golf vacations magazine september 2010
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Golf Vacations Magazine September 2010TRANSCRIPT
GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSOur8thYear!
THIS MONTH: CHIPSHOTS I SWEET STUFF I MY TURN I DESTINATIONS
K
SEPTEMBER 2010SEPTEMBER 2010
KPLUS: Angel Park Golf Club I Inn Of The Mountain GodsPLUS: Angel Park Golf Club I Inn Of The Mountain Gods
IAWAH ISLAND GOLFMEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME
IAWAH ISLAND GOLFMEMORIES FOR A LIFETIME
• All Suite Hotel
• Just Minutes Away From World Class Golf Courses
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800.654.2924kiawahgolf.com
Real Estate: 866.542.9246kiawahresort.com/realestate
Our promiseA timeless experience inswiftly changing times.
Unwavering standards and unmatched value. A genuine
commitment to preservewhat you enjoy most.
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contents I september 2010
www.golfvacationsmag.com6 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010
Memories Of Kiawah Island Golf Resortby Jason Scott Deegan and Brandon Tucker
Just 45 minutes from Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort hasgrown into a world-class destination - complete with a five-star hotel,five-star spa and five-star golf course - without intruding on thecharms of the surrounding Lowcountry.
Inn Of The Mountain Gods Getawayby Fred Robledo
I don’t know the criteria used by those organizations, but as one whohas covered golf and major championships all over the country formore than 30 years, I would call it one of the top courses I have everseen and played.
Top Honors To Angel Park . . . AGAIN!by Terry Ross
Amid all of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, one of the hiddentreasures when it comes to quality golf where families and groups arecatered to is the Angel Park Golf Club in the suburb of Summerlin.
c o v e r s t o r i e s
on the cover: Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
10 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel
28 Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross and Tom Draper
Tour Striker, Antigua, TaylorMade, TourEdge, Thumb Caddy
30 DestinationsYour Link To Great Resort Golf Locales
32 My Turn by Randy Turner
Keeping Pace With Golf’s Global Shift
d e p a r t m e n t s
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www.golfvacationsmag.com8 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010
Executive EditorJeffrey Diaz
Associate EditorTerry Ross
Features EditorLarry Feldman
Staff WritersFred RobledoRob Mottram
For Editorial:
call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: [email protected]
Regional Advertising
Los Angeles • 949-279-7801Terry Ross - [email protected]
Atlanta • 770-971-1616John Reock - [email protected]
San Diego • 619-889-7706Bob Black - [email protected]
Published by
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777 E. Atlantic Avenue, Suite C2-151Delray Beach, Florida 33483-5360
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Destiny Media, LLC
President/CEOJames A. Diaz
Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue.
Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2010 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and
may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS
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Brandon Tucker is a Senior Writer and Special Projects Editor for the TravelGolfNetwork, where he contributes not only golf and travel articles, but photo essays, videosand more. His golf travels have taken him across the U.S., including more than 50 MyrtleBeach-area golf courses, and to such destinations as Scotland, Wales, Portugal, theCzech Republic, Poland, Germany and Malaysia.
Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed more than 400 courses and golf destinations for someof the industry's biggest publications. He is a contributing editor with Michigan GolfMagazine and a regular contributor with Athlon Sports. His work has been honored by theGolf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. His favorite golfdestination is Ireland, but a close second is his home state of Michigan, where he lives withhis wife and two children.
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.
Fred Robledo has been covering professional golf for more than 30 years. He wrotefor the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the Los Angeles Times before moving into pub-lic relations where he promoted professional tour events for Brener Zwikel & Associates.He is now semi-retired, traveling the country and reviewing golf destinations for GolfVacations Magazine.
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Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsHILTON HOTELS JOINS THAILANDGOLF MARKETING CONSORTIUM
BANGKOK — The most recognizedname in hospitality, Hilton Hotels, hasjoined the Thai marketing cooperativeGolf in a Kingdom: The Thai GolfExperience www.golfinakingdom.com
As new hotel partners, Hilton proper-ties across Thailand — in Bangkok, Pattaya,Hua Hin and Phuket — are now preferredlodging options, along side the country’s topgolf courses, in variety of stay-and-play itin-eraries offered and executed by tour opera-tor Golfasian www.golfasian.com
“To have Hilton as a partner is anotherringing endorsement of what we’re doingwith Golf in a Kindgom — that is, makeThai golf holidays easier to book and for-mulate, while guaranteeing internationalstandards of quality with every course andhotel on each itinerary,” said Mark Siegel,CEO of Bangkok-based Golfasian. “Hiltondoesn’t throw in with just anyone, ofcourse. Hilton welcomes guests in morecountries than any other full-service hotelbrand, 76 countries across six continents, if
I’m not mistaken. Their involvement is afeather in our caps, but it is also anotherincentive for golfers who recognize inHilton another guarantee of quality.”
The four Hilton properties that havejoined Golf in a Kingdom include:
• The Hilton Pattaya, located in theheart of this coastal city, overlooking PattayaBeach, and situated atop the new CentralFestival Pattaya Beach complex, with its200 international-caliber shops, restaurants,cinemas and recreational facilities.
• The Millennium Hilton Bangkok,standing imperiously on the banks of the
Chao Praya River, boasting sweeping cityviews and incomparable access to the var-ied delights of Thailand’s capital.
• Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort &Spa, a stunning resort set on sandy KaronBeach and comprising 75 acres of lushtropical gardens. Karon Beach is the quiet,upscale alternative to raucous PatongBeach just up the coast.
