Golf Vacations Magazine January 2016

OUR 14th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: HILTON HEAD WINTER GETAWAYS

GOLF VACATIONS JANUARY 2016

GOLF WITH GRACE

TURKSAND CAICOS RESORT REPORT

OMNI BARTON CREEK RESORT AND SPA Plus: LUXURY AT THE RESORT AT PELICAN HILL www.golfvacationsmag.com

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GOLF VACATIONS JANUARY 2016

Ocean Point on Fripp Island, South Carolina

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Chip Shots

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Hilton Head Golf Island

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The Resort at Pelican Hill

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Resort Report: Omni Barton Creek Resort

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by JD Latorre

HILTON HEAD, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – a collection of premier resorts and courses in one of game’s true “dream” destinations – announces a wide selection of stay-and-play packages available through the winter.

by Barry Lotz

The Resort at Pelican Hill is not simply a golf destination. It seeks to compete with nearby jewels like the Ritz Carlton, Montage and Terranea, for guests who come for spa services, poolside lounging, beaches, and nearby attractions, or to live the chic Southern California lifestyle. Golf is just one of the resort’s most prominent amenities, and what a lure for people who love the game.

by David R. Holland

Just imagine how the land west of Austin looked 150 years ago. Spring-fed Barton Creek served as a rest stop on a dusty trail for settlers, ranchers and cattle heading to the railhead in Austin from 1866 to 1886 from western counties.

Golf with Grace in Turks & Caicos

by Tim Cotroneo

What if someone said your Turks and Caicos next door neighbor was voted to be the best in the world? What if that someone was TripAdvisor, and their 305 million monthly readers chose Grace Bay Beach as the number one-ranked beach on the planet?

Sweet Stuff

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by Terry Ross www.golfvacationsmag.com

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Tim Cotroneo is a Mineapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Caribbean travel, business, and golf. Tim is a long-time contributor to Tee Times Press and he’s also the Travel Writer for American Business Magazine.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Holland, whose favorite golf moment was teeing it up with former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, 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 (UK). He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, United Press International and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

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.

Barry Lotz is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America.

He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and serves both as a consultant and mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers” and “How to Build Business Relationships through Golf”. His latest book, “The Right Mind for Golf”, is now in its 7th reprint is available on Amazon and at the Torrey Pines golf course.

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

Published by

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portsMedia publications

President Jeffrey Diaz

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

and

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 2016 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

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort Completes Renovation to Bob Cupp-Designed Golf Course

NAPLES, FL – Together, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, part of the Noble House Hotels & Resorts collection, and LaPlaya Golf Club announce the re-opening of the par-72 championship golf course after an extensive six-month renovation. In collaboration with the original designer, Bob Cupp, the upgrades to the 18-hole course incorporate everything from rebuilding all 18 greens and enlarging the putting greens back to their original size, to re-grassing all tee boxes and rebuilding a number of them, as well as landscaping enhancements. In all, LaPlaya Golf Club now offer more than 120,000 total sq. ft. of new putting surfaces, including all holes and practice areas.

“We are thrilled with the results of the renovation and know the look and feel of the course will propel LaPlaya Golf Club for many years to come,” said Alan Findlay, General Manager at LaPlaya Golf Club.

“With the backing of strong hospitality team in place, we look forward to sustaining memorable golf experiences for all our members and guests.”

The course renovation encompassed a complete transformation of the 18 greens including new drainage systems and an upgraded granite gravel layer, which was built according to USGA specs. Additionally, the greens were replaced with Tif-Eagle turf, surrounded by a collar of Tif-Grande grass, while the tee boxes were re-grassed with lush, vibrant Celebration grass. Other changes include enlarging the size of the putting greens to their original size, improving tee boxes and adding berms to holes eight and

11 to help keep balls in play. Lush foliage, flowering plants and additional trees were also planted to enhance the landscaping.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, the 18-hole, par-72 championship LaPlaya Golf Club -- one of Naples’ finest and most diverse golf courses -- offers private, prolific fairways, holes and tees surrounded by gently sloping terrain punctuated by 14 lakes and water features, as well as exotic, colorful landscaping.

Providing the opportunity to use every club in the bag and play every type of shot, LaPlaya’s 6,907-yard golf course is a treat for golf enthusiasts, with memorable par 3’s in particular with daunting tee shots.

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort bespeaks posh and panache down to the smallest detail, note the Balinese-style spa, marble bathrooms and personalized beach butler service. LaPlaya holds a coveted spot on the Conde Nast Traveler “Gold List,” on Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Hotels” list and is named one of the “Best Hotels in Naples” by U.S. News & World Report, as well as being ranked no. 12 on their “Best U.S. Resorts List.” The stylishly simple escape features crisp blue cabanas alongside cascading rockwaterfall pools, beach fire-pits, a thatchedroof tiki bar, beach butlers, ultra exclusive David Leadbetter Golf Academey complete with the private 18-hole Bob Cupp designed golg course, exotic SpaTerre (salon and spa), delectable oceanside fine dining and “toes in the sand” dining at BALEEN, stunning sunsets and more.

For more information on LaPlaya Golf Club, call 239.254.5002 or visit www.laplayaclub.com, and for additional information on LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort,

call 800.237.6883 or visit www.laplayaresort. com. To engage with the resort socially, visit Facebook.com/LaPlayaBeachResort or find us on Twitter at @LaPlayaNaples.

Special Packages Highlight Winter Season At Pebble Beach Resorts

PEBBLE BEACH, CA – Winter is a magical time in Pebble Beach, and to ring in this special season, Pebble Beach Resorts is offering four packages for guests – whether they are looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve, relax and rejuvenate at The Spa, walk in the footsteps of legends while playing golf, or show their children the wonder of the area.

All Pebble Beach Resorts packages afford guests the opportunity to experience a variety of dining options and activities – including simply enjoying the stunning coastal panoramas for which Pebble Beach is known.

PEBBLE BEACH STAY & PLAY PACKAGE: In a memorable two-night getaway, guests will have the opportunity to create their own championship moments with a round at Pebble Beach Golf Links – named America’s No. 1 Greatest Public Golf Course

by Golf Digest and host to a sixth U.S. Open Championship in 2019 – along with a second round at The Links at Spanish Bay or Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The package also includes a $100 resort gift card, perfect for enjoying the award-winning Spa at Pebble Beach or one of the acclaimed restaurants or shops at Pebble Beach Resorts. Guests booking a third night at 25% off the rack rate will enjoy a complimentary round of golf at The Links at Spanish Bay. Package starts at $2,035 for The Inn and $2,365 for The Lodge. Offer valid through March 31, 2016.

