Golfaround

Golf Programs for Women

Established 1997

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dianne Hutton

The Golfaround Chronicles 2014 to 2015

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In 2014 we launched our new website and implemented on-line registrations and payments, what a bonus that was not only for us but your feedback was so positive. Instead of quarterly newsletters we now had the challenge of providing monthly news feeds but it has improved our communication and keeps you informed.

Sundowners,  a bi-monthy mixed league, introduced in 2012, continued to provide us some great outings and good fun. The third annual Palm Springs Spring Training carried on in 2014 and Patty and Troy still did a great job of tweeking our swings and getting us back on track. We had a bit of a challenge with wind there in 2014, we had never seen sand drifts on the road, just snow. After 2015 we had to take a hiatus as our dollar was not great and it was difficult to make the pricing attractive, but watch out we plan to return soon, maybe 2017. Some of our more memorable outings include but were not limited to The Wilderness Club in Eureka Montana, a Play & Stay at The Copper Point Resort, a Mad Hatter Tee Party and a couple of kick-off Nine and Dines.

The Wilderness ClubWe went to the Wilderness Club twice in 2014 we took over both the Lodge and the cottages as we had 44 participants. In 2015 we went again but chose to only utilzize the cottages as we found the Lodge too far away and split the group somewhat. We had a wonderful time the weather was fabulous and the golf very enjoyable. The Copper Point Resort has great amenities and our digs were outstanding we had fun golfing but did have to contend with some rain last year, our rounds were a bit damp. The Mystery Bus Trip theme was a Mad Hatter Tee Party and we had more than one surprise. The destination was Pine Hills Golf Course in Rocky Mountain House and the Edmonton crew joined us there. Both Calgary and Edmonton gals did an amazing job of their hat creations.

We tried to start our season with a Nine and Dine rather than the usual Orientation/ Social but 2014 saw us snowed out at Inglewood. The weather outside was frightful but the ambiance inside  delightful. We tried to bring an essence of Spring to improve the setting for what was going to be a Spring Fever Nine & Dine. This is Calgary and we all know that May can throw us some curve balls. Despite the conditions outside the event was a huge success, what a great turnout. Inglewood provided us with a great meal and of course the wine is always good. We tried again at Fox Hollow in 2015, we did golf but it was a tad chilly so we have come to the conclusion that Calgary weather patterns really does not support this type of season opener. We went back to the Orientation/Social in 2016 and guess what you could have got a sunburn it was that warm! Murphy’s Law I guess.

Our trip to Turkey was everything we dreamed about and so much more. Feedback from the group indicates it was the “best trip yet” and I do believe they are right, it was amazing. Turkey is considered to be one of the richest countries in terms of archaeology and is by far the biggest “open air museum” of the world. We were very fortunate to be able to see the marvelous remains of many ancient cultures and thanks to our amazing tour guide Tansu we embraced ancient history, acquired cultural insite and political and religious doctrines.

Our adventure commenced in Kusadasi, on the Aegean coast of Turkey and it is one of the most famous holiday resorts of the country. We loved our beautiful beachfront hotel where we could jump into the Agean from the sun bathing deck and watch the cruise ships, and see the sun set from our balconies. Kusadasi’s proximity to many of the old historic sites made it a great place to start. The ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, has to be seen to be believed, we walked where prophets walked and saw the chariot ruts in the roads, unbelievable. In addition, the House of the Virgin Mary, one of the most sacred places for Christianity, was spiritualy and visually uplifting.

Then there was our first round of golf at the Kusadasi Golf Club. On our drive to the course I am sure we all wondered where we were going as we climbed, and climbed and climbed. Wow, what an awesome location a 360º view and our first experience with call to the pray off in the distance. It was a difficult round, everything rolled out of site and it certainly was a ball eating course but absolutely beautiful and worth every lost ball.

We experienced the Temple of Aphrodite at amazing Aphrodisias on our way to Pamukkale and were seduced by the collection of sculptural treasures, We saw the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale. We marveled at the tea-cup shaped pools of this ‘Cotton Castle’ cascade with light blue water which covered the hill side in a waterfall of white and ice blue. While we were here we also experienced The Sacrifice Feast, a four-day religious festival. The Sacrifice Feast traditions in Turkey include sacrificing an animal in a special ritual, visiting relatives and helping the poor. Helen and Donna were invited to share the meal with locals but they graciously declined.

