2007 September | Golf Club

Austin powers: the Texas state capital is a hotbed of great live music—and its golf will have you tapping your toes as well

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 1:23 am

Though Austin’s golf scene can’t claim to be quite that eclectic, it does offer plenty of options. The area has seen a burst of development in the past few years, with a bunch of new courses and many old favorites sprucing themselves up to remain competitive. All in all it’s a great place for a golf trip–even if you’re not that into death metal.

As a visitor, you can approach golf in Austin a couple of ways. You can stay in one of the excellent resorts and immerse yourself in the golf on-site–available only to members or resort guests–or you can choose from among the city’s many high-quality daily-fee courses. Either way, the best times to visit are the spring and fall, when the Hill Country weather is most cooperative: The average daily high is 79 degrees in April, 82 in October. (In July the average high is 95.)

RESORT LIFE

Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay (830-598-8600). Set just outside Austin on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, this 8,000-acre resort features all manner of outdoor activities, including a trio of **** 1/2 Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs: Apple Rock, Ram Rock and Slick Rock. The development of Horseshoe Bay began in the Nixon Administration, and it still has a certain “That ’70s Show” vibe-check out the hot tubs carved into beds of volcanic rock-but its owners are bringing it up to date. The latest addition is a 349-room Marriott, which opened last fall. Weekend deals with two nights and three rounds of golf start at about $430 a person, double occupancy.

The most forgiving of the three courses is Slick Rock, notable for its wide fairways and large bent-grass greens. The par-4 14th hole is unusual, to say the least. First you have to drive over a waterfall fronting the fairway, and then you have to drive through it, as the cartpath bridge runs parallel with the falls, with water crashing on either side.

Ram Rock is the toughest course at Horseshoe Bay. It features rolling, narrow fairways and little room for bailouts. Nearly every hole favors a shot hit with a draw. You are more likely to get a good bounce at Apple Rock, where an added benefit is the sweeping views of Lake LBJ from several holes.

You can’t leave Horseshoe Bay without playing Whitewater–an 18-hole putting course just outside the Marriott’s back door. Not only is it built on real grass, it is fully lit and stays open late.

Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin (512-329-4000). The area’s premier golf resort remains Barton Creek, with its four courses spread over 4,000 acres. Just 35 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from downtown, it’s as convenient as it is posh. The resort finished 37th on Golf Digest’s most recent ranking of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America. Golf packages start at $220 a person per night, including room, breakfast and a round of golf. (Upgrading to one of its two Tom Fazio-designed courses costs an additional $50.)

The oldest and most beloved course at Barton Creek is Fazio Foothills (**** 1/2). Now celebrating its 19th birthday, Foothills was closed last summer so that it could be completely reseeded with a new strain of Bermuda grass. Though some of the houses lining its fairways are a little close to the action, the course is beautiful, with waterfalls and limestone shelves and massive elevation changes that remind you why they call this the Hill Country. Fazio’s second course here is Fazio Canyons, a rugged **** 1/2 layout that opened five years ago. It’s a bit tougher than Foothills, and as the name implies you’ll be making your way up, down and around quite a few canyons during your round. Because the course is set a couple of miles from the resort’s main buildings, there’s a pleasant sense of isolation. The homes tend to be set way off the course, and often the only sound you’ll hear is one of Canyons’ many burbling creeks.

Author: Peter Finch

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Smash the 8-iron, or feather the 7? – golf: choosing a club at 145 yards from the hole – Brief Article

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 7:46 am

If the flag is up front, it’s almost always best to choose the 7-iron and ease off a bit. My reasoning is, a solid shot will put you in the middle of the green, with a reasonable putt for a birdie and a sure two-putt, at least. Most amateurs instinctively opt for the hard 8-iron, a bad course-management decision if ever there was one. If you mis-hit the 8-iron, you’ll wind up short of the green, facing a chip shot with very little green to work with. Par won’t be easy, and you can forget about making a birdie.

If the flag is set on the back half of the green, go with the hard 8-iron. If you amp up your swing a bit and hit the ball solidly, you’ll get an extra five yards on the shot–close enough to the hole for a very good try at a birdie. If you somehow fail to pure the 8-iron, the extra swing speed will still deliver the ball to the front part of the green, leaving you with an easy uphill putt. If you choose the 7-iron, a very bad thing can happen: You might hit the ball over the green and face a brutal par-saving scenario–a downhill chip from rough with almost no green to work with. A lot of double bogeys happen that way.

