PLUS: Innovative Golf In Alabama I Acapulco’s Mayan Palace PLUS: Innovative Golf In Alabama I Acapulco’s Mayan Palace G OLF V ACATIONS G OLF V ACATIONS www GVLINKS com DREAMING OF HILTON HEAD GOLF LOVERS HAVE PLENTY TO CHOOSE DREAMING OF HILTON HEAD GOLF LOVERS HAVE PLENTY TO CHOOSE ALOHA GOLFING BEGINS IN MAUI THE PLAYGROUND OF HAWAIIAN ROYALTY ALOHA GOLFING BEGINS IN MAUI THE PLAYGROUND OF HAWAIIAN ROYALTY HOLIDAY 2009 PETE DYE STRIKES AGAIN I NAPLES BEACH HOTEL I HANK HANEY SCHOOL
Transcript
PLUS:Innovative Golf In Alabama I Acapulco’s Mayan PalacePLUS:Innovative Golf In Alabama I Acapulco’s Mayan Palace
GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSwwwGVLINKScom
DREAMING OFHILTON HEAD
GOLF LOVERS HAVE PLENTY TO CHOOSE
DREAMING OFHILTON HEAD
GOLF LOVERS HAVE PLENTY TO CHOOSE
ALOHA GOLFING BEGINS IN MAUI
THE PLAYGROUND OF HAWAIIAN ROYALTY
ALOHA GOLFING BEGINS IN MAUI
THE PLAYGROUND OF HAWAIIAN ROYALTY
HOLIDAY 2009
PETE DYE STRIKES AGAIN I NAPLES BEACH HOTEL I HANK HANEY SCHOOL
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Pete Dye Strikes Againby Stephen Reynolds
Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’smost famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, theinsurance salesman turned master architect’s credits are legendary.
An Old Playground Of Hawaiian Royaltyby David R. Holland
On a beautiful, sunny, typically flawless Hawaiian day in 1962,Bing Crosby took a smooth swing and hit the inaugural shot onthe Royal Ka'anapali Course.
Personal Postcard: Alabamaby David R. Holland
In the Heart of Dixie state known for football, one of the mostsurprising golf courses you may ever experience is in theAppalachian foothills - a boondocks experience . . .
Low Country’s Hilton Head Islandby Lisa Allen
Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some of golf’smost famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical” traits, theinsurance salesman turned master architect’s credits are legendary.
c o v e r s t o r i e s
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on the cover: Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, South Carolina
8 School Session by Terry Ross
The Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy
10 ChipShot by Tom LaMarre
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
22 Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross
The Golf Book, Cleatskins, Sport Specific and more!
24 My Turn by Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”
Acapulco’s Mayan Palace
d e p a r t m e n t s
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009 5www.gvlinks.com
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and
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 2009 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
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.
Tom LaMarre has been a sportswriter for some 40 years, including long stints with theOakland Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. He was the Tribune’s beat writer with theOakland Raider for seven seasons in the 1970’s and has written two books, “WinningOffensive Football” with quarterback Kenny Stabler and “Stadium Stories: TheOakland Raiders.” Tom makes his home in Orlando
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.
www.gvlinks.com6 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009
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David R. Holland is a former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, a football maga-zine publisher and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Multiple careers best describes thisworld traveler, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, servingduring the Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. A former sportswriter for The Dallas MorningNews, you can follow Dave’s travels on www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland.
GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009 7www.gvlinks.com
Over the last four decades Pete Dye has designed some ofgolf’s most famous courses. Known for their “Dyeabolical”traits, the insurance salesman turned master architect’s cred-
its include TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course, Whistling Straits, theOcean Course at Kiawah Island and Casa de Campo’s Teeth of theDog. Dye’s reach has been so influential that last year he became onlythe fifth course architect elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame,joining luminaries Robert Trent Jones, C.B. MacDonald, AlisterMacKenzie and Donald Ross.
The soon-to-be 84-year-old shows no signs of resting on his con-siderable laurels however, as evidenced by the noteworthy projectshe’s completed over the last five years. Below is a selection of designsthat promise to continue his considerable legacy.
1. Mission Hills (Pete Dye Course), Shenzhen, China –Dye’s first course in China is a collaboration with Schmidt-CurleyDesign and features all of his trademarks: small pot bunkers, long tee-to-green waste areas, railroad ties used as sleepers and walkway stepsframed by tall native grasses. The layout is masterfully routed throughrolling terrain and appropriately crescendos with a devilish three-tiered green at the par-5 18th hole. A must-play that’s garnered signif-icant accolades in Asia.
2. Pound Ridge G.C., Pound Ridge, NY – This collaborationwith son Perry exquisitely incorporates Westchester County’s rockyterrain – case in point the par-3 15th and its granite backdrop posi-tioned to violently deflect tee shots that are ever-so-slightly awry.Intimidation on a Dye design? Imagine that!
3. Wintonbury Hills, Bloomfield, CT – Consistently rankedamong the top courses in Connecticut, Pete teamed with TimLiddy to fashion his first design in New England. The 6,711-yard,par-70 features rolling fairways and a links-style design highlightedby 125 bunkers.
4. TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA – Home of the PGA Tour’sZurich Classic, the par-72, 7,300-yard course is marked by relativelyflat and small greens. Don’t let this trait lull you to sleep however, asnearly one-quarter of the layout’s playing area is covered in sand. Besure to bring your trusty 60-degree wedge.
5. The Black Pearl, Roatan, Honduras – Scheduled to open inearly 2010, The Black Pearl at Pristine Bay Resort is located on the gor-geous Caribbean island of Roatan, 40 miles off the coast of CentralAmerica. With 14 holes featuring jaw-dropping ocean views and aniconic par-3 island green, this Pete and Perry creation is sure to impressthe traveling golfer seeking the next “must play,” tropical layout.
