Tiger Woods ended his 2 year drought with a win today at the Chevron World Challenge. Woods birdied the 17th and 18th holes to edge Zach Johnson.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sweet Spot Golf Holiday Sale !
Sweet Spot Golf is having a huge holiday sale today Nov 26 2011. Please stop by the Sweet Spot Retail Location at
2075 West Park Place Blvd
Suite A
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Hours: 9am - 4pm
Phone: 678-418-8561
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Thanksgiving Day is “Turkey Day” for most Americans
Had founding father Ben Franklin had his way the Wild Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, might have been our national emblem. While it is the domestic turkey that graces the Thanksgiving dinner table throughout the nation, its the wild bird that commands our attention.With his awesome fanlike tail, colorful bald head, long beak, and 3,500 feathers, the mature male “gobbler” or “tom” is a sight to behold. This is one impressive bird. When he is “courting” his hens, he knows how to strut and warble. Quite the ladies man. The wild turkey was once plentiful throughout the country, but over hunting and loss of habitat caused a serious decline in population and in the early decades of the 20th century the birds were nearing extinction. Conservation efforts have successfully saved the wild turkey and today there are more than seven million birds in the North America. They are now hunted in all states except Alaska, and in parts of Canada and Mexico.
Long before European settlers arrived in the Americas, Native Americans enjoyed abundant populations of wild turkeys, and hunted the birds for food. At least 4,000 years ago, these early Americans created calls from turkey wing bones to help them bring turkeys in close enough range to kill.
The National Wild Turkey Foundation (NWTF), headquartered in Edgefield, South Carolina,
is the leader in wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage. Since 1985, the National Wild Turkey Federation's volunteers and partners have spent more than $372 million on projects to help wildlife agencies trap and relocate turkeys to areas of suitable habitat and improve the health of our nation's forests and woodlands.
The Winchester Museum, located at the NWTF headquarters, is the only museum in the world dedicated to the restoration, management and hunting of the wild turkey. The amazing comeback story of the American wild turkey unfolds through exciting displays in the modern 7,200-square-foot museum, which welcomes more than 10,000 visitors annually.
The museum features an animated, lifelike storyteller who sits in a rocking chair and tells stories about the history of the NWTF, turkey hunting and conservation. Also featured is an animated Cherokee Indian, who shares legends and stories about wild turkeys. An exciting video highlights America's largest resident game bird and the conservation methods and people who have lifted the wild turkey from the brink of extinction to populations in the millions.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million domesticated turkeys are cooked and eaten in America each Thanksgiving. In 2010, more than 242 million turkeys were raised with an average live weight per bird of 28 pounds with nearly 6 billion pounds of turkey processed.
All turkeys have great hearing, but no external ears. They can also see in color, and have excellent visual acuity and a wide field of vision (about 270 degrees), which makes sneaking up on them difficult. Domestic turkeys cannot fly, but Wild Turkeys can fly for short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. They can also reach speeds of 25 miles per hour on the ground.
Don’t try to catch one.
To learn more about Wild Turkeys visit the NWTF website at http://www.nwtf.org/. Travelers in South Carolina will want to plan a visit the the Winchester Museum at the NWTF headquarters in Edgefield.
Jim Weaver
GolfWiz Blog
Sr. Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Sr. Travel Writer
Monday, October 10, 2011
Crystal Springs Golf Resort, Sussex County, New Jersey
I truly never knew New Jersey had mountains. While there are miles of beaches and scores of casinos to be seen and enjoyed, you need to know where to look to find the mountains. In the very northwestern corner of the state just east of the Delaware Water Gap in Sussex County are the Kittatinny Mountains, and best of all they’re only an hour from New York City and Liberty International (Newark) Airport. While these mountains are not the Alps or even the Rockies, they are nevertheless quite beautiful and offer a variety of great recreational opportunities year round.Located in a pristine mountain valley just outside Hamburg, NJ, Crystal Springs Golf Resort offers outstanding vacation and weekend getaway opportunities for couples, families,
and golfers looking for a variety of world class courses. Crystal Spring boasts seven championship golf courses, unmatched by any other New Jersey resort including Ballyowen, Black Bear, the new Cascades, Crystal Springs, Great Gorge, Minerals and Wild Turkey all located within a 5-mile radius and open to resort guest and the general public.
