Canadians Always Greeted With Open Arms, The Aloha Spirit, In Maui

The Sunsets In Maui Are A Joy To Behold, As They Drop Behind The Horizon WIth The Warm Pacific Ocean And Sailboats In The Foreground. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

BY GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

CALGARY, Alberta — Even though it seems sacrilegious to be thinking of winter holidays during the dog days of summer, it’s never too soon to start planning a hasty retreat from the snowy, cold weather that’s coming this way. So, now’s a great time to start contemplating what the island getaway of Maui can serve up for you from November through March … or year round, if you prefer.
Speaking about the Aloha Spirit that awaits visitors, Shelley Kekuna, the executive director for the Ka’anapali Beach Resort Association, noted right off the bat that Canadians are always welcome, no matter what’s going on politically on both sides of the 49th Parallel. In fact, it’s said that during the depressed years of 2008-2009, it was the Canucks that kept parts of the island hopping, especially in the Kihei region, as they flocked to the sunshine paradise.
“First you have to realize my resort is 13 properties, two golf courses, and a myriad of restaurants and activities, so I’m a small part but we’re a huge part of the tourism industry when it comes to the island of Maui,” began Kekuna. “We’re the west side, the side that was developed long ago and we’re the original master plan destination resort in the Hawaiian Islands.
“People came to us first, and particularly Canadians. We have a huge history of Canadians coming, buying property on the west side and that remains really solid. Over the last several years we’ve seen fluctuations in the economy but the Canadian visitors have remained constant, even with the fluctuation of the dollar (Canadian vs U.S.).”

And Of Course, There Are Great Golf Courses To Choose From On The Island, From An Inexpensive But Very Busy Muni, To The Two Tracks At Kaanapali (Shown Here) And Three More Great Layouts In The Wailea Area Plus the World-Famous Plantation Course. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

And if you’re looking for numbered proof, these stats recently released out of the island suggest that Canada is indeed near the top in visitor numbers. Canada is the second largest international market for visitors to Hawaii. Canadian visitor expenditures so far in 2018 have reached $650 million with the primary purpose of their stay is for pleasure. The average length of stay by those of us from the Great White North is 12.51 days with repeat visitors accounting for 64.2 percent of those stays.
Even though the Canadian loonie continues to take a beating on world markets, Kekuna noted that it’s really not all that expensive to set up housekeeping on the island for a week, a month, or even longer. The reason for that, she said, has to do with tax implications on Maui.
“Our state tax is only 4.7 which is great! The most important thing is, most Canadians come and stay in condos, which gives them the opportunity to cook their own meals. When they do shop, they get the benefit of our low state tax. Also, because we live in an area with so much fresh locally grown products, you can go to farmers’ markets and prepare some of your meals at home. There’s a great savings there. You really don’t have to eat every meal out. It doesn’t take a lot of effort. There are the opportunities to budget everywhere. Just need to plan. Besides, the bottom line is the weather is fabulous!”

One Of The Main Tourist Attractions In Maui, From December Through Late March Every Year, Offering Some Outstanding Photo Ops But Only If You're Quick Enough On The Shutter Button! (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

Having played host to so many northerners over the years, Maui has become accustomed to what Canadians are looking for when they head south-westward for some downtime.
“We’ve become really accustomed to the Canadian visitor. We understand they’re a huge part of our visiting market and we love them! Canadians are really easy going, much like we are,” Kekuna emphasized.  We love that Canadians not only come to visit but that they’ve helped develop a lot of our resorts; who are stakeholders in our properties. We’re very grateful for the business Canadians bring. We consider you a major market share in our business industry.”
Another saving grace, and one that’s also saving you some money, is the ease in which you can now travel to the island. Where before it was a somewhat drawn out affair in going from Canada to this piece of paradise, that’s no longer an issue. Both major Canadian airlines offer several flights a day and there are direct rides from both Edmonton and Calgary.

Shelley Kekuna Says That Canadians Are Always More Than Welcome To Come Experience The Beauties and Joys Of Maui, And Not Just In The Winter. (Photo/Twitter)
“WestJet and Air Canada make it easy to come to Maui,” where the pace of life is laid back. It almost seems like time stands still while you’re basking in the sunshine and the surroundings.
“The pace of life is so relaxing,” said Kekuna, who noted that a new bypass recently opened on the island making travel back and forth across Maui more efficient than ever.
Asked what the general feeling of native islanders is toward those of us from the Great White North, Kekuna didn’t hesitate in answering, “We love you all very much so don’t stop coming!”
For more on Maui, go to kaanapaliresort.com for members and activities or visitmaui.com for general Maui information.

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About the Writer
Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his 10th year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Gaylord Golf Mecca A Great Place to Play And Stay

The UAW Black Lake Golf Course Is A Phenomenal Layout, With Almost Every Fairway Surrounded By Mature Trees And Some Of The Softest, Most Receptive Greens You’ll Ever Come Across. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
GAYLORD, Michigan — Truth be told, there is little better in life than a golf trip that includes little else but golf. In other words, something like playing 27 holes a day for four days in a row to cram all the swings you can into a limited time frame.
All that golf was played on the Gaylord Golf Mecca which encompasses a total of 15 awesome golf courses. The layouts are situated in and around the beautiful little alpine-style town, Gaylord, Michigan, in an area that sits between the Great Lakes’ pairing of Michigan and Huron. This entire area is beautifully treed and features wetlands and rolling terrain which is full of wildlife including songbirds, wild turkeys and deer.
The Gaylord Golf Mecca is situated an easy two hour drive south of Sault Ste. Marie, ON., and is not only a golfing paradise with several well designed, fun golf courses but serves as a downhill ski area when the sticks are put away for the winter. That being said, I was here for the golf, and golf only, so golf I did.

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PLACES TO PLAY
Black Lake Golf Club
The tour began at the stunningly beautiful Black Lake GC, which sits in Onaway, just a short drive from Gaylord. This course, which tips out at just over 7,000 yards, is heavily treed but features exceptional greens that greet incoming missiles with open arms (that is, they’re soft and receptive). Built as an additional recreational property for the UAW (United Auto Workers) training centre that sits just beyond the course’s borders this 1,000 -acre playpen was designed by the acclaimed Rees Jones, who used what nature gave him to present a fantastic layout.
The thing here is, you need to be aware of some deception from the fairways. The starter informed us that “after your tee shot, about 80 per cent of your shots into the greens are uphill, so that 6,400 yards here (off the blue tees) plays like 6,800.” And no, he wasn’t kidding. Played from the proper tees, this is a fun, challenging track where Jones made sure that you enjoy the surroundings as much as the course itself, which includes the eye-catching par-3 14th hole, one that is outlined all down the righthand side by a massive waste bunker, making the 163-yard shot off the white box just a little more intimidating.
For more on Black Lake GC, go to their website at blacklakegolf.com.