• The Hilton Hua Hin Resort &Spa, a 17-story tower in the center of thisroyal enclave overlooks the Gulf ofThailand and serves as home to distinctivemix of dining options, including the HuaHin Brewery Company, a former fisher-man’s shack dating from 1923.
“Thailand is equipped with 5-starhotel brands like Hilton, and Marriott,along with world-class golf, superb food,unmatched nightlife and a first-world,modern transportation infrastructure,”said Siegel. “Thailand is tropically tem-perate 365 days a year, and golfers canspend a week here for a fraction of whatthey’d pay in European or NorthAmerican destinations.”
THE ULTIMATE ST. SIMONS ISLAND GOLF RESORTTHE ULTIMATE ST. SIMONS ISLAND GOLF RESORT
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POCONO MTNS SELECTS ITS “MUST-SEE” FALL FOLIAGE GOLF HOLES
One of the most scenic and pleasurabletimes of the year to visit the PoconoMountains is nearly upon us. Beginning laterthis month and running through late October,travelers heading to the region's golf courses willbe treated to the vibrant colors of the fall season.The Pocono MountainVisitors Bureau hasselected these three"Fall Classics" as the"Must-See" Fall FoliageGolf Holes for 2010:
Hole #7, Blue Course, The ShawneeInn Golf and Resort: This testy par-3 is oneof 24 holes of this 27-hole facility that rests onthe charming Shawnee Island. It can playfrom 132 yards from the front tees to 177yards from the tips, but no matter from whattee box you play, you'll have to carry the inletof the Delaware River that gently flows infront of the sloping green.
Hole #11, Split Rock Golf Club:Standing atop the tee box of this 555-yard,
downhill par-5, golfers are treated to one ofthe most gorgeous views in all of the PoconoMountains and can stare miles away. It is oneof the many holes at Split Rock surroundedby the kind of trees indigenous to the areathat positively burst with color in the fall.
Hole #16, Woodloch Springs GolfCourse and Country Club: Don't get caught
gazing at the scenicview here too longbecause this is the mostdifficult par-4 on thecourse. The elevatedfour-tiered green makespar feel like a birdie on
this 386-yard beauty that has two different haz-ards running across the width of the hole.
END OF SEASON GOLF PACKAGESAT STOWE MOUNTAIN LODGE
Stowe Mountain Golf Club presentsone of the most stunning and breathtakingcourses in the world, featuring unique moun-tain terrain, luminous lake, incomparableviews and meticulously manicured greens.
Legendary golf course designer Bob Cuppcreated this stunning 18-hole, par 72 coursethat spans a massive 6,400 yards and literallyclimbs up the side of the mountain with adramatic 400-feet elevation gain.
With the golf season closing in mid-October, Stowe Mountain Lodge is offeringthree fantastic packages to entice guests totake advantage of the award-winning golfoptions in Stowe this year.
Tee It Up Package – rates start at $280per night based on availability, a two nightminimum and double occupancy. Guests canupgrade to play at Stowe Mountain Golf Clubfor $75 per round.
He Said She Said—rates start at $369per night based on availability, a two nightminimum and double occupancy.
Grass is Greener—rates start at $329 pernight based on availability, a two night mini-mum and double occupancy. Guests have theoption of adding an additional round of golf atStowe Country Club for $65-$105 per round.
Visit StoweMountainLodge.com or call1-888-4STOWE-VT
Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shots
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.
LIVE WELL • LOVE MUCH • LAUGH OFTEN
LA TORRETTARistorante & Italian Steakhouse
16640 N. Scottsdale Rd • SW corner Frank Lloyd Wright/Scottsdale RdScottsdale • 480.991.2000 • www.latorrettaaz.com
Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm • Dinner Daily 4:30-9:30pm
Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsMYSTICAL GOLF ANNOUNCES‘OCTOBER FEST’ STAY-AND-PLAY
Mystical Golf -- owner and operatorof the award-winning The Witch, Man-O-War and The Wizard golf courses inMyrtle Beach -- announces its “OctoberFest” stay-and-play package availablefrom October 3-31 for the special rate of$297 per person, double occupancy.
The offer features three rounds of golf(one per course) with cart and lunchincluded, plus two nights accommodationswith breakfast at the Patricia GrandOcean Front Resort in efficiency andtwo-room suites with complimentary high-speed Internet access and furnished pri-vate balconies. A same day second round“instant replay” is available for cart feeonly ($23).
All rated from 4 to 4-1/2 stars fromGolf Digest and named “The Best Valuein America” by GOLF Magazine, theMystical Golf trio are designed by cele-brated architect Dan Maples.
The Witch sits on 500 acres of tran-quil cypress groves and wetlands teeming
with flora and fauna. Tactical play isrewarded on the par-71, 6,702-yard lay-out. With 4,000 feet of bridges wendingthrough swamps (front nine) and rollinghills (back nine), golfers may spy cranes,bald eagles, alligators and black bears.
Man-O-War is revered for its back-to-back island greens and water featurestouching every hole. With a commanding
141 slope rating, the par-72,6,967-yard layout is offset bystraight-forward shots andexcellent, bent-grass greens.
Reminiscent of classic,wind-swept links courses inScotland and Ireland, TheWizard presents deepbunkers, mound-framed fair-ways and dramatic elevation
changes. Trademark stone bridges and anOld-World, castle-style clubhouse addcharacter to the par-72, 6,721-yard shot-maker’s course.
For “October Fest” stay-and-playpackage information: www.mysticalgo-lf.com or call 843.282.2977.
