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EDITOR’S NOTE

GOLFERS-IN-CHIEF W

hile Donald Trump’s round of golf with Tiger Woods last year made national headlines, Tiger’s round with Barack Obama in 2013 also caused quite a stir. Although scores remain top secret, what’s not so secret is that many American presidents have been avid golfers.

According to Don van Natta’s First Off the Tee, 15 of the last 18 presidents have been serious golfers and how they played the game reveals a lot about their character. Dwight Eisenhower played more than 800 times during his eight years in office and had a putting green installed on the South Lawn of the White House.

A member of Augusta National Golf Club, Ike broke 80 on a dozen occasions and the Eisenhower Pine, once located on the 17th hole, was named after him. Ike hit the tree so many times that, at a club meeting in 1956, he proposed that the tree be cut down. Not wanting to offend the president, the club’s chairman adjourned the meeting rather than reject the request.

John F. Kennedy was a serious golfer but didn’t want to be seen playing because he wanted to contrast his image with Ike’s reputation of “golfing his way through the presidency.” JFK and his aides reportedly made a lot of hay out of Ike’s constant playing, and dubbed him “Duffer in Chief.”

As for LBJ, van Natta says that he “really tore it up” on the course and would take 300, sometimes 400 swings, in a round. “He just wanted the feel of one perfect shot,” van Natta notes, “and if it took 400 swings to do it, he was going to do it. He was the president and nobody was going to get in his way.”

Ronald Reagan only played the game about a dozen times while in office, but he loved putting around the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One. But nowhere does golf run deeper than in the Bush family bloodline.

George H.W. Bush’s maternal grandfather, George Herbert Walker, served as president of the United States Golf Association in 1920. A singledigit handicapper, he donated the Walker Cup, the trophy awarded to the winning team in the biennial matches between leading amateur golfers from the U.S. and Great Britain/Ireland. And 41’s father, Senator Prescott S. Bush, was a scratch golfer who served as president of the USGA in 1935.

As for Clinton, Van Natta says he “followed the rules for about a hole and a half. Then...started taking these do-over shots, gimme putts and, at the end of the 18 holes, it took him about 200 swings to score an 82.”

And as for Barack Obama, Time magazine notes that he took up golf “as a relaxing alternative to basketball...but now that his game is out of the closet, it is clear that he duffs in much the same way that he tries to govern.” Wellington Wilson, Obama’s longtime golf buddy, was quoted as saying, “You can really tell a person’s personality by the way he plays golf.

He just goes with the flow. Not too high. Not too low.”

“To find a man’s true character, play golf with him” (P.G. Wodehouse), Suzy Evans, J.D., Ph.D.

CALIFORNIA GOLF + TRAVEL PUBLISHER Eric Woods EDITOR Suzy Evans, J.D., Ph.D. ART DIRECTOR Long Tran ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mike Stubbs, Ed Travis SENIOR WRITERS Randy Youngman, Jim Dover, Tom LaMarre CONTRIBUTORS Ian Leggatt, Ed Vyeda, Leonard Finkel, Tom Stankowski, Ken Lane PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Weinstein, Tom Neas, Mark Susson, Channing Benjamin TRAVEL EDITOR Larry Feldman EQUIPMENT EDITOR Scott Kramer, Ed Travis WINE + GOLF John Finney, Matt Palaferri CONTRIBUTING INSTRUCTORS Eric Lohman, Kris Moe, Perry Parker, Ted Norby, Scott Heyn, John Ortega, John Burckle Accounting Jep Pickett

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California Golf + Travel

California Golf + Travel is published by Golf Lab Media LLC 1224 Village Way, Ste. D, Santa Ana CA 92705 Phone: (714) 542-4653 website: www.CalGolfNews.com California Golf + Travel is published bimonthly and distributed to California golf courses, country clubs, practice facilities, golf retailers, hotels, and resorts Entire contents of this publication is copyrighted Golf Lab Media LLC 2015, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner in whole or in part without the written permission from the publisher.

