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EDITOR’S LETTER
“I’m not much for sitting around and thinking about the past or talking about the past. What does that accomplish? If I can give young people something to think about, like the future, that’s a better use of my time.” — Arnold Palmer
F
rom one perspective it is incredible to consider that Arnold Palmer would have been 90 years old this September 10th. Whatever effects his age might have brought to his later years, I remember him only as vibrant, engaged, and driving forward—charging forward en route to another victory, be it on course or in business or simply in turning what would have been an otherwise ordinary day into an extraordinary memory for those in his orbit. In Arnie’s case, as R&B singer Aaliyah sang, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.” His is a timeless soul with timeless impact, exemplified in the efforts of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, which continues his philanthropic legacy, and in the wide array of Palmer-honoring celebrations that occurred around the September birthday. We look at those and at other celebrations on page 78, while comebacks worth celebrating are recounted on page 40. Tiger Woods, a man who knows something about both comebacks and celebrations, appears on page 52, while the state in which his newest course design is set to appear (Hawaii) is dreamily offered up on page 86. When Palmer was born in 1929, Spain was still years away from the civil war that would define much of its 20th century. How much it has changed, but then how much of its ancient spirit remains in the spirit of its people (p94). Other good news for wine lovers is found on page 164, where Bay Hill’s own Wine Spectator Award-winning sommelier offers tips on holiday pours (find advice on holiday fare on p160). The Women’s Golf Journal team offers perspective on p120 and business leader Paul Sarvadi charts a path forward for success on p138. In the end, if one tried to calculate the sum total of good information and advice that occurred over the 90 years since Arnold Palmer was born, it would take far more than a single issue of a magazine to contain it. Still, with a glass of Ketel One raised high in Palmer’s honor, we hope that this issue of Kingdom provides a fulfilling fireside companion, whether you’re wintering by an actual fireside or—as Arnie did—closer to a beach somewhere. Happy holidays to you and yours, and may your birthdays be toasted long after you’ve stopped counting the candles on the cake. Reade Tilley
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Changing Times
F
all is my favorite time of year. The leaves turning brilliant shades of red, gold and burnt orange, crisp mornings with clear blue skies; it makes for some great golf weather. And with winter now beckoning it is time to transfer the hipflask from the bottom of the socks drawer and into the golf bag. The occasional nip from the flask takes the nip out of the air. (My current fill is Aberfeldy 21 single malt, from the distillery that makes most of what is blended into Dewar’s.) I think we can all agree that these tranquil morning games of golf are such a healthy escape—peace away from the maddening world. Earlier this fall we witnessed a remarkable end to a stand-out career when Suzann Pettersen made the winning putt for the Solheim Cup and promptly retired. Talk about finishing with an exclamation mark! With a home at Bay Hill, Pettersen has been a friend and supporter to Arnold and Kingdom for many years. We were delighted to interview her for this issue and send her all best wishes for her next chapter in life. The cycles of seasons and golf’s generations never stop, and while my dreams of professional golf faded years ago I was recently taken back to my youthful dreams when I watched my daughter Sophie and her friend Stan playing in their first golf competition. They may not hold the ambitions I did but I hope they can enjoy golf as a gift for life in a way no other sports can match, perhaps today more than ever in an age when leisure time is becoming increasingly consumed into an electronic universe. Next year marks our 17th anniversary as a magazine and we will publish the 50th issue of Kingdom. Not bad for a national magazine that was originally to be published once a year and only distributed to designated Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses. Arnie would have been proud of our achievement but it would never have been possible without his input and support. Just as the Palmer family work tirelessly to extend and enrich Arnold’s legacy, from one generation through to the next, so we look forward to doing the same thing, in our own small way, with Kingdom magazine. Best wishes for the holidays, Matthew Squire
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CONTENTS
Kingdom Magazine Q UA R T E R LY
ISSUE 47
30
40
FEATURES
30
Treasure
40
Comebacks
Spain, Florida and why you need a metal detector When strength and pure guts won over adversity
Captain Tiger
64
Vision Cup
70
Has Tiger reached a career intersection? When blindness is an obstacle, not a barrier
Jon Rahm
Trying to keep up with the tour’s fastest achiever
94
CELEBRATIONS
78
Moments in Time
Winning pictures, in their spontaneous glory TRAVEL
86
GOLF
52
WINTER 2019
94
110
Southern Charms
116
Mike Zisman
Hawaii
Is any place on earth more perfect for golf?
Spain
A beautiful tour of the country via the vines CAR
102
CLUB
Genesis
The instinctive pull of migrating south
Rolling out the World Handicap System WGJ
120 126
Suzann Pettersen
A Solheim victory with a fairytale ending
Half Moon
Adjusting to a Jamaican time difference
Adrenalin and luxury in a truly inspiring marque
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15
CONTENTS
EDITOR
PUBLISHER
Reade Tilley
Matthew Squire
ART DIRECTOR
MANAGING EDITOR
Matthew Halnan
Robin Barwick
FOUNDING DIRECTOR
Arnold Palmer
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
DESIGNER
Kieron Deen Halnan
Cori Britt, Doc Giffin
128
156
LEGACY
128 135
GIFT GUIDE
AP Design
Why the Palmer Approach makes for great golf
147
90th
A full day of celebrations for Arnie’s 90th
Putting People first
Introducing a new book from Insperity’s Paul Savardi
156
142
Cocktails
Autumn colors abound in these fall libations
160 Cheese 164
HEALTH
Tis the season for making lists—and fulfilling them FOOD & DRINK
BUSINESS
138
Holiday Toys
Natural Health
Natural options for peak performance and recovery
Jon Edwards
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Patrick Drickey, Dan Murphy / stonehousegolf.com, Getty Images, Meghan Glennon, Chris Roberts, Evan Schiller / golfshots.com EXECUTIVE ADVISOR
Carla Richards SPECIAL THANKS & CONTRIBUTORS
Taffi Fisher Abt, Dale Concannon, Tonda Corrente, Meghan Glennon, Suchada Halnan, Lindsey Haluska, Jeff Jablansky, Nichole Johanson, Steve Killick, Suzann Pettersen, Jon Rahm, Paul Savardi, Dave Shedloski, Kevin Smith, Patrick van Aanholt, Tiger Woods, ENQUIRY ADDRESSES
Sommelier
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editorial
FOUNDERS
John Halnan, Matthew Squire and Steve Richards
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KingdomMag
Printed in the USA
COVER IMAGE
MIKE EHRMANN
Tiger Woods wins the 2019 Masters
PUBLISHED BY ArniesKingdom
Kingdom magazine was first available to friends & associates of Arnold Palmer, members & guests of his designed and managed courses. Now it is available at distinguished private clubs and for discerning golfers everywhere.
KINGDOM 47
Joe Velotta
Setting the board for your pre-feast holidays
SOCIAL MEDIA
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60 Railroad Place, Suite 501 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 © 2019 TMC USA llc. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinion of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. The contents of advertisements and advertorials are entirely the responsibilty of advertisers. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited submissions and manuscripts.
KINGDOM.GOLF
The Jones family is proud to share the Bobby Jones Clover Whiskey Colle ion. The colle ion exclusively offers single-barrel whiskeys that are as nuanced, complex and singular as the world’s greate� golf courses. A portion of the proceeds support the Bobby Jones CSF Foundation. Pars & Birdies,
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Book your real estate preview, starting at $279* per night. ReynoldsLakeOconee.com/Kingdom (855) 915.1345
*Excludes holidays and subject to availability; club credit for promotional purposes only. Real estate and other amenities are owned by Oconee Land Development Company LLC and/or other subsidiaries and affiliates of MetLife, Inc. (collectively, “OLDC” or “Sponsor”) and by unrelated OLDC is not involved in the marketing or sale of Resale Properties. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy OLDC-owned real estate in Reynolds Lake Oconee by residents of HI, ID, OR, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. As to such states, any offer to sell or soli
Reynolds, Lake Oconee is a private commercial enterprise and use of the facilities is subject to the applicable fees and policies of the operator. For OLDC properties, obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Fed
THIS OFFERING. An offering statement has been filed with the Iowa Real Estate Commission and a copy of such statement is available from OLDC upon request. OLDC properties havebeen registered with the Massachuset Washington, D.C. 20552. Certain OLDC properties are registered with the Department of Law of the State of New York. THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS ARE IN AN OFFERING PLAN AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR. FILE NO. H
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third parties. Reynolds Lake Oconee Properties, LLC (“RLOP”) is the exclusive listing agent for OLDC-owned properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee. RLOP also represents buyers and sellers of properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee which OLDC does not own (“Resale Properties”). icitation of offers to buy applies only to Resale Properties. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues, or other limitations. Information provided is believed accurate as of the date printed but may be subject to change from time to time. The Ritz-Carlton
deral agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR DISQUALIFIED tts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen at 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-6100 and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection at 1700 G Street NW, H14-0001.
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SCENE SETTER Comebacks
ONE NIGHT ON THE CONGO
T
here might never have been a more extraordinary night in sport than the “Rumble in the Jungle” 45 years ago, when Muhammad Ali challenged George Foreman for the Heavyweight title of the world along the banks of the river Congo in Kinshasa, which was the captial city of what was then Zaire (and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Zaire was a peculiar choice of venue, particularly as the country was controlled at the time by the murderous and corrupt dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko, who dealt with political rivals by publically hanging them. But the bout was organized by the controversial promoter Don King, who had persuaded the embezzling ruler to afford a $10 million purse. A fascinating occasion for so many reasons, it features in our contemplation of sport’s greatest comebacks—a tribute to indefatigable human spirit.
Feature on page 40
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SCENE SETTER Car
IN THE BEGINNING
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A
ccording to Merriam-Webster, the word “Genesis” means “the origin or coming into being of something”—and how apt a name for the luxury marque from Hyundai-Kia. In jumping into the crowded and competitive class of rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans—a class long filled out by well-known Germans—Genesis took a real chance, but with its G70 it has made a bold entrance. This year’s North American Car of the Year and an entry on many “Top 10” lists, the G70 gives the Germans and everyone else a run for their money with an incredible array of options and features packaged with a fantastic chassis, a range of
capable powerplants and a well-considered transmission. We took the G70 3.3T for a spin and were wowed by its well-planted feel, it’s solid acceleration and performance, and even by a few bells and whistles we didn’t expect but which we wholly enjoyed. Joining the G70 are the brand’s G80 and flagship G90, with the last of those receiving a face lift for 2020. We’re excited to see that, and to see the company’s GV80, Genesis’ first SUV, which is currently in development. It and its planned sibling GV70 no doubt will make the same statement in their class that the G70 has made—and if the driving experience is at all similar, then we cannot wait to try them out. Here’s to new beginnings.
Feature on page 102
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SCENE SETTER Legacy
Evan Schiller | golfshots.com
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A R N O L D PA L M E R RE:DESIGN
I
n anticipation of hosting the 2010 U.S. Open Championship, the team at Pebble Beach decided their iconic course needed a bit of tidying. Without hesitation, they turned to Arnold Palmer Design Company to handle the work. Palmer was one of the owners of Pebble Beach at that time, along with Clint Eastwood and Peter Uberoth, and he and his APDC team, including VP and architect Thad Layton, wanted to restore the length and a few challenges present in the original design, and that’s just what they did. The
result was fantastically well received, and it was a perfect manifestation of the Palmer Approach to golf course design. That same approach is practiced today by Layton and by VP and architect Brandon Johnson as well. The two continue to develop and to push the approach taught to them by Palmer, and to bring their ethos of responsible innovation to designs, using the latest technologies to shape an ancient game in a manner that’s good for golfers, good for owners, good for the planet, and good for anyone who enjoys being outdoors with friends and having fun—the point, really.
Feature on page 128
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SHORT GAME
GOLF & GIMMICKRY Golf has a tradition—one that is peerless among all sports—for strange training aids and contraptions All photographs supplied by Old Golf Images (oldgolfimages.com)
G
olf attracts whacky inventors. Always has. It must be because it is such a difficult sport to learn to play well for most of us, and because it is so addictive. Addiction blurs judgement, hampers reasonable decisionmaking, and there is always someone ready to press a fast buck from golf’s vulnerable army of wide-eyed game improvers. There are people who see fortunes in the golf market but usually the reality is that fortunes are lost. We have dug deep into the archives to find evidence of some of golf’s earliest training aids and gimmicks. They mostly look ridiculous but this is not to pretend that strange golf products belong only to a bygone era. It was Spring 2011 that Under Armour introduced a golf mouthguard. True story. Sorry Under Armour, but the marketing verbals were shameless, boasting of “jaw-dropping technology” and how this “Performance Mouthwear” was “powered by ArmourBite Technology”. It ranks among the strangest product launches in the history of golf. Writers dutifully sat through clubhouse presentations to hear how a golf mouthguard would relieve tension by preventing teeth from clenching. Journalists were fitted
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KINGDOM 47
with mouthguards and headed to the tee. Have you ever tried to hold a conversation while wearing a mouthguard? It’s not recommended, so between shots journalists would remove their mouthguards and walk up the fairway holding the saliva-coated item in their hand. Then they would replace the mouthguard to play a shot. Ah, with lower teeth protected you could feel the tension just drain away. Forgive the sarcasm. The only “power” in these $50 rubber mouthguards—yes, an indefensible $50— came when they were kicked into the trash by the third tee. Bite that.
Restraining Order Golf in shackles This one is from the 1920s and we are not sure if the cage is designed to encourage weight transferral or limit it. Either way it looks uncomfortable, and why take the picture in a grass bunker?
AT YOUR OWN RISK Looking for a straight answer This British invention from 1945 was designed to eliminate hooks and slices. So the Holy Grail of golf. It was more likely to take your eye out.
ELECTRONIC AGE Mind the chandelier
Could this be the world’s first golf simulator? Full respect. Firstly we love this golfer’s awesome position at the top of his backswing and intent in his face, ready to unload it all and kill the range ball. And that’s not a vending machine on the right, but the “Electronic Golf Computer”. (We hope the back of the net is not too close to the lights.)
“Skil Putt” Post-war prosperity So much to love in this picture: we want a “Skil Putt” in the Kingdom office, complete with the “KEEP OFF THE GRASS” sign. Yet at this Oregon show the Singer Slant-O-Matic stand in the background—flogging sewing machines—is the real crowd draw.
Following footprints Hollywood cover-up Such a contrast in this photograph from 1935: the beauty and poise of Hollywood siren Polly Rowles on the right, yet a foot-placement sign on the left that would repel any newcomers to golf in an instant. Or maybe they are dance steps?
DIALLED IN
On the number in 1921 Your guess is as good as ours but we suppose this machine is designed to measure power off the tee. But why the scarf?
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FEATURES Treasure
Ah, Henry Jennings, who could resist? Eleven Spanish ships bound for Spain laden with silver, gold and jewels, sunk in a hurricane in 1715 in the shallow waters off the Florida coast. And the treasure, what the Spanish and their Indian pearl divers had salvaged, hastily piled on the sand in that camp at Palma de Ayz, awaiting transport to Havana. Three ships, maybe 300 men, and the camp was overwhelmed. You stole 10 years’ worth of wages off the beach that day, but it was nothing compared to what remained on the sea floor, still waiting to be recovered...
ver a billion,” says Taffi Fisher Abt, daughter of Mel Fisher, perhaps the most successful treasure hunter in history. “There’s a couple hundred million of stuff left to find that’s listed on the manifest. And not on the manifest, the contraband? Over a billion. It’s a very worthy target.” Over a billion. And Taffi is only speculating about what’s left on the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, the Spanish galleon her dad found in July of 1985. By most accounts Fisher’s discovery was worth $450 million and, as Taffi pointed out, it comprised just part of the Atocha’s cargo. If one adds up the treasure in all of the shipwrecks around the world (and there are thought to be millions of wrecks), it’s estimated that there’s more than $60 billion sitting at the bottom of the sea. All you have to do is go and get it.
Of course that could take a lifetime, and it’s almost certain to take a lot of money. Treasure hunting is one thing, treasure recovery is another; there are boats and equipment to hire, people to pay and maybe years of uncompensated searching with no guaranteed return. If you do find treasure, you’ll have to deal with a government or two (depending on where you find it), and with other treasure hunters who might learn of your discovery. And then there’s the difficult task of turning treasure into actual money, a sort of reverse alchemy that must be performed because, as it turns out, you can’t buy groceries with a 17th century ruby-crusted chalice. Doing as much to dissuade as to entice are the odds, which decidedly are not in a treasure hunter’s favor. For every Mel Fisher there are millions of failed adventurers, romantics, scoundrels and madmen, and there are examples of each of those who’ve lost relationships, family fortunes, and even their lives in pursuit of treasure. But who knows: if you’re lucky—really lucky—like Henry Jennings did, you just might find gold sitting on a beach in Florida.
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Jennings was a rich kid Englishman and ship’s captain from Bermuda who, for whatever reason, decided to have a go at piracy. Like many 18th century privateers, he was granted a commission by the English government to profit as he liked at the expense of England’s enemies, namely Spain. And so when in November of 1715 word of a potential windfall reached Jennings in Jamaica—11 Spanish treasure galleons down in a hurricane near what is today Vero Beach—it lit a spark. Jennings sailed his ship Bersheba north as quickly as he could, arrived in early 1716 and committed his first act of piracy by attacking the Spanish and stealing their salvaged treasure, which they’d piled on the beach in anticipation of shipment to Havana. With him were Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy, all of whom went on to become noted pirates. But not all treasure hunters are pirates, and today you’re more likely to see metal-detecting optimists stepping over sunbathers than you are marauders storming down the sand. One of those optimists was Kip Wagner, a south Florida contractor who, in the 1950s, met a friend at a pub, had a few beers, and was told about coins washing up on beaches after storms. He decided to have a look, and over the next decade or so he found a number of “pieces of eight” on the beaches near his home in the Vero Beach area. Critically, in 1959 he identified them as being from what is now called “The 1715 Treasure Fleet.” It wasn’t long before Wagner found the site of the Spanish camp that Jennings had raided, and then he found a shallow water wreck site, complete with cannons and an anchor. Deciding to go into the treasure hunting business in earnest, Wagner leased a 50-mile area for salvage from the State of Florida and formed The Real Eight Company in hopes of striking it rich. He and his friends worked several locations over the years, but with no one able to commit full-time to the search progress was slow—and then Mel Fisher came along. Fisher was an unlikely but driven SCUBA diver, hailing from Indiana where, at the age of 11, Taffi says he built his first diving rig by affixing a bucket to a bicycle pump and submerging himself in Lake Michigan (his friend pumped-in the air). He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII, then moved to Chicago and Denver until landing in Torrance, California, with his parents, opening a chicken ranch and continuing to pursue his love of diving. Eventually he married a girl from Montana named Dolores, who said she fell in love with Mel and with the ocean at the same time, and the two opened what might have been the world’s first dive shop, “Mel’s Aqua Shop,” in Redondo Beach. It could be said that nearly everything Fisher earned came from the sea, as the shop was built one wall at a time using money from the sale of lobsters, which the couple caught off the California coast. Returning from a Caribbean trip in 1962, the Fishers stopped in Florida, met Kip Wagner, and agreed to spend a full year with no pay diving one of Wagner’s sites.
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PIECES OF 8 “Pieces of eight,” also called Spanish dollars, were silver coins minted from the 15th to 19th centuries valued at eight reales, Spain’s unit of currency until it adopted the peseta in 1868. Today, depending on where the coin was minted and its condition, their value ranges from roughly $1,000 to many tens of thousands of dollars.
Dad, put the charts away, we’ve got it: silver bars, piles of gold coins—the mother lode
Mel convinced seven others to join him, sold the dive shop, and they set to work. After 360 days with not much to show for their efforts, an invention of Mel’s—“the mailbox”— changed everything. It’s basically a giant elbow-shaped tube lowered over the stern to cover a boat’s propellers. The boat is anchored, the engines engaged, and the prop wash forces clear water down to the bottom to displace murky water so that divers can see. It also has the effect of clearing sand, and on its first day of use it quickly revealed 1,033 gold coins. As Mel said at the time, “Once you have seen the ocean bottom paved with gold, you’ll never forget it.” Fisher and his team continued to salvage the 1715 Fleet, but winter in the Atlantic made work tough so he turned to searching for the Atocha in the waters off the Florida Keys. The search would cost him plenty: 16 years of hard times and the life of his son Dirk, who died with his wife, Angel, and a diver when their boat capsized one night. Still, persistent and driven, Fisher would set out each day declaring “Today’s the day!” until one day when, finally, it was. “My brother called him and said, ‘Dad, put the charts away—we’ve got it!,” Taffi recalls. “‘It’s here, piles of silver bars, chests of coins, gold bars... The mother lode.’ All hell broke loose after that. Because we were always working on a shoestring financially, man oh man was it crazy. All of a sudden everybody wanted to shake my dad’s hand, invest money, go out and dive the wreck. There were all these reporters, front page of every magazine and all over Europe and everywhere. He was really famous suddenly, super famous.”
Mel Fisher and divers in 1985, toasting the discovery of hundreds of silver bars from the Spanish wreck of the Atocha + treasures
The estimated $450 million worth of treasure had to be pulled from the ocean and transported to a museum Fisher had set up in Key West. It wasn’t easy, as Taffi points out: “We had four boats out there piling silver bars on their decks. Each bar is about 90 pounds troy (roughly 75lbs), and that’s heavy,” she says. “You’d bring it up from the bottom with a rope and a basket, then you’d hand that up the dive ladder to a guy who puts it on deck. When you get 100 70lb silver bars on your boat, you think ‘we might sink!’ And so you’d put half on one side and half on the other to balance it out and then you’d make a trip in, offload and come back
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TREASURED CHILDHOOD
A gold wedding chain, formerly sunken treasure
out. At the dock you’d hand it up to a guy on the dock, walk down the dock, we’d load it in the back of a pickup truck and then drive to the museum. Unload it, take it to the third floor where a conservation lab was, then you’d put them in stacks of 10. Then we thought, ‘the floor’s gonna collapse!’ So we started putting them in other spots around the museum so it wasn’t all in one spot; we didn’t want to collapse the building. How many? We found almost 1,000.” Today each of those can be worth about $100,000, she says. They also found incredibly rare emeralds from Colombia, gold coins, long lengths of gold chains—one was 67’ long—and chests full of pieces of eight. The wood on the chests was long gone, but the silver coins would be fused together in giant blocks due to the saltwater. The individual coins now sell for anywhere between $1,000 and many tens of thousands, depending on where they were minted and other factors. “We found 100,000 pieces of eight,” Taffi says. “Like a silver dollar from the 1600s. Back then it could buy a month’s worth of groceries, it was a month’s salary for a sailor. But today we can’t take this and pay our electric bill or buy groceries. So what do we do?”
