ADDICTIONS CARE CENTER OF ALBANY TO SELL TURNING STONE GOLF TOURNEY TICKETS

ALBANY – Charities from throughout the region are raising money through the Turning Stone ResortChampionship’s “Tickets for Charity” program. This is the fourth year of the initiative, administered by the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund, which is the regional charitable component of the PGA Tour event scheduled for Aug. 2-8 at Atunyote Golf Club.

Last year, 65 charities from eight counties participated. This year, more than 90 charities from 11 counties are involved.

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BENITA ZAHN IN ARIZONA

While the Capital Region was struggling to keep cool during the recent heat wave, the husband and I were out in Arizona where 95-degrees is a break from the heat. So, playing golf means an early tee time, which we were lucky to snag at Tucson’s Starr Pass at the JW Marriott Resort. While an in-season round can top $180 per person this time of year, thanks to Golfnow we paid $45pp with cart, plus a $3.98 service charge for the booking.

There are three, 9-hole courses at Starr Pass: Rattler – 3,490 yards from the tips; Roadrunner – 3,217 yards from the tips; and Coyote – a whopping 3,512 yards from the tips. We played Rattler and Roadrunner and, as the husband, who plays to a 12HC, was trying to figure out which tees to play from, the starter said: “Forget about the yardage, don’t play anything longer than the silver, it’ll be plenty challenging.”

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BENITA ZAHN & 7 PALS PLAY PINEHURST

Take eight women with handicaps ranging from 3-to-32, book a deal for $335 that gives you two condos and three rounds of golf, mix in a few libations, and you’ve got one heck of a fabulous weekend.

What could make it even better? Adding another night and a round of golf at the famed Pinehurst #2 course.

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BENITA ZAHN PLAYS PINEHILLS IN PLYMOUTH, MA

When you find a golf course that you really enjoy you just have to go back and play it again. For the husband and me, that’s the case with Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

We played there about four years ago and had a delightful time. So, last summer, when we were guests at a wedding nearby, along came the sticks. As fate would have it, the same scenario presented itself recently, so back to the links we went.

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BENITA ZAHN PLAYS OSIRIS IN WALDEN, NY

Bette Midler made that line famous – “Oh, you gotta have friends” – in one of her early songs. But it sure holds today when it comes to golf. You gotta have friends who invite you play at their home course, especially when it’s a spot you’d never seek out on your own. This Father’s Day was case in point.

A fellow who’s been pals with my husband for more than 20 years finally got us to head south to Walden, NY to play at his club, Osiris Country Club. It’s a little gem you’d never find without an invite and your Garmin.

It’s about 20 minutes off Exit 18 of the NYS Thruway. You travel through New Paltz and turn left onto Route 208. You’ll pass a host of ice cream and fruit stands that will be tempting, but save them for the return trip. Golf beckons.

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STRATTON, VT – World renowned golf instructor David Leadbetter kicked off the first annual Festival of Golf at Stratton’s Golf University, an event dedicated to celebrating the game and its ties to Stratton Mountain Resort.

“It’s a beautiful facility,” Leadbetter said of Golf University. “I was really looking forward to coming up.”

“We’re really testing the waters here with this event. I think it has great potential with a ready made clientele and hopefully we can add to that and the great amenities Stratton already has.”

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The gate at Pebble Beach Golf Links

By John Craig 

I know it’s taboo on a golf course to break out the cell phone and start yakking away.  I frown on it, that’s for sure.  But heck, I was by myself on Pebble Beach, and I wanted to share the experience with someone who might appreciate it, and who I knew would answer the phone. On the 12th tee, I called my parents. 

My mother answered and even though she’s not a golfer, she was glad for me and understood the significance of the place and that the U.S. Open is being held there and that her son was playing the course. She then told me dad was taking a nap. Oh well.  That was one of two or three times when I was able to just look around and drink in the fact that I was playing Pebble Beach Golf Links for a moment. 

The second was on the 15th when I rolled in a 42-foot putt. But I’m getting ahead of myself.   

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On June 1, Capitalareagolf.com editor John Craig got a first “club” look at the site of the 2010 U.S. Open, Pebble Beach Golf Links. Watch as he makes his way around the famed course on the Monterey Peninsula, with shots from grass to seascape, and even a story about a bird and sandwich. It’s a first hand look at the course that is hosting its fifth U.S. Open. And he almost had a “Tom Watson” moment, too. Enjoy and we’d love to hear your feedback.

By Benita Zahn
WNYT Anchor/Reporter
 
ORLANDO, FL – I can’t help but think that Tiger Woods, if he’s really serious about changing his ‘tude on the links, needs to play one of the courses at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Disney is known as “the happiest place on Earth” and that truly extends from tee to green.

I know. I just played three of its courses over five days.

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By Tim Wyld

When the City of Albany decided to remake Albany Municipal in the late 1980’s, they gave birth to one heck of a gem. The Capital Hills Golf Course, aptly named for its rolling hills, has grown over the years to a solid test of golf from the back blue tees and an enjoyable test of golf for all playing abilities from the white, gold, and front red tees.

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