2021 Fall Golfing Magazine New England Issue

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THE TRAVEL ISSUE • Czech Republic; Hawaii; Hilton Head, SC; Outer Banks, NC; Brunswick Isles, NC; Innisbrook Resort, FL; Alabama • Golf on Cape Cod • Must Play Courses.

• Instruction from Local Professionals

New England Edition Fall 2021

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

New England Fall 2021 Volume 51

Issue 5

golfing M A G A Z I N E™

Fall 2021

Publisher Tom Landers TLanders@GolfingMagazine.net Creative Director Heidi Dyer Production@GolfingMagazine.net Editor John Torsiello Editor@GolfingMagazine.net Contributing Writers John DiCocco Claudio DeMarchi Mike May Mike Stinton George Connor, PGA Sue Kaffenburg, PGA Lucas Hitchcock, PGA Ron Beck, PGA Jimmy Damiano, PGA Gene Mulak, PGA

Connecticut National Golf Club FROM THE PUBLISHER

MUST PLAYS

6 Keep Golfing When The Leaves Turn 30 Canaan Country Club Wentworth Hills Country Club Heather Hill Country Club TRAVEL FEATURES Cold Spring Country Club 8 Czech Republic Crystal Lake Golf Club Laurel Lane Country Club 9 Kauai, Hawaii Newton Commonwealth GC 10 North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands Blackstone National Golf Club 12 Innisbrook Resort, Flordia 14 Sweet Home Alabama 16 Hilton Head Island, SC

INSTRUCTION

18 Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort 39 Can’t Hit It Straight?

40 Strike The Ball Consistently 20 Santee, Couth Carolina 22 North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Contributing Photographer Mark William Paul

41 Bump Up Drill

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Editorial Contributions should be mailed to above address or emailed to the publisher. Material accepted is subject to revisions necessary to meet requirements of the publication. The act of delivering material shall express a warranty by contributor that material is original and does not infringe on the rights of others. Reproduction of the contents of this publication is prohibited with written permission of the publisher. Publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.

GETAWAY

24 The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge 26 Cape Cod

Golfing Magazine is published five times annually.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Keep Golfing When The Leaves Turn land’s Course Play Stimulus Program. Now is the time to sign up for 2021 and play all the golf you could ever want. Call 860-5631633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net.

Created by legendary golfer and worldrenowned golf architect Jack Nicklaus, The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, New York is a stunning track that was carved out of the mature forests and rolling hills of a 220-acre estate. It features rock formations, extreme elevation changes, and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. It’s worth a visit.

When Joseph Quattrocchi took a glance at Canaan Country Club in northwest Connecticut he knew he had found what he was looking for. Quattrocchi purchased the nine-hole course built in 1931, renovated the restaurant, which became “The Belted Cow”, and it setting upon a program of course conditions to this little gem bordering the scenic Blackberry River in northwest Connecticut.

In this issue, our Resort Issue, we take a trip across the Atlantic Ocean and check out some great golf opportunities in the Czech Republic, then head across the Pacific and visit Hawaii, where golf and surf are plentiful. We also take a look at great stay and play destinations on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, and the Brunswick Isles area of southeastern North Carolina, considered a part of the Grand Strand of the Myrtle Beach golf haven. And we give you a look at a destination you might not have thought about, the superb golf offerings on the Outer Banks that sit in the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina. Innisbrook in Florida is another wonderful place to visit this winter, as is the Deep South state of Alabama with its plethora of great new lay-

We thank you for your enduring love of golf.

All That Is Good,

Tom Landers, Publisher

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Enjoy our digital magazine, take advantage of our Course Play Stimulus offer, and play golf! We hope you enjoy this issue and that you always hit ‘em straight and long.

C

W

e have enjoyed an ideal summer for golf. I’m betting that autumn is going to be just as nice and perfect for our favorite game.

While the leaves have begun to turn color and the days are shorter, don’t put those sticks away just yet. Continue to enjoy being outside and with your buddies on a golf course.

This time of the year can offer up some of the best weather to play golf in New England. Here’s what we have lined up for you in our Autumn Issue to get you excited to keep playing.

In this issue of Golfing Magazine we give you the lowdown on the courses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where autumn and early winter treat us to some splendid late season golf. Indeed, unless Old Man Winter drops a foot of snow on the peninsula, the courses will remain open year round, if you don’t mind a little chill with your drives and seven-irons.

Cape Cod courses, and many more, are included in Golfing Magazine New Eng-

outs to choose from.

We also offer up some courses you simply “Must Play” and present valuable instructional tips from our cadre of topnotch golf pros.

Dedicated golfers realize that just because the pages on the calendar are dwindling and there is a slight chill in the air that doesn’t mean we can’t play golf until snow covers the ground and they pull the flagsticks off the greens. So, get outside, take in the beauty of the fall foliage, and enjoy the final months of the 2021 golf season. Or, make plans to visit the exotic locales we tell you about.

2019 NATIONAL GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR The Heather BEST GOLF RESORTS IN AMERICA BOYNE Golf — Forbes.com — 100 GREATEST PUBLIC COURSES The Heather #92, Links/Quarry #80 — Golf Digest — EDITOR’S CHOICE BEST GOLF RESORTS IN AMERICA Bay Harbor Golf Club & Inn at Bay Harbor — Golf Digest — TOP 100 RESORTS Buddies Trip BOYNE Golf Luxury Bay Harbor Golf Club & Inn at Bay Harbor — GOLF Magazine & GOLF.com —

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7

TRAVEL

Europe’s Little Known Golf Destination The Czech Republic

By Mike May

W

ho would have thought that a small landlocked country about the size of Maine would be home to just under 100 golf courses?

Prague the historic capital city is in the top 5 of most visited cities in Europe and an economic capital of the EU. Arriving in Prague, you won’t have far to go get into some of the world class golf. There are over 20 courses within the region known as Central Bohemia including the new PGA National Czech Republic at Oaks Prague named Best Golf Course in Europe by the World Golf Awards in 2020. Oaks Golf | PGA National Czech Republic (oakspga.cz) Other course of note in the region: The Prague City Golf Club, designed by 3-time PGA Tour winner and Czech native Alex Čejka.

Prague City Golf Albatross Golf Resort, a Top 100 European Golf Course and home to Czech Masters European Tour Golfové hřiště Albatross Home and Panorama Golf Resort – Editor’s Choice, Best Golf Resorts in Continental Europe. Panorama Golf Resort

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Unless combining a visit with neighboring Eastern European country, Austria, Germany, Poland or Slovakia, it is most likely that North American visitors to the Czech Republic would fly in and out of Prague.

A golf vacation to the Czech Republic will be so much more than just great golf.

Known worldwide for the creation of the Pilsner Lager, European-style Budweiser the city of Pilsen is just west of Prague. For the most part golfers like there beer. Wine? Just keep heading southeast to South Moravia and you enter into the region which produces 95% of Czech wine. There are festivals a plenty for beer and wine lovers.

Pick your poison.

Where there is fine drink there must be food! No shortage of diversity in this part of Europe, The Czech Republic is a meat lover’s paradise with local dishes centered on pork, beef, and chicken. Local delicacies also include goose, duck, rabbit, venison, and a growing vegan and vegetarian dining scene.

There is no shortage of experiences for historical enthusiasts with chateau’s, castles and cathedrals in many different architectural styles. The Czech Republic

Golfing GolfingMagazine Magazine••New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition

also has one of the highest densities of UNESCO sites in the world.

