Duca del Cosma Elevates its Cool Season Line with Daring New Golf Boots

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September 25, 2023

Duca del Cosma Elevates its Cool Season Line with Daring New Golf Boots

Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma, the market leader in golf boots across Europe, has elevated its popular Cool Season golf boot collection with the introduction of new, eye-catching models and colorways for golfers looking to impress during the cooler golfing months.

Handcrafted using the most premium materials, the latest waterproof golf boot line-up offers six new designs and two chic colorways applied to two of the best-selling women’s models. The all-encompassing collection is available from 3 October and is comprised of 31 stylish options featuring ultra-modern golf shoe technologies to deliver top performance.

Leading the latest collection is the all-new FRANCESCA women’s and PRATO men’s boots designed to deliver ultimate grip and stability, plus added warmth in the harshest playing conditions. With fashion, sporty and classic styles to choose from, the collection offers striking looks to gain the attention of playing partners on and off the course.

“Duca del Cosma is proud to be leading the growth of golf boot sales across Europe and Scandinavia for both male and female players,” said Merle Deterink, Global Marketing Director. “As we’ve seen a 30% increase in sales of our golf boots since last year, we believe this offers a great opportunity for golfers to explore footwear that extends their golfing season and retail partners to stock as many choices as possible,” she added.

Women’s Collection

The FRANCESCA boot is spearheading the stylish women’s collection, designed for fashion-conscious golfers who place a premium on functionality and unmatched performance in cooler conditions. Introducing hints of the purest Italian design, the waterproof boot boasts a striking print and soft faux fur ankle cuffs for a subtle touch of luxury.

Offering a more sophisticated appearance, the timeless OLIVIA high-top boot will look at home both on and off the course. Handcrafted with a soft premium vintage Nappa leather upper, the boot features fashionable Duca del Cosma detailing down the side and is available in Black and Brown.

The popular and lightweight PALAZZO and PRADO styles feature the Airplay 6 outsole for a supremely cushioned fit, plus a combination of true comfort and stability on the course. The chic PALAZZO features a faux fur collar, while the PRADO quilting detail on soft Italian Nappa leather outer provides an unmatched air of elegance. Both styles are available in the all-new Taupe colorway.

Another sporty option sure to make a statement is the SONESTA style. It is designed for exceptional grip and stability and is the perfect choice for the fashion and eco-conscious golfer. Handcrafted using sustainable microfibre combined with a recyclable embossed and printed PU patent, its dazzling sparkle design will certainly grab the attention of those on the course and in the clubhouse.

Closing out the standout collection of women’s boots is the all-new SABRINA, featuring a unique buckle and brogue-like design for a distinctive yet classy finish. The cool seasons of golf are no match for this shoe, with premium fleece lining, faux fur cuff and waterproof bootie system to ensure feet stay comfortable and deliver during play.

Men’s Collection

A seamless combination of fashionable and sporty looks is bolstered in the men’s range with the introduction of the PRATO model. Constructed using exceptionally soft Nappa leather and the breathable ARNEFLEX® insert sole, this waterproof boot ensures a super stable stance to deliver optimal power in the swing, thanks to the construction of the advanced D-Eva® outsole. With Duca del Cosma branding on the outside of the boot, it’s available in the contemporary Dark Grey and Cognac colorways.

The FONTANA style is another welcome addition to keep feet warm and dry during the round. The classic boot comes with a soft fleece lining for unrivaled comfort and a soft recyclable microfibre upper. Available in Brown and Navy with contrasting soles.

For more information, visit https://ducadelcosma.com

Willoughby Golf Club

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September 22, 2023

4

Thirty-five Years Later, Willoughby Golf Club Hires Its Second Head Golf Professional

When Gerry Knebels was hired as Willoughby Golf Club’s first head professional in 1988, he planned to spend five years at the South Florida property before heading to the Midwest, where he had established professional roots, searching for a position at a private club.

