Kingdom 62

62 | WINTER 2024/25

LU XU RY | L I F E ST Y L E | G O L F

the

KINGDOM

LIST

FROM ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM TO DAVID MCLAY KIDD, OUR EXPERT PANELISTS SELECT THE TOP NEW GOLF COURSES, HIDDEN GEMS, HOTELS & MORE

Plus TOM WATSON EXCLUSIVE . GRAY MALIN’S GOLF PHOTOGRAPHY PAUL AZINGER . ULTIMATE GOLF GETAWAYS IN SPAIN

cd: ROBB AARON GORDON

- An Island Sanctuary like no other

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© 2024 Preferred Hotels & Resorts

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LPGA Photography

SHARED VALUES. HARD WORK.

CONGRATULATIONS, U.S. TEAM AND CAPTAIN STACY LEWIS Stephens Brand Ambassador 2024 Solheim Cup Winners

STEPHENS INC. MEMBER NYSE, SIPC

Mercilessly magnificent The Straits —wild, rugged, and breathtakingly beautiful—is a perfect reflection of its Irish roots. Along the shores of Lake Michigan, you’ll need a strong resolve to embrace the mayhem and the majesty. This combination is just one of the extraordinary experiences that awaits you in Kohler. ®

Visit KohlerWisconsin.com.

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.

Publisher & Co-Founder

MATTHEW SQUIRE

Executive Vice President, Content

BRUCE WALLIN

Art Director

MATTHEW HALNAN

Managing Editor

LORI BRYAN

Editors

ROBIN BARWICK (UK) SHAUN TOLSON (US)

SUBSCRIPTIONS Order online at:

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hello@kingdom.golf

INQUIRIES Advertising

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Head of Advertising Sales

JON EDWARDS

GM, Kingdom

JOE VELOTTA

Marketing Director

MORGAN BARBAY

Contributing Editor

ALEXANDRA O’LAUGHLIN

Founding Director

ARNOLD PALMER

Photography

Gray Malin, Jeff Marsh, Evan Schiller, Jacob Sjöman, Adam Szafranski Special Thanks & Contributors

Geno Bonnalie, Crai Bower, Scott Cranfield, David DeSmith, Adam Erace, Paul Feinstein, Bill Hogan, David McLay Kidd, Larry Olmsted, Annika Sörenstam, Robert Spuhler, Roger Steele, Gina DeCaprio Vercesi

COMMERCIAL INQUIRIES ms@northandwarren.com 646-970-3755 | kingdom.golf

NORTH & WARREN JAY MEYER

Executive Vice President, Content

BRUCE WALLIN

Partnerships

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VISIT

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NEWSLETTER Subscribe at: kingdom.golf/the-turn

Christian Poppert, Jana Robinson, Mark Cooper, David Van Sicklen, Tori DeClaris, Travis Haley Marketing

Morgan Barbay, Julia Biedenbender, Shannon Corrigan-Baumann, Tatiana Imamura, Emily Poppert, Jen Scherr, Adam Szafranski, Joanna Thomas VP, Commerce & Growth

Published by

COOPER FLEISHMAN MANDEE KLENK

14

SOCIALS

President & Partner

Operations Manager

Kingdom is a luxury lifestyle and golf magazine enjoyed by more than 2 million readers annually through our print publication, social channels, website, newsletters, and events. Co-founded in 2003 by Arnold Palmer, Kingdom continues the King’s legacy with original content that celebrates excellence and the modern golf lifestyle, both on and off the course.

PHOTO Evan Schiller

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EMILY POPPERT

Marketing Coordinator

COVER GrayBull, Nebraska

Chief Financial Officer

JOHN PIETROLUNGO

Founders

MATT CARROLL NICK VAN SICKLEN

7324 Gaston Ave, Ste 124-451; Dallas, TX 75214 © 2024/25 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 responsibility of advertisers. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited submissions and manuscripts.

Printed in the USA

WHERE CHAMPIONS

Get into the swing of island life with 23 world-class golf courses to choose from.

HiltonHeadIsland.org

PUBLISHER’S LET TER

Ace at Hilton Head

I

have enjoyed the privilege and pleasure of attending many Kingdom Cups over the years, and I have seen a few things, but we took the special occasion to a new level on Hilton Head Island in September, in more ways than one. For instance, this was the first time one of our special guests has made a hole-in-one. The VIP was Annika Sörenstam, 10 times a major champ and a golfer who has always been laser sharp with her irons. The moment was made more special by the fact that Annika’s family joined us for the Kingdom Cup and saw her immaculate tee shot drop into the hole.

The tournament’s format meant that Annika’s shot counted for the team on the tee, and as they had a shot on the hole, their net score was -1. Just when you think you’ve seen everything!

Well played, Annika, and thank you for joining us at the Kingdom Cup again. The event will return to the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island in 2025, from September 11 to 14.

Writing of world-class women, we were also delighted to see Stacy Lewis lead her American team to victory in the Solheim Cup in September.

We interviewed Stacy for our summer issue, and she clearly refreshed the American Solheim Cup approach. She won over her players, and it worked, as the U.S. won the team cup for the first time since 2017. Congratulations to Stacy and her team.

I hope you enjoy this holidays issue of Kingdom, which includes our annual Kingdom List, in which we highlight the golf courses, venues, people, and products that have most impressed our expert panelists in 2024 (page 65).

It is an enlightening honor roll, and it emphasizes that there are some dynamic people and very exciting projects leading our industry into 2025.

As it is the holiday season, do consult our gift guide in the Clubhouse section (page 153). We have eight pages filled with personal recommendations from the Kingdom team, including a couple of my own, and if any of our readers do get a tee time on the Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle, and you are one short, you know where to find me!

I hope you all get the opportunity to spend some quality time with the ones you love this holiday season, maybe even with the cell phone out of reach for a bit (heaven forbid!), so you can really appreciate what is most important in life.

I wish you all a peaceful and healthy holiday season, and I look forward to connecting with many of you again in 2025, on or off the golf course . . . or maybe both!

Warmest personal regards,

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Beckons WHERE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Explore pristine salt marshes, winding tidal creeks, and wide-open beaches that go on for miles.

HiltonHeadIsland.org

CONTENTS | I S S U E 62

65

The Kingdom List Our annual tribute to the top new golf courses, resorts, hidden gems, and more, as selected by expert panelists including Annika Sörenstam, Alexandra O’Laughlin, Geno Bonnalie, and David McLay Kidd.

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Ultimate Golf Getaway: Spain A golf trip to the homeland of Ballesteros, Olazábal, Ciganda, and Rahm is about much more than just golf.

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Tom Watson In an exclusive interview at the Kingdom Cup on Hilton Head Island, the eight-time major champ reflects on the mentors and unexpected moments from a monumental career.

116

Gray Malin The famed fine art photographer’s aerial golf images capture the power and serenity of the sport.

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The tour veteran, broadcaster, and soon-to-be course designer discusses the ups, downs, and driving-range dents of a life in golf.

Lofoten Links, Norway

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Photo: Jacob Sjöman

Paul Azinger

Tonight's

WHERE TODAY’S HARVEST IS

Dockside dining, local libations, and sustainably focused Lowcountry fare—out here, every bite and sip is a celebration of land and sea.

HiltonHeadIsland.org

CONTENTS | IS S UE 62

APPROACH

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22 33 37 38 43 46 50 52 54 59 61

Course Spotlights The Cut No. 19 Cocktail Accessories Handcrafted Pens Sustainable Machines Weekend in Las Vegas Alex on Course Darren Clarke Golf Fashion Live Like a King

DEPARTMENTS 16 146 153 162

Publisher’s Letter Club Collection Kingdom Clubhouse Scorecard

46 LIFE & STYLE 131 Cocktails Stiff drinks pair with good smokes at Sea Island, Bandon Dunes, and Nemacolin.

136 Wine The new cults of Napa Valley.

138 Outdoors Epic winter adventures for non-skiers.

144 Vacation Homes The best golf communities in the Bahamas.

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Lifelong

WHERE

ARE MADE

Come find yourself on America’s Favorite Island.® HiltonHeadIsland.org

APPROACH | PU N TA M I TA

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Jack Nicklaus’s “Tail of the Whale” hole helped put Punta Mita on the map when it opened 25 years ago. Billed as having the world’s only natural island green, the optional par-3 is open for play only during low tide, when the island is accessible via an aquatic golf cart. But even those who miss their shot at the Tail will find no shortage of thrills at the now-famous Punta Mita on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Celebrating its silver jubilee this year, Punta Mita has become a model for luxury resort communities in Mexico and beyond. The 1,500-acre property, set on a hammerhead-shaped peninsula about 45 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport, comprises two Jack Nicklaus– designed championship golf courses, 18 residential communities, beach clubs, restaurants, and more.

Punta Mita is also home to resorts from Four Seasons and St. Regis, the latter having recently emerged from a $45 million renovation. For more on the re-created St. Regis, see the Kingdom List, which starts on page 65.

the Approach

Point in Time

Coastal classics in Mexico, weekends in Las Vegas, Darren Clarke in the Bahamas, and more

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APPROACH | JAC KS O N T. ST E P H E N S C UP

Photo: Fried Egg Golf

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Collegiate Classic The organizers of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup—an elite college golf tournament—certainly know how to secure a venue. Among other locations, the event has been held at the Alotian Club in Arkansas, Seminole Golf Club in Florida, and, in October of this year, the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. For 2025, the Stephens Cup will head north to Shoreacres (pictured), in Lake Bluff, Illinois, which enjoys an idyllic site along the western shore of Lake Michigan.

The Stephens Cup is named in honor of the former chairman of Augusta National, who was instrumental in establishing First Tee, a program aimed at making golf accessible to children from all backgrounds. The tournament invites 12 highly ranked college golf teams (six men’s and six women’s) to compete each year, as well as individual players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the United States Service Academies.

A preliminary 54-hole stroke-play competition leads to match-play finals.

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APPROACH | Q U I V I R A G O L F C LU B

Golden Bear’s Beast “Awesome, spectacular, picturesque, a monster,” Jack Nicklaus once said of the par-3 seventh hole at Quivira Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico. The hole—which is carved into the side of a cliff and plays downhill to a green with the Pacific Ocean crashing on the rocks hundreds of feet below—remains a beautiful beast as Quivira celebrates its 10th anniversary this December. Lately, the club has been tinkering with other holes, making the course feel both familiar and fresh for those who have played it in the past. Most notably, Quivira now opens with a medium-length par-4 (previously the 18th hole), which plays out to an infinity-edge green perched not far from the beach and the Pacific.

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APPROACH | TH E B U C K I N G H A M S H I R E

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West End Escape A new era has begun at the Buckinghamshire, the exclusive club set in the countryside just 15 miles from Notting Hill, London. A $13 million renovation of the club’s 17thcentury manor house has delivered a tranquil members’ retreat, complete with seven guest rooms and a range of beautifully appointed spaces for business and leisure, all accompanied by a riverside championship golf course.

London designer Kim Partridge—she of the acclaimed Adare Manor renovation in Ireland—masterminded the redesign, combining 17th-century grandeur with 21st-century sophistication in such spaces as a greenhouse-style restaurant, wine room, and whisky room. That this countryside haven sits just 10 miles from Heathrow Airport (and the same distance from Windsor Castle) makes the Buckinghamshire an attractive option for both Londoners and international members.

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SCAN FOR YOUR VACATION PLANNER.

Some call it hospitality, we call it the endless welcome.

EXPLORECHARLESTON.COM

WHERE EVEN YOUR SWING IS MORE RELAXED The Caribbean is where you go to find relaxation. It’s also where you go to find your drive. Bring your Sandals Caribbean vacation above par with a round at Upton Estate Golf & Country Club, an 18-hole course set against the breathtaking Jamaican landscape. With turquoise waters on one side, and lush rolling hills on the other, it’s no wonder we’re consistently named one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Caribbean.

SANDALS.COM | 1-800-SANDALS OR CALL YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR

Sandals® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts. 8914/1024

APP ROAC H

the

CUT NEWS • EVENTS FAVORITE FINDS

Embarking in 2025

distinctive golf-centered journeys are lining up for the new year, promising to transport guests to a world of insider experiences both on and off the fairways. Whether it’s a culturally minded course-hopping cruise in Canada or a rail-based romp through Scotland, the voyages will explore epic landscapes while providing access to marquee golf clubs and hidden gems along the way.

The renowned links courses of Canada’s Maritime Provinces will anchor the new eight-night Fiddles and Sticks voyage from Expedition Experience. Departing in July on the sailing vessel Klara, the journey will make its first port of call Inverness, home to Cape Breton Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, numbers 35 and 11, respectively, on

→

Expedition Experience

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APPROACH | TH E C U T

Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Golfers will also play Highland Links in Cape Breton, Fox Harb’r in Nova Scotia, and, on Prince Edward Island, the Links at Crowbush Cove.

Aside from the finest links golf this side of the Atlantic, passengers will discover the uniqueness of the Maritimes, from live Acadian music to remote fishing villages. Evenings will be spent aboard the 18-cabin Klara, a three-mast, 210-foot expedition sailing vessel.

U.S. SENIOR OPEN

STAYING POWER

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Annika Sörenstam is set to host a 14-night Spotlight Voyage in June aboard Seven Seas Grandeur. The cruise will stop at some of the UK’s finest courses, including the Strand at Portstewart Golf Club, Dundonald Links, and Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Grandeur will be guests’ floating golf paradise, with a driving demo, a long-game clinic, a LOHLA Sport fashion show, and more.

When the 45th U.S. Senior Open Championship alights on the historic Broadmoor Golf Club June 25 to 29, fans will have the chance to watch top-tier tournament play while staying on-site at the renowned Broadmoor hotel. The Colorado Springs resort is offering three- and four-night packages (from $2,450 for double occupancy) that include U.S. Senior Open tickets. Guests will take in the tournament on the majestic East Course—set at 6,300-plus feet in the southern Rockies and combining elements of Donald Ross’s 1918 design and Robert Trent Jones’s 1952 updates—and enjoy a range of off-course amenities, from multiple restaurants and a movie theater to a lake and an outdoor adventure park.

BELMOND ROYAL SCOTSMAN The Royal Scotsman transports just 40 passengers to the era of luxury train travel with formal dinners, personal stewards, and bespoke carriages through Scotland’s sublime landscape. On the fournight Classic Splendours tour, golfers can supplement their opulent journey with play at Castle Stuart Golf Links, Gleneagles, and other courses. Royal Troon Golf Club and Prestwick await on the threenight Western Scenic Wonders tour.

AZAMARA CRUISES Azamara Cruises and PerryGolf collaborate to create almost two dozen golf tours annually. Golfers can take a variety of cruises, from nine to 14 nights in duration, playing courses from the Iberian Peninsula to Norway. In addition to familiar Irish and Scottish links cruises, Azamara leads golf-themed voyages in New Zealand, Japan, and other regions. In 2026, the company plans to offer seven back-toback golf cruises for 35 rounds over 99 nights.

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Oldie but Goodie

If you need more than the most obvious reason to book a table at the world’s oldest restaurant, then here you have it: Madrid’s Casa Botín is celebrating its ���-year anniversary in ����. Also worth noting: Castilian-style roasting is done in an oven that’s as old as the restaurant.

WINE & FOOD IN FLORIDA

Wonders from California’s wine country will flow into South Florida in early 2025, when Napa Valley Vintners holds its Artisans of Wine & Food event in the Sunshine State—and outside Napa (shown at left)—for the first time. The nonprofit trade association, together with Capital One and the Boca Raton resort and private club, will highlight over 75 winemakers and more than 20 acclaimed chefs, including Mario Carbone and the Michelin-starred Fabio Trabocchi, during the three-day affair, to be held January 17 to 19 at the Boca Raton. Multicourse dinners, curated tastings, and interactive culinary experiences await guests, as does a wine auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley and Palm Beach County.

A Round with James Bond Marking the ��th anniversary of the legendary James Bond film Goldfinger, Golf Pride has launched a limited-edition set of “���” grips. The new set—inspired by the James Bond tuxedo, complete with bow tie—premiered at Stoke Park, outside London, which is where the famous golf scene from Goldfinger was filmed.

BENTLEY BLOWER JNR

BLAST FROM THE PAST A collaboration between Bentley Motors and Hedley Studios has produced a scaled-down, street-legal re-creation of the iconic British automaker’s Le Mans–winning 1929 4½-liter Speed Six. The first-edition, all-electric Bentley Blower Jnr is available in six configurations, each celebrating a monumental moment in the Blower’s history. They aren’t particularly swift (U.S. regulations limit these re-creations to a top speed of 25 mph), but they’re undeniably cool. Only 250 examples will be built.

CONTRIBUTORS: Robin Barwick, Crai Bower, Lori Bryan, and Shaun Tolson I S S U E 62 | K I NGDOM

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NEW SPOTLIGHT VOYAGE

GOLF SPOTLIGHT

BY ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM ROUNDTRIP LONDON | JUNE 23, 2025 | 14 NIGHTS

aboard Seven Seas Grandeur® The Spotlight Voyage, hosted by Annika Sörenstam — widely considered to be the greatest female golfer of all time — will be on board the new Seven Seas Grandeur® sailing June 23, 2025 from Southampton, England.

Guests will be fully immersed in the centuries’ old sport with the opportunity to play on seven prestigious courses including past British Open hosts Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England and the Turnberry’s Ailsa course in Scotland, plus The Strand Course at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

SPECIAL ONBOARD EVENTS INCLUDE: 

Fireside Chat with Annika Sörenstam hosted

by Television Personality John O’Hurley



Swing Clinics and Putting Demonstrations



Golf-themed Trivia



Plus, meet & greets, cocktail receptions and a LOHLA SPORT Fashion Show BEFORE YOU SAIL, ENJOY A 2-NIGHT PRE-CRUISE STAY AT GOODWOOD IN SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK, WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND HOSTED BY ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM AND HER FAMILY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT RSSC.COM, CALL 1.855.794.2925 OR CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR

APPROACH | NO. 1 9

The

Stone

Age A novel new series from Dewar’s proves that even the ancient art of whisky aging is ripe for innovation.

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nown for its precisely balanced and blended whiskies, Dewar’s has built its reputation upon strict standards, consistent practices, and laser-like focus on the details. Despite that, the brand is also at the forefront of experimentation in the industry—a reality on full display with its new series of whiskies finished in stone-toasted oak casks.

The traditional process of charring oak barrels involves exposing a cask’s interior to a flame for a brief period (no more than 55 seconds). Toasting, on the other hand, involves applying indirect heat to the wood over a much longer stretch; the process imparts a more floral, vanilla character and a touch of spice.

The introductory whiskies in Dewar’s new Stone Toasted series were finished in American- and French-oak barrels toasted with heated magma rocks.

Until now, these limited-production, stone-toasted barrels were used exclusively by high-end winemakers, making the new bottlings a first for the whisky industry.

“When I first discovered magma stone-toasted casks, I just knew I had to experiment,” says Dewar’s master blender, Stephanie Macleod. “We have never used casks like this before.”

The series’ premier whisky, Double Double 21-Year-Old French Oak (set for a U.S. release in February), was finished in a cask toasted to level three.

Showcasing the brand’s characteristic smoothness, the blended whisky boasts an alluring depth of flavor, with a floral perfume on the nose and notes of honey and cinnamon on the palate.

Two additional Stone Toasted expressions will soon be released exclusively in duty-free travel shops. Finished in lightly toasted American casks, the American Oak, Magma Stones—Level 1 bursts with notes of vanilla, ripe summer fruits, and a hint of coconut oil. The French Oak, Magma Stones—Level 1, meanwhile, showcases the nuances of French oak through the presence of caramel and baked apple flavors, with hints of cinnamon, cloves, and toasted cereal. —shaun tolson ISSUE 62 | K ING D OM

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APPROACH | AC C E S S O R I E S

The Right Mix

1 2

3

Raise your holiday spirits with these cocktail accoutrements.

