GC_Greater Austin 2025_WEB by gchomemag

FUN

FACTS

FUN FACTS

• Modern day golf was invented in 1457 in Scotland.

• Golf was banned three times for years after it was invented because the Scottish government believed it interfered with military training.

• The first round of women’s golf was played in the year 1811 in Musselburgh, Scotland.

• The first golf balls were made of feathers wrapped in leather. These balls flew much further than the balls that came after. They were used until the mid-1800s, when they began being made out of wood.

• The original Augusta was intended to have a 19th hole, giving losing golfers a chance to win their money back on a quick round of double-or-nothing. It was indefinitely tabled because the hole would ruin the flow of the golf course.

• Before golf tees, players would shape mounds of sand and place the golf ball on top. Tees were finally popularized in the 1920s.

• The term “birdie” was coined accidentally by Ab Smith, who hit a “bird of a shot” in 1889.

• A score of three under par is called an albatross.

• A condor is a term given to a hole-in-one on a par 5. It is almost as rare as two holein-ones in a single game of golf.

ABOUT GOLF

• Almost 80% of golfers will never have a handicap under 18.

• The average golfer has a 12,500 to 1 chance of making a hole-in-one.

• Golf was one of the only sports played on the moon. Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. used a 6-iron to play golf on the moon.

• The longest putt was a mind-blowing 375 feet.

• The chance of making two hole-in-ones in a single game is 1 in 67 million.

• Tiger Woods made his first hole-in-one at the age of eight.

• Phil Mickelson is naturally right-handed, but as a child he mirrored his father’s swing and learned to swing as though he was lefthanded.

• Jack Nicklaus was the first golf who was able to successfully defend his Master’s title.

2025 Wedding Trends to Fall IN LOVE with

Throughout wedding planning, couples are constantly looking for unique ways to celebrate their love, infuse personal touches, and create memorable experiences for themselves and their guests. Wedding trends are important to stay on top of, as they may inspire you when you are planning your special day, but staying true to your own story will never go out of style.

Sustainable Weddings

We know that sustainability never goes out of style, so how can you incorporate it into your wedding day? Couples can include elements like seed paper confetti, eco-friendly wedding favors, or thrifted decor in their celebrations. Sustainability not only reduces waste from your day but is often used in thoughtful ways that add to the overall feel of your party.

Bold Colors

More and more couples are straying away from muted and natural tones, and we expect to see that trend continue into 2024. Choosing colors, whatever they may be, helps couples set the tone for their event. Maintaining a color story throughout not only creates a vibe, but it helps your guests gauge your day. Using colors will create an atmosphere unlike anything else because it speaks to who you are.

Micro Weddings

Micro weddings are defined as those having a guest list of 50 or fewer. Through the pandemic, small weddings have been normalized and we aren’t likely to see this trend go away any time soon. Going this route could certainly save money, but oftentimes couples splurge on their guests. They might opt for a fancy restaurant, hosting hotel rooms, or even covering transportation; these are all ways of putting the budget they might have used for a large wedding into creating a luxe experience for themselves and their guests.

Interactive and Tech Elements

Interactive elements not only add to the guest experience, but they also make for great memories! A growing trend for 2024 is audio guestbooks, which allow guests to leave messages and wishes through a voice recording. Capturing feelings in your guests’ voices is such a special memory that you can cherish for years to come.

Another fun thing that you can do with your guests is to create a dropbox with a QR code for guests to share the pictures that they have taken throughout the day.

PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

JAN 4 - 7

JAN 11 - 14

FEB 1 - 4

FEB 8 - 11

FEB 15 - 18

FEB 29MAR 3

MAR 7 - 10

MAR 14 - 17

The Sentry Plantation Course at Kapalua Kapalua, Maui, HI

Sony Open in Hawaii, Waialae Country Club Honolulu, HI

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach, CA

WM Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) Scottsdale, AZ

The Genesis Invitational, The Riviera Country Club Vallarta, MEX

The Classic in The Palm Beaches, PGA National Resort

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Puerto Rico Open, Grand Reserve Golf Club Rio Grande, PUR

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Orlando, FL

THE PLAYERS Championship, TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS)

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

MAR 21 - 24

MAR 28 - 31

APR 4 - 7

Valspar Championship, Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)

Texas Children's Houston Open, Memorial Park Golf Course

Valero Texas Open , TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course)

Palm Harbor, FL

Houston, TX

San Antonio, TX

APR 11 - 14

Masters Tournament, Augusta National Golf Club Augusta, GA

PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

APR 18 - 21 Corales Puntacana Championship Puntacana Resort & Club

Punta Cana, DOM

APR 18 - 21 RBC Heritage, Harbour Town Golf Links Hilton Head Island, SC

APR 25 - 28 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, TPC Louisiana Avondale, LA

MAY 2 - 5 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, TPC Craig Ranch McKinney, TX

MAY 9 - 12

Beach Classic The Dunes Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach, SC

MAY 9 - 12

MAY 16 - 19

MAY 23 - 26

MAY 30JUN 2 RBC Canadian Open Hamilton Golf & Country Club Hamilton, ON, CAN

JUN 6 - 9 The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday Dublin, OH

JUN 13 - 16

Open Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (Course No. 2) Village of Pinehurst, NC

JUN 20 - 23 Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands Cromwell, CT

JUN 27 - 30 Rocket Mortgage Classic , Detroit Golf Club

JUL 4 - 7

JUL 11 - 14

JUL 18 - 21

John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run Silvis, IL

JUL 18 - 21

PGA TOUR SCHEDULE

JUL 25 - 28

AUG 1 - 4

AUG 8 - 11

AUG 15 - 18

AUG 22 - 25

AUG 29SEP 1

Genesis Scottish Open, The Renaissance Club North Berwick, SCO

Barracuda Championship Tahoe Mountain Club Truckee, CA

The Open Championship, Royal Troon Troon, South Ayrshire, SCO

3M Open, TPC Twin Cities Blaine, MN

Olympic Men's Golf Competition, Le Golf National Paris, FRA

Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield Country Club

Greensboro, NC

FedEx St. Jude Championship, TPC Southwind Memphis, TN

BMW Championship, Castle Pines Golf Club Castle Rock, CO

TOUR Championship, East Lake Golf Club Atlanta, GA

9 WEIRD THINGS TO DO IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Why is Austin Called the Craziest City in America?

Austin has a reputation for being a bit quirky, to put it mildly. An association of local businesses even used the promotional slogan “Keep Austin Weird” for a while, which shows you how seriously that reputation is taken. This is a city where you can go hunting for gnomes and faeries in the park, many of the best local restaurants are food trucks and people celebrate the birthday of Eeyore from AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh books at an annual festival. And those don’t even make it into our list of the weird things to do in Austin!

Let it all hang out at Hippie Hollow Park

The only clothing-optional park in Texas Hippie Hollow is about a 30-minute drive northwest from downtown Austin, on the shores of Lake Travis. As the name suggests, it started out as a popular

hangout during the Free Love era in the 1960s and just never changed. It remains the only clothing-optional park in the entire state of Texas. It happens to be quite a pleasant park, too. Spanning 109 acres, it has some nice nature trails, designated swimming areas, drinking fountains and restrooms. For fairly obvious reasons, it’s an adults-only place.

Location: 7000 Comanche Trail, Austin, TX 78732

Open: Daily from 9 am to dusk

Phone: +1 512-854-7275

Eat antelope sausages at Wild Bubba’s Wild Game Grill

It makes an interesting story and a great meal

Wild Bubba’s is just outside of Austin, near the Circuit of the Americas, but is well worth the 15-mile drive. The menu famously features some really unusual meats, including yak, buffalo, antelope,

elk, kangaroo and wild boar. A meal here makes for an interesting story to tell and they’re actually really tasty, too. The Zombie Burger (no, it’s not made of zombies) is highly recommended and features a half-pound patty with Pepper Jack cheese, spicy mayonnaise, jalapenos, bacon and more, all for about $9. Try it with yak for a taste of some lean, mean, hunger-killing cuisine.

