• Classes
    • ACADEMY CLASSES
    • WSET L1 BEER
    • WSET L1 SAKE
    • WSET L1 WINE
    • WSET L2 WINE
    • WSET L3 WINE
    • WSET L1 SPIRITS
    • WSET L2 SPIRITS
    • LEVEL 3 SPIRITS
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • STUDY RESOURCES >
      • FLASH CARDS FOR STUDY
      • Video Library
      • Wine Vocabulary
    • STAFF TRAINING RESOURCES
    • BEVERAGE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
    • WSET Wine Suggestions
    • Our Library >
      • Wine Books
      • Viti / Vini
      • SPIRITS, COCKTAILS AND BARTENDING BOOKS
      • BEER BOOKS
      • SAKE BOOKS
      • DRINKS BUSINESS, HOSPITALITY & SERVICE BOOKS
  • NEWA Bulletin
  • Member Portal
    • WSET Student Resources >
      • WSET L1 Spirits
      • WSET L2 Spirits
      • WSET L3 Spirits
      • WSET L1 Wine
      • WSET L2 Wine
      • WSET L3 Wine
      • WSET EXAMS
    • Maison Ferrand
    • Murphy Distributors
    • ASG
    • USBG/CT Industry
    • PRO - S&L
    • AIC
    • Eder-Goodman
    • Opici - RNDC
  • About
    • Brian Mitchell
    • Associate Educators
    • WSET
    • Location
    • Testimonials
    • For Hire >
      • Corporate Tastings
      • Private Tastings
  • Contact
  • The Policy Page
New England Wine Academy
  • Classes
    • ACADEMY CLASSES
    • WSET L1 BEER
    • WSET L1 SAKE
    • WSET L1 WINE
    • WSET L2 WINE
    • WSET L3 WINE
    • WSET L1 SPIRITS
    • WSET L2 SPIRITS
    • LEVEL 3 SPIRITS
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • STUDY RESOURCES >
      • FLASH CARDS FOR STUDY
      • Video Library
      • Wine Vocabulary
    • STAFF TRAINING RESOURCES
    • BEVERAGE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
    • WSET Wine Suggestions
    • Our Library >
      • Wine Books
      • Viti / Vini
      • SPIRITS, COCKTAILS AND BARTENDING BOOKS
      • BEER BOOKS
      • SAKE BOOKS
      • DRINKS BUSINESS, HOSPITALITY & SERVICE BOOKS
  • NEWA Bulletin
  • Member Portal
    • WSET Student Resources >
      • WSET L1 Spirits
      • WSET L2 Spirits
      • WSET L3 Spirits
      • WSET L1 Wine
      • WSET L2 Wine
      • WSET L3 Wine
      • WSET EXAMS
    • Maison Ferrand
    • Murphy Distributors
    • ASG
    • USBG/CT Industry
    • PRO - S&L
    • AIC
    • Eder-Goodman
    • Opici - RNDC
  • About
    • Brian Mitchell
    • Associate Educators
    • WSET
    • Location
    • Testimonials
    • For Hire >
      • Corporate Tastings
      • Private Tastings
  • Contact
  • The Policy Page

THE ACADEMY BULLETIN

I lied...Golf Season wasn't quite over, yet...

1/6/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
 Yes, all the snow that came the week just prior to Christmas was washed away by the huge deluge we received on Christmas eve, and there was more golf to be had!

We got out for about 16 holes - still gets dark quite early - on the Monday after the holiday, and we were able to enjoy a beautiful 60* afternoon in December. I managed to play some of my best golf of the season - a trend I have seen in December - and I am a little disappointed that there will be fewer opportunities to get out over the next few months - but such is life in the Northeast.

The course we played - Gillette Ridge in Bloomfield, CT - is not a walking course, but they are only open at this point for walking. There are long stretches between some holes, and this means a bit of extra walking and play goes a little slow. But its good exercise and we needed some fresh air for deep breathing after a long weekend of eating holiday cookies, so it was good. My game, with the exception of one hole, was bogey or less, and included a good amount of pars and even a birdie - whoop! I am a mid-handicapper, so it pleases me to be able to report this. Maybe the full moon had something to do with it?
​
Looking forward to the warm season, and getting back to a weekly round or two, but for now will savor the few days we can steal here and there during the cold months.
Picture
0 Comments

Golf Season is Over...so It Would Appear

12/17/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
What a difference a couple of days can make. We (and by "we" I mean I) live in New England, and of course they always say that if you don't like the weather in these parts, just wait a few minutes and it will change. Well, it changed this week for sure.

Sunday I got a last minute call to play a round at one of my favorite courses, and it turned out to be a great afternoon. Slightly rushed due to the early sundown and so we ended up skipping two holes, but the 16 we did play were fun. Plus, I ended up playing some of the best golf of my season, so not a bad way to finish things up for 2020.

