Many of you have told us that you really appreciate the wide variety of golf courses we offer you. We are very lucky to have these golf course and have gained a very good reputation with them because our members are committed and always keep a good pace. Many years ago when Joanne Englehardt was alive we were out at Rivers Edge a group of firemen were to follow us, they complained being behind a group of women and Joanne told them they they probably wouldn’t see us for the dust. Another group of gals were in Alabama and because it is very redneck and male dominant there, they got the pace of play spiel, however, when they completed the round they were praised for their pace of play and the girls  told them they were trained well by Golfaround.
Slow play in golf is irritating. It’s the difference between getting a full round in on a summer’s evening or coming in in the dark, We have been aware that our reputation is in jeopardy as there have been numerous complaints of slow play from our members. Our concern is that we will loose some of our membership if this continues so thought we should try to fix the problem, however, we can’t do this,  only you can make a difference. You all need to pay more attention to pace of play and the game will be more enjoyable for everyone. Each player should recognize that his or her pace of play is likely to affect how long it will take other players to play their rounds, including both those in the player’s own group and those in following groups. How well one plays is not the determining factor here, there are many of high-handicappers who speed around the course, just like plenty of skilled golfers … take … all … day.
Pace of play is not about playing fast. It’s about playing efficiently and with consideration for others and don’t forget that proper spacing of tee times and a good marshal goes a long way. As does a golf trip to the other side of the pond, where players walk more than they ride, and walk directly to their own ball rather than becoming a caravan of golfers travelling to each other’s ball. Some of the offenders are those who are slow but don’t know it or they are oblivious to it. They feel like they’re going through their round at a good pace, but are really the one that everybody is waiting on…constantly. Whether it is being slow to the tee box, looking too long for balls, not being ready to hit in the fairway, always needing to go back to get another club, reading a putt for too long, etc., this golfer is just a little slower than everyone else and has absolutely no clue.
Many slow players don’t begin their pre-shot routine and practise swings until it’s their turn to hit, you can always do this while waiting to go the tee. Then there is the Tour-pro wannabe who takes six full practice swings every time, the 25-handicapper who waits for the green to clear before dribbling her shot 50 yards. Some of the things that we can do are hit when ready and when it is safe to do so, don’t be the last person to approach the tee box. Prepare for your shot as you approach the ball. Have the appropriate club in hand. Putt out the continuously. Mark your score at the next tee. Keep up with the group in front. Do your socializing after the round, gabbing on the tee when the fairway is open or not being ready to hit when it’s your turn is a major cause of slow play. Another thing is looking for lost balls, a quick look is fine but when they go into the deep rough it’s bye bye ball don’t waste your time and the time of others.
What can we all do? We can tell the course Marshall the next time he comes by. Sometimes a simple word from him is enough to increase the pace of play of a slower group. If it’s your own group that is slow (perhaps one of your number is a beginner and doesn’t hit very far, or keeps losing their ball in the rough), encourage your fellow player to pick up the pace, drop a ball in the fairway and keep on playing—especially if he or she is a high handicapper. Pickng up the ball to help speed the game along is no big deal. Other things you can do as a group, is to watch each other’s balls, at least off the tee, and help in the search if one goes off course. Another way to pick up the pace: once you have hit your own ball, is to move forward to your new ball position, focus and plan your next shot as you approach, so that you are ready to hit again when it is your turn. It is best to avoid difficult golf courses if you are a beginner golfer. Your fellow golfers and your own ego will benefit. We are wondering if a particular group notices they are slow and the group behind are waiting two or more times maybe they should offer to let them play through, your thoughts please.
The fact is, that slow play is a problem caused by many factors and we are concerned that we will not only loose some of the golf course we are love to play on but also some of our members who we love to play with as they are always ready and fun to play with. The best way to combat the issue and make rounds faster is for every golfer to play faster. You don’t have to rush, just be ready to hit when it is your turn and limit the extracurricular actions surrounding the game to what is absolutely necessary to hit the shot. To reiterate, we should always attempt to make the best score on every hole…we should just take less time to do it!