Three of the famous wellness resorts have recently been added to the UNESCO list under the Great Spa Town of Europe. https://www.greatspatownsofeurope.eu/ A perfect after golf component to recharge anyone’s batteries. It is a magical world of wellness, with wonderful settings, be it elegant spas, wellness hotels, ostentatious chateaux and rural farms you can leave the everyday hustle and bustle behind and restore your appetite for life.

The 97 courses are spread across eight Czech regions. The natural and undulating landscapes provide countless panoramic vistas, with a number of courses having hosted numerous European PGA Tour and LPGA Tour Events.

Your next great golf vacation, make it something different and unique. The Czech Republic has everything and anything that you may want. Pick your region add some of your favorite things to do with golf and mix!

For more information visit: www.VisitCzechRepublic

TRAVEL

Ocean Course Hokuala at Timbers Kauai

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t your doorstep awaits 13 miles of nature trails, an infinity pool, a restaurant, spa, on-site organic farm as well as an award-winning Jack Nicklaus signature course boasting the longest stretch of oceanfront golf in all of Hawaii. With luxury amenities and a concierge team dedicated to have you living like a local, experience Kauai with some serious benefits.

At Timbers Kauai, we’ve created just 47 residences, all offering an oceanfront location like no other on the island. Each residence filters through an elegant design aesthetic that brings the island indoors. Come for a vacation or stay for a lifetime – Timbers Kauai offers room and golf packages for a week, or you may love it so much that you decide to purchase a one or two-month ownership package with us.

The Farm at Hokuala makes good on the “farm to table” promise: The mission of the

farm is to not only provide fresh ingredients to our spa and 19th hole, Hualani’s Restaurant, but to also build a community farm with an agriculture-education program for local schools. Tour with Farmer Cody and help harvest ingredients for special chef-prepared, farm-to-table dinners.

“Hawaiians believe that life on this island came from a higher power and I believe that, too. It’s not just planting a seed and picking it and eating it. There’s a deepness to growing

food. It’s what connects you to this Earth.” – Farmer Cody For the golfers in your family, the Ocean Course Hokuala is one signature hole after another. For the photographers, it is one picture postcard after another.

Here, where the ocean meets the land, is as good as a golfer’s life gets. The Ocean Course Hokuala has been completely renovated in anticipation of your visit, making Hokuala the premier golf resort on Kauai. If surfing is up your alley, test out our Golf Boards on the course, or if you have any soccer players in your family, Kauai’s only 9-hole FootGolf layout is a must – great for all ages and skill levels. At Hokuala, we have something for everyone and know that you will enjoy a wide variety of amenities we have to offer here at the resort. Savor the Garden Island where Aloha begins… www.GolfHokuala.com

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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GETAWAY

North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands

A Coastal Treasure That Keeps Golfers Coming Back

P

laying golf in the fall is a pleasure.

Taking a fall golf trip to North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands is unbeatable.

The Brunswick Islands are home to more than 30 immaculate golf courses boasting 120 miles of stunning fairways and 540 of one-of-a-kind holes. The numbers alone make it easy to see why NC’s Brunswick Islands, also known as NC’s Golf Coast, has become a must-play destination for those who love to golf. But there’s more.

On this treasured southern stretch of the North Carolina coast, legends of the great game paired their eye for design with the unique coastal landscape to craft courses that incorporate the area’s rivers, marshes, and maritime forests. The result? Awe-inspiring designs and distinctive challenges, all set against a scenic backdrop that is beyond compare. Names like Palmer, Byrd, Maples, Jones, Couples and Cate have left their mark here, and they invite golfers from all over to come walk in their footsteps.

The location on the coast also gives way to a year-round golf climate, so any time of year is a great time to play. But there is something about the onset of autumn that beckons golfers to escape to the Brunswick Islands for an all-golf getaway that is second to none.

Notable courses like Cape Fear National, Bald Head Island Club Golf Course, and Leopard’s Chase – one of the famed Big Cats

courses, designed by local legend Tim Cate – call the Brunswick Islands home and have been named among the best courses you can play in North Carolina. Other must-play area courses feature special signatures like the 9th hole at the Arnold Palmer-designed Rivers Edge Golf Club, a par-5 known as “Arnie’s Revenge,” or the 767-yard par-6 at Farmstead Golf Links that traverses state borders.

The destination is perfect for staying and playing. Whatever you’re searching for in accommodations, from a villa right on the fairway, to an oceanside inn, or the perfect beach vacation rental home to welcome a group of any size, you’ll find it in the Brunswick Islands. Plus, the area’s two

golf resorts – Sea Trail Villas and Brunswick Plantation Resort and Golf – offer top-rate amenities in addition to great golf. And our local professional golf packagers are ready to help line up all the details of your trip for you so you can spend more time lining up your first drive.

Between the welcoming climate, the accommodations, the breathtaking views and the memorable courses, everything comes together here to create the perfect golf getaway. You’ll come with a passion for the game and leave with a love of a place. Make the turn at NC’s Brunswick Islands this fall.

You won’t regret it. www.NCBrunswickGolf.com

River’s Edge #9

Leopard’s Chase #18 10 10

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Leave some holes in your schedule

With more than 30 championship courses and 120 miles of fairways along the coast, you’re going to want some time to play NC’s Brunswick Islands. Request your Brunswick Islands Golf Guide: ncbrunswickgolf.com Runner-Up Kramer Hickok tees of 18th hole in play-

ncbrunswickgolf.com | 800-795-7263

SUNSET BEACH • OCEAN ISLE BEACH • HOLDEN off BEACH • OAK ISLAND • CASWELL BEACH • BALD HEAD ISLAND • LELAND • SHALLOTTE • SOUTHPORT • CALABASH www.GolfingMagazine.net 11

TRAVEL

Four Legendary Courses One Destination

T

here are many places to golf in Florida, but there’s only one Innisbrook Resort. Located on 900 sprawling acres of rolling hills and lakes on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Innisbrook Resort offers the perfect place for epic golf trips and leisurely getaways alike.

The Tampa Bay golf resort is home to four outstanding courses, including the famed Copperhead Course, home of the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship, and a favorite among some of the world’s finest golf professionals. Designed by the innovative and imaginative architect Lawrence Packard, each of Innisbrook’s four courses feature unique layouts, scenery, and elevation change more reminiscent of the Carolina Sandhills and Georgia Foothills than the typical Florida terrain.

Tee off on the Island Course with picturesque views, tight fairways, intimidating water hazards, and abundant bunkers. Or, imagine yourself hitting from the fairways graced by some of the world’s greatest on the Copperhead Course, and challenge yourself to the Snake Pit, where tournaments have been won and lost. The North Course, also known

12 12

as “Baby Copperhead,” features daunting par 3s, tight fairways, and well-bunkered greens — placing a premium on accuracy from tee to green. While the South Course’s undulating terrain, ample bunkers, water hazards, and Gulf of Mexico breezes all combine to make it another great challenge.

No matter what your playing ability is, Innisbrook Resort provides a variety of golf experiences for all levels of play, whether you’re breaking 100 for the first time or following in the footsteps of the pros. Three golf packages offer the best year-round value for players, featuring daily tee times, newly renovated

Golfing Golfing Magazine Magazine •• New New England England Edition Edition

accommodations, unlimited access to practice facilities, daily breakfast or lunch, and more player perks. Groups of 12 or more can also elevate their golf package with additional discounts on golf, upgraded accommodations, and a dedicated golf service manager to assist with trip details before, during, and after your stay. And, for golfers looking to fine-tune their skills, the Innisbrook Golf Institute provides the perfect place for students to focus on the intricate mechanics of the game.

