Golf Vacations Magazine June 2010

GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSOur8thYear!

COOL OFF IN THE CARIBBEAN ST. KITTS PARADISE

COOL OFF IN THE CARIBBEANST. KITTS PARADISE

TALKING WITH PRAIRIE CLUB FOUNDER PAUL SCHOCK

D

JUNE 2010JUNE 2010

DPLUS:Bluesy Mississippi Offers More I Woodstock Inn & ResortPLUS:Bluesy Mississippi Offers More I Woodstock Inn & Resort

ORAL GOLF RESORT & SPAMIAMI’S BLUE MONSTER MASHORAL GOLF RESORT & SPAMIAMI’S BLUE MONSTER MASH

http://www.stxputters.com

http://www.theprairieclub.com

contents I june 2010

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Doral’s Big Blue Monster Mashby David R. Holland

Doral has come a long way since its 2,400 acres, just seven milesfrom Miami International Airport, were purchased from what wasEverglades swampland.

Caribbean Cool In St. Kittsby David R. Holland

Where on earth can you play two holes on the Atlantic Ocean(holes 3 and 4) then a short time later tee off on four CaribbeanSea holes (holes 14-17)?

Mississippi: Birthplace Of Bluesby Steve Donahue

Mississippi might not be the first place many of the nation’s golfersthink of when they get a hankering for great golf and gaming. Butsavvy golfers have long known more golfers should put theMagnolia State on their radar.

Walking And Talking With Paul Schockby Terry Ross

An avid golfer establishes this amazing relationship between thecourse, his game, the ball, and the elements, while enjoying a walk inthe great outdoors.

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on the cover: Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Florida

7 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel

29 World Beat by Mark Walters

Do’s And Dont’s When Golfing In Thailand

30 DestinationsYour Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

d e p a r t m e n t s

Executive EditorJeffrey Diaz

Associate EditorTerry Ross

Features EditorLarry Feldman

Staff WritersFred RobledoRob Mottram

For Editorial:

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

Regional Advertising

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

Atlanta • 770-971-1616John Reock - [email protected]

San Diego • 619-889-7706Bob Black - [email protected]

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President Jeffrey Diaz

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

1-800-940-7816 • fax 214-889-3667

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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.

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David R. Holland is a former sportswriter for The Dallas Morning News, a football maga-zine publisher and author of The Colorado Golf Bible. Multiple careers best describes thisworld traveler, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force reserve, servingduring the Vietnam and Desert Storm eras. A former sportswriter for The Dallas MorningNews, you can follow Dave’s travels on www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland.

James McAfee is a freelance golf and travel writer based in Wylie, TX. He was exec-utive director of the Northern Texas PGA for 27 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.

Steve Donahue has been an award-winning editor and writer in the golf-magazine indus-try since 1991, following more than 15 years as Assistant Sports Editor at one ofConnecticut’s largest daily newspapers. Currently a freelance writer/editor and GolfDigest Course Ranking Panelist, he has enjoyed lengthy full-time stints at several publica-tions, including Golf Digest and Senior Golfer. He has played 700-plus courses in all 50states and 10 countries.

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 capac-ities. He has been a regular columnist for the Long Beach Business Journal and isbased in Orange County, California.

GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010 5www.golfvacationsmag.com

www.golfvacationsmag.com6 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010

http://www.desertwillow.com

Woodstock, VT – The Woodstock Inn & Resort is kick-ing off the 2010 golf season with a selection of golf pack-ages to suit every skill level on its top-rated Robert Trent

Jones designed course, named one of the world’s “Top 100 GolfResorts” (Golf Magazine).

The Heritage Unlimited Golf Package provides guests withthe opportunity to play as much golf as they want during their stay.In addition to unlimited golf at The Resort’s Golf Club, the packageincludes two-night luxury accommodations, golf cart, complimenta-ry use of driving range and breakfast each morning to fuel up beforehitting the course. Priced starting at $219 per night, double occu-pancy with a two-night minimum, the package is available throughOctober 31, 2010.

Learn to Golf at Woodstock with private lessons and plenty oftime to practice. Take advantage of the Learn to Golf package onehour private lessons for two for each day of the stay, in addition tounlimited golf, golf cart, complimentary use of the driving range, ayardage booklet and two sleeves of golf balls. The package starts at$330 per night, double occupancy, minimum of two-night stay,including breakfast each morning and two nights of luxury accom-modations available through September 30, 2010.

The Family Golf- Learn to Play package provides the wholefamily a chance to learn a new skill while spending quality timetogether. Catering to all skill sets, the package includes a one hourfamily golf clinic with a Woodstock Golf Club pro, unlimited golffor everyone and use of a golf cart. To keep the memories going offthe course, a S’mores Kit will be provided to use at Woodstock’s

fire pit as well as complimentary passes to nearby Billing Farm &Museum to learn about the rural history of Woodstock and experi-ence a working dairy farm firsthand. The package is good throughSeptember 30, 2010 starting at $320 per room, with the option of$120 for the second room available per night midweek, minimumtwo-night stay with complimentary breakfast provided daily.

All packages can be booked at www.woodstockinn.com or bycalling 1-877-350-3428.

Set in the unspoiled Kedron Valley, Woodstock’s 18-hole RobertTrent Jones, Sr. golf course emphasizes shot selection over distance,also known as “target golf.” The 6,000-yard, par-70 course is a chal-lenging sequence of fairways, sandtraps and water hazards guaran-teed to test even the most seasoned golfer. The Woodstock Inn &Resort Golf Club offers a pro shop, practice range, putting green,private lessons and clinics, restaurant, and lounge. The Fairway atThe Golf Club offers seasonal dining overlooking the golf courseand surrounding scenic vistas.

Guests can also dine at The Red Rooster. Open for lunch anddinner the menu emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, including spe-cialty cheeses, shellfish and heirloom fruits and vegetables, sourcedfrom the best purveyors in New England. Other activities includethe resort’s 41,000 square foot Racquet & Fitness Club, whichincludes indoor and outdoor tennis courts, indoor racquetballcourts, a 30-by-60 foot indoor lap pool, a whirlpool, workout equip-ment and a steam room and sauna. Guests can also enjoy downtownWoodstock filled with antique shops, art galleries, boutiques,restaurants, specialty food markets and more.

Woodstock Inn & Resort“FORE”CASTING AN IDYLLIC START TO 2010 SEASON

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TorreTHE CUISINE OF ITALY“Combining Old-World Italian comfort food with personalized service,a congenial atmosphere and an extensive wine list, La Torretta excelsas one of Arizona’s most impressive restaurants” — Dining Out

With a menu that utilizes the freshest and most authentic ingredientsand pasta made fresh in-house daily, the restaurant’s culinary fare isconsistently delicious and refreshing.Their Osso Buco,Taglio del VitelloFarcito con Quattro Farmagio and Veal Piccata have become locallegends and inspired positive reviews from the Scottsdale Republic,the New Times, Guest Informant, TravelHost, and Scottsdale Magazine.

