Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Easter is upon us and with it there’s lots of great things to do in Central Florida and in the Orlando area. Here’s some of the highlights:

April 1-4: The Ultimate National Cheerleading Championship, Kissimmee. Cheerleaders compete for the Ultimate National Championship. At Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

April 3: Smucker’s Stars on Ice, Orlando. Enjoy performances by Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, World Champion Evan Iysacek, Olymic Silver Medalist Tanith Belbin, Olympic medal hopefuls from the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and more. At Amway Arena. Admission. 407-849-3002. www.starsonice.com/figure-skating/?content=tour

April 3: Easter Eggstravaganza, Kissimmee. Bring your Easter basket and get ready to join in on an egg-cellent Easter egg hunt. The festivities include an egg hunt, bounce house, entertainment, games, food and more. At Berlinsky Community House. Admission. 407-518-2599. www.visitkissimmee.com/leisure/festivals_events_calendar

April 4: Easter Sunrise Service at Bok Sanctuary, Lake Wales. Easter morning worshipers are invited to greet the dawn of this special day atop peninsular Florida’s highest point, as the sunrise is heralded with music from the sanctuary’s 60-bell Singing Tower carillon and the Lake Wales Chorale. Free admission 6 to 8 a.m; regular admission rest of the day. Easter buffet offered in the Blue Palmetto Café for an additional fee. Carillon selections also played at 1 and 3 p.m. 863-676-1408. www.boksanctuary.org

April 9-18: Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota. Featuring more than 200 films, public events, panels, parties, filmmaker discussions and musical performances. At Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20. 941-366-6200. www.sarasotafilmfestival.com

April 9-11: Tampa Bay Blues Festival, St. Petersburg. Each year since 1995 Tampa Bay Blues Festival has been staged at Vinoy Waterfront Park on the shores of Tampa Bay, with popular St. Petersburg Pier serving as a brilliant backdrop. The festival established itself as one of the world’s preeminent blues music events, having presented more than 195 of the world’s greatest blues performers. In addition to world class music, you can enjoy arts and crafts, taste treats from seafood and barbecue to Cuban cuisine, plus premium beer and wine. Admission. 727-502-5000. www.tampabaybluesfest.com

April 10: Yuri’s Night 2010 Space Coast Party, Titusville. Yuri’s Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, and the first space shuttle launch on April 12, 1981. This year festivities will also celebate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 13. Event features space simulators, science demonstrations, performance artists, DJ, prize drawings and special guest speakers toasting humanity’s achievements in space. Former NASA astronauts will be among featured speakers. Tickets include full admission into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. At Astronaut Hall of Fame. Admission. 386-589-5559. www.yurisnightspacecoast.com

April 11: Underwater Egg Hunt, Crystal River. Underwater egg hunt at Bicentennial Park Pool. For more advanced swimmers there will be different levels of difficulty based on swimming ability. Also a land-based egg hunt for non-swimmers and little ones, plus kids can paint an egg bigger than themselves. First 100 kids admitted free. Admission $1 after cutoff. 352-795-1478. www.tampabay360.com/event/17154

April 16-17: Central Florida Dragon Boat Festival, Tavares. Dragon boat racing was born out of myth and legend more than 2,000 years ago in southern China, commemorating the life and death of a great patriot who threw himself into the Mi Lo River. When news of his death spread, local fishermen raced out onto the water and splashed their paddles to prevent fish from eating his body. Today, worldwide, some two million people participate in dragon races. Activities kick off with the Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony, traditional Dragon/Lion dance and banquet. Event also features Chinese acrobatics, Egg roll eating contest, Bollywood dance and belly dancing and team beer challenge. Action-packed contests begin with a crew of 20 paddlers led by the loud, steady beat of the drummer. As the long and colorful boats compete, an ancient rite is revisited, all in the spirit of charity and fun. At Wooten Park. 352-343-2531. www.cfdragonboat.org