Off the course, guests will enjoy Innisbrook’s amazing resort facilities and a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, including six swimming pools, four unique restaurants, a full-service spa, and an awardwinning tennis facility. Newly renovated guest accommodations range from Deluxe Guest Rooms to Two-Bedroom Suites highlighted by separate living and dining areas, kitchens, and private balconies or patios.

At Innisbrook Resort, your enjoyment has no limits on and off the course. And now it’s your chance to discover for yourself why golfers from all over the world love to tee it up here.

Four Courses. One Destination.

Play where the pros play in Tampa Bay, Florida, on the legendary Copperhead Course — home of the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship.

Tee off on four signature courses, enjoy complimentary breakfast and lunch, and more with our Platinum Golf Package.

877.624.0693

InnisbrookResort.com www.GolfingMagazine.net

13

TRAVEL

S

Sweet Home Alabama

weet Home Alabama is more than just a song or a movie, although they both certainly evoke the spirit of the beautiful state. It’s also a mantra for the hard-working, friendly folks that travelers encounter along the way. From the bagboys and beverage cart girls on the worldclass golf courses to the servers and chefs in the award-winning restaurants, visitors are made to feel right at home, ensuring that time spent in Alabama is as sweet as the tea.

Sweet Home Alabama is a golfing destination unlike any other, as home to the original golf trail, modern and historic golf resorts, and over 32 miles of sugar-white beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Both the incomparable Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and the Arnold Palmerdesigned Craft Farms Resort in Gulf Shores put Alabama on the radar of traveling golf groups more than 27 years ago. The ensuing years have upgraded the state’s position on all types of vacation bucket lists by spawning award-winning hotels, spas, and luxurious resorts; exciting craft breweries with medal-quality beers; world-renowned bass fishing events and red snapper rodeos; and a thriving culinary scene,

ranging from fresh Gulf seafood and a unique BBQ Trail to James Beard-recognized chefs and restaurants.

Just a few of the golf resorts that make Alabama so special are Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, boasting an RTJ Golf Trail golf course,

90 miles) and has a fun, feature pool with patio bar and a three-story spa; The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa on Mobile Bay near Fairhope offering 36 holes of golf on the RTJ Golf Trail and all of the amenities of a worldclass resort; and Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Resort in Gulf Shores, Alabama’s only gulf-front golf resort offering a Jerry Pate-designed course and clubhouse and fairway condominiums, as well as beach homes to rent.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, with its eight hotels/resorts and 26 courses at 11 sites around the state, and Coastal Alabama Golf, the booking entity for nine premier golf courses and lodging options ranging from golf resorts and hotels to beachfront condos and homes in the Gulf Marriott Grand National Resort & Spa Shores-Orange Beach area, are eager to put together customized golf luxurious spa and delectable dining; Pursell packages for your foursome or group.

Farms just 45 minutes south of Birmingham, which is a unique golf resort with lodging Check out www.GolfAlabama.org options ranging from a boutique inn, 4 for more information on how you can bedroom golf cottages and an 8 bedroom make Sweet Home Alabama your next golf lodge, along with the award-winning destination or visit www.RTJGolf.com and FarmLinks golf course; Marriott Grand www.CoastalAlabamaGolf.com to book National Resort & Spa in Auburn-Opelika today. is the closest resort to the Atlanta airport (just

Kiva Dunes Golf & Beach Resort 14 14

GolfingMagazine Magazine••New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition Golfing

Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountains to the coast you can take it all in.

www.GolfAlabama.org

Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham

www.GolfingMagazine.net

15

TRAVEL

The Golf Island – Hilton Head Island, SC A Golf Vacation Unlike Any Other

T

he Hilton Head IslandBluffton area of South Carolina is home to 26 fantastic golf courses, world-class beaches and an unparalleled variety of vacation accommodations, lowcountry dining choices and off-the-course activities.

Recently Voted the #1 Golf Destination in North America Golf is played 365 days a year on The Golf Island, with 16 onisland courses, including the famous Harbour Town Golf Links at The Sea Pines Resort, and 10 off-island layouts. The breathtaking natural beauty of the area attracted some of the games greatest architects...Robert Trent Jones, Davis Love III, Rees Plan Your Hilton Head Island Golf Trip Jones, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Online Jack Nicklaus, George Fazio...just to name a few. Hilton Head Island is also home to the We make planning your golf vacation RBC Heritage, an area tradition where the from start to finish easy on the the #1 trip world’s best golfers try to tame one of the planning site at www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland. most challenging stops on the PGA Tour. com. Browse all of the area’s golf courses, The Golf Island has proven year the many seasonal golf package offers, after year to be a golf lovers dream and accommodations options, off-the-course is the perfect destination for the annual activities and request a custom golf trip buddy golf trip, couples trips, girlfriend quote. With a few clicks of your mouse, getaways and parent-child weekends. your dream vacation can become a reality.

Oyster Reef Golf Club Visit the Award-Winning and Tour Favorite The Golf Island has been voted by PGA Tour players as their 2nd favorite stop on Tour and the #1 Island in the US by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards four years running. Simply put, no place does a golf vacation like Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. www.HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com

Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III Photo courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort and Rob Tipton 16 16

Golfing Magazine Magazine •• New New England England Edition Edition Golfing

Voted the 2020 Best Island in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler

No Place Does A Golf Trip Like

The Golf Island

HILTON HEAD ISLAND S O U T H

C A R O L I N A

26 Golf Courses • Amazing Beaches • Lowcountry Dining & So Much More

Browse Our Many Golf Vacation Ideas Now Online

HiltonHeadGolfIsland.com

Photo Courtesy of The Sea Pines Resort & Rob Tipton www.GolfingMagazine.net Photo Courtesy of Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort - Robert Trent Jones Course

17

TRAVEL

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort

F

On Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

or more than a half-century, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, nestled in the heart of legendary Hilton Head Island, SC, has stood proudly as a coastal southern destination that inspires relaxation and reliable comfort. Palmetto Dunes is a place that stirs the senses and creates a homecoming for family and friends by virtue of its 2,000 acres of amenities, including world-class golf, beach, biking, racquet sports and a plethora of other outdoor activities.

Little wonder why Palmetto Dunes has been named by Condé Nast as one of the “Top Resorts in the South” in its Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for four consecutive years.

Palmetto Dunes’ trio of championship golf courses — each distinctively different and uniquely appealing — were designed by three of the sport’s most renowned architects.

The Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio Courses have all been named South Carolina’s “Golf Course of the Year.”

Under the direction of former PGA Tour player Doug Weaver, the resort’s Golf Academy offers a variety of instructional programs for golfers of all skill levels. There is also a fun new Toptracer Range at the Robert Trent Jones Course.

Tennis Magazine ranks Palmetto Dunes among “The 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts,” with more courts than anywhere on the island, year-round play, instruction available for all skill levels. Palmetto Dunes

Robert Trent Jones Course, Hole# 10 also has 24 lighted pickleball courts and one of the most comprehensive instructional programs on the East Coast. Last year, the Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center was named “Pickleball Resort of the Year”

by Racquet Sports Industry Magazine.

Hilton Head Outfitters at Palmetto Dunes boasts the island’s largest fleet of bike rentals. They also have everything you and your family will need for the beach, from surf boards to beach umbrellas and everything in between. If getting out on the water is your thing, Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina — Hilton Head’s largest marina, located directly across the street from Palmetto Dunes — offers everything from access to deep water adventures, nature tours, fishing

charters, boat rentals, and more.

