The Play and Stay was a huge success.  We stayed in new digs (Prestige Hotels & Resorts  Radium) this year and were so happy with everything. The staff were fabulous, looking after us very well. It was interesting to learn the story of this family run chain….thank you Cindy H.  We kicked off our weekend with a get together in the banquet room at the hotel where wine and interesting cocktails were enjoyed. The food was excellent and service well done for so many of us. It was a great location having close access to a pub, brewing company and a bakery what more can a girl ask for.

Copper Point  Golf Club has always been a favorite of ours and we have visited a number of times never being disappointed. The greens were slick and challenging, the vistas stunning and the staff very hard working, helpful and friendly, it stems from great leadership. Don’t let the length of the picture perfect Ridge Course fool you. It surprised many offering majestic views and characterd filled terrain.

I think the coolest thing was when Scott McClain Head Professional came out to welcome us on a Paragolfer  Adaptive Sport And Recreation Radsociety   It truly is amazing what has been developed to help those with disabilities.

What a fabulous group of women it was great to see us back together enjoying golf and each other.

“it was FUN and a pleasure to golf with you and Cindy.  I really appreciated your support and encouragement.  WE LAUGHED so much …. the Birdy juice AND Par celebrations I will remember in years to come.” Donna B

There are many things to do in your spare time on PEI and something we really enjoyed were the Coastal Drives which are well marked and easy to follow.

There are three coastal drives to explore. You’ll stop again and again for photos of grazing cows, fishing boats, country churches, pretty painted houses as well as historic and iconic landmarks. Take time to walk around the cities too; each has a unique vibe and coastal boardwalk.
Points East Coastal Drive will give you an insider’s view of Island life. Follow the colorful starfish signs to well-known sites and hidden gems. Discover unique adventures, we found a very scenic walking trail when we went to check out Crowbush. You won’t be able to follow the total drive as it encompasses over 400 kilometers but do what you can. Take time to relax at one of 50 beaches and visit small towns. Slow down, breathe in the ocean air and enjoy the drive. Lighthouse lovers will enjoy a coastal drive along the Northumberland Strait to see three spectacular beacons.  The first stop is the Point Prim Lighthouse, Prince Edward Island’s oldest lighthouse. Next, follow the coastline to Wood Island Lighthouse, an interactive museum with 11 themed rooms. Continue your journey to Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station. Here, some of the wonders you will find along the shore are sandstone cliffs, seals, porpoises and a secluded beach.
The Central Coastal Drive is 253 km of Prince Edward Island scenic landscapes, red cliffs, white-sand beaches and farmland views. Feel the magic of Anne of Green Gables, and taste the culinary delights and more. Bring your bathing suit and camera to Chelton Beach Provincial Park, where you can swim or stroll with the impressive Confederation Bridge as your background. The tiny fishing village of French River offers breathtaking scenery with hills and farmland overlooking the New London Bay. Discover the beauty of the red cliffs and dunes as you drive through the Prince Edward Island National Park.

North Cape Coastal Drive. If you have time this drive offers 350 km of some of the most breathtaking vistas you’ve ever seen! Cruise through seaside fishing villages, learn about Acadian and Mi’kmaq cultures. We took a picnic lunch and when we stopped at a park to eat we discovered a really neat 9 hole golf course, Belfast Highland Greens, a great 9 hole play.

Last but not least is the PEI Shellfish Festival which is happening while we are there. In 1996, a one-day shellfish-centric event was held in Charlottetown to celebrate PEI’s shellfish industry. That event has evolved into what is now known as the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival, a four-day festival packed with culinary demos, celebrity chefs, delicious dining experiences, the best of the best potato seafood chowder and oyster shucking competitions. In addition the entertainment is outstanding and will have you toe tapping in no time. We recommend getting tickets for one of the days, looking at our itinerary, Saturday looks the best.

PEI here we come………….see you soon.

As most golfers know, mosquitoes are just another hazard to deal with when out on the golf course. They’re as inevitable as a missed 3-foot putt, so knowing how to prepare for them before you step out on the links is almost as important as practicing your back swing.

Avoid The Fescue

Easier said than done, we know! Golf balls and the rough go together like mosquitoes and… well, nothing goes together with mosquitoes, but you get the point! Deep shrubbery and foliage give mosquitoes a dark, humid environment to hang out in, so if you’re having a mosquito problem on the golf course, we’d bet that you’ll find a few hanging out on the underside of foliage leaves in out of bounds areas or by water hazards. If possible, try to keep the ball on the fairway, so aim to avoid spending too much time fishing for balls in the water hazard. You’re basically a walking buffet for hungry mosquitoes when playing around these areas.