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Now, what if the flag is in the center of the green? Choose the 8-iron and swing aggressively. Again, the odds of hitting the green are excellent, and par is always a good score.

YOU CAN QUOTE ME

‘The biggest creator of speed on the downswing is gravity, not sheer effort.’

Author: Guy Yocom

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Hole new world: golf course managers need to take a swing at creating an enjoyable experience for golfers with disabilities

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 12:26 am

On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. It established guidelines that prohibited discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the areas of employment, public services and transportation, public accommodations, and telecommunication services. Summarizing several key points addressed:

* Title I–Specifically deals with employment guidelines pertaining to discrimination against individuals.

* Title II–Establishes guidelines that prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities by state or local governments. Golf facilities owned by municipalities should become familiar with this section.

* Title III–Bans discrimination against individuals with disabilities in the access of goods, services and in the use and enjoyment of facilities where the public is invited. Privately owned golf facilities that do not allow public play may still need to comply with this segment if their facilities are open to the public for weddings, receptions, spectators, nonmember outings, etc.

The first step in attracting and retaining golfers with disabilities is to accommodate their desire to play golf by making facilities easily accessible.

The Parking Lot–For individuals needing the assistance of a mobility device such as a wheelchair, scooter or crutches, bringing golf clubs and equipment onto the facility often presents additional challenges. By offering accessible parking spaces close to the “Bag Drop” area, golf shop, locker room or practice facility, individuals who use mobility devices will have the convenience of having to only make one stop.

Lonny Zimmerman, superintendent of Adaptive Recreation for Las Vegas, Nev., adds, “Many golf courses do not allow golf cars in the parking lot. As a result, golfers with disabilities have to enter facilities using their wheelchairs. The challenge then becomes finding a safe location to store the wheelchair [which can cost as much as $5,000] while they play golf.”

The Golf Shop–Golfers with disabilities only become “handicapped” when obstacles and space constraints prevent accessibility. Zimmerman states, “Golf shops should have aisles that are 36 inches-wide allowing access to all merchandise, and displays should be low enough so that an individual using a wheelchair can access the top shelf. This prevents the necessity of having to ask for help to get a product. The height of the front counter should also be taken into consideration, building it low enough to allow individuals in wheelchairs to conduct transactions on it. Golf facility owners, operators and staff need to be sensitive to the challenges that individuals with disabilities face.”

The Practice Facility–”There needs to be a realization in the golf industry that many individuals with disabilities cannot physically play 18 holes of golf,” says celebrity trick shot artist Dennis Walters. “But that’s not to say that they cannot enjoy golf. Playing a full round of golf may be tough, but many golfers with disabilities enjoy hitting golf balls at the practice facility, followed by a couple holes of golf.”

An accident 30 years ago left Walters paralyzed from the waist down. “I found there were a lot of things I couldn’t do, but there was no way I was going to give up playing golf.” Through hard work and perseverance, Waiters achieved his dream of playing, and now inspires and encourages others to reach for their dreams. With his partner and pal Super Dog, Benji Hogan–which Walters calls, “the touring pro from the Miami Dog Pound”–they travel around the world entertaining and inspiring audiences with a display of golf mastery and trick shots.

Author: Ted Eleftheriou

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Rink tests effluent waters at Hickory Stick Golf Club

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 7:40 am

When Rink arrived on site in April 2000, the Tim Liddy course was just being flagged for irrigation. The only problem was finding enough water to irrigate with. Groundwater, usually abundant in the Midwest, was scarce because the property sits on top of a rock formation that sucks all the water too deep. With well drilling out of the question financially, the developers and Rink turned to Bargersville Utilities to see if they could tap into its treatment plant.

This proved a chore since state officials had no regulations on the books regarding the use of effluent on golf courses. Connecting a pipe directly to the treatment plant was forbidden because state officials said the effluent would be considered sludge when it got to the course. Eventually, Rink and Bargersville officials worked out a compromise with the Department of Natural Resources that allowed the effluent to run downstream into a lagoon and then be pumped to the golf course.