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Gaylord Golf Club
Designed by Don Cherry, and no, it’s not he of the ugly jackets, this is an old-style course that many people prefer in this day of big, long, tough layouts. Playing to just over 6,500 yards off the back tees, the Gaylord Golf Club offers up plenty of challenges to make pars seem like birdies. The hallmark of older facilities like this are smaller greens than you see on newer tracks and wide fairways littered with strategically placed bunkers. While the putting surfaces aren’t overly large, they were exceptionally smooth and true, meaning if you hit your line with your flat stick, the ball stayed there until it dropped into the hole.
A nice thing about this track is the pace of play. As a shorter layout, it’s expected that players can complete an 18-hole journey in four hours - or less - which keeps everyone happy. Founded in 1924, this is one of the elder statesmen on the Gaylord Golf Mecca routing, as well as one of the oldest in Northern Michigan and while it changed location in 1975, its rolling terrain and beautiful trees make you appreciate what is offered up.  And while this is a private club, and the course condition show that, it is open to the public for play at anytime. So if you’re looking for a classic layout, that features challenge without featuring five-plus hour rounds, this is a great spot to drop in and take on the test the Gaylord Golf Club offers up on a daily basis.
For more on the club go to gaylordcountryclub.com. (Note: The name has recently been changed to Gaylord Golf Club to take away that “country club” connotation some people place on such named facilities).

The Gaylord Golf Club Is An Old, Classic Design That Still Stands Up Well To The Modern Equipment Used By Players Today. The Fairways Are Wide, But Have Well-Placed Hazards To Make Sure One Stays Straight. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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Michaywe´ Pines Course
Another beautiful layout in this area, Michaywe´ belongs to the neighbourhood home owners association and they take proper care of this track. Bracketed by forest, and where your group is more than likely to be joined at some point by a few deer, this Don Childs design was redone in 2004 with special attention paid to the tees, greens and bunkers. The  classic 18 holes take you through the gently rolling terrain with little water to swallow up any wayward shots. While all that makes the course seem like a walk in the park, it is actually anything but. It can play tough and has shown that as the two-time host of the Michigan Amateur. Here you are greeted by five tees meaning that with the wide fairways, the large greens and the peaceful surroundings anyone can enjoy their outing.
One of the interesting things here is the variance in par 4 holes, which from the white blocks range anywhere from 398-yards down to down to 292, making it a true risk/reward type of track. The other noticeable thing here is that the homes that line the course are well off the fairways so you don’t have to worry about stray tee shots getting away from you.
For more on this beautiful course, go to michaywe.com.

The Natural Setting Of The Michaywe GC Is Enough To Soothe One’s Nerves In Its Quietness And Beauty, No Matter What Shape Your Game May Be In On The Day You Play. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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The Loon
This is one of those places where you must choose your starting point on each hole with care … and not because it’s a big track. Rather, it can play short - very short - off the middle deck which can lead to some interesting problems. That’s borne out on the opening hole where from the silver tee the distance is 304 yards on the par 4, dogleg right. Sounds easy enough, but hit it too far on the blind tee shot and you find yourself mired in a huge middle-of-the-fairway hazard that’s not noticeable from the tee. Keep it short of that however, and your second shot is an easy wedge into an elevated green with a birdie a real possibility to kick-start your round. The second hole here is also a fun test — a tee shot of 150-yards from the silver tees, over a massive ravine/hazard, to a well-guarded green with some interesting contours. Starting even par, or even 1-under is a real possibility, but you need to hit the right club to the right spot on both tee shots. The front nine ends on a par 3 with a 173 yard downhill shot, that again tests your aim as much as your distance control.
The rest of The Loon is a fun play even though from those silver blocks it is only 5,500 yards. You can stretch things out in a big way, jumping almost 800 yards more from the next blocks back, and all the way to 6,677 yards from the back tees. Since the front tees play to a yardage of 4,890, needless to say, this is one of those courses that is designed for everyone of any ability to take on …  but just beware of that opening volley on the front nine!
For more on The Loon, go to loongolfresort.com.

The Par-3 9th Hole At The Loon, As Well As Its Par-3 Sister, The Second, Demand Accurate Tee Shots As There Isn’t A Lot Of Room To Stray Too Far Off Course. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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Indian River Golf Club
Originally built with elevated greens everywhere on its first nine holes, Indian River came back to earth a bit in  the construction of the second nine. First put into play in 1923 by Wilfred Reid over nine holes, the expansion by Warner Bowen in the 1980s saw larger, but flatter greens join in. Playing to a modest 6,692 off the back blocks and all the way down to 4,300 from the front, the six tees give everyone the chance to shoot the round of their lives.
The first hole here is an intriguing view into Reid’s game plan, as it only measures 314 yards from the back, but a major dogleg right to an elevated, two-tier green - virtually making your second shot a blind one - make up for the short distance. While some of the four-pars are short, there are those that make up for it, including a trio of those on the newer back nine, thanks to Mr. Bowen. The par-3’s here though are a bundle of fun, including the great ninth, a downhill chip shot of 142-yards to a large green sitting side-by-side with the clubhouse … so you don’t want to yank/push one right here! Highlighting the fun factor here is the fact Indian River GC has been rated as one of Northern Michigan’s Best Places to Play by Golf Digest as well as receiving four of five stars from Golf Advisor. The cemetery, which includes a few Civil War tombstones, also sits alongside the ninth hole and is worth a quick visit.
For more on the Indian River GC, go to indianrivergolfclub.com.

The Par-3 9th Hole Is A Short One, At Only 124-yards Off The White Tees But Any Sort Of Hook, Or Slice, Depending What Side Of The Ball You Stand On, Can Lead To Some Interesting Interaction With The Nearby Clubhouse. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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Threetops (Treetops Resort)
As unappealing as a par-3 nine hole course may sound to many, this is one you don’t want to miss. From the fun opening hole of 143-yards to the spectacular 219-yard, 145-foot drop third, this is one fun, challenging, laugh-filled layout. It’s a quick round-trip, taking only about 90 minutes or so but it can be tough if you’re short irons are even a bit off. Many of the greens here, while large, are well protected by bunkers and fescue grasses. Top that off with some elevation going in, and you can find yourself often left with even shorter, and even more challenging approach shots, where you can only see the top of the flag, if at all.
Since opening in 1992, Threetops has been given acclaim by Golf Magazine, Golfweek and others who have often ranked it as the No. 1 par-3 course in America. It once hosted the ESPN Par-3 Shootout (Lee Trevino had a memorable ace on No. 7 to win $1 million in 2001). If you are in the area, be sure you don’t turn your nose up at this little gem, tucked beautifully into the woods and well worth the few minutes it will take you to tour it.
For more, go to michigangolf.com/courses/gaylord/treetops-threetops or Treetops.com.

As One Of The USA’s Top Par-3 Courses, Threetops At The Treetops Resort Offers Plenty Of Exceptional Tee Shots, Including This One That Features A Vertical Drop Of 140 Feet. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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The Natural at Beaver Creek
Again, a heavily wooded layout that is beautiful in every sense of the word, from the first tee to the last. This is one of the shorter 18-hole tracks you come across in Northen Michigan but that certainly doesn’t take away from its appeal, right from the clubhouse onward. Architect Jerry Matthews used the natural rolling terrain to sculpt a creative piece of work, featuring several doglegs over its 6,330 yard total off the back tees. So yes, while short, this is a course where even the slightest off-line shot can cost you.  While it’s a fun play, perhaps the proudest thing that The Natural can say about itself is that it was constructed to lay alongside, but not interfere, with the gorgeous wetlands that wend throughout the property. Care was taken to bring those areas into play, but to not hinder their natural ability to survive and thrive, making this place one of those courses that you likely take as many pictures of as you take swings at your golf ball.
For more on The Natural, go to thenaturalgolfcourse.com.

