Chip Shots
Cherokee Valley Course and Club in Upstate, S.C., Announces Fall Golf Packages
TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Cherokee Valley Course and Club, Upstate South Carolina’s member-focused family club and mountain golf destination, announces its fall golf packages with stay-and-plays at its charming onsite cottages and the historic Westin Poinsett in downtown Greenville.
Cherokee Valley’s cottage collection features three elegantly appointed homes along the golf course. Each is equipped with four bed-and-bath suites offering privacy and ample room. Rates start at $130 a night for one room with one bed, $600 for a four-bedroom cottage with two beds per room, and $1,000 for “Cottage Six,” a two-story home with four bedrooms upstairs and a king bed master suite, one bedroom with four queens, two bathrooms and a game / theater room downstairs.
A round of golf on Cherokee’s P.B. Dye-designed mountainstyle layout can be added for $35 on weekdays (Mon. – Thurs.), $45 on weekends (Fri. – Sun.) or $60 for “all you can play,” subject to availability. For more information on cottage rates, configurations, availability or to book visit the course and club’s Accommodations Page.
“The golf travel market in South Carolina has been amazing so far this year, and all indicators point to a busy fall season here at Cherokee Valley,” says Cherokee Valley Course and Club owner Matthew Jennings. “We look forward to welcoming golfers from all over the state, Southeast and beyond.”
Golfers enjoying a golf package at Cherokee Valley can now walk from their cottage to the course and club’s new full-service restaurant and gathering place, Core 450. Opening in May, Core 450 overlooks the ninth and 18th greens evoking memories of a classic mountain retreat. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and the expansive outdoor patio is the perfect place to dine or sip a drink while taking in the mountain air and Carolina sunshine.
“With the cottages, Core 450 and our P.B. Dye designed golf course, we can now offer a complete golf vacation experience for groups of all sizes,” adds Jennings. “Golfers also love our exciting Finn Cycle electric scooters and new E-Z-GO RXV carts equipped with high-resolution GPS screens and Bluetooth speakers.”
Cherokee Valley has also partnered with the historic Westin Poinsett in beautiful downtown Greenville to offer value-laden packages. Located in the heart of one of America’s most acclaimed cities, the AAA Four Diamond hotel is an easy 30-minute drive from the course. Packages include a 350-square-foot guest room with one king or two queen beds, 42-inch flat screen, mini-fridge, 24-hour Westin Workout Fitness Studio and a round of golf with cart. Rates vary by season and can be obtained via our Partners Page.
For more information on golf packages and memberships, visit www.cherokeevalleyclub.com.
Fall Golf and Gaming in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
ESCANABA, MI – One of the best experiences that golfers who visit Michigan get to have annually during the fall season are the magnificent colors scattered across the Great Lakes State. Those looking for a head start on fall golf can combine this wonderful scenery with gaming and sportsbook betting in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at Island Resort & Casino, located 13-miles west of Escanaba.
The region comes to life a few weeks earlier than downstate when sunny crisp days become a feast for the senses with hardwoods changing colors and turning their hues to scarlet, rust, gold and orange. Home of the award-winning Sweetgrass and Sage Run golf courses, golfers are now planning fall golf adventures and combining it with sportsbook gaming entertainment.
The fall months of September and October are a perfect time to visit the Island Resort & Casino with premier sporting events like the Ryder Cup, College/nfl Football, and MLB Baseball taking place. Twinspires, the official online wagering site for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby is the official partner of the resort. This is the perfect golf trip combining multiple championship courses and spending the evenings gaming and watching the best sporting events. With 14 kiosks conveniently located throughout T.MCC’S Sports Bar, golfers can easily place bets watching golf, college or professional football, MLB baseball games and other sports on 30+ big screen TVS.
Whether it’s a buddy trip or couples golf getaway, fully customizable fall packages can be booked featuring 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-night lodging options with up to four rounds of golf. Pricing starts at just $95 per person based on double occupancy. The popular Perfect Foursome package starts out at $350.00 per person for four rounds golf (Sweetgrass, Sage Run, Greywalls, and Timberstone) and three nights lodging.
Make sure to visit the Island Resort and Casino website for exciting sportsbook promotions during the fall season, especially Sportsbook Sundays for NFL football and exciting sportsbook action on Saturdays. Visit www.islandresortgolf.com for more details.
