THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
THE GREAT GAME :
NEW COURSES TO MASTER
MUST-HAVE GEAR
CELEBRATING COSTATERRA
PLUS :
A LIFE OF GRANDEUR
LA VIE GASTRONOMIQUE
CULTURE ON THE MAP
SHOW TIME AND... GHA CONTINUES TO GROW GO TO MOBILE VERSION
TAPESTRY OF COLOURS
2026-2027
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Discover the rich and diverse colours of our world’s cultures and landscapes as we unveil new, breathtaking voyages across the globe.
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Welcoming
BANGKOK, THAILAND
TO THE SIAM
DEOS MYKONOS
MYKONOS, GREECE &
| LONDON | CANNES | COURCHEVEL | MEGÈVE | PARIS | CORFU
|
| SHANGHAI | BEIJING | CHENGDU | HONG KONG
AMSTERDAM
MYKONOS | CRANS-MONTANA
GSTAAD | GENEVA | JERUSALEM | MAYAN RIVIERA
BANGKOK
©️ Lungarno Collection, Ryan Neeven, Sophia Hita
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
13 • Editor’s Letter On reconnecting. By Farhad Heydari
17 • A Fresh Leaf
Global Hotel Alliance welcomes a quartet of new member brands. By Julie Alpine
25 • La Vie Gastronomique Michelin Guide-approved menus. By Miles Sackville
27 • Show Time
Five exhibitions worthy of a city break, from surrealism in Paris to street style in NYC. By Coco Georgiou
22 • The Shortlist
Autumnal covetables for shortening days and lengthening nights. By Ultratravel editors
42 • Luxury Links
New-and-improved courses spoiling devotees for choice. By Nick Bayly
35 • A Life of Grandeur Ultratravel’s Chairman sets sail on the newest addition to Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ luxury fleet. By Nick Perry
62 • Back to the Future Ferrari’s latest might also be the last in a great line of high-performance super-tourers. By Adam Hay-Nicholls
29 • World Class
Unesco has blessed travellers with 24 new World Heritage sites for 2024. Here’s where to start. By Nigel Tisdall
41 • Golfing World
The annual Ultratravel compendium dedicated to the great game
48 • Gearing Up
Must-have irons, apparel and high-tech kit to bring out your inner pro. By Nick Bayly
AUTUMN 2024
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Farhad Heydari Farhad@ultratravel.com @MrFarhadHeydari
SENIOR EDITOR
Julie Alpine
57 • Atlantic Patrol
Portugal’s ocean-facing, 18-hole CostaTerra is ready for its close-up. By Farhad Heydari
CHAIRMAN Nick Perry Nick@ultratravel.com @MrNickPerry
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Andrew Cowan
CONTRIBUTORS
Nick Bayly, Coco Georgiou, Adam Hay-Nicholls, Miles Sackville, Nigel Tisdall
COVER PHOTO: COSTATERRA GOLF AND OCEAN CLUB ©JPHENEBRY @Ultratravel ultratravel.com
Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or UHC Cayman Holdings Limited. Ultratravel is a registered trademark.
Farhad Heydari EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ultratravel
Team Player
As the golf year slowly draws to a close in the northern hemisphere, amateurs and professionals alike will be looking back at the year that was and taking stock.
Were there momentous rounds and memorable moments to cherish? Was there a breakthrough instance that provided the turnkey for even modest success? Did this come with hardware that now has pride of place on the mantlepiece or trophy room? Or was it yet another slog? Another forgettable year filled with frustration and disappointment? Another year where the soul-searching continues?
For me, it was the former, because, despite the inherent disenchantment that the game serves up with annoying frequency, I’ve come to enjoy the many sideline intangibles that surround it – fun and fellowship paramount among them – more than the game itself.
To be clear, I still revel in the excitement of a competitive round of golf (having played
more than 75 this year alone, including a few ProAms). And – for those wondering – with a handicap of 4.1, I’m more than capable of holding my own. But to me, the joy is in the camaraderie that the game engenders, which is why, after a 20-year absence, it was wonderful to return to the home of the Masters, Augusta National, this year, and for the whole week.
There, reunited with golfing cognoscenti – friends (like Gary Player, pictured) and many acquaintances, some of whom I hadn’t seen in years – we reflected, reminisced and, in some cases, relitigated, sharing storylines and recollections about a game that has given so many of us so much. In doing so, we realised how fortunate we all are to travel and play with those near and dear to us.
We hope that this edition of provides the spark for you to do the same, especially those in the southern hemisphere, whose season is just about to commence. As always, go low!
“To me, the joy of golf is in the camaraderie that the game engenders, which is why it was wonderful to return to Augusta National this year”
IF THE CAP FITS...
Golfing legend Gary Player and Ultratravel
Editor-in-Chief Farhad
Heydari at Champions Retreat in Georgia this year
80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB
T: +44 (0) 20 7118 6888 enquiry.pplon@panpacific.com @panpacificlondon
Bringing gracious luxury to the City through contemporary design, Pan Pacific London o ers a sense of peace and calm.
Indulge in a distinctive London experience, from bustling market stalls to Michelin-starred eateries and iconic landmarks, all conveniently on our doorstep.
A FRESH LEAF
This autumn, Global Hotel Alliance welcomes a raft of new members and unveils a revamped grande dame. Julie Alpine reports
New travel timetables? Shiny, back-to-school pencil cases? Post-summer holiday reunions, left, right and centre? It can only be autumn, and, in keeping with the mores of the season, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has been welcoming new friends to the family, strengthening ties with old ones and unveiling the epic makeover of one of its member properties in Germany (see opposite page}.
GHA – the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, with 40 brands and more than 800 hotels scattered across 100 countries – has significantly expanded its international footprint by welcoming four prestigious regional hotel groups into the fold. With new members Unike Hotels, Sunway Hotels & Resorts, Andronis and Paramount Hotels, the alliance expands its presence in Norway, Malaysia, Greece and the UAE respectively, adding 32 properties to the GHA portfolio, and enriching its offerings of both resort and city hotels across key destinations.
“GHA has significantly expanded its footprint by welcoming four prestigious hotel brands into the fold”
NORWEGIAN WOOD (AND FJORD)
Renowned for its distinctive charm, Norway’s Unike Hotels enhances GHA’s reach in Norway, with 17 properties across idyllic locations spanning scenic fjords to biodiverse forests. Highlights include the historic Leikanger Hotel and the tranquil Rømskog Spa. Unike’s approach blends modern comfort and traditional Norwegian hospitality, with each property uniquely reflecting its natural surroundings. Guests can look forward to immersive cultural experiences, hauntingly beautiful landscapes and superb wining and dining, alongside five-star service.
MAGICAL MALAYSIA
Sunway Hotels & Resorts, which has a strong presence in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, brings 11 wish list-worthy properties to the alliance. The brand’s Sunway flagship hotels in Kuala Lumpur lead the charge, and in particular, Sunway Resort Hotel, which is known for its family-friendly amenities and ideal location, set within a world-class entertainment and business travel destination. Beyond the capital, Sunway extends its offerings with properties in Penang and the luxurious Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, a wellness sanctuary loved for its therapeutic waters, rainforest views and spellbinding limestone caves.
GREEK CHIC
Offering quintessential Hellenic luxury and romance, Andronis is the name behind a stellar collection of boutique hotels in Santorini and Paros, now joining the GHA family. With sweeping Aegean views coming as standard, the properties make a great base for some good, old-fashioned R&R, as well as for more active escapes – sunset cruise by motorboat, anyone? – and, with no attention to detail spared, will appeal to GHA DISCOVERY members seeking high-spec amenities. Andronis Luxury Suites, perched on a cliff in Santorini, and Andronis Minois, in Paros, provide guests with transformative wellness experiences, bespoke services and some of the finest dining and spa services found anywhere in the region.
DAZZLING DUBAI
Sprinkling a little Hollywood glamour into the GHA portfolio, Paramount Hotels offers two signature properties in Dubai’s bustling Business Bay: Paramount Hotel Dubai and Paramount Hotel Midtown. Both embody the cinematic allure of the silver screen’s golden age, complete with themed suites and unforgettable dining and wellness facilities. The rooftop infinity pool at Paramount Hotel Midtown, for example, with its artistically designed interiors, promises a luxe retreat in the heart of Dubai’s most vibrant district.
