Golf Vacations Magazine June 2017

OUR 16th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS JUNE 2017

TATHATA GOLF TRAINING CENTER

DESERT DREAM REALIZED

GET INTO THE SWING OF SUMMER

DISCOVER CALIFORNIA’S INNS

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • June 2017 1 Plus: GOLFING WASHINGTON’S PUGET SOUND REGION

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GOLF VACATIONS JUNE 2017

Mesquite Golf & Country Club, Palm Springs, CA

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Chip Shots

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Tathata Golf Training Center

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Get Into The Swing Of Summer

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Golf With A View: Washington’s Puget Sound

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Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross

by Tim Cotroneo The Tathata Golf training center in Scottsdale, AZ, is the realization of a Bryan Hepler dream that’s 40 years in the making. Hepler’s training facility is one part enchanted garden, one part martial arts methodology, and one part golf like you’ve never experienced before.

by JD Latorre Pack your clubs and enjoy some time on the greens this summer in California. Several members of the California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns offer specials and packages just for golfers.

by JD Latorre Typically, when someone hears about the Pacific Northwest images of emerald forests and sapphire water come to mind. What many people don’t realize is that the South Sound is also home to championship golf courses. Whether it be putting the green along the shores of Puget Sound or relaxing at the clubhouse enjoying views of Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains, golfing in Pierce County will be a memorable experience.

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS 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.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

Hal Quinn has played, and written about, the game’s finest courses and resorts across four continents, with some interesting small islands in between. You can read more about those travels at www.passporttogolf.com

Associate Editor Terry Ross

Features Editor Larry Feldman

Senior Writers 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.

JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo

For Editorial:

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

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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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 2017 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 International Women’s Golf Day Experiences 68% Growth In One Year – Expands To 46 Countries

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rom the US to Australia, South Africa to Switzerland, International Women’s Golf Day (WGD) has grown in scope and size, increasing its global reach 68% in only its second year. Thousands of women from Silicon Valley to Wall Street to the Square Mile in London will converge in 46 countries at more than 691 locations for the one day event on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.

The 2017 event venues include public and private golf courses, driving ranges and retail outlets around the globe. All locations will conduct a two-hour golf clinic or offer a nine-hole round of golf, and will culminate with a two- hour social affair where the expected 50,000+ participating women can network and socialize.

“We’ve discovered that female business professionals who take up the game of golf soon recognize the value it brings when it comes to customer engagement and future business development,” said WGD Founder Elisa Gaudet. She added “It’s important that women have a positive experience when playing golf, regardless of their level of experience and Women’s Golf Day caters to all levels and imparts camaraderie.”

Gaudet is thrilled at the rapid expansion, but not surprised by the worldwide interest.

“For a while the industry was looking at

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ways to engage women, I am elated and proud that this one day international event has introduced thousands of new female golfers to the sport and impassioned existing golfers while transcending language, culture, religion, and race to celebrate golf, women, and community.”

“It is also important for the golf industry to understand women make up 85% of all consumer purchases and the important role they play as economic influencers for the family. The big-ticket items for the golf industry are home purchases in golf communities, country club memberships, and golf vacations where women have a definitive say in the making of those decisions,” Gaudet said.

“We’re thrilled at the opportunity to support this global movement and encourage women to see the benefits of golf for enriching relationships,” said PGA TOUR Superstore CMO Matt Corey. Corey continued, “We stock our stores with more equipment, apparel and footwear specifically for women

than any other golf store on the planet, and we do that for a reason.”

Partners and supporting organizations of the transnational event include the International Golf Federation, World Golf Foundation, LPGA, LET, European Tour Properties, TPC, NGCOA, EGCOA, ClubCorp, Billy Casper Golf, PGA TOUR Superstore, Ahead, EWGA, WIGI, International Council of Nurses, All Square, Expert Golf, and Troon International.

For more information about the WGD global initiative or to participate on Tuesday June 6, visit https://womensgolfday.com/.