Location: 13912 FM 812, Del Valle, TX 78617

Open: Monday – Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm (closed on Sundays)

Phone: +1 512-243-1333

Shop at Uncommon Objects

The name says it all

If you’re looking for some weird and

unique souvenirs, you’ll almost certainly find them at this South Congress store. The maze-like shop is packed with weird and wonderful knick-knacks, from folk art to time-worn treasures. You can find old toys, impressive jewelry, busts, skulls, globes, sports memorabilia and more than we could possibly list here. The South Congress area is home to several weird stores like this so, in the extremely unlikely event that you don’t find something to your liking, you can shop around.

Location: 1602 Fortview Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Open: Daily from 10 am to 7 pm

Phone: +1 512-442-4000

Explore the Museum of the Weird Bizarre bric-a-brac from around the world

The Museum of the Weird is what happens to a curios shop when it reaches a certain size and level of oddness. It originally opened as a gift store with a small section at the back for the really weird stuff –shrunken heads, suits of armors and Fiji mermaids – but the owners, Steve and Veronica Busti, soon realized that there was more value in sharing their weird finds with the world, rather than selling them. Apparently, the world agreed, because the museum expanded to the point that it’s now the gift shop which is the afterthought. Tickets cost about $12 for adults and $8 for kids.

Location: 412 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Open: Daily from 10 am to midnight

Phone: +1 512-476-5493

Play a round at Peter Pan Mini-Golf Look out for the T-Rex!

FOOD & WINE

When the flavor profile of your meal’s ingredients works in harmony with your wine, then the taste of both is elevated to absolute perfection. Although pairing wine with food may seem like art only the finest of sommeliers can master, it is accessible to everyone.

As a rule of thumb, always match the intensity. A spicy dish with attitude requires a powerful wine to equal it, and likewise, a simple, subtle dish is best served alongside a lighter wine.

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party and want to dazzle your guests with perfectly paired wines, or just want to know if that Pinot works with your pepperoni pizza, here are some incredible food and wine pairings for every occasion.

The best wine for seafood… Riesling

From lobster and oysters to prawns and crab, if you’re preparing a shellfish dish, you can’t go wrong with a medium-bodied, acidic white like a Riesling. Zesty yet with residual sweetness, dry and off-dry Rieslings mimic the sweetness of the shellfish flesh while its crispness and purity balance everything out nicely.

The best wine for poultry… Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the classic pairing for chicken and turkey, and for good reason. This white wine variety is often made with a creamy texture that stands up well to poultry dishes, while its subtle oakiness enhances the flavor of the meat. Poultry can also be quite rich, so a Chardonnay with good acidity will help to cleanse your palate.

The best wine for duck… Pinot Noir

Rich, aromatic, and fatty, duck is multidimensional meat that requires a complex wine to support its delicious nuances. Pinot Noir has enough zing and acidity to cut through the fat, but gentle fruity accords and a moderate intensity that aligns with the duck’s taste.

The best wine for salads… Pinot Grigio

A light yet vivacious wine, Pinot Grigio enlivens delicate, fresh flavours so makes the perfect accompaniment to salads. Bursting with citrussy notes and a robust acidity, Pinot Grigio is bold enough to stand up to tart dressings, yet neutral enough to not overpower salad leaves and vegetables.

The best wine for a pepperoni pizza…. Sangiovese

Meaty, spicy, and salty-sweet pepperoni needs a wine with an attitude to stand up to its powerful flavors. Look no further than sublime, balanced, and structured medium-bodied Sangiovese. With fruity notes and high acidity, it’ll cut through the high-fat content of the pepperoni, while its dense, earthy notes support the paprika and chili spice of the meat.

The best wine for caviar and cold cuts… Champagne

Assertive on the palate, Champagne is an excellent match for the strong saltiness of the caviar. In fact, they’re a match made in heaven. As the pop of the caviar pearl reveals its unmistakable flavor, a hit of dry Champagne bubbles is both cleansing yet complementary. Most kinds of luncheon meat will also work well with Champagne, as will smoked salmon.

