Sports Patrol

Our family has been traveling together during the winter ski season for the past twenty-five years.  Yes, every year we look forward to leaving the snow and cold at home to vacation at 8,000 feet above sea level in the snow and cold of the Rocky Mountains.  Of course, now, we are three generations…from ages 4 to 66…who, for a week, live together under one roof and share some fun that is ripe with laughter, camaraderie, and bravado.  As you can imagine, the planning and preparations start several months before that first burst of chilly air comes.

The World Series reached its thrilling climax with San Francisco Giants dramatic 4-3 triumph over the Kansas City Royals in October, but already US baseball fans will be yearning for the return of their sport.

So, if you simply cannot wait until Sunday, April 15 next year, then why not make the short hop to the Dominican Republic to experience warmer climes as well as the island’s winter league baseball season.

Based in Punta Cana, on the far eastern tip of the island, fans can watch major league starts past, present and future strut their stuff.

Our world would be a hugely different place today but for the discovery of sailing and the subsequent role played by the development of galleons, schooners and the tall ships of the day.

Cornwall, the westernmost tip of England is famed for its natural beauty, ancient tin mines, gorgeous beaches, beautifully rugged coastline and for perfecting what was arguably the world’s first fast-food delicacy – the Cornish pasty.

A list of nine sports related travel tips for Boomers.

Though Scotland and, more specifically, the Old Course at St Andrew’s lay claim to being the ‘home of links golf’ there are some who argue that the county of Kent, in the south east tip of England, boasts the widest variety of links golf to be found on the planet, let alone the British Isles.

The Kent region is known throughout Europe as the Garden of England for its rich history for growing fruit, vegetables and hops (for beer), but is now marketed to golfers as Kent’s Regal Golf Coast – and a right royal time you’ll have playing here.

Royal St George’s in Sandwich is, of course, world-famous for hosting The Open Championship on 14 occasions and lies immediately next to Prince’s Golf Club, another coastal gem of Kent.

Connoisseurs of links golf might contend, however, that the finest links of them all lies just two miles away in Deal where, even on a sunny day, Royal Cinque Ports offers one of the sternest tests of golf you are ever likely to find.

Everyone likes good neighbours and, in terms of skiing at least, the Rhone Alp ski centres of Les Deux Alpes and Alpes d’Huez in France are about as good as they come.

Though these two French ski resorts are barely six miles apart as the crow flies, they are, however, a little like chalk and cheese when it comes to comparison and therefore appeal to very different tourist markets.

These resorts would also make for a great two centre ski break if you like a little après ski action to start your holiday followed by some R&R to end your stay before the journey home.

The Balearic Islands that lie to the east of mainland Spain often receive a bad press but, in many respects, it’s hard to know why.

Maybe it’s because of Ibiza’s infamy for being the late night party capital of Europe, or because areas of Menorca and Majorca (or more locally Mallorca) have sold their soul to high-rise package holiday firms catering for the ‘cheap and cheerful’ all-inclusive brigade.

But look deeper and, on the island of Majorca in particular, you will unearth many stunningly beautiful regions with graceful Moorish towns, marvellous beaches and sporting facilities that rival many of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

Avoiding all-night raves like the plague, I travelled to Palma, the historic capital city of Majorca which is the largest of the five Balearic Islands. A beautiful ancient fortified town, I arrived to play golf, try the tapas and taste some wonderful, locally produced red wines. I left, just longing for more.

Imagine combining the rugged beauty of the Irish coastline with one of the finest and most spectacular golf courses Mother Nature and bundles of money could create.

Then throw in five-star dining and the ability to arrive by helicopter. Well, you’d be forgiven for thinking it all sounds too good to be true.

Yet this was the vision of Irish brothers John and Patrick O’Connor when they purchased the Old Head promontory in 1989 and spent the next decade creating the incredible Old Head Golf Links.

The fact that these links appear to have been there since time immemorial is testament to the O’Connor’s publicity statement which reads that the course is: “In keeping and in harmony with its surroundings” and simply “helping nature to fulfil its potential”.

It may all sound like Irish blarney, but the reality is, it’s all true.

I’m no an adrenalin junky, take me anywhere near a bungee jump and I’ll run a mile. But I do enjoy skiing and should you fancy a change from Colorado, and if maybe you’ve ticked off America’s five best resorts like Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Snowbird and Alta in Utah, then Europe has so much to offer.

A couple of years back, I headed for Switzerland, the beautiful, landlocked country boarding France and Italy formed from 26 regions known as cantons. My base for the week was the scenic, yet little-known mountain-top town of Nendaz in the Canton of Valais.

Nendaz lies at the heart of a popular ski region which markets itself as The Four Valleys, and from here you can access 95 lifts, over 100 pistes and two snow parks designed specifically for burgeoning snowboarders.

What’s even better is that skiing from Nendaz, compared to the de rigueur neighbouring resorts of Verbier and Lausanne, will come in at a fraction of the cost.