Golf Game Secrets

ON MY BACKPACKING adventures, I’d always enquire among the well- travelled people I’d meet: “What’s the most beautiful country you’ve visited?” and so often, the answer would be Sri Lanka. But every time I was close to booking, there was trouble involving the Tamil Tigers. Earlier this year, I finally succumbed and booked the flights, and sure enough, the conflict intensified. But I went anyway, a little nervously, and I’m glad I did.

Since then, the Sri Lankan government has declared victory over the rebels after decades of bloodshed. The hope now is that the ending of the 26-year civil war will mean lasting peace and signal a fresh start for tourism in what is potentially one of the most attractive holiday destinations in Asia.

While the Department of Foreign Affairs and British Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to the north and east of Sri Lanka (the centre of the troubles) and common-sense caution when travelling elsewhere, for good measure I checked in with an old BBC colleague based in Colombo, who confirmed that sticking to the south, west and centre of the island – as we did – would ensure safety for travellers. In any case, it is always worth checking in with the Department of Foreign Affairs prior to travelling.

While the Sri Lankans badly need and deserve a lift right now, we could all do with a little serendipity in our lives these days. And if you make your way to this magical island of Serendib, you will find it in abundance. Steeped in the tea-warm Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of India, Sri Lanka really lives up to its name, which means “beautiful island” in local Sinhalese. Although best known as Ceylon, it was originally known by fable as the Kingdom of Serendip. And this remains the essence of modern-day Sri Lanka. It still feels magical and undiscovered, full of unexpected encounters, places and experiences.

Since the heady days of backpacking, I have to admit I’ve become very demanding. I want it all from my holidays. And as holiday time becomes ever more precious, I don’t want to just lie on the beach. I want tasty food, culture to bewitch and beguile, mesmerising natural beauty, accommodation with character and style, and, for even more indulgent moments, shopping and spa opportunities galore. And Sri Lanka has it all, except tourists – so go now.

Bone-shaking roads and nightmare traffic are on the list of authentic Sri Lankan experiences. Unfortunately, exploring this beautiful country is still best done by car and driver. My advice would be not to attempt too much, as too many bumpy rides could ruin your holiday. But have no doubt, it’s worth slogging it out to explore the country’s colonial and cultural heritage.

This ancient land is blessed with a slew of sites of amazing historical and archaeological significance. A mix of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and indigenous cultures have left their mark, and seven of these have made it on to Unesco’s list of World Heritage Sites: the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the ancient capital Polonnaruwa, the lion rock citadel Sigiriya, the caves of Dambulla, the Tooth Temple in Kandy, the Dutch colonial fort in Galle and the natural rainforest in Sinharaja.

You could spend weeks savouring these sites, but our time limits dictated we be selective, so we were whisked away from the teeming furnace that is the capital city, Colombo, and wound our way up towards Kandy in the centre of the country. This is exactly as I had envisaged colonial Ceylon as a child. Hill country, as its known, is a cool lush oasis of emerald- layered tea plantations, with fresh country air circulating pretty English villas and gardens.

The British built themselves a hill resort here, with one of the finest golf courses in Asia – Victoria Golf Club is apparently unmissable – plus excellent trout fishing and a horse-racing track. If you’re gasping, stop by the Glenloch tea factory for a history and tasting of Ceylon Tea, but if you’ve come for world heritage, the Tooth Temple will be your first stop. A sacred destination, it’s believed to house the tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. The tooth relic is removed from its shrine only once a year, during the Esala Perahera, a 10-day torchlight parade of dancers and drummers, dignitaries and decorated elephants. It may be the largest Buddhist celebration in the world.

Next up, the Cultural Triangle lies in a convenient cluster close to Kandy. The cliff-top citadel of Sigiriya is a hell of a hike, but worth it for the paintings of pneumatic women that adorn the stone, alongside poems inscribed 2,500 years ago.

Polonnaruwa is a rambling complex of ruins, but go early to marvel at the huge standing and reclining Buddhas, and mind the thieving monkeys. Anuradhapura, centred around the sacred Bodhi tree, is bursting with the remains of a once huge, ancient city, which was the seat of Sinhalese power. If your stamina is flagging, get to the cool courtyard of Kandy House for refreshments.

We eventually made it to the fortress city of Galle, on the south coast, where we spent most of our trip. The Portuguese may have come for the spices and gemstones, but the Dutch can take credit for the remarkably preserved fort, perched boldly on a headland at the edge of the city. This World Heritage Site is built entirely within walls and ramparts, and houses a microclimate of rare buildings, tumbledown colonial villas and special people.

