Golf Vacations Magazine - November 2021

OUR 20th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS NOVEMBER 2021

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

HILTON DENVER INVERNESS

AVIARA GOLF CLUB A CARLSBAD CLASSIC

Plus: MAGNIFICENT MUNI: CITY PARK GC

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VISIT: www.swingcaddie.com/sc200plus/golfvacationmagazine OR

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GOLF VACATIONS NOVEMBER 2021

Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, CA

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Las Colinas Golf & Country Club by Dakota Diaz Las Colinas Golf & Country Club continues to make a name for itself as one of the continent’s most sought-after golf destinations after being voted as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ and ‘World’s Leading Golf & Villa Resort’ at the 2021 World Golf Awards.

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Chip Shots

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Hilton Denver Inverness

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by David R. Holland

There’s a view of the Rocky Mountains in its front yard and an 18-hole championship golf course in its backyard. That’s the Hilton Denver Inverness, which is also home to The Club at Inverness, one of the only semi-private golf courses in the Denver area.

Aviara Golf Club

by Dave McKibben

I had launched a towering eight-iron shot over a pond and onto the back of the green on the downhill 162-yard par-3 11th hole at the Aviara Golf Club, but I knew there was little time for celebration. Having played this magnificent 7,007-yard Arnold Palmer-designed layout in Carlsbad several times since it opened 30 years ago, I knew I had a lot of work left to make par.

Magnificent Muni: City Park Golf Course

by David R. Holland

Generations of inner city Denver residents and East High School students have hoofed through City Park Golf Course, a historic parkland golf standard. That risky route saved time and legend has it that golf ball burglary was witnessed from time to time, not to mention the hazard of getting plunked.

Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

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

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

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

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 David R. Holland is an award-winning former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, football magazine publisher, and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. “Multiple careers” best describes this world traveler (visited 35 countries), who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve. Holland splits home time in Colorado and Texas. He has written for GolfWeek’s Superintendent News, Colorado AvidGolfer, Midwest Golfing Magazine, South Central Golf Magazine and Fairway to Green. He also worked for the Dallas Cowboys Weekly, UPI and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Follow Dave on Twitter @David_R_Holland.

Regional Advertising

Los Angeles Terry Ross • (949) 279–7801 terryr@GolfVacationsMag.com Atlanta Harold Chambliss • (678) 906-4050 harold@chamblissmediagroup.com Chicago Dakota Diaz •(312) 809–8808 dakota@GolfVacationsMag.com

Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz

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

Cimarron Communications President/CEO James A. Diaz

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

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2021 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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by Dakota Diaz

LAS COLINAS RECEIVES TWO PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADES AT THE 2021 WORLD GOLF AWARDS

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as Colinas Golf & Country Club continues to make a name for itself as one of the continent’s most sought-after golf destinations after being voted as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ and ‘World’s Leading Golf & Villa Resort’ at the 2021 World Golf Awards.

Building on the recent success for Las Colinas at the World Travel Awards, this marks Las Colinas Golf & Country Club’s fifth successive year being nominated for the honour of ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ and their second win as ‘World’s Leading Golf & Villas Resort’.

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club’s latest successes at the World Golf Awards highlights their goal to offer the best service and amenities, so every guest can enjoy a unique golfing experience.

As the Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary, in 2021, Las Colinas has unveiled multiple new and improved five-star facilities this year, including an enhanced golf course, with an emphasis on sustainability.

Javier Rodriguez, head of operations, said: “We are very proud to receive this recognition once again, coinciding with the celebration of our 10th anniversary. It is truly an honour to receive this award, a symbol of the effort and hard work of each member of the Las Colinas team.”

The World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Votes are made by professionals working within the

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golf travel and tourism industry and golf tourism consumers.

Chris Frost, vice president of the World Golf Awards, said: “Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has done an exceptional job of renovating their championship golf course this year and we feel it has really enhanced the golfers experience. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Las Colinas, to see the steps they have taken to improve their golf course and overall sustainability.”

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is regarded as one of Europe’s premier golf and real estate resorts where private homes and the 18-hole championship golf course blend harmoniously into natural surroundings, between rolling hills and the glittering Mediterranean Sea. Designed by acclaimed American architect Cabell B. Robinson, Las Colinas’ 18-hole championship golf course offers wide fairways and extensive undulating greens, with the numerous tees at each hole giving the course great versatility.

Enjoying more than 300 days’ sunshine a year, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is surrounded by a natural park of up to 10,000 hectares, only six kilometres from the coast. Along with these two awards as Spain’s Best Golf Course and World’s Leading Golf & Villas Resort, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club was crowned ‘Spain’s Leading Villa Resort’ and ‘Europe’s Leading Resort Villas’ at the 2021 World Travel Awards. For more visit the website at www.lascolinasgolf.com

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

Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande

World-Class Sotogrande Stay & Play Package Offers Unforgettable Golf And 5* Luxury Stay Golfers around the globe have the opportunity to indulge in the Sotogrande lifestyle with the introduction of an all-new ‘Stay & Play’ package that will allow guests to experience the world-class triumvirate of Real Club Valderrama, La Reserva Club and Real Club Sotogrande - while enjoying a luxurious stay at the brand-new five-star SO/ Sotogrande hotel.

The new four-night package has been crafted to highlight the region’s premier golf offering, with rounds of golf at three of Spain’s finest courses all included. Guests will tread in the footsteps of some of the games’ greats as they tee it up at 1997 Ryder Cup host venue and Europe’s number one ranked course since the 1980s, Real Club Valderrama, as well as ARAMCO Series host, La Reserva Club, and the globally renowned Real Club Sotogrande.

In addition to 54 holes of championship golf, guests will enjoy a number of exclusive services, including private transfer shuttles and TrackMan practice sessions with PGA qualified professionals. At La Reserva Club, each golfer will also receive a personal locker room containing a La Reserva Club and TaylorMade Golf goodie bag. There will be physio sessions available as well as an open bar for guests to enjoy food and drink during their visit.

Away from the course, guests will be treated to four nights’ accommodation in the resplendent, five-star SO/ Sotogrande hotel. This brand-new hotel offers a spectacular setting, overlooking the foothills of Sotogrande and the Mediterranean Sea. A haven for relaxation, SO/ Sotogrande is also a gastronomic paradise, with restaurants and bars that offer innovative culinary delights in stylish, modern settings.

At the southern tip of Europe, Sotogrande is one of the continent’s most desirable and distinctive destinations. Fusing Andalusian culture and history with a world-class lifestyle, the magic of Sotogrande lies in its unique mix of tranquillity, elegance, action, style, and serenity; all set within a spectacular location.

