Tony’s Test Drives:
One in a series of occasional reviews of courses, equipment or products by our traveling golf writer.

By Tony Leodora

I have always contended that golfers are some of the nicest people in the world. Sure, there are always going to be a few jerks. But, for the most part, golfers are polite, considerate, interesting and generous. The sport ingrains all of those attributes.

That is why I was happy to meet a bunch of guys from Philly, two years ago at the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday after the Masters Pro-Am in Myrtle Beach. The event is a weekend-long crush of people … but, somehow the Philly guys caught my attention.

They were led by Eddie Grzeskiewicz, golf nut No. 1. I soon met golf nuts No. 2, 3 and 4 — Bobby McCue, Rocky Di Luzio and Tommy Giordano.

We immediately bonded — talking about the normal things: favorite courses to play in the Philadelphia area, favorite courses to play at the Jersey Shore, favorite courses to play in the Myrtle Beach area. OK, so our conversation was in a bit of a rut — but it happens to be a rut we all enjoy.

This year I met the same guys at the Hootie — minus Eddie G (that’s a lot easier than spelling that last name). The topic of our conversation broadened and I discovered that Eddie owned Dagwood’s Pub, on the corner of Linden Ave. and Torresdale Ave. in Northeast Philly. I also learned that — aside from being a popular sports bar, with a nice dining room that features great food — it is a bit of hangout for golfers.

So, I put the watering hole on the list of ones to visit (it is a very long list) and finally made the official inspection on a Wednesday in May. The night happened to coincide with their weekly (in season) All You Can Eat Maryland Crab special — $25.95. They also do it on Tuesday nights.

And, if you want variety, you can also have their mussels (red or white) and their wings (buffalo style or cayenne HOT) as part of the AYCE meal.

Of course — with the task of slurping mussels, eating wings and picking through spicy crabs — dinner was stretched out over a couple of hours. No problem, the Phillies were on one television, the Flyers were on another, the Golf Channel was on a third. And, throughout it all, there was plenty of golf conversation.

Bobby McCue, one of the representatives I met in Myrtle Beach each of the last two years, is the quintessential Philly bartender. He is efficient, attentive, keeps the cold beer coming … and is an expert on just about any subject. But golf is his specialty.

He has been running golf trips out of Dagwood’s for years … bringing the neighborhood golfers together for annual excursions to Myrtle Beach. He loves the area so much, he and his wife finally bought a house at Barefoot Resort.

He proudly showed off the 25th anniversary t-shirt that commemorates the founding of Dagwood’s Pub. And he runs the annual Big Ed Memorial Golf Outing, named after the original owner, Ed Grzeskiewicz Sr.

The event is always held on the Sunday of the British Open — this year on July 22. It is a day-long affair, with a bus picking up the golfers at the pub and taking them to one of their favorite golf courses — Buena Vista GC in New Jersey. They have breakfast when they arrive at the golf course, then play in the afternoon. The bus then whisks them back to Dagwood’s for a prime rib dinner.

"The event is good one, but the camaraderie of the day is really what makes it special," explains McCue. "Everybody who plays in it is great."

See what I mean — you meet the nicest people in the golf world.

Tony’s Test Drives:
One in a series of occasional reviews of courses, equipment or products by our traveling golf writer.

By Tony Leodora

AMELIA ISLAND, FL — Golf vacationers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region are very predictable. In the summer, they head for the Jersey Shore. In the winter, South Florida is the locale of choice. Sure, there are the non-conformists who head to Maine in the summer or the more adventurous ones who look for a tropical island in the winter. But the bulk of our vacationing birds tend to flock together.

And that’s fine. It’s fun to go to Naples in February and run into friends from your country club. Or, you can go to Clearwater during Phillies Spring Training and see an amazing amount of people you know at BrightHouse Field.

At the Jersey Shore, it gets ridiculous. Entire neighborhoods transport to the same seashore locations. Sometimes you see friends more often at the hot spots in Avalon or Sea Isle or Margate than you do at home.

But what happens if you want to take a vacation during what is known as the shoulder seasons? Or job circumstances force you to go away during months other than February-March or July-August.

That’s when a little creativity is needed. Finding the right spot at the right time of year is key. Let’s say the beach lifestyle appeals to you, but you can only get away during May or June. Mexico or Bermuda might be the answer but, let’s face it, wouldn’t it be nice to find someplace just as exotic, just as relaxing, just as seductive … where people speak a language you can understand … within easy access of a great airport, with cheap flights … in our own country?

Let me introduce Amelia Island, Florida.

You may have heard of it, but never found the motivation to explore it. Now is the time.

The beaches on Amelia Island are among the finest in America. Soft white sand, surrounded by picturesque dunes, and kissed by clear blue ocean water.