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“I got to play with it, and so do my kids and grandkids,” says Taffi Fisher Abt, treasure hunter Mel Fisher’s daughter. “There’s a picture of my son a few months old lying on a pile of silver coins. I wasn’t out on the boats too much, especially after [her brother] Dirk died. They were really protective. I was a girl, the baby. My three brothers were boat captains. I’d go snorkeling, and the first pic of me in a wetsuit was when I was 5 months old. We had a lot of ‘hard time’ parties. Most of our divers lived on the boats, they didn’t have to pay rent. Whenever we got really, really low on cash we’d go out spear fishing, lobster diving, we’d have lobster and fish for dinner—lobster and fish all the time, big pot of rice… I’m not a big lobster fan today. It was difficult a lot of times, really difficult. We didn’t have cash. We had some investors who kept giving us enough to survive. But we never really thought of ourselves as poor. We lived on a houseboat in Key West for nine years, and that was different. My parents had bought a galleon and remodeled it so it looked like a Spanish galleon, it was kind of a museum, and it was parked down there behind the Half Shell Raw Bar. It had an exhibit of all the stuff he’d found on the 1715 Fleet, and you’d pay admission to look through, maybe buy a coin in the gift shop, and that was also their office, where they’d meet when the boats came in. We lived, worked and played on the water. I rode my bike a lot, just like any other kid. It was really cool when I would go into ‘show and tell’ with a piece of 8; the teachers would freak out—‘It’s too expensive! You can’t bring that to show and tell!’ But I was like, ‘Well, we have these laying around the house.’ We were unique and I knew we were unique. Not many kids lived on houseboats, and I didn’t know any other kids growing up who had a Spanish galleon to play on. Every day after school I would go to the galleon and do my homework. They’d give me letters to send to the investors, teach me how to use a typewriter, I’d polish the rails, and I’d paint the galleon; I’d be up there in the rigging painting or hanging over the side. They had mannequins down below in period dress. I would go down there and strip the mannequins and lie in the hammock and tourists would be going through on guided tours and they didn’t know, and every now and then you’d wink or wave and they’d jump.” “I have a story,” says Nichole Johanson, Taffi’s daughter and Mel Fisher’s granddaughter. “Whenever grandpa would walk into the room all the grandkids would tackle his legs, wrap your arms around his legs. He’d empty his pockets, throw out all his change—he always had pockets with all of this change in them—and he’d throw it all over the floor or throw his coins in the pool, ‘Here you go kids!’ And every now and then there’d be a 1715 Fleet coin… That was fun.”
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And here Taffi hits on a rough spot in the treasure trade, for “treasure” does not mean “cash,” and it can be tough to turn the former into the latter. “When my grandfather found the mother lode in 1985, I was just 1 [year old],” says Nichole Johanson, Taffi’s daughter, who runs the Mel Fisher Treasures museum and gift shop in Sebastian, Florida, and helps with the family treasure-hunting business, which continues. “There were a lot of misconceptions that we’re rich, we’re millionaires, but it’s just that—a misconception. We’re treasure rich but cash poor. You can’t pay your electric bill with a silver bar.” Or your taxes, exactly, but that’s not to say the government doesn’t want its share. Fisher gave the State of Florida portions of his finds up until the Atocha, when a legal battle began between the two. After Florida lost its claim to Fisher’s finds in court, it appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately found in Fisher’s favor, awarding him ownership of the Atocha and its sister ship, the Margarita. Today, part of the treasure is available to anyone who wants to purchase it, on sale at the Fisher museums in Sebastian and Key West and online. Some gets donated, and a fair portion was and is distributed to investors who supported (and support) its finding. Every now and then a collector will buy a special piece (there’s a necklace in the Sebastian museum that’s currently on sale for $768,000; see photo at right) but otherwise the treasure remains, not paying bills. Despite the pitfalls, Johanson says, people won’t stop looking for treasure: “Everybody wants to be a treasure hunter, there’s so much romance even with the phrase ‘treasure hunter.’ Especially when you hear about big finds, you get a lot of calls, ‘I want to be a treasure hunter, how do I do that?’ The successful ones are the ones that have that perseverance to continue, because let me tell you something: there’s a lot more empty holes dug than there are holes with treasure in them. It’s hot, backbreaking work, sometimes it can be devastating. There are a lot of people who’ve come and gone; the ones who come and stay are the ones who can endure the heartbreaks.”
JOIN THE ADVENTURE
Mel Fisher’s family continues to hunt for treasure and is today working on four major salvage projects, including continued work on the Atocha. Mel was happy to let anyone join in the thrill of treasure hunting as an investor or as an actual participant, and the Fisher family continues in that spirit. Become an investor, sift for emeralds on the deck of one of Fisher’s ships or, if you’re a diver, head underwater and search first-hand for the Atocha’s still-missing riches. Find out more at melfisher.com
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ON THE HUNT Minelab CTX3030
The CTX3030 has been around for years but remains hugely popular due to Minelab’s interchangeable coils (the sensory bit on the end) and great software updates. Easy to use and with a full-color LCD, GPS, and more, this model is also waterproof to 10’, opening possibilities for waders and divers alike. If you’re looking for a top beach/saltwater treasure tool, this should be on your list. Roughly $2,500; minelab.com
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AGAINST ALL ODDS
FEATURE Comebacks
Fans love their champions, the seemingly immortal titans who stand atop their games like gods defying mortals on fields of battle. But those titans can fall, whether due to fate, vice, or just plain bad luck, and if there’s one thing sports fans love more than a champion, it’s a comeback. Tiger Woods is one such resurrected titan and his victory in the 2019 Masters has inspired a compilation of our favorite 10 sporting comebacks of all time 40
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NIKI LAUDA Racing Driver
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is-owned by his aristocratic, industrialist grandfather for pursuing the folly of Formula One racing, Austrian Niki Lauda had accumulated debts of more than $200,000 by the time he finally secured a salary on the British BRM Formula One team in 1973. Lauda possessed a potent combination of driving ability, intelligence and relentless determination, and having being lured to the Ferrari team he quickly reached the pinnacle of his sport in 1975 to become World Drivers’ Champion. Lauda had won five of the first nine races of the 1976 season—on course to defend his Drivers’ title— when he arrived for the German Grand Prix at the mighty Nurburgring, boasting a 14-mile track notorious for its 174 corners. Lauda, 27 at the time, loved the unique challenge posed by the Nurburgring yet called on his fellow drivers to boycott the race because he knew the organizers could not provide sufficient ambulances, fire engines and safety staff for such a giant racetrack. His protest lacked support and the race went ahead. With a terrible twist of irony, it was Lauda who suffered from a slow emergency response when his suspension failed and he drove his Ferrari into a bank. The car caught fire with Lauda unconscious in the cockpit. Other drivers became
first responders, with Italian Arturo Merzario risking his own life by plunging into fierce flames to unbuckle Lauda and pull him from the wreckage. The burns suffered by Lauda were so severe that comatose in hospital that night, a priest read his last rights. Lauda made it through the night and then had to endure agonising treatment for his burns and the reconstruction of his eyelids with skin grafted behind his ears. The fire had claimed half of one of Lauda’s ears, but he rejected the surgical rebuild because it would have delayed his return to racing. Just six weeks after the crash the racing community was astonished when Lauda climbed back into the cockpit, his head bandaged, weeping and wedged back into a helmet. Ferrari had already hired a replacement driver and Lauda took this as an insult. He only missed two races and while he could not successfully defend his Driver’s title—the ambition for which had forced him out of hospital so soon— no-one could stop the irrepressible Lauda from re-claiming the title in 1977, completing the greatest driver rejuvenation in motor racing history. Lauda won his third and final Driver’s title in 1984 before retiring from racing in 1985. His death, at the age of 70 in May this year, was mourned deeply by the Formula One community.
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JAMES BRADDOCK Boxer
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n his way to the top of the boxing world in the 1920s, James “J” Braddock’s promising career was derailed by a tough loss for the heavyweight title in 1929. Along with the depression of losing what could have been a life-changing fight in a 15-round decision, Braddock nearly destroyed his right hand, fracturing it in several places during the bout. Coming off a pre-title-fight record of 44–2–2 with 21 knockouts, Braddock stayed in boxing but, with his poorly-healed right hand a mess, he seemed all but done, losing 20 fights between 1928 and 1933. The boxer was broke; his wife and three kids survived on bread and potatoes as the Great Depression slogged on and he turned to odd jobs and work on the New Jersey docks as a longshoreman to get by. His right hand weakened, the work compelled Braddock increasingly to rely on his left, unwittingly setting the stage for things to come. In 1934, he was offered money to fight John “Corn” Griffin, who was being promoted as boxing’s next big thing. Braddock was meant to be essentially a punching bag, another “W” on Griffin’s record, but—with a newly strengthened left in his arsenal—Braddock knocked Griffin out in the third round.
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James Braddock jabs at Max Baer [top left] during their World title bout in 1935
A shocking victory over future light-heavyweight champ John Henry Lewis and a strong win over Art Lasky in 1935 set Braddock up for an unbelievable opportunity, a title shot against World Heavyweight Champion Max Baer. In fact, Braddock had been selected by Baer’s team as they felt it would be easy money for the champ. But on June 13, 1935, in front of a huge crowd at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, the boxer-turned-longshoreman entered the title fight as a 10-to-1 underdog and emerged victorious in a unanimous decision, wearing down the 26-year-old Baer and earning the title of “Cinderella Man” from one of the most dramatic nights in boxing history.
His right hand weakened, Braddock took work on the New Jersey docks as a longshoreman to get by
BEN HOGAN: Medical miracle
BEN HOGAN Golfer
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n a foggy night near Van Horn, Texas, in February 1949, Ben Hogan and his wife Valerie were driving home from the Phoenix Open. Coming the other way a Greyhound bus driver, running behind schedule, attempted to overtake a truck but instead collided head-on with Hogan’s car. Hogan threw himself in front of his wife—a reaction that is thought to have saved both their lives—and suffered horrible injuries as the front of his car was crushed into his left side. Hogan suffered a double fracture to his pelvis and fractures to his collarbone, left ankle and ribs. Then in hospital that night a blood clot brought the Grim Reaper bedside, before a surgeon from New Orleans was flown in by the US Air Force and saved Hogan’s life. That night the news wires first reported that Hogan had been killed. Doctors speculated Hogan might not walk again, let alone play golf, but Hogan was the golfer who famously “dug [his game] out of the dirt”. He was the first golfer to return to the practice ground after a good round, his work ethic relentless. Arnold Palmer would later describe Hogan as “an icy monarch” ruling over the game. Hogan had secured three career major titles by the time of the car crash and he somehow recovered to return to tour action a year later. Then at the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion—16 months after the crash and despite battling debilitating pain in his legs—Hogan won the title he would cherish most, but only after he had endured an 18-hole play-off to defeat Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio. They called it the “Miracle at Merion”. Hogan would limit his playing schedule for the rest of his career, yet still win a further five majors, including a 1953 hat-trick of the Masters, U.S. Open and [British] Open.
By Dr. Michael K. Ryan, Orthopaedic surgeon & sports medicine specialist, Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center After six weeks in a hospital bed Hogan was assisted to a wheelchair and brought into the El Paso sun. In isolation, many pelvic fractures require three months before a patient can put weight on the legs. Compounding this was the ankle fracture and associated compromised circulation, which slowed recovery. Then multiple rib fractures and a collarbone fracture limit the ability to support oneself with a walker, further inhibiting Hogan’s recovery. Assuming Hogan was able to stand at the earliest in June 1949, he then took only 12 months to learn to walk, build upper and lower body strength and regain flexibility and mobility to play golf. To swing a golf club effectively, the entire body must work in concert to simultaneously provide lower body stability, in order to allow the upper body to rotate, loading the back leg to generate enough torque through the hips, ultimately pulling the upper body and torso through the ball to contact and follow through. Any stiffness, weakness or deficiency in the ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, spine, shoulders, elbows, or wrists would inhibit the swing. Hogan’s swing at the 1950 U.S. Open demonstrates none of this, only 14 months after the crash. Perhaps it was good medicine, but more likely it was Hogan’s resolve. Medicine and surgery can treat the body and the body can heal, but recovery demands struggle, pain and persistence. Remarkable about Hogan’s recovery was that he regained such precise, fluid function in such a short amount of time.
Ben Hogan convalesces in 1949 [left], and just 14 months later he was U.S. Open champion at Merion [above, pictured with his wife Valerie and the USGA’s James D. Standish, Jr.]
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TIGER WO ODS Golfer
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y November 2017 the World Ranking of Tiger Woods had slipped to 1,199th. Statistically it was the lowest ebb for a golfer whose record of 683 weeks at number one may never be broken. Many consider Woods to be the greatest golfer of all time but it appeared physically impossible for him to rekindle any semblance of golfing competitiveness. Yet in April this year he became a major champion once again, winning the Masters for the fifth time—the 15th major title of his career. When Woods won his first major—the 1997 Masters— he became the first black golfer to win at Augusta National, the youngest ever winner of the Masters and he set 20 scoring records on his way to winning by 12 shots. Over a single weekend in Georgia, Woods triggered a boom in global golf that would last a decade. Woods won his 14th major at the 2008 U.S. Open, playing against doctor’s orders and with what would turn out to be a broken left leg. His leg injuries were just the beginning of Woods’ decline though, as the following year his marriage collapsed as details of his lurid private life emerged. The kiss-and-tell candidates made an orderly line. Woods recovered a sense of equilibrium in his personal life but his body was in tatters. A series of knee procedures and four back operations took their toll. Woods stubbornly refused to surrender but his dogged pursuit of more silverware looked futile. Impossible. The game had
At the 2017 Masters Woods took a “nerve block” injection so he could just walk to the Champions’ Dinner
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Tiger Woods won the Masters for the fifth time in April
moved on. Not only was Woods no longer one of the longest drivers but the new breed—Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka—were hitting the ball much straighter than Woods too. At the 2017 Masters, Woods had to take a “nerve block” injection so he could just walk to the Champions’ Dinner and sit at the table. Some world-class form finally began to return for Woods in the Spring of 2018. He challenged down the stretch at both The Open and PGA Championship, defeated McIlroy in the season-closing Tour Championship and brought an outside chance to the 2019 Masters. It was not the spectacularly dominant Woods at Augusta this year but he patiently constructed his challenge. Then when nervous mistakes took their toll on his finalround rivals—Francesco Molinari, Koepka and Xander Schauffele included—Woods held firm to win by one. “Tiger, Tiger,” chanted an elated crowd around the 18th green. It was 11 years between Woods’ first and 14th major victories, and another 11 years between his 14th and 15th. “It’s overwhelming just because of what’s transpired,” said Woods. “Last year I was just very lucky to be playing again… This was one of the hardest I’ve ever had to win.”
“People in America should really make an effort to come and see what exists here. It’s beyond one’s belief.” – Gary Player
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GREG LEMOND Cyclist
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rashed in a race, then shot with a shotgun, the miracle was not that Greg LeMond won the 1989 Tour de France, it’s that he was on a bike at all. Two years earlier, fresh off his 1986 Tour win—the first by an American— the then-25-year-old broke his hand while racing in Italy. He returned home to California to recover for a couple of months but, just before returning to Europe to defend his Tour title, everything changed. While hunting with his uncle and friends, a confused hunter mistook the cyclist for game and shot LeMond with a 12-gauge shotgun. It was an hour before a helicopter arrived, another half hour or so until he was in surgery. There were more than 100 shotgun pellets in his body; two of LeMond’s ribs had been broken, his left ring finger was shattered; he’d lost nearly three pints of blood, and much more had pooled in and around his lungs, causing them to collapse. The membrane around his heart was leaking blood as it, too, had been perforated by pellets. Holes in LeMond’s diaphragm and small intestine were repaired in surgery, holes in his liver were left alone. And while a number of pellets were removed, five remained in his heart, five in his liver, and two dozen more in his back, arms and legs. In the end, LeMond lost nearly half the blood in his body, his small intestine leached waste and his one good kidney was damaged (his other had failed in childhood). Doctors credited his strong heart and lungs
A confused hunter mistook the cyclist for game and shot LeMond with a 12-gauge shotgun
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Greg LeMond cycles to victory in the 1989 Tour de France [above]. Josh Hamilton hits home run number two of four in one night, for the Texas Rangers in May 2012 [right]
with getting him through, but his body was devastated and wracked with pain. Over the next few months, barely able to shuffle across a room, LeMond lost 30 of his 150 pounds, his leg muscles withered and his body fat jumped from 5% to 19%. Further health complications followed over the next year, some severe, but eventually LeMond climbed back on his bike and, just two years after being shot, won the Tour de France for the second time. A third victory followed in 1990 and then he retired. As Tour victories by Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis were disqualified due to doping, LeMond remains the only American to have won cycling’s greatest race.
JOSH H A M I LT O N Baseball player
Monica Seles lifts the Australian Open trophy in 1996, less than three years after she had been stabbed in the back
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once-in-a-generation-talent and the first pick of the 1999 MLB draft, Josh Hamilton had a $3.96 million signing bonus with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and a God-given ticket to stardom. In high school he’d run the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds and had a 97mph fastball that blew batters off their feet. But in 2001 Hamilton was in a car wreck. Four years later he was unrecognizable, a junkie turning up on his grandmother’s porch at 2am. Injuries from the wreck had sidelined him and his frustration led to drinking, bad behavior and so it went. As Hamilton told USA Today in 2006, he once deliberately burned his “magic” left hand with four lit cigarettes while in a rage. He blew his money trying “literally every drug on the street,” including smoking crack. He said, “I did it so much it was like smoking cigarettes.” The 6’ 4” 235-pounder dropped more than 40 pounds, and so when he was given permission by MLB to take a second shot in 2006, there was a lot to do. He put several suicide attempts and his shame behind him, reconnected with his wife and daughters after having been kicked out and, as the paper put it, “was scared straight.” Hamilton worked at a baseball facility in Clearwater, Florida, rising early each day to pull weeds, mow the outfield, clean toilets and take out the trash while he rediscovered his game in his spare time. It worked, and in 2007 Hamilton rejoined the big leagues. He was named to the 2008 AL All-Star team playing for the Texas Rangers and made the All Star team the next four seasons as well. The 2010 AL MVP, Hamilton’s career took on some of the shine of his original promise, including a distinguishing moment in 2012 when he became just the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. This August he was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, and as Hamilton himself wrote in ThePlayersTribune, “my immediate reaction was pure gratitude—just a massive amount of gratitude and appreciation.”
MONICA SELES Tennis player
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omen’s tennis is a conveyor belt of teen stars, but none more prolific than Monica Seles. In 1990, aged 16, the Serbian-American became the youngest ever French Open champion when she defeated Steffi Graf in straight sets. By the time she turned 20 Seles had accumulated eight grand slam titles and had succeeded Graf as world number one. Seles’ irrepressible rise was more than fan Gunther Parche could bear. In Hamburg on April 30, 1993, Parche— who was obsessed with Graf and a German supremacist with learning disabilities—stabbed Seles in the back with a kitchen knife while she sat courtside between games. The blade fortunately only penetrated by less than an inch and Seles recovered from the wound physically within weeks, but took a two-year break sabbatical. After less than six months in pre-trial detention, Parche was sentenced to two years’ probation and psychological treatment, prompting Seles to vow never to play in Germany again. Seles returned to competitive action at the 1995 Canadian Open and won, setting a record by dropping only 14 games. Seles then reached the U.S. Open final where she lost to Graf, but at the 1996 Australian Open there was no stopping her. Seles defeated Anke Huber in the final to claim her fourth Australian Open title and ninth grand slam title. Seles would reach more grand slam finals but could not resurrect her former consistency. Even with nine grand slams, the question remains: what could have been for Monica Seles?
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MUHAMMAD ALI Boxer
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n 1967, Muhammad Ali, 25 at the time and the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, became the most famous man to refuse to fight in Vietnam. “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong” he declared. In the midst of an historic civil rights movement in the United States, Ali said that “no Vietcong ever called me a nigger”. “Just take me to jail,” he said, and they could have done but Ali was granted bail. Overnight he became a national pariah, Ali’s boxing license was suspended and his world title stripped. He lost three years of his career at the height of his prime. Ali’s conviction was overturned in 1971 but he returned to the ring short of his old spring and swagger. After two tune-up bouts he faced Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in New York for the world title. Frazier knocked Ali to the canvas in the 15th round and won by unanimous
decision. It was Ali’s first professional defeat and prompted widespread claims he was washed up. Ali would defeat Frazier in a re-match in 1974 but by then Frazier had lost his world title to giant George Foreman, a fighter of peerless power. In the “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire [now the Democratic Republic of the Congo], on October 30, 1974, 32-year-old Ali was the underdog and 25-year-old Foreman—who had knocked out Frazier in 1973—was 40-0 and at his brooding, menacing best. “If you think the world was surprised when Nixon resigned, wait ‘til I whup Foreman’s behind,” claimed the ever-confident Ali. “I’m so mean I make medicine sick,” he declared. With an estimated worldwide television audience of one billion—the world’s most watched live broadcast at the time—Ali invited Foreman to swing freely with a “ropea-dope” tactic in the middle rounds that defied convention. Ali taunted Foreman, dodged punches and absorbed a pounding. Then in the middle rounds Ali switched gears, once Foreman was exhausted, and sensationally Ali knocked him out in the eighth. Ali was world champion again, eight years after he had first won the crown. Muhammad Ali [left] invites a barrage of punches from George Foreman during the “Rumble in the Jungle”
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CARSON PA L M E R Football quarterback
JIM MORRIS Baseball player
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Navy kid born in Texas, Jim Morris wasn’t an obvious candidate for greatness, drafted 466th overall by the New York Yankees in the 1982 draft. He declined, and the following year was drafted fourth by the Milwaukee Brewers, with whom he signed, although Morris then suffered several arm injuries in the minors. A series of surgeries didn’t help, including one that involved replacing a tendon in his left elbow with one from his right ankle, and in 1987 the pain became too much and he was released, never having made it to “the big show.” One year with the White Sox didn’t go any better, and so in 1988 Morris became a high school physical science teacher. Morris, his wife and three children moved to Big Lake, Texas, and he retired from baseball with a minor league record of 17 wins and 22 losses. For the next 10 years Morris taught and coached the school’s baseball team, the Reagan County Owls. Trying to motivate his team in 1999, he promised that he’d try out for a Major League team if they won their district championship—which they’d never done. As it happens, his team took the title and Morris kept up his end of the bargain, attending an open tryout for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Incredibly, despite his age (35), injuries and a decade away from the game, he threw 12 consecutive 98mph fastballs and was given another chance. After a few games in the minors, on September 18, 1999, Morris realized his dream and took the mound in the majors, pitching against Royce Clayton of the Texas Rangers, whom he struck out on four pitches. Morris made 16 major league appearances in 2000 before his arm injuries returned and he was released. Disney made a film about Morris called The Rookie, in which the pitcher was played by Dennis Quaid.
