Travel - Golf Tips

Troon Challenge Welcomes All Amateur Golfers

The official schedule has been set for the 2019 Troon Challenge presented by Callaway Golf. Now in its 17th year, the Troon Challenge is Troon’s largest amateur golf event, attracting more than 1,600 golfers competing in regional qualifying events across the United States. From May through November, regional qualifying events will be held at over 34 facilities in 11 different states. Two-person teams in both Net and Gross Divisions will compete to qualify for spots in the Troon Challenge National Finals, to be held in Scottsdale, Ariz. December 6-8, 2019. The Troon Challenge National Finals will be played at The Phoenician Golf Club and Troon North Golf Club’s Monument Course — two of the top ranked golf courses in Arizona.

Regional qualifying events kickoff May 5th at Lake of Isles in North Stonington, Conn. and Shadow Hills Golf Club in Indio, California. Entry into qualifying events includes green fee, cart, practice balls, Callaway golf balls, an Ogio shoe bag, an official AHEAD Troon Challenge hat, event prizes and a post-tournament awards reception.

“Last year was a record year for the Troon Challenge with more than 1,600 regional golfers vying for a chance to come to Scottsdale for the Troon Challenge Finals at Troon North,” said Kris Strauss, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Troon. “This year, with over 34 regional qualifying events in 11 states, we know 2019 will be even bigger and better. We are looking forward to seeing how the exciting qualifying events unfold and hosting the 2019 Finals at The Phoenician and Troon North.”

“We certainly couldn’t pull off events of this scale without the support of our loyal golf guests, Troon Cardholders, host venues and of course, our sponsors such as Callaway Golf, Golf Genius, Experience Scottsdale, AHEAD, Pepsi and Ship Sticks,” added Strauss. “To all involved, thank you, and we look forward to a great Troon Challenge season!”

For more information or to register for the 2019 Troon Challenge presented by Callaway Golf, visit www.troon.com/troon_challenge.

The 2019 Troon Challenge is presented by Callaway Golf, along with supporting partners Experience Scottsdale, AHEAD, Pepsi, and Ship Sticks, with scoring powered by Golf Genius.

2019 Troon Challenge Schedule

Alabama

Highland Park Golf Course, Birmingham – Wednesday, July 17

Arizona

Troon North Golf Club, Scottsdale – Sunday, June 2

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, Wickenburg – Sunday, June 9

El Conquistador Golf & Tennis, Oro Valley – Saturday, June 22

The Phoenician, Scottsdale – Sunday, June 23

Copper Canyon Golf Club, Buckeye – Saturday, July 13

Boulders Resort & Spa, Cave Creek – Sunday, August 4

The Westin Kierland Golf Club, Scottsdale – Sunday, August 11

Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson – Sunday, August 18

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, Maricopa – Sunday, August 25

Golf Club of Estrella, Goodyear – Sunday, September 8

Lookout Mountain Golf Club, Phoenix – Saturday, September 14

Whirlwind Golf Club, Chandler – Sunday, September 22

Laughlin Ranch Golf Club, Bullhead City – Saturday, November 2

Poston Butte Golf Club, Florence – Sunday, November 10

California

Shadow Hills Golf Club, Indio – Sunday, May 5

Ashwood Golf Course, Apple Valley – Sunday, July 28

Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa – Sunday, July 28

The Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage – Sunday, August 4

Yocha Dehe Golf Club, Brooks – Sunday, August 4

Diablo Grande Golf Club, Patterson – Sunday, August 18

Maderas Golf Club, San Diego – Sunday, August 25

Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells – Sunday, September 22

Classic Club, Palm Desert – Sunday, October 6

PGA WEST, La Quinta – Sunday, October 27

Colorado

The Ridge, Castle Pines – Friday, October 11

Connecticut

Lake of Isles, North Stonington – Sunday, May 5

Florida

Tiburón Golf Club, Naples – Sunday, June 9

Kansas

Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood – Saturday, August 10

New Jersey

Seaview Hotel & Golf Club, Atlantic City – Sunday, August 4

New York

Centennial Golf Club, Carmel – Sunday, July 14

The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, Monroe – Monday, July 29

