I love living and working in our St. Augustine golf course community and this year I am particularly excited to make more time to enjoy all the exciting things we have coming up in the Village.

1. The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater is reopening in 3D at the end of January.
2. The Nancy Lopez exhibit is opening at the Hall of Fame in mid January.
3. My first Relay for Life event is on April 9th & 10th in World Golf Village – Join our team and walk with us!
4. Isles of the World is being completely revitalized.
5. Playing golf at the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire with my husband and my dad.
6. Recognizing our great teachers from Wards Creek Elementary and Mill Creek Elementary through Davidson Realty’s new “Character Counts” teacher appreciation program.
7. Celebrating our successes in 2010 with staff and agents at our Awards Banquet.
8. Getting to know the new General Manager at the Renaissance Hotel, Jeffrey Oliasami, better.
9. Welcoming a couple of new tenants into Davidson Realty’s beautiful Executive Suites.
10. Our first real estate class at the Davidson building conducted by Florida Real Estate Institute starts January 31st.

Here’s hoping that 2011 brings more fun, more time with family, and more new construction! All the predictions point to a continued slow real estate recovery. I hope everyone has a great year!

The other evening I was listening to the end-of-season wrap-up analysis about the records of my favorite SEC college football teams. You know the kind; how games were determined by controlling the line or running the ball or time of possession or the big play or the trick play or ball-control or by minimizing penalties or playing to the end and being in the game until the last second. Usually, one of the commentators will mention that the best teams won by scoring more points, really. Sometimes they will acknowledge that the players were “coached-up”. Rarely, does the twelfth man get any of the credit – since all big-time college teams almost always sell-out their stadiums anyway.

Yet, there is still room for novel insight in the prognosticating arena. Witness this sage comment by an analyst who was using multi-syllabic words to convey his sports acumen when he stuttered out that his winning team had the “want-to” more than its opponent. Yes, the “want-to”.

I got to thinking how the want-to would be a great thing to cultivate during the Holidays and apply into the New Year.

I got the want-to to pay off all my 2010 bills before 2011. I got the want-to to start the New Year with great, ambitious goals – attainable with the right amount of want-to. I got the want-to to be healthy, wealthy and wise next year – but will settle for losing weight and exercising by using my want-to to succeed. I got the want-to to be more than I can be if I can just keep up my want-to. I want all my friends and family to get the want-to to want to help one another, since 2011 will no doubt challenge our collective want-to. I got the want-to to get comfortable with not wanting anything (material) and to continue wanting peace and prosperity for all.

I hope you get the want-to too and that your want-to will work for you.

There are very few nights that everything runs as smooth as last night did, especially for a Monday. When I got home from work, dinner was ready, kids were bathed and everyone was in an awesome mood. Dinner was perfect, neither child complained about dinner and no fights! Just as I was going to suggest we snuggle up and watch Frosty, the Snowman, my adoring husband asked if we would like to drive around and look at the Christmas lights in our St. Augustine golf course community.  I remembered that the World Golf Village social committee has an annual contest for the best light display from the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire and we needed to place our votes.

We loaded up in the mini-van with our hot chocolates and a Mannheim Steamroller c.d. boomin’ and began cruisin’ the streets looking for our favorite light displays to vote for. Apparently we were not the only family with this brilliant idea. The neighborhoods were decorated so beautifully. Streets were lined with twinkling snowflakes, jolly snowmen and whimsical blowups of Santa. There were “ooooohs” and “aahhhhs” from the back seat. The girls wanted to sit in front of many of the St. Augustine golf course homes and watch the dancing lights. I was reminded of how beautiful the world is looking at it through my daughters’ eyes. I saw magic and awe and I was reminded of the simple ways to really enjoy this magical season.

Who says you have to be a child to enjoy the magic of the holiday season? Those of us who are fortunate to call World Golf Village home, have the luxury of enjoying the holidays by going to downtown St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the holiday display of tiny white lights magically lighting the downtown of this quaint city with plenty of stories to tell. The light display is kept up until January 31st. There is so much to enjoy besides the ambience of the lights illuminated in the waters of the Matanzas Bay. Just the view alone will make the staunchest soul a romantic!

My recommendation is to begin the night off with a glass of wine and a bowl of chili at Celar 6  located on Aviles Street. (Ask for Chris.) The atmosphere is warm and toasty with its brick walls lined with art, bottles of wine, stemware and beer – guaranteed to warm the tummy, bones and heart!

From there, you don’t need to drive around to see the lights – enjoy the scenery and leave the driving of the narrow streets to the professionals by catching the “Jolly Trolley”. Your ride will be accompanied by Christmas music, lights and the glorious surroundings of the nation’s oldest city – St. Augustine.

No visit to St. Augustine is complete without finishing the evening off with a visit to the “Tini Martini Bar” located on the bay front in the Casablanca Inn.  Sit on the front porch of the old inn, which is warmed by heating lamps and decorated for the holidays with tons of lights or sit inside the bar and enjoy your dessert – a decadent Godiva Chocolate Martini of course! If chocolate or martinis aren’t your poison – they offer a wide variety of wines and beers.