April 16-17: Celebration Exotic Car Festival, Kissimmee and Celebration. Town Center at Celebration will exhibit some of the world’s most exotic and rare automobiles. This year’s event includes new activities such as the Jetport Food and Wine Festival, a world-class culinary extravaganza with unlimited champagne, fine wines and spirits for $100; located at Kissimmee Airport. More than 100 exotic cars, business jets and personal aircraft will be on display. Also on display, famous television and motion picture cars in history including the original Batmobile and DeLorean. Seventh annual. Benefits Special Olympics of Florida. Free admission and parking. 407-566-2200. www.celebrationexoticcars.com/2010/

April 19-20: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Daytona Beach. The touring production of Disney’s movie-turned-broadway classic lands in Daytona Beach for a two-night engagement. The musical that has become an international sensation features the animated film’s Academy Award-winning score by Alan Menken. Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a small town, and the Beast, who is a young prince spelled by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end. If he does not, he and his household will be doomed forever. Admission. Performances at 7:30 p.m. both nights. 386.671.3462. www.peabodyauditorium.org

April 24-25: The Great American Pie Festival, Celebration. Includes never-ending pie buffet, National Pie Championships, culinary demonstrations, pie-eating contest, children’s pie-making, cooking demonstrations, and children’s games and crafts. Also entertainment both days. Ninth annual. At Lakeside Park. Admission. 847-371-0170. www.piecouncil.org/pie_events/gapf/index.php

April 27: Moonlight Carillon Concert at Bok Sanctuary, Lake Wales. Hear the famous 60-bell Singing Tower in a moonlight concert that will be the last in a once per month over two months series. At Historic Bok Sanctuary. Admission. 863-676-1408. www.boksanctuary.org

I managed to play hooky again today. After learning that a restart was scheduled for noon at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill I quickly finished a couple of jobs and got myself there just as the action was starting.

The winner turned out to be Ernie Els, who I met during the Pro-Am, and who had previously gone two years without a victory up until two weeks ago when he won the World Golf Championship at Doral. So now he’s won two in a row. Pretty neat eh?

Nigel Worrall & Ernie Els

This was Ernie’s second victory at Bay Hill, the other coming 11 years ago in a 36 hole Sunday because of rain and it was the rain that played a part in this victory as well.

At one point Els had a five shot lead on Sunday and looked to be cruising to victory when he took a double bogey on 13 and then a bogey on the next hole. Fortunately for Ernie, the siren to stop play came as thunderstorms approached and play was postponed as over two inches of rain drenched the Bay Hill course.

Restarting at noon today was no easy thing and Ernie was soon under pressure as he needed a 6 foot par putt on the 15th to keep his lead. Kevin Na then made a birdie on 16th to get to one shot and Els looked to be in big trouble as he faced a plugged lie in the face of the bunker on the 17th. On the verge of losing his lead, Els promptly blasted out to just over 6 feet and knocked in his par putt to keep the lead.

On 18th Na then drove into the rough and had to lay up. He then missed an 8 foot par putt and that effectively made life much easier for the following Els who made no mistakes in paring the 18th for a convincing and deserved win.

It was a great tournament to follow and this is what makes golf in Orlando so very special. Naturally there’s a lot of golf courses you can play but why not play at Bay Hill, where the pro’s play on your next trip?

Who knows, you may bump into “The King” Arnold Palmer yourself?

Here’s a short video of Ernie making the winning putt and the presentation ceremony”

I managed to nip out of the office for a couple of hours this afternoon and went back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf event at Bay Hill, Florida. Bay Hill is about a 15 to 20 minute drive from our office and most of the vacation homes we look after and this makes it nice and convenient to nip in and out of the tournament.

It’s also great for our guests who are visiting Orlando and want to watch some top golf or even play some as all our homes are within a few minutes drive of over 50 great golf courses. The Arnold Palmer Invitational is the first of two PGA events held in the Central Florida area each year with the other being held at Disney towards the end of the PGA season.

I was looking forward to today immensely because for the first time the organizers had arranged for a new opportunity at this year’s event.  Wine & Dine on 9, presented by Robert Mondavi wines, was to be a special hospitality event hosted alongside the 9th fairway.

