January 2007

Click on this photo for a small taste of we enjoy here in Kentucky when we play our State Park Golf Trail.

Thru a great blog that showcases photos taken in Kentucky, I found this news item alerting me to the great rates and what’s happening, golf-wise, in Kentucky.

I’ve done many, many reviews of the State Park courses and they have always exceeded my expectations.

From great rates, to fantastic scenery … from Paducah to Pikeville and lexington to London, there’s a great golf adventure nearby.

If you’ve never hiked, golfed, swam and ate catfish in the same day, well, come on down and we’ll get together for some golf that will make memories that will last a lifetime.

If you’re even slightly considering going west ( or east ) to San Francisco for a golf vacation at a world-class golf resort and spa, you really need to click thru and check out today’s offering from my friends over at Perfect escapes.

Today they’ve come up with a golf and hotel package to the Westin St. Francis that will rejuvenate your body and mind.

Via their website:

It’s a great time to visit San Francisco: The crowds are few, the theater season’s in full swing, and the boutiques sparkle with treasures. Make your San Francisco trip even more memorable when you stay at the landmark Westin St. Francis, right in the heart of Union Square.

And right now, when you book two consecutive nights at The Westin St. Francis, your third night is free! Simply arrive on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday for a 3-night stay and your last night is on the house.

Rates vary seasonally, but standard rooms start at just $149 per night over many winter and early-spring weekends. Better still, this special Third Night Free offer is available for other popular room categories — Traditional, Deluxe and Grandview — and is valid for stays through the end of 2007.

Why wait? Plan your San Francisco escape with The Westin St. Francis today.

You’d better hurry, as this deal is only available thru February 28th, 2007 !

My friends over at Perfect Escapes have gotten together with 4 and 5 Star hotels and created some of the finest golf vacations to some of the world’s best golf resorts and spas.

Today we’d like to focus on Florida.

Click thru and look at the special deals that await you in The Sunshine State, where my former home of Pensacola Beach is located.

Diplomat Country Club & Spa

Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa

From their website:

The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offers luxurious accommodations, magnificent views, and an experience sure to inspire renewal. From our infinity pool with waterfalls to the marina, shops, tennis, golf and white-sand beach on the Atlantic Ocean, endless options encourage complete tranquility and a sense of rejuvenation.

Westin Diplomat guests also enjoy access to all of the facilities and services of the Diplomat Country Club and Spa – including the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course and the full-service Spa at The Diplomat – plus complimentary shuttle service between the two properties.

And now, you can combine all of these world-class offerings into one luxurious escape. The South Florida Pamper & Putt package includes:

- Overnight accommodations in a spacious guestroom with magnificent views
- One round of golf at the Diplomat Country Club championship course
- One 50-minute Diplomat Massage at the Spa at The Diplomat

Better yet, these added amenities are available nightly — you’ll receive an additional round of golf and massage treatment for each night of your stay.

I’m thinking Florida’s the place to be … Hollywood, Florida to be specific !

Tomorrow I’ll have an exclusive offer for you from the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, so stay tuned and subscribe to my RSS feed.

If you’ve got a great looking golf swing and you’re anywhere near Orlando, Florida, I’ve got some news you need.

Jennifer at Mullen Casting informed me that they’re doing a commercial for Dick’s Sporting Goods and they need 2-4 golfers with textbook swings.

The auditions will be Monday, January 15th and the actual shoot will be January 22-24th in Orlando.

They’re looking for single-digit handicappers from 20 to 50. If you’re an executive-looking guy around 40+, you have an excellent chance. It would also be beneficial if you were in great shape.

They also need 3-6 other models for that shoot, such as those who look like golfers and are in great shape.

For more info, shoot an email to Jennifer (at) mullencasting . com.

I broke that email addy to hopefully keep the spambots from overloading her inbox.

There is compensation for this shoot and she can give you all the details you need.

Good luck !

Sometime in the last few days an email mysteriously appeared in one of my many inboxes. It was from the Phantom Golfer. Is he/she/it a real phantom ? I haven’t a clue, BUT just in case, I’ve given in to the deamnd of adding his/her blog to my Blog Roll.

I ain’t takin’ no chances with phantoms, I saw what they could do the last time I watched Scooby Doo.

Me and shaggy would rather eat pizza than battle phantoms, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I don’t know for sure, but I believe the Phantom Golfer may be in South Africa or nearby, as the course names all sound like they’re from somewhere south of Kentucky, where I live.

