There is something magical about the Lake Tahoe region — crisp air and incredible summer golf.
There is something magical about the Lake Tahoe region — the crisp air, the picturesque mountain views, the world-class skiing and the incredible summer golf.
The American Century Championship attracts top celebrities to the region, and the Barracuda Championship has been an alternate-field PGA Tour event for years.
A home that hit the market highlights the best of the region, including a view of the 17th hole on the Lake Tahoe Martis Camp course that architect Tom Fazio said is one of the best he’s ever designed.
This 9,783-square-foot home, spread over two of Martis Camp’s most coveted homesites, is ideal for those who live large, dream big, and savor small details. With large bedrooms, a spacious terrace, and living spaces appearing throughout, this home embodies Martis Camp’s commitment to families and the power of connection. If you dream in shades of green fairways, you’ll appreciate this home’s location with the practice field out the front door, the 17th green of the Tom Fazio course beyond the back patio, and the Camp Lodge and pro shop a par 5 stroll down the street. That same crescent-shaped patio is enhanced by one of the most pristine settings in all of Tahoe, with forest, flowers and panoramas of Lookout Mountain.
Here’s a look at the hole, which can play up to 227 yards from the tips.
Here’s a look at the home, which is currently for sale for $17,999,000.
Perhaps the only thing [autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] is prouder of than being a member of the Notre Dame family is being a St. Louis native. The legendary Irish player-turned-coach made her mark in St. Louis before she accomplished bigger things, and she got to demonstrate how far she’d come when she led the Irish to victory over California at the Enterprise Center in November 2022.
Ivey will be joining such fellow basketball inductees as legendary St. Louis Hawks Bob Pettit and Lenny Wilkens, two of the greatest NBA players ever. That alone makes this a noteworthy honor.
Congratulations to Ivey and all the other honorees for 2024.
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Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in California.
Looking to play the best golf courses in California? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.
Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.
The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.
KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.
* indicates new or returning to the rankings
Best public-access courses in California
Rustic Canyon in California (Courtesy of Rustic Canyon/Tommy Naccarato)
The ACC will include California, Stanford and SMU beginning with the 2024-25 season. That will bring the total number of conference members to 18. With that clearly being too high of a number for its conference basketball tournaments, the conference decided a change was needed.
While Notre Dame’s 16th-ranked women’s team is not expected to slide to the bottom of the ACC anytime soon, the men already are there in a rebuilding season. If the new rules went into effect for this season, the Irish wouldn’t be invited to the tournament.
Hopefully, with a year of experience under their belt, the young men’s Irish team will improve enough that they still will play in the 2025 ACC Tournament. There’s a long road ahead though, and there’s no guarantee of things being any better next year. Best of luck to [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] and his team in reaching this new goal.
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Architect Jay Blasi explains what makes Cypress Point Club special in his rater’s notebook.
Editor’s note: It’s not quite a seismic change in the Golfweek’s Best rankings, but this year Cypress Point in California has passed Pine Valley in New Jersey as the No. 1 Classic Course built in the U.S. before 1960. It’s a matter of decimal points as the top courses jostle each other for position on the various lists, and that’s the case with Cypress Point and Pine Valley as well. In 2023, Pine Valley was No. 1 with a 9.62 average rating, and Cypress Point was No. 2 with a 9.60 average rating. When our lists were extracted from the Golfweek’s Best database this year, Cypress Point averaged 9.62, while Pine Valley came in at 9.60. Below, golf course architect Jay Blasi – who works with Golfweek as a rater advisor and contributes occasional stories – shares his thoughts on Cypress Point and how it stacks up using our Golfweek’s Best rater criteria.
. . .
Cypress Point long has been known as one of the most beautiful and exclusive golf courses on Earth. Golfers from around the world have seen the breathtaking photos in magazines of the coastline stretch and dreamt of playing the course.
Visitors to the Monterey Peninsula cruise through the golf course on 17-Mile Drive to within a few feet of the 15th tee, where the Pacific Ocean crashes hard against the rugged coastline. But only a tiny fraction of golfers will ever play the course. Those who do should understand that while the famed coastline holes are wonderful, it is the totality of the journey that sets Cypress Point apart.
For those guests lucky enough to get the invite, the anticipation is overwhelming. Turning into the driveway and past the sign that reads “CYPRESS POINT CLUB – MEMBERS ONLY” is a seminal moment in any golfer’s life. Players beaming with excitement meet at the tiny golf shop bursting with merchandise. It is a feeding frenzy as each player loads up on logo gear for themselves as well as every golf buddy they have ever met.
