Golf Swing Lab

All phone numbers are area code 843 unless otherwise listed.

YMCA T-BALL REGISTRATION: Who: Boys and girls ages 3-6; Where: Wardle Family YMCA, Port Royal; Registration deadline: May 14; Cost: $40 for Y members and $55 for non-members; Notes: Kids learn the fundamentals of T-ball and sportsmanship, as well as develop a physical activity routine. The season begins the week of May 22 and ends July 16. Financial assistance is available based on need. Volunteer coaches are needed. The YMCA will offer free coaching clinics before the season. Registration: Sign up at the YMCA at 1801 Richmond Ave. in Port Royal or online at ymcabeaufortcounty.com. Information: Go to ymcabeaufortcounty.com or call 522-9622.

TRIPLE PLAY BASEBALL CAMP: Who: Machine pitch to high school age; When: 9 a.m. to noon, June 25-29 or July 23-27; Where: Crossings Park, Hilton Head Island; Cost: $100 per week; Notes: The camp will offer instruction, drills, games and fun competition. Coaches John Saritelli and Steve Graham will lead the camp. All campers must bring their own glove. Information:

LITTLE HUSTLERS BASKETBALL: What: Learn skills, drills and game strategies; Who: Ages 6-12; When: June 18-22, 9-11 a.m.; Where: Hilton Head Christian Academy; Cost: $75; Notes: Instructed by HHCA coach Kenny Conroy. All skill levels welcome, boys and girls. Grouped with other players of similar age, abilities and goals. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, call 681-7273 or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island.

SEAHAWK YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP: Who: Grades 4-8; When: 9-11:30 a.m., July 23-26; Where: Hilton Head Island High School; Cost: $60; Notes: Camp led by Hilton Head High coach Ken Updike and assistants Steven Rockerter and Rich Keefner. Learn skills, drills and game strategies. Grouped with other players of similar age/abilities. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, call 681-7273 or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island.

CHEERLEADING CAMP: Who: Ages 4-12; When: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, June 25-29; Where: Island Rec Center, Hilton Head; Cost: $100; Notes: Camp led by Annette Lee. Campers will learn proper hand and body movements and jumping techniques, as well as cheers, sideline chants, stunts, dance and tumbling. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, call 681-7273 or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island.

CROQUET CLINICS: What: Croquet Clinics available by appointment; Where: Port Royal Croquet Club Lawn Court; When: 1 p.m. on Monday afternoons; Notes: Chance to become a member of the Port Royal Croquet Club; Information: Call 298-6566, ask for Russ Rymer or call Port Royal Plantation at 681-1771.

KICKIN’ ASPHALT BICYCLE CLUB: What: A bicycle touring club for riders of all ages, abilities and experience levels; Note: Each ride for has 20- or 40-mile option; Information: Call 384-1808 or kickinasphalt.info.

LITTLE DOLPHINS FOOTBALL/CHEERLEADING CAMP: Who: Grades 1-8; When: 8-11 a.m., June 11-13; Where: Battery Creek High School; Cost: $40 per camper ($60 for two siblings); Notes: Campers receive T-shirt and certificate of completion. Instruction from Battery Creek football/cheer staff and players. Registration: Walk-up registration morning of June 11; make checks payable to Battery Creek High School; Information: Call football coach Jim Shuman or cheer coach Lydia Williams at 522-5500, or email .

BEAUFORT HIGH FOOTBALL CAMP: Who: Ages 8-14; When: June 18-22; Time: 8:30 a.m. to noon; Cost: $80; Notes: Preregistration requested, but day-of registration accepted. Bring cleats and tennis shoes. Campers receive T-shirt. Drills with former Beaufort High players. Registration: Forms available at Beaufort High athletics office; Information: Call the Beaufort High athletics office at 322-2140.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE PRACTICE: When: 5:30 p.m. Sundays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays; Where: Chaplin Park, Hilton Head Island; Notes: Guys and girls of all levels welcome; Information: call 290-0804 or e-mail .

HHIJGA REGISTRATION: What: Registration for the Hilton Head Island Junior Golf Association summer program; Who: Full-time summer residents of the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton area between ages 8-18 (as of June 1); Cost: $100 ($65 for additional children of same family); Registration deadline: June 6; Notes: Season begins in early June, and ends with a banquet in mid-August. A mandatory meeting for all new parents of the program will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 4 at the Moss Creek Plantation clubhouse. Registrations will be accepted that evening. Applications and information also can be obtained by sending a legal-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: HHIJGA, Suite D, 19 Bow Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, or by visiting the office on Wednesdays or Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Information: Go to HHIJGA.com or call 785-7198.

WEICHERT CHARITY GOLF AND TENNIS TOURNAMENT: When: 9 a.m., June 2; Where: Oldfield; Cost: $125/player for golf, $45 for tennis; Note: Event benefits the Children’s Center in Hilton Head and Bluffton. Registration/Information: Call Maureen at 341-3700 or email .

BEAUFORT COUNTY GAMECOCK CLASSIC: When: 9 a.m., June 9; Where: Sanctuary Golf Club at Cat Island, Beaufort; Format: 4-person scramble, Captain’s Choice; Cost: $100 per player; Notes: Gift bag, awards lunch, on-course beverages, hole contests and prizes. Proceeds benefit USC scholarship athletes. Information: Call Linda McCarty at 521-1445.

BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL MEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENT: Where: Fripp Island Ocean Point and Ocean Creek; When: June 24-25; Time: Check-in at 8:15, shotgun start at 9 am; Cost: $150/player; Registration deadline: June 16; Format: Two-man captain’s choice; Notes: Entry fee includes cart, range balls, beverages, awards, door prizes, closest-to-the-pin and longest drive prizes, plus awards ceremony with beer, wine and heavy Hors d’oeuvres. Registration: Online at bftwaterfestival.com; Information: Email Clark Robinson at .

BRITISH OPEN PUB JUNIOR GOLF CAMP: What: Introduction to the rules and etiquette of golf; Who: Ages 7 and up; Where: Old South Golf Links; When: 1-5 p.m. Thursdays, June 12-Aug. 14; Cost: $65 per day (includes clubs, snacks, drinks and USGA rulebook); Note: Two hours of instruction and two hours of course play per day. Class taught by certified professionals; 4-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Registration: Go to islandreccenterorg or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd. Information: Call Old South at 785-5353 or the Island Rec Center at 681-7273.

BRITISH OPEN PUB JUNIOR GOLF CLINIC: What: Introduction to the rules and etiquette of golf; Who: Ages 6 and up; Where: Old South Golf Links; When: 10:30 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays, June 12-Aug. 14; Cost: $25 per day (includes clubs, snacks and drinks); Note: Class taught by certified professionals; 4-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Registration: Go to islandreccenterorg or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd. Information: Call Old South at 785-5353 or the Island Rec Center at 681-7273.

FREE GOLF EXHIBITION: Where: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort; When: Mondays, 4-5 p.m.; Notes: Doug Weaver, director of Instruction at the Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy, conducts a weekly 45-minute golf clinic and demonstration entitled “Where Does the Power Come From?” at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Center at Palmetto Dunes. Free and open to the public. Information: Call 785-1138 or e-mail palmettodunes.com.