Make yourself at home in Palmetto Dunes’ selection of vacation rental homes located just steps from the course, the beach or the courts. Villa rentals and condominium-style complexes provide outstanding resort amenities, while larger vacation rental homes provide your family the room they need and space they’ll enjoy.

And of course, whether you’re in the mood to savor a steak or sample a sandwich, dining at the Palmetto Dunes restaurants, cafes and grills conveniently located on-site will provide exactly what you need. www.PalmettoDunes.com

George Fazio Course, Hole #16 18

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Three World-Class Golf Courses One Exceptional Location

ROBERT TRENT JONES OCEANFRONT This famed oceanfront course is a local favorite and a must-play for every visitor.

HHHH by Fodor’s Golf Digest SC “Best Courses You Can Play”

ARTHUR HILLS

A shot-makers favorite and one of the Island’s most distinctive layouts. Golf Digest called it “the best of the three.”

HHHH12 by Fodor’s Golf Digest SC “Best Courses You Can Play”

Arthur Hills

George Fazio

Featuring 15 covered outdoor bays with high-speed cameras and TV monitors. Toptracer uses the same technology that tracks & displays ball ight in real-time during the television broadcasts of tournaments on the PGA Tour.

GEORGE FAZIO

A demanding par 70, the Fazio course offers great playing conditions with state-of-the-art Diamond Zoysia greens.

HHHH by Fodor’s Golf Digest America’s “Top 100”

Toptracer is great to practice, track all your shot data and dive into the analysis of your swing.

You can use the technology to monitor your progress and highlight areas of improvement!

NEW!

Book online at: PalmettoDunesToptracerRange.com

Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront

www.PalmettoDunes.com • Call 843-593-9123

www.GolfingMagazine.net

19

TRAVEL

S

Santee, Couth Carolina

antee Cooper Golf Resort now features the state of South Carolina’s only 18hole putting course! The Palmetto Traverse is a 35,000 square-foot natural grass putting experience that will challenge the serious putter and create great fun for those just out for enjoyment. The Palmetto Traverse lies steps from the resort’s villas and townhouses. Those on a Resort golf package enjoy unlimited play during their stay.

The Most Fun, Value-Packed Golf Vacation The top priority at Santee Cooper Resort is to provide a golf trip for guests that is fun and loaded with value. This is why 85% of Resort customers repeat every year. From great golf and first-class accommodations to BBQ dinners, golf shop gift cards and deeply discounted replay rounds, the golf vacation experience is second to none. And, to top it all off, the Resort recently opened the first 18-hole, natural grass putting course in South Carolina to extend the fun into the wee hours! You will be charmed with good ol’ southern hospitality and wowed with an experience you and your group will never forget!

13 Fun-Filled Golf Courses to Play Santee Cooper Resort features two, 18hole courses that have been the perennial favorites of traveling golfers for more than 30 years. Eleven other championship courses dot the landscape in Santee and the surrounding area, giving you have lots of choices. Many of these fine courses have been ranked by Golf Digest’s Places to PlayGuide. Enjoy classic tree-lined layouts, dramatic elevations and views of beautiful Lake Marion. As you play your way around Santee, you will notice each and every course has been designed for maximum enjoyment and a thrilling challenge.

Lake Marion Golf Townhouses Due to the overwhelming demand for quality on-course lodging in the area, 10 new Lake Marion Golf Townhouses were added in mid-2016, bringing the total number of units available for your next golf vacation stay to 34. The Townhouses are located along the fairways of Lake Marion Golf Course. These spacious units average 1500 sq. ft. each and feature two bedrooms with four extended full beds, 2.5 bathrooms, an over-sized fully-equipped kitchen, outdoor patio, three televisions with satellite TV featuring 160

channels with HD options, complimentary WiFi service and daily towel service, plus a gas grilling station. Each unit has two levels, all with ground entry. The second bedroom and bath are located upstairs.

Lake Marion Golf Villas Each of these 24 units averages 1250 sq. ft. and allows easy one-level access to all amenities and living space, with a choice of a ground floor or second floor entry. Guests enjoy two bedrooms, with four full beds, two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, outdoor patio, three televisions with satellite TV featuring 160 channels with HD options, complimentary WiFii service, an in-unit washer and dryer and a conveniently-located shared charcoal grilling station.

All Resort guests also enjoy exclusive access to the new outdoor swimming pool (open seasonally) and use of the Hospitality Clubhouse featuring gathering space for groups of 16-64 complete with a kitchen area, flat screen TV and expansive scoreboards. www.SanteeCooperGolf.com

Lake Marion Golf Course, 1st Hole 20 20

Golfing Magazine Magazine •• New New England England Edition Edition Golfing

YOUR GOLF TRIP PLAYGROUND

SANTEE SOUTH CAROLINA

SANTEE COOPER GOLF RESORT

HOME OF THE ALLINCLUSIVE GOLF PACKAGE 36 Holes of Golf Just Steps from Our WellAppointed Golf Villas and Townhouses Unlimited Play on the New, Palmetto Traverse SC’s Only 18-Hole, Natural Grass Putting Course $10 Replay Rounds of Golf Lake Marion Golf Shop Gift Card Breakfast Daily and Weekly Dinner (Seasonal)

35,000 Square Feet of Pure Putting Fun!

SANTEE COOPER GOLF RESORT | (800) 344-6534 • www.SanteeCooperGolf.com www.GolfingMagazine.net

21

TRAVEL

North Carolina’s Outer Banks The Ultimate Coastal Golf Destination

L

ocated at the top of North Carolina’s barrier islands, the Outer Banks divides the Atlantic Ocean from the Currituck Sound. With so many holes along the waters completely surrounding the Outer Banks, it’s hard to imagine a more picturesque and exciting place to tee it up.

The OBX is not the trumped-up, touristy golf destination that has developed over time in other coastal towns. Instead, it is a throwback coastal retreat with a charm that is preserved not only in its distinct culture but across many of its big-name golf designs as well. In recent years, the OBX has begun to assert itself as a true golf destination, with an array of courses that are more closely tied to all of nature’s coastal elements than what you’ll find in other East Coast golf destinations.

Nags Head Golf Links features several holes routed right along the Roanoke Sound.

With its coastal winds, rugged shoreline, island holes, seaside vistas, and tees and greens are separated by rolling dunes and wild sea grass, Nags Head bears far more than a passing resemblance to the famed Scottish golf links.

The Currituck Club is a Rees Jonesdesign located on the top end of the barrier island. This grand design along the coast was “sculpted on the type of land where golf began” among 600 acres of dunes, wetlands, maritime forests and sound seascapes.

Located on the mainland, Kilmarlic Golf Club is an upscale Tom Steele design set amidst 605 beautiful acres of maritime forest that provides a pure OBX layout with water and wetlands virtually in play at all times.

Kilmarlic has played host to many state open championships, as well as an annual Intercollegiate tournament.

Kilmarlic Golf Club The Pointe Golf Club is a traditional design that spreads out across the rural Carolina mainland. The Pointe is known as the most player-friendly course on the Outer Banks and consistently offers fairways and greens that are considered among the finest along the East Coast.

Last but not least, The Carolina Club is a big, brawny layout (especially in relation to the others in the region) that stretches to within lob wedge distance of 7,000 yards.

Designed by popular architects Russell Breeden and Bob Moore, the course features an island green par 3 that can be challenging to hit when the ocean breezes kick up and penetrate the mainland.

