Golf Vacations Magazine - February 2022

OUR 21st YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS FEBRUARY 2022

LOS CABALLEROS GOLF CLUB DUDE RANCH ROOTS ARE ALIVE

RESORT REPORT

WE-KO-PA CASINO RESORT

Plus: IS OXYGEN GOLF’S NEW FRONTIER?

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GOLF VACATIONS FEBRUARY 2022

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Get In Gear

The Cove Club in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico

by Shane Sharp

By any measure, 2021 was an epic year for Pacific Northwest-based TRUE linkswear. The walking-focused golf shoe brand headed up by CEO Jason Moore and his brother / PGA TOUR player Ryan Moore debuted several new lines.

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Chip Shots

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2022 Rolex Series Returns

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Los Caballeros Golf Club

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Is Oxygen Golf’s New Frontier

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by Dakota Diaz

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 20-23 January heralds an exciting era for the expanded Rolex Series and the new-look DP World Tour.

by David R. Holland

So when Hopalong Cassidy, Clark Gable and former President Richard Nixon visited Rancho de los Caballeros -- a famous dude ranch dating back to 1948 -- did they tee it up at Los Caballeros Golf Club?

by Tim Cotroneo

Golfers from around the world are streaming to The Villages, FL, to rejuvenate their game. The spontaneous story behind this quest isn’t your traditional response to straighter drives, a better short game, or making more putts. Golfers are asking questions and getting surprising results from oxygen.

Resort Report: We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

by David R. Holland

For 20 years We-Ko-Pa has been on the must-play lists of the Greater Phoenix area. And it just keeps getting better. Most often praised for its zero houses and pristine views, the Cholla and Saguaro 18-hole award-winners are among my favorites.

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Golf Vacations • February 2022 5

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

Shane Sharp is a freelance writer and the owner of Southbound 4, a content marketing and PR shop in Greenville, S.C. He’s a contributing editor with GOLF Magazine, Club & Resort Business, Golf Inc. and Club Management.

Associate Editors Terry Ross Dakota Diaz

Features Editor JD Latorre

Dakota Diaz is a Chicago-based freelance writer. Growing up in the golf mecca of Palm Springs, CA, Dakota is no stranger to the golf resort lifestyle. You’ll find him at his “real job” as Partner/Chief Investment Officer at Green Cloud Capital, a Southern Californa based private equity firm.

Senior Writers 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 • (678) 906-4050 harold@chamblissmediagroup.com Chicago Dakota Diaz •(312) 809–8808 dakota@GolfVacationsMag.com

Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz

PO BOX #222 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 (760) 774–2655 StonyCreekMedia.com

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 2022 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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GET IN GEAR 2002 TRUE linkswear Gears Up for Record-Setting 2022

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y any measure, 2021 was an epic year for Pacific Northwest-based TRUE linkswear. The walking-focused golf shoe brand headed up

by CEO Jason Moore and his brother / PGA TOUR player Ryan Moore debuted several new lines including the wildly popular Pebble and Dead Golfer collections, and limited-edition Queen of Clubs True Knit II in collaboration with Foray Golf.

by Shane Sharp

Heading into 2022, these Pacific Northwest pioneers aren’t showing any signs of slowing down. Just before the holiday, TRUE dropped its highly-anticipated Sport Series, featuring the LUX, which sits atop a Wanderlux Superfoam midsole with a six-millimeter drop, and OG, which offers a barefoot experience with zero drop and extra wide toe box.

Engineered for the eternal pursuit of par, the grinders and the early risers, as the “TRUE Crew” likes to say, both Sport models boast an adaptive upper that is both breathable and waterproof, a one-two punch any diehard, four-season golfer would appreciate. And TRUE is also updating, enhancing and relaunching some of its best sellers, like the Original 1.2, with its iconic zero-drop and minimalist fit.

Overall, the company’s current footwear portfolio includes five core designs that focus on sustainability, performance and comfort while maintaining a modern, minimalist aesthetic that appeals to avid and new golfers alike. Several of TRUE’s models are crafted from entirely recycled materials including yarn made from water bottles, recycled outsoles and sustainable components.

TRUE’s commitment to sustainability will be on full display in the first part of 2022 as it unveils its All Day Ripstop. The highly wind and water-resistant shoe has an upper made from 100% recycled polyester and a TOUR-tested (and approved by Ryan) outsole cushion and tread.

Like all TRUEs, the All Day Ripstop is designed to be worn on the golf course, at the 19th hole and anywhere else life takes you.

For more information, visit www.truelinkswear.com

Seattle-Based Radmor Golf is Making Cotton Cool, Again, with All-Natural Approach

Jason Moore grew up playing golf competitively and spent years caddying on the PGA TOUR for his brother, Ryan, who is still active on TOUR and ranked 181 in the FEDEXCUP standings. The duo experienced every course and weather condition imaginable when they worked together, from the wind and rain of the Pacific Northwest to the unrelenting heat and humidity of south Florida. The idea of a comfortable, versatile golf shoe was born out of necessity, or “selfish innovation” as Jason Moore often refers to it.

“Golfers shouldn’t have to wear overbuilt, uncomfortable golf shoes when walking or riding 18 or 36 holes,” Moore says. “We consider everything a golfer encounters and apply that to our footwear, all while providing a modern aesthetic that can be worn anywhere, enhancing the golf lifestyle.”

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C

ue the ESPN Films 30 for 30 intro, “What if we told you that allnatural cotton apparel was making a major comeback in the golf industry and that upstart RADMOR was leading the charge?” For golfers who don’t recognize the name, that’s about to change in 2022.

