My Golf Concierge

A Time Piece for the Links, like No Other!

ty — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:01:43 +0000

At My Golf Concierge, we always talk about high-end luxury travel. Well here we have a high-end luxury watch that are reasonably priced and have the “it” factor. We present you with Eleven Eleven Watches; they come with very colorful and smashing designs inspired by the world of fashion and street wear. The watches are very fashionable for the golfer who wants to make a statement on and off the course. Whether your wearing the new Arnie Wear from Quagmire or the funky colors of Puma, you will surely be the most fashionable lad on the links.

Eleven Eleven watches was founded in 2009 and their lineup of watches come in a variety of funky and cool colors for both men and women, some of the colors include in-your-face green with yellow highlights, bright blue with orange highlights and they even have watches with camouflage dials, for the golf hunter that wants to stay fashionable while he’s hunting for his balls in the woods. Each watch comes with two interchangeable straps to change the personality of the watches within seconds and additional straps can be purchased separately, giving you even more ways to personalize your watch. The watches are equipped with Swiss movements and start at a price of $295 and can be found at Barney’s NY co-op and select Neiman Marcus stores.

Antigua Desert Dry Polo – Style and Performance Come Together

RyanD — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:41:58 +0000

AS TESTED: Antigua Desert Dry XLite Performance Polo
PROS: Lightweight, Dry, moisture resistant
CONS: Limited use in wintry conditions

From The Blog:
There are a few advantages to living in South Texas. Great food, diverse culture and best of all, year round golf! While the temperatures do occasionally drop into the 40s, for the most part its possible to play in short sleeves almost year round. So, I had no problem accepting some shirts from Antigua golf for review, and was confident I was one of the only bloggers who could test their Desert Dry technology at this time of the year. Antigua is an industry leading manufacturer of lifestyle and sports apparel, and has been for over 30 years. In the golfing space, Antigua is parent company to the Slazenger and Dunlop brands, along with offering apparel under their own private label.

Desert Dry Technology
Practically every major apparel manufacturer offers some kind of moisture control in their lineup. A few even go further by adding temperature control to the mix. Antigua, with proprietary Desert Dry fabric, brings more than simple moisture and termperature control to the mix, along with an element of style that's unmatched. Desert Dry is designed to, at a high level:

Wick away moisture and heat
Dry quicker than other fabrics
Reduce body temperature during activity
Incorporate an airflow system for breathability
Minimize body cling

Antigua also employs a unique garment piping system along the width and length of the Desert Dry polo designed to primarily increase airflow around the entire body. A secondary effect of the airflow system is that moisture is wicked away faster, leaving a more evenly dry surface. Most dry-fabric systems suffer weakness in the areas of major moisture: the armpits and chest/belly areas. Working in tandem, the Desert Dry fabric and airflow system are built to ensure saturation resistance in these critical areas.

Performance
The Desert Dry shirts fit loose through the chest, back and stomach areas while sitting a little tighter around the shoulders and sleeves. The collar sits flat against the shirt, and never rubbed or agitated my neck, as other shirts have in the past. Overall, the Desert Dry performed beyond my expectations in play. Antigua seems to understand that most avid golfers are muscular in their trapezoidal and core areas, yet do not necessarily have large arms, and they've crafted a shirt that fits the backswing better than most brands without sizing up. Golf apparel typically binds on the backswing, between the left arm and chest, creating tension and the potential for a poor swing. The key here is that while the problem can be solved by buying the next larger size, you're compromising because too much garment movement can occur during the swing, creating the same effect. Antigua has achieved quite a feat by crafting a shirt that both fits properly and does not bind during the swing. For the playing conditions, I was able to generate a decent sweat given the humid, low 70s weather we have been experiencing here in Texas. The Desert Dry certainly lived up to its name during these rounds, staying dry and cool. Breathable, the shirt seemed to dry itself off simply by walking between shots. Overall, I carried much more energy into the late holes of the round because I was not wearing a heavy, soaked polyester rag.

