Travel Golf — Page 7

Ka’anapali – The Place to Play on the Island of Maui in Hawaii…

April 16, 2013 By admin

Merri Daniel and Andy Reistetter headed over to Hawaii for the first two PGA TOUR events of the year. Since it was Andy’s first visit, they arrived early with Merri playing tour guide. They discovered something that is not so widely known to mainlanders. Join the traveling twosome and share their great golfing experience on Maui.

It was an odd sort of start to the year for the PGA TOUR. The first event, a tournament of champions from 2012, did not start until the fourth day, the day it was suppose to end. There was heavy rain for the pro-am day but what delayed the tournament was the wind. Gusting to 40 mph on the first day of competition, play was stopped for good and the round cancelled completely after four hours. With even greater gusts on the second day the first round was postponed yet another day. Day 3 brought a repeat of Day 1 with play becoming “null & void” only an hour into the second false start.

Once play started for real, Dustin Johnson came out strong taking a three stroke lead after everyone played 36 holes on what was supposed to be a Monday finish. On Tuesday, Johnson sailed to victory shooting a 68 and winning by four strokes over Steve Stricker who announced his part-time status this week for family not weather reasons.

As odd as the weather was that weekend, even odder was a comment we overheard one volunteer making to another after being released from service for the day due to the rain and wind. “Let’s go play at Ka’anapali.” This surprised me. Even though I was new to the island I knew Ka’anapali was only a little over five miles down the road. How could one golf course so close be open as this one was closing down? Isn’t it raining and windy there? Why would you want to go golfing on a day like today?

There you have the secret of Maui. The weather is always nice in Ka’anapali. Of course, Merri and I went along with the crowd and played the Royal Ka’anapali Course. When offered to stay and experience the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa we willingly and graciously obliged. After all, this was a magical place where Hawaiian royalty would come and play back in the days of King Kamehameha ruled the islands.

To me it seemed when we turned off the main road and entered the golf course and resort area it was like a modern and tropical version of the Old Course at St. Andrews. There was a vast open, relatively flat area of green surrounded in the distance by stately buildings. When we first drove past the 5^th tee I knew it was a golf hole I wanted to play. Pleasing to anyone’s eyes as it gently went downhill framed by bunkers and the ocean in the background. We couldn’t get to the first tee fast enough.

The first six holes and the last three are on the ocean side of Honoapiilani Highway. Playing No. 5 was more than I hoped for though a 3-putt meant a bogey. Though the view of the ocean was spectacular from the fifth green it was even more dramatic once we went under the highway and played the 7^th hole. This hole is an amazing short par-4 with a two tier green with an even more amazing view of the ocean and the resort lands below.

Merri came to play and I left my clubs and game on the mainland (although the rental set was better than mine). For whatever reason, I seemed distracted during the round. Maybe it was the royal blue ocean that lay out in front of me or perhaps it was her soft blue eyes that twinkled in the sunlight especially after her birdie on No.12. Either way I went down to a resounding 5 & 4 defeat.

From the moment we entered the Sheraton open-air lobby with a see-through view of the ocean we felt our cares being swept away even my golf score. The oceanfront room was spacious and accommodating with the view enhanced with a spattering of thin coconut palm trees. The location is perfect for a morning snorkeling adventure at Black Rock. We felt and were treated like royalty.

There you have the secret of Maui. The weather is always nice in Ka’anapali. So playing the Royal Ka’anapali Course and staying at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is really no secret at all.

We did not ever want to say good bye and have our time at Ka’anapali end. A Hui Hou which means for us that we are dreaming about it until we return again.

Merri’s Marvelous Moments

1. The weather at Ka’anapali was, well, marvelous. Sunny and warm with a touch of a gentle ocean breeze much to my liking. Instantly my goose bumps disappeared and I stopped shivering.

2. Yes, I delayed Andy’s trek to the first tee but with good reason. I always like to check out the women’s selection in the pro shop which is an informal way to access how much women are welcomed and catered to. The colorful Ka’anapali hat with lots of whales is one of my favorites to wear to the beach.

3. I loved sitting on the balcony of our room, with a warm ocean breeze in my face, watching for the spouting whales out in the ocean.

4. The sunsets are spectacular. Next visit Polynesian entertainment and luau at Black Rock for sure. We were fortunate to see a magnificent rainbow over the golf course when we first arrived.

5. I loved that the resort was decorated for the holidays. Gingerbread, lollipops and rainbows are my favorites.

6. Even though I have been to Hawaii several times I felt like I discovered a new favorite place. The people were so wonderful that I can’t wait to go back sometime soon.

Filed Under: Travel Golf, West Coast USA

The PGA National Resort & Spa in West Palm Beach, Home of the Honda Classic

March 1, 2013 By admin

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter and Merri Daniel accepted an invitation to visit PGA National Resort & Spa as a prelude to this year’s Honda Classic. At the time the Champion Course was a freshly over-seeded Irish sea of green so a round of golf on the newly renovated FAZIO course was in order. So what is classic about the Honda Classic? Surely the splendid resort itself is part of the answer. Join Reistetter as he recalls the Rory-Tiger showdown in 2012 and enjoy Merri’s Magnificent Moments of their visit to one of America’s premier resorts.

