There are several ways to improve your golf game this season.

The first thing that you can do is to buy some new clubs. For most golfers this will help improve not only their performance, but their confidence as well. A word of caution when it comes to buying new clubs, always try before you buy! Most courses have demo clubs that can be taken to the range or even on course for a trial round. This is the best way to ensure that the clubs match your swing.

The second way to lower your scores is to ensure that you warm up properly before you play. To do this you are going to need to work on your time management skills. Show up at the course at least an hour before your tee off time. This will give you time to check in, stretch and go through a complete pregame warm up. You can also get a bite to eat or purchase some on course snacks and drinks for your upcoming round.

A pregame warm up should include chipping and pitching as well as gradual full swing shots at the range with both your irons and your woods. Finally, go to the practice green to check the speed of the greens. Remember that the speed of most practice greens is slightly different than the speed of the greens on course. Practice greens usually get more traffic and as a result are usually slower than the greens on course.

The most effective way to improve your game this year is to spend more time at the practice range. At the range you have the opportunity to hit shots over again. If you make some bad swings, then simply evaluate what caused the bad shot and make a correction. The only place that you should ever “experiment” with your swing is at the practice range.

The practice range is my office. It is where I make adjustments and focus on the mechanical aspects of my swing. I also work on establishing and sometimes refining my pre swing routine for each type of shot. The range is where you not only can work on the weaker aspects of your game but also learn your distances. Take advantage of the yardage markers on the range, so that you can learn what your distances are for all of your clubs under normal conditions.

Practice drills are a great way to develop consistent and permanent swing moves. They will help you to groove your swing so that less time is spent thinking during your next round of golf. Swing drills will help you to develop your muscle memory and make your swing more natural and shot making more consistent.

The next time you are at the range for a full work out, try playing a 9 hole round of golf. Pretend that you are on the first tee of the course that you are planning to play your next round. Start with your driver and after you hit one drive imagine yourself on the first fairway. Next calculate your approximate distance to the flag, based on your previous drive and hit your second shot. You can select a target on the range as though it was the green on the golf course. If your second shot lands close to the pin or on the green, then change clubs and prepare to play the second hole. If it is not close, then select a wedge and make a short pitch shot, the approximate length that you would have for your third shot on the golf course.

Continue to play each hole until you have played the entire front nine. The only shot that you will not be able to hit at the range is your putts. You can simply finish you full practice session with some “quality time” on the practice green.

This season, if you want to shoot lower scores than simply put in the time. You will only get from your golf game, what you put into it!

Next Week: Achieving Your Personal Best!
Previous Week: Pace of Play Tips

Cameron Burechails
Head / Teaching Professional
The Georgian Bay Golf Academy
705-441-0865 baygolfacademy@bell.net
www.baygolfacademy.com

A typical round of golf should take between four to four and a half hours to play. These times will however vary depending on your skill level and the layout of the golf course.

It has been proven that scores are lower when the pace of play is faster. Having to wait for players in front of you, leads to frustration, a loss of concentration and enjoyment of your round.

Even players on the PGA tour are having issues with the speed of play. In recent weeks several players have been penalized for their slow play. Even though there is much more on the line for many of these playing professionals, there is no excuse for a five and a half to six hour round.

To ensure that the speed of play is maintained, many courses employ the use of marshal’s to monitor how long it takes for each group to play 18 holes. Although having a marshal in place does help, the onus still falls on the player to keep the pace of play within course timelines.

This spring, I have put together some tips that will help maintain your pace of play this season.

The first thing that all golfers should do is always play “ready golf”. This means that instead of playing under the traditional honor system, that you simply hit when you are ready. To play ready golf all players in the foursome must communicate with each other as they play each shot on the hole. If you are not ready to hit and another player in your group is, then simply tell them to play their shot first.

You know that your group is playing at a good rate of speed when you can always see the group in front of you. Your pace is too slow when there is an open hole between your group and the group in front of you.

