Orlando / Jacksonville Ultimate Golf Excursion

If you don't mind being a road warrior for a couple of days, have I got a great package for you. Golf Zoo and Ginn Resorts is offering the Ginn Challenge. This package is based on 4 players in a three bedroom villa and 5 rounds of Championship caliber golf. Package rate is $750.00 per person. I will give you some details on the resorts and the golf courses they have on property.
GINN REUNION RESORT - ORLANDO, FLORIDA:
The resort at Reunion has just been named a "Distinguished Member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Reunion Resort hosted the "Big Break Reunion", seen on The Golf Channel. The facility also host the LPGA Ginn Open.
The 3 courses on site are designed by Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. The Legacy course made Golf Digest's #21 of America's Top 4 new courses, 2005. It also made Golf Weeks #12 Florida's Best Public Golf Course, 2006. The Independence course received the following rewards: Golf Digest #10 America's Best New Resort Course, 2005. Golf Magazine Top 10 best new courses you can play. Golf Week #4 Florida's Best public access, 2006.
GINN HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT - PALM COAST, FLORIDA:
Cond'e Nast Traveler - "Top 100 Golf Resorts", 2006. Resort and Great Hotel's - "Connoisseur's Choice Award", 2006. AAA Four Diamond Award, 2004 - 2006.
The 2 courses on site are designed by Nicklaus and Watson. The Nicklaus Course (Ocean Hammock) host the Senior PGA Tour Ginn Championship. Here are some of the awards the golf courses have received: Golf Week - "America's Best Courses you can play, Rated # 3 in Florida, 2006 and "Top 100 Resort Courses", 2006. Golf Digest - "America's 100 Greatest public courses, 2005. Golf Magazine - "Top 100 you can play", 2006.
These are two of the best golf resorts in Florida. The two resorts are located about 1 and 1/2 hours apart. Don't let the travel discourage you - it is well worth the drive.

Cathedral Canyon Country Club- Great Value

On my recent visit to Cathedral Canyon Country Club I came away very pleased to be able to offer the facility to our Golf Zoo clientele as part of their Palm Springs golf package. Offering 27 holes, I have to say my favorite 9 was the Arroyo, the latest addition. It's as if you're on a links nine. The other two nines, Mountain and Lake are also very enjoyable and offer a good, fair challenge. This is one of our best golf values in a Palm Springs golf package with great pricing, a friendly, down home atmosphere and a comfy restaurant and bar facility to enjoy after your round. The surrounding mountain views are spectacular and the 27 holes of golf can be enjoyed by any handicap golfer without breaking the bank.

Golf Zoo seeks qualified Golf Travel Salespeople

Golf Zoo, one of the fastest growing Golf Tour Providers in America is seeking experienced Golf Travel Salespeople in the following destinations:

• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

These individuals will be responsible for daily sales and service of customized golf vacations, as well as maintaining relationships with vendors in the applicable region. This is NOT an entry level position - Only those with golf, travel, or previous sales experience need apply. We are seeking enthusiastic and hard working individuals with a strong interest in the golf travel industry. Exceptional communication skills are a must.

Benefits include:

• Competitive compensation plan with bonuses
• Medical and dental plans
• 3 weeks paid time off annually
• Telecommuting
• Discounted travel and golf
• and more...

If you are interested in joining the Golf Zoo team, please send cover letter with resume to Chris Parcell at chris@golfzoo.com

Gain More Distance!

If you have been playing golf for years or just taking up the game of golf you may be searching for a way to hit the ball farther. There is a simple, low-cost way to gain more distance on your golf shots – stretching! If you obtain a golf specific exercise book, either at your local bookstore or library, work hard and follow the suggested stretching regimen you will gain the valuable yards you are looking for in your game.

By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club

Hot Stix Opens new Performance Facility

Hot Stix has recently opened its new Performance Center located at Legend Trail Golf Course in North Scottsdale. The Performance Center is the most elite and advanced fitting experience in golf, and is absolutely the best fitting offered.

It is a four hour process which is basically separated into two parts. The first part is called Tour level Game fitting. This is a 6 six stage fitting that gets into set makeup and is the first part of the information gathering for the fitting. The six stages are driver, long game, mid game, scoring irons, short game, and putting. The second part of the fitting is the complete launch monitor analysis of your woods and irons and the putter fitting with the lasers and cameras.