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1. Richard Brendon small fluted coupe, $165 (richardbrendon.com). 2. Zanetto enameled silver-plated cocktail shaker, $485 (abask.com). 3. Yali Glass Manhattan handblown Murano glass cocktail stirrers, set of 6, $265 (abask.com). 4. Ettinger Capra poker dice set, $91 (ettinger.co.uk).

5. Taf Firenze golfers cocktail napkins, set of 6, $310 (abask.com).

vilebrequin.com

Madison Avenue, Bal Harbour Shops, Rodeo Drive

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

DON’T WAIT FOR THE SUNSET

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires as scheduled, but the time to act is now.

U

ltra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) are anticipating the sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which is set to expire at the end of next year. The TCJA was enacted to address both individual and corporate taxes. The corporate tax cuts and changes were made “permanent,” while the individual tax changes were approved through a congressional process known as reconciliation, requiring an eight-year sunset.

The scheduled expiration of the TCJA’s tax provisions would significantly influence tax and estate planning decisions for UHNWIs. The planned increase in the highest individual income tax rate, for example, would impact cash flow, tax strategies and many other aspects of a UHNWI’s finances, while changes in exemptions would significantly affect estate planning.

We work with several families that view the upcoming tax uncertainty as a catalyst to create and implement important multigenerational plans. The unpredictability of future changes makes it essential to plan ahead and consider the legacy and values of the family that transcend one single generation. This is a critical time to make important decisions that will last for decades and compound over time.

Overview of the 2017 TCJA The 2017 TCJA brought significant changes to the tax landscape, reducing income tax rates for individuals and

corporations. The top income tax rate was lowered from 39.6% to 37%. The lifetime unified estate and gift tax exemption increased to $13.61 million (as of 2024), meaning a married couple could have an exemption of up to $27.22 million.

The TCJA significantly reshaped the U.S. tax landscape for pass-through entities as well. It accelerated depreciation for business equipment, modified the Alternative Minimum Tax and introduced a deduction for pass-through entities.

A cornerstone of the TCJA was the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, offering a 20% deduction on business income from pass-through entities. This provision aimed to level the playing field between C corporations and passthrough entities. Prior to the TCJA, C corporations faced a higher combined tax rate due to corporate and dividend taxes, making pass-through entities like LLCs more attractive for small business owners.

The TCJA’s corporate tax rate reduction made C corporations more competitive. However, the QBI deduction often tipped the scales in favor of pass-through entities, resulting in lower effective tax rates. While the TCJA narrowed the tax gap between C corporations and pass-through entities, it did not entirely eliminate it. Factors such as business size, industry, and individual circumstances continue to influence the optimal entity choice. Potential individual tax rate changes may cause small business owners to reconsider their corporate structure once again.

What’s Next?

While the corporate tax rate of 21% will continue beyond the expiration date for the personal tax policy, the highest individual income tax rate will revert back to 39.6% after 2025 — the “Great Tax Sunset.

of a tax law change should prepare well ahead of time.

Don’t wait for the government to decide on tax changes to start thinking seriously about important family and legacy decisions.

How UHNW Families Should Prepare

The TCJA’s roughly doubled unified estate and gift tax exemption amount will return to the pre-TCJA level as of Jan. 1, 2026, which, indexed for inflation, is expected to be approximately $7 million. Post-TCJA, a married couple’s lifetime exemption will drop to around $14 million, with the estate amount over the exemption subject to a 40% federal estate tax. Starting in 2026, the $10,000 itemized deduction cap for state and local taxes (SALT) will also expire.

UHNW families will require more proactive and forwardthinking advice from their tax advisors. Keeping abreast of legislative changes and planning ahead will be critical to minimize tax implications and build flexibility into financial and business plans. Developing long-term plans that account for the possibility of further changes in tax laws beyond 2025 and emphasizing sustainability and resilience in tax strategies will also help weather future legislative shifts.

The Reality of the Situation

Considering a transition between different business structures, restructuring ownership and management of family businesses, and exploring options like trusts, charitable donations and lifetime gifting to reduce taxable estates are all tools on the table. Every family requires a uniquely tailored strategy.

If you’re an UHNWI, you may be asking what the likelihood is of the government actually sunsetting the TCJA. We don’t and won’t know those answers for certain for a number of months. What we do know is that The University of Pennsylvania Budget Model projects the budgetary impact of extending the TCJA policy to be $4 trillion over the next decade — presenting a challenge for any divided government. That said, both political parties want to extend some of the policies, including the higher standard deduction and tax breaks for those making less than $400,000 per year.

While the government materially impacts the probability of the tax law extension, those who would act in the event

CONTACT TIM MCCARTHY | 626.463.2545 | WHITTIERTRUST.COM

CALEB SILSBY VP, CHIEF PORTFOLIO MANAGER Executive Vice President of Whittier Trust and the Chief Portfolio Manager at Whittier Trust since 2006. Caleb is based out of the Newport Beach office and oversees the investment team for multiple Whittier Trust offices.

Learn More

$10 MILLION MARKETABLE SECURITIES AND/OR LIQUID ASSETS REQUIRED. Investment and Wealth Management Services are provided by Whittier Trust Company and The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, Inc. (referred to herein individually and collectively as “Whittier Trust”), state-chartered trust companies wholly owned by Whittier Holdings, Inc. (“WHI”), a closely held holding company. This document is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended, and should not be construed, as investment, tax or legal advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and no investment or financial planning strategy can guarantee profit or protection against losses. All names, characters, and incidents, except for certain incidental references, are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

APPROACH | HANDC R AF TED

The Magic of Maki-e For nearly 100 years, Namiki has poured Japanese artistry and engineering into fountain pens that, in an age of keyboard warriors, deserve to be cherished now more than ever.

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Pictured is the Snake from Namiki’s Zodiac Collection. The snake is the sixth of 12 animals in the Japanese zodiac. According to Japanese tradition, every person inherits character traits from their birth animal. The snake is enigmatic, intelligent, and wise.

he Japanese term maki-e translates as “sprinkled picture.” It refers to the ancient Japanese technique—ancient to the tune of 1,500 years—of decorating lacquerware by hand with ultrafine brushes and tools, and then sprinkling it with powder, usually of gold or silver. It is a meticulous craft, requiring artistry, patience, discipline, and calm application.

It also requires time, a lot of time.

The Japanese pen manufacturer Namiki has championed the art of maki-e over the past 100 years. In 1925, Ryosuke Namiki and Masao Wada, who were trained as marine engineers, conceived the idea of applying the technique to fountain pens. The two men had created a fountain-pen nib in Japanese gold and iridium, and they mounted it onto a stem of ebonite for durability. They wanted a level of

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Certain maki-e techniques can require a full decade of training to master. decoration to match their pen’s exquisite construction, and so they turned to the ancient craft. Call it a masterstroke.

Namiki’s fountain pens were soon coveted and celebrated throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. With demand high and supply extremely limited, Namiki funded the establishment of a group of lacquer artisans in 1931 called Kokkokai, which translates to “Group of the Nation’s Light.” In addition to supporting Namiki’s fountain-pen production, the Kokkokai school, which continues to thrive today, ensured that maki-e art and techniques would continue to be passed on through the generations.

Certain maki-e techniques can require a full decade of training to master. Indeed, it takes years of practice to perfect drawing a bamboo cane leaf or a rooster feather that is less than a millimeter wide on the barrel of a fountain pen. Then there are the shells of abalone, horseshoe crabs, and quails’

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eggs, which are cut into minute tiles to be incorporated into mosaic designs.

Maki-e has origins in the Shinto religion, for which venerated spirits and divinities are present in every part of nature, throughout the universe. This is why, to this day, the designs that adorn Namiki pens are inspired by plants, animals, the sun, the moon, and the Milky Way. It is a timeless tradition, and one that produces elegant writing tools to be cherished for generations to come.

—robin barwick

The Ukiyo-e Shobei Odera and Ukiyo-e Okita Naniwaya pens are part of the Nippon Art Collection.

© 2024 Lewis Cellars. All Rights Reserved. LEWIS CELLARS, L Circle Design, and the accompanying logos are trademarks of Lewis Cellars or its affiliates, Napa, CA. LC240819-06

Discover Lewis Discover big reds and sexy chardonnays from the world-renowned Napa Valley. Wines that are complex yet luscious, with a finish that will leave you savoring every sip.

APPROACH | MAC H I N E S & G E A R

Adrenaline

SURGE Sustainable and eco-friendly, these all-electric vehicles bring a charge to adventures on pavement, water, and snow-covered trails. by SHAUN TOLSON

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Rimac Automobili Nevera R

Hailing from Croatia, the Rimac Nevera R (about $2.5 million) is a two-seat hypercar that obliterates the streetlegal benchmarks for acceleration.

This new iteration of the Nevera has been redesigned for aggressive cornering and is equipped with a 2,107 hp all-electric powertrain, a 108 kWh battery system, carbon-ceramic brakes (bolstered by a silicone matrix layer for better durability and performance), and the automaker’s All-Wheel Torque Vectoring system.

That all adds up to a zero-to60-mph time of 1.74 seconds and a quarter-mile time of less than 8.5 seconds. Buckle up.

Our mission is to inspire a post-car future by building the best alternatives to cars.”

Infinite Machine P1

We might not have the hoverboards or flying cars that Back to the Future II promised, but we do have Infinite Machine’s P1 (starting at $10,000). The futuristic, all-electric, streetlegal scooter’s angular design is only possible without a traditional combustion engine. Equipped instead with a 6 kW motor, the P1 can hit a top speed of 35 mph. With a motorcycle license, however, users can unlock a software upgrade that boosts that speed to 55 mph. “Our mission is to inspire a post-car future by building the best alternatives to cars,” says Joseph Cohen, Infinite Machine’s CEO. “That starts with P1.”

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APPROACH | MAC H I N E S & G E A R

GEM e4

Don’t mistake the GEM e4 (starting at $17,490) for a golf cart. It’s a streetlegal, eco-friendly LSV (low-speed vehicle) that will change how you drive around town. With 43 inches of legroom for everyone on board, plus a slew of optional upgrades—including a panoramic skyroof and customizable stereo system—this LSV brings a muchneeded dose of fun to those routine day trips. Exploration is even easier now that the company has launched GEM Go, a GPS-aided app that helps users plan routes by highlighting all roadways with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

There’s no place you can’t go and no situation you can’t get out of.”

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DTV Shredder

Think of the Shredder ($9,000) as an off-road Segway that’s suited for just about anything Old Man Winter can throw at it. The all-terrain vehicle utilizes a rear-drive mechanism that keeps its tracks firmly planted on the ground. It is powered by high-quality, high-discharge batteries, which produce a two-hour charge, and a 20 kW dual-motor system that enables a zero-turn radius and an effective reverse mode. As the Canadian company boasts, “There’s no place you can’t go and no situation you can’t get out of” on the Shredder.

Arc Sport

Instant torque is an exciting proposition no matter where you are, but it makes for an especially thrilling day on the water. That’s the promise of the Arc Sport (starting at $258,000), a 500 hp wake boat powered by a 226 kWh battery. The 23-footer can accommodate 15 passengers and offers customizable ballast configurations, which means you can create distinctly shaped waves that cater to riders of all skill levels.

The boat’s electric powertrain allows for easy and routine technology improvements through over-the-air software upgrades, and the lack of a bulky fuel-combustion engine means the transom is now a spacious storage area.

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APPROACH | WE E K E N D T WO WAY S

Las Vegas Whether it’s for high-tech stage spectacles or dramatic desert golf courses, here’s how we weekend in Sin City.

by SHAUN TOLSON

Golf Getaway

If your Vegas adventure is more about green grass than green felt, base yourself at an MGM Resorts property. Guests of the various resorts, which include Bellagio and Aria, are eligible for rounds at the uber-exclusive Shadow Creek.

The Tom Fazio masterpiece opened in 1990 at a reported cost of $47 million—a price that the designer once attributed to “total site manipulation.”

In other words, all of the rolling hills, the contours, and the mounding that you’ll see is man-made. “The course is unbelievable—it’s an amazing facility and in great shape,” says PGA Tour pro Ryan Moore, who lives in Las Vegas. “If you get the chance to play Shadow Creek, you have to go. It will be one of the best golfing experiences you’ll ever have.”

Fazio designed another Vegas classic that holds pride of place in an unlikely setting—just off the Strip. Tucked behind the Wynn and Encore towers, the Wynn Golf Club bounds over and through ridges and valleys, offering an implausibly serene experience in the heart of the city.

Farther from the Strip, Moore recommends a trip to Paiute Golf Resort, which is home to three Pete Dye–designed layouts. “They’re some of the best public-access golf courses anywhere,” he says.

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Wynn Golf Club

Stay

Shadow Creek access is one of the many perks available to guests of Bellagio, where the elegant Spa Tower rooms and suites recently benefited from a $110 million renovation.

Eat

A detour to the city’s Arts District brings you to Esther’s Kitchen. Equipped with an open-fire grill and an $85,000 bread oven, the restaurant serves inventive seasonal fare with a strong Italian influence.

Make sure to order at least one of the nine house-made pasta dishes.

Do

Herbs & Rye doesn’t look like much from the street, but inside, a world-class cocktail den awaits. Dedicated to the classics, the Herbs & Rye menu is categorized by eras, which means you can start with a Gothic Age tipple and follow it with a libation from the Years of Reform.

Show Time

The Entertainment Capital of the World keeps pushing the boundaries of what entertainment is. Setting the new benchmark in Sin City is the Sphere, a 366-foot-high, 516-foot-wide modern marvel that cost an estimated $2.3 billion to build. Along the way, engineers leveraged the laws of physics and mathematics to create a venue that delivers immersive entertainment unlike anything else on Earth.

Thanks to the 580,000 square feet of 16K resolution LEDs that cover it, the world’s largest spherical building can be seen from space. Inside, a massive LED media plane delivers eye-popping visuals (filmed in 18K resolution) that are enhanced by sensory accoutrements, such as soft breezes and aromas. The venue’s flagship nature film, Postcard from Earth, is mesmerizing, while rock concerts redefine live music experiences.

For a more traditional concert experience, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace shines as an intimate venue on the Strip. Outfitted with 156 speakers, the Colosseum has only 4,300 seats, with no seat in the house more than 145 feet from the 15,000-square-foot stage. Caesars is also home to the perennially popular Absinthe, a raunchy acrobatics and comedy show in a fantastical tented theater.

The Sphere

Stay

The affiliated (and connected) Venetian and Palazzo hotels offer expansive suites and sophisticated shopping, dining, and, yes, gaming spaces. You’ll know you’re on the Strip, but the resorts’ understated elegance provides a nice balance to the area’s glitz.

Eat

The Venetian Resort PopStroke

Shared plates and Mediterranean flavors define the culinary journey at the Venetian’s HaSalon. Carnivores will delight in beef carpaccio pounded thin tableside, bone-in rib eyes, and lamb kebabs, but the restaurant’s “vegetable creatures” are equally exciting and wildly inventive—think charred beetroot carpaccio and desert peach and ricotta bruschetta.

Do

You don’t need a handicap or even a competent golf swing to play the two Tiger Woods–designed courses at PopStroke.

Set on the Strip, this miniature-golf enterprise is good for a full day of entertainment, with putting tracks inspired by full-length golf holes, a restaurant, an ice cream parlor, and more.

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APPROACH | A L E X O N C O URS E

Colorado Homecoming This time at Castle Pines Golf Club was different. I grew up 40 minutes away in Arvada, Colorado, and specifically remember the first time I glimpsed the course. I had gone to see some friends who lived in the neighborhood, and I stepped outside to see the moon lighting up the fairways. It was one of the most beautiful courses I had ever laid eyes on. Some 15 years later, on a warm week in August, I found myself back at Castle Pines, not as a curious teenager, but as a member of the media covering the BMW Championship. The PGA Tour had returned to my home state after a decade, and, in a full-circle moment, my dad even dropped me off at work.

WYNDHAM’S WORLD Wyndham Clark also had a homecoming at the BMW Championship. Not far from where he first picked up a club, the Colorado native returned as a major winner, Olympian, and one of the top players in the world. “It’s come full circle with teachers, golf coaches, trainers, friends, who have kind of been through this whole thing with me from a young age,” he told me. “And now we’re here playing at the highest level.”

One of my first friends in junior golf, Wyndham had a passion for basketball and Kobe Bryant that was as intense as his love for golf and Tiger Woods. In his freshman year at Valor Christian High School, he bonded with his basketball coach, Justen Byler. When Byler’s son Logan started playing golf, he found a mentor in Wyndham. “I needed someone to look up to, and obviously I had someone to look up to,” Logan said.

Wyndham even caddied for Logan in a junior tournament back in the day, and Logan returned the favor at this year’s BMW Championship Pro-Am. The pairing was arranged through a caddying scholarship program that has profoundly changed Logan’s life and the lives of thousands of other students.

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and what better place for young adults to spend their summers than on the course, learning life lessons while striving for a scholarship? “The tip money is a nice perk, too,” joked one of the Evans Scholars, dashing down the first fairway after a lighthearted exchange. She’s one of the 12,000-plus caddies who have graduated as an Evans Scholar since 1930.

LOGAN’S LOOP Golf experience is not required to caddie in the program, but Logan was knowledgeable about the sport when he embarked on a five-season journey looping at Castle Pines. He ultimately earned the Evans Scholarship and graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a degree in architecture.

“Opening the letter awarding me the Evans Scholarship was a huge weight off my shoulders,” he recalled. “At that point in my senior year, many of my friends knew where they were going to attend, but for me, college was still up in the air. It was the greatest gift I could have given my parents.”

The Monday after the BMW Championship, Logan was back on campus for his first day of graduate school.

EVANS SCHOLARS

MILE HIGH

During tournament week, Castle Pines was teeming with professional golfers, celebrities, Denver athletes, and . . . Evans Scholars. These young adults caddied their way through high school, with the hopes of qualifying for a full tuitionand-housing college scholarship through the Evans Scholars Foundation. All proceeds from BMW Championship week went toward sending more youth caddies to college. (BMW has given more than $50 million to the foundation since 2007.)

Anyone who knows golf understands its parallels to life,

I always leave Colorado feeling grateful that golf became a part of my life. Seeing Wyndham nearly hole out on 16 and the excitement of the Evans Scholars working the event, I felt a positive energy in the air. There are countless opportunities within the world of golf, and, as Wyndham said, “That’s the great thing about golf—there are so many ways to help out.”

K I NGDOM | I S SUE 62

Contributing editor Alexandra O’Laughlin is a golf correspondent and media personality.

Opening the letter awarding me the Evans Scholarship was a huge weight off my shoulders.”

—LOGAN BYLER

Life set to a whole new rhythm.

LEARN MORE

Here, in this private sanctuary of astounding natural beauty, members relax and recharge in barefoot luxury, families unite in island-inspired homes, friends tee it up on the #1 golf course in The Bahamas, and generations forge life-long memories on the uninterrupted white sands and tranquil azure waters of Winding Bay. A paradise for the soul awaits at TheAbacoClub.com/kingdom

APPROACH | F UL L RO UN D

QUALITY

Darren Clarke on competing after 50, fly-fishing in the Bahamas, and playing in golf ’s new senior international team event.

CONTROL You’re from Northern Ireland, but you’ve been living at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas for the better part of the past 20 years. What’s that like?

