News Desk

We are hopping by to wish you a very Happy Easter. “No winter lasts forever, no springs skips a turn” Hal Borland

In the last issue we talked about the marshals duties at the tee box, next we will cover the areas between the tee box and the green. You will assist in maintaining the pace of play by watching the flight of all golf shots so you know where they land. Watch for balls going into a water hazard and be helpful in determining the spot where the ball entered the hazard. Under no circumstances, however, should you offer any advice regarding a ruling. Rules Officials will be on site to make all calls relating to the rules.

Marshals may be required to operate crosswalks and spectators should not be allowed to enter until the contestants have passed through. Contestants, Caddies, Standard Bearers, Walking Scorers, Referees and Media must leave a green and walk to the next tee without interference.

There will be times when balls land outside the ropes and into the gallery. Marshals must watch the flight of these balls and warn the spectators of these errant shots. When a shot is pulled or sliced into the rough it is up to the marshal to indicate in which direction the ball is heading to forewarn the gallery. If possible, judge where the ball will land and run to that spot to warn the people in that area. When a ball lands outside the ropes, either around the green or off the fairway, immediately go to the ball. One marshal should protect the ball while the other marshals clear a path from the ball to the green. This is one of the most difficult tasks you will have to face, because the people who need to be moved in order to make a clear path to the green will want to see the shot and may resist giving the player enough room. Before the player reaches his ball, you must have a wide path cleared to the green and a straight line to the flagstick, giving the player plenty of room to make the shot. Next issue will review the duties on the putting green.

We just arrived home from a quick trip to Arizona to celebrate a couple of special birthdays with special people. While we were there we had the opportunity to play some great golf courses and wanted to share that experience with you. Phoenix and area is very busy and the traffic is horrendous especially at rush hour. Our first golf experience was about 45 minutes east of Mesa. The golf resort hotel has two 18 Hole Championship Golf Courses: Gold Canyon Dinosaur Mountain and Sidewinder. We played The Dinosaur Mountain golf course which is consistently rated one of the top courses in Arizona. The scenery was wonderful, and we saw lots of wildlife, roadrunners, beautiful birds, doves and lots of rabbits. No snakes thank goodness, but they were out there we were told. The dramatic elevation changes, brush grass, creosote bushes, cactus and desert arroyos made for a very challenging golf experience. The greens were fast and relatively true. Some of the holes are jaw droppingly beautiful and offer great elevated views of the area. Try not to plug your ball in a cactus, we didn’t but we saw lots of cacti riddled with holes, some man made some bird made. The mountainous terrain, narrow fairways, undulating greens and desert arroyos demand accurate shots to score well. It was an unforgettable experience no matter what your score was. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we all enjoyed the 19th hole, great food, staff and friends.

We met an old friend at Las Sendas, Wayne McBean who also is a managing partner at Lakeside Greens in Chestermere. He and his brother Lloyd came to Arizona 17 years ago. Las Sendas is located in Mesa and was about 30 minutes away from where we were staying. We thoroughly enjoyed this course, it was in great shape and every hole was interesting and challenging but playable. This is a beautiful course with fantastic views on every hole, we also encountered much wildlife. Most of us stayed on the fairways because in desert golf there is not much grass in the rough. However a few of us took a complete tour of some of the holes including the bunkers that were plentiful. Greens rolled very quickly and true, we really enjoyed them.  Our first outing ended at the end of the 9th due to a major thunder storm but we got to go back and played the 18  and loved our experience. The staff were very helpful and friendly and this was my favorite because I had the best game I have had for a while.

Last but certainly not least was We Ko Pa (Four Peaks Mountain) a landscape inhabited by the O’Odham and Piipsssh.  This was definitely my favorite and I (Kristy) was so sorry my side kick was not feeling well and missed playing this beautiful track. The Head Pro was very understanding and you couldn’t ask for a more friendly starter. He helped get us rearranged so that we could go out in two groups of 3, and was full of information about the course, land, area and the people.

