Beyond the Green is unique in that you can play a round of golf on their HD golf simulators as well as enjoy a meal. The simulator includes other games such as hitting golf balls through windows or at a ball-retrieving tractor.

Beyond the Green, which opened this past October 28th, has 22 life-like and well-known golf courses available on two HD golf simulators. These simulators are very much like being on an outdoor golf course but also have computer screens can provide data on your swings so you can improve your game.

They are located in downtown Moneta and open seven days a week. Sun-Thurs 11:30am. to 11pm. and Fri-Sat 11:30am to 12 Midnight. Find out more by visiting their website.

And on that note, I find that it is Autumn once again and it seems like just yesterday that we were feeling so thankful the the harsh winter was over…….(see what I mean?).  On the bright side fall is a great time for fishing, which you never get too old for, and which you can enjoy in every season as Stacy Stapels tells us below.

As summer winds down and fall approaches, get ready for some great fishing days ahead. Fish become more active at various lake depths, going on a feeding frenzy as they get ready for winter. Bass fishing in particular can be a lot more rewarding in the fall season.

As the lake temperature cools down, fish metabolisms get revved up, resulting in an increase in feeding activity. Fish instinctively know that winter will be setting in soon, and are getting prepared. Bass in particular will be starting to strike at anything, much to the delight of die-hard bass fishermen, but you will find all fishing will be on the increase.

Just as fish sink lower into deep holes for the summer to escape the warm water, they are now rising up closer to the surface as the water temperature cools. This is typically why summer fishing in the early morning or late evening is best, but now fish will have a tendency to be more active all day long. A favorite fishing spot that may have eluded you all summer will suddenly become a hot bed of activity. And because the fish are rising closer to the surface to feed, this is also a great time to use a shallow or top water lure.

You will also find as the water temperature continues to cool off; fish are spending more time in the warmer shallow water. Look for fish under docks, boats, around seawalls, underwater wood piles, stumps, rocks or anything that will hold in heat. Don’t forget weedy areas as larger fish will also looking around these areas for baitfish. Also keep in mind that if you catch one bass in an area, don’t be too hasty to move on. Bass ‘school up’ in the fall to hunt and where you hook one, chances are there will probably be more.

(Thanks for the great tips to Stacy Stapels at http://www.examiner.com/cottage-living-in-flint/get-ready-for-some-great-fall-fishing)

In general the bugs are fewer in number as the temperatures cool, and of course less heat also makes the whole fishing experience more pleasant for us as well. There is no question that the fall is a great time to fish for various reasons, if for no other reason than getting a panoramic view of the changing leaves reflected in the water and the peaceful, crisp air of the season.

What you might not know unless you are an avid fisherman, is that there are a whole boat-load of other species of fish in the lake that are fun to look at and/or good for bait or eating. Just to name a few there are crappie, sunfish, muskies, white perch, yellow perch, channel catfish, white catfish, flathead catfish and shad. There are also spotted bass, walleye, muskellunge, ring perch, crappie, bluegill, rock bass (redeye) and catfish.

For a map of Smith Mountain Lake so you can see where you are going and where you have been and even be better able to find the best fishing spots, click here. That link takes you to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. On that same site you can find thousands of other fishing and hunting facts to guide you in your favorite sport.

The 18-hole event is a modified four person best-ball with prizes awarded. Lunch will be at 11:30am and the Tee Off at 1:00pm. Other great perks will include free lunch as well as cart and green fees. Refreshments and a grand awards/prize ceremony will cap off the event.

If you and others in your company love to golf you can combine business with pleasure by entering the Corporate Cup. The tournament field is limited to 100 players, so please return your entry form as soon as possible to ensure your spot.

ESPN Bassmaster Elite “Blue Ridge Brawl” Returns to Smith Mountain Lake on April 15 – 18

7th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Business Expo on April 30 The Smith Mountain Lake area has a very dynamic business community. New businesses are starting, existing businesses are changing and expanding, but so many people are unaware of what is available locally. The upcoming SML Business Expo can change that. April 30th from Noon to 6pm, Route 122, Downtown Moneta is the perfect opportunity for all businesses to showcase their products and services. 140 businesses will be represented in three large covered venues as well as outside exhibits.  Volunteers are needed for Thursday(setup) and Friday.  Please contact Jim Shauberger, Event Manager at 540-721-1203 if you are interested in helping out.        

