Month: November 2017

Eagles, Birdies, and Pigeons Highlight 2018 French Lick Resort Golf Packages

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Eagles, Birdies, and Pigeons Highlight 2018 French Lick Resort Golf Packages

New options add to the Buddy trip, couples, and girlfriend golf getaway experiences

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

Serious golfers in the Midwest and nationwide seeking a historic golf adventure and experience the only golf destination in the world that features a combination of hall of fame designers Donald Ross and Pete Dye together with two historic hotels should consider French Lick Resort.

Golfers can now book 2018 golf packages, which includes a variety of new offerings along with its popular mainstays like the Hall of Fame and Donald Ross Experience packages. Whether it’s a buddy trip, couples retreat, or a girls-getaway, you will find a package to suit your needs.

Eagles, Birdies, and Pigeons Package

Take your best shots on the golf course and now off the course with this ultimate experience that combines golf with the adventure of sporting clays on the new 73-acre shooting range. Located along the Lost River behind West Baden Spring Hotel, twelve stations offer a wide variety of targets and trajectories. This golf and sporting clays package includes two-nights lodging at either hotel, a day of golf on both the Donald Ross and Pete Dye courses together with a 50 target/50 shells sporting clays package on the day of arrival or departure. This package is available for groups of 12 or more.

French Lick Springs Hotel – starting at $737 per person based on double occupancy West Baden Springs Hotel – starting at $797 per person based on double occupancy Single occupancy rates available on request.

Hall of Fame Package

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

The package includes a one-night stay at either resort hotel, a day of unlimited golf on The Pete Dye Course, a day of unlimited golf at The Donald Ross Course, unlimited use of the driving range and practice facility, bag storage, and shuttle service.

French Lick Springs Hotel – starting at $559 per person based on double occupancy; or $649 per person based on single occupancy West Baden Springs Hotel – starting at $589 per person based on double occupancy; or $709 per person based on single occupancy A $30 forecaddie fee (per person, per round) is required at The Pete Dye Course and is not included in package pricing. Forecaddie available on request at The Donald Ross Course.

Donald Ross Experience

With over 100 years of history, The Donald Ross Course at French Lick offers the chance to experience golf the way it was meant to be played. Experience old-school links golf on a classic Ross course situated in the rolling hills of the countryside. This package includes two days of golf on The Donald Ross Course plus overnight accommodations at either resort hotel. Carts are included for all rounds, as is complimentary shuttle service to the course.

French Lick Springs Hotel – starting at $334 per person based on double occupancy; or $428 per person based on single occupancy West Baden Springs Hotel – starting at $354 per person based on double occupancy; or $468 per person based on single occupancy Forecaddie available on request at The Donald Ross Course.

The Pete Dye VIP Learning Experience

When it comes to a high-end exclusive golf experience and some of the best golf instruction in the country, French Lick Resort is one of the leaders, and they have now combined the two creating the Pete Dye VIP Learning Experience. Serious golf aficionados will spend four-nights at either hotel, three-days of golf on the Pete Dye Course, and four-hours of private personalized instruction at the Pete Dye range with top instructors and some of the leading swing technology to improve your game. Call for pricing.

For more information and to view additional golf package options, visit http://www.frenchlick.com/golf/packages or call our reservation specialists at (888) 936-9360.

About French Lick Resort

French Lick Resort is a Midwest travel destination that includes West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and the French Lick Casino. Restored to its historic glory after a $560 million renovation, this resort in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana features 686 guest rooms and suites; a 51,000-square-foot casino; meeting and event space totaling 163,000 square feet; 45 holes of golf, including two of the state’s top-rated public courses in The Pete Dye Course at French Lick and The Donald Ross Course at French Lick; two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms; and an array of fine dining and family-friendly entertainment and recreation options. Visit www.frenchlick.com

Celebrate This Holiday Season On A Cornucopia Of Golf Courses With Founders Group International

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Pine Lakes Country Club Golf Course Review
The clubhouse and putting green at Pine Lakes Country Club

Celebrate This Holiday Season On A Cornucopia Of Golf Courses With Founders Group International

Founders Is The Premiere Golf Course Owner In America’s Golf Capital, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

November 7, 2017, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Founders Group International (FGI) is inviting golfers to celebrate the holidays in the warm South Carolina weather on any of its 22 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. You could say they have a cornucopia of courses to test your skills as we lead into the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

“From the beginner golfer to the most skilled, FGI has a golf course for an enjoyable round,” said Steve Mays, acting president of Founders Group International. “The weather is just starting to cool down to below 70 degrees and the heavy summer crowds are gone. It’s a great time to enjoy this fall weather on a course that fits your skill level.”

