Wednesday, July 29, 2009

GOLFERS ONLY- NO ONE ELSE WILL UNDERSTAND

Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.

Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your swing.

When your shot has to carry over a water hazard, you can either hit one more club or two more balls.

If you're afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foursome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options: you can immediately shank a lay-up or you can wait until the green is clear and top a ball halfway there..

The less skilled the player, the more likely he is to share his ideas about the golf swing.

No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse.

The inevitable result of any golf lesson is the instant elimination of the one critical unconscious motion that allowed you to compensate for all of your many other errors

Everyone replaces his divot after a perfect approach shot.

A golf match is a test of your skill against your opponents' luck.

It is surprisingly easy to hole a fifty foot putt....For a 10.

Counting on your opponent to inform you when he breaks a rule is like expecting him to make fun of his own haircut.

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts

It's not a gimme if you're still away.

The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.

You can hit a two acre fairway 10% of the time and a two inch branch 90% of the time.

If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age.

Since bad shots come in groups of three, a fourth bad shot is actually the beginning of the next group of three.

When you look up, causing an awful shot, you will always look down again at exactly the moment when you ought to start watching the ball if you ever want to see it again.

Every time a golfer makes a birdie, he must subsequently make two triple bogeys to restore the fundamental equilibrium of the universe.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Book a Golf Package with a Specialist

I know there are a lot of individuals out there, that didn't do an annual golf trip last winter. The economy has affected everyone in some shape or form. Even Greg Norman mentioned at the Open Championship, having to lay off employees for the first time in his business career. There are and will be a lot of great packages out there for all the areas we cover. This is where the Golf Vacation Specialist comes in. We live and play in the areas we are responsible for. We understand the need for golfers to get the biggest bang for their buck - most golfers want everything, but don't want to pay for it.

There are a lot of things that golfers can do to get a great golf package. The first and most important thing you can do, is talk to your Golf Vacation Specialist. We can offer a lot of insight and less expensive alternatives, that most golfers may not be aware of. Golfers need to have some kind of budget in mind for their trip. These budgets need to be realistic; based on your choices of location, lodging and golf courses. If you have a lower budget in mind, please understand that you cannot play all high end courses and stay within your budget. There are certain times of year and certain areas that this is possible. Most all golf course rates are based on seasons. Winter packages in Florida for example, will be higher priced than Myrtle Beach - mainly due to weather conditions.

The individual person putting the golf package together, needs to be right up front and honest on the budget for the group. If you discuss this with your individual Specialist, he or she can get you everything you need within your budget. Keep in mind; that you may have to scale down lodging expectations and golf courses, to stay within your budget - especially during peak seasons in each specific area. Each Golf Vacation Specialist can do this very quickly and get you that "Biggest Bang for your Buck". You can go online and do numerous quotes on areas that you may not be that familiar with. This can be very time consuming and not get you what you may need or want. Do that initial quote, which will have the name of your representative on it. Next step would be to contact that particular representative via phone or email. Once the specialist has an idea of what type of package your looking to put together - Dates, # of players, # of rounds and most important - BUDGET PER PLAYER. It becomes a very simple process to get from point A to point B.

There are also a lot of individuals out there that like to book everything on their own for the group. This is OK, but having someone in the area you're looking to do a package in - can make the process much easier and less phone calls for the group leader - calling hotels, golf, etc... Yes, an individual can put a good package together, doing everything on his own. The major difference working with a Golf Vacation Specialist - we will be honest and up front about specific lodging and golf courses. You will never have someone at hotel or golf course tell you that their lodging property is so so, or the same for a golf course. We, as Golf Vacation Specialist's, will tell you right up front, our honest opinion on lodging and golf. We as a company do a lot of repeat business. We are the so-called 'experts' in the areas we cover, and our repeat clients trust us every year to set up their package for them.

You will see on our website, that we offer a lot of hot deals for each specific area. These are great ways to do an inexpensive golf package with great courses and resorts. We put these hot deals together due to the fact that our vendors have gotten very aggressive with us in pricing, or we know some very specific lodging and golf courses, that we have great deals with. If you see a hot deal, chances are - this is a great package for the money.

Please try and be flexible with the areas you may want to do a golf package. Your specialist may know of some other areas that you've never thought of, and may be a great golf destination. You may have been to a specific area the last couple years, but have never heard of or played other courses in that area. Also, the farther south you go in the winter - the higher the price goes. But each area can have an inexpensive alternative to keep the cost down, and make it still enjoyable. Some of the new areas we have added as a company, can get very aggressive with their pricing, due to the fact of trying to draw more golfers to that area.

In a nutshell - your Golf Vacation Specialist is here to help, and can be your best resource in putting a golf package together. Take some time to contact us and discuss your needs and budget - we can make the process very easy for you. Try and be flexible with your destinations, courses and so on - we have something out there that's fantastic and you may have never thought about it. In these tough economic times - let us help bail you out of the work that goes behind putting a great golf package together. We, as a company, have a lot of great golf areas and will work our hardest to satisfy your every need. Please take some time to get to know us and you will have a Golf Vacation Specialist for life. 

