SLO County Golf, Wine & Real EstateGolf, Wine & Real Estate News and Events Blog
Monarch Dunes Golf Course Rating & SlopeFriday, March 31, 2006The "Old Course" at Monarch Dunes Golf Club has finally been rated by the USGA, and comes in as the most difficult golf course in San Luis Obispo County.Here are the yardage, rating and slope from each tee. Black - 6810 / 73.0 / 137 Gold - 6337 / 70.7 / 135 White - 5821 / 68.5 / 128 Bronze - 5320 / 66.3 / 117 Green - 4702 / 63.6 / 110 Compare this to Hunter Ranch's 6741 yard back tees at 72.6 / 136 and Cypress Ridge's 6803 yard back tees at 72.9 / 134. Only the nearby La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc is harder with 7105 yard back tees rated at 75.6 with a slope of 143! Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Football at Eagle Creek Golf Course?Thursday, March 30, 2006Atascadero's beleaguered Eagle Creek Golf Course could soon see new life -- this time as a youth- oriented athletic field.After months of sub-par performance forced him to close the nine-hole course, developer Kelly Gearhart recently unveiled a plan that could transform Eagle Creek into a privately owned baseball or football field. Gearhart opened the course, the second of two in Atascadero, in 1998. By the time it closed last September, public attendance there had dropped to fewer than 30 people a day. Source: The Tribune, Stephen Curran Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Boy's High School Golf ResultsWednesday, March 29, 2006Arroyo Grande 192, San Luis Obispo 212Bryan Pierce and Max Meserve, both of Arroyo Grande, shot 1-over 37s Monday to lead the Eagles to a 192-212 dual win over San Luis Obispo in a match reduced to nine holes at Cypress Ridge Golf Course because of rain. Christian Smith also broke 40 with a 38 for the Eagles. The Tigers were led by Ethan Pilch and Dane McLaughlin, who fired a 40 and a 41, respectively. Paso Robles 384, Righetti 407 Teammates John Eric Cook and Levis Garcia co-medaled with scores of 74 to lead Paso Robles over Righetti in their PAC 5 opener at Hunter Ranch Golf Course. "Righetti has a real strong group and they were ready to give us some trouble," Bearcats coach John Lambie said. "So I am very happy to get the win." Daniel Miller shot a 75 to lead Righetti. Morro Bay 215, Santa Maria 273 Dylan Braden of Morro Bay took medalist honors with a 36 as the Pirates defeated Santa Maria at Morro Bay Golf Course. Teammates Eric Olson and Mitch Valine shot 40 and 45, respectively, for Morro Bay. Miguel Munguia shot a 48 to lead Santa Maria. Nipomo 207, Lompoc incomplete Nipomo's Kyle Springer medaled with a 39 as the Titans remained undefeated in Los Padres League competition at La Purisima Golf Course in a match limited to nine holes because of the weather. "It sure was raining hard but the kids played pretty well," said Nipomo coach Paul Springer. Lompoc had only two players competing — Brent Van Dyke (51) and Shawn Hogan (55). Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf May 20 - Young Life Golf-a-thonTuesday, March 28, 2006 Plan to recruit some sponsors for a "Golf-a-thon" benefiting San Luis Obispo County Young Life on Saturday May 20, 2006 at the new Monarch Dunes golf course at at the Woodlands in Nipomo. We will have exclusive use of the course all day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. The most unique and fun golf experience of your life! Play 100 holes of golf at this premier course all for a great cause. "Wait just a minute! I can't play that many holes". You don't have to be a great golfer to do this! It's really easy with the format we'll be using. We play two balls on every hole and play best ball - a "mulligan" for every shot! Each completed hole will count as two holes played. Stop early if you want, that's okay too. It's really fun and a great way to learn the new course. Get 10 of your friends to sponsor you for $1 per hole and you have just raised $1,000 for San Luis Obispo Young Life. If finding 10 sponsors sounds overwhelming, any number will do. We'll follow up with billing and collecting, so you don't even have to worry about that. About Young Life Young Life is a non-denominational, Christian organization committed to impacting kid's lives and preparing them for the future. For more than six decades, Young Life has been introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith, while providing strong, positive influences in their lives. For more information or to sign up contact: Lee Beckstrom (805)481-7812 e-mail: beckstro@pacbell.net Young Life Young Life SLO Monarch Dunes Golf Club Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Pismo State Beach