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n the first pass play of the first round of the 2006 AFC Playoffs, playing in his third NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer stepped back and delivered the longest completed pass in Bengals Playoff history: a 66-yard bomb to rookie receiver Chris Henry. Normally the former USC standout would have jumped up in celebration, but after he’d released the ball Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen had brought Palmer down hard, wrapping up his leg while on the ground, a move for which the Steeler later apologized. The injury nearly took Palmer out of football: it tore his ACL and MCL, dislocated his patella and effectively destroyed his knee. Rather than retire so early into his career Palmer elected to have a dramatic series of surgeries. Using an Achilles tendon from a woman who’d been killed several years before and employing other creative solutions, surgeons reconstructed Palmer’s knee, though the head doctor had called the injury “devastation and potentially career-ending.” Unbelievably, Palmer pushed through rehab and returned the following year as the Bengals starting quarterback, starting all 16 regular season games en route to one of his best seasons ever. At the time of his retirement in 2018, he was 12th all-time in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Carson Palmer is taken down by the Steelers’ Kimo von Oelhoffen during a 2006 Playoff game
IT’S JUST A PAR. Until you splash it out of the sand and it’s rolling slowly across the green and seems to be in slow motion as it clinks against the flagstick and drops into the hole. Until you give your best Tiger fist pump and your friend reaches up for a high five. Until you’re looking out at the palm trees and the fairway that dips into the waterway and realize you truly feel alive. It’s just a par. Until it isn’t.
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GOLF Tiger
O Captain! My Captain! When Tiger Woods arrives at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia in December as captain of the United States Presidents Cup team, he will reach a career crossroads. Just as it seemed the most extraordinary talent of his generation was about to slide gracefully into a more ambassadorial orbit, Woods has pressed rewind on his playing career. Either way, as Dave Shedloski writes, the acumen, intellect and competitive instincts of Woods have not changed a bit
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hen Tiger Woods was appointed Presidents Cup captain in March 2018, his playing career was in the balance. The previous two seasons had been a write-off. Although the appointment came two days after Woods clocked his first top-five result on the PGA Tour in four and half years (finishing tied-second at the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, triggering near delirium among Florida’s golf faithful), Woods had been a late entry that week because he was not sure if his back would hold up to 72 holes. Most people hoped Woods could somehow rekindle his dominant, exhilarating form of old, but most also doubted he could. Captaincy was the next logical step for Woods in the twilight of his playing days, went the conventional wisdom, with other non-playing interests also evolving. He launched TGR—Tiger Woods Ventures—in 2016, saying: “TGR is my chapter two, my way of building a legacy that’s about more than birdies and bogeys.” Under the TGR umbrella comes the TGR Foundation, The Woods restaurant in Jupiter, Florida and the TGR course design business. The design offers are flooding in thanks to impressive creations like the 18-hole Payne’s Valley course at Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri, among the Ozark Mountains. Big Cedar Lodge was founded by a close friend of Woods, Johnny Morris, and Payne’s Valley will be the first public course designed by Woods in the United States when it opens next year.
Being a playing captain was pure fantasy until Woods won three times in the space of 14 months
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Tiger Woods had a lot to smile about after the Zozo Championship in Japan in October
As one door closes, another opens, except Woods read a different script, not for the first time. Being a playing captain in the Presidents Cup was pure fantasy until he stormed home to win the 2018 Tour Championship. Then Woods claimed his 15th major at the 2019 Masters, and most recently the Zozo Championship in October; the PGA Tour’s first ever tournament in Japan and Woods’ 82nd PGA Tour title, to match Sam Snead’s long-held record. Whether he serves as a playing captain for the U.S.— the second behind Hale Irwin, who did so in the inaugural event in 1994—or simply delivers the speeches and orders to his 12-man squad, you can be sure of one thing: there is only one Tiger Woods. On the tee or in the captain’s cart, he will behave exactly the same as he has throughout his distinguished career.
Tiger Woods, Jason Dufner and Phil Mickelson [l to r, above] back-stage at 2013 Presidents Cup. [Below] Woods on the Payne’s Valley course, Big Cedar Lodge, with Johnny Morris [left] and J.P. Morris [right]
That’s probably not what his counterpart—the International team’s Ernie Els—wants to hear as he tries to loosen America’s stranglehold on the Presidents Cup trophy. The U.S. leads the series 10-1-1, though its only loss came in the 1998 edition, which also was contested at Royal Melbourne. As opposed to in the Ryder Cup, in which he has struggled (including an 0-4 record last year in France), Woods has been a formidable player in the Presidents Cup. In eight appearances he has gone 24-15-1, second in U.S. scoring behind Phil Mickelson, who was likely to see his record streak of 12 appearances end after a season that included his 44th PGA Tour title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but was otherwise disappointing. Woods was to make his four wild-card selections in early November—after this issue had hit the presses—and he had every right to include himself after finishing 13th on the final U.S. points list. Picking yourself is awkward in a way but Woods seemed comfortable with the proposition of making himself one of the four picks after consultation with his assistants: Fred Couples, Zach Johnson and Steve Stricker.
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“It’s up to myself and the vice captains and eight guys [who qualified],” Woods, 43, said as the deadline loomed. “I’m going to keep an open line of communication with my players and my vice captains to find the four guys that they want to go down there with and who best fits the team. This is a team, and we want the guys that are going to be a part of it, that are going to be a part of this experience and that they want to go to battle with.” “We’ve had discussions… plenty of them,” said Johnson, who has been in constant contact with Woods, Couples and Stricker. “Is he a viable pick? Absolutely. For a number of reasons. He’s going to be honest with us. He wants what’s best for the team.” But what’s best for the Presidents Cup? Well, some think it’s obvious. “It matters that he plays because he’s Tiger,” said Adam Scott of Australia, who stands to pass Els for most Presidents Cup appearances when he makes his ninth start in December. “It’s better when he plays than when he doesn’t, even if he only plays two matches. It’s better for the event if he does.”
Originated off Broadway, New York, by Tommy Dewar and friends, 1892.
“It matters that he plays because he’s Tiger... Even if he only plays two matches, it’s better for the event if he does”
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
What kind of player Woods will be for the U.S. is secondary to his captaincy responsibilities. In a way, he was made for this kind of role. He always has been his own man, even when he turned pro at the tender age of 20, always has been decisive, always has looked at the game with a critical and strategic eye, and always has applied a high level of intelligence to every situation he has encountered on a golf course. Prior to being named captain, Woods served as a vice captain under Davis Love at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National and reprised the role under Stricker at the 2017 Presidents Cup at Liberty National near New York. Each ended with a resounding U.S. victory. “He dives into it as you would expect, because that competitiveness is always there in everything he has ever done,” said Jordan Spieth, who was a teammate of Woods in the 2013 Presidents Cup and was on the aforementioned 2016 and ’17 U.S. squads when Woods assisted. “To have the
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Woods and Jordan Spieth at the 2017 Presidents Cup
THE PRESIDENTS CUP BY NUMBERS
greatest player of all time as a mentor and teammate, I’ve seen him in both roles, someone who you’ve looked up to and watch dominate the sport, to have him on your side is phenomenal. I didn’t think he would not take it seriously, but I didn’t expect him to be that same Tiger who is very precise and meticulous.” Mickelson conjured up similar jargon. “He’s a great leader because he’s so meticulous and detail oriented,” the left-hander said, “and guys look up to him with such respect that any time he says something, that message really resonates with them.” During the 2015 Presidents Cup in South Korea, Love marvelled at the number of times Woods chimed in from his home in Florida via text with an idea or observation. “And they were all really good ones,” Love said. “I learned that week how valuable his input is when it comes to really seeing the big picture and then applying ideas to the smallest details.” Woods played four times for Jack Nicklaus and three times for Couples, and the only loss came in that 1998 blowout, 20 ½ to 11 ½, in Melbourne. Woods was also on the U.S. team that tied the International squad in 2003 in South Africa when he and Els played brilliantly to a draw in a three-hole playoff in the gloaming before captains Nicklaus and Gary Player agreed to share the Cup.
The International Team has one victory in 12 Presidents Cups. That was in 1998 at Royal Melbourne. The Presidents Cup has also been tied once, at Fancourt, South Africa in 2003.
“To have the greatest player of all time as a mentor and teammate... to have him on your side is phenomenal”
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1
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia remains the only venue to have hosted the Presidents Cup twice in a row. RTJ hosted the first two chapters of the Presidents Cup in 1994 and 1996.
3
Royal Melbourne will stage the Presidents Cup for the third time. It was the first non-American venue to host the event, in 1998, and hosted again in 2011. Jack Nicklaus is the only man to have captained a Presidents Cup team four times. Nicklaus skippered the US team in 1998, 2003, 2005 and 2007, although he had to wait until 2005 to lift the cup for the first time.
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4
The first golfer to go 5-0 in the Presidents Cup was American Mark O’Meara, in 1996. O’Meara put up a perfect record on Arnold Palmer’s team that won 16 ½ - 15 ½. Tiger Woods holds the record for the most singles points won in the Presidents Cup at six.
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There have been 12 Presidents Cups, dating back to 1994, and only one golfer has played in them all: Phil Mickelson. The Presidents Cup trophy, made by Tiffany & Co., weighs 28 pounds and is made from sterling silver and 24-carat gold.
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“If you would have told me as a kid that I could play on a Presidents Cup team with Tiger Woods as my captain, I probably would have fainted” “One of my goals is to make sure we learn our lesson from the 1998 Presidents Cup,” Woods said. “That was my first time playing in a Presidents Cup. With it being our off-season in December, we didn’t arrive quite as sharp as a team and were beaten pretty badly. I expect it to be different this time around.” Woods didn’t get a chance to play for Arnold Palmer, who twice was Ryder Cup captain and also led the 1996 U.S. Presidents Cup team, something he undoubtedly missed, especially given his eight victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club. “I wasn’t a part of any of Arnold’s teams, but on a personal level, you couldn’t ask for someone who was more one of the guys than Arnold,” Tiger said. “He made it so personal to all players.” Returning after his Presidents Cup debut in 2017 at Liberty National, Justin Thomas said that playing for Woods is probably the ultimate experience for a competitor who grew up idolizing the most dominant golfer of the last 20-plus years. “I know that I’m very excited to play for him,” Thomas said. “I mean, if you would have told me when I was a kid that I could play on a Presidents Cup team with Tiger Woods as my captain, I probably would have fainted. It’s kind of surreal, and I sometimes have to kind of step back and realize what’s happening. “I know he takes it very, very seriously and his one and only mission is to get the best team that we possibly can and make sure we put the best partnerships together to make sure that we win any and every point that we possibly can.” Woods, at 43 years old, is by far the youngest Presidents Cup captain, but there is no question of whether he is too young to shoulder the responsibility. He brings an aura of total authority, unwavering belief, unshakeable
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Woods enjoys a moment with Arnold Palmer [top] and with fellow 2019 Presidents Cup captain Ernie Els [above]
focus and unquestionable strategy. Woods can handle the mental pressure of playing and leading as long as his body can withstand the physical demand. Not even Woods can answer that question yet. He underwent a minor surgical procedure on his left knee in August, he said, “so I could be fit for the end of the year.” The plan was in place. It’s nearly time for the execution. “It’s everything you could dream of, having an opportunity to be the captain of this great young team and to be a part of it” Woods said, “and it’s something that I’m thoroughly looking forward to. I’ve been pretty consumed by it. I can’t wait until December.”
ASK YOUR DOCTOR if Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) may help you manage your overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of urgency, frequency, and leakage If you’re dealing with urges, frequency, and leaks on your own, or if you have ever taken an OAB medicine and stopped, ask your doctor if Myrbetriq may be an appropriate treatment option for you.
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USE OF MYRBETRIQ Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) is a prescription medicine for adults used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urgency, frequency and leakage. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Myrbetriq is not for everyone. Do not take Myrbetriq if you have an allergy to mirabegron or any ingredients in Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may cause your blood pressure to increase or make your blood pressure worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. It is recommended that your doctor check your blood pressure while you are taking Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may increase your chances of not being able to empty your bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream. Myrbetriq may cause allergic reactions that may be serious. If you experience swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, with or without difficulty breathing, stop taking Myrbetriq and tell your doctor right away. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including medications for overactive bladder or other medicines such as thioridazine (Mellaril™ and Mellaril-S™), flecainide (Tambocor®), propafenone (Rythmol®), digoxin (Lanoxin®) or solifenacin succinate (VESIcare®). Myrbetriq may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Myrbetriq works. Before taking Myrbetriq, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. The most common side effects of Myrbetriq include increased blood pressure, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), dry mouth, flu symptoms, urinary tract infection, back pain, dizziness, joint pain, headache, constipation, sinus irritation, and inflammation of the bladder (cystitis). For further information, please talk to your healthcare professional and see Brief Summary of Prescribing Information for Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) on the following page. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Myrbetriq and VESIcare are registered trademarks of Astellas Pharma Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2019 Astellas Pharma US, Inc.
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Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) extended-release tablets 25 mg, 50 mg Brief Summary based on FDA-approved patient labeling Read the Patient Information that comes with Myrbetriq® (mirabegron) before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This summary does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment. What is Myrbetriq (meer-BEH-trick)? Myrbetriq is a prescription medication for adults used to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder: • Urge urinary incontinence: a strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting accidents • Urgency: a strong need to urinate right away • Frequency: urinating often It is not known if Myrbetriq is safe and effective in children. Who should not use Myrbetriq? Do not take Myrbetriq if you have an allergy to mirabegron or any of the ingredients in Myrbetriq. See the end of this summary for a complete list of ingredients in Myrbetriq. What should I tell my doctor before taking Myrbetriq? Before you take Myrbetriq, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • have liver problems or kidney problems • have very high uncontrolled blood pressure • have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Myrbetriq will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Myrbetriq passes into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take Myrbetriq. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Myrbetriq may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Myrbetriq works. Tell your doctor if you take: • thioridazine (Mellaril™ or Mellaril-S™) • flecainide (Tambocor®) • propafenone (Rythmol®) • digoxin (Lanoxin®) • solifenacin succinate (VESIcare®) How should I take Myrbetriq? • Take Myrbetriq exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. • You should take 1 Myrbetriq tablet 1 time a day. • You should take Myrbetriq with water and swallow the tablet whole. • Do not chew, break, or crush the tablet. • You can take Myrbetriq with or without food. • If you miss a dose of Myrbetriq, begin taking Myrbetriq again the next day. Do not take 2 doses of Myrbetriq the same day. • If you take too much Myrbetriq, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of Myrbetriq? Myrbetriq may cause serious side effects including: • increased blood pressure. Myrbetriq may cause your blood pressure to increase or make your blood pressure worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. It is recommended that your doctor check your blood pressure while you are taking Myrbetriq. • inability to empty your bladder (urinary retention). Myrbetriq may increase your chances of not being able to empty your bladder if you have bladder outlet obstruction or if you are taking other medicines to treat overactive bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you are unable to empty your bladder.
• angioedema. Myrbetriq may cause an allergic reaction with swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat with or without difficulty breathing. Stop using Myrbetriq and tell your doctor right away. The most common side effects of Myrbetriq include: • increased blood pressure
• dizziness
• common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis)
• joint pain
• dry mouth
• headache
• flu symptoms
• constipation
• urinary tract infection
• sinus (sinus irritation)
• back pain
• inflammation of the bladder (cystitis)
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away or if you have swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, hives, skin rash or itching while taking Myrbetriq. These are not all the possible side effects of Myrbetriq. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. How should I store Myrbetriq? • Store Myrbetriq between 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C). Keep the bottle closed. • Safely throw away medicine that is out of date or no longer needed. Keep Myrbetriq and all medicines out of the reach of children. General information about the safe and effective use of Myrbetriq Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in the Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Myrbetriq for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Myrbetriq to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about Myrbetriq that is written for health professionals. For more information, visit www.Myrbetriq.com or call (800) 727-7003. What are the ingredients in Myrbetriq? Active ingredient: mirabegron Inactive ingredients: polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, yellow ferric oxide and red ferric oxide (25 mg Myrbetriq tablet only). What is overactive bladder? Overactive bladder occurs when you cannot control your bladder contractions. When these muscle contractions happen too often or cannot be controlled, you can get symptoms of overactive bladder, which are urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urinary incontinence (leakage). Marketed and Distributed by: Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Northbrook, Illinois 60062 Myrbetriq® is a registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2012 - 2018 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. Revised: April 2018 206813-MRVS-BRFS 057-3385-PM
GOLF Achievement
Blind Golfers A humbling example of strength and achievement to anyone who’s ever complained about the game’s frustrations
Photos: Ginger Port
By Steve Killick
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“Great shot.”
Two words that we use a lot on the golf course, even if said through gritted teeth. Those times when, instead of rolling into that cavernous bunker, your opponent’s ball sits just a few inches away from the flag. Now try to imagine what it would be like if you could not see any shot that you made. Imagine, too, if you could not take in some of the glorious scenery we golfers are fortunate enough to enjoy on so many fine courses. And finally, imagine trying to hit a ball with your eyes closed. That is what golf is like for the large number of blind and partially sighted men and women who are competing at an amazingly high level all around the world. Playing to a low handicap is as nothing compared to what they have overcome in everyday life: not being able to drive, shop by themselves or even go for a walk unaided. For them, golf can provide a great escape from daily difficulties. Blind golf officially began when a well-off 28-year old man from Duluth, Minnesota, was returning from a hunting trip in 1924. Clinton Russell’s car suffered a puncture on his way back to his wife and two young daughters. As he was changing the flat the tire exploded in his face, blinding him. Russell played golf before the accident and, walking on a local golf course with his father and brother, was persuaded to hit a golf ball again despite his loss of sight. He did, and it renewed his interest in the game. He began practicing at Ridgeview Country Club in Duluth, taking lessons and getting a friend or a caddy to be
his guide, to line up his clubface and adjust his stance. In 1931 he shot 84 at Ridgeview for 18 holes and made the pages of Ripley’s Believe or Not museum’s daily cartoon newspaper as the world’s first blind golfer. That golf helped Russell is unquestioned, just as it has been a lifeline to today’s blind golfers. Men such as Jason Heathfield, a former Corporal in the Royal Air Force medical corps posted to Afghanistan. Diving for cover following a terrorist ambush, Heathfield’s leg caught on another soldier’s bayonet. The subsequent blood clotting resulting in a fit 41-year old losing nearly all his sight as well as suffering from fits and paralysis. His partner at the time could not cope with looking after him when he was invalided out, and so he was left alone to try and rebuild his life. “I never went out,” he recalls. “I just sat at home and drank until a friend got totally fed up with me and said, ‘Come on, we are going to get you doing something.’” For the “something,” they went to a local driving range. Despite his very limited vision he enjoyed it, and started going twice a week for lessons. “All of a sudden I didn’t need the drink and the tablets,” he recalls. “There are still a few dark times but blind golf allows me to be with people who understand the sort of thing I have been through, plus I am taking exercise and can make friends.” Few have had it tougher than the youngest ever Captain of the New York Police Department, Paul McCormack. Born in the U.S. of Irish parents, McCormack, by this time a Commander at the 41st precinct, South Bronx, was early on the scene of the 9/11 disaster and over the next three months, “I spent all my time down there on the pile, doing the bucket brigade, doing whatever I could to help.” Of the many bodies searched for was the only woman police officer to die in the tragedy. Her name was Moira Smith and McCormack still carries her memory with him
More than just a game, blind golf offers purpose and camaraderie for many who participate Jason Heathfield and guide
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Photo: Nicola McClean
Photo: Ginger Port
through a photograph on a specially designed ball marker he never plays golf without. “I want Moira to be looking up at me when I play,” he says. During the months he was at Ground Zero, the asbestos, the gases and the chemicals from that fatal day burnt into his eyes, and by 2010 he could no longer drive nor handle a gun. Unable to contribute to the force he so loved, he retired in April 2010. “I had to leave because of it,” he says. “It sucks, but what can you do?” His wife, Nicola, a professional photographer, took some remarkable shots of the work undertaken by the heroic rescue teams at the World Trade Centre and regularly tours with her Ground Zero 360 Exhibition to raise awareness of the sacrifices made. Returning to Ireland, McCormack had time on his hands and the innate toughness to battle against the loss of around 80% of his vision. A friend took him golfing, something he had enjoyed during those rare moments off in New York. To say that he picked things up again quickly would be an understatement. In 2016 and again in 2017 he won the U.S. Blind Open Championship. Characteristically, he downplays the achievement: “You can sit at home and be depressed about it,” he says, “or you can put your pants on like everybody else and live life.”
Undefeated by the challenges they face, blind golfers display strength beyond measure And this is what blind golfers do. They live life, rejoice in the company of their guides, whom they need as partners when playing, and get on with it. Through the International Blind Golfers Association the best, like Heathfield and McCormack, have a chance to travel the world with financial support to compete internationally, and for those who are not at the highest level there are national associations to help blind people enjoy their golf. Every two years they play for the Vision Cup, a mixed Ryder Cup style tournament between the best from North America against the Rest of the World. This year it was held at Portmarnock Links outside Dublin, and both Heathfield and McCormack were there. Like every golfer on site, they offered an inspiring glimpse at the possibilities so many of us often take for granted. As McCormack put it, “Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us to realize what we have.”
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[Top] Irish Minister of Education Joe McHugh (left) greets Paul McCormack. McCormack outside Ground Zero [above]; 9th hole at Portmarnock Links outside Dublin [below]
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GOLF Player
THE BOY FROM BILBAO 70
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SPAIN
Jon Rahm is from Barrika, a small town on Spain’s northern coast, near Bilbao and just 60 miles east of Pedrena, where the great Seve Ballesteros was born. Both men grew up with the Bay of Biscay as a backdrop, and that is where their similarities only begin
J ose Maria Olazabal had to overcome the problem and it nearly drove Sergio Garcia mad. Now it is Jon Rahm’s turn to cope with the meteoric expectations attached to being “The Next Seve”. Every time Rahm recovers brilliantly from a wild drive (thankfully Rahm is less afflicted by wild drives than the late Seve Ballesteros), every time he wins, every time he loses his temper—that does happen a bit—he gets compared to Ballesteros. It’s the curse of being such a remarkable, Spanish talent. “Who would ever compare me to Seve?” Rahm protests, understandably. “I am never going to be Seve. He was unique, so special, and what he did for golf in Spain was unbelievable. He is my idol and it is beautiful in a way to be compared but
I am Jon Rahm. I would be extremely happy to influence one kid to take up golf, whereas Seve influenced thousands.” And it was not just the kids who fell under Seve’s spell; Rahm’s father Edorta took up golf thanks to him. Edorta and his friends were all inspired to take up the game after Ballesteros captained the victorious European Ryder Cup team in 1997 on home soil, at Valderrama. If Edorta had not taken up golf then his son’s ambitions might never have been drawn away from trying to become a professional soccer player. Jon Rahm, a lifelong fan of his local soccer club Athletic Bilbao, was a promising goalkeeper but decided to concentrate on golf aged 14. The following year he won the Spanish Boys Junior Championship and his course was set. Before then, Rahm did meet Ballesteros although he nearly blew it. “I was 12 years old and too young to appreciate who I was meeting,” says Rahm, who turns 25 in November. “It was at a prize giving ceremony in the Basque Country and Olazabal and Seve were both there. I knew who Olazabal was but I had no idea who Seve was. I shook Olazabal’s hand and I almost missed shaking Seve’s hand. My dad almost had a heart attack because I nearly missed the chance! I never met him again but I have since become friends with Seve’s son Javier.”