The cost for this session is $795. The address where the course is located is 9462 East Legendary Lane in Scottsdale and the zip code is 85262.

Maryland is Seeing Blue

This past weekend while in Ocean City, I enjoyed one of the Eastern Shores delicacies; “The Blue Crab”. It can be enjoyed in many ways such as crab dip, imperial, soup, fritters, cakes, even salads but I enjoy it most in its original form, steamed with lots of Old Bay. It is messy and time-consuming but if you have never had this Maryland staple, it’s well worth trying. I wanted to share with you what I think is the best way to enjoy this meal:

First, pull off all of the legs and the claws. Then pull the tab back and this will help you pull of the top of the crab. Just to let you know, the male crab has a "tab" which looks like the 'Washington Monument' as opposed to a female crab which has a tab that looks like the US Capitol. At this point you are almost there. I usually take a knife and cut off the lungs or “devils fingers”, don’t eat them (I was always told they would make you sick)! Now you want to clean out anything that is in the cavity and if you want, there is something that looks like mustard inside. Try it if you haven’t but don’t worry if you don’t like it, not everyone does. Then break the crab in half and work on one side at a time. I have found if I break it in half again the meat comes out easier. While doing this, make sure you watch out for shells. Now comes the hard decision and there are many ways this is done. Some say that you just eat the meat plain as it comes out, others dip in melted butter or vinegar and then there are people like me who pick their crabmeat into a bowl and then sprinkle with vinegar and enjoy all at once!

So if you have not tried this Maryland treat when you travel to Ocean City make sure you stop at one of the many places that serve this tasty seafood. I like Hooper’s Crab House next to the Route 50 Bridge in West Ocean City. They have a great all you can eat with sweet corn!

The Stonegate Experience

In our quest to provide our customers with the best of golf and accommodations nationally, once and a while we come across a venue that even we as experts find ourselves saying, "WOW! This is special." Stonegate Golf Club is such a facility.
It's not just the magnificent 36 hole layout - it's the entire experience. There are quaint Carmel style shops as you first drive in. The multi-functional clubhouse with elegant furnishings is spectacular. Even though I am a non-member, two of the full-time members struck up a conversation to make me feel welcome. During my four hours of snooping around, not once did I see a thing out of place or anyone discontented. It is a picture perfect place to relax. On your next visit to Orlando, treat yourself to something both extraordinary and affordable and visit Stonegate Golf Club.

Golf Idol

If you're one of the 29.5 Bazillion viewers of American Idol weekly or The Grammy's annually or hundreds of other TV shows, musicals or concerts, this fine lookin' group below are the ones responsible for the sound/audio you hear on those productions.
Paul Sandweiss, 2nd from left in the rear and his group has been booking their golf trip with me to Palm Springs for a couple of years now and they're great guys to deal with. They haven't actually faxed signed, eraser smudgefree scorecards to me as of yet, despite my requests, but they have dropped thank you notes and have had always had a great time staying for a few days and enjoying the golf and sun in Palm Springs. So next time you watch American Idol, say thanks guys and good golfing!

Back Row L to R: Mikael Stewart, Paul Sandweiss, David Bellamy, Danny Harris and Scott Harmala. Front Row L to R: Andrew 'Fletch' Fletcher, Michael MacDonald and Mike Parker.

Cheeseburgers In Paradise!

After a day on the Links while in the Myrtle Beach area, head to Hamburger Joes - a locals & golfers favorite. Great burgers & wings with a great atmosphere to boot! You can't beat the $1.00 drafts all day long & they were voted best Burgers on the Beach 3 years in a Row! Kick back on the outside deck overlooking the Marsh in North Myrtle Beach Right accross from Barefoot Landing. I promise you won't leave hungry!!

Linda

Widen The Fairway

If you normally hit the ball from left to right off the tee try the following strategy to effectively double the size of the fairway. During your next round, tee off next to the right tee marker and aim at the left side of the fairway. By doing so, you will double the amount of fairway to hit into than if you had teed up in the middle of the tee markers and aimed straight down the middle of the fairway.

By Jeff Allen, PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Longbow Golf Club