All Posts Categorized as "Chronicles"

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.

We 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.

It 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. We 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.”

Our 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; 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.

Many great things started in 2004 which included the expansion to Edmonton. We started sharing a photo gallery so you could all share and see the good times we’ve had. Our loss of Nancy Morrison spearheaded the first Cottonwood Classic which was held in support of The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. This event featured some firsts for us, Shepherd Health offered us the benefits of ART, Active Release Therapy, prior to us teeing off and breakfast was sponsored by Cordell’s Point of View. We had two Mulligan men who washed our clubs, drove like Tiger and looked like the Chippendals, well maybe a little exaggeration. Our first Silent Action and balloon game, remind me never to do the balloon thing again, were also very successful. Our Fernie tournament in Aug also included an optional extension to Meadow Lake Montana which many of us enjoyed. The weather in both locations was certainly a challenge but we made the most of it and had a blast as always. In 2005 we returned to Fernie, thinking it couldn’t be as bad as 2004, guess what it was worse. Imagine rain, snow, power outages and closed golf courses. Some of us were escorted around the dark hotel not by the light of the moon but by the light of the miner’s helmets, it was so much fun.

In February 2003 we traveled to Thailand and it was amazing. We experienced the splendor of the temples; the myriad of smells at the flower and food markets; and the uniqueness of the canals that once were the streets of Bangkok. From the hustle and bustle of the city of Angels we traveled south to Cha Am and Hue Hin. These relaxed coastal towns boasted long uncluttered beaches and some great golf courses. Following our sojourn here some of the group went north to the ancient walled city of Chang Mai while others went on to Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore Koh Samui and Phuket. It was a fantastic experience and the harbinger of many other unique experiences to come………so many places on my bucket list and so little time.

In February 2005 26 lucky people escaped to the tropical paradise of Punta Cana. The group experienced quading, banana boating, snorkeling and much much more.The golf too was wonderful and some even got to try out the renowned Teeth of the Dog Golf Course. Di was not here as she had her hip replacements so Kristy was questioning if she should spend so much to play there. Sylvia Madder told her “ Di won’t know just go for it” Kristy informed her that Di would know as she did the finance and would see the credit card charges. She went anyway and good for her you have to grab opportunity when you can.

As most of you will remember 2005 certainly had it’s challenges with the first flood causing much devastation for many of the courses and also for many of our population both in Calgary and the surrounding areas. In June we held our first Challenge Cup at Lacombe and yes it was wet, very wet, so wet in fact we saw someone drying their undies with the hand dryer.

In 2017 we introduced indoor Short Game clinics at Riverside and at a new facility, Grand Slam. The instructors were great, the venues excellent and everyone had fun.

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Canada 2017 marked a significant moment in our countries history, our 150th  birthday and of course we had to celebrate Golfaround style. We chose the Mystery bus trip and the theme was great, so many dressed for the occasion and Lee Creek Valley folk were great hosts and we enjoyed sunshine and awesome golf and then a major hail storm hit but we were done and enjoying a great banquet and bevies.

Play & Stays included Kimberly and Golf and Gamble at St Eugene Mission. Edmonton members had an awesome tournament Meeting of the Clans. It was very well done and there were some pretty awesome Highlanders on the golf course as well as some pretty neat games which made us laugh.

Our next season in 2018 was challenged by smoke, With 322 hours of smoke recorded in Calgary, 2018 is the smokiest year ever recorded in the city, It certainly played havoc with many who suffer from breathing issues and was a bit of a damper for great golf.

We added some golf courses to our roster, Maple Ridge, Woodside, Serenity and Lil Devil and it was fun to have more awesome courses to play.

Malasia a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo was our unique travel destination in 2018. It’s known for its beaches, rainforests and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. This trip offered us a myriad of interesting, diverse and exciting adventures.

