautiful Palm Beach for world-class shopping on Worth Avenue. Located in nearby Loxahatchee, you can take a drive on the wild side with Lion Country Safari, Florida’s only drive through Safari Adventure, or catch a kid’s matinee at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Spend a day at the beach or at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center or charter a scenic boat or fishing trip—possibilities abound.

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CALL AWAY GARDENS Georgia What began as one couple’s desire to share the land they loved with the public has grown into an unparalleled destination. When Cason and Virginia Callaway opened Callaway Gardens in 1952, they wanted to create a place where “man and nature could abide together for the good of both” and that is exactly what has been achieved—with a little luxury and a whole lot of fun as well. We recommend spreading out in the well-appointed Mountain View Golf Cottage: with four bedrooms, you’ll have plenty of room.

Golf: The lake View Course has water on nine holes, five of them routed along scenic Mountain Creek Lake, while the challenging Mountain View Course showcases tight fairways lined with towering pines. The Mountain View Course hosted the Buick Challenge from 1991-2002.

Family: There is so much to do at Callaway Gardens that it can seem overwhelming at first—then you remember you have kids who need to be entertained and it seems, well, perfect. Spend the morning at the lake playing on the huge inflatable, floating obstacle course then head into the trees for a zip-line tour and canopy adventure. Take a stroll or bike through the gardens and stop in at the Day Butterfly Center or take in one of the daily Birds of Prey shows that let you and yours get up close and personal with some of natures most adept hunters.

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WAIKOLOA BEACH RESORT Hawaii

BIG CEDAR LODGE Missouri

Spread along the Big Island of Hawaii’s idyllic Kohala coast, Waikoloa Beach Resort offers guests the opportunity to come together and unwind in paradise. Featuring two top end hotels, world class condominiums, 36 holes of championship golf, unique shops, two luxurious spas, a wide variety of dining options and a virtually endless list of activities Waikoloa Beach resort really is “the gathering place of the Kohala Coast”.

Golf: The Beach Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. will lull you into a tropical daze with its sweeping ocean vistas, swaying palms and the beauty of its bright greens contrasting with black lava rocks, but don’t be fooled—there are enough challenges here to keep you on your toes. Bring your camera for a shot of the seventh hole— one of the most photographed holes in the islands. The Kings Course, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, demands respect, but rewards you with Scottish-style links and beautiful views of ancient lava flows.

Family: Grab the kids and head to the water. Whether you lounge in the lazy river that flows between connecting pools, plunge down a waterslide or spend the day snorkeling at the beach, you’ll be happy to dive right into the fun. Also check out the Dolphin Encounter where you can interact one on one with these astounding creatures.

Just 10 miles south of Branson, Missouri, Big Cedar Lodge embodies the charm and hospitality of the Ozarks while letting guests explore this area’s natural glory from a comfortable, luxurious base. Whether you choose to stay in the lodge, a log cabin or in the private five-bedroom villa on property, rest assured the staff will go above and beyond to ensure that your trip is one you’ll want to take again year after year. Big Cedar Lodge is where wilderness meets luxury on the shores of Table Rock Lake.

Golf: The nine hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Top Of The Rock Course is wonderful, the Tom Fazio designed Buffalo Ridge 18-hole course is as well, Tom Watson’s one acre “Himalayas” putting complex is beautiful. As for the new Arnold Palmer Driving Range, with 16 fully lit target greens and in-ground lighting that makes it possible to work on your drive until the range closes at 10pm, well, we think that’s pretty spectacular. Oh, and swing by the pro-shop, which is housed in Arnie’s Barn—a 150 year old barn relocated from the King’s home in Latrobe and filled with historic photos and memorabilia from his epic career.

Family: Take a wakeboarding lesson, a pony ride or a Campfire Wagon Tour on an antique horse-drawn wagon. Play a round of miniature golf or send the kids to the kid’s fishing pond to catch the “big one”—or take them fishing with you on Table Rock Lake where you actually could catch “the big one.” Whatever you choose to do, the friendly staff at Big Cedar Lodge will make sure you have a great time.

PGA National (far left), Callaway Gardens (left) and Big Cedar Lodge (below)

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SKYTOP LODGE Pennsylvania

Imagined in 1925 as a grand mountaintop retreat in the Poconos, Skytop Lodge has become that and more.

Encompassing 5,500 awe-inspiring acres, the resort is more than just a vacation destination; it has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of families who return year after year to take in the wonder of this magical place—and play a little golf while they’re there.

Golf: The Pocono Course is a mountain style track with wide tree-lined fairways, views of West Mountain and small, fast greens. From the back tees, the course measures 6,656 yards with a slope rating of 133 and from the front tees, it’s 5,656 yards with a slope rating of 127. It’s challenging enough to engage the seasoned golfer, but not so much as to exasperate the novice.

Family: Put on your walking shoes and get outside.

Scamper up the climbing wall or fly down the zip-line course. Swim in the clear lake or one of the resort’s two pools. Challenge friends to a paintball showdown or a round of Archery Tag. Schedule a whitewater rafting trip or a Wilderness Survival Course. It’s time to get outside and explore this beautiful part of the country with your family and there’s no better place to do that than at Skytop Lodge.

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JW MARRIOTT SAN ANTONIO HILL COUNTRY RESORT & SPA Texas

Settle into a rocker with a glass of local Texas Hill Country wine and watch the kids play on the beautifully manicured lawns while you ponder exactly how you want your expertly aged steak cooked. The moon overhead is large, the fading sunlight is setting the hills aglow and the sweet grassy air is refreshing every cell in your body—welcome to Texas and, more precisely, welcome to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Golf: TPC San Antonio has transformed 2,800 acres of rolling San Antonio Hill Country into 36 holes of golfing paradise. The AT&T Oaks Course, designed by Greg Norman with Sergio Garcia as a consultant showcases narrow corridors carved through live oaks and only 100 feet of fall from the high point of the course to the lowest. It also hosts the PGA TOUR’s Valero Texas Open. The AT&T Canyon Course, designed by Pete Dye, hosts the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship and provides exciting play with panoramic views of a 700-acre nature preserve.

Family: With so much to do on the property—water slides, a lazy river and a kid’s water park at the Riverbluff Water Experience, a dedicated kid’s club that also offers daily “kid’s night out,” Segway rentals and the Lantana Spa—it may seem hard to leave, but do head into historic San Antonio to enjoy a stroll along the River Walk, a trip to the Children’s Museum or a visit to The Alamo.

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WINTERGREEN RESORT Virginia

Sprawling over 11,000 acres on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia, Wintergreen Resort offers an epic escape into the wild green yonder. A true year round resort, the scenery will delight when it’s covered in a soft blanket of snow or alive with the lush energy of summer. Relax, renew and invigorate yourself and your family at this timeless mountain retreat.

Golf: The 27-hole Stoney Creek course is well composed of three nines: the Monocan, Shamokin and Tuckahoe. Architect Rees Jones designed the courses to stand-alone, yet complement and enhance each other offering endless opportunities for challenging fun.

The Devil’s Knob Course, designed by Ellis Maples, sits high in the Blue Ridge Mountains and at 3,850 feet above sea level it’s the highest course in Virginia, providing unbelievable 50-mile views of the Shenandoah and Rockfish Valleys. Spectacular.

Family: After swimming in Lake Monocan, speeding down a mountain at The Plunge Tubing Park, bouncing on a bungee trampoline at the Discovery Ridge Adventure Center and perfecting your putts on the miniature golf course, it’s time to snuggle up with the family for a movie under the stars at Ridgely’s Fun Park—just another perfect Virginia day at Wintergreen Resort.

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SK AMANIA LODGE Washington “Skamania” is the Chinook Indian word for “swift water”— and as this resort is set overlooking the Columbia River with 70 waterfalls nearby—it seems an apt name indeed. A trip to Skamania Lodge is an opportunity to return to what matters: family, nature and a simple, stress-free existence. This rustic Cascadian-style lodge is set inside the staggeringly beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Enjoy the views and the divine farm-to-table fare with almost every ingredient sourced from within 50 miles of the lodge.

Golf: The beautifully forested, challenging 18-hole Skamania Lodge Golf Course, designed by Bunny Mason, is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, a PGA Family Friendly Course and home to an abundance of wildlife like deer, turtles, geese, raccoons, osprey, bald eagles and your pampered pup—that’s right, the course is also dog friendly.

Family: Hop aboard the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler and go for a cruise, take a zipline tour, a horseback ride or a hike. If you feel like something a little more adventurous, sign up for whitewater rafting or a kayaking trip on the White Salmon River.

winter 2014

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gift guide

Items of desire Kingdom’s gift selection for the holidays ALEXANDRA LLEWELLYN DESIGN For playing board games in exclusive style, look no further than Alexandra Llewellyn’s creations. Join Sir Richard Branson and Elle Macpherson by commissioning a bespoke backgammon board, games set or table. Created in close conversation with you and using master British craftsmen, each piece is individually designed, printed or painted by Alexandra. Laced with narrative and provenance, be it calf leather lining and embossed personalization, or marquetry disclosing hidden meanings, these can be the most intimate of luxury gifts.  alexandralldesign.com

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GLENMORANGIE 18 From our favorite single malt brand comes this rare and eminiently collectable limited edition gift pack, pairing the ’18 Greatest’ golf book and Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Years Old. Matured for 15 years in the finest ex-bourbon oak casks, followed by a further three years in Oloroso sherry casks, Glenmorangie’s 18 Years Old is a malt with a rich bouquet, smooth texture and full, rounded flavor. Its enticing finish is long, with an intriguing balance of sweet dried fruit and a dry Oloroso nuttiness. Accompanying this fine whisky, The 18 Greatest Scottish Golf Holes is a large format, limited edition title replete with stunning photography and illustration, as well as insightful text and interviews with the greats of the game.

Scotland’s very best destinations including the Old Course at St Andrews, Turnberry, Carnoustie, Royal Troon and Royal Dornoch all feature in this beautifully crafted book.  reservebar.com/

Glenmorangie18GolfsGreatest

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SKYTOP LEATHER COMPANY High in the Rockies, above Boulder, Colorado, a small team of leathersmiths is re-creating the art of making true semi-rigid all-leather cases, one at a time. Made with rich, full-grain Pennsylvania steerhide outside and soft glove leather inside, these cases are just as comfortable in the boardroom as they are at the weekend retreat, constantly protecting whatever you choose to put inside. Built to last generations, all major parts of a Skytop case are individually molded with wood molds and presses prior to assembly, assuring lasting value with heirloom quality. Available in a wide range of styles and finishes, Skytop cases make lasting gifts for clients, friends and colleagues. An American classic.  skytopleather.com

HOLLAND AND HOLLAND The Rucksack from Holland and Holland is a contemporary design from a true heritage brand. We particularly like the strong, simple design lines and the combination of practicality and style. The Rucksack is constructed in England from hard-wearing Italian canvas and bridle leather, with tri-weave webbing trim.  HollandandHolland.com

UPPER DECK SIGNED MEMORABILIA A golf memorabilia collection of merit needs to feature the best players, and having claimed his third and fourth major titles in 2014, and becoming world number one, Rory McIlroy is not just a future Hall of Famer, but he has also become the most collectable golfer since the emergence of Tiger Woods. Featured here are a ‘Dual Signed Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy Limited Edition 18x24 inch Image’ and a pair of limited edition Nike Lunar Control II’s, with the left shoe autographed in black paint. Both are authenticated, with each signature witnessed and put through a five-step authentication process by Upper Deck.  upperdeckstore.com

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gift guide

L.V. HARKNESS

TEAM VALOR INTERNATIONAL

From L.V. Harkness, official trophy provider to the Kingdom Cup, comes the Golf Decanter and tumbler. With its wonderfully detailed image of a dashing golfer, this handsome bar set takes a nostalgic look back at a golden age of golf. Each glass is hand engraved and makes a stunning gift for a discerning golf enthusiast. We also feature a Monica Rich Kosann designed charm bracelet that fuses old world artisanship and modern technology. Available in sterling silver and 18K gold, Monica Rich Kosann is designed down to the finest detail, incorporating the delicate balance of artistry with moving parts and hinges. Visit the website to see more stunning accessories and collectable items.

Imagine the heart-racing thrill of your very own Thoroughbred racehorse pounding down the stretch of America’s most historic tracks, as you yell support. With a share in a prized thoroughbred flying the famed racing silks of Team Valor International, the dream of racing head to head against royalty from Europe and captains of industry from America can be reality. Over the last 25 years, Team Valor states that its partners have won many of the world’s most prestigious races, including the Kentucky Derby, the World Cup in Dubai, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong, the Arlington Million, and two Breeders’ Cups.

 lvharkness.com

 teamvalor.com

CAR POOL TABLES Drive, have fun, relax, and play the only other game where you put the ball in the hole. You can now bring your drive indoors with a Collectors’ Edition Shelby, Corvette, Mustang, or Camaro Pool Table.

