ACE IN THE HOLE

Volume 2, Number 5

May 2011

I've had the great privilege in my life as a golf writer and editor to play some of America's most prestigious and private clubs. One year, 1996, I played Augusta National the day after the Masters, Winged Foot a month later and Cypress Point Club on my birthday in December. That was quite a special year!

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR George Fuller gfuller@troongolfandtravel.com

For whatever reason, I always seem to save my worst rounds for the best courses and those three were no exception. The most memorable round, though, had to be my birthday round at Cypress. We teed off as the fog still clung to the wet grass just after dawn. If you're a lowly golf writer who has somehow managed to finagle his way onto the course—like, ahem, me— they want you on and off the course before the first dues-paying member pulls his Bentley into the car park.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Brett Brooks, Tim Greenwell

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Kevin Gilbert

As amazing a course as I have ever played—ranking above Augusta, the Old Course and others on my favorites list—I nevertheless managed an awful round. Since my double-bogey day won no honors on any tee, I was last up as our foursome stood on the famous par-three 16th tee box, looking out toward a distant green across an angry sea cove.

SECTION EDITORS Tom Bedell (travel), Malcolm Campbell (at large), Scott Kauffman (business), Jason Kerkmans (apparel), Scott Kramer (equipment), Jeff Williams (professional golf)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/
PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS
Steve Habel, Tom Hoch

One by one my fellow competitors hit driver into a brisk wind, and one by one their drives fell short, their balls ricocheting around on the rocks below the green before meeting a watery grave.

ADVISORY BOARD

Fred Ackerman, Dave Barkin, Quentin Lutz

What chance did I have? Somehow, I hit the perfect drive, my ball arcing low and piercing into the wind, bending left as it crossed the rocks and...right toward the flag. In the misty distance I could see our forecaddy jumping up and down, shouting, "Get in the hole! Get in the hole!" and running toward the pin.

ADVERTISING

VP ADVERTISING AND SALES Trae Walker trae@troongolfandtravel.com

When we walked around the cove and up to the green, there was my ball, an inch from glory, on a hole where fewer than 20 holes-in-one have ever been recorded, and one of the most famous holes in the world. Happy Birthday, I said to myself as I tapped in for a birdie. And with that bird, I had honors on 17, where I quickly hit a drive into the ocean.

NATIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kristin Ackerman Heaton kristin@troongolfandtravel.com

All of which is to say that the private clubs of America are often storied places. One club that has its own share of memorable stories to tell is BallenIsles, in Palm Beach, Florida. Our feature on that distinguished club (see page 10), written by contributing editor Scott Kauffman, highlights what an ace that property is for members...and for lowly golf writers too.

ADVERTISING MANAGERS Steve Bliman, Richard Holcomb, George Junger, Jeanne Louise Pyle, RMS Media Group

George Fuller,

gfuller@troongolfandtravel.com

up for grabs!

Copyright 2011 by Flagship Custom Publishing. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Flagship Custom Publishing. Troon Golf & Travel is published by license with Troon Golf by Flagship Custom Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 2120, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340. Editorial inquiries should be directed to: editor@troongolfandtravel.com.