Oklahoma
Shangri-La Resort: The Battlefield receives OTIA top honor
MONKEY ISLAND, OKLAHOMA – The Battlefield Par 3 Golf Course at the acclaimed lakefront Shangri-La Resort, part of the Crescent Hotels & Resorts Latitudes collection, has been awarded the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association’s coveted RedBud Award as the “Best New Attraction in Oklahoma in 2023.” The award was presented to Shangri-La representatives at the OTIA RedBud Award ceremonies at The Oklahoma Tourism Conference in Edmond, OK Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
The RedBud Awards represent the highest honor in the tourism industry in Oklahoma. Shangri-La, located on northeastern Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, had previously been honored as “Best Lodging in Oklahoma” in 2018 and the resort was named “Best Attraction in Oklahoma” in 2022. The Anchor Activity Park at Shangri-La, which opened in June 2021, was named “Best New Attraction” by OTIA at the 2023 Awards Banquet.
Shangri-La’s PGA Director of Golf Ryan Snyder, PGA Head Golf Professional Jerrod Neighbors, and Head Golf Professional at The Battlefield Bradley Jumper were joined by Director of Sales Dana Able, Director of Communications Mike Williams, and Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Amanda Davis to accept the honor which was presented by Oklahoma Travel Industry Association President & CEO James Leewright and Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Director Shelley Zumwalt.
The 3,000-yard Battlefield layout is a short course of creative, articulated scale and vision, constructed on an exceptional piece of land that features more than 100 feet of elevation change across its acreage. The scenic, strategic course was completed for $15 million with each hole named in honor of an Oklahoma veteran of WWII. The facility has its own clubhouse and turn house concessions and golf carts, as well as a short warm-up facility and an expansive putting green.
Designed by architects Tom Clark and Kevin Atkinson, with building designs by Mark Thomas, The Battlefield features Bermuda grass fairways and Bent Grass greens, just like the 27-hole Championship course at Shangri-La. Although the course can be walked, golfers should prepare for dramatic elevation changes. With multiple tee boxes, The Battlefield’s difficulty of the course will vary depending on the tee boxes chosen by players.
“The Battlefield is a beautiful, captivating, and purposefully designed short course like no other,” says PGA Director of Golf Ryan Snyder. “It’s an endlessly fun and engaging experience for golfers of every skill level that also recognizes our brave military personnel, with special commemorations to World War II veterans on every hole. The course has an energy and excitement that, along with our renovated, world-class 27-hole championship course, elevates the golf experience at Shangri-La into the ‘Must Play’ category among the nation’s destination resorts.”
This enjoyable, accessible par-54 course which features holes from 110 to 245 yards, joins the acclaimed 27 championship holes at Shangri-La, the Legends, Heritage and Champions courses (framed elegantly on the shores of the expansive Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees) to present an extraordinary 45-hole golfer’s paradise that buddies’ trip groups and golf aficionados from all over the country will want to add to their bucket list.
“The Battlefield is a unique facility,” said Bradley Jumper, Head Golf Professional at The Battlefield. “The facility is obviously beautiful. The piece of land is amazing for a par 3. It’s great for players of all ranges – good players can make their game more difficult by changing tees. The patio at the new club house is sensational. It’s a spectacular view of the course and a very relaxing atmosphere.”
PGA Head Golf Professional Jerrod Neighbors promises players that The Battlefield is not like any Par 3 course golfers may have played. The terrain is rugged. The existence of five tee boxes plus the close-up Felix tees gives golfers the choice of making play as easy or as difficult as they like.
“It’s a wonderful, relaxed family atmosphere at The Battlefield,” Neighbors says. “It’s a place where players are going to want to spend a lot of time. It’s a really fun course, but it’s challenging. Every hole has a different challenge. There are no cookie-cutter holes on this course; and the greens are difficult enough that, even though every hole is a Par 3, we actually see a lot of three-putts,” he laughs.
“It’s not like the typical Par 3,” Neighbors says. “At most Par 3 courses you find yourself using the same three clubs over and over. The Battlefield isn’t like that. Bring all your clubs. You can use them all! Play different tees. Experience different games. Mix it up. Play different tees. And have a great time. It can be a different experience every time you play.”
The Battlefield is open six days a week (closed Wednesdays). The Championship Course at Shangri-La is open for play seven days a week.
Visit shangrilaok.com for more information.
About Shangri-La Resort
Shangri-La Resort, located on northeastern Oklahoma’s 46,500-acre Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, is the ultimate destination for relaxation and both indoor and outdoor activities. The resort hotel offers 9,000 square feet of versatile meeting and conference space, as well as a medical spa, steam room, sauna, fitness center, an indoor pool, and an expansive 6,500-square-foot outdoor pool with hot tub, tanning ledge, and splash pad. The resort offers six distinct dining and cocktails venues to complete an unforgettable 45-hole golf destination and retreat for families, groups, corporate and association retreats, and weddings.
About Crescent Hotels & Resorts Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, nationally recognized operator of hotels and resorts with over 120 properties in Canada and the United States. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt. Crescent also operates a collection of independent and lifestyle properties under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. These properties include PGA National Resort, Horseshoe Bay Resort, and The Opus Westchester Autograph Collection. Powered by innovative, forward-thinking experts, Latitudes is a modern management platform for lifestyle hotels and resorts where creative concepts connect with modern travelers from urban boutique hotels to oceanside luxury resorts.
Crescent’s clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit www.crescenthotels.com and www.latitudesbycrescent.com or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn.
Media Contacts:
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Carl Mickelson
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Kevin Frisch
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kevin@kevinfrischpr.com
Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.
For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.
“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.
Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.
“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.
The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.
CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.
“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.
The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.
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NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
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