There are two award winning golf courses both named for cactus set in the Sonoran Desert just outside Scottsdale. They are uniquely different as there are no homes, roads or businesses of any kind. It is just you, your ball and the sounds and sights of nature that sets them apart.

Cholla – cylindropuntia a genus of cacti, known for their barbed spines that tenaciously attach to skin, fur & clothing. The “jumping cacti” Mel talked about and Saguaro – tree like cactus.

We played Cholla and some say the toughest which we did wonder as we approached the first hole. Greeted by a cactus wren and an elevated tee box with a dramatic waste bunker awaiting us, but all my group hit the fairway missing that huge bunker.

The Cholla Course at We-Ko-Pa Golf Club offers a dramatic test of golf that plays through shady arroyos, over desert ridges and amid some of the most picturesque Sonoran Desert on the planet. For this reason, Cholla is widely considered as one of the most pristine desert golf experiences in the Southwest with nothing to spoil the sweeping views of the nearby river valleys, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the rest of the majestic Superstition Mountains. The aesthetic charm of Cholla appeals to golfers just as much as its strategic challenge. There are some forced carries and clear landing areas – especially on par-5 second shots – but good golf shots will always be rewarded.

Hasta la Vista Arizona

Mark your calendars for the kick-off social. This year it will be held at The Winston Golf Club on Friday April 26 from 6:00 to 9:00pm. We are very pleased to have Tiffany Gordon as our guest speaker. We hope to see both new and returning members, this is a great way to start the season off, get excited, renew old friendships and make new ones.

Mark your calendars for the fun filled events for the 2024 season. Those of you who have joined in the fun in previous years know how enjoyable past events have been. Remember the Mystery Bus Trip where we celebrated Canadas 100th anniversary or the Mystery Bus Trip, Forty Shades of Green and of course last year Mystery Bus trip Girls Gone Wild African Safari? Then there were the Play & Stays at Radium, St Eugene Mission and last year at Medicine Hat.

This year we will have our Mystery Bus Trip in June……. surprise. The Play & Stay will be at Innisfail Golf Club and Trochu and a Wind-up Tournament at Livingstone Golf Club who now have a lovely tournament facility and a new chef.

This year we will start taking registrations April 1 at noon. You cannot register online you will e-mail us to register and we will request deposits. For the new members benefit these events fill very quickly so you have to be on your toes to register. If you have a roommate for the Play & Stay just let us know. If not we can try to room you with another single.

The opportunity to be a Marshal at the CPKC Women’s Open has had a very positive outcome and it has also raised some apprehension. The planning committee will be providing training and they have also launched a CPKC Women’s Open Volunteer Facebook group which will provide helpful resources, training materials and tips to enhance your volunteer role. Because Golfaround has adopted a hole and many of you have registered to help marshal this hole we want to assist in helping you understand your role and responsibilities. If you would like to volunteer on the Golfaround hole register by clicking here.

Volunteering is a very rewarding experience as you get to see the action up close and interact with the players and staff. However, it also requires commitment, patience and professionalism as marshals are expected to follow instructions and deal with various situations. The main function of all marshals is to provide a fair and safe environment for the competition. Keeping the gallery quiet and still during play and helping the players find their errant shots are the two main responsibilities of the marshals. This series of articles will address the responsibilities from tee to green.

THE TEE BOX      It is up to the marshal to assure that players are afforded a quiet and uninterrupted opportunity when teeing off. Volunteers should provide a good example for the gallery and not chat with fellow volunteers, players or officials during play. Signal the gallery to be quiet by facing them and holding up your arms/sign. Follow the path of each players ball if possible to help spot stray balls. Cameras and picture taking is not allowed once the tournament commences and cell phones must be on silent. If you witness a spectator using his/her cell phone during the matches, please ask them politely to turn the cell phone off. Always anticipate a gallery. Keep ahead of them, talk to the first individuals who arrive, explain to them what you want them to do, why it is necessary, and ask for their help. In nearly all cases, they’ll be happy to cooperate. When the players leave the tee box ensure the way is clear of spectators.

