OTL Vegas Summer Issue 2023

toca madera

Desert golf at its finest

PICKLEBALL

THE SPORT YOU KEEP HEARING ABOUT

baja Cali, Quivira club

26 42 12

FEATURES

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California’s Central Coast abounds with wonders both natural and man-made—take a road trip on scenic Highway 1 to discover them all. S.Laird

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The ultimate desert oasis at The Boulders Resort & Spa in Phoenix, luxury accommodations meet breathtaking landscapes. M.Hall

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California The Boulders Pickleball Toca Madera Restaurant Desert golf at its finest toca madera baja Cali, Quivira club

ON THE COVER It’s the sport you keep hearing about. Find out what’s up with all the hype.

The country’s fastest-growing sport is popping up at luxury resorts and country clubs. T. Traverse

Fiery Fare Hip, lively and high-end Mexican restaurant Toca Madera brings the (literal) fire to Las Vegas. T.Traverse

PAGE 4 THE SUMMER ISSUE 2023

COLUMNS

Fitness

Deadlifts create a powerful golf swing by strengthening the lower back.

Yoga

It’s all in the hips. Here are the best hip opener moves in yoga.

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Putt for dough

Saving for retirement and a child’s education at the same time.

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Drive for show

2023 Aston Martin DBX 707 is a game-changer in the world of luxury SUVs.

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Decoding golf dress codes: Contrasting attire expectations at public and private courses.

Travel

Golf at sensational Quivira on the Baja Peninsula has always been memorable, but with improvements both at the resort and the course, it’s better than ever.

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On your game

Spring, TX resident Pat Oldacre is only the second African American rules official in the history of professional golf in America. He didn’t get there by accident, switching one successful career for another with focus and purpose.

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Bucks Tips

Every player is a “feel” player. How to tell if your feel is real.

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Equipment

When accuracy matters most, the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift Laser rangefinder delivers.

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Wine Cigars

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When Big Smoke and Whisky Fest came together for a celebration of cigars in Florida.

CONTENTS 56 OTLVEGAS.COM PAGE 5

There’s something about the charisma of South African wines. Once you experience it, you’ll come back for more.

From the Publisher

Welcome to the Summer 2023 issue of OTL VEGAS Magazine. While each issue we publish is a testament to our unwavering commitment to showcasing the best in leisure and lifestyle, this one holds a special place in my heart.

In this issue, we highlight an extraordinary individual, an accomplished career and most importantly, a dear friend of mine—Patrick Oldacre. He’s not just any friend; I consider him my lifelong brother. You may think this as favoritism or buddyism, sure, but the essence of OTL Magazines lies in its mission to highlight exceptional individuals, and I believe there’s no one more deserving than Pat. Considering, I’ve owned the magazine for 21 years, I’d say it’s about time.

Penned by our veteran writer Mike Bailey, this insightful feature on Pat is bound to resonate with our readers. You’ll come to understand why, from my perspective, he is the embodiment of fairness, honesty, and thoughtfulness. So much so, that I’d be the first one to endorse his name for the position of PGATOUR commissioner. His unwavering principles, in my opinion, make him an unparalleled candidate for the role.

The Summer 2023 issue also boasts a wealth of diverse content. It is quite literally sizzling, inside and out, featuring narratives that transport you to fabulous destinations, from bustling city centers to tranquil hideaways. We know the art of vacationing is

multifaceted, so we’ve covered it all. Whether you’re planning an exotic getaway, a quaint staycation, or even a rejuvenating resort stay, we’ve got you covered.

A highlight of this issue is our in-depth look at a truly sweet ride, the Aston Martin. It’s setting new standards in luxury and performance. For the automobile aficionados among you, it promises to be a real treat.

Of course, what’s a summer without a new, exciting game? Pickleball, the latest sports sensation sweeping the nation and beyond, finds a special place in this issue. If you’re yet to join the bandwagon, consider this your official invitation. Pick up a racket and experience the thrill and joy that this burgeoning sport has to offer.

From the best places to stay and play to exploring vibrant new trends, this issue is crafted to make your summer memorable. The team and I have poured our hearts and souls into creating an issue that not only entertains and informs but inspires you to make the most of this sun-soaked season.

Get ready to for a leisurely journey with us. Here’s to making this the best summer you’ve ever had!

Play well, play on.

@otlvegas

PUBLISHER

Sedric Walker

ART DIRECTOR

Leticia Galarza

GOLF FEATURES EDITOR

Carl Mickelson

@otlvegas

FEATURES EDITOR

Richard Arebalo

TEACHING PROFESSIONAL

Buck Mayers

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kevin Chin

otlvegas.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Scott Laird, Teresa K. Traverse

Tomas Zilinskis, Allison Loots, Leslie Stevenson, Nicole Pinter, Hunter Ham, Alejandra Barnard

INTERNET & DIGITAL

Mario Rossi

FOR ADVERTISING OR EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

OTL_VEGAS magazine is published bi-monthly by Pristine Media, Inc. Executive, editorial,and advertising offices are located in Round Rock, Texas. Advertising rates furnished upon request. Advertisers warrant and represent that the descriptions and depictions of the products or services advertised are true in all respects. All advertising is subject to approval before acceptance. OTL reserves the right to refuse any ad for anyreason whatsoever. ©2023 by OTL. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in whole or part without the express written consent of OTL is strictly prohibited. Editorial queries and manuscripts should be directed to the editor via email, editor@otlgolf.com. All letters and their contents sent to OTL are sole property of OTL and may be used, printed, and published in any matter whatsoever without limit, obligation and liability to the author thereof. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and artists and not necessarily those of OTL or its advertisers. Manuscripts should be accompanied by self-addressed, stamped envelopes. OTL assumes no responsibility or liability for the return of unsolicited artwork, manuscripts or pictures. Printed in the USA.

California’s Central Coast Abundant Wonders

STORY BY SCOTT LAIRD

California’s Central Coast abounds with wonders both natural and man-made—take a road trip on scenic Highway 1 to discover them all.

alifornia’s Highway 1 is the stuff of travel legend. It’s been a siren call to travelers almost as long as the highway has been in existence—running the full length of the Golden State’s Pacific Coast from San Diego to the Oregon border. Some of the most spectacular scenery along the route can be found in San Luis Obispo County on the Central Coast, with green hills, wide, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliff faces marking the stretches between the small communities dotting the ocean front.

At first glance, Cayucos looks like any other California beach town. Endless blue sky, an ancient pier, a wide expanse of beach attracting everybody from morning dog walkers to tenacious wet-suited surfers. A street of historic buildings, once saloons, banks, lodging houses, are now given over to coffee shops, bars, sweet shops, and the other trappings of a town that

earns its livelihood on tourism.

At the turn of the last century, Cayucos was as a port, shipping milk and lumber to the rest of the west coast from the pier. As intrastate travel transitioned from coastal steamship to automobile in the early decades of the century, the town shrank and fell into slow decline. It was a resurgence in interest in tourism on the Central Coast that revived its fortunes, and Cayucos is now a popular getaway for city dwellers from both directions on Highway 1.

There are a number of lodging options in town, but one of the newer ones is of note. The Pacific Motel is a refurbished motel property that has a younger, more contemporary feel than some of the

other properties in town, which seem to have remained true to their mid-century or coastal design aesthetics. The Pacific Motel borrows design ethos from California’s surf culture. Immediately upon stepping into guest rooms (some in the main building, others casita-style) take in the aroma of coconut-scented surf wax (fragrancesensitive guests can request housekeeping refrain from scenting their room).

The atmosphere is convivial—there are communal outdoor seating areas between many of the rooms and casitas, and the owners of the motel even parked and re-

furbished a food truck on site to provide snacks and drinks into the evening so guests can mingle and enjoy the region’s fine weather.

For a more traditional, oceanfront options, visitors can motor into the Shoreline Inn. Units here are rather apartment-style, with cozy seating areas and microwaves available for simple in-room meals. The Inn is so close to the beach that the sound of the surf can actually be a distraction if the door is left open (although many beach lovers will view this as an added amenity.)

