Golf Vacations Magazine January 2012

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fourth night free!Play Porto Cima by Jack Nicklaus - The Cove by Robert Trent Jones Sr. - The Ridge by Ken Kavanaugh

Enjoy three nights lodging and three rounds of golf at Missouri’s # 1 course and we’ll add the

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Have fun and feel special, with this exclusive o�er to play Porto Cima, designed by Jack Nicklaus. Only Club members, and guest of The Lodge of Four Seasons, have exclusive privileges to play the #1 golf course in Missouri as voted by the members of the Missouri Golf Association. Also included in your golf vacation, the legendary signature course at The COVE, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and The RIDGE course designed by Ken Kavanaugh. These are the three courses of THE LODGE – membership and guests have privileges. This three course package turns into a fourth night of free accommodations at THE LODGE…to rest, relax and celebrate.

Click here to go to www.4seasonsresort.com/packages_golf.php

Congratulations to The Club at Porto Cima - MGA’s #1 Golf Course for 2010!

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contents I january 2012

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9 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel

13 DestinationsYour Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

28 Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross

Everyday Golfer Guide, Tour Edge XCG5, Fourteen Golf

30 World Beat by Lyndsie Bourgnon

Cuba Gearing Up For Golf In Its Future

d e p a r t m e n t s

on the cover: The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples, Florida

A Scottish Golf Journeyby Andrew Marshall

It’s a claim that’s often made – Machrihanish Golf Club situatedmiles from anywhere on the craggy west coast of the KintyrePeninsula has the best opening hole in Scottish golf.

Frugal Fairways Of Montanaby James McAfee

While golf might not be your first choice when planning a trip toGreat Falls and North Central Montana, known in some circles asRussell Country, named for cowboy artist Charlie Russell, I found ona recent trip that you do some have viable options to get out on thelinks if you find the time.

Quail Lodge: Golden Golf Destinationby Andy Reistetter

After spending some time in the Monterrey Peninsula area, whatcould be more relaxing or fun? Taking a short drive down CarmelValley Road to Quail Lodge.

c o v e r s t o r i e s

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6 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 www.golfvacationsmag.com

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Executive EditorJeffrey Diaz

Associate EditorTerry Ross

Features EditorLarry Feldman

Senior WritersTom LaMarreFred Robledo

For Editorial:

call: (760) 774-2655 e-mail: [email protected]

Regional Advertising

Los Angeles • 949-279-7801Terry Ross - [email protected]

Atlanta • 770-239-7500Harold Chambliss - [email protected]

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Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz

777 E. Atlantic Avenue, Suite C2-151Delray Beach, Florida 33483-5360

760 . 744 . 2655

and

Destiny Media, LLC

President/CEOJames A. Diaz

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

Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2012 SportsMedia Publications, all rights reserved and

may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

SportsMediapublications


Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Spotter, Research and BroadcastAssistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. He spends time on all four majorAmerican golf tours and resides near the PGA TOUR headquarters and TPC Sawgrassin Ponte Vedra Beach. Andy is a lifetime golfer and enjoys volunteering at the WorldGolf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf.He can be reached by e-mailing him at [email protected].

Andy Marshall Born in England, Andy has been a professional freelance travel writerfor the past 20 years. During that time, he has travelled to over 50 countries includingSri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Barbados, Panama and Indonesia to cover a diverse rangeof travel-related features for various magazines around the world. He regularly workswith his professional photographer brother Paul on different projects particularly golf,food and drinks features. Visit his work at www.bogey.se

James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was exec-utive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 17 years and executive director of theDallas District Golf Association for eight years. With editor stints at Golf ShopOperations, Golf Digest and Texas Golfer Magzaine he is currently the director of com-munications for GolfDFW.com. He has been a member of the Golf Writers of Americafor 37 years and was one of the founders for the Texas Golf Writers Association. Playingthe game for 56 years he was recently named to the U.S. Amateur Golf Hall of Fame.

Terry Ross has covered sports as both a print and radio journalist for more than 35years, and also has served as a consultant to the golf industry in a variety of capaci-ties. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and is basedin Orange County, California.

GOLF JOURNEYS & CULTURE

by Andrew Marshallphotography Paul Marshall

Download the new e-book and audio book:

Golf Journeys & Culture

www.golfjourneys.net

Author:Andrew Marshall

“A must read for everygonzo golf adventurer.”

JD Latorre, Golf Vacations Magazine

Photography:Andrew

Marshall

WESTIN LAUNCHES 172-ROOMABU DHABI GOLF RESORT & SPA

ABU DHABI, UAE - StarwoodHotels & Resorts Worldwide announcedthe debut of The Westin Abu Dhabi GolfResort & Spa. Owned by the TourismDevelopment & Investment Company –the leading developer of cultural, residen-tial and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi– The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort &Spa marks the launch of the Westin brandin the emirate. The hotel features 172 pre-mium guest rooms, several restaurants andlounges, a Heavenly Spa® by Westin andstate-of-the-art meeting facilities.

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort &Spa boasts a prime location along the fair-ways of the championship Abu Dhabi GolfCourse, which underwent extensiveupgrades in January 2011 and is managedby Troon Golf. Additionally, the Westin isthe only hotel in Abu Dhabi to offersweeping views of the putting green fromall guest rooms. Close to the heart of downtown, the newly constructed hotel is just aten-minute drive from the exhibition cen-ter and 20 minutes from the Corniche.

Roeland Vos, President, StarwoodHotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, andMiddle East comments: “We are excited tointroduce the Westin brand in Abu Dhabiin association with the TourismDevelopment & Investment Company andwith this opening, we hope to elevate the

emirate’s position as a leading tourism des-tination in the region. We believe that thehotel will be a leading wellness retreat inAbu Dhabi’s emerging centre.”

“Westin is enjoying phenomenal inter-national growth, fueled by the success ofour distinctive positioning,” said BrianPovinelli, global brand leader for WestinHotels & Resorts. “We are proud to openthis new hotel in Abu Dhabi, where weoffer a respite from the rigors of travel withthe help of our signature brand amenities,designed to send travelers home feelingbetter than when they arrived.”

