It's been an odd summer for most of us in the USA as we have suffered through either unusually wet weather or the other extreme, drought. Some have endured terrible forest fires, while others have suffered flooding and for our southernmost neighbors, this hurricane season is proving to be the worst most can remember. Nobody usually wants to see summer end, but this year could be a first.

As the days get shorter, the leaves start to turn and a chill begins to grip the night air, it's time to start thinking of a winter break, not only for the usual reason of getting away from the cold weather, but also to make up in some small way for the 2008 summer most of us never really saw. Two reasons are better than one and more than enough justification for treating yourself to a very special winter sunshine escape.

Forward thinking golfers have already started planning around Old Man Winter's arrival and setting up some initial defenses .......