Golf Vacations Magazine November 2016

OUR 14th YEAR!

THIS MONTH: My Turn • SweetStuff • ChipShots

GOLF VACATIONS NOVEMBER 2016

LUXURY GOLF

SOAKING UP THE SCENERY IN SCOTLAND

WALK ONLY GOLF COURSES

BALLYNEAL GOLF CLUB

www.golfvacationsmag.com Golf Vacations • November 2016 1 Plus: THE DEUCE AT PINEHURST • NAPLES BEACH HOTEL

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GOLF VACATIONS NOVEMBER 2016

Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Scotland

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Walking Only Golf Courses

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Luxury Golf in Scotland

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by David R. Holland

As cool as the drive for walking-only golf courses in the U.S. is, there’s also a downside. For private courses such as Ballyneal Golf Club, opened 10 years ago in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado, the question is what happens when your membership ages?

by David R. Holland

Weary from 17,050 steps and five miles a day, walking through a rugged landscape of legendary links golf courses, one must stop from time to time to soak up the scenery, feel cold rain and wind on your face, and observe a history that is ancient.

Resort Report: Naples Beach Hotel & GC

Interested in taking a getaway? Then you should consider heading to the AAA Four-Diamond The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Southwest Florida. Set on 125 lush acres, complemented by seven miles of pristine white sandy beach, the 319-room resort is Southwest Florida’s only resort directly on the beach with an on-site championship golf course, a world-class spa, and an award-winning tennis center.

Sweet Stuff

by Terry Ross

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CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) is a resident of the golfing community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. For the past 20 years he has traveled extensively throughout the US and around the world writing about “Places to Play and Places to Stay”. In 2012 he played golf in every state during a 50-week, 50-state driving tour of the US.

Executive Editor Jeffrey Diaz

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

Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35 years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capacities.

He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is based in Orange County, California.

JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. He has a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, including Bangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Tenerife, St. Kitts, Cancun and Marseilles.

His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald, Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.

Associate Editor Terry Ross

Features Editor Larry Feldman

Senior Writers JD Latorre Andy Reistetter Fred Robledo

For Editorial:

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

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

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President Jeffrey Diaz

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Destiny Media, LLC President/CEO James A. Diaz

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

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2016 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

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It’s A Great Time To Visit The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area

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f course you can’t beat the variety and abundance of championship golf courses in the Sandhills of North Carolina. But beyond the 18th green and popular gathering places for additional liquid rounds and dining, there are numerous events to attend and enjoy in the fall. Spectators and participants are always welcome in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area.

For music lovers, Jazzy Fridays at Cypress Bend Vineyards provides live music in a relaxing setting to end a day on the course or begin a weekend getaway. For those who enjoy sensory activities for touch and vision, don’t miss the Seagrove Potters Festival or Ederville’s Tractor/Antique Machinery weekend event. American history is revealed in the work of local potters that reaches back seven generations and Ederville captures the spirit and ingenuity of those who worked the land for over 100 years.

Enjoy the whistle of a Stanley Steamer and watch the tractor races. For train aficionados on a small scale, the model train show in Aberdeen is a must see in the fall, great for kids of all ages.

And again, if golf is your pleasure, whether to play or watch, there are opportunities to enjoy the game as a couple.

The Mid Pines Hickory Open, Couples Jamboree, Couples Carousel, the CPGA Senior Open, and the CCNC Amateur Golf Tournament to name a few.

For more information, go to www.HomeofGolf.com. The calendar of events, seasonal golf specials, lodging, dining, and shopping details are at your fingertips on almost any mobile device. www.golfvacationsmag.com

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“The Deuce” Opens At Pinehurst Resort And CC

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. – For decades, golfers and guests have gathered on the veranda overlooking the 18th green of famed Pinehurst No. 2. Now, they are able to do so in The Deuce, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club’s new bar and restaurant.

Featuring a bar area that opens onto the veranda, The Deuce offers the resort’s best view of No. 2’s historic finishing hole where the game’s greatest players have prevailed, including Payne Stewart, who won the 1999 U.S. Open with a dramatic 15-foot par putt there to beat Phil Mickelson.

The Deuce provides a setting like few in the world of golf.

“Even when you are sitting inside The Deuce, you are literally a ball-toss from the 18th green of Pinehurst No. 2,” says Pinehurst President Tom Pashley. “When the windows are open, you can hear the sounds of the game, whether it’s a roar for a made putt or the groans for one that just lipped out. You feel like you’re part of the event, whether in one of the seats on the veranda, or even sitting at the bar.”

Adorned with vintage photographs and other memorabilia illustrating the storied history of No. 2, the 5,000-square-foot Deuce

serves lunch every day as well as an array of appetizers throughout the afternoon and evening. Lunch includes a variety of sliders, sandwiches and wraps while appetizers will include Crab Hushpuppy Beignets, Lobster Mac’n’Cheese Croquettes, Wings, Pretzel Bites and Loaded Tater Tots.

