Golf Vacations Magazine February 2018

OUR 17th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS FEBRUARY 2018

BAHAMAS TAKING A BITE OUT OF THE SHARK’S COURSE

NORTHERN IRELAND

WORLD-CLASS COURSES FOR WORLD-CLASS GOLFERS

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • February 2018 1 Plus: RESORT REPORT: BARONA CREEK GOLF CLUB

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GOLF VACATIONS FEBRUARY 2018

Emerald Bay Golf Course, Bahamas

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Chip Shots

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Taking A Bite Out Of The Shark’s Course

by David R. Holland

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Taking On World-Class Northern Ireland

by JD Latorre

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So you’re gonna tee it up with a Hall of Fame golfer. How’s that gonna play out? Actually, it was awesome. My invitation to the kickoff event of the 2018 Web.com Tour, The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, included 18 Pro-Am holes with Greg Norman, who designed the golf course.

For a small country, Northern Ireland punches far above its weight on the global golf stage, having produced three champions with six Major titles between them in the last decade – Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

Resort Report: Barona Creek Golf Club

by Dave McKibben

It was 2001 when I last made the one-hour trek from North San Diego County to the Barona Resort & Casino. A lot has changed in 16 years. Back then, the casino was housed in a circus-themed Big Top tent. The new casino, resort and 400-room hotel with five full-service restaurants didn’t even exist.

Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Dave McKibben has been battle-tested in raucous newsrooms and dimly-lighted press boxes for nearly 20 years as an award-winning Los Angeles Times journalist. He’s covered the PGA Tour, Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA, NCAA sports and even local high schools sports. In his career he’s interviewed such greats as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Cal Ripken, John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Tony Gwynn and Michael Jordan.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

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.

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.

JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida 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 Larry Feldman

Senior Writers JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo

For Editorial:

call (760) 774-2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com

Regional Advertising Los Angeles Terry Ross • 949-279-7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • 770-239-7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com

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portsMedia publications

President Jeffrey Diaz

455 NE 5th Avenue, Suite D-151 Delray Beach, Florida 33483 (760) 774-2655

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Destiny Media, LLC 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 2018 SportsMedia Publications, 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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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Villa del Palmar Resort & Spa Offers Unlimited Golf & Sport Fishing Package In the Islands of Loreto LORETO, Baja California Sur, Mexico — What’s better than playing the newly completed Rees Jones-designed golf course along the Baja Peninsula or fishing in the indigo waters of the Sea of Cortez? Doing both in the extra-special “Unlimited Golf & Fishing Package” offered by Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at The Islands of Loreto.

Guests can play continuous rounds of golf, as many as desired, at the dazzling new Danzante Bay Golf Club – featuring 18 holes overlooking the ocean – and go fishing in an area once described by Jacques Cousteau as the “aquarium of the world” on a privately chartered boat.

The “Unlimited Golf & Fishing Package” also features lodging for three nights in a Deluxe Studio Suite at Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa, a Villa Group property that features 4,447 acres of unspoiled beauty along one of the most breathtaking spots in the hemisphere.

The package is available now through May 30th, travel window from now until December 20th, 2018. Guests can choose either an all-inclusive or European package option.

The all-inclusive package rate, at $1,056 per person, based on double occupancy, includes: • Three nights in a deluxe studio suite at Villa del Palmar • All meals at resort restaurants • Domestic and international beverages

at resort restaurants • Unlimited golf, with use of golf cart and practice facilities • One day-trip of fishing on a panga boat • For non-fishing guests– an appointment at Sabila Spa for a treatment, facial, or wet area access • $25 credit at Sabila Spa (may not be combined with other certificates) The European package rate, at $836 per person, based on double occupancy, includes: • Three nights in a deluxe studio suite at Villa del Palmar • Continental breakfast for three mornings • Unlimited golf, with use of golf cart and practice facilities • One daytrip fishing on a panga boat • For non-fishing guests– an appointment

Villa del Palmar Resort & Spa

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS at Sabila Spa for a treatment, facial, or wet area access • $25 credit at Sabila Spa (may not be combined with other certificates) Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto boasts stunning views of the Sea of Cortez and Sierra de la Giganta Mountain Range, three outstanding restaurants, five swimming pools, the luxurious Sabila Spa, beautiful beaches, tennis courts, miles of hiking trails and sport fishing.

Part of a luxury master-planned community adjacent to the coastline of Baja’s inland Pacific marine sanctuary, Danzante Bay Golf Club has five sets of tees, ranging between 4,916 and 7,237 yards, and features wide fairways and greens that must be carefully judged but are never unfair. Most of the entrances to the greens are open — allowing approach shots to run on safely — while the holes along the cliffs feature strategically placed collection areas to keep errant shots from taking the plunge into the blue water below.

Along with the changing terrain, the winds can be different day to day and even during the day, conditions that influence shot value and strategy.

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The resort is just a two-hour flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) via Alaska Airlines and is accessible seasonally with direct WestJet flights from Calgary, and from Tijuana via Calafia Airlines.

For more details, visit www.villadelpalmarloreto.com, call (800) 790-4187, or email reservaciones.vdpl@vgloreto.com.

For additional information on Danzante Bay Golf Club, visit www. danzantebay.com.

Junior Players Golf Academy Announces 2018 Programming HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Junior Players Golf Academy (JPGA) – the leader in full-time, intensive and student-focused junior golf coaching – has announced its full line-up of programming for 2018.

In addition to the Full-Time Academy and Post Graduate Program for athletes looking to improve their game before entering college, various JPGA Junior Golf Camps are available year-round.

The Full-Time Academy runs from mid-August through the end of May with housing, meals and transportation included. Students receive daily individualized coaching from a staff never exceeding a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio and have access to five courses on Hilton Head Island and three in Orlando.