“This is a momentous year for TDIC aswe are achieving a number of significantdelivery milestones, of which the WestinAbu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa is one,” saidAli Al Hammadi, Executive Director ofProject Services at TDIC. “We are delight-ed to collaborate with Starwood, withwhom we are working very closely to buildthis landmark destination, and we arelooking forward to a successful launch.”

Upon entering the lobby, guests willbegin to breathe more easily as they aregreeted with soothing elements likerelaxed lighting, natural botanical beautyand stimulating music. The WestinHeavenly Spa consists of six treatmentrooms and an outdoor relaxation area in atranquil garden setting. Guests can experi-ence a range of Heavenly packages andspecially-developed treatments targeted at

golfers such as the “Golfer’s Recovery.”Other signature Westin amenities

include the brand’s SuperfoodsRX menudesigned to treat guests to exceptional foodcombinations rich in nutrients and antioxi-dants. Guests can also choose from 10 vari-eties of JING tea with recommendationsfrom a tea sommelier at “The Lounge,”where they can enjoy sweeping views of thegolf course. Other dining options include anall-day dining restaurant “Fairways,” aMoroccan restaurant “Agadir,” as well as anEnglish-style bar, poolside restaurant and barand cocktail lounge. The hotel also offersextensive meeting facilities comprised ofthree ballrooms, a conference center, boardrooms, and a business center, as well as andcatering for up to 400 people.

PRINCEVILLE'S PRINCE GOLFCOURSE SET TO REOPEN MARCH 1

PRINCEVILLE, KAUAI, HAWAII –Princeville’s Prince Golf Course hasannounced a new reopening date of March1, 2012—an adjustment from the previ-ously announced December date--to com-plete some additional refurbishments tothe course and clubhouse. The Prince,ranked as one of the Top 100 courses inthe United States, has been closed sincelast January for this extensive facelift.

“We are excited about the refinedimprovements to the entire facility, whichwill elevate the golf experience for ourguests,” says Mark Scheibach, VicePresident of Golf Development forHeritage Links. “We have decided toallow more time to undertake a more thor-ough renovation of the clubhouse, developa new ultimate driving range, extend thenew turf grow-in period, and provide up-training for staff to deliver a higher level ofcustomer service. We look forward tounveiling the Prince on March 1 as aworld-class course with five-star service.”

The Prince has been closed for anextensive renovation project, includingcomplete reconstruction of putting greenswith SeaDwarf Seashore Paspalum turfand sub-surface material to meet modernUSGA specifications; remodeling ofbunkers to improve drainage, playability,visibility, and strategic value; clearing offairways, stream edges, and visual impedi-ments surrounding holes that haveencroached upon the design intent of thecourse over the years; widening of fair-

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GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 9www.golfvacationsmag.com

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa recently welcomed golfing legend Colin Montgomerie. The Ryder Cup winning captain was spotted teeing off one of Westin's signature Heavenly Beds

Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsways; reshaping of greens while recaptur-ing hole locations that were lost due togreen surfaces shrinking; tee leveling andaddition of new tees for added shot valueand variety; and improvements to ensurethe course will be consistently maintainedin superb condition.

The 13-acre driving range and practicefacility is also undergoing a creative reno-vation and expansion. The entrance to thecourse will be updated with new featuresand landscaping, and the spectacular60,000-square-foot Prince clubhouse willbe refurbished, including creation of golf-specific locker rooms and a newlydesigned golf shop.

Heritage Links is managing the courserenovation work and will manage golf andclub operations when the course reopens.The award-winning firm of Robert TrentJones II, Golf Course Architects (RTJ II)is serving as lead architect on the projectunder the direction of Chairman andMaster Architect Robert Trent Jones,Jr., who designed the Prince Course,which was completed in 1990.

“We are very excited about the ongoingimprovements at the course that will fur-ther elevate the Prince’s continual position

in America’s Top 100 golf courses,” notesJones. “We trust all golfers will appreciatethese adjustments, and we invite you inMarch to come experience for yourselveswhat happens when Mother Nature andgreat golf coexist so beautifully.”

For more information on the PrinceCourse, call toll-free 1-800-826-1105,direct (808) 826-5001, or visitwww.princeville.com.

THE GOLFER’S DIET: A DAILYPLAN FOR PAR PERFORMANCE

NEW YORK, NY - For golfers strug-gling to figure out how to improve theirgame, the answer might be a new dietrather than a new set of clubs. In his newbook, The Golfer’s Diet (DiversionBooks; $4.99; ebook), sports writer ScottKramer shares his expert knowledge ofhow nutrition can greatly affect a player'sperformance on the golf course. Thishow-to nutrition guide will help playerslearn in general terms what kinds offoods to eat before, during and after around of golf to help achieve their peakperformance.

Kramer explains why the most popularfood items at golf courses are often the

worst ones for your golfgame, and outlines whathealthier choices to substi-tute in their place. PGA andLPGA Tour pros tell first-hand what they eat, whenthey eat it, and what foods

they avoid to help take their game to thenext level. After reading this book, playerswill know how to fuel their bodies, havemore energy, less sluggishness, and fewerjitters throughout their golf round.

About Scott KramerScott Kramer is a veteran golf writer

based in the golf equipment capital ofCarlsbad, California. In his 20-plusyears covering the golf industry, the for-mer senior editor of Golf Magazine haslowered his playing index to 5.1, raised hisIQ on the sophisticated technology used tomake golf equipment, and stayed evenkeel on his propensity to miss short putts.But he always brings game to his columns,which appear in various national and inter-national consumer and trade magazines, aswell as in countless websites. His expertknowledge on the science behind the sportwill help players at all levels improve theirgame through proper nutrition.


Princeville’s Prince Course

'BUNKERS AND BEACHES' AT THERITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND

AMELIA ISLAND, FL – With an 18-hole golf course renowned for its immacu-late year-round condition, and with a loca-tion on a grand 13-mile stretch of pristinecoastline in northeast Florida, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is beckoninggolfers with an attractive stay-and-playpackage that is available for booking now.