Wandering the narrow streets is to enter a time warp – goats queuing in the post office, the clickedy-clack of lawyers on their typewriters outside the courthouse, the lighthouse keeper busy, old ladies making lace on the doorsteps. I loved it, and I loved the stunning gemstones winking at me from shop windows even more. Everyone has something to sell, but it never feels aggressive. Past the mosque and Dutch-built churches, we repaired for tea and scones in true colonial style at the Amangalla Hotel’s veranda, overlooking the sea. Later, our tuk-tuk passes the cricket ground just outside the fort, hinting at Sri Lanka’s true passion, probably the most cherished legacy of its colonial past.

While there’s no denying the still visible devastation of the tsunami, which visited this area, the people have shown extraordinary resilience and courage in rebuilding their city and their lives. We met many wonderful locals who regaled us with stories of Irish kindness and support. Boats and buildings bear the names of Irish people and businesses that donated time and money. We met a Cork family who have been coming to Sri Lanka for many years. They narrowly escaped tragedy that fateful day in 2004, but continue to spend time in the country they love, fundraising and supporting the locality as much as possible.

Geoffrey Dobbs is one of many expats making a life and a difference here. He runs a number of luxurious boutique hotels, and set up adoptsrilanka.com after the tsunami. He’s also done a stellar job enticing lovers of literature to the Galle Literary Festival. We missed it in early February, but Edna O’Brien, Thomas Keneally and Germaine Greer were part of the unique event.

This area has some of the most gorgeous and intimate accommodation, from beachside architectural icons to boutique hotels and luxury villas, that you will find anywhere. I can still hear the waves crashing onto the rocks outside my window at the Lighthouse Hotel and still feel the benefits of the Ayurvedic spa.

We felt entirely safe during our travels throughout the country, and it certainly left us wanting more. Travel experts are optimistic for the future of Sri Lanka as a destination in the long term, for it is truly magical. Better still, it’s a good-value option, from its low cost of living to eating out and affordable accommodation.

Serendipidous indeed.

Where to stay

The Galle Face Hotel.

Galle Road, Colombo 3, Galle. 00-94-112-541010, gallefacehotel.com. A colonial seafront landmark with a newly renovated Regency wing worth staying in.

Kandy House. Ratwatte Walauwa, Amunugama, Gunnepana, 00-94-814-921394. An eight-room manor house, lovingly furnished with antiques. Enjoy the relaxing courtyard curry evenings.

The Lighthouse Hotel Spa. Dadella, Galle. 00-94-912-223744, jetwinghotels.com. The most renowned architect in Sri Lanka, Geoffrey Bawa, built this remarkable hotel on a stunning location between rocks and palm-fringed beach. Perfectly proportioned rooms, a sea-view spa, terrace drinks and food, and unforgettable sunsets. This hotel is best for a relaxing break for honeymooners and families alike.

Galle Fort Hotel. 28 Church Street, Galle Fort, 00-94-912-232870, galleforthotel.com. This friendly fort mansion has suites around its colonnaded courtyard. Buzzy atmosphere and good food.

The Sun House and The Dutch House. 18 Upper Dickson Street, Galle, 00-94-914-380275, thesunhouse.com. Two beautiful colonial homes on a hill outside Galle offering romantic accommodation and cosy furnishings. Check out the website for more boutique and beachside villa accommodation across Sri Lanka from the same owners.

Where to eat

The Gallery Cafe. 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 3, 00-94-112-582162, paradiseroadsl.com. Not to be missed for excellent food in a stylish courtyard setting. A boutique and gallery will keep you busy between courses.

Aluwihare Kitchen and Heritage Centre. 833 Dambulla Road, Matale, 00-94-662-222404. On the way to the Kandy/Cultural Triangle area, this centre has two good restaurants and folk art for sale.

Helga’s Folly. 32 Frederick de Silva Mawatha, Kandy. 00-94-812-234571, helgasfolly.com. An eccentric but charming place to spend a evening.

Amangalla Hotel. 10 Church Street, Galle Fort, 00-94-912-233388. Don’t miss the tea and scones on the veranda of the Amangalla Hotel, inside the fort.

Where to go

Kandy/Cultural Triangle. Two days are needed to see it all, and one ticket gets you into three of the island’s most spectacular sites. Ask your driver or guide to organise your trip.

Sri Lanka has rainforest (Sinharajah in particular) containing more species than anywhere else on the planet, bar the Amazon.

En route to Kandy, visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage (00-94-356-5804). Best to visit at feeding or bathing time, 9.15am and 4.15pm.

