Golf Vacations Magazine December 2010

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THIS MONTH: MY TURN I CHIPSHOTS I HOLIDAY SWEET STUFF

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DECEMBER 2010DECEMBER 2010

VPLUS: Malibu Country Club I Hyatt Key West Resort & SpaPLUS: Malibu Country Club I Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa

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contents I december 2010

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Golfing The Valley Of The Sunby Chuck Miller, “The Traveling Guy”

Whenever a freezing cold wind blows and rain or snow falls, do youimmediately think of vacationing in some sunny climate where golf isa year-round sport?

Hyatt Key West Resort & Spaby Dale Sanders

Key West has this perception of being weird, wild and simply offbeat.Indeed, it does possess these characteristics, but it is so much more!

Palm Springs: Celebrated Desert Oasis by Katie Denbo

For decades, Palm Springs and its surrounding area has served as acelebrity safe haven, a buddies' golf trip destination and couples'getaway hot spot.

Malibu Country Club So Privately Publicby Katie Denbo

Malibu offers sprawling acres of undisturbed mountains, ranches andtucked-away flags that make for a great destination within the LosAngeles golf scene.

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

8 ChipShotsUpdates From The World Of Golf & Travel

21 DestinationsYour Link To Great Resort Golf Locales

26 Sweet Stuff by Terry Ross and James McAfee

WedgeWorks, Bushnell Golf, TaylorMade Burner & Golf Bags

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on the cover: Holiday Time Is Golf Time Where The Weather’s Fine

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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.

Dale Sanders as a travel and outdoor photojournalist, Dale has ventured to over 100Island & Coastal Destinations around the globe. With over a dozen media awardsunder his belt, Dale is constantly looking for the next great destination story and dra-matic image.

Katie Denbo is the editor and publisher of FORE Magazine, the official publication of theSouthern California Golf Association. A blogger and golf photographer by hobby, she is amember of the Golf Writers Association of America and the California Golf Writers andBroadcasters Association, and has written about and traveled to golf resorts and propertiesall over the western United States and Canada. Visit Katieshack, Katie's golf blog, atkatieshack.com, and follow her on Twitter at @kdenbo.

Chuck Miller (The Traveling Guy) a Southern California native and 11 handicap golferat Shadowridge Country Club in Vista, California, writes about golf for newspapers,magazines and internet travel sites. His business background includes developing the ini-tial international distribution network for Adams Golf.

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Upda te s f rom t he Wor ld o f Go l f & Trave l >> chip shotsMYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Mystical

Golf, owner and operator of the award-winning The Witch, Man-O-War andThe Wizard golf courses in Myrtle Beach,announces two winter specials – the stay-and-play “Winter Patricia Grand Special”and “Mystical Golf Winter Membership”offering unlimited play for a one-time fee.

Each rated from 4 to 4-1/2 stars by GolfDigest and named “The Best Value inAmerica” by GOLF Magazine, The Witch,Man-O-War and The Wizard have separatedfrom the Myrtle Beach pack by offeringgolfers outstanding value, three distinct play-ing experiences, and pristine conditioning.

The stay-and-play Winter PatriciaGrand Special features two nights’ accom-modations at the oceanfront Patricia GrandResort with three rounds of golf – one eachon The Witch, Man-O-War and TheWizard. The offer runs through January 13,2011 at $77 per person, double occupancyand January 14 – Jan. 31, 2011 at $95 perperson, double occupancy. Lunch is includ-ed at each course as well as two breakfasts

at the resort’s Grand Central Stationrestaurant. A cart-fee of $23 per personapplies at time of play.

Mystical Golf’s Winter Membershipoffers unlimited play on all three coursesfrom November 22, 2010 – February 28,2011 for a onetime fee of $395 (individual)and $495 (married couple). Tee times maybe booked 72 hours in advance. Play isallowed any time of day the course is open.Free USGA handicap service is provid-ed as well. The $23 per person cart fee isnot included in the membership.

“Whether you’re spending a few days,weeks or even several months in Myrtle

Beach during the winter golfers can maxi-mize their golf experience with these win-ter specials,” says Claude Pardue,President and CEO of Mystical Golf.“With our mild weather that is perfect forgolf, relaxing beachfront accommodationsand three courses offering three totally dis-tinct experiences, we offer the best dealson the Grand Strand.”

The Witch sits on 500 acres of tranquil

cypress groves and wetlands teeming withflora and fauna. Tactical play is rewardedon the par-71, 6,702-yard layout. With4,000 feet of bridges wending throughswamps (front nine) and rolling hills (backnine), golfers may spy cranes, bald eagles,alligators and black bears.

Man-O-War is revered for its back-to-back island greens and water featurestouching every hole. With a commanding141 slope rating, the par-72, 6,967-yard lay-out is offset by straight-forward shots andexcellent, bent-grass greens.

Reminiscent of classic, wind-swept linkscourses in Scotland and Ireland, The Wizard

presents deep bunkers, mound-framed fair-ways and dramatic elevation changes.Trademark stone bridges and an Old-World,castle-style clubhouse add character to thepar-72, 6,721-yard shot-maker’s course.

For more Mystical Golf’s WinterPatricia Grand Special information:www.mysticalgolf.com, 843.282.2977.For Mystical Golf’s Winter Membershipoffer call 843.236.8000.