My first Honda Classic was five years ago. Like the cars of its sponsor, the first tournament of the Florida Swing is one of the highest quality and classiest tournaments on the PGA TOUR. The golf course, the tradition and heritage of the event, the competitive field and of course a fabulous resort open to all tournament patrons, combine to make being at the Honda Classic something special. Don’t miss the concert and fireworks on both Friday and Saturday nights, they are truly spectacular!

While seeing Ernie Els reemerge as a champion in 2008 after three seasons without a win, the Sunday showdown between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods was even more memorable. Woods was at his best shooting the lowest final round score of his career- an 8-under par 62. After eagling the 18^th and posting a 10-under tournament score, the spotlight was on Rory to see how he would handle the pressure, especially playing the famed “Bear Trap” holes Nos. 15-16.

The youngster from Northern Ireland did just fine posting a 1-under par 69. With the victory he surpassed Luke Donald as the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking. Though Rory has slipped to as low as No. 3 after winning the Honda, he regained and has held the No. 1 slot since his PGA Championship at Kiawah island last August. From Ernie to Rory with Y.E. Yang, Camilo Villegas, and Rory Sabbatini in between there have been five consecutive international champions. The first eight tournaments on the PGA TOUR this year have been won by Americans. There are two interesting trends colliding at the Honda Classic this week.

Uncle George and nephew Tom Fazio designed three of the four golf courses at PGA National in the early 1980s- The Champion, the Haig (originally named after Walter Hagen) and The Squire (for Gene Sarazen). Arnold Palmer designed the last course on site, his namesake The Palmer in1984. Jack Nicklaus has redesigned The Champion twice, once in 1990 and again in 2002.

A third generation Fazio recently redesigned the Haig- Tom Fazio II, son of designer Jim (brother of Tom) is known as Tommy and is a model Fabio look-a-like. The Haig was renamed the FAZIO. We may be getting into a whole new era in golf where golf course architects replace prominent legends of golf with respect to the naming rights of golf courses.

The FAZIO is fun to play. The most significant changes in the modernization occurred on the 15^th and 17^th holes, with the contouring of the greens and the bunkering. Interestingly, the par-3 5^th hole and the caped 6^th hole swing close by the PGA of America Headquarters. There is a long standing relationship and tradition between the resort and the club professional organization. This is evidenced by the playing of the 1983 Ryder Cup, 1987 PGA Championship and 19 years (ending in 2000) of the Senior PGA Championship on The Champion Course.

While I have played the golf courses and experienced the professional competition of the Honda Classic it wasn’t until I stayed at the PGA National Resort & Spa that I truly understood that classic meant first and highest quality. The freshness from a recent $100 million revitalization can easily be seen by tournament spectators in terms of the pool area, lobby bar and restaurants. Resort guests experience the magic in the floor-to-ceiling makeover of each of its 379 guest rooms.

There are several questions to ask at this week’s Honda Classic. Will there be another Rory-Tiger showdown? Will an American or the 6^th consecutive international player win? If so, who will that be? When will you make a reservation to experience all there is to experience at the PGA National Resort & Spa?

Merri’s Magnificent Moments

1. I loved the individually-themed “specialty” accommodations that are unique, trend-setting and superb! Andy wants to come back with his guy friends and stay in the “Man Cave,” a sophisticated media room with large screen HD TVs to watch sporting events. I wonder who has that room for the Honda Classic. Please invite us!

2. There are two “Spa Suites” with a private spa area complete with a comfortable professional table for in-room massages and facials. Large soaking tubs and walk-in showers complete the experience with luxurious king-size beds and comfortable sofas and chairs in a spacious living area. The “Bridal Spa” for an extraordinary romantic retreat.

3. Our round included playing with Jim King, a former professional golfer who at age 78 was still a scratch golfer and a unique golfing personality. He entertained us with so many stories from his years on tour.

4. The pool area is extraordinary and we enjoyed soaking in the hot tub after our round of golf. Andy tells me it is an awesome place to watch the fireworks and I can’t wait to see them.

5. Our host Karen Cantor, Public Relations Manager, gave a wonderful tour of the property and showed us all the recent renovations that have been done inside and outside. Her spirited conversation over breakfast well represented the attitude and perspective of this classic resort. There is so much more to experience we can’t wait to return for another visit!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer as well as a Spotter, Research and Broadcast Assistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.

Residing within two miles of the PGA TOUR headquarters and the home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, this golfing couple is focused on a number of entrepreneurial golf pursuits within the realm of “Outside the Ropes Entertainment.”

Friend Andy Reistetter on Facebook to enjoy daily updates, go to OutsideTheRopesEntertainment.com or contact Reistetter by e-mail at AndyReistetter@gmail.com

Filed Under: East Coast Golf Journey, Travel Golf

TPC Scottsdale World Record 179,022

February 2, 2013 By admin

The number 179,022 will always be etched in my mind. That’s how many people came out to watch the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Saturday this year. On Saturday, one day alone. It was a record for the tournament and in the history of golf as far as anyone knows.

