Destination Golf - February 2013

Tullamore Dew ® Irish Whiskey 40% Alc./Vol. ©2011 William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY. GLASSES UP TO DRINKING RESPONSIBLY.

c. New York, NY. GLASSES UP TO DRINKING RESPONSIBLY.

2 Destination Golf TRAVEL

CCoonntteennttss aanndd rreeffeerreennccee gguuiiddeeMMIINNTTHHIISS HHIILLLLSS RREESSOORRTTCypruswww.minthishills.comPPaaggee 44--55

EELLEEAA RREESSOORRTTCypruswww.eleaestate.comPPaaggee 88--99

CCAALLEEDDOONNIIAA GGOOLLFF CCLLUUBBJapanwww.jetgolgf.co.jp PPaaggee 1122--1133

TTSSUUTTSSUUJJIIGGAAOOKKAA CCCCJapanwww.jetgolgf.co.jpPPaaggee 1166--1177

CCLLUUBB CCAAMMPPEESSTTRREE SSAANN JJOOSSEEMexicowww.clubcampestresanjose.com

PPaaggee 2200--2211

RRIIVVIIEERRAA MMAAYYAAMexicowww.rivieramaya-golfclub.comPPaaggee 2244--2255

SSEECCRREETT VVAALLLLEEYY GGOOLLFF CCLLUUBBCypruswww.secretvalley.comPPaaggee 66--77

AAPPHHRROODDIITTEE HHIILLLLSS RREESSOORRTTCypruswww.aphroditehills.comPPaaggee 1100--1111

LLAAKKEEWWOOOODD GGOOLLFF CCLLUUBBJapanwww.lake-wood.co.jpPPaaggee 1144--1155

AAOOSSHHIIMMAA GGOOLLFF CCLLUUBBJapanwww.jetgolgf.co.jpPPaaggee 1188--1199

CCOOZZUUMMEELL GGOOLLFFMexicowww.cozumelcountryclub.com.mxPPaaggee 2222--2233

VVIISSTTAA VVAALLLLAARRTTAAMexicowww.vistavallartagolf.comPPaaggee 2266--2277

SSEEAA TTOO SSKKYY GGOOLLFF IINNBBRRIITTIISSHH CCOOLLUUMMBBIIAA,, CCAANNAADDAAAndrew Marshall reportsPPaaggee 2288--3333

TTAAMMAARRIINNDD BBEEAACCHH CCLLUUBBGRENADINESwww.canouan.com/tamarind PPaaggee 3366--3399

HHOOTTEELL EESSTTEELLAA BBAARRCCEELLOONNAASpainwww.hotelestela.com PPaaggee 4400--4433

AARRAABBEELLLLAA GGOOLLFF CCOOUURRSSEESOUTH AFRICAwww.africanpridehotels.comPPaaggee 4444--4477

FFeeaattuurreess

3Volume 1 • Issue 4

Destination GolfMedia Ltd184 Charlesland WoodGreystonesCo. WicklowIreland

[email protected]

� PUBLISHERDermot Synnott

� EDITORKarl Doyle

� CONTRIBUTORSAndrew MarshallPaul Marshall

� DIRECTORVincent Synnott

� FINANCIALCONTROLLERDarren Maguire

� CREDIT CONTROLLERMallory Courell

� UK OPERATIONSPeter Barnes

� OFFICE ADMINISTRATORHelen Duggan

� INTERNATIONAL SALESGianni AttanasioDavid CooneyAlbert Ferrer I Lahoz

FRONT COVERNicklaus North Course,Whistler, Canada(Photo: Paul Marshall)

Facebook: facebook.com/DestinationGolfTwitter: twitter.com/Dest_Golf

LinkedIn: ie.linkedin.com/in/dermotsynnottYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/destinationgolf

DermotSynnott

EditorialDirector

AndrewMarshall

Golf TravelWriter

PaulMarshall

Golf TravelPhotographer

Follow Us!

Welcome to your latest edition of DestinationGolf Travel where, once again, we hopeto provide you with plenty of information

and images from some of the fantastic must-playcourses that are scattered around the globe.

Our first port of call in this issue is the sun-kissedisland of Cyprus, which seems to bask in warmMediterranean sunshine all year round.

A bit further afield then, to the delights of some of thefinest courses in the land of the rising sun, Japan, beforewe show you some of the gorgeous layouts that you canplay in Mexico.

