In one colorful and interesting sitting, you can see why so many golfers choose to spend their vacations and retirement years in the Carolinas.  A small panel of experienced golf writers and players have posted their consensus choices of their favorite 18 holes at the CarolinaLiving web site.  Although favorite anything can be a matter of great subjectivity, we think the panel generally got it right.  We've played many of the courses whose holes they salute, and there isn't a clunker among them. 
    If anything, there may be a sin of omission or two.  The panel selected no representative holes from Harbour Town, Governor's Club or Old Chatham (in the Chapel Hill area), Wade Hampton (Cashiers), Caledonia or Pawleys Plantation (Pawleys Island) or myriad other viable candidates.  It was a tough task, and we don't envy the challenge.  Wait a minute; we do envy the challenge; they must have played all those great golf courses they did select. 
    Take a look for yourself by clicking here or by visiting CarolinaLiving.com.

    “If hordes of inexperienced [real estate] agents are scrapping for business…that can only lead to a ‘race to the bottom in fees.’”
    -- Christopher Galler, SVP of Minnesota Assn. of Realtors, Wall Street Journal, Page B6, 2/7/07.
    No surprise:  Mr. Galler adds that competitive commissions are not good for consumers and that they will result in poor service.  More productive agents, he argues, are better at “solving problems.” 
    The article indicates the total number of agents nationwide reached a peak last year at 1.4 million but their ranks will drop between 6% and 8% this year.  A former golf pro who gave up the links to sell houses is featured.  He recently left the real estate business to take up a new profession, training dogs.