RADMOR is a Pacific Northwest-based golf lifestyle company crafting men’s and women’s golf apparel from meticulously-crafted, renewable, natural materials. Its sustainably-sourced golf clothing forgoes completely the use of virgin polyester in favor of natural cellulose fibers like Peruvian Pima cotton and super-soft Tencel to create the most eco-minded golf apparel in the industry. In other words, the vast majority of clothing on golf courses from Seattle to Miami looks and feels nothing like RADMOR. “Golf is one of the few sports played outside in many of the most beautiful, natural settings in the world, yet thousands of golfers are outfitted from head-to-toe in garments made almost entirely from plastic,” says RADMOR co-founder Scott Morrison. “Given the choice, I think most consumers would prefer to buy clothing that’s incredibly well made, outperforms expectation, and doesn’t pollute the earth, our oceans, and our food supplies the same way synthetics like polyester do.”

Sporting fun names like Colby, Taylor and Baty, RADMOR’s men’s line includes polos, band-collar and “tee” shirts; knit and corduroy pants and cotton-blend shorts; crewneck and hoodie sweatshirts; and outerwear forged from a blend of cotton and recycled nylon and polyester.

Across the aisle, its Women’s Capsule features an array of polos, long-sleeve jerseys, sweatshirts and shorts with iconic female names like Michele, Ella and Olivia. Looking ahead this year, RADMOR’s Spring and Fall Collections will showcase a variety of new offerings for men

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Oh, and what’s up with the name? Well, RADMOR is a playful blend of Morrison and Conrad’s last names and representative of the brand’s dichotomy. For example, its secondary logo, “BobRad,” is a whimsical cartoon that aims to bring golf to those who find the sport a bit too stuffy.

Meanwhile, the brand’s “serious golf side” is reflected in its “Dead Center” ball and cup logo that appears throughout most of its collections and appeals to its “green grass” partners at high-end clubs and resorts.

“Golf has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two years and the game charted a much-needed course correction to be even more fun, inclusive and environmentally aware,” says Conrad. “That, in a nutshell, is RADMOR’s ethos and why we think our brand, mission and products will ultimately appeal to a broad audience that appreciates beautiful, highly-designed apparel.”

In addition to its direct-to-consumer sales channel, RADMOR is available at a growing number of golf shops throughout the U.S., as well as Golf.com, Huckberry.com, TrendyGolf.com, FairwayStyles.com, and Nordstrom.com.

For more information visit www.radmorgolf.com

and women in seasonally-focused color palettes celebrating the world’s greatest game.

‘Golf Green’ Morrison launched RADMOR in January 2020 with his best friend and former college golf teammate at the University of Washington, Bob Conrad. After graduating from “U-Dub,” Conrad went on to play golf professionally and still maintains a plus handicap. Supplying serious fashion “street cred,” Morrison was the man behind three of America’s top denim brands – Paper Denim & Cloth, 3x1 and Earnest Sewn – and is widely considered a thought leader in the design world.

The dynamic duo’s passion for the harmonic convergence of fashion and performance is evident in subtle design treatments such as RADMOR’s MORE/EROM (Extended Range of Motion) underarm pattern prominently featured in golf shirts, layering pieces, and outerwear. Functional-yet-fun details like a signature “ball pocket” can also be found on outerwear, pants and shorts.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Querencia Country Club

Los Cabos a Major Presence on Golfweek’s Top 50 Roster Golfweek’s Ultimate Guide to Golf Course Living and Great Escapes has been released, and once again Los Cabos shines on the magazine’s roster of the ‘Top 50 Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic Islands and Central America’ courses.

Thirteen golf facilities in Los Cabos, the dazzling Land’s End destination at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, appear on the updated 2022 list, with seven courses in the top 20. In addition, TPC Danzante Bay, an outstanding seaside venue in Loreto, a marine sanctuary north of Los Cabos, was voted to the No. 12 spot on the roster.

According to the publication, “The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final, cumulative rating. Then each course is ranked against other courses in the region.” The list focuses on the golf courses themselves, not the resorts as a whole or other amenities.

Commanding the No. 2 position on Golfweek’s list is Diamante (Dunes Course), the flagship of a 1,500-acre private resort community on the destination’s Pacific coast. Opened in 2009, the Dunes Course is a 7,022-yard behemoth carved by Davis Love III into massive rolling dunes set back from the ocean. This windswept, topsy-turvy links, renowned for its risk-reward options and spectacular views, rambles past big blowout bunkers and towering sand hills on its journey to and from the sea. Guests of the on-site Nobu Hotel and Hard Rock Hotel enjoy exclusive access to the Dunes Course, subject to availability.

Cabo del Sol (Cove Club), ranked No. 11 and formerly known as the Ocean Course, is the pioneering layout that put Los Cabos on the

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international golf map when it opened in 1994. Intent on producing the ‘Pebble Beach of the Baja’ on what he described as “the best piece of golf property I’ve ever seen,” designer Jack Nicklaus charted holes across sloping desert terrain creased by sandy arroyos and framed by granite outcrops. Nicklaus returned in 2019 to create a handful of new holes at the renamed Cove Club (now private). The revised layout, which visits the sea on both nines, has upgraded playing surfaces, restyled bunkers and new landscaping.

Chileno Bay (No. 13), a splendid Tom Fazio-designed golf course marked by graceful, flowing landforms intended to simulate rolling ocean waves, benefitted from a makeover by Discovery Land Co. that introduced colorful vegetation and bright white sand in its formal bunkers. The immaculately-groomed course, routed through rolling desert foothills and interlaced with sandy arroyos, features interior mountain vistas and a sea view from every hole. The otherwise-private club is accessible to guests of Chileno Bay Resort & Residences (Auberge Resorts).

Tied with Chileno Bay at No. 13 is Querencia, a private 1,800acre golf community anchored by a solid Tom Fazio-designed course.