WINTER PACKAGE AT MYSTICAL GOLF AND PATRICIA GRAND RESORT

Man O’War Island Green

“TEE AND TUTOR” OFFERS BEST OFGRAND CYPRESS GOLF & ACADEMY

ORLANDO, Fla. – November 11, 2010– Golfers determined to play their best,while also enjoying a Florida vacation, canlearn from the best at the Grand CypressAcademy of Golf, which has introducedthe Tee & Tutor Package especially fortraveling couples and golf buddies.

The benefits from spending an hour withthe award-winning Grand Cypress Academyof Golf staff can be put into play immediate-ly on the resort’s 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus

Signaturegolf. Eachteachingprofessionalwill beassigned tojust two stu-dents, whoeach receivea round ofgolf for

every night’s stay in The Villas of GrandCypress as part of the Tee & Tutor Package.

The Academy of Golf is directed byFred Griffin, recognized as one of the topgolf teachers in America, whose staffincludes several members ranked among thebest golf instructors in the state of Florida.

Grand Cypress – one of Golf Digest’s“75 Best Golf Resorts in NorthAmerica” and host to the LPGA TourChampionship, December 2-5 – featuresits original Nicklaus layout, comprised of27 holes, as well as the Nicklaus-designedNew Course, a links so authentic thatPGA Tour pros often visit Grand CypressResort to prepare for the British Open.

The Tee & Tutor Package, availablethrough April 30, 2011, begins at $269 pergolfer, per night.

For additional information visit theweb site at www.grandcypress.com orcall (877) 330-7376.

CHRISTOPHE HAR-BOUR ANNOUNCESTURTLE BEACHBUNGALOWS

ST KITTS – Theluxury lifestyle expertsbehind the exclusiveCharleston-basedKiawah Island and Ireland's Lodge At

Doonbeg announced the opening of TurtleBeach Bungalows, part of the emergingChristophe Harbour development on theCaribbean Leeward Island of St. Kitts.

The island's most upscale property,Turtle Beach Bungalows is one of the firststages in Christophe Harbour, a 2500-acreresidential real estate development whichwill include a 300-acre mega-yacht harbour,marina village, private beach club with barand grille, two luxury hotels, and spectacular18-hole Tom Fazio designed golf course.

“The Turtle Beach Bungalows offer byfar the finest accommodations on St. Kittswith the unique benefit of private beachaccess right outside the door,” saidLeGrand Elebash, Chief OperatingOfficer of Christophe Harbour. “The avail-ability of the bungalows represents a majorshift on the island, as it swings its focusfrom the sugar industry to tourism.”

Dotted along the dunes of the epony-mous Turtle Beach all four individual bun-galows named after natural local botanicalsare made of hand-hewn logs and showcaseelegant dark wood floors, subtle Caribbeanflair, including framed sago palm leaves,and massive marble slab showers. Threewalls of plantation-style shutters and slidingglass doors open onto unobstructed viewsof the Atlantic Ocean and St. Kitts’ neigh-boring sister-island, Nevis. Nightly ratesthat include a continental breakfast deliv-ered to each bungalow are $450 USD June-October and $550 USD November-May.

Just beyond the ocean-facing slidingglass door each unit has a tiered patio—nearly as large as the bungalow itself—with a gazebo sitting area for early morn-ing breakfasts and an individual plungepool for late-night soaks.

The property’s seaside restaurant, TheBeach House has seating for 90 guests in themain dining area, a full cocktail bar as well asa second floor Member’s lounge which alloverlook the water and sand flanked by mas-sive palms and an illuminated pier.

Island activities, arranged by Turtle BeachBungalows concierge Kathleen Brownsdon,

include ocean side massages ($100/hour), pri-vate catamaran rentals ($480 small, $560large), water taxis to Nevis ($160), fishingcharters ($500), a volcano/rainforest hike($95), and Zipline ($89).

Visit www.TurtleBeachBungalows.com,www.ChristopheHarbour.com or call 800-881-7180.

BLACK PEARL GC OPENS UP FOR CARNIVAL AND ROYAL CARIBBEAN

ROATAN, Honduras -- Pristine BayResort, one of the western Caribbean’s most-anticipated resort communities, announcesits Black Pearl golf course will open forCarnival and Royal Caribbean cruise shippassengers visiting Roatan December 1.

Roatan, an idyllic tropical island 40 milesoff the coast of Honduras, is a favorite of

scuba divers and an increasingly populardestination on Caribbean cruise itineraries.Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships willdock several times per week from 7 a.m. to4 p.m. allowing plenty of time for passen-gers to play the par-72, 7,179-yard layoutfollowed by lunch at the Sky Lounge or 19thHole restaurants. The Black Pearl, designedby Pete and Perry Dye, will open to thepublic at large on January 1, 2011.

Golf aficionados will be thoroughlyimpressed by the Dyes’ handiwork. TheBlack Pearl’s signature hole is the 157-yard(145 yards from the Blue tees), island-green, par-3 11th. From the tee, playersenjoy an exceptional view of the golf courseand Caribbean. The green sits in the mid-dle of a lake and is ringed by a narrowbunker to give slightly awry shots a chanceof remaining dry.

Additional information about golf mem-bership, real estate options and the coming-soon, 120-room, five-star Resort and Spaat Pristine Bay can be gleaned by visitingwww.pristinebayresort.com, [email protected], or call-ing 323.203.0623 or 786.315.8657.

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

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Christophe Harbour Bungalows


PHOENIX

by CHUCK MILLER“THE TRAVELING GUY”

Whenever a freezing cold wind blows and rain or snow falls, do you immediatelythink of vacationing in some sunny climate where golf is a year round sport? Eventhough I live in Southern California where our winters are mild, there are times

when I have these thoughts and immediately Arizona sunshine and golf come to mind.