The combination of La Torretta’s sophisticated interior and authenticfood make it a prime candidate for intimate dinners to groupcelebrations of special occasions.

LIVE WELL • LOVE MUCH • LAUGH OFTEN

LA TORRETTARistorante & Italian Steakhouse

16640 N. Scottsdale Rd • SW corner Frank Lloyd Wright/Scottsdale RdScottsdale • 480.991.2000 • www.latorrettaaz.com

Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30am-2pm • Dinner Daily 4:30-9:30pm

Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsCALLAWAY GARDENS GETAWAYGOLF STARTING AT $320/NIGHT

Golfers…escape to Callaway Gardens, a13,000 acre resort one hour south ofAtlanta, to hit the links at the scenic LakeView and championship Mountain View golfcourses for an unlimited golf getaway start-ing at only $320/night.

The superbly designed and meticulouslymaintained golf courses at Callaway Gardensfeature woodland borders and mountainlakes accented by the dramatic beauty of theGardens. No other golf course in Georgiadelivers this combination of a magnificentnatural setting and rich golf tradition.

The $320/night rate includes:• Two-bedroom Southern Pine Cottage

with kitchen and living area. • Unlimited Golf on our Lake View and

Mountain View courses. • Use of the Twin Oaks Golf Practice

Facility, which offers more than 26-acres totest every club in your bag and ranked asone of the top in the South.

• Admission to world-class CallawayGardens featuring the DayButterfly Center, SibleyHorticultural Center, CallawayDiscovery Center, live Birds ofPrey Shows, seven miles ofnature trails and our 10-milebicycle trail. For more infor-mation visit http://www.call-

awaygardens.com/callaway/summer-adventure/sfa-package.aspx

TEE FOR TWO THIS SUMMER ATFOUR SEASONS SCOTTSDALE

Scottsdale, AZ - This Father's Day,forgo the trite necktie and tacky baubles andgive dad what he really wants - quality time

with his family. Four Seasons ResortScottsdale at Troon North and Troon NorthGolf Club are teaming up to offer the Teefor Two summer golf package, providingdad the chance to share his love of the linkswith those that matter most.

The Tee for Two package includes:• One-night stay for two at Four

Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North• Breakfast for two in Crescent Moon or

through In-Casita Dining• One hour of personalized instruction

for dad and his son or daughter at TroonNorth Golf Club

• Unlimited golf for the day at TroonNorth Golf Club for dad and his son ordaughter

• Callaway rental clubs for dad and hisson or daughter for day-use

Valid June 1 - Sept. 12, 2010 • Ratesstart at $355 per night, double occupancy

For additional information and reserva-tions, please call (888) 207-9696 or bookonline at www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale.

MARYLAND’S LODESTONE GOLFCLUB SET TO OPEN JUNE 5th

McHenry, MD – Lodestone Golf Club,in Western Maryland, recently announcedthey will open all 18 holes of the new layouton Saturday June 5, 2010. Lodestone boasts astunning Hale Irwin Signature design with

golf architect Todd Schoeder, that sits in themountainous region above Deep CreekLake and the well known Wisp Resort.

The par-72 Lodestone plays 7,507 yardsfrom the ‘Irwin Tees’ and features bent grassgreens, tees and fairways. Lodestone Golf

Club is a truly natural mountain golf coursehighlighted by bold, tree-lined fairways, eye-catching bunker complexes and dramaticrock outcroppings. Not only does Lodestonehave the highest elevation of any course inMaryland at 2,973 feet above sea level, butthis premier club boasts numerous jaw drop-

ping elevation changes and sweeping views ofthe mountainous region that sits above DeepCreek Lake.

“Lodestone Golf Club will certainly beone of the more celebrated openings thissummer,” stated Dave Goff, vice president of

OB Sports (management company atLodestone Golf Club). “This highly anticipat-ed opening will certainly make a splash notonly in the Mid Atlantic region but alsothroughout the United States as the layout,views and course design will be unparalleledand unlike any other in the area,” added Goff.

While the club will be private, LodestoneGolf Club will be accessible starting June 11,2010 via 'discovery golf packages' and viaaccess from preferred lodging partners in theDeep Creek Lake region. In addition,Lodestone recently unveiled a new trial useprivilege opportunity that allow for interestedparties to preview a membership atLodestone Golf Club. Lodestone’s 2010Trial Use Privilege program offers a host ofbenefits including playing privileges, compli-mentary use of the practice facility, guestprivileges, travel benefits at other OB Sports-managed facilities, among other value addedbenefits. The 2010 Trial Use offering starts at$2000 for a single, $3000 for a single plus aspouse/partner and $3600 for a family.

For more information on Lodestone GolfClub, call (301) 616-0508 email [email protected], visit www.lodestonegolf.com

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Want to Advertise? Call (800) 940-7816 or visit us at www.golfvacationsmag.com

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ABIGBLUE

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ABIGBLUE

MONSTER

DORALGOLF RESORT & SPADORAL

GOLF RESORT & SPA

DORAL, Fla. – The forecaddie was running his legsoff during a marathon dash around Doral GolfResort & Spa’s (Marriott) TPC Blue Monster atDoral but paused to say, just a smidgen out ofbreath: “Heck this is nothing, try keeping up with

Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor when they play here. I’mworn out by the end of 18.”

But “keeping up” has been no problem for the venerableMiami-area resort since it opened in 1962 and became a favoriteof PGA Tour families with the initial Doral Open Invitational,Florida’s first PGA event.

Doral has come a long way since its 2,400 acres, just sevenmiles from Miami International Airport, were purchased fromwhat was Everglades swampland. One thing is for sure – everygolf-loving celebrity and every PGA Tour player legend of themodern era has walked these verdant fairways and tried to avoidits watery hazards, and knocked down shots under its blusterywinds and swaying palms.

When Ernie Els won the 2010 CA Championship this March7-13 it was almost like going back in time – a 40-year-old veteran,loved by many fans, was again a champion (first win in two years)on a course that ranks in PGA lore – only two other PGA stopshave hosted continuously run tournaments longer -- The Masterssince 1934 and Colonial in Fort Worth since 1946.

And now Doral sits at 49 years in a row but is losing its spon-sor for 2011. Most are confident for No. 50 next year.

Doral Golf Resort & Spa’s: The HistoryOwner’s Doris and Alfred Kaskel combined their names for

“Doral” and not only did it spawn a world-class resort it gave birthto the city of Doral.

Doral Golf Resort & Spa was renamed in 1993 and the origi-nal Dick Wilson layout (with an assist from Joe Lee), got $30 mil-lion dollar redesign by Raymond Floyd, who at one time in hiscareer said the Blue Monster was the toughest course he’d everplayed, and renowned golf instructor Jim McLean.

“I think what really endeared the PGA Tour pros to Doral,”said Ryan Hershberger, Group Golf Sales Manager and club histo-rian, “was the fact back in the ‘60s and ‘70s travel to a tour eventwas different, but here was a place the pros could bring their fam-ilies and the wife and kids had a multitude of other things toenjoy.”