These renowned tables can be found in the homes of prime ministers, royalty and golfers, including [British] Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen. Each of these spectacular tables is officially licensed and comes with its own Registered Title. Built of only solid hard-woods, three-piece slate, and championship felt, these professional grade pool tables are finished with the highest quality automotive paint, clear-coat, actual rims and tires, real chrome parts and working lights.  CarPoolTables.com

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BIONIC STABLEGRIP GOLF GLOVE The new Bionic StableGrip Golf Glove with Natural Fit is taking golf to a new dimension. The gloves feature three-dimensional finger pads and are specifically designed to better fit the natural shape and contours of your hand to provide improved grip, comfort and durability. The Lycra gussets and web zones eliminate bunching of leather between the fingers and give a more natural, ‘broken-in’ feel. Perhaps most importantly, Bionic’s patented pad technology provides a stable yet relaxed grip to help prevent the club from twisting at impact.  bionicgloves.com

ROYAL ALBARTROSS At Kingdom we have recently become big fans of award-winning Royal Albartross, the distinct shoemaker of most luxurious golf footwear.

Hot on the heels of its traditional spiked shoes, the company has recently launched a range of contemporary spikeless shoes, the Club Collection.

The shoes retain the brand’s high-value technical and design traits, with full-grain, soft Italian calf leather uppers complemented by a golf-specific insole design, with proven traction and stability, and cushioned heel and arch support. With six different color combinations, these striking new shoes are ideal for wear on and off the course.

VESSEL You don’t have to be the same. Vessel is the world’s leading custom golf bag company, offering a new benchmark in quality and innovation.

Each bag is handcrafted to reflect the personality of every Vessel owner.

Through the company’s unique “Build-A-Bag” customizer, golfers can take part in their bag’s design from the material and zipper color, all the way through to logos and embroidery. Vessel’s superior design and high functionality has made it the go-to golf bag for many professionals, including Ray Allen, Michelle Wie, Martin Kaymer and more. We also like the fact that for every Vessel bag sold, the company donates a school backpack to a child in need.  vesselbags.com

 albartross.com

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gift guide

IDRIVEX Made in the USA and designed with golfers specifically in mind, idriveX is a muscle and joint comfort cream for players of all levels. With all natural, 100 percent essential oils, idriveX delivers a powerful proprietary formula and is infused with nutrient-rich essential oils including hemp seed, jojoba, arnica, sweet almond, lemongrass and more.

This fast acting, long lasting formula supports the performance of both muscles and joints, for comfort and relaxation on and off the golf course.  idrivexgolf.com

OSCAR JACOBSON This Anton pique polo from Oscar Jacobson offers the latest in Swedish design and performance technology. The breathable shirt features a sewn button-down collar, chest pocket, contrast piping, and a classic metal logo on the pocket, and is available at Fairway Styles.  fairwaystyles.com/oscar-jacobson

THE GOLF CLUB Created by HB Studios, The Golf Club is a next-generation golf simulation video game that provides gamers and golf enthusiasts the chance to design and play golf courses in the comfort of their own homes. The Greg Norman Course Designer allows players to unlock their inner golf course architect, and the dynamic multi-player format then brings these courses to life. Whether you create and play your local golf club, or try your hand at designing your dream course, this game takes golf games to a new level of creativity and interaction. Available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam) digital stores, golfers will have the ideal alternative to bad-weather golf.  thegolfclubgame.com

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GOLFINO European golf elegance for Ladies is now available Stateside.

From Golfino’s latest collection, we picture its black and vermillion red plaid Vest, trimmed in shiny black lightweight down trim. It comes with an inside phone pocket and adds luxurious sophistication on and off the course, and coordinating plaid pants and skirt are also available.  golfino.com

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SHEAFFER

The Grip Belt is part of the 2015 Glenayr Golf Custom Fit Collection.

It features no ratchet, no track and no holes. The unique buckle design simply grips the strap for easy adjustment and secure fit. Choose from smooth and textured leathers adorned with stylish nickel-free plaque or harness buckles. The Glenayr Golf Custom Fit and Sized Collections are available for men, women and juniors, adding a sophisticated finishing touch to any outfit.

Sheaffer Pen boasts a proud history of innovation and creaftmanship. Sheaffers have been handed down, generation to generation, throughout the last 100 years. Most sought after today are the latest finishes to the Sheaffer Sagaris range of fountain pens, roller balls and ballpoints. The collection of classic finishes introduced in 2012 is refreshed with metallic hues of silver, blue, red and brown, which expertly emulate the leading styles of today’s luxury vehicles. Each new finish is aptly paired with chrome plate trim for a clean and distinguished presentation.

 glenayrgolf.com

 Sheaffer.com

GLENAYR GOLF

STONEHOUSE IMAGERY The Open Championship returns to the home of golf, St Andrews, in 2015, and Stonehouse is ready for all the excitement with five fantastic new images of the Old Course. Photographer Dan Murphy recently returned from Scotland with these beautiful views, one of which—Number 17—has been recognized by St Andrews in honor of the Open’s return next year.

Select yours now and if you have been lucky enough to play the Old Course, or any of the other fantastic courses shot

by Stonehouse, you may want to take advantage of the fact that every image can be specifically customized with names, dates and scores. Make sure your new golf season gets off to a vivid start with Stonehouse.  stonehousegolf.com

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SUBSCRIBE TO

Kingdom magazine has always been available on a complimentary basis, as a gift from the King himself, to the private members of Arnold Palmer designed and managed courses. Now the magazine is also available, on a subscription basis, to all Arnold Palmer fans and golfers with a taste for fine living. If you would like to subscribe, or are a member and would like to gift a subscription to a friend, then simply tear out and fill in one of the below forms.

25% OF ALL SUBSCRIPTION REVENUE will be donated equally between the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando.

For faster service, visit arnieskingdom.com/subscribe or call 888.335.3288

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In a climate-controlled incubator, Jack held his mother’s finger.

While Jack’s mother held on to hope.

Six years ago, Jack was born at 1 lb. 1 oz. with just a 10% chance to live. That’s because when his mother’s blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels at the end of her second trimester, doctors were forced to deliver him by Caesarean section.

But thanks to the expert care Jack and his mom received at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, he defied the odds. Jack and his mom are just two of the thousands of women, children and babies that we have helped over the past 25 years. To see more stories like Jack’s, visit 25yearsofcaring.com/Jack

25 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF STORIES.

25yearsofcaring.com

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A Clear History

By Steve Killick

British actor Hugh Laurie once tweeted, “Yes, all right, Russian vodka is OK if you need to clean the oven.

For drinking it must henceforth be Polish.”

This would most certainly have delighted the Poles, who have never been close to the Russians in anything but geography, with both countries fiercely claiming the distinction of having invented that clear, strong, odorless spirit that we all know as vodka.

The name comes from a Slavic word for water, “voda.” It’s the same in Russian, “woda” in Polish, and it’s appropriate given both the quantities consumed and the ease with which vodka goes down. But as to whether the first girl to lift a shot was named Natasha or Natasza, it’s likely we’ll never know. Even the Swedes occasionally lay claim to having distilled something similar (although there’s evidence that they were importing the stuff from the Russians by the 16th century). While vodka certainly originated in Northern Europe, determining an exact country of origin is further complicated by the fact that the spirit can be made from so many ingredients, including potatoes, grains, corn, sugar beet, grapes and a hybrid variety of wheat and rye known as triticale, which, for what it’s worth, was first bred in 19th century Scotland.

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W

hat we do know for sure is that, according to industry news source Drinks International, vodka is currently the second most popular alcoholic beverage in the world, with near 925 million gallons consumed annually (a Chinese spirit called Baijiu is first, with 1.3 billion gallons sold each year). Its popularity is due to a number of factors, not least its widespread availability (in line with its wide array of possible source ingredients) and its taste, which, while subtly as complex as any other top shelf libation, plays well with a variety of mixers.

The early stuff was likely less amicable, though it certainly packed a punch. As the story has it, someone in 8th century Poland left his wine outside in winter and stumbled onto a strong spirit, which other Poles later claimed as a form of vodka. Though the process of freezing the water out of alcoholic beverages and then skimming the ice to produce a highly alcoholic result (alcohol has a lower freezing point than water) is more associated with ice wines and crude brandies, it’s conceivable that such a result might be argued to be a sort of early vodka. Whatever the case, it wasn’t a popular drink. For the Poles at that time, beer and wine remained the libations of choice, with strong spirits reserved for medicinal uses. Even today vodka is effective in easing rashes caused by poison ivy, soothing jellyfish stings, numbing toothache pain and acting as a disinfectant (though we heartily recommend conventional medicine and physician-approved treatments for all of the above). The Polish physician Stefan Falimierz wrote in his 1524 treatise on herbs that vodka could also serve “to increase fertility and awaken lust,” something for which it is likely still credited (or blamed), however dubious the science behind the claim.

Still on the hunt for vodka’s origins, the Poles point out that the first mention of the word “vodka” appears in the 1405 court registry of Sandomierz, then a powerful, fortified town in the southeast of the country. The Russians can find no documentary evidence until 1751, in a decree of Empress Catherine I that regulated Russian vodka distilleries. But then there are references to similar types of spirits or distilleries that appear in documents predating Catherine’s decree by more than 500 years, so who knows?

V

odka was certainly being produced as a drink in both Posnan and Krakow in the 16th century, although via a Russian method of distillation, which came via a Greek monk (we told you this wasn’t easy). Legend has it that a Greek monk named Isidor was a member of a Russian church delegation that visited Italy in 1438, where he first encountered the process of distillation, in which a liquid is heated until it boils and forms a vapor.

This vapor is then allowed to cool, which forms another liquid. Isidor was arrested shortly after his return to Russia for making inflammatory statements and was kept in what was effectively house arrest in a Kremlin monastery in Moscow. However, he was allowed to continue with his distilling and escaped to Western Europe—after getting his guards drunk on the alcohol he produced.

Belvedere’s HQ (above) and Warsaw’s Belweder Palace, which adorns every bottle of the super premium vodka (right)

Isidor the monk escaped, after getting the guards drunk on his spirit

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T

he following centuries saw vodkamaking explode in popularity, with distilleries appearing everywhere, then diminish as various governments taxed or regulated the spirit and its production more and more. At one point, vodka was hit hard by taxes and sales limitations imposed

by Russian Tsar Alexander III, who became concerned about the effects of the vast quantities of vodka being consumed by his troops stationed in Poland.

Closer to WWI, once the communists came to power in Russia vodka production fell under the control of the state—and there it stayed until the closing decades of the 20th century. The 1980s in Poland saw the Solidarity movement, which indirectly led to a resurgence of vodka producers there, and the rest, as they say is history. In the ensuing decades a number of longstanding brands were re-established while a number of new ones emerged, the leading light of which is Belvedere, a super premium vodka that’s produced in the Polmos Zyrardow distillery. Belvedere is an excellent example of a modern Polish vodka because,

winter 2014

even if the brand itself is relatively new, the tradition in which its made dates back more than 600 years. The brand’s distillery was established in 1910, roughly an hour southwest of Warsaw in the town of Zyrardow, where they’ve been making vodka since 1405. After the fall of communism the distillery set out to create its own proprietary vodka and Belvedere was born. It was named for Warsaw’s Belweder Palace, which appears on every bottle. The operation was fully privatized in 2001, and in 2005 luxury goods group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) finished its acquisition by acquiring 100 percent of the business. In terms of its creation, Belvedere’s own golden Dankowski rye is paired with water from the distillery’s own artesian wells, then distilled four times—the optimum number of distillations for enhancing the brand’s subtle sweetness and smooth, clean finish. The subtle flavors are tremendous, and are even more pronounced in the brand’s black-bottled Unfiltered offering. Every step of production for the entire Belvedere collection is undertaken on Polish soil and in Polish tradition—which recently includes global outreach, as explained by Belvedere President Charles Gibb.

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“Firstly, with the brand now available in 120 countries, being a part of that global expansion has been extremely rewarding,” he says. “But above all, making the decisions that enable the brand to grow, both in terms of size and scale, but also in terms of image, the people and connections that the brand makes, be that in culture or society and doing so on a global scale.”

The brand will be best known to golfers as the official vodka of the PGA Championship—a modern and global representation of the brand indeed that paired it with one of the world’s most popular sports. Another “connection” is (BELVEDERE)RED, a special edition of Belvedere sold in a red bottle. Half of the profits go to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, and Gibbs says the project has already resulted in more than 12,500 HIV+ mothers giving birth to healthy babies.