Award-winning golf has become the centerpiece of the Island Resort & Casino
Designed by Paul Albanese, Sweetgrass features an open layout with some of the game’s most fun greens to putt (Redan, Biarritz, Island and Double-green), as well as some wonderful strategic holes -including the famous island green No. 15 and spectacular double green with finishing par-five holes on each side. The course, which plays host to the Symetra Tour’s Island Resort Championship, is ranked among Golfweek’s Best Courses and has been recognized by GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest as a Best in State selection.
Sage Run, also designed by Albanese, offers a contrasting style from its sister course. The course, which was listed among Golf Digest’s prestigious list of “Best New Courses” in 2019, meanders through beautiful Upper Peninsula hardwoods, open vistas, and a very dramatic ridge -- offering a scenic variety of shots that collectively create a fun thrill ride for golfers. The course annually plays host to some of the top collegiate players with The Island Resort Intercollegiate at Sage Run.
About Island Resort & Casino
Located in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula 13 miles west of Escanaba, Island Resort & Casino is one of the Midwest’s largest golf, casino and entertainment resort destinations. The resort features over 300 guest rooms, more than 1,200 of the latest slots, a poker room, various gaming tables, a sportsbook and a bingo hall, two championship golf courses, the luxurious Drift Spa, an RV Park, a headline entertainment showroom, a customizable, expansive convention space and enough dining choices to please every palette. The growing popularity of golf and gaming at Island Resort has driven the demand for a $30 million expansion that will be completed in 2021. More than 100 new hotel rooms will be added, a high-end dining venue and convention space are also planned for the top floor, as well as a pool with water park features. The destination is easily accessible via two regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette connecting through Detroit, Saginaw, Lansing or Grand Rapids.
For more information, visit www. islandresortandcasino.com.
Champion Hills Offers Enhanced Vertical Membership
HENDERSONVILLE, NC – Champion Hills, Western North Carolina’s premier golf community, offers an enhanced Vertical Membership, extending the full benefits and privileges of its full range of golf and social memberships to immediate family at no extra cost.
New for 2021, the enhanced Vertical Membership includes Champion Hills’ new Equity 55 Golf in addition to its Full and Social Equity offerings. Equity 55 is a full golf membership for those age 55 and under. The initiation fee is divided into four equal payments over four years, dues and replacement reserve fund contributions are reduced by 50% and the club’s $800 annual food and beverage minimum is prorated for new members.
“We see so many families coming together here across two and three generations,” says Champion Hills Director of Membership and Marketing Heather Myers. “Whether they are on the golf course, at the pool or out to dinner, we love that Champion Hills is their ‘happy place.’”
For those in the relocation market searching for their “forever” golf club and community, vertical memberships are by no means the industry standard. Most private clubs offer traditional “legacy” memberships granting members’ children club access up to a certain age. With its enhanced Vertical Membership and multitude of amenities and activities, Champion Hills is the perfect place for families to convene for multi-generational fellowship and unbridled enjoyment.
During the summer and fall – peak seasons for visits from kids and grandkids – Champion Hills’ enhanced Vertical Membership provides unparalleled simplicity for members and their families. No guest fees are required to enjoy its renowned Tom Fazio-designed golf course, and food and beverage are seamlessly charged to members’ accounts so everyone can relax and enjoy their family time.
In addition to fostering a family atmosphere, Champion Hills’ central location in Hendersonville, N.C. is ideal for visits with family. A charming “Main Street” town, Hendersonville is under three hours from Charlotte and Atlanta and a day’s drive from Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. It’s also a convenient stopover point for families traveling to Florida from the Midwest and Northeast.
Branson Golf Destination Adds New Attraction; Array of Amenities Ideal for Travel Getaways to Ozarks
BRANSON, MO – What do golfers and anglers have in common? They tend to embellish their performance and results when telling others about them. Certain golf shots and fish caught take on greater emphasis than perhaps is warranted. Branson is the ideal destination for both recreational pastimes and the subsequent cock-and-bull stories.
The recent debut of Angler’s Lodge, the destination’s newest accommodation, and its Tall Tales Bar & Grill – a brand-new over-thetop sports bar near all 10 Branson Golf courses – is the perfect place to relax and regale others with amusing accounts of days spent on the lush fairways and vast lakes.