The wineries in nearby Paso Robles are a draw for many to the region, but travelers want to stick to the coast can drop into the oceanfront Hearst Ranch Winery in San Simeon to taste some of their wines overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and perhaps try a lobster roll from the on-site food truck. There’s also a tasting room in Paso Robles for travelers wanting a more wine-focused journey.

Across the street, of course, is one of the Central Coast’s most-visited attractions. Hearst Castle, the estate of media magnate William Randolph Hearst, is a hilltop mansion now owned by the State of California and operated as a state park. Construction began in 1919 and continue for much of the next few decades. The house was originally intended for Hearst’s family, but he ultimately occupied it with his mistress, actress Marion Davies. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, until Hearst left the home due to declining health in 1947, the pair hosted weekend parties for friends, who stayed in one of three lavish guesthouses. Evenings always followed the same format—cocktails, dinner, and a film in the purpose-built cinema. Otherwise, guests were left to their own devices during the day, where they could enjoy the hilltop views, play tennis, ride through the estate on horseback, or take a dip in the sumptuous outdoor Neptune Pool. Both the indoor and outdoor pools, the interior of the house, and the grounds are stuffed

full of ancient from virtually every period in history, making any visit to the castle a bonus lesson in art history.

Several tours, including the popular Grand Rooms Tour, Upstairs Suites Tour, and Cottages & Kitchen Tour (all of which include the exterior grounds and both swimming pools) can be booked in advance or on-site, although more popular weekend and holiday times may sell out quickly.

An attraction that does require advance reservations is Piedras Blancas Light Station. There’s a historic light station tower for those who are keen on the history and operation of lighthouses, but even more interesting are the wildlife that take up residence in the rocky coves surrounding the light station. Visitors can peer over the cliffs to see elephant seals, a variety of seabirds, sea otters, and often orcas or other whales (in season) surfacing off the coast. The walking trail is an easy half mile, and volunteer docents are on hand during tours to provide commentary about the history of the light station and details about the wildlife that visitors can see during the tour.

If visitors don’t get enough wildlife in at

the light station, or are unable to make reservations, there’s a viewing area on the highway just south for visitors to pull in and wander along the wooden walkway set above the shore to watch elephant seals nap on the beach and awkwardly tumble in and out of the water.

Visitors wanting to stay closer to San Simeon than Cayucos might book a room in Cambria, which offers a distinctive split personality. Part of Cambria’s downtown is located slightly inland, with East and West downtown locations set in the hills just above the Pacific. Visitors here can find a B&B, or wander through dining and shops (Cambria is known for being home to number of antique shops). Visitors who want to stay within earshot of the Pacific can book a number of lodging options right on the waterfront, but it’s worth noting that area is more residential in feel, and there are fewer shops and services available, aside from a handful of restaurants, mostly situated within the lodgings.

Visitors can learn more about the spectacular stretch of Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County by visiting the dedicated Highway 1 Discovery Route website at highway1roadtrip.com.

Powering Your Golf Swing: The Role of Deadlifts

STORY BY LESLIE STEVENSON

While maintaining mobility and balance are helpful in most sports, developing a powerful swing is essential to have success in golf. Any well-rounded athlete can attest to practicing different types of exercise to keep themselves in their best shape. Relying solely on strength training, cardio, or stretching and expecting to perform at your best and stay healthy would be like trying to master a new instrument while only studying the sheet music but never practicing.

An important muscle group to focus on for a powerful golf swing is the lower back. Yes, a great amount of your power generates from the glutes and proper form, however; having a strong low back will help avoid fatigue and assist in preventing future injury.

Among the exercises for the lower back, a deadlift is an excellent compound movement to add to your routine for several reasons. When executed properly, the deadlift works on several muscle groups, mainly being hamstrings, glutes and back. This is a fundamental movement as it will build strength to reduce injury in

golfers. We know that with strength, speed often follows, and unless you are putting, speed is crucial in your golf swing.

It is critical that deadlifts are done safely to be most effective but also to avoid hurting yourself. Too often, people use their backs as the main source of strength. The initial power should come from the legs and glutes, all the while engaging your entire back from set up to follow through. This exercise can be done in a variety of ways including single leg deadlifts (you can use a kettlebell or a dumbbell), Romanian deadlift, Sumo, Conventional Trap bar or Stiff leg, just to name a few. Try a few different lifts to see which best suits you and perfect the mechanics.

Deadlifts will undoubtedly increase your power and speed; be patient with the progression and the results will speak for themselves. As you gradually add intensity to your strength training, you will see improvement in your performance in the gym and on the green.

The best hip opener yoga poses for golfers

STORY BY NICOLE PINTER

Having proper hip mobility is an essential piece of any golfer’s game. A golfer who has tight hips can develop compensatory movements. It can also cause pain and injuries. Establishing and maintaining hip mobility allows for golfers to have a smoother turn in their backswing and downswing. It also helps increase power by allowing for the optimal rotation needed during the golf swing. Hip-opener yoga poses are essential for a better game.

The following yoga poses can help you to increase hip mobility.

Pigeon Pose

Make sure to do gentle hip openers and stretches before attempting the pigeon pose.

1. Start on your hands and knees with your knee aligned with your hips and your wrists aligned with your shoulders.

2. Bend your right knee and bring it to a comfortable position between your hands.

Try to make sure your right foot is touching your left hip. Keep your hips touching the ground.

3. Take your left leg and stretch fully behind you while tucking your toes under your feet.

4. Hold this pose for a few breaths. Change to the opposite leg.

Half child’s pose with internal hip rotation

1. Half child’s pose with internal hip rotation

Trains internal hip rotation; stabilizes and lengthens lower back muscles; stretches upper back and shoulders; encourages ankle mobility.

Butterfly pose

A classic hip opener is the butterfly pose is suitable for all levels, so it’s a helpful addition to most yoga routines. Because the posture improves flexibility and reduces tension, it’s ideal for people who have tight hips.

1. Begin in a seated position.

2. Gently bend your knees and press the soles of your feet together.

3. Interlace your fingers around the pinkie-toe side of your feet or place your hands on your ankles or shins.

4. Lengthen your spine and broaden across your chest.

5. Stay in this position for up to 5 minutes.

Reclining Butterfly Pose

It is a restorative pose that is an excellent hip and chest opener. Due to its reclining posture and relaxing effect, it is often performed toward the end of a yoga session.

1. Lie down on your yoga mat with your legs bent at the knee and feet grounded.

2. Keep the feet together and by externally rotating your hips, tilt both the knees sideways.

3. Bring the soles of your feet together, just like you would in the seated version of this pose.

4. Pigeon pose.

Saving for Retirement and a Child’s Education at the Same Time

STORY BY AUSTIN ASSET

You want to retire comfortably when the time comes. You also want to help your child go to college. So how do you juggle the two? The truth is, saving for your retirement and your child’s education at the same time can be a challenge. But take heart — you may be able to reach both goals if you make some smart choices now.

Know what your financial needs are

The first step is to determine your financial needs for each goal. Answering the following questions can help you get started:

FOR RETIREMENT:

• How many years until you retire?

• Does your company offer an employer-sponsored retirement plan or a pension plan? Do you participate? If so, what’s your balance? Can you estimate what your balance will be when you retire?

• How much do you expect to receive in Social Security benefits? (One way to get an estimate of your future Social Security benefits is to use the benefit calculators available on the Social Security Administration’s website, www.ssa.gov. You can also sign up for a My Social Security account so that you can view your online Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor’s, and disability benefits.)

• What standard of living do you hope to have in retirement? For example, do you want to travel extensively, or will you be happy to stay in one place and live more simply?

• Do you or your spouse expect to work part-time in retirement?

FOR COLLEGE:

• How many years until your child starts college?

• Will your child attend a public or private college? What’s

the expected cost?

• Do you have more than one child whom you’ll be saving for?

• Does your child have any special academic, athletic, or artistic skills that could lead to a scholarship?

• Do you expect your child to qualify for financial aid

• Do you plan to cover the entire cost, or would you like the child to bear some of the responsibility?

Many on-line calculators are available to help you predict your retirement income needs and your child’s college funding needs.

