Hacking around at the U.S. Hickory Open Golf Championship

Published November 10, 2018 in North Carolina , Travel Stories , USA

Hacking around at the U.S. Hickory Open

Written by Bo Turocy. Photographs by Hannah Fontenot Mentz.

The 11^th annual U.S. Hickory Open hosted by the Society of Hickory Golfers just wrapped up on Halloween. The 36-hole stroke play event was contested across the 1926 Donald Ross layout at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC. This club may sound familiar to you. The PGA Tour plays the Wyndham Championship there each year. Brandt Snedeker made fame by shooting a record setting 59 in the opening round of the 2018 Wyndham a few months ago. The U.S. Hickory Open was originally scheduled to be played closely following the tour event, but Hurricane Florence forced a month-long postponement.

I had already played in the two previous championships with mediocre to average results, finishing something like in 15^th and 12^th places (or so) respectively. Obviously I am the only one proud of those results. It was Walter Hagen who would always boldly announce he was playing solely for first place and it mattered not if he finished as runner up or in last place since nobody ever remembered. Also, the legendary Ricky Bobby of infamous Talladega Nights fame learned from his father that if you “ain’t first, you’re last.” I was ready to make my move into the arena of national spot light success. Besides, I’ve already enjoyed a brief, but splendid international stardom with a massive defeat earlier this year at the hands of the Europeans in the Freedman Cup matches, a Ryder Cup style tournament for hickory golf.

RVing. The Feel of the Open Road

Published April 1, 2017 in Canada , Travel Stories

RVing in Canada

As a tribute to Canada’s 150^th celebration, we would like to share with you our article that was published last year by the National Federation of Federal Retirees. I can’t think of a better way to explore our great country and meet our friendly people than in an RV.

Ah! The Feel of the Open Road

The freedom to stay or the freedom to go, the freedom to explore or the freedom to move on — I’m talking motorhomes, not motorcycles. I fell in love with RVing almost 30 years ago when our walkabout in Australia turned into a “ride about” in New Zealand.

You see, a few months earlier, in what was both a very brave decision and a complete leap of faith, my wife and I sold our house and set out with our two young daughters to explore the Pacific Rim. En route, we stayed in a condo in Hawaii and a resort in Fiji. In Australia, we camped or stayed in caravan parks, hostels and the occasional hotel, but it wasn’t until we scored a motorhome in Auckland that I finally felt that I had a home away from home.

The cry “Allons!” — a single word that translates as “Let’s go!” — opens many of the stanzas in Walt Whitman’s poem Song of the Open Road. His story celebrates the out-of-doors, and the road in particular, as a place where people can come together in a meaningful way — where status matters less and the experience matters more. I believe that is also the mantra of the folks we have met who take off in their RVs to see friends and return to familiar places or, alternatively, satisfy their wanderlust.

50 Golf Blogs You Should Follow

Published May 18, 2016 in Travel Stories - 11 Comments

Top 50 Golf Blogs You Should Follow – by ScottsdaleGolf.co.uk

The only problem with this change in tempo is the fact that there are literally too many golf blogs and online resources that are misinforming their readers. The only way for beginners to understand golf, and for professionals to find the information that they are looking for, is by consulting reliable sources.

To help you sort the wheat from the chaff, we have created a list of 50 trustworthy golf blogs that you should be following. These bloggers are not only extremely knowledgeable in the art of golf, but they also have a knack for making their audience laugh, thus transforming pro golf-viewing in an unforgettable experience.

Disclaimer: The sites are not in order of preference or value. I have simply listed the most reliable online sources for golf lovers.

To read the entire article visit https://scottsdalegolf.co.uk/blog/50-golf-blogs-follow/

Travels with Dad: Lessons Learned – by Jane Finn

Published January 22, 2016 in Travel Stories

The start of a new year is for many, a time to make resolutions. For me, it is more a time for reflection. In that spirit, I started reminiscing with my sisters how all three of us caught the travel bug. It was then that I remembered an article that my sister Laura wrote several years ago about travels with our Dad. I’d like to share that article with you now and invite you to think about what motivates you to travel, and if you are so inclined, please share your stories with us. Enjoy and happy journeys!