DAKOTA DUNES, SD - Rebuilding and fixing is the goal at the Dakota Dunes Golf Course, one of many places nearly destroyed when the Missouri River flooded this summer.

As the Dunes tries to get the course back, it's a balancing act between golf and flood protection.

When the Dakota Dunes Country Club opened back up in September, there were a few things missing on that Arnold Palmer designed course, like holes 17 and 18.

"This isn't something you see every day and it is a bit of a unique challenge," says Brandon Johnson, a Senior Design Architect with the Arnold Palmer Design Company.

After a summer of flooding the Dakota Dunes Golf Course is a barren land. A levee runs right through holes 17 and 18, but now the community's working to get those holes back.

"From a flood protection standpoint, this is a starting point," says Jeff Dooley, Manager of the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District.

The work needs a balance between flood protection and golf course, as the Arnold Palmer Design Company works to rebuild what was almost lost.

"It's unfortunate that the communities had to endure that but I think we'll come out on the other side a heck of a lot better, heck of a lot stronger, and with a golf course that everybody's going to be proud of," says Johnson.

The course is a symbol for the community's fight against the Missouri River, and that community is getting back on its feet.

"The main thing is our community is back living in their homes, functioning as a community, and probably even a closer community than we were before the flood," says Dooley.

All as the Dunes Golf Course inches closer to making that barren land of this just a bad memory.

Ground work on those holes won't start until next spring, the Country Club is hoping work will be wrapped up by next fall.

As far as the town of Dakota Dunes, most of its infrastructure is back in place now.

Around half of the southern levee has been removed so far, and a lot of the dirt from that levee is being stockpiled just in case something bad happens next year.

The crowds are long gone. The "Celtic Tiger" is dead, replaced by an Irish economy that is wobbling. The world is a different place just a few years removed from the 2006 Ryder Cup Matches at The K Club.

Yet one thing remains constant: the timeless elegance of the Kildare Hotel, Spa & Country Club. The K Club, as it is known around the world, remains an Irish jewel on 550 acres just 30 minutes outside Dublin. Ireland's "AA Hotel of the Year" for 2011 has lost none of its rock-star appeal. It even hosted The Golf Channel's "Big Break" series in 2011.

The only difference, perhaps, is that staying and playing here is becoming more accessible to the masses. A "Ryder Cup Experience" package cost 220 Euros (roughly $300) this summer, including a round on both the Palmer and the Smurfit courses and a night's stay (per double occupancy).

The 2006 Ryder Cup Matches might be one the Americans want to forget -- an 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 drubbing -- but it's one the Europeans, especially the Irish, will always cherish. That keeps The K Club top of mind.

The K Club's Palmer Course

The Palmer Course will always be the draw. The marketing tool to "play where the pros play" resonates with everyday players. "It is great to play a hole you see on TV," said William Stewart, a Northern Ireland resident traveling with Marshall's group. "You can't go to Wembley Stadium and kick a goal, but you can play a Ryder Cup course."

The River Liffey creates much of the dramatic theater on the 7,350-yard Palmer Course. Water comes into play on 14 holes. An overriding theme defines every par 4: Your reward for a good drive is a white-knuckle approach. The second shots at No. 1, No. 6 and No. 7 must carry water. More water hazards flank the greens at No. 11 and No. 13. Any par-3 tee shot can get wet.

The finishing stretch snakes along the River Liffey. The river isolates the narrow green from the fairway at the 570-yard 16th, demanding precision on the second or third shot. The shape of the fairway and river creates the "Half Moon" curves of the short, tight, par-4 17th. A lake and four bunkers pinch the 18th green in the shadow of the clubhouse.

Dublin resident Gary McCluskey said it is always a treat to walk these hallowed grounds. "It is a challenging course, but it can be forgiving," he said. "There is not deep rough, but it gets progressively harder. It is still respected and revered. It still has the same aura of the Ryder Cup."

The K Club's Smurfit Course

Most secondary resort courses play second fiddle, but the 7,277-yard Smurfit Course doesn't taste like leftovers. It hosted 13 Smurfit European Opens from 1995-2007. The pros can attest that the Palmer-designed Smurfit plays several shots tougher than the older Ryder Cup course. Water, gorse and large bunkers with extended fingers can mess up a scorecard, especially on the back nine.

The Smurfit signature is the par 5s. The 603-yard third starts off with a blind tee shot more common on a links than a parkland course. The seventh is the prettiest hole on the property, even if it is a bit manufactured. The "Swallow Quarry," where 60-foot rock walls rise out of a lake, guards the entire right side. The man-made rock face was conceived by K Club co-owner, Dr. Michael Smurfit, and brought to life by the "Jurassic Park" set designers.

A monster par 5 of 578 yards finishes the round by bending left along a lake toward Swan Island, an island green.