LaPlaya Golf Club

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS

CASA PALMERO SPA RETREAT PACKAGE: Casa Palmero – a 24-room Mediterranean-style estate adjacent to The Spa at Pebble Beach – invites guests to escape and pamper away their seasonal stresses with the Casa Palmero Spa Retreat Package. An ideal getaway for a girlfriends’ weekend or couples retreat, guests will be treated to a luxurious one-night stay in an Estate Room, along with a $300 spa credit per night for the award-winning Spa at Pebble Beach.

Guests will also enjoy complimentary evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a complimentary continental breakfast delivered to the guestroom. Package starts at $975 per night, and is valid for stays through February 3, 2016.

PEBBLE BEACH EXPLORERS PACKAGE: The Pebble Beach Explorers package affords endless hours of family fun.

The adventure begins at check-in at The Inn at Spanish Bay, when kids receive a scavenger hunt map to explore the hotel and learn about its storied history. Young guests will then be

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treated to a holiday welcome gift while seated by their cozy in-room fireplace. A sunset serenade by the bagpiper – a favorite attraction for guests of all ages – caps off an unforgettable day on one of the world’s most scenic coastlines.

This package includes complimentary meals for kids 12 and under at STICKS and Roy’s; complimentary tennis, horseback rides and golf at the par-3 Peter Hay Golf Course; and more. Package starts at $495 per night, and is valid for stays through March 31, 2016.

For more information, to book a Pebble Beach experience, and to sign up for special email offers, please visit www.pebblebeach. com or call (888) 251-9790.

Kaua‘i Shines in Golfweek’s Best Resort Courses, 2016

KAUA‘I, HI – Princeville Makai Golf Club and Poipu Bay Golf Course were ranked among the nation’s top resort courses in Golfweek’s “America’s Best Resort Courses, 2016,” published recently.

“Many people know about our island

beaches, lush mountains and waterfalls, and awards like this let golfers know that our courses are equally amazing,” said Sue Kanoho, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau Executive Director.

“Princeville Makai and Poipu Bay are the tip of our golf iceberg – Ocean Course at Hōkūala (formerly Kiele Course at Kaua‘i Lagoons), Wailua and Puakea combine to offer visitors many additional first-class playing options.”

Poipu Bay was also authored by Trent Jones Jr., and it is renowned for a closing stretch of holes that sit atop 100-foot-high redfaced cliffs towering over the shoreline. PGA TOUR legend Phil Mickelson holds the course record at Poipu Bay, an amenity of Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa. Both Princeville Makai and Poipu Bay were recently renovated and received rave reviews for their restorations.

For more information about Kaua‘i Golf courses and resorts, visit www.golfkauaihawaii. com and register to there to receive monthly e-news and prize offers for free golf, or www. facebook.com/KauaiGolf.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Trevose, one of the six courses in England’s Atlantic Links, set against the backdrop of the north Atlantic Coast

Top 100 Golf Courses Takes on England’s Atlantic Links

Top 100 Golf Courses has ranked the six golf courses that make up England’s Atlantic Links (www.atlantic-links.co.uk) as the best in the three counties that this tantalizing trail takes in along the north Atlantic coast of south west England.

The UK website (www.top100golfcourses. co.uk/) which describes itself as ‘the only independent website dedicated to the best golf courses in the world’ has placed Saunton East, Royal North Devon and Saunton West in the top three spots in the Top 20 courses in Devon whilst St Enodoc and Trevose are the top two in the Top 10 in Cornwall.

Meanwhile Burnham & Berrow, which acts as either the gateway or the grand finale to the Atlantic Links, has been ranked first in the Top 10 courses in Somerset to give the championship links tour a full house by topping all three rankings.

In spite of being the very best in three counties, the Atlantic Links courses represent unbelievably good value. From November, when the winter green fees kick in, all six courses can be played for just £261 in total.

Thanks to the temperate micro-climate of the south west the green keepers are able to maintain the links in immaculate condition throughout the winter and ensure they remain open all year round.

The winter green fees for the individual courses that comprise the Atlantic Links are: · Burnham & Berrow - £45 · Saunton East & West - £48

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· Royal North Devon - £35 · St Enodoc - £45 · Trevose - £40 The Atlantic Links courses may not be as high profile as those of Scotland or Ireland but this cluster of ancient links lacks nothing in terms of pedigree and is rich in history and tradition.

Testament to their quality, all six courses have hosted major amateur championships over the years. Last year for example Saunton hosted the English Amateur Championship whilst St Enodoc was chosen to stage the English Women’s Amateur Championship.

Trevose hosted the 2008 Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship (The Brabazon Trophy), the 2012 English Boys Championship and will be the venue for the English Men’s County Championship in 2017 whilst Burnham & Berrow has also staged The Brabazon Trophy and The Boys Championship, both in 2011.

Dating back to 1864, Royal North Devon – or Westward Ho! as it is often called – is England’s oldest golf course and boasts a golf memorabilia collection on display in the clubhouse that is second only to the R&A. The other two elders in the group, Burnham & Berrow and St Enodoc, reached their landmark 125th anniversary this year whilst Saunton was established in 1897. Trevose, at just 80 years old, is the youngest member of the group.

Off the course, the south west is a charming holiday destination; its stunning scenery and its artistic & cultural attractions, glorious gardens & sweeping sandy beaches, numerous sporting

activities as well as the gastronomic delights of Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver and Nathan Outlaw and local pubs offering traditional fare.

The Atlantic Links are easily accessed via the M5 motorway and A39 “Atlantic Highway”, and the international airports at Bristol, Exeter, London Heathrow and London Gatwick.

For more on the Atlantic Links golf courses, go to www.atlantic-links.co.uk or for Golf Packages, please contact info@countrywidegolf.com or T:+44(0)1637 879991.

Building better Golfers in Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale remains a hotbed for game improvement. Long-time stalwarts such as the Fore-Max Golf Fitness program at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, as well as technologybased testing, diagnostic and club-fitting services like Cool Clubs, remain as popular and effective as ever. And with some new additions to Scottsdale’s repertoire, now you have even more opportunities to improve your game in Scottsdale.

