The quality of golf on the island is completely dependent on the player behind the club. There is no shortage of available opportunities ranging from the club on the edge of town, to the five-star resort that attracts some of the biggest names in the golf world. And it’s not limited to the players. Some of the most renowned golf architects have designed courses on the island, offering breathtaking vistas that are challenge enough for any golf enthusiast.

Among the storied names there is of course, Mike Weir who debuted at the 1998 Canadian Skins Game and who will make his Prince Edward Island return again this summer. For women golfers, Lorie Kane and four-time Player of the Year, Nancy Lopez played Prince Edward Island’s Brudenell River during Canada’s first-ever women’s skins game. As for designers, Stanley Thompson, Les Furber, Rob Heaslip and Robbie Robinson have each left their mark on the Island

The makings of the perfect golf vacation include, of course, great golf courses, but also everything that goes with it. That includes accommodations, sights, sounds, cuisine, and perhaps a little downtime at a local PEI spa.

The sights can be seen both on and off the golf course and include the sapphire blue of the ocean water, beach sands in shades of white, champagne pink and red, and mile-high sand dunes teeming with shore life and ecosystem that includes the endangered Piping Plover..

Inland this gentle island is as much renowned for its pastoral landscapes and nature trails as it is for its farmlands and PEI potatoes. And though the Island measures less than 500 miles from tip to tip, it is the perfect spot for a golf vacation, with numerous courses catering to both the seasoned pro and recreational player.

When touring Prince Edward Island on your golf vacation, you will see miles of lush rolling farmlands and coastlines dotted with fishing harbours. So it may not come as a surprise to discover that we’re well-known for our food.

Prince Edward Island is home to Malpeque oysters, cultured blue mussels and our world-famous PEI potatoes. And you haven’t experienced taste or Island hospitality until you’ve gone to a lobster supper in a church hall on a hot summer’s night. There’s also no shortage of renowned restaurants featuring an array of Island delicacies.

There is much to do on a golf vacation on this gentle island. So much, in fact, you’ll want to come back time and time again.

Joseph Gibbs, a media entrepreneur of Alabama, first devised the concept of such network in 1991. Later, to prove his assumption that a rising public interest for a golf network will be supported, he held a public survey called the Gallup Poll and found through it that his instincts were right. With the legendary golfer and golf course designer Arnold Palmer, they managed to secure an $80 M to put up the said network that became known as the Golf Channel. The first ever-live tournament televised by the network in January 1995 was the Dubai Dessert Classic.

The Golf Channel is available primarily in the United States, Asia and Canada through wireless transmissions and cable and satellite transmissions. There also is a European version of the network. However, most programs were the same as those being televised in the United States. The American studio is situated in Orlando, Florida.

The featured programs in the Golf channel appear in all sorts but live telecast of golf games is the norm. The network features coverage of PGA Tournament, LPGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Champions Tour, Canadian Australasian Tours, USGA and PGA America tournaments. Also, there is a nightly news show titled the Golf Central and one named the Golf Central, which is devoted entirely to college golf.

In 2004, the NetJets linked a unique partnership to the Golf Channel. In connection to this, the company gained exclusive rights for the airing of costumed programs which integrated and featured NetJets advertisements. Throughout the term of the partnership, NetJets was the Golf Channel’s exclusive aviation company and no other company of this type was able to advertise or be featured in any of the network’s programs.

In accordance with this partnership, the network televised an hour-long show titled “Golf Talk Taking Flight Presented by NetJets wherein golf stars Bob Murphy, Davis Love III, Dana Quigley and Dave Stockton were featured. Another is “NetJets Traveling on Tour”, a four-minute Golf Channel segments which followed golfers as they travel in cities for tours that showcased them in or beside NetJets Aircrafts. Third on the list is Golf Channel’s hit golf reality show – the Big Break II, that was aired in the fall of 2004 which aimed to assist aspiring golf professionals gain exemptions in the PGA and LPGA tournaments and events.
In 2005, the Golf Channel sponsored a golf tournament named the “Big Stakes Golf”, a special match play won by the mini-tour professionals David Ping and Garth Mulroy. The entry fee to play in this special event is $100,000 for a grand prize of $3,000,000, which will be split-up between the two players, the largest in golf history.

