We started hitting balls indoors January 10th at Fox Hollow golf dome and what a great turnout we were, 26 plus people, maybe the mild weather enticed the gals to come out? This year, as we communicated, we are going to hit balls at both the North and South domes, Kristy and Di will alternate where they go for the most part. The people who live in the North and prefer this location, no problem, the Thursday night special is always there for all. For those who are not familiar with the special,  it offers 45 minutes of mat time followed by a choice of 4 set entrees in Mulligans Restaurant. You do not have to register for the North Dome. However the set up at the South Dome, 50 50th Ave SW, is a little different as they do have beer and will bring in wine for us, but they only have hot dogs etc. We can and do bring in our own food but in order to do this we need to know how many will be there so we can organize the food. Our first Thursday at the South dome was great we again had 26 plus  gals in attendance and it wasn’t a great night weather wise. They made us very welcome and went out of their way to have everything we needed including bringing in some very nice wine. For this outing we brought in sandwiches and veggie platters, next time it’s pizza. North or South, your choice ladies, come on out and get some practice, meet some new people and renew old friendships. It’s a great way to spend a couple of winter evenings.

In September we will embark upon another fabulous adventure to the Emerald Isle. Ireland and golf go hand in hand and for many, Ireland is the ultimate destination for a golf vacation. Ireland boasts an unbeatable range of distinct and beautifully sculpted golf courses that will challenge and delight golfers of all levels. This little island hosts nearly one-third of the world’s true links courses, amid some of the most incredible scenery imaginable. The golf resorts, golf hotels, and castles are world famous and the hospitality of the Irish is legendary. No trip to Ireland should be exclusively about golf and it is important that we take the time to enjoy our surroundings so in the next few months we will endeavour to give some useful information about some of our destinations starting with Dublin.
Welcome to Dublin, a lively capital city that’s as intimate as a village and as friendly as your local Irish pub. With its seamless blend of classic visitor sights, excellent social scene and the natural playgrounds of Dublin Bay and the Dublin Mountains framing it on all sides, this laidback city is an adventure in itself.
You may choose to spend your time strolling the streets soaking up the atmosphere, relaxing in its cafes and bars or you can check out its myriad historical, literary and cultural delights.
There are several choices of how to explore this great city, you may choose to discover Dublin at your own pace with a hop-on, hop-off tour which stops at a varied selection of the city`s finest sites.
You may want to do an organized Hidden Corners of Dublin walking tour or just follow this  to do it on your own. However you choose to explore Dublin there are several must see sites. The Brazen Head is Ireland`s oldest pub dating back to 1198,. There is a palpable sense of history within the timeworn walls. If you are looking for the true Irish pub experience then The Brazen Head should be your first port of call. You will want to visit Trinity College and the Book of Kells and this is best done early in the day before the long lines start to happen, the library is amazing and the architecture as well, this should not be missed. You will want to cross The River Liffey on the Ha’penny Bridge so-called because once upon a time one was required to pay half a penny to cross the murky waters of the River Liffey, the pedestrianised Ha’penny bridge was constructed in May 1816. Temple Bar is not only the name of an iconic pub in the heart of Dublin but also of a busy district which is popular with tourists and locals alike. The pub, Temple Bar itself, has been welcoming guests for over a hundred and sixty years and so you can’t leave the city without snapping a photo of its most famous drinking establishment (or better still, heading inside to enjoy a pint)! If you want to snap a photo of the pub, then I recommend heading there after the sun has gone so you can capture the hundreds of glittering lights across the façade of the bar.
The Guinness Storehouse is another must do experience. The world-famous story behind the pint of Guinness began in Dublin. The Guinness Storehouse is an interactive museum where you can learn all about the history of the beer, as well as the story of its founder, Arthur Guinness (a philosopher and philanthropist who opened the ever-popular St Stephen’s Green in the 19th-century).Once there, you have to see some of the quirky advertising campaigns Guinness has run over the years and you simply must head to the Gravity Bar on the very top floor of the building in order to take that photo! and enjoy a free pint included with your ticket.
Dublin is all about the muse behind the music, the craic (fun) of the comedy, the intimate feel of this urban hub. And, of course, the people! Dublin has been named Europe’s friendliest city twice by TripAdvisor for good reason. So grab a pint, strike up a conversation, and settle in for the experience of a lifetime.

Please join me in welcoming Lyn Propp to the Golfaround team as the Edmonton Coordinator.  I am excited to work with her and get know her better, I do think she is a great fit.  She has been a member of Golfaround for the past three years, and originally joined with work friends to have fun and relax from a stressful job.  During that time she worked for Postmedia Inc. which was the head office for the major newspaper chain across Canada including the Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, and Calgary Herald etc.  Her position was as Manager, Sales Operations in which she lead a team of over 50 people all across western Canada.  Taking a volunteer buyout two years ago she has mainly enjoyed her time golfing with her new Golfaround friends, curling and renewing her passion for Art.