Myrtlewood Golf Club (read GolfBlogger’s Myrtlewood Palmetto Golf Course Review), in the heart of Myrtle Beach, is one of the most popular courses in the area because it’s in the middle of Myrtle Beach and just right for the average golfer. The Palmetto course has a traditional design that offers gentle sloping fairways with a variety of hazards, bunkers, and large, subtle undulating greens. PineHills course uses mounding and water hazards to challenge the mainstream golfer. Both courses are along the Intracoastal Waterway and surrounded by some of Myrtle Beach’s top attractions.

Pine Lakes Country Club (read GolfBlogger’s Pine Lakes Country Club Review), known as the Granddaddy of Myrtle Beach golf, is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Built upon natural dunes less than a half mile from the ocean, it features numerous freshwater lakes and rolling fairways. Designed by architect Robert White, the first president of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America and a co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Pine Lakes has surpassed its initial glory after a complete restoration. This year, the course brought back the traditional Scottish garb and the clam chowder for what it’s so well-known, making it a must-visit on the next Myrtle Beach golf trip.

Grande Dunes Resort Club (read GolfBlogger’s Grand Dunes Resort Review) offers a challenging game of golf. Its spectacular layout, a Roger Rulewich Group design, is positioned on a high bluff creating a spectacular view of the Intracoastal Waterway. The par-four No. 9 runs right along the estuary. And, the No. 14, a downward lying par three crosses a dammed section of the Waterway, providing a beautiful background from the tee box. Named the “National Golf Course of the Year” by the National Golf Course Owners Association of America, it was also the host site of the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship.

To book tee times on these, or any of FGI’s 22 courses, go to foundersgroupinternational.com.

Grande Dunes Resort Club
About Founders Group International

Founders Group International (FGI) is the foremost golf course owner-operator company in the Southeastern United States. Formed in 2014 through various purchases and the 2015 acquisition of National Golf Management, FGI owns and operates 22 golf courses (423 holes) in and around Myrtle Beach, S.C., America’s seaside golf capital.

Those courses include Pine Lakes Country Club, the “granddaddy” of Myrtle Beach area courses; TPC Myrtle Beach, host site of the 2019 NCAA Division I men’s golf regional and Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship; and Grande Dunes Resort Club, home of the Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center.

FGI administers www.MBN.com, a leader in online tee time bookings, as well as package outlet Myrtle Beach Golf Trips. With the help of Golf Insider’s 100 percent player-generated course ranking system, thousands of golfers plan and assemble their ideal golf itineraries through FGI’s assets, including “top-100 caliber” courses Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, and more than 80 other Myrtle Beach area courses.

More information about Founders Group International, is available at www.foundersgroupinternational.com, www.mbn.com or MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com.

Inaugural Rolex Series Concludes At The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai

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Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, 7 November 2017 – From 16 – 19 November the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai will host the final tournament of the Rolex Series, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. The European Tour’s top golfers will be vying to crown their season as champion and, for those leading the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex, win the coveted Race to Dubai title.

First held in 2009 and becoming part of the innovative Rolex Series in 2017, the DP World Tour Championship is the season finale of the European Tour, of which Rolex has been a partner since 1997. Over this 20-year partnership, Rolex has cemented its place at the heart of the game in Europe, and the introduction of the Rolex Series offers players the chance to compete in a new premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule.

Played on the world-renowned Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the DP World Tour Championship is a challenging tournament, befitting the season finale. The Earth Course’s sparkling white bunkers and deep green fairways are inspired by the best courses in Europe, providing the perfect setting to crown the season’s best golfer.

Defending champion and Rolex Testimonee Matthew Fitzpatrick said: “I’m looking forward to returning to Dubai to defend my title. This year Rolex celebrates its 50th anniversary supporting golf, and it’s a privilege for me to be a part of the Rolex family and experience that support first hand. The Rolex Series highlights Rolex’s continued commitment to our game and has been an exceptional addition to the season, enabling both European Tour players and fans to enjoy an elevated level of golf, closer to home.”

RACE TO DUBAI
Founded in 2009, and now spanning 47 tournaments in 26 countries, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition for European Tour golfers that demands sustained quality and excellence throughout the year. On completion of the DP World Tour Championship the leader of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex will be crowned the 2017 winner.

Rolex Testimonee Jon Rahm, ranked number five in the Official World Golf Rankings and already a Rolex Series winner, is a strong contender to win the Race to Dubai. At number four in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, a strong finish for the Spaniard at the DP World Tour Championship could see him join fellow Testimonees Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald as winners of the prestigious Race to Dubai.

