golf

The Classicist: Southern Proper's Timeless Style

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Mint juleps, seersucker, stately plantations, belles in summer dresses and those F. Scott Fitzgerald stories where they go around saying "Good mawnin', Sally Carrol" -- all come together in the new spring collection from Southern Proper, a gentleman's outfitter from Atlanta now gaining wider recognition from natty northerners.

Tags: Atlanta, bow ties, croquet, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Georgia, golf, Kentucky Derby, mens clothing, mens style, mint julep, polo, preppy, sailing, southern plantations, Southern Proper, southern+mens+style, southernmensstyle, tennis, the south, ties

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The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament: Celebrity, Philanthropy, and the Allure of Shadow Creek

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity, Sports

The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament hosted by Aria Resort And Casino, was recently held at the Shadow Creek Golf Course in North Las Vegas. Luxist attended the event this past weekend and experienced first-hand the unique blend of celebrity and philanthropy. However, this year the event took place at one of the most alluring, mythic, elite golf courses in the U.S., Tom Fazio's Shadow Creek. And for the first time, the course opened to the general public.

A little more on this golf course: unlike many famous courses, this one is hard to imagine, out in the middle of the Nevada desert, and even harder to find. From the Las Vegas strip, it's about a half hour away -- north on I-15 to Craig Road, then go west, then north again, and finally, through some imposing guard gates. And then, there it is, beyond the gates -- the 350-acre, $60 million plus, exceptionally private, painfully green, Tom Fazio course looking more like courses at Pinehurst, or Kiawah, or Augusta. Anywhere, almost, but Nevada.

Shadow Creek boasts quiet streams, rushing brooks, weeping willows, waterfalls, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, and stone bridges that look eerily like the old Swilken bridge at St. Andrews. Indeed, Shadow Creek, has an untouched, impossibly perfect, movie-set look, as if few mortals would ever dare to actually play the course.

For many years, adding to this ineffable allure, is fact: for years, and even now, ONLY MGM Resort guests are permitted to play Shadow Creek. Green fees are listed at $500.00 -- with limo service to and from the course. And the players must schedule tee times at least an hour apart, giving the impression that golfers are on the course by themselves. All of this plays into an image of ultimate elitism combined with escapism, creating a course intrigue that involves rarity, mystery, and sanctuary.

The course's route runs mostly north and south so the sun's glare would miss the golfer's eyes, and Fazio with his builders, dug 50 feet into the low desert to provide for elevation changes and enough dirt to build hills around the entire property to provide another dimension of privacy. One of the stories heard, perhaps apocryphal, was that many who live close to the golf course don't know of its existence.

Tags: celebrity philanthropy, charity, golf, Las Vegas, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Nevada Cancer Center, Shadow Creek Golf Course, sports

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Playing Well, Doing Good: The Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Shadow Creek, Las Vegas

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity, Sports

"I'm truly excited about bringing my tournament to Las Vegas. Shadow Creek is one of my favorite courses and ARIA is a spectacular resort. I love seeing old friends, playing golf and having fun, but the most gratifying aspect of hosting the event is what we've been able to give back." said Michael Jordan in a recent interview.

Significant wealth and great philanthropy are often interconnected, as philanthropic giving among the uber-wealthy is a common occurrence. Bill Gates, Steve Case, Warren Buffett and others have donated billions to help others and have started their own foundations to do it. Certainly, to whom much is given, much is required, is an oft-quoted line from the New Testament in the Bible. This sense of a returning a cosmic favor also lives among significant celebrities, with Michael Jordan as a prime example.

Tags: ARIA Resort and Casino, Cats Care, Celebrity Golf Tournaments, Golf, James R. Jordan Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Nevada Cancer Institute, Shadow Creek Golf Course, Tom Fazio Shadow Creek Golf Course

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Five Fabulous Things to Do On A Ski Trip Without the Skis in Park City, Utah

by shira levine (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

You don't have to ski or snowboard to have a good time in Park City, Utah. Besides the Sundance Film Festival and all things Robert Redford, there are a slew of other fabulous ways to spend your days and nights in the resort town. Park City proves itself well in the luxury category.

We put together a list of ways to live well in the city known for having the "Greatest Snow On Earth" (and being the site of a few scenes in Dumb and Dumber), and all without having to ever put on those godforsaken foot and calf-suffocating ski boots.

