OUR 18th YEAR!
THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots
GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2019
DESERT MOUNTAIN GOLF’S BOLD STEP IN SCOTTSDALE
MT. WOODSON GOLF CLUB
WOLF CREEK GOLF CLUB DESERT GOLF TO THE IMAX
GOLF ONLY PART OF THE EXPERIENCE Golf Vacations • April 2019 1 Plus: ASIA PACIFIC GOLF SUMMIT IS INDIA BOUND
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GOLF VACATIONS APRIL 2019
Wolf Creek Golf Club, Mesquite, Nevada
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Chip Shots
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Wolf Creek Golf Club
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Desert Mountain: Golf’s Bold Step in Scottsdale
by David R. Holland
MESQUITE, NV – Wolf Creek Golf Club was constructed in the western desert, with golf target panoramas that swell to the IMAX. Giddy, excited golf journalists from all over the world have described its beauty.
by Tim Cotroneo
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Unless it’s attached to the words “under par,” seven is the last number you want emblazoned on your golf scorecard. That’s unless you are Desert Mountain’s Bill Brownlee or Wendell Pickett, and this number not only places you in the company of Jack Nicklaus, it’s also linked to the future of golf.
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Mt. Woodson GC: Golf Is Only Part of the Experience
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Sweet Stuff
by David R. Holland
RAMONA, CA – Mellow, laid back, friendly, accommodating, picturesque, rugged, fun and narrow. That’s Mount Woodson Golf Club located in the boulder-strewn hills and among ravines above San Diego and near Escondido.
by Terry Ross
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Your gateway to 120 golf courses . . . A boutique hotel for your next desert trip
74-470 Abronia Trail, Palm Desert CA
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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Tim Cotroneo is a Mineapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Caribbean travel, business, and golf. Tim is a long-time contributor to Tee Times Press and he’s also the Travel Writer for American Business Magazine.
Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz
JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling the Pocono Mountains his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Tenerife, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.
Associate Editor Terry Ross
Features Editor JD Latorre
Senior Writers Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.
Tim Cotroneo Larry Feldman David R. Holland Dave McKibben
For Editorial:
call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. “Multiple careers” best describes this world traveler (visited 35 countries), who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve. Holland splits home time in Colorado and Texas. He has written for GolfWeek’s Superintendent News, Colorado AvidGolfer, Midwest Golfing Magazine, South Central Golf Magazine and Fairway to Green. He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, UPI and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Follow Dave on Twitter @David_R_Holland.
Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com
Published by
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tony Creek Media
President Jeffrey Diaz
3 Lehigh Avenue, #222 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 (760) 774-2655 StonyCreekMedia.com
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Cimarron Communications President/CEO James A. Diaz
Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2019 Stony Creek Media, LLC, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
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APGS 2019 Is India-Bound!
he Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS), the longest running summit on the business of golf is now in its thirteenth year and it is only fitting that it is headed to one of the Planet’s oldest civilisation – INDIA! India is no stranger to golf when you consider that it is home to the Royal Calcutta Golf Club which was established in 1829 and is the oldest golf club in India and the first outside Britain. This is some testimony to golf and to India. Against this backdrop, the staging of APGS 2019 is both historic and a milestone. The Summit could not have asked for a more colourful and historic setting than India which offers a spectacular tapestry of rich and exotic culture and tradition that spans a period of more than 5,000 years. Unlike past Summits, APGS 2019 aims to look at the future of golf through the prism of the vision and wisdom of an ancient land with the hope of drawing new inspiration to guide the industry forward into the future. The paradox of India is that while it is wrapped up in a mythical veil of magical wonder dating back to centuries, it is also a nation that is right in the midst of the 21st century and actively making major contributions towards modern civilisation. It possesses the hunger and drive to embrace what is new and to drive current trends in all walks of life to new heights. It is this vibrance that prompted APGS 2019 to select India to be the venue for the Summit. “We have considered India as a possible venue since 2012 but we did not have the fortitude to take on the challenge of staging APGS in a nation as vast and diverse as India,” said Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of APGS. “We believe that we have a venue and a country that is going to lead the thrust and growth of golf in Asia and together with China and the rest of Asia, we will see a whole new world centre for golf emerge in the not too distant future,” declared Sebastian. India is already a force especially in professional golf with the likes of early pioneers like Jeev Milka Singh and Arjun Atwal who took Indian golf to the world stage. Arjun has gone down in history as the first Indian who earned full playing rights on the PGA Tour and won a tournament on that Tour. He was also the first man to win over US$1 million on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2003. Collectively, Atwal together with Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur and Shubhankar
