A long journey for Angela Stanford.
Veteran LPGA golfer Angela Stanford wins her first Major Title at the Evian Championship in Evian- Les- Bains, France. Now in her forties, Stanford had almost given up on winning a major and was ecstatically surprised to come from behind to take home the win. The closest she has come before was in 2003 at the US Open when she lost in a playoff. Her win in France makes it her 6thLPGA title, the 5thone happened more than six years ago.
They say you don’t know a place unless you have shared food with its people. Learning about a place through its cuisine and planning one’s travel experiences around ‘discovery through food’ is a distinctive and wise travel choice. Famed Chef, author, and entertainer Anthony Bourdain has precisely this kind of gastronomic exploration down to perfection. How he stays so slim, I do not know. More and more in today’s world, we are seeing an interest in gourmet tourism. From day trips to month long culinary adventures, there is a visible trend developing with many opportunities to be had.
When I think of places like Italy and India, I can readily imagine and almost taste the distinct food and spice of each place. The same goes for Japan, Korea and the Middle East. But when I think of my own country, Canada, I have to dig a little deeper to bring to mind a distinct food culture. In all honesty, I don’t think we have just one but, more prominently, we have a broad array of regional cuisines to share with the world.
Oh, Canada. We are such a vastly spread out nation of people brought together from so many faraway places with only a 4.3% First Nations culture remaining. This, in and of itself, has an undeniable impact on our food. Our food culture has regional distinctions more than one overreaching flavor. But when it comes down to it, are we better off because of our diversity?
From a creamy maritime clam chowder or a late night Halifax Donair to a steamin’ hot greasy box of poutine in Quebec, many miles and savors are spanned. Not to skip over the traditional Acadian “Fricot”,a hearty stew containing potatoes, dumplings and meat, fish or seafood.
Ontario has incredible seasonal fruit and the most tender fresh water fish, Pickerel being one of the most popular. While Quebec has perhaps the most developed of Canada’s regional cuisine with a long list of favorites like tourtiere (meat pies), tarte au sucre (sugar pie), baked beans, soupe aux pois (pea soup), sweet and savory crepes, Creton (pork pate), poutine is the most well known and defining of them all.
Manitoba, like, Ontario, is known for its freshwater fish. Goldeye, Walleye, Northern Pike and trout traditionally smoked by the First Nations People and later by settlers and traders, are still popular delicacies today.
First Nations influence on the Manitoba food culture is palpable. Other First Nations foods, such as bison and wild game are smoked and dried. As a result, Winnipeg has some of the best charcuterie boards in the country…and don’t forget the perogies. We are mostly an immigrant culture after all.
In Saskatchewan, much of the food has been accumulated and passed on from different cultures such as its Eastern European settlers. It is influenced also by its topography and harsh climate. Along with wheat, Saskatchewan grows a ton of mustard seed and a portion of the world’s lentils.
You can find bannock (made with local wheat) and soup in just about every restaurant in the province. And because of the harsh cold winters, everyone knows how to pickle and preserve. Perogies are everywhere but made ‘local’ when stuffed with elk or smoked pork and served with homemade mustard and pickles. In summertime, the wild berries are a natural bounty as are sour cherries, so the berry desserts and syrups are distinctive.
Alberta Beef, need I say more? Actually, yes, I do need to elaborate, as bison dates way further back (120,000 years) and was a staple food for Alberta’s First People and remains popular today. Alberta, like Saskatchewan, grows mustard and legumes in bounty and has similar Eastern European influences.
And finally, we have arrived in British Columbia. BC has some of the best food in the country and how it is grown and prepared is persuaded by the healthy lifestyle of its population. Where the land meets the sea, East meets the West, and where the past meets the present; what this does to our food culture is incredible. Look at the uses of wild salmon alone. Candied salmon and salmon jerky are traditional foods of the First People. There’s baking it on a cedar plank, east meets west with the B.C sushi roll, while Salmon pate exposes a European twist to the fish.