ROLEX NEW GUARD
Joining the 23-year-old Fitzpatrick and 22-year-old Rahm in Dubai will be a number of remarkably talented young golfers and fellow Testimonees who belong to the Rolex New Guard. Like their iconic predecessors Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, also known as ‘The Big Three’, these young players are eager to leave their mark on the sport, ushering in a new generation at the top of the men’s game. Among them are Haotong Li, Thorbjørn Olesen and Thomas Pieters and who have eight European Tour wins between them. Fellow Testimonees competing in Dubai include two-time Major champion Martin Kaymer, and two-time European Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts.

 

ROLEX TESTIMONEES CONTESTING THE 2017 DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, DUBAI
Nicolas Colsaerts
Matthew Fitzpatrick
Martin Kaymer
Haotong Li
Thorbjørn Olesen
Thomas Pieters
Jon Rahm

ROLEX TESTIMONEE RACE TO DUBAI WINNERS
Martin Kaymer (2010)
Luke Donald (2011)

ROLEX TESTIMONEE DP WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP, DUBAI WINNERS
Matthew Fitzpatrick (2016)

ABOUT THE ROLEX SERIES
Commencing in 2017, the Rolex Series is the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule. Presently comprising eight tournaments, staged in a variety of golfing locations around the world, Rolex Series events will offer a minimum prize fund of US$7 million.

The 2017 roster of Rolex Series tournaments include: the BMW PGA Championship (May 25-28); the HNA Open de France (June 29-July 2); the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation (July 6-9); the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (July 13-16); the Italian Open (October 12-15), the Turkish Airlines Open (November 2-5); the Nedbank Golf Challenge (November 9-12); and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai (November 16-19), where the leading golfer of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex will be crowned.

ABOUT ROLEX
Rolex, the Swiss watch brand headquartered in Geneva, enjoys an unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise the world over. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 400 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports, exploration, the spirit of enterprise, and the environment through a broad palette of sponsoring activities, as well as philanthropic programmes.

 Innisbrook Resort Re-opens North Golf Course After Greens Renovation

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Innisbrook North

 

 Innisbrook Resort Re-opens North Golf Course After Greens Renovation

Restoration of all 18 greens still honors the original design of course architect Larry Packard

 PALM HARBOR, FL., November 3, 2017 – Innisbrook, a Salamander Resort has completed the renovation of the putting surface on all 18 greens on its popular North Course, one of four championship layouts at the Tampa Bay-area resort. The course officially celebrated its re-opening today with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the 18th green.

The six-month renovation process began on June 5 using a no-till method of turf replacement, resulting in a firmer, more consistent playing surface.  The greens were planted with TifEagle Bermuda Grass – the same exceptional putting surface the PGA TOUR professionals raved about in this year’s Valspar Championship on Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course.

“The North Course is re-opening with an exceptional putting surface that our guests and members will truly enjoy playing,” said Innisbrook Managing Director Mike Williams. “We never rest on our success as a nationally recognized PGA TOUR venue, and the popularity of the North Course offers yet another championship golf venue that attracts golfers from all over the world.”

The renovation project also included the conditioning of the bunkers, general maintenance and clearing of all storm canals, and some trimming and pruning to reduce shading and create access to the greens as originally designed by Larry Packard. The sizes of the greens were also expanded where shrinkage had occurred over the years, allowing for additional pin placements.

The North Course is one of four championship golf courses at Innisbrook, which is operated by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the luxury hotel company founded by Sheila Johnson. The North Course is the second Salamander course to re-open in two days. On November 2, the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach re-opened after a 13-month restoration. Both courses are part of the Salamander Golf Collection.

 In addition to championship golf, the resort also features 500 spacious guest suites and rooms, four restaurants and three bars, the Innisbrook Golf Institute, 11 tennis courts, the luxury Salamander Spa with 12 treatment rooms and state-of-the-art Fitness Center, six heated swimming pool complexes, a nature preserve, and three conference halls with 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

 For additional information call 727.942.2000 or visit www.innisbrookgolfresort.com.

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Salamander Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned and operated company based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila Johnson in 2005, the company has a luxury portfolio featuring two distinct collections. The Signature Collection includes the stunning Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; The Henderson, a 170-room grand beach resort in Destin, FL; NOPSI New Orleans, a new 217-room luxury historic hotel re-imagined which opened in July 2017; and Hotel Bennett, a 179-room luxury hotel in Charleston, SC, opening in summer 2018. The Golf Collection includes the famed Innisbrook Resort in Tampa Bay, which hosts an annual PGA TOUR on its Copperhead Course; the elegant Reunion Resort in Orlando, which includes Signature Course designs from Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson; and the recently renovated oceanfront Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, FL, home to layouts by Nicklaus and Watson. All Salamander properties are members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For additional information, visit www.SalamanderHotels.com.