The full-service restaurant starts with a tasty menu – including blackened fish tacos and Kansas City strip steaks – then complements that with a golf simulator, large screen TVS, arcade games, Ozarks-themed décor and more.
Tall Tales enhances the destination’s unique combination of incredible golf courses and its astonishing non-golf amenities and attractions.
With four of the state’s top-rated courses in Missouri (including the top three), multiple new courses that have opened in recent years (including Tiger Woods’ only public course design in America),
and 10 total playing options to choose from, Branson has emerged as one of the country’s best settings for golf getaways.
Three superb lakes offer boating and water sports. Astounding museums – Titanic Branson and Ancient Ozarks Natural History – showcase displays not found anywhere else. Hundreds of restaurants and lodging establishments beckon, along with dozens of live entertainment theaters, outdoor adventures (zip lines, world-class fishing) and award-winning family friendly places (Silver Dollar City theme park).
At the heart of the golf destination is Big Cedar Lodge, home to five golf courses and a plethora of remarkable other leisure activities. Located a few miles from the resort, Tall Tales is one of its amenities and is situated conveniently near the destination’s golf courses.
“Branson has always been coveted by visitors for our wonderful hotels, resorts, restaurants and leisure activities,” said Lynn Berry, Director of Communications, Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Tall Tales Bar & Grill adds another wonderful option to our destination, one that is perfect for golfers, anglers, and everyone.”
For more information about Branson Golf, visit www.explorebranson.com/golf or www.facebook.com/bransongolf
Silvies Valley Ranch To Host Halloween Goblin Open
SENECA, Oregon — The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch is preparing to host the inaugural Goblin Open, a two-person team competition that will take place on the resort’s 18-hole Craddock and Hankins courses. The tournament will take place on Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. The Goblin Open is accepting entries from all golfers that would like to participate but will be capped at 40 teams. The deadline to enter the tournament is Saturday, Oct. 10, and all interested players can register here.
The first day of the event will consist of a two-person shamble format where the team will use the group’s best tee shot before playing their own ball for the remainder of the hole, with a standard two-person scramble featuring “spooky pin positions” on day two. The weekend will also feature an individual competition called the Mcveigh Challenge ($50/person, top six places paid with Silvies contributing $1,000 to the prize fund), a college football social hour, BBQ dinner, costume contest, and an awards luncheon. The cost to enter is $300.00 per team, which includes all greens fees, cart fees, admission to the awards luncheon, and range balls for both days of the event. Teams participating in the event will also receive a fifteen percent discount on all Ranch House suites and cabins on a first come, first served basis. Prizes will be distributed to the top three teams, with the winning team receiving silver championship belt buckles.
“The Goblin Open is a one-of-a-kind golf competition that will showcase the very best elements of our award-winning courses and our unique property as a whole, and the team here at the Ranch has been hard at work ensuring a memorable experience for each competitor,” said Sean Hoolehan, General Manager at Silvies Valley Ranch. “We could not be more excited to close out the season with some friendly competition as we celebrate some of our favorite fall activities.”
The Links at Silvies Valley Ranch is best known for the reversible Craddock and Hankins courses, which were designed by renowned golf course architect Dan Hixson. Also included on the property is the Hixsondesigned 9-hole par-3 Chief Egan course, and the stunning 7-hole Mcveigh’s Gauntlet course. In addition to golf, guests can enjoy a variety of ranch activities during their stay, including horseback riding, shooting, fishing, hiking, cattle feeding and goat herding.
For more information on the Goblin Open at Silvies Valley Ranch, or to book your stay, call 1-800-SILVIES (745-8437), email info@silvies.us or visit www.silvies.us.
Firestone Country Club to Host 2022 U.S. Midamateur Team Championships
AKRON, OH – Firestone Country Club - renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf – announces it will host both the men’s and women’s U.S. Mid-amateur Team Championships from Aug. 4 – 7, 2022.
The 15th annual U.S. Mid-amateur Team Championship is comprised of men amateur golfers over the age of 25. According to Executive Director Eric Hjortness, the men’s event will grow from 20 to 40 state teams, and will add a women’s championship for amateur golfers over the age of 23, due to the success of this past year’s championship at Creekmoor Golf Club in Kansas City.