The Academy also provides Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) fitness training, weekly video analysis and Trackman sessions, college counseling and placement, Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) membership and nine entries to HJGT events (including travel, accommodations and coaches). Interviews are required for prospective Full-Time Academy students.

To complement the Full-Time Academy and Post Graduate Program, JPGA will offer four seasonal camps in 2018. Program specifics, duration and pricing vary based on the selected program and are as follows: • Full-Time Academy Post Graduate Program: Tailored to high school graduates in pursuit of a scholarship or pre-collegiate game improvement, the post graduate program focuses on competitive play and preparation for the next level. The program, which follows the Full-Time Academy schedule from mid-August until mid-May, includes TPI fitness training, weekly video analysis, college counseling and placement assistance, HJGT membership and access to nine HJGT events. Interviews are required for prospective Post Graduate Program students.

• JPGA Spring Break Golf Camp: The five-day intensive camp features daily golf coaching, video analysis, housing, meals and evening activities. Camp dates begin on March 5 with the last one starting April 23. Rates range from $1,395 (commuter) to $1,895 (residential).

• JPGA Summer Break Golf Camp: Available for eleven weeks from May 23 through August 6, summer camps include daily golf coaching, video analysis, housing, meals and evening activities. Rates range from $1,395 (commuter) to $1,895 (residential), with discounts available for multiple week campers.

• JPGA Summer Players Camp: Separate from the Summer Break Golf Camps, the Players Camp is a multi-week camp designed for players to train throughout the week and compete on weekends. Three separate programs offer three hours of daily coaching on each aspect of the game, video analysis, 18 holes with an instructor joining for nine holes, teaching course management technique and tournament play tactics. Rates range from $3,695 to $7,995 depending on the selected camp.

• JPGA Holiday Golf Camp: Players can choose between a threeday or five-day camp, which includes daily golf coaching, video analysis, housing, meals and evening activities. Three-day camp rates range from $1,125 (commuter) to $1,525 (residential) and five-day camp rates range from $1,395 (commuter) to $1,895 (residential).

To learn more about JPGA and its 2018 programming line-up, please visit www.jrpga.com or call 843-686-3355.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Tidewater Golf Club

Myrtle Beach Elite Package, Anchored By Tidewater, Surges To Top Of Golfer Wish Lists Cherry Grove, S.C. — Tidewater Golf Club, one of South Carolina’s premier courses, is anchoring the Myrtle Beach Elite package, a 3-night, 4-round deal that is one of the Grand Strand’s most popular 2018 offerings.

The Myrtle Beach Elite Package starts at just $352.

The package allows groups to choose among five courses, highlighted by Tidewater, which features eight holes that play along either the Intracoastal Waterway or Cherry Grove. One of Myrtle Beach’s premier layouts, Tidewater is renowned for the quality of its architecture and beauty.

The third and 12th holes are the most scenic pair of par 3s in the Palmetto State, and they may not be the course’s prettiest holes.

The fourth hole, a gentle dogleg left, plays along Cherry Grove and the approach to a green fronted by a trio of high-faced bunkers is the course’s most dramatic. Not to be outdone, the par 5 13th offers a distant view of the Atlantic Ocean, one of just two holes along the Myrtle Beach golf scene that does so.

Tidewater, which has been in superb

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condition since undergoing an extensive greens renovation project in 2014, has been ranked among America’s top 100 public courses.

The course has received rave reviews from golfers, averaging 4.89 stars in 270 reviews.

Joining Tidewater as part of the Myrtle Beach Elite package are Prestwick Country Club, Arrowhead Country Club, Arcadian Shores Golf Club and the Jones Course at Sea Trail Resort.

Golfers have the option to stay at World Tour Golf Villas, Myrtlewood Villas or Tilghman Oceanfront Resort as part of the deal.

The Myrtle Beach Elite package allows golfers to choose among four other quality courses. Arrowhead Country Club, a 27hole Raymond Floyd design, is home to the Cypress, Lakes and Waterway nines. In addition to providing consistently superior conditions, the layout is most known for its holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Prestwick, a P.B. Dye layout, is one of the area’s most underrated courses, highlighted by a powerful finishing stretch. Arcadian Shores completed a comprehensive renovation project in 2017 that included the

installation of new greens and cart paths. The Jones course at Sea Trail provides a quality round of golf and great value, completing the Myrtle Beach Elite package offerings.

For more information on the package, go to www.TidewaterGolf.com.

Westin Kierland Golf Club First Arizona Course To Install New “Shark Experience” In Golf Cars SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Continually on the forefront of innovation and technology, The Westin Kierland Golf Club is the first Arizona golf course and resort to install “Shark Experience” – an innovative new golf technology that enhances the on-course experience – to its golf car fleet.

Westin Kierland’s Club Car golf cars will include high-definition touch screen displays and built-in speakers with Bluetooth connectivity. Golfers at Westin Kierland will now be able to enjoy streaming music via Slacker Radio, live sports, highlights, news and entertainment, in addition to Greg Norman golf tips, dynamic yardage information and more.

“The debut of the ‘Shark Experience’ at our Kierland Golf Club is the realization of

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a challenge we put forth to our golf industry partners several years ago to change the trajectory of the game by addressing the concern that it ‘takes too long to play’,” said Bruce Lange, managing director, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. “It has always been a Westin Kierland contention that it’s not the length of time it takes to play, but instead the amount of time to play the game competing with other golfer interests. Bringing music, video and eventually televised sporting events to the course allows the player to multi-task so they won’t have to give up some of their favorite pastimes. We’re proud to be on the cutting edge of changing the conversation about the game and very much looking forward to providing our players yet another unique Kierland experience.”

In November, the partnership between Greg Norman Company, Verizon, GPSi, and Club Car unveiled Shark Experience.

Shark Experience will deliver unprecedented connectivity, content and customization to the course through this connected golf car

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experience. The Westin Kierland Golf Club is one of only a handful of clubs across the country to have this new technology.