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Sharma have demonstrated to the world that the second world’s most populous nation in the world has the pedigree and the game to play host to APGS 2019. The venue for APGS 2019 will be the stunning cyber-city of Gurugram which serves as a spectacular show-piece of the new face
centred around “A 5G – Mindset For Golf’s Future”. It is analogous to the mind-numbing disruptive changes that the much awaited 5G technology is going to bring to the world. What is happening in the telco industry sets the stage on why and how the golf industry needs to adapt and cope with the hyper
of India. It is also the home to DLF Golf & Country Club, the nation’s foremost golf club and arguably amongst the best in the world. The show-dates will be in the last week of October and the first week of November 2019 and will be confirmed in early March. “We can assure you that in keeping to the true form of APGS, we will unveil some of the industry’s biggest names and the programme will feature a fascinating blend of new speakers and some of the favourite stalwarts of the Summit,” said Sebastian. According to Sebastian, while there is an official Summit hotel, the luxurious Taj City Centre Hotel, the Summit proper will be staged on the sprawling gardens of the DLF Golf Club. “A giant air-conditioned marquee tent will be constructed, complete with sophisticated sound and lighting systems and it will be the setting for APGS 2019 – it will be the first time that the Summit will actually be staged in and on a golf course,” Sebastian pointed out. A full infrastructure will be assembled to address all the needs of delegates and with DLF playing host, international delegates can look forward to a splendid “Maharajah’s” experience. Their aim is to stage the ‘biggest and the best’ Summit to date! The theme for APGS 2019 will be
change that is looming! The Summit will draw experts from all over the world and their prime focus will be to share proven best practices in the field of golf club and golf course management and like in the past, APGS 2019, will show-case leading edge know-how designed to help Asian operators to be the best that they can be! Besides the Summit, India will also play host to the grand 20th Anniversary of the prestigious ASIAN GOLF AWARDS, the industry’s version of the ‘Oscars’. The Asian Golf Awards on-line poll will be activated on April 1, 2019 and will be “live” for three months. THE BOLD DECISION has been taken and with the pace of golf course development hitting a frenetic pace in China, South Korea, Vietnam and India, there has never been a better time for the golf industry to come together and prepare for a road map to make Asia the new home of golf in the world! The official web site of APGS 2019 will be going “live” on March 20, 2019 and you can check it out at http://www.golfconference. org/ India is all set to welcome you for a wonderful and colourful experience like no other!
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Saigon River
The Reverie Saigon Launches Golf Yacht on Saigon River HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — The only thing more improbable than waterskiing on the Saigon River, as Lance did in Apocalypse Now, is golfing on the Saigon River. But the Reverie Saigon is about to change all that now that they’ve launched an eponymous 60-foot Monte Carlo 6 yacht. One of the 32-ton craft’s inaugural packages is Saigon Spettacolare, a fullday, 8-hour excursion anchored by an 18hole stop at Taekwang Jeongsan Country Club. Designed by American golf course architect Ronald Fream, the riverside greens routes its fairways up and down the island of Dai Phuoc, 60-minutes by boat from central Saigon. The package includes a picnic dinner, and a price tag that weighs in at 100 million Vietnamese dong, or US $4,300. For more information, visit: https:// www.thereveriesaigon.com/destination/ the-reverie-yacht
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Plan Your Dream Seaside Golf Retreat With Villa Tres Amores In Punta Mita, Mexico Punta Mita, MX – Punta Mita, a luxe private escape for the global elite along Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is home to a plethora of amenities ranging from world-class restaurants and beachside dining to endless outdoor adventure activities. There are few places better situated to indulging in panoramic ocean views and outdoor relaxation with friends and family, and the Punta Mita peninsula’s temperate weather makes it an ideal setting for some spectacular golfing year-round. The community is highlighted by two Jack Nicklaus-designed courses, both within a short golf cart ride to the well-appointed full-service Villa Tres Amores. Villa Tres Amores is a private rental property set in a residential community just a short walk from the harbor, beach clubs, and restaurants of Punta Mita. Located 26 miles from the coastal resort city of Puerto