Golfing in the wild of the tropical rainforest has been described as Asia’s best kept secret and it offered us a unique challenge and afforded some beautiful malasian landscapes

Penang’s rich history, incredible architecture and cultured foods are the usual attraction, but we  also enjoyed top-class golf at some of Malaysia’s leading courses. Penang Golf Club & Bukit Jawi Golf Resort were those we played in Penang.  Penang is steeped in history as we can attest to. We strolled down a living heritage community as we visited Chew Jetty. What started as a wooden passageway slowly became a cluster of houses perched above the sea shores by stilts, this site is locked away in a time zone by itself disregarding the urban development taking place around it. We saw an array of temples the best of which was Kek Lok Si the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia. It was a truly impressive complex housing temple grounds, temples, gardens, the pagoda and the four heavenly kings pavilion and an enormous statue of the Goddess of Mercy. After that we experienced riding the funicular train up to Penang Hill where I saw my first monkey cup plant. Georgetown was unique, we saw atmospheric temples, street art, brightly coloured trishaws and mega malls are abundant in this beach town. We flew from Penang to Kota Kinabalu. KK,  as it is known by the natives,  has bustling markets, modern boardwalks, beaches and waterfront. Just a speed boat away were beautiful islands and the snorkeling was outstanding. Again the golf was interesting we played Dalit Bay Country Club and Sutera Harbour. My personal favorite was Sutera Harbour i. We enjoyed beautiful vistas and we also encountered many challenges, monkeys taking our balls, water hazards and rough, and our night golf was especially interesting if you did not hit in the light beams bye bye ball.
We had an early morning flight to Sandakan where we observed orangutans and Malayan sun bears at conservation centers in Sepilok.

Our highlight was the sojourn in the jungle. Who would have known that you could travel two hours by boat to the middle of the Jungle and find a top notch Resort, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, in the middle of nowhere, This is one of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World. What a feeling to be completely secluded in the jungle listening to the music of the rainforest! Imagine gliding down the river in the morning mists and the afternoon light, spotting wildlife up close from a quiet electric-motored boat. We could stroll right from our room into the jungle on an elevated boardwalk, stopping to see wildlife and tropical plants. We dined on a riverfront terrace, taking in the view over delicious meals as well as watching monkeys and rare birds flit among the trees as we cooled off in the refreshing pool. The nighttime river cruise allowed us to see sleeping birds up front and personal, it seemed surreal.
Everything was top notch and even if we did not see the pigmy elephants we saw an amazing array of monkeys and an orangutan and her junior.  We identified many different birds as well as dozens of primates, reptiles, and a variety of land mammals.

Our final destination, Kuala Lumpur,  offered us excitement as there was a major thunder storm when we were downtown visiting The Petronas Twin Towers, what a rush that was. The architecture is indeed amazing as were the many other attractions we visited. The Palm course at Saujana Golf & Country Club has a reputation for being an exacting test. The sloping greens are fast while the dramatic changes in elevation and undulating fairways are challenging even to professionals. This was a challenging round of golf and the heat and humidity made, for me,  a very perplexing round of golf but it was a great way to end up our fascinating Malasia golf experience. The memories and experiences will stay with us always.

Looking back over the first 20 years of Golfaround  we found that it was maybe time to recapture the last four years. Remembering where we went and what we did will give us something to look forward to in the seasons to come. This will be the first of three articles.

The 2016 season certainly had it’s challenges, the weather Gods were not too kind to us. The big, black cloud came in at about 4pm every week day and sometimes on the weekends as well. We couldn’t remember when we had such violent storms. We were lucky though to have an early Spring start and instead of hitting ball inside the Dome in April we actually played outside on the course at Fox Hollow. We had fun at the Mystery Bus trip which saw us in Golden with a great theme of “Golf is like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get”. If you saw Forrest Gump you will remember that line but it was about life. However it does adequately describe the challenge of the average amateur golfer every time he or she tees it up. What game is going to show up today? Our spin was the mystery of what you got on every hole. Also the Play & Stay in Fernie and Edmonton’s wind-up at Broadmoor enjoyed some favorable weather.