The Experience will continue to evolve in 2018 and add features, such as hole-in-one technology, food and beverage ordering, Shot Tracer and more.

“The golf industry has been starved for real innovation that encourages real change for real growth and we believe Shark Experience is the answer,” said Greg Norman. “This solution enhances the golfer experience and is customizable to each individual’s preference – whether you are a Baby Boomer, Millennial or Gen Z, Shark Experience has something to keep you entertained, connected and having fun.”

The Westin Kierland Golf Club is a Troon-managed course designed by Scott Miller featuring 27 holes that form a complementary collection of nines – each with its own flavor and strategy, but all equally enjoyable and challenging. Bringing together perfectly manicured golf, golf

boards, golf bikes, TurfRiders and Segway golf, the best exercise physiology and onsite golf equipment fitting, the Kierland Golf Experience is the area’s most innovative golf program. Traditional golf instruction by award-winning instructors Mike and Sandy LaBauve is offered at the LaBauve Golf Academy and Director of Instruction Lindy LaBauve offers professional instruction through the Kierland Performance Center.

The Club’s innovative FORE-MAX program helps golfers step up their performance through improved fitness, flexibility and nutrition. With its customized workouts, FORE-MAX is also a popular fitness option for those who don’t play golf. For a unique golf experience, the Westin Kierland Golf Club also offers a Scottish golf program, where golfers play in a traditional Scottish kilt.

For information about The Westin Kierland Golf Club or to book a tee time, call 480922-9283 or visit www.kierlandgolf.com. For more information on the Shark Experience, visit www.sharkexperience.com.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Kohler’s Whistling Straits

Destination Kohler Releases 2018 ‘Dye-Abolical’ and ‘Golf Kohler’ Stay-and-Play Packages KOHLER, WI– Destination Kohler – Wisconsin’s golf leader and home to four acclaimed Pete Dye-designed courses across Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run – is now taking 2018 reservations for the popular “Dye-Abolical” and “Golf Kohler” stay-and-play packages. Destination Kohler is the Midwest’s only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond resort-hotel and recently selected by Conde Nast Traveler as the #1 resort in the Midwest.

The three-night “Dye-Abolical” features four rounds of golf per person, one each on The Straits and The Irish courses at Whistling Straits and The River and Meadow Valleys layouts at Blackwolf Run. Cart, caddie and forecaddie fees are included along with a 30-minute golf lesson and gift pouch with logoed items. Complimentary replays are available on The Irish and Meadow Valleys and golfers receive a 20% discount at the Forbes Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa. Rates (based on double occupancy) start at $987 for accommodations at the AAA Three-Diamond Inn on Woodlake and $1,116 at The American Club, Wisconsin’s only Forbes Five-Star property.

“Golf Kohler” differs only in terms of

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stay (two nights versus three) and rounds of golf (three versus four). Play on The Straits – three-time PGA Championship host and 2020 Ryder Cup venue – and The River – recently ranked among Dye’s greatest golf course designs by GOLF.com – is included.

Rates begin at $761 at the Inn on Woodlake and $851 at The American Club.

“We’re the only resort in the world featuring four golf courses by Mr. Dye, who is widely regarded as the greatest architect of his generation,” says Dirk Willis, PGA, GM & Group Director – Golf, Kohler Co. “Given the rising popularity of buddy trips and our team’s unrivaled focus on guest service, it’s the perfect time to lock-in one of the Inn on Woodlake’s 10 new multi-bedroom suites.”

Destination Kohler opened the new twoand four-bedroom suites on Jan. 1, after a year-long expansion project. All feature a central common area with a large flat screen TV and fireplace, plus kitchenette with beverage refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker and sink.

Bedrooms are configured with either two twins or one king bed and feature a large flat screen TV, minifridge, coffee maker and private bathroom with double vanity and walk-in KOHLER© shower. A patio extends the floor plan of some of the four-bedroom models.

The boutique Inn on Woodlake also boasts an updated and more spacious lobby.

The central common space, or Atrium, will continue to offer complimentary breakfast to guests, and has been expanded to now include a cocktail bar and a patio with direct access to the popular putting green overlooking Wood Lake.

To book, please call 866.446.5170.

Groups of 12 or more are invited to ask about Ultimate Buddy Trip options. Favorites include Ryder Cup-inspired tournaments and pairing parties, special happy hours, 19th hole celebrations, team shirts, locker room name plates, and logoed tee gifts.

For more information: DestinationKohler. com, 866.446.5170.

New Tiburón Golf Club Offerings Encourage Family And Junior Play Naples, FL – Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples recently unveiled new offerings to encourage families and juniors to play together and more often at the award-winning club. From new Family Tees and Family Golf Carts to junior apparel and golf clubs, Tiburón has made the game more junior and family-friendly.

As part of the recent remastering of Tiburón’s Black Course, Family Tees were added giving members and guests with children another option to play the course at approximately 4,000 yards. With the

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addition of the Family Tees, golfers now have six tee options to choose from when playing the Black Course – from 4,000 yards from the Family Tees to 6,949 yards from the Championship Tees.

In addition to Family Tees, Tiburón also recently debuted two new Family Golf Carts that seat up to four players, hold four sets of golf clubs, have multiple USB ports to charge electronic devices and are equipped with GPS units.

Tiburón is managed by Troon and participates in the management company’s industry-leading Troon Family Golf program.

Through Troon Family Golf, juniors (age 15 years and younger) can play for free after 3 pm with a paying adult, receive complimentary Callaway Golf rental clubs (available in two sizes at Tiburón) and receive complimentary golf instruction when taking a lesson with a paying adult.

A wide range of junior apparel and accessories, including junior-sized golf gloves, are also available through The Golf Shop at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.