Among the new additions is the EXOS Golf Experience Powered by Troon. This three-day immersive program tailors EXOS’ elite training program (clients include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and PGA TOUR professionals Graham DeLaet, Ricky Barnes and James Hahn) to meet the individual needs of amateur players.

Training and evaluations are done both at EXOS’ training facilities and Troon North Golf Club. You’ll receive highly individualized instruction by EXOS’ integrated team of golf

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS instructors, performance specialists, registered dietitians and physical therapists. This results in a fitness program designed to optimize your individual performance and health throughout your lifetime.

Another high-tech option is the Robo Golf Pro Boot Camp at Scottsdale’s Boccieri Golf.

Boccieri’s Research and Performance Center offers an intense, three-day program of golf instruction and analysis. Its centerpiece is an 800-pound technical marvel – the Robo Golf Instructor. This behemoth and its customdesigned computer program allows Boccieri’s team to program physically correct your golf swingsbased upon your physique and ability.

As a result, you are able to feel the proper positioning and sequence of your perfect swing.

With repetition and personalized coaching, your new swing becomes ingrained through muscle memory. Limited to four players per session, the Boot Camp aims to provide immediate improvement and includes Titleist Performance evaluation, daily session on the Robo Golf Pro, one round of golf at Desert Mountain with Boccieri teaching professionals, a complimentary custom-fit Heavy Putter, and much, much more.

Colin Montgomerie teams up with Ship Sticks to highlight simplified golf travel

WEST PALM BEACH, FL. – Ship Sticks, the world’s most trusted golf bag shipping company, announced today its partnership with pro golfer Colin Montgomerie. Montgomerie uses Ship Sticks to move his golf equipment

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across the ocean and from tournament to tournament in the United States.

“Traveling as much as I do, I find it much easier to use Ship Sticks rather than to turn my clubs over to the airlines,” Montgomerie said.

“I don’t have to waste time at my destination finding the carousel for oversized bags, worrying about damage to my equipment, or scrambling to locate my lost clubs. While I can replace lost clothes or shoes, my clubs are individual to me.”

Ship Sticks provides golfers with seamless pickup and delivery of their golf clubs, including an on-time guarantee. In most cases, a golfer’s clubs will be waiting for him on the 1st tee, and his clubs’ return trip is equally convenient.

Montgomerie continued: “When I play on the Champions Tour in the United States, I like the control of driving myself across country.

With pro golfers like myself travelling heavy, it makes a lot of sense to send my clubs ahead, especially when I have my family, and their belongings, along for the ride.”

Montgomerie concluded: “The Ship Sticks service has been superb. I can track exactly where my clubs are at all times, know when they are scheduled to arrive, and learn the minute they are signed for. In addition, the speed of Ship Sticks’ service is fantastic. Most of all, I am relieved to know that my clubs will arrive safely, in one piece, and on time.”

“We are delighted to count Colin Montgomerie as a valued customer and Ship Sticks spokesman,” said Ship Sticks CEO Nick Coleman. “Colin is representative of an increasing number of professional golfers who trust us with the tools of their livelihood. With

tour players relying on Ship Sticks to move their equipment, it’s no surprise that we are also growing in popularity among golf enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels.”

Ship Sticks is part online travel agent, part shipping company. The company’s custom technology platform plans and tracks shipments in a way that exceeds the sophistication of large logistics carriers, while enabling the company to charge 40-60 percent less than the major shippers. Each Ship Sticks customer is assigned a specific customer service agent at the time the order is placed, giving pros and recreational golfers access to a live Ship Sticks rep throughout the shipping process.

Forest Hills Golf Club Opens Registration For Masters® Week Packages

AUGUSTA, GA – Play golf in Augusta at one of the area’s top courses for a special package price during Masters® Week. Forest Hills Golf Club, repeatedly voted “Best Public Golf Course” by Augusta Magazine, has opened tee sheets for the week of the Championship, from April 4-10, 2016. Advance reservations for Forest Hills Masters Week play are now being accepted at a cost of $150 per golfer, with a Southern-style boxed lunch, range balls and cart included.

“Our tee sheets have been opened much earlier than other clubs and we’ve already begun booking rounds of golf for that week,” said Dan Elliott, PGA, general manager of Forest Hills.

“With so many people coming in from out of town, plus our local golfers who want to play, it will be a very busy week for us.”

Elliott said that Masters ticketholders enjoy playing golf in Augusta while they’re in town for the week-long event. “All of Augusta is Mastersfocused and it’s a wonderful way to experience the area while it’s in the international spotlight,” he said. “Playing Forest Hills on days when visitors don’t have Masters tickets has become a tradition with avid fans, and our course will be in top shape that week.”

Forest Hills offers a $50 replay fee for golfers who want to play a second round on the same day as their package. Elliott recommends that replay tee times be reserved when they make their initial tee time. The club extends Masters Week to Monday, April 11, with a special $75 package on that day including cart and range balls; it does not include lunch.

Reservations are rain or shine; a club credit will be issued if weather forces the course to be closed. All prices are plus tax.

For information on cancellation policy and other details, visit http://www. theforesthillsgolfcourse.com/golf-course/ masters-week. To make a reservation, call 706733-0001 or email Elliott directly at delliott@ TheForestHillsGolfCourse.com.

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Hilton Head Golf Islan

Winter Getaway Packag

Ocean Point on Fripp Island

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ILTON HEAD, SC – Hilton Head Golf Island (HHGI) – a collection of premier resorts and courses in one of game’s true “dream” destinations – announces a wide selection of stay-andplay packages available through the winter.

With world-class courses, exceptional values, pleasant weather and direct flights from many cities, Hilton Head Island is a premier destination for winter golf escapes. GOLF Magazine’s inaugural “Golfers’ Choice Awards” recently tabbed “Golf Island” a “Top 10 Most Dreamed About U.S. Golf Destination,” and Golf Digest ranked HHGI in the top 10 in seven categories including “Best Courses” and “Best Weather.” Winter temperatures on Hilton Head Island are typically up to seven degrees warmer than other South Carolina coastal locales.

ges

Among the packages offered: Fripp Island “Ultimate Golf Getaway” – Valid through March 1, 2016, groups of 12 or more can enjoy a three-bedroom Fripp Island cottage and unlimited golf on Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort’s two courses – Ocean Point and Ocean Creek. From $119 per person/per night, the package encompasses complimentary range balls per 18 holes, a hat, and special pro shop and dining discounts. Subject to availability, all taxes and fees are included.