No matter where you live in the US, a Phoenix/Scottsdale golf vacation is just hoursaway. With over 80 golf courses in the immediate area, and an abundance of outstandinghotels and restaurants to fit any budget, the Phoenix/Scottsdale area is a delightful localefor a fun winter vacation. Even though it is the fourth largest city in the US, Phoenix andthe surrounding cities of Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, along with the close-by FortMcDowell Yavapai Indian Nation, offer a relaxed atmosphere where warm sunny daysand bright blue skies are the norm during the winter months.

On my last winter trip to "The Valley of the Sun", I had the opportunity to play fourtruly wonderful desert courses, the Arizona State University Karsten course; EagleMountain Golf Club in Fountain Hills; Grayhawk, the former home of the ChampionTour's Fry's.com Open; and TPC Scottsdale, where nearly 500,000 spectators gather yearlyfor the PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open called "The Greatest Party on Grass".

These four courses were all within a few miles of the Xona Resort Suites in NorthScottsdale, headquarters for the Xona Resort Suites Annual Media Golf Classic which I wasattending along with nearly 100 golf writers from the US, Canada and Europe. Located on14 spacious acres, the "Xona" with one, two and four bedroom suites, four sparkling pools,and a truly professional and helpful staff, offered a welcome retreat for our group of golfwriters and for the other leisure and business travelers staying at the resort.

The first course we played was the Arizona State University Karsten Golf Course, atrue links-style course designed by famed golf architect Pete Dye. ASU Karsten was

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SCOTTSDALE

ENIXnamed in honor of PING golf equipment founder KarstenSolheim, the largest single cash contributor to the project.Since its opening in 1989 it has been the home course forthe ASU men's and women's golf teams which have pro-duced 47 Collegiate Golf All-Americans (21 men and 26ladies) and nine NCAA team titles (2 men and 7 ladies).Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Wendy Ward, Grace Park andAnna Nordqvist all played their collegiate golf there.

Whether you play from the Forward Tees at 4,765yards, the Regular Tees at 5,671 yards, the ChampionshipTees at 6,288 yards or the Professional Tees at 7,002 yards,you'll find the course challenging yet fun to play. Myfavorite hole was the course's signature hole, the Par 3 six-teenth. A whopping 248-yards from the tips, it is boundedon the right by a lake from tee to green. Although I playedit from only 175 yards, the hole quickly became a favoritewhen I hit my left-handed slice out over the water, landedit on the green, and two putted for par.

With four sets of tees, ASU Karsten provides variety forgolfers of all skill levels. Good golf course managementand precise shots are essential as a number of greens arepartially hidden and/or well guarded by bunkers and water.Speaking of water, the kidney shaped green on the 398-yardPar 4 eighteenth is also well protected by water. Even witha good drive from the Regular Tees, a very accurate secondor third shot is imperative if you are to get near the pin on

ASU-Karston

Grayhawk - Talon Course

Eagle Mountain Golf Club

TTSDALE

what is known as one of the toughestfinishing holes in Arizona.

The second day we played EagleMountain Golf Club which windsthrough some of the natural boxcanyons, rolling hills and lush desertvalleys of the Sonoran Desert. Golfcourse architect Scott Miller designedEagle Mountain so that it has spectacu-lar views of challenging holes that playthrough and around mesquite, paloverde and saguaro cacti. At 6,771 yards,this Par 71 beauty has some of thegreatest elevation changes in Arizonagolf. It also has undulating fairways and well-bunkered greenswhich make you continually think about proper club selection.

My favorite view was from the 18th tee which rests some 400feet above the fairway. As I prepared to tee off, I gazed outacross the valley at scenic Red Mountain and was once againreminded of another reason why I love the game of golf.

Named by the Arizona Republic as the Best New Public GolfCourse when it opened in 1996, and touted by Golf WorldMagazine as one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the Country,Eagle Mountain Golf Club should make your list of "Must Play"courses when you visit Phoenix and its surrounding areas.

Our third day we ventured to Grayhawk Golf Club, which

offers championship golf on two of thehighest rated daily-fee golf courses inthe US. Its two courses, Talon andRaptor, designed by former US Openand PGA Champion David Grahamand golf course architect Gary Panks,are widely considered two of the finestgolf courses in the Valley of the Sun.We played the Talon course which wethoroughly enjoyed. With water onthree holes and many greens that areboth large and multi-tiered, as well asfairways that are wider and morereceptive than they appear, we foundthe course a pleasure to play. Four

sets of tees ranging from 5143 to 6973 yards offer good tests forboth low and high handicappers.

Each of Talon's holes are named. Since the holes on my homecourse have only numbers, I was quite intrigued with the names ofeach of the holes. It was easy to understand the importance of thename of the first hole, Farrview, as it is dedicated to the lateHeather Farr, a local LPGA standout and Grayhawk Ambassador.Farr, who died of breast cancer at the early age of 28, is memorial-ized with a statue showing her holding her picture-perfect followthrough.

Other hole names I particularly enjoyed, and could easily under-stand how they were named were Three Sisters, the Par 5 thirdhole with three deep bunkers short and right of the green; #13, a

TPC Scottsdale

Xona Resort Suites

12 GOL F VA C AT IO N S • DE C E M B E R 2010 www.golfvacationsmag.com

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.

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drivable Par 4 only 303 yards from the tips named Heaven or Hellbecause of its risk/reward opportunities; and # 17 the 126-yard Par3 appropriately named Devil's Drink because an errant tee shot thatmisses the island green most likely ends up "in the drink".