Starting at $499 per room per nightand available through Aug. 30, 2012, TheRitz-Carlton, Amelia Island’s “Beachesand Bunkers” package includes:

• Up to two rounds of golf at the GolfClub of Amelia Island (either two roundsfor one person or one round each for twopeople; green fees and shared golf cart)

• Overnight accommodations at TheRitz-Carlton, Amelia Island, recentlyranked among Forbes Travel Guide’sfour-star hotels

• Breakfast for two in Cafe 4750, orin-room dining

• Complimentary beach umbrella service

Honored by Condé Nast Traveleramong its Top 100 Golf Resorts, the GolfClub of Amelia Island is directly adjacentto The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island,which is located on a barrier island offFlorida’s northeast coast. The 18-holecourse, designed by PGA Tour legendsMark McCumber and Gene Littler, ischallenging, yet forgiving, and with ever-shifting ocean breezes no two roundsseem the same.

The Golf Club of Amelia Island also ishome to the Anne Cain Golf Academy,renowned for its personal attention fromLPGA instructor Cain, a Golf Magazine

Top 100 Teacher, whose innovative tech-niques lead to rapid improvement.

To book the Beaches and Bunkerspackage, or for more information call(904) 277-1100 or visitwww.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.

‘BLACK DIAMOND EXPERIENCE”TEES UP STAY-AND-PLAY PACKAGES

LECANTO, FL – Black DiamondRanch – Florida’s No. 1 residential golfcommunity featuring 45 holes designed byTom Fazio – announced its “BlackDiamond Experience” stay-and-play pack-ages, granting golfers unprecedented accessto one of the U.S.’s premier private clubs.

For golfers who collect prestigiouscourses, the Pure Golf Getawayincludes two nights’ accommodations inone of Black Diamond Ranch’s homesand two rounds of golf on its celebratedtrinity of Fazio layouts; The Quarry,The Ranch and The Highlands. Thepackage begins at $399 per person, basedon quad-occupancy.

Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsRitz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsThe Couples Golf Getaway, for

those who want to experience the BlackDiamond Ranch lifestyle, begins at $699per couple. It also includes two nights’accommodations and two rounds of golf.

“The Black Diamond Experience stay-and-play packages are a unique opportu-nity for golf lovers to sample the qualityof life and membership programs thecommunity offers its residents,” saysDavid McDonald, president ofEscalante Golf, owner and operator ofBlack Diamond Ranch.

Opened in 1987, The Quarry has beenranked one of “America’s 100 GreatestCourses” by Golf Digest and among the“Top 100 Courses in the U.S.” by GolfMagazine. Forged through the cliffs andlakes of retired limestone quarries, itremains one of Fazio’s seminal works.

The Ranch, which members often citeas their favorite, places a premium onstrategy and has drawn comparisons toPine Valley. The Highlands is a stout 9-hole par-36 playing to almost 3,500 yards.It can be played in tandem with either ofThe Ranch’s nines.

Rates for both packages depend on sea-son and day of the week. Additional nights’

accommodations and golf can be pur-chased. Those interested can request aCommunity Specialist guided tour of BlackDiamond Ranch and meeting at its state-of-the-art Welcome Center (opening soon).

Located in bucolic Citrus County,Black Diamond Ranch is a 1.5 hour drivefrom Tampa International Airport (TPA)and Orlando International Airport (MCO),both of which feature direct service frommyriad markets in the U.S. and abroad.

For more information: www.blackdia-mondranch.com and www.escalantegolf.com

SECOND ANNUAL ARCHIE GRIFFINCELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC SET

SARASOTA, FL – ConcessionCharities, the charitable-giving organiza-tion of the renowned Concession GolfClub in Bradenton, FL, will be hostingthe second Archie Griffin CelebrityGolf Classic on March. 5-6, 2012.Proceeds will benefit The Boys and GirlsClubs of Sarasota County.

Golfers of all skill levels can join thefun. While mingling with two-timeHeisman Trophy-winner Archie Griffinand other sports celebrities, your four-some will experience an unforgettable 18

holes of golf on one of the most magnifi-cent private golf courses in the U.S.Among the celebrities participating arefamiliar Buckeyes such as Jim Jackson,Robert Smith and Eddie George.Other football players such asNdamukong Suh and Calvin Johnsonof the Detroit Lions will also play in thetournament. Three-time Grammy-nomi-nated and #1 Billboard Jazz Artist SkiJohnson will perform at The PairingsParty, Monday March 5.

Designed by Ohio State legend JackNicklaus in association with Tony Jacklin,the world-class Concession Golf Coursesnakes through 520 acres of ruggedly pris-tine land dotted with massive oaks andmajestic pines. With only a few rooflinesvisible from the course, the 7,470-yardConcession Golf Course offers firm and fastplaying conditions yet peaceful and naturalsurroundings. This 18-hole par 72 coursewas named “Best New Private Course of2006” by Golf Digest Magazine.

In addition to meeting Archie Griffinand other celebrities at the Golf ClassicTuesday, March 6, you can join them atthe Pairings Party, silent auction, dinner,and live auction that will be held at the


Black Diamond Ranch

elegant Concession Golf Club on Mondayevening, March 5.

Archie Griffin, President and CEO ofthe Ohio State Alumni Association and Sr.Vice President for Alumni Relations atOhio State, says, “I encourage OSU alumniand golf enthusiasts everywhere to join mefor what promises to be another exciting twodays of golf and camaraderie on one of themost spectacular courses I have ever played.The money raised during this event will help

provide daily programs andservices that promote positiveand healthy development tohundreds of young people inneed.”

Visit The ConcessionCharities website at www.con-cessioncharities.org for fulldetails on the schedule ofevents, other sponsors andsponsorship opportunities, andan updated list of sports celebri-ties you will meet at The ArchieGriffin Celebrity Sports Classic.

For more information, visit www.theconces-sion.com or call 941-322-1922.

