Golf design solutions really do mirror the mood and expectations in a society. No where is this more true than in China. Golf has been evolving as rapidly as the country and looks to be entering its first golden age of design. Kunming is one of the best places in China to judge the state of the art in Golf Design in the "Middle Kingdom"; the city has played a key roll in golf development within China. Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort appears to have all the ingredients for a watershed design that helps ignite this golden age.

Benchmark courses have been coming along in what now appears to be 10-year intervals. 1984 saw the opening of China's first course at Chung Shan Hot spring Golf Club as Arnold Palmer working with golf visionary and business Tycoon Henry Fok produced what was literally a hand-made course. Ten years later the early flurry of golf development in Guangdong Province was punctuated by the 1994 opening of the Jack Nicklaus Signature "World Cup Course" at Mission Hills, Shenzhen.

This was indeed another milestone in golf in China and remains the centerpiece of this amazing golf Mecca. This massive project also showed that there was enough financial might within the industry for serious golf development. The nineties saw Kunming rise to prominence in China golf with the Spring City Club. The Nicklaus and RT Jones Jr. courses there established a turning point in the expectations of what was possible in China. The Club set a new standard for technical excellence in design and construction of golf courses. The fact that both courses remain some of the highest ranked in the country only serves to reinforce how important this project was.

The late 1990's saw golf continue to grow in China but the Asian recession and lack of clarity on golf permitting saw as many projects fail as succeed. This period of time also revealed the first emergence of regional pride in the golf courses of the Provinces. The coastal industrial powerhouses such as Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces all vied for the bragging rights to being China's golf hub. At the same time Yunnan, Hainan, and now Sichuan provinces as tourist magnates also sought, with government encouragement to become golf destinations. Perhaps the most significant change in golf development took place in the boardrooms, not on the design boards of China.

Golf courses no longer needed outside capital to develop. Prior to this, off-shore funding allowed for more of a "hit and run" mentality in golf development. If projects were a hit the rewards were huge; if the projects failed or failed to meet expectations developers just moved on.

With the change of development funding sources from off-shore to internal capital, the nineties ushered in the rise of the domestic real estate development companies. The industry had reached financial critical mass and architects and developers began to see innovative design, cutting edge planning and larger scale as the way to attract attention and capital to their projects. Enhanced planning has also led to a track record of social and environmental success which gave tangible proof to regulatory agencies that this sector of the real estate market was providing high quality development and strengthening the overall domestic economy. If you accept the notion of 10-year cycles as correct then we are now solidly in the third generation of golf design in China.

It is against this backdrop of evolution that the Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort is evaluated. The project began during the second generation of golf development but due to delays in approvals it was realized in the third generation. This turned out to be a huge blessing to the project. The delay occurred at a time when although second generation designs were being built like crazy, the most forward thinking companies were already traveling the globe to see the best the world had to offer in design. Second generation work had many successes but still lacked the confidence to go beyond excellent execution with a few notable exceptions. Generation three designs at the elite level reflected the fusion of past philosophy with bold new solutions that responded to technological advancement and modern play. Kunming East Lake is core golf, in mountainous terrain with rough, naturalistic detailing. It is a fusion course that takes maximum advantage of the sites' unique topography to present 18 exceptional golf holes.

Highlights of the Pure Scene Golf Club and Resort

If there is a challenge greater than playing this remarkable course it is deciding which holes to highlight. Every hole on the golf course, if removed and placed at another venue could easily become the signature hole. Whether you like the breathtaking exhilaration of standing on tees perched on ridges falling away to China's majestic Dianchi Lake, greens that hang on cliff edges, or holes that cross or wander along the edge of natural arroyo's with pinnacles that look like 40-foot terra cotta warriors, the golf course has all of this and more. Fancy a tee shot over a 300-foot deep gorge? No problem. How about Par 3's that have views that reach to infinity or are framed by majestic temples? It's available on both the front and back nine's. Bring your camera and take your time; you're in for one of the most memorable rounds of golf you have ever played.

Holes #1 and #10

Both enjoy the excellent visibility afforded by the elevated tees adjacent to the clubhouse. You have an unobstructed view from tee to green and can select a strategy for each depending upon the pin placement for the day. Both holes are forgiving in the first landing area however it becomes clear that shot accuracy is the key to low scoring on the course. The view also gives a clear indication that you have stepped onto a links inspired design. The golf course tee positions accommodate all levels of play and we recommend that you play your first rounds at a shorter distance as you get to know the course and the subtle but very demanding greens.