We then drove over the Taurus Mountains towards the Mediterranean and our all-inclusive golf resort where we stayed for the next eight days. The resort was wonderful, excellent accommadation, great food, awesome golf and lots of sea and sun, who could ask for more. But there was more, we visited a Turkish bath, the Hellenistic or Roman city of Perge to visit the extensive ruins, including the great Theatre at Aspendos, the Stadium, and the gate-towers leading into a street where ancient chariot ruts can still be see. Last but not least was an amazing day at sea frolicking in the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean.

Our golf here was wonderful, stunning courses in close to pristine shape, challenging but forgiving and very enjoyable.

Cappadocia, was spectacular with the amazing rock formations, painted cave churches and underground cities. It was even more spectacular when seen from our hot air balloon, what a WOW moment that was.

Last was Istanbul with the beautiful Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome where Roman chariot races were held. We also marveled at the splendor of St Sophia, the Topkapi and Dolmabahce Palaces. We cruised the Bosphorus, the waterway that separates the Asian and European continents and connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, a very busy and important waterway. We savored the aromas of the Spice bazar and practised the time-honored ritual of bargaining in the Grand Bazar.

 

Adventure Africa Kenya

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Our arrival in Nairobi was not without some struggles, we had had a long day, and the security was pretty high due to a terrorist attack in 2019. We and our luggage had to go through security at our hotel as well as the airport. Once we got settled, we headed up to the 10th Floor to get a bite and what a wonderful surprise the rooftop was. We found the Sky Lounge, a swanky rooftop bar. There were plenty of comfy lounge spots, colorful bar stools, a beautiful rooftop pool and cool lighting. The spacious open-air terrace had fantastic views of the adjacent Nairobi National Park as well as the city skyline. Another surprise was when we went for breakfast as the main restaurant had a large deck where we could spot wildlife. This got us excited as our next stop was the Safari.

As well as the National Park, Nairobi has several reserves dedicated to the wellbeing of elephants, giraffes, rhinos and more. We visited the Sheldrick Wildlife Center where they rescue and rehabilitate baby orphaned elephants. We enjoyed one hour watching the baby elephants play and enjoy their bottles. The attendants knew every elephant by name and gave a great talk. There were opportunities to adopt and some of the group did. We also got up front and personal with giraffes at the Rothchild Giraffe Center, it was so much fun feeding them.

We also visited Karen Blixen Museum and followed in the footsteps of Karen Blixen as Cindy narrated “When I was a girl in Africa,  I had a farm  at the foot of the Ngong Hills”, The old colonial farmhouse is simple, housing a few items that Karen Blixen chose and once enjoyed herself. There are also the colorful gardens to explore, where several old coffee machines have laid untouched for decades.