Stay Away From Dark Clothing

Sometimes, the clothes you wear can explain why you’re getting more mosquito-attention than those around you. Time and again, research has shown that mosquitos are attracted to dark colours including blue, so try and stay away from them if you can.

Mosquitos love sweat

Humans release lots of goodies through our skin that mosquitoes love almost as much as us golfers love birdies. When we sweat, we emit lactic acids, which mosquitos seek out and get drawn in by from the tall grass and wooded areas on the golf course. So try to be relaxed and not to break a sweat.

Use The Spray
Using repellent is a tried and tested way to protect your skin from skeeter bites on the golf course. But don’t just buy anything; make sure you purchase a repellent that has DEET. Products containing DEET – such as liquids, lotions, and sprays – are designed to be applied directly to the skin. DEET makes it harder for mosquitoes and ticks to smell you, since our lactic acids and carbon dioxide are a good indicator that we’re around. DEET confuses their senses, which is why it’s so effective.

Bug Spray Harms grass

Most golfers do not know that their insect repellent will harm turf, especially when directed at legs and ankles. The overspray usually leaves a pattern of a green footprint or footprints surrounded by straw-colored injured turf.Turf crews work really hard at getting that carpet feel grass that golfers love so much. When you’re spraying on that bug spray for protection, it’s also showering the grass around you. It takes less than a day for that spray to ruin all those hours of hard work and leave your footprints behind. The solution to this problem is to spray legs and ankles on a cart path or other non-turf surface where the overspray will not contact grass. Depending on conditions and the amount of spray on the grass, these spots usually recover in 1-4 weeks. In extreme cases, though, they can result in the death of the patch of turf. Please be vigilant and use the spray in the parking lot or on paved pathways. The maintenance crews will thank you and other golfers as well. Enjoy your summer and stay bug free.

 

“Please welcome the hosts of our show Pat Sajak and Vanna White” and we were off for our day trip to Water Valley themed Wheel of Fore-Tune. Mondays this June have seen all kinds of rotten weather  so we had our fingers crossed. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, the sun was shinning, the temperature was great and there was a slight breeze, who could ask for more?

Nadien, the events coordinator did a fabulous job and our clubs were efficiently managed and placed on our carts. When the participants checked in they received a “money bag” which contained not money but golf balls which was another very generous donation. We were a shot gun start and our great parade of golf carts, commenced stopping at the teeing ground of our assigned holes and the fun began.

The golf course was in wonderful shape and it is certainly a hidden gem and great fun to play.  Water Valley Golf & Country Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep the course difficult yet friendly.

Following our round we were treated to a very tasty meal, the protein consisted of smoked brisket, pulled pork and chicken drumsticks served family style at each table, this was paired with a nice selection of salads from the salad bar. During dinner the captains of each team came up to spin the wheel which determined their final score. We had a wonderful selection of prizes and everyone had the opportunity to go home with something. We thank the sponsors for being so very supportive, we had wonderful baskets, great outerwear, golf shirts and sun glasses and a beautiful hand made quilt, and of course a girls best friend many bottles of wineas well as a variety of other items.

It has been a long time since we have been able to get together at a tournament and this outing was well worth waiting for, we all had a great time.

Food is a way of life on Prince Edward Island. With fresh, local ingredients from the land and sea, the incredibly talented chefs will take your culinary experience to a whole other level. There’s a reason Prince Edward Island is called “Canada’s Food Island,” and it has a lot to do with how passionate the locals are about their food culture and restaurants. The food on the island is fantastic, and the seafood is world class. You can get unbelievable mussels just about anywhere, and if there are oysters, lobster or any other seafood on the menu that’s the place to go.

The Claddagh Oyster House is the top ranked restaurant in Charlotte town, rated numero uno on Trip Advisor and it is not hard to see why. Enjoy oysters caught in a number of different locations across PEI, alongside fresh seafood and meat dishes. Another favorite of ours in North Rustico, close to where we will be staying on the North shore is the Blue Mussel Cafe a fabulous place for seafood, serving up everything from chowder and crab cakes to their famous steamed mussels. Darlene even got the recipe for their Seafood Bubbly Bake, soooo good. If lobster is your shellfish of choice, you won’t find better than those at Water Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound. Found on the corner of Water and Prince streets in a beautiful, classic blue-painted building, the restaurant has been pleasing local foodies for over two decades. Lastly, for food that comes with a side helping of art, plan a trip to The Dunes Studio Gallery and Cafe. Watch pottery being made, shop for local jewelery and crafts, and browse the extensive gardens before sitting down with a fresh-brewed coffee and delicious meal.