We are going to try it again, we are changing our kick-off social to a Nine and Dine Golf Game. The previous times we have done this we had fifty fifty result for the weather. The first time we arrived at the course to find we required bright balls and snow shoes not golf shoes  because all of the fairways were coved in snow, consequently no golf but we enjoyed the dinner and re-newed old friendships. The second try was a bit chilly but we did manage to play our nine holes. Hopefully,  third time lucky and we will have some nice temperatures to kick 0ff the season.

Elbow Springs is the location and we are looking forward to a great turnout. The price includes 9 holes of golf with a power cart followed by a taco buffet and open cash bar. We will be a shotgun start and our numbers can’t exceed 72 so book early to get in on the fun. There was a suggestion from one of the members to invite guests to some of our league play or events and if we do not fill the 72 spots we will let members bring a guest but we want to meet the needs of our members first

Our theme is 40 Shades of Green, and it is up to you to chose how you want to get into the theme, I am sure you can think of many options. The format will support all levels of golfers so everyone is welcome. Click here for details.

Framed by the Rockies, the Purcells and the famous St Mary River, the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino is a spectacular destination for our Play and Stay for 2019. We are returning to Kristy’s roots , where she was born. The resort is located 10 minutes from Cranbrook, and 20 minutes from the picturesque town of Kimberley. Within its historic walls and the connecting Lodge are beautifully appointed, modern guestrooms. Onsite food and beverage choices include informal fine dining in the Purcell Grill overlooking the sun-drenched deck and golf course. If you are looking for a more relaxed setting, unwind with tapas in the Fisher Peak Lounge, play a game of billiards or simply enjoy the 19th Hole Bar & Grill. There is a fitness centre featuring a fully equipped gym, steam room, sauna, a heated pool and two hot tubs. Also on site is the Casino of the Rockies – decorated in a “Gold rush Boom town” theme with 224 slot machines, 10 table games and delicatessen style dining in Fred’s Saloon. In 2007 we were here for the Play & Stay and using our newly learnt black jack “poppa’s rules AKA Marilyn” we spent two hours playing with $20.00 and left with $19.00 in our pocket,how much fun is that? The 18-hole pristine fairways and white sand bunkers wind their way through several different environments, creating a unique combination of links, forests and a spectacular view of the St. Mary River. Wildstone Golf Course is set on the rolling highlands above Cranbrook featuring stunning views of the Rocky Mountains from start to finish. The course boasts rolling fairways and challenging greens. The sand is perfect and the water holes are clearly visible. There are no hidden surprises. For more information and pricing click here.

 

“Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book, write a good one” Brad Paisley. The pages are blank and the pen is in your hands. We have planned an exciting season full possibilities, this is your chance to write a fun filled story for yourself.

Edmonton is a “Go” for 2019.  I will be announcing a new coordinator early in the New Year.  Thank you to everyone for your support.

We are changing things up this year and will be hitting balls north and south on Thursday nights starting January 10 at the Eaglequest Golf Dome at Fox Hollow Golf Course. This will change it up a bit and offer some of the south girls the opportunity to stay south. We will visit the National Golf Academy (NGA) Golf Dome in the south on 50th Ave SW January 17. Watch for an e-mail early in January that will include a schedule and some more details.

FORE…..the Future
Read the article with great interest. I was a member of Golfaround for almost two decades. I moved out of Alberta and there is nothing like Golfaround here. I sure miss the convenience, course choices, lessons, the travel already arranged and organized for you (agree travel should be for gals only) but mostly the friendships made. I totally understand that companies need to be progressive and keep up with the times, and would not like to see Golfaround move too far away from their initial mandate. That old saying … don’t fix it if it isn’t broken… and you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone … is so true. Keep up the good work Kristy and Di. Bring on the changes, but cautiously…….Dianne Andrews

Great News Letter ladies!
I just wanted to express my sincere thanks for all the work you put into Golfaround to make it so easy for all of us women to get out there and golf, have fun and network. I know that I would not be the golfer I am today, if I had not joined so many years ago! I also wanted to make a comment regarding handicaps… I believe that if you keep score and have a handicap, it does not necessarily mean you are competitive, to me, it just shows me where I am in my game. For the women who choose to have a handicap, good for them, if some choose to not keep score and have a handicap, that’s okay too. To me it’s like writing an exam, if you score 60%, it just says, this is where you’re at and if you want to get 70 or 80%, then you’ve got some work to do. If you’re happy with 60%, then great. That’s all…
I am grateful to you both for your drive, desire, innovation and strong ability to be the company at the forefront of women’s golf………………….Lorie Caron

One idea I had to bring in new members is to have a guest week or night and offer for people to bring a friend who pays the green fee and after there would be an informal presentation or chat about the league. I have several girl friends my age who are trying to get into golf or do golf but worry the league is either to hard or not with in their age range.                                                                                                                                    Perhaps even if there was a guest night early on and opportunity for people to join for last month of the season to have a trial to consider for following year……..Alycia Berg