If you explore the Guinness World Record website there are 82 results for ‘golf’ but no category for the ‘most people to watch a single-day golf event in person.’ There are records for the ‘largest one-day golf tournament,’ the ‘largest golf facility,’ and the ‘most people playing golf walking on a single golf course in 24 hours.’ But none for the largest gallery ever to watch golf in person.

Thunderbird Bob Wasser in position on the 16th tee.

Of course, there is a strong community charity consciousness in the Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolis. The Thunderbirds, hosts of the WMPO, are a charitable organization that has been around since 1937. There is a cadre of sales and marketing professionals associated with TPC Scottsdale golf course, the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament and the PGA TOUR. The tournament predates even The Masters with its roots in the 1932 Arizona Open and has been contested 74 times since then. Over 80 million dollars has been donated to Arizona charities with 5.5 million coming in 2012 alone.

These folks know what they are doing leveraging a lot of history and tradition. But still, 179,022 golf spectators on one golf course on one day! More than America’s other top sports- baseball, basketball and football. More than a record 115,300 at the Dodgers-Red Sox game in L.A. in 2008; more than a record 108,713 at the N.B.A. All-Star game in Dallas in 2010 and certainly more than can fit in any football stadium in America.

There was never a doubt watching Phil Mickelson open with a 60 this year, then adding rounds of 65-64-67 to win by four strokes for a record-tying third time (with Mark Calcavecchia, Gene Littler and Arnold Palmer). Thursday’s attendance was 79,532, Friday’s at 121,901 with Saturday the peak at 179,022—a total of 525,821 for the week! Amazing!

Other than the golf, the most amazing sight of the week was to stand on a hillside off to the right of the 18^th green and see the people flood in beneath an overpass coming from the main entrance. Seas of people, imagine the sidewalks of Manhattan at lunch hour and the entire width of 5^th Avenue as well. Non-stop for as long as you wanted to watch.

Where do these people go on an 18-hole golf course that has ample room, certainly no Merion but nonetheless there are 179,022 people! The hospitality areas surrounding the 17^th and 18^th holes are legendary and swallow up a big chunk of the masses. Then there is the Stadium in golf encompassing the par-3 16^th hole. Nearly 20,000 right there.

Tracking board in the media center shows the record 179,022 for Saturday and total of 525,821 for the week!

Coming back to play the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale a few weeks after the tournament on the way to the WGC Accenture Match Play, the wintery wonderland we now know as Dove Mountain, was a real treat. Gone were the 179,022 Saturday patrons yet the majority of the Stadium on the 17^th remained.

TPC Scottsdale is an awesome golf course to play in its own right. A Tom Weiskopf & Jay Morrish design this golf course is fun to play. While it looks hard but plays easier don’t expect to go to a record low 29-under par like Phil did this year or Mark Calcavecchia did in 2001. If you knew what I knew and an opportunity to play TPC Scottsdale comes along you would do what I did. Love Weiskopf’s thinking and his golf design talents! Remember he did win a British Open though his four runner-up finishes at the Masters and comments on Jack Nicklaus do come to mind.

My favorite hole is the short par-4 17^th which is 332 yards from the tips and only 254 yards from the whites. I hope you are “playing it forward” like I am these days and having a ton of fun on the golf course. Like Phil I hit it way left off the tee, so far left it stayed dry. Unlike Phil I pitched it up onto the green and 3-putted for bogey. I didn’t shoot 60, in fact I didn’t even shoot 1-under par on any hole. I guess I was too excited from my experience at the tournament. For me on that day the golf course looked hard and played hard too.

It was still cool to tee it up on the 16^th with most of the Stadium still surrounding the hole. I thought I could imagine what it would be like doing so during the tournament but honestly I can’t say that I could. It did lead to one charity fund-raising idea. On Saturday let the biggest charity donors tee it up and hit tee shots on the 17^th Stadium hole when time allows between the professionals. There is trouble on the water-logged par-5 15^th and sometimes there is a gap in play. What a thrill, what a rush it would be. Sort of a modern day coliseum swing and make contact or be consumed by the thirsty crowd. Even if they can get the club back I doubt anyone will hit it on or even close to the green. TPC and the PGA TOUR new ultimate Stadium Golf experience all for charity!

Everything is BIG at the WMPO even the chairs!

There were only 22 people, including Bobby Jones, who saw Gene Sarazen’s double eagle on the par-5 15^th in the 1935 Masters. Quite a few more saw Tiger Woods’ ace on the 16^th at TPC Scottsdale in 1997. About 20,000 of the 179,022 present saw James Hahn double-bogey the 16^th on Saturday. But 20,000 saw him birdie it on Sunday and then dance his way off the green ‘Gangnam Style.’ What excitement at TPC Scottsdale!

http://www.pgatour.com/tourreport/2013/02/05/hahn-s-dance-new-youtube-hit.html

I have to say I am a big proponent of TPC Sawgrass as the ‘Crown Jewel’ TPC Network of 30 prestigious courses. I live nearby, it is the ‘Home of THE PLAYERS Championship’ and we all know there are four majors but only one PLAYERS. Tiger Woods style this year. But I have to say that maybe TPC Scottsdale, ‘Home of the Largest Galleries in Golf’ is the ‘Western Crown Jewel’ of the TPC Network.