All the top area restaurants  provided exquisite appetizers, each of which was paired with a wine sample and I’m sure this is now to become a regular part of the tournament such was the success of it. Flemings, Mortons, Timpano, Ruth’s Chris, Capital Grille, Melting Pot, Cariera’s, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Ocean Prime, Vines Grille & Wine Bar, Palm Restaurant & WA all took part and everyone I spoke to seemed to be having a great time. Further, the  proceeds raised will go to benefit the Arnold Palmer Medical Center and the Dr. Phillips Rotary Club so it really is a win-win situation for everyone.

After that, it was time for a quick photo with the Fedex Cup and then back to work before anyone noticed I’d disappeared… shhh… let this be our secret!

Here’s a short video covering the tournament and Wine & Dine on 9:

Yesterday was Pro-Am day at the final leg of the Florida swing for the PGA and the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational. Today the real action begins and this year we are going to get a new champion as the winner of the last two years, Tiger Woods, is missing.

This isn’t the only change to be seen at this famous Orlando course this year as every single one of the 18 holes at Bay Hill has been altered in some way or another over the past year.

It’s going to be hard to pick a winner from such an exceptional field and players like Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Ernie Els, Robert Allenby, Retief Goosen and Steve Stricker are bound to both entertain and be up there close to challenging for the title. That said, we shouldn’t rule out a challenge from some of the younger guys who have put on impressive performances already this year. Though only seven players in their 20s won PGA Tour events in all of 2009, already five twenty-somethings have won this season: Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Camilo Villegas and Derek Lamely (Puerto Rico) through 12 events and you should also keep an eye on last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational runner-up  Sean O’Hair.

Arnold Palmer Pro-Am 2010

Keeping 80 year old  Arnold Palmer happy will be his grandson, Sam Saunders, will make his second appearance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Saunders, 22, was a fresh-faced amateur the first time around but now he’s a young professional having turned pro last fall and has played in four PGA Tour events to date, earning money in two of them. His best showing was a tie for 17th at the Honda Classic.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational’s trophy is one of the most coveted on the PGA Tour. Not only is there a $6,000,000 purse with $1,080,000 going to the winner but there’s another important prize at stake at Bay Hill – a spot in the Masters.

Any player who is not already exempt for the Masters can earn an invitation with a victory either at the Arnold Palmer Invitational or the following week’s Shell Houston Open. The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking after the Arnold Palmer Invitational also earn Masters invitations so there’s much to play for and you can expect the competition to be intense.

I spent some time at the pro-am yesterday afternoon and enjoyed seeing some great golf and meeting with a few of today’s top golf pro’s … if you are in the Orlando area over the next four days you really should make the effort to go… after all, it’s not every weekend that a PGA golf tournament visits town.

I also bumped into the gorgeous Kelly Tilghman, host of Golf Channel’s PGA TOUR coverage, fresh from her recent interview with Tiger Woods as she spent a few moments with Arnold Palmer…

Arnold Palmer & Kelly Tilghman

After a couple of days in Vegas you’re left yearning for a dose of the “normal” world so we decided to rent a minivan and make the journey to Grand Canyon taking in Hoover Dam in the process.

We’d studied and asked how far and how long it would take and estimates ranged up to 380 miles and 5 hours. We decided to set off early and by 8am we were pretty much the first people to set foot on Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a huge concrete arch gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. The Dam is on the border between Arizona and Nevada and when it was completed in 1936, it was both the world’s largest hydroelectric power generating station and the world’s largest concrete structure. It was then surpassed in both these respects by the Grand Coulee Dam in 1945 and today the world’s 38th-largest hydroelectric generating station.

The Hoover Dam is located 30 miles southeast of LasVegas and was named after Herbert Hoover who played an instrumental role in its construction, first as the Secretary of Commerce and then later, as President of the United States.  Construction began in 1931, and was completed in 1936, a little more than two years ahead of schedule. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Lake Mead is the reservoir created by the dam, named after Elwood Mead,  who oversaw the construction of the dam. The guide we spoke to also told us of how Lake Mead has dropped some 120 feet in water level over the last 10 years and the following photo shows evidence of that:

From Hoover Dam we journeyed out to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s a long journey and nothing quite prepares you for what you are about to witness when you see the Grand Canyon for the first time. It’s simply awesome… a word I detest due to its overuse but even that doesn’t do the Grand Canyon justice.

