Something for the Weekend

Each week we are going to write about what we plan to do at the weekend and then post a review and some photos the following week. This will highlight a lot of the great things there are to do locally and maybe inspire you to try something or visit somewhere we review. We feel there is nothing like a bit of local knowledge to help visitors find things to do that they will enjoy. Should you have any recommendations then please feel free to leave a comment. 

This Saturday I will be racing Mojo, my friend Jim’s J80, which we will be sailing out of Lymington Yacht Club, I’m not entirely sure where on the Solent we will race as the course is radioed to us when we are on the boat, headed towards the starting platform. Needless to say it won’t be as dramatic as the recent “round the island” race but fun will be had. There are various opportunities for visitors to get out on the water near all of our parks, leave a comment and I’ll try and help find a solution to your requirements.

On Sunday morning I’m going to run in the Puddletown a 20k road running race held in West Dorset, although it was a tough call deciding where to run this weekend as there are quite a few other opportunities including the Brockenhurst Park Run and the Shorefield running club. Sunday is Father’s Day and an opportunity for my siblings and I to let Dad take us all out for lunch! This year he is taking us all to Hotel Terra Vina where we will enjoy some fantastic seasonal produce and perhaps even try some of the locally foraged additions to the menu. BL

If you haven’t quite found your sea legs yet and hoisting the mainsail or running through West Dorset leaves you, like me, a little out of breath just thinking about it, how about spoiling a long walk?

Hampshire and Dorset are home to some of the South Coasts finest golf courses and Saturday sees me and the band of merry Shorefield Golf Society members, head down the M27 to Botley. Made up of holiday home owners, leisure members and the odd member of staff, the society meets once a month for a great days golf, in great company, with lots of laughs thrown in.

All the courses we visit are always friendly and welcoming and suitable for all standards of player. Botley Park Golf Club, part of the Macdonald Hotel group, gently curves its way through the Hampshire countryside offering stunning views and suitable for both pros (I wish) and beginners (that’s more like it) amongst us. Around 50 minutes away you can play the Championship course for only £22.50 after 2pm as part of their twilight offer, which presents fantastic value.

  

So having put in a written request a few months ago to my partner for a day out with the boys, stating, of course, that it is all work related, ‘networking’ with our customers, (I am pretty sure she’s cottoning on to that one), I have sorted out all the prizes, start lists, nearest the pin markers and adjusted all the handicaps, we are all set for the Sea Breeze Golfing plate. Let’s hope for no heavy rain or electrical storms like at Merion.

Fingers crossed that I start driving the ball down the middle; I’ve heard you meet a better class of person there! If any of us have any energy left, we will be popping into the holiday home owners monthly themed evening at Shorefield Country Park, for a Scottish night. I am sure my friend ‘Brave heart’ will feel right at home and sinking a few ‘wee drams’, unlike his putts. I wonder if they will be serving fried chicken?

So whether you’re a keen golfer or just taken up this frustrating game the area around our parks is haven for you to lose the odd ball or two, or three…SB

If a day in the big blue yonder or chasing golf balls across a field hasn’t tired you out I'll be enjoying a fabulous Chocca Rocks Queen in house cabaret at Shorefield Country Park. Emilla and Ellen will be entertaining us with some songs and also dragging in some of the audience to help them out. After all that a meal is in order so I’ll be sampling some of the delights of the Cheers Bar menu.

On Sunday I’ll be heading out to the beautiful Brownsea Island where hopefully we get to meet some of Cyril and Cybil’s red squirrel pals as well as a wide variety of wildlife. Located just a short ferry ride from Poole Quay, Brownsea Island, offers a number of thriving natural habitats including woodland, heathland and a lagoon. Open every day, Brownsea Island is the ideal place to visit any time of the year whether you’re a local or a visitor to the area.

We are very lucky to have our parks located in such beautiful surroundings as well having places like Brownsea Island nearby. Here at Shorefield Holidays we are passionate about nature and this is evident from our David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation which we are very proud of. WI