ABOUT WOMEN’S GOLF DAY: Women’s Golf Day (WGD) is a global golf initiative launched in 2016 to introduce women of all ages to the game and encourage existing female golfers to “tee it up” in a fun and highly inclusive environment. The inaugural one day, four-hour event, spanned 28 countries in 485 locations, and introduced thousands of new golfers to the sport while transcending language, culture, religion, and race to celebrate golf, women, and community. To learn more about Women’s Golf Day and its upcoming event on Tuesday June 6, 2017 visit www.womensgolfday. com, @womensgolfday, #WomensGolfDay

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Omni Mt. Washington in New Hampshire

Hit The Road, Golfers: Omni’s ‘Guys Golf Getaway’ Package Made For Summer Road Trips Omni Hotels & Resorts wants this summer to be all about golf and good friends, so it’s offering great golf packages for groups of “fore” or more at its 11 luxury destinations in the Omni Golf Collection.

Beginning today, the “Guys Golf Getaway” package features the full VIP treatment at the Omni golf resort of choice.

That means playing in the footsteps of legends when teeing it up at historic tour venues like The Omni Homestead in Virginia, Omni Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, and Omni Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania, as well as iconic courses like Omni Tucson in Arizona or Omni La Costa in Carlsbad. And those are just a few of the great courses in the Omni Golf Collection.

The Guys Golf Getaway package includes access to all resort amenities, along with unlimited golf (per person/per night, including arrival/departure days) and an inroom welcome amenity featuring an Omni “Brewski Bucket” full of beer and chef’s selection of appetizers. Every member of the group also gets a $50 golf retail credit, daily

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breakfast, unlimited use of the resort’s practice facilities, and club storage.

Gal golfers and couples’ golf groups are welcome, as well—the more in the group, the merrier (and more competitive) it gets!

Package prices start at $275 per person (based on a three night stay) and vary by resort and visit dates.

Omni Hotels & Resorts offers golfers many great reasons to get the gang together for a golf trip, notably access to some of the finest courses in the United States. Located around the country, the Omni collection of courses offers a wide variety of scenic beauty and challenge, plus guaranteed fun for golfers of any and all skill levels.

Other properties in the Omni Golf Collection include Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Florida; Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, Calif.; The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C.; Omni Interlocken Hotel in Denver; Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Florida; and Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas.

For more information, visit www. omnihotels.com/destinations/golf or call 1-800-The-Omni (1-800-843-6664).

Troon Names President

Tim

Schantz

Troon® has appointed Tim Schantz as president of the company. Schantz joined Troon in 1998 and most recently served as executive vice president of global business development for the 27-year-old management firm. Under his leadership in business development, Troon has expanded globally working with more than 270 golf courses in 31 countries.

“I am proud to be a part of an incredible team,” said Schantz. “The depth of talent at Troon extends across our 12,000 associates. I am truly humbled and honored to serve as president and am committed to further improving and growing this exceptional company.”

As president of Troon, Schantz will oversee strategic planning, global development, branding and Troon’s newest initiative, True Club Solutions.

“In this new role, Tim’s involvement will allow me to spend more time on newly acquired businesses like CaddieMaster, as well as our operating and financial platforms,” said Dana Garmany, chairman and chief executive officer, Troon. “I am very pleased to have this seasoned executive in this important role.”

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

Golf Getaway Package at Little River Inn

Golfing in a glorious setting on the Pacific was never this much fun. This June through October, the ocean-view Little River Inn in temperate Mendocino County, California is offering a Golf Getaway package for two.

Both newbies and serious golfers alike can enjoy the course, which is comprised of nine holes that can play like 18, with three placements and dual greens on holes seven and nine. 180 degree views of the ocean and centuries-old redwoods guarantee that golfing at the Little River Inn is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

Designed by the present innkeeper’s grandfather as a tribute to the world’s greatest courses, the rolling hills and wooded setting present unexpected challenges. You might even spot a rare colorful acorn woodpecker or see a chipmunk skitter by. The course is an Audubon-certified sanctuary.

Completing the picture are a driving range, putting green, and fully stocked Pro Shop.

The inn itself is a Victorian gem that features all of the indulgent amenities you’d expect from a full-service resort. After an invigorating round or two, unwind with a massage at their spa, dine in style at their award-winning restaurant, or sip a local vintage on your ocean view deck.