The ethos behind all four brands beautifully dovetails with GHA’s strategy of providing travellers with a greater choice of luxury properties across some of the world’s most desirable destinations. GHA DISCOVERY members now have access to a broader range of properties, catering to a wide array of travel preferences, from nature retreats to glamorous city escapes. This expansion marks another milestone for GHA in its 20th-anniversary year, enhancing its status as a leading – and the largest – alliance of independent hotels worldwide. GHA continues to drive value for its 28 million loyalty members through exceptional global travel experiences.
Opposite page: Sunway Resort Hotel occupies prime real estate in Kuala Lumpur. This image: Alta Mare by Andronis on Greece’s southernmost Cycladic isle – one of four Santorini properties owned by the brand
THE GRAND REVEAL
After six months of extensive renovations, Dresden’s iconic Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski has thrown off the dust covers to reveal its return to full splendour. With 180 rooms and 31 suites, including the luxurious 380sq m Royal Suite, the hotel blends historical charm with contemporary élan. Guests can indulge in gourmet dining at Das Palais and seafood at Kastenmeiers, while the glamorous Bar 1705 transports drinkers back to the Roaring Twenties. The revamped spa boasts Finnish saunas, a steam bath, an infrared cabin and a magnificent pool set beneath a starry sky, offering a complete wellness retreat in the heart of the city. kempinski.com
For more information or to join the programme for free, visit ghadiscovery.com or download the GHA DISCOVERY mobile app.
TRUE BLUE
POWERED BY NATURE
The view from the lounger at Unike’s Leikanger Hotel
Celebrating Twenty Years
of the world’s largest alliance of hotel brands
The Leela Palace Udaipur
Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas
Yesterday , our story began with a vision. T oday , we stand on the shoulders of two decades of success. Tomorrow , a world of possibilities unfolds before us.
Connecting millions of travellers worldwide, with over 40 independent brands, spanning over 800 hotels, across more than 100 countries.
Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana
THE SHORT
What’s hot, what to buy and what to know, as compiled by Ultratravel editors
TIME MACHINE
Add another incredible achievement to the unending innovation that continues to emerge from Richard Mille. This time, it’s the RM 65-01, the pinnacle of technical mastery in modern watchmaking. This high-performance automatic split-seconds chronograph is a triumph of engineering, with a movement composed of over 600 intricately designed components, crafted in a striking combination of Carbon TPT and grade 5 titanium, which blends robust durability with lightweight precision, making it ideal for the active elite. Its rapid-winding mechanism ensures seamless time-setting, while the vibrant pushers and intricate dial offer both functionality and visual appeal. As one of the most complex models ever created, the RM 65-01 is more than just the sum of its parts – it’s a celebration of innovation, built for those who demand precision and performance in every aspect of life. richardmille.com
ESSENTIAL SCENTS
D.S. & DURGA
The cult NYC perfumer has debuted a trio of its cheeriest scents in the aptly named Sunshine Set, for summer vibes no matter what the weather’s doing. dsanddurga.com
OJAR
Wood Whisper, the latest scent from luxury Omani brand Ojar, is a testament to the enchantment of vivid sandalwood, lifted by plum, violet and ambergris notes. ojarofficial.com
MALIN+GOETZ
The 100% natural Tomato Home Spray brings the aroma of a flourishing latesummer vegetable garden indoors, with notes of freshly cut tomato vine and citrus. malinandgoetz.com
LIST
HIGH NOTE
With unrivalled acoustics and exceptional craftsmanship, rendered in tactile, space-age materials, the new flagship Beoplay H100 headphones from Bang & Olufsen feature the most advanced noise-cancellation tech to date. With 35 hours of playtime, and available in three timeless colourways, they are the ideal travel companions, whether aloft or on terra firma. bang-olufsen.com
DECO DAZZLE
Inspired by the birthplace of this magical cut, Fifth Avenue from Boodles channels New York’s famed architecture, incorporating an art deco style into modern, structural pieces that celebrate a collection created to commemorate the 25-year relationship between the famed jeweller and the iconic ASHOKA diamond. boodles.com
“Leica has managed to merge the tactile charm of analogue with the cutting-edge precision of digital”
IN FOCUS
With its latest offering, Leica has managed to merge the tactile charm of analogue photography with the cutting-edge precision of digital technology. Building on the iconic M11 platform, the M11-D strips away the rear LCD screen, replacing it with an oversized ISO dial – inviting photographers to fully immerse themselves in the artistry of image composition. Weighing in at just 540g, the M11-D is 115g lighter than its predecessor, making it a sleek, comfortable tool for extended use, with a generous 256GB of internal memory and an upgraded battery to boot. leica-camera.com
IN GREAT SPIRITS
JOHNSON RESERVE
Finished in a combination of Japanese Mizunara oak and French cognac casks, the Voyager is a rich and elegant single malt with enticing notes of dried fruits, baking spices and brown sugar. johnson-reserve.com
BLADNOCH DISTILLERY
From Scotland, The Wave, redolent of floral pine needles, fresh cut oak on the nose and imparting notes of sweet oak and toasted coconut on the palate, before a sweet, warm, refreshing finish. Limited to 1,817 bottles. bladnoch.com
FIELDEN
Meaning “of the field” in Old English, Fielden’s new Harvest 2019 Rye Whisky celebrates the grain harvest, with the distinct characteristics of its heritage grains evident in the refreshing yet rich complexity at play, according to master distiller Chico Rosa. fielden.com
TALISKER
A release of just 2,610 bottles, the 30-Year-Old represents the peak of Talisker, comparable to the majestic summit of one of Skye’s Cuillin mountains in its majesty, with smoke, salinity and an apt pointy pepperiness. malts.com
SPEAKING VOLUMES
A watch beloved and revered by millions finally has its own authorised history. Written by author and watch expert Nicholas Foulkes, the 252-page tome Submariner is a deep dive, pun intended, into the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner, the first divers’ watch guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100m – a timepiece that truly unlocked the deep. Published by global design authority Wallpaper*, it is the first in a series of titles exploring the brand’s unique watches, combining new and original photography with historical images to illustrate accounts from renowned witnesses to the Submariner’s illustrious 71-year history. rolex.com
SHADES OF AUTUMN
High-performance unisex aviators designed for the active traveller
As at home in the urban jungle as they are in their spiritual birthplace of Verbier and the surrounding Val de Bagnes region of Switzerland, Vallon sports sunglasses pack in a whole lot of soul. Designs pay homage to romantically windswept days gone by, while polarized V52 performance optics give the highest clarity of any performance eyewear out there. The optional headstrap, meanwhile, spells an end to that infuriating moment when you lose yet another pair of sunnies by dropping them off the top of the chairlift. Whether trail running, kayaking, sailing, climbing or simply taking a walk in the park this autumn, the brand’s bestselling aviator-inspired style, Howlin’, has you covered. vallon.com
LA VIE GASTRONOMIQUE
Let the ever-expanding Michelin Guide be your satnav to gastronomic nirvana, says Miles Sackville
HOW DO YOU SELECT your restaurants when you’re travelling? And if an establishment comes with a Michelin star or two, does that have a bearing on your decision?
“Yes” would seem a likely answer, if only because the number of restaurants that are being secretly reviewed by trained Michelin Guide inspectors is on the up. What began in France in 1900 as a free guide for motorists produced by the Michelin tyre company has grown into a renowned rating system that has so far touched down in 45 countries worldwide – with more to come.
Surprisingly, after steadily conquering 21 European nations, the Michelin Guide only crossed the Atlantic in 2006 with the launch of New York City. When Tokyo followed, two years later, 120,000 copies of the publication were sold within 24 hours. In 2020, a Michelin green star was introduced to reward restaurants demonstrating “a strong commitment to sustainable gastronomy”.
Over the last two years, Michelin’s anonymous reviewers have taken their hyper-discerning palates to cities in Mexico, Vietnam, Poland, Lithuania and Turkey, with Texas up next. The US state paid the company $2.7m in a three-year agreement designed to boost tourism to five cities, including Houston and Austin. In 2025, Doha will join the fray.