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[Above] Jon Rahm and his dad, Edorta, at St Andrews during the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship; [right] Rahm celebrates his first PGA Tour victory in the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open
Despite the unstoppable rise of Rahm since turning professional after the 2016 U.S. Open at the age of 21— winning eight times in the three years since—it is unfair to measure him up against the incomparable Ballesteros, one of the most charismatic players ever, a driving force of Europe’s first Ryder Cup golden age in the eighties and nineties, the first Spaniard to win a major (The Open in 1979), the first European to win the Masters, in 1980, and a winner of five major trophies in all. Despite the generation gap Rahm is impressively versed on the life and times of Ballesteros, but perhaps it should not be surprising when Rahm has spent much of his life being compared to Seve. After a while you would look him up. “I was not fortunate enough to watch Seve play golf,” says Rahm, “but I have watched every clip of Seve you can find on YouTube.” Rahm did not learn to play golf like Ballesteros, who taught himself to play a vast array of shots with a handed-down 3-iron on the beach at Pedrena, but Rahm likes to perform his 4-iron flop shot on practice grounds, which he picked up from watching videos of Seve. The water in the Bay of Biscay probably tastes awful, but it might be worth sinking a glassful anyway, just in case. “I have watched Seve winning The Open at Lytham a million times,” adds Rahm. “How he played that back nine without hitting a fairway, yet shooting three or four under par to win is unbelievable. He was unorthodox and actually it was unheard of to play golf the way Seve did. He showed golfers that there is more than one way to win tournaments, no matter how big the occasion.”
Forging a new path
That Lytham Open was Seve’s first major victory, in 1979, after a final round in which he took his driver off the tee nine times but found the fairway with it just once. It was the week when Ballesteros made his global breakthrough, at the age of 22, and this brings up the most striking similarity between the two golfers. Rahm is nothing like Ballesteros in looks, voice, stature, walk or golf swing, but like Seve, Rahm came to global prominence aged 22. That moment came when he holed a 60-foot eagle putt on the final hole at Torrey Pines to win the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open, having only earned his PGA Tour card a few weeks before. “To win my first title like that, playing the way I did, it is hard to explain how it felt,” recalls Rahm. “Once the winning putt had dropped it was such an emotional explosion.” Phil Mickelson finished in a tie for 14th that week and saw Rahm’s finish. “He’s more than just a good young player,” said Mickelson of his Arizona State University alumnus at the time. “He’s one of the top players in the
“There’s an intangible that some guys have where they want to have the pressure... and he has that” WINTER 2019
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I
ON THE COURSE
www.golfforever.com
Rahm and Phil Mickelson entertain their Arizona State alumni at TPC Scottsdale in 2018
world. There’s an intangible that some guys have where they want to have the pressure, they want to be in that tough position, they want to have everything fall on their shoulders, and he has that.” Rahm holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spell at the top of the World Amateur Ranking (60 weeks) and won 11 individual titles during his career at Arizona State. The only player to emerge from ASU with more wins was Mickelson (16) and in fact it was Mickelson’s brother Tim who coached Rahm through his college years. At the European Tour’s 2019 Spanish Open in October, Rahm successfully defended his title to notch his eighth tour title in less than three years. It is Rahm’s fifth European win and it saw him overtake Ballesteros as the fastest Spaniard to reach five European Tour titles. Rahm did it in just 39 starts, at a win rate of 12.8 percent, whereas Ballesteros reached the same milestone after 49 starts. If you exclude majors and WGC tournaments, which are included in Rahm’s 39 European Tour appearances, the Spaniard has won five times in 14 regular European Tour events. That represents a staggering win rate of 35.7 percent.
“I can’t complain... a lot of what I’ve done has been a lot faster than I expected” Like all of the most promising tour pros, Rahm now needs to convert his talent into success in the majors and he is getting closer. In 2018 he finished fourth in the Masters and tied for fourth in the PGA Championship, before sharing third place at this year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Rahm is ranked fifth in the world (at the time of writing), he is the highest ranked player without a major title and to no-one in world golf does this phrase apply more: “It’s only a matter of time”. The chasing pack also hunting their first major is led by an impressive American quartet of Patrick Cantlay, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau but Rahm is first in line. “Well, I can’t complain can I,” says Rahm as he contemplates his professional success so far. “I’ve played really, really good golf. A lot of what I’ve done has been a lot faster than I expected. In my first year I ended up winning
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Pic: Mark Davidson
twice and I was surprised how quickly I got to the Top 10 in the World Rankings. “Right now, my goal, hopefully, is to give myself a chance in a major at some point. I’ve been close. I’ve been in top fives but not really ever contending for a major title. That is the main thing next year.” Last September came Rahm’s Ryder Cup debut in Paris. He was despondent after losing two fourball matches over the first two days before uncovering the real Jon Rahm in the singles, defeating Tiger Woods 2&1 to secure a vital point for Europe when the matches were in the balance. “That was for Seve,” said Rahm of his birdie putt to win. “That was for him, not for me. That was probably the best golf of my whole life on that last hole and it was very emotional. I couldn’t be happier that I could help the team.” No, it’s not fair to compare Rahm to Ballesteros, but sometimes you just can’t help it. The Canyons Course, Bighorn GC [above]; Rahm defeats Tiger Woods in the Ryder Cup singles in 2018
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Desert retreat
There are many reasons why Jon Rahm loves it when the PGA Tour stops in the “Desert” of southern California. The CareerBuilder Challenge at La Quinta (which became the Desert Classic this year and becomes The American Express next January) was where Rahm won his second PGA Tour title, in 2018, and in three appearances there he has never shot higher than 72 over 18 holes. But there’s more, because when the tour stops in the Desert it is a homecoming of sorts for Spaniard Rahm, who has represented Palm Desert’s famous Bighorn Golf Club since 2017 and where he now holds membership. Rahm stays at Bighorn when the tour is in town—it is a haven where he brings family and friends—and when Rahm won the CareerBuilder Challenge in 2018 it was to the steakhouse at Bighorn where he headed to celebrate, and where guests included Bighorn chairman R.D. Hubbard. “Jon is very interactive with our membership,” starts Tony Ogrodnick, general manager at Bighorn. “He comes to some of our member-guest events and sometimes he’ll hold a Q&A session during happy hour. Jon has charisma, maturity and a quick wit and he has a lot of fascinating stories. Our membership has really embraced him.” Bighorn, which opened in 1991, has two 18-hole golf courses, the original Arthur Hills-designed Mountains course and the Canyons Course, designed by Tom Fazio and which opened in 1998. At the leading edge of luxury golf and lifestyle in Palm Desert, Bighorn exudes distinguishing features, such as its state-of-the-art clubhouse and The Vault, which is a gallery of more than 50 classic cars and motorcycles belonging to club members. A designer sports bar, the Redline Lounge, overlooks the garage floor and with a racing simulator installed, it is one of Rahm’s favored pit-stops. “I am thrilled to be part of the Bighorn family,” says Rahm. “To be partnered with an internationally recognized club such as Bighorn is incredible and I proudly carry the logo on my bag”.
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CELEBRATIONS
IN THE MOMENT This is Kingdom’s “Celebration” issue, so here we take the brief literally by remembering some of the finest sports celebrations ever caught on camera. In narrowing down a broad range of moments, we have established what it takes to create a great, memorable celebration: passion, spontaneity and drama. Failing that, ski goggles, plastic sheeting and a life preserver will do
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Arnold Palmer hurls his visor skyward after shooting 65 in the final round of the 1960 U.S. Open, to complete a remarkable comeback. The visor is now an exhibit at the USGA museum in New Jersey
BOBBY JONES
July 2, 1930, Bobby Jones receives a ticker tape parade down Broadway, New York City, on his return from winning The [British] Amateur and The [British] Open. Jones was halfway to completing his historic grand slam that year. There is so much to love in this picture: the smiling Jones in his timeless three-piece suit, the genuine ticker tape, the car, the PathĂŠ News truck, the crowds and the Broadway backdrop...
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H onestly, sporting celebrations are not what they used to be. Case in point: baseball locker rooms nearly every time a team wins—even something not quite World Series-worthy. The poor backroom staff cover the lockers in plastic sheets so cleanup is easier, then the players put on logoed ski goggles to protect their eyes, photographers are assembled and drinks are carefully arranged on a table—and only then can the players spray beer and bubbly all over each other, with all the spontaneity of the Staten Island Ferry. It’s embarrassing. Even worse is that corporate sponsors have stepped in to drag sports’ celebrations even lower. Apart from the goggles we now have to endure the beer supplier’s name printed all over the plasticsheeted backdrop. Don’t even start on the choreographed touchdown celebrations in today’s NFL. Is this Dancing With the Stars or football? It was great when golfer Amy Alcott won the Dinah Shore (now ANA Inspiration) in 1991 at Rancho Mirage and jumped into Poppie’s Pond. She was the first and it was emotional, funny, and unexpected. “It was just a moment when I embraced my happiness,” Alcott said later. But these days the winner must get wet whether she likes it or not— and whether she can swim or not. In 1998, Pat Hurst waded rather than drown. In 1999, Dottie Pepper jumped in but surfaced with an ear infection, then a year later told Karrie Webb to take antibiotics after jumping in. Stacy Lewis’ mother fractured her leg in 2011 after joining in the jump, and that finally prompted not a cancellation of the ritual, but the transformation of the pond into a swimming pool, complete with chlorine, sponsored signage and attendants waiting with sponsor-branded towels. How spontaneous. Traditions are great, and they often begin with spontaneous moments. But some celebrations... Well, they’re as fleeting as the victory, and that’s OK. Trying to recreate those flashes of brilliance that so move us when they appear, like shooting stars, is not unlike telling the same joke over and over again. No matter how great it was the first time, there’s only one first time. The good news? New stars and new victories await, and with them will come new celebrations. Get your ski goggles ready.
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BOBBY ORR
Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins flies through the air after scoring the winning, overtime goal against the St. Louis Blues to clinch the 1970 Stanley Cup. The dramatic air time was in fact thanks to Orr being tripped up by the stick of the Blues’ Noel Picard. This moment at the Boston Garden was captured by the Boston Herald’s Ray Lussier and the club has since immortalized it with a statue
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“THIS IS A GAME CHANGER”
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“I’M A BIG BELIEVER IN STAMINAPRO”
Justin Rose
Tony Finau
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST
PGA TOUR WINNER
“I DON’T GO WITHOUT THEM”
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“THEY ARE PART OF MY TOOLKIT”
Cameron Champ
Steve Stricker
PGA TOUR WINNER
PGA TOUR WINNER
BRANDI C H A S TA I N
Brandi Chastain caused a stir at the 1999 Women’s World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The right-footed player scored the winning penalty against China with her left foot and removed her shirt as she sunk to her knees. A sports bra contract would soon follow
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JOHN MCENROE
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The moment John McEnroe defeated Sweden’s Bjorn Borg to win Wimbledon for the first time, on the 4th of July 1981. Borg had defeated McEnroe over five sets in the 1980 final, which many still consider the greatest match of all time. McEnroe won in four sets in ’81 to embellish a rivalry that became known as “Fire and Ice” due to the players’ contrasting personalities
TRAVEL Hawaii
TRADE WINDS & FAIR WAY S Oahu and the many arguments for tuning out and teeing up
B
y the time Hawaii became a state, in August of 1959, Arnold Palmer had carded 15 professional victories, including the first of his four Masters. He wouldn’t have known it at the time, but the state would become a beautiful part of his life story, host to golf courses he would design and to his wedding to his second wife, Kit. As such, Hawaii is a sort of “must play” pilgrimage for Palmer fans, and a dream destination for golfers in any case. Here, the aloha spirit runs deep—an irresistible facet of what might be the planet’s most perfect place for golf. Hawaii became America’s 50th and (for now) final state on August 21, 1959, just seven months after Alaska joined the nation. That the last two states to join did so in
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the same year was by design, not coincidence, as Democrats in Congress believed Hawaii would be a Republican stronghold while Republicans felt Alaska would forever lean Democratic. Admitting them both at once would preserve balance, Congress believed — and it did, though not exactly to plan. Alaska long has favored the GOP, not the Dems, and blue Hawaii has rarely supported Republicans. Whether this says something about Congressional foresight or people’s unpredictability doesn’t matter in Hawaii today, where changing tides and shifting winds are a happily accepted part of life. Indeed, who wants to think about politics while palms sway overhead, tropical drinks are poured and some of the world’s best golf is waiting? And is it ever. The golf here is legendary, and Oahu is its center.
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O
ne of the few places on earth that lives up to its postcards, the main island in Hawaii— or Hawai’i, as written in the ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language)—has it all: touristpacked fun in Waikiki, remote beaches like that at Mākua, small waves, big waves, Michelin-starred restaurants, fantastic food trucks, high end, low end and everything in-between. The options are similarly diverse when it comes to golf, and whether you find yourself at a private club or on a local muni you’re bound to have a great time. But before you hit the course, start at the beach bar under the banyan tree behind the Moana Surfrider hotel. When it was planted in 1904, the tree was roughly 7’ tall and seven years old. Today it is 75’ tall and spreads 150 feet across the courtyard, providing shade, ambience and the perfect place to enjoy a tropical cocktail while you plan your stay on Oahu. The hotel itself is lovely, a Victorian structure that opened in 1901 as the area’s first hotel and which has grown with Waikiki’s popularity over the years, adding levels and later adjacent buildings. Today it’s a far cry from the sleepy beachside “First Lady of Waikiki” favored by The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) in the 1920s, and so an hour or two among the crowds here will have you ready for the relative tranquility of a golf course. Thus begins the dilemma, because with so many great options your biggest question will not be where to play, but rather how long to delay your return flight. One more day won’t hurt (and it won’t).
Close to Waikiki
It’s never going to host a major, but the Ala Wai Golf Course (honolulu.gov/des/golf/alawai.html) is walking distance from many Waikiki hotels. It features views of Diamond Head and the Koolau mountain range, and few munis can say that. The course sits along the Ala Wai Canal, where local canoe teams practice and where locals enjoy all manner of water sports. Pour a Mai Tai into your thermos, forget the scorecard, and prepare for a charming, relaxed round not far from the beach. If nothing else, hit the driving range and knock off the jet lag before heading to greener pastures, as it were. Not terribly far from Waikiki, on the other side of Diamond Head, sits Wai’alae Country Club (waialaecc. com), the private and stunning host to the Sony Open. Seth Raynor laid out the original track in 1927 but a Desmond Muirhead renovation in 1992 turned it into the beauty that it is today. Set in the Waialae-Kahala neighborhood, it’s a members- and guests-only affair, with a signature par-3 No.8 that enjoys a full 186 yards along the Pacific Ocean. Continuing east along the Kalaniana’ole Highway you’ll pass the nature preserve at Hanauma Bay, famous for its epic snorkeling and kid-friendly conditions—calm and protected,
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can be spotted spouting offshore, meaning that a round here should provide some manner of a good experience regardless of whether or not course conditions are perfect. Before continuing up the highway and turning onto Oahu’s east coast, stop and watch the body surfers at Sandy Beach for a bit. The waves here break close to shore and can be huge and steep, leading to epic wipeouts. If the surf’s up you’ll see a line of photographers on the sand waiting to catch the next wreck, and it can be fun to watch (we advise against joining in unless you’re a very good swimmer in excellent shape—and always speak to the lifeguard before going into the water, no matter which beach you’re on in Hawaii.)
with plenty of shallow areas (hanaumabaystatepark.com). If you decide you want to spend time ogling an array of colorful fish and other sea life (and it’s worth it), the well-priced shuttle from the Waikiki hotels includes snorkeling gear and ensures you’ll get access to the bay. If you decide to drive yourself, bring your own gear and arrive very, very early in the morning as the limited parking spots go quickly. If you’d rather skip the fish and get on to more golf, Hawai’i Kai Golf Course is just up the road (hawaiikaigolf.com). The William Bell design opened to the public in 1973, with an 18-hole executive course by Robert Trent Jones joining the original championship layout some years later. Online reviews are all over the map with regard to playing conditions but, as one local wrote, most of the complaints seem to be “first world golf problems.” The ocean is in view from every hole, on a clear day Maui and Molokai are visible, and in winter whales
Heading North
Kailua is popular with windsurfers and kite surfers, famous for its consistent wind and rich views. Just half an hour’s drive from Honolulu, the pace of life here might as well have it on another island. This is a relaxed area, and so it makes a great spot for golf. The Royal Hawaiian Golf Cub (royalhawaiiangc.com) takes care of that nicely with a course originally co-designed by Pete and Perry Dye (recently redesigned by Greg Norman) and a 45,000 square-foot clubhouse with nearly every amenity a golfer could want. Set in the Maunawili Valley between the stately Mount Olomana and the Ko’olau Mountains, the course puts you at the foot of Hawaii’s dramatic rain-carved cliffs, with views in all directions. Every hole is a study in jungle beauty, with incredibly well-manicured fairways and greens framed by lava walls, swaying palms, banana and Koa
If you’re complaining, you’re not looking around; there are no bad days on course here
Hanauma Bay [above]; Royal Hawaian Golf Club [right]
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www.majesty-golf.com
Evan Schiller | golfshots.com
trees, and lush foliage. There are flowing streams with fish swimming in them, and a picture-worthy pond on No.2. It’s challenging, but if you’re looking for an immersive Hawaiian golf experience, this should do the trick. So should the nearby Ko’olau Golf Club, and it’s no surprise that there’s a package available that allows you to play both (koolaugolfclub.com). The deal is billed as the “Jurassic Golf Package” because both courses have you in an environment reminiscent of the movie’s epic setting, and “epic” is the word. The course at Ko’Olau is a 1992 Dick Nugent design, challenging due to its use of ravines as targets for holes, large bunkers and 7,310 yards. Still, there are the views to distract from (or to blame for) any bad play.
Ko’olau golf [above]; Turtle Bay [below]
North Shore
While most of Oahu’s golf is located in the southeastern corner of the island, the North Shore boasts an Arnold Palmer-designed course at the lovely Turtle Bay Resort, and it’s one of Oahu’s highlights (turtlebayresort.com). Perched about as far north as one can go on Oahu, the place was so beloved by Palmer that he married his second wife, Kathleen “Kit” Gawthrop, here in 2005. The course is a must-play for anyone visiting Hawaii, ranked among Golf Magazine’s “Top 10 New Courses” when it opened in 1992 and regularly earning rave reviews since then. The design is a fantastic mix of honoring both golf’s past and the site on which the course sits, as the front 9 brings a Scottish links-style layout while the back is more tropical, making its way through lush jungle. It’s also a responsible course, enclosing a 100-acre wetland known as the Punaho’olapa marsh, which provides a beautiful backdrop. Water comes into play on 14 holes, perhaps most amazingly on No.17, which offers panoramic Pacific Ocean views from the green.
The Palmer design at Turtle Bay is one of Oahu’s best, and the resort is great If you need more, Kahuku Golf Course is just 10 minutes from Turtle Bay and offers a public option that has charmed more than a few visitors. Its nine holes may not be as well manicured as the Palmer course, but Kahuku is beloved by locals and it’s one of only three Oahu courses that plays on beachfront. The setting is Scottish in its rustic links layout but Hawaiian in spirit. Built in 1937, it hasn’t changed much since and that’s just fine with the locals.
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Inland and the Return South
Waimea Bay [above]; and Hawaii Prince
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Aloha Spirit
Before saying goodbye to Oahu, there’s another Arnold Palmer gem here to play at Hawaii Prince Golf Club (hawaiiprincegolf.com). Palmer and his longtime design partner Ed Seay built three interchangeable nines here in 1992, 27 holes laid out over 270 acres of verdant island beauty. Views of the Waianae Mountains complement brilliant white sand bunkers and strategically placed lakes on this relaxed experience so easily reached from Waikiki, and it’s easy to see why this is an area favorite. Stay at the Prince Waikiki resort (princewaikiki.com) for the complete experience, sand enjoy the golf, great dining and a great location under the swaying palms, within earshot of the waves, and far, far away from politics, work, and whatever the headlines are saying.
Photo: Prince Waikiki
On the drive south to Royal Kunia Country Club from the North Shore you’ll pass right by Waimea Bay, home to waves that in winter months can run 20-25 feet high, which produces a 30-40’ face. Waimea is an important spot in the world of surfing, a historical proving ground of big wave legends and home to the “Eddie,” a big-wave tournament named for Hawaiian Eddie Aikau. Aikau was Waimea’s first lifeguard and, over his time there, he saved more than 500 people from the dangerous conditions. In fact, not a single life was lost at Waimea while he worked there, regularly braving waves more than 30’ high. Just before turning inland towards Royal Kunia you’ll pass through the town of Haleiwa, and a drink and lunch at the casual Haleiwa Joe’s is recommended, “where sandy feet are welcome” (haleiwajoes.com). Royal Kunia sits in Waipahu, roughly equidistant from both Waikiki and the North Shore, 30 minutes from either. Sited high above the Ewa plains and overlooking the whole of the island, the views from this course are spectacular. Pearl Harbor, the Ko’olau and Waianae mountain ranges, the City of Honolulu, Diamond Head… They’re all visible from here, and really the feast for the eyes alone is worth the price of admission. The Robin Nelson-designed course reportedly is kept in good enough shape, and the on-site restaurant garners favorable reviews as well. As for a signature hole, well, that likely depends on your favorite view. From Royal Kunia it’s a quick descent back to the sea and to Ko Olina Golf Club in Kapolei. Ko Olina (koolinagolf.com) is a Ted Robinson design from 1990 and, considering its history and amenities, it’s quite a big operation. The 18 holes display a sophisticated array of design elements, including multi-tiered greens, attractive water features and challenging hazards, while the 35,000 square-foot clubhouse is a destination in its own right. Both men’s and ladies lockers have showers, steam rooms, and Jacuzzis, and the on-site retail shop has won awards. There’s even a Roy’s here—Roy’s Ko Olina—just one of 31 locations worldwide serving Chef Roy Yamaguchi’s James Beard Award-winning fusion cuisine. Michelle Wie honed her game here while growing up in Honolulu, and the course has hosted LPGA and PGA Tour Champions events in the past. There are a number of accommodations available in the Ko Olina Resort area, and staying at any of them will get you on the course, a Hawaiian vacation unto itself.