Organic food is becoming the norm. All kinds of restaurateurs have tapped into the wave by offering farm to table menus. The concept of farm to table is no longer new to the city. Even small towns like Nelson, SaltSpring Island and Tofino have incredible health food awareness (and have for years) with abundant options for food travellers. On SaltSpring Island, there is a Saturday market and a Tuesday farmer’s market where locals and visitors can shop for wonderful, wholesome, bountiful foods. There is everything from local cheese to local kimchi. There are now small private daily food tours by SaltSpring Culinary Tour and larger group tours by Western Splendour should you arrive without a car or if you simply want to get the most out of the wine , beer, vodka, and cider tastings without having to drive.
http://www.gopacgolf.com/culinarytour.html
Food travel has more depth to it that we might expect. No matter what country or part of a country you may choose to visit, you will be sure to discover how food has an interconnected relationship with culture, history and place and how much ‘place’ itself has a profound effect on the food and people. While you may sip and savour in the delights of the present moment, with every bite, you have the opportunity to go back a long way in time.
A Bushnell range finder and an MSR15 semi automatic weapon. I never would have put these two objects together in one thought,
but now Vista Outdoors has forever inextricably linked them in my mind. The largest ammunition manufacturing company in the USA, Vista Outdoors, is the producer of Bushnell golf products as well as the maker of the MSR15. This is very upsetting news to many golfers worldwide who rely on and adore their Bushnell devices. I, for one, do not support the mass production of semi automatic weapons and their availability to the average American. They are weapons of mass destruction and go well beyond the purpose of self-defense. So where does this leave us golfers now? What are other options? Golf Buddy, Nikon, TECTECTEC and Garmin make reliable range finders. So when the time comes for you to replace your old or lost device, please consider these excellent options.
Have you heard of Jeju-Do
I had the opportunity to teach English in Gwangju, South Korea in 2001-2002 when I was 29 years old. I went there with my then 7 year old son and a friend who was also interested in teaching abroad.
It was there that I learned about Jeju Island off the Southern tip of Korea. ‘Jeju-Do’ as the locals call it, means ‘jewel’ of the yellow sea. My Korean friends also referred to it as the Hawaii of Asia, whereby it is honored for its majestic natural beauty, temperate climate, hiking trails, loving people and brilliant food.
On my very first break from teaching (and we seldom had a break), with my boy and friend in toe, I took a bus to the coast to catch a ferry to the island. Unfortunately, unlike the ferry service in BC that I am accustomed to, which might have one wait for a few hours before a next available sailing, the ferry to Jeju-do had to be booked months in advance, especially on Chuseok, a special holiday weekend. We hadn’t realized the significance of Chuseok in the Korean culture because we were so new there. It literally means ‘autumn eve’ and is the most important and festive holiday of the year. It is the Korean thanksgiving. We ended up boarding a different ferry and sailing off to a different island of much lesser known stature called Toch’odo, where upon arrival we were treated like royalty perhaps due to the fact that very few foreigners ever consider visiting it and because we were without family on Chuseok. It was an amazing and memorable time that included net fishing, drinking Soju by the bottle on the beach, traditional food, and lots of Karaoke. My only regret is that we never made it to Jeju-do or any of the other 3,300 islands in Korea.
Fast-forward 15 years. I turn on the golf channel one morning (a few weeks ago) and see that Korea is hosting a PGA event at Nine Bridges Golf Club on Jeju Island. The inaugural event called the CJ Cup attracted top PGA players and boasted one of the largest prize pots on the PGA tour. The lucky winner was Justin Thomas. The course is the only one in Korea to be named to the honored “top 100” list of golf courses worldwide and it soon became apparent to me why. Challenging winds and weather conditions paired with innovative golf course design made this course a perfect challenge for its world-class participants. It was also a pleasure to see that many Korean domestic players were allowed to gain entry into the tournament and participate on the world stage. These included 5 golfers from the Korean PGA tour, 2 players from the Asian Tour, the top 3 South Korean players as rated in by the world rankings and one local amateur player. K.J. Choi, Bae Sang-moon and 8 lesson known professionals were invited as sponsor exemptions as well as An Byeong-hun, who qualified by his world rankings. In a field of 80 or so players, South Korea was well represented and should be very proud of its talented golfers and growing golf legacy.