Figure out what you can afford to put aside each month

After you know what your financial needs are, the next step is to determine what you can afford to put aside each month. To do so, you’ll need to prepare a detailed family budget that lists all of your income and expenses. Keep in mind, though, that the amount you can afford may change from time to time as your circumstances change. Once you’ve come up with a dollar amount, you’ll need to decide how to divvy up your funds.

RETIREMENT TAKES PRIORITY

Though college is certainly an important goal, you should probably focus on your retirement if you have limited funds. With generous corporate pensions mostly a thing of the past, the burden is primarily on you to fund your retirement. But if you wait until your child is in college to start saving, you’ll miss out on years of potential tax-deferred growth and compounding of your money. Remember, your child can always attend college by taking out loans (or maybe even with scholarships), but there’s no such thing as a retirement loan. If possible, save for your retirement and your child’s college at the same time

Ideally, you’ll want to try to pursue both goals at the same time. The more money you can save for college bills now, the less money you or your child will need to borrow later. Even if you can allocate only a small amount to your child’s college fund, say $50 or $100 a month, you might be surprised at how much you can accumulate over many years. For example, if you saved $100 every month and earned 8% annually, you would have $18,415 in your child’s college fund after 10 years. (This example is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent a specific investment. Investment returns will fluctuate and cannot be guaranteed.)

If you are unsure about how to allocate funds between retirement and college, a professional financial planner may be able to help. This person can also help you select appropriate investments for each goal. Remember, just because you are pursuing both goals at the same time doesn’t necessarily mean that the same investments will be suitable. It may be appropriate to treat each goal independently.

HELP! I CAN’T MEET BOTH GOALS

If the numbers say that you can’t afford to educate your child or retire with the lifestyle you expected, you’ll probably have

to make some sacrifices. Here are some suggestions:

• Defer retirement: The longer you work, the more money you will earn and the later you’ll need to dip into your retirement savings.

• Work part-time during retirement.

• Reduce your standard of living now or in retirement: You might be able to adjust your spending habits now to have more money later. Or, you may want to consider cutting back in retirement.

• Invest more aggressively: If you have several years until retirement or college, you might be able to earn more money by investing more aggressively (but remember that aggressive investments mean a greater risk of loss). Note that no investment strategy can guarantee success.

• Expect your child to contribute more money to college: Despite your best efforts, your child may need to take out student loans or work part-time to earn money for college.

• Send your child to a less expensive school: You may have dreamed your child would follow in your footsteps and attend an Ivy League school. However, unless your child is awarded a scholarship, you may need to lower your expectations.

• Think of other creative ways to reduce education costs: Your child could attend a local college and live at home to save on room and board, enroll in an accelerated program to graduate in three years instead of four, take advantage of a cooperative education where paid internships alternate with course work, or defer college for a year or two and work to earn money for college.

CAN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS BE USED TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE?

Yes. Should they be? That depends on your family’s circumstances. We generally discourage paying for college with funds from a retirement account; even more so if using retirement funds for a child’s college education will leave you with no funds in your retirement years. With that said, you can certainly tap your retirement accounts to help pay the college bills if you need to. With IRAs, you can withdraw money penalty free for college expenses, even if you’re under age 59½ (though there may be income tax consequences for the money you withdraw).

However, with an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k) or 403(b), you’ll generally pay a 10% penalty on any withdrawals made before you reach age 59½ (age 55 or 50 in some cases), even if the money is used for college expenses. There may be income tax consequences, as well. (Check with your plan administrator to see what withdrawal options are available to you in your employer-sponsored retirement plan.)

College is a big hurdle, and if history is any indication of what is to come, costs could continue to rise. As with any goal, consistently saving is usually the best strategy.

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Living Inside the View at The Boulders

STORY BY CARL MICKELSON

Who doesn’t love a room with a view, to be able to see a thrilling landscape or iconic tourist attraction just a few feet from where you’ve been binging Forensic Files and keeping the Keurig purring all morning? It’s quite another thing, though, to inhabit the actual space people travel hours and hours to see in person. At the Boulders Resort & Spa in the North Scottsdale section known as the town of Carefree, you’re one of the figures in the postcard as your casita is found not just facing the best views, but sitting exactly IN the rapturous boulder-strewn Sonoran Desert setting that has to be seen to be believed.

he unspoiled 1,300-acre property’s namesake (and 12-million-year-old) boulders are found in artful, unusual formations throughout the property highlight a desert canvas that also affords visitors miles-long views of the surrounding desert and angular and inspiring mountain formations like the nearby Black Mountain. In some cases, those boulders can be seen resting in precarious and physics-defying positions as if dropped there by gods and sprinkled throughout the rugged landscape.

I had played golf at The Boulders twice before, but this was the first time I’d have the chance to stay a couple of nights and soak in the magic of the property. I learned in my mini-hikes around the resort that it was important its developers, Rusty Lyon and Laurence Rockefeller back in the 1980s, that the resort always look true to its natural setting. You’ll see palm trees and floral embellishments at other properties, but never at The Boulders, where nature is allowed to speak for itself. And it does, proudly and distinctively.

Our casita, which was kind of like the luxury version of a cabin or teepee, was perched high above the iconic fifth green of the famous South Course, presenting stirring natural views of the magnificent desert, boulders and surrounding mountains. Each casita is elegantly appointed with modern design that also pays fitting homage to the Native American heritage for which the region has become synonymous. There are no rooms in the main lodge – only casitas that are a short (but not flat or boring walk) away from the resort’s main dining and social complex. Whether you choose to relax poolside in the intimate swim park setting enveloped by boulders and hillsides or indoors the inviting Discovery Lounge, you’ll feel the comforts of home and the energy of the desert simultaneously, a feeling that’s really hard to beat. We found Discovery Lounge’s wine selection just as impressive as its cozy interior design with comfortable lounging spaces, a fireplace, high ceiling and huge windows overlooking the pool area and the one-of-a-kind boulder formation.

Golf Course.

The dining at the Boulders is also first rate, I enjoyed a peaceful breakfast at the elegantly inviting Palo Verde restaurant, opting for a Southwestern take on an omelet, which hit all the marks. Even though, I saw creative touches on other people’s plates like the blue corn pancakes and some thoughtfully prepared smoothies, I was glad I loaded up on proteins prior to heading to the golf course.

It’s always a particular pleasure to play the South Course at the Boulders, a quintessential desert golf stunner that makes brilliant use of the breathtaking landscape that surrounds the property. I always find this course plays longer than the yardage, and that playing shots from the correct side of the fairway is a big key to scoring. Beyond the shot values and exceptional playability of the South Course, though, what stands out is how connected to nature the layout is from the first hole to the 18th green.

I was also anticipating this round because both the South and North courses recently underwent

a refinement all bunkers were excavated and rebuilt incorporating a technically advanced drainage and liner system featuring Capillary Concrete to minimize washouts, reduce maintenance and produce better playability. Every green complex on the South Course was also restored to the original shape and size, and were resurfaced greens with TifEagle turf, the wildly-popular ultra-dwarf hybrid green that offers improved speed, consistency and playability as well as smooth transitions during seasonal weather changes.

The Boulders’ bunker renovation project and South Course refinement project comes on the heels of ownership’s recent investment in a stateof-the-art pump station designed to support efficient irrigation practices and enhancing turf health. In addition, Ryan Schroeder joined the Boulders Club as Director of Agronomy and Brandon Christensen was appointed the new Director of Golf Operations and is now at the helm of all golf programs, golf shop operations, golf course maintenance, tennis operations and the Boulders Club membership.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOULDERS RESORT & SPA SCOTTSDALE

I had played the South Course almost exactly a year prior to my December visit to the Boulders, so the refinements to the golf course were very evident. The fairways, bunkers and greens were all sharp with an aesthetic strong enough to host a made-for-TV event at a moment’s notice. And it’s only going to get better as it matures.

The impeccable 6,917-yard, par-71 (or 72 if you play #8 as a par 5) South Course, designed by the masterful Jay Morrish fits seamlessly with the desert landscape. Te serpentine par-5 fifth hole plays 540 yards, requiring a shot that needs to land in the fairway, short of the dry creek bed that runs across the width of the fairway. And as you blast your second shot at the elevated landing area, you can’t help but start to appreciate the large signature boulder formation that sits behind the green. It’s massive and awe inspiring.