I have been playing golf off and on (mostly off) all of my life. Usually this would mean one or two times a year, and almost always as part of a tournament where real individual scores were not kept or tracked. I always kind of knew that I would get into golf, but held off for a couple reasons. The first is the time commitment, which can be considerable, I have three kids and wanted to always spend as much time as possible with them, so golf stayed in the background. The second reason is the cost. Everything about golf costs a good bit, and with the same reason as above I simply could never justify a hobby that would suck resources.
So golf waited. 
That is until about a year-and-a-half ago, when I finally decided I was tired of playing in one tournament a year, and also using my old Spaldings that I bought off my roommate back in college for $50 just was not cutting it anymore. Now, I didn't go buy some expensive set, I bought a used set, regripped them and had fun. I played, but what I really did was practice. All summer last year, I would go out to the range after work or on the weekends and hit balls. I also watch videos, asked friends for advice and figure out my swing. I also learned the game, which is more strategy and planning than most people realize.
I was excited to start the 2020 season, as I was determined to hit below 80 this year. My season started on February 3rd, which was a beautiful 56* days filled with sunshine. I was in the office and stuck to a computer screen all morning, but the sun was calling, and I found a club that was open. I played a great game by myself and had the best time. The season was on.
Then Covid came along.
Well, long story short, I played a good amount of golf this year - pretty much every week - and kept up the practice routine. I am more confident with my strokes, am able to hit the yardage I want, and more often than not, now, I can send the ball where I want. I'm still a mid-handicapper, have not broken 80 (82 was the best round this year), but I really like playing golf. 
Unfortunately, I think it may be a little while before I am on the links again, as the weather in just a couple of days changed the landscape for the near-future...with 14" of snow. BOOM!

Picture
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    ABOUT THE Author

    Brian Mitchell runs The New England Wine Academy, and is responsible for the content of this blog. With 30 years of drinks industry experience, Brian has learned a few things, but everyday he is learning more. This blog helps to bring that knowledge to you.

    Archives

    March 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    July 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    August 2023
    April 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019

    Categories

    All
    5 Questions
    Advanced Wine Tasting
    Barolo
    Beer
    Brainscape
    Brunello Di Montalcino
    Burgundy
    Cabernet Sauvignon
    California
    Carignan
    Chardonnay
    Chenin Blanc
    CMS
    Cocktails
    Condiments
    Coupons
    Distillation
    Education
    Fortified Wines
    From My Cellar
    Gamay
    Golf
    Grenache
    Holiday Sale
    Irish Whiskey
    Italy
    Maps
    Mendocino
    Mourvedre
    Napa
    Online Learning
    Oregon Wines
    Pinot Noir
    Poppincorks
    Port
    Romania
    Sabrage
    Sagrantino
    Sangiovese
    Sauvignon Blanc
    Scotch
    Semillon
    Sherry
    South Africa
    Sparkling Wine
    Survival Tips To Service
    Syrah
    Theory
    Tuscany
    Umbria
    Vinification
    Virtual Courses
    Viticulture
    Whiskey
    Whiskey/Whisky
    Willamette Valley
    Wine 101
    Wine Education
    Wine & Food
    Wine Gadgets
    Wine Of The Week
    Wine Tasting
    WSET
    WSET Level 1 Spirits
    WSET Level 1 Wine
    WSET Level 2 Spirits
    WSET Level 2 Wine
    WSET Level 3 Wine

Class Registration Page
For Hire Events - Bring the Tasting to You!
​FAQs
​Contact
​                                  
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Registration, Shipping & Cancellation
​Access, Diversity, Equity & Compliance
Picture
Copyright 2018 > 2025 by New England Wine Academy, LLC  ​
​we advocate making responsible decisions
  • Classes
    • ACADEMY CLASSES
    • WSET L1 BEER
    • WSET L1 SAKE
    • WSET L1 WINE
    • WSET L2 WINE
    • WSET L3 WINE
    • WSET L1 SPIRITS
    • WSET L2 SPIRITS
    • LEVEL 3 SPIRITS
  • Shop
  • Resources
    • STUDY RESOURCES >
      • FLASH CARDS FOR STUDY
      • Video Library
      • Wine Vocabulary
    • STAFF TRAINING RESOURCES
    • BEVERAGE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
    • WSET Wine Suggestions
    • Our Library >
      • Wine Books
      • Viti / Vini
      • SPIRITS, COCKTAILS AND BARTENDING BOOKS
      • BEER BOOKS
      • SAKE BOOKS
      • DRINKS BUSINESS, HOSPITALITY & SERVICE BOOKS
  • NEWA Bulletin
  • Member Portal
    • WSET Student Resources >
      • WSET L1 Spirits
      • WSET L2 Spirits
      • WSET L3 Spirits
      • WSET L1 Wine
      • WSET L2 Wine
      • WSET L3 Wine
      • WSET EXAMS
    • Maison Ferrand
    • Murphy Distributors
    • ASG
    • USBG/CT Industry
    • PRO - S&L
    • AIC
    • Eder-Goodman
    • Opici - RNDC
  • About
    • Brian Mitchell
    • Associate Educators
    • WSET
    • Location
    • Testimonials
    • For Hire >
      • Corporate Tastings
      • Private Tastings
  • Contact
  • The Policy Page