Where to shop

For silks, saris and sapphires, don’t miss Laksana’s gems (30 Hospital Street, Galle Fort, 00-94-777-900170). For homeware try Barefoot (Church Street, Colombo 3, 00-94-112-580114). For beachwear and beaded bags go to Mimi Mango (Leyn Baan Street, Galle Fort, 00-94-777-513473).

Getting around

Sri Lanka in Style (00-94-112-396666, srilankainstyle.com) is a bespoke travel service that will tailor a tour and accommodation to fit your needs, budget and time frame. See also Experience Sri Lanka (00-44-207-924 7133, experiencesrilanka.com). Both can arrange a driver to pick you up from the airport and stay with you for a day or a week, advising on the best sights and offering good tips on where to eat and where to stay. Tuk-tuks are fine for short jaunts – don’t forget to haggle.

i-escape.com is an excellent site for the independent traveller, with great boutique hotels options.

Go There

Sri Lankan Airlines (srilankan.aero) fly directly from London Heathrow to Colombo. Sunway (sunway.ie) and Twohigs (twohigs.ie) both offer packages to Sri Lanka.

If you have a golfer in your life then you know how passionate they are about their game. Buying a golf gift for your family member or friend can be the best thing they receive on that special occassion. Being a golfer, when you think of gifting something to anyone the first thing which will come to your mind will surely be the golf gift. Usually golf gifts are given to potential young golfers to encourage them to play more and more golf. The best gift that you could give in today’s technological environment is the Golf Buddy Pro Tour GPS unit.

You have to choose perfect golf gifts for these young beginners considering their style. You have plenty of golf articles and accessories to choose from. To name some of golf gifts they are golf clubs, golf irons, golf bags, golf knickers, classic ball case etc. IN the succeeding paragraphs we will elaborate on importance of each golf gift.

In my opinion golf books are the best golf gifts for beginners. A beginner learns lot of things about game and adds to his/her knowledge of the game by reading golf books

Next come golf lessons. These lessons help potential beginners to decide whether he/she really wants to take the game or he/she likes the golf or not. Golf lessons, golf books and CDs/DVDs are excellent golf gifts for beginners.

Many beginners start playing golf with hired or borrowed golf clubs. Usually, golf clubs are considered as matter of personal choice. However, one may not be willing to purchase expensive golf clubs at the beginning. For such people first set of golf club is considered as best gift amongst other golf gifts. Remember to present these golf clubs in a golf bag.

There are number of golf accessories available in markets which as categorized as golf gifts. Golf gloves, ball markers and tees, though some what expensive, are nice golf gifts. Depending to you affordability and intimacy to the person you are going to present golf gifts you may like to present a full set of golf starter kit to a potential beginner.

If you really want to impress your young golfer consider the Golf Buddy Pro Tour GPS unit. This is the gift that will keep on giving and help your young golfer to judge distance, choose the right club, and understand the lay of the land.

Golf balls are also the popular articles for presenting as golf gifts. Beginners are not concerned about the type, compression and construction of these golf balls. You can choose golf balls personalizing with nickname, name or customs logo of the beginner. Only disadvantage of gifting such golf balls is that if the ball is lost the person to whom you have gifted it may get upset.

Golf shoes are other option from the golf gifts. Golf shoes are basic requirement for playing golf. Choosing a right shoe that will be fitting and providing comfort to the person you are gifting is not an easy task. Remember you have alternate option of gift certificate. Instead of presenting golf shoes as golf gifts, present a gift certificate and allow him/her to purchase shoes of his/her choice.

Golf courses are considered to be one of the expensive ventures of sports due to their fees structure. To avoid such expensive venture, driving ranges are considered to be best alternative. Presenting a membership of driving range may be the best among golf gifts for a beginner.

Ball tokens, golf gift certificates and 10 bucket pass are the other golf gifts available. Golf gifts are considered to be a motivating factor for beginners.

Golf Grip kits are a common phenomenon amongst golfers. Golfers are always choosy about their golf grip kits. Golf grip kits consist of tape, instruction book and a CD or DVD containing photos about use of golf equipments. Usually, golf grip kits are provided with golf irons and golf grips. Golf grip kits provide you all information like specification, maintenance guide and instruction about the handling of the equipment. Golf grip kits are of utmost importance for the beginners are they get the required information of golf equipments through these golf grip kits.

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The Golf Buddy GPS Is A Perfect Gift

If you are looking for a Golf GPS there is no better place to learn about the features and specifications of your Golf Buddy Pro Tour GPS than Golf GPS PDA.com