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.
The 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.
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.