Thirty-five years later, the beloved Knebels finally left Willoughby, retiring in the summer of 2023 after a run at the club that saw him grow into an institution along the Stuart, Fla. golf scene. Knebels played a vital role in Willoughby’s emergence as one of the area’s most popular clubs, and his impact will be felt long into the future via his successor Skip Deaner.

While Knebels will take a lot of institutional knowledge into retirement, Deaner, who had been the first assistant at Willoughby the last six years, is more than prepared to assume the lead role, helping ensure the club’s continued success.

“He knows the whole membership,” Knebels says of Deaner. “Now he can put his signature (on the club). He is more than qualified and understands how everything works. It’s an easy passing of the baton.”

Deaner, who grew up in Dublin, Ohio, and once worked as a first assistant at Muirfield Village, has been immersed in the game since he was a kid. After a stellar junior career, he played at and graduated from Stetson University; while his dreams of life on the PGA Tour ended, his desire to work in the golf business never wavered.

“At a certain point you realize (playing on the PGA Tour) is unrealistic and you have to make a decision,” Deaner said. “I wanted to stay in and around golf no matter what, and I always knew I wanted to be a head golf professional.”

The avid sports fan and outdoorsman paid his dues, starting his career at Loxahatchee Golf Club working in the bag room, but his ascent was as steady as it was undeniable. Sandwiched around his tenure at Muirfield, Deaner also worked as an assistant at Old Palm Golf Club and the Legacy Club, where he first met Knebels, setting the stage for his eventual ascension to the head job at Willoughby.

“It means a ton to be the head pro here and to follow someone like Gerry is amazing, especially given what he has done here at Willoughby and in the community,” Deaner said. “Gerry was instrumental in getting the First Tee off the ground in Martin County. You can’t go anywhere in Stuart without someone knowing Gerry; pretty much anyone who knows anything about golf knows him.”

Knebels will continue to be a familiar face at Willoughby as he was named Emeritus Golf Professional upon retirement. While Knebels will enjoy his newfound status, his thoughts remain on what’s best for the club, meaning he is sensitive to casting a shadow over his successor.

“If you are going to retire, retire,” Knebels said. “I don’t want to stay in the corner and look over everyone’s shoulder.”

That selflessness is what made Knebels so popular over the years, and it is also a trait that runs throughout the club, which explains the continuity of the staff. Knebels, the club’s chef, the superintendent, and the starter all worked at Willoughby for 15+ years, a testament to a culture that is built around a sterling 18-hole Arthur Hills golf course and a commitment to treating everyone the right way.

“You hear stories in the golf business about a particular club that gets a different pro every three years, a different chef every three years,” Knebels said. “When people come here, they don’t leave, and that level of support and appreciation the membership gives you is kind of the glue that holds it together.”

For 35 years, Knebels was a vital ingredient in the glue that held Willoughby together. From the club’s earliest days to hosting a charity event spearheaded by PGA Tour player (and member) Ed Humenik that attracted John Daly and raised the course’s profile, Knebels was the one constant at Willoughby.

Knebels grew up on a golf course in Philadelphia, looking for balls and selling Kool-Aid as a young kid before eventually taking his first job in the caddie room, beginning a career dedicated to golf.

Going forward, the game will continue to be a vital part of his life, but now he will enjoy it from the perspective of a member at Willoughby Golf Club.

Stuart, Fla., was named the “Happiest Seaside Town,” by Coastal Living, and it’s easy to have a smile on your face with the ability to join a club like Willoughby. The member-owned Arthur Hills course is the private community’s centerpiece amenity, but it’s just one of many attractions. The clubhouse is the focal point for membership, allowing easy access to the pool, a fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, and multiple onsite restaurants that help make Willoughby one of the region’s premier private communities.

For more information, visit WilloughbyGolfClub.com.