Conclusion
No doubt your closet is full of golf apparel that promises to stay dry, stay cool and keep you comfortable. Antigua, with the Desert Dry line of apparel, not only makes these same promises, but also delivers on them. It may be time to clean your closet out and start over for 2012, with Antigua as the cornerstone of your golfing wardrobe.

La Iguana Golf Course

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:32:06 +0000

Nestled alongside an exotic rainforest with breathtaking ocean views, the 18-hole, par-72 championship La Iguana golf course offers not only a challenging Ted Robinson-designed layout but also a spectacular gallery featuring friendly monkeys and brightly hued macaws. Your knowledgeable golf guides will be happy to point out all the beautiful Costa Rica highlights. But make no mistake; the mesmerizing scenery masks a challenging course – one well worth conquering.

Sandals Emerald Bay Resort

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:16:57 +0000

Deep within the idyllic waters of the Exumas, the brand new Sandals Emerald Bay all inclusive resort in the Bahamas brings unprecedented luxury to the easy-going rhythms of the Bahamian Out Islands. Here, a privileged enclave is designed to ensure you will feel as if you are the only ones there, where service reigns supreme and Bahamian-style architecture of elegant villas and suites harmonize with nature.

Secluded within 500 tropical acres along a pristine, mile-long beach, civilized pleasure coexists with exotic adventures, from three impressive pools —including a half-acre, zero-entry pool with dramatic fire pit in the middle — to five exceptional restaurants. Enjoy your golf vacation with a round of championship golf on a Greg Norman-designed course, voted one of the Caribbean's Best by Travel & Leisure Golf.

Relax in the first-ever 29,000 sq. ft. Red Lane® Dermalogica, an Exuma luxury spa. Explore impossibly beautiful turquoise waters renowned for their boating, fishing and diving. A unique blend of seclusion and sophistication, this exotic private escape is so easy to get to, so close to home.

Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center At Grand National

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:28:04 +0000

Named the #1 location for public golf in the country by Golf World readers, it is easy to see why U.S. News & World Report named Auburn/Opelika one of the top places to retire for golf lovers. This location offers both a great hotel and an upscale residential option.

Situated just 10 minutes from Auburn University, in the quaint historic town of Opelika, the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel and Conference Center at Grand National offers the finest, most luxurious accommodations in the area. This nationally renowned retreat is the region’s premier golf destination and lakeside resort with 54 holes of Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail golf. The majority of guest rooms in this luxury hotel and resort overlook Grand National’s golf course and Lake Saugahatchee. The hotel has 114 guest rooms and 15 luxury suites.

Renovated in 2006, this hotel has 15,000 square feet of technology-equipped event space, a business center and a 96-seat amphitheater. The hotel was named among the “Best of the Best” by ConventionSouth readers and the hotel’s chef was named “Alabama’s Top Chef”.

Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:14:13 +0000

A prime downtown location with a covered walkway to the Mobile Convention Center makes the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel a favorite for business guests. Leisure travelers will enjoy easy access to the Alabama Cruise Terminal, the home port for the Carnival Cruise Line’s Holiday ship. Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza also is a short walk from the city’s Carnival Museum, the Museum of Mobile and the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, which also features blockbuster exhibitions.

Having just undergone a $50 million renovation, the 374 plush guest rooms are as popular as the hotel’s spectacular views of Mobile Bay. The Harbor Room restaurant features exceptional seafood and steaks. Riverview Plaza features 32,000 square feet of versatile meeting, banquet and exhibit space. Mobile is the home of the country’s original Mardi Gras and parades pass in front of the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza during Carnival season.

Cancun Palace

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:50:02 +0000

Flanked by the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupte Lagoon, the property is just a short stroll from Cancun's main attractions in the famous Hotel Zone. Cancun Palace has everything you need: modern facilities and amenities have been carefully balanced to create an exclusive waterfront ambiance in this vacation enclave. Bathed in the year round sunshine, Cancun Palace features 601 beautifully appointed guestrooms displaying ocean or lagoon views from private balconies… You are invited to rediscover this resort boasting a new sense of style and faultless service.