Palmetto Dunes “Birdies and Beer Getaway” – Guests enjoy four days/three nights in a twobedroom villa at the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, and three rounds of golf on the resort’s championship courses: Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront, Arthur Hills and George Fazio. Starting at $135 per golfer/per night, the promotion features breakfast and beers via a resort gift card. Also in the package: two hours of court time per villa at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, range balls, dining and pro shop discounts, and preferred rates and priority access to all resort activities and amenities.

Old South “Par-3 Package” – Priced from $329 per person/per night and valid through March 13, 2016, the Par-3 Package offers accommodations and breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, and three rounds at any combination of Old South Golf Links, The Country Club of Hilton Head, Oyster Reef Golf Club, Hampton Hall Golf Club, and the Arthur Hills or Fazio Courses at Palmetto Dunes. Call 843-837-2610 for more information or to reserve this package.

The Sea Pines Resort “Villa Golf Package” – This getaway features deluxe villa accommodations for three nights and three rounds of Pete Dye golf, including the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, site of the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. Starting at $205 per person/per night based on four players, the package also comprises of complimentary warm-up bag of range balls, wireless Internet and use of The Sea Pines Resort Fitness Center. Green fees also are waived for afternoon replays on Heron Point (based on availability, cart fee applies).

The Heritage Golf Collection “Couple’s Great Escape Package” – Couples experience five nights in an ocean view room at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa and five rounds at The Heritage Golf Collection courses (Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, Shipyard, Palmetto Hall Plantation and Oyster Reef). Valid through February 2016, the offer encompasses breakfast daily, with each guest receiving a voucher to LagerHead Tavern and a one-hour massage at the Heavenly Spa by Westin.

Starting at $215 per person/per night (based on double occupancy), taxes and fees are included.

“The winter packages offer outstanding opportunities for golfers to escape the cold and experience Hilton Head Golf Island at our lowest rates,” says Cary Corbitt, President of the Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association and Vice President of Sports and Operations at Sea Pines Resort.

“Golfers can play some outstanding layouts designed by the top names in course architecture, while also enjoying everything Hilton Head Island has to offer off the course.”

JetBlue Airways is currently running special non-stop flights from Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) to Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport (SAV). Rates are as low as $59 for one-way travel on select dates through the end of March. Fourteen other destinations offer non-stop service to Savannah / Hilton Head including Chicago, Detroit, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

by JD Latorre www.golfvacationsmag.com

For additional information about rates, restrictions and other package inclusions, or to receive a quote: www.hiltonheadgolfisland.com, 800.523.3373.

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The Resort at Pelican When Five Stars Should Be Ten Stars!

I gave this resort a 5 rating, however, honestly it deserves a 10. If one item in particular stands out above all the exemplary traits found at the resort, it is that service is supreme.

The Resort at Pelican Hill is not simply a golf destination. It seeks to compete with nearby jewels like the Ritz Carlton, Montage and Terranea, for guests who come for spa services, poolside lounging, beaches, and nearby attractions, or to live the chic Southern California lifestyle. Golf is just one of the resort’s most prominent amenities, and what a lure for people who love the game.

Located between the toney towns of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, abutting Crystal Cove State Park (a resort shuttle ushers guests to the park’s beach), Pelican Hill Resort is so “un-hotel”. There are no elevator lobbies to the guest’s rooms in the main building. The 332 guest accommodations are set apart and in two distinct areas – the Villas (128) and the Bungalows (204), both reachable via personal automobile, or hotel transportation.

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The architecture of the main building, inspired by the design principles of the 16th Century Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, is a residential-style luxury retreat resembling a Mediterranean village. And, with the design genius of Tom Fazio, the two golf courses attached to the resort, are simply marvelous to play and the views offered are outstanding.

The setting, together with the well-manicured grounds and Olive trees, is reminiscent of a Tuscany village.

Over 750 hand-picked mature olive trees help complete the Mediterranean patina of Pelican Hill.

Arriving at the resort, you first see this grand herringbone-bricked square, one of the largest of its kind in the US. Then, at the porte cochère you are met by the valets, and that’s when the impeccable detail to service begins and continues throughout your stay at the resort.

The spacious lobby vestibule and the Great Room at the Resort have been transformed recently from an elegant, formal lounge area

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n Hill

By Barry Lotz

Pelican Hill’s links-style Ocean North Course features glorious Pacific panoramas from every hole.

into an upbeat gathering spot, called a social lounge. The Lobby terrace offers great views of the ocean, golf course and the Coliseum pool.

The very inviting Coliseum Pool is the largest circular pool in the world, 136 square feet — and enjoys a coliseum setting. Its water is incredibly blue, thanks to more than a million iridescent glass mosaic tiles on the pool bottom. Poolside cabanas are available as well.

The luxurious low rise guest bungalows and the 2 to 4-bedroom villas are on little lanes terraced into the hillside. Each one-bedroomed bungalow consists of no less than 847 square feet, is a single story with 15-foot wood-beam ceilings, and has a lime stone fireplace and some bungalows offer a private terrace overlooking the ocean.

What also makes the bungalows so inviting are the luxurious beds, Kings or Queens, the large flat-screen television, Bose sound system, granite wet bar, refrigerator, coffee grinder (and coffee beans), with a marvelous bathroom consisting of a separate soaking tub and oversized shower.

Bath robes are available.

The Villa Program offers an entirely personalized, ultimate residential experience, right down to magazine preferences and favorite foods.

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Each Villa features a full gourmet kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, full living room, limestone fireplace, one- or two-car garage, and private butlers to tend to your needs. Villa guests enjoy exclusive use of a private clubhouse with a pool and fitness center.

Nightly rates, depending on how one books, season and availability, range from $495 per night for the bungalows, green fees are $315 per round for the public (guests not staying overnight at the Resort), $295 for Resort guests and spa services are about equally priced. The Resort also offers special packages such as the Golf & Spa Family Hideaway for $795.00 per night. Book a one-night Bungalow or Villa stay with one golf round and one spa treatment, and get complimentary full-day access to Camp Pelican for one child or Latitude for one teen. The rate excludes tax and service charge and is based on double occupancy. This package is available through January 31, 2016 only Also, the Fazio Unlimited Package offers select Bungalow or Villa accommodations with a two-night minimum stay. With this particular package, you can enjoy unlimited golf rounds for one guest on three of Tom Fazio’s designed and re-perfected courses, the Ocean North, Ocean South, and Oak Creek. The package includes complimentary forecaddie (at Pelican Hill Ocean courses), golf cart and golf club rentals.