KIAWAH ISLAND ANNOUNCES“GOLF OR GOURMET ESCAPE”

KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – KiawahIsland Golf Resort announced incrediblesavings on its special “Golf or GourmetEscape” packages from Jan. 2 to Feb.26, 2012.

These packages include accommoda-

tions in either its Forbes Five Star/AAAFive Diamond oceanfront hotel, TheSanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort,or the resort’s villa accommodations andtwo rounds of golf or two dinners fornon-golfers (or a round of golf and a din-ner) for savings up to 45%. A one-nightstay in the Sanctuary plus two rounds ofgolf on The Ocean Course or two din-ners at The Ocean Room or TheAtlantic Room is just $400. Villaaccommodations and two rounds on TheOcean Course is just $300. For non-golfers, the package includes accommo-dations and dinner in one of the resort’saward-winning restaurants at the sameastonishing low price.

The resort is offering four options, twowith golf on The Ocean Course or diningin The Ocean Room or Atlantic Room andtwo with golf on one of the resort’s otherchampionship courses or dining options.

For more information on the resort,visit www.kiawahresort.com


DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY

Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shots

http://www.morganrun.com

Islands and Highlands:14 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 www.golfvacationsmag.com

SCOTLAND by Andrew Marshall

It’s a claim that’s often made – Machrihanish GolfClub situated miles from anywhere on the craggywest coast of the Kintyre Peninsula has the best

opening hole in Scottish golf. With the Atlantic Oceanpounding away to the left, ever-present cross winds anda long beach carry, this 436-yard par-4 was a nerve-jan-gling start to our Scottish golf journey - travellingthrough spectacular and remote island and mountainlandscapes while playing an old classic, a couple of newdesigns and a recently discovered gem.

Four-time British Open champion Old Tom Morrisdescribed the quirky duneland of Machrihanish as“Created by the Almighty to play golf on” and little haschanged since he marked out his traditional links usingseagull feathers during one weekend in 1876. Althoughit’s a devil to get to, it’s surprising how many golfers likeourselves find their way to Machrihanish, and profes-sional golfer Brad Faxon, who’s passionate about golfcourse design once drove the 189 miles from Turnberryto Machrihanish Golf Club, just to check it out and playa round during the build-up to the Open.

Now there’s another reason to make the trip to theKintyre Peninsula, because sharing the same breathtak-ing ocean views with the adjacent “Old Tom Morris” lay-out, is Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club - the first 18-holegolf course to be built on the west coast of Scotland in100 years. Scotsman and course architect David McLayKidd, who is internationally acclaimed for his design ofBandon Dunes in Oregon and the Castle Course at StAndrews has created a real throwback of a links, and this“new kid on the block” featuring six greens and five teesat the ocean’s edge looks set for stardom.

“We followed the lie of the land and unlike mostcourses around the world, we did not lay out the courseand make the land change with it, we designed eachhole around the natural terrain,” said McLay Kidd. “Weare returning golf to how it should be played.” BecauseMachrihanish Dunes has been built on a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSi) the course’s routing in addition


“We drove north up the coast to Oban to catch the3:50 pm ferry departure of ‘Lord of the Isles’ –bound for Lochboisdale on the remote and beau-tiful Outer Hebridean island of South Uist”.


to the positioning of tees and greens wasalso dictated by several endangered speciesof flora and fauna. Tee blocks had to beexcavated and flattened but virtually therest of the course is natural.

Realistically you are not going to scorewell on your first visit to MachrihanishDunes and course strategy requires a linksmentality. Expect severely undulatinggreens, blind shots, straight shots that dis-appear over the hill and fairway mainte-nance by sheep (even the odd black one).And although markers on each tee clearlyindicate the direction of the hole, its goodto realise you might get lost here andthere. Directional markers help on severalblind second shots, but the distances tothe green can be deceptive if you are notfamiliar with the course.

In addition to Machrihanish Golf Cluband Machrihanish Dunes, another trackworth playing is the shorter but equallydelightful seaside links of Dunaverty GolfClub a few miles away near the pretty port ofCampbeltown, a good base for playing thistrio of courses. Often refered to as Scotland’sonly mainland island, the Kintyre Peninsulais also the gateway to islands of the SouthernHebrides – such as the mountain wildernessof Jura, home to five thousand deer, a whiskydistillery and a pub, and Arran also known as“Scotland in miniature” that has seven golfcourses despite its small size. The pick of thebunch is Shiskine Golf Club’s idiosyncratic12-hole layout nestled below DrumadoonCliffs at Blackwaterfoot. And then there isIslay, famous for its whisky distilleries andhome to the Machrie Golf Links – one ofScotland’s best island courses.

Askernish Old Course

Eilean Donan Castle


After a bracing round at MachrihanishDunes we headed to the rustic clubhouseand ordered tasty sandwiches and mugs ofhot tea. I chose ‘The Old Tom’ (grilledchicken, smoked bacon and lemon mayon-naise on wholegrain), while Paul went for‘The New Kidd’ (ham, Kintyre cheddar andchutney on white). Refuelled and ready togo, we drove north up the coast to Oban tocatch the 3.50pm ferry departure of Lord ofthe Isles – bound for Lochboisdale on theremote and beautiful Outer Hebrideanisland of South Uist.

It was 7.30 the following morning insidethe breakfast room of the Polochar Inn justoutside Lochboisdale. “Going by the gan-nets that are heading south I don’t think therain is too far away lads,” said local NeilCampbell, as we gazed out on a wild andwonderful scene of desolate islets punctuat-ed by a lichen-encrusted standing stonefrom the early Bronze Age. “The wind looksstrong too. You’ll need a six-inch nail tokeep your golf cap on today at Askernish.”

If Machrihanish is remote, thenAskernish Old Course is at the end of theworld. First laid out by Old Tom Morris in1891, in recent years it has been unearthedand restored to its former glory by GordonIrvine (Master Greensman) and MartinEbert (Canadian course architect) usingentirely traditional design principles.Enviromental experts have hailed AskernishOld Course as “the most natural links coursein the world.” The dunes’ natural contoursform the fairways, no artificial chemicals areused in maintenance, and during wintermonths sheep and cattle graze the course.