Marc Topiol, Chairman of Sotogrande SA, commented: “We are delighted to be able to welcome visiting golfers to experience the Sotogrande lifestyle with our exciting new Stay & Play Package.

“The golf offering in the region is absolutely first-class, and features courses that are not only some of the best in Spain, but some of the

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most revered in Europe. The on-course experience combined with a stay in the wonderful, new SO/ Sotogrande hotel is sure to leave guests with memories of Sotogrande that will last a lifetime.”

To learn more about Sotogrande and this exciting Discover Package, please get in touch by emailing concierge@sotogrande.com or head online to www.lareservaclubsotogrande.com/stay-and-playgolf-la-reserva to enquire about your Sotogrande experience.

Sea Pines Country Club Unveils Reimagined Golf Facilities HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Sea Pines Country Club (SPCC) unveiled its re-imagined golf experience on Nov. 1, featuring a new bag drop station, expanded practice facility, a complete re-grassing of the course’s tees, greens and fairways, a new indoor teaching and practice center, Golf Shop updates with coastal-style furniture, fixtures and finishes, and a new golf cart fleet.

Golf course architect Phil Smith, who created the master plan for SPCC’s Arnold Palmer- and Clyde Johnston-designed layout, worked alongside General Manager & Chief Operating Officer Robbie Ames and Golf Course Superintendent Tom Metzger to complete the enhancements. Jacksonville-based MacCurrach Golf oversaw shaping and construction of the practice facility and updates to several bunkers throughout the course.

Bag Drop Station The new bag drop station is the first dramatic enhancement members encounter upon entering the club parking lot. Featuring the same color palette as the clubhouse, it houses a new staging area, club repair services, storage for up to 100 bags, ice and water station and comfortable seating for changing shoes. Here, members can pick-up their new Club Car Tempo golf carts outfitted with Visage GPS, USB outlets and comfortable bucket seats.

Expanded Practice Facility The tee area at the new practice range is now four times larger and accommodates twice as many golfers with 18 hitting bays. For longer hitters, the range floor was lengthened by 25 yards, allowing for 260 yards of carry. Eight new target pins are placed at various hitting angles at 70- to 250-yard intervals for fine-tuning distance control. On days when the grass portion of the range is closed,

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS members can hit off new TurfHound artificial tee stations.

“I would put it right up there among the best practice facilities in the area,” says James Swift, SPCC Director of Golf. “We had been landlocked and limited in what we could offer. Now we can host golf schools, clinics and other instructional programming. With everything we feature, we’re now a golf purist’s club.”

The short game zone houses a multi-tiered chipping green that’s three times larger than the previous one, and also features two practice bunkers for working on a variety of sand shots. Unique to SPCC, the gold tees and occasionally the blue tees for hole No. 1 are situated on the east side of the 5,000-square-foot practice green, adjacent to the putting surface and featuring the same mowing height.

Golf Course Re-Grassing After members warm up at the practice range, it’s on to the club’s 6,429-yard Lowcountry layout. There they will discover beautifully mown Celebration Bermuda grass, the PGA Tour-caliber turf used on Harbour Town Golf Links and Heron Point by Pete Dye at neighboring Sea Pines Resort. With a single strand of grass throughout the fairways, members can expect consistent lies.

“Tom and his team will be able to create visually stunning mowing patterns like you’d see at Harbour Town,” Swift says. “Celebration Bermuda is the gold standard of turf in the Lowcountry. It also stays green longer in the fall and is quicker to come back in the spring, even as early as March.”

Arriving on the greens after navigating the Celebration Bermuda fairways, members will putt on the latest variety of TifEagle Bermuda grass. The new strands are extremely hardy and can withstand prolonged cold in the winter months and even frost. Additionally, putting surfaces have been restored to their original dimensions, allowing for more pin placements and improved approach shot receptivity.

MacCurrach Golf reshaped and enlarged several bunkers to eliminate pinch points that obstruct shots from the hazards. New

sand was added atop category-leading Capillary Concrete liners to complete the look. The fairway on the ninth hole has been recontoured and a new pot bunker has been added on the right side across from the bunker on the left side of the fairway.

Indoor Teaching and Practice Center and Golf Shop Soon after the reopening of the course and practice facilities, SPCC will also unveil its new state-of-the-art indoor teaching and practice center. Dubbed “The Barn” it features the latest leadingedge technology, including “TrackMan 4” monitors with optically enhanced radar tracking and industry-leading Virtual Golf 2. An indoor hitting bay opens out onto the expanded practice range, providing members with a convenient year-round option for instruction, practice and club fitting.

The TrackMan high-definition simulator features 200 courses from around the world, bringing many of the greatest golf venues across the globe into play for members in realistic, vibrant colors. The Barn also houses a new lounge area replete with a bar, club chairs, rest rooms, flat screen TV and a curated selection of beers and wines.

“Golf is a challenging game, and we want our members to have every tool available to get better,” Swift says. “It’s also an incredibly fun game, and the simulator also gives our members and their families a golf entertainment option where they can get together, enjoy a few beverages and appetizers, and play some of the greatest courses in the world.”

The Golf Shop Back in the Clubhouse, the Golf Shop boasts new hardwood flooring and an updated coastal color palette that coordinates with the club’s décor and the adjacent Blue Heron Pub & Grille.

New built-in fixtures that increase display and storage space, and upgraded lighting enrich the overall merchandising presentation.

Moveable counter and floor fixtures give the shop a more modern appearance and allow for various interior configurations to improve retail flow.

Sea Pines Country Club

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS PGA Oceans 4 Hole 17

Troon Announces Partnerships With PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club And Pga Oceans 4 Golf Club SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Troon recently announced new partnerships with PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club, a resort property located on the Mexican Caribbean in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and PGA Oceans 4 Golf Club located on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. Both facilities are owned by Grupo Piñero, a Spanish tourism group founded by Pablo Piñero in 1977 and headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. As part of the relationships, Troon Golf, the resort and daily-fee management division of Troon, will provide agronomy, operations and sales and marketing support for the two 27-hole facilities.

PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club features an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed championship course that has been ranked as one of the top five golf courses in Mexico. Open since 2010, the course is carved from a limestone quarry, winding its way through the lush Mayan jungle. The par 72, 7272-yard course is dotted with natural lakes and cenotes (large sinkholes or caves).

