Golf Vacations Magazine March 2012

GOLF VACATIONSGOLF VACATIONSOur10thYear!

THIS MONTH: SWEET STUFF I CHIPSHOTS I DEST INAT IONS

MARCH 2012MARCH 2012

PLUS: Black Diamond 25th Celebration I Fitness ProfilePLUS: Black Diamond 25th Celebration I Fitness Profile

PORTUGALBACK NINES & PORT WINES

PORTUGALBACK NINES & PORT WINES

RESORT REPORTAMELIA ISLAND’SRITZ-CARLTON

RESORT REPORTAMELIA ISLAND’SRITZ-CARLTON

http://www.golf.visitnc.com

http://www.taylormadegolf.com

To order: www.OmahaSteaks.com/value83or call 888-648-4708©2012 OCG OmahaSteaks.com, Inc. 13883-M12

Family Value Combo 45069YXC2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins4 (4 oz. approx.) Boneless Chicken Breasts 4 (4 oz.) Omaha Steaks Burgers4 (3 oz.) Gourmet Franks4 Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Reg. $14400 | NowOnly $4999

4 FREEOmaha Steaks Burgers

Save $9401

FREE 6-piece Cutlery Set FREE Cutting Board

Plus, 3 Free Giftsto every shipping address in your order.

Save 65% Family Value Comboon the

Limit of 2 Packages at this Special Price. Standard Shipping and Handling will be added per address. Your free gifts will ship per address and must ship with an order of �e Family Value Combo (SKU#45069) or purchase of $49 or more. Not valid with any other offer. Offer Expires 4/30/12.

http://www.omahasteaks.com/value83

contents I march 2012

9

12

189 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel

12 FitnessProfile by Terry Ross

Gustafson Physical Therapy

30 SweetStuff by Terry Ross

TaylorMade, Butch Harmon, Pure Strike

d e p a r t m e n t s

on the cover: You’re never too young to get in a vacation round

Back Nines & Port Wines: Portugalby Andrew Marshall

It didn’t take us long to realize that there was more to port thanwatching a pipe-smoking uncle crack open a bottle of the mysteriouspurple stuff once a year after a Christmas turkey roast.

Black Diamond’s 25th Anniversaryby JD Latorre

Like a boxer setting up his opponent with a series of strategic jabsand body shots, the Quarry’s front nine is methodical in makeup,featuring dramatic elevation changes, classic bunkering, and fair-ways framed with thousands of beautiful live oaks.

Resort Report: Ritz-Carlton Amelia Islandby Andy Reistetter

A gentleman named Ritz opened the first Ritz Hotel in London in1905. At the time he set the "swanky standard" for a hotel with akitchen on each floor so room-service meals could be servedcourse by course.

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

12

18

20

6 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • M A R C H 2012 www.golfvacationsmag.com

20

Executive EditorJeffrey Diaz

Associate EditorTerry Ross

Features EditorLarry Feldman

Senior WritersTom LaMarreFred Robledo

For Editorial:

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

Regional Advertising

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

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

Kansas City • 913-217-7242Harry Noll - [email protected]

Published by

President Jeffrey Diaz

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

760 . 744 . 2655

and

Destiny Media, LLC

President/CEOJames A. Diaz

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

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

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

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

SportsMediapublications

www.golfvacationsmag.com

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

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

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

GOLF JOURNEYS & CULTURE

by Andrew Marshallphotography Paul Marshall

Download the new e-book and audio book:

Golf Journeys & Culture

www.golfjourneys.net

Author:Andrew Marshall

“A must read for everygonzo golf adventurer.”

JD Latorre, Golf Vacations Magazine

Photography:Andrew

Marshall

JD Latorre is a freelance travel writer currently calling South Florida his home base. Hehas a knack for finding himself in some of the world’s most exotic locations, includingBangkok, Montego Bay, Bogata, Havana, Cabo San Lucas, St. Kitts, Cancun andMarseilles. His past lives included working for the Miami Herald, Chicago Daily Herald,Boston Globe, Daily News of Los Angeles and Southern California Golf Newspaper.

8 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • M A R C H 2012

RENAISSANCE INVESTING IN NEWICONIC CLUBHOUSE AND GOLFCOURSE EXTENSION

East Lothian, Scotland. TheRenaissance Golf Club has announced a£5million investment in new course facil-ities which include the creation of aniconic clubhouse building and the exten-sion of the golf course to feature threenew holes along a stunning peninsula of

land overlooking the Firth of Forth. The Renaissance Club which opened

in 2008 has almost 200 domestic andinternational members from countiesacross Europe, Asia and the USA. Thenew investment and facilities at the clubare expected to attract considerable newmembership interest.

The latest developments at theRenaissance Club will take the totalinvestment to date to over £20 million, allof which has been funded by the owners

- the Sarvadi family, private members andindividual investors.

The Clubhouse is expected to becompleted in early summer of 2013 inadvance of the British OpenChampionship at nearby Muirfield. Thenew facility, which will cover 34,000square feet over four floors, will featureextensive hospitality, accommodation and

leisure facilities. Key features includeprivate dining, a wine cellar and tastingarea, snug bar, international businesscentre alongside private gym and treat-ment rooms. The clubhouse will have anumber of viewing areas and terracesoverlooking the 9th hole, 18th green and8th green and fairway. The upper floorof the new clubhouse will feature six lux-ury bedroom apartments to complement

the existing 14 luxury suites in the club’sexisting upscale lodge accommodation.

The golf course extension which isbeing designed by award winning US golfarchitect, Tom Doak, who originallyworked with the owners to create theRenaissance course, will be ready for playfrom early summer 2013. The extensionfeatures three new holes 9, 10 and 11

which will have dramatic new views over-looking the Firth of Forth and will addconsiderably to both the course featuresand playing challenge.

Beyond the clubhouse developmentand course extension, the Renaissanceowners are also considering the creationof a stand-alone, twenty bedroom luxurylodge in the longer term. This would addto the Club’s accommodation and leisurefacilities for international guests andtheir families seeking to enjoy a shortbreak in Scotland with the appeal of easyaccess to Europe.