The Golf Getaway Package for two includes: • Two-night stay in an Ocean View Fireplace Room • Unlimited golf for two OR unlimited golf for one and one massage

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• Unlimited use of the Driving Range • Use of complimentary golf clubs and motorized golf cart Available June 1, 2017 – October 31, 2017. Packages for two begin at $720, exclusive of tax and gratuity. More luxurious rooms are available for an additional price. Book this package online at www.littleriverinn.com, or call 888.INN.LOVE or 707.937.5942.

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Daytona Beach Double Feature is One of Florida’s Best Golf Packages

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Two of Central Florida’s most popular courses have partnered to create the Daytona Beach Double Feature, a value-laden package that delivers outstanding golf and perks that have made it one of the Sunshine State’s best.

The 3-night/2-round deal starts at $298 and features golf at LPGA International’s acclaimed Hills Course and Halifax Plantation Golf Club. Golf groups will also enjoy accommodations at the newly remodeled Homewood Suites, daily breakfast and dinner and drinks each night for groups staying-and-playing during the week.

A 4.5-star design, the Hills Course is one of Florida’s best public courses. The Arthur Hills layout has hosted the LPGA’s ADT Season Ending Championship, NCAA Championships and the finals of the LPGA Qualifying School, allowing golf groups to walk in the footsteps of some of the LPGA’s greatest players.

Halifax Plantation plays through centuries old live oak trees and a pine forest while treating players to a 4.5-star round of golf. The layout has no parallel fairways, giving players the opportunity to enjoy Bill Amick’s classic design and the land’s natural beauty.

The accommodations at Homewood Suites, which enjoys an ideal location across from Daytona International Speedway, feature a kitchen and living room, providing golf groups ample room to hangout and enjoy the camaraderie that is an essential part of a great buddies trip.

What happens off the course is an integral part of a successful golf trip, and few destinations in America can come close to

matching Daytona Beach’s offerings, starting with 23 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Golfers can enjoy the thrill of a great round in the morning and the exhilaration of a guided tour around Daytona International Speedway, highlighted by the opportunity to experience the track’s 31-degree high bank corners for themselves.

Throw-in scenic parks, deep-sea fishing, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, world class dining and night life, among countless other activities, and it’s not hard to see why Daytona Beach is poised to become a destination of choice for golfers.

For more information, go to DaytonaBeach.com.

Troon Introduces Saguaro Amateur Series SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Troon® has introduced a new series of competitive amateur golf events called the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series. The multi-stage series builds on the success of the Saguaro Amateur, held in early January at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, while providing high-level amateurs, college players, juniors and Troonfacility club champions a chance to compete throughout the year.

The Sizzler, the first event of the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series, will be held June 10-13 at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Fall events will include The Gobbler at Sewailo Golf Club at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Ariz. November 19-22 and The Agave at Shadow Hills Golf Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. December 19-22.

The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series will be capped off at the season-ending Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. January 1-4, 2018.

Each event winner and top point earners will earn exemptions into the Saguaro Amateur.

The concept of the Saguaro Amateur and its evolution into a series is the brainchild of University of Colorado Head Men’s Golf Coach Roy Edwards, University of Wyoming Director of Golf Programs Joe Jensen, and Ak-Chin Southern Dunes General Manager Brady Wilson. Troon is the series’ inaugural title sponsor.

The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series includes the following events: The Sizzler – Troon North Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.; June 10-13, 2017 http://saguaroamateur.com/thesizzler The Gobbler – Sewailo at Casino Del Sol, Tucson, Ariz.; November 19-22, 2017 http://saguaroamateur.com/thegobbler The Agave – Shadow Hills Golf Club, Rancho Mirage, Calif; December 19-22, 2017 http://saguaroamateur.com/ The Saguaro* – Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Maricopa, AZ: January 1 – 4, 2018 http://saguaroamateur.com/tournamentinformation *Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Championship “Troon is excited to host some of the best amateur golfers in the country at a few of our most stunning venues,” said Mitch Harrell, president, Troon Golf. “Having seen the original Saguaro Amateur grow into a premier amateur event over the last four years, I’m certain Troon North, Sewailo, Shadow Hills and Ak-Chin Southern Dunes will do an outstanding job of challenging the best of the best in amateur golf.”

