Our planned trip this year The Kootenay Golf Trail is something we can look forward to. I am sure that like us you are all missing the golf get-a-ways and the mystery bus trip but if we all do what we are supposed to do we will be able to go back to enjoying life as it used to be. The next couple of news feeds will feature some of the fabulous stops on this amazing  journey.

The route from Creston to Kokaney Springs along Highway 3A is beautiful. Allow plenty of time to meander along this winding road to enjoy the views across the lake to the mountains beyond. The distance From Creston to Crawford Bay is only 80 kilometers but it will take at least 90 minutes without stopping. An unusual sight along this route is The Glass House a former funeral directors home with walls constructed from more than 500.000 empty embalming bottles. Another stop can be made at Crawford Bay where you will find many artisans and studios.

First stop is Kokanee Springs Resort a special place that offers comfortable accommodation on over 500 acres of pristine natural landscape paired with one of BC’s most scenic courses We will love every hole of the golf course as each one leads you into a world of it’s own, distinct and unique in character. Elevated tee decks offer majestic views of Kokanee Springs expansive fairways and the Kokanee Glacier. Large, contoured green complexes bring fun and joy to the challenge of putting. Towering evergreens and old growth cedars separating each hole bring a peaceful solitude that is only enhanced by ten-minute tee intervals, ensuring every visitor experiences the very best of this scenic course at a relaxed, comfortable pace. After our round we can relax at Woods the restaurant at the course or if we want we can take a short 10 minute drive to Boccalinos to enjoy an exceptional dining experience, a Swiss/Italian eatery.

After a short drive and a 35 minute free ferry ride we will travel to Balfour then on to Nelson. The ferry ride offers stunning views of Kootenay Lake, the Purcell mountains to the East, the Selkirk Mountains to the west, and a glance at the famous Kokanee Glacer.

We will be playing at the Balfour Golf Course but have chosen to stay in Nelson  instead of Balfour as we had a better choice of accommodation.In addition there are more restaurant choices and things to do and see. The  drive to get back to Balfour is short and very neat as you  wind up the west lake shore.

Check out the hyperlink above to find out more about our trip, space is limited

A very Happy Easter to you and your families. We hope you get to celebrate in some way to see your loved ones and the Easter Bunny leaves colorful chocolate eggs or colored golf balls somewhere for you to find.

It looks like we will not be able to gather for our Orientation and Social so we have planned a virtual presentation using Zoom. For event details Calgary click here & Edmonton click here.   We tell new members a little bit about Golfaround and how we got started, we also review the booking procedures and policies.  An invitation will be sent to new members via e-mail to join the virtual presentation, it will be recorded for those to review later.  You can also find the information in  the Membership Information Package in the Members area on the website.

We are hopeful to do the Beginning Golf Course Orientation in both Edmonton and Calgary Saturday May 8 4:00pm. Calgary’s takes place at on the loop at Heritage Pointe golf course and Edmonton’s on the Dragon Heads Golf course.  Golfers new to the game or those that have not had very much experience do find the Beginner Golf Course Orientation very beneficial. It is not mandatory but we highly recommend so that you start off the right way and avoid feeling uncomfortable while learning this great game.  Some feel nervous and  intimidated so this is our way to boost your confidence before you head out on a  golf course. You will play 3 holes with a mentor who gives you some advice and helpful hints. Some of the things we cover:

• What to do on the tee box, fairway, green
• Ready Golf and Pace of Play
• Golf Etiquette
• What to wear, what you need

We have started indoor lessons at Eaglequest Golf Dome in the north following the protocols that are still in place.  It was so nice to see some different faces and feel the excitement of being able to get out and do something. Everyone was so excepting of what we need to do at this point in time to get back to some sense of normal.  Our planning this season has not been without it challenges so a big thank you to many of you for being flexible.  It is going to be a very busy season and we do expect things to run similar to last year so will definitely need your support and help.

This winter has been hard on many of us as many of the activities we have done in the past were not available. Many of you missed being able to travel to play golf . We missed hitting ball at the Dome this winter and it is likely that a large majority of us have been more inactive than we would have liked. This lack of movement during the winter months is one of many contributing factors that can increase chance of injury during the golf season. If you become injured, you can’t golf at your best. So, why not prepare beforehand? There are numerous exercises that can be done to prepare both your upper and lower body and core strength, but  more importantly, just get moving. In the weeks to months before the golf season opens, walking, cycling or any form of exercise can be beneficial to your body. By being active, you are preparing the muscles and tissues in your body for some of the motions you will perform on the course.