It’s paradise on a very relaxed level. There are no real rules, as long as you somewhat behave yourself. You’ve got to do something really bad to get yourself in trouble, and falling over drunk doesn’t qualify as doing something really bad, thankfully! Under the Southworth Development ownership, the club has enjoyed a transformation, and they’re just making it better and better.

The golf course there is a true championship layout. Was that a primary selling point?

It’s important for me to have somewhere where I can come and work on my game if I want to, and I wanted something that’s going to be a test.

When the wind blows there, and I play off the tips, if I break 70, I’ve played really well. I’m also very fortunate that our superintendent down there gets the greens up to speed for me—he just pushes them a little bit extra. Or he’ll speed up one of the greens in the practice area so it’s really fast. I couldn’t want anything more out of a practice facility than what I have down there.

We’ve heard that when you’re not on the course or at the practice area, you’re fly-fishing out on the flats.

I fly-fished quite a lot when I was younger—all freshwater for trout and salmon, which I really enjoyed. But when I got here in 2005, this whole new world of saltwater fly-fishing opened up for me. I initially fished for bonefish all the time, but once Blackfly Lodge opened up, I started fishing for permit. On my second trip out, I caught a 38-pound permit on 16-pound tippet [line], which is not far short of a world record. That got me. They’ve got a saying in saltwater [fly-fishing] that the tug is the drug, and now, when I’m there, I only fish for permit. It’s the holy grail of fly-fishing.

What’s the allure?

It’s a proper hunt. You’re only in a few feet of water, and you’re scouring

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the water for anything that shouldn’t be there. You’re looking for a tail to just pop up or for a little shadow that shouldn’t be there. It’s all sight fishing, so you never throw the fly until you see a fish. You have to throw it a decent distance, and you’ve got to be very accurate, because the winds may be blowing 20 miles an hour, and that might be the only shot you have all day of throwing a fly for a permit. I caught a permit a couple of years ago, and it took me 79 fishing days before I landed my next one.

You haven’t waited long between wins on the Champions Tour, given that you’ve notched four victories in five seasons. How does the Champions experience differ from the PGA Tour?

It’s a bit more relaxed, so you get to know the guys better, you get to know their families more. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to kick their ass every time you tee it up against them. Friday morning comes, everybody’s back to being a tour pro again. We don’t know anything else.

How else is the experience similar to the PGA Tour days?

A lot of people think we play courses that are 6,800 yards long, with greens running at 10 on the Stimpmeter and flags placed in the middle of the greens. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Our courses are 7,100 or 7,200 yards long, and the greens run between 12 and 13 [on the Stimpmeter] every week. When we play at Firestone, the golf course is set up just like it was in 2004 when I won the WGC there. And if you’re not shooting 14, 15, or 16 under par [for the tournament], you’re not going to win. The guys out there can still play.

The inaugural World Champions Cup in 2023 added the opportunity to compete in a team event. What was it like being the playing captain for Team Europe?

It’s all the thrills we’ve had from Ryder Cups. But [with three teams— USA, Europe, and International] you’re playing against two people in one match, so the scoring was brand-new for everybody. But even with all the points we played for, it still came down to the final hole last year, which was incredible. This year, I expect no different. —shaun tolson

I only fish for permit.

It’s the holy grail of fly-fishing.”

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Clarke at the Abaco Club

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APPROACH | FASHION

ICONS Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, and Payne Stewart brought three distinct senses of fashion to the golf course. And while the men who immortalized those styles may be gone, their looks live on in these new nostalgic apparel collections.

of Style When Arnold Palmer joined the PGA Tour in the mid-����s, he injected professional golf with a James Dean–like coolness. The clothing that Arnie wore on the course during his first decade of professional play serves as the inspiration for AD Palmer, an attire collection that aims to answer the question, “If Arnold Palmer were �� years old today, and at the prime of his career, what would he be wearing?” Crafted in Italy, the brand’s first series of polos, knit shirts, and full-zip cardigans is made from performance fabrics and luxury materials such as merino wool and cashmere. Every piece is emblazoned with a discreet umbrella logo and features a cut and styling intended to reflect Palmer’s swagger.

Despite earning �� PGA Tour victories and three major championships, Payne Stewart might be best known for the clothing he donned on the course. The Payne Stewart Collection leans into that look with a mix of understated polos, vests, and packable windshirts made from high-end Italian fabrics. It shines brightest, however, for bringing back Stewart’s two iconic pieces: his Plus Fours and flat cap. Made from a virgin-wool-and-elastane blend, the Plus Four trousers are available in three colorways—Pinehurst green plaid, gray, and dusk—while the limited-edition cap is born from a collaboration with Kangol, temporarily resuscitating the British brand’s ��� Ventair style.

Seve Ballesteros made bolder statements with his clubs than he did with his clothes on the golf course. The charismatic Spaniard was the consummate artist with an iron in his hands, and his predominantly monochromatic attire put much of the focus on his signature shotmaking.

The new Seve Collection embraces that understated look with pants, shorts, polos, and knitted sweaters available in five colorways and made from cotton, cashmere, and four-way-stretch technical fabrics. The collection’s debut also includes a limited-edition, Slazenger-branded sweater inspired by the threads Ballesteros wore during the final round of his Claret Jug–winning Open performance in ����. —SHAUN TOLSON

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HERITAGE GOLF GROUP

The Golf Club at Bear Dance Larkspur, CO

The Dominion Club Richmond, VA

Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Sarasota, FL

Savannah Quarters Country Club Savannah, GA

Heritage Golf Group proudly owns and operates 37 private country clubs and high-end daily fee courses across 14 states. Known for offering unique reciprocal benefits and making significant capital investments in its clubs, Heritage Golf Group remains a leader in the golf industry.

Learn more about our growing portfolio of Clubs and our mission.

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APPROACH | LIVE LIKE A KING

Lessons learned from Kingdom co-founder Arnold Palmer

Signed, Sealed, Delivered Arnold Palmer’s penchant for putting pen to paper has left a lasting legacy.

Signature Edition

“I consider it a privilege to be thought of in such a way that so many people want my autograph,” said Palmer. “One of my cardinal rules is to make sure that I have a signature that is legible.”

Parker, the famous pen producer, agrees wholeheartedly, and so has launched the Arnold Palmer Signature Edition collection this year. Pictured is the Duofold Signature Limited Edition Fountain Pen, featuring a solid gold nib, Palmer’s umbrella logo on the cap jewel, and Palmer’s signature on the barrel.

A

rnold Palmer first received a letter from President Dwight D. Eisenhower in October 1958.

The letter—which Palmer framed and hung in his office in Latrobe, Pennsylvania— sparked a warm friendship that lasted the rest of Eisenhower’s life.

Eisenhower’s act might also have inspired Palmer’s own routine of posting letters of thanks and congratulations, which, in turn, influenced many other golfing greats. “One bit of advice [from Palmer], which I still use today, is to drop tournament sponsors and organizers a simple thank you note,” Jack Nicklaus told Kingdom. “It is very important to be appreciative. That was a good lesson.”

“I had quite a connection with Arnold,” Rory McIlroy said. “I’ve got so many letters from him, from wins.”

“I received many letters after wins from Mr. Palmer that I have saved,” Stacy Lewis said. “They were always personalized, and they are very special.”

Paul Azinger told Kingdom, “Arnold followed

my career, and whenever I achieved anything, he wrote me the greatest notes.”

Palmer’s politeness was not limited to the pros.

Will Zalatoris will never forget the letter he received from Palmer in 2014, when Zalatoris was only 17.

“I got a signed letter from Mr. Palmer, with the umbrella logo, after I won the U.S. Junior title,” recalled Zalatoris, now 28 and a PGA Tour golfer. “Mr. Palmer said congratulations, and that it was phenomenal that I was on his scholarship at Wake Forest.

“I put my thumb on the ‘r’ of ‘Palmer’ to see if the signature was real, just because it was such a perfect signature and I wasn’t sure,” Zalatoris continued. “When I lifted my thumb from the ‘r,’ it took a little bit of the ink, and my mom looked at me, giving me the evil eyes, and the temperature in the room dropped about 25 degrees. The letter is still framed and at my parents’ house.”

In this digital age of emails and phone messages— which are as easy to delete as they are to deliver—a personal, signed letter in an envelope is a rarity to be cherished all the more. —ROBIN BARWICK

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This World is Your Playground.

TWO COURSES. ONE BEACH COMMUNITY. A SINGULAR OASIS.

INTRODUCING THE PLAYGROUND RESIDENCES AT JACK’S BAY, the only homes adjacent to both the Tiger Woods 10-hole Playground Course and the first ever 18-hole Nicklaus Heritage Course. Homes that prove the best isn’t yet to come–it’s finally arrived.

The limited collection of 23 Playground Residences are seen between the Tiger Woods 10-hole Playground Course (cliffside, bottom left) and the 18th hole of the Nicklaus Heritage Championship Course (top left).

An oasis for the soul, Jack’s Bay spans 1,200 privately-owned acres and stretches over four miles of beachfront on Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. It features an enviable slate of Club amenities and unforgettable experiences that will leave an imprint on you and your family.

You are invited to inquire about our limited collection of Playground Residences at Jack’s Bay.

www.jacksbayclub.com/kingdom

+1 (800) 320-6281

sales@jacksbayclub.com

This offer is not directed to residents in any state in which a registration is required but in which registration requirements have not been met, including but not limited to, New York, New Jersey. This artists’s conceptual rendering, recreational features, and amenities described herein are subject to change periodically. Warning: the California Department of Real Estate has not examined this offering, including, but not limited to, the condition of title, the status of blanket liens on the project (if any), terms, conditions, and price of the offer, control over annual assessments (if any), or the availability of water, services, utilities, or improvements. It may be advisable for you to consult an attorney or other knowledgeable professional who is familiar with real estate and the law in this country where this subdivision is situated.

D I S C OV E R E XC LU S I V E GOLF EXPERIENCES Elevate your game with personalized golf journeys that blend luxury with the thrill of sport and authentic private-guided experiences.

Tee off in some of the most picturesque landscapes on Earth with a tailor-made golf trip to Scotland, Ireland, or New Zealand – each the perfect blend of championship courses, stunning scenery, and bespoke experiences for an unforgettable golfing adventure.

Speak with a Destination Expert or your preferred travel advisor today. kensingtontours.com | 1.866.201.8529

For our annual tribute to the best in the golf lifestyle, our staff and expert panelists cogitated and collaborated to select the golf courses, hotels, restaurants, fashions, influential figures, and more that made the strongest impressions over the past year.

THE PANELISTS Geno Bonnalie PGA Tour caddie and Guinness World Record holder (493 birdies in a single week).

Scott Cranfield PGA professional and master coach, broadcaster, and author.

David DeSmith Former collegiate golfer who’s written about the sport for 25 years.

Paul Feinstein Journalist specializing in food, drink, and travel; author of the book Italy Cocktails.

Bill Hogan Premier Golf ’s business development manager who has played golf in 57 countries.

David McLay Kidd Golf course architect whose creations include Bandon Dunes and Machrihanish Dunes.

Alexandra O’Laughlin Golf correspondent, media personality, and contributing editor to Kingdom.

Annika Sörenstam Ten-time major champ and the first official world No. 1 in women’s golf.

Roger Steele Content creator, presenter, ambassador, and all-around golf role model.

Additional contributions from Kingdom’s editorial team.

Pinehurst No. 10

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Golf Courses Hotels & Resorts Food & Drink Gear & Style Game Changers Hidden Gems Ones to Watch ISSUE 62 | K ING D OM

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THE KINGDOM LIST

Golf

Courses An instant classic in North Carolina, a stunner in the Sandhills, and other new and rejuvenated layouts that rose to the top in 2024.

Medinah, Illinois

“The club has improved the playability of the course without sacrificing the difficulty. In particular, it has made much better uses of the water features, carving holes that will undoubtedly produce iconic moments.

Fescue has been added in all the right places, adding visual character and danger for wayward shots. I can’t wait to see it test the tour players in the 2026 Presidents Cup.” —Roger Steele

Crossroads at Palmetto Bluff Bluffton, South Carolina

This is how you make nine holes of golf exciting.

The new King-Collins layout at Palmetto Bluff might as well be a full 18, maybe even more, as the 3,100-yard track is reversible. Better still, the routing was conceived to encourage cross-country play, which means golfers are allowed to discover adventurous holes that aren’t formally outlined on the scorecard.

Best of all? The architects conceived the course with match play in mind. Game on!

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GrayBull

Maxwell, Nebraska

When David McLay Kidd toured the site of his latest course, the first purpose-built club within the Dormie Network, he immediately knew he had a winner. “The landscape is otherworldly, with hundreds—if not thousands—of square miles of treeless Sandhills,” he says. The sequencing of his completed course emphasizes the landscape’s natural variety, with no two holes playing the same. Fairways are as expansive as the views, but for players who have the skill (and gumption) to attack, playing corridors can be tighter than they look. On several occasions, the opportunity to take on the hero shot will have many golfers throwing caution to the wind.

Photo: Evan Schiller

Medinah Country Club No. 3

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THE KINGDOM LIST | G O L F C O U RS E S

Tree Farm Golf Club

Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina

The brainchild of architect Tom Doak, shaper Kye Goalby, and professional golfer Zac Blair, the 6,855-yard course at Tree Farm Golf Club in western South Carolina embraces all the attributes that members of a private club typically value.

Green-to-tee transitions are a short walk, which promotes faster play. Most holes were designed to let the natural movement of the land provide the challenge, so a greater variety of experiences can be had from one round to the next.

And, says Doak, “You are never more than two holes away from the clubhouse at any point on the property,” which means it’s easy for members to tack on extra holes and stock up on refreshments.

Pinehurst No. 10

Pinehurst, North Carolina

Photo: Jeff Marsh

The first new full-length course built at Pinehurst Resort in three decades, No. 10 plays across terrain that, in many ways, is more dramatic than anything else at the resort. Yet, in the estimation of David DeSmith, the new Tom Doak design remains on brand. “The waste areas choked with wire grass and the shot values are pure Pinehurst,” he says, adding that the course overall is “daring, imaginative, and as fun as it is challenging.”

Black Desert Resort Ivins, Utah

The newest stop for the PGA Tour is one that has caddie Geno Bonnalie excited, and not just because it’s based in a region that has been overlooked by the tour for decades. The golf course at Black Desert Resort (and the land surrounding it) is dramatic, with sprawling patches of black lava rock blanketing the area. “You’ve got these great big mountain spires around you—everything red—and then you have the contrast of the black lava rock and the green fairways and greens,” Bonnalie says.

“It’s very striking.” That said, first-time golfers will likely discover Black Desert’s not-so-hidden secret early in their rounds: Not only is it difficult finding balls in those black rocks, but it’s impossible to hit a shot from them. “Be prepared,” Bonnalie advises.

“Have another ball in your pocket.”

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La Réserve Golf Links Bel Ombre, Mauritius

Built upon former sugarcane fields, this contemporary links course—the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean—relies on native grasses to promote ecological diversity. The routing provides plenty of variety, too, with five par-5s, five par-3s, and a couple of drivable par-4s.

Ombria Golf Course Querença, Portugal

“Fun and challenging to play, the course is beautifully presented with stunning vistas. Cambered fairways, doglegs, large bunkers, and challenging greens will keep you on your toes—provided you don’t get distracted by views of the beautiful mountain range all around.” —Scott Cranfield

7 Mile Beach

Photo: Brian Oar

Everyone I built a course for thinks they have the best golf course in the world, and I’m very pleased and proud of that.”

—Arnold Palmer

Hobart, Tasmania

The site of the newest public course in Tasmania was discovered by PGA Tour pro Mathew Goggin, who grew up in the area. After Goggin introduced the parcel of land to professional golfer Mike Clayton—a partner of the golf course architecture firm Clayton, DeVries & Pont— Clayton simply said, “If we mess this up, it still could be the second-best course in Australia.” In other words, the undulating sand dunes along Seven Mile Beach Peninsula were naturally made for golf. Yes, it’s a long trip getting to Australia, but in an equally long lineup of courses, 7 Mile Beach is the latest that makes it worth it.

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The Squeeze at Cabot Citrus Farms Brooksville, Florida

Photo: Matt Majka

Is the first hole a long par-3 or a reachable par-4? You could ask that question of the second and sixth holes, too; and therein lies the charm of this nine-hole Mike Nuzzo design. With wide fairways that play firm and fast, the course, as Nuzzo sees it, “suits a lot of different types of play.” In David DeSmith’s opinion, the Squeeze also embraces an old-world aesthetic.

“The landforms are more Ireland than Florida,” he asserts, “and you’ll need to be both smart and creative to negotiate them successfully.”

Sedge Valley

Nekoosa, Wisconsin

The Cardinal Course Plymouth, Michigan

Pristinely manicured, the new Ray Hearn design at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth takes a literal interpretation to the term “parkland” golf. Moreover, the course exemplifies what can be accomplished when you wipe the slate clean.

The 200-acre site was previously home to three nine-hole layouts that were average at best. In their place, 7,000 yards of Golden Age–inspired golf now stand ready to wow all those who play here.

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Photo: Jeff Marsh

The classic heathland courses in southern England long ago proved that a course needn’t be 7,000 yards or par-72 to be a proper test. Tom Doak drew inspiration from those venues when he built the latest course at Sand Valley resort. Freed from the constraints of surpassing 7,000 yards, Doak let the discovery of the land’s best possible green sites dictate the routing of Sedge Valley.

The result is a par-68 gem that doesn’t exceed 6,200 yards from the tips. Just don’t expect your rounds to be a walk in the park—Sedge Valley still boasts a course rating more than two strokes above par.

Explore Egypt With the world’s most renowned archaeologists

Dr. Khaled El-Enany

Dr. Mostafa Waziri

Egypt’s First Minister of Tourism & Antiquities

One of Egypt’s Heads of Antiquities

“

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Enjoy exclusive VIP access to Egypt’s greatest wonders VIP tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum in the world Private visits to the Giza Pyramids and Luxor Temple for a crowd-free experience A chance to stand between the paws of the Great Sphinx instead of seeing it from a distance Private entry to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, with a visit to chambers closed to the public Private entry to the Valley of the Kings and King Tut’s Tomb Tours of active excavation sites, including the newly discovered Lost Golden City Special access to Taposiris Magna Temple, the likely long-lost resting place of Cleopatra And many more once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

Travel in true royal style – stay in historic hotels, sail on a luxury Nile cruiser and savor the finest cuisine.

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contact@archaeologicalpaths.com

+1 917-724-2772

THE KINGDOM LIST

Hotels &

Resorts Our panelists’ selection of the best new and renewed places to stay takes us from the beaches of the Bahamas to the streets of Rome.

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino The latest addition to the sprawling Costa Navarino development on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, the Mandarin Oriental debuted briefly in 2022 before closing for the winter and then reopening for its first full season this year. “As private and wonderful and beautiful as it gets,” Bill Hogan says.

“This property is for those who love their privacy and amazing service, all from their hillside villa with a private pool overlooking the azure Navarino Bay.” The greater Costa Navarino development also includes hotels from W and the Luxury Collection, multiple restaurants and beach clubs, three spas, and four 18-hole golf courses. “There is great golf on-site and, of course, never-ending sunshine and fabulous Greek food.”

Hotel Mousai Cancun All-inclusive got an exclusive upgrade with the opening of this new adults-only property on Cancun’s Playa Mujeres in May. Fronting the white-sand beach and turquoise Caribbean beyond, the all-suite, butler-serviced boutique hotel is a sanctuary set away from Cancun’s main tourist zone.