To ensure that every round of golf is enjoyable, played at an even pace and fun for all simply follow these tips:

1. Arrive at the course at least 15 minutes prior to your tee off time, to help prevent delays.
2. Play the proper tees. Remember that the “tips” are for players with handicaps between 0 & 6.
3. Keep your cell phones off during your round of golf!
4. Practice Swings- Keep them to a minimum. Two practice swings are enough to prepare you for each shot.
5. Always mark your scores on the next tee and never on the green.
6. Position your clubs and power carts behind the green, towards the next tee before you putt.
7. Hit a provisional ball, when in doubt from the tee to prevent delays.
8. Waive up players on par three holes to keep the pace of play moving.

With a little bit of common sense and consideration you will help to make not only yours, but somebody else’s round not only faster, but more enjoyable.

Next Week: Home on the Range
Previous Week: Great Expectations

Cameron Burechails
Teaching Professional
The Georgian Bay Golf Academy
705-441-0865 baygolfacademy@bell.net
www.baygolfacademy.com

Every spring as the snow slowly starts to disappear and the grass begins to turn green, we turn our attention to the game of golf.

The Master’s in Augusta Georgia, to most golfers’, marks the beginning of the much anticipated golf season. After a long and cold winter most of us are pretty well fed up with the snow, the shoveling and being cooped up inside during the dark and cold nights of a Canadian winter. We are finally ready to trade in the steep white slopes of the ski hills for the undulating green fairways that await us.

We all have high expectations for the upcoming season. After all, last season was one of the longest golf seasons’ on record. Many of us had our clubs out in late March and did not put them away until mid November. The chances of having two years back to back are probably pretty slim!

Many of us hope not only to play more rounds of golf this season, but also hope our scores will improve from last year.

When you set your expectations too high for any sport, then you put too much pressure on yourself to perform. Falling short of your expectations, will often lead to disappointment and cause you to question your abilities and affect your self confidence.

This season, the best way to prevent disappointment in your golf game is to prepare a game plan. Start by understanding that in order to shoot lower scores, you are going to need to not only “put in the time”, but also be willing to make some changes in your game. For some golfers it might mean making some changes in your equipment. A new set of clubs, some new woods or even a new putter might mean that you will finally break 80, 90 or even 100 for the first time.

For others, it might mean devoting more time to practicing and working on your game. After all if you are not willing to change, then how can you expect your performance to improve from one season to the next?

It is always a good idea to have your swing looked at from time to time by a qualified Teaching Professional. You will have the opportunity to learn about your swing and understand how to prevent yourself from making swing errors that lead to poor shots and high scores.

After just a few rounds of golf this spring, all golfers feel it. Frustration, disappointment and sometimes questioning your own self confidence are enough to make you realize that change can be a good thing.

This season if you wish to reach your performance goals, then be willing to change your behavior both on and off the golf course. You will then be able to set some more realistic goals and meet or even exceed the expectations that you set for yourself at the beginning of the season.

Next Week: Pace of Play Tips

Cameron Burechails
Teaching Professional
The Georgian Bay Golf Academy
705-441-0865 baygolfacademy@bell.net
www.baygolfacademy.com

Get into the game as the Toronto Star Golf & Travel Show tees off its 24th year this weekend.  Featuring golf equipment, golf courses, travel options, demonstrations and onsite lessons, the Golf Show is the pre-season destination for lovers of the game.  Get tips from golf experts Jamie Sadlowski, two time RE/MAX World Long Drive Champion and Sean Foley, Professional Swing Instructor.

Be sure to swing by Cranberry's booth located at 1120 and test your skills with our closest to the pin challenge!  We will be giving away rounds of golf for the winners!  Step up and give it your best shot!

Plus learn about all the great savings you can take advantage of this season!

Click here to save $3.00 off admission to the golf show!

Hey sports fans!
Super Bowl XLVII, will the 49ers get their sixth Super Bowl ring or will the Ravens stop them??  Don’t miss this match, it will be epic…..Cranberry Golf Resort has got you covered!  Tail gate party in Lounge 26 starting at 5:00 pm.   Featuring food and drink specials as well as prizes to be won! 
Also regularly:
- All NHL games on the big screen and, coming soon world class Soccer

- VIP hour daily from 3 pm – 7 pm

- 2 for 1 Wings on Monday’s

- Live entertainment every Friday’s at 7:00 pm and Saturday’s at 8:00 pm in Lounge 26 featuring This Friday Monty Greig and this Saturday Canadian Idol Star Drew Wright.