The nearby town of Fernandina Beach is a charming Victorian enclave on this tropical island — an interesting dichotomy of styles that makes the area quite unique to the typical seashore location.

And, of course, there is the crown jewel of Amelia Island — the Ritz-Carlton. This 446-room hotel features private balconies and spectacular views of the Atlantic coastline from every room.

It has recently been named one of the top five golf resorts in Florida by the prestigious Conde’ Nast Traveler reader’s poll. Readers referred to this oceanfront resort as a “castle on the beach.”

Golfers who are guests at the resort have access to The Golf Club of Amelia Island, an immaculately conditioned course designed by Mark McCumber. The classic parkland layout stretches to 6,696 yards from the back tees and is situated right next to the hotel. It blends natural woodlands and wetlands and is framed by elegant ancient oak trees.

“Every member and guest who plays this golf course wants to come back for another round,” said John Price, director of golf. “The greens roll so pure and the shifting ocean breezes ensure each round provides a new experience.”

But, before you think the golf course garners all of the rave reviews, you have to hear about the rest of the property.

“The people at the hotel are really proud of their hotel and the staff in the golf shop is really proud of their golf course,” said Stephen Deucker, director of sales and marketing at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. “It’s an interesting little competition.”

The lifestyle at the hotel is enhanced by two interesting amenities. The Spa is one of the finest full-service spas in Florida. Treatments are the perfect accompaniment to the relaxed style of the island. The Salt restaurant is a unique experience, featuring local seasonal ingredients enhanced with infused salts.

Let’s face it, there is really so such things as a bad Ritz-Carlton hotel. The chain defines luxury and quality in vacationing. But, add the laid-back atmosphere of Amelia Island, the quaint nature of the nearby town and one of the most spectacular oceanside beaches in the country … and the allure is undeniable.

Especially during one of those shoulder season, when golf vacationers from the Mid-Atlantic region are not committed to their habitual haunts.

By Kayla Champagne

Once again GolfTalk Live’s official gastronome, Nick Giovanangelo “Nicky G,” owner of Inside Jewelers on West Chester Pike has provided a recipe for a delicious pasta dish. Spicy Sausage and Argula Penne—is one of Nicky G’s personal favorites and is easy enough for even those who are cooking impaired. Prepare this dish in just 20 minutes and impress your guests at any event.

Spicy Sausage and Arugula Penne

Start to finish: 20 minutes

Servings: 6

• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage meat
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 5-ounce package arugula
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking water, then drain and set aside.

In a large sauté pan over medium-high, brown the sausage meat and onion until cooked through, about 10 minutes. As it cooks, use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into bite-sized chunks. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and arugula, and then toss well. Add the pasta and toss until heated through and the arugula just begins to wilt.

Add half of the cheese and a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Toss well; adding more water if desired to create a sauce. Serve topped with the remaining cheese.

By Tony Leodora

Ever since returning from my 21st consecutive visit to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, the questions from golfers have been coming in rapid-fire sequence: "So, what was the hottest new product you saw down there?"

There has been a lot of evasive action since that time … only because organizing all of the data from such an overwhelming week was a daunting task. But now, all of the calculations are complete, the analysis is in order, and the winners are proudly standing above the rest.

Drum roll please.

1. Cleveland Classic Driver — Everywhere you went on PGA Show Demo Day, people were talking about the new Cleveland Classic Driver. It was the talk of the show throughout the weekend, even though Cleveland elected to display the product on Demo Day only, and did not have a booth at the main show.

   The first thing to catch your eye was the outstanding look of the club. The color is a throwback to the old days of persimmon drivers — complete with what looks like a brass sole plate. The best word to describe the club is "handsome."

   The second feature is the extremely deep face, the largest face ever found on a Cleveland driver. It definitely promotes teeing the ball high — not a bad thing.

   Finally, the sound and feel of the club is a stunning departure from the harsh sound of most metal drivers. Whether a psychological advantage or not, it all adds to the amazing accuracy of this club. Get ready to play from the middle of the fairway — a lot.

2. Srixon Q-Star golf ball – My personal preference is for the new optic-yellow golf balls that Srixon launched on the market last year. I will never play another white golf ball. But the addition of the Q-Star to the existing line (the premiere Z-Star and the value-priced Trispeed Tour) fills in the gap.

   The Q-Star, according to Srixon spokesman Chris Beck, is the hottest new ball on the market "because of its all-ability characteristics. It has great ball speed off the driver and it has good spin performance on the greens."

   A player who doesn’t possess the 100 mile per hour club speed necessary to get optimum performance out of the Z-Star can now look to the Q-Star and still get great results. And, the best part about it is that this ball is priced at only $24.95 a dozen.

