It seems appropriate to pause this week on The Timeshare Authority blog to talk about the game of golf. With the British Senior Open wrapped up and the US Senior Open set to tee off, you have to look at such events and reflect on the fact that anyone — amateur or pro — past champion or tournament rookie – has the opportunity to polish his skill, go out on one of sport’s biggest stages and write his name in the history books. And while the same is true for all events in professional golf that permit open qualifying, there’s something to be said about the idea that a man, 50 years old or older, who may have never competed in a pro tournament before, has the opportunity to become the US Senior Open Champion.

Golf is one of the few sports you can take up as a child and play throughout your lifetime. Because of the handicapping system, your teenage son can play a round of golf with Grandma, on a level playing field. Families can share the game; they can play together, play on their home course, and play while on vacation. Professional golf superstar, Luke Donald, credits his early interest in the game to playing at his family’s timeshare.

Even physical challenges don’t have to stand in your way of enjoying the game of golf. If you haven’t read Dave Kindred’s Golf Digest article this month on the triumph injured war veterans are claiming on the golf course, (“The Healing Game”) I encourage you to do so. In it, golf professional Jim Estes explains, “Fear inhibits the ordinary person’s ability to perform. But these guys — they have no fear. When your leg is blown off, who cares if you don’t hit that little white ball perfectly?”

Yet as U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ramon Padilla, injured in Afghanistan, says after taking up the game, “I had a sense of accomplishment. I thought, I may be missing an arm, but I’m still whole, I’m still one person.”

This week, as the favorites at the US Senior Open tee up at the beautiful Sahalee Country Club (just outside of Seattle, WA.), I will likely be pulling for some amateur playing who qualified on a wing and prayer. There is something uniquely inspirational about the idea that an ordinary guy can do extraordinary things, through a combination of determination, hard work, and perhaps a little luck.

• You can learn more about golf timeshares at: Take a Timeshare Golf Vacation in an Orlando Timeshare and Myrtle Beach Timeshare Resales
• And find out how all of us can do more to help wounded veterans at: woundedwarriorproject.org

Enjoy this excellent video of Luke Donald’s swing:

As if South Africa timeshare wasn’t already a growth market, the global attention on South Africa during the World Cup served to fuel an ever-increasing desire of many people to travel and vacation there. This year, VOASA, the Vacation Ownership Association South Africa, will be hosting its annual industry conference at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban.

Planned as a time for focusing on the future of the growing South Africa timeshare market, attendees can also expect plenty of opportunities for exchanging ideas, interacting with others in the timeshare industry, and helping to chart the future in this potentially hot market. David Clifton, Managing Director of Interval International will be the event’s keynote speaker.

Topics for discussion include:

• The Consumer Protection Act, presented by Brian Mdluli, CEO Direct Marketing Association of South Africa.
• Understanding the New Estate Agents Curriculum, presented by Margaret Nicol, CEO Margaret Nicol and Associates.
• Timeshare Sales, Tele-Sales, and Telemarketing Workshop, presented throughout the conference sessions by Mr. Clive Price of the Peer Group.

The VOASA Conference 2010 (August 29-31) will also include entertainment, a gala awards evening, and of course, great golf. The opportunity to take part in the sponsored Golf Day to be held at the Durban Country Club Beachwood course on August 29 is a reason within itself to attend this timeshare conference. Beechwood, a narrow, links style golf course, is now considered part of the famed Durban Country Club, one of the greatest golf courses in the world.

If you have never been to South Africa, August is an ideal time to go, as the South African ‘winter months’ come to a close, and spring is just around the corner. And when playing the Beechwood Golf Course, don’t be surprised if you run across monkeys in the bushes. Just consider them your gallery, however, and don’t invite them to lunch; golfers are discouraged from feeding the monkeys.

You can learn more about the VOASA Conference 2010 at: www.tisa.co.za

Women in the Industry (WIN) is a non-profit organization created to promote, educate and connect women in the vacation and timeshare industry. In May, WIN launched its second annual Travel Auction that offers WIN members and their friends and families the opportunity to bid on donated vacation weeks beginning at $200 and including timeshare vacation opportunities at resorts worldwide.

The auction raised $9,348 in support of The Auskell Medical Clinic, located on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Donors included Bluegreen, Island One, Festiva Resorts, Hawaii Vacation Club, ResorTime.Com, Interval International, RCI Endless Vacations, Dial an Exchange, San Francisco Exchange, Vacations Only, Lagonita Lodge/Alderwood Advantage, Marriott Vacation Club, Massanutten Resort, Shell Vacation Club, American Resorts International, Pollard Brook and Ron Jon Cape Caribe, Condominium Travel Club.

A Lifesaving Effort

This year’s target was to raise money to help fund the purchase of a mammography machine for The Auskell Medical Clinic. Because of the efforts of the women of WIN, five women have been saved through early detection provided by a previous mammogram machine that WIN replaced.

With a threefold purpose to unite and ignite combined strengths; to offer education scholarship and research opportunities; and to partner with charities that support the health, education and welfare of women and adolescent girls in need, the women of WIN represent the timeshare industry well.

To learn more about WIN, go to www.womenintheindustry.org

Earlier this month, Sell My Timeshare NOW announced that it has become Authorized Reseller for The Crane, a resort built on a Barbados beach that Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous calls “One of the ten best beaches in the world.”

If you own property at The Crane Resort, and you are interested in reselling your timeshare, then the involvement of Sell My Timeshare NOW, and Timeshare Broker Services (the company’s timeshare brokerage arm) is great news because it affords you the best visibility possible for exposing your vacation ownership resale to potential buyers (or renters). Even if you never want to resell your timeshare, knowing that other timeshare units will be owned by people who are actively using and enjoying their timeshare is good news too, reflecting a vibrant ownership base.

The Crane is a true “old luxury” resort, with new luxury facilities. On property, you can enjoy the pool, tennis courts, health club, and restaurant. Very nearby you’ll find scuba diving, windsurfing, fishing, boating, horseback riding, dining, shopping and golf. And overall, and unforgettable place to rest, relax and restore. The Crane Resort means rare and unique elegance in a setting that is both breathtaking and affordable, thanks to timesharing opportunities in vacation ownership.

Click here to read more: Sell My Timeshare NOW Named as Authorized Reseller for Luxury Barbados Resort