Posts tagged guide
TRAVEL GUIDE: Great Lakes of North America
Apr 3rd
I’ve been to Hell and back and if I get the chance, I may well go back again. The states of Michigan, (where Hell is), Illinois and Ohio kind of blend into each other and it’s where I discovered the pleasures of the Great Lakes of North America.
The Great Lakes represent the largest expanse of fresh water in the world with a unique and diverse landscape. This region is the size of continental Europe and covers eight states.
This was possibly one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. My adventure break in the Great Lakes brought a whole new meaning to the term ‘swinging sixties’ with yours truly literally suspended from a rope, zip-lining high above the trees and loving every screaming moment of it. Driving ATV, or all terrain vehicles, was another adrenaline rush, maybe only surpassed by doing a flip over in a tiny four-man plane as the sun set deep in the sky.
After that, horse-riding on a ranch in Brighton, Michigan seemed almost chilled!
A Great Lakes break is not just for the young and agile, although the others in the group definitely qualified. And it’s a holiday that can easily be combined with a stay in New York or Toronto (only hours away by car).
The main attraction in Hell is the General Store set up by Vietnam vet John Colone. It sells souvenir T-shirts, the usual shot glasses, fridge magnets etc, and also does wedding catering. Half an hour’s drive brought us to the Brighton recreational stables run by one Helluva handsome rancher and his wife. My dilemma there was how to climb on board the majestic mare I’d been allocated because she was blonde like me, but I needn’t have worried as we all had to use the bales of hay provided to mount.
The uncharacteristically fine late October weather made for a leisurely hack through the forest, followed by a hayride through the pumpkin fields at Mayhews in a surrey. We spent our first week under the leadership of young Joe Vargo from Columbus who quite rightly suspected we’d be ravenous when we arrived and brought us to his local diner. You couldn’t make it up.
From an eatery that probably hadn’t changed since the 1960s, it was on the road again and onwards to our first sleep stop at the Glenlaurel, a Scottish Country Inn. Nestled in 140 heavily wooded acres, Glenlaurel is in the process of creating a replica links style golf course with eight holes as built in the British Isles over 400 years ago.
I began to feel nervous as we set off for the magnificent Hocking Hills the following morning for a canopy tour, described as ‘the region’s most adventurous way to soar over autumn’s colourful vista’.The new higher, faster, longer Super Zip takes visitors right over the Hocking River and we also flew over caves, rock cliffs, waterfalls and some of the tallest and prettiest trees.
Nature lover meets thrill seeker just about describes it. Rappelling back down to earth, was the most breath-taking experience of all. Hocking Hills also offers hot air ballooning or a fabulous scenic tour, which we took with veteran pilot and flight instructor Harry Sowers in his Cessna, soaring over several local counties at sunset. Meeting Harry was just as thrilling as the ride itself.
An afternoon hike to Old Man’s Cave, one of the park’s most popular attractions was made all the more enjoyable by our guide, naturalist Pat Quakenbush who talked us through the history of Hocking Hills where early man first inhabited the caves over 7000 years ago. We later hooked up with Trent Walters from ATV World.
At first, I have to admit, I tried to cry off when I realised not only the speed these vehicles can do, but the terrain we were about to cover. But before long, the newly formed adrenaline junkie was back and careering over rows of huge tyres, uphill and deep descents through heavily forested woods with deers and other wildlife popping out for a peep.
Next day, after breakfast on the run, we moved on to Lake Erie Shores and Islands and caught the Miller Ferry to Put-In Bay.
Choice lobster and succulent seafood made lunch at the Boardwalk a very welcome affair before we took a tram ride round the little island on a super sunny day.
We stayed at Sawmill Creek Resort for our visit to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Cedar Point is one of the most popular family destinations in the world, with 75 rides including some of the fastest and longest you’ll ever experience. (I chickened out!).