HAWAII RESORTS OFFER PLANSTO GET DUFFERS TO PACK UP
• Through Dec. 24, Turtle BayResort on Oahu is offering a DailyUnlimited Golf package starting at$159.50 per person or $319 a night.Golfers can take advantage of a day ofunlimited golf, including cart, on theArnold Palmer and/or George Fazio
courses, while nongolfers are free tomake use of an $80 credit per day forother activities, including spa treat-ments, horseback riding, tennis and heli-copter rides.
• Waikiki's Outrigger Reef on theBeach is giving duffers a choice of 18holes at the Kapolei Golf Course or theEwa Beach Golf Course on Oahu for $289for one golfer or $389 for two.
• The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui isoffering a Wailea Golf and Spa packagefor couples, featuring four nights in a one-bedroom suite or villa; two rounds of golf,including cart, at any of Wailea's threecourses; two 50-minute spa treatments;daily buffet breakfast; and one dinner atthe property's Ko restaurant.
• Golfers looking for flexibility in theirvacation might consider the Pick YourPassion package from the Big Island'sMauna Lani Bay Hotel. Nightly packagerates begin at $680 for a standard roomthrough Dec. 23. Seewww.maunalani.com.
• Juniors under age 15 play free ofcharge without restriction at the MakaiGolf Club at Kauai's St. RegisPrinceville Resort. Those ages 16 and17 play for 50% off. Visit www.stregis-princeville.com.
• For $679 a person, the Hotel Lanaion Pineapple Isle offers golfers threenights' accommodations, three rounds ofgolf on the Manele and Koele courses,transportation and daily breakfasts.
12 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
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14 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Perhaps no other golf resort in thecountry has grown more spectacular in the past five years,and done it more thoughtfully, than the Kiawah Island GolfResort off the coast of South Carolina.
In the race to add amenities, some resorts lose touch with theirsurroundings, looking like manufactured playgrounds.
Thoughtful, cautious development has always set KiawahIsland apart. Just 45 minutes from Charleston, the barrier island'sunique topography of towering trees, sand dunes, salt marshes,miles of beaches and the crashing ocean surf make for a photogra-pher's dream. Kiawah Island Golf Resort has grown into a world-class destination - complete with a five-star hotel, five-star spa andfive-star golf course - without intruding on the charms of the sur-rounding Lowcountry.
Change never comes that quickly at Kiawah. After all, the 255-roomSanctuary Hotel opened in 2004 after more than a decade of planning.
The seaside mansion, a Mobile 5-Star award-winner two straight years,seems to kiss the surf without trespassing upon the beach.
The first floor was raised 20 feet to provide unobstructed oceanviews, a concept legendary architect Pete Dye used in buildingKiawah Island's famed Ocean course as well. Two grand staircases oneither side of the lobby are complimented by three-story murals ofthe marshes. Most of the rooms, decorated with four-poster beds andample space, offer balconies that open to a courtyard and the ocean.
The resort continues to be among the country's leaders in the"green" movement with its environmental practices. Kiawah's othergreen movement, its five golf courses, are similarly lauded. TheOcean course, site of the 1991 Ryder Cup Matches (known as the'War by the Shore') and the 2012 PGA Championship, is one of themiracles of modern design. The completion of the $22-millionOcean course clubhouse in late 2007 greatly enhanced one of thepurest golf experiences in America. There are spots inside theRyder Cup bar where guests can watch the sun come up and the
The Golf Resort Where Memories Last A Lifetime
By Jason Scott Deegan
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 15www.golfvacationsmag.com
16 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
sunset on the horizon without moving.
The 24,000-square-foot clubhouse pro-vides the perfect place to unwind after bat-tling the ferocious 8,000-yard beast.Caddies warn players that the Oceancourse plays at least 10 shots harder thantheir home track.
Dye's Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf ResortGolf Digest rated it the toughest golf
course in America in 2007, but that shouldcome with a caveat. The Ocean course willonly feel cruelly unfair if you make twodeadly mistakes: playing from the wrongtees or teeing it up without a caddie (thereis no extra charge for a caddie after yourgreens fee, just a $65 recommended tip).Dicey weather - and howling winds - canalso change your fortunes for the worse.
The Ocean course has certain elementsof links golf, like stiff winds and long putts.But the layout plays more like a linkshybrid, with difficult-to-hold elevatedgreens, massive waste bunkers and a har-rowing carry over water to the 17th green -all characteristics of American resort golf.
Some players in the 2007 Senior PGAChampionship complained about thecourse's steep bunker faces, so they mightbe revamped in time for the 2012 PGAChampionship, according to resortspokesman Michael Vegis. No matter whatchanges occur between now and then, thecourse will be a fearsome test for theworld's best golfers.
Kiawah's Other Golf CoursesThe other four courses at Kiawah Island
Golf Resort, including Jack Nicklaus' TurtlePoint, Gary Player's Cougar Point and TomFazio's Osprey Point, are so dramaticallynormal they provide quite a contrast. All arerated at least 4 stars by Golf Digest. OspreyPoint delivers some of the most picturesqueholes on the island, notably the par-3 thirdand 11th holes and the monstrous par-4ninth. The latter is forgiving off the tee,making it a local favorite.
Turtle Point, designed in 1991 afterNicklaus finished working with Dye atHarbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head,S.C., wanders through forest before cli-maxing with three beachfront holes. Thegreen on the par-3 14th sits wedgedbetween resort villas on the left and dunes
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 17www.golfvacationsmag.com
18 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
on the right. Hooked tee shots on the 385-yard No. 14 will fly the fence along thedunes, ending up on the beach. The 179-yard 16th is the strongest hole of the three,demanding a confident swing to avoid thenatural scrub and a front bunker.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Southern HospitalityAway from the courses, resort guests are
pampered with service that lives up to thehighest standards of Southern hospitality.
