We’ve all heard of hail the size of golf balls, but it was raining actual golf balls in Scottsdale this week when a helicopter dropped 3,000 balls at the Camelback Inn Golf Club. It was all done in the name of charity. Each ball represented a $20 donation to Arizona USMC Wounded Warriors, an organization that assists Arizona Marines and their families. Another recipient was Wounded Wear, which donates clothing to those who have been wounded while serving. Donors had an added incentive for donating to the cause. Each ball was numbered and the ball that ended up in or closest to a designated hole, won its donor a free trip to Hawaii. The Camelback Inn sponsored the event and provided the incentive prize.

Located in beautiful Scottsdale, Camelback Golf Club features two-18 hole championship courses. The Padre Course is known for its bunkering, landforms and surrounding trees. Its 18th hole was been called Arizona’s best water hole by Arizona Golf Magazine. The Indian Bend course features a backdrop of magnificent mountains, eucalyptus and palm trees. Camelback also includes a practice facility with a driving range and putting greens.

Find out more at the Camelback Golf Club website.

Ever since 1905, when an English engineer named William Taylor patented a golf ball with a dimpled design, golf balls have been manufactured with a dimpled surface that increases aerodynamics.  Since then, a variety of dimple patterns have been tried to maximize aerodynamic forces.

To see an awesome graphic representation of golf ball dynamics, check out this YouTube video, a joint project from the University of Arizona and the University of Maryland.

One of the best ways to get in shape, stay fit and improve your golf game is by creating a home gym. Whether you have an entire room at your disposal or a corner of the garage or basement, dedicating a place to work out will jumpstart your fitness program. Choose an area with plenty of light and good ventilation. Painting the walls with a color that inspires you and hanging some golf posters will help motivate you.

Cardio equipment like a treadmill and elliptical machine are great additions to a home gym, but you can also stock your gym with less expensive equipment like a balance ball, resistance bands and a free weights.

For more tips, see this article on creating a home gym, see this article on 5 Tips for Creating a Home Gym.

Besides golf, Show Low is well known winter sports.  It’s ski season again in Show Low and one of the best places to enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding is at the Sunrise Park Ski Area.  This ski resort is located on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and includes three mountains with 65 trails.  There are trails geared for every level, from beginner to pro.  Over 10,000 skiiers per hour can be transported on Sunrise Park’s rope tows and double, triple and quad chair lifts.  If the snow holds up, the ski season at Sunrise Park is expected to continue until early April.

Year-round accommodations are available at the 100-room Sunrise Park Lodge.  You’ll find more information on the Sunrise Ski Park website.

White Mountain Country Club is a private member-owned club located just south of Show Low in Pinetop, Arizona.  Founded in 1954, the club strives to provide a family atmosphere and an active program for youth members.

The club and golf course operates on a seasonal basis from May through October.  It features a lush 18-hole course that stretches out over 6500 yards.  The spectacular scenery surrounding the course includes rolling hills, Ponderosa pine forest and rugged outcroppings of volcanic rock. 

Membership in the White Mountain Country Club is by invitation only.  Visit the White Mountain Country Club website for more information.

In February of 2100, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain will once again host the PGA World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Located in Marana, Arizona (just north of Tucson), Dove Mountain is a master-planned golf resort community in a high Sonoran Desert setting. Both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are expected to play this year and will be battling top players like Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer for the top overall seed.

For more information about the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, visit the Dove Mountain website.

Even in Arizona, the cold winter months can cut down on the opportunity for golf. This doesn’t mean it’s time to become a couch potato. Instead, invest in a gym membership if you don’t already have one. General conditioning and weight training will improve you golf game and will also add to your flexibility. Or step up your workouts by hiring a personal trainer.

There are golf-specific exercises you can perform with a couple of pieces of modified equipment. There are also indoor golf training facilities located throughout the country. Do some research online or ask your local pro about facilities in your area.

Read more about winter conditioning for golf on the PGA website.

Most of us will never get a chance to go up against the best in the game, but with Real Golf 2011 for the iPhone and iPod Touch you can take on top golfers like Camilo Villega, Natalie Gulbis and Anthony Kim on ten of the top golf courses from around the world. Realistically-rendered avatars and HD graphics combined with motion capture technology make every swing and putt look like the real thing. As you progress through each game, dynamic lighting recreates the progress of the sun across the sky.

Watch a clip from Real Golf 2011 on YouTube. You can learn more about Real Golf 2011 on the Gameloft website or buy it in the iTunes App Store.c

With the Santa Cantalina Mountains and the Sonoran desert forming a dramatic backdrop, Ventana Canyon Golf Club is one of the top Arizona golf courses. Rated number 7 on Golf Magazine’s list of the Top 10 U.S. Golf Courses, this Tucson area resort features two Tom Fazio designed 18-hole courses. The Mountain course provides changes in elevation. The Canyon Course, while more level, has its own set of unique challenges as it rolls through Esperro Canyon.

The resort also includes a world-class tennis program managed by Peter Burwash International, a fitness center and swimming facility and a full-service spa.

Find out more about Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club on the official website.