Play it if you can, soon!

By the way, as far as Guinness records go… the largest one day golf tournament consisted of 1,562 participants at the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, on June 25^th, 2010, which is also the largest golf facility with twelve 18-hole courses. The greatest number of walking golfers to complete a full round on the same course within 24 hours is 632 and was achieved by The First Tee of Ireland, at Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford, Ireland in June 2009.

But the number 179,022 will stick in my mind until at least next year. Who knows, maybe 200,000 plus at the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open?

This is the 48^th edition of Golf Writer Andy Reistetter’s series of “Play-Write” golf travel articles.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer and a broadcast assistant for the various golf networks. He spends time on all four major American golf tours- the PGA TOUR, Champions, Web.com and LPGA.

Reistetter resides within two miles of the PGA TOUR headquarters and the home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.

Embark on a “Journey to Olympic Golf” with Reistetter in the Fall of 2013 as he travels from St. Louis, Missouri where golf was played in the 1904 Olympics to Rio de Janiero where it will be played again in the 2016 Olympics.

http://www.journeytoolympicgolf.com/

Or read more articles in Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary:

http://andygolftraveldiary.com/

Friend Andy Reistetter on Facebook or touch base with him by e-mail at AndyReistetter@gmail.com

Filed Under: Hickory Golf, PGA TOUR Golf, Travel Golf

Book Review: I went to Ireland for the Day…

December 27, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter escaped to Ireland for a day. With a Guinness in hand he celebrated the recent Ireland Invasion of world professional golf, with Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy, now all major champions and future World Golf Hall of Fame members. They were inimitable hosts for my visit. Fly to Ireland for a day? Join Reistetter for a penetrating day of golf exploration in Ireland without leaving the comfort of your home.

French Lick, A Resort Like No Other

December 24, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter and Merri Daniel accepted an invitation to play the Pete Dye Course at the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana stopping by on the way to the Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago. Two resorts which are now one- the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Resort initially confused them but actually made the visit all the more exciting and fun. With so much golf to be played and history to be experienced they came back for three more nights after the Ryder Cup. Join Reistetter as he shares their historic discoveries and golfing experiences in the beautiful hills of Southern Indiana and enjoy Merri’s Magnificent Moments.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel Golf

Golf is Mystical in Myrtle Beach!

November 29, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

_640 Man O'War Consecutive Island Greens par 4 14th par 3 15th

Man O’War is the only golf course in the world with back-to-back island greens. Photo Credit: Mystical Golf

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive “Play-Write” series in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a mystical trifecta of golf courses- The Witch, The Wizard and The Man O’ War. Returning to the “Golf Capital of the World” to celebrate a birthday with friends, some new and some old, was a memorable experience. How did the selection of these courses, played days before Halloween make the golf even more exhilarating? Join Reistetter as he reminisces on a not so frightful experience and discover mystical golf for yourself in Myrtle Beach.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: East Coast Golf Journey, Travel Golf

Wild Dunes- Charleston’s Resort

October 30, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Merri Daniel and Andy Reistetter

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive “Play-Write” series with a seaside round of golf on the Links Course at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms just north of Charleston, South Carolina. Joined by Merri Daniel, golf’s new and emerging voice for women, the twosome walked the fairways together and toured the resort for this article. Join Merri and Andy as they golf and share Fazio’s original Masterpiece.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: East Coast Golf Journey, Travel Golf

Premier Golf, Took Me to the 2012 Ryder Cup & Beyond!

September 30, 2012 By admin

At Medinah having a ball with the 2012 Ryder Cup ball!

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter attended the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah CC with Premier Golf, the licensed travel agent for the PGA of America. Is it possible to simply go on a golf vacation, experience it thoroughly, and leave the details to another? Join Andy and find out at the most classic of all golf destinations- the Ryder Cup.

They say life is a journey and not a destination. They also say the Ryder Cup is golf’s premier event. They are right but with one caveat. If the Ryder Cup is your destination then journey there with Premier Golf, the licensed travel agent of the PGA of America. You will undoubtedly come away with knowing you have experienced a golfing competition like no one else can.

Helping out the Color Guard heading into the Blues & Bagpipes event at the iconic Field Museum in downtown Chicago courtesy of Premier Golf. They know how to make a package!

Attending a Ryder Cup with Premier Golf is more than a golf experience; it is an intimacy of a lifetime. My brother once said “golf is a lot like life, the more you learn and understand about it the easier it is to meet its challenge.” Golf at a Ryder Cup is more than golf. It takes us to a place we don’t go to often enough in life.

Where else do you simply start chanting “U.S.A…., U.S.A…, U.S.A….?”

Or after the golfing is done you feel deep within that you witnessed a “Miracle at Medinah.” You breathe the rhythmic hymn of “Ole…, Ole…, Ole…,” an old Spanish blessing sung when people seem to rise above themselves in performance. And you find yourself singing “there is only one Ballesteros” right along with the victors.

There is no doubt Seve helped win this one for the European Team.

There is no doubt that Premier Golf is an enabler of all that is good with being at a Ryder Cup. Licensed by the PGA of America, the organization that represents the Golf Professionals at your club or public course and, they are the ones that conduct the Ryder Cup. What better ticket can there be than one from the people who create the event?