It’s no secret that flexibility is one of the most important factors when it comes success in golf  We went and tried out virtual golf and didn’t know why our shoulders and back were sore. Tightness in the shoulders, back, hips and legs restricts the extension of the club as you swing. Improve your flexibility by doing the following stretches now and also prior to playing your round. Stretch your arm muscles by holding one arm straight out in front of you, palm up. Take your other hand and put it on the palm of the outstretched hand. Gently push the bottom palm down so your fingers are pointing toward the ground. Stretch your back by standing up straight and bringing your left arm over your head with the elbow bent so the left hand is behind your head. Grab that elbow with your other hand and tug it toward the right. Or grasp a golf club with your hands about 24 inches apart. Hold the club straight out in front of you at chest level. Stand with your knees slightly bent. Swing your arms and club to the right and then to the left, keeping your arms parallel to the floor at chest level, without turning your chest and head. . In addition to stretching before and after your regular workouts, consider adding yoga to your exercise repertoire,

There are also many training aides on the market which can help you get your game in shape before heading out to the links. It is always good to start with your short game and what’s better than putting teaching aides, or if you are like Edie and Mike, have your own outdoor putting green? Check out Lisa’s video in this regard it is very informative and always great to watch, she is inspiring.

Don’t forget to warm up before heading out to play. Go to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls – but don’t overdo it! Before you swing the club for the first time, perform a warmup routine consisting of upper and lower body movements, as well as trunk rotations from side to side to mimic a golf swing. Perform this same routine each time before you play a round.

It can be difficult to get back into the swing of things after a long winter but maybe next year we will be able to hit balls again at the dome. Also there are plans for a new indoor golf experience  LaunchPad. Golf entertainment complexes can make it fun and easy to shake the rust off your swing. Plenty of practice before you’re out on the course can go a long way … and it can be fun, too! We all love to have a wine and a snack when we hit balls so if it doesn’t go too well your first time out, you can always blame it on the wine.

2020 was a record-setting year for rounds of golf played despite the challenges associated with Covid-19. Little did any of us know that the game of golf would be revitalized as numerous people flocked to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and exercise. Even on bad weather days it was difficult to get a tee time. It is thought that this renewed popularity is what the future holds as many new people are taking up the game.

We were so very fortunate to have the continued support from the golf courses as all of them were packed from dawn to dusk and tee times were a premium.

Back in February of 2020 when the Corona virus was upgraded to a pandemic who thought it would be with us a year later? In those early times of lock-down and isolation we were hard pressed to find ways to stay positive and active, the isolation started to take a toll on our minds, bodies and spirits. Then the golf courses were allowed to open with protocols established to keep us safe and we turned to golf as an outlet. Playing a game of golf offered us respite from despondency and isolation, it was our bright light and offered us a semblance of normalcy.

As we head into 2021 we believe our golf will be much the same, we will still have to distance; we will still have to follow established protocols; we will still be able to enjoy and have fun.

If you are not a member of GOLFAROUND INC and you want to play golf we are open to registrations in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. Don’t delay though there are only so many spots available and as you can see golf is at a high demand

Great News!!!  We have planned a 9 Hole Day league for the Edmonton ladies on Wednesday mornings. This is a nice option for those that do not have the whole day for a game of golf.

There are benefits to playing 9 holes for all of us. Let’s face it we live in a very busy world with work and family commitments and it is tough to find some time for ourselves. It is important to get a well-deserved break every now and then but going out and playing 18 holes of golf isn’t always easy due to time, cost, and physical limitations.

• Playing 9 holes should take just under 2 ½ hrs
• 9 holes rates are less than 18 hole rates – as we try to get the best bang for our buck these days
• Playing nine holes allows you to get great exercise without overdoing it if you face health restraints

Come out and play holes – no more excuses!!!

It is really hard to plan when you don’t know what is around the corner, however always optimistic.  By now we would have been hitting balls for 4 weeks and played some virtual golf.  The north and south domes  have not been open and I am not sure if the south dome will be available due to the collapse after that heavy snow fall.  Once things get open we will communicate the plans for practice this winter. We are hopeful and look forward to seeing everyone, I think we are all missing socializing and to quote CJ “getting sick of our own company”.  We won’t plan a virual golf league on a regular basis but hope to provide  a couple of separate events.

Looking forward to welcoming back the members we refunded last year due to Covid and looking forward to meeting the new members. Registration opens up on the website  February 1.

Looking back over the first 20 years of Golfaround  we found that it was maybe time to recapture the last four years. Remembering where we went and what we did will give us something to look forward to in the seasons to come. This will be the first of three articles.