Such a project would have been unimaginable to vodka’s earliest distillers, and it’s just another way that the spirit has transformed both itself and the world around it.

Today Poland is a thriving country with a solid economy, top hotels and tourist attractions and plenty of reasons to visit. Among them, certainly, is vodka, to which the Poles have a genuine (if not exclusive) claim. Likewise, modern Russia is a well known luxury destination. Both countries claim to being the home of vodka, and after centuries of producing top libations both have good arguments. In the end it doesn’t really matter. The spirit, at least, is clear.

It doesn’t really matter where it began, the spirit itself is clearly excellent

LUXURY COCKTAIL Claire Smith, Belvedere’s global brand ambassador and head of spirit creation and mixology, got her spirited start working in a bar in Nottingham, England, called Synergy.

“I loved it,” she says, “despite making some pretty terrible cocktails during my time there.”

She couldn’t have been that bad as a victory in a cocktailcreation contest earned her a trip to Kentucky where, in addition to meeting the local bourbons, she became acquainted with Belvedere. It was some time before she went to work for the brand, but once she did she was off and running. Today she travels the world educating the planet’s top bartenders on how to maximize Belvedere’s excellence in cocktails. Her first bit of advice: “Use fewer ingredients,” she suggests, “and allow Belvedere to become the hero. Less is very much more.”

For Kingdom, she offers a celebratory winter libation—one that puts a little color in a season that can otherwise be bleak. Enjoy.

A Peachy Bottoms Up • 1oz Belvedere • 1oz peach puree • Top with Veuve Cliquot Yellow label

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We win races others dream about…

Thoroughbred Racing Partnerships Since 1987 Dubai World Cup • Kentucky Derby • Two Breeders’ Cups, etc.

Barry Irwin

Founder Chief Executive Officer

Megan Jones Vice President

Contact Us for More Information

INTERNATIONAL

Identifiers of Class | Developers of Talent | Providers of Sport (859) 873-1003 www.teamvalor.com

ART OF THE SUN

Sunshine, beaches, oranges, golf and Walt Disney World. Throw in an alligator and a college football game, and anyone would know you’re talking about Florida. But there’s more to this peninsula than meets the eye, a world of arts and culture well known to residents, just waiting to be discovered by visitors. Starting at the top of the state’s “panhandle,” we take a road trip down the sunset side of the state, around the tip and back up the East Coast, seeing more pictures than we take and learning a little something along the way.

Florida as world-class arts destination?

Believe it.

Ringling Museum

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VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Pensacola Shortly after The Republic of West Florida declared independence from Spain, a little shingled cottage was built at 204 South Alcaniz St., in the town of Pensacola. By the end of the year, Florida was part of the United States, Napoleon had annexed Holland and Beethoven had finished Für Elise. The year was 1810 and the Quina House, as it became known, was a typical example of Spanish Colonial design. Amazingly, it still sits on its original site, making it the oldest dwelling of its kind in the area. Period furniture decorates the house, which is open to the public free of charge from Tuesday through Saturday.

Tampa Bay One of the most colorful stops on the PGA TOUR, the Valspar Championship presented by BB&T is one of the Florida Swing’s top tournaments each spring.

From March 9–15 of 2015, the event will bring the game’s best to the Tampa Bay area, presenting a must-attend event for any golf fan in the state. Past winners like John Senden, Retief Goosen, K.J. Choi, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and Vijay Singh point to the strength of the field, while the arrival of the Valspar Corporation as title sponsor paints a beautiful future for the tournament. Visitors can expect a festive atmosphere with color-themed galleries and dramatically hued decorations along Innisbrook Resort’s impeccable Copperhead Course; plenty of top-notch entertainment, including a Saturday concert with The Academy of Country Music’s 2014 Vocal Group of the Year, The Band Perry, followed by a colorful fireworks show; and, of course, a brilliant display of golf. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Valspar Championship, visit

 QuinaHouseMuseum.org

 ValsparChampionship.com

QUINA HOUSE MUSEUM

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RITZ-CARLTON SARASOTA Sarasota While visiting Florida, the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, is an ideal place to stay. Its central location on the Gulf Coast facilitates day trips to the Tampa Bay Area, St. Petersburg, Ft. Myers and even Naples, while the resort is a destination unto itself. Guests enjoy a host of amenities, including shuttle service to an off-site beach club and access to a top Fazio-designed golf course. The Jack Dusty restaurant, with its “coastal cuisine and crafted cocktails,” is a locals’ favorite, while the on-site spa is a welcome retreat for anyone.

Find out more at  Ritzcarlton.com/Sarasota

DALI MUSEUM St. Petersburg Heading down Florida’s Gulf Coast to St. Petersburg, the Salvador Dali Museum will seem a shocking attraction to many European art fans, who likely will have believed more of the surrealist’s great works resided closer to his native Spain. In fact, with the exception of the Dali Theater-Museum that Dali himself built in the Spanish town of Figueres, the St. Petersburg museum is the largest collection of Dali works in the world. There are 96 oil paintings, including seven of Dali’s 18 “masterworks” (like The Hallucinogenic Toreador and The Discovery of America

by Christopher Columbus) along with more than 100 watercolors and drawings, 1,300 other works and more.  TheDali.org

RINGLING MUSEUM

EDISON/FORD WINTER ESTATES

Sarasota Roughly an hour south of The Dali Museum, Sarasota’s Ringling Museum of Art was built by circus impresario John Ringling as “a legacy to the citizens of Florida.” The museum is perhaps best known for its Rubens Galleries, which celebrate the Baroque master in fine style, but there’s much more here. Albert Bierstadt’s Plein Aire paintings, Robert Henri’s sensual Salome and Alfred Stevens’ vision of Parisian celebrities are here, to name but a few. Diego Velazquez, Titian, antiquities, Asian art, a host of Italian greats and even modern masters... Add to that the on-site Circus Museum, the stunning Ringling residence Ca’D’Zan, the historic Asolo Theater, and it’s a great stop.

Ft. Myers Continuing an hour and a half down the Gulf Coast from Sarasota to Ft. Myers, you’ll find the estates of two legends: Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Edison visited the area in 1885 and decided he’d have it for a vacation house, eventually named “Seminole Lodge.” Some years later, his friend Ford moved in next door at “The Mangoes.” The luminaries spent winters here, but it wasn’t all relaxation.

Edison’s botanical gardens, which contain more than 1,000 varieties of plants from all over the world, were a sort of lab for the famous inventor. Today, you can walk through the gardens and more than 20 acres of historical buildings and laboratories, getting a glimpse of two luminaries’ lives.

 Ringling.org

 EdisonFordWinterEstates.com

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Hemingway home

ARTIS-NAPLES

VIZCAYA MUSEUM & GARDENS

Naples Our last stop on the Gulf Coast, Artis-Naples is just an hour south of Ft. Myers, but it’s world away from everything. Housing both the Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, Artis-Naples is a cultural resource for the entire state. Gates designed by noted metal artist Albert Paley open to the Baker Museum, a three-story, 30,000 square-foot space with 15 galleries, a glass-domed conservatory and resource room (not to mention a ceiling created by glass artist Dale Chihuly). Likewise, the Naples Philharmonic is in its 33rd season and is known for offering dynamic concerts—140 between September and June of each year! Arrive curious, and you’ll leave fulfilled.

Miami After driving across the state from the Gulf Coast, Miami is an obvious stop. The city is known for its nightlife, vibrant culture and beautiful residents (especially on South Beach), but it’s also a fantastic cultural enclave, with resources like Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Built between 1914 and 1922 in Miami’s Coconut Grove area, the gardens and winter residence of International Harvester magnate James Deering—known as the “Hearst Castle of the East”—is a drool-worthy look at Gatsby-era South Florida.

 ArtisNaples.org

Key West It’s a long drive from Miami to Key West, but it’s worth visiting the southernmost point in the United States to have a daquiri where Ernest Hemingway once drank (and drank, and drank...). Hemingway’s Key West home was where he lived on and off for nearly 11 years, fishing, relaxing and working on such epics as A Farewell to Arms. Original furnishings in his writing studio and home and garden allow one to see part of the great writer’s life, if ever so briefly.

AH-TAH-THI-KI MUSEUM Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation The history of Florida’s Seminole Tribe is as dynamic as the colors in one of the state’s legendary sunsets, and it’s on full display at this museum. Roughly halfway across the state just north of Alligator Alley (I-75), which gets you from Naples to Florida’s east coast, the museum features a living village and 30,000 unique artifacts that immerse visitors in not only the history and culture of the Seminole, but in the remote environment of the Everglades.

 Vizcaya.org

HEMINGWAY HOUSE

 HemingwayHome.com

 Ahtahthiki.com

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FLAGLER MUSEUM Palm Beach Driving back through Miami from Key West, Palm Beach is a natural stop. Boasting legendary homes like Mar-a-Lago, the former Post estate now a private club owned by Donald Trump, Palm Beach also has the Flagler Museum. Henry Flagler was one of the men who built Florida, and when his Palm Beach home was completed in 1902, the New York Herald declared that it was “more wonderful than any palace in Europe.” Today the home functions as a museum, showcasing exhibitions of Gilded Age artists in one of the most tony communities anywhere.  FlaglerMuseum.us

COCOA BEACH SURF MUSEUM Cocoa Beach From the gilded mansions of Palm Beach to the waves off one of the Space Coast’s most lauded cities, Cocoa Beach is enduring as much for its I Dream of Jeanie NASA history as for its modern, relaxed pace. The Surf Museum celebrates the history of East Coast Surfing—and don’t laugh: 11-time World Champion surfer Kelly Slater was born here—and of surfing worldwide. While it might not seem an obvious stop, the museum sheds a light on the state’s participation in one of the most beloved sports anywhere, and it’s a fitting resource for a proud tradition of Florida surfers.

Flagler museum

 CocoaBeachSurfMuseum.com

MORSE MUSEUM Orlando Inland from Cocoa Beach, one of America’s most famous family-friendly cities has more to offer than just the highly celebrated Disney empire. One of its treasures, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art contains a large collection of notable pieces, but the hallmark of the museum certainly is its fantastic collection of work by Louis Comfort Tiffany. With representations from every medium that Tiffany explored, the collection is as singular as it is priceless.  MorseMuseum.org

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM

Kelly Slater

St. Augustine Heading back to the east coast and to the city of St. Augustine (the oldest continuously occupied Europeanestablished settlement in the continental United States) our road trip comes to a sporting end with one last stop, at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. For golf fans, this is a world-class destination, holding an array of exhibits and offering interactive experiences that together present a comprehensive picture of the game and the greatest to have played it. For lovers of both golf and the arts, this is a fantastic way to end our excursion to the Sunshine State.  WorldGolfHallOfFame.org

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Sometimes it is better to conceal than to reveal, and in the case of any meticulously designed interior the shiny black screen and common appearance of your television should be the first thing to disappear.

Allow our experts to put the finishing touch on your design vision by disguising your television as a decorative mirror, as a work of art or as something else.

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Explore our portfolio of hand-carved and gilded frames from the likes of Eli Wilner & Company, and learn why elite home owners, designers and hoteliers like Wynn Resorts look to Frame My TV for their design needs.

W W W. F R A M E M Y T V. C O M

8 8 8 -T V- F R A M E

Today’s American ciders aren’t your granddaddy’s ciders— though they might be your great-great-great-great-greatgreat-great-great-great granddaddy’s (give or take a great).

While the country’s craft beer movement is a relatively recent affair, American orchards have been pressing the good stuff ever since the early Colonists decided they didn’t trust water for drinking—and who are we to argue? Here, we look at a few ciders that George Washington himself would probably enjoy. Crafted using old world methods and with all the care put into fine wines, these ciders will make a fantastic addition to your fall table

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Original Sin Cherry Tree

Virtue Mitten

Gidon Coll wasn’t a fan of the sweet, syrupy ciders he found on American shelves, and so he set out to find something better. Turns out the ciders he wanted were the kinds our forefathers drank: dry, crisp, complex beauties that pair equally well with friends or with food. It took loads of experimentation and research in upstate New York, but Coll finally started producing the kinds of ciders he craved, and Original Sin was born. Coll’s ciders are different in that they often boldly utilize other fruits alongside apples, as is the case with his Cherry Tree. Heirloom apples are combined with tart U.S. cherries to create a complex cider that embraces the best aspects of your favorite cherry dessert while steering well clear of too much sweetness.

Michigan’s Virtue Cider was founded by Gregory Hall, Brewmaster at the lauded Goose Island Beer Company from 1991 to 2011. The craft beer innovator developed a taste for cider during a tour of English breweries, studied cider making for years, then launched Virtue—to our everlasting gratitude.

