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July 22, 2005
Congratulations to Abby Montpelier, who will be getting married on July 23rd to Mike Horner, president of the Kissimmee Chamber of Commerce. Abby is the public relations representative for our corporate sponsor, the Kissimmee-St. Cloud Convention and Visitor's Bureau. The CVB will be hosting our next fall conference in Kissimmee.
SAVE THE DATES
Look for a "paper" Reporter newsletter to be heading your way in August with full details on the Oct. 26-30 FOWA Fall Conference in Kissimmee. It will include all that's in store each day with the many banquets, speakers, seminars and things to do. Expect a few surprises as well! A registration form will be included as well as info on the host site. You're not going to want to miss this one, so mark off those dates on your calendar.
RECOGNIZE SOMEONE DESERVING
The FOWA Officers and Board of Directors meets Aug. 6 at the Daytona Beach Shores Holiday Inn, courtesy of the always effervescent Debbie Page-Wright, Sales Director for the DBS Holiday Inn. It's at this meeting that board members vote on the Special Awards given out and announced at the fall conference. Here are the categories, and for more details look on pages 6 & 7 of your FOWA Directory:
Frank Philpott Conservation Award. For outstanding conservation efforts in behalf of the Florida outdoors by a FOWA member or members or FOWA Corporate member.
Florida Sportsman Biff Lampton Memorial Conservation Award. Conservation efforts by a non-FOWA member or organization for the betterment of Florida's resources.
Daiwa Youth Conservation Award. For a FOWA member who works with young people to increase their awareness of conservation.
Horace Carter Award. Recognizes outstanding service to FOWA by any member of the organization.
Hardy Bryan Lifetime Achievement Award. Past or present FOWA member (now living) who's performed outstanding service to the outdoor field.
Pass It On Award. Recognizes someone who's gone the extra mile or devoted a lifetime to introducing others to the outdoors who otherwise may not have been able to do so.
To nominate someone, send an email to Doug Kelly (doug7kelly@yahoo.com) or fax or letter that outlines why the candidate is deserving of the award.
WANNA RUN FOR SOMETHING?
If you're interested in serving FOWA as an officer or board member, please notify Tommy Thompson, Nominating Chair, at captain@twotree.net. Open officer positions are First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary; the position of President is automatically filled by the year's prior First Vice President per the FOWA bylaws, so President will not be on the ballot. Two of the six board positions will also be up for election.
Specify to Tommy what position you're running for. Only Active members can serve as an officer. Although candidates may still be nominated from the floor during the election at the conference on Saturday, Oct. 29, only those so providing notification in advance can have their names appear on the ballot.
We send our sympathies to the family of Jim Martenhoff who passed away on June 2, 2005. Jim was President of FOWA in 1958. The following is the obituary notice from the St. Pete Times:
MARTENHOFF, JAMES EDWARD, 85, of Largo, died Thursday (June 2, 2005) at Largo Medical Center. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he moved to Miami in 1953 from Boston and came here after he retired as a photojournalist and boating editor for the Miami Herald. He authored the Powerboat Handbook and the Handbook of Skin and Scuba Diving. He was a war correspondent for the Associated Press during the Korean War and a photograph taken by him was used in the design of the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also worked as a writer for Florida Sportsman and had many articles published in other magazines. He was president of the Outdoor Writers Association in 1959. Survivors include a nephew, Charles David McDonough, Moretown, Vt., and several nieces. National Cremation Society, Largo.
Kelly Braden
KJBraden1@aol.com
HIGHLIGHTED NEEDS
Florida Game and Fish
Florida Game & Fish, Box 741, Marietta, GA 30061, Jimmy Jacob, Editor, Email: Jimmy_Jacobs@Primediamags.com.
March 2006 -- Ideas for a bass fishing destination piece in North Florida or the Panhandle and another from the area south of Orlando. Also ideas for a turkey hunting destination piece from public land anywhere in the state.
April 2006 -- Queries and photos on peacock bass fishing in Ft. Lauderdale to Miami area.
Sportfishing,
Sport Fishing, The Magazine of Saltwater Fishing, Doug Olander, Editor-in-Chief, 460 N Orlando Ave - #200, Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone 407-571-4576 Fax 571-4577. Email - doug.olander@worldpub.net.
