The last few summers I’ve taken a summer membership at the Meadowood Golf and Tennis Clu in Fort Pierce, Florida. I could not be happier…not only with the course, but with the people who work there.

First, there are the cart-men

• Jim
• Bernie
• John
• and Bill

All who make the transition from the parking lot to the golf course a breeze. In the pro shop there’s Travis – the head golf Pro PGA professional, Terry – Golf Professional PGA life member (and my golf instructor), Jeremy – also a golf professional and Branden – yes, another pro. These pro’s are extremely knowledgable and handle all of your equipment, lesson and tee time needs.

Speaking of tee-times, a summer membership means that I deal with less traffic and easier to get tee-times as well.

Meadowood offers a championship course (this was Sam Snead’s home turf. From the Costco sized practice area, the large driving range, sand and fairway bunkers, coupled with a huge chipping and putting area, this club has EVERYTHING the golfer needs.

I have found the course to be a challenging yet fair test for golfers of every level. Low handicappers play the long tee’s and hacker’s like me play upfront and have a challenge and great fun.

My summer membership includes

• Unlimited Range Balls
• 7-day Advance Tee Times
• Pool
• Tennis Courts
• a Fitness Center
• Full-Service Bar and Dining
• 10% Discount in the Pro Shop
• 9 holes $13
• 18 holes $20

The cost for all of this? $250 for 6 months (May 1st – October 31st).  They also offer a $1200 summer membership with no cart fees as well.

It may be the beginning of August, but there is still plenty of time to get your money’s worth at a great club.

• For more info on this or other memberships, visit Meadowood Golf and Tennis online
• Or call the pro shop at 772-464-4466

Last week I had the opportunity along with my wife, son, and daughter-in-law to attend the opening night performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo at the BB&T Center as their guest. For a circus without animals, it was terrific.

• The tumblers tumbled
• The jugglers juggled
• And the aerialists flew through the air with the greatest of ease

….although a couple of the jugglers could have used correcting lenses.

The real jawdropping moment came after a trip to the concession stand when 2 cheeseburgers, a couple of chicken nuggets, an order of fries and four soft drinks came to $81.00

TRULY JAW DROPPING

Let’s Go Places

I just spent a week with the all-new 2019 Toyota RAV 4 Adventure AWD (thanks to the people at Southeast Toyota who loaned it to me) and it wasn’t nearly long enough. I had recently reviewed the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and was curious as to how it would compare.

This fifth-generation RAV4 started its life in 1996. The small crossover SUV is one of the best selling on the market. With a new engine on the inside, AWD, an all-new exterior, and full of macho touches with an aggressive grille, hood, and end-cut tail makes this car ooze charisma. This new model improves what people love about the rugged RAV4.

Driving it is a different story.

This small SUV has manners. In sport mode, the shifts are fast and furious, although the engine seems a bit noisy. In both normal and eco-modes it runs smooth and quiet. I was very happy with the power and transmission. The RAV4 Adventure offers the largest wheel and tire package, which improves handling and works well with the light and precise steering.

The interior cabin offers a clean design.

The seating is comfortable, even on long highway drives. Multiple shelves and bins make up the RAV’s cool interior. The contrasts are well within reach, and the blue flame ice edge paint scheme car that they dropped off for me is hard to miss. While I’m in Florida I was not really able to test the AWD mode (I’d love to take this up into the mountains during winter), the RAV4 Adventure was fun and a pleasure to drive. The concierge picked it up last week and I have to say that I miss it already!

Get ready… with an MSRP of $32,900 and a total of for the tricked out model that I drove at $39,634  it sounds a bit pricey for a RAV4, but this RAV4 with the AWD Adventure Package may be worth it.

The facts stats

MECHANICAL

• 2.5L 4 cylinder engine
• Direct shift 8-speed automatic transmission
• Torque vectoring AWD with multi-terrain select for mud, sand, rock, dirt, and snow
• Eco, Sport and Normal driving modes

SAFETY

• Toyota safety sense 2.0 pre-collision system with pedestrian detection
• Full speed range dynamic radar  cruise control
• Lane departure alert with steering assist
• Auto high beams
• Roadside assistance
• Blindspot monitor with rear cross alert
• 8 airbags
• Downhill assist control
• Anti-theft with alarm

EXTERIOR

• Matte black accented 19 incl alloy wheels
• LED headlamps/Daytime running lights
• Integrated fog lamps
• Adventure roof rack
• Power liftgate

INTERIOR

• Toyota’s Entune 30 audio plus with 8-inch touch screen
• 6 audio speakers
• Hands-free Bluetooth for phone AND music
• USB media port & 4 USB charge ports
• Sirius XM with a 3-month all-access trial
• Apple and Android car play compatible
• Smart key system with push-button start/stop
• Power driver seat
• Soft tex seat material
• 7″ color multi informational display
• Dual-zone automatic A/C with rear vents
• Rear cargo power outlet

OPTIONS

Adventure grade weather package 

• Heated and trimmed steering wheel
• Perforated heated and ventilated front bucket seats
• Rain sensing wipers with de-icer function
• Power tilt slide moonroof

Adventure grade tech package

• Intelligent sonar with cross-traffic braking
• Digital display rearview mirror with HOMELINK
• Smartphone charging with charge indicator lights

ALSO

• Entune 3.0 premium audio dynamic NAV
• JBL sound system including 9 LX speakers
• 8″ touchscreen AM/FM/HD radio
• Audio port, USB media port, 4 USB charging ports
• Dynamic NAV with up to a 5-year trial
• Hands-free phone and music via Bluetooth
• Safety connect with 3-year trial
• Wifi connect by Verizon with 6-month trial
• Destination assist with 6-month trial

Take a spin for yourself in RAV4 ADVENTURE SUV 

• Visit your Local Southeast Toyota Dealer
• Learn more about it at Toyota.com

Note: I was provided with a bottle of Jose Cuervo Tradicional Tequila to make these drinks.

I decided to spend the day celebrating with some Tradicional drinks made with Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver.

Tradicional tequila sunrise

1. Pour 1½ oz Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver over ice
2. Fresh squeezed orange juice to taste
3. Splash of grenadine
4. Stir don’t shake

Tradicional margarita

• Run a slice of lime around the rim of a margarita glass
• Dip rim into coarse salt and put aside
• Fill a shaker with ice
• Pour in 2 oz of Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver
• Add 1½ oz of Cointreau
• Squeeze the juice of 2 FRESH limes into the shaker

• Shake vigorously
• Pour into the salt-rimmed margarita glass
• Garnish with a slice of lime

Naked Tradicional

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice
2. Pour 2 oz of Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver
3. Garnish with lime
4. Enjoy

Jose Cuervo Tradicional is the original 100% Blue Agave Tequila.

Starting in the legendary town of Tequila, Mexico in La Rojeña, Latin America’s oldest distillery, Jose Cuervo Tradicional has maintained a reputation of being tequila of the highest quality. The first spirit distilled from 100% blue agave, Tradicional’s original and authentic recipe has been used by over 10 generations, becoming synonymous with tequila. 

For where to buy Jose Cuervo Tradicional visit JoseCuervo.com