The course is home of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Bupa Championship presented by Volvo played July 22-25, 2021. In addition to the championship layout, PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club also includes a 9-hole par-3 course. PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club is integrated into the Tulum Country Club complex, about 15 miles from the trendy tourist town of Tulum. Four Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Resort partners are located on property or within minutes of PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club, including Luxury Sian Ka’an, Luxury Akumal, the Grand Tulum and the Grand Coba.

PGA Oceans 4 Golf Club opened for play in 2017 and was previously known as La Romana Golf Club. The club’s 18-hole, par-72 layout, a Jack Lund design, extends to 7,334 yards and presents golfers with four unique landscapes – tropical forest, lakes and waterfalls amid a parkland-style setting, desert with rocks and sand, and sea-

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side as four holes run along the Caribbean Sea with coconut palms and white sand beaches. Named after the number of ocean-side holes, PGA Ocean’s 4 is available to guests staying at nearby resorts, including Bahia Principe Luxury Bouganville and Bahia Principe Grand La Romana. In addition to its 18-hole course, PGA Oceans 4 also offers a 9-hole, par-27 short course that is ideal for children, beginners or those looking to work on their short game.

PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club and PGA Oceans 4 Golf Club are the PGA of America’s first (and only) facilities partnership in Latin America to support golfer development and tourism experiences.

“PGA Riviera Maya and PGA Oceans 4 are both outstanding properties in popular and easy-to-get-to locations,” said Ricardo Catarino, vice president, operations, Troon. “We look forward to further developing the guest experience at each property and implementing Troon service, operations and agronomy standards.”

For more information on PGA Riviera Maya Golf Club, visit https://pgarivieramaya.com. For more information on PGA Oceans 4 Golf Club, visit https://www.pgaoceans4.com.

Pound Ridge Readies for Spectacular Autumn Golf Season POUND RIDGE, NY – Pound Ridge Golf Club, the legendary Pete Dye’s modern public marvel in Westchester County – features the ideal setting for spectacular autumn golf highlighted by pure course conditions and a bucolic setting few public facilities in the New York City metro area can match.

Ranked No. 6 in Golfweek’s “Best Courses You Can Play in New York,” Pound Ridge is Dye’s only Empire State design. Less than an hour drive from New York City, a half-hour from White Plains and less than 15 minutes from both Stamford and Greenwich, (Conn.), the celebrated architect’s acclaimed layout exemplifies his genius for creating exceptional shot values as well as an authentic golf experience to long savor.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS This has been a banner year for layouts designed by Dye with the 2021 PGA Championship contested on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and the 2021 Ryder Cup held on The Straits Course at Whistling Straits. Pound Ridge hosted the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) Public Links Championship this summer. The tournament marked the 73rd rendition of the prestigious MGA event which is the oldest public golf course championship in the U.S. Named No. 7 in the “Toughest Courses in the U.S.” by GOLF Channel’s Golf Advisor, Pound Ridge sits regally on 172 pastoral acres with dramatic rock outcroppings, streams and wooded, rolling hills converging to create an enjoyable and challenging par-72 course. Five sets of tees range from 5,151 to 7,165 yards providing challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Among its unforgettable holes is the dramatic par-5 13th which is home to “Pete’s Rock,” a giant boulder that rests in the middle of the fairway.

For more information, or to book a tee time, please call 914.764.5771 or visit www.poundridgegolf.com.

Silverado Resort And Spa Set To Host Fortinet Championship NAPA, CA – Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif. is set to host many of the PGA TOUR’s best at this week’s Fortinet Championship, the first tournament of the 2021-2022 PGA TOUR season. Silverado’s North Course will host the event with a 156-player field that includes World No. 1 Jon Rahm, 202021 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris, Phil Mickelson, Hideki Matsuyama and past tournament champions Cameron Champ (2019) and Brendan Steele (2016 and 2017).

2021 marks the eighth consecutive year the PGA TOUR has

played an event at Silverado Resort and Spa (Frys.com Open 2014 – 2015, Safeway Open 2016 – 2020, Fortinet Championship 2021).

Located in the heart of California’s wine country, the North Course originally opened in 1955, was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and then refreshed by multi-time TOUR winner and Silverado Resort and Spa owner, Johnny Miller. The Fortinet Championship will air on Golf Channel Thursday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST, and on PGA TOUR LIVE Thursday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. After a Fortinet Championship winner is crowned on Sunday evening, golfers can play where the pros play and experience Silverado Resort and Spa for themselves in a variety of ways, including golf stay and play packages, golf groups of 12 or more, through lessons and golf schools at the Johnny Miller Golf Academy, or by becoming a member and joining the Silverado community.

Silverado Resort and Spa is Napa Valley’s only 36-hole golf resort and was named the “2020 California Golf Course of the Year” by the California Golf Course Owners Association. The 7,123-yard, par 72 North Course annually hosts the Fortinet Championship, while the 6,612-yard, par 72 South Course is a favorite among members and resort guests. Both courses were re-designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member and former lead NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller.

In 2020, the North Course was named to Golfweek’s Best 2020: Top 200 Resort Courses ranking. In addition to two 18-hole golf courses, Silverado features 340 guest rooms, a full service Spa, 10 tennis courts and 10 swimming pools, all in close proximity to Napa Valley’s 540-plus wineries.

For more information on Silverado Resort and Spa, visit www.silveradoresort.com. For more information on the Fortinet Championship, visit www.fortinetchampionship.com.

Silverado Resort and Spa

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Bay Harbor Golf Club

BOYNE Golf – Bay Harbor’s Links/Quarry Selected Among Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses PETOSKEY, MI – BOYNE Golf announces that Bay Harbor Golf Club, the flagship golf property in Northern Michigan, has made a significant move up on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. The Links/Quarry course, part of the scenic 27-hole Arthur Hills/Stephen Kircher design located along the bluffs of Lake Michigan, was ranked No. 63 making one of the largest moves on the list.

The publication’s biennial review of America’s top public courses can be found on Golfdigest.com. Golf Digest uses nearly 1,000 low-handicap male and female golfers on its Course Ranking Panel and asked each to submit ballots based on eight criteria including shot options, challenge, layout variety, distinctiveness, aesthetics, conditioning, character, and fun.

Golf Digest described the picturesque shoreline course: “One of three grand ‘new Pebble Beaches’ that debuted in the late 1990s, Bay Harbor was ranked third in Golf Digest’s survey of Best New Upscale Public Courses of 1999, behind the twin juggernauts (and fellow Pebble Beach clones) Bandon Dunes and Whistling Straits.”

