Labour Day Weekend

Well everyone, it's officially the Labour Day Long Weekend. The last weekend of the summer before the kids all go back to school and life gets a little more chaotic. Juggling the different emotions that everyone has getting back into a routine can be a challenge. And on top of that, there are school/work lunches to be made, clothes to be laid out the night before, shopping to be done, and I'm sure I left a few things out.

Handling and coordinating a smooth transition back into 'life' can be difficult. Here are a few handy tips to remember:

*The kids are feeling anxious - just remember, anxiety is a normal hormonal reaction, especially with change going on. Keep your cool and remind yourself that 'this too shall pass'. Take it minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

*The stress is causing your grey hair to come out - well, this too is a natural reaction. Handle your stress as best you can by getting a daily organizer to strategize and plan out your days and weeks. And most importantly, stop by Shoppers Drug Mart for that root touch up kit.

*Shopping for new outfits - ugh, the dreaded shopping day. Remember to keep your patience in tact, and just go with the flow. Eat a good breakfast and bring water with you. You never know when you're going to get a stress headache and need to hydrate.

*Back to school/work lunches - the handiest tip for lunches is to do it the night before. Not only will this save you time in the morning, but you can also sleep easy knowing there's one less thing to get done tomorrow. A piece of fruit, a sweet treat, something to drink and a solid PB & J sandwich will always do the trick in a pinch.

So, for all of your adults that are easing into the 'new year', that which is the school year, remember to keep your cool and go with the flow. Organization is one of the most helpful things you can do for yourself to save both time and energy.

And lastly, since you are all under more stress this weekend, use that extra day for yourself. Grab your clubs and come up to Bushwood for our Long Weekend Golf and Cart Specials. And if you aren't a golfer, that's fine too! Come into the Caddyshack for a cold beer or two or three!

See you there ;)

Sizzling Summer Season

As summer draws to a close and labour day approaches, the golf summer season is drawing to a close as well. Bushwood has had a great summer season with great prices! And just because summer is ending, doesn't mean the great deals are ending too.This labour day weekend, Bushwood is the place to be. With awesome golf and cart combos, it's the perfect way to wrap up the summer season and tee off into the fall. 

As the saying goes 'when one door closes, another one opens', the same goes for trends in golf. With the fall golf season approaching, new trends are emerging. Recently, the talk of the (golf) town has been the peak of teenagers taking over in the industry. We are seeing amazing talent in young golfers on the televised golf tournaments.

Referencing back to a previous post, 'The Truth About Youth', it just goes to show that the youth of today have a strong interest in golf and they are going far with it. Hopefully this trend of youth golfers will continue into upcoming seasons and be passed down to the even younger generations!

Bonding at Bushwood

Many people know that the golf course is one of the main places where business deals go down. But in the business world, golf isn't limited to just making deals. Every year, many companies have staff outings or group events to build connections in the workplace and strengthen the bonds amongst employees. This is beneficial not only for the success of the organization itself, but also for the members of the organization.

As a business communications student with honours at Brock, this is no foreign topic to me. So for me being able to talk about my studies and golf combined is like a hole in one!

Bushwood hosts many company tournaments each season with much success. Not only do these tournaments provide an opportunity for the players to get a day away from the office, but it also works as a team-building day for the company. Having a golf tournament day is a great way to keep employee satisfaction high. It makes everyone feel appreciated for the work they put in. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to match up employees from different areas of the office for the golf foursomes. This is a great way to share new perspectives from within the company with each other, as well as by enabling a wider circle of relationships amongst employees who may not interact daily.

All in all, a bonding day at the course is a win-win for everyone involved. Go ahead, reward yourself for the hard work you do at the office - get on the greens and strengthen the workplace connections!

FOREplay

Golf has never been known as a sport recognizable for creating scandals that the tabloids love. Rather, many people view golf as a boring old-person sport. Part of that perception comes from the fact that it is a participant sport, not a team sport (excluding the Ryder Cup, of course). The other part comes from the long duration of the sport, the tranquility, respect and focus required in the game. When you think golf you don’t think: sex but, when you think hockey you think: jocks and sex (right?).

But wait, stop the press! Or if you look it at differently, start it? Things changed when Tiger Woods’ sexual rendezvous’ in 2009 hit the headlines. These were the first major stories in golf to unite sex and sport.