“It’s important that we introduce this great game of golf to new players, while making it more fun for existing players,” said Kevin DeDonato, PGA, general manager, Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. “We hope our new familycentric offerings encourage families to play

together and more often. Some of the best moments in life can be shared on the golf course.”

Tiburón, which is Spanish for shark, is home to the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship and the PGA TOUR’s QBE Shootout. The CME Group Tour Championship has been hosted at Tiburón since 2013 and the QBE Shootout has been played at Tiburón since 2001.

2018 Arizona Women’s Golf Expo To Be Held February 11th At Westin Kierland Golf Club SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (January 25, 2018) — The Westin Kierland Golf Club will host the 2018 Arizona Women’s Golf Expo, from 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Sunday, February 11, 2018. The Women’s Golf Expo is designed to showcase what’s new in women’s golf and will include golf clinics taught by LPGA members, a marketplace of vendors offering golf products for women, lunch specials at the Brittlebush Bar & Grill, and special rates on greens fees for participants.

Arizona Women’s Golf Expo tickets are $30 per person in advance (or $40 at the event) and are available through the event website at www.AZWGE.com. Proceeds from the Arizona Women’s Golf Expo will directly benefit the Girls Golf of Phoenix

program. This locally funded girls program is empowering more than 220 girls (ages 3-18) and thrives on support from events like the Arizona Women’s Golf Expo.

Arizona Women’s Golf Expo tickets include access to: • Hourly Instruction And Adult Clinics • Exhibitions With Special Guests • Vendors With Unique Products & Deals • Silent Auction Benefitting Girls Golf of Phoenix • Equipment Fitting With PING • Ball Fitting With Titleist “The Westin Kierland Golf Club is known for its commitment to innovation and fun.

We’ve paired that commitment with the goal of bringing more women into the game,” said Nancy Dickens, director of golf, The Westin Kierland Golf Club.

The idea of the Women’s Golf Expo was conceived by Sandy LaBauve, a Golf Digest “Top 50 Golf Instructor” who teaches at Kierland’s LaBauve Golf Academy, and former LPGA player and local instructor Tina Tombs. The event provides women who are new to golf an ideal introduction to the game in a friendly setting, while helping veteran players learn tips for improving their game.

For more information on the Women’s Golf Expo, to purchase tickets and to book tee times, visit www.AZWGE.com.

Tiburón Golf Club

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 13

Bahamas

Emerald Bay Golf Cour Sandals Emerald Bay

. . . li 14 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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rse has Lots of Bite . . .

ike a Shark !

By David R. Holland

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 15

G

REAT EXUMA, BAHAMAS

– So you’re gonna tee it up with a Hall of Fame golfer.

How’s that gonna play out?

Actually, it was awesome.

My invitation to the kickoff event of the 2018 Web.com Tour, The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, included 18 Pro-Am holes with Greg Norman, who designed the golf course.

“The Shark” was genuine, encouraged everyone by name, and welcoming to others for photos and autographs. It was so laid back that not one member of my team was intimidated or displayed the paralyzed swing of a stargazed admirer. We scored a respectable 60, just one stroke out of the prizes.

Imagine a breezy, sunny, beautiful day along the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Then combine that with Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course’s back-nine ocean holes that are as scenic as you can find in the world. Do they rival Pebble Beach? No doubt about it.

Watching the Shark’s golf shots all afternoon didn’t make me think here’s a guy past his prime -- they made me recall his days of excellence, winner of 91 professional events

around the world, including two British Open Championships and 20 on the PGA Tour.

“Golf technology has come a long way,” he mused. “I hit the ball 30 yards farther at 62 than I did at age 35.” And he’s probably the most physically fit at his age in professional golf.

Knowing that Norman’s business portfolio is massive we did ask him how much golf he plays these days. “Last year I played 10 times because I was entered in a father-son tournament. The year before that maybe five times.”

So what about Emerald Bay Golf Course?

Several words come to mind: scenic, difficult, challenging, and narrow. The front nine holes wind through a mix of seaside dunes, ponds, and no recovery mangroves while the back nine plays along the rocky peninsula of Emerald Bay. So when I met Web.com tour player Nick Rousey he asked me a question: “Did you ask Mr. Norman why he made this course so tight?”

Normally, golf courses located on windy coastlines have wide, forgiving fairways.

“The narrow fairways are a result of the real estate opportunities,” Norman explained. “Actually, when I first arrived this development was a Four Seasons and the real estate component was laid out for houses on

the water on the back nine (where the ocean holes are). We talked them out of that and it actually saved money. That way you only have one road, one pipeline, one electrical path.”

Amen for that decision.

And thank Sandals for breathing life into the project which actually sat deserted for three and a half years. “Once I got the lay of the land I knew this could be a real diamond in the rough,” Norman continued. “The front nine had lots of opportunities to use the ecosystem (jungle) and the back nine ocean holes are spectacular.”

“Strategically it is difficult because the narrow corridors -- everything got squeezed down, but you should have seen it before. It was so tight, like single file, but if you pick the right tees you can utilize the maximum playable width. Originally the undergrowth would not allow you to miss a foot off the fairway, but today thinning out the undergrowth is ongoing maintenance.”

Norman said he liked Emerald Bay so much he bought two adjoining lots and believes that the Bahamian government will soon recognize its value. Exuma is much more isolated that other parts of this island nation, but the tiny one-gate George Town airport is just minutes away.

“It’s easy to get in and out of here and there’s golf, a great beach, and off-shore recreation,” Norman said.

Arcadia Bluffs The Lodge

Emerald Bay Golf Course

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Greg Norman pondering his next strategic move during our round of golf together

Emerald Bay Golf Course

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 17

Local charm abounds at Sandals Emerald Bay

Highlights of the golf course No. 11 is a very playable par 3 of 148 yards and ditto to No. 13 another par 3 of 122 yards. Grab your camera -- this hole is like its own peninsula and the view is awesome -- surrounded by the pounding surf.