“Hickory Stick paid to have five miles of six-inch pipe put in, and the utility paid for the pump and the lagoon,” said Rink of the compromise solution. “We pay S.40 per 1,000 gallons, which covers the electrical and maintenance costs. While a well would be ideal, this is far cheaper than a well or being on city water.”

As it stands, the current water delivery method is rather crude, said Rink.

“I have to call them and tell them to turn the pump on and they run it for eight hours to fill the lagoon back up,” he said. “Eventually we’ll put a switch in my pumphouse that will have floats to turn the pumps on and off automatically.”

While Rink learned about effluent delivery methods on the fly, he also faced a steep learning curve when it came to using the wastewater for irrigation.

“I have not become an expert yet,” he said. “I know the quality of the stuff in my ponds is not that great and the effluent is not a whole lot different. I have terrible soil here and that is compounded by high bicarbonate levels, pH and salts in the effluent. Agronomically, there is salt buildup. The greens get flushed in the summer, but when you have tight clay fairways and tees it is tough to flush those.” Rink’s biggest challenge has been delivering nutrients to the turfgrass.

“Disease is not such a big deal, nutrient availability is the problem,” Rink said. “Fertilizer is not lasting as long as it should.”

Budget problems have further compounded the agronomic issues.

“We started out bad and we are making it worse,” said Rink. “Because of money issues, we were not able to fertilize like we should, which started everything in a downward cycle last year.”

However, with new owners coming in this season, Rink is optimistic that things will turn around and the agronomic problems will be solved.

“We were using this water for a couple of years and getting away with it, and then all of a sudden we were using twice the fertilizer and we were in trouble,” he said. “With the new owners in place, I hope we can get an acid injection system so we can lower the pH and get rid of the bicarbonates.”

Rink would also like to work with the state in standardizing regulations for the use of effluent water on golf courses.

“We use effluent because it is convenient, but it is better for the environment,” he said. “There are plenty of courses that have bad quality wells so it is an option to consider. I also think it is a matter of time before courses are required to use alternate water sources and treatment plants seem to be a good fit.”

Author: Overbeck, Andrew

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How far is too far? The U.S. Golf Association is exploring research that could lead to new rules controlling balls and drivers

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 1:17 am

At the center of that controversy is the U.S. Golf Association. In March the debate escalated when the USGA e-mailed a notice to equipment manufacturers announcing, among other things, it will conduct research that may lead to new rules that control ball spin and limit clubhead moment of inertia. (Moment of inertia is a club’s resistance to twisting, or more simply, its relative forgiveness.) Less than two weeks later, the USGA sent a second notice outlining plans to test prototype golf balls designed to meet an overall distance standard 15 and 25 yards shorter than the current 317-yard limit.

The heart of both documents echoes the language of the Joint Statement of Principles, issued by the USGA and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (golf’s ruling body outside the U.S. and Mexico) in 2002. It reflects golf’s governors’ desire “to prevent an over-reliance on technological advances rather than skill.” That concern has been fueled recently by the PGATour’s use of ShotLink, a sophisticated data system that provides instantaneous details (including driving distance) of every shot hit on tour.

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The March memo is not an indictment, says Dick Rugge, the USGA’s senior technical director. “This is not a proposal, and there is no rule,” he says. “There’s no intrigue here, no plot. We’re just trying to be more communicative.”

Nevertheless, the specific nature of the USGA’s most recent communiques has given pause to the equipment industry. “There’s a saying that without smoke, there’s no fire,” says Benoit Vincent, chief technical officer at TaylorMade. “Why would you communicate around these three subjects if it were just for communication purposes? I call that preparing for the battle.”

At this year’s Masters, Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson, who has contemplated a “Masters ball,” said he was encouraged the game’s ruling bodies were considering regulation. One day after the Masters concluded (but completely unrelated, according to Rugge), the USGA sent a notice to ball manufacturers seeking their participation in a research project to study “how a reduced-distance golf ball would affect playing of the game.” While that sounds like a rollback, over the years the USGA has been reluctant to revert to standards that would make existing equipment nonconforming. “I would advise those who are trying to predict the future to base that prediction on our history,” says Rugge. Depending on the results, Rugge expects the research project on prototype golf balls, which will include both laboratory and on-course testing, to be concluded before the end of the year. Ball manufacturers generally applauded the USGA’s search for information, but still had some concerns.