Each state is permitted to be represented by one team, except for states that have two golf associations. The tournament will be open to 40 3-woman teams and 40 4-man teams. Each team can add a senior player starting from a shorter set of tees.
“We are honored and humbled to be hosting many of the best mid-amateur players in the U.S. in 2022,” says Jay Walkinshaw, general manager of Firestone Country Club. “Firestone is known for hosting professionals and numerous PGA Tour events, so we look forward to working with Eric and his team on these exciting championships at our legendary courses.”
“The 2022 championships will be a reflection of how much the game is growing across the country,” says Tommy Moore, director of golf. “Adding a high-profile amateur tournament to our famed club will be a tremendous moment in Firestone’s history.”
North Course - Firestone Country Club
Since the 1950s, Firestone and its famed South Course have annually hosted the biggest names in professional golf. In addition to being site of three PGA Championships, the club was the long-time venue for the PGA TOUR’S World Golf Championships-bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor, the World Series of Golf. It currently hosts the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR Champions.
The North Course is a splendid Robert Trent Jones design that opened for member play in 1969. Marked by numerous lakes and streams, the North Course has played host to both the American Golf Classic and World Series of Golf. Several publications have listed the North Course among the “Top 100 Modern Courses.” Formerly known as the West Course, the Fazio Course re-opened this past June following a bunker enhancement project.
The dormitory-style club rooms each feature a view of Firestone’s layouts and pay homage to more than 50 years of incredible golf history. For a resort experience at Firestone, there are 57 golf villa rooms sprinkled throughout the property. Dining is available at three on-property establishments, including the clubhouse’s 1929 Grille & Legacy Pavilion and 55th Hole Bar, and opening soon “La Vetta” Italian Chophouse, all of which offer open-air dining and golf course views.
Firestone is conveniently located less than an hour from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and 15 minutes from Akron-canton Airport. It is also within easy driving distance of other major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Nearby off-course attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
For more information, www.firestonecountryclub.com.
Circling Raven Sustains, Builds Upon Record Business Numbers in 2021 Season
WORLEY, ID – Circling Raven Golf Club is soaring yet again, achieving record numbers and financial performance this season as it comes through “The Year of the Pandemic,” something many industry watchdogs believed would bring the sport crashing back to Earth.
An amenity of the Coeur d’alene Casino Resort Hotel in the Idaho panhandle 50 minutes east of Spokane (WA), Circling Raven realized two superb seasons in 2019 and 2020, the latter partially fueled by the COVID-19 phenomenon that saw golf courses thrive due to players flocking to the socially distant havens that are the sport’s vast landscapes and outdoor recreational venues.
“We believed that the additional players we hosted last year could be retained with first-class service, great course conditions, and creative event programs,” said David Christenson, PGA, Director of Golf.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Stay-and-play packages were up 25% for June 2021 over 2020 and are up 90% through June Year over Year (YOY)
- Golf shop retail sales are up 45% June 2021 over June 2020 and are up 65% through June YOY
- Total revenues have increased by 48% for June 2021 over June 2020 and are up 41% through June YOY
“Our 2021 numbers are all the more meaningful as last year was a record-breaking year, the best we had had in the previous 12,” said Christenson.
Designed by Gene Bates, Circling Raven will be the host course for the Symetra “Road to the LPGA” Tour August 23-29, 2021, the first of a three-year run for the professional women’s tournament. Named the Circling Raven Championship presented by KXLY News 4 Now, the event will place some of the world’s rising star female players on the No. 1 rated public course in Idaho.
In addition to the “pure golf” that Circling Raven is known for thanks to its 620 pristine acres – more than four times the average number of acres allocated to golf course layouts worldwide – Head Golf Professional David Vonbrethorst has designed an array of programs that have resonated with people. These include competitive events, social events, couples events, equipment demo days, instructional programs, and more.
Contributing to Circling Raven’s record season is the Advantage Card, which was launched in 2019. It maximizes perks for regular patrons. It rewards cardholders with complimentary rounds, free entry into an Advantage Cardholder tournaments, discounts off the lowest greens fee for each round, supervised practice on the range or clinics with Circling Raven pros, and exclusive benefits throughout the year.
Visit www.cdacasino.com/golf for more information on golf and other resort options.