Texas

La Cantera Hill Country Resort, San Antonio – Sunday, June 23

The Rawls Course at Texas Tech, Lubbock – Sunday, June 23

Virginia

Potomac Shores Golf Club, Potomac Shores – Sunday, August 18

Busy Golf Summer For Fairmont Banff Springs

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club will kick off the 2019 golf season when the Tunnel Mountain 9 course opens for play Friday, May 3. The opening of Fairmont’s famed Stanley Thompson Course will follow a week later with play beginning Friday, May 10. Special early-season rates will be available for both courses, until June 4. Afterwards, regular rates will apply through fall — $249 CAD for the Thompson Course, and $105 CAD for Tunnel Mountain 9.

The Fairmont Banff Springs is located in the heart of Banff National Park and is styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, offering commanding views of the surrounding mountains and the stunning Bow River. Just steps from the charming village of Banff, the resort is a National Historical Site and offers a tremendous blend of luxury and recreation. In addition to its two golf courses, In addition to golf, Fairmont Banff Springs offers world-class dining and shopping options in addition to a Willow Stream Spa and a host of additional recreational activities, including the following events.

Celebrate Tunnel Mountain 9 Opening

July 1^st, 2019 is the 30^th anniversary of the Tunnel Mountain 9’s opening. To celebrate the milestone, guests can play the Tunnel Mountain 9 Course for just $30 CAD after paying the regular rate for rounds on either Tunnel Mountain or the Stanley Thompson Course. Additionally, the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club has partnered with popular Grizzly Paw Brewing of Canmore, Alberta to create a commemorative pale ale. The $30 rate and the commemorative beer will be available to guests all season long.

Canadian Par-3 Championship

On August 17^th, amateur players as well as pros will have a unique opportunity to compete in the Canadian Par-3 Championship on the Stanley Thompson Course at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club. Every hole of the iconic course will be converted to a par 3, and players will compete for prizes on each one. The two top players in the event will represent Canada in the Grey Goose Par-3 Championship held on the Turtle Hill Course at Fairmont Southampton, Bermuda in spring 2020. Cost is $149 CAD for amateurs and $99 CAD for professionals. It includes golf, prizes and a meal.

www.banffmountaingolf.com

Omni Barton Creek Beams Anew

It was a glorious return to Texas Hill Country golf. I worked in the golf business in Austin in the early ’80s, and played most of the courses in and around Texas’ capital city, though the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa had not opened back then.

So when the time came, in early 2019, for my first rounds at the two courses surrounding the resort — the Fazio Foothills and the Coore Crenshaw — I savored a memorable return to the region.

“What you find at Barton Creek is true Hill Country beauty everywhere you look,” Director of Golf Phillip Marburger said. “It’s why people come here.”

“Most think of Texas as kind of flat … they picture West Texas, cows and tumbleweeds. But they get here and they see all the change in terrain, the hills and the canyons, and they find it just beautiful.”

While the Coore Crenshaw and Foothills courses lie adjacent to each other around the resort, they are distinctly different.

“Each designer has a different look and feel,” Marburger said. “The Coore Crenshaw is more of a links style with the rolling hills, the large greens and running shots into the greens … while the Fazio course is more target-oriented and has smaller greens.”

“They both provide holes which players feel show the tremendous variety of Hill Country golf.”

The two courses have been retooled as part of a $150 million renovation project at the resort, to be complete with May with reservations available now for dates beginning May 5. Course renovations included the removal of hundreds of trees and the addition, removal and renovation of bunkers.

I played both on successive days in January, the Crenshaw course first.

While the first day was, shall we say, blustery, the old adage, “if you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait five minutes and it will change,” came to fruition on the second day, when we played in near 70-degree weather.

Not bad for golf at the height of the winter.