“The question is how much are we going to open up our future product portfolio,” says Tom Kennedy, Top-Flite Golf’s senior vice president of research and development. “Our fear is that we’ll paint ourselves into a box with our own technology. They are taking their time so far and not making a knee-jerk decision, which is good. I laud them for going slowly. I’m sure they’re getting a lot of pressure.”

As for moment of inertia, many engineers believe it would be easy to administer such a test, but wonder whether the current rules on clubhead size (among them, a limit to 460 cubic centimeters) already sufficiently cap significant improvements in the future.

“It’s clear to me they have a fundamental fear about the driver,” says TaylorMade’s Vincent. “They have so much fear that they keep creating rules. It’s an avalanche of rules in one area. It’s enough.”

If the USGA is at an information-gathering stage, then equipment companies still have time to make the case that the game is not in jeopardy. Rugge concedes that possibility. “The more knowledge we have, the better we’re able to make a decision to enact a rule,” Rugge says. “Or choose not to enact a rule.”

Additional reporting by Mark S. Murphy and E. Michael Johnson

Author: Mike Stachura

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Hostile takeover: how a club with deep pockets fought off a claim of eminent domain

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 6:12 am

Boardman wasn’t calling to set up a round, although his call was about golf, and Deepdale. “I think we might have an eminent-do-main problem,” Boardman told Herlihy. “I’d like to come to see you and bring Bill Acquavella [another Deepdale board member] with me. We might want to hire your firm.”

Herlihy had been a member at Deepdale for only about five years, but when Boardman mentioned eminent domain, he remembered hearing something about the Village of North Hills, where the club is located, occasionally making noises about trying to take over the club. “I was hardly an eminent-domain expert,” Herlihy says. “But what I had heard seemed far-fetched. I’d never given it much thought.”

Neither had any of the other 185 members at Deepdale–until a series of events in 2005 forced them to think about it. The first was a Supreme Court ruling that raised more than a few legal eyebrows across the country. In Kelo v. City of New London the court ruled, 5-4, that the city in Connecticut could seize private property and hand it over to a private developer in the name of “economic development.”

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That ruling appeared to take eminent domain a major step further than in the past when, to most people, it was a law that allowed government to seize property to build public-use facilities like hospitals, schools and highways. Under the law, which is part of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, if the property owner refuses to sell, the government can condemn the property and then negotiate a purchase price through an arbitrator or the courts if the government cannot agree on a price with the owner.

Deepdale would hardly appear to be a candidate for condemnation. Although its main entrance is on a service road of the Long Island Expressway, once inside the front gate the club exudes a feeling of old wealth. With good reason. Among the club’s members past and present: the Duke of Windsor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sidney Poitier, Sean Connery, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Frank Gifford, Tom Brokaw, Matt Lauer and Raymond Floyd (Sr. and Jr.), not to mention dozens of big-name, big-money Wall Street types, including Ted Forstmann, Henry Kravis and Stanley O’Neal. Many, if not most, use Deepdale as a second, third or fourth club: a place they can easily get to when they’re in New York (on a weekend morning, the club is less than 15 minutes from the Midtown Tunnel), knowing that the club’s elegant clubhouse and golf course built on 175 tree-lined acres won’t be anywhere close to full.

“We like to talk about the Deepdale aura,” says John Wilson, who has belonged to the club for 20 years and is the only current club member who lives in North Hills. “We probably have about 50 members who use the club once or twice a year, and another 50 who might use it five to 10 times a year. There probably aren’t more than 50 or 60 of us who use it on a regular basis, and a lot of those people spend their summer weekends in the Hamptons. You can come here on a Saturday in July and have only three or four groups on the golf course. People call us a rich-man’s club, but I don’t think there’s any flaunting going on here. Plus,we’ve always had women as members. It has a different feel than a lot of places.”