Golf - Resort?Monday, March 27, 2006Work on a beachfront lodge that's been discussed for 20 years in Grover Beach could finally get under way late next year. The lodge would be located next to Pismo State Beach Golf Course and the entrance to Oceano Dunes.The city must work with the state on the project because the 6.5-acre property at the end of Grand Avenue, between Meadow Creek and the parking lot, is on state-owned land. The two agencies are finalizing an agreement that details which will be responsible for each part of the project, such as finding a developer, sharing revenue and maintaining the site. The lodge concept has been talked about since the early 1980s. Over the years, the city has discussed hiring developers and moving forward, but nothing ever happened. It was just over two years ago that the city started working with the state to formalize a relationship for the project. The state likes the lodge and conference center concept, said Nick Franco, state parks superintendent in San Luis Obispo County. "Having any sort of enhanced public use facilities are a benefit," Franco said. "What we're looking at is 'how can this be more of a gateway to Pismo State Beach?'" One main concern of the state is that Fins, the existing restaurant near the site, and the golf course -- which bring in $250,000 a year in fees to the state -- not be disturbed. A feasibility study also made sure that the lodge would bring in money to the state. Breaking ground by the end of next year is an optimistic goal. The project still has to be approved by the Coastal Commission. Source: The Tribune, Larissa Van Beurden-Doust Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Paso Robles takes match at Hunter Ranch Golf CourseSaturday, March 25, 2006Kevin Sepulveda took medalist honors with a 69 for host Paso Robles (6-3), which won the nonleague match at Hunter Ranch Golf Course. Sepulveda was followed by teammates Levi Garcia (76), Jon Eric Cook (77), Dan Aten (80) and Ben Bourgault (85). Paso Robles 387, San Marcos 399.Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Five more Aces in SLO CountyFriday, March 24, 2006Five golfers have aced holes at local golf courses recently.In Arroyo Grande, 13-year-old Matt McAustin of Arroyo Grande aced the second hole March 19 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. Robert and Katie Kobara, Tyler Ikeda and Bed Byrd-Jolly witnessed McAustin's 150-yard shot. In Morro Bay, Tom Wright of Cambria made his second career hole in one March 17 on the fourth hole at Morro Bay Golf Course. Don Brennan witnessed the shot. In Nipomo, Joyce Horne of Calgary, Alberta, made a hole in one at Blacklake Golf Resort’s fifth hole March 16. Bill and Joan Rawlusyk witnessed the shot. In San Luis Obispo, Doug Cunningham of Paso Robles hit a hole in one at Dairy Creek Golf Course's 13th hole March 13. Don Wood witnessed the shot. In Atascadero, Dallas Smith made a hole in one on the seventh hole at Chalk Mountain Golf Course on March 8. Lou Villa witnessed the shot. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Nipomo High School Golf wins againThursday, March 23, 2006Host Nipomo won its third straight LPL Tournament with a six-person total 384 at Blacklake Golf Resort in Nipomo. Brian Walker shot a 71 at the par-72 course to take medalist honors for Nipomo.Morro Bay was fifth among eight teams with a 448 total. The Pirates were led by Eric Olson's round of 83. Cabrillo was second (414), Santa Ynez third (426) and St. Joseph fourth (432). Santa Maria, Lompoc and Pioneer Valley didn't score. Atascadero's Blake Ponek and Paso Robles' Kevin Sepulveda tied for medalist honors with a match-low score of 75 as the Greyhounds defeated the defending PAC 5 champion Bearcats at Chalk Mountain Golf Course. Atascadero 392, Paso 401. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Nipomo's Woodlands Project Ready for Phase 2Wednesday, March 22, 2006The huge Woodlands development in Nipomo could get a permit this week to start its second phase.County planning commissioners will consider a request that would allow construction of 368 homes, a nine-hole golf course, three neighborhood parks, mass grading and infrastructure for an 11-acre public park and future resort site. The entire Woodlands project has already been approved, but developers must go to the county as each of the four phases moves forward to assure all conditions are being met. The first phase includes 447 homes, an 18-hole golf course, a site for a retail center, a business park, butterfly habitat and a community building. Some of the homes have already been finished. It will be about two years before homes in the first phase are completed and homes in the second phase are started. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival and GolfSunday, March 19, 2006A bill proclaiming Zinfandel as the official state wine is winding its way through the state capital.And the best way to find out how Zinfandel producers and consumers think about the possible proclamation, is the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. Paso Robles is celebrating the first wine to bring national attention to the region... with the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. Thousands of people are expected to attend the event... which features wine makers dinners, live and silent auctions and a Zinfandel Grand Tasting. A total of 80 wineries are participating. Organizers say it's the second largest Zinfandel Festival in the country, and this year it's bigger than ever - expected to double last year's event. Besides sampling wines, the festival also give folks a chance to sample the Central Coast - and Central Coast golf! If you're planning to attend the event, make sure to get a round in at Paso Robles' Hunter Ranch Golf Course too. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, as of Friday, had sold 700 tickets to the festival. The event runs through Sunday, March 19. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Atascadero takes SLO in High School GolfSaturday, March 18, 2006Atascadero 386, San Luis Obispo 444, Coast Union 463Blake Ponek medaled with a score of 69 to lead Atascadero to a win over Coast Union and San Luis Obispo at Chalk Mountain Golf Course. Brent Montri, Jason Peters and Brian Popeney all shot 78s for the Greyhounds. Stefan Brown tallied a team-low 84 for San Luis Obispo. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Monarch Dunes is a Real Links CourseThursday, March 16, 2006Dan Hruby wrote an article at Golf Today Magazine this month about the opening of Monarch Dunes Golf Club on the California Central Coast.Like many of us, Hruby was skeptical about yet another course boasting about their "links-style" look. But after playing Monarch Dunes twice and having challenged such layouts as St. Andrews, Muirfield and Glen Eagles in Scotland, he testifies that the Pascuzzo design is the real deal. Hruby goes on to add: Well, the esteemed Mr. Ross is no longer with us. But Monarch Dunes, the newest course to open on California's Central Coast, fits his idea to a tee. And a fairway. And a green. And all the other amenities that mark an exciting addition to this coast-side landscape. Monarch Dunes was carved out of a forest of eucalyptus trees that colonized this sandhill country a century ago. And it provided architect Damian Pascuzzo and the developer with the terrain to sculp a links-style course that would make a Scotsman proud. Not only are there links-type holes, but there’s also a touch of the Highlands to boot. And there is more to come. Monarch Dunes' first offering is called "The Old Course," a tribute to St. Andrews and a game that legend says ancient Scots conceived. But it is only the first of 45 holes that will be found at The Woodlands by Trilogy Central Coast, a planned community that will include a second 18-hole course and a nine-hole executive track. They will be the focus of a development of 1,300 homes, a 200-to-500 room resort facility, a business park and a shopping center--all to be erected over the next 15 years. Monarch Dunes is open to the public, although its official "grand opening" is scheduled for mid-April when nationally known media types and golf VIP's will check it out. The development is located in a rather remote area abutting State Highway 1 two miles west of downtown Nipomo and 70 miles north of Santa Barbara. Like the celebrated Shinnecock Hills course on Long Island, N.Y., Monarch Dunes lies two miles from the Pacific Ocean. That means it is susceptible to capricious winds and invasive wisps of fog that characterize marine settings. But unlike at Shinnecock, I could see the blue waters of the sea from the course, especially from the par-3 11th hole. And a seascape artist like Claude Monet would drool at the chance to capture these sunsets. I was impressed how the dunes pop up all over the course, especially the intimidating holes along Highway 1. But according to Pascuzzo, a partner in Graves & Pascuzzo of El Dorado Hills, CA, they weren't exactly of Mother Nature's doing. "Our big challenge was to create the dunes," Pascuzzo said. "We built them from what we saw between the highway and the ocean. We put the most dunes along the highway and then decreased them as we moved to the east. Since this area was all sand, we had to do a