Seatrout--must be (a) big fish and (b) in a winter setting (i.e. cold day, anglers in coats/jackets) -- contact andy.hahn@worldpub.net; grouper--must be in obviously shallow water (as off Florida’s gulf coast); tarpon being tagged or c/u of tarpon with tags -- contact chris.woodward@worldpub.net; large hogfish (hog “snapper”) -- contact doug.olander@worldpub.net.
Women In The Outdoors
Women In The Outdoors, National Wild Turkey Federation, 770 Augusta Road, Edgefield, SC 29824 Phone: 803-637-3106 Fax: 803-637-0034 Web site: www.nwtf.org.
Our photo needs for the Fall 2005 issue of Women In The Outdoors magazine (deadline for submissions is July 25, 2005) are pictures illustrating women:
Fly-fishing
Hiking (in British Columbia)
Hunting elk
We are also looking for great close-up shots of:
Elk
Grouse
Mule deer
Old, dead trees (snags) in a yard setting
And scenic images of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Please send no more than FIVE SLIDES of any one species or subject.
Photos must show women practicing safety and ethics. If possible, each photo should have a written caption with a description of the shot and the names of the people shown. Please send the original (not duplicates) transparencies; 35mm slides are preferred. Contact the editor before sending digital images. The expected return date for photos selected for consideration is usually 3 to 4 months from the time we receive the submission. For use of slides, we can pay $75 for 1/3 page or less, $100 for 1/2 page, $125 for full page and $175 for a 2-page spread. The deadline for photo submissions for the Fall 2005 issue is July 25, 2005. Please include all stipulations in using your images when sending your submissions.
If you are interested in submitting photos, please send them to: Karen Lee, Editor, Women In The Outdoors magazine, National Wild Turkey Federation, P.O. Box 530, 770 Augusta Rd., Edgefield, SC 29824. Phone: 803- 637-3106 Email: klee@nwtf.net
NEW PUBLICATION
Contact: David Raterman
Phone: 954-683-5336
Email: draterman@SoFlaAdventures.com
South Florida Adventures Magazine
4-Color Glossy Gives Practical Advice and Entertaining Features
Fort Lauderdale – South Florida Adventures magazine is debuting. The four-color magazine will reach a largely ignored market in the region, which is home to many of the United States’ most challenging and interesting outdoor activities. Virtually all other local publications are fashion/lifestyle, real estate or yacht-oriented.
Readers are drawn to South Florida Adventures’ practical columns, such as Paddling, Biking, Diving, Tech Stuff, Books, The Meds and Celebrities (two-time Indy 500 winner/Coral Gables resident Helio Castroneves), as well as the entertaining feature stories. Features in the first issue are titled Shark Fishing Off Miami Beach, Two Generations of Seminole Indian Athletes, 7 Great Cruise Ship Adventures and Where You Can Find the Miniature, Endangered Key Deer.
“Locals, not just tourists, have a real need for the best places to kayak, bike, dive, hike, wind surf, sky dive and do other activities,” said editor and publisher David Raterman. “And we’re balancing that with features dealing with the region’s notoriously colorful characters and exotic settings.”
Prior to starting South Florida Adventures, Raterman revised National Geographic’s travel book on Miami and the Keys (released in June, 2005) and wrote about South Florida for National Geographic Adventure magazine. He also wrote a Miami MapGuide for Knopf/Random House (April, 2005) and for two years edited programs and media guides for the Florida Marlins. He has written for several national and local publications and in 2000 served as director of public relations for OnLoan.com, whose primary investor was Huizenga Holdings. As a student at Ohio University’s Scripps School of
Journalism he majored in advertising and interned with Young & Rubicam and the U.S. Olympic Committee. After graduating in 1992 his adventures included whitewater rafting in West Virginia, Colorado, Costa Rica and Russia, working in emergency relief in three war zones, and skydiving with Russian special forces. In South Florida he kayaks, bikes, jogs, hikes and falls down every time he tries to windsurf.
“I’m really pumped up for a magazine like this--we’ve waited a long time,” said Scott Leon, a certified scuba diver who lives in Miami and is a principal at Equity Lending in Fort Lauderdale. “With the multitude of things to do, this offers readers unique insight into the area’s hidden adventures.”
South Florida Adventures magazine is available free at dive shops, outfitters, bike retailers and gyms in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, and at the Seminoles’ Big Cypress Reservation in the Everglades. It is also distributed in the Florida Marlins’ corporate suites for home games. Subscriptions are available for $17.