A wide range of top-shelf and equally eclectic accommodations can be found all along OBX. The area’s latest golf group accommodations are The Cottages at Kilmarlic. Located within the Kilmarlic

Resort and Golf Club, these well-appointed cottages feature two-bedrooms, two baths, full kitchen, living room and back deck complete with a gas grill – providing the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the view of the lighted putting green. A four-hole par-3 short course called “The Killie” wraps around the Cottages for added fun during your golf vacation stay.

There is no denying the quality of the golf on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But whatever combination of golf courses you choose on your visit, just don’t go there thinking that the trip is going to be a stepping stone to something greater. The OBX golf experience can certainly hold its own against all others – near or afar. A golf getaway to the Outer Banks is simply one you and your friends will greatly enjoy.

For golf package information visit www.PlayOBXGolf.com.

Nags Head Golf Links, 18th Hole 22 22

Golfing Golfing Magazine Magazine •• New New England England Edition Edition

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Nags Head Golf Links

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We Specialize in Custom Golf Packages for Groups of All Sizes!

Package Information: (800) 916-6244 • www.PlayOBXGolf.com www.GolfingMagazine.net 23

GETAWAY

The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge

By John Torsiello

C

A True Delight to Play

reated by legendary golfer and world-renowned golf architect Jack Nicklaus, The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, New York is a stunning track that was carved out of the mature forests and rolling hills of a 220-acre estate. It features rock formations, extreme elevation changes, and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

The layout measures 6,899 yards from the tips and plays to a par of 72 and the course is a unique golfing experience, with a layout and design that will challenge all individuals, regardless of handicap. In addition to the recreational golfer, the course draws metropolitan New York’s best players, PGA professionals, and even a few Tour players to give it their best against the master’s work.

“The Club at Mansion Ridge continues to push for the highest possible standards in guest service and golf course conditions,” said General Manager, Patrick Wynn. The property is managed by Troon Golf. “Our Superintendent, Rob Capecelatro, has now been with us for four years, and really has the place dialed in. Nick Schremser, our Director of Golf, continues to work with his team to ensure a smooth and friendly round

24 24

from the bag drop to the pro shop to our on course player assistants. Our pricing is done dynamically meaning that it is always based on availability. The further out you book the lower the rate you will receive most of the time.

“This has been a busy year for us. We’ve still seen an increase in the public play similar to last year, but more of the golf outings are returning. Most of our golfers live within about an hour of club. That includes a lot of northern New Jersey, New York City, Westchester County in New York and into Connecticut. We do see some guests coming from a little further like out on Long Island which is great to see, and we hope they can make the trip back again soon.”

Mansion Ridge is a stunning routing. “We have what is known as Bear’s Corner, which is holes 12 through 16,” explained Wynn. This is the toughest stretch of holes on the course and can make or break your round. Nine, a 540-yard par-five, is the hardest hole, but is surrounded by a few easier ones. The Bear’s Corner starts with a 167-yard par-three over water (the 12th) with large bunkers and a hazard directly over the green. The 13th is a medium length par-four but requires a good

Golfing GolfingMagazine Magazine• •New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition

approach shot in to a small green, a large bunker left is a hard place to get up and down from.”

Wynn continued, “On 14, you have to be positioned on the left hand side of the fairway to have a clear shot in to the green.

The green sits on top of the hill so your blind second shot is a real challenge. The par-five 15th requires a good tee shot to get to the top of the hill but thick woods left and trouble right could lead to a big number. Longer hitters may try to go for it in two, but the greenside bunkers swallow up a lot of these attempts.”

Wynn said the 16th doesn’t look intimidating on the scorecard but with a straight-up-the-hill tee shot and out of bounds left and trees right you need to be very precise. “The second shot is also uphill in to green with a false front. We call this Bear’s Corner not only for our course designer Jack Nicklaus but also this area sits up against a state park where you can see bears crossing the fairways on occasion.”

The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge Monroe, New York www.MansionRidgeGC.com 845-782-7888

Have you beaten Bear’s Corner?

Come try your best against the hardest stretch of holes at this Jack Nicklaus Signature design

A Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Awaits The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge | 1292 Orange Turnpike, Monroe, New York 10950 | 845.782.7888 /mansionridgegc.com

/mansionridge

@mansionridge

@mansionridgegc

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25

GETAWAY

Head to Cape Cod

For a Wonderful Autumn Golf Experience

By JOHN TORSIELLO

T

he mild days and cool nights on Cape Cod, Massachusetts keep golf course turf green and lush, even after the hot summer we had. And there is perhaps not a better place to play the game we love at this time of year than on this peninsula on the southeastern tip of the Bay State.

There are myriad courses located within an hour or two-hour drive from wherever you settle down for the night.

From championship 18-hole layouts, resort courses and charming, old ninehole tracks, The Cape offers myriad golf options. Because of the close proximity to the warming waters of the Atlantic ocean, Cape Cod remains fairly mild throughout the year and courses will remain open yearround weather permitting.

When not banging drives or hitting seven-irons stiff to the pin, you can get away from it all on the beaches (quiet at this time of year), hiking trails, and shopping in cozy villages. Check out the numerous seafood restaurants and lobster shanties, where you can sample freshly-caught seafood and enjoy a beverage while sitting on a picnic table and gazing out into a harbor or the rolling ocean waves.

The National Seashore and its very informative visitor’s center, as well as a number of wildlife sanctuaries, feature miles of walking and biking trails and unfettered strolls along the beach. And it’s easy to find suitable accommodations, whether it is on the ocean or bay side of The Cape, a posh hotel in Chatham or a weathered cottage in the dunes in Wellfleet.

Thanks to Golfing Magazine’s comprehensive Course Play Stimulus Program, our subscribers can try out a number of courses on Cape Cod. Check out the details of this can’t miss offer in this issue.

Call 860-563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf. net to sign up.

Here are some courses to play on your autumn Cape Cod road trip.

Yarmouth is home to 45 holes of golf that encompasses the newly renovated Bayberry Hills Golf Course, the Links 9, and Bass River Golf Course.

The work at Bayberry Hills Golf Course (www.GolfYarmouthCapeCod. com) was undertaken by Tim Gerrish of Providence, R.I., a former member of the Geoffrey Cornish/Brian Silva team that laid out the track in 1988. Changes were made to make the nearly 7,300-yard course friendlier to the average golfer, yet maintain or even enhance the course’s challenge to the

Bayberry Hills Golf Course 26 26

Golfing Golfing Magazine Magazine •• New New England England Edition Edition

low handicap player.

Bunkers were re-positioned to enhance play options, and others replaced with closely mown collection areas on some holes, providing multiple options for greenside recoveries, fairway corridors have been widened, and green surrounds have been expanded.

Rough areas in the front of greens have been replaced by tightly mown fairway to create the illusion of false fronts in many cases. Fairway corridors were widened and tree lines thinned, allowing for recovery shots where previously none existed. This feature, accomplished through the removal of over 3,000 trees, provides enhanced course playability, along with a vast improvement in aesthetics and added panoramic course views.

The course’s original bunkers were also re-built to reduce sand area, while maintaining proper proportions and enhancing the original style. The bunkers were lined with pervious capillary concrete that allowed dramatic sand flashing, while reducing bunker face maintenance.

Forward teeing areas on four holes were added for more options in course setup and to provide additional user friendliness.

Three tees were re-surfaced, including a new championship tee on number three (a

Dennis Pines Golf Course par three), stretching the course to nearly 7,300 yards. In some cases, tees were located for better playability, and on other holes additional playing surface was added to provide varied play lines and more tee placements.

