Kingdom 57

57 | SPRING 2023

LUXURY | LIFESTYLE | GOLF

THE MAJORS ISSUE U.S. Open

$20 where $20 WHERE soldSOLD

Showtime for an L.A. Legend

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Matthew Fitzpatrick Made in England, Crowned in America

Masters & More Who will rise in a wide-open field?

Plus GREAT ESCAPES IN ANGUILLA, SCOTLAND, SICILY, HAWAII, COLORADO & BEYOND

14/03/2023 13:59

An Island Sanctuary like no other An Island Sanctuary like no other

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123RD U.S. OPEN THE LOS ANGELES CLUB • JUNE 15-18 2023 It takes more than skill and dedication to win the world’s ultimate test of golf. It takes the kind of character you’ll find in every champion of the U.S. Open®, and in every sip of Dewar’s.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2023. DEWAR’S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY, 40% ALC. BY VOL. IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL.

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PLAY EVERY DAY LIKE A CHAMPION “I have never seen anything like this—any place. Period.”

— Pete Dye “It’s going to be a hell of a course.”

— Herb Kohler

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25

CELEBRATING

YEARS of legendary golf.

KOHLER, WISCONSIN

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4 MAJORS 1 RYDER CUP 2 CREATORS WHO DARED TO DREAM BIG

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SHARED VALUES. HARD WORK.

Top: Austin Cook, Gaby Lopez, Andrew Landry Middle: Brooke Matthews, Taylor Moore, Maria Fassi Bottom: Dicky Pride, Stacy Lewis, David Lingmerth

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We tip our hat to the Stephens Brand Ambassadors on the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and the PGA Champions Tour. We are proud to support these players because their values and work ethic exemplify the culture of our firm.

Each of them, along with the University of Arkansas golf programs have made golf an indispensable contributor to the quality of our state and our country.

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IT’S YOUR HEART THAT TAKES YOU PLACES We make your travels to the world’s most magical destinations possible.

But it’s your endless passion for discovery that leads you there.

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57 | SPRING 2023 Publisher & Co-Founder

Subscriptions

Editorial Consultant

Order online at: kingdom.golf/the-magazine and receive special subscriber offers

Art Director

Or email: jv@kingdom.golf

Matthew Squire Bruce Wallin

Matthew Halnan Contributing Editor

Robin Barwick

Head of Advertising Sales

Jon Edwards GM, Kingdom

Joe Velotta

Content & Design Associate

Phil Grundy

Contributing Writer

Shaun Tolson

Founding Director

Arnold Palmer Photography

Getty Images, Kimberly Motos, Evan Schiller, Reade Tilley, Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives Special thanks & Contributors

Esme Benjamin, Ted Brady, Nicola Chilton, Alex Farrer, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Cristie Kerr, Matt Kuchar, Annika Sörenstam, Lisa Sweetingham, Reade Tilley, Full-Time Travel, Paul Trow, Mike Walker, Cameron Young

Enquiry Addresses Advertising

ms@northandwarren.com Editorial

rb@northandwarren.com Commercial Enquiries

ms@northandwarren.com 646-970-3755 | kingdom.golf North & Warren

Cover Image Matthew Fitzpatrick during the 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club Brookline, Massachusetts Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

President & Partner

Jay Meyer

VP, Marketing

Ashley Burke Special Projects Director

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Published by

7324 Gaston Ave, Ste 124-451; Dallas, TX 75214 © 2023 North & Warren, LLC. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinion of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. The contents of advertisements and advertorials are entirely the responsibilty of advertisers. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited submissions and manuscripts.

012

Kingdom magazine was first available to friends and associates of Arnold Palmer, and members and guests of his designed and managed courses. Now it is available at distinguished private clubs and for discerning golfers everywhere.

Printed in the USA

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

History in the making The majors are soon to be upon us again, and I love this time of year; when we are full of anticipation and wondering who among the world’s finest players can step up to make some indelible sporting history.

I hope that this special ‘Majors Issue’ of Kingdom adds to your enjoyment of this year’s “big four”, complete with a U.S. Open Special sponsored by Dewar’s that includes an exclusive interview with the current U.S. Open champion, Matt Fitzpatrick (p76).

In this issue we are also delighted to have exclusive interviews with Matt Kuchar (p36) and Cameron Young (p98) who, alongside Davis Love III, were consummate hosts of the Kingdom Cup on Hilton Head Island last October. Recipient of the Arnold Palmer Award as the PGA Tour’s top rookie last season, Young is certainly one to watch at this year’s majors.

This first issue of the year is also embellished by input from two more major champs: Annika Sörenstam and Cristie Kerr, who both remain as dynamic and busy as ever.

I hope you will enjoy some quality time on the golf course this spring and early summer, and with that in mind I will leave you with this quote from Arnold Palmer: “Swing your swing. Not some idea of a swing. Not a swing you saw on TV. Not that swing you wish you had.

No, swing your swing. Capable of greatness. Prized only by you. Perfect in it’s imperfection. Swing your swing.

I know I did.”

Cameron Young and Matthew Squire at the Kingdom Cup

Be well, Matthew Squire

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CONTENTS

The Majors

Issue 57

24

64

The Approach

21 22 24 26 31 32 36 41 42 44 47 49 50 54 56 58

016

On the Water Coming Soon

starts on p75

76

Restoration Classic Links No. 19 Big & Beautiful Full Round Urban Game

84

Town & Country Sports City Scorecard Heritage Handcrafted Live Like a King Giving Game

Spring 2023

90

Matthew Fitzpatrick

A “one in a million” shot launched the young Englishman to his first major title—the first of what could be many

76 Features

64

94

Los Angeles Country Club

A century-old course in the City of Angels has managed to stay under the radar— until now L.A. Hit List

Take advantage of LACC’s prime location to live out your California dream

98

Majors Preview

A contentious time in pro golf portends a spirited competition for 2023’s four blue-ribbon titles One-Hit Wonders

You don’t need a big name to win a major championship Cam Young

A Kingdom conversation with the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year

Vacation Homes

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CONTENTS

110 Travel

104 Golf Trip

Now we know why Petoskey, Michigan, is known as “America’s Summer Golf Capital”

110 Beach Getaway

We’ve looked all over the world, but we haven’t found a place with better beaches than this Caribbean island

116

Family Travel

Every member of the clan will be content at these seven resorts that go way beyond golf

130

140

Drinks

124 Pursuit of a Perfect Score

Former LPGA star Cristie Kerr has taken her practiced approach to the wine business—and the results speak for themselves

130 Bolivian Beauty

Thanks to Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh, Bolivia’s national spirit is finally getting its due in the U.S. Life

136 Street Smarts

New fashion brands are bringing an urban edge to the golf course

146 Ultimate Backyard

Building the personal green of your dreams

148 Beyond Wellness

Your next doctor’s appointment could be in the blissful comfort of one of these luxury resorts

152 In Good Hands

Kingdom caught up with the “Godfather” of care for athletes’ hands

162 Looking Ahead

Diary dates that define the coming months

140 Foot Forward

Golf shoes designed for casual, cool comfort

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Reese Moore Photography

Presented by

Join us for Kingdom Cup 2023

Three days of world-class golf and luxury island lifestyle with PGA TOUR pros, VIPS and friends new and old

Visit kingdom.golf/cup to be notified when tickets go on sale

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THE APPROACH On the Water

La Hacienda, Spain La Hacienda Links, near Sotogrande, Spain, has a new lease on life. The 36-hole resort opened in 1992 as Alcaidesa Golf, but under the ownership of Millennium Hospitality it enlisted American architect Kurtis Bowman to redesign the Links Course for a 2022 reopening. A new clubhouse, driving range and practice area followed. Once an intern at Augusta National, Bowman worked for Jack Nicklaus before going solo. With Mediterranean views, La Hacienda, he says, is “the Pebble Beach of Spain.”

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THE APPROACH Coming Soon

Cabot Citrus Farms Famed for properties in Saint Lucia, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Cabot’s first U.S. opening will be Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida later this year.

Less than 50 minutes from Tampa and neighboring the Withlacoochee State Forest, Cabot Citrus Farms originally opened as World Woods GC in 1993.

The property lies across 1,200 acres of linksy, rolling, sandy land that is decorated by mature sand pines, palmetto trees and moss-covered oaks dating back to the 19th century.

The two existing 18-hole layouts are both being renovated, while a new par-3 course, clubhouse and extensive practice facilities are on the way.

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THE APPROACH Restoration

Oak Hill

The 105th PGA Championship is heading to one of the grandees of American championship golf: Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. Oak Hill is the only club to have hosted each of the PGA Championship (1980, 2003, 2013), U.S. Open (1956, 1968, 1989), U.S. Amateur (1949, 1998) and Ryder Cup (1995). The Donald Ross–designed East Course has been extensively restored for this year’s PGA, with holes shifted, trees removed and greens rebuilt. With its new look— and unimpeachable pedigree—this venerable venue should prove a classic challenge for the sport’s very best.

Read more in our Majors Preview beginning on page 64

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THE APPROACH Classic Links

Royal Liverpool Established in 1869 in the small seaside town of Hoylake, Royal Liverpool is among the very oldest golf clubs in England. It became only the second English course to host The Open, in 1897 (after Royal St. George’s had become the first in 1894). The 1897 Open was particularly notable, as it was won by an amateur member of Royal Liverpool, Harold Hilton. In readiness for The Open in 2023, additional bunkering has been introduced to bolster defenses on this timeless links, some of the green run-offs have been enhanced, and a brand new par-3—the 17th, or “Little Eye” (pictured)—will be a real test off the tee in any kind of breeze.

Read more in our Majors Preview beginning on page 64

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PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. KETEL ONE Vodka. Distilled from Grain. 40% Alc/Vol. © Double Eagle Brands, B.V. Imported by Ketel One USA, Aliso Viejo, CA.

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Island in the Caribbean 4 Years in a Row! TRAVEL+LEISURE

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THE APPROACH No. 19

Champions Edition Dewar’s has produced a limited-edition 19 Year Old Scotch whisky to mark the 2023 U.S. Open We have enjoyed the privilege of tasting the new Champions Edition 19 Year Old blended Scotch from Dewar’s, produced specifically to mark the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and we can confirm that this blend is a true “Cali special”.

The 19 Year Old has been cultivated

by Dewar’s award-winning master blender Stephanie Macleod, and fittingly—for a U.S. Open in California—the blend has been extra-matured in hand-selected red wine casks from the Napa Valley. You can look forward to layered flavors with hints of red berries and black cherries, resolving into a rich and fruity finish and a lasting note of nutmeg coming through.

Enjoy this distinctive and seamless combination of Scottish tradition with West Coast innovation.

The Dewar’s Champions Edition 19 Year Old was photographed for Kingdom magazine

by Luis Cano at the exclusive Vinya Table in Coral Gables, Miami, where a sophisticated New American menu is enlivened by strong southern European influences.

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THE APPROACH Big & Beautiful

EARTH MOVERS Camping, cruising or completely crushing it—these 3 extraordinary vehicles will get it done

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No Compromise

Released last summer, the Global XRS 7400 from Action Mobil might be the ultimate vehicle for taking comfort off road and out of radar. The 10-meter, tri-axle MAN TGS platform was originally designed for carrying missiles,

and the world’s most remote locations are within reach via 630hp, storage

for 600 gallons of diesel and up to 900 gallons of drinking water, plus huge on-board batteries. But lest one forgets oneself, there’s leather and wood trim throughout, sumptuous accommodations with floor heating, washer/

dryer and a professional stainless-steel kitchen with freezer. As comfortable as it is capable, the Global XRS makes roughing it a smooth ride.

Bella Wild

No roof, no doors, just the world

beneath you and the sky above. Ducati

entered the ADV (adventure dual-sport) motorcycle category in 2019 with the

Multistrada 1260 Enduro, and the new V4 Rally Adventure Travel & Radar version

rises to a new level. Front and rear radar

with Adaptive Cruise Control, a Skyhook EVO suspension with auto-levelling, all sorts of wind-deflecting aerodynamic touches, heated grips and seats and

intense all-terrain capabilities that will let you “unlock Earth,” as Ducati has it.

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Compact Capability

The Adventure 1 from Potential Motors leads the way in

sustainable off-road exploration.

The electric, hand-finished vehicle is only 64 inches wide, which

means it can take you places the big trucks can’t. Yet integrated

within is a full-size double bed,

a kitchen with stove, 40 liters of water, fridge and sink. Powered by a 350hp motor, the towable

Adventure 1 has an off-road range of 100 miles.

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THE APPROACH Full Round

According to

Kuchar At the 2022 Kingdom Cup at Hilton Head, we tracked down Matt Kuchar to talk Boris Becker, Magic Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Payne Stewart and the new world of tour golf

Welcome back to Hilton Head.

Thanks! I love the golf here. We play Harbour Town on the PGA Tour, and it’s one of my favorite courses we play all year.

The local community comes out in a big way, and the cool thing with Hilton Head is it’s an easy hang, an easy lifestyle.

Photo: Reade Tilley

You’ve won nine times on the PGA Tour, yet did you once think your career lay in tennis?

When I was young I was sure I was going to be Boris Becker. Then I got into basketball, and I was sure I was going to be Magic Johnson. Then I got into golf, and I was sure I was going to be Phil Mickelson. The golf thing stuck.

Was there a moment when golf clicked?

There wasn’t a moment, but golf is this never-ending quest to get better. I am still driven and golf still has me, whether I’m playing great and want to keep playing great or whether I’m playing bad and I can’t wait to fix it.

What advice did Payne Stewart once give you about turning professional?

I was deciding whether to turn pro or remain in college [at Georgia Tech], and Payne said to me: “Stay in college.” He was the only guy who said that to me. He said: “The PGA Tour is not going anywhere.

You’re going to be out here for a while, and you don’t want to be 10 years down the road, looking back and wishing you had those two years back.’’

What is your stance regarding the PGA Tour versus LIV?

I wish I had a crystal ball. I foresee there being some sort of coming together in due time. I just don’t understand the hatred that exists towards the other players. I don’t know how you can fault somebody for going and grabbing LIV money. If you’re a player right now, you’re winning one way or the other. Either you grab some of the LIV money or you stay on the PGA Tour, and the PGA Tour has upped its game, so right now it’s great either way.

There is stability with the PGA Tour, but is there a sense of refreshment by trying something different?

I played a practice round with Mark Calcavecchia at the British Open 10 or 15 years ago. I was feeling really good about who I was as a golfer on the PGA Tour. I was starting to really do well and making cup teams, and I was talking about how I knew who I was as a player and how I knew what tournaments I liked, what courses I liked, what hotels and restaurants I liked, and I felt good about my life on the PGA Tour. Then Mark told me: “We’re on totally opposite ends. I can’t wait to go somewhere new.” That was an interesting statement. I can see how the PGA Tour can get to be a routine, and you hope that you always have that excitement.

Can you share some advice for amateur golfers who might be struggling (asking for a friend…)?

Try to be excited for the next shot. The bad shots are going to happen, but you can look forward to making a recovery shot, figuring out how to save par. Golf is so much just managing, and figuring out whatever the lowest score you can shoot that day. It’s figuring out how not to let that 73 become a 76, or whatever it may be.

Thanks! I’ll pass it on…

The other thing is to keep it simple, like just finding joy in the game. Trade expectations for appreciation. If you can appreciate the small things, it makes life a lot more enjoyable.

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Enjoy an all-inclusive vacation that features gourmet dining, unlimited premium liquors, and luxury accommodations – not to mention the finest, white sand beaches you’ll ever set foot on.

Choose from four golf courses in The Bahamas, Saint Lucia or Jamaica, two of which are 18-hole championship caliber golf courses, featuring layouts by Greg Norman Design. Swing into paradise with complimentary green fees and more when you stay at one of Sandals Resorts premier golf destinations.

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WE ARE ALL CONNECTED

We connect more countries than any other.

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THE APPROACH Urban Game

Tel Aviv

Play: Caesarea Golf Club

Israel isn’t the first place that comes to mind

when you think of golf—and for good reason. The country is home to only one 18-hole golf course.

Fortunately, that course is a Pete Dye design, set

in the coastal town of Caesarea about 45 minutes outside of Tel Aviv. Caesarea is best known for

its 2,000-year-old Roman port, amphitheater and

aqueduct, which were built at the behest of Herod the Great—and are unquestionably the reason for making a day trip from the city. But after a

morning among the ruins, you’d be remiss not to play a round at the Caesarea Golf Club, where, in

addition to Dye’s 18, you’ll find a 9-hole executive

course, a training course and a teaching academy. caesarea.com

Stay: David Kempinski Tel Aviv

George & John

You’re here for the history, people and, increasingly, the food.

But you might as well squeeze in a round between meals. Here’s where to play/stay/eat:

Right across the street from Tel Aviv’s beachfront boardwalk and the glittering sea beyond, this

contemporary high-rise hotel is an ideal hub in the high-tech city. Grab a complimentary bike and head south along the boardwalk to the

ancient port of Jaffa—now a hotspot of trendy restaurants and galleries—or pedal north to

grab a lounge chair at one of the many beach clubs. Walk a few blocks inland to the Carmel

Market, the city’s largest shuk, to shop for spices and feast on falafel before settling in for a nap

in your suite set high above the Mediterranean.