The restaurant scene at the resort hasbeen revamped, adding even more variety.The clubhouse at Turtle Point now housesTomasso, an Italian-themed eatery servingfamily favorites like pizza and spaghetti.With the addition of the Atlantic Roominside the Ocean course clubhouse two yearsago, Kiawah Island is transforming theSanctuary's Ocean Room into a high-endsteakhouse along the lines of Ruth's Chris.Golfers are sure to welcome the change.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort's luxuriousspa continues to add treatments that high-light a connection to Mother Nature. The"signature massage" mixes heated grain-and herb-filled wraps, used to relax themuscles, with traditional massage. Be sureto arrive early (and stay late) to take advan-tage of a soothing mineral hot tub insidethe locker room.
Guests almost always feel much betterafterward, refreshed and ready to return tothe real world. Or better yet, they arereplenished enough to seek revengeagainst that fickle Ocean course
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 19www.golfvacationsmag.com
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. - Once you've experienced thefamed and daunting Ocean Course at Kiawah Island GolfResort, you'll probably be in need of a friendlier kind of golfcourse, and Kiawah's Osprey Point course just down the roadis your haven.
Shielded from the fierce, ocean winds and playingthrough a scenic and wild maritime forest filled with oaksand magnolias on Kiawah Island, architect Tom Fazio hasbuilt a course that is easy on the eyes - and your scorecard -compared to its sterner Pete Dye neighbor.
Osprey Point isn't necessarily easy - no course with thethreat of water or out-of-bounds on every shot can be to thewandering mid or high handicapper. The first hole is anuncomfortable drive that requires shaking off a small treethat sits in front of the tee. But good shots here are reward-ed, and slightly off-line shots won't find trouble in mostcases. In typical Fazio fashion, fairways are, for the mostpart, wide and welcoming. Green complexes feature heavy
bunkering but usually safer bail-out zones as well.Wildlife is especially abundant here. The starter warns to
be on the lookout for alligators at every turn, but plenty ofother species serve as your gallery here. Swooping birds flyoverhead, families of turtles lounge in the rough alongsidealligators and on the par-3 11th hole for instance, jumpingfish with seemingly no regard for your stroke splash away asyou line up your putt.
You have the option to hit your driver on every tee. Thepar-4 ninth is a wildly fun driving hole. The course's longest par4 at 468 yards from the championship tees, it plays well overwater before allowing you to cut off as much as you can foryour second shot. For big hitters, the hole that will have youlicking your chops the most is the short par-4 seventh hole. It'sonly 300 yards from the white tees and features a heavilymounded fairway that shields the green from view. A penalbunker to the left of the green corrals aggressive tee shots,while another short and right makes lay-ups uncomfortable.
After Ocean Course Beats You Up, Head ForKiawah Resort's More Peaceful Osprey Point
By Brandon Tucker
The most difficult aspect of Osprey Point is that eachhole is generally framed by woods or water, so sprayed teeshots will likely be lost among the marsh.
There are a handful of strategic, short par 4s that add agreat deal of excitement to the round. The par-4 seventhhole is a little more than 300 yards, and a giant mound onlinebetween the tee and the green can infuse some indecisionfrom the tee. But bunkering well short of the green makes itan uncomfortable lay-up. You've paid a lot of dough to playthis course, though; unleash the big dog over the mound andsee what happens. The worst that can happen is you'll findyourself in a green-side bunker.
The par-5 18th offers up a chance at birdie with a gooddrive, as the green - while guarded on the left by water - can bereached in two and has some run-up space in front of the green.
The Verdict on Kiawah's Osprey Point courseOsprey Point is another feather in the cap for the renowned
Kiawah Island Golf Resort. It's an exciting play on beautifullowcountry marshland. Fazio's design caters more to the resort
golfer than the tour pro, with a championship yardage toppingout at just under 7,000 yards and numerous holes where parsand birdies are a possibility for the amateur player.
Ocean views at Turtle Point and The Ocean Course aresubstituted for more peaceful, lowcountry marshland onKiawah Island. There is no need to keep an eye out forwildlife. The many birds, jumping fish, turtles and alligatorswill surely find you.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort is Pet FriendlyThe only pet-friendly lodging location in Kiawah Island is the Kiawah Island Golf
Resort that is comprised of a hotel and the resort villas. Pets are allowed in the villas ata $25 per day pet fee with no weight restrictions, and leashed pets are allowed any-where on the property. The two categories of villas that allow pets are the Resort andDeluxe class. Both come with kitchens complete with modern appliances, balconies,patios, and adjoining living and dining rooms. The Deluxe villas are the more expensiveof the two. All guests of the resort also enjoy preferred tee times and 25 percent off atany of the five world-renowned golf courses on the property.
20 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
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It took them a couple of centuries to figure itout, but once the idea of casino resorts onIndian reservations kicked in, native Americantribes have cashed in on the phenomenon.
In New Mexico, the Mescalero Apaches havetaken the idea to new heights – literally and figura-tively. Their reservation covers about 72 square milesof land at elevations that range from 5,500 feet in thevalleys of the Sacramento Mountain range to the12,000-foot peak of the Sierra Blanca Mountain.
The crowning jewel on the reservation is situatedin the east portion of the reservation – the majesticInn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino – and itprovides visitors with fine dining, gambling, showsand recreational activities for all seasons.
It takes a little planning to get there. Located justa few miles from Ruidoso, one of the fastest-growingresort areas in the country, most visitors fly intoRoswell, El Paso or Albuquerque, rent a car and driveto the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.