There’s the top thrill Dragster at 420 feet tall, the Maverick that launches through a 400feet tunnel and the Magnum, if you fancy taking off at 72mph before you even tackle the 200 feet rollercoaster.
A visit to a local farm market and winery seemed a sedate option next day and Quarry Hill had some fine wines on sale.
Regardless of the weather, which was fine for us, you can surf and swim at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky 365 days a year.
America’s largest indoor waterpark offers accommodation, an animal reserve, a spa and much more besides. What a way to start a visit to a new city.
Lexi, our next guide in Cleveland, escorted us on the Great Lakes Brewing Company tour in the city’s West Side. It’s the state’s first microbrewery.
Slept well at the Downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel before an early start for perch fishing on Lake Erie. All on board a charter boat with bait, tackle, licences and rods provided.
I’d never ever gone fishing before but beginner’s luck saw me thrilled, yet again, to catch three enormous yellow perch out in the depths.
From Positively Cleveland it was onwards again, to Pure Michigan for our first meeting with new guide, the truly delightful Barbs Barden.
Dinner outdoors with Barbs and Dave Lorenz was gargantuan and gorgeous and we got an insight into how very different the people from the Mid-West are from their East and West Coast compatriots.
Over the next couple of days we enjoyed our trip to Hell, riding in Brighton and another first for me, when we had a golf lesson with the pro at Huron Meadows Golf & Country Club. Well, you can’t be good at everything!
I showed real skill at driving the golf cart across the hiking trails and cross-country ski trails , however, until I thought I was back in an ATV and tumbled the thing.
Because of the enormous variety of trees, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula rates among the best ‘fall foliage’ in America and is a spectacularly beautiful sight with great sunsets. A guided tour aboard the Island Queen across one of the country’s largest man-made lakes displayed Kensington Metropark in all its autumn glory before we were captivated by the tranquillity of a well-stocked Butterfly House.
And how better to complete the adventure trip of a lifetime, than by a final Zip Line, Highropes Adventure Course and tour through the Howell nature Centre. There’s only one word to cover this Great Lakes trip — awesome.
- For further information on the Great Lakes of North America visit greatlakesnorthamerica.co.uk or call 08456 020 574
From www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Free guide to golf in Virginia available
Mar 5th
RICHMOND — The Virginia Golf Guide 2011 is available just in time for golf lovers to start planning spring and summer golf getaways.
The 40-page guide highlights a variety of courses in all price ranges and includes helpful travel tips, maps and course listings of Virginia’s 220 public courses from the Atlantic Ocean to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The 2011 guide includes comprehensive information about Virginia’s outstanding golf courses, resorts and golf communities. Highlights include:
New in 2011 is the Virginia Golf Trail, a statewide trail of approximately 36 existing top-ranked (by Golf Digest) resort, public and private courses, accommodations, wineries, historical sites and cultural and recreational activities.
The trail is divided into six zones –each with a featured itinerary. An online booking website allows golfers and their families to package a variety of travel options all at the same time.
Virginia golf offers beauty and geographic diversity, year-round golf, a variety of price ranges and package plans and some of the best resort courses in the nation.
To order a free copy of the Virginia Golf Guide, or for additional information about vacationing in Virginia, visit www.Virginia.org or call 1-800-VISITVA.
From www.delmarvanow.com
Fiesta Bowl fan guide
Dec 12th
Toolbar sponsor: David Stanley Ford
Fiesta Bowl fan guide Oklahoman 
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Not great options at this date.
→1. A few airline connections remained available heading into the weekend but were priced at $580-$670. Anything cheaper included an overnight layover returning from Phoenix.
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God, Guns and Golf? The Tea Party Xmas Gift Guide
Dec 6th
I’ve never thought of the angry activists who make up the tea party movement as a bunch of duffers, but apparently I must have just missed those folks at the rallies. Because the Tea Party Patriots recently added some new holiday offerings to their online “store” that suggest the group’s target audience not only plays a lot of golf but drinks serious booze as well.