Vallarta, the villa’s four bedrooms sleep 10 – 12 guests, making it an ideal setting for a laid-back bachelor party, reunion of college roommates, or a team-building trip among colleagues. The spectacular views, fabulous bar, on-site concierge and cook, along with a modern, sleek design make the property a unique destination for golf getaways, even overlooking hole 15 of the famed Punta Mita Bahia Course. Guests of Villa Tres Amores receive full access to both of the extraordinary golf courses located within the gated community – the Bahia and the Pacifico. Fourteen of Punta Mita’s thirty-seven holes have a tee or a green (or both) right on the Pacific Ocean. The Bahia Course features panoramic views of Bahia de Banderas, a hole nestled on the beach just steps from Punta Mita’s famed El Faro surf spot, stunning lakes and water features. The par-4 seventeenth swings dramatically left, ending at a wildly undulating, elevated green. The Bahia course
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS is the newer and tougher of the two, featuring breathtaking views of the blue-green sea, made more spectacular when migrating humpback whales can be seen breaching offshore. Lifewise, the Pacifico Course is home to the famed “Tail of the Whale,” the world’s only natural island green, set on a rock outcropping known for whale watching. When the tide is in, 3B is unreachable by cart. Pacifico, the first in Punta Mita, is an unparalleled private championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus over 200 pristine acres of lush rolling hills. The all-level course, developed with close attention to environmental planning, offers views across the Sierra Madre Mountains, Bahia de Banderas and the Pacific Ocean. Visitors to Villa Tres Amores can also enjoy full access to the nearby resorts of Punta Mita, easily accessible via complimentary on-site golf cart, including the St. Regis, Kapuri Beach Club, Playa Fortuna, and Residents Beach Club, alongside preferred tee times at the Punta Mita Golf Club. Villa Tres Amores’ stunning design includes objets d’arts sourced from the owners’ travels around the world, and reflect a modern, global aesthetic. Pricing starts from $2,295 per night in Low Season to $3,495 in High Season, with peak season holiday travel times starting from approximately $4,495 per night.
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island Offers “Heritage Collection Golf Package” Just in Time for Spring HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Widely recognized as one of the country’s finest golf destinations, Hilton Head Island has long been a choice for golfers of every skill level. Whether you are planning a visit to the picturesque island to attend the acclaimed 51st RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing golf tournament (April 15-21, 2019) at the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, or a golf excursion with friends, take advantage of the “Heritage Collection Golf Package” that is
being offered by Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Nestled along the coast of the scenic South Carolina island, the AAA Four Diamond-rated beachfront resort provides stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, access to miles of pristine white-sand beach and a wealth of on-site amenities of great appeal. In addition, it is convenient to 24 world-class golf courses around the island. The resort’s “Heritage Collection Golf Package” enables you to choose from 18 holes at either the Barony, Planter’s Row or Robber’s Row courses in Port Royal Plantation, or choose a combination of two of the three 9-hole golf courses in the resort’s own Shipyard Plantation. This package includes golf for two adults daily and breakfast for two each morning. Available through December 31, 2019, the package starts at $319 per night, plus taxes and service charges. Additional resort amenities include the full-service Arum Spa, five on-site restaurants and bars, zero-entry lagoon swimming pool, heated shade pool and hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, concierge services and summer activities including beach yoga and live music. Island excursions include bicycle rentals with 50 miles of paths for bicycling and hiking along the shore, world-class golf, tennis on 20 courts at the adjacent Van Der Meer Tennis Academy, and kayaking or paddle boarding on some of the best beaches in the country. The resort is also within minutes of the charming and popular Coligny Plaza shopping district, featuring more than 60 specialty shops and restaurants within walking distance of the beach. “Whether you want to golf on the island, walk on the soft whitesand beach, relax by the pool, enjoy a refreshing service at the spa, or enjoy the many other recreational options on the island, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is a terrific choice, as there is something to please virtually everyone in the family,” said Jay Wiendl, general manager of the resort. For more information or reservations, visit Sonesta.com/ HiltonHeadIsland , specifically http://bit.ly/hiltonheadoffers. Sonesta Resort, Hilton Head Island
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Wild Dunes Resort Gears Up for the 2019 Harbor Course, Wild Dunes Resort Masters and the Ultimate Golf Vacation CHARLESTON, S.C., March 21, 2019 – Taking place at Augusta National Golf Club, only a three hour drive from Charleston, the 2019 Masters Tournament will draw golf fans from near and far for four days of competitive play April 11-14. Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination Hotel, is offering families and friends looking to road trip to and from this celebrated event, the chance to experience relaxation, sunshine and award-winning golf with its new Road to the Masters Package. Available for stays April 1-21, with rates starting at $404 per person, per night, this package includes the following: • Accommodations in the resort’s AAA Four-Diamond Rated Boardwalk Inn, the Village at Wild Dunes or in the resort’s luxury condos • One round of golf, with cart fees included, on the Links Course • One round of golf, with cart fees included, on the Harbor Course • Bucket of balls & full range access • Daily breakfast at Huey’s Southern Eats “We can’t wait to welcome players of all skill levels to experience our Tom Fazio-designed Links and Harbor Courses for the ultimate Masters golf vacation this year,” shares Wild Dunes Resort’s Golf Director Jeff Minton. “Whether coming from the north or south, our resort is an unbeatable pit-stop for families and friends headed to the most prestigious golf tournament of the year.” Others wishing to enjoy Wild Dunes Resort’s premier courses year-round can take advantage of the resort’s Young Executive Membership and Harbor Friends Golf Program. Young Executive Membership offers those 40 and under the opportunity to take advantage of the resort’s award-winning golf courses, pools, beach and more at an incredible value, with inclusions
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such as Links and Harbor Course greens fees, preferred golf member guest rates, preferred daily tee times, waived tennis court fees, discounted tennis lessons/clinics, access to all resort pools and the grand pavilion, 25 percent off best available rate room reservations and Destination Properties, 10-20 percent off rentals, retail purchases and food and beverage outlets, and more. The resort’s new Harbor Friends Golf Program is the ultimate annual VIP pass to the Harbor Course, known for its challenging design and beautiful views. Local* golfers can enroll for $49 to enjoy year-round perks including $44 rounds on the Harbor Course, exclusive monthly offers and tournament access, a Friends Reward punch card to earn free rounds and merchandise, 10 percent off restaurant and pro shop purchases, and a Harbor Friends tumbler after sign-up. *To qualify for the Harbor Friends Program, guests must be a Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester county resident. To book Wild Dunes Resort’s Road to the Masters Package or to learn more about golf at the resort, please visit www.wilddunes.com or call 855.264.4232.
Reflection Bay Golf Club Hosts International Golf Academy Henderson, Nev.- Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas hosted its first international golf academy this year with an intensive 7-week program for a group of students from South Korea. The group was part of the International Golf Institute’s (IGI) winter camp program. Led by Director of Instruction Robin Symes, camp participants experienced a championship course and top-notch practice facilities with instruction led by Symes and his instructional team.
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS “The academy is an unparalleled golf-focused environment for players who want to improve their golf game,” said Eric Dutt, manager of golf operations for Reflection Bay Golf Club. “With our golf assets and multiple amenities available to our student guests including onsite hotels and dining, Lake Las Vegas has more to offer international students than any other course in Southern Nevada.” “This is my 13th winter camp I have run since moving to Korea,” said Symes. “We have visited Australia, Dubai, Thailand, and the USA. I have never seen or experienced a facility better built for Elite juniors, and professional players to train on than that of Reflection Bay. This, along with the speed of the greens, provides in my opinion an unparalleled learning environment.” Symes is a former Irish national team player who moved his coaching practice to South Korea in 2006. He quickly became one of the country’s most sought-after instructors and has taught many of the Korean golfers seen on the LPGA, and PGA tours including Na Yeon Choi (LPGA), US Open Champion, and world number 2 in 2012, Jennifer Song (LPGA), US Amateur Champion, and midAmateur Champion, Sang Moon Bae (PGA TOUR) and Si Woo Kim (PGA TOUR). “This is the first of many visiting golf academies and national teams that we have slated for visiting Lake Las Vegas,” said Dutt. Dutt’s 35-year career in the golf industry included his work as vice president of Las Vegas golf operations for Caesar’s Entertainment
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including 20 years managing the Butch Harmon School of Golf at Rio Secco Golf Club. Golf academy students had access to Reflection Bay’s practice facility which features four practice holes, chipping greens, pitching greens, fairway bunkers and more. Additionally, Reflection Bay has just completed a new indoor hitting bay with Trackman technology, Scotty Cameron putter fitting, club fitting and full club repair services. Visiting students tapped into the knowledge of former PGA Tour professional Craig Barlow, the club’s director of instruction and Jeff Gallagher, golf instructor. Barlow is a PGA Tour professional who has made 170 cuts on the PGA Tour and competed in eight major tournaments including the British Open, six U.S. Opens and a PGA Championship. Gallagher is also a PGA Tour professional who played on both the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, which he won in 1991 and 2000. Reflection Bay is the only course in Southern Nevada with two PGA Tour pros on staff. Reflection Bay Golf Club is set on a luxurious lake located 25 minutes east of the Las Vegas Strip. This 320-acre man-made lake is the centerpiece of the Lake Las Vegas residential resort community. Built in 1998, Reflection Bay Golf Club was designed by 18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus. The course is designated as a prestigious Jack Nicklaus Signature Design and is one of only three Nicklausdesigned courses in Southern Nevada. For more information, visit http://www.reflectionbaygolf.com.