The bar, which is open to the public, features an assortment of specialty cocktails and North Carolina craft brews, including the Pinehurst Pale Ale, brewed specifically for Pinehurst by the Highlands Brewing Company, as well as selections from the nearby Southern Pines Brewing Company.

“It’s not just typical bar food,” Pinehurst Executive Chef Thierry Debailleul says. “It’s fresh, inventive and original food, and it all comes with a spectacular view. It’s made-fromscratch cuisine in a relaxed, comfortable setting that we feel will become the best lunch spot you can imagine anywhere.”

It’s the setting and the ambiance that set The Deuce apart. With large, custom-made windows designed to open onto the veranda, The Deuce is mere steps away from the 18th green. Pashley believes the bar and restaurant will enhance the Pinehurst experience, both for

patrons and the golfers coming up 18.

“I think it’s going to lend a lot of drama as a player comes up 18 because the butterflies are going to begin to stir,” Pashley says. “If you make a putt you’re going to get a roar; you’re going to light up the place. But if you’re sitting in that front bunker and you’ve got to hit a shot to the back pin, now you’re thinking, ‘All of these people are watching me, and if I hit this thin…’ It’s going to make the final hole on No. 2 that much more dramatic.

“You hope to make the putt or hit the shot because you know you’re going to get a reaction.

It puts you in the shoes of what it’s like to play in the U.S. Open. You’ve got a gallery, and it will make your finish that much more exciting.”

The Deuce is a fitting end to a memorable round.

“After shaking hands after your final putt, you’ll be able to walk a few steps to begin celebrating and recalling the round you just played,” Pashley says. “There’s never been that at Pinehurst, not in this way, where there is a place designed and built for you to celebrate the golf and good times you’re having at Pinehurst.”

For more information, visit pinehurst.com.

The Deuce at Pinehurst Resort & CC

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS College of the Ozarks Adds Golf Program, Home Course is Acclaimed Buffalo Ridge Springs

BRANSON/LAKES AREA, MO. – College of the Ozarks is expanding its athletics program with the debut of men’s and women’s golf teams in fall 2017, the latest addition to North America’s fastestgrowing golf destination.

Men’s and women’s teams will likely include eight members each and will be coached by Dr. Chris Larsen, dean of sports, recreation, and events. Larsen secured the impressive Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course in Hollister – ranked one of “America’s Greatest Courses” by national golf magazines – as the teams’ home course and is developing practice areas on campus.

Assisting Larsen will be Walter “Smiley” Jones and Kim Vinton. Jones will be director of golf instruction and is a well-known, highly regarded teacher. He played 11 years on the PGA Tour Champions circuit and has 30 years of experience as a golf instructor.

Vinton currently gives private lessons in the area and holds an impressive resume as a professional player, instructor and coach.

“These two professionals will be

invaluable as we strive to develop our golf program,” says Dr. Larsen.

Practice is currently taking place on the Buffalo Ridge driving range, and a practice green, sand bunker, and tee boxes are currently under construction on the college campus.

“The game of golf operates and is based on many of the values that our institution desires to develop in our students. It is a game where respect, honesty, integrity and responsibility are expected,” said Larsen.

Adding golf at College of the Ozarks mirrors the area’s golf destination growth.

Two courses debuted in the past two years and two more are scheduled to open relatively soon (one in 2017, the other in 2018).

“It’s exciting news for College of the Ozarks, the young people who will join the teams, and the golf destination overall,” says Lynn Berry, Branson/Lakes Area Director of Communications. “College of the Ozarks is home to the Keeter Center, an upscale lodge, restaurant and conference facility that was ranked the ‘No. 1 Top Small Hotel in the U.S.’ by TripAdvisor for 2016. People choosing the Branson area for their next golf getaway should consider staying at this amazing place.”

About Branson/Lakes Area Golf The golf destination is home to several esteemed courses designed by marquee architcects with two more currently under construction (one a 12-hole, family friendly layout by Gary Player, the other an 18-hole championship track by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Existing courses include: Pointe Royale Golf Village www.pointeroyalegolf.net Thousand Hills Golf Resort www.thousandhills.com LedgeStone Country Club at StoneBridge Village www.ledgestonegolf.com Top of the Rock Golf Course www.topoftherock.com/Page/Golf.aspx Branson Hills Golf Club, www.bransonhillsgolfclub.com, Holiday Hills Resort and Golf Club www.holidayhills.com Don Gardner Golf Course, www.bransonparksandrecreation.com Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course www.topoftherock.com/buffalo-ridge-golf-course For more information about Branson/ Lakes Area Golf, visit www.facebook.com/ BransonGolf or www.explorebranson.com/golf

Ledgestone Country Club at StoneBridge Village

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Troon North To Launch New Caddie Service - Further Enhancing Guest Experience

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Troon North Golf Club, the preeminent daily-fee club in Scottsdale, will soon launch a new caddie service for guests. When playing Troon North’s Pinnacle and Monument courses, guests will have the option of a Forecaddie or a Single-Bag Caddie or choose to play without a caddie. The new caddie service is part of a long term property improvement plan as Troon®, the leader in golf course management, development, and marketing, recently purchased Troon North Golf Club.