Contributors include a mystery novelist for Putnam, a team physician for the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins, an art director who has designed for Ocean Drive and other magazines and a photographer who has shot for National Geographic Traveler and Outside magazines.
For more information, including where to pick up a copy, how to subscribe and how to advertise, visit www.SouthFloridaAdventures.com.
OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS
Montana Magazine
Montana Magazine, P.O. Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604. Phone: 406-443-2842. Fax: 406-443-5480. Email: editor@montanamagazine.com. Website: www.montanamagazine.com. Beverly Magley, Editor. 100% freelance. "Our hallmark is stunning, full-color photography that speaks to the grandeur and personality of Montana. We provide our readers a broad editorial mix that includes a geographic spread throughout the state. We focus on history, natural history, outdoor recreation, communities and people, contemporary issues of statewide interest, armchair traveler places and events, ecology and conservation, unique businesses, and sustainable economy. We want our resident readers to feel ownership in the magazine and our non-resident readers to know they are getting the insiders view of Montana." Welcomes new writers. Circ. 40K. Bimonthly. Pays on publication. Publishes ms 1 year after acceptance. Buys one-time rights. Accepts reprints under specific conditions. Responds 4 months. Sample $5. Subscription $23; $28 outside the US. Guidelines by mail with SASE and online at: http://www.montanamagazine.com/submit/submitguides.html.
CURRENT NEEDS: "Montana recreation, natural history, Montana-based humor, wildlife, real-life adventure, nostalgia, geography, history, byways and infrequently-explored countryside, and environment--in short, anything that will inform and entertain our readers." Pays $0.15/word for 800-2500 words. See guidelines for specific query requirements. PHOTOS/ART: Accepts original transparencies only. Pays $50-$250.
HINTS: "Please do not call and query. Write or email."
JOBS
From Susan Young
Florida Trail Association, GIS Analyst
Florida Trail Association, Tallahassee, Florida
Starting Salary Range: $32,000 to $38,000 Annually
The Florida Trail Association is seeking a self-motivated, goal-oriented individual for the position of GIS Analyst for mapping and GIS data management. This is a professional, full time, salaried, exempt position to begin on or about September 1, 2005. Deadline
for resume submittal is July 25, 2005.
The Florida Trail Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, is responsible for building, maintaining and administering the Florida National Scenic Trail. A small professional staff works with and helps coordinate the efforts of over 5,000 volunteers. The position of GIS Analyst is located in our allahassee Florida office.
Job Description:
The primary role of FTA GIS Analyst is manipulating and managing geospatial data to support land acquisition, trail administration and member outreach functions of the
organization. As a member of the trail team you will be relied upon to work independently, not only to maintain the data repository but also share data with agency partners and provide cartographic services to staff and a select group of volunteers. Field GPS work in support of land acquisition and trail inventory is also required as well as occasional staff training in GIS basics.
Requirements:
Individuals must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience with ESRI ArcGIS and Microsoft Office software. Individuals must also demonstrate excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, and be able to prioritize tasks based on effort and deadlines. This position has no supervisory responsibilities. The successful candidate will have:
·Knowledge of digital cartographic principles and experience producing high quality cartographic output ·Knowledge of coordinate systems and use in GIS, including working with multiple projections
·Experience handling vector and raster images within GIS and graphic applications
·Experience maintaining and manipulating geodatabases, coverages and shape files
·Experience with ArcGIS 8.3/9.1
·Experience with MS Windows operating system and networks
·Ability to work fluently within MS Office software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
·Experience with Access database design and reporting, especially integration into ArcGIS
·Knowledge of editing and creating topology ·Experience with maintenance of data accuracy and standards ·Knowledge of large format printers (plotters and/or inkjet) ·Capability of working independently and as part of a team
·Ability to handle multiple assignments and manage time wisely to meet deadlines ·Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with staff and volunteers
·A valid driver’s license and good driving record
·U.S. Citizen Desirable:
·Knowledge of hiking and trails is highly desirable
·Experience with scripting, particularly VB Script
·Experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
·Experience with ArcPad and GPS techniques ·Familiarity with ArcIMS, Survey Analyst, CAD and surveying techniques
Applications are being accepted via letter or e-mail. Please include contact information,
relevant work experience, three work-related references and copies of GIS products you have created to: Florida Trail Association, 5415 SW 13 Street, Gainesville, FL
32608 or e-mail to: fta@florida-trail.org.