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Wolf C Gol Target: Desert Golf to the IMAX 14 Golf Vacations • April 2019
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Creek
lf Club
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By David R. Holland
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OK, you get the gist. Wolf Creek is one special golf course. You should just visit and see what phrases you can come up with to describe your round of golf. I’ve played Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Riviera, Ballyneal, Sand Hills, Colonial, Turnberry, Trump International, Castle Stuart, Cabot Links, Cabot Cliffs, Black Jack’s Crossing, and, yep, Wolf Creek visually matches or exceeds those experiences.
M
esquite, Nev. – Wolf Creek Golf Club was constructed in the western desert, with golf target panoramas that swell to the IMAX.
Giddy, excited golf journalists from all over the world have described its beauty.
All day you are sizing up distances. Put the tee in a green tee box and determine how far you have to hit it over desert to reach another green patch of turf. No other hole is more intimidating than the second, a par-4, 445-yard No. 1 handicap. If the wind is in your face you may be tempted to move up a tee box (or two). It can be a confounding day if you are striking it in a lousy fashion, or the windy, cold elements get you in winter. But if you have one of those days where the feeling is present and you are nailing good shot after another it can be exhilarating.
Those descriptions have become somewhat repetitive – sun-baked moonscape, holes plunge and squiggle through canyons, jagged escarpments, sandy pools of glacial white, emerald ribbons, jaw dropping, like watching a suspenseful thriller, surreal, tawny turf contrasting with lush green fairways, Martian landscape, howled about the Wolf – yikes, this must be golf heaven.
When you finish you might to run for the SUV or you may want to play another round -- I’ve experienced both feelings -- I want more or get me out of here.
Here’s more: If Cypress Point is the “Citizen Kane” of golf courses then Wolf Creek Golf Club is akin to “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
“I believe Wolf Creek is the most visually stunning golf course I have ever seen,” said Jason Kauflin, owner of Wisconsin Golf Trips. “There may be courses that have more impressive mountains or scenery in the background, but no course can equal the visuals that a golfer faces while on the tee boxes. It is an absolute roller coaster of a golf course.
“They turned the Grand Canyon into a golf course.” Now that’s a stretch. Another: Someone said Wolf Creek is to desert golf that Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes are to USA seaside links.
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Darren Stanek, general manager, says a golfer will admit to shooting their worst round ever then say he can’t wait to play it again.
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“Like a professional poker player getting dealt a pair of aces in a heads up match and having to control his emotions, a golfer’s main challenge when playing Wolf Creek is ignoring the visual onslaught you are faced with and focusing on the execution of the next shot. I don’t care how many times you have played, you cannot help but have your heart race when you are teeing off over the gorge on the No. 2 tee box.”
back and ends on the right side as a pond and waterfall where you park your cart. Red sandstone walls also surround the ending of this hole behind the stream.
Well said Jason, but if you aren’t a single-digit handicapper, you can just let loose and have a blast. LPGA star Natalie Gulbis said Wolf Creek and Pebble Beach are her favorite courses.
Where to Stay: Eureka Casino Hotel At The Eureka Casino Resort swim, relax, enjoy the casino and the relaxing views of the red-topped mesas surrounding the resort. The rooms and suites are roomy for any travel occasion, from couples’ weekends to guys’ or girls’ golf or spa and gambling escapes. This is the best hotel in Mesquite. Don’t miss Eureka’s award-winning steak house, Gregory’s Mesquite Grill.
From 2008-2015, Wolf Creek was a feature course on EA Sports Tiger Woods and the Rory McIlroy PGA Tour video game. In 2011, Wolf Creek won the prestigious Fan Choice Award naming Wolf Creek the favorite golf course to play by golf fans worldwide. Under Armour brought Jordan Speith and Gary Woodland out to Wolf Creek for a photo shoot.
Dennis and John Rider, two unknowns, designed Wolf Creek. They are no longer unknown.
Boasting an average of 330 days of sunshine and warm temperatures for most of the year, The Eureka Casino Hotel minutes away from seven golf courses and can help you plan more golf.
The bright white sand is key to the visuals making the bunkers stand out with the green fairways and the red rock surroundings.
Seven of Mesquite’s best courses are within a 10-minute drive of the resort.
One of the most scenic holes is the par-3 eighth hole that drops four stories from the back, 240-yard tee. A stream heads down the flight line close to the green, snakes to the left of the green, runs around the
Wolf Creek is a must-play. It is only 85 miles from Las Vegas’ worldfamous strip and only 45 minutes from St. George, Utah’s impressive golf lineup.
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Is Desert Mounta the By Tim Cotroneo
Golf’s Bold Step in Scottsdale, AZ
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ain’s Seven e Future of Golf?