Make A Wild Dunes Stop On Road To Masters

The 2019 Masters Tournament will draw golf fans from near and far for four days of competitive play April 11-14. Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination Hotel near Charleston, South Carolina, is offering families and friends looking to road trip to and from this celebrated event, the chance to experience relaxation, sunshine and award-winning golf with its new Road to the Masters Package.

Available for stays April 1-21, with rates starting at $404 per person, per night, this package includes:

Accommodations in the resort’s AAA Four-Diamond Rated Boardwalk Inn, the Village at Wild Dunes or in the resort’s luxury condos
One round of golf, with cart fees included, on the Links Course
One round of golf, with cart fees included, on the Harbor Course
Bucket of balls & full range access
Daily breakfast at Huey’s Southern Eats

“We can’t wait to welcome players of all skill levels to experience our Tom Fazio-designed Links and Harbor Courses for the ultimate Masters golf vacation this year,” shares Wild Dunes Resort’s Golf Director Jeff Minton. “Whether coming from the north or south, our resort is an unbeatable pit-stop for families and friends headed to the most prestigious golf tournament of the year.”

Others wishing to enjoy Wild Dunes Resort’s premier courses year-round can take advantage of the resort’s Young Executive Membership and Harbor Friends Golf Program.

Young Executive Membership offers those 40 and under the opportunity to take advantage of the resort’s award-winning golf courses, pools, beach and more at an incredible value, with inclusions such as Links and Harbor Course greens fees, preferred golf member guest rates, preferred daily tee times, waived tennis court fees, discounted tennis lessons/clinics, access to all resort pools and the grand pavilion, 25 percent off best available rate room reservations and Destination Properties, 10-20 percent off rentals, retail purchases and food and beverage outlets, and more.

The resort’s new Harbor Friends Golf Program is the ultimate annual VIP pass to the Harbor Course, known for its challenging design and beautiful views. Local golfers (Dorchester, Charleston or Berkeley counties) can enroll for $49 to enjoy year-round perks including $44 rounds on the Harbor Course, exclusive monthly offers and tournament access, a Friends Reward punch card to earn free rounds and merchandise, 10 percent off restaurant and pro shop purchases, and a Harbor Friends tumbler after sign-up.

www.wilddunes.com

Innisbrook Resort A Tour-Tested Winner

One word comes to mind when discussing Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. That word is “Copperhead.’’ Regarded as one of the top five courses in Florida—it’s been No. 1 on some lists —Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course is architect Larry Packard’s masterpiece.

It’s a sweeping, larger-than-life centerpiece of this 900-acre resort about 20 miles north of Tampa International Airport and host to the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, which returns this week. Jordan Spieth began his rise to superstardom with his playoff victory at the 2015 Valspar.

Originally designed by Packard in 1972, Copperhead underwent a total renovation in 2015 that included a new irrigation system, raising the fairways on the second and third holes to improve drainage; re-shaping bunkers; and adding of a set of staircase traps on the 18th hole. The renovation essentially brought the course from the 1970s look and put the fangs back into the Copperhead.

“A tough golf course,’’ Tiger Woods has said of the Copperhead.

How tough? Copperhead’s famed “Snake Pit’’ finishing holes – a 460-yard, par-four, 215-yard, par-three and 455-yard, par-four – are as a good as any finishing holes as on the PGA Tour.

But Innisbrook, owned by Sheila Johnson’s Salamander Hotels & Resorts, is more than just the Copperhead. The resort’s Island, North and South courses each are formidable. As with Copperhead, each course was designed by Packard, who lived at Innisbrook until his death age 101 in 2014.

The Island Course, with its tight fairways (particularly on the first six holes) and water hazards, is a favorite of Innisbrook members. The South Course strays a bit from the standard Florida tree-lined fairways in offering more a links-style feel and look.

The completion of the South Course renovation on 2018 gave each of the greens on the four courses at Innisbrook TifEagle Bermudagrass, which generally stands up well against drought conditions as well as disease.

Approximately 300 of Innisbrook’s 450 member-owned suites (one- two- and three-bedrooms) have been completely remodeled with new furnishings and brighter colors. Even the full kitchens in each guest suite have been remodeled.

