Golf Vacations Magazine July 2012

www.golfvacationsmag.com GolfVacations•July20121

OUR 10th YEAR

THIS MONTH: S w e e t S t u f f • D e s t i n a t i o n s • C h i p S h o t s

GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSJULY 2012

CALIFORNIA’S CORDEVALLE

MYRTLE BEACH: FUN FOR ALL

CALIFORNIA’SCORDEVALLE

MYRTLE BEACH: FUN FOR ALL

COSTABAJARESORT & SPA

COSTABAJARESORT & SPA

Plus: MARRIOTT DEFINES GOLF IN PALM SPRINGSPlus: MARRIOTT DEFINES GOLF IN PALM SPRINGS

2 GolfVacations•July2012 www.golfvacationsmag.com


GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONS

JULY 2012CordeValle•SanMartin,CA

9 • ChipShots

12 • California’s CordeValle by Andy Reistetter

Departing in the evening from the East Coast I arrived at CordeValle in the dark. Though limited, my sight of the shadowed landscape gave me the sense of a cowboy heading up a canyon to a secure place to rest for the night.

18 • Defining Resort Golf In Palm Springs by David R. Holland

Marriott Golf, the world’s largest resort golf management organization, has done something special in this year-around getaway in Southern California. Marriott manages 61 golf courses at 44 properties in 12 countries and more than one million golfers enjoy the excellence each year. Some even come for the Faldo Golf Institutes at Shadow Ridge and in Florida at Marriott’s Grand Vista Resort.

22 • Myrtle Beach: Golf & Fun For All by David Wood

Myrtle Beach -- with its majestic Grand Stand of 60 miles of sweeping Atlantic coastline – offers a virtual feast of options of stay-and-play vacations to not only to tee it up, but also to have a barrel of fun après golf.

36 • CostaBaja Resort & Spa by James McAfee

If you are looking for a chance of pace from what can be a more hectic lifestyles at such luxury Mexico destinations as Acapulco, Puerta Vallarta, Cancun and Los Cabos, LaPaz might be viable option.

30 • SweetStuff by Terry Ross


NEW ALOHA GOLF CARDPlanning a golf vacation, business trip

or a single round of golf at a notable course in Hawaii just got easier and less expensive with the introduction on June 29th of the new Aloha Golf Card.

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the world’s most popular travel destinations and the golf courses there are legendary for their unparalleled beauty, breathtaking scenery, impeccable conditioning and memorable rounds.

With the Aloha Golf Card, the hassle of making advance tee time reservations in par-adise is eliminated with the express online capabilities and advantageous golf course relationships offered with the purchase of a card that provides exclusive discounted green fees for the card holder (“Member”) and up to three accompanied players plus a variety of significant value-added benefits, all customized to insure an unforgettable golf experience.

The Aloha Golf Card provides access to some 20 “name” courses on the islands of Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai and Lanai. The list of exclusive participating golf courses includes: Mauna Kea Resort, Kapalua Plantation and Bay Courses, Waiko-

loa Resort’s Jones and Weiskopf champion-ship layouts, Ko Olina, Poipu Bay, Wailea Old Blue and the Princeville Makai and Challenge at Manele Bay and Experience at Koele.

“Hawaii is considered one of the finest and most sought after vacation destinations for many reasons, including the temperate climate, luxury resorts and championship golf courses,” says Aloha Golf Card Company Managing Partner, Mark Scheibach. “Golf-ers who want to play at a fabulous course in Hawaii now can enjoy the convenience of booking tee times at our impressive portfolio of participating clubs on five islands at www.alohagolfcard.com.

Aloha Golf Card Members receive sig-nificant green fee discounts for themselves and up to three accompanied players and additional benefits not available elsewhere.” Hal Okita, the Aloha Golf Card Company’s Hawaii Operations Manager, further adds that in his 30 years of involvement with the golf industry in Hawaii, “I have never seen as comprehensive a golf package as presented by the Aloha Golf Card.”

The Aloha Golf Card is offering a re-markable introductory enrollment rate of just $79. For all members who purchase the card by December 31, 2012 the Aloha Golf

Card benefits are valid until December 31, 2013. For more information and to buy your pass to paradise, visit www.alohagolfcard.com or telephone Aloha Golf Card Member Services at (760) 296-3061.

SUMMER GOLF GETAWAY AT TURNBERRY ISLE MIAMI

For travelers considering last minute, summertime golf getaways, Turnberry Isle Miami (www.turnberryislemiami.com), South Florida’s legendary 300-acre, Medi-terranean style retreat provides guests with unmatched golf offerings. Available until September 30th, the resort features compli-mentary golf for guests to enjoy the resort’s two award-winning Raymond Floyd-de-signed, 18-hole championship courses.