Another Beautiful Course, The Natural At Beaver Creek Throws You Into A Tree-Lined Setting With Some Tricky Greens To Test Every Part Of Your Game. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

The Masterpiece (at Treetops)
Really, other than having the man, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., state this track, located in the Treetops Resort area, was his “crowning glory; his masterpiece,” you don’t need much more persuasion to tee it up here. Yes, The Masterpiece is a big layout - over 7,000 yards from the back tees but it is brought down to a more manageable level of 6,063 off the Blue/White combo. But don’t let those numbers faze you — this course is about hitting good shots and being rewarded for them, because as head professional Erik Crowley advises, “Hit it long and hit it straight!”
This is a design with one of those dramatic holes - the par-3 sixth - where as you stand on the tee you look off into the distance at tens of thousands of tree tops, thus the resort’s name, and take aim at a green 120-feet below you. Dependent on nature, this shot can require anything from two to three clubs less than you’d normally use on a 180-yard shot to that many clubs up, if the wind happens to be in your face. This was Jones’ final design in the state of Michigan and he left nothing to the imagination in laying it out, making use of the hills and valleys, the marshalands, and yes, of course, the trees! While tough, this is a course anyone can take a good swing at, as it has five individual tee boxes along with three combo boxes, so the correct yardage, which one must play to fully enjoy the challenges here, can be found.
For more on The Masterpiece at the Treetops Resort, go to treetops.com.

The Last Design By Robert Trent Jones, Sr., In Michigan, Is A True Beauty And One He Called His “Crowning Glory.” (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

Signature (at Treetops)
One of five courses at the fabulous Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan, this 18-hole charmer is a great way to wrap up a memorable golf journey. The Signature offers what seems like almost unlimited elevated tee boxes, six in all, on over 18 holes that can play anywhere from 4,600 yards up to almost 6,700 yards. As well, there are a variety of combo boxes to play, making this another track where everyone can tee it up and feel at ease. Not that you’re going to find this Rick Smith track an walk in the park, scoring-wise. While it was his first 18 hole design, Smith used all the natural elements he was given right from your opening tee shot on the downhill par-4 to the closing stretch, where keeping your head about you can result in a good score. Lose focus for even a bit though, and some big numbers can make an unwelcome appearance on your scorecard.
One area Smith helps the average player is in the wide targets he presents off the tee box. The majority of the holes are straightaway and with large greens in play, it’s all about hitting the right club at the right time here. Interestingly enough, Smith also pieced together the fun Treetops, mentioned earlier, so if you got to play that little beauty first, you know what kind of fun, and challenge, you’re in for on the par-3 course’s big sister. As well, Signature has been voted as one of the 50 Best Courses for Women, meaning that everyone should take a swing at this course, a fund and beautiful journey, much like every other course in Northern Michigan that has been reviewed here.
For more, go to treetops.com.

This Rick Smith Design Features An Amazing Amount Of Elevated Tee Boxes Over Its 18 Hole Layout, Making For Some Memorable Tee Shots. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

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Five Years Later Kananaskis GC back on its feet

While The Mt. Lorette Course (Pictured Here) Has Been Open All Of This Season To Golfers, The Final Piece Of The Kananaskis Rebuild Falls Into Place On Aug. 1 As The Final Nine Holes Of Mt. Kidd Are Opened Up.

By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf

KANANASKIS COUNTRY, Alberta — After all the heartbreak of the loss of two iconic golf courses, after all of the fear that something this good would never be put back together, the final pieces of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course rebuild fell into place.

As of Wednesday, Aug. 1, all 36 holes of the Robert Trent Jones III design, originally crafted back in the early 1980s, swung fully back into action as the public finally got to tee it up on all 18 holes of the Mt. Kidd course. The Mt. Lorette course had preceded its sister in getting back into action when public play began on it in the spring, five years after a massive flood swept down the mountainside cascading over the banks of the Evan Thomas River, destroying 32 of the 36 pristine holes on the golf course.

Speaking to the excitement of seeing these two iconic courses fully back in operation for the first time since June of 2013, Kananaskis Country Golf Course General Manager Robinson proclaimed, “It’s a feeling that we’ve been excited about, and anticipating, for the last five years.

“It feels really good to have the construction fully complete, all the contractors off site. That was a big milestone and happened in late June. That was something to celebrate, for sure.”

But not quite the celebration when Kidd finally opened its final nine, two months after the first nine were opened on that track. The rebuild, headed by Gary Browning, was done as planned and within the budgeted $18 million. “It was slightly under budget,” Robinson commented.

As to the golf landscape that now awaits one and all, the GM said the conditions at both courses couldn’t be better.

“It’s looking great. A lot of the holes were completed last year. We’re just putting the finishing touches on it now; getting the final elements of it together now and opening Wednesday,” he commented two days prior to that happy happening at Mt. Kidd. “We’re pretty excited about it. It’s just going to be exciting to have all 36 holes open for people to be playing and be operating two 18-hole courses instead of a 27-hole facility,” where the public played one of two nines on Lorette and the open nine on Kidd.

Robinson said things went well with that partial golfing pastry in play but there’s nothing like having the whole pie for the golfing public to share in.

“It’s worked out exceptionally well. It was a cool experience for our guests getting to play configurations they normally wouldn’t get to play, something that wouldn’t exist during normal operations.”

All that’s driven out of mind now though with the reopening of Kidd’s entire layout. While it will look much the same as it did prior to the flood, there have been a couple of changes made to enable better visuals and playability, much the same as was done with the Lorette 18 as it was brought back to life.

“On Mt. Kidd the most significant change is on the 11th hole. We took the tee boxes from in the trees and moved them right alongside the river. The engagement with the river is extraordinary. Then we took the green complex and moved it about 50 to 60 yards back. It also engages the river on the back of the green.

“Then, like everywhere else the layout is pretty much the same. We’ve improved elements of each hole whether that was bunker placement, cart path location, green contours,” Robinson explained.


The Three Men Who Worked Tirelessly To Bring The Two Kananaskis Country Golf Courses Back To Life, GM Darren Robinson, Head Pro Bob Paley And Superintendent Cam McNeely.

The public has been flocking back to the mountainside beauties since times were teed up again in the spring, with hardly anyone skipping out on their appointed round(s). And if for some reason someone has to cancel, there is a method for others to fill those slots without a lot of trouble.

“Demand has been extraordinary and it’s looking good for the balance of the season, too,” Robinson commented. “We’re very strongly booked for August and the first half of September.

“But there’s always opportunities. Don’t always assume we’re full,” he continued on about snagging an elusive tee time. “Plans change, things happen. People cancel from time to time so we want to encourage people to check. We have a point-of-sales system now that allows people to put their name on a Wait List when they phone the reservation office, so if things open up it lets us phone people and offer up those times.”

In closing, Robinson said of finally being rid of the stressors of the past five years before and during the rebuild: “It’s definitely highly rewarding and a highlight of our professional careers, for myself, Bob (Paley, head pro) and our superintendent Cal (McNeelly). The end of the construction was something to be celebrated and it was a real honour for us to have gone through this, the three of us together, and with everybody else that contributed. There are a lot of great things to celebrate.”

And now, it’s tee time once again at both Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd. Let the celebrations begin!

For tee times and to get your name on the wait list for openings that come up, go to their website at kananaskisgolf.com or call 1-877-591-2525, 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  There are special Alberta resident rates in place, but you must present a valid ID (driver’s licence).

About the Writer
Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his 10th year of writing for Inside Golf.

He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.

Golf In Ireland — It's A Different Game Folks

Golf in Ireland — It’s a totally different game folks

PART 1 of 2

By Gord Montgomery

NORTH IRELAND — It’s surprising how different the game of golf is in other parts of the world. Take Northern Ireland for example. Sure the game is the same in that you still have to get the ball from Point A to Point B, and then into that tiny little hole in the ground. But at the same time, the routing to the finish line, especially in the links style of the game, is so convoluted in spots that you wonder how the game you know is even related to this style.