Though it may sound like an advertisement, this is not an advertisement. In some degree it is a creative investigation into what just happened in this the 39^th Ryder Cup in history. More importantly how did it impact me and how could it possibly impact the world beyond the sport of golf?

Here’s Carina with Rory’s signature on her shoulder and a Stella in hand… needless to say it is easy to fraternize with the opposing fans!

To experience what I did on the grounds of Medinah CC these last four days first I had to be there. Yes I may have had a better view in front of the television or on my computer but I don’t think I could have had a better experience. There is something restorative about chanting with thousands of other people instantaneously at the unexpected holing of a putt.

The thing with Premier Golf is the hotels and shuttle to and from the golf course. They are both “dedicated” but in a different sense. The shuttles are ‘dedicated” to customers of Premier Golf. They are waiting there for you when you want to leave the hotel and they are waiting there for you when you want to leave the golf course. If you want to be in the stands on the first tee to witness all 12 singles pairings tee off on Sunday starting at 11 a.m. there is a 6 a.m. shuttle waiting to take you, not me, there. I took the 10 a.m. one and was happy standing six-foot-three and three heads back on the rope line.

Euros celebrating their Ryder Cup victory at Medinah in 2012, their 5th win in the last six. Who will win at Gleneagles in 2014?

I lingered after Tiger Woods and Francesco Molinari finalized the score of Europe 14-1/2 to U.S.A. 13-1/2. I witnessed the elation on the 18^th green, the champagne celebration on the bridge and the Closing Ceremony. I saw the full moon rise as the flags of the Ryder Cup were lowered for another two years. Afterwards my shuttle bus was waiting for me.

The hotels are “dedicated” to the customers of Premier Golf. A representative, usually one of their corporate staff, is there in the lobby at a Premier Golf hospitality desk acting as your personal concierge. If a question about logistics or the Ryder Cup comes to mind they have the answer. What is really good is that even if the question doesn’t come to your mind but should have they will communicate and share information with you to customize and optimize your experience.

So my destination was the Ryder Cup and my journey was with Premier Golf. The folks I mingled with in the galleries at Medinah were the same as the folks on the shuttle- the five Englishman celebrating a mate’s 50^th birthday and the father and son from Iowa celebrating together being a father and son. Premier Golf caters to people from all over the world.

Thumbs up to golf and life and Premier Golf Ryder Cup packages!

I found myself celebrating life at this Ryder Cup. Seve Ballesteros, a man who went all too soon at the age of 54, lived on in spirit all week at Medinah. A team of 12 golfers, their caddies and wives and partners, 4 vice-captains and one very special Captain, so inspired by Seve, came back from a deficit of 6-10 and won the Ryder Cup by the slimmest of margins.

Sure this was sport but isn’t all life sport to some degree? Aren’t we trying to play it safe, hitting fairways and greens, in our life? Aren’t we challenged when things don’t go perfectly as planned? Too often don’t we find ourselves in a bunker, the rough or having to take a penalty stroke in life? Aren’t we trying to enjoy the journey and delay the final 18^th hole destiny that we all share?

One thing I realized this week is the diversity, specifically the intermingled diversity of the Ryder Cup whether inside or outside the ropes. Luke Donald went to Northwestern, is a member of Medinah CC and married an American woman. Is he European or American? My friend Wayne Richardson, a CBS broadcast assistant like me, caddied for Sergio Garcia in the playoffs and Ryder Cup. Is he American or European? What am I?

You have to have a Closing Cereemony at Medinah to have an Opening Ceremony at Gleneagles. Will you be there? I hope to be. GO USA!!!

My guess is that the answer is “yes” to all the questions of life. We are all citizens of this world. Generations from now it will be like Americans today, proud to be from one state or another, one college or another, yet more proud to be Americans than anything else. The Ryder Cup brings out the best in golfers and the best in us- the realization is that we are all the same- citizens of this world. It does matter who won the Ryder Cup at Medinah. But what matters more is the manner in which this Ryder Cup was contested and how it can inspire us.

Okay I will come down off my footstool… they aren’t allowed at the Ryder Cup… Premier Golf told me so or if they were would have given me one to take on the shuttle…

“Ole…, Ole…, Ole…”

“U.S.A…, U.S.A…, U.S.A…”

Life is too short. Already thinking about the 2014 Ryder Cup? Is it time to make the golfing pilgrimage to Scotland, the Home of Golf or to some other destination? Book your trip now with Premier Golf, the licensed travel agent of the PGA of America since 1988.

Click here to go to the Premier Golf Website.

Andy Reistetter is a “golf voyageur and documentarian”, as well as a freelance golf writer, and Broadcast Assistant for The Golf Channel, NBC and CBS Sports. A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf, along with everything and everyone associated with it.