There is a bonus for golfers. The Inn overlooks aspectacular championship course designed by golfarchitect Ted Robinson. Builder of over 170 golfcourses throughout the world, including some whichhave been the sites for major championships,Robinson likes to use the natural habitat in the area asmuch as possible.
The majority of the land is covered with timber pine,fir, spruce, aspen, white oak and juniper. Add MescaleroLake, some dramatic elevation changes and the stun-ning view of the snow-capped Ski Apache slope and youhave the recipe for an extraordinary golf course.
The course has been as one of the Top 40 CasinoGolf Courses by Golf Digest and Golfweek, and No.12 among the Top 20 Tribal Golf Courses in NorthAmerica by Native American Casino Magazine.
MOUNTAIN GODS CREATE A GETAWAFOR ALL SEASONS
By Fred Robledo
22 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
AIN GODS A GETAWAY SEASONS
d Robledo
I don’t know the criteria used by those organiza-tions, but as one who has covered golf and majorchampionships all over the country for more than 30years, I would call it one of the top courses I have everseen and played.
“We are pretty proud of this course,” said headgolf pro Daniel Nunez. “We have been the host forthe New Mexico Open and have also had several sec-tional events held here.”
Robinson carved the course from the canyons atthe base of the Sacramento Mountains and used blue-grass for the fairways and bent grass for the greens.
The course is at an elevation of 7,000 feet whichmeans you will hit balls about 10 percent farther inthe thin air.
For me, it led to some guesswork in the begin-ning, but once I understood a well-struck ball wouldget extra distance, I stopped trying to swing too hardand allowed the elevation to do its job.
The first day I was to play the course was rainedout, but that proved to be a blessing in disguisebecause it left me free to enjoy the wonders of theInn. (More on that experience later).
The sunshine returned on day two and I finallyexperienced the joy of playing the course with acouple I had met the day before at the Inn – Dr.Ron Avis and his daughter Sue, both avid golfersfrom Florida.
We enjoyed the round so much, we had lunch atthe Apache Tee Restaurant, then tackled the frontnine again.
“This day is a definite 10,” Dr. Avis said. “And thecourse is an 11. I can’t remember when I haveenjoyed a course so much, and I have played coursesall around the world.”
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24 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
The course features four sets of tees ranging from5,522 from the forward tees to 7,206 from the tipsand the slope rating goes from 124 to 132. The fair-ways over ample landing areas but get narrower clos-er to the greens which are well bunkered.
There is not one signature hole on the course, butthere are four holes where you automatically reachfor your camera. The Kodak moments came at the8th, 10th, 16th and 18th tees.
The eighth hole is a par-3 that ranges from 173 to235 yards. The green looks like a welcome target at anelevation 150 feet below the tee boxes. With the windswirling, it makes club selection a guessing contest.We played the hole at 205 yards and I guessed a 185-yard club would be about right. Although I pushedmy 4-metal, the ball landed pin-high in the rightbunker, so Dr. Avis was confident with his club selec-tion and hit his shot to 10 feet below the pin.
The 10th hole features an island fairway and welearned that a driver was not necessary on the holethat measures from 283 yards to 354 yards. We playedit from 300 and needed to hit the ball only 170 toreach the back end of the fairway. To hit it any fartherwould be to risk seeing the ball splash into the lake.After a good tee shot, you are left with a short iron toa large green.
The 16th hole is the easiest on the course, astraight-forward par 4 that goes from 310 to 380yards, but what makes it special is the jaw-droppingview of Sierra Blanco’s snow-capped Ski Apache peakrising above the tall green forest pines.
The 18th hole is a risk-reward par three over alake. It can play as short as 130 yards or as long as 272yards to a green that angles away from you.
The greens on the course were a little soft fromthe rain the previous day, but firmed up later in theday. They were large with some undulation and werevery quick on downhill putts.
“We like to keep the greens at 8 or 9 (on theStimpmeter) for resort play, but we can get them upto 11-13 for tournament play,” Nunez said.
After the round and a half of golf, it was a shortwalk back to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resortand Casino, a place that is designed for families, busi-ness travelers, gamblers, outdoor enthusiasts or any-body looking for a retreat from a hectic city.
Guests will be treated to a AAA Four-Diamondrated luxury resort that features 273 rooms andsuites with Southwestern décor. Business travelerswill note it has more than 40,000 square feet offlexible meeting and banquet space, a businesscenter, heated indoor pool and hot tubs, a fully-
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equipped fitness center and a variety of restaurantsto satisfy any palate.
The signature dining establishment is Wendell’sSteak and Seafood Restaurant, named after WendellChino, the president of the Mescalero Apaches for 43years until his death in 1998. It is open nightly for din-ner and offers an impressive wine list, an array offresh seafood, steaks and wonderful desserts.
Adjacent to the restaurant is Wendell’s Loungewhich offers appetizers, cocktails and cozy fireside seat-ing. I preferred to sit outside on the patio to enjoy theview of the Sierra Blanca and Sacramento Mountains.
Other dining options are the Apache TeeRestaurant overlooking the first and 10th tees of thegolf course, the Gathering of Nations Buffet, the BigGame Sports Bar and Club 49 next to the casino andSmokey B’s Grill at the Casino Apache Travel Center.
The casino offers everything Las Vegas hasincluding blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, slotmachines and video poker. While my luck as the casi-no was not good, I did witness a lady taking away$1,000 from the Wheel of Fortune machine. Whatmade that a mixed experience for me was that I hadbeen playing that machine earlier in the evening anddecided it wasn’t going to pay off that night.
The real attractions to the resort are the manyactivities offered for families and outdoors people,depending on the season.