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TRAVEL Spain
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Kingdom’s John Halnan and his wife Suchada tour Spain’s premier wine region to mix memories and sample its wares, old school and new
T
o my shame I can’t remember his name. I had just turned 20 when I first crossed the threshold of the bodega on the corner of Santa Catalina market. The shopkeeper, without expression but with late-middle age spreading ever so gently over his belt, scratched the halfcrown of his remaining hair with one hand as the other, with an instructive sideways wave, beckoned me to look around. So invited, I gazed across the breadth of metallic shelves stocked deep with bottles and tried to comprehend the stylised labels all proclaiming noble heritage, impeccable provenance and assurances of magical quality. But these product statements were in a code I couldn’t crack. In a square room, I was lost. Eventually, not wishing to appear catatonic as well, I simply picked a bottle—not from knowledge, but because it was a Rioja from 1978 and it was under 400 pesetas. Previously taciturn, the shopkeeper seemed quietly pleased with my near-random selection and suggested I let the wine air for a while as it was still young. That night my Catalan roommates and I enjoyed the bottle so much over dinner that they asked where I’d got it, but when I mentioned the bodega they reacted with scorn saying how the shopkeeper there is so rude, hates young people and that they never buy beer or wine there. It was with a slight sense of trepidation, then, that I ventured back to the bodega a week later, yet my
nerves softened to pleasure as the shopkeeper not only remembered me but warmly asked how the wine the previous week was and what had I enjoyed about it. He then came out from behind the counter and recommended a different wine. It was well priced and again rich, oaky and vibrant. Over the next two years—when I wasn’t wandering elsewhere or utterly penniless—I went into the store most weeks and excitedly chatted wine with the shopkeeperturned-codebreaker as he gradually extended my palette and knowledge, so that after a while I knew my wineries, my Gran Reservas from my Crianzas, the different sub-regions of Rioja and which years were good and which were excellent. Fast-forward 30 years and Spain has grown exponentially as a wine producing country, with high-quality modern wines emerging from new regions such as Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Bierzo and Galicia to name just a few, though Rioja is still the name synonymous with Spain’s best. I don’t know what has become of the shopkeeper, the shop is no longer there, in fact half of Santa Catalina market is gone, too, as the Roman remains discovered beneath it have become a site of archaeological interest, but my passion for Rioja, ignited as youngster, endures. So it was with great excitement that my photographer wife and I exited Madrid’s airport this summer, pressed the ignition of our Hertz rental and headed North in search of great wine, a little golf, and the magic of Rioja.
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R I O JA D O C The official Rioja Denomination (DOC) is split into three sub regions: Rioja Baja to the east (also known as Rioja Orientale) Rioja Alta to the west, and the confusingly split region of Rioja Alavesa, which sits in two pockets in the North of the Rioja Alta. For a wine to be certified a Rioja it has to be produced in one of these three regions and follow the rules of the DOC. As well as quality control, harvest density and other production regulations, Rioja DOC has strict rules on barrel and bottle ageing. Designed to give a clear indication of quality and drinkability, Crianzas have to spend a minimum of 12 months in the barrel and 12 months in the bottle, Reservas 12 months in barrel and 24 months in bottle, and Gran Reservas 24 months in barrel and three years in bottle before being released for sale. Given these guidelines most wineries will only make Gran Reservas in special years where the intensity of fruit is such that it is complemented rather than overcome by the oak influence from such a long period in barrel. Standing guard over the North of Rioja is the Sierra Cantabria mountain range, to which fields of vines in orderly lines slope up. Not just providing altitude and cool temperatures, the mountain range plays a further critical role in developing grape intensity by catching and emptying the rain clouds coming in from the Atlantic, leaving Rioja relatively dry. The region’s soil is predominantly clay and limestone and the dry conditions mean roots have to dig deep and vines be hardy to survive. The predominant grape variety is Tempranillo. It is an early fruiting grape (“temprano” means “early” in Spanish) that, when grown in Rioja’s cooler, drier climate and altitude, conversely ripens slowly, delivering power, intensity and depth of flavour. Flowing through the entire region from north-west to south-east is the Ebro river, eventually exiting Spain into the Mediterranean. In ancient times the river played an important strategic role, with the Romans using it as a passageway to ferry troops into the region and also as a way of transporting wine out and then across the Mediterranean back home to Rome. To this day there still exists amphorae (terracotta flagons) stamped Tricio (a Riojan pottery) in Rome, although sadly their contents are long imbibed.
Gran Reservas have to spend a minimum of 24 months in the barrel and three years in the bottle before release
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HARO
LAGUARDIA
LOGROÑO
L O G RO Ñ O After leaving the sprawl of Madrid’s suburbs, and taking in the arched Roman Aqueduct at Segovia along with a few droplets of wine en route in Ribera del Duero, we headed for Logroño. It is located slap bang in the middle of Rioja and makes a good base from where you can explore the region. Logroño’s center is medieval and contains an impressive cathedral, but most visitors head for the narrow backstreets—Calle San Juan in particular—to sample wine after wine and tapas dish after dish late into the night. A warning for earlybirds: most places don’t open until 8:30pm. On our first morning, after a needlessly circuitous route thanks to our navigation system, we arrived at the stone gate of Marques de Murrieta. The haze from the night before cleared as the view of the stunning winery came into focus. Its story is the beginning of the modern day history of Rioja, and it’s a good tale. The winery was founded in 1852 by Luciano de Murrieta, a Spanish nationalist born not in Rioja, but in Peru. Stranger still, the seed of his inspiration to make Riojan wine was planted in London, a city to which he moved as a young man and a city, he was shocked to discover, which viewed Spanish wine as a bit of a joke. Determined to change that, Murrieta moved to Spain and eventually went to work in the wine industry. Although based in Rioja, he frequently traveled to Bordeaux to learn from the best, and it wasn’t long before he’d established himself as a quality wine maker. In 1872 he purchased the Ygay estate that now bears his name and released his first premium wine, Chateau Ygay, modeled on (and named for) the great Chateaux of
GOLF Rioja is not Scotland, Florida, or even the Algarve, but while it is not a golf destination per se, that doesn’t mean there aren’t valid options to add club & ball to a barrel & bottle tour. The region has three courses and all three welcome visitors. We visited the very friendly Rioja Alta club which is a reasonable €45 to play during the week and €70 on the weekend. The course is in excellent condition and being hilly provides great views of the surrounding countryside as well as a test of golf. The clubhouse is modern and stylish and—as you would expect in Rioja—has excellent food and wine options if you want to linger post round. Golfrioja.com
Bordeaux. Arguably this was Rioja’s first “brand,” and it was with this wine that Murrieta eventually realised his dream of exporting (at a premium) to London. The French, being French, objected to Luciano’s success and demanded he drop the “Chateau” from his label and thus Chateau Ygay became Castillo Ygay, to this day one of Rioja’s best wines. Towards the end of Murrieta’s life, a more favorable name change occured, when in recognition of his work, he was awarded the title Marques de Murrieta. The present owners of the Ygay estate, the Cebrian Sagarriga family, have maintained the Marques’ exacting standards and invested millions in the estate, which today houses the winery, a museum, a high-quality restaurant and shop. If you visit but one winery in Rioja this might be the most all-encompassing experience. Even closer to Logroño is the convivial Ontañón winery. Despite its location, its heritage is from Quel, an old Moorish fortress in Rioja Baja. Locals had long profited from the vines, set deep in the Quel region’s rocky slopes, but the wines were local affairs, sold in leather flagons not bottles. In the 1970s, Ontañón’s founder, Gabriel Perez Cuevas, who came from generations of grape growers, was determined to put “Quel” wines on the map and so created his Rioja winery, today called El Templo del Vino. Despite arriving on the edge of siesta-time I was afforded a leisurely tour and tasting with Jesus Arechavaleta, Ontañón’s director of wine tourism. Ontañón produces a range of wines steeped in heritage but eminently modern,
The impressive traditional local-cut stone buildings of Marqes de Murrieta [left] and the facade of Ontañón sculpture-rich Temple of Wine [above]
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including Ontañón Ecologico, a 100% organic tempranillo. Its Gran Reserva 2010 could easile be mistaken for a high-end Napa blend, which perhaps underlines the winery’s modern touch. This touch was complemented by a Reserva from 1994, which my host graciously offered. We popped, poured, aerated, and drank. Not only was it in fantastic condition but transported me back to my youth. Sadly the time-travel effect came without an accompanying weight loss, further emphasising how styles have changed. Nostalgic and happy, if not lighter exactly, we headed for our last Logroño winery: Viña Real. Located atop the Cerra de la Mesa, 15 minutes from town, this sophisticated and modern winery reflects the innovative aesthetic of Bordeaux-based architect Phillipe Mazieras. Larger and more industrial than some, its wines nonetheless represent the terroir of Rioja, and if you spot a Viña Real on a menu, it’s a safe choice that should satisfy both taste and budget.
L AG UA R D I A In the heart of Rioja Alta, close to the Sierra Cantabria and classified as one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, the hilltop Laguardia offers bucolic views of vineyards all around. Small and peaceful, its medieval stone streets are easily explored on foot with plenty of fine bars and restaurants. Atmospheric, it’s also practical, with a number of hotels and a host of top wineries within a 15-minute drive. The famous Marques de Riscal and Muriel wineries are 10 minutes south in the aptly named hamlet of Ciego (“ciego” means “blind” in Spanish—as in blind drunk) and just west is the ultra-modern Macán, a joint venture between two wine giants: France’s Rothschild and Spain’s Vega Sicilia. Our first call was at Artadi, a mere two-minute stroll down the hill from Laguardia. We were driven to Artadi’s local vineyards by the delightful Cristina Amutio in the winery’s white Hackney Carriage, so familiar to anyone who’s ridden a London taxi. If Rioja is about tradition then Artadi is about innovation. Eschewing the rules of the DOC, legally Artadi can not be classified a Rioja. What it can be classified as is a damn fine wine. The winery dates to 1985 when 12 local co-operative grape growers decided to become winemakers. From those 12 in the early 90s one man took control, Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle. Not one for standing still, Juan Carlos has broken all the DOC rules in terms of barrel ageing and storage, and broken all the marketing conventions in terms of consistency of brand and product. The winery ages its wines in barrel for as long or little as it thinks required, it employs as many natural techniques as possible, including a devotion to the organic and using horses in the vineyards. One of my favorite Artadi wines is Pagos Viejos, a creation from three
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Laguardia [top] and organic cultivation [above], the vineyard that supplies El Pison [top right] and the staff of Bodegas Bilbainas at the turn of the 19th century [bottom right]
of their best vineyards. I was looking forward to tasting recent vintages but was told it’s no longer made. Instead Artadi now concentrates solely on six single-vineyard wines, “Vinos de Parcela,” aiming to create authentic expressions of the land, and three “Village” wines reflecting their heritage. Top of the production tree is Artadi’s single estate collectable cult wine, El Pison, sourced entirely from one tiny walled vineyard behind the winery. The vineyard originally belonged to Juan Carlos’ grandfather, who would no doubt be astonished to learn that his modest plot now has collectors competing to pay over $300 per bottle for the wine produced from there. If you get the chance to buy, do, but wait at least 10 years to open. Another winery within walking distance of Laguardia is Sierra Cantabria, which is currently building a second winery 20 miles away near San Vicente, opposite another Rioja rock star, Bodega Contador. Steeped in tradition, Sierra Cantabria is a five-generation family success story with a range of brands, starting with the well-priced Sierra Cantabria, through to their single estate legends El Puntido and La Nieta. The latter is outstanding. Made to age, the 2009 is only now entering its drinking window, which should stay open another 15 years. A decadent wine, it gives good reason to linger just a little longer in Laguardia.
H A RO After the local embrace of Laguardia, Haro feels like a big city, so much so that we diverted to the nearby village of Briñas. We stayed in the recently restored Palacio Tondon, a hotel that sits serenely on the banks of the Elber. If you book a room here, be sure to get one facing the river. Like with so many towns and industries around the world, the railway was key to Rioja’s development. In Haro’s case it linked the town with the port of Bilbao and thus with the outside world. With transport by mule over the Sierra no longer neccessary, new markets opportunities arose and both local and French wine producers were quick to capitalize. Today there are seven wineries that surround the train station, five of them founded over a century ago. Each is open to visitors, but perhaps they’re best enjoyed all at once in June, when the group combines to hold La Cata festival.
The railway linked Haro with the port of Bilbao and thus with the outside world
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From the oldest of the “Station 7,” I am a big fan of Tondonia, from Lopez de Heredia (1877). Its Tondonia 2004 Reserva is a solid representative of the historic flavor profiles of Rioja, with a wonderful balance of leather, subdued fruit, white pepper and acidity. Also, Muga and its upmarket brand, Prado Enea, are great, the latter a perfumed, ephemeral wine. My only gripe is that 10 years ago these were a bargain but today they’re properly priced—a shame for this decades-long fan. At Bodegas Bilbainas to sample Vina Pomal, we were greeted by the charming Mabel Oyono Fernandez with what I presumed to be a glass of Champagne, but which I soon learned was a locally produced 2014 Pomal Reserva. Made in the “methode Champagnoise” from Grenache grapes, I have yet to find it for sale outside of Spain; but if you see it, buy it. Otherwise, Vina Pomal has long been known as one of Rioja’s leading red wines, and the winery is more than worth a visit. Come on a summer Sunday afternoon and there might be an orchestra playing in the gardens. After days of wine, at the dawn of our last full day in Rioja Suchada refused to open her eyes (or the shutters on the windows), leaving me to venture alone to Rioja Alta. She may not have missed me but she certainly missed out. Founded by five families in 1890, the original Rioja Alta winery still exists and to tour it is to walk through Haro wine history. The house’s two leading traditional reds are the 890 and 904, named for the year the winery was formed and the year the Senor Ardanza joined the company, respectively. Both are sublime, but despite its history Rioja Alta doesn’t only offer traditional reds. Its brands such as Martelo and Ariana present superb value for money, while Ardanza is a superbly balanced bridge between old world and new. The 2010, while not a Gran Reserva, was nonetheless crafted like one, and it has been marked a “Selección Especial,” a label issued only four times: in 1964, 1973, 2001, and now 2010. So many wonderful wines were discovered during our trip, but it wasn’t until I returned home that Rioja’s magic was truly revealed. In London or anywhere else in the world, I can pull the cork on one of the wines listed above and suddenly I’m back in Spain, back in a lively café late at night, back in sun-drenched vineyards with an expert wine maker, back by the Santa Catalina market, staring at the shelves in a bodega with a man who’s name I can’t remember. Not wanting to linger, I reach out and select a bottle almost at random, knowing my life is forever enriched.
Using only American Oak, Rioja Alta is one of the only wineries in the world to employ its own cooper to make and repair barrels
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SE VENDE VINO Is it a new movement, like craft beer and ‘growers’ champagne, or is it going back to how wine was always produced and sold? It’s an interesting argument but what is indisputable is that more and more grape growers in Rioja are not selling their produce to the mass brands, but instead pressing their own wine to sell direct to the public. As you can imagine, quality is hit and miss but there is plenty of fun to be had in the sampling, along with many a bargain. So if you see the sign outside a house or yard, stop, knock on the door and try it out. You may not discover the next big thing every time but you will be assured a friendly welcome and truly local experience.
Legendary Lifestyle
There’s a reason Gary Player chose Boca Grove to be his first American home and it’s not just because he made history here.
Legends don’t make tee times and neither will you Located in the heart of Boca Raton, Florida | Limited Number of Non-Resident Memberships Available Contact Jennifer M. Jolly at (561) 717-6733 | jjolly@bocagrove.org | www.bocagrove.org
CAR Genesis
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I climbed into the new Genesis G70 with no expectations and I climbed out with no doubts: This is a lot of car, not just a lot of car for the money—though it is that, too. There are surprises at every turn in terms of the standard and available technologies, the solid driving experience and the thoughtfulness one can tell went into the vehicle. But then of course surprises and careful thinking would have been required: Genesis is a relatively new marque (albeit one backed by quite a long history) and it wasn’t exactly jumping into the shallow end by entering the luxury sedan market. The decision shows no small amount of self confidence from Genesis, and if I had to base my opinion on a week spent in its G70, I’d say the confidence is justified
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o those who have followed the Genesis story closely, forgive me for being late to the party. It’s not that I specifically avoided the brand, it’s simply that I never came into contact with it beyond the odd rental, and those were Hyundais or Kias—capable but hardly inspiring me to imagine the car I’ve driven this week. Hyundai-Kia is Genesis’ parent company, of course, and when the first example of the new marque was announced in 2007 as a “progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan,” there were skeptics. This is a space long occupied by the Germans, after all, and specifically by BMW’s 3, 5 and 7 Series. Add Japan and Jaguar to the conversation, Cadillac, and the prodigal Italian with its recent Giulia, and suddenly the room feels crowded—and it is. But then consider who Genesis brought to the party: Peter Schreyer, the man credited with the original Audi TT, headed the Genesis concept. Bentley design chief Luc Donckerwolke came aboard, then Manfred Fitzgerald from Lamborghini. Albert Biermann—former head of BMW’s venerated “M” program—was named head of R&D for the entire Hyundai Motor Group, and two other BMW M engineers followed: Fayez Abdul Rahman and Thomas Schemera. There’s former Bugatti designer Alexander “Sasha” Selipanov, as well, plus a deep bench of Hyundai talent, and so it’s no wonder that Genesis is doing great work, most recently evident in the G70 being named 2019 North American Car of the Year.
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The G70 I was given was the 3.3T Prestige, an almost fully optioned version of the model that debuted in fall of 2017. For anyone who’s driven a rear-wheel luxury sedan (AWD is also available), the G70 is reassuringly familiar in many ways: good driver ergonomics and customizable fit, an intelligent instrument and dash layout, and adequate headroom, passenger space and storage. To my eyes the G70 is also attractive, finding its place on the line between “sport” and “executive” like so many others in its class. The seats in particular are worth mentioning: well built, sporty and comfortable. Ours were quilted Nappa leather and the tailoring was tight, mirroring the quilted door panels. We also had heated/ventilated fronts and heated rears, with the driver getting 16-way power adjustability and 4-way power lumbar. Likewise, the steering wheel is very good, leather wrapped, shaped for performance and nicely sized for my hands (I take an “L” golf glove). Audio is fine, handled by Lexicon, a Harman company perhaps better known for home audio solutions, and the climate control system is what you’d expect, as is the “smart” cruise control with stop-and-go ability, and the blind-spot/collision warning system. We had a wide sunroof; proper aluminum interior trim; crisp heads-up display; sharp 8” touchscreen for navigation and audio/tech controls; surround-view monitor with a “bird’s-eye view” of the car when in reverse; heated mirrors and other bits. The wireless charging pad for phones is good—just toss the phone in the console tray like in any car, but no messing about with cables; it just sits there and charges. There’s both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, setting the G70 apart from some of its competitors (which offer only one of those) and the hands-free Bluetooth phone system works fine. USB ports are here if you need them: two up front and one in the rear, and controls and such all feel appropriately high quality.
Designed and built by an automotive All Star team, Genesis vehicles deliver an All Star experience
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Make Your Own History, Estate Living In a Resort Setting
THE ULTIMATE LUXURY GOLF GETAWAY Behind the gates of Kingsmill Resort, there is a 7,000-square-foot private estate with commanding views of the James River. This elite accommodation boasts extravagant appointments and brings you one-of-a-kind Moments of Service, including a private chef and estate manager, plus exclusive access to two luxury SUVs and two customized golf carts.
Stay at The Estate at Kingsmill—and play the resort’s championship courses—for the ultimate bragging rights. Start planning your getaway at kingsmill.com/the-estate or 757.253.8233.
Something for Everyone
Outside there are elegant lines; good paint (our deep “Havana Red” had a pleasing metallic shimmer to it); an aggressive air vent cut into the side which some will love and others not, I suspect; quality 19” wheels revealing large Brembo brakes… As the options added up I began to question if the car was going to be any good to drive. At roughly $50k as tested (base near $35,450)—markedly less than its competition—it’s fair to wonder what was left to spend under the hood. But then one remembers the names Biermann and Schreyer and so perhaps it shouldn’t have surprised me that the G70 is quite a vehicle. Our test version was powered by a 3.3L twin-turbo V6 that makes 365hp and a satisfying 376 lb-ft of torque. That accounts for the fact that, in any of the four available driving modes (there’s also a programmable custom mode), acceleration was spritely, hitting 0-60 in an estimated 4.5 seconds in “Sport” mode. Around town, drivers will want “Comfort” or “Eco” modes, and even here acceleration is good, and particularly good compared to some other cars. Sport mode is where the G70 shines, with power coming on quickly, lateral bolsters inflating to support the driver (this is programmable), dampers stiffening and steering tightening. Lower gears in the 8-speed transmission get more love in Sport as well, with longer hold times before transitions. There are paddle shifters if you need them.
Fast but not furious, the G70 is thrilling and solid—a fantastic car
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At speed the car is well planted on the road, benefitting from an excellent chassis and good software in the drive control systems, and a transmission that was good about not upshifting when we were cornering. Around town the car was also enjoyable, neatly darting through traffic while providing a comfortable ride. I’m guessing the G70 would prove a worthy companion on a long road trip as well, though here I’m curious to try its larger siblings, the G80 and G90—or the Genesis GV80 and GV70 SUVs on which the company is working. As poised and capable as it is fast and fun (I smiled at the “Batman”–style shadow cast on the ground when the car is unlocked), the G70 might have been my first go in a Genesis, but it most definitely will not be my last. Here’s to new beginnings.
Genesis has gone big in golf in recent years, sponsoring the Genesis Invitational (formerly the Genesis Open and Los Angeles Open) at Riviera Country Club since 2017. The 2020 event is scheduled for Feb 10-16 and will be hosted by Tiger Woods. Given elevated status for the first time, it will feature a larger purse ($9.3 million) and a tighter field from 144 golfers down to 120. The Genesis Invitational joins the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in a special tour category. “For us it is a remarkable event,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, Global Head of Brand for Genesis. “We will relentlessly strive to make this the best tournament on the Tour.” genesisinvitational.com
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It’s the moment you realize why golf is your passion.
Designed by legendary golfing architect Rober t Trent Jones Sr., this 18-hole championship layout challenges players of every skill level, and is surrounded with breathtaking sights and sounds of the island – all cour tesy of Half Moon Resor t, the most iconic luxury destination in Jamaica.
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HalfMoon.com
CLUB
The flocks of Canada geese that migrate south to the Carolinas and Georgia know a thing or two. They like to feel the sun warming their backs, to paddle in cool waters, explore silent river inlets and enjoy the local seafood. That’s living
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LAKE OCONEE Georgia
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he Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, is midway between Atlanta and Augusta, in the heart of Georgia, yet it feels like a world all on its own. Views of the vast, sprawling Lake Oconee stretch one way while towering forests of pine, oak, dogwood and maple envelope visitors with their verdant embrace. Five magnificent golf courses are just the beginning, with an array of outdoor and indoor activities and restaurants ready for every taste and occasion. The lakeside hotel is complemented by lake houses and secluded cottages to complete that sense of escape.
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THE LANDINGS CLUB Georgia
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eparated from the mainland by the rivers of Wilmington, Moon and Little Ogeechee, Skidaway Island—on Georgia’s stunning Atlantic shoreline—is very close to the historic city of Savannah yet the land lies much the same as it has done for centuries. The Landings Club is an expansive, private retreat boasting six golf courses— including one of Arnold Palmer’s finest creations—two marinas and more sports and lifestyle options than a Thanksgiving ingredients list. The club even offers 11 courts for pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in America.
