Golf Vacations Magazine - March 2020

OUR 19th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS MARCH 2020

KAPALUA

HAWAIIAN CULTURE DRAMATIC SETTING

2020 GOLF VISION

CHOICE PLACES TO PLAY THIS YEAR

Vacations • CANA March 2020 1 Plus: CLUB SELECTION: LA CANA IN Golf PUNTA

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GOLF VACATIONS MARCH 2020

Kapalua Plantation Course, Maui Hawaii - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

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Chip Shots

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Kapalua - If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

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by Larry Feldman When Kapalua informed me that The Plantation Course was shutting down for nine months for renovations last year, I could only come up with one question. Why?

2020 Golf Vision - Choice Places To Play

by JD Latorre The cold fronts are now swooping in, bringing snow to those up north and chilly temps and brisk winds down south. For golfers, that means either pulling out the long sleeves and beanies, or stowing away the clubs until spring … late spring (for some).

Club Selection: La Cana in Punta Cana

by Tim Cotroneo In 2000, golf course designer P.B. Dye had an aerial game plan when he met with Frank Rainieri to discuss who would eventually design a new golf course on Rainieri’s Puntacana Resort. “I knew Frank was a pilot, and I had also been a pilot. I went into the meeting looking to speak Frank’s language,” Dye said

Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

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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

Larry Feldman is a nationally published freelance golf journalist of more than 25 years. Based in Park City, Utah, his writing has appeared in such high-profile publications as Southern California Golf News, Palm Springs Life, Golf Tips, Sports Profiles and Men’s Look.

Associate Editors Terry Ross Dakota Diaz

Features Editor JD Latorre

Senior Writers Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.

Tim Cotroneo Larry Feldman David R. Holland Dave McKibben

For Editorial:

call (760) 774–2655 e-mail: Info@GolfVacationsMag.com JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling the Pocono Mountains his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Tenerife, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.

Regional Advertising

Los Angeles Terry Ross • (949) 279–7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • (770) 239–7500 haroldc@GolfVacationsMag.com Chicago Dakota Diaz •(312) 809–8808 dakota@GolfVacationsMag.com

Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz

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

Cimarron Communications President/CEO James A. Diaz

Golf Vacations Magazine is published in digital format monthly and distributed online to over 1,000,000 golfer’s email inboxes each issue.

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2020 Stony Creek Media, LLC, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

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

Circling Raven Golf Club aerial view of 4th and 5th holes

Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Circling Raven Golf Club Announce Spring Stay-and-Play Packages

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orley, ID – Fresh off an awardwinning 15th Anniversary Season, Circling Raven, the No. 1-rated public course in Idaho, is paying it forward in 2020 with a variety of special offers and events. From value-priced Stayand-Play Packages, to hosting its inaugural Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event – the Circling Raven Championship – the casino resort golf club is poised to parlay last year’s robust investments into big-time winnings for avid golfers near and far.

“We surveyed our extensive database in 2019, and overwhelmingly golfers rated Circling Raven as one of the best places they play annually, both local players and those who come to stay and play,” said David Christenson, PGA, Circling Raven Director of Golf. “We’re rewarding that enthusiastic patronage by incentivizing golfers to come early and often in 2020.”

Players who purchase the 2020 Spring Stay-and-Play Package by March 1 will receive one night’s accommodations for

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two in the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel Spa Tower, two rounds of golf (one per occupant), two breakfast vouchers, two free sleeves of Titleist Pro V golf balls, and two signature bag tags (a large arrowhead of bronze appearance) for $249 plus tax. The purchase price covers both players. That’s more than 30% off the customary fees at one of America’s finest playing venues.

The offer is valid for the 2020 season, Mondays – Thursdays, and must be used

by May 21, 2020, to receive the golf balls and bag tags. To book, call 800.523.2464, and mention the code LOVERAVEN for the Spring Stay-and-Play Package.

Circling Raven Stay-and-Play Packages are made even better by pairing golf with other Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel amenities. From massages and other services at Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced Sock-wah-kin), to immersing in Native American tradition through the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s cultural activities offered to

guests and resort visitors, the options are many. Culture activities include touring a 17th Century Mission that the Tribe built (now a museum), eating authentic Native American foods, visiting a bison ranch, hiking ancestral homelands, learning how to weave baskets and create beaded bracelets, and much more.

The 2020 Circling Raven Advantage Card provides tremendous value at the exceptional golf club this year. Purchasing the card enables Cardholders to receive a complimentary round this season, free entry into an Advantage Cardholder tournament, and free entry to attend the Circling Raven Championship, a Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour event, Aug. 2830, 2020. Additionally, when card holders return to play Circling Raven in 2020, they are guaranteed the lowest rate, which will save $10 off each additional round.

Visit www.cdacasino.com for more information on golf and other resort options.

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Westgate Resorts Celebrity Classic Set For Lvcc Nfl Draft Weekend

LAS VEGAS, NV - The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino will elevate NFL Draft Weekend in Las Vegas by launching a new celebrity golf tournament, April 23-26, at historic Las Vegas Country Club.

The Westgate Resorts Celebrity Classic, featuring 36 top-tier golfers from sports and entertainment, will be a 36-hole, $200,000 competition among active and retired NFL players plus other celebrities on Saturday and Sunday April 23-26. A celebrity-amateur competition will be held on Friday, April 24, at Las Vegas Country Club.

The line-up will include former Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, former NFL All-Pro and Oakland Raiders quarterback Jay Schroeder plus a host of other players familiar to fans from the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe, the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach and the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando. The field is expected to include active or retired entries from all the major sports plus select amateurs invited via sponsorships and other tournament partnerships.

“We have long believed that celebrity golf is a great fit for Las Vegas and for our property and our partnership with Las Vegas Country Club,” said Richard Siegel, Westgate Resorts’ Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The Westgate is proud to be a dynamic part of the big weekend with the NFL

Draft in town.”

In addition to Urlacher and Schroeder, other early confirmations for the tournament field include Roger Clemens, Robbie Gould, Kevin Millar, Mark Mulder, Mardy Fish, Eric Gagne, Kyle Rudolph, Bret Saberhagen, Ha Ha Dixon, Adam Theilen, Deron Williams, and Jeremy Roenick.

Additional player confirmations will be announced in the coming weeks. Information regarding sponsorship and Las Vegas hotel packages can be obtained at www. westgateresorts.com/golf-tournament/. Hotel packages can also be obtained by calling 877206-1425.

Established in 1967, Las Vegas Country Club has long been a celebrity haven, popularized in the early years by legendary entertainer Dean Martin.

Poplar Grove to Host Virginia State Golf Association FourBall Championship This Spring AMHERST, VA – Poplar Grove Golf Club – Sam Snead’s final course design located in the rolling hills of beautiful southern Virginia – will host the Virginia State Golf Association’s (VSGA) Four-Ball Championship on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. Those who successfully qualify at various sites throughout the Commonwealth are eligible to compete in the 36-hole four-ball stroke play competition.