Irvine, who worked for free on the proj-ect, believes that based on his ability to dis-tinguish natural landforms from man-madeones, he has correctly exposed and re-creat-ed the original layout. (Only the eighteenthgreen had to be relocated; the original nowserves as a practice green.) “We’ll neverknow for sure,” he said. “We can’t bring OldTom back. But this course is as close as you’llget to an original Old Tom Morris layout.”

The result is a course right out of a timecapsule that will appeal to purists and afi-cionados of links golf. Officially opened byKenny Dalglish MBE, on the 22nd August2008, the 6164-yard layout begins and ends

in understated fashion, but from seventhrough to seventeen it’s a roller coaster ridethrough terrain as violent as a storm-tossedsea. The par-4 7th runs south along theshore from a dune-top tee to a green shel-tered by even taller dunes and the green atthe eleventh, a long and spectacular par-3played directly into a sea wind, looks as if itcould only be reached using rock climbinggear. Perhaps the star of the Askernish OldCourse is the sixteenth called Old Tom’sPulpit, a memorable short par-4 with a two-level green, the back half of which forms apunchbowl, where most approach shotsincluding ours seem to end up.

From Askernish at the bottom of SouthUist, we drove along the distinctive one-track road (with passing bays) through themiddle island of Benbecula to the top of

North Uist all linked by causeways. It wasan absorbing journey – through a wild andunique landscape covered with a patchworkof peat bogs, low hills and lochans, withmore than half the land being covered bywater. Some of the lochs contain a mixtureof fresh and tidal salt water, giving rise tosome complex and unusual habitats - thehaunt of dolphins, otters and numerousbird species including waders and the rarewhite-tailed eagle.

Beyond North Uist, on the dramatic andrugged island of Harris is another far-flunggem – the Isle of Harris Golf Club’s gor-geous 9-holer bordered on one side by theSound of Taransay, leading onto the AtlanticOcean, and all down the west side of thecourse stretch the white sands and turquoisewaters typical of this part of the Hebrides.

The par-3 4th hole atCastle Stuart Golf Links


When Nick Faldo visited the course inthe early nineties prior to flying out to theUS Masters, he described it as “one of themost beautiful settings for golf.” Backthen, the green fee for a day’s golf was £5(these days it’s still only £10), paid into an‘honesty box’, a quirky arrangement thatadds to the magic of the place. Faldosigned his £5 note, and ever since, theclub members have competed annually forthe ‘Faldo Fiver’.

Alas, on this trip we didn’t haveenough time to drop our tenners into thehonesty box at the Isle of Harris GolfClub. After spending a comfortable nightat the Langass Lodge in Locheport onNorth Uist, the following morning wetrundled aboard the M.V Hebrides vehi-cle ferry at Lochmaddy, dined on heartyScottish breakfasts during the crossingand rolled off the ramp at Uig on the Isleof Skye a few hours later.

Skye is a 50-mile-long smorgasbord ofvelvet moors, jagged mountain ranges,sparkling lochs and towering sea cliffs.The stunning scenery is the main draw-card, but when the mist closes in there’splenty of other attractions including pic-turesque villages, castles, cosy pubs, croft-ing museums, fine local produce and a 9-hole seaside course at Sconser Golf Clubwith spectacular views of the Isle ofRaasay and North Skye.

Machrihanish Dunes

After travelling over the Skye Bridge wewere back on the mainland and soon head-ed past Eilean Donan Castle, standing boldand upright on the shores of Loch Duich,on a site that has been fortified for well over800 years. The castle is somewhat of a film-star and has been used in many productionsover the years including the James Bondmovie The World is Not Enough andHighlander starring Sean Connery andChristopher Lambert.

An hour or so later we experiencedanother iconic Scottish image, drivingalongside the mysterious waters of LochNess where more ancient castles perchedon heather-clad hillsides, home of goldeneagle and red deer. At 22 miles long and upto 1.5 miles wide, no one knows for certainif monsters inhabit the near 1000-ft depths,but certainly its peat-darkened waterswould be the perfect place for such a leg-end to hide. We joked to ourselves that

there was probably a better chance of spot-ting ‘Nessie’ than shooting under our hand-icaps at the final course of our Islands &Highlands trip - the testing Castle StuartGolf Links just east of Inverness.

The brainchild of Mark Parsinen, theAmerican who gifted the world KingsbarnsGolf Links, his latest championship linkscourse overlooks the Moray Firth and well-known landmarks that are synonymous withInverness – the Kessock Bridge, ChanonryLighthouse, Fort George and Castle Stuartitself - and enjoys similar topography to RoyalDornoch Golf Club further north, with an oldsea cliff creating two tiered plateaus with sixholes running alongside the inner MorayFirth. The course has been designed withwide fairways to offer plenty of lines of playon ground that is perfect for links golf.

We discovered that one of the greatthings about Castle Stuart is that you get areal sense of seclusion and most of the timeyou are not aware of other golfers out onthe course. The views all around are fabu-lous, and from some tees and greens, thewhite 1930s Art Deco-style clubhouse canbe seen sitting prominently atop its viewingperch. As Turnberry is to Ayrshire,Gleneagles is to Perthshire, and St Andrewsis to Fife, Castle Stuart Golf Links has beenconceived to be for the Highlands regionand destined to be a future classic.

The addition of new courses such as CastleStuart Golf Links, Machrihanish Dunes andthe unearthed gem of Askernish Old Coursealong with the other over 550 members of theScottish golfing arena give travelling golferslike ourselves a fantastic platform on which todesign their own perfect golf trip in Scotland.


Crofters cottage - Isle of Skye

The Marshallbrothers, travelwriter Andy andp h o t o g r a p h e rPaul, have trav-elled to 13 coun-tries and played65 golf coursesduring an 8-yearperiod. Read moreabout their fantas-tic adventures ontheir blog atwww.bogey.se and in their newly released E-book andaudio book available at www.golfjourneys.net


While golf might not be your first choice when plan-ning a trip to Great Falls and North CentralMontana, known in some circles as Russell Country,

named for cowboy artist Charlie Russell, I found on a recenttrip that you do some have viable options to get out on the linksif you find the time.