Tour Edge Template Series Putters

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Ed Travis

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September 19, 2023

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Tour Edge Template Series Putters

Tour Edge has broadened its putter offering with the Template Series, each with a center of gravity and moment of inertia optimized for that particular shaped head. The first Template series was a hit due both to their performance and relatively low price point. The 2023 series is in keeping with company founder David Glod’s long-time strategy of providing clubs to recreational players with the latest design, materials, and technology at reasonable prices.

The choice of PVD finishes (silver or black) complements the CNC milled Micro-Grooves, which are 20% deeper plus wider than the earlier Templates to generate topspin quickly after impact. It also helps with the Template’s feel and the heads are made from the softest stainless steel available.

“The new Template putter series has taken leaps and bounds in the look and feel department,” said Glod. “This putter line combines today’s technology with designs and perfectly blends classic putter the two, just like what Template golf holes are designed to do in course architecture.”

The Template name comes from using a template golf hole in golf course architecture. Template holes were first utilized by course architect C.B. Macdonald. As a course designer, he spent his early years in Chicago and instituted about 20 different template holes, basing them on holes from well-known courses like St. Andrews, Prestwick, and North Berwick.

Tour Edge has an update of the Template putter series with four new designs and three modified shapes, including mallets, mid-mallets, and blades, with the names coming from golf holes designed by famed architect C.B. MacDonald.

Fast Facts Tour Edge Template Series Putters

304 Stainless steel heads
Silver or black PVD finish
CNC milled micro-grooved face
Stock grip: Lamkin Deep Etched Pistol
Alps-mallet, double bend hosel
Biarritz—mallet, double bend face balance hosel
Eden—blade, plumber’s neck hosel
Maiden—mid-mallet, plumber’s neck hosel
Narrows—Winged mid-mallet, slant neck hosel
Narrows CS—Winged mid-mallet, center shaft
Punchbowl—mallet, plumber’s neck hosel
Valley—mid-mallet, plumber’s neck hosel
Available Nov. 1, 2023
MSRP $129.99

For more information, visit touredge.com

Exotics Wingman Wedges by Tour Edge

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Ed Travis

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September 18, 2023

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Tour Edge’s latest wedges under the Exotics Wingman name have been two years in development, with PGA Tour Champions player Bernhard Langer providing input for the forged head design, which has a significant amount of offset.

The name Wingman comes from the “winged” weight pad located on the clubhead toe, which raises the center of gravity, thus lowering the launch angle while increasing spin.

Key in the development process of the new design was PGA Tour Champions player and Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer who said, “I am always looking for a forged wedge with the right amount of offset and eventually started to ask the R&D team at Tour Edge what they thought could come up with. What came back has astounded me with its performance. I put one prototype right into play the week I tested it because I could tell that the design was easier to hit and far more consistent than my other wedges.”

Having offset on a club places the hands in front of the leading edge, which in turn means the impact will be more downward, helping any player strike the ball more crisply with the correct trajectory and spin. Not usually seen in wedges, a small amount of offset is a big help by creating a more consistent strike tending to ensure the sole hits the ground at the proper angle.

Tour Edge’s TPU-filled pockets behind the face are specifically there to help create a confidence-building feel and make use of Tour Edge’s proprietary material, branded VIBRCOR.

Wingman wedges offer three sole grinds for different playing conditions and swing attack angles. The F/S Grind (6°/8° bounce) is for firmer turf and players that tend to sweep the ball, while the M/N Grind (10° Bounce) is for firm to soft ground and players with a neutral setup. The S/D Grind (12°/14° Bounce) works well for softer-ground and those with more vertical attack angles who tend to dig into the turf.