Troon will continue to operate and manage the award-winning facility.

Troon North’s caddie service will begin in mid-November and will further strengthen an already impressive guest service experience.

Guests can choose the following caddie options: Forecaddie – Forecaddies will be positioned ahead of the group and will track

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shots for each player in the group. Forecaddies will also offer advice on how to play the course and help players select the proper target lines.

When appropriate, forecaddies will also care for the course, raking bunkers, replacing divots when necessary, tending flagsticks, cleaning balls and clubs, and help golfers manage the course.

Single-Bag Caddie – A Single-Bag Caddie will work with a single golfer and will describe the best play for each hole, assist with yardages, rake bunkers, replace divots, help around the greens, tend the pin and perform any other duties required.

“Since the early 90s, Troon North has been a leader in guest service and providing golfers with the ultimate desert golf experience,” said Dana Garmany, chairman and chief executive officer, Troon. “The new caddie program will further improve the Troon North experience, while also speeding up pace of play. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance the amenities, guest services and course conditions at this flagship Troon facility.”

Kiawah Island Golf Resort to Renovate Cougar Point Golf Course in 2016-2017

Kiawah Island, SC – Continuing in its efforts to providing the finest golf and vacation experience for its guests, Kiawah Island Golf Resort today announced plans to renovate the Gary Player-designed Cougar Point Golf Course. Renovation is to begin November 28, 2016 with reopening scheduled for the beginning of October, 2017.

The renovation will include re-grassing the greens, tees, and fairways with Paspalum (the same highly acclaimed salt-tolerant grass that the resort has on its other four golf courses); laser level all tee boxes including the practice range; rebuild all bunkers; update the irrigation throughout the golf course; and rebuild existing bulkheads. Representatives from Gary Player Design Company have already visited the course and offered design suggestions.

Since 2011, all of the resort’s courses have undergone extensive renovations. Prior

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to the 2012 PGA Championship course architect, Pete Dye, returned to Kiawah Island to renovate the resort’s premier course, The Ocean Course. His efforts were widely acclaimed by the PGA Tour professionals who played in the event.

In 2014, Osprey Point was closed for a complete renovation approved by course architect Tom Fazio. It included regrassing tees, fairways and greens with Platinum Paspalum (the same grass used on The Ocean Course), shifting bunkers and renovating a number of fairways to both for improved drainage and playability.

In 2015, the work continued when Oak Point closed for a six-month renovation that included re-grassing the tees, fairways and greens with Paspalum Platinum, returning the greens and tees back to their original sizes and shapes and recontouring all of the bunkers as well as some of fairways. Irrigation was also added to the roughs.

Turtle Point closed in January of this year for a nine-month renovation that

includes a number of substantial architectural changes suggested by course designer, Jack Nicklaus. Changes included location shifts, reconfiguring and elevation of greens, recontouring fairways and bunkering and regrassing the tees, fairways and greens with Paspalum Platinum.

According to Roger Warren, President of Kiawah Island Golf Resort, “The owners of the resort remain steadfast in their dedication to make Kiawah Island Golf Resort the top golf destination in the nation and a favorite place to play for any golfer, serious or recreational.”

For more information, visit www. kiawahresort.com.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort Announces Golf or Gourmet Escape Offer Kiawah Island Golf Resort also announced special fall and winter “stay-and-play” or “stayand-dine” offers. Kiawah’s “Golf or Gourmet Escape” offer provides great deals for staying at the resort and either playing golf or dining in its award-winning restaurants with up to a 45% savings over peak season rates.

“Whether you’re a golfer or a gourmet, this fall or winter is the time to get away to Kiawah Island Golf Resort,” said Tom Bewley, the resort’s Sales and Marketing Director. “Guests can pick their passion with the Golf or Gourmet Escape allowing a choice of luxury golf or culinary experience while staying on Kiawah Island Golf resort in a private Villa or the luxurious Five-Star Sanctuary hotel.

To make this deal even sweeter, guests staying in The Sanctuary will receive valuable resort credits, room category upgrades, late checkouts and arrival amenities for three or four night stays,” explained Bewley.

From November 13, 2016 to March 2, 2017, guests on the resort’s “Golf or Gourmet Escape” offer have their choice of accommodations (Sanctuary Hotel or luxury villa) plus either two rounds of golf, two dinners, or one of each. Guests have the option of the “Champions Choice” or “Players Choice” packages depending on their taste in restaurants or courses.

Cougar Point Golf Course

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Walking-Only Golf Clubs: What you d

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That’s why the leadership team at Ballyneal, the Tom Doak private gem ranked no. 4 in Golfweek’s 2016 Best 200 Modern Courses, put their heads together in October 2015 and came up with a savvy solution: build an outstanding, challenging short course.