“Hosting the VSGA Four-Ball Championship is an exciting opportunity

to showcase the new and improved Poplar Grove to the best players throughout the Old Dominion,” says Jacob Mast. “We’re confident competitors will have an exceptional experience and a proper challenge.”

Headlining Poplar Grove’s $3 million Phase I renovation are new teeing grounds that have lengthened the course to an exhilarating 7,300 yards. Other upgrades include the re-building of bunkers and green complexes, updating drainage, tree clearing, new on-course comfort stations, remodeled practice areas and renovated cart paths with a new fleet of 60 E-Z-GO golf carts.

The course restoration was led by Ed Carton, a Virginia native who learned under Tom Fazio, Michael Hurdzan, Gary Player and Raymond Floyd. Carton consulted closely with Snead when designing Poplar Grove and saw the project through to its finish in 2005, three years after “Slammin’ Sammy’s” passing. Poplar Grove, a Golf Digest “Best New Upscale Public Course” in 2005, is returning to its heyday under the close watch of Carton, the man who brought Snead’s blueprint to life.

The historic Manor House, Poplar Grove’s storied centerpiece, is also being restored as an event space. A 100-seat indooroutdoor dining space, luxury bar, several member-exclusive areas and overnight accommodations are among the planned additions for Phase II of the project.

For more information, visit http://www. poplargrovegolf.com/.

18th Hole, Poplar Grove Golf Club

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Ocean Course at Hokuala

Myrtlebeachgolftrip s. com Launches ‘Gimme Golf’ Podcast, Exploring the Best of Myrtle Beach and Beyond MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, one of the game’s leading vacation companies, has launched Gimme Golf, the first podcast dedicated to telling the story of the Grand Strand golf community, on and off the course.

Gimme Golf (LISTEN) is hosted by Meredith Kirk, a LPGA member and one of South Carolina’s premier instructors. Kirk will take listeners into every facet of the Myrtle Beach golf community, talking with head golf professionals, course superintendents and media members during the weekly show, which is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, Pandora and Tune-In. Powered by MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com, 13 Gimme Golf episodes are already available to listeners, covering topics ranging from the Grand Strand’s best courses to the decision to overseed during the winter, among a host of other subjects.

“Meredith is as knowledgeable about the area as anyone and there are so many stories to tell along the Myrtle Beach golf scene,” said Justin Binke, Director of Marketing for MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com. “Gimme Golf will provide people the chance to enjoy an insider’s perspective on Myrtle Beach, allowing them to learn and laugh along the way.”

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Listeners can subscribe and listen to Gimme Golf on major podcast platforms, and each episode is embedded on https://www. myrtlebeachgolftrips.com/podcasts/. While the content to date has focused entirely on Myrtle Beach, Kirk will periodically interview guests from outside the area in the future.

Kirk is a creative media consultant and nationally ranked LPGA teaching professional.

She is a former Mrs. South Carolina America (2014) and achieved recognition by Golf Magazine as a top “Innovator” in golf for her creative development of a national nonprofit junior program that provided fitted equipment to youth.

She has been featured in Sports Illustrated/ Golf.com as a “Most Beautiful Woman in Golf” and appeared on national radio, cable, and television programs, including The Golf Channel.

To follow all the latest news on the Myrtle Beach golf scene, go to www.

MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com.

Follow the “Kaua’i Golf Trail” to Save on Go Golf Kaua’i Courses Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i – Golfers headed to the “Garden Island” in 2020 and looking to save on green fees should follow the Kaua’i Golf Trail. The popular Kaua’i Golf Trail package allows golfers to play three out of the four participating island courses for one flat fee of $540 (inclusive of tax). Participating courses

in the Kaua’i Golf Trail package include The Ocean Course at Hokuala, Poipu Bay Golf Course, Princeville Makai Golf Club and Puakea Golf Course.

Golfers interested in reserving the Kaua’i Golf Trail package should contact any one of the participating golf courses to book their first tee time, and while doing so inform the staff they wish to book under the Kaua’i Golf Trail package. It is recommended golfers purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package from the golf course that will be their first round on island. Upon arrival at the first property, golfers will purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package in person for $540, at which time they will receive Kaua’i Golf Trail Card. The Kaua’i Golf Trail Card is non-transferable, rounds may not be redeemed more than once per location, and cards are valid 30 days from the date of issue.

In addition to savings on golf, those who purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail package will receive 10 percent off regular-priced merchandise in golf shops on the day of play.

If a golfer chooses to play the award-winning Puakea Golf Course for one of their rounds, they will receive a $100 gift card towards golf shop merchandise, club rentals or an additional round of golf.

Golfers can purchase the Kaua’i Golf Trail Package at any of the following Go Golf Kaua’i golf courses: The Ocean Course at Hokuala (808) 246-6844 Poipu Bay Golf Course - (808) 278-6572

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Princeville Makai Golf Club (808) 278-6573 Puakea Golf Course - (808) 278-6574 For more information on the Kauai Golf Trail visit www.gogolfkauai. com/trail.

Wailua Golf Course, a Go Golf Kaua’i member course, does not participate in the Kaua’i Golf Trail package but is a wonderful and affordable seaside golf option for Kaua’i-bound golfers.

Nicknamed the “Garden Island” for its lush tropical foliage, waterfalls and ever-present Pacific Ocean scenery, Kaua‘i is perennially recognized for its beaches, award-winning golf courses, ideal playing weather and stunning natural beauty. For more information on Kaua‘i golf, visit www.gogolfkauai.com.

Troon Selected to Manage Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club in Cicero, New York Scottsdale, AZ – Troon®, the leader in club management, development, and marketing, is pleased to announce it has been selected to manage Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club in Cicero, New York. Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon, will oversee the golf operations, golf course agronomy, membership sales and marketing, and the club’s food and beverage operations.

Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club was established in 1860 and is nestled on 150-picturesque acres on the south shore of Oneida Lake.

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The club’s par-72, 18-hole golf course originally opened for play in Gamble Stephen Sands 1928 and has since been renovated by golf course architect Kay. Lakeshore’s beautiful lakeside clubhouse includes a golf shop, a restaurant and the most picturesque banquet facilities anywhere, providing the ideal setting for weddings, parties and other celebrations.

“Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club is a gorgeous property with an active membership,” said Archie Cart, operations director, Troon.

“We’re thrilled to be engaged with this historic club. Our Privé team will look to enhance the service levels and improve the overall member experience.”

In addition to golf, Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club members also enjoy other amenities including a swimming pool complex and a marina offering dockage space for yachts and boats.

“Partnering with Troon is significant as we work to improve all facets of the Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club experience,” said Seamus Lyman, Senior Partner & General Counsel for Hart-Lyman Companies, owner/occupant of Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club. “We plan to develop the land adjacent to the golf course by adding residential opportunities, mixed-use commercial space, a 200-key boutique hotel and significantly enhance the marina.”

Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club is located just north of Syracuse along the south shore of Oneida Lake. For more information on Lakeshore Yacht & Country Club, visit www.LakeshoreYCC.com or call (315) 699-2797.

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‘Escape’ to the Sea Pines Resort for Fun-Filled Vacation Package HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island has created the perfect “escape” package for families seeking coastal fun, while also showcasing one of the world’s top golf destinations. The resort’s “Escape Vacation Package” offers an attractive array of amenities and activities for children of all ages.

The Escape Vacation Package includes: • A free round of golf at the Pete Dye-designed Heron Point for children 12 and younger with each paid adult round; • A free 90-minute dolphin cruise for children 12 and younger with a paid adult; • One complimentary family portrait session on the beach by Memory Lane Portraits; • Choice of one complimentary Eco-Adventure or activity for two people at The Sea Pines Resort or Coastal Discovery Museum at Historic Honey Horn; • Complimentary access for two guests to the Harbour Town Lighthouse; • Two hours of complimentary tennis per day at The Sea Pines Racquet Club; and • Exclusive and convenient parking at the Sea Pines Beach Club.

Guests also will have the option to purchase the Summer Golf Passport, which is exclusive to Escape Vacation Package holders and includes up to one tee time per day on Atlantic Dunes or Heron

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Point. A two-player, one-week passport is available for $349 with the courses available for play May 26 through Sept. 2. Harbour Town Golf Links, home to the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage tournament, can be added to the package for an additional $140 per guest per round of play.

To make travel easier and minimize the possibility of layovers, Hilton Head Island visitors now have seven direct flight options.

American, Delta and United airlines are flying directly into Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) from New York (LaGuardia), Washington (Reagan and Dulles), Newark, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago.

To reserve The Sea Pines Resort “Escape Vacation Package,” visit www.seapines.com/vacation-rentals/specials/escape-vacationpackage and enter the promotion code ESCAPE during the booking process. The package also can be booked by phone by calling (866) 561-8802.

For more information about The Sea Pines Resort, visit www. seapines.com.

Win a Round of Golf With Charles Howell Iii in Reynolds Lake Oconee Sweepstakes GREENSBORO, GA – Think your game compares with the pros?

Someone will find out by winning the “3 for 4” sweepstakes offered

by Reynolds Lake Oconee. The prize package includes 3 unique activities for 4 guests over 3 nights and 4 days. The experiences include playing a round of golf with long-time PGA Tour professional

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS and three-time champion, Charles Howell III; fishing on Lake Oconee with avid sportsman and PGA Tour professional Blake Adams; and a sporting clays experience with professional shooting expert, Justin Jones.

The entry period is now open and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. One grand-prize winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries and announced shortly after the sweepstakes closes.

Howell III’s résumé on the PGA Tour is highlighted by three tournament victories, including the RSM Classic in 2018, and eight Top-25 finishes in majors. Now 40, the Augusta, Ga., native remains ranked among the Top 70 players in the world and reached a careerbest No. 15 shortly after turning pro in 2001 when he was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

Adams, 44, turned pro in 2001 after playing collegiately for University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University. An avid sportsman, Adams is currently on medical leave from the PGA Tour, and works at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee in player development and instruction.

Taught to shoot by his grandfather at the age of 12 and a competitor since 15, Jones has traveled internationally representing Great Britain in both Olympic Trap and Skeet.

In addition to the round of golf with Howell III, fishing with Adams, and shooting with Jones, the grand-prize package for the winner and three guests includes: • Three nights’ luxury lodging accommodations in a Reynolds National Club Cottage Three rounds of golf with caddies on Reynolds Lake Oconee courses • Club-fitting experience at The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee with a $500 credit toward TaylorMade golf clubs • Instruction experience with the Reynolds Elite Performance team at The Kingdom •Domestic round-trip coach airfares for four arriving at and departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and rental car •Shipment of golf clubs to and from Reynolds Lake Oconee •Meals and tasting experiences at selected Reynolds’ restaurants.

Justin Jones, Charles Howell III, Blake Adams

Entry forms are available at www.reynoldslakeoconee.com/ reynolds-insider-sweepstakes. There is a limit of one entry per person; no purchase is necessary to enter or win. Entrants must be residents of the United States, at least 21 years of age and possess a valid email address at time of entry. The prize must be taken on the dates to be specified in 2020 or it will be forfeited by prize winner.

For complete rules and prize details, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.

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com/reynolds-insider-sweepstakes-official-rules.

Located between Atlanta and Augusta, Ga., and home to one of the most diverse collections of elite courses in the United States, Reynolds Lake Oconee has six distinctive designs, fantastic lodging and dining options, and a magnificent lakefront location. The community is recognized as one of the country’s premier golf and lakefront destinations and communities.

Also home to The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee, which is one of the only facilities in the country where recreational golfers can receive professional instruction, be fit for TaylorMade equipment in the same elite environment used by Tour professionals, and have their clubs built onsite in one of the custom trailers that traveled the PGA Tour.

For additional information about Reynolds Lake Oconee, visit www.reynoldslakeoconee.com

Rumbling Bald Announces New ‘Golf Vacation Planning Service’ LAKE LURE, N.C. – Rumbling Bald, the 36-hole golf resort on North Carolina’s stunning Lake Lure, announces its new Golf Vacation Planning service in advance of the 2020 golf season.

Led by Golf Group Sales Manager J.P. Doran, a veteran tour operator and golf packager, Rumbling Bald’s expert golf vacation planners offer a concierge-level experience helping golf groups plan, organize and executive trips and events of all sizes.

“Being in charge of a large golf group or even planning a trip for a foursome is challenging on many levels, and our goal is to flip the script and make the process easy and enjoyable,” says Doran. “And that doesn’t end when the trip is booked. We are here every step of the way, from the first call or email until the last putts are holed out.”

Home to Apple Valley and Bald Mountain golf courses, Rumbling Bald is one of the region’s only 36-hole golf destinations.

Golfers and groups can select from a wide-array of lodging options, ranging from rental homes to studios.

Tucked along the shores of scenic Lake Lure and surrounded

by Blue Ridge Mountain foothills, it is both remote and eminently accessible. Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh, N.C., Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn. and Greenville and Spartanburg, S.C. are all between one and five hours away.

Rumbling Bald recently announced its 2020 golf package lineup, including: Hole-in One – Starting at $345 per person (based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees), it features: a two-night stay, two rounds of golf on the Apple Valley and Bald Mountain courses, breakfast both days and complimentary, unlimited range balls. Lodging options include the recently updated Apple Valley Studios and two- and four-bedroom Fairway Villas.

The Ryder Cup Package – Starting at $589 per person (based on quad occupancy, including taxes and fees), it includes: three nights lodging; three rounds of golf scored and handicapped; complimentary replays on either course; a team shirt and resort hat; private, one-hour opening reception with wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres included; and unlimited use of the practice facilities.