In a special feature Andy Marshall reports on the golfing,skiing and occasionally wildlife-avoiding delights to besampled in the British Columbia region ofCanada.

Our resort feature sees us focus on theexotic playground of Tamarind BeachClub in the Grenadines, and we alsofeature a highly recommended stop-offfor golfers playing theBarcelona/Catalonia region – theart-inspired Hotel Estelaoverlooking the Marina in thewonderfully different town ofSitges.

Our golf club feature isfocused on the much talkedabout Arabella Golf Course inSouth Africa.

Happy reading!

Feast your eyes on a world of golfwith Destination Golf Travel...

Karl [email protected]


Minthis Hills ResortCyprus • www.minthishills.com



SeCyp


ecret Valley Golf Clubprus • www.secretvalley.com



Elea ResortCyprus • www.eleaestate.com


Aphrodite Hills ResortCyprus • www.aphroditehills.com



Caledonia Golf ClubJapan • www.jetgolgf.co.jp




Lakewood Golf ClubJapan • www.lake-wood.co.jp


Ts


sutsujigaoka Country ClubJapan • www.jetgolf.co.jp


Aoshima Golf ClubJapan • www.jetgolf.co.jp



Club Campestre SMexico • www.clubcampestres


an Joseanjose.com



Cozumel GolfMexico • www.cozumelcountryclub.com.mx



Riviera MayaMexico • www.rivieramaya-golfclub.com


Vista VallartaMexico • www.vistavallartagolf.com


Sea to Sky Golf


Words:Andrew Marshall

Photos:Paul Marshall

Continued over...

It was a sunny mid-September morning in BritishColumbia. At precisely 8:30am the WhistlerMountaineer chugged gently out of North Vancouver

railyard, on its daily run to the alpine resort of Whistler,three-hours and 120-kilometres away, along a track withmore twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel.

With our golf clubs stored safely on board we settled down inthe first-class Glacier Dome car – all white linens, waiter serviceand unobstructed views – and toasted the trip with glasses ofOkanagan bubbly while tucking into hearty cheese omelettes withCanadian back bacon. It was a tasty beginning to a week-longBritish Columbia golf journey by ‘trains, ferries and automobiles’,teeing it up on some of the best tracks around Whistler,Vancouver Island and Vancouver.

Since May 2006 The Whistle Mountaineer has carried tensof thousands of passengers through the scenic canyons, pineforests, and past snow-capped mountains to Whistler, pastHorseshoe Bay and climbing up alongside the serpentine Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Ski & GolfWhistler is consistently ranked the Number One ski,snowboarding and mountain biking resort in North America, butin recent years Whistler has also gained a reputation foractivities on the green stuff as much as the white, with fourchampionship courses providing classic mountain golf. There’sArnold Palmer’s first-ever Canadian design at the Whistler GolfClub, which was the area’s first course built in 1983, the GoldenBear’s Nicklaus North Golf Course, Robert Trent Jones Jr’smountainside Chateau Whistler Golf Club, and 30 minutes drivenorth at Pemberton lies Bob Cupp’s Big Sky Golf & Country Clubplayed at the foot of the soaring granite outcrop of Mount Currie.

Alas, we only had time for two of the quartet - Nicklaus Northand Chateau Whistler. Distinctly different from the otherWhistler golf properties, Chateau Whistler is carved from theside of Blackcomb Mountain with dramatic elevation changes of

The Vancouver skyline


TRAVEL

FEATURE

Golfing in BritishColumbia, Canada


Bald eagles, some of the local wildlife The 9th hole at Furry Creek Nicklau

The Whistler Mountaineer


over 400 feet. Most people playing here opt to take a power cart, but we wereused to walking.

“Are you sure you are up for it guys?” said the starter with a look on his faceas though we planned to walk blindfolded across a minefield. Making thingseasier were the snazzy state-of-the-art pull trolleys that wouldn’t look out of placein the gardening section of a DIY store – sporting huge mountain bike wheelsand a handy metal basket for odds and ends. Chateau Whistler is a heart-pumping golf workout not to be missed, marching along pristine fairways thatclimb and plummet, through massive granite outcroppings, glacier-fed creeksand majestic centuries-old Douglas firs.