David Kempinski

kempinski.com

Eat

Eating is the essence of any trip to Tel Aviv, from street-market shawarma stands to Michelinstyle fine dining. Start at the original North

Abraxas restaurant for modern Mediterranean at its best. Continue your pilgrimage at the

Hotel Montefiore’s French-Vietnamese venue or at George & John, the latter of which was

voted tops in Israel as part of the World’s 50

Best Restaurants in 2023. For a post-golf meal in Caesarea, check out Helena at the Harbor, a

waterfront Mediterranean restaurant from chefs Uri Jeremias and Amos Sion.

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THE APPROACH Town & Country

New Age on Ancient Ground

Time flies when you’re having fun, and that’s precisely what members have been doing at London’s Centurion Club over its first 10 years

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Risk & reward to reach the 18th green [above]; the wooded third hole; aerial view of the par-3 second

In the space of a fast-paced decade, Centurion Club—sitting just 20 miles north of central London—is well established among the highest echelon of London golf.

Beautifully located outside the petite, Roman city of St Albans, Centurion Club opened to fanfare in July 2013. And while it might come from a town with ancient history, this member’s club has eschewed the old ways. Dress codes are relaxed, families are welcome, the clubhouse is lively, the cosmopolitan restaurants are buzzing and guess what, the membership is thriving.

As for the championship golf course, it swings beautifully through ancient pine woodlands and rolls over undulating Hertfordshire countryside to offer golfers an array of shot-making

opportunities and the occasional predicament.

At 7,100 yards from the back, Centurion Club can challenge the mighty, yet with five sets of tees it was built with the enjoyment of all abilities in mind.

Despite occupying a tract of such natural tranquillity, from the gates of Centurion Club, members and their guests are just 40 minutes from London’s West End. Less than an hour after landing at Heathrow, international members can be enjoying breakfast in the Members’ lounge on the first floor of the clubhouse, overlooking the 18th green.

A country retreat within easy reach of the city, Centurion Club unlocks the best of both worlds.

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THE APPROACH Sports City

Frisco’s on Fire The evolution of the Texas town as “sports central” is continuing with the opening of the Omni PGA Frisco Resort

It used to be little more than a bus stop and a diner on the road into Dallas. Today, the Cowboys (NFL), Rangers (MLB), Mavericks (NBA), Stars (NHL) and FC Dallas (MLS) are all settled in Frisco, Texas, to varying extents. Now, even the PGA of America is moving in, underlining this once-anonymous town as one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing sports centers in the United States.

Frisco is the smallest city in America to feature facilities from all five major professional sports leagues, and now it is about to add 36 holes of championship golf to its roster—golf that will very rapidly reach the echelon of “major” caliber. The PGA of America is stamping Frisco on the global golf map with zeal, as the Senior PGA Championship, Women’s PGA Championship and its crown jewel, the men’s PGA Championship, are each slated to appear at PGA Frisco twice in the space of the next 12 years. The lineup begins with the Senior PGA this May, as the launch event of the Fields Ranch East course, designed by Gil Hanse.

Fields Ranch East is due to open for public play at the end of May, after the Senior PGA, while its sister course, Fields Ranch West—designed by Beau Welling— is scheduled to open on May 2.

Fields Ranch East is the longer of the two championship tests, reaching a possible 7,863 yards from the back tees. Visitors to PGA Frisco will also be able to enjoy a 10-hole par-3 course (longest hole: 100 yards), a floodlit two-acre putting green, extensive practice facilities, a TopGolf venue and a 500-room Omni hotel.

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Fields Ranch East [above]; fast-growing Frisco [far left]; Fields Ranch West [left]

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THE APPROACH Scorecard

Majors Stream number of times a major has been canceled

15

due to WWII

1

9

due to WW1

Fishing some majors stats that might have passed by in a sidestream

3,855,000 sq miles

30,081 sq miles

MAJOR WINS:

MAJOR WINS:

size of Canada

size of the isle of Jersey

55

9

1

1

4

due to a pandemic

1

number of majors Norman won in 1986

Jack Nicklaus

19

Arnold Palmer

10

Tiger Woods

7

Colin Montgomerie

5

runner-up major finishes

runner-up major finishes

runner-up major finishes

runner-up major finishes

major wins

major wins

major wins

major wins

18

7

15

MAJOR WINS:

6 strokes

number of majors in 1986 in which Greg Norman was the 54-hole leader

there was no trophy to give (1871 British Open)

46.2 sq miles

size of Scotland

0

biggest 54-hole lead blown in a major; by Norman, 1996 Masters

15 strokes

largest margin of victory in a major; Tiger Woods, 2000 U.S. Open

13 strokes

second-largest; Old Tom Morris, 1862 British Open at Prestwick

8 5 2 1

players have won a major by 8 shots did it after 1913 named Rory McIlroy named Tiger

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THE APPROACH Heritage

Silver Service The Claret Jug reaches its 150th anniversary in 2023, yet it was not the original prize for The Open champion…

While there was much to-do in 2022 as The Open was played for the 150th time, there is a more low-key 150th that might evade the radar this year: the 150th anniversary of the Claret Jug, or as the Open champ of 1989, Marc Calcavecchia, described it: “Clearly the coolest trophy in golf—no doubt.”

The original Claret Jug—or the Golf Champion Trophy as it is officially known—was crafted in Edinburgh in 1873, and was retired to the R&A clubhouse at St Andrews by the club’s protective officials in 1927. A replica of the Claret Jug was presented to the winner for the first time in 1928, one that is identical to the original Claret Jug in every way bar its hallmark.

The Open as a championship dates back to 1860, but its original prize was the Challenge Belt, which was made from red Moroccan leather with a silver buckle, and

The Championship Belt from Winner’s Award Group [far left]; Young Tom Morris with his Challenge Belt [top]; The Open’s Claret Jug

which was bought for what was a princely sum at the time of £25. The original deeds of the belt decreed that should a golfer win The Open three times consecutively, that he would keep the Challenge Belt permanently, and Young Tom Morris duly completed his “three-peat” in 1870.

Illustrating the haphazard organization of The Open at this time, without a trophy the championship was not played at all in 1871. It returned in 1872 (when Young Tom won for the fourth and final time), although the Claret Jug was not ready until the 1873 chapter of golf ’s oldest major.

There is a strong sense of history and romance in the Challenge Belt, which has been expertly reimagined for contemporary use by the innovative Winner’s Award Group. This Florida-based company specializes in producing bespoke prizes and awards, particularly for golf and country clubs, and the company’s “Championship Belt” is its best seller. We can see why.

For more on the Championship Belt from Winner’s Award Group, see Gift Guide on page 156.

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THE APPROACH Handcrafted

Other than on the Emerald Isle itself, you would be hard-pressed to find a better place to declare “Slainte!” with friends (“Cheers” in Gaelic) than in a custom-built Pub Og

Pub Og might be the most perfect octagon you have ever seen. A concept born out of frustration at not being allowed to enjoy a pint in all of Ireland’s pubs in lockdown three years ago, Pub Og—with a compact diameter of only 10 feet—brings the Irish pub into your very own backyard. Fittingly, “Og” means “Son of ” in Gaelic.

“The octagon is the optimum layout for this kind of space,” starts Richard Hill of The Deluxe Group, which builds each Pub Og at its headquarters in Portadown, Northern Ireland. “You can easily fit six people plus someone behind the bar. We have created a venue where people can tell their stories. An architect told us the octagon was the perfect shape to encourage conversation.

Everybody has a drink and relaxes in a Pub Og—it brings down barriers.”

Hand-built to order, a Pub Og has a starting price of $80,000 and a turn-around time of 12 weeks, but getting through the waiting list might take a little longer. At the time of going to press, the first Pub Og in America is about to be installed at a private residence on Long Island, and while the plan is to produce up to 100 pubs a year, they might only reach 20 in 2023 as production processes are

refined, and the company already has a list of sales leads of over 200. “We’re in no rush,” confirms Hill.

The transportable Pub Og oozes authenticity.

A central, key feature of each Pub Og is the bar top, and the ones in current production come from a storm-felled chestnut tree that was planted in the 18th century on an Irish estate.

As for the personalization, Pub Og goes deep.

“We did some research into the Irish heritage of this particular family in Long Island,” adds Hill, “looking into their ancestry, so we could bring the coat of arms into a specially commissioned mirror to go behind the bar. The pub sign on the exterior is also personalized.”

Each pub features a display cabinet that can be dressed according to a customer’s personal preferences.

Every Pub Og also comes with a secret compartment, hidden behind one of the pictures behind the bar, where the owner can keep a secret bottle for special guests.

Pub Og gives new meaning to “Cead Mile Failte!”

Customers can have this inscribed above the door and it is Gaelic for “One hundred thousand welcomes!” pubog.com

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THE APPROACH

LIVE LIKE A KING

Lessons learned from Kingdom co-founder Arnold Palmer

Focus As Arnold Palmer demonstrated, the job isn’t done until the last putt drops

Winnie and I were renting a small house… I basically never heard a word she said to me all week. She could have asked for a divorce, and I would have only grunted and nodded, so strong was my concentration as I practiced my putting on the house’s short green carpet.

Arnold Palmer on preparing for his victory in the 1960 Masters

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Arnold Palmer hugs his wife, Winnie, after winning the 1960 Masters

With concentration comes victory, and with its loss comes defeat, and Arnold Palmer stood as living proof of these chain reactions. The seven-time major winner blamed a lack of focus for some of his most frustrating, crushing defeats, not least among them the 1961 Masters. Leading Gary Player by a stroke and sitting pretty in the 18th fairway, the final hole, Palmer was nearing his third green jacket in four years when he paused to accept premature congratulations from a friend in the gallery.

His second shot went into a bunker, a double bogey followed and Player was handed his first Masters win. “What really tore me up inside was the knowledge that I’d lost because I’d failed to do what Pap

had always told me to do—stay focused until the job is finished,” Palmer wrote in A Golfer’s Life, reflecting on his dad’s advice. The answer, Palmer believed, involved a bit of soul searching. As he once said, “the secret of concentration is the secret of self-discovery. You reach inside yourself to discover your personal resources and what it takes to match them to the challenge.” And where does one find the strength to focus? “Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger,” Palmer said. So when trying to achieve, first believe—and stay hungry.

And if anyone wants to pat you on the back before you’ve achieved your goal, ignore them.

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examples of exemplary focus: Michael Jordan, NBA Finals, 1998

Down one point with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Jordan has

the ball—and all the pressure. He creates space, sets himself, and carries the Bulls to an 87–86 victory over Utah, draining what ultimately was his last shot as a Chicago Bull.

Tom Brady, Super Bowl, 2017

Down 25 points in the second half,

Tom Brady and the Patriots suddenly dial it in. A ridiculous catch by Julian

Edelman and laser-like throws from Brady lead to a New England win at 34–28,

marking the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and currently the only one decided in overtime.

Golfers near Volcanic Eruption, 2018 As Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted

in the summer of 2018, throwing ash

into the air and causing the evacuation of more than 2,000 people from their

homes, some golfers at the aptly named Volcano Golf Course stayed focused on

their game, enjoying an afternoon round as Getty photographer Mario Tama looked on.

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Annika’s Approach Annika Sorenstam travels the world to inspire the stars of the future

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THE APPROACH Giving Back

Annika Sorenstam, 10 times a major champ and the first official world number one in women’s golf, is applying the same focus and determination to her foundation that she did to her playing career Talk about “growing the game” comes cheap. Anyone can talk about it, but the work of the Annika Foundation is putting actions ahead of words—something the foundation’s driving force, Annika Sorenstam, did for many years as the world’s number one female golfer.

Focused yet quietly spoken, Sorenstam minded her own business as a tour golfer and serenely compiled an honor roll featuring 10 major titles between 1995 and 2006. She remains the last golfer to have won the U.S. Women’s Open three times.

Swedish-born Sorenstam, now 52, established the Annika Foundation in 2007 to provide opportunities in women’s golf at the junior, collegiate and professional levels, while also teaching young people the importance of living a healthy and active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition.

Today, the foundation conducts six major events for aspiring female golfers around the world each year, resulting in more than 600 girls from 60 different countries playing in Annika Foundation events annually.

Already there are 200 Annika Alumnae on the LPGA and Epson Tours.

“Our winners have gone on to do great things both in college and at the professional level”

Global reach

In 2023 the Annika Invitational Europe will be held at Halmstad Golf Club in southern Sweden, June 12-15.

Among a field of 78 of Europe’s most promising female juniors, the top three finishers will earn an exemption into the Hilton Grand Vacations Annika Invitational presented by Rolex, which will be played in Orlando in January 2024. Also at the Annika Invitational Europe, a “More Than Golf ” program is carried out to emphasize the importance of wellness, education and personal development.

“I’m thrilled with how the Annika Invitational Europe has progressed since 2012,” Sorenstam tells Kingdom magazine. “We annually have over 20 college coaches in attendance, and our winners have gone on to do great things both in college and at the professional level. It’s an honor to help contribute to the growth of women’s golf throughout Europe.”

The Annika Foundation also partners with the R&A to stage the Women’s Amateur Latin America, which will be played from November 16-19 in Argentina (at a venue to be confirmed). Providing an invaluable stepping stone for Latin America’s best amateurs, the tournament offers the winner exemptions into three women’s majors: the Chevron Championship, the Amundi Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s Open.

“We are grateful that the R&A has partnered with us to make the Women’s Amateur Latin America the premier women’s amateur event in that region of the world,” says Sorenstam. “The fact that our winners receive invitations to play in three LPGA major championships really makes me proud.”

Sorenstam, one of the finest role models ever to grace professional sports, is sharing her experience and spreading joy and personal growth through golf. All the while, she is forging the role models of tomorrow. annikafoundation.org

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Peak Mountain Living

By Shaun Tolson

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Vacation homes are all about the experiences they can facilitate. Golf is a given, of course. But if your ideal refuge also involves clean alpine air, ample outdoor pursuits, striking Rocky Mountain vistas—plus a few extra yards of carry on your tee shots—you’ll find yourself blissfully at home at one of these four golf communities in the high-altitude haven of Colorado.

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THE APPROACH Vacation Homes

Cornerstone The Community: Managed and operated by Montage International, this 4,800-acre residential club outside of Montrose epitomizes the great outdoors. More than 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails transition into snowshoe and cross-country skiing trails in the winter; shooting and equestrian centers further embrace the Western ranch lifestyle.

The Course: Stretching some 7,800 yards from the tips, this high-plateau design from Greg Norman and Matthew Dusenberry is intimidating at a glance. But the course’s length owes in part to its position at more than 9,000 feet above sea level, where it plays through a painterly landscape of aspen groves and scrub oak savannah.

The Home: A short walk from the clubhouse (even if you stop to catch your breath every few steps), Cornerstone’s furnished two- and four-bedroom cabins ($1.45 million and $2 million, respectively) feature open floorplans, large kitchen and dining areas, and master suites with walk-in showers. cornerstoneclub.com

Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club The Community: Adjacent to the Steamboat Ski Resort,

this 1,200-acre residential club offers the best of both worlds—a five-minute drive to downtown Steamboat, and direct access to 900 acres of open space and wildlife preserve. With only 63 home sites, each five acres, the club delivers a ranch-like lifestyle, complete with an equestrian facility and fishing on the Yampa River.

The Course: Alpine Mountain members can join the adjacent Catamount Ranch & Club to play its 7,088-yard Tom Weiskopf design. The course trundles over alpine meadows, offering dramatic views of the surrounding peaks (which serve up some of Colorado’s best skiing).

The Home: With its clean, modern lines, the 5,353-square-foot Vestige Residence ($7.9 million) is set on a gently sloping, south-facing lot. The fourbedroom residence features a living area looking out to the Catamount course and the Flat Tops Wilderness area beyond. alpinemountainranchsteamboat.com

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RainDance The Community: Family togetherness is the name of the game at RainDance, evidenced by the community’s 1.5-acre water park, complete with a lazy river. The 1,100acre development comprises 292 home sites and will soon include 15 miles of community trails, as well as a connection to the 21-mile Poudre River Trail Corridor between the towns of Greeley and Windsor.

The Course: At 8,465 yards in length, RainDance National is the longest golf course in North America. Designed

by Harrison Minchew with the assistance of player consultant Fred Funk, the course sits at 5,000 feet above sea level and features fescue fairways that can easily be conditioned to play firm and fast. With its size and speed, RainDance could be a candidate for a future tour event.

The Home: Eclipsing 4,000 square feet of indoor living space, 1827 Windfall Drive ($909,990) is a single-story residence complete with four bedrooms, a three-car garage and a finished basement outfitted with a rec room and study. raindancecolorado.com

Heron Lakes The Community: Members of this northern Colorado

residential community have access to almost 9 miles of trails, 4.5 miles of shorefront around Lonetree Reservoir and 130 acres of recreational space. A 65,000-square foot clubhouse is home to three restaurants, a swimming pool and a fitness center.

The Course: The Arthur Schaupeter–designed TPC Colorado course can play as big as the Front Range vistas that players will enjoy from its fairways. Championship tees stretch the course to almost 8,000 yards, but seven additional tee boxes provide recreational players with plenty of entry points.