In addition, guests can take advantage of the “Fore the Love of Golf” package year-round. Starting at $249 per night, Fore the Love of Golf includes:

• A spacious room featuring beautiful views of the tropical golf course surroundings

• Resort fees• Complimentary resort fee and green feeFor more information and details visit

www.turnberryislemiami.com/

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTSGRAND GOLF RESORTS OF FLORIDA LAUNCHES SUMMER SPECIALSStatewide collection featuring Innisbrook, Reunion and Hammock Beach resorts offers seasonal rates representing 50 percent savings

TAMPA, FL – The newly formed Grand Golf Resorts of Florida is offering special summer rates that represent guest savings of 50 percent.

From the Gulf to the Atlantic and man-aged by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the collection unites Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, Reunion Resort in Orlando and Ham-mock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, and fea-tures a variety of accommodations, family ac-tivities and nine championships golf courses.

Known for its top-rated Copperhead golf course, Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay is offering a 50 percent discount on its standard published rates for guests who book by August 15, 2012, and stay by October 10, 2012. Guests will stay in suite accommodations, and can play at any of Innisbrook’s four championship golf courses, visit the new Indaba Spa, walk nature trails, dine in four restaurants and enjoy the

Loch Ness Water Park. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply, and a minimum stay of two nights is required. To book, visit www.VisitInnisbrook.com and use booking code: SUMMER, or call 866-599-6425.

The AAA Four Diamond-rated Reunion Resort in Orlando is offering a summer “buy one, get one free” special on its deluxe, supe-rior or estate level villas. Reunion features golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, numerous pools and a water park, a boutique spa and rooftop dining, from which the area’s nightly firework displays are visible. The special offer is valid on stays un-til September 30, 2012, when the paid night is at the standard published rate. The price will dis-play as 50 percent discount on each night’s stay, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply, and a minimum stay of two nights is required. Make reservations by visiting www.ReunionRe-sort.com or calling (866) 880-8563.

At the AAA Four Diamond-rated Ham-mock Beach Resort, located along two miles of the Atlantic Ocean’s Palm Coast, guests can also enjoy a “buy one, get one free” offer, as well as top golf courses by Nicklaus and Watson, ocean-front dining, a relaxing spa and a beautiful water park. The offer is valid on stays from Sunday

through Thursday until September 30, 2012, in one of Hammock Beach Resort’s spacious one-bedroom villas. The paid night must be at the standard published rate, and the price will dis-play as 50 percent discount on each night’s stay. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply, and a minimum stay of two nights is required. To book, visit www.HammockBeach.com or call (866) 841-0287.

For more information about the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida, visit www.Grand-GolfResorts.com.

About Grand Golf Resorts of FloridaThree of Florida’s grandest golf resorts

have united under the management of Sala-mander Hotels & Resorts. Grand Golf Re-sorts of Florida features Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Reunion Resort in Orlando, and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast. The collection includes 1250 luxurious villa-style accommodations, and 162 holes of golf designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Larry Packard that form the Legends of Golf Trail, which traverses 200 miles between the resorts and across the Sunshine State. For more information, visit www.grandgolfresorts.com or call (888) 770-6501.


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHIPSHOTS

“FAIRWAYS-FORE-FREEDOM” MILITARY GOLF PROGRAMNew program provides free & dis-count golf to members of the militaryat leading resort golf destinations throughout North America

ORLANDO, Fla. – Marriott Golf recently introduced “Fairways-Fore-FREEdom,” a new military program designed to support the men and women dedicated to protecting America’s freedom. In celebrating America’s armed forces, “Fairways-Fore-FREEdom” provides active, reserve and retired military personnel with both free and discount golf at over 25 acclaimed Marriott Golf courses throughout the United States,.

The “Fairways-Fore-FREEdom” pro-gram commenced on Friday, May 25, 2012, in honor of Memorial Day weekend, and will run through Veteran’s Day on Monday, November 12, 2012. As part of the program, members of the armed forces that present a valid military ID card can take advantage of discounted “twilight” green fees/carts, ranging from just $29 - $69, while receiving a free replay certificate for an-other day. The free replay certificates will be valid until December 31, 2012.

The program is available after 3 p.m. any day of the week at participating Marriott Golf courses, and all tee times can be made up to three days in advance. In some cases, select Marriott Golf properties will even extend the hours that the special offer is available, further

enhancing the value of the program and en-abling eligible military personnel to experience the Company’s prestigious collection of champi-onship golf courses.