“We are excited to welcome J.P. and his staff to the team, and just as excited about our offerings and momentum heading into the golf season,” says Rumbling Bald General Manager Jeff Geisler.

To learn more about Rumbling Bald’s golf courses and packages, visit www.rumblingbald.com, or email jdoran@ rumblingbald.com. To book packages directly, or to speak with golf vacation planner, call (828) 694.3072.

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KAPALUA If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

Kapalua Bay - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

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By Larry Feldman

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W

hen Kapalua informed me that The Plantation Course was shutting down for nine months for renovations last year, I could only come up with one question. Why?

As the host course for the PGA’s annual Sentry Tournament of Champions the first week of January, The Plantation Course was chosen for a reason to kick off the new year. Not only is the course one of the most enjoyable layouts you’ll ever play, you’re blessed with a scenic backdrop that is rivaled by only a handful of courses around the world. In other words, if you had only one course to play for the rest of your life, then The Plantation Course would be at or near the top of your list.

has made the golf course much more enjoyable for all skill levels and the adjustments to the green contours has added as many as 4-5 additional hole locations that has given the PGA Tour and our golf course maintenance staff more options.

Plus, the approach of the refinement project has brought the course back to a more traditional and pure golf experience.

This refinement cements The Plantation Course’s position as a Top 100 golf course in the country and makes it a “bucket-list course” unlike anything in the world. From the ground it is built on to the design of the course to the amazing views, it is truly spectacular!”

According to Head Professional, Michael Castillo, the changes only make the course better. “Through the refinement project of Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, we carefully removed selected vegetation that opened up many of the views and vistas,” said Castillo. “As a result, this exposed more of the golf course for the players and allows them to enjoy and understand how large and unique this golf course truly is.”

Consistently ranked as the #1 golf course in Hawaii, The Plantation Course was designed on a grand scale in keeping with its location on the slopes of the West Maui Mountains and offers dramatic ocean views from virtually every hole.

Its lengthy 7,596 yard Par 73 layout challenges the pros but it’s wide fairways and generous greens make it very playable for the average golfer. With dramatic elevation changes, this course offers plenty of downhill tee shots. You’ll feel like one of the pros when, with the aid of the aggressive slope of the 18th fairway, you will enjoy hitting one of the longest drives of your life.

Castillo continues, “Many of the forward tees that were added

But the course has so many good golf holes in addition to the

So, why change things?

Kapalua Bay - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

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Kapalua Bay - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

18th. The front nine hits you dead square in the face on the 3rd and 4th holes, uphill Par 4s that require a great tee shot, while the Par 4 6th hole provides a blind tee shot with a huge vertical drop. Fun! The back nine also has greatness written all over it but the devilish 301 yard Par 4 14th hole might take the most skill due to a small green and into a prevailing ocean breeze.

The 17th is world famous, with a fairway nearly 100 yards wide but you better hit the speed slot if you want to have a much easier approach.

And, yes, then there’s the 18th, a hole that the course was actually built around, if you can believe it. Get the big dog out and let ‘er rip because at 677 yards, this amazing Par 5 demands an equally impressive second shot before you hit your approach that runs fast and away from back to front and from right to left. It’s the way a round is supposed to end.

The beauty of Kapalua is that there’s another magnificent piece of work across the road. The Bay Course opened in 1975 and has hosted over 20 major professional tournaments - the most of any neighbor island course in the state of Hawaii. From the first live prime-time televised event in golf at the 1983 Kapalua International to the Kapalua LPGA classic some 25 years later, The Bay Course has consistently faced the best players in golf and withstood the test of time and technology. www.golfvacationsmag.com

The Kapalua Golf Academy - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

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Great champions and stories have emerged here, such as Greg Norman’s first win on America soil, Ian Woosnam and David Llwellyn’s thrilling victory for Wales in the World Cup of Golf and Morgan Pressel’s nail-biting win at the Kapalua LPGA classic. Two of the most popular PGA players ever, Fred Couples and Davis Love III, have each earned victories here - twice.

The Bay Course is a championship course that is as challenging as it is beautiful. Known for its breathtaking 17th hole, the only hole to play over the ocean on Maui, it should certainly be on the “must play” list for any golfer visiting Maui.

The Kapalua Golf Academy is Hawaii’s most complete stateof-the-art golf school and practice facility, designed by PGA Touring Professional, Hale Irwin. The golf academy and 23acre practice area provide golf instruction in all aspects of the game—putting, chipping, wedge and bunker play, specialty shots and the full swing.

Additionally, Kapalua’s dedicated staff of PGA Professionals offer a full spectrum of instructional programs: individual golf lessons, corporate clinics, golf schools, daily clinics and custom off-site instruction.

So now that you know where to play, you need to know where

to stay and Kapalua is blessed with possibly two of the finest resorts you’ll ever find.

Set on 24 lush acres along the pristine alcove of Kapalua Bay, Montage Kapalua Bay offers all resort guests the space and comfort of a private home through its signature resident-style accommodations. The resort is also home to privately owned residences. Guests and homeowners can enjoy the diversity of activities that the destination offers, from the pure relaxation of Spa Montage to private chef experiences in-residence. An array of active pursuits are also available, including the best snorkeling in Maui just steps from the resort, paddle boarding, hiking and, of course, playing two of the most famous courses in the region.

The Hawaiian culture resonates through the genuine service at the resort and residences, as well as through the exquisite interior design elements.

Inspirational details were carefully crafted throughout, filling spaces with neutral color palettes and touches of vivacious floral tapestries reminiscent of the natural beauty and history of Maui. The spacious layouts create the perfect setting for entertaining or spending valuable time with family against the backdrop of splendid Maui sunsets. Each residence is truly a rare treasure, offering generous private lanais and some of finest ocean views you will find.

Montage Kapalua Bay

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Ritz-Carlton

Just a short hop down the road and boasting 54 stunning acres, The RitzCarlton, Kapalua proudly maintains the Honokahua Preservation Site, a recognized “wahi pana” (sacred site) that lies adjacent to the resort and serves as a destination where Native Hawaiians can gather to conduct ceremonies and protocol.

to “care for your body” while on Maui.

On-property and nearby recreational activities include tennis courts, basketball court, swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, sailing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, stand-up paddling, as well as whale watching, snorkeling,

hiking and more via the Ambassadors of the Environment program.

Now that you have all the details on Kapalua, what are you waiting for?

Book it, Danno !!!

