Kicking Ass in the Great White North!

I can't believe it's been a week since the Olympic Flame was handed off right in front of my house on its amazing journey across Canada.

It seems like just yesterday that I was drinking champagne with friends, running outside to see the torch pass, jumping up and down cheering on the runners and feeling like a part of history.

I have to admit this has been far beyond what I ever imagined. I love having the Olympics in Vancouver!!!

Now... I was always in favour of the games coming to Vancouver, but it was for everyone else, not me. I thought it would be fun for winter sports lovers and I could really see the economic benefits for the city. But because I thought it would be a zoo, I planned on escaping south for two weeks to golf instead.

But life interfered with my best laid plans and I ended up staying in town. I can't tell you how happy I am that I'm here right in the middle of managed chaos. It's fun, friendly, energizing...magical! How could I ever thought of leaving all of this!

We're almost half way through the Winter Olympics and I couldn't be more excited. Okay...I could be more excited, but only if I was watching Olympic Golf. I can't believe it will be 6 more years before we get to see the world hit Rio with all the fan fare that arrives with the Olympic Games.

I was thinking yesterday how much I would love to be in Rio to see Canada compete in its first Golf Olympics since the early 1900's. It made me feel a little sad and then I heard this song on the radio - a song that spoke about patriotism, passion for a sport that spells CANADA and a game that I had not paid any attention to for over 20 years...Hockey! Listen...




Isn't that just the best! I love this song. In fact, I can't get it out of my head. I love the lyrics and the tune. I love it so much, I want to go see a hockey game!!!

But hockey tickets aren't that easy to come by in the great white north, so I figured, the next best thing to being at a game is to talk to the man who created the perfect theme for our Canadian Hockey Team -- the songwriter himself, Bryan Fogelman, founder of Blue Crush Music.

Here's what he said...

“I started writing the song over a year ago and I wanted to write something about Canada; I had no expectations that Crosby, Staals and Nash would be chosen for the Olympic Team. But I went ahead and recorded and produced it last fall, and then in early January they announced the roster and it was fabulous - all three players made the team. “

Now what would motivate someone to write a song about 3 players before the team was even chosen?

"Basically it’s all about patriotism – the love of Canada and the love of hockey. I wanted to get people fired up and unified, and that’s exactly what’s happening with the Olympics.”

Okay, so how did you get a song like this on major radio stations so quickly?

“As an independent artist it’s very hard to get songs on the radio. Stations are programmed and so tightly controlled, the record labels have the ‘in track’ and it’s very hard to get it in. But because of the Olympics, the song’s been given a chance. And it’s unbelievable what’s going on right now.”

I couldn’t agree more Bryan! I love the song and after hearing it just once, I suddenly MUST SEE an Olympic hockey game! Psst…anyone have tickets?? ;)

I closed off my conversation with Bryan with a request that he write a song about golf. His answer?

“I do have a song about Tiger coming up, but I can’t reveal it right now.”

Hmmm…wonder what that’s about. Haha! I can only imagine. But I guarantee you this…the moment it’s produced, I’ll have it right here!!!

Now…about those tickets…I paid a fortune to see figure skating. Now, I'm broke. So...Anyone have extra cheap/free tickets to a Canada hockey game? I'm very flexible - either Canada/Russia or Canada/USA will do ;)

After all...Bryan said it best, "The Great White North Boys Sure Kick Ass!!!"

Go Canada Go!

Three Cheers for the Spirit of Golf "In School Program"!

One of the things I love about the whole social media explosion is the wealth of new friends I’ve made – people I’ve never physically met, but who share a common love for golf and growing the game. One such cyber-friend is Greg Cox, Executive Director of The Spirit of Golf Foundation.

I met Greg on Facebook and learned from him what the SGF has been doing since 1988 -- it is the only organization that trains and certifies golf coaches in High School, Middle School and youth golf programs across the US and Internationally. I had no idea it even existed. Well, shame on me!

Anyway, as impressed I was with their history and what they've done, what really got me excited was their future. The Spirit of Golf Foundation has started a new program that I believe could be our best hope for growing the sport and making it as common in school curriculums as football or gymnastics is today.

SFG is working in cooperation with the PGA to offer an In School Program that can be set up either indoors or out.

For a nominal fee of only $5,000, a school can bring a complete turnkey golf training program inhouse and teach children everything they need to know to play golf for life. And it's free for the kids!

Check out this video and see it in action...pretty cool, eh?




I was so impressed with the program, I had to ask Greg to fill me in on the details...

Although the program is new, the early results sound very impressive. I sure wish we had this when I was in school. Then it wouldn't have taken me 40 years to discover my love for this game.

I'm going to send this to every teacher I know and encourage them to lobby for SGF's School Program in their schools. I encourage you to do the same. And become a fan on facebook - spread the news to all your FB buddies and Twitter followers.

Let's create a ground swell and help the Spirit of Golf Foundation grow golf inside our schools and make golf a game for life for kids of all ages.

Golfgal

Feel at "home" away from home at your next PGA event

The Olympics are only a few days away and Vangroovy is buzzing! Okay, they have to truck snow to Cypress Mountain for the snowboarders (it’s been so warm, there’s no snow up there), but other than that, things are moving along pretty smoothly.

Hmmm… maybe not so smoothly for some folks who thought they would be floating pretty on the Norwegian Star during the Games – a cruise ship that was going to be a floating hotel for spectators.

Looks like that ship has sunk under economic hardship. Yikes! Time for the lifeboats for the guests who signed up to stay on board!

Well, thankfully, I discovered a solution which could help a few of these stranded spectators – SportsEventRental.com.

I learned about this company about a week ago. They are listed on Mike Perez's website. Apparently one of their founders, Todd Brenneman designed Mike's new site, which is looking pretty cool. Small world, eh?

When I visited Sports Event Rental, I was impressed to see that they are offering homes for rent in Vancouver during the Olympics. When I dug a little deeper, I discovered they also rent homes, condos, apts and even yachts at tons of sporting events throughout the year, including the entire PGA Tour (you wouldn’t expect me to write a non-golfing post, now, would you? :)).

To test it out, I decided to check out the Accenture Match Play Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona in February. Just for fun, I looked at the price of a single room at The Ritz during the event – the cheapest was 559.00 (USD) per night. Not fun! Then I took at look at what Sports Event Rental could offer. There were more than a dozen homes listed in the area; one 4 bedroom house was 10-15 minutes from the event and was renting out at only $150 per night! No, that's more like it!

I wanted to learn more about this company, so, as I am known to do, I talked to one of the founders (Robert (Bob) Hayes) by phone to get the skinny on how it all works. Check out his interview...






Well, I am very happy to announce that after our chat, Bob Hayes and his team got together and added the LPGA majors to their list of events, with plans to add more LPGA events. Cool, don’t you think? Ask and ye shall receive, as they say.

For you home owners looking to rent out your place, you should check their rates. From what I can tell, they are much more affordable and flexible than VRBO (about $300 cheaper) and they don’t charge commissions that VRBO is rumored to be adding to their fees.

I know I'm going to check out SportsEventRental.com the next time I plan a trip to a golf event. Actually, the Senior Men's US Open is at Sahalee in July. Hey, Bob! Can you put that event on your site too! I'll be there.

And what about the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay in August? I'm thinking of going there as well!

Keep them coming guys! I think you've got a winner!

Golfgal