There is horseback riding, a sporting clay range,and fishing on the 100-acre Lake Mescalero. Theyhave a Just for Kids Summertime Activities Programdesigned for children 5-12 years old. The activitiesinclude arts and crafts, games, movies and specialthemes and all are fully supervised. There is also birdwatching, hiking, camping and mountain biking.
But the big ticket items are golf, skiing and biggame hunting where you go after bears, cow elk, wildbirds and turkeys depending on the season.
I will confess. I am not a hunter. But I don’t feelguilty if I get a birdie on the Championship Course atthe Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.
• • • •Inn at the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino
287 Carrizo Canyon RoadMescalero, New Mexico
Reservations: 1-800-545-9011
You can also make reservations to play the golfcourse by going to the resort’s website at
www.innofthemountaingods.com
26 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
Amid all of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, one of the hid-den treasures when it comes to quality golf where families andgroups are catered to is the Angel Park Golf Club in the suburb ofSummerlin.
Although perhaps flying under the radar--and it isn’t operatedby one of the big-name casinos in town-- Angel Park offers an arrayof Stay and Play Packages with local hotels and in itself is an out-standing 36-hole facility that offers two Arnold-Palmer designed18-hole tracks—the Palms and the Mountain Courses—plus a 12-hole short course that is excellent for beginners, families or short-game tune-ups, plus an expansive, lighted practice tee and a natu-ral grass putting course that rivals anything in the area.
Angel Park was named “Best Golf Course” in Las Vegas in the29th annual Best of Las Vegas ® Reader’s Poll conducted by theLas Vegas Review-Journal. Taking top honors for the 13th consec-utive year and 15 of the past 16 years, Angel Park maintained itspopularity with the readers of Las Vegas’ largest daily newspaper.
“This award really means a lot to us,” said David Stead,Director of Golf for Angel Park Golf Club. “We work very hard toensure that our guests thoroughly enjoy their golf experience.”Although the lion’s share of votes came from the Las Vegas area,thanks to the Internet, they also received votes from Australia,Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Cayman Islands, France,Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Spain andthe United Kingdom, to name a few.
Angel Park also was named one of the “Top 50 Courses inAmerica for Women” by Golf Digest this year, an award that theoperators of the course are very proud of.
“When one takes a look at the demographic profile of golfers,they’ll see that the female contingent is the fastest growing group,”said Phil Green, President of OB Sports, management firm forAngel Park Golf Club. “And that makes perfect sense. Golf is agame for a lifetime that requires skill, integrity and coordination,not a lot of physical strength. The handicap system and multiple
ANGEL PARK GOLF CLUBTaking Top Honors . . . AGAIN!
SPOTLIGHT
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 27www.golfvacationsmag.com
teeing areas allow players of all levels to enjoy the game together.It’s an ideal family-oriented activity with a ton of inspiring rolemodels at the LPGA club level and tour level.”
Each of the 18-hole layouts offer four sets of tees—with thePalms ranging from 6,525 yards (Par 70) to its forward tees at 4,570yards. The tougher Mountain Course goes 6,722 from the tips (Par71) to the forward markers at 5,150 yards. This course takes itsinspiration from the striking views of the nearby Red Rock andSpring Mountain ranges, and meanders through relatively flat,rolling terrain and high-desert vegetation.
Playing in the shadow of the Suncoast Hotel and Casino, theMountain Course seems to be popular with both locals and visitorsto the Las Vegas area and features some tricky greens that can usesome of that local knowledge. It is a fun track where driver is agood-bet on just about every Par 4 or Par 5, with five of the Par 4’sstretching to more than 400-yards in length from the back tees.You don’t have to be a long hitter to score from the back tees, how-
ever, but a good short game is critical.The Par 5 17th-hole is intriguing with a native area that cuts
across the fairway, so a solid drive is imperative to get a par here,while the 18th-finishing hole features water all down the right sideand is one of the more scenic on the course.
The Palms Course is known for its long Par 3 holes—three ofthe five stretch more than 200 yards—with carries over water ordesert on most of them. The Par 4’s present golfers with differingyardages and intriguing hazards that place a premium on clubselection, distance control and creative shot-making.
For those looking to vacation on a budget, you can stay at theSuncoast Hotel and Casino next door for one night AND playAngel Park all for $49 per-person (double occupancy). This sum-mer special runs through the end of September, 2010. There prob-ably isn’t a better vacation value than this in Las Vegas, especiallyfor a golf facility that is so well regarded.
For more information, visit: www.angelpark.com
By TerryRoss Las Vegas, NV
One of the more unique trainingaids to come along in recent yearsthat promotes a downward “pro-
style” stroke on the golf ball--and hascaught on with teachers and players alike--is the Tour Striker practice club.
Developed by teaching professionalMartin Chuck, PGA, director of golf atTetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon, theTour Striker was launched on a regionalbasis over a year and a half ago, but since itsnational launch in May has enjoyed over-whelming sales success, with thousands oftraining clubs already sold.
The original Tour Striker 8 iron, TourStriker Pro 7 iron and Tour Striker 56-degree wedge training clubs feature dis-tinctive designs that have little clubfacebelow the "sweet spot" unlike a traditionalclub. The clubs have been designed sogolfers intuitively teach themselves how todeliver the "sweet spot" of the club to theball like an expert ball striker.
In developing the club, Chuck took offthe bottom three grooves of the iron so thatplayers were forced to hit down on the ballduring their practice sessions and devel-oped the “Tour-like” stroke that profession-als have developed to ascend to the highestlevels of the game.
For the high handicapper the benefits ofthe Tour Striker are obvious, but for betterplayers, it has also been found to be an excel-lent tool to improve timing and rhythm.