The K Club: The resort

There aren't many finer historic treasures than the Kildare Hotel, the first place in Ireland to be named a Five Red Star Property by AA. The early origins of the Staffan House date to 550 A.D. The east wing of the hotel, built in 1832, was inspired by a French chateau at Louveciennes west of Paris. The Italian tower was added later.

The house, purchased in 1988 by the Jefferson Smurfit Group, opened as the 36-bedroom K Club in 1991. An additional 33 bedrooms, garden and courtyard suites, conference facilities and the K Spa were constructed later.

The Staffan House doubles as an art gallery. Many of the paintings and statues are Irish classics collected by Smurfit. The Yeats room pays tribute to the work of Irish Expressionist, J.B. Yeats. The River Room, one of several bars and restaurants at the K Club, serves food good enough to match its three exquisite paintings and decor.

The guest rooms in the Staffan House (none of which are the same) have the feel of suites at other resorts. The sheer size and comforts of the marble bathrooms never goes unnoticed by guests. "The size of the room is massive and with beautiful furnishings," said Norm Marshall, a recent guest from Florida. "It's rare to have a real oil painting in your room."

Relaxation comes in the form of fly fishing on the River Liffey or a visit to the 20,000-square-foot K Spa, which has seven treatment rooms and two larger couple's suites. Guests and members can use the pool and health center. Horseback riding and clay shooting are available as well.

October 7, 2011
Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed more than 400 courses and golf destinations for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Click here to read his golf blog.

In a recent review of Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Jason Scott Deegan wrote

"Playing the 27 holes of Bay Hill without a tour card requires an invitation from a member or a stay in its 64-room lodge. The added expense of spending the night is well worth the chance to tee it up at a place so steeped in history. Tennis courts, a health club, a luxury spa and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy make Bay Hill feel more like a resort getaway than just a private club.

Playing where the pros play is no marketing sham. It's a thrill to tee it up at PGA Tour stops, especially dynamic layouts like Bay Hill. The course features arguably the second-best three-hole finish in Florida (behind the TPC of Sawgrass Stadium course). The chance to run into 'Mr. Palmer' and shake his hand just adds to the allure."

For more information about Bay Hill Club & Lodge, click here.

About OrlandoGolf.com
OrlandoGolf.com, part of GolfChannel's TravelGolf network of sites, offers golfers a complete online guide to the best in Orlando golf. Golfers can book Orlando tee times, plan an Orlando golf vacation, book a room in central Florida's top resorts, learn about the best golf courses in the area, plan a corporate golf outing, and more.

About Golf Channel
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. Exclusive partnerships with the world's top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf's best news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel's digital platform of businesses is led by www.GolfChannel.com, a leading golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.

T.J., Tony Martell's son for whom the Foundation is named, was an avid golfer in high school with a single-digit handicap. Before passing away, he considered Arnold Palmer to be one of his greatest heroes. He followed Palmer with great interest and should be considered a member of Arnie's Army, if not in body then surely in spirit.

"For a short time, engrossed in Arnie's book, I had T.J. back with me - excited as the golf loving teenager he was. Being a music company executive I had the opportunity to introduce T.J. to many rock stars, but his idol, throughout all his high school and college years was always Arnie Palmer." said Tony Martell, Chairman & Founder. "Mr. Palmer embodies the spirit, generosity, and hope of my beloved T.J., making November 3rd the high point of all our past Gala honorees."

For nearly a half century, Arnold Palmer's charismatic personality, swashbuckling style of golf and unfailing sense of kindness and thoughtfulness have endeared him to millions throughout the world.

Palmer and his late wife Winnie have supported numerous philanthropic causes, including serving as honorary national chairman of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation for 20 years, nature conservation, cancer prevention and women's and children's health. He has founded the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Medical Center in Orlando, Florida where the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies are located, which in just over two decades has risen from a community hospital serving Central Florida to an internationally-known health care institution, now ranked as one of the country’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report.

"This is a wonderful honor to receive from an organization that so generously gives to such an admirable cause." said Palmer. "I am so pleased, especially for the relationship our hospital and community hope to establish with the T.J. Martell Foundation."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Even two years later, the renovation of the Bay Hill Club & Lodge continues to be praised and cherished.

Critics have blasted changes at some other high-profile tournament courses -- notably Dubsdread at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club near Chicago and the West Course at the Wentworth Club in England -- but not Bay Hill.

"The most telling things are the greens," said Roy Saunders, the vice president at Bay Hill. "That is where you receive your criticism or accolades. Everybody loves the greens. The grass is really doing very nicely. They have really matured well this summer. They are thick, smooth and roll nice."

Bay Hill's tournament-quality greens

With the new grass, members and guests enjoy tournament-quality greens almost year-round. Matt Beaver, Bay Hill's superintendent, said today's greens require less off-season maintenance, reducing the number of annual aerifications from three or four down to two.

Bay Hill General Manager Ray Easler said the greens receive shots better. He also noted their more-subtle slopes are a fairer test of golf.