Fast Facts Tour Edge Exotics Wingman Wedges

Forged clubheads
Vibration-absorbing TPU-filled pockets
Back weight: 5-gram standard—2.5, 7.5, 10, 12.5-gram custom
All lofts 3mm offset
Milled face, grooves & micro-grooves
Three stock grinds
Stock shaft: Dynamic Gold 115
Available October 2, 2023
$139.99 each

For more information, please visit touredge.com/wingman-wedge

Audubon International Announces Black Desert Resort Partnership

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September 18, 2023

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Audubon International Announces Black Desert Resort Partnership

Audubon International – the environmentally focused non-profit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work and play – welcomes Black Desert Resort, a sustainability-driven golf, lodging, recreation and residential community near St. George, Utah, as a registered member of its Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Program.

Over the coming months, Black Desert will work closely with Audubon International’s team of environmental specialists to formulate a plan to earn property-wide designation as a Platinum Certified Signature Sanctuary, starting with its 19-hole championship golf course. The late Tom Weiskopf’s final design, which winds through a tableau of red rocks and black lava fields, opened to rave reviews in May 2023. The course will host an annual PGA Tour event starting in September 2024 and an LPGA event starting in 2025.

Reef Capital Partners, the investment firm behind Black Desert, put environmental sustainability at the center of its development plan from day one, with an eye toward eventually achieving Signature Sanctuary Platinum Certification for the entire property.

“We are thrilled to welcome Black Desert as the first Signature Sanctuary Platinum enrollee in the state of Utah, and one of the first in America,” said Christine Kane, Audubon International’s CEO. “As the development takes shape on some of the West’s most ecologically diverse and visually stunning landscapes, we will partner with them to create a lasting and groundbreaking model of environmental stewardship on all fronts — golf course, resort, retail and residential.”

Troon Golf, led by Superintendent Ken Yates, manages the course, overseeing its maintenance and maturation and crucial protocols like water use, turf selection, and coverage. Black Desert’s 150-room eco-hotel is set to open in fall 2024, with Golf Village, Family Village and Boardwalk complexes to follow. The long-term plan envisions the potential for up to 1,000 homes.

“We’re doing hotel, the golf course and the other home development sites, all at the same time,” said Yates.

All irrigation comes from gray water sources to save water on Black Desert’s 75 acres of turf. Fairways will use bentgrass, which eliminates the need to overseed or apply too many chemical fertilizers. “It’s more of a permanent turf solution,” said Yates. “Now we have grasses that can handle our hot summers and cold winters.”

This light-on-the-land ethic will continue throughout the entire project, including the hotel and other structural elements, starting with a low-voltage Power Over Ethernet system and an advanced regenerative media filter system for water savings.

“From the golf course standpoint, we look to be as sustainable as we can be. And Audubon International has shown a track record of assisting with that. That’s really what our partnership is about,” said Ross Laubscher, executive director of construction and Agronomy for Reef Capital. “We’re looking for them to help us develop a product that all can be proud of, that shows we’re environmentally conscious and that the product is sustainable years from now.”

Reef Capital has also enlisted Dr. Joseph Platt as director of environmental affairs to look after the vast natural areas of the 600-acre property. With Audubon International’s direction, he will work with staff and faculty from nearby Utah Tech University to initiate research and monitoring programs.

“Projects such as Black Desert can be created in an environmentally sensitive or in a heavy-handed way,” said Dr. Platt. “The difference is time, money and vision. Black Desert has chosen to invest resources in preserving hundreds of acres of natural areas, reducing water and power requirements, and developing ways to educate the public about our environmental resolve. By partnering with Audubon International, we will ensure our commitment to the environment grows and matures with Black Desert.”

For more information about Black Desert Resort, visit blackdesertresort.com.

Pinehurst No. 10 Opening Announced

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September 5, 2023

26

Pinehurst Resort announces that Pinehurst No. 10 will open on April 3, 2024

The highly-anticipated Tom Doak design, which began construction this January, will be the first original golf course Pinehurst Resort has unveiled in nearly 30 years. Its opening comes just a few months before Pinehurst serves as the site of the U.S. Open for the fourth time.