Jerry Sarvadi, Managing Director andjoint owner of The Renaissance Club,commented on the developments:

“The creation of a new clubhouse andextension of our golf course, marks the nextmajor stage in the development of TheRenaissance Club. We created and openedthe Club in the midst of the recession andhave been fortunate to receive such a high

level of support and interest from ourmembers in the early years.

Domestic and international membersalready enjoy our fantastic coastal loca-tion in East Lothian with its internation-al credentials for world -class golf. Ourcourse architect, Tom Doak, has createda stunning course; designed to fullyutilise the landscape and geography ofour unique position nestled alongsideMuirfield and North Berwick links andonly a short distance from Edinburgh.

The Renaissance Club is establishinga unique blend of traditional historicEast Lothian coastline links with modernluxury and amenities that promises anunparalleled golf experience.”

The architect of the new RenaissanceClubhouse is Yeoman McAllister and theconstruction company is OgilvieConstruction.

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

www.golfvacationsmag.com GOL F VA C AT IO N S • M A R C H 2012 9


New Survey: Courses That Cater toWomen Golfers Will WitnessHappier Players, Increased &Faster Play, Enhanced Bottom Line

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Women who playgolf at facilities that follow best practicestailored to them will play the sport moreoften and enjoy an enhanced overall expe-rience, while rewarding course operatorswith better financial results and pace ofplay, a new study revealed this week.

According to “The Right Invitation:2011 Women’s Golf Longitudinal

Research,” there are as many eight bestpractices that especially resonate withwomen golfers, and courses that employmost, if not all, of them are apt to see asmuch as a 16 percent increase in play. Thestudy was commissioned by the NationalGolf Course Owners Association(NGCOA), funded by The Little FamilyFoundation, and conducted by Sports &Leisure Research Group (SLRG).

The 2011 study confirmed the findingsof 2009 research as it compared 15 golffacilities that followed best practicesagainst a comparable group of facilitiesthat did not. To qualify in the survey as a“best practices facility,” a course needed tomeet 80 percent of all best practices.

According to the survey, best practicesyielding in dramatically enhanced loyalty toa facility from women players, include:

• Four or more sets of tees, with theforward most set of tees ideally under4,500 yards (though up to 4,800 yards con-sidered), all to allow golfers to reach

greens in regulation• A golf shop in size of at least 500

square feet with a solid selection of well-displayed women’s clothing and equipmentand a dedicated women’s department

• Both men and women staff employedin the golf shop

• Abundant directional signage on thegolf course

• Greeters present at the facilityentry/starting area

• Ample drinking water available at aminimum of three tees per nine holes

• Both men and women staff availablefor golf instruction

• The availability of childcare Best-practice facilities reported higher

merchandise and food-and-beverage sales,as well as a better overall profit per round.

Full copies of the 2011 study (plus theoriginal 2009 study) can be found atwww.golfwithwomen.com under Research,as well as the SLRG website atwww.sportsandleisureresearch.com.

DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY



http://www.morganrun.com


DORAL OFFERS NEW 2012 WGC-CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP PACKAGES

Imagine having exclusive access to one ofgolf’s greatest events, rubbing shoulders withsome of the sports utmost players, and teeingoff on fairways walked by golf’s greatest only48 hours after? Well now, you can.

Catering to golf lovers alike, Doral GolfResort & Spa, a Marriott resort is givingguests access to one of golf’s most prestigiousevents – the 2012 WGC-CadillacChampionship March 7-11. With three pack-ages available, golf aficionados will have theopportunity to enjoy the resort while wit-nessing the race for the trophy.

Travelers who book the ChampionsGolf Package or the Blue Monster 4-Night Golf Package will score one roundon Doral’s famed course only two days afterthe event, along with exclusive invitation toautograph sessions with tour players, cocktailparties and nightly vendor events.

WGC Viewer’s Package includes accom-modations and a single admission ticket tothe WGC-Cadillac ChampionshipTournament ($165 value). Nightly ratesstart at $349 for single occupancy and $205for double occupancy.*

WGC Champions Golf Package includesgarden-view room accommodations, oneround of golf on the Gold, Jim McLeanSignature or Great White course (valuedup to $225), daily breakfast, one admissionticket to the WGC-Cadillac Championship($165 value) and complimentary access to theSpa at Doral. Based on a two-night minimumstay, nightly rates start at $459 for single occu-pancy and $325 for double occupancy.*

Available March 9-13, the WGC BlueMonster 4-Night Golf Package includes gar-den-view room accommodations, two roundson the Gold, Jim McLean Signature or GreatWhite course (valued up to $225), one roundon the TPC Blue Monster on Tuesday,March 13 ($325 value), daily breakfast, oneadmission ticket to the WGC-Cadillac

Championship ($165 value) and complimen-tary access to the Spa at Doral. Based on afour-night minimum stay, nightly rates startat $449 for single occupancy and $315 fordouble occupancy.*

In addition, those who book the WGCChampions Golf Package or WGC BlueMonster 4-Night Golf Package will also enjoy:

• Exclusive invitation to golf personalityreceptions and nightly vendor events withbrands like Callaway, Hugo Boss, Nikeand more.

• 50% off club rentals (TaylormadeBurner Woods/R11).

• 50-minute Doral massage priced at $99. • Discounted airport transfer from key

transportation.For reservations, www.marriott.com/miadl.

For resort details www.doralresort.com orcall (800) 71-DORAL.

POUND RIDGE GC, STAMFORDMARRIOTT ANNOUNCE STAY & PLAY

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – Pound RidgeGolf Club – the public Pete Dye-design inWestchester County – today announces anew stay-and-play package with theStamford Marriott Hotel & Spa, starting at$214 (Fri. – Sun.) and $300 (Mon. – Thurs.).

Located 15 minutes from Pound Ridge,the Stamford Marriott embodies an excep-tional mix of New York energy and NewEngland charm, while providing a memorablehotel experience for business, leisure, meetingand celebration needs.

“The Stamford Marriott is a perfectmatch for Pound Ridge, providing convenientaccess to the course, elegant accommoda-tions, fine dining and a spa where golfers canrelax post-round,” says owner Ken Wang.

