Lifestyle

By Jim McCabe

It is impossible to be cold at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. Not in early June when stifling humidity engulfs the Midwest. But a lasting memory frozen in time? It happened right there at Jack Nicklaus’ famed club, no matter that temperatures were fixed in the 30s Celsius and sweat flowed excessively from a few dozen players who were grinding away on the range. Until they stopped. In unison. This is where the memory becomes frozen, an unforgettable sight that was a tribute to the aura of Seve Ballesteros.

It was June of 2010 and Ballesteros, then 53 and deep in the throes of a battle with cancer, offered his thanks to Nicklaus and his tournament committee for being that year’s Memorial Tournament Honoree. Unable to attend, the gallant...

Based on the award-winning Tokyo American Club’s concept of a first-in-class private club in the American tradition, Tokyo American Club Nihonbashi combines dining, drinking and fitness venues for members to unwind, entertain and exercise as part of an international community.

With a design by acclaimed architect Daishi Yoshimoto and bespoke furnishings throughout, including a curated collection of artwork, the club’s interior provides unparalleled luxury for all members. Its location in the heart of the business-focused Nihonbashi district - within walking distance of Tokyo station - also positions the club as a prime destination for those in search of a refined retreat before or after work.

Tokyo American Club...

I am very excited about AIR Golf allowing me the opportunity to write about 2 of my favorite things: Golf and Wine. Golf and Wine complement each other in so many ways and in this quarterly column we will be exploring the intersection as well as how each can be enjoyed on their own.

Several South African PGA golf professionals have had great success on the course as well as catching the wine bug and starting their own wine brands in their native land. With some of the most picturesque vineyards in the world, almost perfect Mediterranean climate and a diverse food and wine scene, there is no wonder why these South African’s got involved in wine.

David Frost (29 professional victories) and his family have been in the wine business for over 60 years. David has been in and...

It had been a fair few years since I had visited Maduro- the Tokyo Grand Hyatt’s plush Jazz bar located in Roppongi Hills. The entrance is a little hidden, its large wooden doors tucked away in between floors of the plush five-star property.

It’s a Thursday and the bar has just opened its doors, no band yet and it’s relaxingly quiet. Besides me, 3 suits are finishing off the day's business over a drink and two couples are having an aperitif before dinner.

The interior is exactly what you would expect for a luxury jazz joint. Tastefully backlit, comfortable chairs and round candlelit tables are around a typical jazz band stage. To the right is the bar, boasting a hefty selection of rare whiskeys-more on that later. I settle into a back table and peruse the menu.

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An area that has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years is Toranomon 1-chome. This classic Tokyo business town has evolved into a modern, youthful promenade, thriving around Kanata Street. Towering over the district is yet another remarkable Mori Building Co. creation, Toranomon Hills. On the top 6 floors, nestled over a plethora of blue chip companies and the JOC, is the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel, which is the focus of our attention. In particular the newly conceptualized The Tavern - Grill & Lounge, which under the creative brilliance of Executive Chef, Shaun Keenan, and his dedicated team, has come into its own.

I grew up in Europe, where car manufacturers have a distinct design and style and target distinct demographics. Volvo has always been a family car... safe, reliable and built like a tank... when we talk about stylish good looks and sex appeal, well let's just say, traditionally, Volvo would not get a look-in. In recent years though Volvo has started to move in a different direction- starting with the XC90 SUV.

Volvo started looking at a completely different styling and design, gone were the clunky tanks, and in came the innovation that forced everyone to look at Volvo cars and the Volvo brand, in a new light.

The XC90 came onto the scene with a lot of heavy hitters in the backdrop: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus as well as the uber-luxury models like the Cayenne and Levante...