PETE DYE STRIKES AGAINHis Best Designs Of The Past Five Years
by Stephen Reynolds • Special to Golf Vacations MagazineMission Hills - Hole #18
Wintonbury Hills Pristine Bay - Hole #15
Hilton Head Island has been famousas a golf resort for decades with its30 or so courses and moderate cli-
mate among the many great golf destina-tions on the East Coast. But more recentlyit has earned a reputation as a place whereyou will find some of the top young talent inthe world working very hard to become thetop players of tomorrow.
The Hank Haney International JuniorGolf Academy (IJGA), which has calledHilton Head home since 1995, has quicklybecome the preeminent full-time juniorgolf training facility in the world and nowboasts Haney, coach of the world’s No. 1player—Tiger Woods—as its Director ofInstruction.
Haney and his elite teaching and coach-ing team train junior golfers from 22 differ-ent states and more than 23 countries. Aspart of the Academy, the InternationalJunior Golf Tour (IJGT) is the nation’s sec-
ond-largest junior golf tour while theHeritage Academy is one of the country’sleading private middle/high schools for stu-dents pursuing both academic and athleticexcellence. The Academy’s mission is toprepare its students for college golf and therest of their lives.
The IJGA is the world’s only organiza-tion that combines training, competitionand academics for serious junior golfers in
grades 5 through 12. The Academy’s full-time boarding program offers a combina-tion of premium golf instruction and rigor-ous academic studies to help young menand women maximize their potential as stu-dent athletes
“We specialize in only one sport at theAcademy—golf—and with Hank’sinvolvement as the coach for TigerWoods, who is arguably the greatest ath-lete of our time, he can bring those expe-riences to share with the students here. Idon’t think you could have a better holis-tic approach to golf training than that,”said Blaik Shew, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer for the IJGA. “You won’t find thiskind of experience anywhere else.”
Haney provides personalized instruc-tion to every student during the school year,usually spending at least one week of everymonth at the Academy and is normally incontact with the staff there on a daily basis.
His team of 13 golf instructors work withacademy students daily on an individualizedtraining curriculum, ensuring each studentachieves the most rapid progress possible.
In addition to Haney’s involvement,2005 PGA Teacher of the Year Peter Krauseis the Director of Golf and heads the on-sitestaff. The physical training and condition-ing program has been designed by yetanother professional at the top of his field—
Keith Kleven—who is the trainer for Woodsand a number of other top pro athletes.
“Conditioning and training is a hugepart of the program,” added Shew, who hasmore than 25 years of experience in the golfindustry and sports academies business.“The stronger and more fit you are, the bet-ter you can play golf.”
In addition to an individualized golftraining program for each that is over-seen by Haney, the full-time students atthe academy normally spend either themorning or afternoon in classes, depend-ing on their grade level, and either themorning or afternoon on the golf course.The late afternoon and evens are pro-grammed with fitness training, meals,study hall and free time.
“We have the students up at 6:30 a.m.and out the door by 7:30 to get their daystarted,” said Shew. “By 10:30 p.m. wehave lights out—so it is a pretty structuredenvironment. But it is not much differentthan the type of schedule that a collegiategolfer would have. There aren’t a lot of suc-cessful business people that haven’t figuredthis out already. We try to help them focuson the areas they need to concentrate on tobe successful.”
The IJGA has been very successful inproviding the path for its students to getcollege scholarships. Ninety-four percent ofthe students in 2009 received collegiate golfscholarships.
Each student is tested on the basic ele-ments of their game when they enter theacademy—iron play, driving, putting, etc—and then their progress is monitored asthey go through the program and in thevarious tournaments and competitions tosee how their level of performance holdsup under pressure.
“We grade students on their level ofproficiency in a tournament and compare
SCHOOLSESSION
Hank Haney IJGA Offers theUltimate Golf Training Program
www.gvlinks.com8 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009
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
that with their testing and trainingresults,” noted Shew. “Some students arebetter in one than the other. One thingthat Hank stresses to them is that theyshould never give up—even when thingsare going bad. He tells how Tiger nevergives up—even when he is six down withsix to play. He thinks he will make sixbirdies to catch up.”
The IJGA Summer Camps havebecome a popular golf-only program at theAcademy during that time of year, andupwards of 75 students a week are enrolledduring the 10 weeks starting in June. Thesame staff and techniques that are usedduring the academic school year are utilizedfor the camps, and both residential andcommuters are welcome.
Some students attend for only oneweek, but three weeks are the norm at thePinecrest Golf Club, the exclusive trainingfacility for the IJGA that includes a newly-designed practice facility with a 15,000square foot putting green, short game area
and a practice range at the 7,143-yard pri-vate golf course.
The summer camps create a greatopportunity for a family golf retreat wherethe junior player can get a real taste of theacademy and some expert training whileparents can stay at one of the nearby resortsand enjoy many of the recreational ameni-ties on the island, including the many worldfamous golf courses.
Hilton Head is a pristine barrier islandoff of the South Carolina coast that is justnorth of Savannah, Georgia and about nine-ty miles south of Charleston, SC.Surrounded by the temperate Atlanticwaters, the Island is a beautiful settingwhere there is an abundance of plant andanimal life that enhances the natural splen-dor. In addition, the climate is one thatallows for year-round golfing.
More information on the Hank HaneyInternational Junior Golf Academy inHilton Head can be obtained atwww.ijga.com.
by Terry Ross
THE HANK HANEY INT’L JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY Hilton Head, SC
www.gvlinks.com10 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009
NAPLES, FL – Whether you’re interested in a beachvacation, a golf getaway, a spa experience, or a shoppingexcursion, a trip to The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf
Club could be just what you’re looking for. As SouthwestFlorida’s only resort directly on the beach with an on-site cham-pionship golf course, a world-class spa, and an award-winningtennis center, it has long been a popular choice for vacationers.Adding even more to the allure is the fact that the beachfrontresort has just completed a multi-million dollar remodeling of all319 guest rooms and suites.
