The golf lessons that Richard Franklin offers aren’t for everybody. “Some people look at what we do and say it’s not even golf,’’ admitted Franklin, but he can live with that. Franklin, 38, calls himself “a game designer.’’ That’s what his group lessons are – a series of games for youngsters as young as 4…
Travel Destinations
Ownership change triggers big changes at Illinois’ Eagle Ridge
GALENA, IL. – I love Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. There, I’ve said it. Actually, it’s not that earth-shaking a statement. I’ve had good vibes about this place since my first visit, probably in the early 1970s. There have been a lot since then, the highlights being an invitee to the Grand Opening of the…
GOLF/TRAVEL NOTEBOOK: World’s Largest 19th Hole is back at World Am
The Myrtle Beach World Amateur – always one of my favorite tournaments of any year – is adding three new divisions for its 38th staging this year. There’ll also be 70 flights and $100,000 in prize money, and Southwest Airlines has added 10 new non-stop destinations to help players get there. That’s not the…
Pandemic just postponed the party at Innisbrook; now the good times are back
PALM HARBOUR, Florida – Golf, maybe more than any other sport, likes to celebrate anniversaries. The pandemic took a toll on those. The PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic was poised for its 50th anniversary in 2020. Now it’ll be staged this July, pandemic restrictions permitting. The International Network of Golf was to mark its 30th…
Mission Inn is making good use of both of its courses
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Florida – Bud Beucher, president of the history-rich Mission Inn Resort & Club, has never been reluctant to host tournaments. Most all were high school, junior or college events. Until now. It’s doubtful that any golf facility in the country can match the schedule of professional tour events and U.S. Golf Association qualifiers…
Tennis, hockey players have supplemented the golfers at Saddlebrook
WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida – For 40 years now, the Saddlebrook Resort has been well-equipped for golfers. For most of that time it had two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses. Enough said. There’s more to the Saddlebrook story than that, however. Owner Tom Dempsey, who made his mark in the publishing industry in Cleveland, was a member…
Big things are happening on the Citrus Golf Trail
SEBRING, Florida — The Citrus Golf Trail has – most justifiably — promoted itself as “The Value Golf Capital of America.’’ Joe Staffieri, the manager at Pinecrest on Loleta in Avon Park, created the Trail in 2012 and it’s flourishing like never before now. “Golf can be expensive, but if you want to make a…
GOLF TRAVEL NOTES: Two long-time favorites are changing course
First of all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of our traveling golfers from our place in Florida’s PGA Village. We are now in the heart of the holiday season and we hope that all our friends will enjoy these days to the fullest. Golf travel wasn’t so easy in this pandemic year, but we’re…
These trying times didn’t faze Myrtle Beach’s Founders Group
MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina — Believe it or not, there are some good things coming out of this horrible pandemic that has negatively impacted the U.S. for the last nine months. It created a bigger demand for golf nation-wide — play is up over 20 percent, according to the National Golf Foundation — and…
Kilmarlic’s Cottages provide a big boost to golf on the Outer Banks
POWELLS POINT, N.C. – Golf has been played around the Outer Banks of North Carolina since 1988 but its development was a slow one. Nags Head Links was the first to open, and The Sound Links, The Pointe, Currituck, Carolina Club, Kilmarlic, The Pines and Scotch Hall Preserve all were taking players by 2008….