The Home: Offering mountain views and a prime location just off the 13th green, 2732 Heron Lakes Parkway ($2.3 million) is a two-bedroom ranch house with more than 3,000 square feet of living space on the main floor plus a basement with a rec room, exercise room, wet bar, and two bathrooms. heronlakescommunity.com

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FEATURE Majors Preview

UNITY AMID DIVISION Whichever orbit the stars inhabit the other 48 weeks of the year—be it with the PGA Tour, LIV or elsewhere—the ultimate focus for the world’s finest golfers remains on the quartet of blue-ribbon titles they grew up coveting: the majors. With that in mind, Paul Trow looks forward to the most keenly awaited season of majors in decades

A Anyone for Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed flicking birdies instead of tee pegs at each other with a Green Jacket on the line? How about throwing Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson into the mix for some intoxication in pursuit of the Claret Jug? Scottie Scheffler versus Brooks Koepka in a battle of the big beasts for the man-sized Wanamaker Trophy perhaps? And who might emerge victorious should the U.S. Open turn into a tag match between fence-sitters Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele or Euro-stars Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland?

Does anyone remember the days of Tiger and Phil?

Theirs was a fierce rivalry between birds of a very different feather across numerous branches of conflict. Ditto Faldo and Norman, Jack and Arnie, Snead and Hogan. Golfers as adversaries, they say, ’twas ever thus! Or was it?

Tournament golf has become a reluctant battlefield with no apparent end to hostilities in sight. Greg Norman’s Saudi paymasters keep poaching talent from the ranks of veterans and also-rans, while the peacock performers preen, pout and posture in their patchwork Player Impact Program paradise. Lawyers and courtroom flunkeys salivate at the prospect of sequestering untold riches from a sport that has been too honorable for its own good in the past. And those who choose to occupy the moral high ground steam with indignant boiling rage at the gross unfairness of it all.

No… Planet Golf has veered mightily off course in recent times and is a long way from home. But at the center of every universe are sources of light and gravity, and for our fractured game these opportunities for salvation are the four major championships.

For many fans, confused and frustrated by the events of the previous 12 months, the historic landmarks in golf ’s 2023 calendar cannot arrive fast enough.

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F First up, for the 87th time, is the Masters at Augusta National. Scheffler earned the right to host the Champions’ Dinner after an enterprising weekend of shot-making and luck-riding last April, and who’s to say he won’t produce similar exploits in his first defense?

The rangy young Texan has been a model of consistency since his breakthrough in 2021, and he regained the world number-1 spot with a successful defense of the Phoenix Open in February. But to retain the Masters he would be going where only three men have gone before—Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

That is quite a roll call, and to join their illustrious company Scheffler will need to overcome a fearsome array of challengers, all of whom, like him, are at or near their prime.

As every partisan and neutral fan of the game knows, McIlroy is just a Green Jacket short of completing only the sixth career grand slam in the history of the modern majors—following Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Nicklaus, Gary Player and Woods. He was second by three shots to Scheffler in 2022, but there is little doubt he has served his dues at Augusta National, where he has recorded seven top-10 finishes in the past nine years.

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The alumni of former Masters champions now gorging themselves on the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s banquet—Reed, Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson—cannot be discounted either. Whether or not they all turn up, surely one of them, at least, will be there at the death, intent on ruffling more than a few establishment feathers.

But the Masters, above all, is a botanical hothouse that rewards the excellence, imagination and boldness of tall poppies. Into that category come Jon Rahm, Thomas, Cameron Smith, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth, all still in their 20s. Spieth has blossomed before, in 2015, and it could only be a matter of time before he is joined in the pantheon by the other four.

However, since the Masters came into being, back in 1934, there have been players, giants of the game during their appointed era, who have failed to make the Sunday stride into the Butler Cabin despite being eminently qualified. Think Walter Hagen, Lee Trevino, Norman, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk, to name but a few.

And, of course, there have always been surprise winners. Before Danny Willett in 2016, we had Zach Johnson (2007), Trevor Immelman (2008) and his fellow South African Schwartzel (2011). Who knows, 2023 could deliver another unsung hero, and who better to call the feat in the CBS booth alongside his holiness Jim Nantz than Immelman, golf TV’s new pin-up boy?

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Scottie Scheffler and wife Meredith walk off the 18th green at Augusta National last year [left].

Justin Thomas [right] and caddie “Bones” Mackay celebrate victory in the 2022 PGA Championship

L Little more than a month after the patrons have shuffled off their Augusta coil, the glitterati will reconvene over the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club in upstate New York for the 105th PGA Championship. Thomas, the son and grandson of PGA professionals, will be defending the title he won for a second time at Southern Hills last May via a playoff with Will Zalatoris, but one suspects he will need to be more accurate off the tee than usual if he is to complete a hat-trick. His great pal Spieth will face similar challenges as he homes in on this elusive title for his own grand slam of majors.

Whatever happens, the grand old Rochester arboretum will, by all accounts, be less tree-lined than before, but it will no doubt play as tight as ever with encroaching rough with the constitution of knotted spinach, and sunken bunkers that can confound many an aspiration. The greens, though, are likely to be bigger than before, and less sloping, and perhaps not too quick given the time of year. It is therefore anyone’s guess

whether Oak Hill will be its usual miserly self in cold, breezy, early-season conditions or an open invitation to a birdie-fest.

More guesswork will be required when assessing the prospect of the 123rd U.S. Open in June at Los Angeles Country Club, which will be making its major championship debut well into its 13th decade. There is no form to go on when assessing the challenges that are likely to be posed by the North Course, and which players might prosper, though the USGA is already sufficiently impressed with Gil Hanse’s makeover to award it the 2039 U.S. Open as well.

As an aside, the 16-year gap will give everyone concerned plenty of time to make corrections should the examination paper in June prove too quirky, and the USGA’s caution is understandable after the qualified success of recent U.S. Opens at first-time venues Chambers Bay and Erin Hills.

Still, experiment though this may be, the natural terrain at Los Angeles CC offers numerous elevation changes along with spectacular views of Beverly Hills and Downtown L.A., while the lavish bunkering and well-protected greens provide a subtle antidote to the distances that modern players hit their shots on standard PGA Tour courses.

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s

Collin Morikawa watches his approach to the final green of The Open in 2021 at Royal St. George’s

Without question, the North Course has been restored to the satisfaction of purists. The fairways will be fast and firm, the greens slick yet not particularly undulating, and the rough exactly where you would expect U.S. Open rough to be. The penalties for too much ambition and imprecision off the tee will, in some cases, be terminal. Repentant players might well wish to seek sanctuary after exposure to such torture in the Playboy Mansion next door. We’ll see!

As far as is known, there is no monument to the late Hugh Hefner in Hoylake, where Royal Liverpool will be hosting The Open for a 13th time in July. There will be plenty of bunnies in the surrounding undergrowth, but this is definitely not a course on which a rabbit is likely to triumph.

The last two ‘Champion Golfers’ here are named Woods and McIlroy, and the pedigree of this venerable links suggests that their successor will be far from unworthy.

Woods, surely, will be there—to play and, if his body holds up, to contend. The course is as flat as the pancakes they love to make in this part of the world, in contrast to Augusta National and Los Angeles Country Club, where his participation is likely to depend on how confidently he feels about his fitness.

McIlroy, after his stellar though major-less year in 2022, will be a strong favorite with both the bookies and

the galleries, but another popular winner would be Rickie Fowler, joint second in 2014 and now happily emerging from the doldrums that have submerged his game over the last four years.

As for the rest of the elite cast who we know will be assembling at all four majors, players like Fitzpatrick, Schauffele, Morikawa, Cantlay, Hovland and Tony Finau can win anywhere when their putters are hot.

Veterans like Adam Scott and Justin Rose can have an Indian summer, or even an Indian spring given their Masters records and current form. Near rookies like Zalatoris and Cameron Young will continue to batter on the door. But in all this fog of talent, look out for two Koreans—Tom Kim and his slightly older countryman Sungjae Im. They are yin and yang. One stoically playing every week come what may, the other a natural star to whom it all comes so effortlessly. Tom Kim is the future of the game, perhaps one to match McIlroy for star quality if not quite Woods, though he has won his first two PGA Tour titles at a younger age than Tiger. He’s personable, intelligent, remarkably fluent in English and a magnificent golfer without any apparent weakness. If not this year, his time will come very soon.

Meanwhile, let the drums roll and battle commence.

At least these four championships will be about golf, and not politics. Fingers crossed. Touch Woods.

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The Masters The big talking point leading into this year’s Masters, apart from whether Tiger Woods decides he has the stamina to tee it up, is likely to be the extra 35 yards added to the right-to-left, dogleg par-5 13th.

The stretching to 545 yards of this iconic hole, named Azalea, was flagged up several months ago when overhead photography of Amen Corner revealed that the teeing area had been pushed back onto newly acquired land beyond the property’s previous boundary edge.

In effect, players will now be driving through a narrow arboreal chute knowing that carrying the trees guarding the corner of the dogleg will be a far harder task than before, if not impossible.

Last year, tournament chairman Fred Ridley acknowledged that due to the increased distances delivered by enhanced equipment technology and players’ improved fitness levels, the hole no longer played as it had been designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie.

Eagles were abundant as second shots with short-irons had become the norm, but those going for the green over Rae’s Creek this time will generally be using much longer clubs off a less even lie. More risk, probably for less reward.

A similar change to the par-5 15th for last year’s Masters resulted in not one single eagle being carded. The 13th then played as the third-easiest hole behind the two other par-5s, the 2nd and 8th, with an average score of 4.852.

It is believed the Augusta National scorecard for 2023 will show a total length of 7,545 yards with the par unchanged at 72.

The PGA Championship Oak Hill CC (East Course), Rochester, NY. May 18-21 Oak Hill began life in 1901 as nine holes beside the Genesee River, with a converted farmhouse for a clubhouse. Two decades later, due to golf ’s burgeoning popularity and an irresistible land-swap offer from the University of Rochester, it moved to a much larger site in the suburb of Pittsford, where Donald Ross laid out two 18-hole courses, the East and West.

John Ralston Williams, a local physician and botanist, planted 75,000 oak, maple, elm and evergreen seedlings to line the fairways, and golf writer Sal Maiorana wrote many years later: “As you walk the grounds of Oak Hill, you can’t help but gaze skyward at the majestic trees

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Photo courtesy PGA/Gary Kellner

Augusta National GC, GA. April 6-9

that dominate the landscape. They soar to the heavens, lending both an unmatched beauty and a treacherous detriment to one’s scorecard.”

The East Course came of age in 1941, when the local Times-Union newspaper posted a $5,000 purse that attracted a field including Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead, who was the eventual winner. Many changes have been made since then, by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in the early 1960s, and later by Tom Fazio.

However, in recent times it was felt the ubiquitous trees were choking Ross’s original design, so an extensive pruning and felling program, plus a rebuilding of all the greens and bunkers, was initiated three years ago under the supervision of Andrew Green, assisted by 1988 PGA champion Jeff Sluman.

With the work completed, Oak Hill will host its seventh major in May. The previous six were PGA Championships won by Jack Nicklaus (1980), Shaun Micheel (2003) and Jason Dufner (2013), and U.S. Opens won by Cary Middlecoff (1956), Lee Trevino (1968) and Curtis Strange (1989). Other highlights in the East Course’s illustrious history include the 1995 Ryder Cup, two U.S. Amateur Championships, two Senior PGA Championships and the 1984 U.S. Senior Open.

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Courtesy of USGA The famous Hill of Fame at Oak Hill [above]; major debutant the North Course at Los Angeles CC [ right]

The U.S. Open Los Angeles CC (North Course), CA. June 15-18 Major championship golf makes a long overdue return to the Los Angeles area after a gap of 28 years, since the PGA Championship was held at Riviera in Pacific Palisades. The U.S. Open’s only previous appearance in the City of Angels was back in 1948, also at Riviera, when Ben Hogan lifted the trophy for the first time.

Now it’s the turn of Los Angeles Country Club, which has never previously hosted a major, to stage the 123rd version of the USGA’s flagship tournament.

Like Oak Hill, LACC also started off as a 9-hole layout, in 1897, with a clubhouse converted from an abandoned windmill. After two relocations, the club found itself ensconced in Beverly Hills and re-opened with two courses, the North and South, in 1911.

Club founders Joe Sartori and Ed Tufts created the original fairways, along with Englishman Norman MacBeth and advisor Charles Orr. Herbert Fowler oversaw a redesign in 1921 and soon after, member

George C. Thomas Jr. and architect Billy Bell shaped the two courses that are now in play.

Despite its prolonged absence from golf ’s high table, the North Course is far from unknown to the USGA. It hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in 1930, when Glenna Collett Vare won the fifth of her record six titles, the U.S. Junior Amateur in 1954 and, most recently, the 2017 Walker Cup. The North Course was also the home of the Los Angeles Open in 1926, 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1940, when the winners were, respectively, Harry Cooper, Macdonald Smith, Vic Ghezzi, Jimmy Hines and Lawson Little.

In 2010, with a view to returning the North Course to the big time, Gil Hanse restored it to something akin to Thomas’s designs. The USGA obviously likes what it sees, as it has also committed to the U.S. Open returning in 2039 while, in the meantime, the U.S. Women’s Open will be held there in 2032.

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The new par-3 15th hole at Royal Liverpool GC, which will play as the 17th hole for The Open

The Open Royal Liverpool GC, July 20-23 The links at Royal Liverpool, next to the Cheshire town of Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula, is one of the delights of England’s northwest coast—a capricious creature that can be benign on a calm day and a monster when rough weather blows in from the Irish Sea. Laid out in 1869 on the site of a racecourse, it hosted its first Open in 1897. Local amateur Harold Hilton prevailed but was not eligible for the winner’s purse of £30. Scotsman Sandy Herd won next up in 1902, France’s Arnaud Massey became continental Europe’s first Open champion five years later, and England’s J.H. Taylor took the honors in 1913.

Royal Liverpool’s position as a classic Open venue was consolidated in 1924 and 1930, following a redesign

by Harry Colt. The former saw Walter Hagen capture his second Open, while the latter was the second leg of Bobby Jones’s grand slam.

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The next four winners were Englishman Alf Padgham (1936), Northern Ireland’s Fred Daly (1947), Australian Peter Thomson—completing a hat-trick of Open triumphs in 1956—and Roberto de Vicenzo of Argentina (1967).

Then followed a 39-year hiatus as the club, the R&A and Wirral Borough Council worked to upgrade the infrastructure around the course. When The Open returned in 2006, the winner, exploiting hot, dry, windless conditions, was Tiger Woods. Royal Liverpool’s 12th Open, in 2014, went to Rory McIlroy, who edged out Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia by two shots before claiming the PGA Championship as well, a couple weeks later.

The hope now is for Bernard Darwin’s description of nearly 70 years ago—“Hoylake, blown upon by mighty winds, breeder of mighty champions”—to ring true again for number 13 this summer...

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V IC TO RY BEGI N S AT H O M E

The right luxury agent can lead the way to a home on the green or next to the tee box.

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U.S. OPEN SPECIAL

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Old meets new on the West Coast this June, as America’s longest-running major championship heads to a golf course that has never held one. Expect a fascinating scene—and a sense of the unknown—as golf ’s greatest stars gather at Los Angeles Country Club for the 123rdFilename: U.S. Open.

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Coming up:

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Matthew Fitzpatrick

Los Angeles Country Club

When in L.A.

The reigning champ on how he won his first major title with “clearly, easily the best shot I have ever hit”

LACC brings an impressive architectural pedigree and century-long history to its majors debut

In a metropolis the size of Los Angeles, a little local knowledge can go a long way

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BORN FOR BROOKLINE

Matthew Fitzpatrick strikes the bunker shot that won the 2022 U.S. Open

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U.S. OPEN Champion

Matthew Fitzpatrick is golf ’s new baby-faced assassin. As a player on the European Ryder Cup team, he was mistaken as a junior; yet the “kid” has game, and nerve, and last year Fitzpatrick became only the second golfer ever to complete wins in both the U.S. Amateur Championship and U.S. Open at the same club.

Jack Nicklaus did it at Pebble Beach; Fitzpatrick at The Country Club Brookline. England’s latest major champ spoke to Robin Barwick

B

Believe it or not, Tiger Woods chipping in on the 16th hole at the Masters, when the ball teetered on the edge of the cup, happened almost 18 years ago (2005). It was in 2010 that Phil Mickelson played a six-iron from the pine straw on the 13th at Augusta, landing just over the creek and on the green. Nick Faldo called it “the greatest shot of his life.” Veteran viewers of the majors might prefer not to be reminded that last year marked four full decades since Tom Watson chipped in on the 17th green in the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Peach (1982). Not all major champions are remembered for particular winning shots, and not all majors are decided by these fleeting moments of drama, but once these rare acts are played out they remain vivid, sustaining timeless beauty like a precious stone.

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“That shot out of the bunker was one in a million” On June 19 last year, Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick added another gem to this holy crown—his second shot to the final hole of the U.S. Open at The Country Club Brookline. It was a nine-iron from a fairway bunker, 156 yards from the hole. Fitzpatrick held a one-shot lead over Will Zalatoris at the time, with the American perfectly placed in the middle of the fairway.

With the ball slightly above the feet, it is a shot most ordinary golfers would have hit fat and short, taking too much sand before the ball. The 28-year-old Fitzpatrick, however, is a ball striker of extraordinary ability, and in his moment of reckoning he produced what he describes as: “clearly, easily the best shot I have ever hit.”

What judgement and nerve it took to pull it off. The ball cannoned high into the pale grey sky and landed in

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the middle of the green, finishing 20 feet from the hole.