After the order of play is set and the caddies are introduced, it is time to hit the first tee shot – one of the scarier propositions in amateur golf. Here you are in the shadow of the golf shop, no warm-up, and you must tee off over 17-Mile Drive. The next four hours offer perhaps the greatest walk in golf.
No. 9 at Cypress Point Club in California (Photo by Martin Miller/MillerBrown)
The journey is like a nature stroll starting with a trek to the dunes on Nos. 1-3. From there you head inland to the forest for Nos. 4-7, then wander back into the dunes at 8 and 9. After looking out to the sea from the dunes, you dip into the forest at 10 and 11 then start a thrilling march out to the sea through the dunes at Nos. 12-14.
From No. 14 green, players cross the famed 17-Mile Drive and walk 85 yards overlooking the Pacific Ocean before arriving at the 15th tee. Nos. 15-17 all play along and over the rocky coastline with seals or sea lions as sleepy onlookers. The 18th plays from the coastline back into the forest uphill toward the clubhouse.
Most golfers know that Dr. Alister MacKenzie designed Cypress Point, and many know Marion Hollins was the developer. However, few know that before MacKenzie was hired, Hollins had engaged Seth Raynor – famed designer of such revered layouts as Chicago Golf Club, Fishers Island, Yale and Yeamans Hall – to design the course. Raynor’s sudden death in 1926 opened the door for Hollins and MacKenzie to become perhaps the greatest developer/designer team of all time.
Following is how I have rated Cypress Point in the 10 categories that Golfweek uses for each course. The hundreds of raters who help compile Golfweek’s annual best-of course lists look at 10 topics, then give each course an overall ranking. Each category is assigned a rating of 1 through 10, then a course is given a non-cumulative overall rating.
No. 18 at Cypress Point Club in California (Photo by Martin Miller/MillerBrown)
1. Routing: 9 (on a scale of 1 to 10) The way the course weaves through the dunes, forests and coastline is a master class in routing. Had the 18th hole turned left instead of right and finished below the clubhouse with the coastline as the backdrop, it would undoubtedly be the best routing in the world.
2. Consistency with original design: 10 Over the past 10 years or so the team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw has worked with the club to ensure the course is presented in line with its origins.
3. Overall land plan: 9 The clubhouse is situated where it can look over the ocean without taking away frontage from the course. The maintenance facility is discreetly hidden amongst the forest. Homes on the perimeter of the course don’t detract from the beauty.
4. Greens and surrounds: 8 With a mix of sizes, shapes and contours, each fits beautifully into the varied landscape. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the uber-skinny ninth set within the dunes almost perpendicular to the line of play.
5. Variety and memorability of the par 3s: 10 The long 16th over the ocean to an isthmus is often considered one of the top par 3s in the world. Its little brother, the coastline-hugging 15th, might be more loved as it plays only about 130 yards. The inland one-shotters at 3 and 7 make great use of the biggest dune on the property.
6. Variety and memorability of the par 4s: 9 The drivable ninth is one of the better short 4s around. The stretch of 11-14 – all playing west and each moving from left to right – sounds repetitive, but each is a brilliant use of natural landforms.
7. Variety and memorability of the par 5s: 7 MacKenzie broke the rules at CPC with three par 5s in the first six holes, including back-to-back at Nos. 5 and 6. A draw off the tee will help at 2, 5 and 6. The bunkering on No. 5 in the forest is some of the most beautiful you will find.
8. Tree and landscape management: 9 The team at CPC has gone to great lengths to restore dune scapes and manage forests. The cypress and Monterey pines add to the allure as players weave from one landscape to another.
9. Conditioning: 9 Jeff Markow, the longtime superintendent at CPC, has the golf course and grounds better than ever leading up to the 2025 Walker Cup. The playing surfaces are firm and true, while areas off the fairway are beautiful and playable.
10. “Walk in the Park” test: 10 In March of 2022 I was lucky enough to join my good friend, Jason Bruno, for a day at Cypress Point. He even had me invite my dad to join us, something I had been trying to do for 20-plus years. As we walked up the 13th fairway heading towards the Pacific, I asked my dad, “So, what do you think?” He replied “I’ve been playing golf for almost 70 years, and this is my favorite round of golf ever.”
Overall: 9.3 One of the greatest golf courses in the world. The breathtaking beauty of the setting and the brilliance of the routing may be unmatched in the game. If ever given the chance to play Cypress Point, the answer is always, “Yes, I’m available.”
Austin Pope, who was a basketball coach at John Burroughs High School (Burbank, California), was charged this week according to a press release from the Burbank Police Department with “theft in connection with his official capacity.”
Following an investigation by the Burbank police, Pope has been accused of having taken “funds he was entrusted with in his official capacity as a coach. The case was reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who referred it to the Burbank City Attorney’s Office.”
