On Wednesday, August 18th, Talking Rock hosted an Open House for members. The primary purpose of this casual get-together was to discuss the future plans for the Talking Rock community. However, over 120 members were in attendance so it was also a great chance to catch up with neighbors over wine and hors d'oeuvres. Members of Talking Rock's development company and architectural firm were also in attendance.

 

We at Talking Rock were very pleased to uphold the prevailing vision for this community as a place that both offers country club-style amenities and provides a connection to the land. Several questions were asked of Talking Rock representatives about new home products and the progress of the development in general. Meanwhile, insights were shared with members about awards won by the community, the stability of our development and architectural companies and the commitment to building and preserving this community (the golf course, the ranch compound, the land) for decades.

 

 

One member who attended, Laurel Haropulos Bailey, summarized the meeting perfectly in a recent blog post. You can read the full post on Laurel's blog, but here's just a snippet:

 

We appreciated the time and effort put into the event (and the hors d'oeuvres and wine-tasting), and left with an even greater confidence and pride in our purchase decision. A real community has to be more than just a collection of homes on common real estate... and Talking Rock Ranch is evolving with a long term view in mind.

 

Talking Rock is strongly committed to our present and future members. Based on the success we have achieved with building a beautiful place to live that compliments its natural surroundings, we are confident Talking Rock's best days are ahead. We at Talking Rock look forward to sharing in that journey with our current residents who we are also proud to call friends.

 

A recent visitor to Talking Rock lost her beloved puppy during her stay here. Many Talking Rock members who did not even know her came to the rescue to help her search. Thankfully, Baloo, a beautiful Golden Retriever, was found. Here's the "thank you" note from Deb Rood (pictured below with Baloo).

 

Against all odds Baloo, my 5 1/2 month old English Golden Retriever, MY BABY, is home!!! I am so grateful to all the residents of Talking Rock. This was my first time to Talking Rock and my first time ever in this part of the country. Tom and Vick generously shared their home with me for a much needed mini-retreat to refocus before I started another year of teaching. But my mini-retreat quickly turned into a desperate search for my beloved friend. A search in an area I knew nothing about and where I knew no one. How quickly 32 hours changed both of those. I had the privilege of meeting many wonderful people. I don't know all the names of those I spoke to or who spent time, some many hours, joining me in my desperate search. But I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of you! You encouraged me, offered advice, took me off-roading, showed me where Nancy Road was, loaned me binoculars, put gas in my car, called with a lead, climbed the rockiest mountain in the dark, and hoped for the very best with me. My life is much richer for having been surrounded by such genuinely caring people in my time of need.

 

After nearly 32 hours of missing and searching for my baby, I got a call Wednesday evening about 8:15 from someone on top of the mountain who could hear a dog barking and yelping at the top of the rockiest peak in the area. I was desperately trying to follow his information. They had tried to reach him but they were without flashlights and it was too dark. He patiently explained to me over and over until I finally understood where he was talking about. He gave me directions that would get me as close as possible by car before we headed out on foot. With my gas tank on E and a son who arrived to help, we headed out. We took Nancy Road to a private road and drove as close as we could to the rocky peak. My son rolled down the window and hollered "BALOO". A voice called back, "What's her name?" At that point my son jumped out of the car with 2 small flashlights in one hand and a golf club in the other (his weapon....=) and scaled that rocky mountain like spider man. For someone who is scared of heights, he was amazing. Then the words my heart had longed to hear came, "WE GOT HIM!!!" The tears flowed. My heart and hands reached with all the gratefulness in my being to my God who protected and spared my Baloo against all odds. Our reunion was crazy. Baloo was wiggling and whimpering out of control with joy. Our celebration continued as I met the couple who had hiked in the dark, possibly a mile to rescue my boy. They understood my crazy love for my pup. Their joy was reflective of our joy. You couldn't wipe the smile off of any of our faces including Baloo's. We drove them to their home and they put gas in our car, gave us directions and left us bubbling over with joy.

 

Back home today, our family continues to marvel at all the events of those 32 hours. I went to Talking Rock to refuel and refocus. I left having accomplished both in ways I couldn't begin to fathom.

 

Thank-you ALL!!
Deb Rood

The Pro’s Secret to Beating the Wind.

Grab your driver! That’s right. Hit your driver. It is an unexpectedly simple shot if you commit yourself. Position the ball slightly back in your stance, choke up a little bit for control, and make a swing with good tempo. The ball will fly low because you are hitting it off of the ground and fade due to the low loft of the driver.

Practice this some on the driving range first to show yourself that you can do it, but if you find yourself facing this shot, give it a try. You will be surprised at how easy it is to hit.

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Talking Rock Golf Tips from the Pro
David Buettner is Talking Rock's Head Golf Professional. David has been with Talking Rock since it opened as is currently going through the PGA accreditation program. Aside from his warm personality, David’s claim to fame at Talking Rock is shooting the first hole-in-one on the 15th hole!