Ballyowen Golf Club was just named as one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the U.S. by Conde Nast's GolfWorld Magazine. More than 21,000 individual golf courses were evaluated based on thirteen different performance criteria, including quality and condition of the course, reputation/prestige, food/dining, and service.
Boasting a 6,673-yard layout co-designed by famed developer Jack Kurlander and PGA “Golf Instructor of the Year” David Glenz, the nearby Black Bear course offers players an inviting diversity of terrain, scenery, and shot selections.
Cascades is the newest golf course at Crystal Springs Resort. Nationally renowned golf course architect Roger Rulewich, of The Golf Group was responsible for the course’s design -- his third at Crystal Springs Resort. Measuring just 3,627 yards, the course’s design stresses playability.
Crystal Springs Golf Club is recognized as one of the finest golf facilities in the northeastern United States. When it opened in 1992, it was rated among the top 25 new golf courses in America by Golf Digest Magazine. Year after year, Crystal Springs ranks among Golf Digest’s top 10 list for public golf courses in New Jersey.
Crystal Springs is also considered the most challenging course layout in New Jersey. Despite measuring just over 6,800 yards from the championship tees, the distinct character of the club can be attributed to designer Robert von Hagge of Houston, Texas, one of the leading golf course architects in the United States.
Great Gorge Country Club is a golfer’s paradise. The George Fazio designed, 27 hole complex was given four stars by Golf Digest. It offers a truly exceptional challenge for golfers of all skill levels. Great Gorge is composed of three separate and distinct nine-hole courses:
The Minerals Golf Club is designed for great family fun. Known locally as the best 9-hole golf course in the region, its Robert Trent Jones-designed layout is perfect for every member of the family. Advanced players can be challenged on a spectacular mountainside layout measuring over 2,305 yards, while younger players have their own tees way ahead of mom and dad.
Wild Turkey is the Crystal Spring Resort’s second Roger Rulewich design, following Ballyowen. Located next to Crystal Springs Golf Club, Wild Turkey’s features two distinct terrain types combine the sheer expansiveness of Ballyowen with the rugged, multileveled nature of Crystal Springs.
The resort features two luxury hotels -- the Minerals Resort & Spa featuring 175 spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms, as well as condominiums, and the Grand Cascades Lodge
offering 250 outstanding 4-star Adirondack style accommodations and world-class amenities.
After a rewarding day of golf, resort guests can head to the spa. Crystal Springs features two award-winning spas - Reflections Spa and Elements Spa. They were recently ranked among the top 20 Spas in America featuring mineral-based treatments and therapies.
Crystal Spring has twelve different restaurants, cafes, and bistros, serving a variety of delicious food. Restaurant Latour, at the Grand Cascades Lodge, is the resort’s premiere restaurant. It is known for its fine cuisine, outstanding selection of wines, and impeccable service. Its 64,000 bottle wine cellar (one of the world’s largest), winner of Wine Spectator's Grand Award, is available for tours and group tastings. Latour offers a truly memorable dining experience in every respect. You can even watch a colorful sunset beyond the distant mountain tops while you enjoy your superb dinner.
To learn more view http://www.crystalgolfresort.com/
James Weaver
Sr. Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Sr. Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
PGA Tour Confidential: Tiger's return at the Frys.com Open - Tours & News - Golf.com
Tour Feedback on Tiger Woods and his return at the Fry.com Open.
PGA Tour Confidential: Tiger's return at the Frys.com Open - Tours & News - Golf.com
PGA Tour Confidential: Tiger's return at the Frys.com Open - Tours & News - Golf.com
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Great Golf and Horse Racing In Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas, became America’s first resort city (in the mid-nineteenth century) because of the natural thermal springs that provide warm water for its healthful and soothing baths. But tourists can only spend a part of each day “taking the waters,” so it was not long before other diversions began to take root. Golf had become a popular sport in America and the Hot Springs Country Club was established in 1898 as a semiprivate Club offering membership privileges to the local residents, as well as providing golfing opportunities for the out-of-town
visitors.Nestled in the Ouachita foothills and surrounded by neighboring lakes and national parks, the Hot Springs Country Club continues to operate with those same Southern traditions of service. With 36 holes of golf available, the Club offers a wide variety of golfing experiences. The Arlington course has recently been reworked and restored by Master's Champion Ben Crenshaw, with Bentgrass greens and a restoration of its original classic design. Steep and narrow Bermuda fairways through rolling hills make this course a true challenge for any golfer.