In addition to this beautiful sanctuary the resort offers guests 466 newly reimagined hotel rooms, suites and Club Level accommodations featuring dark wood floors, marble bathrooms, islandmodern décor and designs as well as six dining experiences featuring local ingredients from the resort’s sustainable organic garden, fresh seafood and Pacific cuisine.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, Kapalua featuring treatments inspired by ancient Hawaiian traditions and an array of body treatments, massage and facials, and a fitness center with cardio equipment and daily fitness classes so that you may “e malama kou kino,” which translates www.golfvacationsmag.com

Kapalua Bay - Photo C 2019, Dave Sansom

Golf Vacations • March 2020 19

2020 Golf Vision

PGA Golf Club

20 Golf Vacations • March 2020

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View Our Top Choices Of Places To Play This Year

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Golf Vacations • March 2020 21

By JD Latorre

T

he cold fronts are now swooping in, bringing snow to those up north and chilly temps and brisk winds down south.

For golfers, that means either pulling out the long sleeves and beanies, or stowing away the clubs until spring … late spring (for some). That also means scouting the top-100 lists and best-you-can-play rankings to see where to play or take the golf buddies to in 2020.

Let us help with our picks on where to play in 2020, and why golfers should make it a point to play there.

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas The Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo Resort & Villas is home to the iconic “Teeth of the Dog” course. Since opening in 1974, “Teeth” is widely recognized as the No. 1 course

in the Caribbean and is continually ranked in the top 50 courses in the world. Pete Dye’s design hallmarks are all present: railroad ties, vast waste areas, peninsula greens and tees, hand-sculpted putting surfaces and a unique assortment of pot bunkers. The oceanfront holes – affectionately dubbed “The Heaven 7” – are astoundingly beautiful, causing the legendary Dye to famously quip: “I created 11 holes and God created seven.”

The 27-hole Dye Fore course joined Teeth of the Dog in 2002.

Its three nines – Chavon, Marina and Lakes – are distinct.

Chavon features seven holes running atop cliffs dropping 300 feet; Marina meanders down to a harbor ringed by restaurants and shops, and Lakes is artfully crafted across tumultuous terrain. Golf course architecture aficionados call Dye Fore “the most underrated course in the Caribbean.”

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas

22 Golf Vacations • March 2020

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Located in the interior of the property is the resort’s third Dye layout, The Links. The moderately hilly track with tall Bahia grass framing bunkers and undulating greens presents spectacular Caribbean views. Slightly over 7,000 yards from the back tees and playing to a slope of 126, The Links is considered one of the most-forgiving courses Dye has designed.

The resort’s golf amenities are complemented by spacious hotel rooms, suites and luxury villas. Expertly prepared cuisine from around the world, a 370-slip Marina & Yacht Club, Polo & Equestrian Club, the La Terraza Tennis Center, 245-acre Shooting Club and Altos de Chavon – an artisan’s village modeled after a 16th century Mediterranean city – are other on-

property highlights. www.casadecampo. com.do, 800.877.3643 Destination Kohler Located one hour north of Milwaukee and two hours north of Chicago, Destination Kohler features four Pete Dye-designed courses across its Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run facilities.

Destination Kohler

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Golf Vacations • March 2020 23

Whistling Straits’ The Straits will be the site of the 2020 Ryder Cup. Perennially ranked among the finest layouts in the world, The Straits has previously hosted to three PGA Championships and a U.S. Senior Open. As the first resort course to host a domestic Ryder Cup in nearly 30 years, golfers of all skill levels will have an opportunity to play it before 24 of the world’s best come to town in September.

Stretching over two miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline, The Straits course features some of golf’s most-recognizable vistas. Ranked fourth in Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses,” Dye’s time-honored trademark of visual intimidation keeps golfers on their toes. Players will need to bring their A-game to tackle the track that’s seen Vijay Singh, Martin Kaymer and Jason Day crowned as PGA Champions.

Just inland of The Straits sits The Irish. By masterfully routing the course through large dunes, Dye sculpted a little piece of Ireland in the Badger State. Named “Blind Man’s Bluff,” the 13th hole features a sunken green obscured by a large dune like the famous “Dell Hole” at Lahinch Golf Club in County Clare. Both memorable and traditional, The Irish proves there is no need to purchase a plane ticket to the Emerald Isle to experience golf in the Old World.

Set in a river basin formed by glacial runoff and a short drive from the charming town of Kohler sits The River and The Meadow Valleys courses at Blackwolf Run. The Meadow

Valleys flows along the natural features of the surrounding terrain, winding through pastures and ravines. Tipping at 7,404 yards, The River is characterized by small landing areas, strategic bunkering and large undulating greens. It’s a classic risk / reward Dye design that GOLF Magazine has called “the nation’s finest public-access course of modern times.”

Accommodations include the iconic American Club, the only Forbes Five-Star hotel in the Badger State, as well as the newlyrenovated Inn on Woodlake, which works exceptionally well for buddies’ trips. www.DestinationKohler.com Giants Ridge A convenient three-hour drive along I-35 from the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area, Giants Ridge boasts two of the highestranked layouts in state, The Quarry and The Legend.

The aptly-named Quarry is built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, and dramatically raised tees and hazards provide dramatic Iron Range vistas. Carved out of the Superior National Forest, The Legend is a true “northwoods” course featuring towering pines, giant fairways and majestic views of Wynne and Sabin Lakes.

Golfweek recently honored both of Giants Ridge’s courses by placing them among the top resort courses in the nation. The publication also honored The Quarry on its Top Courses You Can Play list.

Destination Kohler

24 Golf Vacations • March 2020

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Giants Ridge

In 2019, GOLF Magazine placed Giants Ridge 11th in the Best Resorts For Families category in the publication’s inaugural ranking of North America’s Top 100 Golf Resorts. Giants Ridge also received the “Editor’s Choice Award” from Golf Digest in the “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest” category, and The Quarry 31st in the publication’s biennial rankings of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.

complexes ever spotted on a golf course.

Besides its two award-winning golf layouts, Giants Ridge offers numerous crystal-clear lakes, rivers and streams ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. Hiking and biking trails also cut through the towering pines of the Iron Ridge, and chairlift rides offer breathtaking views of the stunning Iron Range. www.giantsridge.com, 800.688.7669

Named after Samuel Ryder, the namesake and founder of the Ryder Cup, the Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club recently underwent a renovation project that enhanced the greens and surrounding areas, and updated the faces of the greenside bunkers.

PGA Golf Club Situated in Port St. Lucie and a short drive from Florida’s major metropolitan centers, PGA Golf Club’s three golf courses annually earn awards and accolades from numerous national golf publications. Yet, what makes them special is each offer a different and thrilling experience, and playable for every golfer.

Designed by the game’s most creative course architect, Pete Dye, the Dye Course offers Celebration Bermuda fairways, Tifeagle greens and some of the most amazing bunker www.golfvacationsmag.com

The Tom Fazio-designed Wanamaker Course is often considered one of the most picturesque layouts in the Sunshine State. And because it’s a Tom Fazio course, it is widely regarded as the most challenging of all the PGA Golf Club layouts.

PGA Golf Club will host the 2020 Boys and Girls Junior Championships in July, and the PGA Professional Championship in 2021. This year might be the right time to play where the pros and future pros play. www.pgavillage. com, 772.828.4052 Pinehurst No. 4 In 2017, Pinehurst hired world-renowned golf course architect Gil Hanse to build a 789-yard short course called, The Cradle.