The Bear EssentialsSurrounded by mountains on the shores of Whistler's Green Lake, the par-71Nicklaus North – which is the only design to bear Jack’s name – is eminentlyplayable from five sets of tees, and on the nine par fours and four par fives, thewater features, distinctive Nicklaus bunkering and landing areas are set up toinvite players of all abilities to use drivers. Yet, for all the potential drama the longholes offer, it’s the five par 3’s that will linger long in the memory, especially the226-yard 17th played to a peninsula green.

Everything at the Nicklaus North Golf Course seems to revolve around bears– the black variety that inhabits the region, as much as the Golden variety.

“There’s definitely a few black bears in some of the wooded and marshyareas on the course, but they are usually harmless,” we were informed. “In fact,one has been spotted out near the snack shack today.”

When we reached the tee block at the par-3 10th surrounded by treesthere was not a soul around and the snack shack was closed. Not a good sign.Bear reminders such as bear-shaped tee markers; bear-proof litterbins and a‘Bear Essentials’ sign (a guide to the habits of black bears) didn’t help thetenseness of the situation.

After two days in Whistler we drove our hire car down picturesque Route 99also known as the Sea to Sky Highway, towards Vancouver and a tee time atFurry Creek Golf & Country Club - “British Columbia’s Most Scenic Golf Course” –and where some of the scenes from Happy Gilmore were filmed.

One glance from the first tee, with its striking 165-foot plunge towards thetranquil waters of Howe Sound and we quickly realised that we had arrived at acourse like no other. There are precious few courses that can generate agenuine sense of awe for several holes at a stretch. Exceedingly rare is a layoutthat can sustain the feeling for an entire round. Furry Creek is such a place.

Afterwards we continued to Horseshoe Bay for the 95-minute ferry crossingto the port of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Nearby Victoria is the capital city ofBritish Columbia with a fascinating history preserved in the city’s manymuseums and heritage buildings.

Located 20 minutes away, was our home for two nights, the Westin BearMountain Golf Resort & Spa - a master-planned community built aroundVancouver Island’s first Jack and Steve Nicklaus co-designed golf course, theMountain Course and the newer friendlier version of the original, the ValleyCourse.

Olympic GolfA short drive from Bear Mountain is Olympic View Golf Club, another excellentVancouver Island course. Here, it’s all about tranquillity, seclusion and nature,with the magnificence of the Olympic Mountains, soaring bald eagles, grazing

Continued over...

From previous page

s North Course, Whistler


Local wildlife at Chateau Whistler Golf Club Inside the Whistler Mountaineer Bear Mo

The signature par-3 17th at Nicklaus North Course, Whistler


deer and two waterfalls.“Olympic View Golf Club was the first course in British Columbia that Tiger

Woods played in 1994 in a US amateur event, and of course he won it,” said JasonLowe, president of Golf Vancouver Island. We also learnt from Jason that if youmake par or less on the 107-yard par-3 16th, you’re better than Tiger Woods, whobogeyed the hole two days in a row even though it’s rated the course’s easiest hole.

It was clear that Jason was excited about Vancouver Island’s emergence as ahotspot for British Columbia golf. “ There are around 50 courses here and theVancouver Island Golf Trail showcases 12 of the best, that start in Victoria and goup to the Campbell River, with a few hours driving between them,” he told us,adding, “Along with Olympic View and Bear Mountain’s two courses, my picks wouldalso include Arbutus Ridge, Storey Creek and Fairwinds Golf Club.”

If you still have enough time and energy for teeing it up, other courses in theVancouver area include: Northview Golf & Country Club featuring two ArnoldPalmer championship courses (Canal and Ridge), Mayfair Lakes Golf & CountryClub near the airport, a Lee Trevino public course at Swan-e-set Bay Resort &Country Club, and be greeted by the stylish caddies dressed like Payne Stewart atWestwood Plateau Golf & Country Club.

It had been a long way to come for six rounds in eight days, but as we packedaway our clubs for our plane trip back to Europe, we were already discussinganother British Columbia golf trip - with images of the stunning scenery, local wildlifeand well-struck drives soaring towards a backdrop of forested mountain slopesetched firmly in our minds.

