Courses of the World: Located near the northern tip of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is one of the best golf courses on the planet: Highland Links. Designed by Canada’s most revered architect – Stanley Thompson – and opened in 1939, this 6,592-yard layout is as wild and wonderful as its remote location. Set within the beautiful but rugged Cape Breton Highlands National Park, many of the holes here offer stunning views of the nearby mountains, Atlantic Ocean and, if you’re lucky, moose, fox, lynx and bald eagles. Also common are Thompson’s unique, free-form bunkers – like the eight that await you near the green on the 540-yard, par-five 15th (above). Believe it: Highland Links (and Cape Breton) are worth the trip. For more information, please visit www.highlandlinksgolf.com.

Sun Mountain’s new H2O Tech bag
Waterproof through and through instead of wet

Built on the same frame as Sun Mountain’s popular Superlight 3.5 bag, the new H2O Tech bag is made with waterproof materials designed to keep everything dry – from clubs to cigars to cell phones. Includes a waterproof rain hood and five waterproof pockets. Other features include a six-way top with full-length club dividers, dual shoulder straps, patented Roller-Bottom stand mechanism, and a new built-in top collar handle. The H2O Tech is available in solid black or goldenrod, and for an MSRP of $230. For more information, please visit www.sunmountain.com.

Eye Pod
Tune Out Distractions and Turn Up The Volume

Sunglasses on the golf course these days are as much a part of the uniform as a belt or color-coordinated socks. Plugging into some tunes, though … that could be considered bad form. Then again, so can listening to your playing partner recount every aspect of the shot you just watched him drop in the drink. So if you want some “innear” peace on the course or if you’re just out for some practice, we suggest strapping on a pair of these new all-in-ones. These sporty new MP3 player sunglasses hold up to 150 songs and have up to an 8.5-hour playtime charge. They are also shock resistant with high quality UV coated lenses. Suggested Retail: $189. Online Price: $139.95.
www.flipstechtoys.com.

SEEN & HEARD: Hooters’ Spirits will Prevail

Restaurants nationwide have expanded their beer and wine offerings to include a range of liquor items. It appears, however, that the new “hot girl” on the block is being denied entrance to the dance. One of the newest and arguably the coolest unit in the chain located in Troy, MI (north of Detroit) has continuously been denied a licence of any kind to serve alcohol by that city’s council. All this despite having an older fully functioning Hooters at a less visable Troy address. Shhhh…We’ve started work on our Trojan keg.

Aussie And Do
The Leaderboard is the latest training tool for the PGA’s Down Under set

It looks awkward, but elicits every-thing but from your swing. It’s called the Leaderboard, a custom-made hitting station with sliding panel under your back foot that helps with weight transfer, thereby maximizing power and accuracy. It also eliminates swing glitches like coming over the top and reverse pivot. Invented and endorsed by Stuart Appleby, the Leaderboard is now quite common among PGA players from Down Under, including Adam Scott, Ian Baker-Finch and Geoff Ogilvy. “It is not a coincidence that since I have been using the Leaderboard as a key component in my training, my driving distance has increased tremendously,” says Appleby. “This is the first year that my average driving distance is over 300 yards which includes three drives over 400 yards.” For more information, visit www.proleaderboard.com.