For subscriptions, go to calgolfnews.com and sign up online or send your name, address, phone number, and $20 to Golf Lab Media at the Above address.

For advertising opportunities and editorial information: Please call (714) 542-4653 or email to info@calgolfnews.com

CALIFORNIA GOLF + TRAVEL MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

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8 Editor’s Note Golfers-in-Chief 12 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur Stanford’s Rose Zhang wins 14 Travel Greg Norman’s Rancho San Lucas Golf Club 18 Country Club Spotlight Friendly Hills Country Club 20 Channing Benjamin Golf’s Hottest Photographer 26 John Burckle Beach Practice

30 SUMMER 2020 VOLUME 24, ISSUE 3 BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT • BUNKER PRACTICE • YOUNTVILLE’S HANDWRITTEN WINES

SUMMER 2020

28 Devan Bonebrake Take it to the top and drop it in 30 Equipment: Fashion Beat the Heat

FRIENDLY HILLS CC

HOME AWAY FROM HOME CHANNING BENJAMIN GOLF’S HOTTEST PHOTOGRAPHER RANCHO SAN LUCAS GOLF CLUB GREG NORMAN’S NEW GEM

32 Equipment: Golf Bags Let’s go for a Walk 34 Wine Yountville’s Handwritten Wines

California Golf + Travel

On the cover: Friendly Hills CC. Photo: Trevor Cigich

Visit us online at calgolfnews.com and be sure to LIKE us at facebook.com/calgolfnews.

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U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR

120TH U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Andrea Lee

Gabriela Ruffels (left) and Rose Zhang on the 18th tee

n an all-Southern California championship match, STANFORD Idefeated 17-year-old high school student Rose Zhang of Irvine defending champion Gabriela Ruffels of USC on the 38th hole to win the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur FRESHMAN Championship on Sunday, Aug. 9 at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. Zhang, a rising senior at Pacific Academy in Irvine, won ROSE ZHANG the Robert Cox Trophy when Ruffels’ 3-foot par putt lipped out on No. 9, the second playoff hole after the 36-hole final failed to produce a champion.

DEFEATS USC’S hadZhang, No. 1 in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings and No. 9 in the Women’s Amateur Golf Rankings, forced extra holes by getting up and down for STANDOUT par from 60 yards out in deep rough on the final hole of regulation.

Ruffels, 20, a rising senior at USC, had won the GABRIELA Women’s U.S. Amateur in 2019 at Old Waverly Golf Club in Mississippi and was trying to become the fifth in history to successfully defend the title. Zhang has committed to RUFFELS continue her golf career at Stanford after her senior year

By RANDY YOUNGMAN

at Pacific Academy. She is the fourth-youngest to win the Women’s U.S. Amateur.

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GOLF & TRAVEL

MEXICO’S NEWEST GOLF COURSE GREG NORMAN’S RANCHO SAN LUCAS GOLF CLUB

By DAVE MCKIBBEN had accomplished the unimaginable—at least for me— reaching the green on a 510-yard hole in just two shots.

But instead of lining up my treacherous 60-foot downhill eagle putt at Rancho San Lucas Golf Club, I was distracted by a magical scene playing out some 500 yards behind me in the Pacific Ocean, where two whales were breaching in unison just offshore.

Suddenly, the comments made the night before by Greg Norman, designer of Los Cabos, Mexico’s newest golf course, made a whole lot of sense.

“The challenge of this course is the beauty,” said Norman, a two-time British Open Champion and architect of 106 courses around the world. “It’s tough to get your mind off how beautiful it is and focus on the shot you have to hit.”

Naturally, I wasn’t able to get back in the zone, three-putting the 8th hole but still managing a par on Rancho San Lucas’ most difficult hole. There were plenty more pleasant distractions along the way as the 7,200-yard layout wanders through massive windswept sand dunes, climbs through a cactus forest and finds its way back to the beach and sea on the final nine holes. The par-3 17th hole is the only island green in golf-rich Cabo.