Stay-and-play guests can take advantageof tee time booking via concierge or hotelstaff, transportation options (rental cars, lim-ousines) and complimentary rental clubs andgolf shoes from Pound Ridge ($100 value).

Hotel guests enjoy the flexibility of PoundRidge’s weekday nine-hole rates of $80(before 8:30 a.m.) and $60 (after 4:30 p.m.).

Advance golf reservations are needed48 hours prior to weekend tee times (Fri. –Sun.). Forecaddies are available uponrequest by calling the pro shop at least 24hours before a booked tee time.

For Stamford Marriott Hotel reservations,please call Peter Griffith at 203.977.1217. Formore info on Pound Ridge, visitwww.PoundRidgeGolf.com or call 914.764.5771.

GOLF HOLIDAY, ‘BIG BREAK’STANDOUT, PAIR-UP FOR EXCLU-SIVE WEB-BASED TV SHOW

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – MyrtleBeach Golf Holiday announces BlairO’Neal – former “Big Break” standoutand Sports Illustrated “Hottest 50Athletes of All-Time” selection -- will host“Myrtle Beach Golf Buzz,” an exclusiveweb-based television program available atwww.golfholiday.com.

Launching in February, the“webisodes” showcase the area’s legendaryarray of courses and golf packages; golfschools; family attractions; countlessnightlife / restaurants options; temperateweather; and 60-plus miles of sweepingAtlantic beachfront.

O’Neal, an avid social media participantand persona, will blog for Myrtle BeachGolf Holiday’s website and be an integralpart of its branded social media platformson Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

A standout collegiate golfer at ArizonaState University, O’Neal rose to nationalprominence with her runner-up finish onGolf Channel’s “Big Break PrinceEdward Island” in 2009. Also an in-demand professional model, she hasgraced runways, print ads, catalogs, maga-zine covers, websites and commercialadvertisements around the world, she iscurrently a member of the LPGA’sFutures Tour and has dedicated herselfin 2012 to earning full status on theLPGA Tour.

For more information about golf inMyrtle Beach, visit www.GolfHoliday.com;for more On Blair O’Neal, visitwww.blaironeal.com.


Back Nines & Port Wines: PORTUGALwww.golfvacationsmag.com

Douro Riverview


es: PORTUGAL by Andrew Marshall

Produced from grapes grown on the steep, rockyslopes of Northern Portugal’s Douro Valley, port,arguably the world’s greatest fortified wine, was

discovered during the 17th century when two Britishtraders added brandy to preserve the local wine for anAtlantic sea voyage.

The pioneers of the port trade soon found that ‘for-tifying’ did far more than just protect the wine, it actu-ally improved it, giving it the power to mature intosomething unique, and be transformed in the cool,peaceful wine lodges that huddle in the tight streets ofVila Nova de Gaia, across the River Douro from Porto.Huge signs above the terracotta rooftops announce thebig guns of the port world – Cockburn’s, Ferreira,Sandeman and Taylor’s. Many offer tastings and toursfor visitors, and this is where we found ourselves onesunny autumn afternoon.

It didn’t take us long to realize that there was moreto port than watching a pipe-smoking uncle crack opena bottle of the mysterious purple stuff once a year aftera Christmas turkey roast.

Ruby Port, Tawny Port and Vintage Port - the morewe tasted, the more we understood the complexities ofthe types and styles made - or at least that’s my excuse.We could have stayed for days searching for the perfecttipple, but it was time to put our glasses down for themoment at least, to travel to the spectacular WorldHeritage Douro Valley, where the luxuriant liquid isproduced, with some golf before and after.

The Algarve may have the lion’s share of the cours-es, but for golfers looking for something off-the-beaten-track, there are several decent layouts within an hour’sdrive of Porto, and what the clubs perhaps lack in man-icured quality, they more than make up for with localcharacter, an unpretentious nature and affordable greenfees. Plus, there’s always the wild beaches, fine regionalgastronomy, historic towns and of course the port, tobalance things out.

First on the agenda was Oporto Golf Club, the old-est course in Portugal and the fourth oldest inContinental Europe. Founded in 1890 mainly by Britishresidents connected with the port wine industry, andsteeped in tradition, it is laid out on ideal links terrainnear Espinho, south of the River Douro.

“ Driving through grape country was purepleasure with each vista better than the last”



From the laconic green-keeper, with arake casually slung over his shoulder tothe joking club members in the lockerroom, everything about the club was mel-low and low-key. Walking into the club-house was like stepping into a golf muse-um. Think lush leather armchairs, a wornvisitor’s book, dusty trophy cabinets, agilded honors board and all manner of golfmemorabilia adorning the walls. Thecourse’s historical flavor is enhanced bythe holding of the Skeffington Cup - atournament that has been played heresince 1891 without interruptions.

A little raggedy around the edges,Oporto Golf Club’s layout can’t really bedescribed as a ‘must play’ in the golf world.The par-4 4th and the par-5 11th are per-haps the most challenging on this historicalcourse, particularly when the strong, gustingnorth winds blow. Go for the pre-trip warmup with no pressure, the ‘golfer’s home awayfrom home atmosphere’ and the top-notchsteak sandwiches served in the bar.

The scenic surroundings are one of theattractions of Amarante Golf Course situat-ed 50kms east of Porto. The relative short-

ness of the track (5,085metres) is compen-sated by a number of tricky holes through-out the undulating and hilly terrain. Gooddistance control and judgment are require-ments and there’s plenty of downhill, uphilland side-hill lies to add to the challenge.“To score well here, you must ideally masterthe seven par-3’s on the card, especiallysince most of the greens are small and fast,”said club professional Jaoa Silva.

Amarante’s intriguing par 3s range from110 to 175 meters, with the 165-metre 15thbeing a standout hole, played from an ele-vated tee to a green surrounded by a back-drop of vineyards which, when we werethere, looked especially beautiful in autumncolors. The 306-metre, par 4 4th hole is aclassic. Locals call it the ‘volcano’ becauseof the conical-shaped mound sloping on allsides on which the narrow green is situated.“During a National Professional GolfChampionship we had one pro who had a14 here,” said Jaoa. “Short does not alwaysmean easier.”