The Links 9, which is on the property at Bayberry, opened in 1999 and is a fun layout, with wide open fairways, solid par-threes and exposure to the Cape’s wind, which makes the course play different from day to day. A number of the holes are doglegs, which makes approach shots tricky if you don’t put your tee shot in the proper position. Number nine is a 195-yard par-three that demands an accurate shot over water to reach the green.

Bass River Golf Course (www.GolfYarmouthCapeCod. com)is over100 years old that the legendary Donald Ross renovated and expanded. The layout rolls along among trees and sandy hills and features narrow fairways, small greens

and views of nearby Bass River. The club’s signature hole is the sixth, a 169-yard parthree that plays across the river. The layout is on the short side, but the holes demand good shot making and a good short game, a typical Donald Ross demand on the player.

The Captains Golf Course (TheCaptainsGolfCCourse.com) in Brewster features 36 holes of golf on two very distinct 18-hole layouts. The club calls itself the Cape’s premier public golf facility, and the conditioning here is always excellent, and the golf challenging but approachable for players of all abilities.

The Port Course plays to a yardage of 6,724 yards and has a slope of 131 and a rating above its posted par of 72, which gives an indication of the difficulty of some of the holes.

One of the best holes is the 573-yard, par-five eighth. A pond guards the putting surface and there are several large fairway bunkers to complicate matters.

The Starboard Course plays around 6,800 yards and has a slope of 122. It’s a bit more “player friendly” than its sister layout, with wider fairways, large greens, and fewer bunkers than the Port Course, which makes it more suitable for midwww.GolfingMagazine.net

27

and higher handicap players.

Number 18 is a great finishing hole, a 534-yard par-five that can be reached in two by big hitters.

Dennis Highlands Golf Course (www.DennisGolf.com), in the town of Dennis, is situated on 175 acres of pine and oak forest on the north side of Dennis.

Designed by Jack Kidwell and Mike Hurdzan and opened for play in 1984, Dennis Highlands is considered by some to be one of the “crown jewels” in the traditional list of fine Cape Cod golf courses. It boasts a spectacular practice range and offers a visually enjoyable golf experience.

Dennis Pines Golf Course (www.DennisGolf.com) is located on 170 acres of pine forestland in East Dennis.

Designed by Henry C. Mitchell and opened for play in 1966, Dennis Pines has long been noted as one of the toughest layouts on Cape Cod. Tree-lined corridors place a great premium on accuracy rather than distance.

Water comes into play on four holes, and the 12th hole is known as one of the most difficult par-fives anywhere. The Pines plays 7,029 yards from the tips and will provide the most accomplished players a true test of golf.

The Captains Golf Course The Club at New Seabury (www.

NewSeabury.com) is a great place to visit and stay for awhile at this time of year. Stunning ocean views frame the 1,500-acre property, which boasts two recently renovated championship golf courses and Sea Quarters accommodations. Whether you are visiting, exploring a club membership or second/ new home, The Club at New Seabury offers it all. The premier private golf community boasts resort amenities, as well as fine and casual dining, all with spectacular views of Nantucket Sound.

Golf enthusiasts will love the Ocean (amazing views) and Dunes courses and also have unlimited use of the resort’s practice facility and professional instruction. If you want to complement your golf experience with other recreational interests, there is no shortage of activities at New Seabury. If you stay on property, you can dine at the upscale 95 Shore restaurant and bar, visit The Sand Wedge Bistro for breakfast and lunch, or check out nearby classic Cape Cod venues.

Visit www.CapeCodChamber.org for information.

The Club at New Seabury 28 28

GolfingMagazine Magazine••New NewEngland EnglandEdition Edition Golfing

1st Hole at Brooklawn Country Club

Come enjoy the day at one of the top 10 public courses in Massachusetts.

Relax before or after your round on the new Heron’s Nest deck with lunch, dinner or your favorite 19th hole refreshments!

BLACKstone national golf club 227 Putnam hill road, Sutton, MA 01590 508-865-2111 • www.bngc.net

50 minutes from Boston, 15 minutes from Worcester and 40 minutes from Hartford

www.GolfingMagazine.net

29

MUST PLAY

Canaan Country Club Good Golf and Food

By John Torsiello

W

hen Joseph Quattrocchi took a glance at Canaan Country Club in northwest Connecticut he knew he had found what he was looking for.

“Someone approached me about wanting to create a club,” said the Canaan resident and owner of a classic auto restoration business in New York State. “I liked the idea and started looking around at land, saw the country club, thought it was very interesting and said, `Let’s think about this.’ I knew it was for sale. I liked the idea that it had an existing restaurant and the building had good bones so we started negotiations to buy the property.”

Canaan Country Club, a nine-hole course built in 1931, sits on slightly more than 200 acres with several holes bordering the scenic Blackberry River. The course plays 2,941 yards from the back tees and plays to a par of 35.

Two of the par-trees, the third and eighth holes, are very challenging, each playing around 185 yards. The tee shots on both must be well struck to reach elevated greens. Perhaps the best hole on the course is the 380-yard par-four sixth.

It demands a well placed tee shot that steers clear of wetlands to the right and pine trees on the left, and then it’s across a small stream to a putting surface sloped from back to front.

Quattrocchi has ambitious plans for the property. In fact, he’s already been busy making changes to the restaurant, which was renamed the Belted Cow Farmhouse Tavern offering lunch and dinner menus and libations.

“I took a flyer and figured that we would get the deal done, so we renovated the bathrooms in the clubhouse and made some changes to the dining area. I didn’t want to just use a large space we have in the building strictly for banquets and

other events. So we installed booth seating and set up moveable partitions to separate it from the larger event pace and give it a cozy feeling.

When we do have a larger event, we simply take the hanging partitions away and open the room up to allow for more people.”

On the renaming of the restaurant, Quattrocchi said, “The Belted Cow is a breed we felt was appropriate for the rural area where the club is located. We put pictures of belted cows on the walls inside the restaurant to give it a unique feel and reflect the name.”

The Belted Galloway is a traditional Scottish breed of beef cattle. It derives from the Galloway cattle of the Galloway region of south-western Scotland.

The new owner also set up an expanded outdoor dining area in front of the clubhouse that has been popular with golfers and guests.

The driveway into the property was also repaved.

Omni Mount Washington Resort Golf Course 30

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

“We don’t need to get a lot more people to the course,” said Quattrocchi. “We we do want is for people to experience a restaurant that is different than the old one. We will get the place rocking and rolling.”

He also has plans for the golf course that includes drainage work to several of the holes.

The course’s sand bunkers are also being repaired or renovated. And work is and will be done around the edges of the course to remove dead trees and perhaps open views of the Blackberry River that rolls alongside he second hole and past the third tee box.

Canaan Country Club’s course is open seven days a week until November, weather permitting, and is located a half mile south of the junction of routes 7 and 44. www.CanaanCountryClub.com

Where Memories Begin.

Call for Tee Times or check out our New Online Tee Times site

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

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33

MUST PLAYS

W

Wentworth Hills Country Club

e know golfing is fun. The ownership at Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville, Ma. is intent on making it even more enjoyable.

The club has purchased a new fleet of “Shark” golf carts that allows players to remain in contact with the clubhouse throughout a round. They can order food and refreshments while playing the front nine and pick up orders at the turn. In addition, the carts offer yardages and golfers can even watch video tips from Greg Norman between their own shots.

The club has a unique “challenge” that gets golfers who ante up $5 or $10 on top of their greens fees a shot at a $10,000 or $20,000 prize if they make a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th hole.