Bay Harbor Golf Club is situated on the site of an old limestone quarry and cement factory. The course offers 27-holes (Links, Quarry and Preserve). The Links nine is routed along a high bluff overlooking scenic Little Traverse Bay. Miles of majestic shoreline frames the American links-style course accented with towering

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dunes 200 feet or more above Lake Michigan. The Quarry nine presents a different golfing challenge as it climbs in and out of an old rock quarry. Dramatic features including a 40-foot gorge with shale cliffs, ponds, a waterfall and fairways along the bay.

Meandering through acres of the hardwood forests and natural wetlands, The Preserve nine exemplifies what Northern Michigan golf is all about.

“Moving up 17 spots on this Golf Digest ranking is very significant and a testament to the great work the BOYNE Golf team has done over the years with some minor course changes, tree removal, and tee positioning all to improve variety, shot values and the overall fun factor in playing one of the most scenic golf courses in the country,” said Bernie Friedrich, Senior Vice President of Golf Operations.

Arcis Golf to Operate Luxury Golf Resort Community in Greece Featuring Jack Nicklaus Signature Course DALLAS, TX – Arcis Golf has entered into an agreement to provide management and operating services for Kilada Country Club, Golf & Residences, a new luxury golf resort community under construction in the Porto Heli area of the Peloponnese region in southern Greece.

Arcis Golf will be involved in all facets of construction, club membership and pre-opening marketing. Upon completion, the company will oversee operations for this world-class destination including marketing, staffing, budgeting, retail, event development,

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS and member programming for the private golf club, clubhouse, pool, and spa.

“This project enhances our breadth and depth as a company and taps into the vast and varied skills of our leadership team,” said Arcis Golf Founder and CEO Blake Walker. “Consulting and management on a development of this magnitude uses our extensive club operations expertise and taps into our proficiency in designing world-class lifestyle offerings and in delivering extraordinary experiences.”

For a company in high growth mode, including the recent acquisition of the Mickelson Golf portfolio in Arizona and two premier clubs in its Dallas headquarters market, the new relationship with Kilada fits into Arcis Golf’s expansion plans.

“We are committed to finding and affiliating with high quality clubs like Kilada,” Walker added, “and international expansion is the next step in our growth strategy. We’re excited for our members and guests to have an opportunity to visit and experience all the beauty and quality that Kilada has to offer.” Arcis Golf is the second largest and fastest growing owner and operator of private, resort and daily fee clubs and now stands at approximately 70 courses and clubs.

Dolphin Capital, the owner and developer of world-class integrated resorts, is financing the project, which includes the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in the eastern Mediterranean.

Zoniro, the exclusive developer of Dolphin Capital Investors’ projects, is overseeing the community master plan and integration of operational components. Set within 514 acres (208 hectares) of olive groves overlooking the picturesque traditional fishing village of Kilada, the region—often referred to as the “Hamptons of Greece”— is characterized by mountainous terrain and rolling hills with sweeping views of distant islands and the Aegean Sea.

Kilada Country Club, Golf & Residences will open in phases. The first phase is scheduled to debut in June 2023 with the country club, golf course, dining, pool, and clubhouse, to be followed by the spa and the beach club shortly afterwards. Future services and features of value to members and their guests include the boutique Kilada Hilltop Hotel and a dedicated wellness and training center.

The community also will offer exclusive residential real estate, including 90 signature villas lots ranging from nearly 10,000 to more than 20,000 square feet.

Holding geographical exclusivity, Kilada Golf Course is recognized globally as PGA National Greece, becoming only the 10th PGA National-designated resort in the world. The golf course presently has nine holes graded, with the remaining under construction.

“The golf course we are designing at Kilada will surely be the centerpiece of something unique and special within this Mediterranean location,” said Nicklaus. “This is a superb piece of property with wonderful movement and existing natural features.

Our job is to simply set the golf into the land, and we hope this is a course and resort that will attract golfers of all skill levels.”

Arcis Golf has a previous working relationship with Nicklaus Design: Both The Club at Ruby Hill (Northern California) and The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (Snoqualmie, Washington) have Jack Nicklaus Signature Design courses.

Arcis Golf has received numerous honors, including ranking on the Inc. Magazine 5000 list of the United States fastest-growing companies (2017, 2018) and National Golf Foundation’s biennial “Top 100 Businesses in Golf” award (2018, 2020). In addition, CEO Walker was recognized by EY in 2018 as the Entrepreneur Of The Year® in the hospitality category.

To learn more about Arcis Golf, visit www.arcisgolf.com.

Kilada Country Club

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS Scotland’s Dundonald Links

Luxury Lodges Complete Latest Phase Of £25M Investment At Dundonald Links Dundonald Links has entered an exciting new era with the opening of 18 luxury lodges, the latest phase of a £25m investment transforming the esteemed Scottish venue into one of the UK’s most modern new golf resorts.

The collection of two, four and six-bedroom lodges opened to widespread acclaim in August and have been custom-designed with golfers in mind, with bag storage and drying areas, en-suite bathrooms, large living spaces and fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities.

Darwin Escapes has already invested £1m in upgrading Dundonald Links’ Kyle Phillips-designed 18-hole championship course, including the addition of a new halfway house, and more is set to follow this autumn with the imminent opening of a new clubhouse and 22 hotel rooms.

Ian Ferguson, club manager, said: “The opening of the new lodges is the start of an exciting new chapter for Dundonald Links, and we’re thrilled with the initial feedback that we have received from guests.

“It’s been wonderful to see all the investment plans come to fruition over the last year and even more is to come in the next few months. With the opening of the new clubhouse and hotel rooms, not only will the resort boast some of the finest golf accommodation facilities in the UK, but it will also become the perfect base for golfers and their families to experience everything that this famous part of Scotland has to offer.”

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Golf influencer Peter Finch, who has more than 400,000 followers on YouTube and who recently stayed in the lodges, said: “The biggest compliment I could pay is that I would love to live there!”

Boasting a striking contemporary design, the new two-storey clubhouse will feature large balconies overlooking the course and panoramic views to the Isle of Arran. Facilities within the clubhouse will include a pro shop, restaurant, bar, whisky tasting room and outdoor dining terrace, as well as a gym, sauna, steam room and extensive changing facilities.

Set amongst the picturesque Ayrshire countryside, the clubhouse has been created from natural materials and finished with local whinstone and a grass roof. This not only helps it to blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape and surroundings but also reinforces Dundonald’s long-term commitment to sustainability, conservation and nature.

In addition, the resort is also set to cut the ribbon in the coming months on a range of new hotel rooms, which are situated beside the clubhouse for ease of access to the restaurant and club facilities.