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U
nless it’s attached to the words “under par,” seven is the last number you want emblazoned on your golf scorecard. That’s unless you are Desert Mountain’s Bill Brownlee or Wendell Pickett, and this number not only places you in the company of Jack Nicklaus, it’s also linked to the future of golf. Over the past decade golf’s traditions, participants, and bottom line have all taken a step back. When the Desert Mountain Golf Community in Scottsdale, AZ, decided to develop the last remaining parcel on its 8,000 scenic acres in the Sonoran Desert, the members decided to split from the past and go bold. To understand how a big of a leap the new Seven Golf Course is, you must grasp Desert Mountain’s proud legacy leading to Seven’s opening in April 2019. Desert Mountain’s first six 18-hole courses were all designed by Jack Nicklaus. What would the aptly named Seven Golf Course do for an encore? The Future is Now Brownlee and Pickett decided to break from golf’s 18-hole norm and design a Par 54 golf course. If you do the math, that means each hole on the new Seven is a Par 3. The forward-thinking Brownlee and Pickett had already established a track record with this concept in Wickenburg, AZ, and they decided that taking par 54 golf to the next level at Seven was just what the Desert Mountain members were looking for.
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“You hear repeatedly that investing four to six hours playing 18 holes of golf is too long. There are whispers and even shouts that golf courses are too hard. At Desert Mountain we are proud to feature six awardwinning golf courses that are as beautiful as they are challenging. Seven is spectacular from an aesthetic standpoint, but it’s also a golf experience that’s just over 3,100-yards. Golfers choose from three tee boxes, and your total time investment should be three hours or less,” Brownlee said. The wild card infused into Seven is fun. The extras that golfers can anticipate before, during, and after their round is nothing short of groundbreaking. “Our 9,000-square-foot clubhouse is going to be a new epicenter for social activity here at Desert Mountain. Our restaurant will provide gastropub offerings and craft beers. Guests on our patio will enjoy an elevated view of the Sonoran mountains, epic sunsets, and golfers putting out on 18. We’ll also have music, bocce ball courts, fire pits, and putting contests on our massive lighted practice green,” Brownlee said. Legacy Lives On Since 1986, golf has been the main drawing card for residents at the luxurious Desert Mountain. As members themselves, Brownlee and Pickett knew that a golf course which didn’t adhere to the championship quality standards set by Nicklaus wouldn’t wash. These quality legacies were instilled in the Seven construction team as they
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moved dirt, carved sand traps, installed a new Rainbird irrigation system, and planted a special turf element to the whole agronomy mix. “We feature bent grass from the tee boxes to the greens. The idea was to create a striking tee to green feel that appears to be one continuous surface. Ultimately our goal is to welcome the newcomer, re-introduce golf to someone who may have turned away from the game, and provide a challenge for the lowest handicapper,” Brownlee said.
Honoring the Golden Bear and Kickstarting Golf’s Future The last design task on Seven was to stretch two of the Par 3’s to at least 250 yards and be over 3,000-yards total. These changes were made to conform with USGA rules and to register a course handicap rating. Brownlee also reminds that a 270-yard Par 3 from the tips can be modified by playing from two shorter tee boxes. Whew!
Why Seven? The story behind the name isn’t as logical as you’d think. The Desert Mountain team tossed at least 65 names in the air before choosing Seven.
Brownlee was asked what it was like to follow six Jack Nicklaus signature courses with a design of his own at Desert Mountain? “No one can top Jack. He’s a legend. Wendell and I are thrilled to build Seven on the same 8,000-acres as Jack’s wonderful courses. The opening of Seven means one more choice for golfers who come to experience Desert Mountain,” Brownlee said.
“When Seven was first discussed, there were a lot of blank stares. After several more meetings we came back to a name that is not only easy to remember, but one that makes sense when you consider there were six courses that came before. Having seven courses in our master planned community is a gamer changer,” Brownlee said.
Is the golf world ready for a Par 54? Brownlee, Pickett, and the golf mecca that is Desert Mountain can’t wait to find out. They’re betting that golfers will want to make Seven part of their future and look at this number as one which they’ll love seeing emblazoned on their scorecard. https://desertmountain.com/seven
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Mt. Woodson
AMONA, CA – Mellow, laid back, friendly, accommodating, picturesque, rugged, fun and narrow. That’s Mount Woodson Golf Club located in the boulder-strewn hills and among ravines above San Diego and near Escondido.
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“We decided to manage the property with a family style feel and not so corporate. We want the customers to experience that ‘Cheers’ feeling of everyone knowing their name and being glad they came,” Driscoll said.