“Pinehurst Resort has been fortunate to be hailed as the Cradle of American Golf, and we’re grateful for all of the major championships and historic moments that have come before,” says Pinehurst Resort CEO Bob Dedman Jr. “We’re delighted to have a date to begin presenting this incredible design by Tom Doak to our guests. April 3 will not only be another great day in Pinehurst’s history, but for our future as well.”

Pinehurst No. 10 will be unlike any golf course at the resort.

While No. 10 is Pinehurst’s first new course in nearly three decades, it’s been centuries in the making. The landscape underlying Doak’s newest design features all that is natural to golf in the North Carolina Sandhills, including native wiregrass, extensive sandscape, towering longleaf pines and rolling hills. Midway through the course, though, Doak takes advantage of rugged dunes carved out by mining operations around the turn of the 20th century. The result is a spectacular course with more than 75 feet of elevation change that winds its way on a path toward delivering a golf experience like no other.

“No. 10 starts out fairly gentle, then it starts going into the old quarry works where it gets downright crazy for a little bit, then the course gets up on the hill and there’s a beautiful, sweeping view,” Doak says. “All of the holes coming in are challenging, even when you move down into the gentler terrain. It’s a dramatic golf course; more than I originally thought.”

Golfers looking to be among the first to experience playing No. 10 can reserve their stay by calling 1-800-ITS-GOLF. More information on golf packages can be found at Pinehurst.com.

“We’re excited to show off Tom Doak’s masterful interpretation of Pinehurst golf,” says Tom Pashley, President of Pinehurst Resort. “From the initial routing of Pinehurst No. 10 to the shaping and design process, Doak and his associates excelled in all regards. Our very high expectations were exceeded, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

LIV Golf Team Championship

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September 5, 2023

9

Tickets are on Sale Now for the LIV Golf Team Championship, Featuring a Concert by DJ Sensation Fisher

LIV Golf announced that tickets are on sale for the highly-anticipated 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship returning to Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, October 20-22. The season-ending championship event will culminate on Sunday with a podium celebration and live concert by platinum recording producer and Australian DJ sensation FISHER, bringing the high-energy music he showcased in front of record crowds earlier this season at LIV Golf Adelaide to fans in Miami.

“This has been a historic year for LIV Golf and our league is gearing up for a one-of-a-kind season finish for our fans,” said LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman. “The excitement of head-to-head team competition will be on full display at Doral as world-class entertainers deliver an unparalleled golf experience on and off the course. We can’t wait to crown this year’s team champion in Miami as the league celebrates an incredible season and momentum builds for 2024 and beyond.”

Tickets for the LIV Golf Team Championship in Miami are on sale at LIVGolf.com, where single-day and three-day grounds passes are all-inclusive of the fan activities on site, including Sunday passes for the live concert by FISHER. With a blockbuster catalog of dance hits, including Losing It, You Little Beauty, and Stop It, the Grammy-nominated superstar will bring the dynamic music he’s loved for when he performs to close out the tournament on October 22. Additional weekend entertainment, including a major musical artist, will be announced in the near future.

EXCLUSIVE HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Fans can secure the ultimate tournament experience with LIV Golf’s renowned hospitality packages. Whether it’s a private chalet on the 18th Green, the exclusive experience of Club 54, the electric atmosphere of the Gallery Club, the party vibes in the Birdie Shack, or the new cabanas hovering over the water on the 9th Green, each offering delivers an array of amenities. Fans can also secure one of the select LIV Premium passes, an all-access ticket to all hospitality areas throughout the course. For tickets and more information, visit LIVGolf.com.

