Golf...it’s
a four-letter word and everyone from Politicians
to pin up’s are doing it. If you
thought golf was for your grandparents,
think again. Ever since Tiger and Sergio
came on the scene golf is hotter than
ever proving you don’t have to be
old and fat to golf. Start asking around
and you will be surprised who is out on
the greens.
Apart
from a great business-networking environment
it is also a great social scene. You do
not have to be a member of a club to get
out, play golf and meet people. In the
US there are a number of public courses
and Miami is a great place to start. Four
Miami options; In South Beach you have
all the excitement of South Beach nightlife
and the beach scene and in the center
of it all the Miami Beach Golf Club. If
you crave luxury and relaxation you will
find it in Key Biscayne at the Ritz and
across the street at the Crandon Golf
Key Biscayne, venue for the Royal Caribbean
Classic. The Doral is a first class resort
with your choice of 5 courses and all
the amities of a full service resort.
The Doral is also the proud host of the
Ford Doral Championship and the Jim McLean
Golf School. Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort
& Spa is a Leading Hotel of the World
and defines luxury. With two golf courses
and a to die for spa this is an excellent
option for a little R & R.
More
and more, golf is permeating other industries;
wine, fashion, major league sports and Hollywood.
In golf almost everyone is playing for something.
Some people sign deals, smooze dignitaries,
win cash, trips, and trophies or just make
it to “The Mansion”.
Politicians
have been known to golf and most of the
US Presidents have been golfers. Clinton,
Jeb and George golf, A list Hollywood stars
play; George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Clint
Eastwood, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael
Douglas, Sly, Hootie and the Blowfish, Mark
Wahlberg and Adam Sandler to name a few.
Major
league sports players are into it from the
NBA to the NFL. Jordan holds his annual
celebrity tournament at Atlantas in the
Bahamas. The Shark, Greg Norman, has his
own wine label. Playboy holds multi tiered
tournaments around the nation where the
prize for winning is a trip to The Mansion.
As one Miami resident remarked, “When
men think of beauty they think of women
and golf courses.”
No
to long ago Matt Damon was seen playing
at the Miami Beach Golf Course while shooting
a movie in Miami, and it is not uncommon
to see Dan Marino or Lawrence Taylor playing
a round in Miami. No bogies for the yogi’s.
Miami resident, Paul Toliuszis director
of Yogashala is a scratch golfer and credits
yoga to lowering his golf scores. Paul went
so far as to create yoga videos, “YogaforeGolf”,
where he does yoga on the course.
Even
the blue chip designer list has jumped on
board the golf craze. The once profile of
golfers as over weight, poorly dressed “guys”
who belong to country clubs has changed.
Designers have decided to take a swing at
the golf industry; some like Ralph Lauren,
Izod, Lacoste, Escada, Tommy Hilfiger, and
Burberry have developed a line specifically
for golf. Others are dabbling like the Prada
golf bag, Tiffany’s silver putter,
Coach leather golf club covers, La Perla
golfwear, Walter Genuin definitely has the
most stylish golf shoes (handmade in Italy)
and you can pick up a golf towel at Harrods.
The “OTL chapeau” award goes
to J. Lindeberg (thank you, thank you, thank
you) and to Parnevik and Howell III for
having the guts and style to wear these
fine fashions that are colorfully finding
their way to the fairway.
In
Miami people are known for hitting the clubs;
however more and more people are discovering
the golf clubs are just as hip as the night
clubs. Eagles, Birdies, Tigers, Sharks and…Bunnies.