dunes-type course. A parkland course on this site would have been out of place." The "Monarch" part of the title was a no-brainer. Beautiful monarch butterflies swarm around the area at various times of the year. Not since my first round at Pebble Beach in the 1950s have I played a course that made me replay every hole in my mind for days afterward. With the blend of links-style holes (notably Nos. 5, 13, 14, and 15) and headlands creations, you never know what is coming up next. There are 35 bunkers filled with cake-type sand that is mined locally. Six lakes are strategically placed to force players to think about every shot. Shorter hitters will find lay-up options whenever a scary across-the-water challenge confronts them. The risk-reward possibilities are frequent and never more so than on the par-4 No. 10. Pascuzzo sketched the hole with a split fairway. You can risk aiming your drive left to a narrow fairway. Or you can shoot for the more spacious right side of the dunes that divide the fairway, although this is 35 yards longer. Naturally, I had to risk it. My first attempt led to a par but, alas, my second effort found me trudging through the sandy hillocks en route to a triple bogey. Monarch Dunes (35-36--71) features five par 3s, four par 5s and nine par 4s. Five sets of tees give players many choices, from the longest at 6,810 yards to the shortest at 4,702. The greens vary from 3,000 square feet to 12,000. On the latter green (the par-5 No. 17) it is possible to make a 90-foot putt. Or four-putt for that matter. Players who prefer flat greens need to go elsewhere. These are mostly undulating with subtle breaks that take some learning to master. The turf is a velvet bent, a slick and fast grass best known in the northeast corner of the U.S. "This might be the first course out west to feature the velvet," Pascuzzo said. "People who have played the greens says their really like it." The result is an amazingly true ball roll. Once you know the line, there is no excuse for missing a putt. Well, if your really work at it, you can find a couple. And if you like quick greens, we're talking 11-plus speed on the stimpmeter. Matt Kalbak, general manager and director of operations for the Kemper Sports Management group, said challenging greens were always the plan. "Instead of having greens that are soft, spongy pillows, ours are designed to accept shots from different angles," he explained. "In bringing back some of the lost traditions of the game, we feature the bump and run, the rub of the green. The way the greens open up, the fescue fairways give players many options. They can approach with a bump and run, putt with a fairway wood out of the rough or, if your nerves are good enough, they can flop a wedge up there." Touring professional Steve Pate of Santa Barbara was a project consultant, working with Pascuzzo. "People ask me how a pro can identify with average golfers," Pate said. "But I play with golfers of all levels, all handicaps. Even higher handicaps have a chance at Monarch Dunes. There are a few difficult holes, but also some short holes where you can make birdies. The course really does remind you of Scotland, where you let the ball roll. And the sand base makes the course playable any time of year." There are some holes that can scare the cockiest of players. As Scottish pro Tommy Armour once said, "No single factor affects more golf shots than fear." Armour would put that stamp on Nos. 6, 8 and 16 for starters. The course is walkable, but there are several elevation changes that can test the strongest legs. And you have to add the 700 yards of acreage between the greens and tees. There are homes sprinkled around the course, but I noted only three holes (14, 16 and 18) where a wild hook or slice could find a rooftop. "We tried to arrange it so most homes are set back from the fairways," Pascuzzo said with a chuckle, "but I don't think every home is completely safe. That's the risk you take when you buy on a golf course." Monarch officials said they want to make the course affordable for most players and in line with the fees of neighboring courses. So far it is happening. The Monday-Friday rate to 1 p.m. is $42 for walkers or $59 to ride. That goes to $52 and $69 on weekends. Times can be arranged by calling (805) 343-9459. The pro shop, under the watchful eye of assistant pro Jensen Lardizabal, is well stocked. And the adjacent restaurant is serving full breakfasts and lunches, with plans for dinners later. The quality of the course conjures up thoughts of major tournaments. But since the routing was done more than six years ago, the increase in golf technology and equipment since