It was exactly the shot Fitzpatrick hoped to pull off, and two putts later—and after the brave birdie attempt from Zalatoris somehow slid by the cup—he was a major champion and the only golfer after Jack Nicklaus to secure the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open titles at the same golf course.

“That shot out of the bunker was one in a million,” starts Ted Brady, Fitzpatrick’s manager and a friend since the two grew up playing golf together at the Hallamshire Golf Club, outside the steel city of Sheffield. “A lot of people have been calling it one of the greatest shots in U.S. Open history. It is hard to process that kind of stuff.”

For Zalatoris, who has remarkably accumulated three runner-up results in majors in only two years within golf ’s

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highest echelon, patience will surely be rewarded one day soon, but last June the day belonged to only the third Englishman to lift the U.S. Open trophy over the past century (following Tony Jacklin in 1970 and Justin Rose in 2013).

“I have probably watched the highlights three or four times since the U.S. Open,” admits Fitzpatrick in an exclusive interview with Kingdom magazine over his winter break. “I actually watched the coverage again the other night. I get goosebumps big time, particularly watching the scenes at the end with my family, with the emotions. It is very special. Every time I watch it, again and again, it still feels amazing.”

Always a golfer who sticks to drills, likes to practice, and who is equipped with a sharply analytical mind and a busy notebook to match, there is the practical side to consider. “I’ll probably watch the highlights again over the winter to see if there is anything I can pick up in terms of how my swing was looking,” Fitzpatrick adds.

“Everybody who leads the U.S. Open is nervous, but Matt was not scared of the challenge,” starts Mike Walker,

Fitzpatrick’s coach, who grew up in Yorkshire, in the heart of northern England, like his star pupil. “Matt said it felt like he couldn’t let his foot off the gas mentally until the very end. It was so hard. I still don’t know how that putt from Will Zalatoris missed, to be honest.”

That Sunday at Brookline was the second time in the space of four weeks that Fitzpatrick had worked his way into the final pairing of a major championship. In May’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Fitzpatrick stumbled to a final round of 73, three over par, to finish two shots out of the playoff between Zalatoris and Justin Thomas, but after a conversation with Walker the night before the final round of the U.S. Open, he was ready for the reprisal.

“A lot of what we talked about is confidential,” says Walker, who has coached Fitzpatrick since the golfer was 14, “but Matt wanted to talk about what he had done wrong at the PGA the month before, more from a psychological standpoint, and we talked about how he should approach the final round of the U.S. Open in a different way.

Fitzpatrick with the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship trophy [left] and after winning the 2022 U.S. Open, both at The Country Club Brookline

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“The thing with the PGA was that he hit a poor shot off the first tee and it rattled him a bit. Matt wanted to take on the challenge at the U.S. Open, but he needed to think about how to handle adversity when he faced it. A golfer invariably faces adversity during a round even if things are going well, and it is important to identify that before it happens.

“Now that Matt has won the U.S. Open, he is bullet-proof.”

Sheffield steel

Fitzpatrick is now an honorary member at The Country Club Brookline, in the south-easterly outskirts of Boston—where he has twice enjoyed career-defining glory—yet his game was forged amid the humble, gritty surroundings of Hallamshire Golf Club, up on a windy hillside outside Sheffield.

“It is a very small piece of land,” explains Fitzpatrick, who returned to his hometown over Christmas and paraded the U.S. Open trophy in front of the crowd at Brammal Lane, the 32,000-seat stadium that is home to his beloved Sheffield United, and which is the world’s oldest soccer stadium still in use.

“The fairways at Hallamshire are tight, and the greens are really small, and it doesn’t have a driving range really,” he adds. “The range is about 130 yards long so I could hit a driver there when I was younger, but now it would be a gap wedge. It is always windy and it is normally cold, but while I am not painting the best picture, when I was growing up it helped me to play such a challenging course.”

Brady joined Hallamshire at the same time as Fitzpatrick. Brady was 11 and Fitzpatrick was nine, and they would spend the next few years playing golf together at the club, representing the city and also their home county of Yorkshire, before Fitzpatrick’s career took off to the next level.

“Matt always hit the ball so straight,” remembers Brady, who became a scratch golfer before realizing his career lay outside the ropes. “That is exactly how he has played right the way through his career. He was laser straight, and you would have hated to play him in match play. He wouldn’t give you a sniff, and his putting was amazing even back then. It is a gift.”

A promising soccer player too, Fitzpatrick hung up his cleats at the age of 15, and two years later he was crowned British Boys Champion.

“He was laser straight, and you would have hated to play him in match play”

Fitzpatrick’s bag with Sheffield United and CC Brookline headcovers [above]; Fitzpatrick, Henrik Stenson and Open champ Phil Mickelson at Muirfield in 2013

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Putting to success

A cornerstone of Fitzpatrick’s success has been his strokes gained on the greens. Bettinardi spent five years

working with Fitzpatrick to create his perfect putter.

“I’m very particular about the

appearance and feel,” states

Fitzpatrick. “I’d been using the same

putter since I was a junior and never intended on switching, until Sam

Bettinardi mentioned that he could

replicate it. Over three years later, I’m

still using my Bettinardi putter and the results speak for themselves.”

“I would get dropped off at the club in the morning and picked up in the evening,” recalls Fitzpatrick, who won the Silver Medal as low amateur at The Open at Muirfield in 2013, before winning the U.S. Amateur title weeks later at Brookline. “That is how it went, and that is what made summer holidays so great. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for doing that and for taking me here, there and everywhere to play in tournaments. I am sure there were times when they would have preferred to have been doing other things with their time. On those long summer days I didn’t actually play that many rounds of golf, I practiced mainly. I got into practice from a young age.”

Fitzpatrick’s work ethic was clear as soon as he started working with Walker, when the coach was running the Pete Cowen Golf Academy up the road in Rotherham.

“What stood out about Matt then is the same thing that stands out about him today,” states Walker, who also works with another major champ from Yorkshire, the 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett. “Matt was very diligent and hard working for someone so young. He was almost forensic by nature in trying to improve at golf, and like any top player there was a desire that was above and beyond the norm. It was different to see someone who was like a professional in an amateur’s shoes, and you’d

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“He was like a professional in an amateur’s shoes”

be double-checking yourself because physically he always looked really young for his age.

“I remember him and his brother Alex coming to the range as teenagers. They looked like they were 10, like a pair of little chipmunks, except that they were really good at golf. It didn’t make sense that this kid was talking and thinking and going about his business in a very mature way.”

Confusion with Fitzpatrick’s age was recurrent.

He made his Ryder Cup debut for Europe in 2016 at Hazeltine, just after his 22nd birthday and before he had made a big impact in American golf (although he had finished tied-seventh in that year’s Masters). Fitzpatrick’s first stop was the merchandise pavilion, and the guy serving him asked if he had been playing in the Junior Ryder Cup. Now Fitzpatrick is a U.S. Open champion, ranked in the World’s top-10 and heading towards his third Ryder Cup appearance in 2023. He won’t be mistaken for an amateur anymore.

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Island of Green: Los Angeles Country Club is tucked between Beverly Hills, Westwood and Century City

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U.S. OPEN LACC

As Los Angeles prepares to host its first U.S. Open in 75 years, a century-old course is ready for the spotlight it has long deserved

By Shaun Tolson

On the morning of June 15, the opening tee shots of the 123rd U.S. Open will take flight on the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club (LACC), marking the first time since 1948 that the Southern California metropolis has hosted America’s original major championship. The buzz around the 2023 Open, however, is not just about its starpowered setting or field; it’s also about the course on which the tournament will be contested, a Golden Age classic that, at least until now, has largely avoided the spotlight.

“For [golf ] architecture fans—and for traditional golf fans—this is probably the most anticipated U.S. Open in a long time,” says course architect Gil Hanse, who led the North Course’s restoration more than a decade ago.

“Nobody’s ever seen this course on the national stage, so they’re excited to see it and they’re excited to see the best players in the world play it.”

Hanse and his partner, Jim Wagner, along with golf historian and author Geoff Shackelford, spent five years planning and subsequently executing a comprehensive revitalization of the North Course, which reopened for play in 2010. The course and club’s roots can be traced back to 1897, when a group of bankers and civic leaders organized an association—then called the Los Angeles Golf Club—to embrace a sporting activity that, although not new, was very much a novelty on the West Coast. After quickly outgrowing two locations, the club relocated to its current Beverly Hills location in 1911. A decade later, British course architect W. Herbert Fowler built two 18-hole courses at the club, with American architect George C. Thomas Jr. in a supporting role. The two tracks, North and South, have served as LACC’s foundation during the 100 years since, although much of Fowler’s original designs didn’t even survive the decade.

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Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives

Courtesy of USGA

Now & Then: LACC as it prepares for the 2023 U.S. Open and circa 1940

Los Angeles’ population more than doubled during the 1920s, and LACC’s members decided the club needed a more dynamic course, something that reflected the energy of the nascent city. So just a few years after it opened, the North Course was slated for a redesign

by Thomas, who had since formed a partnership with William Bell. The duo had recently completed courses at the nearby Bel-Air and Riviera country clubs, and the “Captain,” as Thomas was known—a nod to his tour of duty as a pilot during World War I—declared that their new North Course would “surpass Ojai, Riviera or any other of my former courses.”

“I think what Thomas realized is through the implementation of Fowler’s design there were opportunities missed,” Hanse says. “From what we could ascertain, there was a sense of naturalness that was missing from the Fowler course. It was much more rudimentary, with oval bunkers and squared greens— very much the sort of traditional British approach to golf architecture, and not nearly as much of the natural approach that Thomas and certainly [Alister] MacKenzie championed.”

Like MacKenzie, Thomas developed a signature bunker style, one that featured finger-like extensions that protruded out from the sand trap’s center. Additionally, the Captain’s bunkers were often rimmed by shaggy fescue grasses, which created a more organic, natural

“To have those greens preserved like they were in amber, it was mindboggling to see” —Gil Hanse look. “Our bunker style evolved out of our study of Thomas,” Hanse says. “We got better at bunker building after we did LACC. What we built there has had more of an influence on us versus us having more of an influence on Thomas’s work.”

The bunkers that Hanse and Wagner built on the North Course aren’t identical to what Thomas and Bell created there. Rather, the course designers took inspiration from Thomas and Bell’s other courses in the area, specifically Riviera and Bel-Air. “Our representation was historically accurate in the way the holes were laid out, the green sizes, etc.,” Hanse says. “But we took a little bit of artistic license in looking at a more evolved style of Thomas’s bunkering. We felt comfortable presenting the evolved bunker style because, number one, we thought it was better and more dramatic. It was just the better version of Thomas.”

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Courtesy of USGA

When it came time to restore the course’s green complexes, Hanse, Wagner and Shackelford relied mostly on archival photos and written documents, making educated guesses where necessary. In two instances— on the second and sixth holes—they uncovered the remnants of Thomas’s original greens buried under about eight feet of top soil. The discoveries were remnants of a 1960s renovation that relocated the greens—and simply covered the old ones with loads of dirt. “To have those greens preserved like they were in amber, it was mindboggling to see,” Hanse says, noting that faint rings delineating the last-used hole locations on those greens could be detected. “We feel like we’ve replicated the second and sixth greens with a high degree of specificity because we found them.”

Where possible, Hanse also stayed true to Thomas’s use of topography, which he says the designer understood could be an even greater defense against low scores than traditional hazards. “He figured a firm and hard golf course with all the tilted slopes and rolls…if you hit it on the wrong side of the fairway, the ground was going to take it in a direction you didn’t want to go,” Hanse says.

To preserve that aspect of the course’s architecture and keep those challenging contours in play for the world’s best golfers, Hanse and Wagner moved tee boxes back where they could. (In total, they lengthened the course by about 250 yards.) But on holes where additional length could not be introduced, they repositioned fairway bunkers farther away from the tee boxes or extended natural barrancas.

When Thomas redesigned the course in 1927, he purposefully created wide fairways to account for the fact that balls were likely to bounce and roll significantly

LACC in 1913 [top] and today with Beverly Hills in the background [above]

across the firm terrain. According to Hanse, the USGA plans to preserve many of those wide corridors when setting up the course for the U.S. Open. “By and large,” he says, “these fairways are going to be significantly wider than average U.S. Open fairways, which means angles are going to be important. If you have a 27-yard-wide fairway, guys aren’t trying to get to the left side or the right side; they’re just trying to get into the fairway. But here, we’re talking about 35- or 40-yard-wide fairways in a lot of instances, so guys are really going to try to play for different angles based on hole locations. That’s going to make for a really compelling test.”

An all-star lineup of the world’s top golfers will be ready to take that test come June 15 in Los Angeles. It is the course on which they converge, however, that might shine the brightest at the 123rd U.S. Open.

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U.S. OPEN Visitor’s Guide

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L.A. Hit List

By Lisa Sweetingham If you’re planning a visit for the U.S. Open, be sure to avail yourself of LACC’s spectacular location at the juncture of Beverly Hills, Westwood and Century City. Following are a few suggestions for a quick but well-rounded swing through the City of Angels

Culture

Already an L.A. institution, the not-yettwo-year-old Academy Museum of Motion Pictures spans three floors dedicated to the magic of filmmaking: iconic memorabilia (Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane, Bruce the shark from Jaws, an H.R. Giger–designed Alien creature head); early audition reels (Jon Voight’s screen test for Midnight Cowboy, Hilary Swank’s for Boys Don’t Cry); and special exhibitions honoring legendary films and filmmakers. Be sure to visit

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Chris Burden’s majestic Urban Light sculpture next door at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest art institution in the western U.S. One door down from LACMA on the Miracle Mile, explore Ice Age bones at La Brea Tar Pits & Museum, an active excavation site where scientists are still finding fossils of animals and plants that were trapped in sticky asphalt between 11,000 to 50,000 years ago, when mammoths and saber-toothed tigers roamed L.A.

From left: Urban Light at LACMA; Dear John’s; Rooftop by JG at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

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Wonho Frank Lee

Cuisine

In the 1960s, Frank Sinatra convinced his actor-turned-chef pal Johnny Harlowe to open a clubby Culver City steakhouse and cocktail bar so that he’d always have a place to hang out near the major film studios. The Rat Pack vibe still animates Dear John’s, thanks to a 2019 update from hospitality veteran Patti Röckenwagner, her husband chef, Hans Röckenwagner, and co-chef Josiah Citrin. Sinatra would have loved the tableside Caesar salad and chicken parm; current celebs (we hear you, Jamie Lee Curtis) swoon over the Bougie Tots—tater tots topped with caviar and crème fraiche. In neighboring Palms, chef Niki Nakayama’s n/naka

Sinatra would have loved the tableside Caesar salad and chicken parm sets the standard for California kaiseki cuisine. Meanwhile, the new Barcelona import Telefèric is turning heads in Brentwood with its pintxos and paellas.

Back in Beverly Hills, grab lunch at JeanGeorges Vongerichten’s Rooftop by JG at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, where you’ll have views over LACC to the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific beyond.

Accommodation

The Waldorf Astoria’s location—across the street from LACC and next door to the famed Beverly Hilton—makes it the ideal choice for U.S. Open fans. Sealing the deal are the hotel’s polished Beverly Hills glamor, La Prairie Spa and terracelined suites with views all over L.A. On the Westwood side of the golf club, the W Los Angeles is the preferred L.A. address for two of the last three U.S. presidents. If oceanfront is more your style, settle in at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, where you can spend a classic Southern California day surfing out front, strolling to the nearby pier or biking along the boardwalk.

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FEATURE One-Hit Wonders

AGAINST ALL ODDS The great championships are not always won by great champions and nor should they be. Much of the excitement and tension of sport comes from its unpredictability and from the unexpected.

That is what keeps it fresh and keeps us coming back for more, and so let us give thanks for and pay tribute to some of golf ’s most unexpected champions. We start way back in 1955 with perhaps the greatest upset in pro golf of all time, and then follow up with a spate of shining one-hit wonders that emerged from a strange, topsy-turvy four-year spell, 2002 to 2005

By Robin Barwick

Jack the Giant Killer (Headline: Sports Illustrated, June 27, 1955)

At 54 years old the great Ben Hogan arrived at The Olympic Club, San Francisco, determined to become the only golfer to win a fifth U.S. Open.

Four-time winners were Hogan, Willie Anderson and Bobby Jones ( Jack Nicklaus would later join them), and when Hogan fired a measured 70 in the final round to take the clubhouse lead, Gene Sarazen prematurely congratulated him live on NBC. It was around then that the putter of Jack Fleck—a complete unknown on tour—warmed up. In sinking an eight-foot birdie putt on the last hole, Fleck forced an 18-hole playoff.

A municipal teaching pro from Iowa who had served in the U.S. Navy and who had seen D-Day action in World War II, Fleck had to qualify for the U.S. Open via sectionals in Chicago. Hogan was Fleck’s idol.

The next day in the playoff, with the crowd all pulling for Hogan, Fleck kept his cool while his putter stayed hot and ultimately he won by three clear shots.

Fleck would join the tour and won a couple regular tour events in 1960 and 1961 and enjoyed some success as a senior, but he is remembered for staging arguably the greatest upset in majors history.