Remodeling the guest accommodations at Innisbrook Resort is the latest example of Johnson putting her stamp on Innisbrook. Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television and the first African-American women to achieve a net worth of at least $1 billion, acquired Innisbrook in 2007 for a reported $35 million. It’s now part of a Salamander portfolio that includes Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia; The Henderson in Destin, Florida; Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina; and Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Florida.

“Innisbrook is a just a great example of a golf resort that we strive to position among the best in class,’’ said Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hotels & Resorts. “Thanks to renovations that have taken place over the years, the great service that our employees provide, and the growing stature of the Valspar Championship, Innisbrook has really risen to be among the best golf resorts in the country.’’

Despite its size, Innisbrook is easy to navigate, either by car or via the shuttles that transport guests to and from the clubhouses, Salamander Spa, 11 tennis courts and convention center. Each of the chalet-style lodge buildings at Innisbrook is named after a famous course such as Merion, Augusta and Carnoustie.

The Copperhead clubhouse is home to Packard’s Steakhouse, the resort’s signature dining experience that comes complete with tuxedoed servers (many of whom have been there to 20 years) and a deep menu selection of steak and seafood. Packard’s is one of five dining outlets at the resort. Among the others, The Grill at the Loch Ness pool is a popular summer dining destination for families and kids.

Innisbrook for the past four decades has been one of the Southeast’s more popular convention and business meeting destinations, featuring more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space.

Salamander Spa, meanwhile, features 12 treatment rooms, including a couples room with private fireplace and shower. Innisbrook Director of Instruction Dawn Mercer is one of the country’s top golf teachers.

Located just off bustling Highway 19, Innisbrook is central to many of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area attractions, including Tropicana Field (home of the Tampa Bay Rays) and beaches, including Treasure Island and St. Petersburg Beach.

Palm Harbor has a small restaurant district just a few miles south of Innisbrook (go for the fried oysters at Molly Goodhead’s Raw Bar) and a few miles to the north is the city Tarpon Springs, with its Greek restaurants and sponge docks.

www.innisbrookgolfresort.com

Myrtle Beach World Amateur Registration Opens

The 36th annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship begins accepting entries Wednesday March 13. A 72-hole, net stroke play tournament, the Myrtle Beach World Amateur will be played August 26-30 on 60 of Myrtle Beach’s best courses. More than 3,000 players from across America and more than 20 countries are again expected to participate in golf’s largest single-site tournament.

Early entry into the event, which includes at least four rounds of golf, nightly admission to the World’s Largest 19th Hole and a gift bag, is $535 through May 16, a $100 savings off the regular cost. The tournament, which flights players based on age, gender and handicap, is open to all golfers 17 years of age and older.

“The PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship is golf’s greatest amateur tournament, and we are looking forward to year 36 being the best event yet,” tournament director Scott Tomasello said. “Myrtle Beach is the only destination capable of hosting a 3,000-player tournament, and we can’t wait to welcome golfers from across America and the world to the area.”

Players who register by April 12 will be eligible to win one of 55 random drawing prizes collectively valued at $10,000, including Cleveland wedges, Srixon golf travel bags, TaylorMade TP Collection putters, TaylorMade M4 Drivers, PeakVision LX2 Sunglasses and more.

The Myrtle Beach World Am flights players into nine divisions – men 49 and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women 49 and under, the gross division, senior (50+) gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for players who want to enjoy the World Am experience without the pressure of competition.

After four days of competition, all flight winners and ties advance to the World Championship Playoff, an 18-hole shootout that crowns the event’s winner.

While the competition is initially what lures players to the event, it’s only part of what keeps them coming back. At the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the World’s Largest 19th Hole.

Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes all 120,000-square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and more.

Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, Charlie Rymer and John Daly.

Players will also receive a gift bag that includes a Chase 54 polo, a pullover, a logo’d hat, a PGA Tour Superstore gift card and an assortment of other goodies.