Yes, links golf is a unique challenge. Here, shots three feet off the ground stand a somewhat better chance of getting where you want quicker than those big, magnificently high shots common in North America. It’s not uncommon to see someone pull their putter out for a shot from 80 yards off the green, and all your wedges, save the sand one, are at best extra luggage.

Also, don’t go traipsing off to this golfing wonderland expecting to see well manicured lawns and pretty flowers. Don’t expect beautiful, towering trees or short rough alongside pristine fairways. Or for that matter, even great sunny weather. No, what you’re in for in Ireland is what the true golf game is all about — tangly, club-snagging rough; bunkers deep enough to require a safety harness in order to get in, and out; very few, if any, trees; and fairways with a different feel to them than the lush lawns we’re used to in North America.

One of the things you learn here, and learn quickly, is that range finders are a rather mute subject. After all, given the somewhat divot-resistance of the turf especially with wedge shots and the small, firm greens, exact yardages are at best a guesstimate. What you need here, more than anything, is a good short game comprised of all manner of bump-and-run shots. Those also help when the wind is gusting in off the water. Remember, these are fairways you can stroke a putt down for 50 or 60 yards before ever getting to the actual putting surface but which are difficult to lob a wedge into the green from.

And oh yeah. Don’t forget about the famous Irish weather. Above all else, make sure you’re ready for the elements. It’s windy. It’s wet. And it’s wild. But that, simply, is what golf in the Emerald Isle is all about After all, you’re about to be surrounded by historic golf courses that both embrace you with their wide open vistas and then rebuff you with their huge, intimidating bunker complexes and gorse thick enough to lose a sheep in for a month at a time.

Simply put, this beatific spot in the golf kingdom is second to none and the challenges the courses present are ones you’ll store away forever.

When you consider many of the top-rated layouts in Ireland were designed in the late 1800s, with horse and plough, these works are simply amazing. They’re carved out of the land in a way where the ground is the master of its own domain. What Mother Earth gave the architects, they took and those suggestions have more than stood the test of time.

Annesley Links

With over 300 courses across Ireland, you must note that not all the good courses come up in conversations, for whatever reason. One track that’s a true delight is Annesley Links, the little sister to a big name, Royal County Down. That being said, the ‘tiny’ tyke more than holds her own on the wind-swept sand dunes in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. While playing to only 4,594 yards from the Medal Tees, Annesley Links plays second fiddle to no one, even the larger, more infamous Championship Links right beside it.

We used Annesley as a warm-up to more than anything avoid jet lag by hitting the hay upon arrival in Ireland. What we got was a great wake-up call. Despite the descriptor “Wee Links” used by locals this loop illustrates what awaits you down the line. The longest hole here is a mere 400 yards, yet given the wind and the terrain, it can seem like 4,000 yards if you go even a little offline.

While a newer offering than the Championship Links, Annesley sits among the same great visuals. The intimidating sand dunes, said to be over 5,000 years old, bring on calf-burning agony the next day should you need to wander into them after a wayward volley. The Murlough Nature Reserve provides the stunning, dune-covered landscape and this little beauty is a great way to kick off what’s most certainly a memorable journey.

Royal County Down

Founded in 1888 as a 9-hole venue, this well known layout has the touches of the famed Old Tom Morris upon it. He was invited over from Scotland to advise on the construction of the second nine and it, as well as the front half, live up to what one expects to find in true links golf. The turf is firm and rolling, the bunkers are small, but deep and devious, and the greens are large with undulation that test the mettle of the very best short-stick men in the world.

This stretch of grass, heather and gorse is set off by an astounding view of the Mountains of Mourne. The most notable of holes on the front may well be the 9th, a stunning par-4 where players launch their tee shot from an elevated box, across a gorge, onto a fairway that lies 60 feet below the teeing area. Landing in the short grass here is only half the battle on this 427-yard test — your approach into the elevated green is also one where composure is of the utmost importance as you seek par. With the  Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in the background, this is a photo op you don’t want to miss.

Playing this course is challenge enough, but we played it in a driving rainstorm that, according to my caddie for the day, Andy Kidd,“was a true taste of Irish golf.” The dunes here are imposing, as is the rough, and if you amble away from the landing areas you’re going to pay a price — sometimes in lost balls, other times in unbelievably sore leg muscles the next day. And a word of advice — if you hit a ball into the gorse, leave it in the gorse. That stuff is nasty!

Over its decades of existence, Royal County Downs has hosted any number of high-end tourneys, beginning in 1893 when the second Irish Open Amateur Championship and continuing on from there. And if you’re wondering how hard a course like this can be, remember that Rory McIlroy once took a ’10’ on the par 3, 144-yard 7th hole in the Irish Open and missed the cut. I think I did him one better though, losing two balls in the tangle of gorse below the teeing ground, after trying to keep my shot low into the gusting wind!

A word of advice here:  Make absolutely sure you play the right tees at Royal County Down. We played the Yellow Blocks at 6,600-plus yards and given the sideways rain and 40mph winds, that proved to be a bit much. Well, a lot much!

Even so, this is a great way to experience links golf on a great layout, and this round served to whet our appetite for what lay ahead, despite what the scorecards read at the end of the day.

Bedding down

While Royal County Down does’t partner up with the hotel right in its backyard, there’s no doubt you’ll want to experience the hospitality and comfort of the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa. This is a beautiful facility with rooms far larger than one expects in Europe and it includes all the amenities one could ever hope for, no matter what part of the world you’re in.

This home to luxury holds 180 rooms, including 100 new Executive and Resort rooms and six magnificent suites, many of which have stunning panoramic views over the Mountains of Mourne and the County Down coastline. All the rooms are finished in tasteful, traditional styles with every modern comfort. Add this to the spa facilities and proximity to one of the world’s finest golf courses and you have a holiday destination capable of proudly taking stage with the world’s best resorts.

Each room consists of a huge bathroom, complete with a soaker tub and separate shower and thick, fluffy towels. As for the main room, there is a comfortable conversation area with a sofa and chairs which provides wonderful views of the garden area and Royal County Down GC, or spectacular seascape vistas. The beds are second to none meaning you awake each day feeling refreshed and ready to head out on yet another Irish adventure, be it golf, hiking, or simply sightseeing in the pretty little seaside town of Newcastle.

The Spa at Slieve Donard plays second fiddle to none. It is situated over two floors, with stunning views across the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains and includes a 20 metre swimming pool as well as what’s known as a vitality pool. There are also a range of heat experiences and a high tech fitness studio.

At the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa the food experiences focus on using the finest fresh local seasonal produce to create an array of delicious menus. Breakfast, dinner, Afternoon Tea and Sunday Lunch are served in the famous Oak Restaurant, with its charming beams and fabulous central fireplace. The hotel boasts an extensive range of dining and socializing options including, Chaplin’s Bar and the Lighthouse Lounge.

Needless to say, after a day of walking one of the two golf courses, shopping in town, or hiking in the nearby mountains, the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa is a great choice to spend the night, recharging your inner battery for the next day’s Northern Ireland adventure.

In Part 2 of his Irish Adventure, writer Gord Montgomery heads to three more phenomenal links golf courses including Ardglass, Royal Portrush and Portstewart, plus he sets up camp in the fantastic Bushmills Inn, voted as one of the Top 25 Hotels in the UK in both 2016 and 2017.