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California Golf + Travel

Norman, known as “The Shark” in his playing days, began coming to Cabo 30 years ago from his native Australia to fish and dive, when just six weekly flights arrived here.

Now, 550 weekly flights from 40 destinations land in this spot on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, known these days for its vibrant nightlife and its championship golf courses. With Rancho San Lucas and Costa Palmas opening this year, Cabo is home to 18 courses. The designers read like a Who’s Who in the game of golf—Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Davis Love, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, Tom Weiskopf and Norman.

Golf may be the centerpiece of this 834-acre gated residential enclave, but it’s only part of the fun. Rancho San Lucas, one of seven Cabo resorts owned and operated by Solmar Hotel & Resorts, also features the luxurious Grand Solmar Hotel and the Residences at Rancho San Lucas, seven gourmet dining spots, an adults-only infinity pool, a massive saltwater lagoon, a kids’ pool with two waterslides, a seaside spa and 15 miles of jogging and biking trails.

Rooms at the Grand Solmar start at $191 plus tax.

Studios and one and two-bedroom suites all come with ocean views. The Mexican-themed suites include a full kitchen with marble counters, stainless steel appliances, Murphy beds, private terraces, sitting areas and flat-screen televisions. Two-bedroom penthouses at the Residences start at $682. Terraces in each suite offer expansive ocean views.

For those who want to stay awhile longer, luxury beachfront homes at The Villas and Norman Estates are available for purchase at $650,000 to $7 million.

Solmar Group Developer Francisco Bulnes isn’t a golfer and had never built a course on any one of his properties.

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GOLF & TRAVEL

But he began talking to Norman nearly 20 years ago about carving a championship golf course out of his family’s 834acre rolling desert property, located just 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas.

“I fell in love with this property from first sight without even getting down to the beach,” Norman said. “I knew I was going to be very fortunate to be able to put my name on a golf course here because it has such a diverse ecosystem.”

The project was delayed several years due to the economic downturn in 2008.

The hotel opened in 2018 and the golf course was christened in mid-February.

“This is the place where I chased jackrabbits as a kid,” Bulnes said. “I know Greg Norman is known for making tough courses, but I told him we need to have a nice and enjoyable resort golf destination.”

Mission accomplished. Five sets of tees, wide landing areas and limited amount of fairway bunkers and subtlycontoured medium sized greens, two full-service comfort stations and stunning ocean views on 14 holes add up to a thoroughly enjoyable golfing experience. Norman even made accommodations for golfers visiting during the windy season of May and June, routing a 12-hole course within a course of low-

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lying holes sheltered by the dunes and shielded from ocean breezes.

Green fees are rather steep at $242, but hotel guests get up to a 20% dis-

California Golf + Travel

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COURSE SPOTLIGHT

FRIENDLY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB riendly Hills Country Club, in the hills above Whittier, has been famous from the day it opened in 1968 for the island tee on the first hole.

There are a number of courses that boast island greens, the most famous at TPC Sawgrass which hosts the Players Championship, but it’s not often you tee off on an island.

“Our signature tee makes it one of the most recognizable holes in Southern California,” General Manager Russ Onizuka, a PGA professional, said.

“In addition to being a great golf hole, we’ve had quite a few commercials and movie scenes filmed there.”

The opening hole on the Jimmy Hines-designed masterpiece is a challenging 567-yard uphill par 5 from the tips, which actually plays to over 600 yards. The 100-yard carry over the water from the island tee would normally be no problem, but it’s just one more challenge to think about on your opening tee shot.

Friendly Hills plays to a par of 70 at 6,408 yards from the back tees, with a 71.7 rating and a slope of 136, and it’s been getting plenty of play during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Member play has certainly increased” Onizuka said when asked what has happened since the club reopened after the shutdown caused by the pandemic. “Golf is extremely popular right now. I think that’s because it’s one of the safest outdoor recreational activities people can take part in during this time.”

