Introducing the Porsche of Luxury Golf Carts

Created in the same factory where both the Porsche Cayman and the Porsche Boxster are built, the ultra luxurious Garia Soleil de Minuit golf cart makes its public debut!

Glamorously posing alongside of some of the most technologically advanced "supercars" at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco exhibition (considered by some to be the greatest show on Earth), the Garia was inspired by Formula One race cars with a haute-couture feel to create a unique golf car "guaranteed to give an exceptional driving experience. "

Should there be more fanfare for the Garia Soleil de Minuit as golf cart aficionados discuss the most expensive golf car ever made by a manufacturer? For $52,000 are you getting your money's worth?

Not only is she rounded and sleekly designed but the Garia Soleil de Minuit also features "a carbon roof, one-of custom paint tailored to enhance all of her design features, two-colored hand-stitched luxury seats, an alcantara roof lining and numerous hand-made details to create a truly unique luxury golf car."

Coolers in the standard, cookie-cutter golf carts just don't cut it in the Garia and an upgrade to a built-in refrigerator is available.

With exclusive personalization, your Garia can also be painted to resemble any automobile in the garage.

"Under the hood" for that price: double wishbone front suspension, drivetrain built by an Italian company that produces Ducati gearboxes and aluminum profiles in the frame.

So the "super" golf cart is born. Now it's only a matter of time before Jay Leno has one in his garage. As for me, I'm happy when my golf cart comes with a GPS!

A few photos from our Puerto Rico golf vacation!

Two golf carts enjoying the day and the scenery at the 12th hole at Palmas Del Mar Golf Club

Members of our fivesome (?) on the 12th hole at the exquisite Palmas del Mar Golf Club include (from left to right):  Steve Ellis, Federico Diner, Stacy Solomon, Barry Solomon and Rob Hayashida

On board the exquisite Dinamar Yacht after a great lunch at the Yacht Club at Palmas Del Mar.

 There were so many great picture opportunities for Bahia Golf and Beach Resort (an ecological wonder) that I have selected a few here and will post the remainder on Flickr. A St. Regis Hotel is currently being built on the property (opening October 2010) and will only stand two stories high with great views and a southern feel!

The Gran Melia is a five-star luxury all-suite Resort located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Views abound and for those vacationers who rarely see palm trees, you will never want to leave!

The pool at Gran Melia PR is one of the largest on the isla de encanta and the Wet Bar serves up an excellent mojito!

So many beautiful aspects to the Gran Melia Puerto Rico, from the Gardens to the Beach. Here are a few more pictures of this luxury resort!

The Gran Melia transforms at night and takes on a very romantic feel. I was told that there is a person who has the specific task each night of lamp lighter for all of the candles within the Resort that cast a magnificent glow!

A Grand View at Sunset from the Beach at Gran Melia in Puerto Rico. 

There are top quality, ecologically-friendly golf courses nearby: Bahia Golf Club, Palmas del Mar (I would mention Rio Mar in more detail but we played seven holes in a downpour) with Trump International PR as this Resort's next door neighbor. Although the Puerto Rico Open prevented us from playing here, the experience was well worth it!)

Delicious food (yes, I do have picture of some of the meals, just ask), sunsets like this and a warm welcome from the staff of the Gran Melia (and El Coqui) make you feel like Puerto Rico is truly the isla de encanta!

What makes the 18th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational a Kodak moment?

For the second consecutive year, Kodak selected the 18th hole of the Bay Hill Golf Club & Lodge as a participant in the $1 million Kodak Challenge competition.

What makes this final hole worthy of a Kodak moment?

According to Kodak, "the Kodak Challenge was created to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf."

Steve Powell, Director of Development for the Kodak Challenge added, " Number Eighteen at the Bay Hill Golf Club & Lodge is one of the most historic and exciting holes in golf and is the perfect example of what the Kodak Challenge is all about for players and fans."

The par-4, 485-yard finishing hole looks simple on paper. It's straight away to a wide fairway, but that's where simple ends. The large, kidney shaped green is fronted by rocks and water, requiring a longer carry to the right half. The bunkers left of the green await errant shorts of the hydrophobic.

Tee shots on this great finishing hole must find the fairway to give you a chance to get home in two. From the tee, favor the fairway's left side. Then take enough club to carry the lake. Shots hit over or left of this green will find a bunker or heavy grass. Take deep breath and fire away.

Renovation Notes

A back tee was added to increase the hole yardage by approximately 10 yards. The renovated green is almost a carbon copy of the old green with slight modifications in the green size to accommodate an additional front pin location and middle back pin location.

Despite Tiger Woods' absence from the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it was reported that ticket sales remained unaffected. Although the media questioned whether or not Woods would defend his title (which briefly raised sales for the event) the Masters will benefit from his return.

Look for Woods' image, removed from the top banner of the official Arnold Palmer Invitational web site after the scandal erupted, to be back on the site as the 2009 champion.

This event has now become glory's last stand for Phil Mickelson who has one chance remaining to make his mark this season before having to compete with a hungry Tiger Woods.

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