"Dick Wilson designed a golf course with great balance," saysFloyd. "There are as many holes where you have to play a draw asa fade. There are long par 4s and short par 4s. There are long par3s and short par 3s. There are par 5s you can reach in two shots,and the 12th (603 yards) is just about unreachable -- even by TigerWoods or John Daly."

Today’s TPC Blue Monster: The VerdictRanked No. 29 on Golfweek’s List of Top Tour Courses You

Can Play -- in the end TPC Blue Monster at Doral is tougher thanthe back end of a shooting gallery for the average hack.

One first thinks of No. 18, that 467-yard, par 4 that has beennamed by Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Holes in the World”. Youmust thread a perfect drive between water on the left and palmson the right. Then the approach must sneak past another finger ofwater to a long, narrow green that slopes from back quicklytoward the water. Many balls hit left of the green end up in thewater and it takes bravery for a player to fire at the back left-handSunday pin.

At 7,288 yards from the tournament tees, par 72, it has agauntlet of strategically placed bunkers, and length – then onemust know how to play out of Bermuda rough to score well on thishistoric course. Also, just try and throw darts into par 3s that aresurrounded by water. No. 4 is 236 yards with water front andbailout left. No. 9 is 169 yards of all water carry to the pin.

The charm that comes from Doral is the fact all the legends ofthe game have played here.

“I remember hearing Tiger Woods in a press conference say-ing he loved the Blue Monster because it was such a traditionalgolf course,” said Darrin Helfrick, Doral general manager. “Andhe appreciated that it hadn’t been tricked up and made harder justfor the guys on the tour.”

By David R. Hollandcourtesy TravelGolf.com


Much More At Doral Golf Resort & Spa

One should never tire of your daysat Doral. There are five 18-hole cham-pionship golf courses. The par-70 JimMcLean Signature Course debuted inNovember 2009 as the first full-coursedesign project for the famed golfinstructor. The Great White (GregNorman) and Gold courses were alsorecently renovated with TifEaglegreens. The Red Course forces golfersto use strategy and placement.

This “Marriott” resort has 693rooms, including 96 suites, with bal-conies or patios and many with viewsof the course. My view was of the BlueMonster’s 18th. And for its 50thanniversary in 2012 the resort is under-going a renewal for the celebration.

Practice and game improvementincludes the Jim McLean GolfCenter. Dinner is tasty at the Latin-inspired Mesazul Steakhouse or thenew Bossa Nova lobby bar. Lunch isserved at The Champions Sports Bar& Grill or Bungalou's Bar & Grill.Then there’s the Spa at Doral withthe Pritikin Longevity Center.Recreation? The Blue Lagoon aquaticrecreation area stands out. There arealso nine retail shops.

David R. Holland, Colorado Golf Biblehttp://drholland77.googlepages.com

http://www.travelgolf.com/depart-ments/authorarchives/holland.htm

http://www.twitter.com/David_R_Holland

http://www.ultimatewalkinggear.com/index.php?m=IC0920510

COOL

CARIBBEANCARIBBEAN

COOLBASSETERRE, St. Kitts, West Indies -- It's a tiny slice of the WestIndies, this island where Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, pirateslurked and stowed treasure in a hidden lair, where you drive on the left side

of the road, and golf tee shots soar high enough to view countless scenes ofocean beauty at Royal St. Kitts Golf Club.

by David R. Holland

COOL

BEANBEAN

COOL

Clubhouse can been seen in the distance of No. 18's flag.

For that matter, where on earth can you play two holes on theAtlantic Ocean (holes 3 and 4) then a short time later tee off onfour Caribbean Sea holes (holes 14-17)?

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club opened in 1976 and was designed byPeter Thomson, taking over land that was once a cotton field. Butin 2003 the course blossomed when Canadian Thomas McBroomremodeled the 6,859-yard, par-71 layout to include 83 bunkers, 12lakes, wide fairways, large greens and irrigated seashore paspalumgrass that tolerates sea water and is an advanced hybrid turf grassthat helps keep the course lush and green all year.

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club: Entering A New Era"Aside from the introduction of paspalum grass, I thinkMcBroom's reshaping of the bunkers made the biggest hit," saidScott Lien, golf professional of the Marriott-run golf course. "Askjust about anyone what they like about it and they start thinkingabout the 14th hole followed by the next three."

The 15th, Lien says, sits on the highest point with a stunningpanorama of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring islands of Saba,St. Maarten and Nevis. This 163-yard par 3 is all downhill anddepending on the wind it can be conquered or doubled.

Sixteen, a 390-yard par 4 with the sea left, makes many a golferpush it right demanding a negotiation of palm trees on the secondshot. No. 17 can be a bear. It is a 405-yard par 4 with theCaribbean left and a pond right. Thread the needle here beforetackling the finale, a 451-yard par 4 that heads back inland with a

lake right. When you finish, your numb brain will think it was apar 5, not a 4 if it is against the wind.

"We have people come play every day for a week and they tell meit is different each day because of the wind changing," Lien said."You are just not going to get bored."

Royal St. Kitts Golf Club: The VerdictNeedless to say, this is a place you should visit - the golf coursefirst, but the St. Kitts Marriott Resort & Casino with its EmeraldMist Spa is not to be missed either.

This is a golf experience you won't soon forget. The bunkers areoutstanding and the variety the course presents is fun for all levelsof player.

The Royal Golf Academy specializes in all levels of golf instructionand offers short-game lessons by the PGA Certified GolfProfessionals including Lien and Sean Gradomski. The Royal St.Kitts Golf Club is managed by Marriott Golf. Through its "roundsand rooms" feature at www.marriottgolf.com guests can pre-booktee times at the same time they book rooms.

Legends Celebrity Golf WeekendThis would have been a fun outing even if we hadn't participatedin the Legends Celebrity Golf Weekend, where every golfer wason a team with a sports legend. My partner was NFL Hall ofFame linebacker Harry Carson of the New York Giants, and otherheadliners were Giants' LB Lawrence Taylor, boxer Gerry Cooney

Hole 15 - A beautiful par 3 from the highest point of the golf course. 163 yard downhill.

16 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com

- even a couple of actors, Shaft's Richard Roundtree and GlynnTurman of A Different World and HBO's The Wire.

Bruce Smith, a Buffalo Bills defensive lineman legend, and DaveHenderson, an outfielder with the Oakland Athletics, hosted theevent, but it was chatterbox Buffalo Bills' running back ThurmanThomas who stole the awards ceremony. Thomas quipped, "Heck,Eric Dickerson (LA Rams Hall of Fame running back) made moremoney at SMU than he did playing pro football."

All of the proceeds from the golf tournament and the silent andlive auctions went to Operation Smile, a non-profit organizationthat works to surgically repair facial deformities in young childrenaround the world. The event raised more than $20,000, and, witheach of these surgical procedures costing only $240, more than 80children will be able to have their facial deformities repaired forfree thanks to the generosity of these stars and others who partici-pated in all of the events.

