Our Best of 2017
We were very blessed with our journeys in 2017, contributing 136 articles to New England Golf Monthly (celebrating our 10th anniversary together), Golf Travel Weekly, Golf Fashion Weekly, Golf Content Network, Arizona Golf Insider, Arizona Golfer, Golf Chicago and Southern Golf Central, not to mention our own website. Here’s a short review of the trips and best products we encountered in ’17. May you all enjoy a healthy and happy 2018!
Places we loved
(Click on the titles if you want to see full stories and more photos)
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort– Saddle up for a hillside trail ride and play golf on twogreat courses among the sycamore trees in the shaded river valley. Don’t look for phones or TVs in the guest rooms, only comfort. Embrace the serenity and drink up the ranch ambience. Solvang, California is in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country.
Tucson – Sewailo Casino Resort hosted our stay while Omni Tucson National served as the venue for the Champions PGA Conquistadors Classic. Danny played in the pro am with Kenny Perry and friends while Alice caddied and joked about confusing him for John Cook. Tucson has plenty of warm weather golf, Southwest fun and fare for all.
Bermuda – This beautiful island hosted the America’s Cup in grand style. Fairmont Southampton is a perfect base to explore the pink sand beaches, great golf courses (Turtle Hill, Mid Ocean, Tucker Point and Port Royal) and significant historical spots. Travel Places takes fans on luxury excursions associated with the world’s best sporting events and their participants raved about the coordination efforts in the Great Sound. Year round Bermuda is the Jewel of the Atlantic for exploration or relaxation.
Albuquerque – The Sandia Resort and Casino has one of the best golf courses and fabulous accommodations in a city where diversity reigns. Take the Historic Old Town Trolley for a tour of the city, a hot air balloon ride over the river or climb the ladder to a Pueblo Ruin.
Central New York – This was our 11th and final summer at our lake house as we sold it (maybe the worst part of the summer). Alas, life has its phases and we know the Tierney family will love it as we have. We shall return for trips to the Big Apple, Long and Thousand Islands, The Finger Lakes, Niagara Falls, and to see family and life long friends. Thanks to Barker Brook Golf Course for hosting our charity golf tournament supporting the Erieville Volunteer Fire Department for ten years and thanks to Kathie Dyson for Alice’s annual invitation to the Skaneateles Country Club Member/Guest tourney, which will also be sorely missed.
Fox Harb’r, Nova Scotia This luxurious, self-contained seaside sports complex sits on the cliff of the Northumberland Coast of Nova Scotia. Explore the shore by Kayak or horseback. Fish, shoot, spa, golf or relax with a view of Prince Edward Island while sipping delicious wines from the local Jost Winery.
Nemacolin – The Grand Opening of the Shepherd’s Rock course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort was an extravagant event with John Daly and family, Duck Dynasty and Huey Lewis and the News rocking the evening gala. Nemacolin has it all on over 2000 acres – 2 courses, mini golf, casino, spa, zoo, shooting academy, bowling, adventure center, and luxury accommodations.
Michigan – Kevin Frisch showcases Pure Michigan, Pure Golf, and Pure Fun. The Loop at Forest Dunes is an inventive design twist that could change the game. From Bay Harbor and Boyne Golf’s ten courses to the little city of Petoskey and the Grand Traverse, it’s a sweet destination with lots of lake views and activities.
British Columbia – We celebrated Canada’s 150th in a big way for two glorious weeks in Super, Natural British Columbia. Every region is authentically unique and wonderful.
Whistler – Mountain majesty soars in a luxurious setting as the Fairmont Chateau Whistler makes a dream vacation come true. Nature is magnified with experiences of a lifetime like viewing the glaciers from a floater plane and ziplining over the ski runs, or golfing with bears.
Vancouver – This seaside city is so beautiful and diverse that it is almost fathomable that an entry level home would set you back $1.4M. Almost. Fortunately vacations there are
more affordable and full of options.