After this fun and inviting course opened to critical acclaim, the resort’s leadership brought Hanse, along with his partner Jim Wagner, back to reimagine the property’s course No. 4.

Golf Vacations • March 2020 25

Hanse equated re-designing No. 4 as a chance to “play in the sand,” as nothing in golf compares to the Sandhills region of North Carolina and its underlying soil. His team set out to revive its original sandy, scrubby and rugged aesthetic by restoring the course back to its original landforms. They recreated the hole corridors, reconnected the elevations and restored natural features native to the region.

With a gleaming lake as the centerpiece and natural ridgelines defining corridors, golfers are now treated to a brazen blend of sand, native wire grasses and wider fairways. Golfers of all skill

levels will surely appreciate Pinehurst’s second rendezvous with Hanse, as both parties continuously set out to create an enjoyable, interesting and welcoming golf experience.

Located just over an hour from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and within a half-day’s journey from many East Coast cities, Pinehurst is a surprisingly accessible property. With the many entertaining and unique additions that have been made to the property, including the brand-new Pinehurst Brewery, now more than ever it’s a golf oasis worthy of an annual pilgrimage. www.pinehurst.com

PGA Golf Club

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Pinehurst No. 4

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Golf Vacations • March 2020 27

CLUB SELECTION

La Cana in Punta Cana

Speaking the Language of Golf 28 Golf Vacations • March 2020

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by TIM COTRONEO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

I

n 2000, golf course designer P.B. Dye had an aerial game plan when he met with Frank Rainieri to discuss who would eventually design a new golf course on Rainieri’s Puntacana Resort. “I knew Frank was a pilot, and I had also been a pilot. I went into the meeting looking to speak Frank’s language,” Dye said Dye knew that Rainieri was set on maintaining the palm trees lining the center of his resort’s southern coastline. Dye believed that by simply relocating those palm trees, Rainieri would own a real estate dream come true.

“I believed that by moving these coconut trees inland about 300 feet, passengers flying to the Punta Cana International Airport, would look down and see the turquoise Caribbean Sea on the left, the new golf course in the middle, and million-dollar homes on the right. Add some white sand to this picture, and I was convinced this land would generate income for Frank’s great grandchildren for years to come,” Dye recalled.

La Cana – Let’s Get Started Today’s 7100-yard La Cana Golf Course is every bit the dream layout that Rainieri and Dye formulated nearly 20 years ago. Dye’s love affair with the Dominican Republic, and specifically La Cana, runs so deep that he owns a home on the Tortuga front nine. “Frank asked me where I thought the most premium parcel of real estate on La Cana was located. When I told Frank which lot I thought was the best, he said, “It’s yours,”” Dye said.

Dye’s Dominican roots were planted long before he designed La Cana’s amazing layout. “I’ve been building golf courses with my Dad, Pete Dye, since I was 10 years old. He placed me on a bulldozer when I was just a kid. I worked on Teeth of the Dog back in 1971. I’ve been blessed to spend a major portion of my life in the D.R.” Dye said.

When Dominican-born designer Oscar de la Renta arranged Dye’s meeting with Rainieri during Puntacana Resort’s early years, Dye was ready. After their initial course discussion, Rainieri asked how much time Dye would need to formulate a design. Dye replied that if Rainieri would provide a room for one night, he would show Rainieri, and his engineering group, a detailed plan at breakfast the next morning.

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Golf Vacations • March 2020 29

CLUB SELECTION

As Rainieri and Dye drove what was to become La Cana, Dye pointed out 14 holes that would view the ocean. Dye also showed Rainieri lots that would be home to luxury villas on the beach. When Rainieri asked Dye when he could begin, Dye chuckled and replied, “I’ve already started.”

Postcard on the Ocean La Cana offers golfers a wealth of ocean holes. The Par 4 and Par 5 finishing holes on the Arrecife nine are beyond dramatic. On most days the Caribbean Sea kicks up more than a bit of wind. When you feel the breeze, see the turquoise blue on your left, and take in the wide stretches of green straight ahead, you’ve got a front row ticket to a sensory concert that would be priceless on Broadway.

Before you tee off, do yourself a favor and turn around. The mesmerizing ocean views from behind the 8th and 9th tee boxes include kite surfers floating amongst the clouds. This is one of many “only at La Cana” moments.

30 Golf Vacations • March 2020

As memorable as this golf closing scenario is, Dye has another favorite for La Cana’s Best in Show. In this case, Dye suggests golfers should consider a beauty of a Par 3 on the Tortuga nine.

Tortuga’s Par 3 For the Ages During the construction of La Cana’s Tortuga nine, Dye tapped Rainieri on the shoulder and said, “I’m going to build you a postcard.” The hole to which Dye was referring is one of La Cana’s most diminutive, but beautiful, designs.

Dye created a left to right rock barrier and putting green that juts out like a peninsula into the ocean. On Tortuga’s Par 3, 154-yard 5th hole, golfers don’t just play near the ocean, they play through the ocean.

When asked to name his favorite La Cana golf hole, Dye replied, “It’s hard when someone asks me to pick only one after designing 18. It’s like choosing a favorite child. But I do have to say I love Tortuga’s 5th hole.” www.golfvacationsmag.com

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Epic Lunch by the Sea If La Cana the golf course isn’t special enough, consider that the clubhouse, the accompanying swimming pool area, and The Grill Restaurant are all designed by the legendary Oscar de la Renta. You’ll find this is a Caribbean once-in-a-lifetime setting for having lunch or enjoying a post round cocktail.

After completing your round, step into the clubhouse and then up a short flight of steps. It’s here that La Cana takes on an added dimension. Walk on to a sweeping deck with a 180-degree view that includes the 18th hole, the Caribbean Sea, a swimming pool, columns of palm trees, and an al fresco restaurant that will soon have you decompressing like never before.

As you take a seat, ask your server to pour a refreshing Dominican rum cocktail. Now it’s time to raise your glass to Oscar, to Dye, to Rainieri, and to an amazing round of golf. Whether you converse in English, Spanish, or you’re suddenly speechless, realize that La Cana Golf Course has a way of speaking your language. https://www.puntacana.com/golf/la-cana-golf-course

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SWEETSTUFF

FJ Flex XP-Tour X

F

ootjoy, which has enjoyed tremendous success with its FJ FLEX line of golf shoes, has introduced a newer version of this versatile shoe with a new look and new features to enhance its versatility.

At the same time, FJ has also rolled out a new high-performance shoe called the Tour X™ that will appeal to those players looking for the highest degree of traction and performance on the golf course.