Click here for a full list of events and dining specials!

The mission of the Cranberry Golf Resort is “...providing a fun and caring community for all our valued guests, members, and team members. By delivering quality personal service for our guests in a warm and friendly environment, we recognize that the memories created at the resort are the moments that matter.”

I begin my reflection of the 2012 golf season with our mission statement, because it guides everything we do here at the golf course, and in completing my first season I can emphatically say the memories I have of the season are the moments that matter. We created a fun atmosphere for our staff and they responded by providing exceptional service and attention to all our golfers, we now regard this as our new standard of operations, not the exception.

I personally look forward to maintaining and improving these standards in 2013 and providing all our golfers with an experience they too will remember and want to repeat. Our job as the staff and professional team at the resort is to enhance every golfers experience and with a strong commitment to our mission of having fun and caring about our guests I believe we accomplish this every day and myself and my team really enjoy doing it. Thanks for a great season, and see you in the spring.

Your Head Golf Professional,

Kirk Smith

The leaves are changing very quickly and we are experiencing four seasons in a day some days.  That must mean it can only be one thing…it’s Fall!

One thing that we all look forward to is the annual Thanksgiving celebration with Family, Friends and a whole lot of turkey!  With all of life’s busy schedules and daily distractions, Thanksgiving gives us a time and a chance to reflect on what matters the most.

This Thanksgiving let us help you make the most of you Family time by having us take all the preparation and work of your Thanksgiving dinner. 

Join us Sunday October, 7, 2012 from 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm for a traditional Thanksgiving  buffet enhanced with our Chef’s own personal touch!

Bountiful Beginnings
*Cascading fresh baked bread and rolls display with dips and flavoured butters 
*Hearty Pumpkin and Butternut Squash soup
*Cranberry signature salad with our Cranberry Vinaigrette dressing
*Cous-Cous salad with local fresh roasted vegetables
*Three bean salad with fresh herbs and diced Red Pepper
*Smoked and Pickled Fish platter

Magnificent Mains
*Local harvest vegetables with a citrus and herb butter
*Maple and bourbon infused mashed turnip and red skinned marble mashed potatoes
*Oven baked pasta with wild mushrooms in an Old World tomato- shallot sauce and topped up with Mozzarella cheese
*Roast Pork Loin in au jus and topped with Thornbury spiced apple compote
*Carved Roasted Turkey
* Rosemary and Sage Stuffing
* Herbed Turkey Gravy and Traditional Cranberry sauce

Delectable Desserts
Pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream, Cranberry Apple crisp with Dolce de Leche sauce, assorted cakes and pastries, fruit display with chocolate and yogurt dipping sauces

Adults $30.95* per person
Children 10 and under $15.50* per person

Reservations required

Please call (705) 445-6600 ext 565
*Plus taxes and gratuities

or

This Thanksgiving have a delicious home cooked turkey
dinner without all the work with our Thanksgiving Dinner “To Go”

Dinner package consists of:
*Fresh rolls and butter 
*Hearty Pumpkin and Butternut Squash soup or Cranberry signature salad with our Cranberry Vinaigrette dressing
*Roasted Turkey (approximately 1lb . per person)
*Traditional stuffing
*Herbed Turkey Gravy and Traditional Cranberry sauce
*Baked Acorn squash
*Maple and bourbon infused mashed turnip and red skinned marble mashed potatoes
*Pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream
*One soft drink per person
Serves four people

Starting price $123.80 + tax
Additional servings $30.95 +tax

All orders must be prepaid and placed by 12:00 am on October 5, 2012

To place your order please call 705-445-6600 ext. 277
 

Getting married or thinking of getting married?

There are so many things to consider when planning your wedding.  Such as where should I get married, which photographer do I choose, how do I want my flowers to look and most importantly what should my dress look like.

Planning weddings can be so stressful but Cranberry Golf Resort has your solution.  Saturday October 13th, 2012 Cranberry Golf Resort presents our Annual Fall Bridal show at the breath taking waterfront Bear Estate.  It features local wedding experts all under one roof.  You can mix and mingle with Photographers, Florists, Wedding Gown Shops, DJ’s, Decorations, Real Estate agents, Financial Advisors and many many more!