Known for its slick, multi-tiered greens, Querencia, set in desert foothills high above the sea, takes players on a roller-coaster ride around and across steep hills. Several holes skirt the edges of deep canyons and rocky arroyos. Fazio’s attention to detail is evident at every turn at Querencia, with palm trees and lush vegetation blended with the native desert border on this challenging yet playable course.

Opened in 2020, the Greg Norman-designed course at Rancho San Lucas (No. 16) spans three different ecosystems, rambling through windswept dunes at the start, climbing through a cactus forest bisected by arroyos, and returning players to the beach and

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Flavio Papa to Oversee Exciting New Era at Empordà Golf, Spain

sea on the back nine. Known for his ‘least-disturbance’ approach, Norman throttled back the bulldozers to retain the site’s native contours. Steep-walled pot bunkers constructed from recycled artificial turf dot the breezy, links-style course. The club is accessible to guests of Solmar Group hotels, including the on-site Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas Resort.

Originally built as a resort course in 1999, El Dorado Golf & Beach Club (No. 18) is now a private resort community under the aegis of Discovery Land Co. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout, featuring rolling saddled fairways, huge bunker complexes and picturesque green sites, meanders through a pair of stark canyons divided by a huge rocky hill. Bristling desert vegetation, dramatic rock formations and four interior lakes flank the fairways, with water in play at several holes. The club’s par-3 16th hole is set directly above the beach.

Twin Dolphin (No. 20) occupies a superb parcel along the corridor linking the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Centerpiece of a 1,400-acre master-planned community, the golf course, opened in 2018, was built by Fred Couples and Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design. Stretched across a broad sloping plateau notched by three major arroyos high above the sea, the layout is known for its firm, fast conditions, dramatic rock outcrops and panoramic ocean views. Twin Dolphin is a private club accessible to guests of Montage Los Cabos, a resort hotel on Santa Maria Bay; as well as the Montage Residences.

The other Los Cabos courses voted to Golfweek’s Top 50 roster include Diamante - El Cardonal (T-33), Quivira (T-33), Puerto Los Cabos – Norman/Nicklaus (No. 36), Costa Palmas (No. 40), Cabo del Sol - Desert (No. 41), and Cabo Real (No. 47).

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Flavio Papa is relishing the opportunity to play a leading role in an exciting new era at Empordà Golf Club after taking over as director of golf at the popular 36-hole Spanish golf resort.

Papa took up his new position at the start of the year and joins Empordà at a pivotal time in the resort’s history following a recent €21m investment and upgrade of its golf and lifestyle facilities.

The Spaniard has a wealth of experience of the golf industry having worked in a number of key roles over the last seven years, most recently as golf operations manager at La Cala Resort. One of his first tasks will be overseeing the staging of the 2022 Empordà Challenge, with the European Challenge Tour event set to take place on the resort’s Links Course from June 9-12.

Papa said: “It’s a thrilling time to join the Empordà golf team. I am very much looking forward to hosting the Empordà Challenge in June and working with the fantastic team that we have. I like to think outside of the box and go above and beyond for clients.”

“I am fully committed to upgrading the golf experience for our members and all those that visit. This extends beyond the two golf courses and includes the whole experience, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.”

Located 30 minutes from Girona Airport, Empordà Golf Club’s impressive facilities include two 18-hole championship courses – the Links Course and the Forest Course, both designed by worldrenowned architect Robert von Hagge.

Both golf courses have undergone significant investment to elevate the golf experience being offered to members and guests.

Recent renovation work undertaken has included includes the reconstruction of all bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker method, a comprehensive tree clearance programme and purchase of new greenkeeping equipment to improve the all-round condition of tees, fairways and greens.

Falvio Papa

Away from the fairways, Hotel Empordà Golf rebranded as Hotel Terraverda at the end of last year and has been transformed with a contemporary new look following the redesign and renovation of its bedrooms, communal areas and restaurant. In addition, hotel guests can also relax and unwind in the new outdoor swimming pool that has been installed.

For more information on Empordà Golf and Hotel Terraverda, please visit: www.empordagolf.com

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Championship Course where PGA TOUR Puerto Rico Open played

Puerto Rico Spotlight

Flourishes

in

World

Golf

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – The year is just beginning, and Puerto Rico is already enjoying one of its biggest golf years ever, after being named to host top events, continuing to be home to the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open, and having players make international headlines through their play.

Last week the Island’s Grand Reserve Golf Club was named as the 2023 Latin America Amateur Championship host venue (January 12-15). This will be the first time the top-tier tournament will be held in Puerto Rico.

The tournament is important because it’s the pinnacle amateur golf event in Latin America and the LAAC champion receives an invitation to compete in two of the game’s biggest events – the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool in England.

The winner also receives full exemptions into the U.S. Amateur Championship and any other U.S. Golf Association (USGA) amateur championship for which he is eligible and is exempt into the final stage of qualifying for the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at Los Angeles Country Club. LAAC runner(s)-up will be exempt into the final stages of qualifying for the 151st Open and the 123rd U.S. Open Championship.

Puerto Rico’s Roberto Nieves led the field after two of the four rounds in the 2022 LAAC at Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, that concluded earlier this week. He finished in fifth place, one stroke from joining a three-way tie for second, and two strokes behind the winner. Given the elite company, the first-class performance bodes well for Nieves’ golf future.

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Last year, the USGA brought the Puerto Rico Golf Association into its network of Allied Golf Associations. The PRGA became the first association outside the U.S. designated to host a USGA championship – the 7th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship on April 30-May 4, 2022, at Grand Reserve. That week will also mark the first time a USGA championship is held outside of the U.S. mainland in a U.S. territory.