PALMETTO DUNES JUNIOR CLASSES: What: Instruction and games focusing on mastering the fundamentals of golf, etiquette and rules; When: 10-11 a.m. Monday through Friday; 4-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Where: Robert Trent Jones Golf Course; Cost: $25 per class; Registration/Information: Call 785-1138.

PALMETTO DUNES ADVANCED JUNIOR SESSIONS: What: Play with the pro and learn as you go; When: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays; Where: Robert Trent Jones Golf Course; Cost: $90 per session; Registration/Information: Call 785-1138.

SPORTS ACADEMY GYMNASTICS AND DANCE: What: Fall Registration for gymnastics and dance; Who: ages 1 and up; When: Fall classes start Aug. 17; Where: Sports Academy Gymnastics and Dance, 20 Maxine Lane, Beaufort; Notes: Gymnastics classes for mommy and me, preschool, school age, advanced and team. Dance clasess include preschool, ballet, tap, and hip-hop. Information: Call 846-1804 or go to eteamz.com/sagym.

ROLLER HOCKEY CAMP: What: Develop and improve individual and team skills and fundamentals; Where: Bristol Sports Arena, Hilton Head Island; When: June 11-15; Times: Ages 6-9, 6-7:30 p.m.; Ages 10-14, 7:30-9 p.m.; Cost: $50; Notes: All skill levels welcome. Camp led by Mike Tannuzzi. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, call 681-7273 or visit the Hilton Head Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island.

ALL SPORTS CAMP: What: Learn to play a variety of sports; Where: Island Recreation Center, Hilton Head Island; Who: Ages 6-12; When: Monday-Friday, June 13 to Aug. 12; Time: 9 a.m. to noon; Cost: $50/week or $10/day; Notes: Focus on teamwork, fair play and good sportsmanship. Bring swimsuit on Fridays. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, call 681-7273 or visit the Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island.

TIDE RIDERS KAYAKING CLUB: What: Monthly kayak trips; Cost: $10 per person per trip; Notes: Club meets once a month to explore new areas and meet new folks. Most trips are between 4-8 miles in length and are accessible to beginning paddlers. There is no fee to join. Send an e-mail to to get on the mailing list. Information: Call Kim Gundler at 525-0810 or go to beaufortkayaktours.com/Paddling_Club.html.

HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE CAMP: Who: Incoming grades 9-12; When: June 25-28, 8:30-11:30 a.m.; Where: Island Rec Center, Hilton Head Island; Cost: $150; Notes: Camp will be directed by Hilton Head High coach Joe Monmonier and Michael Hendrix. Focus on group drills and individual skills. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, stop by the Island Rec Center at 20 Wilborn Rd. or call 681-7273.

BOYS LACROSSE CAMP: What: Develop and improve lacrosse fundamentals; Who: Ages 7-13; When: June 25-28, 5:30-8 p.m.; Where: Island Rec Center, Hilton Head Island; Cost: $85; Notes: Camp will be directed by Hilton Head High coach Joe Monmonier and Michael Hendrix. Learn lacrosse game strategies. All skill levels welcome. Grouped with other players of similar age, abilities and goals. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, stop by the Island Rec Center at 20 Wilborn Rd. or call 681-7273.

KICKIN’ KIDS SUMMER CAMP: What: Camp provided by Island Rec Center and McElroy’s Martial Arts Academy; Who: Ages 5-18; When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., July 9-13; Where: Island Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island; Cost: $50 deposit by July 1/balance of $209 paid July 9; Notes: Water Balloon Day, Character Development Day (12 ways to defeat a bully non-violently and walk away with confidence), Weapons Day (foam rubber nunchuks), Exercising Day, Board Breaking Day. Registration/Information: Call McElroy’s Martial Arts Academy at 816-0153 or email .

SHOTOKAN KARATE CLASSES: Where: Burton Wells Center and Charles “Lind” Brown Activity Center, Beaufort; When: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at Burton Wells; Tuesdays and Thursdays at Charles “Lind” Brown Center; Times: Burton Wells — Ages 4-8: Mon/Wed 4:30-5 pm, Sat. 11-11:30 am; Ages 8-12: Mon/Wed 5-6 pm, Sat. noon-1 pm; Ages 13-17: Mon/Wed 6-7 pm, Sat. 1-2 p.m.; Charles “Lind Brown Center — Ages 4-8: Tue/Thur 4:30-5 pm; Ages 8-12: Tue/Thur 5-6 pm; Cost: $60 per month for ages 4-17; $100 per month for ages 18 and older; Notes: Classes are hosted by Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services. Students at the Charles “Lind” Brown Center are welcome to attend the Saturday class for their age group at Burton Wells. Registration: Visit the Burton Wells Recreation Center, 1 Middleton Recreation Drive in Beaufort, or the Charles “Lind” Activity Center, 1001 Hamar Street, in Beaufort; Information: Contact instructor Al Yisrael at 476-2328 or , or go to bcgov.net/PALS.

SOGO GOSHIN-DO CLASSES: What: Martial arts program offered by Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services; Where: Bluffton Recreation Center, 61B Ulmer Road; When: Tuesdays and Thursdays; Time: Beginners 5:30-6 p.m., Intermediate 6-7 p.m., Advanced 7-7:50 p.m.; Cost: $80/month or $12/class; Notes: Cindy Conklin, a martial artist with more than 30 years of experience, will teach the course. Information: Call Cindy Conklin at 683-4438 or go to bcgov.net/PALS.MCELROY’S MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY CLASSES: Where: Cynergy Fitness (102 Buckwalter Pkwy, #3EE, Bluffton) and Island Recreation Center; When: Classes start Oct. 29 at Cynergy Fitness and Nov. 2 at Island Rec Center; Time: Cynergy — Kids classes 9:15-10 a.m. Saturdays, adult classes 10-11 a.m. Saturdays; Island Rec — Kids classes 6:15-7 p.m. Wednesdays, adult classes 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays; Registration/Information: Call 816-0153.

TAE KWON DO CLASSES: Where: Wardle Family YMCA, Beaufort; When: Mondays and Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Who: All ages; Notes: Class is taught by 2nd degree black belt Tim Snyder. Try one class for free before deciding whether to join. Information: Call 522-9622.

OSC RUN FOR THE TEA: What: MCAS Beaufort Officers’ Spouses’ Club 5K Run and kids races; When: 8 a.m., May 19; Where: Shady Point Park, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort; Cost: $25 for 5K, $15 for kids races (13 and under); Notes: Participants receive a T-shirt. Proceeds benefit the OSC’s annual Senior Citizens Tea, a 43-year tradition honoring the seniors and veterans of greater Beaufort. There will be a post-run awards party. Registration: active.com; Information: Contact Kristine von Heimburg at 522-0522 or .

PALMETTO PACERS WEEKLY RUNS: What: Palmetto Pacers Running Club; Where: Bluffton; When: 8 a.m. Sunday (at Island Bagel Company) and 5:45 p.m. Wednesday (at Squat-n-Gobble); Notes: Each run will consist of a long and short run, typically ranging from 3-5 miles. Information: E-mail .