Getting there from my home state of Texas requires a stopin Salt Lake City. The Delta Connection flights on smaller air-craft were full. They are a little pricey, more than $500. Thegood news is that the green fees are very reasonable, rangingfrom $20 to $30, bargains in today’s times. Meals are as priceyas the ones in Texas, but the portions are equally huge, like an18-ounce end cut prime rib that I could barely finish eating.

Our port of entry was Great Falls, named for a series ofwaterfalls on the Missouri River that generate hydro electricalpower. The third largest city in the state has a pair of 18-holepublic courses—Anaconda Hills Golf Course and Eagle Falls—that were on my 90-hole circuit with a pair of writers and ourhostess Gayle Fisher. There’s also a private club, Meadowlarkcoun try Club, that I heard was “awesome” and worth playing ifyou know a member.

The front 9 at Anaconda Hills was built in the 1920s as aplace for employees of the Anaconda Mining/Shelter Co andshows its age a little. It’s on the short side, especially for the par4s that are drivable for long hitters, but does require accuracywith all the tall Cottonwoods bordering the fairways. A back pinplacement on the par 9th even had the superintendent wonder-ing who cut the cup there. The back 9, built in the early 1990s,was probably my favorite 9 of the trip. It traverses a ruggedravine with a great variety of interesting holes and larger greensthan the ones on the front. We played with 83-year-old MelKrebs, who plays nearly every day, bettering his age on a regu-lar basis from the red tees.

Eagle Falls is a better overall test at 6,571 yards from thetips with some interesting holes where bunkers put the premi-um on accurate tee shots unless you are Ryan Fritz, a younglong-hitting banker who could easily fly these hazards en routeto a round in the mid-60. The sand in the bunkers was as goodas I’ve seen on a muny and I was able to get up and down twoof three times. Moving up a set of tees certainly make the last12 holes of my round more enjoyable as I seemed to lose somedistance with the steel-shafted rental clubs.

The Signal Point Golf Course in historic Fort Bentondeserves its reputation as perhaps the hardest 9-hole layout inthe state. The trees are strategically placed to affect stray teeshots as I quickly found out. The elevated greens put the premi-um on accurate approach shots; miss long or to the right or leftand getting up and down is almost impossible, even for our localhost, Bill Widaman, who plays there regularly. Just a few yardsoff the course is a cemetery plus magnificent views of theMissouri River that used to carry river boats.

Frugal FairBy James McAfee Frugal Fair


airways of Montana airways of Montana Marias Valley Golf Course


Harvest Hills in MontanaTwo of the other 9-holers—Harvest

Hills in Fairfield and Pondera Golf &Country Club in Conrad—are surround-ed by grain fields, providing local golferswith places to enjoy the game rather thangetting lots of visitors. For a flat course,I’m not sure how hills got into theFairfield course’s name. The course wasa labor of love for the local residents, tak-ing almost four years to complete. Myonly two birdies of the trip came on chipins on the two par 5s at Pondera. I didhave a run in with the Bull Winkle bushthat guards the right side of a par 3. Bothcourses did have water hazards that cameinto play, adding to the challenges.

The Choteau Country Club is also agreat place for the locals. Its 9 holes werebuilt in 1929, but have been renovatedtwice in 1974 and 1997. With a shotgunstart planned for Sunday morning, weplayed it in 75 minutes, practicing readygolf. One interesting feature was what hasto play as one dogleg par 3 for some golfers,unless you can carry some tall trees.

The 18-hole Marias Valley Golf Course,built along the banks of the Marius Riverless than 30 minutes from the Canadianborder in Shelby, was my favorite track.From the back tees at 6,784 yards, I’m sureit has to be on the Montana GolfAssociation annual schedule. We didn’t goall back there either. There were someinteresting holes, including a 600-yard par 5that I could not even reach with a driverand a pair of hybrids. You could hear thesounds of balls bouncing off the tree-linedfairways all over the course. As was the caseat all the courses we played, the bent grassgreens were very good. The young pro weplayed with seemed to be having a case ofthe yips, but didn’t want to listen to myadvice to try the belly or long putter.

We had perfect golfing conditions onour September visit, cool morningswhere a windbreaker might be neededand afternoons warming up to 80—anice change from the 70+ days of 100degrees in Texas.

While I was limited because of anoth-er tournament back in Texas, Wes Bolyardstayed on five more days to play an addi-tional 99 holes, doubling up on the GreatFalls munis. I’ll try to get him to shareinformation about some of the otherfrugul fairways of Montana that he visited.

Anaconda Hills Golf Course

Choteau Country Club

Harvest Hills

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RESORTREPORT

GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 25

Iam not a hunter, though Quail Lodge

was the perfect setting to bring a

pigeon friend of mine to play golf

and dislodge a few bucks from his

tight wallet.

After spending some time in the

Monterrey Peninsula area, what could

be more relaxing or fun?

Taking a short drive down Carmel

Valley Road to Quail Lodge.

The spectacular scenery will take

you another notch down on the relax-

ation scale and put you in "the zone"

before you put the peg in the ground

on the first tee.

Don't forget to bring along your

own pigeon.

After a relatively easy 540-yard par-

5 opening hole, the 203-yard par-3 sec-

ond brings one back to reality, as the

challenge of this golf course is endless.

One of the most beautiful holes on

the golf course is the natural uphill

403-yard par- 4 fourth hole.

After letting a negative thought

enter my head as I took my driver back,

I topped my drive and lost the hole to

fall behind in the match by one hole.

My pigeon was youthful and over-

confident, right where I wanted him.

The character of Quail Lodge con-

tinues to develop with the downhill

198-yard par-3 fifth hole with the

green protected with bunker left and

water right.

After a nice up-and-down for par,

our match was all square.