Monday, July 20, 2009

Biloxi Revived

A short time ago, I took a familiarization trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. Not only was I pleasantly surprised, but completed impressed. The quality of the courses and accommodations were top notch. Starting with the golf, I would have to describe the overall service and quality of conditions as nothing short of world class. The accommodations from the hotels to the condominiums were luxurious. 

We are all aware of the hurricane devastation in New Orleans because of our national media, but that same devastation was delivered to Biloxi as well. In the Southern tradition, Biloxi rallied and rebuilt a new and better community. Foremost, what stands out in my memory is the sense of community and fellowship. Biloxi is also a perfect example of Southern Hospitality.

When considering your next golf vacation, with the added excitement of casino gambling, look no further than Biloxi - The Gem of the Gulf Coast.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club


MYRTLE BEACH AREA GOLF COURSE OWNERS NAME SHAFTESBURY GLEN GOLF & FISH CLUB - 2009 GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR

Grand Strand Association Says The Clyde Johnston Designed Course Is Tops Among All Others In The Area

July 17, 2009, Myrtle Beach, S.C. — The Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owner’s Association (MBAGCOA) has named Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club the 2009 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year.

Inspired by celebrated courses like Winged Foot and Augusta National, architect Clyde Johnston designed a traditional British Isles course at Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club. Tucked into the forest and farmlands along South Carolina’s beautiful Waccamaw River, the course features wide fairways and elevated greens. The Shaftesbury Glen Clubhouse overlooks the Waccamaw River and offers tranquil views tailor-made for post-round relaxation.

In addition to this most recent honor, last year, Shaftesbury Glen was voted one of the Top 50 Golf Resorts in the United States in Golf World's first-ever ranking of the best public, private and resort facilities in the country. Shaftesbury Glen was on Golf Digest’s list of nominations for best new course of 2001. It was rated at 4 stars (Outstanding) in Golf Digest’s Places To Play (2005), which notes that the course’s greens “may be the best on The [Grand] Strand.”

The MGAGCOA evaluates courses on conditions, quality of ownership and management, contributions to the community and efforts to improve the growth of the game.

“The Glens Group is truly honored to have Shaftesbury Glen named Golf Course of the year,” said Jason Himmelsbach, marketing manager for the Glens Golf Group. “The MBAGCOA judged our course using strict criteria and to be recognized as the best, when there are so many great courses along the Grand Strand really showcases the hard work and dedication of everyone here at the Glens Group and Shaftesbury Glen.” 

The Golf Course of the Year award has been given out since 1996. Shaftesbury Glen will now be judged statewide. Statewide winners move on for the chance to be named National Golf Course Of The Year.

About The Glens Golf Group

The flagship of The Glens Golf Group is Heather Glen, which is located in Little River, S.C. on a magnificent, 400-acre historic site. Designed by Willard Byrd and Clyde Johnston, the course opened in 1987.
Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links, often referred to as “Myrtle Beach’s Most Talked About Course,” was designed by Clyde Johnston in a tribute to legendary course architect Donald Ross. Glen Dornoch is a traditional course and each hole flows with the natural terrain of lakes, live oaks and spectacular marsh and river views.
Known as the “Friendliest Course On The Beach,” Possum Trot has an honored place in the history of Myrtle Beach golf. One of the first ten championship courses built along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand, which now has more than 100 golf courses, Possum Trot has stood the test of time. The course’s Old English design features spacious fairways, challenging par 5’s, as well as flawlessly manicured greens and spectacular flower displays.
Inspired by world-famous courses like Winged Foot and Augusta National, architect Clyde Johnston designed a traditional British Isles course at Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club, located on the banks of South Carolina’s beautiful Waccamaw River. 
###

Something's Cookin at Golf Zoo

I've decided to take a break from the golf blogs and start publishing some of my favorite recipes.  I'm not only a golf vacation diva, I'm also a great cook!

Here's a quick and simple chicken recipe that's heart healthy and tasty:

Chicken with Roasted Sweet Potato Salad.

2 sweet potatoes (about 1 lb) peeled and cut into thin wedges
1 red onion, thinly sliced
3 T olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
4 6 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bunch spinach, thick stems removed (about 4 cups)
2 t fresh lime juice


Heat oven to 425. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the potatoes, onion, 2 T oil, 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper. Roast until tender, 20-25 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or so.
Rinse and pat dry chicken breasts, season with 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper, I use a little more of each.
Spray grill with PAM.
Grill chicken approx 5-6 minutes on each side.
In a large bowl, toss the warm potato mixture with spinach, lime juice and 1/4 t salt (I doubled the dressing)

Serve with the chicken. Enjoy!