In addition the resort is nearing completion of its all-new poolcomplex. The new, much larger, beachfront pool complex is justnorth of the existing pool area, and features two pools. There alsoare eight new cabanas that may be reserved, which provide viewsof both the pool and the Gulf.
A great way to experience the newly-renovated resort is by tak-ing advantage of the special “Value Rates” that are now beingoffered by the 125-acre resort. In addition to accommodations in anewly-remodeled guest room, the special rate includes tworeserved beach chairs, unlimited tennis, access to the resort’sworld-class Spa and complete Fitness Center (with use of theexercise room, whirlpool, sauna and steam room), valet parking,afternoon tea and cookies at 4 p.m. daily, and admission for chil-dren ages five to 12 in the morning activities of the Beach Klub 4Kids supervised child activity program. The special rate is from$159 per room, per night through December 20, 2009, or from$289 per room, per night December 21, 2009 – April 11, 2010.
Owned and operated by the Watkins family for more than 60years, the resort features an enviable beachfront location in theheart of scenic Olde Naples. Recreational offerings at the 125-acreresort include: 1,000 feet of pristine white-sand beach on the Gulfof Mexico; an on-site par 72 championship golf course; a world-class Spa; complete Fitness Center; the Mary C. Watkins TennisCenter with six Har-Tru courts; Beach Klub 4 Kids, a recreationalprogram for children ages five to 12; and an Orchid House, hometo over 3,000 tropical plants.
In addition, guests can take advantage of multiple great restau-rants, including the beachfront HB’s on the Gulf, the Gulf-viewEverglades Room, and the Seminole Store that serves deli sand-wiches, ice cream, gourmet coffees, pizza, pastries and desserts.The resort also features three bars, including the popular SunsetBeach Bar, consistently named “Best Place To View A SouthwestFlorida Sunset.”
The resort is just blocks from Naples’ renowned shopping dis-tricts of fashionable 5th Avenue South and historic 3rd StreetSouth. Venetian Village, Waterside Shops, Bayfront and Tin Cityare minutes away.
Guests can experience the area by taking tours of theEverglades, Caribbean Gardens, or the Conservancy NatureCenter. In addition, boat and fishing trips can be arranged at thehotel. Other leisure time activities can include Naples’ wonderfulmuseums, theatres, and art galleries.
For reservations, or for more information, call 1-800-237-7600or 239-261-2222, or visit www.NaplesBeachHotel.com
NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GCSW FLORIDA BEACHFRONT RESORTCOMPLETES MULTI-MILLION REMODEL
CHIPSHOT FLORIDA
By TomLaMarre
www.gvlinks.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009 11
Hawaiian Royalty Used Maui as a Playground
. . . And So Can You!
Hawaiian Royalty Used Maui as a Playground
. . . And So Can You!
www.gvlinks.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009 13
LAHAINA, Maui, Hawaii - On a beautiful, sunny, typicallyflawless Hawaiian day in 1962, Bing Crosby took a smoothswing and hit the inaugural shot on the Royal Ka'anapali
Course - a layout built on the historic playgrounds of ancientHawaiian royalty, and one of only two Robert Trent Jones Sr. lay-outs in the islands.
OK, I confess. I don't know if it was a perfect day or not, butthere's a 99 percent probability. After all, the name Maui comesfrom a demi-god of Polynesian mythology.
Throughout my life I listened to stories of "Lahaina Roads" as itwas called in the old days and the deep harbor that was used as analternate anchorage to Oahu's Pearl Harbor during World War II.My dad was here serving in the U.S. Navy and it was the mostexciting time in his life.
Today, though, I'm here for golf worthy of royalty - the RoyalKa'anapali and Ka'anapali Kai layouts. But this visit will alsoinclude the picturesque Wailea Gold and Emerald courses and thedifficult Kapalua Plantation minefield, home to the PGA Tour'sJanuary kick-off, and the Kapalua Bay Course, host of LPGAevents in the past.
Why come to Maui?
"Although I have enjoyed playing golf on all of Hawaii's islands, Ihave always loved my experiences on Maui above all others," saidAllan Long, a former University of Arizona golfer and Director ofEvent Services-Ice Hall at World Arena in Colorado Springs.
"If I was going to go back to just one island, I would choose Mauihands down because I think it has the total experience. The pace
on the island is not as fast as Oahu, and not as slow as some of theother islands, and for me, just completes the ideal golf getaway."
Ka'anapali Golf Resort (http://www.kaanapali-golf.com)For the past 45 years the Royal Ka'anapali Course, situated withviews of the Pacific, Lana'i, Moloka'i and the West MauiMountains, has tested the games best in the Wendy's ChampionsSkins Game (2008-2010), hosted Shell's Wonderful World of Golf,the Canada Cup, LPGA Kemper Open and the Ka'anapali Classic,Senior PGA Tour event. Big Break Ka'anapali (Golf Channel2008) was also played here.
Ka'anapali Golf Resort earned Golf Digest's 4 and 1/2 stars, "BestPlaces to Play" and recently underwent a $13 million renovationby Robin Nelson, who designed all new bunkering and resurfacedthe greens with Tif Eagle, a Bermuda hybrid.
Sutee Nitakorn, head golf pro, thinks the excellence of the RoyalCourse comes in its subtleties. "From the tee on the fifth hole, a474-yard par-4, your first look is kind of benign except for the
By David R. HollandCourtesy WorldGolf.com
length. It is a huge, wide fairway, but then you see this fairwaybunker out there just in the right spot to catch someone who haspulled it or hit a draw."