The Mitten is remarkable, a cider for those who think they don’t like ciders. Vigorously carbonated (in a good way), it immediately reminds one of Champagne, but of course it’s something completely different. The best cider of the previous year is blended with fresh-pressed apple juice and aged for three years in bourbon barrels, resulting in a reassuring and frankly stunning accompaniment to hearty foods and chilly nights. You read it here first: This is your new holiday meal bubbly.

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

Think of a freshly baked cherry tart with an emphasis on the baked cherry rather than on the sugar. Hints of holiday spice, light carbonation and smooth, smooth, smooth

We’d drink this with a holiday duck, cheese plate or by itself

You smell the apple more than you taste it, and feel the tartness as much as it hits your nose. Light acidity on top with some earth, caramel and a little something special, thanks to the bourbon barrels

This could go with shaved asparagus and Manchego in summer, but we’ll take it with braised pork loin and butternut squash in winter.

And it’s a no-brainer if there’s turkey on the table

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Don’t ask us why, but Brooks Dry makes us think of Indian summers and the carefree days of youth. Maybe it’s the whimsical graphics on the packaging, maybe it’s the fact that Brooks Bennet, the entrepreneur behind the cider, has spent the last few months personally distributing his creation out of a San Francisco apartment. Whatever it is, this cider is fun and effortlessly drinkable, even if it’s currently tough to find due to its newness. The definition of clean and crisp, we can’t think of a better session drink for game days or for all-day holiday get-togethers.

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

The fresh, clean apple on the nose is as light and straightforward as the taste.

Who wants formality when the game’s on?

Go big: a pulled pork sandwich, spicy curry or pad Thai

The flagship product of Vermont’s Eden Ice Cider Company, the Heirloom Blend Ice Cider has been winning gold medals at competitions nationwide since 2008. A dizzying array of heirloom apple varieties are blended to create this ice cider, so named due to the process by which it’s made. Apples are harvested at peak ripeness and kept in cold storage until winter really sets in. When the days are consistently cold, the apples are pressed and the juice is set outdoors to freeze for six to eight weeks. The freezing and melting-off process results in a flavorful concentrate, which is then fermented over several weeks or months. At Eden, established on an abandoned dairy farm in Vermont, the winters get plenty cold, so owners Eleanor and Albert Leger had no trouble bringing this traditionally Canadian form of cider-making to the U.S. As far as we’re concerned, Eden’s Heirloom is right up there with the best ice wines we’ve ever tried, and perhaps better. Perfect with dessert, it also makes a nice post-holiday-meal treat all by itself.

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

While some might have something like this in a small, stemmed glass, we say go wide as the smell of stewed apples and antique caramel is so beautiful it’s worth lingering over. Plenty of sweetness tempered by a lingering tartness, and more than enough body

You could make an interesting statement alongside game, but this will shine best after the big plates are cleared. Think rustic apple tart with sour cream or any soft, fragrant cheese

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When New Hampshire’s Farnum Hill Cider describes this particular offering as “Extra Dry,” they aren’t kidding. A brilliant if beguiling cider, this is as dry as they come with none of the sugar one might expect from such a celebratory libation. There’s something about this that makes us think of words like “refined” and “upscale,” though it’s tough to pinpoint why, exactly. Farnum Hill says their ciders contain “surprising, delicious, sensory signals that could come from nowhere else,” and we don’t disagree. We don’t understand why this is so good. All we know is, the more we drink it the more we like it.

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

Gentle hints of apricot in the nose, zero sweetness in the mouth. Bright, almost airy. Acid up front gives way to a chalky minerality at the finish, which is good. If we didn’t know this was cider, we’d guess someone was getting creative with an extraordinarily light Saison.

Mercurial and magical to us, this cider won’t overpower delicate fare and it could save overly seasoned dishes. It would angelically elevate a burger with blue cheese and would enhance any holiday table.

Whatever you throw at it, the cider makes it better.

The tight bubbles in E.Z. Orchards’ Cidre Dry rise through its opaque gold, celebrating tradition as much as they do the joy of modern cider. The carbonation, cider-maker Kevin Zielinski explains, is natural and the ferment is spontaneous, with no yeast inoculation used.

Everything you’re getting is the result of the fruit, with the unpasteurized Cidre taking from six to nine months from press to finished product. Zielinksi grew up on his family’s farm with orchards that have been in operation since 1929 and which are named for his grandfather, whose initials are “E.Z.” The Cidre Dry is as named, with an Old World taste and mouth feel. The result of patience, respect and love, E.Z. Orchards’ offerings are a testament to why cider has endured for so many centuries.

TASTING NOTES

FOOD

A floral apple bouquet with some yeast on the nose yields earth and musk in the mouth; light acidity, a pleasing bitterness that calls to mind the best farmhouse aspects of the whole apple

Big flavors in the cider mean it’s great with chicken and potatoes, sausage and mustard, savory English pies — anything best served by candlelight on a wood table in a stone cottage

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Brooks Dry Cider

Eden Heirloom

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Farnum Hill Extra Dry

EZ Orchards Cidre Dry

T

he kitchen used to be a lonely place, a sort of office in which a cook—mom, usually— would toil away, packing school lunches in the mornings, making dinner in the evenings and cleaning, always cleaning. Occasionally it would host a late-night visitor, dad grabbing a midnight bite, and during the holidays one or two guests might go in to keep the cook company or to help, but the rules for large gatherings were fairly clear: guests in the living room, cooks in the kitchen. How times have changed. As open-plan homes grew in popularity the walls came down, putting the

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kitchen—so long an afterthought—at the center of the party.

Today’s kitchens are full-on entertainment spaces where people gather to enjoy drinks, snacks and conversation.

Large islands with plenty of seating, built-in wine fridges, snack coolers and coffee bars are more and more common, as are kitchens that join with larger spaces that hold extensive seating, audio centers and even outdoor areas. No longer simply a workspace, the kitchen has come into its own as a home’s center of family life and social life. Whether we’re entertaining guests or simply taking a moment to ourselves with a glass of wine, you’ll know where to find us.

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Cooking Up a Party JURA At some point—either during or after the party—it’ll be time for a coffee, and Jura has the perfect answer with its line of products. Featuring all things coffee, Jura makes top-end coffee machines and complementary accessories, like cup warmers, chocolate shakers and even wireless milk coolers that communicate with the main coffee machines to let you know when they’re low on milk for that next latte.

Elegantly designed, Jura’s machines feature graphic display screens that allow you to select from a wide variety of coffee drinks—like Cappucino, Macchiato, Latte and more—all of which the machine will automatically produce. With both home and commercial machines on offer, Jura truly is the aficionado’s choice for top-end coffee drinks.  jura.com

ELAN HOME SYSTEMS To throw a proper party one must have control, and Elan Home Systems delivers that in spades. The company’s products connect most core elements of a home experience, allowing control of audio systems, video systems and televisions, security cameras, climate control systems and more via one of Elan’s elegant touch-screen user interfaces. Command lighting, security, energy and irrigation systems from any room you choose—or from anywhere in the world via smartphone and tablet apps. Sprinkler system about to come on and soak your patio guests? Cut it off before it ruins the party. Music or video volume a little low? Turn it up.

Dim the lights, raise the temperature, control almost every aspect of your home environment from wherever you please quickly and effortlessly. With less time spent running around, you’ll have more time to mingle.  elanhomesystems.com

KITCHENAID If the kitchen is to be the center of impressive entertaining, it will need to fulfill its core purpose—namely, managing food and drink—exceptionally well. To ensure the best performance and most attractive looks for your space, KitchenAid products are the obvious best choice. The brand is best-known for its iconic stand mixer, but KitchenAid offers a host of other products endemic to any great kitchen.

An under-counter wine cellar will protect your prized collection until the party gets started, while a smaller undercounter general purpose refrigerator will chill pre-made snacks and nibbles for your guests. Fire up a KitchenAid’s blender for frozen drinks, get the juicer going for healthy gatherings and use your KitchenAid Sparkling Beverage Maker for fizzy water or custom sodas. With an array of refrigerators, cooking surfaces, ovens and more, your kitchen begins with KitchenAid.  kitchenaid.com

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BOWERS & WILKINS Every entertainment space needs music, and Bowers & Wilkins delivers.

Getting top tunes into the party is easy with many of the company’s products, like its Zeppelin Air and Z2, complete speaker docks that are compatible with the latest generation of iPhones and iPods and which have Apple’s AirPlay wireless streaming technology built in. Likewise, the company’s A7 and A5 wireless speaker systems are sleekly designed and pair the highestquality audio engineering and best-inclass electronics with Apple’s AirPlay streaming. The latest product from the innovative English company is the T7, which is perfectly sized for the kitchen. Portable and versatile, the sound quality is superb, meaning your next social gathering will be as lively or as chilled out as you like, while the compact design is elegantly modern, meaning your music won’t get in the way.  bowers-wilkins.com

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LIGNE ROSET Guests will need to sit down, and the entertainment space around your kitchen environment should provide the highest quality seating possible along with an elegant setting.

Ligne Roset, the renowned French furniture brand, offers an entire lifestyle in which to live both boldly and beautifully via its furniture collections and complimentary decorative accessories, lighting, rugs, textiles and occasional items. A family-run business since its inception in 1860, Ligne Roset has always focused on environmentally conscious design.

Matching a deeply held belief in design with investment in technical innovation, each product is as beautifully deliberate on the outside as it is on the inside, taking comfort, luxury and the way people live into account every step of the way. The Exclusif sofa is a timeless and customizable example of the company’s quality, and would make a welcome addition to your social space.  ligne-roset-usa.com

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Golf taught me: Perseverance Respect Confidence All of the above

In elementary schools, on golf courses and at youth centers across the country, The First Tee is teaching life-enhancing skills that empower young people to make decisions for their future. Get involved today. www.thefirsttee.org

WHAT’S IN A PIE? There’s π, which is 3.14159265 (and so on). There’s American Pie, which is a movie. And there’s apple pie, which is often served with ice cream and a little flag on top. But Chef Dominic Barham isn’t talking about those.

“When we talk about pie, we mean a traditional British pie, encased, with a pastry on top,” he says.

“That’s how my great-grandma did her pies, it’s how I do my pies, and if you come to Canteen it’s how it’s being done.”

Photography: Leon Harris

With three locations in London, Canteen restaurant delivers the best of traditional British fare in an elegant, modern setting. It serves 900 pies per week to customers who appreciate Canteen’s oldschool comfort food paired with its modern commitment to quality and use of clean, top ingredients.

As the man in charge of what’s hits the table at all locations, Chef Barham seemed an obvious person to approach when we wanted to know how to make a pie.

“It starts with sourcing your ingredients properly,” he says. “Get the best products you can afford. The better the products, the simpler it is to cook them right.”

Canteen uses free range meats, like pork from Dingley Dell, a farm that takes great care of its animals and land.

Likewise, the vegetables are always fresh, sourced from the best local farms available.

Next, he says, comes the matter of the pastry. Canteen uses puff pastry, but there are other options. Use good, organic, plain flour and sift it to make it softer before you mix it with cold, crumbled butter and whatever bit of water your favorite crust recipe suggests. Once you’ve rolled out your pastry and pressed it into a pie dish or tin, fill the shell with your favorite filling and lay a larger piece of pastry on top. Trim and crimp the edges of the larger piece until the pie is completely enclosed, baste the top with egg yolk, then cut a small hole in the center to allow steam to escape.

Whatever you do, Barham says, rest the pie for at least five minutes after you remove it from the oven, which lets the meat relax and get more tender.

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Things that can go wrong, in Barham’s words: • You must get the ingredients right. If you don’t, the pie just won’t taste as good.

• Be careful with your filling, and if you’re not overly handy in the kitchen stick to a good recipe. If you taste the filling before it goes in the pastry and it’s not right, it will never be right. It doesn’t really change in the oven, so you should fix it at the outset.

• People can overcook the pie. Keep an eye on it: when it’s ready the edge will ever so slightly move away from the pie dish. People also undercook the pie: You look at it and you think it’s cooked, but I bet it’s not. You can always put it right back in the oven for more time.

• In the end, Barham says, have fun, don’t be scared to try this at home, and don’t rush. “Why be scared? What’s the worst thing that can go wrong?

If you’re trying to rush to make a pie, you haven’t got a chance. Open a bottle of red, relax. Food is love, it’s all about the TLC. If you love it as you’re making it, it will be good.