There’s a great continuity of character as the course winds from the front nine to the back. The second nine delivers a tasty menu of three par threes, three par fours and three par fives. The 12th is a fun short par 4 that plays be-

PHOTOS

COURTESY OF BOULDERS RESORT & SPA SCOTTSDALE

Rosies Rock .

South Course.

tween 254 and 348, depending on which tees you’re playing and back-to-back par threes at 15 and 16 grab your focus while fitting perfectly into the serene desert setting. One of my favorite things about playing the boulders is all the wildlife encounters. It’s the desert version of a Safari. I like to run through the checklist if we are going to see bobcats, javelinas, jack rabbits, or coyotes.

In between shots on the South Course, you realize what an embarrassment of riches this property is from a geographic and natural scenery standpoint. For a glimmer of a second, you even feel a little guilty that you’re on a golf course, instead of a maybe just modest, smaller-footprint hiking trail, or some sort of observation point. The views are that breathtaking. You almost wonder if the golf routing was the right use for such a sublime stretch of land, then you realize the journey the golf course takes you on makes it possible to see this rare landscape from so many exceptional vantage points. At their best, golf courses take you on a journey and allow you to gain a deeper appreciation for the environment around you. The Boulders is a thrilling example a great design by Morrish meeting an incomparable Sonoran Desert site. To enter this property is to escape everything outside of it and indulge in one of those singular experiences in nature that just happen too rarely.

The South Courses’s finishing hole is a heroic par-five finishing hole that stretches to 583 yards from the tips, but just a tantalizing 514 from the blue and white tees. A generously and gently uphill fairway sets up an approach that must take the pond fronting the front-right side of the green into consideration. The 18th is a fitting end to a collection of holes each beautifully framed by the rugged desert foothills and namesake boulders all around.

As you would expect at a 36-hole property that’s part of an award-winning luxury resort, the practice facilities are ample and impeccable for working on every phase of your game. The Boulders Golf Academy features lessons from talented PGA and LPGA instructors including Donald Crawley, a Class A member of both the British and United States PGA. Ranked by GOLF Magazine as one of the Top 100 Teachers in America, he is also recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best Teachers in Arizona. The new Orange Whip GFX Golf and Fitness program combines golf instruction with fitness by developing and strengthening the five golf swing skills through functional golf movements performed within a specific golf workout and uses a 4D Motion Sensor with results that instantly improves the game.

The Spa at the Boulders is a 33,000-square-foot escape with 24 treatment rooms and a full menu of invigorating experiences, including a revitalizing Turquoise Wrap, a path-to-tranquility labyrinth, an authentic teepee for guided meditation, a private Watsu therapy pool, and Vichy showers. We only caught glimpses of the spa on our short stay, but we heard great things about it. We’ve also added the Spotted Donkey - the on-site Mexican Cantina, which blends native cuisine with modern décor and a festive atmosphere – and, of course playing the Jay Morrish-designed North Course on a return visit to The Boulders. The nearly four dozen tequila options at the Spotted Donkey also sound enticing.

So many great little moments stand out, but just walking and exploring these faithfully maintained ancient grounds was unforgettable. From the Sunset Point overlook, not far from the pool area, you can see miles and miles of desert and mountains and even a glimpse back toward Scottsdale and Phoenix. It’s a sense of place and inspiration I can’t recommend enough. Learn more at www.theboulders.com

DECODING GOLF DRESS CODES:

Contrasting Attire Expectations at Public and Private Courses

STORY BY ALEJANDRA BARNARD

On the other hand, private golf courses typically enforce a more formal dress code policy. Golf attire, including collared shirts, longer skirts or dresses, and proper golf shoes, is usually mandatory. Private courses prioritize a more traditional and refined atmosphere, upholding the traditions and etiquette associated with the game. It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the specific dress code of the private course you plan to visit.

Regardless of where you choose to play, contacting the pro-shop a few days before your tee time can help you gather accurate information regarding their dress code policy and avoid any surprises the day of your golf game.

You can follow my golf journey on Instagram @golfmami_ and visit my website at www.mamiunlimited.com.

When it comes to golf, dress codes can vary depending on whether you’re playing at a public or private golf course. The distinction between the two lies in the level of strictness and formality associated with their dress code policies. Public courses generally adopt a more relaxed and laid-back approach, while private courses tend to adhere to a stricter dress code.

At public golf courses, players often have more flexibility in their attire choices. Short skirts, tank tops, and leggings are commonly accepted. The focus is usually on comfort and freedom of movement, allowing players to enjoy the game without being overly concerned about their outfits.

On Trend: The Power of Pickleball

The country’s fastest-growing sport is popping up in spades at luxury resorts and country clubs.

STORY BY TERESA K. TRAVERSE

ou’ve no doubt heard of (and maybe have even played) pickleball. More than 36.5 million individuals took to a pickleball court to play from August 2021 to August 2022, according to a study released by The Association of Pickleball Association. The fastest-growing sport in the United States for the third year in a row—according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association—has also attracted the attention of many A-listers too. Athletes like NBA star LeBron James, NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and retired football pro Tom Brady have all invested in pro pickleball teams. Many luxe resorts and country clubs have also added pickleball courts to their properties due to its popularity. Take a closer look at this trendy sport.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball was invented in 1965. After hitting the links one Saturday, Washington state congressman Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell went to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, roughly 35 minutes by ferry from Seattle. Bored and looking for an activity to occupy their time, Pritchard and Bell started playing with ping-pong paddles on a badminton court, according to a story published on the website of the United States Amateur Pickleball Association (USAPA). The following weekend, their friend Barney McCallum was introduced to the game at Pritchard’s home. Those three men are credited with developing the sport. According to the USAPA’s website, their intention was to create a sport the whole family could play.

Why the surge in popularity?

Many high-end resort and country club throughout the nation have taken note of all of this buzz around the sport and have either built pickleball courts or converted tennis courts to pickleball courts. Some believe that pickleball has grown because it’s easier to learn how to play than other sports like tennis and golf. Pickleball courts are smaller than tennis courts, and the nets are lower.

“It’s an easy sport to be able to play socially and pickup,” says Andrew Seidenberg, head pickleball professional at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Scottsdale. “It’s a sport that people of all ages can have fun playing together, even if you’re not exactly at the same ability.”

Pickleball games are also shorter—lasting from as little as 15 minutes to as long as 30 minutes—making it a breeze to get in a quick game.

Seidenberg’s been working for the resort for more than three years. Roughly four years ago, The Phoenician constructed a new athletic club outfitted with two pickleball and seven tennis courts. Two more pickleball courts are being constructed. Seidenberg tells us that many corporations will come to the resort and play pickleball as a team building event.

“We can literally teach them the rules and the basic shots and some basic takeaways in as little as 15 minutes, 20 to get them going. And literally, by the end of the first half hour, they’re playing legitimate pickleball points and having fun,” says Seidenberg.

Pickleball and luxury

The connection between pickleball and luxury isn’t necessarily an obvious one, but there is a link between the two.

“The demographic of pickleball just seems like it’s very similar to those who are attracted to golf and tennis,” says Seidenberg. “There’s just a type of athlete that gravitates to resorts like The Phoenician. So therefore, it’s a natural add on.”

Additionally, due to the smaller size of a pickleball court, it’s much more intimate and doesn’t require as much physical space to play.

“The footprint is small,” he says. “It’s another activity that you can easily bring home without taking up too much space.”

Another high-end hotel that’s added pickleball to its grounds is Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa—formerly known as the Paradise Valley Racquet Club in the 1950s and the John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch in 1965—has three pickleball courts in addition to its four tennis courts and professionals that can teach students how to play. Another luxe resort that has capitalized on the pickleball trend is the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Guests requested a pickleball court back in 2016, and tennis courts were marked to accommodate them. In 2017, club members asked for temporary courts. Today, the property is home to a total of 17 courts and includes one stadium pickleball court. The property claims it has the most number of pickleball courts of any resort in the country. The hotel also employs full-time instructors and has a racquet center. One true highlight: Recess Pickleball has crafted custom pad

JW Marriot Pickleball Center Court 2.

dles that are available exclusively at the property. The resort even offers two different memberships that include complimentary lessons, guest passes, 50 percent off guest rooms, discounts on resort dining and gear.