For further information on the Golf Channel check on its website. Their site includes program listings, schedules and airtimes, Golf Channel Tournaments, PGA Tournaments, updates on the reality show-The Big Break, Golf Channel contests, TGC Pro Shop, TGC Shows, TGC talents and host, listings of golf schools, golf vacation packages, event tickets and tee times.

The number one activity in Whistler CN is alpine skiing. The town has been consistently voted as one of the best ski destinations. It is set to host the Winter Olympics in 2010 for many of the Nordic, alpine and sliding events. Whistler CN boasts of a pedestrian village pre-designed to allow vibrant social interaction, and easy visual access to the lush surrounding mountains. The village has won several design awards. Given the impact of more than two million of visitors coming back yearly for more vacations in the town, the village is undergoing redevelopment to main its sustainability even with the impact of heavy tourism.

Aside from being a winter destination, Whistler CN is also great for summer getaways and more vacations. There are plenty of activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, swimming and golfing. Regardless of the month of the year, you will surely find something fun and exhilarating to do while in town. For sure, you will keep on coming back to this destination for more vacations.

The town has several accommodation options. There are plush hotels and condominium units for rent. You can also lease chalets. Several restaurants offer exquisite meals. There are also several shops and stores to choose from.

The mountains of Whistler CN are just magical. Lakes abound. There are glacial fed streams – one of these run through the village. Several trails are accessible for hikes and picnics.

There are sites not to be missed when in Whistler CN:

1. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park: This park is blessed with lush flora, bluish glacial lakes and streams and ice-caped mountains. The park is just north of Whistler CN.

2. Garibaldi Provincial Park: Take a Gondola ride from Whistler town through this ski part. Whistler Peak chair is on its summit. The Gondola ride, by itself, is already an adventure. The ride gives you an amazing view of the mountains. It lifts you up to 6,000 feet. Even during summertime, you may find ice on the mountain peak. Pretty soon, a peak to peak gondola ride will open, offering more adventures up there.

3. Lost Lake: The lake is popular destination for visitors and residents, alike. The lake has a walking trail for pedestrians to use and explore the lake.

4. Bear Viewing Tours: A unique feature in Whistler is the bear viewing tour. Using 4X4 vehicles, you visit black bear habitats with Michael Allen, a noted back bear researchers. The mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb are home to about fifty black bears. The tour will include trips to their daybeds, feeding sites and bear dens.

Just over 37% of UK skiers choose to ski in France while 19% choose Austria and 13% choose to ski in Italy. France seems to be the favorite ski destination for most Britons. Crystal Holidays already reports a 10% increase in bookings in its resorts.

The 2006/2007 ski season was more challenging than previous years due to poor snowfall at the start of the season. Lower-altitude ski resorts could face the same challenges this year, according to predictions, but early snowfalls in Austria and Andorra have been encouraging.

Inghams, another popular UK ski holiday company, also reports bookings ahead of last year at this time.

Litsa Constantinou, Chief Executive of Inghams, said: “We expect growth in many of the popular destinations and also that the trend for people taking multiple ski holidays will continue.”

High-altitude, snow-sure resorts with Neilson Ski are also selling very well this 2007/2008 ski season. Andy Harmer, head of product and planning at Neilson, said: “Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish resorts are proving attractive, as are the Canadian resorts, which enjoyed fantastic snow last winter.”

Crystal Holidays is the UK’s leading holiday spot for year round travel, especially during ski season. Crystal features a network of 140 resorts in 14 countries worldwide. Gareth Crump, product and marketing director for Crystal Holidays, said: “France benefits from the popularity of the chalet and club hotel product and its high-altitude resorts. Austria lost out (last ski season) because its low-lying resorts suffered from poor snowfall.”