But that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the party: Mousai’s Rooftop pool and bar is a place to be all day long, especially as the setting sun casts a kaleidoscope of colors over the jungle on one side and the sea on the other.

Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links

Bulgari Hotel Roma When a legendary Italian jewelry house opens a hotel in its hometown of Rome, the result is “exactly as you would expect,” says Bill Hogan, “opulent, with service and dining that are over-the-top.” The high-design, 114-room property is the sixth hotel from Bulgari, and it’s in keeping with its predecessors—and the exclusivity of the brand overall. “With rooms starting at $2,000 a night, it’s obviously not for everyone,” Hogan adds. “But as the saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Monte Carlo-ans do,’ or something like that.”

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Alexandra O’Laughlin recently visited this Irish coastal resort, which completed a multimilliondollar renovation of the rebranded Jameson Golf Links. “Aside from this stay-and-play combo being the most convenient option for golf lovers—only 20 minutes from the Dublin airport and the city center—it’s an exquisite layout with panoramic views,” O’Laughlin says. “I love that this property has everything—three dining options, a spa, gorgeous views from the rooms, and links golf.”

Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno This new resort has opened up the hidden wonders of Spain’s Priorat wine region, a frozen-in-time tableau of hilltop villages, rocky vineyards and peaks, ancient monasteries, and powerhouse wines.

See “Ultimate Golf Getaway: Spain,” starting on page 96, for more on Mas d’en Bruno and Priorat.

Dar Tantora the House Hotel Built directly out of the 800-year-old mud-brick Old Town at the center of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Dar Tantora is a brand-new luxury hotel with 30 dars (rooms) that incorporate a mix of traditional materials with modern engineering. “The hotel uses 1,738 candles for rooms, hallways, and common areas (bathrooms have electricity) for a rustic dive into the past,” Paul Feinstein says.

“You’ll feel the history, with traditional Bedouin experiences like ancient breadmaking, coffee ceremonies, and storytelling. But they also want you to experience AlUla itself, ushering you around the city in vintage cars to archaeological sites like Hegra, once home to the Nabataean empire.”

The Potlatch Club On Eleuthera, a Bahamian switchblade of azure coves and pineapple groves, the Potlatch Club sheltered the British and American jet set from 1967 to the 1980s. The stunning beachfront location, historic details (checkerboard tile floors, arched doors with porthole windows), and Mustique-like vibes survived a seven-year renovation of the 11-key property, which reopened in April with immaculate whitewashed cottages, doting service, and lush landscaping designed by one of the owners, whom you might find pruning sea grapes just after sunrise.

Dawn Ranch The 22-acre Dawn Ranch wellness retreat in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley has been welcoming guests since the early 1900s. After sustaining flood damage in 2019, the California icon reopened this year as “living proof that luxury and laid-back can peacefully coexist,” says David DeSmith. “Set in the shadows of towering dawn redwoods, guests can choose between rustic cabins, chalets, and even glamping—then rejuvenate indoors and out with spa experiences that restore and reinvigorate. The dining in the lodge is inspired, too, with Fernando Trocca’s bold flavors capturing the joy of tasting the area’s locally sourced ingredients.”

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The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort This newly renovated hideaway within Mexico’s exclusive Punta Mita development is the rare beach resort that ticks all the boxes. “Situated on the white-sand beaches of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, the luxury oasis with beachfront villas features rustic Mexican art, handcrafted furnishings, a three-level pool, St. Regis butler service, and—the most recent (hottest) addition to the hotel—an indigenous sweat lodge for ceremonies utilizing traditional Mayan healing practices,” says Paul Feinstein. The culinary choices are equally invigorating, including a new beachfront sushi bar with views of a lush, wildlife-rich island just offshore and the protected Marietas Islands in the distance. Golfers can get their fill at Punta Mita’s two Jack Nicklaus signature courses, each with a string of spectacular waterfront holes.

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Northern California’s coastal mountains and redwood forests inspired the just-completed renovation of the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. But when you’re sipping a single malt on your balcony—while looking over the bluff-top 18th hole of the resort’s Old Course and listening to the resident bagpiper serenading the setting sun— it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that you’re just one hour south of San Francisco. The British Isles influences at the Bay Area’s only oceanfront golf resort have been evident ever since the debut of the Arnold Palmer– and Francis Duane–designed Old Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links in 1973.

The property added its Ocean Course, designed

by Arthur Hills, in 1997. This September, the grand hotel that sits between the two courses emerged from a transformation by the hospitality experts at Hirsch Bedner Associates. The redesign touched all 261 rooms and suites at the RitzCarlton, as well as the spa and two restaurants, offering several fresh perspectives from which to enjoy the timeless views.

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CHAMPAGNE THROUGH A PENFOLDS LENS

©2024 TWE IMPORTS, SONOMA, CA

THE KINGDOM LIST

Stella This West Hollywood hot spot helmed by Canadian Italian chef Rob Gentile is the top new restaurant in the Los Angeles area. “The open kitchen bursts with energy as pasta makers roll and shape dough from a glass-framed room in the center of the restaurant,” Paul Feinstein says.

“The most unique and rarest dish on the menu is su filindeu, also known as the threads of God, a Sardinian treat that only a handful of people on the planet can make.”

Food &

Drink Our panelists’ favorite meals, mixed drinks, and more from 2024.

The Office The Aviary, Grant Achatz’s modern cocktail den in Chicago, turns heads with spectacle and new-age techniques, but tucked away in the basement, an intimate speakeasy known as the Office steals the show.

The dimly lit, 21-seat establishment serves riffs on the classics, such as Manhattans that showcase flavors of ancho, banana, and chocolate; however, the barkeeps are also happy to create one-off libations for adventurous guests. Better still, the Office boasts an impressive dustybottle program, where vintage cocktails (or single pours) allow the curious and the connoisseur to taste tipples from bygone eras.

Alambique On a trip to the Algarve in Portugal, Scott Cranfield fell for this family-run restaurant. “The influence of the owners is always noticeable, making the welcome exceptional and always consistent,” he says, citing his favorite dish as a pepper steak that “goes down especially well with a glass of Duorum” Portuguese wine. “You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better-quality meal in a more relaxing environment. Truly exceptional.”

Gleneagles Townhouse is an extension of the Gleneagles resort and sits in the heart of Edinburgh. Stopping into the hotel for breakfast or a drink is necessary. Dreamy is the only word to describe it.”

—Alexandra O’Laughlin

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Osito Geno Bonnalie enjoyed his favorite meal of the year at this Michelin-starred restaurant in San Francisco. “It was a 10-course dinner served with a wine pairing, and the food was top-notch and very unique,” he recalls. “There were dishes and ingredients that you’d think, ‘That’s strange,’ but it was great. My favorite was a summer squash dish that almost resembled a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in appearance but tasted fresh, earthy, sweet, and savory, all at the same time.”

Xander Soren Ludeon Xander Soren is a California winemaker whose mission is to create wines that pair with Japanese cuisine. First released in Japan, the wines recently became available in the United States. Says Paul Feinstein, “His signature selection is Ludeon, a California Central Coast Pinot Noir that is already being poured in some of the best restaurants in the world, like Sushi Saito, n/naka, SingleThread, and many more.”

Bertie’s Whisky Bar Bertie’s is like a Victorian smoking room and an apothecary rolled into one, which is fitting at the lavish Fife Arms hotel in the Scottish Highlands town of Braemar. The Fife Arms enjoyed its first heyday as a 19th-century hunting lodge. The burgundy snug that is Bertie’s is stocked with 400 whiskies and staffed by expert “spirit guides.”

Latymer The fine-dining establishment at Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey, England, is as decadent as it is educational. Servers present each refined course with informational cards that delve into some of the unique ingredients that head chef Steve Smith relies upon—from gariguette strawberries and Amalfi lemons to Cumbrian Texel lamb and maitake mushrooms. “Modern British cooking doesn’t get any better,” says David DeSmith.

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Bites & Sips

Garr-ib-awl-dee • Drink Kong Rome

“This Blade Runner–esque watering hole is famous for clever concoctions like the Garr-ib-awl-dee, made with redistilled Campari and sous vide orange cordial.

Part bar, part futuristic head trip, Drink Kong is designed to give every one of your senses a twist.”

—Paul Feinstein

Oyster Sliders • The Ordinary

Charleston, South Carolina

Wa Shin Michelin-starred chef Sky Zheng has a reverence for the traditions of Japanese cuisine, a respect that is deliciously evident at this new omakase restaurant in Boston. “Omakase dining didn’t originate in Boston, but it’s found a permanent home there, with a slew of Beantown restaurants serving up this adventurous style of multicourse, chef-curated sushi feasts,” David DeSmith says. “Omakase means ‘I’ll leave it up to you,’ and Bostonians are only too happy to do just that at Wa Shin, where the flavors and artistry of the food and drink are only equaled by the theatricality with which it is presented.”

“I’ve always preferred raw oysters, but there’s something about the texture combination of crunchy oyster and pillowy Hawaiian roll that makes this appetizer far better than it logically should be. So much so that I’m going back again this month (from Los Angeles).” —Bruce Wallin

Spaghetti Taratatà • Giano Restaurant Rome

“Rome is known for cacio e pepe and carbonara, but the city’s best pasta dish is hidden inside the W Rome hotel.

Spaghetti taratatà oozes with bottarga, red tuna, and citric pesto.” —P.F.

Wagyu Beef on Hot Stones • Kabooki Sushi Orlando, Florida

Menagerie Collectors will no doubt be scrambling for the inaugural vintages from this Napabased label, which counts vintners extraordinaire Rob Mondavi Jr. and Philippe Melka among its winemaking team. Menagerie debuted two velvety red blends, the 2019 Conspiracy of Lemurs and the 2019 Shadow of Jaguars, this fall. For more on these and other California wines to watch, see “Napa’s New Cults,” on page 136.

Now an adopted Oregonian, I’ve always loved the Pinot Noir coming from Central Oregon’s Willamette Valley. My daughter goes to school there, so now I have even more chances to visit. I recently joined the Domaine Serene wine club, which gives me access to all the gorgeous wines they only release to members. They also have a wine bar with a member-only area in downtown Bend, my hometown, and it’s my favorite spot anywhere to wine and dine.”

—David McLay Kidd

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“Kabooki is a great sushi restaurant in Orlando. It doesn’t look like much, as it’s in the same parking lot as a PGA Tour Superstore. It’s amazing, though. Try the Wagyu on the hot stones.” —Annika Sörenstam

Tam O’Shandy • Marine Troon Hotel Troon, Scotland

“Created in honor of Robert Burns, just up the road from his Scottish hometown, this cocktail would surely earn the poet’s approval. Combine whisky, Grand Marnier, lemon juice, and sugar syrup, and top up with the Scotsman’s staple, Tennent’s Lager.” —Robin Barwick

Wagyu Beef Jerky • Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi Tokyo

“Wagyu beef jerky at the Four Seasons Otemachi’s Virtù Bar in Tokyo is what it says: beef jerky made from the best beef in the world. You didn’t know you needed this bar snack, but you do.” —P.F.

Clos de l’Obac 2006 Priorat, Spain

“Wine always tastes better at the source, but never has that been so true for me than during a library sampling of this Priorat label’s signature blend. The 2006 is Spanish red at its best, especially when enjoyed at a hilltop winery that feels straight out of The Godfather.” —B.W.

Golden Horseshoe Golf Club

Revolutionary Tee Time Williamsburg is a premier golf destination, home to dozens of championship courses like the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, designed by legends of the game. Tee off on courses created by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his son, Rees Jones, alongside iconic designs from Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. With challenging layouts and pristine fairways set amidst stunning wooded and water views, golfers of all levels will find a course to love.

After your round, explore the rich history of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown, indulge in farm-to-table cuisine, and unwind in one of the many accommodations that range from historic lodgings to modern retreats. Discover the perfect golf getaway where history and the fairways meet.

visitwilliamsburg.com/things-to-do/golf

50 YEARS OF NAPA VALLEY CABERNET “ Caymus began in 1972 after Napa Valley

prune farmers Charlie and Lorna Wagner

pulled the trees and planted grape vines— Cabernet Sauvignon. Their goal was simple enough: to produce good wine from their farm’s special earth. Today our family remains in place at Caymus with two of my kids, Charlie and Jenny, working with me to share the day-to-day responsibilities.

Since those early days, it has been a thrilling family experience to continue to make Caymus. We sincerely thank wine lovers who share in the wonder of wine and the many ways it enhances

”

the experience of life.

THE KINGDOM LIST

Gear

& Style The equipment, accessories, and apparel that kept our panelists playing— and looking—their best in 2024.

FootJoy SciFlex Tour Glove Nothing tops the tactile qualities or performance of cabretta leather, but in hot conditions or when the dew point is uncomfortably high, those premium gloves can be difficult to wear. FootJoy’s new SciFlex Tour glove remedies that problem with strategically placed mesh and MicroVent FiberSof material that allow the glove to breathe and flex in those troublesome areas.

Payntr Eighty Seven SC Golf Shoes

Titleist GT Driver By the time this year’s Scottish Open rolled around, more than 100 PGA Tour pros had switched to Titleist’s new GT Driver, which debuted five weeks earlier. According to David DeSmith, the driver’s uptick in performance over previous models can be attributed to a seamless, thermoform crown composed of a proprietary matrix polymer. “It’s allowed Titleist engineers to shift weight and reposition the clubhead’s center of gravity—a change that substantially increases stability,” he says. Looking for further validation? Will Zalatoris described his first tee shot with the club as “euphoric.” That’s a mic drop.

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Payntr Golf established itself as a leader in the golf-footwear space with sneakerinspired styles. Through a collaboration with Jason Day, the brand now introduces a fashion-forward performance shoe, the Eighty Seven SC. The model tips its cap to classic golf styles but features modern tech, including full-length directional carbon-fiber propulsion plates, which enhance the energy that golfers can generate through their interaction with the ground.

LA Golf Bel-Air X Putter LA Golf initially made its mark with aftermarket shafts that impressed big hitters such as Dustin Johnson and

Bryson DeChambeau. But the company has also turned heads with a lineup of putters constructed entirely out of matte forged carbon. “It’s five times less dense than steel, with a sweet spot two times bigger,” says Alexandra O’Laughlin. “If you have the opportunity to get fitted, definitely do it.”

Kühl Pants David McLay Kidd’s livelihood may be linked to golf, but he rarely wears golf clothing. Instead, he prefers hiking apparel and especially loves Kühl pants for their thermos-like qualities. “They keep me cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold,” he says. “Plus, they have lots of pockets positioned in just the right places.”

Foresight Sports QuadMax Launch Monitor The benefits of a personal launch monitor—namely, to know exactly how far a ball is going, the angle that it’s launching, and the rate that it’s spinning—are invaluable if you want to really dial in your performance (and maximize your improvement). That so many tour players are using the Foresight Sports QuadMax is also telling. “The thing I love about Foresight over others is its accuracy, ease and speed of use, and durability,” says Roger Steele.

Magnetic Alignment Sticks When in doubt, designers know to follow a foolproof principle: keep it simple. According to golf instructor Scott Cranfield, the same philosophy applies to training aids, which is why he loves using magnetic alignment sticks. (There’s no shortage of examples sold on Amazon.com or sites dedicated to golf training aids.)

“Because it shows you where your club face is actually pointing, you’ll be able to reorganize your swing,” he explains. “It’s a great training aid to help you understand what you’re doing.”

Original Penguin 2024 Collection This is the brand that helped make polo shirts fashionable during the mid-1950s, and its 2024 collection features several pieces that embrace that retro styling. You don’t need bold colors or loud prints to make a statement, and these new polos are proof.

Sunday Swagger

“As the game is embraced by more young—and young-at-heart— players looking to break away from the tired, country club fashion mold, Sunday Swagger golf wear is show– ing them the way.”

—David DeSmith

Rolex Sky-Dweller Watch You can’t really go wrong with any Rolex model, but if you’re the jet-setting type, the new Sky-Dweller is especially attractive. Designed to display the time for two different locales, this complicated timepiece also features the horological house’s patented Saros perpetual annual calendar, which requires only a single date adjustment per year. It’s a winning combination, as evidenced by the fact that Scottie Scheffler was spotted wearing a Sky-Dweller earlier this season.

L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Putter There’s a reason L.A.B. Golf putters are suddenly showing up in the hands of PGA Tour players, including Adam Scott, who added one to his bag ahead of the Tour Championship and then proceeded to roll in 22 birdies at East Lake. The company’s name stands for Lie Angle Balance, which means these putters are designed so that the face stays square to the arc of the putting stroke.

The latest model, the Mezz.1 Max, is 20 percent larger than the original Mezz.1, which improves its stability. Fortunately, the putter is significantly more streamlined than the brand’s early designs, which were massive and oddly shaped.

Cobra Golf Limit3D Irons Produced in limited numbers (only 500 sets), the Limit3D irons—Cobra Golf ’s first foray into 3D printing—could be a glimpse of what’s to come.

Notably, the club manufacturer relies on laser beams and a stainless-steel powder to create compact irons with a bladelike profile. An interior latticework also allows engineers to shift much of the weight to the perimeter of the clubhead, enhancing stability and forgiveness. “The benefits of 3D printing over traditional forging or casting show a lot of promise,” David DeSmith asserts. “Cobra could be at the vanguard of what future irons are all about.”

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Game

Michael Keiser

Changers

David McLay Kidd says this of Keiser, son of Bandon Dunes founder Mike Keiser: “Michael and his brother, Chris, have taken the pioneer’s path trodden by their father. Michael was the powerhouse behind Sand Valley, and he was there every day when I built Mammoth Dunes. He was the creative force behind the Lido, and he gave Tom Doak the concept for Sedge Valley. He is adding to golf history—and the Keiser legacy.”

David Kohler The people and projects that pushed the envelope in golf, one way or another, during the past 12 months.

Son of Herb Kohler and chairman and CEO of Kohler Co., David represents the fourth generation of the Kohler family to lead the Wisconsin kitchen-and-bath company, which also owns Whistling Straits and the Old Course Hotel, among other golf courses and resorts. David sits on the board of the Green Bay Packers, but he makes the Kingdom List for his work supporting military veterans. “Several years ago, Kohler came to the aid of a nonprofit organization called the Caddie School for Soldiers, which helps veterans from the U.S., UK, and Canada find new purpose in their lives after suffering from PTSD and serious physical injuries, sustained in defense of their nations,” notes David DeSmith. The efforts are ongoing, and in 2023, the Kohler Home for Soldiers opened in St Andrews, as a veterans’ refuge.

Will Lowery A PGA professional, Lowery is a driving force behind Stephen Curry’s Underrated Golf Tour, which brings equity, access, and opportunity to student-athletes from underserved communities. “Will continues to raise the bar in how he advocates for the game and provides life opportunities to others,” notes Roger Steele. “He is a role model and one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. The Underrated Golf Tour is having a global impact on the future of the game, and Will also collaborates with the AJGA [American Junior Golf Association] to host the Will Lowery Junior Championship in North Carolina.

He’s a true inspiration.”

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Scottie Scheffler Scheffler has become the most dominant player in the golf world since Tiger Woods, and he has done it with extraordinary in-swing foot action. He reminds golfers of what Arnold Palmer used to say: “Swing your swing.”

Grant Thornton Invitational A collaboration between the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, and title sponsor Grant Thornton produced a new event pairing PGA Tour men with LPGA Tour women.

The Grant Thornton Invitational debuted in December 2023 at the Tiburón Golf Club, in Naples, Florida, with 16 cross-tour pairs putting gender equality in golf into action.

A world-class field featured Nelly Korda and Tony Finau as a pair, Lexi Thompson with Rickie Fowler, Charley Hull with Justin Rose in an English partnership, and the ultimate champions, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and Jason Day. The tournament had a $4 million purse, which was equally shared between the male and female pros.