Ironically, Deepdale had been taken over by eminent domain once before. In the 1950s, the club–which opened in 1924–was taken over to clear space for the Long Island Expressway. (The move to its present location occurred in 1956, the year after the infamous “Deepdale Scandal” rocked golf: Two visitors with 3-handicaps played as a 17 and an 18 in a club competition and won more than $16,000 from a $45,000 calcutta auction.)

Soon after leaving Great Neck, club members acquired the mansion that had been owned by the Grace family (now the clubhouse) and the land around it to rebuild their club. It seemed to fit right into North Hills, one of the wealthiest communities in the Northeast. Most of the homes in the village are inside gated communities and might be described as “Gatsby mansions.”

But there had been talk among some in the village about taking over Deepdale to establish a community golf course. The nearby village of Sands Point had done just that with a private club, the difference being that those members wanted to sell their club. Deepdale’s members had no interest in selling to anyone, at any price.

Author: John Feinstein

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Orlando blooms: the theme park capital enjoys a burst of golf-course development

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 12:47 am

The boom in mostly daily-fee and resort courses has made Orlando one of the country’s top golf destinations. Many of these new facilities feature residential and rental components, a minimum of 36 holes for the golf enthusiast and other activities such as tennis, water polo, full-service spas and tours for the nongolfer. The variety is clearly aimed at family vacationers and snowbirds who can afford a winter residence in the Sunshine State.

Diversity in design and architects is also a big part of the development. Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer all have new or fairly new courses nearby, as do Ron Garl and Englishman Howard Swan. Here’s a closer look at 10 of Orlando’s notable newcomers:

FIVE NOT TO BE MISSED

**** 1/2 Victoria Hills G.C., DeLand (386-738-6000; $48-$65). Pronounced DEE-land by locals, this town could be considered a bedroom community of Orlando. Like most of the surrounding area, it’s rural enough for golf-course developers to take advantage of the natural environment of wetlands and native vegetation in creating typical Florida-style layouts. Instead, Garl created a course reminiscent of those in the sand hills of North Carolina.

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Although it’s not monstrous by today’s standards (6,989 yards from the tips), the course features elevation changes, rolling greens and sloping fairways where uneven lies are common. It’s not your ordinary wide-open, grip-it-and-rip-it Florida track. A player who can shape tee shots and approaches has a definite advantage at Victoria Hills.

The Ritz-Carlton G.C. at Grande Lakes, not yet rated, Orlando (407-393-4900; $105-$195). This is easily one of Norman’s best routings. It begins by heading into the natural woodlands and returns to the clubhouse only at 9 and 18. There is, however, a spacious flow to its 7,122 yards and a links feel on the closing holes, which are totally exposed to the wind.

The course, which opened in July 2003, has five sets of tees, generous landing areas and greens with subtle breaks. They are among the best-conditioned in the area and also feature chipping areas, giving the player various options. Tiger Woods owns the course record with a 64. If you prefer walking, there are single- and double-bag caddies available for an additional $25 plus gratuity. A “caddie concierge” (forecaddie) is assigned to each group of cart riders. Typically they get a tip of $15 to $20 a player.

Reunion Resort & Club Independence/Legacy, not yet rated, Celebration (407-396-3195; $115 for resort guests). This resort opened last November as an upscale facility like the highly regarded Grand Cypress resort, catering to guests who can afford to pamper themselves. The golf is pretty good, too.

As Watson’s first Florida course, one might expect Independence to reflect the five-time British Open winner’s affection for links golf. Not so. It’s closer to the traditional parkland style, with wide fairways and large greens. At 7,147 yards from the back tees, the top challenges are hitting it far and avoiding the numerous fairway bunkers.

Because it runs through pristine natural-preserve areas, Legacy, a 6,876-yard Palmer design, has a little more character and beauty. Both courses are extensively landscaped, detracting a bit from the natural setting.

The resort is another of the new breed of one-stop shopping, self-contained facilities. When completed it will have up to 8,000 varied accommodations, as well as a conference center, playgrounds, parks, horse stables and a restaurant district. Kind of like a Mini-Me version of Disney World.

**** 1/2 Harmony Golf Preserve,Harmony (407-891-8525; $35-$135). For a golf course in the center of an 11,000-acre conservation community, Harmony favors the style of aggressive play synonymous with its designer, Johnny Miller.