Hole #3

Is a dogleg right, 400 yards, with terrain that was perfect for this beautiful par 4. The hole plays over a prominent ridge and is skirted its entire length with a 300-foot drop-off along its right side. The direction of play is clear but elevation and trees hide the landing area from view. Risk and reward define the tee shot. Determine how much forced carry you can accept knowing that with the wind at your back the green, though invisible is almost reachable. This hole echos northern California's great classic coastal golf.

Hole #6

Is the final par 5 on the front nine and the first of two holes guarded by deeply eroded arroyo that would look as at home in a national park as on a golf course . This hole is all about coming as close to the canyon as possible with your tee shot to maximize your choices. The further left you fire your second shot the easier it becomes to land the ball close to the pin in regulation. Stop for a moment on the wooden bridge that crosses the arroyo. The sandstone pinnacles formed by years of natural erosion have been carefully preserved and presented to inspire the golfer with the beauty of nature's hand. A par on this hole is great and a bogey is very respectable.

Hole #8

Is the longest par 3 on the course at 230 yards but plays shorter as it is down hill. The line of flight needs to be dead straight as the fairway continues to narrow and be guarded by wicked natural dunes. A well struck shot of 150 yards will feed automatically to the green complex and collect at the lower right front of the green. This hole should be a straight forward par if played conservatively but attempt a birdie and your score can balloon to a four or five. The green is partially hidden by the naturally eroded topography and a left rear pin placement will challenge the best golfers

Hole #12

Is a par 3 over a canyon, and is certainly one of the most scenic on the course. Your view is of Lake Dianchi 300-feet below and beyond the green past a temple complex all the way back up the lake to Kunming city center. With the prevailing wind normally at your back, club selection can change at a moments notice. Always a relatively short iron shot, the bail out to the right of the green is the safe play but if the pin is hugging the left side of the green there is absolutely no margin for error or you will end up in the bunkers that guard the left side or roll through the green. This is a very scenic hole that plays a lot harder than it looks.

Hole #15

Is the only drivable par four on the course and arguably the most challenging on the golf course. The tees are set below the landing area and massive wild contours visually compress the three lines of flight to the green and make all the landing areas appear much smaller than they are. The tiny green complex rests upon a ridge and with nothing but distant mountains framing the view it further confounds the difficulty in judging the true length of the hole. Come in from the left of the green and you have a larger landing area and an easier tee shot; come in from the right and you are rewarded with a much easier approach to the green regardless of the pin placement.

Hole #16

Is and will always be one of the most unique and breathtaking holes of golf in China. This par four with tees tucked on the hillside below hole 15 green plays dramatically down hill over wild naturally eroded landscape with grasses to a generous landing area that is framed on three sides by another pinnacle-festooned dry wash canyon.

The dogleg right second shot into the long thin green is over the canyon that runs parallel to the hole from turning point to green. This hole could be included in a calendar of fantasy golf but as you stand on the tees you realize that it was careful preservation of a unique landscape that has created the hole.

This is definitely Mother Nature at her best and as you stand on the green you will once again marvel at the golfing experience you are having. This course is a must play for any golfer visiting the Kunming area.

From now until the end of October, enter a bid at arnieskingdom.com and you could win a stay in Orlando and meet the man himself.

At the end of October, the winning bidder will be invited (with a partner) to the Kingdom Cup at Bay Hill Club & Lodge an invitation-only event, hosted by Arnold Palmer. All expenses will be paid (minus flights and incidentals) and his or her bid will serve as the reserve price at a live auction to take place at the tournament. Naturally the lucky recipients will be included in the bidding process!

Please email your bid to: ms@tmcusallc.com.

Once an ultimate winner is determined, Arnold Palmer will sign and present the portrait.

"Designer Arnold Palmer had a unique challenge in building fairways atop the marsh, and this creation represents some of the best work he's done in the Midwest."

Read the full article

(HALF MOON BAY, Calif.) - Half Moon Bay Golf Links -- the world-class, 36-hole golf resort set against the dramatic cliffs of the Pacific Ocean just minutes from San Francisco and San Jose -has been named to Conde Nast Traveler's prestigious list of "Top 80 Golf Resorts."