3. Rife Tropical Finish Putter – Let’s face it, a big part of putting is confidence. And it’s easier to have confidence if you like the looks of your putter. That’s why a company with such a sound technological background as Rife attracted so much attention when they added a proper dose of aesthetics to its product line.

   The new Tropical Finish putters are available in six of the more sleek head styles offered by Rife and all feature the unique tri-plating process that produces that soft, multi-colored rainbow look. For a better view of this handsome product, go to www.rifeputters.com.

4. Innovex V-Motion golf ball – The developers behind the new Innovex V-Motion golf ball have set their sights high. They are going right after the leader in the industry, Titleiest’s Pro V1. The V-Motion is a Tour quality, urethane ball made for golfers who want high-spin and great feel around the greens, as well as extreme distance off the tee. The V-Motion challenges every professional ball ever made and is built to compete.

   According to Innovex president Ben Zylstra, "The V-Motion is the 2011 Hot List award winner and it has Tour playability. We actually have that ball going out on the Champions Tour very soon."

   The best part about the V-Motion is that it is priced far below other premium balls, at $32.95 a dozen.

5. in fiamme Fine Italian Golf Apparel – It is rare that anything in the apparel section of the PGA Merchandise Show stops golf writers in their tracks. But this year it was impossible to walk past the in fiamme booth without doing a double-take. This quickly growing company is producing some of the finest golf shirts in the world.

   The shirts are constructed by hand in Italy in small lots using only 100-percent double-mercerized Egyptian cotton yarn. Each one looks like a work of art … decorated with mother of pearl buttons. They can be worn stylishly on or off the golf course.

   "We manufacture a shirt unlike anyone else in the world right now," explained Art Kimbrough, vice president of product development. "Every shirt is 100 percent made in Italy. It is 100 percent hand-made. We have old world craftsmanship along with updated, unique styling. We bring something different from the competition."

   Although it is not possible to feel the quality by going to the website, there is enough of an eyeful available at www.infiamme.net.

6. Tour Edge Exotics irons — Never before have we lumped three models in one category, but the new irons from Tour Edge are worthy of groundbreaking action.

   Tour Edge first made its reputation with fairway woods, then drivers, and most recently with hybrids. Now, it honestly can be said that this Illinois-based company is making some of the finest irons in the world — in three categories.

   The Exotics XCG5 irons claim to be the longest irons on the market. They are the ultimate in a game-improvement iron, without compromising versatility and performance.

   The Exotics CU irons are the perfect combination of technology and design. By blending the best of both worlds, they deliver the ultimate in workability and forgiveness.

   The Exotics Forged CB irons are the envy of any low-handicapper. The incredible looks are only surpassed by the buttery feel and sound. In the hands of the right player, these irons are capable of producing magic.

   For technical information on all three lines of irons, go to www.touredge.com.

7. TaylorMade Rocket Ballz 3-wood – Without a doubt, the biggest buzz coming back from the PGA Show was created by the launch of the new fairway wood by TaylorMade. The company claims that players will hit the ball 15 yards farther than their existing 3-wood … and early reports are backing up the claim.

   "We launched a product that is a real breakthrough in terms of performance, said Tom Olsavsky, senior director of product development. "By concentrating on speed, we created a fairway wood with better launch conditions — a little bit higher with lower spin."

   Bottom line: with the Rocket Ballz 3-wood, a lot more par 5 holes are now reachable in two shots.

8. The Balanced Golfer – There are rows and rows of training aids at the PGA Merchandise Show each year. Inventors everywhere are looking for that gadget that will unlock the key to golf greatness. They all make bold claims, but one training aid at this year’s show backed the claim up with pure fact.

   The Balanced Golfer was invented by Bucks County’s Jimmy Rosa and is a simple board that promotes the proper transfer of weight during the golf swing. The statistic that put The Balanced Golfer in the Top Ten was sales. While other training aids were being sold in lots of 5 or 10 or 20, Rosa was selling his product by the thousands … to China, to Japan, to Europe, as well as throughout the country.

   "We totally surpassed all expectations at the PGA Show," said Rosa. Part of the allure is that the training device is endorsed by the No. 3-ranked player in the world, Lee Westwood. Another part of the appeal is that it retails for a very reasonable price — $50. Find it at www.balancedgolfer.com.

9. Sun Mountain Club Glider – Talk about a product that answers the newest need of the traveling golfer — this travel bag on wheels is a godsend.

   Any traveling golfer knows that the new airline regulations on baggage have taken a bite out of the pocket. Sometimes an extra bag can cost $60 per trip. So golfers have been stuffing their travel bags with a lot more than just golf clubs these days. They are loaded to maximum weight allotments (usually 50 lbs.) and are a burden when going through lines — especially customs lines. Up, down, up, down.

