It was a blustery Saturday in Dallas — a day just made for haunting used-book sales — when I discovered the “find” of the outing at the bottom of a bin of dusty, older books. The 9-by-12-inch, softbound volume of 70 pages was simply titled: Hotel Del Coronado: The History of a Legend. Price: $1.
There’s no publication date in the book, but there is a photo of President Bill Clinton (with dark hair) and Hillary (with her early-on, signature hairband) that’s useful for marking the era. The caption notes that the president and his family “frequently vacation at the Hotel del Coronado.”
Aah ... nothing like the foreshadowing of a cover story.
There’s a lot of interesting reading between the covers.
Like the fact that The Del, as this grande dame of the Pacific is now known among the ClubCorp family and friends, came into existence in 1888, thanks to the vision of owners Elisha Babcock Jr., H.L. Story, John D. Spreckels, John Alessio, and M. Larry Lawrence. Babcock had arrived in the San Diego area in 1884 after poor health had forced the railroad executive into early retirement. The sleepy port seemed to have great potential for visitors — but, goodness, it was remote. And the wild Coronado peninsula where Babcock hunted with friends could only be reached by boat.
Well, of course, the vision of those founding owners resulted in a magnificent, seaside resort hotel that continues to attract visitors from around the world.
We couldn’t resist the iconic and ornate Victorian “gingerbread” of The Del’s red-roofed turrets for this issue’s cover. Yet it was to the resort’s newest attraction — The Spa at The Del — that we sent writer Scott Kramer. This spa neophyte became a convert: Real men do visit spas! In fact, he was so relaxed and rejuvenated after his luxurious treatment that he called home to his wife. “I’m not sure,” he joked, “but I might have just cheated on you.”
Enjoy the issue,
Patricia Baldwin
Editor in Chief
privateclubs@clubcorp.com
WHAT ARE THE ODDS? Actually, we can tell you the odds: 113.5 quadrillion to one. And beating these mind-boggling stats is Jacqueline Gagne, a member at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. Since January, she has recorded 10 holes-in-one. Seven aces came at Mission Hills; the others at nearby desert courses. The at-first-dubious, local newspaper verified the feats and published a story. National news outlets have followed with stories. She’s now a golf celebrity, and, at this writing, was scheduled to be on the Late Show With David Letterman in June. We gotta echo the sentiments of Mission Hills director of golf Robert Barnes: “This is the wildest thing.”
Photography by Lisa Means and Peter A. Hogg