It seems that there be more fescue than the Donald’s hair with the approval of his beyond golf resort near Abeerden. The complex will be 1,400 acres , 2 courses, hotel & houses. It took two years of bitter  battling between environmentalists, government & local residents.  

Not unlike Mr Trump it is said that he ’steamrolled’  to get the approval in the two year battle. It’s a hard fight, the golf mecca will bring jobs & investment to the area but the area chosen is part of the Scottish wild life trust. I have been to Scotland and it is a beautiful place, one can only hope that the project stays within the boundaries that have been agreed upon. Many conservationists have commented that any developing will damage birds & wildlife indigenous to the area.

Is there not enough golf courses in Scotland? I think the Donald should think of conservation vs 2 courses & massive structures. 

The next question will be, who could actually afford to golf there? I love golf but sometimes I like the environment more. Many have commented that by the time construction starts the global cash crunch might be the only blessing to halt the project. 

It’s been busy times, working on our new Spring/ Summer collection for 2009. I really had to clean out my studio! I didn’t want to dump my materials anywhere. I asked around and discovered Arts Junktion. A fabulous resource for materials from several industries for the Toronto School Board. There are contributions from the film industry, fashion, art gallery’s and many more.As I pulled up to the door I was greeted by Eileen Orr, her tile reads ‘ Keeper of the Treasure Cave’, as she guided me on a tour of the vast facility that houses several objects d’art I was thoroughly impressed with her organization of materials. From posters, magazines, huge 15ft plaster pillars and theater costumes from Shaw & Stratford, teachers have access to these objects for their students. Eileen shared several stories of student art exhibits that sounded wonderful. FYI there is also a Junktion for the Peel Board.I was so happy to know that my materials will make there way to another form of art and expression. What about your business? Do you have anything to donate rather than throwing out useful items. Arts Junktion is by appointment, as they also create schedules for teachers to drop in and treasure hunt, they can also make arrangements for pick up if there is a large shipment involved. Keep them in mind next time your cleaning house!

Well, I finally made it out to play to today and I’m sorry to say but my game wasn’t anything to write about, nothing as exciting as introducing a new product. Rather then my score, though, I am happy to write about a new take on an everyday golf item, something almost everyone uses - .

As you know, I’m big on the environment. Planting a tree for every bag sold is a way of life for Chip Chic Golf. And I am happy to say that I purchased Zero Friction Golf Tee’s - pink, of course, but they are produced in several colours that would appeal to both men & women. But the interesting fact about these tees is that they are biodegradable.

The concept of not using trees to create tee’s is very alluring to me, as I will go out of my way to use the most green products available. The only issue I had with the Zero tee is that it has 3 prongs in place instead of the standard concave cup that supports your ball so that if your angle was a little off when you spiked it into the ground, the ball would roll off the tee! I found that I had to fiddle with getting the ball to stay on the tee.

As I researched I found there where several options that I could try, Eco Golf makes a tee out of biopolymer ( starches ) it takes 60 days for tee melt into the grass. The Fertile Tee, you guessed it, yes it’s made with a fertilizer that’s environmentally friendly. Last, but not least, Apiona Golf rates very highly with their version of a starch based tee. This is the tee I want to try next.

A big thanks to all the companies giving us options and not having to feel bad about playing a game that gets us out!

Sorry it’s taken me so long, but I have been working  away on a movie being shot in our fair city of Toronto. I wanted to thank my friends & family for coming out and planting some ’shrubs’, the turn out was so great that we missed planting the actual tree’s. Thanks again, I actually enjoyed the day more than a round of golf!

As the weather becomes warmer, my thoughts turn to what I will be wearing this season on the golf course. In my search for upcoming shows that Chip Chic Golf will be participating in for the buying season, I have connected with Lela Designs. A fellow Canadian company I admire, not only for their fashion forward approach in their quality garments but for their green sense. Lela Designs works in ‘environmentally milled fabrics’ , that are manufactured in Canada.

I know you’re asking, ‘But what about the clothes?’ Totally hot, sexy and made out of great fibers! What more can you ask for? With a roster of LPGA players wearing the line, will you be next? I know, I will be.

With Earth Day ( April 22, 2008 ) fast approaching we’re attending a tree planting event in our local area this weekend. Fortunately for my luck, it looks like I’m not asking too much of my golfing friends as there are not too many courses open in Ontario just yet! I can only hope the ground is not frozen when we try to plant some seedlings this weekend - otherwise I’ll need that dented 5 iron of mine.

Not standing too high on my soap box (as you know I discuss green issues at times) but my hope is that everyone pauses to look at their carbon footprint and tries to reduce it. Small changes in your normal daily routine (what we reduce, re-use, recycle, clean our houses with, choice of light bulbs, cotton shopping bag vs plastic) can all add up to make huge changes globally, eventually. There are so many small ways to change our impact in the everyday environment that we exist unconditionally in. Please give it some thought.

My personal experience started with creating Chip Chic Golf, I was aware that I wanted to contribute to something very important - there are many, many worthy things to fight for. For me the environment was clear choice, we plant a tree for every bag we sell. We also plant trees for events we contribute to.

On a personal level, I started to look at the cleaning products in my house and discovered how toxic they were and switched to more environmentally friendly choices. It may sound a little daunting, but everyday there are more ‘Greener’ choices which really makes you look and weigh which ones to choose but, thankfully, it’s a great choice. I admit it is very hard to change the path you travel everyday, but if you just look at one small thing and try to change that, it gets easier.

Okay, I’m done. No more soap box. Next post: Nudity & the LPGA

Global Earth Day Site

Get those candles out ( battery or wax ) ladies & gentlemen! Have you signed up for Earth Hour yet? I have, well even if you don’t, please turn off your lights for an hour. The Toronto the Metro News reported that interest to sign up has been so great that the server has crashed a couple of times. This news makes me so happy! Keep trying you will be able to sign up, I completed my quick sign up this evening in 3 minutes.

I’m actually quite excited to see my landscape in some sort of darkness. On Saturday we are shooting a biography shot for my blog. Being accustomed to being behind the camera I’m not totally comfortable with posing for the camera. Chapagne is in order. But it’s lights out by 8:00pm for me and off to date night with hubby.

Let me know what you think about Earth Hour & my photograph.

In a cosmic sense ‘the world is a golf  ball ‘ - but you wouldn’t want to loose it! Hey, what are you doing Saturday March 29? How about a date? I’m turning my lights out and having a date night with my hubby. I have warned him that we have to go candle shopping for this event. Earth Hour is supposed to only last one hour, but I think we may try to make the whole evening a lights out event!

If you have checked out my website you know that Chip Chic Golf is concerned about the environment - why loose what is most precious to you? The game of golf can teach you a lot about yourself but we still have a lot to learn from this earth. Over 20 cities around the world are participating - will you?

Next post, what will I wear that evening? Time to go shopping.