Last weekend, I bowled for the first time in a couple of years. I didn’t have great scores, but I had a great time and realized I missed it.

I started bowling when I was about 10. In high school, bowling at Rockaway Bowl was a weekly staple for some combination of Greg, Dave, Johnny, Keith and I. I had my own ball, and I bowled in a few leagues.

The high point was probably when my team tied for first place, only to lose the title on total pins (which seemed to be a rule made up on the spot). I still claim we were the uncrowned champs! Then again, I have been known to be petty in that way.

I know Fran Gallagher will argue that golf is the businessman’s game. He might be right; I rarely hear business discussed in a bowling alley. I doubt anyone will ever write about the beauty of any specific bowling alley. I admit, inside, they are all pretty much the same.

I will argue a few advantages bowling has over golf. Bowling is not affected by weather or seasons. Bowling can be a solo activity. You never have to worry about learning the course in bowling.

I have heard about (although never experienced) the high of hitting that perfect golf shot. However, I have experienced the high of the perfect bowling shot, followed by the unmistakable sound of a strike. Now that is a thing of beauty as well as being very stress-relieving.

I know the popularity of bowling has declined in recent years, and I think it is a shame. Bowling might not be the businessman’s game, but it can be a great time for everyone.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

Robinson Ranch was the perfect venue for a golf outing between Global Traveler’s own Bill Noonan and Fran Gallagher and Ken Bright, of Singapore Airlines, and John Jackson, of Korean Air. Actually, it was a split team — Fran and Ken on the back nine (which we played first) and Fran and John on the front nine. Bill took the opposite for a game of competitive skins.

My first nine was deplorable, but my partner was able to win eight of the holes against the Jackson/Noonan team. When we switched teams, I was determined not to let John down, so I summed up all my golfing experience to card a 43 and clean the clocks. Everyone was surprised by that score due to my poor play in the first round.

It was a glorious day and a bit cold, much to the shock of this Philadelphia boy, who showed up in shorts and a golf polo. A quick pro-shop purchase turned me into the Robinson Ranch “poster boy,” with a logo pull-over and hat. I stayed in the shorts out of defiance. The temperature dipped close to 50 degrees on the last two holes.

I have had the pleasure of flying both Korean Air and Singapore Airlines, and both are top-notch, comfortable carriers. Singapore Airlines has a fantastic all-business-class flight from Newark, which I flew last year. They also offer this service out of Los Angeles. Korean Air has dramatically improved over the past five years. They rival every carrier on the planet. I flew the airline just four weeks ago and found their first-class product tops. It was the best caviar service I have ever had.

– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

It has been a busy Thanksgiving weekend here on the East Coast. After the big day, of course, we are followed by the traditional Black Friday sales and shopping. I leave the shopping to others and organize the annual Turkey Bowl Golf Outing at Cream Ridge Golf Club. We select Cream Ridge for its accessibility from New York as we always have some players coming from the Big Apple.

It was a record day for the game. There were three threesomes and one foursome battling on the course. Bill Marine, Cream Ridge’s PGA professional, is a great guy and secures tee times for our reliable group well in advance. He makes Cream Ridge a great place to play. I say reliable because our group shows up no matter what the weather is like — rain, freezing cold and, occasionally, balmy weather as you never know what the last weekend in November will bring.

We had a few cowards pull out days before due to the threat of bad weather, but I have to tell you, Friday was one of the best golf days we have ever had at the Turkey Bowl. It threatened to rain but never did, and the sun even came out for a while halfway through the round. The temperature was in the low 60s, with some wind but, all in all, very bearable weather.

At the end of the day, the big winner was John Ecklund, who played lights out with a gross 74. With handicaps deleted from the scores, there was no one close to John’s game. He played in my threesome, and I can’t recall John ever playing so well. Perhaps it was the turkey dinner the day before, or maybe it was the joy of not shopping on Black Friday, but I really believe he was motivated by the homemade Turkey Bowl trophy, which will sit proudly on his mantle until Black Friday 2010.

The presentation ceremony was held at a townie bar call the Plumbsted Grill, where Chris “Yammi” Ottaunick (the 2008 winner) passed on the trophy to John.

– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

This weekend I took a short trip to China to play golf. I had been conducting business all week in South Korea, and this week I am in Thailand. I thought a short excursion to China would be a welcome break. Plus, I had never played golf there.

I played at Weihai Point Golf Club and Resort, which is owned by Kumho Asiana Group (also the owner of Asiana Airlines). The course is one of the most interesting and challenging courses I have ever played. Move over Pebble Beach, which has seven holes  on the water. The Weihai course runs the holes along a peninsula, with 14 holes directly on the water and the rest just a stone’s throw away.

The weather was an issue as the temperature had dropped to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind (as I had predicted) was gusting at 40 m.p.h. So, take the best of Pebble Beach and merge it with the wind aspects of the Old Course — and you have Weihai. I am told that in the warmer months, there is very comfortable weather, as this region of China has minimal rainfall and virtually no humidity. Make sure you keep an eye out for my GTee golf report on Weihai coming soon.

I was also pleased to see how dedicated the Chinese government is being to keeping tabs on the H1N1, or swine flu, outbreak. I think I had swine flu three months ago. When you arrive in China, passengers are required to complete a lengthy health questionnaire. While this is reviewed, they scan your temperature from behind the desk. It all happens so quickly, though, that you really have no idea what is going on! The Chinese government was harshly criticized for the poor efforts during the SARS and Bird Flu outbreaks, which appear to be far more serious than H1N1. The criticism has forced them to be more diligent.

On the way out of China, I was able to rate the immigration inspector as Great, Good, Fair or Bad by pressing a little button. After my passport was stamped, I looked up at the rather serious gentleman in his official uniform and I said “Great” and hit the button!

– Fran Gallagher, publisher and CEO

Today, I am off to Asia and looking forward to my Korean Air and EVA Air flights. I have back-to-back meetings from the minute I land at Incheon to the moment I return. I will also be visiting Bangkok and Taipei as part of this trip.

I am really looking forward to playing golf at Weihai Point Golf & Resort in China this weekend. Fourteen holes are positioned on the Yellow Sea, and many of these holes sit on a narrow peninsula. I am sure the wind will play a huge factor in aim and club selection. The first six holes play along the peninsula and are about 30 to 100 feet above the waves of the Yellow Sea below. The par five that measures 500 yards requires a tee shot of 220 yards to carry the sea and make the fairway. I am looking forward to seeing which member of my group makes this shot! This hole’s green sits on a cliff and is guarded by six pot bunkers.

The course was opened a year ago and it should prove exciting! Hey, how often does one get the chance to play golf in China?

– Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO