golf vacations magazine january 2011

GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSOur9thYear!

THIS MONTH: CHIPSHOTS I NEW YEAR SWEET STUFF I DESTINATIONS

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JANUARY 2011JANUARY 2011

PPLUS: Hurray For Hollywood I San Diego’s East CountyPLUS: Hurray For Hollywood I San Diego’s East County

LAYING PARADISEIN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

TROPICAL EDEN IN FIJI ISLANDS

LAYING PARADISEIN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

TROPICAL EDEN IN FIJI ISLANDS

LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUBDESERT HISTORY MEETSWITH MODERN LUXURIES

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contents I january 2011

www.golfvacationsmag.com4 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2011

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I Played Paradise in the South Pacificby Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”

I had always hoped to visit the South Pacific island nation of Fiji.When a chance introduction to members of Tourism Fiji opened upan opportunity for me to visit, I jumped at the chance.

La Quinta Resort and Clubby Katie Denbo

When La Quinta Resort and Club opened in 1926, it provided aunique escape set in the shadows of the Santa Rosa Mountains forsome of the biggest names in Hollywood.

San Diego’s Sweet Spot For Golf by Bob Mondo

With its idyllic weather and 93 golf courses in every conceivable setting- from mountains to desert to ocean - it's no wonder Golf Digest oncenamed San Diego one of the top 50 golf destinations in the world.

L.A. Golf: Hurray For Hollywoodby Katie Denbo

It's often forgotten that the Los Angeles area offers one of the mostdiverse selections of golf in California.

c o v e r s t o r i e s

8 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel

23 DestinationsYour Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

28 Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross

TourEdge Exotics, Tiger Shark Golf, The Smart Glove

d e p a r t m e n t s

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on the cover: Spectacular Golf at PGA West in La Quinta, CA

GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2011 5www.golfvacationsmag.com

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Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capac-ities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and isbased in Orange County, California.

Bob Mondo recently moved to the sunny climate of Florida from his lifelong home inChicago to continue his avid passion for boating, fishing and of course, the elusiveround with that little white dimpled ball. A past columnist with Southern California GolfNewspaper, Bob currently co-publishes Coastal Angler Magazine.

Katie Denbo is the editor and publisher of FORE Magazine, the official publication of theSouthern California Golf Association. A blogger and golf photographer by hobby, she is amember of the Golf Writers Association of America and the California Golf Writers andBroadcasters Association, and has written about and traveled to golf resorts and propertiesall over the western United States and Canada. Visit Katieshack, Katie's golf blog, atkatieshack.com, and follow her on Twitter at @kdenbo.

Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) a Southern California native and 11 handicap golferat Shadowridge Country Club in Vista, California, writes about golf for newspapers,magazines and internet travel sites. His business background includes developing the ini-tial international distribution network for Adams Golf.

TO THE REAL NORWAY

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Hurtigruten’s unique upscale cruises along Norway’s majestic, rugged coast and through its magnificent fjords, known as the “World’s Most Beautiful Voyage,” are legendary. Live the legend aboard one of our 12-day voyages between 34 inviting ports of call. Revel in once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing, sailing and soft adventure in our amazing destinations across Norway.

Book today and get a $100 American Express Gift Card. Mention Promo code COVE.

For more information, contact Coventry Travel at 888-454-8604.

*Offer valid for new retail bookings only. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion except the repeater discount, is valid for selected departures and restrictions apply. Prices are in USD per person, double occupancy and valid for North American residents only. 50% off applies to the second passenger when the first pays full price. Capacity controlled and subject to change without notice. Not valid for port to port, group travel, packages sold by a tour operator. Amex gift card will be sent upon completion of sailing. Must be booked via Coventry Travel to receive offer and redeem gift card. Offer valid for bookings made by May. 31, 2011. Ships’ Registry: Norway.

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Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsMIDAS ROCKEFELLER TOUCHCONTINUES IN THE CARIBBEAN

RockResorts International, LLC, a sub-sidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., is addingXandari by the Pacific, considered aresort jewel, to its collection of luxurylodges in Costa Rica.

Founded in 1956 in the Caribbean byLaurence S. Rockefeller, RockResortswas acquired and re-launched by VailResorts in 2001.

RockResorts says Vail Resorts' lodgingdivision will take over management of hoteloperations. After the holiday season, thehotel's name will change from Xandari by thePacific Resort and Spa on Playa EsterillosEstes to Alma del Pacifico Hotel.

During spring and summer 2011, athorough renovation of the property isplanned for all common areas, guestrooms,the spa and food and beverage outlets.

The renovation will be followed by there-launch of the property under theRockResorts brand with the official name ofAlma del Pacifico Hotel, A RockResort.

Future plans at Del Pacifico atEsterillos include an equestrian center, 18-hole golf course, boutique hotel and addi-tional residential units.

Located on Playa Esterillos Este, thehotel and the master planned developmentare located halfway between Jaco Beachand Manuel Antonio National Park.

Del Pacifico at Esterillos is a 700-acremaster planned resort communitydesigned by award-winning architectDhiru Thandani with renowned townplanner, Leon Krier, contributing to thedesign and plan for La Prada, the towncenter for the seaside community.

Currently there are 10 RockResortproperties located in Vail, Beaver Creek,Aspen, Jackson Hole, Breckenridge, SantaFe, Miami and St. Lucia.

Half Moon in Rose Hall, Jamaica willbecome a RockResort on Jan. 1, 2011 fol-lowed by Balcones del Atlántico in theDominican Republic and Alma delPacifico Hotel in Costa Rica.

GOLFTRIPGENIUS.COM ADDS FUNAND MEMORIES TO A GOLF TRIP

WAYNE, PA - GolfTripGenius.comannounced the introduction of Trip Book,a feature of its web-based service thathelps golfers enjoy golf travel even moreand bring home a book full of memories.Trip Book creates an electronic albumwhere logistical information, player profileswith photos, tee sheets, scorecards, tourna-

ment detailsand photo-graphs can bestored for ref-erence duringand long afterthe golf trip.The Trip Book

is a tool for keeping everyone organizedand an album for enjoyment by all golfers.

Introduced earlier this year,GolfTripGenius.com applies sophisticatedyet easy-to-use software to help golfersplan golf trips, set up pairings and managetournaments, scoring and expenses.

Contents of a custom Trip Book are con-trolled by the golf trip captain, who entersthe information for other players to viewand chooses photographs to be presented ina private gallery section of the book.

In addition to photographs, Trip Bookalso can store pre-trip information, suchas the captain's invitation letter, playerprofiles, course information, scheduledtournaments, tee sheets and travel logis-tics. The captain controls both the contentand the ordering of trip pages.

Trip Book and the site's recentlylaunched Apple iPad application are exam-ples of the company's focus on "communi-ty and mobility," according to MikeZisman, founder and CEO ofGolfTripGenius.com.

Trip Book is constructed automaticallythrough a simple page menu selectionprocess. To see a sample Trip Book, click hereand for an introductory video, click here.

Trip Book is included as part of GeniusEdition, one of three services offered byGolfTripGenius, each with a different levelof functionality and features.

FARMSTEAD GOLF LINKS ONE OFAMERICA’S 18 MOST FUN GOLF HOLES

Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash,N.C., on the northern end of MyrtleBeach's Grand Strand, has one of the“most fun holes you can play in America,”according to an article in Golf Digest'sJanuary 2011 issue. Golf DigestArchitecture Editor Ron Whittenselected Farmstead's closing hole as one ofhis “home run” holes, and his final pick ina stellar line-up of courses that featurefloating targets, overstuffed greens androcky challenges.

The par 6 hole at 767 yards from thetips is “so impossibly long,” wrote Whitten,that “you tee off in South Carolina andputt out in North Carolina.”

Farmstead Golf Links' mammoth 18thhole is the only par 6 on Myrtle Beach'sGrand Strand. A favorite among visitinggolfers and locals alike, it actually beginswith a drive into a wide, sweeping fairwayin South Carolina and concludes on a largeundulating green in North Carolina.

Although the dual-state, par 6 18th holeprovides a memorable finish to the course,it's the other 17 holes that bring golfers backto Farmstead. The scenic course followsthe natural contours of the coastal plain andits five sets of tees make it possible for allskill levels of golfers to have an enjoyable

round. A Willard Byrd and DavidJohnson design, the par 72 layout is framedby waist-high native grasses along severalfairways, giving the course a unique look.

The golf experience at Farmstead isenhanced by its 8,000-square footGeorgian style clubhouse that includesa full-service pro shop, grille and lounge.The clubhouse features a veranda thatoffers a spectacular view of the first teeand 18th green.

Farmstead is less than a mile from itssister course, Meadowlands Golf Club,which was also designed by Byrd.

More information about Farmstead isavailable at http://farmsteadgolflinks.com.

TorreTHE CUISINE OF ITALY“Combining Old-World Italian comfort food with personalized service,a congenial atmosphere and an extensive wine list, La Torretta excelsas one of Arizona’s most impressive restaurants” — Dining Out

With a menu that utilizes the freshest and most authentic ingredientsand pasta made fresh in-house daily, the restaurant’s culinary fare isconsistently delicious and refreshing.Their Osso Buco,Taglio del VitelloFarcito con Quattro Farmagio and Veal Piccata have become locallegends and inspired positive reviews from the Scottsdale Republic,the New Times, Guest Informant, TravelHost, and Scottsdale Magazine.

The combination of La Torretta’s sophisticated interior and authenticfood make it a prime candidate for intimate dinners to groupcelebrations of special occasions.

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“I Played Paradise in

FijiGolf

“I Played Paradise inthe South Pacific”

FijiGolf


FijiGolf


FijiGolf

Chuck “The Traveling Guy” MillerChuck “The Traveling Guy” Miller

12 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2011 www.golfvacationsmag.com

Over the years I have beenfortunate to have traveled toall seven continents and 70countries around the world.One country I had always

hoped to visit, but never had, was the SouthPacific island nation of Fiji. When a chanceintroduction to members of Tourism Fijiopened up an opportunity for me to visit Fijirecently, I jumped at the chance.

As a golf and travel writer, I looked for-ward to checking out the golf scene, to learn-ing about the Fijian culture, and to findingout about things to do and see when vaca-tioning in Fiji. Since Fiji is a country madeup of 332 islands covering 20,000 squaremiles, it was impossible to see everything Iwanted to see during my 10 day visit.

However, I did see and learn a great dealand would like to share some of my findingsin this two-part series . . . Golfing andVacationing in Fiji.

Fiji is a nation of 900,000 people with85% of its population living on its two largestislands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. It is anation of diversity in people, geography, andlifestyle. Its population is primarily nativeFijians and East Indians with a smattering ofChinese, Europeans and other PacificIslanders.

Fiji's geography has a little bit of every-thing . . . blue-green lagoons, lush rainforests,tall mountains, pine forests, miles and milesof white sand beaches, and wonderful friend-ly people.

It is an environmentally conscious nationwith energy efficient technology, a marineprotected area and an unwritten rule that nohigh rise hotel or resort can be built tallerthan a coconut tree.

It also has a variety of golf coursesincluding a 9-hole course that can only beplayed when the tide is out.

Writer Chuck Miller braving the tropical elements on the first tee

at the Plantation Course at Musket Cove

Musket Cove

Musket Cove's Plantation Island Course- Links Style GolfAmongst Coconut Palms

During my visit, I had the opportunity to play three of Fiji's 14golf courses, five of which are 18-hole championship length and ninewhich are shorter 9-hole courses. The first course I played was the 9-hole Plantation Island Course on 600-acre Malolo Lailia Island, 45minutes by catamaran or 10 minutes by air from Port Denarau on VitiLevu, Fiji's main and largest island.

It is a short 9-hole 2800-yard par 32 course with seven Par 4'sranging from 238 yards to 329 yards. Its two Par 3's are 180 yards and196 yards. Designed and built by Ananda Madhwan, winner of the1996 Nadi Fiji Open, it is a "Fiji Style" golf course, meaning it is verynatural with fairways that are more like light rough, greens that aresmall and slow, and bunkers that are left unraked.

I played with Joe Mar, General Manager of the Musket CoveResort on the island. He explained that when a cyclone toppled hun-dreds of coconut palms on the island, rather than replant the trees,the golf course was designed and built. Although the course was drybecause the only irrigation comes from the heavens above, and I wasthere in the dry season, I loved playing it.

Playing on the non-manicured conditions of the course which Ihave described to friends as "a links course amongst coconut palms", Igot an insight into what golf must have been like for Scottish golferswhen the game golf was in its infancy in and around St. Andrews.Despite the fact that the Plantation Course didn't have manicuredfairways or large smooth undulating greens, it was an extremely funcourse to play and challenging to say the least.

One of the highlights while playing was watching three courseemployees play as if they were vying for a US Open title. Theybombed their balls long and straight from the tees and chipped andputted with tremendous accuracy. I was told they played every day ofthe year and all shot in the low 30's for nine holes. Their excitementfor the game, played on a "Fiji Style" course with used clubs and balls,was wonderful to see. We should all have the love for the game of golfas displayed by these three friends and golfing competitors.

The course is located only minutes from the Musket Cove Resorton the island. Guests at the resort are "chauffeured" via golf cart toand from the resort when they wish to play. Before or after golf thereare numerous other things to do at Musket Cove. Azure clear watersand seven miles of white untouched sandy beaches offer opportunities

The pool at The Pearl Golf Course


The Pearl Golf Course

to swim, snorkel, scuba, sail, and kayak. Speedboats are at the readyfor island hopping and yachts are available for sailing or fishing trips.Musket Cove's sheltered lagoon is a haven for visiting yachts from allover the world with more than 100 arriving yearly to participate in theannual Musket Cove Regatta.

Musket Cove Resort is Fiji's oldest resort company operating forover 40 years. Its founder, Dick Smith was a pioneer in developingFiji tourism which this year will see over 600,000 visitors travel to Fiji.Smith's original vision of a relaxed and peaceful lifestyle is still presentat Musket Cove. Traditional thatched roofed Fijian "Bures" and largertwo-bedroom villas at the resort offer quiet surroundings which havebeen updated with modern conveniences including air-conditioning.

A selection of dining options, which include "Dick's Place" Bar &Bistro for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Marina Coffee Cove forcoffee and pastries, and the Ratu Nemani Island Bar, an open barwith a sand floor leading straight into the ocean, all are lay back instyle as befits a relaxed and peaceful South Pacific island resort.

For more information about the facilities, accommodations, andactivities including golf at the Musket Cove Resort, visit their websiteat www.musketcovefiji.com.