Stay and Play: Marriott's Royal St. Kitts Hotel & CasinoThe Marriott resort is a huge, 648 rooms, located on the FrigateBay, windward side of the island. Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casinostrives to deliver an authentic island experience and aims to pro-mote the Kittitian culture. There were plenty of restaurants, butmy favorite was the Royal Grille Steakhouse.

St. Kitts was once ruled by the sugar cane business, now defunct,but the hotel has a unique fountain at its entrance made out of asugar-boiling cauldron known as a "copper". It stands as a symbol

of St. Kitts' sugar-producing history. All of the coins tossed intothe fountain by Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino's guests and staffwill continue to be donated to the local Children's Home.

What To Do On St. KittsFirst, you probably came here for golf and to enjoy the beach, butSt. Kitts is steeped in history and boasts plenty of sites -- prehis-toric Carib Indian grounds - plantation houses turned into hotelsand guest houses, remnants of working sugar estates featuringsugar mills bases and even a narrow-gauge railway you can ride.

Ocean adventures include underwater caves and ancient wrecks.The sand can be black or tan and there are botanical gardens andmountain trails to hike. There are also plans for a thoroughbredracetrack that will also feature greyhound racing at the north endof the island. South Friars Bay wants to develop a place to swimwith dolphins.

Perhaps the most well known attraction on St. Kitts is BrimstoneHill Fortress National Park, which was designated a WorldHeritage site by UNESCO in October 2000. It was built over aperiod of 104 years beginning in 1690, and British authorities con-sider the fortress to be one of the finest examples of British mili-tary architecture in the world. The views of St. Eustatius and Sabafrom this high point are worth the admission.

A gory battle happened at Bloody Point and Bloody River, namedfor the massacre of 2,000 indigenous Carib Indians by the Englishand French militia in 1626.

Hole 14 - This is an uphill 332-yard par 4 with an elevated green and the Caribbean Sea to the right.


MISSISSIPPIBy Steve Donahue


Mississippi might not be the first place many ofthe nation’s golfers think of when they get ahankering for great golf and gaming. But

savvy golfers have long known more golfers should putthe Magnolia State on their radar.

In fact, not only does Mississippi combine some of the nation’stop public-access golf courses and gaming destinations (the state’scollection of casino resorts makes it America’s third-largest gamingdestination after Las Vegas and Atlantic City), it throws in an end-less supply of the Blues—and great BBQ—for good measure.

Mississippi bills itself as “TheBirthplace of America’s Music.”Indeed, from blues legendsRobert Johnson, Muddy Watersand B.B. King, to the king ofrock ’n’ roll, Elvis Presley, to thefather of country music, JimmieRodgers, Mississippi is the onlyplace you’ll find the history, her-itage, legends and folklore thatsurround the sounds ofAmerica’s music.

Visitors can now follow thepaths of the world’s greatestblues musicians on Highway 61,America’s Blues Highway, thanksto the Mississippi Blues Trail,which honors blues musicianswith 100-plus historical markersplaced at key Mississippi sites.From these legends’ birthplaces,to performance sites, togravesites, you’ll see how theblues began and changedAmerican music.

Nowhere can you learn moreabout and experience more blueshistory than in Clarksdale—locat-ed at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49 (“the crossroads”)—which, along with the surrounding Delta region, is known as ”theland where the blues began.”

Many of historic downtown Clarksdale’s businesses have beenshuttered, but a recent renaissance, of sorts, has seen the fascinat-ing, must-visit Delta Blues Museum (housed in the historic

Clarksdale freight depot), and a host of restaurants andclubs open. Located at adjacent Blues Alley is thefamous Ground Zero Blues Club—partly owned byAcademy Award-winning actor and Mississippi Deltaresident Morgan Freeman—which celebrates the area’s

rich blues heritage and showcases today’s premier Delta Bluesmusicians, while serving great “down home” food and drink. Ourgroup spent the night dancing up a storm to the blues riffs of asuperb local group, Stan Street and the Hambone Band.

Incidentally, Stan’s an artist by day. He showcases his outstand-ing artwork in the popular downtown Clarksdale Hambone

Gallery he owns with his wife,who is the band’s drummer. Priorto our night at Ground Zero wedined on delicious BBQ at theHopson Plantation Commissary,which is filled with antique andhistorical items that create a nos-talgic, Deep South Delta atmos-phere. The Commissary is inmuch the same condition as in itsglory days more than 50 yearsago. In 1935 the HopsonPlantation began a hugechangeover to become one of theworld’s first completely mecha-nized cotton operations. Nineyears later, InternationalHarvester debuted the first cot-ton picker on the Hopson farm,making it the world’s first to growand harvest a commercial acreageof cotton produced completely bymechanical methods.

Also on the plantation’sgrounds is the Shack Up Inn(shackupinn.com), 10 formersharecropper shacks convertedinto unique hotel rooms whoseinteriors and exteriors still exude

their original rustic feel, but with restored porches, kitchenettes,indoor plumbing, air conditioning and funky decor.

For those preferring the sights and sounds of glittering casinohotels and superb golf courses, Clarksdale is located just 35 milessouth of Tunica, which is 30 minutes south of Memphis, Tenn.Tunica boasts nine world-class casino resorts, more than 6,000 lux-

The Birthplace Of America’s Music Offers Golfers ALot More Than Just Great Courses And Gaming Action


Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club

urious hotel rooms and suites, fine dining restaurants and buffets,headline entertainers, championship golf and tennis, award-winningmuseums, lavish spas and outlet/antique shopping.

And, of course, let’s not forget Tunica’s outstanding golf scene, ledby the spectacular Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club, which islocated in the heart of casino country and the Delta Region. TunicaNational is built on pancake-flat land, and, not surprisingly, wind is amajor factor. There is water everywhere, but fortunately the fairwaysare wide and the greens large, albeit lightning-quick. A 360-degreedriving range features a golf academy.

Designed by Mark McCumber and Associates, this $12 millionclub features a tournament-level, 18-hole championship courseplayable for all skill levels. There also is a six-hole short practicecourse and a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse, which houses four indoorclay tennis courts.

River Bend Links at Casino Strip Resorts—a wonderful links-stylelayout—is nestled between Sam’s Town, Hollywood Casino andResorts Tunica. This 6,900-yard, par-72 Clyde Johnston-designedmasterpiece traverses a former cotton field and features lakes, sandand grass bunkers, and strategically placed mounds. And with fivetee-box options, the course is challenging and fun for players of allabilities.

Rounding out Tunica’s golf offerings is The Links at Cottonwoods,affiliated with Harrah’s Casino Tunica. The 7,200-yard, par-72 HaleIrwin-designed links-style course has gently rolling fairways and threesparkling lakes that can put a damper on one’s score.