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“We have implemented extensive safety protocols, including single players in our golf carts, unless they are in same household. The golf course is also walkable, so a lot of members are exercising, while enjoying their round of golf.”

Also popular with families is the Club Car Tempo 4Fun golf cart, with four front-facing seats, and a bag rack that carries four sets of clubs.

“We’re a full-service private club with golf, practice facilities, expansive dining options, night-lit tennis courts, a fitness center, an Olympic-sized swimming pool with two diving boards, and a recently remodeled pool deck and swim locker rooms. Our mission is to provide a safe, welcoming, and family-friendly environment. We take pride in being our member’s home away from home.”

The newly renovated Grand Terrace, which overlooks a waterfall backdrop, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is being utilized for outdoor dining more than ever. The terrace normally seats 118 people for dining, but because of social distancing protocols, the maximum capacity has been temporarily reduced to 68. Consistent with most private clubs, Friendly Hills is only closed on Mondays, but that’s considerably different compared to six months ago, when all golf courses in the region were completely shut down

by Covid-19.

Friendly Hills Country Club and their membership remain strong and are committed to providing exceptional member experiences.

California Golf + Travel

PHOTO: AIDEN BRADLEY

F

PHOTO: TREVOR CIGICH

A MEMBERS HOME AWAY FROM HOME

PHOTO: TREVOR CIGICH

California Golf + Travel

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

CHANNING BENJAMIN A MAN OF MANY TALENTS GOLF’S HOTTEST PHOTOGRAPHER

By TOM LAMARRE e’ve heard many a golfer say that a certain golf course fits his or her eye, but Channing Benjamin can fit just about any course to his eye. Even though he started taking photography seriously only about 10 years ago and didn’t buy his first camera until 2014, Benjamin has become one of the best golf course landscape photographers in the business.

“I would go out and play golf on some beautiful, high-end courses in Southern California, in Palm Springs or Malibu, and you can’t bring a camera, so I would take pictures with my cell

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phone and post them on social media,” he said. “I got so much reaction from the pictures I posted that I figured maybe I could make a living out of this, so I finally invested in a camera. That was great because the pictures were much higher quality images than the ones I took with my cell phone. I have only two cameras now, but they are much better and more expensive. If one fails, I have a backup.”

The 48-year-old Benjamin has become so accomplished at his craft that he is one of five officially licensed photographers for the Pebble Beach Company, and also has deals with the PGA of

California Golf + Travel

America, the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Dept., Pipeline Marketing and Renaissance Golf Design.

Not only that, his pictures have been published in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Australia’s Caddie Magazine, G&E Magazine, NGF Quarterly, The Golfers Journal, Catalogue 18 and more.

Benjamin has always worked for the best, having started out after graduating from Indiana Wesleyan University as video director at concerts for such musical acts as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Barry Manilow, Prince, Pink, Nsync, Fleetwood Mac, John Cougar

TPC Danzante Bay #5, Mexico

PGA West Palmer Private #17

California Golf + Travel

SUMMER 2020

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

East Course #9 – The Lakes Country Club, Palm Desert, CA. Melencamp and Britney Spears. In addition, from 1996-99, he served as video director for the Indiana Pacers on the National Basketball Association.

“I was a freelancer director at concerts, telling the video people and the photographers what to shoot,” Benjamin recalled. “I didn’t know the technical side of it, but I have the eye for what was needed. Same with the basketball. Bob Dylan was the worst to work with because he doesn’t like the spotlight on him, doesn’t like the light.

But the concert business really slowed down after the 9/11 terrorist bombings (in 2001), so I picked up a side gig for Roger Dunn Golf at their Santa Monica store selling clubs and eventually managing the Palm Springs store.”

“When I got to L.A., it was just golf, golf, golf. I simply got hooked on the game and the landscapes,” he added.

“I posted my pictures on myspace and later on Instagram. Over the years, I’ve amassed about 30,000 followers on Instagram, and a lot of those people shared my pictures. Early on, Golf Digest reached out to me and did a story featuring my imagery and titled it, ‘How to Take Great Golf Pictures.’”