Friend Andy Reistetter on Facebook to enjoy daily updates, check out his website “Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary”, or contact Reistetter by e-mail at AndyReistetter@gmail.com

Filed Under: Travel Golf

High Sierra; Golf’s Ultimate Destiny

September 19, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive “Play-Write” series this time with a weeklong visit to the High Sierra region of northern Nevada and California. Defined by Reno, Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Graeagle this golfing Mecca is spread out just enough to capture all terrains and playing conditions. The 240 square mile area contains over 40 golf courses. Two of them you know for sure- Edgewood Tahoe, home of the American Century Celebrity Championship and Montreux CC, home of the PGA TOUR’s Reno-Tahoe Open. Join Reistetter as he tries to play eleven golf courses in seven days in golfing heaven- the High Sierra.

Clubhouse at Edgewood Tahoe. Photo courtesy of Golf the High Sierra.

I may have been hypnotized for my week of High Sierra golf. It seemed surreal as I looked out the window during my flight into Reno and saw the Sierra Nevada below me. Flying along in the wisps of clouds in brilliant sunshine above such grandeur takes one into a new state of awareness. My mesmerizing meditation became focused as I saw the magnetic magnificence of Lake Tahoe. Below, I could see where the golfing gods had walked through one day and left behind golf courses in their green footprints. I knew I would be playing many of those courses during a weeklong golf journey. I couldn’t wait for the plane to land so I could get to the first tee.

Like any spinning wheel in a Nevada casino, my golfing journey went clockwise from Reno to Dayton to Lake Tahoe to Truckee to Graeagle. The terrain went from the mountain to the valley to the lake to the meadows to the really high mountains. Going around the High Sierra golfing wheel in seven days seemed like a magical and heavenly opportunity. With unlimited tee times at 40 courses how many could I play in seven days—maybe I could roll that lucky 7-11: seven days, 11 courses?

With Vince Mastracco, Matt McKay, and Steve Habel at Montreux!

My first round of golf was at Montreux CC, a private real-estate enclave and superb Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. You know it as the scenic course that hosts the annual Reno-Tahoe Open on the PGA TOUR, the tournament J.J. Henry won this year. Nestled in the Ponderosa pine trees on the gentle eastern slopes of snow-capped Mt. Rose, Montreux was a good first experience of High Sierra golf. With pine trees are taller than Jack’s beanstalk and dramatic views all around, Montreux offers a very different golfing experience. In this part of the country it is all about the altitude. I figured it out on the fourth hole after flying a wedge 20 yards over the green. I thought it was my superb and powerful ball-striking abilities. That it was not; it was high-altitude golf, a plus for anyone’s game and attitude!

After eagling the 15th at Dayton Valley!

The next day we golfed at Dayton Valley, a solid Arnold Palmer-designed facility. As a prequalifying site for the Reno-Tahoe Open, Frys.com Open and Q-School, this golf course provides all the challenge one golfer needs. If the wind kicks up, as it did for us, it becomes more of a challenge than a foursome of golfers needs. The rain never came but a rainbow did appear in the distant cloud-enshrouded mountain tops. My playing partner and I persevered through the weather to post an 8-under par 64 scramble score. Needless to say it was one of the best ball-striking days of my life as evidenced by the driver to five feet for eagle on the 323-yard 15th hole. Okay, so it was downwind and from the whites, but the putt was no gimme!

On the third day (and you know where I am going with this seven-day odyssey) the drive up to golfing heaven was spectacular via the NV 207 Kingsbury Grade Road from Minden. Once we rose to the elevation of Lake Tahoe, we played along its shore and in a nearby forest at Edgewood Tahoe, home to the American Century Celebrity Classic. This is the “Major,” where sports and entertainment celebrities compete for the right to be called the best nonprofessional golfer in America. This year, that honor went to Dan Quinn, a former NHL center.

Mr. Hickory Golf at the par-3 17th at Edgewood Tahoe.

The course design is really a Fazio Plus with Uncle George doing the original design that opened in 1968, and nephew Tom renovating the course for the 1998 season. The first nine leads the golfer up a gentle slope through towering pine trees while the second nine brings you quietly down to the lake. In a tranquil state one plays the par-3 16th with lake right and putts out on the final green as gentle waves slap along the shoreline.

To complete your experience at Edgewood Tahoe find the hidden hallway down the stairs behind the bar in the Brooks dining area. Check out the fascinating golf pictures of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and John Daly when they played junior events at Edgewood Tahoe.

When one is on a golfing pilgrimage to the High Sierra one must drive along the edge of Lake Tahoe. From south to north on the east side of the lake, it is spectacular. Like a tap-in birdie, one must stop to pause, take in the view and remember the feeling of awe and satiation.

After Montreux, Dayton Valley and Edgewood Tahoe, it was time to experience a unique combination of golf near Truckee—the closely mated twosome of Old Greenwood and Gray’s Crossing. The terrain is gradual, meadows abound and the land well-suited for parkland golf courses.

On the 18th green at Old Greenwood!

I walked Old Greenwood, saw some deer and tried to stay out of the chaparral. Taking notice of Old Greenwood’s logo, which depicts a golfer in knickers, and the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, a golfer knows playing here will be a memorable experience, and it was.

