Sandpiper Golf Course

Voted #1 golf course in the Fraser Valley, Sandpiper is a spectacular resort style course. Situated on the banks of the Harrison River and in sight of the Cheam Mountains, each of the eighteen holes features four sets of tees for different playing abilities. The views from this course are stunning and include an airstrip alongside the river near the seventeenth hole. During our time at the resort, we were fascinated to watch several small biplanes land at the resort with the pilots sauntering off to have lunch at the River's Edge Restaurant. Throughout our golf game, we were also able to spot eagles soaring above ancient Douglas Firs as well as swallows swooping along the greens. My husband and I thouroughly enjoyed our time at Sandpiper despite losing several golf balls each in the rough! What made our golf game extra special, however, was that we had reserved a cottage at nearby Rowena's Inn; so we were able to relax and unwind that evening in preparation for another funfilled golf game the following day.

Sandpiper Golf Course
14282 Morris Valley Road
Harrison Mills, BC
1-877-796-1001

www.prettyestateresort.com/sandpipergolfcourse

Pender Harbour Golf Club

Established in 1986, this delightful and deceptively challenging course is one of the Sunshine Coast's many gems. With 9 holes and a par 72 course, the fairways are an intriguing mix of hilly and flat terrain with beautiful woodland views. Open year round, it also offers a covered driving range, power carts, and a Clubhouse.

WEDNESDAY SPECIAL: If you book a tee time after 2:30 on Wednesdays, you can enjoy 9 holes, a cart and a $10 coupon in the Clubhouse Restaurant for $35.

MONDAY MIXED TWILIGHT SCRAMBLE: friendly 9 hole scramble starting at 4:00pm followed by prize giving and optional meal. Golf $11, Cart $8, and $5 for prizes. Both offered throughout the summer.

Whenever my husband and I are lucky enough to visit the Sunshine Coast, we always love playing a few rounds at this lovely little course.

Pender Harbour Golf Course
13823 Sunshine Coast Highway
Madeira Park, BC 
(604-883-9541)

Desert Golf Adventure

We decided to spend our Christmas holidays this year in Palm Desert at the fabulous JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Despite the intermittent showers and cloudy weather, mornings were spent on the resort's beautiful 18 hole golf courses, the Palms or the Valley, both designed by Ted Robinson, "King of Waterscapes". In the afternoons we worked out in the fitness club, sweat it out in the steam rooms and sauna, lolled by the pool, and basically zenned out in the Resort's gorgeous spa, the largest of its kind in California. Golf fees were $69 U.S. per person including the cart with state-of-the-art navigational and computing systems; however this fee doubled after Boxing Day. What a great way to end the year! We will definitely return for another Palm Desert Golf Adventure.

Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa
74855 Country Club Drive
Palm Desert, Ca
1-760-341-2211

Swing into Spring with a Great Golf Stance!

Last week I began a round of golf lessons in order to brush up on the basics and get rid of some of my bad habits. My instructor is fabulous and very concise with her advice:



1. Knees are slightly flexed (not rigid and not bent a lot)

2. Arms are monkey arms hanging free

3. Weight is on the balls of feet not the heels (almost top heavy feeling)

4. Back is slightly arched (not pelvic tilt)

5. The shorter the club, the more the weight is on the Left with a narrow stance

6. The longer the club, the weight shifts towards the Right with a wider stance

7. Head is down



Of course there's so much more that could be said; however this is enough for now!

Thinking about a Fabulous Golf Spring!!

Well, even though it's either snowy, rainy or chilly still in Vancouver, I've promised my golf partner (my husband!) that I will start gearing up for golf season.

What I've been doing since the New Year is this:
1. working out at my health club 2-3 times a week
2. walking the dog briskly three times a week
3. daily sit-ups (try to!)

Now it's the last day of February, so I'm flipping through my golf magazines for inspiration.
I might even go to the shops and look for a new addition for my golf wardrobe, even if it's only a pair of socks or some brightly coloured golf balls.

I'll start the driving range next week....

TIPS FOR BETTER GOLF

Now that the blustery, rainy days of Autumn are here, the golf course will be out of bounds for most of us. But there are many things you can do to improve your game during the bad weather....

1. Visit your Health Club to work on CARDIO, STRENGTH and FLEXIBILITY.

2. PRACTISE regularily at the Driving Range.

3. Take a MONTHLY GOLF LESSON at the Driving Range.

4. Sign up for some YOGA or Pilates lessons to improve FLEXIBILITY.

5. WALK or lightly JOG regularily to help with CARDIO.

6. WATCH golf pros on TV to help your own game.

7. READ golf books to pick up more tips.

8. Encourage your FRIENDS to take some golf lessons, so that by the spring, you will have more friends to play with!!!

9. RESEARCH ideas for a golf getaway that you and your mate can take next year. This is a great goal to work towards. It will make weekly sessions at the driving range more enjoyable!!

10. INVEST in a pair of rubber golf shoes, waterproof clothing, warm golf gloves and brave the elements. Atleast the course won't be crowded!!

Strengthen Your Core

Want a useful golf tip?

Strengthen your stomach muscles. When you have a strong stomach, you will have a healthier back and a stronger core. So start doing some sit-ups and some core strengthening exercises like pilates or yoga. Right now, yoga for golf seems to be very popular. For good reasons. Yoga will help your flexibility and your breathing, both of which are necessary for golf. If you're flexible, you will have a better and longer swing.... If you breathe properly, you will have more power and endurance....So the next time you're watching Tiger Woods play in a golf tournament in some exotic locale, get off the couch and onto your yoga mat....you can strengthen your stomach while watching great golf on TV. It's called multi-tasking!!