Ben Hogan putts during the 1955 U.S. Open playoff [opposite]; the victorious and stunned Jack Fleck faces the press [left]

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The Tiger Tamer (Headline: Chicago Tribune, Aug. 19, 2002)

Tiger Woods birdied the final four holes of the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine. In normal circumstances his final round of 67 would have earned the win, but Arizona-born Rich Beem was not a normal opponent. For a start, Beem had quit tour golf seven years earlier to take a job selling car stereos.

Beem eventually qualified for the PGA Tour in 1999, won the Kemper Open as a rookie and won again just two weeks prior to the PGA at Hazeltine.

Beem’s form peaked at exactly the right time, and the 31-year-old holed a 35-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole in the final round to edge Tiger by a shot.

The 2002 PGA was Beem’s only major top-10 and he would never win again.

Lunke’s Miracle Win (Headline: The Age, Australia, July 9, 2003)

Hilary Lunke almost choked in the final round of the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open at Pumpkin Ridge, shooting 75, yet she out-battled the world’s best player, Annika Sorenstram, and reached a playoff against seasoned winners Kelly Robbins and Angela Stanford. Lunke, aged 24 at the time, rebounded in the 18-hole decider and won by a shot thanks to requiring just 24 putts all day, including a 15-foot birdie on 18 to clinch it.

Lunke was only on the LPGA Tour for six years, having qualified in 2002, and she was the first golfer to win the U.S. Women’s Open having come through local and sectional qualifying.

The Minnesota golfer would not finish inside the top-30 of a major again, and the U.S. Women’s Open was her one and only pro victory.

Golfer Ranked 396th Wins Open (Headline: The Guardian, July 21, 2003)

Ben Curtis nearly didn’t play in his first ever major—the 2003 [British]

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Open at Royal St. George’s—because he had never previously left the United States and he had to get his passport application rushed through. He had never played links golf, hired a local caddie on the spot and with a World Ranking of 396 he began The Open as a 500-1 no-hoper.

Thomas Bjorn could have won this one had he not got stuck in a bunker by the 16th green, and with Vijay Singh failing to take advantage, 26-year-old Curtis slid beneath the radar and posted a final round of 69 ahead of the final groups. He then calmly watched from the clubhouse as his score was left unmatched. And all of this just a week after Lunke’s heroics in Oregon.

Curtis was the first male golfer to win a majors debut since Francis Ouimet claimed the U.S. Open 90 years before.

He won three more times and played in a Ryder Cup but eventually returned home to Ohio to run a golf academy.

King of the Hill (Headline: Washington Post, Aug. 18, 2003)

Shaun Micheel had endured an underwhelming career prior to the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill.

He had bounced around the Asian and Nationwide Tours with some success, but when the door swung open at Oak Hill Micheel stepped right through.

All credit to Micheel, who had entered the week ranked 169 in the world, just hoping to make the cut. He did more than that. On the final hole, in the rough and with a slender one-shot lead over another outsider—Chad Campbell—34year-old Micheel played the seven-iron of his dreams from 175 yards, which finished just a tap-in from the cup. He won by two shots.

Unfolding just four weeks after Curtis had won The Open, the 2003 PGA was Micheel’s only tour victory, although he did finish runner-up to Woods in the 2006 PGA at Medinah.

Hot Toddy (Headline: Chicago Tribune, July 21, 2004)

What odds would Todd Hamilton have received to defeat Ernie Els in a playoff at the 2004 [British] Open at Royal Troon?

One on one over four holes, call it 100-1.

Els was the Open champ of 2002. The South African had won the U.S. Open twice. Hamilton had played most of his career in Japan before winning the 2004 Honda Classic. Of course Els would win.

But he didn’t. It was the 38-year-old journeyman from Oquawka, Illinois, who showed greater poise when destiny beckoned and he bettered Els by a shot.

“Not to be conceited or anything, but I think it’s a pretty neat story,” said Hamilton at Troon. The affable, humble Hamilton, who only qualified for the 2004 PGA Tour at his eighth attempt via Qualifying School, never won again.

Birdie Is a Major Surprise (Headline: Washington Post, June 27, 2005)

Talk about spoiling the party. The 2005 U.S. Women’s Open was about to belong to the American golden girl Morgan Pressel. Aged 17, amateur prodigy Pressel—who made her U.S. Open debut aged 13—marched up the final hole at Cherry Hills, seemingly just three strokes from becoming the youngest ever winner of the U.S. Women’s Open.

But then Ju-Yun “Birdie” Kim—a 23-year-old South Korean who had won three times on the Symetra Tour—holed a bunker shot on 18 from 30 yards. Kim was playing in her first U.S. Women’s Open and she was ranked 141st in sand saves on the LPGA Tour. But in sports you pick your moments. Kim was the only golfer to birdie the 18th all day, which at 459 yards was the longest par four in U.S. Open history. She won by two shots from Pressel and fellow amateur Brittany Lang, aged 19 at the time.

In 18 major appearances Kim only made the cut four times and headed back to the Symetra Tour.

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[Clockwise from top left] Rich Beem dances a jig; Todd Hamilton hugs his caddie; Ben Curtis raises the Jug; Shaun Micheel cradles the Wanamaker; Birdie Kim bites her lip; Hilary Lunke [center] covers her sobs

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PROFILE Cam Young

Young & Cameron Young enjoyed an explosive rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2021–2022, bombing drives, birdies everywhere, boom or bust. The Rookie of the Year has set the bar high and now he needs to win.

Young spoke exclusively to Kingdom

Hungry Cam Young’s life changed in 2022. As a rookie on the PGA Tour, the New Yorker earned more than $6.5 million in official prize money. Not all of his dreams became reality, but he came pretty close. And it was a far cry from the two previous years spent grafting on golf ’s feeder tours.

“I’m a year into having more than about 60 bucks,” admits Young, 25, talking exclusively to Kingdom magazine at the 2022 Kingdom Cup on Hilton Head Island at the end of last season. “You pretty much have to finish in the top 20 to make your money back for the

week [on the Korn Ferry Tour]. I know the purses have gone up, but I remember a couple weeks when it was: ‘Oh man, I played all right today!’ and still lost 800 bucks.”

Young, who played under Jerry Haas at Wake Forest, spent a long season on the Korn Ferry Tour over 2020– 2021. It was topsy-turvy to say the least, and Young’s attacking nature meant he had missed the cut in eight of his first 16 tournaments before suddenly winning two weeks in a row, mid-season. Despite 12 missed cuts in 28 events, he finished 19th on the money list, which propelled Young to the big stage.

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Photo: Reade Tilley Cameron Young tees off at the 2022 Kingdom Cup [above]; holding the Arnold Palmer Rookie of the Year Award [left]; Young’s golf bag, complete with tour-only Scotty Cameron putter cover [top right]

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“A lot of people have no idea that you can get to the PGA Tour with nothing,” he adds. “Like, no money and no job security. I mean, you make absolutely zero money playing golf for a living until you’re on the PGA Tour.

Even then, you obviously have the opportunity to make a lot but there’s nothing saying that you will, and it’s a very expensive life, so there’s a lot more risk than people realize.”

On the PGA Tour in 2021–2022, Young nearly halved his number of missed cuts for the season (seven from 25 starts is not bad for a rookie), and while he didn’t quite reach the dreamland of a first PGA Tour victory, Young’s haul of five runner-up finishes brought him agonizingly close time after time. In fact, over the past 40 years on the PGA Tour, no golfer has notched more than five runner-up finishes in a single season.

Young just kept coming up against some of the hottest golfers at the wrong time: Max Homa at the Wells Fargo; Cam Smith at The Open after Young was first-round leader; an unstoppable Tony Finau at the Rocket Mortgage. One thing we know for sure is that it is tough to win on the PGA Tour. Young also finished just a shot shy of the playoff at the PGA Championship between Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.

“It’s not fun being that close that often and not having one [victory],” Young said at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club at the end of July, after Finau left Young, Patrick Cantlay and Taylor Pendrith five shots adrift in a three-way tie for second place.

Said Finau in Detroit that day: “They say a winner is just a loser who kept on trying,” and Young could do worse than to remember those words. He was in the conversation so often. Young reached the Tour Championship, earned millions, finished 19th in the FedExCup, played his way onto the Presidents Cup team and earned the Arnold Palmer Award as Rookie of the Year, receiving 94 percent of the player votes.

“Cameron’s career has seen a remarkable rise over the last several years,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monohan. “He quickly became a favorite among fans with the style in which he attacks the golf course.”

And Young does attack. He was ranked sixth on the PGA Tour least season in birdie average—4.41 birdies per round compared to the tour average of 3.64—and the five names ahead of him on the list were all among the very best in the world: Open champ Smith, Masters champ Scottie Scheffler, PGA Championship winner Thomas, world number-one Rory McIlroy and world number-five Cantlay.

Big-hitting Young was also ranked third on the PGA Tour in driving distance last season—posting a 319.3-yard average compared to the tour average of 299.8—with only Cameron Champ and McIlroy ahead in that category.

“We all give ourselves way too hard of a time,” reflects Young, in considering the disappointment of the five runners-up results, yet remembering the level of competition. “Everybody’s good at something out there, I feel like. Rory obviously is just a phenomenal driver of the golf ball.

He’s a great ball tracker in general and he’s solid all the way through, but the way he drives the ball, he is just never going to play that poorly.

“Justin Thomas is a phenomenal golfer. I’ve watched him hit some terrible shots, but his ability to make par is pretty unbelievable. I’ve also watched him absolutely strike it.

He shot one of the best rounds of two-under I’ve ever seen in my life at East Lake. He hit it everywhere for the first 11 holes. He was left, right, in the bunker, he was everywhere but made two absurd up-and-downs, made a 25-footer for par, and he was like one over through 11. Then he hit a couple fairways in a row, hit another wedge to a foot, and all of a sudden he was two-under and it looked like 90. There are guys out there who are just really, really good at that. You know, Jon Rahm is something. He obviously strikes the ball. He’s incredible, but his ability to make some pars when he hits it sideways is pretty amazing as well. His short game is so good. Then there are guys like Collin Morikawa who don’t miss. He just hits it straight. It’s just simple. Rarely do you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that was phenomenal!’ But they are all kind of phenomenal in their own ways.”

“You make absolutely zero money playing golf for a living until you’re on the PGA Tour”

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One of Young’s five runner-up finishes last season was at The Open at St Andrews

Major Caliber

Missed cuts in the Masters and U.S. Open at The Country Club Brookline have left Young with burning motivation to earn some particular weekend golf this year, yet he came very close to achieving astounding success having made the cut in a major for the first time at last year’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa. The son of PGA professional David Young, who has been the head pro at Sleepy Hollow CC in Westchester, NY, for more than 20 years, Young has made four major appearances to date.

At Southern Hills, Young posted 67 in both the second and third rounds to be in contention behind surprise third-round leader Mito Pereira from Chile, another former Korn Ferry Tour player. Ultimately, the experience of Thomas would see him lift the Wanamaker Trophy for the second time, but were it not for a couple of small mistakes down the final stretch, Young would have forced his way into the playoff at the very least.

“If I keep putting myself in a tie for the lead or one back with nine holes to play, one of those times I’m going to shoot five-under on the back, and that’s going to be good enough,” said Young afterwards. “It wasn’t today.

There will be another one.”

Young proved his adaptability two months later in the 150th Open at St Andrews. After opening with a 64 to be the first-round leader, Young mounted a late charge in the final round, shooting 31 over the final nine holes— punctuated by an eagle 2 at the par-4 18th—to finish just a single shot behind Australia’s Smith, who needed a final

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round of 64 to keep Young at bay.

“All the majors have their own kind of different meaning to me,” reflects Young, who first swung a golf club at the age of four. “I remember that The Open was like the only time I was allowed to watch TV in the morning, so I remember that very clearly! The Masters speaks for itself as far as the legacy there. As an American the U.S. Open is very special because it is our national championship and traditionally a very difficult test. And then the PGA Championship—given that my father’s in the business, a member of the PGA of America—that one also holds a lot of meaning. So the major championships all have their own unique meanings to me.”

Special, certainly, yet Young might have a slightly different approach to the big four this time around.

“One of my regrets from last year… especially the Masters: I kind of got there early and practiced too much,” says Young. “I think I treated it a little bit too differently, and as the year went on I got better at just thinking: ‘It’s another week of work, right?’ That’s something I’ll probably do a lot better with this coming year. Obviously I had some really good results in majors, but it’ll mentally make them more like any other week.”

Young has already become a global star in the game.

He is ranked 16th in the world at the time of writing, and it is going to be fascinating to see how he can build on his rookie success. Young is no longer playing to have a few bucks in his pocket—it’s going to be birdies galore, all or nothing, every week.

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Arnold Palmer Half & Half and The Majors. ®

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© AriZona Beverages USA LLC, Woodbury NY | Licensed under the authority of Innovative Flavors LLC, Orlando FL | drinkarizona.com | @drinkarizona

The Perfect Pairing. ™

2/27/23 7:16 AM

TRAVEL Lakeside

SEASONAL SWINGS Come spring and summer, Petoskey, Michigan, is made for golf

By Shaun Tolson

For a true taste of Petoskey, step inside the Back Lot, an outdoor beer garden and communal gathering space downtown where a wild mix of aromas wafts from the windows of at least a half dozen food trucks. Fishand-chip platters piled high with fried Great Lakes walleye battle for supremacy in the garden against smoked-potato tacos, Greek-seasoned French fries served with spicy feta-cheese garlic dip, and Hippy Chicken Phillies—adventurous spinoffs of the cheesesteak featuring shredded chicken, dried cherries, red onion, goat cheese and a balsamic glaze.

The Back Lot seemingly has something for everyone, which is an apt description for Petoskey itself—so long as your interests skew toward the outdoors. The Northern Michigan city is home to fewer than 7,000 people, and yet it boasts more than 1,300 acres of parkland and eight miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The greater Petoskey area also features more than 160 ski runs and 60 miles of Nordic trails. Once spring begins to bloom, however, the slopes and paths give way to about two dozen golf courses, all within a 30-minute drive of downtown Petoskey.

The Links Course at Bay Harbor Golf Club

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With its windswept coastline, fescue-covered dunes and hilly terrain, the Petoskey area seems custom made for golf. The inevitable comparisons with Scotland extend to the friendliness of the local residents. “Whether they grew up here or whether they made the decision to chuck corporate life to live in Northern Michigan, the people here are very genuine,” says Ken Griffin, director of golf sales and marketing for Boyne Golf, which operates 10 of the region’s courses as part of Boyne Resorts. “They love living here, and they love sharing that experience with the people who visit.”

Boyne Golf ’s roots in the area date to 1955, when Everett Kircher, the owner and developer of the Boyne Mountain Ski Area, built a rudimentary 9-hole course at the resort’s base, where the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa now resides. Championship-caliber golf arrived about a decade later, when Kircher hired Robert Trent Jones Sr. to carve out a 7,143-yard course through the conifer trees at the base of the ski mountain at the Highlands, a 234-room resort located across Little Traverse Bay. His

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design, known as the Heather course, is widely credited with sparking the golf boom in Northern Michigan, which eventually led to the region’s claim to be “America’s Summer Golf Capital.”

Today the Heather course serves as the nucleus of the Highlands resort, which is now home to three additional 18-hole layouts. Playing through tight, treelined corridors, the Heather is a golfing time capsule, one that reflects a distinctive style of midcentury course architecture. With heavily bunkered green complexes and expansive water hazards that penalize wayward shots on more than half of the par-3s and par-5s, the course is idyllic but demanding. It has also influenced all subsequent Boyne-developed courses. “Every golf course we’ve built since has been measured against the Heather,” explains Bernie Friedrich, the director of golf course renovation and development at Boyne Resorts.

In 1989, Kircher tasked Bill Newcomb and Jim Flick with building a composite re-creation of classic holes designed by Donald Ross. Aptly named the Donald

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Ross Memorial, the 6,850-yard layout features full-length clones of famous holes at courses including Oakland Hills and Seminole. “We wanted to create holes from places that most golfers may not have the opportunity to play,” Friedrich says, “so there was a focus on the private clubs.”

Novel at first, the Ross course eventually grew tired and dated. However, modern technology is bringing it back to life—and better than ever—by enhancing the replication process. “Today, through technology, CAD and Google Earth, we are able to gather photos and dimensions to create an even more accurate reproduction of any updates,” Friedrich says. “It is our long-term plan to continue making key renovations to the course and keeping the tradition of Donald Ross alive here at Boyne.”

The last course built at the Highlands, Arthur Hills—named after its designer—opened in 1995 and is home to a signature par-5 that drops 350 feet from tee to green. Featuring a subtle punchbowl green, the 570-yard behemoth, nicknamed Everest, presents eagle opportunities and thrills golfers as they’re all but certain to watch their tee shots hang in the sky for what feels like an eternity.

The inevitable comparisons with Scotland extend to the friendliness of the local residents

Clockwise from opposite left: Donald Ross Memorial at the Highlands; a view over Petoskey; Arthur Hills at the Highlands

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The jewel of Boyne’s 10 Petoskey-area courses is set along the shores of Lake Michigan, just five miles west of downtown

About 25 minutes south of downtown Petoskey, near the site of Kircher’s original 9-hole layout, Boyne has two additional courses—Alpine and Monument—that trundle their way down the ski mountain to the shores of Deer Lake. But the jewel of Boyne’s 10 Petoskey-area courses is set along the shores of Lake Michigan, just five miles west of downtown.