Seeing as pickleball is an easier sport to pick up than tennis, it also tends to be seen as being more approachable. Stuart McNicol, racquet center manager of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, has observed pickleball surging in popularity over tennis and sees the link between pickleball and luxury.

“Pickleball is overtaking tennis, which has been known for decades as a highly esteemed sport played at luxury clubs. Those same courts are being converted to pickleball courts. Many of those who played tennis are also converting to pickleball. It is by no surprise that pickleball is associated with luxury,” says Stuart McNicol, racquet center manager of the hotel.

Naturally, pickleball has taken off at country clubs too. Two of the owners of The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas, wanted to add pickleball courts to the clubs’ recreational offerings. The club has two permanent courts and the capacity for an extra four pickleball courts for a total of six. Much like The Phoenician, The Clubs at Houston Oaks also hosts team building events and pickleball tournaments that many participants seem to enjoy.

Enjoyment is a key aspect of the sport. Pickleball is not only great exercise, it’s just plain fun.

“We have a very active membership, and they are always looking for themes,” says Jennifer Herring, director of club operations at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas.

One popular theme? Disco. There’s also a Halloween night.

“People will come in their retro outfits, and we’ll get the music pumping. I’ve even seen wigs,” says Herring. “Pickleball, even the name, it alludes to something not so serious. So they can have a beverage and play.”

And kids love the sport as much as their parents. It’s typically a sport they can pick up quickly. Pickleball has even been added into Houston Oak’s summer camp programming.

“It is really remarkable, honestly, to see some kids that have done tennis lessons with me for a while get out on a pickleball court and immediately be able to maintain rallies, and play points way easier than they ever were in tennis. The growth potential for kids programming is huge,” says Wes Lemke, the director of racquets at the club.

Pickleball also gives members of Houston Oaks a chance to really let loose.

“Most of our members have memberships at River Oaks and all your downtown clubs, but when they come out here, they really let their hair down,” says Herring. “The inner kid is wanting to come out, and I think pickleball, just as the name eludes, lets that happen.”

The Phoenician Athletic Club With Courts.

FIERY

Hip, lively and high-end Mexican restaurant Toca Madera brings the (literal) fire to Scottsdale and Las Vegas. A Houston location is slated to arrive in the fall of 2023.

STORY BY TERESA K. TRAVERSE

FARE

oca Madera is a modern Mexican restaurant that has taken off in multiple cities due to its dynamic cuisine and lively atmosphere. The first location opened in Los Angeles’ West Hollywood neighborhood back in 2015. The same brand ethos—an earthy atmosphere combined with organic, shared plates featuring creative and inventive Mexican cuisine—is what drives Toca’s additional locations. Toca Madera is operated by the hospitality group Noble 33 in partnership with

The Madera Group. The other locations are in Scottsdale and Las Vegas.

Ever since Toca Madera opened its doors in Scottsdale in October of 2019, the LA-based restaurant has literally brought fire to the metro Phoenix city. Fire dancers regularly perform at the restaurant and appear in many different social media feeds of recent visitors. This is all part of the brand’s overall goal of creating an unforgettable dining experience.

Photos Toca Madera Scottsdale.

“Every location of Toca Madera has live musicians, DJs and fire performers. Toca Madera’s identity revolves around creating a high-energy and immersive dining experience that your table can talk about in the moment and remember for years to come. The fire dancers are one of many ways Toca Madera accomplishes that,” according to a statement from the brand. Entertainment is important to Toca. You may also hear live music inside, and you will for sure hear a vibrant soundtrack. On the restaurant’s website, you’ll even find a link to a Soundcloud playlist of songs you might have heard when dining.

The Scottsdale location’s expansive dining room with high ceilings feels luxe, contemporary and earthy all at once. The natural elements are perhaps the most striking. When the weather is optimal, the roof is open. Trees are also displayed in the dining room. Most of the tables are marble. Wood dividers line the plush booths. Greenery hangs from the bar ceiling that’s made out of wood. The bar itself is marble and eye-catching. When it’s dark outside, the dining room is lit by bright lamps on the tables, chandeliers overhead and even a fireplace by the bar.

Toca Madera is well known for its lively vibe, but equally as renowned for its organic, modern

Mexican cuisine. Specifically, Toca prides itself on its steak selection. The vast meat options include wagyu, Kobe and prime cuts that range in size from two to 40 ounces. One show-stopping dish is the Kobe flight of 3. This entrée showcases Japanese A5, olive Kobe and Japanese A5 “True” Kobe that’s served on a sizzling stone. The rest of the menu is rounded out by salads, fish and meat dishes in addition to classic Mexican appetizers like queso, guacamole and crispy tacos and raw bar plates like ceviche, oysters and Hamachi. The crispy tacos are of some note. Each order includes two tacos that can be filled with a selection of fine ingredients like A5 Wagyu, bluefin tuna and Maine lobster.

Some signature dishes include sashimi Mexicano, a mix of ahi tuna, avocado, cucumber, pomegranate, chile de arbol and leche de tigre. The truffle burger, that’s made with santa Carota beef, white cheddar, mushroom, fresh black truffle and served with fries.

The dessert menu features six decadent items. Diners can order strawberry tres leches, brown butter cake, carrot cake, Oaxacan chocolate mousse, a churro ice cream sandwich and the indulgent dama de los Muertos, peanut butter mousse, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, raspberry coulis and fresh

raspberries. Toca also serves a brunch, happy hour and taqueria menu.

The drinks menu matches the overall high-end, Mexican-influenced fare here. Expect plenty of cocktails made with tequila and mezcal. The cocktail menu features hand-drawn images—they at least appear that way—of all of the drinks. The 30-page menu includes custom cocktails, margaritas, night caps and wines along with a large selection of bottles of tequila and agave.

A handful of drink highlights include Los Muertos— El Tesoro Reposado barrel select, blood orange, lime, activated charcoal agave and hibiscus for a dynamic sweet and savory concoction. The Como La Flor features Codigo Rosa, guava, Lillet Aperitif, lemon and rose water. Margarita flavors range from Thai basil to passion fruit.

We’ve been in the area on the weekends, and there is an unofficial car show outside of Toca Madera’s Scottdale locale with the valets parking high-end vehicles of the restaurant’s guests. Toca Madera is where Scottsdale residents go to see and be seen. The location is more than perfect seeing as Toca Madera is right outside of Scottsdale Fashion Square’s luxury wing, where stores like Dior, Christian Louboutin and Saint Laurent all have boutiques. The restaurant also complements the upscale restaurants surrounding it including legendary sushi spot Nobu and Mediterranean-driven Francine.

Toca’s Las Vegas spot is also housed in luxury. Las Vegas location made its debut in the summer of 2022. Located in between the courtyard of MGM’s Aria Resort & Casino and The Shops at Crystals, the brand’s third location features 220 seats along with a speakeasy and an expansive lounge in a 10,000-square-foot space. In a press release, the company described the design of the restaurant as “modern and organic.” That translates to plush velvet seating, custom woodworking details and design that incorporates plenty of plant life. The food and drinks menu are largely the same. The cocktail and drinks menu at the Vegas location is longer. One different drink is the alcoholic tea Winnie de Pooh, Avion Blanco infused with chamomile, green chartreuse, mint, ginger, lemon and wildflower honey.

Next time you drop by the Sin City locale, be sure to pay close attention to “The Bird’s Nest.” Part of the entry of the restaurant, this art piece resembles a nest and includes green trees and a reflecting pond.

What does the future hold for Toca Madera? Continued expansion. In the fall of 2023, Toca Madera is slated to open another location in Houston. We’re sure it will be a delicious addition to the hip and exciting concept that has curried favor with many diners.

Photos Toca Madera Vegas.