   Two small legs with wheels drop down from the midpoint of the bag, allowing it to be supported a waist level while being wheeled to its destination. And, now, golfers will arrive at that destination without aching arms and a sore back. See it in action at www.sunmountain.com.

10. Sundog eyewear – There are two definite schools of thought when it comes to manufacturing sunglasses for golfers — one involves style and the other involves protection. It is rare to find both in the same product — especially at a price that does not require a mortgage.

    Sundog eyewear is arguably at the top of the fashion list. Just look at the golfers wearing them — Paula Creamer, Hunter Mahan, Luis Oosthuizen, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal and Canada’s Mike Weir.

    But the eyewear also provides ultimate protection, thanks to the patented Mela-Lens that absorbs light and provides blue light filtration, with minimal color distortion. But, what really put Sundog in the Top Ten is a price range between $70 and $90 — well below the competition.

Tony Leodora New Product Interviews at PGA Golf Show

By Kayla Champagne

Optimism — a strong central theme of the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show — was especially evident throughout the Apparel Hall, where the industry’s leading apparel, accessory and footwear companies showcased all the latest trends. Special events such as fashion shows and celebrity appearances produced a lot of excitement around the apparel exhibitors. A newly added fashion E-studio provided an interactive stop for PGA Professionals, golf shop buyers and fashion fanatics to check out all the new styles for spring and summer.

All of the leading brands were in attendance, including Nike, Puma, adidas, Antigua, Abacus, Cross Golf USA, Cutter & Buck and an entire show room floor of others. The traditional emphasis on functionality took a turn this year, combining function with eye-catching fashion. Bold and bright colors were featured in the more traditional garments as well as in all the outerwear pieces. Many of the merchandisers expressed the importance of layering, putting basic pieces with fleece full-zip jackets, wind jackets and vests.

Abacus, a leading retailer of leisure clothing with golf at the heart of its inspiration, introduced its 2012 spring and summer collections, designed for active lifestyles. “We are promoting the idea of freedom of movement with this year’s collection,” explained Lauren Dimen, Brand Manager in Toronto, Canada. Many of the garments have sewn in material with stretch properties, which the company feels is important to golfers.

Puma is brighter than ever, with youth-driven colors and patterns that the company has ingeniously used in dressing young professionals like Ricky Fowler and Lexi Thompson. The booth located in the center of the room was among the brightest and biggest of the show. The new line introduced included Duo-Swing golf polos, track jackets, quarter-zip wind jackets and fitted hats along with a handful of other pieces.

By far, the largest booth at the show belonged to the TaylorMade, adidas, Ashworth Company. Apparel filled a large part of the booth. This year adidas is launching its Fashion Performance line, again incorporating a lot of bright colors and patterns. Featured in the adidas apparel area were the Climalite Polo in solid colors and patterns, the half-zip and full-zip training tops, the fashion performance sweater, pants and shorts and of course the wall of shoes.

Making a strong impression at the show was local company, JoFit in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. The company creates performance athletic apparel for women with a focus on golf and tennis. Three new collections presented at the show are set to come out in May, June and September. The clothing, designed to perfectly fit every shape, will have sleeveless and regular polos, contoured wind shirts, Bermuda shorts, ruffle bottomed skorts and a four-way stretch golf pant among many other pieces. “We always say JoFit clothes are for women 18 to 80,” said Betsy Barnett, Chief Operating Officer for JoFit. “You can tone the look down or brighten it with the patterns and colors.”

Also attracting attention on the just-for-men side of apparel, was in fiamme golf shirts. The line specializes in hand-cut, hand-sewn golf shirts made in Italy. The company prides themselves on having the finest Italian golf apparel, with double stitched seems, the finest double mercerized cotton fabric and genuine mother of pearl buttons. The booth at the show was simple and elegant, drawing in the customer with an eye for detail and a high end product.

For all apparel exhibitors, small or large, the PGA Show brought plenty of eager buyers and golf industry leaders to view and inspect their new merchandise.

“The apparel side of the PGA Merchandise show has seen the largest growth in recent years,” said Tony Leodora who has attended the last 21 years of the PGA Merchandise Show. “There is golf attire to be worn on the golf course; just as well as golf attire to be worn off the course, it has become a very important part of the golf industry.”

By Tony Leodora

BRADENTON, FL. — There are a certain few golf courses in America that hold a special status — both as being exclusive havens and championship venues. They immediately set themselves above the rest of the country. They are spoken about in terms of reverence. The opportunity to play these courses often turns mature adults into giddy children.

The Concession Golf Club is quickly earning status as one of these courses.

That fact became very evident to five teams of veteran players from the Greater Philadelphia area. They traveled to Concession to challenge the home team in at three-day event in November. It should come as no surprise that a team which has played together and travels throughout the United States and in Ireland and Scotland, used their experience to win the 2nd Concession Challenge at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida.