The Park course, a bit more open than the Arlington, offers its own sandy and watery challenges. It also was recently renovated by Coore and Crenshaw. It is a little longer than its sister course at 6,836 yards and also offers new Bentgrass greens for year-round play.
Located only three and a half miles from downtown Hot Springs on Highway 7 north, Belvedere Golf Club (a public course) is an inviting destination for golfers at all levels of play.
Its a beautiful and scenic 18-hole championship golf course spread over 135 acres surrounded by the Ouachita Mountain range, neighboring lakes and the national park. Belvedere has bent grass greens and Bermuda fairway. Designed by Herman Hackbarth in 1949, it remains one of Arkansas top ten courses. Hackbarth designed more than 40 courses and was voted i
nto the ASGA Hall of Fame in 1994.Belvedere Golf Club is open six days a week with a restaurant grill and full service bar. A driving range is provided, along with a putting green and electric golf carts. There are golf packages available at several hotels in the Hot Springs area.
Golfing was not enough of a diversion and horse racing (and wagering) came to Hot Springs early in the new century, On February 24, 1905, Oaklawn Race Course presented its first racing card before a crowd of 3,000 that turned out after Hot Springs Mayor John Belding declared a half-day holiday for the city. The first race at the new track was won by Duelist, owned by John W. Schorr, a prominent Memphis sportsman. Since then, Oaklawn has evolved into one of the premier race meets in the country.
Best known as the home of the Racing Festival of the South and Arkansas Derby, the track has played host to some of the biggest names in the sport including champions Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lookin At Lucky, Blind Luck and Zenyatta who won the 2010 Apple Blossom Handicap and Horse of the Year honors. Winners of the Arkansas Derby (for three year olds) regularly go on to compete at the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races, The Oaklawn racing season extends from mid-January to mid-April with the Arkansas Derby the final race of the season.
Today Oaklawn also offers wagering on television simulcasts of races around country and a casino with electronic slots and table games. Its open daily year round.
To learn more about attractions in Hot Springs
view http://www.hotsprings.org/
James Weaver
Sr. Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Follow Tiger Woods round Live at GolfWiz Blog
Follow shot by shot action of Tiger Woods round live at the GolfWiz Blog and via Twitter @thegolfwiz and @golf_writer
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
GolfWiz Swing and Putt
GolfWiz at the office working on my game. Rate my swing and give me some feedback.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Europe rallies to defeat the U.S. in the 2011 SOlhiem Cup
Europe won the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2003 on Sunday, finishing powerfully to beat the United States 15-13 at Killeen Castle.
BREAKING NEWS: Bill Haas Wins 2011Tour Championship and Fedex Cup
Bill Haas defeated Hunter Mahan ina 2-hole playoff at east Lake Golf Club to capture the 2011 Tour Championship and the 2011 Fedex Cup sunday.
BREAKING NEWS: Tiger Woods Names a New Caddie
Tiger Woods' new caddie is Joe LaCava who has split with Dustin Johnson. Butch Harmon just revealed it on Sky Sports.
Real-Time On Course Updates ! GolfWiz Blog
GolfWIz Blog liove at the final round of the 2011 Tour Championship. Real-Time On-Course updates from via Twitter and Facebook !
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Quebec: A Little Bit of Paris in Nearby Canada
No place in Canada (or North America) is more like Europe than Quebec City, Quebec. While French is the official language, nearly everyone is bilingual and American English is widely spoken. Both languages are taught in the schools. But its more than just language, its the culture -- the architecture, the gardens and fountains, the public art, the hospitality, the charm, and the food (especially the food). Like Paris, there are small cafes and bistros that offer tasty croissants and other fine pastries. Virtually every one has tables on the sidewalks where you can sit and enjoy your espresso while you observe the passing scene. Very Parisian. 
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to dine at one of the city’s leading French bistro restaurants l’Echaude www.echaude.com/en. Our opening course was a wild mushroom soup followed by entrees of calves liver and duck confit. The food and service were both suburb. It was raining when we left, but fortunately our hotel the Auberge St. Pierre www.auberge.qc.ca/en was only steps away. A fine establishment in the European tradition with a great location, we enjoyed our stay.