The best wine for a roasted lamb… Cabernet Sauvignon

Oozing with richness and tannins, Cabernet Sauvignons goes great with most roasted red meat, lamb especially. With a whiff of peppery spice and lots of strong, juicy vibrancy, Cabs are an exuberant choice that pairs with the richness of the lamb, while bringing offering a pleasingly intense mouthfeel.

Great Weekend

GETAWAYS From Austin, TX

DISCOVER A TEXAS WONDERLAND

Moody Gardens, this sprawling Gulf resort has a little something for everyone.

Nestled in the heart of Galveston is Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention Center. Spanning a massive 250 acres, this educational and entertainment wonderland draws in an astounding two million visitors annually, earning its well-deserved reputation as a premier tourist attraction in Texas. With something to see and do every day of the year, including major holidays, Moody Gardens is

the perfect escape for families, couples and solo adventurers.

In 1986, the foundation began as a humble riding arena that provided hippotherapy programs for individuals with head injuries. Fast forward a few years, and with the help of the Moody Foundation and the city of Galveston, this nonprofit destination works hard to combine the best of entertainment, education and conservation. Here, visitors can indulge in everything from lounging on a white sand beach to zip lining through lush

greenery and getting up close and personal with exotic wildlife.

Whether you're looking for a quick day trip or a weekend getaway, Moody Gardens has everything you need for a truly unforgettable experience.

Enjoy fun educational attractions at Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens is a fantastic location for those looking to experience adventure in a unique way. As soon as visitors arrive, they are greeted by the towering pyramids that stand tall above the Galveston skyline. These iconic structures are the hallmark of the Moody Gardens experience and offer fantastic, family-friendly activities and attractions.

The Rainforest Pyramid offers guests an immersive experience in a treetop rainforest setting that includes over 1,700 exotic plants, bats, freeroaming monkeys, dozens of birds, butterflies and amphibians. Visitors can also get an up-close look at the critically endangered giant Amazon river otters in an exhibit that highlights the important role wildlife plays in our everyday lives.

Boasting one of the largest aquariums in the Southwest, visitors can explore interactive exhibits that showcase the importance of ocean conservation and the impact of humans on marine life. Penguins, sharks, thousands of tropical fish and a jellyfish gallery are just some of the amazing marine creatures in Moody Gardens' Aquarium Pyramid. Shark lovers will enjoy an even closer look at their finned friends in the Discovery Museum's Sharks In Depth exhibit. And visitors young and old will relish the chance to explore the ocean's depths in the Planet Earth: Deep Sea Adventures exhibit.

For even more indoor fun, Moody Gardens

offers two giant screen experiences in their MG 3D Theater and 4D Special FX Theater. Everything is bigger in Texas, including the MG 3D Theater, which houses the largest screen in the state with the world's first 4K 6-primary laser projection system.

Beachgoers of all ages can lounge on the beach or enjoy water activities, including a lazy river, wave pool, tower slides and a splash pad. Palm Beach amenities include lockers, showers, restrooms, beach chairs and umbrellas.

Visitors can also hit the links and practice their swing at Moody Gardens golf course, which was recently named one of the best public golf courses in Texas.

Thrill seekers will have a blast testing their agility and balance on the ropes course and zip line. Boasting the tallest steel ropes course on the Gulf Coast, adventurers are treated to sky-high views of beautiful Galveston Island.

Take a paddlewheel boat cruise or go behind the scenes with penguins

All aboard the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat for a 45-minute cruise on Galveston Bay. Weather permitting, the 1800s paddlewheel boat replica provides guests with all the sights and sounds of Galveston Island during the day, or throughout a two-hour sunset dinner cruise.