The Ka'anapali Kai Course, 6,388, par-70, was designed by ArthurJack Snyder and is beginner's heaven. But the resort has muchmore - like 30 professional tennis courts and a tennis stadium.And just within site is Ka'anapali Beach Resort - home to kayak-ing, snorkeling, surfing, body boarding, parasailing, diving, beachvolleyball and hiking. Stay at The Westin Maui Resort with Spaand enjoy its 14,000 square feet of oceanfront luxury and a WestinWorkout Facility.
Wailea Golf Club (http://www.waileagolf.com)The Pacific panorama from Wailea's clubhouse, host for manyweddings, is fixating. The partially submerged Molokini Crater isvisible amongst a sea of blue. Lush gardens cozy up to the puttinggreen and 18th green of the Gold Course, coconut palms wave inthe breezes, and Lana'i can be seen in the distance to the rightand Moloka'i to the left. Look the opposite direction and gazeupon Mount Haleakala, the 10,023-foot dormant volcano.
This ritzy Wailea area is three times larger than Oahu's Waikiki,and the Gold, Emerald and Old Blue courses are superb.
Wailea Gold (7,078, par-72), designed by Robert Trent Jones II,home to The Champions Skins Game from 2001 to 2007, is themost challenging of Wailea's trio, and has been honored by allmajor golf publications. It has also been recognized by the Maui
Historical Society for its preservation of prehistoric lava rock wallsduring construction.
The Emerald (6,825, par-72) was designed by Snyder, is a strategicbeauty, and the Old Blue (6,765, par-72), also a Snyder design,was the first Wailea course.
But Wailea is much more than golf - this 1,500-acre resort com-munity hosts five luxury hotels, five crescent-shaped beaches,restaurants, tennis, and condominium complexes. Book yourcondo through Destination Resorts, www.drhmaui.com, located inThe Shops at Wailea.
Kapalua Resort (http://www.kapalua.com)The PGA Tour big boys play here, a serene spot on Maui's north-west shore, where towering Cook Island pines line the narrowroads through 23,000 acres where pineapples once grew. Kapaluais the best of ritzy and down-to-earth Maui. An organic pineapplefarm is next door, the Ritz-Carlton and Kapalua Villas dazzle you,and the old plantation roadside stop - Honolua Store - dates backto 1929 and reminds you of another era.
The Kapalua Plantation Course (Ben Crenshaw, Bill Coore, 1991),ranked 19th on Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play list, hoststhe newly sponsored Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) PGA Tourevent January 4 - 10, 2010. It is a 7,411-yard, par-73 -- a wild rideoff stiff 30 miles-per-hour trade winds, plummeting gullies, andextremely wide fairways. There should be a sign like at BethpageBlack declaring this is a golf course for experts.
www.gvlinks.com14 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009
Kapalua Villas
Lahaina
Your favorite will be the Kapalua BayCourse, a 6,600-yard, par-72, designed bythe Arnold Palmer team. If you can holdon to your hat, the views at the fifth, a 205-yard par-3, of Oneloa Bay is stunning. Thefourth hole, a 357-yard, par-4, is a fun,ocean-view hole - a challenge just to keepthe ball in play from the cross wind. Askthe folks at the Kapalua Golf Academyhow to do that.
"While the Plantation course at Kapalua isprobably the best course on the island, Ihave always been fond of the Bay Course,"Long said. "My first Maui golf trip washere and I was instantly taken in with theBay course. It's not the challenge of thePlantation Course, but you can get caughtup in the beauty. No matter what kind ofshape my game is in when I arrive, italways seems to show up at the BayCourse. Any level of golfer will enjoy it,and it is one that I never tire of playing."
Amen, brother. Your golf portfolio is notfinished until you come to Maui - it is oneof those places you can't miss.
www.gvlinks.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009 15
Westin Maui Where to StayDestination Resorts Hawaii
www.drhmaui.com (866) 384-1366
The Westin Maui Resort with Spawww.westinmaui.com
(866)716-8112
The Kapalua Villaswww.kapalua.com
(800) 545-0018
PERSONALPOSTCARD
SYLACAUGA, Ala. - In the Heart ofDixie state known for football, takingcenter stage in the Civil Rights move-
ment, and The Robert Trent Jones GolfTrail, one of the most surprising golf cours-es you may ever experience is in theAppalachian foothills - a boondocks experi-ence, where your feet and your eyes canimagine a story on every single hole.
FarmLinks Golf Club is part of the3,500-acre Pursell Farms - where longhornsgraze and the rolling hills are abundant withdeer, turkey, quail and bobcat. Alabama is astate proving it can grow more than cotton,corn, peanuts, soybeans and kudzu. It is apioneer in turf-grass management.
When a travel golfer arrives, he maynever realize that he is playing on a 7,444-yard, par 72, designed by Michael Hurdzanand Dana Fry, which is camouflaged as aliving laboratory, a golf course superinten-dent's heaven and testing site, studyingevery facet of a superintendent's job.
But, as a golfer, you have to pay atten-tion - from the incredibly fun downhill par-3 beauties at No. 5, a 210-yarder, and No.17, a 196-yarder, each hole changes grasses,and markers and the yardage book will tellyou what grass you are playing on. Here'sthe list: Tifway 419, Zorro Zoysia, Cavalier
Innovation - that's this singular experi-ence - don't miss it and don't skip anovernight stay in its cottages, cabins orParker Lodge.
Here's a capsule look at more ofAlabama's finest golf experiences:
Limestone Springs Golf Club, OneontaJust 25 minutes north of Birmingham,
the Jerry Pate-designed Limestone SpringsGolf Club, is a hidden gem, stretching out6,987 yards at par 72.
