Friday, January 29, 2010

Fujikura Famed Speeder Shaft Technology Winner at Bob Hope Classic

With the daily receipt of new press releases in my mail, I have decided to make this content readily available to my readers.


#1 Driver Shaft Fujikura
(Vista, CA – January 28, 2010) Fujikura’s famed Speeder shaft technology was used in the driver played by the Bob Hope Classic winner. The brand also was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand Model at the tournament.

“We’re thrilled with this victory that demonstrates the superior performance of the Speeder brand,” says Dave Schnider, President/COO of Fujikura. “This win continues to show Fujikura’s leadership in technology, design and materials. We proudly salute this talented, up and coming player in his first PGA Tour victory.”

Fujikura is building momentum entering the 2010 golf season having the #1 Wood 
Shaft Brand at the SBS Championship in Hawaii. The brand also has been the #1 
Wood Shaft Brand for an unprecedented nine straight years on the PGA Tour.  The 
new Motore Speeder shaft won the first week it was launched on Tour at the 
Barclays Singapore Open.  Motore was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand for all four 2009 
major championships and lead the Darrell Survey National Consumer Report on new 
driver shaft usages for the second consecutive year. 

Fujikura is the primary supplier to many national brand OEM’s offering both 
proprietary and brand product shaft designs.  Fujikura products also can be 
custom fitted through its network of over 900 Charter Dealers.  To learn more 
about Fujikura, visit www.fujikuragolf.com.   

Photo Credits: © Pureforged.co.uk


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Sunday, January 17, 2010

Golf and Hotel Options in France

Within the land of baguettes, burgundy wine and architectural wonders also lies many of the world's best golf courses. France, well known for the Eiffel Tower, Rue de la Pais and most recently a decree banning women from wearing trousers in Paris, has also created some of the most difficult and creative courses in the world.

Several public golf courses in "L'Hexagone" as referred to by its citizens, have caught this golfer's attention, wondering whether or not it is worth shlepping clubs halfway across the world and incurring excessive luggage fees on the airlines for the effort and expense of playing in the land of professional Euro Tour golfers Gregory Havret and Thomas Levet.

Learning that there are areas within France easily accessible to the Chunnel and also within my guidelines of "beach", "gaming" excitement and luxurious accomodations, how could I not consider vacationing within the confines of the most spectacular properties in some of the most desirable locations in France?

Lucien BarriereI recently read up on the Lucien Barriere chain of three to five-star luxury casino/golf hotels which dazzle the eyes as well as the senses. Some of these delightful properties are located in Southern France, others are within the Loire and Normandy and one of their properties, Hotel Fouquet's Barriere, is the first one ever built on the Champs-Elysées.

Other top-rated hotels in the area include the Dolce Chantilly and the Chateau de Montvillargenne.


Chantilly, Fontainebleau and Paris International Club are all within walking distance from the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower so a golfer can bring along the family to wonder at the Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace or the Basilique de St-Denis and have a bounty of choices for where to leave a divot!

Chantilly has hosted the French Open ten times and has a challenging championship layout. Fontainebleau is a nature-lovers dream and is set in a sandstone forest where peace and tranquility set the stage and the International Club is a Nicklaus parkland wonder considered to be one of the finest manicured courses in all of Paris. All are ranked among the top courses in Europe and impeccably maintained.

Hermitage Barriere La BauleGolf afficionados may be interested in the five-star Hermitage Barriere La Baule, located along the Loire River and the largest port in France because non-golfers can play on the sandy beach while duffers can try their luck on one of the two eighteen hole courses, the Diane and Lucien Courses, or spruce up at their nine-hole executive course. Any time Jack Nicklaus' name graces an Academy be sure that there will be instructors as well as outstanding amenities on hand to prepare you for your rounds.

If you are considering old world aesthetics and charm as well as some of the finest golf near LeHavre, the elegant, five-star Hotel du Golf Barriere Deauville may be your choice for a restful holiday. Although this luxurious resort is not located beachfront, it is only three-minutes away from Deauville on the coast of Normandy, considered the "queen of the Norman beaches".

Views of Deauville compliment the New Golf Barriere de Deauville three nine-hole courses with no water worries but bunkers which are fearsome.