Starting from $795 per night, excluding tax and service charge and is based on double occupancy (updated pricing for 2016).

Pelican Hill’s two golf courses, the Ocean North and Ocean South courses, both boast of their spectacular setting. The hillside property incorporates 350 feet of elevation change and permits ocean views from every hole.

Ridges, ravines, and uneven slopes define the golfing grounds, yet the two contrasting playing fields aren’t extreme.

Located higher up on the hill, the longer, links-style Ocean North Course (Rating: A-), which measures 6,945 yards from the tips (135 slope) and 6,563 yards from the blue markers (130 slope), is Pelican Hill’s more challenging track thanks to its length, exposure to the wind, numerous forced carries, and the tall, throttling grasses that frame most holes. The Ocean South Course demands accurate shot-making, but not as challenging as the North Course.

What stands out on both courses are the fashioned, closely mown collars around the greens to give players a plethora of shortgame shot-making options.

The new clubhouse, a lavish companion to the resort, is now adjacent to the practice ground. Service reigns supreme, thanks to a new caddie program that produces knowledgeable and well-trained caddies.

The Ocean South Course features holes

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The South course back nine offers great views of the ocean.

with tree-lined fairways, forced carries over canyons, some friendly containment contouring, and a four-hole stretch across Pacific Coast Highway that runs right out to the bluff and dunes above the beach at Crystal Cove State Park.

Unless otherwise requested, a forecaddie will be assigned to your group. Although carts are mandatory, you should definitely walk the ocean view courses. Your forecaddie will be happy to drive the cart. A $50 tip per player is adequate.

Their two consecutive par-3 holes on the back nine will immerse golfers in sand and coastal scrub vegetation as they showcase the mesmerizing Pacific shoreline.

The aerification schedules take place in April and September each year. During the recovery period, a discounted green fee is in effect. Check with the Resort as these dates may change yearly.

So what is there to do for a non-golfer and children?

The Resort at Pelican Hill has a top-ofthe line spa with exceptionally well trained staff.

Their spa treatments utilize local seasonal herbal and botanical ingredients; such as wild jasmine, rosemary, sage, and thyme. The spa also provides guided nature walks and a special yoga golf clinic is offered by Pelican Hill Golf Academy that includes videotaped swing analysis, followed by yoga exercises designed to address one’s swing limitations.

The Spa does offer more than 25 weekly fitness classes, including yoga in its movement studio.

In addition to the gorgeous coliseum pool with private cabanas with televisions, there’s an extensive workout facility.

“Camp Pelican” offers children’s ac-

tivities. Even though there’s no beach at the resort, resort shuttle will take you to Crystal Cove State Park, which has a beach, hiking trails, and a beachfront bar/restaurant.

And, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach offer chic boutique shopping, shopping malls, art galleries, beaches, deep-sea fishing, and sailing.

As for dining options, expect great service in the restaurants.

The Andrea, the resort’s signature restaurant, offers Italian Cuisine, marvelous pasta dishes and a great wine list, but is somewhat pricey, in my opinion.

The Coliseum Grill has a great setting and a wonderful view and a very reasonably priced menu.

The Pelican Grill at the golf clubhouse specializes in contemporary Californian cuisine. Their Cobb salad and short ribs, a house specialty, are great either for lunch or dinner.

A gigantic television and nice bar make this a great spot for watching sports.

I have yet to experience a resort that surpasses The Resort at Pelican Hill’s combination of aesthetic beauty, comfort, opulence, and dedicated service. Pelican Hill’s devoted, personal service sets it apart from other resorts. You can expect both emails and phone calls from concierges eager to help plan your visit. You will also receive a personalized check-in and, thereafter, staff members will call you by name. During my wife’s and my stay, everyone seemed to make an extra concerted effort to see that we enjoyed ourselves.

What more can you ask for?

22701 Pelican Hill South, Newport Coast, CA 92657 855-467-6800. www.pelicanhill.com

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RESORTREPORT

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa

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AUSTIN, TEXAS

by David R. Holland

J

ust imagine how the land west of Austin looked 150 years ago.

Spring-fed Barton Creek served as a rest stop on a dusty trail for settlers, ranchers and cattle heading to the railhead in Austin from 1866 to 1886 from western counties.

The water was cool and thirsty longhorns stopped to refuel and rest under live oaks, madrone, redbud, elm, cedar, pecan, cottonwood, and hackberry trees and lay on grasses of wild grama and bluestem.

Today that landscape includes limestone cliffs, thick foliage and the beautiful creek that snakes through and recharges the Edwards Aquifer.

And from this Texas Hill Country beauty sprang Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa -- a golf getaway in the Lone Star state that boasts four rocky, rugged outstanding golf courses you won’t forget.

Beginning of an acclaimed golf resort Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s doors officially opened September 5, 1987, with former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in attendance for the grand opening. The vision of an upscale country club was shared and aided by former Texas Gov. John Connolly and former Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes.

Golfers from around the globe got introduced to its beauty when the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (Champions Tour) Tournament was televised, making Omni Barton Creek an even more popular travel golf destination.

Legendary University of Texas football coach Darrel Royal was a founding member and was often seen drinking his morning coffee in the lobby enjoying the day’s newspaper. The ballroom is named in his honor.

Former President George W. Bush often said Barton Creek was his favorite place to play and his dad also teed it up along with Willie Nelson and Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell.

Fazio, Crenshaw and Palmer put stamp on upscale golf In 1986 Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa opened the first Tom Faziodesigned course in Texas, now named Fazio Foothills, and added a second, Fazio Canyons, in 2000 to become the only resort in state with two Fazio courses.

“The Fazio Canyons course design meets environmental standards while offering challenging layouts set against the backdrop of the panoramic Texas Hill Country,” said Tom Fazio. “We believe it has great potential as a nationally ranked contender and is a great complement to Barton Creek’s three existing courses.”

It also has golf courses designed by Austin native Ben Crenshaw named Crenshaw Cliffside in 1991, and Arnold Palmer named Palmer Lakeside in 1986, which is 25 miles away.