Along with the usual t-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with the Tea Party Patriots’ fancy new logo, the store is offering what may be the first tea party Christmas tree ornament, TPP golf towels and balls, and even some engraved bar ware that will set your average tea partier back a pretty penny. TPP engraved “rocks” glasses are going for $19.95 each, while a set of four 18-ounce crystal classes are selling for $59.95. (No TPP menorahs, though.) While these items might sell well among members of the National Capital Tea Party Patriots, which holds its meetings at a tony Bethesda, Maryland tennis and swim club, it’s hard to imagine many tea partiers snapping up golf towels and highball glasses, particularly given the movement’s fondness for thrift and disdain for elitism.
TPP might do better to take some cues from the National Rifle Association, whose membership has considerable overlap with the tea party’s. The NRA knows its audience. For Christmas stocking stuffers, its online store offers NRA pistol cases, emergency radios, gun socks, and cleaning pads. For gifts under $50, there are lots of better goodies that will appeal to the man in your life who has too many Gadsen flags. There’s the “Holster Mate,” a nifty pistol holder that attaches to a mattress. It “even works with a bed skirt” so that “your pistol will never leave your side.” And of course, it comes equipped with the NRA logo. Other gifts include official NRA Zippo lighters, dog collars, floor mats designed for a big truck, and an NRA “bug out” bag. (“Whether you have a 180 square mile wildfire, a category 4 hurricane or a trip to the in-laws bearing down on you, either way, if you need to bug out of town this duffle is ready to go.”) Oh, and there’s also the official NRA battle axe, designed for both chopping down big trees and also throwing at people should the need arise.
It’s all very manly and defiantly anti-establishment, an image the gun rights group no doubt likes to express. TPP’s store, on the other hand, suggests that the movement has already assimilated into the very Washington establishment it claims to despise. After all, it’s hard to think of a Christmas gift that screams “country-club Republican” more than a golf towel.
If You Liked This, You Might Also Like…
- Meet the Tea Party’s Merch Man
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Sports Today Your guide to what’s going on
Nov 16th
ALBANY, N.Y. News maker
Errant golf shot turns friends into court-room opponents
Two doctors are playing golf on Long Island. One hits such a poor shot from the rough that it hits his partner, standing somewhere off to the side, in the head. Whose fault is that?
New York’s top court will hear arguments today about whether Dr. Anoop Kapoor was negligent and should have yelled, “Fore!” as a warning before the shot. A judge dismissed Dr. Azad Anand’s lawsuit, finding he took on the primary risk by golfing.
A midlevel court, divided 3-1, agreed, concluding Anand was “not in the foreseeable danger zone” and his friend had no duty to yell the customary warning. Anand was blinded in one eye.
The Appellate Division majority also questioned whether even a negligent failure to warn another golfer before taking a swing is inconsistent with the doctrine that anyone stepping onto the course assumes the risk of getting hit.
A dissenting justice said there’s a factual question under existing case law about whether Kapoor violated the sport’s rule, “unreasonably increased” his partner’s risk and caused the accident.
The Court of Appeals is expected to rule next month after hearing oral arguments today.
The men, frequent golf partners, were playing in October 2002 at the Dix Hills Park Golf Course with another friend, Balram Verma. After hitting a second shot on the first hole, each set off to find his ball. Anand testified he was hit as soon as he found his ball and turned around, about 15 to 20 feet away from Kapoor. associated press
No one is overlooking FC Dallas anymore
Given little chance to beat either Real Salt Lake or the Los Angeles Galaxy, the league’s best teams during the regular season by far, Dallas knocked off both of them to earn the Western Conference title and a spot in its first MLS Cup. FC Dallas will play the Colorado Rapids on Sunday in Toronto.
“There’s a little bit of a motivating factor for some of the guys that want to disprove the naysayers,” Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman said Monday. “But the reality is, we think we deserve this.”