From previous page

OFF-COURSE ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONSWHISTLER• Head For The Hills - Ski or snowboard in Winter, hike andmountainbike in Summer• The Bear Essentials - Take a guide to visit active bear dens• Take A Chopper - Join a helicopter or airplane tour forsome breathtaking aeriel sightseeing or a glacier visit• Food For thought - Enjoy gourmet dining at the dozens ofrestaurants sprinkled throughout Whistler village• Cast a Line - Take a guided fishing trip to one of five majorlakes and several rivers throughout the valleyVANCOUVER ISLAND• Whale Of A Time – Book a whale-watching tour to spotmagnificent orca and Pacific grey whales.• Wine and Dine – Do a gourmet tour of the Cowichanregion rich in vineyards and farms selling fresh local produce• Kayak The Gulf Islands – Rent a kayak or join a tour andpaddle your way into secluded bays with crystal-clear waters.USEFUL CONTACTS & WEBSITESwww.BritishColumbia.travelwww.canada.travelGolfwww.golfbc.com (British Columbia)www.golfvancouverisland.ca (Vancouver Island )www.golfwhistler.com (Whistler)

ountain, Vancouver Island



36

Grena

Destination Golf TRAVEL

Tamarind Beach Club

37

adines • www.canouan.com/tamarind

Volume 1 • Issue 4

RESORT

FEATURE

Tamar


For theTam’ ofyour life

Tamarind Beach is a lively hotelsituated on the tropical Grenadine

Island in the heart of the Caribbean.

An idyllic venue, the hotel is situated ona stunning, long, white sandy beach withits own jetty for boat excursions andwater sports.

40 beachfront vacation hideawaysinclude eight suites, which are set intropical gardens right on the water’sedge, with spectacular views of theCaribbean Sea. Rooms are of Brazilianwalnut wooden panelling, with balconiesoverlooking the Caribbean Sea.

For dining options, there are tworestaurants and two bars. A delightfulopen terrace surrounded by tropicalgardens right beside the sea offers anarray of international cuisine, includingItalian pastas, fresh local fish anddelicious pizzas from the wood-burningoven.

For more information seewww.canouan.com/tamarind

rind Beach Club



Hotel EstelaSitges, Barcelona • www.hotelestela.com


HOTEL

FEATURE


Hotel Estela

A true Spanishwork of art

Hotel Estela is a fantastic Mediterranean-stylehotel located in the lively seaside resort of

Sitges, just south of Barcelona City.

Hotel Estela is adjacent to a popular beach – withseveral more within a short walking distance – aport and an array of mouth-watering restaurantsand bars.

The Marina on which the hotel sits is a mini resortin itself, featuring plenty of places to rest yourselfover a thirst-quenching drink while seeing the boatscome and go, or dine in style while watching theworld go by. However, for Mediterranean-styledishes and a relaxed ambience, there’s nowheremuch better than the Irish restaurant in the hotelitself.

Hotel Estela is highly regarded for its closeassociation with art – something that isimmediately evident from its lobby, which issurrounded by fascinating sculptures, waterfallsand paintings. A lot of the work was undertaken byJosep Maria Subirachs, a highly regarded artistfamed for his work on the façade of the world-famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

If you’re lucky enough to stay in one of the unique‘artist’ rooms or suites, aside from the stunning seaviews, you’ll be immersed in a world of individuallydecorated walls, roofs and sheets. It truly is aunique and fascinating hotel – in a unique andfascinating town – and everywhere you look there isa feast for your eyes.

Perfectly situated, visually mesmerising andoffering great value, it is highly recommended.

For more information see

www.hotelestela.com



ASouth Af


Arabella Golf Coursefrica • www.africanpridehotels.com

GOLF

CLUBFEATURE


Arabel


Paradise inSouth AfricaBuilt by the highly acclaimed South

African golf course architect Peter

Matkovich in 1999, Arabella Golf Course

offers one of the finest golf experiences in

South Africa, which is an ideal place for a

golf holiday.

The 18-hole par-72 championship layout

will take you on a journey through

breathtaking scenery, surrounded by the

magnificent Kogelberg mountain range and

Bot River Lagoon.

The pristine kikuyu fairways, challenging

bunkers and water hazards offer the perfect

setting for any golfer, and your skill will be

tested on the immaculate dominant-bent

greens – all of which receive frequent high

praise from golf professionals and amateurs

alike.

Facilities at Arabella are extensive,

including a top-of-the-range academy which

is managed by resident Pro Alison Sheard, a

nine-time SA Open Champion and Ladies

British Open Champion.

For more information see

www.africanpridehotels.com

la Golf Course

View alleditions

Date post:	09-Mar-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	destination-golf-media-ltd
View:	219 times
Download:	4 times

Destination Golf - February 2013

Documents