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KINGSMILL Virginia
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et back from the banks of the tranquil James River before it reaches Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic, and just south of Colonial Williamsburg on the Virginia Peninsula, Kingsmill Resort is a holiday hideaway of rare vintage. Here in 1607 the very earliest British colonialists set foot on American soil for the first time. In fact they stepped onto America right by the 17th hole of the River Course. 54 holes of golf are completed by the Woods and Plantation courses, and take a look at the $3 million Estate at Kingsmill home—the last word in luxury accommodation.
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CLUB Mike Zisman
New World Order
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Afters years of negotiations, calculations and fine tuning, the World Handicap System becomes a live reality on January 1, 2020. It is the result of an epic collaboration between the USGA, R&A and the world’s national associations to convert the world’s six current handicap systems into one universal model. We spoke to Mike Zisman, CEO of Golf Genius, which has created the software to enable the roll-out of WHS in the United States
M
ike Zisman likes to borrow one of Albert Einstein’s famous lines: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler”. Zisman is CEO of Golf Genius Software, the company that is implementing the new World Handicap System on behalf of the United States Golf Association (USGA), and this Einstein advice lends well to the work carried out under the auspices of the USGA and the R&A—which combine to govern the rules of world golf—to establish a new, universal handicap system, which is set to go live—in the United States at least—in January, 2020. Zisman has form in software development. Having earned his PhD—in operations research and scheduling systems—at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh native established Soft-Switch Inc., which made a fortune ahead of the internet’s break-out by taking internal email systems of large organizations and connecting them together into a forerunner of the global email network we now take for granted.
“In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the work we did was central in commercializing email,” explains Zisman, who lives in Wayne. Pa., just west of Philadelphia. “Email was very popular in academic circles, which is where I first came across it. Our software helped to inter-connect all the different systems that corporations were using and it really made email viable for large corporations. The product was a software switch between different email systems and it was very widely used in 80 of the Fortune 100 companies, and internationally.” Zisman sold Soft-Switch to Lotus Development for $62 million in 1994, before IBM paid $3 billion for Lotus a year later. After a decade with IBM, Zisman retired early to play golf—“I am a member at several clubs but mainly at Merion,” he says, “which is literally 10 minutes from my house”—until, one day, he was organizing a guys’ golf trip to Sea Island, Ga., when he had a lightbulb moment; Zisman was convinced he could create software to organise golf trips and groupings much more efficiently. He launched Golf Trip Genius in 2009, wrote much of the software coding himself and this year, a decade later, Golf Genius expects to schedule 22 million rounds of golf in 40 countries. As well as fixing up pairings, Golf Genius provides live scoring and leaderboards via an app, and tournament management for clubs. You could be 12 hackers on a patchy muni but when you check your hole-by-hole scoring on your phone it feels like the Ryder Cup.
“The World Handicap System [will] make the game more welcoming” - Mike Davis, USGA
Mike Zisman [above] and Ryder Cup scoring the old-fashioned way in 1933 [left]
Now working with the USGA on the launch of the World Handicap System might be Zisman’s biggest challenge yet. “We are implementing the World Handicap System for the USGA, which represents probably 40 percent of the golfers in the world,” says Zisman. “We will launch in January so the US will certainly be among the first countries to implement the World Handicap System.” Australia is set to go live in early 2020 while the UK is holding fire until November. Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, said earlier this year: “The World Handicap System is the latest example of our work to make the game more welcoming. Golfers throughout the world will be able to play equitably [and] measure their success… this monumental collaborative effort will benefit everyone in golf.”
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Adds Zisman: “WHS is words on paper. It describes how to calculate a handicap in very precise terms but no-one is going to calculate handicaps using pencil and paper, so until it is converted to software it does not deliver any value to the world. We are in a technology world and it is the software that makes this stuff work. That sounds a little selfserving because that is what we do, but that is the reality. “It is a challenging project but one of the unique things about our company is that we know software and we know golf. Prior to WHS everyone had their own handicap system and as part of our tournament management product
ONE WORLD, ONE SYSTEM
A summary of how WHS handicaps will be calculated:
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we had to interface all of those different handicapping systems, whether in the US, Australia or Canada. We have been able to analyse WHS from a mathematical background to work out how handicaps will change, whose handicaps are going to change and by how much, so that part has been very exciting.” Six differing handicap systems used worldwide will be combined into one system. One of the primary changes to handicapping in the United States will be a simplification of the Handicap Index calculation. “The way we calculate handicaps now is by taking the best 10 out of 20 scores, take the average and then multiply by 0.96. Well, you know what, where does that 0.96 come from? Nobody knows!” says Zisman. In Australia that “magic number” is 0.93. “With WHS we will just take the average of the best eight scores. We all understand that.” Wrote Zisman in a White Paper earlier this year: “WHS is not a compromise solution, but a harmonization of the six systems, bringing together the essential strengths of each. Very importantly, WHS will also simplify the entire system. In our view, this simplification is as important as the harmonization.” Or in other words, what Einstein said.
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Handicap index is calculated by taking the average “adjusted gross score” of the best eight scores from a golfer’s most recent 20 rounds. An Initial Handicap Index can be calculated after just 54 holes, including 18-hole and nine-hole rounds. Handicap Indexes are adjusted after every posted score. “Adjusted gross score” works like the Stableford system, so that the maximum score per hole is a net double bogey. (If a golfer’s handicap grants one shot on a par five, the highest possible adjusted score for that hole would be 8.) A “Playing Conditions Calculation” (PCC) is registered by each golf course on every day when at least eight qualifying scores are posted on the course. Recreational rounds can be considered for handicapping, at the discretion of the national association.
Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist
WGJ Suzann Pettersen
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When presented with a perfect moment, Suzann Pettersen did something many others could not do: she seized it. Here, the twotime World No.2 offers her definition of an easy putt and walks Kingdom down a fairway with a fairytale ending
“When you’re in the bubble, when you’re in competitive mode, which is literally 24-7,” Pettersen explains, “everything you do, every decision you make, every choice you make, every move you make, is for becoming a better golfer.” Twice World No.2 with 22 pro wins (15 on the LPGA Tour, including two majors), Pettersen outlined the sacrifices she made in a letter to her young son, Herman, which she penned after announcing her retirement. From the letter: “I see too many men delay their exits with a sickly, slow reluctance to leave the stage,” wrote John Steinbeck in his Travels With Charley. “It’s bad theater as well as bad living.” Steinbeck would have enjoyed the show at Gleneagles this September, when a European Team led by Catriona Matthew denied Juli Inkster’s Team USA what would have been a Solheim Cup three-peat. Neither sickly nor slow, the riveting matches came down to the final putt, a perfect moment seemingly scripted for the cinema, which landed squarely on the shoulders of Suzann Pettersen. To understand how the Norway native delivered on that moment, and why she retired from professional golf an hour later, it helps to consider why she was in Scotland in the first place, 38 years old and coming off 20 months of almost no golf. That sabbatical, around the birth of her son, led to a world ranking of 635th and to some considering her a controversial captain’s pick, but Matthew knew she wasn’t taking any chances with the selection. And 20 months off? Well, everyone’s entitled to a little break after 19 years with no vacation.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but tour life became so intertwined with my personal life that I sometimes could not tell them apart. My identity was linked to my job. How I played, how my practice sessions went on a particular day, how many putts I made or missed—all of that affected my moods, my priorities, my relationships and most of my decisions. I was, to some degree, selfish, which I considered a prerequisite for success. I had no trouble saying ‘No’ and I did it quite a bit when I felt that someone or something was intruding on my time. That was part of the job. And my job, being one of the best golfers in the world, was my focus.” That focus started almost from the very beginning, Pettersen says, when as a girl growing up in Oslo she found golf. “I’m the youngest of three,” she says. “My brothers did all kinds of sports and I just kind of followed in their footsteps. It was our dad who introduced us when I was about 5 or 6. Alongside a lot of other sports I started golf and I thought it was a lot of fun—fun enough that I kept putting more time into it.”
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By the time she was 10 or 11, she was playing year-round, which in Norway means that she was often playing indoors. “In winter after school you took a bus to these indoor hitting bay centers we have here in Norway. On a school holiday my family would maybe take us to Southern Europe for a week or so and then it was back to the hitting bay inside. That’s kind of how the years plugged along. The summers are fairly short, and at the time you didn’t know better. I didn’t know that I could have had grass under my feet. You make the best of it, and in fact it’s a good way of practicing.” Hitting indoors allowed Pettersen to focus on technique, she says, honing her form before taking it outside. The hard work paid off, and though Pettersen admits that the talent pool in Norway was limited compared to some other countries, her success is impressive. “Not to be cocky, but I kind of dominated the juniors throughout my junior career,” she says in brusque-but-
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accurate fashion. “Actually, from 13 until 18 I might have lost one tournament that I played. For me that was great because you learn to win, and I think it was an important part of my development, learning to win at every stage and learning to dominate. Obviously I did quite well.” In addition to tearing through junior tournaments in Norway, Pettersen won the Norwegian Championship five times, taking it every year between 1996 and 2000. Over that time she sharpened her game in neighboring Sweden, where she says the juniors were tougher, rivalries developed, and competitions were more intense. The juniors were also where she experienced team golf for the first time, representing Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in 1997 and 1999 and playing for Norway in the World Amateur in 1998 and 2000. At 19 she won the 2000 event in Berlin—“It was the crown on my amateur career”—and quickly turned pro, taking the 2001 French Open en route to being named
4th tee during fourballs on day two, 2019 Solheim Cup [above]; singles match against Michelle Redman at the 2002 Solheim Cup [right]; victory at The Evian Championship in 2013 [far right]
that year’s Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year. Three top-10 finishes followed in 2002, the same year in which she qualified for the LPGA Tour with a T-10 at the Tour’s Final Qualifying Tournament. But 2002 was notable for another reason as well in that it was Pettersen’s first appearance at the Solheim Cup— and it was a tough assignment. Playing against the Americans on American soil (at Interlachen) just a week after the one-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Europeans were under tremendous pressure. A stealth bomber flew over the opening ceremony, flags were flying high, and the Americans, led by Patty Sheehan, were on a mission to regain the cup they’d lost at Loch Lomond in 2000. Pettersen
made an instant statement, coming from five holes down in the fifth singles match to tie Michele Redman and keep the U.S. from taking the lead—and then she energetically discussed the comeback with some adrenalin-fueled colorful language in a live NBC interview, instantly underlining her commanding performance on course and winning younger fans in Norway as well. It was the first of nine Solheim appearances for Pettersen, and it set the tone for her successful non-stop career. Non-stop until 2018, anyway. In January of last year, pregnant with Herman, Pettersen was in Orlando (where she’s lived for roughly 20 years) preparing for the LPGA’s Asia swing. Concerned with complications she was experiencing, she was admitted to Arnold Palmer Hospital— where she checked out fine. Still, for reassurance she flew to see her doctor in Oslo who, while confirming she was okay, also told her she was grounded. As Pettersen explains in her letter to Herman:
“My brain didn’t process that. I said, ‘I’m supposed to leave for Thailand tomorrow.’ The doctor replied, ‘There’s no reason to take the risk.’ So, I did some quick calculating and said, ‘Okay, I’ll stay here until the Tour comes back to Arizona for the Founders Cup and rejoin them there.’ He said, ‘Are you not hearing me? You can’t fly. Not to Thailand, not to Arizona, not to England: you’re grounded.’ I was stranded in Oslo, which, in hindsight, was the greatest thing that could have happened to me. “I’ve been injured several times over my career,” says Pettersen. “But even when I was out with a ruptured back, your brain switches from ‘competitive mode’ to ‘rehab mode,’ so then all of your focus and determination is on that: how you can do the rehab as good as possible, as fast as possible. You always find the edge in your brain to stay on track as an athlete. “When I was grounded in Oslo I thought to myself, ‘What’s the point?’ Yeah, I could have practiced, been grinding on my swing, worked on my technique here
in Norway, but why? You’re not going to compete this year, and I just decided that if I’m not going to compete I’m going to give myself a break.” For a woman who’d practiced yearround, day in and day out for most of her life, this was more difficult than it sounds. “I felt stressed, I felt guilty; I’d always been grinding to find answers, to find solutions, and now…? I had dinner with my mom and dad and my husband [Christian Ringvold]. The four of us came to the conclusion, just take the year off, enjoy this chapter, you don’t know what it will bring. And at the time I took the decision it was a massive relief. I didn’t feel bad about it, never second-guessed it. I didn’t think about golf, which was a little bit weird.” For the first time ever, Pettersen checked out of the game and focused on life off course. In August of 2018 Herman was born, a vibrant beautiful kid, and Pettersen says she was instantly smitten—so much so that golf still wasn’t on her mind, even after eight months of not playing.
I never second-guessed it, but I didn’t think about golf— which was a little bit weird
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“During the last part of the pregnancy and the first couple of months after giving birth, I had no desire to push to come back, to rush to come back. People say after you have a child maybe the brain changes, the body changes, that a lot of mothers become better than they were before, and these questions… You almost wanted to see the answer, but at the same time my heart didn’t say ‘go for it.’” And so she didn’t. Not until spring, when she picked up a golf club for the first time in over a year. The Solheim Cup was six months away. As Dow is one of her longtime sponsors, Pettersen had committed to the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in mid July, and she says she wanted to show up for the event. “I wasn’t going to be unprepared, I didn’t want to make a fool of myself. It wasn’t before March, April came along that I thought ‘You need to get your act together, find your golf clubs again, dust the rust off.’” During a rust-dusting round with friends, Solheim came up. “They were pushing, saying ‘come on, practice, we need you on the team!’ I was like, ‘No you don’t! There are 12 others who would do a great job. Quit pushing me. If my heart doesn’t say “Do it” it’s not going to matter.’” But then on August 12th Matthew announced her as a captain’s pick, and everything changed. There wasn’t much time, but Pettersen entered two events in addition to the Dow, ultimately missing the cut in both but gaining much-needed time on course, she says. “I had six competitive rounds, six more than I thought I would have had.” Eyebrows raised when she was announced, and the word “controversial” showed up more than a few times in golf media, but Pettersen wasn’t having any of it. “At the time we didn’t have too many obvious picks, but if some of these players had played their hearts out, delivered, played their way onto the team, I definitely would have considered if I was going to take a spot away from a player who deserved a pick. But too many players weren’t delivering when it mattered the most.”
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Pettersen celebrates her winning putt in her match with Marina Alex during the final day singles matches of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, 2019
Having been there before, knowing what it could come down to, made it easier As important as how one is playing, Pettersen says, is what a player can bring to her team, and with eight Solheims under her belt at the time, Pettersen brought a lot of experience, which turned out to be critical. “Having been there before,” she says, “knowing what it could come down to, it almost makes it easier.” Easier for her perhaps, but no less thrilling to watch. Coming down the stretch on the last day against American Marina Alex in the final match still in play, and with everything on the line, Alex hit her shot above the hole while Pettersen wedged to roughly 8 feet below. Alex missed hers, and suddenly all eyes were on Pettersen. Her 2015 Solheim had ended with a tough loss and controversy. She’d been forced to withdraw from the 2017 event with a back problem. She’d been away from the game for nearly two years, and now this. “I was more nervous on the wedge shot; you don’t have to be much off line
before that ball is off the green,” she says. “The putt, it was an easy putt, as easy as it could possibly be: left center, almost right on the fall line. As soon as the ball left the blade I knew I’d hit it perfectly on line. If you were to give yourself one putt that mattered the most…” The putt dropped and mayhem ensued as the Europeans stormed the green and a radiant Pettersen celebrated with her teammates. Watching the replay, as the win starts to sink in and a happy calm starts to settle on the crowd, Pettersen appears with Herman in her arms, the sun shining on the new family. In an hour or so she’ll surprise the golf world by announcing her retirement, but to anyone who has known her over the past 20 months, the surprise likely already had given way to understanding. “I mean, it’s priorities,” Pettersen says. “There’s a time for everything in life, and it was quite a good time to step away.”
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HALF MOON, FULL HEART Half Moon, stretched along 400 acres of Jamaica’s north coast, is the Caribbean idyll of your dreams
H
alf Moon is an awful lot more than just a fantastic golf resort, but its Director of Golf, Kevin Cunningham, sums up the atmosphere at Half Moon: “The business of golf dictates that you get golfers on the course, get them off again and make money, and if your golfers are in carts then you can get them on and off the course a lot quicker. Get ‘em on, get ‘em off. But it is not like that here. At Half Moon we enjoy a real Jamaican speed of play. You stroll onto the golf course when you are ready and you stroll off when you are finished. Walking is optional but this is a great walking course and we highly
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recommend our caddie experience. Our facilities are amazing and modern yet we like to do golf the old-fashioned way.” That does not mean old-fashioned rules and dress codes though, on this classic Robert Trent Jones golf course. Heaven forbid. “Life is too short for long trousers, that’s my motto,” confirms Cunningham. A wide variety of accommodation options at Half Moon include the beautifully appointed Rose Hall villas just by the golf course. “The villas are literally just a seven-iron from the golf course,” adds Cunningham. “Villa guests can start the day
with breakfast prepared by their maid, then jump into their golf cart and within five minutes they are on the first tee. It’s got everything here. It really is off the charts.” Spread along two miles of golden beaches, the Salamander-managed Half Moon offers an award-winning spa, a Jamaica-style children’s village, water sports, equestrian, tennis, squash and fitness facilities. Or you could just be still. “Half Moon is an icon of Jamaica and of the Caribbean,” adds Cunningham. “I have known this golf course for more than 20 years and it is now in the best condition I have ever seen it. The whole resort continues to go from strength to strength.”
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LEGACY AP Legacy
The Palmer Approach Idia nate doluptatque voluptatur, consendi at velibus expliquodi te etur, necatiorum veratatquas dolut voluptas quodicimi, quodignihit quia net adipien
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A
Andy Warhol once said that “land is really the best art.” There’s a potential paradox there in that, untouched, landscapes remain largely consistent over time and no two landscapes are identical. In contrast, Warhol worked in pop art, a genre enamored with fleeting trends and explorations of mass reproduction and repetition. One wonders what Warhol would have made of golf course architecture, then, a field in which modern trends influence unique projects shaped on ancient landscapes. Of course, architects seek to avoid repetition even if there is a certain consistency to their approaches—they’re not unlike most artists in that, though golf course designers are as much engineers as they are creatives. Among designers, Arnold Palmer brought a legendary perspective to the courses on which he worked, more than 300 around the world. Two of the men who worked with Palmer, Thad Layton and Brandon Johnson, continue to use Palmer’s approach to great effect, evolving and building on its foundation as they bring their own vision and modern technologies to projects. Here, they help to outline the 5 Guides by which APDC works to design the future of the game. At its core an approach handed down to Layton and Johnson, to us this list offers a peek inside the mind of a legend.
Strategy — Risk-Reward
Though he could smash the ball (see: Cherry Hills, 1960) Arnold Palmer famously championed strategic design and play, shot-shaping and decision-making versus a tech-driven pursuit for distance above all. In this his vision as a player is well presented in his work as a course designer, with APDC architects asking two critical questions during planning: (1) Does the course grow more interesting the more you play it? (2) If a person could only play one course for the rest of his or her life, does this offer enough? And in the final design the architects invite golfers to ask questions of themselves as well, such as “Do I have the skill (or guts) to go for it?” More than simply introducing bunkers or moving earth to accommodate design, APDC architects utilize a site’s natural landscape to maximize its strategic potential, ultimately blurring the line between the two to create a natural experience that enthralls players while honoring a site. Pure Scene Golf Club in Kunming, China, is a good reference, while more recent examples include Fazenda Boa Vista in Brazil and the NCSU/Lonnie Poole facility in North Carolina.
Deacon and Arnold Palmer and Latrobe Country Club president Harry Saxman oversee work at LCC in 1963 [left]. Fazenda Boa Vista [above]
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Environmental Stewardship (Sustainability)
In addition to being a key tenet of the Palmer Approach, environmental stewardship is an inherent part of golf, which began as a game played on an existing landscape, and often a “leftover” landscape at that; the land in-between the sea and a town, for example (linksland) or pastures not in use. APDC is sensitive to every environment’s unique and diverse aspects and to how the course will evolve within the landscape. This means a sense of responsibility to the site that extends far into the future and a “light touch” approach to design that will help to preserve natural features and balances. Old Tabby Links at Spring Island, South Carolina, was a pioneering course in what eventually became the “green” movement in design today. Its commitment to environmental stewardship and its low-density, low-impact development philosophy still resonates, while more recent APDC projects such as Las Piedras in Uruguay continue to draw the future for responsible design.
Old Tabby [top] Las Piedras [top-right]; Saticoy Club [right]
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“When I am playing or when I am looking to build a golf course, it’s the same thing all the time. There are times when I see 100 or 200 acres of land that I think, ‘My goodness, what a golf course that could be!’ I almost see the holes, and then I get into the details of where I want to put sand traps and what kind of greens I’d like to build. There’s a never-ending desire to create. You try to create something that is fun for people, environmentally correct, and aesthetically the kind of thing people will go out and enjoy.” Arnold Palmer
Fun/Variety
As critical a component of the Palmer Approach as strategic design and environmental stewardship, “fun” is the entire point of the game. From its earliest course designs ADPC has endeavored to ensure that golf courses offer something for everyone and as much fun and variety in play as one could possibly pack into 18 holes. Fun and variety over frustration and futility is a guiding principle that’s well on display on courses such as Wexford Plantation, which offers as many ways to get the ball to the cup as there are styles of play. More recently, APDC’s Lakewood National in Florida is a strong enough challenge for the PGA’s Web.com Tour but it offers tremendous fun for the residents and guests of the Sarasota neighborhood in which it sits. Another great example is Royal Golf Club in Minnesota, a fantastic modern track co-designed with another legend, Annika Sorenstam.
History/Preservation/Growth of the Game
Concern for the land goes hand-in-hand with concern for the quality of the golf course
Few professions beyond golf course architecture offer such a big and interactive opportunity to address a vocation’s past while simultaneously building its future. Arnold Palmer learned golf’s history and traditions at a young age and they were important to him in all aspects of his career. Similarly, Layton and Johnson take their responsibility to their mentor and craft very seriously, honoring legends of the past while constantly pushing design to help grow the game’s future. Whether it’s being inspired by specific design theories and ideas from the past or simply working to the incredibly high standard established by Palmer, APDC uses cutting-edge technology to shape an ancient game. They believe in golf’s truest origins even as they seek to lessen their impact and to increase their efficiency (and cost to owners) by utilizing the profession’s latest advances. Consider The Saticoy Club in California, a recent restoration of a modern classic course that came with serious innovations benefitting players, owners and the land itself. Likewise, the firm’s home course at Bay Hill in Orlando serves as a kind of testing ground, a traditional course and PGA Tour venue on which subtle innovations yield big results (and a world-class practice facility in recent years). Lastly, APDC’s legacy of opening up emerging markets remains intact, with a catalog of courses in such locations as China (the first modern course in mainland China is an APDC course), Kazakhstan and Uruguay, among other places.
