As we wrap up another fantastic season, it’s a great time to reflect on the incredible progress, camaraderie, and fun we’ve shared. This season has been full of memorable moments, skill-building lessons, and lots of support from each other, making it more than just a game – it’s been a wonderful community.

League Play:  Our friendly matches took us to a number of different golf courses where we  enjoyed pushing ourselves and seeing improvement in our skills. Whether you were a seasoned player or just starting, it was inspiring to witness everyone’s growth and dedication. Whether you had a good round or a tough day on the course, the league has always been a space of encouragement. The support from teammates, and friends  is what truly makes this league special.

Lessons & Skill Development: The coaching sessions have been a game changer for many of us, whether it was perfecting our swing, refining putting techniques, or learning course management strategies. These lessons provided the perfect balance of technical insights and hands-on practice.

Fun & Social Events: Beyond the fairways, our social events brought plenty of laughs, celebrations, and new friendships. From post-round gatherings to themed events, they helped foster a supportive and welcoming environment for all.

As we look to next season, we’ll carry forward the skills we’ve honed, the friendships we’ve built, and the memories we’ve made. We’re already planning new lessons, fun events, and more opportunities to connect.

Thank you to everyone who made this season a success – you’ve all helped make the league a place of growth, fun, and connection. Let’s keep the spirit alive and come back next season stronger than ever!

ALL ABOARD we have arrived at sea portion of our adventure. We embarked the Adriatic Peal, a beautiful 42 m deluxe yacht, our home for the next seven days, and it was all for Golfaround. We were excited to be launching on a fabulous island-hopping adventure, experiencing the hidden treasures of each island. The crew were there to welcome us on board and to get our luggage stowed away. Little did they know some of us did not understand travelling light, thank goodness our golf clubs were in storage. That night we were treated to a welcome reception and cocktails.
The next morning, we were introduced to what will be our alarm clocks for the next seven days, the motor starting. I think I was right over the engine room; I almost had a heart attack LOL however those early mornings up on deck were pretty special and a great way to start the day. That morning, we cruised towards the Island of Korčula which boasts a rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty and great local cuisine and of course wine. It is known as a mini-Dubrovnik with clusters of terracotta roofed housed above medieval fortified walls. It is also one of the greenest islands due to the dense forests, olive groves and vineyards. We had had awesome weather up until now when high winds and rain necessitated us staying an extra night in port. We loved the tranquility and the relaxed authentic ambiance. The stop was a blessing in disguise as we needed a bit of downtime, it had been an active couple of weeks. Some of the gals enjoyed a Michelin Star Restaurant experience, sorry I missed that. Not only did they enjoy the culinary experience, but they enjoyed some eye candy as well. Getting back on board is another story but dexterity reigned, and all was well.
When we got up the next morning, we were still docked in the harbour, but the boat was still moving pretty good. Gord’s videos of us making our way up the stairs to the dining area testing our sea legs is hilarious. Thank God for the assist from Gretchen and Mark getting our coffee to our table seat. That day we cruised to Miljet on our way to Dubrovnik, which we almost missed due to the rough seas. This island is home to an extraordinary lush and famous National Park. A beautiful place very unique and back to nature. John and Deb loved a swim in the saltwater lake fed by the canals from the Adriatic and the boat ride on St Mary’s Isle to the monastery was lovely. We almost had to miss Dubrovnik “Pearl of the Adriatic” but luckily our captain and sailors got us there. Jutting confidently into the sea and ringed by thick medieval walls you feel like you are living in a fairy tale. A bit of rescheduling but those that wanted to walk the wall did and some of us enjoyed a glass bottom boat ride outside the walls. The wall walkers saw us bobbing along the horizon, but we did not see them. We had an unforgettable day exploring Dubrovnik, starting with a thrilling cable car ride to the top of Mount Srd. The panoramic views of the Old Town, the Adriatic Sea, and surrounding islands were breathtaking. Afterward, we wandered through the historic streets of the Old Town, soaking in its medieval charm. The tour was a perfect mix of stunning landscapes, rich history, and unforgettable experiences.
The next day we had an early morning departure towards the Pelješac Peninsula home to Croatia ‘s best wines. On the way we stopped for a refreshing swim in the pristine waters of the Elaphiti Islands, our swim stops were fabulous, the water really is so incredibly clear, you can see your entire body – who needs a snorkel mask. Today we moved away from the shore inland to explore the rural areas. Trstenik, a charming village on the Peninsula, a hidden gem that offers stunning views of the Adriatic and a taste of authentic Croatian life. The peaceful coastal setting, with its crystal-clear waters and quaint harbor, makes it an ideal place to relax and explore. We were transported to a local farm where we were greeted by friendly donkey’s and the owner who gave us some family history about rural life. We indulged in a heritage dinner enjoying free-flowing wine paired with delicious local meats, fresh breads, and cheeses. The jugs never seemed to empty, and the warm hospitality made it a truly memorable day in this beautiful corner of Croatia.
Our next stop was Hvar an island that seamlessly blends natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage. It is known for its crystal-clear waters, lavender fields, and a bustling Old Town. Hvar’s charm was undeniable. The sparkling Adriatic Sea, ancient stone streets, and lush hills created an almost surreal backdrop. The town center is a picturesque mix of terracotta rooftops, narrow alleyways, and charming cobblestone paths, all dotted with local cafes and shops. The Venetian-style architecture of Hvar is breathtaking; you can see layers of history through the buildings, each with its own story to tell. One of the must-see sites in Hvar is the Fortica Fortress, perched high above the town. The climb up is a bit challenging, but the view from the top is worth every step. Some of the group took the challenge. Hvar is a destination that offers a little bit of everything: rich history, stunning landscapes, incredible food, and warm hospitality. Whether you’re exploring fortresses, savoring Croatian wines, or taking in the sunset over the Adriatic, Hvar captivates you at every turn.
Milna was the perfect final stop on our island-hopping adventure. This serene village on the island of Brač offered a peaceful escape with its charming harbor, cobbled streets, and crystal-clear waters. As we wandered through the quiet town, we enjoyed the stunning views of the surrounding bays and the Mediterranean charm that Milna exudes. That night we had the Captains Dinner, and the group shakes it up good dancing to the live band. Gene and Barb celebrate their 41st wedding anniversary, and the congo line entertained the harbour dancing around the deck. After the band stopped for the night Sheila’s play list was the bomb……Girls just want to have fun!!! And that we had.
Every island had its charm, each one offering a different experience. Croatia is such a beautiful country, and we would encourage you to visit it really was amazing. Our vessel crew did an excellent a great job sailing and getting us to as many of the islands and a big thank you to Ivan for his drone that captured us and some of our journey on the water. Tanja (our Guide) was very helpful, and it was so important to her for us to enjoy everything. We appreciated her sharing her knowledge and experience and we are especially grateful of the war time stories. We sipped a lot of wine, drank a number of Croatian beers everyone claiming theirs was the best. The farm to table food experiences were fabulous as was the wine and olive oil tastings. We saw some amazing architecture and experienced some beautiful sunsets a stunning array of purples, pinks, and reds. It was an amazing trip to an amazing part of the world and we all had a wonderful time.