For more information, visit www.MyrtleBeachWorldAmateur.com.

Casa de Campo: Just What The D.R. Ordered

For years I’d heard the words, studied the photos, played those holes hard against the Caribbean in my head. Teeth of the Dog. And right on that dog’s heels, three more words in Spanish. Casa de Campo.

Cottage. As in getaway second home.

Sounded good to me.

Finally came the day I was there in the flesh, standing on the tee of the Dog’s exquisite par 3 fifth hole with a 9-iron in my hand, and yeah, that pup was barking up a storm — a storm of sun and surf and blessed late autumn heat, a far cry from the snowstorms back home.

I could get used to this.

I took a swing and my ball looked safe, safe, safe from a seawater death, then it caught up in the big tree guarding the green’s right side for a second or two, rattled around … and dropped in a narrow strip of rough between modern bunker and ancient rocky shore. Safe, after all. The Dog bit, but not hard enough to break the skin, or my scorecard.

That’s beauty and allure of Casa de Campo, the Dominican Republic’s original golf destination, a 7,000-acre development anchoring the province of Romana some 45 minutes from Punta Cana’s privately-owned international airport, on the island’s eastern point: There’s nothing hard about it, if by “hard” you mean harsh, or unwelcoming.

Sure, like any golf course designed by the great master Pete Dye, as all of Casa de Campo’s 81 holes are, Teeth of the Dog will snarl back at a bad shot on any hole, not just those exquisite seven along the sea. But get to know it a bit — with some help from an experienced forecaddie, preferably — and you’ll find it’s also a jovial and inviting breed, groomed to please and take up a permanent home in your heart.

That’s what all great golf courses do, and it’s a key ingredient in Dye’s enduring magic.

The fully inland Links Course next door exposes its friendly underbelly more readily — five or six strokes more friendly — while the 27 holes of the hilltop Dye Fore Course are a different breed of golf: one nine strung on a bluff overlooking the Chavón River, another tumbling toward the resort’s marina before turning back uphill, and a third, newer nine fittingly called Lagos, as in lakes. Lots of them. The private La Romana Country Club, where members and homeowners get their Dye fix, rounds out Casa de Campo’s tee-to-green bounty. Indeed, it’s one of the most impressive collections of golf holes in all of Latin America, not just the Caribbean.

Five Orlando Must-Plays Beyond Bay Hill

With one of the PGA Tour’s most popular events returning to “Arnie’s Place,” a.k.a. Bay Hill Golf & Country Club, this week — a bit earlier in the schedule than past years — it’s the perfect time for Arnold Palmer Invitational ticket holders to sneak away for a round or two of their own in the golf-rich Orlando region. Or, if you’re planning a trip to Central Florida with the family to take in the area’s many amusement parks, why not carve out 18 holes here and there? Following are five Orlando must-plays.

FALCON’S FIRE GOLF CLUB

No more than 10 minutes from the Disney World gates, Falcon’s Fire is one of the area’s most popular public layouts for good reason: It’s classic Florida golf through and through as fashioned by architect Rees Jones, routed through piney woods and live oaks, over large, reedy lakes populated by plenty of waterfowl — wide-open for the most part, but tricky in spots, especially the first stanza of the back nine. The practice facility is big and full-featured, and if you’ve got the time, slate a lesson from Golf Tips 25 Instructor John Hughes, a PGA Master Professional.

www.falconsfire.com

French Lick Resort — The Best Of Dye And Ross

french lick golf packages - Donald Ross Course

One of the country’s premier historic golf destinations, French Lick Resort, nestled among the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana, has been a place that legends, champions, and golf aficionados have been experiencing since the early 20th century.

Regarded as one of the Best Golf Resorts in the America’s by Golf Digest, serious golfers nationwide seeking a buddy trip golf adventure and experience the only golf destination in the world that features a combination of hall of fame designers Donald Ross and Pete Dye together with two historic hotels should consider French Lick Resort.