City Council have voted in favour of closing the Richmond Green golf course after the 2019 golf season as the financials indicate it is not profitable. If we remember the golf course was closed on two different occasions for a significant amount of time for maintenance to water infrastructure which lies beneath. Because of this It is not really developable at this point. This golf course has been great for our Beginner Program and also for many seniors in the area who enjoy getting out but can’t manage the longer tracks. It is a great place for grandparents to take their young grandchildren and closure would be a real shame. They are looking at some ways to generate revenue and we think there are options that would increase rvenue and they should explore this before making this decision. The city does have to contend with limitations imposed by collective agreements, the city isn’t able to solicit private firms to manage the golf courses unless union employees are hired to do the work. Can we do anything to delay this action? There is a survey which we would suggest you complete so that our members can express their opinion.

The Edmonton ladies had a fabulous day at Coal Creek. Carolyn Wright called it a Christmas miracle in July, the weather was fabulous that day.  I am sure some of them ended up in that black sand so that would have been an experience.   Lyn was quick on her feet with last minute adjustments and appreciated the flexibility of the members and the help she got.   A big thanks to Coal Creek for a great day!!!

 

Our Golf and Gamble get-a-way was a lot of fun. Upon arrival we found our rooms very comfortable and well equipped. The resort is situated amidst some outstanding scenery and is very picturesque. We started off with wine tasting where everyone could gather and get to know one another. Ryan, the sommelier, did a fabulous job, he was knowledgeable, quick witted and informative. We all enjoyed this event.
We woke the next morning to sounds of water under car tires……yes when we looked out the window it was raining. We donned our rainwear and headed for the golf course, a hop, skip and a jump away. After playing the first three holes in light rain it cleared up, although not really warm we stayed dry for the rest of our round. We enjoyed our round but did find the golf course not as pristine as we remembered it.
That evening we headed to the casino with our free vouchers for a bit of fun. Some lost it in a minute but Di had lady luck on her side and played for three hours at different machines without using a penny of her own money…..so much fun. Sunday we woke to a beautiful sunny day and headed over to Wildstone. What a fabulous golf course and it was in great shape. We played the sock game at St Eugene and some of the groups donated their winnings.  We have included the $35.50 with our donation to Foothills Family Hospice in memory of Suzanne Shutiak. In addition to this Melanie Shelley donated her Mystery bus winnings of $29.00. We all very much enjoyed our rounds and were sorry to have to head home as the sun had finally come out.
It was really great to have some new faces finally join us on our play and stay as well as getting to know some of the new members to Golfaround. We feel very fortunate to be in the company of so many terrific, fun women , after all girls just want to have fun you know.

Welcome to Belfast the last stop, well almost, as we do travel back to Dublin to fly home. This modern city is an eclectic medley of cultural treasures, with its mix of Victorian grandeur, industrial grit and living history. Here you will find a little bit of everything whether it’s comedy, maritime history, community arts, carnival parades, bluegrass music, song writing, European cinema, contemporary dance or the crème de la crème of local cuisine.
At Titanic Belfast delve into where it all began for the Ship of Dreams, this is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience and a “must see” visit in any tour of Belfast and Northern Ireland. Housed in an iconic 6-floor, 9-gallery building, the ‘hulls’ of which are the exact height of Titanic when she sat on the slipways, this state-of-the-art visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end.
Gaze up at the soaring crenellations of St Anne’s Cathedral, before hopping across the road to celebrate Belfast’s literary scene in Writer’s Square, where quotes from famous local writers CS Lewis, Hanna Bell and John Hewitt are carved in the stone underfoot.
Experience the City’s culture, politics, history, environment or landmarks from the back seat of an authentic Belfast Taxi, with your driver as your guide to see the murals, peacewall and living culture of the city.
Belfast is also perfect for foodies and we’ve got everything you need to discover your very own gourmet Garden of Eden from artisan bakeries, to traditional apple pies and garden parties galore throughout the summer months. You can enjoy Ireland’s oldest covered food market, the award winning St George’s Market, not to mention one of the liveliest and best value eating scenes in the UK or Ireland. You can also discover delicious Northern Irish breads like soda and potato, and gourmet chocolates in the city where Hans Sloane was educated.
Soak up the lively atmosphere, stroll along its fine Victorian streets, enjoy the range of world-class visitor attractions and indulge in a café, restaurant and entertainment scene that can rival any city in Europe.