And, the club has developed an app for cell phones that make the user a member of the “Wentworth Hills community” once they get the app. Individuals are notified of discounts on greens fees and other promotions and specials. A map of the course and yardages are automatically available on the user’s phone when accessing the app. ”We are trying to keep up with the younger generation that is so into technology,” said one of the club’s owners, Constant Poholek. “The hole-inone challenge is a game within the game and money

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www.WentworthHillsCountryClub.com

Heather Hill County Club

ith 27 holes of golf, Heather Hill Country Club in Plainville, Ma., makes for a full day of golfing fun. The club offers one regulation 18-hole course and one nine-hole course.

The North Course (nine holes) has a few hills that can cause uneven lies.

The fairways are narrow, and the greens are small. The South Course (18 holes) has many more hills than the North Course, but doesn’t have a lot of sand bunkers. The fairways are wide open, but most are tree lined, so you just can’t spray it around and get away with it. The greens are large, and water hazards come into play on three holes.

The 18-hole course plays around 6,000 yards from the tips and has a mix of short- and medium-length par-fours, tricky par-threes, and two par-fives that can reached in two shots by big hitters. One of those par-fives is the 478yard third that is very straightforward with few hazards complicating matters, although there are two bunkers near the putting surface. The seventh and eighth are solid back-to-back par-threes, playing almost 200 yards and 180 respectively.

The back side has three short par-fours that allow you a real chance at birdie, the 334-yard 13th, the 317-yard 14th, and the final hole, a 317-yarder.

Number 12 is a good par-five that plays 516 yards from the tips, with the hole doglegging to the right, which may demand a precise layup shot to set up a wedge approach.

The nine-hole layout measures 3,368 yards from the tips. It begins with a 157-yard par-three, with the toughest stretch of holes coming at three through five. The third, a par-four, plays 400 yards, while the fourth is a challenging 500-yard par-five.

The club has a restaurant and bar for after-round enjoyment. www.HeatherHillCountryClub.com 34

we receive helps out charitable causes. We are trying to do things to make golf even more fun and keep people coming back.”

The club also continues its popular “cigar nights” where players get a round of nine holes, a cigar and dinner for a reasonable fee that changes according to the dinner provided by the club.

Wentworth Hills is a fun course to play, offering classic risk/reward holes that dare low-handicappers to “go for it,” while allowing for alternate routes to the green for less experienced golfers. The varied natural topography here features rolling, treelined fairways, large, receptive greens, ponds and lakes protecting holes, and 60 strategically-placed bunkers.

The course, while playing just over 6,200 yards from the tips, has a slope of 128 and a rating equal to its par of 71. The track places emphasis on proper club selection and accurate approach shots to the putting surfaces.

Wentworth Hills is located between Boston and Providence and only minutes from Route 495, which makes it an ideal destination for golfers from the Metro Boston area to Federal Hill in Providence.

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

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MUST PLAYS

D

Cold Spring Country Club

esigned to bring world class golf to Western Massachusetts, Cold Spring Country Club, is an 18-hole semi-private course located about midway between Springfield and Worcester in scenic Belchertown, Ma. Designed by Mary Armstrong, completed in 2010 and opened for play in 2012, Cold Spring Country Club is an up-and-coming par 71 golf course, with its 6,521 yards set on rolling hills that boast of breathtaking vistas in nearly every direction. Each hole has up to 5 sets of tees, enabling golfers of all levels to play an exciting mix of six par 3s, seven par 4s and five par 5s.

It all starts with a tough 216-yard parthree. From the highest tee box on the course, enjoy a complete panoramic view of Central Massachusetts facing south. Normally you will need one less club because of the steep drop,

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Crystal Lake Golf Club

ince 1960, Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill, Ma. has been one of the premiere public golf courses in the Merrimack Valley, located only 35 minutes from downtown Boston.

The course offers some of the finest rolling bent grass greens in the area, lush wide fairways, light rough, manicured bunkers, rolling tree-lined terrain, and a well-thought out design

by Geoffrey Cornish of Cornish Golf Designs.

Crystal Lake provides a fun, yet challenging round of golf that will be played under four and half hours on weekends.

Every club in your bag will be used and a memorable golf experience is guaranteed.

The club is also known as one of the best priced courses for the value in New England, with a caring staff, and a proactive 36

but watch the wind here. If constant prevailing winds are in player’s face it will require one or two more clubs. The trees on either side of the tee box will keep players honest, by making them hit down the chute. But there’s lots of wide open room the rest of the way.

The par-five 495-yard seventh hole plays right to left off the tee and with a good tee

shot a player can get home in two. The best shot is a driver with a big draw to a large landing area. Just beware of the bunkers on the right side.

How well you score depends on your 3rd shot into the green. You will need to pick which side of the green to shoot for--choose right or left depending on the placement of the pin. There are unique double approaches created by a large “bump” that protects the center of the green.

The 18th is a nice finisher, a 386-yard par-four that plays quite a bit longer. There is plenty of room off the tee with fairway bunkers on the left. If you play from the back tees you must hit a good drive, with the tee shot taking you over Roaring Brook, and your second shot is severely uphill to a very well-bunkered green with a false front. www.ColdSpringCC.com.

Situated near Crystal Lake, the course features a multitude of challenging yet approachable holes for all types of players. Take the fifth for instance. The par-five plays around 500 yards from the tips and bends ever so softly to the right, which makes going for the green in two shots risky.

membership program, including a “fun” tournament event calendar.

Acquired by Sterling Golf Management in 2018, Crystal Lake Golf Club continues to provide guests and members with a unique and affordable golf experience.

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

The 18th is a very reachable-intwo 448-yard par five where birdie, or perhaps even an eagle, can really bring your round to a delightful conclusion. www.CrystalLake-Golf.com

MUST PLAYS

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Laurel Lane Country Club

hen golfers visit Laurel Lane Country Club in West Kingston, R.I. they will not only enjoy a challenging layout they will be playing at what owner Joe Videtta believes is the only totally solar powered golf club in New England, and maybe the Northeast.

Videtta, who owns the course with his brother Mike, installed a solar farm on about an acre of property the course sits on. The farm, which houses 14 solar arrays near the course’s eighth, ninth and 11th holes, were purchased from All Earth Renewables, a Vermontbased firm, and installed by general contractor Anthony Barrow. The units came on line last fall and power the entire golf course, from the pump station that controls irrigation to the clubhouse.

“Laurel Lane is located on about 180 acres, so it was an ideal location to install a solar farm,” said Joe Videtta, who also owns Country Club and Country View Golf Club in Rhode Island and Pine Ridge Country Club in Massachusetts.

“We already had an electrical source near the pump station, which cut down on the total cost,” which was half a million dollars.

The cost of the solar farm will be offset somewhat by Federal tax credits, depreciation, and a Rhode Island program that allows for

the owner of a property to finance 100 percent of such a project.

One unique aspect of the solar panels is that they are not fixed but can rotate to follow the sun. Videtta said this type of farm is between 30 to 40 percent more efficient than fixed solar panel arrays. The field is about 40,000 square feet in size. “We had to change the location of the eighth tee to accommodate the farm.”

Videtta commented, “We are saving on our energy costs and the system is warranted for 25 years. Everyone thinks it is very cool and when they know that ownership if doing something with the environment in mind that are pleased.

In fact, I have had golfers come up to tell me how happy they are that we did this.”

The project has been so successful that Videtta Golf Management is even more committed to changing the way we receive our energy. Plans are for a solar farm to be set up at Country View Golf Club in Harrisville.

“We are already planning for Country View,” said Videtta. “We are excited about bringing that course on line with solar power as well.”