Apres Ski
In a way, resort hopping the apres ski scene is Park City's other great sporting event. The French term specifically refers to the drinking and revelry that ensues after a long day of skiing or snowboarding. The art of the cocktail is nothing to scoff at in snow country and up in these mountains the Mormon influence shunning drinking and nightlife is forgotten. Alta Resort's Sitzmark Bar is a classic. Off-resort, check out High West Distillery and Saloon. They make their own whiskey and vodka and have a killer, innovative cocktail list with drinks like the High West Silver Julep using High West's Silver Oat Whiskey and Rendezvous Rye. Park City's Main Street features a collection of classic, mountain and Western motif bars and nightclubs like No Name Saloon, The Sidecar, and The Spur. There's also Downstairs, owned by Danny Masterson of "That 70s Show" fame, a hip rocker lounge that celebrities typically flock to when they're in town.

Shop
Ski bunny fashion is no joke in Park City. Locals and pros sport some of the slickest and brightest colored gear and pseudo-gear from brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Lululemon, or, hanging in resort shopping areas in Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons. It's hard to resist not purchasing a brilliant blue fleece when witness to everyone else looking fashionably ski hip. There's shopping too for the fashion-forward who prefer to wear something that's also stylish away from the resorts. Along Main Street are adorable boutiques like Bunya Bunya and Mary Jane's with clothing and accessories handmade by local artists and independent designers. Park City also has the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah.

Tags: awards-main, DumbandDumber, golf, luxist-awards, luxury, Montage Deer Valley, parkcity, RobertRedford, shopping, skiing, spa, stein eriksen lodge, Sundance, utah

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Ballantine Introduces 2011 Championship Blend

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Sports

Australian professional golfer Marcus Fraser, the winner of the 2010 Ballantine's Championship, has collaborated with Ballantine's Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to create the 2011 Championship Blend. The Scotch contains whiskies aged for at least 38 years. Only 10 bottles are being produced and as reigning Ballantine's Championship winner, Fraser will receive one of the them. One bottle will also be reserved for the 2011 champion and another will be auctioned for charitable causes during the 2011 tournament, which will take place at Seoul's Blackstone Golf Club Icheon next April.

"It is very impressive seeing Ballantine's Master Blender Sandy Hyslop in his element," said Fraser, "with his enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of all the different flavours and how they can be used together to come up with a final product." Hyslop guided Fraser through the delicate blending process and describes the resulting product as being "extremely fruity, with lots of soft fruit flavours, allied with some lovely, creamy background flavours, and when you taste it the whisky's finish just seems to last forever. Marcus obviously has a bit of a sweet tooth, as some of the flavours he has chosen have given the Championship Blend a beautifully sweet top dressing."

The Ballantine's Championship began in 2008 as an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. It is Asia's fourth biggest golf tournament and the largest annual golf event in South Korea.

Tags: ballantine, ballantines, golf, marcus fraser, scotch, whiskies, whisky

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TaylorMade's New R11 Customizable Golf Driver

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

These days golf can be as much about the right tools as it is about natural ability. TaylorMade Golf's yet-to-be released R11 driver is a new product that uses technology to make the most of your swing. It offers many of the charms of a custom club but puts the control in your hands. The R11 driver can be adjusted in three different ways in an effort to affect 100 yards of side-to-side trajectory change. It comes with a small wrench that lets you basically make your own custom-fitted club. The new adjustable sole plate lets you adjust the face angle, you can also change the loft and the trajectory. The top of the driver is white to help reduce the glare of the sun and to make it easier for the players to align with the contrast of the black face versus the white top.

The R11 was designed with significant feedback from tour players. Availability begins on February 4, 2010 at a street price of $399. Check out the video after the jump to hear more about what this new club can do.

Tags: golf, golf club, taylormade, taylormade driver, TaylormadeDriver

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Hugh Grant Has a Breakdown in His Ferrari California

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Hugh Grant had an embarrassing incident on the way to a posh golf club in Kent, UK the other day when his $220,000 Ferrari California broke down leaving him stranded on the roadside. Grant purchased the flashy car for his 50th birthday in August but seems to have ended up with an expensive lemon. The actor was on his way to play golf at the nearby Royal St. George's club when the Italian stallion stalled out, the London Daily Mail reports. He tried to rev the engine back to life, leaving the fast lane blocked and forcing passing cars to swerve out of the way. Unable to get it started again he eventually managed to pull off to the side of the road, where he then called a tow truck. After a long wait during which the actor answered a call of nature in the bushes as drivers gawked at the spectacle, he eventually he had to beg a ride from a passing VW van in order to make his tee time. Grant later took the car in to a Ferrari dealership in London where he read them the riot act.