Chad Mumm Mumm is executive producer of the Full Swing series on Netflix and founder of the golf media company Pro Shop. “The tour and the players become far more relatable when we have the means and access to connect on deeper levels. Full Swing has been critical for golf,” says Roger Steele. “The PGA Tour is investing in Mumm to help it transition into a new era, and I’m excited to see what he gets them to agree to next.”

Nelly Korda

Bryson DeChambeau

The LPGA Tour has been looking for some star quality to move it from the sports section to the front page, and Korda answered the call in 2024. The 26-year-old won on five successive starts in the early season, culminating in the second major victory of her career, in the Chevron Championship.

Only Nancy Lopez and Annika Sörenstam had previously won five straight on the LPGA Tour.

Jon Rahm’s defection to LIV Golf was going to shift the balance of power in the men’s professional game, but it is DeChambeau who kept LIV relevant in 2024. He won his second U.S. Open in June, and now, aged 31, DeChambeau has increased his appeal by finding some humility. He has also found 1.52 million YouTube subscribers.

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Gearheart Golf Links

Hidden

Gems

Perhaps a little out of the way or out of the spotlight, these golf courses remain go-to rounds for our panelists.

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Oregon

Gearheart Golf Links was established back in 1892—it’s thought to be the oldest surviving golf course west of the Mississippi—and the course has gone through a recent restoration. “Gearheart Links, along Oregon’s northern coast, is lesser known than Bandon Dunes to the south, but it’s quirky and so much fun,” David McLay Kidd says. “[The course] was improved in spades by Jim Urbina, and I love it!”

Apes Hill Barbados

“Apes Hill extends to almost 1,000 feet above sea level, which makes it ideal terrain for golf [and] for spectacular views,” David DeSmith says. “Every inch of the golf experience is a full-fledged nature expedition through stands of sea grape, frangipani, baobab and bearded fig trees, traveler’s palms, flamboyant trees with their blazing red blossoms, and dense jungle from which no misdirected golf ball will ever return.”

Photo: Jacob Sjöman

Lofoten Links Norway

Lofoten Links is the world’s northernmost links-style golf course. It sits high above the Arctic Circle, far above Iceland, and looks south upon most of Norway. Over high summer, golfers can book tee times at any point around the 24-hour clock, as darkness can’t reach this far. “Lofoten Links presents the opportunity to enjoy spectacular golf in a relatively uncrowded place,” Scott Cranfield says. Adds David DeSmith: “Lofoten Links isn’t easy to get to, but it’s an achingly scenic trip. You’ll play right along the shoreline, and along the sides of craggy mountains that tumble down to the beaches.

The golf course shares its windswept landscape with an ancient viking burial ground. For sheer beauty, few courses in the world are the equal of Lofoten.”

Balmoral Estate Scotland

This short nine-holer was laid out in the royal family’s wondrous Balmoral Estate in the early 20th century by local pro Bob Mearns. The parkland course was originally reserved for royals and staff on the 50,000-acre estate, but limited tee times are available to the public, and to guests of the nearby Fife Arms hotel—a hidden jewel in its own right.

Greywolf

British Columbia

Occupying an idyllic alpine setting in the Purcell Mountains, Greywolf was designed by Canadian architect Doug Carrick, and it is part of the Panorama Mountain Resort. Describes David DeSmith: “The course stretches through vivid green woodlands and over jagged hills, where elk and moose outnumber people. Its signature par-3 sixth, Cliffhanger, calls for a 200-yard shot over Hopeful Canyon to a peninsula green that offers 100-mile views.”

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Cape Wickham Links Tasmania

Cape Wickham is located on King Island, in the Bass Strait, midway between Tasmania’s main island and the Australian mainland. “All 18 holes are gems,” David DeSmith says of the seaside Mike DeVries design, “with large dunes, wide fairways to accommodate the ever-present wind, and firm, fast playing conditions. The journey to King Island is well worth the trek.”

Royal Isabela Puerto Rico

West of Dorado, in the 19th-century town of Isabela, the eco-minded Royal Isabela offers a highly dramatic, clifftop golf course. “Many holes play right along the edge of the cliffs, some 200 feet above the sea,” David DeSmith says.

“Five of the greens are just steps from the cliff ’s edge. Players will love it, as long as they are not afraid of heights.”

Brora

Scotland

Brora is one of the most northerly golf courses on the UK mainland, 60 miles north of Inverness, on the east coast.

This James Braid classic follows the contour of Kintradwell Bay, with the Sutherland foothills and Ben Bhraggie as the western backdrop. Sheep help to trim the fairways.

Fossil Trace Colorado

Alexandra O’Laughlin favors this Colorado course not only for its beauty and playability, but also for its natural wonders: “Fossil Trace, 20 minutes from downtown Denver, sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where there are trace fossils of palm fronds and triceratops footprints.”

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THE KINGDOM LIST

Ones to

Watch From soon-to-debut courses to an Annika Sörenstam–hosted cruise, these are the new golf destinations and experiences we’re looking forward to in 2025.

Regent Seven Seas Spotlight Voyage British Isles

“We took our first Regent Seven Seas cruise this past summer and absolutely had a blast as a family,” says Annika Sörenstam. “On a cruise in 2025, I will host golf excursions at some of the UK’s most famous courses.” Departing from Southampton on July 23, the 14-night, Sörenstam-hosted Spotlight Voyage will present the opportunity to play six golf courses, including Ailsa at Turnberry in Scotland and Royal Lytham & St. Annes in England.

Rodeo Dunes Colorado

“This will be a must-play course when it opens next year,” says Alexandra O’Laughlin of the new club being developed outside Denver by brothers Michael and Chris Keiser (see “Game Changers,” page 86). “The land is made for a golf lover, with the dunes creating endless shot possibilities.”

Victoria Golf Course Old Petty at Cabot Highlands Scotland

The Tom Doak–designed Old Petty course at Cabot Highlands is due to open in September 2025. This will be the second 18-hole route at Cabot Highlands, after the acclaimed Castle Stuart Links, which was created by Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse.

Old Petty represents the course the late Parsinen—the founder of Castle Stuart— always wanted to build, and it will elevate Cabot Highlands into an awe-inspiring golf landscape. Hemmed by the Moray Firth one way and the Highlands the other, Old Petty hugs a tidal estuary and brings golfers closer to the 400-year-old castle than its sister course does. It also runs alongside Old Petty Church, which is modern by Castle Stuart standards, built in 1839. As at all of the finest Highlands retreats, visitors here enjoy a true sense of escape, and it is no exaggeration that Cabot Highlands is primed to sit among the very finest 36-hole destinations in Britain.

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Portugal

The famous Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura, on Portugal’s Algarve coast, is an Arnold Palmer design going through an update by Ernie Els. “The layout was good before, so I am really looking forward to playing it once it’s complete,” says Scott Cranfield. The golf course is attached to the newly renovated Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort, so there is a lot to look forward to here.

Beaches Exuma The Bahamas

The resort previously known as Sandals Emerald Bay— complete with a spectacular Greg Norman championship course—is set to become one of the world’s ultimate golf-andfamily destinations when it reopens as Beaches Exuma in 2025.

Photo: Evan Schiller

The Keep, McLemore Georgia

Preview rounds at the Keep, a new 18-hole course at McLemore, are available now, ahead of an official opening in the summer of 2025.

The Dodger at Hallō Nelson British Columbia

Granite Pointe Golf Course, which originally opened in 1920, is being reimagined as part of a $500 million master-planned community in the Kootenay Rockies, called Hallō Nelson. Doug Carrick is designing the new 18-hole layout, the Dodger, with construction starting in 2025.

Old Dane Nebraska

The Old Dane nine-holer in Dakota City is being reworked under the close eye of architect Trevor Dormer, who is converting the course into 12 holes, with options to play six-, nine-, or 12-hole rounds.

Old Dane is owned by the Andersen family, who converted nearby farmland into a modern masterpiece, Landmand Golf Club.

Adelphi Portrush Hotel Northern Ireland

Timing is everything, and Marine & Lawn’s sixth hotel— the Adelphi Portrush—is due to open in February 2025, five months ahead of the Open’s return to Royal Portrush.

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Spain

From the Basque Country to the Costa del Sol, a golf trip to the homeland of Ballesteros, Olazábal, Ciganda, and Rahm is about much more than just golf.

Finca Cortesin

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Going

BALEARIC Mallorca has managed to remain off the radar of most golfers.

Here’s why it’s on ours.

by LARRY OLMSTED

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or many Europeans, Mallorca is a cycling and hiking mecca. Others come to the Mediterranean island for its beaches and bars. Palma, the capital, is flush with historic sites—including Spain’s “other” huge Gaudí cathedral—and the island’s culinary scene is legendary, with Michelin stars, hidden gems, and local farms producing top-quality ingredients year-round.

Mallorca is also home to 20 public and semiprivate golf courses, which, even at the height of tourist season—when thousands of travelers descend on the island—remain blissfully uncrowded. But even so, somehow, golfers have yet to claim Mallorca as their own.

The largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Mallorca is nearly identical in size to New York’s Long Island, only rounder.

The island’s courses—all of which are within an hour’s drive of Palma—include enough standouts to support a fabulous weeklong golf trip.

Topping the list is Alcanada, a modern, semiprivate course developed by the Porsche family, of sports car fame, and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. Opened in 2003 on a peninsula jutting from Mallorca’s northeastern coast, it is the island’s only true seaside layout. The stunning views include several vantages of the course’s namesake 19th-century lighthouse on a small offshore island. Like many of Mallorca’s resorts and other developments, Alcanada was

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once a farm, and its charming, centuries-old stone buildings now house a wonderful restaurant, a halfway house, and a clubhouse.

Son Gual is another semiprivate gem, set on a generous 365-acre site on the periphery of Palma. Considered the island’s most exclusive course, the “Augusta of Mallorca” features several lakes, intricate bunkering, 800 mature olive trees, and even a waterfall—and it’s all extremely well maintained. Like Alcanada, Son Gual was a passion project of a German magnate, the golf-obsessed Adam Pamer, who bought a vacation home on Mallorca and hired German amateur champion Thomas Himmel to build a course. The clubhouse and restaurant are palatial, catering to members spoiled by Mallorca’s high culinary standards. So, if you play the course, be sure to stay for a meal.

Most of Mallorca’s golf courses are standalone clubs that are not attached to a larger resort, which is all the better given the incredible array of luxury lodging on the island. Many traditional farm estates, or fincas, have been converted into boutique lodges, including the acclaimed Finca Serena and Sir Richard Branson’s Son Bunyola, which has just 27 rooms on a 1,300-acre vineyard and olive farm.

Cap Rocat occupies a one-of-a-kind 19th-century sandstone fortress built into a cliffside, with some rooms carved from caves. Carrossa is a five-star resort with an extensive spa and multiple restaurants that sits near Alcanada and offers seven-day stay-and-play packages incorporating several other golf courses.

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The “Augusta of Mallorca” was a passion project of a golfobsessed German magnate.

For those who prefer a true golf resort, the top choice is Hacienda Son Antem, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The 151-room hotel anchors two eighteens: East, a laid-back resort course, and the more coveted and challenging West. The resort also includes a golf academy, a tennis center, a spa, and vast gardens that contribute to the property’s excellent cuisine.

Pula Golf Resort is a boutique hotel set in a 16th-century manor house near the first tee of the property’s 18-hole layout. One of the best courses in Mallorca, it was completely redesigned by José María Olazábal in 2006 and has hosted several tournaments, including European Tour events.

Other clubs on the island range from T Golf Calvia and Son Servera to Son Vida and T Golf Palma. With so many options—many of which are relatively unknown—Mallorca is ripe for exploration by golfers.

The semiprivate Son Gual (top left) and Alcanada (above) top the list of Mallorca’s golf courses.

The Staying Power of Sotogrande IT IS AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO

with a cluster of five fincas. The American developer Joseph McMicking demonstrated what’s possible in the early 1960s, acquiring adjacent farms on Spain’s southeastern coast, just up from Gibraltar, and turning them into Sotogrande. Today, the 10-square-mile community is the ultimate Spanish playground for the European elite, a refuge of superyacht marinas, polo fields, mega villas—all with views over the Med—and, of course, some of the most celebrated golf courses in Spain.

La Reserva Club Sotogrande

Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Real Sotogrande represents the old school of golf in southern Spain. Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1964, Real Sotogrande and its original residences first established the resort community as an exclusive retreat at the western end of the Costa del Sol. Jackie Kennedy Onassis would vacation here, rubbing shoulders with royalty from different parts of Europe. The members-owned club remains a bastion of tradition, a throwback to late-20th-century glamour, and the golf course still vies with neighboring Valderrama as the finest in Spain.

Real Club Valderrama Valderrama—another Robert Trent Jones creation—began life as the second course at Real Sotogrande, called Las Aves.

That was before the Bolivian mining tycoon and Sotogrande resident Jaime Ortiz-Patiño bought the course in 1985 and brought Trent Jones back to remodel it. A qualified greenkeeper, Ortiz-Patiño relentlessly pursued perfection for the course, which became one of the most sought-after tee

times in Europe by the mid-nineties. It was written in the World Atlas of Golf that “You almost feel inclined to remove your golf shoes while walking the fairways.”

Ortiz-Patiño’s drive and ambition saw his beloved club become the first European Ryder Cup venue outside the British Isles, in 1997. And though Ortiz-Patiño has passed on, his legacy survives, and the manicured Valderrama remains a must-play for Sotogrande visitors. Indigenous cork trees line many holes and demand accuracy from the golfer more than they demand power. Valderrama is also known for unpredictable winds, sometimes arriving from the west, sometimes from the east.

La Reserva Club Sotogrande & Almenara Sotogrande Golf Club Completing Sotogrande’s close-knit quartet of championship golf courses are La Reserva and Almenara.

The tight and challenging Almenara, which opened in 1997, features three nine-hole loops designed by Dave Thomas,

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with a hilly landscape that brings frequent elevation changes to test golfers’ course management.

La Reserva, designed by the American golf course architect Cabell Robinson, opened in 2003 to widespread acclaim. Afforded more acreage than Almenara, the 7,400yard course emanates tour quality, and it has staged events on both the DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Wide, sweeping fairways, large and rolling greens, and Mediterranean panoramas define the layout. If Valderrama and Real Sotogrande are the top priorities for a Sotogrande golf trip, La Reserva comes in a close third.

Fresco at Sotogrande Marina Sotogrande revolves around its marina, which lies just north of the Guadiaro River estuary. Complete with 1,400 berths, the marina extends southeasterly, out to the Alborán Sea, which is the westernmost part of the Mediterranean. Lit by warm sunshine virtually every day, yet tempered by a cool sea breeze, Sotogrande Marina is the perfect place for a long alfresco lunch, with the option of cocktails as the sun begins to set. The Fresco bar and restaurant is unequivocally the first call for waterfront dining, featuring tapas, fresh seafood, paella, and drinks. Fresco is open all day, every day, but its reputation precedes it, so book a table in advance.

SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Hotel The first and only five-star hotel in Sotogrande opened in its current iteration in 2021. It is hidden amid cork forests and the foothills of the Sierra Almenara, an elegant, white-walled hotel that is ideal both as a golf hub and as a wellness retreat.

The 150 rooms and 24 suites look out over landscaped gardens, forests, Sotogrande’s famous golf courses, and down

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to the sea. The spa at SO/ Sotogrande is state-of-the-art, featuring a hydrothermal circuit, eight tranquil spa rooms, a 65-foot pool, and special treatment cabins for cryotherapy and flotation.

Polo & Equestrian Sotogrande is home to no fewer than five polo clubs, including the famous Santa María club, and it hosts the Torneo Internacional de Polo each summer. Horse-riding lessons and guided treks through the Almenara foothills and wild olive groves are popular, particularly as Sotogrande borders a 4,000-acre nature reserve. Sotogrande’s Club Hipica is home to more than 100 horses, and it is equipped for dressage, jumping, and hacking. Beach rides can be arranged, as can longer horseback tours of the white towns of Andalusia. —robin barwick

From top left: The wellness club at SO/ Sotogrande, paella at Fresco, and a match at one of the development’s five polo clubs.

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ULTIMATE GOLF GETAWAY | S PA I N

The hotel and 18th green at the 530-acre Finca Cortesin.

Immaculate in Andalusia HALF A CENTURY AGO, Robert Trent Jones sent his right-hand man, Cabell Robinson, to southern Spain.

Bewitched by the charms of Andalusia, Robinson never came back.

Golfers might feel the same way after a trip to Finca Cortesin, a world-class resort that is home to Robinson’s most renowned design. The course at Finca Cortesin has hosted several Volvo World Match Play Championships, as well as the 2023 Solheim Cup. Rare for a resort layout, it stretches 7,357 yards from the tips—and plays longer. After a disarming, wide-open, six-hole parkland start through a lush valley, the course morphs into isolated individual holes that climb and drop dramatically through a more rugged landscape to the finish.

Amid this shifting environment, the Finca Cortesin course remains pristine. “The course is in perfect condition, and the greens are immaculate,” Lee Westwood has said.

Sergio Garcia has suggested that the greens at Augusta National are nothing for those at Finca Cortesin to envy.

This sense of precision and care extends throughout the 530-acre resort, which is anchored by a 67-suite, Andalusian-Moorish-style hotel with white-walled buildings and red-tiled roofs. A Mediterranean beach club includes

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a restaurant serving southern Spain’s beloved rice and seafood dishes, and a huge infinity pool overlooking the sea.

Sporting facilities range from tennis and padel courts to a Nicklaus Academy of Golf, while food throughout the estate is top-shelf, bolstered by a large organic chef ’s garden that provides produce to half a dozen restaurants.

Under an hour from Málaga’s airport, Finca Cortesin is easily the best lodging near the other heavyweights of Spanish golf—but you need not hit a single ball to fall in love with this slice of Spain. —larry olmsted

Vintage Siurana Photo: Daniel Born

Spain The wine country of Priorat has stayed a relative secret to most travelers—and is all the better for it.

by BRUCE WALLIN

F

ew things come easy in Priorat. Narrow roads snake through the region’s rugged, sunbaked terrain, linking isolated clifftop villages and the ruined remnants of civilizations past. The rocky landscape presents a hostile environment for both people and their produce, with sporadic rainfall and a slate soil that challenges even the hardiest of crops.

Fortunately, when the crop in question is grapes, a stiff challenge is most welcome. Struggling vines often yield great wines—and in the case of Priorat, they produce some of the world’s best.

One of only two regions to receive Spain’s highest designated appellation status (Rioja being the other), Priorat wine country is a patchwork of vineyards in the foothills of the Montsant mountains, about an hour west of the Mediterranean city of Tarragona. The area’s viticultural

heritage goes back centuries, but, as elsewhere in Europe, phylloxera decimated the vineyards in the late 1800s. It also decimated Priorat.

“Unlike Bordeaux or Burgundy or Rioja—where they had other things going and could sustain themselves— Priorat was completely dependent on wine, and so people left,” says David Stein, owner and operator of the new Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno outside the village of Torroja. “But about 35 years ago, a few families started coming back, and there was a renaissance of great wines.”

Today, the region of about 9,000 residents is home to more than 100 small-production wineries and is known worldwide for its powerhouse, grenache-based reds. The industry accounts for nearly 90 percent of the local economy, according to Carles Pastrana, who founded Clos de l’Obac in the late 1970s with his wife, the oenologist Mariona Jarque.

Their son, Guillem, now runs the family business, which operates from a pink-stuccoed, red-tile-roofed, gravity-fed winery in the village of Gratallops, population 100.