From Amarante, we drove southeastinto the Douro Valley. Vines have beengrown on these remote hillsides since pre-

Roman times, planted on tiers of walled ter-races, the product of centuries of toil andsweat. The River Douro is always present –snaking through abstract patterns of rust-colored vines that march up the dizzyinglysteep valley sides.

Driving through grape country was purepleasure with each vista better than the last.It was late September and harvest time.Specks of colorfully clad pickers carryingbaskets dotted the hillsides. A heady sweetaroma filled the air, and every second vehi-cle seemed to be a tractor pulling a trailerload of precious fruit.

At Quinta Seara D’Ordens, near thetown of Peso da Regua, I asked AntonioMoreira, one of three brothers who runthe winery: “What are the secrets of mak-ing good port?” “If you don’t have goodgrapes you don’t have good wine. Climateis important too and so are the terracesthat help to retain moisture in the soil,”replied Antonio.

Quinta Seara D’Orden’s range of portsand table wines have won several prizes indomestic and international wine contests.“We recently won a gold medal for a Ruby

Ponte de Lima Golf Club


Reserva,” said Antonio, as he drew somewine from a cask, poured it into a glass, thenheld it up to the light. “It has a vivid, deepruby color, pronounced fruity aromas bal-anced with oak driven vanilla notes. But thewine speaks more articulately than I do.”

Several kilometers away at Quinta DaPacheca, a team of several men with armsinterlocked stomped up and down inside awide stone tank regimented by the chief ofthe group. “One-two-left-right,” shoutedAlvaro, to his crack grape-tramping team ofAlberto, Joao, Zeca, Vigia, Zegirao andConstera. It was like a cross between the AllBlacks before a rugby game and a scenefrom Monty Python’s ‘silly walks’.

But this was serious stuff. All the hardlabor is designed to extract as much colorand flavor from the grapes without crushingthe pips and stems that would give the winea tannic edge. After tramping the grapes fora few lengths of the tank, the team took abreak, had a drink of wine and then repeat-ed the process. “No machines can yet matchthe sensitivity of the human foot,” saidAlvaro with a passion.

After we witnessed this curious tradi-

tion, there could scarcely be anywhere moreappropriate to spend the night than theVintage House in Pinhao, situated on thevery edge of the River Douro and surround-ed by terraced vineyards. If the DouroValley is the cradle of Portugal’s port tradesthen the Vintage House is the epicenter.

Everything here oozes, class, qualityand knowledge of the purple nectar.

At the Vintage House’s Wine Academy,port connoisseurs will find a wine shopwhere they can taste and purchase some ofthe finest and rarest ports of the region, inaddition to taking part in tutored tastings,wine courses, port and chocolate tastingsand gourmet dinners.

We spent a convivial evening in theLibrary Bar by the cozy glow of a log firewatching a bottle of vintage Taylor’sbeing opened in an age-old ritual.Instead of a corkscrew being used, thebottle is first placed on its side in a wirecradle. Then a special pair of tongues,called tenaz (pre-heated to a high tem-perature) severs the neck of the bottle.This is done because of soft corks and toavoid the sediments getting disturbed

inside the bottle. Once decanted, vintageport like all bottle-aged wines shouldideally be drunk the same day it isopened or at least within a few days.Traditionally the port decanter is passedclockwise around the table from right toleft. Pass it left to right, diagonally orunder the table at your peril!

One of the new courses in the north, notfar from the border with Spain’s Galiciaregion, and about an hour’s drive fromOporto is Ponte de Lima Golf Course, avaried mountain layout with glorious views(especially from holes 2 and 8) over theLima Valley and the historic town of Vianado Castelo 20kms away.

One of the interesting holes is theextremely long par-5 3rd, and at 622meters off the white tees it is one of thelongest in Europe. The surrounding areais well known for its solaces (restored his-torical manors converted into guest-houses). In fact, Ponte de Lima has oneon the course itself, with its AnquiaoManor House in a private setting rightnext to the 4th tee. “Golfing guests cantee off at the 4th, call at the clubhouse

Vidago Palace Hotel



Amarante Golf Club


Back Nines & Port Wines:

for lunch and then continue until the 3rdgreen and home,” said club managerManuel Miguel.

The final 18-holes of our northernPortugal golf journey, was Estela Golf Club,undoubtedly the pick of the bunch. Builtover three kilometers of beautiful dunes onthe Costa Verde and set tight to the pum-meling Atlantic Ocean, Estela is a testingpure links especially when the prevailingnorth winds blow. It successfully hosted thePortuguese Open in 1991, three years afterits inauguration.

With narrow fairways all the pressure isplaced on the tee shot.

There are few fairway bunkers on thecourse, simply because they are not need-ed. Miss a fairway at Estela, and thedunes will welcome you. Just like a tradi-tional Irish or Scottish links, most shots atthe greens are open, allowing the ball toenter them rolling. The speedy well-con-toured greens made with Penncross bentgrass are typical of a links layout. The sig-nature hole is the 13th, a 457-metredownhill par-5 to the most southerly pointon the course, with nothing but ball-hun-gry dunes on the right and a sneaky littledogleg at the end.

Other golf clubs in the region includethree nine-hole courses: the traditionallinks of Miramar Links Golf Course(established in 1932), situated 13kmsouth of Oporto among coastal dunes,Quinta da Barca Golf Club on the banksof the River Cavado at Barca do Lago andVidago Golf Club, a MacKenzie Ross-designed mountain and parkland stylelayout featuring mighty specimens ofmaple, oak and chestnut trees that linethe fairways. Last but not least is QuintaDo Fojo, a short and fun 6-hole layoutand golf academy just south of the DouroRiver mouth in Porto town, that’s ideal forpracticing the short game.

From windswept links and parklandnine-holers to Rubies and Tawnies, boththe golf and the port of Northern Portugalhave their own special flavours and charac-teristics. ‘Back Nines and Port Wines’- itmakes a refreshing change from the morefamiliar Algarve golfing holiday.