Kent L. Wimmer, AICP, Florida National Scenic Trail Liaison, Florida Trail Association, Inc., Email: kwimmer@fs.fed.us Phone: (850) 523-8576 (w)
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 12-month position
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas has an immediate opening for a 12-month position based in Key West, Florida. The position will work other governmental agencies (including the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS)), educational groups, and community organizations to expand and promote the Seagrass Outreach Partnership (SOP), and implement recommendations found within Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s seagrass management program.
Duties will include: Approximately 50% education and outreach working to expand and promote the SOP, including the production of public service announcements, the distribution of materials, and coordination of partners for participation at state-wide events; approximately 25% working with the Lower Region Manager for the FKNMS to improve marking of shallow seagrass areas in conjunction with local agency representatives and in conjunction with the FKNMS’s management plan and the statewide seagrass management program’s recommendations; approximately 25% conducting marine debris surveys and scheduling removal by the Monroe County Division of Marine Resources in seagrass beds in the lower keys. Quarterly progress reports are required, and must be submitted to Tallahassee by set deadlines.
The successful applicant will possess the following skills: education/outreach experience specific to partnership development, event coordination and PSA production; writing and public speaking, meeting facilitation with local agencies; field experience and data collection; SCUBA certification; small boat experience; GIS skills. This position will report directly to the Lower Region Manager of the FKNMS and will also take direction from the Sanctuary Education Coordinator.
Pay will be commensurate with experience. Please send a resume’ with qualifications and experience to Lower Region Manager Anne McCarthy at Anne.McCarthy@noaa.gov.
Closing date for submission will be July 29, 2005 at 5:00 PM.
Mary Tagliareni, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, P.O. Box 1083 / 95230 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 305-852-7717 ext. 30 FAX: 305-853-0877 Email: Mary.Tagliareni@noaa.gov
Website: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/
Bradenton Herald, Looking for a Live Wire (Editor)
Looking to make your mark at an award-winning paper in one of Florida's most appealing markets? The Bradenton Herald is seeking a news hound with the right blend of talent, energy and experience to monitor the wires and provide an appealing mix of on-target stories for our daily report. That means selecting the best national and international news -- always digging for a local angle or breakout -- and presenting it in appealing fashion. Sound judgment, genuine interest in the news of the day, an ability to juggle and blend multiple reports into a single cohesive story, and a bit of design experience would make you a strong candidate for this position on our 10-person news desk. The Herald is a 50,000-circulation Knight Ridder paper located just minutes from the inviting beaches of Anna Maria Island. Send resume, cover letter and clips to Managing Editor Jim Smith, Bradenton Herald, 102 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton, FL, 34205 or email to: jesmith@heraldtoday.com. . Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 17, 2005. Job ID: 532807. Website: http://heraldtoday.com.
Florida Keys and Key West Keynoter, Reporter/Writer
The Key West Keynoter, a 15,000-circulation twice-weekly Knight Ridder newspaper, has an immediate opening for a reporter to cover the city of Key West. This position in a fast-paced work environment offers the chance to explore complex topics as well as capture lifestyle stories unique to the Southernmost City in the U.S. Job duties run the gamut, from covering city government and homeland security to scholastic sports, tourism, politics. The successful candidate must have a love of community journalism; be able to explain complicated issues in an easily understandable way; thrive on multiple tasks while having fun; know the language and AP style; accept the changing face of the news business; and recognize that reporters are the face of the newspaper in the community. This is not a job for someone looking to merely kick back in Paradise – though we offer many opportunities for that after-hours; we are looking for a committed news-hound who enjoys a competitive media marketplace. Salary is competitive, and benefits are excellent, in an area where the cost of living is high but the tradeoff is a community surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Outdoor activities here are year-round and famous for world-class diving, sportfishing and backcountry kayaking. To see what the Keynoter's all about, go to www.keynoter.com. Send a cover letter, resume and samples of work to Editor Larry Kahn at lkahn@keynoter.com. Those who would have us search the Web for their materials will not be considered. . Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 17, 2005. Job ID: 532520. Website: www.keynoter.com.