Bay Harbor Golf Club features a trio of distinctive 9-hole layouts, built during the late 1990s, that offer three equally idiosyncratic experiences. The two most popular loops, the Quarry and the Links, meander across terrain reflective of their names. Encompassing almost 3,400 yards, the former plays through an old shale quarry marked by 40-foot gorges and stone cliffs. The Links, meanwhile, ventures along towering bluffs and fescue-covered dunes, offering panoramic vistas of Lake Michigan in the process.

The Links loop, perhaps more than any of its counterparts in this quiet corner of Northern Michigan, will have you drawing comparisons with Scotland. After your round, however, if the Back Lot beckons, it won’t be long before a food-truck Philly plants you squarely back in Petoskey.

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Bay Harbor Golf Club’s Links [top] and Quarry [above]

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THE GOLF, EPIC.

THE TrIP, Easy. Getting to BOYNE Golf has never been easier.

Fly into nearby Traverse City (TVC) — or our newly renovated private 5200’ airport at Boyne Mountain. Our 10 magnificent courses are closer than you think. Call 833.248.5402 to plan your 2023 trip today.

BoyneGolf.com

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3/1/23 8:31 AM

TRAVEL Anguilla

Finding Balance on a Perfect Beach There’s no better place to do nothing than Anguilla, but the island’s finest stretches of sand offer much to experience and explore—at a leisurely pace, of course

By Nicola Chilton

Anchoring alongside Little Bay beach is a highlight of daytrips aboard the Tradition sailing yacht

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N Not so long ago I had a moment when life felt pretty much perfect. It was in the middle of the pandemic, so there were plenty of reasons for that not to be so. But for one moment, while floating off Anguilla’s Shoal Bay East in waters so clear that I could see the slow movement of every grain of sand on the seabed, it felt as if things couldn’t get any better.

I’ve been to many beautiful beaches around the world, from palm-fringed Maldivian shores to honey-hued Cycladic coasts and volcanic black-sand beaches in Bali.

None pull me in like the beaches of Anguilla. They are intoxicating in their perfection, sweeps of soft sand that are never crowded, that shelve gently into warm waters so dazzling that they are still imprinted on my retinas, months after returning home.

At only 16 miles long and three miles wide, Anguilla can be seen in a single day by rental car or Moke (a locally popular mode of transportation that lives somewhere between a golf cart and a dune buggy). But this island in the eastern Caribbean is a place to experience slowly, where you needn’t feel guilty about spending another hour on your sunbed, or drinking another Carib beer, or emptying your brain of all thoughts while gazing at the little fluffy clouds passing by on the horizon.

Few places are better suited to such activities than the four beaches featured here (among 33 official beaches on Anguilla). Spend a bit of time at these spots, however, and you’ll soon be tempted to branch out and experience the culture, cuisine, outdoor activities, and other enticements Anguilla has on offer. You’ll also come to realize why Anguilla’s beaches are considered among the world’s best—and why so many travelers come back to the island time and time again.

Tradition sailing yacht, SunShine Shack (Photo: Nicola Chilton) and Rendezvous Bay

Shoal Bay East

Most regular visitors to Anguilla have their favorite beach and staunchly defend it. The long stretch of talcum powdery sand and eye-popping turquoise water at Shoal Bay East is mine, and I’ve spent many hours here doing absolutely nothing.

When it’s time for lunch, the deck at Madeariman (madeariman.restaurant) is the spot to refuel with local lobster pizza and a glass of wine or two. A little farther along the beach, Eulandy at Ola’s (@olasanguilla) makes the best margaritas on the island and good mahi mahi tacos to pair them with. Keep walking and you’ll reach Gwen’s Reggae Grill, a cheerful yellow and green beach shack where you can lounge in a hammock and sip a cold drink while Gwen tends the barbecue.

They are intoxicating in their perfection, sweeps of soft sand that are never crowded

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Wander along to the Zemi Beach House hotel (zemibeach.com) for exceptional treatments in a spa made out of a 300-year-old wooden house shipped over from Thailand in the 1980s. The hotel is also home to the Rhum Room, where “rumellier” Princess guides guests through an exploration of the Caribbean’s favorite tipple.

Sip one of 100 small-batch, single-estate rums, or opt for a cocktail made with local ingredients like sorrel tea, sea grapes and mauby syrup made from tree bark, all inspired by the zemi, the deities of the indigenous Taino people who once inhabited Anguilla.

Those who want to get out and explore the surrounding seas should track down local legend Nature Boy (natureboyboatcharters.com). Born and raised in Island Harbour, a five-minute drive from Shoal Bay East, he has been taking visitors on fishing charters and pleasure cruises for years, always knowing where the best catch is to be found and full of tales of the island. Come sunset, join a nighttime paddle in a transparent kayak (anguillakayak.com) around Island Harbour Bay. LED lights illuminate the water below, and it’s possible to spot turtles, lobsters and silvery Ballyhoo fish.

Sandy Ground

The narrow strip of Sandy Ground beach is sandwiched between salt ponds, once a major source of income for the island, and a crescent-shaped bay filled with small boats. It’s also homebase for one of Anguilla’s loveliest experiences, a day spent onboard Tradition (tradition-sailing.com), a 45-year-old wooden sloop. Tales of Tradition’s seafaring and smuggling history set the scene for a gentle cruise along the coast or out to one of Anguilla’s even tinier offshore islands.

Back on shore, settle into one of Sandy Ground’s many beach bars. At the south end of the bay, Roy’s (roysbaysidegrill.com), started in 1982 as a fish-and-chip stand by a Yorkshireman, is a reliably good spot for a bite. The unassuming Criss’s Conch Shack, a short walk north up the beach, is the place to try crispy fried cracked conch, an island favorite, before stopping into Elvis’ (elvisbeachbar.com), where the bar is built into the hull of an old Anguillian racing boat. If Elvis’s rum punch pumps you up for more fun, head over to Lit Lounge, Anguilla’s main late-night spot for loud music, dancing and surprisingly good noodles.

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Malliouhana’s Bar Soleil on Meads Bay

Meads Bay

This glorious stretch of sand between the Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) and Malliouhana (aubergeresorts.com) resorts is the ideal place to recover from a night at Lit Lounge. Competing with Shoal Bay East for the affections of regular Anguilla visitors, the waters here can be so calm that it’s like floating in a giant swimming pool.

Take a perch at Malliouhana’s Bar Soleil for clifftop views over the sea and an excellent Wagyu burger. Back down on the beach, Malliouhana’s former executive chef Alain Laurent turns out some of the best food on the island at Jacala. Local snapper meunière, Provençal calamari risotto and steak tartare prepped tableside are served in a breezy villa on the beach, fronted by red umbrellas and sunbeds where diners head for a postprandial snooze.

Over at Savi Beach (savibeach.com), the hottest new spot on the island, Italian and Japanese dishes are served alongside craft cocktails on a stylish white wooden deck that sees lounging by day and dancing by night.

Rendezvous Bay

There are two main reasons to head to Rendezvous Bay—to go to SunShine Shack, a place that has perfected the recipe of what a beach bar should be, and Bankie

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Banx’s Dune Preserve. At the former, owner Garvey splits his time between grilling his legendary pork ribs and stopping to hug new arrivals. Everything about this place feels just right, from the line of sunbeds on the water’s edge to the chilled reggae soundtrack and the views of St. Martin on the horizon. At the Dune Preserve—a jumble of driftwood, old boats and wooden planks assembled to form one of the island’s most popular spots—local musician Bankie Banx strums his guitar and sings to appreciative crowds as warm breezes play in the palms overhead.

Rendezvous Bay is also home to Aurora Anguilla (auroraanguilla.com), a luxury resort that spans more than 300 acres of spectacular beachfront. The seven restaurants here are supplied with fresh fruits and vegetables grown at an onsite organic farm, and the resort’s Greg Norman–designed golf course—the only 18-hole course on Anguilla—is one of the top layouts in the Caribbean.

Aurora Anguilla also recently introduced its own fleet of private planes. The resort can fly you into Anguilla directly from New York or Florida, ensuring that your perfect moment in the sand is close at hand.

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2/15/23 8:37 AM

TRAVEL Family Getaways

All in the Family 7 something-for-everyone resorts that go way beyond golf

By Bruce Wallin

L

et’s face it, Bandon Dunes isn’t a bring-everyone-in-the-family type of place. For times when your vacation goal isn’t 36 holes per day—and when your “foursome” comprises spouse and kids—you need a destination that offers a variety of options for different ages and tastes. Following are seven of our favorite such resorts, guaranteed crowdpleasers that hit the sweet spot between golf getaway and pure family fun.

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ONE&ONLY PALMILLA Los Cabos, Mexico Surf lessons right out front. Tacos on the

beach. Snorkeling, kayaking, pickleball and tennis. An afternoon massage under a

palapa. And, yes, golf at the 27-hole Jack

Nicklaus Signature Palmilla Golf Club, which stretches from the One&Only’s Sea of

Cortés–front setting to the desert arroyos

and mountains just inland. Your home base for this multifaceted Mexican getaway is a sprawling hacienda of tile and stucco and

palms, where friendly people bring you cold drinks along one of the rare swimmable

beaches in the area. And while first-rate

resorts may be common in Los Cabos, few cater to both families and golfers quite like the Palmilla. oneandonlyresorts.com

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VERDURA RESORT

FOUR SEASONS RESORT HUALĀLAI

Sicily, Italy

Kona-Kohala Coast, Hawai’i

The White Lotus isn’t something you want to watch with

King’s Pond might just be the world’s best swimming pool.

excited about Sicily, take la famiglia to this epic golf-and-

gallons of saltwater—is home to thousands of tropical fish

the kids, but if the HBO show’s second season got you

beach resort on the Italian island’s southern coast. Part of

Rocco Forte Hotels, the sprawling property is home to three

18-hole courses, including the highly acclaimed East Course, which was recently redesigned by Kyle Phillips. The sporting

options extend to a full soccer pitch, on which Verdura hosts academies for young athletes (ages 6-14) led by top players

like Italy’s Gianluca Zambrotta. The resort also offers training academies for tennis, padel, fencing, flyboarding, muay Thai and much more. After a day of sparring or riding the surf,

retire to one of Verdura’s Mediterranean-view villas, which,

with three or four bedrooms and private pools, are perfect for the whole clan. roccofortehotels.com

The massive lava-rock aquarium—filled with nearly 2 million that are native to the Pacific waters bordering this 865-acre

resort on the Big Island. Guests can grab a snorkel and swim with the vibrant array of species, an activity that can easily

eat up an entire afternoon. As can a visit to the pond’s new marine center, which offers educational opportunities and

eagle-ray feeding sessions, and was opened as part of the

resort’s recent $100 million renovation. The undertaking also saw the addition of ocean-view villas and the Hualālai Golf Hale, a 3,000-square-foot practice facility to complement the property’s Jack Nicklaus course. (Hualālai also has a private Tom Weiskopf course.) In addition to golf, the

resort offers tennis, pickleball, and a wealth of watersports

ranging from snorkeling and paddleboarding to high-speed adventures in a rigid inflatable boat. fourseasons.com

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GLENEAGLES Auchterarder, Scotland Gleneagles is pretty much everything you

dream about Scotland in one place. Fly-fishing, horseback riding, axe throwing and archery.

Rare single malts served from a Scotch trolley.

Falconry and gundog training in the fields and

forest. Off-roading driving courses for both adults and children (the latter in specially made Land

Rover replicas). Gardens, mazes and, of course,

golf. Such good golf, in fact, that you might lose your motivation to make the one-hour drive out

to St Andrews. Not to worry, as you will be happily anchored at Gleneagles’ century-old palace of

a hotel, which has been exquisitely restored and is equipped with everything from clubs for both

teenagers and young children to a new spa and a Michelin two-star restaurant. gleneagles.com

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ROSEWOOD BAHA MAR Nassau, Bahamas If you think waterparks are for kids, you haven’t been to

Baha Mar. This sprawling development on Nassau’s Cable Beach in the Bahamas is home to three hotels, more than 40 restaurants (from chefs including Daniel Boulud and

Marcus Samuelsson), over 30 boutiques and art galleries,

and just about everything else you could imagine being at a beachfront resort in the Caribbean. But it’s Baha Bay—a “luxury waterpark” located next door—that pushes this

place over the top. The 15-acre playground flows with wave

machines, lazy rivers, massive drop slides and plunges, and

an elegant beach club with spacious private cabanas. As for Baha Mar’s golf, it’s on the Jack Nicklaus–designed Royal

Blue, a classic Caribbean track where the perks include PXG rental clubs. Plant your clan at Rosewood Baha Mar, guests of which enjoy non-reciprocal access to the other hotels’

pools and beach clubs, as well as complimentary entry to Baha Bay. rosewoodhotels.com, bahamar.com

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THE BROADMOOR Colorado Springs An American classic, this Colorado Springs resort can be as rough as it is refined. The early 20th-century pink palace at the center of it all houses luxurious suites, lake-view

fine-dining venues and historic bars and ballrooms that might just call for black tie. Just outside, however, is a Rocky Mountain playground of zipline courses, hiking and biking

trails, a zoo, a falconry academy, and facilities for laser tag, geocaching and tomahawk

throwing. Not to be outdone, the Broadmoor’s two golf courses are worthy of a trip all on their own. The East Course, designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, will play host to the U.S. Senior Open in 2025. broadmoor.com

CONRAD ORLANDO Orlando, Florida Orlando isn’t just for kids—especially at the soon-to-open Conrad hotel at Evermore Orlando Resort. Evermore is a

new 1,100-acre community that borders Walt Disney World and will eventually include a whopping 10,000 bedrooms.

Most of that will be in the form of vacation rentals that range from two to 11 bedrooms. The Conrad, which is scheduled

to open in February 2024, will house 433 guest rooms and suites, including 10 massive family suites. Resort guests will have access to Evermore’s Links Course and the

in-development Grand Cypress Course by Nicklaus Design.

The community will also offer a 20-acre beach complex, a

lagoon, multiple restaurants and, of course, a complimentary shuttle to the Magic Kingdom next door. hilton.com, evermoreresort.com

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DRINKS Wine

Practice, Patience & Pinot Noir LPGA star Cristie Kerr has brought her committed and competitive ways to the wine business—and the results speak for themselves

By Shaun Tolson

About the same time that Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen were lauding the virtues of Pinot Noir in Sideways, professional golfer Cristie Kerr was seriously pondering the pesky grape. The year was 2005, and Kerr was one of the top players on the LPGA Tour—as well as an aspiring winemaker on the side. Despite the challenges involved, she was intent on launching her own wine label and, eventually, tackling the complex varietal. “Expertly crafted California Pinot Noir has been my muse,” Kerr says. “I really like the finesse of the Pinot grape . . . although it is fickle to work with.”

If Kerr sounds like someone who knows what she’s talking about, she does. The two-time major champion and 20-time winner on the LPGA Tour is serious about the wine business—and her wines are taken just as seriously. “The wine hits the palate with stunning purity, full-bodied richness, great penetration and overall equilibrium,” the legendary critic Robert Parker once said of Kerr Cellars’ 2013 Reserve Red. He was no less effusive in his praise for the 2015 vintage. “With good energy and vibrant acidity, this is a stunner. It should drink well for 25 to 30 years.”

More recently, wine critic James Suckling bestowed 96 points to Kerr Cellars’ 2018 Beckstoffer Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon and 97 points to the label’s 2018 Wappo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. “A complex and fascinating wine,” he wrote of the latter release.

The patience to wait—and the persistence to keep fighting—has been a cornerstone of Kerr’s successful career in golf. As a player on the LPGA Tour, she made 129 starts before claiming her first victory. She eventually earned 24 professional titles and more than $20 million as a golfer. From her experience—and from her advisors and partners in viticulture—she’s learned that a similarly long view is required in wine. “We have a great product and story,” Kerr remembers being told, “but sometimes it takes time to build a brand.”

Kerr’s wine story started in 2000, during the week of the Samsung World Championship, an LPGA event held at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo, Calif., about 30 miles southeast of Napa Valley. Then 22 years old and already a wine enthusiast, she scheduled her practice rounds in the mornings so she could tour Napa’s finest winemakers in the afternoons, visiting Joseph Phelps

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Kerr Cellars produces a Sauvignon Blanc and a variety of red wines that have been hailed by critics including Robert Parker

Vineyards and Staglin Family Vineyard, among others.

She finished 16th and earned $14,000 at the tournament that week, but her real takeaway was a passion to pursue a second career—or, as she likes to call it, a “side hustle”— in wine.

A few years later, Kerr began contacting existing wineries, pitching them on a collaboration that would produce the types of wines she loved—refined, complex expressions that drink well young but also offer cellaring potential. After a number of unsuccessful proposals, she met with Suzanne Pride Bryan, co-owner of Pride Mountain Vineyards. Kerr told her she wanted to make a high-quality wine, produced in small quantities, and that she didn’t want to make any money from it. Her family had a history of breast cancer, so she wanted proceeds from the wine to support research into the disease.

Pride Bryan, a breast-cancer survivor herself, immediately committed to the project. One year later, the partners bought out an existing winery and hired winemaker Sally Johnson. They officially launched their label, Curvature Wines, with the release of the 2006 Curvature Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that Kerr still calls “her baby.”

She scheduled her practice rounds in the mornings so she could tour Napa’s finest winemakers in the afternoons “It would be easy for someone in her position to simply fund a brand from a distance, but she is very hands-on in every aspect of Curvature,” Johnson says.

