Even with a greatly reduced playing schedule and tournament appearances that have become rarer and rarer, Tiger Woods remains the most popular athlete in golf. Every time he does tee it up interest in the tournament spikes, and this week may be the biggest of them all, the Masters, an event he has already won five times. It was also the last of the 15 Major championships he won, in dramatic fashion in 2019.
Augusta National, home of the Masters, has been a magical place for Woods, and may offer him the best shot at a miracle return to glory. But for the vast majority of golfers, simply attending the Masters is a fantasy, while playing the very private course is a non-starter. This is one case where walking in the footsteps of legend is an unlikely proposition, but the good news is there are plenty of other such options.
For starters, there are the courses Woods has actually designed. I think if you are a fan, you get a more direct connection and unique Woods-experience on these rather than by visiting the courses he has played—especially since there are so few of them. Woods’ nascent golf course design business has been successful so far, and he is certainly in demand, but with a schedule that involves still competing and other endeavors such as his new clothing brand, he simply has not had time to do to many courses, and of these, several are private or still in progress.
Far and away the top pick in this category would be Payne’s Valley at the Big Cedar Resort in the beautiful Ozarks region of Missouri. Payne’s (named in honor of Missouri’s beloved golf legend the late Payne Stewart), was the very first public 18-hole layout Woods did in this country, and as such the first opportunity for most American golf fans to actually play one of his courses. I’ve been, I played it, and it is fantastic.
Many top pros like Jack Nicklaus who made the transition from competing to design came out of the gate too tough, as if they were building course for their own best in the world game. The beauty of Payne’s Valley is that it is incredibly user friendly and playable for all abilities, with strategic risk/reward decisions that become more daunting the further back you play, but with immense fairway corridors that give even wayward tee shots room. I wrote in detail about the course here at Forbes (“Tiger Woods’ First Public U.S. Course is Awesome”) so I’ll let you read that instead of diving deep into it again here. But just to give you an idea, the highlights include vast cliff faces of exposed stone, waterfalls, substantial elevation changes, a cave and two island greens, one of them a bonus 19th hole unlike anything in golf. It’s visually stunning and a joy to play.
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"Yeah, right," I muttered while staring at a deal on Royal Caribbean's homepage last week. A countdown clock just below the promotion told me that I only had seven hours, 40 minutes and 28 seconds left to pounce on the offer before it would magically disappear.
Arguably, no one deserves to be spoiled more than Mom, and what's more special than a weekend away with daughters, sons or multiple generations, or even a solo trip? This Mother's Day, dozens of fabulous hotels and resorts in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean are offering experiences and packages that go far beyond the typical Mother's Day brunch (although many offer those, too!), from wine tastings to sunset yoga sessions. You might even be able to earn and burn some points while treating your mom, too.
On the shores of the blustery North Atlantic, Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s trio of Maritime Provinces. But you don’t (necessarily) need a boat to get around.
Living in the United States is not cheap—especially as prices continue to soar, from groceries to transportation to housing. According to recent reports, an American household spends an average of $61,334 per year on their expenses, with housing being the largest expense, at almost $1,800 a month. So why not move someplace where it costs a whole lot less to live?
Collar stays. They might be a staple in a gentleman’s wardrobe but they’re not usually found in the amenity offerings in the bathroom of a hotel. They are here, though, in The Fifth Avenue Hotel which opened in October in NoMad in New York. And it makes sense: the original 19th century mansion, remodeled as a Renaissance palazzo in 1907, was formerly the site of Gilded Age society events and it’s easy to imagine a guest of the first owner, renowned hostess Charlotte Goodridge, having his valet install them before heading off to the opera. Starting this month, the hotel can once again resemble a private home, an extremely lavish one, by introducing Your Mansion at The Fifth Avenue Hotel, a three-night takeover of this historic part.
Imagine my horror when I woke up early one Tuesday morning to find several emails from American Airlines AAdvantage and Rocket Rental Car Awards confirming my successful redemption of hundreds of thousands of AAdvantage miles for several car rentals set to begin later that day.
I'm a big fan of the Bilt rewards program, especially the ability to earn rewards on rent payments. It's great to hear that Bilt has announced a new partner, which could bring some exciting opportunities. The more partners they have, the better, and it's always encouraging to see innovation in the industry.
This week, The St. Regis Venice welcomed an enticing new arrival. But not the kind you might imagine. The chic hotel’s newest resident is not a Hollywood celebrity, but an ultra-exclusive Rare Cask Cognac from LOUIS XIII by Rémy Martin.
The ultimate football and music experience may just be a hotel stay away. Members of Hilton's loyalty program, Hilton Honors, can now use their points to bid for tickets, and even a one-of-a-kind experience, at NFL star Travis Kelce’s upcoming Kelce Jam in Kansas City, Missouri. This year, the music festival will feature artists such as Lil Wayne, Diplo, 2 Chainz, IRIE and E-V. The event takes place on Saturday, May 18 at Azura Amphitheater in Kansas City — and Hilton reward members can bid on a a total of 5 different experiences at the festival. There are five packages available — each being offered as an auction item — with bidding starting at 200,000 points. Members will have the option to bid on this through April 25.«The Ultimate Kelce Jam Experience with Travis Kelce,» for starters, features a meet and greet, photo op, and private football toss with the NFL star. The package also includes VIP passes to the music festival, but does not include airfare or hotel accommodations.