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a rnies kingd o m .c o m / su bsc r i b e

A great pie needs great ingredients and love—it’s all about the TLC

RECIPES Canteen restaurant serves superlative examples of traditional British food made with great attention to detail and top ingredients. Here, Chef Dominic Barham shares two recipes adaped from the restaurant’s cookbook, Canteen: Great British Food, which is available online at Amazon.com. Try these at home or, better yet, when you’re in London visit one of Canteen’s three locations—Spitalfields, Canary Wharf and Royal Festival Hall—and try it properly. We recommend following it with one of Canteen’s excellent desserts...  Canteen.co.uk

Spicy Mutton Pie 2 tbsp sunflower oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup diced carrots 1 cup fennel, diced 2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground coriander 4 garlic cloves, chopped 2 lbs mutton, cut in roughly 1” cubes 14 oz chopped tomatoes 1 oz molasses 1 cup meat stock 1 heaped tbsp tomato puree Just under 1lb peeled and diced potatoes Salt to taste

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Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan and sweat the onion, carrots and fennel for about 15 minutes or until soft but not brown.

Add all the spices and the garlic. Stir well. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add the mutton together with tomatoes, molasses, stock, tomato puree, and salt. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer gently for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Add the potatoes and cook for a further 30 minutes or until the meat is tender but not falling apart. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely.

Preheat the oven to 340˚F. Butter the inside of an 11in oval pie dish that is at least 3in deep.

Roll out the pastry on a well-floured board to a thickness of a tenth of an inch. Cut out an oval piece of pastry to line the dish. The pastry needs to be long and wide enough to cover the bottom and sides of the dish, with some extra for overhang. Place in the dish, leaving the edges hanging over the sides. Brush the overhang with a little beaten egg.

Fill with the cold pie filling. Cut a piece of pastry for the lid—this should be slightly larger than the dish—and lay it over the filling. Dip your fingers in flour and pinch the edges of the lid to the edges of the pastry lining the dish, to seal them together. Trim off excess pastry with a knife.

Cut three or four small slits in the lid, to allow steam to escape during baking. Brush the lid with beaten egg to glaze. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges and through the slits in the lid. Serve hot.

Notes: If you like your food quite spicy, use a hot curry powder or add more curry powder to taste.

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Chicken and Mushroom Pie 2 tsp olive oil 3 tbsp butter 1 medium onion, diced 2 medium stalks celery, diced 2 cups leeks, diced 2 garlic cloves, chopped Small bunch of fresh tarragon sprigs, leaves picked and chopped 1½ lbs skinless chicken thigh meat, cubed 1 heaped tbsp dried porcini 11/4 cups chicken stock ½ cup white wine 1 oz Plain white flour ¾ cup double cream 1 heaped tbsp dijon mustard 1½ cups button mushrooms, halved Salt and white pepper to taste

Heat the oil and 2 tbsp of butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pan. Sweat the onion, celery and half the leeks for about 10 minutes or until soft and translucent.

Add the garlic, tarragon, chicken, dried porcini, stock, wine and ½ tsp salt. Cover and cook on low heat for 30-45 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Pour into a sieve set over a bowl, to strain the cooking liquid. Reserve the chicken mixture.

Melt the remaining butter in a clean pan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes until bubbling. Gradually whisk in the cooking liquid and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the cream and mustard and check the seasoning. Remove from the heat.

Add the chicken mixture, mushrooms and remaining leeks to the sauce and mix together. Allow to cool completely.

Assemble and bake the pie (see Spicy Mutton Pie recipe).

Serve hot, with mashed potatoes and greens if you like.

To Finish Puff pastry 1 egg, beaten

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© 2014 PGA TOUR, Inc. Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler

THESE GUYS ARE GOOD. ®

Follow all the FedExCup action during the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season.

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Walk this way In a 21st century full of electric carts, GPS units and lunch orders from in-cart touch screens, Robin Barwick wants to stand on his own two feet

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I Full drama at Trevose in Cornwall (below)

t is 8:06 on a mild October morning, on the first tee of the Championship Course at Trevose Golf and Country Club, which occupies a fantastic landscape halfway down the northern shoreline of Cornwall, in England’s south west. The first is a great opening hole to this classic links designed by Harry Colt; a par-4 running 440 yards downhill towards towering sand dunes that rise and dip before flattening into Constantine Bay. At the north end of the bay, the rocky Trevose Head juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, and from there—as golfers gaze out to sea from the first tee—the next stop is North America.

The first hole at Trevose is long, but the fairway is generous, as long as a right-handed hook can be avoided (you can’t have everything), and from a raised tee right in front of the clubhouse, there is little in golf that is more satisfying to this golfer than driving the ball down the middle. Particularly as too many of my drives do not match the soaring expectations that prelude them.

This morning, blessedly, my first drive somehow does go as planned (an awful lot of subsequent shots don’t match this one, but they are now cast adrift; I have no want for them) and for the next couple of minutes, as I retrieve my tee, slide my driver back into the bag and stride purposefully down the center of the fairway, my chin is up, savoring the fresh Atlantic breeze (and right now, that ocean view has never seemed more attractive). With hopes and optimism

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rising on the inside, and hopefully not too much of this showing on the outside, this is a minor moment of triumph.

I don’t know the time span between my drive and my second shot—I was too busy enjoying the firm and even lie of that fairway—but I do know that had I been perched in a cart, that time to reflect in the glory of a straight drive would have been halved. Thanks all the same, but I don’t have enough of these moments for each of them to be cut by 50 percent. I am after priceless treasures, not slashing reductions.

This is not to denigrate the golf cart, but just to champion golfing by foot. Both transport modes have their confirmed advantages, and in fact, as I pushed my trolley along the rolling links of Trevose, my playing partner sped along in a cart. Being 25 years my senior, this golfing partner has walked aplenty, and for him, golfing with a cart these days ensures he has the energy to enjoy a round of golf right to the end. No argument there.

While pondering the debate earlier this year—the pros and the cons, the footsteps and the cart tracks—I had the opportunity to ask former world No.1 Tiger Woods what he thinks about walking versus carting.

“Golf clubs selling cart hire on top of every green fee has killed caddie programs,” comes the opening smash of a golfer who would have walked as many golfing miles as any 39-year-old on the planet were it not for recurrent knee injuries. “Young kids who want to make some money over

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the summer can no longer go and caddie and get introduced to the game of golf like they used to. When I was growing up I caddied in every mini tour event that I could; we’d ‘show up, keep up and shut up!’ The golf cart has changed that part of golf culture.”

Many of the world’s finest players, spanning generations, were introduced to the game by caddying; Gene Sarazen started when he was only seven; Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Lee Trevino were not much older; Bernhard Langer was eight when he first carried bags at Augsberg Golf Club in Germany, where he earned a reputation for being the best at finding stray golf balls; Ernie Els caddied for his father every Sunday.

“I got pulled into golf by caddying for my Dad when he played for bets on Sunday mornings,” Els tells Kingdom.

“He and his mates would have their matches and I would caddie and read his putts. I would say to him: ‘How did you miss that putt? We are two down now!’”

Arnold Palmer combined caddying with an assortment of jobs around the course and pro shop at Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania, where he grew up.

“Caddies have always been a very important part of the game,” Palmer tells us in an exclusive interview at the very club where he worked for his father. “I learned so much from growing up being a caddie here at Latrobe. You learn how the game is played and how to behave on a golf course.”

There is an organic quality about kids earning their first crumpled, tax-free bucks on the golf course. Carrying an adult’s golf bag is hard work for a kid, particularly when they have to keep up pace while also raking bunkers, running ahead to spot drives, tending the pin and keeping the clubs clean. Young caddies learn golf’s etiquette in no time when a tip is on the line, and they pick up course management too. All that sweat has the added benefit of stoking the desire to be the one striking the golf balls, rather than just finding and polishing them, and to one day show the old fogeys how it’s done.

Those shadowy old caddie shacks, stocked with dog-eared golf magazines and other types of magazines, are often filled with electric cart generators these days.

The halfway hut at Trevose is not at halfway. The stone hut is built as unobtrusively as possible by a slope beneath the 11th tee, so it does not feature at all in the Atlantic panorama from the

FOR & AGAINST Kingdom’s top seven reasons for walking golf and cart golf:

Walking all the way 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Enhances a calm golfing rhythm Boosts fitness More sociable, particularly in fourballs Allows greater appreciation of surroundings Causes less damage to golf courses than carts Supports golf club caddie programs Saves cart fees

The cart path to success Enable faster rounds of golf Can help some senior or injured golfers to enjoy the game Cart fees bring significant revenue to support golf venues Can hold ice buckets & refreshments Protect from extreme weather conditions Can hold scorecards, offer GPS information and deliver orders to the spike bar 7. Kids love carts 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Walking is the way the game is supposed to be played — Palmer

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WINNIE’S DREAM FULFILLED

W

innie Palmer, the late wife of Latrobe’s legendary professional golfer Arnold Palmer, had a long-held vision for preservation of the scenic land near their home and Saint Vincent College, where she had fostered many friendships through her involvement and philanthropic endeavors over the years. Today, thanks to her family and friends, that vision has been fulfilled since 2000 with the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve, a 50-acre environmental education center that offers a dozen themed trails, environmental classes for students of all ages, workshops and special events. The Reserve has earned national certification as a Nature Explore Classroom from Dimensions Educational Research Foundation and the Arbor Day Foundation. Saint Vincent, sponsored by Benedictine monks, is proud of the stewardship Winnie inspired for this land and extends its hospitality to visit whenever you are in the neighborhood.

Winnie Palmer nature reserve at

saint vincent college

L ATROBE, PA ., USA | 724-532-6600 | www.stvincent.edu 2094

top of the golf course, at the first tee and 18th green.

My playing partner and I are both invigorated by playing Trevose, with the golf course lit by occasional bursts of bright autumnal sunshine. What with moderate warmth and just a gentle southwesterly skipping up the Cornish coast in late October, these conditions are another blessing.

I don’t want a break from the golf but I do want to refuel with a “bacon bap” and a cup of tea. Emerging from the hut with the tea, I’ll admit I could do with a cup holder. Trying not to spill while pushing a trolley and playing golf is an imperfect combination, but for me it does not merit taking a cushioned seat above rubber wheels and under a plastic roof.

And, of course, by walking I am burning some of those bacon calories, which reminds me that Tiger didn’t hold back in considering the health benefits of walking golf.

“Look at the obesity rate in the United States,” he said with another smash that made me sit up and breathe in.

“It has gone through the roof. Type-two diabetes is easily curable; it is simply down to diet and an exercise regime.

With advances in digital and computer technology, a lot of kids don’t go outside anymore. Lifestyles have changed.”

“Walking is the better way to enjoy golf,” adds Palmer, who admits that his father, Deacon, didn’t want carts at Latrobe CC in the first place. “Unfortunately, we’ve gotten away from that as carts became more important to the game.

Walking is the way the game is supposed to be played, and it’s so beneficial to your health, especially as you get older.

“My mother encouraged me to walk everywhere and walk every day. A good long walk is good for the body and really clears up the mind, too. You can do a lot of good thinking on a long walk.”

Just as the first hole runs downhill from the clubhouse towards the beach, the 18th at Trevose heads back—uphill for every step—to a raised green beside the clubhouse. It measures 414 yards from the men’s tee but feels like 500 at the end of a round. Still, fueled by bacon, tea and a little bit of competitiveness, I cling on unconvincingly to a modicum of golfing composure, but it is outshone by the experience of playing one of Britain’s great links courses in such kindly autumn conditions.

“You can get away from the world on the golf course if you turn your cell phone off,” reflects Tom Watson, with words that resonate as the 19th hole at Trevose beckons.

“You can enjoy a walk in nature. I don’t agree with Mark Twain’s comment, that ‘Golf is a good walk spoiled.’”

Me neither. You can keep your carts, with their drinks coolers and scorecard clips, even if they do boast cup holders.

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WALKING BAG The Aqua Dry Stand Bag from Callaway ensures your gear stays dry and secure in rain, sleet, wind and even on sunny days. A five-way Divider Club Organization System keeps things in place while six waterproof pockets protect everything that’s not a club. There’s a velour-lined valuables pocket, a full-length apparel pocket, a sizeable pocket for balls, two waterproof accessories pockets and even a pocket for a GPS unit. Non-slip foot pads prevent the bag sinking on wet ground, and the Comfort Tech Strap System means your walking game will be as balanced as possible. With a light weight of roughly 5lbs and its high-tech waterproof design, this is a perfect bag for days when you feel like leaving the cart behind. callawaygolf.com

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WOMEN AND GOLF

Ivanka Trump plays at the opening of Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen, northeast Scotland

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donald trump

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have seventeen golf courses now, nationally and internationally, and I have a passion for the game of golf that is well noted. I not only love to play golf and develop golf courses, but I love to watch it as well. I’ve watched the greats for many years, and I’ve been pleased to notice that women in golf have become a powerful presence.