Living in one of the best Flordia golf course communities really does give one the best of old and new. Cold winter nights can quickly turn into warm summer-like days – perfect for a game of golf on the King & Bear or a stroll around the old city. The possibilities are endless! My last recommendation is to add the experience to your own 12 Days of Christmas list – you definitely will not be sorry!

This Holiday Season marks my 14th in North Florida. The best advantage of being able to host the Holidays here is that everyone wants to come. The weather is usually superb – the air is dry – the sky is blue and the good cheer flows.
 
While raising a family on the Holiday trail has its own joy – nothing beats being able to sit tight – and let the party come to you. No long pat-down lines – or surcharges on extra luggage and Christmas packages means that you can actually give a loved one something other than a gift card. No tail-gating at 80 mph – or extra sanitizing after frequenting public restrooms means that you can actually prepare and enjoy the cocktail hour when guests arrive. I remember when the Holidays were “work” – shuttling the children between the grandparents, making sure that everyone had equal face time. Now, the beauty and allure of where we live is what brings everyone here – and the memories get better and better.
 
Start with the typical Holiday weather – cool and dry with the French doors open wide and a fire on the hearth. Entertaining on the lanai, in the garden or on the pool deck is a wonderful way to capitalize on our local attributes. You can even try letting the children “camp-out” in the yard around the fire tray while the adults get some relief. You will also find this to be an excellent opportunity to show off the “summer” kitchen – since the Holiday season is perfect for outdoor cooking and dining.

Spa Laterra recently re-opened under new management at World Golf Village so I wanted to check it out. I booked an appointment to have the “Age-Defying Fountain of Youth Facial” last Thursday afternoon. I was pretty frazzled when I arrived. I had too much work to do and not enough time to do – and here I was taking a few hours off in the middle of the day! However, as I walked through the breezeway and caught a glimpse of the fountain and the infinity pool in the courtyard beyond, the tension started to ease away. Laterra is simply a beautiful place to be!

As I entered the lobby, I noticed the environment is as soothing as ever. The only change is the signature color is now blue. I think I like it better! I was greeted by a polite gentleman who showed me to the ladies lounge. Once I changed, a lady escorted me to the circular lounge with the rain shower fountain in the middle. Although the setting is impressive, I had seen it before. There was a new touch though…  sitting next to my chaise lounge was a tray with  a warm towel, hot tea and sweet chocolate – just waiting on me. It was this little extra touch that really impressed me. The few minutes I had in the lounge listening to the water fall eased the last of my tension away. When Mary came to get me for my facial, I was in the perfect frame of mind!

Here are a few of our favorite things that will make the holidays merry and bright for givers, receivers and our local businesses too!

Mia at Publix Liquors at the Shoppes at Murabella says high-end scotch is hot for those discerning gentlemen who have everything. Consider Johnnie Walker Blue, Lagavulin or Dewars 18 but be prepared to pay $50 and up.  She also recommends the seasonal gift packs which go on sale – the Southern Comfort Gift Pack is on sale this week – and their wine cellar lock box boasts some choice vintages sure to impress.

Annual Passes to The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater is the gift that keeps on giving. The annual Discovery Pass is $39 and the annual Power Pass is $69 with unlimited general run films and a host of other benefits. The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX is upgrading to new digital 3D IMAX technology (it will be the 5th theater in the world to have it!) and will remain the largest IMAX screen in North Florida. In addition to the new projection system, upgrades will include a new screen and sound system.

There’s an array of great gifts to be had at the PGA TOUR STOP in World Golf Village, but a couple of our  favorites are the Breast Cancer Pink Rose Club Headcover for $22 and the Backyard Flagstick Pole & Cup for $18.

While you’re in the “Village,” mosey over to Murray Bros. Caddyshack  and pick up some gift certificates – perfect for teachers, guard gate personnel and neighbors.

Of course for those golfers on your list, a round at the King & Bear will always be appreciated.  Or, how about booking a Junior Golf Camp at the PGA TOUR Golf Academy for the little ones on your list?

Lay down roots or, in the case, a brick for someone special this holiday season. For $50-$65, you can have a custom engraved brick placed along the Walk of Champions leading up to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Visit www.wghofstore.com; the purchase is tax deductible.

Gina Hull Celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the King & Bear

The King & Bear golf course just celebrated its 10 year anniversary with its esteemed members – who are all residents of  World Golf Village – on Saturday, November 13.  There were 160 members in attendance at the cocktail reception celebrating the event. Gina Hull, the Head Golf Professional at the King & Bear, has been there since the St. Augustine golf course was built. She is also a member of the LPGA. Currently, she teaches members of all ages how to play golf and improve their game.

I had the privilege of speaking with Gina. It is obvious that golf is so dear to her heart. Interestingly, Gina didn’t start golfing until she was 17. Gina spoke passionately about Payne Stewart and Bruce Borland, both who died in a plane crash in 1999. Bruce Borland worked for Jack Nicklaus as a designer on the King & Bear golf course, although he never got to see nor play the course he helped design. Gina told me that there is a memorial at the King & Bear called The Borland Garden, which is beautiful.