The course stretches to 7,428 yards from the “Miller” tees, including a 625-yard par 5, and has a course rating/Slope of 76.1/136. Fortunately for the average hacker, there are four other sets of tees and a great mixture of holes, including the tidy, 160-yard 17th. The hole plays over water to a tricky green with several dangerous pin placements.

Construction on Harmony the town and Harmony the golf course began concurrently a couple of years ago. The community incorporates existing wildlife and wetlands and includes two 500-acre natural lakes with the best bass fishing in the area. The town is “dark-sky” compliant, meaning the artificial lighting shines downward to avoid attracting migrating birds or those seeking to disturb the peace.

BEST OF THE REST

Author: Pete McDaniel

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Trump golf resort has home previews – The Residences at Trump National Golf Club – Brief Article

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 6:54 am

A gated community, Trump National Golf Club features a limited collection of 16 luxury golf villas ranging in size from 3,100 to 3,400 SF. In addition, there are 71 grand condominium residences, which range in size from 1,800 to more than 3,000 SF and are located within two low-rise buildings overlooking the 9th fairway. The homes are priced from the $900,000s to $2.4 million plus.

Designed by the award-winning architectural firm of William Devereaux & Associates, The Residences at Trump National Golf Club captures the old world charm of Westchester’s finest homes with handsome exteriors of hand-laid stonework and clapboard. The spacious interiors are distinguished by dramatic foyers, soaring ceilings, and oversized windows that take full advantage of the scenic and meticulously maintained fairways. Interior appointments include rich solid oak hardwood flooring, imported marble bathrooms, and gourmet kitchens with imported granite counters. Each home has a state-of-the-art security system and is wired for high-speed Internet access.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Jim Fazio, Trump National Golf Club will be a 7,200-yard, par 72 championship course. It will be one of the longest golf courses in the tri-state area. A stately, full-service, 42,000 SF clubhouse, designed by Robert Lamb Hart, will serve as the centerpiece of the newly developed golf course. Inside the clubhouse will be a pro shop, card rooms, and a fitness center with full-service locker rooms, showers, sauna steam rooms, massage rooms, and exercise equipment.

Other amenities will include an outdoor swimming pool with whirlpool spa and cabana and four Har-Tru tennis courts.

Located just 30 minutes from Manhattan, in one of Westchester county’s most exclusive communities, The Residences at Trump National Golf Club is designed to appeal to affluent emptynesters and business executives who have a passion for golf and an appreciation for living on a grand scale. It is just three miles from the Scarborough station, which is approximately a half an hour away by Metro North commuter train to Manhattan.

Trump National Golf Club is being developed by the Trump Organization. “I view each new opportunity as a personal challenge to surpass all that has gone before. The Trump National Golf Club offers me the opportunity to create not only a unique place to live, but a place to enjoy a unique style of living. And as an avid golfer I’m taking an extra special interest in the lifestyle at Trump National,” said Donald J. Trump, chairman and president of The Trump Organization.

Author: Array

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Hawktree Golf Club, Bismarck, N.D.: A good one in the Badlands – Brief Article

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 2:18 am

For four seasons, Red Mike sat tallest in the saddle among North Dakota golf courses. The Links of North Dakota at Red Mike Resort, near Williston, debuted as runner-up in Golf Digest’s Best New Public rankings in 1996, then became North Dakota’s top course in 1997 and repeated in 1999. But last year, a Black Bart appeared in the form of Bismarck’s new Hawktree Golf Club, with its gritty black bunkers and sinister Burnt Creek. Mirroring Red Mike, Hawktree finished second in our 2000 Best New Affordable Public ranking. Then, it took aim at the state title.

It became a battle of art versus artistry. Red Mike, designed by New Yorker Stephen Kay, follows the folds of the land and offers simple, strategic bunkering. Hawktree is by a North Dakota native now living in Colorado, Jim Engh, who beefed up the landscape with curvaceous whorls and muscular symmetry to make each hole an eyeful and a handful.

The votes are in: Hawktree is the state’s new No. 1 course. Red Mike drops to second. North Dakota has it good. Its two best courses are both public, with modest green fees.