The new FJ FLEX XP adds features such as waterproof protection and a new athletic styling that makes this even more of a cross-over shoe than ever with a spikeless sole that offers great traction--yet with the new ribbed upper design utilizing mesh that is both lightweight and stylish enough to wear out in the evening. The original FLEX might have been one of the most comfortable golf shoes ever produced, and the XP version is just as comfortable and even more stylish.

“Offering an adjacent waterproof category was a critical addition to the FLEX family, with further enhancements to improve the overall design,” said Richard Fryer, Director of Product Development, Footwear for Footjoy. “This product will excite FJ FLEX wearers and those looking for unrivaled versatility on any surface and in all weather conditions. With the momentum that we have riding the incredible success of FJ FLEX, it’s really exciting to see what we can do with this footwear franchise” FLEX XP offers all-day comfort with a high-density EVA fitbed and bootie-fit construction that provides a sock-like fit. The sporty styling combines with a waterproof membrane and proprietary Versa-Trax spikeless outsole that has multiple traction zones to maximize golf performance in all conditions and produce exceptional multi-surface grip.

The FLEX XP comes in four colors: Black, Grey, White and Blue-all laced shoes.

32 Golf Vacations • March 2020

The all-new Tour X™ is an advanced shoe with all the latest materials and technology for those looking for a shoe that provides the best traction and support. It has been validated at the highest levels of professional golf—and it is no wonder—this is a very comfortable cleated shoe that supports faster swings—yet is very light and comfortable to walk in.

“This is a powerful shoe with a strong, stable foundation that allows me to max out my swing speed while staying locked to the ground,” noted tour professional Kevin Kisner.

“This gives me everything I want – athletic style, incredible comfort and the stability I need in my footwear,” added Rafa Cabrera Bello, another Tour player who wears this shoe.

Utilizing some new FJ features and materials, Tour X works to redirect and funnel power by ensuring balance and a stable foundation throughout the golf swing. It was developed from the synthesis of three tour-proven models to provide players maximum performance: Max Stability, Max Control and Max Comfort.

A stylish shoe that comes in four color schemes, the Tour X’s stability comes from the FJ PowerPlate outsole-- the most stable outsole in FJ’s range-- providing maximum ground coverage and stability which allows players to transfer power efficiently throughout the golf swing. This PowerPlate midsole/outsole system features a full TPU layer with 9 LaunchPods that provide unrivaled stability and increased surface area coverage.

The FJ PowerStrap™ system delivers medial and lateral support to provide exceptional midfoot control, while the molded TPU strap works with reinforced PowerEyelets, allowing you to pull tight and lock down to maintain a stable, balanced foundation.

The comfort foam insoles offer technologies that wrap your foot in cushioning and control. Inside the shoe is an OrthoLite® Impressions FitBed®, comprised of two densities of foam – an Open Cell PU Foam that maintains its mechanical properties and cushion throughout its life cycle, and an Impressions Foam that takes an impression of your foot, creating a custom fit.

For added comfort and breathability, Tour X features a 3D Molded Collar and Tour-Spec Stretch Tongue, ensuring maximum in-shoe comfort and support.

Tour X is fully waterproof, using a Chromoskin™ leather by Pittards® of England that provides a super soft, supple feel. The shoe comes with a two-year waterproof warranty.

Tour X comes in three laced colorways: White/Blue/Lime; White/ Red and Black/Black/Lime. The BOA® version with the twist adjustment comes in White/Silver/Red. For more information: www.FootJoy.com

True Spec Golf

F

itting one for clubs in the modern world of golf has become as much science as art with all of the technology available to the modern club fitter and the multitudes of heads, shafts and grips that can shape the performance of a finished golf club for an individual.

This trend is especially true with True Spec Golf—a national

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

firm founded in 2014 and now with 19 locations across the country. The company has emerged as one of the leaders in the golf industry and has already been ranked among the Top 100 club fitters by one national publication with its highly trained staff that uses the latest technology and has more than 35,000 club head and shaft combinations to match players of all abilities with the proper equipment to maximize their game.

One of the newest locations that opened its doors in January is set in the golf mecca of Palm Desert at the Marriott Golf Academy at Shadow Ridge Golf Club. Under the direction of master fitter Jake Owens, the new True Spec Golf location in the Southern California Desert offers some unique fitting advantages.

In addition to great weather at this time of year, the Shadow Ridge location offers the space to hit balls on a full driving range on real grass—in addition to the custom-built True Spec hitting bays in the same area on artificial turf with Trackman launch monitors providing all of the scientific readouts of every swing. The great aspect of this is that you can watch true ball flight and the numbers from Trackman—you have a controlled environment yet see what will happen on the golf course--the best of both worlds!

With over 500 club heads in his fitting bay, Owens can make a test club in minutes on the spot to fine tune the fitting and find what is best for an individual player. Owens is very knowledgeable about all the products on the market and is very precise and patient in finding the right combination for a player. An iron and wedge fitting can take 1 to 1 ½ hours, while a full bag fitting will probably take 3 to 3 ½ hours. But you will come away knowing what works best.

“We’re thrilled to have True Spec Golf on board as the club fitter for Marriott Golf Academy here in Palm Desert,” said Brett Meabon, director of golf at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge. “They represent some of the most well-known manufacturers and have the equipment expertise and service our customers want. At the Academy, we believe that personalized instruction combined with the right equipment helps players of all levels reach their full potential.

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Working with our PGA-certified instructors and True Spec Golf’s custom club builders, players will quickly enjoy a better game.”

True Spec Golf is based in Scottsdale, Arizona and their expertise has been validated by some of the most well-known PGA, LPGA and Champions Tour players around the world. In 2018, the company was acquired by golf entrepreneur Howard Milstein, and is now part of Milstein’s 8AM Golf family. In addition to True Spec Golf, other 8AM Golf companies include the Nicklaus Companies (in partnership with Jack Nicklaus); GOLF Magazine and the GOLF.com website; legendary club maker Miura Golf; GolfLogix, the most-downloaded GPS app in golf; and Club Conex, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of adjustable golf club adapter systems.

“The facility and level of service makes the Marriott Golf Academy at Shadow Ridge the perfect fit for our brand to enter the Coachella Valley,” noted Hoyt McGarity, CEO of True Spec Golf.

“With a bespoke approach to custom club fitting, our master fitters match every golfer’s swing with the optimal equipment to shave strokes off their game.”

The Shadow Ridge Golf Club, designed by six-time major championship winner Nick Faldo, also includes the Marriott Golf Academy. The course includes greens that have plenty of subtle undulations and encourage a variety of approach shots. Every hole boasts unforgettable scenes of the snow-capped Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains.

A club fitting like the True Spec Golf session can be a valuable experience for anyone serious about their game and equipment.

More information about True Spec Golf in Palm Desert and other locations nationally can be found at: www.truespecgolf. com/locations/palm-desert

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SWEETSTUFF

counter and prescription pain killers.”