We are all in for another great culinary experience, Chef Michael Smith’s Firework Feast. For those of you who don’t know who Michael Smith is he is a celebrity chef who has numerous shows on the Food Network. He’s built an inn on his property called the Inn at Fortune Bay, which is a stone’s throw from the water, and features a phenomenal collection of gardens. Your evening starts by grabbing a sangria, gin and tonic or another beverage of your choice and takes you out to the back part of the property where there are stations setup for appetizers. All of the food for the evening is prepared over an open flame (hence the Fireworks name), and you leisurely stroll among the gardens and sample some of the finest appetizers you’ll ever have in your life. It only gets better as we are treated to more fabulous dishes, but I don’t want to tell you too much as it will be great for you to be surprised. It was an experience that we will always remember.

No one can call our Beginner League golfers fair-weather golfers, well certainly not those who showed up to play at Shaganappi Valley Nine this past month. The weather in June this year has been a challenge to say the least and on this particular night the wind was gale force, the trees almost at right angles and these great gals showed up to golf. I know they wouldn’t have chosen to golf in such miserable conditions but they don’t want Golfaround to be in trouble so they went out to play. The golf course was not in the best shape, there were branches that had blown down and the sand traps were water hazards. Most of the golf courses had closed that day but for those hardy gals the show went on.

I guess we remember nights when we faced the elements, remember McKenzie Meadows the year of the flood? Funnily enough the marshall that night was a gal who used to be a member and was at McKenzie Meadows that night. Even on the most miserable of golfing days, there’s always some fun, some satisfaction, something we can learn about this fascinating game.

The snow is melted, the sun feels warm and the grass is starting to get green, it’s time to hit the links. Every May we experience this and those of you who have been members for a while will remember many of our first week starts, totally white, totally cold, and once in a while totally warm and sunny. Well this year our first week was absolutely gorgeous, the lessons started, league play was enjoyable and life was good. Week two of the golf season not so much, Monday we woke to a blanket of the white stuff, some of our golf locations closed and all the lessons were cancelled. Wednesday we got an early morning e-mail from Inglewood, they had a 75 minute frost delay and our league’s start would be 7:18pm, a bit late and we only had 8 tee times, you do the math. In addition there was another one from Bearspaw, their frost delay was around 30 minutes and I believe it may have been a bit more than that. We do live in Calgary and should be used to it but it’s hard to take sometimes. On a more positive note the Kick-off social was a roaring success. Tiffany Gordon, our guest speaker was amazing. She entertained a captive audience, all the while inspiring and motivating, we are so very grateful to have a Tiff in our midst. It was a lovely evening and Inglewood did a fine job of managing 116 thirsty gals. There was a good turnout from existing members which is great as we need them to inspire our new members and make them welcome. It was also great to meet many of our new members and I am sure you will have fun in the weeks to come, it does warm up.

What is a “mulligan”? The exact origin of the term is unknown but the 3 possibilities that may have led to the origin of the term are:

1. After hitting a poor tee shot, Mulligan teed and replayed his shot which he referred to as a “correction shot”. His playing partners decided that it would be more fitting to name the practice after him. When moving from Canada to the U.S. David Mulligan introduced the concept.
2. A second version has the extra shot given to Mulligan due to his being jumpy and shaky after a difficult drive on the road to the course.
3. A third version is that he was given an extra shot after he overslept and then rushed to get ready to make the tee time.

The use of mulligans is prohibited by the rules of golf and can lead to disqualification when used in an event. In a social round we do take a mulligan now and then. Golfaround’s “rule” is that we should limit this to one mulligan per nine. You should not make use of a mulligan when it affects your pace negatively, or the group behind you are playing faster than you. Alternatively, practice harder and get into a position where you do not need a mulligan.

It has been a couple of years since we have been able to take the Beginners out on to the loop at Heritage Point. The loop consists of 3 playing holes – a Par 3, 4, & 5, a great way to introduce new golfers to the game and remove some of the intimidation. This year Cindy Judd joined us mentoring the gals around the holes, she is probably the best story teller we know, so I am sure the ladies were entertained as well as learned some good stuff. After learning the basics of the tee box which is the starting point on each hole of a golf course and what the different sets of tees meant, the gals had fun hitting their balls down the fairway. The play was interspersed with advice on how to manage lost balls, balls in the rough and how to know how far away from the pin you were. Then there was the sand bunker and where you leave the rake after raking the trap. The putting green offered the opportunity to learn about the flag stick, minding it and being watchful of someone’s line and repairing a ball mark. We also had some dreaded water to contend with at Heritage, but all was well. Golf is a great game, we don’t have to be athletic or strong we just have to be patient, persistent and thoughtful of others. We finished up on the patio that has a picture perfect setting surrounded by beauty.  Food and service were excellent and a great way to kick the season off taking away some of the jitters for those new to golf.