An article I found online by Gerald Posner talks about the hidden ‘groupie’ scene in the realm of golf. You can find it here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/12/04/the-secret-world-of-golf-groupies.html. The article reveals that prior to Woods’ slip up and cheating scandal, this type of behaviour was not uncommon among golfers. Take a look and you may be shocked by what you learn – at least I was.

Ultimately, sex and golf are not as a detached as they may seem. According to sources in the article, male pro golfers often use their caddy as the middle man by getting them to pull a good looking lady into the autograph line. Also talked about in Posner’s article was the use of the clubhouse as a way to mingle with the single ladies after a round (of golf and drinks).

But outside of the professional world, what connection do golf and sex have? Well, for some players, it’s a way to bond with buddies and share some stories on the course – girl talk or guy talk if you will. For others, the sport is a way to meet people in order to get to the sex portion of the combo. Whether you’re single, married or it’s complicated, golf and sex have an undeniable connection – it’s up to you whether you find it or not.

Lucky Leagues

Golfing alone can be peaceful and help bring focus to your game. But you can’t always play alone – what fun would that be? Finding friends to golf with can be a challenge; not everyone may have the same appreciation or love for the game that you do. So how do you find people to golf with? Easy! Join a league. 

Bushwood offers many leagues:

• Monday Men’s League

• Tuesday Ladies' Lunch League

• Tuesday Ladies' League

• Wednesday Ladies' Links League

 

The benefits of joining a league are endless!

1.     MEET PEOPLE – joining a league is a great way to meet new people and find a new golf buddy!

2.    IMPROVE YOUR GAME – golfing with leagues provides the opportunity for league members to share tips with each other to help improve their game.

3.     GET SOCIAL – after a league, members socialize with a cool beer and some food in the clubhouse. It’s a great way to expand your social circle!

4.     NETWORK – the golf course is prime place for business deals to go down. Join and league and you could find an expected network connection for your career!

5.     GET A LIFE – joining a league guarantees you one night out per week. It gives you a break and some time away from the kids or your spouse! There is nothing more peaceful than the long stretch of a fairway ahead of you as the sun is setting.

So, next time you think about going out for a solo round, think about joining a league or calling up a friend that you met at a league night. It will change your game!

A Par-fect Day At The Course!

Golf is tough – mentally, physically, and even emotionally. It can be difficult to have a good, if not great day at the course. Here a few things I think can lead to a par-fect day on the course! 

1.  A good set of clubs! You want your clubs to fit your body size appropriately. Whether you have top of the line clubs or not, make sure they fit you properly. You wouldn’t wear a pair of shoes that were to small, so why should you play golf with clubs that make you hunch over and give you back pain by the end of the round?
2. Keep your head on straight! With the ups and down of golf, it’s important to remember to have a clear head. Whether it’s a birdie or a bogey, don’t get flustered!
3. Once your head is on straight, put a hat on it! As we approach the middle of July, the heat is on full force. To protect yourself from the sun, always make sure you’ve got a hat and some sunscreen in the bag.
4. Stay hydrated! Bring your own bottle of water, or grab a cold one in the Caddyshack. With a long day of golf ahead of you, keep your body hydrated. Don’t forget to have one cup of water for every tall boy you enjoy out there!
5. A nice set of wheels! No, I’m not talking about the type of car you drive. Take a set of wheels on the course with you – either a golf cart ($18 per rider) or a pull cart. Don’t worry if you don’t have a pull cart – you can rent one for $5!
6. Indulge in a cold one at the Caddyshack! After your par-fect round, end the day with a cold beer in the Caddyshack. With our new menu, it’s the perfect occasion to reward yourself for a job well done on the course.

Cheers! 

Oh Canada, Oh Cake

Bushwood celebrated Canada Day in fine fashion with its members, public, staff and campers in honour of our country’s 146^th birthday. Bushwood’s leading ladies, Mary and Heather, took to the kitchen to bake a red and white cake to celebrate. With red and white balloons, flags and banners to accompany the cake, festivities were in full swing. 

                                 

Speaking of swing, golfers grabbed their clubs and headed to the range for a free bucket of balls to do some pre-game practice. If you missed out on the freebies, you still have a chance! With the Canadian Open fast approaching, Bushwood is buzzing with talk about who will claim the title. With Tiger out of the mix, it’s time for a new fan fave. A native to the course with his own record, Bushwood staffers are routing for our own Bubba Watson.

Now it’s your turn! Post your thoughts on who you think will be the 2013 Canadian Open Champ for a chance to win a free pass for two to play our executive course! All entries will be entered to win.

Happy Belated Birthday Canada!