A feature from the IAGTO Directory 2013

California

CaliforniaHere we golf!

It is the most populous and most visited state in America. The plethora of picturesque landscapes offer opportunities to explore mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, forests, desert and 1,264 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, making the Golden State of California also one of the most attractive and diverse destinations in the world. More importantly, these geographical wonders provide for the pursuit of a multitude of outdoor activities, including one that can be challenged year-around – golf!

Ever since fortune hunters rushed to this western territory for gold nuggets during the mid-1800s, California has been at the forefront of daring pioneers and entrepreneurs pursuing their dream. It just so happened some of those early 20th century trailblazers began carving some of the greatest fairways and greens in the world and, fortunately, for golf enthusiasts, that boom continued to the present day to the tune of over 600 public accessible golf courses that will test your skills on any type landscape.

“Quality, quantity, variety and value is what separates California from all the other major golf destinations,” says Shaw Kobre, author of The Golf California Survival Guide.

With that said, perhaps, is it your dream to take your game to a loftier level? If so, ascend to California’s highest elevated course, Sierra Star Golf Course at Mammoth Lakes to launch a golf ball at over 8,000 feet. Then, only four hours away by car, bring your game down a notch at Death Valley’s Furnace Creek Golf Course, the world’s lowest course at 214 feet below sea level!

California

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There are numerous self-proclaimed golf “meccas” throughout the world but, undeniably, California can boast bragging rights to two true such regions.

First, a two-hour drive south of San Francisco is the acclaimed Monterey Peninsula, where you can challenge the golfing ghosts of Pebble Beach Golf Links, host site for the annual PGA TOUR AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and five US Open Championships (1972, 1982, 1992, 2000 and 2010).

Also situated along the famed 17-Mile Drive is Spyglass Hill Golf Course, a notoriously-long layout, features the first five holes playing through sandy seaside dunes and the remaining 13 cutting through majestic pines of the Del Monte Forest. Just down the beach is Pacific Grove Golf Links, known as the “poor man’s Pebble Beach.”

Located away from the coastline but still taking advantage of the ocean views are sister courses Black Horse and Bayonet, a long-time venue for the PGA TOUR Q-School Stage III tournament and, most recently, the PGA National Championship.

Escena Golf Club, Palm Springs

River Course at the Alisal Guest

Ranch and Resort

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For another California golf haven, if your game and body is more suited to the desert environment, another California golf haven in Palm Springs is certain to keep your swing loose. Located 1.5 hours east of Los Angeles, this popular retreat for the celebrity crowd offers the highest density of courses anywhere around the state with price ranges to appease all golfers and plenty of hotel rooms to match, including such notable venues as La Quinta Resort, Indian Wells Resort, and PGA West.

Indeed, one of California’s most famous exported product ships in bottles so, it’s not surprising with the number of wineries outnumbering the state’s golf courses more than three to one, that there are a few intoxicating layouts winding through vineyards.

Playing off the name off a popular varietal, Chardonnay Golf Club, located in the heart of the Napa Valley, weaves around the grapes along with the adjacent Eagle Vines Golf Course designed by Johnny Miller. The PGA TOUR legend has also purchased and renovated both the North and South Courses at the iconic wine country’s Silverado Resort.

Neighbouring Sonoma County sets the stage for the ultimate vintage California golf destination with a variety of off-course diversions and the opportunity to play in natural settings from Northwood Golf Club, an Alister Mackenzie nine-hole masterpiece in the redwoods to Robert Trent Jones Jr’s The Links at Bodega Harbour on the coast that will challenge every club in the bag.

With a myriad of fairways stretching between the California borders from Oregon to Mexico and Nevada to the Pacific Ocean, there are scores of doglegs along California’s highways leading to a variety of golf adventures in regions such as San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara and the Gold Country.

Zaharias Course at the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms

Greenhorn Creek Golf Resort

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To simplify bookings for your golf holiday, a non-profit marketing consortium called Discover California Golf has been formed. With stakeholders such as golf courses, golf resorts, accommodations, convention and visitor bureaux, Discover California Golf is developing a “one-call-does-all” reservation centre and concierge service to make booking a golf trip to California easier than ever. It aims to make

its website and booking engine one of the most advanced of its kind, highlighting its members, booking flexibility, real-time tee time and room listings and featuring some of the most unique golf packages available in the world. Since Discover California Golf is non-profit, the net rates from consortium members can be transferred to its travel trade partners.

