City Golf League

Looking to do some local golf competition? We found this site and thought it was a pretty fun idea. City Golf League is a web site were you can sign up and compete against other golfers in your area. It looks like the only city in the Northwest so far is Portland. But if you enjoy competing, this site is for you!

Golf Spin-off's

You can tell when something is great by how often it is copied or mimicked. Golf is that sport. From Frolf to a ridiculous amount of desk paraphernalia, golf has been copied almost any way you can think of.

Well drinking on the course has always been common place but what about a game of drinking golf? You have played quarters and thumper before so why not a good game of drinking golf?

If drinking isn't a staple in your life and you need to add a touch of excitement, mix in the game you already love and we have .......... Drinking Golf. (if you are out of college and you try this...God Bless)

Golf in Florence

Italy, not Oregon. Bernhard Langer and Rich Beem were among the golfers who participated at the Ponte Vecchio International Approach Championship in December. This event matched players in a contest of approach shots from the famous Ponte Vecchio, the Florence bridge known as the birthplace of bankruptcy. This event, with a minuscule 1st-place prize of $25,000, was also played in freezing temperatures. Does that sound like fun? Some people just can't pass up the chance to hit golf balls of a six-century-old landmark.

Was it an old Tiger commercial where he was playing the world as his golf course? What would be some good landmarks that would work with golf? The Great Wall for a fairway? Alcatraz for an island green? Playing putt-putt at Stonehenge?

Who's Ready for NYE?

For those of you without plans yet for Monday night, here's one random option in each of three non-random cities:

Seattle - Jet City Improv's 5th Annual New Year's Eve Spectacular at the Historical University Theater. Laughing-in the New Year is always a respectable way to go.

Portland - Fir Ball 2008 at Doug Fir. Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven duel for New Year's Eve SUPREMECY! Or something like that. Doors at 8, show at 9. Sold out, but limited amount of tickets at the door.

Boise - When in doubt, go with live music. The Big Easy has Micky & the Motorcars for NYE. Or you could take in Wu-Tang there tonight.

Everyone have a safe New Year's!

Liquor Beer and Wine the flashing sign I see

The Northwest has always been a region with advance tastes for premium products. Oregon and Washington are quickly growing as a premium wine region soon to rival locations such as Napa or Burgundy. Portland has more breweries than any city in the world and not by "per capita", just more breweries. While premium and craft beer are seeing good growth through out the country to an almost 3% share, The Northwest has always been a place for great beer where there is close to a 30% share. That's a lot of good beer.

The new trend, and the Northwest is leading the way, Small Batch Distillers. Through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, small distillers are popping up and creating small artisan American products. In Idaho, The Bardenay is billed as the the country's first distillery pub and Rogue has one in downtown Portland. Move from the pub and you have small distillers very passionate about what they are doing. Distillers like Clear Creek in Portland use traditional European techniques to produce wonderful brandies and House of Spirits who will soon be releasing a small batch whiskey.

We at Top Left urge you to try some of these small batch local products and ask your favorite bartender or your local store to start offering these selections. The Northwest led the way for the country in Beer and Wine, now let's do it in Spirits.

Hit up the survey!!

Bubba Watson Breaking the (Puget) Sound Barrier

As mentioned in our upcoming Chambers Bay review, the BMW Northwest Skin's Game was held at Chambers Bay in University Place, WA this past October. Here's a video of Ryan Moore and Bubba Watson teeing off during the two-day event. Bubba's drive is right at the end of the video.

Christmas-time Non-Christmas Movie Recommendation

I'm sure over the weekend and the rest of the holiday season, everyone will be watching their favorite holiday films. At some point, though, you can only take so much. So when you're tired of it all after watching It's a Wonderful Life for the 45th time, I'm here to recommend Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Michelle Monaghan (see above) stars along with Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer in a quirky, fast-talking, funny film that a lot of people missed, but should make the time to see.

And Happy Holidays from Top Left!