March 8th is  International Women’s Day a time to celebrate the incredible achievements of women who have paved the way for us all and to honor the amazing women in our lives. Di and I have met so many fabulous women over the years and do feel so very grateful. Happy Women’s Day to the strong, beautiful, and amazing women in our lives.

Did you know that 82% of the countries worldwide have golf course? Did you know that Golfaround has been going to faraway places for 22 years traversing 6 Continents and playing numerous golf courses? Did you know that members can bring their significant others along to experience incredible adventures? Did you know that our golf trips are much more than golf, we have had many amazing experiences.

Golf travel is not our core business, and it certainly was not on our agenda twenty three years ago. One of our members thought we should go somewhere warm in the winter and she also thought it would be a great idea to have some of the spouses along. It was a daunting idea, we weren’t great golfers and we were not very competitive and most men are, should we do this or not? Golfaround had a booth at the golf show in 2000 and next to us was a mother and daughter team who did short golf trips to Laughlin Nevada, so we chatted and decided to take the plunge. Few sports in the world are as globally interconnected as golf and the greatest thing about the game is that any golfer, of any ability, anywhere in the world can travel to play wherever and whenever they want and so our adventures began. Di had a bucket list of places she wanted to go, not to play golf necessarily but to explore and experience and that was the start of our amazing and diverse experiences.

As you may or may not know Croatia is our trip for 2024 and we may have a couple of spots available. The golf there is sparse to say the least but the experiences are enormous, the scenery spectacular and our own private yacht to island hop, how great is that?

Craving to see places you’ve never been to before? Longing for encounters that you’ll never forget?  In Asia we toured Borneo (2018), Thailand (2004), and Vietnam (2010). In Borneo we experienced diverse cultures, exotic golf adventures, amazing snorkeling and a rain forest safari where we saw wild orangutans swinging through the jungle canopy. Thailand showed us floating markets, opulent temples and magnificent shrines. Vietnam had unforgettable golf caddies, unique landscapes and an unforgettable junk cruise on Ha Long Bay.

Our European experiences includes Portugal (2007) where we saw medieval castles, cobblestone villages, a cooking school and port tasting. Turkey (2014) was amazing offering ancient ruins, man made wonders, magnificent architecture eclectic bazars, geological wonders and golf on the Turkish Riveria. Italy (2006) is home to some of the most famous art, architecture and gastronomy. We saw the marvels of the Renaissance, colosseums, the canals of Venice, the Vatican and beautiful lakes and landscapes.

The Emerald Isle, Ireland was another trip of a lifetime. Outstanding hospitality, rugged peninsulas, village gems, fabulous links golf and ancient castles. The pub scene was pretty cool also.

Argentina was a beautiful, intense, extraordinary country and presented gaucho culture, streetside tango the mighty Andes, diverse wine tasting, wonderful golf and the amazing Iguazu Falls.

Africa delivered us somethings we will never forget,  when we visited in 2006 and 2023. The earlier trip commenced with a fabulous safari and seeing the big five, interesting golf, the garden route with rugged patches of coastline, gorges, caves and a steam train ride. In 2023 we added to our experiences with a fabulous trip up Table Mountain, the Cape Winelands and golf, outstanding game drives on the African savannah staying in a luxury tented safari camp and seeing Victoria Falls up front and personal.

New Zealand and the Cook Islands in Oceania  was our destination in 2008. We loved the Maori culture, the fabulous golf and the geothermal wonders. Our rafting experience was something to remember and Fiordland was spectacular. The Cooks was a taste of tropical perfection with friendly natives, gourmet food a tropical cyclone and Santa in a dingy.