PHOTOS CREDIT TO AVABLU

ost golfers yearn to play Augusta National or Pebble Beach, or maybe Pine Valley, or the Old Course at St. Andrews. All worthy, to be sure, but once you’ve played Quivira, situated in a premier luxury residential and resort area at Land’s End on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, you can put that on your list of most memorable golf experiences ever.

The most obvious reason is the scenery, as in dazzling views at every turn. This is where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, where waves crash into the rocks below, and where they sometimes even afford glimpses of humpback whales. The uniqueness of this brilliant all-paspalum grassed Jack Nicklaus Signature design, which stretches nearly 7,100 yards from the back tees over huge sand dunes and elevation changes, sets up a golf expe-

rience unlike any other.

The golf course is part of an ever-growing master-planned resort community and also an amenity of the adults-only Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort. Tucked away in a secluded valley 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, Pacifica opened in 2005, it has been significantly expanded over the years, most recently with the addition of The Towers and its 47 modern, luxurious guest suites, as well as the VIP Whale Watching Lounge.

The Towers are a deluxe “resort within the resort” at Pacifica, where guests are pampered with their own personal butler on call, and can take advantage of breakfast, snacks and drinks at the VIP Lounge, where they can enjoy panoramic ocean views and possible whale sightings. Memorable, to say the least, as are the half dozen or so incredibly tasty res-

STORYBY MIKE BAILEY

Hole 6 and 7 aerial view.

taurants at the resort, the 2 1/2 miles of pristine beaches, and the Armonia Spa, which can melt away any of the bad holes you might have earlier that day.

In truth, though, it really is hard to have a bad hole on the golf course, no matter what your score is.

First opened in 2014, it’s evolved a bit, much of it out of necessity.

A new beach club for the residents, located between the golf clubhouse and the ocean, prompted some of the redesign. In the end, logistics dictated that the former 18th hole, a difficult par 4 in the afternoon, would become the first (it’s easier in the morning when the winds are calmer). To give the course better flow, the old, difficult par-4 17th was removed, and a new par-18th was built. That means that the rest of the holes were all moved down one. The old first became the second, the fifth became the sixth, and so on.

That sixth, by the way, is the most talked about hole on the course. Golfers have a loveit or hate-it kind of relationship with it, prob-

ably depending on their success there. It’s a par 4 that’s just a little more than 300 yards from the tips, and it plays downhill, so it’s drivable. But it’s mostly blind, and even if you play it conservatively, you’re probably at the mercy of the wind and maybe a kind or unkind bounce.

From the fifth green, the cart ride to the sixth is about a mile, but when you get there, there are refreshments waiting for you at the first comfort station on the golf course. Even if you think the cart ride is too long, or the hole is too quirky, it always makes an indelible impression. Make a par or better there, and you’ll always remember how you conquered it.

The truth is that the hole is probably a little more fair these days. In 2017, it incurred much damage from Hurricane Lidia. It was rebuilt with a wider fairway, so there’s a better chance off the tee that you can find a landing spot if you decide to lay up (the smarter choice) with a hybrid or iron.

“We got 27 inches of rain in about nine hours,” recalled Antonio Reynante, director of golf at Quivira. “We had to rebuild some areas, including that hole. It’s a better hole now.”

Tee in the morning.

But while the sixth is always a conversation, the next hole, the par-3 seventh, which plays over a piece of the ocean, is a great hole. And the rest of the golf course is pretty neat, too.

The new 18th hole, which has a huge waste bunker to either miss or carry off the tee with fairway left and a difficult sloped green, was completed in February of 2022. Last fall, the official switch was flipped. All the hole signs and cart signs had to be changed overnight, and the GPS system on the carts was also updated overnight. From one day to the next, a memorable golf course became a different -- and better golf course.

One of the biggest benefits of the alterations was that the original “Oasis” comfort station came after the eighth hole. Now it comes after the par-4 ninth.

In countries like Mexico (and some other parts of the world), you can, and are encouraged, take a

real break after the opening nine. The Oasis, where you can get a burger or tacos and certainly a cocktail or beer, is a place where a group can easily spend 15-30 minutes, rehashing the front side and getting refueled.

“One of the biggest benefits is that the Oasis is now a true halfway stop instead,: Reynante said. “Before, you still had to play one more hole, which is a long par-3 (222 yards from the tips) to finish your front nine. It was just not perfect. And now it makes sense.”

The Oasis isn’t even the last comfort station on the golf course. If you’re still hungry or thirsty, there’s another at the 17th tee, where you can usually get a small sandwich, another snack and a frosty Pacifico cerveza if you like. It sets you up for a fun downhill tee shot to a medium-length par 4, and the new final hole, the difficult par-4 18th.

A couple other holes are certainly worth mentioning, too, though. While the par-3 seventh is a postcard hole, the 13th and 14th are fairly mindblowing as well. The 13th is a 635-yard par-5 downhill double dogleg to the ocean that can be most challenging, especially with the ever present wind. It’s easy to bite off too much on the tee shot and find yourself in a difficult, sandy desert lie right of the fairway. The green is pretty tricky as well, so it’s best to come in with a short club on the approach.

The 14th is a little reminiscent of the seventh at Pebble Beach, a really short, oceanside par-3 that can play two or three different clubs depending on the wind. The green is sloped back to front and left to right, meaning it’s not difficult to spin the ball off the green into the abyss if you hit the wrong spot. A tricky little hole, to be sure.

“I’ve never seen any place that has three holes

hanging out over the ocean like this,” Nicklaus said. “This is a diverse golf course with inland settings. It’s got desert, it’s got rocks, it has a little bit of everything.”

If you’re not a landowner and member of Quivira, the best way to play it is to book a golf package at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica or even one of the other four Pueblo Bonito resorts around Cabo San Lucas. Not only do they give you access to the course (it’s not available to the general public), but guests get a discount on green fees as well.

And while golfers will be thrilled to play Quivira once or twice or more, there’s plenty else to do in the area, like visiting Cabo San Lucas, where you can take in the nightlife, outstanding local dining, and even take a cruise out (courtesy of Cabo Adventures, perhaps) to see the famous Arch of Cabo San Lucas. All of that is pretty memorable too.

I’ve never seen any place that has three holes hanging out over the ocean like this,” Nicklaus said.

Green coastline aerial view.

ON YOUR GAME

Do The Right Thing

STORY BY MIKE BAILEY

fter a perfect and long tee shot on the downhill par-5 ninth hole during a recent round at Highland Pines Golf Club in Porter, Pat Oldacre considered his options. He could play it safe and hit a mid-iron to set up an easy wedge to the green, or try to go for it in two. The second option required him to rip his 5-wood over a tall tree as well as take on a lake, some 240 yards to the green. After a little deliberation, he liked his chances with option no. 2.

If your guess is that Oldacre reached the green in two, you guessed right. But it was never a guess for him. Once he weighed the risk and reward of the shot, he simply committed to it, then executed it to perfection. He didn’t get excited about it one way or another, even after he pulled it off. He had a plan and he followed it, just the way he has with everything in his life.

“Pat is always in control, always even-keeled,” said J.Frank Hernandez, a good friend who has known Oldacre since their college days at Texas A&M University, where they shared a love of hip-hop music and deejaying, and still do (Oldacre’s nickname since high school has been “P-Diddy”). “That’s not to say he is not passionate, because he is. But he’s very, very consistent with how he approaches his life.”

Oldacre, who lives in the north Houston suburb of Spring, is in his second or third act of his professional career (depending on how you look at it), working as a tournament referee (rules official) on the PGA Tour. Now in his third year on the job, he officiates mostly on the Korn Ferry Tour as well as select PGA Tour events. And in case you are wondering, he’s only the second

African-American to ever work as a PGA Tour rules official. The other is Orlando Pope, who gained some notoriety in 1999 when he ruled that Tiger Woods could treat a boulder as a loose impediment and enlist spectators to help move it. Oldacre hasn’t had any rulings that dramatic yet, but there’s still time.