Already a well-respected test for bucket-list golfers from across the world, Dundonald Links has hosted many major professional golf events since 2008 – including the Ladies’ Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017.

The resort is one of three golf venues operated by Darwin Escapes, in addition to The Springs Resort & Golf Club in Oxfordshire and Kilnwick Percy in East Yorkshire. For more details and to book a golf break at Dundonald Links, please visit dundonaldlinks.com

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

Troon Launches 2022 Troon Card Program

As the calendar flips to October, Troon® has launched its 2022 Troon Card frequent player program with more than 150 Troonaffiliated courses participating. Troon Cards are now on sale at www.TroonCard.com and can be used November 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022, providing Cardholders with preferred rates of up to 50 percent off the standard rate at participating Troon-managed and brand-affiliated courses. Troon Cards are available as a TwoSome Card (for two people to play and save), or a FourSome Card (for four golfers to enjoy preferred pricing), and are offered for specific states and regions of the country.

After a successful debut in 2020, Troon has brought back the popular, and specially priced, Patriot Troon Card in 2022 as a way of honoring and thanking first responders as well as active duty, veterans, reserve and U.S. military retirees. The Inspire Troon Card also returns in 2022 and is for healthcare professionals and teachers.

Both the Patriot and Inspire Troon Card offer the same incredible benefits as a National Troon TwoSome Card, including up to 50 percent off the standard rate for the Cardholder and a guest at ALL participating Troon-managed and brand-affiliated courses around the world. A portion of all proceeds from Patriot and Inspire Troon Card sales will be donated to charitable organizations that support military (Folds of Honor Foundation), first responders (Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation), healthcare professionals (Direct Relief) and teachers (Donors Choose).

The golf industry’s leading frequent player program is in its 24th year and has grown to include more than 150 Troon-affiliated courses worldwide. State and region-specific Troon Cards available in 2022 include: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas/Missouri, New

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York, Midwest U.S., Northeast U.S., Southeast U.S., and West Coast U.S. In addition, the National Troon Card offers Cardholders preferred rates at all participating Troon facilities, including properties across the continental United States, Hawaii, and international facilities.

Plus, some state-specific cards also include “bonus states” so Cardholders can tee it up in neighboring states. All Troon Cards offer Troon Card rates at Troon’s international locations.

Troon Cardholders can reserve tee times within three-days of their desired date of play and enjoy up to 50 percent off golf fees. For those who can’t wait until three days out to book their tee time, with Troon Card’s Best Rate Guarantee, Troon Cardholders can book any online rate and still receive 15 percent off their golf fees at check in.

The benefits of being a Troon Cardholder go beyond savings on golf.

Troon Cardholders can improve their golf games by participating in complimentary clinics, play more golf with exclusive replay rates and explore the world of Troon with customized experience packages.

Troon Cardholders can treat their friends, and themselves, to “2 for 1” golf offers and can celebrate their birthday in style with “birthday round” discounts.

Additional Troon Card benefits include the Troon Card Facebook Group and special offers exclusively to Cardholders, 10 percent off merchandise at participating golf shops and golf course restaurants, Troon Card E-News with monthly special offers and the ability to book tee times online at www.TroonCardTeeTimes.com.

2022 Troon Cards are valid November 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022 with “early bird” pricing available through December 3, 2021. To view the entire list of participating courses, see Troon Card rates or to purchase a Troon Card online, go to www.

TroonCard.com or visit any participating facility.

Golf Vacations • November 2021 17

Hilton Denve

Home of The Cl

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er Inverness

lub at Inverness

By David R. Holland www.golfvacationsmag.com

Golf Vacations • November 2021 19

T

here’s a view of the Rocky Mountains in its front yard and an 18-hole championship golf course in its backyard. That’s the Hilton Denver Inverness, which is also home to The Club at Inverness, one of the only semi-private golf courses in the Denver area.

This J. Press Maxwell championship course is beautiful, playable and challenging, requiring plenty of thoughtful approaches. It has gentle but unforgiving slopes, rolling hills and deep bunkers. Water comes into play on 11 of the 18 holes, and the golf course’s par-3 holes test the precision of even the best golfers.

Bill Clinton slept and played here and many don’t know that Andy North staged an exhibition here the week he won the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills in 1978.

“The club’s first Director of Golf, Tom Babb, was a friend of Andy North,” said The Club at Inverness’ PGA Head Professional David Steinmetz. “North said the par-3 third hole was one of the toughest he’d ever played.”

When the course opened in 1974 many wanted to name it Cottonwood Country Club because Cottonwood Creek runs through the property, but Inverness was chosen because it is tied to a long golf tradition.

The late Babb, a Colorado Golf Hall of Fame member, arrived in

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1973 from prestigious Seminole Golf Club in Florida and set up shop in a modular building at the new hotel and golf course situated in the middle of the Inverness Business Park.

When President Clinton visited in 1997 Babb gave him a golf cart tour, played some golf and gave him some swing tips.

Soon after Babb arrived a rookie quarterback named John Elway also showed up asking for some help on his game. The friendship continued until Babb’s death.

Former major league pitcher Rick Rhoden won his 23rd event on the celebrity golf circuit, finishing at 5-under-par to win the 1999 Inverness Hotel Celebrity Classic. Tournament officials estimated that close to 30,000 spectators were in attendance for the tournament, which was the seventh stop on the 13-stop Celebrity Players Tour schedule.

Inverness hosted the Colorado Open from 1992-97 and the design proved to be sneaky tough for the pros.

The Golf Course This par-70, 7,057-yarder has a slope rating of 136. The par-3s are most challenging members agree, especially from the back tees.

No. 3 is also guarded by water in front and measures 211 yards.

No. 8 doesn’t have water, but it is 201 yards uphill and against the prevailing southerly breeze.

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Golf Vacations • November 2021 21

No. 2 is a par-five, 562-yarder, that requires a layup for the average golfer, in front of the creek short of the green. No. 13, a 418-yard par four, has a water carry from the tee to a dogleg left fairway and then another carry over water just in front of the green, which is guarded on the left by a huge cottonwood tree.

“I really like that this course is a challenge for all levels, but it’s fair,” said Jim Recht of Englewood. “It is well-maintained and is a good value for the members.”

As a designated “semi-private” golf course, only members and hotel guests can play here.

The golf course architect’s history J. Press Maxwell moved to Colorado in 1958, living in Morrison, with frequent trips to his Alsoa Ranch near Basalt, until his death in 2001.