Players that practice with the Tour Strikerwill quickly see a change in their swing andball striking--learning to apply forward shaftlean which will increase lag, add club headspeed and improve impact position naturally.
The Original Tour Striker is targeted formid-to-high handicap golfers and those withslower swing speeds (under 90 mph withdriver), while the Tour Striker Pro is gearedfor dedicated players with higher swingspeeds and a handicap of 10 or less. Alsoavailable is a Tour Striker for women andyounger players who wish to improve theirgame. The ladies/junior model is slightlyshorter than the regular Tour Striker (35inches vs. 36 inches) and has a graphite shaftappropriate for women and juniors.
The Tour Striker training clubs are castof 433 stainless steel. The vibration damp-ening logo affixed within the back cavityhelps reduce shock on miss-hit shots whiledeveloping ball striking skills.
For more information on the TourStriker, visit: www.tourstriker.com
An updated look with an eye towardssophisticated styling and new col-ors, together with the sheer feel of
its new DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITEmoisture wicking performance fabrics ismaking Antiqua golf apparel one of the hotnew looks this year and moving forwardinto the 2011 season.
Featuring their soft textures and light-weight athletic drape, Antigua is taking itshigh-performance collection in a new direc-tion by introducing what the company hascoined “contemporary performance” with theMosaic, Mogul and Metropolitan collections.
The collection utilizes its highly effec-tive DESERT DRY™ and XTRA-LITEfabrics that give the shirts and tops such alight, cool feel in even the most extremetemperatures. Constructed with ultra-lightfabrics for maximum wicking performanceand optimum comfort, the additional bene-fits of DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE areincreased moisture wicking, lighter weightand less heat trapped on the body and lessrestrictive movement. It is an extremelylight fabric without being sheer and itsthree-dimensional construction is whatmakes the fabric extremely light withoutbeing see-through.
On the women’s side, the new collec-tion focuses on a sophisticated color
palette, easy-to-merchandise color stories,classic styling with subtle feminine details,and an expanded selection of lightweightand silky fabrics, excellent drape regardlessof body type and a modern approach to tra-ditional golf wear.
The Spring 2011 Antigua Women’s col-lection is merchandised as three innovative,opulent product groups—Dashing,Mischief and Dynamic.
For more information on Antiquaapparel: www.antigua.com
Travel and golf seem to go togetherlike wine and cheese. The sport wasseemingly made for those that enjoy
some leisure time away from home and loveto find interesting ways to combine all sortsof travel adventures with their passion for agame that is enjoyed all around the world inan endless array of settings and climates.
One of the most popular pieces of vaca-tion luggage offered by TaylorMade is thePlayers’ 27-inch Rolling Duffle that hasenough room to pack for five days or moreand has been used by TM Staff Playerswhen on tour.
This all-in-one luggage piece offers theultimate in intuitive organization andsmartly maximized storage, featuring dualexternal compression straps and 1680denier ballistic material with syntheticleather panels. This piece is durable and
SWEETSTUFF
28 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 29www.golfvacationsmag.com
adaptable; and its sturdy build--but lightweight--make it a great addition to any golftrip. It also features bi-fold construction formaximum storage, removable internaldivider and organizer, dual large front pock-ets and custom TaylorMade zipper pullswith heavy gauge easy action zippers. It isaccented with custom urethane wheels andblack gunmetal telescoping pull handle.
For carrying the all-important golfclubs, the TaylorMade Players’ Travel Cover- available in a standard size and a staff bagsize - is loaded with features and extras thatdiscerning professionals look for and willkeep clubs safe when traveling by airplane.
Made out of heavy 1680 denier ballisticmaterial with synthetic leather panels,some handy extra features included in thisdeluxe cover are Internal mesh pockets andInternal compression straps; customTaylorMade zipper pulls with heavy gaugeeasy action zippers and custom urethanewheels and skid bars.
For trans-porting yourshoes to thec o u r s e ,TaylorMade hasa stylish andvery functionalsolution in thePlayers’ ShoeBag that pro-vides extra stor-age, rigid pro-tective construc-tion, full inter-nal velour-lin-ing, easy accesszipper opening,an Internal sock pocket, six ventilatedexhaust ports, Internal divider to keep shoesseparated, custom TaylorMade zipper pullswith heavy gauge easy action zippers—allwrapped in a sharp 1680 denier ballisticmaterial with synthetic leather panels.
For more information on TaylorMadetravel accessories visit their website at:www.taylormadegolfgear.com
by Terry Ross
The New Exotics XCG3 Irons inte-grate a forgiving game improvementtechnology combined with a classic
look. But more importantly they are sobeautifully balanced that with a nice con-trolled swing the player is sure to enjoy anadditional ten years per club, easily.
T h estr ik ingc l u bd e s i g nimmedi-a t e l yi n s t i l l sc o n f i -dence att h eaddressposition.A slightlyl a r g e rversion ofthe awardwinningXCG design, the XCG-3 features Tour Edge’soriginal Dual Density Dampening System(3DS) and makes it even better by covering theentire cavity with an ultra-light carbon andthermal plastic elastomer (TPE). This newdampening system is lighter in weight,enabling a thinner face design for improvedfeel and forgiveness and longer shots.
The key to the 3DS system is the use oftwo different TPE inserts with varying firm-ness. The system sits elegantly in the rear ofthe cavity punctuating the classic designwhile delivering unrivaled feel. The insertsare softer in the scoring irons (7-SW) toproduce a more responsive feel and greaterspin. In the mid and long irons a denserinsert promotes greater rebound, addeddistance, and a firmer feel.