Greg Norman Golf Course Design (GNGCD) is recognized as one of the best course design firms in the world, featuring more than 100 courses opened across 34 countries and six continents, with many having won esteemed design awards.

It’s the 12th, a 418-yard, par 4 that will possibly make you pucker and pump a hook into the ocean left, somewhat like the No. 18 drive at Pebble Beach. You can birdie No. 14. It’s a blind 303-yarder so take advantage.

Sandals is simply superb Even if the golf course humbles you, Sandals Emerald Bay will pamper you. It boasts 249 rooms and suites among 500 tropical acres with a mile-long white sand beach. Voted the Caribbean’s Best Golf Hotel, it also features a world-class 150-slip marina, tennis, two freshwater pools, 11 dining options, unlimited land and water sports, and a 29,000 sq. ft.

Red Lane® Spa.

Then beware of 15, a 572-yard, par 5, handicap No. 2. It will challenge every skill you have, especially on the second shot which has little room for bailout -- blue waters left or deep brush right. My team struggled here, but Mr. Norman just pounded one over all the trouble to the green.

Even though the Web.com golfers are extremely talented this golf course yielded the highest scores of the entire 2017 season because of high winds (40 mph one day) that caused 46 rounds of 80 or higher one day. Just schedule your golf when the wind is not blowing – good luck with that.

Norman’s latest business deal “For the past four years I’ve been working on something called the Shark Experience,” Norman explained to us at dinner. “Club Car is building 50,000 carts with Bluetooth-enabled screens that can stream music, sports, news – whatever applications the world can imagine – through speakers designed, by the shape of the cone and its angle of mounting, to keep the sound within the cart. To grow golf in these times you need to give people the choice of staying connected.”

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Dining here is top shelf from Bombay Club to Kimonos to Il Cielo to La Parisienne. Stick your bare feet in the sand at Barefoot by the Sea, have pub fare at Drunken Duck and my favorite for breakfast was the Bahama Bay buffet. The Jerk Shack serves tasty Caribbean chicken and sweet potatoes.

The resort is all-inclusive meaning you don’t ever need to pull out a credit card or cash. There’s premium alcohol selections, room service, optional butler service and bunches of beach fun.

Those olden day beach activities go a little wacky when one mentions swimming with the pigs. Uh, say what? The swimming pigs of Exuma have evolved from a little-known secret to one of the world’s most sought-after experiences. In an archipelago of 365 islands known for their blue waters, these snorting animals swim freely on their own island. And when you stay at Sandals Emerald Bay, you can meet these barnyard creatures in a unique Swimming Pigs Adventure.

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Here’s The Shark’s List 1. Melbourne, Australia: “Because there are great semi-public golf courses in a five-mile radius – best conditioned and best golf courses in the world.” He named Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Huntingdale, Yarra Yarra, Commonwealth.

2. Southwest Ireland: Ballybunion, Lahinch, Old Head, Doonberg. Some say Ballybunion has always been great, but when they relocated the clubhouse in 1971 to the southern end it became an even better finish.

M

ost die-hard travel golfers remember Jack Nicklaus’ famous quote: “If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. I’ve loved this course from the first time I saw it. It’s possibly the best in the world.”

So, how about Greg Norman, where would you play if you were just an average guy who liked to play golf on his vacations?

"You mean the world is my oyster," Norman asked, “where would I travel to?”

3. Northeast, Midwest Scotland: Norman bounced around on this answer – just too many to pick from. “I think Machrihanish is one of best links courses ever,” Norman said. The list continued to Turnberry, Prestwick, Royal Dornoch, The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle.

“Andrew Carnegie was smart enough to know there’s a warmer gulfstream air flow where you can play in winter at The Carnegie Club,” Norman said.

Machrihanish is a journey. It was said that Old Tom Morris needed a train, a steamboat and a long carriage ride to get there. It’s easier today.

Swimming with the pigs

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 19

Northern

World-Class Courses fo

Royal County Down 20 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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n Ireland

or World-Class Golfers

by JD Latorre

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 21

F

Golfers from all over the world make a spiritual pilgrimage to play Northern Ireland’s celebrated Royal links championship courses and both have a distinguished pedigree.

Its success is no coincidence, however. Underpinning that are some of the finest golf courses to be found anywhere in the world and many of the game’s greatest players have trodden their hallowed fairways down the years.

Golf legends Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt and Harry Vardon all put their stamp on Royal County Down’s Championship Links. Old Tom Morris was brought in to extend the original nine holes to 18 through dunes below the Mourne Mountains in 1889, for the princely sum of £4, while Harry Vardon and Harry Colt subsequently made changes, some holes later modified by Donald Steel.

or a small country, Northern Ireland punches far above its weight on the global golf stage, having produced three champions with six Major titles between them in the last decade – Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

While the land of the Giant’s Causeway has been something of a slumbering giant as a golf destination in comparison with its neighbours up until now, it has been roused under the increasing glare of the golfing world’s spotlight thanks to its superstar venues.

Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are rated among the best in the world for their championship links with the latter, just an hour south of Belfast, topping the world’s 100 greatest courses rankings by Golf Digest in 2016.

Royal Portrush (pictured), on the Causeway Coast, will focus the global spotlight on Northern Ireland even more when it hosts the Open Championship in 2019 for the second time. Nearby Portstewart, another celebrated links course, also helped raise the bar when it staged the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July 2017, attracting a host of golf stars with its purse of £5.5 million and providing Spain’s Jon Rahm, recently voted European Tour Rookie of the Year, with his first European Tour victory. It Northern Ireland’s third time hosting the event since 2012, Royal County Down and Royal Portrush having both been previous venues.