This 225-acre tract is rolling, beautiful,features snaking doglegs and stream cross-ings. The par-3, 148-yard seventh, is afavorite. It requires a precise dart to an ele-vated green over water, with rocks and awooded hillside as the background.Conditions are superb along with theCrenshaw bent grass greens. Golf Digestrates it 4.5 stars.
Ballantrae Golf Club, PelhamBallantrae Golf Club, a Bob Cupp
design, pays homage to golf traditions withfast, firm conditions and a Scottish manor
clubhouse. This 7,310-yard, par 72, is anupscale municipal just minutes south ofBirmingham, located in rolling hills and ele-vation changes. Most who play here agree itis a playable 18, where you might just logyour career round. Ballantrae Golf Clubwon national accolades in Golf Digest as theBest New Affordable Public Golf Course in2005 and as one of the Top 50 Courses forwomen by Golf for Women Magazine in2005.
Robert Trent Jones Golf TrailAlabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
is the largest golf course construction proj-ect ever attempted. The Trail is a collectionof 26 courses, 468 holes of championshipgolf on 11 different sites across Alabama.The Wall Street Journal said the Trail "maybe the biggest bargain in the country" andThe New York Times called the Trail "someof the best public golf on Earth."
Envisioned in the late 1980's, Dr. DavidBronner, CEO of the Retirement Systemsof Alabama, saw The Trail as a way to diver-sify the assets of the state's pension fundand to give the economy and tourism aneeded boost. Boy, did he ever hit the nailsquarely on the head.
Here are a few highlights:
www.gvlinks.com16 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • HOL I D AY 2009
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa
by David R. Holland
ALABAMA GOLF: SURPRISING AND INNOVATIVE
Grand National, OpelikaBuilt on 600-acre Lake Saugahatchee,
near Auburn, 32 of the 54 Grand Nationalholes adorn its fingered shores of the Lakesand Links courses. Grand National features36 Championship Holes and a first-rate 18-hole short course.
Grand National was ranked as the toppublic golf course in the 2009 GolfWorld Readers' Choice awards. TheLakes' 230-yard island green 15th holemay be the single deadliest and prettiesthole on the Trail.
Oxmoor Valley, BirminghamBuilt on former mining land owned by
U.S. Steel, Oxmoor Valley's Ridge, Valleyand short course are dips and rolls of theAppalachians, with numerous creek cross-ings, exposed shale outcroppings and ele-vated greens that would challenge the bestof the PGA Tour.
The Short Course is listed by GolfDigest's Places to Play as one of the nation'sGreat Value courses in the public category.Watch as a train passes in the distance thenjust try to survive on the Valley's 18th, a441-yard par-4 nicknamed "The Assassin" -it rises to a dramatic finish at the signatureclubhouse just above the green.
The Shoals, Muscle ShoalsThe Shoals, located just between the
Wheeler and Wilson dams on the massiveTennessee River, is home to two 18-holechampionship courses that will humble youif you play from the back tees. Fighting Joe,named a Confederate General, is 8,092
yards at par 72. Just for grins play the backtees on the 716-yard, par-5 12th.
Schoolmaster (named for PresidentWoodrow Wilson who was responsible forgetting Wilson Dam built) is 7,971 yards atpar 72 and ends on a high bluff overlookingthe river.
Hampton Cove, HuntsvilleNorthern Alabama is home to Hampton
Cove's Highlands, River and short course.The Highlands, 7,262, par 72, begins inopen terrain, moves to some wooded holesand concludes with water carries. At the sig-nature fifth, a 412-yard, par 4, an old mulebarn adds to setting and a creek forces youto gauge your drive - it is reachable fromthe forward tees.
The River Course (7,667 yards, par 72)is laid out on former soybean fields in theflood plain of the Flint River. There's onlyone bunker and very little dirt was moved.Locals say the sprawling black oak behindthe 18th green is the third oldest in thestate at 250 years.
Ross Bridge, HooverRoss Bridge, the newest course on the
RTJ Trail is a roller coaster ride with das-tardly false fronts funneling into waterand attractive, rolling terrain of theShannon Valley.
It is representative of an old parklandlayout as 10 holes play along the banks oftwo lakes connected by an old mill replicawaterfall that drops 80 feet between the 9thand 18th greens. The 7,438-yard, par-72course has a backdrop of the 259-roomRenaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort &
Spa. Two par-3 beauties dare you to go forthe pin over water, on the 175-yard 4th, andthe 223-yard 14th.
Greens fees on The Trail range from$45 to $136, not including cart. So there'slots of value to go along with the memo-rable golf and southern hospitality.
David R. Holland is an award-winning writerwho has published more than 5,000 articles. He'sauthor of The Colorado Golf Bible and formersportswriter for The Dallas Morning News.
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FarmLinks Golf Club
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Story Courtesy Lisa Allen of TravelGolf.comand GolfersGuideTravel.com
HILTON HEAD
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C - Picking the top golfcourses in Hilton Head Island, S.C. is like declaringone's favorite flavor of ice cream. They're all good.So knowing there isn't a bad course on Hilton Head,here are five you won't regret choosing.
1. Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines ResortOf course. Harbour Town Golf Links is the annual PGA Tour
haunt one week after the Masters. The golf course itself consis-tently ranks among the favorites of PGA Tour pros. For the restof us mere mortals, Pete Dye has designed a dream come true.It starts straight forward, but Dye begins to toy with you by thefifth hole, threading the fairway between a spray of bunkers.From then, look for mosiac-like sandy hazards, some with grassin the middle and others with trees. The clear shots to the greenare usually razor-thin.
Harbour Town builds to a crescendo with the 18th hole alongthe Calibogue Sound and its whirling winds - the famous red andwhite lighthouse as a backdrop. This is a golf course you wouldnot forget even if it didn't appear on TV each April.