A youthful membership with purist leanings immediately were drawn to Ballyneal when it opened in 2006. Tom Doak, of Bandon Dunes fame, designed the minimalist masterpiece, and the membership -comprised of walkers -- came from all over the United States.

Ballyneal’s Mulligan Course “We had a fundraiser last October where Tom Doak and Ballyneal owner John Curlander discussed taking a look at the front-nine loop for a possible short course,” said General Manager Dave Hensley. The project got the okay from Curlander.

OLYOKE, CO. – As cool as the drive for walking-only golf courses in the U.S. is, there’s also a downside. For private courses such as Ballyneal Golf Club, opened 10 years ago in the sand hills of northeastern Colorado, the question is what happens when your membership ages?

And they walked -- 36 holes a day -- and retired to the Turtle Bar and Restaurant for laid-back evening camaraderie.

For older golfers at walking-only courses such as Chambers Bay, the Straits Course at Whistling Straits, Black Course at Bethpage Black, Bandon Dunes Resort and Erin Hills, host to the 2017 U.S. Open, there’s little recourse unless they offer carts for people who have a medical exemption from a physician.

“Yep, the downside is that many 80-year-old golfers will never get to play here,” said Rich Tock, Erin Hills’ ambassador to PGA Professionals.

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I toured the 12-hole Mulligan Course with Curlander, Hensley, Doak Design associate Eric Iverson, who lives in Denver, and member Luke Boland.

Boland’s reaction was “wow!” The Mulligan Course isn’t going to be a pitch-and-putt kiddies’ course, although they hope families will play the course together.

This is going to be a challenging, fun trek, with lots of scrub between you and the “Doak-a-abolical” putting surfaces.

Some landing areas will be enormous with friendly bounces built in, but this will definitely test better golfers.

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By TIM COTRONEO

do when your membership gets older?

by David R. Holland “I think this is a course that will be played at the end of the day,” Hensley said. “Maybe you had a disappointing 18 on the big course and decide you want to redeem yourself by hitting some better shots to finish the day before dinner.”

That’s where the name comes from. “Actually, The Mulligan Course was named for two reasons,” Hensley added. “First, our original caddie, Charlie Mulligan, passed away this summer, and second, for the chance to hit some mulligans.”

Ballyneal already has a short adventure, which is comprised of holes 10-12 (ending on a tee shot back to no. 9’s green). It is named “the whiskey loop,” a tradition where members could take a drink and a few clubs out near the end of the day and have some fun. But today’s membership has almost reached its ceiling of 250 members, making it likely you might play into another group.

Bar and Restaurant) and the pro shop.

This outstanding 18-hole addition gives members a chance to be challenged with swales and big contours, while also relaxing with a drink to work on your stroke or have friendly competitions with other members.

Ballyneal now includes lodging that accommodates up to 56 people, with a massage or a steam session at the on-site spa. The Meadowlark Lodge and the more secluded Sagebrush Lodge are also available for overnight members.

A five-stand, 10-station sporting clay course also opened and guided, upland bird hunts preserve Ballyneal’s legacy as a gun club. Pheasant season runs from November through the end of January. Ballyneal is an ideal hunting ground because it is surrounded by thousands of acres of native grasses; as well as fields of corn, millet, and sorghum – a perfect nesting environment.

The Mulligan Course could be open sometime next summer.

Also new: Ballyneal’s The Commons Ballyneal’s The Commons, a rolling putting course of more than an acre, was built where the bocce court and practice putting green were located. This is the centerpiece of Ballyneal Village, filling an area between the Ringneck Lodge, the Terrapin Lodge (home to the Turtle

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Curlander sums it up: “We will always be a haven for golf purists who love the game.” But Ballyneal has continued to upgrade the experience.

And, sure, Ballyneal is a private golf course, but even purists who are prospective members can call and arrange a one-time visit to play and walk with a caddie on one of the best golf courses in the U.S.

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Connoisseurs Scotla

Presents a Luxury Gol Experience in the Home of

Turnberry 9th Green

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and

lf f Golf

Scotland can be exhilarating and exhausting.

Weary from 17,050 steps and five miles a day, walking through a rugged landscape of legendary links golf courses, one must stop from time to time to soak up the scenery, feel cold rain and wind on your face, and observe a history that is ancient.

My lineup, prepared by Connoisseurs Scotland reads like the wish list of avid golfers from across the globe: Royal Aberdeen, Castle Stuart, The Carrick on Loch Lomond, Trump International and Trump Turnberry.

Almost unimaginable, I’m facing a par 3 of 180 yards (can play 248 yards) on Trump Turnberry’s redesigned Ailsa Course’s ninth hole. But something’s different.

Scan the panorama – the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse is in view. Ailsa Craig looms over the left shoulder.

Stunning describes the rugged Ayrshire Coastline and the Firth of Clyde. The Irish Sea is emerald.