Hometown News LC, Managing Editors
Managing editors -- Journalism degree required. Must have from two to five years of experience in the newspaper industry in an editing position. The key ingredient we're looking for is passion for the job. The person in this position will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of producing three weekly community newspapers. Duties include supervising a staff of eight; directing news coverage, editing all copy, designing and dummying pages and paginating. We are a 3-year-old company based in Fort Pierce, Fla., with satellite offices in Jupiter, Vero Beach and Melbourne, currently publishing 15 weekly community newspapers, with a combined audited circulation of 466,000 and plans for continued aggressive growth. Salary is commensurate with experience; benefits include health, dental, life insurance and 401K. Please fax a resume, clips and design samples to: (772) 465-5301, attention: Tammy Raits, vice president/managing editor, Hometown News. Please do not apply if you have not had previous newspaper editing experience. Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 19, 2005. Job ID: 433040. Website: http://hometownnewsol.com.
Ocala Star-Banner, Copy Editor/Page Designer
The Star-Banner, a 55,000 circulation daily newspaper, seeks a talented copy editor and page designer to fill out a strong news copy desk. Applicants should, of course, be competent story editors, but we are also looking for a talented visual journalist who understands the importance of strong news presentation. A minimum four-year college degree is required and at least two years of experience designing news pages is strongly preferred. The Star-Banner is a New York Times Company newspaper situated in the rolling hills of Central Florida's horse country, about an hour north of Orlando. The pay is competitive and the benefits are unmatched in the industry. Please express interest to News and Design Editor Sharon Quinn at the Star- Banner, 2121 SW 19th Avenue Road, Ocala, FL 34474, or e-mail her at sharon.quinn@starbanner.com. Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 19, 2005. Job ID: 494607. Website: http://ocala.com.
Palm Beach Newspapers Inc., Copy Editor/Page Designer
Palm Beach Daily News, a.k.a. “The Shiny Sheet (Palm Beach, Florida's number one community newspaper since 1897), seeks a Copy Editor. This person will perform all duties related to editing stories, planning and organizing assigned sections, writing headlines and other display type, laying out pages on DTI pagination system, proofing pages before release to production, releasing pages from composing to engraving, and sending nightly headlines to the PalmBeachDailyNews.com Web site. All work is performed according to Palm Beach Daily News and AP style standards for editing and design. Hours: 40 hours/week, with varied days off; some holidays The qualified candidate should have: * Bachelor’s degree * One year experience as a copy editor on a daily or weekly newspaper, or a college degree coupled with an internship on a newspaper copy desk * Valid drivers license * Preference given to candidates with pagination experience. Please send resume with cover letter and clips to: lpinto@pbpost.com or fax to 561-820-4138. Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 23, 2005. Job ID: 534827. Website: http://pbdailynews.com.
The Palm Beach Post, Photo Archivist
The Palm Beach Post has an opening for a full-time Photo Archivist, bilingual English/Spanish given preference. The position is responsible for the development and maintenance of the photo collections and archiving of The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, and the Palm Beach Daily News. A college degree is required and previous news library/photo handling experience is highly desirable. Macintosh and PC experience is preferable and accurate typing is a must. The qualified candidate will have excellent problem solving, time management, and communication skills, and have the ability to set priorities and work well as a team member. Fluency in written Spanish is a plus. Respond to Human Resources Dept., 2751 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405; or Fax: (561) 820-4192. . Full-time. Salary negotiable. Ad expires August 17, 2005. Job ID: 532736. Website: http://palmbeachpost.com.
The Villages Daily Sun, Staff Photographer
Does the thought of following President Bush around Central Florida pique your interest? Does the thrill of shooting stock cars racing around Daytona International Speedway at nearly 200 mph sound intriguing? How about covering three or four PGA tour events a year? Or, a couple college football bowl games and a post-season all-star classic? Or, are you the type of photojournalist who’d like to spend the afternoon working on a full-page, full-color photo essay in our own back yard. If you’re interested in any of the above assignments, then you’re the type of person we’re looking for to join our photo staff at The Villages Daily Sun, a photo-friendly, fast-growing, award-winning 26,000-circulation daily in Central Florida. Successful applicants should have diverse photographic skills and interests. They should also be able to creatively approach a wide variety of assignments — and we do mean wide. The right candidate - for our photo-friendly paper (we average about 31 local shots a day) - should also have a working knowledge of Photoshop, digital cameras, lighting and remote transmission of images. If you join our team, you will be shooting it all — sports, general news, spot news, features, lifestyles, food shots, photo pages and even check passings. Applicants must have a strong work ethic and a positive attitude. We offer competitive salary and benefits. If you’re interested, send a cover letter, resume, references and your best photos to: Bill Mitchell, Photo Editor, The Villages Daily Sun, 1153 Main Street, The Villages, FL 32159. . Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 15, 2005. Job ID: 383668.