then threatens newer courses with limited space. Pascuzzo said the nine-hole executive course is next on the construction agenda and it has two par 4's that could be blended in with 16 from The Old Course to create a longer test for tournament entrants. Representatives from 14 public-fee courses in San Luis Obispo County met on Jan. 12 to discuss increasing promotions of their area, with the goal of attracting players from Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Central Valley. Since the mid-1990s, 116 new golf holes have been added in the county. This has led to the formation of a County Golf Trail, which will include Hunter Ranch, Cypress Ridge, Avila Beach, Black Lake and Morro Bay.. "We figure to get 50 percent of our play from locals, 30 percent from tournaments and 20 from visitors," said Krystal Bough, Monarch Dunes sales and marketing director. "We will be publicizing the course in major communities and counting, of course, on word of mouth advertising." Being new has its advantages, Kalbak said. "Because we are starting up, we can decide what we want to be," he said. "It's not like we inherited our position. We definitely want to be the best class and golf experience on the Central Coast." That's a lofty goal. But Monarch Dunes is well on its way to transforming that dream into reality. Article: Monarch Dunes Opens on California Central Coast Golf Today Magazine, Dan Hruby Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Paso Robles Wine on the moveWednesday, March 15, 2006Some of California's heaviest hitters in the wine industry come from Paso Robles. Think of Turley Wine Cellars, which sells out most of its lush zinfandels before they reach the market. Or Justin Winery, which produces the lavish Bordeaux blends Isosceles and Justification.But the name Paso Robles doesn't command the same respect as its neighbors to the north, Napa and Sonoma. At least not yet. So, a consortium of its wine growers, great and small, appeared in Texas last week for a tasting designed to broaden one's understanding of the appellation and appreciation of the wines that it produces. "The more people know about Paso Robles, the more it benefits us all," said Jason Edwards of the long-established Eberle Winery. Its founder, Gary Eberle, was a pioneer of the appellation designation in 1980. There are 170 bonded wineries in Paso Robles, which lies between San Francisco and Los Angeles, said Don Brady of Robert Hall Winery. The days are often warm and the evenings cool, with temperatures varying as much as 50 degrees in the summer. There are mountains and river valleys both, which means where you are in Paso Robles has everything to do with the varietals of grapes you produce and the styles of wines you make, he said. The climate is ideal for cabernet sauvignon, Brady said, which might explain why it makes up almost half of the grapes grown there. Merlot runs second at 17 percent. Zinfandel, chardonnay and syrah are also well represented with a little less than 10 percent each. John Griffin shares his impressions of the Paso Robles wines he tasted at this event in an article written for the San Antonio Express-News. Article: Wine Matters: Paso Robles on the move Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Paso Robles Wine Atascadero High School wins at Hunter Ranch Golf CourseTuesday, March 14, 2006Atascadero proved to be too much for the Eagles as the Greyhounds posted a convincing nonleague win at Hunter Ranch Golf Course - Atascadero 194, Templeton 236."Everyone of our guys will continue to improve," Templeton coach Dennis Lanes said. "We'll see scores come down, and we'll be more competitive." The Morain brothers, Kameron and Grayson, who shot 42 and 43, respectively, led the Eagles. Templeton drops to 1-4 on the year. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Nipomo High School Wins Eight-Team Golf MeetSaturday, March 11, 2006At the first eight-team Los Padres League meet of the season at the par-72 Cypress Ridge Golf Course on Thursday, Nipomo won with a six-person score of 405.The Titans were led by medalist Colt Hoffman's 76. He was followed by teammates Tyler Clark (80), Brian Walker (82), Robert DeRohan (82) and Kyle Springer (85). St. Joseph was second with 427, Santa Ynez third (432), Cabrillo fourth (461), Morro Bay fifth (466), Santa Maria sixth (642) and neither Lompoc nor Pioneer Valley scored. Morro Bay was led by Eric Olson (86), who was followed by Casey Weiss (89), Zack Chrazzaz (94), Mitch Valine (98) and Erik Weiss (99). Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Central Coast Pinot Festival a sell-outThursday, March 09, 2006Winemakers came up with the idea of Pinot festivals as a way to generate interest in their wines. To their surprise, fans raced to attend, hoping to learn something new that would help in their hunt for Pinot treasures. Today the Pinot cognoscenti are devoted festival groupies. The World of Pinot Noir attracted 800 Pinot lovers over the weekend. Now in its sixth year, this Central Coast festival has been a sell-out event since 2002, with tickets snapped up faster each year. Many of the participants know each other from other festivals on the Pinot circuit.Wine festivals are ubiquitous these days, but they rarely celebrate just one kind of wine. While Paso Robles celebrates its Rhone-style wines, and Australia honors its Shiraz, this kind of thing is just not done for Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay or any other varietals. They've neither needed the extra attention to spur sales nor generated the devotion to inspire a fan club. "Pinot fans have always been a minority," says Merry Edwards, a Pinot Noir winemaker in Sonoma with her own label. "They first started gathering together out of a sense of isolation. The festivals proliferated because every region wants to showcase its wines. There are so many Pinot Noir events now, I'm getting overwhelmed," she says. Says Jancis Robinson, one of a handful of internationally acclaimed wine critics, "Pinot Noir is the underdog. And Pinot lovers have always felt that they belonged to a special social subgroup — one that understands Burgundy, for a start, which is no mean feat." Pinot Noir is a single variety red wine from Burgundy, but there is nothing "hearty" about it. Perhaps more than any other wine, it reflects terroir. The soil it grows in, the weather and the touch of the winemaker are all in the glass, according to Allen Meadows, America's foremost authority on Burgundy. "It is its sense of originality, of each wine's uniqueness that makes Pinot Noir distinct from other wines," says Meadows. That also makes it difficult to find a great bottle. Fans call it an ethereal wine and wax on about the expansive array of red fruits, spices and herbs they taste in the glass. But it's an unforgiving wine, and an unsuccessful version can unleash harsh flavors of unripe vegetables or heavy gobs of cooked fruit. It's a wine that can cost $200 a bottle and still be a disappointment. Pinot "freaks," a term considered endearing among true believers, call the process of trying to find a great Pinot a "treasure hunt." Though the popularity of the 2004 film "Sideways" has been credited with sending Pinot Noir sales soaring - in 2005, grocery stores sold twice as many cases of Pinot Noir as they sold two years earlier - the festivals took off long before malcontent Miles gave a face to Pinot freaks. Read More: Got Pinot? Well, throw a festival! Corie Brown, LATimes Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine Mar 20 - Callaway Shamrock Scramble at Monarch DunesWednesday, March 08, 2006 The Callaway Shamrock Scramble - Monarch Dunes Golf Club's First Royal Rewards Tournament - has Arrived! When: Monday, March 20th 12:30 pm Shotgun What: Four Man Scramble Where: Monarch Dunes Who: First 72 Royal Rewards Members to sign up How to Sign up: Each Participant must sign up and Pre Pay in the Monarch Dunes Golf shop at least 3 days prior to the event. Prizes: 4 Closest to the Pins, Long Drive on #18 and First, Second and Third place overall Price: $69 which includes Green fee, Cart fee and Gourmet Box Lunch. Membership: Royal Rewards Club Join the Monarch Dunes Royal Rewards Club and enjoy the following special member-only benefits for just $129 per year. * Discounted green fee rates-up to 30% * 2-hour early twilight * 6 'member only' tournaments per year * $14 cart rate * Southern California Golf Association Membership * 1 dozen Titleist Pro V1 golf balls with course logo Monarch Dunes Golf Club 1606 Trilogy Parkway Nipomo, CA (805) 343-9459 www.monarchdunesgolf.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Arroyo Grande takes Nipomo in High School Golf MatchTuesday, March 07, 2006Bryan Pierce led the Eagles to a win at Cypress Ridge by shooting a 70. Arroyo Grande led with 400, Nipomo 409. Max Meserve shot a solid 77 for Arroyo Grande. Brian Walker led Nipomo with a 78.In the Mission Prep Invitational, Atascadero won a seven-team tournament at Dairy Creek Golf Course. The Greyhounds a 393 and were the only team under 400. Billy Greibel of Atascadero earned medalist honors with a 74. Kyle Springer shot a 77 to lead the Titans over the Tigers at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. Stefan Brown and Nick Koonvirarak led the Tigers with 85s. Nipomo 414, San Luis Obispo 448. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf SLO County Wines showcased at Malibui Wine ClassicSunday, March 05, 2006The third annual Malibu Wine Classic will return to the tented grounds next to the sand at the Sunset Restaurant at Westward/Zuma Beach in Malibu, California on April 1, 2006. The 2006 event brings together the best wines of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, with signature dishes from dozens of the area's top restaurants. A silent auction of wine, travel and luxury items will be included in festivities; proceeds from this and the event will benefit Childhelp. Two tasting sessions are scheduled this year; the afternoon session from 1-4 p.m. and the evening session from 6-9 p.m. Individual advance per-session tickets are $75 (or $125 for both sessions) and can be purchased online at www.malibuwineclassic.com. Any remaining tickets will be available at the venue for $100 at the door, per session. For more information, please call: 310 451 7600.Participants will sample wines from the best Central and South Coast wineries such as Fess Parker, Justin and Zaca Mesa, as well as cult micro-wineries typically available only via insider mailing lists, such as Saxum, Linne Colodo and L'Aventure. Many of Malibu's 37 vigneron will be offering barrel samples of Malibu-grown wine. The Malibu Wine Classic showcases the South Central Coast's wide variety of wines, provides a premier cultural event for Malibu residents and visitors, and raises funds and awareness for worthy causes. The Malibu Wine Classic is an independent organization operated by Malibu and Los Angeles wine enthusiasts, vigneron, retailers and restaurateurs. Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Wine The World of Pinot Noir hosted in Shell BeachFriday, March 03, 2006More than 120 pinot noir producers from around the globe will gather in Shell Beach this weekend for two days of wine tasting, educational seminars and pinot noir-inspired meals.The World of Pinot Noir, an educational event now in its sixth year, was founded in 2000 by a handful of south Central Coast vintners, including Brian Talley, Jenny Williamson Dore of Foxen Vineyards, Mike Sinor of Domaine Alfred, John H. Niven of Baileyana and others. The goal was to bring some of the world's finest pinot noir producers together with those who share their passion for one of the world's oldest wines. While pinot noir is one of the oldest grapes to be cultivated for making wine — dating back to the ancient Romans in the first century — it has only been in the last decade that the grape has really seen success in California. Known as a difficult grape to grow, it was long thought that only cool-climate areas such as Oregon could provide the right growing conditions for quality pinot noir. A few Central Coast vintners knew better. "It was a grape California hadn't conquered yet," said Terry Speizer of Domaine Alfred, "but ... that was because it wasn't grown in the right place." One of the "right places" turned out to be along the south Central Coast, including the Arroyo Grande Valley, Edna Valley and the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara. These areas all share the same temperate climate, cool coastal breezes, morning fog and sloping hillsides that are identical to Burgundy, France, where the grape has been established since the fourth century. They also share some of the same chalky soil conditions that allow for good root drainage and a distinct taste to the fruit. It was the grape's notoriously demanding and complex nature that Miles so passionately extolled in the 2004 movie "Sideways," in a scene that would spike pinot noir sales around the country. After the movie opened in October, and was again released on DVD in July last year, ACNeilsen reported a 44 percent increase in pinot noir sales over the same nine- month period the year before. Pinot noir sales at Baileyana in Edna Valley have doubled in the past year, according to Niven, director of sales and marketing. But Niven believes the movie isn't the only thing driving sales. "The growth is there, and it's staying steady," he said. Talley added, "'Sideways' was just a way to introduce people to the wine." Now he expects the trend to continue strong. San Luis Obispo County produces about 5 percent of the total pinot noir in the state, but the wineries here are expanding rapidly and the wines they're producing are receiving national attention. Among wineries involved in the World of Pinot Noir are Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles, Baileyana Winery in Edna Valley, Domaine Alfred in Edna Valley, Edna