The rooms and suites in the Gold Strike Casino Resort, where ourgroup stayed, are amazing, as are the hotel’s restaurants, including

GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010 21

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club

The Courtyard Buffet. I also highly rec-ommend setting aside an evening for finedining at Harrah’s Casino Tunica’s ’37Steakhouse, where the food and serviceare absolutely incredible. And if you’re afan of Food Network star Paula Deen, herPaula Deen Buffet restaurant at Harrah’sis a huge hit with visitors, who alwaysmake time to pose for a photo with a card-board Paul cutout outside the eatery’sfront door and play the slots of the adja-cent Paula Deen machines.

Tunica also became a more convenientdestination on May 6, 2010, when AirTranAirways began making regular scheduled,non-stop jet service between the newlyexpanded Tunica Airport and Atlanta’sHartsfield-Jackson International Airporton Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays andSundays.

The best place to better see andunderstand the Mississippi River and itshistory is at the state-of-the-art TunicaRiverPark. You’ll enjoy exhibits on theMississippi Delta, its wildlife, the leveesystem and the region’s history; a three-story outdoor observation platform; fourlarge aquariums with native aquatic life;and 130 acres of Delta-wetlands forestwith 1.9 miles of boardwalk trails. You canalso relax and experience the MightyMississippi up close on the all-new TunicaQueen riverboat, docked at the museum.It has space for 300 passengers, two open-air decks, dining and sightseeing cruises.

Some four hours southeast ofTunica—and an hour-and-a-half’s drivefrom Jackson, the state capital—is thespectacular Pearl River Resort, whichincludes the world-class, 36-hole DancingRabbit Golf Club, Silver Star Hotel &Casino, Golden Moon Hotel & Casino,new Hilton Garden Inn, Geyser FallsWater Theme Park and Clearwater Key.Golfers also have the option of staying inone of the eight guestrooms on the secondfloor of the gorgeous Southern Plantation-style Dancing Rabbit Clubhouse.

Our group stayed in the comfortable,well-appointed rooms (with 12-foot ceil-ings), which come with keys to private golfcarts (complete with headlights) you navi-

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

WHERE TO PLAYDancing Rabbit Golf Club (Azaleas)

Choctaw: 601-663-0011, dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.comDancing Rabbit Golf Club (Oaks)

Choctaw: 601-663-0011, dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.comRiver Bend Links

Tunica: 888-539-9990, riverbendlinks.comThe Links at Cottonwoods

Tunica: 800-946-4946, harrahstunica.comTunica National Golf & Tennis Club

866-TEEOFF1 (833-6331), tunicanational.com

WHERE TO STAYDancing Rabbit Golf Club Clubhouse

Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), dancingrabbitgolf.com, pearlriverresort.comGolden Moon Hotel & Casino

Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.comGold Strike Casino Resort

Tunica: 888-245-7829, goldstrikemississippi.comSilver Star Hotel & Casino

Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.com

WHERE TO EATMiko (Silver Star Hotel & Casino)

Choctaw: 866-44PEARL (447-3275), pearlriverresort.comHopson Commissary

Clarksdale: 662-624-5756, hopsonplantation.com’37 (Harrah’s Tunica)

Tunica: 800-WIN4WIN (946-4946), harrahstunica.com

WHAT TO DODelta Blues Museum

Clarksdale: 800-626-3764, deltabluesmuseum.orgGround Zero Blues Club

Clarksdale: 662-621-9009, groundzerobluesclub.comHopson Plantation

Clarksdale: 662-624-5756, hopsonplantation.comTunica RiverPark

866-51RIVER (517-4837), tunicariverpark.com

WHO TO CONTACTMississippi Development Authority/Tourism Division

601-359-3449, mississippi.orgMississippi Tourism Association

866-SEEMISS (733-6477), VisitMississippi,org Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau

888-4TUNICA (488-6422), tunicatravel.com, tunicamiss.comVisit Clarksdale

800-626-3764, visitclarksdale.com


gate along a lighted cart path through the woods from the club-house to the Silver Star Hotel & Casino, where you absolutelyneed to set aside an evening of fine dining at Miko. DancingRabbit’s Clubhouse accommodations couldn’t be more convenientfor small golf groups or golfers flying solo, especially since you’llfinish your round mere steps from your room, the award-winninggolf shop and the Clubhouse Grill, which serves up a heartybreakfast buffet and lunch.

Dancing Rabbit—built on the ancestral lands of theMississippi Band of Choctaw Indians—offers a variety of Stay &Play Golf Packages at any of the resort’s hotels, its Clubhouseaccommodations and a recently renovated, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house hidden off the third hole of its Azaleas Course.

Southern hospitality rules at Dancing Rabbit, whose service issuperb, and the golf at its Azaleas and Oaks courses is spectacular.The design team of Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate carved Azaleas,which opened in July 1997, out of the region’s dramatic valleys,ancient pines and hardwoods. The Azaleas course is reserved

exclusively for resort guests. The 7,172-yard, par-72 Azaleas, dur-ing our late-April visit, conjured up images of Augusta National asthe azaleas were exploding in full bloom throughout the immacu-lately manicured layout. The thrill ride through the enchantingforest’s peaks and valleys has earned Azaleas countless well-deserved awards.

The 7,076-yard, par-72 Oaks—which also has received numer-ous accolades from golf publications since its 1999 opening—fea-tures many elevation changes and large, undulating greens. WhileOaks was built through the same rustic landscape as its sister, itoffers golfers a different look, with several holes requiring carriesover water. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina flattened more than 1,000trees on the Oaks (amazingly, the adjacent Azaleas only sustainedminor damage), giving a number of holes an unplanned, more-open feel, which actually makes it a perfect complement toAzaleas’ forested design.

The bottom line is Mississippi is the world’s only golf/gamingdestination where you will actually enjoy feeling the blues.


The Links At Cottonwoods

How did you get into golfing?My older brother Bernie, who is ten

years older than me, was an avid golfer dur-ing the days when there weren't any drivingranges around where we grew up in SouthDakota. So, everyone had their own "shagbag" and you would go to a fairway and hityour own balls, pick them up and start over.

I would "shag" for Bernie, and the dealwas that every time I shagged a bag, hewould let me hit a few balls on my own. Ithink what this instilled in me was that hit-ting golf balls was a great privilege, some-thing to cherish, and to this day, I cherishmy time on the range.

As I got older, at about age 13, I startedplaying in junior tournaments, and hadsome success, which just fueled my passion.My parents were members of a fairly quietprivate club, The Minnehaha Country Club(still one of South Dakota’s finest courses)and I spent literally sun up to sun down outthere from about age 12 to 18. There wereseveral of us who played together, and thisestablished golf as the foundation and one

of the key relationships in my life, some-thing that is still true today, and somethingI have tried to pass along to my children.

What attracts you to golfing? Why areyou passionate about it?

I feel it’s a game between you and thecourse, period.