The Villages Daily Sun, Seeking Top-notch Graphic Artist
Do your locator maps pop? Do your charts and info graphics jump right off the page? And do your illustrations always complement and strengthen accompanying news stories? If so, we want to talk to you - soon. The Villages Daily Sun - a fast growing daily in sunny Central Florida - is looking to expand its graphics department. The newspaper was rated as the country’s top growing newspaper that prints in English, according to recent figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The Villages Daily Sun consistently obtains the accolades of its peers, having won a total of 37 statewide awards this year in four separate contests. Successful candidates will be able to meet deadlines, write headlines and cutlines and have a firm grasp of AP style. She or he will also be fully knowledgeable of Quark, Photoshop, Illustrator and Freehand on a Mac platform. Experience toning color photos is also a plus. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and access to a highly regarded school system. If you're the artist we're looking for - send a cover letter, resume, references and 5 work samples (tearsheets or PDFs) to: Matt Fry, managing editor, The Villages Daily Sun, 1100 Main Street, The Villages FL, 32159 or via e-mail to matthew.fry@thevillagesmedia.com. . Full-time. Salary not specified. Ad expires August 4, 2005. Job ID: 394472.
EVENTS
From Susan Young:
1st Annual Central Florida Outdoor Sportsmen's Show
THE BIG EVENT For The Outdoor Enthusiast, March 24,25 & 26,2006
Volusia County Fair & Expo Center, 3150 E. New York Ave. (Rt. 44) Deland, FL
Featuring: Fishing Boating Recreational Vehicles Outfitters Publications Hunting White Water Rafting ATVs Canoeing Archery Wildlife Art Adventure Travel Vacations Tourism Kayaking Personal Water Craft Fishing Charters Knives Clubs Clothing Camping Motorcycles Guns Dogs Taxidermy Paintball Trucks & Accessories Scuba Diving And Much, Much More!
Plan Now to Exhibit ... Call Fax or Write Jack Kerr, PO Box 291517, Port Orange, FL 32129- 1517 Phone: 386-788-8988 Fax 386-788-8277 Website: www.gsoss.com/florida
CORPORATE CORNER
Punta Gorda 'Scores' a Double Eagle with Golf Digest
Port Charlotte – Three under par gives Punta Gorda a position of top prominence as a result of Golf Digest “Best in America” August article ranking this Metropolitan Statistical Area as 3rd for quality of life and golf.
Based on a golf industry survey of sites throughout the U.S., Punta Gorda’s top billing came as no surprise to Becky Bovell, tourism director of Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau. “I am delighted by the recognition of our area by the premier golfing publication in America. It is always a public relations' coup to have our information substantiated by such prestigious and informed sources. Charlotte Harbor has developed a reputation for sport vacations and golf is very much a part of this mix. Golf Digest's rating is the industry imprimatur that will hopefully encourage additional interest in our destination."
The survey criteria used for “Metropolitan Statistical Areas” – population in excess of 50,000 included access to golf (45%), weather (25%), value of golf (15%) and quality of golf (15%). Charlotte area has 14 scenic golf courses ranging from executive to four star
Golf Digest has a circulation of 1,957,800 and is considered the premier consumer publication among golfers.
Travel Industry Association of America identifies the key motivator for travel in the U.S. is leisure and one of the top activities for domestic travelers are outdoor activities.
Sean Doherty, sports marketing manager, Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau said, “Charlotte County is on even-par with well-known PGA courses because of the area’s expansive recreational offerings. Travelers are seeking vacations destinations without crowded tee-off schedules and long wait times at the greens.”
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast. For more information about other area events, activities including golf offerings and attractions, contact the Charlotte County Visitor’s Bureau, 18501 Murdock Circle, Suite 502, Port Charlotte; (941) 743-1900 or visit the Web site at www.pureflorida.com.
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