For more information about Videtta Golf Management or any of its courses (all members of Golfing Magazine’s Course Play Stimulus Program), visit www.LaurelLaneCountryClub.com, or call 508-892-9188.

www.GolfingMagazine.net

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MUST PLAYS TOURNAMENT MUST PLAYS

Newton Commonwealth Golf Course

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ewton Commonwealth Golf Course in Newton, Ma. is an exceptionally groomed course located just minutes from downtown Boston.

The year 1997 marked the centennial anniversary of the club, which was redesigned in 1920 by the renowned architect, Donald Ross. The layout offers a short, but challenging round of golf, featuring quick greens and relatively narrow fairways.

Course management is essential, as many a big hitter has discovered, with water and sand bunkers scattered about.

The course has benefited from constant upgrades and beautification under the management of Sterling Golf. Several tees have been rebuilt and landscaped, bunkers have been renovated, and a recent addition to the clubhouse has added changing rooms with showers and increased the seating capacity for outings. French doors on this addition overlook a new stone-tiled patio with outdoor seating for patrons who wish to relax after a round.

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Blackstone National Golf Club

he par-five 18th at Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton. Ma, is a favorite for anyone who has played it. The hole measures just 485 yards from the tips, but it’s loaded with all kinds of trouble if you wander.

The tee shot must be true to find a landing area protected by wetlands and woods.

Big hitters can reach the putting surface in two shots after a strong drive, but the approach is uphill and there are a number of deep bunkers guarding the putting surface.

The smart play is to lay up in front of the green and knock the ball onto the putting surface with a wedge.

The 18th is a solid finisher and just one indication of the thoughtful approach Rees Jones put into the layout. The course is tucked into the wooded countryside of the Blackstone Valley area of southeastern part of the Bay State.

One of the sweetest aspects of the track is that while it is challenging for the best players, Jones incorporated only a few forced 38

Newton Commonwealth GC Newton, MA www.SterlingGolf.com.

carries, which makes it playable for midand even high-handicappers. Ample fairways allow a player to stay in the hole even after a less than perfect tee shot. There is bunkering guarding the rather large greens,

Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

so it is important to choose the proper club to find the target.

Blackstone National Golf Club Sutton, MA www.BNGC.net

Book tee times on-line at www.golfrockledge.com

TOURNAMENT INSTRUCTION

CAN’T HIT IT STRAIGHT?

By Sue Kaffenburg

FACE YOUR PROBLEM KNOW YOUR PATH Don’t you hate it when your ball doesn’t end up where you intended and aimed? I’ve heard all your shouted frustration, as if the miss wasn’t caused by you! Time to FACE the fact that you have no correct clues about what made the ball misbehave! Just like FACEBOOK, there are influencers that are responsible for the direction your ball travels. Those main “influencers” are the FACE of the club, #1, and the PATH of that clubface, #2.

First, let’s make sure your aim is “spot” on. In a previous article, you learned about aiming your clubface, getting perspective from behind your ball and picking a “spot” on the ground 2-3 feet in front of the ball in line with the target. Use that visual spot to align the FACE of your club. The FACE of the club gives the ball the initial direction information. Keeping the FACE square and perpendicular to the PATH should be on your intention list.

Hit small shots at a slow speed with no wrist involvement to allow your hands and wrists to get a feel for their role just before, during and just after impact. Educate your hands by having intention and putting attention on the position of that club FACE in this critical zone!!

Next, it’s important to identify the optimum PATH of the club in a regular full swing. The white wooden plank in the pictures represents the target line. Many of you mistake this white plank as the path or “road” you’re trying to swing your club on. You forget you are standing to the side of the ball to propel it. The croquet guy might have success sending his mallet down the white plank to produce a straight ball, but you can’t utilize his same path and expect straight!

Stand tall and hold a club chest high with straight arms extended out. Notice as you twist your body swinging the club horizontal to the ground that the club head traces an arc around you. This is the path for the clubhead, indicated by the alignment sticks in the photos. You probably thought you were supposed to swing the club along the plank! Experience how awkward that feels, making the club swing along the straight white plank! The angled alignment rods define lanes on the ground that identify the more effective

path to straighter hits. Notice how the club FACE is square and perpendicular and in the lane defined by the alignment rods through the swing motion. Think of it as your new “waze” routing… for the road to straighter shots!

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39

Sue Kaffenburgh, PGA/LPGA Bayberry Hills Golf Course, Yarmouth, MA. www.GolfLessonsCapeCod.com SusiePGA@comcast.net 508-364-GOLF (4653)

INSTRUCTION

MUST PLAYS TOURNAMENT

Strike The Ball Consistently

By Gene Mulak One of Ben Hogan’s supposed famous “secrets” was that he would cup his lead (left) wrist at the top of his back swing. This was to insure that his club face would be open to the intended target line at impact and start the ball to the left of his target and fade back to the target. This is certainly no secret to a golfer who struggles with a slice.

Most golfers who struggle with a slice will tend to roll the club face open excessively going to the top of their back swing and as a result not be able to time the face to close fast enough to hit the shot solid. To produce shots with an improved start line, a golfer should reduce the amount the club face will roll open going back and in turn feel the face stay down swinging back. Try to produce a back swing where your trail hand (right for a RH golfer) has the palm pointing down. This will keep the face more on the swing plane and allow for a much straighter shot. Producing shots with a more consistent start line for the ball is the first step in lowering your handicap.

A drill I do with a lot of y students to help with wrist control is to insert a popsicle stick into the top side of your golf glove. This will keep the lead wrist flat and help with more consistent and accurate ball striking. Give it a try for your self. Watch the video for a more complete explanation and let me know how it works for you.

Cupped Left Wrist

Flat Lead Wrist

Insert a Popsicle Stick into glove of lead wrist

Click Here to Watch Video

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

Gene Mulak is the Director of Golf at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, CT . Gene is a certified Stack & Tilt instructor. He can be reached at (774) 4061549 or Golf@SilverSpringCountryCC.org

INSTRUCTION

Bump Up Drill

By George Connor

In the last issue I gave you the “One Handed Drill.” It is still one of my favorites. The “Bump Up Drill” which I often use as a progression from the onehanded swings. Golfers will instinctively attempt to control the club. It makes sense that the player will do this and do it more when things are going poorly.

Reminder: When something makes sense to fix something in the swing, it most often will make things work.

As I describe in the video, this drill is designed to take your ability to control the club away from you. The more the club truly swings, the better your ball striking will become. A few points I would like to stress are: 1. Initially I want you only to hinge the wrists. The handle does NOT move into the backswing. Hang out there for a few seconds. I want you to “start” the swing from this position with a full wrist hinge and the club horizontal to the ground.

2. We do NOT lift the golf club with our arms. The shoulders make a small burst of energy (lead shoulder going down and across your body). This will bounce the arms into the air. You are doing this correctly when you feel the club go weightless as if the arms and club are floating to the top of the swing.

3. Once you have put the momentum into the club to rise to the top of the swing, it is time to start turning the lower body towards the finish. Allow the arms to fall and the turn to get the club to land in the proper spot. This is much different than using the arms to direct the club towards the ball.

Initially I want you only to hinge the wrists.

Use the Bump Drill to get away from controlling the club and get back to allowing the club to swing. When you give away control to freedom you will add consistency to your ball striking.

The shoulders make a small burst of energy

Click Here to Watch Video

George Connor is the Head Golf Instructor at Farmington Woods Country Club in Avon, CT. 860-830-6969 or George@ConnorGolf.com www.GolfingMagazine.net

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Golfing Magazine • New England Edition

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