Gainey Ranch Golf Club

ty — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:31:30 +0000

The Gainey Ranch Golf Club experience is Scottsdale golf taken to a whole new level. We set the gold standard for other Scottsdale area golf courses. Our Scottsdale golf club boasts great holes of golf designed by Michael Poellot, the former chief architect for Robert Trent Jones Jr. His craftsmanship has more than lived up to his reputation in designing each of Gainey Ranch’s golf courses.

With its lush greenery, sparkling waterways and spectacular waterfall at the ninth hole, The Lakes is both a challenging Scottsdale golf course and a delightful one. Surrounded by the indigenous desert, The Dunes course requires accuracy off the tee and a gentle touch on the greens. As the longest of the three nines, The Arroyo requires both power and placement, ending with its infamous peninsular green on No. 9. All three of our world-class golf courses combine to make Gainey Ranch the top choice for exceptional golf in Scottsdale.

Sunice Layering System – Sunny Performance in all Conditions

RyanD — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:29:58 +0000

AS TESTED: Dalkey wind and rain shell, Olie base layer

PROS: Keeps players warm and dry during cold, wet rounds. Ollie base layer is very easy to peel on and off as the weather dictates.
CONS: The Dalkey outer shell is a little pricey if you don’t play in wet conditions often

Until the early 1990’s, Sunice was a well-known ski-wear company. A pioneer in the concept of layering performance wear, their golf apparel soon became a hit on all major worldwide tours. Today they boast an impressive roster of touring professionals, most notably Mark Wilson, the 2012 Humana Classic champion. Sunice has also signed long term deals as the official outerwear licensee for the PGA Tour, PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup. Utilizing Canadian expertise of extreme weather and innovative materials, Sunice has become synonymous with quality outerwear. I was recently offered the chance to review two new items in the Sunice lineup for 2012 – the Olie base layer and the Dalkey outer shell.

Construction

Sunice is an industry leader in dry, warm golf apparel. Naturally, the construction is of the highest quality. Employing a Polyester/Spandex blend, the Olie features a fully stretchable, soft-touch layer that is perfect for damp mornings, cool days, or windy outings. Moisture-wicking properties combined with an invisible chest pocket make for a versatile layer on and off the course. For more demanding weather conditions, the Dalkey outer shell provides lightweight, waterproof relief from soggy rounds. Made with proprietary Windstopper fabric from Gore (as in Gore-Tex), the Dalkey is a cutting edge layer that will breathe easy, yet drive away wind and rain. Paired with an Ollie, you’d basically need a monsoon as an excuse not to play. The pieces are technical wonders, and can with stand far harsher conditions than anything I will threw at them for the review.

Performance
I found the fit and wear of the Olie to be superb overall. Unlike other base layers I have used, the Olie didn’t bind on full-swing shots, and was easily on and off as the weather dictated. These days, I judge the quality of golf wear by how aware of it I am while I play. The less aware I am, the better. I say that because last year I bought a really expensive shell from a major manufacturer, and I forced myself to use it because of the cost. It kept me dry and warm, but it was awkward and hindered my swing. The Olie is the opposite end of the spectrum. It fits almost like a custom piece, repels water and is adequately warm. In fact, I find myself reaching for it to drive to work in, wear around the house, etc. It’s a layer that transcends the golf course. The Dalkey rain jacket is an equally impressive piece. Although I only had the opportunity to get out with it once, the Dalkey is a heavy duty shell that is virtually waterproof. Full zipper with plenty of pockets, the outer shell created an impenetrable barrier to water, wind and anything else the weather decided to throw into my round. Because the Dalkey is not very thick, it offers the ultimate in weatherproofing without compromising any playability. Combined, the Olie and Dalkey are everything a golfer will need to battle the wintry rounds head-on.