"It takes a couple years for new greens to take hold, so you can manicure them how you like," he said. "This grass has done a great job the past couple years. We are really pleased with the choice.

It is a strong grass. It takes the heat and maintenance well. It takes over-seeding extremely well, and it comes back. That's all in the plus column."

Rewind to 2010 during the first Arnold Palmer Invitational, where players were immediately smitten with the changes.

Phil Mickelson, normally quite outspoken, said "everything was changed for the better." Mickelson was especially happy the fourth and 16th holes transitioned back into the risk-reward par 5s of the past.

Ernie Els, the 2010 champion who has taken heat for his work as a designer at Wentworth Club, was especially kind, calling the course brilliant.

"The shaping is different," Els said then. "The bigger bunkers, you know, they have the edges that flow through the bunkers. I think it's very well designed. Some of the new green complexes are good. They (create) really tough pin positions. I mean, 11-under won. I know I was 14-under through 67 holes, but, you know, for a par 72, 11-under winning, that's pretty good.

"That's where, as a designer, that's where you want the winning score to be."

Bay Hill Club & Lodge: The verdict

Scott Wellington, the tournament director of the Invitational, admits he was surprised to hear such glowing reviews so early.

Flash-faced bunkers provide definition that may have been lacking. And the newly shaved areas around the greens, at holes 1-6 and 10-18, add a whole new dimension of shot-making that is easier for amateurs but requires more precision and thinking from pros.

Wellington said the revamped version of Bay Hill isn't necessarily tougher, even though the course throws more sand than ever at players. He indicated Palmer isn't looking at other changes, but added, "You never know."

"Mr. Palmer is always looking to do subtle tweaking, but to do anything significant, (I think) the golf course stands up on its own," Wellington said. "To add a tee or lengthen a tee where we have room to do that, I think those are the kinds of things Mr. Palmer looks at year in and year out."

HILTON HEAD, SC - Hilton Head Island Mayor Drew Laughlin has ordered an Arnold Palmer.

Mayor Laughlin proclaimed October 20, 2011 "Arnold Palmer Day" on Hilton Head in conjunction with Palmer's return to the island for the grand reopening of the Wexford Plantation golf course.

"Our town and community are committed to excellence in all that we do," said Mayor Laughlin, "and nothing exemplifies this better than Arnold Palmer and Wexford's new golf course."

Thursday morning, Palmer landed on the island aboard his Cessna Citation, accompanied by members of his design team, and following a tour of the new Wexford golf course that now bears his name, struck a ceremonial tee shot and entertained during a lunch and media event.

Palmer first made his mark on Hilton Head in 1969, when he captured the PGA TOUR's inaugural Heritage Classic on then brand-new Harbour Town Golf Links - his victory lending invaluable credibility to a tournament, a golf course and an entire island.

Now, Arnold Palmer Design Company (APDC) has added to his legacy on the island again by putting its signature stamp on the Wexford Plantation golf course. In this dynamic pairing, Palmer and his team brought their design style to a unique and elegant, 525-acre golf, yachting and tennis community in the heart of Hilton Head's bustling south end.

The 18-hole Wexford course was originally designed by Willard C. Byrd and opened in 1983. Wexford celebrated its first 25 years in the spring of 2008 and recently spent $3.9 million renovating its comfortably elegant, traditionally Coastal-style clubhouse strategically located facing Broad Creek's Marshlands and Wexford's picturesque private marina isolated by one of only three lock systems on the east coast of the United States. The club shut down its golf course for renovation in April and has now reopened as an Arnold Palmer Signature Course.

The new design winds through a magnificent display of stately southern residences within the plantation and is brilliantly blended with the natural setting to provide a meticulously maintained journey through tall, majestic Oaks and stately Pines, over intimate ponds and next to expansive Coastal Marshland to offer a unique but special experience.

Following the APDC renovation, each hole at Wexford now presents a distinctive look, challenge, or strategy in the form of risk and reward situations, heroic shots, preferred angles of approach or delicate plays that require thought, imagination and a deft touch. Width may be friend or foe depending on the slopes and angles between a golfer and their target.

APDC also renovated the Wexford driving range and golf practice area, mirroring the renovation of the golf course by adding enhanced tee space and target greens, while also improving visibility.

APDC has developed a worldwide reputation for designing golf courses that are unique and special. The firm is known for using the natural beauty of the land making each golf course compelling and authentic, featuring its own characteristics - a trait that made the company particularly attractive to the Wexford membership owners.

Considering Wexford's diverse membership - plenty of working professionals, 100-plus children, active boaters, tennis players, croquet players, golfers and retirees - the club wanted a golf course where three generations of members can play and have fun. APDC oversaw a fun and imaginative, complete remodel of the golf course.

Without sacrificing its character, APDC has allowed the Wexford golf course to fit the property naturally and provide the layout a more timeless feel and style. Palmer's design company has transformed the playing strategy, characteristics and look of the Wexford layout, while also incorporating design changes that have improved drainage and will reduce maintenance costs.