Play Luxury Golf at Primland’s Highland Course Through Sept. 9, Experience Incredible Value
MEADOWS OF DAN, VA– It’s not often you can play a course rated among the top 35 in America (Sources: Golf, Golfweek, Golf Digest) for up to 40 percent off the normal greens fee. But that’s precisely what you can do at The Highland Course – an amenity of luxurious Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection – during Aug. 18-26.
Annual golf course aerification is being conducted and the award-winning venue is temporarily adjusting rates to reflect that work. Book a tee time for Aug. 27- Sept. 9 and the greens fees are 20 percent off the norm. If you haven’t already, or you’re itching to play The Highland Course again, you won’t find greater value any other time of the year. Book now and bask in the game on the scintillating 18-hole course that unfurls within 12,000 acres of spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains terrain.
Golf Digest named The Highland Course at Primland Virginia’s top public-access course in its biennial “America’s Greatest Courses by State, 2021-22” compilation.
The Highland Course features ingenious holes, stunning views, no surrounding development, and a masterful course layout by Donald Steel, the Englishman whose design philosophy highlights nature and golf tradition.
After-golf activities and amenities highlight the spectacular Primland property through fly fishing, shooting sporting clays, riding ATVS, mountain biking, yoga, archery, horseback riding, tomahawk throwing, guided hikes, and more. A full-service spa, astounding Observatory for deep-space stargazing, award-winning food and beverage options, and a variety of lodging options including tree houses beckon. For more info about Primland, visit Primland.com, or call 866.960.7746.
Quinta Da Marinha Prepares For Tourism Trends With €1.5M Villa Renovation
Quinta da Marinha is offering golfers the perfect balance of privacy, Portuguese authenticity and contemporary décor after investing €1.5m into the refurbishment of its 27 villas.
With self-contained accommodation set to be the trend this summer and beyond as people ease themselves back into international travel and busy hotels following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lisbon resort has refurbished and expanded all its existing villas to entice groups of friends and families.
As well as renovating each villa to give them a fresh new look, they have also been adapted to create more space. Previously offering one-bedroom (Th1) and two-bedroom (Th2) options, each villa has been reconfigured to fit an extra single bedroom, so can now accommodate either one more adult or child each.
The Th1 villa can now accommodate two adults and two children or three adults and one child, while the Th2 now sleeps four adults and two children or five adults and one child.
Other than the spacious, comfortable rooms, each villa is also fully air-conditioned and features a living room with fireplace and
flat-screen TV showing satellite channels, free Wifi, fully-equipped kitchenette, in addition to a garden and large outdoor terrace.
Under an hour’s drive from Lisbon in stunning Cascais, the five-star Quinta da Marinha resort is part of the ‘Great Hotels of the World’ portfolio and boasts an esteemed Robert Trent Jones-designed par-71 golf course with outstanding views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Sintra Mountains.
Quinta da Marinha’s idyllic location in the heart of the Portuguese countryside is perfect for holidaymakers looking to escape and disconnect from the stresses of the past 18 months, while also having the option to keep space from other travellers. For those who would like to stay in their own ‘bubble’, picnic baskets and meals can be ordered as a takeaway from the resort’s Rocca restaurant or even delivered to the villa’s door. There is also a concierge service so that guests can purchase goods without the need to leave their accommodation.
Quinta da Marinha sales director, João Pinto Coelho, said: “Our villa renovation programme has been completed just as the right time as we start to welcome back international visitors again.
“We feel that this type of accommodation will be extremely popular for the remainder of the year with people desperate to get away, but may still want to distance themselves from the hustle and bustle and limit their social contact. Our villas are the perfect solution – as our guests will still be able to escape to the spectacular Portuguese sunshine and enjoy everything our resort has to offer.”
Guests can combine rounds of golf with visits to the resort’s outdoor pool, the heated indoor pool, as well as the sauna, Turkish bath and sensory showers.
There is also an abundance of other activities available at an extra cost, including bike tours, horse riding, tennis and padel courts, surfing lessons and private guided tours to Sintra and Lisbon.
A stunning stretch of coastline is just a few minutes away, while there is much more to the enticing region with wine-tasting, historic landmarks, outstanding beaches – including the famous Guincho Beach – and the breathtaking natural beauty of the Sintracascais Natural Park to explore.
For more information and reservations, email reservations@quintadamarinha.com or call +351 214 860 141.
www.villasquintadamarinha.com