 

Renowned Swing Coach Rick Smith Enthusiastic About PGA Tour Season

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Renowned Swing Coach Rick Smith Enthusiastic About PGA Tour Season

Golf’s renaissance man guides Brendan Steele to season’s first win on PGA Tour; prepares to launch The Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump® National Doral Miami

Miami, FL – Rick Smith, one of golf’s leading swing coaches, has been very busy in his usual enthusiastic manner while preparing for the upcoming 2017/2018 PGA Tour season.

Kicking off the fall season, long-time Smith student Brendan Steele won the PGA Tour’s 2017-2018 season-opening tournament at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa Valley on Oct. 8. At the same time, Smith is preparing for the opening of the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump® National Doral Miami on January 1, 2018.

“I can’t say enough about how excited I am for Brendan and the work he has put into his golf swing,” Smith said. “The changes we have been implementing over the past few years are taking shape and putting him in a great position to be one of the top players on Tour. He is beginning to rise to the top in many of the key statistical categories on Tour including driving distance and strokes gained tee to green and off the tee, which is a testament to his dedication to improvement. Like last year, this win should set the tone for him to once again compete for the Fed Ex Cup.”

Beginning in January, Smith, whose successful and diverse resume includes being a top instructor, course designer, TV analyst, spokesman and communicator, will concentrate on the passion that laid the foundation for his industry success – instruction. He has been ranked as high as the No. 3 teacher in the world, and has worked with the likes of Golfer of the Century – Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Paul Azinger, John Daly, Greg Norman, and Sang Moon Bae, among other top players in the world.

“I have had tremendous opportunities around the world to teach, design courses, and help promote the game, but my true passion has always been teaching all aspects of the game of golf and to help people get better,” Smith says. “This opportunity to bring my flagship performance center to Trump® National Doral Miami will allow me to focus on my passion for helping golfers of all levels from PGA Tour players, elite amateurs and beginners to improve their games.”

Smith’s current PGA Tour students like Steele, Rocco Mediate, Latin American Tour player Tyler McCumber, as well as other players, will now have one of the best teachers and facilities in the world to call upon when they want to improve their games.

During the development of the new Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump® National Doral Miami, Smith will be assembling an elite team of instructors that will include key past teachers he has worked with along with a collection of top teachers that exemplify Rick’s swing philosophies he has implemented over the years.

“There are common fundamentals shared by all the best teachers, but there certainly is not one method or swing to play the game with,” explained Smith. “This has been proven over the years by the several different types of players’ golf swings we have worked with who have won multiple times on tour as well as major championships.”

Along with world-class instructors, state of the art swing technology and video analysis, the new performance center will serve resort guests, club members and visitors. This modern facility will provide a wide range of unique, fun, and non-pressure type programming in a relaxed atmosphere. This includes private lessons, half-day, full-day and multi-day programs, PGA Professional-member programs, group clinics, on-course programs, and junior programming.

About Rick Smith
Rick Smith has achieved resounding success in golf as a teacher and course designer, excelled in written and verbal communication with all audiences and is regarded as one of the PGA Tour’s best sounding boards for swing advice. He was ranked as high as No. 3 among Golf Digest’s Top 50 Teachers, a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher since 1996, National Teacher of the Year, and voted No. 2 in the world at one-time by PGA Tour players.

Smith is one of the most respected instruction authors and television analysts. He is currently a teaching editor for Golf Digest Magazine and previously served as an instruction writer for GOLF Magazine. In addition, his love for hosting golf instructional shows on television began in 1994 when he developed “The Rick Smith Signature Series” seen worldwide by television audiences on ESPN International, TSN (Canada), and Fox Sports Net. At the Golf Channel, Rick became part of the “Dream Team of Instructors” which consistently offered viewers instructional tips to improve their golf games. He also hosted “Inside the PGA Tour” and has been a commentator and analyst for both NBC and ESPN telecasts of golf tournaments.

Beyond the golf swing, writing, and television, Rick is an accomplished golf course designer working alongside Phil Mickelson, as well as a spokesperson for some of America’s premier brands and golf products.

He currently operates the Rick Smith Golf Performance Center at Trump® National Doral Miami, and Rick Smith Golf Academies at Forest Dunes in Roscommon, Mich., and Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.  Visit www.RickSmith.com.