The long gap between Priorat’s viticultural heydays has in some ways preserved the heritage and beauty of places like Gratallops. “The onslaught of development that came in the

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1960s and destroyed a lot of the beautiful villages in Europe, that didn’t hit Priorat,” Stein says. “Today, from a development standpoint, it’s probably the most restrictive wine area in Spain, if not in Europe.”

Priorat has also avoided the onslaught of tourists that has plagued other parts of Europe, including nearby Barcelona. Aside from oenophiles and rock climbers—the crags outside the village of Siurana are considered meccas of the sport—travelers have traditionally passed over the region. But for those with a taste for Catalan history, cuisine, and culture without the crowds, Priorat is poised for discovery.

Priorat Playbook Taste

Start your viticultural journey at Clos de l’Obac, one of the original wineries that helped revive the local industry starting in the late ����s. Request a private tasting with co-founder Carles Pastrana, who will offer a regional history lesson while walking you through library selections of the signature Clos de l’Obac blend and other silky Priorats. If Clos de l’Obac’s traditional atmosphere recalls The Godfather, your next stop, the contemporary Perinet Winery, will feel more ���. Head winemaker Toni Sánchez frequently leads tastings and tours himself, guiding guests through the high-tech winemaking process before a barrel sampling in a Gaudí-esque cellar and a bottle tasting in a contemporary lounge with vineyard and mountain views. Among the many other worthy wineries in Priorat, the famed Álvaro Palacios and the historic Clos Mogador are highly recommended.

Dine

“Priorat is a strong wine, so you want to eat something with it,” says Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno’s Stein. “It’s not like having a glass of Pinot Grigio and a slice of cheese—you want to have a meal if you’re going to have a red Priorat.” Slate wine bar in Gratallops is the perfect place to pair tapas—pan con tomate, croquettes, fried goat ribs—with excellent vintages from the immediate area. Refugi, in the hilltop town of Siurana, is a casual spot in a spectacular setting. “[It] hangs over a cliff, and you have to walk through a rock to get to it,” Stein says. “You sit on what are like school benches, but it’s got a sophisticated tapas menu, the people are great, and the view is amazing.” Fine-dining options are highlighted by Brichs in Falset and the restaurant at Mas d’en Bruno.

Explore

If the ancient monastery of Escaladei were in Tuscany, it would host thousands of visitors every day. But on a weekday last summer, there were fewer than �� people perusing the site’s cloisters and church, portions of which date to the ��th century.

Majestic Montsant peaks serve as a backdrop for the ruins, which, this being Priorat, are flanked by vineyards.

Stay

Opened in ����, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is a Napa Valley– level luxury resort in a region that is nearly devoid of hotels. Its spacious suites, vineyard-view swimming pool, spa structured around ancient ruins, high-design wine cellar, and gourmet restaurant make for an especially soothing base for a few days of tastings and local excursions. The nearby village of Torroja is home to Ora, a new Design Hotels property set within an ��th-century abbey, and Terra Dominicata is an adults-only hotel and winery near Escaladei.

Play The Clos de l’Obac winery and its signature red blend (top); Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno (above).

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You’re not here for the golf, but you could do far worse than an afternoon at Gaudí Reus Golf Club, an ��-hole course in the coastal hills just outside of Priorat. A bit farther afield, along the Mediterranean in Tarragona, the Infinitum resort features �� holes designed by Greg Norman plus a nine-hole course that plays through ancient Roman ruins.

Carlota’s Way CARLOTA CIGANDA HAS WRITTEN HER NAME

into the book of Spanish sports heroes. When the Solheim Cup took place in her home country for the first time last year, at Finca Cortesin, Ciganda won four points from four matches. She finished by holing the putt that beat American Nelly Korda in singles, thereby clinching a team draw—and retaining the Solheim Cup for Europe. Ciganda plays most of her golf in the States and on the LPGA Tour, yet her devotion to her home country is vivid.

She spoke to Robin Barwick.

The people in southern Spain are very nice...

When you see the sun every day, I think it helps you to be happier.”

Tranquil Valley I am from Pamplona in northern Spain. Lots of people think that all of Spain has great weather all year round, but in Pamplona we have four seasons, with cold and wet winters for sure.

I grew up in a very small village called Larraintzar. It is one of 14 small villages in the Ulzama Valley, and the total population of all the villages together is only around 2,500.

My village only has a population of around 100 people. I love it, and we have a very big family there. I have a brother, and my dad has four brothers and two sisters, and so I have a lot of cousins who are a similar age. We grew up together, and we were always outside and playing sports, like golf, soccer, tennis, and swimming. I loved sports.

Running of the Bulls I have never run the bulls myself, but I have watched it many times. It is part of the Sanfermines religious festival, which lasts for a whole week in July. There is a great atmosphere, with lots of music and concerts, and people visiting from all

over the world. When I think about Pamplona during the festival, I don’t really think about the bulls, even though it is the most famous part. My brother ran with the bulls once or twice, but it is very dangerous. You see how big those bulls are—you could get killed—so I don’t do it.

Forest Golf There is a golf course near Larraintzar called Club de Golf Ulzama. I started playing golf there with my dad and his friends when I was five years old. Ulzama is a great golf course—18 holes—it is beautiful. It is in the middle of a forest, so every hole is surrounded by lots of trees. I think it is one of the narrowest golf courses I have ever played, and it has small greens, so you have to be very straight off the tee.

I love that place; it is spectacular in the summer.

Sunny South I always enjoy visiting Marbella and that part of southern Spain, and Cádiz, and Sotogrande. There is usually nice, warm weather down there, and you can practice outdoors at all times of year. The people in southern Spain are very nice, and quite funny and open, whereas in the north the people are a bit more serious. When you see the sun every day, I think it helps you to be happier. That is what I think, anyway!

North and South I love the golf courses of southern Spain. Valderrama is so beautiful but also very tough, very tricky to play. I also love Real Sotogrande, which has a lot of history.

Less well-known internationally is Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri, near Bilbao, in the north. They have nine holes by the ocean and another nine holes that are tree-lined. It is a beautiful place. Then, farther along the northern coast, there is a golf course near to San Sebastián called [Real] Zarauz.

It is a nine-hole course by the Bay of Biscay, which is a bit like links golf. It is beautiful, and I used to play there a lot on holidays when I was growing up. I have very happy memories of being there when I was young.

Home Cooking I love a Spanish omelette, or a tomato salad with some tuna is beautiful. My mum is a great cook, and that is what she might prepare when I am at home. I love Spanish seafood, and also a good steak, but obviously paella has to be experienced by people visiting Spain. I also love tapas, which we have when we eat out.

Ciganda clutching the Solheim Cup after helping to secure a draw— and title—for the Europeans at Finca Cortesin in 2023.

Finding a Balance We need tourism in Spain because it brings a lot of money into the country, but at the same time it is sad that it has meant the cost of living has gone up for locals. I hope they can find a balance, to keep both sides happy, because Spain needs tourism, but it also needs its people. I love Spain, and I love the culture, and I love my family, so even though I live in Scottsdale, Spain will always be home for me.

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GLORY In a Kingdom exclusive, Tom Watson sits down with Shaun Tolson at Harbour Town Golf Links to reflect on mentors and unexpected moments from a monumental career.

Watson saluting the fans after winning the 109th Open at Muirfield, Scotland, on July 20, 1980.

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DAYS

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GLORY DAYS

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here comes a time in everyone’s life when nostalgia gains the upper hand. Seemingly, in a flash, you go from your prime to living the chorus of a Bruce Springsteen song.

At the age of 75—and two years removed from the final rounds of a storied professional career—Tom Watson would certainly be justified in singing along with the Boss. But the Missouri native might not be reminiscing about the moments you would expect.

With eight major championships on his résumé, and five more from his days playing on the Champions Tour, Watson has a career highlight reel that rivals just about any golfer’s. The miraculous chip-in from off the 17th green at Pebble Beach during the 1982 U.S. Open is one such moment that he will gladly talk about—but only when someone else brings it up. There’s also the approach shot into the 72nd hole of the 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry, where he ultimately raised his second Claret Jug, narrowly defeating Jack Nicklaus in the process. Watson might regale you with a story about that final hole, too, but only if you ask.

Even when he visited Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in September as the guest of honor at this year’s Kingdom Cup (see “Crowning the Kingdom Cup,” page 112), Watson never brought up his two tour wins there. Instead, he talked passionately about the 1964 Kansas

Below left: Watson after winning the Open at Turnberry in 1977.

Here: His momentum-turning chip-in on the 17th hole during the final round of the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

City Men’s Match Play Championship, a tournament that he has long considered to be the most important victory in his golfing career.

Beating all of the city’s best players was a thrill for Watson—who was only 14 years old at the time—but the championship’s significance to him now has little to do with the victory itself. His win drew the attention of the organizers of the TWA Clipped Wings International golf exhibition, which was held to raise money for multiple sclerosis research—and featured then seven-time major champion Arnold Palmer. “They said it’d be fun to have this precocious kid play golf with Arnold Palmer,” Watson remembers. “So I had a chance to play with my hero.”

That “life-affirming moment” made clear what Watson would be. “I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he reflects. “My dreams of becoming an Arnie or Jack, a Bobby or Billy, a Gene or Stan, became focused with that victory. My life’s ambition was set: I was going to be a professional golfer.”

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Musda iliam, inctoriatur, voluptatem. Am andanda erumqui delicim poriorendam hillaboriat occus est, nus, que

You get a chance to really know somebody in a fouror five-hour round.”

PALMER MAY HAVE BEEN Watson’s golfing hero, but it’s clear that Watson worshipped his father just as much. Ray Watson introduced his son to golf in 1955, sliding a cut-down club in his hands and teaching him the proper grip and fundamentals of the swing. Watson’s a bit hazy on the details of that first golf club, but he’s certain that “it was hickoryshafted, and it didn’t have a number on it.”

From rounds played alongside his father to mornings spent caddying for him and his friends—all of whom were single-digit handicaps—Watson observed how better players maneuvered around the golf course and interacted with each other. “There’s a rapport that you establish on the golf

course,” he says. “You get a chance to really know somebody in a four- or five-hour round. You get to see how they play the game: how they handle anger, how they handle bad shots, the type of humor that they have. I’d see how my dad and his friends needled each other.

“They also taught me the history of the game,” Watson continues. “They would talk about the older players—the greats like Bobby Jones and Snead and Nelson and Hogan.

Those were the players that they grew up with, and I grabbed onto that.”

Watson also embraced his father’s approach to the game.

“I was fortunate and blessed to have a father who was a great player,” he says. “He taught me the etiquette of the game and how to play, so as far as golf is concerned, he was the premier mentor in my life.”

The senior Watson supported his son’s decision to pursue a career on the PGA Tour, even when the odds of success weren’t certain. “I was an introverted kid who loved the game [of golf ] and had a little bit of talent,” Watson recalls.

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“ There are no mulligans when

selling a business. You have to get it right the first time. ”

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GLORY DAYS

“I showed a little bit in my amateur career, but nothing big on the national amateur circuit.”

Even so, he aspired to play at the highest professional level, and on the way home from a hunting trip during Watson’s senior year of college, he told his father as much.

“Without missing a beat,” Watson recalls, “my dad said, ‘Son, that’s the right decision, because if you didn’t make that decision, you’d always wonder if you could’ve made it.’ ” More than five decades and 70 professional victories later, it’s clear that Watson made the right call. These days, the Stanford graduate still plays regularly, but his rounds are only of the social kind. “I just play for pleasure,” he says, “and I play from the white tees.”

The five-time Open champion makes a point to connect those two statements, and he encourages amateurs of all ages and ability levels to keep an open mind as to where they tee it up on the course. “Play with joy,” he says. “Golf is a game that’s meant to be fun, so make sure you play from the tees that are commensurate with how far you can hit it. Sure, you want to go out there and test your skills on the golf course, but make sure you play from the tees that are going to allow you to have fun.”

It’s what golf needs right now.

It needs opportunities for kids at the First Tee level.”

TEEING IT FORWARD may be Watson’s unofficial initiative within the game, but as he finishes up the back nine of a lifelong career in golf, he’s committed to a new venture: Watson Links. The nonprofit organization ensures that aspiring junior golfers have an opportunity to get out on the course, even if they don’t have a family member who can provide that introduction.

Watson Links matches children with adult mentors for weekly nine-hole rounds of golf, and then subsidizes those rounds so the golf is free for both the child and the mentor. The organization launched its first pilot program in Kansas City in 2021, and by 2023, it had matched 145 junior players with 40 mentors, accounting for 634 rounds played.

Through partnerships with First Tee chapters, Watson Links is expanding; in 2024, it continued its operations in Kansas City and Sacramento, and debuted in Indianapolis, Omaha, and Wichita.

“I have three foundations,” Watson says, “and for all three, the very first line of the mission statement says, ‘We are here to create lifetime golfers.’ ” He is optimistic that Watson Links will do just that— help to build a diverse new generation of avid players. “It’s what golf needs right now,” he says. “It needs opportunities for kids at the First Tee level to get to learn the game from mentors, just like how my father took me onto the golf course and taught me the love of the game.”

Watson helps a junior player. Top right: Arnold Palmer (left), Raymond Floyd (center), and Watson at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, 1982.

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GLORY DAYS

Crowning the Kingdom Cup At Kingdom’s third annual tournament on Hilton Head Island, one of golf ’s greatest champions contributed quality shots and plenty of banter to go along with them.

Tom Watson hits a shot on the par-3 14th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links. Top right: Harbour Town’s 18th hole.

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DURING THE SECOND competitive round at the Kingdom Cup, held in September at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, Tom Watson pulled up a chair on the tee box of the par-3 14th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links. In between groups of golfers, he spoke with deep appreciation for the challenges that the Pete Dye layout imposes on players of all ability levels—and explained why he was so successful on the course (where he won twice on tour). “I was always a good up-and-downer,” he said, “and you need to be able to get up and down around here, because you’re gonna miss some greens.”

Fortunately, most groups didn’t have to worry about scrambling for par on the 14th, largely because teams had the opportunity to use Watson’s tee shot as their own. “As my friend Byron Nelson used to say, ‘There’s room inside that,’ ” Watson told one group after he struck an easy nine iron to about eight feet.

Despite the assistance from one of the game’s all-time greats—or perhaps because of it—Kingdom Cup participants focused their efforts on hitting the best shots of their lives on the hole. In some instances, those swings delivered quality results; other times, balls sailed wildly offline and into water.

“Are you Catholic?” Watson asked one player, who was reaching into his pocket for another ball to re-tee. The player nodded.

“Then you must know the rhythm method,” Watson continued with a smile, smoothly taking his club back, briefly pausing at the top, and then letting the downswing fall into place. He methodically chanted a cadence to follow: “One . . . and . . . two,” as he repeated the practice swing.

The demonstration did the trick, and the player flushed his second attempt, hitting his ball to the center of the green.

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vesselgolf.com | #CraftedForTheDriven

GLORY DAYS

Over the course of three days, the nearly 100 lucky participants in the Kingdom Cup had the opportunity to experience such moments with Watson and much more. The tournament included two competitive rounds on a pair of Sea Pines’ championship layouts, where attendees interacted with several other notable golfers.

On day one, participants hit tee shots with Annika Sörenstam, then challenged golf influencer Roger Steele to a long-drive contest four holes later. On the back nine, they received some assistance from 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, who launched 300-yard drives over the corner of a 550-yard dogleg par-5. And to cap off the first day, participants got the full PGA Tour treatment from professional caddie Geno Bonnalie, who guided them from tee to green, amusing them with funny tour anecdotes along the way.

The event featured nightly gourmet meals and drinks—including exclusive sips of a yet-to-be-released collector’s edition 38-year-old blended malt Scotch whisky from Dewar’s—served with a generous dose of Southern charm. Participants also received chic additions to their golf wardrobes, including Duca del Cosma shoes, Original Penguin polos, and performance sunglasses from Uswing, all beautifully presented in a Vessel leather weekender bag.

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Participants hit tee shots with Annika Sörenstam, then challenged Roger Steele to a longdrive contest.

Of course, the opportunity to meet one of the game’s most decorated champions was an undisputed highlight of the event. Throughout the day on Saturday, Watson shared stories from his playing days, told the occasional joke, and chatted with participants about the best steakhouses and sports teams in his hometown of Kansas City.

That evening, at the awards dinner at the Sea Pines Beach Club, Watson acknowledged that he often participates in private and corporate tournaments throughout the year.

For him, however, the Kingdom Cup is unlike any other.

“The difference here,” he said, “is that you can tell that everyone is having so much fun.”

Clockwise from top left: Tom Watson, Annika Sörenstam, Brian Harman, and Roger Steele.

Eagle’s EYE With his helicopter-captured golf images, fine art photographer Gray Malin offers a unique perspective on the power and serenity of the sport. words by ROBERT SPUHLER images by GRAY MALIN

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CABO DEL SOL GOLF COURSE

fine art photographer Gray Malin’s ethos can best be summed up as, “Make every day a getaway,” he says.

It’s hard to imagine a better place to get away than this picturesque hole along the southern tip of Baja California. “I want to be on that golf green so badly,” Malin says. “It feels like a romantic kind of escape from life, from reality.”

This bird’s-eye view, a signature of his golf photography, helps turn fairways and greens into works of art.

Cabo San Lucas

Read on for more about Malin and his work. >

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GRAY MALIN

G

ray Malin’s journey in fine art photography had taken him to doorless helicopters high above beaches, ski mountains, and public parks, where he battled with the wind from the rotors and the unsteady base of the choppers themselves to capture images of serenity. But it took an offhand remark to a friend while playing golf to spark the idea for his next progression in photography.

“I sometimes feel like when I’m on a golf course, I’m at the beach; I feel so relaxed,” he told his playing partner.

“People come to a golf course to kind of escape, just like they do at a beach or a ski mountain.”

Numerous partnerships and thousands of frames later, Malin has taken that idea—the sport as a relaxing escape— and turned it into a series of stunning photographs. They adorn walls, jump from the pages of coffee-table books, and make up this spread of wanderlust-inducing golf holes.

It is, in a way, an extension of the photography lessons he learned years ago while selling his early work at markets in West Hollywood.

“People wanted to hang artwork in their homes that made them feel good, made them feel connected to someone who came over,” he says. “They wanted to show off artwork to friends that would create a bond between them.

Connectivity, approachability, inclusivity: those were some of the terms that I took away from that time.”

Malin’s golf images provide bird’s-eye—or perhaps ball’s-eye—views of stunning course designs worldwide. But golf is only part of the canvas here, as the sport’s interactions with nature often take center stage, whether they involve crashing waves, placid seas, or stretches of untouched sand.

Aquatic backdrops are a particular favorite of Malin’s: the first course with which he partnered for these aerial shots was Pebble Beach, which famously runs along the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s such a stunning part of California, near Big Sur,” he says. “And the combination [of golf and the ocean] surprises me in how powerful it felt once I saw the images.”

It can sometimes be hard to appreciate such power while at ground level on the course—especially when you’re trying to avoid hitting your ball into a water hazard. But by capturing images from an angle rarely seen, Malin can inspire a different appreciation for the sport.

“It reminds them of the beauty that they maybe didn’t see,” he says.

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HUALĀLAI GOLF COURSE

The Big Island, Hawaii

malin captures a view from above the penultimate hole at this famed Hawaii course that appears otherworldly. Walking along the path pictured here “feels like you’re on Mars,” he says, thanks to the course’s distinctive black lava fields. “It’s truly surreal. That black lava really takes you somewhere. And then you look out, and there are dolphins and whales and so forth. It’s very aquatic. People just love playing this hole.”

