Paradise

Who says “We The People” can’t do things better and cheaper? A public golf course, maintained by citizens’ tax revenue for the enjoyment of everyone offers the same level of enjoyment and challenging play as the most exclusive and upscale private country clubs. If you aren’t particularly concerned about prestige and status and don’t need special amenities like four-star restaurants and swimming pools – and above all, see the value in thrift (a nearly-forgotten American virtue since 1981), public golf courses will serve you well and make you proud to be part of a community.

There’s at least one public golf course in most American cities and many have more than one. If you are fortunate enough to live in Southern California, you’ll more likely than not find dozens of municipal facilities within a relatively short driving distance of where you live.

Thanks to Internet technology, it’s easier than ever to find courses that meet your needs. In addition, there is a wealth of information about each individual course that you can find on any computer with a reliable Internet connection. A simple online search will reveal course information such as the number of holes, the topography and what hazards are in play and of course, tee times. Like their private and exclusive counterparts, public courses have scheduled start times, or golf tee times, that permit numerous people to golf at the same time without getting in each others’ way. (It’s also important to keep up the pace so that those behind you don’t interfere with your game.)

When To Tee Off

A picnic is one of the best ways to add excitement to any meal. Of course, if you’re looking for a truly different picnic experience, there are a number of unique ways to take your picnic to the next level. Interested? Then check out the suggestions below.

Night Picnics

As simple as it sounds. Just load up the picnic basket and set out after the sun goes down. A night picnic adds romance and excitement that can often be absent from day picnics. It’s also a great way to beat the heat during the summer. Of course, make sure to bring tiki torches or candles to illuminate your meal. Citronella candles are also helpful in fending off mosquitoes.

Water Picnics

Few things are as enjoyable as a picnic consumed while floating down a river or while in the middle of a lake. Grab a waterproof picnic backpack and fill it up with delicious food for your next boating adventure. Whether you’re yachting on the Atlantic or canoeing through a local bayou, a picnic on the water always hits the spot.

Urban Picnics

A picnic set amidst the concrete and bustle of a city is truly something special. Urban picnics can take place in a variety settings. Rooftops, balconies, and waterfronts are favorite destinations. Empty parking lots and the tops of parking garages are also cool spots to grab a bite and relax. It takes a truly creative person to create “nature” out of an urban landscape, so let loose your imagination and see where it takes you.

Winter Picnics

Just because the trees have shed their leaves doesn’t mean you have to keep the picnic basket in storage. As long as you have the proper gear and a willing companion, a winter picnic can be an unforgettable experience. A thermos full of hot cocoa or coffee will make it all the more enjoyable.

Throughout Cornwall there are 40 prominent and well established golf courses, where holidaymakers and amateur golfers can ‘connect with the greens’ and enjoy a challenging round of golf with friends or opponents at anytime. Here is a selection of the top 5 golf courses to be found in West Cornwall, England that will not only suit the visitor booking a cottage in Cornwall but also the thousands of Club Members who are regularly playing and enjoying their sport.

1. Praa Sands Golf & Country Club, Penzance, Cornwall
With stunning sea-views across beautiful Mounts Bay, Praa Sands Golf Club is always pleased to welcome day visitors, society players, holidaymakers, new and regular club members to its pretty beachside course. Golfers will admire views of the sea and coast from each green on the course which also provides a deceptively challenging Par 62 for men and a Par 64 for ladies. Bar snacks and meals are available, also clubs can be hired. The course is open every day of the year and no handicap certificate is required for this course.

2. Tehidy Park Golf Club, Near Camborne, Cornwall
Tehidy Park has been an established Golf Club since 1922. It is delightful parkland course with a variety of tree-lined fairways. The course includes 3 sizeable lakes, which test the player around 3 holes, but in particular the 17th hole which is 193-yard par 3. The course can be a real test of player-skills, not only for top players, but is equally demanding for a high level of skill from top handicap golfers. As such, a handicap certificate is required.

As a land of mountains, lakes and coast, the Lake District area is home to a great variety of outdoor activity centres. Many of them are happy to embrace all levels of experience and age and offer everything from short taster sessions to day-long adventures. Here is my pick of the best. There are several holiday cottages in the lake district which would make an ideal base from which to experience these fabulous activities.

Mountain Biking

Whinlatter Forest Park is the place to go if you’re a committed mountain-biker. The Altura Trail is one of two routes at Whinlatter, and this one is red-graded, 19km long, and described as suitable for experienced riders with good off-road skills and a high level of fitness. If you can take your eyes off the berms, jumps, rock features, skinnies and cork screws, you’ll see fabulous views of Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater, Helvellyn and Skiddaw from your position 500m above Keswick.

The other mountain bike route at Whinlatter Forest Park is the Quercus Trail. This is a blue grade route suitable for moderately experienced riders, with a choice of 3.5 or 7.5km lengths. There are rolling jumps and gradual climbs, and trickier parts that are designed so you can choose them or not depending on your skill level. The route takes you through an oak forest and towering conifer glades.

Bikes can be hired at Whinlatter Forest Park’s on-site Cyclewise centre. If you want to record the experience for dull days and doubters, Cyclewise can also hire out head-cameras for the duration of your trip!

High Wires and Cable-assisted Routes

Do you want to ‘get in touch with your inner Tarzan’? If so, the two Go Ape courses at Whinlatter and Grizedale will be just your thing – have a go on their high-wire tree crossings, zip wires and ‘Tarzan drops’.