Because of his work at the Roger Dunn Golf Shop, Benjamin had access

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to golf courses from Malibu to Palm Springs, and played so often and eventually so well that he became a scratch golfer. “The weather is so good all year round in California, how can you not love being out on the golf course,” said Benjamin, who plays to a 1-handicap.

“It doesn’t matter if you are playing on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean or under a palm tree in the desert, there are so many great courses, and they are like eye candy.

These days, when Benjamin shows up at a new course to take pictures, he sometimes uses a drone from the parking lot to look around the property to see where the best locations for quality pictures might be. Also, he will walk the course without his camera to determine the same thing.

“I’ll take a scorecard with me and circle the holes where the best opportunities seem to be, and take some notes, trying to figure out where the best shot might be,” said Benjamin, who has lived in the Palm Springs area for about 15 years. Sometimes, I will go at different times of the day to determine when the light is best for that course, because sometimes it’s at sunrise, others at sunset and on other courses at sometime in between.

California Golf + Travel

And the fact that I’ve become a licensed FAA drone pilot has really helped.”

Obviously, Pebble Beach Golf Links is among Benjamin’s favorites, along with Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the Links at Spanish Bay and the other great courses on the Monterey Peninsula. But he also has Indian Wells Golf Resort, the Quarry at La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes Country Club and others in the Coachella Valley on his list.

Among his favorites outside California are Ballyneal Golf Club, a Tom Doak design in Holyoke, CO, Victoria National Golf Club in Newburg, IN and TPC Danzante in Loreto, Mexico.

Benjamin’s latest and most exciting venture, The Golfography Experience, was created in 2019 and he is currently working with The Dormie Network on a series of three-day getaways to high-end courses around the country for golfers looking for a unique experience encompassing golf and photography.

The first two Golfography Experiences were held at Rams Hill Golf Club in Borrego Springs, CA and the aforementioned Victoria National, IN, with a third scheduled for October

California Golf + Travel

JAN/FEB 2020

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

(Above) Bighorn Golf Club – Canyons Course #9 (Right) Pebble Beach #7 green at Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, VA in partnership with The Dormie Network.

Among the sponsors are TaylorMade Golf, Callaway Golf, and Tamron Lenses USA.” “The first two were so successful that the word got around and the third one is already sold out,” said Benjamin, who helps make the trips memorable with his photography. “They get three days of great golf, fine food and wine, and swag from Taylor Made, Callaway, Tamron. And they go home with pictures to remind them of what a great time they had.”

While his new gig has Benjamin on the road a little more often, and he enjoys some of the new courses he has been able to shoot, he knows what he prefers. That’s why he settled in California.

“I’ve been able to shoot in plenty of beautiful places, but in most you never know what you’re going to get with the weather which affects my work,” Benjamin said. “In California, you always know what you’re going to get.”

You can say the same about Benjamin’s photographs—quality.

For more of Benjamin’s work follow him @channingbenjaminphotography on Instagram.

Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Golf Links are registered trademarks of Pebble Beach. Used under license.

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California Golf + Travel

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25

GOLF TIP

BUNKER SHOTS

By JOHN BURCKLE earn how to hit your bunker shots high and soft.

Most golfers struggle to get out the sand and when they find themselves in a bunker, they panic that they may not get out. Tour professionals prefer to be in a bunker rather than thick rough.

Why? Because once you learn the correct technique to bunker play, you’ll find it’s much easier to predict what the ball will do than you can from thick grass.

Let’s learn a couple things that are a must in approaching a bunker shot.

Let’s start with hitting a high soft shot that stops quickly. You’ll need to get that club face open (pic 2). You need to learn how to use the bounce or bottom of the club and not the leading edge. This allows the bottom of your sand wedge not to dig into the sand but instead glide through the sand. Second get your stance wide and flex your knees (pic 1).

Third get those hands low at address a must for making sure that club stays open. Notice in the picture how Brooks Koepka has set up to hit this nice soft shot. It’s a must to get the set up right.