So, do you fancy Italian contemporary, Indian vegetarian, Japanese yakitori or maybe a classic
“When the Tokyo edition was launched,
120,000 copies sold within 24 hours”
PREVIOUS PAGE
An artful dish at California’s Aubergine, in Carmel-by-the-sea
diner? The options are now much wider than the “fine dining” venues we traditionally associate with Michelin recommendations. As you try to decide, bear in mind that one Michelin star signifies “great finesse”; two, “exceptional”; and three, “unique”. These ratings are awarded to the restaurant, not the chef, and the only thing assessed is what’s on the plate. The smiley waitperson, the incisive sommelier, the pencil-thin cutlery and the oh-so-cool decor have no bearing whatsoever on the judges’ final decision.
As for the bill, you can keep that under control by choosing establishments that have attained a Bib Gourmand, which promises quality food at a good price, and by shopping around. In Singapore, a steaming bowl of noodles at the one-Michelin-star, cash-only Tai Hwa Pork Noodle in Hill Street starts at just £5. Alternatively, a nine-course “signature experience” at two-star Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam clocks in at £455. With over 18,000 Michelinrated restaurants to choose from, the world really is your oyster – perhaps served with a little Oscietra caviar and coco bean velouté? Bon appétit! (guide.michelin.com)
THE STAR FACTOR
Clockwise from top left: Michelin-approved cuisine at Californian hotspots Sons & Daughters, San Francisco; Meteora, LA; Molti Amici, Sonoma county; an early Michelin Guide; Vespertine, Culver City; awardwinning sommelier Ian Krupp of Anajak Thai, Sherman Oaks; Meteora
SHOW TIME
Looking for an excuse to take off on a culture-rich city break? Coco Georgiou has five very good ones
MAKE CONNECTIONS IN OSAKA
Artist Chiharu Shiota returns to her hometown for her first major Osaka show in 16 years, I to Eye (14 Sept-1 Dec), which brings together a clutch of awe-inspiring, large-scale installations at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art (NAKKA). Known for weaving intricate webs of blood-red yarn, the Berlinbased Shiota explores themes of life, death and human connection through bold visual metaphors. The museum’s soaring 6m-high ceilings provide the perfect backdrop for these immersive environments, which are displayed alongside paintings, drawings and video works. A captivating mid-career retrospective not to be missed. nakka-art.jp/en
SEE LONDON THROUGH MONET’S EYES
The Courtauld Gallery’s Monet and London: Views of the Thames (27 Sept-19 Jan) offers an illuminating look at the impressionist’s lesser-seen London works. While the artist’s name might have become synonymous with water lilies and bucolic countryside scenes, this collection showcases his iridescent interpretations of the bustling Thames. From haunting depictions of a fog-draped Waterloo
Bridge to the Houses of Parliament at first light, these evocative explorations of water and colour prove that even the daily commute can be masterfully reimagined on canvas. A must-see for art lovers craving a fresh take on Monet’s genius. courtauld.ac.uk
CELEBRATE SURREALISM IN PARIS
A centenary celebration of surrealism reaches its crescendo with Surrealism at Paris’ Centre Pompidou this autumn (4 Sept-13 Jan). Shaped like a maze, the exhibition takes its inspiration from André Breton’s 1924 Surrealist Manifesto, with a central “drum” housing the original manuscript. Divided into 14 sections, the exhibits turn the spotlight on how surrealists interpreted literature and symbols, with iconic works by Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Joan Miró among highlights of this thought-provoking dive into the movement’s global impact. centrepompidou.fr
GET STREETWISE IN NYC
City corners become the storytellers of modern life in We Are Here: Scenes from the Streets at New York’s International Centre of Photography (ICP) this autumn (26 Sept-6 Jan). Showcasing some 30
renowned international street photographers, the exhibition has been curated by creative masterminds Isolde Brielmaier and Noa Wynn, with the selected images capturing how the streets serve as a dynamic canvas for cultural narratives, self-expression and social change. Exploring diverse perspectives and techniques, the collection invites viewers to reflect on public spaces as places of community and joy. icp.org
EXPLORE ASIAN BRONZE IN AMSTERDAM
Asian Bronze. 4,000 Years of Beauty (27 Sept12 Jan) at the Rijksmuseum is the first major international exhibition of its kind. It delves into the compelling history of one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring materials by way of 75 masterpieces, including bells, incense burners and weapons. Celebrating the alloy’s strength and flexibility, the selection includes many pieces that have never been on public display in the Netherlands before, with 15 making their European debut. Spanning various eras and regions, the artefacts offer a rare glimpse into the artistry and craftsmanship of bronze in Asian culture, making this essential viewing for art and history enthusiasts alike. rijksmuseum.nl
YOUR DAY, elevated.
PALATIAL SPLENDOUR
Bristling with spires and towers, Schwerin Palace is a magnificent example of 19th-century German pomp set on an island in the centre of Schwerin, 110km east of Hamburg. While some of the 38 buildings are now used by the regional parliament, visitors are able to tour the stately rooms, orangery and ornamental gardens (schwerin.de)
GOOD TO KNOW
Wismar, a Hanseatic port city just 30km north of Schwerin on the Baltic coast, is another impressive World Heritage site (wismar-stralsund.de)
CLASS WORLD
Unesco recently announced 24 new World Heritage sites for 2024, highlighting natural and cultural wonders near and far. From a fairy-tale German castle to a remote South Pacific archipelago and colossal Chinese sand dunes, Nigel Tisdall picks his top 10
KENYA’S SWAHILI COAST
Located near Malindi, 5km from the Kenyan coast, the atmospheric, tree-lined ruins of the medieval walled city of Gede are testimony to a flourishing Swahili centre that thrived here from the 10th to 17th centuries. Back in its heyday, the settlement was home to seven mosques and a palace (magicalkenya.com)
GOOD TO KNOW
SOUTH SEAS ESCAPE
The Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, which lie 1,370km north-east of Tahiti, have drawn adventurers such as Herman Melville, Paul Gauguin and Thor Heyerdahl over the years. Supremely remote, the 15 isles are a hotspot of biodiversity, with cinematic volcanic scenery, a wealth of archaeological sites and pristine waters (tahititourisme.uk)
GOOD TO KNOW
Tours along the Swahili coast also take in Lamu, Mombasa and Zanzibar (farhorizons.com)
MODERNISM IN ROMANIA
Originally conceived as a war memorial, the series of monumental abstract sculptures created in Târgu Jiu in 1937-1938 by Constantin Brâncuși is considered by Unesco to be “an original vision of the human condition”. Endless Column, rising a cloud-tickling 30m high in a collection of 17 metal rhomboids, is the most striking of the group (visitgorj.ro)
To get there? Island-hop from Papeete aboard the combined passenger and cargo ship Aranui 5 (aranui.com)
GOOD TO KNOW
Târgu Jiu lies 290km west of Bucharest, where more Brâncuși works are on display at the National Museum of Art (mnar.ro)
CHINA’S COLOSSAL DUNES
Mysterious, spring-fed lakes, dunes that rise to 460m and the world’s largest expanse of singing sands are among the marvels that await explorers at Inner Mongolia’s Badain Jaran Desert The best time to visit is between June and October, flying into Zhangye, then joining a tour (chinaxiantour.com)
GOOD TO KNOW
Don’t miss the colourful sandstone rock formations in Zhangye National Geopark (zhangyetravel.com)
ARABIAN SANDS
Home to some 12,000 archaeological remains, Al Faw’s designation as Saudi Arabia’s eighth World Heritage site is further evidence of the country’s rich treasury of ancient wonders. Others to justify a trip include the 7,000-year-old rock art at Himā, the well-preserved monumental tombs of Al-Hijr and the traditional houses of Jeddah (visitsaudi.com)
GOOD TO KNOW
Guided tours of the country often include visits to two or three World Heritage sites (wildfrontiers.com)
THE VIA APPIA
Italy’s Appian Way was the original Roman road, running for over 800km between Rome and Brundisium (Brindisi). A formidable feat of engineering completed in the fourth century, it was accompanied by amphitheatres, basilicas, aqueducts and triumphal arches (camminodellappia.it)
Take a stroll on the surviving 16km found in Rome’s Parco dell’Appia Antica (parcoappiaantica.it) GOOD TO KNOW
MANDELA’S SOUTH AFRICA
Key places associated with the life of Nelson Mandela and the struggle against apartheid have been granted World Heritage status. Spread across the country, the 14 history-making addresses include the protest sites of Sharpeville and Soweto and the Union Buildings in Pretoria (southafrica.net)
GOOD TO KNOW
Constitution Hill, the military prison complex in Johannesburg where Mandela was detained in 1956, is now a thoughtprovoking museum (constitutionhill.org.za)
ENCHANTING LAGOONS
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, which runs along Brazil’s north-east coast for 80km, is an undulating terrain of wind-sculpted dunes that in the rainy season becomes a tapestry of colourful lagoons. The best time to see this bewitching spectacle is between May and September, exploring both on foot and by 4x4 (icmbio.gov.br)
GOOD TO KNOW
Tours travelling between São Luís and Jericoacoara often include a park visit (rainbowtours.co.uk)
SCOTLAND’S FLOW COUNTRY
The Flow Country is an austere and moody peatland in the far north-east of the UK that has taken 10,000 years to develop. Spread across Caithness and Sutherland, this unique 4,000sq km wilderness is a place for tranquil scenic drives and hikes to spot birds of prey (theflowcountry.org.uk)
GOOD TO KNOW
The RSPB’s Forsinard Flows nature reserve – a rugged expanse of peat bog, mountains and river valley – is the best place to start exploring, spotting lizards, dragonflies and insect-eating plants as you go (rspb.org.uk)
A Life of Grandeur
Regent’s glittering new ship sails into the spotlight, with Ultratravel Chairman Nick Perry on board
SAIL AWAY WITH ME Seven Seas Grandeur epitomises Regent’s 30-year legacy of perfecting the cruise experience
With some of the world’s best-known luxury hotel companies now lending their names to cruising – Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Aman and Orient Express among those offering, or soon to offer, floating versions of their premium products – the legacy luxury cruise lines have had to improve their ships and service still further. And that’s great news for travellers.