STORM SOCCER ACADEMY TRYOUTS: What: Fall 2012/Spring 2013 tryouts for boys and girls in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort and Savannah areas; Who: U8 through U18; Times: U8, U9 & U10 boys and girls — 1-3 p.m., June 2 & June 9; U11 & U12 boys and girls — 3-5 p.m. June 2 & June 9; U13-U18 girls — 5:30-7 p.m. May 14 & 16 & 21 and 9-11 a.m. May 19; U13-U18 boys — 7-8:30 p.m. May 14 & 16 & 21 and 1-3 p.m. May 19; Where: Barker Field, Hilton Head Island; Notes: The Storm Soccer Academy was formerly named the Savannah Soccer Academy. Information: Go to savannahsocceracademy.com or email assistant director of coaching Dan Waymont at .

YMCA BRITISH SOCCER CAMP: What: Wardle Family YMCA/Challenge Sports camp; Who: Ages 3-16; When: July 9-13; Where: Praise Assembly of God, Port Royal; Cost: Half day $123, Whole day $171; Notes: Players registering 45 days in advance will receive a free soccer jersey. Campers will be divided into groups based on age and ability. Please bring water, sunscreen and a snack. Full-day campers should bring a packed lunch. Registration/Information: challengersports.com, or ymcabeaufortcounty.com

SOCCER CAMP: Who: Ages 5-14; When: July 16-20, 9 a.m. to noon; Cost: $125; Notes: Camp will be led by Jeremy Aven, Savannah Soccer Academy director. Camp is appropriate for the beginner all the way up to the elite level player. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, stop by the Island Rec Center at 20 Wilborn Rd. or call 681-7273.

BEAUFORT WATER FESTIVAL ADULT COED TOURNAMENT: Where: Parris Island Softball Complex; When: May 19; Time: Captains meeting at 8:30 am; Cost: $200/team; Registration deadline: May 12 to guarantee T-shirt, May 19 to play; Format: Double elimination; Information: Email Clark Robinson at .

BEAUFORT BOMBERS FASTPITCH TRAVEL TEAM: What: Players sought for 12-and-under and 14-and-under teams; Who: Beaufort County girls ages 11-14; Notes: Fastpitch players are needed for the 2012 season. Information: Call coach Scott Mullen at 227-1173 or email , or call coach Phil Waters at 812-4299 or email .

GIRLS FASTPITCH PITCHING INSTRUCTION: What: Instruction for beginner and intermediate pitchers; When: Late afternoon weekdays or weekends; Where: Beaufort County locations; Notes: Individual or small group sessions last for 75 minutes; Registration/Information: Call Bob Lee at 518-369-1047 or email .

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS REGISTRATION: What: USTA spring/summer tennis team competition program; Who: Tennis players of any ability ages 12-18; Notes: Season begins mid-May and ends in late June. Typically, there is a mid-week practice and a weekend match. Children will be broken up into age groups to compete as singles, doubles or mixed doubles. USTA membership, at a special junior rate, and a team fee is required. Scholarships are available. Local teams include Beaufort, Bluffton, Spanish Wells, Wexford, Hilton Head Beach & Tennis, Rose Hill and Springfield (Ga.); Information: Call Robert Brown at 290-2833 or go to sctennis.com or blufftontennis.org.

WEICHERT CHARITY GOLF AND TENNIS TOURNAMENT: When: 9 a.m., June 2; Where: Oldfield; Cost: $125/player for golf, $45 for tennis; Note: Event benefits the Children’s Center in Hilton Head and Bluffton. Registration/Information: Call Maureen at 341-3700 or email .

QUICKSTART TENNIS: Who: Ages 6-10; When: 9-10:30 a.m., June 11 through Aug. 10; Where: Chaplin Park, Hilton Head Island; Cost: $100 per week; Notes: The court, racket, ball and net sizes are modified to help children 10 & under learn and play the game. Camp is led by tennis instructor Dom De Maria. Registration/Information: Go to islandreccenter.org, stop by the Island Rec Center at 20 Wilborn Rd. or call 681-7273.

TENNISCLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY SUMMER CAMPS: Who: Ages 5-18; Where: Rose Hill, Bluffton; When: June 11-Aug. 10; Times: Little Shots (ages 5-8), 8:30-10:30 a.m.; Hot Shots (ages 8-11) and Big Shots (ages 11-18), 8:30 a.m. to noon; Cost: Little Shots: $145/week, $35/day; Hot Shots and Big Shots: $235/week, $55/day; Notes: Instructors are Gavin Cox, Butch Staples, Mike O’Regan, Jo Cahi and Paul Tollefson. Information: Go to tlcrosehill.com or call 271-6401.

BLUFFTON SUMMER CAMPS: Where: Bluffton High School; When: 9-11:15 a.m., weeks of July 9, 16, 23 & 30; Cost: $50 per week or $15 per day; Notes: Each day follows the format of: Cardio Wake Up, Stroke/Strategy of the Day, Drills for Skills and Match Play with prizes. The camp will be staffed by insured, certified PTR Pro(s) and instructors. Reservations requested. Low student-to-instructor ratio. Rackets provided if needed. Information: Call coach Robert Brown at 290-2822 or go to blufftontennis.org.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND OPEN: Where: Van Der Meer Shipyard, Hilton Head Island; When: Sept. 7-9; Format: Men’s and women’s singles and doubles; mixed doubles; Cost: $45 per person for one event, $55 for two events; Notes: Levels 2.5 to Open. Prizes to winners and finalists in any division of 4 or more. Tournament happy hour will be from 4-6 p.m. on May 4-5; Information: Call Jim Stubbs at 785-8388, ext. 1, or email .

FREE TENNIS EXHIBITION: Where: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort; When: Mondays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Notes: Watch world-class tennis during this special courtside Happy Hour at the Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center. Free and open to the public. Information: Call 800-827-3006 or e-mail palmettodunes.com.

SUNDAY ROUND ROBIN SOCIAL: Where: Chaplin Public Tennis Center; When: Sundays; Time: Sessions 1-3 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.; Fee: Voluntary donation to Public Tennis, Inc. to help cover the cost of two new courts at Chaplin Park; Registration deadline: Play is limited to 36 players per session; Format: Mixed doubles round robin 2.5, 3.0, 3.5; Information: Tim Ryan, 682-3504 or e-mail . Include name, USTA level and session preference.

CARDIO TENNIS KIDS: What: Fitness program featuring drills and games; Who: Ages 6-12; Where: Hilton Head Beach & Tennis or Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center; Notes: Cardio Tennis Kids emphasizes movement and fun using music and pedometers. Using age-appropriate equipment, the program aims to develop tennis and athletic skills while improving health and fitness. Each class runs 30-45 minutes, depending on age. Information: Hilton Head Beach & Tennis — contact Eric Wammock at hiltonheadislandtennis.net or 301-2113; Palmetto Dunes — contact Tapi at 785-1152.

CARDIO TENNIS: Where: Van Der Meer Shipyard Racquet Club, Hilton Head Island; When: 8-9 a.m., Tuesday & Thursday; Cost: $15 per session; Registration/Information: Call 686-8804.