The Pearl Is A GemThe second course I played was The Pearl, a Robert Trent Jones,

Jr. designed course which was built in 1974. In its heyday it was con-sidered one of the top courses in the world. It's located about a halfhour from Suva, Fiji's capital, and three hours from the InternationalAirport in Nadi (pronounced Nandi).

Set amongst tropical rainforests and winding canals, it plays to6800 yards from the tips, 6350 from the Yellow Tees, and 5800 yardsfrom the Red Tees. Sixty-seven bunkers dot the fairways and guardsmall greens. Golfing great Greg Norman has found the course to hisliking over the years. He won the South Seas Classic there in 1979 atage 24 and the Pacific Harbor Golf Open there in 1983-1984.

According to Course Manager Alan McCulloch, The Pearl is "oneof the most adventurous courses in Fiji". Its lush jungle setting, withabundant shots around or over river, lake and lily pond hazards cer-tainly made my golf game an adventure. My favorite hole was thescenic 152-yard Par 3 eighth hole which required an accurate tee shotover a small lake covered in flowering water lilies. Playing The Pearlwas a real treat. It's a "must play" when you visit Fiji.

After a very enjoyable round of golf, I returned to The Pearl


Resort which is only minutes away from thegolf course. The resort advertises itself as a"boutique retreat" which I found to be quiteaccurate. It has a relaxed South Pacific atmos-phere, quality accommodations, four restau-rants serving Fijian and European menus, sixbars, an excellent spa, and a warm friendlystaff. As most resorts in Fiji, The Pearl offersa wide variety of water sports, sandy beaches, alarge swimming pool and a close proximity tonumerous sightseeing opportunities.

While there, I was able to take a motorized canoe trip up theNavua River to visit the Koro Makawa village where I participated ina Kava ceremony, the ancient and sacred ceremony performed for vis-iting chiefs and important visitors. There I had the opportunity tomeet a number of the villagers, most of whom are direct descendantsof Englishman John Humphrey Danford who established the villagein the early 1800's.

The village is one of hundreds if not thousands of villagesthroughout Fiji which date back hundreds of years. Most of the vil-lages are inhabited by 50 to 300 or more native Fijians who are gov-erned by a Chief and a village spokesman. Every trip to Fiji should

include a village visit as such a visit will give youa better understanding of Fijian life and theimportance family plays in the daily lives of theFijian people.

Other activities close to The Pearl includethe opportunity to visit Suva, Fiji's capital; gofor an exhilarating zip-line ride; surf FrigatesPassage, one of the world's premier surf breaks;or take a jet boat safari ride. All are exceptionalactivities, both educational and thrilling.

Five minutes from The Pearl you can visit the Arts Village toshop, watch a cultural show, and/or observe the famed fire-walkers ofnearby Beqa Island walk across hot stones.

Visit www.thepearlsouthpacific.com. for additional informationabout The Pearl Resort and Golf Course. For information about Fijiin general, visit www.fijime.com or www.TourismFiji.com.

Next month, Part Two in this series will describe golf at NatadolaBay and Denarau Island golf courses, sites for the 2011 Asia PacificGolf Confederation Teams Championship tournament also known asthe Nomura Cup.

The Clubhouse at The Pearl Golf Course



LA QUINTA RESORT & CLUBDESERT HISTORY WITH MODERN LUXURIES

RESORTREPORT


LA QUINTA, CA. -- When La QuintaResort and Club opened in 1926, itprovided a unique escape set in the

shadows of the Santa Rosa Mountains forsome of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Nearly 20 miles south of celebrity enclavePalm Springs on Interstate 10, it was a destina-tion, by any definition, to those who chose to ven-ture into the new desert oasis in search of refugefrom the movie studios and privacy from fans.

Today's La Quinta Resort celebrates thewell known history, while incorporating thehigh-end amenities to which visitors havebecome accustomed. Vintage cars sit in thedriveway, flanked by Ferraris. Classic movies,idealized decades ago at the resort, project onto the outside plaza. Live Spanish music andjazz tunes fill the evening for those enjoyingcocktails around fire pits.

Simply put? It's special.For all these reasons and more, La Quinta Resort was named North America's 2010

Golf Resort of the Year by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, the glob-al trade organization for the golf tourism industry. It seems that once guests visit the prop-erty, they're immediately planning a return trip.

La Quinta Resort: Classic AccommodationsA quiet stroll through the ranch-style property reveals nearly 800 rooms spread across 45

acres, accented with groves of citrus trees. Red-tile roofed casitas, suites and villas are avail-able, with most surrounding one of the resort's 41 pools and 53 jacuzzis -- often a stone'sthrow from the room's door. The rooms are appointed with gas fireplaces, plasma televisionsand upscale linens, while bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs and large stall showers.

Want to step back into a more simple time? Stay in one of the original casitas built in1926. You could sleep in the same room where legendary movie director Frank Caprapenned cinematic masterpieces like "It Happened One Night" and "It's a Wonderful Life."Capra considered La Quinta Resort as his inspiration and good luck charm.