Counting his previous two decades as a lead Shotlink producer for the PGA Tour, Oldacre has been in the golf industry now for nearly 23 years. But a golf career probably never entered his mind after he earned his degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M in 1990. After graduation, he chose a profession that lined up with his college training, spending the first decade of his professional life as an electrical engineer before he made a life-changing decision to follow a new career path, spurred by a growing interest in a sport he took up and fell in love with when he was 27.

For rules official Pat Oldacre, his career and his life are a combination of passion, commitment, and consistency

“I just think it’s a great game,” Oldacre, 54, said. “It’s a game you can play from the age of four or five to age 90. I think it’s a game of integrity And for a kid, it teaches a lot of life lessons, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Oldacre had a mentor to help him along as an adult, but wish he had that growing up on Long Island in New York. It’s why he’s passionate about introducing golf to African Americans at an early age. “Anyone can play with anyone. It’s very social. You can be competitive. It’s strategic. You have to think,” Oldacre said. “And also, when you play, you’re usually out in a nice setting and good weather. It’s really peaceful.”

When decided he wanted to make golf his work, he started looking for avenues to make it happen. “I just knew I wanted a career in golf,” he said.

Fortunately, he had a lot of support, from the friends he’s had since his days at Texas A&M (which he attended on a full academic scholarship), to his family, including his wife, Yvette, an mechanical engineering graduate from Texas A&M who has enjoyed a very successful career with Exxon-Mobil. In fact, they lived on two different coasts for the year or so when Oldacre studied at the Professional Golfers Career College in Temecula, Calif., as the Oldacres were just starting their family.

“I most definitely had her support, and couldn’t have done it without her” said Oldacre, who flew home to Virginia at least once a month during that time.

At golf college, Oldacre made some key contacts and

landed an internship at the Match Play Championship at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. That led to getting hired full-time by the PGA Tour to work on Shotlink, a technology platform that collects and disseminates scoring and statistical data on every shot by every player in real time. No doubt, Oldacre’s analytical skills and background came in handy there, but working on Shotlink, however, meant being inside most of the time. So when he got the opportunity to become a rules official, he relished the chance to get onto the course.

“I like being a rules official better,” Oldacre said. “I loved what I did before, but I was in a control room. I wasn’t really out there, part of the action.”

As a rules official during play, Oldacre is very much like his persona. He doesn’t get excited (as is the case with any good rules official), and handles tough situations calmly. “You get used to delivering bad news, and nobody likes it,” Oldacre said. “I haven’t had anything too crazy.”

One of the more interesting situations, though, came at an overseas Korn Ferry event, where many of the players took local caddies because it’s just too expensive for their regular caddies to make the trip. On this example, a player hit a tee shot that looked as if it might be out of bounds, so he hit a provisional.

“I told him it was out of bounds.” Oldacre recalled. “He went to go

over to his provisional, but his caddie had picked it up. Not only was he out of bounds and had to take stroke and distance, but we had to add another stroke because his caddie picked up his ball... But he was more upset with the caddie than he was with me.”

The truth is, however, that making rulings is a small part of the job. “Most of our time on the course is spent dealing with pace of play, which most people wouldn’t think,” Oldacre said.

He is also part of a group of officials who advance and set up the golf course. Weather, most notably wind and temperature, is a big factor in setup, which includes where the tees are. They also mark the course for penalty areas. “Our mission,” he said, “is to prepare and identify the best players for the PGA Tour.”

How good are these Korn Ferry Tour players? Better than most golf fans realize. Players coming out of college as well as other professionals now go to Q-school to basically qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour (not necessarily the PGA Tour), where they will have a chance to play their way onto the PGA Tour.

“In some cases those guys are better (than many of the PGA Tour players); they just haven’t qualified for the PGA Tour yet,” Oldacre said. “They’re younger, more athletic. They’ve come up in the era of technology and science, diet and stretching. They hit the ball so long.

“They’re so good on the Korn Ferry Tour that it’s really more about making birdies. whereas on the PGA Tour, you kind of see guys playing for their place and money slot, and a lot more conservatively. On the Korn Ferry Tour, there’s not a lot of conservative play. It’s just ‘get after it’ and make birdies.”

As for Oldacre’s golf game, he can make a few birdies as well. A near scratch player, he’s a member at Augusta Pines and its sister course, Highland Pines Golf Club, the new all-zoysia course that has received rave reviews and located in a growing master-planned community northeast of Houston. He plays golf much like he lives his life, methodical and with purpose. And despite his quiet demeanor, he’s very competitive.

Hernandez, a field marketing manager for MolsonCoors Beverage Co. that mostly covers the Houston area, said he’s never beaten Oldacre in match play. And he recalled a time when they were playing and he asked Oldacre for a ruling. “I would say, ‘can I do this?’ And he would say, ‘Not according to the rules.

Hernandez defined Oldacre’s sense of integrity. “By integrity I mean that true definition of wholeness, completeness, like the integrity of a hull of a ship. So it doesn’t surprise me now that Pat’s career has now evolved into him being a rules official. Because in his job I can see him matter-of-factly telling people in the situation that these are the rules, this is how it works, here are your options.”

His even keel, well-thought approach extends into his family life as well. The oldest of three brothers, his parents -- Trevor, a former high school teacher, and Florence, a nursing administrator, instilled the values he lives by today. Pat and Yvette, who have been married for 26 years, now have three grown sons, Miles, 22, Maddox, 19, and Malachi, 18. Miles just graduated from Yale University, where he was a standout defensive player on the Bulldogs’ football team.

“He and Yvette have raised three amazing sons, who I’ve known from the day they were born,” Hernandez said. “There’s a real rock-solid foundation, and yet there’s a humility to it all. For them, this is just how you live.”

You wouldn’t be playing golf. But you do whatever it is you want to do with your life.’”

Is Your Feel Real?

STORY BY BUCK MAYERS

I often encounter the misunderstood assumption by many golfers that they are “a feel player“. It is my opinion that every player is a “feel” player. They base their learning on the premise that their “feel“ is correct or “real“. Golf is a motor skill born from a very athletic movement pattern. Secondly, “feel” is certainly a key factor to improving in golf. Yet, all great players went through the battle of learning, proper fundamentals, the delicate coordination of the body and hands to the golf club, proper sequencing for power generation, and wired mental capacity to perform under pressure.

There is so much available information on golf learning today. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Free instruction by so-called “experts“ is everywhere. It reminds me of the adage of paralysis by analysis and the flavor of the month club. Let’s not forget the CEO Charlies, husbands, and 20 handicap buddy reminders; keep your head down, left arm straight, your eye on the ball, you looked up, turn those

hips…UGH!

Personally, I have found no greater joy and satisfaction than to watch my student’s accomplishments, and success from the simplified guidance of understanding what feel truly means. More times than not, it’s not real at all. It’s just comfortable. As Harvey Penick once said “Don’t confuse comfort with correct. Comfort is what you’re used to“. Most golfers have pre-conceptions of what they think they should be doing or what good players do.

In my 40+ years of watching, listening, learning, in baseball, tennis, and now golf coaching, it is imperative to seek out professional help. There are no shortcuts, get rich quick, or trick method to playing better golf. As in any endeavor, there is a learning curve with practice. The goal is to perform this athletic movement without any conscious thought. But one must not only know what to do, but how to do it, when to do it with a plan. I am grateful to assist my students on this journey!

Buck Mayers is an Emeritus Professional at Escondido Golf & Lake Club in Horseshoe Bay, TX and can

When Accuracy Matters Most, the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift Laser Rangefinder Delivers

STORY BY MARC HALL

If you’re going to play golf for many years, you have to know what kind of person you are on the golf course. Are you the guy who takes on par fives in two, or someone who methodically places the ball in safe spaces, playing to and from predictable yardages. Are you a Breakfast Ball guy? Someone who loads your golf bag with all the essentials? Do you like to play fast or spend the hours regaling your foursome with jokes and stories, smelling all the roses as you go?