Members of the team included captain Ed Shearon, Jim Macallister, Charlie McGill and Bob Davis. In a series of five 9-hole matches they compiled a total of 64 points. The defending champion host team from The Concession Golf Club finished second with 56 1/2 points.

The event was played over three days at The Concession Golf Club, a five-year old course that has been dedicated to commemorating the memory of the 1971 Ryder Cup Matches, which ended with U.S. Captain Jack Nicklaus conceding a putt to Great Britain and Ireland Captain Tony Jacklin. That gesture of sportsmanship allowed the matches to end in a tie.

"The Concession Golf Club is all about the spirit of the game, the camaraderie that exists among the players and friendly competition," explained owner Bruce Cassidy, who captained the defending champion Concession team. "That’s why we host events like The Concession Challenge."

The matches were played on a very challenging layout co-designed by Nicklaus and Jackin. From the back tees the course carries a slope of 155, the highest slope available under the USGA rating system.

"I read in Links Magazine recently that this course was chosen as one of 10 courses that could host a U.S. Open," commented winning captain Shearon, a golf course architect of renown in the Greater Philadelphia area who produced award-winning designs at RiverWinds GC, Vineyard Golf at Renault Winery and Raven’s Claw GC.

"This course separates the better players from the mediocre players," continued Shearon. "The better players can find a way to manage their way around the course. The players with flaws in their games, of which I am one, find those flaws exposed at every turn when they play The Concession."

The other four teams that competed in The Concession Challenge include returning teams from Blue Bell CC and Cedarbrook CC, plus newcomers from Squires GC and North Hills CC.

The Blue Bell team was captained by Joe Sosnowski and included Mike Trachtenberg, Bill Mikulik and Jules Quinones. The Cedarbrook team was captained by Jim Davis and included Joe Wolff, Sandy Reagan and Rich Green. The Squires team was captained by Dr. Brian Carp and included Steve Kay, Jim Marks and Brett Turner. The North Hills team was captained by Harry Donahue and included Pete Mimmo, Jim Coffey and Rick Forbes.

North Hills captain Donahue, who is host of the weekly Inside Golf television show on Comcast SportsNet, recorded an episode of the show during the weekend of competition at The Concession.

"When the viewers see that show, I’m sure their eyes will pop out." said Donahue. "This was the most spectacular venue we have ever visited for the show. Not only is the golf course among the finest in America, but the entire staff blows you away with service from the moment you arrive until the moment you walk out the door."

The weekly GolfTalk Live radio show on WNTP 990-AM in Philadelphia (www.golftalklive.net) also broadcasted a show from The Concession GC and had Tony Jacklin as one of the live guests on the show.

"It does my heart good to see a competition like this taking place here," said Jacklin. "This is what I envisioned all along for this course — the finest possible venue leading to the finest possible friendly competitions."

Concession owner Cassidy added the definitive closing comment to the competition when he said, "Putting together what we believe to be the finest club in America isn’t quite enough unless you share it with fellow golfers."

By Tony Leodora

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA — You might think there are not too many eye-opening golf experiences left in this world for someone who has played 718 golf courses in 14 countries.  But, as often happens in life, just when you think you know it all, you receive a surprising education.

That was the case with my first trip to Jamaica, to play in the 6th Jamaica Invitational Pro-Am, known as "Annie’s Revenge." I had often heard about the event — produced and run by Tom Jaronski and The Golf Connection, an event-management company out of Royersford, Pa. — from a number of the Philadelphia Section PGA professionals who play in it. The advance reviews were strong. The actual experience was much stronger.

After increasing the personal tally with courses No. 719 and 720, in a 15th country, it was safe to say that the experience ranked right up there with some of the best ever.

Jamaica has a wonderful natural topography for golf, with manageable coastal mountains rising right out of a narrow seaside plateau. The vistas are almost so magnificent as to distract from playing golf.

The golf courses used for the tournament are The White Witch and Cinnamon Hill. They both make an immediate impression all who competed in the event — including local golf professionals Patrick Shine of Commonwealth National GC, Jim Booros of Southmoore GC and Jeff Breiner of Carlisle CC.

"I have to say that White Witch and Cinnamon Hill are among the most memorable golf courses I have ever played," said Breiner.

The White Witch, designed by the late Robert von Hagge. It was built in the mid-’90s and is as much a testimonial to engineering as it is to creating an artistic and challenging championship golf course.

The White Witch is located completely in the hills, with elevation changes of more than 200 feet on a number of holes. The azure blue Mediterranean Sea is visible from 15 of the 18 holes on the course. And one of the holes that does not afford a look at the Sea is one of the most spectacular on the course — a 164-yard par 3 with a 150-foot drop to a green fronted by a pond.