In addition to its great courses, Grayhawk is also known for itsimpressive pro shop, The Golf Shop and Trading Company, whichhas been named as one of the top 100 pro shops in the US for thepast six years; for Phil's Grill, named after Grayhawk's PGATouring Ambassador Phil Mickelson; and for the GrayhawkLearning Center originally developed by Peter Kostis and GaryMcCord which offers highly personalized golf instruction.

TPC Scottsdale, home to the PGA Tour's Waste ManagementPhoenix Open, which has been described as "the largest spectatorgolf event in the world", was the fourth course we played. Whenwe arrived at the course it looked very inviting. It was in immacu-late condition, its fairways appeared wide and receptive, and theblue sky overhead was cloudless. I was ready. When I learnedthat Mark Calcavecchia had once commented, "I trust everythingabout the course. I trust my reads on the greens. I trust myyardages. Best ever conditions", I became very excited about play-ing. Realizing these quotes were spoken during a PGA Tourevent, I thought I might be disappointed. This was definitely notthe case as the course is kept to PGA Tour standards year round.

Playing where more than 40 touring pros regularly practiceand play was an exhilarating experience. As anticipated, the

Stadium course's famed 16th, only 162-yards from the tips, turnedout to be one of my favorite holes. I pictured myself being loudlycheered by the more than 25,000 fans who pack the stands sur-rounding the green during Phoenix Open. Since there were nofans when I hit my tee shot into one of the greenside bunkers, Iwas not booed which is also the custom during the tournament.

My other favorite hole at TPC Scottsdale was the short 332-yard Par 4 seventeenth which has bunkers, desert and water thatmust be avoided. I found out it is also one of Touring Pro AndrewMagee's favorite holes as he scored a double-eagle hole-in-onethere during the 2001 FBR Phoenix Open. His hole-in-one wasall the more interesting in that Magee, who was not a long driver,didn't think he could reach the green on which Steve Pate, GaryNicklaus and Tom Byrum were putting. He teed off and his drivebounced in front of and then onto the green. It rolled pastNicklaus and Pate and caromed off Byrum's putter into the cup.This surprising, amazing and unusual hole-in-one also happenedto be the first hole-in-one on a Par 4 in PGA Tour history.

When it's cold, rainy or snowing in your hometown, rememberthe Phoenix/Scottsdale area rates high for winter golf vacations.The more than 80 courses in the area await you.

Information on ASU Karsten, Eagle Mountain, Grayhawk andTPC Scottsdale as well as other Arizona courses can be found atwww.arizonagolfcourses.com. Xona Resort Suites information canbe found on their website, www.xonaresort.com.


Key West has this perception ofbeing weird, wild and simply off-beat. Indeed, it does possess these

characteristics, but it is so much more! Beit a tropical retreat for some or a watersports destination for others, Key West hasit all and then some.

Regardless of what might draw you toKey West it’s all about staying somewheredowntown AKA “Old Town.” Front Street,Mallory Square and Key West Bight borderthis historic area, with the lifeblood of thecity running down Duval Street, which ter-minates at Front Street.

The optimum place to stay is along thewater somewhere on or near Front Street,which looks westward toward Keys West’samazing sunsets. One of the most impres-sive luxury resorts found along waters edgehere in Old Town is that of the Hyatt KeyWest Resort & Spa.

This tropically inspired resort offersspacious rooms most with gulf-view bal-conies, thus providing the optimum respitefor travelers to Florida’s most famous key.Its numerous amenities include the BlueMojito Pool Bar and Grill and the highlyacclaimed Jala Spa.

Evenings here are highlighted by theSHOR American Seafood Grill, which fea-tures superb seafood entrees. The restau-rant also promotes a “cook your catch”offering which can’t be beat should you beso lucky as to have landed a catch on a dayoffshore or better yet bagged a few delec-table lobsters.

Just a short walk from the Hyatt youwill find some of Key West’s finest attrac-tions. A favorite is the Key West Aquariumwhere visitors can see many of the amazingcreatures that are found in the watersaround the Florida Keys. Daily tours andthe thrilling feeding of the sharks occurs at11, 1, 3, & 4:30.

Just across the street from the aquari-um, one might run into a reenactment ofthe early days of the wreckers and the auc-

HYATT KEY WEST RESORT & SPAAN OFFBEAT TROPICAL RETREAT

RESORTREPORT


tions that took place in Mallory Square. If so, you haveencountered the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum.Here, visitors can explore the two floors of shipwreck arti-facts and learn the amazing history of how Key Westbecame such a prominent hub for early mariners.

Upon exiting this museum, you are sure to see one ofKey West’s most notable attractions…The Conch TrainTour. A trip to Key West without experiencing this classictour is like going to Paris and not visiting the Eiffel Tower.For over 50 years, expert Conch Train engineers have tan-talized more than ten million guests with the legends andhistory of the Conch Republic.

Adjacent to Mallory Square is the world-renownedMel Fisher Treasure Museum. Inside, one will find theFort Knox of recovered Spanish gold, silver, cannons andartifacts that came from nearby waters. A trip through theever changing galleries here will quickly confirm why TheLearning Channel declared this to be “The #1 AmazingTreasure in the World.”

At this point, it would be wise to re-hydrate, and withtwo of Hemingway’s favorite watering holes just a blockaway, it’s an easy call. As you pass the brightly hued KeyWest Kite Shop, you will immediately see the large goliathgrouper of Captain Tony’s Bar, which extends out from thisfamous drinking establishment. Inside, business cards andladies braziers adorn every inch of the wall and ceiling.