“Possibly because she is a competitor at heart, she sets benchmarks and goals for herself in order to measure her progress in the ‘sport’ of wine knowledge. The fact that she approaches wine in this systematic way led her to study for—and pass—the certified sommelier exam.”

To further her footprint in wine, Kerr launched Kerr Cellars in 2013, hiring Helen Keplinger as winemaker.

The label finally brought to fruition Kerr’s calling to make Pinot Noir.

Kerr’s enthusiasm for the craft and her desire to be involved—she refers to herself as her brands’ “chief tasting officer”—has no doubt enhanced her ventures’

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Cristie Kerr, Connoisseur Cristie Kerr is not one of those celebrities who simply slaps her name on a label and calls it her own. She is

a true student of wine, who has passed the level-one sommelier certification test and has compiled an

impressive collection of vintages beyond her own

Curvature and Kerr Cellars labels. Here, a peek inside her personal preferences and cellar shelves.

What are some of your go-to wines?

[Staglin Family Vineyards] Cabernets are some of the best I have had. I always feel like I am buying a piece of Napa history when I go there. Wines like Littorai,

Massican, Rivers-Marie are my Pinot Noir favorites,

and are always great expressions. At a restaurant, I try to order things less common, like Austrian and German wines. I do love all white-wine varietals as

well as heavier Cabernet Sauvignon. I’m a Libra . . . it’s hard to get a straight answer!

Your personal wine cellar is pretty expansive.

Which bottles in it are the most special to you?

Some of the more special bottles I have were gifts from other winemakers, like a three-liter bottle of

Grgich Hills Estate 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon that Kerr with the championship trophy after winning the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles in North Carolina

successes to date. However, she is quick to acknowledge those who have guided her along the way, including Pride Bryan, Johnson, Keplinger, Kathryn Walt Hall of Hall Wines and Marvin Shanken, the publisher and editor of Wine Spectator magazine. Each of them, like a coach on the golf course or practice range, has provided crucial advice and encouragement during Kerr’s winemaking journey.

As with golf, Kerr is confident that practice—and patience—will continue to pay off in the form of winning scores. “In many ways, I’ve had the perfect performance in a major championship, winning by 12 shots,” she says, referencing her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2010. “It would be equally amazing to achieve a perfect score in the wine world—even more so, maybe, since it depends on the opinions of others. So chasing the perfect score is definitely a goal of mine.”

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winemaker Ivo Jeramaz gave to me and my husband at our wedding. There are special bottles that I was gifted when I won the U.S. Open, like a bottle of the Poet Meritage by winemaker Mitch Cosentino or a

bottle of Angels’ Peak given to me by Tony Terlato.

I also have a bottle of Hattrick Cabernet Sauvignon

from NHL star Igor Larionov, and wines from Wayne Gretzky and Ernie Els. Some of these may not be

valuable in collectors’ circles, but they have a special place in my cellar and in my heart.

As far as collectible wines go, what are a few of your trophy bottles?

I do collect some older Burgundy and Bordeaux

wines and, of course, some older California Cabernet Sauvignon, but we mostly have daily drinking wines around. Some of my collectible bottles include a

2001–2005 vertical of Insignia; a 2001–2005 vertical of Opus One; a three-liter bottle of 2007 Masseto

Toscana; 2012 Hundred Acre ‘Ark Vineyard’ Cabernet

Sauvignon; 2005 Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru; and the sixth bottling of Abacus Cabernet Sauvignon by ZD Wines.

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2019 Kerr Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 Points, James Suckling

2019 Kerr Wappo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – 97 points, James Suckling

2019 Kerr Reserve Red – 95 Points, James Suckling

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Andes on the Rocks

Outside the Andean city of Tarija, Casa Real workers harvest Muscat of Alexandria grapes for Steven Soderbergh’s [above] Singani 63

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Backed by a newly earned designation— and the enthusiasm of Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh—Bolivia’s national spirit is ready for the spotlight

By Shaun Tolson

Sixteen years ago, Oscar Award–winning director Steven Soderbergh began filming a movie in Madrid about Ernesto “Che” Guevara. To celebrate the occasion, the film’s Bolivian casting director, Rodrigo Bellott, gifted Soderbergh a bottle of Casa Real Black Label singani.

It was a bottle that Bellott had to buy on Spain’s black market—Bolivia’s national spirit wasn’t exported at the time—but Soderbergh fell in love at first sip.

“Even before it reached my mouth, the bouquet was a surprise and unique to any spirit that I had imbibed,” he says of the eau de vie, which is crafted from Muscat of Alexandria grapes that must be grown at least 5,250 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains. “I wasn’t used to spirits with that alcohol level having such an aromatic presentation.”

The spirit’s layered and complex flavors inspired Soderbergh to create his own version of singani, dubbed Singani 63 and produced for the director by Casa Real.

He was soon distributing the brand throughout the U.S., and in 2014, he started lobbying the government to officially recognize singani as a unique style of brandy distinctive to its place of origin. “This spirit is absolutely the essence of Bolivia,” he says. “You could not reproduce this anywhere but with that single grape varietal grown in that 20,000-acre area that’s 6,000 feet above sea level.

This is hard stuff to make.”

Earlier this year, Soderbergh succeeded in his quest: Singani was recognized by the U.S. government as a distinctive category of brandy that can only be made in Bolivia. Still, the spirit is but a blip in the U.S. liquor market, with just a handful of brands, including Rujero and Los Parralles, available through extremely limited distribution stateside. It’s Soderbergh’s hope, however, that the new designation will encourage a new audience of drinkers to give it a try. When they do, he knows they’ll be enraptured, just like he was 16 years ago.

“It’s a form of transportation, a way to experience another culture,” he says. “This is the spirit version of me saying to someone, ‘You have to check this movie out.’

There’s nothing like it.”

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Mixing It Up Vibrant and versatile, singani can play a starring role in a range of cocktails, including these three classics 1 oz. Singani 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth • 1 oz. Aperol • Orange Twist • •

Negroni

Stir all ingredients over ice, then strain into a rocks glass over an ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

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Sour 2 oz. Singani .75 oz. Lemon Juice • .75 oz. Agave • 1 Egg White • 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters • •

Dry shake first four ingredients, then shake again with ice. Strain into a glass and top with bitters.

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2 oz. Singani 1 oz. Lemon Juice • .25 oz. Simple Syrup • .75 oz. Combier Crème de Pamplemousse Rose • 1 Bar Spoon Blackberry Jam • Blackberries •

Bramble

•

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Place jam in the bottom of a glass. Shake remaining ingredients with ice, softly, then strain over ice. Garnish with blackberries.

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A new generation of fashion brands is bringing an urban edge and streetwise style to the golf course

By Shaun Tolson Fashion fit for the fairways means something different today than it did back in Arnold Palmer’s day. As golf ’s demographic gets younger and more diverse, classic trousers and cardigans have been giving way to—or at least sharing space with—joggers and hoodies. Now, a new guard of urbaninspired golf attire is stepping up the casual-clothing game with brazen patterns and whimsical motifs that are equally at home on the course, in the clubhouse or on the city streets.

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Street Smarts

LIFE Fashion

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MALBON GOLF

RANDOM GOLF CLUB

Through his magazine and creative agency

There’s an irreverence at the root of Random

connection to street style since 1999. He

ideals of the brand’s founder, Erik Anders

Frank151, Stephen Malbon has fostered a

brought those ideals to golf fashion six years ago when he co-founded Malbon Golf with

his wife, Erica. Their goal is to inspire today’s youth to take up the game, and they take

their own inspiration from the places that

they visit—the Hamptons, for example—and their friends in disparate industries, such as

Golf Club’s apparel, which epitomizes the

Lang, a cinematographer and director who

moonlights as a golf enthusiast—or maybe it’s the other way around. Either way, RGC’s

designs serve as a whimsical reminder that

you should never take yourself too seriously, especially on the golf course. randomgolfclub.com

skateboarding.

malbongolf.com

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ANEW GOLF

Seven years ago, this Korean brand entered

the golf space with eye-catching stand bags

and gloves. Since then, Anew has developed an apparel collection inspired by urban

wear and extreme sports. As the creative

minds behind the brand explain, their intent is to bring “bold colors, studs and intense patterns” to golf. anewgolf.com

2

RADDA

Described by its founder as “a lifestyle-driven golf apparel brand,” Radda is focused on

creating a clothing lineup that suits golf but

isn’t defined by it. Rather than look to the golf course, Radda’s creative team looks to the street, then designs pieces reflecting that aesthetic but with golf functionality. raddagolf.com

3

DEVEREUX

Ten years in, Devereux remains committed to

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broadening golf’s demographics by creating edgy apparel and accessories. The brand’s

founders hope that through those products, a younger and more diverse audience will

embrace the game, recognizing that golf is

first and foremost an opportunity to have fun with your friends. dvrxthreads.com

4

EASTSIDE GOLF

For more than three years, Eastside Golf has taken golf iconography to the street just as much as it has brought street style to the

course. In short order, Eastside’s founders— former collegiate national champions—have

formed partnerships with noteworthy lifestyle brands, creating collaborations that include course-ready Air Jordans. eastsidegolf.com

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Spring in Your Step

Kick off the season with a new pair of golf shoes designed for casual comfort and a fresh vibe Photos: Kimberly Motos

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Opposite:

True Linkswear True Lux Hybrid (truelinkswear.com, $195) This Page:

Skoni

Men’s Red/White/Blue (skoni.com, $100)

Johnston & Murphy McGuffey GL1 Hybrid (johnstonmurphy.com, $149)

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This Page:

Johnston & Murphy XC4 GT2 Luxe U-Throat (johnstonmurphy.com, $229)

Asics Gel-Ace Pro M (asics.com, $200) Opposite:

Payntr

X004RS (payntr.com, $200)

Duca Del Cosma Men’s Regent (ducadelcosma.us, $229)

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Opposite:

Duca Del Cosma Women’s Caldes (ducadelcosma.us, $239)

True Linkswear True Women’s All-Day Ripstop (truelinkswear.com, $150) This Page:

PXG

X NJ Slides (pxg.com, $95)

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Ultimate Backyard A handful of humble suggestions if you are aspiring to an outdoor upgrade in time for summer

The Green

Let’s start at the beginning, at ground level, you might say. We club golfers are unlikely to spend the hours on the putting green that the pros do, but a green in the backyard makes putting practice more convenient than ever, it adds a sporting challenge to those summer barbeques, looks great and ultimately will shave shots off your next round of golf. When you think about it in these clear and objective terms, the backyard green is not a luxury, no, not amid these pages; it’s a necessity.

We have done some scouting around, checking turf quality, installation process and durability, and we can recommend GolfGreens by ForeverLawn.

Importantly, GolfGreens does not peddle just a single putting green solution. There are so many variables

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LIFE Fully Equipped

with putting green installations in terms of size, location, undulations, speed and level of required care, and so GolfGreens provides a bespoke service to ensure each installation matches the requirements and preferences of each customer.

“Unbeknownst to most consumers, there’s an underlying discussion in the backyard residential golf green community,” explains GolfGreens’ James Rekart.

“A lot of companies offer just one product, but we’re not in one camp or another. We have four different products, and we help customers navigate to the right one for their backyard.

“We have layout artists and designers and specialists that put it all together, working to a customer’s design or to their vision. Every step of the way we communicate with customers on the turf, the square footage, the undulation and making sure they get exactly what they want.”

It might start as a passion for game improvement, yet ends as an improvement in quality time at home with family and friends as well. No one loses in this game.

The Putter

There is only so much putting improvement

you can achieve without the right equipment in your hands. We would always recommend you try before you buy with all equipment,

but the new Queen B Series from Bettinardi

catches the eye and feels great in the hands.

Made from 303 Stainless Steel, the Queen B putters feature Bettinardi’s new Mini

Honeycomb face milling to promote a soft feel at impact.

The Music

Try the P9 wireless high-fidelity music

system from Escape. Undercover are five

speakers, an optimized deep polypropylene cone, linear flat spider and a vented voice

coil driven by a powerful magnet. Built with a 20cm subwoofer, the built-in audiophile amplifier boasts output of 100 Watt RMS. It wants for nothing.

The Coolbox

The Dometic Patrol 35 ice chest does not just keep ice frozen for hours; peerless

insulation keeps ice solid for days. So you are covered: if the putting becomes a marathon

the drinks won’t get warm. It even comes with a fishing rod holder (ideal for spare golf balls).

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LIFE Health & Wellness

Check In, Check Up Instead of a visit to the doctor’s office, why not take a vacation? Thanks to a new breed of wellness resorts, your next medical appointment could be in the comfort of a riverfront spa or penthouse suite

By Esme Benjamin

If you dread the idea of a doctor’s appointment, you’re not alone. But putting off the inevitable visit—especially as we age—can have serious ramifications for your health.

Fortunately, a far more appealing alternative to the doctor’s office has emerged in recent years, as a new breed of wellness hotels and resorts has introduced programs combining the pampering of a spa with expert-led medical diagnostics and action plans designed to identify and address specific health concerns. With world-class doctors, cutting-edge technology and first-rate wellness amenities in alluring destinations, the six properties featured here will have you looking forward to your next medical checkup—and feeling the health benefits of your visit long after check-out time.

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Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort

Founded by renowned oncologist David Agus, Sensei Lanai offers targeted programs tailored to each guest’s individual health goals. To start, there’s a consultation with a pre-arrival specialist and delivery of a WHOOP 4.0 wearable, which tracks your behaviors and habits prior to your stay. Once you check in, the in-person health assessments begin, with the option of a blood test to help shape your personalized nutrition plan. From there a custom program unfolds, blending fitness and mindset coaching with pampering experiences like a traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi massage and plenty of time outdoors exploring the wilderness of Lanai, one of Hawaii’s least-developed and -touristed islands. fourseasons.com

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Rakxa

Technology meets tradition at Rakxa, a Thai resort situated just across the river from Bangkok, on the jungleblanketed island of Bang Krachao. Your stay begins with in-depth diagnostics and a consultation with a dedicated advisor who will keep you on track to meet your goals with help from a team of doctors, nutritionists, trainers and respected healers. (Holistic therapies, including Himalayan singing bowls, acupuncture, yoga and Ayurveda, are an integral part of the Rakxa experience.) The resort’s specialized retreat options run the gamut from a total gut reset or detox regimen to a three-night long-COVID recovery program designed to reduce inflammation and restore the respiratory system. rakxawellness.com

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Palazzo Fiuggi

Each guest’s “wellness journey” at Palazzo Fiuggi, located an hour outside of Rome, begins with a purifying hammam ritual—a relaxing treat before the hard work of getting healthier begins. After checking you in, the resort’s team initiates a deep dive into your mindbody-soul health, testing everything from your genes and microbiome to your body composition so they can customize a program and track your progress before departure. Palazzo Fiuggi is part plush spa, part serious training facility, part scientific lab, part esoteric retreat —culminating in a balanced health-themed break that gets results. palazzofiuggi.com Aman New York

When Aman debuted in New York City in 2022, the company—known for its ultra-luxe resorts in exotic locations—claimed its new Manhattan hotel would feature “the fullest expression of Aman’s health and wellness concept yet.” The Aman Spa New York, which encompasses 25,000 square feet and three floors, certainly delivers on that promise. Guests can access a yoga/ reformer Pilates studio, a spacious gym, spa “houses” with either a private hammam or wood-clad banya sauna, a cryotherapy chamber and infrared treatments.

Among the experts on hand to run diagnostic testing and create bespoke wellness solutions are doctors of Chinese medicine, personal trainers and Dr. Robert Graham, an on-staff Harvard-trained physician. aman.com

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Six Senses Ibiza

At Six Senses Ibiza, your wellness experience can be as simple as an invigorating massage incorporating botanicals from the resort’s organic garden, or as in-depth as a personalized program using smart tech and non-invasive biomarker analysis. Many guests opt for one of Six Senses’ wellness programs, which combine classes, treatments, meals and gift bags to target longevity, sleep, fitness, mental health and more. Time your stay to coincide with a visit from one of the world’s leading wellbeing practitioners and get access to insights and expertise that will shape your own wellness quest. sixsenses.com Chenot Palace Weggis

The crisp air and pristine mountain scenery of the Swiss Alps form the perfect setting for Chenot Palace Weggis, a state-of-the-art wellness resort with its own trademarked program for health and longevity. The Chenot Method promises a scientific, results-driven approach to achieving optimal wellbeing, complete with medical screening and diagnostic tests. Its founder, Henri Chenot, is a preventative health expert who believes that with the right support, the body can heal itself and stay functionally younger for longer.

Expect innovative physical-training methods alongside therapeutic treatments like aromatherapy hydromassage. chenotpalaceweggis.com

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LIFE Health & Wellness

Team Player Terry Francona, manager of the Cleveland Guardians MLB team, called him the “Godfather of care for athletes’ hands.” Kingdom caught up with Dr. Thomas Graham to ask him about life between the training room and the operating room, and to learn how all golfers can avoid and treat hand and upper-extremity injuries

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You may have heard his name on ESPN or read it in Sports Illustrated or Golf Digest. Perhaps, you read his bestselling book on medical innovation, Innovation the Cleveland Clinic Way, or watched him patrol the sidelines of an NFL game or sit courtside at an NBA tilt. Even if you haven’t encountered Dr. Thomas Graham, you are familiar with his clientele. Dr. Graham’s practice has been the premier destination for the care of the professional athlete’s hand and wrist for three decades. Throughout that time, he has saved or extended the careers of more than 2,000 players who rely on their hands.