The business center of the Old City is a very walkable area and has numerous art galleries, antique shops, fashion boutiques, book stores, jewelers, chocolatiers, and other welcoming shops. Near the center is a impressive bronze statue of Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635), "The Father of New France", a French navigator, cartographer, soldier, and explorer. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608 (12 years before the Plymouth Colony and a year after the first Jamestown Settlement). Nearby, there’s a colorful three story high mural on the exterior wall of a building that depicts the history of Quebec from its founding to modern times.
The city is built on two levels. The Old City, the place most visited by tourists, is below a high cliff and closest to the river. There are seven stairways to the Upper City and an annual contest where runners race up and down all seven. Fortunately, there is also a tramway connecting the two sections of the city and several streets.
The British tried to oust the French from Quebec in 1690 but failed. When the envoys delivered the terms of surrender, the Governor General famously rebuffed the British declaring "I have no reply to make to your general other than from the mouth of my cannons and muskets." However, the British return in 1759, and following a three month sedge, defeated the French in 15 minutes in surprise attack at the famous Battle of the Plains of Abraham. It lead to the creation of Canada. You can visit the battlefield, now a beautiful park. In 1775, American colonial troops (under the command of Benedict Arnold) tried to drive the British out, but they too were defeated.
Quebec City is the Provincial Capital, the seat of government for Quebec. The impressive Parliament Building was completed in 1886. Its Second Empire architectural style was popular for prestigious buildings at the time both in Europe and America. It resembles Philadelphia City Hall somewhat, another Second Empire building. In front of the building is a beautiful fountain, reminiscent of Paris, donated to the city by a local department store owner a decade ago. Across the front of the building are a number of bronze statures of prominent Quebec leaders from the past. Throughout the city there are many fine examples of public art (think Paris).
The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac is a luxury hotel in the Upper City that dominates the skyline. It was one of a series of "chateau" style hotels built for the Canadian Pacific Railway to encourage luxury tourism and attract wealthy travelers to its trains. The hotel is near the Dufferin Terrace, a walkway along the edge of the cliff, offering extraordinary views of the Saint Lawrence River.
A major attraction, just east of the city, are the Monmorency Falls. The falls are 275 feet high (98 feet higher than Niagara Falls) and 150 feet wide. They are located at the mouth of the Montmorency River where it drops over a cliff and enters the Saint Lawrence River opposite Orleans Island. The falls were named for Henri Montmorency, who served as viceroy (governor) of New France from 1620 until 1625.
There are staircases that allow visitors to view the falls from several different vantage points. A suspension bridge over the crest of falls provides access to both sides as well as a spectacular view. There is also an aerial tram that carries passengers between the base and the top of the falls. Each summer an international fireworks competition is held here with the falls as a backdrop. In the winter, mist from the falls freezes creating spectacular piles of ice that
a few adventurous people scale for sport.
Orleans Island, located between two channels of the Saint Lawrence River east of the city was the site of the first settlements. The island retained its traditional rural way of life until 1935, when construction was completed on the two lane bridge connecting it to the mainland. In spite of this, the island has maintained its pastoral image and historic character, with more than 600 buildings classified or recognized as heritage properties. In 1970, the entire island was designated a National Historic District. Today the island is a mix of year-round and vacation homes and farms. It is a popular destination for day trippers and bicyclists.
Orleans Island, known as the "Garden of Quebec", is still an essentially rural place famous locally for its produce, especially strawberries, apples, potatoes and wine. Sugar maple outlets offer maple syrup and other sweet products.
We visited the Bilodeau Apple Orchard and enjoy its delicious sparking “ice cider” made from apples frozen before they are picked. The island attracts more than 600,000 visitors each year to its numerous bed-and-breakfast inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops.
For further information on Quebec City view
http://www.quebucregion.com/.
James Weaver
Senior Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Senior Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
GolfWiz Blog Product Review: Adidas 360 ATV Golf Shoes
Adidas 360 ATV Rating: Five Stars *****
I played 5 rounds of golf wearing the Adidas Tour 360 ATV Golf Shoes and It was Wonderful. I already own 2 pair of Adidas golf shoes that I am very happy with, but the 360 ATV model takes comfort and playability to a new level.