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FEATURE GRAY MALIN | G O LF P H OTO G R A P H Y

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PLANTATION GOLF COURSE

Sea Island, Georgia

it can be hard, in the middle of trying to shape a fairway iron around a greenside bunker, to see the bigger picture. Malin’s aerial shots that feature golfers on the course provide a sense of context: one player versus 7,000 or so yards.

“When you get above the trees, seeing over to the next fairway and the water,” he says, “you have a better understanding of the larger scale of what the course feels like.”

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PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS Pebble Beach, California

even with a group of golfers on the green, the star here is Mother Nature and her raw power, via the wind-whipped waters of Carmel Bay crashing against the rocks. “It really demonstrates, unlike any other image in my collection, the incredible force of the ocean surrounding this hole,” Malin says. “The water in this [photo] is not retouched—the colors are that stunning. And when we talk about drama, it’s really exceptional: there’s an energy here, in nature, that I think is one of the compelling factors of a great golf photograph.”

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GRAY MALIN

Hole

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PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB

Palm Beach, Florida

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one of malin’s earliest golf photographs, this image of a golfer and caddie mid-hole is different from much of his oeuvre, not in the emotions engendered, but in the scenery itself. “It was something to do with the palm trees that really drew me in,” he says. “I saw the shadows, the way the palm trees kind of lined up and the shadows moved across, and those two [people] were there; I just felt like it didn’t need an ocean behind it or body of water to create a sort of strong feeling of the course.”

STONEHAM GOLF CLUB, ENGLAND

ICONIC STYLE SINCE 1927 WWW.PENFOLDGOLF.COM

Paul Azinger is famous for being a major champion, a Ryder Cup star, and an entertaining broadcaster. The tour veteran and soon-to-be course designer sat down with Robin Barwick to discuss the ups, downs, and driving-range dents of a life in golf.

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D

uring the summer of 1979, driving the range picker at the Bay Hill Club was like running a gauntlet, particularly when that tall kid “Zinger” was around. Paul Azinger, aged 19 at the time, was one of eight college students employed at the Orlando-area club that summer, working as counselors at the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. One of the counselors’ jobs was to collect the practice balls at the driving range, and while the driver was safe within the protective cage of the little truck, the bang of a low-flying stinger on old metal would rattle them every time.

“Whoever’s turn it was to drive the range picker knew he was our target,” recalls Azinger, with relish, in an exclusive interview with Kingdom magazine. “We would try to drill him with a four-iron from 100 yards or so. It was fun, and really it taught me how to hit the ball without thought. You know, the golf swing takes a second, or a second and a half, and if you can get through that one second without any words, oh boy, can you play some good golf.

“When you are trying to hit the range picker, there is no consideration given to any technique. I learned to hit the golf ball with instinct on that range at Bay Hill, and I was the best at hitting that range picker by a wide margin!”

Azinger worked at Bay Hill for eight weeks that summer, staying at the lodge and earning $80 a week, as groups of kids would arrive, 80 at a time, for a fortnight’s academy. Palmer

Paul Azinger tees off at the 1992 Las Vegas Invitational.

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’ ZINGER AND THE STINGERS

himself would hold the occasional clinic for the academy, for which Azinger had a box seat. When the teenager got the chance, he would also watch Palmer practice at the back of the range.

“I was just trying to take it all in,” says Azinger, who was between his freshman and sophomore years at Brevard Junior College in Cocoa, Florida. “Arnold was 49 years old, but he still wanted to be great. He still wanted to win majors. I remember being 49, and I thought I could still win anything, and that is how Arnold must have felt.”

The driving range at Bay Hill became Azinger’s backyard, and he would often hit more than 500 balls a day.

“I would go through those balls without thought, and then I would hit more because the sun wouldn’t set,” he says.

“I just kept going. I beat golf balls; that’s how I should say it.

Some guys just hit golf balls, but I beat them.”

An unremarkable golfer at Sarasota High, Azinger was the number-three player on Brevard’s B team in his freshman year. Yet after his Bay Hill stint, he shot to number one on the A team for his sophomore season, and in 1980 he broke 70 for 18 holes for the first time. He developed late, but fast.

“That summer of 1979 was probably the difference maker for my whole career,” says Azinger, now 64, and a major champ. “A lot of players got pretty good over the course of that summer. I got better than anyone, because I would hit golf balls every day, and I learned how to hit the ball solid and how to hit it low.”

Muirfield Disaster Azinger won his first three titles on the PGA Tour in 1987, leading to him being named Player of the Year. It was his first season of genuine world-class golf, but it could have been legendary, were it not for dropped shots on the final two holes of the Open at Muirfield.

It was the Florida golfer’s Open debut, and he successfully put those low-slung long irons to work in the ever-changing weather on Scotland’s east coast. Azinger led by three shots with nine holes play, but two lapses in judgment at the end allowed Englishman Nick Faldo to edge past—with a final round comprising 18 pars—and claim his first major title. In his 1995 autobiography, Azinger described the ’87 Open as a “disaster.”

Golf can be crushing, but it so happened that Azinger’s next return to Bay Hill, in March 1988, had a restorative effect, when he held off Tom Kite to win Palmer’s tournament. “When it came to Bay Hill in ’88, I was able to say, ‘You see, the ’87 Open has not destroyed me!’ I am still going to be around!’ ” Azinger reflects.

“Sometimes it is not what we accomplish that matters,” he continues. “Sometimes it is what we overcome. I had to overcome the devastation of losing the Open. A guy who has

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Azinger on his way to a victorious Ryder Cup at Kiawah Island, 1991 (bottom left); a major winner at the 1993 PGA Championship (left); in the broadcast booth with Nick Faldo and Mike Tirico at the Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, 2019 (above); the winning Ryder Cup captain at Valhalla, 2008.

You only get four cracks at the majors each year, so the clock ticks. The burden is real.” never won a major has to want to win so bad that if he gets close and blows it, he won’t sleep for a year. Yet at the same time, he has to be in such a great state of mind that he is still able to sleep like a baby. It is the biggest contradiction, but you need to have both sides at the same time. That is what it takes.

“Oh, my gosh, I lost sleep after Muirfield in 1987, and I cried a little bit. I had not matured enough by then. I was naive.”

Azinger would eventually claim his major title at the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness in Toledo, Ohio, when he defeated Greg Norman in a playoff. Faldo was a shot shy of the playoff, in third.

“By the time I got to the ’93 PGA, I knew that if I didn’t win that I would never sleep again,” exclaims Azinger. “But I thought I would win. It is a tough dynamic to become a champion, and I am happy that I was able to survive it.

“You only get four cracks at the majors each year, so the clock ticks. The burden is real.”

Azinger has become accustomed to his career taking sudden turns. At the end of the finest season of his playing career—1993—he was diagnosed with lymphoma in his

right shoulder. After undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, he made a full recovery. But Azinger would not win again on tour for seven years, until he claimed his 12th and last PGA Tour victory at the 2000 Sony Open in Hawaii.

The victorious and celebrated 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup captain at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, Azinger forged a second career as a TV analyst, with colorful, insightful, and straight-talking stints at ABC, ESPN, and, most recently, NBC. At the end of 2023, Azinger thought he was in a routine contract renewal negotiation with NBC, until his role was abruptly canceled as part of a broad swathe of cost cuts to the network’s golf coverage.

“Without the LIV players, the PGA Tour has become a tough product to sell to an advertiser,” he says.

This year, Azinger has been pouring his considerable energy into the Azinger Family Compassion Center for foster children in Palmetto, Florida, and also into the construction of his first golf course design project, at Miakka Golf Club, outside Sarasota, which is scheduled to open for play in 2025. The fields of play may have changed, but “Zinger” remains in the middle of the action.

Palmer, by the way, always remembered Azinger from that summer of ’79. Once Azinger was playing full-time on the PGA Tour, Palmer invited him to play a practice round ahead of the 1985 Hertz Bay Hill Classic, pitting himself and his friend and fellow major champion Dow Finsterwald against upstarts Azinger and Brett Upper. The old-timers beat the pretenders out of $100. Late payment for all those dents on the range picker.

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We know what he

likes.

1-800-889-7688 • hubspeanuts.com

Life & Style

POURS & PUROS Cocktails and cigars go particularly well together when enjoyed at a smokefriendly bar at a world-class golf resort.

Here, the specialists at Sea Island, Bandon Dunes, and Nemacolin share their picks for a perfect pairing.

Fat-Hattan + Fuente Fuente Opus X “I wanted to create a Manhattan that had a lot of complexity to it,” says Grace Labruzzo, the lead bartender for the Oak Room at the Lodge at Sea Island. “When you raise the glass, you smell bacon and thyme from the garnish, followed by a smooth, slightly sweet coating of the mouth from the butter wash. As the drink lingers in the mouth, the slight taste of raisins, dates, and bacon is enough to leave you wanting more.” Nic Wallace, Sea Island’s bars and spirits manager, likes pairing this drink with a spice-driven cigar like the Fuente Fuente Opus X by Arturo Fuente. “The cocktail’s rich and savory qualities pair perfectly with the nutty, spicier cigar,” he says.

FAT-H AT TA N GLASS TYPE

LIST of INGREDIENTS

6

1½ oz. honey-butter-and-bacon-fatwashed High West Double Rye whiskey ½ oz. caramelized fig syrup ¼ oz. Lustau PX sherry ¼ oz. Dolin dry vermouth COUPE

2 dashes Angostura bitters 1 dash Fee Brothers cherry bitters

METHOD for CRAFTING the PERFECT DRINK Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stir for six to eight seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a piece of candied bacon.

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Strath Sazerac + Punch Grand Cru No. 2 This riff on the classic Sazerac leans on Fernet-Branca and Cognac in place of the traditional recipe’s rye whiskey and absinthe rinse. Lemon oil and earthy baking spices characterize the drink’s aroma, while a sip introduces a more complex flavor profile of orange peel, anise, and a woodiness from the gentian root in the fernet. “It’s a unique digestif to close your night,” says Sherard Rogers, Bandon Dunes’ director of food and beverage, who often pairs the drink with the Punch Grand Cru No. 2. “The mint and eucalyptus notes from the fernet, along with the cinnamon, clove, and anise from the Angostura bitters, pair exceptionally well with the cigar’s licorice and fresh spice notes.”

ST RAT H S A Z E RA C GLASS TYPE

ROCKS

LIST of INGREDIENTS

1 oz. Fernet-Branca

1 oz. XO Cognac

½ oz. simple syrup

4 dashes orange bitters

4 dashes Angostura bitters

METHOD for CRAFTING the PERFECT DRINK Rim one half of a chilled rocks glass with salt. In a mixing glass, combine all ingredients with ice and stir until well chilled. Strain into the rocks glass over a large cube. Express oils from a lemon peel over the drink and discard the peel.

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Going Bananas + La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Gold Tubo “Bananas are known for their sweetness,” says Sea Island’s Labruzzo, who created this cocktail to introduce the fruit’s familiar flavor in an unexpected way. “Sour is the first sense that slightly shocks the palate, followed by the cinnamon and banana flavors, which create a sweet-and-spicy balance.” As for the cigar pairing, Sea Island’s Wallace selects one of his favorite smokes, which is known to pair well with tropical flavors. “Some of the lesser-focused-on flavors are the coffee and chocolate notes deep within the tobacco, and they work incredibly well with banana, cinnamon, and brown sugar,” he says.

GOING BANANAS GLASS TYPE

LIST of INGREDIENTS

1¼ oz. pineappleand-cinnamon-stickinfused Bumbu rum

6

½ oz. Giffard Banane du Brésil

½ oz. Velvet Falernum ¾ oz. pineapple juice BRANDY SNIFTER

¾ oz. lemon juice

2 dashes Angostura cocoa bitters

METHOD for CRAFTING the PERFECT DRINK Combine all ingredients in a shaking tin with ice. Shake for four to five seconds, then double strain over crushed ice. Garnish with dehydrated banana chips and pineapple fronds.

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New York Sour Idylle + Padrón 50th Anniversary The Hardy Room inside the Chateau at Nemacolin Resort has created a uniquely intricate New York Sour cocktail—a drink that owes its complexity to an orange-and-butter-fat-washed bourbon. When choosing a cigar to pair with the drink, the resort’s assistant director of outlets, Lauren Pavlicko, zeroed in on the Padrón 50th Anniversary for its Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos that are selected from the company’s oldest reserves. “Cocoa, leather, cedar, almond, nougat, and pepper weave an elaborate profile that pairs beautifully with the buttery, citrus-forward Idylle,” she says. “The combination brings you to the doorsteps of France.” —SHAUN TOLSON

N E W Y O R K S O U R I D Y LLE GLASS TYPE

LIST of INGREDIENTS

5

2 oz. orange-and-butter-fat-washed Maker’s Mark bourbon

ROCKS

½ oz. lemon juice

¼ oz. simple syrup

¼ oz. lime juice

1 oz. red Bordeaux wine

METHOD for CRAFTING the PERFECT DRINK In a shaker tin with ice, combine the bourbon, juices, and simple syrup and shake for four to five seconds, then strain over one large cube. Over the back of a spoon, carefully pour the red wine to garnish.

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GAME -C H AN GE R ! THESE S HOE S AR E THE PERFECT BALANCE O F FAS HION A ND FU NC TI O N.

I T ALIA N D ES IG N | HAND CRAF T ED | WAT ERP R OOF www . d u c a d e l c o s m a . u s

LIFE & ST YLE | WI N E

Napa’s New Cults Emerging labels are bursting out of the gates with top viticultural talent and aspirations to become California’s next collectible wine.

by ADAM ERACE

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A

fter a long, dry September day in the middle of the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest, Maayan Koschitzky, a man making some of the most elegant and ageable new reds in California, admitted, “I didn’t know a lot about American wine.”

Twenty years ago, the son of a peach and pomegranate farmer was just starting out in the industry, a mechanical engineer interning in the vineyards of a winery in Israel’s Judean Hills. He didn’t know about Oregon’s Willamette or Virginia’s Blue Ridge or New York’s Finger Lakes, “but I definitely knew about Napa Valley.”

Everyone knows Napa Valley, the lodestar of American winemaking. From marine-influenced Carneros to the sunbaked slopes of Howell Mountain, the land here is fertile in both the pedological, or soil-related, sense and the financial sense. It is the birthplace of revered brands like Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate, and it remains the epicenter of the California cult-wine phenomenon. But, according to Koschitzky, the director of winemaking for Napa legend Philippe Melka’s consultancy, Atelier Melka, the cult-wine mentality has shifted in recent years away from vanity and passion projects and toward t’s crossed, i’s dotted businesses with a capital B. “People are really invested into making some of the best-class wines in the world, in one of the top places in the world,” he said. “And if they’re going to do that, they might as well do it right from the beginning.”

For ambitious, exclusive new labels like Sign of the Dove, Kingsmark, and Menagerie, all the ingredients are here in Napa: Impeccable fruit from heritage AVAs? Check.

A sterling international reputation to leverage? Check.

Talent in the tanks? Perhaps the biggest check of all.

Menagerie’s managing partners, Ricky and Lisa Novak, recruited Rob Mondavi Jr. to the brand and enlisted Atelier Melka to lead the winemaking. You don’t hire people like that without capital, but the relationship isn’t merely transactional. “I like to say naively that as much as the clients interview us, we interview them,” explained Koschitzky, who is in development with about 20 brands around the world, in addition to producing his own label, La Pelle. “The process of making wine together, it’s very emotional.”

The zoologically themed Menagerie is launching its inaugural vintage, the 2019, in November with a pair of compelling reds: Conspiracy of Lemurs, a Cabernet Sauvignon–Petit Verdot blend; and Shadow of Jaguars, a magnetic Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Cabernet Franc. Made from grapes grown on Napa’s Oakville hillside appellation, the wines possess a quality and ageability— coupled with an extremely limited production (98 cases of the former, 94 of the latter)—that could very well lead to cult status. Adding to the allure for collectors, of course, are the all-star team behind the wines and the hallowed ground from which they come.

Wines to Watch

Every Napa Valley cult wine started somewhere. These three new entries on the scene are poised to find a place in prominent cellars worldwide.

2 1

1. Menagerie

Count Napa Valley icons Rob Mondavi Jr. and Philippe Melka among the contributors to this boutique collection. The ���� vintage includes a voluptuous Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (Shadow of Jaguars) and a rye cask–finished Napa red blend (Conspiracy of Lemurs, pictured right), with notes of plum and toasted coconut. The animal branding isn’t just clever; a portion of the wines’ price ($�,��� per three-count box) benefits wildlife conservation. lovemenagerie.com

2. Sign of the Dove

Sonoma winemaker Jesse Katz (Devil Proof, Aperture) headed to Napa for this new project from father and son Marc and Jake Taub. For the debut ���� vintage, the team sourced grapes from the best blocks of Beckstoffer vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville and crafted each ��� percent Cabernet Sauvignon to reflect the respective terroir of each site. After making the rounds in private tasting rooms around the country, the collectible Cabs hit the direct-toconsumer market in three-packs in September for $���. signofthedove.com

3. Kingsmark

Whitney Skibell, niece of Napa wine and hospitality legend Leslie Rudd, recently launched this kosher luxury label with a blockbuster ���� Cabernet Sauvignon. Clocking nearly �� percent alcohol, it’s a powerhouse that expresses surprising finesse under the direction of Atelier Melka. With its gold-embossed label and collector’s-box packaging, the $��� bottle also looks the part. kingsmarkwines.com

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OFF-SLOPE ADVENTURES Not everyone gets their cold-weather thrills from skiing or snowboarding. For the non-downhillers out there—or those of us looking to take a break from the lifts—we present six adrenalineinducing alternatives for a fun-filled winter season.

by GINA DECAPRIO VERCESI

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Dog Days in Alaska

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Powdery Paths in Hokkaido

Skiers dream about the waist-high piles of light, dry snow in the mountains of Niseko and Furano, but the legendary “Japow” of Hokkaido blankets the island’s eastern region as well. Head into the depths on Walk Japan’s Hokkaido Snow Tour, an eight-day snowshoe adventure through the dramatic flatlands and coastal cliffs characteristic of less-trodden locales like Kushiro, Nemuro, and the Shiretoko Peninsula. Days are spent searching the frozen wetlands of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park for protected red-crowned cranes, visiting small fishing villages that edge the Pacific, and trekking along the snowy rim of the Mashu Caldera. In the evenings, settle in at inviting inns, several with traditional onsen hot-spring baths. A warm soak, followed by a cold Sapporo beer and a steaming bowl of ramen, is the ultimate, Japanesestyle après.

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Few winter adventures are as exhilarating as careening through the snow behind a team of mighty Alaskan huskies. For millennia, dogsledding was a means of survival for the nomadic peoples living in the northern polar region. Today, it’s Alaska’s official sport. Go behind the scenes with six-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey of AK Sled Dog Tours. Seavey has teamed up with Alyeska Resort near Anchorage to offer mini expeditions designed to give aspiring mushers a feel for the famous race. Start by learning the basics of braking and turning before hitting the snowy trails on Seavey’s Talkeetna property with your own canine team. After a thrilling 45-minute mush, you’ll get the chance to meet some race-winning dogs and play with the pups destined to become nextgeneration Iditarod champs. Back at the resort, you can warm up at Alyeska Nordic Spa, a 50,000-square-foot sanctuary in the forested foothills of the Chugach Mountains.