Besides the Irish Open, it has hosted many top tournaments, among them eight Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championships, the Curtis Cup in 1968 and the Walker Cup in 2007. In that, Rory McIlroy represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland while the victorious US team included future stars Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel and Webb Simpson. Its par-66 Annesley course is also highly rated.

Founded in 1898 with two 18-hole courses, Royal Portrush Golf Club’s celebrated Dunluce Links was redesigned by Harry Colt in 1932 and has hosted the Open once before, in 1951, when Max Faulkner won. Its 17th and 18th holes have been replaced by spectacular new 7th and 8th holes, borrowed from an area of duneland spanned by two holes of its sister Valley course, to allow for the spectator village area at the 2019 Open. The new holes opened for play to critical acclaim in June 2017. Other tournaments it has hosted include the Irish Open four times and the Senior British Open six times. Royal Portrush also offers the par-70 Valley course.

It may not have the royal monicker, but Portstewart Golf Club, just

Royal Portrush Golf Club

22 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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Portstewart Golf Club

15 minutes from Royal Portrush, has 54 holes of links golf and boasts one of Ireland’s most modern clubhouses, completed in 2009. Its Strand Course, venue for the 2017 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, is set amidst towering dunes between the Atlantic and the River Bann and its opening hole is regarded by many as the best in Ireland. Two-time Open champion Willie Park Jr was responsible for one of its makeovers.

Rory (he won the US Open and Open Championship in 2011, and the US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014) honed his skills on the hilly fairways and greens of Belfast’s Holywood Golf Club, just outside Belfast. A special area of the clubhouse is a shrine to him, with memorabilia including photographs of his early years playing there and replicas of the US Open and US PGA trophies.

Play Northern Ireland’s courses and you are likely to come across its three local heroes, all of whom are still members of courses where they learnt to play as youngsters.

Its courses also attract plaudits from many of the game’s top professionals.

They include:

Graeme McDowell (US Open champion, 2010) was born and grew up in Portrush and was awarded life membership of Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2002 after his maiden win on the European Tour. His brother is on the club’s greenkeeping staff. Darren Clarke cut his teeth as a golfer at Dungannon Golf Club. A life-size photograph of him holding the Open Championship’s famous Claret Jug greets visitors in the clubhouse entrance while the members’ area showcases memorabilia including photographs highlighting his success as well as a painting of the signature par-3 9th, named the Darren Clarke hole and one of six new holes he designed at the venerable club.

Darren is also a member of Royal Portrush and has lived in the town. A replica of the Claret Jug is displayed in its clubhouse, commemorating his Open win. Nearby is a card showing the course record 61, shot by a 16-year-old Rory McIlroy, for the old layout before recent changes.

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Ernie Els (Royal County Down): “The scenery is unbelievable, you have so many great golf courses in this country and the people are wonderful, I really enjoy coming.”

Rickie Fowler (Royal County Down): “They definitely enjoy their golf here and it’s fun to be over here and see their enthusiasm about it.”

Soren Kjeldsen (after his Irish Open 2015 win at Royal County Down): “It’s a wonderful place to visit, it has been very special.”

Rory McIlroy “That frontline on Portstewart is probably one of the best nine holes in the world…that run of holes in incredible.”

Padraig Harrington (Portstewart): “The venue is fantastic.”

Follow in their spike marks and golfers can play some of the most memorable courses they will ever experience.

For more information on Northern Ireland and its golf, visit: www. discovernorthernireland.com

Golf Vacations • February 2018 23

RESORTREPORT

Retracing My Steps B

Barona Creek G 24 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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by DAVE MCKIBBEN

LAKESIDE, CALIFORNIA

Back To . . .

I

t was 2001 when I last made the one-hour trek from North San Diego County to the Barona Resort & Casino.

A lot has changed in 16 years. Back then, the casino was housed in a circus-themed Big Top tent. The new casino, resort and 400-room hotel with five full-service restaurants didn’t even exist.

But the golf course did and what hasn’t changed much is the quality of the golf course. The Barona Creek Golf Club is still as spectacular and challenging as I remember. The 7,393-yard layout, designed by Gary Roger Baird, features several elevation changes and prominent boulders, 170-fullsize oak trees and nearly 140 bunkers. The magnificent boulders sprinkled around the course and the surrounding mountains give Barona Creek a desert feel.

The course sits in a lush valley on the southwest corner of the Barona Indian Reservation, some 30 miles north east of downtown San Diego, off Highway 67. After crawling through the small town of Lakeside, there’s a six-mile drive up Wildcat Canyon, a two-lane country road.

“We know we are in a remote location so we provide the most amazing experience on the golf course, in the casino and throughout the entire resort so you don’t think twice about your drive to get here ever again,” said Don King, who has been executive director of golf operations at Barona Creek since the course opened in 2001.

Judging by the overflow crowds at the restaurants and the casino on a Wednesday night in mid-December, people must like what they see of the four-diamond resort. The line for Seasons Fresh Buffet spilled onto the casino floor, the blackjack tables were packed all night and the hotel was nearly full. King noted there was nothing unusual about the large weekday gathering.

“Our hotel is 95% full year-round,” he said. “We like to think this isn’t so much a business, but a gathering of friends and family.”

The resort is significantly expanding its casino floor with enough additional space for 500 new slot machines and 20 more table games in early 2018 to accommodate more friends and family.

Golf Club

Fortunately, there are no plans to update the golf course, consistently ranked as one of the top-10 resort and casino courses in the United States by Golfweek Magazine. Golf Digest recently ranked Barona as the best resort course in San Diego.

Though it no longer stages professional events, Barona Creek has proven to be big-league course, hosting the Nationwide Tour Championship, six U.S. Open Qualifiers, an LPGA event and the Southern California Amateur Championship.

What sets Barona apart from most other courses in San Diego built within the last two decades?