After our brief sojourn in Nairobi, we took a short flight in a shuttle to the Maasai Mara. When we landed on the airstrip we gathered our bags from the runway and proceeded to our safari vehicles that were waiting for us. Close your eyes and envision a gentle rolling savannah stretching out as far as the eye can see. Imagine countless wildebeest and zebras grazing lazily right there in front of you. The feeling is humbling and inspiring all wrapped into one. The Maasai Mara is known for the highest concentration of wild animals in the world. More than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found here. However, there’s more to the Maasai Mara than endless plains. The Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem is massive. It amounts to almost 1510 square kilometers. The area is bordered by the Serengeti in the south and to the north, east and west lie Maasai ranches. Although the riverbanks of the area’s three rivers are lined with shrubs and trees, most of the reserve is made up of open grassland spotted by an occasional flat-topped acacia tree. On our trip to the Zebra Plains Camp, about a one and one half hour trip, we started our safari and were amazed at what we saw. With almost 500 bird species and a daunting 47 species of birds of prey, the Maasai Mara’s treetops, bushes and skies are a feast for birdwatcher’s eyes. We saw ostrich, jaunty crowned plomers, beautiful crowned cranes and many more. We also saw buzzards and vultures fighting over their prey and hyenas in waiting. The piėce de resistance was the cheetah stalking an impala, what an amazing sight, and the impala escaped. Our arrival at Zebra Plains Camp was a little delayed but the Maasai warriors were there waiting for us with an impressive show. Our “tents were very comfortable and well equipped with all the necessities. The staff could not do enough and Ruth the manageress was very helpful. We enjoyed three meals a day in a very unique setting and our game drives were unbelievable. In addition to the “Big Five” we spotted the giraffe, cheetah, hippo and zebra. The Rhino was around but illusive to us unfortunately. The drama we witnessed was incredible. Every day, twice a day for three or four hours we jumped into our jeeps and headed out looking for the famous big tuskers and herds of elephants among other big game such as the prides of lions in the park and cheetahs. Early morning drives were worth it as this is generally the best time to spot the wildlife, as the temperature is cool and the animals are still very active, including the big cats, which will be returning from a night of hunting. As with early morning, the evening game drive is often the best time to see the wildlife. The predatory animals begin to stir from their heat-of-the-day slumber, and similarly, their prey become ever more active and alert as darkness falls. Vehicles usually return just before dark in time for a shower, pre-dinner drinks and then dinner. The evenings are often rounded off with a few drinks around the campfire, warming toes and swapping safari stories. The Maasai Mara is the crown jewel of Kenya’s natural reserves and the most visited park boasting dramatic bursts of wildlife on a bright palette of rolling hills, golden savannah, and distinctive acacia trees framing its unforgettable sunsets and sunrises. No one who visits the Masai Mara is untouched by its shocking beauty. Our driver, Paul, took us on an amazing journey and was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. His patience rewarded us with the best photos of our trip and a moment that will forever be etched in our memories.We were six in our jeep and even though we were on their “roads” you would never know it. We traversed mud filled gorges, very uneven ground and had lots of laughs.

Eight of us lucky travelers ended our adventure with a short stay on Diani Beach. Our suites were spacious and beautifully appointed, with a large patio and view and direct access to the beach.  Half our group opted for the beach cottages which were also very cool. The beach was amazing, fine white sand and clear turquois water for as far as the eye could see. It was great to relax and chill out for a couple of days before heading back home to “work”.

The Golfaround Chronicles 2012 to 2013

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The next two years of Golfaround gave us some highs and some lows, but that’s what life’s about. We have to take the bad with the good and we sure have had lots of good so a little bad is not going to stop us from being who and what we are. In 2012 we launched Spring Training in Palm Springs and it was a roaring success.  The package included a four hour Spring Tune-up, two rounds of golf and accommodation and a welcome reception. The Resort had a shuttle to pick us up from the airport and it also took us to town and back when we wanted. This did count as the lesson requirement. The teaching professionals were first class and we all learned some new techniques to help us improve our game. The Palm Springs package continued for the next four years when our loonie lost it’s luster and it became difficult to make the pricing attractive, hopefully things will pick up and we can do this again.

A Sundowner Golf League was introduced for a mixed group which has  been very successful and continues to this day. We tee off around 3:00pm on Sundays twice a month during the season. We are very social and most stay after the round for dinner. The Mystery Bus trip landed at Sundre Golf Club and Lone Ranger was the format,  we had a great time.

