Actually, we are still here.  As the fall colors gave way to the grip of old man winter, our golf pros took on their annual metamorphic change into winter roles.  We become boot fitting gurus, goggle and helmet experts, event coordinators, marketing specialists, zipline adventure guides and ski/snowboard rental aficionados.  We teach our golf lessons indoors on a simulator and practice our grip, stance and waggle amidst a sea of cold weather base layers and face masks.  In fact you may not even recognize us as being leaders in the golf industry because of our vast knowledge and expertise in the snowsports arena.

But, with the groundhog comes the golf show season and we slowly begin to get the itch for greener grass just like everyone else.  Our poles turn to putters and our skis to spikes.  We experience the thrill of the holiday season all over again as we open boxes of shiny new equipment and the season's hottest fashions to display in our golf shops for you to take home.  Our attention shifts to ensuring your golf package is the best ever and your lessons help to take your game to the next level.  Come see our pros March 5, 6 and 7 at the Michigan Golf Show in Novi for a preview of the excitement.  Book your package, take a lesson and get your gear for the season as we bring the BOYNE show to town!

The 2010 season will open on May 1st, so we have a little ways to go and still have plenty of great snow for spring skiing and riding.  Also, stay tuned for information on the re-birth of the Hemlock Open sometime in April.  A unique golf and ski competition this spring! 

-Jeff Eccleston

After a cooler summer, we sure are reaping the rewards with recent warm weather and incredible course conditions.  The BOYNE courses on a whole are as good as they have been in a very long time and are just gearing up for a fireworks display in the trees with the upcoming color tour season.  Plus, Room and Round packages this fall are an even par $72 for the rest of the season!  Check out the best of Fall Golf at BOYNE!  See ya on the turf!
Jeff

The second round in the BOYNE Cup featured some classic match ups from our pros and interns!  Here are the results!

Ryan Thompson advances over Mike Fay

Tristan Pitts defeats Austin Pieters

Gaetan Biane over Charlie Henninger

Casey Powers trumped Dan Turcott

Mike Kollett clipped Steve Niezgoda

Ryan Tubbs ousted Gary Day

Brian O'Neill moves on over Ryan Brown

Brad Wancket took down Dave McWorter

Welcome to the longest days of the year. There’s no better time to enjoy 36.
Is there anything better?  Maybe 54.  All this daylight makes it possible AND, if you’re hip to this little secret you just might have enough in the tank to go for it.

Secret, you say?

Yep.
 
Well, not really, but since so few people do this it seems like a secret.

The secret is shoes. 
A pair that fits great is good.  Two pair that fit great are better.
The second pair is the key to hitting round two and beyond feeling fresh and revived. After 18 holes, cool clean socks and fresh shoes are as invigorating as a shower.

You don’t have to break the bank. Boyne Country Sports has closeouts on high-end, fully waterproof models running from $49.99.  If you aren’t near a store, you can order men's or ladies' from our online partner SkiGolf.com. They’ll ship them to you for free.

So take care of those ponies. Your playing partners will find you annoyingly chipper when you tee up for the afternoon round- provided that they survive the olfactory assault when you change.

If you’re going for 54, just repeat the process, or put on your morning pair after they've had a chance to breathe for a few hours. The difference is pure magic.

-JJ

If you aren’t living HD yet you’d better get a move on before you miss the show.
For many, that means weekends of bonding with HD TVs. Football season is in high-gear and that means HDTV at its’ best.
But it doesn’t come close to this.

This is High Definition Living brought to you by BOYNE.  It’s full of life-defining moments and the picture is so crisp and clear, it’s like your right there…because YOU ARE.

Now showing: Fireworks in Slow Mo
It’s that time for our annual spectacle of the spectrum.  Step right up ladies and gentlemen. A colossal collision of color awaits.
The world is turning…orange and gold. Erupting in Reds and yellows.
Boom.
Ahhh!

Kapow.
OOOHHH!

Trade in that trusty recliner for the best seat in the house- a chairlift seat.
How about that 360 degrees of vision and an immersive sound system?

Too “Type A” for slow mo?
Try an early morning run or strap on a helmet and blur all the colors together as you tear down the bike paths and trails.
 
Do I even need to mention the golf?
The turf grass is talking. If you listen, it will gush in cool greens. It's all a little greener, especially when set against a raging inferno of color. And remember, this is HD LIVING.  You can reach down and touch it, but please replace your divots.

Unfortunately, you can’t set TiVo to record this for you while you waste time doing other things.
This season is brief and there are no reruns.  You might want to tune in quick.

-JJ

Paranoia
pahr•a•noi•a        [pahr-uh-noi-uh]
-NOUN
Irrational fear that you have been shooting waaaay too many pars in a row and that bad things are about to happen.  Victims of this affliction should be careful to not cause other members of their group to become Par Annoyed. (see below)

Par Annoyed
Pahr•a•noid         [pahr-uh-noid]
-NOUN
The state of agitation brought on by friends complaints about their bad luck missing birdie putts and getting easy pars – while you are carding hard-fought bogies.

I suffered a case of paranoia at the eighteenth tee Sunday morning after my "buddy" tallied up the numbers and said,
"WOW! If you get through this hole o.k. and you're gonna have a sweet score."

Hook, dub, lost, drop, three-jack. Par 5 turned 8. Thanks Dave. I'm still trying to find the perfect word to describe how I feel about that.

-JJ

Take the “uh" out of putting.
Do not putt the ball.  Put the ball.

Start pooting.  Just like you put your clubs in your bag. Put your faith in your ability.
If you don’t become a put-er you will be just another putterer.

Here’s how:
Determine direction. Decide on distance. Do.
No second guessing. 
No “uh”.

That is all for today grasshopper.

-JJ

 

Golfers know about lateral hazards and water hazards, but there is one hazard even more irksome and painful-
the spruce tree. 

They stand like vertical water columns reaching up to grab an errant shot.  Miss into one and odds are the ball won’t come out. Unless you’re sporting plate mail you probably won’t be going in after it and now you’re down a stroke and a ball. Either way, that hurts.

If you have a Navy Seal mentality about golf balls and “Never Leave Your Own Behind”, prepare to bleed for your convictions. These things are toothy critters.

Trust me on that one…and try not to overshoot your tee shot on 18 Alpine.

-JJ