Regent launched Seven Seas Grandeur late last year, and it already stands positive comparison with the quality of product offered by the very best luxury hotels. In fact, in many ways, the standard of fittings in the suites, the quality of the restaurants and the attentiveness of the service is superior to and more consistent than many an experience in a top-end hotel.
After a smooth check-in process in Athens, we found our luggage already in our suite (“cabin” is so last century), and were keen to explore our accommodation and then the ship. The first impression of the suite was not only its attractiveness but also its clever design and practicality.
How many times have you checked into a hotel room and found too few hangers in the wardrobes and insufficient storage space in the bathroom? In our Grandeur Suite, we counted 30 hangers in the dressing room and plenty of clever shelving and cupboards for our toiletries. Recognition by Regent that while you stay in a hotel room, you live on a ship.
The care with which the suite has been designed is immediately extended into the service offered by the ship’s
“The ship stands positive comparison with the very best luxury hotels”
staff, when a friendly face visits you to ask what drinks you would like in your personalised mini bar – and your choice is then refreshed daily.
Happily unpacked and settled in, there comes the fun of exploring the new ship. First, the restaurants – three of which we had been able to book in advance. It quickly becomes apparent that much thought (and expense) has been given to creating designs and touches which evoke the individuality of the cuisines offered by each outlet.
Pacific Rim, the Asian restaurant, greets diners with an ornamental, Savoy Studios-designed cherry blossom tree made of bronze and hand-cut glass outside its entrance, with its gold and green decor complemented by lotusshaped windows; the steakhouse, Prime 7 – a fixture on all Regent ships – has its own bar with walls featuring leather belts and suitcases, a foretaste of the deep leather chairs and rich colours in the restaurant, redolent of old New York chophouses; and French eatery Chartreuse evokes the art
deco feel of a restaurant on a Parisian side street (with the addition of ocean views from the floor-to-ceiling windows).
The other main restaurants have greater capacity, so there is no necessity to book in advance. These include the outlet which became our favourite – Italian eatery Sette Mari at La Veranda. It also has copious outdoor seating so, in suitable weather, al fresco dinners – often when departing a destination and accompanied by spectacular sunsets – are a memorable way to enjoy its fresh pastas and classic Italian dishes. In the mornings, it is plain old La Veranda, offering an excellent breakfast buffet and madeto-order egg dishes (plus, at weekends, Bloody Marys and a caviar service).
Compass Rose, with its Versace place settings, is probably the grandest “all-day dining” restaurant you will see, with a large menu of regular favourites and daily specials to ensure diners can always have a new experience.
On our voyage, all Grandeur’s suites were occupied, but you would never have known it from the plethora of quiet places available in the numerous lounges and bars – including a dedicated cigar lounge – the library and the impressive Serene Spa and Fitness facility.
Any thoughts that Regent’s “Ultra All-Inclusive” product would involve any compromise on quality or services is very
SWIM WITH THE STREAM
Above: the lavish Pool Deck on Seven Seas Grandeur. Right: the enchanting dining room of speciality restaurant Compass Rose
“The wines, cocktails, cuisine and service are outstanding”
quickly dispelled by your first visit to a bar or restaurant. Or use of the daily laundry service, with your clothes returning beautifully boxed, or on hangers if requested.
The wines, cocktails, cuisine and service are outstanding. Our first-night dinner in Pacific Rim, for example, involved miso cod, lobster tempura and fresh sushi – accompanied by excellent wines and sake – and the quality of this experience was replicated in our visits to the other restaurants and outlets throughout our trip. The steaks in Prime 7 are not to be missed.
And at the end of each meal, after drinks in the bar or attendance at one of the nightly shows, there are no bills to sign and nothing extra to pay.
Of course, the joy of cruising is in visiting multiple destinations and countries with the minimum of flights and unpacking only once. There is daily pleasure in waking up to fresh scenery and a new port most mornings, having been lulled to sleep the night before by the gentle motion of the ship (and perhaps a glass or two with your excellent dinner). To do so in such beautiful surroundings, with so many high-quality facilities, makes the experience particularly memorable.
Luxury hotel brands may be looking to muscle in on the buoyant top-end cruise market but – as Regent is showing with Seven Seas Grandeur – this competition is very much two-way. rssc.com
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are taking their partnership to the next level with the recently announced 2025 Concierge Collection. This exclusive offering features three-night land programmes across iconic GHA properties in six European cities. Among the exceptional hotels included in the line-up are Rome’s 19th-century Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome and Divani Apollon Palace, which is nestled in Vouliagmeni, in the heart of the Athenian Riviera. Guests can opt to enhance their ultra-luxury cruise experience with immersive land tours in cities including Istanbul and London, available on five ships in the luxury fleet. GHA DISCOVERY members will benefit by earning rewards, which will naturally be music to the ears of discerning travellers everywhere. rssc.com/concierge-collection
SHIP TO SHORE
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CARIBBEAN
GOLFING
WORLD
Unveiling Ultratravel’s annual compendium dedicated to the great game, from new-and-improved courses to the equipment worth having
GOD’S GREEN EARTH Cabot Highlands’ new course, Old Petty, takes its name from a 200-year-old church that sits by the fifth hole
LUXURY LINKS
While it’s unlikely that the number of new golf courses being built around the world will ever return to those heady days at the turn of the last century, the past couple of years have nevertheless seen the arrival of many noteworthy newcomers that have added to the golfing landscape and provided new canvasses on which golfers can test their artistry with club in hand.
With many planned new courses experiencing delayed openings due to Covid, and others having been fast-tracked to take full advantage of the global golf boom following the pandemic, travelling golfers can now choose from a plethora of stunning new courses in a variety of destinations.
According to the latest golf industry figures, there are over 250 courses currently in various phases of planning, construction and near-completion around the world. And while everyone gets excited about a shiny new course, there have also been a significant number of major improvements carried out to some of the game’s established tracks, elevating the playing experience of classic courses for current and future generations. Figures show that there are at least a further 300 layouts currently being renovated or restored to some degree or other internationally.