La Quinta Resort: PGA West and The GolfLa Quinta Resort is well known for its Pete Dye-designed Mountain course and Dunes

course -- the Mountain named as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses You Can Play.Not a sound can be heard from some of the back-nine holes on the Mountain Course;

its idyllic setting among the iconic mountain ranges of Coachella Valley provides, arguably,some of the most peaceful holes in all of southern California.

Combined with PGA West, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2011, La QuintaResort offers golfers five public golf courses. The TPC Stadium Course, Jack NicklausTournament Course and Greg Norman Course round out the public offerings.

Another four golf course are available for members only.

La Quinta Resort: The RecreationIf guests are looking for it, it's likely La Quinta Resort has it. The 23,000-square-foot

Spa La Quinta beckons travelers who seek relaxation with a full selection of body and facetreatments. The Native Elements body scrub is supreme, as well as the massages.

A quick dip in the jacuzzi or some time in the steam room is popular with spa visitors, too.Practice your backhand on one of the resort's 23 tennis courts, where you may spot a

celebrity or two. Direct by past David Cup captain and coach Tom Gorman, the resort'stennis facility -- which includes five clay courts and 18 hard courts -– ranks one of the top20 U.S. tennis resorts by Tennis Magazine.

By KatieDenbo

RN LUXURIES

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA


RESORTREPORT (continued)

And after a long day of activities, some retail therapy can be had atthe La Quinta Resort Plaza. You'll find Polo Ralph Lauren, Brighton andTommy Bahama among the resort's popular apparel and accessoriesshops, while a general store, children's store and art gallery are alsoopen for perusal.

Shops wrap around the lower-level plaza off the main drive, the per-fect location to take in the resort's charm.

After a day or a week at La Quinta Resort, it's difficult to drive away acrossits quaint, red pavers, surrounded by orange trees beneath sparkling whitelights. But for all that is done -- and all that is left to see and do -- that returntrip to the desert's legendary property arrives sooner than many guests expect.

TANTALIZE YOUR TASTE BUDS

La Quinta Resort: Fine DiningMorgan's in the Desert, the resort's high-end restaurant,

opened in 2009, but its popularity has quickly grown as a local des-tination and for guests who seek a memorable experience. JamesBeard award-winning chef Jimmy Schmidt creates seasonal menusthat include salads, seafood, pastas and more, paired with eclecticand thorough offerings of wine and cocktails served in the PianoBar, main dining room or on the fire-lit courtyard. Paul Douglas, aformer band member for both Bruce Hornsby and Kenny Rogers,performs Wednesday through Saturday, strolling through therestaurant among diners to play his acoustic guitar.

La Quinta Resort: Casual DiningTry the best tamale, as awarded at the 2010 Indio Tamale

Festival, at Adobe Grill, which serves regional Mexican cuisine.Fresh guacamole is made tableside from all-natural ingredients,and tortillas are handmade thick. Order one of 50 different types oftequilas from the bar while sitting on the patio above the white-lightstudded La Quinta Resort Plaza.

For more casual fare, Twenty6 offers a great sports bar-style optionbeneath Adobe Grill, serving classic American cuisine like burgers,ribs, salads and a much-discussed reverse soda float for dessert thatincludes root beer, grape crush and orange crush creamsicles for atouch of nostalgia. The clubhouse for La Quinta's Mountain andDunes golf courses features a revamped menu that treats visitors to afun variety of burgers and milkshakes along with fireplace, plasma TVsand golf-course views, while Ernie's Bar and Grill at PGA West satiatesthe libation taste buds with several premium beers on tap.

SWEET SPOT

FOR GOLF


With its idyllic weather and 93 golf courses inevery conceivable setting - from mountains todesert to ocean - it's no wonder Golf Digestonce named San Diego one of the top 50 golfdestinations in the world. With its majestic

mountains, rolling foothills, sparkling lakes and expansive desert,it's no surprise that San Diego's East County is a hidden treasurein the region's golf offerings just waiting to be discovered.

Following is a sampling of several of East County's world-class golf courses that duffers can enjoy throughout the year:

The Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in Lakesideis home to the Barona Creek Golf Club . Native grasses, oak

trees, streambeds and colossal rock formations set the tone forthis 18-hole, 7,393-yard championship course, designed by inter-nationally acclaimed golf course architect Gary Roger Baird. Thecourse includes over 100 bunkers, strategically placed naturalobstacles and five tee choices, making it a rewarding course forplayers of all skill levels. This year, Barona was ranked "4th BestCourse You Can Play in California," "5th Best Casino Course inthe Country" and "11th Best Tour Course in the Country" byGolfweek, and was a stop on the PGA's Nationwide Tour in 2007and 2010. www.barona.com

Located in Santee, Carlton Oaks Country Club features achallenging 7,225-yard Pete Dye-designed course with meander-ing creeks, full-grown trees, strategic undulation and peninsula