Click thru to the Phantom Golfer and see if his/her/it’s blog is for you.

If not, YOU tell the Phantom … I ain’t messin’ with him .. her … it !

A new Hawaiian sensation just appeared on the horizon.

Michelle Wie may have fizzled in her attempt to make the Sony Hawaiian Open cut, but Tadd Fujikawa picked up her slack and sparked a weekend of Hawaiian golf history.

Tadd’s the youngest golfer, his 16th birthday was Monday, in 50 years to make a PGA Tour cut.

I just watched the last 5 holes on The Golf Channel and he played poised and focused golf.

Personally, I’m even more proud of him that I would have been of Michelle, since she’s about a foot taller and 50 million dollars richer.

Will she ever make a PGA tour cut ? I believe she won’t quit trying until she does, so yes, I believe she will some day.

Will Tadd ever make another one ? Who cares, he made this one and I will be there watching this weekend.

It’s going to be cold and rainy in Kentucky this weekend, so this story will warm my heart … uh, if I still have one, that is.

Congrats Tadd ! Thanks for making my weekend as special as it will be for you.

Did you happen to notice that The Golf Channel is sponsoring an amateur tour ?I saw the commercial while watching their coverage from Kapalua.

I also checked and they have a club in Louisville, so I’m going to see if the schedule will allow me to compete.

If any club, ball or apparel comapny wants to sponsor The Travelling Golfer’s foray into competitive, amateur golf, I have a USGA Handicap of 7.8 and would qualify for their Nicklaus Flight ( 4.0 to 7.9 ), which is the #2 flight, just below the Palmer Flight ( Scratch to 3.9 ).

Click thru to see if there’s a club near you and maybe we’ll see each other at an event … like the National Championship.

Did you happen to watch the Mercededs-Benz Championship from Kapalua on The Golf Channel ? I did and saw a commercial from GoHawaii.com that led me to this great resource, in case I’m ever fortunate enough to play golf in Hawaii.

Bookmark their site and buy lottery tickets is my new motto !

From their website :

” Seventy million years ago, Nature created Hawaii – a paradise of green-carpet valleys, emerald mountains draped in mist, and an ocean as blue and deep as the sky. It is a setting so perfectly sculpted, it’s clear that golf was part of Nature’s master plan. Our fairways are lush and bordered by rainforests and wild seascapes…and our hazards are a natural part of the landscape.

From lush hillside courses with views of neighboring islands and whales breaching offshore, to black lava layouts dotted with white sand bunkers, Hawaii offers you all the challenges and all of the pleasures of golf on more than eighty courses, spread over six uniquely different islands. So it isn’t surprising that eight Hawaii courses can be found in Golf Magazine’s list of Top 25 U.S. Golf Resorts (no other state has more than two). “

Click thru and enjoy !

PS - And Congratulations to Vijay Singh for winning the first event of 2007 ! Note to Tiger and Phil, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Callaway Golf says ” Today baby boomers are realizing that their vision isn’t the same as it was when they were younger. As a result, the need for reading glasses is on a steady increase.

There are more than 76 million baby boomers–those born between the years of 1946 and 1964. In addition to baby boomers, people getting LASIK Surgery to correct their farsighted vision - Myopia - still need to wear reading glasses for their nearsighted vision - Presbyopia, all resulting in a need for a more fashionable high-end reading glass.

“People don’t want to buy the drug store reading glasses that their grand parents wear”. “They are looking for something more hip, more fashionable,” said Marcel Schiro, VP Sales and Marketing of Callaway Golf Eyewear. No more carrying that big bulky pair of reading glasses for the past 18 holes writing in your score on your scorecard. The patented, Callaway Golf Eyewear Scorecard Reader, folds conveniently into a case—smaller than your average cell phone

I started to use reading glasses a couple of months ago and I’m not sure if I’ll have to wear them on the golf course yet.

If I have to, these look a heckuva lot better than any I’ve seen in my local retail stores, that’s for sure.

Has anybody ever worn golf eyewear while they played ?

I’m afraid it will mess up my ball striking, which needs no help in being bad !

Has anybody tried one of these bracelets ?

Did they help your hands in any way ?

I’ve hit millions of golf balls in my life and my hands are starting to give me a little trouble, so I’d like to know if they can provide any relief.