WHERE TO PLAYOporto Golf Club:www.oportogolfclub.comAmarante Golf Club: www.golfedeamarante.comPonte de Lima Golf Club: www.golfe-pontedelima.comVidago Golf Club: www.vidagopalace.comEstela Golf Club: www.estelagolf.pt

WHERE TO STAYPraiagolfe Hotel / Espinho: www.praiagolfe.comCasa da Calcada/ Amarante: www.casadacalcada.comAxis Ponte de Lima Golf Resort Hotel(connected to the golf course):www.hoteldogolfe.comVidago Palace Hotel:www.vidagopalace.comHotel Flor De Sal/ Viana do Castelo:www.hotelflordesal.comVintage House / Pinhao: www.hotelvintagehouse.com

OFF-COURSE ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIESThere’s no better way to discover

Portugal’s lush vineyards, storied cultureand stunning natural beauty than on aDouro River cruise. On a Douro Rivercruise, you’ll see restored palaces inmodern cities, lovely rural villages andpass through port wine vineyards alongone of Europe’s most charming rivers.Various length cruises are available rang-ing from one-day trips from Porto toweeklong journeys further afield.www.dourorivercruise.com

• Take the 1 hour 30 minutes steamtrain trip from Pinhão (Douro Valley) toRegua and take the trip back to with acruise boat. The “Tua Valley” line is one ofthe most spectacular in Portugal with thetrain hugging the side of the rocky ravineand climbing through a wild and unspoiltarea of tiny isolated villages. Pinhão’sRailway Station itself is considered one ofthe most beautiful in the country and itsexterior walls are decorated with 24

colourful tile panels (azulejos) depictingthe activities that are related to Douro’sport wine - vineyards, boats and thegrapes’ harvest etc.

• There’s plenty of port tasting and porteducation on the Port Wine Route Rota doVinho Do Porto, an association that organ-izes visits and wine tastings to some of theDouro Valley vineyards, wine dinners andlunches, visits to grape harvests and winepressing (a program consisting of a tradi-tional grape crushing with a Port wine tast-ing). For more details: www.rvp.pt

• When in Porto, take a side trip tonearby Afurada, a picturesque fishing vil-lage near the mouth of the Douro wheremany older residents still cling to tradition-al ways - men fishing and women washingtheir laundry at communal fonts. Housesare decked with azulejos and cafés offerhearty caldeirada (seafood stew).

• Sample some traditional cuisine inPorto. Try O Escondidinho where chefscombine fresh ingredients and a wood-burning oven to create classic bacalhaudishes and flavorful baked octopus, whilethe grilled seafood dishes are equallyimpressive. Another good option is cozyAdega São Nicolau half-hidden down anarrow lane that serves satisfying tradi-tional seafood to a mix of locals and trav-elers. Bacalhau a Gomes (codfish withpotatoes) and polvo con arroz (octopuswith rice) are top picks.

USEFUL CONTACTS & WEBSITESTurismo De Portugal:www.visitportugal.com

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


PORTUGAL

Black Diamondwww.golfvacationsmag.com

Black DiamondCelebrates 25th Anniversary, Offers Stay-and-Play Package


Diamond

In 1987, vaunted course architect Tom Fazio collaboratedwith Mother Nature to pull off one of the great golf designfeats in history – Black Diamond’s Quarry Course. By

forging the layout through the steep cliffs and lakes of tworetired limestone quarries in Central Florida, Fazio createdscenery that can only be described as other-worldly. Twentyfive years later, the Quarry Course remains one of the mostsought after golf experiences in the world.

Like a boxer setting up his opponent with a series of strate-gic jabs and body shots, the Quarry’s front nine is methodi-cal in makeup, featuring dramatic elevation changes, clas-sic bunkering, and fairways framed with thousands of beau-tiful live oaks.

Shortly after making the turn, Fazio delivers his knockoutpunch in the form of five holes famed golf writer Dan Jenkinscalled “the five best consecutive holes in the world.” Thestretch begins at No. 13 and concludes with the 218-yardpar-3 17th. The Quarry was a game-changer when it opened25 years ago and remains one of Fazio’s seminal works.

The Quarry is one of three courses at Black Diamond, all byFazio. Completed in 1997, the Ranch Course is carefullycrafted to gently blend into its natural surroundings.Reminiscent of Pine Valley, the Ranch sports rolling fairwaysand dramatic elevation changes of more than 100 feet. TheRanch places a premium on strategy and distance control.Sand and waste bunkers, pristine lakes and numerous two-tiered greens serve as par’s guardian.

With stunning hilltop views of up to 25 miles, the HighlandsCourse, which was completed in 1999, is a magnificentmix of lush, rippling fairways, stands of oak and pine, pris-tine water features and mesmerizing natural beauty. Fromthe back tees, the nine-hole, par-36 course plays to almost3,500 yards and has an impressive slope rating of 143.The Highlands can also be played in tandem with eithernines of the Ranch.

For all of Black Diamond’s virtues, a large part of what beck-ons golfers is what the community doesn’t have. Traditionalgolf hotspots like Orlando and Miami are metropolises withtraffic and overcrowding. Black Diamond’s location in bucol-ic Citrus County leaves it devoid of big city problems, pro-viding a truly relaxing golf experience.

Black Diamond is granting golfers unprecedented access to thecommunity via the Black Diamond Experience stay-and-playpackage. A one-night stay with two rounds of golf starts at$399 per golfer. Two nights’ accommodations and two roundsof golf start at $485 per golfer. Golfers stay on-site in one ofthe community’s homes. Rates are based on quad-occupancy.

Black Diamond is a 1.5 hour drive from Tampa InternationalAirport (TPA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO),both of which feature direct service from myriad markets inthe U.S. and abroad.

For more information: www.blackdiamondranch.com,[email protected], (352) 453-5473.

Diamondy, Offers Stay-and-Play Package


By JD Latorre

GOL F VA C AT IO N S • M A R C H 2012 19

RESORTREPORT

Agentleman named Ritz openedthe first Ritz Hotel in London in1905. At the time he set the

"swanky standard" for a hotel with akitchen on each floor so room-servicemeals could be served course by course.

Another gentleman named JimMcManemon was part of the Ritz-Carlton team that opened up the AmeliaIsland property over twenty years ago.