SPECIAL TICKET OFFERS

Aligned with LIV Golf’s mission to grow the game and provide more fun and entertainment for all fans, special ticket offers are available for select groups, including:

Complimentary Youth Tickets: Offering complimentary grounds passes for the next generation of golf fans, youth 12 years old and under will be granted free entrance at the gate when accompanied by an adult who occupies a ticket for the selected day.
Complimentary Military and Veteran Tickets: Any active-duty military or veteran can secure complimentary grounds passes for themselves and a guest as a thank you to those who currently serve or who have served.
25% off for College and University Students: Discounted ground passes are available to College and University students. Students are eligible to receive 25% off single-day grounds passes.
25% off for Teachers: As a special thank you to teachers, LIV Golf is proud to offer 25% off single-day grounds passes for all teachers.
25% off for First Responders and Medical Professionals: LIV Golf is pleased to offer 25% off single-day grounds passes for first responders and licensed medical professionals who serve our communities.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer opportunities for the LIV Golf Team Championship in Miami are still available. To learn more about the program, please visit events.r2it.com/volunteer/liv/miami/2023. For questions about volunteer opportunities, please email MiamiVols@par5group.com.

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

Final team standings following LIV Golf Jeddah will determine seeds 1-12 for the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship, with the top four teams receiving first-round byes. Additional details on the Team Championship format will be released before the tournament. Through 11 events, 4Aces GC – featuring two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, Peter Uihlein, and Pat Perez – sit atop the team standings with 172 points after team wins in Adelaide and London. Torque GC, featuring Chilean stars Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira, Colombian Sebastian Muñoz, and Spanish rookie David Puig, trail closely behind with 163 total points following wins in Orlando, DC, Andalucía, and Greenbrier. The all-South African Stinger GC, featuring major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, and Dean Burmester, currently sits in third place with 156 points. Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC (146 points), including Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, and Anirban Lahiri, hold a three-point edge in fourth place over RangeGoats GC (143 points), which boasts five top-three finishes this season thanks to standout performances by Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Thomas Pieters, and two-time Master champion, captain Bubba Watson.

LIV Golf is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments, whose vision and mission are to make holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.

Poconos Golf Trip

TRAVEL/LEISURE

Guest Writer

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September 4, 2023

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Poconos Golf Trip

About 90 miles north of Philadelphia and about the same distance west of Metropolitan New York City, you’ll find the ideal recreational area for year-round fun.

Snuggled away in Northeastern Pennsylvania is the Poconos, a four-county collection of resorts and places to stay and play. Be it winter sports like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fun slopes to ski; autumn hunting and fishing while you enjoy the colorful transition of fall leaves; summer boating, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming the cool blue and pristine waterways throughout Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties; and golf at the 30 odd golf courses and resort clubs almost year-round.

Earlier this summer, I took a group of golf writers on a cross-section trip of some of the best Poconos offers. We started at Terry LaGree’s artful design Jack Frost National Golf Club opened in 2007 in Blakeslee and has all the features you would want in a mountain course and none of the shortfalls.

Here, you can embrace the Pocono Mountains with all its magnificent vistas and elevation changes. Unlike most mountain courses, Jack Frost National, at 7200 yards from the tips, provides wide fairways, easily identified target areas, few uneven lies, and no blind shots. Before our round, Director of Instruction Ryan Kearn gave us an overview of the course while we enjoyed a light lunch in the new outdoor bar and pavilion. No homes, just flora and fauna. The Jack Frost and Boulder Ski Resorts are nearby. To learn more or book a tee time, please visit www.JackFrostNational.com.

We took a backroad ride through small villages and towns to our next destination, Woodloch Resort in Hawley, where we stayed in two lovely five-bedroom homes perfect for a buddies’ golf trip. Each bedroom had its own bathroom, and each house had a great room, dining room and huge kitchen to accommodate all our goodies and drinks. For someone who grew up near the Poconos in Allentown, Woodloch Resort was a complete surprise. thelodgeatwoodloch.com

The sprawling resort has three separate facilities, covers 1200 acres and has something for everyone. The Lodge is a ‘Sanctuary for the Senses‘ adults-only spa where guests go to decompress and renew. The Pines is the family resort area where most of the activities are found, and the Springs is the 500-acre home development complete with a Rocky Roquemore championship country club golf course under the direction of Director of Golf John Pillar. The Resort has been owned by the Kiesendahl family for 65 years who insist on treating guests like family. Their attention to detail shows why the Resort is voted the No. 1 Family Resort for the third year in a row by USA Today.