"Our intent was to create a new design in the spirit and tradition of America's classic golf courses and bring a modern interpretation or twist to their enduring standard and a few select template holes such as The Road Hole, Redan, Alps or Biarritz," said APDC Senior Architect Brandon Johnson, lead designer on the Wexford project.

Added APDC Senior Architect Thad Layton "Wexford is by no means a replica course, we take inspiration from certain places and our inspiration for the Wexford Plantation remodel is founded in traditional and classic Golf Course Architecture."

The Wexford renovation encompassed repositioning and reorienting tee complexes, significant bunker removal and strategic old/new bunker placement and modifying, along with tree removal, to increase sun exposure and widen fairway corridors. APDC also added more character to the greens and surrounding complexes, which now provide an enjoyable challenge featuring roll-offs, roll-ons and strong visuals.

"We wanted to give the golfer several options of play off the tee and around the greens to cause him or her to think about their upcoming shot," Johnson said. "By significantly reducing the amount of bunker space, repositioning them in more visible and strategic locations and widening the fairways we were able to add a previously missing strategic element to the golf course while allowing more room and avenues of play for the higher handicap player."

Since its inception in 1972, APDC has designed approximately 300 golf courses around the world that are acclaimed for their individually unique styles. In addition, the company is widely recognized among the preeminent experts in the field of renovation work, highlighted by its remodeling of world-renowned tournament venues such as Pebble Beach and Bay Hill.

While Wexford will stand as the only Arnold Palmer Signature Course on Hilton Head, this will not be Palmer's first design in the Lowcountry. APDC also designed Crescent Pointe in Bluffton, S.C., along with internationally renowned Old Tabby Links on nearby Spring Island.

"We are delighted to be back in the Lowcountry to create a special and unique golf experience for the membership at Wexford," said Mr. Palmer. "We hope the strategy, options and variety of play challenge your intellect and allow you to find the best ways to navigate the course based on your personal game. Wexford is a special place to us and we enjoyed the responsibility of remaking this exceptional club."

Deacon's Lodge
Breezy Point, Minn.
6,964 yards, par 72
Green fees: $79-$114
866-801-2951
grandviewlodge.com

Arnold Palmer may have learned the game from his father in Latrobe, Pa., but Minnesota is where he built a course named for the man. Opened in 1999, the Deacon's Lodge course is the most demanding and popular layout at the Grand View Lodge resort, two hours north of Minneapolis. Built on 499 secluded acres, the almost completely wooded layout feels more like a private club. Extremely wide fairways lead to larger than average greens, and waste bunkers are prevalent throughout. Swirling winds provide another obstacle, as do a handful of wilderness lakes that some tee shots are required to carry.

Accommodations include 198 rooms, ranging from those at the log cabin that serves as the main Grand View lodge (located 15 miles from the course) to 10 multiple-bedroom deluxe cabins on-site. Be sure to try the chili blanco, a favorite of locals in the clubhouse, and don't forget to check out the Palmer photos and memorabilia on the walls. For a son who made a life out of golf, Arnie couldn't have picked a better place than Deacon's Lodge as a tribute to the man who introduced him to the game.

Read more:
http://blogs.golf.com/trips/2011/09/top-100-you-can-play-up-close-deacons-lodge-at-grand-view.html

SAN ANTONIO -- Although the Texas Open is no longer played at the Westin La Cantera Resort, the association still remains intact. Of course, the PGA Tour event event was played on Westin La Cantera's Resort Course for 15 years, but the other course at this Texas Hill Country resort, the Palmer Course, isn't suffering from an identity crisis.

"But the better players really like the Palmer Course," Shields said. "Among the locals, it's probably about 50-50 between the two."

The Palmer is a shotmaker's course

The Resort Course, which was designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, has more generous landing areas than the Palmer, and it's also a little easier on and around the greens.

The Palmer Course has more dramatic elevation changes (though the Resort Course has plenty of those as well) and certainly more blind shots, which can throw first timers for a loop.

Fortunately, the golf carts are equipped with GPS, which not only gives players a good idea of where they need to hit the ball but shows other carts on the golf course as well.

Still, the star of the Palmer Course is the elevation changes and the views. Nowhere in San Antonio are there more panoramic shots. In fact, the Westin La Cantera sits on the highest point in the Alamo City, and even though the Palmer Course is separated by a quarter of a mile from the resort, it shares the vistas.

One of the best views can be had on the 10th green of an uphill, dogleg-right par 4 that wraps around a deep ravine. The view off the tee is a little more obstructive. Players just need to know to keep the tee shot left, because anything to the right will find said ravine.

You'll also find dramatic views on the ninth and 18th, both of which wind up in front of Palmer's separate clubhouse. The ninth is another dogleg right that plays over a cascading creek. The 18th is a long, downhill par 4 that drops some 200 feet and plays to a green over a series of ponds and streams.