What’s different is there’s bright sunshine. There’s no wind. And it is shirt-sleeve weather. The air is so clear you can see a distant Northern Ireland and the Isle of Arran. Even Machrihinish Golf Club is on the far horizon.

The last time I played Turnberry 15 years ago it was raining sideways – three layers and a rain suit barely made it bearable. Today is so perfect the locals recited an old saying about calm days at Turnberry – “Scotsmen will be falling down because they are so used to leaning into the wind”.

Talk about dreaming. But my foursome didn’t wake up. We just kept playing one of the most famous golf courses in the world. After golf we gathered in the famous Turnberry Clubhouse for lunch at the Duel in The Sun Restaurant as singles Sunday began for the 2016 Ryder Cup. Here’s a capsule look at the golf courses we played on our Connoisseurs Scotland holiday: Royal Aberdeen’s Balgownie Links The sixth oldest golf links in the world, Royal Aberdeen dates back to 1780, and claims to be one of the truest links land layouts in golf.

It is a stern test when the North Sea wind is whipping. Hills, sand and sea frame numerous tight fairways and blind shots on the outward nine where olden day greats Old Tom Morris, Walter Hagen and Henry Royal Aberdeen GC, 2nd Hole Cotton have walked along with modern day stars Tony Lema, Tony Jacklin, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. Justin Rose won the 2014 Scottish Open here and it also hosted the 2011 Walker Cup. The first glimpse of this classic’s toughness came during the 2005 Senior British Open when Tom Watson won the televised event with four-under-par. The 10th hole turn has been described by many as one of the best in the game. The tee shot is blind over a massive dune, but it is a short 354-yard hole. The fairway features humps and bumps down to the green that is fronted by an offshoot of the River Don.

by DAVID R. HOLLAND

Trump International Golf Links Trump International Golf Links just north of Royal Aberdeen and south of Cruden Bay was weaved through the largest sand dunes in the country right on the North Sea. The Great Dunes of Scotland were perfect for a world-class golf course on 600 acres opened in 2012 with the architects listed as Donald Trump and Dr. Martin Hawtree.

Views from atop every tee box climb are breathtaking and the 205-yard, par-3 third hole opens to a view of the sea as you walk down to the green where you can hear the waves crashing on the beach right

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Golf Vacations • November 2016 17

Trump International Golf Links, Hole 3

course has hosted four historic British Open championships won by Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Nick Price and Stuart Cink.

Finishing on 18 one can’t help but think of Watson, who almost won a second title here in 2009 in a four-hole playoff with Cink.

Trying to become the oldest major champion in history, his approach barely leaked over the green forcing a tricky recovery that became a heartbreaking bogey five. For the first time all week his 59-yearold nerves appeared – the putt to save par never had a chance.

next to the raised green site. The finale, a par 5 of 651 yards has a minefield of 18 bunkers on your way to the green. Almost every hole could be the signature hole.

Trump Turnberry, The Ailsa Course One of the world’s most spectacular resorts, Trump Turnberry has five-star luxury, an updated layout, golf academy, spa, restaurants and new pitch and putt course. The historic views of Ailsa Craig and the Turnberry lighthouse are a bucket-list event.

Set on the ruins of the 13th century Robert the Bruce’s Castle, the Turnberry lighthouse has been heralded as a legendary beacon to passing ships and to golfers from across the globe. And the golf

Martin Ebert, golf course architect, did Ailsa’s redesign -- part of a $500-million makeover of a 149-room luxury property acquired by Trump in 2014.

Castle Stuart Golf Links Kingsbarns developer and co-designer Mark Parsinen teamed with Gill Hanse to lay out Castle Stuart on land where Mary Queen of Scots returned to Scotland in 1561 after the death of her husband the Dauphin in France. And some 450 years later modern-day golfers are playing the eighth best course in Scotland, opened in 2009 with an outstanding art deco clubhouse.

Five holes stretch along the Moray Firth within sight of Kessock Bridge, Chanonry Lighthouse and Fort George, home of the Black Watch. Heather, marram grass and gorse come in to play along with deep bunkers with wispy grasses on top of the faces -- not all

Turnberry Ailsa

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The Carrick Golf Club Nos. 15, 16, 17

are rivetted but they mimic the look when sheep used dune faces for shelter from the wind.

Castle Stuart is framed perfectly in the distance on No. 4, a par four of 191 yards. Most mortal golfers land a short shot favoring the high left side hoping for a kick to the pin. Only skilled golfers can aim for the pin with enough spin to stop the tee shot. No spin and your ball rolls over the back of the green creating a tough recovery.

Castle Stuart, just eight miles from Inverness, has hosted three Scottish Opens – the last in 2013 when Phil Mickelson won the tournament a week before he won The Open Championship at Murifield.

The Carrick on Loch Lomond Grouse and pheasants might meet you in the early morning on the pure nature walk that is known as The Carrick on Loch Lomond.

Owned by the nearby Cameron House, the extraordinary new clubhouse also houses a spa and Claret Jug restaurant.