Valley, Foxen in Santa Maria, Fiddlehead Cellars in Lompoc, Laetitia in Arroyo Grande, Kynsi in Edna Valley, Meridian in Paso Robles, Ortman based in San Luis Obispo, Stephen Ross in Santa Maria and Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande — to name a few. Even more than the "Sideways" effect, Talley credits all the people who "have laid the groundwork in restaurants as promoting pinot noir as a great wine to go with food" as the reason behind the varietal's current success. The World of Pinot Noir is an indication of that success. The event is largely sold out, with only a few seminars still offering tickets. Eight hundred people have paid from $80 to more than $200 for tastings and other events, and it is expected to grow in the future. 6th annual World of Pinot Noir The sixth annual World of Pinot Noir is today and Saturday at the Cliffs Resort in Shell Beach. More than 120 pinot noir producers from around the world are participating in tastings, seminars and dinners. The event is largely sold out, but tickets are available for a few seminars. For more details, call 489-1758 or visit www.worldofpinotnoir.com. Article: All for the love of pinot The Tribune, Jeff Switzer Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Golf, Wine & ScrapbookingWednesday, March 01, 2006 We've recently met several golfers whose hobbies not only include golf and wine tasting, but scrapbooking. Their scrapbooks aren't simply filled with pages of photos from their sporting activities, wine tasting adventures and family vacations, but include creative layouts with journaling and golf and wine related stickers and stamps. With scrapbooking's growing popularity, you've probably seen some of these creative scrapbooks made by friends or relatives. If you have boxes of golf photos or a computer filled with digital golf photos, along with a budding desire to be a scrapbooker yourself, there's a scrapbooking store right here in San Luis Obispo County to help you get started - Simply Scrappin' in Pismo Beach. When you enter the scrapbook store, you may feel lost and not know where to begin. There are so many products available in the scrapbooking industry that it is easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. The staff at Simply Scrappin' are experts at getting you started. Here's a list to take with you when you go shopping so can focus on those things that you really need to get started making your creative scrapbooks. Must Have's: 1) An Album - Select the size album you want to work in and find a color or pattern that works for the theme of your album. 2) Refill pages for your album. Refills are not standard sizes, so it is best to pick up a few packs when you purchase your album so that you get the same manufacturer and size. This way you will not have to hunt for the refills later. 3) A nice sharp pair of scissors. My favorites have very fine tips and are comfortable to hold in my hand. You want a pair of scissors that are dedicated exclusively to your scrapbooking. This way they are always with your supplies and always nice and sharp. 4) Adhesive. There are many, many different styles of adhesive. To get started you want an acid-free adhesive that will work well on both cardstock and photos. A couple of my personal favorites are: 3L Click 'n' Stick Mounting Squares, Herma Dotto Removable, and Herma Vario Wheel Dispenser. 5) Cardstock and Printed Papers. Select paper to go with the colors you wish to accent in your photos. You may want to purchase paper at your local scrapbook store so that you can select individual sheets for each page. 6) Journal Pens. Look for acid-free, permanant, pens with fine tips for hand writing your journaling. If you wish to hand write titles for your pages you may wish to purchase pens that have a fine tip on one end and a wider tip on the opposite end. Those are the essentials, but as with any craft, there is always more that you may want to add to your supplies. Here are the ones that I would add next. Highly Recommended: 1) A 12" Paper Trimmer. 2) Embellishments that coordinate with your pages, such as stickers, 3-D Stickers, buttons, stamps and more. 3) An Idea Book. When Your Budget Allows: 1) A Die Cut Machine with an Alphabet Set of Dies. 2) Full Set of Journaling Pens. 3) Circle/Oval Cutter. 4) More, more, more. Once you get started it's hard to stop. You will find yourself wanting more paper, more embellishments, and eventually more albums! Simply Scrappin' 835-A Oak Park Blvd. Pismo Beach, CA 93449 (805) 489-3975 www.simply-scrappin.com Tags: San Luis Obispo Central Coast Golf Wine Scrapbooking |
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