I’ve hosted LPGA championships and in fact next year have the women’s British Open at Trump Turnberry and the women’s U.S. Open at Trump National Bedminster. The ladies are great players and always exciting to watch.

The importance of the professional women’s game has taken some time to establish, but it is definitely here to stay and it has achieved star status. The women players become household names more readily than before and it won’t be long before they can equal the long term interest in men’s golf.

The media is never far away at their tournaments and we’ve had a few superstars emerge—Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie, Lorena Ochoa, Lydia Ko, Karrie Webb and Lexi Thompson to name just a few. The media interest has indicated that women’s golf has an audience that is large as well as national and international. That’s a healthy sign.

People remember that I’ve said some of my best deals have been made on the golf course. That is true and that is one reason I wanted my daughter, Ivanka, to learn to golf. Not only does our golf course portfolio at

the Trump Organization warrant this, but I know that shared time playing golf can give you important insights into people. That translates into better business deals for all parties involved.

Ivanka has been golfing more and has made the same observations I have regarding the camaraderie that golfing can provide, along with observations of character that will prove valuable.

However, I also advise people to play golf as it is a great game to know, and a healthy exercise in beautiful surroundings. There are only benefits involved in the game of golf. Ivanka is becoming an accomplished golfer and I know she enjoys playing.

Being a businessman and a golfer, I also have to point out that golf is a wonderful tool for women in order to break through the glass ceiling in business. Golf has empowered them to become financially independent and to have the freedom to pursue their ambitions without restraint. It’s a viable path, for those who are gifted, and it gives their aspirations a solid goal. There are no guarantees but the opportunities are certainly greater now than before. I see only great things for the future of women’s golf—and I’m proud to be a part of that legacy.

donald j. trump

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A Bonnie Business The Renaissance Club opened in East Lothian in 2008

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The game evolved in Scotland before shipping to the United States. As Robin Barwick and Reade Tilley report, the relationship has now reached full circle as American dollars are funding some of the finest golf developments in Scotland

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hil Mickelson, who won the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in 2013 before heading down to Muirfield to claim the Claret Jug the following week, went as far as to say that playing Castle Stuart “should almost be a prerequisite before you’re allowed to design golf courses nowadays.”

Endorsements can’t carry much more weight than that. Not only did the likes of Mickelson, Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els give genuine star quality to that Scottish Open field, but American broadcaster NBC gave the tournament live, prime time television coverage in the United States, an honor unheard of for a regular European Tour event. The players loved the golf course, the event, its purse and the Open preparation, the sponsors loved the golf course and the exposure, and Castle Stuart has not looked back since.

“Our worldwide awareness has certainly taken a leap forward since the 2013 Scottish Open,” starts Stuart McColm, who has been general manager of Castle Stuart Golf Links since shovel hit earth for the first time in 2006, before the course opened in 2009. “We have seen a 20 percent rise in our international bookings, and that is a big increase, particularly when the golf market as a whole is cooling at the moment.”

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The 13th hole at Trump International Golf Links (above) and the ocean panorama from Machrahanish Dunes (below)

When Castle Stuart Golf Links opened, Golf Digest called it the “Overseas Destination of the Year,” and “the first great links of the 21st Century.” Co-designed by two Americans, managing partner Mark Parsinen and architect Gil Hanse, the course offers panoramic views over the Moray Firth to the far-reaching Scottish Highlands beyond, and picking up on Mickelson’s admiration of the design, rather than bash club golfers into miserable submission, the layout features generous fairways and forgiving mounding, large greens and playing options on every hole.

“We don’t want to beat people up with a golf course that is difficult just for the sake of being difficult,” adds McColm. “We have a championship course that can deliver a challenge at the highest level, but the last thing we wanted to do with the Scottish Open was show a worldwide audience that our golf course is so difficult the average golfer wouldn’t want to visit.”

Castle Stuart is one of the finest examples of American development of a Scottish golf course paying sustainable dividends, but it is not the only one. Donald Trump now owns a golf resort on each Scottish coastline, Trump International Golf Links on the east, and Turnberry Resort on the west; Machrahanish Dunes has been built by American company Southworth Development on the Kintyre Peninsula, off Scotland’s west coast; and The Renaissance Club, snugly fitting between Muirfield and Archerfield Links in East Lothian, is run and developed by the American Sarvadi family, with Jerry Sarvadi in house as managing director.

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“Both our membership and turnover have grown every year, literally, since we opened in 2008, despite the fact the world was in recession,” starts Sarvadi, who negotiated a 99-year lease for the land from the Duke of Hamilton estate. “We have over 200 members, but our goals relate to how many people play the golf course on an annual basis, and how that affects the presentation and conditioning of the course. This year we have had around 9,500 rounds of golf, and while I don’t know how many members we will eventually have, I do know we would like to cap our annual rounds of golf at around 20,000.”

Sarvadi collaborated closely with Scottish conservationists to gain permission to build the course, and

Machrahanish Dunes is a beautiful example of Americans treading lightly in golf’s ancestral home brought in architect Tom Doak with a view to creating a layout requiring only the minimum movement of earth.

That was all the God-given landscape required anyway. The result is a course that embraces the natural dunes and defies its young age. Even the R&A, an organization renowned for its preference of links courses that have withstood the test of at least a century’s golf, has paid The Renaissance Club a compliment of real substance by inviting the club to co-host the 2016 British Boys Amateur Championship alongside next-door neighbor and revered [British] Open venue Muirfield.

In considering new links that hark back to the 19th century by taking the land more or less as it lies, Machrahanish Dunes might be the epitome. Just down the road from the legendary Old Tom Morris track at Machrihanish Old, this 2007 design is as rugged and as close as Scottish golf gets. It had to be too, in order for Southworth Development to gain permission to build on a Site of Specific Scientific Interest.

“We did not lay out the course and make the land change with it, we designed each hole around the natural terrain,” says course architect David McLay Kidd. “For maintenance we do a little mowing, but mostly rely on the wandering sheep to keep the fescue in check… No longer is [golf] a gentle walk in a garden, it will be a full-fledged mountaineering expedition at this course.”

Like The Renaissance Club, Machrahanish Dunes is a beautiful example of Americans treading lightly in golf’s ancestral home.

The distinctive Art Deco clubhouse at Castle Stuart

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Patrick Drickey / stonehousegolf.com

The 18th hole at Kingsbarns, a course widely considered the first of a new breed of high-class links courses

Golf participation might be down overall in the United States, as it is in the UK, but at The Renaissance Club, where 30-year family membership bonds sell for £75,000 (around $119,000) plus annual fees of $8,000, numbers are up. Green fees that equate to approximately $286 for peak season golf at Castle Stuart are being snapped up, too.

It might be forcing the point to suggest there is a trend for American ownership of Scotland’s new generation of luxury links, but certainly a precedent was set when Castle Stuart’s Parsinen opened Kingsbarns, just outside St Andrews, in July 2000.

“To find the start of this American involvement in Scotland you have to look at Kingsbarns. Mark Parsinen was the first one to do it,” acknowledges Sarvadi. “Castle Stuart and Kingsbarns have the big advantage of having been on TV by staging tournaments. That has generated a lot of visitors for those clubs, and that has been a good thing.”

The point is reinforced by Castle Stuart’s McColm, who was on the team that created Kingsbarns with Parsinen and architect Kyle Phillips.

“Kingsbarns showed people they could do very well to invest in Scottish golf, as long as the golf course is of the highest level,” says McColm. “People will pay to play the right courses, and Kingsbarns sparked demand for the modern links golf course. There are lots of great modern links that have followed since, like Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Barnbougle Links in Tasmania and Cabot Links in Nova Scotia.

“Kingsbarns not only set the architectural world on fire, but it also delivered a new operational model—without regular memberships—as we are doing at Castle Stuart.

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Kingsbarns offers an ideal balance to the balloting process at the Old Course in nearby St Andrews. Kingsbarns gave flexibility to golfers, and a lot of people could resonate with that. Donald Trump has certainly adopted it up at Trump International in Aberdeen. It means that visiting golfers are club members for the day, and they are not subordinated in any way by regular members. They can enjoy a high-class golfing experience without any compromise.”

“To find the start of this American involvement you have to look at Kingsbarns” When considering Americans and golf in Scotland, the name “Trump” is never far away. The American billionaire’s mother, Mary MacLeod, hailed from Stornoway on the Scottish Isle of Lewis, and Trump had a long-held ambition to expand his golfing empire in his mother’s homeland.

After what he said was more than five years of searching, Trump settled on a breathtaking stretch of land along the Aberdeenshire coast—north from The Renaissance Club in East Lothian and Kingsbarns in Fife, but south of Castle Stuart on the fringe of the Scottish Highlands—and Trump International Golf Links was born.

The club opened to widespread acclaim in July 2012, but the dirt started flying there long before ground was broken. For the course’s opponents—which include various

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locals, politicians and environmentalists—the development is an overhyped blight on the landscape. There’s still some politicking going on regarding the full project and an offshore wind farm that has riled Trump (plans for another course and hotel there have been parked for the time being).

Trump subsequently turned his attention to Scotland’s west coast, and it looks like he might finally achieve his wish of hosting the [British] Open with his acquisition of the legendary Turnberry Resort this summer, for a reported $63 million (price according to London’s The Independent).

Turnberry last hosted the Open in 2009, and the R&A is yet to reveal if or when competition for the Claret Jug will return to this spectacular Ayrshire venue—which vies with Muirfield as being the most photogenic Open course—but that’s another story.

Apart from being new Scottish links courses built with American investment, Castle Stuart, Kingsbarns, The Renaissance Club, Trump International and Machrahanish Dunes all have a golfing experience of the highest caliber at their core.

“These new courses have added another golfing option in their particular areas, and they have each put something special on the table,” says Sarvadi. “Each one has created its own niche within its locality.”

“If the golf is good enough, golfers will travel in their various guises,” adds McColm. “Whether it is in couples, families, groups or corporate outings, the common denominator between them all is a desire to play top-quality golf. If the golf is not good enough then owners are going to struggle. As long as you are in that highest echelon, and as long as your customer service is also of the highest level, then golf courses have a good chance to succeed.”

AMERICAN STORY AT SKIBO Scottish, American, English and then American-owned again, Skibo Castle, on the shores of the Dornoch Firth, began life as a 13th century Scottish castle, before being re-built as the cherished retreat of the famous industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, in the late 19th century.

Carnegie, an American born in Scotland, frequently returned to the highlands to play golf, among other pursuits. In 1982, English businessman Peter de Savary purchased the estate and castle, developed its facilities—including the golf course—before selling to Texan Ellis Short in 2003.

Today, for the lucky few, the members-only Carnegie Club offers a sumptuous experience with the comprehensive facilities including trap and pheasant shooting, fishing, horse riding, cycling, quad-biking and falconry. The dining and luxurious accommodation is exemplary, as is the golf, with the course listed among Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in 2014.

Like every other facility featured in this article, Skibo is a bold mix of the new and old worlds, and it’s also a supreme example of America and Scotland’s longstanding golfing relationship—forever may it play.

The iconic Ailsa Course at the Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire

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Stopping

by Woods Impeccably equipped, perfectly prepared, neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night shall stay us from our appointed round.

After all, the course is lovely, dark and deep, and we have miles to go before we sleep

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Top Cover Holland & Holland have been at the top of England’s sporting scene since Harris Holland founded his gun business in 1835. Today, the company makes the best sporting gear in the world, and their Royal Shooting Coat is one of our favorites, even if we’re simply walking around town.  hollandandholland.com Devereux’s golf attire is contemporary, but the company’s “Fine Threads” are designed with Old World sensibilities in mind. We like their Brunner Shirt, a new classic by any definition.  dvrxgolf.com

On the 18th hole Palmer asked Dave Marr, “What can I do to help you?”

Marr replied: “Shoot a 12!” winter 2014

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Seasonal Haul Filson was founded in 1897 to provide products to “anglers and hunters, engineers and explorers, mariners and miners, and anyone who refuses to stay indoors.”

Founder Clinton C. Filson’s quality statement—” We guarantee every item purchased from us. No more, no less. Your satisfaction is the sole purpose of our transaction”—continues to stand after more than 100 years, and the reason for his confidence is evident in the company’s Duffle Backpack, a well-built large rucksack that holds a surprising amount of gear—and a whole lot of history.  filson.com

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Dry Fall The Hurricane Collection from Sunice is aptly named.

