Golf Industry Adventures – Behind the Scenes

Playing a round of golf seems like such a simple proposition.

Really, as a recreational player, whether we play well or play poorly on a given day, our skin in the game is pretty much the green fee and the effort it takes to play.

Behind the scenes, golf course owners and operators face a barrage of details and circumstances that require attentive discussion and review, along with adoption of policies and procedures.

You know, all the stuff the majority of golfers really don’t care about.

That is, until there is an incident. Continue reading “Golf Industry Adventures – Behind the Scenes”

Top 10 Holes in the Okanagan Valley

When I took a stab at this project last fall for publication in the Kelowna Daily Courier, it was both an exciting and unenviable task.

The variety of golf courses throughout the Okanagan Valley create a golfer’s paradise. The length of the season is a boon for locals and tourists.

Indeed, I could write about the “50 Best Holes”! There are that many!

Note that all yardages provided are “from the tips”, yet each of these holes is designed with tee decks that effectively take some of the bite out of the long-distance challenges.

FORE!!

Gallagher’s Canyon, Kelowna (#1: par-4, 434 yards)
You arrive in such a peaceful setting here, an historic layout in a quiet, residential setting. After a quick warmup, you may be summoned to the roof top. Yes, the roof top! It is indeed one of the coolest shots a player will strike while enjoying golf in the Okanagan Valley. For those not immune to first-tee jitters, be advised you will likely have a captive audience on hand, as the patrons in the restaurant and on its patio can almost reach out and touch you as you tee off. Successfully execute your drive into the narrow-ish fairway and the elevated green requires a demanding, skillful approach. Welcome to Gallagher’s Canyon!

Continue reading “Top 10 Holes in the Okanagan Valley”

Who is the better golfer?

An interesting snippet here from GOLF Magazine.

“There will always be sand-baggers and vanity-caps, handicaps that travel better or worse than others. But with plans in the works for a universal handicap system, one that applies to every golfer on the globe, there will be far fewer of all those unwanted things.”

Anyone out there familiar with “Universal Handicaps” ?

It’s an adjustment coming our way in 2020 to the system the world of golf has used forever – it seems.

That’s where the comment above came from – an article speaking to the nuances associated with Universal Handicaps.

“We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the United States Golf Association.

Continue reading “Who is the better golfer?”