Robbie Burns said “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley,” which in English means no matter how well you plan there is always a chance that something will go wrong and you’d better have a plan B. The Play & Stay was no exception, on July 16th the Monday before the week-end get away a mud slide closed the Mountainside golf course and there was no water at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Plan B got us moved to The Radium Resort, thanks to the people at both facilities. In addition to this act of nature nine of the gals were prevented from arriving on Friday night due to another mud slide and road closure just outside of Banff. Donna Woodman swears she will never stop in Canmore for lunch again!!! All’s well that ends well and it did, we had a wonderful time, good golf and warm weather.
I am sure there were many MOB’s this season Lois Gottselig got a hole in one at Lynx Ridge, hole #5. Congratulations. Lynn Stolarchuk was about an inch away from one at Dragons Head in Edmonton.Tracey Guigovaz had a birdie at McKenzie Meadows, on the Par 5, 9th hole. At the Calgary 55 plus golf Tournament at Heather Glen Golf Course – Gail Ennis got a Silver medal in her age category. Marielle Galibois will be competed in Nova Scotia after winning at the 55 Plus Summer Games in Fairview Alberta. Lorie Caron par’d every hole at McKenzie Meadows, Wendy White broke 100 for the 1st time and Kristy shot a 44 at Silver Wing. In addition, I believe Merina and Lorie won the Innisfail ladies Invitational, both of them shooting in the 80s a personal best for both I am sure. Are we a talented group or what?
Argentina offered us a collage of amazing experiences, incredible scenery and exciting adventures. Our first port of call was Buenos Aires a beautiful European-like city with colonial architecture, outdoor markets, sidewalk cafes and awesome shopping. It’s an elegant, seductive place with a ragged edge. In between the designer boutiques, ritzy neighborhoods and grand parks are unkempt streets and colorful neighborhoods like Bocca and many many dog walkers as well as their resulting waste. We rubbed shoulders with the formerly rich and famous in Recoleta’s cemetery, and saw where Evita is resting. We ate at a parrilla (steak restaurant), and could not believe the size of the portions. From Buenos Aires we flew to Bariloche Patagonia which hugs the shoreline of Lake Nahuel Huapi, in the middle of the national park of the same name, Bariloche has one of the most gorgeous settings imaginable and here we stayed at the Pestana Lodge a beautiful alpine boutique hotel set in the midst of the mountains and the Arelauquen Golf Course overlooking Lake Gutiérrez. It was a beautiful retreat. The township of Bariloche is nestled on the edge of lake Nahuel Huapi. It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, quick-flowing streams and deep blue lakes, reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, but on a grander scale. We explored the lakes by boat, played golf and indulged in the numerous chocolate factories. Mendoza was next on the list, the centre of Argentina’s wine  country. A beautiful city with tree lined boulevard’s and numerous parks. We enjoyed our wine tours, shopping and eating at sidewalk cafés. Last but in no way least we experienced Iguaza Falls. Taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horseshoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River. It was a strenuous day touring the falls. We hiked, floated, climbed and jet boated under the falls. Looking back it was amazing  and even though the climb darn near killed me I would not have missed it for the world. A great variety of golf was included in our itinerary. We played the traditional Olivos Golf Course in Buenos Aires enjoying tree lined fairways and interesting caddies. A burrowing owl even hissed at me. In Patagonia the Arelauquen Golf Course was just outside our door and treated us to scenic mountain views and much fun. Llao Llao was an absolute delight, the breathtaking beauty made up for the difficult walk and interesting design. It was probably the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen playing golf. Club de Campo Mendoza was a picturesque course and Pillar in Buenos Aires though misty at the start was also very enjoyable. Our farewell dinner show was at Seňor Tango where we enjoyed fabulous three course meal accompanied by premium Argentinian wines and liquors. The amazing tango exhibition combining the finest of Argentina’s singers, traditional music and both modern and old style tango dancers. It was a fabulous way to end our trip.

They say “into every life a little rain must fall” but in 2013 Golfaround was flooded. In 2012 we launched a trip to The Emerald Isle which filled up very fast and in August, just 30 days before our departure we were informed that the company we had been dealing with went bankrupt, or as they say in Ireland “went into Liquidation. This came as a horrific shock as they were supposedly bonded, we had received our tickets and vouchers but nothing had been paid. As all of our clients had paid by credit card they were protected but Golfaround was not and lost over $140,000.00, wiping us out completely. Closing our doors was eminent but fortunately for us some of our clients, when they found out we were personally liable to the credit card company, stepped up and helped defray the loss. We will forever been thankful to them and because of this we, Golfaround, live to love another day and also to celebrate 20 fabulous years. Most of 2013 was spent getting our lives back and out of the red, they say thirteen is an unlucky number…yah think?

 

Happy Canada Day

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Today lets look back and appreciate how far we have come, we have had opportunities, growth and prosperity. Lets celebrate the day with high spirits.