Conclusion
It isn’t too late to pick up some quality wet weather gear, and as the snow begins to thaw and early spring rounds begin to pick up, the more prepared you are, the better. By capitalizing on adverse weather expertise, Sunice has been catapulted into the upper realm of apparel with the Olie and Dalkey outer layers. Give them a look – or be left in the cold.

It isn’t too late to pick up some quality wet weather gear, and as the snow begins to thaw and early spring rounds begin to pick up, the more prepared you are, the better. By capitalizing on adverse weather expertise, Sunice has been catapulted into the upper realm of apparel with the Olie and Dalkey outer layers. Give them a look – or be left in the cold.

_{Ryan David blogs all things golf equipment for My Golf Concierge. He can be reached via email at Ryan@GolfQuests.com}

This is not your typical Caribbean resort!

ty — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:21:19 +0000

Article written by Madison Freeman

Opened in October, Fishing Lodge features an array of amenities, including two themed restaurants, three bars, four pools, a 16th century-style stone wedding chapel, a state-of-the-art fitness center, boutique shops, and 30,000 square feet of event spaces, including a spectacular outdoor amphitheater. Additional restaurants are also soon scheduled to open.

“This is a different type of Dominican destination,” said Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the Virginia-based hotel company selected to manage the Fishing Lodge and the amenities in its village. “The style is innovative and simply stunning. The resort also offers numerous experiences within a Mediterranean seaside setting, an energetic centralized location and freedom from traditional boundaries.”

Fishing Lodge includes 299 spacious, Mediterranean-style villas with extraordinary marina views and designer furnishings. Built on low-rise docks, they range in size from executive to three-bedroom royal suites, while several feature private infinity pools and swim-out access. Guests also enjoy a secluded beach, which is a delightful two-minute ride by private watercraft, and a Jack Nicklaus Signature experience at the exclusive and nearby Punta Espada Golf Club – the top-ranked golf course in the Caribbean and Mexico.

The resort’s village-style, marina-oriented surroundings provide an array of amenities for which homeowners and residents would normally need to join several clubs to enjoy. Fishing Lodge’s impeccably decorated and furnished condominiums range in size from 850 to 4,300 square feet, and, while the majority of the residences have already been purchased, there is still a premier selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes available.

Fishing Lodge is owned by the Spanish-based company Corporacion Hotelera Del Mar and is the first property within Salamander’s Grand Resorts at Cap Cana collection. The second, Ocean Club Cap Cana, will open in 2012 as a 92-room boutique-style hotel, romantically situated where the marina meets the Caribbean Sea.

Twice the size of Manhattan, Cap Cana is an ecologically pristine, 30,000-acre exclusive retreat featuring ocean, beach, cliffs and forest. In addition to hiking trails, an unsurpassed array of water-based options and a variety of nature-based activities, it has been hailed as the “World’s Greatest New Destination.”

In addition to Punta Espada Golf Club, which features more oceanfront holes than any other layout in the Western hemisphere, the area’s numerous other courses – designed by such luminaries as P.B. Dye and Tom Fazio – create an unrivalled golf vacation destination. A second Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Las Iguanas, is currently under construction. The resort community also features another spectacular hotel – just two miles from the Fishing Lodge – the Sanctuary Cap Cana, which features a world-class spa, stunning ballroom facilities and an array of extraordinary accommodations along its pristine beach.

Unlike many other Dominican destinations which are only all-inclusive, the Fishing Lodge experience is open to all guest types and stays – from family reunions to executive group retreats. Guests can also enjoy children’s activities, boat rentals, sport fishing and nautical provisioning.

“The combination of Cap Cana’s Fishing Lodge and its marina lifestyle creates a powerful new and alluring experience – both for guests and homeowners,” said CHM President Juan Pelayo. “Salamander Hotels & Resorts is the ideal company to fulfill our vision, and to manage this incredible new destination because of its five star experiences and the vision of Founder Sheila C. Johnson.”

Article is compliments of http://www.affluentmagazine.com/articles/article/720