Add that the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open (Feb. 28-March 6, 2022) will be held at Grand Reserve’s Championship Course, that the Island hosts NCAA Division I tournaments annually, and that Island native Rafa Campos almost won the 2021 Puerto Rico Open, and the global golf spotlight is increasingly shining on Puerto Rico.

The Island is not just for top-level amateur players and professional tour members. With 18 courses, world-class beaches, dozens of resorts, thousands of restaurants, and the Caribbean’s most traveler friendly destination, Puerto Rico is ideal for all travelers. Golfers playing in Puerto Rico have the added benefit of doing so in a natural paradise on courses that inherently promote safe recreation and social distancing amid the pandemic, and the Island has one of the highest vaccination rates in the United States.

“Last year was an all-time record year for Puerto Rico tourism,” said Brad Dean, CEO, Discover Puerto Rico. “Golfers were an important and welcomed group of visitors contributing to the whole, and these latest high-profile events announced for the Island will continue to fuel our golf momentum.”

Golf course designers represented on the Island include Tom and George Fazio, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Rees Jones, Tom Kite, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr. All Island courses are open to the public except two (which can be played by

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS guests of the resort where they’re located), and many are amenities of beautiful resorts, including Royal Isabela; Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino; The St. Regis Bahia Beach; Wyndham Grand Rio Mar; Palmas del Mar; Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; and Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, home to Grand Reserve Golf Club.

Learn more about visiting Puerto Rico and playing golf at DiscoverPuertoRico.com

The Lodge Of Four Seasons Unveils 2022 Golf Stay And Play Packages LAKE OZARK, MO – The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri has introduced four golf stay, play packages for the 2022 spring and summer seasons. Guests can choose from a wide range of accommodations that suit all travelers whether they be single players, couples, groups or large families.

The Best of the Lake Package – Play both golf courses at The Lodge, plus experience one of the “Top 5 Courses in Missouri” when you play The Club at Porto Cima, the private Jack Nicklaus Signature design across the lake. The Best of the Lake Package starts at $199 per person, per night and includes: Two nights lodging at The Lodge of Four Seasons One round of golf at The Club at Porto Cima One round at The Cove Golf Courses at The Lodge of Four Seasons One round at The Ridge Golf Courses at The Lodge of Four Seasons An “All American Breakfast” at The Lodge for each player, for each night booked on the package The Eagle Golf Package – This package includes private golf at

The Club at Porto Cima and one round at The Cove or The Ridge. The Eagle Golf Package starts at $169 per person, per night and includes: Two nights lodging at The Lodge of Four Seasons One round of golf at The Club at Porto Cima One round at either The Cove or The Ridge An “All American Breakfast” at The Lodge for each player, for each night booked on the package The Unlimited Golf Package – This package comes with unlimited golf on The Ridge and The Cove courses, as well as an arrival day round in the afternoon. The Unlimited Golf Package starts at $169 per person, per night and includes: Two nights lodging at The Lodge of Four Seasons Unlimited golf on The Cove and The Ridge courses Arrival day golf: tee it up beginning at noon on the day of arrival and receive unlimited golf on days two and three An “All American Breakfast” at The Lodge for each player, for each night booked on the package Stay and Play Package – The Stay and Play Package is a quick overnight getaway and great value to boot. The Stay and Play Package starts at $129 per person, per night and includes: Nightly accommodations at The Lodge of Four Seasons One round of golf per night on either the Robert Trent Jonesdesigned Cove Course or the Ken Kavanaugh-designed Ridge Course An “All American Breakfast” at The Lodge for each player, for each night booked on the package For more information on all of The Lodge of Four Seasons’ golf packages, visit www.4seasonsresort.com/golf-packages or call 888265-5500.

Lodge of Four Seasons Golf

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe Invitational invites the Top Minority Junior and Professional Golfers to Orlando Orlando, FL – The United Golfers Association (UGA) announced today the inaugural Jim Thorpe Invitational(JTI) in Orlando, Florida.

This special event is set to take place the weekend of February 25 - 27, 2022 on the National and International Courses at Omni ChampionsGate Golf Resort and Club. The Jim Thorpe Invitational will invite the nation’s top minority junior golfers from the ages of 8 through 18 and many of the talented Professional Tour Players an opportunity to compete in this inaugural event.

“I am so honored that the UGA has chosen to partner with me to create this commemorative event that will shine a light on these young people who work tirelessly to compete at the highest level in this sport we love. This event will not only bear my name, but also create a golf experience like no-other for minority golfers and the supporters who also want to see change in the sport of golf,” says Jim Thorpe. “I am also excited to have Justin Blazer and Michael Chappell serve as Tournament Directors for the Junior and the Professional Events for the JTI. These young men are good at what they do and can’t wait see them create something special for the tournament.”

This event will offer more than simply 36 holes of golf and a trophy for the juniors and professionals, but more of a feeling of a golf community coming together to encourage growth and development.

This robust networking and panel experience will provide juniors, parents and professionals an immersive opportunity to discuss along with absorb including trusted advice and learned experiences from

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industry professionals, current and former college & tour players, college coaches, parents of successful golfers, as well as, golf legends who will share their priceless memories on and off the course.

UGA’s Executive Director, Tarek DeLavallade shared “Jim Thorpe is a legend in the game of golf and loved by all for his smile, spirit and that signature finish of his golf swing. It is our honor to plan the Jim Thorpe Invitational for him and create a legacy that will align with his dreams of leveling the playing field for minority golfers of all ages. At the UGA, our commitment is to increase the introduction, development, and advancement of minority golfers into the sport, so that they can be two steps closer to having access to the same resources their counterparts have to ensure their success on and off the fairways,” said Tarek DeLavallade.