For more information and entry details for the Troon Saguaro Amateur Series, visit www.SaguaroAmateur.com.

Halifax Plantation Golf Club

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Tathata Golf 12 Golf Vacations • June 2017

BY TIM COTRONEO

Experien www.golfvacationsmag.com

ncing the Golf Swing Dream www.golfvacationsmag.com

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he Tathata Golf training center in Scottsdale, AZ, is the realization of a Bryan Hepler dream that’s 40 years in the making. Hepler’s training facility is one part enchanted garden, one part martial arts methodology, and one part golf like you’ve never experienced before.

A surging wave of golfers from all over the world are turning to Hepler’s dream through the Internet, the Golf Channel, and referral success stories featuring some of the biggest names in golf. Those who dive into the Tathata way will encounter subtle and dramatic philosophy differences on nearly everything thought to be true about the game of golf.

To help acclimate Tathata newcomers why his method makes so much sense, Hepler leans on the swings of four golfers you’ve no doubt heard of.

Namely Nicklaus, Hogan, Snead, and Woods.

Experiencing Tathata Live Golfers with a television, cell phone, or laptop computer have at some point watched a Tathata video clip of Hepler’s team making a windmill backswing motion. This movement is a snapshot of what takes place in Tathata’s 60-day online training, CD’s, and golf schools. Hepler’s golf school setting showcases a paradise learning environment of lush green, fluid movements, and work stations that are steeped in the martial arts.

The martial arts aspect of Tathata is where Hepler’s dream separates itself from traditional golf. It’s also where this Wenatchee, WA-native’s passion for teaching shifts into overdrive. After spending decades studying golf and the martial arts, Hepler discovered that key elements of ancient fighting mirrored the golf swing. What jumped out at Hepler was that integrating crucial martial arts basics would not only improve the golf swing, but once mastered, could be relied upon long term.

For Hepler and his growing legion of golfers, “pressure” is the key word in their swing vocabulary. Pressure in the setup, pressure in the backswing, pressure at impact, and pressure in the follow through. Tathata teaches that pressure delivers a safer, faster, and more reliable golf swing.

Gateway to New Golf At Tathata Golf’s training facility located on McCormick Ranch Golf Course, students begin their journey by walking through an arched entrance called the Gateless Gate. Asian influences abound at Tathata, whether it’s the training center dojo, perfectly manicured bonsai trees, or even the Bokken fighting sticks used to reinforce the proper swing motion at impact.

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Once on the facility, students who have gone through the 60-day video training program see several familiar faces. Alex and Lauren, Hepler’s counterparts in all the Tathata videos, are on hand to greet and train golfers. There is also a Wall of Greats station revealing how the classic golf swings of Nicklaus, Hogan, Snead, and Woods all uphold key Tathata motion principles.

At Tathata’s two-day school in April, Hepler’s team got acquainted with 11 golfers from Alabama, Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Northern California. The golfers collective handicaps ranged from five to 25. In each case these golfers came seeking a repeatable golf swing, and a method that relies less on mechanics and more on a swing you can trust.

Finding Joy in Golf There is a definite fitness or even lifestyle element to Tathata Golf. After an introduction to the two-day itinerary, Lauren led golfers through a rigorous stretching regimen. During the course of the stretching, golfers got their first chance to absorb the Zen feel of a property that Hepler designed in a dream that originated in the 8th grade.

The quietness of the Tathata environment was occasionally interrupted when Hepler or Alex took students to stations equipped with sticks. The students were encouraged to thwack at hitting pads in order to feel the velocity gained and supported by the correct way to swing Tathata-style.

Hepler reminded students that over the decades, golf had lost the joy found in other sports. Hepler is a proponent of instilling the athleticism

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found in football, basketball, and hockey into the golf swing. Tathata also compares a soccer kick motion to the impact moment of the downswing.