Our recent trip to Croatia was a winner according to those who joined us on this awesome adventure. Planning the trip was difficult as there is so much to see and do. Croatia has 2500 miles of coastline and close to 1200 islands and you can’t do it all. When you add the many ancient architectural wonders, the UNESCO sites and gorgeous nature parks, lakes and rivers it is hard to cover everything. We did our best and we believe we made it to many of the best places to visit in this beautiful, diverse country.
We arrived in Zagreb, the capital which has marked the intersection of Eastern and central Europe for a thousand years. We were centrally located and able to explore the charming cobblestone streets and squares. Zagrebians have devised a brilliant scheme for confusing tourists, and I have to say we really did experience it. I was so thankful not to be driving (thank you John), I would have pulled my hair out trying to find the Hotel Dubrovnik. I can still see those two old boys we asked directions from in the park shaking their heads with their hands in the air as we drove by them numerous times. Finally finding our hotel and a place to park we dumped our stuff and head out to find a well deserved beer. There were so many outdoor restaurants/patios to pick from a very lively and inviting scene. We got introduced to “Big” local Croatian beers and shared 2 excellent pizza’s, this was just the start of Big Croatian Beers!!! The rest of the group escaped this adventure as Katarina Line arranged hotel transport when requested.
Our welcome dinner introduced us to some authentic Croatian dishes, the meal was excellent. After a very excited group and a couple of broken wine glasses I was wondering if Tanja (our guide for the trip) was wondering what she might have gotten herself into.
The 2020 earthquakes destruction is still evident, we were unable to visit inside many historic buildings, museums, churches still undergoing repair and restoration work. We however did enjoy this lively city. It boasts a very interesting modern art scene where Graffiti is considered art. Some visited the Museum of Broken Relationships, a quirky exhibit telling tales of fractured relationships and a Museum of Hangovers where you start with a beer and toss the empty into a huge pile of dead soldiers. Most people try to forget their drunken mishaps, but in Zagreb, these stories are immortalized within a museum’s walls. I wonder if any of our group that visited had a hangover? The special moment for me was the kind words and a blessing given to me/group from a server in the hotel restaurant where we had breakfast each morning. She was so appreciative of us and wished us safe travels. That angel was very good to all of us every step of the way.