The Halfway House is one of the most unique in golf, too. Named The Highland Laddie, this stop between holes nine and 10 provides refreshments and even a dram of single-malt scotch. Formerly a London River Thames boat the Highland Laddie was installed in 2013 and has proved to be a popular addition to the course.

Connoisseurs Scotland is your gateway to five-star Scottish luxury Connoisseurs Scotland is not a buddies trip on a budget. This vacation gives you luxury hotels, gourmet dining and golf on some of the best courses Scotland has to offer. It’s like the most expensive Glengoyne single-malt scotch on the market.

They can also book chauffeured ground travel provided by Little’s.

Check them out at http://www.littles.co.uk.

Designed by golf architect Doug Carrick, this golf club opened in 2007, includes a Highlands nine and Lowlands nine, routed through Scotland’s first National Park in a heathland style. They tell you this course has “the most beautiful water hazard in world of golf, Loch Lomond! We suggest you play around it.” Ben Lomond, a famous Scottish mountain, is in the distance.

The finish along the banks of Loch Lomond are memorable, but Tappit Doon, the par-3, 199-yard, 14th hole is the most fun. An elevated tee provides all the views as you swing for a green way downhill surrounded by five tantalizing and wicked bunkers.

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Cameron House

Castle Stuart

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Turnbery 11th Green

Included in this diverse collection are four world-class golf hotels, four city center hotels, three country house hotels, three castles, a country inn, the world’s most luxurious railway train and a small luxury cruise liner which explores the waters that lie off the coast of Scotland.

Halfway House

The hotels list includes the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews and Gleneagles, where I stayed on a previous trip with a round of golf on The Old Course and Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course, home of the 2014 Ryder Cup. On this trip we were spoiled by Cameron House, which owns The Carrick Course. Other five-star hotels included Marcliffe House (Royal Aberdeen), MacLeod House (Trump International Golf Links), Rocpool Reserve (Castle Stuart), Trump Turnberry (Ailsa Course) and The Glasshouse in Edinburgh.

Dining included One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow; Boat House and Cameron Grill at Cameron House; Claret Jug at The Carrick Club; Marcliffe’s Conservatory Restaurant; The Brasserie at Trump International Golf Links; Chez Roux at Rocpool Reserve; 1906 Restaurant and Duel in the Sun Restaurant at Trump Turnberry; and The Glasshouse Restaurant (Private Dining Room) in Edinburgh.

Log on to http://www.luxuryscotland.co.uk for complete information on Connoisseurs Scotland and how you can book your golf trip to Scotland.

The experience will leave you feeling like the Champion Golfer of The Year.

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Golf Vacations • November 2016 21

RESORTREPORT

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

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NAPLES , FLORIDA

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nterested in taking a getaway? Then you should consider heading to the AAA Four-Diamond The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Southwest Florida. Set on 125 lush acres, complemented by seven miles of pristine white sandy beach, the 319-room resort is Southwest Florida’s only resort directly on the beach with an on-site championship golf course, a worldclass spa, and an award-winning tennis center. Want more reason to visit?

The resort will complete the dramatic renovation – almost reinvention – of its championship golf course this November. The resort’s course is being redesigned with input from golf icon and acclaimed course designer Jack Nicklaus, who has a historical tie to the resort.

The Jack Nicklaus redesign is being done in collaboration with noted course architect John Sanford of Sanford Golf Design. This major $9 million project follows $50 million in impressive renovations and enhancements at the resort over the last few years. The total redesign of the resort’s course began in April, and the entire project will be complete this November, with the course fully operational and reopening on November 17, 2016, according to the beachfront resort’s General Manager Jason Parsons.

According to Parsons, this is almost a month ahead of schedule.

Jack Nicklaus is helping to celebrate his past and that of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club by reshaping the future of this iconic golf course. It was in 1951, on a family vacation to Naples, Florida, and a friendly round of golf alongside his father, that the Ohio native accomplished the very impressive feat of first breaking 40 over nine holes on the resort’s course, shooting a 37. At just 11 years old, he came within a shot of shooting par, and just one year after he picked up golf clubs for the first time. This round, in particular, is what drew Nicklaus to the project–the scorecard is even archived in the Jack Nicklaus Museum, the 24,000-square-foot facility on the campus of The Ohio State University.

“Being back at The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club is like a walk down memory lane for me,” Nicklaus said. “Returning to the same course where I broke 40, with my father by my side, brings back a lot of very special and very fond memories. At the same time, I am enjoying the opportunity to work with John (Sanford) on this rebirth, if you will, of a wonderful layout. I think we have some great ideas and people will be excited about the end product.”

The resort’s golf course brings together two of the world’s finest designers, who celebrated the grand opening of their collaboration on Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, New York, in 2015. Sanford served as project manager for the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and among the many honors bestowed on the design, it was named to Golf Digest’s Best New Courses 2015 and recognized by Golf Magazine as the Best New Course You Can Play. It was also a top-three global selection by Golf Inc. as Development of the Year.

