Clearwater is in love with sports and recreation, and the feeling, apparently, is mutual. In November, Clearwater will host more than 1,800 athletes from around the world during the inaugural Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3. You can read more about this exciting event below.

Meanwhile, Ironman provided Footprints with the inspiration to showcase some of the other reasons why Clearwater was selected in 2004 as the “Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Sportstown” for the state of Florida. The honor, bestowed by Sports Illustrated magazine and the National Recreation and Park Association, recognized Clearwater’s “involvement in facilitating and enhancing quality sports” and the city’s “extremely broad scope of sporting opportunities for all ages and interests … from the beginner to the advance level and up to the very competitive travel team arena.”

Add Clearwater’s top-notch athletic facilities and hospitality infrastructure – not to mention an ideal climate and gorgeous natural settings – for a “winning” combination!

Speaking of climate, fall is perhaps the loveliest season in Clearwater, and naturally, there’s a lot going on during this time of year. An overview of some of the fall and holiday highlights is also included in this issue.

Clearwater is a golfer’s paradise so where better to establish a GolfTECSM Improvement Center? Since opening its doors here in July, GolfTEC has already coached many area residents to their all-time career-best performances!

In fact, since its inception in 1995, GolfTEC has given over 700,000 golf lessons across the country in its PGA-certified, indoor teaching facilities (called Improvement Centers) and over 90% of those customers have shown improvements in their games.

How do they do that?

“Our passion at GolfTEC is helping our students improve their game through a well-organized approach that includes technique, equipment, and conditioning (The T-E-C in GolfTEC),” according to Mark Nixon, Regional Franchise Owner. “There’s nothing more rewarding than having a client burst through our doors, proudly announcing that they have reached a personal best after years of playing mediocre golf.”

Leveraging state-of-the-art technology (e.g. patented SEVA Pro software, digital video and motion analysis, PGA Tour Pro comparison), and the hands-on teaching skills of PGA professionals, GolfTEC’s approach focuses on building the muscle memory needed for a solid, simple and consistent swing, the means to the most efficient and effective long-term game improvement.

Headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, GolfTEC currently has over 60 Improvement Centers in the U.S., with an additional 21 stores scheduled to open during the coming year. The company employs over 150 PGA professionals as golf coaches. Clearwater’s GolfTEC is located inside Golfsmith at the Clearwater Mall (2753 Gulf to Bay Blvd.). To contact the store or to learn more, call 727-216-7686 or visit www.golftec.com.

FORE! Once that swing is sharpened, head to a nearby golf course! There are more than eight within the city of Clearwater alone and many more throughout the area. For a comprehensive list of area courses with rates, course lengths, contact information and more, visit www.floridagolfguide.com.

The city of Clearwater maintains several parks and recreational programs, services and facilities to benefit both visitors to, and residents of, the city. Some of the facilities include the Clearwater Beach Recreation Complex and Clearwater Beach Family Aquatic Center; the Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex; the Long Center and the Ross Norton Recreation and Aquatic Complex.

Each of these facilities is unique. For instance, the Clearwater Beach Family Aquatic Center includes a children’s activity area with water slides and raindrop water fountain, as well as a beautifully landscaped park for fishing and picnics. The McMullen Tennis Complex has been ranked by the USTA as one of the best three facilities in the country. The Long Center boasts the only indoor 50-meter aquatic facility on Florida’s west coast. The Ross Norton facility offers a brand new extreme skate park in addition to a beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing.

For more information visit www.myclearwater.com (Click on the “Parks & Recreation” link) or call the city’s Parks and Recreation Department at 727-562-4800.

In addition, Clearwater has over 13 miles of recreational paths and trails and Pinellas County and the state of Florida maintain even more, including acres of pristine nature preserves perfect for hiking. Please visit www.pinellascounty.org and www.floridastateparks.org to find out more.

With a fleet of over 40 boats available to the public, the Clearwater Community Sailing Center offers affordable sailing programs to people of all ages, abilities and skill levels. The Center offers individual and family rates and various sailing packages that include 12 hours of usage which can be used over several days. The center is perfect for those who want to learn to sail as well as qualified sailors who can use the boats after passing a written and practical examination to demonstrate sailing proficiency. The Clearwater Community Sailing Center is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org or call 727-517-7776.

IMG Academies has introduced the International Professional Fishing Academy at Cay Club resorts, including the Clearwater Cay Club Resort & Marina. Youth and adults can now participate in three and five day fishing programs and semester courses and gain credit toward a Professional Angler, Professional Mate, and Professional Captain designation.