Its high-tech Gore-Tex material provides formidable protection against wind and rain, while its light weight and host of extras—including a ball cleaner shammy in the side pocket—make this one of the best wet-weather jackets available.  sunice.com We can’t decide if Devereux’s Charles shirt is more Vegas Rat Pack or more SoCal success story. Either way, it’s one of the classiest shirts you’ll see on course this year.  dvrxgolf.com

Perfect Partners CamoGolf’s Snow Grip is made by UST Mamiya and covered in Realtree camo, allowing you to sneak up on your game in hopes of not letting it get away. Also available in orange for those lost in the woods.  camogolf.com KleanKanteen’s vacuum insulated bottles keep coffee warm on course for up to six hours and fit in your cart’ cupholder—better than a paper cup, for so many reasons.  kleankanteen.com The Green Heat Rechargable Hand Warmer from DryGuy comes in a variety of colors, all of them able to slip into your pocket to provide nearly five hours’ warmth for your paws. It can also charge your smartphone.  dryguy.com This performance base layer from English company Sunspel is made of Merino wool, meaning it wicks moisture, is odor resistant and is unbelievably comfortable.  sunspel.com

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“Winning the FedExCup is surreal. This has been the highlight of my career.”

- Billy Horschel, 2013-14 FedExCup Champion

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The numbers don’t lie: There aren’t enough women playing golf. Thankfully, a host of professional and community organizations are seeking to change that

B

y some numbers, women comprise 47 percent of the workforce but less than 20 percent of the golfing population. With a wildly diverse array of ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations and skill sets, the lack of on-course participation is somewhat bewildering at first blush, and certainly lamentable. But things could be changing soon. A host of professional and community organizations are looking to get women on course. The first step, they say, is simply to say “hello.”

“I’ll ask a woman, ‘do you golf?’,” says Sandy Cross, Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion for the PGA of America. “She’ll kind of shrug her shoulders and say, ‘No I don’t.’ I’ll ask, ‘why not?’ And her simple response is usually, ‘I have never been invited.’”

As Cross points out, most people are brought to the game by someone else, usually a family member, and usually a man. “It’s not often that an individual decides they’re going to go to a golf course on their own and figure it out,” she adds.

That sentiment is shared by Azucena Maldonado, founder of the Latina Golfers Association (LGA), a group that aims to deliver the game to Latinas, who Maldonado says often grow up outside of golf. Her group is a kind of “welcoming arm,” she says, that gets them to the course.

That’s in line with Cross’ strategy for growing the game. Working with groups like the LGA and the Executive Women’s Golf Association, she says the next step is educating PGA professionals at more than 10,000 facilities.

“We’ve spent the last two years doing that,” she says, “asking them to look deeply at their customer service model, how they construct their programming, the outreach in their community. For years golf pros didn’t have to do that, customers would essentially be lined up outside. Now what

you’re offering has to be tailored to the variety of value sets that exist among our target customers. It’ really challenging our professionals. This by no means is going to be a quick fix, because golf is so rooted in history and traditions.

They’ve made the game great, but they have also stifled the growth a little bit.”

Beyond that, she says, pros should understand that women might appreciate different sides of the game, not just the competitive or technical aspects.

“I’m speaking in generalities, but a lot of women aspire to enjoy the golfing lifestyle and everything that comes along with the sport—health and wellness, time with family or time away from family, apparel, all the merchandising opportunities like footwear, travel, all of that is very attractive to women, more so than excelling at the competitive game sometimes.”

A generality it may be, but it was certainly the case for Donna Hoffman.

“I was dating and I met this guy who loved golf, and I hated golf,” she says. “I liked all the things about golf— flying around, going to resorts, the lifestyle and the fashion— but I just thought the sport was stupid, slow, boring. It didn’t interest me, but I liked everything else.”

Eventually, Hoffman married a golfer and ended up playing with him and his friends. It took a long time for her opinion of the game to change, but she did learn something about how and why women might come to the game, and that information led her to launch Women on Course. The initiative, which she founded in 2005, throws events at golf courses—parties, by some accounts—aimed at getting women into the game. Rather than focusing on high-performance instruction or achieving low scores, Hoffman says they keep it fun, keep it social and offer a little something extra.

When a woman says she doesn’t golf and I ask her why not, she usually answers ‘I’ve never been invited’ winter 2014

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Golf is the only sport I know of that your boss will let you leave work to do, and you can put it in your expenses “Here’s how I started,” she says, “I’d go out and If WOC is a solid mix of fun socializing and networking, play 18 holes with my husband and his friends who were the Executive Women’s Golf Association means business. all scratch golfers, very into their game. My reward was Founded in 1991, the EWGA hosts numerous gatherings in Chardonnay at the end. Our ladies (at Women on Course hundreds of communities, promoting a series of causes and events) are spoiled. They have fun, but with a gift bag they initiatives aimed at getting—and keeping—women in the expect that little reward at the end. It’s a fun element we game. Promoting 9-hole golf experiences, networking events, build into the events.” and competitions, the EWGA says it has connected more Working from the perspective that golf is important than 100,000 women. As the group states on its website, to women in business, Hoffman’s group tends to target “Women business owners seeking introductions that can businesswomen, though all women are welcome. lead to their biggest deals should unlock the power of the “Yes, it’s primarily the business community. Golf is dimpled ball.” the only sport I know of that your boss will let you leave The PGA TOUR has PGA TOUR Woman, a work to do and you can put it on your expenses report. It’s “community created for the PGA TOUR fan that embodies and accepted in the business community.” celebrates her interests, activities, lifestyle and aspirations.”

The three main reasons women attend her events, The LGA is joined by a host of smaller, community golf Hoffman says, is that a woman wants to learn golf because groups for female singles, beginners, various ethnicities and the people in her office golf and she thinks it will be good shared-interest gatherings, and a number of companies are for her career; her husband or kids golf and she wants increasingly making golf lessons and outings available to to be more involved; or the woman herself likes golf but their female employees. All of it points in one direction, doesn’t have anyone to play with. Accordingly, WOC events which is getting more women in the game. As Maldonado usually involve some aspect of instruction for golfers at all says, that can only be good for golf. levels, some playing—9-hole and 4-hole experiences are “Women,” she says, “belong on the course.” common—and some businessspecific networking, but fun and socializing are key. The reception from the clubs where the events are thrown has been inconsistent, and not always welcoming.

“We go to some private clubs, book it and pay them money, but they treat us like we’re an inconvenience. Other courses bend over backwards, ‘this is great!’ The instructors are great and everything. It takes the golf course recognizing that the woman who shows up in a little pair of shorts and a baseball hat is the CEO of a big company.”

Now partnered with Billy Casper Golf, good reception at clubs is a given, Hoffman says, and the organization is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds.

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Women athletes.

Power players on the course and in the office.

Women athletes are used to training hard and competing harder. Their innate courage, confidence and entrepreneurial spirit make them naturals on the green and in business — all they need is the opportunity to take a shot. That’s why we formed the Women Athletes Business Network. By expanding networks, conducting cutting-edge research and telling stories of inspiration, we help women athletes tee up to play their next round in the business world.

To learn more visit ey.com/womenathletesnetwork

© 2014 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved. ED None.

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Trust and operational expertise are fundamental to building any worthwhile effort, making Insperity the top choice for businesses, says Jay Mincks, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Insperity

I

Jay Mincks, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Insperity

n so many ventures , the asset perhaps most

difficult to come by is trust. In business it is of paramount importance, even if a firm is strong on product know-how, work ethic and vision, there is no hope for the best success if trust is in short supply. Accordingly, building a successful business is no small feat, especially as so much of the business of business—that is, the behind-the-scenes mechanics of staffing a company and then managing employees—is foreign to those with big potential and little experience. Enter Insperity, an organization that provides HR services and business performance solutions to small and medium-sized companies. Along with its deep and evercurrent knowledge of how to optimize workplaces and workforces, the company also brings a sincere commitment of integrity to every relationship, and that alone is worth the greatest value one could ascribe to his growing business.

“You don’t go into business to hire employees,” says Jay Mincks, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Insperity. “You go into business to make money, to build and sell your product or service. But you grow, and now you’ve got employees and suddenly you’re in the employer business.”

This is a tough position for many small or mediumsized business owners, especially if they started with a core group of friends and acquaintances—associations that began as personal relationships. With growth comes the need to hire employees, effectively strangers, with whom the relationships and expectations will be vastly different. Streamlined payroll services, top-notch medical benefits, logical retirement account structures, legal compliance with all of the above and more on a seemingly endless list of required and optional services all present a confounding array of variables to manage, especially for someone who simply wants to build boats, say, or to run a service company of some kind. Further to that, employee recruiting, training and performance management, and optimizing the workplace environment to maximize a firm’s production are skills that are hardly a priori to business owners who just want to work on building their dreams.

“We work with client companies and allow them to focus on what they do best, making a widget or providing a service to their clients,” says Mincks. “If you think about it, being an employer is an art unto itself. We provide that level of comfort, and that level of liability management, that allows them to sleep at night.”

Insperity’s effectiveness is due in large part to the firm’s

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belief in its responsibility to its clients and to the integrity at the heart of each Insperity relationship.

“Integrity is one of our core values,” says Mincks.

“With a business owner, we become their biggest vendor overnight if they come on board with us—payroll, insurance benefits, dealing with their employees… It is a big-time trust that a business owner has to have in us, and the only way we can support that trust is to maintain the highest level of integrity.”

In testament to Insperity’s character, Arnold Palmer has been a longtime company spokesman—just one example, albeit a profound one, of Insperity’s relationship with golf. In 2004 , Insperity launched the Small Business Classic on the Champions TOUR. Held at Augusta Pines Golf Club in Spring, Texas, it marked the first Champions TOUR event in the Houston area for 10 years. The event has seen some of the Tour’s more memorable moments, including Bernhard Langer’s record-breaking first Champions TOUR title, becoming the first German to win on the Tour in just his fourth start. In 2006 the event also hosted what Arnold Palmer called his last official attempt at tournament golf. Now called the Insperity Invitational presented by UnitedHealthcare, the tournament has raised a tremendous amount of money for charity and has given us many beautiful golfing moments, including the sight of Palmer teaming with Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino in a Greats of Golf 18-hole scramble during the 2012 event, which the big three handily won by two strokes.

Insperity’s relationship with golf is a natural, Mincks says, because the game embodies so many of the values Insperity holds dear.

“The way we work with our clients, the responsibility we feel to uphold the integrity of the relationships… Golf is hand in glove with that value segment of ours, with opportunities for that to be demonstrated fairly frequently—golfers calling themselves out when a ball moves, for example. It’s refreshing in the whole world of sports that there’s a sport that still holds those values to be important, that people still believe in them and behave accordingly.”

Find out more about Insperity at insperity.com

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I A few creaks and groans are to be expected in a body that’s lived an active life, but rather than helping you stretch out that niggling elbow or shoulder injury, a round of golf might be contributing to the problem. Here, Kingdom speaks with an expert about the way we move…

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t’s the same nearly every morning: roll out of bed, yawn, stretch a bit. Maybe lean to the left and right, twist, reach your arms up high or pull them across your body. Your elbow’s a little stiff and there’s a nagging ache in the shoulder, but that’s normal; you’ll work it out on the golf course. Turns out that hitting the course is exactly the kind of activity that might have caused those little pains, and with a few more rounds they might be more than just annoyances—they could turn into something rather serious.

“A lot of these are excessive use injuries,” says Dr. Francis Mendoza, speaking of shoulder and elbow problems common to golfers. Director of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery at New York City’s Lennox Hill Hospital, Dr. Mendoza has seen a lot of golf-related injuries in his more than 30 years as an orthopedic surgeon. Many, he says, might have begun off course as relatively small incidents and then become more significant as golfers played on. Likewise, a relatively

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small incident on course might become exacerbated after the round, starting a chain of events that could lead to long-term problems—especially among serious weekend warriors who lack professional form.

“Their mechanics are off, they’re enthusiastic, they play more than they should… All of that adds up and they develop an overuse problem, then perpetuate it with normal living activities like driving their car. They’ll hold the wheel with that arm, carry their briefcase with it, shake hands…

A multitude of things that just keep [the problem] going as an overuse injury, which may have started playing golf.

And vice-versa, they can walk by the refrigerator, bang their funny bone and then go play golf.”

Common problems occur in the elbow and shoulder joints, which are both used somewhat unnaturally in golf.

“Will a golf swing help me in life other than in playing golf? I don’t think so,” says Mendoza. “I don’t think it’s the most natural motion.”

Stresses put on the leading arm specifically can be quite intense, though even if they’re not injuries can occur.

One of the reasons the shoulder is prone to injury, Mendoza says, is because it’s so capable.