"The White Witch provides all of the eye candy you could ever want," said Booros, who spent many years on the PGA Tour, before returning home to his native Lehigh Valley. "It’s a challenging course because of all of the elevation changes. I don’t think you can find a flat lie on the entire course." White Witch plays to a slope of 139 from the back tees, which measure 6,758 yards. There are also tees at 6,365, 5,893 and 5,397 yards.

Cinnamon Hill, a much older course that was designed by architect John Smedley in1974, was renovated by von Hagge around the same time he was building  White Witch. The combination of a more traditional golf layout and modern technology made it the favorite of many who played it during the Pro-Am.

Situated on property that was once an old sugar and molasses plantation, Cinnamon Hill combines some of the same mountainside holes as White Witch but also adds five holes directly along the shore of Montego Bay. Those five holes add a stunning quality to the layout, as well as a superb golf challenge. The 5th hole, a 453-yard par four that starts with a downhill tee shot directly toward the Caribbean, takes a dramatic turn when the fairway doglegs left to reveal a long, skinny green that has large humps to the left and is guarded by the rocky shoreline on the right. It is the ultimate nerve-testing second shot.

Of the more than 12,900 golf holes I have played in my career, the 5th hole at Cinnamon hills stands as one of the best and most memorable.

Robert Ames, brother of PGA Tour star Stephen Ames, is the head professional at Cinnamon Hill. His ever-present attention to the guests who play his course is a pleasant addition to the atmosphere. He has a very pleasant way of making the guests feel welcome and stewards Cinnamon Hill with a loving touch.

Another memorable part of Cinnamon Hill are the ruins of the working parts of the old plantation that remain. The old aqueduct, which used to convey water to the processing areas of the plantation, form an eerie outline along the right side of the 7th fairway. Large pillars from the aqueduct also form the backdrop to the green on the par 5 17th hole.

But nothing is more eerie than the cemetery that stands alongside the 4th hole. It gains added effect when told that is where the cemetery scenes in the James Bond thriller "Live and Let Die" where filmed.

Make no mistake about it … the golf is reason enough to come to Jamaica. In fact, Deputy Director of Tourism Donnie Dawson stresses to everyone he meets, "We don’t want you to come to Jamaica and play golf. We want you to come to Jamaica to play golf." Dawson and his team are hard at work convincing the golfers of the world that Jamaica is a first-class golf destination.

In case they fail at that task, they have nothing to worry about. Jamaica has plenty else to offer. They could get by very well surviving on golf as by-product of traditional tourism. The beaches are beautiful. The water is calm and warm. The mountains are full of wonderfully adventurous tours. And the hotels are spectacular.

Headquarters for "Annie’s Revenge" was the three-year-old Iberostar Grand Hotel — part of a three-hotel, 1,000-room complex that caters to differing tastes. The Iberostar Grand is a five-star adult-only, all-inclusive resort where outstanding service and lavish comfort are the norm.

There are five restaurants, a multi-themed pool with swim-up bar, a Las Vegas-style theatre with nightly shows, an exceptional spa, and a beach that features every imaginable water sport. The rooms are massive, with large covered decks that look out over the pool and the Caribbean.

"I know, when I take my members from Commonwealth to this event and this hotel, that I am not going to have to worry about anything," said Shine, who as making his third appearance in the tournament. "It’s impossible to find anything to complain about."

Each night of the event features lavish parties, organized by Jaronski and his Golf Connection staff. Many of the players bring their wives, so they can enjoy the amenities at the Iberostar … and they seem to be happy doing just that.

"We try to provide something for everyone," said Jaronski. "But the main emphasis is putting on a first-class tournament and experience for the professionals and their amateurs. We want this to be the golf experience that they remember all year long."

Without a doubt, "memorable" is the active word that is generated by a golf experience in Jamaica — especially when the Iberostar Grand is part of the experience.

By Tony Leodora

You’ve had a tough year. You’ve worked your fingers to the bone, battling against the effects of a miserable economy.

And, whenever you did find time to play some golf, it rained. It rained record amounts throughout the spring. That was followed by the hottest July on record — with temperatures reaching 105 degrees for a stretch of days in parts of the region. Then we had an earthquake and a hurricane in August, followed by another rainy September. To top it off, we got an all-time record snowfall in October. That is a synopsis of golf in the Mid-Atlantic region during 2011

You deserve a break. You deserve a golf trip. You deserve a few days of golf on extraordinary golf courses — the kind that will make you forget all about what a miserable golf season 2011 was.

That kind of unforgettable trip could be as easy as hopping a flight to Tampa and enjoying some the great golf that can be found along the central west coast of Florida.

