This year I am attending for the very first time the vastly popular PGA merchandise show in sunny Florida. I must say that of all the many trade shows I have attended over the years, that this one takes the cake!

Well, let’s just start with the sheer size of the thing…..massive. It is not the kind of event you just dip in and out of like window shopping at the local mall. You become immersed in a seemingly endless sea of all the newest, cutting edge equipment and clothing lines that the global golf market has to offer. Everything from belts to balls. I was just amazed at the selection. I probably spent an hour of day one just talking to different vendors about the different options available in synthetic turf. There is nothing you can’t find here, and in abundance.

It is also a great place to meet a celebrities. Naturally there were golf stars like Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love and Butch Harmon. I saw other sports stars such as Ken Griffy Jr. and Jonny Damon. Not to mention the one and only George Thoughrogood playing live music. It has a little bit of that red carpet feeling for sure.

An interesting theme that seems to be growing in the golf industry is one of technology. Upon my arrival to the media room, I was given a badge for access not unlike most any other seminar or conference. The difference in this tag was the QR bar code that was printed on each one of them. Using my smart phone, I was able to scan the QR code which led me straight to the download page for the PGA 2012 app. This app allowed me to see every vender’s location on the showroom floor. This made for ease of travel when going by the multitudes of guests and vendors alike. I can also get the email addresses, phone numbers, and any special promotions each company has to offer all from my phone. Kudos to the PGA for their forward thinking.

The main reason for my visit here is to see the new trends in the golf industry. This is the place to get new ideas and exchange dialogue with fellow industry comrades. I ran into many local golf professionals of which I have worked with over the years. The importance of this event is reflected by the thousands of pros who attend this event annually. The PGA Show sets it’s guests up for a successful 2012. I am glad that I have attended this invaluable resource and look forward to day #2 of discovering all the innovations this industry has to offer.

PGA show

During these cold winter days on the mountain, I spend my time planning next years menus, wine list, and special events.  It is shaping up to be a busy year in 2012.  We have already confirmed our involvement with the Bud Break Wine Festival for this spring.  I am proud to say that we have been there from the inception of this event.  The coq au vin was a big hit last year.  I am cooking up something different for this year’s event.  Rest assured that it will be laced with local wine!

We have also made plans to have a Titanic dinner and play to commemorate the 100th anniversary of her famous crash.  The food will be replications of the menu items that were served on the ship back in the day.

Wine Wednesday and Seafood Feast every other Friday will continue this summer as well.  That is always a crowd-pleaser.

Looking towards the fall, we will have our 2nd annual Harvestfest!  This was my favorite event of the year.  I see this growing leaps and bounds over the next several years.  It will be earlier in the season so that we can host even more farmers and vendors.

Of course, this is the 40th anniversary of Olde Mill g0lf course, so Bo will have all kinds of great things associated with this benchmark year.

This is just a taste of what is to come in 2012.  I will keep you updated over the next few weeks of more fun at Olde Mill!

Chef Ed

I just wanted to thank everyone involved in out very first Harvestfest at Olde Mill.  It was a really good time.  There was so much to do and that is because of all the local support we received.  Everything from applebutter being made on site to local farmers with delicious produce.  The kids loved the clown and all the fun events like rubber ducky races and volleyball.  The sack races were classic, too.  I saw many great creations in the pumpkin painting area.  The music was absolutely perfect and we had a professional storyteller that had me hooked.  I can’t wait to see what next Harvestfest will bring.  Let’s make this the biggest event of the season next year!

We have been blessed to have two straight weeks of gorgeous weather this autumn.  Radiant sunshine coupled with cool dry air has been as close to perfect weather as you can experience.  The tennis courts are full of exhausted players.  I’m told it’s too pretty outside to leave the courts so are guests are digging deep in their reserve tanks to play yet another set!  Of course, the golf course is getting lots of play.  It couldn’t look better.  Perfect playing conditions have led to some pretty low scores.  That always makes for a happy golfer.

This weather is going to go for yet another week which will lead us right into the event of the season, Harvestfest.  We have so much to see and do on Saturday.  Come our and enjoy homemade applebutter and icecream, arts and crafts, hay rides, live music, and so much more!  This is going to be our signature event in years to come.  Granted, we have a thousand of our closest friends and neighbors spend the day with us every July 4th weekend.  But I really believe Harvestfest will exceed the Independence Day Celebration in time.  Let’s make that happen by bringing a friend on October 15th from 10 to 6.  With all the local support, this will surely be a huge hit.

Don’t forget, Wine Wednesday is still going strong every week.  We only have a few more, however.  October is the final month of our special red wine and white wine pairing menus.  Every Wednesday in October is another opportunity to enjoy new creations from our chefs paired with new wines.  It is a great way to taste wines you may have never had before.  Plus, at $28, it is quite simply a steal.  I look forward to seeing you at one of these great events this week!

Chef Ed

Please join us at Olde Mill on Saturday, October 15th from 10-6 for this year’s Harvestfest! View our invitation below for more information. If you have any questions, please call us at 800.753.5005.

We have another great line up this week for Wine Wednesday.  This will be the last week of heirloom tomatoes this season so JC is making a tomato terrine to showcase their natural sweetness.  We are pairing it with the Blushing Dog rose from Chateau Morrisette.  It is a great start to a great meal.  Come out and enjoy either of our delicious menus (or both) tonight at Olde Mill Resort.