Mystery Bus Trip 2023

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We think the best thing about the Mystery Bus Trip is not knowing where you are going. Another great thing is getting into the theme and boy was this trip a wonderful example. When we left early Saturday morning, we only got a slight indication of how innovative our group was. We had some fancy headwear, cool duds and warrior paint. We were also very happy to meet our driver, Karen, a great gal who drives for Alberta Coach. We ambled down the highway heading South, those gals whose lottery choice was North were out of the running at this point, but many still had a chance.We enjoyed a light continental breakfast accompanied by mimosas. Finally, we arrived at our surprise destination, Crowsnest Pass Golf Club and the group was ecstatic, especially Nancy Reed-Roth as the head pro Jason is her cousin. This golf course offers an amazing golfing experience, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views in the heart of the Crowsnest pass. The golf course is challenging with many water hazards and well placed bunkers and of course the dreaded uneven lies, but our format made it fun for all. As we got ready to tee off the area was a hive of activity as the teams decorated their golf carts, wow what an effort, it was amazing. We had balloons, African of course, animals and more animals, bright African coloured drapes , flags, fringes and fruits. In addition one of the groups were in matching costumes, tutus included, great effort ladies.

Following our round we had a delicious meal in the beautiful new clubhouse and prizes were given out for the winners, the best dressed, the best carts, proximities and numerous door prizes. We thank all the members who assisted with the prizes, there were some wonderful donations which we really appreciate. A very tired but happy group got back on the bus and Karen got us home in record time. We had not done a Mystery trip since COVID, and it was sure worth waiting for. Thank everyone for your support it was a great day.

Adventure Africa Zimbabwe

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After ten sun filled days exploring South Africa we flew to Victoria Falls via Livingstone, Zambia. Crossing the border into Zimbabwe was a bit of a challenge as all the paperwork is manual, so patience was indeed a virtue. We checked into Pioneer’s Lodge a beautiful property set in lush rambling gardens with beautifully manicured lawns, shrubs and flowers. We were only here for a couple of days but even though the time was limited the experiences were extensive. We toured, golfed, cruised and grazed.

Our golf experience was awesome, we teed off early in the morning and we had a great time playing at Elephant Hills – highly recommend it. Our caddies were pleasant and knowledgeable the experience was almost as memorable as playing the course itself. The caddies were very eager for a job as most of them walked a long way to get to the course with no guarantees of work. We saw a lot monkeys and other wildlife on the course but no elephants. Golf carts were very limited and they were so high off the ground I couldn’t get in until my caddie found a drink crate which he carried around for me to use as a step, such a nice guy.

We had lunch at the Wild Horizons Lookout Café which is known for great food and fantastic scenery. Perched on the rim of the Batoka Gorge, it offers sweeping views of the rapids below and the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. We also saw them getting ready for bungee  jumping and zip lining.

Our tour of Victoria Falls was a truly awe-inspiring experience. It was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ for the immense spray and incredible noise caused by the rushing water. Victoria Falls is now also known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world when its width and height are combined. Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as, and we saw the spray from the plane prior to landing in Livingstone.

The sunset river cruise was a superb way to wind down after a busy day, We relaxed on the water enjoying a beverage and snacking on finger food. The scenery was amazing and watching the hippos was entertaining. There are great photo opportunities against often-spectacular African sunsets. There are few moments as profuse to Southern Africa as when the sun sets below the horizon. In fact, if you have ever been to Africa, you likely just let out a sigh as the memories flooded back. There is just something about African sunsets that leave you speechless as you watch the sky twist and turn into incredible colors reflecting on the shiny surface of the river. African sunsets are incredibly amazing which is attributed to a high concentration of dust in the atmosphere. This dust helps to refract sunlight and paint the sky in spectacular orange, red, and yellow hues. We were to witness more sunsets and some sunrises too.

The Golfaround Chronicles 2010 & 2011

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The 2010 and 2011 highlights included a trip to Vietnam and Victoria, both start with a V but could not have been more different. In addition we golfed in PEI another gem with great golf, amazing people and wonderful food, the rain was a bit challenging but we didn’t let it dampen our spirits.