The Wigwam offers guests everything they could want in a holiday spot

PHOENIX, Arizona (Gord Montgomery/iG) — If you’re looking for a relaxing warm weather spot to settle down for a bit this winter that offers great recreational amenities, food, and entertainment options as well as some amazing history, than look no further then the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.

The sprawling 440 acre site, located just west of Phoenix, is one great spot to settle in and enjoy the fine things in life including three great golf courses, nine excellent tennis courts, three swimming pools, fine and casual dining, a superb spa and of all things, a beer donkey!

The Original Building Constructed By The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Is Still Standing, And Still In Use Today At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

Now in its 85th year, the Wigwam is designated as a Historic Hotel of America and rightfully so. Saved from bankruptcy by its present ownership group, this famed resort complex was originally founded by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, who made use of the cotton in the area to extend the life of their tires. The original building from way back when is still standing, and is used today as the main office building of the resort.

The Wigwam Kept A Lot Of Its History Over The Years, Including A Large Number Of Wonderful Photos, Such As This One Showing Workers Picking Cotton Which Was At One Time Grown On The Land Where The Resort Now Sits. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

In all there are 331 rooms  here, spread out over the landscape in one- and two-storey buildings. All the rooms are spacious and offer patios and decks to enjoy the fine outdoor weather. There are also 70 luxurious suites and two presidential suites, the Oraibi and the Bacabi. The Oraibi Suite offers 5,000 square feet, including a parlour-style sitting room and patio lounge and a private bedroom that can accommodate up to 40 people for a party and sleeps eight. The Bacabi Suite spans 3,500 square feet with separate bedroom suite with private entrance, sitting area and patio and sleeps up to six, making both of these great spots to set up camp for a family gathering or a buddy sports junket.
The other, smaller scale rooms run from 480-square feet up to 1,000-square feet in the one- and two-bedroom suites. All are decorated in a southwestern motif and are spotlessly clean.

With Three 18-Hole Golf Courses On The Property, Everyone Should Certainly Get Their Fair Share Of Playing While Staying At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

As for the golf here, well, it is truly like nowhere else in the valley. The Gold Course, designed originally by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., is the granddaddy of them all and is a 7,400 yard parkland style layout, something not seen on a regular basis in the desert. There are two other courses on site and guests at the Wigwam have the ability to play two other local tracks, including the Arizona Biltmore Country Club.

A Locally Grown Orange Is Always High On The List Of Fresh Farm To Table Cuisine That Is Highlighted In The Restaurants At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

When hunger strikes and you go looking for a great venue, you know you’re in the right spot when you come upon local residents showing up at the resort for a meal. That’s the case virtually every night at Litchfield’s, a top-end fine dining establishment where the menu features farm-to-table cuisine emphasizing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced meats, cheeses, wines and other delicacies. For more casual fare, there are two other great spots on the grounds, Red’s, which is a sports oriented establishment and the Wigwam Bar, a spot not only to savour great food but a place to meet old, or new, friends in a casual indoor/outdoor setting.
And if you’re a sports fan, be it football, hockey or baseball, the Wigwam is the place you want to settle down, be it for a weekend or a week or two. The resort is only minutes away from the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and several Major League Baseball teams who show up for Spring Training. Teams that work out, and play here during the Cactus League season include the Cleveland Indians, the LA Dodgers, the Chicago Whitesox, the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals (whose upper management at one time stayed at the Wigwam), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and if you want to venture a bit further east, the always popular Chicago Cubs, among others.

One Of The Three Swimming Pools On The Grounds At The Wigwam Where There Is Plenty Of Room To Lay Back And Enjoy The Warm Arizona Sun. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

So whether you’re looking to get away for a while to simply relax by the pool in the sun to escape the northern cold, or you want to golf or play tennis until your arms ache, eat exquisite meals, enjoy professional sports or just explore the area, then you want to explore the possibility of staying at one great, and historic, area resort, the Wigwam.
For more on the Wigwam Resort, go to their website at wigwamarizona.com.

Troon North Moonument Course Back In Business After Restoration Project

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

SCOTTSDALE, AZ. — After a four-month restoration project by Tom Lehman, which focused on the greens and bunkering, the high regarded Troon North Monument Golf Course, located in Scottsdale, AZ., is again open for business.

The redesign was actually a step back in time, if you will, as the green complexes were restored to their former size and shape when this track was first constructed by Tom Weiskopf. To ensure he stuck faithfully to that original design, Lehman and his work crew utilized the same GPS coordinates as Weiskopf .

The putting surfaces were re-sodded with creeping A4 bent grass and the fringe areas were redone using TifGrand semi-dwarf Bermuda grass. What came from that are large greens that run extremely well with subtle breaks throughout the surfaces.

Both the greens and bunkers on the Monument Course at Troon North have been taken back to their original Tom Weiskopf specs, after restoration by Tom Lehman.

The second part of the upgrades were to the bunkers and that included updating the drainage in all greenside and fairway traps, new bunker liners and new Pioneer bunker sand.

The renovations at Monument are the first major changes to the award-winning course in a decade.

“We are committed to providing our guests with the finest course conditions on the planet at our flagship facility,” said Dana Garmany, the chairman and CEO of Troon, in a news article. “Through these green and bunker enhancements on Monument, we are proactively improving and reinvesting in one of the top daily-fee courses in the nation.”

The Monument’s sister course, Pinnacle, will also undergo a facelift in the spring and summer of 2018, meaning the two will retain their place in the upper echelons of public golf courses not only in Arizona but in the USA.

Troon North’s Monument course is ranked number 58 on GOLF Magazine's ranking of the 2016/2017 "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States.” In addition, GOLF Magazine named Monument the  No. 4 golf course in Arizona in their ranking of "Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona,” which is just part of the long list of accolades it, and Pinnacle, have earned over the last few years.

*With file from morningread.com

Mom's Suggestion Pays Off In Big Way For Headcover CEO

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

PHOENIX, AZ. — Don’t ever let anyone tell you that parents don’t know what they’re talking about. Just ask Jane Spicer.

As a teen, Spicer was into making hand puppets with the hankering to own her own car.  Through some wise advise from her mother, she got that vehicle … along with a company that is renowned throughout the golf world for making the most popular headcovers.

Long before that type of golf gear was popular, Spicer took the bull by the horns — and yes, she probably has crafted more than one of those animals — during the 38 years Daphne’s Headcovers has been in business.

“Headcovers just didn’t exist and I was making puppets, and my mom, Daphne, the company’s namesake, had a customer suggest we make head covers. My mom bribed me and said, “I’ll tell you what. If you sell enough of these I’ll buy you a car. I was almost 16, so I made some samples and went out and gave a bunch of bad sales pitches and Daphne’s Headcovers was born.”

While the idea has become so popular that two high echelon pros use them — Dustin Johnson has a black lab on his driver and Lydia Ko has the Snowman on hers. But back when she was starting out, sales weren’t all that easy, Spicer noted. And in 2017, Daphne’s teamed up with one of the biggest hitters ever on the PGA TOUR, when she teamed up with John Daly who stated, “So, make sure when you cover  up that hot driver, make sure it’s a ‘Grip It and Rip It’ John Daly Lion Headcover by Daphne’s!”

“We really had to work at it. I’d sale I was a sales rep, and as a 16-year-old sales rep, they wouldn’t let me in the golf shop. Then I’d say I was selling animal headcovers  and they’d go, ‘What? What’s that?’