Similarly, when it comes to having reliable yardage-to-the-target data, it helps to know if you are a GPS-on-the-app, gadgetlinked-to-your-watch, or a handheld laser rangefinder kind of golfer. I like to play quickly, and I like to be efficient on the course, not keeping anybody waiting unnecessarily. For me, it’s been a Bushnell laser rangefinder that has facilitated that need for more than a decade by being fast, responsive, and accurate with its yardages.

anyone I’ve ever told. It was durable and accurate for all of that time, so trying the latest technology from Bushnell was the ultimate no-brainer. The only question was what new features would be found in the 2023 model, the Tour V6 Shift.

Even for somewhat-fidgety golfers like me, the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift rangefinder is as easy to use as any you’ll try. A single press of the orange power button on top of the unit calls up your aiming sights and displays the yardage. Holding down a second button on top of the unit lets you toggle from yards to meters or tinker with display brightness, but you mostly just push the one button for fast, accurate yardages.

How can we be so sure of that accuracy?

A new feature called Visual Jolt makes the ring around the optical viewfinder light up red and vibrates to leave no doubt when you have locked onto a flagstick. Speaking of features, the “Shift” in the name makes clear that this is Bushnell’s slope-enhanced model which can be easily toggled on and off for legal tournament play of for casual and practice rounds. Slope adjustment is essential for all the rounds I play in the Texas Hill Country.

Staying on trend with features, the hyper-strong BITE Magnetic Mount on the side of the Tour V6 Shift helps you mount the unit on your golf cart for quick, easy access. We’ll make a fast player out of you yet! If you need it, the Tour V6 Shift can accurately spot a flagstick as far out as 500

yards and has 6X magnification to help with adjustment and focus from long range. Bushnell also states that the Tour V6 Shift is the brand’s most weather-resistant rangefinder, satisfying the IPX6 standard of resisting highpressure jets of water.

I try to be polite about this, but so many people have themselves convinced that their mobile apps and other GPS devices are measuring the distance to the flag and not just the center of the green. Frequently, they’re mistaken. I play with a ton of people who stubbornly mis-club because they can’t reconcile this seemingly simple computation. With the Bushnell laser rangefinder, like the new Tour V6 Shift there’s never confusion. I consistently enjoy perfectly accurate yardages to get me around the course quickly, with very minimal fumbling with hardware.

I know app technology and other wearable and smartwatch-responsive technologies have come a long way fast in this yardage-detection space. For me, the laser rangefinder is the most expedient and trustworthy way to dial in yardages and focus on hitting the shots I want to hit. This new Bushnell Tour V6 Shift is the fastest and most feature-rich product I’ve ever used. It retails for $399.99 and if it’s anywhere as durable as my last Bushnell, that’s a solid investment.

If you’re looking for the most accurate way to know, yardage is on the course, this might just be the perfect solution for you.

The Distinct Palette of South African Wines

STORY BY HUNTER HAM

As a sommelier, I have had the pleasure of exploring some of the world’s most exquisite wines. Yet, there’s something about the charisma of South African wines that never ceases to amaze me.

Picturesque vineyard at sunset. Red grapes hanging in vineyard. Rows of grapes in Stellenbosch near Cape Town, South Africa. Branch of grapes ready for harvest.

Nestled within the embrace of breathtaking landscapes, the wineries of South Africa give birth to vintages that encompass an enchanting array of styles, textures, and flavors.

Last week I was reading an article about a fellow wine connoisseur visiting the Stellenbosch region, the heart of South Africa’s wine country, for the first time. He wrote about the scent of ripening grapes in the sun that wafted around him, instantly captivating his senses. The vineyards, beautifully spread across rolling hills and flanked by dramatic mountain ranges, painted an alluring picture that makes the experience of savoring their produce even more delightful. It struck a nerve with me and reminded me of what a beautiful region South Africa is. It is easy as a sommelier to take a region for all that it is factually and analytically. Sometimes you lose the sense of beauty and grandeur, until you see it again in person and are left breathless and

reminded of the entirety of the beauty of winemaking and nature.

To truly appreciate South African wines, one must taste the vibrant Chenin Blanc, locally known as Steen. With a versatile character that ranges from refreshingly crisp to delectably sweet, it reflects the spectrum of South Africa’s terroir in a glass. Yet another captivating ensemble is the country’s signature red, Pinotage, a crossbreed of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The harmony of its robust body and spicy notes leaves an indelible mark on the palate, much like the unforgettable South African sunset.

One cannot overlook the Cape Winelands’ bold Cabernet Sauvignon and the intriguing complexity of its Chardonnay. Crafted with passion and the distinct character of their terroir, these wines display a unique richness that is hard to find elsewhere.

A recent discovery that left me fascinated is the Methode Cap Classique (MCC), South Africa’s answer to Champagne. It presents a remarkable elegance and effervescence that celebrates the sun-kissed vineyards from which it originates.

What sets South African wines apart, besides their exceptional taste, is their dedication to sustainability. The local wine industry has committed to biodiversityfriendly farming, ensuring their winemaking not only resonates with our taste buds but also echoes the right environmental notes.

As I sit in our restaurant, pouring a glass of wine for a discerning guest, I often find myself recommending a South African bottle. Their diversity and quality promise an adventure, a chance to explore the rich tapestry of flavors and traditions from a far-off land, right here in the comfort of our dining room.

South African wines, with their captivating narratives and complex profiles, offer an intoxicating journey of discovery. One that continually evolves, much like the country’s vibrant landscapes, ensuring every sip is a fresh revelation and a celebration of the art of winemaking.

Discover the charm of these vintages. Trust me, they promise a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate, leaving you longing for more. It’s not just about drinking a glass of wine; it’s about savoring a piece of South Africa.

When Big Smoke Met Whisky Fest: A Celebration of Cigars and Whiskies in Hollywood, FL

STORY BY TOMAS ZILINSKIS

Hollywood, Florida recently witnessed a remarkable event that brought together cigar aficionados and whisky enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening. The harmonious convergence of Big Smoke and Whisky Fest, hosted by Cigar Aficionado created an exceptional experience that left a lasting impression on all in attendance.

The event unfolded with a captivating display of craftsmanship. Expert cigar makers, dressed impeccably, showcased their artistry, rolling tobacco leaves with precision and care. Their skilled hands carried on a tradition passed down through generations, exemplifying the timeless allure of cigar making. Specific attention was given to cigar collaboration by the two biggest names in cigar industry Padrón and Fuente that won’t be

released until later this year but attendees were able to sample prototypes.

Beyond the allure of indulgence, the event offered a platform for education and enlightenment. Workshops and seminars led by industry experts allowed attendees to delve deeper into the world of cigars. From understanding the nuances of cigar pairing to exploring the complexities of cigar ag-

ing, participants immersed themselves in the heritage and artistry behind each cigar. These workshops not only expanded their knowledge but also refined their palates, enabling a deeper appreciation of the craft.

Interactive stations provided guests an up-close encounter with the intricacies of cigar production. Witnessing the process of rolling a cigar, from the careful selection of tobacco leaves to the final creation, heightened the appreciation for the meticulous artistry involved. Whisky tasting sessions, guided by knowledgeable experts, offered a parallel exploration of flavors and profiles, inviting enthusiasts to savor the complexities of different whiskies.

As the evening progressed, the synergy between cigars and whiskies came alive, captivating the senses of all in attendance. Perfectly paired combinations elevated the experience, accentuating the flavors and nuances of each element. The wisps of smoke from the cigars intertwined with the smooth melodies of the whiskies, creating a symphony of taste and aroma that delighted the palate.

This gathering served as a reminder that amidst the busyness of modern life, moments of tranquility and enjoyment are to be cherished. The convergence of Big Smoke and Whisky Fest in Hollywood, FL provided a sanctuary for like-minded individuals to immerse themselves in the artistry of cigars and whiskies, forging memories that will endure beyond the event’s conclusion.

The evening left a lasting impression, as guests departed with cherished memories, a testament to the craftsmanship and collective passion displayed. The convergence of Big Smoke Meets Whisky Fest exemplified the celebration of artistry, heritage, and the sheer delight derived from the world of cigars and whiskies. Next, I am looking forward the see y’all, November 3-4th at the Resorts World Las Vegas for yet another tobe-remembered night, Big Smoke (tickets can be purchased at https://www.lasvegasbigsmoke.com/).