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Tralee [above] Tradition [below]
Beauty
It’s argued that a course’s true beauty and authenticity derive from its context, the region and site presented, and the best examples are testament to this. But whether a site is a Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica or a Tralee in Ireland, for example—APDC designs often lauded for their stunning aesthetic impacts—or something less obvious, it is up to a course architect to see potential in every site and to reveal a site’s greatest possibilities. APDC architects are committed to improving the planet and the lives of the people on it with beautiful, responsible fields of play, and part of that includes ensuring that APDC designs are as aesthetically pleasing as possible, showcasing nature’s incredible beauty in inspiring environments that speak to the heart even as they appeal to the athlete. Saticoy Club with its ocean and farmland views, Tradition Golf Club (Arnold Palmer’s California home) with its floral displays (created in honor of Palmer’s longtime first wife, Winnie), Shingle Creek, the courses in South and Central America, Spring Island, Teton Pines… The list goes on, all of them worthy of a picture book. And now, the course at Aviara in Carlsbad, California, a Palmer design that’s set to be revisited by APDC in the next few years, one more example of the evolving Palmer Approach and a project that exemplifies beauty, environmental sustainability, strategic design, respect for history and a commitment to fun and variety—in other words, another fantastic APDC course.
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APDC architects can reveal any site’s best potential, no matter the landscape
90 Years of ARNOLD PALMER Born at 7am on September 10th of 1929, Arnold Palmer would have been 90 this year. Beyond his achievements in golf, Palmer inspired us all to dream bigger, to work harder, to do better and to be better— to be good neighbors to each other, no matter who we are or where we’re from. With humility despite great achievement, gentleness despite great strength, and grace despite incredible dominance, Arnold Palmer’s greatest lessons might have been encouraging us all to have fun and to keep charging ahead. In that spirit, his companies and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation continue his legacy of responsible success.
To learn what Arnold Palmer Enterprises can do for your business:
To learn how you can support the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation:
C A L L (407) 876-3944 E M A I L hello@arnoldpalmer.com
V I S I T PalmerFoundation.org E M A I L info@palmerfoundation.org
90
YEARS OF ARNOLD PALMER
Some celebrations go all day, as was the case for what would have been Arnold Palmer’s 90th birthday this September 10th
H Orlando’s Wheel and Empire State Building in Palmer’s colors; Goofy 7am drive; Pilobolus Umbrella Project!
onoring Arnold Palmer’s birth at 7am on September 10th, 1929, in Latrobe, Penn., the day began with a ceremonial 7am tee shot at Palmer’s homes at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando and at Latrobe Country Club. Others joined in, including a special guest at Walt Disney World—Goofy. GOLF Channel featured Palmer programming throughout the day, including its own excellent ARNIE documentary series. The PGA TOUR, Mastercard, AriZona Beverages and others offered messages online, as did Annika Sorenstam, NBA player Chris Paul, and the USGA, among others. SiriusXM continued its “Palmer minutes” narrated by Jim Nantz, sharing moments from Arnie’s life. And, as darkness fell, celebratory lights came on at The Wheel in Orlando, a 400’ tall Ferris wheel lit in Palmer’s official colors, and at an Umbrella Project! event with Pilobolus dance company at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. After special birthday dinners at Arnie’s home clubs were served, toasts of Ketel One were raised, and a special Palmer “90th” wine was poured, a full day of celebrations came to an end with the crowning moment when the Empire State Building was lit for the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, and the city that never sleeps spent the night bathed in the colors of a legend. A fitting day of tributes for an incredible individual.
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INSPERITY Paul Sarvadi
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Take Care of Your People Insperity co-founder Paul Sarvadi offers deep perspective in his new book on managing any company’s most important asset: its people
P
aul Sarvadi is a busy man, but then he always has been. Starting in 1986, the Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Insperity led his startup from a modest personnel management company located in Kingwood, Texas, to the powerhouse it is today, with more than $3 billion in revenue. Along the way he developed a friendship with Arnold Palmer, who was a spokesman for Sarvadi’s company; he launched a PGA TOUR Champions event, the Insperity Invitational; and he helped countless businesses to find their best success, something he continues to do. Along the way he’s navigated the ups and downs of volatile markets, dynamic cultural changes, and challenges with service providers, experiences that have given him a world of perspective. But in the end, he says, success has come down to one thing: people. That’s evident in Sarvadi’s new book, Take Care of Your People, published by ForbesBooks. In it, Sarvadi delves into the reason why people are a company’s greatest asset and offers 10 strategies for getting your human capital strategy right, which is key to any company’s long-term success. Here, in this edited excerpt, Sarvadi explains one facet of Insperity’s leadership model, which begins with service:
Excerpt from Take Care of Your People Ch.10, Strategy #8: Organization and Leadership
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
The style we practice at Insperity is servant leadership. Over time, servant leadership has become a central part of our company’s culture, so much so that it’s something that employees, regardless of their position, often model. In fact, a recent corporate employee survey revealed that more than 90 percent of employees agreed that they’re responsible for demonstrating servant leadership qualities at work. Servant leadership turns the conventional notion of leadership on its head; instead of a top-down orientation, the people at the top work for the benefit of everyone else, from the bottom on up. It’s based on inspiring people to work to achieve individual and company goals. Rather than relying on coercion, the goal of servant leadership is to empower our employees by giving them the freedom and flexibility to work well, innovate, and advance without fear. Jerry, the company’s other co-founder, always wanted to make sure that everyone felt safe to fail, which is part of learning and part of any healthy corporate atmosphere. He understood that being afraid is harmful to workplace culture, and he didn’t want anyone to be fearful of making a mistake. I agreed with this concept, with the caveat that if we fail, we should fail fast, learning from our mistakes and expeditiously moving ahead. Trial and error is a proven method in business, but if it occurs slowly, the organization will suffer. Over the years, fail fast has become an important mantra in our culture.
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Beyond that, our version of servant leadership is based on the following six principles: 1.
2.
3.
4.
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Being leaders rather than managers. Now, there’s nothing wrong with managing. Good management is an essential part of a well-run organization. Company heads should be skilled at both leading and managing. But leadership is something distinct from management. It is the skill of influencing people to work enthusiastically toward common goals and for the common good. Relying on authority rather than power. Power is using your might or position to compel someone to do something he or she might not otherwise do. It is implicitly coercive. Authority is more of a skill rather than a blunt exercise of force. It means getting people to willingly and even eagerly do what you want, because your relationship with them confers some degree of personal influence. That’s the key word, really: relationship. Cultivating healthy relationships is a great source of authority because it means the people who work for you want to contribute and aren’t just acting because of the fear of getting disciplined or fired. Power benefits only the few, the elite, the ones who hold power. Authority benefits everyone. Using inspiration rather than motivation. Motivation can be a powerful driver of behavior. But motivation is a carrot and the stick mechanism. It’s a more animalistic way of getting people to act, reducing one’s impetus for doing things to the threat of punishment (the stick) or the promise of reward (the carrot). Inspiration is a better method, and one that is more conducive to servant leadership. Inspiration relies on understanding and support to motivate people. Helping people understand the sum of their life experiences; understand their capabilities, their inclinations, their desires, and their capacity for mounting the obstacles in front of them. In short, helping them discover their calling. That’s inspiration, and that’s what servant leaders should create. Cultivating commitment over cooperation. Cooperation is obviously beneficial, but its power is limited. It’s temporary and shallow. Cooperation is, hey, can you help me move this table? Commitment is long-term and deep. It’s more sustainable. It relies on good relationships built over time. The way you lead determines whether your people are merely cooperative, or whether they’re committed. Cooperation is good for achieving simple tasks. But the big-picture items, the grand vision, the innovative thinking that truly great companies seek—you’ll need commitment for that. The key to commitment is reciprocity. It’s a two-way street.
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5.
6.
If you demonstrate your commitment to the people who are following you, they in turn will commit to you and to the success of the organization. Listening vs. caring. For managers, for leaders—for everyone—the importance of listening is self-evident. It’s a valuable business and interpersonal skill. Really, no collective human endeavor can function without it. But caring is something else entirely. Listening results in understanding, but caring results in a relationship, and relationships are what will carry you further as a leader. Listening is focused on the other’s problem, but caring is focused on the other person. Caring is the reason behind why you’re listening: what you seek to understand, what you want to do with the information. Listening establishes communication, that’s a good thing, but caring establishes a connection and that’s a nobler objective to which servant leaders should strive. Don’t just listen. Care. Optimism vs. faith. This one’s a bit tricky, since these two values may seem synonymous, but they’re in fact quite different. Optimism hopes for the best, where faith takes action in expectation of a specific outcome. Optimism looks for good from others; faith sees the good in others. “I believe in you” are powerful words out of the mouth of a leader. They mean, “I believe you’ve got the commitment, I believe that you have the skills, I believe you have the capability, and I’m going to help you.”
That’s faith. And when you have faith in others, others have faith in you, too. At Insperity, we extol both optimism and faith. In fact, one of our core values is looking to the future with an abiding faith and optimism. Faith attempts and achieves what no one else believed possible. Optimism creates a positive environment, but faith creates a sense of purpose, a sense of calling, a sense of mission that’s powerful and inspires action toward achieving objectives.
Take Care of Your People The Enlightened CEO’s Guide to Business Success Paul Sarvadi 2019, ForbesBooks Available at Barnes & Noble, on Amazon, Apple Books and more
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HEALTH Alt
N AT URA L PERF O RM A NC E Long before there were high-tech surgeries or pharmacies filled with the latest medications, there were health treatments. For millennia, humans addressed pain with natural remedies or we did our best to prevent injuries by conditioning our bodies (even unwittingly) to maximize performance and potential. Such treatments are still available, of course, and for anyone who picks up a golf club they are well worth considering. Here, then, are natural options to help you play your best—and be your best
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FUNCTIONAL REMEDIES
If you’ve watched the news you’ve heard of cannabidiol, more commonly referred to as CBD. A non-psychoactive, naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant and commonly derived from hemp (not marijuana), CBD is effective in treating muscle spasms, anxiety and more, and it restores the body’s natural balance, allowing optimum performance. For golfers this means greater focus and quicker recovery, but it also means an improved quality of life off course. Among CBD options, Functional Remedies uses its patented proprietary process to offer the highest quality full-spectrum CBD hemp oil available. The company is vertically integrated, meaning the quality in its nextgeneration agroscience and cultivation processes continues through to its final products, seed-to-bottle control ensuring the most effective, all-natural hemp oil with maximum levels of phytonutrients. “It’s understanding what the body needs and understanding how to breed for those specifics in the plant; nobody does that but us,” says Tim Gordon, FR Founder and Chief Science Officer. “That means a better product, a safer product, consistency and quality.” Scott McCarron is a fan. The PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions winner said, “Functional Remedies EndoSport hemp oil helps my mind stay focused and my body recover, so I can always play my best,” and he’s not alone. The company points out that numerous PGA Tour Champions use its oil, to great effect. The firm has an incredible array of full-spectrum, single-origin CBD hemp oil products to suit every need, and its website is a veritable library of useful information about CBD, the endocannabinoid system, and more. If you’re a golfer—but not just because you’re a golfer—you owe it to yourself to check out Functional Remedies products. FUNC TIONALREMEDIES.COM
CBD is non-psychoactive and can greatly aid in focus and recovery
BEST BALL
Best Ball CBD—“Quick as a Hiccup”—is the brainchild of a golf pro and a doctor of physical therapy who wanted to get people back on course. Noticing rounds were down among older members at their local club, they asked why. “Our members were saying they couldn’t get through the general aches and pains and they didn’t enjoy golf as much,” says Laura Baldwin, the therapist and co-founder/owner of Kentucky-based Best Ball CBD. In search of a remedy but disinclined to push conventional pharmaceuticals, she and her golf pro husband, Rob, looked into CBD oil. At one point Kentucky produced 2/3 of the country’s hemp, and so finding high-quality, organic product wasn’t difficult. The couple sampled their way through different concentrations and combinations of ingredients and finally settled on the formulations they now sell, an oil and a cream. Their products are sold to green grass stores only, and they say their local club of 200 members went through 140 items over the summer—a great result with that base. Once they sign a club as a client, Baldwin says, they’re happy to visit the property, set up a table and let members try the products free of charge, just to get things rolling. And while Baldwin grants that their product doesn’t have to be golf-specific, she says it was formulated with golfers in mind: “That is our market, we know golfers, and we know they need something like this.” Check it out, and ask your club to stock it now. BESTBALLCBD.COM
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STAMINAPRO
Before you even know what STAMINAPRO does, consider who uses it: Justin Rose, Tony Finau, Steve Stricker and Cameron Champ all are fans, as are a number of athletes from the NBA, NFL, NHL and other sports. Why do they like it? Because if you’re looking to recover quickly while competing or training, the sticky patches loaded with natural remedies are simply fantastic. STAMINAPRO offers that its patches, basically applied like a sticker to your area of concern, “are charged with the energy of more than 200 of nature’s most impactful natural remedies for inflammation.” These include omega 3s, green tea extract, amino acids and beetroot. The company insists there are no harmful drugs, synthetic chemicals or side effects to the patches, which come in three sizes and last 24 hours. The idea is that your body’s own electric field triggers the charged electrons imprinted into the patch, activating pain relief and restoring balance to the area. “I use them before games to eliminate any swelling and post game to keep swelling down and expedite my recovery process,” says Jeff Heurerman, Super Bowl Champion. Good enough for him and for Justin Rose, who are we to argue. S TA M I N A P R O . C O M
GOLFFOREVER
Coming from the belief that prevention is the best medicine, GOLFFOREVER seeks to help golfers build a strong, “pain-free” back and body. The idea is that if your body is conditioned to withstand the repetitive stress of a golf swing, the game won’t take its toll and golfers can avoid having to use medication or even surgery to offset the game’s effects. Rather than promising a one-time temporary solution, GOLFFOREVER is a training program that fits into your existing life, optimized for individuals. Underlining the program’s credentials are its co-founders: PGA TOUR player Justin Leonard and Dr. Jeremy James, who has treated top golfers, Olympians, and others as director of the Aspen Club Back Institute in Colorado. Program subscribers are walked through a comprehensive self-assessment and then receive access to short video routines that “reset how you understand, move and develop your body for better, pain-free golf.” Weekly updates, on-demand classes, access to clinical experts via phone or vid chat and access to Dr. James’ BACKFOREVER program is included, as is access to Leonard’s Course Management Series, worth the [low] price of admission by itself. GOLFFOREVER.COM
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STILLNESS IS THE MASTER OF MOTION Movement and performance coach Jayne Storey argues for the mind-body connection, then teaches how to achieve it Stop the presses: Golf is not a mental game. Not like you might think, anyway. Many golfers buy into the premise that positive thoughts and visualizations can impact on-course performance, but the effects of these are short-lived at best. Furthermore, they do little to halt the biochemical reactions (anxiety and adrenaline) aroused when standing on the first tee or putting for the win. While I see the value of achievement psychology and positive thinking as tools to prepare you for stepping onto the course, when actually playing the game you need to leave that kind of thing in the locker room. Here’s why: The mind likes to dissect, analyze and understand information, but the body just loves to move. This is the dichotomy facing athletes, but it’s one that can be solved if we shift our perspective slightly East. Consider the way martial arts masters move, with a relaxed combination of grace and power. Their centuries-old training techniques integrate mind and body disciplines together, which in golf would look like simultaneously training your mental game and swing technique. The mainstream approach trains them separately, of course, and I believe this is a problem. “Thinking about thinking” (mental game) and “thinking about moving” (swing thoughts) must give way to an altogether more unified approach where the controlling influence of the mind is subdued, allowing the body to move more freely and naturally. To allow for this, to connect the mind to the body, I teach a Chi-Performance method rooted in Eastern practices that has two central pillars: focused breathing and the stabilizing, grounding effects of Tai Chi. The world’s most popular martial art, Tai Chi enhances lower-body stability, ground pressure, connection, centrifugal force and torque—essentially it’s a centuries-old way to lock down your swing. It’s also a fantastic way to increase and to extend our range of physical motion throughout our lives. Coupled with breathing techniques, it proves a powerful way forward for golfers. Consider practice swings versus “real” swings. Effective, effortless swings on the range often disappear on course or during clutch competition. Mainstream analysis
of pros’ meltdowns invariably point to swing faults, talk up a technical error that needs adjusting or suggest the player is not mentally tough enough. An Eastern perspective would say that regardless of the player’s swing quality, it is entirely dependent on the quality of the mind-body connection in the moments before the shot is taken. The smallest change in breathing, for example, taking deeper, slower breaths when the pressure is off and then unconsciously taking short, shallow breaths into the upper-chest (or even holding the breath) when standing over a clutch putt. This has the effect of raising the center of gravity, tightening muscles, activating the stress-response and beginning a host of changes that disrupt the mind-body connection, and thus rhythm, tempo and timing. Seen in this light, the quality of the shot is only ever an outwards manifestation of the conditions within the golfer themselves, conditions that can be trained—with the mind and body learning together.
To learn more about Jayne Storey’s Chi-Performance visit chi-performance.com or find her book, Breathe GOLF, online.
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Christian Meza Folds of Honor Scholarship Recipient Legacy of Chief Master Sergeant William Kendall
Pamela Kendall Mother & Gold Star Wife
Our service men and women are not the only ones making great sacrifices. Their single greatest ask is that as they take care of us, we take care of their families. Pick up your clubs and dedicate one day, one game to say ‘Thank you’ to our nation’s heroes and their families. Participate in Patriot Golf Day and support Folds of Honor, providing educational scholarships to the children and spouses of service members killed or disabled while serving in America’s Armed Forces. Learn more at patriotgolfday.org.
Honor Their Sacrifice. Educate Their Legacy.
GIFT GUIDE Winter
Better to Give... ...and to receive, we believe. Tis the season for gifts, coming and going. Here are a few options to add ideas to any wish list Le Labo
Y L A N G 49 E AU D E PA R F U M
From perfumers of distinction Le Labo, a chypre fragrance that brings gardenia from Tahiti to ylang-ylang for a lush floral experience accented by citrus, patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, sandalwood and balsamic tones—sensual and inspiring. lelabofragrances.com
Acqua Di Parma RAZOR & BRUSH
Italian brand Acqua Di Parma brings style to your morning routine with a shaving brush and razor combination. A formidable stainless steel stand holds both items in optimal positions to prolong and maintain their functionality. The Shaving Brush is expertly handcrafted in Italy and its soft bristles create a rich, compact foam for easy shaving, while the ergonomically designed razor is optimally weighted for both function and satisfaction. Ciao bello. acquadiparma.com
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Moscot Eyewear M I LT Z E N - T T
Family owned and five generations deep, Moscot are your “local glasses guy” gone global. Featured here is Miltzen-TT; a celebratory homage from 5th generation designer Zack Moscot to his Uncle Heshy, who would find any excuse to throw a good party. moscot.com
Johnstons Of Elgin
TA R TA N O V E R S I Z E D C L A S S I C C A S H M E R E S C A R F
Cashmere is the king of luxury fabrics and no one spins it better than Johnstons from their 222-year-old Mill in Elgin, Speyside, Scotland. Their scarves are renowned for extreme softness, warmth and lustrous quality. This 100% Classic Cashmere Scarf comes in a ripple handfinish only achieved through the cumulative effect of years of manufacturing craft and knowledge, using natural, hand-worked teasels. With a Royal Warrant of Appointment to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales you don’t have to take just our word for it. Johnstonsofelgin.com
Vocier
S U I T B AG C A R R I E R
We’ve all been there: getting off the plane, big meeting planned, suit looking like it traveled on the wing instead of in the cabin. VOCIER luggage offers an ultra-stylish solution with a cabin bag that keeps up to two suits wrinkle-free without the need to lug around extra garment bags. Crafted from the finest Italian leather, this heirloom-quality luggage is the perfect gift for the frequent traveller in your life—or for yourself! vocier.com
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Paolo Scafora
HANDMADE BOOTS
For those that appreciate true Italian craftsmanship, Paolo Scafora shoes are created by highly skilled artisans through a combination of artistic expression and master craftsmanship. Using precious calf leather with an antiqued ravello finish, these boots are heritage hand-stitched following traditional methods of shoe construction in the family’s Neapolitan Worskshops. paoloscaforanapoli.it
Rolex
O Y S T E R P E R P E T UA L S E A - D W E L L E R
A legend among divers’ watches, the first Sea-Dweller models were guaranteed to a depth of 2,000 feet to accompany the pioneers of deep-sea diving. Updated in 2017 for its 50th anniversary, and now waterproof to 4,000 feet, the Sea-Dweller features a larger 43 mm case and calibre 3235, a new-generation movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology. It is, of course, equipped with the helium escape valve that allows excess pressure built up in the watch case to escape during a diver’s decompression phase in a hyperbaric chamber, as patented by Rolex in 1967. Above or below water it’s an icon for the wrist. rolex.com
Ettinger
C A P R A T R AV E L P O U C H
Part of the Capra “age of Travel” Collection, and made from finest goat leathers sourced from Mazamet in southwest France is this Travel Pouch from Ettinger. It is ideally sized to contain travel essentials such as passport, phone and wallet, but modest enough to fit easily into your hand luggage. Available in a combination of traditional and modern colors to suit every style; black and tan for a subtle and traditional look; white and marine blue for a more modern and colourful appearance, while still linking in with the 1930s’ style which inspired the collection. ettinger.co.uk
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RILL Damascus
B AC K W O O D S C A M P A X E
It’s always been the ultimate outdoor man-tool, but this has to be one of the most stunning axes ever made. The head is hand-pounded Damascus steel, with Folds visible, the handle Mahogany sourced in south Florida. It comes with a leather sheath and is well weighted for those that enjoy throwing. rillsimpletools.com
Frontier Plus
P O R TA B L E W O O D B U R N I N G S T O V E
Fire on the move, the Frontier Plus is a portable log burning stove that can be fitted in tents, tiny homes, teepees and cabins or used outside on your deck for adventurous outdoor cooking. The “bigger brother” to the original Frontier Stove, the Plus has a whole host of upgraded features that make using it and cooking on it easy, fun and efficient. If using indoor it is recommended to always use a carbon monoxide alarm for extra peace of mind if nothing else. anevaystoves.com
Field Company CAST IRON SKILLET
Similar to the cast iron of yesteryear we feature this immaculate skillet that is light enough for everyday cooking but sturdy enough to last through the generations. It has a smooth, naturally non-stick cooking surface that develops and retains seasoning just like the best vintage pans. Made in the USA and made for indoors on the range, and outside over fire. fieldcompany.com
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Yeti
H O P P E R B AC K F L I P 2 4
Part cooler, part backpack, whether you want to party with friends in the wilds or go further with the family the Hopper BackFlip 24 is the perfect reason to extend your trek. It’s sizable enough to fit a day’s worth of drinks and food for you and your crew. It’s tough, too: the Hopper’s high-density fabric is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays. All you have to do is decide what’s going inside. yeti.com
Patagonia
FJ O R D F L A N N E L S H I R T
From the company at the forefront of responsible practices comes this 100% organic cotton flannel shirt. Patagonia uses an extensive system of thirdparty authentication to ensure its cotton is organic, and it works with industry leaders in the manufacture and assembly of its garments to ensure labor practices are fair. At the end of it all, Patagonia’s products retain the legendary performance and value for which the brand is known, all of which is found in this Fjord Flannel as well. patagonia.com
Merrell
WILDERNESS LEGEND WAT E R P R O O F
Walking boots should grow into being treasured companions that shape to your feet and last. Merrel’s Wilderness Legend Waterproof boots fit the bill, constructed with rich Horween leather, sheepskin lining, and a tongue specifically designed to keep passing debris out and your feet in for as many miles as you care to travel. merrell.com
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MORE GOLF
Majesty
From legendary putter designer, Bruce Sizemore, MORE GOLF has released The Detroit Collection. Limited to 99 ultra-premium, one-of-a kind putters, each is created with a “Mokume Gane” insert made of 14 layers of pure copper and silver. This Japanese metal-making art form dates back to the 16th Century and was used to construct ornate hilts on the finest Samurai swords. “The unique fingerprint of each putter can never be duplicated because of the hand-crafted intricacies of Mokume Gane. It can never be reproduced,” Sizemore says, who also provides an in-depth 1-on-1 design consultation for customization on purchase.