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Frozen Falls in Banff

From easy-access canyons to towering frozen waterfalls, some of the most epic ice climbing can be found between Kananaskis and Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. Stay in the heart of the action at the Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff ’s legendary “Castle in the Rockies.” The hotel partners with Rockies Ice and Alpine Specialists, a local outfitter that offers both introductory lessons and challenging multi-pitch ascents. First-time climbers can get acclimated at the Junkyards, a local favorite that’s home to beginnerfriendly ice alongside a more demanding section known as Scottish Gully. Once you get into the swing of things, head to Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park. A short hike along steel catwalks leads you to an array of icy waterfalls, from a low-angle flow surrounded by massive, milky-blue icicles to an advanced upper fall with a sparkling array of steep pillars.

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Fly High in Big Sky

Picture this: You’re on a solitary river, with bluebird skies, snow-laden fir trees, and plenty of fat, healthy trout. That’s what winter fly-fishing looks like in Big Sky, Montana, where you can base yourself at the historic Lone Mountain Ranch. The Orvisendorsed homestead resort on 148 acres of wilderness partners with the seasoned casters from Gallatin River Guides to offer winter walking and wading trips on the Gallatin and Madison rivers, two of the most celebrated fisheries in the West. Not surprisingly, the conditions can be challenging—and the casting technical—but anglers can expect superb nymph fishing and deep pockets of springwarmed water where trout gather in the winter to conserve energy. Après-fishing evenings at Lone Mountain Ranch are well spent sipping rare whiskies and tucking into grilled bison tournedos at the Auric Room, the ranch’s chic new speakeasy meets supper club.

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6 Gliding through the Dolomites

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A dozen linked areas, 450 lifts, and nearly 30,000 acres of terrain make Dolomiti Superski the world’s largest interconnected ski resort. Lesser known about the Italian region’s alpine thrills are the truly spectacular Nordic trails that wind through the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bespoke adventure travel company Dolomite Mountains offers multiday tours on select portions of the area’s 560-mile cross-country network. Trips begin in Alta Badia in the Val Badia valley, where you’ll glide through the frosted foothills of the Conturines, Lavarella, and Settsass mountains before moving on to swank Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Pearl of the Dolomites.” Spend a day skiing along the Ferrovia delle Dolomiti, a former railway line that meanders for 15 miles between Cortina and Dobbiaco. For a more challenging course, experts can hit the Tre Croci Pass, home to some of the most technical routes in the region.

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Sledding in the Swiss Alps

The snowcapped peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau create a magnificent backdrop for what has long been a cherished pastime in Switzerland’s Jungfrau region: sledding.

Jungfrau’s three ski resorts host more than two dozen sled routes, from the Eiger Run—a thrilling, four-stage snow safari that lights up at night—to Big Pintenfritz, which, at 9.5 miles, ranks as the planet’s longest toboggan trail. The storybook village of Grindelwald makes a perfect home base for your mountain adventures. Take the gondola to the Grindelwald First summit, where a short hike leads you to the start of the uber-panoramic First-Waldspitz-Bort sledding run. Fly down a groomed trail through a spectacular alpine landscape before taking a break to sip a Swiss lager on the deck at Gasthaus Waldspitz. Afterward, if the conditions are right, you can slide all the way back to town.

SEALINER CHRONOGRAPH SEALINER CHRONOGRAPH

In a against race against time, whereevery every second second pulsates to the rhythm of wind and waves In a race time, where pulsates to the rhythm of wind and waves cvstos.com - Rue Voltaire 3/5, 1201 Genève cvstos.com - Rue Voltaire 3/5, 1201 Genève

LIFE & ST YLE | VACAT I O N H O M E S

Base in the BAHAMAS Accessible and paradisiacal, Bahamian private resort communities have become an increasingly attractive option for golfers.

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ccording to a report from mydolcecasa .com, web searches by Americans who are in the market for a Bahamian vacation home increased by almost 30 percent in 2023, and interest remains high. Yes, the Bahamas is hot.

The archipelago’s attraction is understandable. With direct flights from several hubs on the East Coast—and new routes from Los Angeles and other cities—the nation of some 700 islands and cays is easy to reach yet seems worlds away. Its welcoming people, turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, fishing, diving, and myriad other pursuits have made it a popular vacation destination for decades. In recent years, thanks in part to an expanding portfolio of private resort communities, the Bahamas has also become a more attractive option for second-home buyers.

The islands’ top luxury resort communities offer a wide selection of residences—from condos to sprawling estate homes—as well as beach clubs, restaurants, and, as demonstrated by the five examples highlighted here, exceptional golf courses. —david desmith

Albany

Located on New Providence Island near the capital, Nassau, Albany is a world unto itself. The 600-acre oceanfront development has just about everything an island dweller could want, including an engaging Ernie Els–designed golf course that is home to the annual Hero World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods. Ownership options range from spacious villas to luxury flats overlooking the marina to custom estate homes limited only by your imagination.

The Ocean Club

Just over the bridge from Nassau on Paradise Island, the Ocean Club is home to a Four Seasons resort that’s been a playground for discerning travelers since the 1960s. James Bond bivouacked here in Casino Royale, though he was working more than playing.

The golf course, redesigned by Tom Weiskopf, serves up ocean views galore. The elegant Four Seasons residences, spread over a series of contemporary oceanfront buildings, offer privacy and expectedly high service levels.

Baker’s Bay

A private Discovery Land Company club on Great Guana Cay, Baker’s Bay was hit hard by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The Discovery resort community not only has come back strong, but also has helped fund the rebuilding of nearby homes, schools, and medical facilities. At Baker’s Bay, members are once again enjoying its 6.5 miles of beach, Tom Fazio–designed golf course, spa and wellness facilities, and other club activities and amenities.

Residential options include oceanfront estate homes, village flats, and townhomes, including listings in the Marina Village, where your boat slip is just steps from your door.

The Abaco Club

In the Out Islands, the Abaco Club makes the most of its location on peaceful Great Abaco. Far from the bustle of Nassau, it’s a private, gated oasis with two miles of powder-soft beach, all manner of water sports, and a links-style layout that hosts a Korn Ferry Tour event and is the home course of PGA Tour pro Darren Clarke. Like Baker’s Bay, the Abaco Club raised significant funds following Hurricane Dorian, which included the donation of a mobile medical unit to Great Abaco. Real estate options at the club include oceanfront estate homes, ocean-view cottages, and villas and flats just steps from the beach.

Jack’s Bay

Set along the southeastern shore of Eleuthera Island, on 1,200 private acres with miles of pink-sand beaches, Jack’s Bay is making headlines for its golf amenities under construction: a Jack Nicklaus–designed championship layout slated to open in 2026, and a 10-hole short course—the handiwork of Tiger Woods— expected to welcome play in early 2025. Real estate options at the residential community include fully furnished four- or six-bedroom cottages, as well as townhomes with two or three bedrooms and villas with four or five bedrooms.

Clockwise from top left: The Ocean Club, Baker’s Bay, the marina at Albany, an estate home at the Abaco Club, and Jack’s Bay.

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PA RT N E R S P O T L I G H T

THE CLUB COLLECTION

WINTER EDITION

VALHALLA:

Valhalla provides a championship stage for Kingdom’s Club our members to experience Collection highlights golf at its finest. premier golf courses,

resorts, and communities that belong on every golfer’s must-visit list.

Landmand Golf Club

LANDMAND GOLF CLUB Big dreams are paying huge dividends in northeast Nebraska.

“If you build it, they will come.” The mantra spoken by a mysterious voice in the film Field of Dreams prompts an Iowa farmer to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. Decades after the movie’s 1989 release, in neighboring Nebraska, a similar sentiment was applied to golf, but this time in real life.

Designed by Rob Collins and Tad King, Landmand Golf Club opened in 2022 on the Andersen family farm in Dakota County—and word spread fast. A year ago, when tee-time bookings opened for 2024, all 11,000 slots sold out within three hours.

They built the course, and the golfers came.

Landmand is Danish for “farmer,” and Karl Andersen established the family farm at this site after arriving from Denmark in 1913. Set above the Missouri River channel, the 7,200-yard Landmand course now covers 600 acres of the terrain. The fairways are wide, the bunkers are broad, and the greens are vast.

(The 18 greens alone cover six acres.)

“The land was just on another level,” Collins says.

“Everything was magnified: the views, the contours, the boldness, and above all else, the potential. It was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time.”

FIELDS RANCH EAST Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner’s latest original championship design is made for both majors and a casual round.

Fields Ranch East debuted just in time to host the first of its six secured majors, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, in 2023. The Frisco, Texas, course’s wide fairways, thin stretches of rough, and diversely sized, undulating putting surfaces were all primed for play from day one. Since then, everyone who has teed it up at Fields Ranch East has quickly discovered that the generous width of the fairways is, in some ways, an illusion.

Sure, you can miss your line by dozens of yards off the tee and still be in the short grass, but from that vantage point you won’t be able to attack the green. As Hanse noted around the time of the course’s grand opening, he set out with that strategy in mind. “The level of precision needed to play the golf course—literally to just go out and play—should be fairly low,” he said. “But the level of precision required to score should be off the charts, especially if you’re trying to challenge the best players in the world.”

The world’s top women golfers will be the next wave of professionals to face those challenges, when the 7,863-yard venue hosts the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.

T H E C LU B C O L L E C T I O N

WINTER EDITION

JACK’S BAY CLUB One of the most talked about new clubs in the Caribbean introduces new residences that overlook a Tiger Woods– designed course and the Atlantic Ocean.

Set along the southeastern shore of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, the 1,200-acre private residential community known as Jack’s Bay is a slice of paradise for homeowners and their guests. The setting—on four miles of pristine pink-sand beach—certainly lends itself to such an end, and now, with the impending debut of the Atlantic Club and the Playground Residences, paradise will soon be in play.

First up at Jack’s Bay is a private beach club, which will have its grand opening in the first quarter of 2025.

The heartbeat of the community, the Atlantic Club, will be home to racquet courts, a destination spa and wellness center, a beachside restaurant, and more.

On the golf front, Jack’s Bay will be the first-ever property to boast courses designed by both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Woods’s 10-hole Playground Course is slated to open in early 2025, while the Nicklaus Heritage course is scheduled for a grand opening the following year.

Adding to its enticements for golfers, Jack’s Bay recently debuted its latest real estate offering, the Playground Residences. Positioned adjacent to the short course, which plays entirely along the ocean cliffside, these

homes overlook the Atlantic Ocean and celebrate the easygoing, playful spirit of Eleuthera—where luxury and leisure blend seamlessly.

The Playground Residences enclave has just 23 of the two-, three-, and four-bedroom “turnkey” cottage-style homes, all with private pools and rooftop terraces. Each Playground Residence has been crafted to the height of barefoot luxury living, with an eye to perfecting simple pleasures—the angle of the light in the morning, the inviting nooks for relaxing with a book as day turns into evening, the sound of the ocean slipping through an open window at night.

In addition to world-class golf, Jack’s Bay offers endless exploration opportunities in the property’s hidden caves, blue holes, private meditation lake, natural coral reefs, sea turtle sanctuary, and two private islands.

Jack’s Bay’s natural wonders are complemented by five-star amenities and culinary offerings, all delivered with signature beachy Bahamian spirit.

Residents of Jack’s Bay Club join an elite, multigenerational membership that offers a full range of captivating family experiences that typical beachfront resorts cannot provide. Paradise, indeed.

Arnold Palmer could have lived anywhere, but he chose to stay—and to raise his family—in his hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. His father, Deacon, helped to build Latrobe Country Club, and it was here where Arnie shaped his love of golf and of people, where his character was built and where he launched a life and legacy that inspired an Army of fans around the world.

The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation is mustering Arnie’s Army to preserve Latrobe’s role in inspiring dreams, building character and leading the game of golf forward. We owe it to Arnie’s legacy to share Latrobe with the world.

SincerelyArnoldPalmer.org

“Your hometown is not where you’re from; it’s who you are.”

— ARNOLD PALMER

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF GOLF. In the tapestry of American resilience, Folds of Honor stands as a beacon of hope, providing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. In response to this growing need, we have introduced Folds of Honor Friday—a powerful collaboration with select PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour events. This initiative is more than just a day; it’s a celebration of our freedoms, a tribute to those who serve, and a lifeline for families who deserve our support.

Folds of Honor Friday transforms tournament grounds into a sea of red, white and blue, creating an electrifying atmosphere that resonates with fans and sponsors alike. It’s an opportunity to come together as one with a greater purpose. Fans in attendance are encouraged to wear red, white and blue as an outward display of unity and an inward commitment to meeting sacrifice with hope for America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders.

JOIN US. FOLDS OF HONOR FRIDAY STANDING WITH BROAD STRIPES & BRIGHT STARS

LEARN MORE VISIT FOLDSOFHONORFRIDAY.COM

KINGDOM CLUBHOUSE Publisher’s picks and other staff favorites for the holidays, whether as gifts for friends and family—or for ourselves.

SQUIRE SELECT

The Enza Washable Cashmere Hoodie from A. Putnam is elegant yet practical, the shape of simple sophistication. Sharing it here is like shouting out a special secret! Made from a lightweight knit that works all year round, the Enza comes in cream, black, or blue.

—EMILY POPPERT

I was recently invited to play the Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle, and this is one of the few invites for which I will drop pretty much anything to accept. Hidden in the stunning Northern Highlands, it is probably Scotland’s best-kept secret, and members at Skibo might wish to keep it that way! Andrew Carnegie, one of the great philanthropists, came to Skibo in 1898 and transformed the estate into what he rightly called “Heaven on Earth.”

This 8,000-acre estate offers a complete escape, with superb accommodation, exceptional dining, world-class golf, and an array of other activities. —MATTHEW SQUIRE

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The whole Kingdom staff was sold on Hubs peanuts a long time ago. We each have our favorites, which vary, but when it comes to the holidays, there is no debate: the Hubs Choco Covered Peanuts are the lap of luxury. They are only available from November through March, so stock up.

—JON EDWARDS

The fabulous ���� vintage benefited from a long summer and warm fall in the Napa Valley, as evidenced by the hand-crafted Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.

Aged for �� months in French-oak barrels, this is a full-bodied Cabernet bursting with flavor. —J.E.

When I’m seeking a truly immersive listening experience, the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones deliver. More specifically, they produce crisp, high-resolution sound— thanks to titanium drivers—and they’re equipped with advanced noise-cancellation technology that’s paired to a haptic dial.

It’s the ultimate listening arrangement.

—SHAUN TOLSON

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SQUIRE SELECT

The second release in the Collector Series by Dewar’s isn’t simply a modest evolution from the first: Dewar’s Double Double �� Year Old is a distinctive whisky in its own right.

It begins with a blend of ��-year-old single malts sourced from Islay and the Highlands.

A measure of the distillery’s Double Double �� Year Old was added, and the blend was finished in second-fill Pedro Ximénez casks, which previously held Royal Brackla single malt. The result is a sophisticated blended whisky with a deep amber color. It balances rich flavors of stewed fruits and creamy vanilla with wisps of smoke and dark chocolate that linger on the finish. As the holidays approach, this is the whisky I’m pouring for the people I love (as long as they share an appreciation for exceptional Scotch). —M.S.

For lovers of Italian automobiles, all roads will lead to Rome this spring. The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma, taking place April 24 to 27 at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi hotel, will feature VIP culinary events and a formidable lineup of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, and other magnificent marques, displayed in all their glory on the city’s Piazza della Repubblica.

—BRUCE WALLIN

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The Caymus Vineyards 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon is a California classic, and this exceptional and rich 2022 vintage is made from vine to bottle in the Napa Valley.

Caymus Vineyards is a family business that began in 1972, and it remains 100 percent familyowned to this day. —J.E.

SQUIRE SELECT

The Holderness & Bourne Berwick Sweater is made from three-ply, 100 percent Scottish cashmere, and made in one of the world’s oldest cashmere mills, also in Scotland. The classic crewneck sweater comes in five refined autumnal colors. —M.S.

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SQUIRE SELECT

One of Daphne’s Animal Headcovers will enliven any Christmas stocking. I know this from first-hand experience! They are also made with genuine care and attention, which is why they come with a lifetime guarantee.

They can also be personalized.

—J.E.

Duca del Cosma ensured that this year’s Kingdom Cup had a strong foothold in European sophistication. I discovered this brand when I visited Marco Simone Golf Club—host venue of the ���� Ryder Cup. Handcrafted in Italy, Duca del Cosma has spent �� years perfecting golf shoes that not only perform well in all conditions but look great on and off the golf course. For the holiday season, my style of choice is the Duca del Cosma Davanti – Marina, a lightweight, waterproof shoe that offers exceptional grip. —M.S.

The retro and official Penfold Ryder Cup ���� Ball Markers are available in colors for the U.S. and Europe, and feature the actual logo from ����. They commemorate the year that both the company and the Ryder Cup were inaugurated. The ���� event was held at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, when a U.S. team led by Walter Hagan triumphed by a score of � ½ to � ½. —ROBIN BARWICK

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For the gift of a lifetime, give Kensington Tours a call.

They can arrange the ultimate golf tour to the destination of your choice—it could be Ireland, bringing in Royal County Down and Royal Portrush, and then sweeping down to Dublin. —J.E.

Royal County Down

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The quilted Antigua Experience Full-Zip Vest for women is perfect when you need to layer up and take down the evening chill.

The vest features elastic binding at the helm and interior lining, for snug comfort. —MORGAN BARBAY

The Penfolds Bin ��� California Cabernet Shiraz is wine born in Californian soil, from cuttings imported from Penfolds’ mother vines of South Australia. This is a beautiful Australianstyle Cabernet-Shiraz red blend—one of six wines in Penfolds’ California Collection, which premiered in ����. —DAVID VAN SICKLEN

For short and long getaways, I always take Vessel’s Signature Boston Bag. It’s chic, and I love all the pockets and compartments—they make packing really easy and organized! —E.P.

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This would not be Kingdom magazine if we didn’t offer the finest Arnold Palmer–themed gifts.

Here’s a real stunner: the limited-edition Parker Arnold Palmer Signature Collection gift box.

The Parker Duofold fountain pen—adorned with Palmer’s signature—comes in a wooden box with a ball marker, the edition number printed on a metal plate, and retro-style Palmer sports cards.

A timeless tribute to the man who never tired from signing his autograph. —R.B.

Evan Schiller’s Golfshots ���� calendar is going up in my office. We work with Evan at Kingdom magazine a lot, mainly because his photographic artistry stops us in our tracks.

As art director, I really value a photographer who makes my job easier! —MATTHEW HALNAN

Laser-measured for the perfect fit, the heavy-duty WeatherTech FloorLiner HP is key to protecting my car interior from wear, tear, water, and dirt— particularly in festive weather!

The FloorLiners protect the floor and sides of footwells, which makes a big difference. —D.V.S.

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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

SCORECARD

LITHIUM SUPERPOWER Can sustainable practices in golf help save the environment and save money?

Consider this switch from Mickelson National Golf Club, just west of Calgary, which replaced its fleet of 72 gas-powered carts with 72 E-Z-GO RXV carts powered by lithium batteries.

4,750

Gallons of fuel Mickelson National saved over the course of a year.

24,000 Amount, in Canadian dollars, the club saved in fuel costs.

ZERO

Lithium-powered carts release zero emissions.

Multiply that by 72, and that’s, wait, still zero emissions.

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The lifespan of lithium batteries can be five times as long as that of lead-acid batteries.

Mickelson National saved on servicing as well, as lithium-powered carts require much less oil, no filter changes, and no spark plug changes.

The carts also operate in near silence, reducing noise pollution and helping to create a better environment for wildlife and human life.

That’s a green star—and a significant savings—for Mickelson National.

Figures courtesy of GEO Foundation, a nonprofit organization accelerating sustainability in golf.

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Stay a step ahead of change with Insperity How do you stay compliant, competitive and prepared for the future in uncertain times?

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