One of its key thrusts will be to put a heavy focus on offering experiential golf packages that will be presented by one or multiple regions, by theme, by budget or by the target market the packages are designed for. Few other destinations in the world can offer the experience of oceanside, desert, mountains and vineyards golf courses, all within hours of each other. Nor can any other golf destinations offer skiing in the morning and golf in the afternoon or golf in the morning and surf in the afternoon, or golf through vineyards followed by a winery tour, or a Hollywood studio tour in the morning with golf by the Pacific Ocean in the afternoon. It never stops in California!

With new golf regions emerging on the scene – such as Temecula, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Lake Tahoe, Gold Country and the Central Coast – California has many hidden gems to be explored, offering some of the BEST VALUE of quality golf anywhere in the world.

For your one-stop service to arrange a first-class golf experience in California, contact Robert Kaufman at Discover California Golf (robert@discovercaliforniagolf.com) or, for further information, log onto www.discovercaliforniagolf.com

Robert Kaufman

The 18th Hole at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Ranch Course at the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort ©

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Greater Palm Springs, CaliforniaGreater Palm Springs includes nine unique cities and offers over 100 championship golf courses with more than 2,000 holes, plus resorts, spas, arts & culture, shopping, outdoor adventure, and a dining and nightlife scene, all in the heart of Southern California’s desert region.

Many of golf’s top names, including Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Ted Robinson, have designed desert courses and own personal residences. Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant in La Quinta serves the golf legend’s own favourite speciality dishes.

Here are some of the area’s most outstanding golf holes:

Classic Club, Palm Desert Hole 12, a 162-yard par 3, is Arnold Palmer’s favourite. The tee shot is all carry over water, with a creek and a waterfall to the right… and bunkers to the left and back.

Gary Player Course – Westin Mission Hills Resort, Rancho MirageHead golf pro Jeff Beier says hole 11 is a par 5 with water along the right side of the holes, making it a “classic risk-reward from Mr South Africa.”

TPC Stadium/PGA West – La Quinta Resort & Spa, La QuintaPete Dye’s course has witnessed many historic moments including Lee Trevino’s hole-in-one on the par-3 17th – the notorious Alcatraz Island hole – which netted him a skin worth $175,000 in the 1987 Skins Game.

Indian Wells Golf Resort – Players Course, Indian Wells Stretching over 600 yards, hole 9 is one Southern California’s longest par 5s. After a drive left of a fairway bunker to gain the best angle, the ideal second shot must find a relatively-narrow sliver of grass sandwiched between a lake and bunker.

Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort – Resort Course, Palm SpringsNicknamed Terminator, the 8th is a par 3 that’s all carry over water to a small protected green.

Desert Willow Golf Resort – Firecliff Course, Palm Desert The 18th hole is a picturesque yet difficult par 5 that measures 535 yards from the back tees; a creek on the left meanders across the fairway into a lake guarding the right side all the way to the two-tiered green.

For a complete listing of golf courses visit www.palmspringsoasis.com

To request golf information, contact Ashlee Ciora, Vice President of Travel Industry Sales at aciora@palmspringsoasis.com

Adapted from copy supplied by the Greater Palm Springs CVB

Indian Wells Golf Resort Celebrity Course

The Firecliff Golf Course at Desert Willow Golf Resort

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…wishful.

© 2013 Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau

a brand new day.

Greater Palm Springs was named 2012 North American Golf Destination of

the Year by IAGTO, which means it’s time you played a magical round on one

of our many championship courses. The best of the world’s golf architects

have left their mark, with courses designed by Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus,

Arnold Palmer, Nick Faldo and more, waiting for you to tee-off. Experience

this Southern California premier vacation destination. It’s what an oasis is

meant to be and being a winner is all about.

palmspringsoasis.com

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Cover Photo: Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort***** • www.terre-blanche.com

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