Remember it’s not like a pitch from the grass.

Now hitting the shot. One of the keys to hitting that soft bunker shot is keeping that club face open as you slide that club through the sand. I try to hit an inch or so behind the ball and let sand splash the ball out. I’m never trying to dig or help the ball out. Keep your legs flexed and feet quiet. You don’t want your feet moving too much as you hit the shot. Don’t force it, let the club do the work. If you need to hit the ball further and lower get club face more aligned to the target (pic 3).

Keys to remember. Feet wide apart with plenty of knee flex. Club face open and hands low at address. Let the sand push the ball out.

It’s a must to get to a practice bunker and practice these techniques. Once you get the hang of it, sand play will no longer be a score killer.

PHOTO MICHAEL WEINSTEIN

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JOHN BURCKLE – Director of Instruction at GolfLabAcademy.com 25 Years Teaching Experience 80 Professional Wins 6X Golden State Tour Order of Merit Champion

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1 Brooks Koepka at the 2020 Genesis Invitational.

2

3

California Golf + Travel

MAR/APR 2020

19

GOLF TIP

SWING LIKE AN ATHLETE FOR CRISPER CONTACT

ROOM AT THE TOP

POWERING YOUR WAY DOWN

By DEVAN BONEBRAKE hen I see a poor takeaway, it almost always stems from a lack of connection starting back. Often, I see the trail arm folding too early with the club taking too flat of an angle, or the trail arm moving in a sawing motion (like starting a lawn mower) behind the body, putting the player in a weak, unathletic position. This is an unfortunate formula for coming over the top and making inconsistent contact in the form of shanks, slices or pulls. Fortunately, using your trail arm properly in the swing can help you make cleaner, more powerful contact.

ROOM AT THE TOP For most players, it is easier to get into a good transition position when the trail arm is away from the body and closer to vertical than horizontal at the top of the backswing. I like to see that the golfer has maintained the same arm spacing that they started with at address. Having the trail arm fold progressively going back, in conjunction

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with a good turn, is also key. Letting the trail elbow separate from the body during the backswing is important for loading power.

POWERING YOUR WAY DOWN After a pressure shift to the lead leg to initiate the downswing, I like to see my students move the right elbow in front of their trail hip, allowing the club to shallow and stay behind the hands. This promotes greater body rotation, making it much easier to deliver a powerful and consistent impact. With your trail arm in a good position, the lower body can initiate the downswing and pass control to the upper torso, then to the arms in the proper sequence. Having the right elbow in the proper position at the top allows the trail arm to move externally and under the lead arm, resulting in a shallowing of the shaft.

If the trail arm rotates internally on the downswing and the right elbow flies away from the body, I see the player really struggle to create power. To

California Golf + Travel

ingrain the feeling of maintaining proper elbow spacing from backswing to downswing, try to hold a small football between your forearms without dropping it during the swing. Frequently, I have students wear the Swing Align swing trainer (www.swingtrainer.com) that keeps the elbows from flying too far apart and away from the body. The feedback is crucial for helping golfers understand how it feels to stay connected throughout the swing.

Starting at the top, I like to have students rehearse the start of the downswing, and the shallowing of the club, by driving the right elbow down and in front of the right hip.

Once you experience this feeling of connection and powerfully struck shots, your confidence will soar.

DEVAN BONEBRAKE is Director of Instruction at Rolling Hills Country Club, Owner of Southern California Golf Academy Golf Digest “Best Young Teacher” Golf Digest “Best in State”

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club is an incredible 240-acre golf club that is ready for you to experience.

Enjoy lunch or cocktails at O’Neill’s Bar & Grill.

Schedule your special event in our beautiful Trabuco Ballroom that overlooks the 18th hole.