Tags: car crash, celebrity, Ferrari, Ferrari California, golf, Hugh Grant, London, UK

The Classicist: St. Regis Bahia Beach Brings True Luxury to Puerto Rico

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

Last spring we previewed the luxe private residences at the St. Regis' beautiful new Bahia Beach property in Puerto Rico. Now the accompanying exclusive resort, the prestigious brand's first Caribbean hotel, is officially open bringing world-class luxury to the island. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico brings St. Regis' signature bespoke services to the stunning 483-acre beachfront enclave, located on a former coconut plantation nestled between the majestic El Yunque rainforest and the Espiritu Santo River. The property's ultra-luxe amenities include St. Regis' legendary Butler Service, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant Fern, a 10,000 square foot Remède Spa, and an ocean-front golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. as well as the Caribbean's first certified Gold Audubon Signature Sanctuary.

Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Hill Glazier in a graceful plantation style that harmoniously blends in with the glorious landscape of towering palms and tropical flowers, the resort boasts 139 luxuriously appointed guest rooms including 35 suites with private terraces offering spectacular ocean views, as well as 25 private St. Regis Estate Homes. The elegant, inviting interiors feature custom-designed furniture and spacious marble baths in addition to Pratesi linens and high-tech amenities such as high-speed wireless internet, 40-inch LCD televisions, additional TVs ingeniously integrated into the bathroom mirrors and an iPod docking station. The resort's signature Butler and Private Dining services ensure you'll never want for anything. The beachside swimming pool compound features Seagrapes, a casual bar and restaurant, private cabanas and more incredible ocean views.

Gallery: St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico

Tags: Audubon, Bahia Beach, beach, Caribbean, golf, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, library, luxury hotels, Puerto Rico, resort, restaurants, Spa, St. Regis, St. Regis Bahia Beach, suites

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Jaermann & Stubi St Andrews Links Golf Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

While I am sure this Jaermann & Stubi watch made specially for golf players does what it is made to do rather well - I just don't get why anyone would want it for that purpose. This timepiece, continuing the brand's tradition of making watches for golf, is dedicated to St. Andrews Links. This version will be made in platinum and limited to 18 pieces. Really? I guess so. There is said to be golf related text on the case and the watch arrives with some type of plaque (all there to help justify the price I am sure).

An example of a "fake" golf feature on the watch is the "course timer." It is really just an internal rotating bezel that is doing double work from a semantics standpoint. The brand claims to have some special shock absorbtion system in the crown for when you are playing golf. What about for the rest of the watch? Style of the watch is fine. Nothing special. Design looks a lot like a few Jeager-LeCoultre watches mixed together. Aside from the name and some imagery, the St. Andrew Links watch has nothing special for golfers - even the rare ones that do who wear watches while playing. if Jaermann & Stubi wish to get serious they will develop actual golf watches or shift the brand's focus elsewhere.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site @ aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: golf, jaermann stubi, Platinum-Games, st andrews, watch

Lamborghini and Callaway Golf Drive a New Generation of Carbon Fiber

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

You might not think there would'd be much crossover between cars and golf clubs. But you'd be wrong. Aside from golf carts on the one hand and using golf club bags as the standard American measurement for a car's trunk capacity, two of the biggest names in performance in their respective fields have come together to develop new construction methods.

The partnership between Lamborghini and Callaway Golf was announced in Paris, where the former unveiled its vision for the future in the form of the Sesto Elemento concept. While researching construction materials together at the University of Washington, the two companies found each other mutually interested in developing a new breed of lightweight, high-strength material.

The result is called Forged Composite, which they've found to be at once stronger, cheaper and more versatile than conventional carbon fiber. We've seen what Lamborghini has in mind for the material. Callaway Golf, meanwhile, plans within the year on phasing in Forged Composite drivers, which they expect will net an 8-yard longer drive than the market-leading titanium drivers which they'll replace.

Tags: callaway, callaway golf, carbon fiber, carbon fibre, forged composite, golf, golf clubs, lamborghini

Justin Timberlake Re-Opens Eco-Friendly Golf Course

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green, Celebrity Design

Justin Timberlake started the week in his home state of Tennessee. The multi-talented star was at his Mirimichi golf course in Millington, Tennessee for the ribbon cutting of the new Mirimichi Performance Center on Monday. The course had been closed in January for renovations. Mirimichi was once known as the Big Creek golf course; the name Mirimichi means "place of happy retreat." The par 72 golf course underwent an eco-friendly upgrade that added more wetlands and native plants. Timberlake wrote on Twitter that also the course had received the GEO (Golf Environmental Organization) Award for 1st certified "green" golf course, an honor he deemed as "pretty damn cool." The first phase of the project cost $16 million. At the opening Timberlake joked that he had invested in the golf course as a selfish way to have a place to play when he goes home to visit. Up next for Mirimichi is a campaign to get one of the major championships to play there. As Timberlake put it in an interview on My Fox Memphis: "we're going to wave our flag as high and proud as we can and hope that we can make some waves in that direction." Check out their video piece with Timberlake after the jump.