The Royal Belfast Golf Club is where some of us will play an optional round. It is the oldest club in Ireland having been founded in 1881, Rory McIlroy is a member here. It is now located on the South shore of Belfast Lough where the views across the water to the Antrim hills is quite delightful. Heritage and tradition are bywords here, the magnificent former manor house that is the clubhouse has golfing memorabilia tucked everywhere. The golf course was routed over rolling parkland in a manner that is very easy on the eye. Stands of trees, lush fairways, gentle elevation challenges and intelligent bunkering all combine to make this course an absolute charmer to play on.  Some of the holes are right on the shoreline and a favorite of some of the members.

 

The Mystery Bus trip’s theme this year was an Irish one, we called it 40 Shades of Green. When we hit the road we wondered if we should have themed it 50 Shades of Gray as it was overcast with many dark clouds around. You could hear the group trying to guess where we were headed, the clear spots were suggested to be the best route. However when we reached our destination, The Crowsnest Pass Golf Club,  it was clear and dry but I must say we did encounter shades of Irish weather throughout our round. We had sun and warmth, take the layers off, then wind brrrr put them back on, then clouds and some showers and then some rain, wow we had it all. On the ride home we even saw a beautiful rainbow, how Ireland is that?

Even though the weather could have been better we had a lot of fun and many laughs…………….have you ever tried to hit your drive with oven mitts on? Yer Aff Yer Heid,  Trudy did an amazing job. Not sure about driving a mashmallow rather than a golf ball Loch Ness Pop Challange……not much distance I understand. We had the usual contest holes and also some interesting game holes. As usual we had some mulligan moments ask Trudy and Shantel about their cart excitement……..sure was slippery on them thar hills…….Shantel is very agile and thoughtful of her passenger as she tried to shield her from harm. Theresa learned that it is difficult  to hit  when wearing a straight jacket, she put her coat on backwards to keep warm and when she went to hit the ball the hood flew over her head and let’s just say she missed the ball. She also got a bit disorientated and was going to tee off the wrong way…….maybe too much birdie juice!!!

The golf course staff were so welcoming and helpful, it was fun to see our scores and accomplishments on the screen. We were also so happy that they looked after the scoring and skill holes, that was a real treat for us. The golf course was in great shape and the new holes and clubhouse look fabulous, don’t forget to go check it all out if you can. The meal was wonderful and they decorated everything beautifully. Alberta Coach and our driver Hugh were great also and Hugh was so much help which we very much appreciated.

Kristy was teeing off on Tuesday and heard “remind me to take the following day off next year” we hear you as we always feel rather beat after having so much fun.

When I think of our previous trip to Ireland I always remember that each and every day we saw a rainbow so for me it is a major symbol of Ireland and seemed so appropriate to see one on our way home from our 40 Shades of Green. We always think of finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but there is no “end”. Even though it is impossible to reach the end of the rainbow, the rainbow has since become an Irish symbol of hope. As most people hope to one day find the riches in the pot, others use the rainbow to signify fulfillment, desire and purpose. For us it was the perfect ending to a perfect, or almost perfect, day.