Brian Curley and Lee Schmidt carved out this hilly 6,004-yard, par70 beauty in 1991 and it has had its management problems and surly attitudes through its life under several golf course management companies.
I was greeted in the Cheers fashion by Ron Gorski, general manager, a 30-year veteran, plus Perry Dotson, a 30-year plus head pro. One of Mt. Woodson staff’s favorite story to tell is the day Phil Mickelson visited (he lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe).
But that all changed when Daryl Driscoll, and his Alliance Golf Management Services, purchased the property.
“Gosh, he had just won the Masters a few days before his visit in 2004,” said Ray Bozek, a staff member. “We don’t know what he
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Golf Club
Where Golf is Only Part of the Experience By David R. Holland
shot, he wouldn’t give us his score card to frame, but I saw a lot of threes and twos on it. We did get a photo with him, his brother Tim, and a couple of friends that’s hanging on the pro shop wall.”
You will find multiple chances to get in deep trouble during your round but it’s a great challenge to make good contact to green grass fairways and not the trouble.
Don’t think the average golfer is going to have a lot of twos and threes. It’s narrow and has tricky greens, great views and an incredible 450-foot wooden bridge that goes over a canyon between holes two and three -- traffic jams possible.
“We are continually working on improvements,” said Driscoll. “Our new golf course superintendent Kelly Halsey has a crew of seven workers the golf course conditions have improved drastically. The course that was in bankruptcy for eight years received limited resources to maintain the golf course.
The third is a 186-yard par-3 that has the canyon right so if you don’t hit the green bailing out left gives you the best chance to par on this hole called “Ledges”.
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“Today’s maintenance has included replacement of tools, turf, irrigation heads, aeration equipment, greens roller we have improved
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our turf mowing equipment. The course had lost much of its Bermuda fairway and rough and had various grass species along with weeds due to weak health of the turf. We have been pushing and promoting the Bermuda Turf and eradicating the other strains of grass to get back to a wall to wall Bermuda playing surface,” Driscoll said. All the latest agronomy practices have been put into place along with new sod, new bunker sand and repairs on the cart paths. Also in the plans are landscaping, tree trimming, building a new practice putting green, relining of lakes and damaged PVC. The front entry to the property will be receiving a face lift with new landscaping, landscape lighting and showcasing the recently repair waterfall. Driscoll also thinks Mt. Woodson is a great venue for tournament groups again with the creation of the Stony Mountain Bar & Grill and a full liquor license and improving menu. The golf carts were recently outfitted with a GPS system to assist golfers with their club selection and a six-station warm-up center to allow golfers to hit live range balls prior to their round. Also, Mt. Woodson wants to create golf lesson programs, leagues and junior golf programs that will create new golfers and promote the game of golf. Another goal is to promote more tourism and get
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more visitors to experience the property. “We continually see new faces and poll them after their round to hear how they found us and how we compare to the other course they played,” Driscoll said. “We get powerful positive feedback and we hear that we surpassed the experience and expectations. They even say the experience is right up there with Torrey Pines for conditions and scenery.” Mt. Woodson was built on an original 320-acre homestead of Dr. Marshall Clay Woodson. He was a Confederate Army surgeon and settled the property in 1875. And there’s another historical treasure within sight of your drive in and the 18th green. The Mt. Woodson Castle, designed by John Vawter and Emmor Weaver, owned by Amy Strong, a San Diego dress designer. She directed the building of this 27 room, 12,000 square-foot mansion with stone fireplaces – it combines a French castle with an English cottage, complete with a windmill straight out of the Dutch countryside. The project was started in 1909 and finished in 1921. Don’t forget to try the Stony Mountain Bar and Grill.