Now having come back home as theGeneral Manager, the Jim Valvano - likenatural leader and his incredibly talent-ed team will make an impact on you themoment you walk in the front door to thisoceanfront resort.

Whether you come with friends, fam-ily or by yourself, your visit to the AmeliaIsland Ritz-Carlton will be memorable forall the right reasons.

Creativity is the hallmark of anydynamic venture and you will find it with

the theme restaurant and lounge aptlynamed SALT.

Salt - the only rock people consumeyet we forget how precious it is in termsof the ocean, salt marshes and cuisine.

A meal in SALT is extraordinary yeteducational. Like a lot of our commercialfood, common salt is stripped of every-thing good before it reaches our diningroom tables but not at the Ritz-Carlton inAmelia Island.

The AAA Five Diamond restaurant uti-lizes 52 different types of natural saltsfrom all over the world- Croatian saltfrom the Adriatic Sea, ancient salt fromthe Himalayan Mountains and BBQinfused salt derived in part from thewood of apple trees from the AmericanNorthwest.

Each signature dish is "simple ele-ments from the earth and sea, properlyseasoned and artfully prepared."

AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA

The RitzCarlton

Memorable For All The Right Reasons

The RitzCarlton

Memorable For All The Right Reasons

By Andy REISTETTER


Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive "Play-Write" series with an extended stay at the Ritz-Carlton and

a few rounds of golf at the Golf Club of Amelia Island. Perhaps to some vacation travelers, Amelia Island is a hidden piece

of the coastal Northeast Florida treasure map. For those in the know "putting" on the greens of the Golf Club of Amelia

Island while staying at the Ritz-Carlton is the ultimate double eagle- the new generation "putting on the Ritz!" Join

Reistetter as he experiences golf and luxury in one of the truly pristine areas of the Southeastern United States.


RESORTREPORTRESORTREPORTNear the end of a six year, 55 million dollar renovation

all of the Ritz Carlton facility, including the area's largest con-ference facilities are exquisite and unsurpassed in qualityand functionality.

Open the door to your room and its new décor takes youfrom a dark mahogany wood floor that simulates brownreeds to a wind-swept sandy carpet to the dramatic oceanview through the floor to ceiling windows.

You will want to spend more time in the elegant marblebathrooms and lounge around in your plush bathrobe.

Once you come out of your room deciding which way toexit the lobby can be perplexing?

Does one head out to the sandy beach for relaxation ortowards the sandy white bunkers of the "nearby" golf coursefor recreation?

"Nearby" is an understatement. As Johnny Miller wouldsay on television it's a simple "slice" lag putt from the frontdoor of the Ritz Carlton to the house of the Golf Club ofAmelia Island.

As golfing experiences go, this one is world class, yet unique.Jacksonville native and PLAYERS champion Mark

McCumber, along golfing great "Gene the Machine" Littlerdesigned two golfing experiences into one.

Though the fairways are wide throughout the course thefirst nine feels tighter with lakes and majestic live oaks defin-ing fairways and guarding the opening to greens.

The second nine is more open as it meanders out towardsthe ocean through marshes.

The brilliance of the McCumber-Littler design literallypeaks and speaks for itself on the strategic par-5 15th hole.

Like classic holes of the Golden Era there are importantdecisions to be made- risks to be analyzed and rewards tobe seized.

The inviting experience culminates at a perched greencomplex at the closest point to the ocean on the golf course.

So close in fact you can hear the surf while you are put-ting. No need to hush the ocean as its rhythmic tones mayimprove your putting stroke.

The Golf Club of Amelia Island is a very scenic andplayable course yet with challenging competitive shot val-ues. When the World Golf Hall of Fame's Slammer &Squire course was not yet ready to go the Champions


AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA


Tour came here to stage their Legends ofGolf tournament in 1999.

Golfing legends Charles Coody and DaleDouglas teamed up to win both the Legends(over 40 years of age) and Legendary (ages50 to 69) while Joe Jimenez and CharlieSifford won the Demaret Division (over 70).

Like the family atmosphere at the RitzCarlton it is likely that you will be greeted at theturn by Director of Golf John Price just to seehow you are enjoying your day.

Ask John to show you his autographedposter from the Legends event- talk about cap-turing golf history!

Afterwards, if you choose to hit a bucket ofballs like me you may run into professionalgolfer Bubba Dickerson at the practice facility.

You really can't beat this golfing experience!Or the Spa experience where afterwards

you can extend the treatment as warm water iscascading down on your shoulders in the signa-ture whirlpool.

Or the romantic beach fire near the dunesfor couples complete with s'mores, hot choco-late and a warm blanket if needed.

Or the Ritz Kids programs with islandadventure themes- ocean tides, native birds,sea turtles, scavenger hunts and of coursesharks and pirates!

There many options though out the day foras many days as you like.

The Ritz-Carlton is synergistic with theFernandina Beach community of Amelia Island.

Whether it's a narrated trolley tour aroundtown with guides David and Ellen Edwards oran Amelia River tour with Captain KevinMcCarthy, educational and recreational oppor-tunities abound.

Our trolley stopped by to visit with BillyBurbank at his manufacturing facility. Hear aninspiring American success story first hand froma "good young guy" who transformed a family


business from fishing nets to state-of-the-art sports nets.If you sat in really good seats behind home plate at a Major

League baseball game, it was Billy's nets that protected you.Have a shrimp cocktail or fish sandwich during your visit to

Amelia Island and it was Billy's nets that captured your seafoodyet by an innovative design safely released any sea turtles.

Feel the wind and sudden temperature drop as CaptainMcCarthy swings you out a bit into the Atlantic Ocean to getan encompassing look at Fort Clinch.

On the way back see the never touched wild horses roam-ing on the shores of Cumberland Island.

Saddle up and enjoy a horseback ride along pristine shores.Paddle for pleasure with egrets, herons and perhaps a dol-

phin, manatee or sea turtle while exploring the tranquil saltmarsh of the Talbot Islands State Park and Timucuan Preserve.

On land Fort Clinch comes to life with period re-enactorsdepicting military life in the 19th century. Hikers and bicy-clists can enjoy a six mile trail with remarkable views of someof the biggest sand dunes in the state of Florida.