Members of the armed forces participating in “Fairways-Fore-FREEdom” can also take advan-tage of Marriott Golf Links, the Company’s golfer loyalty program that enables Marriott Rewards members to both earn and redeem points for golf. Members can earn Marriott Rewards points for rounds of golf and golf retail merchandise pur-chases. In addition, members can redeem points for rounds of golf, hotel accommodations, spa ex-periences, golf instruction, and more.

The “Fairways-Fore-FREEdom” military golf program is valid for active, reserve, and re-tired personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard. For more information on the program, visit www.marriottgolf.com.

HAVE A MEETING IN CHICAGO AND NEED A PLACE WITH GOLF?Chicago Oak Brook Hills Marriott provides the perfect meeting combination

Looking for something beyond the tra-ditional piece of candy on your pillow as a travel perk? Look no further than Chicago Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort. With a top of the line golf course and a wide selection of meeting spaces, the resort offers the perfect combination of pleasure and practicality for business travelers. Recognized as the 2009 Marriott golf “Property of the Year,” the Wil-

low Crest Golf Club at Chicago Oak Brook Marriott Resort provides an ideal way to get outside and break up a long day of meetings.

A renowned corporate destination, the conference center and meeting areas at Chi-cago Oak Brook Hills Marriott offer great ac-commodations for large or small groups and the resort is conveniently located within close proximity to O’Hare International airport.

“Combining golf with business is a great way to add an incentive to meetings. Colleagues can build teamwork, relax a little, and add a unique experience to the overall business trip,” says Randy Bolstad, director of golf operations.

Chicago Oak Brook Hills Marriott makes business traveling even easier by offering a golf and dining package along with your stay.

The Golf and Dining Package for Two ($219-$254):

• Deluxe accommodations at the resort • One round of golf for two people • Golf cart and greens fee (weekday also

includeS shoe and club rental) • Golf bag storage (weekend only) • $30 food and beverage credit in The

Grill or Windows Cafe (weekend only)Chicago Oak Brooks Hills Marriott Re-

sort also has great room rates this summer for people who may want to forgo golf, but enjoy the amenities the rest of the resort has to of-fer which includes fantastic dining, swimming and other outdoor activities like tennis and volleyball. Visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chimc-chicago-oak-brook-hills-marriott-resort


By TerryRoss

California’s CordeValle


By TerryRoss

California’s CordeValle By Andy Reistetter


Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive “Play-Write” series with a weekend visit to CordeValle which is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains an hour from San Francisco and Pebble Beach. A place you may have heard of for Rocco’s hole-outs or Tiger’s play in the Frys.com Open on the PGA TOUR. This is definitely a place you want to expe-rience, if only once. Join Reistetter as he gets away with a golfing buddy to “secluded luxury and unparallel championship golf.”

Departing in the evening from the East Coast I arrived at Corde-Valle in the dark. Though limited, my sight of the shadowed landscape gave me the sense of a cowboy heading up a canyon

to a secure place to rest for the night.

This was a boys’ trip as my friend Rich picked me up at the nearby San Jose Airport and drove me to our weekend getaway. He was a long time friend, a golfing buddy from when I lived in Southern California in the early 1980s.

I hadn’t seen Rich since the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach nearly two years ago. He’s one of those friends were you can pick up the phone every so often and you never miss anything of relevance in each other’s lives.

As the car came to the warm lights of the clubhouse area I sensed what Adam, Hoss and Lil’ Joe must have felt when they rode home to the Ponderosa and were greeted by their father Ben Cartwright.

At nearly midnight, we were greeted by name and our luggage, golf

clubs and registration were handled so professionally it seemed like I was opening the door to my bungalow quicker than Rich drops another ball for a mulligan.

Each of the 45 guest beds is king-size at CordeValle whether in one of the 28 bungalows, 3 fairway homes or 5 villa suites. Good thing too since word from Rich’s wife is that he is a heavy snorer. I needed a good night sleep.

Golfers will say a golf course “fits their eye.” I think every guest will say a CordeValle room captures their total being with a warm, comfort-able and beautiful place to call home. To say my bungalow was luxurious is an understatement. From the cozy fireplace, exquisite honeyed wood, and goose-down comforter this is one of the nicest places I have stayed, if not the nicest ever.

After a night’s rest I was completely rejuvenated. My heart pumped a little faster as I opened the sliding wood shutters and saw the valley and golf course down. The morning light and long shadows accentuated the immense beauty of the landscape. I knew this was going to be a magical weekend.

Rich and I met for a hearty breakfast in the One Iron Bar. We warmed up hitting a few balls and stroking a few putts. On the first tee, Mike the starter introduced us to our caddie. Here I was walking and playing golf, with a caddie, with the course to our selves, with my old buddy Rich. Life does not get better than this.


Golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. who is based close by in Palo Alto refers to CordeValle as “perhaps my finest golf course creation.”

I met Jones last year at a Masters party. He shared with me his Yale Story, an inviting essay about being the first to design and build an 18-hole golf course in Russia. As the creator of Moscow Country Club, the Links at Spanish Bay as well as 250 golf courses all over the world for him to say “perhaps my finest” translates to CordeValle is a must-play for any serious minded golfer.

What I didn’t tell Rich is that Jones sent me his book Golf by Design which educated me on how to read the features of a golf course and lower my score.

The hospitality and friendliness at CordeValle is unsurpassed. Mike came out to 7th green to let me know about the view from the hidden back tee on No. 9. “It’s worth the walk up the hill,” he said with friendly conviction, “you don’t want to miss it.” He was right, CordeValle means “the heart of the valley,” and it was a spectacular view with nature as far as the eye could see.

The match was memorable with us both playing well, recording five birdies and I escaping with a 1-up win.

The Tuscany-style winery off to the left on the long uphill 6th hole was on my mind so we hopped in a shuttle to taste the wines of Clos La Chance. It was member “pick-up” night and we joined the fun. We left with a bottle of Santa Cruz Chardonnay to enjoy with a cheese plate in the room.

Writer Andy Reistetter and friend Rich


Afterwards we enjoyed a casual dinner at the One Iron Bar. The dry aged NY steak with artichokes and truffle and garlic fries is to die for.

The second day of golf had a little different feel. Rich and I de-cided to ride in a cart with a forecaddie because we tired and older than we think. We were paired with a nice couple from San Francisco, Gayle and Eric who came to CordeValle to celebrate their 30th wed-ding anniversary.

I knew this would play into my favor as Rich was a friendly and help-ing sort of guy. The type of guy anyone would want to meet and play with on a golf course. Unfortunately I was wrong, he was more relaxed and focused and he won the match 2&1.

In a little over ten years, CordeValle has established a legacy of championship golf. In 2010 Rocco Mediate won the Frys.com Open on the PGA Tour with dramatic hole-outs each day. An ace, an eagle-2, an eagle-3 and the crescendo came on Sunday afternoon with a pitch-ing wedge from 116 yards on the 17th for another eagle-2. The 2011

tournament won by Bryce Molder featured Tiger Woods in the field preparing for the Ryder Cup.

In 2011 CordeValle hosted the PGA Cup Matches- the PGA of America’s version of the Ryder Cup for club professionals. Next year they will host the U.S.G.A. Sr. Women’s Amateur.

Very few golf courses gain the PGA Tour, the PGA of America and the U.S.G.A.’s “stamp of approval,” especially at so young an age.

As we played along Rich and I learned Gayle and Eric were cel-ebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. That got us thinking and we realized we first met as young chemical engineers working in an oil re-finery in 1982.

So unexpectedly we celebrated 30 years of friendship in CordeValle style.

Perfect.

Clubhouse Garden Tub


Sense Spa


Desert Colors


by David R. HollandDesert Colors PALM DESERT, CA – Big and bold – that’s Marriott golf in the California desert.

It doesn’t matter if you are scanning the 450 watery acres of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort from your hotel patio or taking in the backdrop of the snow-capped Santa Rosa Mountains from your fully-furbished condo at the Marriott Shadow Ridge Golf Course.

You will not be disappointed with either choice, but why not visit both?

Marriott Golf, the world’s largest resort golf management organization, has done some-thing special in this year-around getaway in Southern California. Marriott manages 61 golf courses at 44 properties in 12 countries and more than one million golfers enjoy the excellence each year. Some even come for the Faldo Golf Institutes at Shadow Ridge and in Florida at Marriott’s Grand Vista Resort.

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & SpaThey are celebrating the 25th anniversary of this iconic resort that took four years to build and has been recently renovated. This water-filled oasis of a golf resort is com-plete with 884 rooms, 36 holes of Ted Robinson golf, and boat rides from inside the lobby through the resorts waterways. It is massive with one of the largest swimming pool complexes of any Palm Desert hotel, with poolside food and beverage service.

The acclaimed Palm Course (6,761 yards, par 72) includes new tees, bunkers and USGA-specification greens on each of the 18 holes. And the Valley Course (6,627 yards, par 72) is also a favorite.

“Most of the comments we hear often are that the Palms Course is very picturesque and has a lot of scenery with all of the water including the flamingos and black and white swans,” said Drew Hudgens, head golf pro. “The signature hole on the Palm is the island par 3, 160-yard No. 17.