At one point Alex stood on a putting green about a wedge shot away and trotted back in forth with flag in hand. Hepler shared that golf’s stationary target works against a golfer’s psyche. A golfer’s touch improves if he or she envisions the setup, shot, flag, and green as a moving target.

Golfers at Every Level Discovering Tathata Throughout the two-day training, Hepler and his team radiated a passion for what they are teaching. Ultimately students feel this passion and the Tathata mission of boosting students’ joy for the game.

The reverberations of Tathata Golf can be felt from Scottsdale and throughout the globe. At last count, over 9,500 golfers from 75 countries have participated in Tathata online training. Tathata has seen dramatic success at the junior level. In addition, scores of graduates are practicing Tathata in the golf professional community. High-profile Tathata notables include Gary McCord, Brandel Chamblee, and LPGA President Deb Vangelow.

For the golfer seeking a new energy for his or her game, there are five acres of Scottsdale paradise waiting for you. Once you walk through the Gateless Gate, you’ve entered Bryan Hepler’s dream. Hepler’s betting there’s a chance you’ll awaken to golf like you’ve never played before. www.tathatagolf.com

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Get into the Swing of Golf Packages at California B & Bs

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Summer

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ACRAMENTO, CA – Pack your clubs and enjoy some time on the greens this summer in California. Several members of the California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns offer specials and packages just for golfers.

by JD Latorre

Guests of the Casitas of Arroyo Grande can receive a 20% discount off green fees at the beautiful, sustainably-developed Cypress Ridge golf course in San Luis Obispo County. Mature cypress trees, lush green fairways and cool fresh ocean air make Cypress Ridge a golfer’s paradise. The course was designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy, who specialize in courses that preserve the integrity of the land and surrounding environment. Situated at the top of a seven-acre estate, the Hacienda-style inn overlooks central coast vineyards and rolling hills and offers luxurious amenities and a 25-meter lap pool. To reserve, call 805-473-1123.

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Hofsas House Hotel has partnered with one of the Monterey Peninsula’s best golf courses for their Golfer’s Delight add-on special. Experience the immaculate green grasses of the historic Quail Lodge Golf Club or Carmel Valley Ranch Golf Course with an 18-hole round of golf for two plus a shared cart and range balls. The cost is an additional $125 per person. The Bavarian-inspired hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. Call 831-624-2745 to make a reservation or use promotion code HHQUAIL when booking online.

Guests of the Las Fuentes Inn and Gardens in Palm Springs can receive a $10 per person discount on green fees at Mesquite Golf and Country Club, just a half mile from the inn. The 18-hole championship course features five lakes, palm tree-lined fairways, and desert mountain vistas. It’s a challenging course for players of all skill levels. Las Fuentes Inn is a private desert retreat with a fireplace, soaking tub and 60 foot saltwater lap pool and swimming pool surrounded by tranquil desert gardens. The $10 discount vouchers valid for up to four people and are valid through September-May. Discount vouchers of $5 are available June-August. To reserve, call 760-989-4097.

Book two nights in any room at the Martine Inn in Pacific Grove and receive a free round of golf at the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course. The golf course was designed by the same golf architect as Pebble Beach and shares the same coastline. The historic, oceanfront inn is furnished with museum-quality antiques. Many of the rooms have fireplaces, claw foot tubs and/or views of the waves crashing against the rocky coastline; all feature luxurious sheets and pillow top mattresses. The inn’s golf special is valid year-round and includes free rental of golf clubs if needed. To reserve, call 831-373-3388.

Save on golf and lodging with Joshua Inn’s Stay and Play Package in Hollister. The package includes 15% off any room at the inn and 15% off green fees, cart rental and a small bucket of balls at the San Juan Oaks Golf Course. The course was designed by Fred Couples and offers gorgeous vistas of the surrounding hills of San Benito County. Joshua Inn is a lovely Victorian that transports guests to the grace of a bygone era with coved ceilings, carved balustrades, antique furnishings and more. Package prices vary depending upon the time of year. Call 831-265-7829 to make reservations

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For more details on these golf packages and other bed and breakfast packages, visit www.cabbi.com/specials.