Only a stones throw from here is perhaps the corner-stone of Key West’s best known bars, Sloppy Joe’s. A tripdown Duval street know as the “Duval Crawl” would notbe complete without a stop at this world famous bar, nightclub and restaurant. Every day of the week you can findsome of the best musical talent appearing live on theirstage, and once a year it hosts the Hemingway Days “lookalike” festival.

As the day winds down in the Conch Republic, onewill want to experience the sunset at Mallory Squarewhere every sort of entertainment occurs 365 days a year.

By DaleSanders Key West, FLORIDA


RESORTREPORT (continued)

Another option is to climb aboard one of various sailboats, which will plythe waters of the harbor in search of the green flash. Fury Catamaransfeatures an amazing trip aboard its mega-cat, which includes dinner, allyou can drink and a live band to dance your way through the twilightmoment.

Without a doubt, Key West offers a unique combination of fun andsun, with experiences from the mild to the wild. After you have visitedKey West, one thing is for sure…you will want to return again and again!

KEY WEST GOLF COURSEPlay a round in paradise at Key West Golf Course – the south-

ernmost golf course in the Continental United States. Designed bygolf legend Rees Jones, this 6,500 yard course offers 18 holes ofchallenging and scenic Key West golf.

Try out the infamous "Mangrove Hole" – a 143 yard, par 3 holeknown for testing even the most skilled golfer. Players of all levelswill enjoy this fantastic course, located just four miles from HyattKey West Resort and Spa.

This full-service Key West golf resort course is open to the pub-lic 365 days a year with rental clubs, a driving range, PGA profes-sional instruction, a pro golf shop, tournament services, locker facil-ities and private parking.

Take advantage of the Hyatt’s resort concierge to arrange yourtee time or contact the Key West Golf Club at 305-294-5232.

Facilities and ServicesFrom an expert staff to an extensive pro shop, you'll delight in

the superior amenities of the Key West Golf Club including:

• 18 holes of championship golf – with four tee placements, onefor every level of golfer.

• Pro golf shop – offering a wide assortment of golf wear, clubs,accessories, club and shoe rental as well as on-staff pros to assist youin planning your outing.

• Practice facility – including a driving range, instruction areaand balls for use during practice.

• Locker facilities – with men's and women's locker facilitiesand showers.


Palm Springs golf is both popular and infamously expensive.Some bargain hunters challenge the desert heat in the summer,when green fees plummet. But many courses offer tee times forless than $100 even in the prime-season months of Novemberthrough April. This means you can enjoy Palm Springs-area golfcourses like Indian Canyons Golf Resort, Escena Golf Club andEagle Falls G.C. without breaking the bank.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -– For decades, Palm Springs and itssurrounding area has served as a celebrity safe haven, a buddies'golf trip destination and couples' getaway hot spot.

Boutique hotels in Palm Springs beckon travelers to stay in theirhistoric rooms, and some of California's finest restaurants have

staked their claims along Coachella Valley's main thoroughfares.With more than 100 golf courses in the small but quickly

growing area -- framed by the San Jacinto, San Gorgonio andSanta Rosa mountain ranges -- golf is both popular and infamous-ly expensive for travelers and snowbirds alike, especially in thecool winter and spring months. Extreme players and bargainhunters challenge the desert heat in the summer, when greenfees can plummet to 20 percent of the prime-season rate. Butmany properties offer play for less than $100 a round -- includingcart -- during the coveted prime-season desert months ofNovember through April.

This means golfers can enjoy the Palm Springs golf oasiswithout breaking the bank.

PALM

SPRINGSEnjoy this Celebrated Desert OasisWithout Tapping The Trust Fund

Eagle Falls Golf Club

by Katie Denbo


Golf in Palm Springs ProperCoachella Valley's golf reputation has extended beyond Palm Springs in

recent years, with areas like La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert and Indioexperiencing recent construction of big-priced properties for deep pockets.History takes us back to Palm Springs, though, where a great mix of old andnew is up for play at a fraction of the cost of other locations.

Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs oozes Old Hollywood fora modest price. Formerly Canyon Country Club -- the haunt for famousnames such as Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Walt Disney and Frank Sinatra --the 36-hole Indian Canyons opened its doors to the public in 2008 andremains very much a tucked-away flag because of its past exclusivity. WilliamP. Bell's North Course at Indian Canyons is tight and strategic at 6,906 yards,while the South Course was redesigned by Casey O'Callaghan and LPGAHall of Famer Amy Alcott in 2004. It tops out at just more than 6,500 yards.Prime tee times from Christmas through mid-April cost upwards of $110, butcap out at a budget-conscious $95 from October through December. Whileyou're there, take a look at the eye-catching Walt Disney Fountain, donatedby Disney himself. This floating flower between the ninth and 18th holesshoots water more than 100 feet high.

Escena Golf Club, one of Palm Springs' best values, reopened in late2009 after a closure of nearly two years forced by the economic downturn.The Jack Nicklaus design was the first public course to open in Palm Springsproper in 20 years in 2005, and now it's back and playable as ever, stretchingas long as 7,152 yards from the back tees. Escena G.C. offers a terrific valuefor such a new property. Its design was inspired by the classic, early 20th-cen-tury golf courses of the area and features native species like Mexican fanpalms and sparse landscaping, making it great for finding errant shots if theball doesn't hit the wide fairways. A modern clubhouse, recently completed,offers libations and dining for after a round of golf.