Maxwell learned his trade from his father Perry Maxwell, with whom he collaborated after time out for impressive action in World War II, flying 81 combat missions with the 15th Air Force.

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Maxwell emerged as one of golf course design’s best. In 1960 Press served as president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

In addition to designing or renovating more than 20 courses in Colorado -Inverness, Applewood, Boulder CC, Cherry Hills, Hiwan, Kissing Camels, Lake Valley, Pinehurst, Rolling Hills, Columbine, Denver CC, Lakewood and Patty Jewett -- Maxwell’s work can be seen in many storied layouts around the nation such as Colonial in Fort Worth, Southern Hills in Tulsa, Augusta National, Austin CC, and Prairie Dunes in Kansas.

Hilton Denver Inverness upgrades a plenty Longtime members and visitors frequented The Spotted Dog, the hotel’s bar, but it has been replaced by the Breckenridge Brewery Ale and Game House. It is part of a multimillion-dollar series of upgrades to the 40-year-old hotel and conference center since Denver-based Silverwest Hotels purchased it in 2015 and changed the name to the Hilton Denver Inverness.

Also revitalized are locker rooms, golf shop, spa, event spaces, bridal suite and outdoor areas.

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Breckenridge Brewery Ale and Game House is open to the public, while members have their own lounge, from which they can order food and drinks from the restaurant.

The Garden Terrace is another local favorite where I enjoyed breakfast. Lunch buffets have an array of choices, à la carte menus, and views of the golf course. The award-winning Champagne Sunday Brunch features more than 100 offerings each week including prime rib and an elaborate shellfish display.

The Spa and amenities at Hilton Denver Inverness The signature spa has seven treatment rooms, a relaxation suite, private hot tub, and a fire pit patio. Swedish and deep tissue massages are offered, including prenatal, sports, and couples sessions.

There’s a 24-hour fitness center, three tennis courts, sauna rooms, two pools (both indoor and outdoor) and a hot tub. The 302-room hotel has an Executive Floor Lounge, business travelers and select leisure guests will have access to complimentary breakfast and evening snacks.

Hilton Denver Inverness offers corporate guests more than 62,000 square feet of high-tech meeting space, with 43 flexible meeting spaces – all of which are certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC). The hotel can accommodate 500 guests for meetings and 1,000 for social events.

The 5,400-square-foot ballroom can be divided into four equally sized rooms. Business travelers have a fullystaffed business center with administrative support services, graphic design and experienced technicians to assist with AV, computer, equipment and production needs.

Golf memberships are available in single, couple, families or corporate tiers. Check out the website for options (www.theclubatinverness.com). Members also enjoy preferred tee times.

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Golf Vacations • November 2021 23

Avia

By Dave McKibben

I

had launched a towering eight-iron shot over a pond and onto the back of the green on the downhill 162-yard par-3 11th hole at the Aviara Golf Club, but I knew there was little time for celebration. Having played this magnificent 7,007-yard Arnold Palmer-designed layout in Carlsbad several times since it opened 30 years ago, I knew I had a lot of work left to make par.

Standing over a nearly 90-foot downhill putt, I saw two breaks, possibly three and remembered the advice I’d offered to my playing partners a week earlier: “Better practice your long putts. The greens here are massive.”

Naturally, I three-putted, missing a comeback 15-footer for par. There were several three-putts in our group and even

24 Golf Vacations • November 2021

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ara

Golf Club

a four-putt. Renny Brown, Aviara’s director of golf since 2012, wasn’t surprised.

“For the mid-level handicapper, you’re going to hit a few more greens than what you’re normally used to,” he said.

“But you’re also going to be faced with some difficult long putts. You’ll probably have some three and four-putt greens.”

Brown said the size and undulation in the greens are even an issue for the top women’s players in the world at the LPGA’s Kia Classic, which Aviara has hosted the last nine years and typically attracts over 90% of the tour’s best players.

“Other than tee shot on hole number 10 (a tight dogleg-par 4), it’s a straightforward course,” said Brown, who’s been

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Golf Vacations • November 2021 25

at Aviara for 24 years, the first 15 as an assistant pro. “What you see is what you get. But the greens, even for a high-level player, are the defense of the golf course.”

Sprawling greens weren’t supposed to be one of the calling cards on this rolling par-72 course that overlooks the Batiquitos Lagoon nature preserve and is part of the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, which recently completed a $50 million transformation. But a funny thing happened during construction of the course in 1989.

“The greens were doubled in size and the mistake was not caught until the front nine greens had been built,” Brown said.

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“It would have been very costly to start over on the front nine, with the bunkers and green surrounds already in place, so they continued with the doubling of size of the greens on the back nine.”

In golf terms, the misread construction plans have turned into a “good miss.”

“It’s become something we’re known for,” Kevin Kienast, Aviara’s course superintendent, said of the enormous greens.

“You’ll end up with some really fun putts to talk about over beers with your buddies. It puts a lot of emphasis on reading putts and landing your ball in the right place.”

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Of course, it’s not all about the size of greens at Aviara.

Palmer’s masterful design takes golfers on a tour through three valleys, rolling hillsides, dynamic waterfalls, and native wildflowers. Multi-million-dollar homes hover well above the fairway, but don’t creep into golfer’s sightlines.

“It’s pretty secluded, so you’ll always have a peaceful round,” Kienast said. “The tranquility of the course gives you the feeling that you have the place to yourself, so you can shoot a bad score and still come away with a great experience.”

Kienast and his grounds crew are responsible for maintaining hundreds of plant species that frame the fairways

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and greens. The star attractions are the orange and red coral trees and the stocky purple and pink Pride of Madeira shrub.

“People say that playing golf at Aviara is like playing golf in a botanical garden,” Brown said. “And I think there’s some truth to that with the variety of plants we have.”

The Aviara experience is fascinating, but it can be costly to play “one of the best resort courses in the U.S.,” according to Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. Green fees range from $130 to $275--a dynamic pricing structure ensures that the best rates are always available at www.golfaviara.com

Golf Vacations • November 2021 27

From the tips, Aviara plays over 7,000 yards and it’s nearly 6,600 from the blue tees. My group of mid-level players found the blue/white combo tees, measuring 6,340 yards, were wellsuited for our games. The eighth hole, a 519-yard downhill par 5, is one of Brown’s favorites. The fairway is expansive, but there’s danger lurking with water and bunkers nearly surrounding the green.

I became familiar with latter scenario during my round, dumping my lob wedge into the water after a perfect drive and layup. The 18th, a 413-yard par four, is one of the tougher finishing holes in golf-rich San Diego County. The fairway is bordered by a lake on the right and two hefty bunkers on the left. The lake stretches all the way to green, making for a treacherous approach shot.

