Ron Castillo Jr., head pro at the Hapuna Golf Course, came up with the idea of a golf-club lending library, where beginners can borrow clubs for up to a week at no charge. Ping, Spaulding and Wilson have donated equipment to the library, which has done a brisk business since its March opening and continues to increase its inventory. No need for a card, just check out your clubs and swing away. This nonprofit organization helps make wishes come true for thousands of kids with life-threatening illnesses. Last year more than 8,100 wishes were granted in the United States, and 5,800 of them involved air travel.
Most airlines have programs that allow participating members to donate their miles.
Scientists believe that the brain functions the same way during visualization as it does during physical activity, so they hope to show that visualizing physical activity can actually strengthen motor pathways in the brain. If a connection is found, doctors hope to use visualization to help stroke patients relearn walking and other physical tasks. So the next time you hit a wayward two-iron, remember to visualize the next shot. You'll either start building that pathway to the perfect swing or become a legend in your own mind. It was a warm June Friday, and I left home at the end of the workday and made the lovely half-hour drive up into the hills, hoping to squeeze in nine holes before darkness fell.