This Friday we will have our super popular Italian Night Specials in addition to both our Maples Restaurant menu and our Tavern at Olde Mill menu.  I will offer some classic dishes like shrimp scampi, lamb osso bucco, and lasagna just to name a few.  We will also be grooving to the the sounds of musician Scott Perry.  He is a house favorite.  Great bluesy sounds will keep everyone toe tapping.  Reservations are filling up quickly, so get yours in today.

I am also pleased to announce the date for our 1st annual Harvest Fest.  On October 15th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. we will have local vendors, live music, hourly events for children, wine tastings, cook out food, and more!  This is going to be a signature event for us here at Olde Mill Resort for years to come.  We hope that you will make plans to share in the fun and experience the Blue Ridge mountain lifestyle that we come  to know and love.

Chef Ed

Thanks to all those who made the Grand Opening of the Overlook Condominiums at Olde Mill such a success on September 10th. On a picturesque autumn day, visitors toured the model residence located on the 18th green and fairway, enjoyed live music, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres throughout the day, while also discovering the breadth of our community, which includes townhomes, cottages and newly completed pavilion and fire pit on our scenic walking trail. For those who couldn’t make it, you can still schedule a tour before the end of October, which is also the deadline for taking advantage of our Grand Opening incentives, which include:

Pre-development Pricing

It’s the best of both worlds: a fully completed residence, ready to move in at pre-development pricing. After October 31, 2011, all residences will be taken off the market and re-priced for a spring launch.

Free Golf Membership Dues for 2012

The Olde Mill Golf Course has been a sense of pride for this area for the past 40 years. And we’re proud to offer our premiere homeowners the opportunity to enjoy their new home course for the first year with our compliments.

Financing from Olde Mill

One of the benefits of being a financially-sound and debt-free community is that we’re able to offer qualified borrowers inviting financing terms without relying on outside institutions.

To schedule a tour or learn more about ownership opportunities, please contact Bo Goins, Director of Sales at 1.800.753.5005 or Bo@OldeMill.net.

Absolutely perfect mountain weather here at Olde Mill!  We have really been spoiled here in Laurel Fork.  Our recent open house celebration for the Overlook Condos was a huge hit.  The cool dry air paired with radiant sunshine made for a great event.  Thanks to all the wineries, musicians, craftsmen, and Olde Mill staff that made it all possible.  Our guests were treated to a day that really exemplified the Blue Ridge Mountain lifestyle.  We will be doing more events like this in the very near future.

As our summer season winds down, make sure you make it to our Seafood Feast on every other Friday night.  The selections are many and the music is toe-tapping good.  Make your plans before this event passes you by!

Our Wine Wednesday dinner special is still the talk of the town.  We are enjoying the great feedback we get on each week’s menu.  It looks like people have basically planned their weeks around Wine Wednesday.  With great wines like Conundrum by Caymus, Heron, our own Blue Ridge blend, and many others, it is no wonder why this is the most talked about weekly event in the area.  Come visit us this week for great food and wine pairings and brag to your friends about how great it is at Olde Mill.

Open House for Overlook Condos at Olde Mill Resort

Sample of our Wine Wednesday red wine pairing menu

One of our new menu items - Grilled Juusto cheese with tomato caper relish

See You Soon

Chef Ed

After a long, hot summer, a cooler wind is beginning to blow. The kids are heading back to school. And we’ve added the final touches to the Overlook Condominiums at Olde Mill. These completed Mountain Craftsman-style residences mark the official transition of Olde Mill from resort to resort-style community.

We invite you to join us at Olde Mill on Saturday, September 10th for a family-friendly celebration as we introduce these finely-crafted residences along with new and upgraded community amenities. Please see attached invitation for details. Come enjoy the Olde Mill lifestyle for an afternoon and see if it doesn’t entice you to stay a bit longer.

What a fun and exciting summer we had this year.  We had so many new faces at Olde Mill Resort.  It was a safe haven from the stifling heat wave that consumed most of the country.  We are now enjoying even better weather with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.  But we have more than just great weather to intice your visit.

September 10th we will have a huge open house to showcase our new condo development.  While many areas are struggling, here at Olde Mill Resort, well, we are thriving!  The Overlook condos are absolutely top quality craftmanship.  The stone and wood work are breathtaking.  We are so proud of this beauty that we will be hosting an all day event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to showcase the new addition to our mountain community.  This will include live music, wine tastings, food, hay rides for the kids, and much, much more.  Please RSVP if you would like to join us for all the festivities.

Our Wine Wednesdays continue to be a big success.  Every Wednesday is a completely different selection of 3 red wine pairings and 3 white wine pairings.  Sous chef J.C. and I will continue to create exciting new dishes to pair with wines from all over the planet to keep your interests peaked.  Please join the fun every Wednesday any time between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m.

Italian Night Friday and Seafood Feast Friday will continue to alternate every other Friday into October.  They won’t be here forever so take advantage of these great values soon before it’s too late!

Don’t forget to stop in for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays.  We open at noon and will have all your favorite sports on in the Tavern at Olde Mill.  Cold beverages will be poured to your liking.

See You Soon!

Chef Ed

http://edbadgett.blogspot.com/

http://www.oldemill.net/

Mountain Living at it's finest