CHRIS MILLER

26772 Avery Parkway Mission Viejo, CA 92692 | 949.305.5100 | www.arroyotrabuco.com

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75-200 CLASSIC CLUB BLVD., PALM DESERT, CA 92211

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SUMMER 2020

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EQUIPMENT

SUMMER FASHION TO BEAT THE HEAT

By ED TRAVIS n or off the course, in the summer, it’s warm and colorful lightweight apparel is a must. Whether it’s a classic polo shirt, a modern tee or simply easy wearing sandals, here are a few items for California’s glorious summer all in a fashionable style.

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Kaenon Arcata Semi-rimless Sunglasses Arcata SR with Polarized lenses provides coverage, fit and more vision downward in a slim, clean frame designed to provide coverage from harsh sunlight at the temples, while also enabling flex near the ear for comfort. $249 seven frame/lens colors.

Linksoul Men’s The Eden Tee A perfect color pop with summer flavor in an original design by Geoff Cunningham. The fabric is super lightweight and ultra-soft made with a mixture of 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Either Stonewash denim or antique denim $35

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Linksoul Men’s Hopper Knit Short Sleeve Shirt A colorful favorite that will be a mainstay in any wardrobe. It is lightweight with super soft feel made from 100% cotton slub jersey and made with subtle touches of four-button placket and ribbed pocket. $68 choice two colors Melin A-Game HYDRO Hat In summer, a hat is a necessity, and this is the one favored by Phil Mickelson. The crown is water repellant with breathable laser cut side and rear panels. The lining is moisture wicking and there is a hidden besom pocket. Eleven colors $59.

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Olukai Ulele Sandels A water friendly sandal that dries quickly. Water resistant straps and nonmarking wet-grip soles design to wear like your favorite sneaker. The white outsole gives it a fresh look that’s very in-line with the athleisure trend. $75 pair with five color choices.

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Puma Men’s Cloudspun Taylor Golf Polo Fashion forward colorblock pattern that offer extreme comfort with the four-way stretch CLOUDSPUN 92% polyester/8% Elastane Jersey that is both ultra-soft and moisture wicking for your comfort. $70 choice of 11 colors

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California Golf + Travel

Puma Women’s Floral Dye Sleeveless Golf Polo Stylish floral pattern that never goes out of fashion. Fabric is moisture wicking single jersey material with FUSIONYARN flex, an 83% polyester, 13% cotton and 4% Elastane composition. $55 choice of three colors.

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Straight Down Bunker Quarter Zip Jacket Even in summer, sometimes a light jacket is needed. The Bunker Quarter-zip is a camouflage all over print made from 92% micro polyester, 8% spandex lightweight performance stretch wicking fabric. A choice of four colors $88.

G/Fore Ladies Rosebud Quarter Zip This silky quarter zip in port and bright rose is made from a tech nylon fabric in a smashing floral print that will be a stylish complement to any wardrobe. Small touches of this standout piece include ruched detailing on the shoulder. $135

Max Distance with FastLayer Core.

Ultimate stopping power with SeRM Urethane. It’s a totally new, totally different Z-STAR Series.

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# B U I LT F O R D I S TA N C E

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EQUIPMENT

CARRY YOUR CLUBS

BY ED TRAVIS he Covid-19 pandemic has forced lots of changes to our lives, but golf has benefited. Unlike many other activities it is easy to observe the six-foot social distancing buffer or as we at California Golf + Travel call it the “two-club lengths” rule.

For those looking to get some exercise and spend time with friends, golf is a natural and this has led to an increase in the number of people playing with many walking and carrying their clubs. The bag you choose for the four to five miles of a typical round can make all the difference between an enjoyable, fun experience and 18 holes of almost torture.

Being an informed consumer is always important and a little research into carry and or stand bags will ensure your money is well spent. The process of picking out just the right bag is simple but vital and here are the factors to consider:

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Weight and Construction – The lighter the better but be sure materials and construction are both rugged and reliable Stand Legs – Must be strong with an adequate spread plus easy opening when the bag is put on the ground and quick collapsing when bag is picked up Carry Strap – we like a dual strap the best but test with a full bag of clubs for balance and comfort Handles – Top and bottom handles best for in and out of car and check the positioning of top, side and bottom handles with a full bag for convenient placement Pockets – are there ever enough?