The Clearwater Cay Club is also host property to Swim Camps International which brings youth and college swimmers, as well as Olympians, to pools around the nation. In addition, the resort has taken on title sponsorship for the exclusive 2006 Cay Clubs Invitational scheduled to take place from Dec. 26, 2006 to Jan. 3, 2007. The volleyball tournament, hosted by Canada’s McMaster University, is one of the largest college volleyball tournaments in North America and will feature many Canadian universities along with the Ohio State Men’s Volleyball Team.

Located on 15 acres along old Tampa Bay and minutes from Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Cay Club Resort & Marina is the flagship of the Cay Clubs International chain of marina-based luxury resorts. For more information, visit www.cayclubs.com or call 727-531-2525 (or toll-free 888-807-2756).

Bradenton, Florida- based IMG Academies is the world's largest multi-sport, training and education camp/academy organization and encompasses the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, the Baseball, Basketball and Soccer Academies, the International Performance Institute, the Officiating Academy, and the IMG Academies Golf and Country Club at El Conquistador. For more information, go to www.imgacademies.com.

The Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor will host over 130 of professional golf’s top players during the fourth annual Chrysler Championship Golf Tournament Oct. 23 through 29. Golfers will compete to reach the top 30 on the 2006 Official Money list, which qualifies them for The Tour Championship to be played the following week in Atlanta. Proceeds from all ticket sales go to area charities. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 727-942-5566 or visit www.chryslerchampionship.com.

The fourth annual Suncoast Triathlon takes place on Oct. 29 at Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde. With a .33-mile swim, an 11-mile bike race and a 3.1-mile run, the Suncoast Triathlon is an ideal race for both new and experienced triathletes. For more information, call 813-874-7223.

Everybody wins when people with disabilities and their families cast their lines into the water at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach during the 11th annual Make a Difference Adult Fishing Tournament on Nov. 4. Trophies will be awarded for winners in several interesting categories, including prettiest, and most unusual, fish. There are separate tournaments for children and adults. To register and for more information, call 727-449-9820 or visit www.makeadifferencefishing.org.

Clearwater will host more than 1,800 domestic and international athletes at the inaugural Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 on Nov. 11. The event will start and finish at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, and several of the pre- and post-race activities will take place at Sand Key Park and the Sheraton Sand Key Resort.

A professional prize purse of $100,000 will be offered, and top professional and age group athletes will qualify for the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship taking place on Oct. 13, 2007, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Media interested in covering the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 must submit a completed Media Credential Application by Nov. 1, 2006. For more details about the event and to download the application, visit www.ironman.com.

The St. Petersburg Times Turkey Trot celebrates its 27th anniversary on Nov. 23 with an anticipated 10,000 participants. The event, which starts at the Clearwater High School, features a one-mile "Gobbler" run, a five-kilometer (3.1 mile) "Wingding" and 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) "Turkey Trot." Proceeds from the event will be donated to local charities; runners are also encouraged to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to the stadium on race day for distribution to area pantry programs. For more information, call 727-562-4700 or visit www.tampabay.com/turkeytrot.

The fifth annual FloridaGulf Beaches Holiday Halfathon, starting in Madeira Beach, continuing through various beach communities and finishing at Taylor Park in Largo, is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2006. The Holiday Halfathon is a perfect complement to the Clearwater Halfathon, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 21, 2007. For more information on the Holiday Halfathon visit www.FloridaHalf.com or call 727-347-4440

FLORIDA’S “BILLION DOLLAR BEACH” IS NOW ONLINE …
The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce has launched a new interactive Web site, www.BillionDollarBeach.com, designed to provide information about private hotel and condominium development currently underway or planned for Clearwater Beach, as well as the city’s beach beautification project, Beach Walk. The site may also be accessed via Clearwater’s official tourism web site, www.VisitClearwaterFlorida.com.

Billion Dollar Beach includes over one billion dollars in private development – Hyatt’s Aqualea Resort and Residences, Indigo Beach Residences and Indigo Beach Suites, the Kiran Grand Resort & Spa, the Sandpearl Resort, the Royal Camelot and the newly-renovated Clearwater Beach Gulfview Resort – and the $30 million Beach Walk.

… AND PLAYING AT A COMPUTER MONITOR NEAR YOU!

The “beach cams” are up! For three different views of Billion Dollar Beach, go to www.myclearwater.com/beachwalk. Camera 1 provides a view of Clearwater Beach (looking north on Gulfview Blvd.); Camera 2 provides a view of Clearwater Beach from Pier 60 and Camera 3, positioned at the Clearwater Municipal Marina, looks west toward Coronado Drive. All camera images automatically refresh multiple times each minute.

Congratulación! Richard Gonzmart, President of the Columbia Restaurant Group, has been inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame by Visit Florida, Florida’s official tourism marketing organization, in recognition of his “positive and significant impact on the development of Florida as a desirable destination.”