Here are just a few more golf courses to make note of for afficionados who will search out the toughest tests of the sport during their French vacation. Les Bordes Golf International is consistently rated as one of the top five golf courses in France. Medoc Golf Club, consisting of the Chateaux and Vignes courses played host to the 1999 French Open and is located near Bordeaux, French wine country.


Being out of the USA, the rules of play are governed by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A). There is a bit of a language barrier although some of the basic terms like bogey, bunker and fairway remain the same. It would be polite to learn a bit of French aside from "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" before you visit as I understand that the people consider it rude to address them in English.

But, are the French really rude or is this just another myth coming from those who simply don't respect or understand another country's culture?

Here are a few French terms that should be learned by le Américain:


Fore!                   Balle! (pronounce as "shall")
golf course          terrain / parcours de golf
water hazard       obstacle d’eau


If you are new to the game, travel around Easter to partake in the annual event introducing new players to the sport known as Tous au Golf.


Deciding where in Metropolitan France to stay can be a daunting task as the country is the largest in area of all in the European Union. From scenic areas in Normandy to the heart of the action in Paris, wherever you finally decide to hang your "chapeau" will be a grand experience!


Check here for more Paris Hotels.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Before you make your New Year’s resolution, Read This

(paraphrased from the Talmud)
 
“G-d won’t ask if you ran a fortune 500 company.
He’ll ask if you made an effort to build a loving home and family.

G-d won’t ask how many baseball games you watched.
He’ll ask how much time you set aside for spiritual growth.

G-d won’t ask how high your salary was.
He’ll ask if you compromised your character to attain it.

G-d won’t ask why you had so many questions.
He’ll ask if you searched for the answers.

G-d won’t ask how many pizzas and burgers you ate.
He’ll ask what you did to perfect the world.

G-d won’t ask why you called Him when things were tough.
He’ll ask if you thanked Him when things were smooth.

G-d won’t ask why you didn’t succeed in solving all the world’s problems.
He’ll ask if you cared for your neighbor.

G-d won’t ask how beautiful you looked.
He’ll ask if you looked for the beauty in others.”   --The Talmud


Good luck with your resolution.


Thank you for sharing ... 

Rabbi Benjy and Hinda Silverman
Chabad of the Rivertowns


Monday, December 07, 2009

Choices Abound for Golfers in Spain

A decision to visit Spain for a try at many of their unique golf courses is based primarily on the weather of the region. The diversity of travel from Madrid, where a largely continental Mediterranean clime is sustained, to subtropical conditions in the Canary Islands on to the most beneficial golf climate in the Murcia region will turn up many course choices so be sure to bring along your golf clubs!

Although the inaugural season of the World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin is officially in the books, the partnership of Volvo and IMG through the 2011 season is committed to keeping professional golf on Spanish soil with Volvo having its 120th title sponsorship and IMG's Mark McCormack founding the event forty-five years ago. A connection with both Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia, as well as top golfers playing by invitation only should interest fans as well.

A trip to Spain would not be complete without a visit to Finca Cortesin which was placed on the 2009 "Hot List" by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and is also a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts.

Mountains and sea views abound for testers of the "eco-friendly" Cabell Robinson gem. With a location in the south of Spain at the center of Costa del Sol and offering a Mediterranean clime, it would not be unusual to set up a game for each day of your stay.

Although this is one of the longest golf courses in Europe, there are tee areas for many level of golfers welcoming all. Have your sand game at the ready as there are over a hundred bunkers to find and "when you finish playing all 18 holes, you'll notice that you have played all your clubs." Also, the spectacular natural vegetation and the uniqueness of each of the 18 holes makes the approximate E95 greens fees easy to digest.

Check out my post on La Manga Club in the Murcia region!

It would be easy to say that a golf visit to Spain should include a trip to Valderrama. Considered by some to be the "Augusta of Europe" and host to some of the most nail-biting victories in professional golf, Valderrama is a private members club with visiting privileges that come at a high cost but always said to be in perfect playing condition.

Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, listed in eighth position of the Top100golfcourses.com and host to several professional championships (and Jose Maria Olazabel's gem) is not only worthy of a planned visit but, with so much to do in Andalucia as well, golf will not be the only topic of conversation on the first tee. But, also considering that there are over 100 golf courses in the area due to the wonderful climate, golf may be the main topic!


