NSGA Nova Scotia 2014 Sunday, July 6 Friday, July 11, night s accommodations, 3 tournament rounds + whale watching

Transcription

1 NSGA Nova Scotia 2014 Sunday, July 6 Friday, July 11, night s accommodations, 3 tournament rounds + whale watching NSGA is going to Canada in Summer 2014 with our initial visit to Nova Scotia. A maritime province on the Atlantic Ocean, Nova Scotia has a rich cultural heritage and breathtaking scenery. We'll also be playing one of the world's best golf courses and one of its newest and potentially, another world class venue. Summarized below is important information to assist you in making your plans for this event. Hotel: Keltic Lodge Middle Head Peninsula Ingonish Beach Nova Scotia, Canada B0C 1L Pricing: Double Occupancy, Two Golfers $5,795 Double Occupancy, One Golfer & One Social $5,095 Single Occupancy, Golfer $3,795 Golf: Highland Links Golf Course (played twice) Cabot Links Golf Course Includes: Guestroom accommodations at Keltic Lodge for five nights Transfer from and to Halifax Stanfield International Airport (5+ hour drive) All breakfasts Opening orientation, cocktail reception and dinner Mid-Event Dinner at Cabot Links Closing cocktail reception and awards dinner Three tournament rounds of golf Transportation to and from Cabot Links Golf Course (2+ hour drive) Caddies at Cabot Links Golf Course (walking is preferred) Whale Watching for all participants Two special Social Events for Non-Golfers Spa credit for Social Attendees Afternoon hospitality suite Green and cart fees, club storage, range balls, gifts and prizes

2 Transportation: Most attendees should plan their air travel into Halifax Stanfield International Airport. Delta, United, US Airways and Air Canada service this airport. It is a scenic 5+ hour drive from Halifax airport to the Lodge. The closest airport to Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa is Sydney Airport. Air Canada Express and WestJet service this smaller airport. Sydney Airport is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from the resort. NSGA will arrange for luxury transport to the Keltic Lodge from either airport and has included this transport from Halifax in the package price. A credit will be available to anyone who makes their own arrangements or arrives at Sydney Airport. Arrival and departure transfers will be customized for each guest. Hotel: Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia Hugging the coastline with breathtaking views of Cape Smokey Mountain, this peaceful Nova Scotia resort celebrates its surroundings, giving you the most authentic Maritime experience. During your stay there are no shortage of Cape Breton diversions and delights. Nearby sand Ingonish Beach, wilderness hiking trails, tennis courts, sea kayaking, fresh and saltwater fishing, mountain biking and whale watching adventures are perfect for Nova Scotia vacations and offer outdoor enthusiasts of all ages the ultimate playground to explore. Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa is a serene sanctuary that draws upon the essence of the surrounding natural beauty to inspire wellness and rejuvenation. Relax poolside by the outdoor heated pool, stroll along the shoreline, or escape to the AVEDA concept Nova Scotia spa for pampering at its most luxurious. Situated just steps from the resort, the 18-hole championship Highlands Links Golf Course, ranked among the top 100 worldwide by Golf Magazine in 2011, completes any golfers dream getaway. Experience the pinnacle of Nova Scotia golf courses tee off seaside and marvel at the vibrant emerald fairways set against a backdrop of sea and mountains. But that s not all. Sample incredible local flavors from gourmet menus. Enjoy refined, award-winning Maritime cuisine with spectacular ocean views at the Purple Thistle Dining Room. For a more casual dining experience, the Atlantic Restaurant offers outstanding views, a relaxed atmosphere and traditional Maritime menu items. Don t miss the Highland Sitting Room, which features nightly entertainment and a light pub style menu. Page 2 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)

3 Schedule: Sunday, July 6, :00 a.m. - Noon Recommended arrival time at Halifax Airport Noon - 6:00 p.m. Travel time to Keltic Lodge 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Check-in and refresh 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Reception and opening dinner Monday, July 7, :30 a.m. Golf Begins - 1 st round at Highland Links 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Social Event & Lunch for Social Attendees 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Hospitality Suite open Tuesday, July 8, :00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m - 10:30 a.m. Transfer for all to Cabot Links 10:30 a.m p.m. Lunch & Golfer Warm Up Time 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Golf 2 nd round at Cabot Links 12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Social Event for non-golfers 5:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Dinner at Cabot Links 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Return to Keltic Lodge Wednesday, July 9, :00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Whale Watching for all + Lunch 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Hospitality Suite open Thursday, July 10, :45 a.m. Golf - 3 rd round at Highland Links 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Social Attendees can use their spa gift certificates 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Hospitality Suite open 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Awards and Closing Dinner Page 3 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)

4 Friday, July 11, :00 a.m. Check-out 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Travel time to Airport from Keltic Lodge NSGA Registration: Our welcome packet will await you at the resort reception desk. It will contain a schedule of activities, tournament rules, tee times, and other important information. Handicaps will be verified at our first meeting, so have your card ready. 3-Day Tournament Format: The tournament will include golf for three days. Golfers will participate in a 54-hole medal play tournament utilizing the player s USGA-recognized full handicap. Prizes will be awarded to the men s, super senior men s and ladies Overall Low Gross and Low Net winners. Long Drive and Closest to the Pin contests will be held. Payment: Final payment for this event is due to NSGA by May 1, A down payment of 33% of the anticipated total is due at booking. Payment can be charged directly to any major credit card by calling NSGA at At the conclusion of the event, you will be expected to pay the resort directly for any incidental expenses incurred during your stay. Credits/ Refunds: A full, no-questions-asked refund is available until March 1, A partial refund is available after March 1. The refund amount after March 1 is based upon the date of cancellation, the amount that NSGA has already spent and the cause of the cancellation. These refunds may be in the form of an NSGA credit towards a future event. Climate: The temperature range for July is generally 70 to 80 Fahrenheit. Page 4 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)

