Thursday, August 25, 2011

Rodeo Round-Up

Maybe you’re a real-life cowboy & you’ve been attending rodeos since before you could walk. Or maybe you’re more of a city-slicker and have no idea what goes on at a rodeo. If you fit into the second category, let us enlighten you!

Grand Entry

You don’t have to be a cowboy-boot-wearing, just got back from a three hour trail ride type person to enjoy attending a rodeo. Here at the Double JJ, we offer traditional rodeo entertainment, along with lots of fun games & challenges that anyone can participate in. Let’s walk through a typical night at the rodeo to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Bull Riding

First & foremost, the main attraction at the rodeo is definitely bull-riding. Cowboys have to anchor themselves on an angry bull using nothing more than a strap of rope & their own strength. They’re only allowed to use one hand to hold on to the rope with, and touching anything with their free hand voids their ride. The challenge then is to stay on the bull for eight whole seconds as it bucks around the arena. Lots of riders don’t make it to this mark, and get thrown off early. They’re not out of the game yet, as they still need to avoid the angry bull & escape back over the fence to safety. Riders who do manage to stay on the bull for the whole eight seconds get a score from the judges. The rider can earn up to fifty points, and the bull can earn up to fifty points. At the end of the night, the bull & rider combo with the highest score takes home the prize!

Double JJ Wranglers


Other favorite rodeo attractions include Bronco Busting & Chute Dogging. Bronco Busting is a lot like bull riding, but replace the bull with a wild horse. Chute Dogging is one event that the cowboys participate in while standing with both feet firmly on the ground. First the cowboy has to brace himself as a steer is released from the chute. Second, their job is to catch the steer by its horns & wrestle it to the ground by flipping the steer over. There’s a lot of components to this sport, as just catching the steer is not a guarantee that you’ll be able to flip it. The Barrel Racing competition is always exciting to watch as well, with the cowgirls steering their horses in a cloverleaf pattern around the barrels at top speed.


The Grand Entry by the Double JJ Wranglers is another crowd favorite. Watching all of the wranglers ride into the arena in formation & perform drill in perfect unison is a sight not to be missed. The wranglers stick around for the rest of the rodeo & help with all of the crowd participation games throughout the night. Kids have the chance to come out & chase calves or dig through piles of hay for candy. Adult guests can sign up to ride in the Rope Race, the Wild Ass Ride, “Eat Your Heart Out,” and more. And don't forget to sign your kids up for the Mutton Busting! Just like the real cowboys riding the bulls, but your kids get to see how long they can stay on a sheep!

Mutton Busting

With Labor Day quickly approaching, chances to attend a Double JJ Rodeo this season are dwindling. There’s just two more left: one August 27 & one September 3. Rodeo is open to both resort guests & the general public, with tickets available at the gate. Rodeo kicks off at 7:30pm each night, with an all-you-can-eat Pig Roast at the rodeo grounds starting at 6pm.

Hopefully we’ve answered all of your questions about what happens at a Rodeo, and we look forward to seeing you at one soon!

Happy Trails!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fore!


Thoroughbred Golf Club



With its four & a half star rating from Golf Digest, the Thoroughbred Golf Club certainly lives up to its prestigious name! Designed by Arthur Hills & opened in 1993, the Thoroughbred offers 18 championship holes that sprawl over 240 acres of rolling Michigan woods. While some call it “challenging,” golfers do return time & time again to play the course. Rated as one of “Michigan’s Monsters” by Michigan Golf Magazine, the course can be intimidating on first glance, but offers enough variation in the tees to accommodate any level of player. Arthur Hills himself said of the course “The Thoroughbred is stunning & dramatic, but fair & playable for golfers of all abilities.” 



Stunning is an accurate description of the course, as it winds through the West Michigan woods, wrapping around cranberry bogs & lakes while embracing the natural landscape. In a review of the course by TwoGuys Who Golf, they called the Thoroughbred “one of the most beautiful and challenging golf experiences in the state.”



With Stay & Play packages available all season long, not to mention the various events & specials offered at the Thoroughbred, it really is a must-play. Drive out for the day if you live nearby & take advantage of our Local Special, or book one of our unlimited packages & play as much as you possibly can while you’re at the resort. 

For a more in-depth write up of the course, visit the Michigan Golf website.

Mark your calendar! “The Survivor” end of year golf tournament is scheduled for the last Saturday in October at the Thoroughbred Golf Club. Contact the Pro Shop at (231) 894-3939 to reserve your spot.

Happy Trails!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Junior J Ranch


You probably know that the Double JJ has lots of different places to stay, offering everything from luxury suites to cabins to a campground, but did you know we have a special site just for kids? The Junior J Ranch is located at the Back Forty, and is the perfect place for scout troops, youth groups, or any other young group to stay! The Junior J Ranch is close enough to walk to the Swimmin’ Hole, General Store, Stunt Shows, CorralLessons, Trail Rides, Shooter’s, and more.  It offers the kids a great way to escape from their everyday life & make some unforgettable memories as they bunk in miniature kids cabins, teepees, or Conestoga wagons.
Kids Cabins (sleep 10)

Teepee (sleeps 12) & Conestoga Wagon (sleeps 6)

The Junior J Ranch is reserved for groups, and fills up quickly each summer! If you’re interested in booking a stay for your group, give us a call at 1-800-DoubleJJ ext.4724.

Happy Trails!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Team Building is Fun Again!


Some people hear the term “team building” and automatically groan to themselves, as they picture an afternoon of icebreakers & practicing trust falls with co-workers. Not at the Double JJ! We put our foot down if anyone tries to bring in a boring team building activity, & instead spice it up western-style!

We had a great group come in earlier this summer, who all had a blast taking part in the “Survivor Series Rodeo.” They had to compete in games involving horses, sack races, relay races, balloon stomps, and lots more. They all got into the spirit of the day by donning cowboy hats & colored bandanas to show who was on which team. You can find out a lot about a co-worker when you’re working together to dress a goat!

Apart from the Survivor Series Rodeo, there are lots of other options to keep a group working together for the day or for the weekend. Participate in a cattle drive, start stretching for a sports-athalon, or plan an outing to a summer Pig Roast & Rodeo where everyone can enjoy watching the various rodeo games, or even opt to participate themselves!

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