“The Valley Course also has a lot of water but most golfers think it is a manageable resort course – not too hard, not too easy. There are more peaks and valleys on the course as well as tiered greens requiring well placed shots off of the tee and to the green,” Hudgens said.

The $25 million in upgrades included rejuvenated guest rooms to fresh paint, artwork, carpet and drapes. Guest corridors have been enhanced as well. When it’s time to dine try Fisherman’s Landing and the Rockwood Grill, a restaurant with a garden terrace. Just around the corner, you can socialize under the stars at the Blue Star Lounge.

There’s also an 18-hole putting course, tennis on hard, clay or grass courts, and one can spend a day at the spa, and fitness center. There’s also more than 25 species of exotic birds including flamingos.

Marriott Defines Resort Golf In Palm Springs Area


Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf CourseThe first thing you might notice at Shadow Ridge is the emerald grounds fading into many living desert touches and lots of off-course activities such as tennis and swimming.

The golf course’s bold bunkering will definitely catch your eye along with tall native grasses, and wide fairways on this 7,006, par-71 Nick Faldo design.

“The bunkering is bold with steep faces and the greens have contours with lots of slick collection areas, said Brett Meabon, Shadow Ridge’s director of golf. “Many courses in the desert transform golf into a plush oasis with palm trees and watered looks, but I don’t think Mr. Faldo did either. It’s got a desert style and a links feel and native grasses make it feel like a European seaside links course.”

Meabon says the compliments he hears most often include the conditioning, customer service, the mountain panoramas and the mixture and variety of par fours that are long and short.

“Everyday can be different with the winds,” Meabon said. “Risk-reward comes into the finishing holes of 16, 17 and 18. The final hole is a long par four of 450 yards with fairway bunkers and a creek that crosses the fairway and guards the green. The fairway is pretty narrow so you must be precise.”

Relaxing at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge includes spacious one- and two-bedroom luxury villas with scenes of rolling fairways and lakes seen from your private balcony or patio. You will never see so many rabbits. Villas feature king-sized master suites and oversized soaking tubs, spacious living and dining areas, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Take a dip in the Chuckwalla Pool, just one of several pools. It has a waterslide, water guns, and other resort pool amenities.

So when you come to the California desert for the excellent winter weather, keep these two Marriott golf resorts in mind. You won’t regret it.


Pristine Bay Resort Roatan, Honduras (Previous Page)

Pristine Bay Resort – located on the idyllic Caribbean island of Roatan – is offering an innovative, stay-and-play opportunity com-bining golf on its Pete and Perry Dye-designed Black Pearl course and scuba.

The “Black Pearl Package” features the concept of “Interchangeable Days.” Each day guests have the option of one, 18-hole round of golf or three, single-tank dives. For example, select the seven-night / five “Interchangeable Day” package and spend three days playing the acclaimed Black Pearl and two exploring the world’s second-largest barrier reef. A five-night / three “Interchangeable Day” itinerary is also available.

More information: www.pristinebayresort.com, [email protected], (713) 489-2554.

Saddle Creek Resort Copperopolis, Calif.Nestled in the rolling Sierra foothills, just two hours from the Bay Area and 1.5 hours from Sacramento, Saddle Creek offers a pre-mier golf experience in the heart of California’s “Gold Country.”

Golfers will discover stunning vistas of the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east, while an ethereal collection of shimmering lakes, native trees, indigenous grasses and 100 bunkers provides a challenging, thought-provoking experience from tee to green.

Guests at Saddle Creek Resort stay in luxurious, course-side cabins, located along the 1st and 9th holes. The bungalows include one or two-bedrooms with a full kitchen, dining area, and a living room with a cozy fireplace.

For more information: www.saddlecreek.com, (800) 611-7722.


MYRTLE BEACHGolf and Fun for All!


MYRTLE BEACH

Barefoot Golf Course


MYRTLE BEACHGolf and Fun for All!


MYRTLE BEACHBy David Wood


First off, let’s look at what’s made Myrtle Beach famous. When one single area has over 100 courses – many designed by the who’s who of architects including Jack Nicklaus, Robert, Trent Jones,

Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman, Tom Doak, Mike Strantz and Tim Cate (to name only a few) – the permutations of where to stay-and-play can make a golf traveler giddy with delight.

For those seeking to add a notch to “top 100” resumes, the Dunes Golf & Beach Club (www.thedunesclub.net) in the Central Strand is a must play. Exceptionally scenic with its pristine beach lulled by gently rolling waves, the Robert Trent Jones design is also the epitome of strategic golf.

Its famous par-5 13th – “Waterloo – with Lake Singleton causing havoc on the drive and a small-tiered green devilishly hard to both hit and putt is the very definition of a “signature hole.”