With a bagful of stunning championship courses opening this year, dozens more in the pipeline, and a host of classic tracks benefitting from recent renovations, globetrotting golfers are now spoilt for choice when it comes to taking on challenges. By Nick Bayly
And, as golf course architects and resort owners get wise to the fact that not everyone wants to spend five hours slogging around a 7,000-yard championship layout, there has also been a spate of short course and par-three openings over the last 12 months, some offering as many as 19 holes, others as few as five, but all providing a unique challenge.
Headlining the new class of ’24 is Pinehurst No. 10 (pinehurst.com) in North Carolina, US. The first completely new layout to be built at Pinehurst for more than 30 years,
Tom Doak’s 7,020-yard, par-70 course opened in April to much fanfare. It features elements of other Pinehurst courses, specifically the sandscapes and bold whimsy of No. 4’s greens and the rolling, isolated terrain of No. 8, but it stands apart in terms of its geography and design. Boasting significant changes in elevation, blind shots, rising crests and bunkering that often denies clear sight of the fairway or green, No. 10 requires golfers to use their imagination to fashion shots to hidden targets and fascinating green complexes. Currently only accessible to those staying at the Pinehurst Resort, and only available to be played on foot, a green fee is not included in all stay-and-play packages, so remember to check whether it is when booking your trip or be prepared to pay a hefty surcharge. If 10 18-hole courses isn’t enough for you, an 11th course at Pinehurst, to be designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is in the planning stages for a 2027 opening.
Another “new” stateside track that is set to gain plenty of plaudits is Cabot Citrus Farms (thecabotcollection.com) in Florida. Canadian-owned operator Cabot has broken ground in the US in a big way in 2024, with three golf courses – two 18-holers, plus a 21-hole short course – being unveiled this year. The first, opened for preview in January ahead of an October grand opening, is Karoo, a Kyle Franz design that uses the land from the former World Woods Golf Club’s Pine Barrens course and takes advantage of the property’s sandy soil with a big, muscular routing filled with holes with various playing options. The second is The Roost, which uses land
ON A ROLL
North Carolina’s
Pinehurst No. 10, the resort’s first new layout in more than 30 years, features epic rolling terrain, a former quarry and plenty of heather
MATT MAJKA, EVAN SCHILLER
that previously formed part of World Woods’ former Rolling Oaks course. Greater elevation changes and majestic oaks characterise this design, although both will be on many golfer’s bucket lists given Cabot’s track record of creating memorable golfing experiences.
The Great Lakes state of Wisconsin has become something of a hotbed for new golf courses in recent years, with its vast sand belt providing moon-like landscapes for some of golf’s leading architects to work their magic on.
Joining the established must-plays – Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, Sand Valley, Blackwolf Run and Lido – is a quirky new 5,829-yard course designed by Tom Doak, Sedge Valley (sandvalley.com), which opened for play in July. Don’t be fooled into thinking the lack of yardage makes this course a pushover, as the par is just 68. With two of the five parthrees measuring over 200 yards, a couple of 450-plus parfours and just one par-five, there are plenty of demands placed on big hitting, but it’s the shorter par-fours that are by far the most interesting, with the 270-yard 12th being the shortest par-four Doak has ever designed. With small greens
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
All large greens, wide fairways and dramatic inland views, The Keep at McLemore is now open for walking-only preview play, before a full opening next year
COURSE MAJEURE
Wisconsin’s Sedge Valley epitomises designer Tom Doak’s love of marrying great golf holes with spectacular natural features
EASY ON THE EYE
David McLay Kidd’s GrayBull layout offers an immersion in Nebraska’s natural beauty
KING OF THE CASTLE
Above: Cabot Highlands’ new Tom Doak layout will make the most of the centuries-old Scottish estate on which it’s set
BUCKET-LIST VIEWS
Right: designed by Clayton, DeVries & Pontin, Tasmania’s new 7 Mile Beach offers plenty of challenging sand
ABOVE PAR
Opposite page: adored by A-listers since the 1950s, the Bahamas will soon be drawing golf’s greats to its new Cotton Bay Club
complexes and narrow approaches, accurate short-iron play will be required to score well on an intriguing layout that Doak says was inspired by a visit to Swinley Forest in Surrey, another par-68 course that defies conventional wisdom on what constitutes a championship test at every turn.
Another new kid on the block in the US worth a mention is David McLay Kidd’s GrayBull (dormienetwork.com) course in Nebraska. Located squarely in the Sandhills region, the same vast expanse of land on which the iconic Sand Hills Golf Club sits – alongside other golfing retreats such as the Prairie Club, Wild Horse and Dismal River – Kidd’s course covers a 600-acre site north of the Platte River and delivers “an adventure” from start to finish. Miraculously saved from being burnt to the ground by a wildfire back in February, thanks to quick-thinking greenkeepers, GrayBull opened in August and the tee sheet is filling up fast.
Georgia will always be associated with Augusta, but it is now also home to some noteworthy new courses, including The Keep at McLemore (themclemore.com) in the state’s north-west. Already home to the highly ranked Highlands Course, opened in 2005, this new Bill Bergin and Rees Jones design is open for walking-only preview play ahead of a full opening in 2025. Dramatically located atop Lookout Mountain, the course is surprisingly flat yet offers top-notch views, especially from the five holes that cling to the clifftop’s edges. Despite its small size, the Bahamas packs a mighty punch when it comes to world-class golf courses: The Abaco
“Doak says the course was inspired by a visit to Swinley Forest in Surrey, which also defies conventional wisdom”
Club, The Reef Club, Baker’s Bay and, of course, Albany, the former home of Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge tournament, all grace its shores. Next year, the islands will have a new course for high rollers to rave about in the form of the Cotton Bay Club, where Robert Trent Jones Jr is shortly to begin work on a course that will replace one built by his grandfather back in the late 1950s at a resort of the same name that shut down in 2005 following a devastating hurricane. “It’s a thrilling opportunity to help bring the Jones spirit of adventure back to Cotton Bay,” says RTJ Jr. “The next generation of Jones architects is dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing outstanding golf experiences, and I’m proud to see them keeping elements of my father’s genius and combining them with a more modern, sustainable outlook.”
Casting the net further afield, Tasmania is already home to some of Australia’s greatest courses, from the three at Barnbougle Dunes to King Island’s two spectacular seaside layouts. In July, the new 7 Mile Beach (7milegolf.com.au) course opened, just a 20-minute drive from Hobart. Designed by Clayton, DeVries & Pont, this windswept site should bring even more worldwide golf interest to the island province, while a second course at the site, likely to be known as 5 Mile Beach, is already in the pipeline and has planning approval.
The very same design team is also currently busy at work on the other side of the world in north-east Scotland, where a pre-existing course called Spey Bay (links.golf/speybay) located just east of Lossiemouth on the Moray coast, is being transformed into an upscale links following its acquisition by crypto investment group LinksDao. Located hard by the sea, and without any towering dunes to obstruct the view, some new Frank Pont-designed tees and greens will create a fully reversible layout that will be played clockwise some days and anticlockwise on others. The new course will be called the Links Golf Club and is set to open in early summer next year.
Further up the Scottish coast, 2025 will also see the opening of a second course at Cabot Highlands (cabothighlands.com). Formerly known as Castle Stuart, it has been under Cabot’s ownership since 2022. Tom Doak – boy, that man is busy – has been called in to build the course, which occupies land to the west of the existing one, circling around the estate’s eponymous 400-year-old castle and swinging down to a stunning stretch of holes beside the Moray Firth. A soft opening is planned for next summer, although the new course, like its sister course, will be closed between November and March.
Other much-anticipated openings in 2025 will include the new Torre Course at Portugal’s Terras da Comporta (comporta.com), where former Masters champion Sergio Garcia and his team are close to finishing an additional championship layout to rub alongside the highly rated
David McLay Kidd-designed Dunas course, which opened to rave reviews in 2023. The 7,200-yard Torre Course occupies a 365-hectare parcel of land and, like the Dunas, will feature large, sandy waste bunkers, but slightly narrower fairways and smaller greens, and, according to Garcia, will demand “precision and shot-making over length and power”.
“The site is located in striking scenery, and the land has all the ingredients for a spectacular golf course,” said Garcia. “We have tried to fit the course as naturally as possible into the landscape in order to give guests the feeling that the holes were shaped together by the hands of time. It will be a challenge, but also very playable, as we want people who play the course to keep coming back.”