“A better player can go for the green in two and make eagle or birdie,” Brown said. “But if you hit it in the water, you could be walking away with a six, seven or eight pretty easily.”

“You have to hit a good drive and then a really good second shot too,” Brown said. “There’s no in-between and there’s not much room for error.”

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Golf Packages: The Aviara Golf Club Package offers the best value for tourists or even locals: it includes two rounds of golf per night reserved at the Park Hyatt Hotel, extended twilight rate for tee times after 12 p.m. on the day of arrival, golf carts, unlimited use of practice facilities, overnight golf club storage, a 25% discount on full priced golf retail merchandise and a $50 discount at the TaylorMade Performance Lab club fitting. After a round, the hottest spot at the resort is Ember & Rye, the final piece of the Park Hyatt’s extensive renovation.

The restaurant, which has been called a “modern day country club steakhouse, opened in March in partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais.

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Golf Vacations • November 2021 29

MAGNIFICENT MUNI

The Modernization of

City Park Golf Course 30 Golf Vacations • November 2021

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by DAVID R. HOLLAND

DENVER, COLORADO

G

enerations of inner city Denver residents and East High School students have hoofed through City Park Golf Course, a historic parkland golf standard.

That risky route saved time and legend has it that golf ball burglary was witnessed from time to time, not to mention the hazard of getting plunked.

(By the way, management of golf courses discourage walkers through golf courses.)

Surrounded by the Denver Zoo, Natural History Museum and other parks amenities, the golf course location was once home to the City Park Dairy Farm before its September 6, 1913 grand opening.

When this Tom Bendelow routing opening it was one of the longest golf courses in the USA and was especially popular with businessmen who worked downtown – it took only 10 minutes to arrive at City Park by streetcar.

Famous golfers to play here include Colorado PGA Tour Player Jonathan Kaye, who was in the City Park juniors program. Jim Thorpe, Lee Trevino and Babe Zaharias also played here.

The Modernization of City Park Golf Course But the golf course boom of the 1990s created many new daily-fee courses and a need for 100-year-old routings to be modernized with tree mitigation, green complex improvement, bunker remodeling and storm water detention areas to help reduce flood risks in surrounding neighborhoods.

Actually, the City Park Golf Course improvements started in 2017 as part of a $46-million storm water project. The goal was to reduce flooding and was funded by normal water utility fees.

The reconstruction, headed by golf course architect Todd Schoeder, created low areas in the western half of the course and the catch basins can now hold more than 200 acre-feet of water before draining to the below ground infrastructure.

Tees and greens were elevated above the water line and the stream that flows around holes 11 and 13 eventually drain into the Platte River.

When all that earth was removed to make the deep catch basins it was transported to the middle of the property. That high point is where a brand-new clubhouse stands at 3181 E. 23rd Avenue adjacent to the Denver Zoo entrance.

The new clubhouse has floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a west-facing patio to allow patrons to fully enjoy City Park’s views of the downtown Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains. The building also houses Denver’s

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Golf Vacations • November 2021 31

MAGNIFICENT MUNI City Park Golf Course 3181 E. 23rd Avenue Denver CO, 80205 720-865-3410 www.cityofdenvergolf.com/city_park/

First Tee offices and has a 4-hole course for beginning golfers ages four through teens.

“We now have non-golfers coming for the view, sunset and restaurant,” said Susie Helmerich, head golf professional. That couldn’t happen with the old clubhouse that was situated on the lowest point of the property (25th and York Street).

Bulldozing 136 acres You can imagine the thoughts of non-golfing neighbors and others passing by when golf course architect Schoeder’s crew started bulldozing all 136 acres with consultation from Colorado Hall of Fame PGA Tour golfer Hale Irwin.

“They’re going to murder hundreds of trees for a new condo complex,” some screamed. “Nope it’s going to be an Amazon super distribution facility,” others opined.

Denver Parks and Recreation had no such decimation in mind. In fact, there was no reason for a candlelight vigil for the trees. Of the 825 trees, fewer than a third got the chain saw and around 700 new ones were planted.

“In the end the increase in trees was about 4-to-1,” Schoeder said.

You see it from hole No. 1, a 430-yard, par 4, that has a cluster of those native trees on the right and left giving an illusion of a tight fit for your tee shot. Enjoy the view of the Denver skyline and have fun on the Biarritz green with its center swale.

“Where did those smallish greens of the old golf course go?” Just try two putting on the longish par-three holes with the pin at the back and your tee shot on the front of the green.

“The reaction to the new course has been really positive,” Schoeder said.

“Golfers are enjoying the new green complexes and the strategic wide playing corridors. We are continually thinking of new improvements and one idea is to make a split fairway on hole 13 with two distinct landing areas, making more of a natural look.”

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DENVER, COLORADO Today, the course measures 6,703 yards at par 70. One can imagine the new City Park Golf Course is packed and it is, but on the day I played it was only four and a half hours playing time.

My night’s stay in this historic hotel included a Colorado whiskey tasting experience, a short walk to a Colorado Rockies baseball game, and a walking tour of LoDo – the 16th Street Mall and Union Station.

The Oxford Hotel offers stay and play The Oxford Hotel, Denver’s historic hotel (opened in 1891), is partnering with Denver Golf to offer visitors exclusive access to three municipal Mile High golf courses with the Denver Golf Experience.

Priced start at $369 per night and The Oxford Hotel Denver Golf Experience includes:

Oxford guests can enjoy preferred tee times at three of courses – Willis Case Golf Course, Overland Park Golf Course and renovated City Park Golf Course.

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• Luxurious overnight accommodations in the heart of Lower Downtown (LoDo) • One round of golf for two people at City Park, Willis Case or Overland Park • Golf cart rental and green fees • Tesla transportation to and from the golf courses

Golf Vacations • November 2021 33

SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

BGT Carbon Shaft

B

reakthrough Golf Technology and founder Barney Adams keep revolutionizing the world of putter shafts, and now, for those players looking for the ultimate fit, the Stability Carbon shaft offers maximum customization in addition to a light, soft feel that can improve the performance of any flat stick.

Both stable and responsive, the Carbon shaft fits almost any putter head and together with the expert technicians at BGT-- can take the specs you give them and transform your putter into your favorite club.