“Most courses these days have to be built in housing districts,” King said. “The beauty of this course is it’s out in

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 25

RESORTREPORT

26 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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the middle of nowhere. You’re in a valley, it’s peaceful and you’re out here with nature.”

With wide-open fairways and slick, but true greens, professionals have a fairly easy time of it here—pro Richard Letzig once shot a 60 during the Nationwide event. But for amateurs who spray the ball off the tee, the streambeds, creeks, ponds and massive bunkers can create nightmares.

For first-timers or high handicappers, it’s best to play from the silver tees, which only measure 6,231 yards.

The fairways are generous, like those at many resort courses, but the stream comes into play on the ninth, 13th and 17th holes. The 13th and 17th holes offer split fairways for different levels of play. The par-four, 472-yard 18th is a fun finishing hole, uphill with a lake hugging the left side of the fairway and a tricky green.

King’s favorite hole is the 14th, a 316-yard par 4 that is reachable from the silver tees at 275 yards.

“There’s so many different ways you can play it,” King said. “I’ve made everything from a 2 to a 10 on the 14th. That’s the beauty of it. This just proves that it doesn’t take length to make a hole tough.”

Strangely enough, my favorite hole was No. 4, rated as the No. 1 handicap hole. Realizing the course record wasn’t in play and still smarting from a rough night at the blackjack tables, I decided to take on the massive bunker that dissects the fairway. With a well-time draw, I managed clear the sand trap and roll in the middle of the fairway, 90 yards from the pin. After hitting a sand wedge to within 20 feet, I scored a par after an easy two-putt.

Unfortunately, the rest of the round wasn’t quite as satisfying, but it was thrilling. I spent quite a bit of time hacking out of bunkers, three-putting on the fast greens and marveling at the incredible views of the Barona Valley from the elevated tees. I don’t plan to wait 16 years before playing here again. In fact, I might be back this summer.

“People like playing here because the layout gives you a chance,” King said. “It doesn’t beat you up. Most of the damage happens around the greens, as you found out. You have to be on the right side of the hole and you have to be able to chip and putt to score.”

Golf and Resort Info: Barona Creek is a public, daily feecourse. Rates are $120 for 18 holes Monday-Friday, $160 on weekends. Twilight rates are $80 on weekdays, $100 on weekends. Ideal for a mid-week or weekend getaway, the hotel offers a full-service spa and gaming action that includes 2,100 loose slots and video poker, 90 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. Full-service restaurants include Seasons Fresh Buffet, Barona Oaks Steakhouse, Italian Cucina, The Plaza Grill and The Sage Café. Gameside dining is also available for guests who don’t want to miss a minute of action and excitement on the casino floor. For more information, visit Barona.com.

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 27

SWEETSTUFF Miura Driving Iron

W

hen taking a cue from the professional tours, more everyday golfers are finding that long irons—especially the newer, more technologically advanced specialty irons—are a great alternative for tee shots on holes where accuracy is more important than overall distance.

With more manufactures introducing longer irons designed to use as a driving club these days, the excellent choices have become more abundant.

Miura Golf, which has a long and proud history of producing some of the highest-quality, handcrafted forged irons in the world, has jumped into this arena in a big way with the recent release of its ICL-601 Driving Iron that has been getting rave reviews by club aficionados and just about anyone who has tried the club.

Miura irons, designed and manufactured by the Miura family in their factory in Himeji, Japan since 1957, have traditionally been ranked among the finest on the market, but with the introduction of the ICL-601 driving irons series, the company has outdone itself.

This inner cavity – long iron is the latest in Miura’s MG Collection, and blends seamlessly with a set of any Miura irons. It is being offered in a 23 degree 4-iron, 18 degree 2-iron and 20 degree 3-iron.

“The inner cavity design is not new for Miura,” noted Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf. “It was first introduced with the hugely popular IC-2003. Modern technological advances have allowed us to improve on the original design. This is accomplished by integrating a 455 Carpenter Steel face (as found in our PP-9005 G) and the use of the variable weighting system found in the Hayate woods.”

Miura has optimized the center of gravity by use of the variable weighting system, particularly addressing the mishits typically associated with a long iron. A top line which instills confidence is paired with a sole design which delivers solid turf interaction, no matter the lie.

With a larger look than a typical iron, the comfortable offset has a sharp look to it at address, and the sole shape lets the clubhead sit in a way that gives golfers confidence not usually found when hitting a long iron.

The clubhead’s inner cavity allows for a wider sole and lower center of gravity. With a larger sweet spot comes more forgiveness, high launch and controlled spin rates that will benefit golfers of all skill levels.

The 23-degree ICL-601, for instance, includes an 8-gram weight, matching its weight to a standard 4-iron’s. This allows the club to be assembled with the same shaft as your iron set or to be fitted with an optimum-performing shaft. As with other forged irons, the lie and loft angles are adjustable--enabling golfers to fit the club seamlessly into their set. Of course, Miura is known for its custom fitting network, and recommends these adjustments be done by an authorized Miura dealer.

Hitting the ICL-601 gives one the sense of hitting a wood, but with the accuracy of an iron. The ball explodes off of the head with an ease not usually found with a long iron, and is one of the easiest clubs to hit straight and with consistency—especially with one of the light KBS hybrid shafts that is offered with this iron. The sound of the ball at impact with this club instills confidence as well—as does the distance that this iron can produce.

“The ICL gives Miura traditionalists the opportunity to add technology to their game, while maintaining the quality and feel of a Miura forged club,” said Jason Rutkoski, Miura Golf vice president. “The ICL is a remarkable new product that will benefit golfers from all demographics, by seamlessly fitting their existing set or adding a club to fit that one shot/hole per round.”

The ICL-601 is one of the first innovations for the Miura family in its new partnership with Howard Milstein and the Nicklaus Companies,

28 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

broadening Miura’s international reach.