Another former major champion, Ernie Els is hard at work in his native South Africa, where he is currently putting the finishing touches on a new course at Durban’s sprawling Zimbali Lakes Resort (zimbalilakes.co.za). Part of a large master-planned community around a 35-minute drive north of the city, this Kuwaiti-financed resort has been plagued by delays, but the Signature Ernie Els Design course is due to open early next year and Els is understood to be so enchanted by the venue that he has bought a plot of land on the estate on which to build a family home.
Vietnam’s Golf Coast, meanwhile, is home to at least half a dozen world-class golf resorts, and offers designs from many of the world’s great players-turned architects, including Sir Nick Faldo and Greg Norman. The country’s newest resort, Golden Sands (goldensandsgolf.vn), had a soft launch of one of two planned Nicklaus Design courses this September, ahead of a full opening next year. The resort has been developed by Vietnam’s BRG Group and built along Vinh Xuan beach and the 7,500-yard North course, which runs parallel to it and rises and falls along a series of sandy dunes and ridges that provide significant changes in elevation. The South course is in the planning phase, while the clubhouse will be completed later this year.
And, finally, while Saudi Arabia has been busy disrupting the world of professional golf in recent years, the kingdom is also looking to develop its domestic golf supply. There are currently several golf course development projects underway, including the 9-hole course Sindalah Island (neom.com) which is part of the massively scaled-down NEOM project. Shura Links (redseaglobal.com), a Brian Curley-designed course, is due to open next year. Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course, will have holes overlooking the surrounding water and fairways framed by the Red Sea. Developed in collaboration with leading environmental consultants, it will adhere to strict sustainability standards, with a focus on areas such as water conservation, with only one-fifth of the 140-hectare site dedicated to maintained turf.
CASTAWAY ISLAND FIJI TAKES GREAT CARE IN ITS STEWARDSHIP
A founding member of MES Fiji (Mamanuca Environment Society) and a leading advocate of environmental sustainability in tourism development, Castaway’s collective actions include coral planting, beach and underwater clean-up, fish house making and coastal tree planting, in addition to back-of-house goals such as reducing energy, water and waste while working alongside like-minded local non-profit organizations.
TITLEIST GT
Titleist has three drivers in its new GT range. The GT2 is a 460cc model designed for speed and forgiveness across the face with a higher-MOI set-up; the GT3 is a 460cc driver designed for fine-tuned speed and control, maximising distance and optimising flight; while the GT4 is a low-spin, 430cc multitasker designed to eliminate excessive spin and deliver a fast, penetrating trajectory. Go ahead and take your pick! titleist.com
GEARING UP
From space-age drivers to ultra-soft shoes, these are the must-haves to give you that extra edge, says Nick Bayly
TAYLORMADE QI10 MAX
The Qi10 Max features a stretched 460cc head which has allowed weight to be placed at the back for that extreme 10K MOI. Carbon covers 97% of the crown to save even more weight, while a third-generation Twist Face removes mass in the front of the head that can be utilised to increase forgiveness. An adjustable hosel enables loft and face angle to be adjusted to your preferred ball flight. taylormadegolf.com
MAX POWER
Go big or go home with the latest big sticks
CALLAWAY PARADYM AI SMOKE MAX
Callaway has doubled down on its use of artificial intelligence and learned how to create drivers that hit the ball further every time, wherever it’s hit on the face. Featuring an AI Smart Face designed after hours of machine learning, combined with real player data, the result is a series of micro-deflections, or sweet spots, across the face where they are needed. The sliding rear weight helps for fine-tuning trajectory and shot shape. callawaygolf.com
COBRA DARKSPEED MAX
If Batman designed a driver, it would look like the Darkspeed. Fifteen pads in the back of the clubface increase ball speed across the face. Cobra plays a balancing act of aerodynamics versus MOI. The Max head option features the most conventional shape at address and offers the most forgiveness in the Darkspeed range. It has a flatter, wider shape behind the ball, with adjustable weighting. cobragolf.com
PXG 0311 BLACK OPS
The Black Ops is being widely lauded as the best driver that PXG has created to date. Ball speeds are up thanks to the use of Advanced Material Face Technology, while huge amounts of carbon have been used in the head to save weight. The adjustable weighting helps a golfer with a specific miss, while, depending on the settings, the Black Ops is another driver to reach the 10K MOI threshold. pxg.com
PING G430 MAX 10K
Ping says the G430 Max 10K is its straightest and highest MOI driver to date, eclipsing the combined MOI threshold first achieved by the G400 Max five years ago. A fixed 28g back weight, a larger head profile, and a lightweight Carbonfly Wrap crown help drive mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimise the centre of gravity, lowering spin and ensuring ball-speed preservation across the clubface for added distance. ping.com
SPIN TO WIN
Diamond in the rough? The middle of the green, more like!
The ball that Brooks Koepka used to win last year’s US PGA Championship, Srixon’s Z-Star Diamond is something of an outlier when it comes to tour-level ammunition, but it’s easy to see why its combination of low driver spin and high iron spin is proving such a popular choice with Srixon pros across all the major tours. Designed to be more effective for faster-swinging players (105mph+), this three-piece model sits between Srixon’s Z-Star and Z-Star XV in terms of compression and feels firmer off the face with the putter than some other tour balls, but its soft cover, featuring a Spin Skin+ coating, enables you to generate a ton of spin with your short irons for that all-important greenside control, while also being no slouch when it comes to putting off the tee. eu.dunlopsports.com/srixon
ORIGINAL JONES
Combining classic aesthetics with contemporary materials, the unstructured construction of the OJ bag gives it a slightly shabby-chic look, but its water-resistant nylon shell makes it ideal for those dewsweeping early-morning rounds. Three pockets provide plenty of storage, while the single padded strap is perfect for slipping on as you lope the fairways in style. Offered in a variety of colours including navy/white, black/red and camo, the white/green gives it a suitably retro feel. jonessportsco.com
SUNDAY GOLF LOMA XL
San Diego-based Sunday Golf offers a range of four lightweight carry bags designed for loafing anything from a handful of clubs to a full set. The Loma XL is the second smallest in the range in terms of club-carrying capacity, designed to carry six or seven clubs for that lazy Sunday afternoon round when it’s more about shooting the breeze than a record-breaking score. Weighing less than 2kg, it boasts a sturdy built-in stand, padded shoulder straps, plenty of pockets for carrying balls, drinks and a jacket, and a neat grab handle at the top which you’ll wonder why isn’t offered on all carry bags. It comes in a variety of colours, but we love this “Ron Burgundy” option. sundaygolf.com
SWAG BAGS
Elevate your club-carrying game with these effortlessly stylish yet supremely practical golf bags
G/FORE DAYTONA PLUS
The Daytona Plus exudes sophistication with its refined detailing and innovative features. Every single aspect is designed for optimal performance and style, from the rotator stand system to the compressionmoulded neoprene back panel. gfore.com
MINIMAL GOLF TERRA
Californian-based Minimal Golf’s bags are made from discarded nylon fishing nets recovered from the world’s oceans and beaches and transformed into a durable rip-stop nylon yarn featuring a water-resistant coating. The Terra is a roomy stand bag with a five-way top and full-length, velour-lined dividers. Features include zipless magnetic pocket closures for easy access, seven exterior and two interior pockets, including an insulated cooler compartment. It is offered in white, grey and black, with a subtle “M” logo on the lower side pocket. minimalgolf.com
STITCH GOLF SL2 GEN 2
The double strap Stitch bag is the perfect bag for players who enjoy walking but want to modernise their golf look. Weighing just 2.5kg, the Gen 2 boasts a four-way top and is water-resistant. Offering twice the storage of the previous version, it features a large saddle pocket perfect for a jacket or other apparel, a magnetic closure ball pocket, a felt-lined pouch for valuables and an insulated container for drinks. There are plenty of colour options to choose from, including black, navy and white, but the baby blue is a real standout. stitchgolf.com
FYFE X MACKENZIE
Meticulously crafted, the limited-edition Fyfe x MacKenzie golf bag is a genuine collector’s item. Made from a stunning vintage dark green waxed canvas that was originally designed to be used on Scottish fishing boats back in the 19th century, the bag boasts a spacious top opening and features a Black Watch tartan-lined pocket and black leather accents. fyfegolf.com