The full line of Seven Points CBD products includes liquid tinctures, gel caps, body balms, CBD infused honey and pet tinctures. These products have been used by many athletes for back, elbow, knee and other pain relief--including the body balms for on-the-course or post-round relief. These balms are designed to deliver relief in an easy to apply format, and come in lemongrass and menthol fragrances. The balms are available in 2oz jars in 500 or 1,000mg per bottle concentrations. Easy to apply, these balms are non-greasy and soak in quickly.

For more information on Seven Points CBD: www.sevenpointscbd.com

Nexbelt

Seven Points CBD

A

mong the many CBD manufacturers that are looking to the golf audience, Seven Points CBD has taken a decidedly exact and scientific approach to what has become a crowded market place with many choices for those that enjoy physical activity—like golf—but can do without the inevitable aches and pains.

Although CBD has existed longer than mankind, it has only been in the last few years that the CBD from the hemp flower has been commercially marketed and sold as an alternative to the pain relievers produced by big pharma. Seven Points CBD uses only organically grown hemp and each batch is tested for pesticides and other harmful contaminants.

A full spectrum CBD, Seven Points products contain THC levels well below the 0.3% mandated by Federal Law and the company goes even further to provide testing information on each packaged product, giving consumers peace of mind that they’re getting a pure product that contains only pure CBD, hemp oil and other natural ingredients. The company even provides exact dosage information on its CBD Hemp Oil drops and soft gel caps based on the consumers’ weight.

“As an avid golfer and cyclist, I was fighting pain regularly but wanted a natural solution for pain. After seeing how CBD products improved my quality of life, I still felt there was something missing for active people like me”, said Mike Banhagel, President and Founder of Seven Points CBD. “I decided to develop a high-performance line of CBD that could deliver relief and a host of other benefits for people constantly pushing their bodies to perform.

“Seeing the damage traditional pain relievers caused people in my life, I needed a natural remedy to continue my active lifestyle. I know that my product line has been the answer for me, and I hope it is for others living an active lifestyle.

“Our products start with domestically produced, industrial hemp biomass which is delivered to certified pre-qualified extractors who produce the full-spectrum CBD extract used in all Seven Points products. That makes our products a pure, healthy, safe, nonpsychoactive and non-addictive alternatives to traditional, over the

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I

n its first 10 years, Nexbelt has built up a growing and loyal following of both professional and recreational players who have taken to “The Belt With No Holes” as an increasing part of their on and off course wardrobe.

Company Founders Tom Hunsucker, and Eddie and Francis Rowland started Nexbelt in 2010 with a vision to reinvent the way Americans buy, sell and wear their belts. Tired of the old outdated pin/ buckle system, they set their sights on creating a belt that would be both adjustable and highly fashionable at the same time. Out of this passion Nexbelt was born.

With its second decade beginning in 2020, Nexbelt has released some innovative new styles for this year that will go with any wardrobe.

The new Ryder Cup Series and the Classic Colour Series and Go-In Classic Colour Series are stylish new additions to the more than 150 different belt and buckle combinations for men and women. A braided series in several color combinations and buckles is also among the more popular styles for the company. They also offer many specialties in addition to golf—such as the Folds of Honor Series, Texas Series, Marine Series, Faith Series and more.

Nexbelt is not only known for its style, but for its innovative technology and providing golfers with the maximum comfort and minimal adjusting. The unique ratcheting system called PreciseFit allows the wearer to adjust the belt in ¼ inch increments, providing the golfer with the best fit, feel, and fashion available. Retailers love Nexbelt because their cut-to-fit belts fit up to a 45” waist and reduce inventory by 80%.

With over 40 players now wearing Nexbelt on the professional golf tours, it’s considered “The Fastest Growing Belt in Golf”. Its team

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

of PGA TOUR Staff Professionals for 2020 includes Tour Players Jim Furyk and Kevin Na. Nexbelt creations are available at retail pro shops, golf outlets and specialty stores nationwide--and online at www.nexbelt.com

Tifosi Swoon Sunglasses

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ifosi sunglasses has added an exciting new lineup to its Swank series with the Swoon models this spring that features larger, stylish frames that delivers looks and rugged construction to withstand the rigors of 18 holes.

The Swoon is also the first model in the Swank series to offer vented lenses, which are a real plus on those warmer, humid days to prevent fogging.

These extremely light sunglasses are polycarbonate, making them shatterproof and distortion-free. They provide 100% protection from harmful UV light. Swoon’s durable frame is made with Grilamid TR-90 and Tifosi’s special Glide texture is strategically placed on the earpieces to prevent hair pulling. The hydrophilic rubber nose pads stop the bounce and inhibit slipping, keeping you comfortable in all kinds of conditions. The look of these sunglasses is as good as they feel.

Swoon’s four-color choices offer some fashionable options: Crystal Brown/ Onyx, Teal Dune, Leopard and Onyx. Tifosi sunglasses come with a glare-guard lens coating to reduce eye strain. Swoon comes in both a standard and a polarized version.

All Tifosi sunglasses are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturer’s defects and are available at retail locations as well as online at dozens of e-tailers.

For more information: www.tifosioptics.com

chewing gum available in either a Peppermint, Spearmint or Grape flavor. CBD gum is an extremely easy and effective way to deliver CBD oil into the body. Each piece of gum contains 10mg of CBD. The body absorbs functional actives through the oral mucosa, delivering benefits nearly 5-times faster. ParForm’s CBD gum offers a simple and effective alternative to other CBD dosage forms, without the difficulty and discomfort of swallowing pills, capsules or liquids.

“Everything we do helps golfers succeed,” said Jeremy DeLuca, Founder of ParForm Golf. “We aren’t just another supplement company. We are experienced health advocates, fitness fanatics, and nutrition experts--with a huge passion for the game of golf. Our golf-specific products and nutrition programs will help you improve muscle tone and endurance, increase stamina, stability, and flexibility, and enhance your overall fitness levels.”

The ParForm CBD gum is THC Free and, in many people, can help reduce inflammation, reduce anxiety and may help soothe general aches and pains. It also offers fast absorption for the 40% of people who do not like swallowing any type of pill. The gum also comes in a convenient resealable packet that makes it easy to store.

With the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018 and the influx of many CBD products on the market these days, ParForm has gone the extra mile to not only go THC free but also GMO and gluten free with the plants that it derives its CBD from. This CBD also contains a thirdparty certificate of analysis as to its purity and content.

For more information: www.parform.com

ParForm CBD Gum

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n more than one occasion there has been speculation that some of the top Tour pros seen chewing during a round are chewing gum that contains CBD oil extracted from the hemp plant. The qualities of the chemicals contained in this ageold plant have been known to help with several physical conditions and even help some people relax to an extent.

ParForm Golf, a Boise, Idaho company that specializes in golfspecific training and nutrition, recently introduced a CBD chewing gum designed for golfers and is an excellent alternative for those that don’t want to use drops or take CBD tablets.

ParForm’s CBD Gum is a formulated CBD-infused hemp oil

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