The UGA and its industry partners are committed to changing the face of golf. An effort that United Golfers Association, the 501(c) (3) charitable foundation that was founded in 1925 as the primary organization for golfers of color. The proceeds of the event will fund an Elite Golf Academy for minority golfers in Central Florida with private and group golf lessons with nationally recognized teaching professionals including Mr. Jim Thorpe. All of our instruction programs feature highly personalized attention to your unique needs and skill level, and include video swing analysis, comprehensive instruction manuals, and a written game plan for improvement.

To learn more about the event visit www.jimthorpeinvitational. com and to find out more ways to increase diversity in the sport of golf and support the mission of the United Golfers Association, visit www. unitedgolfersassociation.org

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Patriot Golf Days Returns to Memorial Day Weekend ORLANDO, FL – For the second consecutive year, Patriot Golf Days will be held over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30) as a way to further honor our nation’s heroes.

PGA REACH, the 501(c)3 charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members, will jointly host the nationwide annual fundraiser. The two organizations will help PGA Members and golf facilities put on fundraising efforts throughout the weekend.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces golf to Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a six-to-eight-week golf instruction curriculum taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.

To donate or register for Patriot Golf Days, visit patriotgolfdays. com.

“It’s exciting that Patriot Golf Days will again be held during Memorial Day weekend, and the PGA Show is the ideal venue to kick off this life-changing event,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The partnership between Folds of Honor and PGA HOPE helps both Veterans and military families. As a PGA Professional, I’m grateful to my fellow PGA Members, the golf businesses participating in Patriot Golf Days and patriotic Americans who contribute to our mission. All money that is raised will directly benefit individuals and families in the community and the PGA Section where it was raised, and provide financial resources for Folds of Honor academic scholarships and PGA HOPE programs.”

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Patriot Golf Days began as a grassroots fundraising initiative in 2007, with golfers across the country encouraged to add an extra dollar to their green fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships for families of fallen or disabled Veterans. Over the last 15 years, the effort has grown to encompass a variety of fundraising efforts led by PGA Professionals and golfers in all 50 states and 41 PGA Sections.

These efforts, and other related yearlong activities, have raised more than $60 million and funded more than 12,000 scholarships to help Veterans, their spouses and children.

About PGA REACH PGA REACH is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The mission of PGA REACH is to Impact Lives Through Golf.

For more information on PGA REACH, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @ PGAREACH on Twitter, and find us on Facebook.

About Folds of Honor Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, as well as post-secondary tuition (two- or four-year college/university, technical or trade school).

Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 35,000 scholarships totaling over $160 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity

by Charity Navigator and Platinum on GuideStar. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot and PGA Professional, who is currently stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida as a member of the 301st Fighter Squadron. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

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by Dakota Diaz

Newly Expanded 2022 Rolex Series Returns To UAE For Season Opener G

eneva, Switzerland – The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from 20-23 January heralds an exciting era for the expanded Rolex Series and the new-look DP World Tour.

In 2022, the Tour will be truly global, featuring a minimum of 45 tournaments in 25 countries, including new events in Belgium, Japan, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Rolex Series celebrates the highest calibre of golf and international spirit of the game, qualities that resonate strongly with Rolex and its own quest for perpetual excellence. Launched in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of Rolex’s partnership with the DP World Tour – previously known as The European Tour – the series comprises five of the premier tournaments on the schedule, namely: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

A record US$10 million prize fund will be on offer at this year’s DP World Tour Championship, making the season finale – also the

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culmination to the Rolex Series – the first Tour event outside of the Majors and the two World Golf Championships (WGC) tournaments to feature an eight-figure prize fund.

Over the course of more than half a century, Rolex has become intimately linked with the game at all levels, united in a commitment to continuous improvement and unwavering precision. It all began with a pioneering 1967 agreement when golfing legend Arnold Palmer was joined by his great friends and rivals Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player (The Big Three) to become the brand’s first Testimonees in the sport. Underlining its support for golf in Europe, in 1997 Rolex became the Official Timekeeper of The European Tour, a partnership it now maintains through its alliance with the DP World Tour.

BACK-TO-BACK ROLEX SERIES EVENTS Lapped by the waters of the Arabian Gulf, the stunning Yas Links course will host the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the first time in the tournament’s history. The 17th edition will be the first of backto-back events in the UAE, with many of the world’s elite golfers then

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travelling on to Dubai for the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic from 27–30 January. This will mark its debut as a Rolex Series event after being promoted to the DP World Tour’s premium category.

England’s Paul Casey will be eager to successfully defend his title, having dominated the field last year to win by four shots and claim a 15th Tour title. The Rolex Testimonee returns to Dubai on the back of five top-10 finishes in his past seven DP World Tour appearances.

In lifting the trophy, Casey joined a stellar list of Rolex Testimonees to have won the Dubai Desert Classic over the past quarter of a century. Fred Couples of the United States (1995), Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (1996) and Spain’s José María Olazábal (1998), all members of golf’s Hall of Fame, are among those to have triumphed at Emirates Golf Club. And this year marks a decade since Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello claimed one of his most memorable victories against a field containing three of the world’s top four ranked players.

More recently, Haotong Li and Bryson DeChambeau have secured victories at the event, winning in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Haotong recorded the tournament’s lowest ever total in relation to par, finishing on 23 under, only to be eclipsed the following year

by Major winner DeChambeau of the United States, who went one shot better.

THE FINAL THREE To be held one week before the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, the Genesis Scottish Open from 7–10 July will be the third Rolex Series event of 2022, returning to the Renaissance Club in East Lothian for the fourth consecutive year. The course sets a unique challenge. Players must confront the ruggedness and beauty of the links elements, and embrace the values that drive the discipline, to be successful at this original Rolex Series tournament.