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Golf Vacations • November 2016 23

“We are very proud and excited about the completion of the dramatic renovation and redesign of our 18-hole championship golf course,” Parsons said. “The redesign is a unique collaboration between the greatest player of all time Jack Nicklaus, who also is one of the world’s most celebrated golf course designers, and the very talented John Sanford. It truly has been a pleasure to see them collaborate on this totally new, par-71 course, which features five tees, ranging from 4,800 yards to over 6,900 yards. Our guests, groups, and golfers of every skill level will absolutely love the truly beautiful new course. The new course will be a terrific addition to the experience for our guests.”

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Golf Course Architect John Sanford said, “The course has been redesigned to challenge the best players but also be enjoyable for all golfers. The redesign takes advantage of the sandy soils so the course will play ‘firm and fast.’ The ball will roll out so tee shots will be longer and approaches are open to accept running shots to the greens. The greens are gently contoured to allow for multiple hole locations but have continuous movement that will challenge all skill levels. Many of the large trees were cleared to ‘open up’ the course and various types of palm trees have been planted to extend the beachfront character of the resort. We are very excited about the reopening of the course in November.” www.golfvacationsmag.com

resort and enhance the overall guest and group experience,” said Henry B. Watkins, co-owner of the resort. “The added bonus of having Mr. Nicklaus collaborate on the redesign of the course where he first broke 40 for nine holes is wonderful, and further enriches the deep history of our property.”

Rich in hospitality and tradition, The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club has been part of the Naples community since 1946. Owned and operated by the Watkins family for three generations, the resort also features: 1,000 feet of soft whitesand beach; the world-class spa; a fitness center; the Mary C. Watkins Tennis Center with six Har-Tru courts; Beach Kids Club, a complimentary daily recreational program for children ages 5 to 12; retail shops; beach rentals; 34,000 square feet of meeting space; and a variety of picturesque outdoor venues for receptions and events.

In addition, the resort features multiple restaurants and lounges.

The selection includes: the signature beachfront restaurant HB’s on the Gulf; Broadwell’s, serving breakfast daily and providing panoramic views of the golf course; and the Seminole Store, which serves deli sandwiches, ice cream, gourmet coffees and a variety of freshly baked pizza, pastries and desserts in a café atmosphere. The Sunset Beach Bar & Grill has been recognized as the “Best Place To View A Southwest Florida Sunset,” and was named “Naples’ Best Beach Bar” by Travel Channel.

Guest rooms and suites feature cool tropical-colored linens, fabrics and carpeting; flat-panel televisions; patios or balconies (with a view of the Gulf, the golf course or the lush resort interior); coffee makers; and refrigerators.

Among the recent enhancements was the November 2015 replacement of the brick balconies in the main Tower Building with beautiful glass balconies to showcase the gorgeous Gulf views.

Situated just blocks from Naples’ renowned shopping districts of fashionable 5th Avenue South and historic 3rd Street South, the resort is also within minutes of shopping at Venetian Village, Waterside Shops, Bayfront and Tin City.

Guests can further experience the area by taking tours of the Everglades, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Corkscrew Swamp, The Botanical Gardens, or the Conservancy Nature Center. Boat and fishing trips can also be arranged at the hotel.

Other leisure-time activities can include Naples’ outstanding museums, theatres, and art galleries.

Sanford added, “We have a number of great new holes at the resort course, which includes the ‘signature hole’ #16. It is a medium length ‘Redan’ par 3. The green is a peninsula with water in front, on the right and behind the green. It’s not long but will require accuracy to hit the green.”

Providing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, the resort is an exceptional tropical getaway. Guests always benefit from no resort fees, complimentary self-parking and valet parking, and complimentary access to the resort’s fitness center. The resort is located at 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. North in Naples, Florida.

In addition to the new course, the resort has added a 300-yard practice and teaching range, and will have new golf carts with GPS tracking systems to aid golfers with yardages on each hole, thus helping pace of play. “The completion of this renovation will bring our golf course in line with the rest of our AAA Four-Diamond

For reservations or for information about rates, contact the resort’s Reservations Department at (800) 237-7600 or (239) 261-2222, and visit NaplesBeachHotel.com. For golf rates and tee time information, as the course will be open to the public, contact the resort’s Golf Pro Shop at (239) 435-2475.

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Golf Vacations • November 2016 25

SWEETSTUFF

more accurate than the industry standard.

The New Wedges cover a head weight range from 297 grams in the 51-degree model to 307 grams in the 59. At each loft, the weight combines with the proper length of shaft (as determined by an authorized Miura dealer/fitter) to give players the feel and “heft” they need to create excellent shots around the green, in bunkers, and on tricky approaches.

These wedges not only have a great look and feel, but are excellent for controlling spin around the greens from a variety of lies and conditions.

The New Wedge series comes in 51, 53, 55, 57 and 59 degree lofts, with bounce angles from 5 to 10 degrees.