On the fifth day I played Gray’s Crossing (Peter Jacobsen/Jim Hardy design) with Ed Leinenkugel, a grandson of the brewery founder, and Joe Starkey, the voice of the 49ers. If Peter Jacobsen can have “Jake’s Takes” on NBC golf broadcasts, I can have an “Andy Dandy” on one of his golf courses. After I hit a great tee shot on No. 3, Joe makes the call “what a bonanza,” and after the round Ed gives me a bottle of the family’s best Summer Shandy. Does it get any better than that for a golf travel writer of average golfing skill? Did I tell you this is a great golf course? And I haven’t even mentioned PJ’s casual indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar (yet).

Are you counting? That was five golf courses in five days. I was definitely the “slacker” of the group. I picked up the pace on the sixth day driving up to the Graeagle area to play The Dragon and Plumas Pines.

First tee at the Dragon!

Playing the Dragon was a good and unique experience. I loved it! When you drive up to the clubhouse and it is a Frank Lloyd Wright design, you know it is going to be a special day. I played with a guy that last played it when the course opened and he said it is much more playable now. That is how I found it to be. Fairways and greens is good course management. Spray it a bit and you will pay the price though it will be lots of fun!

With Brandon Bowling, Head Golf Professional at Plumas Pines!

What can I say about Plumas Pines? There is no nicer Golf Professional (Brandon Bowling) in the world. The Superintendent (Mark Callahan) rides around with his dog in the golf cart. You feel like family the moment you step onto the property. The golf course is a good test of golf and a fun time if your girlfriend or wife can play along too! Have time to stay for dinner at Longboards as the slow-roasted baby back ribs are outstanding!

The seventh and final day of my High Sierra golfing trip came, and I saved the best for last—Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club! Now how can I say that after sharing the previous seven courses with you? Well I shot a two-birdie 73 from the 6,500 yard three-hawk tees. This is no cream puff of a golf course, but it is so picturesque that you are totally relaxed. In that state I believe you play some of your best golf, at least I do. I guess the 126 holes I played the previous six days helped a little too.

The 14th green at Whitehawk- tranquiity!

High Sierra Golf is not an ordinary golf trip. Perhaps it is the refreshing mountain air, the scenery or the elevation. Altitude maybe but attitude for sure—there is a certain personality and camaraderie to the area that makes the trip a lot of fun on and off the golf course!

While I did not play that lucky 7-11—I only played eight golf courses in seven days—I hope to return next year and play eleven!

Click here to customize your golfing trip to the High Sierra.

Where I Stayed:

Atlantis Casino in downtown Reno- FUN!

Carson Valley Inn in Minden- comfortable, scenic and everybody loves this casino!

Chalet View Lodge, this is a hideaway with all the amenities! Stay as long as you can!

Embassy Suites in South Lake Tahoe- loved my mountain view, it is a suite!

Hyatt Incline Village near North Lake Tahoe, what a view!

Larkspur Hotel Truckee Tahoe, very personable and convenient to everything!

Where I Dined:

The Chocolate Bar near downtown Reno’s Riverwalk- who doesn’t love chocolate? The chocolate milkshakes was awesome!

Campo Italian Restaurant on downtown Reno’s Riverwalk- I recommend the Salumi and Charcuterie Board for an appetizer and the Dover Sole with Prince Edward Island Mussel sauce for the entrée.

The Basil in Carson City- great Thai restaurant with unbelievable food, presentation and atmosphere> I recommend the fresh mango and Bangkok spring rolls for an appetizer and spicy cashew nuts with shrimp for an entrée.

Ciera Steak & Chophouse inside MontBleu Resort & Casino in South Lake Tahoe. The staff goes out of their way to make this a fine dining experience. My treat was dining with Al Barkow and hearing Jack Fleck stories about his U.S. Open win over Ben Hogan in 1955 at Olympic Club. Al wrote a book entitled The Upset and the U.S. Open was the next week at Olympic!

Lone Eagle Grill in Incline Village-wow, this is one of Annika Sorenstam’s favorite places when she is at her home in Lake Tahoe. She was there earlier in the evening but I missed seeing her. The beef tenderloin from their signature mesquite fired grill is to die for! Doing a $1.3MM transformation later this year so Lone Eagle is a must do for 2013!

PJ’s at Gray’s Crossing. There is nothing like relaxing after a round of golf outside in big comfortable leather chairs with a fire blazing to take the chill out of the air as the sun sets over the mountains.

Fifty-Fifty Brewery in Truckee (a chip shot from the Larkspur Hotel). You win either way- great food and great local brews. I recommend the 6 craft beer taster and the seared Ahi BLT.

Longboards Bar & Grill at Plumas Pines in Graeagle. Ditto above- miss the second nine if you have to but don’t miss the slow roasted baby back ribs at Longboards.

Filed Under: Travel Golf, West Coast USA

PGA of America, More than a Village

September 19, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter continues his exclusive “Play-Write” series this time with a visit to the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Masters has Augusta National, the U.S.G.A. has Golf House, the R&A has St. Andrews and the PGA of America has its Village and a whole lot more. In celebration of the upcoming Ryder Cup at Medinah, join Reistetter as he discovers the extent of the PGA Village and just how much the PGA of America influences the game of golf for this generation and beyond.

PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida features four golf courses and a 35-acre practice facility plus a lot more!