Why struggle on with an overweight, poorly performing driver when with Majesty Golf you can utilize the best of industry-leading lightweight technologies? Case in point: the Royale Driver’s ultra-lightweight shaft employs two layers of high-elasticity carbon wrapped around the bias area, allowing minimization of torsion and to slightly lengthen the shaft for more distance—without sacrificing control. Likewise the clubhead touts a refined Spider web clubface and a three-piece structure, using a highly rigid and lightweight honeycomb design that promotes higher ball speed across the face. Play longer, play better.
DETROIT COLLEC TION PUTTERS
moregolfusa.com/detroit-collection
LIGHTWEIGHT DRIVER
majesty-golf.com
PXG
CLUBS
There is no doubt the brains trust behind PXG clubs have gone above and beyond. With no restriction put on the research and engineering budget, PXG have created clubs that deliver distance, accuracy and forgiveness, all with an ultra-soft feel. With a philosophy that performance is the only measure of success, every club is built with the finest materials and manufacturing processes or it doesn’t see the light of day. Available online, you can also visit a PXG location or schedule a fitting with a PXG Master Fitter to ensure a perfect purchase. PXG.com
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PUMA
IGNITE NXT
Spikeless but with excellent traction, Puma’s IGNITE NXT golf shoes come with style as standard. Constructed from the ground up with a Pro-Form TPU outsole and full-length IGNITE Foam midsole, the shoe is wrapped in SoleShield for added durability. Comfort and unparalleled energy return are designed to maximize game performance. The upper features a waterproof flat-knit mesh vamp to guard against rain and early morning dew. pumagolf.com
Druh Belts
Holderness & Bourne
Not only was he one of the greatest golfers of all time, but Arnold Palmer was also long recognized as a true style icon. Maintaining that timeless style today is Druh Belts’ Arnold Palmer Collection. With a deep heritage in golf, Druh is a modern athleisure and lifestyle brand that designs handmade leather and ethical water snakeskin belts with a unique interchangeable buckle endclip. Go online to see the whole range. Best of all, if you’re tempted, readers get 20% off with the code: Kingdomgift
Everyone at Kingdom has become big fans of this green-grass brand. Golfers deserve more choice and higher quality in the pro shop and Holderness & Bourne are providing just that. Featured here is the Westland, a lightweight technical quarter-zip that delivers moisture-wicking performance along with an incredibly soft feel thanks to an innovative synthetic-blend fabric. Heathered colorways and chrome trim make this style quite versatile for wear both on and off the course.
A R N O L D PA L M E R C O L L E C T I O N
W E ST L A N D P UL LOV E R
holdernessandbourne.com
druhbeltsandbuckles.com
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Balls
Weatherman GOLF UMBRELLA
Snell Golf’s new MTB-X, recently named the “longest and best value golf ball” by MyGolfSpy.com, features an updated three-piece construction to further improve performance. The X model of the MTB line features a firmer feel with high ball speeds and increased spin for approach shots. The soft cast urethane cover provides excellent durability and soft feel on short irons and around the green. All orders include free shipping & volume pricing.
There’s a reason Weatherman is the official provider for both the Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup: This golf umbrella gets all the little details right. Industrial-strength fiberglass prevents breaking and inverting and vented canopies withstand winds up to 55 mph. Teflon-coated fabric repels water and the UPF 50+ barrier keeps the sun at bay. A large mesh pocket offers handy storage and a silicone-coated rib makes for a perfect place to hang a towel.
SnellGolf.com
weathermanumbrella.com
Cleveland Golf
1492
Engineered for forgiveness, control and spin, the CBX 2 features a new Hollow-Cavity design with a hollow camber along the side of the heel and a heavy weight at the toe. It’s a compact design that looks attractive at address position and provides satisfying soft feel at impact. In addition the wedge offers a 4th generation Rotex Face for enhanced stopping power and control, plus Feel Balancing technology that places the centre of gravity even closer to the face. Chip better.
This array of premium hand-rolled cigars is wonderful: beautiful Honduran-made blends, a Partagas Rothschild with a Cameroon wrapper, a Macanudo crafted in the Dominican Republic, and more... But the genius is in the packaging: Each cigar is individually packaged in a special air-tight, foil-lined pouch that keeps it fresh without a humidor. There’s no better way to get your smoke to the course, on the boat or anywhere else.
Snell Golf MTB-X
CBX 2 WEDGE
SINGLE SEALED CIGARS
clevelandgolf.com
1492cigar.com
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kingdom.golf Subscribe online Exclusive Subscriber offer Subscribe to Kingdom for 2 years and we will send you a Golfshots 2020 calendar created by renowned golf course photographer Evan Schiller, featuring spectacular photography of some the world’s finest golf courses. Subscribe online now using coupon code GS2020 or call our subscription line 888 335 3288. Calendar gift available until January 15th.
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DRINK Cocktails
Winds blow, leaves fall, and suddenly autumn is upon us. In fashion terms it’s a good time for cocktails, as the golden hues of Dewar’s Scotch pair nicely with the season’s palette, and a crisp Ketel One complements the nip in the air. When the days grow shorter and the fireplace regains its purpose, the following should sip nicely in this “sweater weather” season—even if you’re spending it in Hawaii, there’s nothing wrong with a good Fall pour
It’s as simple as simple can be, but the flavor is complex and immediately evocative, putting holiday-goers into the mood as quickly as the best-sung carol ever could. Find a well balanced gin lest the juniper clash with the sage, but don’t be afraid to embrace the herbal with this bold Fall concoction.
+ 2 OZ GI N + 2 OZ C R A N B E R R Y J U I C E + 1 TSP LIME JUICE + 2 F R E S H S AG E L E AV E S
Muddle sage with cold cranberry juice and combine with gin and lime juice. Feel free to garnish with cranberries and/or sage leaves, but in our experience no one likes leaves in their mouth and so we prefer this drink strained, neat, clean and cold. Its simple look belies its complex flavor, and most holiday parties tend to pour quite a few of these, meaning you should make plenty of the sage/cranberry mix ahead of time
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SAGE GINBERRY
BOURBON THYME With shades of gold, red, brass and burgundy, autumn is the perfect season for bourbon. We’ve been liking The Clover recently, which brings seasonal spice and caramel to play with the oak and vanilla depths of a solid Tennessee bourbon. When our Canadian friends pour some of their best product in the glass as well, all that’s missing is a roaring fire and the best kind of quiet evening.
+ 2 OZ T H E C LOV E R 4 YEAR OLD + 1 OZ M A P LE S YR UP + O N E S P R I G O F T HYM E
Pour bourbon into a glass (with or without ice), add maple syrup and stir gently, then add thyme and serve
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ORIGINAL HIGHBALL Talk about a party staple, the Dewar’s Highball has been around since 1892—when Tommy Dewar himself invented the highball. Word has it that Tommy, out for a night in New York City, ordered a “ball” (traditional term for a glass of whisky) in a tall glass with soda and ice, creating a simply perfect libation. Add a twist and some seasonally apropos ginger ale and the Dewar’s Highball is one of the best ways to enjoy the colorful season.
+ 2 OZ D E WA R ’ S W H I T E LA B E L + 4 OZ G I N G E R A L E
Combine Dewar’s and ginger ale in a glass, stir, serve over cracked ice and garnish with a twist
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KETEL ROSEMARY MARTINI
Well placed in Sunday roasts and autumnal afternoons, rosemary is the perfect complement for this exquisitely drinkable martini from top vodka-maker Ketel One. Lemon juice and club soda brighten the flavor while the herb and the top-shelf vodka heighten the holiday spirit.
+ 1. 5 OZ KET EL O N E CITR O E N + 1 OZ FRESH - S Q UE E ZE D LEM ON JUICE + CLUB S ODA + 1 ROSEM A R Y S PR IG
Shake Ketel One Citroen & lemon juice over ice, strain into a martini glass then add club soda and rosemary sprig
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TRAVEL FOOD Holiday Philadelphia Fayre
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Grate Times The Board
It’s a blank canvas. It can be intimidating if you’ve never put one together before, and so you might be thinking “Where do I begin?” Start with the bigger fruit: grapes, strawberries… The board will take shape and then you can start to visualize where your cheeses will go. As for cutting, look at your cheeses. If they’re pretty the way they are, maybe leave one whole—which can look great—or just cut a few pieces, arrange some smaller pieces to get people started. And if it’s a hard cheese, not super easy to cut, maybe cut it up so it’s easy for people to enjoy. No one wants to work at it or to look awkward sawing away at the cheese board while they’re trying to have a conversation. Tip: Put softer, ripened cheeses to the outside edges of the board so when people are cutting away they’re not smearing the cheese through something else. It will be easier if they’re near the ends of the board.
Nothing elevates a party quite like a well-curated cheese board. But what to include…? For answers we turned to Tonda Corrente, aka La Femme du Fromage, which is also the name of her Orlando eatery. Hailed by USA Today, Travel Channel, Food Network and more for her cheese wisdom, she offered the following lessons on building a cheese board for your next holiday bash. Lesson No.1: Don’t talk about how the Mimolette is made, just serve and smile
The Cheeses
As for which cheeses specifically to add, tastes will vary and you have to know your audience. I like having at least one kid-friendly cheese on there, and sheep’s milk in general tends to be kid-friendly, especially if you get a semi-soft cheese. Because of the butterfat content it’s very pleasant for kids—and for everyone, really. Younger goudas as well, they have the right texture that kids are looking for, and sometimes I feel it’s about texture with kids. If you have no idea what style you like or you’re ready to branch out and try new cheeses, talk with your cheesemonger and tell them what you’re after. If nothing else consider different textures and milk styles: goat, sheep, cow... buffalo if it’s available. If you want to get a good assortment, ensure there’s something soft, something medium and something a little harder in terms of texture. Then maybe add a blue cheese or something funky, one for the adventurous types. When it’s all done consider adding some herbs, pops of green that can make it come together. And then either scatter or arrange small nuts and chocolate pieces, then make jam and honeycomb accessible as well. Honey is great for people who aren’t sure they like cheese or who aren’t sure what to do with it. When in doubt, throw honey on it.
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Visit La Femme du Fromage online or, better yet, if you’re in Orlando, visit Tonda and her team for a Grilled Cheese Happy Hour, a class on pairing wine/beer/cheese or simply to marvel at her new location downtown— epic sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards await. lafemmedufromage.com
ECO TERRENO Every cheese board needs a beautiful wine to go with it, and California-based Eco Terreno’s Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is not only a fantastically rich and fragrant red, balanced with lush notes of cedar, blackberry compote and dark chocolate, it’s also a responsible pour, a product of the label’s commitment to biodynamic farming and deep respect for the land. Highly recommended.
N DA ’ S O T
KINGDOM Cheese Board
Beemster X-O A goat cheese and a sharper 2 ½ year aged gouda. It tastes like butterscotch with little whisky notes. If you eat it with a bit of chocolate, it tastes like a peanut butter cup. A really surprising and enjoyable cheese with a little crunch.
HOLLAND
ecoterreno.com
Lamb Chopper BOSKA KNIFE SET OSLO Whether you’ve got a creamy Brie or a hard Parmesan, this set can handle it. The narrow blades prevent cheese from sticking, even soft cheese, and yet, super-strong, they won’t bend under force. Beautifully made of stainless steel with an authentic oak wood handle, these are the perfect complement to any sophisticated spread. usa.boska.com
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This is a sheep’s milk cheese that, unlike some goudas, has good complexity. Nutty, slightly sweet, and semi-firm, this is an easy-to-eat cheese that guests will enjoy.
MADE IN HOLLAND for Cypress Grove in California
Mimolette Just a lovely French cheese. It’s amazing, bright orange, with a caramelized depth and smooth finish. It’s so appealing that if a kid wants something that looks normal, put this in there and it could pass it as a cheddar so a kid wouldn’t be so alarmed, but they’d be eating this amazing French cheese that’s AOC regulated, high quality… But if you start to say all that and go into how it’s made (look it up!), there’s not a kid out there who would want to put it in their mouth, so don’t talk about that, just let everyone enjoy it.
FRANCE
Meredith Dairy Marinated Feta This is a sheep and goat milk blend. It’s very garlicky and it has a nice goat’s milk tang on the back end, but it’s super creamy, which is attributed to the sheep’s milk and richer butterfat. You wouldn’t necessarily think a Feta style cheese for a board, typically more for a salad, but this is so creamy, easy to spread on bread or crackers, and it’s so good.
AUSTRALIA
Marin French Cheese Triple Creme Brie It’s beautiful, just gooey creaminess. How pretty this cheese is. Try it with a strawberry, and now you have the rich butterfat from the cheese and the acid from the fruit, and it’s like butter and jelly. Enjoy a nice Champagne with this.
CALIFORNIA
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DRINK Wine
BOTTLE DIPLOMACY The lowbrow movies you enjoy at home might not be the same films you recommend to execs at a business function. Similarly, the wine in your kitchen and what you bring to the holiday party are likely of a different vintage—or perhaps they should be. A holiday party isn’t the venue to showcase that surprisingly drinkable red you mined from the lowest shelf, but neither is it a stage on which to show off that ultra-rare bottle you bought at auction. Here, fresh off helping Bay Hill Club & Lodge to earn a 2019 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Bay Hill Sommelier Lindsey Haluska ensures you’ll be a well-received guest, pairing the right pour with the right party. Pay attention as this advice can save red faces, even if you bring a rosé. (Gift bag not included.)
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CLOSE FRIENDS
Prove you’re not allergic to wine that costs more than $10 a bottle.
1. ALBARIÑO
Headed for a casual night in with close friends? Grab some goat cheese, a shrimp cocktail and bottle of Albariño and arrive with an effortless coolness and air of sophistication… and a food and wine pairing that is sure to please. Albariño, best from the Rías Baixas region of Spain, is a dry, mouthwatering wine of delectable citrus flavor, often orange and tangerine. With a delightful salinity, it is a perfect companion to light seafood dishes.
Bágoa do Miño, $25
2. ROSÉ
All day. And in the evening. And transport yourself to the South of France without a plane. The wine market has boomed with the resurgence of pink wine and new rosés are sprouting up everywhere. Case in point, this ubiquitous pour from Provence. Salmon-pink with the scent of crushed strawberries, peach, rosewater and orange blossom, it’s always a party pleaser. It is wonderfully dry and crisp with delicate summer berry fruits balanced by citrus zest acidity and a deliciously creamy finish.
Whispering Angel, Chateau D’Esclans $22
3. CÔTES DU RHÔNE
Dark, fresh, smooth and aromatic, these blended wines from the Southern Rhône Valley are often made primarily from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. GSMs, as we like to call them in the U.S., are easy drinking and agreeable with a variety of snacks and Netflix offerings.
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône, $12
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When the world needs to know about a course;
let it speak for itself.
3rd hole Ozarks National Golf Club Ridgedale, Missouri Š2019 Evan Schiller Photography
(914) 589-6045 golfshots@earthlink.net www.golfshots.com
WORK FRIENDS
FRIENDS OF FRIENDS
No need to impress but, as with your office attire, what you bring will make a statement.
Strangers, but you could be on course with them soon; might as well get off on the right foot…
1. CRÉMANT
1. A CHAMPAGNE THAT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES
Champagne proper comes from the region of the same name, but there are numerous high-quality sparkling wines produced in the Méthode Champenoise. Crémant, for example, is produced in France, near the Champagne region. My personal favorite is sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley, with this Bollinger-owned house offering a good, cost-effective option.
Domaine Langlois-Château Crémant de Loire, $30
2. MALBEC
Long-beloved and understood by South Americans and used as a blending grape in many of the world’s best Bordeaux for centuries, the rest of us have finally caught on to the wonderful wines made from the Malbec grape. Headed to an office holiday party? Not overboard in acid or tannin but certainly not short on body nor flavor, feel confident a Malbec will please an array of palates.
Terrazas de los Andes, Reserva, $20
3. SHIRAZ
Also known as Syrah, this grape is the jewel of Australian winemaking. Fullbodied, strong and juicy, delivering loads of dark fruit flavor and spice. Mollydooker (Aussie slang for a lefthanded person) is a heavy-hitting producer of the McLaren Vale, and recommends you try the “Mollydooker Shake” when serving their wine: pour a half glass, replace the cap, invert the bottle, shake vigorously, then reopen and pour. This allows the tiny nitrogen bubbles that are used to preserve the wine to escape, and liberates the full flavors to shine.
A beautiful bubbly that can (and should) be enjoyed by everyone: critics, people just getting into wine, your boss, wine snobs, Somms, hipsters who only drink grower-Champagne, people who must Vivino the bottle’s label. Have you met this rose goldcolored gem produced from the classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier?
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé, $80
2. NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Four words that make most American wine drinkers very happy. Four decades ago, Napa Valley Cabernets and Chardonnay burst onto the global wine scene asserting their place among the greatest wines on the planet. With production and quality only going up since then, these wines are as exceptional as ever. With that comes the prices to match. A perennial favorite, a quintessential expression of the Valley, an opulent presentation of blackberry, leather, oak and spice:
Sequoia Grove, Napa Valley, $40
3. THE WASHINGTON CAB
The first American wine outside of California to earn 100 points from Robert Parker. Many more 100-point scores followed. Not always the biggest proponent of scoring wine, this wine from insanely beautiful vineyards in the Columbia Valley deserves all the accolades and esteem. World-class Cabernet Sauvignon.
Quilceda Creek, Columbia Valley, $150
Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy, $45
WINTER 2019
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ROYALTY
You can’t outspend them so don’t try, but know that they will look at the label on the bottle (though for price or for character is anyone’s guess).
1. CUVÉE PRESTIGE OR TÊTE DE CUVÉE
These wines are the best of the best sparkling that Champagne houses produce, often all Grand Cru fruit and made only in years where weather permits. For example, Cristal is the prestige cuvée of the house Louis Roederer, while Dom Pérignon is the prestige cuvée of the house Moët & Chandon. Try this 100% sparkling Chardonnay that delivers insane elegance and the right amount of toast vintage after vintage:
WINE LOVERS
Unlike those who sniff and swirl and smack and sneer but who can’t tell corked from capped, the people here actually know their stuff. You’re walking into a room full of sommeliers, so find an expert, explain the situation, and take advice. And when you get to the party, don’t pretend the nerello mascalese from the slopes of Mt. Etna was your idea.
1. “GROWER CHAMPAGNE”
These bubbles come from the greatest sparkling wine-growing region in the world but unlike the iconic, large houses (i.e. Moët & Clicquot), they are produced by the same people that are growing the grapes. A sort of counterculture amongst wine enthusiasts, these wines tend to have a more artisanal, homegrown character.
Tattinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, $200
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Sainte Anne, $50
2. BORDEAUX
If Pinot Gris did 23 & Me, it would find out that not only is it related to Pinot Grigio, but that they are identical twins! Genetically, the same grape (Gris is French for grey, while Grigio is Italian for grey), it is stylistically quite different depending on where it is from. In Alsace, the wines can be incredibly flavorful, ripe, unsweet with a touch of oak and spice.
Historically considered, and still often by many, the benchmark of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, these wines are storied and romantic, unique and exceptional. However, global interest and cult status has raised prices drastically over the last decades, leaving the classified wines of the region out of, say, the daily drinking category. Try one of my favorite second growths:
Château Léoville-Poyferré, $125
3. BAROLO
“The King of Wines”. Barolo has long been hailed as the greatest wine of a country where many great wines are produced. Made entirely from the Nebbiolo grape in Piedmont, in Northwest Italy, these wines are huge, powerful and tannic yet refined and elite. Definitely worth the hype.
Massolino Barolo, Serralunga d’Alba, $50
2. ALSATIAN PINOT GRIS
Josmeyer Grand Cru Hengst, $75
3. CRU BEAUJOLAIS
Beaujolais is the Southernmost subregion of Burgundy, France and synonymous with the only grape grown there, Gamay, the fruitier, lighter, more carefree cousin of Pinot Noir. Adored by Sommeliers and wine novices alike, Beaujolais is definitely my desert island wine for its sheer deliciousness and drinkability. Try a Beaujolais from one of the Crus, like Moulin-à-Vent, which produces the big and bold examples.
Chateau du Moulin a Vent, Moulin-a-Vent, $50
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LAST PAGE
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Family Ties
ockey International—the global apparel and retail giant once known for its cheeky ad campaigns featuring pro-sports athletes—is today backing a deeper and much more personal mission: Supporting “forever” families through the Jockey Being Family Foundation. It’s a cause that has remained as true to Jockey’s roots as its Kenosha, Wisconsin headquarters, located in the same historic brick mill where it has stood since the early nineteen hundreds. It’s no surprise that the company’s earliest origins involve family—founded by a father and later his two sons—whom later incorporated as the Cooper Underwear Company. Today, Chairman and CEO, Debra Waller continues to promote family by making it her mission to help children, as she herself was adopted as an infant. Since she started the Foundation in 2005, Jockey Being Family has helped more than 330,000 families, funded 5,250 college scholarships, supplied more than 25,000 of its signature kids backpacks and contributed nearly $7 million dollars to its non-profit partners in support of adoptive families. “Underneath it all, it’s about giving every child a place they can call home,” says Will Waller, Program Director for the Foundation. And for Bubba Watson, there’s simply no place like home. Every November, his family calendar grows busier while he and his wife, Angie, spread their powerful message about family and a sense of belonging during National Adoption Month.
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“This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart,” says Watson, who together with wife Angie has two adopted children, Caleb and Dakota. “Most people know me for winning golf tournaments, but they don’t know my passion for family and for adoption. The adoption process has been a tough road, a fun road, a learning experience, a happy road. And I have felt so many different emotions that I had never dreamed of and never thought of, but I appreciate every one of them,” says Watson. “What most people don’t realize is that an estimated one out of 10 adoptions fail, sending kids back into foster care. Even one failed adoption is one too many.” November is National Adoption month. To learn more, visit Jockeybeingfamily.com
B U B B A WAT S O N
Dad to two beautiful children, pro golfer shows how adoption led to his forever family.
SHOW ’EM WHAT’S UNDERNEATH #ShowEm your Jockey