This rebrand was approached with the desire for a look and feel that expertly mimics the clean and sleek lines for every Miura club.

With the release of more forgiving clubs, Miura is reaching deeper into the golf community and exposing more golfers to its legendary feel and hand craftsmanship, but with the ability to serve golfers of all skill levels.

For more information, visit the Miura website for a list of local dealers at: www. miuragolf.com

Blade Quattro Cart

T

he health advantages of walking the golf course as opposed to riding in a power cart have probably never been more obvious due to the many smart phone apps and wearable technology that tracks steps and calories for everything we do in today’s world.

Because many players want to take advantage of these health benefits of walking during a round of golf, but can’t or don’t like the idea of carrying a bag, push/pull carts are the answer most of the time.

For anyone looking to pull their clubs around the course with a hand cart, one of the most innovative solutions on the market right now is the Blade Quattro

by Big Max, an Austrian company with a 20-plus-year history that just entered the US market in 2014.

The Blade Quattro is a four-wheeled cart that is just jam-packed with extra features to go along with its substantial stability and traction design that can navigate some of the most hilly and challenging courses in the world. Its extra wheel brings the robust stability needed to keep the cart on track in all kinds of terrain.

In addition to its superb stability, the Blade Quattro incorporates Big Max’s unique fold flat and quick release technology. Used in their award-winning Blade+ and Autofold FF carts, Big Max fold flat technology is the ideal partner for the Blade Quattro. The extra wheel poses no problems for Big Max’s unique technology, as all four wheels flip neatly under the cart in one swift movement for compact storage. Considering its robust and stable frame, the simplicity with

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which the Blade Quattro folds, transports and stores is both efficient and easy to travel with.

On the course is where this cart really shines. Its four wheels glide across the terrain easily, even with the largest TOUR bag on board. It offers complete stability even when traversing a hillside and keeps you on course whatever the conditions underfoot. A footbrake keeps the trolley in place when stationary and a host of features such as the organizer panel with storage compartment, range finder holder, smart phone holder and even a sand bottle holder. This lightweight cart also features a height adjustable handle and only two hinges are required to unhook it to fold it down. For any course it offers every practicality that a golfer who loves to push could want.

The Blade Quattro features these colors: Phantom, Phantom/Lime, White, White/Red, and is available in stores and online.

More information is available at: https://us.bigmaxgolf.com

TPT Shaft

M

ost golf club fitters will tell you that the shaft is the engine of the club, and new technology from Switzerland has found its way into some of the most technologically advanced graphite shafts available today.

Using ‘Thin Ply Technology’ (TPT) carbon fiber materials and a patented manufacturing process developed by its parent company, North Thin Ply Technology SARL, TPT Golf™ is making waves on the pro tours with several of victories around the world as this high-end shaft company is making a name for itself in the golf community.

The patent-pending manufacturing process that is used by TPT Golf™ enables golf shafts to be made with exceptionally accurate fiber placement in a highly uniform way around the shaft. This method creates a spineless shaft and overcomes the inconsistencies sometimes seen in shafts produced by the more-traditional table rolling methods. TPT shafts provide exceptional feel, leading to tighter shot

Golf Vacations • February 2018 29

SWEETSTUFF dispersion, low spin and increased distance.

The smooth feel and consistency is readily apparent with these shafts, which are known for helping with better control— and hitting more fairways while producing exceptional distance.

Biomechanical specialist Jean-Jacques Rivet has been instrumental in developing this new range of graphite shaft and validating performance. He’s also been a huge influence in developing a custom shaft-fitting process that allows the company to offer fully customized shafts.

Leading golf coach David Leadbetter has also provided strong technical support during the range development, and has entered into a partnership with TPT Golf™ to establish a shaft-fitting network linked to the David Leadbetter Academies around the world. “In a sport where feel is everything, TPT shafts offer a unique level of feel to golfers,” said Leadbetter. “This is the most technically advanced shaft for distance and direction, and even makes your bad shots better.”

Combining TPT Golf™, JJ Rivet and David Leadbetter--all experts in their own field--means that shafts are being looked at in a whole new way. For the first time ever, a shaft can be designed that starts with the physical capabilities of the human body and goes on to reflect the coaching being received in practice.

TPT can now provide the bestperforming products for Tour pros and amateurs alike, according to the company, bringing a consistent and precise product into the shaft marketplace. The range of TPT Golf™ shafts has been designed to make the fitting process as simple as possible.

There are models to suit players with any swing speed.

TPT Golf recently announced the official launch of its 15-LKP-LT-LW, the shaft that was used to claim three professional victories last fall: the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, the Turkish Airlines Open (European Tour) and the Indonesian Masters (Asian Tour). A new prototype was used in January by the winner of the Farmers Insurance Open for the company’s first win on the PGA Tour.

The 15-LKP-LT-LW joins TPT Golf’s 15 Series, shafts that are designed to meet the needs of high-speed golfers. Within the 15 Series, the 15-LKP-LT-LW offers the lightest

30 Golf Vacations • February 2018

weight (63 grams). It is also the lowesttorque shaft in the entire TPT Golf lineup.

“Every product we create at TPT Golf is on the cutting edge,” said TPT Golf Technical Director Jeff Meyer. “Our design and manufacturing processes give us a huge advantage over standard industry methodologies. The 15-LKP-LT-LW is a product that was developed to meet the needs of the best golfers in the world.”

The parent company of TPT--North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT)--is a serial

innovator with a track record of producing performance-enhancing solutions in the high-performance sports arena. The Swissbased company began by developing a process for producing America’s Cup yacht sails, extended its portfolio to products used in the lightweight bodywork of F1 race cars, skis and snowboards and then moved into materials technology found in satellites and luxury composite watches.

For more information on TPT Golf™, visit tptgolf.com

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 31

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32 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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Golf Vacations • February 2018 33

34 Golf Vacations • February 2018

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