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Golf With A View

Washington’s Puget Sound Region 18 Golf Vacations • June 2017

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by JD LATORRE

T

ypically, when someone hears about the Pacific Northwest images of emerald forests and sapphire water come to mind. What many people don’t realize is that the South Sound is also home to championship golf courses.

Whether it be putting the green along the shores of Puget Sound or relaxing at the clubhouse enjoying views of Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains, golfing in Pierce County will be a memorable experience.

package called the Championship Experience, which packages room stays with golfing at three different golf courses, including Chambers Bay. To find hotels visit www.traveltacoma.com/hotels

The Courses

Special Craft Crawler’s Course Do you appreciate the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into making a delicious brew? Yes?! We do too! You’re invited to join the Craft Crawl and taste over 100 of locally made beers and ciders, from the fearless artisans that reign the region.

Chambers Bay • University Place, WA Chambers Bay is a links style course located on the shores of Puget Sound. It is also the only course to have been officially dubbed “America’s St. Andrews” by its much older counterpart in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed municipal course has an impressive resume, having played host to the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2010. It was the first course in the Pacific Northwest to host the U.S. Open in 2015. Chambers Bay offers stunning views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains while you play in the footsteps of the best golfers in the world.

The Home Course • DuPont, WA The Home Course is another championship course in Pierce County.

It was the assisting course for the 2010 US Amateur Championship and was the site of the 2014 US Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. It will also be hosting the 2019 USGA Four-Ball Championship. Bald Eagles are frequently seen at the course, and like Chambers Bay, golfers will enjoy panoramic views of the Puget Sound, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier.

Meadow Park • Tacoma, WA If you’ve experienced the rush of following in the footsteps of champions at Chambers Bay or the Home Course but still want to hit the links, Meadow Park municipal golf course can help you scratch that itch. This 101 year old course is the second oldest public golf course in Washington. Lined with magnificent fir and oak trees, Meadow Park Golf Course offers something for everyone. The course includes an 18-hole championship course, executive 9-hole, two putting courses and the nation’s only driving range with LED lighting for those late evening sessions. Because of its historic status Meadow Park is a popular destination for hickory golfers.

Recreation and Culture

Whether you’d like to visit Mount Rainier to do some hiking or peruse the latest art exhibits in the downtown museum district, Tacoma can help you unwind after a day or two on the links. Kayaks can be rented at several locations on the Puget Sound, including right at the museum district. If you’d like a unique museum experience, beginning in June the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma will feature over 200 artifacts from the NFL Hall of Fame. To learn more visit www.TravelTacoma.com.

Golf Packages & Hotels

There are great lodging options in Pierce County that provide convenient access to all of area courses. In DuPont, hotels like the Best Western Liberty Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites DuPont, and Fairbridge Inn & Suites are just minutes from The Home Course. Some of these hotels also offer special rates to guests who are golfing at certain courses. In Downtown Tacoma, the luxurious Murano Hotel offers a

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Drink

Tacomans take their beer seriously, and we show it in the many craft breweries throughout the county serving up unique, high quality brews. The best way to experience craft beer culture is by checking out the South Sound Craft Crawl.

South Sound? You better believe it. From Tacoma to Olympia—more than 40 artisanal breweries and cideries (20ish off course). A rising craft culture that’s just being tapped.

What exactly is the Craft Crawl? Glad you asked. With your course and passport in hand, collect stamps at each location you visit.

Fifteen stamps get you a prized growler. Swing by any course location marked with a trophy icon on the passport to show off your stamps and pick up your prize. You can also pick up your growler at the Travel Tacoma + Pierce County Visitor Information Center MondayFriday 10am-4pm or Saturdays between 10am-3pm.

With year-round beer festivals and more brewery openings in the “hop”-per, there’s no doubt that you’ll sip some of the best suds in the state. Hop on the rail to ale, Tacoma’s free Link Light Rail, with stops at seven breweries, all in the heart of downtown.

Not sure where to start? Let Lifestyle Tours or Bikerobrew help you craft the perfect crawl.

Cheers to premium pints and bragging rights! Ladies and gentlemen, start your crawling.