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles  long, ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles (6.4 to 29 km) and attains a depth of over a mile or 6000 feet, whichever you prefer. Nearly two billion years of the Earth’s  geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists,recent evidence suggests the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to the point we see it today.

Grand Canyon Village is worth visiting as it houses Buckley O’Neil Cabin, Kolb Studio, El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio, Hopi House and Grand Canyon Railway Depot.

The Grand Canyon is an amazing sight to see and it’s well worth making the trip from Vegas to see it. There are various ways to do it such as by helicopter, airplane, coach or by hiring a vehicle but be warned if you choose either of the latter two, it is going to be a very long day.

If you’re unsure about visiting, and you shouldn’t be, then give Red Rock Canyon a try. It’s located just 20 mins from Vegas and although nothing like the Grand Canyon it still makes for an interesting few hours to get away from all the madness that is Vegas itself.

A lot has happened since my last blog post … I jumped on a plane with my family and we flew out to Las Vegas to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Shortly after arriving I opened my laptop to be met with a blue screen terminal error meaning I couldn’t get my emails or online…it was as if someone was saying “take a break”…so I did!

Unfortunately while taking a break I went down with a heavy head cold … bloody airplanes! So I didn’t get to enjoy the 5 day break as much as I would have wanted…however, we did some neat things, had some great meals and met up with some friends who had flown out from the UK especially to see us, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.

I haven’t been to Vegas for a few years so it was pretty amazing how things have changed. The Aladdin has gone to be replaced by Planet Hollywood and a new hotel, Aria, has come onto the scene…seems like the whole strip is slowly being updated for this century!

Unfortunately some of the seedier sides of Vegas still exist and the sooner they get those guys and gals off the street pushing their porn cards on the unsuspecting public the better everyone will be. I know the saying is “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” but these guys are nothing but an eyesore let alone the mess that is created by people dropping the cards on the floor.

So, the next question to ask is…”what’s this I hear about an economic downturn?” …judging from the amount of people around and the ongoing construction then it doesn’t seem to have made much difference as the place was absolutely heaving. Restaurants had 90 minute wait times and the casino’s seemed to be doing well. Sure, I understand the real estate market has bombed and I’m absolutely puzzled as to how all these shops stay open but something seems to keep attracting the masses to this market.

Coming from Orlando, we see Vegas as being a major competitor for travel business but my thoughts are that it is very much a different market …one geared for a shorter stay.

In Orlando, it’s pretty much impossible to get around all the theme parks in just 3 or 4 days, let alone enjoy some down time and all the other attractions we have but 4 days in Vegas is just about enough for most folks from what I understand by talking to some of them.

The restaurants are absolutely superb though and we dined at Mon Ami Gabi, The Eiffel Tower, P.F. Changs (twice), California Pizza Kitchen and a couple of other places as well. I do need to single out Mon Ami Gabi though…it’s simply one of my favorite restaurants for lunch in the world. Located at the front of the Paris hotel it’s a great venue for people watching while enjoying an extensive and fabulous meal. The steak frites are pretty much the best I’ve had anywhere including the real Paris.

So with that said, The Eiffel Tower restaurant was not up to it’s usual high standard. This was a special occasion for us as we were celebrating a milestone birthday for my wife but somehow the meal wasn’t quite up to the standard we’ve enjoyed there before. The food was good so don’t get me wrong but the standard of service was pretty poor and even though I’d paid for a couple of extra upgrades from their menu of services, I was left feeling disappointed. (Word of warning: watch out for the photographer…comes around and asks if you’d like a picture…he takes it and then shows you the digital image and asks if you’d like him to print it out… you say “yes”, he says “OK, I will add it to your tab”. I say “what’s the cost?”, he says “$25″, I say “well for that kind of money I’d like to see the print first”… he doesn’t say anything, just walks away with me assuming he’s going to oblige. I don’t see him again all night. No print, no charge. Crazy…because if I was in charge of that restaurant I’d be kicking his sorry butt up and down the strip for not closing the sale).