Prince Edward Island is essentially the golf capital of Canada. There are more courses per capita than any other place in the country, with 28 courses for a small island of 150k or so residents.

The most surprising thing about golf in PEI is the diversity. They have hills, they have ocean, they have history, they have parkland, links – just about any type of golf you could want, you’ll find on PEI.  Of the 28, there are 10 that are more well known The Links at Crowbush Cove, Green Gables Golf Club, Brudenell River Course, Dundarave, Glasgow Hills, Anderson’s Creek, Mill River, Fox Meadow and Eagle’s Glenn.

Of those listed above we will play six of them, : Crowbush, Brudenell, Dundarave,  Glasgow Hills, Anderson Creek and Eagles Glen. We think these will be a fantastic introduction to golf in PEI because they vary in both style and location on the island, so we will be  able to see a lot of what PEI golf is all about.

Crowbush is probably the most well known course on Prince Edward Island, as it’s ranked 39 in the country by Score Golf. Two others on this list are the Banff Springs and Stewart Creek. Overlooking the north shore dunes of PEI, Crowbush continues to enthrall all those that take the challenge to conquer one of North America’s very best. Undulating fairways, water holes with a wisp of wind, pot bunkers and challenging greens all come together to provide an experience not to be forgotten. Truly an unbelievable combination of nature and imagination. Of all the courses that are considered a “must play”, Crowbush is certainly one of them. Play Crowbush If: You want a challenge, excellent conditioning and some of the best golf views on the island.

Brudenell has long recognized as the most popular golf course on the Island, this picturesque garden and river course offers six par 3’s, six par 4’s and six par 5’s. Broad fairways and manicured greens are accented by numerous gardens, lakes and ponds. It is sure to reward the senses with the beauty of Prince Edward Island. The course and the Rodd Brudenell River Resort complex are noted for hosting some of the finest professional matches; notably, the Lorie Kane Island Challenge in 2000 – Canada’s first ever women’s “skins” game – and numerous Canadian Tour events. “With age comes maturity” and since its opening in 1969, Brudenell continues to receive high praise from visitors and members alike.

Dundarave. This red sandstone, 18-hole championship golf course, designed by award winning architects, Dr. Michael Hurzdan and Dana Fry, opened in July 1999. The course offers an appealing blend of traditional and contemporary architectural designs with some of the most memorable bunkering patterns in all of golf. Expansive fairways, lined with lush pines and the tranquil Brudenell River, meander through some of the most stunning beauty that PEI has to offer. The natural setting of Dundarave, and its proximity to the Brudenell River course, will ensure that your golf experience at this 36-hole complex is one that will long be remembered.

Glasgow Hills The view from the Clubhouse at Glasgow Hills may be the best on the island as it overlooks the course, rolling hills with golden fields, and on a clear day you can see the ocean in the backdrop. The 18-hole championship golf course is a signature tribute to renowned western Canadian golf course designer, Les Furber. The routing takes full advantage of the elevation changes by offering stunning panoramic views of the PEI countryside, River Clyde and Play Glasgow Hills If: You like fun golf. You want unique golf holes, hilltop views, and something different than the linksy feel many of the other courses have.

Andersons Creek Golf Club prides itself on having something to offer to all golfers with multiple tee boxes on every hole. The course is laid out over undulating lands with big greens and water hazards placed on 9 holes. The most distinct feature of Andersons Creek is the creek itself.

Eagles Glenn of Cavendish is known for its excellent playing conditions, enjoyable layout and friendly Island service. Graham Cooke designed this championship course in the rolling landscape of Cavendish Beach. Stunning views, challenging holes, a pleasant walk, elegantly sculptured. All 18 challenging holes at Eagles Glenn are named for the original 18 Scottish families to settle in Cavendish. It’s a nod to our proud Scottish heritage. The perfect balance of challenge and beauty. Eighteen performance inspiring holes embraced by countless awe inspiring scenic views.

PEI is a golfers mecca for sure and after experiencing the diversity of the golf courses I am sure we will have a tough time deciding a favorite.