These shoes hugged my feet and surrounded them with a tight but comfortable fit. I found them stable and the 10 spike configuration offered superb grip and balance during my swing. I could just walk around on and off the course in these shoes.
The 360's All Terrain Versatility (ATV) technology is clearly the largest improvement on the current Tour 360 Line. I didn't think Adidas could improve on the Tour 360 line of golf shoes, but the 360 ATV is clearly the best golf shoe on the market.
Adidas 360 ATV Features:
•2 year waterproof warranty
•Advanced THINTech technology for increased stability
•Soft Full-grain leather upper provides outstanding waterproof protection
•FitFoam's molded PU composition contours the foot, promoting greater lateral stability and a perfect fit every time
•ClimaProof technology delivers 100% waterproof protection
•360WRAP technology locks in and supports the foot for a secure fit
•10-Spike configuration
Edward Wanambwa
GolfWiz Blog
Editor/Blogger
Monday, August 29, 2011
Woods to play Frys.com Open
PGATOUR.COM is reporting that Tiger Woods has committed to play in the Frys.Com Open in Northern California in October.
The Frys.com Open is Oct. 6-9 at CordeValle Golf Club, about 45 minutes south of his alma mater at Stanford.
“I always enjoy competing in my home state, and this tournament fits my schedule perfectly,” Woods said Monday on his website. “I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends.”
Friday, August 26, 2011
Fred Couples, president of the 2011 U.S. Presidents cup team named Tiger Woods as one of his captain picks today. Couples had until August 26th to make his choices but decided to go ahead and name Woods as a member of this years team despite his poor play as of late.
"I've told him that he's going to be on the team," Couples said just before a practice round preparing for the Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge. "There is no reason for me to wait till Sept. 26 to pick Tiger. He's the best player in the world forever."
Couples will recieve some critisim for making this pick but who can really blame him. It's no secret that Woods and Couples are freinds but I am of the opinion that Couples has faith that Woods will provide a spark to this years team and despite his recent play, Tiger will perform well and help the U.S. Team win. Kudos to Fred Couple for making a a hard and somewhat unpopular decision.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The Ray Charles Memorial Library in Los Angeles Goes Public In Near Future
The Ray Charles Memorial Library, officially opened in September 2010 on the 80th anniversary of Ray Charles’ birth. Initially, it was open to school groups only, but the general public will be welcome to visit beginning later this year. The library/museum is located on the ground floor of the Los Angeles building Charles designed for his offices and recording studio.
The library/museum is operated by the nonprofit Ray
Charles Foundation that Charles established in 1986 to focus on needy and underprivileged children, especially those with hearing difficulties. Charles, who was blind, considered deafness a greater handicap.
Seeking to fill a void left by the decline of arts and music programs in public schools, the museum's curators hope the exhibits will open up a world of possibilities to youngsters after they see how the musical icon transcended socioeconomic, musical, and racial boundaries during a career spanning more than 50 years.
The library/museum contains seven galleries on the ground floor of a two-story building that Charles had built in 1964. It is located in the historically designated RPM International building at 2107 West Washington Boulevard in the Harvard Heights neighborhood. It houses his offices, wardrobe, an archive of master tapes and memorabilia, and his recording studio. The first album recorded here, in 1965, was "Country & Western Meets Rhythm and Blues."
Alongside educational interactive displays and plenty of film and audio footage, the museum contains mementos such as costumes, gold records, a selection of Charles' dark glasses and one of the customized chess boards on which he regularly defeated his sighted opponents.
Charles began the Ray Charles Foundation with a $50 million grant, and its assets currently are valued at close to $100 million, according to a foundation spokesperson. His entire estate was turned over to the foundation after he died of cancer in 2004, at age 73.
The foundation's investments have done well and now makes grants averaging about $5 million annually to a broad range of educational institutions and programs. The foundation has a licensing arm, the Ray Charles Marketing Group, which handles Charles' post-1960 recordings. Through its joint venture with Concord Records, it recently released an album of previously archived recordings, "Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters," Among the tracks is a duet with Johnny Cash of Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord?"
For further information see http://www.raycharlesmemoriallibrary.org/
James Weaver
GolfWiz Blog
Senior Travel Writer
GolfWiz Blog
Senior Travel Writer
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
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