FOOTJOY X HARRIS TWEED PREMIER SERIES
FJ’s second limited-edition collab with Harris Tweed introduces a distinctive “basket weave” pattern that will have you doing a Highland jig as you step onto the first tee. Available in Field (heel detail) and Wilcox (saddle detail) models, each is fitted with gold-coloured Pulsar softspikes for sure-footed shot making and they come with a shoe bag made from the same tweed as featured on the shoe. This model was launched to coincide with The Open at Royal Troon and features a pattern that pays homage to the course’s iconic Postage Stamp eighth hole in various shades of blue. footjoy.com
MALBON X ADIDAS SAMBA GOLF
What do you get if you combine the timeless style of the adidas Samba trainer with Malbon’s modern-day aesthetic? Yes, a musthave golf shoe that sold out in all sizes as soon as it went on sale this summer. Fusing the Samba’s heritage football style with golf course-ready details, this spikeless model features a synthetic upper made from 50% recycled materials and a cushioned midsole to deliver both comfort and style. malbongolf.com
NEW BALANCE 997 SPIKED
The 997 Spiked shares the same design as New Balance’s highly sought after 997 trainers, with the addition of an allimportant waterproof microfibre leather upper. An ultra-soft insole provides instant comfort and the shoes come complete with Softspikes Fast Twist 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats to enhance grip and stability. americangolf.com
GROUND FORCE
There’ll be no slip-ups on the course with this collection of tour-ready golf shoes
G/FORE GALLIVANTER
G/FORE’s first spiked golf shoe, the Gallivanter combines an athletic fit with premium waterproof leather. An ultralightweight sole uses the bespoke G/LOCK spike system for optimal on-course traction. A washable and antimicrobial, triple-density foam cushion footbed allows airflow to the feet and provides the ultimate massage for your soles – and, quite possibly, your soul. gfore.com
DUCA DEL COSMA ORLANDO
UNDER ARMOUR DRIVE PRO
Treating the golf shoe as a piece of equipment that can help you hit the ball further – with evidence to prove it – Under Armour has developed the three-layer “Swing Support System” to work with the natural motion of the foot. A dual-density midsole and foam cushioning help guide the foot during the swing. Offered in a variety of colours, the Masters’ green-and-white option is a showstopper. underarmour.com
Designed with input from the Italian fashion brand’s team of tour pros, the Orlando offers a lifestyle vibe combined with a performance spiked outsole. Fully waterproof, the shoes are crafted from premium Italian nappa leather. An Airplay 6 outsole and EVA midsole combine for lightweight, durable shock absorption. ducadelcosma.com
CALLAWAY FLORIDA ABSTRACT GEO
Inspired by classic Memphis design, this on-point shirt combines some of Florida’s holiday highlights in an all-over print. Featuring Opti Dri moisture wicking to handle those hot days on the links, and stretchy Swing Tech for flexibility on the fairways, this psychedelic pick promises pretty much the most fun you can have with your shirt on. callawayapparel.com
“THIS PSYCHEDELIC PICK PROMISES PRETTY MUCH THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WITH YOUR SHIRT ON”
PERFECT POLOS
Stylish short-sleeved shirts to bring your golfing wardrobe up to par
OSCAR JACOBSON SONIC
Boasting a fun print featuring a golf buggy and the OJ logo repeating all over, this high-impact polo features built-in UPF 50+ UV protection to ensure the only thing that’s burning up is the fairway as you stripe another one down the middle. oscarjacobsongolf.com
G/FORE MAPPED ICON CAMO TECH
This soft tech jersey polo features an all-over camo and subtle G/FORE logo pattern, plus a spread collar and drop tail hemline for a cool, classic look. The moisture-wicking, antimicrobial material offers four-way stretch and zero restriction on movement when it matters and is offered in five colour combinations. gfore.com
ORIGINAL PENGUIN 60S HERITAGE
If you’re looking for something straight from The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, OP’s 60s Heritage polo will help you stand out on the course. The Heritage Fit silhouette and longer hem vents allow it to be worn untucked for that “didn’t try too hard” aesthetic. originalpenguin.com
MIZUNO CALI COOL
Bringing all of Mizuno’s running apparel technology to the golf course, the Cali Cool polo features a bold all-over floral print that comes in a choice of four eye-catching colours. Mizuno Move Tech enables freedom of movement throughout the swing, while Quick Dry technology wicks away moisture to keep you cool when the heat is on. mizunogolf.com
BY THE LEFT – DASH!
High ball flight and extra distance? The pros spoke; Titleist delivered
While most golfers who like the finer things will have played with Titleist’s Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls at some point in their life, few will have given much thought to their close cousin, the Pro V1x Left Dash. Launched in response to demand from tour pros for a ball that offers high ball flight and extra distance, it offers lower spin rates on all types of shots than either of the other Pro V1 models, which makes it great for playing in the wind or when you want to pump out your drives just that little bit farther without fear of ballooning. Offering a firmer feel than its stablemates, it also has a much “clickier” sound on impact. titleist.com
TITLEIST VOKEY DESIGN SM10
Popular among elite pro golfers –over a third of the world’s top 100 have at least one Vokey wedge in their bag – these clubs don’t tend to change dramatically from model to model, but they don’t need to. Titleist’s tour staff did find the SM9 to be slightly draw-biased, which has been changed with the SM10, while another subtle shake-up is that all wedges of the same loft look the same at address, whereas in previous versions the look altered depending on their sole grind. With a dizzying number of bounce and grind options, as well as three different finishes, Vokey wedges are the easiest to fine-tune to suit your specific shot-making needs. titleist.com
WEDGE ME UP
Four of the best new spin machines that money can buy
VEGA ALCOR GOLD
Made from forged aluminium brass – in a golf industry first – Vega’s Alcor Gold wedges are among the softest-feeling on the market. The distinctive milling moves the centre of gravity higher in the face for a lower flight, and ensures that the sweet spot is in the middle of the face. The unique sole grind reduces drag through the rough and sand, although it does require a precise strike as the sole is narrower than most. vega-golf.com
CALLAWAY OPUS
The stunning-looking Opus wedges, which are offered in brushed chrome and a striking platinum-blue finish, are designed for elite-level players who demand the very best from their scoring clubs. Spin has been enhanced by Callaway’s Groove-in-Groove technology, and by aggressively blasting the face with quartz to create additional roughness and generate more revs, particularly from the rough and in wet conditions. A high toe area produces a more penetrating trajectory thanks to the 17g of tungsten that has been placed in the topline. They are offered in four grind options to help players with different swing patterns to generate maximum spin control from all types of lies. callawaygolf.com
ACE IN THE HOLE
An egalitarian flatstick unlike any other from PXG
VICE VGW01
THE LEGENDARY CADDIES OF AUGUSTA NATIONAL: INSIDE STORIES FROM GOLF’S GREATEST STAGE
Going by nicknames such as Stovepipe, Burnt Biscuits, Skillet, Skinny and Marble Eye, the Black caddies of Augusta National have walked the course with the world’s greatest golfers since the 1930s. This compelling book by Ward Clayton tells their stories, which are forever entwined with the history of the game. blairpub.com
Better known for its range of golf balls, Vice has recently moved into the club market. Its cuttingedge new wedges are designed in conjunction with Germany’s leading custom-fitting operation, HIO, and have been created with all the knowledge gained from fitting its thousands of golfers. The wedges feature a triple-forged, CNCmilled carbon steel clubhead, full-face milled grooves, and a tapered heel and toe sole design for greater playability from all lies. They can also be ordered customised, with colour details on the back of the clubhead. vicegolf.com
ATLANTIC PATROL
On Portugal’s breathtaking Blue Coast, a new multi-hyphenate playground is changing the way we view destination golf on the Iberian peninsula. Farhad Heydari pays it a visit
SHIFTING SANDS
CostaTerra’s Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole championship course
From the moment you set foot on one of Mike Meldman’s properties, you realise that it’s going to be special. Perhaps it’s the landscaping – all bonsai-perfect, with not a blade of grass out of place or a single stone askew. Or perhaps it’s the pleasant and affable professionalism of everyone, from the concierge team to the professionals on the driving range, who meet and greet you as if you’re a friend or a resident.