From 8–11 September, the world’s leading golfers will gather in the idyllic surroundings of Wentworth Club on the outskirts of

www.golfvacationsmag.com Royal Isabela

London to contest the penultimate Rolex Series tournament, the BMW PGA Championship. Long regarded as the DP World Tour’s flagship event, that status was confirmed in 2017 when it was chosen as one of the founding tournaments of the Rolex Series.

The top 50 players in the Rolex DP World Rankings will compete in the final Rolex Series event, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 17–20 November. An increase in ranking points available at all five Rolex Series events gives the winner of this tournament an increased chance of being confirmed as the overall No. 1 player for the season, an accolade most recently claimed by Rolex Testimonees, Jon Rahm (2019) and Italy’s Francesco Molinari (2018).

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Los Caballeros Golf Club Keeps its Dude-Ranch Roots Alive in Wickenburg

By David R. Holland

Photos courtesy of Los Caballeros Golf Club

WICKENBURG, AZ – So when Hopalong Cassidy, Clark Gable and former President Richard Nixon visited Rancho de los Caballeros -- a famous dude ranch dating back to 1948 -- did they tee it up at Los Caballeros Golf Club?

He spins tales of when he walked the fairways with former Vice President Dan Quayle (his parents owned a house here) and watched Secret Service guys scramble when a local pilot buzzed the golf course.

Nope, but one might be surprised that dude ranches started thinking about golf as far back as the 1950s. Some have access to golf courses, but a list of the best has to include Los Caballeros Golf Club, the Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort in Solvang, California, and the Flying L Ranch Golf Club in Bandera, Texas.

When the afternoon dash of the 80 guest ranch horses pass the 18th hole heading to the night pasture, Batchelder says with a grin: “You can’t see that at any other golf course.”

Van Batchelder, today’s Director of Golf and General Manager, perfectly embodies the spirit of a cowboy. He plays golf with cowboy hat and work boots, long-sleeved shirt and he won the 1994 Arizona Open. He’s the real deal and a perfect leader of this golf club.

“I work with colts and cattle horses, so I’m dressed to go from the golf course to the corral,” he says. The cowboy hat also keeps his swing “on plane”. That makes sense, maybe more should try it.

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Golf on a Dude Ranch Los Caballeros Golf Club was constructed in 1979 by Greg Nash and Jeff Hardin (Red Lawrence trainees), taking rugged Arizona land that features views of Vulture Peak, the Bradshaw Mountains, saguaros, chollo and palm trees.

Batchelder actually arrived at Los Cab back in 1988 taking his first head pro job after working at three golf courses in Denver.

He went on to head up two award-winning Lake Tahoe area golf courses (Whitehawk Ranch and Grizzly Ranch) for 25 years before retiring in 2020.

“A new partnership bought the ranch and golf club and asked me to come on and I told them I’d help them out a little while www.golfvacationsmag.com

Van Batchelder

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and see how it goes. We’ve made tremendous progress,” he said.

Batchelder immediately surveyed agronomy issues and a new superintendent was hired to make the improvements.

The 7,020-yarder is situated 2,100 feet in altitude making it a tiny bit cooler in summer than Phoenix an hour away.

The challenge comes in elevated, push-up fast greens with many bumps and humps in the fairways with a sprinkling of bunkers and lakes.

No. 13 is considered one of the most challenging par 5s in Arizona at 605 yards. It has a huge dip in elevation en route to a perched, small green sitting on a plateau. Only two golfers have reached this hole in two – John Daly and Dan Pohl.

Upon leaving the green the view of Vulture Peak makes Batchelder wish the panorama had included a par-3 hole as No. 14.

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The Bradshaw Mountains are framed on the 536-yard No. 5 and the 578-yard seventh heads past a pond as it climbs to the green. Wrap up your day with a 561-yarder that plays downhill, downwind and down sun as Batchelder likes to say. You might even be treated to the passing horses.

Although the practice area at “Los Cab” is small it is right there as you exit the Clubhouse. It has a range, a short-game area, sand and a putting green.

The Los Caballeros Clubhouse is decorated in the tones of the desert with a Southwestern flair. In the summer the Club Chef provides lunch from a fresh grill menu daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dining is available inside the Clubhouse or on the patio overlooking the practice area and the Bradshaw mountain range.

The pro shop is also stocked with western clothes and boots as Batchelder has done in past jobs.

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Rancho de los Caballeros: Stay awhile for adventure It is hard to believe that Rancho de los Caballeros, which included the Remuda Ranch at one time, was so rustic it didn’t even have TVs or telephones.

The swimming pool was hand dug in 1947, was the first non-rectangular shaped pool in Arizona and is heated to 78 degrees. Its pearl shape caused concern among architects who thought the shape was too daring. Over the years, the critics have been disproved, and the pool remains an example of sturdy construction, undergoing only its second resurfacing in 1990.

An airstrip was built in 1951 to accommodate the private planes of early guests. The runway was 2,600 feet long and 120 feet wide and was once used by a DC3.

The corral holds a string of 80 horses, each with a different temperament and personality. It doesn’t matter if you’re an old hand at riding, or you’ve only been on a carousel horse

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before, ranch hands can give you the guidance you need and a friendly and gentle equine companion to make your horseback riding vacation in Arizona unforgettable.

Sonora Desert await -- along with a window seat, a private sun patio that invites relaxation in the cool of the evening and a pristine starry sky you won’t see in a big city.

Play tennis, cool off in the pool or perfect your shooting skills with trap and skeet. Tennis is offered at no charge, and balls and rackets are available at the front desk. Other activities include spa, nature horseback riding, team penning, jeep tours, ATV tours, saloon adventures, yoga, cook outs by campfire, hay rides, desert nature hikes, hot air balloon rides and the Caballero Kids Program.