“But, it was a slow and steady growth and now we’re in over 75 countries,” with all a menagerie that includes cats, penguins, moose, tigers, lions , well you name a species and Daphne’s has likely created some version of it. In fact, the company presently has 75 different designs on hand and turns out a new one each and every year.

What is perhaps a popular sales idea, besides the cuteness of these headcovers, is that they all carry an unbeatable guarantee.

“We are the only head cover company in the world with a lifetime guarantee,” said Spicer, who acts as the company CEO. “Our quality remains our passion.”

Besides driver covers, Daphne’s also has sleeves for fairway woods and hybrids and they’re available at a number of golfing outlets or through the company’s website at daphnesheadcovers.com.

The company is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ., with a factories in China and Indonesia.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail a tribute to Canadian architect Thompson

By Gord Montgomery - INSIDE GOLF

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA — Even though the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is miles south of the 49th Parallel, there are hints of Canadiana spread out all over this world famous destination. After all, the man that created the Trail was tutored by the best known architect to ever come from the Great White North.

Among many others, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., was a disciple of Stanley Thompson’s back in the day. As such, it’s easy to see that the Canadian’s ideas, and philosophies on building outstanding golf courses with exceptional playability and sight lines, took root with the famed American designer.

As for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017, it stretches through greater Alabama. The Trail itself boasts 26 different courses at 11 sites, running from Hampton Cove in the north down to Magnolia Grove in the southern part of the state. The Trail’s terrain varies from location to location, from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the north to the flatlands of the Gulf of Mexico in the south. All the courses are within an easy drive of each other, making them accessible and well worth the travel time to play.

Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Jones was of the mind that a score of par should be a challenge to one’s game and skill, or as he put it, “not easy to come by.” At the same time, if that number escapes you, holes are set up so that a bogey isn’t all that hard to come by.

Another key element of his teacher’s lessons are the visuals presented at the courses he built. Whether you’re looking from tee to green, or in the reverse direction, the lines are true and it’s easy to see the obstacles that lay in front of you, or those that you’ve managed to avoid on your way to the putting surface.

The Beginnings

Interestingly enough, Jones wasn’t the first designer approached about constructing a golf trail through Alabama in hopes of encouraging tourism. Big names like Nicklaus and Palmer turned aside the chance to put their names on this golfing paradise and eventually Jones was lured out of retirement to create this ever-lasting legacy to his, and his mentor’s, name.

Since the inception of the Trail, tourism has boomed in Alabama, exactly what the visionaries hoped for when this idea first arose. It’s said that the state’s visitor numbers have risen sharply from 2 million a year to over 8 million now, thanks in large part to the Trail and its unique, fun, and gorgeous offerings. While the Trail wasn’t created to make money, the latest stats available suggest there are more than 500,000 rounds played on it each year, making for a huge economic spinoff not only for the courses but the area’s hotels, restaurants, craft breweries and businesses.

In constructing the Trail, Jones adhered to what Thompson preached: 1) unforgettable views; 2) natural features such as rivers, lakes, trees, good soil; and, 3) environment.
He also followed, at least for the most part, the best way to lay out a course as seen by his Canadian mentor — an easy, aesthetic start with a long, strong finish.

While Thompson felt there shouldn’t be any par 3 holes before the 4th or 5th assignments of the day or after the 16th hole, Jones did step outside the parameters here, at on at least a couple of his designs. At The Shoals, The Schoolmaster has a beautiful little short hole up second on the scorecard while Fighting Joe wraps up its demands with par 3s on both nine and 18 .

But when you look at what he created, not only for golfers but for the State of Alabama, Jones can certainly be forgiven for those small flaws!

Kananaskis Country's Mt. Lorette As Good As New

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

KANANASKIS COUNTRY — To hear Bob Paley tell the tale, the expected closure of the Kananaskis Country Golf Course back in 2013 wasn’t expected to be all that long. Little did he know the trouble that was tumbling down the mountainside.

Paley, the had pro at the gorgeous mountainside tracks in Alberta, explained that on June 20, 2013, he received a phone call from the courses’ GM, Darren Robinson, about some rain that was falling.

“He told me, “I think we’re going to be closed for a couple of weeks,” Paley told a group of specially invited guests who were involved in one of a dozen Sneak Peek events surrounding the reopening of the Mt. Loretta course.

That “couple of weeks,” turned into a much longer spell but now 18 of the 36 heavenly holes have been restored after a hellacious four years of planning, work stoppages due to a change in provincial government, and more bad weather. While Lorette is back in tip-top shape and ready for the general public to return next spring, the Mt. Kidd course is still in the rebuild stage. It too though will be open for play in 2018.

Golfers from Alberta, and the rest of the world, will soon be flocking back through the gates at the beautiful Kananaskis Country Golf Course to play Mt. Lorette in the spring, and Mt. Kidd in June or July.

This all started when the tiny Evan Thomas Creek roiled over its banks, joining the Kananaskis River and running rampant over the pristine golf playpens built back in the early 1980s by the Conservative Government with money from the Heritage Trust Fund.

Robinson, often choked up by his recollections of those tumultuous times, noted that “two to three thousand trees,” along with boulders and silt were spilled across the two courses. In the end, days of heavy rain falling on a huge snowpack in the mountains resulted in 32 of the 36 holes being partially or fully destroyed.

The GM called in Gary Browning, a Calgary golf course architect who had lost out on the original design to the famed Robert Trent Jones, to assess the damages. Browning reassured Robinson that he could handle the task of a clean-up/rebuild, though he admitted quietly the task did appear overwhelming, a thought he wasn’t sharing with anyone else.

While it looks anything but intimidating here, the Kananaskis River along with the Evan Thomas, caused massive damage to the Rocky Mountain beauties when the overflowed their banks in June 2013.

To speed up the recovery of the area, 625,000 square feet of Alberta-grown sod was put down on the fairways. The sand for the spectacular bunker complexes around Lorette was brought in from Golden, B.C., and the grass for the greens, which were in unbelievable condition for the third week of September, was grown in Abbotsford, B.C.

Mt. Lorette did have a few minor tweaks done as it was restored, including the moving of the green on Hole 14, a par five. The putting surface was shifted away from the river and a wildlife corridor and while that took away a beautiful sightline from the previous layout, the new green still makes a par on this hole a great score.

Another change that may not even be noticeable to some is the change to the green complex on No. 18. A false front has been added on this par 4, making the approach shot a little tougher as anything that land short ends up stopping in its tracks instead of trundling up to the green.

But all in all, the restoration here is spectacular and now the course goes to sleep for the winter. But be assured, when Mt. Lorette opens in the spring and Mt. Kidd joins the party in late June or July, the Kananaskis Country Golf Course will be everything it ever was previously —  even if it did take a bit longer than a couple of weeks to reopen.

While no rates or online booking dates have yet been set for the 2018 season, they will be announced in the coming weeks and everyone will be made aware of those. Or as Paley put it, “That will be the worst kept secret of the year!”

The view from the 18th tee box at Mt. Lorette is sure to stick with you as you wrap up a great round of golf at Kananaskis.

The Ka'anapali Alii is a condo unit that's a cut above in Maui

By Gord Montgomery (iG)
LAHAINA, MAUI - If you're looking for luxury as well as ocean access on Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, then you need go no farther than the Alii condo resort.

Nestled up tight to the beautiful blue Pacific, the Ka’anapali Alii has everything families or golfing buddies could want for comfort, convenience and amenities.