Vietnam was a trip to be remembered for its diversity, culture, golf, good people and fun times. We will remember the busy days full of places to see and things to do. Saigon or as it is now known Ho Chi Min introduced us to the challenges of crossing the road, taking our lives in our hand and dodging millions of motorcycles, this has to be the motorcycle capital of the world. We traveled to the Mekong Delta experiencing the floating market and great food. The lunch ‘specialty’ was elephant ear fish fresh spring rolls which was wonderful. Highlights along the way to the North was the boat cruise in Nha Trang, with swimming, a unique lunch and massages on the boat and snorkeling in the clear blue waters. Mary got introduced to threading, her eyebrows never looked so good. Other highlights included great hotels, and unique sights and sounds. Hanoi introduced us to the Cyclo and a hair raising tour of the old quarter amide the thousands of bikes. Last but not least was the pièce de résistance, Halong Bay. Incredible vistas, superb food, luxurious accommodation and the party of all parties. It is so great to know everyone on your junk and of course the wine and music helped with the dancing, people who had never danced were dancing machines.

Then there was Victoria and the luxury of the Laurel Point Inn. Golf at both Olympic View and Bear Mountain was enjoyable. It could have been a little warmer but we did stay dry so that was a plus.  The culinary walking tour was great fun and we experienced tea and wine tasting, and found some interesting holes in the wall and been there forever places. The hotel was super and the location wonderful.

In the fall of 2010 we thought we would take a small group to PEI to golf the Garden of the Gulf. Our small group grew to 44. There are more than 30 golf courses on this small island and the majority of them are picturesque, lush and green. We could only include three in our trip but a few other rounds were squeezed in by some of us. Our adventure included The Shellfish Festival; The Ross Family Calidah: Karaoke at The Lions Club; Lobster Suppers and much more. We ended up with our own kitchen party at our cottages.

40The following year a trip to Santa Fe New Mexico was the highlight a destination unparalled in richness of history, heritage, arts and culture. September is a great month to be in Santa Fe, the summer crowds have thinned and there’s rarely a wait for tables at restaurants. The city is steeped in the earthy scent of freshly harvested green chiles roasting at roadside stands. As summer starts its fade to fall, the weather is crisp and clear, with high temperatures averaging 78F degrees and lows averaging 48F degrees The courses we played at offered breathtaking views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. We experienced great mountainous layouts amounst verdant green forests and last but not least was Black Mesa, a high desert links design woven through the sandstone foothills of Santa Clara Pueblo. We wound up the trip at the renowned annual Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta with wine events and a large assortment of wines and food from Santa Fe restaurants.

Kananaskis Ranch was a play and stay destination and we truly enjoyed the tradition of Western Hospitality. We enjoyed good food, good golf, good friends and sing-song with Donna and her guitar.

166 - Copy - Copy (2)Another first was night golf with a Luau buffet planned for 100 Golfaround members. The participation from the group for costumes and cart decorations was marvelous, we were so impressed. Lynne Paulson and Paula Williams named their cart Tee-kee Hut and It was made out of six twig placemats sewn on to a sun tanning mat, with a fake plant pulled apart and woven into the roof.  The zebra pillows were from the Pottery Barn, and the sari skirts and purses were from Bali. How innovative was that? Many others went to a lot of effort and some of the names were Skeletal Chicks, darned if I know how many of us could get away with that one; Tiger Wood’s Hot Tamales; Golden Girls and many others. The night golf was a chilly experience and had we been in Arizona or somewhere else south it would have been more enjoyable.

MOB’s (Moments of Brillance) & Challenges

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Bhamisha scored a personal best of 44 at Wintergeen, must have been staying out of the woods, hope there was some birde juice consumed along the way. Tina not only did she hit the green on the 16th hole at Glen Eagles, but also Birdied it! We all cheered for her from the tee box above-lots of fun!

Cheryl after play at Heritage Point “Ouch –  I think I am still hurting, battered and bruised. It’s a good thing that I don’t keep score and nor did I count the number of lost balls! Next time I’ll do better”

MOB at Sirocco last night. We enjoyed some birdie juice after Lisa got a birdie on the Par 5 Hole #3. She hit a beautiful iron shot from 120 yards out to get on the green in regulation with 3 shots. She then sunk a long putt for birdie. Gotta love those one putts. It was a gorgeous evening followed by a nice snack and bevies in the lounge afterwards. Even got to see Di’s cheery smile in the lounge, which was a bonus.