Plus take the opportunity to speak with Cranberry’s Wedding Sales Expert on how we can best help you make planning your wedding easy and stress free!  From the initial planning stages to the moment you take your first steps down the aisle, Cranberry will ensure that your day is everything you ever dreamed! We can assist you every step of the way, from rehearsal dinner through to the ceremony. We even offer elegant honeymoon packages. As a full-service wedding facilitator, we are the only resort in Ontario that can accommodate a full outdoor wedding, in addition to a variety of scenic venues for your ceremony, reception or rehearsal dinner.

Join us;

Saturday October 13th, 2012

Bear Estate (300 Balsam Street)

12pm – 4 pm

Free Admission

Featuring local Wedding Experts, Bridal Fashion show, snack, prizes and much much more!

For more details on the show or if your interested to become a vendor, please contact Tanya Mac Neil - Wedding Sales Manager (705) 446-3251 or weddings@thecranberryresort.com

Interested in Wine?  Join the club!

Winetaster of Collingwood will be holding their first Wine Tasting on October 16, 2012 in the William Watts room adjacent to Memories Restaurant at Cranberry Golf Resort. 

Winetasters of Collingwood’s purpose are to develop a greater appreciation of wine through sampling and rating 8 different wines plus a short educational discussion.

Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, make comments, and share information.  Many great friendships began at Winetasters over a glass of Vino!

Dinner - After the tasting those who choose to stay for dinner will adjourn to Memories dining room where we ourselves have enjoyed many a delicious and well priced dinner.  Most people choose to stay as a perfect extension to the evening!

Your spouse or partner does not partake of wine?  No problem!  They are welcome to join us for the dinner portion.  We are pleased to accommodate.  Please let us know on your application.

To attend, contact David and Nina Margesson at nina@margesson.com or 705-445-4474

However, you may wish to take advantage of attending the first tasting at the "member" fee of $30 before you decide to become part of our group.

After this tasting the fee will be $30 for members and $45 for non-members.
We look forward to seeing you on the 16th!

Cheers!

“What is the definition of a good wine?
It should start and end with a smile”

It’s hard to believe the last long weekend of summer is here.  It always feels like summer comes and goes by way too quickly.  To make the last long weekend of summer epic Cranberry has a whole ton of endless fun things to take part in this weekend.

Friday;
Water front Yoga
Animal Show for the kids
Complimentary Appetizers
Live entertainment at Station on the Green from Monty Greig
Family Camp Fire

Saturday;
Family Ball Hockey
Frog Catch and Release
Pools Games
Sundae Making
Family Movie night featuring The Hunger Games
Live Entertainment from Canadian Idol star Drew Wright

Sunday;
Pools side Bingo
Kids Scavenger Hunt
Face Painting
And much much more!

Please refer to the Recreation Schedule as some of these activities may have a cost involved.

Wish everyone a happy, fun, safe Labour Day Weekend!
 

Time to hang up your jumpsuits for another year just in time to pull out your board shorts and bikinis for Wakestock 2012!
Wakestock is world's largest and original annual wakeboarding, action sports & music festival started it all in 1998! There have been lots of imitators around the world in recent years, but none come close to the original, real deal!
One of the most progressive and richest events in pro wakeboarding and wakeskating for 15 years running, Wakestock is globally renowned as an innovative rider’s event that showcases the best in wakeboarding, wakeskating and the action sports lifestyle including incredible live band line-ups, skateboarding, legendary parties, film premieres and Canada's largest Action Sports Expo & Marketplace.

Wakestock was the first pro wakeboarding tour event to include rails, wakeskating and winch pools and consistently attracts the biggest spectator crowds in the world. Past Wakestock champions include legends like Darrin Shapiro, Parks Bonifay, Brett Eisenhauer, Jeff Heer and current superstars like Bob Soven, Harley Clifford, Aaron Rathy, Phil Soven, Rusty Malinoski, Chad Sharpe, Shane Bonifay, Daniel Watkins, Keith Lidberg, Brian Grubb, Reed Hansen, George Daniels, and Stuart Shinn.