So what are the characteristics that make the two Fazio courses, built more than a decade apart shine? www.golfvacationsmag.com

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RESORTREPORT

“If you study the two courses, Foothills and Canyons, the No. 1 thing is you can see the differences of the design qualities,” said Chip Gist, former Director of Golf at Barton Creek and founder of The Austin Golf Trail and The San Antonio Golf Trail (The Texas Golf Trails Concierge).

“There is a difference of 15 years in which Fazio polished his style. Foothills has smaller landing areas and smaller greens.

And Canyons, built on twice the acreage, has larger targets and larger greens. I’m still trying to figure out the subtle putts on Canyons’ greens.

“The terrain at Foothills is a little more severe while Canyons is more rolling, but still has some high tee-box vistas with downhill drives. If you turn around on the 15th tee you can see the state capitol building 15 miles away,” he said.

Here’s a snapshot of the award-winning Barton Creek golf courses.

FAZIO FOOTHILLS GOLF COURSE The Fazio Foothills course has waterfalls, dramatic elevation changes, hills, knobs, rock-filled grottos, green-side mounds, smallish greens, and panoramas of awesome limestone-rock houses that look like small hotels.

At 7,125 yards, par 72, Foothills “greens up” earlier in the season and stays green later into the fall, giving golfers a more consistent, dense playing surface.

Fazio ended the front nine with a dramatic water and rockstrewn par-3, which Chi Chi Rodriquez once aced during the Champions Tours Legends of Golf Tournament, held for nearly a decade here. This hole might just be your favorite.

The par-4 10th hole features an elevated tee 100 feet above the fairway. There are several back-nine holes layouts hugging 20 Golf Vacations • January 2016

the edge of huge canyon. The par-4 16th is annually voted as one of the most scenic in the state with a tree-lined fairway and the green guarded by water on three sides. The finale travels uphill 546 yards toward the hotel and features a bat cave and approach to an elevated green over an area hard to recover from.

FAZIO CANYONS GOLF COURSE The 7,153-yard, par-72 Fazio Canyons is a special awardwinner located a couple of miles from the hotel.

Holes are lined with red oaks and sycamore trees and features views of Short Springs Branch, a beautiful limestone bed creek that flows throughout the course. The 561-yard, par-5 finishing hole is a downhill beauty.

Canyons also gives the golfer a feeling of solitude more than Foothills – like the par-3 No. 3, a 173-yard shot into a box canyon with Short Springs Branch Creek trickling down the right border. The green is quick and tricky and the flinty hillside surrounds you creating echoes in the silence.

The par-4 No. 9 features an unsettling tee shot and plays uphill 457 yards to earn the No. 1 handicap rating. If the length isn’t enough challenge for you, anything hit right will find water, which is clearly in view from the tee, cascading down and glimmering in the sunlight, the entire distance of the hole.

CRENSHAW CLIFFSIDE You will need to be a short-game wizard to deal with the slick greens on this course co-designed by Bill Coore.

The award-winning design duo focused on the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country weaving fairways through hills, putting greens on natural plateaus, and blending it with native vegetation. www.golfvacationsmag.com

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA

“We believe the best architect is nature and the best players’ courses make good use of the natural terrain. We let the land dictate the routing rather than imposing ourselves on the landscape,” said Crenshaw. Ever the golf historian, this course also draws from traditional layouts of golf’s history.

Golfers enjoy broad, rolling fairways and widely varied green sizes – a tribute to the way the game was once played.

They will experience their biggest challenge from the large, undulating putting surfaces. The low handicap player will be challenged with positioning the ball at the most advantageous point for an approach putt and the average golfer will attempt to use the natural slopes to aid an approach shot.

Dinner time here is more slow-paced with live piano and an extensive wine and cocktail list, so plan on making a night of it. The menu includes Texas specialties like Chili BBQ stuffed quail or Prime Grade A black Angus filet or ribeye. Bananas Flambe, cooked up right at your table, includes a spark for flames coming from a dash of Bacardi 151.

Tennis is alive at Omni Barton Creek, too, along with an outstanding swimming experience.

It all makes for a Texas experience you won’t soon forget.

PALMER LAKESIDE Palmer Lakeside rolls out to 6,407 yards at par 71, and is located on a secluded hilltop overlooking Lake Travis. Big hitters will like to wide open fairways and novices like the signature 11th hole, a par 3, featuring a cascading waterfall.

Strike a draw on the 13th, a par-4 dogleg left with a sloping fairway.

As a resort guest keep in mind that Omni Barton Creek has a large membership and they get preferred tee times.

Amenities start at Three Springs Spa Three Springs Spa, located at the confluence of three springs, channels the natural energy of the surrounding area and delivers holistic treatments from professional skin therapies to guided meditation sessions.

The Hill Country Dining Breakfast here is a buffet complete with numerous virtually anything else, yet tee time.

Room is a great gathering place. so large it needs its own room and chefs on-hand to cook omelets or quick enough to get to your morning

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Golf Vacations • January 2016 21

Golf with Gra in Turks

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ace s and Caicos

By Tim Cotroneo

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Golf Vacations • January 2016 23

W

hat if someone said your Turks and Caicos next door neighbor was voted to be the best in the world? What if that someone was TripAdvisor, and their 305 million monthly readers chose Grace Bay Beach as the number one-ranked beach on the planet?

Knowing what you know about your neighbor, if you’re going to build a golf course in Providenciales, wouldn’t it make sense to get as close as you could to Amazing Grace, your island’s main drawing card?

Back in 1992, Provo Golf Club became the Turks and Caicos Islands’ one and only golf course. This 6,700-yard layout is a mere well-placed three wood from Grace Bay Beach. If you, and your significant other, love the idea of vacationing on an island with great golf and the mother of all beaches creating the best holiday ever, then Turks and Caicos will have you feeling like you’ve scored an ace on a Par 4.

Ocean Club Resort- as Close as it Gets The 17-mile long island of Providenciales has come a long way since Provo Golf Club opened its doors. At the time there were only three hotels located on Grace Bay Beach. Today you’ll find two dozen oceanfront hotels dotting Grace Bay’s 12-mile blend of turquoise water and white sand beach. You’ll discover one resort that’s blessed to be Provo Golf Club’s closest neighbor.

Before building Ocean Club Resort in the early 90s, developers had literally the entire expanse of Grace Bay Beach to choose from.