On our way to the Kempinski hotel, our next stop, we stopped in Opatija, a seaside resort known for its historic buildings reminiscent of the Austrian Riviera. Here we met with owner of the Katarina Line and the people we worked with. We had a wonderful surprise as we were treated to champagne on the rooftop of the newly built KE&GHT 5* Hotel which is the brainchild of Katarina Hauptfeld, a beautiful hotel which celebrates the cultural heritage of the region and its natural beauty.

The Adriatic golf course on the Istria peninsula is our one and only golf stop on this tour. It is adjacent to the Kempinski Hotel a 5* facility with lots of amenities and beautiful rooms, some of us looking over the ocean and some over the many olive tree fields. We had 2 days of golf which brings us all together,  not everyone golfed, but the camaraderie that comes with it was missed.
We also got a glimpse of the culture and different landscapes. It was amazing to enter the treasury of Roman remains as we explored the Amphitheater in Pula. Then on to Rovinj a charmingly picturesque town with narrow, cobbled streets, striking many visitors as being very Italianate in nature. It is so delightfully pretty and lively with its numerous cafes and restaurants, galleries and an active fishing port. A highlight for me was making it up to Rovinj’s landmark Baroque church where you find relics of St Euphemia the protector.
From the Istria peninsula we traveled to Plitvice National Park, one of the top natural attractions in Croatia. The breathtaking expanse of forested hills, turquoise lakes and hundreds of waterfalls was exquisitely scenic. The color of the water in the lakes and pools beneath the countless waterfalls was an unbelievable green-blue. Around every corner another beautiful sight. The trek back to the bus was challenging but we all made it.
Next stop Zadar an intriguing, historic old town of Roman ruins, medieval churches, quaint cafes and museums set on a small peninsula. We loved the sound and light spectacle of the Sea Organ and Sun Salutation, it has to be seen and heard to be believed. The locals don’t like it too much!! We had a lovely dinner at pretty restaurant over looking the water where we watched fisherman bring in the catches of the day. Mussels, Squid and Truffle dishes were enjoyed and of course local Croatian Wine and Beer. When we arrived back from to the hotel the lounge looked very busy but I did not see any of the Golfaround group which was a first. Taking a second look I found 5 of the ladies around the corner playing Bingo of all things. As it turned out Bingo was a lot of fun, an excellent host, great music and a room full of interesting people. A couple of us won only to give the prize away as we were leaving in the morning for out next destination.
The last stop of our land portion was Split, which is the port we departed from on our island hopping journey. Split has some of the best Roman ruins this side of Italy. A maze of narrow alleys is home to boutiques and galleries, wonderfully atmospheric cafés, and Roman artifacts around every corner. The city’s primary attraction is the Diocletian’s Palace and the scenic seafront promenade are easy to explore by foot. We enjoyed Old Town visiting an awesome Christmas store and finishing in the square where many charming restaurants and cozy wine bars look so inviting and we indulge once again.

We arrive at our Yacht, I don’t think it is like Below Deck the TV series but we will find out stay tuned….

A hole in one and a big smile from one of our dirty dozen Merina DeCosta – her 1st at Wintergreen on Hole #12 a Par 3. When asking her about it she said she thought Karen was more excited than her. It is a surreal thing, you watch and you watch and it goes in that little hole. Some call it skill, some call it luck, I call it the highlight of a golfing journey. Hole in One, baby! This calls for a round of applause… and maybe a round of drinks too.

Mickleson National, August 21 – Dianne Andrews scored a Hole in One on the 17th Par 3 ” Had a great season even though I wasn’t able to golf as many courses on the day league as I would have liked, enjoyed what I did get to play and of course enjoy the company of like minded ladies as it pertains to golf.

D’Arcy Ranch July 10 – Adela Shapka had an Eagle on the 3rd Par 4, followed by a Birdie on the 4th Par 3.

Well done ladies !!!

Every August we remember Alison, one of the Dirty Dozen who we lost 18 years ago.  A great friend, dedicated worker, supportive neighbor and a damn good golfer. This year 28 of us played at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club and each 4-some had a golf ball with her name on it to play with. Some left her on the golf course, some played the entire round without getting lost  and  Bernie shares her story  “I was given the privilege of sending a memorial ball into the trees or water at Cottonwood golf course.  I am terrified of water and the thought of hitting the ball to rest under water was unnerving. So I chose a forested location. I never met Alison but I’m thinking she had a great sense of humor!!  Using my favorite club (4 hybrid) I flubbed the hit FOUR times. She was either messing with me or she actually loved water and would’ve preferred to be there. RIP Alison, wherever you are, there were a lot of ladies reminiscing of your abilities on and off the golf course, your loving disposition, and how much they missed you. ❤️

On the evening of July 2nd, I was enjoying a lovely (and quite excellent, if I do say so myself) round at Springbank Links with a fantastic group of ladies. We began to experience some light drizzle on the third hole which turned into some steady rain as we played on. However, we decided that we wanted to finish our round and play out the 9th hole. As many of you remember, the front nine at Springbank Links is very hilly, and therefore I was grateful to have my power cart to save my legs from the challenging walk.