Want even more? Schedule spa treatments, go bird watching at the Hassayampa River Preserve or visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in town. Some evenings one can go on a hay wagon ride to the south yucca flats for a cookout dinner.

Batchelder echoes what’s easy to understand once you have visited here. “Everybody gets in such a hurry these days.

There’s a certain ambience that makes you relax, slow down and enjoy.”

Dining includes a full American plan of breakfast, lunch and dinner you can add to your package.

Bunk down at Rancho de los Caballeros Hand-crafted, Mexican-style furniture and an earthy palette of colors reflects the surroundings that make this Wickenburg ranch enjoyable. Each of the 67 casitas and 12 suites are appointed with comfort in mind. Panoramic views of the

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My last daybreak at Rancho de los Caballeros was special.

I arrived for breakfast at the main lodge, but just outside it was so peaceful. That’s when I heard a coyote serenade in the distance and two owls in a eucalyptus tree hooting before sunrise.

Cool deal as Batchelder likes to say.

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Aviv Clini

Is Oxygen Golf’ 24 Golf Vacations • February 2022

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ics Asks:

by Tim Cotroneo

’s New Frontier www.golfvacationsmag.com

Golf Vacations • February 2022 25

G

olfers from around the world are streaming to The Villages, FL, to rejuvenate their game. The spontaneous story behind this quest isn’t your traditional response to straighter drives, a better short game, or making more putts.

Golfers are asking questions and getting surprising results from oxygen.

Aviv Clinic’s first United States facility was built on the foundation of delivering an effective protocol to enhance performance in both the brain and the body. A surprising offshoot of the data and analysis generated from Aviv patients is that Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, may not only improve one’s cognitive and physical abilities, it may also transform your golf game.

Scientific Physicians in Tel Aviv, Israel, have been treating clients for stroke, Alzheimer’s, decline from aging, wound care, kidney disease, chronic pain, and brain injury for more than 15 years. Only recently, and specifically at the new facility at The Villages, did it come out that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can deliver exciting golf game results.

Oxygen’s New Home at The Villages Tel Aviv’s facility has been treating 200 clients daily for over a decade, with a significant percentage of those patients coming from the United States. Aviv Clinics opened a new facility at The Villages in June of 2019 to meet the U.S. demand.

In 2020, 3.4 million rounds of golf were played in The Villages. That’s far and away the most at one location in the United States. With golf being the favorite sport of Aviv’s

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new U.S. hometown, the hyperbaric treatment center began collecting data and adjusting the physical, as well as cognitive protocol, for their golf playing patients.

Not only were Aviv’s team of Physiologists, Neuropsychologists, Nurses, Physicians, and Dieticians, discovering that their protocol generated encouraging beforeand-after cognitive and physical results, this same hyperbaric medical protocol could enhance the range of motion, focus, and hand-eye coordination for golfers.

Don’s Story- Better Health Right in His Backyard Don is a Pennsylvania-native and a retired Army Electronics Engineer who has lived in The Villages since 2013. Don is an active golfer, hiker, and pickle ball player. He also suffers from cervical dystonia. This is a painful condition which causes your neck muscles to contract involuntarily.

“I know a Yoga Instructor who decided to pursue Aviv’s 12-week program of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cognitive training, physical training, and personalized nutrition. My friend is a smart guy. I thought that with Aviv’s facility located right in my backyard, I would make the investment in my health,” Don said.

Don completed the Aviv program in November of 2021. Since that time, his cervical dystonia has decreased dramatically. Don also received an added bonus: his already good golf game has gotten even better. “I find that my swing is looser and more fluid. Plus, my focus, green reading, and putting is the best it’s ever been.”

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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – How it Works Once a client decides he or she wants to participate in the 12-week, five-days-per-week program, a personalized plan is developed. A full evaluation of your biology is created describing your health profile. This tells the Aviv Team how the program might help you and ultimately guides a patient’s treatment approach.

The health transformation from the 12-week Aviv Medical Program results from deploying proprietary HBOT protocol, cognitive and physical training, and a personalized nutritional program. The entire process works under the supervision of a dedicated team of healthcare professionals.

Over 12 weeks, patients take part in 60 “Dives” or HBOT treatments. These oxygen-infused sessions take place in a pressurized environment. During their fluctuating oxygen treatments, the patient participates in brain stimulation exercises by using a tablet. A baseline MRI, and data assessment, determine the best ways to optimize one’s performance. These MRIs provide a visible progress report, and can also reveal evidence of stem cell regeneration, as the patient advances through the program.

From Combating Age Decline to Seeing Elite Athletes and CEOs Aviv’s initial hyperbaric oxygen treatment focused on stroke

patients, those with traumatic brain injuries, and patients with mental/physical decline caused by aging. As breakthroughs in these areas occurred, the word began to spread, and Aviv’s audience grew.

In Europe and the Middle East, players on the European Golf Tour and NASCAR circuit took notice of Aviv testimonials.

A younger audience reached out to Aviv for help in enhancing focus, better physical capabilities, and improved decision making. Suddenly Aviv’s client base evolved from aging patients seeking a better lifestyle to individuals at the top of their respective careers seeking more endurance and the ability to stay razor sharp.

In the U.S., Aviv’s new facility in The Villages began hearing from a confidential stream of ex-NFL athletes, professional golfers, collegiate golfers, and weary CEOs looking to gain a competitive edge. Aviv’s U.S. CEO Dave Globig says a motto emerged from these quiet testimonials. “For every client who comes through our doors, two more follow.”

Aviv’s Game Changing Future Aviv’s gleaming 30,000-square-foot facility at the Center for Advanced Healthcare in The Villages is poised for the future. There is a felt sense of anticipation surrounding their four state-of-the-art hyperbaric chambers. “Hardly a week goes by that we don’t witness something life-changing with one of our clients. Just last week I observed a stroke patient move from a wheelchair to a cane. It’s moving to see someone improve their quality of life,” Physiologist Aaron Tribby said.