"Conde Nast is one of the most respected and recognized names in world travel," says Mark Kendall, President of Kenmark Golf Management, which operates the golf courses. "The reader's choice ranking is a tremendous honor and validation of our world-class service, strategic golf course design and Tour-level conditioning."

Half Moon Bay Golf Links' two championship caliber layouts are noted for their dramatically different -- yet complementary -- design styles. The Old Course is an American parkland style layout originally designed by Arnold Palmer, and the Ocean Course is an Arthur Hills linksland design nationally renowned for its closing holes perched above the Pacific. The Ocean Course has been enhanced to feature a fast-and-firm playing surface tee through green that adds multiple shot opportunities and fosters short game creativity.

Located 30 minutes from San Francisco International Airport and just 45 minutes from Oakland and San Jose International Airports, Half Moon Bay Golf Links and The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay are easily accessible to the Silicon Valley's numerous corporations, major universities, and research centers. Its enviable location - hard on the Pacific Ocean in the quaint hamlet of Half Moon Bay - is the perfect escape from the area's urban landscapes.

For more information about Half Moon Bay Golf Links: www.hmbgolflinks.com; 650.726.1800.

The course at Manitou Passage Golf Club, near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, has reopened for public play.

Laid out by Arnold Palmer as Kings Challenge Golf Club in 1998, the course was bought last year by a group, led by Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead at nearby Glen Arbor, with the goal of creating a destination featuring exceptional playing conditions and unmatched service. The Arnold Palmer Design Company, Peridian International and the Wadsworth Golf Construction Company assisted with the renovation efforts.

Manitou Passage now measures 6,700 yards, a few hundred yards longer then before and is now a par-71. Each hole features five new repositioned rectangular tee boxes, a popular style from the classic architecture era of the early 20th century. Other changes include the lengthening of holes, restoration of areas with native grasses, and the clearing of trees and brush to open up vistas around the course. In addition, the green complexes, the pride of APDC, have been enhanced.

Complementing the course renovations, the clubhouse and entrance facilities have also been renovated. The new clubhouse features a beautiful stone and cedar shake exterior with an attractive porch area where guests can view shots into the 18th hole. The inside of the clubhouse features a warm, rich interior design including a stone fireplace, leather sofas and open-air ceilings that expand from the new entrance area, dining area and golf shop. The upgrades also include new locker rooms.

Manitou Passage Golf Club are also offering a variety of golf packages through The Homestead. For more information, call (888) 656-7572, or visit manitoupassagegolfclub.com or thehomesteadresort.com

Fredricksburg.com By: ADAM HIMMELSBACH

HE SEEMED to appear out of nowhere, like a tee shot from parts unknown.

With about 200 people waiting for him at the practice range at Fawn Lake Country Club yesterday, Arnold Palmer came into view as he rode across the course in a golf cart.

He was driven past a cardboard cutout of himself before the cart stopped and the crowd cheered.

Palmer stood at the edge of the course--an Arnold Palmer signature course--and gave a thumbs-up. He waved and bowed, a lock of silver hair falling over his forehead.

There were 80 golf balls at his feet and a bag of clubs at his side.

I wondered how many of Palmer's days are like this one. Wherever he goes, people still want to see him hit a golf ball. Even at 80 years old.

There's something about golf that allows legends to stay forever young in the eyes of their fans.

No one wants to see a retired prizefighter take a punch or a retired running back get tackled.

Yet everyone wants to see Arnold Palmer swing a nine-iron.

Read the full story at Fredricksburg.com

The Bay Hill renovation was conducted under the experienced eye of Palmer himself and the Arnold Palmer Design Company.

During the tournament in March, many PGA TOUR players voiced rave reviews of the newly renovated course.

"I like what he (Palmer) did. I really like it." said Davis Love III. "I think it's a much more creative way to play golf. It's a great style for the fans. I think it's more fun to watch."

All the winners and finalists will be recognized in the Summer issue of Golf Inc. Judges for the competition were John Harbottle of John Harbottle Design, Jeff Brauer of GolfScapes and Doc Belitz of OB Sports.

The primary purpose of the course renovation was to maintain Pebble Beach's historic value.