An avid golfer establishes this amazingrelationship between the course, his game,the ball, and the elements, while enjoying awalk in the great outdoors. I have alwaysloved the outdoors. I love to watch birds,listen to the wind, watch the sky, and withgolf I get to do all of these things while alsoenjoying this amazing competition betweenmyself and what I can do against the courseon a given day.

Golf is ever changing, both with me andmy skills, and the courses, which are eachso different, and the elements, which arenever quite the same. In many ways, eachexperience is like your first. It’s a game noone owns, you just get to borrow it for a lit-tle bit, and then it's gone. But you feel deep

down those moments when you own it, andthey keep you going -- trying to find thatbliss again.

As you mature, it dawns on you what asimple, yet utterly complicated game golf is.You realize what a gift a great golf shot is --the satisfaction of pulling one off stirs youdown deep. You learn that mistakes and badbreaks are just part of life, and you learn toovercome them, at least in your spirit, andthen there are those times when you thinkyou'll never find it again, and then all of asudden you hit a screaming two iron intothe wind that drops with cat's feet five feetfrom the hole, and you are back where youstarted, thinking that someday you'll masterit for good.

Golfers don't let piles of defeat teardown their hope, there is almost always thatone shot in a round that is struck as good asanyone can, and what sport offers this? Iwill never hang on the rim after a thunder-ing dunk, but I can drain a 40-foot putt orstiff a wedge just as well as Tiger can, atleast once in a while.

Golf builds relationships. I've establishedand developed many of my best friendshipson the golf course, walking up a fairway witha friend talking about life. There's some-thing about the game and where it's playedthat draws one to the deeper issues of life,and for most golfers their favorite memoriesare those that are shared. But it's also aboutsolitude, just me and my Maker. Even whenthe course is busy, it's still a quiet place suit-ed for reflection.

What have been your most memorablegolfing experiences?

I have been playing competitive golf forabout 40 years. Last year, at age 51, I madeit to the quarterfinals of our State AmateurChampionship, and Tom Watson, at age 57,almost won the British Open -- what othersport offers this opportunity? Curling?Over those years, I have lots of preciousmemories of famous defeats and a fewfamous victories.

My most favorite competitive memoryis that of winning both of South Dakota'skey amateur events at age 44, with my 13-year-old son, Kyle, caddying for me. He hadbeen caddying for me since age 7, and we

Walking and Talking With Paul Schock


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have had lots of ups and downs. Kyle sharedmy pain in that I was South Dakota's mostaccomplished player who had NOT won astate championship. And then with him onthe bag, I broke through and won both thestate stroke play and match play in the sameyear, something only three other golfers haddone. I would not have been able to handlethe pressure of all the close calls withoutKyle's support and encouragement.

What are your favorite places to golf inthe world?

I've been fortunate to play a lot of thegreat golf courses in America, and some ofthem in Scotland and Ireland, but my mostfavorite are those that are away from thebusy pace of modern life. Probably my mostfavorite place to play golf is Sand Hills GolfClub. I love the prairie, and there is some-thing incredibly special about the quiet ofthe prairie in western Nebraska. Each timeI've been on a trip to the Sand Hills, or sim-ilar places like Sutton Bay or Bandon Dunes,I've been with people that I care about, andwe have had the chance to share our lives inways that just don't seem to happen in theday-to-day rush of modern existence.

What do you admire about golfcourse design?

I have an extensive background with the

game of golf, and have been an amateur fanand student of golf course architecture forat least the 30 years. I’ve had the opportuni-ty to play about half of the top 100 courses,and over time because a student of AlisterMackenzie, who designed Augusta. Hisbook, “The Spirit of St. Andrews” is by farmy favorite writing on the subject.

Over the years, I have paid a lot ofattention to what I like and don’t like aboutgolf course design. I think the game ismeant to be this amazing combinationbetween fun and challenging, and I havedeveloped very specific feelings about whattype of design makes the game the most funand challenging.

Like MacKenzie, I believe the golf ballis round, and was meant to roll. And, thatwhat makes golf shots the most interestingis terrain that you can roll the ball alongtoward the target. The ground should befast, with natural undulations that call for alow, run up shot that slows down, speedsup, turns the right or wrong way.

In your mind, what features make forexcellent course design?

To me, the ideal golf hole allows you tofind your ball almost no matter where youhit it, and play it toward the green. The fur-ther you are off the target, the harder itshould be to recover, but the recovery shot

is one of the greatest aspects of the game,and water hazards are hard to recover from.Fairways should be wide, greens should bebig with natural and fun undulations, andbunkers should be mostly off to the side,not in the way of the run up shot. Thecourse should be very walkable, and possi-bly one of the great delights of the game isthe tee box that is almost adjacent to theprevious hole. I don't mind walking a longhole, but I hate long walks between teesand greens, and so do most golfers.

And what don’t you like about morerecent golf course design?

I believe golf is meant to be a walk in thepark, not a walk through a housing develop-ment. These types of courses by theirrequirements cannot be as walkable, andcannot have the variety of shot values andscenic values that are so important to theexperience for the golfer. Some of the prob-lems with modern design are the fault of thearchitects. Water hazards everywhere andbunkers all over the place.

The average golfer fears playing out of abunker worse than the fear of death itself,and hitting a shot over water is a close sec-ond. It just isn't fun and causes embarrass-ment to plunk a bunch of balls in the water,or hit four shots out of a bunker before youget out of it. This modern idea of forcing

By TerryROSS

Founder and CEO, The Prairie Club


VALENTINE, NE

golfers to hit high, soft shots over water orother hazards puts unrealistic strain on thegolfer, and asks him to hit shots that areextremely difficult to hit, with often theresult of a lost ball, which should not be abig part of the game.

From a design perspective, whatcourses have most influenced you?

The courses that have inspired me themost are St Andrews, Sand Hills GolfClub, Ballyneal, Sutton Bay, and theBandon courses. I love Pine Valley

immensely, especially the fact that almostevery hole is unique. It’s in that regardthat I have been most influenced in shap-ing the direction of The Prairie Club.

Which golf course architects do youmost admire?

I love Alister MacKenzie's work. I verymuch admire Bill Coore and BenCrenshaw's work, and would probably callthem my favorite modern architect team. Ialso admire Tom Doak's work, and ofcourse I feel strongly about the work doneby our architects at The Prairie Club or Iwouldn't have picked them.

In general, I think golfers in the UnitedStates have been under-served by most ofthe modern architects for a number of rea-sons, some of which aren't the fault of thearchitects. For example, so many of thecourses built in the past few decades arepart of real estate developments, and youhave golf holes lined by houses, which issuch a detriment in my view.

What do you consider the most criticalfactors of good golf course design?

One, is a great setting -- great land. I

cannot think of a great golf course that did-n't include these. Great setting means thatyou get to go for a walk in an incredibleplace, and great land (for golf) means thatthere is a lot of character, roll, shapes thatmake for a variety of interesting golf shots.