Tags: golf, justin timberlake, mirimichi golf course, tennessee, tennessee golf course

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A New Book About Herb Kohler And His Golf Destinations

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

I have written about Herb Kohler before on Luxist, as he expands the Kohler brand, from its historic (since 1873) identification with kitchen and bath products, furniture and accessories, engines and power generation systems to the new systems of golf and hospitality. It is an ongoing, fascinating story.

This month, the Kohler Company has published a new six book set that chronicles the history of Kohler and Golf. Entitled Golf Kohler: In The New And Old Worlds, the books highlight a quintet of courses, each with anecdotes, historic accounts and exceptional photography. It discusses the four Pete Dye courses near the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin, and the celebrated bunkers and vistas of The Duke's in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Golf Kohler: In the New and Old Worlds features the 148-page story book that recounts the company's surprising entry into the golf industry in 1988 with the opening of Blackwolf Run, to the declaration by Golf Magazine in 2000 that it was Americas #1 golf resort, and leads to present day as the host-hotel of two of golf's four majors - The Old Course Hotel for The Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, and The American Club for the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler,
Wisconsin.

Tags: golf, golf books, Golf Kohler:The Th New And Old Worlds, Herb Kohler, Kohler at Home, Kohler Company, Pete Dye, Scotland, St Andrews, The Dukes Course at St. Andrews, The Meadow Valleys At Blackwolf Run, The Old Course Golf resort And Spa, The River At Blackwolf Run, Whistling Straits

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ECCO World Class GTX - Serious Luxury Golf Shoes

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style

ECCO has released one of their most luxurious collections of mens' golf shoes ever: The ECCO World Class GTX Golf Shoes (right, $450.00).

Though those sharp soles look like they're made of solid wood, the ECCO World Class GTX Golf Shoes are actually the only leather-soled shoes offered by any major manufacturer. And don't worry, that leather is fully waterproof; it's a GORE-TEX leather wrap. Durable polyurethane (the material used to make superballs, which won't break down over time) comprises the the inside of these comfortable, attractive soles.

These elegantly cleated shoes are lined in ECCO's Second Skin Lining, which wicks moisture away from the feet. A removable insole provides comfort and climate control.

The ECCO World Class GTX Golf Shoes are currently available in combinations of brown, white and black, and are also being released in limited edition colors including purple (see gallery), metallic red and silver.

Gallery: ECCO World Class GTX Golf Shoes

Tags: cleats, ecco, ecco golf, golf, golf shoes

ECCO BIOM Yak Leather Golf Collection - Natural Motion for Golfers

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports, Men's Style

The new ECCO BIOM Natural Motion Golf Shoes were developed to make your favorite leisure activity easier on your body. The first BIOM collection shoes were running shoes, after research into the human foot revealed that it's healthier to have your foot closer to the ground than most athletic shoes allow. It turns out that excessive cushioning and "support" are actually counterproductive, as over time, they weaken the muscles and ligaments of the foot. The same applies to golf shoes, and this January, ECCO BIOM Natural Motion Golf Shoes will be hitting stores.

Far from stodgy, orthopedic-looking shoes, the BIOMs are sporty and classy, made with luxurious yak leather (a soft, thin and lightweight leather three times stronger than typical leather). The heels may look thick, but are actually partly hollow, allowing your foot to rest low to the ground for a stable, healthy platform. The sole of the shoe is made of polyurethane, the same material used to make superballs, which won't break down over time the way rubber or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) does.

The ECCO BIOM Natural Motion Golf Shoes will be available from ECCO in January for $225.00 per pair. And yes, just to reiterate, they are made of Yak and superballs.

Gallery: ECCO BIOM Golf Shoes

Tags: ECCO, Ecco Golf, golf, Golf Shoes, yak leather

Riviera Nayarit - Mexico's New Riviera Destination

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

You've doubtlessly heard of -- and perhaps been to -- Puerto Vallarta. Well, just north of there, along central Mexico's Pacific coast, is the state of Nayarit. The coast runs from the tony all-inclusive resorts of Nuevo Vallarta (very near to Puerto Vallarta in the southern part of the state), through the elite and fabulously expensive Punta Mita and up through a series of seaside enclaves catering to all classes of tourists, ending in the sleepy town of San Blas. This coastal region has recently been designated "Riviera Nayarit" and has all the makings of an up-and-coming luxury destination -- and if you're in the market for a vacation home, this area could be your best investment. Let me take you through a couple of the highlights, from the famous polo field in the hipster community to the exclusive resort where the governor likes to stay (no really, he was there when I was, and it wasn't his first time).

Gallery: Riviera Nayarit - Mexico's Latest Luxury Destination