So with that going on another couple of things annoyed me. Firstly the lack of attention to detail…nothing major, just small things such as trying to give the wrong person the wrong dish… and then the fact they didn’t attempt to upsell us with the trip up the Eiffel Tower for the view of Vegas. (I doubt we’d have done it anyway because it was pretty windy but if we’d been asked, we may just have said “yes”….again another lost sale.

All in all, I just felt the restaurant and the restaurant staff have become complacent and with all the old and the new restaurants now springing up or being upgraded I just feel this place needs to up its game to keep its regular (OK….”regular” meaning 3 to 5 years since we last visited) patrons coming back. The Eiffel Tower restaurant is always on our list of “must do’s” when we visit but next time it might not feature so high as we really didn’t have such a memorable time as we might have done.

Vegas has so many great choices though and the hotels are simply outstanding. Normally, we’d stay in the Venetian but this time we tried a place that didn’t have a casino…Polo Towers. A simply great location and our three room suite was pretty good for the money we paid. OK, it wasn’t a 3 bedroom vacation home with a private swimming pool that we are used to renting for about the same price to our Orlando guests but it was the perfect match for our plans this time around.

A great location on the strip can save you being tired out come days end and having stayed at Circus Circus on our first ever trip, we quickly learned that we want to be more centrally located nowadays. Planet Hollywood was a 5 minute walk and the new Aria hotel was straight over the street.

Our location made it easy to see everything and even a trip to Mandalay Bay to see a performance of the Lion King was simple enough as we set off early enough to have a pleasurable stroll through New York, New York, Luxor and Excalibur on the way.

Hotels and casinos (even for non gamblers like our family) are what makes Vegas though. Some simply amazing hotels like The Venetian, Palazzo, Wynn, Bellagio and Caesars Palace all have some fabulous architecture, design and style as well as some of the greatest shopping experiences you’ll ever find. One example… a $750.00 cup cake made with Louis XIII de Remy Martin Cognac, Valrona Palmira single estate chocolate and vanilla caviar, topped with edible flakes of real gold!!

Another highlight of our trip was to be in town for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Plenty of green could be seen and an awful lot of people seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves with a Guinness or some other tipple as they listened to some of the performers that featured along the strip or in the hotels.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you more about our visit to Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam…

Fishing in Florida

By Nigel G. Worrall

Traditionally, a Florida vacation would include a visit to Walt Disney World Resorts and Universal Studios. Other days are perhaps filled with trips to the many other attractions and things to do in and around Orlando that time soon passes and you find yourself returning back home in no time. So what if you had time for a slower pace of life, time to just while away the hours and time to just completely relax without having to dash here, there and everywhere?

It is possible to have the best of both worlds. Sure, enjoy the attractions and theme parks but don’t forget to relax your mind as well and if you are an outdoors person, then why not enjoy some fishing in Florida? A few hours spent alone or with the family in tow to enjoy this popular pastime can make the difference to how rested and relaxed you feel when it is finally time to pack up and head home.

Florida is a haven for fishermen and women and is often called “the Fishing Capital of the World” because of its great resources and responsible management. The diversity of sport fish, habitats, great weather and year round fishing make for the perfect environment that is hard to surpass. Listed below are some of the great places to explore for those interested in an off-beat vacation on vacation:

Lake Okeechobee is the second biggest lake within the United States is Lake Okeechobee in Florida. The “Big O” has one of the finest freshwater fishing options and is the habitat for several species of fish such as the large mouth bass, crappie, catfish bream and bluegill. Popular fishing spots on or around the lake include:

• Bass species of fish can be observed and caught at the flats stretching from the boat lock at Henry Creek towards Chancey Bay. At Nubblin Slough, these can be caught round the year;

• Area behind Eagle Bay Island is great for catching all species of Panfish;

• From January through April, Eagle Bay is prime large mouth region as the lake is at its fullest; and

• The rocky area north of North Lake Shoal (Kings Bar) is abundant in bluegill species.