For those looking for even more animal encounters, Moody Gardens offers behind-the-scenes animal experiences. Guests can book a penguin encounter where they will pair up with a biologist and meet a penguin. The 45-minute session includes food prep, feeding and watching the creative penguins make art, all while learning about penguin biology, conservation, training and care.

www.moodygardens.com

LPGA TOUR SCHEDULE

JAN 18-21

JAN 25-28 LPGA Drive On Championship Bradenton, FL

FEB 22-25

FEB

MAR 3

MAR 7-10

MAR

APR

APR 18-21

APR

MAY 9-12 Cognizant Founders Cup Clifton, NJ

MAY 16-19 Mizuho Americas Open Jersey City, NJ

MAY 30JUNE 2 U.S. Women’s Open Lancaster, PA

JUN 7-9

ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer Galloway, NJ

JUN 13-16 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give Grand Rapids, MI

JUN 20-23

LPGA TOUR SCHEDULE

KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Sammamish, WA

JUN 27-30 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational Midland, MI

JUL 11-14 Amundi Evian Championship Evian-les-Bains, France

JUL 18-21 Dana Open Sylvania, OH

JUL 25-28

CPKC Women’s Open Calgary, Alberta, Canada

AUG 1-4 Portland Classic Portland, OR

AUG 8-11

2024 Paris Olympics Paris, France

AUG 15-18 Women’s Scottish Open TBD, Scotland

AUG 22-25

AIG Women’s Open St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

AUG 20-SEP 1 FM Global Championship Norton, MA

SEPT 13-15 Solheim Cup Gainesville, VA

PILATES FOR GOLF: THE BENEFITS OF PILATES FOR GOLFERS

Golf and Pilates might not seem like a natural partnership. But, in fact, the emphasis in Pilates on rotation, spine flexibility and trunk stability means that players – both professional and recreational –can gain a lot from practicing this method.

Not forgetting that Pilates can help golfers with injury prevention and injury recovery. With each repetitive movement – rotate, tilt, shift and extend – taken on a drive, golfers put themselves at risk of overusing particular muscles. This is where Pilates for golf becomes an attractive solution.

In this article, we talk in depth about

the benefits of Pilates for golf, get an expert physiotherapist’s point of view (who regularly works with elite athletes such as Ryder cup golfers) and give golfers simple Pilates exercises they can do from the comfort of their home.

The benefits of Pilates for Golfers

1. Advanced Core Strength

Having core strength in golf is just as important as any other activity. One way to improve performance, longevity and reduce the risk of injury is by training and strengthening the core.

Golf is centered around rotation of the body and driving power from the ground, through your core

to the club and the ball. With a stronger core comes increased power and, therefore a more powerful, controlled swing. Not only that, a strong core, impacts so many other factors like improving your posture and lessening the pressure on your back and neck which often causes acute back pain.

2. Enhanced Flexibility

Flexibility is one of, if not, the most important factor in becoming a successful golfer. The ability to get a good rotation between the shoulder and hip is the difference between executing a compact, powerful swing or not.

Flexibility enables golfers to reach a full range of motion which in turn allows you to reach maximum potential strength and distance.

3. Improve Body Balance & Stability

Body balance and stability creates a good foundation for golfers to execute an effective swing with power behind it.

The success behind your swing lies in the control over overall range of motion and the coordinated rotation of the body, predominantly, the shoulders and the hips. This is not possible without balance and stability from the pelvis.

Pilates helps with pelvic and spine

alignment so that you’re able to transition through movements with ease and control. In Pilates, this is done by lengthening tight muscles, strengthening weak muscles and engaging the deep core muscles to increase pelvic and spine stability and improve muscular imbalances.

4. Injury prevention & rehabilitation

Pilates is lesser known for its ability to effectively help individuals in their injury rehabilitation and injury prevention.

Clinical Pilates, in particular, can help with all kinds of rehabilitation from acute shoulder pain to chronic back pain. This is largely down to the holistic approach of Pilates which focuses on the entire body to treat any imbalances which may be creating compensatory patterns. Using unilateral movements, Pilates aims to develop even muscles on either side of the body to reduce unnecessary pressure on overcompensating muscles. Pilates also helps to correct postural problems which can often cause injury. A poor posture leads to both shortened and weak muscles; Pilates focuses on lengthening and strengthening muscles, particularly the core, which is great for alignment.

JAN 1 Tata Open Maharashtra Pune, India