With the British Open now underway and the annual call to play golf in the place of its birth at its strongest, General Manager, Jim Leisenring, offers you tips on planning and enjoying Scottish golf. Leisenring just returned from a buddies' trip to Scotland, and he was so excited about the experience that he wanted to share his personal tips on how to find the best courses and accommodations to make your venture a success.

1. Create a budget. Even if you are working with travel agents and consultants this is really important. Just like with travel in the United States, there are countless options available when it comes to value engineering your trip. Level of accommodation, type of transportation, course selection and the amount of travel during the trip are key decisions that will impact the travel budget.

2. Work with a well-referred, "local" travel consultant. By "local" I mean an individual that lives or is native to the area you are traveling to. I don't know how many trip itineraries I see that have been developed by the "neighborhood travel agent" that don't take advantage of all of the options available to the traveler, resulting in difficult transfers, unremarkable golf courses and unrealistic travel routes mixed in with a couple of bells and whistles. I suggest Kevin McGrath (kjmcgrath@tigeregister.com) of the International Golf Experience Register as the most knowledgeable and well-contacted consultant I have ever dealt with.

3. If your visit is for four days or less the course selection should be limited to one region. Travel is much more difficult there versus the United States. Narrow roads, lower speed limits and conditions make it much more difficult to travel. I suggest that changing regions requires a minimum of two nights stay to make the trip comfortable.

4. Identify the course(s) that is first on your list to play and build your trip around that course. Depending on the region of your selections there will be other golf courses near enough that you will not have to change hotels such as in St. Andrews. If the Old Course is your "must play" then you can play the highly regarded Kingsbarns and Carnoustie courses without changing accommodations. In the Highlands region you can play Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Castle Stuart with very little travel as well. This saves on hassle and can cut down on expenses.

5. When making your course selection, seek out reviews and referrals from the "natives" as your best resource. There are always the obvious notable courses that are familiar but oftentimes you can be steered to courses that are unremarkable by agents that may have an ulterior motive for the selection.

6. Look into all-day play rates as many of the courses may offer the chance to play an additional round at a discounted cost. Not only does this lower the expense per round but also gives you a "second chance" to play the course with some added experience.

7. If your budget allows, take caddies whenever possible. Not only will it make the walking easier but it will enhance the experience greatly. Remember that caddies are not hired by the club, so make arrangements in advance to better ensure their availability.

8. For groups of four or more I strongly consider hiring a transportation service and driver for the trip. The cost is not that much more than car rental and petrol. Not having to deal with maps, loading and unloading, or driving on the other side of the road is worth every "pound" spent.

9. When selecting accommodations decide what "style" you would like to travel in. If you prefer a Bed & Breakfast experience or a more classic "hotel" experience. Not all rooms are "in-suite" (a bathroom in your room), so be sure to ask that question if it is important to you. Most accommodations include a traditional Scottish breakfast included in the price but it is always good practice to double-check.

10. In Scotland golf is a walking game. Very few of the most notable courses even offer golf carts or "buggies." If your group requires the use of a golf cart make sure to get specifics on what each course offers. Most courses allow the use of a pull-cart or "trolley" and have caddies. Needless to say, get yourself in good walking shape and take your most comfortable shoes. Take some light-weight, reliable rain gear. It is likely that you will encounter some wet and windy weather. Easy to manage if you are prepared, but impossible to deal with if you are not. I hope these tips will help you create a unique and memorable golf experience "across the pond." Cheers!

Jim Liesenring
Jim Leisenring is general manager of Talking Rock Golf Club in Prescott, Ariz., home to a Jay Morrish-designed, 7,350-yard championship golf course on more than 1,000 acres of preserved open space.

The 2010 and OB Sports Cup Matches will be held September 30 – October 2 at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, Oregon. This is the 6th annual edition of the men’s team competition that features players from various Clubs in the OB Sports network. Teams consist of six players that include a Club representative and five members. The competition is held over three days and 36 holes, not including an optional practice round the day prior to the tournament.

Once again Talking Rock will be trying to send two teams to accompany GM Jim Leisenring and Head Golf Professional Dave Buettner to the matches in hopes of bringing home our first OB Sports Cup title.

Tetherow is a true links style layout that was designed by David McKlay Kidd of Bandon Dunes fame and was ranked the #1 new “Course You Can Play” by Golf Digest in 2008. Go to www.tetherow.com to learn more about this fantastic golf experience. The host hotel is the Phoenix Inn & Suites located in the heart of Bend.

The cost of the event is $425 per player and includes all golf related charges including practice round, tee prizes, awards and food and beverage during the event. Participants will pay all travel expenses individually.

In previous years, the match has been held at Winchester Country Club in Auburn, CA, Somersby Golf Club in Rochester, MN, Dalhousie Golf Club, Cape Girardeau, MO, Talking Rock and Superstition Mountain, Gold Canyon, AZ.

If you would like more details and information, download the event information packet. If you are interested in participating please contact Jim Leisenring at jleisenring@talkingrockclub.com or Dave Buettner at dbuettner@talkingrockclub.com. Our hope is to line up our team(s) by September 1st.