2016 was also when The Elks Golf Club changes their structure and with it their name, it changed to The Winston the golf course didn’t change and we continued to have great golf at a reasonable price.

For 28 of us and that does include 6 spouses the highlight of 2016 had to be Italy. A beautiful country offering magnificent architecture, beautiful landscapes, ancient ruins, and brilliant art. Some entire cities that we visited are works of art in themselves, Venice, Florence and Rome. In Venice we were surrounded by magnificent sights and sounds as we cruised along the Giudecca canal to St. Mark’s Square We admired the Bridge of Sighs and the beauty of St Mark’s Basilica was amazing, as was the ornate Doge’s Palace. We enjoyed some stuning architecture; saw mysterious passageways; explored the canals by gondola in the rain, it was fun. A trip to the beautiful island of Burano, known for its lace production, gave us the opportunity to visit local shops and a museum to admire high-end lace on display, and also to admire the island’s brightly colored fishermen’s houses.
On the way to Lake Garda we stopped for a while in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s most famous play, and saw the Roman Arena and Juliet’s balcony. It was here that we experienced our first excellent meal at a little out of the way restaurant accompanied by some delicious Amarone wine which comes from this area, very good. We loved the Lake Garda area and had fun exploring the jewels of the area Brescia and Sirmione. We could only approach the town by foot crossing the draw bridge but once inside we felt immersed in the Middle Ages, since there is a profusion of historic buildings at every turn. Cars are not allowed inside the city, which is ideal for pleasant strolls through the narrow cobblestone streets where an air of nostalgia fills the entire town.
On our way to the UNA Poggio dei Medici Golf Resort we stopped in Milan to see the La Scala Opera House, the Duomo di Milan with it’s amazing architecture and the high end Galleria Vittonio Emauelle II where we gasped at the prices. Our rooms at the Poggio were great as were the other amenities The course itself was great and quite a challenge, we were all happy we got to play it twice thinking it would be easier the second time around, but no, we still got lost. One of the great things about here was that we were all in the same area so happy hours on the patio were great and we all got to know one another a little bit better.
One day in Florence is not enough time to absorb all the wonders. Masterpieces are everywhere and the magnificent Duomo and Baptistery are wonderful. We visited the Uffizi in the afternoon the art was outstanding. The day ended with sunset over the Arno high above Florence, what more could you ask for.
Onward to the South and Pistoia by way of Pisa where we admired the famous Leaning Tower. In Pistoia we golfed again which was great, went to the local market which was fun and the majority of the group attended the cooking school where we made delicious pasta, pesto, biscotti and more. Other places we enjoyed in the area were San Gimignano and Lucca. The wine and olive oil tasting we did at the Fattoria il Poggio was excellent. Our last experience was Rome, everything is gigantic with the exception of Joan’s beer at the hotel, it was pretty small for the price but we’re in Rome. Everywhere you look there seems to be remnants of the Roman Empire. Both Vatican Ciy and Rome has to be seen to be believed. Within the Vatican are 11 Vatican Museums which hold some of the best art in the world. We saw the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco and St. Peter’s Basilica, a huge and beautiful church holding priceless works of art. St. Peter’s Square is a huge circular piazza where people gather to see and hear the Pope. Again we only saw a small portion of what is Rome but what we saw, the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain were a sight to see. Our last golf game unfortunately had to end after nine due to rain, but other than a sprinkle when we arrived in Venice and the last day in Rome we had sunny warm weather. Our farewell dinner was excellent and the opera singers gave us an entertaining show enjoyed by all.

Stay tuned for the next episode in the March newsfeed.

It 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. We 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.”

Our 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; 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.