Also in the lofty echelon of Myrtle Beach golf is Pawley Island’s Cale-donia Golf & Fish Club (www.fishclub.com). Caledonia’s 18 wan-ders serenely through tidal marshes, freshwater creeks and towering live oaks. Though only just over 6,500 yards from the back tees, Mike Strantz’s inaugural design is a glorious combination of golf and Mother Nature and all the golf you’ll ever want. Combined with its sister course True Blue, it makes for 36 holes of unforgettable golf.

The North Strand has numerous “top of the heap” options to play the ancient Scottish game. Most notably are the Dye, Fazio, Love and Norman layouts at Barefoot (www.barefootgolf.com). One would be hard-pressed to find four eighteens this high-caliber all designed by the cream of golf course architects. Barefoot is as good as it gets for a “one-stop” vacation with clubs in tow.

Though perhaps not as famous as the thoroughbreds above, oodles of courses are ideal for fleshing out a superb vacation itinerary. The Legends Golf & Resort’s Heathland Course (www.legendsgolf.com) is a Tom Doak masterpiece. Paying tribute to the roots of the game, this is a true links where the enemy is the vexing wind sweeping across the Central Strand and penal bunkers diabolically awaiting a poorly executed shot. This is true Scottish golf with no passport re-quired. Legends also has five additional outstanding layouts: Moor-land, Parkland, Oyster Bay, Heritage Club and Diamond Bay.

Like Barefoot and Legends, a full Myrtle Beach golf vacation could be had solely with Mystical Golf’s three Dan Maples classics – The Witch, Man-O-War and The Wizard (www.mysticalgolf.com). If only time for one of the acclaimed trio, The Witch is another must play. With 4,000 feet of bridges wending through swamps (front nine) and rolling hills (back nine), golfers may spy cranes, bald eagles, alligators and black bears. Holes are separated by forestry

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Barefoot Golf Course


and void of bordering homes, promoting a glorious pure-golf vibe. Plus, visit the Scottish castle clubhouse of The Wizard – it’s one of the coolest 19th holes anywhere.

While there are a hundred-plus locales to play golf in The Grand Strand, there are myriad nightlife, attractions and dining options. For restau-rants, Greg Norman’s Australian Grille is excellent. The cuisine and décor might make you think you’re dining on Sydney’s dramatic har-bor Down Under rather than the scenic Lowcountry of South Carolina. www.gregnormansaustraliangrille.com.

Murrells Inlet is chockablock with cool bars and restaurants right on the water. Eat fresh oysters and seafood right out of the ocean with a Land Shark lager to wash it down. Trust me, you can’t go wrong. www.murrellsinletsc.com/business-directory.php

For entertainment, the Alabama Theatre in Barefoot Landing is world-class. From big-time acts like Vince Gill and Bill Cosby to its outstanding venue show “One,” the Alabama Theater is as great as the golf in Myrtle Beach (and that’s saying something!). www.alabama-theatre.com

Featuring scores of stay-and-play golf packages, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday has everything you need to plan it all out with just a few clicks: www.GolfHoliday.com.

Mystical Golf’s The Witch

Dunes Golf & Beach Club

Heathland Course


CostaBaja Resort & SpaCostaBaja Resort & Spa


By James McAfee

CostaBaja Resort & SpaCostaBaja Resort & Spa

Hole #9


If you are looking for a chance of pace from what can be a more hectic lifestyles at such luxury Mexico destina-tions as Acapulco, Puerta Vallarta, Cancun and Los Cabos, LaPaz might be viable option.

La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is truly a rare pearl in this fast-paced world. It’s a place where vacationers come for an easy-going lifestyle that soothes the soul—as you might expect since “paz” translates into peace in Eng-lish. It doesn’t feel as touristy as its better-known Baja destination, Los Cabos, just over two and a half hours away. Home to more than 250,000 residents, LaPaz has all the amenities needed for a happy life.

Situated at the gateway to the Sea of Cortez, called “the world’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau, it offers spectacular sport fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports on beautiful beaches that are great places to swim—unlike most of the ones at the tip of the peninsula. The malecon (boardwalk) offers a great place to view the beautiful sunsets and see the locals enjoying themselves after a day of work. It’s sunny more than 340 days a year, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 95 degrees. Yes, it’s hot in the summer.

What was missing? Golf resorts and communities with world class courses. Grass just didn’t seem to grow here and water was in short supply, reportedly because the water wells were poorly managed and the region got less than four inches of rain annually. However, developers found the answer thanks to desalinization and the introduction of a less water-hungry turf called paspalum that was tolerant to salt and waste water. Once again, innovation makes the desert bloom.