Club Dividers – Many players like four but some models have up to fourteen Here are a few of the carry bags we like and think you will too.

G/Fore Daytona Stand Bag • Four dividers • Single strap – dual strap optional extra ($45) • Six pockets • Eight colors $350 Micro-suede synthetic leather

Linksoul Linksouldier Sunday Carry Bag • Four dividers • 2.4 pounds • Dual/single strap • Pockets include beverage pocket $180 poly canvas

Cobra Golf Ultralight Stand Bag • Five dividers full length • 4.5 pounds • Dual strap • Eight pockets $189 choice of six colors

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Sunday Golf Loma Stand Bag • Two full length dividers for 6-to-8 clubs • 1.9 pounds designed for par-3 courses • Single Strap • Three pockets including beverage $114.99 three color choices

Sun Mountain 4.5 LS Stand/Carry Bag • Four dividers in 10-inch top • 4.5 pounds • Dual Strap • Nine pockets $219.99 choice of six colors 14 divider option ($229.99) Supercharged model with mobile phone charger ($279.99)

Vessel Player 2.0 Stand Bag • Six dividers 8.5-inch top or 14 dividers nine-inch top • 5.75 pounds • Dual strap – single strap optional • Seven pockets – internal valuables combination lock $345 synthetic leather choice of four colors

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WINE, FOOD & GOLF

Yountville’s Handwritten Wines B

eautiful, bold tannins with bright fruit notes, excellent structure with hints of leather and vanilla.

This is what you will say and hear when tasting at Handwritten Wines.

This small lot, boutique production winery creates stunning wines that are hand-crafted, and welcoming to the palate.

Winemaker Rob Lloyd, focusing on composing 100% mountain fruit Cabernet Sauvignon, applies a unique style, just as each of us has our unique handwriting style. Creating a program that is one of a kind to the Napa Valley, these wines are scarce in the sense that each vintage is 200 cases or less. These are truly small lot vintages, and each showcases the growing season and the unique terroir associated with the 9 different districts from which the fruit is sourced.

Located in the town of Yountville, Handwritten is welcoming guests to their brand-new tasting facility and currently hosting curated, private experiences in their outdoor courtyard.

Looking through the front doors, you are immediately transported to another era, with showcases of antiques, small seating vignettes with over-stuffed

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wing-back chairs in cozy conversation areas. It instantly puts you at ease, as it feels like walking into someone’s foyer or living room.

After being warmly welcomed, the host will lead you to your private table with a beautiful layout of glassware and a personalized leather-wrapped welcome message.

California Golf + Travel

Throughout the tasting experience, the wines continue to intrigue as we learn about the different areas of the Napa Valley and why mountain fruit is different from valley floor fruit. As you taste wines, side-by-side in a comparative format, you get the sense that this is more than just a wine producer.

Handwritten is a winery that is passionate about crafting a lifestyle, a way of enjoying wine and food together, and truly leading you through a tactile progression of understanding the Napa Valley through wine.

Please call 707-944-8524 to schedule your visit and mention this article to receive a complimentary tasting experience for two.

The Handwritten experience is also available virtually. Deemed “The Rolls-Royce of Virtual Tastings” by Chowhound Magazine, this is a great option for any group size and can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. A Handwritten wine educator will customize the experience for you from special wine selections to style of experience.

Visit HandwrittenWines.com to learn more about the Handwritten story, wines and experiences.

California Golf + Travel

MAR/APR 2020

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SPEED DECONSTRUCTED. The new TR20 driver delivers beautifully crafted speed. With a cutting-edge TiCarbon+Fast Frame construction, more energy is transferrved from swing to ball for a fast flight, sound, and feel.

Visit the Honma fitting studio at Roger Dunn Golf Shop in Santa Ana and experience the beautifully crafted performance of Honma Golf.

Discover more at honmagolf.com

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California Golf + Travel