After a challenging round at Woodloch with deer following us around the course, we drove east to the “Granddaddy” of the Poconos, The Shawnee Inn. The historic Inn has been the home of an A. W. Tillinghast designed a golf course that plays along the Delaware River and continues onto an island with the river flowing on both sides after crossing a cart bridge.

The parkland-style course is not the norm in the Poconos, but a nice change from the hills and valleys of the typical Pocono offerings. The historic Shawnee Inn has been entertaining and playing host to the who’s who of celebrities since the beginning of the 20th century. Jackie Gleason learned the game here; Arnold Palmer met Winnie here; Sam Snead spent time as the pro. The likes of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, Perry Como, and many more came to the Shawnee Inn for recreation, fun and cool summer nights. shawneeinn.com

The Shawnee continues to change with the times. The property has a craft brewery with outdoor seating and games for the whole family. Tom Doak completed a six-hole par 3 course to complement the championship course where Hale Irwin won his NCAA championship. Recently, the Shawnee owners bought Great Bear Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus masterpiece, in nearby East Stroudsburg to give the Inn a new stay-and-play package.

Warm hospitality and cool temperatures are a sure bet, no matter where you decide to go. So, if you are sweltering in the city, take your game and family to the Poconos. You will love it!

poconomountains.com/things-to-do/golf

Lance Funderburk

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September 4, 2023

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Shangri-La Resort Names Lance Funderburk General Manager

Shangri-La Resort, Oklahoma’s premier waterfront golf and outdoor recreation destination, has announced the hiring of hospitality veteran Lance Funderburk in the newly created position of General Manager.

“The addition of Lance Funderburk in this important leadership role represents a commitment to dramatically move our resort forward,” said Shangri-La Resort President & CEO Barry Willingham. “His 20-plus years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry provides our team with a seasoned veteran who has the skill set to step immediately into this vital spot to help us move our club forward as an even bigger tourism attraction for our region.”

Prior to joining the Shangri-La team, Funderburk served as Director of Operations at Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort on Grand Wailea Beach, Hawaii. In that position, he utilized his leadership and team-building skills to head all operations activities of the $1.2 billion resort, with oversight of approximately 1,500 employees.

A native of Macedonia, South Carolina, Funderburke served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps prior to beginning his hospitality career at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. He has served in leadership roles at hotels and resorts in Maui, Honolulu, South Carolina, and Virginia Beach, expanding his skill set to encompass management and oversight of the full slate of hotel operations. His career has included key positions in a variety of hotels, from privately owned facilities to major brands such as Wyndham, Starwood, Resort Trust, Diamond, and Hilton.

“Once I got here to meet with (Executive Chairman) Jason Sheffield and (President & CEO) Barry Willingham, it was the people who changed my mind. Riding from the Tulsa airport to Monkey Island with Barry, it was clear he and I share the same values and goals. Everyone was so friendly, so nice, so genuine. It’s a great culture. The Shangri-La team, the members, the guests and local residents – everyone seems to have everyone else’s best interest at heart,” Funderburk says. “With the marina, golf courses, the hotel, and The Anchor, there is so much to do and everything is so beautiful. I’m excited about the Shangri-La team and the tremendous opportunities ahead of us.”

Shangri-La’s visionary owner, Gibbs, has transformed the resort into the pride of Northeast Oklahoma and put the lakefront vacation oasis on the map nationally with an investment of more than $100 million into the property’s accommodations and upscale leisure amenities since taking it over in 2010. Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning, nationally recognized operator of hotels and resorts with over 120 properties in the United States & Canada, recently added the Shangri-La Resort & Marina to the growing list of properties Crescent manages under the Latitudes: Lifestyles by Crescent collection.