CARDIO TENNIS FOR ADULTS: Where: Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, Hilton Head Island; When: 7:45-8:45 a.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; Cost: $22 per session ($12 for locals); Notes: For players of all abilities. Heart rate monitors will be provided. Classes are instructed by Tapi H

Menlo School grad Patrick Grimes was among the early leaders of the NCAA men’s golf regional held at Stanford over the weekend. The Cardinal freshman slipped in the final round Saturday, finishing the three-day event with a 3-over 213. Three other Stanford golfers, however, were under par for the tournament, with freshman Patrick Rodgers leading the way with a three-day total of 206. The closely bunched group was a big reason why the Cardinal qualified for the NCAA Championships, which begin May 29 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Stanford finished fourth in the tournament, won by California with a sensational 29-under 815 for the event. Stanford shot 832. San Diego State (821), Alabama-Birmingham (830) and Central Florida (835) also advancing to the team championships. Pac-12 teams won three of the six regional tournaments, with Washington winning in Norman, Okla., and USC taking the title in Ann Arbor, Mich. In all, six conference teams will be among the 30 in Pacific Palisades as UCLA and Oregon also qualified. Stanford junior Andrew Yun improved his score by three strokes in each succeeding round, firing a 4-under 66 on Saturday to finish 15th overall with a total score of 207. Teammate Cameron Wilson also shot under par, finishing with a 219. Stanford failed to qualify for last year’s championships when Tennessee shot 10 strokes better than the Cardinal in the final round to grab the last spot. This year it was the Volunteers who were left behind. Yun and David Chung are the only golfers who played in both regionals. Yun, who played for the Palmer Cup team, improved his score this time around while Chung, who went on to play at the U.S. Open, fell off the pace. Stanford reached the match play championships two years ago before falling to Oklahoma State. The Cardinal won the NCAA title in 2007 and finished second to UCLA in 2008. Women’s tennis Stanford shared the Pac-12 Conference title with USC in the regular season but the Women of Troy won’t have to share anything else this year after beating the Cardinal, 4-2, in a quarterfinal match of the NCAA tournament. Every match, singles and doubles, was extremely competitive between the two schools, which split two matches this year. USC plays top-seeded UCLA in one semifinal on Monday. The Bruins, who handed Stanford its first loss of the year, downed California, 4-1. The Bears beat UCLA in conference play. UCLA has won two of three matches from USC so far this season. The other semifinal will feature the winner of later matches between Duke and Georgia and Miami and Florida. Tied at 2-2, No. 4 USC won a pair of hard-fought three-set matches at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots to claim the victory. “It was a great battle,” Stanford coach Lele Forood said. “It was kind of an amazing match. I don’t think anybody knew the outcome until it really ended. It was just a pretty amazing rollercoaster. Obviously we knew how good they were, we’ve seen them a lot this year and we know they’ve got people who make a lot of balls and play really tough.” Sabrina Santamaria’s 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (5) win over Stacey Tan at the No. 3 position was the clincher, following seconds after Danielle Lao rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Mallory Burdette on court two. “It was helpful to know who we were going up against,” Burdette said. “We had quite a bit of confidence going into the match because we had beaten them earlier in the season. It is nice to know who you’re playing but I think when you come to NCAAs you would expect to not have four Pac-12 teams on the same side of the draw.” Nicole Gibbs (6-1, 6-4 at No. 1) and Veronica Li (6-4, 7-5 at No. 6) won singles victories for the Cardinal, while Kristie Ahn, making her first appearance in more than a month, was in a third set when the match ended. “It was amazing getting Kristie back on the court for the first time in two months and that was really positive for us going forward,” Forood said. “It’s been a really tough two years for her and the fact that she actually played today should bode really well for us in the future.”

— Palo Alto Online Sports

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and its sister course True Blue Golf Plantation are part of two spring vacation golf packages that are available through May 20, 2012.

The award-winning Myrtle Beach-area golf courses are included in the three-round Kings River Package and the five-round Fab Five Package. Both can be booked through Caledonia Golf Vacations.

The Kings River package includes two nights of accommodations at True Blue Resort and all-inclusive rounds of golf at Caledonia, True Blue and Heritage Plantation, all of which are adjacent to Kings River Road, a main north-south thoroughfare dating back to the Colonial era. The price of $499 per person is based upon four golfers in a well-appointed golf villa.

The Fab Five package includes four nights of accommodations at True Blue Resort and all-inclusive rounds at Caledonia, True Blue, Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club, The River Club and Willbrook Plantation. The price of $799 per person is based upon four golfers in a golf villa.

“These are fantastic specials that give everyone a chance to experience an unforgettable golf getaway at a great rate,” said Bob Seganti, director of golf at Caledonia Golf Vacations and True Blue Golf Plantation. “Caledonia and True Blue are must-plays if you are thinking about visiting the Myrtle Beach area.”

Golfweek recently ranked Caledonia the third “Best Course You Can Play” in South Carolina for 2012, while True Blue was listed sixth. Caledonia and all of the other courses listed with either spring package are among the 12 courses that comprise the Waccamaw Golf Trail on the southern end of the Grand Strand.

For more information about Caledonia Golf Vacations or to make a reservation, call 800-483-6800 or visit FishClub.com .

About Caledonia Golf & Fish ClubBuilt upon the site of a historic 18th century rice plantation in Pawleys Island, S.C., Caledonia Golf & Fish Club has been described as having 18 signature holes, with holes routed around majestic oaks and meandering streams. The picturesque 18th borders the Plantation’s old ricefield and requires a precise tee shot that sets up a difficult second shot: a forced carry onto a green that is watched closely by the beautiful antebellum style clubhouse. The 6,526-yard, par-70 course has been named one of Golf Digest’s “Top 25 Courses in South Carolina” and “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses;” a “Top 100 You Can Play” by Golf Magazine; a “Top 100 Modern Courses” and “Best Resort Courses” by Golfweek, South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel’s list of “50 Best Courses” and “Top 100 Best Courses for Women” by Golf for Women.

About True Blue Golf PlantationTrue Blue Golf Plantation, 7,126 yards, par 72 is located on the site of the historic True Blue Plantation, a famed 19th century indigo and rice plantation. Designed by architect Mike Strantz and opened in 1998, True Blue emphasizes the natural beauty of the area, utilizing native grasses and vegetation and maintains much of the character of the South Carolina Lowcountry it was built upon. True Blue has received countless awards, including being named one of “America’s Greatest 100 Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest. It also is one of the South Carolina Golf Course Raters’ list of “50 Best Courses.” And it is one of Golf Magazine’s “Top Ten Places To Play” and “Top 25 Courses in the South.” Golfweek also awarded True Blue as being one of the “Top 100 Courses in America.”

For More Information, Contact:Craig Smith or Tim Gavrich at The Brandon Agency, (843) 916-2000csmith@

Super Ochoa. Friends gave Lorena Ochoa that nickname as a freshman at Arizona when she described everything as “super.” What started out as a jab at her limited vocabulary became an ideal way to describe the game’s most-dominating player. This explains the Superman head cover Ochoa has carried for nearly a decade.

The LPGA could use a few superheroes in this economic climate. They also need more than a few Sunday showdowns featuring Ochoa, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer and any other top American you can think of.

Unfortunately, Ochoa’s return to the game last week wasn’t in the same stratosphere as that other world No. 1. While the golfing universe watched with bated breath as Tiger Woods stepped to the tee in Arizona, Ochoa slept on her 1-under start in Thailand, virtually unnoticed outside of Asia.

Tiger’s second-round loss, of course, proved a Match Play buzzkill. Meanwhile, Ochoa rallied to beat Creamer in Thailand, closing with a 6-under 66 to win her season opener for the second consecutive year.