CostaBaja Resort & Spa, sitting on a hillside east of town with breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez, is definitely a hidden gem, deserving of its five-star recognition and worth a visit on its own merits. There is a marina and plenty of housing choices already available with condos and villas at Visa Mar and townhomes at Las Colinas. The 115-room hotel offers luxurious accommodations

Gary Player’s first design in Mexico, which took three years to build, offers all the challenges that golfers want. I have to agree with Carl Rygg, the course manager with Troon Golf, who said, “Gary Player hit one out of the park here.” Panoramic views of the deep blue sea are visible from 14 of the holes. Rygg also was

Holes #3-#4


pleased that Player’s first design in Mexico was named the sev-enth best course in Mexico. Having played most of the courses in Los Cabos, it can definitely hold its own with most. Better yet, you can play more times as the green fees are lower.

CostaBaja is player friendly if a golfer will pick the right set of tees based on his ability level. You get the “wow” fac-tor when you see your drives stay in the air and go forever on seven holes that play downhill. The biggest drop is 180 feet to the 14th fairway. It looks intimidating, but I Hit the fair-way all three times and had chances for birdies on the par 5. Long hitters can get home or close on two short par 4s.

My only recommendation as an armchair architect is that consideration be given to moving what are the silver tees up to the turquoise tees since many golfers who play from the silver, count myself in the number, have trouble carrying their drives more than 215 yards to clear a series of cross bunkers.

One thing I did notice is that as might be expected from Player, there seemed to be more holes turning to the left, fa-voring a nice draw or a hook, his favorite shot. However, hook it or even slice it too much and you are in the desert, played like lateral hazards.

The only water on the course is a large lake on the par 3 8th where I would recommend hitting at least one or maybe two more clubs than you think as the wind seems to come around the townhomes into you more than it appears on the tee.

The ball sits up nicely on the paspalum in the fairways, but the same grass cut shorter on the greens does tend to be slower, especially if you happen to be ahead of the mowing crew. It doesn’t take long to adapt to the speed, but it’s wise to be sure to accelerate thru the ball on shorter putts.

CostaBaja is definitely a viable vacation option, especially for those on the West Coast, a two-hour flight from Los An-geles, but is a little harder to get there from other parts of the U.S. now until other flight options are forthcoming.

Many golfers like the idea of playing other courses on such trips and the two nearby options are Paraiso del Mar, located across the bay, and Bahia de los Suenos, 40 minutes south. The Arthur Hills-designed Paraiso del Mar is currently not in the best of shape as home owners battle to try and save the project. A better option worth the drive might be the Tom Doak-designed Bahia de los Suenos with summer green fees less than $100.

Hole #18


SWEETSTUFFEven though their white drivers and

fairway woods have received the ma-jority of the attention, TaylorMade

Golf has been getting a lot of buzz recently with their line of white putters as the com-pany has continued to introduce new models and shapes in the expanding popularity of its “white technology.”

This trend can definitely be seen lately in Tour events and at the recent U.S. Open as more prominent players have adapted to these new offerings--and for good reason.

With the white finish contrasting on the green grass, TaylorMade has found players can more easily align the putter head than with the traditional black or silver colors that have been in vogue for years. Officials at TaylorMade even point out that the study of thousands of putting strokes using their proprietary MAT-T (Motion Analysis Tech-nology by TaylorMade) System revealed that 65% of golfers fail to square the putter face to the target from 12 feet. In addition, the Ghost putter’s white finish eliminates the distractions of glare and “hot spots” caused by reflected sunlight, making it easier for the player to focus on aiming the putter accurate-ly and executing a sound stroke.

“The TaylorMade Ghost series brings the technology and science behind the white col-or and alignment cues from previous models to a wider audience than ever before,” said Dave Stockton, former major champion and one of the most respected putting teachers in

the game. “I’ve never seen a series of putters that are so easy to aim.”

Another defining feature of the Ghost putters is TaylorMade’s patented PURE ROLL face inserts that promotes forward spin to help reduce skidding to encourage a smooth, accurate roll and precise speed control. The insert’s soft Surlyn construction delivers a remarkably soft sound and touch at impact that keeps the ball tracking toward the hole and provides an excellent feel.

The two white models that have been among the most popular among the profes-sional set are the Ghost Spider, which is re-ally a new white incarnation of the previous black and silver Monza Spider from 2008, and the completely new Ghost Manta putter that provides the performance benefits of a high-MOI (moment of inertia) putter, but is packaged neatly in a more traditional one-piece neo-mallet shape.