The great-grandson of the founder of Ybor City’s Columbia Restaurant, Gonzmart is a tireless ambassador for the region and the state of Florida, and he and his family are actively involved in a number of philanthropic initiatives. He serves on the Florida Commission on Tourism, the Florida Restaurant Association board of directors and the executive board of directors for the Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Columbia Restaurant in Tampa’s historic Ybor City was founded in 1905 and is the oldest restaurant in Florida. Other area locations include Sand Key on Clearwater Beach, The Pier in St. Petersburg and St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. All seven Columbia Restaurants are owned and operated by fourth and fifth generation members of the founding family. For more information, visit www.columbiarestaurant.com.

CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF!

The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is thriving and continues to make an impression among fliers looking for ease, convenience and a viable alternative to some of the region’s other, more congested airports. Three airlines have announced new or enhanced service to and from the airport, including Sun Country Airlines, Sunwing Airlines and Allegiant Air. For more information about these and other airlines, visit the airport’s web site at www.fly2pie.com.

Meanwhile, across the Bay, Tampa International Airport has earned a top recognition for a second year. The Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) presented the airport with its 2006 Top North American Airport Efficiency Award and Global Top Efficiency Award among Airports with less than 20 million passengers. Of 135 airports benchmarked throughout North America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region, Tampa International Airport’s rating indicated that it is 37 percent more efficient than the average North American airport. For more information, visit www.tampaairport.com

Now in its 27th extraordinary year, the Marine Max Clearwater Jazz Holiday presented by Mercedes-Benz will showcase in concert, between October 19 and 22, 2006, some of jazz’s finest talents including Kenny G, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot, the Manhattan Transfer, Buckwheat Zydeco and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. Presented outdoors in the 20-acre landscaped Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater overlooking Clearwater Harbor, Jazz Holiday is four days and four nights of some of the best live jazz performance in the world presented free to the public. Jazz Holiday is Clearwater's signature event and is a Top 20 Southeastern Tourism Society event. For more information, call 727-461-5200 or visit www.clearwaterjazz.com.

2006 marks the 24th anniversary of Frenchy's Stone Crab Claw Festival. The event, from Oct. 20 to 22, takes place at all Frenchy's locations in Clearwater Beach and will feature live music and other entertainment. For more information, call 727-446-1522 or visit www.frenchysonline.com.

Join in the fun as the International Chili Society presents the Florida State Championship Chili Cook-Off on Nov. 4 in Coachman Park. Entrants compete in traditional red, chili verde and salsa categories as well as best-decorated booth. Entrants must be members of the International Chili Society but spectators, and chili-lovers, are welcome. For more information, visit www.floridachili.com or call 727-781-6330.

Celebrate the “Golden Age of Piracy” and relive history at the fourth annual Central Florida Pirate Festival Nov. 17 through 19 at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. Experience unique entertainment such as interactive stage shows and human powered rides, games, contests, displays, arts and crafts, educational booths, and, of course, great grub and grog. For more information, call 727-520-4926 or go to www.piratefair.com.

Traditional jazz and swing will once again fill the air at the 16th annual Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic from Nov. 17 through 19 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. This event is the largest traditional jazz festival in the state and one of the largest on the east coast. For more information, call 727-536-0064 or visit www.jazzclassic.net.

No, Footprints hasn’t forgotten that the holidays are right around the corner. Indeed, from luminarias to lighted boats, the holiday spirit pervades the cool, crisp air as Clearwater is transformed into a magical winter wonderland – Florida style.

The Lighted Boat Parade is an annual tradition featuring colorful lighted boats parading through the various waterways in Clearwater. Other special holiday events include Santa’s Breakfast, the Festival of Trees, the Holiday Parade, Seasonal Sensations at Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo and the Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall. There are also numerous holiday arts and crafts shows such as the annual Christmas Under the Oaks at Coachman Park, the Downtown Clearwater Arts Stroll and the annual Art Harvest in Dunedin.

Details about these and other holiday events can be found in a “Holidays” backgrounder posted at our online Press Room

A seemingly endless supply of sun, a mild and temperate climate, world-renowned beaches, nature-based attractions and wide-ranging recreational and cultural activities make Clearwater, Florida, one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. Its proximity to St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota and Orlando make it an ideal “home base” for daily excursions. Come on down and put yourself in our shoes for a while!

Visitors seeking additional assistance with their Clearwater travel plans can contact the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce: 1130 Cleveland Street, Clearwater, Florida 33755; info@clearwaterflorida.org; 888-425-3279 (toll free) or 727-461-0011. More information, as well as comprehensive lists and descriptions of accommodations, restaurants, nightlife establishments and shopping options, can be found in the free Official Visitors Guide or at www.visitclearwaterflorida.com.

Footprints is published quarterly by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the City of Clearwater. Upcoming issues include Winter (issued December 2006) and Spring (issued March 2007).