2. Country Club of Hilton HeadFor some reason, the Rees Jones-designed Country Club of
Hilton Head rarely garners the attention it deserves. It consists ofa string of memorable holes that use a variety of tactics to keepyou on your game. Gulleys dump mishits into the drink. Pondswrap around greens, and golfers must contend with a half-dozenbunkers that line a fairway or surround a putting surface. Theservice is great. The course is in sound shape, and a robust teach-ing program welcomes players of every age and skill level. Becauseit flies under the radar, your round will move at a nice pace.
3. George Fazio Course at Palmetto DunesThe George Fazio Course at Palmetto Dunes Resort is sand
city, when it's not presenting a water carry. The only missing ele-ment is fire. It's a fun golf course that requires some complexmath at each tee to plot your path to the flag. Slightly waywardshots land in expertly placed bunkers. Vast and sharply waved,they offer a wall of sand to navigate, sometimes shoulder-high.You'll lose a stroke in a fairway bunker, because a wedge is theonly way out. The golf course is tightly packed, but you'll notnotice as you think your way around it.
4. Heron Point at Sea Pines ResortThe Heron Point course at Sea Pines Resort is one of the most
challenging courses anywhere. Recent renovations scaled it back alittle, but this remains formidable. It will test every golfer withundulating fairways that erupt violently near the green, makingessential approach shots that land on the putting surface.
It's Pete Dye in a diabolical mood. He adds lone trees to the mid-dle of fairways and angles greens to require extra precision. His cre-ation includes sand, mulch, limestone and a mixture of grasses. It fea-tures six tee boxes, providing a range 5,261 to 7,103 yards, a daunting143 slope and 75.4 rating from the tips. There's no shame in choosinga shorter tee on this course. It's a smart play from the start.
5. Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes ResortThe secret is out about the Robert Trent Jones Course at
Palmetto Dunes Resort, so expect a bit of a crowd at the first tee.But once you get going, it's a delight.
Jones throws a wide variety at you, from the relatively benignfront nine he wove between trees and sand, to the back, whichskips over the island's canal system. Regardless of the hole, coursestrategy is a must at nearly every tee. There's not much grip-and-rip golf here, despite the length in excess of 7,000 yards.
The signature hole, No. 10, marches right to the beach as justa chain-link fence separates sunbathers from golfers. Not to worry,though. Given the amount of sand on this course, you'll spendtime at the beach in your cleats.
Low Country For Golf Lovers
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Your perfect itinerary for a long, luxurious golfweekend in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
In addition to premium resorts and hotels, Hilton Head hassome great public golf courses suitable for a three-day weekend,including Harbour Town at Sea Pines Resort, the Hills course atPalmetto Dunes and Melrose Golf Course on Daufuskie Island.
Hilton Head Island is easily reachable from north, south orwest - and even east if you're in a boat. The laid-back but upscaleisland is perfect for a long golf weekend.
And since you're considering Hilton Head for a golf mini-retreat, we know you're not exactly scraping together pennies topay the light bill - you've got the scratch to really put on the dog.Trouble is, you don't know anybody who's a member at one of thearea's many excellent private courses. Oh well, the golfers whofrequent the public courses aren't exactly railyard winos.
With that in mind, here is our perfect, long weekend of golf onHilton Head at courses the public can play.
FRIDAYSTAY: Since you're playing Harbour Town Golf Links today,
you'll be staying at the Sea Pines Resort, a huge, 5,000-acre prop-erty in which you can easily get lost.
Sea Pines has a mess of ritzy, privately owned vacation homes,ranging from the simple (for Hilton Head) to grand oceanfront
estates, from one to seven bedrooms.If you don't want something that ostentatious, you might con-
sider booking a room at the quaint Inn at Harbour Town or rent-ing a villa.
PLAY: Harbour Town is the island's marquee course, one ofthree at the resort, and one that is frequently mentioned whenvarious magazines put together their "best" lists. This is the courseJack Nicklaus got his designer feet wet on, at the feet of Pete Dye.It launched Nicklaus' career, and he's never looked back.
It hosts the PGA Tour's MCI Heritage Classic, a relativelyshort course by modern standards at a touch less than 7,000 yardsfrom the back tees, but one that demands precise shots. No. 18 isone of the toughest and most scenic holes in the Southeast, a 452-yard par-4 that finishes on Calibogue Sound.
Green fees are in the $225 range.
SATURDAYSTAY: It's an easy drive down the road to Palmetto Dunes,
another sprawling resort with three golf courses. You have yourchoice here as well for accommodations, from luxurious hotelrooms to big vacation homes or villas views of the ocean, marina,golf course or lagoon.
If you choose a hotel room, you'll be staying at either theMarriott Beach and Golf Resort or Hilton Oceanfront Resort.
PLAY: Palmetto Dunes' Arthur Hills course is always men-tioned when people talk about their favorite public-access courseson Hilton Head.
Hills likes to design courses that force you to make decisionsbefore you take action, and this layout is no exception. The mem-bers like it because a course that requires thought and finesserarely gets boring.
The Hills course isn't one of Hilton Head's monsters at only6,652 yards from the back tees, but it has traditionally been afavorite of both island regulars and newcomers.
It's an imaginative layout in excellent condition and, as with allPalmetto Dunes courses, it has excellent service. There are rela-tively few fairway bunkers, and the green complexes are nicelycontoured and sloped.
SUNDAYSTAY: A special Sunday treat. You'll be leaving one island for a
smaller one, Daufuskie Island. The island, though it's grown in
recent years, is still home to less than 500 full-time residents. This isthe island Pat Conroy wrote about in his book "The Water is Wide."
The Dafuskie Resort and Breathe Spa has ocean front andocean "breeze" cottages. The 1,500-square foot cottages have two,three and four bedrooms, and each has its own porch withAdirondack chairs, dining rooms for six, fully equipped kitchens,living rooms with fireplaces and overstuffed chairs. You don't evenhave to leave the cottage to eat - grocery delivery is available.
