Monday, June 06, 2011

A Memorable Kodak Challenge at The Memorial

Although Steve Stricker trophied with a one-stroke win at The Memorial (and had a memorable hole-in-one this week), it was Zack Miller who captured Kodak Challenge Shot of the Day honors when he dropped his 136-yard approach to one inch of the cup on hole fourteen during final round action. Miller was one of thirteen pros to birdie the tricky 363-yard par-4 Kodak hole at Muirfield Village.

While Miller's near eagle led to the easiest Kodak birdie, Daniel Summerhays drained a twenty-one-footer for the final round's longest Kodak birdie putt.




About Kodak Challenge hole #14 at Muirfield Village GC

Kodak Challenge hole number fourteen is a tricky 363-yard par-4. The picturesque hole presents golfers with a downhill tee shot into a wide, tree-lined valley. About 245 yards from the championship tee, a creek emerges from the left woods to border the fairway. This carries on for some 40 yards before angling across it and then on down to flank the right side of the green. The green is long and narrow and heavily guarded left by several bunkers.


Earlier in the week, Charley Hoffman picked up a stroke in the opening round for sole possession of second place on the Kodak leaderboard at 10-under-par. Hoffman sits just one shot behind frontrunner Bill Lunde, who played No. 14 at par before withdrawing due to illness. J.B. Holmes and Matt Kuchar also gained ground at Muirfield Village with Kodak birdies to move within two shots of Lunde at 9-under.

Kodak Challenge hole fourteen played exactly at par during the final round of the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus. The firm and fast green yielded thirteen birdies, forty-nine pars, nine bogeys and two double bogeys.

The next Kodak Challenge hole is the 239-yard par-3 fourteenth at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee during the FedEx St. Jude Classic this week, June 9-12.

The FedEx St. Jude Classic will be the eighteenth of thirty tournaments to participate in the $1 million season-long Kodak Challenge competition.

photo credit: GolfObserver.com


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Thursday, June 02, 2011

Jamaica golf vacation at Breezes Runaway Bay during Women's Golf Month!

Jamaica is an island nation where over one-million visitors vacation each year. Feelings conjured up when thinking about "Xaymaca" a.k.a. "land of wood and water" are tropical breezes against my skin, green fairways and, as the locals say, "Irie"!  Imagine the excitement I felt being selected as one of five women writers to travel on a fun-filled ladies golf getaway to Breezes Runaway Bay Resort Jamaica!

Since June is Women's Golf Month and the trip coincides with my birthday, this was an offer to graciously accept!


Map of Jamaica
 Map of Jamaica


An early flight (only three hours) from New York to Montego Bay, will leave an entire day to get acquainted with the twenty-two acre, all-inclusive Breezes Runaway Bay Resort and Golf Club. On the northwest coast of Jamaica, MOBay is not only known for its natural beauty but also for it's vibrant nightlife, which, for those who read my golf vacation blogs, is one of the big three important items on my great vacation checklist: natural beauty, nightlife within reach, and, of course...great golf courses!


Breezes Jamaica is considered "super-inclusive", which means everything from food, drinks and land and water sports is included within the Runaway Bay beachfront property...NO tipping...which is good because my bathing suit doesn't have pockets!


Breezes Runaway Bay Jamaica
 Breezes Runaway Bay Jamaica


Although there is no need to leave the resort, I have been offered a choice of excursions seen below.


Which would you choose?


·         “Encounter” or swim with dolphins

·         Dune Buggy Adventure

·         Zipline Canopy

·         River tubing

·         ATV Safari

Ask me and I will reveal my decision!


SuperClubs Golf Club at Runaway Bay, a PGA-quality golf course once home to the Heineken World Cup Western Hemisphere Qualifying Tournament and the Jamaica Open, is now connected to the resort through an underground tunnel. I will definitely be taking a video golf lesson, playing a few rounds and reporting on the amenities!

My plans also include my first Scuba lesson at the Gold Palm Five-Star PADI facility, putting on some outdoor gear and taking a hiking, and a spa treatment!


Although I'm going to get away from the daily grind for a few days, a WI-FI connection will keep pictures and updates of my activities at Jamaica Breezes Runaway Bay Resort flowing through Facebook, Twitter and through the Golf for Beginners blog so stay tuned.


Rest and relaxation for me this coming week are a hammock away.