SWEET SPOT

FOR GOLFby Robert Mondo


tie greens. Five sets of tees allow golfers of all skill levels to takeadvantage of San Diego's only Dye-designed course featuringlong fairways and deep pot bunkers. www.carltonoaksgolf.com

Golf Digest once named Mt. Woodson Golf Club as one ofthe "most beautiful and unique courses in California," citing itshilly terrain, superb conditions and panoramic views. The steepchanges in elevation throughout the course also help define thespecial character of Mt. Woodson, where aptly-named holes suchas "Drop Off," "The Chute," "Tree Tops" and "The Plunge" cap-ture the challenging nature and fun of this course www.mtwood-son.com

Steele Canyon Golf Club in Jamul features three distinct

and exciting 9-hole Gary Player-designed courses for every skilllevel. Boasting Golf Digest's 4-1/2 Star Award, the courses pro-vide breathtaking views and the most extreme course elevationchanges in Southern California. The rugged Canyon Nine fea-tures breathtaking elevations; the Ranch Nine winds throughfields surrounding a working ranch, and the Meadow Ninestretches along a pastoral valley with beautiful woodlands,streams and native wildlife. www.steelecanyon.com

Spread over 435 acres, the golf courses at the Sycuan Resortand Casino in El Cajon provide a challenge for golfers of all skilllevels, with a choice of three 18-hole courses: two championshipcourses and one executive course. The courses' natural terrainincludes small ponds, sycamore, oak and cottonwood tree-lined

Sycuan Resort and Casino

Carlton Oaks Country Club

fairways, rock formations, and theSweetwater River which providechallenging hazards. www.sycuan-resort.com

Nestled in the desert town ofBorrego Springs between theAnza-Borrego Desert and thefoothills of the Santa RosaMountains, Borrego SpringsResort & Country Club offers anexceptional golfing experience.Three 9-hole courses - The Palms,Desert Willow and Mesquite -offer golfers of all levels undulatingfairways, vast bunkers and fivelakes. The courses' lush landscap-ing incorporates the vast desertwilderness with several hundredmature date palms, providing-breathtaking views at every turn.www.borregospringsresort.com

Situated in the heart of theAnza-Borrego Desert and sur-rounded by the towering SantaRosa, San Ysidro and VallecitoMountains, RoadRunner GolfCourse in Borrego Springs is abeautiful and challenging 18-hole,par-3 course offering excellentopportunities for golfers of all skilllevels. The fairways are lined with40 varieties of mature domesticand exotic trees, complementingthe panoramic views of thedesert.www.roadrunnerclub.com/golf

Happy happens in San Diego'sEast County. For more informationon East County and the entire SanDiego region, visit the San DiegoConvention & Visitors Bureau'swebsite, www.sandiego.org or call(619) 236-1212.

In San Diego, visit theInternational Visitor InformationCenter, located along theEmbarcadero at the corner of WestBroadway and Harbor Drive indowntown; the La Jolla VisitorCenter, located at the corner ofHerschel Avenue and ProspectStreet in La Jolla, or the CaliforniaWelcome Center, located at theViejas Outlet Center in Alpine.


RoadRunner Golf Course

Barona Valley Ranch Resort

Steele Canyon Golf Club

Borrego Springs Resort & CC


DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY

http://www.oakquarry.com

http://www.morganrun.com

CITYDRIVES

LOS ANGELES -- With the iconic "Hollywood" sign loom-ing in the distance and star tour buses beckoning touriststo hop on board after strolling on the Walk of Fame, it'soften forgotten that the Los Angeles area offers one of themost diverse selections of golf in California.

Oceanfront links fade into golf courses in the forest, whilesome utilize natural surroundings for a links-style experience.Parkland layouts aren't far from mountain golf, and views rangefrom Pacific panoramas to the downtown cityscape, or nothing butthe great wide open.

And just like its varying locale, green fee prices can be all overthe map as well -- up to $300 a round at some venues.

As a function of its location and history, it may be perceivedthat L.A. golf is a sport that can break the bank or requires connec-tions. While in many cases it can, some of the area's greatest pub-lic courses can be had for $50 or less. While carts do cost extra atnearly every golf course, with a modest-priced round in the books,

golfers can walk in the footsteps of some of golf's past championsand present players, while saving money for L.A.'s many off-courseactivities.

Historic municipal golf courses in Los AngelesIt's located literally in the middle of a concrete jungle, a little

park-like oasis with neighborhoods, restaurants, high-rises andshopping areas surrounding the classic layout. This accessibilitycould be one reason why Rancho Park Golf Course is one of thebusiest and most popular facilities not only in the state, but also inthe entire U.S. The other reason? Its green fee caps out at around$48 during peak times, even less for residents.

Rancho Park's great value is complemented by its uniqueness,an aspect that is as much to its history as it is to its central location.At 6,600 yards, Rancho Park has hosted some of the golf world'smost recognized events, such as the L.A. Open (now NorthernTrust Open), the PGA Senior Open, and several LPGA events. It'sthe same golf course where Arnold Palmer took a 12 on the 18thhole during the 1961 L.A. Open; when asked how he shot 12, heanswered, "I missed my putt for an 11."