Did you know that you can use a navigation range to locate your exact position along any compass course? Now you can discover more secrets of this navigators friend.

Check you navigational chart for man-made ranges
Large harbors often have Coast Guard maintained ranges on each end of deep water channels to help ships keep lined up in the channels. Each range consists of a structure built on pilings with a dayboard on top. One range structure is built (or positioned) higher than the other.

Each range carries a rectangular or triangular-shaped dayboard with a central vertical stripe. As a ship or boat enters the channel, they line up the upper and lower dayboards to form an unbroken vertical line. This indicates that they are in the deepest, central part of the channel.

Know these nighttime range light patterns
At nighttime, some ranges show lights. The lower range carries a quick flashing light and the taller range an equal interval light (for example, three seconds of light followed by three seconds of darkness in a continuous sequence). Keep both lights stacked in a vertical line to stay in the center of the channel.

How long can you steer on a range?
Navigational charts with Coast Guard ranges show a solid line in the middle of the channel. This tells you it’s safe to continue to use the range. Near the end of the channel, it turns into a dashed line. At this point, you will have a turn coming up, so you must find another range to use.

Expect deep draft ships to use the center of the channel to stay on range. Rule 9 of the Navigation Rules states, “A vessel of less than 20 meters in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.” If large ships are present, stay to the right of the channel center for safety.

Golf is a leisurely sport that every senior can enjoy. As every avid golfer knows it is not an inexpensive sport by any means! That is why we have put together some money saving tips for golf getaways.

1. Sign up for alert emails from your favorite course: Most courses offer limited deals-if you have a favorite course, check to see if they have a newsletter or email list. Often courses are willing to offer deals and discounts to frequent visitors when they do not have the ability to offer a widely spread discount.
2. Pick tee times at off-peak times, days, or seasons: Many courses like to offer discounts on expensive green fees to those seniors 65+ during off-peak times and seasons. If you would enjoy a stroll on the course at sunrise or sunset these time discounts are definitely something to take advantage of. Off-peak months tend to be from September-January for courses in states like Florida and Arizona. Prices are also less expensive for seniors during the weekdays. Other widely offered senior discounts are off of golf carts and driving ranges.
3. Choose a public course: Public and municipal courses tend to offer the best discounts to seniors, which can provide an inexpensive yet enjoyable round of golf. Discount information can be found on course websites.
4. Search for a senior golf a vacation package: Another good way to save money on a golf getaway for seniors is a vacation package. Three great golf destinations that offer year round or season specific packages are Myrtle Beach, SC, Pinehurst, NC, and Palm Beach, FL. This is also a wonderful opportunity to take a break from the cold and enjoy some southern sun during the upcoming fall and winter weather. If you would prefer a weekend of golf closer to home a quick internet search for golf packages is sure to find a great deal for seniors.

For those of us in the southern hemisphere, we often look to the parts of the world such as Asia and Europe to explore. But taking a look at South America tours makes a lot of sense if you want to experience a culture and history that is rich, exotic and completely captivating. This is a region of the world that is not only full of amazing language, colour, food and craftsmanship, but is also home to some of the more stunning and unique environments in the world.

As a large continent, with many small and large countries tucked into each other, there is plenty to explore.

Of course well known cities such as Rio de Janeiro are hard to ignore. This is well known for it’s party carnival atmosphere, it’s beaches and it’s food. The Beach Boys sang about it’s most famous beach Cococabana, which can become crowded during summer, but is well worth allowing your toes to touch the sand so you can say you’ve been there. Above the city rests the stunning Christ the Redeemer statue, and you’ll have your breath taken away as you overlook the city from Sugar Loaf mountain.

If shopping is more your thing when planning South America tours, then try some of the high fashion stores that the city of Buenos Aires is well known for. They have a huge range of shops and markets to suit every budget, and if you have any energy left over, you must go have a tango lesson or two here in the city.

Most professionals aren’t able negotiate the Bear Trap and escape the week even par through the three holes. In one recent tournament at PGA National, though a fan favorite and notoriously accurate player, Boo Weekley, the Bear Trap left a five-over-par mark on him by week’s end. South African, Ernie Els, the big easy, has fared somewhat better over the years, as have a few others. Take heart in knowing the pros play a much harder and longer layout than the rest of us.

Amen Courner at Augusta has arguably lost some of the dread from players in recent years. August National takes steps every year to make the course tougher. Every April, the world discovers whether Augusta National took the necessary steps to challenge players for their Masters Tournament. To their credit, the staff of PGA National took that route with The Champions Course.

The difficulty level of the Bear Trap is due to two separate rounds of renovations to The Champ course in as many years. According to PGA National’s managing director, Joel Paige,

“We are thrilled with the extensive renovations by Nicklaus Design and Superior Golf Concepts,” said Paige. “The combined scores from holes 15, 16 and 17 have shown that our “Bear Trap” offers professional golfers the toughest three-hole stretch anywhere in the world.” It also proves that Jack Nicklaus, as designer, is continuing to leave an indelible mark on golf, much like he did as a player.

Improvements to The Champion Course were part of an extensive, multi-million dollar resort-wide makeover that included a new resort front entrance, lobby bar, steak and seafood grille, free-form zero-entry pool and waterside bar and grill. The Champ Course’s re-shaped and expanded bunkers has drawn significant attention from players and spectators who commented on the course’s demand for a focused game. It isn’t simply a bomber’s course, as the Bear Trap’s par-three, par-four, par-three stretch has proven.