"It's been a great privilege for me to be on the board at Pebble. And of course my position as a board member is looking after the golf course and the operations that concern the golf course. We tried to really keep it, much as the intentions for maintaining the historic value of the golf course. And of course for me to be doing it, it has been a lot of fun." said Palmer.

In looking at old photos of the course, Palmer and his design team "put the golf course where it was when it was beginning." said Palmer. "We tried to restore the greens to their original positions." Play will be shaped in the U.S. Open this year with the changes to the fairways and "will force the players to go closer to the ocean."

The most dramatic hole changes were:

• Hole #1 - Restored green & greenside bunkering to original from 1918 photo
• Hole #3 - Added bunkers on the right side of the fairway; turns hole visually to the left
• Hole #4 - Added a trio of new bunkers short and left of the green
• Hole #6 - Reconfigured bunkering left of fairway to tighten landing area
• Hole #18 - Replaced pine in front of the green with cypress

A total of 4 greens and 16 bunkers were rebuilt, altered or installed. 11 tees were enhanced and 6 holes have new or adjusted trees.

The total length of the course is now 7,014 yards with an average green size of 3,500 sq. ft.

So how will PGA TOUR players fare with the changes at this year's U.S. Open? "I would look for the scores to be pretty good. Moving the hitting areas to the ocean on 9 of the holes is going to have some effect and the fact that some of the greens are smaller will also have an effect. I look for a great tournament. I think the excitement of seeing the guys scoring well at Pebble will be good, but they'll be some disasters too." said Palmer.

[Click here to download a Quicktime of the whole interview. ] Length 20 Min / 48MB

Palmer discusses the Pebble Beach renovation

Courtesy of the USGA

The U.S. Open is often regarded as one of the most difficult and challenging championships in the world and presents a stern test for the greatest players in the world.

Read the full release

For MS Gulf Resort Classic Champions Tour info go to www.golfcoast.com/champions/. For a complete results of the Monday qualifier go to: http://gulfpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gulfpga10/event/gulfpga1029/contest/1/leaderboard.htm.

VALLEJO, Calif. - It's easy to get lulled into a false sense of serenity when playing Hiddenbrooke Golf Club for the first time.

If you catch this Arnold Palmer design in the early or late afternoon light, the colors of the fairways, greens, wispy fescues and tan hills are somewhat mesmerizing. But at every corner, danger lurks, whether it's in the form of a dogleg, sloping green, imposing water hazard or a grove of trees.

Amazingly, you hardly notice the houses in this development located within a half hour of San Francisco and Oakland. They are set back far enough that they don't detract from the splendor of the golf course, which has received a five-star rating from Golf Digest. And the homes certainly don't interfere with golf shots. And at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club, which hosted the LPGA's Samsung Championship from 2000-02, you'll get to hit a great variety of shots.

"I think what people really like here is the great variety of holes," said Siegfried Wroebel, head golf professional at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club. "The ladies really enjoy it because they think it's a fair golf course."

Indeed, there are five sets of tees, and the more forward tees make the course straightforward to navigate. But move back to the tips of what might seem to be a benign yardage at just more than 6,700 yards, and it's all the golf course you want.

It's also a very memorable golf course. Each hole is unique with its topography and views of the valley and hillsides below. Throughout, you'll find babbling brooks and picturesque lakes and ponds, which often come into play. Those who can shape shots will have plenty of opportunity to work the ball both ways. And the par 5s, in particular, present some risk-reward opportunities.

Hiddenbrooke Golf Club's first par 5 is the fifth hole, which has water all down the left side as well as fairway bunkers. At 539 yards one tee up, many players might think about reaching this green in two, but you almost have to hit a perfect shot to avoid the lake or high grass on the right.

The better bet is the par-5 12th, which may be one of the prettiest holes on the golf course. At less than 500 yards from the tips, it's reachable in two, but the green is perched high around a corner with four foreboding bunkers cut into the side of a hill. Find the wrong place in one of those bunkers, and par is a challenge.

Speaking of challenge, Wroebel believes that the long par-4 eighth, with its narrow fairway and hazard down the right side, is one of the most difficult holes on the golf course. There are also a couple of greenside bunkers and a fairway bunker left on this 440-yard dogleg right, which means you've got to thread a couple of shots.

Read the full article at GolfCalifornia.com

The Arnold Palmer Design Company stays on the road with a host of top projects around the world

It wasn’t that many years ago that golf was regarded as a distinctly Western—even a specifically European—sport. No more. Golf is now the world’s game, and the Arnold Palmer Design Company is leading the way in making sure everyone has a place to play.