Located east of the City of Lake Wales, in the heart of Osceola County, Lake Kissimmee is one of the best large mouth lakes in the United States. One of the largest impounds on the Kissimmee River in Central Florida, Lake Kissimmee has been restored in the past few years with introduction of ecologically favorable vegetation. A few of the popular tourist and fishing spots on or around the lake include the highway 60 bridge area stretching to the Shady Oaks Fish Camp, deep-water break off the east side of Brahma Island, the southeast corner of Brahma Island, the cut behind Brahma Island, extending between Rocky Point and Otter Slough, and the westernmost point of Brahma Island and the ironically named small cove called Polluted Waters.

Fishing in Florida is not just about lakes and rivers- Mosquito Lagoon, a fishing estuary located just 45 minutes from Orlando is one of the best locations for beginners as well as expert anglers to catch Redfish, Sea Trout, Snook, Tarpon and more. Mangroves here provide a great hiding place for Snook and ‘tailing’ Redfish can easily be spotted. This is also an excellent place to observe Dolphins, Manatees and many other sea animals and flora in their natural surroundings.

Pier Fishing in Florida- On the west coast, Jacksonville and St. Petersburg have plenty of piers where fishing is allowed. For those who prefer to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the good food and company of friends away from tour guides, bass boars and GPS’s sounds, pier fishing locations spotted throughout Florida are wonderful options.

Other great options for fishing in Florida are Lake George, Lake Toho, River/Lake Seminole (Near the City of Chattahoochee), Lake Talquin / Ochlockonee River, Lake Weir (located in south Marion County near Ocala) and Lake Monroe in Sanford but there is a hidden secret you may not be familiar with.

Florida offers some great fishing options when you rent a vacation villa or vacation home. Many vacation homes are located in areas where there are small lakes to fish in and these vacation rentals are great options when you are looking to control your budget. The great thing about them is that you don’t have to compromise on any of the 5 star luxuries you are used to as most vacation homes have a private swimming pool, gaming rooms, a full size kitchen, comfortable living spaces, several bedrooms and the ability for each member of the family to do exactly as they wish.

Fishing in Florida can be fun for all the family and you’ll have plenty of options when the cry of “take me fishing” is heard.

Construction on the future home of the Orlando Magic is moving along nicely. Magic officials released a photo Friday of the inside of the Amway Arena which is under construction in downtown Orlando.

The new arena is set to open October 10, 2010. Looks good.  Here’s what it will look like:

Apparently America isn’t yet tired of the Celebrity Apprentice and a new season started last night. Don’t know about you but I’m getting a little tired of the same old format and what I want to see is something new, something different… such as these people helping small business owners instead of the corporate vulchars paying the big bucks to get closer to The Donald and get their five minutes of air time.

After all,  it’s small business that is going to help rebuild America so why not take the show to the grassroots and see how we can help real people in real businesses?

This seasons athletes, musicians, comedians, and TV personalities will compete to raise money for their favorite causes, and the last man (or woman) standing will receive a $250,000 bonus donation for their charity of choice.

Here’s the line up:

Maria Kanellis

Occupation/Background: Former WWE Diva, singer, and model
Age: 28
Charity: Make a Wish Foundation

Sinbad

Occupation/Background: Comedian
Age: 53
Charity: Omega Boys Club / Street Soldier

Bill Goldberg

Occupation/Background: Actor and former professional wrestler
Age: 43
Charity: Specchio Family Foundation in support of “Sons of the Fallen”

Bret Michaels

Occupation/Background: Actor and former professional wrestler
Age: 43
Charity: Specchio Family Foundation in support of “Sons of the Fallen”

Summer Sanders

Occupation/Background: TV host and former swimmer
Age: 37
Charity: Right to Play

Curtis Stone

Occupation/Background: Chef
Age: 34
Charity: Feeding America

Carol Leifer

Occupation/Background: Comedian and TV writer
Age: 53
Charity: North Shore Animal League America

Holly Robinson Peete

Occupation/Background: Actress
Age: 45
Charity: HollyRod Foundation

Michael Johnson

Occupation/Background: Former sprinter
Age: 42
Charity: Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