Palmer Course promotion at La Cantera

As part of the 10-year anniversary celebration, the Westin La Cantera has been offering a special $69 rate Monday through Thursday and $79 rate Fridays through Sundays on the Palmer Course. Guest fees include lunch and iced tea in the clubhouse, which is known for its excellent food. Players who take advantage are also awarded a $20 bounce-back coupon good for the rest of 2011.

Westin La Cantera's Arnold Palmer Course: The verdict

The Resort Course at La Cantera has a good bit of elevation change, but it's nothing compared to the Palmer Course. The 6,926-yard par-71 Palmer Course has hundreds of feet of rise and fall, affording great views of San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.

The layout puts a premium on accuracy, and there are some holes where length is important, too. In short, the Palmer is definitely more difficult than the Resort Course. Not only do you have to pull the right club, but you must negotiate some blind shots, miss greens on the correct side and be patient.

But the best thing about the Palmer Course is that it's totally different than La Cantera's other course. It even has its own clubhouse, a magnificent stone structure that overlooks the scenic 18th and ninth holes. And hanging out at the Palmer Grille, where you can dine on a great menu after your round, is highly recommended.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Walt Disney World Resort and Arnold Palmer Golf Management signed a twenty-year strategic alliance today to create even more magic for Disney golfers. Arnold Palmer Golf Management will operate, manage, maintain and help promote all five Disney courses including Disney’s Palm and Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista, Osprey Ridge and Oak Trail golf courses.

“After 40 years as a golf course architect, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to contribute to Disney’s rich and storied golf legacy,” said Arnold Palmer. “I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of memories playing golf and it will be a great reward to pass that on to those who share a passion both for Disney and the game of golf.”

With an extensive following of serious golf enthusiasts, Arnold Palmer Golf Management is known for its excellent course conditions, pace of play, service standards and player development. In addition to course operation, the company also manages “Palmer Advantage”, a reciprocal club and concierge service program, that provides members with unique travel benefits and access to more than 250 private clubs, resorts and golf courses around the world.

“Drawing on Arnold Palmer Golf Management’s expertise and experience enables us to build on our mutual strengths and extend our appeal both among leisure players and avid golfers,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises. “We’re excited about this new collaboration, which will benefit Disney guests and Palmer Advantage club members wanting a destination golf experience.”

The agreement gives Arnold Palmer Golf Management an opportunity to add a uniquely Disney, family-friendly golf destination to its portfolio of more than 65 private clubs and championship golf courses. Disney Golf will be promoted within the Palmer Advantage network of golf devotees, through a dedicated web site and featured within the exclusive publication, “Kingdom Magazine,” which celebrates Mr. Palmer’s contributions to the game of golf and extensive philanthropic ambassadorship.

“With a reputation for service excellence and exceptional family entertainment, Walt Disney World is an ideal complement to our member offerings,” said Jim Hinckley, president of Arnold Palmer Golf Management. “This collaboration will give our members both a superior golf experience and a one-of-a-kind family golf vacation.”

Since Walt Disney World opened with two 18-hole courses in 1971, golf has been a key component of the resort. Over the past four decades, Disney World has hosted professional and amateur golf tournaments, including one of the longest-running events in PGA Tour history – the PGA Tour’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic. Disney has also hosted the LPGA Tour, NCAA golf championships and dozens of celebrity golf tournaments.

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About Disney Golf
Walt Disney World Resort is one of the largest golf resorts in the country with a total of 81 holes on four 18-hole championship courses and a 9-hole family-play course. All five courses are certified by Audubon International as cooperative wildlife sanctuaries. The resort includes:

• Disney’s Magnolia course -- Named for its 1500 magnolia trees, this course is one of the two original golf courses that opened with Walt Disney World Resort forty years ago. Designed by Joe Lee, the course has hosted final round play for PGA Tour events since 1971.
• Disney’s Palm course –Designed to accentuate the natural beauty of the land, the course opened in 1971 near Magic Kingdom. Recognized as one of America’s premier resort courses, it is anticipated that Disney’s Palm will be renovated to earn the designation of an Arnold Palmer designed course.
• Lake Buena Vista course – Built in 1972, the course adjacent to Downtown Disney and Saratoga Springs Resort stretches to 6,829 yards from the championship tees. As a past host for PGA, LPGA and USGA tour stops, the beautifully conditioned course is a challenge for pros and amateurs alike.
• Osprey Ridge course – Designed by Tom Fazio in 1992, the course will transition to Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort as part of their new luxury resort anticipated to open in 2013-14.
• Oak Trail course – one of Disney‘s most popular courses, this nine hole walking course is ideal for golfers of all ages and skill levels.