Lastly North America which is certainly the most travelled and the experiences are as diverse as the destinations. Cuba (2003) a country with a complex history, vintage cars and world class beaches. Another tropical paradise was Punta Cana in the Dominican where Kristy golfed one of the #1 golf courses in the Caribbean Teeth of the Dog, If you dare challenge the Dog it will bite back, but your efforts will be rewarded with 18 jaw-droppingly-beautiful holes—including seven right along the ocean—and the satisfaction of knowing you’ve played one of the best golf courses in the world. How many of your friends can say the same? We experienced the red rocks and scenic golf in Sedona (2007), flew into the Grand Canyon in a helicopter and traversed the red rock canyon in a pink jeep. Santa Fe New Mexico in 2011 an art mecca with an interesting background, Great golf , we all won irons which were literally an iron, not the golf kind. The gastronomic experience was second to none so much adventure for my palate.

We have also had some great experiences here in Canada. Victoria BC (2010) with spectacular harbor views, scenic golf and a foodie tour. Kelowna BC great golf, great wine and fun people. The Kootenay Golf trail introduced us to the challenges of Redstone, Balfour and Kokanee Springs and the charms of Nelson. Then there is PEI, (2010 & 2022) the birthplace of confederation. We love the diverse culture, the great seafood, wonderful golf, cèilieh’s and Michael Smith’s Fireworks Feast.

The world is our playground, we have traveled near and far so very grateful for the places we’ve been also looking forward to the places still to be seen.

 

We travel not to escape life but for life to not escape us

In a little over 6 months time the world’s best female golfers will be here in Calgary at the Earl Grey Golf Club for the CPKC Women’s Open. If you’d like to be right in on the action, it doesn’t get better than being a marshal and we and many of our members can attest to it. Golfaround participated in the last 2 events at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club and it was an exciting experience. We have adopted a hole to marshal and Golfaround members are registering as volunteer’s as I write this.  When registering it is important that you indicate Golfaround in the Club Affiliation Box and let us know you registered.  In celebration of the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, it is free to volunteer and will give us an inside the ropes experience at Canada’s National Women’s Open and the only Canadian stop on the LPGA Tour. For those of you that may be skeptical about participating in this event, it is rewarding and fun. The newsfeed will feature a  column “The Role of Marshals at Golf Events” sharing what you need to know to volunteer and rules of golf.

I am not sure how many years ago we started hitting balls but I know when we started going to the north dome we were no where near the numbers we are today. I think the first time out we were around 6 – 12 people and today we at 16 – 40 each week. We did not start until the 2^nd week in January only to be cancelled because of -38 degree temperatures that the majority did not want to venture out in. I was surprized to learn about one diehard that showed up on that frigid evening.  The 3^rd week was pretty chilly but 16 of us hardy souls showed up in our layers, toques and mittens. We hit a few balls then retired to Mulligans early for our meal and beverages, I am not sure how well a cold beer went over that night.

To get the most out of our practice it is important to spend enough time on our weaknesses as well as our strengths. It is important to warm up prior to hitting a bunch of balls and especially at the Dome when it is a bit cooler. I find practice is better when we have a purpose and there are a number of games we can play with ourselves to make it more interesting. Here are a couple of practice drills I found,  maybe we can have some fun with them over the next couple of months.

Find the Fairway Drill helps improve accuracy off the tee so we can find more fairways and give us an easier approach shot to the greens.

• Create an imaginary fairway on the range roughly 20 yards wide (at the dome a couple targets/flags, or an outdoor range 2 trees, a   flagstick and a tree or two posts)
• Imagine that water or a sand bunker is on one side to increase the difficulty
  • Hit 10 balls
    • Hybrid or long iron and find the fairway – 1 point
    • Fairway wood  – 2 points
    • Driver – 3 points

9 -Shot Drill improves ball striking

• Using a 6 or 7 iron try and play nine different shots
  • Straight (high, low and normal flight)
  • Fade (high, low and normal flight)
  • Draw (high, low and normal flight)

Weekly practice gives us the opportunity to work on our swings and those shots we need to improve. More important is the fantastic opportunity to get to know each better and enjoy the friendly banter and laughter.