To that end, APDC has built more than 300 courses in nearly 30 countries around the planet, pioneering the game in the Far East and setting the world standard for what defines a top quality golf experience. That tradition, established nearly 40 years ago, continues today with projects ongoing in South America, China, Cambodia and elsewhere. Time was you only needed a driver’s license and a set of clubs. In the modern game, you’d better have a passport in your bag if you’re going to visit any of the following international offerings from Arnie and his excellent team at APDC.

APDC architect Thad Layton's winning design for the Lido Competition

Home
APDC Executive Vice President and Senior Architect Erik Larsen is set to become president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects after being elected at the organization’s recent meeting. The long-time ASGCA member and current treasurer will be taking the prestigious position once held by Ed Seay, whom he counts as a mentor, and also by Robert Trent Jones and Pete Dye, among others. Larsen plans to promote the “value of the golf course” as a recreational, social and economic amenity.

Also in the spirit of awards and accolades, APDC architect Thad Layton has been picked to judge the 2010 Lido Competition, a prominent golf design contest. Co-sponsored by Golf World and the Alister MacKenzie Society, the competition awards the designer whose hand-drawn entry best utilizes MacKenzie’s design philosophy within the confines of a two-shot par–4. The Lido is based on a magazine design contest MacKenzie won in 1914. His winning hole, a par–4 with triple avenues of play, was later constructed by contest founder C.B. Macdonald on his Lido Golf Club on Long Island, NY. Sadly, the course, and hole, did not survive World War II. Layton, the 2003 Lido Prize winner, is an excellent choice to judge this year’s entries.

The APDC-designed Rivers Edge Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, SC, celebrated its 10th anniversary last September with improvements to the greens and a heartfelt pat on the back from Mr. Palmer himself.

“All of us at Arnold Palmer Design congratulate Rivers Edge on their 10th anniversary,” offered the King. Greens have been transitioned to the environmentally friendly SeaDwarf® Seashore Paspalum turfgrass, a grass APDC has utilized with success at other courses, Palmer says.

“All the courses that we have designed that use paspalum grass are very pleased with the results and we think everyone at Rivers Edge will enjoy the new greens.”

South
Moving south from Myrtle Beach—way south—APDC architect Eric Wiltse has been working on a course near São Paolo, Brazil, called Fazenda Boa Vista. The site, which will feature 18 holes from APDC, reminds Wiltse of the rolling hills of Kentucky and is simply beautiful, he says. Look for more golf in Brazil, with the sport returning to the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Not content to stay in the land of girls from Ipanema, Wiltse is also working on a course in Uruguay. Named “Las Piedras” for its boulder-strewn landscape, this project near Punta del Este will feature rolling hills, beautiful views and a storied atmosphere. Larsen says the project represents authentic golf with minimal impact and a complete sense of respect for both the game and the environment.

“It’s core golf.,” he says. “There’s very little earth movement, wild flowers and native grasses can grow easily and will remain as features of the course. The best word for it: Authentic.”

East
Some 25 years after building the first golf course in China, APDC is continuing to create that country’s premiere golf venues—and the latest have been exquisite indeed. Beijing welcomed the amazing Beijing Cascades from APDC in 2007, and since then the rest of the country is moving to host their own APDC clubs. Future clubs, like a project at Huizhou that would offer views of Hong Kong, are in the works, while The Golf Club at Kunming is likely within a year of opening and should be one the most beautiful anywhere. People with vertigo should be warned: Kunming’s latest gem is going to feature some serious elevation changes. The beautiful lake below should distract from any issues with heights, but craggy cliffs and forced carries might add to the stress a bit.

Brandon Johnson, the APDC architect who’s been working on the project since the start, says numbers 12 and 14 are especially challenging.

“There are big ravines in front of them and it’s dramatic,” he says. “There’s room for error but, yeah, if you miss it there, wide in the right spot, you fall off into oblivion.”

APDC architect David Couch isn’t having the same issues with his project, also in Kunming. While the inspirationally named Chinese Entrepreneur Home Golf Club doesn’t offer the dramatic changes in elevation of its neighbor, it does feature a freshwater lake nearly five miles in length. And with 27 holes, there will be plenty of challenging golf for all.