No matter where you travel within an hour and a half of Tampa’s airport (one of the finest in the country) you will find a huge quantity of golf courses. From New Port Richey and Brooksville in the north to Sarasota and Venice in the south, there are hundreds of courses available to the public.

But, what separates this region from just about anywhere else is that, within those boundaries, can be found three of the best golf properties in the state — and the public has at least some kind of access to them.

The three all-stars being singled out are Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville, Innisbrook a bit further south near Clearwater, and the Ritz Carlton Members Club near Bradenton. The quality of golf on the courses at those locations is world class.

Southern Hills Plantation
This Pete Dye Signature Golf Course was originally planned to be an exclusive private club and residential community when it opened in 2006. The economy of the last few years has seriously delayed much of the expected home building (all of it located away from the playing area) but the golf course has thrived. It has matured into one of Dye’s finest creations — a rare departure from the torture tracks he often designs.

Don’t take Southern Hills Plantation to be a creampuff. From the back tees, almost 7,600 yards, it is the longest course in Florida and provides plenty of challenge. It recently hosted the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School.

But, with six sets of tees and very few forced carries, Southern Hills Plantation can be enjoyed by all levels of golfers. And the rolling hills, with elevations of close to 250 feet, make this course so different from the rest of Florida.

When Mike Kern of the Philadelphia Daily News played Southern Hills Plantation for the first time he said, "I can’t believe this is a Pete Dye design. There are no elements of torture involved. I could play this golf course every day for the rest of my life."

While Southern Hills Plantation is still listed as a private club, the effect of the economy has opened windows that allow visiting guests access. Better yet, the costs hover in the $85 range — making it the best golf bargain in Florida.

Innisbrook Resort
There are actually four golf courses at the sprawling Innisbrook Resort, which also doubles as a nature preserve. While all are nice, it is the Copperhead Course (home of the PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship) and the Island Course that get all of the attention.

Many members claim that the Island Course is their favorite, but Copperhead is the one with the national reputation. People get to see it on television during the PGA Tour event, they hear so many PGA players rave about the layout, and they want to test their mettle against it.

Like Southern Hills Plantation, the courses at Innisbrook are very hilly by Florida standards. They wind through this beautiful nature preserve, protected from all the Highway 19 sprawl just outside the gates, and provide a secluded but convenient respite.

To make things even better, Innisbrook is located just a couple of miles north of Bright House Field, spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Booking a golf vacation in conjunction with the spring training schedule could be the perfect way to put 2011 in the rear view mirror. The walk-in price to play is near $200 but special spring training packages are available at Innisbrook, that will put you in beautifully remodeled accommodations and drastically reduce the price per round. And the staff can even help with tickets to the ballgames.

Ritz Carlton Members Club
Drive an hour south of Tampa Airport on I-75 and it will bring you to one of the most peaceful and serene golf settings in the state — the Ritz Carlton Members Club. And they just happened to build a spectacular Tom Fazio golf course on it.

Built on 315 acres, just east of I-75, there is not a house in sight on this lush tropical landscape. Although it stretches to 7,415 yards, there are six sets of tees and  it is very playable thanks to a minimal number of forced carries.

Don’t let the "members" part of the name scare you. Anyone who stays at the beautiful Ritz Carlton in Sarasota becomes a member for a day at the Members Club. Also, while the membership is still building on this four-year-old club, other visiting players also can get a tee time.

The regular price to play at the Members Club is $225 and one of the treats is that each foursome goes out with its own forecaddie, who are among the best-trained caddies in America. If more exercise is preferred, walking with caddies is allowed.

"This will be a terrific walking course," said Fazio, during his design work. "It has very reasonable connections between the greens and tees."

Again, the playability of the course makes it so attractive to visiting golfers who don’t want to spend all of their time looking for golf balls and want to enjoy themselves during a golf vacation.

A golf vacation … that sounds like a pretty good idea for 2012.

By Tony Leodora

RIO SAN JUAN, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — When Christopher Columbus first set foot on this beautiful tropical island in 1492 he said, "I claim this land in the name of the Queen of Spain and name it Espanola." Later it became known as Hispanola and now the eastern two-thirds of the island stands as the Dominican Republic.

Little did he know that he was introducing the world to the greatest golf location in the Caribbean … and one of the greatest locations in all of the Western Hemisphere. If he did, he would have brought his sticks. Certainly there was a cubby hole where he could keep his clubs and his golf shoes dry on the Santa Maria.

What he didn’t know was that almost 500 years later a man named Robert Trent Jones would make an even more startling discovery in this magical island paradise. Jones, the prodigious and heralded golf course architect who brought the game of golf to the entire Caribbean area, would discover the perfect piece of property on which to build a golf course.