However, the Honda LPGA Thailand (awkward title) wasn’t televised in the U.S., so we could only imagine how Ochoa looked making loads of putts for the first time in months. We’ve seen that smile enough to know the Mexican enjoyed herself. It’s just too bad the LPGA couldn’t capitalize more on her triumphant return.

Speaking of superheroes, tournament organizers at the MasterCard Classic in Mexico say Wie will make her debut south of the border March 20-22. As badly as folks want Wie to win on tour, I hope she doesn’t pick that week to do it. The MasterCard isn’t televised in the U.S., and fans would feel cheated having to watch it unfold via live scoring.

If you’re wondering why Vicky Hurst is in this week’s Singapore field while fellow rookies Wie and Lewis are not, it’s because she qualified as the 2008 Duramed Futures Tour money leader. It’s a nice little advantage for Hurst, as the HSBC Women’s Champions has no cut.

Mina Harigae wasted no time in picking up a professional victory on the Cactus Tour, a Phoenix-based mini-tour for women. The 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion dropped out of Duke after one semester and took home $2,500 Feb. 25 in her first event this season on the Cactus Tour.

Harigae is the first player in coach Dan Brooks’ 25-year history at Duke to leave the program at midseason. She’s only the fourth player to leave the Blue Devils without a diploma, joining Beth Bauer, Brittany Lang and Rebecca Kim, each of whom stayed two years.

“Mina was struggling to put everything together at college,” said Duke junior Alison Whitaker.

“I think I would’ve been more shocked if she had ended up choosing to stay.”

The Duramed Futures Tour uses Golfweek’s college and amateur rankings to award three special exemptions each week. The tour’s deadline for college rankings is 5:30 p.m. Friday, three weeks prior to the event. Because Hariage still was No. 4 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings last Friday, she is eligible for the Futures Tour’s season-opening event in Winter Haven, Fla., later this month.

To be considered for a Futures event, players must be ranked in the top 30 of the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings and the top 20 of the Golfweek Amateur Rankings under special exemption category A-5.

When the college rankings were updated over the weekend, Harigae dropped out because didn’t meet the minimum number of events. However, because she qualified with a high ranking just before deadline, the Futures Tour will allow her to play the remainder of the season as a professional with her A-5 status, as long as three players ranked higher than her don’t request to play in the same events.

Should Harigae move into the top 90 on the Futures Tour money list, she would be “re-ranked” after five events and receive non-exempt B status, virtually assuring her a tournament spot each week.

Looks like college was good for something.

In the game of golf there are different types of golf balls for different types of golfers, and every golfer has to pick different types of golf balls for slow swing speeds. There are hundreds of different types. There are at least 10 different types and each company has a different perspective of it. When an older gentleman wants to buy a dozen but doesn’t know where to start he must first ask himself what he is looking for out of this ball. Is it feel, distance, softness, there are different areas a ball that will perform amazingly but in other aspects of the game it doesn’t perform well.

When a child is looking for a golf ball to use, they must figure out what they want. They know they have to get something that is going to give them the maximum distance out of the shot, because most children have slow clubhead speed. Getting golf balls for slow swing speeds most people have to compromise in getting hard balls that is not going to give them a lot of spin when they get close to the green instead of softness, which will give them spin and more control. Having that perfect ratio of hard to soft together in one ball is not possible because everyone’s golf swing is different and every golf ball is different. With a child’s swing they need the maximum distance out of their shot. The Pinnacle Powercore red or the Top Flite XL 2000 are the perfect ones for a child who has a slow swing speed.

A woman’s golf swing is faster and stronger than a child’s golf swing but still is slow to get the maximum potential out of your swing. Women have to look for a special kind of ball to make sure they are getting the most out of every swing. An experienced golfer, a person who has been playing for more than 3 years would know if they had a slow swing speed they would need to get a Precept Lady or a Maxfli Noodle. These balls for slow swing speeds help women or young ladies to get the most out of their game. Without these specifications in the balls women would be struggling to get it to go anywhere.

Men’s Golf Older men are pretty strong and have a grip as to how fast they need to swing to make the ball go a certain distance. The average man who plays golf has to have 100mph golf swing to make the ball go a decent distance. That may sound too fast but in reality it’s not. Men who are searching for golf balls for slow swing speeds are usually beginners or they are doing the golf swing wrong. Here are the top companies for slow swing speeds. They each are soft and hard, to have the perfect combination of hard and soft. They are Titleist, Callaway, and Nike. These golf balls are used the most even with people who are searching for golf balls for slow swing speeds.

Golf specific exercise is a key component in regards to increasing golf clubhead speed, power and distance. Why don’t more golfers do this type of golf training program? Many golfers associate golf specific exercises with exercises used by other athletes involved in more rigorous sporting activities.

For example many golfers look down on golf specific exercises that involve lifting weights. The fear that they will develop muscles which will tend to make them stiff and less flexible in their golf game. Everybody knows that flexibility is very important in golf.

Yet the truth of the matter is that golf specific weight exercises have nothing to do with building muscles like a weight lifter. This is because lighter weights are used and the lifting action is repeated more times. The effect of this is to build strength and not muscles.

Strength in muscles has a remarkable effect on the quality of a golf game, especially when the muscles targeted are all golf muscles.

The other wrong image people often have about golf specific exercises is that there are as rigorous and as demanding as the sort of exercises one would find in a marine corps training program.

This cannot be further from the truth, especially when some of the golf specific stretch exercises can be done from the comfort of the office or the home. Some can even be effectively carried out on your chair in the office, without you having to get up from your chair. Stretch exercises are some of the most important and critical golf specific exercises. It is important to warm up before this exercises and also after you game of golf.

Again these warm up exercises need not be as difficult as you probably imagine. It can be simply a brisk walk from your car to the course.

Achieving a good enjoyable game of golf these days has become very difficult without the help of golf specific exercises.

Do you want to discover the secret to creating more power and consistency in your golf swing. AND eliminating ALL your swing faults?

Should BMW be sponsoring the Olympics? It doesn’t seem to be much of a deal. BMW UK hands over 3,200 brand-spanking Beemers, Minis and motorbikes for any old swipe-card holder to swan around in. Then, when the closing ceremony hangover’s still bashing temples, the vehicles are handed back to be pushed out to BMW’s dealer network as approved used. Nor can BMW capitalise on the celebrity taxiing duties as the terms of the deal means each car is “anonymised”, so there will be no frisson in knowing that your ride’s rear seat has been polished by Usain Bolt’s quick twitchers, or Jessica Ennis’s Lycra.

Not that you’ll be seeing Jacques Rogge or sundry other Olympic Committee members climbing out of a top-model 6-series, as these ritzy coupés are not part of that deal. Not that they aren’t accustomed to VIP parking spaces, but think the golf club rather than Olympic stadiums. The two-door 6-series sells in pretty strong numbers in the UK, predicted to be about 1,000 next year, with an additional 400 dropheads. Is it a sports car? Not really, but it’s a pretty hardcore GT.

Munich has now applied a stretch of 4.4 inches between the wheels and turned it into a proper four-seater; the 6-series Gran Coupé. With the low roofline and heavily curved door sills, getting your gran into the rear seats of a Gran Coupé might be a struggle, but unlike the two-door version those seats fold down, so you could always slot her in there like an Ikea flat-pack. BMW claims you’ll get three abreast in the rear, but with the centre console extending all the way back to the rear seat squab, that third passenger will be sitting legs akimbo.