The Ocean Club builders felt that the sunset view of their ultimate property choice was the best on the island. Around the same time Ocean Club was coming together, the golf course developers were also going through a selection process. Through sheer fate, Provo Golf Club chose the 200-acres located across the street from Ocean Club to build their palm-tree laden paradise. Walk 100 steps from Ocean Club’s entrance and you’ll witness Provo Golf Club’s awesome clubhouse.

If you choose to vacation at Ocean Club Resort in Turks and Caicos, you’ll reap the dividends of these wise construction choices.

Your time on Grace Bay Beach is like that of a Caribbean explorer who happens to enjoy beach and golf. Look east and west, and you’ll witness incredible Grace Bay Beach, a turquoise seafront like no other in the world. If you choose to face south, your inner compass leads you to Provo Golf Club, a golf course resplendent in palm

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trees, pink flamingos, and an ambiance that places a premium on enjoying the moment.

Your Vacation in Paradise Here’s how your Ocean Club and Provo Golf experience could go in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands’ most inhabited island. Start out your day with a morning cup of coffee while gazing at the Caribbean Sea from your room balcony. If you prefer, saunter over to the al fresco Cabana Bar for a breakfast view that you’ll never forget.

Your toughest decision after breakfast is, “What should I do in paradise?” Will my day include beachcombing, a snorkeling excursion, horseback riding, paddle-boarding, exploring the island via rental car, or playing golf?

If Caribbean golf is why you chose Providenciales, you’ll love what you experience at Provo Golf Club.

Before teeing off, peruse the dozens of golf flags greeting you from the Fairways Bar & Grill ceiling. At least a dozen countries and some of the most recognizable golf courses in the world are visible throughout the clubhouse interior. Once you’re done ogling the flags and a life-sized cutout of David Feherty, Provo’s golf ambassador, it’s time for a glorious day of island-style golf.

Cocktails and Dining in Turks and Caicos After your round, the Provo Golf Club exterior deck is a great venue for watching golfers arrive at the 18th green. You can add to this experience by decompressing with a cocktail, and wondering if tomorrow’s itinerary could exceed today’s.

As you head back to the resort, you may wish to treat your beach-loving companion to a special evening at Ocean Club’s Opus restaurant. Not only does Opus feature a selection of over 50 rums, as well as the finest wine cellar on the island, the menu showcases a delectable array of seafood including snapper, grouper, lobster, mahi, tuna, and conch.

As you turn in for the night to your suite, the sounds of ocean waves can be heard in the distance. Like a child rejoicing on the last day of school, you look forward to what tomorrow brings. When your resort is the closest to Grace Bay Beach and Provo Golf Club, it’s reassuring to know that anywhere you turn is where you’d like to be. www.oceanclubresorts.com • www.provogolfclub.com

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SWEETSTUFF

T

he Antigua Group, Inc.--one of the nation’s leading designers and marketers of lifestyle and golf apparel under the distinguished Antigua brand—has unveiled its new Spring 2016 Men’s Performance-72 Fashion Golf Wear Collection.

The direction for Antigua’s 2016 men’s fashion golf wear reflects current trends taking shape in fashion, from couture to ready-to-wear.

The palette influence has swung from the previous season’s electrified brights to now expressing the most up-to-date and utmost simplistic bright color stories found universally in fashion products from shoes, bags and belts to men’s and women’s golf wear. The primary color story is succinctly 2016, and propels this new men’s collection.

“Envision the austere geometrics of Mondrian or a Rubik’s Cube,” said Sean Gregg, vice president of product development and marketing support for Antigua. “Stripped down to the base colors themselves, they’re bright red, yellow, green, royal and purple. But infused into performance fabrics accompanied with blocks, stripes or textures of neutrals and complementing hues, they become so vividly fresh and fun that renaming the colors to Fire, Sunburst, Verdant, Hypnotic and Mardi Gras is more indicative of their current fashion status.”

What makes this season’s color palette so unique is not the individual use of any of these colors--years past have seen a bright red included in a color story or a bright green as a complement to an otherwise soft palette--it is the simultaneous use of all of, and only the primary colors.

“Seeing the boldness of these colors offered in tandem is such a refreshingly bold punch of newness that it’s compelling to want to possess them all,” added Gregg.

Antigua’s Spring 2016 men’s and women’s fashion styles complement the color direction. Clean to their core. This season’s collection of golf wear styles and styling details equally mirror the momentum that fashion giants and forecasters alike have committed to as a representation of this year’s fashion ideal.

Antigua’s Spring 2016 Men’s Performance-72 Fashion Golf Wear Collection includes both of their state-of-the-art moisture-wicking technologies.

DESERT DRY™ is a moisture-wicking technology created exclusively for Antigua, to absorb and wick moisture quickly and evenly. The Desert Dry product family includes any garment using a fabric weight of 150 gsm or heavier. Typically, fabrics over 150 gsm offer more body and improved drape for the customers who don’t like the ultra-lightweight “clingy” fabrics currently in the market.

DESERT DRY™ XTRA-LITE (D2XL) combines Antigua’s exclusive DESERT DRY™ moisture-wicking feature with specially constructed ultra-light fabrics for maximum wicking performance and optimum comfort. The D2XL product family includes any garment using a fabric weight of 150 gsm or lighter. These fabrics have been specially engineered to be lightweight while not being overly sheer. This is possible through the use of ultra-fine yarns which gives a fabric more body while not dramatically increasing the weight.

Headquartered in Peoria, Arizona, The Antigua Group, through its license sports division, holds license agreements with the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), Minor League Baseball (Melba), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), along with numerous American universities and colleges for men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, headwear and luggage. Antigua additionally designs, produces and supplies product for corporate America and specialty retail managed under its corporate division. Its golf division also holds license agreements with the PGA TOUR, LPGA and the PGA of America.

Find Antigua on the web at: www.Antigua.com and ShopAntigua.com

O

ne of the more innovative accessories for golfers as we head into the 2016 season is a new type of divot tool that accomplishes two things—it’s design is one of the best for repairing pitch marks on the green and its shape makes it easy to dig out of your pocket along with all the tees and ball markers.

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross and Dave Holland

The Twister makes ball mark repairs easy for golfers and helps reduce pitch mark repair damage to greens with its patent pending technology that features three retractable metal prongs and makes it quick to use and safe to store for golfers. It comes in eight different color combinations and is highly customizable for promotional gifts and corporate branding. Currently, the Pitchfix products are available at many top U.S. retail outlets such as PGA Tour Superstores.