About Arnold Palmer Golf Management
Arnold Palmer Golf Management is owned by Dallas based Century Golf Partners, one of the leading and most experienced companies in the golf industry. Established to acquire and manage country clubs, resorts, and daily fee golf courses, Century has become one of the most respected companies in the country. Century’s business approach is to be a business partner, not just an operator. They have a successful track record of partnering with owners, members, and communities to help clubs and golf courses succeed. Their business philosophy has served them well as the portfolio under Century’s management has steadily increased over the past several years. Today, Century operates more than 65 courses and clubs. Century offers its club members unique traveling and local membership benefits called the “Palmer Advantage”, which provides access to clubs, resorts and daily fee courses throughout the Arnold Palmer Golf Management network. For more information visit Century’s websites at www.centurygolf.com or www.palmergolf.com.

The distinctive 18-hole championship course features a front nine that plays like Scottish Links with sand, water and rolling terrain and a back nine that rolls through a jungle forest of pine. The 17th hole, its signature, has nine bunkers leading up to a green that sits on a plateau 100 feet from the ocean.

The Palmer Course is the home to an annual event on the LPGA Tour. The course surrounds a wetland preserve known as the Punaho'olapa Marsh, which is home to many endangered Hawaiian birds.

The Westin La Cantera is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Palmer Course, a championship 18-hole layout designed by legendary player Arnold Palmer and the Arnold Palmer Design Co.

In a recent phone conversation with staff writer Richard Oliver, the 81-year-old Palmer looked back on the work done on the 6,998-yard course and its place on the storied landscape of Texas golf.

Read the full story

This happens any number of times a day, five days a week, at the house The King built, where Palmer shows up to work every morning, his trusty golden lab by his side. Dogs aren't allowed at Bay Hill, but Mulligan is tight with the owner.

There are very few living legends so intimately and comfortably connected to the public as Palmer is. It's why he has such an enduring legacy that has transcended golf for more than a half century. Even if you're not old enough to remember that whirling dervish swing and those 83 career victories around the world, chances are you've heard of an Arnold Palmer -- a half iced tea, half lemonade beverage.

Palmer is as much one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game as he is an icon. On the golf course, he made just over $3.6 million in official earnings in his career. Off it, he earned $36 million in 2010 alone, according to Golf Digest.

Still, for a guy who could call a palace home Palmer has modest digs -- a condo on the Bay Hill property he shares with his second wife -- and he starts his day a lot like you.

"Well, I get up," Palmer quips when asked what a typical morning entails.

It's that regular-guy approach that is the central theme behind Palmer's massive appeal. During his playing days, it was also his hard-charging style, good looks and charisma. That's what wooed television audiences to golf in the 1950s and '60s and set the stage for everyone who followed.

Palmer won his first of seven career major championships at the 1958 Masters and two years later became the first client of the late Mark McCormack, who went on to form International Management Group, now known simply IMG, which would become the largest sports and talent representation agency in the world.

Now Palmer spends the majority of his days making ceremonial appearances, overseeing the business of Bay Hill and his club in his native Latrobe, Pa., his golf course design company of the same name and a number of other ventures. At 81 years old, he's as spry as ever.

"This morning we've had numerous people in to say hello and get some autographs. And then I just work," Palmer says from behind his desk overlooking his kingdom. "I sign a lot of stuff here, I do contracts, review business deals, talk about future outings, and I review the business of the club here and in Latrobe. I review almost everything."

He also signs everything -- and anything. Once at an autograph signing in Arizona, a man sat down, took off his prosthetic leg and passed it forward. Palmer signed it with that unmistakable and incredibly recognizable signature (a lost art these days). When a member of his staff suggested he'd probably never signed one of those, Palmer said, "Oh yes I have."

As he's oft to do, Palmer drops by his design company on this particular day, just down the steps and across the parking lot from his office. It's not long before he is at a drawing table, asking one of the architects what they've got going on with a particular rendition.

"Mr. Palmer is very hands on," a member of his team says. "And I think he likes to get out of the office upstairs."

Golf course design is one of the many areas in which Palmer has become a brand name. Though the business has been hit particularly hard in recent years due to the economy, the APDC has projects and courses in 27 countries and 37 states in the U.S. Palmer got his start in the design business during a three-year stint in the Coast Guard.

"While I was in training, the commander of the base knew that I was a golfer and he suggested I try to make a little nine-hole course on the base so the guys during their spare time would have an opportunity to play golf," Palmer says. "It was pretty rough but for some of the guys it gave them an opportunity to go out and hit golf balls and create games to occupy their spare time. It was never really finished because I was transferred, but they still played it and had fun on it for a few years after."

Palmer gets a twinkle in his eye when he talks about his Coast Guard experience, much the same way he does when discussing flying, another passion of his. On one of the tables in the design company office is a model of the Citation X he piloted up until earlier this year, when he took his final flight after logging more than 50 years and 20,000 hours of time in the cockpit.

"That [final flight] was a bittersweet situation," Palmer said. "I enjoy flying and I still enjoy it. I think I'll still keep some hand in it but the business end of it and everything else has convinced me I should slow down and enjoy the back of the airplane. That's going to be very difficult for me. I hope I can be comfortable sitting in the back but I'm not sure that I will be."