Our Best Courses in Each State survey (see the accompanying Pocket Planner or www.golfdigest.com/ 100greatest) runs concurrently with our ranking of America’s 100 Greatest, where, this year, Pine Valley’s long reign as No. 1 has ended.

Getting on: Hawktree: $42. Phone 888-465-4295; www.hawktree.com. Walking allowed anytime.

Author: Ron Whitten

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Leader of the club: Tom Fazio creates great golf courses and great programs for children – Interview

Filed under: Uncategorized — The Caddy @ 10:18 am

The gym was built, like the other three buildings in the campus setting, through Fazio’s efforts as club founder, chairman of the board, chief fund-raiser and emergency rescue philanthropist when more money is needed.

The tallest tree in the golf design forest, Fazio calls working on children’s charities his “habit,” but his involvement with young people across cultural divides comes with an occasional dark side. The week before, he accepted collect calls daily from a former club member in jail for dealing crack cocaine and unable to make bail. Fazio had bailed him out several times before, and was being advised by the police and even the young man’s mother not to help him again. Fazio was emotionally torn by the prospect.

“He’s a great kid who’s had a tough time,” the architect says earnestly. “My own kids are privileged. We need to help others who aren’t as fortunate.”

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Fazio’s humanitarian impulse sparked in the mid-1980s because he owed a friend a favor. The friend wanted to collect by taking him to a national Boys & Girls Club luncheon in New York City. Fazio declined, saying he’d send a check and lend his name to the cause. Replied the friend, “I’ll take your money and I’ll take your name–and I’ll take you to lunch.” Fazio was impressed enough by what he heard at the lunch to go back to a meeting the next day, agree to serve on a regional board, and eventually start a local club. “The movement’s over a hundred years old and serves 3 million young people,” he says. “Michael Jordan grew up with the club. Alex Rodriguez, whose father had left home, says it was the greatest influence in his life. If there are 12 million at-risk children in this country, I don’t see why we can’t turn that around and give them a positive focus. All of us, whatever we think we should be doing, should be doing more.”

A dual goal

“My goal,” says Fazio, “is to create great courses and get clients and friends to help support children’s charities. I have a lot of wealthy friends.”

Fazio, 56, is making heady progress. His 10 credits on this year’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses are the most of any living architect. Highest ranked at No. 31 is Shadow Creek, Steve Wynn’s lavish Las Vegas oasis where Fazio spent an estimated $37 million transforming a desolate desert locale.

He exerts further influence by working with and modernizing historic top-10 clubs Pine Valley, Winged Foot, Augusta National and Merion. “The true issue for all of us is to keep the classics alive,” he says. “But keep in mind that they’ve all evolved and been changed over the years.”

Golf’s answer to Ralph Lauren has won 10 first prizes in this magazine’s annual Best New Courses Awards, and is the only designer to sweep Best New top honors for Public, Private and Resort courses in one year. A poll to determine the leading architect was discontinued because Fazio dominated it so predictably.

Why is he so acclaimed and sought after?

James Simonini is a Golf Digest selection panelist who expresses the consensus. “Fazio seems to have that flair to wow you every time,” Simonini says. “His courses are visually spectacular, fair to play and enjoyable for all levels of players. Interestingly, there are not a lot of Fazio tournament courses. He understands his main audience–the high-end club players–and knows how to exceed their expectations. His brand carries so much clout he doesn’t have to accept a project unless he likes the client, the site and the budget.”

Fazio strives to build enough flexibility into the design that the course setup can determine the degree of difficulty on any given day.

“I’ve always bought into that old belief in playability in a big way, giving the greatest pleasure to the greatest number,” Fazio says. “That’s why you won’t find a lot of trouble to the right on my courses, where most people slice. Lefthanders hate me.”

You would expect to find dissenting opinions about the leader in any field, and you find a few among panelists about Fazio, if only a few. Says one long-time observer from Florida: “I think he’s spread too thin. He avoids controversy, and is so preoccupied with beauty he’s become too bland in shotmaking values, which you could never say about Tillinghast, Ross and Mackenzie. His earlier stuff, like Lake Nona and the first course at Black Diamond Ranch, pushed the envelope much more than anything he did in the 1990s.”

Author: Nick Seitz

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