That’s because, to access any of Wisconsin-born businessman and real estate entrepreneur Meldman’s instantly lauded developments, of which there are 25, speckled across resort destinations including Idaho, Los Cabos and the Bahamas, under the banner of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based Discovery Land Company, you need to fall into either of those two categories.
The latest is CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club (costaterraclub.com), an expansive redoubt spread over 720 acres, 161 of which are protected forest, and boasting its own 2km-long stretch of private beach. You’ll find it on one of the last stretches of untouched Atlantic coast in southern Europe, in the countryside between Comporta and Melides in a region called Alentejo, about an hour’s drive south of the capital, Lisbon.
The vast, little-populated, and hitherto chronically under-visited southern third of the country on Portugal’s “Blue Coast” turned out to be the perfect European outpost for Meldman, who has been stringing together a glittering roster of superlative residential communities for the best part of 30 years – communities that are feted by boldfaced celebrities and titans of business as utopian second (or third) home enclaves.
Complementing the unending bevy of outdoorsy pursuits (think padel, pickleball, soccer, swimming, horse riding and watersports) that, together with the family-forward ethos,
“The course is a playable beauty: ribbons of fairways draped across a sandy milieu, lined by vertiginous dunes with ocean views that lead to large green complexes”
are the hallmark of each Discovery development, is the one non-negotiable: a benchmark golf course. In this case, it’s Tom Fazio’s lone mainland-Europe track, which, together with the unrivalled adjacent practice facilities, has tour professionals clamouring to buy-in.
In all, 142 real estate units and over 100 turnkey residences are available to purchase by invitation only, which then enables prospective owners to also join the golf club, where a stunning driving range, an incredible short game practice area and to-die-for putting greens beckon. As for the course itself, it’s a playable beauty, with ribbons of fairways draped across a sandy milieu, lined by vast vertiginous dunes with sweeping ocean views that lead to large green complexes with subtle mounding and penal rollaways that stretches to 7,462 yards from the tips (long enough to challenge any major winner).
But a round of golf at CostaTerra is unlike a round anywhere else. Members and their guests can come as they are (sartorially speaking), play with as many people as they wish in one group (can you say six-ball, anyone?) and can avail themselves of the bevy of goodies and comestibles available in comfort stations, where merchandising is nextlevel, gratis. They can sit and dine, imbibe gallons of the house tequila (Casamigos, which Meldman cofounded) or
Opposite page: you won’t have to book a slot to play, but you will have to have your wits about you on these challenging rollaways Above: views of CostaTerra’s sprawling grounds, home to glorious greens and countless options for activities other than golf
blast their tunes to their hearts’ content. Anything goes. And, in keeping with the uber-exclusive spirit and mise en scène, there are no set tee times: you just show up and play. “The unique charm of Discovery Golf is that it’s really good fun,” says Meldman. “We’ve taken out the traditional elements for a relaxed game, creating an environment for families that fosters connections, memories, and fun.”
Afterwards, you can repair to the outdoor gym, the spa (where everything from steam, saunas and cold plunges to yoga, Pilates and Cellgym oxygen therapy is on offer) or enjoy the innumerable aquatic activities or something more daredevil-esque, like paragliding. If you can dream it, they’ve already thought about (and can purvey) it.
The food and beverage offering is equally multifarious, with a handful of atmospheric places at which to enjoy dishes fireside or poolside that are part of a resort-wide farm- and sea-to-table culinary programme rooted in the superlative local produce that the land provides.
Should you wish to go off-campus, so to speak, the atmospheric seaside village of Comporta – one of Portugal’s best-kept secrets – is down the road. There’s also the stupendous granite-and-whitewash city of Évora – a Unesco World Heritage site whose gloriously gloomy gothic cathedral and Roman temple of Diana are only the most obvious of a slew of historic gems – just an hour away.
No wonder, then, that the great and good of Europe and the Middle East, not to mention the US, have opted to invest in a property in this rustically charming part of the world where you can come with your friends and family as you are and enjoy the boundless bounty of space and solitude – from the first moment you step foot on the property.
“Dine fireside or poolside on the superlative local
J. HENEBRY
e best way to connect is simply to disconnect.
FOREVER YOURS
Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts
Bintan | Maldives | Marrakech | Mauritius | Tunis | Zanzibar
In what might be the last production Ferrari 12-cylinder ever made, breathtaking tech belies oldschool, Daytona-evoking good looks. Adam Hay-Nicholls gets behind the wheel
Ferraris, more than any other marque, stir the emotions, and the car you see before you pulls at the strings more than most. This is the prancing horse’s latest V12 super-tourer; a pure, normally aspirated expression of high-tech and heritage from this most evocative of brands. There is romance and art, there is explosive performance, and there is anxiety that we’ve reached the summit and everything is downhill from here.
Enzo Ferrari said it himself: “The 12-cylinder will always be the original Ferrari. So everything else is a derivation.” Turbocharging is corruption. Losing a couple of blocks of cylinders is surrender. Hybrids… Well, although Ferrari has used them to great avail in boosting the power of the 296, SF90 and LaFerrari, they are at heart a compromise that’s exposed on the scales. An all-electric Ferrari? That, on paper, sounds like Massimo Bottura cooking with a microwave. Sadly, it’s in the stars. What we have here is potentially the last production Ferrari 12-cylinder we’ll enjoy until the next life.
But this is a joyous funeral, so please don’t wear black. Bare your brightest colours; in this instance, Monte Carlo Yellow. This is grand touring at its most rakish and confident. This is a characterful car, expressing muscle and refinement and 77 years of storytelling.
The 12Cilindri’s name is functional, but it sounds ravishing in the native tongue: Do-DEE-chee Chill-LIN-dree
“The price tag is paid in full as soon as you press the engine start button and click the manettino dial to Race Mode”
LUST FOR LIFE
Ferrari fans the world over are desperate to get their hands on a V12, which has all the zest its Monte Carlo Yellow would imply
Despite the digital instrumentation and the tricky track pads on the steering wheel, it’s a car with oldfashioned values that feels just analogue enough to bring back memories of other front-engined two-seat V12 Ferraris, like the 275 GTB of the 1960s and the 365 GTB/4 Daytona of the ’70s. This new car takes over the reins from the 812 Superfast, which, in turn, was an evolution of the F12 Berlinetta, but the 12Cilindri is a philosophical shift. The 812 was more “super” than “tourer”, whereas the 2024 machine is designed to crush a continent without creasing your suit.
The horizontal blade nose and front headlamps of the 12Cilindri owe much to the Daytona, imbuing the car with Miami Vice verve and a manly scent of aftershave, like a sleazy Montreux nightclub. Yet this isn’t a throwback. Every inch of this car is routed about 15 minutes into the future. The cartoonish clamshell bonnet is front-hinged, making this probably the only car in the world that’ll look even better when it’s broken down. The rear employs active aerodynamics, whereby black panels pop up to balance the car at aggressive speeds. Inside, we have a very streamlined twin-cockpit design that’s a continuation of what we’ve seen in the Roma and Purosangue, and gives just about enough of a sense of occasion to warrant the mighty £336,500 price tag. It’s paid in full, though, as soon as you press the engine start button and click the manettino dial to Race Mode.
Let’s just concentrate on that engine: 819bhp and a 9,500rpm redline, born from a 6.5-litre V12 with titanium con rods and valves that are opened and closed using craftsmanship that’s come direct from Ferrari’s F1 car. A full 80% of its gargantuan torque is ready and waiting at just 2,500rpm. Zero to 62mph takes 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 211. The gearbox is 30% faster than the 812’s and, in the bends, you’ll feel the chassis is stiffer than what’s come before, but while it’s as quick as you-know-what off a garden implement, it’s not frenetic, it’s under control. It’s mature. It’s smooth. It’s Al Pacino in his later roles, but boy can they both still howl. It is everything that is perfect, striking and uncompromised in a gentleman’s express. (ferrari.com )
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