Yet one more APDC course under way in China, Panda Valley Golf Course should be a stunner. Just 45 minutes from Chengdu, it offers unique mountain play, a fast-moving river and incredible views. Layton, who’s working on the project, explains: “Usually mountains are arranged such that they form ridge lines that connect.” In contrast, he says, “These look like they’re dropped out of the sky… Independent mountains, thousands of feet high.”

Its name comes from its proximity to a panda reserve, near 50 miles away. Incorporating terraced slopes that have held kiwi, rice and other crops, the project is part of a local rebuilding effort following a massive quake two years ago.

Not far from China, Johnson is also continuing work on a project from Cambodia’s Sokimex development group. Construction on the 18-hole wonder should begin this year, and they’re hoping to get a few basics completed before the rainy season kicks off. The incredible downpours Southeast Asia experiences between May and October are followed by severe dry weather, making course maintenance a bit of a headache. However, the fantastic natural beauty makes all efforts worthwhile.

“We took cues from the existing natural jungle terrain,” Johnson says. Because of the thick jungle (chasing balls will be a daunting experience), “There’s big, bold movement in the fairways that will allow people to play, and a lot of strategy around that, too, because your angle of approach could be better from one side of the fairway versus another.” Set on the edge of a national park, and with planned hotels, a casino and entertainment, look for this to be most impressive.

Onward
As engaged as APDC is around the world, there’s more to come. In the meantime, APDC is also getting creative at home. In addition to updating existing designs, the company is moving forward with plans to refit and reposition distressed golf courses currently without stable financial foundations. Bank-held properties that could be viable investments have the potential to benefit from APDC’s design and business expertise. “It’s a response to the economic condition in the U.S.,” says Larsen, explaining that the new effort has the potential to help banks clear their books while also giving communities positive recreational possibilities.

With forward thinking at home and ongoing interest from Mexico, China, South Africa, South America, Russia, India and other locations abroad, the architects at APDC will be busy for a long time coming up with fantastic new projects. We’ll be right there behind them, passports and driver’s licenses up to date, ready to travel as far or near as needed to play their great designs.

“The opportunity to host the U.S. Junior Amateur is a major triumph for the state and the club,” said Craig Benson, former governor of New Hampshire and honorary chairman of the Golf Club of New England. “With the work we’ve done here at the Golf Club of New England, we finally have a venue worthy of joining the 47 other states that have shared the honor of hosting such an event. We look forward to hosting golf’s rising stars and hope to continue to be a part of the USGA’s rich heritage.”

Designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in 2003, the Golf Club of New England (www.golfclubne.com) is located in southeastern New Hampshire on 450 acres of former farmland. The Golf Club of New England has hosted USGA qualifying for the 2004 U.S. Amateur and USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the 2006 and 2009 USGA Senior Amateur.

Only three states have yet to host a USGA championship – Alaska, New Hampshire and Utah. With Utah’s Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, near Salt Lake City, selected as the site of the 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links and the Golf Club of New England named to host the 65th U.S. Junior Amateur, only Alaska will not have served as a USGA championship host after 2012.

The 2010 U.S. Junior Amateur will be contested July 19-24 at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada, Mich. The 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur is scheduled for July 18-23 at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

The U.S. Junior Amateur is open to male golfers who are under 18 years old and have a USGA Handicap Index that does not exceed 6.4.

About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico. The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, maintains a Handicap System® and celebrates the history of the game. Since 1983, the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program has awarded more than $31 million to more than 400 research projects for better turf and a better environment at universities across the country. The USGA also funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

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Media Contact: Pete Kowalski (pkowalski@usga.org)
Web Address:  www.usga.org
USGA Phone:  908-234-2300 ext.1322 (office) 

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Welcome to Augusta of the West Coast. That's the beauty found at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer design that measures 7,007 yards at par 72, just 30 miles from downtown San Diego.

No, Aviara is not a classic Alister MacKenzie design. And a round of April golf does not weave through the blooming hills of Augusta, with the whites and pinks of the dogwoods and the explosion of azalea reds.

Rather, Aviara features one botanical hole after another with trees, flowers and shrubs of yellows, reds and purples, a view of the Batiquitos Lagoon and a journey through three coastal canyons. Eucalyptus trees and Torrey pines line some fairways.

Read the full story at WorldGolf.com