Second would best be called playabili-ty. It means different things to differentpeople, but to me it means a wonderfulcombination of: interesting, variable golfshots; generous landing areas and largegreens (fewer lost balls, more experienceof the ball rolling over this and aroundthat); and the opportunity to find your balland play it (as opposed to lots of water haz-

ards and out of bounds shots). Playabilityalso implies walkability in my opinion. Thegame was meant to be walked.

What drew you to the land that wouldeventually become The Prairie Club?

There is something incredibly capti-vating about the Sandhills region general-ly, and this ranch specifically. TheSandhills region features land that has notbeen disturbed by development, ranchingor agriculture in any way. The soil is toofragile to be farmed or over grazed, so it

looks almost exactly like it did 500 yearsago. Mile after mile of grass covered dunes-- sparse, natural and pure.

Then there’s the QUIET! It’s almostdeafening how quiet it is. And the dark –at night, it is one of the darkest places inthe United States. Through the middle ofour property runs the Snake River canyon.It shocks you to see it for the first timebecause it is so surprising.

Along the edge the 200- to 300-footcanyon walls are thousands of ponderosapines opening up to a completely undis-turbed world with its waterfalls, a world-class trout stream, eagles, osprey and

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VALENTINE, NE


turkey, and deer -- all in the middle of theprairie. It’s offers such a stunning contrast.

There’s also the character of the peo-ple who live here. Lots of third and fourthgeneration ranchers, who are very inter-esting, engaging folks.

Why do you love this land and whydo you think it’s perfect for ThePrairie Club?

The land is perfect for The PrairieClub because it's perfect for golf. It hasrolling terrain, lots of different shapes(natural, distinct blow-outs), and incredi-ble variety of landforms and scenery. It’ssand based, which makes for perfect play-ing conditions -- bouncy, firm, fast, greatturf, no standing water or squishy parts,and it offers three different environments– prairie, forest and river canyon in thesame place.

There’s nature everywhere: an incredi-ble variety of birds, plants, flowers, big skyand great breezes. It’s a sacred place with alegendary amount of history that’s a off thebeaten path. In a way, it’s a retreat, a placewhere the lid tends to come off and you canget back in touch with your real self.

How did you select Tom Lehman,Graham Marsh and Gil Hanse todesign the courses at The Prairie Club?

As Grounds Committee Chairman atMinnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls(one of South Dakota’s finest courses) I leda process of completing a new master planand some major changes to our golfcourse, which included an extensivesearch and interview process with archi-tects. I’m also one of the founding mem-bers of Sutton Bay and became very inti-mate with Graham Marsh, whom wasselected to design Sutton Bay.

Also, I spent about two years helpingthe former owner of much of the land thatis now The Prairie Club, Cleve Trimble,with his plans for a golf project. It wasalongside Cleve as he went through thearchitect selection process that culminatedwith the selection of Gil Hanse, and Ibecame very intimate with Gil’s work.

From all of the golf I’ve played and allof the study I’ve done and the experiencewith architects, I knew pretty much whatI wanted in an architect. I knew that Giland Graham shared my vision, but Tomwas sort of unknown. I had been a fan of

his for a long time. Tom is from Minnesota and is active in

many volunteer and church causes -- thingsthat are important to me. I sent his designfirm an email on December 1, 2006 andabout ten days later he was on site at ThePrairie Club. We hit it off on design philos-ophy and in many other ways and it waseasy to invite him to join the team.

Why did you decide to go with threegolf course designers rather than four?

The main reason is Gil Hanse (and histeam, Geoff Shackelford and Jim Wagner).I became acquainted with Gil Hanse whenhe was working on a golf course project forneighboring landowner Cleve Trimble,and through that, got to know Gil quitewell, and came to appreciate his work andapproach to golf course architecture.

For a variety of reasons (mostlybecause we chose to put our first two 18-hole courses on different land than theland on which Gil Hanse had been focus-ing) we chose Gil to design the HorseCourse as a way of him and his team be apart of the project from the start and togive our guests a chance to see his work.For a designer, an 18-hole course is reallywhat it’s about, so there wasn’t a questionabout who would do our third course.

When you were working withLehman, Marsh and Hanse, werethere some particular aspects or com-ponents that you insisted upon forThe Prairie Club?

I started with this mantra: golf shouldfirst of all be fun. What makes golf the mostfun? Well, in my mind, it is a ball, and it wasmeant to roll. At its best, golf requires shotsthat move along the ground, around andover natural features that challenge thegolfer eye and skill, but do not require him(or her) to hit shots they aren’t capable ofhitting, such as a 200-yard carry over water.So fairways should be undulating (in natu-ral, wind-blown, dunesy ways), but wideand generous.

The main strategy should mean that ahole gives you the best chance for birdie ifyou challenge the trouble, but if you bailout, you still have a chance for recovery (asopposed to the ball being lost, out ofbounds, or in the water). The recovery shotis one of the most fun aspects of the game.Lost balls should be a rarity.

Golfers love to putt, and hate to hit outof greenside bunkers, so greens should bebig, and bunkers should mostly be off tothe side. There must always be a run-upoption, and lots of green grass around thegreens to give folks the chance to hit shotsthat are fun (but challenging) around thegreens, maybe putt from 30 yards away.

These are the types of shots that areplayed on courses in Scotland and Ireland– they’re the type of shots that have beenhit for many centuries, until moderndesigners changed the game to islandgreens and house-lined fairways.

The course must be walkable, green-to-tee throughout. There should be a vari-ety of tee boxes to make sure all golfers canenjoy the course, and to account for vari-able wind conditions. The ground must befast, so the ball can roll. The architect mustuse the natural landforms, the ones Godmade, because I think He is the best archi-tect of all. Man-made shapes are usuallyobvious and annoying. There should be avariety of hole strategies, left to right, rightto left, short fours, long fours, short fives,long fives, short and long threes.

As a serious golfer who has golfed allover the world, what kind of an expe-rience did you want to create formembers and visitors to The PrairieClub both on and off the greens?

On the course, I want our guests tohave fun, no matter what their level ofskill. I believe our courses will play verysimilarly to those in Scotland and Ireland,with fast ground, run-up shots; big fair-ways and greens; lots of grass aroundgreens; and a number of tee boxes toaccommodate different skill levels. Andthey’ll be very walkable, because it is inwalking that we enjoy the game and thefellowship the most.

Off the course, I want our guests to feellike they are at their second home, wherethey are loved and cared for by people whocare about them, and who seek to givethem a respite from the cares and busy-nessof modern life.

In addition, we will offer great butunpretentious food and service, and a com-fortable, relaxing retreat in the finest senseof the word. Our place out on the greatprairie tends to change people for the bet-ter, and I want us mostly to enhance thisexperience, not get in its way.

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www.golfvacationsmag.com

Many of the greatest golf courses inthe world are private courses — avidgolfers will never have the chance toexperience them. Is that why you choseto make The Prairie Club accessible tothe public?