“There’s a reason why the #1 PGA putter in the world plays Stability-- and it’s simply because our technology works,” said Adams, CEO of Breakthrough Golf. “Stability Carbon is just another superb offering and gives all golfers a choice in their putter shafts” Adams, who has always had the unique ability to see what is missing in golf equipment, decided to focus on the putter shafts when he founded BGT--since there had been no significant innovation for decades. A team of award-winning engineers and industry professionals was assembled to develop these innovative shafts.

The key to the performance of these latest shafts is the exclusive Advanced Materials Integration™--a patented technology that delivers the face square at impact and is available only from BGT. It is made from a carbon weave for playability refinement and improved feel.

With the improved Stability Carbon shaft, the putter can be customized by changing the Loft, Lie, Length, Balance, Grip…even

34 Golf Vacations • November 2021

the site lines. The shaft can be customized with four connector options and two tip finishes.

The Carbon shaft fits virtually all putters, regardless of brand or bend profile-- straight, single or double bends-- and has only one degree of torque, so the putter face remains square at impact to deliver consistent, accurate putts that roll straight every time.

BGT shafts have been making an impression on the professional tours, with many players making the switch from steel to these lighter and more stable composite options. Even one of the top contenders in two of this past year’s major championships used a BGT shaft to help finish among the leaders.

To add a bit of character to the Breakthrough Golf Technology lineup, the company has introduced a line of attractive putter headcovers. The new headcovers are designed with loads of personality for movie lovers and golfers everywhere. Among the choices—inspired by classic movie lines and fan favorite patterns-are Make My Day, Show Me The Money, Say Hello To My Little Friend, Digital Camo and Black Carbon.

“Headcovers are just a natural extension to our Stability Putter Shafts. Although we are passionate about the game, we do try not to take ourselves to seriously at BGT and these headcovers were a fun way to inject a little attitude,” added Adams The headcovers come in both mallet and blade styles and fit almost any putter made. Mallet accommodates right hand and lefthanded clubs. They are made of all vegan leather.

For more information visit www.breakthroughgolftech.com

Clarity Golf

W

Bill Bales hen it comes to setting up or designing an indoor golf hitting area or simulator, Bill Bales has seen it all.

As a 20-year veteran of working in the hightech portion of the golf industry with name brands like Trackman and PGA Superstore to help refine and advance the art of electronically recording and displaying golf shots indoors, Bales has certainly left his mark. His first indoor golf company—AboutGolf--forever changed the industry.

Bales introduced radar to indoor golf in 2002, then introduced machine vision in 2008, and went on to be the first with simulators to integrate seamless screens, sophisticated video systems, force plates, online competition and countless other innovations.

Now, with golf enjoying a resurgence and the latest technology making it possible to turn one’s home into a first-rate practice area, Bales has started yet another company called Clarity.Golf to bring his years of knowledge and expertise to help those that want to install their own home simulators and hitting bays.

“We wrote the book on enclosure design and our team includes folks who were there with me from the beginning. We have established a line of custom options of the highest quality for the absolute best prices--and our warranty is the best in the industry,”

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SWEETSTUFF Kentwool Performance

K

said Bales.

“We help with the consideration of the available space—which simulator will work for that space—and we have tested them all out.

You will see that we are not pulling any punches when it comes to our belief that the industry today contains a lot of high-priced vapor and a lack of clarity on the various products. We will change that.

Initially, we will focus on two top tier technologies we feel are the best the industry has to offer--but we provide objective advice and the right introductions for any combination of simulator technology one chooses.”

The best part is that the consultation with Clarity.Golf is totally free. Bales even notes that he is working seven days a week answering emails and questions from all part of the country regarding setting up a home simulator.

Being a modern technology company, Clarity.Golf focuses entirely on the world of launch monitors, simulators, and related technologies. Their team is made up of prime movers within the indoor golf industry. Clarity.Golf intends to educate the markets about the realities of the industry, the technologies and the cost structures.

“We have even worked with people who have made significant modifications to their homes to accommodate simulators and hitting areas,” noted Bales. “One person even built a two-room addition to set up a simulator. There is a great market awareness of what is available out there and we are seeing a very wide range of what people want to do to achieve their goals.”

Clarity.Golf has now launched a focused division to serve private golf clubs and their members to go along with the business of helping golfers in their own homes.

“Private clubs are moving more and more to setting up indoor golf facilities, including practice bays and simulators,” said Bales.

“We have twenty years of experience tied to the installation of over 4,000 simulators.

“What we’ve seen for years, and are seeing today, is a lot of spending on consulting and design, deficient planning, and a surprisingly consistent lack of ability to obtain the right knowledge from which to make intelligent design and buying decisions,” added Bales Clarity’s Blog can be accessed at www.billbales.blog.

For more information and a free consultation on indoor golf simulators visit: http://www.clarity.golf

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entwool, the maker of fine Merino wool socks, has introduced some exciting new bold colors and styles for the fall and winter golf season.

These new limited-edition socks are a natural with the fall colors and feature four new earthy colors: Fir, Pecan, Rouge and Turmeric.

All are offered in the Classic Ankle style, with the additional option of the low-cut fit in Pecan and Rouge. All four colorways reflect the beauty of the time of the year—the golden hues of changing leaves and the warmth of a blazing fire.

The traditional comfort and light feel of Kentwool’s socks— supported by the brand’s signature cushioned footbed--as well as all the luxurious features of the ultra-premium materials such as Merino wool—makes this sock an excellent choice for active people as it is naturally softer, more absorbent, odor-resistant, and breathable than synthetics or cotton. Perfect for a round of golf, a morning hike, or a backyard family gathering, Kentwool socks offer a great fit and feel for any outdoor activity.

“Fall and winter are seasons where we crave all things cozy and comfortable,” said Kim Kent, Kentwool’s CEO. “The comfort and quality of Kentwool socks are unmatched, and the new color offerings are perfectly suited to the changing of the seasons. When considering a luxuriously comfortable addition to this year’s holiday gift lists, you won’t go wrong with Kentwool socks!”

The Greenville, South Carolina company has a long tradition of manufacturing fine wool products in the USA. Founded in 1843, Kentwool remains one of the nation’s longest running, familyowned textile companies. In 2008, Kentwool Performance Apparel was established to harness wool expertise to create the “World’s Best Sock” --delivering the ultimate in comfort and performance to golfers and those with active lifestyles.

Kentwool socks draw upon wool’s natural wicking and thermoregulating properties, as well as their patented product design, to deliver moisture management, superior comfort and other performance e­nhancing benefits. Well-known in the golf market, Kentwool has won multiple Majors and numerous other TOUR events and trusted in competition by scores of amateur and professional athletes alike.

For more information: www.kentwool.com

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