Best Night Ever

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We had the best evening at Lynxridge last night!. Out of all the foursomes, just 3 of us golfed as the others were concerned about the weather and therefore cancelled. Well with a bit of luck and some rain gear, we took a chance and ventured out on the course. It turned out to be one of the best nights on the course ever. Not only were we the only ones golfing on the front nine of Lynxridge (which never happens on a busy course like this one), but the rain stayed away, the sun peaked out and no wind whatsoever. It was a beautiful evening. Sometimes you just have to take a chance…because you never know how great it can turn out. Thanks Makaeley  and Karla for a great evening of golf!! Our thanks goes out to Melinda for sharing this.

The Golfaround Chronicals 2008 & 2009

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt is interesting to see the weather challenges we have faced over the years, 2008 was certainly one of them. The Edmonton social planned at Lewis Estates, had to be rescheduled as Old Man Winter extended his frigid hand over both Calgary and Edmonton resulting in a deep freeze and treacherous driving conditions. In 2009 we thought we would have a better start but that was not to be, it was colder than average, wetter than normal and just plain ugly. Then there is 2016 when we were golfing in April, what a crazy climate we live in. We really have had a lot of fun over the years and doing these chronicles has brought back many wonderful memories for me and I hope for you also. Some of the great escapes we did in 2008 and 2009 included a play and stay in central Alberta where we played at Innisfail, what used to be a hidden gem. It is still a gem but a lot of people have found it. We stayed in Red Deer and played Alberta Springs before heading home. Another Play and Stay that was memorable was the Wine and Roses Tournament at Meadow Lake in Montana. meadow lakeWe had great golf, fun at the legendary Blue Moon, and a fabulous BBQ in the “great house” with all in attendance. We whined when it was our score to count but enjoyed the wine and roses we received for registration. We love Meadow Lake and my surprise Birthday party this year there at the “house” was a real treat. Our Mystery Bus trip took us to Radium but our driver really kept the group guessing as he drove into Banff, everyone thought The Banff Springs..not. He then took a back road in the direction of Johnson’s canyon Jasper???????? We finally arrived at the resort and had a great time. Rocky Mountain House and Fernie were also tournament destinations.

Some of the other unique experiences we had included a Demo and Fit at The Callaway Performance Center, it was a great facility and we learned a lot. Too bad they were unable to continue with the concept we really did enjoy. Interestingly 2009 was the first time we adopted a hole at the CN Canadian Women’s Open and here we are doing it again in 2016. The Edmonton group were lucky to have Paige Nelson coordinate them in 2009. She joined Golfaround in 2004 as a beginner and is now ripping up the course, I guess we all do benefit from the lessons we take.

I was looking through old newsletters to do this and found some interesting statistics:

“A recent study found the average golfer walks about 900 miles a year. Another study found golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means, on average, golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon. Kind of makes you proud. Almost feel like a hybrid.”

DSC00815Our trip to New Zealand was fabulous; we toured both Islands spending time in Auckland, Pahia, in the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown. We experienced the magnitude of ninety mile beach and boogey boarding down the massive sand dunes; the splendor of the sea and the dolphins at play; the incredible beauty of the fauna; the majesty of Auckland’s harbor; we did not bungee jump from the Sky Tower; too chicken. We were amazed by the grandeur of the geothermal plants near Rotorua and also enjoyed insight into the Maori culture at a reenactment at the Wairakai Treaty House and sampled a Maori Hangi (meal). Christchurch and punting on the Avon reminded me of my English roots and the roses in the Botanical Gardens were incredible. In Queenstown we enjoyed the gondola up to the Skyline restaurant;JetBoat1 the thrill of jet boating in the canyons; the steamship excursion to the Walter Peak homestead and sheep station; and the majestic splendor of the renowned Milford Sound. We played four rounds of golf at some great courses and loved the Kiwi people. As Gail mentioned “the great thing about our trips is there is something for everyone outside of the golf. The golf brings us together again as a group.” The Cook Island extension gave us some time to relax and enjoy the sun, sea and water sports. It was a wonderful experience enhanced by a great group of Golfaround people.