Page 40 - LVGL Summer 2019

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INS T R UC T ION

Home Away from Home

For a group of elite South Korean golfers and their world-class
instructor, Lake Las Vegas proved to be the perfect destination.

STORY BY BRIAN HURLBURT
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY REFLECTION BAY GOLF CLUB

hen you begin to click off For these reasons, and several others, Among the top players joining Symes were
the items needed to operate Robin Symes decided to bring his 2019 Yena Chung, Hyun Ju Yoo and Yun Seok
Wa successful destination International Golf Institute students to Lake Kang and former United States Women’s
international golf academy, the amenities Las Vegas and the Jack Nicklaus-designed Open champ Na Yeon Choi, a Las Vegas
at Lake Las Vegas immediately fill the list Reflection Bay Golf Club in February resident who trained with the group at certain
quickly and effectively. and March. The on-the-course days were times throughout their intense seven-week
anchored at Reflection Bay, and the group stay.
✓ Hotels on site. Check. stayed at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort &
✓ Great golf courses. Check. Spa that overlooks the fairways. “This is the 13th winter camp I have run
✓ Quality practice facility. Check. since moving to Korea,” Symes says. “We
✓ Good year-round weather. Check. Symes is a noted professional from Ireland have visited Australia, Dubai, Thailand, and
✓ Overall convenience between course and former top player who has made a the USA. I have never seen or experienced
and lodging. Check and check. name for himself teaching some of the best a facility better built for elite juniors and
✓ Welcoming staff and ownership. Check. players in South Korea since 2006. He quickly professional players to train on than that of
✓ Ease of travel to overall destination learned that the South Korean winter was not Reflection Bay. What I really liked is there is
city. Check. conducive to the annual training his golfers a little bit of everything from the hospitality
demanded, so he developed an annual plan to to the on-course training and everything
Check. Check. Check. And more checks. visit warmer international travel destinations. else. This provides an unparalleled learning
It was the first time Symes and his golfers environment.”
“played and stayed” Las Vegas.

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