It goes on sale in six-cylinder petrol and diesel form this June, with the 443bhp V8 arriving in September and a super-hot M6 version slated for next spring. Prices start at £61,390, with the diesel (the UK’s most popular model) starting at £63,900. A word of warning. Specify every bell and whistle, including the M-Sport pack, and you are looking at a bill of more than £94,000. Our test car was loaded with extras that would buy you another car, including a £3,400 adaptive drive system, £1,290 for basic 19in rims, £1,100 dynamic dampers, £665 comfort access, £1,250 active steering, £330 rear parking camera, £3,750 Bang & Olufsen stereo and a £695 automatic four-zone aircon. A steering wheel comes as standard, but if you want it heated BMW charges £195. Oh, and if you like the matt-metallic “frosted bronze” paint, budget another £2,300.

Our car came with an interior trim in what might best be described as “Piebald Horse”, which BMW says is proof positive that it can make exciting interiors and for which it will relieve your wallet of £895. Save your money. The rest of the cabin is tastefully done, supremely comfortable and reasonably spacious. The instrument binnacle is straightforward, although the centre console is festooned with switches and buttons, and BMW’s iDrive capstan control, while a great deal improved in recent years, still requires learning.

Start her up and the big twin-blown diesel roars like a weapon of war. It’s noisy, but preferable to the six-pot petrol, which lacks low-down torque. The oil-burner produces impressive figures, but most of all it feels sporting in a way rivals just don’t. Performance is on par with the petrol (top speed 155mph, 0-62mph in 5.4sec), but the fuel consumption is much improved (49.6mpg in the EU Urban cycle versus 31.7mpg for the petrol) and it pulls from much lower down. The eight-speed automatic transmission has steering column paddles and a central gearstick, together with myriad software options, which also adjust the steering assistance, the body’s roll resistance, the damping effort and the gear change patterns – assuming you’ve bought all the above options. It changes gear pretty well, too, slurring shifts when cruising and snapping through them when you’re pressing on.

This is a big and, in spite of the aluminium components, heavy car – at 1.85 tons, the diesel weighs 100lb more than the six-pot petrol and that’s all in the nose. It’s also 16ft 5in long and 6ft 10in wide, so while trashing it around the old Targa Florio routes in Sicily is terrific fun, it’s not really best suited to small and very slippery roads.

Which makes it all the more surprising just how good the Gran Coupé actually is – almost brilliant, in fact. It turns in well, grips adequately and has a chassis balance that allows you to exploit Sicily’s sandy roads to full effect. The diesel’s more than quick enough, its economy gives the car a huge range and it sounds great.

While the chassis contains the basic 5/6-series configuration of wishbone front, multi-link rear suspension, that longer wheelbase gives a gentle response to indiscretions. What’s more, it rides well and has a long-legged feel that speaks of continent crossings and far-flung assignations. I did feel the body twisting occasionally and those big tyres thump hollowly through potholes, but all in all this is a class act. The petrol model is even more agile and dynamically superior, but the engine is always a let-down.

Like all these elegant coupés, the 6-series is an expensive indulgence. It’s what the trade used to call “an old-man’s car”. But where the two-door seems so louche and exclusive, the four-door is a more benign piece of kit – think a nicer sort of old man, a speedy Father Christmas rather than seedy Peter Stringfellow. What’s more, it costs just £1,800 extra, weighs 220lb more and you can take your friends when you go travelling.

A more generous, more useful 6-series, then. BMW thinks it’ll sell 700 next year. I think it would be wise to have a few more on tap.

THE FACTS

BMW 6-series Gran Coupé

Tested: 2,993cc six-cylinder, twin-turbodiesel, eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive

Price/on sale: From £61,390 (as tested £63,900)/June

Power/torque: 309bhp @ 4,400rpm/465lb ft @ 1,500rpm

Top speed: 155mph (electronically limited)

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 5.4sec

Fuel economy: 41.5mpg/49.6mpg (EU Urban/Combined)

CO2 emissions: 148g/km

VED band: F (£135)

Verdict: Much more than just a stretched 6-series, the Gran Coupé makes the whole luxury coupé proposition seem less ludicrously selfish, more practical and dynamically sound. So good it makes it difficult to justify the two-door 6-series

Telegraph rating: Four out of five stars

RIVALS

Mercedes CLS 500 Sport, from £61,825

Not as good looking as the original, but this is still a Merc to make other Merc owners jealous. Dynamics not quite as sharp as the BMW’s, but four-cylinder diesel models are more economical.

Volkswagen CC, from £25,000

Passat four-door coupé combines sleek looks and VW dependability. Six-cylinder engines were dropped with recent revamp, but still a good-looking, fine-driving and practical alternative.

Any place that can inspire songs that range from the warm gentility of Bing Crosby’s 1944 hit “San Fernando Valley” to the chaotic humor of Frank Zappa’s 1982 opus “Valley Girl” is certainly a place to be reckoned with. With a population larger than Philadelphia and a geographic area equal to the size of Chicago, the San Fernando Valley encompasses districts that recall the classic, bucolic feel of old California and the edgier, artistic vibe that’s a hallmark of an urban metropolis like LA.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Studios

The Valley can legitimately be considered America’s backlot, as Walt Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., and NBC all have their studios in the geographic area bound by the Santa Monica, Santa Susana and San Gabriel Mountains. Universal Studios Hollywood — one LA’s most visited attractions — has been offering tours to star-struck guests since 1964. Studio trams now include state-of-the-art HD monitors with digital playback systems that feature commentary from filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, giving film junkies a more immersive way to experience the backlots, where movies such as the Pirates of the Caribbean and Back to the Future franchises were shot. Better yet, visitors can check out rides such as “The Simpsons Ride,” “Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride,” and “King Kong 360 3-D The Ride,” which was created by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. At 187 feet wide, it features the world’s largest 3-D projection installation. And, just in time for summer 2012, “Transformers: The Ride 3D” promises to be the ultimate in the immersive experience. Meanwhile, a couple of miles up the road, Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank has a VIP tour where film junkies can check out where parts of Inception, The Green Mile, American Beauty and Blade Runner were filmed. Additionally, NBC, which is also in Burbank, offers a behind-the-scenes walking tour of its TV studio, and folks who plan ahead may be able to score studio-audience tickets for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

Retail Therapy: The Shops 

Visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood can kill two birds with one stone by checking out the adjacent Universal CityWalk for top-notch shopping, dining and entertainment. Those looking to do some serious shopping can choose from stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Billabong, GUESS and Skechers or can catch the latest flick at CityWalk’s 19-screen movie theater, which includes a seven-story-high IMAX screen. And to step things up a bit, check out Jillian’s Hi Life Lanes for billiards and bowling; or better yet, go vertical at iFLY Hollywood Indoor Skydiving.

Those looking for a more street-level experience can head to Ventura Boulevard, the Valley’s primary east-west shopping thoroughfare, which boasts hundreds of shops offering everything from designer clothes to home decorating items. Some of the top trendsetting boutiques are in Studio City, where fashionistas shop at stores like Dungarees and pick up items for their homes at Architexture.