5 SOCIAL EVENTS For Everyone Whale Watching All NSGA guests will take a private tour aboard the Joan Malachi, a Northumberland Strait lobster fishing boat. It will tour the Cape Breton shoreline and peninsula For Social Attendees Scavenger Hunt (or alternative) Have fun with a Hi-Tech Scavenger Hunt at the Keltic Lodge. This fun event will require teamwork, problem solving and participation skills - and a good sense of humor - as you will use GPS devices to learn some history and interesting facts about the Keltic Lodge and surrounding areas. Lunch is included. Spa Visit Escape to the full service AVEDA concept Nova Scotia spa for deep relaxation and complete rejuvenation. Regain inner peace with sensory experiences for your mind, body, skin and hair. Connect to the ocean surroundings with an invigorating seaweed treatment. Find complete relaxation with a professional massage. Pamper yourself with a traditional spa treatment. A unique Cape Breton Spa, the Spa at Keltic is one of the newest additions to the resort, and is built on the edge of the cliffs of Middle Head Peninsula. Featuring panoramic views of Cape Smokey Mountain and the sandy shores of Ingonish Beach, the serene, inspiring setting will reconnect you with nature and calm your spirit. NSGA attendees receive a $125 credit to be used at The Spa at Keltic. Cabot Links Social Event & Dinner The entire group will travel by motor coach from the Lodge to Cabot Links. Then, while golfers enjoy their round, social participants will get the chance to sightsee and enjoy this beautiful area. Our social coordinator will outline what is available and make arrangement for a group activity. Some of the choices include: a search for the Elusive Blue Beach Glass at Inverness Beach take in the beautiful Acadian coastline on a Beach Trail Ride fabric dyeing by the Sea Cultural Event at The Inverness County Centre for the Arts Golfers and social attendees will meet for dinner at the Panorama Restaurant at Cabot Links Golf Course. Page 5 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)

6 GOLF Highland Links Experience the best of Nova Scotia golf courses at the Cape Breton Highlands Links Golf Course at the Keltic Lodge Resort and Spa. As a premier destination for golf in Cape Breton, the Highlands Links is currently #55 on Golf Digest's 100 Best Courses Outside the U.S. A Stanley Thompson designed course, the Cape Breton golf course opened in 1941 and Thompson called it his mountains and ocean golf course. Thompson s genius is demonstrated in the use of outstanding landforms, pristine environment and breathtaking ocean views. Ingenious routing from the rocky headlands to lovely wooded glens, stupendous views of the mountains and sea, deep gullies and swales, bunkers true to course integrity, Thompson s masterpiece has indeed been revitalized to world-class standards. " Every now and then I get a mean streak and like to fool the boys a little. But, I never hide any danger. It's all out there for the golfer to see and study " - Stanley Thompson The layout is by far one of the most unusual of Thompson's routings, and it is why this is possibly his very best. After he finalized his routing he made a decision of shear genius. He separated each unique area with a long walk. So why was this important? Because the course unfolds like a series of chapters from a great book, each chapter, or set of holes, has its own unique setting. When they are combined together they make for a wonderful journey through, or storey of, the local landscape. We will play this course twice. Golf Digest Rating: 4 ½ stars Par: 72 Length Rating Slope White 6, Yellow (M) Yellow (W) 5, Page 6 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)

7 Cabot Links Never is the game of golf more appealing than when a course is set in a rugged, oceanfront landscape, on linksland running firm and fast. This is Cabot Links, Canada s only authentic links. This is Cabot Links, where the holes spread out between the sea and the village of Inverness. This is Cabot Links, where every hole offers an ocean view and where five holes play directly adjacent to the beach. Cabot Links occupies a sandy coastal site that drains exceptionally well, resulting in firm, fast fairways on which the balls run. The site is almost completely treeless, allowing it to be scoured by wind, its fairways are covered in tight knit grass that is far from cushy and promotes the running links style of play, lined with knee high rough and adorned with ragged bunkers and deep pot bunkers, and in almost all cases, approaches to greens are unobstructed, promoting running shots. Greens are collarless and almost indistinguishable from the surrounding fairways, firm and hard to hold with lofted shots, and while the front side is mostly flattish and open, on the back nine the landscape becomes increasingly dunesy, reminiscent of Northern Ireland. As soon as you turn into the driveway, the links terrain and vast ocean sprawl immediately before you. While many links courses in Europe have surprisingly little ocean scenery considering they are on the coast, that is not the case here, and Cabot wastes little time before reaching the ocean on the second hole, a long par-5 with its green perched at the edge of the sea. While the course is immediately attractive, it really hits its stride of greatness on the back. Twelve and thirteen are exceptional holes right on the ocean, first a strong par-3 playing to the edge of land, followed by a tough par-4 with a carry over the ocean, a severe dogleg left so that the green, which sits next to a fishing marina, can be seen across the inlet from the tee. The course immediately enters the dunes landscape and stunning fourteen will likely be the signature hole, a nod to the famed seventh at Pebble Beach, a very short (90-yards playing 60 with no wind) par-3 with a downhill pitch to a peninsula green jutting into the water (don t go long!). The layout finishes in similarly strong fashion, and at various moments evokes Turnberry s Ailsa, Bandon Dunes, and Royal Portrush all good company to be in. Par: 70 Length Rating Slope Green 6, Silver 6, Orange (W) 4, Page 7 of 7 (Revised February 21, 2014)