If you are a golfer and your bucket list does not include a visit to the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida then it needs to be updated. The good news is Port St. Lucie is “below the frost line” in Florida and essentially a year-round golf destination. Whoever thought there was a “frost line” in Florida? Nobody probably did, including me until I moved to “frosty at times” Northeast Florida. I also never took the time to educate myself about the PGA of America. Having made the visit I now feel like I am a “Village Sage” and recognize the vast influence they have on our golfing life and that of our children for many years to come.

The PGA of America is the personal face of golf, the golf professional at your daily fee golf course or private country club. Someone you have likely interacted with in a meaningful way either to improve your golf game or on a social basis. On the professional golf stage you know the PGA of America as the host of the PGA Championship- one of golf’s four major competitions won this year by Rory McIlroy at Kiawah Island. You probably know that they are the organization behind the upcoming Ryder Cup competition at Medinah CC in Chicago.

“The Village, The Village,” my fellow golfers is the ultimate golfing destination. Why? Because it goes to the heart of the game, the essence of the game and will not only revive your interest and dedication but help you become a more proficient player of the game of golf. Improving your game with a PGA Professional whether at the Village or your home course makes playing golf a lot more fun and rewarding especially when the bets are settled with your friends after the round.

One of nine practice bunkers- this one has a flat bottom and very course sand.

Gosh, they have 9 bunkers with different sands from around the world. So not only are you practicing or learning how to play a bunker shot you do so under various conditions. Please don’t discount this learning experience thinking you will never play 9 different types of sand. The sand at your golf course changes as conditions change- before/after a rainstorm, early/late in the day and early/late in the season. The PGA Village is like the Disneyland of golf- one doesn’t know what they are missing until they hop on the Monorail or I-95 to see for themselves. Okay so I-95 is no monorail!

If 9 different types of sand are mindboggling, attending a Golf School at the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance will really blow your mind. I consider myself knowledgeable in the mechanics of the game since I have read and studied most instruction books ever published. Having said that I now realize that after two days at the Village School I knew less than I thought I did especially in terms of dynamically applying knowledge to my swing and quickly seeing results.

Mark Drenga was my instructor. He fitted me with a K-Vest, I hit a few balls and now I know more about my body movement during the golf swing then Houdini did when he escaped from a straitjacket. I still needed help getting out of the K-Vest.

My “athletic motion” was completely broken down into three pages of color coated graphs. The position and movement of the pelvis, upper body and spine are illustrated in a kinematic sequence. Sound complicated? It is easily understood when Mark explains it. Plus he incorporated Trackman data of the movement of my club and golf ball. You know Trackman as the glitzy ball flight tracker on television. Club speed, attack angle and dynamic loft. Ball speed, spin rate and smash factor. Wow, quite revealing…

My flexibility is being assessed by Performance Specialist Adam Dunham.

In addition Performance Specialist Adam Dunham assessed my flexibility in a number of positions and prescribed 10 specific exercises for me to do to improve in key areas. With the combination of knowledge learned from the K-Vest and Trackman along with improved flexibility I am destined to be a better golfer.

In addition to the 35-acre, 100 practice stations and 3-hole PGA Discover Golf Course facility in the Village there are four golf courses to choose from- the Jim Fazio designed PGA Golf Club, Tom Fazio’s Ryder and Wannamaker Courses and the Dye Course named after legendary designer Pete Dye.

All four golf courses are special but let me tell you that the most special part of the PGA Village is the PGA Museum of Golf. With pictures, words and interactive exhibits you can trace the history of golf like nowhere else due to the extensive archives of the PGA of America.

I was fortunate to attend a special Ryder Cup presentation by Jim Ward of Premier Travel. Jim has been attending Ryder Cups and handling the travel arrangements for the PGA leadership team and the American players since 1991. While Jim thinks travel golf writers are “living the dream” it is really he that is doing so. Onboard the Concorde in 1997 on the way to Valderama he witnessed Brad Faxon stroke the longest putt in history down the aisle a distance of 7 miles while traveling across the pond. In 1993 as he was perfecting how to watch a Ryder Cup (get ahead every three holes and let the players come to you) he turned around to some European fans and said “watch Pavin stiff it here.” Corey Pavin did better holing out a 9-iron at the 5^th hole at the Belfry for eagle and then tossing the ball to Ward.

I was fitted in a K-Vest and wired up by Instructor Mark Drenga.

The travel czar of the PGA noted an exchange that is all so relevant this year as Davis Love III captains the American team and Jose Marie Olazabal heads the Europeans. At Brookline in 1999 as Captain Crenshaw’s “good feeling” the night before was going wild, Love won early and sought out Justin Leonard coming off the 10^th tee four down to Olazabal. Davis grabbed him, shook him and gave him a little pep talk. Leonard never lost another hole and made that memorable 45-footer on No. 17 to set up the American come-from-behind win. All Olazabal could do was watch, wait and then stroke a putt that did not go in the hole.

The Americans, having lost four of five since then need another inspirational leader like Crenshaw and Paul Azinger at Valhalla in 2008. Mr. Love is likely to fill that role.

The address of the PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida?

1916 Perfect Drive…

The PGA of America has been around for a long time. Here’s hoping every drive of yours in perfect and you get the chance to visit the PGA Village sometime soon.