According to Pitchfix, when ball marks are repaired with traditional pitch forks, very often the root structure is torn which creates an air pocket under the mark and a compacted piece of soil at the surface, making it difficult for the grass to regenerate and heal.

Pitchfix’s patented technology allows Twister to work differently, says the company: the golfer simply pushes it in and out of the affected area, restoring the ground and relieving compaction simultaneously.

This quick and simple procedure, according to Pitchfix, results in better repairs that recover quickly, making it virtually impossible to do damage with the tool.

“The Twister is truly a game-changing invention that will help improve golfers’ experience and reduce course damage,” said Bart Fokke, Vice President of Pitchfix USA and Canada. “We already have had great success with it in Europe and Asia and are very pleased to offer it now to the 26 million golfers in the United States.”

According to Fokke, the Twister will play a critical role in improving the condition of greens and reducing ongoing maintenance costs to repair damage.

“Reports indicate that the average golfer leaves about 12 ball marks during a typical round of golf,” added Fokke. “That can result in more than 700,000 ball marks per year on an average golf course. Add to that the players who do not repair their ball marks and the high percentage of improper repair from conventional two prong divot tools, and the potential maintenance savings with Twister could be as much as ten percent.”

Pitchfix currently offers an array of diverse and innovative products

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for golfers worldwide, including the Twister Divot Tool; Classic Divot Tool; Hybrid Divot tool; XL 2.0 Divot Tool; Hatclip Ball Marker and the Alignmee Marker Alignment Tool.

The Alingmee Marker is a unique, quick all-in-one ball marking tool that makes it easy and convenient to draw an aiming line for putting and fits easily in a golf bag.

For further information go to www.pitchfixusa.com.

W

ith most of the club manufacturers beginning the New Year with new and improved offerings, many players will be heading out to test and buy the latest and greatest.

Mizuno, which has had a long history of producing some of the finest irons available, has introduced two new forged clubs that really hit the mark when it comes to sticks for the discerning player.

The new MP-25s are a high ball-speed iron specifically designed for tour players down to the low-to-mid-handicap amateurs. Using the power of boron rather than cramming “distance technology” into a larger head iron, Mizuno engineers introduced Micro Slot technology, a hidden pocket cavity, in these irons. Similar to its MP predecessors, the MP-25 irons are Grain-Flow Forged from a single billet of 1025 Boron steel.

True to Mizuno style these new irons maintain sleek aesthetics at address, with a tour-dictated head profile and thinner top line. The “scoring” irons (seven-iron through pitching wedge) are designed with a solid 1025 Boron Muscle Design for an enhanced feel and shot-making ability to pin seek from any lie.

These irons have a light feel and excellent turf interaction that make it an easy club to hit even though it is a better players’ iron. The size is just right and has the classic Mizuno look but also offers very good forgiveness that all players enjoy. It has the look of a blade but is a cavity-back that offers excellent distance and ball speed, especially with some of the lighter shafts available today such as the True Temper XP 115 or the new Orochi graphite shaft. The standard-issue Project X 5.5 shaft is also a good performer. The MP-25’s come in right and left handed models, 3-PW.

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SWEETSTUFF T

“We started off with a tour preferred shape and size, and didn’t allow ourselves to waver. The use of Grain Flow Forged 1025 Boron made it possible for us to add distance, but keep all the feel and workability that Mizuno players’ love,” noted Chris Voshall, a club engineer for Mizuno.

The JPX-EZ Forged irons offer more game improvement qualities but still hold true to the forged esthetics of a Mizuno iron. The 1025 Boron used in this club provides Mizuno’s JPX-EZ Forged a 30 percent increase in strength--allowing engineering innovation like never before in a Mizuno forged iron.

A thinner forged face construction increases ball speed, combined with one of the largest sweet spots in a forged iron on the market, makes it suitable for players of every skill level. True to Mizuno blue aesthetics, the JPX-EZ Forged Irons provide golfers the traditional Mizuno look with a powerhouse of design, including an ultra CNC pocket cavity combined with a Power Frame.

In addition to the increased ball speeds, distance and feel, Mizuno called upon its H.I.T (Harmonic Impact Technology), a vibration management technology, to deliver the iconic Mizuno sound and feel players crave at impact. The JPX-EZ Forged irons are designed with a Triple Cut Sole and beveled leading edge allowing for greater versatility and ball workability from difficult lies. They come in right and lefthanded models, 4-PW, and the True Temper XP95 is standard, with the Orochi graphite shaft also available at an additional charge.

For more information on Mizuno irons: www.mizunousa.com

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he new Sun Mountain 2Five carry/ stand golf bag is the lightest, full-featured bag on the market--weighing in at a mere two and a half pounds. Sun Mountain reduced the weight of the 2Five by using carbon-fiber legs, high strength-to-weight plastics and ultra-lightweight and durable fabrics like those used in mountaineering tents.

To put 2 ½ lbs. into perspective, that’s about the same weight as two wedges, or a pair of golf shoes, or three cans of a soft-drink.

When you lift up the 2Five, it’s more like lifting off as the bag seems to launch off the ground.

The 2Five is a full-size golf bag featuring a 9” top with a flared opening for easy club removal and four full-length club dividers. 2Five doesn’t skimp on conveniences, either, offering four pockets including a full-length clothing pocket, velour-lined valuables pocket, water bottle pouch and ball and accessory pocket.

It also includes the details that have made Sun Mountain a favorite: durable top with built-in handle, sturdy bottom with the patented Roller-Bottom leg mechanism for quick and strong leg action, Sun Mountain’s X-Strap Dual Strap System, lumbar hip pad with AirFlow System, umbrella attachment, towel holder, top-mounted leg mechanism for added stability, pen holder and a coordinating rain hood.

Even if you like to walk with a single strap this bag works great that way, too.

You can really make if fit your style, too, with 11 different color combinations including the expected navy, black, and green as well as the unexpected lime, lemon, orange and purple.

Sun Mountain has a great choice in golf accessories in addition to bags. Aside from the cart bag and 2Five, the Sun Mountain Speed Cart® golf push cart is handy in walking your home course. The ClubGlider® for airplane trips is simply the easiest way to go. With roller legs deployed you can push it with a finger.

For 30 years Sun Mountain has been a pioneer in the golf industry, revolutionizing golf bags and golf carts with cutting edge accessories.

For the Sun Mountain retailer nearest you, call 800-227-9224 or visit www.sunmountain.com

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