CEO Globig felt it was important for him to walk Aviv’s walk. Globig attended Aviv’s 12-week treatment program along with his now 70-year-old dad. “This was my aha moment. My dad can now sleep through the night. This wellrested benefit means he can continue to be hands-on with the rental properties he loves to work on,” Globig said.

Don, the 77-year-old retired military man and Aviv success story, was asked how he would rate his hyperbaric oxygen therapy journey. “I’m playing golf, playing pickleball, and hiking. As far as my Aviv experience, I’d do it all again.” On a 75-degree sunny day in The Villages, FL, there’s something exciting in the air that feels like oxygen for the soul. https:// aviv-clinics.com/golf-performance/ www.golfvacationsmag.com

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RESORT REPORT

We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

F

or 20 years We-Ko-Pa has been on the must-play lists of the Greater Phoenix area. And it just keeps getting better.

Most often praised for its zero houses and pristine views, the Cholla and Saguaro 18-hole award-winners are among my favorites.

food was outstanding and I was treated to a Q&A with Seth Joyner, NFL All-Pro linebacker.

Here’s more on the new improvements and awards

• We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort was named “Best Casino” for 2021 in Phoenix Magazine’s “Best of the Valley” Reader’s Choice section.

Four Peaks (We-Ko-Pa in Yavapai) rises 7,000 feet in elevation and frames many of your shots. You will also see the Verde River, McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Superstitions, and Matazal Mountains.

• Unified the casino and hotel, which were previously separately managed and operated enterprises, under one entity to build a cohesive brand, maximize efficiencies, and achieve economies of scale.

But today We-Ko-Pa has outstanding Stay and Play options with the newly renovated hotel and casino.

My stay at the resort included dinner at WKP Sports & Entertainment, the casino’s sports 2022 bar-themed restaurant. The 28 Golf Vacations • February

• Ember, the casino’s fine-dining steakhouse, achieved the illustrious Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence” for 2021. Ember is one of only seven restaurants in the state to receive this award. www.golfvacationsmag.com

by DAVID R. HOLLAND

FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA

Photos by Lonna Tucker www.golfvacationsmag.com

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RESORT REPORT • Partnered with Betfred Sports and finalizing plans to build a Las Vegas-quality retail sportsbook to bring sport betting to Arizona residents.

• Signed tribal gaming compacts, along with the legislative changes required to enact them, after years of negotiations with sister tribes toward a modernized compact with the state of Arizona.

• Introduced two new table games: Roll To Win Craps — a semi-autonomous craps game that lets players shoot real dice across a 12-foot LED playing field screen; and Blaze Roulette — featuring an LED lightbox-lit gaming surface that displays eye-catching animations and game prompts.

• Unveiled new Dining Studio, featuring scratch-made food from around the world at Dragon Wok and Noodle with authentic Chinese specialty items and Las Tapas with traditional Mexican favorites.

• Added approximately 75 of the latest, cutting-edge slot machines in the newly named The Mint slot room.

• Released a user-friendly app that shows room rates, highlights promotions, and showcases upcoming entertainment events, plus allows users to book accommodations and reservations at Ember steakhouse, enroll in the Fortune Club, and learn more about meeting venues.

• Was named a finalist for AZRE Magazine’s annual Real Estate and Development Awards, as one of the state’s top projects, architects, contractors, developers and brokers in 2020.

• WKP Sports & Entertainment, the casino’s sports bar-themed restaurant, joined the Untappd app to introduce the Valley drinking community to its wide range of draft and local beers. We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort was the first casino in the state to offer this innovative way for beer enthusiasts to discover new beer styles while tracking and rating brews already tried.

“For more than 37 years our tribal nation has taken great pride in offering excellence in gaming and we’re thrilled to continue this legacy in our beautiful new facility,” said Bernadine Burnette, president of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. “Our future plans include launching a new sports book facility with Betfred Sports, as well as opening Amore — the newest addition to our Dining Studio that will feature traditional Italian fare.

About We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Owned and operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the 166,341-square-foot We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has state-of-the-art gaming, a variety of specialty fine and casual dining restaurants, and live entertainment. The attached AAA Four Diamond hotel offers 246 guestrooms and suites; 25,000 square feet of meeting space; spa treatments at the Amethyst Spa; and two resort-style outdoor pools.

The new casino resort’s proximity to the two courses at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and numerous outdoor activities at Fort McDowell Adventures make it the ideal destination for a vacation, business function or special event, the release states.

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is an 889-member Native American tribe that calls central Arizona’s upper Sonoran Desert home.

Located to the northeast of Phoenix within Maricopa County, the 40-square-mile reservation is a small part of the ancestral territory of the once nomadic Yavapai people, who hunted and gathered food in a vast area of Arizona’s desert lowlands and mountainous Mogollon Rim country.

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FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA Go to wekopacasinoresort.com Chill out this summer at the brand new We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort where you can try your luck with state-of-the-art gaming, bask in luxurious accommodations and lavish amenities, relax in the pool and spa, tee off at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, or take in a fun outdoor activity at Fort McDowell Adventures.

With two award-winning golf courses set in the thriving Sonoran Desert, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club delivers one of the best golf experiences in the Scottsdale and Phoenix metropolitan area.

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Scott Miller designed the Cholla Course, while Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw teamed up to create Saguaro. In addition to golf, while you’re at the AAA Four Diamond property, officials there say resort guests visitors can enjoy: • Movie nights; • Friday night happy hours with a live band; • DJ and live band on Saturdays; • Lavish putting greens; and • Horseshoes.

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