In an area of the world where it seems every resort amenity comes at a cost, the Alii is different. The 263 1- and 2-bedroom units boast free Internet, free parking, no daily resort fee and maybe best of all, sun, sand and surf that cost you nothing to enjoy.

The fully furnished units here range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet with two bathrooms, a separate dining area and spacious lanais to enjoy the sun and the outstanding ocean and courtyard views. As well, there are three clay-based tennis courts with a pro on staff for those looking to play a few sets or pick up a few pointers. And if you're into golf, you are only minutes away from the famed Ka'anapali pair of the Royal and Kai courses.

The wonderful courtyard grounds here include a heated swimming pool, aa quiet pool, a kids' pool and two hot tubs. Also on the grounds is a great outdoor grilling area, where guests/owners are free to whip up a feast for their family and friends. Or, if needed, there is a grill master now on site to lend a hand with those big cooking jobs. As well, there is an herb garden right beside the grills, meaning that whatever spicing up you feel your meal needs, it's close at hand.

Top all that off with a state of the art fitness centre to maybe work off any excess indulging you do, and a spa to aid in working out the stressers of everyday life and you know you've found a special spot in paradise.

The friendliness of everyone encamped at the Kaanapali Alii is noticeable, especially in the common areas around the pools, bar-b-que and pavilion areas on the spacious grounds. Several owners mentioned that as a key selling point for them and visitors are always made to feel welcome, with the first question often asked around the grilling area is, "Where are you from and how long are you here?" leading to lengthy conversations about the weather back home - and usually how much snow they just received there - as well as things to do on this beautiful island.

Another nice benefit of staying at the Alii is the fact they partner with a group of hotels and restaurants along the beautiful Ocean Walk immediately in front of this property, to provide charge accounts to your condo. The Kaanapali Alii doesn't have an eating establishment of its own, but that's of little consequence given the partnerships established with such places at the Lahaina Grill, the Ka'anapali Golf Course, The Westin, the Marriott's restaurants and bars and their health club and the Maui Sheraton which both feature fine dining choices.

Also close by is Whaler's Village, featuring a unique variety of upscale botique shops featuring not only local clothing and jewelry designs but artwork and great eating spots. The good news is it is a quick five-minute walk along the famed Ka'anaplie Beach.

So, if you want luxury and a spot right in the heart of one of the most vibrant parts of Maui, you need look no farther than the Ka'anapali Alii for all those special touches that makes a vacation here an extra special time.

For more on the Alii and rates, call them toll-free at 1-888-722-6284 or their website is at kaanapalialii.com.

Maui Nui GC proves writer overlooked great golf deal

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

If you're heading to Maui and planning to golf while you're there, please don't make the same mistake I made for several years - driving past the Maui Nui Golf Club without stopping.

Many Canadians find themselves stayig in the Kihei area of the island and likely drive by the fairways that line the Piilani Highway never really giving this playground a second thought, thanks in large part to it being overshadowed by its more famous cousins in Wailea and Ka'anapali.

Well, think again and hit the brakes my friends, for this is one place you want to tee it up.

Lief Smith, the director of golf at the Maui Nui, said people are truly taken off-guard when they first set foot on this layout, designed by a Western Canadian, Bill Newis.

"What we have here is a lot of people see the neighbourhood just off the highway and think "private club," and costs that run upwards of $300 a round," Smith explained. "Our golf course is not a resort course," with wide open, hard-to-miss landing areas. "You can have all sorts of challenges out here," especially if you set up on the wrong starting blocks.

"From the Blues or the Gold championship tee boxes you're going to get a far bigger challenge," than from the more forward boxes," warned Smith. "Blind tee shots. Forced carries. Long 220-yard second shots. Elevation changes. We have some water and the wind to deal with late in the afternoon usually."

Maui Nui's director of golf, Lief Smith.

This par 71 layout has a challenging start on the front nine with some steep demands placed upon your skill from the get go. No. 1 is a demanding 409 yard par-4 from the whites followed by a par-5 that is no cakewalk. Then holes four through seven, in particular, can put some big crooked numbers on your scorecard but the good news is the course softens after that.

"You want to try and get out of 4, 5, 6 and 7 with a par, or a bogey at worst, and if you do that you'll feel really great about your round, because once you get to eight, nine and the back nine, there are lots of scoring opportunities," Smith pointed out. "But literally, two through eight, with the exception of three, a short par-3, are pretty tough holes."

One of the past complaints about this course, when it was called the Elleair Golf Club, was that it was too long from the front tees. That issue has now been resolved under new ownership, making this a family-friendly locale.

"We were built in 1986 and the forward tee boxes were something like 5,800 yards," said Smith. "In the past eight to 10 months we've put six new tee boxes in that shortened up our par-5s and some of our longer par-4s that brought us back down to around 5,200. That's made it a lot more enjoyable for the golfers looking to play the forward tee boxes."

The thing is, no matter what tee you play from, the Maui Nui is a surprise if you haven't teed it up here before. It features interesting slopes and angles, both on the fairways and the greens. As well, for the most part, the holes aren't so demanding that you need to hit long irons/hybrids/fairway woods into greens on your approach shots ... as long as you play from the right tees.

Yes, the first first hole is a challenge and there is that previously mentioned four-hole stretch on the front nine but beyond that, well placed tee shots are rewarded with reasonable length approaches to the putting surfaces leading to an enjoyable day on a fun golf course.

Another great thing about Maui Nui, that many may not be aware of, is that there are great deals in place to play here. On an island where golf can run upwards of $200 a round, and more, this place offers great pricing, especially if you want to golf lots, like many Canadians do in the winter.

"Our highest rate all year is $119 (during peak season) but what we have is the Maui Nui Player's Program. No other golf course has a program like this," where with that card in tow green fees are slashed dramatically, explained Smith.

And by dramatically, we mean dramatically.

For a one-time fee to enter the popular program, a person pays anywhere from $56 at the most during winter prime time to a low of $24 during the summer months per round, with no limit on the number of rounds. As well, that purchase price includes two free rounds and some driving range tokens to work out the kinks on the course's lighted range.

"You can play every day of the week with that. We have people that purchase this that play three to four times a week," said Smith, adding there's also a great short-term deal here. "We do have a limited weekly pass, for only $349 for a couple," who can get more than their fill with that pass.

So if you're in Maui and looking for affordable golf at a great facility, don't overlook Maui Nui because what it offers is beyond what is expected.

After all, Maui Nui gives you something different from any other resort course you're going to play here. With the least amount of wind, the least rain on Maui not to mention the least costly rounds, this is a place to play. Because truthfully, Maui Nui gives you some of the best golfing challenges you'll find on the island at a price that saw the course recently voted as America's Best Value by GolfAdvisor.

For more on this course, go to their website at mainuigolfclub.com.

About the writer: Gord Montgomery is a retired sports editor of two weekly newspapers in the Edmonton area and is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He has written for Inside Golf for the past nine years. He can be reached at noraltagolf@gmail.com. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf.

Wailea Blue offering more than just a round of golf

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

WAILEA, MAUI - As the business world of golf changes, so must golf courses change their offerings to the public in order to keep people interested in using their facilities. And that doesn't always mean just offering services dealing strictly with the game itself.

That's the case at the Wailea Blue Course in Maui, where general manager Barry Halle is still offering up some great golf deals. But now, there's more on tap than just golf, although the golf course does still come into play.

The Blue's GM, Barry Halle.

Halle explained that the GolfB.C.-owned course has stepped outside the box to draw non-golfers to his grounds for a Maui-oriented attraction - the beautiful sunsets.