He has been charged with ‘Theft by False Pretenses Exceeding $950.’ There is a court date for Pope in late June where he will be arraigned.
Per KTLA, a CW station in Los Angeles, Pope’s position as a varsity basketball coach “has since been terminated by the School District.”
June officially is upon us, which means we’re one step closer to college football returning. That also means award watch lists are starting to come out, and plenty of Notre Dame players will be on them considering the Irish are expected to be College Football Playoff contenders. We have our first such instance now.
[autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag] have been named to the watch list for the Lott Trophy, which is given annually the best defensive IMPACT player. It considers character as well as play, the only major college football award to do so. [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] is the lone previous winner for the Irish, taking the award in 2012.
The initial list consists of 42 names, so that obviously means a lot of competition for both players. Hopefully, at least one of them somehow stand out above the rest when the winner is announced during the ceremony Dec. 8 in Newport Beach, California.
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[autotag]Palmer Jackson[/autotag] kept the Notre Dame golf season going as long as it possibly could. Though the Irish as a team did not make it to the end at the national championship in Carlsbad, California, Jackson qualified for the final day on a list of individuals whose teams also did not advance.
The result was impressive as Jackson finished tied for eighth with a 1-under-par 287. No Irish golfer has placed that high at the national championship. He finished the final round with a 2-under 70.
Irish coach [autotag]John Handrigan[/autotag] said the following:
“What a way for Palmer Jackson to put an exclamation point on his elite career at Notre Dame. He’s helped set a new bar for what excellence means within our program and I couldn’t be more proud. He did everything right today and gave himself a chance to win, which is all you can ask for in this game. His mindset this week was world-class and it showed in his play. He’s forever left his mark on this program and University.”
Best of luck to Jackson in his future endeavors.
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He originally joined the program as a four-star edge rusher in Wisconsin’s decorated class of 2021 — specifically ranked as the No. 159 overall recruit in the class, No. 11 edge rusher and No. 2 recruit from his home state of Iowa. The former outside linebacker was unable to find a role on the field, however, as he never perfectly fit into Jim Leonhard’s 3-4 defense or Mike Tressel’s 3-3-5 approach.
The Badgers tried moving Bollers to defensive line after he couldn’t crack the field at outside linebacker. Despite the program being razor-thin along the defensive line entering 2024, Bollers still entered the portal to seek a starting role elsewhere.
He finished his Wisconsin career with two total tackles in 16 games of action — most of that action coming on special teams.
The former top recruit now joins a Cal program that went 6-7 in its final year in the Pac 12 in 2023. It is now joining the new-look ACC along with Stanford.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, is still searching in the portal for help along the defensive line. The program has recently added offensive line depth, with defensive improvements sure to follow.
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This summer, big changes are coming to one of Marina, California’s top seaside destinations. The Sanctuary Beach Resort enjoys an enviable location on Monterey Bay between Carmel Valley and the Marina Dunes Preserve. Surrounded by stunning scenery, this hotel takes pride in its connection to the California coast. In June 2024, The Sanctuary Beach Resort will take its love for local landscapes to the next level by launching 60 thoughtfully reimagined rooms and suites. Here are a few of the Earth-friendly features you can look forward to at this luxurious eco-lodge.
“The Sanctuary Beach Resort provides more than just an uninterrupted seaside escape. It’s an invitation to reconnect with yourself, others and nature,” the resort explains on its website.
Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
The Sanctuary Beach Resort’s eco-lodge offerings
The resort enlisted interior design and architecture firm FAROUKI FAROUKI to incorporate locally-made artwork and wellness-focused elements into the soon-to-be-unveiled rooms and suites. But these changes represent just one part of The Sanctuary Beach Resort’s connection to nature, sustainability, and wellness.
Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Earth-conscious efforts throughout the resort (and its restaurant Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette) are what make this destination so appealing to adventurers seeking an eco-lodge experience. Protected areas across the property help preserve local flora. Gardens incorporate native and drought-resistant plants. The beachfront cottages even provide visitors with organic, vegan-friendly bath products from Grown Alchemist.
Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
According to a recent press release, “With close proximity to such ecological wealth, The Sanctuary is committed to prioritizing eco-conscious practices and urging guests to appreciate the dunes through guided walking explorations and protective areas with educational signage to deepen visitors’ understanding and appreciation for this unique ecosystem.”
Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Travelers curious to explore The Sanctuary’s nature-focused programs can enjoy everything from beach yoga and guided nature walks to Coastal Jazz Nights. Guests who want to upgrade their seaside relaxation can also check out the resort’s spa for holistic wellness treatments. Discover more about the hotel, its programs, and its green initiatives here.
