Holiday Frantic!

Busy. Busy. Busy.

And THAT is just my Owl mascot! Feelin' just a tad overwhelmed, but refocusing, thinking of having an energy drink.

Ah, but it’s fun! Now it’s COLD, too. Feels a bit more Christmas-y, I think.

Going to blog every day now through Christmas Eve eve – as they say – so watch this space! I’ve given myself a strong talking to about time management and, my greatest weakness, TANGENTS. Lord, talk about ADD! How do you get a prescription for Ridalyn, anyway?

In the next week I’m going to be working overtime to highlight both Local opportunities for gift giving and opportunities for helping others.

Consider these tasty options for Christmas surprises sourced LOCALy . . . Local's always sweet, but these possibilities can also fill tummies! Consider the three chocolate options found right on Park Avenue . . . Theo Chocolates are Fair Trade certified and all organic, with several flavors available at Nature In Beauty off Park Avenue in the passageway to the Hidden Garden Courtyard, Godiva chocolates at Downeast and Ho Ho cHOcolate at Sassafras Sweet Shoppe! Or, for more substantial food, consider gift certificates to a Winter Park institution and favorite breakfast spot, Linda's Winter Park Dinner, or The NEW Bistro in the Hidden Garden, Park Avenue's most family friendly AND best atmosphere for brunch, lunch or dinner! Or, if you're looking for a new man in your life, make him a Gingerbread Man . . . also with Santa, Snowmen and others, yummy cookies from Sweet Traditions Bakery on Park Avenue!

One unique opportunity for gift giving . . . . both to your child and, well, possibly to yourself, Little Linksters Christmas Break Golf Camp. Three days – December 26 to 28 – of golf instruction and fun. Whether you have a child you think is showing potential or one you think could simply benefit from the disciplines retained while learning such an individual sport, Little Linksters golf camp may be an ideal activity for you 5 to 12 year old.

Little Linksters is the brain child of Brendon Elliott. An avid golfer and previous manager at the Winter Park Country Club from 2006 to 2011, and an employee there for a total of 13 years, he went out on his own to create Little Linksters.

What’s the goal? Little Linksters’ mission statement speaks of instilling a respect and passion for the sport of golf and how it teaches valuable lessons and personal disciplines, such as patience, integrity, respect, honesty and friendship, all while having fun.

Brendon started playing golf when he was 3 or 4 years old. “My parents have a picture but not sure how old I was. I did not start taking it too seriously until I was about 11 or 12. Sounds kind of funny to say taking it seriously when you talk about those ages,” he told me. “I played my freshman through senior year in high school in the golf team in upstate NY, although two of those seasons I had bad injuries that sidelined me most of the seasons (broke my hip and the nest year, broke my right foot). I played in college where I studied golf course operations at the State University of NY @ Delhi. I always had a desire to get into the business from my first job when I was 15 at the local club in Norwich, NY. I was not all that interested like other young golfers to play for a living...I was O.K. at golf (could shoot mid 70's) but I was noy consistant and I was realistic on how good you really had to be to play for money. The business side of the game was more interesting to me anyways....helping people enjoy golf was what I was interested in. I moved to Winter Park in 1996 and started working at Interlachen CC. I was there until 1998 and then was at WPCC from 1998-2011 before I went out on my own.”

These days, along with participants in Little Linksters, he’s also passing on a love for the game to his own children, a 3 year old son and 7 year old daughter. “Pretty much my whole family plays....some more than others. My dad plays the most of all of us. I try to get my wife out at least once or twice a year but I hardly have the time to play myself. That needs to change.”

I asked him what about the benefits of taking up the game at a young age and he was quick with an answer. “You know, in my opinion, golf offers so much more than hitting a ball into a hole. It teaches kids so much more. Patience, creativity, individuality, confidence, how to tackle a challenge, friendship, honesty, being outdoors (what a novel concept!). I could go on and on. Plus you can play until you are 90 + years old. You can’t say that about many sports. It is also something you can share as a family.”

Not having kids myself, but a keen observer of those who do, I ask if it isn’t sometimes like herding cats. “It is but the payoffs for the kids is worth all the constant potty breaks our mini-nervous break-downs – kids and parents,” he says, laughing.

With the personal issues suffered by the game’s most well-known player in the last few years, I was curious who he’d identify as his favorite player. He’s sticking with him. “Despite all the recent history and personal issues that has plagued him and his game, I am still a Tiger guy. He is just a model of what golf perfection can be – and at the same time a great example of how mentally difficult the game really is, for everyone. I feel he will come back to form, this year was not bad. I think he will catch Jack (Nicklaus). Rory (McIlroy) is growing on me too. Tons of potential and lots of years ahead of him.”

Is working with future possible golfing legends rewarding? “Being able to see that look in kids’ eyes when they discover they can do something new. For us, it’s golf. But when I see a new student hit that first great shot or make that first putt, it reminds me of when my kids took their first steps. It is just so cool to see kids succeed, at anything. Makes you feel like anything is possible for them and for all of us.”

Lots of odds and ends to note . . . . among them:

Blu looks to be opening soon on Park Avenue. It's located in the old Spice Steakhouse spot and will be a sister restaurant to its next door neighbor, 310. Always fun to have something new opening to check out and explore. Best wishes to its owners and staff!

Remember that large Chinese buffet spot on 17/92? It was just down from the Mt. Vernon Inn. Well, there's a new building going in there and now a sign to go with it. Italio. Safe to assume, I think, this will be a new Italian restaurant. I checked out the restaurant and it appears at present there's only one other -- Boca Raton -- but many others in development.

Speaking of the Mt. Vernon Inn, the new porte cochere looks great! Such a natural looking part of the facade now, you'd think it had always been there.

And, on Fairbanks in the old 4Rivers location, that new burger place is B&B Junction. I like what I read on their facebook page: "A farm-to-table approach to the classic American burger joint. Our focus is on locally sourced ingredients to ensure that we serve the freshest most nutrient-rich flavorful meals, capture the very best seasonal tastes, and support our local farms and economy. The food we serve is “real” and straight from local Florida farms." Will have to give them a try sometime in the near future!

Til next time . . . holy bricks & Spanish moss . . . get busy!