Besides learning how to Flamenco or trying your luck against el Toro, the test of landing on small greens at Sevilla will make you consider working on your short game well in advance of playing this golf course, one of four in the vicinity. Be aware that large fairways of Bermuda grass does not translate into "easy course" as you are forced to navigate through over ninety bunkers, nine lakes and approximately ten thousand trees (did the maintenance crew really count them all?) on way to a par score.

For golfers bringing along family and wishing for both a challenge and a luxurious property in which to spend quality vacation time, several rounds of play at Montecastillo Golf Club will satisfy all cravings.

The Jack Nicklaus designed Montecastillo borders on the Serrania de Ronda Mountain region and is close to Jerez de la Frontera, a spectacular area known for its creation of brandies, sherry and even unspoiled beaches which are said to stretch for miles but beware as the golf course is not known to be created for the faint of heart.

Montecastillo is yet another club which has been host to several professional tournaments  and, although walkable, carts are available for the hilly terrain. Voted as one of the fifty best courses in Spain and Europe, the finishing three holes are said to be among golf's most thrilling events.

Luxury hotels combined with creative layouts of courses and a myriad of unique destinations have made golf in Spain a "must-try". Stunning landscapes and, for the most part, reasonable weather has turned Spain a popular spot for touristas and golfers who wish to experience European hospitality!

Check here for great Barcelona Hotels.


Photo Credits: © Moneyweek.com, esp.Andalucia.com, AbsolutJerez.com


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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Extreme Golf Experiences Around the World

As the PGA Tour season comes to a close and enters "silly season", it is up to amateur golfers to decide whether or not to stash their golf clubs in a corner of the garage or to embark upon an extreme experience to an exotic locale. The serious player never wants the season to end!

From "ice golf" in Greenland to playing "sand" golf in Dubai, experiences that challenge the senses as well as your ability are worthy of the trek, and the "fun factor" of being on unfamiliar territory will surely be a memorable experience.

Grab a flourescent ball for this golf course: 

Although temperatures rarely climb above -13 degrees celsius and with a wind chill factor that sometimes makes it feel as if it is -50 degrees in the sun, (did I just say negative 50?) Uummannqaq, located north of the Arctic Circle, is home to the World Ice Golf Championships held in March.. I wonder if there is a large crowd on hand to watch the final round? The west side of the island is also home to Santa Claus, who is storied to live in Spraglebugten Bay. I always thought Kris Kringle carried his own clubs by the size of his toy bag!

Speaking of cold weather golf, although you could just play in your own "backyard" donning an extra sweater and some warm weather gloves, also consider a round at the northernmost USGA golf course in the world: North Star in Alaska. Permafrost creates an ever-changing pattern of dips and swales so no two shots are alike. Be prepared for two games in one when you play here; one event is naturally golf and another is a checklist of the wildlife encountered on the course.

For golfers who want to play whenever the mood strikes, head to North Cape in Norway, in the land of the midnight sun. From mid-May through August, your round can start literally at 10 pm! During your northerly adventure, take the Awesome Eight Golf Challenge. Thought up by extreme athlete Robin Sieger, golfers must complete the challenge by playing "eight of the most remote and climatically most extreme golf courses in the world within the span of a year. The only condition is that they carry their clubs, not using any caddie or cart."

There are some of us who are snowbirds and others who fly south as soon as the temperature falls below 40 degrees. If you can't stand the sight of snow or blue extremities at the end of a round, perhaps the world's hottest locale is a better fit for you.

Merapi Golf Club in Indonesia confirms that they have the world's "hottest" green as well as panoramic views of Mt. Merapi. Also known as "Mountain of Fire" this active volcano not only dominates the surrounding landscape but has been active for 10,000 years and regularly erupts every one-to-five years. I would not want to be putting for birdie when that volcano spews!


For those of us who love the sight of active volcanos, your vacation is not complete without a trip to the Volcano Golf and Country Club located on Hawaii's Big Island. The high altitude makes the golf ball go farther (which is better for shorter hitters) and the views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea mountains (they are snow-capped in winter) are sweeping and memorable.


For golf with no "greens" try a round of sand golf at Dubai's first golf course, one of two located at The Dubai Country Club. Called "browns", the putting areas on these two desert courses are a "mixture of sand and second hand engine oil compressed with rollers". Brooms are located near each hole so that the golfer can "brush" to smooth out footprints.

Of course these are just a few of the marvelous experiences created for golfers around the world. Thanks to the internet, adventure is just a "click" away.

Seek and ye shall find, for the adventurous sort!



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