My birdie at the dog-leg-right 367-

yard par-4 seventh hole from the right

fairway bunker was my third winning

hole in a row and put me 2-up in the

match. This score would stand through

the front nine.

Quail Lodge Golf Club is the type of

golf course which gradually embraces

you, and before you know it you are

completely in love with the place

whether you have a bad hole or not.

Once you come to the 10th tee you

realize the back nine is going to be a

different experience than the front

nine. While still along the Carmel

CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

California’sQuail Lodge:California’s

Golfing Destination

By Andy REISTETTER


RESORTREPORTRESORTREPORTRiver one now finds themselves looking down a canyon on

the tenth tee.

It is a beautiful canyon and frames the drive on the rel-

atively short 345-yard par- 4 tenth hole.

The tenth green is well bunkered, and my approach

shot found the bunker short right of the green.

The resultant bogey diminished my lead over the young

video producer to one hole.

The young pigeon finds great difficulty on the 221-yard

par-3 12th hole and allows me to win it with a bogey.

Perhaps the dramatic vistas amongst the canyons and

streams of Quail Lodge have distracted my opponent?

Another birdie 4 at the short 502-yard 14th from the

front bunker in two strokes increases my margin to the

largest in the match- 3 holes with only four holes remaining.

It is there approaching the 14th green where one can

see the tranquil Quail Lodge. Though the 94-room hotel

closed in November 2009, Edgar's restaurant remains

open, and there is hope that the lodge will reopen soon.

On the golf course side of the Lodge is a putting course

that nears the grandeur of the Himalayas at the Old

Course in St. Andrews or the one at the World Golf

Village in St. Augustine, Florida adjacent to the World

Golf Hall of Fame.

Oh what fun it would be to stay at the Lodge, have put-

ting games there in the morning and evening and play the

Quail Lodge Golf Course.

As the golf course traverses back towards the club-

house, one finds the lakes amidst the golf holes.

There is water left and right off the tee on No. 15,

water right on No. 16 and water left on No.17.

This must be where the quail came to find the water.

Another appropriate name for the club would certainly be

Quail Lakes.

My opponent could only match my pars on Nos. 15

and 16, and therefore went down in defeat with a final

loss rendering of 3&2.

Though with some life in him, he did manage a deuce

on the 146-yard par-3 17th hole.

Good strategy, give them hope for the next match.

Quail Lodge Golf Club- a truly relaxing and enjoyable

round of golf.

Bring your own pigeon to make it an even more mem-

orable and fun experience.

CARMEL, CALIFORNIA

www.golfvacationsmag.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 27


With fairway woods substituting for drivers these days onmany holes in the name of accuracy, more golfers arelooking at these clubs with an eye for greater distance to

combine with a club that they can keep in the fairway.Tour Edge, with its Exotics XCG5 line of fairway woods, is

catering to just that line of thinking and touting these fairwayswoods as “having the power of a driver.”

The company has accomplished several design firsts includingan innovative titanium cup face and crown, a beta titanium faceinsert and a heavy tungsten sole plate to increase distance, becom-ing the only fairway wood on the market to offer a titanium face andtungsten sole. The new v-shaped boomerang face design allows forthinner and thicker areas on the face that produce a hotter launchand more distance than many of the comparable fairway woods onthe market. Better distance on off-center hits is something this clubaccomplishes well with its light but powerful feel.

As a driver replacement, Tour Edge has also gone the extra mileof offering an 11.5 degree and 13 degreed three wood-plus modelsfor lower launch and even more distance. With an 185cc head, theseclubs offer a greater amount of control.

The regulation three wood at 15 degrees is long also, and, and thefour (16.5 degree), five (18.0 degree) and seven woods (21.0 degree) alsooffer a solid array of choices for those that want to ditch their long irons.

All of Tour Edge’s fairways are offered with an excellent choiceof shaft selections. The Fujikura Blur 65 and the Aldila RIP 70Sigma are the two standard choices in the super-light model of theXCG5, while the 40-gram Graphite Design Tour AD is standard forthe ultra-super-light configuration.

For more information on the Tour Edge fairway woods:www.touredge.com

The Everyday Golfer's Guide to Shooting Lower Scores byMick Gyure is a new book designed to help players whostruggle with their game create their own practical approach

through a series of specific objectives.You will learn why you haven't made progress in the past, how

to make true improvements in your game, and how to overcomecommon barriers to achieve lasting results.

Written by someone who has been there, Everyday Golfer'sGuide to Shooting Lower Scores gives you an action plan to avoidpitfalls that slow your progress; make your practice time count;think effectively on the course; prioritize goals for each level of yourgame and to relax and actually enjoy the game of golf.

If you're a beginning golfer, this book will help you avoid manyof the common mistakes people make when starting out. It will helpget you on the right track toward making real progress as well asprovide you with an overall plan for improvement.

Second, this book is for golfers who have been playing for awhile—those who play regularly but continually shoot high scoresnever making any real progress. If you fall into this category, youprobably spend a good deal of time practicing, yet can't understandwhy you're not improving.

This book will help you identify realistic goals and expectationsfor each level of your game and formulate a plan of action so you canachieve those goals. It will help put the golf learning process into per-spective so you can learn effectively while minimizing frustration.

This is not a book on mechanical golf instruction. Rather, thisbook discusses how to best acquire the knowledge necessary toimprove your game, how to properly apply that knowledge, and howto practice correctly. It explains what you should be doing on thecourse, offers guidelines to help you define a plan for improvement,and shows how to commit to that plan so you can realize your goals.

Mick Gyure was an everyday guy who started playing golf in hismid-thirties. Like most novices, initially he struggled to improve hisgame. Ultimately, he found a number of things that allowed him toachieve his goals quickly—specifically, breaking 80!

Like many golfers who can't seem to improve their game no mat-ter what they try, Mick has been there and understands the chal-lenges they face. He offers this book as a template to his fellowgolfers, who may be struggling as he once did, to improve their game.