Wakestock 2012 Returns to Millenium Park, Collingwood, August 10-12, featuring live music from YELAWOLF, AWOL NATION, MONSTER TRUCK, CLASSIFIED, ADVENTURE CLUB, MAD CHILD, A TRIBE CALLED RED, YUKON BLONDE, THE KATACOMBS and more!

For more information and tickets visit www.wakestock.com
 

Elvis has entered the building!  It’s time to celebrate the 18th Annual Collingwood Elvis Festival!

Elvis tribute artists will be performing at Station on the Green on Friday and Saturday.

Here is a list of the schedule;

Friday July 27th
Performers:
3:00pm- Richard Wolfe
4:00pm- Anthony Carbone
5:00pm- Jesse Aron

Saturday July 28th
Hosts:
12:00pm-3:00pm- Wayne Junior
3:00pm-6:00pm- Jim Bishop

Performers:
12:00pm- Larry Tschekalin
1:00pm- Frankie D
2:00pm- Dan Champagne
3:00pm- Jim Robinson
4:00pm- Gordon Baird
5:00pm- Brad Rose

BBQ buffet lunch available both days for only $9.95 per person (plus taxes and gratuities)
from 12:00 pm-6:00 pm at Station on the Green

*Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats cannot be reserved.*

For full list of all performances please visit http://collingwoodelvisfestival.com/2011/the-schedule/

A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts. – Elvis Presley
 

Dusk off your sunglasses, get your side burns ready and put on your jumpsuit for the 18th Annual Collingwood Elvis Festival!

July 26 – 29th Collingwood presents the world’s largest Elvis Festival. Featuring some of the greatest Elvis tribute artists in the world performing daily, family events, a 50’s dance, midway rides and games, great food and amazing range of Elvis merchandise.

Come out Saturday July 28, 2012  and enjoy the sights, sounds and flavours of “Elvis in Hollywood” starring Bruno Nesci and Matt Dowsett.  Featuring a live show band  backed by Bruno Nesci and the Hound Dogs.  Tickets only $64.00 plus taxes and service charges.  Ticket price includes a fabulous buffet dinner at the breath taking Bear Estate.  To purchase tickets visit www.ticketbreak.com or call 705-444-2500 ext 3257.  **Guests must be 19+**

Plus don’t miss out on our live performances at Station on the Green Friday and Saturday from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

For a full list of what's happening in Collingwood all weekend visit www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com

Cranberry Golf Resort set to break ground on $27 Million Phase 2 development of Waterfront Suites overlooking Georgian Bay

Cranberry Golf Resort will break ground on a new 30 two-bedroom condos (configurable 60 hotel rooms complex) on the shores of Georgian Bay. As the only waterfront resort property in Collingwood, the $27 million complex will contain two-bedroom suites with up to 1,200 square feet of space. The development will feature modern amenities, including an indoor swimming pool with slide, steam room, fitness facilities, lounge bar, and climbing wall.

Her Worship Sandra Cooper, Mayor of Collingwood, and local town council members will all be on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 9 at 2 p.m EST in the courtyard of Cranberry Waterfront Suites.

With construction beginning, it is anticipated that the new units will be available for occupancy in Spring 2013. For development updates, please follow Cranberry’s social media channels: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/cranberrygolfresort, Twitter - @CranGolfResort, and Blog - http://www.thecranberryresort.com/blog.
 

Kid’s Rule at Camp Cranberry!
Cranberry Golf Resort offers a wide variety of weekly kid’s camps in different interest areas and for different age ranges during the summer months.  If you are between 3 and 16 years of age, come spend your summer with us!

With 750 acres of Mother Nature, we offer more than enough room for you to explore. With a different selection of activities to choose from, there is always something to do.

Camp Cranberry includes lunches in ALL full day camps and access to the newly built New Kid’s Clubhouse. In fact, we are launching a contest to name the new Kid’s Clubhouse. The winning entry will receive a free family resort membership (valued at $250)!

For entry details or more information, contact the Cranberry Recreation Centre at 1-800-465-9077 or 705-445-6600 ext. 101 or email recreation@thecranberryresort.com