"We have the Sunset Golf Tour," Halle explained, noting this is for anyone that wants a unique, Made-In-Maui evening. "A couple can come out late in the afternoon before sunset. We give them a brochure that highlights some spots on the course to stop where the best views are. As part of the package, if they want, we'll provide them with a bottle of wine, a couple of complimentary wine glasses and they can work their way around to our 17th fairway where they watch the sun go down into the ocean."

Sunsets like this are one of the new offerings that the Wailea Blue Golf Course is offering up, for those who are non-golfers.

As for the golf, well, the course that set the standard for such playgrounds in Maui, still remains a staple for residents and visitors alike. And  even though there were some changes a couple of years back, the history of the layout remains much the same.

"We've tried to keep it the classic course it was," Halle said, referring to the pro shop moving and the nines being switched. "We tried to minimize any major changes. People come here year after year and they love our big, wide fairways," along with the big greens, bunkers and holes.

"When the course was first built, it was actually the first thing built in Wailea," so the course architect had lots of room to lay down his work of art. "It was designed with character. The neat thing about it is you don't have to stress the tee shot, you're not going to spray it out of bounds most times," said Halle. "The equalizer for the low handicapper might be the greens. They're not the easiest greens to get used to," with elevation changes and Bermuda grass with its finicky grain.

The Blue is an old fashioned sort of course, with large fairways and greens, and yes, large bunkers as well.

As for drawing players into this course, the Blue does offer some great deals. Halle said there are a couple in particular that will interest Canadians, given the weak state of our dollar.

"One thing we've tried to position the Blue with in the golf market on Maui is it's the course with the best value. We offer a resort golf experience but we do offer value," including early-bird specials each day from 7 to 8:30 a.m. where players can save upwards of $30 per round. As well, the Twilight Rate starts here at noon each day, and there is a Super Twilight rate.

Something else that's new at the Blue is the 9-hole round. That was something that couldn't be offered before because the way the course set up, the clubhouse was only approached at the start and end of a round. That's now a thing of the past however with the new building in play.

Kids are also welcome at the Blue, and receive special attention. "After three o'clock, with an adult, kids are free," Halle pointed out. "And until the run out, we offer junior (rental) sets for free. We try to encourage kids. During the summer we do a family rate," and there is also a 4-passenger golf cart so dad (or mom) can load the kids up for a round while the other parent if off elsewhere taking care of business.

Above all else though Halle stressed, there is one major objective that the Blue, and Wailea Golf, have in mind - customer service.

"First and foremost we're really committed to offering a first-class experience. We want people to come here and  just enjoy themselves. We haven't cut back on amenities or the service levels we offer. If anything, we've tried to step it up and yet our rates are pretty much the same. We try to stay on top of trends but the one thing we're very committed to is the golf experience, the experience people get when they come here."

And at the Blue Course, be you a golfer or not, you're sure to enjoy your outing here whether it's in search of birdies, or sunsets, or both.

Southern Strand courses offer feel of Old South

By Gord Montgomery (iG)

Murrells Inlet, SC - There may be no finer way to end a golf trip than by playing lots of golf, so it was decided to play 54 holes within 36 hours to wrap up a wonderful journey to a golfing Mecca in the U.S.

For the final two days in Myrtle Beach, it was all about Lowcountry golf, with rounds at Heritage Club and Pawley's Plantation in one day and then wrapping things up at the wonderful Caledonia Golf & Fish Club the next. What made this easily doable was the proximity of the first two courses and the third not much of a drive either.

The first taste of this style of golf, which has a different feel than that in the northern part of the Myrtle Beach area showed the area to look and feel, like you'd imagine Southern golf feels. The homes are magnificent and the oak trees even more so, with huge wing spans that drape over the fairways. Those limbs are draped heavily in Spanish moss adding to the look. On to of all that, the continual sightings of alligators on the shores and waters throughout the courses drove home the fact you were someplace special.

The Heritage Club, the first 18 we tested in the Southern Strand area, is a great all-round deal for golfers. For a single, reasonable price you get your round of golf on a good course and are also treated to a buffet breakfast, lunch and two beer or pop.

The Heritage Club offers wide fairways, but also some big old Oak trees which can prove hazardous to well-struck shots.

The golf here is great with scenic holes at every turn, where back in the days of slavery this was home to a huge rice plantation. In the recent past, the greens have been revamped and are now  seeded with Champions Bermuda, a blend where the ball rolls quick and true. The protection for the greens comes from deep bunkers, which are plentiful.

Playing to a lengthy 6,600 yards off the back tees, and that's a even bigger number when the sea breezes come to life, this popular playpen also has boxes measuring 6,300, 5,700 and 5,200 meaning anyone and everyone can enjoy this taste of Southern golf, not to mention the great all-around deal.

Next up on the day's list of jobs-to-do was to take on Pawley's Plantation Golf & Country Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course which combines the feel of both parkland and links styles of golf. This is one of the bigger tracks in the area, topping out at over 7,100  yards but playing to more modest numbers like 6,500 and 6,100 from the blue and white tees. The front two boxes clock in at 5,500 and 4,900 yards.

As the name suggests, Pawley's Island offers lot of water to navigate.

Since this is a resort course, like Heritage, the fairways here are quite generous and the greens large. Again though, there is lots of sand on Pawley's and with plenty of water as well, it becomes a course that's as much about strategy and shot placement as it is about hitting it big. After all, three of the four par 5s on this track are under 500 yards, but that doesn't take anything away from their difficulty.

As for Pawley’s short holes, one of the most intimidating holes here is the shortest. The 13th test is nothing but Lowcountry marsh, reeds, water and finally, a green which sits above all of that. Lengthwise, the hole tops the scales at a meagre 150 yards, and plays as short as 40 yards from the front tee, but as the course attendant noted, "It's the shortest par 5 that Jack ever designed," referring of course to the initial tee shot of many that find marsh instead of the putting green meaning hitting three off the tee with your do-over.

A second tough par-3 comes to life on 17, and this could easily be another signature hole. It is a bit longer than its adjacent little sister but considering the tee shot again has to cover that marshy area, it's no guaranteed birdie chance. And yes, “5” is again a real possibility here.

The final stop on our Myrtle Beach swing was a beautiful setting, and the home to another former rice plantation, the renowned Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. The facility offers a great short game practice area to get you sharpened up for what awaits you on a loop that features tighter fairways than many of the courses here, and greens that are deceptively fast and tough to read.

The hazards are many on these South Strand area courses, but if you leave the beasts alone they'll leave you alone. At least, that's the theory around here.

Even though this track lost over 200 trees to the major storms in this area last fall, you  can't tell that as the fairways are heavily bordered by massive oak trees. Given its age, this is a course that isn't overly long, playing to 6,100 yards off the blue tees but, it's said, you can safely add 200 yards to that total in the manner it plays.

This is a course where it is important you play the right tees - after all, it is such a good test that playing from too far back can become frustrating given the length of the par 4 holes in particular. Only one of those holes is under 350 yards and the three par-5s here are all well over 500 yards off the blue tees on this par-70 track.

This is a beautiful course with its trees and flowers that are nicely cut into a piece of property that while once home to rice fields is now home to a great piece of golf real estate.

Now, going 36 holes in a day and 54 in 36 hours isn't an easy thing in what can be a humid and warm climate, but trust me, it's fun. And given the number of alligator sightings our group had on the final few days, it was a fun way to wrap up a memorable trip to the great courses in this part of South Carolina.