Golfaround celebrated 10 years in 2006, it is hard to believe how much we have grown since inception. This era saw Edmonton increasing in memberships, so much so that we had to add another evening league choice and start  day & beginner leagues. We tried another Challenge cup in Lacombe, this time the weather was much improved but unfortunately we didn’t have many from Edmonton. Needless to say Calgary won the trophy back. Our other tournaments included the Golfaround Memorial at the Canmore Golf Club a charity event supporting The Women’s Emergency Shelter, Golf and Gamble at St Eugene Mission and Paradise Canyon in Lethbridge. The Mystery Bus trip went to Golden and on the way home Donna Gray surprised us with her 10^th Aniversary commemorative verse to the Golfaround song

“The dirty dozen started the show

We are now 400 and continue to grow

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years

Some dear friends we’ve lost

And some new friends we’ve found

And we’re proud to be the ladies from Golfaround”

In Feb of 2006 we had the trip of a lifetime to South Africa. We were a large group, 58 in total, a great group to experience the diversity and contrasts that only Africa can offer. The scenic diversity was incredible. We saw lush green forests and deep river gorges leading down to the sea in the Tsitsikamm National Park, contrasted to the arid bush land of the Karoo in Oudtshoorn where we also saw the Cango Caves. Then there was the magnificent rugged coastline of the Cape Point and the tranquility of the Chobe River. We experienced the opulence of Sun City which was contrasted by the miles of shanty towns going into Cape Town. Our safari at The Kariega Lodge and the add on to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Choba were my highlights. Never did I expect to see such a huge amount of game so up front and personal. We saw more than 25 species of game including rhino, lions, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala and 270 species of birds. Seeing these in their native habitat was truly amazing. We had a busy itinerary to say the least which included, wine tasting , game viewing on land and water, golf, site seeing, shopping and superb dining. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I think we were pretty spoilt in this timeframe as we also traveled to both Sedona in Apr 2007 and Portugal in Oct.

Sedona, strategically situated at the mouth of spectacular Oak Creek Canyon, is a truly unique place. Characterized by massive red-rock formations, as well as the contrasting river bank areas of Oak Creek Canyon. This trip provided our group a variety of unique experiences, one of which was golfing within the majesty of the incredible red rocks.  Our hotel was perched upon a hillside overlooking the beauty of the landscape. Many of us went for the ultimate 4 x 4 Jeep experience. It was 100% off-road fun going on and over the rocky terrain in the midst of canyon walls and making that heart-pounding decent down the “Road of no Return”. The Grand Canyon was spectacular and the helicopter ride awesome. In addition to this some of the gals frequented some of the local hangouts and met some fun looking cowboys.

Then in Oct it was off to Portugal. We started our journey in Vilamoura in the Algarve, one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe. In front of our hotel and viewed from our rooms was a long sandy beach swept by the Atlantic Ocean. There were six different golf courses here, three of which we played. We also had an opportunity to see the Portuguese Masters which was there during our stay. Our next destination was the small country town of Portel, in the heart of Portugal’s sunny Alentejo region. We stayed in a transformed old rural house of classic beauty which was in total contrast to our hotel in Vilamoura. Some of the group participated in the Refúgio da Vila cooking school enjoying a unique gastronomic, wine and cultural experience. Then on to Cascais, which was at the end of one of the suburban train lines just thirty minutes outside of Lisbon. This once tiny fishing village has grown in the last century to become an elegant beach town but still retains the charm of its fishing past and indeed present. We ventured into Lisbon, to explore world heritage architectural marvels We were mesmerized by Lisbon’s wonderful mix of the old-fashioned, the historic and the modern. This coupled with 25,000 Celtics fans, in their green and white jerseys, there to cheer on their soccer team was an experience to remember.

The theme for Calgary’s wind up was The 50’s so everyone had to get out their saddle oxfords, poodle skirts and hoola hoops, it was a “rockin event. Edmonton also had wind-ups at both Golden West and Cougar Creek.