In addition to the 119-room resort hotel, an indoor pool, 6,500 square-foot outdoor resort pool with splash pad and tanning ledge, luxury spa, full-service marina on gleaming, 46,500-acre Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, and six distinct dining and cocktails venues culminate in an unforgettable getaway for golfers, families, groups, corporate and association retreats, and weddings.

The Anchor, an award-winning, two-year-old, six-acre indoor/outdoor activity park, has basketball, tennis, pickleball, cornhole, and a unique “Mini-Fenway” WIFFLEBall park, as well as a catch-and-release fishing pond. The Anchor’s 11,000-square-foot indoor space offers traditional arcade games, virtual reality games, a LaserShot shooting simulator, and Trackman Golf simulators. A popular spot for drinks and dining, the Sports Bar at The Anchor features dozens of sports screens, including two giant video walls and ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard, darts, and foosball.

Visit shangrilaok.com for more information.

2023 World Amateur Handicap Championship

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Guest Writer

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September 2, 2023

13

2023 World Amateur Handicap Championship

Christopher Rainey Captures Flight Winners Playoff At PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship

Christopher Rainey from Drums, Pa. shot a net 68 (gross 99) to win the Flight Winners’ Playoff at the 40th annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship Friday at Grande Dunes Resort Course.

There was a five-way tie for first place at -3 before Rainey made a net birdie on the par 4 18th to earn the win, finishing one shot ahead of Joe Day (Conway, S.C.), Samuel Bland (Surfside, S.C.), Tom Fahringer (Valrico, Fla.), Mike Zeeb (New Carlisle, Ind.).

Christopher Schultz (La Porte Ind.) fired a three-round total of 209 to best David Hunt (Orlando, Fla.) by nine strokes to win the Men’s Gross Division title.

Russell Burnham (Dallas, Texas) edged Daniel Constantino (Greer, S.C.) by two shots en route to victory in the Men’s Senior Gross Division crown.

Mark Gardiner (North Salt Lake, Utah) finished seven strokes ahead of second place Michael Barclay (Cartersville, Ga.) to capture the Men’s Mid-Senior Gross Division championship.

Heidi Rittenhouse (Smithfield, N.C.) cruised to victory in the Women’s Gross Division, finishing 14 strokes ahead of second-place finisher Beth Gutteridge (Rindge, N.H.).

Mike Zeeb (New Carlisle, Ind.) and Brock Zeeb (New Carlisle, Ind.), a father-son duo, combined to win the Casa de Campo Pairs Competition. By virtue of winning, the pair received a 4-day, 3-night stay at the luxurious Casa de Campo and unlimited golf.

Entry into the event, which included at least four rounds of golf, nightly admission to the World’s Largest 19th Hole and a gift bag, was $699. There were 3,200+ participants this year with over 40 players from the Villages. Hurricane Idalia shortened the competition on Thursday with players hunkering down for possible bad weather that never really developed.

The World Am places players into 11 divisions – men 49 and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women (59 and under), senior women (60+), the gross division, senior (50+) gross division, mid-senior (60+) gross division, and women’s gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for players who want to enjoy the World Am experience without the pressure of competition.

After four days of play, all flight winners and ties will advance to the World Championship Playoff at TPC Myrtle Beach, an 18-hole shootout that crowns the event’s winner.

While the competition initially lures players to the tournament, it’s only part of what keeps them returning. At the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the World’s Largest 19th Hole.

Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes all 120,000 square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and more. Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, Charlie Rymer and John Daly.

Players also received a gift bag that included a polo, a pullover, a golf towel, a logo hat, a PGA Tour Superstore gift card, and an assortment of other goodies valued cumulatively at $250.

For more information, please visit MyrtleBeachWorldAmateur.com.