Rod Blagojevich

Occupation/Background: Former Governor of Illinois
Age: 53
Charity: Children’s Cancer Center

Darryl Strawberry

Occupation/Background: Former baseball player
Age: 47
Charity: The Darryl Strawberry Foundation

Sharon Osbourne

Occupation/Background: America’s Got Talent and former The X Factor Judge
Age: 57
Charity: Cedars-Sinai in support of Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program

Cyndi Lauper

Occupation/Background: Singer and actress
Age: 56
Charity: Stonewall Community Foundation for True Colors

Selita Ebanks

Occupation/Background: Model
Age: 27
Charity: Shine on Sierra Leone

Golf in Florida

By Nigel G. Worrall

The sunny state of Florida with its lush green beautiful landscaped golf courses is one of the hottest sporting destinations in USA. Apart from its exotic tourist spots, Florida draws thousands of visitors every year simply because of the great golf experiences there are to be had. Golf in Florida is simply outstanding and here you can strike the balance between quality family time as well as enjoying your favorite pastime.

One of the highlights of a golf trip to Florida is the ability to rent a vacation villa or vacation home which is not only convenient but also economical. The facilities a vacation villa or home has to offer are quite incomparable with those which hotels offer. In a hotel you may feel confined to your room and other members of your party may be spread out on different floors with no common area for you all to have some privacy; most vacation homes have private gardens and swimming pools attached which allow you privacy along with all the luxuries. Fully equipped kitchens complete with a pantry with your favorite food items, gaming rooms & LCD televisions with DVD libraries are just a few of their features. There is no compromise on services since most provide housekeeping, garden and pool staff and even an on request driver. All of this is available at great rates and often very much lower than compared to the cost of staying at a hotel and eating out on a daily basis. There are many options available to you throughout Florida and some of the best are located near golf clubs and provide a wholesome family vacation while enabling you to play some great golf in Florida!

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Invitational

Of course, Florida is home to some of the best PGA golf tournaments and you will definitely be spoilt for choice heading out for a round of golf in Florida. Since professionals know the best, most of the golf courses in Central Florida have been designed by them to provide the golf enthusiast a true to life experience. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson have each designed an 18-hole course at The Reunion Resort and Club of Orlando for instance. The main golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, is simply breathtaking with a lavish landscape of natural preserve woods, water bodies and palm trees.
A rare opportunity to play one of the world’s most highly acclaimed layouts is available at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill club and this is the setting for The Bay Hill Invitational PGA tour event every year. This grand event sees many of the world’s greatest players compete against each other. Presented by MasterCard, the event in 2010 will be held between March 25 and March 28 and tickets are available online as well as at the Club. http://www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/

Disney’s World of Golf

Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando is another popular golf facility and includes some of the finest PGA Tour Courses amongst its 6 golfing facilities. With perfect green lawns, hazardous obstacles and breathtaking landscapes there is no dearth of Disney’s magic at any of these courses. Even the golf carts here are up to date with technologies such as GPS tracking, making golf in Florida a truly modern day experience.

Eagle Pines is the popular Disney golf course designed by Pete Dye sprawled across 6,772 yards and boasts of many water hazards and Osprey Ridge, designed by Thomas Fazio is a one of Florida’s finest golf course spread across 7,101 yards.

Disney is also home to the PGA TOUR FUNAI Classic which is hosted on the Palm and Magnolia golf courses. The Palm is a great golf course for the intermediate to advanced player while the Magnolia, which derives its name from the various Magnolia trees spotted across the course, is home to the final rounds of the FUNAI CLASSIC. Slated to be held between Nov 11 and Nov 14 in 2010, tickets will be available online and also from Walt Disney World Resorts.

While most of Disney’s courses are designed keeping accomplished players in mind; families can still enjoy their part of the action at Disney’s Oak Trail which is a relaxing nine-hole course that every member of the family can enjoy.

Florida has many varied options for enjoying a round of golf and you’ll soon feel that golf in the Sunshine State is not just a sport, but truly a passion. It’s also the perfect place for a fabulous family vacation or a golf trip with your pals.