Golfers can now book 2019 golf packages including its popular mainstays like the Hall of Fame and Donald Ross Experience packages. Whether it’s a buddy trip, couples retreat, girls-getaway, or improving your game, you will find a package to suit your needs.

HALL OF FAME PACKAGE

The resort’s most popular golf package and the best way to experience this award-winning golf destination includes playing the resort’s two legendary courses designed by Hall of Fame architects – Pete Dye and Donald Ross. Each are ranked among the Top 100 in America’s Greatest Public Courses and are currently ranked as the No. 1 and 2 Courses You Can Play in Indiana.

The package includes a one-night stay at either resort hotel, a day of unlimited golf on The Pete Dye Course, a day of unlimited golf at The Donald Ross Course, unlimited use of the driving range and practice facility, bag storage, and shuttle service. Package prices start at $559 at French Lick Springs Hotel, and $589 at West Baden Springs Hotel based on double occupancy.

DONALD ROSS EXPERIENCE

With over 100 years of history, The Donald Ross Course at French Lick offers the chance to experience golf the way it was meant to be played. Experience old-school links golf on a classic Ross course situated in the rolling hills of the countryside. This package includes two days of golf on The Donald Ross Course plus overnight accommodations at either resort hotel. Package price starts at $334 at French Lick Springs Hotel, and $354 at West Baden Springs Hotel based on double occupancy.

Golfers can also experience the ultimate sampler for golf aficionados. The Double and Triple Play golf packages combine playing the Ross and Dye courses with the nearby Sultan’s Run Golf Club, another Top 10 course in Indiana. Package pricing starts at $289 for the Double Play, and $719 for the Triple Play.

GAME CHANGER GOLF ACADEMY

Golfers who need to sharpen their game should take advantage of French Lick Resort’s “Game Changer” Golf Academy, which can give a boost to golfers of all skill levels. The three-day golf school experience covers all aspects of the full-swing and short game and includes three nights lodging at either resort hotel. The lesson includes video swing analysis, on-course sessions, and unlimited golf at The Donald Ross Course at French Lick and The Valley Links Course. Package pricing starts at $1,009.

Golfers looking for the quick fix whether it is short game, putting, or iron shots, the Rapid Recovery Golf Academy can get you back on track. This includes four hours of intensive instruction and unlimited golf on the Ross and Valley Links course. Package price starts at $514.

Custom packages can be built especially for groups of eight or more by contacting French Lick Golf Group Sales Manager, Alex Whiteman, a PGA Professional dedicated to creating the best golf experience available. To view additional golf package options, visit here or call (888) 936-9360.

Carr Golf Does Ireland Right

Ireland is in my blood, and Carr Golf knew how to get it pumping.

All of my grandparents were born in Ireland, a heritage that has left me with plenty of cousins and family friends to visit. But for all the trips I have made to that beautiful country, none included a formal golf trip. You know, the kind where someone else arranges all the tee times, knows the right restaurants, and supplies transportation with a guide and/or driver who can sort out every other logistic, no bother at all.

That changed in 2018, when I participated in a trip hosted by Carr Golf, a Dublin-based travel business founded in 1988 by Joe Carr, the best amateur golfer in Ireland’s history and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

His son Marty now leads the company, and things have never been better for the golf tour business. “It’s very, very robust,” said Carr. “It’s probably at an all-time high. There’s greater awareness of how good the courses are now. But Ireland is also a very safe and friendly destination. People just like coming here. We’re a good laugh, the golf is super, and the Guinness is good. It’s a pretty good formula.”

Indeed it is.

FIRST STOP: PORTMARNOCK

Portmarnock Golf Club is a short drive east of Dublin Airport, set on a peninsula along the Irish Sea. The course hosts the 2019 British Amateur (it did so once before in 1949) and is a pleasant walk, with room off the tees, stellar par 3s (especially the 15^th) and a clubhouse with walls full of memorabilia dating back to the club’s origins in 1894. After dinner in the Joe Carr Room in the clubhouse of nearby Sutton Golf Club, more than comfortable accommodations overlooking the Irish Sea awaited at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.