And or course it has the Breathe Spa, where you'll have yourown "personal spa coordinator," who will probably steer you to the"Chocolate bliss." It's "calorie free" by the way.
PLAY: The Melrose Golf Course, one of two at the resort, isanother Nicklaus design. It's 7,081 yards from the back tees. It'swell known for its three spectacular closing holes that run alongthe Atlantic Ocean. "Melrose has all the elements you'd expectfrom a Hilton Head-area course, and some you don't,"
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The long and storied relationship between golf and HiltonHead Island is well documented and often celebrated. With
a little help from the locals, visitors traveling from near and farcan see it for themselves.
The 12-mile long, 5-mile wide island is a golfer's paradisewhose charmand naturalbeauty has beenmaintained bythe relentlessefforts of its res-idents for themillions ofannual visitorsto enjoy.
With morethan 20 publiccourses, not tomention thosein the surround-ing area, and ahost of full-serv-ice beachfronthotels and villasnot to mention dozens of dining options, trying to make astep-by-step itinerary for your stay on Hilton Head Island canbe just as stressful and frantic as the everyday grind you're try-ing to leave behind.
So why not leave that job up to those who know the island best. A number of golf vacation planners specialize in creating a
memorable HHI experience andfocus solely on customizing trips tothis low country getaway.
There are numerous outfits tochose from when it comes to plan-ning your special excursion, but nomatter which one earns yourendorsement they all offer unparal-leled knowledge of Hilton HeadIsland.
Local travel companies boast anintimate knowledge of the coursesbecause they've played or visitedthem. They know the ins and outs ofthe resorts and rental propertiesbecause they've take the time toinspect the amenities and accommo-dations offered. So why would you book a Hilton Head golfvacation with other companies that have never even played around of golf on Hilton Head Island?
Golfisland.com is a comprehensive website complete withonline quoting. The site details travel options, lodging, andentertainment and offers a detailed history of Hilton Headalong with other historical and helpful information.
The current monthly special is a 3 night stay in the Sea PinesResort whichincludes 3rounds of premi-um golf atHarbour TownGolf Links,home of thePGA's annualVerizon HeritageClassic, TheOcean Courseand the new PeteDye creation -Heron Point.
Booking yourtrip through alocal providercan also save youmoney and time
- companies on the island often get the best rates and can planevery aspect of your trip up to six months in advance.
Another site worth a look is hhigolfvacations.com whichprides itself as a local vacation wholesaler. Working with villarental companies and hotels island-wide, this site can develop apackage that suits your needs and price range.
Hotel reservations can be confirmed up to a year in advanceand depending on the course, teetimes can be confirmed up to 6months in advance and sometimescan be done so at discounted rates.
Hiltonheadgolf.net offers a widevariety of golf packages featuring theHeritage Group's holdings on theisland which include Palmetto Hall,Port Royal, Shipyard Plantation andthe Oyster Reef Golf Club.
The site has five recommended,award-winning packages available tochoose from but also allows thegolfer to fully customize his or herown unique experience by selectingtheir length of trip, courses and
lodging options. Whether you're making a long-term plan or shopping for a spur
of the moment trip, it's best to leave the logistics to the locals.
Booking a Golf Package For YourHilton Head Island Golf Vacation
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With the holidays just around the corner, the perfect fam-ily golf gift has just hit bookstores with the recent pub-lication of Sports Illustrated’s The Golf Book, the first
comprehensive illustrated golf book from the editors of the vener-able weekly sports magazine.
The large, coffee- table style format lends itself well to thestunning photography that can be appreciated by both golfers and
non golfers alike. Not just a pic-ture collection by any means, TheGolf Book is actually a well-thought out history of the gamethrough the past 500 years that ischalk full of interesting tidbits,facts, figures and personalitiesthat make up the fabric of thesport.
Some of the classic golf jour-nalism that has appeared in thepages of Sports Illustrated over
the past 50-plus years is also featured in the book and woven intothe story of the game along with the photographs that bring the sto-ries to life. It feels like a golf museum in print.
The Golf Book embodies photography that spans both theearly and contemporary days of golf. Interspersed with rare photosof Bob Jones, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, FrancisOuimet and other legends are photos of Charlie and Jack Nicklausbehind the counter of the elder Nicklaus’ Columbus, Ohio phar-macy, Richard Nixon proudly displaying the ball he used to aceBel-Air Country Club’s third hole in 1963 and Fidel Castro watch-ing Che Guevara line up a putt shortly after the two revolutionar-ies conquered Cuba in 1959.
Vividly portraying all of the talent, drama, and arresting back-drops that make golf a unique, world-class sport, The Golf Bookmarks a singular tribute to the game and a collection for golfers toponder over for years to come.
Although the advent of soft spikes over the past decade or sohas made walking through clubhouses and resorts easierthan the in the bygone times of sharp, nail-like golf spikes,
there are still times when the rough underside of golf shoes aren’tsuitable. Enter Cleatskins Golf.
This relatively new prod-uct developed by former col-lege athlete Rick Kay out ofSan Diego converts golfshoes to street shoes via arubberized Skintek™ mate-rial that creates a shell thefits over golf shoes andinstantly provides a safe,stylish shoe cover that canbe worn indoors or out on
the most delicate of surfaces.Cleatskins Golf cups the bottom of golf shoes to extend the life
of cleats, improve mobility and safety on asphalt, concrete andother hard surfaces, and provides a sealed barrier to keep dirt andgrass out of the home and car.
This is a quick, time-saving and practical method for playerswho don’t want to take the time to change shoes—or may be goingback on the course after lunch.