If beer isn’t your thing you can also check out one of the craft distilleries or wineries by visiting www.traveltacoma.com/southsound-craft-crawl

Eat

Puget Sound is known best for their seafood, but whatever you’re looking for, Tacoma and Pierce County have plenty to offer. Satisfy almost any craving with one-of-a-kind cuisine.

Trendy and adventurous eats can be found at restaurants on 6th Ave in Tacoma such as Marrow and Dirty Oscar’s Annex.

While family-friendly and fun restaurants offer kids eye-popping eats at Carr’s Restaurant in Lakewood, and The Harmon and The Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Tacoma.

If you’re in it for stunning waterfront views, there are plenty of waterfront dining options along Ruston Way and along 43 miles of shoreline.

Your table is waiting. Visit www.traveltacoma.com/restaurants to learn more.

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SWEETSTUFF Antigua Summer 2017

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new blend of material that offers more comfort and wearability highlight the Antigua golf polo shirt collection for this summer. The company is incorporating Spandex into its primary accent colors for the summer of 2017, and the new feel is a breath of fresh air.

“Almost every style has incorporated this fiber into the construction of fashion fabrics for both function and form, eliminating any garment resistance throughout the golf swing and offering an enhanced supple hand, smooth drape and renewed recovery with every use,” noted Sean Gregg, Antigua’s Vice President of Product Development and Marketing Support.

The self-collar style Sustain takes a solid piece-dyed jersey/ spandex top shoulder detail and contrasts it against a heather overdyed pointelle mesh--the latter of which offers breathability while wicking. The main body fabric is a subdued color shade compared to its jersey complement, based on the use of heather yarns softening the color tones. The two fabrics meet at the shoulder-sleeve seam, where a neutral elastic heather tape overlaps the seam to complete the seamless merge.

Utilizing the same detailed complexity of fabric paired with style, this season’s style Streak incorporates a simply engineered chest and sleeve panel of primary brights, complemented by a grey heather jersey front torso panel. The contrast of the engineered color and neutral horizontal chest stripe is separated with this season’s

primary pop accent colors. Strategically knit into the divisional color separation is a near-invisible pairing of horizontal mesh stripes that add a textured surface interest with breathability.

Style Array features a jacquard double knit fabric built for breathability but disguised as an all-over, 45-degree-angled geometric mesh pattern. A self-collar is set against contrasting, yet complementing accent shoulder seam tape distinguishes it as a true fashion style.

This season’s stripe collection offers fresh vitality in contrasting colors. Incorporating spandex yarns into a fine jersey knit gives the simplest of stripe patterns a charged appeal. A solid-and-heather tonal feed stripe combined with heather overdyed insets--as seen on the self-collar style Orbit--demonstrates this with sophisticated, simplistic appeal. The solid quarter-inch, all-over repeat of style Strand dyed together with a complementing tonal pinstripe and finished with a matching flat knit collar is a fresh take on the classic golf feed stripe. And style Domain’s use of tonal and contrasting accent stripes oscillating in a light-to-dark ombre pattern makes this self-collar jersey/spandex polo a centerpiece garment for the collection.

Using a self-collar as a complementing accent to the boldly patterned style Infinite embellishes its fresh mix of color-on-color stripes, making it a must-have in every color combination this season.

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

Style Havoc is the epitome of the fashion polo in Antigua’s Summer ’17 collection, with its use of variegating space dye yarns. Using yarns dyed in colors specific to this season’s collection, it’s been knit in an engineered pattern consisting of alternating space dye and solid yarns that creates an ever lightening, sophisticated tonal effect.

Antigua continues to embellish textured solids this season by adding an abstract geometric all-over embossed interlock style. Style Survey creates an optical effect of light and shadow that brings this solid style to life with a golfer’s every movement. To enhance its sophisticated fashion appeal, it’s created using an un-embossed solid self-collar and cuff interlock making for a truly handsome piece.

Completing this season’s polo offering is a sublimation print with strategically engineered front and back panels.

Purposely designed with a color-to-white gradient and solid-to-geometric stripe detail, style Finesse fully demonstrates the depth of this season’s primary colors as they wash to white. It’s both a fun and active styling--fit to the collection.

