Dreaming of the Greens

Holiday festivities are over, the decorations have been put away, and all I'm left with on this cold winter day is a little leftover fudge and a slightly rounder belly to remind me where the rest of the Christmas goodies went. The post-holiday blues get me every year.

But the promise of a new year, like the green grass of a golf course in the spring, brings hope of fresh beginnings, new adventures--and golf.

After I reing in the new year and spend a few days sulking in the return to everyday life, I start planning my first escape to Gulf Shores: where I'll stay, which courses I'll play. I pull out pictures from past trips, and I check out the photos and golf vacation deals at www.golf.gulfshores.com. For a little while I forget the gloom of January and warm my mind to thoughts of spring, summer, and Gulf Shores golf.

May your year be filled with birdies and long drives. Happy New Year.

Spending Green versus Spending Time on the Green

While everyone else was out shopping on Black Friday, I was hitting the golf course. I'm not big on shopping, particularly the day after Thanksgiving: crowded stores full of frenzied shoppers scrambling to get the best deal on the hottest Christmas gifts--no thank you. I saved the shopping for another day and spent a peaceful day playing golf and working off my Thanksgiving dinner (with the help of a golf cart, of course).

One of my shopping-crazy relatives asked me how I could play golf this time of year when there is so much to do. But that's exactly why. It's a stress release. It helps keep me centered during this hectic season. 'Tis the season to be jolly, right? Golf keeps me jolly.

Not to mention the weather in Gulf Shores this time of year, which is mild and perfect for golf. It's no wonder the snowbirds fly south for the winter.

You can find affordable fall/winter and year-round deals on Alabama Gulf Coast golf vacation packages at http://www.golf.gulfshores.com/plan/hot_deals/default.aspx.