For more information, visit the Miura website at: www.miuragolf.com

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ine wedges to a golfer are like the best wine to a connoisseur—something to be admired and appreciated. And since this part of the iron set can have such a drastic impact on scoring, they become some of the most important clubs in the bag.

Miura, the Japanese club maker that has a reputation for making some of the finest handforged clubs in the world, has created some masterful wedges with its New Wedge Series that preserves the eternal elements of the “old” Series and adds refinements that make the clubs a pleasure to look at and a joy to play.

Ultimate feel and control are a hallmark of

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these clubs—as they are with most Miura irons.

Now in odd-numbered lofts from 51 degrees through 59, the New Series features redesigned bounce angles that work well with the way thinking players like to play golf.

Leading edge and bounce angle combine for a quality impact that leads to a crisp, consistent divot. Distance control and feel are available to the player like never before.

Shinei Miura and his brother Yoshitaka, with help from their father, Mr. Miura, have come up with a truly artistic set of refinements for this set of wedges. Significant changes don’t have to be big. After watching and listening to hundreds of players, the Miura family learned a great deal about how golfers like their wedges to get through the turf.

So, while some of the bounce angles haven’t changed in terms of number of degrees, subtle improvements in the overall sole shape have made more effective bounce angles that the Miuras are very proud of.

The engineering changes also extend to the amount of offset, which is a bit higher in the 51-degree version, but decreases as loft goes up--that is, where more offset isn’t needed. In the 57- and 59-degree models, there’s even a small amount of onset. The Miuras performance-tested these wedges and found that this offset progression helps many players to make a clean, pure strike at the ball.

As usual, the New Wedge Series are manufactured to very tight tolerances. Miura clubs in any model never vary more than half a gram--that is, 1/56th of an ounce. That’s much

O

ne of the highlights of the golf year that is coming to a close is the victory by the United States over Europe in the bi-annual Ryder Cup Matches that were played this fall at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota—the first win for the Americans since 2008.

Among the mementos of this achievement that are still available—and certainly the best tasting--is the Special Edition wine of the 2016 Ryder Cup—Mouton Cadet—a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in a commemorative cuvée bottle that was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the legendary golf course architect.

Tasked with designing the “face” of Mouton Cadet’s 2016 Ryder Cup Wine, Jones, Jr. chose to honor the shared history

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SWEETSTUFF

by Terry Ross

between two family empires and adorn the limited-edition bottle with an adapted sketch of himself as a 16-year-old boy, caddying for his father on the Hazeltine golf course—a tribute to the late Jones, Sr., as well as to Baron Philippe de Rothschild, creator of Mouton Cadet and “cadet” of his own family.

The architect said of the collaboration, “I am thrilled to partner with Mouton Cadet on this meaningful venture. Having attended the 1970 U.S. Open at Hazeltine with my father and family, it’s wonderful to be back on these grounds to honor and share in that memory with some of world’s most passionate players and fans of the game.”

The Bordeaux, which has a ripe black fruit aroma with a spicy flavor, was served throughout the grounds and in the hospitality areas during the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.

Produced by the family-owned French company Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Mouton Cadet was created in 1930 and has

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remained true to its origins while evolving into what has now become the world’s leading brand of Bordeaux AOC wines, and is sold in 150 countries around the world. The brand will also serve as the Official Wine for the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in Paris, France.

This special offering will allow wine and golf enthusiasts across the globe the chance to participate in one of the sport’s most anticipated events. Mouton Cadet and Jones, Jr.’s Limited Edition bottle can also be purchased as a memento from this year’s Ryder Cup in select retail locations globally, including in America--New York, Florida, Illinois, California and Texas through December 2016.

For more details on Mouton Cadet, the official wine of the 2016 Ryder Cup, visit: www.moutoncadet.com

M

any golfers wear sunglasses to shade their eyes and get protection from the sun, but a new product in the eyeglass line for golfers that is more about helping players see colors better (and reading greens) is now on the market in the form of the Oxy-Iso glasses by 02Amp. First of all, when you wear these on the course, it will be something entirely different than you have ever experienced. The bright, clear purple tint doesn’t hide your eyes like sunglasses would, and putting them on enhances not only the light, but the various colors. And, depending on the person and

their eyesight, many colors look very different from what they would without these glasses that not only bring a new clarity to vision, but enhance various colors.

The manufacturer stresses that for those playing golf, these glasses will enhance the vision of the terrain—particularly on the greens—and are especially helpful for people with color blindness in the red-green spectrum.

The Oxy-Iso glasses were developed

by Dr. Mark Changizi who used several fundamental discoveries by Caltech and Princeton scientists who have done extensive research on the origins of color vision.

In addition to color, these glasses are very effective in shade or overcast conditions, especially for anyone who has problems wearing traditional sunglasses in a darker setting. They also offer UV protection, are anti-fog and have an anti-scratch coating with very lightweight and comfortable frames.

For more information: www.vino.vi

Golf Vacations • November 2016 27

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