Golfers who give back are my kind of people

Recently I was asked by a colleague of mine why I tweet. She understood why Facebook was so popular, but Twitter's value was not obvious to her. I felt that way when I first started tweeting, but decided to give it some time and it didn't take long for its value to jump off the screen at me.

Twitter has introduced me some of the greatest people know, and not surprisingly, many of them are golfers.  Unfortunately I haven't physically met most of them (but I'm hopeful), but I was lucky last fall to play golf with two of the nicest people you'd ever want to spend 4 hours with -- Debbi amd Stuart Katz from Maui.  And all because of Twitter.

I met Debbi online after I tweeted about how excited I was to be planning my trip to Maui in the fall.  She saw my post and told me she and her husband had retired and had been living on Maui for the past 5 years.  I could feel the green monster creeping up on me when I read that, but I thought I'd swallow the jealousy and follow her to learn more about a life I could only dream about.

Anyway, it wasn't long before we were talking about getting together for a game while my golfguy and I were on the magic isle. We did just that and it was too much fun!  Okay, maybe playing Kapalua Plantation in hurricane winds at 7 AM with rain blasting us sideways isn't a normal person's idea of fun, but I never said I was exactly normal ;)

It was only the 3rd time in my life that I played the Plantation Course and although it's absolutely gorgeous, it's definitely not for the faint of heart.  

Stuart and Debbi are members at Kapalua and it was very evident during our game that playing 150 rounds a year can go a long way to taming the Plantation Course and understanding its greens. They obviously love the course the way they played it (Thank you Stuart for reading all my putts for me ;)), but for me, it's a beast and will always be a beast until I can retire on paradise and play 100+ rounds a year on it. Yes, I want revenge!

While playing with our new friends, we learned that Debbi is president of the Beyond the Rainbow Foundation, which helps Maui's youth realize the promise of their future by financially supporting numerous charities on the island.  Stuart is the Chairperson of the Aloha Team Classic Golf Event - a friendly annual golf tournament now in its 5th year, that is the primary fundraiser for the Foundation. What is it about golfers and giving back?  So many give so much.  It's quite amazing.

Anyway, last October amateurs from all over the US teamed up with a bunch of Maui club professionals and 4 LPGA players at the Aloha Team Classic. 

Kim Welsh, Champion of Big Break Ka'anapali took home low gross score among the LPGA professionals.  I wish I could have been there just to see her drive a ball.  Apparently people from the mainland come back year after year to play this event.  I'm not surprised; it's sounds like a blast!

This year the tournament runs from Oct 17-20.  It's a 4-day golf event for 2-person amateur teams and includes 3 rounds of golf on Maui that begins with a sunset welcome reception on Sunday evening. Also included are lunches after each round of golf, prizes, and 2 special evening dining experiences.

What a great way to meet golfers from across the country that you probably would never have a chance to meet.  Oh I wish we could go.  But unless the tournament moves to November we're out of luck this year.  October has work commitments that can't be uncommmitted. Sigh...

Anyway, we're hoping to enter it in 2012, but in the meantime, why not give it a try. Maui is so much more affordable now than ever and you can get some great deals on condos and resorts and airfare.  If we had a free week in October, my golfguy and I would be there. 

So think about it and if you do go, please tell me what it was like.  I love to live vicarously through other golfers' experiences.  And this one looks like a real winner!

Golfgal

My Top Ten Golf Holes on Maui

My goodness, it's almost spring in Vancouver. It just seems like yesterday I was reflecting on 2009 and the challenges it brought to so many of us.  I'm sure, like me, most people don't regret its passing, but 2009 did give me some memories that will never fail to bring a smile to my face when they weasel their way back into my consciousness – like my 3 weeks in Maui last November.

It was a crazy time...We had just bought a house and had to pack it up completely in 2 weeks so we could head to paradise and golf golf golf. Three days after we returned home, we moved into our new house.  It was a zoo! Luckily, whenever I felt like I couldn't take the stress of that move from hell I could lie back and think about the wonderful time we had playing 13 rounds in 17 days at some of the most beautiful courses in the world. 

I wrote 6 articles about those 3 weeks for Inside Golf, which kept me from writing much here on my blog.  But I'm back now and ready to return to my ranting and raving about all things golf!

But first...a review of magnificent Maui.  Check out my top ten holes in paradise...

Golfing during the Winter Olympics

There is nothing quite as wonderful as your first golf game of the season, no matter how you play. But, when it happens in the middle of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, it’s that much sweeter. 

My golfguy and I always start our golf season at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, for many reasons:

Course conditions

The fairways at Northview are amazingly dry even in winter.  In fact, it's not "cart path only" in the winter; it's "fairways only" - they are that dry.

The 2 courses are really well maintained all season long – better than any public course in the city and I would suggest at par or better than at most private clubs. In the summer, it’s like playing on a championship course.

Choice

There are two Palmer courses from which to choose:

1. The Ridge Course, which was where the Air Canada PGA Championship was played for many years (Mike Weir won it in 1999) and offers serious challenges for any level.

2. And the Canal Course which is a bit easier than the Ridge, wider fairways and fewer trees, but lots of water. Both have wonderful vista views of the mountains.

A great walk unspoiled

I love walking a golf course almost as much as playing it. Not only is it good exercise, but you can see so much more of the contours of the green as you walk up to it, which I believe really helps me putt better.

Both Northview courses are easily walked, although I huff and puff a bit less on the Canal.

Mother Nature's paradise

I’ve actually seen 5 bald eagles in the air at one time on the Canal course. This weekend I saw one eagle up a tree, two blue herons and tons of ducks just minding their own business in the acres of water that run throughoiut the course (it’s not called Canal for nothing).

At some courses, the geese make a real mess, but at Northview, the fairways and greens are immaculate.  I have no idea how they potty train their geese.

Tee times

I can almost always get a tee time at Northview. It’s a bit out of the way for city-dwellers (40 min from downtown), but well worth the drive.

Affordable

Given the quality of facilities and golf courses, I would expect to pay much more than what they charge at Northview. Winter weekend rates for Ridge/Canal ($60/$50); summer rates ($80/$70). Weekdays are even cheaper. They also have a great twilight rate on Mondays which includes dinner.


Performance Centre

Northview has a large heated driving range, good quality mats (In the summer they let you hit of the grass which I love.), chipping area, massive putting green and even a bunker practice area. They offer a number of programs at their Golf Academy for all ages and skill levels. They even have an “After 5 Women’s Golf School” which is very affordable and gives new women golfers cradle-to-grave instruction – perfect for women who want to learn the game and meet new friends.




Duffey's Sports Grill

A great way to end a round.  Good beer, wine, food and spectacular view of the 18th hole on the Ridge.  

I mentioned last summer to our server that I was disappointed that they didn't offer Malbec by the glass.  Well, now this year they do. I like to think I had somethiing to do with that ;)

Women-friendly

First let’s talk about the really important stuff – washrooms! No outhouses on these courses – the washrooms are all tiled, very clean and heated! Now if we could just teach the men who use the ladies facilities to lower the seat, that would make this course even more women-friendly than it is. ;)

At just over 5300 yards, the length is more than fair for women golfers and there are no forced carries off the tees. 

Yes, Northview has a lot going for it, which is why I like to start my season there.  Let me share with you a few of my favorite Canal holes (Par/white/red).