I have wanted to return to Korea again to look up old friends and to revisit a place that holds a unique place in my life. Now that I am older and wiser, and a little more familiar with the Korean ferryboat culture, I hope to successfully make it to Jeju Do, with my clubs in toe. I have absolutely no doubt that it is just as beautiful now as it was then.
The unsettled history of the U.S. Open’s next venue; Shinnecock Hills.
Despite being a historic golfing institution as one of the oldest golf clubs in the U.S. (1891) as well as having hosted numerous U.S. Open tournaments and other notable tournaments of the past, little is known about the true history of the land, the logo and the name behind this majestic place… Shinnecock.
The gorgeous Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, New York, sits on land that the Shinnecock Indian Nation have laid claim to in a serious and credible lawsuit filed in 2005. The nation is seeking the return of 3,500 acres in Southhampton, New York, near the nation’s existing reservation as well as billions of dollars in reparations due to what they claim to be an illegally annulled agreement that deprived them of their tribal lands in 1859. The agreement, originally created in 1703, granted them the rights to all and more of the now stripped lands, making up what is now much of the South Hamptons. In 1859, European settlers and developers annulled the agreement in pursuit of this attractive land, that is notably popular today amongst New York’s elite vacationers. Currently, the Shinnecock Nation have tiny holdings in the area of only 750 acres. The Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is located right in the middle of the original land agreement territory, on grounds that are considered by the nation as ‘sacred’ still.
The current lawsuit may take years but one significant victory occurred for the tribe in 2010 whereby the tribe itself was finally and officially recognized by the U.S. government. This recognition is already helping the morale and resurgence of the area’s first people as it grants them more autonomy and rights. Despite not knowing what this means for their future, or for that of the area, including the golf club, it is in my opinion that healing, justice and reparation is critical in these situations. Generally, as it often happens, ‘great things’ come from honorable actions. Perhaps the membership of this exceptionally fine club, as well as the broader professional golfing community that it serves, can become involved in a positive and productive way too. Please share your comments and ideas on how you think this can be achieved.
Deep thoughts
Congratulations to Bryson DeChambeau.
Bryson DeChambeau rallied with a back-nine 30 at the John Deere Classic to edge Patrick Rodgers and notch his first career PGA Tour victory.
Source: Bryson DeChambeau Wins John Deere Classic, Qualifies for The Open | Golf Channel
I found this article online this morning and thought to pass it along to my bloggers. Carolyn Sharp
The major season is halfway over, and this time next week, after The Open Championship is all wrapped up, we will be 75 percent done with just one major until the 2018 Masters. But first, Royal Birkdale will host its first Open since 2008 and just its second this century. The last one was won by Padraig Harrington who is (improbably) a contender again.
Every major has great storylines going in, but which are the easiest to root for this week? Who should the casual golf fan who maybe only watches on Sundays or only tunes into the major championships be pulling for this week at Royal Birkdale? I have some names of legitimate contenders for you to look at. We’re exlcuding the obvious ones like Mark O’Meara winning in what will probably be his last Open because, let’s be honest, Mark O’Meara has no chance of winning this week.
So here are nine golfers with a real chance to win and why they’re going to be so easy to root for in Southport, England, this weekend.
1. Rickie Fowler: The American is still looking for his first major, and this might be his best chance to grab it. Fowler finshed in the top 10 at the U.S. Open in June and played great last week at the Scottish Open. He’s likable, thrilling to watch and tough as haggis in bad weather. He’ll be a fan favorite on both sides of the pond this week.
2. Lee Westwood: Poor Westwood is nearing his 80th major start without ever notching a single win. This week’s would be particularly savory coming in his home country of England. He has contended so many times here over the years (three top-three finishes since 2009), it would be incredible if he could finally get it done at age 44.
3. Tommy Fleetwood: His story is almost too easy. Fleetwood grew up in Southport, is playing the best golf of his life and is coming off a win at the French Open. Can you imagine the emotion of winning an Open that close to your hometown? That’s the dream for every golf-playing child in the United Kingdom.