Yes. I know what it is like to experienceboth ends of that spectrum. I have tried toget on courses and failed, and there is some-thing not quite right about that, given thatmost of them could easily accommodatemore players. Conversely, I’ve been able tohave someone’s brother’s friend’s uncle getme on this or that great private course, andit is such a joy to play the great golf courses.

So while The Prairie Club will be mem-ber oriented, we will always find a way toreceive the avid golfer who just can’t affordto join or for whom joining just doesn’tmake sense. They may have to come when itworks for us, but they can come.

In designing The Prairie Club’s courses,did you base playability on the averageplayer or professionals? Would you char-acterize the playability of The PrairieClub’s courses as: easy bogey or tough par?

We designed The Prairie Club’s courseswith every golfer in mind. The key is thenumber of tee boxes, which vary from aminimum of four to as many as six per hole.It is sometimes a challenge to get folks toplay the right set of tees, but if they do, theycan decide if they want to play a course thatis relatively easy or really, really hard.

I remember a couple of years ago play-ing Sutton Bay with my 12-year-old son, andthe wind was howling. We were both notplaying very well, and were playing thetougher tees for our skill level. For fun, wedecided to play the most forward tee, andwe both had a great time. We will work withour guests to help them play the tee that fitstheir wish for a great golf experience.

Will the design of The Prairie Club’scourses allow a golfer to use all or near-ly all of the clubs in his golf bag?

We have very purposefully designedgreat variety in our courses, and yes, wewant each guest to have an amazing varietyof shot types to encourage them to reallythink their way around the course. I think somany of us golfers are a tired of the 450-yard par four dog leg left with a bunkerguarding the corner and three or four

bunkers guarding the greens. It’s driver,then wedge to five iron on every hole. Notus – we’re going to mix it up. It’s all abouthaving fun.

Considering the lack of trees and thepotential for above average wind on theprairies at The Prairie Club, do youthink the design of The Prairie Club’scourses will favor those who are stu-dents of the American-style of golf (hightrajectories) or the British/Europeanlinks-style (keeping the trajectories ofyour shots closer to the greens)?

I think American-style golf (high trajec-tories) is a gift we’ve given to about 5 per-cent of the golfing public. The reality is that95 percent golfers can’t hit a four iron highand soft over a bunker to a tight pin or smallgreen. We believe The Prairie Club willoffer its guests a more fun game, but differ-ent type of game -- more akin to how it’splayed on the courses in the British Isles.We plan to work with our guests and mem-bers both on and off the course on teachingthem how easy and fun it is to hit a goodrun-up shot.

A lot of the newer courses that are built tochallenge the longer hitters and their newequipment have plenty of room for a couplesets of forward tees yet it seems strategies andplayability from there are barely considered.How much consideration do you put into how

a course will play from the forward tees?We have placed a tremendous amount

of effort on how our courses play from all ofour tees. We have done this for two veryimportant reasons. One, we want to changeup the course even for the average to prettygood golfer. One day we want to play a parfour as a two shotter, but the next day as adriveable four.

Our forward tees are not just a littlepush up fairway spot, they are well thoughtout golf holes. The second reason is theobvious one: to allow for folks who don’t hitthe ball very far to still have fun. After all,we all get there eventually, that point thatGary Player described as “Now I hit it soshort I can hear my ball land.”

What’s your biggest peeve about moderngolf courses? Any peeves with the classics?

Modern: Narrow fairways, too much outof bounds and hazards, too many bunkers,too many houses, too far between holes(can’t walk it if you want to), too many trees(they’ve taken away the recovery shot), toomany similar holes, and too much man-made structure.

Classic: Many have been allowed toremain too short in terms of the advance-ments with ball and equipment technology(which isn’t the courses’ fault obviously).And, they’ve grown way too many trees andin some cases put in way too many bunkers.I admire the classic courses that are return-ing to their roots (i.e., taking out trees,removing bunkers, etc.).

What’s next after you open The PrairieClub? Is there room to add another courseat The Prairie Club? Are exploring othercourses in other parts of the country?

We’ve announced the pre-developmentof our fourth course at The Prairie Club,“Old School.” We hope to begin the designprocess later this year, and may begin con-struction as early as next year or the yearafter, depending upon our financial success.

We believe our business model of pro-viding great golf and service at a reasonableprice is a sweet spot that isn’t being metenough in our country, so we have a long-term goal of being an organization that hassites throughout the country. We will bevery picky though. Great land in a great set-ting isn’t easy to come by, but it’s whatmakes The Prairie Club so special.

1. Given that you’ll be out on thecourse for at least four hours do make sureyou put plenty of sunscreen on. It’s alsoadvisable to wear a hat or cap. The sunwhen golfing in Phuket can be thestrongest compared to all other Thailandgolf destinations.

2. Although golfing in Thailand isrelaxed, don’t expect to be allowed ontothe course wearing inappropriate clothing.Do wear a collared shirt with slacks,Bermuda shorts, or a skirt (provided youare a lady). Mock collars (aka TigerWoods) are also accepted at all Thailandgolf courses.

3. Do listen to your caddie-and listenvery carefully! Thailand boasts some of thebest trained and most savvy caddies inAsia. Find a knowledgeable one andreserve her for perhaps a repeat round(though it may be a privilege only afforded

to rounds booked by members or throughgolf tour operators).

4. Don’t be alarmed to see a flight infront of you turn into a parade of 20 bod-ies! ----Extra caddies are often required tocarry the umbrella, chair or beer! ---anddon’t forget the cart driver and ball diverat Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

5. While it is acceptable on manycourses for golfers to play without present-ing a handicap certificate, this is not anexcuse for clogging up the course andbeing slow. Do abide by the marshals’ gen-tle requests regarding the speed of play.Slow play at Bangkok Golf Club andSummit Green Valley Chiang Mai GolfClub could easily be avoided if these sug-gestions were adhered to.

6. Ladies, don’t be overwhelmed by thecaddies, an almost exclusively femaledomain. Their natural grace and charming

‘mai pen rai’ light –heartedness will makeyou feel at ease and just as welcome as yourmale flight partners. Some lady golfers inThailand that I know even have gone so faras to become friends with their caddies.

7. Do stop at the frequent ‘half-wayrefreshment houses’, usually found everythree holes on Thailand golf courses toallow you to re-hydrate….and call throughgroups that are playing at a quicker pace. Ilet a three-some pass me last time I was atAlpine Chiang Mai, and my, what a morepeaceful round I had after that!

8. Don’t skip the post-game Thai mas-sage or foot reflexology offered at manyclubhouses. If you can’t find one at thegolf course try one of the many small Thaimassage shops around your hotel oraround downtown Hua Hin. You will beglad you did and know why some equateThailand golf to heaven-on-earth!

DO’S AND DONT’S WHEN GOLFING IN THAILAND


WORLDBEAT THAILANDby Mark Walters, www.thailandgolfzone.com

30 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010

DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY


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GOL F VA C AT IO N S • JU N E 2010 31

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