Stay-and-play golf options in nearby IndioSome of the best golf deals in the desert come by combining a lodging

and golf package, especially true if you're looking for unlimited golf at a frac-tion of the price. Escape heat and high prices by taking refuge at FantasySprings Resort Casino, complete with gourmet dining, a concert showroom,lounge, bowling, gambling and a value golf course. Desert resident and for-mer European Tour pro Clive Clark designed the resort's centerpiece, EagleFalls Golf Club, which opened in 2006. The Indio property is the newestgolf course to open in the desert, and during its prime November-to-Aprilseason, green fees, including cart, cost only $75 on weekdays and $95 onweekends. Summer rates runs $39 to $49. Resort guests can save further, ascan holders of the Fantasy Rewards players club card. Eagle Falls' style isIrish-links reminiscent, with its long, native grasses and wide fairways, but fastTifEagle greens and vibrant landscaping provide quality conditions and a niceway to spend a peaceful day.

Not far from Indio, Indian Palms Country Club and Resort offers 27holes of golf from $25 to $80. Designed by Jackie Cochran and HelenDetweiler, Indian Palms is a true resort golf property. Yardages on its threecombination golf courses stretch as long as 6,572 yards. And while maturetrees line fairways and water features enter play on 15 holes, the golf courses


Escena Golf Club

provide a good but leisurely test that don't leave players feelingbeaten up. Indian Palms offers some fantastic stay-and-play dealsfor those in search of a good value. Some come at less than $100for golf and lodging. Onsite dining and an extensive practice facil-ity is also available.

More Coachella Valley OptionsMountain Vista Golf Club at Sun City Palm Desert is one

of the desert's best values. At their highest, green fees are only$85 and drop to as low as $30 during summer months. Located inthe growing city of Palm Desert, Mountain Vista is somewhat of alocal secret. It includes 36 holes of the Billy Casper-designed golf-- the Santa Rosa course and San Gorgonio course. Both golfcourses feature crisp, green fairways, water and wide landingzones. Santa Rosa measures 6,720 yards, while San Gorgonio,

though shorter, is actually the more difficult -- thanks to tighterdriving holes and more bunker coverage around the green com-plexes.

If you're looking for a couple different golf options at oneproperty, Cimarron Golf Resort in Cathedral City offers itsregulation Boulder Course and the short, 18-hole Pebble Course.Designed by John Fought, Cimarron's Boulder Course stretchesto 6,768 yards. With a resort rate of only $39, it test playersrepeatedly without breaking the bank. It was named one of GolfDigest's best places to play in 2003 because of its green complex-es, and it ranks as a local favorite for great value. Cimarron'Pebble Course, a 2,956-yard par-58 facility, runs $19 and providesa good opportunity to work on the short game. Cimarron alsooffers On the Rocks restaurant, named the best place to watch asunset in Palm Springs.


Indian Palms Country Club & Resort

Cimarron Golf ResortIndian Canyons Golf Resort

Escena Golf ClubMountain Vista Golf Club


DESTINATIONS WHERE TO STAYWHERE TO PLAY


http://www.oakquarry.com

http://www.morganrun.com

SPOTLIGHT

PRIVATE SETTING PUBLIC ACCESSMALIBU COUNTRY CLUBPRIVATE SETTING PUBLIC ACCESS

By KatieDenbo

Malibu, CA

MALIBU, Calif. -- Thoughts of Malibu, for many people,include visions of sparkling beaches, crashing waves and aflawless southern California coastline replicated in manymovies and television shows.

A few miles inland, though, Malibu offers sprawling acresof undisturbed mountains, ranches and tucked-away flags thatmake for a destination among the Los Angeles golf scene.

The public Malibu Country Club is one of these hiddenenclaves, navigating through Encinal Canyon and into the

Santa Monica Mountains.It's long ranked as a popular venue for celebrity golf tour-

naments -- like the Women in Film Celebrity Golf Classic. Andsome big industry names -- country crooner Glen Campbell andactress Tea Leoni, for instance -- tee it up on a weekly basis.

Many players choose to escape the chaos of the nearby cityin Malibu. Malibu Country Club's reputation of peace andquiet, while providing a private club experience, has drawnpeople to the area since the facility opened in the late 1970s.

"I like to say that Malibu Country Club is how golf in LosAngeles was meant to be played," said Dan Mehelin, general man-ager of the club. "It's a beautiful setting, a great test of golf, and it'sone of the best-kept secrets in L.A County, while only 45 minutesfrom downtown. People feel like they're escaping when they cometo play out here."

Malibu Country Club: The Golf CourseMalibu Country Club is a 1977 Billy Bell, Jr. design that winds

players up and back into the Santa Monica Mountains. An abun-dance of Italian cypress trees and other foliage flanks the 6,600-yard golf course from the first hole, adding a feeling of maturitybut also requiring the use of extra balls if golfers struggle with their

aim off the three sets of tees. Well-manicured Bermuda fairwaysare primarily narrow. Straight hitters benefit greatly, but a fewholes provide wider and flatter landing areas. Greens range in sizefrom small to medium, so a solid short game benefits.

Thanks to the golf course's position within the canyon, eleva-tion changes are abundant. The first hole, a straightaway 398-yardpar 4, gradually creeps uphill, while the next several play tight andangular. The most difficult par-3 hole comes on the fifth hole, a236-yard shot on which, depending how the wind blows, clubselection may vary from normal.