For more information visit www.everydaygolfersguide.com

SWEETSTUFF

www.golfvacationsmag.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JA N UA RY 2012 29

The new RM-11 wedge by Fourteen Golf features largergrooves to create more spin that still comply with thetougher USGA rules that went in effect in 2010.

With 38 professional tour victories in 2010 and 2011, this smallbut emerging club company is starting to make a name for itself witha greater presence at retail, backed with the validity of its perform-ance on the professional tours.

The larger grooves translate to maximum spin with exceptionalcontrol. The new USGA conforming Fourteen Golf trapezoidalgrooves have been enlarged by 15% as compared to its predecessor.This increase in overall groove volume enhances spin retention par-ticularly on partial shots and provides extraordinary control,increased spin and precision like accuracy. To ensure optimal spinwith precision and tighter tolerances, Fourteen Golf mirror millseach larger groove on the RM-11 Wedge.

This additional procedure takes an enormous amount of timebut it is done to achieve and attain the highest spin performancepossible.

The RM-11 Series of Wedges feature a different sole shapeaccording to a specific loft. The 48-degree loft is designed for opti-mum performance and control with a full shot. Where the 56 and58-degree lofts are engineered to employ or take advantage of thebounce with an approach shot. The 60-degree wedge is designed toassist with a high lob shot.

The leading edge on this totally new wedge is relatively straightbut slightly rounded to give the impression of wrapping the ball oneach shot. Engineers designed the lie angle to be slightly uprightand made it 64 degrees (for 56-60 degree models).

In deference to touring professionals, the original “reverse taperdesign” was retained so the engineers used it as a platform on theRM-11 wedge, but they increased the weight distribution on theupper blade to create a signature “reverse muscle design.” Theweight is perfectly proportioned on the blade and club head whichcreates stability through impact.

Fourteen Golf utilized nickel chrome molybdenum steel for theRM-11 Wedges because of its durability and resistance to wear. Thisspecialized material allows the high quality – high performancetrapezoidal grooves to stay in perfect condition which ensures opti-mum performance. It available in a non-glare nickel chrome platedhalf matte finish and a dramatic non-glare black finish that gives theclub head a distinctive appearance.

To find a FOURTEEN GOLF retailer, visit the company web-site at www.fourteengolf.com

by Terry Ross

SWEETSTUFF

WORLDBEATby LYNDSIEBourgnon

courtesy www.Macleans.com

WHY CUBA IS EMBRACING GOLFIn a famous picture, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara

are playing a round of golf. Guevara, in militaryfatigues, is studiously preparing a putt, and Castro

stands aside, scrutinizing his position. They both lookserious, but the context is hotly contested among histori-ans—were they practising for an upcoming meeting withU.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower? Or were theyactually taunting him?

Cuba experts tend to agree it was a taunt. In post-rev-olutionary Cuba, golf was a sport for the rich, the bour-geois. And for 50-odd years, it all but disappeared fromthe island. (There’s currently only one 18-hole course.)But now Cuban authorities have given preliminaryapproval to develop four luxury golf resorts. Two of thosecontracts have been handed to Canadian developers.

Of the four, Ottawa-based Standing FeatherInternational is the closest to breaking ground. Their jointventure with a division of the Cuban tourism ministry hasbeen approved, and they’re waiting for a final sign-offfrom Havana to begin building. Plans for the Loma LindaGolf Estates, in the eastern Holguin region, cover 520acres and include two golf courses, a five-star hotel, and1,200 townhouse-style condos.

Standing Feather, which represents First Nations inQuebec and Ontario and which already had business tiesin Cuba, was first asked by Cuban officials to consider agolf development in 2002. “They said the all-inclusive,sun-and-sand model was getting a bit tired, and theywanted to keep it rising,” says Standing Feather managingdirector Chris Nicolas. “This type of value-added tourismoffers more variety and certainly caters to a higher level oftourist. It’s a completely different model for Cuba.”

The company expects the deal to be finalized beforethe end of the year. After incorporating the joint venture,it will set up offices in Cuba, form a board of directors andbegin the two-year building process. Once the resort isfully completed, the total investment will top $530 million.

Montreal-based 360 VOX is also planning a golf resortin Jibacoa, near Havana. It will include a marina and two18-hole courses, along with a nine-hole training course.The company is also hoping for a 2012 start date. At aconference in Europe this spring, Cuba’s tourism minis-ter, Manuel Marrero, said the government has plans toeventually build up to 16 courses.

Nicolas admits to being surprised when he first heardabout Cuba’s golf ambitions. “I told them it was a waste ofgood farmland,” he says. Which is exactly how Cuba treat-

ed this type of development after Castro took power—golf courses in the Havana region were promptly turnedinto schools and hospitals. But today, outside investmentis critical, Nicolas adds. “Cuba’s economy is razor-thinright now, and they could not have come up with some-thing that’s going to give them as much capital as quicklyas the sale of real estate.”

John Kirk, a Cuba expert at Dalhousie University, hasnoted a “massive shift” in Cuban policy over the five yearssince Raul Castro took over from his brother. “The golfcourse is part of a larger strategy to make the Cuban social-ist system more efficient,” he says. “It’s retaining the social-ist revolutionary basis, but to make it more productive forthe state there need to be significant compromises.”

These compromises include opening the doors to for-eign ownership, which is bound to take off now that Cubahas announced its citizens can buy and sell their ownhomes and vehicles. Foreign ownership of vacationrentals (which Standing Feather and 360 VOX plan tooffer) is expected to boost the nearly bankrupt country’scritical tourism industry.

Completing the resorts won’t be easy. The U.S. tradeembargo means locating suppliers of high-quality goodshas been difficult. Navigating the negotiation process wasitself a challenge. “Think about the nuances of the con-tracts themselves,” says Standing Feather directorStephen Reynolds. “Can you imagine negotiating, fordays on end, the capitalist components to a socialist legalsystem? It’s fascinating.” And, like a good golf swing, a lotharder to execute than it might appear.


Golf Vacations Magazine January 2012

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Transcript of Golf Vacations Magazine January 2012