Save $7 on Early Bird tickets AND get a FREE Wine Glass! Get an “Early Bird” start on your Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival weekend, September 25th & 26th with a special “Early Bird Package”. For a limited time, when you buy a ticket to the Wine Festival receive a FREE SML wine glass.  
“Early Bird’ Taster tickets are $15 and designated driver tickets are $10, good either day, helping to make the event affordable for everyone. Prices at the gate are $22 – taster and $15 – designated driver. The special discount package is in effect until May 1. 
To get your “Early bird” tickets and souvenir wine glass stop by the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center Front Desk, Route 122, Bridgewater Plaza, Moneta.

Like myself you are probably asking what a Fishers of Men Tournament Trail is and what it entails. As you might suspect from the name, it is indeed a fishing tournament. It is also a nonprofit, nondenominational ministry whose mission is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fishermen and their families through competitive and professionally run fishing tournaments.

What began in 1998 as a small four division tournament trail with a total of 21 events has now grown into one of the largest fishing tournament organizations in the country. During the 2008 season, 53 team tournament divisions and 37 legacy divisions combined for a total of 355 tournament events.

Now we get to experience the Tournament Trail here at Smith Mountain Lake. Launch time on Sat. and Sun. are scheduled for 6:45am. with weigh in and tournament activities planned for each day at 3:30pm.

For more information you can call 540-483-9293 or visit their site at http://www.fomntt.com/about.php.

The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10th from 9:00 in the morning till 1pm. It is open to ages 17 & Under. Fishing contests, fly fishing demo and contest, prize drawings, fly tying, and trout fishing. For more info. contact Angel Young at angelyoung@franklincountyva.org. 

You can also go to http://www.franklincountyva.org/parks/ for information.

It never ceases to amaze me how frequently I forget to use the internet to find things. As many years as I’ve been using the net and as many things as I have found to be lifesavers there, I still don’t always think to look there first. Needless to say I have found some great sites that give free golf lessons, videos and the whole nine. Here are just a few of the ones that looked helpful to me. You may be able to find even more on your own.

Save A Million Shots - A nifty site where many of the world’s best golf coaches have come together to give free tips and input to improve your game.

Learn About Golf - offers golf drills, video lessons and free golf tips.

Tom’s Golf Tips - has free coaching, feature length lessons and tips for specific problems.

Paul Wilson Golf - the inventor of the swing machine golf technique offers free lessons for beginners, woman/ladies, average players and experts.

To me this water sport looks a bit like canoeing from a surf board. According to a Florida news clip it’s getting a lot of attention these days. Some even say it’s one of the fastest growing water sports in the world, and Smith Mountain Lake is catching the SUP bug too.

SUP is an ancient form of surfing. It started with surfing beginners using a one-bladed paddle to remain upright while learning to surf. Standing up on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, enabling them to better see big waves and such coming at them. It gradually evolved into a shorter board and a permanent paddle blade.

SUP board prices range from $500 to $1500, and most use glass-reinforced plastic construction. The boards are generally 9 to 12 feet in length, with features such as padded decks, concave hulls and surfboard-style fins for stability.

Apparently out on the West Coast, Maui, Hawaii and other ocean-side places, stand-up paddleboards are all the rage. If you love water sports you will no doubt be curious about this sport and how you can have fun SUPing at Smith Mountain Lake, so I found a You-Tube video where you can see how it’s done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vLHihGleJU

Listed as one of the “Best Places To Play” in the 2008/2009 Golf Digest, this 18 hole championship golf course is a must for those who appreciate the sport. Mariners Landing offers several possibilities as far as membership options and is open to the public as well. Also their membership rates and other fees seem reasonable compared to other top of the line courses in the region.

There are a number of special golfing activities at Mariners Landing throughout the year. Two of the most popular events each year are tje Four-Ball Open, where local professionals and low handicap amateurs can show their stuff, and the Andrew Haley / SML Lions Memorial Junior Tournament. Other fun events are the Monday Night 9 hole captain’s choice and covered dish dinner, Wednesday evening captain’s choice, known as Boy’s Night Out, and Senior Men’s Golf Association (Greybeards) play each Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Any way you play it, if you love golf, you will love the Mariner’s Landing Golf Course!