Hurray forHollywood

The Links at Terranea


Not far from RanchoPark, Griffith Park GolfClub's two regulation golfcourses - the Wilson andHarding layouts - have beentesting golfers since the mid-1920s.

Located within Griffith Park, one of thelargest urban parks in the U.S., the golf club hostedthe L.A. Open from 1937-39. Noted course architect George C.Thomas, Jr. designed Griffith Park's Wilson course and Hardingcourse, and at $48 for non-residents, it's a great value for a pieceof golf history.

Oceanfront opportunities in Rancho Palos VerdesOne of the few coastal gems of the Los Angeles area is Los

Verdes Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, a stone's throw fromthe sand and with abundant ocean views. At only $33 during peaktime, this par-71 William F. Bell design from the mid-1960sstretches to 6,631 yards and offers challenging greens thanks to thenearby Pacific Ocean. It also has a two-tiered driving range and a

full bar and grill to tantalizegolfers after a round.

If nine-hole golf is more yourspeed, the Los Angeles area's newest

course presents arguably the most sce-nic par-3 experience around. The Links at

Terranea is also in Rancho Palos Verdes. It's setwithin Terranea Resort, and each hole offers a view of

the ocean from the area's closest point to Catalina Island.

Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design drew inspiration fromsome of his favorite par-3 holes to develop The Links at Terranea,which runs up to $38 at peak times, but it's far from a pitch-and-putt course. Take every club in your bag for this test of golf, asocean breezes can work against players. Afterward, head down toNelson's at the Resort, located on the cliff above where the televi-sion series "Sea Hunt" was filmed.

Head Southwest to Long BeachLong Beach has been the stomping ground to a number of

By KatieDenbo LOS ANGELES, CA

Golf in the City of AngelsThat Won't Break The Bank


standout golfers. PGA Tour players John Merrick,John Mallinger and the newest "Mr. 59" himself, PaulGoydos, were all groomed on the area's layouts andstill consider the area their home base.

Goydos holds the course record at two of the mostpopular and wallet friendly layouts in Long Beach: ElDorado Park Golf Course ($49 walking) andRecreation Park Golf Course ($45 walking). El DoradoPark is located in Long Beach's famous regional parkof the same name, and at 6,963 yards, is the currenthome of the Long Beach Open championship.

Designed by Ted Robinson, Sr., El Dorado is wideand friendly for the beginner, but from the back tees itbrings a challenge with doglegs and water; the greenon the first hole is protected by a creek, while 18 fin-ishes up with a lake on the right. Goydos shot a 61 onthe par-72 course, and while many big hitters chasethat number, none have yet caught it.

Not far from El Dorado Park, William F. Bell'sRecreation Park Golf Course held Goydos to a record62 over its 6,280-yard layout. The golf course openedin the early 1940s and is one of the most popular in thearea thanks to its mature trees, rolling fairways andplayable yardages for all skill levels.

It also runs only $45 at peak time, leaving somemoney for the golf course's full-service restaurantafterward. Don't forget to practice your short game at"Little Rec," Recreation Park's short course.


SPOTLIGHT (continued)

Griffith Park Golf Club

El Dorado Park Golf Course

Los Verdes Golf Course

Rancho Park Golf Course

Recreation Park Golf Course

The Links at Terranea


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It appears that 2011 will be a year filled with many new andexciting choices of drivers from a variety of manufacturers asclub makers extend the boundaries of technology within the

USGA rules to make clubs even more forgiving and easier to hit.The the new Exotics XCG-4 from Tour Edge series offers a

livelier club with enough new technology to bring a smile to anyplayer’s face. Available in 276- gram super-ultra-light and 310-gramultra-light editions, Tour Edge engineers have carried out extensivework to create one of the lightest, most aerodynamic drivers in golf.The XCG- 4’s new sleek design and heavily-radiused sole allow fora more streamlined, fluid head shape that minimizes drag as thedriver cuts through the air. Powered by the game’s most advancedlightweight shafts, this is a true distance weapon off the tee.

The heart of the XCG-4 is an advanced head design that fea-tures a titanium face and sole, an amorphous carbon crown, twoamorphous carbon sole inserts, and two tungsten sole weights. Theultra-light weight carbon frees up 27 grams of weight that is strate-gically positioned in the lower rear of the club head to improveMOI by more than 15% over previous versions. The result is longertee shots that hold the target line even on off-center contact.

To maximize spring-like effect, Tour Edge created theBoomerang face.

This supercharged design offers multiple levels of variable facethickness that maximize the rebound effect from more points onthe face. By thinning and thickening the face, the v-shapedboomerangs allow for the maximum elongation of the titanium forenhanced feel and hotter launch.

With Exotics, Tour Edge has spared no expense in building abetter golf club. That’s why the tungsten and titanium parts areassembled using a unique vacuum brazing technology. In brazing,the metal parts are joined using a silver filler material that is melt-ed and distributed between the close-fitting parts by capillaryaction. Extremely expensive and employed extensively in aerospaceapplications, this technique is utilized when only the highest-quali-ty joints are needed.