The 2016 season certainly had it’s challenges, the weather Gods were not too kind to us. The big, black cloud came in at about 4pm every week day and sometimes on the weekends as well. We couldn’t remember when we had such violent storms. We were lucky though to have an early Spring start and instead of hitting ball inside the Dome in April we actually played outside on the course at Fox Hollow. We had fun at the Mystery Bus trip which saw us in Golden with a great theme of “Golf is like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get”. If you saw Forrest Gump you will remember that line but it was about life. However it does adequately describe the challenge of the average amateur golfer every time he or she tees it up. What game is going to show up today? Our spin was the mystery of what you got on every hole. Also the Play & Stay in Fernie and Edmonton’s wind-up at Broadmoor enjoyed some favorable weather.

2016 was also when The Elks Golf Club changes their structure and with it their name, it changed to The Winston the golf course didn’t change and we continued to have great golf at a reasonable price.

For 28 of us and that does include 6 spouses the highlight of 2016 had to be Italy. A beautiful country offering magnificent architecture, beautiful landscapes, ancient ruins, and brilliant art. Some entire cities that we visited are works of art in themselves, Venice, Florence and Rome. In Venice we were surrounded by magnificent sights and sounds as we cruised along the Giudecca canal to St. Mark’s Square We admired the Bridge of Sighs and the beauty of St Mark’s Basilica was amazing, as was the ornate Doge’s Palace. We enjoyed some stuning architecture; saw mysterious passageways; explored the canals by gondola in the rain, it was fun. A trip to the beautiful island of Burano, known for its lace production, gave us the opportunity to visit local shops and a museum to admire high-end lace on display, and also to admire the island’s brightly colored fishermen’s houses.
On the way to Lake Garda we stopped for a while in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s most famous play, and saw the Roman Arena and Juliet’s balcony. It was here that we experienced our first excellent meal at a little out of the way restaurant accompanied by some delicious Amarone wine which comes from this area, very good. We loved the Lake Garda area and had fun exploring the jewels of the area Brescia and Sirmione. We could only approach the town by foot crossing the draw bridge but once inside we felt immersed in the Middle Ages, since there is a profusion of historic buildings at every turn. Cars are not allowed inside the city, which is ideal for pleasant strolls through the narrow cobblestone streets where an air of nostalgia fills the entire town.
On our way to the UNA Poggio dei Medici Golf Resort we stopped in Milan to see the La Scala Opera House, the Duomo di Milan with it’s amazing architecture and the high end Galleria Vittonio Emauelle II where we gasped at the prices. Our rooms at the Poggio were great as were the other amenities The course itself was great and quite a challenge, we were all happy we got to play it twice thinking it would be easier the second time around, but no, we still got lost. One of the great things about here was that we were all in the same area so happy hours on the patio were great and we all got to know one another a little bit better.
One day in Florence is not enough time to absorb all the wonders. Masterpieces are everywhere and the magnificent Duomo and Baptistery are wonderful. We visited the Uffizi in the afternoon the art was outstanding. The day ended with sunset over the Arno high above Florence, what more could you ask for.
Onward to the South and Pistoia by way of Pisa where we admired the famous Leaning Tower. In Pistoia we golfed again which was great, went to the local market which was fun and the majority of the group attended the cooking school where we made delicious pasta, pesto, biscotti and more. Other places we enjoyed in the area were San Gimignano and Lucca. The wine and olive oil tasting we did at the Fattoria il Poggio was excellent. Our last experience was Rome, everything is gigantic with the exception of Joan’s beer at the hotel, it was pretty small for the price but we’re in Rome. Everywhere you look there seems to be remnants of the Roman Empire. Both Vatican Ciy and Rome has to be seen to be believed. Within the Vatican are 11 Vatican Museums which hold some of the best art in the world. We saw the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco and St. Peter’s Basilica, a huge and beautiful church holding priceless works of art. St. Peter’s Square is a huge circular piazza where people gather to see and hear the Pope. Again we only saw a small portion of what is Rome but what we saw, the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain were a sight to see. Our last golf game unfortunately had to end after nine due to rain, but other than a sprinkle when we arrived in Venice and the last day in Rome we had sunny warm weather. Our farewell dinner was excellent and the opera singers gave us an entertaining show enjoyed by all.

Stay tuned for the next episode in the March newsfeed.

Happy New Year – the new year, a time to say good bye and a time to say hello.  I am sure many of you are like me,  looking forward to moving on to a new year. There will still be some challenges but we are optimistic about managing what is, instead of worrying about what could be. I am expecting the golf courses will operate in a similar way as last year but because we have been through it we know how to manage and we learned some new things along the way.

Let’s watch that light at the end  of the tunnel grow brighter and brighter. We will be out on the golf courses before we know it, enjoying each other’s company and that human connection we are missing.