Dallas didn’t tie the MLS record with a 19-game unbeaten streak this year by being lucky. It held off Salt Lake in the first round, then played what Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman called a “perfect game” Sunday night in a 3-0 upset of Los Angeles. ap
On second thought, retirement can wait
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia Haile Gebrselassie added another fast finish to his record-setting career: The Ethiopian star called off his retirement after eight days.
Gebrselassie, 37, said he changed his mind and would run until the 2012 London Olympics. The marathon world record holder, he had announced his retirement after pulling out of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7 with 10 miles to go because of a knee injury.
“I want to thank everybody who supported me last week and gave me trust that I could still continue my career and that I can continue my road to London 2012,” he said in a statement. ap
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Bit wet for golf? Then try my guide to the delights of a Welsh autumn
Oct 3rd
Bit wet for golf? Then try my guide to the delights of a Welsh autumn
Oct 3 2010 by Our Correspondent, Wales On Sunday
As the rain again threatens to cast a shadow over the Ryder Cup today, writer and broadcaster NIGEL CROWLE casts a wry look at the wet weather alternatives to watching the golf…
MY HANDY weather-forecasting piece of seaweed’s gone all soggy. This means today’s either going to be rainy again or my seaweed’s still sodden from Friday’s downpour.
Either way, I hope the cream of the world’s golfing talent get the chance to finish their Ryder Cup games (and that Europe wins!)
If the heavens do open, however, then all you Ryder Cup ticket-holders will have to find other things to do while you wait for golf play to resume. Here are some suggestions for ways to occupy yourselves in the South Wales area:
If rain does stop play, why not join Tiger Woods? He’ll head straight for Cardiff, to cruise the streets of the old Docks area. In case you’re wondering why, Tiger’s trying to work out why they named the Bay after him.
We have all sorts of wildlife in the South Wales area – especially when the pubs start chucking out. Visitors deprived of Birdies, Eagles and Albatrosses during waterlogged golf games might try actual bird-watching. Top spot for any enthusiast is the rare Perma-Tanned Osprey (or to give it the scientific name, “strictlyus gavinhensonius”) which has flown away from the Liberty. You might still glimpse it on TV, partially obscured by Ann Widdecombe.
Alternatively, you could approach US team captain Corey “Crazy” Pavin in his smart new waterproof anorak and innocently ask if it’s “wet enough for you?”
One other conversational tip – if you bump into Sir Terry Matthews, it’s not a good idea to ask him if he’s put a bet on rain stopping play with bookmakers Paddy Power.
Hollywood A-List superstars – like Jack Nicholson and Samuel L Jackson – are, if the rumours to are to be believed, apparently all over the South Wales area.
Nobody’s recognising them in their cagoules, so make them feel wanted. Follow them into public toilets. Get them to pose for endless photos or to speak on your phone to all your mates.
Then drag them off for a styrofoam plate of curry and cheesy chips as you all enjoy the excitement of a stroll along Cardiff’s “Chip Alley”.
If golf fan Bill Clinton asks you to fill in the time by joining him for a cigar in the Celtic Manor’s “Ex-Presidents Lounge”, make an excuse by reminding him of the nationwide smoking ban!
Talking of politicians, one in particular might be looking for distractions after a party conference he’d prefer to forget. So, if you see a still scowling David Miliband, don’t ask him how he’s got the time to attend a prestigious golf championship when he’s just been elected leader of the Labour Party.
Whatever you do, all you visitors, thank you for coming to Wales. As you Americans would say, y’all come back now, y’hear… and, for our part in Wales, we’ll ensure it’s not rainy next time by having a word with god – or Sir Tom Jones, as we call him in these parts.
As for me, in between today’s predicted showers, I’ve persuaded Colin Montgomerie to join me for a quick nine holes on the Crazy Golf course down the Mumbles. I’m brilliant at the one where you chip the ball around the mini concrete lighthouse. Between you and me, I reckon I’ve got course advantage over Monty!