The XCG-3 set starts at $499 and comeswith Tour Edge’s lifetime warranty. Formore information, call (800) 515-3343 orvisit www.exoticsgolf.com.
The Thumb Caddy is a training aidethat helps players improve their golfgame by perfecting the grip. The
device is a comfortable, rubber-coated plas-
tic aid that is small enough to fit in a pock-et and is a must-have for any golfer whowants a more accurate swing and a securegrip. Easy to use, individuals simply snap iton the grip, fit it to align properly, grip theclub and rip it down the fairway.
Designed for all ages and all levels ofgolf, the Thumb Caddy is a simple solutionto one of golf’s most challenging facets, thegrip. The first instruction given to golfers ishow to properly hold the club. Whether youuse the Vardon overlapping grip, ten fingerbaseball grip, or interlocking grip, yourhands connect you to the club, a vital compo-nent of the golf swing. A right-handed golfersimply rests his or her left thumb in the cra-dle of the Thumb Caddy and swings away.
Thumb Caddy is used by a wide rangeof golf participants. Teaching professionalsuse Thumb Caddy in their lessons to rein-force a proper grip technique with begin-ners and children. Low handicappers prac-tice with the Thumb Caddy to build propermuscle memory for a perfect draw or fadeand then slip it off their grip to play a com-petitive round. Recreational golfers can putone on all of their clubs and use it as a fulltime playing aid.
The Thumb Caddy is available as a sin-gle unit for $7.99, or it can be purchased ina package of three accompanied by aninstructional DVD for $19.95. To purchase,visit t www.thumbcaddy.net or call (781)-828-7747 for a dealer near you.
by Tom Draper
SWEETSTUFF
30 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY
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GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 31www.golfvacationsmag.com
DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY
MYTURN by RANDYTURNERcourtesy Winnipeg Free Press
32 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • SE P T E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com
KEEPING PACE WITH GOLF’S GLOBAL SHIFTLanguage Tutors As Important As Swing Coaches
There was a time not long ago when Kyeong Bae'sEnglish tutor was an animated character wholived under the sea. Or a mouse who wears pants.
"Cartoons," she said, "like Spongie Bob."To the connoisseur, that would be SpongeBob
SquarePants. Bae also found a language mentor inDisney movies, while she sat in hotel rooms on her idlehours during her early days as an LPGA regular.
That was five years ago, when Bae, now 25, was ayoung South Korean on the Tour, which in the last fewyears has gone from reactionary to proactive in responseto the dramatic shift in player demographics.
A faction of the old LPGA feared the influx ofKorean players at the turn of the century, prompting theinfamous quote from 16-time winner Jan Stephenson in2003 that "Asians are killing the Tour."
How times have changed. These days, languageinstructors hired in May travel with the Tour, offeringone-on-one instruction for all players, including NorthAmericans who might be interested in learning Japaneseand Korean given the global direction of the LPGA'sbrave new world.
Indeed, that might be the future LPGA, which nowhas 45 South Korean players and events in Malaysia,Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.
For now, however, around 15 Tour regulars meetonce a week with language instructors from theIndianapolis-based Language Training Center. The goalis rather simple: Without English skills, players can notcommunicate with sponsors, media, fans -- even theirown caddies. That's a hazard waiting to happen.
"I think they see that their clubs do the talking whenthey're playing," LTC president Martin George said yes-terday.
"But they want to be able to talk to fans. They wantto be able to talk to the media. They want to talk tosponsors.... We have to have them get more confidentand more excited about being outgoing."
Bae thinks language instructors are almost as impor-tant as swing coaches on the practice range. The LPGAprovides interpreters, but she thinks using them is spin-ning wheels.
"It's not helping myself," Bae said. "I wanted to speakmore specific English, more difficult parts. I need to study.
"To hit the ball is really important. But I have to
communicate better with the caddy."The bottom line is that professional golf is a busi-
ness, and a shrinking one in a recession-ravaged econo-my. The LPGA relies heavily on pro-am revenue, such asthe $10,000-per-foursome event today at St. Charles. Socommunication is paramount.
As one Tour official noted, "Football players don'thave to charm sponsors."
Korean-born Sean Pyun, the LPGA's manager of inter-national development, had to interpret for certain playersup to 15 times two years ago. Now there is little need.
"Certainly, the LPGA is quite different from when Istarted two years ago," Pyun said. "When [Asian players]first got here, they were shy. They couldn't say anything.Now you see them and they're joking around with theirpro-am partners, giving them lessons. Is their Englishperfect? No, it's not, but progress has been made.
"A lot more people understand that the nature ofwomen's golf has changed over time. Whether we like itor not, we're going to go to many different countries inthe future. We'll be more global."
Pyun said one American player has already expressedinterest in learning Japanese or Korean.
"The word is getting out [about the language train-ing]," Pyun said. "Now they're asking about it. There's alot of incentives from an individual standpoint to relateto a different culture to speak another language. Maybeget a Japanese sponsor interested."
Stephenson might never have envisioned a daywhere Asian-born players would not require inter-preters, and where North Americans consider learningKorean. Or that a tournament played in Winnipeg, asLPGA commissioner Mike Whan noted, would bebroadcast "and somebody in Korea, Taiwan, Australia,Japan is going to watch it on TV."
With the global shift, North Americans could feel thepressure to do exactly what Stephenson once demandedof Asian players.
Still, Bae insists that "this is the American LPGATour, not the KLPGA [Korean Tour]. When I go Roma,follow Roma rules."
A Korean sitting in Canada summoning an ancientItalian adage in a discussion about Asian golfers comingto America.
Sounds about right.