“It’s obviously going to be an amazing experience support-wise,” said Fleetwood. “I think looking at it and people wishing me good luck and people talking about it, it’s going to be an experience that I’ve never had in my life. I think very few people get the chance to have a home crowd that’s massively in your favor and play a tournament where, however many people will be watching me, will all want me to do well.
“So I mean, good or bad, whatever the draw is, however I play, it’s going to be an experience that I’ll never forget just for the sheer support I think that I’m going to have, which is exciting in itself to look forward to.”
4. Sergio Garcia: The Spaniard has come up close at this event so many times, it’s incredible (even for him). He has an incredible 10 top-10 finishes, including each of the last three years. The Masters was massive for him, but you get the feeling an Open would mean even more. As we’ve gone over innumerable times, Garcia has gone from being a petulant, sometimes-unlikable kid to a tragic hero as an adult. He’s actually fun to root for now.
5. Jordan Spieth: The 23-year-old comes into this event off one of the great shots of his career at the Travelers Championship. For those looking for a Tiger Woods replacement on the American side of things, Spieth is your best bet (although he won’t come close to touching Tiger’s career). But for him to get three-quarters of the way to the career Grand Slam at this age would be pretty amazing.
6. Rory McIlroy: The Ulsterman has missed three of four cuts, but he can still make history this week at Royal Birkdale. His sits T20 all-time with four major championships in his collection. He can move to T14 with a win this week and join Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones as the only golfers with five of them before age 30. Greatness is fun to root for, especially when it’s wrapped in a dynamic personality like McIlroy’s.
7. Matt Kuchar: After a solid Scottish Open, Kuchar returns to a tournament where he only has one top 10 ever. Kuchar is as likable as professional athletes get, though, and it would be spectacular to see him get major No. 1 this week at Birkdale. Especially if he dropped some language in the process.
8. Justin Rose: Another Englishman returns to the site of his first Open start way back in 1998 as a 17-year-old. Rose once said he thought he was going to win the Open that week as a teenage amateur. It would be some nice symmetry if he was actually able to do so two decades later as one of the most accomplished Englishmen of his generation.
9. Padraig Harrington: The Irishman is the defending champ here; he’s also coming off neck surgery and played great at the Scottish Open last week. For him to win this week and get major No. 4 after a season of injuries and a constantly-tinkered-with swing would be spectacular. His would be an easy bandwagon to hop on this weekend if he’s in the thick of it.
I love the feeling, for spectators and players alike, of the build up to the Masters. Golf fans worldwide appreciate that no matter what they do this weekend, they will have a lot of enjoyment in watching 4 days of the best golf, by the best players, at one of the best courses in the world. In fact, I am certain that millions feel this way.
Have you a personal favorite player that you hope to see take home the coveted green jacket? Is it someone that has done so before or will it be a ‘first time’ winner?
There are certainly a large group of favored contenders to keep an eye on and an equally solid field of accomplished players who could come from the sidelines and do what Willet did last year.
First off, one can presume that Jordan Spieth will be back to claim something that slipped away from him so unfortunately last year. With a solid record of T2- First- and another T2 over the last 3 years at Augusta, it would be impossible not to include him as a contender.
Secondly, there is Dustin Johnson, who is currently holding the rank as world number one and is playing the best golf of his life. One cannot ignore him as a viable threat out there.
Then there are Matsuyama and Justin Thomas. Matsuyama has the entire Asian continent rooting for him to become the first Asian born player to wear the green jacket. He has had several top 7 finishes at Augusta before and is playing exceptionally well this season. He definitely has the talent to win. Thomas too has kicked off the season with an outstanding winning streak and is seemingly more confident than ever.
What about Rory? Desperate to complete his grand slam, playing solid golf, with the maturity, perseverance and experience required for getting the job done.
And let’s not forget to mention the young Spaniard, Jon Rahm!
We at Go Pac Golf will take it all in with pure joy. Good luck to the players and their families. May the best player win.
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