Key to the alignment performance of the Ghost Manta is its wide-bodied frame, which features two black rails on the top of the put-ter head that frame the golf ball and contrast with the white top to help improve alignment and visibility.

Additionally, all of the putter’s technology, including its two 50-gram tungsten stabilizing weights and user-adjustable weight in the cen-ter, are hidden on the sole of the putter to help the golfer maintain focus. The Ghost Manta features a new double-bend shaft, which pro-vides the correct amount of offset without the shaft distracting from the putt.

Like the Monza Spider, the Ghost Spider incorporates the same innovative, steel wire-frame construction that concentrates most of the weight in the perimeter, which creates the high MOI that makes the putter head so highly resistant to twisting on off-center hits. The Ghost Spider also shares the Mon-za Spider’s Movable Weight Technology™ (MWT®), which allows the user to custom-ize the feel by changing the weights to make the head heavier or lighter.

The black, easy-to-see “basketball court” alignment lines make the Spider one of the easiest putters to aim, especially with the white contrasting head.

To round out the Ghost lineup, Taylor-Made launched its Ghost Tour putter series earlier this year--a collection of six tour-prov-en models that have been carefully refined and given a more durable white finish. In-cluded in this year’s offering are three mallets (Ghost Tour Corza, MA-81 and FO-72) and three blades (DA-12, DA-62, SE-62). Work-ing extensively with PGA Tour players, each model has been carefully shaped to extenuate every detailed curve and edge.

For more information: www.taylorma-degolf.com

With so much emphasis today on electronic golf accessories—be they cell phones or GPS units—or

a combination of both—one company is hit-ting the market with an array of products de-signed to hold these various instruments in a convenient viewing area in golf carts, on a bag or in a car.

The Universal Cup-It by Bracketron is a clever mobile GPS golf cart mount that can be used to hold a GPS unit or a cell phone


SWEETSTUFFby utilizing the cup holder in the cart. With many GPS programs residing within cell phone apps these days, this mount is great for golfers who can’t leave their phone be-hind while on the course. It is pretty ver-satile and will hold just about any phone or GPS unit on the market. It easily installs in the golf cart cup holder to provide a stable, secure and easily accessible mounting solu-tion. The included Grip-iT’s unique design allows its clamping arms to open up to 4.5” wide to accommodate golf GPS, iPods®, as well as mobile phones, and requires no tools for installation. The Cup-iT is compatible with most standard size cup holder openings

up to 3.75 inches in diameter.Another great feature of this device is

that it easily comes out of the golf cart and can be used in most auto cup holders to mount a cell phone for travel, making it a great two-in-one product.

A second option by Bracketron is their Cradle-iT Golf Cart Mount which allows you to mount golf GPS or Smartphone on any flat surface—such as the dash or windshield-- and view your device in portrait or landscape mode. The powerful suction mount features

a patented, adhesive-free grip technology that holds firmly and leaves no sticky residue. Its compact size makes it ideal to store in your golf bag.

The Golf Bag GPS Mount easily clips onto the top of a bag, providing a secure and eas-ily accessible mounting option. The included Grip-iT holder features expanding arms that can hold your device and can be rotated 360° for customized viewing.

For more information on Bracketron products, visit: www.bracketron.com

Adidas Golf has added to its reputa-tion as a fashion leader in golf cloth-ing with its new F/W’12 adidas Golf

Collection for men featuring colorful po-los, pants, half-zip jackets and new punchy styles in the Fashion Performance category.

The sportswear-mixed-with-fashion category has been a growing trend among many clothing lines, and adidas has jumped into the category in a big way with offerings that feature a new dose of wardrobe inspi-ration--subtle, versatile and functional.

One of the highlights of the collec-tion is the men’s adidas Golf Fashion Per-formance Lined Woven Jacket featuring a full-zip double welt placket, two front pockets with contrast zip closure and adi-das’ iconic multi-colored 3-stripes on the left chest. This 100% polyester ripstop fab-ric creates the perfect lightweight jacket for summer weather as a transitional warmth piece. They are available in several contem-porary color patterns: white/limeade/navy/royal, zone/white/bright pink/black/ecru, and navy/sunburst/white/light blue.

The Fashion Performance Pants feature a contoured waste with contrast belt loops, hook-and-eye front closure, two front pockets with button closure, back welt pockets with contrast detail, contrast detail with button closure on ankle, contrast adidas brandmark above back-right pocket. These comfortable, light pants are made with elastane stretch twill for extra comfort on or off of the course. The available colors in include some colorful check patterns as well as solid colors.

For more information: www.adidas-Golf.com

by TerryRoss

Golf Vacations Magazine July 2012

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Transcript of Golf Vacations Magazine July 2012