The SunRay Solar Roof kit allows any standard golf cart to become solar-powered. The easy-to-assemble solar panel fits on the roof of most golf cart models. Once installed, the golf cart owner will save money by using the sun to recharge the battery. You can also get a Solar Tax Credit for installing a golf cart solar power system. SunRay also manufactures solar powered golf carts like the SunRay X4 shown here. Why not go green when you hit the green? If you’re ready to save money, save energy and save the environment while you golf, see the SunRay website.

The Wyndham Conoa Ranch Resort just outside Tucson, Arizona, provides two world-class championship golf courses – the Canoa Ranch Golf Course and the Torres Blancas Golf Course.  The Canoa Ranch Resort sits at the base of the majestic Santa Rita Mountains.  The Conoa Ranch Course is a par 72 course with scenic elevation changes and breathtaking views of the Green Valley landscape.  The Torres Blancas Course, which famed golfer Lee Trevino helped design, is considered to be one of the best championship golf courses in Southern Arizona.

The Wyndham Conoa Ranch Resort has special offers on vacation golf packages, including unlimited golf during your stay.  Find out more on the Conoa Ranch Resort website.

The legend of the Loch Ness monster just took an interesting turn. While conducting a scientific investigation of the Loch, scientists have discovered a monstrous numbers of golf balls at the bottom of the legendary body of water. Estimates are that up to 100,000 balls have settled at the bottom of the loch. Most of them will probably never be recovered due to the sheer volume. Unfortunately, there’s a serious side to this problem. As the Loch Ness golf balls decompose, they will release toxins and heavy metals into the loch. The zinc in golf balls is especially damaging to plants and animals in the environment.

This YouTube Video gives some idea of the magnitude of the problem.

This week’s PGA Northern Trust Open (also known as the Los Angeles Open) put the spotlight on the Riviera Country Club in Southern California. Located in Pacifica Palisades a block from Sunset Boulevard and just below the Santa Monica Mountains, the Riviera golf course is one of the most famous in tournament golf. Founded in 1927, the Riviera Country Club has enjoyed an illustrious history that includes both the stars of golf and the stars of Hollywood.

Legendary golfer Ben Hogan won the Los Angeles Open at the Riviera three times in the 1940s, earning the course the nickname “Hogan’s Alley.” Other famous winners at the Riviera include Sam Snead, Tom Watson, Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson. Movie stars like Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy played the Riviera. Read a decade-by-decade history of the stars of golf and the silver screen on the Riviera Country Club website.

Legend Golf & Safari Resort in South Africa features 18 unique holes designed by 18 different leading golfers, including Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, K.J. Choi, Vijay Singh and Justin Rose. The 19th hole is 830 meters up, an Extreme Par 3. See this amazing hole in this YouTube video.

Situated in the Entabeni Safari Conservancy, the resort reflects the natural environment and rich culture of Africa. The “Big Five” roam free in this area (hunter’s terminology for the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino). The Resort includes private homes, the championship golf course, a hotel, a wellness center, a driving range, a golf academy and more.

The environmentally sensitive design of the Resort preserves the untamed bushveld. This is truly one of the most unique golf resorts in the world.

The Show Low Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Chocolate Auction & Mixer on Feb. 5, 2010 at the Torreon Golf Course Clubhouse. $15 per person buys an evening of appetizers, desserts a no-host bar and both live and silent auctions. This has been a popular event in the past and 2010 promises to be no exception.

Find out more on the Show Low Chamber of Commerce website.

In addition to Show Low, the White Mountains area of Arizona includes the communities of Snowflake, Pinetop-Lakeside, Springerville, Eagar, St. Johns, Taylor and Heber-Overgaard. A wealth of winter recreational opportunities are available in the Arizona White Mountains, including skiing, snowboarding, sledding and tubing. Quaint towns provide shopping venues for antiques and Native American crafts.

For history buffs, there is the Trail of Many Tracks historic driving trail. In Springerville, the Casa Malpais Ruins date back to the 13th century and are considered to be one of the finest archaeological sites in the Southwest. These are just two examples of the historic locations to be visited in the White Mountains.

For a touch of big-city excitement, casino gaming and entertainment are also nearby. For more information, visit the White Mountains website.

Emerald Canyon Golf Course in Parker, Arizona, is a truly unique course. Surrounded by spectacular scenery including red rock canyons and views of the Colorado River, the course features sculpted tee areas and bunkers and immaculately manicured fairways. Emerald Canyon is a great year-round Arizona golf value, with 18 holes and cart costing less than $50. For more information and complete directions, see the Emerald Canyon Golf Course website.

It’s the season for skiing in the White Mountains near Show Low. Sunrise Park Resort is the premier ski resort in the area, located 35 miles from Show Low and close to the New Mexico border. Sunrise Park Resort is a year round vacation destination that becomes a snowy wonderland in winter. Operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the resort is built near 3 mountains and features 65 ski runs. Skiers of all levels will find excitement on the slopes of Sunrise Park Resort and the Hon-Dah Resort Casino is close by for off-the-slopes entertainment.

The Arizona Republic recently published an article about the state of golf in Arizona. Some golf courses have been impacted by the recent crisis in commercial real estate, and about a dozen course have been foreclosed or have declared bankruptcy. However, this only represents about 5 percent of the approximately 340 golf courses in the state.

This is not to say that course owners are not being challenged by a drop in tourism. Arizona residents are reported to be playing less golf (possibly for financial reasons), and the costs of maintaining courses are rising. Many private golf courses have opened to the general public, which is a benefit for many Arizona golfers. For example, discount green fees for courses like the Phoenix Biltmore can now be found online.