There's not much water on the golf course, but what waterexists certainly can come into play. The 476-yard par-5 sixth holerequires a carry over a creek. A mishit left will land in a lake. The


SPOTLIGHT (continued)

par-7 seventh, at 194 yards, requires allcarry over the lake to get to the green. Thedogleg, par-4 ninth also makes playersapproach the green over another water fea-ture to round out the front.

As a whole, big hitters could be hum-bled at Malibu C.C., as control takes prece-dence from the back tees over length. Withother tees set at 6,176 yards and 5,613yards, golfers get their choice of differenttee shot angles and more comfortableyardages from long par 3s.

"There are few courses in the area atthis price, and of this caliber, that offersuch a peaceful day of golf," said JimNelson of nearby Simi Valley. "You comeout here and know you'll be golfing withfew distractions. No traffic, no neighbor-hoods or noise -- just a nice day of golf inthe hills."

Carts are required at Malibu CountryClub (walking is not permitted), althoughthe GPS-equipped cart is included with thegreen fee.

Malibu Country Club: The VerdictIf you're looking for the beach and

open views of the ocean that Malibu'simage may communicate, you won't findthem at Malibu Country Club. If you'relooking for an idyllic day in the footprint ofthe Santa Monica Mountains, this golfcourse provides an abundance of canyonviews, elevation changes and a sense ofpeacefulness.

Don't be fooled by the 6,600-yardlength, either; narrow fairways requiresome thought off the tee, while small-to-medium greens mean chipping and puttingskills should be sharpened ahead of time.For the setting and quality of golf, the $65to $100 green fees, including cart, providea great value. And for another $25, golferscan test their game again with a same-dayreplay.

Practice Facilities and Instruction atMalibu Country Club

Although Malibu Country Club doesnot include a driving range, it does featurea netted hitting bay and complimentarygolf balls to warm up a swing.Additionally, Malibu has an expansivechipping and practice putting green thatrolls very true to the on-course greens.Malibu golf professionals offer individualand group lessons.


Malibu, CA


The most popular wedge on the PGATour—those designed by Titleistmaster craftsman Bob Vokey--have

now been made available to the generalgolfing public in the special treatments,grinds and customizations that previouslyhad only been produced inside a tourequipment van.

Called WedgeWorks Exclusives, thisnew category for Titleist Vokey wedges isdesigned for the discerning better playerwho wants to design their own club—rightdown to the shaft band color. For the golferwho believes he is a better player when helooks better, this is the ticket.

WedgeWorks is a high performance cus-tom shop within the Titleist production fac-tory where Vokey and his team of artisansdesign and build wedges for everyone fromPGA TOUR players to avid wedge enthusi-asts. Each personalized creation is one-of-a-kind, custom-engraved, hand-stamped andbuilt at WedgeWorks in Carlsbad,California. Two distinctive new finishes –Bright Brushed Chrome and Oil Can Zero –were created specifically for WedgeWorksExclusives. Every WedgeWorks Exclusivesclub is custom built and personalized – fromlength, lie and loft, to toe engraving, paint-fill, grips, shafts and shaftbands.

The personalization options available onWedgeWorks Exclusives are virtually end-less. Three different hand-stamp styles(straight, freestyle, snow) in up to eight let-ters and/or numbers, plus there are 40 dif-ferent toe engraving combinations fromwhich to choose. Among the grips availableare the New Decade Multi-Compound andfull cord Golf Pride Tour Velvet, as well asribbed and .600 diameter options. You caneven have your name stamped on the back of

the club head with a choice of 20 differentpaintfill colors. These make a great personal-ized holiday gift for your favorite golfer.

“Until now these special M grinddesigns were only available to Tour playerswho had them custom made in our equip-ment vans,” explained David Neville, theCustom Club Manager for Titleist. “The Mgrind that we had for Tour players has anarrower sole and had a different bouncethat we call the Tour Van Design (TVD)”.

The Vokey TVD wedges feature a cres-cent shaped sole and moderate camber.This allows the wedge to easily pivot aroundits center for versatility and shot making.Vokey TVD wedges are also the onlywedges in the Vokey Design lineup that fea-ture a Tour grind in lower lofts, beginningat 52 degrees and increasing to 60 degreesin two degree increments.

WedgeWorks Exclusives feature aselection of high performance shafts,including True Temper’s Dynamic Gold,Tour Issue and Project X, as well as theKBS Tour in steel and black nickel. All ofthe Vokey wedges now adopt the SpinMilled design that utilize special groovecutting tools and a rougher surface on theclub face to induce greater spin.

For more information: www.titleist.comor www.Vokey.com

Bushnell Golf, which has pretty muchbeen the leader when it comes tolaser rangefinders for golfers with

over 90% of professional caddies and play-ers reporting using them for practicerounds, has unveiled its latest and mostadvanced satellite GPS distance finder forrecreational players with the BushnellYardage Pro XGC+.

GPS yardage finders for golf haveimproved and evolved over the past fewyears, and this small, but handy and easy tooperate unit is like having a yardage book,laser rangefinder and caddie that you canstuff in your pocket. It is pre-loaded withover 16,000 North American golf courses andis ready to use out of the box. Course mapscan be easily downloaded off the webthrough iGolf.com and you can keep your

score, handi-cap or get thephone numberand address ofyour favoritegolf course.

The 2.2-inch high res-olution screengives you dis-tances to anypoint on thehole in vivid,s u n - l i g h tr e a d a b l ecolor. Thevibrant color maps provide a “down thefairway” perspective for easier and bettercourse management. No membership feeis required to use this product, and youcan update your device at no charge for upto one year.