Amelia Island is a special destination for families, and thosewho visit are sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

While convenient to reach it remains a hidden piece ofthe coastal Northeast Florida treasure map.

Only fifteen minutes from Interstate 95 and thirty minutesfrom the Jacksonville International Airport yet less than a 6-hour drive from Miami and Charlotte, 5 hours from Atlanta.

There are many special events to schedule your triparound including one within view of the Ritz-Carlton on thefairways of the Golf Club of Amelia Island.

Whether it’s the highly acclaimed Shrimp Festival in April(remember Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modernshrimping industry) or Blues Festival in September or Jazz inOctober this is a place you want to come and visit to relaxand to be entertained.

The upcoming Concours d'Elegance car show on March9th through the 11th rivals the one in Pebble Beach,California as the best in the world.

The gala gathering of prestigious cars dates back to 17thCentury French aristocracy parading their horse-drawn car-riages in the parks of Paris and literally takes place on the10th and 18th fairways.

From sunrise beach activities to dancing the night awayin the Lobby Lounge, the Ritz-Carlton and Golf Club ofAmelia Island bring "Putting on the Ritz" back into style.

Enjoy your visit and be sure to say hello to "Jimmy Mc M"for me!

www.golfvacationsmag.com24 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • M A R C H 2012

RESORTREPORTRESORTREPORT


TRAINING FOR A BETTER GAMEGood golf and fitness go hand in

hand, and in the California resort com-munity of Palm Desert, FrankGustafson, has been one of the leadingproponents of getting both visitors andlocals into top shape to help them enjoythe game more.

As most people know by now, devel-oping a strong core is a must for healthyand enjoyable golf. And you will behappy to know this does not mean doingsit ups, notes Gustafson, who is aRegistered Physical Therapist and hasa thriving practice in an area that fea-

tures more than 120 golf courses.In his private practice of now more

than fourteen years, Gustafson hasworked with professional athletes as wellas the weekend warrior. He holds cre-dentials as a Certified Athletic Trainerand has credentials with PGTCA as aProfessional Golf Instructor. RecentlyGustafson was awarded a Level 3Registered Physical Therapist from TPI,the Titleist Performance Institute.

Gustafson has experience as a trainerwith the for the U.S. OlympicCommittee, ultimately becoming U.S.Olympic Committee Crew Chief with an

expertise in areas such as rehabilitation,emergency medicine and drug doping.

He was part of the medical field staffas Crew Chief for two Olympics, the1996 Atlanta Summer Games and the2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Gustafson has Advanced Training inActive Release Technique and GrastonTechnique. These techniques are scien-tifically advanced methods for treatmentof soft tissue injuries.

For more information on GustafsonPhysical Therapy and his services, con-tact: (760) 346-3322.

Black Butte Ranch

FITNESSPROFILE • • • • • • • • • • • • •


With an eye towards maxing out the USGA’s upper limitfor club head size, TaylorMade Golf recently released itslatest, most technologically advanced driver yet—the

R11s—and it has been an immediate hit.Bigger and more forgiving than

the original R11, the460cc head in the lat-est version of this clubstands right at theUSGA maximumlimit for size, and ismore aerodynamical-ly designed and hassome very nice tweaks tothe adjustability componentsthat enable players to fine tune theirdriver to even greater lengths to better fit their own launch conditionswhen it comes to spin rates and ball flight.

More accuracy and distance can be obtained with the new R11sfor players that take the time to test their launch conditions andmake the appropriate adjustments. A number of Tour players havereported picking up in excess of 20 yards with some of the newimprovements in the Moveable Weight Technology (MWT), FlightControl Technology (FCT) and the Adjustable Sole Plate (ASP)when fine tuning their specs, and even recreational players havereported those kinds of yardage increases by experimenting withvarious launch settings.

“The R11s is a golfer’s dream come true; it’s the realization ofevery ounce of innovation, adjustability, and performance we couldpackage in a bigger, more aerodynamic, white clubhead,” said SeanToulon, executive vice president at TaylorMade. “It would have beeneasy for our product creation team to rest on the laurels of the origi-nal R11 driver, the most successful product we’ve ever created.Instead, we’re delivering golfers yet another significant advancementin adjustability and performance. And, with the proper fitting, weknow golfers of all skill levels will be longer and straighter off the tee.”

This all-white driver features a 3 degree FCC sleeve that allowsplayers to dial up both loft and lie angles (1.5 degrees up or down)by rotating the sleeve, and an all-new 5-way ASP which allows thegolfer to find their optimum address set-up – a proprietary settingnot found in any other driver. The new R11s driver can be tuned for80 separate launch settings, making it the most adjustable driver ingolf while the flat-white crown color and black PVD face improvesalignment and accuracy off the tee. The white crown color makes itappear even larger (2%)--an advantage that TaylorMade testingindicates helps with confidence at address from a head that appearslarge relative to the ball.

The head of the newly designed R11s boasts a contemporary,slightly more triangular appearance than traditionally shaped driversand provides higher MOI and a deeper, farther-forward center ofgravity (CG).

Players can also adjust the weights to influence trajectory, eitherto enhance the launch conditions created by the face angle setting,or independent of the face-angle setting. For instance, some playersprefer to look at an openface at address while still desiring a draw-bias performance. With the R11s, a player can open the face andinstall the heavy weight in the heel, resulting in an open face but adraw bias weighting.

Like every TaylorMade driver since the R500 Series (launchedin 2002), the R11s incorporates TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone club-face technology, which dramatically expands the COR zone, whichis the portion of the clubface that delivers maximum ball speed andhelps save distance on off-center hits.

The R11s comes standard with an Aldila RIP Phenom 60 shaft(X, S, R and M flexes), which weighs 60 grams, measures out at45.75” and features a medium-firm tip profile. RIP shafts feature

Reverse Interlaminar Placement to provide more stability atimpact and promote more distance and control without the harshfeel associated with some firmer tip shafts. It comes in lofts of 9degree, 10.5 degree, 12 degree in right-handed; 9 degree and10.5 degree in left-handed.

