ocmetro - The Resort at Pelican Hill

OCMETRO JULY 20111083622ColumnsEDITOR’S NOTEBy Kimberly PorrazzoA different kind of recovery 12THE BOTTOM LINEBy Steve ChurmThe value of an internship 32BusinessHOTSamsung’s answer to the iPad 2 22CHAPMAN’S FLEX MBA WINNERElise Drakes earns scholarship 24THE EDGECloud technology 101 26GREENA look at ‘sustainable investing’ 28PHILANTHROPYSusan G. Komen’s Pink Tie Ball 30MOST TRUSTED BRANDS POST-EVENTTop movers and shakers connect 34Cover StoryThe Orange County BusinessCouncil at work 36By Steve Churm and Tori RichardsCOVER PHOTO || Challenge Roddie (challengephoto.com)CEO CenterfoldDevon Niccole 74CEO, CosmetiCare Plastic Surgery Center& Med SpaFeature StoryThe 7 Series: O.C. higher education 76By Tori RichardsLifeWELLNESSBarry’s Bootcamp 94SPAPure bliss at the Island Hotel 96TRAVELSwinging at Pelican Hill 98HOT READOver 40 and suddenly single 102ARTS & CULTUREActing up in Laguna Beach 104SPORTSTennis, anyone? 106DRIVEThe 2011 Lexus CT 200h 108STYLESummer beauty essentials 110DINING REVIEWHaven Gastropub 112DINING NEWSChapter One 114LUNCH REVIEWRockin B’s Burrito Bandito 116PursuitsJenny Wedge 130Manager of Public RelationsJohn Wayne AirportSpecial SectionsCommercial Property 82Business Services 84Education & Careers 90Dining Guide 116Neighborhoods 124Ad Index 129Don’t miss what’sONLINE NOWPAGE 10>8 JULY 2011 OCMETRO.COMHEADLINES IN YOUR HAND | OCMETRO.COM/APPS

lifetravelby Art StenmoThe Resortat Pelican HillI don’t golf. At least that’s what I tellpeople who ask if I play golf.Over the years, I’ve traveled theglobe with invitations to swing clubs onsome of the world’s best courses. Therewas that time in Costa Rica: I turneddown golf at the new Arnold Palmercourse on the Papagayo Peninsula.Another time, I rejected an invitation toplay legendary La Costa. I even turneddown Kapalua on Maui. As always, Isaid proudly, “I don’t golf.” My golffriends were beginning to hate me.So, one day I decided to bite thebullet and take on Pelican Hill.Recently ranked the No. 1 golf coursein California by Condé Nast Traveler,Pelican Hill was not the ideal coursefor a beginner like me. But the folks onPelican Hill’s first-rate staff went outof their way to make my wife and I feelcomfortable from the beginning.We pulled into the private garage ofour secluded 2,573-square-foot, threebedroomvilla overlooking NewportCoast and the sparkling blue Pacific.The Palladian-style architecture isreminiscent of Northern Italy; we couldrelax and transport ourselves to the OldCountry. And if we felt the need to connectwith the New World, Pelican Hilloffers the latest in modern technology,including complimentary wirelessInternet service throughout the resort.Guests can choose from among 128ocean-view villas ranging up to 3,581square feet, or the more intimate bungalows.We fell in love with our villa’s greatroom – with its hand-hewn wood-beamceiling and limestone fireplace – andour private ocean-view terrace. Threespacious bathrooms boast marble walkinshowers and deep soaking tubs toease the muscles after a round of golfor a workout at the Clubhouse FitnessCenter. Villa staff amenities include aprivate butler and personal chef uponrequest. Each villa also features a gourmetkitchen with a Wolf oven, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a wine cooler tochill your fine chardonnay. We stayedin for a romantic evening and roomservice, and reveled in the luxuriouscomforts and, of course, butler service.98 JULY 2011 OCMETRO.COMHEADLINES IN YOUR HAND | OCMETRO.COM/APPS

lifeDining outside of the room is every bit aswonderful. The breakfast buffet at the ColiseumGrill, overlooking the Coliseum Pool (oneof the largest circular pools in the world) providesa delicious option to the regular menu,with its spread of fresh fruit, waffles, Frenchtoast and omelet bar. For lunch, we dined atthe Pelican Grill. The sumptuous tortilla soupwas the perfect complement to my fresh ahisandwich and garlic fries. Topping it off withPelican Hill’s artisan-style gelato trio, I wasready for my golf lesson.Led by golf pro Glenn Beck, the PelicanHill Golf Academy’s PGA instructors pridethemselves on simplifying the game andemphasizing fun. Their customized approachconcentrates on balance and flexibility.Students can choose from a variety of clinics,including game strategy and golf psychology.Before swinging our clubs, though, weperformed a few yoga exercises that helpedimprove our stability and focus. Then eachmember of the class was videotaped takingswings. Beck suggested adjustments. It turnsout I have pretty good form. This gave me theconfidence I needed to face Pelican Hill.Saturday evening we treated ourselves todinner at Andrea. With its Northern Italian cuisineand fine selection of wines, Andrea offersdiners with a wonderful slice of Tuscany. Thepasta is made by hand daily, and everything onthe menu is delicious. We returned to our Villafor a quiet night by the fireplace and psychedourselves up for our round of golf on Sunday.Designed by renowned golf architect TomFazio, Pelican Hill Golf Club features twoHEADLINES IN YOUR HAND | OCMETRO.COM/APPSOCMETRO.COM JULY 2011 99

lifetravel (continued)WHERE: The Resort at Pelican HillPHONE: 949.467.6800WEB: pelicanhill.com18-hole courses: Ocean South and Ocean North. Groupguest fees include a forecaddie, a golf cart, practice ballsand a Laser-Link rangefinder. Our forecaddie, John, greetedus near our sporty forest-green golf cart. He hopped on theback, and we headed to the Ocean South course.Stepping up to the first hole was the moment of truth.Did I remember my lesson of balance and focus? I tookmy first swing. Strike one. I pretended like I meant to dothat. “Now don’t try to kill it,” John advised. “All you wantto do is make contact. Let the driver do the work.”I took my second swing and made contact. The ballsailed slightly to the right, but overall it wasn’t bad.“Hey, I don’t know who that first guy was,” John said,“but I think that second guy can play!”Then it hit me: I was actually golfing on Pelican Hilland having fun. It was a beautiful day, and the ocean viewswere even more dazzling than anyone had described.Now, when people ask me if I golf, I’ll borrow a linefrom the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World:“I don’t always golf, but when I do, I prefer Pelican Hill.”COURTESY OF PELICAN HILLLuxury Residences Overlooking the Pacific Ocean.First phase now selling from the $800’s.Limited Selection of 15 Luxury New Home Residences3,205 to 3,696 Square FeetUp to 5 Bedrooms & 4 1/2 BathsPrivate Cul-De-Sac HomesitesTimeless Architecture & DesignVia La JollaAvenida CaliforniaPaseo InfinitaSan JuanCapistranoCamino Las RamblasBelle Cliff by Harmony Homes949-910-2077www.BelleCliffHarmony.comText 309680 to 44133 for more information.1Via California100 JULY 2011 OCMETRO.COMHEADLINES IN YOUR HAND | OCMETRO.COM/APPS