The GPS satellites will find whichcourse you are on and which hole—or youcan manually bring up a course andadvance to any hole. You can also set fourcustom points per-hole on the interactivemap, or set your own distance coordinateswith the custom mapping feature. Withthe zoom and advance features, you canalso easily calculate yardages to varioushazards and landing areas for bettercourse management.

For the golfer who is looking to add a lit-tle high tech to their game, this is a greataddition. For more on Bushnell GPS rangefind-ers, visit: www.bushnellgolfgps.com.

For TaylorMade Golf the Burner line ofdrivers and fairway woods have beenamong the most popular products on

the market. But a year and a half ago the com-pany unveiled its first set of Burner irons-- aline fashioned for players looking for distanceand forgiveness—and they became the mostsuccessful iron in TaylorMade history.

Now, amid much fanfare, TaylorMadeGolf has unveiled its latest creation, the Burner2.0 irons, engineered to combine legendaryBurner distance plus more feel and playability.

"We've succeeded at creating a better-

HOLIDAY


performing iron with the Burner 2.0, whichis just as long, easier to play and morerefined in its feel and sound," said BretWahl, senior director of research and devel-opment for irons, wedges and putters.

The difference starts at first glance withthe Burner 2.0's two-toned "Burner Black"PVD finish, which is more durable andresists glare. Multiple club properties in theBurner 2.0 irons have been enhanced to pro-mote distance, uniform distance-gaps,improved playability and more satisfying feeland sound. The result: each Burner 2.0 ironoutperforms the first-generation Burner.

Weight distribution varies in everyBurner 2.0 clubhead to improve long-, mid-dle- and short-iron ball flight. In the long-irons, weight has been shifted toward theback of the head, to promote easy launch,and toward the toe and heel, to promotegreater stability and forgiveness. In the mid-dle-irons, weight is distributed more evenlyand slightly higher to promote workabilitywhile still providing forgiveness. In theshort-irons, weight is positioned even high-er, to promote a lower, more controllableball flight, and centered, to promoteincreased clubhead control.

Every individual Burner 2.0 iron boastsa different face thickness. The thinnest andfastest faces are in the long-irons, with theface in each successive iron growing thickerdown through the middle- and short-irons.

These new irons are equipped with anew, flight-control shaft design in a light 85-gram steel or 65-gram graphite for longer,higher, longer shots. The Women's Burner2.0 is equipped with a graphite RE*AX®SuperFast 55-gram shaft.

For information, visit the TaylorMadeGolf website at: www.tmag.com.

For those golfers wanting to start theNew Year with a resolution to walkthe course more—or for anyone just

wanting a light, very versatile golf bag,TaylorMade Golf’s new Pure Light 2.0Stand Bag fits the bill perfectly at less thanfive pounds-but loaded with features usuallyseen in a much bigger and heavier bag.

It is TaylorMade’s lightest full-size standbag yet which makes for a lighter load andeasier walking. Some of the notable featuresinclude a six-way top with integrated handle;seven total pockets, including a valuablespocket with internal key/ring clip; Insulatedbeverage sleeve pocket; ventilatedergonomic shoulder straps; full lengthdividers; pen holder; Integrated bottomtrunk handle and three FAS-TEK receivers.

The company’s patented FAS-TEK(Fast Action Snap Technology) is a seamlessway for golfers to access important acces-sories such as GPS, rangefinders, phones,cigar holders and other valuables withouthaving to dig through cluttered pockets dur-ing a round. With separate Fast ActionSnap Technology cases, golfers can quicklyand easily affix these accessories onto corre-sponding rivets which line the outside of allof the new 2011 bag models.

The ultra durable and ergonomicallydesigned four-point strap system with contin-uous webbing delivers a lower effectiveweight for proper distribution and fit, helpingto eliminate fatigue while walking 18 holes.

The PureLight 2.0 hasseveral sportycolor combina-tions to choosefrom and withloads of func-tional compart-ments and fea-tures such as aball holder andball marking stencil, this bag certainly is a styl-ish choice in the light carry bag category.

For more information on the newTaylorMade golf bags: www.taylormade-golfgear.com

by Terry Ross

SWEETSTUFFThe PurePutt training aid from

Dazz Concepts is living up to itspromise of providing teachers and

golfers instant feedback to help identifyflaws in putting strokes.

Matt Flenniken, one of the nation’s topclub fitters who is Director of Instructionat the Los Lagos Golf Club in San Jose,CA, has added the PurePutt to his arsenalof club fitting and teaching aids. “It’s a fan-tastic training aid for teachers, yet isn’t toocomplicated even for beginners,” he said.

The PurePutt uses gyroscopes tomeasure the rotation of the putter, provid-ing instant feedback about whether theface of the putter is open, closed or squareat impact. It is simple to use. Just clip it onthe putter below the grip, set the playinglevel (beginner, advanced or professional),push the start button, align the putter atthe target and make the stroke.

Flenniken, who has been the PGA ofAmerican Club Fitter of the Year threetimes in the past 25 years and nationalteaching pro of the year in 2007, foundthat the PurePutt helped him to convinceone recent student about a serious align-ment problem.

“I just reach in a drawer of my deskand handed him one,” Flenniken said.“They’re simple to operate, providesgreat feedback and would make a greatstocking stuffer.”

The Dazz team has over 20 years ofexpertise developing innovative productsfor mobile systems, GPS, and integratedcircuits. PurePutt™ is the latest creation.Visit the Dazz Concepts web site atwww.dazzconcepts.com for trainingvideos and additional information.

by James McAfee

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

http://www.proflowers.com/shop

Golf Vacations Magazine December 2010

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