Driving up to the final tee box I had my foot full throttle on the gas pedal to not only make the incline, but also power through the slick, wet pavement. Once we reached the top of the hill, I realized that I needed to move the cart back so it wouldn’t be in the way of the tee box. Upon reversing, the cart went into an immediate skid which caused me and my cart mate to hit the brakes. The cart continued swerving down the hill, hit the incline beside us and flipped.

The incident happened very quickly, but I knew right away that something was not right when my left arm resembled a wet noodle. I am so grateful for my teammates, Diana, Karen and Millie who were quick to call the club house, call 9-1-1 and never left my side until I was off in the ambulance. A big thank you to Kevin and the crew at Springbank Links who executed a seamless protocol to ensure I was comfortable and safe before EMS arrived.

My injuries resulted in a broken shoulder which required surgery later that week. I now have an arm full of wire, plates and screws I had a lovely surprise hospital visit from Kristy and Dianne who gifted me ‘Birdie Bear’ and offered their love and support.

As sad as I am that my golf season came to an abrupt halt, I’m so thankful that I only walked away with a broken shoulder. I have a long road of recovery ahead of me, but I determined to be back golfing with many of you next Spring. In the ten years I’ve been a part of the Golfaround Community I’ve forged many great friendships and the love, support and encouragement I’ve received over the past few weeks is a demonstration of just what a great organization Golfaround is.

Xoxo

Kristy Moore

A hole in one and a big smile from one of our dirty dozen, Merina DeCosta, who finally got one. She holed it on  the number 12 green at Wintergreen with the Day ladies. Her playing partner Karen Flamand was more excited than me says Merina. You hit your ball,  you watch it and you watch it and by god it goes in. Some call it skill, some call it luck, I call it the highlight of a golf journey. Hole in One, baby!  This calls for a round of applause… and maybe a round of drinks too. I know there are more MOB’s out there, next year we will do a better job of getting and acknowledging  them.

Our Swing Improvement Program has had many names over the years, Swing Improvement, Swing in Motion, Golf in Motion to name a few. I am very biased about this program because it was what helped build the foundation necessary for a consistent golf swing. A number of the dirty dozen did these lessons every Spring when we first learned to golf. It helped us develop smooth consistent golf swings as well as understand what we were doing when things went wrong. Merina was the best at analyzing and breaking it down for us. For me it was the building up and repeating the drills which created muscle memory’s that built my swing, I need to feel the movement vs visualize it.

We resurrected the program a couple of years ago, and this year it was very popular so we ran  it during the day and evening and with all the talk about it this season it is sure to be popular next year.  It runs south at Carnmoney Golf and Country Club, Tiffany Gordon’s home course. This is how Tiff feels about this program.

Over the course of the years, I have found that our Golf Conditioning and Indoor Winter Programs prove to be very successful due to the fact that we remove the ball and work on conditioning the golf swing. Students start to work on more swing drills, muscle memory, and more importantly start to get an understanding of what happens during the golf swing versus trying to ‘hit’ the ball. We hear more about how they start to understand the how and why of the golf swing and therefore their confidence goes up as well. After the first week we always ask if anyone got out to practice and those that did…notice a difference right away. The winter program also allows us to answer many questions that maybe don’t come up during a regular lesson. Swing condition has proven itself to be very successful and with the stretching and swing drill components, makes for a great session and we find that they all feed off each other to encourage them to be better. These swing drills are used in our every day teaching but repetition of these drills definitely are game changing!

I found that rehearsing the motions without a ball removes my negative feedback helping me practice good technique. For some when you hit the ball you immediately focus on the good, the bad and the ugly. Did I  hit it well or poorly? High or low? Left or right? Feedback, generally speaking, is an important part of practicing and playing. It allows golfers to spot what they’re doing right and wrong the moment after they do it. Removing the golf ball from the equation and all the feedback that goes along with it let’s you to focus more intentionally on your technique.

Members Lori Sarginson and Lorelei Clark were excited to launch her Swingrip adaptive golf glove during the PGA trade show in Florida in January this year.  It was designed to help those with grip strength issues, the glove was designed by Lori out of necessity, and it’s successfully got her back in the game.  As they focus on educating and driving awareness, they will introduce the glove to the Golfaround community at this spring’s Kick Off Social April 26.