Aside from great ski destinations, Crystal Holidays offers great family holiday getaways. Crystal has stylish hotels and chalets in some of the UK’s most popular resort locations. Many of these locations offer a wide range of holiday escapes in Europe and North America; some of Crystal’s holiday packages include; lakeside locations, mountain villages, beach resorts, walking breaks, city stays, touring and much more. You can truly enjoy your holiday at your own pace with activities like hiking, biking, climbing, rafting and paragliding.

The Principality of Andorra, more commonly known as Andorra, is a highly sought-after ski destination. Nestled in the eastern Pyrenees mountains bordering Spain and France, Andorra usually provides perfect ski conditions throughout the ski season. Crystal Holidays has three resorts in Andorra; Arinsal, Pas de la Casa, and Soldeu.

Andorra’s economy relies primarily on the estimated nine-million tourists who visit each year. Due to the tourist population and immigration, there are many languages spoken in Andorra. The historic and official language of the area is Catalan. Many nationalities have immigrated to Andorra, so you’ll also hear Spanish, French and Portuguese, as well as English.

Andorra is rich in culture and home to folk dances like the contrapas and marratxa. Andorran folk music shares similarities with all of its neighbouring provinces and countries but is essentially Catalan in character.

Skiing has become a very popular seasonal getaway during the last decade; more and more people each year book ski holidays as weekend getaways and week-long holidays. Where ever you plan your 2007/2008 ski holiday, keep these great destinations in mind.

For others, career or family demands fuel the desire for a second home: for business stays, or to shelter the university student studying in a distant community.

Now that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation(CMHC) has introduced a Second Home program – helping Canadians borrow up to 95% of the home’s value – the purchase of a second home is easier than ever. And the attraction of the real estate investment is just as compelling with your second home as it is with your first. Not only can it be a good financial investment, but it’s an important

emotional investment too. Here are some things to keep in mind when you finance a second home:

Can You Afford It?

This is the most important question you have to ask yourself. If you are planning to purchase a second home, you’ll want the best possible financing for your new real estate investment. There’s no question that financing is easier than ever. But a mortgage broker can help you figure out exactly how much second home you can

comfortably afford. It’s a great time to begin that conversation;

market conditions are in your favour, and mortgage interest rates are still at a near all time historical low.

What Are Your Financing Options?

The CMHC Second Home program has been the big breakthrough for Canadian second-home buyers CMHC will insure a property purchased

for a family member attending college or university away from home. And the program is very popular as a means of purchasing a vacation property. There are a few provisos here: either the borrower must occupy the property for at least some part of the year, or a family member must occupy the property on a rent-free basis. The property must be winterized, and be accessible for year-round occupancy.

And it must be located in Canada. Be careful with island properties; they should have year-round bridge or ferry access. Note, too, that program can’t be used to purchase time-shares or similar rental pools.

What Do The Mortgages Look Like?

By far your best bet here is to talk to an independent Ontario mortgage broker with access to a wide range of lenders. The mortgages for second homes can vary widely in the rates and requirements.

Can I Leverage My Existing Equity In My Primary Home?

This is an option that your mortgage broker can help you look at. This involves a cash-out refinancing of your existing primary home mortgage with a higher borrowed amount. Instead of waiting and saving years for a second home, you can access money based on the value of your primary residence and your present financial profile to help you finance a second property.

A Second Mortgage For A Second Home?

Is this the right option for you? A second mortgage is the most common way to use your home equity. No need to wait until you’ve saved a down payment for a second home investment, but you must

have the funds and cash flow to comfortably make both mortgage payments. Your broker will work out the best terms for you.

It’s your second home. That means that it’s primarily for your own or your family’s use (although you may rent it out casually and temporarily). If you’re looking to purchase an investment property, your mortgage broker can help with that too… but it’s not the same as purchasing a second home.

If there’s a family cottage in your dreams or a student condo in your plans, this is the time to get serious about a mortgage plan to make it happen.

Check out your options.