For more information, visit Antigua on the web at: www.Antigua.com and ShopAntigua.com

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SWEETSTUFF Ezra Arthur Accessories

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or anyone wanting a fine leather accessory product to accent their golf attire—or that special gift for the golfer in the family— Ezra Arthur has a wide variety of hand-made men’s accessories that should be given a look.

The company is owned by four brothers who honor their grandfather by crafting lifestyle accessories with rich leather and fine American workmanship that really has a sense of fine style and class.

With items such as belts, carry goods, bracelets and grooming, every Ezra Arthur product is constructed of only the highest quality leathers, each chosen for their rich

luster and natural strength. Materials are chosen based on specific product criteria, measurements are exact and all manufacturing is by hand. Every product is examined and inspected before it receives a final stamp of approval.

These are some of the best men’s accessories we have seen, and the workmanship and care in the manufacturing is evident.

Like the No. 2 Belt—it is strong and durable and made with an English bridle leather tanned by Hermann Oak of St. Louis, Missouri— it looks to be made to last a lifetime and comes in five colors.

The Snap Pouch makes for a great business card case. It can also be used as a wallet to hold cash and credit cards. A versatile everyday carry item, this design was inspired by a WWI era military issued “khaki set”.

The Cash Fold is a nice alternative to a money clip and allows for carrying a good amount of green (for those big betting days on the course) but without creating a huge pocket bulge. There are no metal

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parts and it easily accommodates 30 bills. It also comes in 11 colors.

For those that have a lot of cards, the No. 8 Wallet is made of premium American leather with fine hand stitching and has a unique interlocking design. Fashionable and accommodating, this is their largest of several wallet editions.

One of the more classic items is the 1827 Pocket Comb—but this is not any ordinary comb. This is a classic traditional pocket comb--but made from metal. It features 18 course teeth and 27 fine teeth. The comb is made with the highest grade of 410 stainless steel offering both exceptional wear and corrosion resistance. Each comb comes with a Leather hand-stitched sleeve, made with Full-Grain premium Horween® Chromexcel® Leather. Six colors are available for the sleeve.

For more on Ezra Arthur products: http://ezraarthur.com

The Flat Cat Putter Grip

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By Barry Lotz

he revolutionary FLAT CAT 1 putter grip, with its unique design, puts the face of the putter in the palm of your hand. Each side of the FLAT CAT grip is in a parallel plane with the putter face, allowing every golfer to establish a personal feel with the face of their putter no matter what their putting style – traditional, left-hand low, saw, claw and more. Available in five sizes to ensure the best personal feel for every golfer, including the NEW Svelte model.

Weight is 53 grams and a .580” core. Also available in four other sizes: Slim, Standard, Big Boy and Fat each featuring a different weight.

The FLAT CAT Solution is designed with FLAT CAT’s patented FLAT 1™ grip technology that squares the hands and arms to the putter face to ensure a square face at impact. The design of the FLAT CAT Solution allows every golfer to establish a personal feel with the face of their putter no matter what their putting style.

The weighted stainless steel cone on the FLAT CAT Solution grip is optimally located beneath the hands to create a more stable, pendulumlike feel without adding weight to the putter head itself. Weighting the putter head can make it more difficult to consistently control distance. The unique position of the weighted cone on the Solution grip makes the putter head feel heavier without sacrificing feel or distance control. This instantly creates a smoother, yip-free stroke.

Available in a Standard (172 grams) or Fat (197 grams) size.

For more information on the Flat Cat grips, go to: www.flatcatgolf.com or www.lamkingrips.com/shop/flat-catsolution-putter-grips.html

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24 Golf Vacations • June 2017

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The Best Gift Of The Year!

Enjoy a vicarious trip with Chuck Miller “The Traveling Guy” as he reflects on his incredible, fun and amazing 50-week, 50-state golf odyssey. Golfing The U.S. makes for a delightful and inexpensive birthday or holiday present.

available on Amazon.com at $14.95 and on Amazon Kindle at $8.95.!

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26 Golf Vacations • June 2017

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