Palmer has more pressing issues, though. "I've got some work to do this afternoon," he says before disappearing back to his office for a couple of hours.

But it's not long before Palmer is stopped outside the lodge. After all, someone wants to get his autograph and take a picture.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- You set money aside for months, got the time off work and promised the old lady a new backyard deck when you return.

Of course you're going to take a crack at the island fairway shortcut on the famous "Gambler" hole at King's North.

The main draw among three golf courses at Myrtle Beach National, King's North steals headlines for it's ingenuity of the par-5 sixth, which can stake claim as arguably the signature hole of the entire destination.

Originally opened in 1973 and designed by Arnold Palmer and Frances Duane, King's North was entirely redesigned and renovated in 1996, adding such enhancements as the sixth. It was done so to keep up with Myrtle Beach's changing identity, during the height of the area's makeover, moving from a bargain golf destination to being able to suit every class of golfer. The course has six sets of tees up to 7,017 yards. It's also a favorite choice for women players, thanks to two of the five sets of tees rated for women.

It's succeeded marvelously, and remains one of the top plays for the money and one of the most played premium courses along the Grand Strand.

The adjacent West Course and South Creek at Myrtle Beach National remain largely the same since the debut in the '70s, serving as shorter, easier value plays. Either course makes for a suitable warm-up to King's North if you're after a 36-hole day, especially the West, which has a similar parkland feel through Carolina pines and bent grass greens.

Beyond the "Gambler," King's North remains one of the Grand Strand's top plays, thanks to risk-reward shot making and plenty else. It features smooth, bent grass greens and is entirely void of real estate surrounding any holes. It's also beautifully manicured at every turn. Waste bunkers, palmettos and azaleas that bloom during the peak spring months. The course may be off Highway 501 and well away from the saltwater marshes and Intracoastal Waterway, but it's still plenty scenic in its own right.

Though fairways are generally wide, the course is certainly penal. There are many water carries off the tee, including all four par 3s, which have greens guarded by water in front. That includes the back nine's signature hole, the par-3 12th hole island green with an "S" and "C" bunker left of the green. Plenty of other shots on the course are sure to challenge off-season swings too, heightened by the 18th: featuring 42 bunkers and a pond right of the green to ensure no one goes home with a lucky par.

One trait worth noting in Palmer's design, there are far more dogleg lefts than rights. So if your shot is a draw off the tee, consider upping the bet on the first tee among your playing partners - and cut me a commission check when you win.

Arnold Palmer recently decided that he would not renew his pilot's license after more than 50 years of aviation success and excitement, but that doesn't mean he ever tires of piloting the direction of another of his passions - overseeing one of the most prestigious events on the PGA TOUR, the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.

"Every year I think of something that I want to do a little better, and every year that makes me look forward to bringing everyone back to Bay Hill Club," Palmer says with a big smile.

"We were very happy with the changes, how those changes made a difference in how the players handled the golf course, and we were very happy that the players seemed pleased with what we did. That was all good news for us," says Palmer, who cautions that anything he changes now is in the vein of refinement.

"The larger work is done," he says. "That doesn't mean we can't do a couple of little things - though I don't plan to make it any harder. We've looked at some sand traps, and we're leveling those up a bit, and we'll scrutinize here and there to make sure everything is as good as it can be. I'm happy with what we've got now. If there is one surprise to it all, I thought the scores (last year) would be a lot lower."

Former U.S. Open and British Open champion Ernie Els won his second title at Bay Hill, making a series of clutch putts down the stretch to close with a 1-under-par 71 and 277 total, good for a two-stroke victory over Edoardo Molinari and Kevin Na. The tournament finished on Monday after inclement weather forced a suspension of the final round. The extra day only added to the drama.

"I'll tell you, Ernie Els played a very good golf tournament, and he needed to because they were on him," Palmer says. "It was a very exciting finish."

Also exciting to Palmer is the continued growth of the tournament's charitable initiatives and its beneficiaries, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. As Palmer says, playing golf isn't high on his list anymore but he loves remaining in the game to be able to accomplish other goals.

"Most of the stuff that we think about these days is being done is in line with the hospital and how we can keep that energy going, the interaction between the club, the tournament and the hospital," Palmer says. "The hospital is growing, the things they are doing, the technologies that are developing, are all very important things. How to keep that charity growing... we keep pushing it hard, and people are so generous. That gives us a lot to do, but good things."

"We continue to work hard all year long to ensure that Mr. Palmer's philanthropic vision is carried out, and that means strengthening the tournament's relationship with our benefiting charities, the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation," said Scott Wellington, tournament director. "It will be clear to see that work in action during the weeks leading up to and through the event this year."

Palmer says his passion for golf hasn't changed. But the manner in which he enjoys it has evolved. "You know, I don't play Bay Hill like I used to, but what I enjoy now is watching how the players, when they come here to the tournament, handle the challenges of Bay Hill," Palmer says. "I just wish I could still be out there with them, but what I'm doing now is OK, too. What I'm doing is still special, and it will always be special."