The parts must be fitted to 1/1000th of an inch and the basemetals must be exceptionally clean and free of oxides. The processis expensive because it must be performed inside a vacuum cham-ber, but the end result is exceptional because it greatly reducesresidual part stresses due to slow heating and cooling cycles. This,in turn, significantly improves the thermal and mechanical proper-ties of the material.

The super-ultra-light version of the XCG-4 delivers one of thelightest drivers on the market with a total club weight of only 276grams. It features a 45-gram ultra-light Graphite Design Tour Ad46” shaft and a 26-gram WinnLite grip. The standard ultra-light ver-sion weighs 310 grams and comes standard with a Fujikura Motore55-gram, 45.5” long shaft and a Golf Pride New Decade grip.

For More Information: www.exoticsgolf.com

Tiger Shark Golf will launch its much anticipated PowerPodII Driver at the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29,in Orlando, Fla.

The Jim Flood PowerPod II driver is two years in the making andis designed to be the world's first ever slice proof driver. Flood, whohas developed over 50 golf-related products in the past 35 years thathave revolutionized the game of golf, is credited with inventing thegraphite shaft and foundedindustry giants Aldila Inc.and Odyssey Golf.

"We're ready to intro-duce to the world one of themost unique and high performance driver designs ever produced,"said Dean Dingman, President of Tiger Shark Golf. "The PGAShow has always been the best place to launch important innova-tions to the golf industry and we can't wait to have as many peopleas possible hit the PowerPod II to see what all the buzz is about."

During the Outdoor Demo Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan.26, at Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge in Orlando,Tiger Shark Golf will showcase the PowerPod II on the range andtheir PGA tour popular grips at the short game practice areas.

NEWYEAR


From Thursday, Jan. 27 through Saturday, Jan. 29, at the OrangeCounty Convention Center, Tiger Shark Golf will exhibit and pro-vide testing opportunities of the PowerPod II Driver on the Showfloor and during Indoor Demo Days.

Visit www.tigersharkgolf.com

Hitting the mark once again is adidas Golf with the latestversion of one of its premier high-end golf shoes with theintroduction of the adiPURE Z, the next-generation in a

world-class line of footwear built for the competitive purist. This latest evolution combines clean, sophisticated designs and

contemporary styling with an abundance of groundbreaking tech-nologies to produce a shoe that is soft, wearable right out of the boxand gives the support expected from a better golf shoe.

Infinitely elegant with classic detailing, traditional look andsuperior performance, the adiPURE Z follows the bloodline of theoriginal adiPURE footwear, launched last spring.

adiPURE Z features a modern approach to a classicfootwear design characterized by elegant lines, fine detailing,premium materials and a superior level of craftsmanship.Premium, hand-finished leather incorporated throughout--including the lining-- provides a rich look and feel with lastingquality, while the mono-tongue construction offers a glove-likefit and improved technology.

“The adiPURE Z was an exciting challenge for our designers,”said Harry Arnett, Vice President of brand and product marketing,adidas Golf. “We knew there was a subset of golfers who wanted theunparalleled performance delivered by the original adiPURE in amore refined, sophisticated and contemporary package.”

adiPURE Z features advanced THiNTech low-profile technolo-gy, bringing the golfer closer to the ground for improved stability,better overall footwork and more consistent ball-striking. The shoesinclude the exclusive THiNTech cleat which delivers exceptionalgrip in all conditions and 10-Spike configuration, which providessuperior grip and perimeter stability even for players with higherswing speeds.

The adiPURE Z has a two year waterproof warranty and is avail-able in three colorways: white, black, and redwood.

More information is available at www.adidasgolf.com

The Smart Glove Wrist and Grip Guide is a unique golf train-ing glove that sets a player's wrist in the correct positionthrough the swing for a proper release while practicing.

The back of the glove includes a removable rigid wrist guidethat keeps a player from casting and helps groove the correctswing mechanics through the entire swing. Endorsed by well-known teaching pro Rick Smith and marketed by SKLZ, thistraining glove helps groove the proper wrist action and positionenjoyed by the better player.

The palm side of the glove includes a specialized fabric to out-line proper grip positioning and superior feel. This glove is excel-lent for use on the practice tee, on the course and putting. The wristguide can be used during practice and then removed for using the

glove for official play.One of the keys to great ball striking is a firm left wrist at swing

impact and a proper golf grip. The Smart Glove sets your wrist in thecorrect positionthrough theswing for a prop-er wrist release.

This high-quality Cabrettaleather glovecomes in fiveavailable sizes:S, M, ML, L andXL in left-hand-ed versions only.

For moreinformation onthe Smart Glove:www.sklz.com.

by Terry Ross

SWEETSTUFF

http://www.ultimatewalkinggear.com/index.php?m=IC0920510

golf vacations magazine january 2011

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