The Valley is also home to a couple of outdoor lifestyle-retail centers, where many upscale retailers and restaurants are located. The Commons at Calabasas’ nearly 40 stores includes high-end retailers like Chico’s and Theodore Beverly Hills, as well as eateries like Marmalade Café and Crumbs Bake Shop. And in Glendale, the Americana at Brand’s 60 retailers include outposts for Apple, Juicy Couture and BCBGMAXAZRIA.

Finally, the Valley wouldn’t be the Valley without its mega-malls, which are well-represented by centers such as Westfield Topanga, Sherman Oaks Galleria, Glendale Galleria and Sherman Oaks’ Westfield Fashion Square Mall.

History in the Making: The Museums and the Arts

Similar to Venice on the Westside and Downtown LA, the Valley has its own burgeoning arts district, which gives visitors a chance to experience locally produced visual and performance art. The NoHo Arts District has almost two-dozen theaters featuring live productions that range from classic Broadway titles to newer works, as well as a number of art galleries. The Chandler Outdoor Gallery at Chandler and Vineland Boulevards includes a group of murals created by local artists. The district also includes its own nod to the entertainment industry with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences plaza, which features a huge golden Emmy statue and nearly life-size statues of several TV stars, including Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson and Oprah Winfrey. It all comes together each fall with the Experience NoHo Arts Festival, which showcases free performances, music, dancing, and arts and crafts.

The Valley can also go larger scale when it comes to live performances. Since 1972, the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk, which seats more than 6,000 people, has hosted some of the top acts in music and comedy. And the Valley Performing Arts Center, which is located in Cal State Northridge University and seats about 1,700 people, is a world-class performing arts venue, hosting dozens of events ranging from concerts to live theater to ballet.

When it comes to museums, the Valley is literally framed by three of the region’s best. On the southern end, the Skirball Cultural Center explores the American Jewish experience in its permanent exhibits. “Noah’s Ark” is a must-see for families, featuring a floor-to-ceiling wooden ark with whimsical, two-of-a-kind animals, from hedgehogs to life-size elephants. There are 186 species in all, made from recycled materials and everyday objects. The Center also hosts movies, live talks and rotating exhibitions.

Meanwhile, at the western edge of the Valley, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum delights visitors with state-of-the-art memorabilia exhibits from the president’s life. Visitors may walk through a life-size replica of the Oval Office and board the actual Air Force One that was used from 1973 to 2001. This is also the burial site of the 40th U.S. president.

And at the southeast end of the Valley, the Autry National Center in Griffith Park celebrates the history of the American West with exhibits, literary readings, concerts and more than 500,000 artifacts illustrating Southwestern U.S. and American Indian culture.

The Valley also gives locals and visitors a chance to explore California’s early history with the historic Mission San Fernando Rey de España, one of 21 Spanish missions established in California in the 18th century. Mission San Fernando Rey de España includes a spectacular gilded altar and the Convento (the largest two-story adobe building in California). The mission cemetery has graves dating back more than 200 years. This is also the burial site of Bob Hope, whose memorial garden features a crypt grotto with sculptures and a Bas-Relief depicting events in Hope’s life. Other historical sites include the Andres Pico Adobe near the mission, the Leonis Adobe in Calabasas, Campo de Cahuenga in North Hollywood, La Casa de Lopez Adobe in San Fernando and Pico Adobe in Mission Hills.

Finally, Valley visitors can get a chance to pay tribute to the classic California symbol — the car — by visiting the Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar. The Nethercutt Museum has more than 130 antique, vintage and classic cars. And admission is free.

Let’s Eat: The Restaurants

When it comes to restaurants, the Valley offers a culinary range that’s as diverse as its geography. Studio City’s Ventura Boulevard is known for its handful of top-notch sushi restaurants, with the most renowned — Sushi Nozawa — being converted into SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa. Slightly west, Ventura and Laurel Canyon Boulevards have become an epicenter of sorts for some of LA’s most innovative and enduring dining concepts, featuring nearby outposts of burger havens Umami and The Counter, as well as urban Mexican cuisine eatery Loteria! Grill. Down the street, old-school deli aficionados can dig into their beloved pastrami at Art’s Delicatessen, while Romanov Restaurant and Lounge offers classic Russian cuisine. In North Hollywood, Tokyo Delve’s features — yes — dancing sushi chefs, while belly dancers help make Marrakesh, a Moroccan restaurant in Studio City, a one-of-a-kind experience. Sagebrush Cantina has become a Calabasas institution by serving Mexican cuisine to bikers and families alike. And, further up the hill in Calabasas, Saddle Peak Lodge features a stunning, woodsy setting that’s matched only by its cuisine, which is heavy on perfectly cooked game.

Finally, Universal CityWalk has a ton of casual dining options, including Buca di Beppo, Tony Roma’s and Camacho’s Cantina, as well as a Hard Rock Café, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Saddle Ranch Chop House and the part concert/part piano bar, Howl at the Moon.

Thank You for Your Hospitality: The Hotels

When it comes to the Valley, many of the best places to stay are in and around Universal City and the Burbank-area studios. The Sheraton Universal and Hilton Universal City are adjacent to Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Sheraton Universal is housed in a tower that overlooks a pool enveloped in a garden setting and includes 442 rooms, as well as 30,000 square feet of updated meeting space. (333 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City, 818/980-1212).The gleaming Hilton Universal City has 483 rooms, as well as 18 meeting rooms totaling 23,000 square feet of meeting space and features Café Sierra.. (555 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City, 818/506-2500).

Down the hill, the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn Hotel offers easy access to Universal Studios Hollywood and the Hollywood Bowl. This 242-room property, located on seven acres, features nine meeting rooms totaling 13,000 square feet. (4222 N. Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, 800/238-3759).

Located in the heart of Glendale’s business and financial district, the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale has 348 rooms and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. Luxurious as well as convenient, this full-service hotel offers a variety of services, including a fitness center and Executive Level floor. (100 W. Glenoaks Blvd., 818/956-5466).

Warner Center in Woodland Hills has long been one of the Valley’s business centers and features a number of top-notch hotels. The Warner Center Marriott Hotel has more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space, which includes 23 meeting rooms and three conference suites. (21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills 818/887-4800). And the Hilton Woodland Hills has 326 rooms and 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. (6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, 818/595-1000).

Lastly, the Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel, which opened in 1962 in Studio City and once included a fishing pond frequented by celebrities, is a charming, country-style hotel featuring lush grounds and an Olympic-size pool for unique outdoor meetings and special events. For indoor meetings, the hotel features seven rooms that can accommodate 15 to 130 people. A total of 190 guestrooms are available. (12825 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818/769-4700).

Come Out and Play: Recreation

The diverse landscape of the Valley, complete with rugged mountains, wide open spaces and breathtaking scenery, lends itself to an array of outdoor recreational activities, including hiking, rock climbing, golf (the Valley boasts more than a dozen public golf courses), polo and horseback riding.

Front and center is the 2,031-acre Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in Encino, which has something for everyone: several shady parks, Lake Balboa, three golf courses, bike paths, a cricket field, model airplane field, archery range and wildlife preserve that is home to ducks, geese, herons and egrets, as well as native plants. Inside Sepulveda Basin is The Japanese Garden, which features strolling gardens of 18th- and 19th-centuryfeudal lords, called chisen-kaiyushiki (wet garden with promenade). In addition to the landscaping, the garden contains a tea house and a re-creation of a residence from the 14thand 15th centuries.