Westport is a charming town in County Mayo on Ireland’s West coast. Located about 1hr 30 mins from Galway, this remote area of Ireland retains its rugged beauty. Few towns in Ireland can match Westport’s charisma and continental flavour. Cheerful, multi-coloured shop fronts jostle for attention with an attractive selection of pubs, cafés and restaurants – not to mention its setting on Clew Bay under the protection of majestic Croagh Patrick. Bustling, vibrant, colourful and cultural, Westport rivals any Riviera town. The wild and rugged beach-laden coastline is the envy of mainland Europe, the Clew Bay islands are more numerous than any exotic archipelago, and the seas are home to countless wildlife wonders, from basking sharks to humpback whales.
Just ten minutes outside of Westport Croagh Patrick stands at 764m (2,507ft) and is the third highest peak in Mayo,. Best known for its association with Saint Patrick, who is said to have fasted for 40 days at the summit in 441AD, Croagh Patrick has been a pilgrimage destination since pre-Christian times.
Clew Bay itself is one of the most beautiful bays on the whole west coast of Ireland. Dominant mountains surround the bay on both sides, which is full of small islands called Drumlins. These were created as Glaciers from the last ice age 10,000 years ago melted and retreated, leaving small sand and shale islands. They say there’s 365 of them, on for every day of the year, though many are no more than a part submerged sand bank. That said though if you’ve every wanted to own your own Island then this could be a good place to look, John Lennon even owned one in the 1970’s.
Enniscrone Golf Club is the course we will play here. Known for having some of the largest dunes in Ireland, the club is situated on a promontory that juts into Killala Bay at the mouth of the River Moy Estuary. This provides Enniscrone with one of the most beautiful settings for the uncompromised playing characteristics of Irish links golf. Each golf hole follows the natural contours of the land. It challenges the imaginations of golfers of all abilities, demanding the use of every club in the bag. At Enniscrone, the wind, true links lies and firm elevated greens reward those who can hold a line, hit fairways and execute ‘bump and run’ shots.
The scenery of The Dunes is second to none. Twelve of the Dunes eighteen holes wind through the tall shaggy dunes on the coast. A sense of isolation and tranquility surrounds you, along with tall marram grass roughs. The last four finishing holes are exhilarating and border the Atlantic Ocean. Enniscrone really is a breath-taking course but can be a serious challenge.

Sitting with the Level 1 beginners following their lesson this month reminds me why we started Golfaround  in the first place.  I remember only too well what it felt like to approach that 1st tee box for the first time and play with people I did not know. Feeling anxious, nervous and hoping I don’t make a fool of myself…my biggest fear is holding everyone up.  It is so rewarding to see the transformation 5 weeks later, the apprehension is not quite as prevalent and they are looking forward to getting out on to the course with fellow golfers.

 

In the past we have had numerous inquiries about handicapping and this is something that Golfaround does not do at this point in time. I can recommend the Public Players Club as it is for golfers who are unaffiliated with a golf club and is available to people that would like a handicap. A handicap is required if you choose to enter AGA tournaments and events held at other golf clubs. For more information check out the Golf Canada website
The Play Golf Alberta Public Player’s Club is a “virtual” member golf club of Alberta Golf/Golf . It is just like any other club except it is not attached to a physical golf course and members typically play golf at public play facilities. The fee to join the vClub is $49.95 and is valid for one year from the date of purchase. Public Player vClub members can record acceptable scores, view their scoring records and maintain an official Golf Canada Handicap Factor from any computer that has internet access anywhere in the world. Members can also view the scoring records of any other vClub member, as well as the records of other Alberta Golf and Golf Canada members who are using the Golf Canada Score Centre as part of the peer review process.
In addition to recording and viewing scores on the Network, members have a secure communication program, game track abilities, information on clubs across North America and an event calendar that includes leagues and tournaments.
Benefits of a Play Golf Alberta Player’s Club membership:
• Alberta Golf membership
• Golf Canada membership
• an official Handicap Factor, recognized worldwide
• ability to enter Alberta Golf and Golf Canada events
• ability to play in club events requiring a Handicap Factor
• online community with built in Event Calendar
• online member profile and game tracking ability
• search capabilities for courses and events throughout Canada
• Equipment and travel protection
• Discounts

More accomplishments this month. Debbie Culhane gets two chip in’s at Woodside GC in Airdrie. Pat Squibb gets another birdie at Wintergreen and Julie Weston gets two at Cottonwood Golf & Country Club.  You ladies will have to  replenish your birdie juice. I just know the ladies in Edmonton have had their own accomplishments, don’t forget to tell us about them so we put your names in lights.