“The shoulder itself is the most mobile joint in the body,” the doctor explains. “It’s a very flat socket and a round ball, so to speak, so by the nature of its design it will allow you to have the most motion of any joint in the body. But at the same time it calls on ligaments to hold the ball in the socket. Those ligaments are prone to injury. Now when swinging a golf club, the extremes of the swing—the backswing, then the follow-through—take it to extremes.

The ligaments have to hold the ball in the socket, and depending on the swing, and the rest of the body’s flexibility, the action may be causing a micro-injury to the ligament.

That can lead to a bursitis, it can lead to shoulder ligaments stretching out in the back of the shoulder and the ball being not quite centered in the shoulder, which is called instability.

“Also, at the extremes of motion the joint connecting the clavicle to the shoulder cap is really quite stressed, and that can lead to micro-trauma, a little chip fracture maybe, and undetected that sort of fracture can end up as arthritis.

What’s interesting is that there’s a similar type of condition we see in weightlifters, a repetitive injury called ‘weightlifter shoulder,’ and it’s very similar to what golfers get from excessive use of that joint.”

It’s a common problem, Mendoza says, and one that we see more often as our ages advance. Likewise, the same kinds of stresses in the swing affect the elbow and, similarly, minor injuries there can become major problems when the joint is used over and over for daily activities.

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COMMON GOLF-RELATED SHOULDER INJURIES: Rotator Cuff Tear The rotator cuff is a thick band of muscles and tendons that covers the top of the upper arm and holds it in place. It provides stability and effects a full range of motion to the shoulder joint. Comprised of four muscles and their associated tendons, the rotator cuff’s tendons can become partially or completely torn, causing pain when lifting or lowering the arm, along with weakness.

Cause: Though a torn rotator cuff can be the result of a traumatic injury, its most common cause is long-term overuse, which is why the condition is most common in patients over 40.

Treatment: Rest, use of a sling, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy are common ways of treating a torn rotator cuff, though in some cases surgery is required.

Bursitis Shoulder bursitis is caused when an area called the “bursa,” which helps effect shoulder motion, is inflamed or irritated. The bursa is a sac filled with lubricating fluid that decreases friction and irritation between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons and skin. In the shoulder you might think of it as a kind of water balloon filled with lubricant that sits between the clavicle and the shoulder joint, allowing the “ball” end of the Humerus bone to move around without undue friction. Symptoms include shoulder pain and loss of range of motion.

Cause: The most common cause of bursitis is repetitive minor stress on the bursa, often stemming from issues with swing form or due to age. Nearly any common activity can contribute to irritation, including simple acts like throwing a ball, using a rake, painting and of course, golf.

Treatment: The easiest way to treat bursitis is rest, icing the area and not using the affected shoulder (to the extent that’s possible). Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and, in some cases, surgery may also be used.

Frozen Shoulder Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this is a common condition that causes pain and limited motion as a result of inflammation and a thickening of the capsule that surrounds the structures of the shoulder joint. Symptoms include pain and a limited motion, both of which worsen as the joint becomes increasingly more frozen. Eventually the shoulder shifts into a “thawing” phase, when pain subsides and some motion is restored.

Cause: The specific cause of this condition is difficult to pinpoint, but it most often affects patients between the ages of 40

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Prevention It may not be possible to completely avoid these types of issues, especially as we get older, but the severity of the problems can be somewhat mitigated with a bit of diligence on our parts. The first order of business is to clean up your swing as much as possible. Discuss any physical ailments— an old football injury from your high-school days, pain in a hip, anything really—with your doctor and with a swing coach and work to ensure the mechanics of your game are not exacerbating the problem.

The shoulder’s extreme potential can lead to it trying to compensate for problems in other areas, Mendoza says.

“Because it is so mobile, it will try to accommodate other less mobile joints like the back,” he says. “You get older, you get stiffer. People playing golf may have some sort of foot condition as they enter the game—if they enter at age 40 they could have had Achilles tendonitis, some arthritis of the big toe from playing football as a kid… All of these things will translate up to your upper extremity.”

A lot of keeping your shoulders and elbows healthy comes down to some common sense: Clean up your swing mechanics so your swing isn’t negatively impacting your body; stretch and precondition a bit before golfing to help warm up; stay basically in shape to lessen weight stresses on all of your joints; stay hydrated and eat right to keep your joints well lubricated and functioning; and don’t try to kill the ball like you’re Tiger Woods or Bubba Watson on every swing.

In the end, though, the best advice for most amateurs might be to take it easy, not to overdo it on course and thereby potentially turn small issues into big ones.

“Excessive anything is not great,” says Mendoza, “but it can feel like we’re kind of forced into it with golf because it’s so enjoyable.”

For more information visit Dr. Mendoza’s website at fxmendozamd.com

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and 60 and most often occurs after recent immobilization of the joint or as a complication of diabetes.

Treatment: Most treatments focus on managing pain and related symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids and physical therapy may all be employed, and there are cases that require minimally invasive surgical procedures.

COMMON ELBOW INJURIES Golfer’s Elbow Also called medial epicondylitis, this occurs when the tendons connecting the forearm to the elbow become damaged due to injury or overuse. Patients with this condition experience pain on the inside of the elbow that may radiate into the forearm. Technically speaking, the pain occurs when the epicondyle puts pressure on a nerve in the forearm called the ulnar nerve. The condition was formerly thought to be the result of tendon inflammation, but it is now believed that it’s a form of tendonitis in which the collagen fibers making up the tendon have deteriorated.

Cause: While it can stem from a single injury, more often it’s caused by repetitive gripping, flexing and swinging of the arm— obviously common behaviors in golf.

Treatment: This can often be treated with simple measures like rest, applying ice or wearing a splint on the affected elbow.

Specialized exercises or electrical stimulation treatments might be employed as well, and there are cases in which the condition requires surgical correction.

Tennis Elbow Like Golfer’s Elbow, this condition (technically known as lateral epicondylitis) occurs when tendons connecting the forearm to the elbow have become damaged due to injury and overuse. Unlike Golfer’s Elbow, however, the pain here is felt on the outside of the elbow, rather than on the inside. Symptoms include forearm weakness, pain when the wrist is extended or pain during activities such as turning a doorknob, among others. Specifically, the condition affects the lateral epicondyle, the area where the forearm’s tendons connect with the bony outer portion of the elbow.

Cause: Continuous stressing of the wrists, hence it being common among tennis players. Still, anyone who continually stresses their wrists could be at risk.

Treatment: Though there are cases in which it heals on its own (usually over a two-year period) there’s a wide range of treatment options available. Rest, ice and over-the-counter painkillers might be employed as treatment, as could specialized exercises, orthotics or corticosteroids. In some cases, surgical treatment might be considered.

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“W

omen feel more comfortable with women,” says Judy Furst, head pro at Tradition Golf Club for more than a decade, explaining that most of her students are female. When it comes to male instructors, Furst says many women feel judged, and anyway, she explains, men often take the technical approach, focusing on swing analysis software and such and getting caught up in the intricate mechanics of their games.

“Women don’t care that much about that,” she says. “For the most part, women all look at themselves on video and say, ‘don’t let me wear that again!’”

There’s a lesson in that, and it’s a lesson for the men. Golf, after all, is a game, and too often a few of us guys might take it a bit too seriously. (I mean, none of the men on Kingdom’s staff would ever obsess about their on-course performance or get enraged over a missed putt during an office competition, of course...)

All kidding aside, women have a lot to teach men about golf, and men would be wise to take a lesson from the likes of Furst. Here, the illustrious pro has shared some of her expertise and perspective with us on what, exactly, women do better. Who are we to argue...

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1. Enjoy the game more Guys get so tense, it’s more meaningful to them or something. For women it’s not “do or die.”

Just relax, it’s a game.

Have fun.

2. Have a looser grip on the club Guys grab it like they’re trying to kill it. Men feel like they have to grip it firmly, but it’s just not necessary.

Looking down the range, I’m seeing white knuckles. You don’t need it.

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3. Play reasonable golf So often guys seem to be thinking, “I can do it! I can hit this shot, this one-in-a-million shot!” I’ll be in a playing lesson and we’ll come to a situation where you have to make a decision, but it’s not really even a decision, and the guy is like, “I’m going to go for it!” and I say, “Ok, I wouldn’t go for it, but go ahead.” They always think they can make the impossible shot—the long carry, the shot over the trees, whatever—instead of just playing a reasonable game, and of course they don’t make it.

4. Have better tempo Men tend to be more rough, less fluid. They’re always focusing on hitting it further. Women, you have to get them to hit the ball more. When you’re learning or trying to fix a swing, you want ’em to wail on it—”Hit it!

Then we can back down.” If you don’t know your max it’s hard to get better. But men need to do the opposite, tone it down. With women, I just don’t think that anger is in them—and I’m generalizing, of course, but if a guy wants to kill the ball, a woman, I think she just wants to hit it straight. With that, she naturally has a better tempo somewhat because she’s not trying to kill it.

5. Can let it go I think women can let it go a little easier, let that bad hole go, stay in the moment. I see men get down after a bad shot, they get angry, they take it to the next tee and it affects the rest of their game.

6. Play faster Tradition is about a five-hour round. Women tend to play a little faster I think. I always tell them to “play ready,” and so they play ready golf. Also, they’re not taking it so seriously, obsessing over which club to use, etc. They just look, make a decision and hit whereas men tend to think too much. Now the thing you find is that if you have a foursome of women with a foursome of men right behind them, then the men will tend to play fast, for whatever reason. And if the men catch them, the women will let men through. But if it’s the other way around and the women are playing faster and catch the men, men will not let women play through, not very often.

It’s like they want to be in that position where they can be standing in the fairway with their hands on their hips going, “C’mon!”

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7. Play it forward I play with guys and I’m playing from the center, from the whites, and they’ll be at the back. They have no business being on the back tees. It’s still a challenge from the forward tees. I’m playing forward, so what? I still have to putt, but the round is more fun.

8. Putt better from 5’ in I don’t know why, and it’s just what I’ve observed, but it just seems like so many of the women are fearless from 5’ in, they’re just going for it. Men could learn something: women seem to be more aggressive from 5’ in, men get too timid. It’s not like “we don’t want to miss this,” it’s like “we DON’T miss this” because the distance seems short. And so they get timid and they leave it short or mess it up.

9. Putt out Women normally putt things out. With guys, you always see “That’s good, pick it up,” and the distance is like this [gestures arms wide apart]. Do you know how many of those I’ve missed? A lot. With women, it’ll be a couple of inches and I’ll be like, “pick it up,” but no, they want to putt it out. The effect this has is that at the end of the round, the guys think they make all these putts but they don’t. The score reflects a hallucination, the fantasy round they wanted to have. At least with the women putting out, the score is the score.

10. Dress better Yes, I think they do.

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A Game For All

Contributing editor Robin Barwick profiles the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

A

lot of people within golf do not make the distinction, let alone folks outside the game, but The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews—the world famous golf club at the ‘Home of Golf’—is actually distinct from the R&A, which governs golf internationally, outside the United States and Mexico, which comes under jurisdiction of the USGA. It is easy to see why people do not separate the two, because until 2004 the golf club and governing body were one and the same, and today, both the club and organization remain anchored in the iconic R&A Clubhouse, which sits like a monarch on a throne behind the first tee of the Old Course at St Andrews, on Scotland’s east coast.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews was founded in 1754 and it has grown from a small, homeless society—originally called the ‘Society of St Andrews Golfers’—into a preeminent club with a global membership of 2,500. The club adopted its ‘Royal’ name in 1836, when King William IV agreed to grant it Royal patronage. Arnold Palmer is among a short list of Honorary Members of the R&A by the way, along with selected members of the British royal family and only three other American golfers: Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

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Without formal appointment, the club evolved to be golf’s governing body, particularly as it oversaw the running of the [British] Open Championship, which started in 1860, and is golf’s oldest major. The broad mission statement of the R&A today is to “engage in and support activities that are undertaken for the benefit of the game of golf”, and a myriad of programs to this end include translating the Rules of Golf into 36 languages.

In 2014, a cloud was lifted from over the imposing R&A Clubhouse, when the club’s membership voted to admit women members for the first time. Bearing in mind so many people do not differentiate between the R&A and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, there has been a widely held belief that one of golf’s leading organizations was trying to grow the game on the one hand, while internally shunning half of the world’s population on the other. A contradiction if ever there was one.

Two questions remain: who will become the Royal and Ancient’s first women members (the Kingdom votes go to Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa, not that we have any votes), and secondly, will the Open Championship venues that still feature all-male memberships—Royal Troon, Muirfield in Scotland and Royal St. Georges in Kent, southeast England—also invite women to join?

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