Dr. Graham has served as the medical director, team physician or hand-surgery consultant for teams in every major sport (NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL). He also shared a deep and special friendship with Kingdom co-founder Arnold Palmer. Their relationship originated from Graham’s roots in western Pennsylvania and influenced the healthcare landscape when they collaboratively launched the Arnold Palmer SportsHealth Center in Baltimore.

For 30 years, Dr. Graham’s calendar has included attending over 100 professional sports contests annually, yet this former collegiate golfer has always concentrated his efforts to help fellow golfers—pro and amateur—remain on the links.

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How did you become the “go-to” hand surgeon in professional sports?

I got a head start by deciding to be a hand surgeon before I was 10 years old, but the real answer is a powerful combination of mentorship and serendipity.

I worked with some of the grandfathers of sports medicine, and I was quickly assumed into the small enclave of surgeons taking care of professional sports teams. At first, having a hand surgery consultant was somewhat novel, and my experience with teams across the entire country exploded.

A true catalyst was my relationship with Arnold Palmer. When I started my career at Cleveland Clinic in the early 1990s, Mr. Palmer and Mark McCormack— having founded the Cleveland-based management company, IMG—made me the unofficial “Team Doctor”. With their endorsement I went from seeing dozens of athletes a year to hundreds.

It is exceptionally gratifying when a player you have cared for is traded to a different team, and then suddenly you start receiving calls about other players on the new team. I’m humbled to have the trust of the athletes and of other participants in this unique ecosystem.

What makes golf unique from the perspective of a hand surgeon?

Here are three things that fascinate me about golf: 1. The hand-wrist unit serves as the “final common pathway” that contacts the club and influences the flight of the ball.

2. In terms of medicine, golf is the only sport played in essentially the same manner by both professionals and recreational athletes.

3. In golf there is no consistency of playing field.

Courses not only vary in elevation and length, but the conditions during the same contest may vary. These factors, among others, conspire to present an array of injuries that can result from acute or chronic etiologies.

What are the common injuries in the amateur golfer?

Because the equipment and actions of the game are shared between the professional and recreational player, there is no real exclusivity of injury portfolio to one cohort. But in my experience, amateurs are more prone to an acute injury from attempting the “hero”

shot, and they have a general tendency to over-swing.

Not only do weekend golfers tend to find themselves in more tenuous circumstances, but they also seem to have a proclivity to try the impossible recovery, involving proximity to roots, shrubs, steep inclines and bunker lips.

Are professional golfers susceptible to different injuries?

The injury profiles for tour golfers deviate from amateurs’ in one fundamental way: the extraordinary dedication and hours of practice of elite players translates into overuse injuries. Coupled with extreme conditions, considerable travel and the fitness regimens accompanying the game at the highest level, tissue breakdown from attrition is simply more common in the professional golfer.

Additionally, we’ve learned a great deal about managing degenerative conditions (osteoarthritis) of the hand and wrist in the professional athlete through our association with the PGA Tour Champions.

Athletes in other major sports simply don’t participate at the professional level into their fourth or fifth decade, so keeping players competitive with that portfolio of injuries presented new challenges and fostered creative solutions we now employ for the recreational golfer who is over 50 years old.

What are the signs that golfers should heed, sending them to see a physician?

I prefer to keep this simple. Knowing the dedication most golfers have to their sport­—whether in high-level tournament play or the weekend game—when a player is forced to walk off the course or feels they can’t start a round, I take it seriously. Obviously, the acute onset of discomfort after hitting a root or hearing a pop on the awkward bunker swing should alert a golfer to injury.

What can golfers do to prevent the severity of injuries to their hands and wrists?

This is tricky because strength and endurance of the small muscles of the hand and forearm don’t translate as directly to injury prevention as core or lower extremity conditioning in contact sports. The nexus of good swing mechanics, proper equipment, and realistic expectations about quantity and quality of play go a long way to extend the career and enjoyment of most golfers.

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What are the most frequent golf-related injuries you treat as a hand surgeon?

There are five: 1. Golfer’s/Tennis Elbow. Technically medial and lateral epicondylitis, respectively, this is discomfort from inflammation at the origin of the large muscle groups from the small bony prominences on either side of the elbow. And yes, golfers suffer from tennis elbow.

2. Hook of the Hamate Fracture. Any “stickand-ball” athlete (baseball, tennis, etc.) risks fracturing the bony projection in the palm where the end of the club resides. If acute pain in this area is experienced with a swing that possibly contacted the ground or an object, take it seriously.

3. Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon Issues. The strong wrist extensor and elevator residing on the small finger side of the wrist is prone to chronic and acute injury in sport. Inflammatory tendinitis or instability resulting from injuries to the investments of the tendon can present with discomfort or mechanical “snapping” of the tendon out of its bony groove.

4. Triangular Fibrocartilage Tears. The “bumper” cartilage that separates the end of the prominent ulna bone and the bones of the wrist can be thinned or perforated with chronic use or an acute incident.

5. Golfer’s Thumb. “Golfer’s Thumb” is how I have described a phenomenon in the thumb of the top hand (the left hand for a right-handed golfer), where the heel of the bottom hand compresses and torques the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint.

A chronic attenuation results that acts like the “gamekeeper’s” or “skier’s” thumb, that contact athletes frequently sustain.

the 1960s and ’70s. Later I was privileged to become one of his physicians and friends. Together we launched the Arnold Palmer SportsHealth Center in 2006, sharing the level of care we delivered to professional athletes with anyone pursuing an active lifestyle.

Being around Mr. Palmer reinforced the best lessons of humility, sportsmanship, entrepreneurship, accountability and courtesy. What a role model, for athletes and for anyone with aspirations. I think about him every day and conduct my affairs in a way that I hope would make him proud.

What aspirations remain for you?

The often-overlooked ingredients for those of us with a few birthdays behind us are flexibility, core strength and balance. In sports like golf, where consistency is the mark of the champion, taking care of these fundamentals will contribute to longer, happier careers.

I truly appreciate what I learned from that special “laboratory” of caring for professional athletes, and translating that knowledge and experience into advancing surgical science for all patients.

In team sports I still have hopes to be part of a world championship. I was with great organizations that lost three World Series (1995, 1997 and 2016 with the Cleveland Guardians, previously known as the Indians) and one Stanley Cup (2010 with the Philadelphia Flyers).

As for golf, beside the interpersonal experiences we savor, the wonderful thing about this sport is that we always believe we can improve. Very few endeavors have that inherent optimism that drives us. Maybe that’s why I’m so humbled to assist so many professionals and amateurs on their journey to “better.”

Tell us more about your relationship with Arnold Palmer?

Dr. Graham is personally dedicated to helping athletes

Golf is a lifelong sport, including professionals playing into their 60s on the PGA Tour Champions.

How can golfers extend their playing careers?

Over more than four decades my relationship with Arnold Palmer enriched my life immensely. Growing up not far from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, I was first a fan in

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Arnold Palmer and fellow Western Pennsylvanian Dr. Graham

with hand and wrist problems to reach their potential, regardless of their level of play. He can be reached at athleteshand@gmail.com

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NATURE HEALS— WE HELP

Continuing the Palmer family’s legacy of supporting children’s health, character, and nature-focused wellness

PALMERFOUNDATION.ORG

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GIFT GUIDE

Time to Revitalize Spring is back and optimism abounds.

Let’s start as we intend to continue

Brunello Cucinelli Leisure Bag T he Canvas and Vintage Calfskin Leisure Bag from Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli offers a luxurious texture contrast between the summery cotton and linen canvas and the vintage calfskin leather. Four large exterior pockets give the water-resistant bag versatility, and the shoulder strap is adjustable and detachable. brunellocucinelli.com

Dubarry Regatta Made in Europe with Dubarry’s performance DryFastDrySoft leathers and built on their award-winning non-slip, non-marking cup-sole, the timeless and water-resistant Regatta is made with hand-stitched uppers, breathable mesh sidepanels, and padded collar and tongue. Made in donkey brown, the shoes are also available in Extra-Fit width. dubarry.com/us

Holderness & Bourne T he Ward is a classic crewneck sweater from sophisticated golf company Holderness & Bourne. Featuring a diamond jacquard knit pattern and made from Egyptian cotton, the Ward pairs beautifully with the new Slater shorts, made from moisture-wicking performance fabric, yet in a classic cut for wear off the golf course too. holdernessandbourne.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II

Dewar’s Champions Edition

Originally crafted as the incomparable timepiece for airborne adventure, the newest generation of the GMT-Master serves as a striking testament to the constant search for improvement at Rolex. Featuring a crown on the left and the date aperture at 9 o’clock on the watch face, the Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II tells the time in two time zones simultaneously.

The new Champions Edition 19 Year Old blended Scotch from Dewar’s has been produced to celebrate the 2023 U.S. Open.

Dewar’s master blender Stephanie Macleod has extra-matured the blend in handselected red wine casks from the Napa Valley. Hints of red berries and black cherries resolve into a rich and fruity finish and a lasting note of nutmeg.

rolex.com

dewars.com

Jacob Bromwell Explorer The Explorer flask is designed with classic refinement. The heavyweight flask— featuring smooth, rounded edges and a knurled cap—holds nine fluid ounces and is made from 22-gauge solid pewter, with an ultra-reflective finish. A proprietary process is used to apply molten, lead-free tin to its interior, and the flask is hand-stamped with the Bromwell logo on the bottom. jacobbromwell.com

Penfold Heritage Inspired by Penfold’s classic Sunday golf bags, the Heritage shoe bag is made from dry wax canvas with a distinctive full-grain leather base.

Crafted with Penfold’s customarily clean and retro design, the Heritage features a back pocket for accessories, double-zipper front, interior shoe divider and sturdy handle. penfoldgolfusa.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Winner’s Award Group

Stack System

The Championship Belt from Winner’s Award Group (as featured on p49) is not strictly a gift, yet who wouldn’t love to receive one of these bespoke prize belts? Made from black leather with die-struck gold-plated metals, the Championship Belt is a throwback to the original prize from The Open and is ideal for club comps, company outings or buddies trips.

Leading biomechanist Dr. Sasho MacKenzie has teamed up with Ping engineer Marty Jertson to create the innovative Stack System speed training solution. The Stack combines 30 weight combinations with an accompanying app to guide players through personalized A.I. training. U.S. Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick said: “I’ll be honest, it’s worked wonders.”

winnersawardgroup.com

thestacksystem.com

XXIO Prime Driver The new Prime driver from XXIO is designed to provide lightweight clubhead speed, shot distance and stability, thanks to an enlarged clubhead that shifts back the center of gravity. A proprietary casting technique utilizes a low-density titanium alloy that has enabled XXIO to redistribute some of the clubhead weight, to heighten the moment of inertia and therefore increase stability at impact and shot accuracy.

XXIOusa.com

Stewart Golf Apex Remote

The Apex Remote is new from Stewart Golf, the masters of remote-control caddies. The British-built Apex Remote rolls along with a range of 100 yards from its golfer, who enjoys full directional control (forward, reverse, left and right). Powered by a SmartPower Lithium battery, the compactfolding caddie is complete with special Active Terrain Control for descent, side slopes and ascent. stewartgolfusa.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Honma Beres Nx

The lightweight Beres Nx collection from Honma brings forgiveness and performance.

The multi-material fairway woods are made with a carbon crown, titanium frame and heavier stainless steel sole to keep the weight low and shot trajectory high. A wide slot behind the clubface boosts a wide sweet spot and increases ball speed at impact. us.honmagolf.com

Hubs Peanuts Ping Hoofer Ping’s Hoofer golf bag is renowned for its versatility, functionality and lightweight durability. Built with the full complement of 11 pockets, the Hoofer features a padded shoulder strap that can be simply adjusted for single-shoulder carrying. A five-way reinforced top ensures convenient and spacious club storage, and the Hoofer comes with a detachable rain-hood.

Hubs Single Serving Power Packs are ideal for those who need a mid-round pickme-up, or who enjoy a salty snack with a post-round beverage (isn’t that just about everyone?). T hese peerless Virginia peanuts are packaged in healthy single-servings; just what the doctor ordered to help reduce weight and lower LDL cholesterol while boosting protein and nutrient levels. hubspeanuts.com

ping.com

Gem e4 Not to be confused with a golf cart, the versatile and street-legal Gem e4 is an electric car with a range of 91 miles, cruising speed of 25 mph, four forward-facing seats, safety belts and plenty of legroom. Built for quick drives around the neighborhood, family trips to the beach and nights on the town, the e4 is fully customizable. gemcar.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Courant Catch:2 The Catch:2 is a multi-device wireless charger made by Courant. Finished in Italian pebble-grain leather and available in five colors (pictured here in “Saddle”), the understated, non-slip Catch:2 is built with a five-coil system to ensure efficient wireless charging of two devices at any one time. Wireless output is up to 10 watts.

Dominic Green Drum Shades

Tired of seeing beautiful rooms let down by ill-fitting lighting decor, Dominic Green has patented a method to allow interior designers to finish stunning spaces with lighting that fits. Hand-crafted in Cambridge and with worldwide shipping, the shades can be up to six feet in diameter. Featured here is the Italian Velvet flamingo with gold edging.

dominic-green.com

staycourant.com

Material Trio of Knives

Schon DSGN Monoc Nib

Sharp, sleek and designed to last a lifetime, the Trio of Knives from Material are made from cryogenically tempered Japanese stainless steel and high carbon, with wooden storage block and sharpener as optional extras. We recommend the complete set to ensure easy and effective care. Th e set includes an 8-inch chef ’s knife, 6-inch serrated knife and “almost” 4-inch paring knife.

Monoc Nibs are designed, engineered and handmade to order in the Schon DSGN workshop in Philadelphia. Schon DSGN is among very few companies in the world with the capability to complete the entire process under one roof. Th e medium/broad nib has an approximated stroke width of 5mm, but stroke width varies slightly as each nib is handmade.

materialkitchen.com

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GIFT GUIDE

Leatherman T4

Soundcore Space Q45

The Leatherman T4 is designed to provide everyday problem solving in a small, easy-access, one-stop package.

Built in Portland, Oregon, and covered by a 25-year warranty, the agile Leatherman features 12 tools: knife, scissors, pry tool, package opener, awl, bottle opener, Phillips screwdriver, file, tweezers and screwdrivers in medium, small and extra-small.

The Soundcore Space Q45 headphones are built with a state-of-the-art noisecancelling system to ensure personal peace and space in multiple environments. The headphones bring 50 hours of playtime in noise-cancelling mode, which will cover around-the-world air travel without the need to recharge. A quick-charge function means that just five minutes of charging will power four hours of playtime.

leatherman.com

soundcore.com

Ortlieb Atrack Metrosphere The waterproof and dustproof Atrack Metrosphere backpack from Ortlieb combines 21st-century minimalist design with exceptional functionality, ensuring the black embossed Atrack Metrosphere adapts between urban, mountain, forest and beach settings, and everywhere in between. The rugged duffle backpack features multiple compartments, lockable zip and ergonomic back-strap system. ortlieb.com

Nomad Grill & Smoker This grill and smoker from Nomad is heavy-duty, portable and can be relied upon to provide the solid foundation to a good meal on a long day on the road, along the trail or up a mountain. The 28-pound carrying case houses a pair of heavy-duty, die-cast cookboxes that deliver up to 425 square inches of grill space. nomadgrills.com

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LAST PAGE

Looking Ahead APRIL

MAY

6-9

2

The Masters, Augusta National, GA.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort opens for stay & play

Any day this month

Next door to the new home of the PGA of America in Texas, the $520 million resort

Cherry Blossoms

opens for guests to stay in its 500 rooms

Spring is in the air, and if you are in NYC

and to play its 36 holes of golf. The

why not head to the Brooklyn Botanic

Senior PGA Championship will be staged

Garden to see its stunning Cherry

here on Memorial Day weekend.

Blossom exhibit?

6 Coronation of King Charles III The Coronation of King Charles III takes place at Westminster Abbey, London.

ESTS

King Charles will be crowned in the

abbey where all British coronations have taken place since 1066. The last British

coronation was for Queen Elizabeth II 70 years ago, in 1953.

18-21 PGA Championship, Oak Hill, N.Y. JUNE

15-18 U.S. Open, Los Angeles CC, CA.

21 First Day of Summer Our favorite season arrives with the summer solstice. Expect all-day

celebrations at Stonehenge, England,

from dawn, when hopefully the clouds

will part long enough to allow sunshine through the Heel Stone to light up the heart of Stonehenge.

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JULY

2 World UFO Day Keep your eyes on the skies (just in case) during the 23rd official World UFO Day.

6-9 U.S. Women’s Open, Pebble Beach, CA. The original major championship in

women’s golf arrives at the legendary

Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time.

15 Madonna – The Celebration Tour Celebrating four decades as the global queen of pop, Madonna’s Celebration Tour kicks off in Vancouver. Dates

throughout North America and Europe

are selling out fast. And you thought the Super Bowl was big…

20-23 The Open, Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake

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Partnering with the best to give them our best Kettering Health knows that athletes need precise, high-quality care that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. That’s why professional athletes choose us—to get them back to being the best.

Learn more about us at ketteringhealth.org

OFFICIAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER OF THE CINCINNATI BENGALS

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