And on it he would build his masterpiece. Playa Grande.

Playa Grande exists in a very remote area of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, almost 90 minutes east of the city of Puerto Plata. The natural piece of ground has been described as the ultimate golf course site — an elevated plateau of rolling sandy dunes, perched high above the Atlantic Ocean on one side, with the lush tropical mountains serving as a picturesque backdrop on the other side. Golfers can see the Atlantic Ocean from all 18 holes. Eleven of the holes are directly on the ocean, playing along or across the spectacular network of cliffs.

But this piece of golf heaven has been pure hell — in terms of developing it into the international golf destination that it deserves to be.

You see, Jones actually designed and built the golf course in the early 1970s … but it didn’t open for play until 1998. During that time the project was abandoned, then re-discovered twice. When the word finally reached an elderly and wheelchair-bound Jones that the course was opening, he cried. He knew that his greatest creation was ready for the world to see — even if he would not admit it publicly.

Jones always answered the question about which was his greatest golf course with the standard reply: "My golf courses are like my children. I could never pick one over the other." However, privately, he confided to his closest friends, that nothing could top Playa Grande.

Unfortunately, not many golfers got to see his creation. The only accommodations available close to the course were at a low level all-inclusive resort that fell on hard times following 9/11. After a couple of owners and a lack of attention, the resort finally closed in 2008 — and Playa Grande started earning the title of "the greatest unknown golf course in the world."

Noted travel writer Brian McCallen made a trip to Playa Grande and reported, "I had heard the claim that this was the greatest unknown golf course in the world. I was skeptical until I walked onto the first tee. Then I played 18 holes that were as spectacular as anything I had played in the world — known or unknown."

Playa Grande came under a number of management plans throughout the first decade of this century — but none of them offered a way out of the downward spiral. Finally, word came that a group of Americans out of New York had made a deal with the Dominican government to turn the property around.

It was also reported that Rees Jones had been hired to do a major renovation to his father’s course — changing a couple of holes, adding fairway irrigation, re-grassing the course and bringing the 1970s layout into the 21st century.

A trip to inspect the property showed favorable signs. A trio of high-end lodges had been built along the sixth fairway, supposedly to offer first-class accommodations to special visiting guests — and to serve as models for housing that might be built on the other side of the course. The old resort looked like it was being gutted. Construction trailers were in place.

But nobody was talking about the project.

"It all has been quite secretive," said Brian Shipley of Sunshine Services of Pennsylvania, a company that supplies luxury villas to visitors in the Playa Grande area (www.sunshineservices.net). "I imagine there are still details remaining between the new owners and the Dominican government. In the meantime, we are all hoping that the golf course makes a big turnaround."

The golf course is the major draw for Shipley, who custom designs golf vacations and places groups of people in a number of luxury accommodations that he controls in the area. He also supplies a staff of skilled people who attend to every need of the guests. From gourmet meals, to entertaining, to world-class spa services, Shipley and his staff create a lifestyles of the rich and famous experience.

"Our goal is to create a vacation experience that will be remembered for a lifetime," stressed Shipley. "Having a golf course nearby that is equally as memorable is critical to the entire equation."

Signs point to evidence that Playa Grande might finally be dropping the word "unknown" from the title: Best Unknown Golf Course in the World.

Westwood’s record-breaking round is somewhat of an early
Christmas gift for a local Inventor.

By Kayla Champagne

For the second year in a row Englishman Lee Westwood won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. Westwood joins only five others in the 31-year history of “Africa’s Major” to win back-to-back titles. Westwood closed the final round on Sunday with a one-over-par 73 to win by two shots over Swede Robert Karlsson.

However, the more important story—especially for Jim Rosa, local inventor of The Balanced Golfer, is Westwood’s record breaking third round. Westwood, who endorses The Balanced Golfer, had quite the accomplishment on Saturday as he finished the round with a course-record 62.

“I am so proud to have Lee Westwood endorsing The Balanced Golfer, especially with a record breaking round and a win like that,” says Rosa.

Rosa hopes that Westwood’s amazing 10-under-par third round will be attributed to his seemingly perfect drives. The very straight and powerful drives that Rosa believes could be credited to The Balanced Golfer training plane.

The Balanced Golfer, a golf swing training plane designed to help golfers emulate perfect balance was GolfTalk Live’s November Product of the Month. The product is gaining momentum and has been a hot item in the golf scene lately.

Westwood can be seen on The Balanced Golfer’s website and on YouTube demonstrating the positive effect the product can have on a golfer’s swing.

With Westwood’s attachment to the product and his recent success on the golf course, Rosa feels he has gotten a bit of an early Christmas gift. Rosa is hopeful that his product will continue to do well and help many more golfers over the holidays and into next golf season.