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 The trip can be as casual or elaborate as you like. It can involve going to Hawaii or Augusta National, or it could simply be revisiting a course from your youth that inspired you to be a better player or person. We asked five people in the golf industry with ties to the Southland to reminisce about a vacation or trip that involved golf, beauty, fun and a great time. It wasn't that difficult to get a response. After all, a day on the golf course is better than ... pretty much anything. Nicole Castrale Destination: Newport, Rhode Island LPGA player Nicole Castrale admits she's never been on a true golf vacation, though her profession has afforded her some pretty cool trips. "In some regards, playing on Tour feels like a golf vacation every week," she said. "And if I play well, I can even earn a living while being on 'vacation!'" One particular work trip that felt like a getaway was the 2006 U.S. Women's Open at Rhode Island's famed Newport Country Club. Castrale made the cut in her third professional major start, shooting an even-par 71 in the second round to earn a weekend pass at the venerable venue. "To consider it an old-school type of course is an understatement," Castrale said. "It has no sprinkler system except for on the tees and greens." Traveling with her husband, Craig, they stayed at the Marriott, located on the water and within walking distance of Newport's quaint shops and restaurants. "Newport is just a beautiful place, especially in the summer when we typically visit," said Castrale, who lives in Palm Desert. "You could spend days visiting all the different mansions or take a drive on Ocean Drive and enjoy the scenic views." Amy Alcott Destination: Kukio and Nanea, Hawaii Amy Alcott is a five-time LPGA major champion and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, so it's safe to say she knows a good thing in golf when she sees it. The Los Angeles resident found two particularly good things in Hawaii when she played Kukio and Nanea. Staying with a friend in an associate's home at Kukio, Alcott played that private course first and had nothing but positive memories of the Tom Fazio design. "It's a very special spot," she said. "It was perfectly maintained. The level of service and the ambiance are some of the finest I've ever experienced." What made Kukio even more special was the property's 10-hole executive course, which Alcott played after her round. "It was nice to have that right outside the door," she said. "I'm sure other people who own homes there probably feel the same way." Nanea, a private course designed by David Mclay Kidd, also offered a top-notch round of golf and exceptional amenities. "I was just completely impressed with the clubhouse and the ladies' locker room," Alcott said. "And they probably had the best Ahi tuna sandwich there I've ever had." Alcott, a self-proclaimed "champion Mai Tai judger," also had high praise for Kukio's version of the drink. "You have to have really good crushed ice, which they did, and really good rum, ingredients and rum topper," she said. "But you can't drink more than a couple." All told, the attention to detail was fantastic. "There's a way to do things, and then there's a way to do things," Alcott said. "This was a classy experience." David Conforti Destination: Lexington, Virginia Vacations are a chance to get away from it all, though they're also ideal times to revisit old friends and forge new memories. Such was the case for David Conforti in the spring of 2004, when he spent three days in central Virginia - the old stomping grounds for the graduate of Virginia Military Institute. "It had been 13 years since I had graduated college and played our home course as a member of our golf team," recalled Conforti, the PGA head professional at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. "It also had been that long since I had seen or played with my former golf coach, who was quite a role model for me." The fact that Conforti was able to tee it up again with his coach, Reggie Webb, at Lexington Golf and Country Club already made the vacation one to remember. What happened during their round made it impossible to forget. "On the par-3 eighth hole, Coach asks how many holes-in-one I've had," Conforti said. "When I respond 'four,' he indicates that he has the same number and concludes his statement with, 'I guess the race is on, then.'" At the par-3 14th hole, Conforti hit a 6-iron that appeared to be tracking toward the pin before it disappeared in the sun. "We walked toward the green, and about halfway to the hole, coach said I might have made mine, to which I laughed preposterously. And then we both started laughing when, upon reaching the green, I had to pick my ball out of the cup," he said. The 14th green is Lexington's highest point, offering dramatic views of the course and surrounding Shenandoah Valley. "After retrieving my ball, we both embraced and took in the gravity - and joy - of the moment," Conforti recalled. "We both headed to the following tee knowing we just lived a golf experience of a lifetime." Conforti, a fan of American history, stayed in Lynchburg and visited Lexington's George C. Marshall Museum and New Market, site of an 1864 Civil War battle in which a reserve force of VMI cadets famously defeated Union troops. Steve Carfano Destination: Augusta, Georgia A trip to the Masters was the centerpiece of a golf vacation taken by Steve Carfano in 2004. The vice president of retail for Worldwide Golf, the parent company of Roger Dunn and Golf Mart stores, went with friends who stayed the week in rented homes in a quaint Augusta housing community. They went to different homes each night, sharing stories and sampling Southern fare. Carfano, who played a round at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, South Carolina, got his first taste of Augusta National during the second round. "It's so rich in history and tradition, and it was even more beautiful than I had imagined," said Carfano, who couldn't help but recall the glories of two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, his favorite player. In addition to seeing Phil Mickelson's first major triumph, Carfano had the pleasure of witnessing Arnold Palmer's last round at Augusta. "The highlight of my day was when Mr. Palmer arrived at the par-3 12th hole at Amen Corner, with his army at his side," Carfano said. "As he had done so many times before, he executed the perfect iron shot to within 10 feet of the pin. I was delighted to be a part of the standing ovation reserved only for a moment of this significance, and I remember how appreciative and thankful he was in return." The final round that year fell on Easter Sunday, and Carfano was impressed with the cordial and respectful nature of the patrons. His group also struck up a conversation with Lee Elder, the first African-American competitor in Masters history. Carfano walked the course, watching contenders from some prime spots, eventually settling in at the 18th green for what was one of the most exciting major finishes in recent memory. "There were enormous roars from the crowds. It was amazing how fast the news of what was happening traveled up to our location through word of mouth," Carfano said. "Everyone greenside on 18 erupted in celebration when Mickelson curled in his birdie putt to win. "History was made, and we were so grateful to have shared in the experience." Jesse Ortiz Destination: Lake Tahoe As a clubmaker for Bobby Jones, Jesse Ortiz envisions concepts and ideas that help players get more satisfaction from golf. When it comes to his game, he cites Lake Tahoe as the place for getting in some rounds and relaxing with friends. "I'm fortunate that I repeat my 'best golf vacation ever' every year the week after Labor Day," said Ortiz, who has made the trip with his buddies for the past 29 years. They stay in a two-story house overlooking Plumas Pines Golf Resort and Feather River in Graeagle. "It's a large home with a big screen in the living room, Jacuzzis in two of the bathrooms and a great redwood deck for barbecuing and solving the world's problems," Ortiz said of the house, which also has views of Plumas National Forest. Ortiz and pals play four courses, including Plumas Pines, which he calls a "shotmaker's paradise." Next up is Edgewood Tahoe, regarded as one of the region's most historic and scenic venues. "It's one of the great layouts in golf. Even though you're at about 6,000 feet above sea level, the course plays long and several holes seem to go forever," Ortiz said. Clio's Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club is a favorite because of its picturesque views of Mohawk Valley and its two distinct nines - the front lined with pines and the back spread throughout a meadow. The friendly foursome concludes with a two-round tournament at Graeagle Meadows Golf Club along the Feather River. "It's not about the golf, but about the friendship," Ortiz said. "Being with my soulmates for a week every year at the same place has created a mosaic of a single vacation." |
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