For more information visit: www.taylormadegolf.com

Butch Harmon is probably as well-known as any golf instructoron the planet, and the stable of players he has taught over his46-year career reads like an induction list to the Hall of Fame.

From Tiger Woods, to Greg Norman, Ernie Ells, Phil Mickelson,Dustin Johnson and more than 100 professional tour players from allover the world, Harmon has carved out a name in golf instruction andteaching that is second to none.

His new DVD set, entitled "Butch Harmon About Golf presentedby Titleist” is a four-hour, two-DVD set featuring 57 chapters contain-ing more than 250 specific tips and instruction from the man voted #1in Golf Digest's annual ranking of America's Best Teachers for the past11 consecutive years.

In addition, "Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist" fea-tures actual footage from the golf professionals who benefited fromHarmon's instruction: (alphabetically) Fred Couples, Els, Natalie Gulbis,Johnson, Mickelson, Norman, Adam Scott, Nick Watney and Woods.

This well-paced DVD also comes with an excellent 20-page bookletthat is a great reference for any golfer out on the practice tee or beforea round. The DVD is directed by former ABC sports producer andseven-time EMMY award-winner Terry Jastrow, who does a wonderfuljob in mixing in some very excellent and insightful instruction withHarmon’s dry wit and no-nonsense approach to game improvement.

Filmed at the beautiful Rio Seco Golf Club near Las Vegas wherethe Butch Harmon School of Golf has it US headquarters, this DVDfeatures some never before seen footage of the some of the top namesin golf working with Harmon on improving their game and discussinghow they get better with his instruction.

Harmon’s teaching philosophy revolves around taking what a play-

SWEETSTUFFby Terry Ross


er has and making it better—not by trying to over haul someone’s nat-ural tendencies to fit a particular system or theory, and he is quick tonote that he has learned as much from the players he has taught as theyhave learned from him.

“I pride myself in taking what is natural with a player and makingit better, and over the past 40-plus years I have been blessed to workwith some of the greatest players in the game: Phil, Ernie, Greg, Tiger,Seve, Freddie, and several up and coming players, such as Adam, Nick,and Dustin, who are destined to carve their names in the golf recordbooks," said Harmon. "Obviously I am proud to have been associatedwith them and to have contributed in some small way to their success.But their accomplishments are only part of the overall picture of thescores of everyday players, from all walks of life who have left the prac-tice tee after working with me, that feel that their game has beenimproved. For everyone that has worked with me there are thousands

of golfers that I will never have a chance to try and help”. Those players who have worked with Harmon all agree that the

keys to his success are his keen eye for the strengths and weaknessesof each individual player's swing; his comprehensive understanding ofthe game; his ability to communicate with the golfer; his toughness; hisenthusiasm for his players to succeed; and his relationship and rapportwith his players, making their work about teamwork rather than indi-vidual accomplishment.

The "Butch Harmon About Golf presented by Titleist" DVD set issponsored by Titleist, Winn Grips, Rolex, Golf Digest and JMA and isavailable on-line at www.butchharmondvd.com

One of the most important elements to anything—and this isespecially true in golf, is consistency. It was what separatesthe good players from the average and the great players from

the good ones.But in the sport of golf the consistency from shot to shot, hole to hole

and even round to round can be elusive. It may be one of the hardestthings for players—especially those that don’t play as often—to master.

A new website and an innovative e-book—Pure Strike: 5 SimpleKeys to Consistency—tackles this problem with some easy principals

that can help all golfers hit the ball with repeated accuracy and steadydistance, which leads to better scores, according to the publisher of thebook, Bob Koch of Medicus Golf, a Southern California firm special-izing in golf training aides and videos.

Clearly no two golf swings are quite the same. BenHogan’s swing was sweetly controlled. Arnold Palmerlashed at drives with powerful fury and Jim Furykfamously kills snakes in a phone booth. But a recentstudy by Medicus Golf identified five basic elementsthat every great golfer—from Bobby Jones to TigerWoods—has in common.

“One reason teaching is so complicated is that astudent can’t focus on 10 different parts of the swing atonce,” explained Koch. “But while golf’s most prolificchampions had different grips, stances and swing planes, all had mas-tered five essential things that are obvious on film and in photos. It’sthe common traits that enabled the greats to strike balls with consis-tent purity.”

Developed in conjunction with PGA Instructors Chuck Evans,Randy Sparks and Dave Wedzik, the Pure Strike Keys can be found onthe new website www.purestrike.com. It contains information, videosand will also feature links to webinars on each of the Pure Strike Keys.A DVD and instruction book will follow this spring. Meanwhile,Medicus is developing training aids for each Pure Strike Key to helpgolfers engrain the fundamentals. All five training aids will be availablefor purchase in 2012 on the website.

Anyone who registers on the website will automatically receive theebook and receive invitations to webinars, updates on the new PureStrike training aids and the opportunity to purchase the products.

As Koch suggests, the basics are, well, fairly basic, and were iden-tified by studying the swings of 100 years worth of champion golfers.The first Pure Strike Key is keeping a Steady Head, which means theold noggin atop one’s shoulders remains centered between the feetfrom address at least until follow-through. A fixed point that does notmove side-to-side or up and down, the Steady Head promotes balance,an initial step toward consistency.

The second key is called Weight Forward, which means that 80percent of a right-handed golfer’s weight should be on the left foot atimpact. “One hundred percent of the best ball strikers have theirweight forward at impact, while 100 percent of the worst have theweight on their back foot,” explains Evans. “There is a direct correla-tion between forward weight and handicap. Get the sequence downthat puts the weight forward correctly and you’ve set the foundationfor consistent ball striking.”

These two are followed by incorporating The Flat Left Wrist andthe Sweet Spot Path of a swing, which together help bring the club-face’s sweet spot to the golf ball. Club Face Control is the final Key,involving the movement of the clubface from takeaway to follow-through. Such control has a profound influence on shot accuracy andconsistent ball flight.

For more information on Pure Strike: www.purestrike.com

SWEETSTUFFby Terry Ross

Golf Vacations Magazine March 2012

Documents

Transcript of Golf Vacations Magazine March 2012