For tickets to the 2011 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard or for more information, call the Bay Hill Club ticket office at 407-876-7774 or toll free at 1-866-764-4843, or visit us on the Internet at www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com. Tournament proceeds benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - Arnold Palmer first made his mark on Hilton Head in 1969, when he captured the PGA Tour's inaugural Heritage Classic on then brand-new Harbour Town Golf Links. Now, Arnold Palmer Design Company (APDC) will add to his legacy on the island again by putting its Signature design stamp on the Wexford Plantation golf course.

In this dynamic pairing, Palmer and his team will bring their design style to a unique and elegant, 525-acre golf, yachting and tennis community in the heart of Hilton Head's bustling south end. The 18-hole Wexford course was originally designed by Willard C. Byrd and opened in 1983. Featuring five sets of tee boxes that offered a short course of 4,800 yards up to 6,887 yards from the longest tees for a par of 72, the tight, tree-lined design of the golf course winds through the plantation and through the years has provided a meticulously maintained, scenic tour.

Arnold Palmer, Thad Layton (left) and Brandon Johnson (right)
discuss the Wexford vision on an on-site visit.

Wexford celebrated its first 25 years in the spring of 2008 and recently spent $3.9 million renovating its comfortably elegant, traditionally Coastal-style clubhouse. In April, the club will be shutting down its golf course for renovation with the plan to reopen as an Arnold Palmer Signature Course the first week of October.

Jim VanBuren, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at Wexford, said APDC will immediately begin work on the Wexford driving range and golf practice area - mirroring the renovation of the golf course - by adding improved tee space and target greens, and improving visibility.

VanBuren noted that APDC has developed a worldwide reputation for designing golf courses that are all unique and special. The firm is known for using the natural beauty of the land making each golf course compelling and authentic, featuring its own characteristics - a trait that made the company particularly attractive to the Wexford membership owners.

"Wexford has a very diverse membership," VanBuren said. "We have plenty of working families and 100-plus children, so our summers are busy. We want a golf course where three generations of members can play and have fun. We know that's what the Palmer design team brings to the table, and that working with our golf course superintendent, Brian Murray, the golf course will be maintained at a championship level."

At Wexford, APDC will oversee a complete remodel of the golf course. Without sacrificing its character, APDC will allow the Wexford golf course to fit the property naturally and provide the layout a more timeless feel and style. Palmer's design company says it will transform the playing strategy, characteristics and look of the Wexford layout, while also incorporating design changes that will improve drainage and reduce maintenance costs.

"Our Wexford work will be a fun and imaginative renovation," said Erik Larsen, Executive Vice President of APDC and current president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). "We will reposition and reorient tee boxes - add a few bunkers and take many away - and we will add more character to the greens and surrounding complexes. The Wexford greens complexes will be a lot of fun with roll-offs, roll-ons and strong visuals."

Larsen pointed out that the current Wexford layout has 160,000 square feet more bunkers than greens, yet many of the expansive sand hazards serve only to penalize and don't add to the strategy. In addition, there are the tight confines of the current layout. "Those majestic oaks and pines are beautiful, but they can cause problems," Larsen said. "So we will loosen the design up some. We will reposition, move and modify the bunkers, and change shape and size, allowing greater strategic positioning for modern golfers while putting the bunkers in more strategic locations for the better player. This will also allow more room for the higher handicapper to hit it off the tee."

Since its inception in 1972, APDC has designed approximately 300 golf courses around the world that are acclaimed for their individually unique styles. In addition, the company is widely recognized among the preeminent experts in the field of renovation work, highlighted by its remodeling of world-renowned tournament venues such as Pebble Beach and Bay Hill. While Wexford will stand as the only Arnold Palmer Signature Course on Hilton Head, this will not be Palmer's first design in the Lowcountry. APDC also designed Crescent Pointe in Bluffton, S.C., along with internationally renowned Old Tabby Links on nearby Spring Island.

"We are delighted to be back in the Lowcountry and be able to put our brand on one of the great clubs anywhere," said Larsen.

About Arnold Palmer Design Company (APDC)
The Arnold Palmer Design Company is an internationally recognized leader in the golf course architecture industry. Founded in 1972, APDC has created almost 300 golf courses around the world, and has earned industry acclaim and numerous awards. Many of its courses have served as the host of USGA, PGA, Champion's, LPGA and European Tour tournaments. The company philosophy is straightforward: APDC designs beautiful golf courses in the style of Arnold Palmer that are fun to play while maintaining the utmost respect for nature. APDC is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, at Arnold Palmer's winter home, the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. For information please visit www.arnoldpalmerdesign.com.

Contact:
Brad King
king@bradkingcommunications.com
336.306.9219

Erik Larsen
erikl@arnoldpalmerdesign.com
407.876.1068