Cleatskins, which has developed cleat covers for sports like soc-cer, rugby and football, works especially well for golf because of thetransition players make from locker rooms, dining rooms and eventhe car during the course of a day of play.
“When creating Cleatskins Golf, we took into consideration thespecific needs of golfers, including style, durability and function,”said Kay. “In addition to protecting expensive golf shoes and pro-viding slip-resistance, they are also a great accessory that makes iteasier than ever to move from the green to other activities.
Cleatskins are machine washable and come in a variety of col-ors and sizes for both men and women.
For more information visit www.Cleatskins.com
More than ever before even recre-ational golfers are looking for thatedge for their game—be it a new
driver, putter, swing technique or even shoes.But as most teaching pros will tell you, themost important tool is the body. And to helpthat body get in shape physically, nutrition hasbecome one of the cornerstones of any fitnessprogram aimed at becoming a better player.
Food supplements for everyday life aremore popular than ever, and for the golfer, a
line of natural supplements to help increase strength, endurance andfocus while playing by Sports Specific Performance are being used onthe professional tours and can be just as effective for casual players.
Sport Specific Performance has created a product line that will enableusers to achieve better overall health, evolve their game further, andincrease frequency of rounds played as a result of a better physical state.
Currently over 50 Tour Players and caddies on the PGA,Nationwide, LPGA and Champions Tour are using the two golfSports Specific supplement combinations-- Golf Focus and GolfStrength. These have a number of different vitamins and mineralsthat increase stamina, strength, and focus as well as improve overallwell-being. Sport Specific Performance has targeted the elite play-ers and also has made their products available for everyday golfersand individuals who just want to feel better during daily activities.
Golf Focus and Golf Strength products are available atwww.amazon.com, www.vitacost.com, www.luckyvitamin.com,www.sportspecificperformance.com and select golf retailersnationwide.
Terry Ross
SWEETSTUFF
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MYTURNby ChuckMiller“The Traveling Guy”
If I were to ask you to tell me the first word thatcomes to your mind when I say Mayan Palace,chances are you would say ruins. That was my first
thought. However, having recently returned from aMexican Riviera cruise, I now think of golf when I hearthe words Mayan Palace.
During our cruise we visited four ports, one of whichwas world famous Acapulco. Since I had visitedAcapulco on four previous occasions, I decided to checkout the Mayan Palace golf course while the rest of thefamily went to see the death-defying La Quebrada diversand spend time bargaining with native artisans at themassive shopping bazaar in downtown Acapulco.
The Par 72 championship Mayan Palace course,which opened in 1993, was a fun course to play eventhough the greens on the back nine were being aeratedon the day I played. Because of its wide, receptive andforgiving fairways, its length of only 6156 yards from theblue tees, and its 125 slope rating, onfirst glance many golfers might think ofit as a relatively easy course. Low hand-icappers might even find the Par 3’s at103 to 168 yards, the Par 4’s at 306 to438 yards and the Par 5’s at 461 to 517yards less than challenging. This mightbe the case if it weren’t for the course’sfour lakes, six dog legs, hundreds ofpalm trees, its club grabbing bermudagrass fairways, and the multitude ofgreenside bunkers ready to welcomewayward shots.
You may have noticed if you have read other of mycolumns that I seem to have a preference for waterholes. Something about choosing the right club and exe-cuting a sphincter tightening shot while trying to avoidthe expense of another drowned Pro V.
As such my two favorite holes on the Mayan Palacecourse were the short 118-yard Par 3 second hole andthe 503-yard eighteenth hole.
The Par 3, though only 118 yards, requires a veryaccurate shot as a lake runs from the tee to near thegreen, has a wide bunker positioned from the lake to thegreen, and additional bunkers on each side of the green.All this plus a more than gentle breeze blowing directlyinto your face off the Pacific Ocean less than a mile tothe West...well, you get the picture.
The Par 5 finishing hole is straightforward from tee togreen. Big hitters with lots of courage and pinpoint accu-racy can hit the green in two. However, the risk/reward
factor raises its ugly head as the green is tucked away ona peninsula with water on three sides. As a short hitter, Ihad no problem realizing going for the green in two wasnot an option. When my second shot arrived about 60yards short of the water and 100 yards from the pin, I feltcomfortable. With the pin tucked delicately near theback of the green with water in front, on the side and inback of the green, I knew why I liked water holes... thechallenge of picking the right club and the executing theproper shot to the correct location on the green.
Unfortunately I wasn’t up to the challenge. I hit into thewater and took a double bogey seven. However, as I head-ed to the “modern Mayan” shaped clubhouse for a frostythirst quenching blended margarita, I knew I’d had a mostenjoyable day playing one of Acapulco’s finest golf courses.
The Mayan Palace golf course is located in theDiamante district of Acapulco about 10 miles southeastof Acapulco Bay, 10 minutes from the Acapulco airport,and 45 minutes from the cruise terminal. The district is
made up of mostly luxury homes and condos for wealthyMexican families who spend their holidays and winterweekends there, and for tourists enjoying the fineweather, white sandy beaches, elegant shopping and golfthat make a vacation in the district so enjoyable. Thecourse is open to owners of the resort’s condominiumsand time-share units, to guests of its Gran Mayan Hotel,and to the general public.
Next time you head for Acapulco, consider a roundof golf at the Mayan Palace. You’ll enjoy your day at oneof Acapulco’s most beautiful golf courses and you won’thave to climb any ruins.
TRAVEL GUIDEFor more information and a tour of Acapulco’s Mayan
Palace golf course, visit www.mayanresortsgolf.com.For information on the various Mayan Resorts in
Mexico, visit www.mayanpalace.com.
NO RUINS, JUST FUN GOLFAcapulco’s Mayan Palace
DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAY • WHERE TO PLAY
Southern California
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