Smaller but equally serene is Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center, which grew out of Rancho Sombra del Roble in West Hills and encompasses 24 acres of rose gardens and citrus groves. The site is often used for events and retreats and can accommodate as many as 175 people. (23600 Roscoe Blvd., West Hills, 818/346-7449).

Griffith Park, which straddles the Santa Monica Mountains that separate the Valley from Hollywood, is an oasis of outdoor recreation. On the Valley side, the country’s largest urban park features Travel Town Transportation Museum’s collection of classic trains, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and the Los Angeles Zoo, which is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds and reptiles and which attracts more than 1.5 million people a year.

Movie buffs who didn’t get their fill at Universal or Warner Bros. can head west to Chatsworth’s Iverson Ranch, which stood in for Mexico in the 1948 Humphrey Bogart classic The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, approximated 19th-century Dodge City, Kansas, in the TV series “Gunsmoke,” and served as a backdrop for the TV show “The Rifleman.” Want more of the Old West? Check out Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, where fake store facades mix with the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains to provide an only-in-the-Valley kind of experience.

Finally, thrill-seekers can head to the northern rim of the Valley to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. Long known for the region’s most intense roller coasters, the 260-acre amusement park has more than 100 rides and attractions, including newer rides like “X2,” “Scream” and, coming in spring 2012, “Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom,” as well as classics like “Colossus” and “Revolution.” Families can enjoy slightly more kid-friendly Warner Bros.-inspired attractions such as “Pepe Le Pew’s Tea Party” and “Tweety’s Escape.”

And, to quote one of Warner Bros.’ most notorious residents, “th-th-that’s all, folks!”

About The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board 

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of City government, Los Angeles Tourism is recognized as the City’s official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at discoverLosAngeles.com. Please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or follow us on Twitter @discover_LA.

Los Angeles International Pow Wow is supported by the following Premiere Partners: Brand USA, Los Angeles World Airports, and Visit California. The Premiere Event sponsors are Cirque du Soleil, Hollywood & Highland and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Platinum sponsors are The GRAMMY Museum, LA Waterfront, Metro, and Wolfgang Puck Catering.

The Gold sponsors are Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, CityPASS, Coach America, DFS, Downtown Business Improvement District, The Grove, Hollywood Entertainment District, Merlin Entertainments Group, Miles Marketing Destinations, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Original Farmers Market, Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities CVA, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau, Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Starline Tours & Tour Coach Charters, Temecula Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau. The Silver sponsors are Beverly Center, The Capital Grille, Citadel Outlets, City of Santa Clarita, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Malibu Family Wines, Premium Outlets, and Visit Mendocino County. The Bronze sponsors are da Vinci Villa, El Monte RV, Integrated Transportation Services, and Japanese Assistance Network.

• « Previous post
• Next post »

If you’re new to the world of golf then you’re probably wondering about what golf clubs to buy, and what golf clubs you will need. The clubs that you will need to buy and use depends on your skill level. As a beginner you will probably score above one hundred and five strokes for eighteen holes of golf.

You probably don’t realize how expensive it could be to begin golfing. Between buying the clubs, the shoes, the tees, the golf balls and paying for a round of golf is going to cost you quite a bit. My advise to you is to keep it as inexpensive as possible by buying a full set of golf clubs as cheap as you can. You should look for a set of clubs that contains a driver, a three or five wood, a minimum of a five, seven, and nine iron, a sand wedge, a putter and a golf bag for between two and four hundred dollars.

You really don’t need top of the line golf clubs, such as Cleveland or Adams golf clubs, nor should you buy them. The chance is very good that you will damage a club or two in your quest to learn. Look for off brands on the internet or at your local golf store and you’ll be very happy with them. I wouldn’t recommend buying used clubs unless you find an unbelievable deal. With used clubs the first thing you will most likely have to do is replace the grips, which just adds to your expense.

Now that you have your clubs you are probably wondering which clubs you’ll be using, and how far you’re going to hit them. You will be using your driver, five iron, nine iron, and putter for just about every golf hole that you play. The reason that I say this is because you will most likely hit your driver between one hundred eighty and two hundred yards, your five iron about one hundred and fifty yards, and your nine iron one hundred yards. A par four golf hole, which is the most common on every golf course, will most likely be between three hundred fifty and four hundred fifty yards. If you hit your drive one hundred eighty yards and then hit your five iron one hundred fifty yards you will be very near to most greens on a par four hole.

So now you pull out your nine iron, hit the ball onto the green and putt it into the hole, and you’re done. You’ll quickly see that it’s really not that easy, it should be, but it’s not.

In summary, try to find a very inexpensive set of new golf clubs by not buying from a major golf company. Look for a package deal that contains the most clubs and a golf bag for the least amount of money. As a beginner the distance that you hit a golf ball with those new clubs will not be very long, but will improve with practice. And remember that it’s not the clubs that are making mistakes, it’s the person holding them. Expensive golf clubs won’t improve your game.

The Callaway Golf Company is one of golf”s best known brand names. Renowned for their groundbreaking technology, Callaway manufactures the full spectrum of golf clubs, from drivers to putters. The company also makes premium golf balls and has it’s name on clothing, footwear and accessories. Callaway Golf are also the owners of the brand names of Ben Hogan and Top Flite and also manufacture putters in the Odyssey range.

The company came to the fore in golf by making clubs for amateur golfers that were easy and forgiving to play. Fame followed after it had success among the professional ranks, and many top class players now endorse the brand, Phil Mickelson and Rocco Mediate being two of the modern day players who have had success playing the Callaway range.

Callaway is probably best known for it’s Big Bertha range of drivers, the golf industry’s first stainless steel and wide bodied wood, which launched the company to iconic status with amateur and pro golfers alike. This driver alone would put Callaway Golf at the forefront of all golfers minds as they saw Bertha to be the club that would help them to long and straight drives.

Former Burlington Industries Textile president, Ely Callaway, formed the company in 1982. Mr Callaway, a very successful businessman, was enjoying a brief spell of retirement after selling his winery when he decided to add golf club maker to his resume. Never one who liked to be idle, he was playing a lot of golf while looking for a fresh challenge when he came across a wooden pitching wedge in a golf shop in Palm Springs. Although this shaft was different, the club reminded him of the old hickory clubs he had played with as a child. This shaft had been hollowed out and filled with a steel core for consistency and strength. So intrigued was Ely Callaway with this club, he decided to buy a half share of Hickory Stick USA and re-branded it as Callaway Hickory Stick USA.

Well known for thinking big, Ely Callaway was true to form when forming and growing his golf company. The company are still at the forefront of the development and manufacture of advanced golf clubs and equipment, including it’s range of two and three piece golf balls. Callaway’s Fusion FT-3 driver had adjustable internal weighting options, which allowed the ordinary golfer to set the club to their personal specifications to help enhance a draw or a fade.

Phil Mickelson continues to play and endorse the Callaway brand, having won USGA Tour and Major championships with these clubs. Annika Sorenstam has also used and endorsed Callaway Golf equipment for the whole of her professional career. During that time she became the only woman golfer to shoot 59 in a competition, and used the FT-3 driver in 2006 to claim her 10th Major championship win.

From humble beginnings, Callaway Golf has reached the top in the industry. Today, their FT and Diablo range of drivers, along with the Diablo and the game improvement X-series irons continue to lead the field. And it looks like Callaway will be at the top of the tree for a while to come.