Thursday, September 23, 2010

Heartland Golfing: The Prairie Club Experience

What has inspired so many golfers to "head for the hills" in what used to be called “fly-over country?”
Is it the waves of grassy sand dunes that roll across the landscape until stopped by the stark buttes that defy the “flat as a pancake” stereotype of the Great Plains?
 
Could it be the the fascination with  tree-lined holes dangling right on the rim of the awesome Snake River Canyon?
 
Or is it the chance to experience glorious granite sculptures of Mount Rushmore and the rugged beauty of the pinnacles, buttes and grasslands of the Badlands?
 
Might it be the chance for one of the most amazing golf vacations ever, set in a rolling seascape of prairieland that appears to have been sculpted by nature to be the perfect site for golf? 
 
All those factors allowed one of America’s newest hot golf spots, The Prairie Club, to open last May with 186 members and book 1,500 room-nights in its first few months. A semi-private club, it ranks right up there among golf trips for those seeking a golf-focused venue. Based on the successful Bandon Dunes model, golfers take an incredible journey from the airport to the site through some of America’s most spectacular scenery before arriving at the Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska. The development, spearheaded by Tom Shock, features three very different courses and ample lodging
 
The Dunes Course beckons the links style golfer with its stark and canvas-worthy panoramas that eventually culminate in the magnificent greens more akin to a tropical atoll than limiting and erroneous cornfield stereotypes of the Great Plains. In reflecting on the place, Tom Lehmans, who designed the course with Chris Brands, quotes Old Tom Morris: “The Almighty had golf in his eye when he made this place.” 
 
On the Graham Marsh-designed Pines Course, golf becomes a silent reverie as you meander along pines and the canyon rim. Enjoy the warm sun and views of the canyon which blocks the wind that sweeps across the plains. Refresh yourself with a long drink from the Ogallala aquifer—the world’s largest—and end the last hole right in front of the inviting clubhouse. 
 
For a short challenge, get your golfing buddies and head over to the Horse Course, a 10-hole course with undulating greens and breath-taking blowouts. Gil Hanse designed this tee-less course which lets the winner of the previous hole select the stance, lie, and shot for the next one, to maximize creativity and fun.
 
The Prairie Club Lodge and additional cabins along the Snake River canyon offer comfortable but not pretentious lodging. Enjoy fabulous Nebraska beef as well as regional specialties such as buffalo and quail along with a perfect setting for talking golf into the wee hours under a starry sky.
 
For fantastic golf vacations where golfing meets nature head-on, where you will want your camera as well as your clubs, head for the plains and bluffs and enjoy the Prairie Club in its inaugural year or as soon as you can fit it in your itinerary. 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Year Round Golfing Paradise: Hawaii

For golf holidays year round, Hawaii offers a true paradise. From diverse golf courses to unspoiled beauty, Hawaii is a dream vacation for golfers and even their non-golfing partners or families. 
For me, the perfect venue is the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu. First of all, it is the only real full-service luxury resort on the famous North Shore. Where else will you find five miles of pristine beaches, 12 miles of ocean trails, and, of course, two great golf courses?
 
 
An Idyllic Family or Couples Retreat
 
A family-friendly resort for golf travel, kids of all ages will have a blast in the Keiki (Kids) Turtle Club. The club introduces children to Hawaiian culture through arts and crafts, beach activities, and games. If you want your children to put away those video games, just mention the reef walks and night sand crab hunts! 
 
Want to mix romance with your golfing? Bring your sweetheart and get married or celebrate that special anniversary. You’ll find all the services you need, from fresh flower leis to bridal gown pressing and musicians. Request to have your bed sprinkled with rose petals or the room decorated with orchids.
 
More than Just Golf
 
At Turtle Bay, the options are all there. You can choose a helicopter ride and get the birds’ eye perspective of the tropical, lush beauty of the island. Or experience it up close and personal by with a guided eco-tour by kayak. If you haven’t tried surfing, this would be the ideal place to learn. For a peaceful afternoon, take a stroll along the beach or among the swaying palms and ironwood trees. Tennis and horseback riding add to the ways to experience this fantastic place. When it comes to golf resorts, this one is ideal.
 
You won’t want to miss the unique shopping for taking home Hawaiian treasures, from clothing to jewelry, to Polynesian handicrafts. And when you really want to relax, the full service spa awaits you.
 
Oceanside Golfing at Turtle Bay
 
“The Palmer course is the best course on Oahu,” asserts NBC golf expert Mark Rolfing. That might explain why it was the site of the legendary PGA Tour Champion’s Tour Turtle Bay Championship through 2008 and is now the site of the LPGA tour. 
 
Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this unusual 18-hole course surrounds the lovely Punaho'olapa Marsh. It offers a blend of challenge and spectacular beauty for golfers of all abilities. The 17th hole, clearly the signature hole, is situated just 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean, with nine craggy bunkers surrounding the landing area and extending clear up to the green. Turtle Bay.
 
Turtle Bay also boasts the only Hawaiian course designed by George Fazio. It formerly hosted the LPGA Tour’s Hawaiian Open and the first Senior Skins Game with golf legends Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Gary Player and Sam Sneed. You’ll find the course has “generous fairways, deep bunkers and immaculately sculpted greens,” as your Turtle Bay hosts would say.
 
When planning one of your next golf packages, consider the Aloha state and enjoy a bit of paradise!