Tigh Na Mara – Beachfront cabins plus Canada’s best spa, Grotto Spa equals anextraordinary retreat.
Bear Mountain – Two spectacular courses follow the mountain terrain and end up with a panoramic view of Victoria Harbor.
Victoria – The harbor is unlike any other, guarded by the magnificent Parliament building. Go strolling, whale watching or visit the impressive Butchart Gardens.
Kelowna – Okanagan Valley along the 100-mile Okanagan Lake has 150 wineries and 18 golf courses including the bountiful Harvest Golf Club. Need we say more?
Predator Ridge– Drive up along the lake to one of the best golfing community developments in Canada. Two very special courses and amenities are too numerous to count.
Portland -While attending the Society of American Travel Writers conference we fell in love with the walkable city, the SATW members and the wineries in Tualatin and Willamette Valley. The Columbia River gorge, coastline an hour away, local food trucks, museums, craft breweries and wineries combine for a very desirable destination.
The Wigwam in Goodyear, Arizona was the spot for Bill Huffman’s 16th annual West Valley Media Classic. It was a huge success with golf at Estrella, Verrado and the Wigwam Gold course. Arizona has over 300 golf courses and we have a new goal to try them all.
More Arizona golf events – The Waste Management Phoenix Open is the best of the PGA tour and this year was special with Mark Wahlberg in the media center on Wednesday. In November we played at Grayhawk in the Liberty Mutual Invitational benefiting the wonderful ICAN organization that serves as advocates for Stage 4 cancer patients, navigating through the maze of treatment options.
Danzante Bay – Rees Jones’ grand opening weekend showcased his full 18 holes at the Villa del Palmar Resort and Spa at the Islands of Loreto on the Sea of Cortez. It is an extraordinary layout over the Sierra Gigante Mountains and ocean that Jaques Cousteau called “the aquarium of the world.” The event included super food, service and dancing under the stars to music by Don Felder of the Eagles and his band. This is the Cabo of 30 years ago with no travel advisory. Vamos!
Products we recommend for any year:
Tour Edge Exotics Clubs don’t have paid professional players to use their clubs because word of mouth takes care of inventory. And what a lineup of inventory they have. We swing their woods whether making the long drive down the fairway or rescuing our balls from fescue. David Glod’s team of Tour Edge employees is efficient with quick delivery and response to all customers, even the pros who don’t get paid but love the clubs. The EX 10 fairway woods made the Hot List for 2017. All clubs are 100% assembled in the US with a 48-hour turnaround for any custom club in the Hot Launch 2 line. Tour Edge Golf is synonymous with innovative technology. www.touredge.com
Golf Buddy delivers the most accurate distance on courses via pocket units, a range finder and watches in black and white. Love the first feminine GPS watch with a slender white band and Swarovski crystals! A quick glance at the wrist has become part of our shot routine. www.golfbuddyglobal.com
Sun Mountain Club Glider is a golf club travel bag that is literally a life saver when crossing streets between terminals at LAX. Around the world, we glide through all venues by pushing or pulling this extraordinary design with no more than a finger. www.sunmountain.com Nothing garners more attention in our travels except perhaps:
Antigua Sportswear with our logo and theirs. We are often asked, “Did you go there?“ No not the island, Antigua is in our Arizona backyard with an incredible team ready to logo their most stylish performance apparel for any occasion. www.antigua.com
Hot Hands – We think the old saying, “Cold hands, warm heart” is just nuts. We are unashamedly sun seekers but when the temps dip, we’re still going to play. Neither snow nor sleet will keep us from our appointed round. That’s why we always have some hot hands in our golf bag and fellow golfers appreciate them when shared. https://hothands.com/
Oska – And the Product Oscar goes to…. this miraculous relief device, which emits a healing pulse magnetic field to reduce inflammation and pain. It is small enough to carry and wear everywhere, even when playing. At $499, it provides on the spot physical therapy. www.oskawellness.com