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SWEETSTUFF
AlignMed Posture Shirt
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laying golf well and feeling good usually go hand-in-hand, and as many physical therapists and trainers will tell you, much of this starts with good posture. But in today’s world of constantly hovering over computer screens, sitting in meetings— not to mention the sitting involved in travel
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of just about every kind—keeping an upright and healthy posture is harder to accomplish than ever before. Golfers—be they the recreational weekend warriors or those that play professionally for a living—are constantly at war with their bodies in trying to sit and stand ergonomically straight so that they can have the correct posture when it comes to swinging a golf club. It is very hard to maintain the correct—and healthy posture— while standing over a golf ball—when you spend most of your time outside of the sport hunched over in unhealthy positions. Retraining the body is not easy. That is why a Southern California company called AlignMed has found such popularity with its line of posture shirts and related products for keeping the body in healthy alignment while playing golf—or even while exercising, sitting—and even sleeping. These are not to be confused with compression garments that are sold at most sporting goods stores. The AlignMed posture shirts also include the company’s patented NeuroBand™ technology that uses a proprietary blend of variable elasticity to activate muscles, increase postural control and provide important feedback for muscle retraining. The bands that are built into the shirt produce much the same feeling that a trainer’s taping of your various spinal muscles
would fell like to help align the spin and support the joints. This alignment helps for a smoother and a more pain-free rotation in the golf swing—especially for those that have had issues. According to Bill Schultz, CEO and President at AlignMed, the shirts can also help alleviate muscle fatigue, correct the body alignment and improve recovery rate after exercise. “I now believe posture is the No. 1 thing anyone can do to take an active role in improving how they look and feel,” noted Schultz. “Proper posture can help reduce pain and improve circulation.” The list of those that have endorsed or recommend the posture shirt is impressive. Noted golf trainers Roger Fredericks and Jeff Banaszak have recommended the shirt to many clients, including professional golfers like PGA Tour player Russell Knox and Champions Tour star John Jacobs. Archie Manning—a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the father of Peyton and Eli—started wearing the shirt after back surgery and was able to play golf again. NBA players Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard and Eric Gordon have also worn the shirt after returning from shoulder surgeries. The USGA has also come into play with AlignMed and certified that the shirts conform to the rules of golf even with its features that
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SWEETSTUFF by Terry Ross
keep the body in a good posture. The posture shirts have also been certified as a medical device and some insurance companies will pay for them as a prescription. Even the well-known Kerlin Jobe Orthopedic Foundation conducted research and found that the bands in the shirts help with posture and muscle alignment and can increase rotor-cuff function—creating a better range of motion with the shoulders that is so important in the golf swing. For more details on AlignMed’s posture products, visit: www.alignmed.com
Tifosi Svago-Swank Sunglass
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s the golf season gets into full swing for the year, it’s time to plan for new golf equipment and wardrobe to enjoy as the weather turns warmer and sunnier. Sunglasses and protecting your eyes are an important part of this—and why not look good at the same time with a new pair of shades! Tifosi Optics, which has earned a reputation as one of the leading brands of sunglasses when it comes to golf, has introduced two new styles for the spring of 2019 that bridge the gap between a sunglass for sports and looking stylish on an outdoor patio at the club. Swank SL and Svago are new to the Tifosi lineup and have all the features you could ask for, including a more classic, fuller style, lightweight high-quality polycarbonate lens that is shatterproof and scratch-resistant. The clarity of the lens and the moderate tinting make these easy to use in just about all light conditions, while also providing 100% UVA/UVB protection from harmful ultra-violet rays. Both models come in a standard and polarized version. Both new styles are extremely lightweight and very durable with the new Grilamid TR-90 frame and hydrophilic rubber nose piece that keeps the glasses in place even on those hot days when perspiration becomes an issue. Tifosi’s new Glide technology was designed to allow the sunglasses to slide easily on and
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off without pulling hair and to keep glasses in place during the most physical workout without bouncing. You forget that you are even wearing them! The refined styling of both the Swank SL and the Svago along with the many color combinations gives one the option to match your sunglasses to your wardrobe and personality. Swank SL comes in seven different styles with varying color lenses and frames and is a half-frame style. The Svago has more of an oval shape with a full frame and comes in five different lens and frame colors. It also has a reflective lens coating. All Tifosi sunglasses are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects and are available at retail locations as well as online at dozens of e-tailers. For more information: www. tifosioptics.com
Bombas Socks
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fter successfully producing a long line of performance socks for men, women and children, Bombas has just launched its first golf-specific Hex Tec Performance Sock designed for comfort and performance on the course. Comfort has been a trademark of the company since the beginning, and the new line of golf socks have that and more as they are built for movement and cushioned specifically in areas where support is needed while playing golf. In addition to being stylish, these socks include the new patented Hex Tec technology and features that include a front and back blister tab for all-over comfort to prevent chafing and blisters from shoe contact; ergonomically mapped to the foot with comfort innovations like strategic zone
cushioning and airflow ventilation and the Hex Tec fabric for high performance thermoregulating and moisture-wicking. These are comfortable socks that have built-in strategic zone cushions where your feet need it, along with the honeycomb support system for a natural feel that helps your feet breathe. They are made with a proprietary cotton-poly yarn. There is also a mesh under-toe ventilation zone, an area where feet tend to overheat the most. Bombas golf socks are available for men and women and are sized for optimum comfort and performance. The company has always had a mission to give back to the community, and a pair of socks will be donated to those in need for every pair sold. The brand has over 16 million pairs donated to date! For more information on Bombas performance golf socks, visit: www. Bombas.com.
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