Vivendi Cup golf betting guide
Sep 22nd
Vivendi Cup golf betting guide
- Wednesday, 22 September 2010
- Paul Krishnamurty
- 0 Comments
Rafa Echenique,1pt each way at 80/1 [Getty Images]
For the second consecutive week, the Race to Dubai event presents an extremely tricky puzzle for punters. The Vivendi Cup is a new event; a Pro-Am shared between two courses for which we have no previous course form to study. As in Austria, the line up is distinctly second division, but at least there are twice as many representatives from the world’s top 200, headed by Ryder Cup stars Padraig Harrington and Peter Hanson.
Course and stats
At less than 7,000 yards, both the Marly and Retz Courses are very short par 72s by modern standards. With the rough unlikely to be too brutal so as not to embarrass the amateurs, and sloping greens apparently presenting the chief defence, very low scoring looks guaranteed. This could well be the week the European Tour finally hosts a 59.
Obviously there’s a large element of guesswork regarding the stats, but the big hitters should thrive given the lack of penalties for inaccuracy. Ultimately though, this will be decided by quality approach play and a hot putter. In addition to the ever-important greens in regulation stats, birdie and putting average should offer a useful guide.
Betting selections
5pts win PADRAIG HARRINGTON @ 10/1 (GENERAL)
Harrington’s decision to play here in order to build confidence ahead of the Ryder Cup could pay dividends. As the slightly controversial recipient of a wildcard, Harrington will be desperate to prove his wellbeing, and this marked drop in grade offers a golden opportunity to land his first title in over two years. His recent struggles owe everything to constant inaccuracy off the tee, which won’t matter too much around here, and there remains no superior iron player in the line up. As a dual winner of the Dunhill Links, he has a fine record in Pro-Ams too.
1pt ew PABLO LARRAZABAL @ 70/1 (STAN JAMES, BET365)
Larrazabal’s finest hour came in Paris when landing a 500/1 shock in the 2008 French Open, and this easy course could be the ideal opportunity for his second title. The Spaniard has never been known for his course management, but is capable of ripping a course apart when his ultra-attacking strategy pays off. He hasn’t done anything much since finishing third in the BMW International Open, but registered some good gir stats last week, and ranks an encouraging sixth in birdie average amongst this field.
1pt ew JOHAN EDFORS @ 80/1 (GENERAL)
Edfors usually requires plenty of room to produce his best, but has the quality shots to capitalise when given those conditions. It is no surprise to learn that Edfors ranks fourth in birdie average amongst this field, and looks underrated at 80/1 on the basis of his best, tournament-winning form. He also brings classy recent form to the table after top-15s against stronger line-ups in the Scottish and Irish Opens.
1pt ew RAFA ECHENIQUE @ 80/1 (GENERAL)
Again, Echenique is not known for his consistency, but the Argentinian has served notice that he is capable of winning at this level before. His best recent effort came when putting up an impressive final day performance under pressure to finish second in the Scandinavian Masters, and he also managed respectable top 25s at Loch Lomond and Crans-sur-Sierre. Echenique can usually be found near the head of the putting and birdie stats.
0.5pt ew DANIEL VANCSIK @ 175/1 (BET365, 200/1 TOTE)
Finally, another big-hitting, birdie-machine type at a huge price. Vancsik’s power off the tee will reduce many of these holes to a pitch and putt, and the Argentinian won a low-scoring European Tour event of roughly the same standard at the 2009 Italian Open. As one might expect of a 200/1 chance, Vancsik has few recent form credentials, but did finish a respectable 11th in the KLM Open two weeks ago.
Wyndham Championship golf betting guide
Aug 19th
Wyndham Championship golf betting guide Thursday, 19 August 2010 Paul Krishnamurty 0 Comments
Fred Couples: 50/1 [Getty Images]
As has become customary, the Wyndham Championship marks the end of the regular PGA Tour season. Therefore, while most of the top players take a break following the USPGA, this is a huge week for those seeking to reach the top 125 on the Fedex Cup points list, which means an invitation to the Barclays Classic and a chance to win career-transforming sums during the forthcoming play-off series.
Since the event moved to Sedgefield GC in 2008, both winners have been fairly predictable. Indeed, the two champions concerned share favouritism this week. The wider places were more mixed, offering no discernable trend.
Course and stats
There are several useful clues for betting at Sedgefield. Those last two results show that driving accuracy and putting average are easily the most important stats. Low scoring is available to those finding the fairways, but that position off the tee is extremely important due to the smallish, undulating greens that are very difficult to hold from the rough.
Furthermore, the fact this is an old course, designed by Donald Ross, points to a correlation with three other recent tournaments. There was the Ross-designed Aronimink, host to the AT & T National; St George’s, host to the Canadian Open; and Greenbrier Classic venue The Old White Course. All of these courses date back to at least the 1920s, and present a distinct challenge from the PGA Tour norm. It is no coincidence that this week’s favourite, Carl Pettersson, won at St George’s, has won previously at Sedgefield and made the top ten at Aronimink.
Golf betting
1pt ew FRED COUPLES @ 50/1 (GENERAL)
Freddy made the top five here last year, and will appreciate this old-fashioned test more than most. Languishing down in 164th place on the Fedex Cup list after only a few PGA Tour outings, he needs a very big week to make the play-offs, but as we saw when he challenged for the Masters, Couples remains competitive against his juniors.
1pt ew MARC LEISHMAN @ 50/1 (GENERAL)
Leishman takes the eye on the basis of his recent form around those not dissimilar golf courses. He finished seventh at Aronimink, 17th in the Greenbrier Classic and made the top 20 here last year. The Aussie has yet to win on the PGA Tour, but has plenty of titles to his name on lower tours, so hopefully can cope with the pressure of being in contention.
1pt ew GARRETT WILLIS @ 55/1 (BET365, TOTE, BOYLESPORTS)
Few players have been more accurate off the tee recently than Willis, enabling five top 20s from his last eight starts. He has plenty of Sedgefield form too, making the top 15 last year and finishing runner-up in a Nationwide Tour here way back in 1999.
1pt ew TREVOR IMMELMAN @ 66/1 (GENERAL)
Currently in 154th place on the points list, Immelman is another big name in need of something special. Three encouraging results last month suggest he’s up to it, and on the road to recovery after a miserable spell plagued with injuries. The former Masters winner registered top 25s in consecutive weeks against classier fields than this in the Scottish, British and Canadian Opens.
1pt ew JERRY KELLY @ 80/1 (GENERAL)
Kelly missed the cut at Whistling Straits, but did all the damage early on and may be better judged on his previous third place at Atunyote. That week, he hit over 87% of greens in regulation and, as usual, scored well in the driving accuracy stats too. One would expect this course to suit a peak-form Kelly, and he indeed made the top ten on his sole visit in 2008.
1pt ew MATT BETTENCOURT @ 80/1 (TOTE, STAN JAMES, CORAL)
Odds of 80/1 seems a big price about Bettencourt considering that, prior to missing the USPGA cut, he’d been in the form of his life. After his maiden win at the Reno-Tahoe Open, Bettencourt registered three straight top 25s, including on two of the aforementioned layouts, St George’s and The Old White Course. His putter is red-hot right now.
1pt ew MICHAEL LETZIG @ 80/1 (GENERAL, 100/1 SPORTINGBET)
I’m giving one more chance to this recent failed pick on the basis of his form on these courses. Letzig, a prolific birdie-maker when on song, made the top ten at Sedgefield two years ago, and finished fourth at St George’s. Moreover, his performance in finishing 21st in the Greenbrier Classic was one of the season’s great comebacks, having looked a cert to miss the weekend before closing with 65/66/65.
